South Africa: N West public health nurses and doctors praised for delivering quadruplets

The North West Health MEC, Madoda Sambatha, has congratulated the nurses and doctors at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital (JMMH) who delivered quadruplets at the weekend.

The quadruplets were born in the early hours of Saturday, 15 January 2022.

The MEC also expressed well wishes to the 39-year-old mother, Lettie Sewedi, from Monoto Mosweu in Vryburg on her new bundles of joy.

Well done to our doctors and nurses for a successful operation that delivered the babies. More importantly, congratulations to the mother who gave birth to these quadruplets, Sambatha said.

The department said the mother had been booked to attend antenatal care at Coleridge Clinic and was later referred to JMMH where a successful operation was undertaken by the well-experienced medical team.

Of the four newborns, three are boys and all weighed reasonably as anticipated by the team.

Currently, all the boys are being fed while the girl is receiving close monitoring on ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit after doctors discovered that she has apnoeic attacks and was given a blood transfusion.

Sewedi, who is now a mother of nine, is said to be ecstatic at the professional service she received from JMMH.

She further indicates that she cannot wait to go home and enjoy life with her new bundles of joy.

Newly appointed JMMH CEO, Portia Tlou, applauded the team that delivered the healthy babies to the nation.

She stressed the long-standing assignment of the department of impeccably delivering health services to all, at all times. Ours is only to serve our patients with distinctive love, she added.

According to experts, quadruplets are formed when a single fertilised egg splits into four different embryos and genetically identical quadruplets. Four eggs are then released and are each fertilised by a different sperm.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-01-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
ICC work should be conducive to long-term stability, security in Sudan's Darfur: Chinese envoy

Xinhua) 08:16, January 18, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday expressed the hope that the action of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should be conducive to achieving long-term stability and security in Sudan's Darfur region.

"The ICC should strictly abide by the principle of complementarity and effectively respect the judicial sovereignty of Sudan. China hopes that the ICC's action on the basis of the Security Council's resolution will be conducive to achieving long-term stability and security in Darfur," said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

China has been watching closely as the ICC addresses the Sudan-related situation, and has taken note of the work done by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan since he took office, he told the Security Council.

With the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement, Darfur has entered a new stage of peacebuilding. China encourages all signatories to continue the implementation of the peace agreement and calls on Dafurian factions that have yet to sign the agreement to join the peace process as soon as possible, said Geng.

The recent intercommunal violence in Darfur underscores the fact that the security situation in Darfur remains daunting. The international community should support Sudan in security capacity-building to enable it to shoulder the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians in Darfur, he said.

However, long-term stability and security in Darfur can only be achieved by way of reconciliation. The Juba Peace Agreement has made clear provisions for this, which include achieving judicial justice, fighting impunity, and establishing a truth and reconciliation commission, he said.

"As the country is facing multiple challenges at this moment, it should come as no surprise that the implementation of the agreement is encountering difficulties. Therefore, the international community should remain adequately patient while providing constructive assistance to Sudan to implement the agreement," he said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
If the Republicans who signed official-looking documents in late 2020 seeking to hand Wisconsins Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump wanted to challenge the results, there was a different process for doing so.

Instead, while the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden, the Republicans chose an unorthodox method, also meeting in the building to sign documents purporting that Trump had won the state.

The meeting occurred an hour after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Biden had won the election and a month after Wisconsin county clerks canvassed the presidential election results.

More than a year later, multiple agencies have yet to rule on complaints alleging the Republicans committed fraud.

The U.S. Constitution assigns the process for selecting electors to state law. Under Wisconsin statute, the slate of electors chosen by the candidate who wins the popular vote are seated and ultimately deliver those votes to Congress.

In the event of a genuine dispute regarding electors, or who actually won the popular vote, the Electoral Count Act allows for one member of the U.S. Senate and one with the U.S. House to call for additional debate, said David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University. U.S. Code also allows Congress to intervene if there is a serious dispute over electors.

Schultz said its likely Wisconsin statutes do not specifically contemplate a group of individuals falsely claiming to be electors, but he added the matter likely constitutes a fraudulent act.

Its probably some type of fraud, probably some type of criminal forgery, said Schultz, who also teaches election law at the University of Minnesota Schools of Law.

Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow in a statement Monday said the Republicans who signed the documents were advised to do so by attorneys and the actions were done in accordance with precedent.

That Democrats are now trying to fabricate a story from a simple procedure is nothing more than a desperate attempt to divert attention from their record as they face the electorate in 2022, Farrow said. Its a frivolous complaint that doesnt deserve the time of day.

Jeffrey Mandell, president of the liberal law firm Law Forward, which filed the complaints, said the precedent noted by Republicans  in which Hawaii electors from both parties convened in public regarding a genuine dispute over the 1960 presidential election  is a far cry from what happened in the state in late 2020.

"That is radically different from these 10 fraudulent electors skulking in the shadows and submitting false paperwork to create the ground on which the Jan. 6 insurrection was built," Mandell said.

Liberal watchdog group American Oversight last March obtained official-looking certificates submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in seven states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. New Mexico and Pennsylvania Republicans added a caveat saying it was done in case they were later recognized as duly elected, qualified electors.

It seems farfetched to think that each of these sets of alternative electors had genuine fact-based grievances, even though the grievances were different in every state, said Barry Burden, a political science professor and director of the Elections Research Center at UW-Madison. It looks more like a national orchestration to try to challenge the elections results.

I think theres a direct line between the suspicions that have been raised about the election results and the violent insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol on (Jan. 6, 2021), Burden added.

Whose jurisdiction?

The Associated Press reported Friday that Michigans attorney general has asked federal prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into 16 Republicans who submitted false certificates stating they were the states presidential electors despite Joe Bidens victory in 2020.

Under state law, I think clearly you have forgery of a public record, which is a 14-year offense, and election law forgery, which is a five-year offense, Dana Nessel, Michigans Democratic attorney general, told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. But the Justice Department, she said, is best suited to probe and potentially prosecute.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said in an email Friday he also believes the federal government is best suited to investigate the 10 Republican electors who submitted similar paperwork seeking to certify Trump in late 2020.

I believe its critical that the federal government fully investigates and prosecutes any unlawful actions in furtherance of any seditious conspiracy, Kaul said.

Politico reported earlier this month the U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, also is investigating documents submitted by Republican electors in several states.

In addition, the Democratic-led House Administration Committee last week issued a staff report exploring updates to the Electoral Count Act, which took effect in 1887. In a sign that reforms could receive bipartisan support, Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, have expressed interest in strengthening the act, NPR reported Sunday.

Everyone agrees that the Electoral Count Act is unclear, not internally consistent, there are a whole range of interpretations about what it even says and its never been tested in 150 years, Burden said. So its waiting there sort of like a time bomb to create potentially a constitutional crisis.

In Wisconsin

Former chair of the state Republican Party Andrew Hitt signed the paperwork in Wisconsin. At the time, Hitt, an attorney with Michael Best and Friedrich, said the decision was based on then-ongoing legal battles being pursued by Trumps campaign seeking to overturn the elections results in several states including Wisconsin.

The Trump campaign thought that it was very important, Robert Spindell, a Republican who sits on the bipartisan elections commission who also signed the documents, said Sunday. I dont know how many (documents) we signed, we probably signed a lot of them, and it was basically  it was trying to do what I guess the attorneys thought was best in order to protect the interest of Trump should some of these lawsuits go in his favor.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Spindell said he could not comment on the nearly one-year-old complaint filed with the commission, which has not announced any action on the matter.

I still have to think they were trying to do something to create a dispute over which delegation from Wisconsin was legitimate, said Schultz, the Hamline professor.

Hitt did not respond to a request for comment.

Others to sign the document include 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Convention.

The Service Employees International Union Wisconsin Council, represented by Law Forward, last February filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission accusing the Republicans who signed the filing of committing fraud.

Another complaint against Hitt has been filed with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers.

Law Forward has also filed a complaint against the GOP fraudulent electors with Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm seeking an investigation into the matter to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

In short, upon information and belief, the fraudulent electors took every possible action to pantomime the procedures prescribed in (U.S. Code) and thereby to create the illusion that they were acting under color of law as Wisconsins true presidential electors, even as they cast votes contrary to the will of the voters and the designated votes required by law to reflect the election results, Mandell wrote in the Feb. 15 letter to Chisholm.

Law Forward alleges the GOP electors committed multiple felonies for forgery, falsely assuming to act as a public officer and misconduct in a public office. Mandell suggested the false electors could be charged with both federal and state crimes.

Mandell told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week Chisholm is still reviewing the complaint.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times Magazine and creator of The 1619 Project that has incensed some conservatives, will speak on the UW-Madison campus next week.

Hannah-Jones is this years keynote speaker for the universitys annual symposium celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 25. She will reflect on the civil rights leaders legacy through the lens of her work investigating racial injustice, according to an event announcement.

Hannah Joness best-known work, The 1619 Project, is a controversial examination of how slavery shaped Americas founding. Published in 2019, the series of essays has drawn praise as a long overdue correction that centers the experiences of Black Americans. But the work, which was also turned into a book released late last year, has also garnered criticism from some historians for inaccuracies.

Some Republicans have railed against the work, calling it propaganda intended to stoke racial divisions and rewrite history to fit a leftist ideology. GOP lawmakers in a handful of states have gone so far as to introduce bills that would cut funding for school districts or public universities that use The 1619 Project in its curriculum. And Donald Trump appointed a panel, the 1776 Commission, to write a report about the countrys patriotic history that refutes the narrative set forth in the series.

Becca Meltz, who chairs the College Republicans of UW-Madison, said the group didnt have a statement about the upcoming event. Speaking generally about speakers on campus, she said the group has always been and will continue to be advocates for free speech. Students should have the opportunity to be exposed to a diverse set of viewpoints, she said, and that can only happen when the university is accepting of any speaker regardless of their opinions and positions.

We just ask that conservative speakers are given the same respect and opportunity that liberal speakers are given, Meltz said.

Its unclear how often, if at all, The 1619 Project is taught in the classroom. The university does not have a centralized tracking system of whether a particular text is taught in a given semester, UW-Madison spokesperson Meredith McGlone said. Those decisions are left to individual instructors.

The speakers fee to bring Hannah-Jones to campus is $55,000, which is on par with past speakers for this event, McGlone said. Gift funds will be used to pay the speakers fee.

Hannah-Joness reporting has earned a number of prestigious awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship, also known as a Genius grant. In 2016, she co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which aims to diversify the journalism industry.

The free event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Shannon Hall in the Memorial Union. Doors open at 6 p.m. No ticket is required.

The event will also be livestreamed. Registration is required for those tuning in online and can be completed at go.madison.com/MLKevent.

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WOMANS MEETING: The Womans Club of Denver will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Faith United Evangelical Lutheran Church, 357 Walnut St., Denver. Program: Surprises and Prizes! Evening of fun, games and fellowship.

EDUCATIONAL TASK FORCE: The Lancaster-Lebanon Right to Education Task Force will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, via Zoom. The topic: Developing a Strong Individualized Education Program. Zoom meeting info: zoom.us/j/96821281026?pwd=; Meeting ID: 968 2128 1026, passcode: 414518; or dial by phone, +13017158592,,96821281026#. There is no cost to attend. For more information or to register, contact Norma Wagner, 717-606-1683.

Community Calendar runs as space is available. Three weeks notice of an event is appreciated. Please place the date of the event or the deadline date to register at the top of the press release. Email your information to news@lnpnews.com.
A man and woman were killed after a Fulton Township residence went up in flames early Monday morning, according to the Robert Fulton Fire Company.

Firefighters were dispatched to the two-story farmhouse-style home in the 100 block of Little Britain Church Road, just off Robert Fulton Highway (Route 222), shortly after 3:30 a.m. A passerby had called 911 after noticing flames shooting out of the residences windows, said Fire Chief Phil Smith.

The house was completely engulfed by the time firefighters arrived; the fire spread to both floors and the attic, Smith said.

Two people were later found dead inside the wreckage of the home as firefighters were clearing debris, according to a news release by state police fire marshals. Neither person had been identified by Monday evening.

Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said the bodies found were those of an adult man and woman.

The coroners office is now attempting to locate dental records to identify the two, who are scheduled to undergo an autopsy Wednesday.

State police are looking into the cause and origins of the fire, with a preliminary investigation determining that the blaze was not suspicious in nature, according to the news release.

Firefighters have so far been unable to make contact with the homeowners.

The blaze was under control after about an hour, with firefighters remaining at the scene into the early afternoon to clear remaining hot spots and sift through the wreckage.

The home was totally destroyed by the fire, which caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to the property and contents inside, Smith said.

Its pretty much no longer standing, Smith said of the 1,960-square-foot residence.

No firefighters were injured during the incident.

Property records indicate the home, built in 1850, was purchased in 2019 by Aaron and Annie King.
About two and a half inches of snow fell across Lancaster County last night before sleet and rain cleared some of the ice before sunrise, according to Kyle Elliott, director of the Millersville University Weather Information Center.

Snowfall distribution was relatively even across the county, with northern and northwestern areas near Manheim seeing more than 3 inches of snow while southern areas saw totals closer to about 2 inches, Elliot said. A high of 3.3 inches of snow was recorded in Maytown.

The snow began falling around 3:30 p.m., beginning in the southwest corner of the county and moving northeast. By 4:30 p.m., the entire county was experiencing snowfall.

That snow transitioned in the sleet and freezing rain after 8 p.m., ending about two hours later when it changed over to plain rain between 10 and 11 p.m.

Sundays storm was an energetic and dynamic weather system Elliot said, adding that it was one of the most energetic well see in the wintertime.

But even with its ever-changing nature, Elliot believes the storm was well-forecast in Lancaster County by meteorologists, particularly in accurately narrowing down the timing of when snow, sleet and rain were expected to fall.

That was a big bonus here in the Susquehanna Valley, he said. People were ready and they were prepared.

Though the county experienced some isolated power outages, treacherous road conditions and wind gusts of up to 45 to 55 mph, our impacts here were relatively minor in comparison (to other areas), said Elliot.

The same weather system produced as many as two feet of snow in areas near the Great Lakes, as well as creating tornadoes in Florida, damaging winds and coastal flooding in New Jersey and heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain in an area stretching from the Deep South up into New England.

Snow was still falling Monday afternoon in New York and northeastern New England. The rapidly moving system is expected to continue heading northeast into northern Canada before dissipating.

Sunday also saw a significant warming period in Lancaster County that took place over less than 24 hours.

A low temperature of 7 degrees was recorded at Millersville University between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.  the lowest temperature recorded there since Feb. 2, 2019, nearly three years ago. Those temperatures rose throughout the day and into the evening to a high in the low-40s around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. today.

While Elliot said hes seen more dramatic temperature shifts occur before, it is rare to see the temperature increase that much overnight (during a winter storm).
When Brian Barnhart announced his retirement from the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, he could picture no more worthy successor than the IU13s second in command, Matthew Stem.

He got his wish. Stem, 51, will replace Barnhart as the IU13s executive director on April 1.

IU13 congratulates Matthew Stem, who will become our new Executive Director as of April 1. Mr. Stem has both a proven record of exceptional leadership & the keen ability to embrace our #WorkWorthDoing culture. Read more: https://t.co/bU1hlYQTyo pic.twitter.com/hBYaKd3gGF  Lanc-Leb IU13 (@IU13) January 14, 2022

Barnhart announced his retirement in July 2021. His last day is at the end of March, five months sooner than planned.

It is time for me to retire, Barnhart, 56, said in a press release announcing his early departure. While I have not made any official plans, I look forward to spending more quality time with my family and exploring new hobbies.

Barnharts salary is $216,500. A spokesperson for the IU13 could not provide Stems salary for LNP | LancasterOnline by the end of the day Monday.

Stem, of East Hempfield Township, began his role as the IU13s assistant executive director in June 2021 after six years as Pennsylvanias deputy secretary of elementary and secondary education.

The Millersville University graduate has more than 22 years of experience as a teacher, principal, district-level administrator and assistant superintendent at School District of Lancaster and Wyomissing Area School District in Berks County.

I am grateful for the opportunity to become part of the IU13 family, Stem said in a press release. IU13 is one of the leading education service agencies in the Commonwealth Dr. Barnhart and the current Leadership Team have worked strategically to build this amazing culture, and I am grateful to be appointed as the next Executive Director to continue the growth of our #WorkWorthDoing at IU13.

The Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 serves 16 school districts in Lancaster County and six in Lebanon County. The education service agency with offices at 1020 New Holland Ave. in Lancaster city and 1 Cumberland St. in Lebanon also serves students in nonpublic schools, preschoolers and adult learners throughout Pennsylvania.
Editor's Note: This story was initially published in January 2022 when Todd Hutchinson was initially named as the city's interim fire chief. On Thursday, April 21, Hutchinson was named the city's permanent chief.

Todd Hutchinson walked into the Lancaster Bureau of Fire Station on West King Street on Friday wearing the white shirt of fire chief.

The golden badge affixed to his shirt and the title are both new to Hutchinson, but leadership and working in Lancaster city aren't. Since 2016, he's served as captain and battalion chief with the city.

Mayor Danene Sorace named Hutchinson as the city's interim fire chief earlier this month, filling the role after Scott Little announced in December he will be the new chief in Manheim Township.

Patrick S. Hopkins, business administrator for the city of Lancaster, said Hutchinson's salary is being increased to $115,000 for the time he is serving in the interim chief position. Hutchinson said he is plans to go for the full-time role.

Hutchinson has spent his entire life around fire trucks and firefighters. He was interested in firefighting from a young age, spending time with family members who volunteered.

He became a volunteer firefighter with Liberty Fire Company in New Holland when he was 16 and went on to get a degree in fire science from North Hampton Community College in Bethlehem.

"It's in your blood, you know," Hutchinson said. "I guess you could say, yes, it's a dream to lead such an organization that the City of Lancaster has here."

Hutchinson started with Lancaster city in 2005, and he will lead the 76-member fire department into the station's 140th anniversary.

'We're dedicated to this area'

Hutchinson, 45, lives in the Bridgeport area with his wife, Melissa, of nearly 20 years and their three sons. Firefighters are not required to live in the city.

"We're dedicated to this area," he said.

Community outreach and engagement is high on Hutchinson's priority list.

"I'm looking forward to getting out and meeting -- more on a personal level -- introducing myself and explaining what we do," Hutchinson said.

'We're in good hands'

Littles tenure as the citys fire chief Lancaster started in 2018 with a background in firefighting in York County, service with the Marines Corps and the Department of Defense in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

He spoke confidently about Hutchinson stepping into the new role.

"We've developed him for this opportunity," Little said of Hutchinson. "We're in good hands."

Little said that Hutchinson understands the goals of the fire department and its role in the community.

"You've got to have engagement with our community and he knows the why," Little said."It's not about just coming in and sitting here and going through the motions for him. He's using the playbook that we currently are using, that we've developed and he's moving on with that."

Though Little is leaving the citys fire department, he won't be moving far away for his new job.

The Manheim Township Board of Commissioners announced in December that Little would be the next fire chief for Manheim Township Fire Rescue Department, taking over for Rick Kane who resigned this month to work in the private sector.

Little looks forward to continuing to work with Hutchinson as the two fire departments often work and train together.

"We're still going to work together," Little said. "I don't see much change. It's just a change in the color of a fire truck and working on the other side of Liberty Street."
Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore Countys first immigrant affairs coordinator, stands for a portrait in front of the Baltimore County Government building on Wednesday, December 1. (Ulysses Munoz/The Baltimore Sun)

Raiza Boadas considers herself fortunate to have found her way from Venezuela to Dundalk.

In 2019, Boadas was driven from her home country amid mass protests to remove President Nicolas Maduro. In an interview, she described through an interpreter receiving death threats from Maduros government for feeding protesters outside her apartment. If she returns, she said, theyll kill her.

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She found a home with her son in Baltimore County. She leaned on a strong network of family and friends and an immigrant services provider, CASA de Maryland, based in Baltimore City, to adjust to her new life.

Now a volunteer with CASA, shes seen firsthand how other first-generation families struggled to get by in the county, where until recently, there were no centralized immigration services.

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Officials hope to meet an increasing need among many of the 106,000 county residents who are immigrants, according to the census. Until now, they have been forced to seek assistance outside the county in finding food and housing, enrolling children in school and obtaining legal aid.

To that end, County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. created the countys first immigration affairs coordinator position and tapped Giuliana Valencia-Banks to fill it.

Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore Countys first immigrant affairs coordinator, stands for a portrait Dec. 1, 2021, in front of the Baltimore County government building. (Ulysses Munoz/The Baltimore Sun)

Valencia-Banks formerly worked at the Esperanza Center, a city-based program operated by Catholic Charities of Baltimore that provides free legal services and health care to immigrants, and saw there the countys gaps in service. Up to 40% of calls to the Esperanza Center come from county residents, she said. Many face language barriers and struggle to access interpreter services.

The need is persistent: CASA de Maryland, an immigrant advocacy organization that serves Central Maryland jurisdictions, says 30% of its members live in Baltimore County. The Baltimore Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs and city-based service providers say as many as 50% of their calls for aid come from county residents.

The city, where 9% of the population are immigrants, often cant help.

When we do get contacted by someone from the county, there are very few places where we can refer them, said Catalina Rodriguez-Lima, who heads the city Office of Immigrant Affairs that she helped found in 2013.

One in eight county residents is an immigrant, according to census data, a figure that grew by 19% over the past decade. The percentage of foreign-born residents has nearly tripled since 1990.

Immigrant communities are scattered across the county, with pockets from Owings Mills and Reisterstown to Cockeysville to Middle River and Dundalk, according to county data.

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Those who emigrate to the Baltimore suburbs are most likely to be from Nigeria, Kenya, El Salvador, the Philippines, India, China and South Korea, according to census data provided by the county. But their most recent residence is often Baltimore City: They snap up suburban homes as they find higher-paying jobs, said Patricia Jones, executive director of the Immigration Outreach Service Center.

We have watched them move from the city to the county  and they kept coming back to us, she said of her Baltimore-based group, which provides translation services, legal aid and tutoring, and offers financial and computer literacy programs.

In part, thats because the county has lacked a way for residents seeking immigrant services  often related to work, affordable housing and food access, Jones said.

With the new immigrant affairs coordinator, this will make a big change for our folks in the county, Jones said.

Valencia-Banks, who moved from Peru to Florida with her family when she was 6, started with the county in mid-November. She plans to hold roundtables with community groups, nonprofit organizations and immigrant service providers to glean further information about residents needs. She wants to use Spanish-speaking media outlets to better disseminate information  a critical issue for non-English speakers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

[ A hub of immigrants, Owings Mills High looks for new education models ]

Much of her work will involve shaping culturally responsive programming. In immediate terms, that means making county programs accessible to non-English speakers and noncitizens, she said.

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She also plans to promote the economic development and integration of immigrant communities and foster public and private partnerships with nonprofit groups, businesses, houses of worship, neighborhood associations and advocacy organizations to strengthen their development and resolve constituent service requests.

From left, German Salgado, social events coordinator at Iglesia de Dios Hispana en Owings Mills; Blanca Cedillos, wife of pastor Domingo Cedillos, and Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore Countys first immigrant affairs outreach coordinator, meet Dec. 4, 2021, at the church. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )

Valencia-Banks works out of the countys Office of Community and Engagement with a $70,000 annual salary.

Immediately, there will be a lot of fires to put out, Rodriguez-Lima said, noting the pandemic has made life even more stressful for many first-generation Americans.

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Boadas said shes seen residents who have not reached out for help because there arent enough interpreters, which she believes is one of the most important needs.

Lydia Walther-Rodriguez, executive director of CASA de Maryland, hopes the new position will lead to more direct collaboration with CASA. In the city, for instance, the organization works in tandem with the immigrant affairs office to manage cases. That proved crucial during the pandemic, when many foreign-born families sought eviction prevention aid.

That direct connection helped immigrant families in the city that applied for rental assistance receive aid more quickly than those in Baltimore County because immigrant service providers could directly advocate for their needs and identify barriers, Walther-Rodriguez said.

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Few Maryland counties offer centralized immigration services. State lawmakers in 2021 created the Governors Office for Immigrant Affairs, which will focus on career placement, programs that teach English and the citizenship naturalization processes for Marylands roughly 15% foreign-born population.

Its a hefty workload for an office of one in Baltimore County. Rodriguez-Lima, by contrast, leads a city office of five employees for a smaller immigration population.

But creating and filling the position may lead to a point person who can design the program, remove barriers and advocate for more public funding and partnerships, Rodriguez-Lima said.

The best way to tackle it is [to] understand the needs of communities across the board, she added. Not just the needs of Latinos, of Asians, but what are the overarching needs of immigrants and refugees overall? And use that to bring different groups together.
When: Manheim Township commissioners meeting, Jan. 10.

What happened: The board gave approval to Manheim Township tax collector Cherie Cryer to appoint the Lancaster County Treasurers Office to serve as the townships deputy tax collector.

What it means: The treasurers office will collect real estate taxes instead of Cryer, allowing her to retain her full-time position as a certified public accountant with Simon Lever. As a candidate for office, Cryer presented her plan to deputize the county to collect municipal and county taxes as way to save taxpayer funds. A Jan. 12 press release from the municipal office stated Cryer will enter into a separate agreement for school taxes to be collected by Manheim Township School District. Because this consolidation will limit her duties as tax collector, Cryer proposed that she not receive a salary while serving as a tax collector but that she receive only reimbursement for expenses to carry out her duties. President Donna DiMeo said the board will work out tax collector costs when it meets again Jan. 24.

Background: Cryer won her seat as Manheim Township tax collector in last Novembers election, defeating Sharon Flory, according to results posted by the Lancaster County Board of Elections. In the past, the municipality paid for a full-time tax collector with an office at the municipal office. The previous tax collector was Patrica Kabel, who first took office in 2014 and then lost her seat in the primary election last May.

Further background: Kabel also collected taxes that township residents owed the school district and county. She became embroiled in a legal battle with Manheim Township School District over her right to collect school taxes, which the district collected in-house. Many districts across the state do the same, claiming its more efficient if they do it themselves. The lawsuit ultimately went to the states highest court  a lawsuit the district lost  that cost district taxpayers $162,000, according to a previous report by LNP | LancasterOnline.

Land-use hearing scheduled: The board received a request by Shakher Patel to consolidate three tracts of land he owns along Enterprise Way, off Manheim Pike and near Flory Mill Road, to be consolidated into one lot to be developed with a hotel and cultural/event center for the local South Asian community. Also, David and Jennifer Ishler, 2650 Sutton Place, requested a permit for up to 12 chickens in a small coop. A public hearing on both requests will be held at 6 p.m. April 11.

Appointments: The board appointed Nelson Rohrer as president and Chad Hurst as vice president of the agriculture/farm advisory committee; Commissioner Barry Kauffman to the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee and the Central Lancaster County Council; and board Vice President Stacey Morgan Brubaker to the General Municipal Authority. Kauffman will serve as liaison for the public works and public library departments; Commissioner Mary Jo Huyard, recreational and park planning and code compliance departments; Commissioner John Bear, police and finance departments; and Brubaker, police, fire, and planning and zoning departments. Bear, Brubaker and Manheim Township Manager James Drumm will serve as the municipalitys negotiation committee during collective bargaining, Drumm said in an email after the meeting.

Ambulance report: Director of Operations Darryl Mitchell said the department responded to 512 calls in December, with a total of 5,475 calls in 2021. He noted that due to COVID-19 outbreaks, an ambulance can wait an hour with a nonemergency patient to be admitted to a hospital.

Fire/rescue: Chief Rick Kane gave probably his last report before leaving the department next month to work in the private sector. He reported 2,592 incidents in 2021, compared to 1,586 in 2020, when the numbers were down severely due to COVID, with a return to normal last year. DiMeo thanked Kane for his service. You will be a great loss to Manheim Township, she said. We wish you well. Kane said he began volunteering with the ambulance association when he was 16. Its been a great run, he said. The new Richmond Square Fire Station is now open. The building, which was empty for almost four years, once housed a bank.

Police: Chief Tom Rudzinski said December was an unremarkable month, with crimes remaining low and most incidents involving traffic accidents and driving under the influence charges.
THE ISSUE

Lancaster County residents joined fellow Americans in celebrating the life and legacy of civil rights giant the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. (Because of the latest COVID-19 surge, many events were held virtually.) Kings nonviolent movement spurred Congress to pass the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, and banned racial segregation in public accommodations. In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which eliminated barriers that kept African Americans and other people of color from voting. A crucial component of the Voting Rights Act was dismantled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013.

Lancasters Crispus Attucks Community Center held its 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast Monday. Its theme: The Fierce Urgency of Now.

It was apt.

King spoke those words as part of his famous I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in August 1963.

Those working today against Kings aims  for access to the ballot, for broader racial justice  like to quote his stated wish that his children someday not be judged by their skin color. That particular quote is willfully misinterpreted as a get-out-of-responsibility-for-racism-free card. Its used to argue against teaching children the truth about our nations past, to insist that King would have us ignore racism.

Those who make these fallacious arguments should read other of Kings writings, including his Letter from a Birmingham Jail and his Give Us the Ballot speech. Or they at least should read the entirety of the speech he delivered at the August 1963 March on Washington.

King said the marchers had come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.

Aiko Bethea, an equity consultant who delivered the keynote talk at the Crispus Attucks breakfast, noted that we are paying the price of being too late every day and every second.

Certainly, a price is paid by those who wait hours in long lines to vote, because there are too few polling places in their neighborhoods and voting hours have been cut; a price is paid, too, by those who have been disenfranchised in voter roll purges conducted without safeguards.

This is why, according to Kings children, making real the promises of democracy means passing new voting rights legislation now.

Martin Luther King III called on President Joe Biden and Congress to restore the very voting rights protections my father and countless other civil rights leaders bled to secure.

States across the U.S. are considering and passing bills that seek to make it harder for people, especially people of color, to vote. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 440 bills with provisions that restrict voting access were introduced in 49 states in the 2021 legislative sessions.

Thus the fierce urgency of now to pass voting rights legislation in Congress.

And hence the cry  no celebration without legislation  which was echoed Monday at the Crispus Attucks breakfast as well as across social media.

In remarks opening the breakfast, WGAL News 8 anchor Danielle Woods mentioned Martin Luther King IIIs use of that phrase, no celebration without legislation.

She noted: Mr. King went on to say Congress must deliver for voting rights by passing legislation. We cant, in good conscience, celebrate the MLK legacy without action. So today, as we commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King, we invite you to consider how you can join us in working in a fiercely urgent way to create the equitable and just community we all deserve.

Its an invitation we all should accept.

And we should start by considering urging our representatives in Washington to support voting rights legislation.

Last week, the U.S. House passed the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, a combined bill whose aims include expanding early voting and voter registration; strengthening voting by mail; protecting against faulty voter purges; and making Election Day a national holiday. As the Brennan Center explains, it also would restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to full strength, in part by once again requiring states with histories of voter discrimination to receive approval from the Department of Justice or a federal court before enacting voting changes.

The bill passed in a 220-203 vote. Republican U.S. Reps. Lloyd Smucker of Lancaster County and Scott Perry of York County voted against the bill.

It is slated for consideration today in the U.S. Senate.

The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act faces an obstacle in the Senate that was familiar to King: the filibuster, which can be used to block action on a bill that doesnt have 60 votes.

As Kevin Ressler, president and CEO of United Way of Lancaster County, noted in a column published by LNP | LancasterOnline on Sunday, the filibusters most notorious usage in American history was to support Jim Crow laws, and to prevent anti-lynching bills and voting rights legislation from becoming law. Ressler noted that the filibuster was not part of the Constitution; it emerged in the 19th century and so does not deserve the reverence of permanence.

King spoke out against the filibuster, too: I think the tragedy is that we have a Congress with a Senate that has a minority of misguided senators who will use the filibuster to keep the majority of people from even voting, he said in 1963. They wont let the majority senators vote. And certainly they wouldnt want the majority of people to vote, because they know they do not represent the majority of the American people. In fact, they represent, in their own states, a very small minority.

This remains true nearly six decades later.

In his Give Us the Ballot speech in 1957, King called voting rights an eternal moral issue which may well determine the destiny of our nation. And he called the denial of voting rights a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic tradition.

This was true then. And its true now.

No matter our political party, we should believe in the right to vote. And we should insist that those who represent us in Congress believe in it, too.
Follow the money. For decades I believe there has been malicious intent among teachers unions as they relate to the welfare of the students of our country.

When my children were in school in the 1980s and 1990s, I helped to organize a voluntary team of parents to help in elementary schools. Our group of parents was very willing, and the teachers were very appreciative of the help. It was not unusual for a teacher also to express a desire to volunteer, to help as needed.

I remember reading an article in the Lancaster newspaper at that time in which a leader in the Pennsylvania teachers union directed teachers in public schools never to volunteer for anything, with the reasoning being that teachers should be compensated for any time given outside the classroom.

Fast-forward to now and notice how much power the National Education Association has. During the worst of the pandemic in 2021, it seemed that the NEA found excuse upon excuse to justify why teachers should not go back to the classroom.

I believe that the true colors of the NEA are showing through. It is all about whats good for its members. In my view, the NEA does not care about the students of our country; its all about power and money, and then using the money in the political arena.

The NEA does not care, in my view, about providing a quality education for young people, who are the future of our country. May God help us all.

Ora Henry

Strasburg
Though the U.S. prison population has declined slightly over the last decade, progress toward decarceration has been exceedingly modest. Creating or expanding mechanisms for early release from prison could help accelerate the pace of decarceration. Compassionate release early release from prison based on a serious or terminal medical condition"is the only early release mechanism available in nearly every state. This Article uses compassionate release as a case study in the possibilities and limits of early release measures as tools for decarceration in the states. So far, decarceral reforms have largely failed to reach people convicted of violent crimes, who account for over half of the state prison population. The challenge presented by the prevalence of violent convictions is particularly acute for compassionate release. People age 55 and older, who make up a significant and growing share of people in state prisons, are the age group most likely to qualify for compassionate release. They are also the age group most likely to be incarcerated for violent convictions. This Article identifies the significant barriers that people incarcerated for violent convictions face when seeking compassionate release even when they are not outright barred by their convictions. This Article argues that to be effective tools for decarceration, compassionate release and other early release measures must reduce the obstacles to release for people incarcerated for violent convictions. This Article models this approach with concrete suggestions for how states can reform their compassionate release measures to reach the hardest cases.


At school board meetings across the United States in 2021, parents physically fought each other. Others shouted and threatened school board members.

These disagreements even entered state politics, like the 2021 Virginia governors race. The issues included how race, racism and transgendered student rights are taught.

Most of the media attention last year also centered on critical race theory. For some, critical race theory, or CRT, is a way of understanding how race has shaped American society and public policy. For others, CRT creates division and conflict between white people and minorities. The theory, however, is not being taught to public school students in the country.

Kate Phillippo is a professor at Loyola University in Chicago. Joseph Ferrare teaches at the University of Washington.

These two researchers said these conflicts are likely to continue into the new year. And they shared their observations on the website The Conversation.



Online education

In 2022, conflicts over online education are likely to increase with the spread of the Omicron variant and the required vaccination for all students.

The issue is whether parents should have control over how public money is spent on educating their children. This could lead to risks of moving money away from public schools to others like religious, private, and charter schools.

By last autumn, schools in the U.S. largely returned to in-person classes.

However, demand for home-schooling and online schooling has risen. Parents have discovered that those choices offer more control over the use of time, what their children learn, and safety from the coronavirus.

In Washington State, the number of students choosing online education has greatly increased at for-profit schools that receive public money. One company, Washington Virtual Academies, saw a student body increase of about 85 percent from 2020 to 2021. Schools across the country saw a similar movement. And school choice supporters argued that parental demand for online education would continue.

Ferrare and several others studied the effects of online education compared to in-person classes among students. They found that students who switch to online schools experience considerable learning losses in reading and math during each of the three years after switching. That evidence has forced policymakers to consider greater control over online schools.

Affirmative action

Some American universities consider the race of a student along with other qualities like economic status for college admission.

In 2022, legal cases involving affirmative action will likely create more disagreement on education in America. Affirmative action is a practice or policy of helping individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously.

This year, the case of Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard University will reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The group argued that Harvard held Asian Americans to a higher standard to give preference to black and Hispanic students with lower grades.

Harvard says it uses race as one of many things it considers in admissions decisions. It believes considering race can help create a mixed community where students from all walks of life can learn with and from each other.

Teachers unions

In 2022, teachers' unions may continue to exercise their power even with ongoing efforts by parents and other groups to limit it. A union is an organization that represents the interests of teachers.

Last year, teachers' unions effectively negotiated increased health safety measures against the spread of COVID-19 in cities including New York and Los Angeles.

In January, a dispute over the COVID-19 safety measures kept 350,000 students from in-person classes in Chicago for five days. The teachers returned after school officials agreed to expand COVID-19 testing and establish rules for when to close schools during outbreaks.

These wins signal the ability of teachers' unions to negotiate on issues like working conditions and pay. With shortages of qualified teachers, unions negotiation power may intensify.

Gifted programs

American school systems usually have gifted education programs for students that show a high level of success. Many programs began as efforts to keep white families from leaving racially diverse public schools in urban areas. They were created to compete with high-performing private schools.

Such programs have been under much criticism in recent years. Critics say they worsen racial divisions and inequality in the countrys education system.

An Associated Press study of recent federal data found that nationwide, 8.1 percent of white and 12.7 percent of Asian American children in public schools are considered gifted. But only 4.5 percent of Hispanic and 3.5 percent of Black students are identified as gifted.

In 2022, gifted education may become a national debate. So far, it has been centered in New York City, but it may spread.

In early October, the outgoing mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio announced plans to end the gifted programs in the countrys largest school system. However, Eric Adams, the new mayor said he plans to keep gifted programs in place.

In California, policymakers plan to group students of different mathematical abilities in the same classroom. Only in their last year of school will students be able to choose an advanced mathematics class.

Other efforts are also launched in Boston, Massachusetts and Seattle, Washington to end the gifted education programs.

Im Gregory Stachel. And Im Caty Weaver.

Joseph J. Ferrare and Kate Phillippo reported this story for The Conversation. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

board  n. group of people who have been chosen to learn information about something or to give advice

transgendered  adj. of or relating to people who feel that their true nature does not match their sex at birth

opportunity  n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

variant  n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind

switch  v. to make a change from one thing to another : to start doing or using something that is different

admission  n. the act or process of accepting someone as a student at a school

affirmative action  n. the practice of improving the educational and job opportunities of members of groups that have not been treated fairly in the past because of their race, sex, or something else

union  n. an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of its members

diverse  adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other


The Gaza Strip, a Palestinian area on the Mediterranean Sea, has few jobs, little electricity and almost no natural resources. But after four wars with Israel in just over 10 years, it has lots of destroyed buildings, or rubble.

Local businesses are now finding ways to make money from the rubble left behind after years of conflict.

The Gaza Strip suffers from a shortage of construction materials. So, a new industry has started up to reuse the stones, bricks and concrete from the rubble. It provides money to some people. But some are concerned that the reused rubble is not of high quality and might be unsafe.

Its a lucrative business, said Naji Sarhan who oversees housing in the territory. He added, We are trying to control and correct the misuse of these materials.

Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers have gone to war four times since the Islamic militant group took control of the territory in 2007. The most recent fighting was in May. Israeli airstrikes have damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of buildings in the fighting.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) says it worked with local businesses to remove about 2.5 million metric tons of rubble left behind from the wars. Gazas Housing Ministry says the 11-day war in May left an additional 270,000 tons.

That includes the Al-Jawhara building in downtown Gaza City. Over the past three months, workers have taken the tall building apart floor by floor. They separated twisted metal from the rubble, to be straightened out and reused as building materials.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza for the past 15 years. The blockade restricts the entry of badly needed construction materials in the area. Israel says such restrictions are needed to prevent Hamas from using things like concrete and steel for military use. Since 2014, it has permitted some imports. But thousands of homes need to be repaired or rebuilt, and there are widespread shortages.

The UNDP has put restrictions on reusing the materials. It says that renewed rubble is not safe enough for use in building homes and other structures. But it can be broken into smaller pieces to be used for road projects.

The U.N. road projects have provided a partial solution for the rubble problem. But most of Gazas rubble continues to be used for private businesses. Sarhan said it is illegal to use renewed rubble in major construction. But he said enforcing that ban is very difficult.

Ahmed Abu Asaker is an engineer in Gaza. Many brick factories use the rubble, he said, which is not a great concern. But he said that a few times it has been mixed into concrete, which is much more dangerous.

There have not been any reports of building collapses. But Abu Asaker estimates that thousands of homes have been built with materials from reused rubble since 2014.

Antar al-Katatni runs a brick factory that uses materials from the rubble. He said internationally supported projects do not use his bricks because they are not permitted to do so. But poor people do, he added.

A brick costs 2 shekels, or about 65 cents, when made from higher quality Israeli materials. The price for the ones al-Katatni makes is 1.7 or 1.8 shekels. A building often requires several thousand bricks and the price difference can save a lot of money for a poor family.

Im Dan Novak.

The Associated Press reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_______________________________________

Words in This Story

concrete  n. a hard, strong material that is used for building and made by mixing cement, sand, and broken rocks with water

lucrative  adj. producing money or wealth

twisted  v. to bend or turn in order to change its shape

blockade  n. an act of war in which one country uses ships to stop people or supplies from entering or leaving another country
Thats it? Thats Marilyn Mosbys defense? She tapped into her tax-deferred retirement savings in 2020 because private companies that she established just the year before faced financial hardship due to the pandemic  even though said companies had not conducted any business?

Thats all shes got?

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Thats the story her attorney went with on Monday: The Baltimore States attorney, indicted last week by a federal grand jury on perjury charges, did nothing wrong because her startup businesses were eligible for financial relief under an act of Congress.

Lets go over this.

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For starters, a look at chronology might be helpful in understanding why this defense is so shaky.

In 2019, Mosby, whose main job is supposed to be prosecuting crime in Baltimore, formed three companies  Mahogany Elite Consulting, offering legal and consulting services; Mahogany Elite Travel, offering travel and hospitality services; and Mahogany Elite Enterprises LLC, a holding, or umbrella, company for the other two.

We  that is, the press and public  did not know about this until a year later. The Baltimore Brew had a detailed story about it. The Baltimore Sun followed up. It was not illegal, but it seemed pretty odd for a person elected as states attorney of Marylands largest city, and one experiencing an epoch of gun violence, to be establishing private companies while in office. It raised questions, if not red flags.

But Mosby, through her official spokeswoman, explained that the businesses were not yet operational. In fact, we were told, the companies are not intended to launch until after Mosby leaves office. And didnt we all breathe a sigh of relief at that?

Furthermore, in July 2020, Mosby asked Baltimores inspector general to conduct an investigation to determine if the states attorney had done anything wrong. The request was touted as an effort toward transparency.

Now, pay close attention to the quote Im going to share, because when I came across it, it jumped off the page.

In her letter to Isabel Mercedes Cumming, the inspector general, Mosby asked specifically for a review of the Mahogany businesses. Heres the key quote from that letter: I ask that you verify that I have not taken on a single client for these companies, nor have I taken in any money. Any insinuation to the contrary is false, misleading, and unethical.

Thats Mosby directly stating  with use of the Oxford comma  that her companies had not opened doors, had not accepted clients, had not accepted any money. Essentially, the companies existed, but they had not launched, so how could she claim hardship?

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Look at the date of the letter to Cumming: July 20, 2020.

Now consider this date: May 26, 2020. According to the federal indictment, thats the date Mosby, a city employee earning close to $250,000 a year, applied for a $40,000 withdrawal from the citys Deferred Compensation Plans. Under provisions of the CARES Act, Americans were allowed to get up to $100,000 in their retirement funds, avoid the typical early-withdrawal penalty and pay back the withdrawn amount over three years without seeing it taxed as income. But they had to have experienced hardship.

So in May 2020, Mosby applied for financial relief for companies that, in July of that year, she reported as having conducted no business.

Thats why this line of defense looks so shaky. If her businesses were not in operation, wheres the hardship? Im reminded of lyrics from a great Billy Preston song: Nothin from nothin leaves nothin.

I know, I know: Mosby is innocent until proven guilty. But her lawyer seems determined to defend her in pretrial press appearances, so I could not resist a rebuttal just based on whats available in the public record.

By the way, Mosbys attorney, A. Scott Bolden, went to the national media with this explanation last week, a few hours after the indictment was handed down. In one appearance, he said this: Remember, Marilyn Mosby had businesses, if you will, and so those businesses were in the travel space and they were affected by [the pandemic].

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I cant help but note the words, if you will. Maybe thats Boldens manner of speaking, but when I hear, if you will, I hear a hedge. In this case, I heard, She sort of had business in the travel space. Maybe, if you will, even her lawyer knows her claims for pandemic-related financial relief, totaling $81,000 in two withdrawals, were thin.

What did Mosby do with all that money? It went to buying houses in Florida.

And the federal indictment claims she lied on documents related to the financing of those deals.

Now, I hear and see people saying this is no big deal, that the U.S. Attorney in Baltimore is going after Mosby because some people  federal prosecutors?  dislike her progressive approach to criminal justice, or because she prosecuted the Freddie Gray cops, or because shes Black and/or a woman. Mosbys lawyer has called the federal investigation a witch hunt, echoing others who used that term when they came under scrutiny, including former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and former President Donald Trump.

But, even her supporters have to stand back and, mustering a dose of objectivity, see something wrong with the picture: At best, crime-stricken Baltimore has a top prosecutor who is distracted by financial dealings of one sort or another; at worst, she is someone accused of gaming a system designed to help people and businesses that experienced real hardship. No good either way.


remaining of

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Lompoc City Council members spent the lions share of their Dec. 7 meeting discussing plans for allocating the citys first budget surplus in memory. The citys combined savings in salaries and department expenditures over the past year, as well as an influx of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act resulted in an $8 million budget surplus for the city.
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The Plating Society, a new restaurant from Feast and Field contributor Darian Bryan, opened January 11th, 2022 in the Larkin Historic District of Buffalo, New York.

The brick-and-mortar location is an expansion of the original version of the Plating Society, a boutique chef service providing fine dining events, catering and cooking classes in unique locations, from homes to yoga studios to the beach.

The restaurant will expand on this concept, offering pop-up events and meals in an intimate luxury show kitchen featuring Chef Darian as an attraction for personalized events.

I dont take this opportunity lightly, to bring my unique vision and stylistic approach to food preparation to Larkinville, Bryan says. Food is everything to me, it brings people together and I cant wait to create a community.

Community has been a theme in Bryans career from the time he learned to cook alongside his mother in her cookshop in a small town in Jamaica, where he helped her feed the neighborhood. After coming to New York in 2012, he attended culinary school and worked as a sous chef for Hutchs restaurant, helping launch it from the ground up.

Hes doing it again in Larkinville, where hes a homeowner with his wife Jessica. We hope our new restaurant will add to the development and investment in our community, making Larkinville the ideal neighborhood to live, work, play, and most importantly, eat!
Marilyn Mosby is many things to many people. Baltimores states attorney has been a rising political star. She is smart, energetic, progressive, reform minded and the source of some pride within the citys Black community. And she is innocent until proven guilty. Yet last weeks four-count federal indictment of the 41-year-old mother of two, who has served as Baltimores top prosecutor for seven years, was a body blow. Not only because the city has seen more than its share of public corruption allegations (and convictions) over the last two decades, but also because Baltimore remains besieged by gun violence, and the states attorney is in a key position in that fight. No matter what one may think of Ms. Mosbys job performance to date, it is difficult to see the outlook for reducing the homicide count somehow improved by this circumstance.

Lets be frank: Long before federal prosecutors set their sights on Ms. Mosbys financial dealings, she was a political lightning rod. Many in the city, including members of this board, are enthusiastic about the way her understanding of how historic racism and mass incarceration has crippled the community shapes her offices policies. Yet others in Maryland, with more politically conservative views, see her decision to not seek convictions for low-level offenses, such as drug possession, as unacceptably soft on crime. That has set off fireworks between her and Gov. Larry Hogan, who has accused her of being the cause of the citys crime problems while she, in turn, labeled such attacks from a white Republican as racist dog-whistling. Both found opportunities to engage their political base, but, once again, the exchange only hurt the criminal justice cause.

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And then theres the indictment. The allegations against her are far from trivial, stemming as they do from false statements made on financial forms related to mortgage applications in Florida and a hardship withdrawal from her retirements savings thats also related to those property purchases. But they are not exactly the crimes of the century, either. Some of her supporters have disparaged the charges as mistakes of paperwork; they are more than that. A qualified attorney surely understands the risk of misrepresentation on a federal form, including the claim of a pandemic-related hardship as allowed under the CARES Act. Yet perhaps there are mitigating circumstances  as her attorney now alleges, but offers no specifics  that might somehow justify the claim for someone who earns a quarter-million dollars per year. We do not know. Ms. Mosby has yet to offer an explanation, which is also her right.

The states attorneys chief response so far has been to claim victimhood. Was she targeted? Was she treated differently because she is a Black woman? Would these same charges have been pursued in other cases? Some respected civic leaders point to the prosecution of former Mayor Sheila Dixon and Catherine Pugh and see a pattern of going after women of color in leadership, a perception that also damages the citys standing. Yet, sadly, Baltimore has seen its share of male public officials going to prison as well, with two police commissioners, Darryl De Sousa and Edward T. Norris, having been convicted of financial misconduct. Mr. Norris was sentenced to six months on charges related to using police funds for lavish personal spending and lying about them on his tax returns in 2004. Mr. De Sousa received a 10-month sentence on three counts of failing to file federal income tax returns in 2019. Mr. De Sousa is Black, Mr. Norris is white.

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Again, Ms. Mosby deserves her day in court which, unfortunately, could be months or more away. That leaves at least two challenges: how best to prosecute criminals while this cloud hangs over her; and how to judge her behavior when a primary election beckons on June 28, and not all the facts are on the table. The latter circumstance will simply be left to voters to judge. Much of the case against Ms. Mosby comes down to documents with her signature on them. The burden to prove a crime in that is on federal prosecutors, though we certainly expect Ms. Mosby to offer a vigorous defense. Most worrisome to our city is the challenge of running her office while her integrity is openly in doubt. A solution might be for her to remain in her post (and thus, not concede guilt), but assign the day-to-day decision-making authority to subordinates. That way the public can be confident that the critically important work of the states attorneys office will not be held at arms length, whatever the fallout of the federal prosecution.

Lastly, we would have to observe how thoroughly discouraging it is to ponder the prosecutors indictment at the same time the public is presented a searing 660-page report on the Gun Trace Task Force, detailing how police officers abused the public trust in a far, far worse manner. Nothing underscores hopelessness quite like the people who are supposed to be the good guys acting as the bad ones, except, perhaps, doing so while the homicide count remains so disastrously high.

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.
A jury in Marion County, Tennessee, ordered Cracker Barrel to pay a man $9.4 million after it found the company at fault for serving him a glass filled with a chemical instead of water.

The size of the award may be capped due to a Tennessee law on civil damages.

"The jury returned a verdict for compensatory damages of $4.3 million in just 30 minutes -- one of the fastest verdicts we have ever seen -- and awarded punitive damages of $5 million after only 10 minutes of additional deliberation," Plaintiff William Cronnon's attorney Thomas Greer said in an interview with CNN.

Keep scrolling to see the 50 most popular chain restaurants in America

"The speed of the verdict, combined with an amount in excess of what we asked, speaks to just how dangerous the Cracker Barrel policy was," Greer said.

Cracker Barrel said it was "disappointed" with the award.

"While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jury's award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago," Cracker Barrel Media Relations said in a statement emailed to CNN.

"Although we are considering our options with respect to this verdict, we are glad this matter is behind us so we can better focus on caring for our guests and employees around the country," the statement said.

Cronnon was having lunch at a Cracker Barrel in Marion County in April 2014 when he took a sip of what he believed to be water, "only to immediately realize that it was not ice water but was some chemical that caused a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus," according to court documents obtained by CNN,

It was later discovered Cronnon had been served the chemical Eco-San, which was being used as a cleaner in the kitchen area, according to court documents.

Eco-San, described as a corrosive chemical in the lawsuit, caused permanent and serious internal physical injury to Cronnon, the complaint said.

Cronnon is still suffering from symptoms, including injuries to his mouth and esophagus, Greer said, which have incurred and will continue to incur medical expenses.

"Cracker Barrel's negligence didn't just cause Mr. Smith physical harm; it took away part of his identity," he said.

Cronnon did not wish to comment, Greer said.

***

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Chandler Halderson allegedly hid the gun used to kill his father in his familys home weeks before prosecutors say he killed and dismembered his parents, a friend of Haldersons testified in court on Tuesday.

Chandlers friends and former girlfriend appeared in court to testify about the alleged murder weapon and lies he told about scuba diving for the Madison Police Department following a weeklong delay in the trial after the 23-year-old Windsor man tested positive for COVID-19.

Andrew Smith, a Kansan and former member of the U.S. Army who met Chandler playing online video games, testified that he gave Chandler the gun, an SKS rifle, and nearly 500 rounds of ammunition as a gift while visiting the Halderson home last June. Smith documented the weapon exchange by taking a photo of Chandlers ID alongside the rifles serial number before Chandler reportedly hid the gun inside a desk in the family basement.

His parents understood why firearms exist in this world, not that they necessarily support having them, Smith said. I understood they might not be happy about having this firearm.

The gun was later found by investigators at a town of Cottage Grove property where Bart Haldersons torso had been dumped. Later in the afternoon, a firearms examiner with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab said a bullet fragment found in the Halderson homes basement had been fired from the rifle.

Smith said he stayed at the Halderson home for two days mere weeks before the deaths of Chandlers parents, Bart and Krista. Prior to Chandlers arrest, Smith said he received a not hysterical but upsetting call from Halderson about how his parents had gone missing. Smith reached out to authorities once he heard Chandler had been arrested.

Smiths testimony grew slightly tense when Haldersons attorney, Catherine Dorl, asked him how many guns he had sold, to which he replied thats none of your business, frankly.

Following Smiths testimony, jurors heard from a former roommate, Alex Gravatt, and former girlfriend, Dakotah Brown, who said Chandler had told them he was doing search-and-rescue scuba diving missions for the Madison Police Department. No such unit exists with Madison police.

Prosecutors have pointed to his parents uncovering lies like these as a possible motive for why Halderson murdered Bart, 50, and Krista, 53, at the Windsor home they shared on July 1. Other lies Chandler told the world included attending Madison Area Technical College and scoring an upcoming position with SpaceX in Florida. In reality, prosecutors say Halderson was unemployed and had dropped out of school.

After allegedly killing his parents, prosecutors say Chandler attempted to burn their bodies in a family fireplace before scattering them around southern Wisconsin. Chandler faces felony charges for murder, mutilating and hiding corpses and lying to investigators.

Later testimony by staff with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab revealed that Chandlers fingerprints matched prints on duct tape attached to a tarp found on the town of Cottage Grove property where investigators recovered his fathers torso.

A matching tool

In morning testimony, a forensic anthropologist with the Dane County Medical Examiners Office said two saws found by investigators were consistent with the cuts to Bart Haldersons dismembered torso and his wife Kristas dismembered legs.

Cristina Figueroa Soto said the alloy saw and hacksaw found on a property tied to Chandlers former girlfriend were consistent with the cuts to Bart and Kristas bones. An examination of false starts while cutting into bone can reveal the number of teeth on a particular blade, Soto testified. She could not say definitely that the saws and cuts were a perfect match.

Im not going to be able to say, Yes, this is the tool that was used, she said. But all the characteristics of this part of the individual were consistent again with the characteristics of those two tools that were found at the scene.

The alloy saw and hacksaw analyzed by Soto were found inside an old oil tank on the town of Cottage Grove family property of Cresent LSai, the partner of the mother of a different former girlfriend of Chandlers. Bart Haldersons torso was also found on the property, along with the bloodied tarp and the rifle.

Toward the end of Sotos morning testimony, she described how bone fragments were found in the Halderson homes vacuum cleaner and the family fireplace. Over 200 fragments of bone, including cranial bone and teeth, were recovered from the fireplace and its grate, which aligns with prosecutors argument that Chandler burned his parents heads in the fireplace. Chop marks consistent with a machete or ax were also found on part of a wrist bone in the Halderson fireplace.

Prior to Sotos testimony, jurors were shown photos of Krista Haldersons dismembered legs, which were found in a Sauk County field by investigators in July.

Violence suspected

Dane County Medical Examiner Dr. Agnieszka Rogalska said that Krista Haldersons recovered legs were consistent with being sawed apart, although they were in varying stages of decomposition.

There appeared to be kind of steps in the bone, Rogalska said. This is consistent with a sharp force injury that can be sawing, can be cutting, but again we have movement. ... Its not just cut clean through.

Since no hemorrhaging was found in Kristas legs, Rogalska determined that Krista was dead at the time she was dismembered. A precise cause of death is unknown, though it has been ruled a homicide.

I dont actually know which injury caused the death of Krista Halderson, but I believe she died as a result of some violence, the medical examiner said.

Haldersons trial was suspended last Tuesday after he was one of 81 Dane County Jail inmates to test positive for COVID-19 after the National Guard tested the entire jail population. The jail, where Halderson has been held since July, has seen a record number of cases of the virus in recent weeks.

Circuit Judge John Hyland, who is presiding over the case, had to dismiss a juror on Tuesday over a positive COVID-19 test.

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A 14-year-old La Follette High School student died in a Saturday evening car crash on the Southwest Side and one of the drivers was arrested but no charges have been filed yet, authorities reported.

Interim La Follette Principal Mathew Thompson wrote in an email to parents Monday evening that freshman Jeremiah Broomfield had been killed in the crash, and described him as an outgoing student with a dynamic personality who will be dearly missed.

Jeremiah had an incredible presence, he was connected to many of our students, Thompson wrote. The loss of a student, peer and friend is jarring and shocking.

Thompson said the school received news of the event Sunday morning.

The Dane County Medical Examiners Office on Tuesday identified Broomfield, of Madison, as the person killed in a crash reported around 8 p.m. Saturday on the 6200 block of Schroeder Road. Broomfield was pronounced dead at a local hospital that evening and preliminary results of a forensic examination confirmed he died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Madison police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer on Tuesday said the 14-year-old who died was a passenger in the two-vehicle crash. Two others involved in the crash were taken to the hospital, a 12-year-old male passenger who suffered serious injuries that included broken bones and an unidentified adult driver who suffered minor injuries.

Witnesses reported seeing someone run from the other vehicle involved in the crash, Fryer said. The driver has been arrested on a probation hold, with no charges yet filed related to the crash. Investigators are working to determine if speed or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Chief Shon Barnes in a Tuesday blog post identified the driver as a 41-year-old male.

Police ask that anyone with information on the incident contact them at 608-255-2345. Tipsters may remain anonymous by contacting Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or P3Tips.com. Individuals contacting Crime Stoppers can receive a reward of up to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.

La Follettes student services team is making plans to help students who may be grieving, including providing access to specific school spaces and offering support in each of Broomfields classes, Thompson said. He encouraged parents to check in with their children and reach out to their assigned assistant principal if they need additional support.

We are better together, Thompson wrote. We will pull each other through this difficult time together. We take care of this community.

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Kelly Meyerhofer | Wisconsin State Journal Kelly Meyerhofer covers higher education for the Wisconsin State Journal. She can be reached at 608-252-6106 or kmeyerhofer@madison.com. Follow Kelly Meyerhofer | Wisconsin State Journal Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, a Republican legislative leader who would at times criticize the Trump wing of his own party, announced Tuesday he will not seek another term this fall as he plans to return to the private sector.

Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said in a statement that after more than a decade in the Assembly he believes the time has come to pass the torch and allow for others in our community to step forward and serve their neighbors.

Steineke was first elected to the Assembly in 2010, just months before he helped former Gov. Scott Walker pass Act 10, which drastically limited collective bargaining for the majority of public employees and decimated the number of unions through annual recertification votes and other obstacles.

Steineke didnt support Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary and avoided the Republican National Convention that year.

Steineke admonished Trump when the president attacked Harley-Davidson for deciding to manufacture more motorcycles overseas for its European market, when he told four congresswomen to go back to the crime-infested countries they came from, when he criticized the Justice Department for indicting two Republicans on corruption charges before an election and when he pressured a foreign leader to interfere in U.S. politics.

I fear that we have reached a point in our countrys history where party loyalty trumps loyalty to the oaths we take as elected officials, Steineke tweeted in 2019. This is not a one-party problem. Faith in our leaders is at an all-time low, and who can blame our citizens?

Before joining the Legislature, Steineke was a Town of Vandenbroek supervisor and member of the Outagamie County Board. In 2012, he was selected by Assembly Republicans to serve as assistant majority leader. He became majority leader in 2014, a role he has held for four consecutive terms.

As I refocus my efforts on returning to the private sector in the weeks and months ahead, I remain committed to doing everything in my power to advance conservative policies and serve as a check against the governor and his administration to prevent extreme ideologies from being enacted, he said.

Steinekes 5th Assembly District covers parts of Outagamie and Brown counties, including Kaukauna and the Town of Hobart. It also covers almost all of the Oneida reservation.

Steineke joins a growing list of state lawmakers not seeking reelection this fall, including Republican Reps. Amy Loudenbeck, of Clinton, who is running for secretary of state this fall; Gary Tauchen, of Bonduel; and Jeremy Thiesfeldt, of Fond du Lac.

Reps. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee; Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton; Beth Meyers, D-Bayfield; and Sara Rodriguez, D-Brookfield, also are not running this fall. Bowen and Rodriguez are running for lieutenant governor.

In the Senate, Sens. Jon Erpenbach, D-West Point, and Kathy Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, also are not seeking another term. Hesselbein is running for the state Senate seat currently held by Erpenbach.

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Ellen Samuels has spent many hours in loud, cramped MRI machines.

She said medical personnel would give her these little headphones to play music, but the sound of banging metal coils and vibrating electrical pulses all but muted that music.

So to pass the time, she would craft poems in her head. Without the ability to jot them down, she imagined haiku because the five-seven-five-syllable format was easier to remember.

She then expanded that practice to her other treatments  whether she was at an infusion center or at the hospital to receive different medications.

It just really helped center me and give me a sense of control when things felt very out of control, she told Wisconsin Public Radio.

Samuels, a UW-Madison professor in English and gender and womens studies, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome  a hereditary disorder of connective tissue that perhaps most noticeably causes hypermobility in joints.

The ligaments that are supposed to hold your joints in place are weakened by this disorder, she said. I can dislocate my shoulder just turning over in bed.

She has a new book out, Hypermobilities, which is a collection of short poems written through two years of medical treatments. She said its like a memoir in haiku.

Samuels said her diagnosis has been considered rare, although numbers have increased in recent years  suggesting it could have been under-diagnosed.

She said Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a defect of collagen, one of the building blocks of our bodies. The syndrome can lead to subluxation, which is a partial dislocation.

In 2014, she received a diagnosis of a complication with her Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that found a dissection of one of the arteries going to her brain, she said. That brought on more emergency MRIs of her head and neck.

Then came the haiku.

She had published poetry earlier in her career, but it had been a while.

First it was just in a file on her computer, sometimes sharing a poem on social media. After 20 or 25 haiku, she said she realized her writing was more than just coping through the arduous treatments.

She was on her way to a book.

Samuels said she would encourage others in the disability community to write or be creative in a way that works for them.

She has spent the last few decades teaching. She remembers students who might start a semester with zero experience writing poetry and end the term by discovering this rich, beautiful poetic voice they didnt know was there.

I think writing is a gift, but its also a skill that can be learned, she said. Everyone can do it.

Samuels is a founding member of the UW Disability Studies Initiative, which is a program that studies the economic, social, cultural and political elements on the topic. The program partners with disability communities statewide to transform public understandings, according to the programs website.

Samuels said she and others with chronic illnesses or disabilities often feel this bind that they dont want pity, but they also dont want to pretend that everything is fine.

Being honest when asked how are you can bring some pity, she said, furthering the idea that healthy people are in a category of their own, distinguishable from those with disabilities.

It might seem uplifting to see someone in Samuels position and think I shouldnt complain. But she said that can be profoundly dehumanizing because it suggests that we are not the same kind of people.

It was true when I wrote the book pre-COVID-19 pandemic, but certainly during the pandemic its becoming clear that we are all vulnerable, she said. We are all physically, mentally and emotionally interdependent, linked and vulnerable people who cannot divide ourselves into the worlds so easily of who is healthy and who is not.

But there are still some thoughts and feelings that some can only truly reach by going through an experience themselves. Broadly speaking, the disability community sustained me through my experience, both before and after diagnosis, Samuels said.

She said other writers sharing their experiences has been greatly useful for her.

You are not alone. Its tremendously isolating to have any kind of disability, to have any kind of chronic illness. You often feel very cut off from the world, she said. I see all my writing as different ways to connect with that community and say, Youre not alone.
If the Republicans who signed official-looking documents in late 2020 seeking to hand Wisconsins Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump wanted to challenge the results, there was a different process for doing so.

Instead, while the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden, the Republicans chose an unorthodox method, also meeting in the building to sign documents purporting that Trump had won the state.

The meeting occurred an hour after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Biden had won the election and a month after Wisconsin county clerks canvassed the presidential election results.

More than a year later, multiple agencies have yet to rule on complaints alleging the Republicans committed fraud.

The U.S. Constitution assigns the process for selecting electors to state law. Under Wisconsin statute, the slate of electors chosen by the candidate who wins the popular vote are seated and ultimately deliver those votes to Congress.

In the event of a genuine dispute regarding electors, or who actually won the popular vote, the Electoral Count Act allows for one member of the U.S. Senate and one with the U.S. House to call for additional debate, said David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University. U.S. Code also allows Congress to intervene if there is a serious dispute over electors.

Schultz said its likely Wisconsin statutes do not specifically contemplate a group of individuals falsely claiming to be electors, but he added the matter likely constitutes a fraudulent act.

Its probably some type of fraud, probably some type of criminal forgery, said Schultz, who also teaches election law at the University of Minnesota Schools of Law.

Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow in a statement Monday said the Republicans who signed the documents were advised to do so by attorneys and the actions were done in accordance with precedent.

That Democrats are now trying to fabricate a story from a simple procedure is nothing more than a desperate attempt to divert attention from their record as they face the electorate in 2022, Farrow said. Its a frivolous complaint that doesnt deserve the time of day.

Jeffrey Mandell, president of the liberal law firm Law Forward, which filed the complaints, said the precedent noted by Republicans  in which Hawaii electors from both parties convened in public regarding a genuine dispute over the 1960 presidential election  is a far cry from what happened in the state in late 2020.

"That is radically different from these 10 fraudulent electors skulking in the shadows and submitting false paperwork to create the ground on which the Jan. 6 insurrection was built," Mandell said.

Liberal watchdog group American Oversight last March obtained official-looking certificates submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in seven states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. New Mexico and Pennsylvania Republicans added a caveat saying it was done in case they were later recognized as duly elected, qualified electors.

It seems farfetched to think that each of these sets of alternative electors had genuine fact-based grievances, even though the grievances were different in every state, said Barry Burden, a political science professor and director of the Elections Research Center at UW-Madison. It looks more like a national orchestration to try to challenge the elections results.

I think theres a direct line between the suspicions that have been raised about the election results and the violent insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol on (Jan. 6, 2021), Burden added.

Whose jurisdiction?

The Associated Press reported Friday that Michigans attorney general has asked federal prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into 16 Republicans who submitted false certificates stating they were the states presidential electors despite Joe Bidens victory in 2020.

Under state law, I think clearly you have forgery of a public record, which is a 14-year offense, and election law forgery, which is a five-year offense, Dana Nessel, Michigans Democratic attorney general, told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. But the Justice Department, she said, is best suited to probe and potentially prosecute.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said in an email Friday he also believes the federal government is best suited to investigate the 10 Republican electors who submitted similar paperwork seeking to certify Trump in late 2020.

I believe its critical that the federal government fully investigates and prosecutes any unlawful actions in furtherance of any seditious conspiracy, Kaul said.

Politico reported earlier this month the U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, also is investigating documents submitted by Republican electors in several states.

In addition, the Democratic-led House Administration Committee last week issued a staff report exploring updates to the Electoral Count Act, which took effect in 1887. In a sign that reforms could receive bipartisan support, Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, have expressed interest in strengthening the act, NPR reported Sunday.

Everyone agrees that the Electoral Count Act is unclear, not internally consistent, there are a whole range of interpretations about what it even says and its never been tested in 150 years, Burden said. So its waiting there sort of like a time bomb to create potentially a constitutional crisis.

In Wisconsin

Former chair of the state Republican Party Andrew Hitt signed the paperwork in Wisconsin. At the time, Hitt, an attorney with Michael Best and Friedrich, said the decision was based on then-ongoing legal battles being pursued by Trumps campaign seeking to overturn the elections results in several states including Wisconsin.

The Trump campaign thought that it was very important, Robert Spindell, a Republican who sits on the bipartisan elections commission who also signed the documents, said Sunday. I dont know how many (documents) we signed, we probably signed a lot of them, and it was basically  it was trying to do what I guess the attorneys thought was best in order to protect the interest of Trump should some of these lawsuits go in his favor.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Spindell said he could not comment on the nearly one-year-old complaint filed with the commission, which has not announced any action on the matter.

I still have to think they were trying to do something to create a dispute over which delegation from Wisconsin was legitimate, said Schultz, the Hamline professor.

Hitt did not respond to a request for comment.

Others to sign the document include 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Convention.

The Service Employees International Union Wisconsin Council, represented by Law Forward, last February filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission accusing the Republicans who signed the filing of committing fraud.

Another complaint against Hitt has been filed with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers.

Law Forward has also filed a complaint against the GOP fraudulent electors with Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm seeking an investigation into the matter to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

In short, upon information and belief, the fraudulent electors took every possible action to pantomime the procedures prescribed in (U.S. Code) and thereby to create the illusion that they were acting under color of law as Wisconsins true presidential electors, even as they cast votes contrary to the will of the voters and the designated votes required by law to reflect the election results, Mandell wrote in the Feb. 15 letter to Chisholm.

Law Forward alleges the GOP electors committed multiple felonies for forgery, falsely assuming to act as a public officer and misconduct in a public office. Mandell suggested the false electors could be charged with both federal and state crimes.

Mandell told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week Chisholm is still reviewing the complaint.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Wisconsin residents on April 7, 2020, overwhelmingly approved Marsys Law, a constitutional amendment for crime victims. An impressive 75% of Wisconsin voters and all 72 of Wisconsin counties voted yes for Marsys Law, providing strong, enforceable rights for victims of crime.

Marsys Law has changed the culture in our courtrooms to one where victims and their rights are at the forefront. That in and of itself is why Marsys Law has such broad support.

But even with Marsys Law taking effect, that doesnt mean more resources arent needed to help crime victims become thriving survivors.

The State Journals recent article Prosecutors, public defenders in staffing crisis highlighted some of the funding challenges facing victim service providers. Across the state, funding for victim services was stretched for a variety of reasons. The necessary closings with the pandemic increased the already enormous workload on our courts and victim services. The oversight of designated funding to ensure the rights afforded to victims in our constitution directly impacted victim services.

Despite these challenges, Marsys Law has led to significant positive impacts. Just days after it went into effect:

These are just a few of the many examples of Marsys Law at work.

Each of these cases represents a victory for victims rights in Wisconsin and demonstrates the commitment of our courts, law enforcement, district attorneys offices and victim services to give crime victims additional rights, to require that the rights of crime victims be protected with equal force to the protections afforded the accused while leaving the federal constitutional rights of the accused intact.

Those who work in the victim services field are true heroes and help make the rights of Marsys Law a reality for many survivors. It is clear Marsys Law has elevated the rights of Wisconsin crime victims. It is also clear that the expansion of services and access for victims cannot be maintained without proper funding.

While it is encouraging that some progress has been made on that front recently, additional resources should be allocated to victim witness coordinators and victim services in general. This is a longstanding issue that predates Marsys Law. The overwhelming support shown for the new crime victims amendment should serve as a catalyst for enhanced investment.

We are grateful to the more than 1.1 million Wisconsin residents who cast votes in favor of Marsys Law. We are also grateful to the countless victim witness coordinators, the Department of Justices Office of Crime Victim Services, victim service agencies, prosecutors, law enforcement and everyone else who has contributed to the implementation of the constitutional amendment. We know implementing this measure has required hard work from all of you  particularly as the state continues to navigate the effects of the pandemic.

Wisconsin supports victims rights. Policymakers should take note.

Figueroa-Velez is the former executive director of UNIDOS Wisconsin: artmvfdesign@gmail.com. Pellebon is co-executive director and director of client services at the Rape Crisis Center of Dane County: dana.pellebon@thercc.org.
Ocean City visitors and residents have not been reliable mask wearers for much of the pandemic. July 21, 2020. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun). (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

Pamela Woods reports that Gov. Larry Hogan plans to distribute millions of masks and to open multiple mass testing sites while he still claims that it is not necessary to return to requiring people to wear masks indoors (Maryland to give out 20 million N95 and KN95 masks, Jan. 13). Governor Hogan cites a Facebook survey about mask wearing. He probably needs a refresher on sampling bias as well as a little trip to Ocean City to actually observe how little voluntary mask wearing there is in this part of the state.

Yesterday, during a trip to an Ocean City grocery store, only one employee out of dozens was wearing a mask. Approximately 10% of patrons were masked. I was mocked for wearing my mask, both by an employee and by several patrons. Not only are people not voluntarily wearing masks, they are behaving in a hostile fashion to those of us who care about our health and the health of others.

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Lots of people arent complying. No wonder infections are soaring and hospitals are being overwhelmed on the Eastern Shore.

Deborah Kohl, Baltimore

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Gov. Brad Little has not yet announced his re-election plans, but its not much of a mystery. As he has told reporters, Dont bet against it.

And if (or when) he does run, dont wager against him using more than a few lines from his State of the State address that kicked off this years legislative session. As State of the State messages go, it was a pretty good campaign speech.

He called his plan, Leading Idaho, which is the kind of bold talk that plays well in a campaign  but not as well before a crowd of skeptical (if not hostile) politicians. Seated behind him, and peering over his shoulder, were Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who wants Littles job, and House Speaker Scott Bedke  who is running for lieutenant governor. In the audience, there was Rep. Pricilla Giddings, who is running against Bedke, and two candidates for secretary of state  Sen. Mary Souza and Rep. Dorothy Moon.

Spoiler alert: There will be a lot of politics happening in this years session.

But there was more to this tough crowd. It included a band of conservatives who think the governor should be returning more of a record surplus to taxpayers and Democrats who think Little wants to cut taxes too much. Its a nice backdrop to a messy legislative session. Theyd probably be here through July if this were not an election year.

But for now, with his State of the State address out of the way, Little can leave the heavy lifting to lawmakers. Littles big decision in the immediate future is picking a time, place and date for his re-election announcement and choosing his favorite lines from his State of the State message.

He has a nice list of talking points.

Idahos economy is stronger than ever before. Were one of only four states with more jobs today than before the pandemic. We have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Our budget is balanced. We have robust reserves. Idaho businesses and citizens benefit from living and working in the least regulated state in the nation.

The list goes on. The state is spending more money for education, while providing tax cuts. Again, its not enough to satisfy Democrats or right-wing Republicans. And editorial writers will continue to remind us that despite the increases Little is proposing for education, Idaho ranks at or near the nations bottom in most education-funding categories. Critics also will point out that Idahos record surplus was not entirely the result of skillful management on the part of state government, as Little implies with this comment: While D.C. is digging the country into a $29 trillion hole, Idaho has a record surplus of $1.9 billion and counting. Of course, more than half that amount came from the federal government in COVID relief, thus contributing to the $29 trillion national debt.

But theres nothing unusual about smoke and mirrors in a campaign speech. Yes, we have problems with growth, exploding housing costs and rising property taxes that are not sustainable for many Idahoans. His speech focused on the positives and, to Littles credit, Idaho is in relatively decent shape.

Its always good for a Republican in Idaho to take swings at President Biden and those pesky Democrats ruling the roost in Congress. Little offered a few well-timed digs.

While President Biden divides Americans in his attempts to elevate the role of government in citizens lives, coercing Americans with government-imposed vaccine mandates, Idaho says no, Little said. Our lawsuits challenging Bidens polarizing vaccine mandates are working. I banned divisive vaccine passports. I never mandated masks or vaccines. We responded to a crisis with a balanced approach and kept Idaho open. And while President Biden continues to dismiss the catastrophe at the U.S.-Mexico border, Idaho is banding together with other states to act.

And, of course, no campaign speech can be complete without talking about children, grandchildren, the love for his wife and the people who have made a difference in his life. He checked all those boxes.

The only thing missing was a thumbs up from former President Trump, which is the Holy Grail of political endorsements. McGeachin managed to land that one.

Chuck Malloy is a longtime Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com.

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Three Iranian diplomats have taken office in the Saudi city of Jeddah, becoming the first Iranian officials to be posted in the Gulf country by the Islamic republic after six years of the diplomatic row.

The diplomats will work in Irans office in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) whose permanent headquarters are located in the Saudi second city.

The arrival of the official came after Irans top diplomat Hossein Amir Abdollahian announced on December 23 that Saudi Arabia has issued visas for three Iranian diplomats to be deployed at the OIC.

Abdollahian in an interview with al Jazeera network said the issuance of the visas by the Saudi Kingdom is a good sign, Teheran Times reports.

Saudi Arabia in January 2016 severed ties with Iran after a number of angry protestors attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad, in protest to the Saudi execution of prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The 57-member organization also condemned the attacks on the diplomatic missions adding that attacks run contrary to the Geneva and Vienna conventions in protecting foreign diplomatic missions.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have however resumed talks to thaw their ties with Iraq playing the role of intermediary. The kingdoms decision to allow Iran to send the three diplomats is part of efforts for the diplomatic detente.
Egypts first Special-purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) will start operating next month, 90 days after the government gave the go-ahead.

At the end of this month or early next month, we will have the first blank check company, Mohamed Omran, Chief of the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) told Bloomberg Asharq according to Arab Finance.

The blank-check company, the media add, would be the first to list on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) and would have initial capital  pre fundraising  of EGP 10 million, which is the minimum requirement set by the FRA.

The FRA in November approved the establishment and licensing of SPAC in Egypt for the first time.

According to the approval, SPACs are created with the sole purpose of raising capital through an IPO to acquire or merge with another company. These types of SPACs are subject to the provisions of the Capital Market Law No. 95 of 1992.

SPACs are established for the purpose of acquisition or merger of targeted companies from emerging companies, especially in the field of technology and digital technologies, by establishing a company of the founders (the main shareholders) as a venture capital company, followed by an offering of capital increase shares by public subscription and/or private placement.
Adoum Togoi Abbo was a member of most of the politico-military movements between the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 2000s. He is a figure in the political history of Chad over the past 50 years who died on Monday in Ndjamena.

Since his return from exile and the publication of his memoirs in 2017, General Adoum Togoi Abbo has been little seen in public. This close associate of former president Goukouni Weddeye has spent most of his life between Libya and Burkina Faso.

An influential member of the National Liberation Front of Chad, the first political-military movement created in 1966 against the first Chadian president, Ngarta Tombalbaye, he became Minister of Defense in the late 1970s in the government of national unity chaired by Goukouni Weddeye.

In 1982, when Hissene Habre came to power, he went into exile in Libya and did not return to the country until the latters fall. He was appointed advisor and then ambassador to Libya by Idriss Deby, who had succeeded Hissene Habre. But Adoum Togoi Abbo fell out with Idriss Deby and joined the MDJT, the rebel movement of magistrate Youssouf Togoimi. This choice caused him to lose his position as executive secretary of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States.

But over the years, the old maquisard, who eventually withdrew from public life, has taken on the role of a wise man whom political actors consult regularly.
Seven demonstrators were killed in Sudan on Monday, one of the bloodiest days in the crackdown on the militarys unabated rule since the coup of General Abdelfattah al-Burhane in late October.

Braving a tight security grid and troops equipped with heavy weapons, thousands of Sudanese once again chanted Military to the barracks and Power to the civilians as they tried to approach the presidential palace in Khartoum, or elsewhere in the country.

In the capital, supporters of civilian rule in a country that emerged less than three years ago from 30 years of military-Islamist dictatorship were fired upon with live ammunition, as well as a barrage of tear gas and sound grenades and water cannon fire, medics reported.

Seven demonstrators were mowed down by live ammunition, they said.

In all, since the October 25 coup, 71 protesters have been killed. The police say that one of their generals was stabbed to death on Thursday by demonstrators who, they warn, will be tried under the emergency laws decreed on the day of the coup by the army chief.
The appeal in the case of Paul Rusesabagina began on Monday. Last September, the 68-year-old opponent was sentenced to 25 years in prison for terrorism, but the prosecutors office, which had requested life imprisonment, appealed.

During the first hearing in the second instance on Monday, the former manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines was once again conspicuous by his absence. Once again, Paul Rusesabaginas chair remained empty. The opponent had begun boycotting the proceedings shortly after his trial began in March 2021, believing that his rights were not being respected.

Last Friday, his relatives announced that he would not attend the appeal trial either, denouncing it as a staged trial designed to harm a political prisoner. The court therefore debated the possibility of continuing the proceedings without him, because in this case, some twenty other defendants, considered to be members of the FLN rebel group, are also back before the courts.

Like Paul Rusesabagina, they are accused of being involved, from near or far, in several attacks perpetrated in southern Rwanda in 2018 and 2019. These attacks had resulted in a dozen deaths. They had been sentenced in the first instance to sentences of between 3 and 20 years in prison.
Guineas deposed President Alpha Conde left his country for abroad on Monday with the agreement of the ruling junta, a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

The Guineenews news website reported that he had flown to the United Arab Emirates.

No official confirmation of his departure or destination has been obtained.

An official on duty at Conakry International Airport said Conde left on a private plane. All workers at the national terminal (near the international airport) were asked to leave, he said, also on condition of anonymity.

The junta allowed Conde, 83, to leave the country in late December for medical examinations.

Conde, who led the country for nearly 11 years, was overthrown on September 5, 2021 by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya and his men. He was held incommunicado for twelve weeks until the junta allowed him to reside with his wife in the suburbs of Conakry.

The junta is said to have been reluctant to let him leave the country, fearing that he might be involved in activities against the new government.

Alpha Conde was allowed to leave Guinea after the courts ordered investigations into alleged crimes committed during his presidency.
Paula Lopez Diaz, PhD student at DTU Compute. Credit: Hanne Kokkegard/DTU Compute

One out of five patients with hearing loss, severe hearing impairment or who were born deaf, have deformations in the inner ear, and could benefit from having an advanced hearing aid known as a cochlear implant (CI) implanted. Examinations of the labyrinthine structure of the inner ear are made by CT scan, although interpretation of the images is very difficult, and can delay or completely rule out the treatment.

DTU Ph.D. student Paula Lopez Diez is studying how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used for image analysis. AI will make it faster for doctors to determine whether an implant will be suitable.

"It's highly motivational to see what CI means for patients, and to know that my research will be able to help them. AI is now used in every way possible, and will become even more widespread, because it works. We should prioritize the use of AI research within medical science, in order to improve diagnosis and treat patients earlier," says Paula.

Software to help with complicated operations

A cochlear implant consists of exterior and interior parts. Externally, an audio processor placed behind the ear picks up sound, which it digitalises and transfers via a transmitter located on the skull to an implant receiver just under the skin. The receiver converts the digital data to an electronic signal, which is then sent to a series of electrodes implanted in the cochlea. The electrodes stimulate the auditory nerve, enabling the brain to perceive sound.

The actual operation is complicated, as surgeons must drill a hole in the skull in order to implant the receiver and electrodes, but if they touch a facial nerve or an electrode is too close to a facial nerve, the patient could experience paralysis, tics and pain. And the implant will not work if the electrode is placed incorrectly in relation to deformations. It therefore requires a high degree of precision, and the surgeons need detailed knowledge of deformations in the ear.

"The objective is to develop software to which doctors upload the CT scans, and which is able to automatically identify the different types of typical deformations in the structure of the inner ear. The software should potentially be developed to provide an assessment of whether a cochlear implant would work, and indicate to the surgeon how, and from which angle, to perform the operation," says Paula.

"Many ENT doctors are unaware of deformations in the ear, as there are so few patients who have them. And no two deformations are identical, which means the algorithm will also be able to make a difference in this area," she adds.

Paula is employed in the research section Visual Computing at DTU Compute, where the scientists are experts in using Artificial Intelligence such as machine and deep learning in image analyses. Using her knowledge of the ear's structure, Paula trains her mathematical model to identify the special characteristics in CT scan images.

She recently published her first research results along with colleagues from DTU and the partner in the Ph.D. project, Oticon Medical. The results confirm that AI makes it possible to identify the auditory nerve and facial nerves in scanned images.

AI trains on data from Russian patients

Due to the fact that there is limited data available for patients with deformation of the inner ear, DTU uses data from the National Medical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngology of the Federal Medico-Biological Agency of Russia in Moscow. Oticon Medical already collaborates with the head of the hospital, professor Khassan Diab, who is a specialist in the field.

Collaboration with Russian research institutes is a first for the DTU department. According to associate professor and Ph.D. counselor Rasmus Paulsen, DTU now has the opportunity to train its mathematical models on a unique dataset.

"It's extremely important to have access to data that reflects the enormous variation in patients with deformation of the inner ear, as well as to receive expert input for the optimum surgical procedure to be able to plan operations. Khassan Diab's research center covers a huge geographical area, and therefore his clinic treats many more patients than most others. It's invaluable to have access to this data along with clinically relevant parameters, such as the surgical techniques and results of implant operations."

Paula will be visiting the hospital in Moscow during the spring to experience how the doctors work on a daily basis and see how they generate data.

"I'm an engineer and mathematician who works with mathematical models, and have never studied anatomy. Of course I have considerable knowledge of the ear, but it's always good to be able to get out and gain an insight into what doctors need, and how our algorithms can help."

Oticon Medical: Innovation for patients

Oticon Medical has high expectations for the Ph.D. project, explains co-counselor Francois Patou, whose position as Senior Translational Research Manager involves deploying scientific know-how into practice more rapidly:

"The collaboration between DTU professor Diab and Oticon Medical represents a big step towards safer cochlear implant treatment in the most challenging cases: infants born with deformations. For Oticon Medical, the project is a springboard for using automated image analyses for CI treatment, and supports the company's objective of allowing innovation to be beneficial for all CI users."

Explore further Method converts cochlear implant electrodes into microsensors

More information: Lopez Diez P., Sundgaard J.V., Patou F., Margeta J., Paulsen R.R. (2021) Facial and Cochlear Nerves Characterization Using Deep Reinforcement Learning for Landmark Detection. In: de Bruijne M. et al. (eds) Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention  MICCAI 2021. MICCAI 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 12904. Springer, Cham. Lopez Diez P., Sundgaard J.V., Patou F., Margeta J., Paulsen R.R. (2021) Facial and Cochlear Nerves Characterization Using Deep Reinforcement Learning for Landmark Detection. In: de Bruijne M. et al. (eds) Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention  MICCAI 2021. MICCAI 2021.vol 12904. Springer, Cham. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87202-1_50
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Scientists have developed a new machine learning model for the discovery of genetic risk factors for diseases such as Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Designed by researchers from the University of Sheffield and the Stanford University School of Medicine in the US, the machine learning tool, named RefMap, has already been utilized by the team to discover 690 risk genes for motor neurone disease, many of which are new discoveries.

One of the genes highlighted as a new MND gene, called KANK1, has been shown by the team to produce neurotoxicity in human neurons very similar to that observed in the brains of patients. Although at an early stage, this is potentially a new target for the design of new drugs.

Dr. Johnathan Cooper-Knock, from the University of Sheffield's Neuroscience Institute, said that "this new tool will help us to understand and profile the genetic basis of MND. Using this model we have already seen a dramatic increase in the number of risk genes for MND, from approximately 15 to 690."

"Each new risk gene discovered is a potential target for the development of new treatments for MND and could also pave the way for genetic testing for families to work out their risk of disease."

The 690 new genes identified by RefMap lead to a five-fold increase in discovered heritability, a measure which describes how much of the disease is due to a variation in genetic factors.

"RefMap identifies risk genes by integrating genetic and epigenetic data. It is a generic tool and we are applying it to more diseases in the lab," Sai Zhang, Ph.D., instructor of genetics at the Stanford University School of Medicine said.

Michael Snyder, Ph.D., professor and chair of the department of genetics at the Stanford School of Medicine and also the corresponding author of this work added: "By doing machine learning for genome analysis, we are discovering more hidden genes for human complex diseases such as MND, which will eventually power personalized treatment and intervention."

The research was published in Neuron.

Explore further The risk of developing a disease linked to genetics tends to decrease with age

More information: Sai Zhang et al, Genome-wide identification of the genetic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Neuron (2022). Journal information: Neuron Sai Zhang et al, Genome-wide identification of the genetic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.12.019
The first half of a promised 100,000 at-home COVID test kits were delivered to Baltimore schools Tuesday by city officials who fanned out across the city.

The tests, which the city bought for $580,000, were dropped at city schools where they will be given to students. In addition to the 50,000 tests delivered Tuesday, 40,000 N95 masks were also distributed.

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Speaking in front of Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School where he personally delivered supplies, Mayor Brandon Scott said the tests are intended for use not just by city students but also by their families, strengthening the citys community testing program.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott delivers masks and COVID-19 tests to Mervo High School Tuesday morning. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

This is just a way for us to make sure our young people are safe, and our students and staff are safe as we allow them to do the most important thing, which is to learn, Scott said.

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Baltimore schools already have an established testing program. Unlike other school systems in the region, the city does weekly testing of all staff and all students whose parents have signed consent forms.

The city uses testing that combines a classroom of students and staff into one sample. If one person is positive, the entire pool will be positive and each individual in the pool must be tested to see who has the virus. Students in that pool must quarantine until they have a negative test and can come back to school.

[ More than a third of Baltimore City schools shift to online Monday amid spread of COVID-19 ]

Over vocal objections by city teachers, some parents and various member of the Baltimore City Council, Baltimore school leaders opted earlier this month to have students return to the classroom after the winter holidays in spite of surging coronavirus cases. CEO Sonja Santelises, backed by Scott and numerous state officials, argued city children are safest at school.

Last week however, a third of the city schools moved temporarily to online learning after test results from the weekend prior showed thousands of students and staff may have the coronavirus.

Baltimore schools spokeswoman Gwendolyn Chambers said the district has been coordinating with the mayors office for deliveries, and provided a distribution list for each school. School officials will complete the deliveries later this week, she said.

The additional test kits will be very helpful, she said, although the district is still assessing how they will be integrated into the districts overall testing program.

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Scott said he envisions the home test kits being supplemental to the in-school testing program.

When youre talking about our most precious resource, our young people and the folks who are educating them, we have to go over and above to make sure theyre supported, he said.

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Mergenthaler was one of at least seven stops the mayor, a 2002 graduate of the school, was making Tuesday morning in Northeast Baltimore.

Scott promised the tests to the school system earlier this month as his administration ordered a total of 200,000 for use in the city. About 100,000 tests have arrived thus far, half of which went to the school system and another 50,000 of which will be distributed by the city and its community partners like libraries and nonprofits. Scott said the second half of the order has yet to arrive, but will be distributed promptly when it is in hand.

[ COVID debate, concerns and questions mark the return to schools after winter break in the Baltimore area ]

During a City Council hearing last week on coronavirus testing, city Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa said she expects the demand for at-home tests to slow now that the holidays are over and the infection rate across the state has slowed slightly. Still, demand is hard to predict, she said.

We really do believe 100,000 is a good start, she said at the time.

Baltimore plans to seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the at-home test kits, city spokesman Cal Harris said. The masks were pulled from a city stockpile paid for by a number of revenue streams including the federal CARES Act and Baltimores general fund.
Drinking Brandy in Antarctica: An Image from the British National Antarctic Relief Expedition, 1903. Credit: Scott Polar Research Institute: ref P2007/24/6

After a long, stressful day, I often find myself sitting down with a bottle of beer or a glass of wine. Such rituals are a sign that the working day is over and that the time for fun and relaxation is here. The problem is that drinking in this way doesn't work over time. Regular (and excessive) drinking is associated with depression and poor sleep and research shows it may also increase anxiety levels in the long term.

Nevertheless, the idea that alcohol is relaxing remains a powerful myth. Evidence suggests that many people started to drink more during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way of trying to relax. Delving into the history of alcohol can offer some insights as to why this myth has prevailed.

Throughout history, alcohol has often been used medicinallyand is considered to have many helpful properties, including as an antiseptic and an anesthetic. I've studied how explorers in the 19th and early 20th centuries used drink. Studying travelers can shed light on the scientific and medical understanding of alcohol because, in an era before clinical trials, medical writers drew on the narratives of explorers as evidence about the health effects of different foods and drinks. So their writings can help us learn about past approaches to alcohol and health.

Indeed, many Victorian Arctic explorers drank a "warming" glass of rum at the end of a long days' sledging. They reported that it helped them to sleep and relax and relieve the tension. Similarly, British travelers in east Africa often drank small quantities of alcohol at the end of a day's travel, viewing it as a useful "medicine" that helped them to deal with both the effects of fever and the emotional strains of travel. In one travel advice guide published in 1883, George Dobson, a British Army surgeon major, advised that in warm climates "continued labor, such as that of the sportsman and traveler, cannot be maintained for any length of time unassisted by the occasional and judicious use of alcohol."

Health and balance

Initially and in small doses, alcohol seems to act as a stimulant, which makes your heart beat faster and gives you more energy. Soon, though, it acts as a depressant, inhibiting the action of the central nervous system, which slows your thinking and reaction times. These health effects were particularly important in early 19th-century medicine, as some medical theorists saw the body as a system that had to be kept in balance. And stimulants or depressants were seen as an important way of restoring balance if someone was unwell.

In time, these views became increasingly unpopular among scientists and medics and were replaced by theories of disease that sought to chart more specific causes of infection. For instance, "germ theory", which was first proposed in 1861, showed that many illnesses were caused by microbes rather than climate. Similarly, British medics were becoming increasingly interested in the role of mosquitoes in spreading malaria. Such developments led to new medical approaches which sought to prevent and treat diseases common in warm regions.

Criticism of drink

But changing medical attitudes towards diseases were not the only factor in the decline of medicinal drinking on expeditions. The growing criticism of expeditionary drinking was also the result of changing social and medicinal attitudes towards alcohol. This was largely because of the temperance movement, a campaign rooted in evangelical Christianity that sought to discourage (and sometimes outright ban) the sale of alcohol.

Even those who viewed moderate drinking as acceptable began to worry that it might actually be more dangerous in climatic extremes. For instance, the National Arctic Expedition (18751876) was criticized for issuing a rum ration, with suggestions it had contributed to an outbreak of scurvy, which allegedly manifested itself first among the expedition's heavy drinkers.

Such criticisms meant that explorers went to growing efforts to emphasize that their drinking was moderate and "medicinal." They often did so by only drinking certain kinds of alcoholic beverages that, they argued, had greater medicinal qualities. This normally meant brandy, champagne, or certain kinds of wine. But there were fierce disagreements between medics about which drinks were most healthy.

Indeed, many of these drinks were viewed as medicinal for no reason other than the fact that they were expensive. Today, such drinks are seldom viewed as medicinalbut medical concerns with the effects of different alcoholic drinks, have not gone away. And, much like their Victorian counterparts, many contemporary medics have suggested that certain kinds of drinks are healthier than others.

Stimulants: Alcohol or caffeine

As recent research by my colleague Kim Walker and I shows, stimulants (including alcohol) remained a popular medicine for European travelers in Africa into the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In part, this was because they were relatively cheap, easy to administer, and produced discernible effects on the mind and body of the drinker. They were also believed to remedy the enduring belief that warm climates were physically damaging and psychologically depressing.

In the same 1883 travel guide, Dobson complained of "the depressing effects of the climate" to support his alcohol prescription. Consequently, some travelers saw alcoholic drinks as useful stimulants to help combat these effects. Even those who opposed expeditionary drinking still saw stimulating drinks as important, but prescribed "a cup of fragrant coffee" instead.

Medical understandings of drinking have changed considerably over the last 150 years. But studying how Victorian and Edwardian explorers approached alcohol also shows important continuities. Then, as now, drinking practices are shaped not just by medical knowledge but also by cultural attitudes towards different drinks and the environments we consume them in.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A study conducted in two rural Massachusetts jails found that people with opioid use disorder who were incarcerated and received a medication approved to treat opioid use disorder, known as buprenorphine, were less likely to face rearrest and reconviction after release than those who did not receive the medication. After adjusting the data to account for baseline characteristics such as prior history with the criminal justice system, the study revealed a 32% reduction in rates of probation violations, reincarcerations, or court charges when the facility offered buprenorphine to people in jail compared to when it did not. The findings were published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The study was conducted by the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN), a program to increase high-quality care for people with opioid misuse and opioid use disorder in justice settings and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative.

"Studies like this provide much-needed evidence and momentum for jails and prisons to better enable the treatment, education, and support systems that individuals with an opioid use disorder need to help them recover and prevent reincarceration," said Nora D. Volkow, M.D., NIDA Director. "Not offering treatment to people with opioid use disorder in jails and prisons can have devastating consequences, including a return to use and heighted risk of overdose and death after release."

A growing body of evidence suggests that medications used to treat opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, hold great potential to improve outcomes among individuals after they're released. However, offering these evidence-based treatments to people with opioid use disorder who pass through the justice system is not currently standard-of-care in U.S. jails and prisons, and most jails that do offer them are in large urban centers.

While previous studies have investigated the impact of buprenorphine provision on overdose rates, risk for infectious disease, and other health effects related to opioid use among people who are incarcerated, this study is one of the first to evaluate the impact specifically on recidivism, defined as additional probation violations, reincarcerations, or court charges. The researchers recognized an opportunity to assess this research gap when the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Hampshire County House of Corrections, jails in two neighboring rural counties in Massachusetts, both began to offer buprenorphine to adults in jail, but at different times. Franklin County was one of the first rural jails in the nation to offer buprenorphine, in addition to naltrexone, beginning in February 2016. Hampshire County began providing buprenorphine in May 2019.

"There was sort of a 'natural experiment' where two rural county jails located within 23 miles of each other had very similar populations and different approaches to the same problem," said study author Elizabeth Evans, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. "Most people convicted of crimes carry out short-term sentences in jail, not prisons, so it was important for us to study our research question in jails."

The researchers observed the outcomes of 469 adults, 197 individuals in Franklin County and 272 in Hampshire County, who were incarcerated and had opioid use disorder, and who exited one of the two participating jails between Jan. 1, 2015 and April 30, 2019. During this time, Franklin County jail began offering buprenorphine while the Hampshire County facility did not. Most observed individuals were male, white, and around 34 to 35 years old.

Using statistical models to analyze data from each jail's electronic booking system, the researchers found that 48% of individuals from the Franklin County jail recidivated, compared to 63% of individuals in Hampshire County. As well, 36% of the people who were incarcerated in Franklin County faced new criminal charges in court, compared to 47% of people in Hampshire County. The rate of re-incarceration in the Franklin County group was 21%, compared to 39% in the Hampshire County group.

Additional analysis showed that decreases in charges related to property crimes appeared to have fueled the 32% reduction in overall recidivism.

The Massachusetts JCOIN project, led by Dr. Evans and senior author Peter Friedmann, M.D., of Baystate Health, is performing further research on medications for opioid use disorder in both urban and rural jails across more diverse populations, including women and people of color. The investigators are examining the comparative effectiveness of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for opioid use disorder in jail populations, and the challenges jails face in implementing them.

"A lot of data already show that offering medications for opioid use disorder to people in jail can prevent overdoses, withdrawal, and other adverse health outcomes after the individual is released," said Dr. Friedmann. "Though this study was done with a small sample, the results show convincingly that on top of these positive health effects, providing these medications in jail can break the repressive cycle of arrest, reconviction, and reincarceration that occurs in the absence of adequate help and resources. That's huge."

Explore further Study finds treatment with medication reduces arrests and incarceration among people with opioid use disorder

More information: Elizabeth A. Evans et al, Recidivism and mortality after in-jail buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder, Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2022). Journal information: Drug and Alcohol Dependence Elizabeth A. Evans et al, Recidivism and mortality after in-jail buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109254
Screens show John Nkengasong, left, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and Moderator Julia Chatterley, right, during a remotely panel titled "The Challenge of Vaccine Equity", at the Davos Agenda 2022, in Cologny near Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The Davos Agenda, from 17 to 21 January 2022, is an online edition due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak gather global leaders to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in this challenging context. (Salvatore Di Nolfi)/Keystone via AP)

The worst of the coronavirus pandemicdeaths, hospitalizations and lockdownscould be over this year if huge inequities in vaccinations and medicines are addressed quickly, the head of emergencies at the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

Dr. Michael Ryan, speaking during a panel discussion on vaccine inequity hosted by the World Economic Forum, said "we may never end the virus" because such pandemic viruses "end up becoming part of the ecosystem."

But "we have a chance to end the public health emergency this year if we do the things that we've been talking about," he said.

WHO has slammed the imbalance in COVID-19 vaccinations between rich and poor countries as a catastrophic moral failure. Fewer than 10% of people in lower-income countries have received even one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Ryan told the virtual gathering of world and business leaders that if vaccines and other tools aren't shared fairly, the tragedy of the virus, which has so far killed more than 5.5 million people worldwide, would continue.

"What we need to do is get to low levels of disease incidence with maximum vaccination of our populations, so nobody has to die," Ryan said. "The issue is: It's the death. It's the hospitalizations. It's the disruption of our social, economic, political systems that's caused the tragedynot the virus."

Screens show on top from left to right: Julia Chatterley, Moderator, John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Adar Poonawalla, CEO Serum Institute of India; below form left to right: Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director of Oxfam International, Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI (officially GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance), Michael Ryan, Director for Emergencies of World Health Organization (WHO), during a remotely panel titled "The Challenge of Vaccine Equity", at the Davos Agenda 2022, in Cologny near Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The Davos Agenda, from 17 to 21 January 2022, is an online edition due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak gather global leaders to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in this challenging context. (Salvatore Di Nolfi)/Keystone via AP)

Ryan also waded into the growing debate about whether COVID-19 should be considered endemic, a label some countries like Spain have called for to better help live with the virus, or still a pandemicinvolving intensified measures that many countries have taken to fight the spread.

"Endemic malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people; endemic HIV; endemic violence in our inner cities. Endemic in itself does not mean good. Endemic just means it's here forever," he said.

Public health officials have warned it is highly unlikely COVID-19 will be eliminated and say it will continue to kill people, though at much lower levels, even after it becomes endemic.

Fellow panelist Gabriela Bucher, executive director of the anti-poverty organization Oxfam International, cited the "enormous urgency" of fairer distribution of vaccines and the need for large-scale production. She said resources to fight the pandemic were being "hoarded by a few companies and a few shareholders."

German Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), listens Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida displayed in screen during the Davos Agenda 2022, in Cologny near Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The Davos Agenda, from 17 to 21 January 2022, is an online edition due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak gather global leaders to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in this challenging context. Credit: Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP

John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, decried the "total collapse of global cooperation and solidarity" over the last two years, saying it was "totally unacceptable" how few people in Africa have gotten vaccine shots. His agency says only 10% of Africa's 1.2 billion people are fully vaccinated.

He also sought to douse the belief among some that vaccine hesitancy is widespread in Africa, citing studies that say 80% of Africans were ready to get shots if the vaccines were available.

The comments came on the second day of the online alternative to the annual World Economic Forum gathering, which was postponed over pandemic health concerns.

In speeches at the event, world leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett discussed approaches to the pandemic. He said his country, which quickly rolled out a widespread vaccination campaign, has a strategy of being "at the forefront of the medicines and the vaccines" against COVID-19.

Screen shows Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet (top in screens) addressing his statement during the Davos Agenda 2022, in Cologny near Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The Davos Agenda, from 17 to 21 January 2022, is an online edition due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak gather global leaders to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in this challenging context. (Salvatore Di Nolfi)/Keystone via AP)

Norwegian Borge Brende, left, President of the World Economic Forum,WEF, listens Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, top in screen, during the Davos Agenda 2022 online meeting, in Cologny near Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The Davos Agenda, from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21, 2022, is an online edition of the annual meeting of the WEF due to the coronavirus pandemic. Credit: Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP

Israel's Health Ministry says 62% of people there are fully vaccinated, including with booster shots.

Citing advanced research in Israel, Bennett said, "We want to be first in the world to know how vaccines and the new variants respond to one another."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his country had high levels of vaccination because society values protecting the elderly and the vulnerable. He plans to keep stringent border controls in place until the end of February.

He said he was trying to balance restrictions with keeping the economy open but that a "zero COVID policy against the omicron variant is not possible nor appropriate."

In a separate press briefing Tuesday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the omicron variant "continues to sweep the world," adding there were 18 million new COVID-19 cases reported last week.

Explore further Endemic COVID would not mean end of danger: WHO

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study by the Harvard GenderSci Lab in Social Science and Medicine has found large variations in the magnitude and direction of sex differences in COVID-19 outcomes across localities and over time during the pandemic in the U.S.demonstrating that observed sex disparities cannot be explained without reference to social-contextual factors.

The research, led by senior author Sarah S. Richardson, who directs the GenderSci Lab at Harvard University, is the first to quantify variation in COVID-19 mortality across states and over time. Results show that 30% of the variation in the sex disparity in the US can be attributed to differences between states and 10% to differences over time.

According to Richardson, "Sex disparities should not be quickly assumed to be directly caused by sex-related biological factors. A focus on biology can restrict the range of public health engagement and create additional vulnerabilities. Scientists risk misdirecting time, energy, and resources if they are not attentive to gender-related social factors."

The findings by Danielsen, Lee, Rushovich and others demonstrate that the sex disparity in COVID-19 is widely dissimilar across states and has not been stable over the course of the pandemic. For example, in Texas men consistently had higher mortality rates across the pandemic, while in Connecticut women had higher mortality than men for 22 weeks.

The sex disparity also varied dramatically across the waves of the pandemic. For example, the sex disparity in cumulative mortality rates in New York is actually driven by a large sex disparity at the beginning of the pandemic. In a related article currently in preprint, Danielsen and the research team demonstrate that 72.7% of the excess male deaths in the state of New York occurred during the first wave of the pandemic, between March 14 and May 4, 2020. Since that time, the sex disparity in New York has greatly attenuated and is closer to parity.

Danielsen notes, "A single factor approach, focused on sex-linked traits, cannot explain the variation we observe across time and geography. Our data do not support the view that sex disparity in COVID is large, stable, and consistent over time."

Since the start of the pandemic, scientists have consistently attributed higher COVID-19 mortality among men to factors related to biological sex, assuming that sex disparity patterns are stable across context and over time. In contrast, Danielsen's team concludes that there is "little reason to expect that interventions centering sex-related biological factors will play a primary or sizable role in explaining and ameliorating sex disparities."

Danielsen's team argues that gendered health behaviors, occupational exposures, and pre-existing health conditions, in interaction with differences in state-level responses such as timing and length of mask mandates, business shutdowns, and school closures, likely contribute to state-level and temporal variation in men's and women's vulnerability to severe outcomes for COVID-19.

The study also shows that the cumulative sex disparity in COVID 19 outcomes from April 27, 2020 through May 10, 2021 in the US, with male mortality about 10-20% higher than that of females, is considerably more modest than the 50% higher rates frequently claimed and similar to the persistent male-female mortality gap present before the pandemic.
3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein (foreground) enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. On the virus model, the virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. Credit: NIH

The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, the World Health Organization chief said Tuesday, cautioning against a narrative that the fast-spreading Omicron variant is risk-free.

"This pandemic is nowhere near over," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters from the WHO's headquarters in Geneva.

The UN health agency chief warned against dismissing as mild the coronavirus variant Omicron, which has spread like wildfire around the globe since it was first detected in southern Africa in November.

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is much more contagious than previous strains but seems to cause less serious disease.

That has triggered a debate on whether the virus is on the verge of passing from the pandemic phase to becoming an endemic disease that humanity can live withwith the implication that the danger will have passed.

But the WHO has warned that the sheer numbers of people infected will mean many people are still falling seriously ill and dying.

Misleading narrative

"An exponential rise in cases, regardless of the severity of the individual variants, leads to inevitable increase in hospitalisations and deaths," WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan told Tuesday's press conference.

Tedros agreed.

"Omicron may be less severe, on average, but the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading," he said.

"Make no mistake: Omicron is causing hospitalisations and deaths, and even the less severe cases are inundating health facilities."

He said there were indications that the Omicron-fuelled surge of COVID cases may have peaked in some countries.

This, he said, "gives hope that the worst of this latest wave is done with, but no country is out of the woods yet."

Tedros said there was an urgent need to remove the pressure building on health systems, especially in countries that still have low vaccination coverage.

"Now is not the time to give up and wave the white flag," he said.

"We can still significantly reduce the impact of the current wave by sharing and using health tools effectively, and implementing public health and social measures that we know work."

45,000 weekly COVID deaths

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead on COVID, agreed, pointing out that some 45,000 deaths from the disease were still being registered worldwide every week.

"That shouldn't be happening, because we have tools at hand," she told reporters.

Data indicate that existing COVID vaccines are less effective in protecting against Omicron transmission than against previous strains.

Some pharmaceutical companies are in the process of making vaccines that better target the variant, but WHO said that was not necessarily the way out of the crisis.

While the idea of variant-specific vaccines might be enticing, WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan cautioned that since they take months to develop, "the danger is that you will be always trying to play catch-up with the next variant."

A better approach, therefore, she said, might be to try to develop so-called "multivalent vaccines or, ideally, to have a pan-coronavirus vaccine."

In the meantime, WHO stressed that the existing vaccines still do a good job of protecting against developing severe COVID disease, reiterating the importance of ensuring broader, more equitable access to the jabs.

"Vaccines may be less effective at preventing infection and transmission of Omicron than they were for previous variants, but they still are exceptionally good at preventing serious disease and death," Tedros said.

Health experts warn that allowing COVID to spread unabated in some places dramatically increases the chance of new, more dangerous variants emerging.

"With the incredible growth of Omicron globally, new variants are likely to emerge," Tedros cautioned.

Explore further Omicron especially dangerous for unvaccinated: WHO

 2022 AFP
People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk along a pedestrian crossing Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Tokyo. Japan's government is preparing social restrictions in Tokyo and other regions as the omicron variant of the coronavirus infects more people. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Japan's government is preparing social restrictions in Tokyo and other regions as the omicron variant of the coronavirus infects more people.

Japan has never had a lockdown during the pandemic but has focused instead on asking restaurants and bars to close early. Crowds are back in many parts of Japan, with people packing stores and events, while COVID-19 cases jump.

The order will be finalized this week and is likely to take effect Friday, the government spokesman said Tuesday. The measures are expected to last for about three weeks in 16 regions, including Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima, which were already placed under some restrictions earlier this month.

Other areas seeing surging infections, such as Osaka, may be added later.

"The infections are rising at an unprecedented speed," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

Worries are growing about infections spreading so quickly that hospital systems may get stretched thin, he said.

He acknowledged additional action may be needed if the numbers of people shoot up, required to undergo quarantine or hospitalization.

About 80% of the Japanese population have received two vaccine shots, but only 1% the booster. The government has promised to speed up boosters, but most people won't be getting them until after March or later, under the current schedule.

People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk along a pedestrian crossing Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

The third dose is recommended particularly against omicron, which is causing more breakthrough infections than earlier forms of the virus.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is keen on avoiding public discontent of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, widely seen as behind the ouster of the previous prime minister. Nationwide parliamentary elections will be held in a few months.

Bars and eateries that abide by the government restrictions are eligible for aid. But some say that hasn't been enough.

More than 20,000 new cases were reported Monday nationwide, showing cases are rising quickly because of omicron. Most experts think the case tally is an undercount because testing is not widespread. Some 134,000 people are now quarantining or hospitalized for COVID-19.

About 18,400 people have died from COVID-19. The recently reported daily cases in Japan are approaching the record numbers hit in August and September last year.

Explore further Japan approves new restrictions for areas hard hit by COVID

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A new report from academics at Coventry University and City, University of London, recommends legislative and policy changes for the protection of pregnant women and their unborn children under the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The report follows the death of a new-born baby at HMP Bronzefield in 2019 to a prisoner who gave birth alone in her cell, and a stillbirth at HMP Styal in 2020 to a woman who did not realize she was pregnant and was not visited by the prison's duty nurse despite complaints of acute abdominal pain.

The report, "Why Are Pregnant Women in Prison?" from academics at Coventry University and City, University of London, analyzed the real-life experiences of 22 women who had served prison sentences while pregnant in England, with the aim of understanding and outlining why custody is currently imposed and exploring arguments for a change in social attitudes and the law.

Working with charities Birth Companions and Women in Prisons, the report's authors, Rona Epstein, Honorary Research Fellow at Coventry Law School and Coventry University, Geraldine Brown, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University, and Maria Garcia de Frutos, Lecturer in Midwifery at City, University of London, surveyed 19 of these women for their experiences, with information about the remaining three women obtained from official reports.

They found that two of the women had been on remand and six of the women had been recalled to prison after breaching their probation conditions.

The other women had been sentenced to between two weeks and four years in prison for various offenses including: an immigration offense, robbery, drugs offenses, burglary, fraud, perjury, and shopliftingthe most common offense.

Six women had been sent to prison at 28 weeks pregnant or later (late pregnancy), and four women discovered they were pregnant while serving their sentence. The authors recommend that any woman found to be pregnant after entering prison should have her sentence immediately reviewed.

The report found the 19 women interviewed were very vulnerable. Many reported experiencing hardships including domestic violence and coercion, drug addiction, homelessness, and mental ill health.

It found that the women's experiences of pregnancy in prison included being 'lonely and difficult' as a result of patchy specialist care and support services, and a lack of compassion from prison officers, with one claiming she reported early signs of being in labor on a Saturday but was left alone in her cell until Monday morning. While another claimed she was told by a prison officer to 'prove' she was in labor through the door hatch.

There were stories of general feelings of being unwell due to pregnancy being dismissed by prison officers, and a lack of access to what they considered nutritious food or additional snacks.

In view of its findings, the report recommends that prison sentences given to pregnant women should either be deferred or suspended, or replaced with community orders, and if custodial sentences are deemed unavoidable for reasons of public protection, those reasons must be justified in open court.

It recommends the government scraps its current plan to invest 150 million in 500 new prison places for women, and divert some of the funds into Women's Centres, and other facilities and support in the community.

Rona Epstein, lead author of the report, says that "imprisonment for pregnant women may not always be necessary, it is the choice made by the legal system of each country. Eleven countries have already enacted laws to prevent pregnant women from entering prison, among them the Russian Federation, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia."

"The prison environment is often unsuitable for pregnant women and can be dangerous for the unborn child, and there needs to be a complete rethink if the outcomes are to be improved for pregnant women, many of whom will be vulnerable, who find themselves in the criminal justice system."

"Non-punitive options need to be created and sustained, and community orders should be the preferred choice."

Co-author Maria Garcia de Frutos says that their "report contributes to the growing evidence that shows that outcomes for women are not equal. Studies have shown those suffering from multiple vulnerabilities face the worst of them, including women from Black ethnic groups being four times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth."

"Structural failures and lack of timely access to care and specialist services are some of the inequalities reflected through the stories of the women in our research. We have enough evidence to support pregnant women and people in suitable facilities away from prisons. We need to move to a model of care that is fair, respectful and safe for all."

Explore further How going from care to prison compounds women's trauma
Respiratory therapist Frans Oudenaar, left, and registered nurse Bryan Hofilena cover a body of a COVID-19 patient with a sheet at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 2021. The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March. Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March.

The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. has been trending upward since mid-November, reaching nearly 1,700 on Jan. 17still below the peak of 3,300 in January 2021. COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents started rising slightly two weeks ago, although still at a rate 10 times less than last year before most residents were vaccinated.

Despite signs omicron causes milder disease on average, the unprecedented level of infection spreading through the country, with cases still soaring in many states, means many vulnerable people will become severely sick. If the higher end of projections comes to pass, that would push total U.S. deaths from COVID-19 over 1 million by early spring.

"A lot of people are still going to die because of how transmissible omicron has been," said University of South Florida epidemiologist Jason Salemi. "It unfortunately is going to get worse before it gets better."

Morgues are starting to run out of space in Johnson County, Kansas, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of the health department. More than 30 residents have died in the county this year, the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

Registered nurse Bryan Hofilena attaches "COVID Patient" stickers on a body bag of a patient who died of coronavirus at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 2021. The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March. Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

But the notion that a generally less severe variant could still take the lives of thousands of people has been difficult for health experts to convey. The math of itthat a small percentage of a very high number of infections can yield a very high number of deathsis difficult to visualize.

"Overall, you're going to see more sick people even if you as an individual have a lower chance of being sick," said Katriona Shea of Pennsylvania State University, who co-leads a team that pulls together several pandemic models and shares the combined projections with the White House.

The wave of deaths heading for the United States will crest in late January or early February, Shea said. In early February, weekly deaths could equal or exceed the delta peak, and possibly even surpass the previous U.S. peak in deaths last year.

Some unknown portion of these deaths are among people infected with the delta variant, but experts say omicron is also claiming lives.

People wait in line at COVID-19 testing site in Times Square on Dec. 3, 2021, in New York. The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March. Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File

"This is omicron driven," Shea said of the coming wave of deaths. The combined models project 1.5 million Americans will be hospitalized and 191,000 will die from mid-December through mid-March. Taking into account the uncertainty in the models, U.S. deaths during the omicron wave could range from 58,000 to 305,000.

Yet, it's become increasingly clear that the risk from omicron is lower than from previous variants. New evidence from nearly 70,000 patients in Southern California suggests omicron is causing milder illness than delta.

A study, posted online and cited during a recent White House briefing, found patients with omicron had a 53% lower risk of hospitalization with respiratory symptoms, a 74% lower risk of ICU admission, and a 91% lower risk of death. The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, comes from researchers at Kaiser Permanente and University of California, Berkeley.

"It's hard for me to say straight out it's good news," said study co-author Sara Y. Tartof, a Kaiser Permanente research scientist. "Maybe there's good news in the sense that if you are infected your chance of becoming severely ill are decreased, but from a societal perspective it's a very heavy burden for us. It remains a serious situation, and we need to maintain practices and behaviors we know protect us."

People wait in line outside a COVID-19 walk-in testing site, Dec. 5, 2021, in Cambridge, Mass. The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File

Overburdened hospitals could also contribute to more deaths, said Marc Lipsitch of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and scientific director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's forecasting center.

"In places with extremely short staffing and overloads of patients, as the medical professionals have been telling us, the quality of care begins to suffer," Lipsitch said. "That may also lead to higher death rates, but that's not in any of the models that I'm aware of."

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Schematic summarizing the research by Sodhi's team. Fluid was collected from the eyes of patients with wet macular degeneration receiving treatment with anti-VEGF therapy. Analyses on the proteins in this fluid were performed to identify biomarkers that may help predict those patients who can be safely weaned off treatment within one year. Credit: Isabella Sodhi and Adriana Sodhi

In a preliminary study of 106 people with "wet" age-related macular degeneration, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that as many as a third of those with the blinding retinal disease may someday be able to safely stop eye injection therapy without further vision loss. The findings, say the researchers, fall short of setting a timeline for ending treatment or predicting precisely which patients can stop injections, but they say the results add to growing evidence that many people with the disease may not need the lifelong monthly medication currently recommended.

The findings, the investigators say, also point to specific proteins produced at different levels in the eyes of those who stopped therapy, which may lead to the development of a test to accurately identify who may be weaned off medication.

"Such a test could let us tell patients early on how well they would do and when they might be able to stop," says Akrit Sodhi , M.D., Ph.D., The Branna and Irving Sisenwein Professor of Ophthalmology associate professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Wilmer Eye Institute.

The study published in print Jan. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. The majority of those who lose vision from the condition have the "wet" form, characterized by the abnormal growth of blood vessels that leak damaging fluids into the light-sensitive tissues of the eye.

Treatment of wet AMD requires monthly or bimonthly injections of drugs called anti-VEGFor anti-vascular endothelial growth factorinto the eye. Anti-VEGF agents can slow or stop the growth of the leaky blood vessels and, in most cases, effectively stave off further vision loss. However, the need to return to a physician's office or clinic each month for injections is a common barrier to care among patients, leading to missed treatments and potentially worsening vision.

For the study, Sodhi and his team analyzed the treatment outcomes of 106 people with wet age-related macular degeneration whom he treated at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute between 2013 and 2020 at the East Baltimore location and at a satellite clinic, both in Maryland.

Each patient had undergone a customized anti-VEGF injection schedule in which Sodhi monitored response to therapy and determined whether patients needed another injection at each visit or if they could enter a treatment pause in which the injection was held unless there was evidence of new disease activity at the next visit. Eyes without treatment that showed no signs of fluid accumulation or advancing vision loss after at least 30 weeks of monitoring were considered safely weaned off anti-VEGF therapy.

At the end of a year, up to a third of the patients had stopped anti-VEGF treatments in at least one eye. That amounted to 38 of 122 (31%) of treated eyes. A smaller percentage of eyes still required monthly injections, amounting to treatments for 21 of 122 (17%) patients' eyes. The other half of patients required treatment every 612 weeks; a handful of these patients were also ultimately weaned from treatment at the end of year two.

Patients who stopped anti-VEGF treatments in at least one eye showed the best outcome, with less fluid and improved vision compared with those who required continued injections to maintain their vision.

"Across the board, the patients who could enter a treatment pause did the best even though they were receiving no anti-VEGF drugs. They had better visual acuity, better gain of vision and less fluid in their retina," says Sodhi.

The researchers next sought biomarkers that could show what distinguished these patients from those who required monthly injections to maintain their vision.

Before beginning treatment with anti-VEGF therapy using their treatment plan, Sodhi's team collected small amounts of fluid from the eyes of some of the patients, and continued collecting samples at subsequent clinic visits from many of the patients.

In the fluids, the researchers found differences in the amounts of 172 proteins between patients who were able to stop treatments compared with those who required monthly treatment.

In a proof-of concept experiment, the researchers chose one of the 172 proteins to investigate furtherapolipoprotein B100that other studies had demonstrated is an important part of drusen, the material that accumulates under the retina in all patients with AMD and was thought to promote early changes in dry AMD. The researchers found that apolipoprotein B100 was present at much higher levels in the eyes of patients who had been weaned off anti-VEGF treatment. They further observed that the levels of this protein were higher in patients who did not develop wet AMD compared with patients who did. The researchers hypothesized this protein may help protect patients from developing wet AMD.

The researchers then conducted tests in mice by inciting in the mouse retina abnormal blood vessel growth similar to that seen in humans with macular degeneration. Mice genetically engineered with elevated apolipoprotein B100 levels had less abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina than mice with lower levels of this protein, suggesting the protein indeed has a protective effect against the retinal disorder.

Sodhi says there are potentially other proteins among the 172 that could be used as biomarkers to predict the response to anti-VEGF therapies. He notes that some of these proteins could be used for developing new macular degeneration treatments.

Randomized clinical trials in a large group of patients with wet macular degeneration must happen before broader recommendations on pausing anti-VEGF therapies can be developed, Sodhi adds.

Explore further New hope for better treatments against macular degeneration

More information: Xuan Cao et al, Aqueous proteins help predict the response of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration to anti-VEGF therapy, Journal of Clinical Investigation (2021). Journal information: Journal of Clinical Investigation Xuan Cao et al, Aqueous proteins help predict the response of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration to anti-VEGF therapy,(2021). DOI: 10.1172/JCI144469
Hanna Zientara, an 83-year-old resident of Warsaw, receives a booster shot against COVID-19, in Warsaw, Poland, on Dec. 7, 2021. Poland has become the latest European nation to reach the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths related to the coronavirus. Nearly a quarter of those deathssome 24,000occurred in the most recent wave of infection that began in October, a period in which vaccines have been widely available in the European Union nation. Credit: AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski

Poland's health officials say that the country has entered a new, fifth wave, in the coronavirus pandemic, predicting that it it will peak in mid-February at about 60,000 new infections per day or even more.

Waldemar Kraska, the deputy health minister, said Tuesday that the highly transmissible omicron variant now accounts for 19% of the samples nationwide that have been sequenced, though 50% are in the Pomerania province along the Baltic coast in the country's north.

If the Health Ministry's predictions prove correct, the rate of infection in the coming wave would be more than double that of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2021.

On Tuesday, Poland recorded 19,652 new cases of COVID-19 and 377 deaths.

Poland's vaccination rate is at 56.5%, significantly lower than in many other European Union nations, and the death rate is significantly higher in proportion to the population.

Kraska said that 300 of the 377 deaths were among unvaccinated people.

"These are deaths that we could have avoided if these people had been vaccinated," he said.

Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said there were other forecasts which predict new infections reaching 120,000 new daily cases or even higher.

"We have to say that the fifth wave is becoming a fact and we can expect increases in the near future," Niedzielski said on Monday.

He said that the health care system is exposed to "the risk of a very high burden," one that Poland has not yet faced during any of the infection surges to date.

The death rate in the central European nation of 38 million has now reached 102,686.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A record number of new businesses were created in Montana last year, state officials said, noting that more than 51,500 new businesses were registered with the Montana Secretary of State in 2021, surpassing the previous record set in 2020 by more than 12,000 businesses.

Nearly 30,000 Domestic Limited Liability Cos., or LLCs, were registered in 2021.

The Montana Business Economic Report contains information about where, by ZIP code, new businesses are located. The 59901 ZIP code (Flathead County) had the highest increase in 2021, with more than 7,000 new businesses registered.

There were also 178,601 renewal filings in 2021 and 267,900 businesses in good standing, both increases over the prior year.

In addition to new business registrations, business renewals and businesses in good standing both increased in 2021.

Through the Secretary of States Montana Business Economic Report, data is provided about the business economy in Montana. Per the report, March had the largest number of business registrations in 2021, with 5,161 new businesses registering with the Secretary of States Office.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen said Montana has been rated as one of the best states in the nation for business startups.

Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a news release that Montana is open for business.

He said in the past year the state has seen a record low unemployment rate, a record number of Montanans working, and a record number of new businesses created.

Well continue to foster a climate where businesses can thrive and create sustainable jobs and greater prosperity for more Montanans, he said.

Montana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd OHair said the record growth in business registrations points to a strong Montana economy and a vibrant entrepreneurial base.

The Montana Business Economic Report can be found on the Secretary of States website by going to https://sosmt.gov/economic-report/.

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TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Despite earlier concerns that at-home COVID-19 tests might be less accurate than PCR tests, new research in U.S. children and teens adds to evidence that the rapid tests are highly accurate.

The scientists said the accuracy of the tests  which can be used at home and in schools and provide quick results  is similar to that of PCR tests, which have to be analyzed in a lab and can take one to two days to deliver results.

The study included more than 1,000 children and teens, 17 and younger, who were tested at the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital (BCCFH) testing site during a seven-month period in 2021.

The participants were tested using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, a test that was recently shown to be highly accurate in adults. The tests were provided free of charge to the researchers by the Maryland Department of Health.

The rapid antigen test sensitivity rate (ability to identify people for whom the PCR test would detect infection) was 92.7%, and its specificity rate (ability to identify people for whom the PCR test would not detect infection) was 98%.

The sensitivity was similar for those with symptoms (92.3%) and without symptoms (92.6%).

The study also found that the negative predictive value (the probability that a person who tests negative has not been infected, as a PCR test would show) was high for both symptomatic (99.2%) and asymptomatic (99.7%) children and teens.

The findings were posted online recently on the preprint website MedRxiv and have not been peer-reviewed.

The results suggest that rapid COVID-19 testing can be confidently used to screen for children and teens who are infected but not showing symptoms, according to the researchers.

They said such testing could help keep classrooms safer.

"Quick, accurate and accessible diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric populations is critical to keeping children in classrooms, especially given the contagiousness of the newer virus variants, including Delta and Omicron," said study senior author Dr. Zishan Siddiqui, an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore.

"Our research  conducted when the Delta variant predominated  provides a timelier measure of the rapid antigen test's accuracy in children than studies done before the more transmissible variants became prevalent," Siddiqui added in a Hopkins news release.

The rapid tests offer a number of advantages over the PCR test, including taking less time to collect samples and process them, cost savings, and ease of distribution and use, Siddiqui noted.

This means they can help overcome COVID-19 testing disparities for children and teens in medically underserved communities, according to Siddiqui.

Study co-lead author Mary Jane Vaeth said, "Our findings of near 100% NPVs [negative predictive value] for both symptomatic and asymptomatic children and adolescents should pave the way for parents and school administrators to place more trust in the rapid antigen test results." Vaeth is a clinical assistant at the BCCFH.

And, study co-lead author Kristie Sun, a medical student at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a public health graduate from Johns Hopkins, added, "In turn, we hope that these results can inform educators in developing appropriate testing procedures to keep children in school."

More information

For more on COVID-19 tests, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, news release, Jan. 14, 2022

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TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It can happen so fast.

One moment, a family is eating dinner together like usual. Soon after, they go off to do other things before being brought back together by a child's scream.

That is what unfolded in the Beckman home in State College, Pa., one October evening three months ago. The youngest of the family's three children, 3-year-old Hazel, suffered a serious friction burn as her arm got trapped in an active home treadmill.

"Hazel's extraordinary. She's doing a great job healing. I think she handled it better than most adults would have," said her mom, Sarah Beckman.

For Sarah, it's been more challenging. "I feel terrible. I feel like I'm on a bit of a national apology tour as a mom, but if somebody else can benefit from it, it's so important," she said.

Sarah is hoping both that families will be aware of the potential dangers of exercise equipment in their homes, while also hoping to help people be more aware of the seriousness of a friction burn.

Cases like Hazel are certainly not unique -- Dr. Alejandro Garcia, director of the Pediatric Burn Center at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, said the burn center has seen a doubling of treadmill-related friction burns during the pandemic.

"Talking with families, the sense is that a lot of these kids are staying at home, particularly the younger kids. Because of COVID they can't either be at school or with caregivers," Garcia said. "And, also, that there's a lot more home exercise equipment. I think it's a combination of those factors that may be leading to the increase that we're seeing."

The family's treadmill was not one of Peloton's Tread and Tread+ exercise machines, which were recalled in May. At the time, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned of more than 70 reports of adults, children and pets being pulled under the rear portion of the machines. One 6-year-old boy's injury was so severe that he died, The New York Times reported.

However, any treadmill brand can be dangerous to children, experts warn.

Happened so quickly

After dinner that October night, Hazel's dad, Matt Beckman, was helping 10-year-old daughter, Eden, play the xylophone, while Sarah was working on the computer. Hazel and 6-year-old brother, Jack, had gone downstairs.

Jack had gotten the treadmill going faster and faster, while Hazel was rolling around on a foam roller on the floor. The high-tech equipment operates so quietly that no one upstairs realized the treadmill was on. Soon Hazel's arm was trapped against it.

She screamed and Jack pulled her arm out.

"I would say Jack was maybe a little more traumatized by the experience than even Hazel. I think that's maybe the gift of being 3. Jack's a little older and that was pretty scary for him, but he feels really proud that he met the moment and helped out his sister," Sarah said.

Hazel was left with what is a 4-inch-long, -inch deep friction burn on her left forearm, including on her wrist.

"What's really alarming about it is that when I saw her burn, I didn't know what I was looking at," Sarah said.

The friction had removed the outer layers of skin, which meant the wound had a white, leathery look and wasn't bleeding.

The first night, after finding one urgent care center closed and another locking up in which a nurse in the parking lot advised applying an over-the-counter cream and wrapping the wound, Sarah called a nurse's line the next day and received similar advice. After that, she checked with Hazel's pediatrician and was told to go to the emergency room for treatment. There, they made the diagnosis and referred the family to the burn center.

"The impression that I got was everybody was, 'Oh, she got an abrasion. It will be fine,' but I just don't think there's enough awareness of how deep these friction burns can go so quickly on a treadmill conveyor belt," Sarah said.

Potential for lasting damage

A friction burn can be caused by direct friction with the skin. Scarring can damage mobility. The burned area may need a skin graft to heal and needs care to avoid infection.

"These friction burns can be very severe, one because they tend to be deeper. And second, because they're always in areas that are sensitive, that if the patient develops the scar, it can affect their mobility, which for her since it is her wrist and hand, that's what we worry, that it could affect her in the future," Garcia said.

Hazel's burn was considered between second- and third-degree.

Hazel Beckman's friction burn. SOURCE: Sarah Beckman consumer.healthday.com

In Hazel's case, the burn center helped the family get through the first few weeks, checking to avoid infection and be sure the skin is starting to heal and regenerate.

Once it's healed and the patient develops a scar, the next phase may include massage, occupational therapy and compression garments. Around six months after the injury, the team reassesses to see if a scar is developing that would cause problems and whether they need to address that with surgery or laser treatment.

In Hazel's case, she did not need an initial skin graft. She will continue to wear compression bandages 23 hours a day for about the next year while the skin continues to heal.

"I think we still have to watch her over time to make sure she doesn't develop any contractures [a shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons or other tissue that can lead to deformity and rigidity of joints]," Garcia said.

The '10-second rule'

Dr. Ben Hoffman, medical director of the Child Injury Prevention Program at Oregon Health & Science University who also serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention, said while a lot of people have treadmills in their homes, they don't realize the risks they can present to kids.

This includes fractures and head injuries from treadmills rocketing kids backward, Hoffman said.

"I think a couple of things to highlight is, number one, kids are kids, right? And especially younger kids are just built to explore. They're incredibly curious. They're also very mobile and fast and impulsive," Hoffman said. "We like to think that our supervision is enough, but things happen quickly."

Hoffman suggests parents look at their homes through the lens of what risks they might pose to their children.

"I think about it in terms of the 10-second rule," Hoffman said. "Would I trust my child alone with this for 10 seconds? And if I don't trust them alone with it for 10 seconds  because that's how quickly things can happen  we need to think about how we can establish layers of protection to prevent something bad from happening."

For a treadmill, that would include unplugging it when it's not in use and removing the plastic key most require for operation. Close doors or put up a gate. Precautions might vary by child, with different layers of protection depending on age or impulsivity.

"I've talked to a lot of families whose kids have suffered catastrophic injuries. And I think there's often an assumption that it's never going to happen to me," Hoffman said.

"I think you don't want to get to the point where you're so frantic because you assume it's going to happen to you that you're not able to live your life and your kids don't have the opportunity to do some of that exploration, because I think that's important for development. But there's some place in the middle where the really dangerous things, you make sure they don't have access to," Hoffman said.

At the Beckman house, the treadmill's safety key is now in a separate place, and the family will probably sell it, Sarah said.

The experience also taught them about the challenges of other families whose children have burns and are being treated at a burn center. They used the opportunity to work with friends and family to gather and donate toys and activities for recovering children.

"Suffering or any kind of sad thing that happens like that gives you the opportunity to connect with a new group of people. My eyes were really opened to the process of healing burns for families who had it much worse than we even did," Sarah said.

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on burns.

SOURCES: Sarah Beckman, State College, Penn.; Alejandro Garcia, MD, director, Pediatric Burn Center, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore; Benjamin Hoffman, MD, professor, pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, and medical director, Tom Sargent Safety Center, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Portland, Ore.; Johns Hopkins Medicine, news release, Jan. 11, 2022

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TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- People's political views do affect their opinions about COVID-19 policies, a new study confirms, but researchers also found that advice from trusted experts can override those political biases.

"These findings underscore how important it is to have communications come from scientific sources that are not seen as political and to keep prominent politicians out of the spotlight of crisis communication," study co-author Alexandra Flores said in a University of Colorado at Boulder news release.

Flores, a PhD student in psychology and neuroscience, was motivated by the polarization of public opinion seen around the world regarding the ongoing pandemic.

In late 2020, she and her colleagues surveyed 13,000 people in seven countries: the United States, Brazil, Israel, Italy, Sweden, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Participants were asked their opinions about two COVID-19 pandemic-management proposals that were based on real plans under consideration. The plans included measures such as social distancing, workplace regulations, contact tracing and travel restrictions.

One plan had more severe restrictions and prioritized keeping COVID-19 case numbers down, while the other plan emphasized "recovery of the economy as much as possible while preventing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases."

Participants were told the policies were supported either by liberal elites, conservative elites, a bipartisan coalition or nonpartisan scientific experts.

In all of the countries, liberal and conservative respondents were significantly more likely to support a policy when they were told that elites from their party endorsed it.

However, a policy earned the most support when respondents were told it was supported by bipartisan coalitions or neutral experts.

The same results were found in a separate experiment that was conducted only in the United States. In that one, respondents were asked their opinion about two international vaccine distribution plans: one with an America-first strategy and another with a more global approach.

The study was published Jan. 18 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"This study demonstrates that when it comes to COVID-19, as with other contemporary issues, people are much more swayed by who the policy represents than what the policy actually is," said study co-author Leaf Van Boven, a professor of psychology and neuroscience.

"It also shows that people trust and like experts more than politicians -- even those from their own party," Van Boven said in the release.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19.

SOURCE: University of Colorado at Boulder, news release, Jan. 13, 2022

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TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Before getting their first dose of a COVID vaccine, many Americans were nervous about how they would react to the shot, but new research shows that fears of side effects may actually make side effects more likely.

To investigate this so-called "nocebo" effect in people receiving COVID-19 vaccines, researchers analyzed data from 12 clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines and compared rates of side effects in more than 22,000 participants who received the vaccines and more than 22,000 who received a placebo shot.

After the first shot, systemic side effects -- symptoms that affect the entire body, such as fever, headache and fatigue -- were reported by about 46% of vaccine recipients.

But more than 35% of people who got the placebo shot also experienced similar side effects, a team of Boston investigators found.

At least one local side effect -- such as pain at the injection site, redness or swelling -- was reported by 16% of placebo recipients and two-thirds of vaccine recipients.

The nocebo effect accounted for many of the side effects in the group that got the dummy shot and for 76% of all side effects in the vaccine group after the first shot, the researchers calculated.

After the second shot, systemic side effects were reported by 32% of those in the placebo group and 61% of those in the vaccine group, and local side effects were reported by 12% of those in the placebo group and 73% of those in the vaccine group.

The nocebo effect accounted for nearly 52% of the side effects reported after the second dose, according to the authors of the study published Jan. 18 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

"Adverse events after placebo treatment are common in randomized, controlled trials," noted study author Julia Haas, an investigator in the Program in Placebo Studies at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

"Collecting systematic evidence regarding these nocebo responses in vaccine trials is important for COVID-19 vaccination worldwide, especially because concern about side effects is reported to be a reason for vaccine hesitancy," Haas said in a medical center news release.

"Nonspecific symptoms like headache and fatigue -- which we have shown to be particularly nocebo-sensitive -- are listed among the most common adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination in many information leaflets," said study senior author Ted Kaptchuk, director of the Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter.

But giving people that kind of information might backfire, he added, causing them "to misattribute common daily background sensations as arising from the vaccine or cause anxiety and worry that make people hyper alert to bodily feelings about adverse events."

"Medicine is based on trust," Kaptchuk said. Letting the public know that the nocebo effect might play a role in any vaccine side effect "could help reduce worries about COVID-19 vaccination, which might decrease vaccination hesitancy," he believes.

More information

For more on COVID-19 vaccine side effects, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, news release, Jan. 18, 2022

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" " Under federal law, you do have to give back an improperly received bonus. Glowimages/Getty Images

It just feels wrong. Back in 2016, the Los Angeles Times called out the Pentagon's aggressive effort to claw back millions of dollars in bonuses paid to California National Guard members who re-enlisted to fight in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Under pressure to meet quotas, the California Guard improperly handed out re-enlistment bonuses to thousands of soldiers who did not qualify for them, although the soldiers didn't know they were ineligible.) Faced with angry blowback from Congress and veterans groups, Defense Secretary Ash Carter called for an immediate suspension of the debt collection efforts until a fair and streamlined system could be devised.

Americans were shocked by the idea of the government taking back bonuses (with interest!) from veterans who had served their country faithfully, demanding $20,000 to $40,000 from each soldier. But the truth is that most employers  public or private  have the legal right to recoup bonuses or other wages if they can prove that the worker was overpaid.

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Deborah England has seen it firsthand. A civil rights attorney in San Francisco, England has more than 30 years of experience in labor and employment law. She said that the National Guard case involves a completely different set of legal issues, but that regular workers also can end up owing money to their bosses.

"Most of the cases I've seen involve a hiring bonus where there was a string attached, such as the person had to stay employed for X amount of time with the company," said England when we spoke to her in 2016. If the employer feels like the worker didn't live up to her end of the bargain, they can ask for the bonus back. If the worker refuses, the boss can sue for breach of contract.

Contract disputes are one thing, but what if payroll simply screws up and cuts a check for $2,000 more than the worker deserves? Does the lucky employee have to give back that money, too?

Yup.

Both state and federal labor and employment laws give employers the right to garnish an employee's wages  subtract chunks from a worker's paycheck  in cases of overpayment. The federal law, known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, is notoriously weak on worker protections when it comes to garnishing wages.

"Under the federal law, an employer can deduct the full amount of overpayments, even if  and this is key  it brings the employee's wages under minimum wage for the pay period," England said.

In a published opinion, the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor confirms, "It has been our longstanding position that where an employer makes a loan or an advance of wages to an employee"  overpayment counts as an "advance of wages"  "the principal may be deducted from the employee's earnings even if such deduction cuts into the minimum wage or overtime pay due the employee under the FLSA."

"Basically the federal law gives no protection to the employee," said England.

Many state laws are just as bad. In the state of Washington, an employer doesn't even have to notify workers that it is garnishing their wages if the overpayment was inadvertent and it was caught within 90 days. In Indiana, employers can recoup overpaid wages without authorization, but at least have to give two weeks' notice before pulling money from each paycheck.

California offers the strongest worker protections against bosses clawing back money that they think was overpaid. First, an employer can only recoup money if the worker signs a written agreement outlining the exact terms of repayment.

If the worker refuses, then the boss can take it to the courts and initiate garnishment proceedings. Even if the employer proves its case, that the worker was indeed overpaid, "under no circumstances can an employer reduce an employee's wages below minimum wage here in California," England said.

Now Thats Cool After massive negative publicity about the case, a Pentagon official said in 2017 that most of the California National Guard soldiers who got improper bonuses (15,000 of the 17,500) would not have to pay them back. The ones who still had to pay were those who didn't fulfill the military service requirements. A fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act forbids the Pentagon from clawing back improper enlistment bonuses unless the soldier knew or reasonably should have known they were ineligible for the benefit.

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Originally Published: Nov 1, 2016
Northern Marianas College has signed an agreement with the Department of Public Works to establish a federally funded on-the-job training and social support program. In the picture are Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada, second left, signing the MOA as NMC President Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, Vice President for Administration and Advancement Frankie Eliptico, second right, DPW and NMC staff look on Tuesday in the NMC administration conference room.
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MultiChoice has been a poor performer on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) over the last three years, but analysts are upbeat about the companys share price this year.

MultiChoice was listed on the JSE on 27 February 2019 at R95 per share after it was spun out of Naspers to give more value to shareholders.

Within two weeks, the price increased to R125 per share. Since then, however, the share price has remained flat.

Despite MultiChoices lacklustre performance, prominent investment firms like Protea Capital Management and Anchor Capital are optimistic about this companys prospects.

Anchor Capital selected MultiChoice as one of its local stock picks for 2022 alongside Afrimat, Alviva, Transaction Capital, and Investec.

Anchor Capital explained that when people think about MultiChoice, the focus is on the companys cash cow  its South African DStv business.

However, MultiChoice is much more than a South African pay-TV operation.

We believe that in the next year or so, investors are going to be forced to start ascribing value to the other parts of the business  most importantly the currently loss-making African business, it said.

When MultiChoice was listed, management guided that MultiChoice Africa would reach operating profit breakeven in this next financial year.

As that date rapidly approaches, we believe things will get interesting for MultiChoice investors, Anchor Capital said.

It added that MultiChoice has also invested in several new seeds for growth, which the market is not currently recognising.

MultiChoice has interests in Irdeto, a world leader in digital platform security, BetKing, an online betting business, and Aura, a new tech platform in South Africa.

While MultiChoices growth prospects in South Africa is limited, the other business units add value to its operations.

According to Anchor Capital, the fair value for the South African business is around R150 per share.

MultiChoices current share price of around R120 per share is effectively implying a negative value on the rest of the business, it said.

While that has probably been reasonable historically  given the losses in Africa, the turbulence we have seen through the pandemic, and the currency volatility  MultiChoice Africa has been steadily making progress towards breakeven.

While the South African business is likely to grow at a pedestrian pace, the MultiChoice Group is set to compound its earnings at around the mid-teens level, with a dividend yield of 6%.

As the need to fund the African operations recedes, the highly cash-generative nature of the SA operation implies the yield should grow strongly in the future, Anchor Capital said.

The key message here is that it is a share for which the whole ex-SA opportunity is not yet priced in, and that is going to become very difficult to justify as the ex-SA business continues to hit its targets and turns profitable.

Protea Capital Management senior investment analyst Richard Cheesman also views MultiChoice as a good investment opportunity.

Like Anchor Capital, Cheesman said MultiChoice South Africas operations alone might be more valuable than its current market cap.

Apart from the value which Irdeto, BetKing, and MultiChoice Africa hold, there is another reason investors are interested in MultiChoice  Canal+ potentially buying a larger stake in MultiChoice.

Cheesman said they see the opportunity, means, and motivation for Canal+ to buy a bigger stake in MultiChoice.

There is little geographical overlap between MultiChoice and Canal+ in Africa, and there would be many synergies from a merger such as content costs, satellite leases, and perhaps expediting the use of the MultiChoice tax losses, he said.

MultiChoice and Canal+ have monthly feedback meetings and have collaborated on some content. We view this as informal due diligence being done.

Cheesman said it is not easy to see the exact form a potential merger would take, but he believes separating the African and local operations would not make sense.
Vodacoms proposed takeover of Vodafone Egypt was approved by Vodacoms minority shareholders during a general meeting on Tuesday morning.

Vodacom Groups proposed acquisition of a 55% stake in Vodafone Egypt cleared a crucial hurdle today when Vodacom minority shareholders overwhelmingly voted in favour of the transaction, the operator said in a statement.

The shareholders also approved resolutions that paved the way to fund the R41 billion (US$2.738 billion) transaction, Vodacom said.

Subject to the final outstanding regulatory approvals, Vodacom will fund the acquisition of Vodafone Group plcs 55% stake in Vodafone Egypt by issuing 242 million new ordinary shares at R135.75 per share in addition to around R8.2 billion (US$548 million) in cash, the operator stated.

Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub described the meetings outcome as an exciting and important milestone for Vodacom.

The acquisition of Vodafone Egypt will be transformational in our evolution from a telco to a techco. This is a transaction that presents significant diversification and growth opportunities for our shareholders, Joosub stated.

With over 80% of Egypts 100 million population unbanked, Vodacom sees enormous potential to leverage our financial services platforms, global partnerships and best practices in a significant market, he added.

Vodacom said it aimed to close the transaction before the end of March 2022.

But the deal remains conditional upon approvals from the JSE, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt, and Egypts Financial Regulatory Authority.

Given the related-party nature of the transaction, Vodacom has ensured appropriate governance controls were put in place so that the deal is executed and concluded on an arms length basis, Vodacom said.

As a result, Vodafone, which currently holds a 60.5% stake in Vodacom Group, was precluded from voting on the approval of the transaction at the General Meeting.

The results of the general meeting were as follows:

Ordinary resolution number 1  Approval of the transaction: 99% in favour. For JSE listing requirements, the votes of Vodafone plc are excluded.

Ordinary resolution number 2  Approval of the consideration shares: 99.58% in favour.

Special resolution  Granting authority to issue consideration shares to the sellers: 99.58% in favour.

Now read: MTN SA appoints new CTIO
An online interface set up for the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system exposed the personal information of every South African who received an infringement notice under the new law.

Personal data contained in the leak included full names, ID numbers, residential or business addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registration information, and infringement details.

An anonymous security researcher who is a regular user of the system informed MyBroadband about the data leak.

They did not wish to approach the Aarto system operator directly, because the researcher was concerned that the new Cybercrimes Act and Protection of Personal Information Act could be used to prosecute them, despite their good intentions.

The Aarto Act established new processes for handling traffic infringements in South Africa, including a demerit point system.

Pretorias High Court declared it unlawful and unconstitutional on Thursday, 13 January.

The researcher found that Aartos system for querying infringement notices  a RESTful API  did not require authentication.

RTIA uses this API on its own Aarto traffic fine website to show motorists their outstanding fines.

The API accepted infringement notice numbers as input and returned all the details of fines in plain text format. This included the nature of the offence, and the details of the vehicles owner.

If you know the web address of the API, it was trivial to try random infringement notice numbers against it and obtain the private information of South African motorists in the database.

The address of the API is not secret. Anyone using the Aarto website can find it if they know where to look.

While infringement notice numbers are sixteen digits long, the first eight digits represent the nature of the offence and notice.

An attacker with a basic knowledge of how these infringement numbers worked, therefore, only needed to write a program to guess the last eight digits of the number to obtain peoples personal information.

A redacted example of the output from the API is shown below. While this is an old infringement, notices up to December 2021 were also exposed.

MyBroadband contacted the State IT Agency (Sita) and Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) for comment.

Sita said that they do not render any support on Aarto systems.

RTIA is ultimately responsible for Aarto and acknowledged our notification and questions, and said they contacted their developers to look into the issue.

They also promised to contact their colleagues who oversee the integration of Aarto into the National Traffic Information System.

After our notification to the RTIA, the Aarto API and traffic fine portal were briefly taken offline.

However, both were back online within the space of a day.

MyBroadband followed up with the RTIA on Monday, 18 January, to press for a coordinated disclosure deadline.

Following our query, the API was secured. Trying to query the API now displays an Unauthorised message.

The security researcher who reported the issue checked the Aarto website and found that the API now uses cryptographic tokens to authorise requests.

Aartos developers appear to have made the change at 18h45 on Monday night.

Users can still check on their fines, but random unauthorised requests to the API are no longer possible.

MyBroadband contacted the RTIA for comment again on Tuesday, but it did not respond.

Update  19 January: RTIA thanked the security researcher and MyBroadband for reporting the issue and apologised for its delay in responding. It confirmed that the developers secured the API over the weekend.
Join the Saint Helena Forum for a free virtual discussion between Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and Forum Board President Douglas Barr at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University. He received a Ph.D. in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel at age 24.

Loeb led the first international project supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative and was subsequently a long-term member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. Loeb has written eight books and about 800 papers on a wide range of topics, including black holes, the first stars, the search for extraterrestrial life and the future of the Universe.

His most recent book, "Extraterrestrial," outlines his controversial theory that an object that passed through the solar system in 2017 was created by an advanced alien civilization.

Loeb is the Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and also serves as the Head of the Galileo Project. He had been the longest-serving Chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy (2011-2020) and the Founding Director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative.

For more information, or to register for this free event, go to shforum.org.
Q&A

Two UB alumni named to C&ENs Talented 12 list

By CHARLOTTE HSU

When chemist Jesus M. Velazquez visited UB last month, the purpose was to deliver a lecture on electrocatalysts as part of the chemistry departments Foster Colloquium Series. But the trip was also a homecoming, a chance not just to speak with young scientists, but to connect with old friends. I had such a great time coming back home, he wrote on Twitter. Velazquez, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of California, Davis, received his doctorate in chemistry from UB in 2012. He is also one of two UB chemistry alumni to be honored in recent editions of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) annual Talented 12 listing, which recognizes a dozen young scientists engaging in world-changing work. C&EN is the flagship magazine of the American Chemical Society. Velazquez was named to the 2021 C&EN Talented 12 list. Luisa Whittaker-Brooks, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Utah who completed her doctorate at UB in 2011, was named to the 2018 C&EN Talented 12 list. As the two have moved on from Buffalo to start and grow their own research programs and mentor a new generation of students, both have kept in touch with members of the UB community, as well as their adviser, Sarbajit Banerjee, a former UB chemistry faculty member who is now at Texas A&M University. Whittaker-Brooks most recently returned to Western New York in April 2019 to give an invited talk. Velazquez and Whittaker-Brooks recently took time to talk with UBNow about their careers, and to look back on their time at UB.

What is the focus of your research?

Jesus M. Velazquez

Velazquez: My team at UC Davis designs well-defined solid-state materials for use in renewable energy and environmental remediation applications. Whittaker-Brooks: My research centers on the design of well-defined organic-inorganic materials with controlled morphology and interfaces that serve as conduits for coherent energy and charge transfer for applications in energy conversion, storage and electronics.

What motivated you to become a scientist?

Luisa Whittaker-Brooks

Velazquez: The opportunity to create and develop ideas that could help with the most pressing societal challenges. Coming from a socioeconomically challenged background, I faced many challenges, and during that process I became infatuated with the belief that one day I would have an opportunity to support others that face similar challenges. It so happens that science provided me with the platform and universal language to do so. Whittaker-Brooks: Having been born and raised in Panama, I often witnessed how many communities at risk struggled to obtain clean water and electricity. I vividly remember how the El Nino climate pattern brought a lot of drought to the country back in 2003. The drought was so severe that the government had to make the tough decision to either restrict electricity (given that electricity in Panama is provided via hydroelectric power) or provide drinkable water to the nation. It is a no-brainer that the latter was the better alternative to keep. Amid adversity, I saw many opportunities and became interested in learning more about sustainable energy processes and clean water filtering technologies.

What do you love about chemistry?

Velazquez: Overcoming problems, and the power of creating solutions. Ive always been attracted to the concept of alchemy and becoming a materials chemist is as close as I could get. Whittaker-Brooks: My training in materials and physical chemistry has led me to develop fundamental research insights that could enable high-performing and low-cost solar cells and energy-storage devices that could one day be deployable to communities at risk in different parts of the world. Through my science journey, I have been empowered to instill in my students the gift of utilizing their unlimited talent to solve some of our global energy challenges.

What is your proudest career accomplishment so far?

Velazquez: I have to say witnessing my students achieving their PhD degrees and landing the jobs that they have worked so hard and diligently to secure. Knowing that I have the great honor of being part of their journey to becoming leaders in the field is an indescribable feeling. Im very fortunate. Whittaker-Brooks: My proudest career accomplishment is watching my students grow intellectually and achieve their professional goals. I truly enjoy the moments when they defend their PhD projects and when they land very competitive jobs and fellowships.

How did you choose UB for your PhD?

Velazquez: It started very early. I was first introduced to Buffalo by the math and science Upward Bound program at Buffalo State College. When I was there, this program provided first-generation, low-income, underrepresented minority students from New York City, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico the opportunity to have a snapshot of what college life is all about. I fell in love with the program. So much so that I became a summer mentor and instructor assistant while I was an undergraduate in Puerto Rico. Then I realized that I was very curious about research, and it was then that I applied to a summer internship at UB under the supervision of Professor Steven Diver. Once I finished my undergraduate degree, I decided to go into industry, but I was always thinking about that summer at UB of in-depth organic chemistry research. One day, I was cleaning my spam mail and I found an email from Professor Luis A. Colon in the UB chemistry department describing an opportunity to apply for the National Science Foundations Bridge to the Doctorate program. I consulted with Ivonne M. Ferrer (my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife and also a UB PhD graduate advised by Professor Colon). We communicated with Dr. Letitia Thomas and we were so fortunate that both of us were selected for the program. Ivonne and I were so happy that we made wedding plans over the summer and got married the same week classes started at UB. We are so fortunate. Whittaker-Brooks: I was not the strongest student on paper in terms of my GRE [Graduate Record Examination] scores and GPA. I was very fortunate UB gave me the opportunity to pursue a PhD in chemistry despite not having the academic metrics. UB did not disappoint, as the Department of Chemistry has excellent professors that are always welcoming and open to mentoring you in different aspects of your professional career and research.

Can you share a favorite UB memory?

Velazquez: I have so many great memories of UB, this is a very difficult question! If I have to pick one, it will have to be when I learned that Professor Sarbajit Banerjee was going to allow me to join his research lab. Then building the lab from zero with lab mates now colleagues, such as Professor Luisa Whittaker-Brooks (University of Utah) and Professor Christopher J. Patridge (DYouville), was very exciting and rewarding. Having Sarbajits mentorship and guidance to this day is at the top of my list of UB memories. Of course, free chicken wings and pizza is number two. Whittaker-Brooks: I loved celebrating 4th of July at UB. Watching fireworks by the lake with some great friends was always my highlight of the festivity.

Any advice or words of inspiration for chemistry students?

Velazquez: Dare to fail with a smile. The journey of higher learning, like anything in life, has many challenges. But anything thats worth your time and effort will be challenging. Once you allow yourself to understand that you are not your results, that learning and embracing failure is part of the equation, you become unstoppable. Whittaker-Brooks: You are the limiting reagent. Dont let anyone define your professional path by discouraging you to pursue your dreams.

Anything else youd like to add?

Velazquez: I love you dearly, UB, and shout out to Luis Colon, Joe Gardella, David Watson, Diana Aga, Steven Diver, Letitia Thomas and Elizabeth Colucci. Also, the young core of UB faculty is too cool for school. Stay strong, you got this.
Tuesday, Jan. 11

1121  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Main/Vintage.

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1318  Report of a family with a baby soliciting for money outside a Hunt Avenue store. The caller asked for an officer to offer resources to the family.

1956  Following a traffic stop at Main/Pratt, police arrested a 33-year-old St. Helena woman for an outstanding warrant.

2107  Report of a reckless driver on Highway 29. An officer found the vehicle and contacted the driver.

2147  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Highway 29/El Bonita.

Wednesday, Jan. 12

0702  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Dowdell/Fountain.

0719  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Charter Oak/Main.

1412  Report of a woman driving drunk with children in the car. Police arrested the 28-year-old Napa woman on suspicion of DUI and child endangerment.

1426  Utility lines were down on Spring Mountain Road.

1832  Lift assist on Pope Street.

2012  Sparks were seen coming out of a chimney and landing on the roof of an Oak Avenue structure. Per Cal Fire, it was determined that there was no hazard.

2043  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Main Street.

2101  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Fulton/Main.

Thursday, Jan. 13

1515  Report of a shoeless woman walking around talking to herself on Rosebud Lane.

1600  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Valley View/Birch.

1901  A vehicle was blocking the road near Main/Spring. An officer contacted its owner, who moved it.

2209  A caller saw a possibly drunk driver run off the road, hit some bushes, and then turn around and driving. The black SUV was last seen near Main/Pratt.

Friday, Jan. 14

0725  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Main Street.

0910  Police took a report on an elder abuse case on Laguna Seca Court.

0945  Report of a sign lying across the railroad tracks near Vintage Avenue.

0952  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Grayson/Main.

1021  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Charter Oak/Allison.

1122  Report of an abandoned bicycle near Rosebud/Magnolia.

1532  A resident asked to talk to an officer about a trespasser.

1723  A pair of Apple AirPods were reported stolen from a bag in a locker room. They were pinging near College Avenue.

1859  Medical aid on Spring Street for a fall victim who hit her head.

2021  Report of a juvenile possibly taking alcohol from a Hunt Avenue store.

2028  Report of an intoxicated juvenile outside a Hunt Avenue store. The store declined to press charges.

2059  Report of a juvenile running and screaming near Library Lane.

2109  Report of a suspicious person in a Main Street parking lot. Police arrested the 64-year-old Lake County man for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. He was cited and released.

2122  A juvenile was heard screaming near Hunt Avenue.

2203  Report of a juvenile crying and talking about a domestic dispute on Pope Street.

Saturday, Jan. 15

0949  Medical aid for an employee who fainted at a Main Street business.

1359  A woman near Charter Oak Avenue flagged down an officer and asked for directions.

Sunday, Jan. 16

0007  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Highway 29 and Stice Lane.

0128  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Highway 29 and Whitehall Lane.

1203  The window of a car was broken in a Tainter Street parking lot.

1350  Medical aid for a woman with chest pains in the lobby of the police station.

1640  Report of a suspicious person trespassing on Brown Street.

2049  A kid was heard screaming near the cemetery.

Monday, Jan. 17

1230  A person received a fraudulent call claiming to be from Apple and asking him to buy gift cards. The staff at Safeway told him it was a scam, so he didnt buy any.

1307  Police responded to a loud music complaint on Hunt Avenue.

1324  A caller heard leaf blowers on Colombard Court on a national holiday.

1345  Someone dumped garbage in front of a house on Deer Park Road. The call was transferred to the sheriffs office.

1417  A bag containing a suspicious powdery substance was found on Sulphur Springs Avenue.

2013  An officer cited a vehicle illegally parked in a disabled space near Hunt/Main.

Tuesday, Jan. 18

0023  Report of smoke in the Meadowood area.
Chinese scientists have built an 'artificial moon' that has lunar-like gravity and is designed to help them prepare astronauts for future exploration missions, the South China Morning Post reported.

The low-gravity simulated environment was inspired by experiments that made use of magnets to levitate a frog.

The simulator is based Xuzhou in the Jiangsu province of China, and has been designed in a way that can 'make gravity disappear,' according to its designers.

Currently, simulating low gravity on Earth requires flying in an aircraft that enters a free fall, then climbs back up, or falling from a drop tower, but that lasts minutes.

The new lunar simulator, which is a small 2ft room sitting in a vacuum chamber, can simulate low or zero gravity 'for as long as you want,' explained its developers.

Inside the 2ft room they have created an artificial lunar landscape, made up of rocks and dust that are as light as those found on the surface of the moon.

Gravity on the moon is about a sixth as powerful as that on Earth, and inside the artificial gravity room the team make use of a strong magnetic field to simulate the 'levitation effects' of a low gravitational force.

'Some experiments such as an impact test need just a few seconds,' said lead scientist Li Ruilin, from the China University of Mining and Technology, adding that 'others such as creep testing can take several days.'

The concept of using magnetic fields for levitation came from Russian physicist Andre Geim, who won an Ig Nobel prize in 2000 for making a frog float.

Geim works at the University of Manchester and went on to win a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for work he did in the creation of graphene.

He told the South China Morning Post that he was pleased to see his education experiments lead to applications in space exploration, explaining that 'magnetic levitation is not the same as antigravity.'

However, he said there were situations where mimicking microgravity using magnetic fields could be invaluable.

China has set a goal of sending astronauts to the moon by 2030, and set up a base on the moon, in a joint project with Russia by the end of this decade.

It is expected this 'artificial moon' will play an important role in future missions to the moon, allowing scientists to plan exercises and prepare for building in low gravity.

Scientists will be able to test equipment before it leave for the moon, preventing miscalculations that could scupper a real, live project on the lunar surface.

One reason for this is that dust and rocks can behave differently under a low gravity environment than they do under Earth gravity conditions.

There is also no atmosphere on the moon and the temperature can change dramatically and quickly, further adding to complications.

On a prototype of the simulator, scientists tested drill resistance, finding it could be much higher on the moon than predicted by computer models.

Li said it could also be used to determine whether 3D printing is possible on the lunar surface, before expensive and heavy equipment is deployed.

These sort of technologies would be essential to build structures making permanent human settlement possible, according to Li.

'Some experiments conducted in the simulated environment can also give us some important clues, such as where to look for water trapped under the surface,' he said.

They had to create a number of new technological innovations to counter the intense magnetic forces required to lift the simulation room.

It was so strong it could tear apart superconducting wires and metallic components needed for the vacuum chamber to operate as expected.

They also had to simulate lunar dust and replace steel with aluminum in some of the key components.

Experts plan to open the facility to researchers around the world, not just in China.
Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik goes to court, Tuesday, after 10 years behind bars, claiming he is no longer a danger to society and attempting to get an early release from his 21-year sentence, AP reported

The far right terrorist has shown no remorse since slaying 77 people in a bomb and gun massacre in 2011, and families of victims and survivors fear he will grandstand his extreme views during the hearing, which experts say is unlikely to deliver him an early release.

The hearing is due to last three days, but the verdict will not be announced for several weeks.

It was July 22, 2011, when, after months of meticulous preparations, Breivik set off a car bomb outside the government headquarters in Oslo, killing eight people and wounding dozens. He then drove to the island of Utoya, where he opened fire on the annual summer camp of the left-wing Labor Partys youth wing. Sixty-nine people there were killed, most of them teenagers, before Breivik surrendered to police.

In 2012 Breivik was handed the maximum 21-year sentence with a clauserarely used in the Norwegian justice systemthat he can be held indefinitely if he is still considered a danger to society. It is this clause that means he can demand a parole hearing after 10 years. And while this likely means a lifelong sentence, it also opens the possibility that Breivik can demand annual parole hearings where he can broadcast his views, says Berit Johnsen, research professor at University College of Norwegian Correctional Service.

Oystein Storrvik, Breiviks defense lawyer, confirmed that Breivik will call the Swedish neo-Nazi Per Oberg to speak in his defense. He would not otherwise outline the basis of Breiviks case, but made it clear that nobody should expect contrition.

At the time of the attacks, Breivik claimed to be the commander of a secret Christian military order plotting an anti-Muslim revolution in Europe. Investigators found no trace of the group. In 2016 he described himself as a traditional neo-Nazi, saying his earlier crusader image was just for show.

The court that convicted him in 2012 found him criminally sane, rejecting the prosecutions view that he was psychotic. Breivik didnt appeal his sentence.
The Canadian defense department sent a detachment of special forces to Ukraine because of the fear of a conflict on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Global News reports, citing sources.

The military department noted that the main task of the detachment is to develop a plan for the evacuation of Canadian diplomats in the event of an escalation of the situation on the border of the two states. So far, neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Canadian government has confirmed official information.

The channel called the presence of the Canadian military an attempt by NATO allies to contain the Russian "invasion" of Ukraine and determine ways to help Kiev.

Special Operations Command spokeswoman noted that Canadian special forces have been training the Ukrainian military and passing on instructor and leadership experience for several years. At the same time, the last detachment, which went to Ukraine on January 9, will not conduct classes.

The Canadian army has been teaching courses under Operation Unifier since 2015. Soldiers and officers of the Ukrainian army are training at the Yavoriv training ground in the Lviv region. The mission currently includes approximately 200 Canadian troops. In March 2019, the country's government decided to extend the mission until spring 2022.

In November 2021, Canada decided to increase its military contingent in Ukraine. Ottawa wanted to send several hundred troops there, transfer CF-18 fighters from Romania and send a warship to the Black Sea.
Villarreal win Liverpool 2-0 (first half)

EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million

Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation

Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia

German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals

Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square

Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march

Ararat-Armenia defeat Noravank

Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions

Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO

What habits contribute to gaining excess weight?

50 Cent announces concert in Yerevan

Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO

Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports

NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan

Sergio Busquets receives offers from MLS clubs

Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna

Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance

Scientists create most accurate 3D model of female anatomy in history

Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now

Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros

Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan

EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting

Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak

Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions

Popular TV series screenwriter lies for years about her terminal illness

Alashkert and Urartu play draw

Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation

Putin and Macron discuss Ukraine

Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block road from Vayots Dzor to Yerevan

Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Vanadzor demanding PM's resignation

Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block Gyumri-Yerevan highway

Sirusho: Today I will join our compatriots in France Square

Third meeting of Armenia and Turkey special representatives held in Vienna

Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia

Antibiotics and childhood vaccinations: what you need to know?

Thomas Muller extends his contract with Bayern

Eurovision producer says Russians will not be able to vote

Civil disobedience actions in regions: Yerevan-Goris highway blocked

Azerbaijan settling occupied Armenian Hadrut, Shushi cities of Artsakh

New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding

Armenia legislature speaker receives France-Armenia Friendship Group delegation

France senator: We are leaving for Armenia with Senate group

Putin signs decree on economic measures against unfriendly countries

Armenia legislature speaker: Authorities have repeatedly proposed dialogue to opposition

Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS)

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD statement does not correspond to reality

Garnik Cholakyan becomes gold medalist of World Youth Championship

Armenia defense minister receives Kansas National Guard delegation

Armenia Police: Yerevan-Sevan motorway reopened

Ned Price: Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting will launch US-Armenia strategic dialogue

Mirzoyan, Nuland discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement process

COVID-19 situation in Armenia stabilizing: from now on, health ministry will publish data once a week

Civil disobedience actions are carried out in some Armenia cities

Bill Gates wants to marry his ex-wife

Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan trial to resume

Pashinyan to Morawiecki: This year we mark 30th anniversary of Armenia-Poland diplomatic relations

No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Ronaldo leads Premier League for home goals

Met Gala 2022: Best carpet looks you shouldn't miss (PHOTOS)

Armenia Central Bank leaves refinancing rate unchanged at 9.25%

Demonstrators demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation block Sevan-Yerevan motorway

Police: 117 demonstrators apprehended in Yerevan

Kansas National Guard leadership visiting Armenia

Bloomberg: EU new gas partners

Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves

Italian PM slams Lavrov for his 'Hitler' statements in interview with local television

Artur Azaryan appointed as UEFA delegate for Real Madrid vs Man City match

South Korea and US plan to start air force exercises on May 9

Police special forces apprehend Armenia ex-president Robert Kocharyans son

Police: 70 people apprehended from Yerevan streets

World Press Freedom Index 2022: Journalism as a profession is humiliated in Armenia

Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried

Borrell speaks on possible disconnection from SWIFT of new Russian banks

Scientists develop silicon nanochips to fight cancer cells

Cyprus becomes first EU country with full 5G coverage

Police apprehending participants of civil disobedience actions in Yerevan

State Department: Deepening US-Armenia cooperation in nuclear energy will strengthen bilateral relations

Kim Kardashian wears Marilyn Monroes historic dress to Met Gala

Scotland champion to play in group stage instead of Zenit

Peaceful disobedience actions resume in Yerevan early morning

Betis lose points

Manchester United defeat Brentford (video)

Atalanta escape defeat in final minutes (video)

Mirzoyan: Armenia appreciates US support for developing energy sector

Blinken underscores US commitment to help Armenia, Azerbaijan find sustainable peace, prosperity

Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April

Apple faces big fine

Armenia ex-president joins discussion in France Square

Symptoms and prevention of avian influenza: is it dangerous for humans?

Poland wants the EU to set a clear date for stopping Russian oil imports

Armenia FM meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Armenia FM meets with Director of USAID Samantha Power

Russian national team excluded from League of Nations

New James Bond might be Jacob Elordi from Euphoria

Ann Linde says Finland will almost certainly apply for NATO membership

Police beat reporters, obstruct their work in Yerevan

European Commission may relieve Hungary, Slovakia of embargo on Russian oil purchase

Resistance Movement to continue large-scale civil disobedience actions on 3 May in Yerevan and regions

UEFA suspends Russian clubs from participation in European competitions
Twelve-day-old Monte is the ninth son and the tenth child of the Yengoyan family in Armenia.

The mother of the family, Kristine Manukyan, 39, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that Monte's birth gave his parents as much joy as the birth of his eight older brothers and one sister.

Monte's brothers and sisterHarutyun, Argishti, Minas, Arman, Agnesa, Narek, Artur, and Alekshelp their parents take care of the newborn.

Only the second brother, Davit, will meet his younger brother a little later when he returns from military service.

The first soldiers of the Yengoyan family, Harutyun and Davit, had fought in the 44-day war in the fall of 2020 and were conscripts.

In the summer, the Yengoyan will send Argishti to the army. He is currently in Grade 12 and wants to become a lawyer. Two of the children have clearly decided to do art. Harutyun will become a painter, and the only daughter of the family, Agnesaa dancer.

Monte will be the last child of the couple. His mother does not mind having more kids, but she has already had five C-sections, and therefore the doctors consider another pregnancy risky.

The large family lives in a four-room house in Dalarik village of Armavir region.

They are engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding.

The Yengoyan say they have difficulties, of course, but they do not complain.

The parents provide the minimum conditions for their children, but do not strive for luxurythe ten children are their greatest wealth.
Buffalo, WY (82834)

Today

Cloudy with periods of light rain. High 57F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Higher wind gusts possible.
Artsakh has some direct ties with some representatives of international organizations, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Minister of State Artak Beglaryan told a press conference Tuesday.

"Often these are not official contacts. We can convey our opinion that way, but the main contacts take place through Armeniain particular, of the diplomatic corps," the state minister added.

He confirmed that the international isolation of Artsakh has deepened after the war in the fall of 2020.

"Azerbaijan is making every effort for that. Until now, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have not visited Nagorno-Karabakhthanks to Azerbaijan. The same goes for UNESCO, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. That is, it refers to all those who were announcing their readiness to visit Artsakh. Even a timeframe was being notedbut it never came. The reason is the blockade of Azerbaijan. It is a pity that that international organizations are subject to the illegal, inhumane actions of Azerbaijan, especially since the protection of human rights and the resolution of humanitarian issues are among their functions. Human rights must take precedence. International organizations must be bolder. My [past] experience as an ombudsman [of Artsakh] attests to their lack of courage.

At the same time, after [Azerbaijani president] Aliyev mocking the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-Chairs, those countries should not only have visited Artsakh without taking into account Azerbaijan's opinion, but also recognized if not the independence, at least the fact of the Artsakh people's right to self-determination, especially after the war. Because as a consequence of the war, all the main issues being discussed are either resolved or violatedexcept for the right to self-determination. And the more they follow the cowardly policy, the more brazen Azerbaijan will become," Artak Beglaryan emphasized.
STEPANAKERT.  The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) National Security Service (NSS) has exposed another case of Azerbaijani special services inciting an Artsakh resident to intelligence work, the Artsakh NSS informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In recent days, the Azerbaijani special services have intensified their efforts on social media to contact people living in Artsakh in order to spread panic among them, or to gather information from them.

In one such new case, a Telegram user registered under a false name, posing as an Armenian woman, first had an online conversation pursuing the goal of forming intimacy with a person living in Artsakh, sent that person her nude pictures, asked for such pictures from that person, and then demandedunder the threat of publicizing the content of their communicationto provide information, photos of various places, promising to also payby transferring money to a bank account sent in advancefor these services provided.

The Artsakh NSS is looking into the aforesaid incident, the information provided to the Azerbaijani special services, as well as the motives behind and objectives for this action.
The Polish Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reiterates its full support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the OSCE Polish Chairmanship said in response to an inquiry from Armenpress when asked to comment on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs threats to pressure the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs attempts to deal with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlementand their mandate.

The Polish Chairmanship is not in the position to comment on the public statements of the President of Azerbaijan. We reiterate our full support and appreciation for the work of the OSCE Minsk Group, its Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the Polish OSCE Chair-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Polish OSCE Chairmanship stated.

In his latest infamous interview, the Azerbaijani leader had claimed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is already resolved and thus the OSCE Minsk Group is obsolete. He went on to claim that if one party of the conflict says the conflict is resolved then it leaves no room for mediation.

Ilham Aliyev has numerously claimed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been resolved after the 2020 war, there is no such thing as "Nagorno-Karabakh," and therefore there is no question of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

But the governments of Armenia, Russia, France, United States, and others have repeatedly stressed that the conflict remains unresolved, and called for a comprehensive and peaceful settlement within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.
The European Court of Human Rights today announced the verdict in the case of Pashinyan v. Armenia.

The case concerns the applicant's conviction for participating in a protest movement following the February 19, 2008, presidential election.

The ECtHR found the following violations of the European Convention on Human Rights:

Violation of Article 11 - Freedom of assembly and association (Article 11-1 - Freedom of peaceful assembly)

Violation of Article 5 - Right to liberty and security (Article 5-1 - Lawful arrest or detention)

The incumbent Prime Minister of Armenia did not demand monetary compensation from the state.

The case concerns the imprisonment of opposition figure Pashinyan, which took place after the 2008 elections, when Pashinyan supported presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan. He was detained from October 2009 to January 2010.
Land-sea freight service brings more goods to Chinese New Year market

Xinhua) 08:37, January 18, 2022

NANNING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A freight train left the port of Qinzhou on the south China coast bound for the inland province of Yunnan on Saturday, loaded with goods such as sugar from Pakistan and coconut milk from south China's Hainan Province.

The railway authority in Qinzhou Port East Station said more freight trains would bring commodities from the land-sea transport service via Qinzhou ahead of the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, by the end of January.

Opened in September 2017, the transport route's operation platform is based in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. It has been linked with 311 ports in 106 countries and regions via Yunnan and the port of Qinzhou in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from where containers are shipped across the sea to countries including Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Since Jan. 1 this year, more than 110 freight trains have passed the port of Qinzhou on the land-sea transport route.

As the Spring Festival is approaching, railway authorities in Guangxi vows to fully support the transport service to facilitate more specialty goods from ASEAN countries and Europe to enter China, thus catering to the needs of Chinese consumers.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A 23-year-old man died around midnight of gunshot wounds, Baltimore Police said in a news release early Tuesday morning.

At approximately 11:34 p.m., Southwest District patrol officers were dispatched to the intersection of North Franklintown Road and Winans Way to investigate a report of gunfire heard in the area, the release said.

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Upon arrival in the West Hills neighborhood, officers observed the man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to Shock Trauma and pronounced dead shortly after arrival, police said.

Homicide detectives assumed control over the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at 410-396-2100.

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[ Baltimore homicides interactive map ]

Those who wish to remain anonymous can use the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line, at 1-866-7LOCK-UP. They can also submit an anonymous online text-tip to Metro Crime Stoppers by going to the MCS Maryland website.

On Monday afternoon, two men were shot in the Carrollton Ridge area of West Baltimore, police said.

Alerted to the shooting by the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, police said they responded to the 2000 block of W. Pratt St. just after 2 p.m. and found the victims, both 25, shot in the legs. The victims said the shooting occurred in that area, according to police.

Both victims were expected to survive, police said.

Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact Southern District detectives at 410-396-2499, or to use the anonymous Metro Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-7LOCK-UP.

Earlier Monday, police said the victim of a shooting Friday night in the 900 block of Russell St. died from his injuries. Police did not identify the man.

Anyone with information about that shooting is asked to call homicide detectives at 410-396-2100, or the Metro Crime Stoppers.
I have information about what proposals the Armenian side has made in connection with the work of the [Armenia-Azerbaijan] border delimitation and demarcation commission, about which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke. Ruben Rubinyan, deputy speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia from the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction and special representative of Armenia in the negotiations with Turkey, told reporters this on Tuesday in the NA.

Rubinyan said he is familiar with those proposals, and the respective concepts fit into the logic about which Armenia has publicly stated.

"Please petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the government on this matter," he added.

Also, Rubinyan urged not to use the term "Zangezur Corridor" because, firstly, there is no administrative unit in Armenia called "Zangezur," but there is "Syunik Province," secondly, nowhere is it noted that Armenia should provide a corridor to Azerbaijanin the extraterritorial sense.

The vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament recalled that in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, the term "corridor" is used only once: in the case of the Lachin corridor.

"It [i.e., the Lachin corridor] is not just a road, but an area under the monitoring of Russian peacekeepers. In the case of Syunik, we are talking about communicationwhich is possible in case of maintaining sovereignty over the roads," Ruben Rubinyan assured.

On January 14, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had announced that the Armenian side had new proposals on the work of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation and demarcation commission, and that Russia would pass these proposals on to Azerbaijan.
During rule of any authorities in Armenia, the Armenian side has not set preconditions for Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Ruben Rubinyan, deputy speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia from the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction and special representative of Armenia in the negotiations with Turkey, told reporters this on Tuesday in the NA.

He added that nothing has changed in this regard.

"There is a situation that is not favorable for usand I believe it is not favorable for Turkey [either]. We want the borders to be open," Rubinyan said.

According to him, during the Armenian and Turkish special representatives first meeting last week in Moscow, both sides tried to discuss not sharp, but positive matters.

"The future process depends on the degree of constructiveness of Turkey, readiness to engage in substantive talks. An agreement on the date and place of the next meeting has not been reached yet, but it will happen soon. The meaning of the talks is also to find out the purpose of Turkey unilaterally closing the border [with Armenia]. As for the provocations [by Azerbaijan] on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, no pressure will force Armenia to give up its vital interests," the parliament vice-speaker assured.

Rubinyan said he is ready that this process and he himself be "discredited."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Ukraine this week to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, the AP reported.

Blinken will arrive in Kyiv as part of a hastily arranged trip to show "U.S. support following inconclusive diplomatic talks between Moscow and the West in Europe last week that failed to resolve stark disagreements over Ukraine and other security matters," the agency noted.

Blinkens travel and consultations are part of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russias military build-up and continued aggression against Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement.

From Kyiv, Blinken will travel to Berlin, where he will meet with his German, British and French counterparts to discuss a possible response to any Russian military action.

As part of his visit to Kyiv, Blinken will meet with Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday to reinforce the United States commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the State Department said.
Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore Countys first immigrant affairs coordinator, stands for a portrait in front of the Baltimore County Government building on Wednesday, December 1. (Ulysses Munoz/The Baltimore Sun)

Raiza Boadas considers herself fortunate to have found her way from Venezuela to Dundalk.

In 2019, Boadas was driven from her home country amid mass protests to remove President Nicolas Maduro. In an interview, she described through an interpreter receiving death threats from Maduros government for feeding protesters outside her apartment. If she returns, she said, theyll kill her.

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She found a home with her son in Baltimore County. She leaned on a strong network of family and friends and an immigrant services provider, CASA de Maryland, based in Baltimore City, to adjust to her new life.

Now a volunteer with CASA, shes seen firsthand how other first-generation families struggled to get by in the county, where until recently, there were no centralized immigration services.

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Officials hope to meet an increasing need among many of the 106,000 county residents who are immigrants, according to the census. Until now, they have been forced to seek assistance outside the county in finding food and housing, enrolling children in school and obtaining legal aid.

To that end, County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. created the countys first immigration affairs coordinator position and tapped Giuliana Valencia-Banks to fill it.

Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore Countys first immigrant affairs coordinator, stands for a portrait Dec. 1, 2021, in front of the Baltimore County government building. (Ulysses Munoz/The Baltimore Sun)

Valencia-Banks formerly worked at the Esperanza Center, a city-based program operated by Catholic Charities of Baltimore that provides free legal services and health care to immigrants, and saw there the countys gaps in service. Up to 40% of calls to the Esperanza Center come from county residents, she said. Many face language barriers and struggle to access interpreter services.

The need is persistent: CASA de Maryland, an immigrant advocacy organization that serves Central Maryland jurisdictions, says 30% of its members live in Baltimore County. The Baltimore Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs and city-based service providers say as many as 50% of their calls for aid come from county residents.

The city, where 9% of the population are immigrants, often cant help.

When we do get contacted by someone from the county, there are very few places where we can refer them, said Catalina Rodriguez-Lima, who heads the city Office of Immigrant Affairs that she helped found in 2013.

One in eight county residents is an immigrant, according to census data, a figure that grew by 19% over the past decade. The percentage of foreign-born residents has nearly tripled since 1990.

Immigrant communities are scattered across the county, with pockets from Owings Mills and Reisterstown to Cockeysville to Middle River and Dundalk, according to county data.

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Those who emigrate to the Baltimore suburbs are most likely to be from Nigeria, Kenya, El Salvador, the Philippines, India, China and South Korea, according to census data provided by the county. But their most recent residence is often Baltimore City: They snap up suburban homes as they find higher-paying jobs, said Patricia Jones, executive director of the Immigration Outreach Service Center.

We have watched them move from the city to the county  and they kept coming back to us, she said of her Baltimore-based group, which provides translation services, legal aid and tutoring, and offers financial and computer literacy programs.

In part, thats because the county has lacked a way for residents seeking immigrant services  often related to work, affordable housing and food access, Jones said.

With the new immigrant affairs coordinator, this will make a big change for our folks in the county, Jones said.

Valencia-Banks, who moved from Peru to Florida with her family when she was 6, started with the county in mid-November. She plans to hold roundtables with community groups, nonprofit organizations and immigrant service providers to glean further information about residents needs. She wants to use Spanish-speaking media outlets to better disseminate information  a critical issue for non-English speakers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

[ A hub of immigrants, Owings Mills High looks for new education models ]

Much of her work will involve shaping culturally responsive programming. In immediate terms, that means making county programs accessible to non-English speakers and noncitizens, she said.

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She also plans to promote the economic development and integration of immigrant communities and foster public and private partnerships with nonprofit groups, businesses, houses of worship, neighborhood associations and advocacy organizations to strengthen their development and resolve constituent service requests.

From left, German Salgado, social events coordinator at Iglesia de Dios Hispana en Owings Mills; Blanca Cedillos, wife of pastor Domingo Cedillos, and Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Baltimore Countys first immigrant affairs outreach coordinator, meet Dec. 4, 2021, at the church. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )

Valencia-Banks works out of the countys Office of Community and Engagement with a $70,000 annual salary.

Immediately, there will be a lot of fires to put out, Rodriguez-Lima said, noting the pandemic has made life even more stressful for many first-generation Americans.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Boadas said shes seen residents who have not reached out for help because there arent enough interpreters, which she believes is one of the most important needs.

Lydia Walther-Rodriguez, executive director of CASA de Maryland, hopes the new position will lead to more direct collaboration with CASA. In the city, for instance, the organization works in tandem with the immigrant affairs office to manage cases. That proved crucial during the pandemic, when many foreign-born families sought eviction prevention aid.

That direct connection helped immigrant families in the city that applied for rental assistance receive aid more quickly than those in Baltimore County because immigrant service providers could directly advocate for their needs and identify barriers, Walther-Rodriguez said.

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Few Maryland counties offer centralized immigration services. State lawmakers in 2021 created the Governors Office for Immigrant Affairs, which will focus on career placement, programs that teach English and the citizenship naturalization processes for Marylands roughly 15% foreign-born population.

Its a hefty workload for an office of one in Baltimore County. Rodriguez-Lima, by contrast, leads a city office of five employees for a smaller immigration population.

But creating and filling the position may lead to a point person who can design the program, remove barriers and advocate for more public funding and partnerships, Rodriguez-Lima said.

The best way to tackle it is [to] understand the needs of communities across the board, she added. Not just the needs of Latinos, of Asians, but what are the overarching needs of immigrants and refugees overall? And use that to bring different groups together.
The UK has begun supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to help it defend itself against "a potential invasion during its confrontation with Russia, Reuters reported.

We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light anti-armour defensive weapon systems, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told parliament, saying the first systems were already delivered on Monday and a small number of British personnel would provide training for a short period of time.

He did not specify the number or type of weapons that were being sent, but said: They are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia. They are to use in self-defence.

These are short-range . but nevertheless it would make people pause and think what they were doing and if tanks were to roll into Ukraine, invade it, then they would be part of the defence mechanism.

Wallace said he invited Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to visit London in the next few weeks. The current gap is wide but not unbridgeable. I still remain hopefully that diplomacy will prevail. It is President (Vladimir) Putins choice, Wallace said.
The United States and the European Union are no longer considering the possibility of disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT international payment system in the event of increased aggression against Ukraine, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, citing government sources.

Americans and Europeans have been discussing for several weeks how to respond in the event of a Russian military operation against Ukraine. The EU is threatening the Kremlin with massive consequences but has not yet specified them.

As Handelsblatt reports, excluding Russia from the SWIFT system, which would effectively isolate it from global financial flows, is too harsh a step for the negotiators. This move could destabilize financial markets in the short term and promote the development of an alternative payment infrastructure that will no longer be dominated by the West in the medium term.

Negotiations between the EU and the US are now focused on the formation of targeted sanctions against large Russian banks. Germany is pushing for exemptions so that gas and oil imports from Russia can be paid for.

Earlier, the European Parliament called for Russia to be disconnected from SWIFT if it takes new military actions against Ukraine.
Turkey and Azerbaijan intend to start laying a gas pipeline to supply Nakhichevan this year, Sabah reported.

The Turkish side will invest 100 million Turkish Liras ($7.38 million) in the pipeline as part of the project.

The pipeline will be built as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the supply of natural gas to Nakhichevan, which was signed between Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez and his Azerbaijani counterpart Parviz Shahbazov in late 2020.

It will be built as a continuous line of Igdir gas pipeline, located in the eastern Turkish province of Igdir. The pipeline will be 82 kilometers long and will transport natural gas obtained from Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan.

The project will be implemented in cooperation with the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Company (BOTAS) and the Azerbaijani state energy company SOCAR.

According to Turkey's Annual Investment Program for 2022, the total investment budget allocated to the project is about 185 million Turkish Liras, which will be invested until 2023.
Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee, 100, salutes as his great-grandson Iain Lanphier, left, looks as President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

WASHINGTON  Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who flew 409 fighter combat missions over three wars and later helped to bring attention to the Black pilots who had battled racism at home to fight for freedom abroad, died Sunday. He was 102.

McGee died in his sleep at his home in Bethesda, said his son, Ron McGee.

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After the U.S. entry into World War II, McGee left the University of Illinois to join an experimental program for Black soldiers seeking to train as pilots after the Army Air Corps was forced to admit African Americans. In October 1942 he was sent to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama for flight training, according to his biography on the website of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

You could say that one of the things we were fighting for was equality, he told The Associated Press in a 1995 interview. Equality of opportunity. We knew we had the same skills, or better.

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McGee graduated from flight school in June 1943 and in early 1944 joined the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Red Tails. He flew 136 missions as the group accompanied bombers over Europe.

More than 900 men trained at Tuskegee from 1940 to 1946. About 450 deployed overseas and 150 lost their lives in training or combat.

McGee, a decorated veteran of three wars, flies a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet with assistance from pilot Boni Caldeira during a round-trip flight from Frederick to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Dec. 6, 2019. (David Tulis/AP)

In recent years the Tuskegee Airmen have been the subject of books, movies and documentaries highlighting their courage in the air and the doubts they faced on the ground because of their race. In 2007 a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award from Congress, was issued to recognize their unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.

McGee remained in the Army Air Corps, later the U.S. Air Force, and served for 30 years. He flew low-level bombing and strafing missions during the Korean War and returned to combat again during the Vietnam War. The National Aviation Hall of Fame says his 409 aerial fighter combat missions in three wars remain a record.

He retired as a colonel in the Air Force in 1973, then earned a college degree in business administration and worked as a business executive. He was accorded an honorary commission promoting him to the one-star rank of brigadier general as he turned 100. Another event marked his centennial year: He flew a private jet between Frederick and Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

[ Dr. Louis L. Randall, Black Baltimore doctor who delivered 5,000 babies, dies ]

In 2020, McGee drew a standing ovation from members of Congress when introduced by President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address.

In addition to encouraging young men and women to pursue careers in aviation, McGee was a source of information about the Tuskegee Airmen and offered a unique perspective on race relations of the era through the airmens nonprofit educational organization.

At the time of the war, the idea of an all African American flight squadron was radical and offensive to many, McGee wrote in an essay for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

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McGee poses for a portrait during the "Red Tails" junket in New York on Jan. 10, 2012. (Carlo Allegri/AP)

The prevailing opinion was that blacks did not possess the intelligence or courage to be military pilots. One general even wrote, The Negro type has not the proper reflexes to make a first-rate fighter pilot. The Tuskegee Airmen certainly proved men like him wrong.

Charles Edward McGee was born Dec. 7, 1919, in Cleveland, the son of a minister who also worked as a teacher and social worker and was a military chaplain. He graduated from high school in Chicago in 1938.

Survivors include daughters Charlene McGee Smith and Yvonne McGee, 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. His wife of more than 50 years, Frances, died in 1994.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

A family statement described McGee as a living legend known for his kind-hearted and humble nature, who saw positivity at every turn.

In tweets Sunday honoring McGee, both Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III called him an American hero.

While I am saddened by his loss, Im also incredibly grateful for his sacrifice, his legacy, and his character. Rest in peace, General, Austin wrote.

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McGee speaks to visitors to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture in February 2018. (Kim Hairston / Baltimore Sun)

In his Smithsonian essay, McGee wrote that he was often asked why the Tuskegee Airmen were so successful in combat.

I would say it was because of our courage and perseverance, he wrote. We dreamed of being pilots as boys but were told it was not possible. Through faith and determination we overcame enormous obstacles. This is a lesson that all young people need to hear.

He added: I am most proud of my work as a Tuskegee Airman that helped bring down racial barriers and defeat the Nazis.

Associated Press reporter Daisy Nguyen contributed to this article.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines democracy as a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

The intention of the nations founding fathers was to make sure that there were enough checks and balances in the Constitution so that the political system in the United States would not slip back into a monarchy.

But now, the U.S. finds itself with an extremely fractured society and a polarized electorate with each political party entrenched in its own ideology. This was demonstrated in the Jan. 6, 2021 siege on the Capitol by a mob who believed former President Donald Trumps assertion that he had won the 2020 presidential election. The mob wanted to interrupt the certification of Joe Bidens electoral vote win, which was taking place inside the Capitol.

The divide is also evident in the growing number of bills introduced in several states meant to restrict or make it more difficult for some to vote. The Democrats are trying to pass legislation to stop these bills from being enforced but their efforts are presently stalled in Congress.

The state of the union has worried many political leaders, including President Joe Biden and former president Jimmy Carter, who penned the opinion piece I Fear for Our Democracy in The New York Times.

Is our democracy in danger?

Democracy is in peril, said Frances Hill, professor of law and Deans Distinguished Scholar for the Profession at the University of Miami School of Law. No neat phrase or concept explains why. It is certainly true that our society faces rampant economic inequality that excludes far too many Americans from their idea of the American dream. It is certainly true that separating disinformation from shared facts and values poses new challenges to talking to each other and disagreeing with each other.

Gregory Koger, professor and chair of the political science department, believes that the deeper challenge we face is that democracy is based on the mutual agreement that we will choose our leaders through democratic elections. This means some voters end up consenting to leaders they did not vote for. This is the foundation of our political process. That is what is in jeopardy today.

He pointed out that there has also been an erosion in the democratic process by misrepresentation. One such example, according to Koger, is based on the U.S. Constitution, which ensures that each state gets two senators regardless of the size of the state.

This severely disadvantages Florida, which is now the third largest state in terms of population, but we get the same number of senators as Wyoming, he said.

But the underlying reason for many of the present tensions in the U.S. can be attributed to its big demographic change, he noted. The country is changing from a majority white, non-Hispanic population to a more diverse country. By 2050, non-Hispanic whites will no longer make up the majority of the population, Koger said.

Many people are threatened by this transition and are trying to prevent a coalition of non-whites from gaining more power, he explained. Many of those voters felt further threatened by the election of former President Barack Obama, the first African American president.

When Trump ran for president in 2016, he was building upon that simmering discontent among non-Hispanic whites about where the country was going. From the beginning of his campaign, he promised to restrict immigration by non-whites and Muslims as the primary basis for his presidency, Koger indicated.

This pushback against minority representation seems to be evident in what is happening with voter suppression legislation. Enacted in 19 states and pending in many more, the voter suppressions legislation is an effort by politicians to pick their own voters rather than accepting the foundational principle of the Constitution that the people choose their own leaders, explained Hill.

The state legislation is based on two foundational elementsvoter suppression and vote nullification, she said. Voter suppression makes it more difficult for economically disadvantaged people of color to vote. These efforts to suppress participation are expressed through what might appear to be neutral language. Eliminating or limiting access to drop boxes might be considered applicable to all voters, but this kind of provision will be used overwhelmingly by people who are poor, who work in jobs requiring their presence at their workplaces throughout the day, so that they cannot access drop boxes or vote during early voting or even vote on election day.

If people insist on casting their ballots with another historic effort to vote, then these new laws provide that a state legislature can nullify the choice of the voters and replace those choices with the preferences of the state legislature, Hill pointed out.

These two types of provisions are direct assaults on democracy. They could severely wound democracy in the 2022 mid-term election and do even greater damage in the 2024 general election, she said.

Last week, Biden addressed these efforts to suppress the vote. We are facing the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War. That is not hyperbole, since the Civil War, he said. It doesnt have to be this way. It doesnt have to be, for real. We have the means. We just need to show the willthe will to save and strengthen our democracy.
The first reconnaissance flights reached Tonga on Monday, but the remnants of a towering ash cloud tens of thousands of feet in the air still made it difficult to assess the damage caused by an undersea volcano that erupted off the coast of the Pacific island nation two days earlier, triggering a tsunami that hit the archipelagos largest islandTongatapu.

Geologists are calling the powerful eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano the biggest recorded anywhere in the world in more than three decades. Indeed, the impact of the eruption has been felt around the world, with tsunami waves hitting Australia, Japan, and the west coasts of North and South America.

Think of them like ripples in a pond when a stone is dropped inin this case, the eruption was the stone, explained Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. The ripples in the ocean are bound by land masses surrounding the site, though it looks like there would be some ability to escape between Australia and Antarctica, then enter the southern Indian Ocean, though I dont know to what extent. When the waves hit a coastline, they bounce back and keep sloshing until the energy is dissipated, he said.

The eruption was so powerful, it also generated acoustic waves in the atmosphere, with the explosion being heard as far away as Alaska, making it perhaps the loudest sound known. Eventually it was too weak to be heard, but the wave is still going around the globe at the speed of sound, now on its third trip, said McNoldy, adding that even Miami might have received a signal from the first waves third trip this morning.

He noted that at the speed of sound, it takes about 35 to 36 hours for the acoustic wave to travel around the globe. Barometers around the world have been detecting these little hiccups in surface pressure, too small to be noticed by people, but easily measured, he said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu. But with telephone and internet lines cut, getting a clear picture of the extent of that damage remains a challenge.

What is clear, however, is that beyond the urgent need for search and rescue, Tongawhich is made up of some 170 islandsfaces daunting challenges in the months ahead, according to a University of Miami scientist who conducts extensive research in that region of the world.

Much infrastructure will have been damaged and will need to be rebuilt, said Sam Purkis, professor and chair of marine geosciences at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. More problematic is that atoll islands like Tonga have little land area and limited natural terrestrial resources. For instance, supplies of fresh water are limited to small aquifers. Soils are poorly developed and thin. The tsunami has apparently inundated large portions of the island with seawater, which has the potential to pollute the islands aquifers and agricultural land.

Inhabitants of the islands affected by the tsunami may have to rely on desalinationthe process of removing salt from seawaterand expensive imports for fresh water for a considerable length of time, Purkis said.

And if coral reefs surrounding the islands were damaged by the tsunami, that could put a further strain on Tongas limited natural resources, Purkis added. Supplies of reef fish will be degraded, and much of the protein for Pacific islanders comes from the reef, he explained.

The eruptions impact on climate should also be considered. The volcano spewed a huge plume of ash, gas, and steam into the sky, and more eruptions have occurred since Saturdays massive discharge.

Climate models have examined the cooling effect on climate from the sulfates that are interjected into the stratosphere from volcanic eruptions, said Paquita Zuidema, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the Rosenstiel School. The plume did reach the stratosphere for this one, so I would expect some stratospheric sulphate loading from this eruption but have not yet seen anything posted about this happening, she added. The sulphates cool climate by reflecting sunlight back to space, and climate modelers have used past volcanic eruptions to assess how well their models are doing.

Falk Amelung, professor of marine geosciences, addresses specific questions about the dynamics of the Hunga TongaHunga Haapai eruption and general queries about volcanoes.

The Hunga TongaHunga Haapai volcano has erupted regularly over the past few years. But this most recent eruption was massive. What made it so explosive?

The likely trigger was a submarine landslide. Once the overlying rock masses were removed, the volcano could explode. Powerful eruptions frequently start with a landslide. Another example is the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State. Emerging island volcanoes are particularly unstable and prone to land-sliding. An interesting fact is that there is geological evidence for a much larger mid-15th century tsunami in Tonga with 30-meter run-up height, likely caused by the collapse of an island volcano.

Shouldnt the seawater have cooled the magma and prevented such a powerful eruption?

Volcanoes explode because the gases in the magma expand when they ascent. Volcanoes in deep watera few hundred meters deepcommonly dont explode because of the weight of the overlying water. The Tonga volcano is in very shallow water, so it was not affected much by the water load. The cooling by seawater is less important but also can play a role. If water cools the magma, the magma turns more viscous and gets stuck. The gas pressure then breaks the solidified magma and gases escape explosively.

Whats the difference between volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? Can they both trigger tsunamis?

This tsunami had three sources: the submarine landslide, the explosion, and possibly the atmospheric pressure change, all displacing the water. Several research groups are currently conducting model calculations to understand the contributions from the different sources. My guess is that there was a massive submarine landslide. The [uninhabited volcanic island of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai] has nearly disappeared, but it was small. You need massive material movements to create a tsunami of this size. In contrast, at subduction zones, tsunamis are generated when one plate slips under the other, vertically moving the seafloor.

Have you ever seen a volcanic eruption in-person? If so, what was it like?

I have seen only small eruptions of frequentlyhourly to dailyerupting volcanoes. Experiencing the power of nature is stunning, and the reason why I got into this field. Particularly memorable is an eruption of Sakurajima volcano in southern Japan that I could watch from my hotel balcony. For the big eruptions, however, I prefer to analyze satellite images on my computer.
A group of UN human rights experts have warned against the Taliban's attempts to "steadily erase women and girls from public life", the media reported. The experts on Monday said that large-scale and systematic gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls has been ongoing since the fall of the country to the Taliban last August, reports TOLO News. "Taken together, these policies constitute a collective punishment of women and girls, grounded on gender-based bias and harmful practices," the experts said. "Today, we are witnessing the attempt to steadily erase women and girls from public life in Afghanistan including in institutions and mechanisms that had been previously set up to assist and protect those women and girls who are most at risk." According to the experts, women and girls in Afghanistan are being pushed out of public life. "We are concerned about the continuous and systematic efforts to exclude women from the social, economic, and political spheres across the country." The human rights experts also raised concerns over the risk of exploitation of women and girls including trafficking for the purposes of child and forced marriage, sexual exploitation and forced labour. According to the experts, barring women from returning to their jobs, requiring a male relative to accompany them in public spaces, prohibiting women from using public transportations on their own, and denying secondary and tertiary education for girls are the policies being implemented for the exclusion of women. "In addition to severely limiting their freedom of movement, expression and association, and their participation in public and political affairs, these policies have also affected the ability of women to work and to make a living, pushing them further into poverty," the experts said. According to the experts, the humanitarian crisis in the country has been more devastating for women, children, minorities and female-headed households. The Taliban-led government however, denied that it has imposed any type of restrictions on women and said that women are continuing to work in government departments. "No restrictions are imposed on women. Women are working in government departments. The plan to include women in the formation of the new government is under discussion," TOLO News quoted Taliban deputy spokesman Ahmadullah Wasiq as saying on Monday. --IANS ksk/ ( 386 Words) 2022-01-18-11:38:01 (IANS)
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Tuesday that his country does not want to get caught up between powerful nations. He made the remarks while addressing the second session of the ninth Parliament, during which he also presented his government's policy statement. The session was attended by a large number of guests, including Ambassadors and High Commissioners. "While giving priority to the country's sovereignty and independence we are ready to response positively to the international observations. We are an independent and sovereign nation. We do not want to get caught up between the powerful nations," President Rajapaksas said. "While we respect our neighbours what we need is to maintain a friendly and cordial relationship with every nation." President Rajapaksa's remarks came in the backdrop where opposition parties and critics have complained that amidst the ongoing financial crisis, his government has been selling its lands and resources to powerful countries like China, India and the US and making the island-nation a hunting ground for super powers. During his hour-long speech, President Rajapaksa also invited the representatives of the minority Tamil and Muslim political parties from the North and the East to join him in promoting the lives of the people ravaged by three-decades long Civil War. "I urge all the representatives from the North and the East to set aside their political ideologies temporarily and help the government's efforts to promote lives of the people in the war affected areas." Rajapaksa also assured that he would release all the lands of the civilians taken over by the military in the North and the East. "We released 90 per cent of the civilian land occupied by the military during the period when I was the Defence Secretary. Since there is peace, we would be able to release the rest of the civilian lands taken for military purposes in the area." While ensuring justice for all the war-affected sections, Rajapaksa also said that the issue of disappearance during the war was not limited to one party. "We condemn racism and we want to ensure the rights and respect of all parties... I urge this from all the politicians who continue to incite communal disharmony among different races and ethnic groups. We are ready to introduce timely changes to the Prevention of Terrorism Act which was introduced as far back as 1978." The President also said he had given Presidential pardon to a group of former LTTE members. Rajapaksa further stressed that the people from the war battered North and East need economic security more than anything else and said that investments have been made to develop the peninsular predominantly occupied by the Tamils. --IANS sfl/ksk/ ( 458 Words) 2022-01-18-13:48:02 (IANS)
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], January 18 (ANI/PNN): Only 8 minutes drive from Aerocity and strategically located on NH 205A, the Banur - Tepla road is all set to give a fillip to business growth & the economy with leading real estate groups of the region planning to set up Industrial Parks on the stretch. A not very known industrial stretch a few years back, the Banur-Tepla road is now a hub of warehousing facilities with over 40 warehousing and logistics entities based here and over a dozen under construction. Not only warehousing, the 'Industrial spot' located on the Banur-Tepla road has become a hot economic hub. Neeraj Kansal, Managing Director, Royale Estate Group(REG), emphasized the need of offering a 360 degree solution for all industrial needs of the region. He said a vision document is being created by the Royale Estate Group with many industry stalwarts involved in the planning. A plan based on the integrated development principle - live, work and play to have the best-in-class infrastructure is the need of the hour and is being shaped up for all industries looking to set up businesses on the Banur-Tepla road. The region has a strategic location from the supply chain and logistics perspective with prominent catchment areas in and around Punjab, which has the Baddi- Barotiwala- Nalagarh industrial belt and Ludhiana which is a key industrial hub. In addition to proximity to the dry port at Shambhu bordering Punjab and Haryana, connectivity to Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) with the Airport cargo road from Mohali International Airport to be contacted here in future, the area is all set to give a major boost to industrial development, investment ecosystem and economy of the region. Ashish Mittal Director Royale Estate group adds that all these key features make the Banur - Tepla stretch a preferred choice for many industry verticals and all kinds of industries - Red Zone, white, orange, green, ranging from textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, tools and precision, assembling units, printing press, building material, warehousing solutions, cold storages, engineering and fabrication units, electrical and electronic items, food and food processing, ceramics and refractories, distillery, pesticides and many more. The state government, too, has designed a policy around eight core strategic pillars for the sustainable industrial growth of Punjab. These are infrastructure, power, MSMEs, ease of doing business, start-up and entrepreneurship, skills, fiscal and non-fiscal incentives and in sync with the vision of 'Invest Punjab', all industries being set up in the area will have the advantage of 100 per cent exemption of stamp duty, 100 per cent exemption of electricity duty for seven years, 100 per cent exemption from property tax and an investment subsidy too. Further, the Industry units will be entitled to collateral-free bank loans, a one per cent interest exemption on an overdraft, 50 per cent discount on government fee on trademarks, credit linked capital subsidy scheme for technical up-gradation and many other benefits. Piyush Kansal, another real estate expert who also is a young director in the Royale Estate Group, shared that plans are underway to support industries by building effluent treatment plants (ETPs), a skill development centre, a R & D centre, tool and equipment room, wide concrete roads, all civic amenities to ensure that the Banur -Tepla stretch becomes a unique investment and employment hub for the region catering to the Industrial needs across verticals. It is noteworthy to mention that established in 1995, Royal Estate Group has developed projects on 100 per cent registered land. As many as 21 projects have already been delivered around Chandigarh. It is credited with developing the first Group Housing concept in Punjab. A zero debt company, proactively providing infrastructure and environment for partners to enhance their productivity and profitability. Royale Estate Group has good plans and strongly supports the development on the NH 205A, the Banur - Tepla road, as a futuristic vision of making Punjab a sound economic hub with extensive benefits through its upcoming projects. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 18 (ANI/NewsVoir): Axis My India, the country's leading consumer data intelligence-company, announced the constitution of a pioneering advisory board, with advertising industry experts Shashi Sinha, CEO of IPG Mediabrands and Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO of Madison Media joining the board. Sakhuja would be Chairman of the board. The company has embarked on an audacious mission of solving the problems of 25 crore Indian households and transforming a billion lives, and the advisory board will serve as the guiding ship to enable the success of these endeavors. With diversified offerings including but not restricted to new-age advertising solutions, psephology and market research, Axis My India has a physical presence in ~700 out of India's 740 odd districts and can mobilize engagement with over 80 million Indian households immediately. While this scale presents a plethora of opportunities, it also allows a ring-side view into the country's socio-political developments and their effect on businesses in real time. The board's primary responsibility would be to keep track of the big picture of the organization, anticipate challenges in the ambitious path and suggest mitigation tools to avoid the same. Board members would also be expected to bring in diversity of thought and action, and help broaden the company's horizons to engage with constituencies and stakeholders out of its conventional realm. A key focus of the company's long term vision is to contribute to the development of infrastructure that caters to India's first gen digital-natives as well as deconstruct the motivations and perceptions that define the workings of the most populous and complex democracy in the world. Taking over as chairman of the Advisory Board, Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO, Madison Media, remarked, "Axis My India has over the years established itself to be the most accurate psephologist in India. Underlying that is one of the most innovative organisations I have encountered, in terms of their leadership, team and processes. As they now roll out more exciting products, they have the potential to provide not only authoritative insights about both Bharat and India, but also create a platform for meaningful dialogue with consumers that can be invaluable for marketers and policy makers. It is my privilege to be able to participate in this journey as an outside-in advisor." Giving insight into why the board was formed, Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands, remarked, "There is tremendous innovation and bustling activity coming out of India's non-metros. India's small towns and villages will power its rise to an economic powerhouse in the 21st century. It is my privilege to be able to engage with Axis My India on its larger vision to empower these communities and to be a part of this exercise underpinned in nation building." Commenting on the initiation of the board, Pradeep Gupta, CMD, Axis My India said, "Our company is certainly at an inflection point, as we look to take to fruition some marquee ideas - India's first offline-online people empowerment platform focused on listening and facilitating resolution of various issues of an everyday Indian, the country's largest syndicated brand study, Consumer Trust Index, as well as aggressively expanding by engaging with all echelons of industry with our superior data and research offerings. Shashi and Vikram along with other advisory board members, with their deep understanding of India's business landscape will be invaluable as guides and mentors as we navigate challenges in our trajectory towards rapid growth and disruption." Axis My India, recently launched Consumer Trust Index (CTI) which is India's largest syndicated consumption study measuring current product consumption & future purchase intent across 40 categories with yearly 1Mn+ sample spread across 737 districts. The All-Media Measurement module (AMMS) of CTI will capture media consumption habits across touch points - TV, Print, OTT, Digital, social media, daily used apps, Radio, Cinema, OOH. As part of CTI, brands will also be able to do media & product consumption linkage analysis. EY are the process advisors for this study. Axis My India is India's foremost consumer data intelligence consultancy that has revolutionized the field of election polling in the country, with an accuracy rate of ~92% spread across 28 states and 8 union territories and 2 national elections. The company has a presence in over 737 districts and has touched 85 million Indian households. It counts some of India's largest corporations, state governments as well as Union Government in its clientele and offers a repertoire of research related services, including consumer insights, product validation, market segmentation, on-ground brand activation, personalized media solutions and micro marketing. The company publishes an annual Consumer Trust Index - spread across 45 consumer and product categories, and 1 million respondents. For more information, please visit www.axismyindia.org. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India], January 18 (ANI/Oswaal Books): Olympiad exams develop competitive skills and enthusiasm in students. Olympiad exams are conducted every year in addition to the preexisting academic syllabus. These exams are essential for their in-depth learning and developing competitive skills in kids. Olympiad exams convene at the national and international level by the science Olympiad foundation (SOF), a nonprofit organization. Active participation of students in these exams helps them to boost their confidence. These exams are essential for their comprehensive development. These exams analyze students' knowledge and grip in a particular subject. Students can sit in different Olympiad 2022 exams including, * National science Olympiad (NSO) * International Math's Olympiad (IMO) * International English Olympiad (IEO) * International General knowledge Olympiad (IGKO) * National cyber-Olympiad (NCO) Olympiad exams convene at different levels, and students need to clear all these levels to pass these exams. Exam papers are in MCQ format, and the answer is to fill in OMR sheets. The students of classes 1-5 generally do not know the exam patterns and MCQ format; it becomes hard to clarify those levels. Why Practice papers are essential: Practice papers familiarize students with the exam pattern, syllabus, paper format, and OMR sheet; to ensure their high performance in exams. Parents and teachers find it hard to crack the Olympiad 2022 exams, but it is not the case. The availability of proper resources can make it easier to crack this exam. Students must go to the resources to crack this exam in a simplified way. Test papers help students to assess their performance and know the exam pattern. Students can also get excess previous year question papers. Solving various test series and previous papers will improve students' performance and make a grip over the particular subject. Test series make it easy to crack Olympiad exams 2022 in several ways: * Acquainted with the exam pattern and format: Generally, students of this age group are not familiar with the MCQ format of the paper. Test papers acquaint students with the exam papers, MCQ format, and syllabus of the Olympiad 2022 exam. Solving various questions makes them aware of the questions to tighten their grip over the subject. * Analyze and evaluate their performance: To improve their performance, students need to know their status, their mistakes in a particular subject. Practice paper analyses and assesses students' performance to know their loopholes. Everyday practice develops their problem-solving skills and a tight grip on a particular subject. * Require a lot of practice: Competitive exams like the Olympiad need a lot of practice to crack these exams. These exams require a habit of solving papers every day. Practicing every day can boost their confidence and improve their problem-solving abilities. Thus, solving test series helps in their preparation. * Assessment at a different level: Olympiad exams are convened at three different levels: level1, level 2, level3. Students have to clarify all these levels to crack the Olympiad 2022 exams. Test series assess students' performance at different levels and help know the Loopholes in their preparation. * designed by experts: Experts prepare practice papers and test series of respective subjects. These test series are in accord with the latest rules prescribed. This test series comes with complete and accurate solutions. Through these resources, students can get the guidance of experts directly on respective subjects and simplify their studies. Clear the Olympiad Exam in one attempt with Francesco Cirilo's Pomodoro Technique! Read the article to learn! Wrapping it Up: Parents should prepare their kids for Olympiad 2022 exams from an early age to develop learning skills. Students from classes 1 to 5, can also prepare with Oswaal Olympiad books for class 1 to 5 | Previous Years Solved Papers for 2022 Exams where you will get clarity of concepts and many more like: * Previous years' Solved Papers 2011 to 2020, * Assessment through 3 Levels of Questions--Level 1, Level 2 & Achievers * Amazing Facts, Fun Trivia & 'Did You Know?' * Concept Review with Examples * Latest sample papers with complete solutions, etc. Here is the recommended link for Olympiad books for class 1 to 5 for Olympiad exams 2022, click here https://bit.ly/3fwfvNm Learning at an early age activates the child's own natural desire to learn and increase their knowledge. Proper availability of resources evaluates students' performance and maximizes their chance to clarify these exams. Therefore, one must avail resources to crack exams like Olympiad exams 2022. This story is provided by Oswaal Books. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Oswaal Books)
New Delhi [India], January 18 (ANI/NewsVoir): The first National edition of the Women Who Lead National Award 2021 Co-Presented by Trell Experiences went live on 29th December 2021. The National award platform felicitated over 66 Women leaders, Achievers and Trendsetters together in the country and were given an opportunity to share their inspiring journeys. The National consortium was attended and supported by the Govt of India ministries, with the vision of uniting women force and laid the foundation for the theme "Women Empower Women". The Women Who Lead National Award 2021, (WWL) has been initiated and envisioned by Radhika Sudhir who was also the Brand Icon for the year, supported by Shri. Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai - Hon'ble Minister of State Women & Child Development, Govt of India & Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Ex Union Minister MSME & Hon'ble Member of Parliament Govt of India. The event also hosted eminent personalities like Padma Shri Award winners such as Late Dr. Sindhutai Sapkal, Dr. Rohini Godbole accompanied by Dr. Mrs. Punita Arora - Vice Admiral, PVSM, VSM - Indian Navy (Retd), Ex-Miss India Finalist - Mrs. Shalini Arora Kochhar and Celebrity Astro Numerologist Swetta Jumaani. The show was implemented by Summentor Pro Sales & Marketing Consultants. The National Consortium was hosted by Nitika Shahi - Founder, Creative & Marketing Director Summetor Pro Sales & Marketing Consultants, headquartered in Bangalore, India, the award show discussed key imperative topics such as Women Empowerment Schemes laid by Govt of India and encouraged organisations like Trell Experiences who are currently balancing the work gender ratio, by accommodating women in leadership & excellence roles. Speaking at the occasion the Chief Guests Shri. Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai - Hon'ble Minister Women & Child Development Govt of India, was seen congratulating all the winners & encouraged them to showcase their work & be a part of forums that impart great vested values of unity such as the Women Who Lead National Award 2021 Co-Presented by Trell Experiences. Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi - Ex Union Minister MSME & Hon'ble M.P Govt of India, was seen motivating women by drawing inspiration by Swami Vivekananda Quote - "There is no chance of the development of world unless the condition of our women are improved." He was also seen give expansive inputs around the well implemented schemes by the Govt of India to stimulate women entrepreneurship - 1,38,00,000 estimated projects have been set up by women under PMVJP flagship programme which covers women entrepreneurs in a special category and entitled to a bracket of 25-35 % subsidies, which is further classified to having up to 25% subsidies in urban areas and up to 35% subsidies in rural area. Other Initiatives of Govt of India that he highlighted were Beti Bachao Beti Padho, Stand Up India, Mudra Yojana Scheme, Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme etc. On the occasion of the felicitation of the winners three members from the eminent panel of eight Brand Ambassadors of Women Who Lead National Award 2021 - Prof Rohini Godbole - Indian Physicist Padma Shri 2019, Mrs. Swetta Jumaani - Celebrity, Astro - Numerologist and Mentor & Mrs.Radhika Sudhir - Initiator, Envisionist & Brand Icon Women Who Lead National Consortium engaged in a Panel chat to discuss Work Life Balance Newer Perspective in our evolving world moderated by Mr. Manu Sethi - Founder & CEO Speaking Mindz Inc. Commenting on the topic Radhika Sudhir said that, "Women have also been diverse and the workforce has seen a remarkable opportunity of Flexible working, with many skilled & semi skilled jobs coming into light women are able to do part time or half day jobs and get back to working. Most organisations who are able to maintain the equality in workforce end up making their business better and increasing their return on investment." The Women Who Lead National Award Winners for 2021 are : Alka Kapur - Leadership Excellence National Award - Education Pavithra YS - Entrepreneur Excellence National Award Khushnum P. Avari - National Business Leader of the Year Puja Srivastava - Women Achiever National Award - Technology Ankita Sinha - Women Achiever National Award - Human Resources Girija Krishan Varma - Women Achiever - Legal Services Suhasini Sampath - Start-Up Leader of the Year - Agro & Food Products Dina D'Souza - Leadership Excellence Award - Brand Monetization Dr. Vandana Dhaktode - Women Achiever Healthcare Young Leader Award Winners were given to the following: Vyjanti Ramkmar - Young Leader - Architecture & Engineering Dhara Vadera Young Leader - Accounting, Finance & Outsourcing Vinita Pariyani Young Leader of the Year - Marketing Samira Kelkar Young Leader - Start-up Excellence Award Shani Garde Young Corporate Leader of the Year - IT Services International Women Achiever of the Year was: Dr. Shirley Mo Ching - Brand Transformative Leader of the Year The other zonal & regional winners for the year were as follows : Neha Shahi - Leadership Excellence Award - H.R Sangita Vij - Leadership Excellence Award - Brand & Business Development Maria Bilkis - Leadership Excellence Award - Brand Ms. Ankita Bhatnagar - Women Achiever - Digital Marketing - Hospitality Maithili Roy - Leadership Excellence Award - MARCOM Dr. Shilpa Wadhwa - Leadership Excellence Award - Mental Health Abhisha Shrivastava - Women Achiever - Corporate Strategy & Growth Bindu Subramaniam - Women CEO of the Year - Art & Music Namrata Kashyap - Women Achiever - Landscape Architecture & Planning Ankita Chaudhary - Women Achiever -Ecommerce (Health, Wellness & Lifestyle) Srividya Nagaraju - Leadership Excellence Award in Innovation for Learning Development And many more women leaders were felicitated on the ceremony to view the full list please visit www.womenwholead.in, The winners' journey to leadership, facets of their life journeys, and advice from the eminent jury are all featured on the program website and the SummentorPro's YouTube channel, to inspire many more to follow in their footsteps. Women Who Lead National Awards 2021, proudly announced some of the most path breaking & indispensable journeys of women in leadership & excellence roles. All the winners received a National Certificate & Trophy attested by the Chief Guest & Jury for the year. Speaking about the initiative, Bimal Kartheek Rebba, Co-founder & COO, Trell said, "At Trell, we take every step to empower Women to come forth, become leaders, and create an impact in our society. Women form almost 50% of our workforce, and most departments are led by remarkable and passionate women who have joined us on our journey. Further, we have been empowering millions of women creators to gain financial independence by monetizing through social commerce. The move to associate with Women Who Lead National Awards 2021 was a natural step for us, given our shared values of supporting and celebrating women leaders." With over 60% women users on the platform, Trell enables 50+mn users across India to discover and access new products based on personalized recommendations and reviews from trusted influencers. Commenting on the same, Nitika Shahi, Founder & Creative Marketing Director - Summentor Pro Sales and Marketing Consultants said, "Women Who Lead National Award 2021, is the "need of the hour". Women Equality & Empowerment in the society or otherwise has been clearly missing the mark. Women Who Lead National Award 2021, has the spark that can create a global movement, this national consortium is not just for women who have already achieved phenomenal success, but also for those women who are getting there! The concept is definitely unique and the line-up of Jury & support from the Govt of India is a definite step towards unity & empowerment being met for women in India and across the globe." Message from Initiator, Brand Icon & Envisionist - Mrs. Radhika Sudhir: Each Woman has the power to inspire and empower each other. This platform motivates the Women Leaders, Achievers and Trendsetters recognizing resilience and to set an example for the generations to come. Mrs. Radhika Sudhir hailing from an army background she just like her father has a deep rooted affection towards serving the country and it's development. She believes, she is one of the few lucky ones who was given freedom to explore horizons that made her a strong independent woman. Her father's saying, "Nothing succeeds like success" has been the motto throughout her life. Mrs. India Empress of India 2021 and Mrs.Maharashtra Classic 2020. She is a Mother. A Young, Passionate, Entreprenuer, a staunch Social Activist. Initiator Envisionist and Brand Icon of a National Consortium called Women Who Lead. She loves to involve and inspire others. She is also actively supporting social causes to ensure well being of stray animals. She believes that if we the women, set our mind to do anything, we can surely achieve it all. "Believe and you can Achieve". Trell is India's largest lifestyle social commerce platform; enabling millions of Indians to create and consume relevant and meaningful content across categories like Fashion, Beauty, DIY, Health & Wellness, Movies & TV reviews, Food, Travel and many more in 10 regional languages. The platform has grown rapidly and has over 100 million downloads and 50 million monthly active users. In August 2020, Trell launched 'Shop' section, marking its foray into the social commerce segment and has over 600+ brands in beauty, wellness, fashion and mom & baby care categories. Summentor Pro Sales & Marketing Consultants is a well established Start-up in the space of Consulting & Implementation, the firm is currently catering towards several development projects for MSME's, Start-up's, Rural Business, CSR, Manufacturing etc. The wide network of the firm with Govt of India, Institutions, Private Players in diverse business verticals, assure value add contact building & networking for revenue, expansion, marketing growth. For any marketing queries please visit our website on: www.womenwholead.in. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
John F. Jack Curley Jr., whose investment career spanned more than three decades and who rose to become vice chairman and chief administrative officer at Legg Mason, died Jan. 1 in his sleep at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. The former Ruxton resident who lived in Orchid, Florida, was 82.

Jack set an excellent leadership example by his presence and earned the trust and respect of his colleagues and friends, said James W. Brinkley, who had been president and CEO of Legg Mason. He was an excellent communicator and leader and we will cherish that in our thoughts.

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John Francis Curley Jr., son of John F. Curley Sr., a PaineWebber investment banker, and Anne Curley, a homemaker, was born in Wollaston, Massachusetts, and raised in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, which is on Cape Ann.

He was a 1956 graduate of Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, Massachusetts, and earned his bachelors degree in 1960 from Princeton University. In 1962, he obtained a masters degree in business from Harvard University.

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After serving two years in the Army, where he attained the rank of lieutenant and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, he began his professional career in New York City working at Paine Webber Jackson & Curtis Inc.  later PaineWebber Inc.  as a management trainee. He held multiple management roles for nearly two decades.

John F. Jack Curley Jr. oversaw hundreds of Legg Mason's employees who worked in finance, technology, and administration.

Mr. Curley had been chairman of its finance committee, president of its $6 billion money market fund, and president of PaineWebbers brokerage company.

In 1982, Mr. Curley came to Baltimore when he joined Legg Mason, eventually being named vice chairman and chief administrative officer, where he was responsible for overseeing hundreds of the firms employees who worked in finance, technology, and administration.

He is credited with helping Legg build its highly regarded family of mutual funds, and spearheading the companys multimillion dollar upgrade of its computer and data processing systems over the past 15 months, The Baltimore Sun reported in a 1998 profile. But his biggest role has been freeing up [Raymond A. Chip Mason] and others to plot Leggs strategy. While Mason is seen as the deal maker and strategic thinker, Curley is Mr. Inside.

Jack joined Legg less than a year after I did and we got to know each other through his time on the board of our funds, wrote Bill Miller, founder of Legg Mason Capital Management, in an email.

Jack played a key leadership role all along the way until his retirement 15 years later, wrote Mr. Miller, who is the founder of the Baltimore investment firm Miller Value Partners. I will always remember Jack with a smile on his face. I dont ever remember seeing him angry or even annoyed. He was unflappable under pressure, always calm, always searching for the appropriate solution to a problem. Everyone had the highest regard for both his ability and character.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 24 Lois H. Feinblatt was a pioneering sex therapist who practiced with the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic for more than three decades and was a also a philanthropist. (handout)

He added: He was the consummate gentleman and was not just a great guy, but a regular guy whom everyone felt comfortable around. He was about as nice a person as I have ever met.

Mr. Curley was also responsible for overseeing Leggs annual report and had developed a reputation for catching a typo or anything else that was missed by four people, according to The Sun.

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He is probably the best detail person that I have ever seen, Mr. Mason told the newspaper. Jack just may be smarter than all of us and do the things people never save time to do.

When he retired in 1998, Mr. Curley told The Sun: It is fairly simple. I have been in the business 34 years and I decided about a year and a half ago that I would like to do some other things. I am going to relax for a while.

George D. Edwards, a retired Baltimore advertising executive who had been with W.B. Doner before establishing his own firm, Hottman Edwards Advertising, in 1971, became close friends with Mr. Curley and his wife.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 60 Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born matriarch of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died at the age of 76. Her family announced Judd's death on April 30, 2022. (Josh Anderson/AP)

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

I first met Jack when he came down from New York in the early 1980s, Mr. Edwards said. He was a very self-effacing guy who eschewed attention to himself. He was a very modest individual. He and Chip Mason were a great team and complemented each others strengths. There was never any braggadocio about Jack, who always shared credit with others and always took the high road.

He added: We shared an interest in the theater, music and the arts. We traveled to Europe together and each September after Labor Day rented a house in Maine together.

Mr. Curley was a communicant of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Florida.

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[ James L. Winky Camphor, retired career educator, dies ]

He was an avid reader and an enthusiastic traveler.

He read on a wide variety of topics and enjoyed researching visiting cities, towns and villages around the world that he later visited, said a son, David N. Curley of Timonium.

Services are private.

In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife of 59 years, the former Loretta OKeeffe, an artist; two other sons, Reid E. Curley of Ruxton and William L. Curley of Lake Oswego, Oregon; a sister, Marilyn Heavener of Gaithersburg; and five grandchildren.
New Delhi [India], January 18 (ANI/NewsVoir): Despite the extensive work to eliminate TB after WHO declared an emergency nearly 25 years ago, we have still not been successful in stopping it. The DALY, approximately 1125 per one lakh population indicates very high loss of productivity leading to a huge economic loss. Total incidence numbers are rising at the rate of 299 per one lakh and is amongst highest in the neighbouring countries with the mortality rate at 30 percent. Total number of deaths is increasing and more than 20 million patients remain undiagnosed in India, making it clear that there is dire need to improve TB management in India. WHO global report estimates that 10 million people developed TB in 2020 and only 5.8 million people were diagnosed and reflected 18 percent decline in cases from 2012. IIHMR University, Jaipur in association with Consocia Advisory along with technical support from NITRD Copenhagen Consesus Center, Human Diagnostics GNBH recently hosted a session on meeting India's target of TB eradication by 2025. The webinar commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Sheenu Jain, Associate Professor, IIHMR and saw the participation of committed economists, doctors, scientists and policy makers who spoke about eradication of TB in India and abroad. The session was moderated by Dr. Manorama Bakshi, Head, Health care and advocacy vertical, Consocia advisory. Dr. Bjorn Lomborg, President, Copenhagen Consensus Center and world-renowned Cost Benefit Analyst talked about their work in several areas including like climate health, HIV while highlighting their current focus on prioritizing the sustainable development goals. "Soon we will come out with much new research showing where can you spend resources and how TB is one of the best investments in the world. We have found that for every dollar spent, there will be $43 of social benefits. After doing the cost-benefit analysis, we found that latent TB screening will cost about $1,600 per case of TB found; if it is drug sensitive, it costs fairly little. However, if its multi-drug resistant, it will cost a lot more. But it is also fewer people in total," Lomborg said. The Copenhagen Consensus Center found that treating almost everyone and making sure that almost nobody dies would cost about 8.1 billion annually, which is more than what's being spent right now. Responding to a question by Dr. Bakshi on how Copenhagen Consensus Center plans to inform policy makers and disseminate the research to make larger impact, Dr. Razvi, Senior Research Economist at the Copenhagen Consensus Center said that they have had multiple conversations with policymakers, decision makers from the government, multilateral and bilateral organizations as well as national media that are working in this area and are currently engaging with Global Fund to stop TB. The Government of India (GOI) had announced the political will to achieve the goal of TB eradication by 2025 - 5 years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. "While COVID-19 has slowed the pace of reaching the goal of TB eradication GOI is even more committed to this noble goal," said Dr. Ravindra Kumar Dewan, Director, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. He said according to the WHO Global TB report 2021, none of the 2022 TB targets are likely to be met, given the devastating impact of the pandemic. Dewan added, "While the report shows the decline in TB incidence achieved in previous years have slowed almost to a halt, this trend will be much worse in 2021 and 2022, driven by the ongoing variants of Corona, however, the Government remains steadfast on its goals." Dr. Dewan also spoke about the initiatives of the Government in strengthening TB Program through new policies, strategies and approaches. "Early case detection is vital to interrupt the transmission of TB disease," Dewan said adding how TB elimination is directly related to the larger goal of poverty eradication. According to Dr. Arvinder Singh, Country Manager, India Region, HUMAN Diagnostics, "Diagnostics remains a very critical area so far as reducing the chain of transmission of TB is concerned. In the last seven years, the sector has come up with a lot of molecular platforms in identification of TB disease both in public and private sector. Overall, we look forward to having efficient, approachable, affordable and accessible technology like molecular testing to reach the last mile to find out the missing milestones." Dr. Singh stressed about TB-LAMP which uses molecular testing has been recommended by WHO, and it has undergone global validations too, and is part of the NEDL. NGIVD, a MedTech startup based in Gurgaon, has already received the approval from ICMR for commercialization in India for the private sector and is actively considering to use TB Lamp in national TB control program. Dr. Praveen Aggarwal, Co-founder of Consocia Advisory concluded by highlighting the need for putting appropriate "value" to each life and making proportional national investment to eradicate TB, create PPCPs, bringing new techniques, new management, new treatment regimen, and Technology led smart and affordable solutions to remove most of the barriers such as TB-LAMP in order to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment. While stating that target of 2025 is 100% achievable, Aggarwal emphasized joint efforts to remove the biggest barrier - early diagnosis - and how technologies like TB Lamp which are far more superior to commonly used diagnostic test like Sputum Smear should be deployed at PHC, CHC and Health and Wellness Centers across India. Over 600+ participants, experts, health care professionals, policy makers, NGOs and consultants across India and Globe joined us for the webinar. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India], January 18 (ANI/ATK): Founded by IITian Jitendra Sharma, 'Hair Originals' throttle a pan India expansion after receiving a funding in a business reality series, 'Shark Tank India'. The hair extension and wigs platform has raised 60L at the show from 3 Sharks - Ashneer Grover- MD and Co-Founder of BharatPe, Anupam Mittal -Founder & CEO of People Group and Peyush Bansal - Founder & CEO of Lenskart.com. All the 5 sharks showed interest in investment in the brand at the show. Post this raise, funding discussions on personal capacity from the sharks and other investors is ongoing. Hair Originals deals in hair extensions and wigs made from ethically acquired, real human hair which in turn empowers women from tier 2 tier 3 cities who work in this segment. Their diamond quality Hair Extensions have made it to many international events, the latest being World Hair Congress in France. Launched in 2019 as a b2b platform, Hair Originals is now working on its direct to consumer (D2C) platform to enable consumers to purchase quality products cutting the middleman, resulting in lower cost. The funding will also be deployed for an AI integration that can support AR/VR capabilities and provide a real-time trial experience. Hair Originals has already closed a pre-seed round and is closing another Pre-Series A round for accelerated growth and market presence. Talking about the expansion plans and journey of Hair Originals, CEO & Founder, Jitendra Sharma said, "After I graduated from IIT, I worked in more than 40 countries and during my extensive global exposure, I encountered many female colleagues in multiple countries who boasted about the exquisite quality of hair in India. I soon realized that the Human Hair extension & wig segment is a huge global market with India as the only ethical source in the World. After putting up a well researched and scientifically backed manufacturing process we developed a line of premium finished products." He further mentioned, "We participated in the Biggest hair expo Hair World Congress in Paris where our products were appreciated by France's biggest hairstylist Eric Maurice for their quality and were positioned in the luxury segment. The official stylist of renowned personalities such as Ivanka Trump, Ricky martin, etc Mr Eric Maurice became our brand ambassador. With all the love and support from customers and investors, our focus this quarter will be improving our tech capabilities and product additions. Hair Originals exports to more than 22 countries, to top luxury salons of the US, Europe and Africa. With the launch of its D2C platform in India, it will disrupt the market by delivering 100% Natural Hair Extension made from virgin Indian remy (scalp sourced) hair at affordable prices along with free salon installation through their partner salons across India. Hair Originals is aiming to achieve 100 Cr ARR in the next 2 to 2.5 years with a loyal consumer base both pan India and globally. Promo Link - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6888079362722189313/ This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 18 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Tata CLiQ Luxury, India's premier luxury lifestyle platform, has announced the launch of 'The Watch Society', a phygital society aimed at engaging with the luxury and aspiring consumer and forming special interest groups for the luxury watch category. A first of its kind, collectors' and enthusiasts' community, The Watch Society will inform and educate consumers, and enable content, conversations, and commerce. The platform has a wide assortment of Swiss, fashion, and smartwatches from global luxury brands. With a highly engaged customer base of watch enthusiasts, the platform is also equipped with sophisticated tools such as assisted sales, a service designed to offer real-time guidance to customers looking to purchase high-end watches. With The Watch Society, the platform will engage and interact with consumers about the wide range of watch collections, the use and care of luxury watches, and build an appreciation for quality, craftsmanship, and heritage through exciting storytelling. The Watch Society's benchmark content will include new releases, trends, insightful video content, and more, and will continue to carve out a niche for watch collectors and aficionados. James Gurney, the former Telegraph UK watch editor, will contribute his domain expertise to build the watch society through unique content, curation, and assortment. To begin, he has created a series of five videos that will be hosted on Tata CLiQ Luxury's social media channels. These videos feature standout pieces, insights, and intriguing trivia about iconic global watch brands. Tata CLiQ Luxury, supported by Christie's, the world's leading art and luxury business, shall offer distinctive content and unique experiences. Founded in 1766, Christie's is renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, with a physical presence in 46 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific. Through this exclusive content partnership with The Watch Society, customers will get access to engaging content as well as opinions and insights from Christie's global team of experts through bespoke online and, in future, on-ground talks and events too. Gitanjali Saxena, Business Head - Global Luxury, Tata CLiQ Luxury, said, "We are excited to introduce The Watch Society, a one-stop destination for watch enthusiasts to learn more about the industry, interact, and shop from their favourite brands. Tata CLiQ Luxury is the leader in the omnichannel luxury sector in India, and the premium and luxury watch category is a key focus for the platform. With the introduction of this unique phygital society, we will offer distinctive content and experiences that every watch enthusiast desires and establish this as a platform for watch collectors, industry experts, and leaders to come together and celebrate their passion and love for watches." Sonal Singh, Managing Director, Christie's India, said, "Christie's is delighted to support Tata CLiQ Luxury as they continue to push the envelope in the field of luxury in India. As the world's leading auction house, we believe that education plays a pivotal role in creating exquisite collections. Working alongside our highly experienced Specialist teams, this association with Tata CLiQ Luxury will bring to light a range of important objects to collect, their diverse price points and the rich history of the objects that make them so desirable." Through engagements such as live sessions, contests, and on-the-ground sessions with industry experts and watchmakers, as well as by opening the platform for members to interact with one another, the Watch Society will continue to strengthen the conversation about the art of watchmaking and watch wearing in the coming months. The Watch Society can be accessed on the Tata CLiQ Luxury app. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the Government of India will use the Supreme Court's verdict to fight against Devas in Antrix deal "fraud" internationally. Addressing a press conference a day after the Supreme Court of India's ordered winding up of Devas Multimedia, Sitharaman said the government would soon appoint an arbitrator in Antrix-Devas case and fight it in every court internationally to save Indian taxpayers' money. She said the satellite deal between ISRO's commercial arm Antrix and Bengaluru-based startup Devas Multimedia signed in 2005 under the Congress-party led government was a fraud on the people of India and has caused huge damage to the exchequer. Referring to the international arbitration tribunals orders to Antrix to pay to Devas shareholders Rs 1.2 billion as penalty, Sitharaman said Prime Minister Narendra Modi government would fight against all such orders internationally to save the taxpayers money. Under an agreement signed in 2005, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) commercial arm Antrix was required to build, launch and operate two satellites and leash out 90 per cent of the satellite transponder capacity to Devas Multimedia Private Limited, which planned to use it to offer hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication services in India. The deal was cancelled in 2011 on the ground that the auction of the broadband spectrum was mired in fraud and that the government needed the S-band satellite spectrum for national security and other social purposes. Sitharaman accused Congress-party led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for allowing the fraudulent deal and letting it linger for so many years. "It's a fraud of the Congress, for the Congress and by the Congress," she said. The Finance Minister noted, "In 2011, when the whole thing was cancelled, Devas went to international arbitration, the Government of India never appointed an arbitrator, was reminded to appoint arbitrator within 21 days, but the Government didn't appoint." "The Supreme Court order shows how the UPA government indulged in wrong practices. Antrix-Devas deal was against national security. It should be Congress party's turn to tell how this kind of fraud was perpetrated on people of India," she added. The Supreme Court of India on Monday ordered winding up of Devas Multimedia Private Limited dismissing the company's appeal against an order of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLAT). "We do not know if the action of Antrix in seeking the winding up of Devas may send a wrong message to the community of investors. But allowing Devas and its shareholders to reap the benefits of their fraudulent action, may nevertheless send another wrong message namely that by adopting fraudulent means and by bringing into India investment in a sum of Rs 579 crores, the investors can hope to get tens of thousands of crores rupees, even after siphoning off Rs 488 crores," a Supreme Court of India Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice V Ramasubramanian said in its 134-page judgement. Sitharaman said the Supreme Court's order clearly prove that the Antrix-Devas deal was a fraud and scandalous. "We are fighting to save taxpayers' money which otherwise would have gone to pay for the scandalous Antrix-Devas deal." (ANI)
After actor Dhanush K Raja and his wife Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth announced their separation as a couple, fans took to social media to express their views on the same. "Unexpected, can't believe it," a social media user tweeted. "This is heartbreaking," another one wrote. "Shocking... Never expected from dhanush.. yes it's a private thing between Aishwarya n him, but my heart goes with Thalaivar," a netizen commented. While several expressed shock over the news, there's a section of social media users who came out in support of the former couple and urged everyone to respect their privacy. "That marriages are a part of life and are definitely not a prison. People can move out of it if things don't work out," a Twitter user wrote. "Stay strong you both," another one wrote. Dhanush, on Monday night, announced that he and his wife Aishwaryaa have decided to separate after "18 years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well wishers to each other". "18 years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well wishers to each other. The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting, and adapting. Today we stand at a place where our paths separate. Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better," he posted on Twitter. For the unversed, Aishwaryaa is the elder daughter of megastar Rajinikanth. She shares two sons named Yatra and Linga with Dhanush. (ANI)
On Monday, Sara along with her mother and veteran actor Amrita Singh paid a visit to Indore's famous Khajrana Ganesh temple. The two visited the temple around 6:00 pm yesterday and stayed there for a while.

After offering prayers to the Lord, Sara took to Instagram and shared a few pictures.

In one of the images, Sara can be seen posing with her mother inside the temple premises.

A few days ago, the mother-daughter duo visited the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple in Ujjain.

Such visits prove Sara's inclination towards religious beliefs. (ANI)
American filmmaker Joss Whedon refuted actor Gal Gadot's allegations that he threatened her career, claiming that there was no conflict between Gadot and him on the sets of 'Justice League', calling it a misunderstanding due to language barrier. Whedon, who directed Gadot in the 2017 film 'Justice League', addressed her 2021 claims in a new interview with New York Magazine. Gadot had, in a previous interview, said that "he threatened my career and said that if I do something, he will make sure my career is miserable," reported People magazine. "I don't threaten people. Who does that?" Whedon said. The director claimed that the Israeli actor, who speaks fluent English, misunderstood him. "English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech," Whedon told the magazine. The director acknowledged that they argued over cutting a scene and claimed he jokingly told her that she "would have to tie him to a railroad track and do it over his dead body," the outlet explained. "Then I was told that I had said something about her dead body and tying her to the railroad track," he alleged. However, the 'Red Notice' star disagreed with his recollection. "I understood perfectly," Gadot told the magazine in an email. The 57-year-old filmmaker reflected on his time taking over the directing duties for the 2017 film. Warner Bros. brought Whedon in to take over for director Zack Snyder, who stepped down after his daughter died by suicide, and the 'Avengers' director worked in many rewrites and 40 days of reshoots, which caused tension on the set. In April 2021, The Hollywood Reporter outlined how Whedon allegedly "threatened to harm Gadot's career and disparaged Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins" after the 36-year-old actor brought up creative concerns. Whedon reportedly told her to "shut up and say the lines," threatening to "make her look incredibly stupid in this movie." When asked about her relationship with the filmmaker, Gadot told THR, "I had my issues with [Whedon] and Warner Bros. handled it in a timely manner." 'The Wonder Woman' actor wasn't the only one who took issue with Whedon. The filmmaker denied actor Ray Fisher's claims that Whedon abused his power and lightened the 34-year-old actor's skin tone. Whedon said none of Fisher's allegations were "either true or merited discussing." He described Fisher's actions as "a malevolent force," adding, "We're talking about a bad actor in both senses." Fisher, who played Cyborg in 'Justice League', said on Twitter in July 2020 that Whedon "was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable" during reshoots on the film. In an October 2020 interview with Forbes, Fisher further alleged that "race was just one of the issues with the reshoot process." He said at the time, "There were massive blowups, threats, coercion, taunting, unsafe work conditions, belittling and gaslighting like you wouldn't believe." Fisher went on to say last year in a feature for The Hollywood Reporter that his own creative input was continually not taken seriously by producer and DC Films co-chairman Geoff Johns and other leadership, including Whedon. Whedon denied Fisher's claims in the new interview, saying he trimmed Cyborg's role in the film because his plot "logically made no sense" and he wasn't a fan of Fisher's acting in it. He also denied digital lightening specifically of Fisher's skin tone, telling the magazine that he brightened everything in postproduction. Fisher, on Monday, tweeted, "Looks like Joss Whedon got to direct an endgame after all." He added, "Rather than address all of the lies and buffoonery today--I will be celebrating the legacy of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Tomorrow the work continues. #MLKDay A>E." The problems went beyond just the cast members. According to Us Weekly, an anonymous crew member claimed that Whedon once paused the shoot to announce that he'd never worked with "a ruder group of people." Another unnamed source on set noted that Snyder encouraged improvisation while Whedon wanted the actors to be word-perfect, causing even more tension on the sets of the film. (ANI)
As per People magazine, the show, which premiered in August 2021, is inspired by her successful YouTube videos of the same name.

The six-episode series featured Hilton tackling a range of recipes, from savoury main dishes to lip-smacking desserts, with guests including Kim Kardashian West, Nikki Glaser, Demi Lovato, Saweetie, Lele Pons, and Kathy and Nicky Hilton.

'Cooking With Paris' showcased the host's unconventional cooking practices. She flattened burgers with a diamond-encrusted spatula and dredged meat while donning a flashy feathered ensemble.

Apart from featuring as the host of the show, Hilton also executive produced along with Aaron Saidman, Eli Holzman, and Rebecca Hertz. Industrial Media's The Intellectual Property Corporation produced the show.

This wasn't Hilton's first food-related endeavour. In season four of 'The Simple Life', she and costar Nicole Richie famously traded responsibilities with a mother of four, only for Hilton to prepare dinner for the woman's kids with a clothing iron.

She also starred in a bikini-clad Carl's Jr. commercial in 2005, reported People magazine.

However, Hilton fans still have a few projects to see her in, including the Peacock reality show 'Paris in Love', which follows her and beau Carter Reum as they plan their wedding, and her podcast 'This Is Paris'. (ANI)
The BAFTA-nominated actor, who recently reprised his Marvel role in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier', will star alongside Berenice Bejo and Antonio de la Torre in the film, reported Variety.

Embankment Films is executive producing the film and have launched worldwide sales, co-repping Latin American rights with Latido Films. A Contracorriente Films' Adolfo Blanco, Selenium Films' Vincent Juillerat and Andres Mardones of Al Tiro Films are producing.

Directed by BAFTA nominee Scherfig, 'The Movie Teller' sees Bruhl star as Nansen, a European outsider who, via his restraint and diplomacy, earns the respect of the families he encounters at a Chilean mine before embarking on a relationship with a local woman, Maria Magnolia (played by Bejo).

In particular, Nansen becomes a second father to Maria's daughter (played by newcomer Sara Becker), whose unusual gift for story-telling leads her to becoming the poverty-stricken town's resident "movie teller." With the local families unable to afford cinema tickets, the town bands together to raise enough money to send Maria's daughter to the movie theatre alone so that she can recount to them the stories she has seen on screen upon her return, transporting them to the cinema as she brings the tales to life.

The Spanish-language film, which is a Spanish, French, and Chilean co-production, is set to start shooting on March 21 on location in Pedro de Valdivia, in Chile's Atacama Desert.

'The Movie Teller' is adapted from Hernan Rivera Letelier's award-winning autobiographical novel about life among the mining community in Chile's Atacama Desert, which has been published worldwide and translated into 19 languages.

The book was first adapted by Walter Salles and Rafa Russo.

For 'The Movie Teller', Daniel Aranyo joins as director of photography alongside production designer Carlos Conti, composer Fernando Velazquez and costume designer Merce Paloma. (ANI)
'Harry Potter' star Rupert Grint recently shared his thoughts on author J.K. Rowling's controversial transphobic comments and opened up about his "tricky" relationship with her. Grint, who essayed the role of Ron Weasley in all eight of the 'Harry Potter' movies inspired by Rowling's hugely popular book series, has discussed the kind of relationship he shares with the author, reported People magazine. The actor wrote a piece for 'What I've Learnt' series, revealing he likens Rowling "to an auntie." "I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie. It's a tricky one," Grint wrote. The actor, who stars in the Apple TV+ series 'The Servant', added, "I measure my life in Harry Potter movies." "They're so ingrained in me. I find it very hard to detach myself from being Ron - we merged into the same person," he continued. "I can't believe it started 20 years ago. It definitely sculpted who I am. I mentally closed the door on it even though I'm constantly faced with it - there's the play, the theme park and it's always on TV," he added. He further stated, "I don't see Dan [Radcliffe] and Emma [Watson] as much as you'd expect, so the reunion was very nostalgic." Grint recently took part in the HBO Max's 'Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts' special where he reunited with his co-stars. Rowling did not make an appearance in the special, although she was shown in archival footage throughout. The 'Harry Potter' author came under fire in June 2020 when she appeared to support anti-transgender sentiments in a series of tweets. Though she denied that her views on feminism are transphobic, she doubled down on her controversial remarks in a lengthy essay shared on her website days later. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint each spoke out against Rowling's much-criticised remarks regarding the transgender community. Radcliffe stated in an essay for The Trevor Project that "transgender women are women." "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I," Radcliffe wrote at the time. "According to The Trevor Project, 78 per cent of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It's clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm," he added. Additionally, Grint said in a statement at the time, "I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment." Watson also expressed her support in a Twitter thread, writing, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." However, actor Ralph Fiennes, who played Lord Voldemort in the Potter franchise, told a leading media publication back in March that he personally feels the "level of hatred" aimed at Rowling is uncalled for. "I can't understand the vitriol directed at her. I can understand the heat of an argument, but I find this age of accusation and the need to condemn irrational," said Fiennes at the time. "I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing," he added. (ANI)
The following items have been compiled from police reports at the Wilkens precinct of Baltimore County police:

Fairview Road, 300 block, 21227. 11:10 a.m. Jan. 13. A male victim was exiting a local establishment when he was stabbed from behind. The suspect fled on foot and the victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

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Washington Boulevard, 3500 block, 21227. 2:20 p.m. Jan. 12. A suspect entered a location attempting to rob it. The suspect demanded money several times and then fled the scene. No weapon was displayed.

National Pike, 5600 block, 21228. 2:49 p.m. Jan. 10. An armed subject approached a victim and attempted to rob the individual. The victim was able to flee the scene and contact police.

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Baltimore National Pike, 5600 block, 21228. 2:40 p.m. Jan. 10. An unknown suspect approached a victim as he was getting gas and attempted to rob him. The victim fled and called the police.

Frederick Road, 700 block, 21228. 9:05 p.m. Jan. 9. A known suspect and three others lured a victim into a vehicle in the alley area, assaulted him and stole his jewelry. The victim was injured and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Maiden Choice Lane, 1000 block, 21229. 12 p.m. Jan. 9. A suspect attempted to break into a home and was arrested.

Commerce Drive, 3700 block, 21227. 2:46 p.m. Jan. 8. A suspect attempted to strike two victims with his vehicle in a business parking lot after a mutual assault. The suspect remained at the location and was arrested.
Two-time Golden Globe winner Jim Carrey celebrated his 60th birthday with a hilarious video on social media. "It's ma birthday! Whoohoo! I'm old but I'm gold! I Love you all!!!" Carrey wrote on Twitter. In the video, Carrey put on an old man voice as he said into the camera: "I'm 60 and sexy! And tonight, I'm having creamed corn and strained peaches." He was met with congratulatory messages from friends and fans. "Happy 60th to one of my oldest friends and the funniest guy I know," Cary Elwes wrote, sharing a throwback photo of himself and the birthday boy. Beyonce also gave Carrey a shoutout on her website, sharing a childhood photo of the 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' star. According to People Magazine, Carrey has been beloved by many since his breakout in the early '90s sketch comedy series 'In Living Color', followed immediately by his comedic leading man roles in 'Dumb and Dumber', 'The Mask' and 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'. Over the years, he's waded into more dramatic roles with films like 'Man on the Moon' and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. Carrey has also worked behind the camera, executive producing Showtime's 'I'm Dying Up Here' and 'Kidding', in addition to starring in the latter. The actor has already had a busy year, appearing earlier this month on The Weeknd's fifth studio album 'Dawn FM', which he narrates as a soft-rock radio host. He also reprises his role as Doctor Eggman in 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2', premiering in theatres on April 8. Carrey previously opened up about why he's retreated from the spotlight in recent years, as well as taking up painting as another creative outlet. "I just didn't want to be in the business anymore," he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. "I didn't like what was happening, the corporations taking over and all that. And maybe it's because I felt pulled toward a different type of creative outlet and I really liked the control of painting -- of not having a committee in the way telling me what the idea must be to appeal to a four-quadrant whatever," he added. (ANI)
Jamie Lynn Spears has shared about the time her sister Britney Spears endured after her highly publicized split from Justin Timberlake. According to People Magazine, the 'Sweet Magnolias' actress sat down with the podcast 'Call Her Daddy' for a two-part episode premiering on Monday night, telling host Alex Cooper that it was difficult to watch Britney grieve the break-up. "I think everyone thought it was forever," Spears said in a preview shared exclusively with People Magazine. "I was so sad, first off because my sister was so sad, but that, too, was the first time I saw (that) maybe I didn't know everything about the relationship. Perhaps they were protecting me and obviously why would they talk to me about anything," she added. Britney and Timberlake, both 40, dated from 1998 to 2002. While the star said she "truly" does not know the reason why the couple called it quits, Spears said she sympathized with her sister, especially after Timberlake released the track 'Cry Me a River' in 2002. The song, which helped mark his debut as a solo artist following his time in NSYNC, was largely interpreted as a dig at Britney due to lyrics that implied an ex of Timberlake had cheated. "I thought how heartbreaking it must have been for my sister when 'Cry Me a River' came out," Spears said. "Don't get me wrong, like, that's a way to launch your solo career, right? That's a way to do it, but I felt really sad. And my sister, she wrote that song 'Every time' and she's beyond brilliant with anything creative and she picked that song out on the piano and she wrote it and it still makes me cry because I think about how heartbroken she was because that was her song and that was his song," she added. Timberlake has since issued a public apology to Britney when last year's New York Times documentary 'Framing Britney Spears' -- which featured insight into 'Cry Me a River' and a clip of a 2002 interview with radio hosts Star and Buc Wild in which Timberlake admits that he and Britney had sex -- brought renewed attention to the end of their relationship. "I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn or did not speak up for what was right," Timberlake wrote on social media in February. "I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism," Timberlake continued in part. "I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed," he added. Meanwhile, Jamie Lynn Spears and her older sister have spent recent days embroiled in a war of words in light of the upcoming release of Jamie Lynn's memoir, 'Things I Should Have Said'. Though Britney initially accused Jamie Lynn of trying to "sell a book at (her) expense," she later clarified that she loves her younger sister "unconditionally" but is "hurt by the things you are making up about me!!!" Jamie Lynn wrote on her Instagram Story on Saturday that she wanted Britney to call her so that they could handle the situation "privately like sisters should." In a recent interview with People Magazine, Jamie Lynn discussed the end of Britney's 13-year conservatorship in November. "I didn't have a say when (the conservatorship) happened. My sister was going through a hard time, I was still a child, and that's what everybody, I think, forgets: I was just a kid going through my own crap," said Jamie Lynn. "My intentions have always been pure when it comes to my family," she added. The first part of Jamie Lynn Spear's two-part 'Call Her Daddy' interview premieres on Monday at 10 pm ET, and the second will drop on Tuesday at 10 pm exclusively on Spotify. (ANI)
The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested two wanted criminals in two separate operations during a special drive to upgrade the overall security situation in the national capital in view of the upcoming Republic Day, an official said here on Monday. The accused have been identified as Ganpat, a resident of district Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh and Arif alias Bugga, a resident of Mewat in Haryana. According to the official, accused Ganpat was carrying reward of Rs 1 lakh on his arrest while Bugga had jumped the bail in the murder case of a Delhi Police Head Constable. Sharing details about the first operation, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said on November 24, 2014, two accused persons namely Dharam Raj and Chander Shekhar were arrested while supplying 1.50 gram heroin and subsequently a case under sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act was registered in this regard. During further investigation, two more people were arrested in the same year, of which one disclosed the involvement of accused Ganpat as the mastermind of the cartel. Later, in 2015, the accused Ganpat was arrested by Special Cell. After the completion of the investigation, a chargesheet was also filed by the police, however, during trial of the case, accused Ganpat was granted interim bail in December, 2018 and thereafter, he never appeared before the trial Court, the DCP said. "In 2019, a trial court declared him as Proclaimed Offender and later, a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh was declared by Delhi Police Commissioner on his arrest. Since then, the accused Ganpat was evading his arrest," the official said. Furnishing details about the second operation, the DCP said Arif alias Bugga had committed the murder of Head Constable Yashpal as he was stopped from committing a cattle theft in 2012. He was later arrested, however, released on bail in 2014. "Thereafter, he again started committing cattle theft and jumped bail in 2019. Accordingly, he was declared a proclaimed offender and was evading his arrest since then," the official said. On January 15, a tip-off was received about the presence of accused Arif near Shiv Hanuman Mandir, Faridabad Road, Kalindi Kunj, Delhi for conducting recee of the area for theft of stray cattle. Acting on this information, a Special cell team laid a trap and nabbed the accused. --IANS uj/pgh ( 400 Words) 2022-01-17-22:06:02 (IANS)
Cold to severe cold day conditions would prevail over northwest and central India during next 24 hours and gradually abate thereafter, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday even as minimum temperatures remained normal over most parts of northwest India and above normal over Madhya Pradesh. The IMD bulletin said that there were cold day conditions in many parts with severe cold day conditions in isolated pockets over west Madhya Pradesh and east Rajasthan, cold day to severe cold day conditions in some parts of Uttar Pradesh and east Madhya Pradesh, and also in isolated pockets over Punjab and northwest Rajasthan, while cold day conditions were observed in some parts of Haryana and Delhi. On the one hand, a cyclonic circulation lies over Kerala and neighbourhood in lower tropospheric levels while on the other, a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayan region from January 18 night. A fresh active Western Disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from January 21 onwards. An induced cyclonic circulation is very likely to form over southwest Rajasthan on January 22. The IMD forecast said that there will be isolated lightmoderate rainfall over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, interior Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Mahe during next 2-3 days, and light to moderate rainfall at a few places with isolated heavy rainfall likely over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 24 hours. Scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura during January 20 and 21. Isolated light precipitation is expected over Western Himalayan Region during January 17 to 20. Scattered to widespread rainfall/snowfall is likely over Western Himalayan Region from January 21 to 23. Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan during January 21 to 23 with maximum intensity on January 22. Isolated hailstorm activity is also likely over east Rajasthan and eest Madhya Pradesh on January 21 night and 22. Minimum temperatures are likely to rise by 2-4 degrees Celsius over northwest India during the next five days. Dense to very dense fog in isolated parts in night/morning hours is very likely over Rajasthan, east Uttar Pradesh, west Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal during next two days. Cold day to severe cold day conditions in some/isolated pockets is very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan during next two days and abate thereafter. --IANS niv/vd ( 436 Words) 2022-01-17-22:10:01 (IANS)
According to the police, Monday's drug seizure is the second such major capture of narcotics smuggled from Myanmar within a week.

Acting on a tip-off, an Assam police team intercepted a goods laden truck coming from Manipur at Khatkhati in Karbi Anglong district and arrested two drug peddlers. The police team recovered 1.6 kg of heroin concealed in 115 soap boxes inside the vehicle.

Police said that one of the drug peddlers complained of uneasiness and tried to escape from police custody before the police personnel fired at his leg.

The injured drug smuggler has been admitted to Diphu Medical College and Hospital and his condition was stated to be stable.

Lauding the police, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted: "Continuing Assam's war against drugs, Karbi Anglong police seized 1.6 kg of heroin at Khatkhati. Also arrested two accused from a neighbouring state. Much appreciated Assam police."

On January 11, over 1.5 kg of heroin, valued at Rs 10 crore in the international market, was seized from a goods truck in Karbi Anglong district and the driver of the vehicle was arrested.

Varied drugs, especially heroin, highly-addictive methamphetamine tablets, also commonly known as 'Yaba' or 'party tablets', poppy seeds, opium, ganja (marijuana), morphine, bottles of cough syrup and various other contraband as well as arms and ammunition were often smuggled from Myanmar which shares a 1,643 km of unfenced border with the states of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland.

--IANS sc/pgh

( 285 Words)

2022-01-17-22:18:02 (IANS)
A circle officer in Patna has been booked on charges of raping a woman for the last four years, an official said here on Monday. The woman alleged that she came in contact with Raghuveer Prasad four years ago when he was posted in Bettiah. "Prasad initially established himself as a father figure and came close to me. Then he established physical relationship with me. He also made videos of the sexual acts and was blackmailing me," the victim said. "He also promised marriage and verbally gave me the status of wife," she said. "On Saturday, he called me to Bakhtiyarpur in Patna where he is currently posted. Prasad then took me shopping in a mall where he snatched my mobile phone, wallet and other valuables. He also beat me," she alleged. Meanwhile, Prasad alleged that she set his official vehicle on fire outside the mall. The victim, however, denied the charges. As the government vehicle was burnt, Chandrashekher Singh, the District Magistrate of Patna, directed the officials for a thorough probe into the matter. The SHO of Bhaktiyarpur said: "An FIR has been registered against Raghuveer Prasad. We have also registered a cross FIR against a woman on the charge of setting a government vehicle on fire. The complaint was lodged by Prasad. Further investigation is on." --IANS ajk/arm ( 231 Words) 2022-01-17-23:10:05 (IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took to Twitter to express his grief over the demise of noted social worker and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Devi. Shanti Devi, also known as Lugdi Devi, passed away on Saturday night at her residence in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district at the age of 88. "Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted. In 2021, she was felicitated with the Padma Shri Award by President Ram Nath Kovind. In Odisha, Shanti Devi had founded the Seva Samaj Ashram from where she ran her movement of providing education to tribal girls so that they could have a secured future. "Her lifelong efforts to help the needy and tribal have always been inspiring. Her contribution to social work is invaluable," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted. --IANS atk/arm PM mourns social worker Shanti Devi's demise Shanti Devi, also known as Lugdi Devi, passed away on Saturday night at her residence in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district at the age of 88. "Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted. In 2021, she was felicitated with the Padma Shri Award by President Ram Nath Kovind. In Odisha, Shanti Devi had founded the Seva Samaj Ashram from where she ran her movement of providing education to tribal girls so that they could have a secured future. "Her lifelong efforts to help the needy and tribal have always been inspiring. Her contribution to social work is invaluable," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted. --IANS atk/arm Shanti Devi, also known as Lugdi Devi, passed away on Saturday night at her residence in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district at the age of 88. "Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted. In 2021, she was felicitated with the Padma Shri Award by President Ram Nath Kovind. In Odisha, Shanti Devi had founded the Seva Samaj Ashram from where she ran her movement of providing education to tribal girls so that they could have a secured future. "Her lifelong efforts to help the needy and tribal have always been inspiring. Her contribution to social work is invaluable," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted. --IANS atk/arm ( 485 Words) 2022-01-17-23:18:05 (IANS)
Nobody was injured in the incident which took place at around 7.45 pm on Monday, said the police.

As per the police, the area has been cordoned off and a case has been registered under relevant sections.

"Today at around 7.45 pm, unknown terrorists hurled a grenade towards Police Control Room (PCR) Kashmir, no one was injured. The area has been cordoned off. A case has been registered in this regard under relevant sections of law. Further probe on," added the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has landed himself in a controversy after a viral news clip showed him saying that he could beat Modi and abuse him. He, however, later issued a clarification and said that he was referring to a local goon who shares his surname with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a viral news clip, Patole can be heard speaking in Marathi to a group of villagers in Bhandara district. He said, "I have been in politics for the past 30 years. Being a politician, I never favoured anybody. I helped each and everyone who came to me. That's why I can hit Modi and abuse him." However, it is not clear when this video was filmed. After this video went viral on social media, several BJP leaders lashed out at the Congress party and Patole, questioning their respect and honour for the post of Prime Minister. Praveen Darekar, Opposition leader in Maharashtra Legislative Council, said, "Though the Congress party is not in power, people respect and honour the members of the party. By giving such a controversial statement, it undermines the glory of Congress." After the video went viral, Patole, who was in Bhandara district, said that he was not referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but was talking about a local goon. "A few villagers had complained to me about a local goon. I was talking about a local goon named Modi. I am well aware of the dignity of the post of the prime minister and I have not said anything against PM Narendra Modi," said Patole. (ANI)
Baijal was reviewing the status of measures taken to tackle "Crime against women" with Commissioner of Delhi Police, Rakesh Asthana and Additional Chief Secretary Praveen Kumar Gupta along with other senior officials on Monday.

"Appreciated various measures taken by Delhi police to prevent crime against women including SAFE CITY project, Project ABHAYA and SASHAKTI program of imparting self defence training & awareness initiatives like Nazuk and Nirbhik," he tweeted.

"Emphasis was laid on timely completion of investigation of cases pertaining to crime against women and children and enhancing the conviction rate to create exemplary and deterrent effect of law," it added.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data released in September, last year, the rate of crime, occurring per 1,00,000 population, against women last year is 129.1, making Delhi the most unsafe city for women.

Nearly 10,000 cases of crimes against women were registered in the national capital last year.

--IANS rdk/pgh

( 197 Words)

2022-01-18-00:12:03 (IANS)
The following is compiled from Baltimore County police reports. Descriptions of perpetrators are included only when the description makes identification possible.

Towson Precinct

Southerly Road, 900 block, 21204. 12:30 a.m. Jan. 9. Several armed suspects disrupted a party at the location and stole miscellaneous items.

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Greenway Road, 8400 block, 21286. 10:30 p.m. Jan. 8. Three unknown subjects pulled the door handle off a vacant apartment and attempted to enter it.

Overbrook Road, 1200 block, 21239. 4:53 p.m. Jan. 4. Unknown suspects broke into a home and stole a game system, keys, money and a television.

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Old Orchard Road, 6500 block, 21239. 4:30 p.m. Jan. 4. Several suspects pried open a door to gain entry into a home and stole electronics, laptops, money and televisions.

Cockeysville Precinct

Charmuth Road, 1600 block, 21093. 10:59 p.m. Jan. 12. An unknown suspect entered a location through a kitchen door and removed several items from the victims bedroom.

Cinnamon Ridge Place, 800 block, 21030. 1:45 p.m. Jan. 6. Unknown suspects broke into a victims residence and stole several items. The suspects fled prior to police arriving.
A day after Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi raised the issue of liquor ban review, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Sanjiv Kumar on Monday said that he and his party would not take Jitan Ram Manjhi seriously in Bihar. "Manjhi used to give statements on various issues to attract the attention of the media. He used abusive words for Brahmins, raised questions over the relevance of Lord Rama and Ramayana and liquor ban of Bihar. Neither I, nor my party would take him seriously," Kumar said. "Liquor ban law is implemented in Bihar. Our chief minister (Nitish Kumar) has taken the decision of liquor ban law in Bihar and it will remain here. There could be a possibility that loopholes led to deaths of poor people of the state. We are making efforts to rectify it but liquor ban law will not be withdrawn," Kumar said. Manjhi, a former chief minister, is also a coalition partner in the Nitish Kumar government. Sanjiv Kumar's statement came at a time when Jitan Ram Manjhi asked Nitish Kumar to review the liquor ban law in Bihar. He said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi could withdraw the three farm laws, Nitish Kumar could also do the same by withdrawing liquor ban in the state. Meanwhile, HAM leader Danish Rizwan, reacting sharply to Sanjiv Kumar's statement, said: "Some leaders of JD-U like Sanjiv Kumar are not much 'senior'. The BJP leaders are rightly pointing out the status of JD-U everyday. Jitan Ram Manjhi is a stalwart leader and commenting on him could backfire on JD-U. "I would like to ask the JD-U top leadership to put brakes on them. Avoid commenting on him or you could pay the price in future." --IANS ajk/pgh ( 301 Words) 2022-01-18-00:24:01 (IANS)
A meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) core committee on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls was held on Monday where discussions took place on possible seat-sharing with alliance partners. The meeting which was chaired by BJP's national president JP Nadda lasted for five hours, in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Anurag Thakur, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Dinesh Sharma, BJP State President Swatantra Dev Singh and other leaders of the core group were present. According to sources, along with the names of the candidates for the remaining phases, seats to be allocated to the alliance partners were also discussed in the meeting. The sources said that the virtual programs running in the state were also discussed during the meeting and it was decided to intensify the virtual program further. The second round of the meeting will continue from 11 am on Tuesday, after which BJP's allies will be called for discussion on seats. Earlier, BJP had released its first list of 107 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in which it denied tickets to 20 sitting MLAs and fielded 21 new candidates. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will contest from his stronghold Gorakhpur which elected him to Lok Sabha for five straight terms till 2017. The BJP fielded deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu constituency in Prayagraj while minister Shrikant Sharma will contest from Mathura. According to sources, a meeting of the BJP's Central Election Committee may be held on January 19 in which the names of the candidates will be finalised. Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Delhi Police on Monday night arrested one criminal after a brief encounter in the outer north area of the national capital. According to the police, more than 10 rounds were fired from both sides. Further details are awaited. (ANI)
AAP National Spokesperson, Raghav Chadha shared the party's eleventh list of candidates.

According to the latest list, Rajnish Dahiya will contest from Firozpur Rural.

Delhi chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will announce his party's chief ministerial candidate for the Punjab Assembly polls on Tuesday in Mohali at 12 noon.

This announcement holds importance ahead of Punjab Assembly Elections.

Punjab will go to the polls in a single phase on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Last week, Arvind Kejriwal has asked the people of Punjab to suggest names of their preferred choice for chief ministerial candidate and launched a mobile number for the purpose.

He even stated that his own preference for the post is Bhagwant Mann, who is Punjab unit chief and the MP from Sangrur.

The term of the state assembly will end in March. The polls are scheduled to take place in a single phase on February 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for March 10.

In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won an absolute majority in the state by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government after 10 years.

Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the second-largest party winning 20 seats in 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) could only manage to win 15 seats while the BJP secured 3 seats. (ANI)
A minor girl was allegedly raped and killed by three men, who dumped her body into the Chambal river, in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, police said on Monday. All three accused have been arrested, police said. "The victim was known to one of the accused, who lured her to accompany him and two other associates to Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh in a truck. On returning, the minor girl was killed and her body dumped in Chambal river in Bhind district. The accused has said that he raped her following which she threatened to register a complaint with the police. Fearing this, the accused killed her. All three have been arrested," Superintendent of Police Amit Sanghi said. The body of the girl is yet to be recovered. The police said that a search operation is on. The police also said that the truck in which the accused took the girl has been seized. (ANI)
In an apparent rift between Bihar's NDA allies, state BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal on Monday warned the leaders of Janata Dal (United) to maintain the "maryada" (dignity) of the alliance. In a Facebook post, Jaiswal said, "To ensure that the NDA alliance is strong in Bihar, we all have to be maintain maryada (dignity) of the alliance. It cannot be one-sided anymore." Without taking any names, the BJP chief said, "the NDA alliance is decided by the Central leaders and is very strong. We need to walk together." He further questioned why some JD(U) leaders were tagging him and the BJP central leadership on Twitter. "The first condition of this coalition is to stop playing Twitter-Twitter with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the honour and pride of each and every BJP worker. If you question him, then 76 lakh BJP workers of Bihar know very well to answer it. I am sure all of us will take care of this in future," said Jaiswal. He further targeted two JD(U) leaders who had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the Padma Shri award from Daya Shankar Sinha, who has compared King Ashoka and Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. "There can't be anything more absurd than asking Prime Minister to take back the award as there has not been such precedent in the last 74 years. There is no clear guideline on taking back such awards," Jaiswal said. He further said that first of all the Bihar government should arrest Daya Shankar Sinha. "We are 100 times more opposed to Sinha than you are because Jansangh and BJP's birth is based on cultural nationalism. If you are keen about Sinha being punished, arrest him in the light of my FIR against him and prosecute him in a fast track court," he said. The BJP chief said, "It is not just our responsibility to ensure that the Bihar government should run smoothly in a good environment. This is your responsibility too. If there is a problem, then we should sit together and find a solution. If you want something from our central leaders, then they should also talk directly to them." Earlier, the state BJP chief had slammed the Bihar government over the sale of illicit liquor in the state. The NDA had secured a 125-seat majority in the 243-seat strong Bihar Legislative Assembly in 2020, of which BJP won on 74 seats, JD(U) on 43 while eight seats were won by two other NDA constituents. The RJD, on the other hand, emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats while the Congress only won 19 of the 70 seats it had contested on. (ANI)
Justice Subramonium Prasad on Tuesday passed the order and granted bail to Mohd Tahir, Shahrukh, Mohd Faizal, Mohd Shoaib, Rashid and Parvez.

The accused were booked in a case relating to vandalism, putting fire on a sweet shop which caused the death of a 22-year-old man who died due to burn injuries.

The deceased, identified as Dilbar Negi (22), was burnt by a mob of rioters after they cut off his hands and feet. Negi had come to Delhi in search of a job from his native state Uttarakhand six months before the incident.

According to police, a riot had taken place near Shiv Vihar Tiraha on February 24 in which accused persons pelted stones, ransacked and torched several shops there. Two days later, a mutilated dead body of a person namely Dilbar was found from the said shop.

An FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the accused at Gokulpuri Police Station.

At least 53 people died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries in the violence that raged for three days in north-east Delhi. (ANI)
After the Haridwar controversy, the Aligarh district administration has denied permission for the proposed Dharam Sansad, planned in the city on January 22 and 23. Several eminent citizens, minority organisations and former union law minister Kapil Sibal, had also written a letter to the district administration demanding denial of permission for the event that could "spark tension" in the "communally sensitive" city. ADM (city) R.K. Patel said that since Model Code of Conduct and Covid guidelines are in force in the state, the permission will not be given to the organiser. "Neither the permission was granted nor will be given," he said. Several senior citizens, retired officials, professors and social workers had also written a letter to district magistrate Selva Kumari saying that, "Dharam Sansad in Aligarh is being organised on the pattern of Haridwar. Since Aligarh is a sensitive city, the event could disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the entire nation, could create tension and fear among the society amid assembly elections. Therefore, such an event should not be allowed in public interest." Besides, the petitioner in the PIL seeking criminal action with respect to the Dharm Sansad conclave held at Haridwar and Delhi had also written to the Aligarh district magistrate seeking to take preventive action to ensure that no speeches of such nature are allowed at the proposed events. Members of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had also urged the district magistrate to deny permission for the proposed 'Dharam Sansad'. District president of the party Gufran Noor, said that communal harmony was disrupted after the alleged hate speech delivered during 'Dharam Sansad' held in Haridwar and now the same people were organising it in Aligarh. --IANS amita/shs ( 289 Words) 2022-01-18-06:48:03 (IANS)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a PIL seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to deregister political parties that do not disclose details pertaining to criminal cases of election candidates along with the reason for their selection. The plea was mentioned before the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana for an early hearing. Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who filed the PIL mentioned it before the Bench for urgent listing saying the nomination has started and political parties are violating two judgments. To this CJI Ramana said, "Can we prevent persons who have cases against them from filing nominations? You have mentioned it, we will see." The plea has sought direction to ECI to take steps to ensure that every political party publishes the details regarding criminal cases of each candidate along with the reason for such selection on the Home Page of its official website in the spirit of the apex court judgment. While complaining that Samajwadi Party has fielded Nahid Hasan from Kairana for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and has not published his criminal records online, the petition has sought directions to the ECI to de-register the political party which violates the directions of the apex court. It also sought direction for the ECI to ensure that every political party explains why it preferred a candidate with criminal cases and didn't select a person without criminal antecedents within 48 hours. The plea filed by Upadhyay also urged that the ECI ensure that every political party publishes the criminal cases within 48 hours in electronic, print and social media and to file a contempt case against the President whose party violates the directions of the apex court It stated that on January 13, 2022, Samajwadi Party, which is a registered and recognized political party, fielded notorious gangster Nahid Hasan from Kairana but neither published his criminal records in electronic, print, and social media nor the reason of his selection within 48 hours in the spirit of the direction top court. "Nahid Hasan is in custody under the Gangster Act imposed on him around 11 months ago and he is the first candidate to file nomination in the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections. On February 13, 2021, Shamli Police imposed the Gangster Act on Nahid Hasan, the two-time MLA from Kairana. He has multiple criminal cases and is the mastermind behind the Hindu exodus from Kairana. There are many criminal cases including fraud and extortion and was declared a fugitive by Special MLA-MP Court," plea states. It said that even recognized political parties are giving tickets to dreaded criminals, and therefore, voters find it difficult to cast their vote freely and fairly, though it's a fundamental right under Article 19. The consequences of permitting criminals to contest, become legislators are extremely serious for democracy and secularism as during the electoral process itself, not only do they deploy enormous amounts of illegal money to interfere with the outcome but also intimidate voters/rival candidates, the plea stated. It added, "Once they gain entry to the governance as legislators, they interfere with, and influence, the functioning of government machinery in favour of themselves and their organization by corrupting government officers and, where that does not work, by using their contacts with Ministers to make threats of transfer and initiation of disciplinary proceedings. Some become Ministers, which makes the situation worse. "Legislators with criminal antecedents attempt to subvert the administration of justice and attempt by hook or crook to prevent cases against themselves from being concluded and, where possible, to obtain acquittals. Long delays in disposal of cases against sitting MP's and MLA's and low conviction rates are testimony to their influence," it further said. As per Supreme Court's judgments in 2018 and 2020, political parties were ordered to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections along with the reasons that goaded them to field suspected criminals over decent people. The information should be published in a local as well as a national newspaper as well as the parties' social media handles. It should mandatorily be published either within 48 hours of the selection of candidates or less than two weeks before the first date for filing of nominations, whichever is earlier. The published information on the criminal antecedents of a candidate should be detailed and include the nature of their offences, charges framed against him, the court concerned, case number, etc. (ANI)
While interacting with BJP party workers in Varanasi, PM Modi said "We need to give a push to natural farming. Farmers should be encouraged for chemical-free farming. We should connect everyone in celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav."

"Every vote is important, we must tell people the importance of voting, PM Narendra Modi said while interacting with BJP party workers in Varanasi, via the Namo app.

This is PM Modis' first political interaction involving party workers since the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the Assembly polls to five states, including Uttar Pradesh.

The interaction is taking place via video conferencing as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended all physical rallies till January 22 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Organic farming is recognized as a sustainable agriculture practice promoting the use of organic or bio inputs that takes care of environment including soil, biodiversity and human wellbeing.

Organic agriculture also contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil (FAO).

Centre has been promoting Organic farming in the country through dedicated schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) since 2015-16. Both the schemes stress on end to end support to organic farmers i.e. from production to certification and marketing.

Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Anne Arundel Countys health officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said Tuesday morning he doesnt anticipate extending the mask mandate beyond Jan. 31.

Kalyanaraman said the countys case rate is going down, which was the stated goal of implementing the mandate.

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It is what is needed to decrease the spread and give our hospitals a chance to provide care to folks who need it, he said during a Tuesday morning call with local media.

On Tuesday, Anne Arundels positivity rate of COVID-19 is 21.12%, which is higher than the states 19.77% rate, according to the Maryland Health Department. The countys positive case rate per 100,000 residents is 106.23, compared to the states 139.46.

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[ Here are the latest numbers of Maryland COVID cases, vaccinations. [GRAPHICS] ]

Anne Arundel has recorded 80,440 cases of COVID-19 and 891 deaths. Over the last week, 39 residents have died, which is more than five a day. The one-week total is the largest of any week since the pandemic began, according to Kalyanaraman

In all, 390,525 county residents have been fully vaccinated, a rate of 67.42%.

After the Anne Arundel County Council voted Jan. 7 against allowing County Executive Steuart Pittman to extend his seven-day mask mandate and state of emergency, Kalyanaraman issued a public safety order under state law extending the mask mandate to the end of the month, which requires face coverings in indoor county public areas and crowded outdoor public settings.

Last week, Republican County Council member Nathan Volke and Republican county executive candidate Herb McMillan reached out to a lawyer about the legality of the health departments mask mandate order. A lawsuit challenging the public health action was filed on Friday.

Pittman said Tuesday that he believes no judge will grant a temporary restraining order on the mask mandate with the current COVID conditions.

Our health officer made this public health order using the same state law that he has done twice before during the pandemic, said Pittman, a Democrat. We are better than this, and we do care about our neighbors. And while the mask mandate is a small act on the behalf of our health department, requested by our hospitals and residents and business owners, it will end. It is temporary.

Pittman said it is important to defend the right of the countys health officers and others around the state to protect public health by winning this case. He is not sure if the plaintiffs will drop the case. The state attorneys general office will be defending Kalyanaraman in the case, according to Pittman said.
The Union Health Ministry has not yet taken any decision on COVID-19 vaccination for children in the age bracket of 12-14 years, official sources told ANI. As India has inoculated over 3.5 crore first doses of the Covaxin vaccine in the age group of 15-18 years, it is expected that the first phase of the vaccination drive for this age group will be completed by the end of this month. However, there is no official statement on when the vaccination for children who fall between the age group of 12-14 years is going to be started in the country. According to the experts, adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years are actively participating in the inoculation process. On Monday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated all the teenagers, between the age group of 15 to 18 years, who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. "Amazing enthusiasm among young India for COVID-19 vaccination over 3.5 crore children between the 15-18 age group have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, since January 3. Congratulations to all my young friends who have got vaccinated," the health minister tweeted. The country began vaccinating children between the age of 15-18 years from January 3, 2022, onwards, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement on December 25 last year. Notably, Dr NK Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 working group of NTAGI, said that looking at the current pace of the vaccination, India may begin inoculating children in the age group of 12-14 years in March. About 46 per cent of adolescents aged 15-18 years have received their first dose in less than two weeks after vaccines were rolled out for them. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted pre-arrest bail to actor and model Poonam Pandey in a case related to a porn films racket also involving Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra. A Bench of Justices Vineet Saran and BV Nagarathna issued notice on the appeal filed by Pandey challenging the November 25, 2021 order of the Bombay High Court which had declined her plea for anticipatory bail. The Bench said, "No coercive action against the appellant. Issue notice." Pandey's plea said that her anticipatory bail plea was rejected despite she has participated in the investigation conducted by the police and no offence, even prima-facie, made out against her. The plea said that she has actively assisted in the investigation and has provided all information as requested by the investigating authorities, however, the High Court has without any basis, rejected the anticipatory bail application. She said the ingredients of the offence are not made out against her as the contents of the complaint and the FIR do not disclose any offence or attributable to her. "While the Petitioner is not the owner or business partner in any such, websites or Online Platform, the only allegation against the Petitioner is that some video allegedly portraying the Petitioner is available on the website... In this regard, it is necessary to note that these websites, which allegedly have some videos of the petitioner have already been blocked and disabled by the government of India," the plea stated. The grievance of the complainant, in the FIR and complaint, is against the online platforms and websites which are showing obscene or lascivious material, the plea said, adding that she has no role to play in either the functioning of the websites or the online platforms. (ANI)
In a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector, the Indian Army on Tuesday signed its first contract worth Rs 96 crore with Anadron Systems Pvt Ltd under Make-II for Maneuverable Expendable Aerial Target. "A significant step towards AtmanirbharDefence The first success story of Make-II Projects Indian Army has signed the first contract today under Make-II for Maneuverable Expendable Aerial Target with M/s Anadron Systems Pvt Ltd worth Rs96 Cr, for Army Air Defence and Indian Air Force," Defence Production India tweeted from its official account. (ANI)
The epicentre of the temblor that struck at 7.52 a.m. was 46 km ENE of Ngopa and at a depth of 15 km.

This comes amidst media reports of another 4.9-magnitude quake in Xizang area of Tibet, close to the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh, that struck at 4.29 am.

Its tremors were felt in Arunachal Pradesh.

The two quakes come a day after two other temblors jolted the northeast region.

On Monday, two earthquakes of moderate intensity had jolted parts of Assam and Manipur.

There was no report of loss of life and damage to property in any of the quakes that occurred within 28 minutes on Monday.

According to NCS data, the first quake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale hit southern Assam and occurred at a depth of 35 km from the surface.

The second tremor measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale was recorded at a depth of 20 km from the surface and jolted Manipur's Kangpokpi district and the adjoining areas.

--IANS niv/ksk/

( 195 Words)

2022-01-18-09:12:05 (IANS)
India had sent formal invitations to the heads of state of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi last year.

"Due to COVID-19, we will not have Central Asian leaders' visits," diplomatic sources told ANI.

The inviting of heads of all five Central Asian countries on the occasion of India's Republic Day reflects the importance New Delhi gives to its Central Asian policy. Relations with all the five central countries with India are centuries old. They also play an important role in terms of cultural activities, finance, medical tourism and strong diplomatic exchanges.

Central Asian countries are geographically surrounded by land and India has advocated better connectivity through Chabahar port, among other routes.

In addition, with regards to the situation in Afghanistan, sending Republic Day invitations by India to the heads of state of Central Asian countries sends a strong message to the neighbouring countries as well.

Notably, India on Tuesday logged over 2.3 lakh COVID-19 cases and 310 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry. The daily positivity rate is above 14 per cent.

Meanwhile, Delhi on Monday reported 12,527 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of over 27 per cent. (ANI)
With less than a month remaining for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a second round of meeting with its alliance partner Apna Dal to discuss seat sharing on Tuesday at 4 pm. The first meeting was held earlier in the day with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the election in-charge of Uttar Pradesh. In this meeting, its alliance partners, the Nishad Party leaders and Apna Dal President Anupriya Patel were present along with state Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. As per sources in Apna Dal, looking at developments in the meeting first today, the party hopes to get double the number seats this time as compared to previous elections in which they contested on 11 seats. Meanwhile, the party has demanded 36 assembly seats in the forthcoming polls. However, the discussion is still underway. "Winnability will be the criteria. We will put our candidates in the fray of elections on the seats where there is more possibility of winning. Similarly, BJP will do that same for their candidates. This time, we will fight the polls on twice the number of seats," sources in Apna Dal said. According to sources, Apna Dal has demanded to contest on seats in Kanpur, Mauranipur, Jhansi, Nanpara, Bahraich, Sewapuri Rohaniya Pindra in Banaras, Sorao Handia in Allahabad, Shohratgarh in Gorakhpur, Nautanwa, Kushinagar and on some other seats from Lucknow to Mohanlalganj. "We have demanded to contest on 36 seats. The discussions are still underway. It is not game of number but winnability. This time, Purvanchal is a very important seat. Thus, numbers don't matter to us. Unnecessary names of the candidate will not be required either by the BJP or us. We are discussing on each seat for 30-45 minutes and all angles are being looked at," sources said. The Apna Dal claimed it will win 100 per cent seats this time. Last time Apna Dal had contested on 11 seats in which it won 9 seats -- Sorao, Pratappur, Handia, Vishwanathganj, Pratapgarh, Sadar and Jehanabad. Sources in Apna Dal stated that Apna Dal will contest elections in Uttar Pradesh with more seats than last time. Several rounds of talks have been held between the BJP and its coalition parties in Uttar Pradesh. The quota seats of BJP and Apna Dal can be announced in the meeting to be held later this afternoon. At the same time, sources said they have submitted a list of 36 seats to BJP on behalf of Apna Dal. It is worth noting that, at present, there is a great churning going on in Delhi regarding seat-sharing in Uttar Pradesh. BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National General Secretaries (Organisation) BL Santosh and Sunil Bansal and UP BJP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan are involved in this brainstorming. At the same time, leaders like state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and state BJP president Swatantradev Singh, Annapurna Devi and Sanjeev Chaurasia are also present in the meeting. Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Centre regarding the intake of only 19 women candidates in the National Defence Academy (NDA) and other military-run schools and colleges for the year 2022. A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kaul and MM Sundresh issued notice to the Centre after it was informed that 19 women candidates would be admitted in NDA out of a total of 370 seats. The apex court asked the Centre to make its stand clear on restricting the intake of women candidates in NDA to 19, the figure that is the same as last year. It asked the Central government to place the figures on record about the total number of candidates including women who have appeared in the NDA examination 2021, for entrance tests for Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and for Rashtriya Military School (RMS). Counsel appearing for petitioner Kush Kalra told the Bench that even for the 2021 examination, the intake of women candidates was limited to 19 for the Army, Navy and Airforce. Though the Centre had undertaken before the top court to put in place the infrastructural requirements for women candidates by May 2022, it has limited the number of intake to 19 candidates for this year also, the apex court was told. The Bench said, "The figure is the same as for the 2021 test. Last year, you said that it was due to infrastructure problems that the intake of women will be less. Now, again for the year 2022, you have proposed to take the same number of women candidates. Why have you fixed this figure? You have to explain this. 19 seats cannot be for all times to come. It was only an ad hoc measure." The Central government told the Bench that the intake of women candidates in NDA depends on the requirement of force and agreed to file a detailed affidavit within three weeks explaining its stand. The top court gave three weeks to the Centre to file an affidavit and asked the parties to file their rejoinder in two weeks thereafter and listed the matter for further hearing on March 6. Last year, the apex court had directed that female aspirants be allowed to appear in the NDA entrance examination. (ANI)
Even as the appointment of the next Chief of Defence Staff is awaited, the Government on Tuesday approved the proposal for appointment of Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Manoj Pande as the next Vice Chief of Army Staff, sources said on Tuesday. The Eastern Army Commander will be the next Army Vice Chief, sources told ANI. General Pande would be the successor to Lt Gen CP Mohanty who is scheduled to superannuate on January 31. General Pande was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) in December 1982. He is a graduate of Staff College, Camberley (United Kingdom) and attended the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow and National Defence College (NDC) at Delhi. During his 37 years of distinguished service, Pande has taken active part in Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram. He commanded an Engineer Regiment along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, an Engineer Brigade as part of the Strike Corps, an Infantry Brigade along the Line of Control, a Mountain Division in the high-altitude area of western Ladakh and a Corps deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as also in Counter Insurgency Operations area in the northeast. Lieutenant General Pande has tenanted important staff assignments and was posted as Chief Engineer at the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He was Director-General at Army Headquarters dealing with subjects of discipline, ceremonial and welfare. The post of CDS got vacant after the death of Gen Bipin Rawat in a chopper crash on December 8. ANI)
Addressing a press conference alongside Ajay Lallu, Khan said "We had resentment with Congress, but Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took advantage of it. We are responsible for the loss of the country. This step has been taken to rectify that mistake."

"I request all the UP people, especially Muslims if you want to maintain peace here, vote Congress," Khan said.

Congress' Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Kumar Lallu who was present at the event, welcomed Khan in the party and said "I am thankful to Tauqeer Raza Khan who has given his support to Congress."

"His support will certainly play an important role and ensure Congress forms government in Uttar Pradesh," Lallu said.

Meanwhile, the Congress chief criticised the state chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

"Uttar Pradesh is the number one in farmer suicides, violence against women and unemployment rate. Why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is not addressing this?" Lallu asked.

"We will take up issues of people. Congress will talk about women, farmers, poor and youth. Under the leadership of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, our party will form a government in UP," he added.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The polling in UP will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) will meet on Wednesday to finalise candidates for Goa, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Shortlisted names of the candidates recommended to the CEC have been already discussed by the top leadership with the state units. Sources said that the meeting will be held on January 19 and names for Goa, and Uttarakhand are to be approved. "Names for a few more phases of Uttar Pradesh will be approved by the CEC," sources said. On Monday, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh BJP leaders discussed the shortlisted names with the Central leadership before the CEC. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior leaders from Uttar Pradesh discussed the shortlisted names for the state with Nadda, Shah and others. The BJP central leadership also discussed the names of probable candidates for Punjab on Monday. Union minister and party election in-charge for Punjab Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, election co-in-charge Meenakshi Lekhi, national general secretary and state in-charge Dushyant Gautam, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma were present in the meeting. On Sunday, Goa and Uttarakhand BJP leaders met the central leadership and discussed the names recommended by the state units. BJP chief Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah discussed the shortlisted names for Uttarakhand and Goa with respective states units. Both the chief ministers -- Pushkar Singh Dhami and Pramod Sawant -- attended the meeting with their respective state leaders. In its first meeting last week, the BJP CEC finalised candidates for 172 Assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh where polling will be held in the first three phases. The BJP, however, released the first list of 107 candidates for Uttar Pradesh. Last Thursday, the BJP CEC meeting was held in a hybrid mode as few of the CEC members, including party chief Nadda, have tested positive for Covid-19. Nadda, however, recovered from infection and attended meetings on Monday at party headquarters. In Uttar Pradesh, the Assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10, while Goa and Uttarakhand elections will be held on February 14, and in Manipur, it will also be in two phases -- on February 27 and March 3. Punjab assembly polls will be held on February 20. Counting of votes will take place on March 10. --IANS ssb/dpb ( 389 Words) 2022-01-18-10:00:02 (IANS)
An Anne Arundel County police corporal returned to duty in January after a Howard County judge placed him on probation before judgment in a case that involved an altercation with police after a May bar fight.

Judge Lisa Broten granted Cpl. Andrew Salenieks probation before judgment Jan. 11, a ruling that means Salenieks would not have a conviction on his record if he completes his 18 months of supervised probation. Broten ordered Salenieks to have a car ignition Breathalyzer installed on his car for a year, with an exception for his police car, pay $500 in court fees, receive outpatient alcohol treatment and mental health counseling, complete 288 hours of community service and write an apology letter to all Howard County police officers involved in his arrest.

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Howard County police arrested Salenieks on May 27 and charged him with second-degree assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for kicking an officer in the hand and for running from police after his involvement in a bar fight at Triple Nines Bar in Elkridge. Salenieks pleaded not guilty on Jan. 11 to second-degree assault but agreed the facts of the case are enough evidence for a judge to find him guilty.

Howard County prosecutors dropped his resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges.

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Howard County police officers were called around 1:50 a.m. May 27 to Triple Nines Bar and Billiards where Salenieks and his brother Eric Salenieks, a Laurel police officer, were heavily intoxicated and started a fight in the bar parking lot, officer Jonathan Zesati wrote in charging documents.

Zesati wrote Andrew Salenieks, who wasnt wearing shoes, told him and an officer J. Mathews that they should address him as Sir because he is a police officer. Salenieks told the officers he is a supervisor at Anne Arundel County Police Department and because of his status, the officers could not do anything to him, Zesati wrote. Salenieks later yelled at five Howard County officers by belittling their rank insignia on their uniforms, Zesati added.

Salenieks later ran away from police officers and into a roadway instead of getting into an Uber his brother called, police wrote. Howard County police officer Cpl. Pickett found Salenieks two hours later at 4 a.m. shouting and stuck between a fence in a shopping center near the bar. Five additional officers responded to the shopping center and advised Salenieks to call his sister-in-law to pick him up, but he refused and continued to shout, Zesati wrote. Four officers then attempted to handcuff Salenieks hands behind his back after he refused to follow their orders.

Officers brought Salenieks to the ground and handcuffed him after a struggle in which he told the Howard County officers he was going to sue them, Zesati wrote. Salenieks then tried to kick Zesati in the face but struck the officers hand, Zesati wrote in charging documents. Salenieks fell onto the back of a patrol car during the struggle and complained of neck pain. He sustained cuts on his head, knee and elbow area from the officers necessary use of force to apprehend him, Zesati wrote.

While Salenieks and officers waited for emergency medical services, Salenieks yelled, I am Black being beat up by the police, and repeatedly shouted help, Zesati wrote. Salenieks is a white man, according to online court records. He was transported to the hospital, released and then transported to Howard County Central Booking Facility. Salenieks was released on his own recognizance hours later.

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As a Police Officer having worked through the height of Police accountability being scrutinized, I knew we were going to have to work harder than ever before to rebuild the trust of the communities in which we serve, Zesati wrote in a victim impact statement. This incident that took place involving Mr. Salenieks, a  Anne Arundel County police officer, was a prime example of what the public is fighting against.

His behavior proved that there are flaws within the criminal justice system and officers who do not deserve to wear a badge are still among us, Zesati continued in a statement.

Anne Arundel County police department denied a Maryland Public Information Act request for Salenieks disciplinary record, stating one record is an investigatory matter which is not yet closed/adjudicated and a second record is exempt from disclosure as a technical/administrative infraction. A technical infraction is a new exemption under recently passed Antons Law, which prevents record custodians from broadly denying public access to police disciplinary records. Police department custodians decide which records qualify as minor rule violations that are not considered a matter of public concern and consequently are shielded from public view.

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The department suspended Salenieks with pay in May after his criminal charges were filed. Salenieks, a nine-year veteran of the department, resumed his post as a patrol officer after Broten granted his probation before judgment.

A police department spokesperson declined to comment on Salenieks criminal case. An internal investigation by the department into the incident is ongoing. A spokesperson for Anne Arundel County Fraternal Order of Police declined to comment.

David Putzi, Salenieks defense attorney, did not return a request for comment.

It is disturbing to see an off-duty police officer behave in such a reckless and destructive way. The defendant not only acted in a disorderly manner, he also assaulted a fellow police officer, damaged police property and resisted arrest, Howard County States Attorney Rich Gibson said in a statement.
Earlier on Sunday, Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the "rejection of proposed tableau of West Bengal for the ensuing Republic Day Parade" and requested to "include the tableau of freedom fighters from West Bengal in the parade"

In his letter, Singh said, "I would like to tell you that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution to the country's independence is unforgettable for every Indian."

Keeping this spirit paramount, the Prime Minister has declared Netaji's birthday, 23 January, as the Parakram Diwas. From now onwards, every year the Republic Day celebrations will start from January 23, the birthday of Netaji and end on January 30, the letter read.

The present government is indebted to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and all the freedom fighters of West Bengal.

"I would like to assure you that the selection process of the tableaux participating in the Republic Day Parade is very transparent," Singh said.

"I respect your sentiments and therefore would like to personally inform you that this time 12 out of 29 State/UT proposals have been approved," he said in his letter.

"I would like to inform one more fact that this time in the tableau of CPWD also, a tribute has been paid to Bose on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary. This is a testimony to the fact that the country is giving prominence to the birth anniversary of the great leader Bose," he said. (ANI)
In order to promote inclusive good governance, strengthening of local institutions and effective implementation of government programmes, the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) has signed a pact with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad. Both the national institutions signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday, the Ministry of Personnel said in a statement on Tuesday. "The main purpose of having this agreement is to focus on different collaborative activities by drawing upon the strengths of these two national institutions for bringing better good governance mechanisms into practice across all programmes and schemes," the Ministry said. Both the institutions agreed to exchange knowledge and take up capacity building of functionaries at all levels of government, including Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs). The MoU will not only help in the application of good governance principles in true spirit but will also ensure their effective implementation in terms of transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public funds in an intended manner for delivering services to benefit rural communities. Many key mutual areas of interest were identified as actionable points, including leveraging e-governance at the panchayat level, documenting good governance models at the panchayat level, simplification of forms among others and best practices of rural governance. NCGG has suggested identifying the benchmark of the indexing of Rural Governance at the panchayat level. The MoU signing ceremony was held online between V Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG) and Director-General, National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and Dr G Narendra Kumar, Director General (NIRDPR) with a team of officials - Prof Poonam Singh, Dr AP Singh and Dr BS. Bisht senior faculty from NCGG and Shashi Bhushan, Deputy Director-General, Dr Partha Pratim Sahu and Dr Srikanth faculty from NIRDPR. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting with representatives of all political parties on the Assam-Meghalaya border issue at State Guest House, Koinadhara on Tuesday. Assam ministers Ranoj Pegu and Ashok Singhal and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Debabrata Saikia were among those present in the meeting. During the meeting, the Chief Minister briefed representatives of all political parties on the progress made so far on the issue. According to Assam Chief Minister's Office, to resolve the Assam-Meghalaya border row, 6 of the 12 areas of difference have been identified for resolution in the first phase. The areas of differences taken up for final settlement include Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillingkata and Ratacherra. A roadmap for amicable settlement has been prepared based on recommendations of three Regional Committees with representatives from both States. In their long-standing inter-state boundary disputes between Assam and Meghalaya, the Chief Ministers of both States on December 23 last year held a meeting and decided to resolve the issues over six areas, out of 12. (ANI)
As per the Army's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Srinagar, two rescue teams comprising of avalanche rescue teams from the Indian Army and a team of GREF reached the NC pass as soon as they received the information of civilians being stuck closer to Khooni Nala and SM Hill on NH 701.

"Despite adverse weather conditions compounded by twin avalanches, 14 civilians were rescued and brought to Neelam and 16 civilians to NC pass, which is also commonly known as Sadhna pass," the Army said in its release.

All the rescued civilians were provided food, medical care and shelter for the night, the Army informed.

Further, in their release, the Army said that twelve vehicles were later retrieved during the day today post avalanche and snow slides clearance from the road.

"GREF played a difficult but stellar role in snow clearance amidst dangerous conditions. The entire effort took about five to six hours," they informed.

"It may be highlighted that last year also civilians were rescued by the troops near Khooni Nala, closer to NC pass, as the area is prone to avalanches and snow slides. The Indian Army stands by its tradition of helping out the citizens during their hour of need," the release stated. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday offered prayers at Bankey Bihari temple in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura and said that Lord Krishna was the biggest politician who fought for truth and the Congress has learnt politics from him. Speaking to ANI, Baghel said, "Lord Krishna is the biggest politician who fought for truth, we've all learnt politics from him." He further hit out at Uttar Pradesh Cheif Minister Yogi Adityanath and said that his days are gone as a Chief Minister and shocking results will come in the upcoming Assembly polls. "Shocking results will come; days are gone for UP CM Yogi Adityanath," he said. Earlier, Baghel expressed confidence in his party securing a win in the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking to ANI, Baghel who is also an observer for the UP Assembly election said, "The situation of Congress is strong in Uttar Pradesh. Under the leadership of Priyanka Gandhi, the organisation has become strong and has fought for the farmers, workers and women. There is great support on the ground for Congress. We are complying with the guidelines of the ECI. We are doing door to door campaign. We are adhering to the guidelines of the commission." Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10, the Election Commission said. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Deshmukh had filed a petition seeking default bail under section 167(2) of the IPC. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail petition of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader.

Anil Deshmukh is currently lodged in Arthur Road Jail.

The Former Maharashtra Home Minister was arrested by the ED on November 1, last year in connection with the alleged Rs 100-crore extortion and money laundering case.

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had accused Anil Deshmukh of asking dismissed assistant inspector Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore from hotels and bars in Mumbai every month.

The federal probe agency will record the statement of Deshmukh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the criminal investigation being carried out by it in the alleged Rs 100 crore bribery-cum-extortion racket in the Maharashtra Police establishment.

It registered a case against Deshmukh and others based on a corruption case filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation. (ANI)
A fire broke out at Kolkata's Park show cinema hall on Tuesday. As many as five fire tenders have rushed to the spot. Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party is holding a core committee meeting at party headquarters in New Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda, UP election in charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders arrive for the core committee meeting. The first meeting was held earlier in the day with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the election in-charge of Uttar Pradesh. In this meeting, BJP's alliance partners, the Nishad Party leaders and Apna Dal President Anupriya Patel were present along with state Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. As per sources in Apna Dal, looking at developments in the meeting first today, the party hopes to get double the number seats this time as compared to previous elections in which they contested on 11 seats. Meanwhile, the party has demanded 36 assembly seats in the forthcoming polls. However, the discussion is still underway. "Winnability will be the criteria. We will put our candidates in the fray of elections on the seats where there is more possibility of winning. Similarly, BJP will do that same for their candidates. This time, we will fight the polls on twice the number of seats," sources in Apna Dal said. According to sources, Apna Dal has demanded to contest on seats in Kanpur, Mauranipur, Jhansi, Nanpara, Bahraich, Sewapuri Rohaniya Pindra in Banaras, Sorao Handia in Allahabad, Shohratgarh in Gorakhpur, Nautanwa, Kushinagar and on some other seats from Lucknow to Mohanlalganj. "We have demanded to contest on 36 seats. The discussions are still underway. It is not game of number but winnability. This time, Purvanchal is a very important. Thus, numbers don't matter to us. Unnecessary names of the candidate will not be required either by the BJP or us. We are discussing on each seat for 30-45 minutes and all angles are being looked at," sources said. Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to consider preparing a national model scheme, after getting data from the States, to combat the hunger-related issues faced by the poor through the spread of community kitchens across India. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana also sought from the Centre the latest data on starvation deaths in the country. It also said community kitchens must be opened in the States and asked the Centre to frame a model scheme for the purpose. CJI Ramana said hunger has to be satiated and the Centre has to frame a model scheme, which can be tweaked by States to suit local food habits and culture. The Bench also observed that so many freebies are announced by political parties during the election time but no one talks of satiating hunger and eradicating malnutrition. It asked the states to give data to the top court in two weeks about malnutrition, starvation deaths and related issues. After Attorney General of India KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, told the Bench that States have reported no deaths due to starvation, the Bench asked the Centre whether it is believable that there is no starvation death in the country. "Can we understand that there is no starvation death in the country?" CJI Ramana asked the AG. Venugopal said it can consider giving two per cent additional food grains to States for community kitchens. The AG said Panchayats must run community kitchens as they cover every inch of land and know the reality. The Bench told AG Venugopal, "The hunger has to be satisfied. Poor people are on street and suffering from that. Everyone is admitting there is an issue. Take a humanitarian angle and try to find a solution. Ask your officers to apply their mind." The apex court was hearing a PIL seeking directions to the Centre, States and Union Territories to formulate a scheme for community kitchens to combat hunger and malnutrition. The Bench said, "We explained to the Attorney General the intention of the court particularly of preparation of a model scheme and possibility of exploring resources and additional food grains. As far as logistics is concerned, as rightly pointed by the AG, it's for State governments to take care. In view of that, we adjourn for a period of two weeks, if state governments want to file any additional affidavit on issues of malnutrition etc. and other related issues as early before the court. States at liberty to make suggestions in this regard. All affidavits to sent to petitioner and AG immediately to enable the AG to make submissions on next date of hearing." The apex court also took into note that most states have taken a stand that if the government of India provides the funds and it will provide food. He added that while some States are already implementing community kitchens and asking for funds, some other States have not implemented the schemes but are ready to if the Central government provides the funds. It also waived off the costs earlier imposed on the States for failing to file the affidavits on time on the issue. On February 17, 2020, the apex court had asked Delhi, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, and Goa to deposit an additional cost of Rs 10 lakh each as they failed to pay Rs 5 lakh each imposed on them earlier for failing to file an affidavit on steps being taken to formulate a scheme for community kitchens for the poor. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activists Anun Dhawan, Ishann Singh, and Kunajan Singh had sought a direction to the Centre for creating a national food grid for people falling outside the purview of the public distribution scheme. The plea referred to the state-funded community kitchens being run in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Delhi that serve meals at subsidized rates in hygienic conditions. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that efforts to resolve the Assam-Meghalaya border row have started bearing fruits as six of the 12 areas of difference have been identified for resolution in the first phase. Sarma took to Twitter to say that an all-party meeting was held during the day where representatives of all parties were briefed on the progress made so far on the issue. The meeting was held at State Guest House, Koinadhara where Assam ministers Ranoj Pegu and Ashok Singhal and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Debabrata Saikia along with several MLAs, Cabinet Secretary Jishnu Barua, senior government officials, and representatives of all parties were among those present in the meeting A roadmap for amicable settlement has been prepared based on recommendations of three Regional Committees with representatives from both the states, Sarma said. The areas of differences taken up for final settlement include Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillingkata and Ratacherra, the chief minister said. Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Assam Minister Ranoj Pegu said, "Talks with Meghalaya were initiated to solve the age-old boundary dispute. Finally, the discussion has come to some sort of conclusion. We have identified 12 places of dispute, out of which we have arrived at a consensus at six of them. Regarding the remaining six places, we have held an all party-meeting, Chief Minister himself chaired the meeting." "Everybody welcomed the steps taken by the government on the points, and we are very hopeful about the rest six points of its resolution through a process of discussion," Pegu added. Bodoland People's Front leader Durga Das Boro who also attended the meeting said that the dispute will be solved based on the boundary decided by the government of India and Supreme Court during the time of bifurcation of Meghalaya. "We had a meeting with the Chief Minister today and it seems that it would benefit Assam. There are 12 disputed areas, out of them six areas still have problems. The agreement that was made during the bifurcation of Meghalaya between the government of India and the Supreme Court, we are going to solve the problems taking the basis of that boundary decided in the agreement," Boro said. "So the boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya will be solved permanently," he added. Congress representative Rekibuddin Ahmed said that the matter should also be discussed in the Assembly and added that the meeting was very fruitful. "The people of Assam and Meghalaya want to live in peace and tranquility. Our leader of Opposition said that the matter should also be discussed in the Assembly. It is very important for the two states to live together. All the parties' representatives were there in the meeting and it was a fruitful discussion," he said. In their long-standing inter-state boundary disputes between Assam and Meghalaya, the Chief Ministers of both States on December 23 last year held a meeting and decided to resolve the issues over six areas, out of 12. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to six accused persons in connection with a case related to the death of 20-year-old Dilbar Singh Negi, whose charred body was found during the violence in the city's North-East area in February 2020. Justice Subramonium Prasad granted bail to the accused -- Mohd. Tahir, Shahrukh, Mohd. Faizal, Mohd. Shoaib, Rashid, and Parvez in the order which was reserved earlier this month. The case relates to the death of Dilbar Negi, who used to work at Anil Sweets shop and on the fateful day had gone to the godown for lunch and rest. He could not be located till late at night on February 25. In the afternoon of February 26, 2020, the local police of Police Station Gokulpuri came to know about the dead body of a male person at the godown of Anil Sweets. The body was found in a charred condition and later identified as Dilbar Negi. He had come from Uttarakhand to the capital city six months prior to his death. According to police, the rioting mob targeted the properties of Hindus, including the said shop, a book shop, DRP School, and godown of Anil Sweets and others by torching them and the mob of the same rioters remained active till late night. The FIR stated that the accused were charged under Section 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (Unlawful assembly), 302 (Murder), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence), 436 (Mischief by fire) and 427 (Mischief causing damage) of IPC at Gokulpuri police station. Initially, 12 accused persons were charge-sheeted in the case in 2020. --IANS jw/dpb ( 287 Words) 2022-01-18-13:02:03 (IANS)
Just weeks before the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Gautam Buddha Nagar Police on Tuesday seized a cash of approximately Rs 1 crore from a Delhi-registered car near here in Noida, an official said. He said that in order to conduct the upcoming elections in the state peacefully, the police have intensified the security arrangements and are regularly carrying out intensive search operations to prevent smuggling of goods. "Following the same orders, the police today seized a cash of Rs 99,30,500 from a fortuner car bearing registration number DL10CL5201 near Sector 24 stadium crossing," the official told IANS. He said that two people in the car, identified as Akhilesh, a resident of Wazirpur in Delhi and Arun, a resident of Karol Bagh, Delhi have been detained by the police. "The duo was not able to give a satisfactory reason for carrying such a huge amount of cash," the official said, adding that the accused duo has till now informed that they were working for some cloth merchant. Meanwhile, sources in the police establishment confirmed to IANS that a team of Income Tax Officials will also arrive as there is involvement of a huge amount of money. Notably, the Noida Police since the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct on January 9, have tightened the security arrangements in the city. On Monday, senior officials of Noida Police held a meeting with the officials of the Delhi Police to jointly conduct checking operations and share the list of suspected offenders and criminals in the region. --IANS uj/dpb ( 272 Words) 2022-01-18-13:24:07 (IANS)
Movement helps us to think creatively. This insight is over 2000 years old - and already known to the philosophers in ancient Greece. However, what is the connection between movement and cognition from a scientific point of view? What happens in the brain when we walk? Are people who rarely move less creative? "Our research shows that it is not movement per se that helps us to think more flexibly," said neuroscientist Dr Barbara Handel from Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU) in Bavaria, Germany. She and her doctoral student Supriya Murali conducted experiments that have been described in detail in a recent publication in the journal 'Psychological Research'. According to Handel, the freedom to make self-determined movements has been responsible for humans to think more flexibly. Accordingly, even small movements while sitting can have the same positive effects on creative thinking. However, the researcher does not derive any concrete movement suggestions from her work: "The important thing is the freedom to move without external constraints." It is important, she said, that movement is not suppressed or forced into regular patterns. "Unfortunately, this happens when people focus for example on a small screen," explained the JMU researcher. The increased use of mobile phones and similar devices - also in the field of education at the time of the Corona pandemic - could therefore have a negative effect on cognitive processes such as creativity. How do people perceive their environment? What effect do sensory stimuli have in the peripheral nervous system and what in the brain? What influence do body movements have on the perception of sensory input? Researchers like Barbara Handel have been interested in such questions for many reasons. In the long term, their findings could contribute to a better understanding of diseases that affect body movements as well as cognitive processes. (ANI)
"On specific intelligence input, BSF troops of BOP Ashabari, Ex-150 Bn BSF, Gokulnagar apprehended Bangladeshi National namely Mohd Deepu Miah, resident of Comila (Bangladesh), while he was trying to negotiate IBBF from Bangladesh side. The apprehended person along with the items recovered from him has been handed over to PS- Kalamchoura, Sepahijala for further course of action," reads BSF statement.

BSF said the troops seized a consignment comprising of 1,375 Kg Hilsa (ilish) fish worth Rs 2,17,000 on the International Border under Sonamura Police Station, Sepahijala on Monday. The seized fish handed over to Customs- Sonamura for further disposal. (ANI)
With the Centre replying to letters of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu chief ministers and conveying reasons for non-inclusion of their state tableaus in the upcoming Republic Day parade, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's daughter Anita Bose-Pfaff has said that it not "optimal to fight over such things" and that the legendary freedom fighter's contribution should be honoured during the celebrations as "he was not only a Bengali but Indian too". West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to include the tableau commemorating the contributions of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and his NIA's 125th birth anniversary in the Republic Day parade on the 75th year of India's independence Speaking to ANI on Tuesday from Germany where she lives Bose-Pfaff said: "I think the Centre is well aware that the Bengal government is particularly close to Netaji, because for them he is the favourite son of the freedom fight. But of course, he was not only a Bengali but was an Indian too. He was deeply rooted in his home and religion too." "It's not an optimal thing to fight over these things rather it is adequate that he should be honoured in Republic Day celebrations because this is very close to him datewise," Netaji's daughter said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her letter to PM Modi had written "It is even more baffling for us that the tableau was rejected without assigning any reasons or justifications." The proposed tableau commemorating the contributions of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and his NIA's 125th birth anniversary year and was carrying portraits of some of the most illustrious sons and daughters in this country - Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekananda, Chittaranjan Das, Sri Aurobindo, Matangini Hazra, Birsa Munda, Nazrul Isla, the letter read. When asked about the CM's letter, Bose-Pfaff said: "Who does what and what is better is senseless. The best way to honour him on the government's part is to give the chance to people who remember the values of freedom fighters, also of Netaji. Bose-Pfaff also said that reaching across political and religious boundaries has become more relevant now. She further stated that there are obviously political reasons behind this decision to some extent. "I appreciate that you utilize the different opportunities to attract the attention for political reasons, nothing is wrong in that, but making petty fights on it is not the right thing," she said. "I first heard that Bengal was offered to contribute in the tableau, and it was turned down later. I was kind of thoughtful why this would be the case" Netaji's daughter said. "One case that came to my mind that the central government must have made a tableau themselves, but let's hope that it would be a good occasion to remember Netaji," she added. On being asked whether she will write to Centre urging them to reconsider their decision, Bose Pfaff said, "I do not intend to do so, but yes, I would appeal to the Centre if somebody hears in this interview or any other, that they should include West Bengal government's contribution in the Republic Day celebrations. I will not specifically write to PM or anyone." She also informed that she had plans of visiting India to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, but dropped it due to COVID-19. "Once the COVID-19 situation becomes under control, there will be another occasion to go to India...remembering Netaji also," she added. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today wrote to West Bengal CM on the Republic Day controversy. In his letter, Singh said, "I would like to tell you that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution to the country's independence is unforgettable for every Indian." Keeping this spirit paramount, the Prime Minister has declared Netaji's birthday, 23 January, as the Parakram Diwas. From now onwards, every year the Republic Day celebrations will start from January 23, the birthday of Netaji and end on January 30, the letter read. Republic Day is celebrated in India every year on January 26 to commemorate the day the Constitution of the nation came into effect. (ANI)
Media reports have mentioned that a vehicle carrying Sikh devotees was pelted with stones by a mob in Bhojpur district in Bihar.

NCM chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura spoke with the Chief Secretary, Bihar in this regard.

Meanwhile, Bihar Police registered a case at Charpokhari police station against 11 named and 15 unknown persons. Four persons including Secretary of Yagya Samiti had been arrested and sent to jail.

Bihar government informed NCM that the injured devotees were provided medical aid and had been escorted upto the Bihar border on January 16. The devotees have reached Punjab.

A group of Sikh devotees, on their way home in Punjab's Mohali, suffered injuries when their vehicle was pelted with stones by a mob in Bihar's Bhojpur district on Sunday, informed Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rahul Singh.

"Six Sikh devotees, on way to their home in Mohali from Patna, suffered injuries when their vehicle was pelted with stones by a mob for not donating for a religious ritual and construction of a religious place in Charpokhari, Bhojpur on Sunday," the SDPO said.

He further informed that the incident took place on Ara-Sasaram Road near Dhyanitola under Charpokhri police station in Bhojpur district when the devotees were on their way to Mohali after taking part in 'Prakash Parv' being observed at Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Sahib in Patna. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said instructed the district collectors to raise the average of COVID-19 vaccination (both first and second dose) to the level of state average in districts lagging behind in vaccination coverage. The instructions were given during the COVID-19 vaccination progress review meeting chaired by Bommai on Tuesday. He instructed the collectors and District Health Officers (DHOs) to visit taluks and review distribution of medicines. 'Vaidyara Nade Hallliyakade' programme should be started to make Doctors and ANMs visit homes. A special SOP should be formulated for this, added the chief minister. Bommai instructed concerned officials to ensure that the COVID-19 infection does not spread to other members of the family as about 94 per cent of the infected are in home isolation. The other members of the family too should be tested and treatment provided, if necessary, he added. During the meeting, instructions were issued to strengthen private and government Out Patient Department (OPDs) in Bengaluru and to open new OPDs according to the population density. He instructed officials that special SOPs to be formulated for vaccination and treatment of workers who are brought from other states to work in industries of the state. Offficals were instructed to test and treat those in home isolation and identify people with comorbidities to ensure immediate treatment. During the meeting, Bommai laid greater emphasis for health checkup and treatment for children. Booster vaccination drive for frontline workers and health workers was also discussed in the meeting. District Health Officers were assigned the responsibility of preparing the list of those who have completed 90 days after getting vaccinated with the second dose. (ANI)
Indian Navy officials, in their statement, informed that "no major material damage" occurred in the incident.

"In an unfortunate incident today at Naval Dockyard Mumbai, 3 naval personnel lost their lives in an explosion in an internal compartment onboard INS Ranvir. Responding immediately, the ship's crew brought the situation under control. There is no major material damage," the officials said.

"INS Ranvir was on cross coast operational deployment from the Eastern Naval Command and was due to return to base port shortly," Indian Navy officials further added.

A Board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the cause. (ANI)
Chandra Kumar Bose, Subhash Chandra Bose's grandnephew on Tuesday said that the controversy over the rejection of West Bengal's tableau in the Republic Day parade could have been avoided. Speaking to ANI, Kumar Bose said, "The unnecessary controversy between Centre and States could have been avoided if the expert committee who is in charge of deciding about the tableau could have been conveyed this to the state government at an appropriate time." However, he said, "Netaji was born in Cuttack in Odissa, so people of Odissa can also say that they want to contribute to the parade. If the people of West Bengal want to contribute to Netaji's tableau in Republic Day parade, then they should be given permission." He said that he has talked to Defence Ministery officials and they had assured me that the Central government would be organising the Netaji INA float on January 26 at Rajpath. "Today, Rajnath Singh has confirmed that the Centre will be organising a Netaji INA float on 26 Jan, but states cannot organise his tableau. I had given a proposal to PM Modi that as we are celebrating the 125th anniversary of Netaji, the 75th year of Independence and the 72nd year of our Republic day, it is imperative to have Netaji INA float so that people can understand his heroism," he said. He further stated that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who is the liberator of India fought the final battle of India's independence and "it is very clear that because of Netaji we got freedom in 1947". His remarks came after Defence Minister wrote a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the Republic day controversy today. Earlier on Sunday, Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the "rejection of proposed tableau of West Bengal for the ensuing Republic Day Parade" and requested to "include the tableau of freedom fighters from West Bengal in the parade". In his letter, Singh said, "I would like to tell you that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution to the country's independence is unforgettable for every Indian." The minister assured that the selection process of the tableaux participating in the Republic Day Parade is very transparent and "I respect your sentiments and therefore would like to personally inform you that this time 12 out of 29 State/UT proposals have been approved". "I would like to inform one more fact that this time in the tableau of CPWD also, a tribute has been paid to Bose on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary. This is a testimony to the fact that the country is giving prominence to the birth anniversary of the great leader Bose," he said. The Prime Minister has declared Netaji's birthday, 23 January, as the Parakram Diwas. From now onwards, every year the Republic Day celebrations will start from January 23, the birthday of Netaji and end on January 30, the letter read. (ANI)
Following reports of unapproved COVID vaccines being given to 15-18 year age group, Bharat Biotech on Tuesday requested healthcare workers to ensure that only COVAXIN is administered to individuals of the group. Taking to Twitter, Bharat Biotech said, "We have received several additional reports of individuals in the 15-18 age group being administered unapproved COVID-19 vaccines. We humbly request healthcare workers to be highly vigilant and ensure that only COVAXIN is administered to individuals in the 15-18 years age group." Further, the company said that COVAXIN has received approval "based on a thorough clinical trial evaluation for safety and immunogenicity in the 2-18 years age group." "Currently, it is the only COVID-19 vaccine in India approved for children," Bharat Biotech said while also thanking the healthcare workers for their "great service to the nation" during the pandemic. Amid rising concerns over the highly transmissible Omicron variant of coronavirus, the Prime Minister on December 25 announced the commencement of the COVID-19 vaccination drive for the age group of 15-18 years from January 3.Notably, only Bharat Biotech's indigenously-made shot 'Covaxin' will be used for vaccinating this age group.According to a note sent by the Union health ministry to all states and Union territories, additional doses of Covaxin will be sent to the states for administering the vaccine to this population category. As many as 3,70,32,672 doses have been administered in the 15-18 age group so far in the country. (ANI)
AT&T and Verizon will delay launching new wireless service near some airports after the nations largest airlines said the service would interfere with aircraft technology and cause massive flight disruptions.

The decision from the telecommunication companies arrived Tuesday as the Biden administration tried to broker a settlement between the telecom companies and the airlines over a rollout of new 5G service, scheduled for Wednesday.

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Airlines want the new service to be banned within two miles of airport runways.

AT&T said it would delay turning on new cell towers around runways at some airports  it did not say how many  and work with federal regulators to settle the dispute.

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A short time later, Verizon said it will launch its 5G network but added, we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports. It blamed airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, saying they have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports although it is working in more than 40 countries.

A Dreamliner 787-10 arriving from Los Angeles pulls up to a gate at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. Federal safety officials are directing operators of some Boeing planes to adopt extra procedures when landing on wet or snowy runways near impending 5G service because, they say, interference from the wireless networks could mean that the planes need more room to land. The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, that interference could delay systems like thrust reversers on Boeing 787s from kicking in, leaving only the brakes to slow the plane. (Seth Wenig/AP)

The announcements came after the airline industry issued a dire warning about the impact a new type of 5G service would have on flights. CEOs of the nations largest airlines said interference with aircraft systems would be worse than they originally thought, making many flights impossible.

To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines side in the matter.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that if hundreds or thousands of flights are grounded, it would affect passengers and the shipping of cargo needed for the nations supply chain. We want to avoid that and prevent it, she said.

Psaki said among those taking part in ongoing negotiations with airlines and telecoms were Buttigieg, members of President Joe Bidens economic team, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.

Asked about the 5G rollout at an unrelated news conference Tuesday, Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee said safety and security were the highest priority at both Midway and OHare International airports.

Were going to continue working with our federal partners as well as our airline partners to do everything that we can to minimize impact, Rhee said.

The Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement the airspace at OHare and Midway airports is the responsibility of the FAA, and the federal agency would determine whether flights needed to be diverted or canceled. The city aviation department was working with the FAA during the 5G updates, the department said.

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The new high-speed wireless service uses a segment of the radio spectrum, C-Band, that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground. Altimeters are used to help pilots land when visibility is poor, and they link to other systems on planes.

AT&T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries.

However, the CEOs of 10 passenger and cargo airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest say that 5G will be more disruptive than earlier thought because dozens of large airports that were to have buffer zones to prevent 5G interference with aircraft will still be subject to of flight restrictions announced last week by the FAA. They add that those restrictions wont be limited to times when visibility is poor.

Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays, the CEOs said.

The showdown between two industries and their rival regulators  the FAA and the FCC, which oversees radio spectrum  threatens to further disrupt the aviation industry, which has been hammered by the pandemic for nearly two years.

This was a crisis that was years in the making.

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The airline industry and the FAA say that they have tried to raise alarms about potential interference from 5G C-Band but the FCC has ignored them.

The telecoms, the FCC and their supporters argue that C-Band and aircraft altimeters operate far enough apart on the radio spectrum to avoid interference. They also say that the aviation industry has known about C-Band technology for several years but did nothing to prepare  airlines chose not to upgrade altimeters that might be subject to interference, and the FAA failed to begin surveying equipment on planes until the last few weeks.

After rival T-Mobile got what is called mid-band spectrum from its acquisition of Sprint, AT&T and Verizon spent tens of billions of dollars for C-Band spectrum in a government auction run by the FCC to shore up their own mid-band needs, then spent billions more to build out new networks that they planned to launch in early December.

In response to concern by the airlines, however, they agreed to delay the service until early January.

Late on New Years Eve, Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson asked the companies for another delay, warning of unacceptable disruption to air service.

AT&T CEO John Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg rejected the request in a letter that had a scolding, even mocking tone. But they had second thoughts after intervention that reached the White House. They agreed to the second, shorter delay but implied that there would be no more compromises.

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That was followed by a deal in which the telecoms agreed to reduce the power of their networks near 50 airports for six months, similar to wireless restrictions in France. In exchange, the FAA and the Transportation Department promised not to further oppose the rollout of 5G C-Band.

Biden praised the deal, but the airlines werent satisfied with the agreement, regarding it as a victory for the telecoms that didnt adequately address their concerns about trying to land planes at airports where the new service would be active.

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Tali Arbel in New York contributed to this story. Chicago Tribune reporter Sarah Freishtat also contributed.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said that the State Government has decided to showcase the tableaux rejected by the Centre for the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, at a parade on the Marina beachfront in Chennai on January 26. Besides, said the chief minister the tableaux would travel to key towns in Tamil Nadu for the people to see, according to a statement by the chief minister's office. "Shocked and sad over rejection of tableaux from Tamil Nadu for Republic Day parade without any reason. State tableaux rejected for Republic day parade in Delhi by Central committee will be part of Republic Day parade in Chennai; will be taken across Tamil Nadu," said the Chief Minister in a statement. Earlier today, a day after, Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Centre rejecting the state's tableau for the Republic Day Parade 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the tableau was considered in the first three rounds of the meetings of the expert committee, however, could not make it to the final list of the 12 tableaux selected for this year. Stalin on Monday had written to the Prime Minister seeking his immediate intervention into the matter. "Excluding the tableau will deeply hurt the sentiments and patriotic feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu," the Tamil Nadu chief minister had written. Responding to his letter, Rajanth Singh wrote in his letter to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, "Ministry of Defence invites proposals for tableaux from all States/UTs and Central Ministries/Departments. The tableaux proposals received from various States/UTs and Central Ministries/Departments are evaluated in a series of meetings of the Expert Committee comprising eminent persons in the field of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography etc. The Expert Committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and its visual impact before making its recommendations." "As per the time slot allotted for tableaux in the overall duration of the parade, shortlisting of tableaux is done by the Expert Committee. For RDP-2022, a total of 29 proposals were received from States/ UTs including the proposal from State of Tamil Nadu. The Tableaux from the State Government of Tamil Nadu was considered in the first three rounds of meetings. After the third round of meeting, the tableaux could not make it into the final list of 12 Tableaux selected for participation in the RDP-2022," he added. Singh said that the selection of tableau is as per the prescribed guidelines on the matter. Notably, the Centre also rejected the West Bengal tableau for the Republic Day Parade as well after which state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to reconsider his decision. (ANI)
In a significant move against growing terrorist activities in Peer Panjal area, one youth was arrested by security forces last night. On a specific inputs police along with other security forces launched a search operation and arrested the youth, said Jammu and Kashmir police.

According to Police, the youth was connected with terrorists through social media networking and was quite instrumental in providing information to terrorists about security forces' establishments and sharing seditious material.

Police said the arrested youth was trying to engage and motivate other youth of the area to join terrorist ranks. A case has been lodged against him.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Punjab Congress slammed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over a video in which it used Bollywood actor Vidya Balan's face as Chief Minister Chair for which two apparent chief ministerial aspirants of the ruling party in the state pulling each other down and asked the AAP to stop objectifying women. "While men are portrayed as heroes, a woman comes as an 'object' for @AamAadmiParty," Punjab Congress said on its official Twitter handle citing a snapshot of the video. The ruling party of Punjab said, "No wonder they (AAP) don't have a single leader who is a woman and a minister in Delhi. They expose themselves every day." "STOP OBJECTIFYING WOMEN!" it further tweeted. Meanwhile, the National President of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), Srinivas BV also hit out at AAP on the subject and said, "Aam Aadmi Party is objectifying a woman with a CM chair. Shameful!!" In the video, the faces of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and Bhagwant Mann have been superimposed on the faces of the characters in the song. Vidya Balan's character has been depicted as the chief minister's chair. AAP posted the video hours after announcing MP Bhagwant Mann as the party's chief ministerial candidate in Punjab at a public event. The party had embarked on 'Janta Chunegi Apna CM' drive. The ruling Congress has not declared a chief ministerial candidate though the party had signaled in a video yesterday that Channi is the CM face of the party. Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. AAP had finished second in the last assembly elections in the state. (ANI)
Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi on Tuesday said that the party's first list of candidates contesting elections in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls will be out tomorrow. Speaking to ANI, Tyagi said that the list will be out tomorrow after being presented to the Central officials. "A list has been prepared in the meeting today, that will be put in front of the central officials tomorrow. The first list of JD(U) will be released tomorrow," he said. Talking about the governance of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar, the JDU leader said that no leader of the backward community is displeased with the government. "No leader from the backward community has expressed his displeasure with the government in Bihar. Bihar model is the best model," Tyagi said. In December last year, Janata Dal (United) National President of JD(U) Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said his party was informed that BJP is ready for an alliance with them for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and hoped to win the elections. "We were informed that BJP is ready for an alliance with us for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. We have given them a list for the same. We hope to win the upcoming elections," Singh had said. Elections to the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
The Centre on Tuesday asked the States and Union Territories to enhance Covid-19 testing in a strategic manner to track spread of the pandemic. "Testing remains a key and crucial component of the framework," Union Health Ministry said in a letter to the states and UTs, adding that "It is seen from available data on the ICMR portal that testing has declined in many states and Union Territories." The ministry has clarified about the recent ICMR guidelines on Covid testing which said that the contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19 unless identified as high risk based on age and co-morbidities do not need to be tested. The basic objective of all guidelines remain an early detection of case for quick isolation and care. In addition, testing remains a key strategy for the pandemic management on two counts - identification of new clusters and new hotspots of infection which can in turn facilitate immediate action for containment such as setting up containment zones, contact tracing and others and ensuring reduction in mortality and morbidity, the letter read. Delineating on ICMR testing advisory issued on January 10, Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health, said in the letter, "All those who are symptomatic must be tested in community settings. All at risk contacts of laboratory confirmed cases must also be tested". "In order to ensure that an effective track of the spread of the pandemic is kept and also immediate citizen centric action is initiated, it is incumbent upon all states and UTs to enhance the testing", the letter further said. --IANS avr/svn/skp/ ( 276 Words) 2022-01-18-18:00:03 (IANS)
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday erupted in protests over certain remarks by state Congress President Nana Patole allegedly making 'derogatory and threatening' utterances against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Patole and the Congress have clarified that the remarks were directed at a local goon by the name of 'Modi' in Bhandara district. Unconvinced by the argument, the BJP staged sit-ins, marches, beat and trampled Patole's photos with shoes, shouted slogans and lodged police complaints against him in different parts of the state, including Nagpur. In a viral video, Patole is purportedly heard talking to a group of people how he "can abuse and hit Modi, which is why he comes to campaign against me" in his constituency, triggering outrage in the state BJP. State BJP President Chandrakant Patil said why Patole should not be treated on the same lines as Union Minister Narayan Rane, who was booked and arrested by Sindhudurg Police five months ago for his 'slap-slur' against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress of "spreading terror" while other leaders demanded the arrest of Patole, an apology and withdrawal of his remarks. The Congress stood firm behind the party chief, claiming the statements had nothing to do with the Prime Minister but merely referred to a local goon by the surname of Modi who was harassing the people in the district who had come to complain against him. Patole has hit back by accusing BJP leaders like Patil and Fadnavis of "mischievously and deliberately" trying to connect his statement with PM Modi and by doing so, "they are the ones who are disrespecting the PM". --IANS qn/pgh ( 288 Words) 2022-01-18-20:20:04 (IANS)
A female student pursuing her PhD at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in the national capital was allegedly molested by an unidentified man inside the campus, an official said here on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West district), Gaurav Sharma, told IANS that the incident took place on Monday at around 11.45 p.m. "At 12.45 a.m., a PCR call regarding molestation in JNU was received at the Vasant Kunj North police station," the senior officer said. Sensing the gravity of the matter, the DCP along with the SHO of the police station rushed to the spot. It was revealed that at about 11.45 p.m. on Monday, the PhD scholar was taking a stroll within the campus. "When she was walking near the East Gate Road of the university, one person came on a bike and tried to molest her," the DCP said. Soon after this, the student raised an alarm. Fearing getting caught, the accused fled from the spot on his motorcycle. "We have registered a case of outraging the modesty of a woman," Sharma said, adding that a manhunt has been launched to nab the accused. Meanwhile, members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in JNU took out march from the campus to the Vasant Kunj police station on Tuesday evening. The students were angry as even after nearly 24 hours, the culprit is yet to be nabbed. One of the students told IANS that incidents of eve-teasing inside the campus have gone up in recent times. "The number of security guards inside the campus have reduced," he alleged. --IANS uj/arm ( 277 Words) 2022-01-18-21:40:03 (IANS)
For the first time ever, astronomers have imaged in real-time the dramatic end to a red supergiant's life -- watching the massive star's rapid self-destruction and final death throes before collapsing into a type II supernova. Led by researchers at Northwestern University and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), the team observed the red supergiant during its last 130 days leading up to its deadly detonation. The discovery was published in 'The Astrophysical Journal'. The discovery defies previous ideas of how red supergiant stars evolved right before exploding. Earlier observations showed that red supergiants were relatively quiescent before their deaths -- with no evidence of violent eruptions or luminous emissions. The new observations, however, detected bright radiation from a red supergiant in the final year before exploding. This suggests at least some of these stars must undergo significant changes in their internal structure, which then result in the tumultuous ejection of gas moments before they collapse. "This is a breakthrough in our understanding of what massive stars do moments before they die," said Wynn Jacobson-Galan, the study's lead author. "Direct detection of pre-supernova activity in a red supergiant star has never been observed before in an ordinary type II supernova. For the first time, we watched a red supergiant star explode." Although the work was conducted at Northwestern, where Jacobson-Galan was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow, he has since moved to UC Berkeley. Northwestern co-authors include Deanne Coppejans, Charlie Kilpatrick, Giacomo Terreran, Peter Blanchard and Lindsay DeMarchi, who are all members of Northwestern's Center for Interdisciplinary and Exploratory Research in Astrophysics (CIERA). The University of Hawaii Institute for AstronomyPan-STARRS on Haleakal, Maui, first detected the doomed massive star in summer 2020 via the huge amount of light radiating from the red supergiant. A few months later, in fall of 2020, a supernova lit the sky. The team quickly captured the powerful flash and obtained the very first spectrum of the energetic explosion, named supernova 2020tlf (SN 2020tlf) using the W.M. Keck Observatory's Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer on Maunakea, Hawaii. The data showed direct evidence of dense circumstellar material surrounding the star at the time of explosion, likely the same gas that Pan-STARRS had imaged the red supergiant star violently ejecting earlier in the summer. "It's like watching a ticking time bomb," said Raffaella Margutti, an adjunct associate professor at CIERA and the paper's senior author. "We've never confirmed such violent activity in a dying red supergiant star where we see it produce such a luminous emission, then collapse and combust, until now." The team continued to monitor SN 2020tlf after the explosion. Based on data obtained from Keck Observatory's Deep Imaging and Multi-Object Spectrograph and Near Infrared Echellette Spectrograph, the researchers determined SN 2020tlf's progenitor red supergiant star -- located in the NGC 5731 galaxy about 120 million light-years away from Earth -- was 10 times more massive than the sun. Margutti and Jacobson-Galan conducted most of the study during their time at Northwestern, with Margutti serving as an associate professor of physics and astronomy and member of CIERA, and Jacobson-Galan as a graduate student in Margutti's research group. Margutti is an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Berkeley. Northwestern's remote access to Keck Observatory's telescopes was integral to their research. From the University's Evanston campus, astronomers can connect with an on-site telescope operator in Hawaii and choose where to position the telescope. By bypassing long-distance travel to Hawaii, astronomers save precious observing time -- often catching transient events like supernovas, which can quickly flare up and then swiftly vanish. "This significant discovery of a red supergiant supernova is yet one more strong indication of the importance of Northwestern's investment in access to top private telescope facilities, including the Keck Observatory," said Vicky Kalogera, the Daniel I. Linzer Distinguished University Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and director of CIERA. "The Keck telescopes, currently the best on our planet, uniquely enable scientific advances of this calibre as CIERA researchers have shown since our Keck partnership started just a few years ago." Margutti, Jacobson-Galan and their Northwestern co-authors are members of the Young Supernova Experiment, which uses the Pan-STARRS telescope to catch supernovae right after they explode. "I am most excited by all of the new 'unknowns' that have been unlocked by this discovery," Jacobson-Galan said. "Detecting more events like SN 2020tlf will dramatically impact how we define the final months of stellar evolution, uniting observers and theorists in the quest to solve the mystery on how massive stars spend the final moments of their lives," he added. (ANI)
Even as India has successfully handed over the BRICS Chair to China from January 2022, it will be hosting five international events through the year, it was decided at the 15th meeting of the BRICS Science Technology Innovation (STI) Steering Committee. BRICS STI is a forum for the scientific community from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to discuss and deliberate on topics of common interest in the field of science and technology. The calendar of BRICS STI activities and expected deliverables were discussed at the meeting organised virtually on Monday, a release from the Ministry of Science & Technology said on Tuesday. The five high-level events that India will host are: BRICS Startups Forum's Working Groups meeting on Energy; Biotechnology & Biomedicine; ICT & High-Performance Computing and the STIEP (Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Partnership) Working Group Meeting, which will also witness the launch of BRICS innovation launchpad as a microsite (Knowledge Hub). The BRICS STI Steering Committee meeting was attended by representatives from BRICS scientific ministries and foreign missions. The Indian delegation was led by Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Advisor and Head, International Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology, the release said. The Chinese side presented a broad outline of activities to be carried out during the entire year, which would mainly include thematic meetings, BRICS Young Scientist Conclave, senior official and ministerial-level meetings. A total of 25 events have been planned, of which India will host five. The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is the main executing agency for the BRICS Startups Forum and creation of innovation Knowledge Hub. The BRICS Young Scientist Conclave will be held in September 2022 in a virtual format, and thematic focus areas will possibly be carbon peak neutralisation, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, material science and modern agriculture. China has proposed to host the 10th BRICS S&T ministerial-level meeting and the Senior Official Meeting in September 2022. On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, an exhibition will be organised to showcase the outcomes of successful projects supported under the BRICS Framework Programme (2015-2022). --IANS niv/arm ( 356 Words) 2022-01-18-20:28:01 (IANS)
The Taipei District Court on Monday sentenced jail term to five Taiwanese businesspeople working in China, who were found guilty of taking money from Chinese authorities to buy votes for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Han Kuo-yu in the 2020 presidential election. As per the investigation, the Taiwanese businessmen were organizing gatherings and banquets to convince Taiwanese in Hunan to support the KMT and Han's presidential campaign in late 2019, including offering to pay their airfares, reported Taipei Times. In their largest election event, the defendants on December 21, 2019, organized a year-end banquet for Taiwanese at Changsha's Huatian Hotel, where they instructed attendees to buy tickets to fly home to vote for Han and other KMT candidates on January 11, 2020, and showed them how to obtain 1,500 yuan to pay for the cost of the airfares, the investigation showed, reported Taipei Times. Documents showed that 467 Taiwanese who attended the event applied for the money, prosecutors said, reported Taipei Times. Lin and the defendants gave "bribes" in exchange for votes for specific candidates and breached the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act, the ruling said. The Taipei District Court sentenced the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises Changsha City Branch chairman Lin Huai to three years and 10 months in jail, with deprivation of his civil rights for four years. The other four convicted in the case, who all received 20-month prison terms, were China New Family Association chairwoman Chiang Ming-sia, Hunan Shaoyang City Association in Taiwan director Chang Kuo-chun, Hengyang-based businessman Chuang Huan-chang and Chinese Women's Federation deputy secretary Shen Bin, who had conducted business in Hunan, reported Taipei Times. The probe found that funding for the scheme came from Huang Daonian, director of the Economic Bureau at Changsha City's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). The Changsha City Government and the local TAO allocated 3.5 million yuan (USD 551,268) to support subsidies for Taiwanese to return home to vote, with Lin applying for and receiving about 1.49 million yuan, the investigation found, reported Taipei Times. Huang allegedly told his staff to assist Lin and other Taiwanese businesspeople in applying for funds and obtaining registered lists of Taiwanese living in Hunan, prosecutors said. After learning of the sentences, Han's office yesterday said that he was unaware of the events and that his election campaign headquarters did not receive any funds from those involved, reported Taipei Times. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has stepped up military and political pressure to force the democratically ruled island to accept Chinese sovereignty, even though most Taiwanese have shown no interest in being governed by Beijing. (ANI)
China willing to maintain friendship, deepen cooperation with Philippines

Xinhua) 08:42, January 18, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations via video on Jan. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday that China and the Philippines should maintain their friendship, remove disruptions, deepen cooperation, and jointly open up a better future for bilateral relations.

Wang made the remarks when addressing the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations via video.

Facts have proved that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's strategic decision to improve relations with China is in line with the fundamental interests of the Philippine people. It is also in line with the common interests of China and the Philippines and the trend of peaceful regional development, Wang said.

Noting the friendly exchanges between the two countries have lasted for more than 1,000 years, Wang said China is willing to continue to guarantee Philippine COVID-19 vaccine needs. China will also cooperate on specific drugs and public health capacity-building until the virus is defeated.

China is willing to continue to open the door to more Philippine agricultural products and improve investment to help the Philippines accelerate its industrialization and modernization process and enhance its independent development capabilities, Wang said.

On the South China Sea issue, Wang said China is prepared to promote joint development without affecting each other's respective rights and claims. China is also willing to turn challenges into opportunities, help the development of the Philippines, and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.

Wang called on both sides to maintain the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation framework and deepen the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A new airline will begin flying out of Midway Airport in the spring, bringing the number of airlines operating out of the smaller of Chicagos two airports to six.

Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines will begin flying to eight destinations on April 28, including Atlanta, Denver and Las Vegas, Josh Flyr, Frontiers vice president of network and operational design, said at a news conference Tuesday.

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The airline plans to add another two destinations, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, in October.

An employee holds a model plane as Frontier Airlines announces that they will return service to Midway Airport, Jan. 18, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Frontier used to fly out of Midway, but left the airport in early 2015 to consolidate operations at OHare International Airport as it transitioned to its low-cost model, Flyr said.

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The airline now plans to fly out of both airports. Midway will become the companys primary Chicago airport, and service out of OHare will focus on destinations such as Mexico and Caribbean cities.

Specifically for Midway, what we love about it is that its just a great fit for our business model, Flyr said after the news conference. With its flexible operating environment and low cost, that allows us to sort of leverage our low cost, and allows us to pass those low costs onto consumers in the form of low fares.

Frontiers expansion comes as airlines have been battered for nearly two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the hits, Frontier has continued to see some demand for travel and is eyeing a return to pre-pandemic travel habits, Flyr said.

As the pandemic recedes, and hopefully recedes finally, and people really get back to traveling, being in Midway is going to position us really well for that surge of travel, both leisure and business, that we expect to follow the pandemic, he said.

Midway has long been a major hub for Southwest Airlines. With the return of Frontier, the airlines flying out of Midway will include: Southwest, Delta, Allegiant, Porter, Volaris and, soon, Frontier.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com
As per the organizers, the move comes amid community infections of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant that have been expanding in China, reported Kyodo News.

Spectator tickets for the sporting event, slated to start February 4, are expected to be distributed to a limited number of people through government organizations and state-run companies to prevent the further outbreak of COVID-19 at home.

The decision indicated that President Xi Jinping, who has been eager to cement his grip to secure a controversial third term as the leader at the Communist Party's twice-a-decade congress in fall, has given up hosting the Beijing Olympics in complete form, pundits said, reported Kyodo News.

In a speech online Monday at a session of the World Economic Forum, Xi was quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency as expressing confidence that China will present a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympics to the world.

In September 2021, the International Olympic Committee unveiled a basic slate of preventive steps against the spread of the virus at the Beijing Games, including a ban on all spectators except residents of mainland China, reported Kyodo News.

"Tickets will be sold exclusively to spectators residing in China's mainland, who meet the requirements of the COVID-19 countermeasures," the IOC said in a press release at the time.

The Tokyo Games last summer, postponed for a year due to the pandemic, were held without spectators at almost all venues. (ANI)
Awami League (AL), the Bangladesh's ruling party, has called for taking necessary steps to ensure that the voters at all levels, including the minorities, can cast their votes in elections without any hindrance. For this, the party leaders on Monday proposed enacting a new law on reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC). They also proposed strengthening the EC and using technologies like electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections to make them free, fair and credible. The proposal was made during the President M. Abdul Hamid's dialogue with political parties at Bangabhaban to discuss the EC reconstitution. The Prime Minister and the President of the ruling party Sheikh Hasina led a 10-member AL delegation at the dialogues. "As there's no specific law, the President has no obligation to follow any other rule, except the Constitution, for appointing the CEC and other EC members under article 118. But, it's necessary to enact a law to specify the eligibility and disqualifications of an individual while being appointed as the CEC and commissioners to uphold the spirit of the Constitution," said the proposal. A new law in accordance with article 118 of the Constitution, may be enacted for appointing the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other commissioners, according to one of the four proposals placed by AL before the President. "....two election commissions were formed in 2012 and 2016. On both occasions, all political parties and civil society members participated in the talks. Following the previous experiences, the law can be enacted under article 118," added the proposal. AL delegation proposed that the President would appoint the CEC and other commissioners in accordance with article 118 of the Constitution. In the process of making these appointments, the President will appoint those whom he deems suitable and fit, it added. Members of the delegation included, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Advisory Council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, and Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the President for taking the initiative to hold talks with the political parties on the formation of the EC. She said her party and the government are ready to work together to ensure that the elections will be free and fair, and that the people could exercise their voting right freely. Meanwhile, hours before the dialogue, the Cabinet at its weekly meeting approved a draft law on the EC formation. The Prime Minister said in the cabinet meeting, the law has been approved to form the Election Commission in accordance with Article 117 of the Constitution. Other processes to enact the law would be completed soon, she added. The President has thanked Sheikh Hasina for giving the final approval to the law styled 'Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner Appointment Act, 2022' in reconstituting the EC. --IANS sumi/shs ( 500 Words) 2022-01-18-01:26:02 (IANS)
The release said the Omicron variant was found in 36 Myanmar nationals and six foreigners who recently arrived in Myanmar by relief flights, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the ministry's figures on Monday, the number of Covid-19 infections has risen to 533,245 in Myanmar after 101 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours.

With two more deaths, the death toll has increased to 19,304 as of Monday. A total of 511,333 patients have been discharged from hospitals.

Myanmar detected its first two Covid-19 positive cases in March 2020.

--IANS int/shs

( 128 Words)

2022-01-18-02:12:02 (IANS)
Pakistan's Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed concern over Prime Minister Imran Khan's using "religion as a cover-up" for the governance and economic issues afflicting the country. Interestingly, this rebuke came after Imran Khan penned an article in a Pakistani newspaper where he talked about the basic tenets of Islam. Writing an opinion piece for The Express Tribune, Imran Khan said: "to realize our (Pakistan's) potential today we have to struggle to embody these principles as a nation and state." In the article titled 'Spirit of Riyasat-i-Madina: Transforming Pakistan', the Pak PM further said, "the most urgent of all challenges facing our country right now is the struggle to establish the rule of law." Responding to his article, Shehbaz tweeted on Monday saying, "Really concerned with the way Prime Minister is using religion as a cover-up for the massive governance and economic breakdown the country has suffered in decades due to his policies. Such a self-serving approach will wreak greater damage upon the polity than is being understood." Besides Shehbaz, other opposition leaders also slammed Pakistan PM for his views on governance and running the country. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said Imran Khan was trying to take "unfair advantage" of Islam and its sacred reforms, calling him a "religious exploiter". In one of her tweets, Marriyum said the Pak PM writing an article on the state of Madina is equivalent to a thief who hides inside a mosque when he is caught, the Dawn newspaper reported. Imran Khan is exploiting sacred words such as Madina and Islam to hide his own incompetency and thievery, Marriyum added. Another PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that all "crooked and corrupt politicians, cartels and mafias" were serving in the premier's cabinet. "Sugar mafia, flour mafia, pharmaceutical mafia, furnace oil mafia, dollar mafia, smugglers mafia and hoarding mafia are being patronised by your government Mr Niazi. Who are you fooling?" he asked. On Sunday, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul-Haq had dubbed Imran Khan as an "international beggar" and stated that his departure is 'the only solution' to all the problems of the country marred with financial woes. Speaking at a gathering ahead of local body polls in Lahore, Haq called for a fresh election in the country. Slamming Khan's government for increasing petroleum prices, JI chief said, "Imran Khan and Pakistan cannot function together." "There is no space left for pluses or minuses from politics in this country, as Imran Khan's departure is the only solution to all the problems," Haq was quoted as saying by Geo News. (ANI)
According to Xinhua News Agency, out of the new local cases, 102 were reported in Henan, 18 in Tianjin, five in Guangdong, and one each in Beijing and Shaanxi, the commission said.

Also reported were 44 new imported cases in nine provincial-level regions, according to the commission.

Three new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day, it added.

Meanwhile, Beijing has reported its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, as it readies to host the Winter Olympics next month.

The strict new COVID-19 restrictions come into force in the city. Beijing will now require travellers to get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival in the Chinese capital, Taipei Times reported.

The new rule, effective from Saturday to the end of March, is aimed to help with early detection of Omicron, which is surging globally, and the control of epidemic risks, Beijing Daily, a government newspaper, said on social media. (ANI)
A People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 electronic intelligence plane, a Y-8 electronic warfare plane, and a Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of the ADIZ, Taiwan News reported citing the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, issued radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to track the PLAAF planes.

A total of 61 Chinese military aircraft have been monitored there this month, including 41 fighter jets and 20 spotter planes, Taiwan News reported.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war. (ANI)
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August, media and journalists have lost their independence in the crisis-torn country, local media reported. On Monday, the Home of Freedom of Speech, in a statement, expressed concern about the situation of media, Afghan journalists, freedom of speech, and freedom of media after the Taliban takeover, Khaama Press reported. The statement said that media and journalists in Afghanistan have lost their independence and they have systematically been censored by de facto authorities in Kabul. Censorship has different roots and that most of the roots belong to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), the statement said. "Afghan media and journalists have been pressurized by the intelligence of the IEA unprecedentedly and they want to turn the media into their propaganda platforms. The intelligence has succeeded to do so to a certain extent because they are using different methods as a threat, force, and pressures," Khaama Press quoted the statement. The Home of Freedom of Speech has claimed that the Taliban go to the newsrooms of media and tell the journalists to cover stories in their favor as they live under their rule, Khaama Press reported. It further stated that most of the prominent journalists have left jobs because they did not want to be used for propaganda for the Taliban. The Home of Freedom of Speech has asked the IEA to stop censoring media and putting pressure on Afghan journalists and also asked international media advocates so that the lives of journalists are protected and the gain of past two decades are preserved. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian and security crisis. (ANI)
Farooqi, who hailed from Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, was reportedly killed during an investigation against organized kidnappers and criminal mafia, Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune reported.

The investigation resulted in a clash, during which Farooqi was killed along with his aides.

Another set of conflicting reports says that the former IS-K chief was killed as a result of an internal dispute within the organization. Media reports said the body of the IS-K commander will be shifted to his hometown by Tuesday.

Farooqi had made a deal with the Afghan forces during the rule of the Ashraf Ghani government after the fall of the IS-K in Nangarhar province in 2020. He was later replaced as the head of IS-K by Shahab Mahajer.

This is the second high-profile terrorist commander killed during this month.

Earlier, Muhammad Khurassani, the operational commander and the spokesperson for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was killed in Nangarhar province. (ANI)
Andor Sebestyen said that his center had received numerous phone calls and messages from people interested in taking the fourth vaccine dose even before the government's January 13 announcement, Xinhua news agency reported.

He said it was particularly important for older people who suffer from one or more chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes or cancer) to get vaccinated.

The decision on the introduction of the fourth jab in Hungary follows a sudden surge in infections, largely attributed to the Omicron variant.

In the last three days (the authorities in Hungary provide daily figures on weekdays only), 21,219 new coronavirus cases were recorded, taking the national tally to 1,348,233, the government's coronavirus information website said.

During this period, the country's death toll rose by 270 to 40,507. Currently, 2,630 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, including 228 on ventilators, while 1,169,775 people have recovered.

To date, 6,319,434 people in Hungary have received at least one vaccine shot, 6,059,382 people have had both, and 3,417,089 people have received their booster shot, according to the website.

--IANS int/shs

( 233 Words)

2022-01-18-04:22:03 (IANS)
The Iranian nuclear agreement was discussed in light of the eighth round of negotiations on the revival of the JCPOA that resumed in Vienna on December 27, 2021, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

In addition, both ministers covered bilateral ties and regional issues.

Since April last year, Iran and the major parties to the 2015 nuclear pact, namely Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, have held seven rounds of talks in Vienna on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal. The US has been taking part in the talks indirectly.

The eighth round of negotiations began in Vienna on December 27, and resumed on January 3 this year.

Following talks in January, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said they "had gained momentum," adding that all parties demonstrated readiness to find solutions to the remaining problems.

--IANS int/shs

( 180 Words)

2022-01-18-07:16:01 (IANS)
When Colleen Mraz headed home from her job at Symphony Center one March evening in 2020, she took a red ushers blazer with her.

I stayed late to help out and the door was locked, Mraz said. She told her supervisor shed return the jacket the next day. A year and a half later, I brought it back, she said.

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In addition to taking tickets, handing out programs and helping people find their seats, the faces greeting Symphony Center patrons are now also responsible for vaccine card and mask checks. Like others in the service industry, when the shutdowns began in March 2020, Symphony Centers front of house staff lost their jobs. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association paid them for a few weeks of canceled concerts; artistic and administrative staff who werent furloughed by the pandemic took temporary salary reductions.

Mraz, originally from Clarendon Hills, spent 34 years in Italy as a theater and music director. I went to Italy on vacation in 1983, met a guy on the train and didnt come home, she said. The couple has lived in Uptown since 2017; Mraz became a Symphony Center usher in 2018.

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I met someone who worked as an usher and thought, what a great job, said Mraz. While furloughed, she lived frugally on her Italian pension and kept up the strength and stamina required to stand for several hours during shifts at Symphony Center.

Usher Colleen Mraz checks audience members' vaccination cards and identification inside the lobby of the Chicago Symphony Center prior to a performance on Dec. 9, 2021. Ushers each check about 250 cards on a typical night. (Victor Hilitski / Chicago Tribune)

The music is an obvious perk for Mraz and colleague Chester Banowski, a Symphony Center usher since 2000. But they also relish the chance to interact with so many people. Neither even considered getting a new job.

Its good to be back, Mraz said. For the most part, patrons feel the same way; attendance, on average, is near pre-pandemic levels. I consider my job at the CSO kind of like a mission, said Mraz. The symphony is so important to Chicago, and I want to be a part of making sure it can continue.

As the omicron wave once again wreaks havoc on live events, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for now, is pressing ahead. Additional safety measures have been recently put in place for musicians and production staff, and a spokesperson confirmed that scheduled concerts, including school and community engagement events, will run as scheduled with strict adherence to vaccination requirements. Early January concerts were well-attended  in some cases exceeding 1,800 patrons.

Music director Riccardo Muti is conducting the Tchaikovsky ballets Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty through Sunday; next up in his January residency is a program of Baroque masterpieces by Vivaldi and Handel Jan 27-29 (more information at cso.org).

Banowski is a lifelong Chicagoan, also from Uptown. His planned retirement from a career selling janitorial supplies, primarily to clients in the restaurant industry, coincidentally lined up with the onset of the pandemic. Banowski showed up to work on March 12, 2020, the day Gov. Pritzker announced that large venues must close immediately. House manager Charles Braico gathered the team to let them know Symphony Center was shutting down; they then dispersed to share the news with arriving patrons who hadnt yet heard.

Chester Banowski, an usher at Chicago Symphony Center, checks audience members' vaccination cards and identification inside the lobby of the Chicago Symphony Center prior to a performance on Dec. 9, 2021. (Victor Hilitski / Chicago Tribune)

A people person, Banowski jumped at the chance to get back to work as soon as possible. He was part of a reduced front of house staff to return in May 2021, when Symphony Center reopened for limited capacity performances. In the 2,500-seat Orchestra Hall, attendance was capped at 398. Summer concerts were brief by classical music standards, and held without intermission to avoid bottlenecks in the lobbies.

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I love people, I love the music, and I was able to invite our guests back to something that they really love also, Banowski said.

As the pandemic wears on, Banowski and Mraz primary role is at the front doors checking vaccine cards, at a rate of about 250 cards a night. Effective Jan. 3, proof of vaccination is now required of all patrons. (Those with medical exemptions must bring documentation.)

Im the first person patrons see when they arrive, Mraz said. Ive always enjoyed welcoming people  whether or not they can see it with my mask on. I have an opportunity to tell them how lucky they are to be here.

These front-line performing arts workers say patrons are more than willing to oblige by the rules, particularly when the alternative is watching shows on your laptop. In one of his very first shifts of the fall season, as Banowski was checking a womans vaccine card, she knelt to kiss the ground. This is how much people love the place, he said.

Mraz and Banowski both said they routinely receive thanks for the CSOs rigorous protocols, which reassures orchestra-goers of all ages  including them. I wasnt about to let (the pandemic) totally change my life, said Banowski. The environment is safe. We are there to greet the patrons and take care of whatever their needs are. Its what I love to do.
Pakistan has yet again emerged as a terror-sponsoring country after the high-intensity Texas synagogue hostage situation last week. Malik Faisal Akram, 44, took four people hostage at a synagogue in the US state of Texas and had sought the release of Pakistani Scientist Aafia Siddiqui who was serving sentence in US prison. Akram was later killed on Sunday following a tense standoff. US President Joe Biden termed this incident as an "act of terror". Interestingly, Siddiqui's case continues to draw attention ever since she was arrested in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni in 2008 under plans to attack US cities. Most Americans are unaware of Siddiqui's case, but militant groups have been seeking her release and using the case to gain more recruits, Voice of America (VOA) reported. The conviction of Siddiqui in 2010 had sparked outrage in Pakistan. Later, the Pakistani Senate had passed a resolution in 2018, calling her "Daughter of the Nation" and had urged the government to take "concrete steps" for her repatriation. The demand was also part of Imran Khan's Election Manifesto, according to Al Jazeera. After assuming office, Khan went on to mention Siddiqui's name on several occasions, calling for her release. Writing for The Times of Israel, President of CPFA (Center of Political and Foreign Affairs) Fabien Baussart argued that the state can generally not be held responsible for the actions of individuals but in Pakistan's case, the decades of efforts of the state to build a society centered on a religio-political identity beg the question of accountability of the state for its regressive narratives. "Unless the Pakistani state is held accountable for fomenting extremism and terrorism worldwide, innocent people throughout the world will continue to pay the price for such blatant encouragement to Islamic extremism," he said. Baussart stated that the international terrorism financing and money laundering watchdog FATF has kept Pakistan on its "Grey List" since 2018 in an obvious effort to force the country to mend its ways. "However, instead of making any fundamental change in its strategy of using terrorism for political objectives, Islamabad has complied in a perfunctory manner to the FATF's requirements." Making a case for retaining Pakistan in the Grey list, the expert highlighted how Pakistan's prosecution regime has repeatedly failed to convince its own judiciary against some of the most dreaded terrorists resulting in overturning by the higher judiciary of hastily obtained convictions in "special" courts to fool the FATF. "Be it in the case of killers of Daniel Pearl or, more recently, Lashkar-e-Toiba accused Abdul Rehman Makki, the High Courts of Sindh and Lahore, respectively, found the prosecution's cases obviously shoddy. It is up to the FATF to decide whether these have been deliberately left shoddy or the prosecution regime still does not meet the standards expected by the august body," he argued. (ANI)
China will seek to use Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which comes under the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, as a military base, according to an expert. In an interview with Junaid Qureshi, Director of European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), Professor Matthew McCartney, an economics scholar at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS), talked about the various issues related to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in general and its flagship project, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in particular. He said it is inevitable that China would at some point "seek to use the port in Gwadar as a military base to ensure the steady influx of foreign resources, but China is a very pragmatic country and would be careful of any premature militarization of the port as that would result in widespread antagonization." In 2015, China announced an economic project in Pakistan worth USD 46 billion. With the CPEC, Beijing aims to expand its influence in Pakistan and across Central and South Asia in order to counter the influence of the United States and India. The CPEC would link Pakistan's southern Gwadar port (626 kilometres west of Karachi) in Balochistan on the Arabian Sea to China's western Xinjiang region. It also includes plans to create road, rail, and oil pipeline links to improve connectivity between China and the Middle East. Talking about his new book 'The Dragon from the Mountains: The CPEC from Kashgar to Gwadar', McCartney outlined that his work focused on the long-term economic development impact the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would have on Pakistan. The book's findings indicate that the truth lies somewhere in the middle: CPEC will probably benefit Pakistan, but according to Prof. McCartney, CPEC will not be an economic 'game changer' as it will not substantially change Pakistan's growth-, investment- and employment rates. To sustain higher growth levels, Professor McCartney argued, Pakistan would require additional foreign investments on top of the CPEC loans. Meanwhile, last year in December, Pakistan's National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf, had refuted the reports that Pakistan has offered a military base to China in the port city of Gwadar amid security concerns in the region. This statement came after a report had stated that China is secretly building a high-security compound near Gwadar Port in Balochistan province which it will probably use for a naval base. (ANI)
Moscow [Russia], January 18 (ANI/Sputnik): Forty aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have brought home from Kazakhstan Russian peacekeepers from the Collective Security Treaty Organization's forces over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. "Forty aircraft of the military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces delivered Russian peacekeepers from the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces from the Republic of Kazakhstan to military airfields in the Moscow and Ulyanovsk regions over the past day," the ministry said. Mass protests in Kazakhstan began in the early days of 2022 - residents of the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the west of the country opposed a twofold increase in prices for liquefied gas. Later, protests spread to other cities, including Almaty, the republic's largest city: looting began there, militants attacked state institutions and took weapons. In response, the authorities declared a state of emergency across the country until January 19 and launched a counter-terrorism operation. In the morning of January 5, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed the government and led the country's Security Council. At the first meeting of the Security Council under his leadership, Tokayev described the situation in Kazakhstan as one undermining the integrity of the state and said he had asked the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for assistance "in overcoming the terrorist threat." (ANI/Sputnik)
Moscow [Russia], January 18 (ANI/Sputnik): The Russian Embassy in Kiev is working as usual, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. "The Russian Embassy in Kiev is working as per normal," the ministry told reporters. The New York Times reported on Monday, citing a senior Ukrainian security official, that Russia was going to evacuate diplomats from Ukraine. According to the official, Russia began "thinning out" its embassy in Kiev on January 5. Allegedly 18 individuals, mostly including children and spouses of Russian diplomats, boarded buses heading to Russia. The US official added that over the next few days they were followed by about 30 more people from Russian embassy in Kiev and consulate in Lviv. The exact number of diplomats among the alleged evacuees is unknown. He also claimed that diplomats at two other Russian consulates were instructed to leave Ukraine as well. Tensions around Ukraine intensified over the past several months after Russia was accused of building up troops near the Ukrainian border, allegedly preparing for an invasion. Moscow has denied the accusations, pointing to NATO's military activity near Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Russia says it has the right to move forces within its own territory. In December, Russia presented its draft proposals on security guarantees to the United States and NATO. On January 10, Russia and the US held a round of the strategic stability dialogue in Geneva. On Wednesday, the first NATO-Russia Council meeting since 2019 took place at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The meeting was followed by Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe talks in Vienna. (ANI/Sputnik)
India's through its welfare programs and economic reforms is empowering the people and creating a favourable ecosystem for business start-ups leading to increase in foreign investment, according to a media report published in a Saudi newspaper. The Indian government is pursuing its economic growth and reforms strategy with a human face, Saudi Gazette reported. "Although present government has been able to improve on many economic parameters including "Ease of Doing Business" and creating a favourable ecosystem for business start-ups leading to increase in foreign investment, it remains firmly committed to raise the living standards of the poor and the deprived section through several welfare programs including housing schemes," Saudi Gazette reported. The report further added that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is one such program, which has made remarkable difference to the lives of the poor and deprived. The main objective of the PMAY is to help the poor in both rural and urban areas in owning affordable houses which is not only a life time dream, but also an "entitlement" to borrow from Amartya Sen and Abhijit Mukherjee, both Indian Nobel Laureates, that empowers the poor and deprived apart from improving their living condition, social status and self esteem. With the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the growth of the scheme in the last 6 years, the government has been able to reach the poor on a scale that was never seen before. PMAY aims to provide "Housing for All by 2022". The report noted that the present Indian government is firmly committed to welfare programs knowing that automatic "trickle down" of growth is very slow and it needs direct intervention.In addition to the increased subsidy for house construction, government is planning to harness PPP model for housing ventures as well, the report said. Most importantly, significant progress has been made for rehabilitating slum dwellers with the help of private developers and by redeveloping the erstwhile slum areas into a more hospitable place of living. The newspaper said that Indian government has resorted to digital technology for mandatory geo-tagging of house plots at the time of listing, application and assistance. Government has also framed transparent rules. Upon approval, the first installment of payment shall be credited to the bank account of the applicant within 7 days of such approval. According to Saudi Gazette, India today is the front runner among the emerging economies in terms of economic reforms and good governance. The Indian economy has managed post-COVID economic recovery better than all the big emerging and advanced economies, the report added. Furthermore, it stated that the International Monetary Fund's latest 'World Economic Outlook' has forecast an economic growth of 9.5 per cent and 8.5 per cent for India in FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23 respectively, keeping it ahead of China in both the fiscal years. The double digit economic growth, which the Prime Minister of India aims at for full employment and raising living standard of the people of India, seems within the range of possibility, according to the Saudi newspaper. However, while the economy is poised to tread on a high growth path, the present government is pursuing its welfare programs more assiduously to make growth more equitable. (ANI)
Amid the unabated spread of COVID-19 spread across the country, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Tuesday warned that the next two to three weeks could be critical for the country. This warning comes as Pakistan has detected 5,034 new COVID-19 cases, up 16 percent from Monday, marking the highest daily caseload since August 8, The News International newspaper reported. An alarming rate of COVID-19 positivity rate in the city of Karachi has sent ripples through the medical fraternity in the country. Witnessing this record spike, the PMA urged the Pakistani government to act quickly after Karachi's COVID-19 positivity rate reached 40 percent. This number only showed registered coronavirus cases, however, the number of unregistered cases is much higher, it added. This latest surge in virus cases is said to have been caused by the fifth wave of COVID-19, which would touch peak in the middle of March, according to the Dawn newspaper. The health department on Monday had said about 95pc of the reported cases were of the Omicron variant. The authorities have expressed concern over the spike in infections among doctors, nurses, and paramedics. "It would not be less than 500, I think," a senior official was quoted by Dawn. "There are doctors, paramedics, and even administrative staff of different public and private hospitals. Most of them are at their homes. This is all we have witnessed within a week or 10 days." The Pakistani newspaper said the situation has compelled the medical fraternity to raise an alarm and make calls for immediate steps from the government and also from society. Pakistan has so far recorded over 13 lakh confirmed infections of COVID-19. The south Asian country has also recorded nearly 30,000 deaths due to the virus. (ANI)
Netanyahu told his defense team to continue negotiations with Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit to reach a deal before the end of the latter's term at the end of January, Xinhua news agency quoted the report by state-owned Kan TV news as saying on Monday.

Mandelblit's office and the Justice Ministry have not immediately confirmed the move.

A deal could see Netanyahu plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for receiving community service instead of a prison sentence in his criminal trial.

According to Kan, there are still major differences between Netanyahu's lawyers and Mandelblit's office, mainly over the former leader's demand to avoid a conviction carrying a "moral turpitude", which under Israeli law will force him to quit politics for seven years.

Netanyahu, 72, was ousted in June, 2021 by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's cross-partisan coalition government after 12 consecutive years in power.

He is now the opposition leader and the chairman of the right-wing Likud party.

The longest serving Israeli Prime Minister faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases.

Netanyahu has denied all the allegations and claims the trial is part of "a witch hunt".

--IANS ksk/

( 223 Words)

2022-01-18-09:24:05 (IANS)
Amid China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and France will hold security talks virtually on Thursday. The Indo-Pacific region, where China's rise has stoked concern among many countries, is expected to top the agenda for the talks between both sides, Kyodo News reported. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday said that the two countries share fundamental values and strategic interests and will promote their security collaboration during the online "two-plus-two" meeting, after the French Defense Ministry announced its schedule on Monday. Hayashi said that he and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi will discuss a variety of topics including recent regional affairs in the first such talks since January 2019 with their respective French counterparts Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly, the Japanese news agency reported. The countries had initially planned to hold an in-person two-plus-two meeting in Japan by the end of 2021 but put it off due to the coronavirus pandemic, lately fueled by the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. They have generally taken turns hosting such talks since their first session in 2014. Japan has been boosting defense cooperation with European countries, including Britain and Germany, as China increasingly flexes its military muscle and steps up its territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region, Kyodo News reported. It further reported that France, which has overseas territories in the region such as New Caledonia, released its Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018 to promote a stable and rules-based order. Meanwhile, French troops last year for the first time carried out joint exercises with Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the United States on Japanese soil aimed at defending remote islands. France is hoping to launch talks with Japan on a defense cooperation agreement to allow the easing of restrictions on the transportation of weapons and supplies for joint training and disaster relief operations, Kyodo News reported. (ANI)
Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist serving more than 80-years sentence in the US, has once again come to the limelight after her release was sought by the British hostage-taker at a Texas synagogue last week. Aafia Siddiqui, also known as "Lady al-Qaida" is a Pakistani national who was convicted in 2010 by a New York City Federal Court of attempting to kill US military personnel. She is currently serving an 86-year sentence at Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. Siddiqui tried to kill US agents and military officers in Afghanistan. Siddiqui was in news in 2018 when there were reports about a "deal" between Islamabad and Washington DC to swap physician Dr Shakeel Afridi who aided the US to track down former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011 with Aafia Siddiqui. At 18, Aafia Siddiqui went to the US to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. She then earned a doctorate in neuroscience from Brandeis University near Boston. However, after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, she was spotted by the US authorities for her donations to Islamic organizations. The United States suspects that she joined al-Qaeda from America, then returned to Pakistan where she married a family member of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks. Media reports say that she mysteriously disappeared around 2003, in the city of Karachi. Five years later, she was found in Afghanistan, where she was arrested by local forces in Ghazni province. Interestingly, Siddiqui's case continues to draw attention ever since she was arrested in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni in 2008 under plans to attack US cities. Most Americans are unaware of Siddiqui's case, but militant groups have been seeking her release and using the case to gain more recruits, Voice of America (VOA) reported. The conviction of Siddiqui in 2010 had sparked outrage in Pakistan. Later, the Pakistani Senate had passed a resolution in 2018, calling her "Daughter of the Nation" and had urged the government to take "concrete steps" for her repatriation. The demand was also part of Imran Khan's Election Manifesto, according to Al Jazeera. After assuming office, Khan went on to mention Siddiqui's name on several occasions, calling for her release. (ANI)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was and continues to be one of the pioneering countries in the fields of climate action, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, during the opening ceremony of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) -- the global platform for accelerating sustainability hosted by Masdar. The ADSW summit is being convened amidst presence of more than 80 global leaders, including heads of state, policy makers, and international business leaders, as the United Arab Emirates aims to take the agenda global sustainability forward and accelerate pathways to net zero. The opening event was also attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The Prime Minister on Monday welcomed the leaders and experts meeting in the UAE to discuss issues related to sustainability and intensify collaborative efforts to find solutions for moving the world towards a more sustainable future. Highlighting the importance of ADSW, the first global gathering of its kind after COP26, Sheikh Mohammed said: "Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week lays a pathway for COP28 when the UAE will welcome the world in 2023. The continued success of ADSW, which every year sets the sustainability agenda for the year to come, fully reflects our nation's leadership in the field of climate action. "This year's convening of ADSW as part of Expo 2020 Dubai provides an opportunity for the convergence of global expertise to stimulate constructive dialogue and push efforts towards implementing innovative solutions. "The UAE, guided by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was and continues to be one of the pioneering countries in the fields of climate action, energy transformation and the adoption of renewable energy as a solution for addressing environmental issues and their impact on people's lives and the health of the planet. The UAE has continued to express this commitment by developing a group of the world's largest and most innovative clean energy projects. "These efforts culminated in the launch of the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, which reflects our commitment to create a future free of emissions." The opening ceremony, held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai, was also attended by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and a number of senior officials. The opening ceremony began with the UAE national anthem followed by a short film centred on international cooperation to confront global challenges, especially those related to climate change and sustainable development. South Korean President Moon Jae-in thanked the UAE for welcoming him to the country and inviting him to participate in the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. In his keynote speech, he said: "As the first event of its kind since COP26, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a kick start to carbon neutrality this year, offering strength through unity. This event holds great significance with the UAE hosting COP28 in 2023 -- a milestone for the country's journey over the next 50 years. "The UAE is a powerhouse of sustainable development for the Middle East and beyond, with pathways showing the way for the rest of the world." The objectives of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week are in line with the 'Principles of the 50', the 10 principles that represent the UAE's strategic path in a new era and reflect the country's vision and determination to promote development efforts in various economic, political and social fields. As one of the largest gatherings concerned with discussing sustainability issues, ADSW provides a global platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange, investment and innovation, as it attracts more than 45,000 participants annually representing more than 170 countries and hosts nearly 1,000 international companies. --IANS vg/ksk/ ( 681 Words) 2022-01-18-10:06:01 (IANS)
D.J. Carusos historical drama/romance/morality play Redeeming Love opens with the Shakespeare quote all that glitters is not gold, and a pair of hands thrusting a pan into a river, searching for treasure. It sets the time and place in Gold Rush-era California, in the town of Pair-a-Dice circa 1850, but the quotation has no bearing on the tale that unfolds over the next two hours, based on the smash hit 1991 novel by Francine Rivers. There may be gold in them thar hills, but Redeeming Love doesnt yield any cinematic riches.

Our heroine in need of redeeming is Angel (Abigail Cowen), a sex worker and the hottest ticket in Pair-a-Dice, her time raffled off by the Duchess (Famke Janssen) to a frothing mob of men that gathers daily in front of the Palace brothel. As a child, Angel was trafficked into sex work by a smooth pimp named Duke (Eric Dane) after the death of her destitute mother (Nina Dobrev), who seems to waste away from shame after she and her daughter are rejected by Angels father, who is married to another woman. For her part, Angel doesnt seem to mind her life in Pair-a-Dice all that much, though a knight in dusty denim will soon shake things up.

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Her redeemer is Michael (Tom Lewis), a folksy farmer who prays for a wife who likes to go fishing. When he lays eyes on Angel, he chuckles that God has a sense of humor, as his heaven-sent intended wife is the highest-priced sex worker in town. Nevertheless, he persists, much to Angels chagrin, showing up to chat as often as he can afford.

Abigail Cowen as Angel and Tom Lewis as Michael Hosea in "Redeeming Love." (Universal/Nthibah/Mission/Pinnacle Peak)

One could look at the plot of this film from two different perspectives, one Pollyannaish, the other deeply cynical. The filmmakers behind Redeeming Love want the audience to see Michael as a faithful farmer who falls in love at first sight with a local sex worker and rescues her from her life of exploitation, marrying her and bringing her to his farm and teaching her what it means to be loved, always offering forgiveness when she strays. On the other hand, one could see Michael as an isolated religious zealot who believes he receives a message from God that a local sex worker is intended to be his wife, spurring him to kidnap her from the brothel while shes in a weakened state, pressing her into a life of wifely duties though she attempts repeatedly to escape.

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Every female character in Redeeming Love is a wife, a sex worker or dead, and the story lacks any imagination to envision a womans redemption (if she even needs that) outside of a hetero-patriarchal family structure, arguing that what women need is for men to carry them off to the country to save them from themselves with some fresh air and brisk housework. It begs the question, why adapt this source material now? Dig too deep and we might not like the answer.

Stuck in this largely infantilized role, Cowen imbues Angel with as much verve and spunk as she can; shes often funnier and darker than necessary, offering a refreshing dash of acid to temper the sickly sweetness. But its so hard to shake the lingering icky feelings about this text, which plays like tradwife fan fiction, the 19th-century setting protecting the story from the pesky womens lib movement, which would suggest that Angel have her own autonomy, that she might be redeemed by her own self-love. However, such radical concepts have no purchase here.

Redeeming Love  1.5 stars (out of 4)

MPAA rating: PG-13 (for mature thematic content, sexual content, partial nudity, and strong violent content)

Running time: 2:14

Where to watch: In theaters Jan. 21
Widodo said the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR is generally progressing smoothly regardless of difficulties such as the complex geological conditions and the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is hoped that the whole project will be put into operation in June 2023, reports Xinhua news agency.

He hopes that all construction parties would jointly promote the construction with high quality, and show the achievements and cooperation between Indonesia and China to the world during the G20 summit later this year.

This is the second time that President Widodo has inspected the Jakarta-Bandung HSR.

The No. 2 Tunnel is a single-hole and double-track tunnel with a total length of 1,052 metres, of which about 70 per cent have been excavated.

The construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR started in June 2018, and 91.2 per cent of the civil works have been completed.

The station building and track laying are progressing steadily, with 30 of the 38 continuous beams in the whole alignment having been closed and 10 of the 13 tunnels completed.

With a design speed of 350 km per hour, the railway will cut the journey between Jakarta and Bandung, capital of West Java province, from more than three hours to around 40 minutes.

--IANS ksk/

( 237 Words)

2022-01-18-10:14:04 (IANS)
The two ministers held a telephone conversation on Thursday last week during which they also discussed the situation in Myanmar, the statement said.

"Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work together in strengthening ASEAN centrality, unity and resilience while addressing common challenges and shared goals, thereby enhancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond," the statement said.

Regarding Myanmar's situation, Sokhonn, who is also a deputy prime minister, briefed Balakrishnan on the outcomes of the recent visit by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen to Myanmar, it said, noting that the visit represented an important step to pave the way for an inclusive dialogue among all parties concerned on the Myanmar issue.

"He (Hun Sen) emphasized that Cambodia shares the same aspiration with other ASEAN member states and the international community which is to help Myanmar to achieve durable peace and reconciliation," the statement said.

The statement said the two ministers looked forward to the convening of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, which will be the first major meeting among the 10 member states under Cambodia's ASEAN chairmanship for 2022.

Established in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (ANI/Xinhua)
Taking to Twitter, the High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka said, "A friend holds out a helping hand again!!! Energizing bilateral economic partnership,#India offers a credit line of USD 500 mn to Sri Lanka for the purchase of petroleum products. Critical support by India follows a discussion between EAM @DrSJaishankar &Hon'ble Fin Minister @RealBRajapaksa. India extended forex support of USD 900 million was earlier this month. "

As per the statement by MEA, the two Ministers agreed to remain in close touch for guiding mutually beneficial bilateral economic cooperation towards long-term economic partnership for shared progress and prosperity. (ANI)
Opposition senators in Pakistan on Tuesday questioned the government over the militarization of civil institutions and debated over retired military officers holding key positions in the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) and other state organisations on Tuesday. They asked why the government had rehired military officers in civil institutions at a time when the youth of Pakistan are wandering around jobless. Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed previously on December 29 complained and asked the government to provide the number of ex-military men rehired in Nadra. However, instead of providing the number the authority just said that it has 13,997 employees in total, reported Dawn. "I asked this question because unemployment in Pakistan has surged, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The youth are not getting employment and on the other hand, we are specifically recruiting retired personnel of the armed forces in good positions," the Senator said. Furthermore, Senator Ahmed said, "Why don't you [admit] that you have hired dozens of retired armed forces personnel and you don't want to take their names in the House?" PPP Senator Raza Rabbani also rebuked the government for not answering the questions which are raised in the parliament. He said that Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid was "probably the minister in charge of answering this question". "A strange tradition has been set here that apart from one or two federal ministers no one else comes to the parliament to answer questions. This is a matter of the Senate's honour," he said, reported the newspaper. The Senator railed against the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and said, "You have hired dozens and more personnel of the army, air force and navy in very prestigious positions in Nadra. The whole Nadra is in their (armed forces') control and our youth are wandering around jobless. "Why don't you want to take their names and give their details in the House? What is so difficult about it? Why are you misleading the House," the Senator asked. Senator Rabbani asked the minister to confirm or deny whether the individuals holding the positions such as Director general of Anti-Narcotics force, Director of Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, Chairman of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority were from armed forces or not. Notably, in terms of unemployment, of 22 million Pakistanis, 15 million are under 30 years of age and being jobless they are unable to contribute to the country's growth. It can be gauged from the fact that in 2020, the joblessness rate in Pakistan was 4.65 per cent which is 0.67 per cent higher than in 2019, The News International reported. (ANI)
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, the Punjab education minister said that private schools' uniforms should be revised, according to Geo TV.

Further, he directed schools to provide male students with caps and female students with dupattas or scarves with their uniforms.

Additionally, the provincial education minister stated that there are over 30,000 vacancies for teachers in Punjab schools and would be filled soon.

According to Murad Raas, no decision has been made to close educational institutions as a result of COVID-19 as yet. Educational institutions will also remain open until other departments are closed, according to Geo TV.

Murad Raas said no decision had been made yet on closing schools and other educational institutions in the province. .

"The government has recommended cutting down the attendance to 50 per cent of students who are under 12 years old. He highlighted that a majority of students had already been inoculated," he said. (ANI)
He also stressed that inmates' basic needs should be met and that they should receive fair trials, reports Xinhua news agency.

Al-Gatrani made the remarks during a meeting with Minister of Justice Halima Abdurrahman, in which they discussed efforts to "increase the capabilities of its institutions, mainly the judicial police and correction and rehabilitation facilities," according to a statement issued by the government's information office.

--IANS ksk/

( 97 Words)

2022-01-18-11:24:01 (IANS)
Moscow [Russia], January 18 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia will deploy 12 aircraft, two missile defense divisions and one missile and gun systems division to Belarus as part of the two-stage test of the response forces of the Union State between the two nations, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said on Tuesday. "As part of checking the functioning of the unified air defense system of the Union State, 12 Su-35s will be relocated to Belarusian territory, two divisions of the S-400 missile defense system, as well as the Pantsir-S missile and gun system battalion," Fomin told foreign military diplomats during a briefing. Fomin noted that the number of participants in the exercise, as well as the number of major weapons systems, do not exceed the parameters defined by the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence and Security Building Measures. On Monday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus said that it would conduct a surprise inspection of forces and means of reaction of the Union State together with Russia. According to the Belarussian military, the first stage of the tests will last until February 9 after which, the two countries will hold joint military drills that will last from February 10-20, during which the military will practice strengthening sections of the state border. (ANI/Sputnik)
Pakistan as it faces increased economic pressure may be forced to seek a new International Monetary Fund loan (IMF) to meet its gross financial needs. Pakistan's gross financing requirements are estimated to go up to USD 30 billion in the next budget for 2022-23, leaving no other options for the Imran Khan government but to seek a fresh IMF loan after the expiry of the existing programme in September 2022, according to News International. If Islamabad manages successfully to revive the existing stalled programme of USD 6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the IMF after completion of the sixth review, then two more reviews seventh and eighth would be required to be accomplished till September 2022 for qualifying to complete the 39-month EFF programme, according to News International. Meanwhile, Pakistan's federal cabinet recently approved its National Security Policy, which advises refraining from getting loans from the IMF and other multilateral creditors. Further, Islamabad could only avoid seeking the IMF loan, provided the country manages to boost up non-debt creating dollar inflows through raising Pakistan-made ups exports, remittances, and foreign direct investment (FDI) in a substantial manner. The policy of restricting imports does not provide permanent solutions, mainly because Islamabad had to rely heavily on imports on account of getting raw material to increase the exports, according to a World Bank report. The IMF has assessed that Pakistan's gross financing requirement will be standing at USD 28 billion in the next fiscal year 2022-23 but keeping in view the higher current account deficit projections, it is expected that the overall external financing requirement will cross USD 30 billion mark in the next fiscal year. The Pakistani authorities will need a serious plan that how this kind of elevated foreign financing requirement will be met as the IMF programme comes to an end in September 2022, according to News International. (ANI)
A day after two Indian nationals were killed in the explosions in Abu Dhabi, External Affairs Miniser Dr S Jaishankar expressed solidarity with the UAE in face of such "unacceptable" acts in a phone call with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar informed that Indian embassy is working with UAE authorities to provide the fullest support to families of the deceased. The UAE Foreign Minister expressed condolences for the Indian lives lost in the terror attack in UAE yesterday. "Deeply appreciate receiving a call from UAE FM @ABZayed. He expressed condolences for the Indian lives lost in the terror attack in UAE yesterday. Conveyed our strong solidarity with UAE in face of such unacceptable acts," Jaishankar tweeted. "Our Embassy is working with UAE authorities to provide the fullest support to families of the deceased," he added. The two Indians and one Pakistani national were killed and at least six persons were injured as three petroleum tanker trucks blew up after catching fire near a major oil storage facility in the Mussafah area of the capital of UAE, according to the official state news agency WAM. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday condemned the Houthi attack in the capital Abu Dhabi that killed three civilians, including two Indians. "We condemn the Houthi militia's targeting of civilian areas and facilities on UAE soil. We reiterate that those responsible for this unlawful targeting of our country will be held accountable," Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement. Nahyan stated that the UAE reserves the right to respond to the terrorist attacks and criminal escalation, describing them as crimes committed in flagrant violation of international law. The ministry said that the terrorist militia has carried out a cowardly act to spread terrorism and chaos in the region in order to achieve its illegal aims and objectives. It called on the international community to strongly condemn and denounce these terrorist acts that target civilians and civilian facilities. (ANI)
India will host five events in 2022 as decided in the 15th meeting of the BRICS Science Technology Innovation (STI) Steering Committee held on January 17, the Union Science and Technology Ministry said on Tuesday. The five events that will be hosted by India are BRICS Startups Forum meeting, Working Groups meetings on Energy; Biotechnology & Biomedicine; ICT & High-Performance Computing; STIEP (Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Partnership) Working Group Meeting and the launching of BRICS innovation Launchpad as a microsite( Knowledge Hub). The BRICS STI Steering Committee meeting was attended by representatives from BRICS scientific ministries, foreign missions. From the Indian side, the meeting was led by Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Advisor and Head International Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology. The Calendar of BRICS STI activities was discussed at the meeting organized virtually. Furthermore, India has successfully handed over the BRICS Chairmanship to China from January 2022. The theme for BRICS 2022 is "Foster High-Quality BRICS Partnership Usher in a New Era for Global Development". Notably, a series of sectoral events and meetings, including Minister level and BRICS Summit, will be organized during the year. During the meeting organized virtually, the Chinese side presented a broad outline of activities to be carried out during the whole year. It mainly includes thematic meetings, BRICS Young Scientist Conclave, Senior official, and Ministerial level meetings. A total of 25 events have been planned, of which India will host a total of five. Also, DPIIT is the main executing agency for BRICS startups Forum and the creation of innovation Knowledge Hub. The BRICS Young Scientist Conclave will be held in September 2022 in a virtual format, and the thematic focus may be Carbon peak neutralization; Biomedicine, Artificial Intelligence, Material Science; Modern Agriculture, said the press release. China has proposed to host the 10th BRICS S&T Ministerial meeting and Senior Official Meeting in September 2022. The meeting theme would promote Open, Inclusive, and Shared Science, Technology, and Innovation. At the sideline of the Ministerial meeting, an exhibition will be organized showcasing outcomes of successful projects supported under the BRICS Framework Programme( 2015-2022). The meeting also discussed the finalization of BRICS Calendar of scientific events and programs. It was agreed that by the end of this month, all countries will notify the specific dates, venue, and format of the meeting. India tentatively indicated a willingness to host the STIEP working group meeting on 23rd - 24th March 2022 and BRICS Startups Forum Meeting in May/June 2022. (ANI)
Post Malone is the sort of megawatt success story that for proper assessment requires a bit of distance. Thats because despite it taking him several years to become one of the most popular musicians in the country, the rapper-cum-pop stars climb this past year to the highest levels of the music industry has been so intense and eye-popping youd be forgiven for thinking his was an overnight success story.

Truth is, since breaking out with 2015s viral club banger White Iverson, the musician born Austin Post, 22, who plays Northerly Island on Tuesday, and saw his recent No. 1 album beerbongs & bentleys notch record-breaking numbers on the streaming charts in its debut week, has been steadily building toward his current moment of pop ubiquity.

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On the heels of Iverson, the slurry-voiced crooner toured with Justin Bieber, landed two Top 10 singles last year with Congratulations and the No. 1 Rockstar before promptly following it up in 2018 with another massive hit in the Ty Dolla $ign-featuring Psycho. Yes, this scraggly bearded goofball who once admitted Guitar Hero first inspired him to pick up the six-string is one of the biggest stars in music.

Not surprisingly, until recently the critical establishment had mostly given Malone the cold shoulder. But as The Ringer staff writer Lindsay Zoladz says, hes so popular right now that you cant ignore him. Her recent essay on Malone was titled The Empty Calories of Post Malones Beer Bro Rap, and, as you might imagine, was rarely complimentary. But, she says, as a pop critic I feel a responsibility to cover whatevers popular.

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The logical question then is: Why exactly is Post Malone so popular? Those the Tribune spoke with each had their own theory, but the consensus was that his sparse, chilly and pop-hook laden music is at its core a more palatable version of current trends in hip-hop. (Per his representatives, Malone was unavailable for comment). At its core, Malones sound is a more pop-friendly spin on the trap sound first popularized by Southern rappers like Gucci Mane that recently exploded in the mainstream thanks to the likes of Migos and Rae Sremmurd and is being perpetually reinvented in new and thrilling ways by SoundCloud rappers including XXXTentacion and Smokepurpp. Hes packaging something thats a little bit more controversial and confrontational in a friendlier pop package, Zoladz says.

Some, like The Breakfast Club  radio personality and best-selling author of Black Privilege, Charlamagne tha God, feel when assessing Malones popularity additional factors must be taken into consideration. Every few years you get a Great White Hype, Charlamagne says of Malone being the latest white rapper to find massive commercial success. Charlamagne cites MCs including Macklemore and Iggy Azalea as recent examples of a white rapper reaching the highest levels of hip-hop stardom. He has no problem with Malones success but only feels its important to clarify what youre embracing.

In Malones case, Charlamagne offers, its co-signing a vibe and a sonic aesthetic more than lyrical content. I think Post Malone makes great records, but I dont think hes a good rapper at all, Charlamagne says. When youre looking for good lyrics you turn to Kendrick Lamar, you turn to J Cole, you turn to Wale, you turn to Chance the Rapper, you turn to Rapsody. You dont turn to Post Malone.

That Malone is outperforming some of the artists who directly inspired his music, Zoladz says, points to the privilege his background affords him. Malone, she argues, is able to assume the rap idiom and the identity of a rapper when it suits him and then to distance himself when appropriate. Case in point: Hes one of the most successful hip-hop artists right now, but in a video interview with a Polish beer website while on his 2017 European tour, he said, if youre looking for lyrics, if youre looking to cry, if youre looking to think about life, dont listen to hip-hop.

Not surprisingly, that doesnt sit well with Charlamagne. You need to shut up forever when you say things like that, he says. Malones success, he says, is because of hip-hop. At the end of the day know youre a hip-hop star.

Musical inclination or self-perception notwithstanding, Malones success on streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify is undeniable: Before beerbongs and bentleys ever arrived hed already notched more than 1 billion streams across all streaming platforms. Its why Beats 1 DJ and Apple Music Creative Director Zane Lowe says he wasnt surprised when Malones new album exploded on streaming services.

The numbers do not lie, Lowe says. Bentleys was Malones first No. 1 LP on the Billboard 200  a metric now based on a combination of traditional sales and streams  so its not like hes some dude riding the EDM wave with three dance singles, adds Lowe. The guy is also racking up serious album sales.

For Charlamagne, the question now becomes: Will Malones success last? Many white rappers have a moment in the spotlight, he contends, but only a rare few have long careers. So if I was a white rapper, the bar for me would be Eminem, Charlamagne says. Of course his white skin helped him excel to heights that a lot of other rappers couldnt, but he still was talented. People gravitated towards him because of his skills. He stood the test of time.

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Dan Hyman is a freelance writer.

ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @chitribent

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Two more Italian regions moved to an upper pandemic risk level, as health authorities signalled the wave of Covid-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant might reach its peak soon. Small northwest Aosta Valley turned orange, and the southern region of Campania turned yellow on the base of a specific ordinance signed by Health Minister Roberto Speranza following the results of the latest pandemic monitoring survey, reports Xinhua news agency. This complied with the four-tiered system of red, orange, yellow, and white zones implemented in Italy since late 2020, which respectively denote a high, medium, lower-intermediate and low risk of virus transmission. Currently, one region is in orange, 14 regions in yellow, and five in white nationwide. Meanwhile, the Italian government said it might consider changing the way new Covid-19 cases are counted in the country, as several regional governors have lately asked. This request would imply a key change -- excluding people who test positive for Covid-19, but are vaccinated and asymptomatic, to the daily count of new cases. Speranza told reporters that technical talks to consider this request would be launched soon, and a working table with governors would be opened in the next two weeks. "The situation is not easy, and the number of infected people is still high, but hospital bed occupancy is lower (than in previous pandemic waves) thanks to the high vaccination rate. "As the World Health Organization has also noted, we are nearing the peak, after that, we will have to adjust our rules and our model to the new pandemic phase we are facing," he said. According to the epidemiological survey unveiled by the National Health Institute, the Omicron variant has accounted for some 81 per cent of Covid-19 cases detected in Italy in early January, while the previous variant, Delta, was detected in 19 per cent of cases. --IANS ksk/ ( 321 Words) 2022-01-18-13:12:05 (IANS)
Mawlawi clarified that the hole found in the fuselage of the aircraft belonging to Aegean Airlines was caused by a collision with a small drawbridge before the plane's landing at Beirut airport, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I received two foreign reports about the incident assuring that the hole was not caused by shooting or a terrorist attack and it has nothing to do with Beirut airport," Mawlawi said.

Last week, several media reports circulated about a Greek aircraft damaged by bullets or a terrorist attack while flying over Beirut airport.

Greek flag carrier Aegean Airlines has suspended all flights to Beirut to wait for the results of an investigation into the cause of damage to its plane.

--IANS ksk/

( 160 Words)

2022-01-18-13:18:02 (IANS)
Beijing aspires to convert its Nuclear Doctrine into a credible deterrence nuclear strategy, according to International Forum for Rights and Security. Further, US Department of Defense (DoD) appears convinced that China's projected nuclear build-up all through 2020-2021 looks excessive for securing a basic second-strike capability and suspects Beijing is having trouble deciding how much additional nuclear modernization is sufficient for acquiring a proper escalation management vis-a-vis Washington. The USDOD report titled 'Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2021', says China's military strategy remains based on the concept of "active defense." However, it also speculates if China could be concerned that the US emphasis on low-yield nuclear weapons in recent years indicates a lower threshold for nuclear use and could want to "de-escalate a nuclear conflict on its own terms by responding symmetrically or proportionately to limited US nuclear employment". The People's Liberation Army's evolving capabilities and concepts continue to strengthen China's ability to "fight and win wars" against a "strong enemy" [a likely euphemism for the United States], coerce Taiwan and rival claimants in territorial disputes, counter an intervention by a third party in a conflict along with the People Republic of China's periphery, and project power globally", as analyzed by US' DOD reports. Specifically, China might worry that Washington could conduct a limited nuclear attack on China while threatening a more massive nuclear attack should Beijing dare to retaliate with nuclear weapons. Given the US nuclear superiority, Chinese leaders might be reluctant to respond to such an attack. The report, while basing its analysis on current data, laments the unavailability of concrete signals from the Chinese leadership about the real objective behind its strategic nuclear expansion, according to International Forum for Rights and Security. The DoD report admits China views the US as a "competitor" and treats itself also as the lone competitor "capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system". (ANI)
Conveying India's strong solidarity with UAE after explosions in Abu Dhabi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that New Delhi will stand with the United Arab Emirates at international forums on the issue of terrorism. During a telephonic conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the EAM discussed the terror attack on UAE on Monday that killed two Indian nationals, according to a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs. As per the statement, the UAE Foreign Minister shared the details of the attack and conveyed the deepest condolences of the UAE Government on the death of two Indians. He assured that the UAE Government would extend the fullest support to the families of the deceased and country's authorities are in continuous touch with the Indian Embassy in that regard, the MEA said. On his part, Jaishankar condemned the terror attack in the strongest terms. He emphasised that in this day and age, such an attack on innocent civilians was completely unacceptable and against all civilized norms. EAM appreciated the immediate assistance provided by UAE authorities to the Embassy in responding to this tragic situation. He also conveyed India's strong solidarity with the UAE in the face of such an attack. Given its principled position against terrorism, India will stand with UAE in international forums on this issue. The MEA is in contact with the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi regarding the return to India of the mortal remains of the deceased, the statement read adding that the Embassy is coordinating with the families. (ANI)
As per the eyewitnesses, a local doctor, Jalali, was shot dead on the site. The incident occurred on the night of January 17, reported The Khaama Press.

The Taliban officials in Herat province have not commented yet in this connection.

In another incident last week, a 25-year-old girl, Zainab, in the western Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi, was shot dead at a check post manned by Taliban, when she, along with her family members, was on the way home back from a wedding function.

The father is asking for justice over the killing of her daughter and said that the culprits should be arrested, reported the news agency.

Since the Taliban took power on August 15 last year, the affiliates have shot civilians in Kabul and Laghman province.

The Taliban shot two ladies and a boy two days earlier, killing the boy and wounding the two women.

Furthermore, a girl and a kid were shot and killed by the Taliban in Kabul. (ANI)
NSA Moeed Yusuf was set to visit Kabul this week amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country, according to Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune.

Hundreds of Afghans were seen holding a march against Pakistan. They were also holding banners in which anti-Pakistan slogans were written.

Sensing massive anti-Pak sentiments, Moeed Yusuf took a decision against his scheduled visit which was planned at the backdrop of rising tensions between the country's Army and Taliban on the Durand Line.

This would have been the second high-level visit from Pakistan since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August last year, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

According to the Pakistani daily, a high-powered Pak delegation led by the Pak NSA would have been undertaken a two-day trip to Kabul today on directives of the country's Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The report said the delegation had been tasked to assess the on-ground situation.

This visit comes as several contentious issues have emerged between the two countries clashed including the border fencing issue which led to clashes at the Durand Line. (ANI)
India stressed on women's participation in public life and elimination of violence against them as a pre-requisite for promoting lasting peace around the world at United Nations Security Council open debate on "Women, Peace and Security." Addressing violence targeting women in peace and security processes, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti on Tuesday (local time) highlighted its firm supports for women's full, equal and meaningful participation in political processes and decision-making to promote an inclusive society. "India has today moved from a paradigm of women's development to women-led development," said Tirumurti. "In 2007, India created history by deploying the first-ever all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) for UN Peacekeeping in Liberia. This unit served in Liberia for a decade and through their work served as an example of how the deployment of more women uniformed personnel could help the UN in its efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse," added India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. India has more than 1.3 million elected women representatives at the grassroots level who have taken up leadership roles in their local communities. It even has all-women Panchayats, the village-level elected local bodies, at the grassroots level. Twenty Indian states have made provisions for 50 per cent reservation of total seats in legislative bodies at the local level for women. Giving an example of women's participation in India's freedom struggle, the Indian ambassador said that women were at the forefront in practically every aspect of the effort and paraphrased an eminent Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda and reiterated that just as a bird cannot fly with one wing, durable peace and development cannot be achieved without the other half being equally invested. In order to strengthen women's participation in peace and political process, and to eliminate discrimination and violence against women, Tirumurti highlighted the following points - Member States should identify and address barriers to women's meaningful participation in the prevention and resolution of conflict, and in post-conflict peace-building efforts and programs. "This requires devising a legislative and judicial framework, providing economic opportunities, undertaking institution and capacity building, ensuring accountability and checking impunity of those perpetrating violence against women," said Tirumurti. He also urged Member States to provide conducive environment for the participation and inclusion of women in political processes and decision-making. "In this context, we underline once again the importance of inclusive and representative governance in Afghanistan, with the meaningful participation of women in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2593 adopted on 30 August 2021, said Tirumurti. Along with political participation, the Indian ambassador stressed on socio-economic empowerment of women, including their access to credit, finance and technology. For example, a growing digital divide could have the potential to alienate women from the mainstream agenda. "Keeping this in mind, India has not only undertaken numerous citizen-centric digital initiatives but has also focused these services towards women to minimize the gender divide. We have opened online bank accounts for over 440 million people of which more than 55 per cent of account holders are women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative helped in direct benefit transfer to nearly 200 million women," added the Indian representative at UNSC. Emphasizing on terrorism and violent extremism that invariably targets women, he urged Member States to condemn violence against women and girls perpetrated by terrorists and said that Council should focus on the consequences of terrorism on the rights of women. Tirumurti further spotlighted the importance of women police officers and peacekeepers, who play an indispensable role in furthering Women Peace and Security agenda as they are better able to gain the trust of a large but marginalized section of society. "We, therefore, need more women in peacekeeping. India welcomes the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy to increase the number of women peacekeepers. We also support increasing the deployment of Women Protection Advisors for effective monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence in the fiel," said Tirumurti. He also highlighted that UN should provide support to Member States for institution and capacity building in post-conflict situations to address meaningfully and institutionally the inequalities and violence faced by women and to ensure their full participation in decision-making. Further, he urged media for a sincere, committed, non-discriminatory and collective effort to prevent women from online criminal acts. "News media, especially social media, has emerged as a platform increasingly being used by various actors, including terrorists, for amplifying discriminatory ideas and promoting violent radicalization. Women are often the victims of these online criminal acts. To counter it, we require a sincere, committed, non-discriminatory and collective effort through a whole of society approach," said Tirumurti. (ANI)
The Taliban on Tuesday urged Norway to take lead in recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). Deputy of the Prime Minister of IEA in economic affairs Maulaee Kabir met with the Norwegian ambassador to Kabul Andreas Linedman and expressed hope that Norway would recognize the interim government in Afghanistan, reported The Khaama Press. Citing Mulaee Kabir, Taliban spokesperson, Inamullah Samangani in a Twitter post said that they have completed the criteria for recognition. As per Inamulllah Samangani, "IEA has completed all the criteria for recognition and we hope that Norway will take the lead in recognizing them and will also do its part in releasing Afghanistan's assets." The Norwegian ambassador said though the country does not have an active embassy in Afghanistan, it is engaged in all incidents currently happening in Afghanistan, reported The Khaama Press. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian, and security crisis. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis. Meanwhile, the international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. It has been nearly six months after the Taliban recaptured power in Afghanistan but they have not been recognized by any country yet. Taliban, who are desperate to seek international recognition, and have time and again been reminded that respect for women and human rights, establishing inclusive government, not allowing Afghanistan to become a safe haven of terrorism are the preconditions for the recognition set by the international community. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have agreed to meet in Geneva on Friday amid the looming Ukraine crisis. The news of the meeting of the two leaders was confirmed by a senior US State Department official. Meanwhile, Blinken will also meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on January 19, the State Department announced on Tuesday. "Secretary Blinken will begin his trip in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on January 19 to reinforce the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Secretary will also meet with the employees and families of the US Embassy to communicate the Department's efforts to plan for contingencies, should Russia choose to escalate further," the statement said. On January 20, Blinken will travel to Berlin "to discuss recent diplomatic engagements with Russia and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including Allies' and partners' readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia," the statement continued. "The Secretary will meet with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, followed by a meeting with the Transatlantic Quad," it concluded. This will be the first high-level meeting between Russia and the United States since the diplomatic engagements last week, which failed to deliver breakthroughs on the situation at Ukraine's border where Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US leader Joe Biden held a telephonic dialogue to discuss escalating tensions over Ukraine Tensions around Ukraine intensified over the past several months after Russia was accused of building up troops near the Ukrainian border, allegedly preparing for an invasion. Moscow has denied the accusations, pointing to NATO's military activity near Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Russia says it has the right to move forces within its own territory. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation said that there was evidence pointing to Russia's alleged involvement in recent cyberattacks against the country's government websites. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said its website, as well as websites of some other government bodies, were unavailable because of a cyberattack. The Ukrainian Security Service and the National Police opened a criminal investigation into the attacks. The Ukrainian law enforcement agencies said Russian special services may have been involved. In December, Russia presented its draft proposals on security guarantees to the United States and NATO. On January 10, Russia and the US held a round of the strategic stability dialogue in Geneva. On Wednesday, the first NATO-Russia Council meeting since 2019 took place at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The meeting was followed by Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe talks in Vienna. (ANI)
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Tuesday (local time) condemned the terrorist attack in Abu Dhabi that killed three innocent civilians and targeted civilian infrastructure. "The Department of Defense joins me in strongly condemning yesterday's terrorist attack in Abu Dhabi that killed three innocent civilians and targeted civilian infrastructure. We remain committed to the UAE's security and ability to defend itself and stand united with our Emirati partners in defending against all threats to their territory," read Austin's statement. The two Indians and one Pakistani national were killed and at least six persons were injured on Monday as three petroleum tanker trucks blew up after catching fire near a major oil storage facility in the Mussafah area of the capital of UAE, according to the official state news agency WAM. (ANI)
"Then Pharrell gave me a good piece of wisdom. He told me, 'You're lucky to be in this situation. You're not the person who has to lie and steal from people, and you have the ability to move on.' He played this music that was perfect for me. It brought the story out of me, that internal monologue of self-loathing and doubt. Anyone dealing with depression and anxiety gets these fleeting thoughts that pollute your mind. I'm just tearing myself down in the verse, and in the chorus I'm climbing the tallest building and spreading wings, implying that I would jump off the building. It's not about death of the soul, but of the ego. It was about letting my ego jump off that building, a shadow of me jumping off, and another incarnation flying to the sky. I let my ego commit suicide, and the pain I had been carrying and turning into aggression against myself and others, the reckless drug abuse, the validation through promiscuous women, the crazy lifestyle  I was killing that side of myself."
Six months after the collapse of the Afghan government led by the former President Ashraf Ghani, an ex-female minister of his time unveiled several cases of 'sexual assault' and 'corruption' in the Presidential palace, Khaama Press reported. Nargis Nehan, a former female Afghan cabinet member, claimed she noticed several cases of corruption and sexual assault while working for the government of Afghanistan since 2008. Nehan, former Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum who was speaking in a Twitter space on Sunday, said she has noticed multiple cases of corruption and sexual assault at the very top levels within the Afghan cabinet members and the Presidential Palace, the report said. According to Nehan, Ashraf Ghani was aware of what was happening around him. Nehan named Shaad Mohammad Sargand, Humayoun Qayomi, Mohammad Hanif Atmar and Elham Omar Hotaki as the corrupt officials she knew about. "Shaad Mohammad Sargand, an advisor to Ghani who was very close to the President, also used to be his class fellow in the past. He was forcing a young Shia girl to enter into a concubine's marriage with him," Nehan said. Shaad Mohammad Sargand had falsely reported to Ghani about the girl blaming him for being Iran's secret agent in the Afghanistan government after she had refused his proposal, Nehan added. "After her dismissal proposal was signed by the President, the girl came to my office seeking help as she needed the job and also didn't want to be sacked with bad employment history," Nehan said, as per the report. "I reported the case to the First Lady with the help of whom we could stop the girl's dismissal and transferred her to another department in order to keep her away from the eyes of Shaad Mohamamd Sargand," Nehan said. Nehan spoke about another scenario when she along with 45 other high ranking female government officials, including cabinet members and deputy ministers, had gone to see Ghani about the 'sexual assaults' in the Presidential palace, but Ghani had ignored to investigate the matter or take any action after he heard from the group, Khaama Press reported. Nehan also revealed about the corruption cases by the National Procurement Authority, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and the senior advisor to President, Humayoon Qayoumi. She claimed that the international community, including the World Bank and different UN agencies in Afghanistan, were deeply involved in corruption. This comes as Fazl Mahmood Fazly, the head of the Administrative Office of the President (AOP), despite being widely accused of hiring girls for sexual pleasure in the government, was never investigated, the report said. --IANS san/arm ( 450 Words) 2022-01-18-21:58:03 (IANS)
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday (local time) thanked Verizon and AT&T for agreeing to delay 5G deployment around key airports. "I want to thank Verizon and AT&T for agreeing to delay 5G deployment around key airports and to continue working with the Department of Transportation on safe 5G deployment at this limited set of locations," read Biden's statement on 5G Agreement. There was uproar among Airlines companies over the deployment of 5G signals next to runways that could interfere with the key safety equipment that pilots rely on to take off and land in inclement weather. "This agreement will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery while allowing more than 90 per cent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled," said Biden. "This agreement protects flight safety and allows aviation operations to continue without significant disruption and will bring more high-speed internet options to millions of Americans," added the US President. Meanwhile, Biden also said that expanding 5G and promoting competition in internet service are critical priorities and tomorrow will be a massive step in the right direction. "My team has been engaging non-stop with the wireless carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to chart a path forward for 5G deployment and aviation to safely co-exist - and, at my direction, they will continue to do so until we close the remaining gap and reach a permanent, workable solution around these key airports," said Biden. United Airlines said the US government's current 5G rollout plan will have a devastating impact on aviation, negatively affecting an estimated 1.25 million United passengers, at least 15,000 flights and much-needed goods and tons of cargo travelling through more than 40 of the largest airports in the country annually. "We implore the Biden administration to act quickly and apply the same common-sense solutions here that have clearly worked so well around the world," said United Airlines statement. United Airlines said that it will not "compromise on safety - full stop" and urged the federal government to follow successfully designed policies of other countries to ensure the safe deployment of 5G technology. (ANI)
Authorities are searching for a man who may have been one of the last people to see a 20-year-old Pennsylvania woman alive before she was found dead in a Days Inn hotel in North Carolina on Jan. 17.

/An arrest warrant was issued on Jan. 18, charging the man theyre looking for with murder, according to Davie County Sheriff J.D. Hartman.

Deputies were first notified around 9:50 p.m. on Jan. 17 that a woman, Suzanne Kauffman, was missing when they received a call from two people who were trying to find their cellphones and Kauffman earlier that day, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

Kauffman was from Denver, Pennsylvania, but had traveled to North Carolina to attend a Bible camp in Iredell County, Hartman told news outlets.

Deputies met with the caller and learned that several phones were missing and that the phones were last known to be in the possession of Suzanne Kauffman, who was also missing, the sheriffs office said.

When other individuals attempted to locate her and the missing cellphones by contacting the devices, they got an answer from one of the missing devices, deputies said.

According to the sheriffs office, the individuals were told that if they wanted to pick up the phones, they would have to visit the Days Inn in Mocksville about 60 miles north of Charlotte, to recover them.

Investigators discovered that the person who had been in possession of the missing phones had scattered them along a road near a Kentucky Fried Chicken, just down the street from the Days Inn.

They also found the key to an Acura, which was the same vehicle model Kauffman was believed to have been driving. When they investigated further, deputies said they found Kauffmans Acura in the rear parking lot at the KFC.

When deputies checked the hotel, they found Kauffman dead in one of the rooms, which had been rented by a man, they said.

Continued Investigation determined that Kauffman may have met a male named Quincey Hannah in Mocksville and led Deputies back to the Days Inn, the sheriffs office said in the release.

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Deputies have not disclosed how Kauffman is believed to have died, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

The man the sheriffs office believes Kauffman met at the hotel is from Pennsylvania, too. Hannah is 26 years old and was last known to be driving a light blue 2009 Toyota sedan with a Pennsylvania license LRE 6319. According to deputies, he may be driving back to Pennsylvania.

According to Hartman, officials believe that Hannah has fled the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 336-751-6238 or leave a tip on the sheriffs website.

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ABINGTON, PA The Abington Board of School Directors is poised to discuss and vote on the district's updated health and safety plan during a special meeting Tuesday evening.

Patch reported last week on the special meeting to address the health and safety document.

The revised plan was released on Friday and it can be read in its entirety here.

Under the plan, students in the Abington School District will continue to be offered in-person learning, although they will also be required to continue wearing face masks while inside school buildings.

Universal masking policies mandated by school districts across the commonwealth have caused some controversy among parents of school children, but many school district administrators maintain that the measure, supported by many health officials, is necessary to help spread the curb of COVID-19.

Abington, citing the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, says that any changes in mask usage will be based on school district level of community transmission of the virus, and current rising coronavirus rates in the eastern part of the county means that students and staff will continue having to don face coverings during the school day.

Abington school directors are expected to vote on the revised health and safety plan and send it to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as is currently required of school districts across the commonwealth during the global pandemic.

The special meeting will take place at 7 p.m. inside the board room of the Abington School District Administration Building, located at 970 Highland Avenue. The public is welcome to attend.

The meeting will also be broadcast on the district's YouTube channel.

This article originally appeared on the Abington Patch
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Facing a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases fueled by the spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant, Abu Dhabi is requiring people entering the city to show proof of booster shots.

The government's health app said earlier this week that people entering the capital of the United Arab Emirates must show a green pass," confirming their vaccination status. The app says that visitors are no longer considered fully vaccinated unless they have received a booster at least six months after their second dose.

Those wishing to enter Abu Dhabi also must have have tested negative for the virus within the last two weeks to maintain their green status.

The emirate has taken a stricter approach to the virus than neighboring Dubai, the freewheeling tourism-dependent hub. Abu Dhabi requires that residents show their green pass before entering public places or government buildings.

The UAE boasts among the world's highest vaccination rates per capita. The country has fully vaccinated more than 90% of its population, health authorities have said. Although infections had plummeted in December, cases recently have skyrocketed to heights unseen in months.
Areas that include poverty, carless households or high unemployment rates are considered vulnerable in Nashville. Those same areas  like Dickerson Pike  are also the ones most at risk for traffic deaths or injuries.
By David Shepardson, Tim Hepher and Jamie Freed

(Reuters) -Disruption to U.S.-bound air travel caused by the rollout of 5G services in the United States eased on Wednesday as authorities approved more flights, but a top airline warned "irresponsible" regulatory confusion would be felt internationally for days.

Airlines and telecom companies have been at loggerheads over the deployment of 5G mobile services over concerns that the powerful signals could interfere with airplane systems.

Carriers across Asia, the Middle East and Europe cancelled flights to the United States or switched planes at the last minute on Tuesday and Wednesday, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers, over safety concerns caused by the 5G deployment.

But Japanese carriers said late on Wednesday they would restore cancelled flights and U.S. airlines said thousands of planes were operating normally after two telecom carriers agreed to delay the rollout at key airports.

The decision late on Tuesday by AT&T and Verizon Communications to delay switching on new telecom masts near key airports, just hours ahead of a wider U.S. rollout, came too late to avoid a ripple of cancellations.

Much of the initial disruption hit the Boeing 777, for decades a workhorse of long-distance air travel.

Dubai's Emirates, the world's largest international passenger carrier and the largest 777 operator, hit out at "mixed messages" as it suspended nine U.S. destinations.

The airline's longstanding president Tim Clark told CNN it had not been aware of the extent of the safety concerns until Tuesday and let rip at what he called it "one of the most delinquent, utterly irresponsible" episodes in his career.

Some 32,000 Emirates passengers over the next three days "will be completely inconvenienced as a result of flight cancellations," Clark said, adding the message about safety risks had "got through at a very, very late stage".

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United Airlines, by contrast, said it was forecasting only "minor disruptions" due to remaining 5G restrictions.

International carriers are particularly exposed because of the lead time needed to prepare flights and pre-position crews ready to fly intercontinental jets home, experts said.

"The last-minute postponement happened too late to stop the crews being sent out for today's (return) flight. It just made it a nightmare," said a pilot with a major European airline.

Shares in European long-haul carriers fell by 3-4%, underperforming slightly weaker shares in U.S. airlines.

INTERFERENCE

U.S. airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration have warned that the 5G frequencies and transmission strength being deployed in the United States could interfere with radio altimeter readings needed for bad-weather landings on some jets.

Radio altimeters must give clear data on the height above the ground on approach to help with automated landings and also verify that a jet has landed before allowing reverse thrust.

U.S. President Joe Biden said he had "pushed as hard I can to have the 5G folks hold up and abide by what was being requested by the airlines until they could more modernize over the years -- so 5G would not interfere with the potential of a landing".

Boeing said it was working with all parties on a "data-driven solution for the long-term".

Its 777 was last year the second-most used widebody plane on flights to and from U.S. airports with around 210,000 flights, behind the older 767, according to data from FlightRadar24.

European regulators say no risks have been found elsewhere.

The Federal Aviation Administration is frantically reviewing guidance on which airports and planes are affected.

On Wednesday, it said it had issued new approvals allowing some 62% of U.S. commercial airplanes to perform low-visibility landings at airports where 5G is deployed, up from 45% cleared previously.

Analysts said a slump in long-haul flying caused by pandemic border restrictions would limit the immediate airline impact.

"It's the off season, so in January or February airlines will be losing money and that's not counting the impact of the pandemic. At the moment they are fighting for survival," said James Halstead, managing partner at UK-based Aviation Strategy.

"Where it might hurt is that some airlines are using the same long-haul aircraft to carry freight," he added.

Airlines reporting cancellations or model switches earlier included Germany's Lufthansa, Korean Air Lines, Singapore Airlines and British Airways - all long-haul carriers with major freight operations.

(Additional reporting by Ed Copley and Josephine Mason in London, Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Alexander Cornwell in Dubai, Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Lilian Wagdy and Moataz Mohamed in Cairo, Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru, Duncan Miriri in NairoboiEditing by Mark Potter, Bernard Orr and Richard Pullin)
The chief executives of America's largest airlines warned of a "catastrophic disruption" to travel and shipping operations if telecommunication companies roll out their 5G technology as planned Wednesday without limiting the technology near U.S. airports.

On Tuesday, AT&T and Verizon both confirmed to CBS News that they have voluntarily agreed to postpone turning on a limited amount of towers around certain airports.

"We are frustrated by the FAA's inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it to do so in a timely manner," an AT&T spokesperson said in a statement, reiterating that the rest of their 5G launch will continue as planned.

Verizon and AT&T had already delayed the launch of their new C-Band 5G service twice due to warnings from airlines and aircraft manufacturers concerned that the new system might interfere with the devices planes use to measure altitude.

The executives, writing to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other U.S. government officials, highlighted the risk of "economic calamity" should Verizon and AT&T proceed with deploying the new technology before the necessary upgrades and changes have been made to aviation equipment.

"We are writing with urgency to request that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate two miles of airport runways as defined by the FAA on January 19, 2022," the CEOs said in a Monday letter obtained by CBS News and several other news organizations.

"To be blunt, the nation's commerce will grind to a halt," they said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday it had approved some transponders to be safely operated within areas where 5G will be deployed, clearing "as many as 48 of the 88 airports most directly affected by 5G C-Band interference."

But the airlines are worried that remaining limitations at those airports, as well as a large amount of equipment still uncertified, could trigger a crisis including the grounding of thousands of flights.

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"In addition to the chaos caused domestically," the letter continues, the lack of certified planes "could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas."

The Reuters news agency reports that carriers late on Monday were thinking of scrapping some international flights due to get to the U.S. on Wednesday.

In a statement, United Airlines said, "The federal government's current 5G rollout plan will have a devastating impact on aviation, negatively affecting an estimated 1.25 million United passengers, at least 15,000 flights and much-needed goods and tons of cargo traveling through more than 40 of the largest airports in the country annually."

In addition to the transport secretary, their letter was addressed to the head of the FAA, the head of the Federal Communications Commission and the White House's National Economic Council. U.S. airlines also have protested against the potential costs incurred. The executives called on authorities to "take whatever action necessary to ensure that 5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption." The letter was signed by CEOs of major airlines including American, United, Delta and Southwest, as well as the leaders of shipping giants FedEx and UPS. "Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies," they wrote. The FAA released a brief statement Monday apparently seeking to allay concerns about the 5G rollout's impact on aviation, but it stopped short of declaring any concrete next steps in the process. "With safety as its core mission, the FAA will continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G," the agency said. "The FAA continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to try to limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations."

Verizon and AT&T won contracts worth tens of billions of dollars last February to operate 5G in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency bands, and the rollout of the service was due to begin December 5.

Unless the major telecommunications companies are blocked by federal regulators or reach an agreement with the airlines, they are now scheduled to turn on their 5G service nationwide on January 19.

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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  At least four people were killed and 10 others wounded in Somalia's capital when a man in an explosive vest detonated at a teashop opposite a Somali military training camp on Tuesday, the Somali National News Agency reports.

The teashop in Mogadishu is frequented by new recruits from the Nacnaca training camp.

The extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying via its Andalus radio station that it targeted a Turkish training camp for Somali militias.

Turkey has a much larger, heavily fortified military training camp for the Somali army not far away from the Nacnaca camp.

In October, a suicide bomber targeted the same area, killing at least 10 people.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will halt contact tracing for COVID-19 next month, declaring the efforts "futile" amid rising infection rates and declining participation from those infected.

The move, announced Tuesday, is part of an effort to move toward an endemic response to the coronavirus, though it comes at a time when more individuals are being infected than at any point during the pandemic and hospitals report being pushed to the brink.

Contact tracing is paired with case investigation and both serve as core actions in responding to an infectious disease outbreak. A worker determines who an infected individual was near, then notifies those people and informs them to be on the lookout for COVID-19 symptoms.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will halt contact tracing for COVID-19 next month, declaring the efforts "futile" amid rising infection rates and declining participation from those infected.

More: Kansas health officials are planning on COVID-19 sticking around. What could that look like?

KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said the announcement was weeks in the making, as contact tracing has become "very difficult" in a school setting and the population at large, noting "people are being diagnosed by the hundreds."

In recent days, the state has routinely been reporting over 4,000 and even 5,000 COVID-19 cases per day. Jan. 11 saw 5,485 cases announced in Kansas, the highest number since the pandemic began in March of 2020.

Schools will continue contact tracing if possible but will have the option to discontinue the practice. The agency will re-evaluate the move in 30 days.

But KDHE will halt its own contact tracing beginning Feb. 1. For months, the agency has hired its own staff and ramped up its contact tracing and case investigation to help counties that were overwhelmed with cases.

Members of the public, however, have become increasingly reluctant to participate in the voluntary practice, Stanek said.

"We are not finding the public is as willing to share information," Stanek said. "So efforts related to contact tracing end up being a little futile at this point."

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The agency's current contact tracing staff will be converted to contact investigators, KDHE said, meaning they will work to inform those who tested positive of their COVID-19 status.

More: 'There's only so many hours in the day': Rising COVID-19 cases challenge Kansas, county contact tracing efforts

Members of the public, meanwhile, will be asked to notify their own close contacts if they become infected. If an individual works in a congregate setting, such as a school, correctional facility or long-term care facility, KDHE will notify the employer, who will be charged with taking the matter from there.

The move comes as Kansas plans a pivot to a longer-lasting approach to what COVID-19 will look like, expecting the virus to become endemic, or regularly occurring in society.

It was expected contact tracing and case investigation would become less important during that response, though experts initially expected the change would happen over a longer period of time.

Other states, most notably Michigan and New York, have pulled back on contact tracing, citing the latest surge in cases. And Seaman Unified School District 345 said Monday they would also suspend their tracing work.

County health departments would also no longer be required to contact trace, according to Dennis Kriesel, executive director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments, something which was cheered by overwhelmed counties.

"No one was keeping up with it so getting the official permission from the state saying there is no expectation to continue contact tracing went over really well," he said. "Everyone was like 'We just can't do it.'"

Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KDHE to halt contact tracing next month amid COVID-19 surge
A Chicago rapper was arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday after U.S. customs agents reported they found a cache of drugs in his baggage, officials said.

Chicago rapper Vic Mensa performs for a video crew on Oct. 21, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

Vic Mensa, 28, arrived at the Virginia airport about 7 a.m. on board a flight from Ghana, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During a secondary examination of his baggage, customs officers found the drugs, including about 41 grams of liquid LSD, about 124 grams of psilocybin capsules, 178 grams of psilocybin gummies and six grams of psilocybin mushrooms, the release said.

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Airport police officers took Mensa, who faces felony drug charges, into custody.

Mensa, who grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood, was a member of the band, Kids These Days and released a solo album, The Autobiography in 2017.
Crash

ASHLAND  A Mansfield man driving a silver Ford Focus struck an Ashland pedestrian Tuesday morning near U.S. Route 250 and Sugarbush Drive, according to the Ashland Police Division.

The pedestrian, 34, was transported to OhioHealth Ashland Health Center by Ashland EMS with serious injuries, Ashland Police Division reported.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the pedestrian was receiving care, Capt. Craig Kiley said.

The Mansfield man, 60, was driving westbound on Route 250 when the vehicle struck the pedestrian around 7:07 a.m., Kiley said.

December crash: Witness who stopped to help dies after traffic crash on I-71 in Ashland County

"We're still trying to determine how the woman was struck," Kiley said. "This is under investigation as an accident."

Ashland Police Division asking for any witnesses of the accident to provide help

The Ashland Police Division is trying to obtain video surveillance from the Ohio Department of Transportation and is asking for assistance from the public who were at the accident or have video evidence, Kiley said.

Ashland County Sheriff's Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ashland Fire Department assisted with the crash.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland pedestrian struck by Mansfield driver early Tuesday
Supporters of Dr. Yang Hengjun, the Australian writer detained three years ago on espionage charges in China, have called on Beijing to release the democracy activist on bail since his health has been deteriorating inside a Chinese prison.



A close friend and supporter of Yang, 56, shared that his family and friends are concerned Yang is being systematically deprived of proper medical treatment while imprisoned, according toThe Guardian. He also added that Yang should not be left to die in jail, much like what has happened to other artists such as Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo.









Yang reportedly has severe problems with gout, high uric acid, high blood pressure and impaired vision. An account from late 2021 also revealed the activist has been suffering from dizzy spells and ongoing fatigue. Yang's blood test results also showed rising creatinine levels in his body, thus increasing his chances of kidney failure.



We are very concerned that Yangs detention has exacerbated his medical problems and that the treatment in prison is inadequate, Australia Director at Human Rights Watch Elaine Pearson said. The Chinese government should release him unconditionally immediately.



Yang traveled to China along with his wife, Yuan Xiaoliang, and their child to visit friends and family in 2019,The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The Australian pro-democracy writer was arrested at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and has been in detention since.



The Australian activist is facing espionage charges, which he and the Australian government denied. Yang, who has called himself a democracy peddler, expressed no regrets in his message released on Monday.



I feel no regrets about being arrested, he said. The value and ideal of promoting, popularizing, and practicing law, fairness and justice, social justice, freedom, and democracy are my original aspiration and my Chinese dream.



Yangs closed-court hearing was held for one day in May 2021. He was supposed to be sentenced in October of that year, but his sentencing was moved to this month, then pushed further to April 9. Yang reportedly faces a sentence ranging from three years to death under national security charges.



Im confident I didnt do what they said I did, Yang declared. I know this, my lawyer knows this, and I think the judge knows this. According to Chinese law, Im not guilty. But they treat me like dirt here and they tortured me. A spokesperson for the Chinese judicial system said that Yangs case is being handled strictly in accordance with law and that his lawful rights are being wholly protected. The spokesperson also noted that The Australian side should respect Chinas judicial sovereignty and refrain from interfering in any form in Chinese judicial authorities lawful handling of the case.



Yang challenged Beijing in his most recent message from prison to open, publish and provide details about his case to the world. We should apply to open the case, and you can see for yourself, he said, They said its about espionage. I hope its just about Chinese judicial corruption.



In a recent statement, Australias Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, called on Beijing for the immediate release of Yang and advocated for the writers well-being.



Australia is also extremely concerned about Dr Yangs health, she said. We call on Chinese authorities to meet their obligations to ensure that all necessary treatment for his physical and mental health is provided.



Born in Chinas Hubei Province, Yang formerly worked as a diplomat for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a state security agent. He then moved to Hong Kong to work in the private sector before living in Australia and the United States. He became an Australian citizen in 2002.



Featured Image viaABC News (Australia)





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Andrew and Stephanie Fisher run Clover Distribution in Milwaukee, which delivers an array of specialty foods.

Working in restaurants helped Andrew and Stephanie Fisher find each other. Shes a baker, hes a chef.

Like everyone else who has worked in professional kitchens, theyve seen a lot of ups and downs over the past two years.

When Andrew heard about the owners of specialty food distributor Clover Distribution, 2018 S. First St., retiring, he almost jokingly asked Stephanie if she wanted to buy the business. On Dec. 10, the Fishers officially stepped into their new roles as business owners, delivering spices, olive oils and specialty foods to chefs throughout southeastern Wisconsin five days a week.

Taking over a business during a pandemic has its own challenges, but leaning heavily on their own kitchen backgrounds, the Fishers feel uniquely qualified to step into the distribution arena.

Question: How did you get into the food world?

Stephanie: It started with baking with my family when I was a kid. When it came time to get a job at 16, I found a job at Cookies By Design, putting together cookie baskets and bouquets. When they had an opening for a baker, I fought my way to get that job and never looked back.

Then I worked at Embassy Suites as an assistant pastry chef, then I took a job at a deli making cookies, the Wisconsin Club, then Eddie Martinis. Thats where Andy and I met.

We opened Parkside 23 together, then I started at Simmas Bakery. I was there for the past nine years. We both left our jobs to do this.

Andy: I graduated from high school thinking I was going to go into the business world. I went to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for three years trying to achieve a major of accounting. I also needed to work and got a job at Noodles and Co. I started as a cashier and slowly learned every position in the restaurant.

I was always interested in cooking. My grandfather was a great cook. I remember watching all the cooking instructional shows on PBS, Paul Prudhomme and Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, the Galloping Gourmet. My grandfather would take very detailed notes in college-ruled notebooks and we would cook those recipes.

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After three years at UWM, I was falling out of love with the idea of being in an office. I had an opportunity to move to Reno, Nevada, and attend a new Le Cordon Bleu program. After a year, I came back. 

I continued my culinary education at MATC, found a position at Eddie Martinis for a line cook. They only needed part time. I continued to work full time at Noodles while going to school full time at MATC, weekends at Eddies. Eventually, that became my full time job.

Then Joe DeRosa decided to open Parkside 23. I was sous chef. 

There was an opportunity to work for Bartolottas restaurant group. I went from sous chef to executive chef at Harbor House.  I then took a corporate chef position at Alto Shaam.

Q: What was the reason to make the leap from being in the kitchen to providing for them?

Andrew: I worked for Alto Shaam for three years until the beginning of the pandemic. Im good friends with Dane Baldwin at The Diplomat, consider him a mentor. He was the first person I went to speak with after I lost my job.

He had to close his doors the next day. I was let go Friday the 13th of March. He closed the restaurant the 14th.

As soon as the opportunity arose, he hired me. We developed the curbside menu and served that for a bit more than a year. We were able to reopen The Diplomat in June for in-person dining.

Then one day, Gary (Schlapinski), who Stephanie and I have worked with pretty much our whole careers, it came up he was looking to sell the business and retire. Immediately I reached out to Stephanie kind of joking, should we buy Clover?

Q: What did you know about distribution before making the switch?

Stephanie: We both knew of Clover and worked with them when we worked at Eddie Martini's. All the specialty baking, nuts and chocolates, and Id order from them. ...

We had a meeting with Gary, he gave us this basic overview and brought us into the warehouse.

You think about the Syscos and Reinharts, so how big is this warehouse? Is it manageable? Seeing it firsthand it was, yes, this is something two people can do.

Andrew: Clover Distribution has been around for 30-plus years.

Stephanie: We take orders via email, text, voicemail. Everybody just orders how they feel comfortable.

Andrew: We deliver all the way up to Kohler, as far west as Madison, and our farthest south is Lake Geneva.

Q: How have you adjusted to working together every day?

Stephanie: There was a point where we didnt see each other except maybe Sundays.  Having worked at the restaurant together before, we knew we worked well together. Thats one of the biggest perks, to work with Andy every day.

Q: Is there a minimum order?

Andrew: No, we dont have any order minimums and we deliver five days a week. There isnt a set delivery day either.

If you place an order as a chef at a busy restaurant, maybe you place an order at 10:30 p.m. after service. We receive the message at night and deliver it the next day.

Q: Reading your menu, you have everything from kosher salt to urfa biber. Are you seeing more interest in specialty flavors and worldly influences or comfort food staples right now?

Andrew: There are a lot of new ingredients and techniques. Scrolling through Instagram you see those plates. The urfa biber (a Turkish chile pepper) was in fact a special request. We keep it in stock for that particular chef. I will admit, I didnt even know what it was until about a year ago.

Q: How central is food to your relationship story?

Stephanie: Food is our entire life. One thing is great is he has a massive sweet tooth. It is a huge skill I have that would be lost if he didnt like sweets. Hes a fantastic cook. Thats why we trade off.

Table Chat features interviews with Wisconsinites, or Wisconsin natives, who work in restaurants or support the restaurant industry; or visiting chefs. To suggest individuals to profile, email psullivan@gannett.com.

Sign up for our Dish newsletter to get food and dining news delivered to your inbox.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Longtime restaurant couple buy Clover Distribution food business
MILAN (Reuters) -Italian bank UniCredit said on Tuesday it would no longer provide basic banking services to Asia Pacific units of its European clients under plans to streamline its international presence and cut costs.

The move will result in the Milan-based bank closing down its offices in Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore while maintaining only a branch in Hong Kong, a person close to the matter said.

"We will ... no longer offer account banking and other banking services to the Asia Pacific region subsidiaries of clients located in our core coverage regions," UniCredit said in reply to a Reuters request for comment.

The decision was communicated to UniCredit's staff in China on Monday, another person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

UniCredit will rely on correspondent banks to provide corporate services, such as transaction and foreign exchange, to European customers in Asia Pacific, it said.

It will continue to support Asian corporate and financial institution customers in their investments and business in Europe, an activity entrusted to its Hong Kong branch.

Under the reorganisation, UniCredit will also shut representative offices in Seoul, Hanoi and Mumbai while maintaining the one in Beijing, the first person close to the matter added.

The moves affecting the Asian centres are part of a wider strategy aimed at simplifying operations which UniCredit's new Chief Executive Andrea Orcel unveiled on Dec. 9 when he presented a new plan to 2024.

By focusing on businesses that maximise returns in relation to the amount of capital they absorb, Orcel has pledged to reward shareholders with 16 billion euros ($18 billion) in dividends and buybacks over the period.

To offset in part investments needed for a digital upgrade, UniCredit is cutting staff in central offices and international hubs, while sparing its branch network that was heavily hit by past restructurings.

Italy's only bank deemed of global systemic relevance by regulators, UniCredit also has businesses in Germany, Austria and central and eastern Europe. ($1 = 0.8812 euros)

(Reporting by Valentina Za in Milan and David Kirton in Shenzen; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Hey, neighbors, and happy National Winnie the Pooh Day! Sylvia here with your brand-new issue of the Los Angeles Daily.

A 555.55-carat black diamond is visiting L.A. Also, the no-camping ordinance collides with a lack of hotel rooms. Finally, a man was found dead near the Leeward Bay Marina.



First, today's weather:

Mainly cloudy. High: 64 Low: 53.

Here are the top five stories in Los Angeles today:

The Enigma is a 555.55-carat black diamond that will be auctioned off at Sothebys in February. However, journalists in Los Angeles will have a chance to look at it more closely between Monday and Wednesday next week. This diamond is said to have extraterrestrial origins and may sell for close to $7 million. Sothebys will accept cryptocurrency. (Barrons, AP) Los Angeles has run out of FEMA-funded Project Roomkey hotel rooms for individuals experiencing homelessness, we learned Monday. This means that the city only had congregate beds available but no individual housing options. At the same time, the City now has a new anti-camping ordinance. With 918 people experiencing homelessness testing positive for COVID-19 in the first week of the year, dispersing them is a bad idea, the CDC says. It is now up to individual councilmembers in their respective districts to decide on a course of action. (Spectrum News 1) Authorities found a dead man in the water near the Leeward Bay Marina in Wilmington on Sunday afternoon. The LAFD believes him to be around 60 years old. The man was seen alive an hour before. (KTLA) We learned Sunday that there was a break-in at the L.A. home of actress Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli. Theres no information how the burglars entered the home. The family was out at the time and a housekeeper discovered the burglary. (NBC) Local developer Redcar Properties has big plans for the industrial buildings at 1635-1639 North Main Street. The finished project could bring 140,000 square feet of offices and 10,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space in a campus-like setting to the location. If all goes as planned, the project will start up in the fall and finish up in 2024. The property is near the L.A. State Historic Park. (Urbanize)

Doing a "Dry January" or just looking for a flavorful alternative to regular cocktails? Here's a suggestion: try a non-alcoholic drink from our partners at Betera. Created by an award-winning chef from natural botanicals, Beteras drinks come in 3 flavors  Ginger-Orange, Elderflower-Lime and Rhubarb-Hibiscus. We tried Ginger-Orange, and it was excellent  lightly effervescent, floral with a hint of bitterness and the sippability of a cocktail.

Story continues

Betera is offering readers of the Daily a 15% discount on their first order: use PATCH15 at checkout. Highly recommended  you can try Betera here.

Today in Los Angeles:

Morning Meditation at the Angel City Zen Center (7 AM)

COVID-19 Vaccines at the Veterans Administration Medical Center West (8 AM)

California African American Museum presents Sanford Biggers: Codeswitch (10 AM to 5 PM)

Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents Legacies of Exchange: Chinese Contemporary Art from the Yuz Foundation (11 AM to 6 PM)

Industry Tuesday at Byblos Mediterranean Restaurant and Hookah Bar (10 PM)

From my notebook:

A West Athens neighbor has about 6 bags of clothes they want to sell. The prices are very cheap. The clothes are in great condition and everything is washed. (Nextdoor)

Another West Athens neighbor found a Boxer or pit bull. He's brown and either 1 or 2 years old. Is it yours? (Nextdoor)

A concerned Baldwin Vista neighbor had brown tinged water this evening. Anyone else having brown tinged water today? If so, does anyone know the cause? (Nextdoor)

Our Hazard Park neighbor is looking for an Indian cook to make weekly meals. They are able to pick up the food. (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors  thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

Loving the Los Angeles Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can subscribe

Get your local business listed in front of readers

Send me a news tip or suggestion at losangeles@patch.com

Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update!

 Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch
A $20,000 reward has been offered to anyone who can provide information that leads to the finding of 18-year-old student Brendan Santo, who disappeared almost three months ago.

Mr Santo vanished on 29 October last year in East Lansing on the campus of Michigan State University.

We just want Brendan back, his family told ABC News.

There are still no indications as to what happened to the Grand Valley University student over Halloween weekend.

It is unfathomable to believe in this day and age someone can just disappear, aunt Dawn Brewer told ABC. Our family is desperately begging anyone with information to come forward even anonymously.

Mr Santo was last spotted leaving Yakeley Hall on the university campus shortly before midnight on 29 October.

Law enforcement has said that he was wearing grey sweatpants, a black t-shirt, a Detroit Red Wings hat, Converse high sneakers, and that hes about 5 foot 10 and 160 pounds (178 cm and 73 kg).

Mr Santos friends think he was going to the Brody neighbourhood to stay with other friends, but he never got there. His phone had run out of battery power when he disappeared, with his last message being sent at 11.45pm.

The Michigan State University Police Department (MSUPD) has said that the security cameras at Yakeley Hall werent working the night that Mr Santo vanished.

Finding out what happened after Brendan left Yakeley Hall is the key to finding Brendan, or at the least adding another piece to this horrible puzzle, Ms Brewer said.

Mr Santo was reported missing the next morning by his friends. MSUPD has said that his car remained where it had been parked and that theres nothing to suggest that he left East Lansing.

The FBI joined the search alongside agencies on the state and local levels. They have searched for Mr Santo by foot, drone, helicopter, and boat. Law enforcement also used dogs to try to find Mr Santo.

The work of several cadaver dogs, Mr Santos last known location, and his digital footprint have led law enforcement to focus on the Red Cedar River, which runs through East Lansing. But police have said that they are also looking into other options.

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As a parent, family member or friend, you want to turn over every boulder as fast as you can to get the information you need to find your loved one. We understand an investigation like this can take time, but it has been very difficult, Mr Santos aunt told ABC.

Since he disappeared, no one has seen Mr Santo and none of his belongings have been discovered, despite volunteers searching for him, with charity events and fundraisers raising awareness for the case, including via social media.

Two civilian searches have been conducted by more than 800 volunteers. Students and locals have carried on searching every day, the family has said.

Many of these people do not know Brendan or our family, but have taken the time and energy to help us every day  our family continues to be overwhelmed by their support and dedication, Ms Brewer told ABC News.

Tens of thousands now follow social media campaigns on Facebook and Instagram to find Mr Santo.

Our family continues to have hope and pray he will be returned safely, Ms Brewer added.

Anyone with information about Mr Santo is encouraged to call 844-99-MSUPD (844-996-7873), to email tips@police.msu.edu or to call Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at 517-483-STOP (7867).
Nominating petition circulation has begun for local and statewide elected positions, and petitions for local races are already being filed.

Meanwhile, one local official has confirmed his plans to retire.

Who's running?

Codington County Sheriff Brad Howell, R-Watertown, who has been in office since 2008, has filed for re-election, and District 5 state Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, has also filed.

Howell is one of several county officials up for re-election. Also up are the auditor, register of deeds and three county commissioners. Auditor Cindy Brugman has served since 2002 ,and Register of Deeds Ann Rasmussen was appointed in 2005 and subsequently elected.

Brugman, who first joined the auditor's office in 1977, confirmed Friday she does not plan to run for re-election. With the exception of Brugman, who is a Democrat, all of the county officials up for re-election are Republicans.

Commissioners up for re-election include Lee Gabel, representing District 1; Brenda Hanten, representing District 5; and Myron Johnson, representing District 3. Gabel was first elected in 2014 and Hanten and Johnson were elected in 2010.

All county terms are for four years.

Redistricting means changes in local legislative districts

All legislative seats, which run for two years, are up this year. While the boundaries for District 5, which is predominantly the city of Watertown, remain the same, the boundaries for District 4 have changed.

Schoenbeck is up for re-election in District 5 along with Rep. Hugh Bartels, R-Watertown, and Nancy York, R-Watertown.

District 4 now includes the southeast corner of Roberts County, along with most of Clark County as well as all of Grant, Deuel, rural Codington and Hamlin counties.

Up for election in the district are Sen. John Wiik, R-Big Stone City; Rep. John Mills, R-Volga; and Rep. Fred Deutch, R-Florence.

One of the more noticeable changes is that District 2 is now east of Sioux Falls instead of in northeastern South Dakota. That means current District 2 Rep. Lana Greenfield, R-Doland, now lives in District 22, and District 2 Rep. Kaleb Weis, R-Aberdeen, is now in District 3.

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Greenfield, who is term-limited in the House, said she hasn't yet decided on her election plans.

District 2 Sen. Brock Greenfield, R-Clark, announced plans to pursue a new elected position in 2022  commissioner of school and public lands.

District 22, which includes part of Clark County, also includes all of Spink and Beadle counties. This district previously covered Beadle and Kingsbury Counties. The incumbents are Rep. Roger Chase, R-Huron; Rep. Lynn Schneider, R-Huron; and Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron.

District 1 encompasses the vast majority of rural Brown County outside of the Aberdeen city boundaries as well as all of Day and Marshall counties. Roberts County is also in District 1, with the exception of the southeast corner

Up for re-election in District 1 are Sen. Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen; Rep. Tamara St. John, R-Sisseton; and Rep. Jennifer Keitz, D-Eden.

Petition circulation continues through March 29

Petition circulation for statewide candidates not determined at party conventions as well as legislative and county positions began Jan. 1 and continues through March 29. The dates to circulate nominating petitions are different for local races.

Here's a look at other area elections:

Two three-year seats are up for re-election on the Watertown School Board. These are currently held by Jean Moulton, who is completing her first term, and Stewart Stein, who is finishing his seventh year. This election is June 21 with petition circulation from April 7 to May 13.

No city election is planned in Watertown. City elections are only during the odd-numbered years.

The six circuit court judge positions in the 3rd Judicial Circuit. These are eight-year terms.

Two judges in the 3rd Circuit have filed petitions so far. They are Carmen Means of Watertown and Gregory Stoltenberg of Clear Lake, who is presiding judge for the district.

County petitions are issued through and filed with the county auditor's office, city petitions through the city finance office and school board petitions through the school business office. Legislative petitions are filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office.

While some city and school elections are held in conjunction with the June 7 primary, they can also be on April 12 or June 21.

Statewide petitions are available online through the South Dakota secretary of state's website or through the local county auditor's office.

Challengers expected for both congressional seats

The two-year term for U.S. representative held by Republican Dusty Johnson ends this year, as does the six-year term for U.S. Senate currently held by Republican John Thune. Thune recently announced plans to seek re-election, and challengers have announced their intentions in both races.

Johnson is completing his second term in the U.S. House. State Rep. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, has announced plans to run, which would set up a GOP primary battle.

Thune wants a fourth term in the Senate. Democrat Brian Bengs of Aberdeen announced plans to challenge Thune.

There are a host of statewide races this year, including for governor, public utilities commissioner, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and commissioner of school and public lands.

Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, is up for her second term. She could potentially face fellow Republican and District 10 state Rep. Steve Haugaard from Sioux Falls in a primary.

Brock Greenfield hopes to replace Republican Ryan Brunner as commissioner of school and public lands. Brunner cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Petition filing has begun for 2022 elections
Members of the MLK Mass Choir sing during the MLK Gospel Night on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

Hundreds gathered for an evening of worship and praise music to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday evening at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

The Martin Luther King Commemorative Council of Lubbock hosted its fourth consecutive evening of events celebrating the late civil rights leader, with its annual gospel night featuring the MLK Mass Choir and other performers. MLK Council board member Deborah Deary served as the event's chairwoman.

Calvin Harris prays over the ceremony during the MLK Gospel Night on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: A celebration in song: Lubbockites lift voices at MLK Gospel Night
As news of the volcanic eruption Saturday in the Pacific nation of Tonga prompted shock and concern across the globe, the event also sent literal shock waves through the atmosphere  including some that could be detected at OHare International Airport and other Chicago-area observation sites, according to forecasters with the National Weather Services Romeoville office.

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I was initially surprised, but it does make sense, Brian Leatherwood, a meteorologist at the weather service, said about the shock waves. Leatherwood said the spikes in pressure were discovered by a fellow meteorologist who put two and two together after the volcano erupted.

An initial shock wave moving east from the volcano was detected in Chicago just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday, according to a thread posted by the weather service on Twitter. A second shock wave, which moved west around the planet before arriving in Chicago, hit early Sunday, according to the weather service.

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You probably heard about the volcanic eruption in Tonga this past weekend, but did you know that the volcanic eruption caused a shockwave that traveled across the world? This shockwave caused pressure fluctuations that were actually picked up by weather stations in our area! pic.twitter.com/XE8NCiHOX7  NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 17, 2022

During a shock wave, air pressure increases more than usual, as a result of air being quickly compressed, and then decreases, due in this case to the volcanic explosion, Leatherwood said.

You can almost think of a volcano as uncorking a Champagne bottle. Theres just a lot of pressure built up, said Renee Duff, a meteorologist with AccuWeather.

When the pressure is released, it can cause a big disruption to the surrounding atmosphere, she said. Similar to dropping a rock in water, the disruption to the fluid-like atmosphere comes in the form of waves that ripple out from the explosion site, Duff said.

A Jan. 17, 2022, photo shows an eruption on the Hunga Tonga-Hunga volcano. (Planet Labs PBC/Getty Images)

Typically, a weather system can change air pressure in a matter of hours, but the changes observed in the volcanic explosion occurred much more quickly, Leatherwood said. Although the pressure change was detected locally, people in Illinois wouldnt have felt any noticeable difference, he added.

The explosion largely cut off communication with Tonga when a single cable that connects Tongas communications with the rest of the world was severed, leaving thousands of concerned relatives unable to establish contact with loved ones on the island, according to The Associated Press. The explosion also caused tsunami waves and volcanic dust to contaminate the water supply. A government agency in Fiji warned of the possibility of acid rain in the area and asked its residents to cover household water tanks, according to published reports.

As previously advised, the Department of Environment is requesting that members of the public cover all household water tanks and stay indoors in the event of rain due to the risk of acid rain.#FijiNews #TeamFiji #FijianGovernment #Fiji  Fijian Government (@FijianGovt) January 17, 2022

New Zealand and Australia were finally able to send surveillance flights to determine the extent of the damage Monday. A thick ash cloud above Tonga initially impaired such flights Sunday, the day after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano erupted underwater about 40 miles north of Nukualofa, the nations capital.

In the short term, theres a risk for respiratory issues because of the ash for people near the explosion site, Duff said. In the longer term, theres a potential for global cooling this spring and summer, as ash could block a small amount of sunlight, she added  a phenomenon that scientists will be following in the coming months.

No casualties in Tonga had been confirmed as of Monday. Two women reportedly died in Peru  some 6,600 miles away  amid abnormal waves after the eruption.

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oolander@chicagotribune.com
Hello, Minneapolis! Welcome to the Minneapolis Daily, Patchs five-minute guide to whats making news near you. Im Georgi Presecky and Ill be in your inbox every morning recapping the most essential headlines in Minneapolis.

Though Chicagoans, my dad and I are both proud products of the University of St. Thomas, and Im excited to be back curating the news for you. So, lets get to it!

First, today's weather: Mostly cloudy and breezy. High: 40 Low: 0.

Here are the top stories in Minneapolis today:

1. A 33-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder for stabbing and killing his father inside their Minneapolis home last week. Anthony Ryan Jolson could face up to 4o years in prison if convicted. (CBS)

2. New COVID-19 safety measures go into effect this week in the Twin Cities, just after Minnesota reported its highest-ever number of COVID-19 cases. Mask mandates are already in place in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Beginning tomorrow, negative tests or proof of vaccination will be required at bars and restaurants. (CBS)

3. The University of Minnesota is returning to in-person classes today despite COVID-19 surging on college campuses across the state. More than 1,700 new cases were reported at Minnesota universities from Jan. 5-12. (Star-Tribune)

4. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo officially retired Saturday. The department's first Black police chief "helped shoulder some of the heaviest moments in our citys history," Mayor Jacob Frey said in a proclamation declaring Saturday "Medaria Arradondo Day." (KNSI)

5. Sen. Amy Klobuchar met with infrastructure and transportation leaders last week to discuss the state's share of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Minnesota is expected to receive $4.5 billion to improve highways. More than $300 million is designated to repair and replace bridges. (Crookston Daily Times)

Doing a "Dry January" or just looking for a flavorful alternative to regular cocktails? Here's a suggestion: try a non-alcoholic drink from our partners at Betera. Created by an award-winning chef from natural botanicals, Beteras drinks come in 3 flavors  Ginger-Orange, Elderflower-Lime and Rhubarb-Hibiscus. We tried Ginger-Orange, and it was excellent  lightly effervescent, floral with a hint of bitterness and the sippability of a cocktail.

Story continues

Betera is offering readers of the Daily a 15 percent discount on their first order: use PATCH15 at checkout. Highly recommended  you can try Betera here.

Today in Minneapolis:

Join the "Winter Warm-Up" at U.S. Bank Stadium . (5 p.m.)

Hemingway Social hosts a free networking event. (5 p.m.)

Catch Tony-nominated "Come From Away" before it leaves Orpheum Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

New California-inspired restaurant Noa will open today in downtown Minneapolis. ( BMTN )

The Minneapolis Boat Show will return Thursday after being canceled last year. ( KARE11 )

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering $85 a bushel for black spruce pinecones to add to its cone and seed collection. (KDHL)

Loving the Minneapolis Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe

Get your local business listed in front of readers

Send me a news tip or suggestion at georgi.presecky@patch.com

That's all for today, Minneapolis! See you tomorrow for more news.

 Georgi Presecky



This article originally appeared on the Minneapolis Patch
The Daily Beast

Claudio Peri/Pool/ReutersROMESince the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not outwardly condemned in the now nearly three-month-old war and only did so lightly in a lengthy interview with an Italian newspaper.I feel that before going to Kyiv, I must go to Moscow, he told Corriere D
DENVER, CO  Colorado is launching new COVID-19 testing clinics and vaccine sites, as well as a new vaccination marketing campaign.

Colorado has been running a series of vaccination information campaigns for months now.

The first launched in October and involved Dr. Rachel Herlihy and Denver Healths Dr. Gabriela Frank encouraging Coloradans to get the vaccine before the holiday season began.

In December, the state began another campaign whose target audience was unvaccinated adults.

In late December, another campaign was launched, one whose target was the parents of children ages five to 11, who are now eligible for a vaccination.

As of Jan. 14, Colorado is continuing its information campaigns by launching a wide-sweeping marketing campaign designed to provide the most up-to-date information about vaccinations while also clarifying any misconceptions that have cropped up.

The ad campaign will appear in both English and Spanish.

"Vaccines are the quickest and most effective way to get society back to a more normal way of life while protecting individuals from this deadly and ever-changing virus," the Executive Director of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Jill Hunsaker-Ryan, said. "We will continue to be unrelenting in providing education about and access to COVID-19 vaccines."

In conjunction with this campaign, Colorado is sending out mobile vaccination and testing units across the state, specifically targeting community events, according to public health officials.

Beginning Jan. 18, the Boulder County Fairgrounds will host a community clinic that will provide COVID-19 testing and up to 250 doses of vaccination a day. This clinic offers Pfizer 12+ vaccine, Pfizer for children age 5-11, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and flu vaccines and is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A mobile vaccination clinic will continue through Jan. 21 in the parking lot north of Chopper Circle at Ball Arena. This clinic is open every day until Jan. 21 from noon to 7:30 p.m. and will be offering all COVID-19 vaccines as well as flu vaccines.

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Public health officials recommend people get a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if they are 12 and older and have received their second dose of Pfizer five months ago, or if they are 18 and older and have received their second dose of Moderna five months ago.

Public health officials strongly recommend that all Coloradans ages five and older get a COVID-19 vaccination.

"Our priority has always been to communicate with compassion, patience, and facts," Hunsaker-Ryan said. "We want residents to feel empowered to help end this crisis. It is their actions that will protect their loved ones, help kids stay in school, and promote economic stability for individuals, families, and communities."



This article originally appeared on the Denver Patch
Sade Harvison is an author who wrote a children's book, "The Power of a Friend," about growing up without a mother and meeting a friend who helped her get through it. She also wrote "Young Black King" about building self-esteem in Black boys.

Sade Harvison was raised by a loving, prayerful grandmother who kept a closet full of church dresses just for her.

Harvison was encouraged by her third-grade teacher, Mrs. Shaw, the first instructor who told her she was smart.

And she was nurtured by her fathers girlfriend, who introduced her to V.C. Andrews and other authors she would grow to love.

But Harvison still yearned for her mother, who struggled with addiction and was unable to care for her children.

I had everything I needed, said Harvison, 33, who grew up on Columbus' South Side. But emotionally, it was hard for me to be growing up without my mom.

Columbus Dispatch: Dispatch Mobile Newsroom now has newsletter focused on underrepresented neighborhoods

Sade Harvison wrote her first two books, "The Power of a Friend" and "Young Black King," to inspire young people, especially African American children.

Now a writer, Harvison captured her experience growing up in her first childrens book, The Power of a Friend, published in July by Xulon Press. It was followed last month by her second book, Young Black King, which is dedicated to her three sons  ages 5, 11 and 15  whom she is raising on the South Side.

Both books can be ordered at www.allthingslotuz.com.

Harvison said her goal is to inspire young people, especially those who look like her.

I am speaking to African American kids who are growing up in the inner city in nontraditional families, she said. I dont want them to feel like theyre alone.

The Power of a Friend is centered on a little girl named LoTuz, who has a mother somewhere lost in the world and thus feels different from her peers. Its what Harvison went through when she attended the since-closed Koebel Elementary School on the South Side.

When I went to school, I saw kids getting dropped off by moms, she said. At assemblies, it was my grandmother and my aunts and my dad. It was never my mom there. I did not have anybody my age that I knew of that was going through (that).

That all changed when she met Krystal Collins at cheerleading practice for the Columbus Raiders, a community youth football program. Collins was being raised by a churchgoing grandmother on the North Side, so she could relate to Harvison.

Story continues

It was just very natural, Harvison said. We would swap our mom stories. We also would talk about how we missed our moms. We bonded over a common pain.

The story of their friendship unfolds in Harvisons book. Columbus residents will recognize true-to-life visual details, including the Raiders cheerleading uniforms and the domed athletic complex in Mock Park where they practiced and performed at games.

There also are depictions of downtown Columbus and Cleveland Avenue, which is near where Harvison remembers living with her mother before she moved in with her grandmother at 6 years old.

It's really for people that grew up here, Harvison said. It takes them back down memory lane, which is what I wanted it to do.

More: An open letter to Columbus' Black girls from Black women who love them

For Harvisons aunt Yvette Harper, the book provided deeper insight about Harvison and her siblings.

I know both my mom and her dad tried to make the best life possible for them, said Harper, 54, of the Far East Side. But (Harvison) never expressed that she felt that way. And I never knew Krystal felt that way, either. I guess from the outside looking in, you don't realize just how much someone will still miss their parent, even if they're being well-taken care of.

Harvison said she has been writing poetry since middle school, but didnt pursue becoming an author until recently. Prior to the pandemic, she was an instructional assistant for Columbus City Schools.

During quarantine, she decided to follow her passion and use the time to write the majority of what are now 20 books dedicated to the LoTuz character. She hopes to release that series and turn it into a cartoon. (LoTuz already has a theme song, written by local rapper Trek Manifest.)

I know COVID and quarantine were devastating for a lot of people in the world, Harvison said. But I came alive during that time. I tapped into something so creative in me that I hadn't tapped into in so long. I was like, This is it. I'm putting it all into this.

Harvison eventually left her job. She cashed out some of her savings and used stimulus money to put out both The Power of a Friend and Young Black King.

More: Driving Park group aims to make difference with after-school program, museum plans

Illustrated by local artist Troy Cherry and self-published in December, Young Black King encourages Black boys to love their skin, learn their history and embrace their power and intelligence.

I grew up with a lot of boys in the inner city, Harvison said. I know how the neighborhoods affect them and how they can feel trapped in it. I wanted to create something that uplifted them to let them know that you are not what the world says you are.

Two of the boys in her life growing up were her brothers, Victor and Roy Harvison.

Victor, 35, of the North Side, said he admires how his sister was able to turn their situation into something positive.

Instead of running to drugs, alcohol or other things we witnessed in our family to escape, she channeled her pain into a way that could help others, he said. I think its amazing.

And as someone who rarely read about people who looked like him growing up, he emphasized the importance of diversity in childrens books.

Itll make you have empathy if youre not part of the culture, and find inspiration if you are a part of the culture, he said.

His sister said she may write a novel someday, but for now, her focus is on reaching young people.

Most of the writers that I admire, they are more formally educated than me, she said. They didn't grow up like me. (But) you do not have to be a literary genius to write. You have to be a great storyteller.

This story is part of the Dispatch's Mobile Newsroom initiative, which is currently focused on Driving Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Visit our reporters at the Driving Park branch library and read their work at dispatch.com/mobilenewsroom, where you also can sign up for The Mobile Newsroom newsletter.

ethompson@dispatch.com

@miss_ethompson

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sade Harvison children's book for nontraditional families
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. pauses to chat with a young girl at Nickerson Gardens housing project on Oct. 28, 1964, while visiting Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times)

Every January, as I read and listen to the tributes to Martin Luther King Jr., I think not only about what Dr. King gave the world, but also about what he gave me personally.

On his 1963 visit to Cleveland, Dr. King spoke from the back of a flatbed truck at a park not far from our neighborhood. My mother, whod grown up in Alabama during the reign of Jim Crow, took me, then 9 years old, with her to see her hero.

She made sure to arrive early enough to claim a space near the front of the crowd. And when Dr. King leaned down to shake hands, my mother lifted me up and thrust me forward, thrilled to see the civil rights icon clasping her daughters small, outstretched hand. My mother was rapturous. I was too young to understand the hullabaloo, but I felt for a moment as if I had encountered a deity.

Honestly, I dont remember much of what Dr. King said. His lilting cadence captivated me, but I was too young and ignorant of history then for the full measure of his message to sink in.

But there was one line he spoke that stopped me in my tracks; a rousing declaration thats unlikely to show up in the holiday tributes, but that still speaks volumes to me:

I dont care what anyone says, I have good hair!

His delivery was emphatic, and the crowd roared with laughter. I stood there totally confused, studying his head. His close-cropped hair looked to me like a patch of tightly coiled black beads, shiny with sweat.

I thought I knew what "good hair" meant. It was a comment often directed my way, as in Youre so lucky to have good hair. But his hair was nothing like mine.

Good hair in our vernacular then meant it didnt require a hot comb. My curls were frizzy, and I mostly hated them, as many young Black girls did back in the day, but they were loose enough that I could wear my hair in ponytails that bounced. This was something other Black folks seemed to care about.

Still, I understood even then the implications of the good hair label. It accepted white hair as the standard by which all hair should be judged. The closer to white your facial features, skin color and hair texture were judged to be, the higher you were in the Negro hierarchy.

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Yet here was this dark-skinned, kinky-haired man insisting that his hair was good. Was my hair still good? Was it going to wind up like his one day? I was curious about what he meant, but more than that, I was stirred by his boldness, his self-respect.

As I tuned in to his speech, a curtain in my mind began to lift. He talked about justice and sacrifice; about the resilience of our people and the dignity of our demands; about our connection to one another.

His hair began to look beautiful to me. And so did all the hair of the hundreds of people surrounding us.

I realized Dr. King was not commenting on the quality or texture of his hair. His hair was good because it was his hair; it was a Black mans hair, and its worth didnt rest on some arbitrary standard dictated by people who didnt value him.

That was when it dawned on me that I was part of something bigger than my family. I was connected to all these people by a history that both shaped our strengths and seeded our physical differences.

It may seem like a small thing now, but his declaration was revolutionary to me then  in an era when calling someone Black was an insult. We had all been socialized to value straight hair and light skin.

It would be years before Black ceased to be offensive and became our chosen descriptor; a signifier of unity. And, in my life, that will always be a part of Dr. Kings legacy.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Etowah County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized an agreement with Goodwyn Mills, Cawood, LLC for an engineering services project and consultation at the Little Canoe Creek Mega-Site. The project according to a news release is for plans and specifications for construction of (water) and (sewer) utilities for the site.

Everyone is aware of what we have at the mega-site, said Commission President Johnny Grant, Were on the right track but theres a process we have to get through to get it done.

Grant, who said previously his main goal for his presidency was the advancement of the site, told commissioners to "remain focused on the continued development of Little Canoe Creek so the site will be ready for new industry."

"I feel like we are really close to something big happening at our site and we need to be ready," he said.

Commissioners say they are "doing just that" with this project with GMC. The project's contract will be separated into four different phases. Most notably, it will include an elevated water tank adjacent to Interstate 59. It also includes industrial park lift stations and waterlines, a utility crossing under Interstate 59, sanitary and sewer hose main, water line and associated pumping stations.

"At a little over ($2 million), the design contract is the next step toward eliminating any barriers to development of the site," they said in the news release officially announcing the project. "With the (county's) action today, GMC can move right into plans for water and sewer infrastructure, so there will continue to by action at Little Canoe Creek."

CAO Shane Ellison explained during last week's work session that the county had advertised a Request for Qualifications during the month of December, and GMC was the only one to respond.

"This makes the decision easy, especially since GMC is providing engineering services for the roadwork and pad construction that's currently underway," he said.

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Currently, grading contractors are working to finish the 60-acre pad at the site, which has been impacted negatively because of rainy weather in the area. Commissioners said GMC is actively working to confirm plans for bidding on a new project that will expand the pad, clear land for site visibility and add additional roadwork to the site.

The commission authorized that funds for the project would come from money the county received via the American Rescue Act, which will go specifically toward the associated contract fees.

More: American Rescue Plan: Where's Gadsden going to spend that $24 million?

However, there are plans to attempt to recoup some of the money spent on the project at the state level. Ellison last week said the county will be looking at ways the state could match the ARPA funding for the project, which it will "be paying close attention to."

"I want this development and we need this development, but at the same time we need to see if we can catch our bets and see if we can get at least half of that money back," said Commissioner Tim Ramsey, "If we can get the state to pay some of that back to us, we need to be doing something ahead of time to make sure we do this correctly."

This announcement comes two weeks after the announcement of the A-USA Rail Corridor expansion by the state to the tune of $231 million, which could link the mega-site with the Port of Mobile. The county indicated it is "working to build on that economic development momentum," according to the official announcement.

Additionally, the county has received two grant awards through the Growing Alabama Program, with Norfolk Southern Railroad funding $5.7 million of these grants.

"The commission is excited about Gov. (Kay) Ivey's announcement regarding A-USA and thankful for Norfolk Southern's additional investment in the project," Grant said. "Now we want everyone to know that we have faith in ourselves."

Commissioners also approved a third change order for the mega-site, which removed lime treatment for roadbed stabilization that will be replaced with chert.

Overall, commissioners expressed excitement over the news of the mega-site, calling it "a big deal."

"I think this is a step in the right direction," said Commissioner Jamie Grant. "The mega-site is going to be something exciting and it's going to be here in a hurry."

"With this next investment of over $2,000,000, Etowah County is definitely sending a strong message to all parties: We are open for business," the Commission added.

The commission also approved vacating a portion of Kershaw Quarters Road, with no public comments being heard on the matter before approval. Johnny Grant abstained from voting because of having personal ties to the property in question.

A resolution that allows guardrails and end anchors to be built for the culvert spanning Black Creek on Pleasant Hill Road also was approved. It will be funded by the Local Road Safety Initiative Grant received by the county.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Etowah commissioners approve Little Canoe Creek project
A little after 4 in the morning on a Tuesday last February, Carolyn Cordle emailed a few co-workers who had recently quit.

The subject line: COUP.

I have downloaded everything that I think will be of importance, Cordle wrote, according to a lawsuit filed in December in the U.S. District Court of Western Missouri. If there is anything (else) you think we should have, please let me know and I will see if we have access.

In the days that followed, Cordle downloaded and emailed to herself and former employees a variety of confidential documents from Coversa, the health care nonprofit where she was director of clinical services: contracts with hospitals, nurse compensation agreements, training materials and more.

Three weeks later, Cordle left Coversa. She and other former employees now run its main competitor, SANE Solutions and Consulting.

As coups go, it was a successful one.

One year ago, Coversa provided 14 local hospitals with sexual assault nurse examiners, or SANE nurses, trained in treating victims of sexual assault. Today, that number is zero. SANE Solutions and Consulting has those contracts now.

Coversa, whose attorneys declined to comment, is seeking in excess of $1 million in monetary damages. In the lawsuit, they allege that Cordles actions were part of a larger conspiracy to steal proprietary information to help start a competing organization. They allege that Cordle and others spread false rumors about Coversa and convinced hospitals to terminate their contracts.

And they allege that the former employees used the nonprofits facilities to prescribe unauthorized controlled substances. Those employees include a former CEO who stepped down after losing her medical license.

For their part, the defendants say the implosion of Coversa was self-inflicted.

Scott Nehrbass, the attorney representing Cordle, SANE Solutions and others named in the lawsuit, said that Coversa engaged in nepotism that imperiled its mission and that nurses left only after finding themselves locked out of the building by its new executive director.

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He told The Star that Coversas claims are meritless and that this lawsuit undermines the larger goals of providing survivors with access to forensic nurses.

Theyre trying to make this into a commercial litigation matter instead of a lets all serve the public interest matter, he said.

Trouble at the top

Coversa, which is an acronym for Collection of Victim Evidence Regarding Sexual Assault, was founded in North Kansas City in 2000. As the name suggests, its mission was to provide survivors with nurses who are certified through specialized education and are trained in forensic examinations. These exams can sometimes take hours, and the results are often crucial pieces of evidence in the prosecution of sex crimes.

Most area hospitals do not have these specialized nurses on staff. Coversa plugged this gap by functioning as a hub for local nurses with SANE training. Hospitals contracted with Coversa, paying it fees in exchange for sending over qualified nurses when rape victims came in. The group collaborated with law enforcement, legal representatives and other local organizations like the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, or MOCSA.

In the last five years, Coversas attorneys say, the nonprofit has provided trauma-informed and compassionate forensic nursing services for over 1,700 victims of sexual assault in both Missouri and Kansas.

Its current troubles date back to 2019, when its board of directors removed Rebecca Hierholzer as CEO and medical director. A physician as well as the founder of Coversa, Hierholzer was in many ways the public face of the organization, the recipient of various awards for community service and philanthropy.

In March 2019, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, which licenses and regulates health care providers, issued an emergency order of suspension of Hierholzers medical license.

The boards investigations are confidential, per state law, so Hierholzers specific offense is not known. She eventually surrendered her Kansas license after the board found that allowing her to continue practicing medicine would constitute an immediate danger to the public health, safety, or welfare. Hierholzer also, according to the board, committed an act of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public.

The suspension of Hierholzers medical license came as news to the Coversa board of directors, which learned of it through a story on KSHB-41. Though Coversas attorneys said Hierholzers violations were unrelated to her work at Coversa, an emergency board meeting was called and she was quickly relieved of her role as medical director and subsequently removed from the nonprofits tax documents and bank accounts.

Mass exodus

In 2020, Jera Pruitt was hired as Coversas new executive director. Pruitt is the former public administrator for Platte County, elected as a Republican in 2016.

In their complaint, Coversas attorneys said Cordle had wanted the job. She had been with the organization since at least 2007 and was a registered SANE nurse, as well as the director of clinical services.

After Pruitt was hired instead, Cordle and credentialing coordinator Diana Layson refused to adjust to Coversas new leadership and became openly hostile toward the leadership team regarding changes the team was making within the organization, Coversas attorneys write.

Nehrbass, the attorney representing Cordle, Layson, and Hierholzer, said the rift was caused not by professional jealousy but rather by the fact that Pruitt is the sister of Coversa treasurer Sara Archer. Pruitt, he said, had never even worked for a nonprofit, never written a grant, and had no medical experience.

Ms. Cordle did not want the job, Nehrbass said. But she objected to it being given to the board treasurers sister, not only because it was nepotism but also because the board treasurers sister had no experience with and knew nothing about sexual assault nurse examiners or what they do or how to serve the public in this regard. Ms. Cordle and Diana Layson told the board they would leave if they hired the board treasurers sister, but the board did it anyway.

Through her attorneys, Pruitt declined to comment.

On their way out, Coversa claims, Cordle and Layson conspired to unlawfully access confidential information and engaged in tortious interference with Coversas business relationships. In addition to downloading various contracts with hospitals and nurses, Cordle and Layson are alleged to have also coordinated their efforts with Susan Gail-Seeley Kiger, a SANE nurse whod previously worked with Coversa and is another defendant represented by Nehrbass.

Kiger  who was still working as an independent SANE nurse contractor for Coversa  began spreading untrue rumors about the organization to local hospitals, according to Coversas complaint. She also registered the competitor company, SANE S&C, in Missouri around this time and began soliciting COVERSAS Nurse Partners via email to leave their positions and to work with SANE S&C for more money.

Kiger also filed a complaint with the Missouri Attorney Generals Office, expressing concerns about Coversas medical billing practices. (After reviewing it, the AGs office opted not to pursue the allegations.)

The day after Cordle left Coversa, three of its nurses terminated their contracts without explanation, Coversa claims. More nurses followed over the next month. Without nurses, Coversa began to lose contracts with local hospitals. As a result, it lost out on federal funding, the complaint states.

By August, Coversa had functionally shut down. Saint Lukes Health System, University Health (formerly Truman Medical Center), AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and the University of Kansas Health System have their own SANE staff. But all other specialized sexual assault exams in metro Kansas City are now conducted by Cordle and Kigers team at SANE Solutions and Consulting.

Whats next?

Nehrbass emphasized that there was nothing legally exclusive about any of the relationships among the hospitals, the nurses and Coversa. No restrictive covenants, no non-compete agreements, no confidentiality agreements.

The hospitals and nurses were not bound to Coversa; they were free to work also or instead with Ms. Cordle, Nehrbass said.

The entire point was supposed to be to serve the public interest by providing area hospitals with SANE services, whether it is Coversa, Ms. Cordle or others doing it.

Nehrbass said Coversa collapsed because Pruitt was a poor leader.

In the nine months that Ms. Pruitt had been employed, she had not met with the nurses or the hospitals, so the hospitals and nurses had no idea who she was, he said. When Ms. Cordle left, Ms. Pruitt herself reached out to every hospital and nurse to let them know that Ms. Cordle was no longer affiliated with Coversa. Most hospitals then contacted Ms. Cordle.

Likewise, he said, the only time nurses contacted Sue (Kiger) was when they found that their keys no longer worked for the Coversa office. Sue had been a supervisor for Coversa for many years and was a go-to person for all the nurses.

It was these actions  by Pruitt, not by Kiger or others trying to drum up business for their new outfit  that set in motion the migration of nurses and hospitals from Coversa to SANE Solutions, he said.

Hierholzer is not involved with SANE Solutions, Nehrbass said. In the complaint, Coversa says that it began receiving phone calls from local pharmacies last spring asking about prescriptions for controlled substances written by Hierholzer. These local pharmacies allegedly called Coversa because Hierholzer was still using its address as her place of practice, even though she was legally prohibited from prescribing drugs and hadnt been affiliated with Coversa for over two years.

The lawsuit also cites public Venmo payments between Hierholzer, Cordle, and Layson that appear to be related to pharmaceuticals, with descriptions such as Prednisone, prescription, medical script, and relax.

Hierholzer did not respond to requests for comment. Records show Hierholzer voluntarily surrendered her medical license in Missouri in July 2021, an action related to her Kansas revocation from the year before.

Nehrbass said of Hierholzer: Dr. H is the founder of Coversa and has donated over $100,000 of her personal money to sustain Coversa. The 19 years that she was the medical director, she never accepted one penny for her services.

In the coming weeks, Nehrbass said, he will be filing a vigorous answer and counterclaims.

The Coversa board chose this path, he said, and now they have to live with it.
Every day is different for Olivia Price, but it usually begins with checking in with Eakin Elementary School teachers, the principal, school counselor and most importantly  her clients.

Her clients are students at the Columbus City school on the West Side who may be dealing with issues such as having a hard time focusing, sitting in class or have been diagnosed with ADHD or anxiety.

She'll talk to them about what made them happy that day  like getting a hug from a teacher  or things that made them upset, like a disagreement with another student. Price, who has a master's degree in social work, is a quality mental health specialist.

My work is not just working with the students, I also talk to the teachers about my clients and I talk to their families too, Price said. Its kind of like a group of people working together to help the success of the child.

Olivia Price, a mental health specialist with Buckeye Ranch, works out of Eakin Elementary School, as part of a new partnership between Buckeye Ranch and Columbus City Schools.

This academic year, Buckeye Ranch, a youth and family mental health counseling and treatment organization, partnered with Columbus City Schools to place clinicians such as Price in their schools. Currently, there are Buckeye employees at Eakin, West Broad Elementary, Indianola Informal K-8 and Columbus Alternative High School.

The partnership comes during a time where mental health concerns have been spiking in K-12 students in the state and across the country amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental health: 'I was not living; I was just surviving': Pandemic's mental health effects magnified by race, poverty

Anxiety, social isolation and other mental health concerns

A recent statewide survey by Miami Universitys Ohio School Wellness Initiative found that 75% of the 106 K-12 school officials who participated in that portion of the survey reported increased mental health concerns among their students since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

The concerns included moderate to severe depression, significant anxiety and social isolation among students. The study also found 60% of participants reported increased concerns of trauma exposure, PTSD and suicidal ideation and attempts by school children.

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While these concerns existed before the pandemic began, COVID-19 and its variants have exacerbated the issues, said Kristy Brann, an assistant professor of school psychology at Miami University who is part of the initiative.

Brann added that a lot of behavioral and mental health concerns could be attributed to changes in a student's routine  not being able to interact with their peers and being physically in a classroom.

"It amplified what was already a problem," she said.

Having clinicians and mental health specialists in schools, Brann said, can reduce or eliminate problems associated with getting referrals, transportation or paying for behavioral health services.

And while Buckeye Ranch provides referral services to families who need them, the school-based program hopes to remove those barriers, said Andrea Weisberger, the organizations school-based liaison.

"Most school-based clinicians go to the school and serve the children there, because that's where children need it most," Weisberger said.

COVID in Ohio: Ohio schools paying big bucks for pandemic precautions

Embedding clinicians in local schools

Weisberger said having clinicians like therapists and qualified mental health social workers in schools allow teachers and other school staff to focus on academics. It also takes clinicians to an environment where students need them the most.

If a child is struggling in school, struggling with their academics and theres some kind of mental health or behavioral concern thats getting in the way of that, we come in to reduce  and remove that barrier for them," Weisberger said.

Buckeye Ranch has clinicians working in four local school districts: Columbus, South-Western, Reynoldsburg and Westerville.

This is the first year the organization has partnered with Columbus City Schools.

Cheryl Ward is executive director of a program at Columbus City Schools which makes sure the district upholds the Ohio Department of Education's Whole Child Framework. This includes supporting students' psychological and emotional safety, academics and health.

She said the district has worked with other school-based therapy services before, but its the first time it has had formal clinicians in their schools.

Ward said Columbus City Schools partnered with Buckeye Ranch after the organization received $1 million in grant money from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The grant allows clinicians to work with students who have no insurance or basic insurance that might not cover mental health services.

One of the most important parts of the CCS-Buckeye partnership is that school-based clinicians are there in real-time for the students  in the environment they are learning in, she said.

"If one of our young people who are being seen by the Ranch was having a crisis or struggle, the fact that the clinician is in the school building and can get to that young person, can walk them through what the crisis is or the situation is,"that's critical, Ward said.

Price said elementary school children are more moldable than older kids, and teaching them how to show gratitude or cope when upset can possibly help down the line if they have more serious diagnoses.

I dont want to say its going to hinder them for a bigger diagnosis, but at least they will know how to cope with those diagnoses as they get older, Price said.

After talking to students about whats been going on and doing therapeutic exercises, Price said she likes to plays games, such as Uno, or do coloring with the kids.

Price believes shes seen the impact therapy has had on the children, like when a student gave her a hug after she returned from vacation.

That showed me that I was missed, like what Im doing is impactful, Price said. That definitely made my day.

COVID-19: It's been a long COVID pandemic. Here's how neighbors have fought the loneliness

mylee@dispatch.com

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Buckeye Ranch and CCS partner to bring therapy services to students
Keith J. Taylor was a nationally syndicated cartoonist and greeting card artist who in recent years drew cartoons oriented around breaking news for Chicago Public Square, a free daily email news briefing.

Drawing was as natural and compulsive for him as breathing is for the rest of us, said Chicago Public Square Publisher Charlie Meyerson. The hardest part of working with Keith was deciding which of (his) many cartoons (that he submitted) were the best.

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Taylor, 72, died of complications from blood cancer Dec. 16 at Loyola Medical Center, said his daughter, Nell. A longtime Oak Park resident, Taylor also had COVID-19, his daughter said.

Keith Taylor (Family photo)

Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Taylor attended Evanston Township High School in 1967 before moving with his family to Champaign, where he graduated from Champaign High School in 1968.

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Taylor received a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1973. After that, he took part in a fellowship for painting at the Brooklyn Museum School of Art in New York in 1974. He returned to Champaign-Urbana to earn a master of fine arts degree in printmaking in 1977.

Taylor moved in 1977 to Chicago, where he worked for the next 13 years drawing original greeting cards and buttons for the Recycled Paper Greetings company. He also co-founded a printmaking workshop in Wicker Park called Hard Press Editions in 1977, and he would moonlight tending bar at many Chicago pubs and music venues from 1974 until 1996, including John Barleycorn, the Beat Kitchen and Holsteins.

Taylor was a graphic designer for the Sharprint custom apparel firm in River West from 1991 until 1995, then for the Partners in Design graphic design firm in Westchester from 1995 until 2004. He worked as a desktop publisher for the Rosemont-based National Roofing Contractors Association from 2005 until retiring two weeks before his death.

Taylor started drawing cartoons in the 1980s, and contributed editorial cartoons to the Logan Square Free Press newspaper from 1982 until 1989. He also drew cartoons for advertisements for WFMT-FM  including ads for author Studs Terkels radio show  as well as for the American Library Associations Banned Books Week In the early 1990s and for Public Works magazine from 2007 until 2009.

Taylors illustrations often were fairly simple in nature, with an economical use of lines and minimal shading. However, the images he produced were unmistakable.

After Taylor began drawing political cartoons critical of then-President Donald Trump, Meyerson asked Taylor in 2018 whether Taylor would be willing to make his editorial cartoons available to Chicago Public Square.

I had no idea what I was unleashing, Meyerson recalled. Keith generously said yes. And then he began sending me cartoons. And more cartoons. And more cartoons. A dozen a day wasnt unusual. And they were all great  many of them turned around within minutes of my suggestions.

Meyerson said Taylor often was well ahead of him when it came to being up on the news and developing cartoons in response.

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The upside of those occasions was that a cartoon Keith filed on a Tuesday would make perfect sense when the news (business) caught up with him on Thursday, Meyerson said. But, of course, by then Keith would have filed another couple of dozen cartoons.

Taylor won several awards for his work, including a Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headline Club for best illustration, and he earned the top spot in the Chicago Readers Best of Chicago poll for best visual artist. Taylor also was a co-honoree along with Meyerson for a Lisagor for best independent blog.

Taylor also produced four collections of political cartoons about Trump, each titled Mostly Trump and Other Disasters.

Nell Taylor said her father was always thinking about drawing.

He was never in my entire life without a pen, she said. Even, anytime we would be eating out anywhere with a paper tablecloth, he would be drawing on it.

Karen Anderson, a longtime friend, recalled Taylors willingness to hand-draw Christmas cards for her own family, as well as her wedding invitation and her childrens birth announcements.

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He was such a generous person with his art and his creativity, Anderson said. He was really a sweet genius, and was a real regular guy who connected with people so much.

Taylor was president of the Oak Park Art League from 2006 until 2011.

In addition to his daughter, Taylor is survived by his wife of more than 45 years, Rhona; a son, Max; a sister, Lynn Tripoli Young; a brother, Gary; and a grandson.

Services were held.

Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.

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Municipal workers prepare to bury a COVID victim in Gauhati, India, on April 25, 2021. (Anupam Nath / Associated Press)

Amanjit Singhs father, a family doctor, was ordered to reopen his clinic as early cases of COVID-19 were spreading in Mumbai. Within days, his father  gasping for oxygen at home  was dead. Two days later, so was his mother.

Left to fend for himself, the 17-year-old Singh set out to collect the compensation the government promised family members of health workers killed by COVID-19. For nine months, he had to navigate the depths of Indian bureaucracy  sidestepping lockdowns, winning police approval to visit government offices and the hospital  to obtain his fathers death certificate proving he fell victim to the coronavirus.

But in the end, it didnt matter. Singh was denied the $67,000 package because his father was dismissed as a private practitioner, not someone on the front lines of the pandemic.

I have no energy to try again, said Singh. People cant understand what its like to lose both your parents in just two days.

Indias health workers were lauded as corona warriors early in the pandemic. Millions of people across the country switched off their lights and put candles and lamps outside their homes in a national display of appreciation. The countrys military conducted flybys showering hospitals with flower petals.

But the tributes ring hollow to a growing chorus of families fighting for compensation promised to doctors, nurses, hospital porters and other medical workers who perished after contracting COVID-19.

Relatives say the government scheme is being too narrowly applied to only staff at public COVID-19 facilities and discriminates against the legions of private sector workers who were drafted to fight the virus amid a crush of patients at government hospitals.

COVID-19 is like war, said Dr. J.A. Jayalal, the former president of the Indian Medical Assn. All doctors should be treated as soldiers. They should be given the status of martyrs for treating patients.

The struggle for compensation highlights the fragility of Indias healthcare system as a new outbreak fueled by the arrival of the Omicron variant gathers momentum. The number of daily reported cases in India today is the highest since May, when the country was still reeling from an outbreak of the Delta variant that decimated cities and villages. Hundreds of doctors are already being infected in Mumbai alone.

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More than 480,000 people have died of COVID-19 in India, a loss of life thats second only to the United States, but believed to be much higher because of underreporting.

Experts are optimistic Omicron wont wreak havoc like Delta. More than half the countrys adults are fully vaccinated. Oxygen is being stockpiled and the central government isnt downplaying the risk of the disease like it did before.

That lesson has been learned by the center and state [governments]. I dont think theyll make that mistake again," said Ramanan Laxminarayan, a Princeton University epidemiologist based in New Delhi, warning that India could still see a surge in cases if superspreader events like mass political rallies and religious festivals are permitted.

The two-year crisis has laid bare chronic problems with understaffing, low pay and medicine shortages in the countrys health facilities. Dismal working conditions have led to labor strikes, most recently last month, when thousands of overworked resident doctors demonstrated in New Delhi over delays in career advancement.

Everyone is exhausted by the workload, said Dr. Manish Nigam, president of the Federation of Resident Doctors Assn., describing 38-hour shifts for some young physicians. Its taking a toll on our mental and emotional well-being.

India, the worlds second most populous country with 1.4 billion people, spends only 3.5% of its gross domestic product on health  well below the global average of 9.8% and less than Brazil (9.5%), South Africa (8.2%) and China (5.3%).

The ratio of doctors and nurses to patients in India is below standards recommended by the World Health Organization. Hospitals, constrained by limited budgets, have taken to offering short-term contracts to avoid having to offer insurance benefits.

Half the posts are vacant, Jalandhar Kumbhar, 53, said of the state-run Sassoon General Hospital in Pune where he works as a porter. The administration keeps asking staff to work more and only hires workers on one- or two-month contracts. Four cleaners died of COVID and nobody received compensation.

One of those cleaners was Surekha Bhalerao. The 52-year-old was sickened by COVID-19 for the second time in March and was admitted to Sassoon. She died within weeks, leaving behind a 22-year-old son who had to give up his job as a photographer and earn a more steady income as a grocery store worker to support his aging father. An appeal to receive compensation for Bhalerao has stalled for months.

The Indian government launched the compensation scheme in March 2020, promising to pay families of any public health worker or private medical professional requisitioned by the government for COVID-19 related responsibilities who died in the line of duty.

On Nov. 29, Bharati Pawar, Indias minister of state for health and family welfare, told members of Parliament that 1,509 health workers had received compensation. She did not disclose how many health workers had died during the pandemic or provide details about their occupations.

The actual number of deceased health workers is estimated to be much higher. The Indian Medical Assn. compiled a list of more than 1,700 doctors alone who died of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health did not respond to a request for comment.

Anita Panwar, president of the All India Government Nursing Federation, said the rules discriminated against nurses in private hospitals.

PCR test results can take three to seven days, during which time patients [with COVID symptoms] would seek treatment in a private health facility, Panwar said. Thats how health workers got infected. But because they were not officially on COVID duty, theyre not eligible for the insurance.

Singhs 52-year-old father, Ranjit Singh, closed his small clinic in April 2020, as did many private general practitioners concerned at that time about getting infected. He reopened his doors after the local government, desperate to treat the growing number of patients, threatened police action against clinics that remained closed.

For weeks, Ranjit Singh saw hundreds of patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Amanjit Singh is convinced thats how his father got sick, and then passed the virus to his mother.

Singh now lives with his maternal uncle. The second year culinary school student was denied a government program that covered college tuition for children of health workers who succumbed to the virus. He spent a week in a hospital because of a series of panic attacks triggered by the trauma of losing his parents.

That void will never be cured, he said. Whatever I do, I keep thinking about what mom or dad would have said. Life will never be the same.

Special correspondent Torgalkar reported from Pune and Times staff writer Pierson from Singapore.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Demonstrators gathered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor his legacy and continue seeking justice for Jason Walker who was shot nine days earlier by an off-duty sheriff's deputy.

The demonstration Monday at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Fayetteville began with recordings of King's speeches, including his 1961 "I Have a Dream" address. Those attending stood silently and reflected on the words as the recording played.

Local activists and Fayetteville residents, many of whom have been out for every protest, recited quotes from King and talked about the importance of living out his mission to seek accountability and equity in their communities.

Myah Warren speaks at a Justice for Jason Walker rally at MLK Memorial Park on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Walker, 37, was shot and killed on Saturday, Jan. 8, by an off-duty Cumberland County Sheriff's deputy.

"Our community's been rocked by an injustice," said activist Shaun McMillan. "We're here as much for that action, to see justice for Jason, as we are to observe the legacy of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

Walker, 37, was an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed just a few feet from his home by an off-duty lieutenant with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 8. His death was the second of a Black man in Fayetteville killed by a motorist in the same week. Days before Walker's death, Stephen Addison, 35, was shot and killed in a road rage incident on Jan. 3.

The two deaths have sparked days of protesting from Fayetteville residents and others who want transparency from law enforcement.

Family members of Jason Walker speak at a Justice for Jason Walker rally at MLK Memorial Park on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Walker, 37, was shot and killed on Saturday, Jan. 8, by an off-duty Cumberland County Sheriff's deputy.

Walker's death has also garnered national attention. Civil rights lawyer and activist Ben Crump, who represented the families of other unarmed Black Americans including Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, visited Fayetteville on Thursday to announce his plans to seek justice and accountability from all parties involved.

On MLK Day, demonstrators wished to keep King's message for truth, justice, and equity alive.

'Now is not the time to stop'

The Statue Bureau of Investigation is currently handling the investigation into Walker's death after the Fayetteville Police Department and the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office announced they would not be handling the case last Sunday.

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Some people protesting Walker's death say there should be more action from law enforcement, the SBI, and elected officials in sharing information with the public about what happened.

Few local government officials have been in attendance at any of the demonstrations since Walker's death.

One activist called out the missing officials.

"You would think in a reelection year that's its important to know where your elected official stands," said Myah Warren, a local activist in Fayetteville.

More: Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump calls for justice, saying 'Jason Walker matters'

More: Fayetteville police, DA say outside agencies to investigate shooting death of Fayetteville man

She said also announced that she plans to run for a seat on the Fayetteville City Council.

Engraved on the inner left wall of a statue at the park are words from King's 1963 "Letter to a Birmingham Jail" reading "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Warren, 24, said Walker's family is grieving.

More: 911 call audio released in Jason Walker shooting death in Fayetteville

"Now is not the time to rest," she said. "Now is not the time to stop fighting."

Change through elections

An advocate from Democracy North Carolina, Manuel "Manny" Diaz, spoke to the crowd Monday about the importance of using voting in election as a tool. He brought several voter registration forms to help register people.

"Jason Walker's another victim of an unjust system," Diaz said. "Organizers and activists in Fayetteville have been fighting for transparency and accountability for years, for several victims ... and we still haven't seen that accountability."

Diaz said the changes to unjust systems require more people showing up not just to marches and protests, but also to city and county government meetings. King was an advocate for voting rights equality and believed voting gave citizens more power to change their communities.

"To change this unjust system, we have to vote. Politicians will react to you voting, they pay attention. We have to show up to vote," Diaz said. "For the past year, I've been hearing a lot of discontent toward City Council in Fayetteville, so I'm expecting a lot of people to show up."

Fayetteville resident and healthcare worker Angela Malloy said that even though she did not know Walker, she has come out each day to protest. She said she wanted to support and stand in solidarity with his family.

"I have a son and a husband and a father and a brother. This could have been any one of them," Malloy said. "For some reason, many in this community have made advocating for justice controversial, marching for justice controversial."

Malloy called out people she believed were being "safe" in their support for Walker and others. She quoted King saying, "in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," to say she is focusing on people in the Fayetteville community who have not been speaking out for different injustices.

More: Witnesses in body cam interviews, including Jason Walker's father, say he jumped on truck

Remembering other victims

Toward the end of the demonstration, McMillan said there are other unarmed Black people and people of color who were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in the Fayetteville area. He said the families of those lost have many things in common including a lack of information from authorities.

Shaun McMillan speaks at a Justice for Jason Walker rally at MLK Memorial Park on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Walker, 37, was shot and killed on Saturday, Jan. 8, by an off-duty Cumberland County Sheriff's deputy.

McMillan and others have been demanding more information from law enforcement in Walker's case.

"Another similar thread is feeling like they were alone because there wasn't an outcry after the death of their loved ones," McMillan said. "I think we have an opportunity as a community, as a city, to not allow another family to feel like that."

McMillan said said he hopes that now with the involvement of the SBI and the Department of Justice looking into the Walker case, some questions about the other deaths will be answered.

More demonstrations for Walker are planned for the remainder of the week, according to Warren who urged the crowd to dream of a world with more equality and justice.

"I, too, have a dream," Warren said. "I have a dream that one day my children won't have to stand where I stand, my children won't have to march around Fayetteville... because things will be equal. True equality."

Investigative Reporter Kristen Johnson can be reached at kjohnson1@gannett.com.

Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. Click the "subscribe'' link at the top of this article.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Protests over Jason Walker's death at MLK park in Fayetteville
ConsiderThis

In most stories, the liberation of the concentration camps is the beginning of the end of a nightmare. But Austrian film Great Freedom shows that the truth wasnt as simple for everyone. In many cases, LGBTQ+ concentration camp inmates were simply transferred to prison cells.

Thats the most inhuman scandal explored in director Sebastian Meises Cannes Un Certain Regard winner: Germanys Paragraph 175, a provision of a German criminal code that reigned from 1871 to (shockingly) early 1994, criminalizing all homosexual acts between men. The story is told through the eyes and heavy, wearied soul of the fictional Hans Hoffmann, who is repeatedly imprisoned over decades in post-World War II Germany for being gay. Hes played by Franz Rogowski, the muse of German director Christian Petzold (Undine, Transit) and one of the most striking actors working in European cinema and beyond.

More from IndieWire

Over the course of his imprisonment, Hans forms a deep but often volatile bond with longtime cellmate Viktor (played by fellow Austrian actor Georg Friedrich), at turns platonic, romantic, sexual, and parasitic as Hans slowly resigns himself to the belief that life wont change and his may perhaps even be best lived out within the drab, crumbling walls of the dank prison.

Meise and co-writer Thomas Reider spoke to real men affected by the Paragraph while researching the film  and eventually shot it in an actual prison in eastern Germany, forgoing recreating the cells on a studio. This devastating movie is now Austrias submission for the Best International Feature Academy Award, and last month landed on the shortlist of 15.

Rogowskis training as a dancer shows in his physical commitment to the role  gaining and losing pounds across a shoot that took place before and then during the pandemic  while conveying his characters broken interior through a somber, low-key, unmannered performance that suggests an actor who just shows up to set and does his job without pageantry. Meise, in our interview below for the film, confirmed that to be true.

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Mubi releases the movie March 4 at NYCs Film Forum, followed by a national expansion. Academy voters shouldnt miss the vital Great Freedom, which tells a story of which not many of us  including even the filmmaker before he embarked on the project  are aware. While Paragraph 175 was repealed just over 25 years ago, the nation didnt start owning up to its actions until just a few years ago, issuing long-overdue apologies in hopes of redressing the continuing pang of systemic national guilt.

IndieWire: What was your knowledge of Paragraph 175, in terms of the criminalization of homosexuality in Germany?

Sebastian Meise: Actually, I didnt know so much about it. We came across these reports of gay men who were liberated from concentration camps and directly put into prison by the Allies, or put into prisons to serve their remaining sentences. We read that  it was an article in some book about being gay in Hamburg  and I couldnt really believe it. It sounded so bizarre. I discovered I have more knowledge about the queer history of the United States. I knew about the Stonewall riots. I was not aware of the dimension of the persecution. I did not know that there was a Paragraph like this. It was just not in our consciousness, in Austria and Germany. We never heard about this in school. I talked about this with the older generation, like with my father, for example. He didnt know anything about it, and he grew up at this time. We talked about this with a younger generation of gay people; they also had no knowledge. So we started researching, and the story grew more and more.

The story is fictional, but you did talk to a lot of actual people in the process. How did you find these individuals?

Theres a gay museum in Berlin, the Archive of the Memory. They conducted a series of interviews with people with personal experience. So we met these people. What we did in Vienna, theres an old gay cafe, and theres always some older gay couples sitting in the back. We just went to them and talked to them. It turned out that everyone had experience with law enforcement back in the 60s. There was one very moving situation where one man, he was there with his long-life partner, he never told his partner he was in prison back in the 60s. It was such a taboo for them because in Austria and Germany, the state never acknowledged the fact that [being gay] had been a crime.

Since this wasnt abolished until the mid-1990s, what do you feel is the position toward the Paragraph is in Germany now?

Many things have changed in terms of LGBT rights, of course, but it was only 2017 that they took the first steps concerning apologies and things like this. In Austria, it was only this year that the Minister of Justice made an apology and declared officially that this was against human rights.

You shot the film before and during the pandemic, in an actual prison. Tell me about that atmosphere as a filmmaker where the actors are sharing a real cell, theyre sleeping in their cells, theyre smoking in their cells, just as you see in the movie.

There was a big discussion if we should shoot the cells in a studio, and I am not so much a fan of studio work because its just clean, and shooting in a real location does something to the atmosphere. Of course, it was a film set. It was an empty prison, and we decorated it and painted the walls and all that. It was cold. It was not easy to shoot. We had to bring the lights up. The real place did something to the team, and this is what I like about filmmaking: to have an anchor in reality somehow.

Great Freedom - Credit: Mubi

Mubi

How did you come to cast Franz Rogowski? We know him from the films of Christian Petzold and Michael Haneke. It sounds like you had him in mind writing it.

Halfway through the script, you see this film is going to happen one day probably, and you start to think about the cast. As a couple, [Franz Rogowski and Georg Friedrich] were in my mind immediately We were writing the characters for them, without knowing if they would even take the parts. But they did. Thank god. They came quite late, but there was space to improvise. Not too much, because it was a tight schedule, but we tried to give them places where they can find themselves or find the relationship.

The film tracks Hans persecution over the decades, as he is repeatedly sent back to prison for deviant practices.

This came quite early in the writing process because we were looking to translate the life he is in. I always said this is a story about two people who are stigmatized for life. Hans cannot change himself. The minute he walks out of prison, he is persecuted again. We were trying to find a way to translate this. Hes trapped in a time loop, somehow. This chronological way of telling the story we thought could be the best [approach].

Great Freedom - Credit: Mubi

Mubi

The way the film moves between time periods is fluid and seamless. Were there subtle modulations Franz would do in his performance, whether between the 40s, 50s, or 60s, to mark the passage of time or a world-weariness taking hold?

Its really subtle, but he lost like 12 kilos, in shooting from one era to another. Its not too obvious, but we were trying to find a way that makes it real somehow in addition to all the makeup stuff, which is always fake somehow. We were trying to find a way that, every time we come into another time with him, hes in a completely different stage of his life. He has a completely different energy. In the 40s, hes more like this animal, full of fear. In the 50s, hes full of energy, and in the 60s, hes more or less calmed down, and not believing that things will ever change.

He seems like the kind of actor who just shows up to set and is effortless about his approach. He doesnt seem like hes doing a lot of method or obsession between takes. What is his style?

He likes to talk a lot. Hes completely contrary to Georg. The great thing about [Franz], what I really love about him, he always tries to find a way not to act  but just be the character.

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There's a new judge and a new prosecutor in the 2019 case of a teenager convicted of stabbing a girl at an IU music camp, then charged with plotting to maim and kill more than a dozen people he held responsible for his plight.

Dongwook "Mikey" Ko, who will turn 20 next month, was 17 when the assault at Indiana University's Summer Strings Academy happened in Bloomington.

According to police accounts and court records, Ko lured the girl from a private practice room, wrestled her to the floor and cut her multiple times with a pocket knife. The two knew one another from attending the camp the previous summer, but Ko was not a camper the summer the assault occurred.

Ko pleaded guilty to criminal confinement with a deadly weapon in exchange for the dismissal of related charges. The prosecutor's office asked for a 12-year jail term, but Monroe Circuit Judge Darcie Fawcett sentenced him instead to eight years on house arrest followed by two years on probation.

Coverage of sentencing: Dongwook Ko sentenced for attacking girl at Indiana University strings academy in 2019

Two days after the Nov. 3 sentencing, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested Ko at the Kensington Park home where he lived with his mother. Ko's felony conviction canceled his visa and put the deportation process into motion.

He was taken to the Clay County Jail, an hour's drive from Bloomington, to be held until deportation to South Korea. Both Ko and his mother, who came to Bloomington as a graduate student in 2011, are South Korean citizens.

It was during his time awaiting transport to South Korea that police say Ko plotted with his cellmate a plan to torture and kill 14 people, ranging from girls he went to high school with to the stabbing victim's parents.

Coverage of conspiracy case: Bloomington teen charged with plotting to kill 14 people connected to his conviction

Ko's deportation remains on hold because of the conspiracy to commit murder charge.

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The probable-cause affidavit in that case contends Ko told his cellmate he would arrange to post the man's $2,500 bail so he could get released, then would pay him $20,000 to commit the murders.

The 39-year-old man reported the scheme to police, and cooperated with gathering evidence documenting Ko's alleged plan.

A hearing on the status of Ko's Monroe County case and home-detention scheduled for Friday was canceled after defense attorney John Tompkins asked for a continuance. It's now set for Feb. 9, 10 days after Ko is scheduled to appear in a Clay County court to face the murder conspiracy allegation.

Court records show that on Jan. 7, Fawcett recused herself from the case; no reason was stated in the motion, which she signed. Ko's local case then was reassigned to Monroe Circuit Judge MaryEllen Diekhoff.

Monroe County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Kehr is now in charge of prosecuting the local case, replacing two lawyers from his office whose names appeared on Ko's hit list.

On Dec. 10, Ko had a hearing before Monroe Circuit Judge Valeri Haughton, who found there was probable cause that Ko had violated the terms of his home detention agreement when he was arrested over the alleged murder plot. If he is found guilty of violating the agreement, some or all of his original sentence could be changed to prison time.

The murder conspiracy charge in Clay County carries a possible prison term of 10 to 30 years and a fine up to $10,000.

Ko continues to be held without bail, and under an ICE detention order.

Contact reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com, 812-331-4362 or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana University stabbing case has a new judge and prosecutor
Jan. 18A Dormont man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail after North Huntingdon police said he fled a September drug bust.

Linere Cosby, 25, is charged with possession with intent to deliver, escape, criminal use of a communication facility and a drug offense.

Township police said they worked with a confidential informant to set up a drug buy Sept. 13 with Cosby, who goes by the street name "Braddocc," according to court papers. Cosby is accused of selling a confidential informant 279 stamp bags containing suspected heroin for $1,140 outside Huntingdon Inn Motel.

Cosby fled when he saw two plainclothes officers before police could take him into custody, according to court papers. Investigators said he ran past police cars, across Route 30 and into a wooded area. They searched for him using a drone and state police helicopter for nearly two hours.

A woman who rode in a Chevrolet Malibu with Cosby told investigators she didn't know him well and provided them with his Instagram and Facebook accounts, on which he used a false name, according to court papers. She was not charged.

Police said they used the social media accounts and other photographs available to them to help identify Cosby as the suspect. Charges were filed Dec. 3. He was arraigned last week and denied bail because of the danger to the community, according to online court records. A Feb. 2 preliminary hearing is set. No attorney was listed in online court records.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .
CAIRO (Reuters) - Dubai's Emirates airline announced on Tuesday that it will suspend flights to several destinations in the United States as of Jan. 19 until further notice because of concerns over 5G mobile deployment.

The move is "due to operational concerns associated with the planned deployment of 5G mobile network services in the U.S.", the company said. It said the destinations include Boston, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Emirates flights to New York's JFK, Los Angeles International Airport and Washington DC's Dulles International Airport will continue to operate as usual, the company added.

"We are working closely with aircraft manufacturers and the relevant authorities to alleviate operational concerns, and we hope to resume our US services as soon as possible," the carrier said.

The White House said earlier on Tuesday that it wants to reach a solution on 5G deployment that protects air safety while minimizing disruption to air travel.

(Reporting by Lilian Wagdy and Moataz Mohamed; editing by Grant McCool)
Parole was recently denied to Lawrence Stafford, who is shown here in a photo taken at the 1992 trial in which he was convicted in Shawnee County District Court of two counts of first-degree murder.

A close friend of the late Mary Workman's expressed joy after learning parole had been denied to Larry Stafford, the man convicted in the double murder 30 years ago this month of Workman and her boyfriend, John King.

"We are elated!" Jefferson County resident Gail Hefner told The Capital-Journal.

The Kansas Prisoner Review Board last month denied parole to Stafford, 77, a Norton Correctional Facility inmate who also has a conviction for voluntary manslaughter linked to a separate killing committed in 1978.

Stafford will next become parole-eligible on Jan. 1, 2027, said Carol Pitts, public information officer for the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Hefner, a friend of Workman's since 1973, had asked the prisoner review board to deny parole to Stafford, who was Workman's former boyfriend, she told The Capital-Journal last November.

Workman and Stafford dated off and on for a total of three years before they broke up in 1991, according to testimony at Stafford's trial.

Stafford had killed before

Stafford had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the 1978 gunshot death of Kirby Clifton, 31, whose body was found in his partially submerged car in the Missouri River at Atchison.

Stafford served prison time, then was released on parole in 1982 and came to live in Shawnee County, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Testimony at Stafford's trial indicated that after their breakup, her fear of Stafford caused Workman to move in with other relatives for several months.

She then returned to her home but changed the locks on its doors and also changed the remote control code on its garage door every day.

King, Workman's boyfriend, found Stafford in October 1991 hiding behind a refrigerator in King's home in Topeka holding a shotgun, which King took away. Stafford was charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated assault.

Sentence was reduced upon appeal

Those charges were dropped after Workman, 42, and King, 33, were shot to death early Jan. 5, 1992, in Workman's home at 840 N.E. 35th.

Story continues

At the end of a 10-day trial, a jury convicted Stafford in May 1992 of two counts of first-degree murder, as well as one count each of aggravated burglary and the unlawful possession of a firearm.

Stafford was initially sentenced to two "Hard 40" life prison terms, which would have left him ineligible for parole for at least 80 years, but that sentence was reduced upon appeal.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Parole denied to man serving time in 1992 Shawnee County double murder
Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Lords Group Trading PLC (LON:LORD) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Lords Group Trading

What's the estimated valuation?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK14.9m UK14.1m UK13.6m UK13.4m UK13.2m UK13.1m UK13.1m UK13.1m UK13.2m UK13.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -3.29% Est @ -2.03% Est @ -1.15% Est @ -0.54% Est @ -0.1% Est @ 0.2% Est @ 0.41% Est @ 0.56% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% UK13.9 UK12.3 UK11.1 UK10.1 UK9.3 UK8.7 UK8.1 UK7.6 UK7.1 UK6.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK94m

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2031  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK13m (1 + 0.9%)  (7.2% 0.9%) = UK213m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK213m ( 1 + 7.2%)10= UK107m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK201m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK1.1, the company appears about fair value at a 12% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Lords Group Trading as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.284. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Looking Ahead:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Lords Group Trading, there are three further aspects you should consider:

Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Lords Group Trading you should be aware of, and 1 of them is significant. Future Earnings: How does LORD's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Malik McDowell (58) recovers a fumble on a kickoff return during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Malik McDowell's big chance with the Cleveland Browns has almost certainly ended.

The former Michigan State football defensive tackle with a long history of off-field trouble is highly unlikely to be retained as an exclusive rights free agent in March because of his latest brush with the law, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday.

McDowell, 25, was arrested Monday by the Broward Sheriffs Office on charges of exposing himself in public, resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer in Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to court records.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel first reported the arrest.

The Browns will continue to gather facts surrounding the arrest, the person familiar with the situation said, but the incident is expected to result in the franchise moving on from McDowell. His contract with the Browns will officially expire on March 16, when free agency begins.

[ From 2019: Malik McDowell's dreams crashed on his ATV: 'He's not the same person' ]

We are aware of the very concerning incident and arrest involving Malik McDowell and are in the process of gathering more information," a Browns spokesperson said Tuesday in a prepared statement. "We understand the severity of this matter and our thoughts are for the well-being of all involved. We will have no further comment at this time.

Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Malik McDowell is fighting for a roster spot.

2021 season review: What went wrong for the Cleveland Browns goes far deeper than Baker Mayfield's injury-plagued season

McDowell's NFL career came to an abrupt stop in 2017 before it began. Drafted 35th overall by the Seattle Seahawks out of Michigan State University, McDowell suffered serious injuries, including to his head, in an ATV accident in July 2017 and subsequently committed a seris of crimes to which he eventually pleaded guilty.

Three of his arrests involved alcohol, including one during which he assaulted a police officer at a gas station. Another arrest stemmed from him possessing a stolen truck. He was sentenced to 11 months in jail and three years of probation in 2019.

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Despite McDowell being out of football for four years, the Browns researched him and ultimately gave him a shot to resurrect his career by signing him in March 2021.

McDowell started 14 of the 15 games in which he appeared during the 2021 season and compiled 33 tackles, three sacks and five quarterback hits.

Cleveland now searching for help: Browns defensive line coach Chris Kiffin joining Ole Miss coaching staff

Malik McDowell is 25 and hasnt played in a real game since the 2016 season at Michigan State.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Malik McDowell arrested for public exposure, assaulting deputy
A day after Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin announced his Republican candidacy for governor, his campaign rolled out dozens of endorsements led by Illinois House GOP leader Jim Durkin, making Irvin the establishment candidate for the nomination.

Irvin, the first Black mayor of Illinois second largest city, was the fifth candidate to announce a bid for the GOP governor nomination in the June 28 primary, with the winner gaining the right to take on first-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker in the Nov. 8 general election.

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On Tuesday, as it filed his statement of candidacy, Irvins campaign issued a list of 60 endorsements from a wide spectrum of Republicans including Durkin and former Downstate GOP Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville, Illinois Republican National Committeeman Richard Porter, former state GOP Chair Tim Schneider, former U.S. Ambassador and GOP financier Ron Gidwitz, as well as several individual members of the legislature and the Republican State Central Committee.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin speaks at the Aurora police station about a police-involved shooting in which one person was killed and two officers injured in March 2018. Irvin is the fifth candidate to announce a bid for the GOP governor nomination in the June 28 primary. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)

Irvin heads a slate assembled to attract backing from Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of investment firm Citadel and the states wealthiest person. Griffin has pledged to go all in against Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, and said in a statement on Monday that he was excited about Irvins entry into the race.

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A link to Griffin is important to Durkin, who heads the 45-member GOP minority against the 73-member Democratic majority in the Illinois House and is looking for Griffins financial help to win down-ballot House seats against Democrats expected to get cash from Pritzker.

State Rep. Avery Bourne of Morrisonville, a member of Durkins leadership team, is Irvins candidate for lieutenant governor.

In a statement Durkin touted Irvins credentials as a former assistant states attorney in Cook and Kane counties, echoing on the candidates own law-and-order focus in his announcement.

Richard Irvin was a prosecutor who knows what it takes to make Illinois safe. As Mayor, Richard hired more cops and stood proudly with law enforcement when Illinois Democrats repeatedly turned their backs. Thats the kind of leadership we need today in Illinois, Durkin said.

In his announcement, Irvin touted efforts to increase police funding in Aurora, adding, Defund the police is dumb, dangerous and it costs lives. And I believe that all lives matter. Every family should be safe.

All lives matter has become a phrase associated with conservatives supporting police and attacking the Black Lives Matter movement that grew out of incidents of police violence. In Irvins announcement video, the phrase appears as a graphic, as does Back the Blue.

But in a candidate questionnaire for his reelection campaign as mayor in March of last year, Irvin gave an unqualified endorsement of the Black Lives Matter movement.

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I support Black Lives Matter strongly and passionately. I am supportive and proud of the peaceful demonstration throughout this past summer in response to the murder of George Floyd, Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor and many others, Irvin was quoted as saying.

Politics, especially racial politics, are rarely easy but I believe this past summer was a wake-up call to America and we continue you that momentum going to create substantive change, he said.

Almost a year earlier, Ervin had announced a four-part plan to increase police accountability and require more citizen oversight over law enforcement.

Asked to explain Irvins evolution in thinking on the issue, his campaign had no immediate comment.

Irvins attempt to become the first major party Black nominee for Illinois governor is aimed at drawing to the GOP disaffected Black voters who traditionally vote overwhelmingly Democratic. But his announcement, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, drew criticism from the Democratic leaders of the Legislative Black Caucus.

In a statement, the caucus leaders accused Irvin of co-opting a day of great significance.

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On a day dedicated to service, equality and protection of those on the margins of society, the Republican Party has shown their shallow opportunism takes no days off. We have no interest in reverting, retreating or going backward. In Illinois, Black Lives Matter today, tomorrow and every day, the statement said.

rap30@aol.com
Former Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabes mental health has declined rapidly since he was found guilty of multiple public corruption charges last summer, leading his attorney to request a mental competency evaluation before his sentencing.

In a motion filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, defense attorney James Broccoletti said McCabe suffers from early-onset Alzheimers disease and asked the court to order a psychiatric or psychological examination of his client to determine if hes mentally competent. In order to be found competent, a defendant in a criminal case must be able to understand the proceedings they face and help with their defense. Competency issues, however, are typically raised before trial, not sentencing.

McCabe, 63, was convicted of 11 bribery and public corruption charges at the end of a 3-week trial in August. McCabe testified in his own defense and denied soliciting and taking bribes from two businessmen who had contracts with the citys jail.

U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen immediately revoked McCabes bond after the jury announced its verdict and scheduled sentencing for Friday. That date has now been pushed back to May 20.

McCabe initially was taken to Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk on Aug. 24 but was transferred the next day to Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover.

Hes been kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day since then, according to his attorneys motion. In addition to early-onset Alzheimers, he now suffers from dizziness and vertigo, the document said.

Counsel has met with and spoken to Mr. McCabe and has become increasingly concerned that his medical conditions, coupled with the conditions of his confinement, have caused significant cognitive decline, the motion said. Based upon counsels interactions and observations of Mr. McCabe, he has reasonable cause to believe that Mr. McCabe may presently be suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders him mentally incompetent to such a degree that he is no longer able to properly assist in his own defense.

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In addition to the competency evaluation, Broccoletti asked the court to schedule a hearing to discuss the reports findings.

Melissa OBoyle, the lead prosecutor on the case, didnt respond to a request for more information from The Virginian-Pilot.

Each of the charges McCabe was convicted of carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

McCabe was Norfolks longest serving sheriff. He was first elected in 1993 and easily won reelection five more times. He abruptly resigned in February 2017 while under federal investigation, and was indicted in October 2019.

Jane Harper, 757-222-5097, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
FAIRHAVEN  The recently launched Belonging Committee will advise the community on diversity, equality and inclusion, such as assisting Fairhaven's Got Pride! to become an official town event.

We're trying to get everybody to understand each other and be more with one another," said Leon Correy, 44, committee chair.

The concept of a Belonging Committee was suggested in April 2020, during the Black Lives Matter protests across the country. From a race relations standpoint, the world was on fire," Correy said.

Born and raised in Providence, the Fairhaven resident said he worked with the Board of Selectmen to create a neutral advisory board whose main objective is to evaluate various circumstances, provide training when necessary and be all encompassing when it comes to "belonging" in the town of Fairhaven.

New Bedford police chief Joseph Cordeiro joins protestors in taking a knee in memory of George Floyd. The protest started at the intersection of Union Street and County Street in downtown New Bedford and progressed to the site where Malcom Gracia was killed by police on Cedar Street in 2012. [ PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG ]

However, at the time, the town administrator hadn't been appointed and the board voted to delay the Belonging Committee until the position was filled.

Fairhaven isn't the first town to inspire this type of committee. An Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee, has been formed around the country as well as in towns such as Sharon, Westford, and Northborough.

New Bedfords diversity, inclusion, and equity work falls under the Citys Human Relations Commission.

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"Having a board like this is about belonging, understanding, inclusion, diversity, equity," said Correy. "All things that are topics that either excite people or put people on edge."

In August 2021, despite a town administrator still not appointed, Correy went in front of the board again and was approved.

After three meetings, the committee is already planning future events such a living library and taking Fairhaven's Got Pride! under their wing for June 2022.

Launching Fairhaven's Got Pride!

In June 2021, Fairhaven Town Hall made headlines after someone anonymously created a rainbow crosswalk out of chalk when the Board of Selectman passed on flying the Pride Flag during Pride month. The request was denied with a vote of 2-1.

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Ten days later, Fairhaven resident Diane Hahn (and a few other residents) created an event to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community in front of the town hall.

The event attracted nearly 100 people.

Fairhaven residents gather to show their support during an impromptu Fairhaven Got Pride! event on June 27. The event was planned after the Fairhaven Town Hall decided not to fly the Pride Flag during Pride month.

We were going to be happy if a dozen people showed up, but more and more people came," Hahn said. "The police graciously, on their own, had to come in and set up barriers to the streets to block off that area."

Hahn said the afternoon became an "open mic" for people to share their stories and ask for acceptance and love by the community. Residents also took chalk and recreated the rainbow crosswalk that had beeen washed away.

'The biggest year of growth': SouthCoast LGBTQ+ Network makes strides in 2021

"We were shocked and could not believe what happened in something that was just put together in a few days," Hahn said.

Fairhaven residents recreate the chalk rainbow in front of town hall, a statement that was washed away after Fairhaven Town Hall decided not to fly the Pride Flag during Pride month.

She also said that her son, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, was disappointed when he heard the news that the Pride Flag wouldn't fly.

Correy said that having the Belonging Committee, at the time, would've helped advise the Board of Selectmen about the meaning and consequences on issues such as this.

A lot of people actually made the assumption, because of the timing, that the committee was made as an indirect response to that," Correy said.

But it was already in the works."

Advising the Board of Selectmen

On Wednesday, during the committee's third meeting, they were asked to redefine the committee's missions statement and breakdown after a board member withdrew due to miscommunication on the meeting's goals.

Correy said there has been confusion between the term "belonging" in terms of putting aside your differences and pretending they're not there, instead of embracing those differences and coming together.

Leon Correy, chair of the Belonging Committee, speaks during the Fairhaven Got Pride! event on June 27. The event was planned after the Fairhaven Town Hall decided not to fly the Pride Flag during Pride month.

"I think we need to inform people and make sure they're aware, because when you leave it open, people seem to replace belonging with unity," Correy added.

For example, Correy referenced Fairhaven's annual Our Lady of Angels Portuguese Feast  a day to celebrate Portuguese culture. "Everybody likes to go to the Portuguese feast, even if they're not all Portuguese, they celebrate," he said.

"They're celebrating culture. You're not telling anybody to put those things aside. You're using it to come together."

Community supporting communities

During the Fairhaven's Got Pride! event, Hahn said her son and many others felt a lot of love that day.

"Lately, you see more bad people than good, but there's more good out there than that. And Fairhaven does have good," Hahn added. "Given the amount of people that showed up, it is a really caring community.

"I knew there were people out there that were ready to hear this message."

Hahn is working with the Belonging Committee to make Fairhaven's Got Pride! an annual event on the last Sunday of June.

Hahn asks anyone interested to join the Facebook group to help. She hopes to attract local businesses and other surrounding communities to participate.

"People have pride in who they are and where they came from," Correy added.

"That is the catalyst of this committee."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Fairhaven Belonging Committee advice on diversity, equality, inclusion
Betty White holds an adorable puppy. David Livingston/Getty Images

Animal shelters and charities across the United States saw an influx in donations on Monday, thanks to the late, great Betty White.

The actress, who died on New Year's Eve, was an advocate for creatures great and small; she once said, "I stayed in show business to pay for my animal business," and also quipped, "animal lover that I am, a cougar I am not." In her honor, fans on social media started the Betty White Challenge, encouraging people to donate $5 to animal rescue organizations on Monday in celebration of what would have been White's 100th birthday.

Her admirers understood the assignment. Denver's 9 News reports that animal shelters and charities in the region saw a massive increase in donations on Monday  the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, which is offering assistance to pets and their families displaced by the Marshall Fire, raised $15,000 as of Monday afternoon, and the Denver Dumb Friends League brought in $23,000 from more than 700 donors.

At Foothills Animal Shelter, community engagement manager Joan Thielen told 9 News by late afternoon, the facility had received $16,300 from 529 donors. When there isn't a campaign going on, the organization typically gets less than $500 in donations. In a Facebook post, the Foothills Animal Shelter said it was "overwhelmed with gratitude for all the good humans who have donated today in honor of Betty White. We are positive she would have been so proud of this community on her birthday today."

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The amateur team won the 31st Underwood Cup Matches on Tuesday at the San Jose Country Club. In the center, front row, is sponsor Clayton Bromberg of Underwood Jewelers.

Steve Carter wanted to step on the gas, and his team hummed like a finely-tuned luxury car.

The Underwood Cup amateur captain frontloaded his singles lineup on Tuesday at the San Jose Country Club and they responded by winning the first four matches on the way to a 14.5-9.5 victory over the Northern Chapter PGA team, their sixth consecutive victory in the First Coasts oldest match-play event.

More: Chilly start, strong finish at San Jose for professionals in 31st Underwood Cup Matches

The Amateurs have an overall 18-10-3 record in the Underwood Cup, which began in 1992.

Former University of North Florida All-ASUN player Jordan Batchelor started the day with an 8 and 7 victory over Cary Splane and in short order, Devon Hopkins beat Clint Avret 2 and 1; Matt Kleinrock topped Hayes Farley 3 and 2; and Chris Henderson beat Josh Wolfe 3 and 1 to give the amateurs an 11-7 lead, one point away from retaining the Cup.

Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth of the Eagle Harbor Golf Club is congratulated by her husband and caddie Adam Eiswerth after winning her singles match on Tuesday in the Underwood Cup Matches at the San Jose Country Club.

Jeff Golden secured that point when opponent Gerry James conceded, down three holes and after hitting his tee shot at the 11th hole out of bounds. The Amateurs clinched the match outright when Mark Spencer made a 4-foot par putt at No. 18 to halve with Bob Wallace.

The six victories in a row broke the record for the most consecutive years winning or tying, set in the first six years of the event when the professionals went 5-0-1.

Theres a risk of frontloading if you dont get those early wins, said Carter, who holds the Amateur record for points and matches played but served as the captain this year. But we had some heat at the back end also [the amateurs won the last three matches] and Jordan got us off to the best start we could have hoped for.

Matt Kleinrock follows his tee shot at No. 13 at San Jose during his singles match with Hayes Farley on Tuesday at the Underwood Cup Matches.

Batchelor combined with Golden on Monday to tie the record for the most lopsided doubles result in the history of the Underwood Cup with an 8 and 7 victory over Farley and Russell. He then matched that in singles, winning seven holes in a row after he and Splane halved the first two.

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We knew they were putting their best guys at the top but we had some of our good players up there and we were hoping for a 50-50 split, said pro captain Tim Peterson. Most of the matches both days were competitive and I think we played as hard as we could.

The pros got singles victories from Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth, Jake Etherton, Blanton Tessin and Jeff Hanson, with Connelly-Eiswerth posting a 3-0 match record in her first year on the team.

Peterson said hes encouraged by the fact that Connelly-Eiswerth, Etherton and Josh Wolfe, three of his rookies, combined to go 6-3.

We made some progress this year, he said, referring to two losses of 16-8 in 2020 and 2021. Were getting younger, and our younger players did very well this week. Stephanie was awesome.

That wasnt lost on Carter, who will return to captain the 2023 team, as will Peterson.

They played well this year, and last years score was very deceptive because most of the singles matches were close, he said. Just like we get some younger players every few years, it looks they are too.

31st Underwood Cup Matches

At San Jose Country Club

Amateurs 14.5, Professionals 9.5

Tuesday's singles matches

Jordan Batchelor (A) d. Cary Splane (P) 8 and 7.

Devon Hopkins (A) d. Clint Avret (P) 2 and 1.

Matt Kleinrock (A) d. Hayes Farley (P) 3 and 2.

Chris Henderson (A) d. Josh Wolfe (P) 3 and 1.

Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth (P) d. Nate Mosby (A) 3 and 2.

Jake Etherton (P) d. Kevin McConald (A) 1-up.

Blanton Tessin (P) d. Michael Smith (A) 5 and 4.

Jeff Golden (A) d. Gerry James (P), concession.

Mark Spencer (A) halved with Bob Wallace (P).

Jeff Hanson (P) d. David Anthony (A) 1-up.

Duke Butler IV (A) d. Carl Miller (P) 4 and 2.

Toby Ragland (A) d. Aaron Russell (P) 4 and 2.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Amateurs capture record sixth consecutive Underwood Cup Matches
Cheryl Thomas-Lewis, right, leads the musical selections during an event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at First Community Baptist Church in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022.

Coachella Valley residents gathered Monday at the First Community Baptist Church in Desert Hot Springs to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

MLK Day is held on the third Monday of January to honor Kings birthday  though his actual birthday was on Jan. 15, 1929. The Baptist minister and leader in the American civil rights movement known for his nonviolent activism was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

The First Community Baptist Church celebrated King with an event that featured speakers, performances and an essay contest at Desert Springs Middle School. The essay prompt was "the dream is still a battle and a struggle," according to Crystal Baylark, an elder at the church.

Minister Tommy Enge, center, sings during an event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr at First Community Baptist Church in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 17. 2022.

Baylark, who is married to First Community Baptist Church pastor James Baylark, said Kings birthday is very significant in the lives of people of color and the whole world.

Because it's all about civil rights. It's all about human rights, Baylark said. It's all about everyone being treated the same  everyone being equal under Gods eyes.

The events main guest speaker was the pastor of Quinn African Methodist Episcopal Church in Moreno Valley, Mercedes Tudy-Hamilton. Hamilton said when people see injustice happen, they cant sit quietly.

Sometimes we do get discouraged. Sometimes we feel like giving up, but weve got to remember what Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King says, Tudy-Hamilton said. There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but we must take it because his conscience tells us that it's right."

About 60 people attended the event, including Mayor Pro Tem Gary Gardner and Councilmember Jan Pye.

Minister Tommy Enge said he admired how everybody benefited from King's activism, not just Black people.

"It wasn't a Black thing, it was an American thing because all Americans benefit from what he done," Enge said.

Rev. Mercedes Tudy-Hamilton preaches during an event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr at First Community Baptist Church in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022.

Selwyn Terry, who attends Quinn A.M.E. Church, said members of his congregation came with Tudy-Hamilton to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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"Best of all, I'd say (King) brought unity. Where everyone didn't have it back in the day, but now we can see it," Terry said. "We can see what it looks like. It made my day to just come and spend time (here)."

Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at ani.gasparyan@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: First Community Baptist Church celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Thomas Reardon, a former Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph who over the years was named in more than two dozen child sexual abuse lawsuits, was found dead Sunday in a south Kansas City senior living facility.

Kansas City police told The Star that officers were dispatched with EMS personnel to Brookdale Wornall Place at 501 W. 107th St. on a dead body call just after noon Sunday. Upon arrival, they contacted employees who told them the deceased person was Reardon, a resident. No foul play was suspected, police said.

Reardon, 80, was ordained in 1967 and resigned from the priesthood in 1989. Decades later, he was laicized, or removed from the priesthood. In 2019, he was among 24 priests whose names Bishop James V. Johnston Jr. released as those who had been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. Johnston called the abuse a dreadful scourge that has wounded our entire family of faith.

Rebecca Randles, a Kansas City attorney who has filed about 30 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by Reardon, said that he left behind a legacy of loss and shattered lives.

His death, without accountability, lacks both closure and justice for his victims, Randles said. We know the sharp pain of his loved ones loss and acknowledge it. But we also know the desolation his behavior caused scores of young men. We can neither rejoice nor mourn.

The Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese responded to Reardons death in an email to The Star on Tuesday evening.

The sexual abuse of children and youth by people representing God and the Church, and many of the ways in which these crimes and sins were addressed, have caused enormous pain, anger and confusion for victim-survivors, their families and the entire Church community, the diocese said. Thomas Reardon caused egregious harm to many and for this, we are sorry.

Victims advocates said they hoped the news of Reardons death would give some solace to those who were abused.

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No Missouri priest faced as many child sex abuse allegations as Fr. Thomas M. Reardon, who worked in parishes, at a camp and as a substance abuse counselor, said David Clohessy, of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, in a statement.

Now, hes dead and we hope his passing will bring comfort to at least some of the hundreds of friends and families who continue to suffer from his crimes. His former church colleagues and supervisors should use this opportunity to aggressively reach out to other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers.

Reardons assignments in the diocese were at St. Elizabeths Parish from 1968 to 1971, St. John Francis Regis from 1972 to 1973, then the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception from 1974 to 1977. He was at Church of the Santa Fe in Buckner in 1978, followed by St. Gabriel the Archangel from 1979 to 1981, then back at Regis from 1982 until 1989.

Thomas Reardon in a 1977 photo.

During his priesthood, Reardon also was the administrator of Camp Little Flower in Raytown, which provided educational camping for children ages 7 through 12. And in the 1980 Official Catholic Directory, he was listed as being in charge of the Catholic Youth Organization.

After leaving the priesthood, Reardon worked as a substance abuse counselor  including for the Jackson County drug court  and a compulsive-gambling counselor. He later asked the state of Missouri to suspend his certification.

Reardon was among 12 current and former priests named in a 47-plaintiff sexual abuse case that the diocese settled for $10 million in 2008. He also was included in a $10 million settlement by the diocese in 2014 that covered 32 lawsuits involving 14 current and former priests in allegations of sexual abuse over three decades.

The most recent settlement involving Reardon was last year, Randles said. In that case, David Ford alleged that Reardon sexually abused him in the late 1970s when Reardon worked at St. Gabriel Parish and the diocese covered it up. Ford told The Star in an interview years ago  and also said in a 1997 deposition in another case  that on more than a dozen occasions in 1978 and 1979 when he was 14 and 15 and working at St. Gabriels, he was asked to be a bartender for priests parties.

At those parties, he said, several clergy saw him give drinks to priests and to boys the priests had brought with them. Ford said priests took boys alone to rooms during the parties and that Reardon did the same with him. Ford said in his deposition that he disclosed his abuse to Catholic officials at least four times  in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1996.

The last lawsuit to be filed involving Reardon was in July 2018 and is still in litigation, Randles said, with a trial date set for 2023.

In the lawsuit, Kevin Smith of Nebraska alleged that Reardon sexually abused him when Smith was a teenager attending St. Gabriels. Smith  identified in the lawsuit as John SK2 Doe  accused the diocese of providing Reardon access to children, failing to keep children safe and not contacting law enforcement or civil authorities about the risk that the priest posed.

I am doing this because I know there are other victims out there that need help, Smith told reporters several months later when he revealed his identity. I want the diocese to join me, to reach out to others that are suffering, to offer more than lip service, symbolic gestures and unfulfilled promises.

In 2007, The Star wrote about interviews with dozens of men who accused Reardon and Monsignor Thomas OBrien, another priest of the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese, of sexually abusing them as boys. They alleged that Reardon often accompanied OBrien and that the priests used their positions of power to prey on the youngsters, plying them with alcohol, groping them and offering them money for sex.

Some of the abuse, they said, occurred at a house owned by OBriens family on Lake Viking, about 60 miles northeast of Kansas City. Numerous victims also have alleged that former Kansas City priest Joseph Hart, who later became bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sometimes a guest at Lake Viking and participated in the abuse.

Over the years, the priests all vigorously denied the accusations. OBrien, himself the subject of more than two dozen sexual abuse lawsuits, died in 2013 at 87. Hart, 90, retired as the Wyoming bishop in 2001. He has been the subject of 10 sexual abuse lawsuits involving the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese and at least 18 sexual abuse allegations in the Kansas City and Cheyenne dioceses. And though both the Kansas City-St. Joseph and Cheyenne dioceses have deemed allegations against him to be credible, the Vatican last year exonerated Hart of seven accusations that he sexually abused minors and said five others could not be proven with moral certitude.

A southwest Missouri man who accused Reardon and OBrien of abuse in a 2011 lawsuit is currently appearing in a Netflix documentary film about priest sex abuse that began streaming in November.

In one scene of Procession, in which six men wrote, directed and acted out fictional scenes based on the memories of their sexual abuse as boys, Joe Eldred goes with two of the others to Lake Viking in search of the house where some of his abuse occurred. When they find it, Eldred walks up to the door.

Im standing on the porch of my nightmares right now, he says.

Eldred said the news of Reardons death came as a surprise.

It is a good thing that the long years of damage he inflicted upon those he preyed upon as well as the pain he caused their families has finally come to an end, he said. I hope that his passing brings comfort and closure to all the other boys he took advantage of.

I know it will bring comfort and closure to mine.
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor Monday, stressing his background as a former county prosecutor to focus on a tough-on-crime message the GOP is hoping will play well against Democrats this year.

In a three-minute announcement video, Irvin says that after serving in the military, he went to law school and then to become a hands-on prosecutor going on police raids, taking back one corner or apartment complex at a time. Putting gangbangers, drug dealers and wife beaters in prison.

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Then-candidate for Aurora mayor, Richard Irvin speaks during a police forum at Main Baptist Church in Aurora on March 30, 2017. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)

Ive seen it up close. Defund the police is dumb, dangerous and it costs lives. And I believe that all lives matter. Every family should be safe, he says. My city is now safe, stronger and full of opportunity. I want that for Illinois.

Irvin, 51, the first Black mayor of the states second largest city, chose Martin Luther King Jr. Day to launch a campaign he and Republicans believe can appeal to Black voters who traditionally vote overwhelmingly Democratic.

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At the same time, Republicans see the recent outbreak in violent crime in the city and suburbs as an opportunity to portray Democrats as soft on crime for enacting criminal justice changes such as an end to cash bail, even though many of those changes have yet to go into effect.

The announcement by Irvin and his running mate, state Rep. Avery Bourne, 29, from downstate Morrisonville, completes a slate of statewide candidates assembled to gain the financial support of the states wealthiest resident, Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin.

Griffin, worth $26.3 billion according to Forbes, had pledged to go all in against first-term Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune who is worth $3.6 billion, according to Forbes.

In a statement Monday, Griffin again had harsh words for Pritzker while expressing enthusiasm about Irvins entrance into the race.

He criticized Pritzker as being born into wealth and demonstrating little urgency or progress in improving the state in contrast to Irvin, who embodies the American dream and a real commitment to making communities stronger.

I am excited that (Irvin) has decided to join the race, and look forward to the opportunity to meet him and learn more about his ideas in the weeks ahead, Griffin said.

Aurora mayor Richard Irvin speaks at the Aurora Police Station about a police-involved shooting where one person was killed and two officers injured in Aurora, March 23, 2018. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

On Friday night, in a show of financial strength, Pritzker put $90 million of his own money into his campaign fund. That brought the total he has given his reelection campaign to $132 million. Pritzker spent more than $171 million to win election in 2018 against one-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Previously announced members of the Republican slate seeking to challenge Democrats, who hold every statewide office, include former U.S. Attorney John Milhiser for secretary of state, state Rep. Tom Demmer of Dixon for state treasurer, attorney Steve Kim for attorney general and McHenry County Auditor Shannon Teresi for comptroller.

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The GOP slate now headed by Irvin was put together by political operatives who were behind Republican Mark Kirks successful 2010 U.S. Senate bid and Rauners 2014 election, and who used Griffins money to help defeat Pritzkers 2020 ballot initiative to switch the state to a graduated-rate income tax system.

Sources said Griffin has not been satisfied with the prospects of four previously announced contenders for the GOP nomination  businessmen Gary Rabine of Bull Valley and Jesse Sullivan of Petersburg, state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia and former state Sen. Paul Schimpf of Waterloo.

Irvin grew up in Aurora public housing and was raised by a single mother. He joined the U.S. Army after graduating from East Aurora High School and served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

After returning home, he graduated from Robert Morris University and got a law degree from Northern Illinois University before becoming an assistant prosecutor in the Cook County and Kane County states attorneys offices. In 2007, Irvin became the first Black male elected to the Aurora City Council as an at-large member, and held that post until his election as mayor in 2017.

Running our second largest city, crime has come down because the police budget has gone up. I hired more cops each year. Weve recruited new companies, turned old properties into economic engines and weve controlled spending, balanced budgets, so residents got property tax relief, Irvin says. I promise you, we can overcome the challenges. Its what Im good at.

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Irvins opponents immediately questioned the newest entrants Republican credentials, noting he voted in Democratic primaries in 2014, 2016 and 2020.

On Twitter, Bailey wrote he was not surprised to see the establishment already cuddling up with a career Democrat like Irvin. Some people are willing to throw away principles for a few bucks. While I welcome everyone to our party, we need a nominee who is actually a Republican and supports our platform.

And in a statement, Rabine said that after years of pulling Democratic primary ballots in years when Pat Quinn, Hillary and Joe Biden were top of the ticket, I am interested to hear what changed your mind on party affiliation.

Sullivan used Irvins announcement to portray himself as a true conservative outsider positioned against career politicians.

The Democratic Governors Association also released a video of recent public statements Irvin made about Pritzker, particularly in dealing with the pandemic. The Republican field has been deeply critical of Pritzkers mitigation efforts.

In the video, the second-term Aurora mayor is shown giving a speech in July in which he refers to Pritzker as a great friend and a great leader who has guided our state with professionalism and compassion throughout this entire pandemic.

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Rather than explaining why Irvin pulled Democratic ballots in the past, his campaign team noted he was backed by Republicans and opposed by Democrats in an unsuccessful 2005 race for mayor, and that he later became a local GOP precinct committeeman. His campaign also said Irvin was opposed by the states leading Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, in his 2017 mayoral bid.

Irvins campaign also questioned the partisan purity of two rivals, noting Sullivan founded OneWorld magazine while attending Saint Louis University that supported then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, and his proposed global poverty act. They also said that in 2008 Bailey pulled a Democratic primary ballot.

In a statement, a Bailey spokesman said, Darren was one of thousands of Americans who were pushed by conservative groups to vote in the Dem Primary to stop Hillary Clinton.

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Assistant Labor Secretary David Michaels (R) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration attends a full committee hearing on Capitol Hill June 23, 2010 in Washington, DC. Photo by Astrid Riecken/Getty Images

An ex-Obama official blasted the Supreme Court for blocking a vaccine mandate for big companies.

"They really don't want to stop this pandemic," David Michaels said on MSNBC on Sunday.

The Supreme Court last week blocked Biden's vaccine-or-test mandate for private companies.

A former Obama administration official blasted Supreme Court justices on Sunday for blocking President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large companies.

"They really don't want to stop this pandemic," David Michaels, an epidemiologist who worked as an assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from 2009 through January 2017 after being nominated for the role by then-President Barack Obama, said on MSNBC on Sunday.

Michaels said he believes that Republican-appointed judges on the Supreme Court "don't care" about the coronavirus crisis.

"We're not going to stop this pandemic, and we're not going to get people back to work and the country back to normalcy if we don't have some much better workplace protections," he said.

The Supreme Court last week struck down Biden's vaccine-or-test mandate for private companies with more than 100 employees, but allowed the mandate to take shape for healthcare workers at federally funded facilities.

The 6-3 ruling was a victory to Republicans who argued that the mandate was an overreach of power for the federal government.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A memorial service has been scheduled for fallen Barstow Fire Protection District firefighter/engineer David Spink who died on Jan. 9 at Loma Linda University Hospital, fire officials said.

A veteran Barstow firefighter who died after more than a month fighting line-of-duty injuries will be honored Saturday in "a full fire service memorial" organized by his family and department.

In June this year, David Spink, who would have turned 57 years old, spent more than three decades fighting fires in Barstow. He began his career as a paid call firefighter in 1990, joined Barstow Fire Protection District full-time two years later, and took on the rank of engineer in 1999.

In a procession beginning Saturday at 9 a.m., Spink's longtime colleagues will kick off a day meant to honor his life, BFPD Fire Captain Travis Espinoza told the Daily Press.

Spink died earlier this month from injuries he sustained on Dec. 5, when a driver unintentionally struck him at highway speed as the BFPD engineer was assisting with a separate crash on Interstate 15.

Back-up came quickly to apply life-sustaining measures that day until a Mercy Air 66 emergency flight airlifted Spink to Loma Linda University Medical Center. He lived through the holidays but died in the hospital on Jan. 9, with an assembly of first-responders carrying his body by a hearse that night to Victor Valley Memorial Park & Mortuary.

The memorial service for Barstow Fire veteran David Spink begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, but guests and fire personnel are asked to arrive an hour early.

The procession for Spink this Saturday morning will begin outside BFPD Fire Station 361, at 861 Barstow Road, and proceed south to the Barstow Community College Performing Arts Center, 2700 Barstow Road, according to an event listing.

The performing arts center is where the funeral will be held. It is set to begin at 11 a.m., though the listing asks that guests and fire service personnel arrive an hour early to avoid access issues during the procession. On attire, the listing states that "Class A or Dress Class B preferred."

"A private family reception" will follow the memorial services, it adds.

In lieu of flowers, Spink's family would like donations made to the California Fire Foundation or the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House, according to the listing.

Charlie McGee covers the city of Barstow and its surrounding communities for the Daily Press. He is also a Report for America corps member with the GroundTruth Project, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists in the U.S. and around the world. McGee may be reached at 760-955-5341 or cmcgee@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @bycharliemcgee.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Memorial set for Barstow Fire veteran after line-of-duty death
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is ready to discuss halting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline should Russia attack Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday, responding to increasing domestic and international pressure amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's borders.

"It is clear that there will be a high price to pay and that everything will have to be discussed should there be a military intervention in Ukraine," Scholz told reporters, responding to a question on Nord Stream 2 after meeting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg said he had invited NATO allies and Russia to a series of meetings at the NATO-Russia Council to discuss ways to improve the security situation, after a first round of talks was held last week in Brussels.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Zuzanna Szymanska; Editing by Miranda Murray)
My childhood neighborhood was made up of Black Americans, Polish, Russian, and Jewish immigrants. But we had a commonality  our neighborhood.

At age 20 I got a job working in a steel foundry where many fellow workers were from the Deep South. The steel foundry that brought us together was a low-paying, non-union plant near Chicago. The plants massive presses were notorious for taking off workers fingers, hands and even arms. Grime was everywhere, as well as rats that didnt run from you. The Southern boys with their Confederate flags were pervasive throughout the plant. They were mostly 17 to 22 years old, had dropped out of school, were married, and had one or two kids.

More from Ray Golarz: Relying on the instincts of an assistant principal and the dedication of officers

Only once did several of us interact with them socially. It was after work on a Friday  pay day. We met at Stans Bar next to the B&O tracks. One of the Southern boys put his entire pay into a pinball machine while the remainder of us proceeded to drink too much. As we were leaving, one of them shouted a cheer for Robert E. Lee and with gusto the rest chimed in. Another then screamed out praise to the bartender for not allowing N****** in the bar. Occasional disparaging comments throughout the evening plus the end of the night salutes made it clear that they were still engaged in the Civil War. We, the sons of immigrants, felt a palpable discomfort. We had been raised in neighborhoods attempting inclusion. In this atmosphere, we were more than uncomfortable. The evening had become frightening.

Months later I got a laboring job at the enormous U.S. Steel plant. Within its massive roofed structures were polished concrete floors that extended 50 yards to your left and right and several hundred yards ahead of you. One hundred and fifty feet above were massive cranes carrying 50,000-pound coils of steel to load onto flatbed trucks. The sounds were always deafening. The entire plant's workforce of 30,000 was under the protection of the AFL-CIO union. Safety dominated everything. Workers were of every race and ethnicity and foreign languages were heard as often as English. We routinely mixed when eating lunch. Isolating by race or ethnicity was not very common. Further, you learned very quickly that in such social settings there were strict unwritten rules prohibiting racial or ethnic slurs. Violating such rules was not tolerated.

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More in opinion: Teaching tomorrow's voters critical thinking is what politicians actually fear

The differences between the experiences of the steel foundry and the U.S. Steel plant were stark. It was like the experience of the Joad family in the movie, The Grapes of Wrath  moving from the experience of inhumane camps of decadence to the civilized and respectful experience of the government-run facilities. U.S. Steel was by no means a perfect world, but the union, management, and fellow workers seemed to be trying to make it that way. It wasnt just the emphasis upon cleanliness and safety. It was so much more. There was an emphasis upon getting along and working in groups of mixed races and ethnicities whenever possible.

A major reason organizations and nations of viability insure their viability is that they refuse to segregate. Hate and segregation cripple what they could be. To be committed to the dream of this nation, we must in every workplace, school, and community, always be, We the People. There can be no compromising. The risk is too great to the democracy itself. Whatever war some are engaged in must end.

Its time to lower arms, leave them in the fields to rust, and find a way home.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Columnist recalls stark difference in two blue-collar workplaces
Gov. Andy Beshear signed two redistricting bills into law Tuesday  one creating new boundaries for Kentucky Supreme Court districts and another changing the process for legal challenges to redistricting maps.

House Bill 179 redistricted the Supreme Court for the first time in decades, taking into account massive population shifts away from rural Western Kentucky and Appalachia.

The Fourth District, made up of only Jefferson County, was unchanged, as Supreme Court districts may not be split.

Budget address: 5 takeaways from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's 2022 budget address to the legislature

Whereas legal challenges to redistricting had required a randomly selected panel of three circuit court judges, Senate Bill 20 would instead put such litigation in the circuit court of the plaintiff's county.

Both bills had passed the General Assembly with large, bipartisan majorities, though Beshear is still weighing a decision on three other redistricting bills that were more contentious  altering the maps of the state House and Senate and Kentucky's six congressional districts.

House Bill 2, changing the districts for that chamber, received the most criticism from Democrats for cracking relatively large and Democratic cities into two or more districts that were combined with more conservative outlying areas, such as in Covington, Bowling Green and Hopkinsville.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear delivered the State of The Commonwealth at the Capitol on Jan. 5, 2022.

Senate Bill 2, redistricting that chamber, passed by a wide margin but received more criticism from Republicans  such as Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, who decried having her district switched almost entirely with that of Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, who also voted against it for that reason.

The new congressional maps under Senate Bill 3 received a round of mockery for its new oddly shaped First Congressional District, which begins at the western edge of the state, swoops down to a southern swath and then spikes up all the way to Franklin County in Central Kentucky.

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Even if Beshear vetoes any of the three bills, Republicans hold an overwhelming majority in each chamber and could easily override them.

More headlines: Kentucky General Assembly kicks off 2022 session Tuesday: Here's what to expect

Beshear has until Thursday to decide whether to sign or veto them, but they would also become law if he does neither.

Democrats have suggested they are considering litigation to block at least HB 2 if it goes into law.

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today at the top of this page.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Beshear signs bills on redistricting challenges, KY Supreme Court map
Tourists flocking to the Black Hills at record levels since the start of the pandemic has Gov. Kristi Noem pushing to add nearly $10 million worth of campsites at Custer State Park.

But potential disturbances to wildlife populations, vehicle traffic and the private sector that could come with a 50% increase in the 71,000-acre park's camping inventory has former park officials, lawmakers and industry groups questioning the project.

The governor's office and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks late last year unveiled plans to develop a 75-acre site along Wildlife Loop Road known as Barnes Canyon in the west central portion of Custer State Park for camping.

More: Gov. Kristi Noem lauds South Dakota's economy, but big legislative fights are coming

The 175 proposed campsites would have electricity and be accompanied by newly constructed paved roads and four shower and bathroom facilities referred to as comfort stations. The entire project is anticipated to cost $9.9 million and would generate as much as a half million annually once operational.

"The best part about this investment is that the estimated economic impact of this expansion is so great that the project will pay for itself in a little more than a decade," Noem told lawmakers during her budget address in December.

Low resolution copy of a map illustrating the 175 proposed campsites and accompanying road system Gov. Kristi Noem hopes to construct in Custer State Park. The proposed project is estimated to cost $9.9 million.

Noem touts the camping expansion as building on the momentum experienced in the state's tourism and visitor industry over the last two years that would be a benefit for not just the region's economy, but also for South Dakota families looking to camp at Custer State Park.

Campground owners 'betrayed'

Private campground owners are rallying against the project, and former GFP and park officials are preaching caution.

Earlier this month, the South Dakota Campground Owners Association issued a scathing statement in opposition to the expansion of public-owned camping in the Black Hills. And several individual campground owners told the Argus Leader last week they feel betrayed by Noem's proposal.

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Many accused the governor of hypocrisy for regularly championing free market virtues while pushing to increase state government's share of the Black Hills campground market.

"We just feel we can't compete against the financial might of state government,' said Bill Paterson, owner of the Big Pine Campground about a mile southwest of the city of Custer. "We always thought she was a governor who would be on the side of small business, but frankly, it's standing on the throats of small business."

More than 8 million people visit state park and recreation areas in South Dakota each year.

Paterson said he'd prefer those dollars be invested standing up season workforce housing that would aid the private campgrounds in the Black Hills.

Ian Fury, a spokesman for the governor, played down the campground industry's concerns, saying the recent explosion in visitation to the Black Hills and Custer State Park specifically has created an unprecedented level of demand thats more than enough to sustain the entire camping industry in western South Dakota.

He noted that campground capacity hasn't been expanded beyond the 341 sites and 50 cabins that are there now in 41 years, while annual visitations have grown to more than 2 million. In 2021 alone, 2.3 million people visited Custer State Park.

The number of annual visitors to Custer State Park has exploded in recent years.

South Dakotas campground industry has been booming thanks to Governor Noem keeping South Dakota Open for Business and promoting our states natural resources and beautiful landscapes, he said.

Wildlife, traffic impacts unclear

But beyond the economics, theres no clear outlook for how the permanent development would change other facets of Custer State Park, including traffic patterns and wildlife migration and populations. Thats because unlike national parks, which are subject to environmental and traffic impact studies, construction projects within state parks arent.

And the potential for unintended consequences to occur is whats causing some apprehension about the project among former caretakers of the park like John Cooper, who served as GFP Secretary during the Janklow and Rounds administrations, and Rollie Noem, an in-law relative of the governor who was director of Custer State Park from 1985 to 2004.

Both told the Argus Leader Friday that the addition of 175 electrical campsites will undoubtedly bring more cars, trucks, campers and motorhomes into the park. Thats not to mention ATVs and adventure vehicles that are becoming increasingly common in the Black Hills.

And the increased activity in Barnes Canyon area specifically has the potential to drive wildlife away from that section of Wildlife Loop Road  and potentially out of the entire park where elk numbers already lag behind GFP targets.

More: 56th annual Governor's Buffalo Roundup sets attendance record at Custer State Park

That is prime elk habitat area and more development and human activity is going to disturb that, Rollie Noem said.

According to the GFPs most recent elk management plan, published in September, Custer State Park is home to 450 elk, while the agency aspires to grow the population to between 500 and 600.

More overnight stays in the park could also create pressure on GFP in the future to offer more commercial services in the park, and should traffic congestion worsen, GFP could be forced to widen roads or install traffic lights at busy points within the park system, the former park director cautioned.

GFP did not accommodate an interview request from the Argus Leader for this article. However, Nick Harrington, communications director for the agency, said in an email that while the project is not subject to the level of scrutiny federal parks projects are, GFP would adhere to all applicable state laws and permitting regulations. And though a formal public comment period for the proposed campsites has not been opened, the Legislature and the GFP Commission are accepting constituent feedback.

If approved, construction could begin as early as 2023 with the campground opening in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Advocates concerned over Gov. Kristi Noem's plan for Custer State Park
Rich countries hoarding vaccines in disregard of poorer regions breathes life into new variants, worsens economic disparity

(Global Times) 08:42, January 18, 2022

As the world tries to counter Omicron and bumps up booster shot campaigns, vaccine supply has once again come under discussion, as the World Economic Forum (WEF) rang the alarm bells recently of the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing gap, and the Davos Agenda virtual event is set to discuss the critical challenges facing the world such as inequality in vaccine distribution.

The "immunization gap" between developed and developing countries is still widening, considering the gap in the treatments and facilities against the coronavirus disease available to people in the northern and southern hemispheres.

The Global Times found that the gap in vaccination coverage between high-income and low-income countries has continued to widen over the past six months.

Today, many advanced economies have achieved vaccination levels of above 80 percent. In contrast, less developed regions such as Africa only have about 8 percent of their populations inoculated against the virus.

In some African countries such as Ethiopia and Nigeria, only 1.4 percent and 2.3 percent respectively are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease. The percentage in the UAE and Portugal is even higher at around 90 percent, according the Our World in Data.

Data shows that rich countries have administered far more booster shots in the past four months than the vaccine doses that poorer countries have acquired all year. In fact, in the UK, for instance, the proportion of people who have now received the third dose (27 percent) is higher than the proportion that has received the first dose in Africa as a whole.

Rich countries have hoarded bulk vaccine supplies while donating or shipping them to poorer countries at an increasingly slow pace, which experts said is because more advanced countries have expanded their booster shot campaigns against the new variants.

What's more, at a time when global cooperation and help are most needed, many countries on the African continent are facing "vaccine nationalism" from the West.

Now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid development of vaccines is a scientific achievement for the ages, but the Omicron variant shows why we must prioritize universal global distribution - or risk negative health, economic, and geopolitical outcomes, the Davos Forum said in its agenda.

Hoarding jabs 9 times the population

Globally, 50.03 percent of people have been fully vaccinated, according to the WHO. In total, 9.36 billion doses have been administered globally, and 32.69 million are now administered each day, as of January 16. But those vaccines are unevenly rolled out, with only 9.5 percent of people in low-income countries having received at least one dose, according to latest conclusion by Our World in Data.

About 175.03 doses have been administered per 100 people in high-income countries whereas 82.83 doses were administered per 100 people in low-income countries as of January 14.

Despite many African countries lagging behind in the rollout, the UK, Germany, Singapore, Chile, Italy, and France are all among the top-ranking countries with the most booster shots administered per 100 people.

As of December 30, 2021, just under half of the countries in Africa had achieved more than 10 percent of the population being fully vaccinated, a target the WHO had set for the end of September 2021.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said recently that more than 90 countries have yet to reach the target of vaccinating 40 percent of their populations, and more than 85 percent of Africa's population has yet to receive a single dose of the coronavirus disease vaccines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only confirmed the historical phenomenon in which rich countries rush to purchase billions of doses of vaccines whenever the global pandemic is mentioned by the WHO, Adhere Cavince, a Kenyan scholar on international relations, told the Global Times.

There is no moral justification for a country like Canada to hoard enough jabs to vaccinate its population nine times over while developing countries are struggling to secure vaccines for frontline healthcare workers, said Cavince.

The gap is further widening as other COVID-19 treatments, drugs, and protective supplies are also far less accessible to people in underdeveloped regions.

The Global Times found that most countries in Africa do not have the capacity to produce vaccines on their own, with a few exceptions including South Africa, Senegal, and Egypt, whose production line was supported by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac.

Attempts to grant temporary waivers on intellectual property rights with regards to COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical devices and to facilitate production of the commodities by the poorer countries have fiercely been opposed by rich countries and Big Pharm, said experts.

The vaccine shortage for low-income countries is less than the surplus vaccines within G7 countries and the European Union, according to analyses from both Duke University and Airfinity, a life sciences analytics firm which is tracking vaccine distribution.

The G7 and European Union combined have 769.8 million vaccines to spare this year, even if 75 percent of their population is vaccinated and 20 percent have received boosters, plus 10 percent vaccines which is set aside for waste, according to Duke's analysis quoted in US-based Stat News.

Except for China, vaccination rates in most developing countries - especially in Africa and some parts of Asia including India - are generally much lower than those in Europe and the US. Low vaccination rates are mainly caused by weak production capacity and economic strength, a Beijing-based immunological professor who prefers to remain anonymous, told the Global Times.

The current shortage of vaccines in Africa is not entirely the result of unequal distribution, but rather of wasted vaccines due to local hesitancy and limited access to basic health care, Zhuang Shilihe, a Guangzhou-based immunologist, told the Global Times.

Global priority above country priority

The stockpiling of vaccines in many developed countries and the aggressive promotion of the third dose and even a fourth dose in these countries will exacerbate the gap in vaccination rates between countries, the Beijing-based expert said.

Some virologists worried that uneven vaccine distribution would increase the chances of new variants emerging.

"Vaccine equity is the best weapon against the Omicron strain and one of the decisive factors in controlling a pandemic," said Zhuang.

Europe, a major frontier of vaccine hoarding, is predicted to come under a heavy spell of the Omicron variant, which Hans Kluge, the WHO's Europe director, said could infect up to 50 percent of the European population in six to eight weeks. "If every part of the world had access to the vaccines, we could be talking about a very different situation," said Cavince.

The WHO's head Tedros made similar judgement, as he said that the longer the vaccine inequity persists, the more opportunity the virus has to spread and mutate in ways no one can prevent or predict.

The head of the WHO says the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases is a result of the unequal distribution of vaccines. And he suggested that the rapid development of not one, but several safe and effective vaccines, is a triumph of science, but "the inequitable distribution of vaccines has been a failure for humanity."

The Beijing-based expert suggested that some new virus strains were first detected in areas with low vaccination rates which then spread to areas with high vaccination rates, such as Europe and the US.

"The most important thing is that we still need to vaccinate... high-risk people everywhere, and that priority needs to be a global priority, not just a country-based priority," said Seth Berkley, chief executive of the Gavi vaccine alliance that helped create the UN-backed COVAX scheme.

Experts also warned that beyond health concerns, the pandemic continues to inflict heavy economic wounds on the already vulnerable countries in the developing world.

"COVID-19 and its economic and societal consequences continue to pose a critical threat to the world. Vaccine inequality and a resultant uneven economic recovery risk compounding social fractures and geopolitical tensions," WEF warned in a report published on January 11.

"The resulting global divergence will create tensions that risk worsening the pandemic's cascading impacts and complicating the coordination needed to tackle common challenges," the report said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Richard and Sara Thomas and their daughter Sofy, 4, play with their dog Brooklyn in their backyard Tuesday, June 1, 2021 outside the garage they plan to convert into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) behind their West Woodlawn home. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Oak Parks Village Board on Jan. 10 voted 6-0 to allow residents to create accessory dwelling units, or separate units in their basements or attics, where family members or caregivers could live.

Since 2017, the village has allowed accessory dwelling units, sometimes called granny flats, above garages. With the boards vote this month, however, residents will be able to create accessory dwelling units inside their homes, including in converted basements and attics.

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Trustees praised the idea of increasing homeowners flexibility in creating accessory dwelling units as a way to provide affordable housing in the village, and to allow residents to age in place, rather than needing to leave Oak Park.

The restrictions limit accessory dwelling units to just one per zoning lot, and either the single-family dwelling unit or the accessory dwelling unit must be owner-occupied.

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One of our major concerns is the availability of affordable and accessible housing for older adults in Oak Park and nearby communities, said retired Oak Park Residence Corp. executive director Ed Solan, who spoke at the meeting while representing the Arbor West Neighbors groups advocacy committee. ADUs can offer any potential benefits to the older residents of Oak Park as they age in place. For example, an older couple who are financially strapped could rent out a portion of the home or have a newly built ADU on their property that could enable them to age in place.

Alternatively, an older couple could sell their existing home to a relative and remain on the property in an ADU that is more appropriately sized and accessible. ADUs can also be used for intergenerational housing that would enable the older residents to lease out a portion of their home to a younger family member or a caregiver who can assist them with the activities of daily living.

In October, the villages Plan Commission had voted 5-3 to recommend expanding the parameters of accessory dwelling units. However, the three no votes at that time were because the three commissioners voting no had wanted to recommend allowing such units in basements and attics, while the five prevailing votes did not.

Ultimately, the Village Board voted to allow such housing units in homes basements and attics as well.

I always come back to (making) this town affordable for people to be able to live in, to experience a quality of life that I think we all should have access to, and I think this is a huge step in getting us there, especially when it comes to affordability and broadening that scope and allowing us to have a multidwelling unit within a home, said Trustee Chibuike Enyia.

That really does help that generational family. Im wanting to just applaud the village staff and the Plan Commission for working on something like this, and getting us to the point where having that unit within the home makes perfect sense and lets just be more flexible for different kinds of situations that might not be as traditional as most.

Several trustees expressed concerns about the implications of accessory dwelling units on property tax assessments of structures, and upon village services. However, Trustee Susan Buchanan said she didnt share those concerns.

In the background information that was included with our agenda item was data showing the very low uptake of ADUs in communities that have passed these, she said. It may be different here because were more dense and were closer to the city. I also want to point out that these similar concerns of services to the village dont come up as much when we build high-rises. I think its going to take a long time before we add as many people to the village from ADUs as from the high-rises that were building.

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The Village Board asked Oak Parks village staff to gather data on accessory dwelling units after a reasonable amount of time. Tammie Grossman, the villages development customer services director, said her staff likely would bring information back to the board in a year.

Weve talked about how we might not see an influx (right away), said Village President Vicki Scaman. Im still very excited about the opportunity. I just happen to think that it might be good for us and not be immediate, but I think were ripe for it as a community who is a little older, who is very unique and has different types of houses and a very active, aging community.

Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
Governor David Ige says Hawaii is considering adding booster shots to its vaccination requirement for visitors (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Tourists may soon need a booster shot to enter Hawaii without testing or quarantine, the states governor says.

In an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last week, Governor David Ige revealed that hes considering adding the requirement to Safe Travels, Hawaiis programme for regulating tourism amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

We want to see a booster shot for those who are fully vaccinated within five or six months of completing their vaccination regimen, and we are looking to see what actions are necessary to implement that in Safe Travels, Mr Ige said.

Under the current rules, American visitors to Hawaii can skip the usual five-day quarantine and negative Covid test if theyre fully vaccinated  meaning theyve had two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one shot of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

But Mr Ige says local officials are thinking of expanding the definition of fully vaccinated to include an additional shot, or booster.

The governor quickly added, however, that the change would not be made overnight.

We know that the community needs time to react to that, so we would have to provide at least two weeks for those who may not be up-to-date to go to have the opportunity to go and get vaccinated if they need to, he said.

Hawaii is currently facing its biggest Covid surge since the start of the pandemic. This week, the state is reporting an average of about 3,800 new cases per day  dwarfing its previous peak of 910 in September.

Hospitalizations and deaths in the state have risen less dramatically, however  a common experience during the recent wave of Omicron cases, which have proven more contagious but less severe in terms of illness.

As Omicron spreads, studies  and anecdotal experiences at hospitals  have increasingly shown that a booster of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is key to fending off the new variant.

I encourage everybody to get boosted, Mr Ige told the Star-Advertiser. Its the best way to protect yourself and protect your loved ones from getting infected with Covid, and really ensuring that you avoid serious illness and death.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong police said they have arrested and charged two former flight attendants over allegations they broke the city's coronavirus rules.

The statement, which was published late on Monday, did not name the airline but the announcement comes after Cathay Pacific said in January it had fired two aircrew who were suspected of breaching COVID-19 protocols.

Police said the two had returned to Hong Kong from the United States on Dec. 24 and 25 where they had "conducted unnecessary activities" during their home isolation period.

They both later tested positive for the fast-spreading Omicron strain. If convicted, they could face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to HK$5,000 ($642).

They have been released on bail with their case to be heard on Feb. 9.

Hong Kong's flagship carrier has faced blame for the initial spread of Omicron into the community, with leader Carrie Lam singling out Cathay and launching two investigations into the company.

Chairman Patrick Healy said the company was cooperating with the government on the probes, which focus on non compliance with coronavirus rules and rostering of crew onto cargo flights, according to an internal video to staff that was reviewed by Reuters.

Hong Kong has continually adjusted its quarantine rules for air crew, dramatically tightening them after the Omicron outbreak in late December, leading the airline to cancel most of its planned passenger and cargo flights in January.

The airline had been struggling to staff many flights even before the rules were tightened, as some destinations relied on pilots volunteering to fly punishing rosters involving five weeks locked in hotel rooms.

Healy said Cathay's crew had spent more than 62,000 nights in Hong Kong's quarantine hotels in 2021, with none contracting COVID-19 for the first eight months of the year. All are fully vaccinated.

Hong Kong is following mainland China's zero-tolerance approach to control COVID-19 as the rest of the world shifts toward living with the coronavirus.

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Unlike the mainland, the global financial hub is quite dependent on business travellers and imported goods.

($1 = 7.7900 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Farah Master. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has offered security and intelligence support to the United Arab Emirates against further drone attacks after a deadly strike by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group, according to a letter released on Tuesday by Israel's leader.

Three people were killed and six wounded on Monday when three tanker trucks exploded in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital. A Houthi military spokesman said the group fired "a large number" of drones and five ballistic missiles in the attack.

On Twitter, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned what he described as a "terrorist drone attack".

His spokesman attached a copy of a condolence letter he sent on Monday to the UAE's de facto leader, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

"We stand ready to offer you security and intelligence support in order to help you protect your citizens from similar attacks," Bennett wrote. "I have ordered the Israeli security establishment to provide their counterparts in the UAE with any assistance, should you be interested."

The UAE, along with Bahrain, signed U.S.-brokered normalisation agreements with Israel at the White House in 2020. The two Gulf nations and Israel share common concerns about Iran and its allied forces in the region.

"Israel is committed to working closely with you in the ongoing battle against extremist forces in the region, and we will continue to partner with you to defeat our common enemies," Bennett said in his message to Sheikh Mohammed.

Bennett and Sheikh Mohammed held talks in Abu Dhabi in December last year, the first ever public meeting between the two men.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
By Steven Scheer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's parliament will seek an explanation from police over the force's reported use of a controversial hacking tool against citizens of the country, a senior legislator said on Tuesday.

Without citing sources, the Calcalist financial daily said police have possessed the Pegasus spyware made by Israel's NSO Group - which is now on a U.S. government blacklist -- since 2013.

Calcalist said the police used it against targets including anti-government protest leaders, sometimes without the required court warrants.

The report added a new domestic angle to global pressure on Israel following allegations that Pegasus has been abused by some foreign client governments to spy on human rights activists, journalists and politicians.

Responding to the Calcalist report, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said the force had acquired third-party cyber technology, but he stopped short of confirming or denying any usage of Pegasus.

All such monitoring activity, he said in a statement, "is carried out according to law ... (and) for example, in the case of covert listening, a request is filed with a court, which examines the matter".

He denied the newspaper's report that police had used spyware against, among others, leaders of so-called "Black Flag" protests last year that demanded the resignation of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies.

On Israel's Channel 12 TV news, legislator Meirav Ben Ari said the parliamentary public security committee she chairs would convene as early as next week to question police about the Calcalist report.

"Many members of parliament have approached me today. This is a very disturbing incident, raising concerns about violation of privacy and democracy as a whole," Ben Ari said. "The police, as they do whenever they come to my hearings, will explain."

SPYWARE CUSTOMERS

NSO said it could not confirm or deny any existing or potential customers. It said it does not operate the system once sold to its governmental customers nor is it involved in any way in the systems operation.

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"NSO sells its products under license and regulation to intelligence and law enforcement agencies to prevent terror and crime under court orders and the local laws of their countries, it said.

Last month, a group of U.S. lawmakers asked the Treasury Department and State Department to sanction NSO and three other foreign surveillance companies they say helped authoritarian governments commit human rights abuses.

In November, Apple sued NSO, saying that it violated U.S. laws by breaking into the software installed on iPhones.

NSO has also faced either legal action or criticism from Microsoft Corp, Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc, Google parent Alphabet Inc and Cisco Systems Inc.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer, Dan Williams and Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Jonathan Oatis)
JEA is about to get major improvements to the facility that services its vehicle fleet.

The JEA Fleet Services building will undergo an extensive overhaul. The project had permits approved this month by Jacksonville Building Department officials.

The work is set for remodeling about 5,800 square feet at the 5717 New Kings Road facility. The work will cost about $1.3 million, and Warden Contracting Corp. will handle the project.

Building blocks: New JEA headquarters on schedule for September 2022 completion in downtown Jacksonville

Nate Monroe: Citing dark-money controversy and JEA, Florida lawmakers want audit of FPL

New car wash rolling into town

A new car wash is being constructed in the Baymeadows area.

ABC Liquors will build an ABC Car Wash in place of its closed store at 8771 Baymeadows Road with about 4,445 square feet.

It is projected to cost $1.3 million, and R.D. Michaels Inc. is the contractor.

Sunshine suds: A 12-pack of our favorite Florida craft breweries

Beer and grub: World of Beer Bar & Kitchen gastropub returning to Jacksonville after a 6-year absence

Liquor and grub: Whiskey Jax Kitchen & Cocktails is coming to Atlantic Beach, relocating from Jacksonville Beach

More Jacksonville-area building permits

4259 W. Perimeter Industrial Parkway, shell warehouse facility building for RP Perimeter West Two LLC, 168,000 square feet, $7 million. James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction Co. Inc.

2737 Ignition Drive, Unit 8, tenant buildout with reinforced concrete for office spaces and other revisions for Project Root, $2.7 million. James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction Co. Inc.

4205 Belfort Road, renovation of the Joe Adams fourth-floor infusion center including restrooms and corridors for Ascension Health, $875,000. Gilbane Building Co.

4500 S. San Pablo Road, alterations to the Level 4 operating room a Mayo Clinic, 957 square feet, $695,626. Bason-Cook Co.

800 Prudential Drive, interior renovation to 14th floor of Baptist Health Properties Inc., 13,426 square feet, $600,000. Commercial Construction Services Inc.

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Growth: Luxury townhome community moving forward in Jacksonville's historic San Marco

More growth: San Pablo Parkway development features 304 upscale apartments, retail and office space plus future hotel

11645 Beach Blvd., Unit 101, facade remodeling for 904 Implants & Dentures, 2,000 square feet, $246,208. DC Construction Associates Inc.

6100 Greenland Road, construction of fourplex office building, 1,000 square feet, $200,000. River City General Contractors Inc.

1040 Hospitality Lane, reinforced concrete for shell of a building for an office for Cantina Louie Corp., 5,623 square feet, $190,000. Styles Smith Plumbing Inc.

9303 Baymeadows Road, Unit 101, buildout of Burger Barn restaurant, $183,400. Tim Young Construction Inc.

510 W. Sixth St., installation of commercial playground equipment along with new sidewalk at Warren Shell Park owned by the city of Jacksonville, $173,477. Precision Playgrounds-Jax Inc.

1016 N. Centurion Parkway, buildout for Rise General Contractors headquarters building owned by Acorn Property Holdings LLC. $150,000. Rice General Contractors LLC.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville permits: ABC plans car wash; JEA upgrades fleet services
Jim Obergefell is running for the state House in Ohio. (Photo: Tommaso Boddi via Getty Images)

Jim Obergefell, who was at the center of the 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized marriage equality in the United States, announced Tuesday that he is running for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.

We should all be able to participate fully in society and the economy, living in strong communities with great public schools, access to quality healthcare, and with well-paying jobs that allow us to stay in the community we love, with the family we care about, Obergefell said in a statement.

Obergefell grew up in Sandusky, Ohio, and attended the University of Cincinnati. He is now running there as a Democrat in the 89th House District, currently held by Republican D.J. Swearingen.

In a call with reporters Tuesday morning, Obergefell said that he came home to Sandusky in June. Previously he had also lived in Cincinnati, and then Washington, D.C. for several years. He moved back to Ohio, Columbus, in 2019.

Obergefell came to his fame through tragedy. In 2011, his longtime partner John Arthur was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease. Two years later, they were legally wed in Maryland. But they were married just over three months before Arthur died. The pair had been together for 22 years.

Obergefells home state of Ohio still banned same-sex marriage at that time, and therefore he could not be listed as the surviving spouse on Arthurs death certificate. His decision to sue the state of Ohio set him on a course to change U.S. history.

The suit was one of four that went before the Supreme Court in this group. Because his case number was the lowest, per court tradition, everything was lumped under Obergefells name.

And in 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the Constitution guarantees a right to marriage equality.

Obergefell, 55, was not involved in politics before the Supreme Court case. In 2015, a Washington Post profile described him as a soft-spoken real estate broker with little previous interest in political activism.

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He told reporters Tuesday that he didnt have any thought of running for office when he returned to Sandusky. But in late summer or early fall, the idea started coming up.

Did I want to put myself in this type of public arena? Obergefell said he recalled thinking. I knew I wanted to do something to make things better.

Because of his national profile and LGBTQ activism, Obergefell will likely be able to attract significant funds for his campaign.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Joss Whedon at the premiere for "Bad Times At The El Royale" in 2018. (Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA via Associated Press)

Given the opportunity to answer allegations of grievous misbehavior  including claims of sexist remarks and racist actions  on his sets, Joss Whedon copped to affairs (saying he "had" to have them) and situations he "should have handled better" in his personal life but disputed claims from the likes of actors Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher and others. He dismissed Fisher's complaints as those of a "bad actor." In Gadot's case, he suggested the Israeli actor had misunderstood him because "English is not her first language."

In an extensive New York magazine profile by Lila Shapiro, Whedon offered his first detailed public responses to the negative reports, which began arising in the summer of 2020 and have encompassed not just the disastrous "Justice League" film but also "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the television show that made his fame.

Ray Fisher, whose "Justice League" role as the superhero Cyborg was drastically reduced when the film's director reins went from Zack Snyder to Whedon, has made multiple public statements accusing the writer-director of "abusive, unprofessional" actions on set. In one tweet, he wrote the director's "on-set treatment of the cast and crew of Justice League was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable."

Among Fisher's claims are that the erasure of people of color from the 2017 theatrical version of 'Justice League' was neither an accident nor coincidence, as he told Forbes in an October 2020 interview. Several actors of color (including Harry Lennix, Joe Morton, Karen Bryson, Zheng Kai and Kiersey Clemons) did see their roles reduced or removed altogether from Whedon's version of "Justice League" when compared to the "Snyder Cut," though it's unclear how much those parts would have survived in a theatrical cut of standard length (the "Snyder Cut" is more than four hours long).

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Fisher also told Forbes, "Race was just one of the issues with the reshoot process. There were massive blowups, threats, coercion, taunting, unsafe work conditions, belittling, and gaslighting like you wouldnt believe."

In the New York profile that published on Vulture.com on Monday, Whedon dismissed Fisher's claims, saying he made the changes because the storyline featuring Cyborg (who was perhaps the central character in the "Snyder Cut") didn't work  and that he did not think Fisher had delivered a good performance. Were talking about a malevolent force, Whedon is quoted as saying in the New York article. Were talking about a bad actor in both senses.

"Aquaman" star Jason Momoa, however, has backed Fisher, including in a September 2020 Instagram post that reads, in part, "Serious stuff went down. It needs to be investigated and people need to be held accountable. #IStandWithRayFisher. aloha j."

Gadot, who has played Wonder Woman in several DC movies, told Israeli outlet N12 that Whedon kind of threatened my career and said if I did something, he would make my career miserable ... I was shaking trees as soon as it happened. And I must say that the heads of Warner Bros., they took care of it  . Going back to the sense of righteousness that I have  I just did what I felt like I had to do. And it was to tell people that its not OK.

The New York profile quotes Whedon's response to the claim: "'I dont threaten people. Who does that?' He concluded she had misunderstood him. 'English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech.' He recalled arguing over a scene she wanted to cut. He told her jokingly that if she wanted to get rid of it, she would have to tie him to a railroad track and do it over his dead body. 'Then I was told that I had said something about her dead body and tying her to the railroad track,' he said. (Gadot did not agree with Whedons version of events. 'I understood perfectly,' she told New York in an email.)"

The profile didn't specify which scene was at issue, but there have been reports that Gadot refused to shoot a sexual gag in which the Flash (Ezra Miller) lands on her body suggestively; in the finished product, Wonder Woman's face is not visible in that moment, possibly lending credence to reports Whedon resorted to a body double to get the shot.

The New York profile writer addressed Whedons claim that he doesnt threaten people: "An actress on 'Angel' told me that hadnt been true back when she knew him. After her agent pushed for her to get a raise, she claims Whedon called her at home and said she was 'never going to work for him, or 20th Century Fox, again.' Reading Gadots quote, she thought, 'Wow, hes still using that line.' (Whedon denied this too.)"

In the wake of these accusations, "Buffy" castmates publicly condemned their former boss. Michelle Trachtenberg, who joined the show's cast at 16, said there was a "rule" that he couldn't be alone with her. Trachtenberg wrote on Instagram in a post early last year, "I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman. Because. This must. Be known ... As a teenager. With his not appropriate behavior....very. Not. Appropriate. So now. People know. What Joss. Did. ... The last. Comment I will make on this. Was. There was a rule. Saying. Hes not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again."

Whedon says in the profile he knew nothing of this; an unnamed castmate quoted in the article backs Trachtenberg's account but leaves open the possibility it may have been an informal rule of which Whedon himself was not aware.

In the New York piece, Whedon denies many of the charges, though the profile includes quotes from numerous people involved with the show corroborating some reports and making new accusations. One woman described as "a high-level member of the 'Buffy' production team" claims Whedon and an actress engaged in romantic activity in her office while she was working, prompting her to leave the production: "They were rolling around on the floor, making out," says the profile. The woman is quoted as saying, "They would bang into my chair ... . These actions proved they had no respect for me and my work."

While Whedon denied the "rolling on the floor" incident, he said of his now-documented affairs on the set of "Buffy" (while he was married), I feel fing terrible about them ... it messes up the power dynamic." The New York piece continues: "... he quickly added that he had felt he 'had' to sleep with them, that he was 'powerless' to resist. ... He had been surrounded by beautiful young women  the sort of women who had ignored him when he was younger  and he feared if he didnt have sex with them, he would 'always regret it.'"

The New York profile is packed with disturbing accounts by women  some two decades or more younger than he  who'd had relationships with Whedon, describing manipulation and seemingly deliberate cruelty. To more than one of these accounts, his responses in the article were that he "should have handled the situation better" or similar variations.

Whedon told the magazine, "Could I have done marriage better? Dont get me started. Could I have been a better showrunner? Absolutely. Should I have been nicer? Writer Shapiro describes him considering the question, then wondering if the problem had to do with being too nice. He decries the phenomenon of people using every weaponizable word of the modern era to make it seem like I was an abusive monster, he said. I think Im one of the nicer showrunners thats ever been.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
China in 2022 will roll out and implement plans for archaeological work in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), said an official at a national conference held Monday.

Li Qun, head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, made the announcement at the conference, which was attended by heads of cultural heritage administrations across the country.

The conference summarized some of the results of archaeological work in 2021. According to the conference, 1,388 archaeological projects were conducted in the country last year to protect historical remains involved in construction and development projects.

In addition, the conference named several of the most prominent achievements of the year, including new findings at the Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The discovery of the site in October was listed as one of the country's top 100 archaeology findings of the past century.
State Grand Jury Presiding Judge Alison Renee Lee denied a motion for a bond reduction for suspended South Carolina attorney Richard Alexander Murdaugh.

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, Lee filed a written order as a follow-up to the Monday, Jan. 10, virtual bond hearing in which attorneys for Murdaugh pleaded for a bond reduction or reconsideration from a previous ruling.

Judge Lee's ruling said, "After considering all of the information provided, this Court finds that the current bond is reasonable to assure his appearance in court as Defendant remains a flight risk and potential danger to himself and the community. Defendant's motion to reconsider and reduce the bond is DENIED."

Read Judge Lee's full bond order below.

Murdaugh remains detained in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County, S.C. on the original $7 million bond, with no ten percent option, set by Judge Lee during a Dec. 13 virtual bond hearing.

Murdaugh currently faces 51 criminal charges involving financial crimes.

Murdaugh's legal team issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon following the ruling: "Alex is unable to post a $7 million bond. He will remain in jail while these charges are pending. Going forward, we hope that the Attorney General will put as much energy and effort towards solving the murders of Maggie and Paul as his office has done with investigating Alex financial affairs."

Presenting evidence and statements during the Jan. 10 hearing were Creighton Waters, Chief Attorney for the State Grand Jury section of the S.C. Attorney General's Office, Murdaugh attorneys Richard Harpootlian and James Griffin, and attorneys for several of Murdaugh's alleged victims: Eric Bland, Ronald Richter, and Justin Bamberg.

John T. Lay, one of the receivers appointed by Judge Daniel Hall as a Co-receiver to manage Murdaugh's financial accounts and property, testified about Murdaugh's assets. Judge Lee also heard from Thomas Moore, another alleged victim of Murdaugh whose case is cited in a State Grand Jury indictment.

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S.C. Judge Alison Renee Lee

More lawsuits: Alex Murdaugh facing eight more potential lawsuits over allegations of stolen money

PMPED no more: As Alex Murdaugh saga continues, a new law firm is announced in Hampton County

Previous hearing: Former attorney receives $7 million bond on 48 state grand jury charges

In addition to his current $7 million bond, with no ten percent option, if released on bond Murdaugh will be facing bond restrictions that include house arrest, GPS electronic monitoring, surrendering of passport, waiver of extradition, mandatory mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling and random drug testing.

Judge Lee also stipulated that if Murdaugh is committed to a residential drug treatment facility it must be a facility located in South Carolina. Murdaugh is also not allowed to have any contact with witnesses, victims or co-defendants in these cases.

After State Grand Jury indictments in November and December, Murdaugh is accused of stealing $6,218,923.33 from numerous victims.

Bond was previously denied by South Carolina Judge Clifton Newman on Nov. 10, pending a psychiatric evaluation.

Order on Reconsideration of Bond (02875070xd2c78) by Lauren Young on Scribd

To prompt last Mondays hearing, on Jan. 4 Murdaugh attorneys Harpootlian and James Griffin filed a motion for bond reduction with the Clerk of the S.C. State Grand Jury.

The motion asserted that the South Carolina Constitution provides the right for every person to be released on bail unless they are facing charges for a capital or violent offense, and adds that the constitution further prohibits excessive bail.

Criminal charges: Alex Murdaugh, Smith indicted in alleged murder-for-hire insurance scheme

"The court's order requiring a seven million dollar surety bond is tantamount to no bond at all," Murdaugh's attorneys state in the motion.

Murders, mystery, money: Here's a timeline of the Murdaugh family killings

Murdaughs attorney also stated to the court that Murdaugh was not a flight risk or a danger to the community.

He had plenty of opportunity to flee, but he didnt, Harpootlian said. There is no evidence whatsoever that he poses a danger to anyone in the community. I think its bogus, that idea that he is a threat to the community."

Murdaugh is accused of stealing money from his former law client, other attorneys, his former law firm, and even the family of his late housekeeper.

On Dec. 9, the South Carolina State Grand Jury issued seven indictments consisting of 21 charges against Murdaugh. These new indictments charged Murdaugh with nine counts of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent; seven counts of Computer Crimes; four counts of Money Laundering and one count of Forgery.

On Nov. 19, the State Grand Jury issued five indictments, totaling 27 counts, against Murdaugh. These indictments charged Murdaugh with four counts of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent; seven counts of Obtaining Signature or Property by False Pretenses; seven counts of Money Laundering; eight counts of Computer Crimes; and one count of Forgery.

Murdaugh, 53, was suspended from the practice of law by order of the state Supreme Court on Sept. 8.

Murdaugh was previously indicted by a Colleton County Grand Jury for offenses related to an alleged scheme to commit suicide and defraud an insurance company.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Alex Murdaugh case: Judge denies reduction, reconsideration of $7M bond
Xiomara Castro will be inaugurated as president of Honduras next week, and Vice President Kamala Harris will be on hand. (Moises Castillo/Associated Press)

Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the inauguration of President-elect Xiomara Castro in Honduras next week, the White House said on Tuesday, signaling a potential shift in relations with the Central American country as Harris continues efforts to deter migration.

"The vice presidents visit will further the commitment she and President-elect Castro made ... to deepen the partnership between the United States and Honduras and work together to advance economic growth, combat corruption, and address the root causes of migration," Harris' deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, wrote in a statement announcing attendance at the Jan. 27 ceremony.

Until speaking with Castro on Dec. 10 in a phone call, Harris had not had direct contact with any Honduran leaders, despite leading American efforts to curb migration from the region. The number of people stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border last year reached record levels, with many migrants beginning their journeys in Central America.

The Biden administration has shunned Honduras' current president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, whose brother was sentenced last year to life in prison for drug trafficking by a federal judge in Manhattan in a case that implicated the Honduran president.

The administration has been desperate to find a Central American partner to work with. El Salvador and Guatemala, the other two countries in what is known as the Northern Triangle, have taken authoritarian turns.

Harris was tapped by Biden in March to address the root causes of migration from the three countries. Foreign policy experts say the spike in migration has been fueled by natural disasters, corruption, poverty, crime and climate disruption. The lack of reliable partners has made it difficult to design aid programs and make deals to deter migration. Harris has been working with the private sector to spur investment but those efforts have been hampered by corruption in the three nations.

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Biden administration officials have signaled for weeks that they see Castro as a potential partner, despite the risks.

Castro was married to the former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, a populist whose government was overthrown in 2009 by the Honduran military and business elite. The United States, despite its considerable influence in the country, failed to stop the coup. At the time, Castro was seen as being more leftist in her politics than her husband, but is said to have become more pragmatic in recent years.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the House Transportation Committee and the head of an aviation subcommittee urged AT&T and Verizon Communications to delay some 5G deployments set for Wednesday around key U.S. airport runways.

Representative Peter DeFazio, the committee chair, and Representative Rick Larsen, who chairs an aviation subcommittee, said the Federal Aviation Administration and aviation industry must have "more time to thoroughly assess the risks of deployment in order to avoid potentially disastrous disruptions to our national airspace system."

Major passenger and cargo airlines on Monday urged the delay, warning of an impending "catastrophic" aviation crisis.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Police say a nurse was fatally assaulted at the Union Station bus stop in downtown Los Angeles (NBC Los Angeles)

A Los Angeles nurse is dead after a homeless person randomly attacked her at a bus stop, police say.

Sandra Shells, 70, was waiting for a bus at downtown LAs Union Station on Thursday when an assailant allegedly hit her in the face, knocking her to the ground. A witness to the attack called 911.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that the suspect, later identified as Kerry Bell, had struck the victim in the face, causing her to fall to the ground and sustain a fractured skull, the LAPD said in a statement . Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and rushed the victim to a local hospital, where the victim received medical treatment for her injuries.

About 90 minutes later, police arrested Mr Bell, who was reportedly asleep not far from the scene of the crime. Meanwhile, doctors worked to save Ms Shells, but she succumbed to her injuries two days later.

Police say the motive for the assault is unclear.

Bell struck the victim without provocation and for no reason, the LAPD said.

Ms Shells employer, the LA County + USC Medical Center, remembered her as a kind and hard-working nurse.

Our hearts are heavy, the hospital said in a statement. Sandra Shells will forever be remembered for her compassionate care and unmatched dedication to her patients and her community throughout her 38-year career at LAC+USC  There will never be enough words to express our gratitude for her tremendous work and dedication.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger called for a full investigation into the incident that killed Ms Shells.

Its unacceptable for bus riders to be susceptible to this type of violence, Ms Barger said on Twitter. Our essential workers and the public at large deserve better.

Hilda Solis, chair of the Metro Los Angeles Board of Directors, also mourned Ms Shells passing.

As a frontline essential worker, she helped save countless lives throughout the pandemic and it is a heartbreaking loss to lose a hero, Ms Solis tweeted . I will continue to push for an enhanced safety plan for riders and staff so we can prevent tragic incidents like this from happening again.
LAKELAND  The Lakeland branch of the NAACP is hosting a forum on Thursday to discuss school options as part of PCPS Open Enrollment period. The forum will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Central Florida Aerospace Academy in Lakeland, 4141 Medulla Road. Everyone is welcome to attend. For the registration and other details, visit https://tinyurl.com/59w6dmwn.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland NAACP hosts school choice event
Police said Sunday night they arrested two people involved in organized retail theft at a Lakewood Walgreens.

Officers responded to the 9500 block of Bridgeport Way around 12:30 a.m., a Lakewood police tweet said.

Three perpetrators had stripped shelves of products and scared customers. They were arrested while trying to drive away, the tweet said.

Two were arrested and charged with first-degree felony theft. Its unclear what happened to the third person involved.

The department did not respond for further details.
The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk one year before it was decommissioned. US Navy

The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk left Washington for a scrapyard in Texas on Saturday.

The US Navy previously sold the Kitty Hawk to a shipbreaking company for just one cent.

The ship participated in combat operations during the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

The US Navy warship USS Kitty Hawk, the last commissioned conventional-powered aircraft carrier, embarked on its final voyage on Saturday, leaving Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, to be turned into scrap metal by a shipbreaking company in Brownsville, Texas, the Navy said.

The Navy decommissioned the first-in-class ship in 2009 after 48 years of service, putting the ship in mothballs for over a decade before selling the carrier and the USS John F. Kennedy to International Shipbreaking Limited for just one cent each in October, Insider previously reported.

Because the Kitty Hawk is much too large, at over 280 feet wide and more than 1,000 feet long, to traverse the Panama Canal, the "Battle Cat" will make its final journey to Texas via the Strait of Magellan, a natural passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, The Kitsap Sun reported.

The journey around South America could take it across roughly 16,000 miles and over 130 days to complete, The War Zone reported.

Navy tugboats supporting the Kitty Hawk's towing from Naval Base Kitsap in Washington to a shipbreaking facility in Brownsville, Texas. Heather Wamsley

Launched in 1960 and commissioned the following year, the Kitty Hawk carried out missions around the world and participated in combat operations in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The ship later served as the only forward-deployed carrier for 10 years.

Notable moments from its many years of service include testing whether U-2 spy planes could be launched from the deck of a carrier; a race riot; and a collision with a Soviet submarine.

The Kitty Hawk was the last commissioned oil-powered US Navy aircraft carrier to be decommissioned. The current fleet is made up entirely of nuclear-powered carriers.

"As hard as life was on this ship, it's part of my history," Corey Urband, who served as a machinist's mate on the Kitty Hawk in the 1990s, told The Kitsap Sun. "While most people were graduating from high school and college, I was 30 feet below the waterline, halfway around the world from home." The former sailor watched from shore as the ship left Bremerton over the weekend.

The aircraft carrier is the last of the Kitty Hawk-class carriers, as the other two ships in the three-ship class were either scrapped or scuttled.

Read the original article on Insider




Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage in the U.S., is running for the Ohio state House.

"I'm Jim Obergefell, and you have my promise that I will work hard every day to improve the lives of everyone in Ottawa and Erie counties and all of Ohio," he said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Obergefell will run as a Democrat in the 89th House District, which includes his hometown of Sandusky and is currently represented by Republican D.J. Swearingen. Obergefell moved back to his hometown and the district he will seek to represent last year.

District lines could change, however, after the Ohio Supreme Court struck down the GOP-drawn state House and Senate maps.

"Knowing of the corruption in the Ohio Statehouse and my experience fighting for others and fighting for what's right, I just realized that I need to be part of making things better. I need to be part of fighting for everyone," Obergefell said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I have to be part of making things better."

Obergeffell was at the center of the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. His national reputation could help his campaign garner attention and raise money.

He married John Arthur in July 2013. Though Arthur was gravely ill, the couple travelled from their home in Cincinnati to Maryland to marry because Ohio did not permit same-sex unions at the time.

Three months later, Arthur passed away, prompting Obergefell to sue in order to be listed on the death certificate as Arthur's husband.

If elected, Obergefell would be the second openly gay politician in the history of Ohio's General Assembly. Democratic state Sen. Nickie Antonio is the only current state lawmaker who is openly gay, the Enquirer noted.
Jan. 18Twenty-three human rights and religious organizations have signed on to a strongly worded letter condemning alleged hate crimes in Boise and calling on people to become aware of the danger for such actions to metastasize.

The Latah County Human Rights Task Force recently circulated a letter calling on legislators, law enforcement officers and citizens to "speak up and take a united stand against hate."

"People throughout Idaho and the Northwest find all forms of hate and prejudice repulsive and are alarmed by the increasingly blatant demonstrations of antisemitism occurring in Boise," the letter states.

"We can only imagine how it must feel for people, especially Jewish residents, to find flyers on their doorsteps with disgusting caricatures of Jewish figures, describing the COVID pandemic as a Jewish plot, enclosed with pellet gun ammunition."

Joann Muneta, of Moscow, chairwoman of the task force, said Monday her members were appalled after reading about a recent spree of antisemitic crimes in Boise that included two incidents of antisemitic graffiti as well as antisemitic flyers spread throughout one northern Boise neighborhood.

Muneta, who was a charter member of the Latah County Human Rights Task Force in the late 1980s when the white supremacist Aryan Nations got a foothold in northern Idaho, said after hearing of the recent hate crimes "it was deja vu all over again."

"It's a worry that people don't take it seriously enough because they don't realize how things can escalate," Muneta said. She recalled that residents in northern Idaho did not at first take seriously the threat posed by the Aryan Nations "until they started throwing bombs and robbing banks."

In November, antisemitic flyers accusing the Jewish community of being behind COVID-19 were distributed in the north end of Boise and other locations across the United States.

The flyers were distributed in Ziploc bags weighed down with ammunition for pellet guns.

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This followed an incident in June when antisemitic slogans and swastikas were spray-painted on doorsteps, fences, sidewalks and tunnels leading to the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in Boise and last year's vandalism of Spokane's Temple Beth Shalom.

"Can this really be happening in our supposedly law-abiding state in these supposedly enlightened times?" the task force letter reads. "Wake up Idaho! The roots of hate, when allowed to spread, hurt not just the Jews, but all minorities, and eventually all of society."

An attempt to contact the Boise Police Department on Monday for comment on the incidents was not successful.

No arrests have been made, but Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee recently told the Idaho Statesman he can't speak to the progress in the investigation and whether these incidents may have been linked to one another or to similar incidents in other parts of the country.

Idaho State Police's recent annual crime report showed four anti-Jewish hate crimes were reported in the state in 2020, the most recent data available. That's the highest number of antisemitic crimes reported since 2004 and 2005, which each saw four anti-Jewish crimes.

Muneta said the Latah County task force's letter has spread through word-of-mouth and organizations throughout Idaho and Montana have signed on. The plan is to send the letter to local legislators, Idaho's congressional delegation and the governor.

The task force put on the annual Martin Luther King human rights breakfast in a virtual format Saturday morning. Muneta said it was then a shock to turn on the news and hear about a hostage situation at a synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That episode ended with the four hostages being released and the suspect dead, according to news accounts.

"So there were a lot of other questions we have," Muneta said of the task force's response. "We think we're going to look into having group discussions to revive the (North Idaho Coalition for Human Rights)."

Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com.
A total of 1067 publishers from 51 countries will participate in the 53rd edition of Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) later this month, Egypt's Culture Minister Inas Abdel-Dayem said on Monday.



This year's book fair will be held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center from Jan. 26 to Feb. 7, with Greece as the guest of honor, the minister said at a press conference in the capital Cairo.

This edition will witness the launch of a digital-book project by the Egyptian General Book Authority, she said, adding the latest technology and artificial intelligence will be applied for the first time at the fair.

Established in 1969, the CIBF is considered the largest and oldest book fair in the Middle East and the second worldwide after Germany's Frankfurt Book Fair.
Headliners by A. J. Perez opens the 2022 season at Location Gallery. The gallery profits from the show are donated to ARTS Southeast. The show runs in the Main Gallery through February 2022.

A line is any interval between two points. Those two points can be anything from A and B to X and Y.

For artist Alexis Javier Perez Santiago, those two points not only manifest one-line portraits of locals and celebrities alike, but also represent the path of life between birth and death.

I'm entering the page, entering the surface, entering this realm, says Perez. And here's this birth into this journey, this life path, and then death, the end, and that transition to the next, whatever's next.

More: Sulfur Studios presents 'ON::View Revue' to showcase their artists-in-residence from 2021

What began as a simple drawing exercise to get back into the swing of creativity after an artistic hiatus will coalesce in an exhibition titled, Head Liners. The show opens on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Location Gallery, located at 251 Bull St. The gallery will be offering in-person portrait sittings with Perez on opening night, Saturday from 1-4 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 29 from 1-4 p.m. All profits from the show will be donated to ARTS Southeast, a nonprofit dedicated to making Savannah an arts and culture destination by supporting local established and emerging artists.

Headliners by A. J. Perez opens the 2022 season at Location Gallery. The gallery profits from the show are donated to ARTS Southeast. The show runs in the Main Gallery through February 2022.

Head Liners will run in the main gallery through February.

While the origin for the shows concept can be traced back to 2009 when Perez first started doing one-line portraits for friends and family, it can be traced back further to when he first learned the exercise in high school, which was also where his portraiture background began. Then he was reintroduced to the technique during his foundation drawing classes at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD).

So it's just used as a technique to kind of work your hand-eye coordination, build up your drawing skills, explains Perez.

After obtaining a bachelors degree in fashion in 2006, Perez took time off from art making. I was kind of burnt out after school, Perez says. [I] was like, screw the fashion industry. I don't want to buy another sewing machine for quite some time. He points to a program restructuring that may have played a significant part in these feelings.

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Unplugged: 2021 has been a year of resilience, innovation in the Savannah arts scene

And [to] no fault of the school. We were like the guinea pigs for the new program they had, so it was like a lot of trial and error.

Headliners by A. J. Perez opens the 2022 season at Location Gallery. The gallery profits from the show are donated to ARTS Southeast. The show runs in the Main Gallery through February 2022.

There tends to be this mass exodus that occurs every spring of SCAD graduates leaving Savannah to big cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and the shiny, young artist magnet New York. Instead of following his original plan of moving to New York after graduation, Perez decided to stay in Savannah.

A few years before, in the summer of 2002, Perez had spent time in Brooklyn pursuing an internship. Within that experience, I just kind of had some insights into the life of, you know, being in the big city, the hustle and tussle, the go go go, Perez says. It was just zoom zoom zoom, but then as soon as you get to where you're going, it's like Alright, go hard, party hard, were doin this, lets go. And then back at it again the next day.

After he returned from New York, he took some time off from school and spent time just living and working in Savannah. It was then he realized he much preferred the slower pace of the coastal city. I enjoyed the opportunities of casually sitting out at a cafe or taking a walk and bumping into familiar faces and people actually saying hello and having a conversation, and sharing what they're working on, Perez says. Because it's such such a creative, vibrant city down here. [There are] a lot of artists who are trying to do their thing, whether they're at SCAD or not.

Headliners by A. J. Perez opens the 2022 season at Location Gallery. The gallery profits from the show are donated to ARTS Southeast. The show runs in the Main Gallery through February 2022.

Art off the Air: Savannah's art scene was strong in 2021. Here are five lessons and challenges for 2022.

Although Savannahs art scene is well-known and well-loved by long-time residents, it has been stuck for some time now on the precipice of establishing itself as a hub for the arts beyond its city limits. Any number of factors can play a role, large or small, in what molds a citys identity. While Perez suggests consistent monetary support from the city would be a critical necessity, he also believes there should be a more substantial entity that has a larger voice at city council to push for that support.

I think that once we have an official arts and culture commission, we could produce some sort of a biennial or triennial, like a very large arts event in the city, Perez says. Noting the success of the SCAD Film Festival and the Savannah Book Festival, we could have another event geared toward visual arts on that scale, where were bringing in artists from all over the world who are of that caliber to present and show a collection or some works in our numerous galleries around town.

Headliners by A. J. Perez opens the 2022 season at Location Gallery. The gallery profits from the show are donated to ARTS Southeast. The show runs in the Main Gallery through February 2022.

Of course, movements are called such because they are change in motion. If there is any principle central to movements, its the commitment to keep going with purpose for however long it takes to get from point A to point B.

As Perez explains, If you follow the line closely, you could see this point where I might slow down or stop. I stop for a second, trying to think of the next move. Or maybe Im not sure of the next move as I'm going and there's a little bit of waviness or bumpiness, and you can sense the anxiety in the line, the same can be said of Savannahs journey to finally realizing its full potential as a notable arts destination.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: A.J. Perez opens Headliners at Location Gallery in Savannah GA
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's securities regulator on Tuesday said it was unable to "conclusively establish" whether the country's top anti-graft official violated a law on securities trading after conducting a probe.

Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), faced calls this month https://www.reuters.com/markets/stocks/malaysias-top-anti-graft-official-cooperate-with-regulator-after-share-trading-2022-01-06 to explain allegations that he owned millions of shares in two public listed companies in 2015 and 2016.

He has said that his share trading account had been used by his brother and that he had "no interest or benefit in the shares purchased".

The Securities Commission, the regulator, had said it would look into whether Azam had violated a law that requires a trading account to be in the name of the beneficial owner or authorised nominee.

In a statement on Tuesday, the regulator said it had concluded its enquiry and based on the evidence gathered "the SC is not able to conclusively establish" that a breach occurred.

Azam said the Securities Commission informed him that the inquiry had concluded, and that he will continue as chief MACC. commissioner.

"I am thankful for the decision of the Securities Commission who has found that I have not committed any offence," he said in a statement.

Azam was appointed chief MACC commissioner in 2020 after playing a key role in major investigations, including the multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that led to the election defeat of former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib was convicted of corruption in one of several 1MDB cases last year. He has denied all wrongdoing and has appealed the verdict.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff, writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Ed Davies, Martin Petty)
A week after Raleigh police fatally shot a man following a crash on Interstate 440, activists demanded action from the department and released new details they say theyve uncovered about the shooting.

Community advocates from Emancipate NC said 43-year-old Daniel Turcios, a native of El Salvador, was severely disoriented by the crash after being rendered unconscious, and had limited understanding of English.

At a news conference Tuesday, they pushed back on the idea that Turcios may have been intoxicated at the time of the crash, as Police Chief Estella Patterson said last week that 911 callers had indicated.

(He) woke up extremely confused and disoriented, said Kerwin Pittman of Emancipate NC. So confused and disoriented that he didnt even respond to his wife when she spoke to him.

Pittman said eyewitness testimony from the scene supported their suspicion that he was shot multiple times, even after he had fallen to the ground. Dawn Blagrove, executive director of Emancipate NC, said a medical report provided to the family clearly indicates that (Turcios) was shot multiple times.

While Blagrove acknowledged that Turcios had a very small pocket knife, she emphasized that did not justify police shooting him.

Let us be clear that (the knife) is being used to manipulate the tragic outcome, she said. Whether (Turcios) had a thumb pin or a kitchen knife ... he was not wielding (it) crazily trying to attack anyone.

He was walking, tased, falls to the ground ... and is murdered in front of his family, she added. That is the story here. That is what matters.

The family of Turcios, Respuesta Rapida de Durham and the Raleigh Police Accountability Task Force also attended the news conference, which came in anticipation of a new report detailing the Raleigh Police Departments initial findings on the shooting.

The police department previously said it would send those findings to the city manager within five business days.

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The News & Observer has requested a copy of the report.

Blagrove said Emancipate NC did not know what the report would contain.

If history tells us anything, it is going to tell us that the police are not capable of policing themselves, she said. And we need independent, objective individuals to investigate police-involved shootings and any allegations of police misconduct, for that matter.

Emancipate NC called for a criminal investigation at the Tuesday news conference.

It is our intention to help this family get accountability and get closure, Blagrove said. If this was a preventable death, then we want someone to be held accountable.

Raleigh police have not released details about the crash that led to the shooting.

Patterson said when officers arrived, they found Turcios carrying a knife that he refused to drop.

As he walked away, an officer used a Taser to try to defuse the situation, and officers moved to try to subdue him.

A video recorded by a witness showed Turcios shot moments later, as he attempted to get up.

Patterson said police shot Turcios after he swung a knife at officers.

Turcios, who immigrated from Olomega, a small town in El Salvador, has lived in the United States about 20 years, family friends said.

They killed him in front of me and my children. He didnt do anything to them, said Rosa Jerez, his wife, speaking in Spanish at the Tuesday news conference. I told them leave him alone. Hes not doing anything to you. They didnt listen.
Volunteers marked Martin Luther King Day in Chicago with a day of service.
Jan. 18Led by the line combination of Brad Morrison, Trevor Gooch and Patrick Bajkov, the Reading offense got off to a fast start on Monday.

The trio of forwards produced three of the Royals' six goals, all of which came in the first two periods. With a big lead, Reading staved off a late comeback effort from Worcester and held on for 6-4 win in an ECHL game at Santander Arena.

"We played very well," Royals assistant coach James Henry said. "We took advantage of some of their breakdowns, where we created odd-man rushes (and) a couple breakaways."

Reading moved the puck quickly and exploited the weaknesses in the Railers defense from the start. The Royals, who lead the North Division with 35 points, have scored six goals in four of their last five games and have won seven of their last nine overall.

Reading took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on a goal from Morrison, who scored from close range. Bajkov and Gooch were credited with assists.

"The three of them (are) very hard-working players (and) good skaters," Henry said. "Each one of them has an offensive knack to their game."

Less than four minutes later, Morrison connected with a well-positioned Bajkov, who received the pass and immediately fired the puck into the net. Defenseman Patrick McNally had the secondary assist.

Bajkov scored again early in the second period to make it 3-0. Gooch and Morrison were credited with assists.

Morrison sent a pass up ice to a streaking Gooch, who skated into a two-on-one advantage with Bajkov. Gooch slipped a pass between the Worcester defender and goalie Luke Peressini, and Bajkov completed the scoring play.

"He made a great play," Bajkov said about Gooch. "He was able to make a great pass across for a nice tap-in."

In his first season with the Royals, Bajkov leads the team with 14 goals and 27 points. He quickly has developed chemistry with Gooch and Morrison, who were acquired by Reading during the season.

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"It's been great having (Gooch), having a good, strong guy through the center that can skate," Bajkov said. "Morrison's passing ability and play-making ability is off the charts, so when you have two guys like that, it makes life a lot easier."

The Railers got on the board a few minutes later with a goal from forward Brennan Feasey to make it 3-1. Aside from the goal, Worcester created very few scoring opportunities in the first two periods.

The Royals responded with three goals in the span of four minutes midway through the second period. Forwards Jackson Cressey, Brayden Low and Thomas Ebbing each scored to give Reading a 6-1 lead.

Low's goal was set up by an assist from forward Jacob Pritchard, who played for the Royals on Monday and did not participate in the ECHL All-Star Classic on Monday night in Jacksonville, Fla. Pritchard was selected as an ECHL All-Star for the first time in his career on Jan. 12.

The Railers gained momentum early in the third period with a pair of power-play goals. Forwards Ross Olsson and Jacob Hayhurst each scored in the span of two minutes to make it 6-3.

"On our part, maybe (we) just (got) a little bit complacent," Henry said. "Hopefully those moments don't creep into (our) game too much going forward in situations like that."

Reading tightened its defense and slowed Worcester's comeback attempt, allowing only one goal in the final 16 minutes. Railers forward Anthony Repaci scored with less than two minutes to play, but the Royals hung on for the win.

"As the third (period) went on, I think we were able to calm down just a little bit," Bajkov said. "You don't want to see the lapse in the third, and that's something we'll talk about in the (locker) room and fix."

Hayden Hawkey made 27 saves for Reading. Worcester outshot the Royals 31-30.

"Hayden played great tonight," Henry said. "(We) definitely have to be proud of him."
It isn't every day that Katy Perry calls someone a superstar.

However, in a promotional video for the upcoming season of "American Idol," Perry used that word to describe Salisbury native Jeremiah "Jay" Copeland.

Copeland will compete in the 20th season of the singing competition television series.

In the promo video, Copeland belted out the words to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)." His performance elicited cheers and goosebumps from judges Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

On Dec. 27, Copeland took to Facebook to announce that he would appear on the show. [See part of his audition below.]

Copeland will make his reality TV debut Feb. 27, but national and local spotlights aren't unfamiliar for the singer.

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KEY MOMENTS: Here are five of 'American Idol' contestant Jeremiah 'Jay' Copeland's best performances

Already a star

Salisbury University student Jeremiah "Jay" Copeland, performers "Corner of the Sky" from Pippin, during the inauguration of Charles A. Wight as Salisbury University's ninth president on April 10, 2019, during a ceremony in Holloway Hall at Salisbury University.

As a ninth grader, Copeland took the stage in James M. Bennett High School's annual "Rock & Roll Revival Show."

Upon meeting Copeland, former director Christie Wersen "could tell right then he was going to be a superstar."

"He took the stage like a star from freshman year," Wersen, who now lives in Las Vegas, said. "There was no denying his incredible talent."

As a dancer, Copeland was "willing to try anything," according to choreographer Katie Nuttall Oakley. She described Copeland as multitalented.

"When he opens his mouth, it will give you goosebumps," she said.

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Copeland performed in the iconic show all four years of high school. He then attended Salisbury University, where Copeland's mentor John Wesley Wright instructed him.

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Wesley Wright, an associate professor of music, knew Copeland since the singer was in middle school.

Jeremiah Copeland sings "A Change is Gonna Come" for his performance during Project Praise Dance 2012 at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury.

As a student, Copeland was easy to teach and intellectually curious, Wesley Wright said. Copeland majored in music and theatre.

ARTS: Masks are back indoors, but the music plays on at the beach

During college, he won first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.

Wesley Wright described this competition as the "NCAA of voice." Two other Salisbury University students have placed in the competition.

"Folks in the collegiate world are very aware of Jay Copeland," Wesley Wright said.

One judge even told Copeland that if he didn't end up on Broadway someday, he would "eat his judge's sheet," according to Wesley Wright.

Copeland graduated from Salisbury University in 2020. The university posted about Copeland's audition on social media.

"Jeremiah, your Alma Mater and Sea Gull fans will be watching!" the university wrote.

[Keep scrolling to see part of Jay Copeland's audition below]

Will an SU graduate be the next @AmericanIdol?! Jeremiah Jay Copeland 20, who majored in music and theatre at SU, auditioned for Season 20.



Check out this teaser: https://t.co/zW1VWevr8l



Sea Gull fans will be watching! The #idol premiere is Sunday, February 27. #GoGulls! pic.twitter.com/u4eig3tgdS  Salisbury University (@SalisburyU) January 14, 2022

Off the stage, Copeland is humble, kind and respectful, according to those who know him.

"He never let the fame in this small community get to him," Nuttall Oakley said. "He's always the same Jeremiah I knew."

SHORE MUSIC: Do-Drop Inn: Decades of serving soul food and respect

Plenty of Salisbury community members plan to watch Copeland compete in February.

Bruce Glover, who teaches at Salisbury Middle School, said the first time he heard Copeland sing as a seventh grader, it "stopped (him) in (his) tracks."

"I wish him the best and I think he's going to take the whole thing," Glover said.

[Article continues below]

Wersen also hopes Copeland wins the competition.

"Jeremiah is incredible," Wersen said. "I think everybody saw that from the beginning, but he's never the kind of person that would act like he's better than anybody."

How to watch

Season 20 of "American Idol: will premiere Feb. 27. The show airs at 8 p.m. Sundays on ABC.

Wesley Wright hopes Copeland's appearance will help him become more nationally known.

"(Copeland's appearance on the show) is not a surprise," Wesley Wright said. "This is just part of (his) destiny."

Part of his audition can be viewed here, at about 1:32 minutes into the video.

Maddie Aiken is the community reporter for Delmarva Now/The Daily Times. Have a story tip or idea? Send it her way at maiken@delmarvanow.com or on Twitter @madsaiken.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: American idol contestant Jay Copeland from Salisbury, Md.
Naomi Chavez Lopez, community schools manager for Las Cruces Public Schools, recently announced Mesilla Park Elementary had been named the districts newest community school.

LAS CRUCES  Mesilla Park Elementary is the latest school to be recognized as a community school in Las Cruces, the sixth in the Las Cruces Public Schools district.

The community school designation is intended to go a step further than a normal school's duties, providing community-wide support, resources and guidance. Mesilla Park will be joining the ranks of Lynn Community Middle School, Booker T. Washington Community Elementary, MacArthur Community Elementary, Dona Ana Community Elementary and Alameda Community Elementary.

This announcement changes things considerably for our Mesilla Park community, said Naomi Chavez Lopez, who took over as LCPS's district community schools manager in December.

Chavez Lopez said the school applied with the state for the designation last summer and is part of LCPS Superintendent Ralph Ramoss strategic plan to eventually have all LCPS schools designated as community schools.

It is a lengthy and intentional process, Chavez Lopez said. Meetings happen with school staff to assess the unique needs of Mesilla Park, and input from families is essential to determine what specific needs will be prioritized and resourced with community partners.

Those partners, according to Chavez Lopez, include local organizations like Families and Youth Plus, the Boys and Girls Club, and Casa de Peregrinos.

Their focus in our community schools is to assist with general needs, like food insecurity, healthcare and classroom enrichment, Chavez Lopez said. But Mesilla Park will decide what the custom fit is for their school community through conversations with staff and families.

Chavez Lopez explained that one possible need in the Mesilla Park community could be groceries and basic life needs, since the school  on Union Avenue between the city limits of Las Cruces and the town of Mesilla  is so rural.

These schools truly are the hub of their communities, said Carla Ragan, executive director for federal programs at LCPS, the division that oversees community schools. The possibilities Mesilla Park has to connect and sustain their families to outside resources will have a tremendous impact on students performance in the classroom. Studies show that kids who have all their needs met do better in school and have overall more positive outcomes.

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More on community schools:

Ragan pointed to the success of an after-school program at Booker T. Washington which provides a hot meal and tutoring services for students. The program is made possible through grant funding and assistance from Families and Youth Plus.

Chavez Lopez said one of the biggest changes families at Mesilla Park will see is the addition of a dedicated community schools coordinator that will be working directly with families to provide assistance. It is a paradigm shift, she says, that is here to stay at LCPS.

The community schools model is the future of education for our district, she said.

LCPS will be giving an update on community schools at Tuesday night's board meeting that starts at 6 p.m. View the meeting at livestream.com/lcpstv.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Mesilla Park Elementary becomes sixth community school in Las Cruces
Trade between China and Central Asian nations has grown by more than 100 times in the past 30 years, said the Ministry of Commerce on Monday.



The stocks of China's direct investment in the five countries in Central Asia exceeded 14 billion U.S. dollars, said Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao at the China-Central Asia trade and business cooperation forum held online.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

China and the five Central Asia nations continued to deepen economic and trade cooperation, achieving solid and fruitful results over the past three decades, Wang said.

China's Commerce Ministry is willing to work with relevant government bodies in the five countries in Central Asia to enhance cooperation and bring the economic and trade cooperation to a new level, Wang added.
SUAMICO - Welcome to Weirdshapeville, a triangle-shaped community that features its own library, "Little Ben" clock tower and Dash, a robotic tour guide who calls out the sights as it rolls past them.

Bethany Dunning and Graham Gerondale, third-graders at Forest Glen Elementary School in the Howard-Suamico School District, planned out Weirdshapeville on paper, drew their map, colored it in and programmed Dash to call out cardinal directions and landmarks as it moves through town.

Weirdshapeville welcomed its first dignitary to the two-dimensional town in December when Bethany and Graham took Gov. Tony Evers on a tour.

The project that produced Weirdshapeville was part of a lesson in mapping. The two third-graders had to show they understand how to make and read maps, cardinal and intermediate directions and how grid coordinates work.

They also showed Evers how students are being exposed to computer science and technology education earlier and more often.

The program is part of a comprehensive effort, launched by Microsoft and called TechSpark, to expand technology education and business development in regions like northeastern Wisconsin that are short on such opportunities.

The program Forest View Elementary students demonstrated for Evers is just one example of how Microsoft collaborated with the region's school districts, colleges, universities, businesses, industry groups and startup hubs to expand opportunities to study computer science and learn the skills high-tech, high-paying jobs require.

The students' work was the result of a county-wide pilot program developed by Cooperative Education Service Agency 7, a regional group that offers teacher training, equipment and programming to school districts, with the assistance of TechSpark. The aim of the pilot program is to develop curriculum that can be distributed statewide.

Evers was in Suamico to award a $150,000 grant to the program.

"The goal is to take the successful pieces of this pilot (in Brown County school districts) and get computer science into every Wisconsin school starting in kindergarten," Evers said.

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Microsoft TechSpark Wisconsin manager Michelle Schuler speaks with reporters in December at the Howard-Suamico School District offices in Suamico.

TechSpark was established in Appleton in October 2017 when Microsoft chose northeastern Wisconsin to be one of six regions of the U.S. where it would invest staff, money and resources to help train today's workers and prepare tomorrow's.

The ultimate goal is not to turn the Fox Valley into Silicon Valley, rather to make sure that the region meets its long-term need for a technologically skilled workforce, said Michelle Schuler, the region's TechSpark director.

TechSpark does this by developing programs for residents at every stage of their education and career. Younger generations might start learning how to program grid coordinates into a robot in elementary school, take a computer science course in high school and then complete certificate programs at a local college or university. A person who is already working might find there is free training available that will help them get a better-paying job.

"This is about changing our education at the K-12 level, evolving our higher education institutions and looking at the future of work, what that workforce looks like and what our companies will need," Schuler said. "TechSpark is a journey that never ends."

Schuler, a southeast Wisconsin native, is no stranger to supporting Wisconsin's technology industry. She co-founded Women in Technology Wisconsin Inc. to support women of all ages interested in or working technology jobs and provide them with training and support.

"It really hit home with my passion," Schuler said. "I'm the face, but the power lies in the community."

Schuler's work with businesses and communities, her understanding of technology careers and her collaborative spirit made her the perfect fit to run TechSpark in northeastern Wisconsin, said Mike Egan, a Marshfield native who is Microsoft's national TechSpark director.

"She speaks to the idea that you have to be a convener, you have to meet the community where they are," Egan said.

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The region's early results, from worker training programs to developing school lessons, have been incorporated as Microsoft expanded TechSpark programs to other locations like Fargo, North Dakota., southern Virginia, and El Paso-Ciudad Juarez.

"Wisconsin really is the pilot for much of our other TechSpark work," Egan said. "We are driving it out to other regions in the TechSpark map."

TechSpark partners say its presence and support helped pack a lot of progress into four years.

"Really, I think one of the top three most important things that ever happened to me was picking up the phone when Michelle called," said NEW Manufacturing Alliance Executive Director Ann Franz. The technology-focused training the alliance now offers to members is a "cornerstone" of what NEWMA does, Franz said.

The increase in computer science education and efforts to develop technology-based businesses in the area means the kindergartners of today should, by the time they enter the workforce, have the education and training opportunities to qualify them for family-supporting, high-skill jobs right here in northeastern Wisconsin, said Missy Hughes, secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

Wisconsin already has more than 200,000 people working in technology jobs that pay an average of $71,000. A program like TechSpark has the potential to "transform Wisconsin as we look to innovate and grow our economy," Hughes said.

The need for a technologically skilled workforce extends beyond the typical jobs you'd associate with technology: programmers, coders, app developers and engineers. Northeastern Wisconsin's major industries  manufacturing, health care, finance and insurance, agriculture and food production, transportation and logistics  employ tens of thousands of people and have a need for many of the same skills.

Forest Glen Elementary School third graders, Bethany Dunning, left, and Graham Gerondale show their computer-science project, Weirdshapeville, to Gov. Tony Evers at the Howard-Suamico School District officea in Suamico.

Expanding computer science in K-12 schools

Chad Behnke can remember when computer science class resources amounted to a textbook  probably one written for college students  and software to install on the student work stations.

Even 10 years ago, there werent nearly as many resources available to a classroom teacher, said Behnke, who teaches computer science at Bay Port High School, northwest of Green Bay.

Today is different. There are plenty of resources a computer science teacher such as Behnke can use in the classes he teaches. TechSpark connected Bay Port with a program that asks tech workers to volunteer in Behnke's computer science classes.

Every one of them is a district resident, Behnke said of the volunteers. The message, he said, comes through loud and clear to students: Opportunities are available" here in northeastern Wisconsin.

School districts such as Howard-Suamico are adding activities and courses: Students now have technology-based activities in kindergarten through fourth grade, theres a computer science focus to a fifth-grade class, and seventh-graders take a computer science-focused class, too.

Not every district prioritizes computer science like Howard-Suamico has, though.

Only 52% of Wisconsin schools taught computer science in the 2019-20 school year, CESA 7 found.

Jeff Dickert wants to help change that.

Dickert is the CESA 7 administrator whose staff provides training, lessons, and programming to 38 school districts, including the Oneida Nation. When Schuler and TechSpark convened a group of business and educational leaders to talk about how the region could develop its own computer science career pathway, Dickert saw a role uniquely fit for CESA 7.

With the youth tie-in, professional development, our curriculum work in districts  its what we do. It looked like wed be the perfect partner for Microsoft, Dickert said.

The grant Evers presented Dec. 6 was not the teacher training program's first. CESA 7 has secured more than $500,000 in other grants to support the program from Wisconsin businesses, Microsoft and community foundations.

CESA 7 also developed a program that school districts can use to examine what technology courses they currently offer, what they'd like to offer and a plan for how to get there. The programs debuted in Brown County school districts this year with seven of nine districts completing the district-wide assessment so far.

The program will be available to all 38 districts CESA 7 serves this school year, and teachers will be offered professional development courses this summer. Ultimately, hed like to work with the state's 11 other CESAs to create training programs that are individually tailored to their regions needs.

Were trying to break down all the barriers to why you couldnt offer those classes before, Dickert said.

Ideally, he said, districts will take advantage of the program to bring tech workers into high school classrooms to complement teachers' lessons. He said early engagement across more districts should increase the number of students looking for certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.

RELATED: Businesses say finding employees is their top headache. This series explores the trends behind Wisconsins workforce woes.

RELATED: Latino professionals group focuses on support, networking, increasing representation in northeastern Wisconsin

More programs at tech colleges and universities

Northeastern Wisconsin technical colleges and universities also have adapted their course offerings and certifications in collaboration with TechSpark.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College now offers a data analytics associate degree in addition to degrees for IT system administration, software development, web development and technology support specialist. During an October cybersecurity forum, Jeff Rafn, NWTC president, said the data analytics degree was a direct result of collaboration with Franz and New North Inc. leaders.

NWTC is also looking beyond those pursuing computer science or information technology degrees. About 1,800 NWTC courses incorporate LinkedIn Learning training now. NWTC, Fox Valley Technical College and Lakeshore Technical College have jointly developed cybersecurity coursework.

If an associate degree is not enough, Franz said, St. Norbert College now offers a bachelors degree in data analytics, in addition to computer science degrees with one of three concentrations.

At the same cybersecurity forum, UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander said the university is trying to infuse digital literacy and cybersecurity modules into a broader spectrum of the degrees the university offers while also introducing new majors and certificates, like its new cybersecurity master's degree.

"These conversations all started with Michelle (Schuler)," Alexander said.

High school students dont have to wait until graduation to start working on their degree, though.

High school juniors and seniors will be able to go to UW-Green Bay to start taking computer science courses next school year, without leaving their school, Dickert said.

Students could feasibly take enough courses to be well on their way to an associate's degree by the time they graduate high school. The opportunity can reduce student loan debt and qualify students for family-supporting jobs quicker, Dickert said.

This is all TechSpark started and then finding more partners all the time, he said. "Thats what Michelle does."

Industry meets technology

TechSpark's efforts do not stop at graduation. The initiative also works with the existing workforce and manufacturers to address more immediate needs.

Manufacturing remains the dominant industry in northeastern Wisconsin, employing more than 139,000 people and contributing $17.9 billion to the regional economy, according to The New North. The region accounts for more than 28% of all manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin and 20% of manufacturing businesses in the state.

Northeast Wisconsins manufacturing bona fides have long been a point of pride for Franz, director of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance since it was founded in 2006.

When she first read five years ago about the transformation of manufacturing through technologies like automation, artificial intelligence, data analytics and robotics, known as Industry 4.0, Franz wanted to know if the hundreds of alliance member companies were ready.

They were not.

A March 2019 survey found 33% had no plan; 7% had developed a complete plan. Respondents said data analytics and process engineering were immediate needs.

It was a stunning result, really a Wow moment, Franz said.

Schuler directed Franz to LinkedIn Learning, an online training hub with more than 16,000 courses, which offered a course in data analytics. The Alliance offered it beginning in fall 2020 to employees of member companies, with 18 people enrolling. Feedback was all positive, so the alliance offered it again; 60 people signed up. The third class had 70 people and the fourth group numbers around 80.

I would never have known data analytics was such a hot topic without the survey. Then to work in partnership with Microsoft TechSpark to find this training has been huge, Franz said. We had the data the community needed to understand how to not be reactive, but to be strategic and proactive on what industry needs.

Now, the alliances Industry 4.0 task force has about 80 people meeting regularly, learning from each other and looking for ways to collaborate to meet their mutual needs for talent and technology. KI, Alliance Laundry and Ariens, for example, together studied how climate impacts the quality of paint processes. Another group of businesses are studying how to deploy virtual service technicians.

The Alliances core mission, from its founding 15 years ago, has been to ensure the region produces the skilled workforce manufacturers need to thrive, but Franz said the work with TechSpark will always stand out.

JEFF BOLLIER is a St. Louis native whose 19 years in Wisconsin almost qualify him for resident status. He arrived in the Badger State via Beloit College and began his journalism career with the Beloit Daily News. He joined the Oshkosh Northwestern in 2003 and introduced his business column, Streetwise, in 2005. From new stores opening to corporate bankruptcies that impact whole communities, Jeff has done it. His work on restaurant health inspections, an air guitar-playing state assemblyman and an aging hotel have earned plaudits from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.



Contact him at 920-431-8387 or jbollier@greenbaypressgazette.com; follow him on Twitter at @GBstreetwise.





This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Microsoft TechSpark leads regions transformation of tech education, training
Milwaukee City Hall.

The City of Milwaukee Election commissioners on Monday dismissed challenges filed against two candidates running for mayor in the spring election: Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson and state Sen. Lena Taylor.

Commissioners Terrell Martin, Douglas Haag and Chair Patricia Ruiz-Cantu also found that enough signatures filed by Ieshuh Griffin were ultimately deemed valid to get her on the ballot. It appeared a week ago that she would fall short of the 1,500 signatures from Milwaukee residents needed to get on the ballot.

"We originally recommended six candidates for certification, but on Friday afternoon, we did receive a second corrective affidavit from Ms. Griffin," said Claire Woodall-Vogg, the Election Commission's executive director. "So I am recommending certification of all seven candidates."

On Jan. 6, Griffin submitted 1,564 signatures, then another 30 on Jan. 10.

The election commission staff reviewed all nomination papers filed, and "where circumstances and time allow," consult maps, directories and other extrinsic evidence to determine correctness and sufficiency of the information on the papers, Woodall-Vogg said. The staff was able to verify 1,424 of Griffin's 1,594 signatures.

Griffin ended up filing two corrective affidavits in the following days.

"Ms. Griffin's affidavit is entitled to a presumption of validity, and although unusual, she has provided accurate corrections to the electors' addresses and her affidavit," Woodall-Vogg said. "All addresses have been verified to be within the city of Milwaukee."

Ultimately, the city's Election Commission deemed 1,516 of Griffin's signatures valid, which cleared the threshold for ballot placement.

The order in which candidates' names will appear on the ballot was also determined Monday and will be: Former Ald. Bob Donovan, Griffin, business owner Michael Sampson, Taylor, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas, Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic and Johnson.

Story continues

The primary will take place Feb. 15 and the general election April 5.

Griffin challenged the nomination papers filed by Johnson and Taylor, arguing the candidates should be removed from the ballot for leaving a "plethora" of nomination papers unattended at a fast food restaurant.

In a written response, Johnson's campaign denied the allegation and said the nomination papers Griffin posted on social media were not submitted to the Milwaukee Election Commission.

Taylor's campaign also denied the allegation, saying she had no knowledge of the forms being left unattended and that there is no evidence she violated election laws.

In a memo to the commissioners, Woodall-Vogg wrote that in neither case was Griffin's complaint sufficient to disqualify any nomination papers or signatures filed by the campaigns.

The commission decided Monday that Griffin had failed to meet the burden of clear and convincing evidence, and dismissed her challneges.

A complaint referencing Griffin's complaint was also filed by Milwaukee resident Brionna Bradford. It ultimately ended up being dismissed by the commission for lack of evidence.

The candidates are running to fill the remaining two years of the term left open by the resignation of Mayor Tom Barrett last month. He resigned to become U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.

The race is the first without an incumbent in nearly two decades.

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee election commissioners dismiss challenges against candidates
The Department of Justice seal is seen in Washington, D.C.





Happy Tuesday and welcome to On The Money, your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.

Today's Big Deal: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice's antitrust division have launched a new inquiry aimed at updating guidelines to block illegal mergers. We'll also look at the Supreme Court's recent rejection of a request to block a federal mask mandate for air travel.

But first, check out the massive asteroid passing by Earth today.

For The Hill, we're Sylvan Lane (slane@thehill.com), Aris Folley (afolley@thehill.com) and Karl Evers-Hillstrom (kevers@thehill.com).

Let's get to it.

Feds launch inquiry amid surge in mergers

The FTC and Department of Justice's antitrust division on Tuesday launched a new inquiry aimed at updating guidelines to block illegal mergers.

The agencies are seeking public input to update guidelines over the next 60 days.

"Illegal mergers can inflict a host of harms, from higher prices and lower wages to diminished opportunity, reduced innovation and less resiliency," FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement.

The inquiry comes amid a surge in new mergers, filings for which doubled between 2020 and 2021.

The two agencies tasked with antitrust enforcement spent 18 months reviewing their joint guidance on vertical mergers during the Trump administration. The FTC voted last fall to withdraw those guidelines on a party-line vote.

The Department of Justice separately said it intends to review guidelines for both vertical mergers - referring to acquisitions within the same supply chain - and horizontal ones, which deal with competitors.

The announcement Tuesday is one of the first major collaborations between Khan and Kanter, two nominees of President Biden who were strongly backed by progressives.

The Hill's Chris Mills Rodrigo has more here.

TRADING TROUBLES

Two-thirds of Americans support banning lawmakers from trading stocks: poll

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Sixty-seven percent of Americans support banning lawmakers from trading stocks, according to a new poll from progressive firm Data for Progress.

The poll, released on Tuesday, found that figure increased to 74 percent when respondents were given arguments for and against a ban.

Seventy-five percent of Democrats said they strongly or somewhat support a ban on lawmaker stock trading alongside 76 percent of independents and 70 percent of Republicans.

It follows another poll from the Trafalgar Group and conservative advocacy group Convention of States Action finding that 76 percent of voters believe that lawmakers and their spouses have an "unfair advantage" when trading stocks.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said that lawmakers have the right to make private investments, but she recently announced that Congress may need stricter penalties for those who violate stock trading rules.

Several lawmakers, including Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) recently introduced bills to prevent members of Congress from trading stocks.

Read more here from The Hill's Olafimihan Oshin.

Court rejects bid to block plane mask mandate

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a request to block a federal mask mandate for air travel.

The emergency application was filed by a father on behalf of himself and his 4-year-old autistic son, both of whom claim to be medically incapable of wearing masks for extended periods.

Their request was filed to Justice Neil Gorsuch, who handles emergency applications arising in several Western states, and he referred the matter to the full court. The justices denied the request without comment or noted dissent.

Under an executive order signed by President Biden, the Transportation Security Administration requires passengers on airplanes and other public transportation to wear masks to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 850,000 in the U.S.

Joining the father-son challengers was another man, Lucas Wall, who has sought to raise money and publicity from his legal efforts targeting the federal transportation mask mandate. Chief Justice John Roberts last month unilaterally rejected a separate challenge filed by the group.

The court's move comes less than a week after the justices issued a split decision on another set of Biden administration pandemic mitigation measures. Last Thursday, the court voted 6-3 to block a vaccine-or-test mandate for large employers but voted 5-4 to maintain a vaccine mandate for health providers at federally funded facilities.

Read more here from The Hill's John Kruzel.

5G HOLDUP

AT&T, Verizon to delay 5G rollout near certain airports

AT&T and Verizon on Tuesday each agreed to temporarily delay their 5G rollouts near certain airports amid concerns over possible flight disruptions.

The move follows warnings from U.S. airlines that the new C-Band 5G wireless service that was set to deploy Wednesday could ground flights and potentially leave thousands of Americans stranded while also delaying the flow of goods.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instituted restrictions on some airplanes over concerns that C-Band could disrupt their instruments.

AT&T said in a statement that it is "frustrated by the FAA's inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services."

President Biden commended the wireless companies for agreeing to place limits around their 5G service rollout.

"This agreement will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90 percent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled," President Biden said in a statement Tuesday. "This agreement protects flight safety and allows aviation operations to continue without significant disruption and will bring more high-speed internet options to millions of Americans."

The Hill's Caroline Vakil has more on the agreement here.

Good to Know

Close-up of a hand holding a bitcoin coin with a chart on the laptop screen in the background

The United Kingdom is cracking down on "misleading" cryptocurrency advertising as more citizens get involved in the digital assets.

Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced his plan on Tuesday to amend financial promotion legislation to include cryptocurrency.

Here's what else have our eye on:

Employers are also expecting employee pay to rise by an average of 3.4 percent in 2022, a new Willis Towers Watson survey has found. The survey of 1,004 U.S. companies from October to November found companies budgeted for a 3.4 percent raise, up from the average 3 percent increase employers expected to give in 2022 in June of last year.

Microsoft is buying game publisher Activision Blizzard in a transaction valued at nearly $70 billion, the tech company announced Tuesday.

Filings from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office indicate that Walmart could be planning to create its own cryptocurrency and collection of nonfungible tokens (NFTs).

That's it for today. Thanks for reading and check out The Hill's Finance page for the latest news and coverage. We'll see you Wednesday.
Naomi Osaka laughs during her first round match at the 2022 Australian Open. AP Photo/Hamish Blair

Naomi Osaka whiffed a simple overhead slam during her first-round match at the Australian Open.

She laughed it off, but noted later that she "previously would get upset" at that type of error.

"I'm here because I want to be here... so I might as well enjoy it while I still can," Osaka said.

Naomi Osaka absolutely whiffed a smash during her opening match of this year's Australian Open.

But instead of berating herself for the uncharacteristic error, the 24-year-old reigning champion laughed it off.

During the seventh game of Osaka's first set against Camila Osorio, the 20-year-old Colombian lofted a shot just over the net for what should have been an easy return for the former world No. 1.

Osaka winds up for a smash. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Instead, Osaka caught nothing but air as she swung her racket above her head and let out an "Oh my god!" audible to in-person and television audience members alike.

Then she spun on the heel of her custom butterfly sneakers, clutched her chest, and chuckled with the crowd.

Here's another angle:

Osaka acknowledged after the match  which she won 6-3, 6-3  that she "previously would get upset" upon making an unforced error like the one above. But the four-time Grand Slam champion said that a change in mindset following her withdrawal from last year's French Open and subsequent prolonged hiatus from competition helped her keep the bigger picture in mind.

"It came throughout this offseason that I had, where I felt like I wanted to come back to play tennis," Osaka said during her post-match press conference. "Usually, it feels like a bit automatic. We as tennis players have the little break, and then we immediately start the [season] again. For me, I came back when I wanted to come back."

"At this point in my life, I'm here because I want to be here and because I find that it's fun for me," she added. "So I might as well enjoy it while I still can, and just to be playing on Rod Laver and to have such a good streak on Rod Laver is something that I could be proud of and something I should enjoy."

Story continues

Osaka at the Australian Open. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Osaka is undoubtedly at her strongest in Melbourne. The Japanese superstar has won two of the last three Grand Slams held at Rod Laver Arena and boasts an incredible 23-4 record at the first major tennis tournament of the year.

That caliber of success doesn't come easy, and for a long time, Osaka's pursuit of perfection resulted in self-deprecation when things went awry. She's recently adopted a more positive attitude  one that allows her to laugh when she whiffs an easy volley  but Osaka says it takes a lot of effort to push back on her instinct to react with anger.

"I'm still conscious of it," she told the media. "It's not an automatic thing to laugh about it, but I'm trying to change my mindset."

Osaka will take the court again on Wednesday. She'll face American Madison Brengle in a second-round match beginning 7 p.m. local time, or 3 a.m. EST.

Read the original article on Insider
There's no question a troop of faux GOP electors violated the law when they signed on to phony documents and tried to barge into the Michigan State Capitol in an effort to fraudulently award the state's electoral votes to former President Donald Trump, says Attorney General Dana Nessel.

But, given the scope of what Michigan's top law enforcement official called a "conspiracy," Nessel says the criminal prosecution of at least the 16 sham Republican delegates is better suited for federal authorities.

"Seemingly there's a conspiracy that occurred between multiple states. So if what your ultimate goal is, is not just to prosecute these 16 individuals, but to find out who put them up to this, is this part of a bigger conspiracy at play in order to undermine the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election, not just in Michigan but nationally? ... It creates jurisdictional issues," Nessel said Tuesday during a virtual news conference.

"I feel confident we have enough evidence to charge if we decide to pursue that. Again, I want to make it clear, I haven't ruled it out. But for all the reasons I stated, I think that it's a better idea for the feds to pursue this."

State Rep. Matt Maddock, R-Milford, left, is refused entry into the Michigan State Capitol as the Michigan Electoral College meet to cast their vote at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on Dec. 14, 2020 to finalize the vote for the 2020 presidential campaign electing Joseph Biden as President of the United States and Kamala Harris as the Vice President.

More: GOP attempt to award Mich. Electoral College votes to Trump referred to feds, Nessel says

More: Michigan's Electoral College delegates cast all 16 votes for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris

Nessel recently confirmed the existence of the more than yearlong investigation into possible election fraud, forgery and other charges against the knockoff delegates during an MSNBC interview.

On Dec. 14, 2020, Michigan's 16 legitimate Electoral College delegates met in the state Capitol to formally cast their votes for Joe Biden. Biden won Michigan by more than 154,000 votes.

However, the Republican crew  which included some who would have been Electoral College delegates had Trump won and was aided by several Republican lawmakers  also tried to get into the building. They were denied entry.

Story continues

The building was closed to most that day, in part because of COVID-19 concerns and because state Rep. Gary Eisen, R- St. Clair Town, had suggested groups would come to the Capitol. He wouldn't rule out that there would be violence; a Senate spokeswoman told the Free Press at the time the upper chamber had received "credible threats of violence."

It turned out to be a relatively peaceful, cold day. But the abject rejection did not deter the Trump slate's efforts to seek legitimacy.

Nessel said Tuesday someone sent copies of the doctored documents proclaiming Trump's win in Michigan to the four institutions required to receive Electoral College documents: the office of Vice President Mike Pence, the Michigan Secretary of State, the National Archivist and the chief judge of the western district of Michigan.

Later, Trump-affiliated attorney Sidney Powell and her so-called Kraken legal team referenced the actions of the fake GOP electors in their legal filings related to Michigan's election. They argued, wrongly, that the Legislature supported the phony electors and suggested they cast their votes at the state Capitol on the appropriate day.

The archivist rejected the document, notifying Nessel and others in the process. The documents are also part of the U.S. House's broad January 6 commission inquiry.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she would pursue state charges against phony GOP electors if she determined federal prosecutors would not act.

The Michigan Republican Party issued a statement after Nessel's cable television interview, accusing the attorney general of a carrying out a partisan investigation.

Dana Nessel is playing political games with peoples lives and livelihoods for the sake of scoring political points ahead of an election," party spokesman Gustavo Portela said.

Nessel waved off the attack, noting she has charged Democrats with election fraud in the past.

She said she referred the allegations to federal prosecutors last week in the state's Western District. She hasn't heard back, but she doesn't necessarily expect updates.

That means she may wait with the general public to see whether the U.S. Attorney prosecutes anyone. There's a chance the office already reviewed the same evidence and decided against charges.

Nessel acknowledged this, while emphasizing she "absolutely" had enough evidence to bring state charges. However, she thought the mutlistate jurisdictional issues made the prosecution best suited for the feds.

The possible state charges also have a six-year statute of limitations: She said there's no broader harm in waiting, as long as there is accountability eventually.

More: New Supreme Court filing includes blatantly wrong information about Michigan

More: Michigan House punishes GOP Rep. Gary Eisen for hinting at Electoral College disruption

Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Nessel: Fake GOP electors committed crimes, hopes feds prosecute
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and other prominent sports figures with ties to West Virginia have urged U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin to support sweeping legislation to protect the right to vote.

Saban was joined by NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, a fellow West Virginia native, in a Jan. 13 letter penned to the Democratic senator ahead of the Senate's debate of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. The Senate took up the bill Tuesday, and it appeared headed for defeat.

The package before the Senate would make Election Day a national holiday and require access to early voting and mail-in ballots that became overwhelmingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Voting advocates nationwide have warned that Republican-led states have passed laws making it more difficult for Black Americans and others to vote by consolidating polling locations, requiring certain types of identification and ordering other changes.

In the letter, the group said the principles that help ensure fair and free elections are now under intentional and unprecedented challenge.

We are all certain that democracy is best when voting is open to everyone on a level playing field; the referees are neutral; and at the end of the game the final score is respected and accepted, the letter reads.

The letter was also signed by former NFL players Oliver Luck and Darryl Talley, both of whom are West Virginia University graduates, as well as former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

The group said that lawmakers must guarantee that all Americans have an equal voice in our democracy and that Federal elections are conducted with integrity so that the votes of all eligible voters determine the election outcomes."

The voting bill was the Democrats top priority this Congress, and the House swiftly approved the legislation, only to see it languish in the Senate, opposed by Republicans. With a 50-50 split, Democrats have a narrow Senate majority  Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie  but they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the GOP filibuster.

Story continues

Attention is focused intently on Democrats Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who were singled out with a barrage of criticism during Martin Luther King Jr. Day events for their refusal to change what civil rights leaders call the Jim Crow filibuster.

Martin Luther King III, the son of the late civil rights leader, compared Sinema and Manchin to the white moderate his father wrote about during the civil rights battles of the 1950s and 1960s  a person who declared support for the goals of Black voting rights but not the direct actions or demonstrations that ultimately led to passage of the landmark legislation.

Both Manchin and Sinema say they support the package, but they are unwilling to change the Senate rules to muscle it through that chamber over Republican objections.

Asked about the letter Tuesday, Manchin told reporters that Saban had added a footnote, that was not included in the released letter, saying he supports the filibuster and to not get rid of it.

We should all support the right the vote, everyone, but not breaking the rules to make new rules, Manchin said.
Team ROC, the social justice arm of hip-hop mogul Jay-Z's entertainment company, is amplifying community demands that the Justice Department investigate the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, writing in an open letter Tuesday that "there is no excuse to justify the DOJ's silence."

Team Roc, joined by the nonprofit Midwest Innocence Project, said there is enough evidence of systemic police misconduct in the department that a "pattern or practice" investigation is necessary to review allegations of wrongdoing and discrimination.

"The DOJ's continued inaction tells targeted minority communities held hostage to the whims of the carceral state that justice does not exist for them, that their lives do not matter," says the letter, which is addressed to Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta.

Team Roc lawyer Alex Spiro said allegations of corruption and civil rights violations against police over the decades are not isolated.

The incidents include the case of a former Kansas City detective who was the subject of a federal investigation last year after he was accused of exploiting Black women for sex and framing people for crimes they say they did not commit.

In addition, FBI records dating to the 1990s and made public in recent months highlight that federal investigators found numerous allegations of civil rights violations and that about 200 Kansas City police officers were accused of misconduct and excessive force complaints over the years.

The recent news reports about the department "kept hitting our desk over and over again," Spiro said last week, "and we knew we had to get involved."

Team Roc sued the police department in September to obtain additional records to "help ascertain the scope of the misconduct and evaluate the adequacy of the [department's] training and supervision." The group then took out a full-page ad in The Washington Post calling for an investigation, and Spiro wrote to the Justice Department last month alleging that a "blue wall of silence" has allowed the misconduct to fester.

Story continues

Jay-Z. (Leon Bennett / FilmMagic file)

The police department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Police Chief Karl Oakman, a veteran officer who took over the 345-member agency in June, said last year that he would assist in general with any investigations.

"Our relationship with the community is of utmost importance which is why we are focused on strengthening current relationships and restoring those that have been broken," he said in a statement.

Under Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Justice Department has relaxed the Trump administration's reluctance to investigate police departments and increased such inquiries in the wake of demands for more accountability after the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, in 2020. Police departments in Minneapolis; Phoenix; Louisville, Kentucky; and Mount Vernon, New York, are under federal review of allegations of civil rights violations.

That has given hope to activists in Kansas City, Kansas, where about half the population is Black and Latino, as well as in neighboring Kansas City, Missouri, where a coalition of civil rights groups is also pushing for an investigation into accusations that the police department has engaged in discrimination and excessive force against people of color.

The Justice Department says it is evaluating the separate requests to investigate the Kansas City police departments in Kansas and Missouri, but is not commenting further.

Gupta, who oversees the department's civil litigating divisions, told The Post last fall that "whether or not an investigation is opened, we take all of the requests and information provided seriously." But the agency is getting a lot more requests for investigations, said Gupta, who said she hopes that by increasing its budget by $25 million this year, the division can hire more lawyers.

Ken Novak, a professor of criminal justice and criminology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said it is typically in the best interest of cities where the Justice Department conducts pattern or practice reviews to engage and to develop policies and training for corrective behavior.

The federal government can take police departments or cities to court to enforce so-called consent decrees that lay out overhauls in policing practices, but "whether there is sufficient evidence of problematic patterns and practices or whether Kansas City is any closer to a consent decree than it was several months ago" remains unclear, Novak said.
China has unveiled a plan to specify key tasks for protecting the marine environment in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Monday.

The plan, jointly issued by the MEE and five other departments, outlines five areas for marine-environment protection.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), China saw an overall improvement in its marine environment, said the MEE, but more protection efforts should be made, given that problems such as pollution and ecological degradation remain prominent, and governance systems and capacities still need to be strengthened.

The country will carry out targeted pollution treatment with a focus on nearshore bays and estuaries, while paying more attention to overall protection and systematic restoration.

China will build up its capacity for coping with emergencies and ecological disasters in the ocean, according to the plan.

Efforts will be made to coordinate climate response and marine-environment protection during the period, fully leverage the role of the oceans in carbon sequestration and enhance their resilience to climate change.
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A little over two years ago, in November 2019, Barbara Perry saw the leak in her trailers roof grow to the "size of a Volkswagen."

When her landlord refused to fix it, Perry, facing a breast cancer diagnosis and harsh treatment regime, knew she couldn't afford to wait. She began reaching out for help. She called 211 Brevard, a nonprofit that facilitates assistance for those in need, the Brevard Women's Center, Love in the Name of Christ and Salvation Army.

"I was told  keep in mind, (this was) before the pandemic  that the homeless population is so high in Brevard County, there is no help, period," the 60-year-old Perry recently recalled.

In July of 2021, her rented trailer was condemned. After two years of breast cancer treatment, which included a partial mastectomy and chemotherapy that made her too sick to work, Perry became homeless.

Since then, she has lived on the street, at Still Waters Ministries  a transitional housing facility  and now in a shed on private property owned by her boyfriends family in West Melbourne.

Perry, like many, has found that help isn't easy to find.

Overwhelming needs of both homeless people and those fighting to remain off the streets in Brevard, as well as strict criteria for who is eligible for assistance, make it difficult to find shelter. Many are left with no resources and few places to turn.

According to Buddy Morrow, president and executive director of Christ is the Answer or CITA, a nonprofit that runs one of Brevard's only men's shelters, there could be between 815 to 1,320 homeless individuals in Brevard County, based on a count performed last year. Morrow believes that this figure has grown since then.

Yet despite the growing number, there are only 584 beds in emergency, safe haven and transitional housing as of 2020 in Brevard County, according to figures from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. And when it comes to adult-only beds, that figure dwindles down to 268 beds.

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For many individuals seeking shelter, rules can be the biggest barrier next to availability to accessing shelter.

These barriers can operate to keep other unsheltered people on the street, according to a study conducted by the Seattle University of Law.

Advocates push for what's known as a low barrier shelter. Those shelters are open 24/7, which prevents individuals from having to line up every night or leave in the morning. Additionally, these shelters dont drug test individuals and are not just for housing-readiness.

In Brevard, the shelters tend to focus on particular groups of people. For example, Brevards Womens Center provides transitional housing for women. According to their website, this housing is only available if a woman meets certain criteria: she must have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault or a crime; be homeless or in danger of becoming homeless; have at least 50% custody of her children if applicable; meet HUDs very low or low income guidelines; work a minimum of 30 hours a week or 20 if she is in school; have documented proof of income; and be free of substance abuse for one year.

Perry told FLORIDA TODAY she was not currently facing domestic violence when she became homeless, making her ineligible for housing at the Women's Center. She also didn't meet the criteria for help from the Sue M. Pridmore Center when she applied in late 2019, she said.

Sue M. Pridmore Center, a transitional housing facility operated by Salvation Army in Melbourne, helps woman age 18 or older and requires they meet criteria such as: being employable in the United States; either actively seeking employment, being employed full-time or employed full-time and enrolled in an educational program; not fleeing from domestic violence; not requiring rehabilitation from addiction; not waiting for income sources outside of employment such as SSD, SSI, SSE or workers compensation; and homeless within the scope of the Centers focus. Women without children may stay at the center, as well as women with girls under the age of 18, or women with boys under the age of 12.

Other shelters also target their help to certain people such as veterans, which Perry is not, or mothers (Perry has no children) or people 62-years and older at the Genesis house, a Melbourne shelter. Perry is 60.

Memorial held for deceased homeless: Daily Bread vigil remembers homeless who died this year, warns of fentanyl dangers

Few resources, housing options: Homeless offenders in Brevard County struggle to find resources and shelter

We currently receive approximately five calls a week from a mother or lady that needs help and are homeless or in a car, Morrow said. CITA's shelter has its own set of criteria, which includes that men staying at the shelter not be drinking or high on drugs and not possess any substances.

These rules, Morrow said, are the biggest challenge for those deciding if they would like to become part of CITAS 6-month housing program.

There are rules to our program as with all programs. For many of those men that are homeless, rules are the biggest setback of them finding any type of shelter/housing as they do not care to have any rules in their life, Morrow said.

Getting jobs and saving money is a big factor in seeking housing, and employment is a criteria many shelters in Brevard have for those looking for housing. This is to help prepare them to transition back out into the community, said Joyce Catley, program coordinator at Salvation Army.

If they come in and get employed and save a bunch of money while theyre with us . and they get out and they try to get an apartment for $1,200 or $1,500 when they cant support that, probably in three months, they would try to come back, Catley said. We want to try to make sure that they have more of a realistic, educated approach on budgeting on what they can afford when they get out so that they dont turn around and come right back.

But for those who live on the street or in tents, sheds or similar structures, finding a job can be more difficult. Not having access to electricity and a shower cost Perry a job opportunity recently at a Brevard hotel.

"If I could get a room  someone to pay for a room (for less than two weeks), then I could start this job and I could kill two birds with one stone. I could have a room, I could have a job and by the first of the year, my life  by the first of the year, my life would be completely turned around," she said. "(But) I had to pass on the job because I can't go there smelling like the woods. I can't. I have to give 100%."

When Perry has received help, she said it feels like "one hand doesn't know what the other is doing," saying she is working with the Department of Children and Family Services, 211 Brevard and the Housing Coalition to try to get assistance.

"(There are) no results yet to solve my homeless problem, but I do believe efforts are being made," she said.

Ultimately, some experts say the goal needs to shift away from temporary shelters toward more permanent housing from the start.

According to Anne Raye, manager of the Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse at the University of Florida's Shimberg Center for Housing, the policy behind housing someone used to be centered on being housing ready, meaning that individuals would have to get placed in a shelter first. Then, those individuals would get a job while in shelter, and then be moved into permanent housing.

We're generally finding that its those things  not having permanent housing itself  is destabilizing. So get people into housing first, and then work on all those other issues, said Raye.

"It's so important to have the shelter beds but its a much more sound solution to provide permanent housing...that's a more stabilizing solution," said Raye. "Housing is really the answer.

Stability is something lacking in Perrys life. However, she says she has maintained a sense of humor and hopes to use her situation to help others. She is working on her masters degree in human service online at Purdue University Global. She plans to work with others facing homelessness in the future and hopes to tell her own story, possibly through writing a book one day.

"I have no doubt that my circumstances are going to change, Perry said. But my journey has been long.

Amira Sweilem is the data reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Sweilem at 386-406-5648 or asweilem@floridatoday.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Transitional housing limited, keeping some in Brevard unhoused
Israeli police have employed NSO Groups Pegasus spyware to extract data from phones belonging to Israeli citizens, according to an investigation by the countrys Calcalist business publication. Police reportedly used the controversial software to target a number of individuals, including politicians and members of an activist group that had called for the removal of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the report, Israeli police conducted their surveillance without court supervision, a claim both police and public officials deny.

All police activity in this field is done in accordance with the law, on the basis of court orders and strict work procedures, Israeli Police said. The Washington Post reports Omer Bar-Lev, the countrys countrys public security minister, said an initial investigation had found no evidence of a secretive wiretapping program but promised a judge would check everything thoroughly and unequivocally.

We would like to clarify that the company does not operate the systems in its customers possession and is not involved in their operation, NSO Group said in a statement the company shared with Israeli media. The company sells its products under license and supervision for the use of security bodies and state law enforcement agencies, to prevent crime and terrorism legally, and according to court orders and local law in each country.

Per The Guardian , Israeli law only allows Shin Bet, the countrys domestic intelligence agency, to hack a phone without a court order. Whats more, the only context in which the agency is allowed to carry out such an action is to prevent a terrorist attack involving Palestinians, Israeli-Arabs or Israeli-Jews. Approval from a senior Shin Bet official or the attorney generals office is also required. No such exemption exists for the countrys police service. However, according to Calcalist, the software wasnt directly covered by Israels existing laws.
Dawn Shirreffs

Florida lawmakers have three big opportunities to change the trajectory of Floridas future and mitigate the impacts of climate change on our state.

Floridians know climate change is real  94% of Floridians agree that it is an issue. Thats because we are already paying higher electric bills from record heat waves and skyrocketing insurance from stronger hurricanes and increased flooding.

Last year alone we were hit with more than 2,000 wildfires  and red tide lingered all summer from higher ocean temperatures, hurting our health and our tourism economy. Indeed a recent report by Florida TaxWatch stated that climate change in the Sunshine State could represent $175 billion in annual economic risk by the year 2050.

But what can state leaders do during the next nine weeks to change Floridas future?

First, Florida should set bold but achievable goals for electric vehicles. Lawmakers can jump-start this transition by removing barriers to electric vehicle expansion. For example, simple tweaks to the states procurement practices would allow the total cost of vehicle ownership to guide fleet purchasing decisions  which in turn would save taxpayers money over time while reducing air pollution.

Second, legislators should solidify the Statewide Office of Resiliency under the Governors Office by providing this critical department with adequate resources and the requisite authority to:

 Direct resilience initiatives across Floridas agencies.

 Lead the implementation of the states resilience strategy.

 Leverage funding from the federal government and the private sector.

Third, lawmakers should reject any legislative proposals that would unfairly check the momentum of Floridas burgeoning solar industry. Florida families and small businesses should be able to continue recovering their costs at the same rate as Floridas utilities. We should be looking for ways to ensure Florida cities, universities and other tax-exempt organizations can make critical investments in solar to save taxpayer dollars, reduce risk and increase our resilience after a storm.

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During the next 60 days Florida's lawmakers have the opportunity to lead on climate and the economy with common-sense solutions. Lets hope they do so: the futures of our families and our state depend on it.

Dawn Shirreffs is the Florida director of the Environmental Defense Fund.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Floridians need their leaders to address climate change
Owen Farrell has been named as England captain for the 2022 Six Nations with a 36-player group selected by Eddie Jones ahead of the tournament.

The squad will assemble in Brighton on Monday 24 January for a five-day training camp ahead of the tournament. England open their campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield on 5 February.

George Ford is again left out, with Marcus Smith and Farrell preferred at fly-half alongside uncapped Bath youngster Orlando Bailey, who earns a first call-up. Farrell has not played since suffering an ankle injury during the autumn but is expected to be fit for the start of the Six Nations.

Bailey is one of six uncapped players in the squad. Wasps back-rower Alfie Barbeary is rewarded for strong club form and is joined in the back-row mix by Leicesters Ollie Chessum, while Tommy Freeman of Northampton and London Irish flyer Ollie Hassell-Collins get the chance to push for places in the back three.

Manu Tuilagi is not included in the squad  the centre is yet to return to action after suffering an injury in Englands final Autumn Nations Series fixture against South Africa. There is a place, however, for Harlequins well-rounded uncapped centre Luke Northmore.

There are no recalls for either Mako or Billy Vunipola, but Jack Nowell is included for the first time in more than two years after an extended period of injury strife. Flanker Sam Underhill is a surprise omission, and Elliot Daly, who missed the autumn with an injury, is also not included.

Scrum-half Ben Youngs could become Englands most capped male player during the Six Nations  the 32-year-old is two behind Jason Leonards tally of 114.

Selecting this squad has been a difficult task, weve got plenty of good young players coming through and some of our more experienced are rediscovering their best form, Jones said.

We think this 36 for the first training week reflects a good balance of that experience and up-and-coming talent.

In Brighton well focus on getting the fundamentals of our game in play right and developing the cohesion of the team.

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The Six Nations is going to be the most competitive weve ever seen. All the countries performed well in the autumn, so we need to be at our best and improve with every game.

England squad for 2022 Six Nations

FORWARDS

Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)

Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)

Ollie Chessum, Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)

Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)

Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)

Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)

Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)

Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)

Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps)

Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)

Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)

Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)

Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)

Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)

BACKS

Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)

Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps)

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)

Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)

Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)

Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)

Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps)

Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped)

Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)

Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)

Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)

Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)

Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Papua New Guinea authorities were assessing the extent of damage Wednesday from a powerful earthquake that rattled coastal towns the previous evening.

The magnitude 7.5 quake struck around 11 p.m. Tuesday at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was offshore about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Kokopo, which has about 26,000 people.

Chris McKee, the acting director of geohazards management, said there was some damage in Kokopo as items were shaken from shelves and the power had been cut. He said a small tsunami was generated, but the late-night darkness made an assessment difficult.

McKee said the earthquake was a strike-slip event along a fault line, a type of quake that doesn't usually trigger major tsunamis.

Garfield Tarabu, a spokesman at the National Disaster Centre, said a disaster coordinator was on the ground assessing the situation in and around Kokopo but they hadn't yet gotten an update on the extent of the damage.

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had said tsunami waves of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) were possible along coastal areas up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the epicenter, including Papua New Guinea and the nearby Solomon Islands.

Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia and north of eastern Australia.

It sits on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire," the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where much of the world's earthquakes and volcanic activity occurs.

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 2018 in the nation's central region killed at least 125 people. That quake hit areas that are remote and undeveloped, and assessments about the scale of the damage and injuries were slow to filter out.
By Marcelo Rochabrun

SAYHUA, Peru (Reuters) - Leaders of a group of Peruvian communities said in a public hearing on Monday that they rejected a government proposal to prevent future blockades affecting the Las Bambas copper mine.

Capacmarca district leaders said they would analyze the proposal for 15 days before deciding whether to once again block the mining road used by Las Bambas to transport its copper onto a seaport.

The road has been blocked by local communities since Las Bambas, owned by China's MMG [1208.HK] began operations in 2016. Blockades have totaled over 400 days on and off since then and most recently forced the mine to suspend operations in December.

The refusal to sign the proposal, which would have committed Las Bambas to financially support Ccapacmarca, is a blow for the government of leftist President Pedro Castillo. His administration has tried to prioritize the needs of poor mining communities while also relying on profits from the sector.

Las Bambas is one of Peru's largest copper mines. The Andean nation is the world's No. 2 copper producer and mining is a key source of tax revenue for the country.

(Reporting by Marcelo Rochabrun, writing by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by David Gregorio)
You are here: China

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed the importance of improving capabilities in the prevention and control of major risks in work safety.



Li made the comments in his instructions to a national video and telephone conference on production safety held on Monday.

Though the workplace safety situation was generally stable last year, the country should still stay vigilant, Li noted.

Efforts in improving the institutions and mechanisms of safety supervision and law enforcement must be accelerated, and effective measures must be taken to resolve pronounced problems to prevent major accidents, Li said.

Vice-Premier Liu He, also head of the Work Safety Committee of the State Council, as well as Wang Yong, state councilor and vice head of the committee, attended Monday's meeting.
Police on Tuesday released the name of the 32-year-old woman accused of stabbing a man over the weekend in a Target parking lot in Hampton.

Hampton police were called at 6:08 a.m., Saturday to the Target store on the 5000 block of Holt Avenue, where officers found a man suffering from stab wounds. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Briana Jenay Coleman-Boone, of Baltimore, is charged with stabbing the man during a domestic argument in the parking lot, police said. Coleman-Boone was arrested Saturday and charged with one count of malicious wounding.

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
Jan. 17Brunswick Police are seeking two men in connection with a shootout that occurred after midnight Saturday at the Bamboo Lounge, 2717 U.S. Highway 17, leaving one man dead and five others injured.

Antonio Duncan, 27, of Brunswick, is wanted on arrest warrants charging him with murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police issued an arrest warrant also for Darren Cowart, 26, of Brunswick, charging him with party to a crime of murder. Police say Duncan should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the shooting or the whereabouts of Duncan and Cowart is urged to call Brunswick Police detective Carla Futch at 912-279-2641, or Silent Witness hotline at 912-267-5516.

Brandon Capers, 32, died of gunshot wound suffered while participating in the shootout, Brunswick Police Capt. Angela Smith said.

An off-duty Brunswick police officer was working a security detail outside the Bamboo Lounge when he heard gunfire coming from inside and called for on-duty police to respond. Police said an argument involving Duncan and Capers escalated and the two men began shooting at each other inside the bar at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

Gunfire struck Capers, as well as four women and another man who also were in the bar, police said. Capers was transported to Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick hospital, where he died, police said. The four wounded women also were transported to SGHS's Brunswick hospital. The other wounded man was treated at an "undisclosed medical facility," police said.

Three of the gunshot victims were treated for minor injuries and released from the hosptial, police said. The shooting victims were between the ages of 25 and 52, police said.

Brunswick police issued warrants for Duncan and Cowart on Sunday.
Sports Header

MEEKER  Four Prague players reached double figures, led by Nate Lester's 20, as the Class 3A sixth-ranked Red Devils blitzed the host Meeker Bulldogs 74-53 Monday night in the first round of the 66 Conference Tournament.

Joining Lester in double figures were Trip Davis with 17, Peyton Ezell with 13 and Blestin Miller with 11.

Davis drained four 3-point shots while Lester and Ezell had one apiece.

Lester tallied 13 of his points in the second half. Davis and Ezell had 12 and 10 respectively in the opening half.

Treyvon Compton paced Meeker with 20 points as he canned six treys. He had 14 points in the second half.

Braxton Bussell and Evan Tirey tallied 12 and 11 points respectively for the Bulldogs. Bussell also hit one 3-pointer in the game and had eight of his points in the third quarter. Tirey collected all of his points in the first half.

Leading 18-12 after one quarter, Prague blew the game open with a 22-10 second quarter. Meeker did cut into the deficit with a 19-12 third quarter to get within 52-41. However, the Red Devils went on a 22-12 spurt through the fourth quarter for the 21-point margin of victory.

Prague 40, Chandler 34 (Girls)

Payton Camren tossed in 14 points and Mattie Rich added 12 as the Lady Red Devils outlasted the Lady Lions.

Rich knocked down three treys and Camren had one. Camren tossed in eight of her points in the first quarter and converted a 3-point shot in the second in finishing with 11 at halftime. Rich tallied 11 of her points in the first half.

Tessa Cooper also nailed a trey on her way to six points as she had five of those in the first period.

Presley Martzall canned four 3-point shots and ended up with 12 points to lead Chandler. Teammate Leah Brannon followed with nine points.

Prague was only 7-of-15 from the foul line but Chandler had an even a worse 2-of-10 outing.

Okemah 62, McLoud 23 (Girls)

Abby Harelson fired in 16 points and Raven Deer had 14 as the Lady Panthers routed the Lady Redskins.

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Okemah opened up a 13-3 advantage through one quarter and went on a 12-4 run in the second in building a 25-7 halftime cushion. The Lady Panthers then went on a 17-3 spurt through the third.

Taylor Haberman added 11 points and Elaine Berryhill tacked on nine for the Lady Panthers. Harelson drained two treys in the game and Berryhill had one.

Alivia Wapskineh led McLoud with seven points, including one trey. Shawnee Pfeiffer followed with six points and Desira Jones had five, including one 3-point basket.

Okemah was 13-of-17 from the free throw line and McLoud ended up 2-of-5.

This article originally appeared on The Shawnee News-Star: Prague teams open 66 Conference Tourney with victories
A woman with her hands covering her face. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  A teacher at a top secondary school who got into a relationship with his student will be assessed to see if his bipolar disorder contributed to his offences against the underaged girl 11 years ago.

The 47-year-old man previously pleaded guilty to two counts of committing an indecent act on the victim, who was 15 at the time of the offences in 2011. Another two counts of a similar nature will be considered for his sentencing.

The victim only informed another teacher about her relationship with the accused man in 2018, after she had returned to her school to work as a relief teacher. She and the man cannot be named to protect her identity.

District Judge Eddy Tham called for a mandatory treatment order suitability report to assess if the man was suited to undergo treatment for his bipolar disorder in lieu of jail time. He will be assessed by a Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist.

Accused met victim in 2009

The accused, a Ministry of Education teacher, met the victim, now aged 24, after he was transferred to her school in 2009. He taught her class history and was the teacher-in-charge of her advanced history class. He was also the teacher-in-charge of her co-curricular activity.

In the latter half of 2010, the pair began meeting for coffee inside and outside of school and sharing about their personal lives. The girl was then 15.

In December 2010, the man went on holiday but continued texting the victim. The victim understood from their communication that the accused wanted to treat her like a partner. When the accused returned in January, they met more frequently in school and depended on each other for emotional support.

By end-February 2011, the pair were in a relationship and would hold hands when they were alone in school. They would meet in a student room allocated for the girls co-curricular activity, which she used as a study room. The man would often bring his work and join the victim in the room.

'I can do anything now'

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Between March and May 2011, the duo were alone in the room, with the victim standing near a wall. The man then approached her, spurring her to back up against the wall. The man then grabbed her wrists with both hands, lifted it above her head and pressed it against the wall. He pressed his body against hers and said, I can do anything now.

He released her after 15 seconds. The victim felt embarrassed and confused, but did not react.

In the same period, the pair were in the room alone when the man, who was seated, reached out and touched her private parts. Surprised, the girl stepped away from the man when he removed his hand.

The two continued their relationship and met during the June school holidays in 2011. After the school term resumed, the man ended their relationship and did not make further advances towards her. They continued to contact each other after the victim left school.

In January 2014, the victim returned to the school as a relief teacher for six months, a stint arranged by the man. The victim then began showing signs of an eating disorder. In April, the man and another female teacher accompanied the victim to Singapore General Hospital.

The victim stopped all communication with the man in November 2016, but told a female teacher about her relationship with the man in August 2018. The female teacher escalated the matter and the school principal filed a police report on behalf of the victim on 2 October 2018.

The principal stated that the teacher left the school in December 2016 and was a civil servant elsewhere. The report added that the victim did not want to make a police report and agreed for the school to make the report on her behalf.

The man will return to court for sentencing on 11 April.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
Editor's note: The following story contains graphic details of alleged child abuse.

A Pueblo woman will be evaluated for competency to stand trial in the death of a child, a Pueblo court ruled Jan. 18.

Brandi Baros, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, a first-degree felony, along with child abuse  a class three misdemeanor.

The court determined Tuesday that it has insufficient information to make a ruling on competency after defense counsel raised the question, and as such, ordered that the Colorado Department of Human Services make a report regarding competency.

More crime and public safetey: Victim in Jan. 14 fatal shooting identified

An evaluation of competency will be conducted at the Pueblo County Jail. The District Attorney's Office has been ordered to provide the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo with all "collateral materials within 24 hours."

Detective details tragic, graphic scene in which they found the child in Baros' care

Baros was arrested in June 2021 regarding the death of a child in her care in August 2019.

On August 14, 2019, detectives from the Pueblo Police Department were called to a Pueblo residence to investigate a deceased child.

When detectives arrived, they found the child lying on the floor. The child was pronounced dead on the scene.

The child appeared to be severely malnourished, according to an affidavit of probable cause for an arrest warrant filed by Detective Alex Hovet on June 10, 2021.

"The best description would be to equate (the child's) body to that of someone of someone in a concentration camp," wrote Hovet.

The cause of death was multifactorial neglect, including starvation, dehydration, acute bronchopneumonia, and methamphetamine exposure, according to the autopsy conducted by Forensic Pathologist Daniel Lingamfelter.

KLF11 gene-mutation-associated microcephaly was listed as another significant condition.

Baros told police the day of the child's death that she woke up that morning and was downstairs when another minor came downstairs and said they were hungry.

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She went upstairs to wake up the rest of the children in the house when she noticed that one child was not breathing.

She said she attempted CPR, but couldn't do it, so a neighbor  later identified as Jennifer Vasquez  came over and started CPR.

Baros stated she had last seen the child alive on Aug. 13 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

The child in question was born with microcephaly, a congenital condition where the child has an abnormal smallness of the head associated with incomplete brain development.

The child suffered from seizures, dwarfism, was partially blind and had some body movements they could not control.

Police say there were signs of drug use at Baros' home

While at the home, detectives said they observed signs of illegal drug use in the home, including pipes, multiple lighters and physical signs of drug use including Baros having "sunken in facial features" and "pock marks" according to the affidavit.

In later interviews with police, Baros admitted to using Percosets for pain as well as previous use of methamphetamine, but stated the last time she used was four months before the child's death.

However, Baros's boyfriend Raymond "Gordo" Leyba (who was at the house at the time the child was found dead), told law enforcement that multiple people would come over to the house to use illicit substances.

Leyba stated he had been dating Baros after getting out of Pueblo County Jail, and that he and his friend would go to the house to smoke meth.

Law enforcement was later notified by the coroner's office that the child tested positive for methamphetamine at the time of their death.

Baros told police that the child was seen by a specialty physician who comes down from Denver Children's Hospital to treat the child because no physician in Pueblo would take the case.

However, later review of the child's medical and treatment history by law enforcement revealed that the child was discharged from Southern Colorado Clinic in December 2018 because of too many no-call no-shows.

Furthermore, the family had been receiving at-home care through AIM beginning November 2016. However, they were discharged and stopped care at the request of Baros in March 20, 2017.

A medical review of the child's death conducted by the Children's Colorado START team states that the child's gene mutation was not associated with starvation or malnourishment, and while they were known to be small and followed by a nutritionist, when provided adequate care, showed growth and development as expected when provided adequate care.

The review stated that while it is not clear whether the bronchopneumonia or the starvation occurred first, it is not uncommon for sick children to display a lack of appetite.

However, if the loss of appetite was severe enough to cause severe malnutrition and dehydration, a child would appear severely ill and should cause caretakers to seek medical attention for their child, the START team found.

"(Redacted) previously sought care for more minor medical conditions such as urinary tract and ear infections," wrote the team. "I would expect (the child) to appear very ill with the multifactorial conditions that caused their death. It is unclear why no medical attention was sought."

The team wrote that the lack of seeking medical care is consistent with medical neglect.

On the meth found in the child's blood and urine samples, the START team wrote that while it was unlikely to be the primary cause of the child's death due to the low amount of it detected, there was at minimum significant drug use around the child that led to systemic absorption leading to it being detectable.

"Additional concerns would be methamphetamine use by anyone who cared for the child. Use of amphetamine would impair their ability to provide basic needs for the child such as proper nutrition, hygiene, scheduled health care visits, etc, and recognition of symptoms concerning illnesses," they wrote.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

More: Rita's Restaurant is a Pueblo staple

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact him on Twitter @jayreutter1.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo woman to be evaluated for competency in trial of death of child
The rates of new COVID-19 cases reported in the majority of Tri-State counties fell last week, but the numbers remained high in local Pennsylvania counties.

Also, the positivity rates for all the Tri-State counties remain at or near record levels, with Washington County in Maryland notching 34.97% as of Tuesday morning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And the deaths attributed to the virus over the past week, particularly in Washington County and Franklin County, Pennsylvania, were in the double digits. The Tri-State area had a total of 41 COVID-related deaths in the week ending Sunday.

There were 11 deaths in Washington County. Franklin County recorded 18. In the week ending Jan. 9, Washington County reported 18 deaths and Franklin County had 21.

Previously: New positive COVID cases fall in Washington County, but most of Tri-State sees surge

Trone positive: Md. congressman tests positive for COVID-19; urges everyone to get vaccinated

Hospital changes: Meritus Health implements crisis standard of care due to surge in COVID-19 cases

The data are assembled from a USA TODAY analysis of statistics maintained by Johns Hopkins University and the CDC. Many counties did not report data during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, disrupting the latest week's statistics.

In addition, the data are being compared to a week with backlogged cases and deaths from the New Year's holiday weekend. Week-to-week comparisons could be skewed and inexact, but they provide as good an estimation as possible of where the region stands.

Though it seems all numbers have been restored, the Maryland Department of Health was the victim of a ransomware attack Dec. 4 that affected the servers on which the data were stored.

What are the latest statistics from Meritus Medical Center?

As of Tuesday, the hospital east of Hagerstown had 275 patients, according to statistics provided by Meritus Health spokeswoman Joelle Butler. The hospital's capacity can be stretched to almost 330.

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Of the patients Tuesday, 96 were hospitalized for COVID-19. Just over a week ago, there were 77. Out of all the COVID patients Tuesday, only 21  almost 22%  were vaccinated.

There were 19 patients in the hospital's intensive care unit, and seven of them were COVID-19 patients. Only two of those seven were vaccinated.

There were 20 people on ventilators at the hospital Monday, three of them were COVID patients. None of the COVID patients on a ventilator was vaccinated.

The hospital also listed one pediatric COVID-19 case on Tuesday.

The average age of the COVID-19 patients at Meritus was 68 as of Tuesday. A little more than a week ago, the average age was 66.

Where should I go to get a COVID-19 test or vaccination?

The Washington County Health Department is running drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing clinics on Wednesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hagerstown Housing Authority, 36 W. Lee St. in Hagerstown.

Meritus Health continues to offer a drive-thru testing clinic each weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic is behind Meritus Medical Plaza at 13620 Crayton Blvd. north of Hagerstown. Because of traffic congestion, use the Showalter Road exit from Interstate 81, then turn onto Crayton Boulevard, instead of using Maugans Avenue.

Aside from many pharmacies offering vaccinations, the county health department also offers clinics through the week:

Wednesday, Jan. 19: 1 to 7 p.m., Washington County Health Department, 1302 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown

Thursday, Jan. 20: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Clear Spring Town Hall, 146 Cumberland St., Clear Spring

Friday, Jan. 21: For those ages 5 to 11, noon to 2:30 p.m., Hancock Town Hall, 126 W. High St., Hancock

Friday, Jan. 21: For those ages 5 to 11, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Hancock Middle-Senior High School, 289 W. Main St., Hancock

Meritus also offers walk-up and by-appointment vaccinations Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Robinwood Professional Center atrium, 11110 Medical Campus Road, Hagerstown. To schedule an appointment, email COVID.vaccine@meritushealth.com.

What are the statistics for the Tri-State area?

Here's a look at the figures for the region, based on data from Johns Hopkins and the CDC analyzed by the USA TODAY Network:

Washington County

New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 2,018

New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 2,245

Percent decrease: 10.1%

Positivity rate: 34.97%

Number of deaths reported in the past week: 11

Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 18

The county has recorded 30,703 cases and 497 deaths during the pandemic.

Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 56.7%

Percent of Marylanders fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 71.6%

Level of community transmission: High

Franklin County, Pa.

New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 2,773

New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 2,074

Percent increase: 33.7%

Positivity rate: 36.45%

Number of deaths reported in the past week: 18

Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 21

The county has recorded 34,980 cases and 589 deaths during the pandemic.

Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 47%

Percent of Pennsylvanians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 64.9%

Level of community transmission: High

Fulton County, Pa.

New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 211

New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 153

Percent increase: 37.9%

Positivity rate: 28.44%

Number of deaths reported in the past week: 4

Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 2

The county has recorded 3,534 cases and 55 deaths during the pandemic.

Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 34.3%

Percent of Pennsylvanians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 64.9%

Level of community transmission: High

Berkeley County, W.Va.

New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 2,383

New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 4,373

Percent decrease: 45.5%

Positivity rate: 36.3%

Number of deaths reported in the past week: 3

Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 4

The county has recorded 30,974 cases and 222 deaths during the pandemic.

Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 52.3%

Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 55.6%

Level of community transmission: High

Jefferson County, W.Va.

New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 1,239

New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 1,800

Percent decrease: 31.2%

Positivity rate: 36.82%

Number of deaths reported in the past week: 5

Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 3

The county has recorded 12,209 cases and 105 deaths during the pandemic.

Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 60.5%

Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 55.6%

Level of community transmission: High

Morgan County, W.Va.

New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 358

New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 393

Percent decrease: 8.9%

Positivity rate: 28.63%

Number of deaths reported in the past week: zero

Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 4

The county has recorded 3,598 cases and 57 deaths during the pandemic.

Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 39.4%

Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 55.6%

Level of community transmission: High

USA Today Network reporter Mike Stucka contributed to this story.

Joseph Deinlein is the news director at The Herald-Mail in Hagerstown, Md. Reach him at jdeinlein@herald-mail.com or on Twitter @JDeinleinHM.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: New COVID cases rise in PA Tri-State counties, fall elsewhere
Satellite image showing volcanic ash covering rooftops and vegetation in an area of Tonga after a volcanic eruption and tsunami. CPL Vanessa Parker/NZDF via AP

New Zealand is trying to get supplies to Tonga after a volcanic eruption and tsunami.

But ash on the runway means planes have not been able to land.

Communications are damaged so information about the impact is limited. Officials warn it is extensive.

Rescue planes are struggling to reach Tonga after a tsunami because the runway of its main airport is covered in ash, reports say.

The tsunami was triggered by an underwater volcano erupting on Saturday  an explosion that also brought ash to the Polynesian island nation.

The tsunami also knocked out communications, meaning the scale of the damage, particularly on the country's most remote islands, is hard to calculate. But authorities have detailed extensive damage, and warned that people need food and clean water.

The ash from the volcano means planes have been unable to bring those supplies.

Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand's foreign affairs minister, said on Tuesday that ash on the runway of Fua'amotu International Airport, in Nuku'alofa, had to be cleared before a jet could land.

One plane due to land on Tuesday was delayed because of the ash, New Zealand's 1 News reported.

Two hundred people were needed to sweep 100 meters (about 330 feet) of ash from the runway, the report said.

New Zealand is also sending ships with water, supplies, aid, and rescue workers, the air force said.

Read the original article on Insider
ROCKFORD  Mayor Tom McNamara is calling on area residents to speak out against a planned reduction in services at the Javon Bea Hospital Rockton Avenue campus.

The day before Thanksgiving, Mercyhealth announced that it is moving inpatient care services and surgeries from its Rockton Avenue campus to its Riverside Boulevard campus, closing 70 inpatient surgical beds. The plan is to move outpatient care and surgeries to the Rockton Avenue campus.

McNamara said it is the latest example of a "systematic reduction in services" on the west side of Rockford that has been implemented since the opening of Mercyhealth's Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside.

Previously: Mercyhealth shifts inpatient care to Rockford east side, outpatient to west side

"There will be a hearing for what I believe is the absolute wrong move at the absolute worst time," McNamara said.

McNamara is encouraging public opposition to the changes.

Because of the pandemic, a virtual public hearing online is scheduled at 1 p.m. Jan. 26 on Mercyhealth's request to discontinue inpatient services before the Illinois Health Facilities & Review Board. A decision could be made at the board's March 15 meeting.

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, seen in this 2019 file photo, is organizing public opposition to Mercyhealth's planned closure of 70 inpatient beds at its Javon Bea Hospital - Rockton Avenue campus.

McNamara said that changes in state law over the years have made it difficult to prevent the closure of needed hospital services, but he is hopeful that enough public opposition can have an influence.

Trauma services were eliminated on the Rockton Avenue campus at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Last month, the emergency room was converted into a "standby" facility staffed by nurses with a physician on call.

A 20-bed inpatient mental health unit was also closed on the Rockton Avenue campus in 2020.

'A fabric in this community': Freeport Fire Chief Brad Liggett made a life helping others

Mercyhealth CEO Javon Bea in a news release previously said moving inpatient services to the eastside of the city is part of an effort to improve patient care. He pointed out a variety of services remain available on the Rockton Avenue campus including outpatient surgeries, cancer care, family medicine, cardiology, gastroenterology and more.

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"Realigning services across our one hospital license, located between two campuses allows us to provide a more robust outpatient facility at Rockton and expand our inpatient campus at Riverside," Bea said in the release. "We will still be able to care for the same number of people, and no jobs will be lost as a result of these changes, which will allow us to better utilize our staff to best meet our patients needs."

Jeff Kolkey: jkolkey@rrstar.com; @jeffkolkey

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford mayor wants residents to oppose Mercyhealth service changes
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday its embassy in Kyiv was operating as usual following a New York Times report that Moscow had begun evacuating the families of staff at its diplomatic missions in Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported.

The New York Times cited a senior Ukrainian official as saying that 18 people, mostly family members of Russian diplomats, had left Ukraine on Jan. 5. It said around 30 others left the embassy in Kyiv and the consulate in Lviv in western Ukraine over the next few days.

The U.S. newspaper also reported that diplomats at two other Russian consulates had been told to prepare to leave Ukraine.

The Russian foreign ministry did not comment on its consulates in Ukraine but told Interfax that its embassy in Kyiv was operating normally. It did not provide further detail.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry said it had not received any information from Moscow about the evacuation of employees from its diplomatic outposts in Ukraine. It added that Kyiv had no plans to evacuate Ukrainian diplomats from Russia.

Troop movements by Russia near its border with Ukraine have prompted Western fears that Moscow is planning to invade.

Russian authorities deny such a plan but have used the standoff to campaign for security guarantees from the West that would include a stop to NATO's potential expansion eastward and a formal veto on Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, from ever joining the military alliance.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Moscow and Matthias Williams in Kyiv; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Juvenile court judge Donna Scott Davenport, one of the last elected leaders still in office after being tied to Rutherford County's decades-long history of illegally arresting and jailing children, announced Tuesday afternoon she won't seek re-election later this year.

Davenport said she will retire after completing her eight-year term by Aug. 31.

Donna Scott Davenport

The announcement came one day after Democratic Party lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly said they were seeking legislation to oust Davenport.

Kyle Mothershead, who represented plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit settled in December, said the county illegally arrested and incarcerated children before Davenport came to office in 2000. Still, he responded to Tuesday's news with condemnation and relief.

"Good riddance," Mothershead said.

Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, said he learned Tuesday about Davenport's decision to retire rather than seek re-election.

"Rutherford County expresses thanks to her for her service over the years and wishes her luck in her retirement," Ketron said.

Davenport and the county's juvenile detention center has faced national criticism for policies that led to multiple lawsuits and the illegal incarcerations of thousands of children on misdemeanor or made-up charges.

The policies led to children being handcuffed at school and jailed. Meanwhile, a filter system policy was created by Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center Director Lynn Duke, who accepted her appointed position from Davenport.

Judge Donna Scott Davenport previously participated in 'Foundations and Fashions," an event presented by The City Schools Foundation.

The public learned of these polices after a 2016 fight in the neighborhood near Hobgood Elementary led to the arrests of 10 children. The fight was recorded on video and shared on social media. While Davenport dismissed charges involving the Hobgood arrests, she was still criticized for her role in creating a culture of illegal arrests and incarcerations.

Yes, she is resigning, said Jimmie Garland, vice president of the Tennessee conference of the NAACP. But my question: Is she the only one that needs to resign, or the only one legislators need to run out of office? Because Im quite sure theres more than one person caught up in that.

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I think they need to continue their research, continue their investigation, just to make sure everybody in that loop is actually out of a job.

'I dont think shed be re-elected anyway because all the stuff she did'

Among those incarcerated was Nicole Alexander's 10-year-old son, who was arrested at home, accused of encouraging the fight.

Yet he was not present for the fight in question, according to a $15 million lawsuit filed last year against Davenport.

"I dont think shed be re-elected anyway because all the stuff she did," Alexander said Tuesday, who contends the judge should face criminal charges.

Related: Lawmakers push to remove Rutherford County juvenile judge over jailing of children

Alexander's cousin, Jackie Brinkley, also watched her twins, a boy and a girl, arrested at home. Her son spent the weekend at the juvenile detention center.

Brinkley said she's glad the judge decided to retire and wished authorities dealt with her sooner.

"They should have removed her from being judge," Brinkley said. "Shes very rude to the parents. She doesnt have respect at all for the mothers."

Mother of incarcerated 10-year-old: Police 'came to my house like my son was a fugitive'

Flashback: Judge Donna Davenport, right, swears in school board members at a meeting of the Murfreesboro City School Board in 2016. From the left: newcomer Wesley Ballard, Jared Barrett, Butch Campbell and newcomer David Settles.

A class-action lawsuit was filed in July 2017.

"Tennessee law strictly prohibits the pretrial incarceration of children" unless the youth are "being charged with a violent felony, a weapons offense, or a probation violation," according to the lawsuit.

Litigation led to a 2017 court order to stop the illegal incarcerations of children from U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr.

"The juveniles that are arrested in Rutherford County are being deprived of their procedural due process rights, which is unquestionably irreparable harm." Crenshaw said in his ruling.

The class-action lawsuit settled in December for less than an estimated $6 million. The settlement includes awards to 394 filed claims for illegal incarceration and another 100 claims will be for illegal arrests, Mothershead said.

The settlement will pay about $4,800 per illegal incarceration and $1,000 per illegal arrest. The original plaintiffs will get more.

The number of plaintiffs with claims represented less than one-third of the estimated 1,450 people believed to be eligible and impacted in recent decades by the arrests and incarcerations.

Thousands of others were ineligible because of the statute of limitations.

Illegally jailing children: 5 things to know about Rutherford County's troubled history of arresting and jailing kids

Davenport: 'One of the greatest honors of my life'

In 2000, Davenport won her seat as an independent  no primary was held as Rutherford County established the seat. She ran for re-election in 2006 as a Democrat in an uncontested election, and again in 2014 as a Republican.

"After prayerful thought and talking with my family, I have decided not to run for re-election after serving more than twenty-two years on the bench," Davenport said in her announcement.

"I will always look back at my time as Judge as one of the greatest honors of my life, and I am so proud of what this Court has accomplished in the last two decades and how it has positively affected the lives of young people and families in Rutherford County. I wish my successor the best and hope that this job provides them the same fulfillment it has provided me over the years."

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions through email, sbroden@dnj.com, or phone, 615-278-5158.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport plans to retire
Central Fence LLC employees Tommy Pickering, left, and Kody Kleffner work on posts Friday for a ninth-floor perimeter barrier on the Fifth and Walnut parking garage. Construction of the fence is expected to be completed by the end of January. The eighth and ninth floors of the garage have been closed to the public since October. The barrier is being constructed to prevent suicide attempts after several people have jumped from various floors of the garage.

Construction started last week on more robust safety barriers at the top level of Columbia's Fifth and Walnut municipal parking garage.

Calls for safety improvements at the garage were reignited after a suicide in September.

The city issued an expedited bid process the same day as the suicide after the Columbia City Council had authorized the call for bids in July.

The reason for the delay between the $300,000 appropriation in late 2020, construction authorization and the bid call was related to the COVID-19 pandemic, city spokesperson Sydney Olsen wrote to the Tribune back in September.

"During the pandemic, supplies have been very limited for items like steel, making it difficult to get things like samples custom to this project," she wrote. "The pandemic has also impacted the ability of partners on the project like engineers and the consultant company to travel to Columbia to see the structure and engage with the public."

More: City of Columbia receives bid for safety improvements at parking garage known for suicides

Construction is expected to take approximately three weeks, public works department spokesperson John Ogan wrote in an email Friday.

Wyatt Varner, an employee of Central Fence LLC of Vienna, attaches a barrier post to the ninth floor of the Fifth and Walnut municipal parking garage on Friday.

Construction supplies reached the city the first week of the new year.

Central Fence LLC of Vienna has been hired for the roof fencing, Ogan wrote.

"The city is still in the process of investigating its options for the window barrier phase of the project," Ogan wrote.

The window barriers are part of a second phase of the safety project.

"The city believes that barriers of this nature do provide a deterrent and save lives, and that this fence will give people a chance to think twice," Ogan wrote.

A barrier with a curved top to prevent people from climbing over is being installed around the ninth floor of the Fifth and Walnut municipal parking garage.

More: Upper levels of Fifth and Walnut Parking Garage closed off ahead of safety upgrades

Jill Harkavy-Friedman, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention vice president of research, said much the same to the Tribune in 2019.

We know that people use whats accessible, she said at the time. Thats the issue with something like parking garages. Its a problem all over the country. And its a problem with a relatively simple solution, which is barriers or fences. Research shows that when you limit access to lethal means, then you can save lives.

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"... Barriers give time. It gives time for the crisis to slow down a little bit for the person to get their thinking together a little bit more.

More: Petition renews calls for updated safety measures at Columbia's Fifth and Walnut garage after recent suicide

Crisis resources

There is a growing number of resources available for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

One nationwide resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, which is always open and includes a specific option for veterans.

The Central Missouri Crisis Line is 1-800-395-2132, also monitored around the clock.

More: Burrell to house temporary mental health crisis center at Stephens Lake office location

There are additional resources through the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri has developed a behavioral and mental health program that is set to start providing counseling by February.

"(Catholic Charities) wants to have a faith-informed provider who can combine traditional therapy with the faith piece," program director Dala Hemeyer said.

More: Catholic Charities nears launch of behavioral health program serving mid-Missouri

The Oak Center celebrated its one-year anniversary last Tuesday. It uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy to treat those with frequent or recurring suicide attempts and those who were diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder.

The mission of the center is to improve the "quality of life for our clients, their family members, and the community by increasing access to evidence-based mental health treatment, education, and resources," its website notes.

More: The Oak Center, Columbia's counseling service focused on helping suicidal clients, celebrates first year

Burrell Behavioral Health will have a rapid response unit in place by July at its Stephens Lake Clinic to respond to those experiencing a mental health crisis. This is a temporary solution as Burrell awaits decisions by the Columbia City Council on how it appropriates American Rescue Plan funds.

A proposal in the city's budget would provide $3 million for a mental health center, like the one Burrell hopes to construct in partnership with Phoenix Programs.

Burrell entered a partnership with Preferred Family Healthcare to provide primary care services for its mental health patients in October. That partnership was finalized at the start of the year, under new parent company Brightli.

Burrell also has its ONE Initiative, which is a "network of businesses and community members dedicated to suicide awareness and education," Burrell Public Relations Director Nathan Fleischman wrote in an email.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia begins safety upgrades at Fifth and Walnut parking garage
The public came out and showed support for and against teaching critical race theory and wearing masks in school at an open meeting at the School Board of Sarasota County building. MATT HOUSTON / HERALD-TRIBUNE

A new coalition formed by 16 nonprofit organizations has come together to combat hostility at local school board meetings.

Protect Our Public Schools Manasota and Support Our Schools initiated the campaign Take the Pledge to Stand up for Public Schools to bring in more voices to school board meetings.

Campaign leaders are calling on supporters to help ledge four initiatives for public schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties:

Stand up for high-quality equitable and inclusive education for all students.

Stand up for truth and evidence-based curriculum that accurately portrays history and science.

Stand up to keep school boards nonpartisan.

Stand up for well-funded public schools.

More schools news: Sarasota school board races shape up with 3 seats up for grabs in August election

ICYMI: School resumes in Sarasota and Manatee in midst of omicron surge

Carol Lerner, chair for POPS Manasota, recalls going to school board meetings and seeing the hostile environment from opposing sides.

As things got worse, as attacks got personal ... we said its really time to start doing something so we started planning this coalition, Lerner said.

Angela Wynn, a co-founder of SOS, echoed Lerners point, saying school board meetings have been unwelcoming to concerned parents.

We began as a group of concerned moms who were witnessing firsthand the offensive diatribe and appalling behavior being exhibited at school board meetings. It felt like we were always playing defense against this dangerous rhetoric, Wynn said. So we came together with one united cause. We wanted to combat the hate and prejudice that was being displayed at these meetings and in the community.

From mask mandates to which books should and shouldnt be allowed in schools, the Take the Pledge coalition wants voices from the community to get involved. Organizers believe school board meetings should not be intimidating and should welcome feedback from concerned citizens.

Without naming groups specifically, members of the coalition said at a virtual press conference Tuesday that certain groups are actively working to damage area public schools.

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These are very well funded groups, and theyve taken very good notions like freedom, liberty, parent rights, and totally distorted them, Lerner said. Theyve turned them into weapons attacking critical race theory [and] attacking mask mandates.

Organizations who have joined the Stand Up for Public Schools campaign include: Support Our Schools, Sarasota County NAACP, Manasota ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History), Brady Sarasota, ALSO Youth, Modern Marimba, Suncoast Women of Action, Newtown Nation, The Nation Group, Center for Religious Tolerance, Suncoast NEA  Retired, Social Justice Committee of the UU Church of Sarasota, Lean on Me, Peace Education and Action Center, and Manatee Indivisible.

They are encouraging others to take the pledge online at supportourschools.com/events/pledge-press-conference.

We want to tackle the real issues facing education in our communities and to do that we have to change the narrative away from that of vitriol to that of constructive input from the community, Sarasota parent and founder of Support Our Schools Juliette Scholles said. I want my daughter to have a high-quality education in a diverse, safe and caring environment.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota and Manatee nonprofits organize coalition for education
Schools are shortening the quarantine period for those affected by COVID and allowing students to avoid school exclusion through testing. This comes after county and state governments recently gave the green light to exposure rules that aim at keeping kids and staff in class.

The move came after the state endorsed a five-day isolation period on Jan. 10, down from 10, for students and staff who test positive for COVID. Meanwhile, most schools in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties are opting in to test-to-stay programs to keep unvaccinated students from having to quarantine.

A high school student is tested for COVID-19 at a drive-through testing site in a parking garage in West Nyack on Nov. 30, 2020.

Remote learning option: Why some parents want it, even as schools ramp back up

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Discrimination suit: Orthodox Jewish camps suit over new restrictions by Wawarsing

A month ago, Orange and Sullivan had said they would opt out of the test-to-stay rules, in part because the requirements are too difficult to meet. But they have now reversed course and implemented the approach to ensure schools remain open through this round of virus surge.

Students walk to class in between periods at Minisink Valley Middle School in Slate Hill in this September file photo.

The guidance we have been receiving has changed rapidly, often from day to day and sometimes even from hour to hour. What has not changed is that we remain committed to keeping schools open for in-person instruction, read an announcement by Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery School District.

Under the test-to-stay policy, vaccinated and asymptomatic individuals can continue to attend school if they are exposed in school. For the unvaccinated and asymptomatic, they may continue to attend school as long as they tested negative and remain asymptomatic, but not participate in extracurricular or after-school activities. Schools offer options of quarantine or test-to-stay. If test-to-stay is selected, participants are required to complete up to three COVID tests during the five-day period following exposure.

While some schools require rapid antigen tests to be administered by school nurses prior to the beginning of the day, others accept self-administered tests with home kits.

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Nancy McGraw, Sullivan County Public Health director, said school districts are in various stages of planning and implementation of the new rules largely depending on resources in schools  specifically supplies and staffing.

A nurse checks on the status of a rapid COVID-19 test at a drive-through testing site in West Nyack, in this Nov. 30, 2020 file photo.

The county has provided them with some test kits as well as the state, at least to implement and get started. What we dont know about is future shipment of test kits for schools from the state though. They were told that would be forthcoming, we just dont have the details, said McGraw.

The Goshen School District posted on its website that the state has committed to supplying districts with testing kits and the district has received about 3,000 kits that will be used for test-to-stay at this time.

As test-to-stay would require intensive testing, some schools have no current plans to opt in. Eldred School District is among them, citing limited supply and staff.

Meanwhile, some parents are pushing back against the new rules due to concerns about this wave of surge. Rebecca Gentes, a Middletown parent, said she is concerned the shortened quarantine period would put some students at risk, especially those with weakened immune systems. She also questioned a quarantine exception for people who tested positive in the past 90 days.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted the new isolation period rules do not apply to people with immunocompromised systems and it recommends at least 10 and up to 20 days for that group.

If the teachers and students are going back to school after five days, they will still be around those immunocompromised children prior to what the CDC recommends. These students are in school and at risk, " Gentes, the Middletown parent, said.

McGraw, Sullivan County's public health director, noted that people who have tested positive within the past 90 days have developed antibodies to the virus and their next test result could continue to appear as positive even though they are no longer symptomatic or contagious.

Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said her office hears from parents on all sides of the new state mandates and the fact is viral transmission at any place of mass gathering is very high.

The state needs to continue to monitor the science as they make policy recommendations and decisions for schools and the public in general, said Gelman.

hwang@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Schools shorten quarantine period to 5 days
Gary Chambers, a Louisiana Democrat vying to oust Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) from office, released a new campaign ad on Tuesday that features him smoking marijuana.

The ad, titled 37 Seconds, features Chambers lighting up a blunt as he addresses the racial disparities of marijuana-related arrests and the costs affiliated with enforcing marijuana laws.

Black people are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana laws than white people, Chambers, a Black progressive community activist, says in the ad.

Chambers is one of two Democrats running for the opportunity to deny Kennedy a second term. The Louisiana Republican is a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and he is widely favored to win reelection in the conservative state.

In a statement issued by his campaign, Chambers said candidates often use the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters.

I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology, he added.

Other congressional candidates have drawn headlines for smoking marijuana in campaign videos as a way to highlight the legalization effort, including most recently a House candidate in Illinois in 2019.

The recreational use of marijuana is legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia. With legalization widely popular with the American people, more states are likely to join their ranks in the coming years.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Voting legislation that Democrats and civil rights leaders say is vital for protecting democracy appeared headed for defeat as the Senate churned into debate Tuesday, a devastating setback enabled by President Joe Bidens own party as two holdout senators refuse to support rule changes to overcome a Republican filibuster.

The Democratic senators, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, faced strong criticism from Black leaders and civil rights organizations for failing to take on what critics call the  Jim Crow filibuster.

The debate carries echoes of an earlier era when the Senate filibuster was deployed in lengthy speeches by opponents of civil rights legislation. It comes as Democrats and other voting advocates nationwide warn that Republican-led states are passing laws making it more difficult for Black Americans and others to vote by consolidating polling locations, requiring certain types of identification and ordering other changes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged the current bill's likely defeat this week. But he said the fight is not over as he heeds advocates' call to force all senators to go on record with their positions.

We ain't giving up," Schumer said after an evening strategy meeting. It is a fight for the soul and the future of America.

This is the fifth time the Senate will try to pass voting legislation this Congress.

The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act combines earlier bills into one package that would make Election Day a national holiday, ensure access to early voting and mail-in ballots  which have become especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic  and enable the Justice Department to intervene in states with a history of voter interference, among other changes.

Both Manchin and Sinema say they support the package, which has passed the House, but they are unwilling to change the Senate rules to muscle it through that chamber over Republican objections. With a 50-50 split, Democrats have a narrow Senate majority  Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie  but they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the GOP filibuster.

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Instead, Schumer announced the Senate will vote on a more specific rules change for a talking filibuster on this one bill  requiring senators to stand at their desks and argue their views, rather than the current practice that simply allows senators to privately signal their objections.

Initial voting could start as soon as Wednesday. But even the proposal for a talking filibuster is expected to fail, since Manchin and Sinema have said they are unwilling to change the rules on a party-line vote by Democrats alone.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who led his party in doing away with the filibusters 60-vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees during Donald Trumps presidency, warned off changing the rules again. He said Tuesday it would break the Senate.

Democratic senators countered in speeches from the Senate floor that with Republicans objecting to the voting legislation they have no choice.

Manchin did open the door to a more tailored package of voting law changes  including to the Electoral Count Act, which became a focus of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol  that he said a bipartisan group of senators are working on and could draw Republican support.

There are so many things that we can agree on, he said, though he held firm against voting to change the filibuster rules.

Just as Manchin and Sinema blocked Biden's broad Build Back Better domestic spending package, the two senators are now dashing hopes for another major part of Biden's presidential agenda. They are infuriating many of their colleagues and faced a barrage of criticism during Martin Luther King Jr. Day events.

Martin Luther King III, the son of the late civil rights leader, compared Sinema and Manchin to the white moderates his father wrote about during the civil rights battles of the 1950s and 1960s  who declared support for the goals of Black voting rights but not the direct actions or demonstrations that ultimately led to passage of landmark legislation.

History will not remember them kindly, the younger King said, referring to Sinema and Manchin by name.

Once reluctant himself to change Senate rules, Biden used the King holiday to press senators to do just that. But the push from the White House, including Biden's blistering speech last week in Atlanta comparing opponents to segregationists, is seen as too late, coming as the president ends his first year in office with his popularity sagging.

The presidents view is that the American people deserve to see where their leaders stand on protecting their fundamental rights, said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

The Senate launched the days-long debate, but the outcome is expected to be no different from past failed votes on the legislation. Biden has been unable to persuade Sinema and Manchin to join other Democrats to change the rules to lower the 60-vote threshold. In fact, Sinema upstaged the president last week, reiterating her opposition to the rules changes just before Biden arrived on Capitol Hill to court senators votes.

Both senators have argued that preserving the filibuster rules is important for fostering bipartisanship. They also warn of what would happen if Republicans win back majority control, as is distinctly possible this election year.

McConnell has argued the broad package now before the Senate is a federal overreach into state-run elections, and he harshly criticized Biden's speech last week as unpresidential.

Leading sports figures from Manchin's home state of West Virginia also have weighed in. In a letter last week, University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban, NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West and others urged him to support the legislation.

The political group Emilys List said it wont endorse Sinema if she cannot support a path forward for the voting bill.

Before Republicans lowered the vote threshold for Trump's Supreme Court nominees, Democrats had similarly dropped it to a simple majority for confirmation of administrative positions and lower court nominees. It typically takes a 67-vote supermajority to change party rules, but both were done on party-line votes.

The voting bill was the Democrats' top priority this Congress, and the House swiftly approved H.R. 1 only to see it languish in the Senate.

___

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

___

This story was first published on Jan. 18, 2022. It was updated on Jan. 19, 2022, to correct the name of the law being looked at by a bipartisan group of senators. It is the Electoral Count Act, not the Electoral College Act.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the situation concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian Monday.

The Iranian nuclear agreement was discussed in light of the eighth round of negotiations on the revival of the JCPOA that resumed in Vienna on Dec. 27, 2021, the ministry said in a statement.

In addition, both ministers covered bilateral ties and regional issues.

Since April last year, Iran and the major parties to the 2015 nuclear pact, namely Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, have held seven rounds of talks in Vienna on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal. The United States has been taking part in the talks indirectly.

The eighth round of negotiations began in Vienna on Dec. 27, and resumed on Jan. 3 this year.

Following talks in January, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said they "had gained momentum," adding that all parties demonstrated readiness to find solutions to the remaining problems.
There was a lot that went wrong for the Philadelphia 76ers in Mondays 117-98 loss to the Washington Wizards. They had issues getting into their offense, they could not get any stops on the defensive end, and they were not able to conjure up any energy.

All of that results in a loss and it also seemed like they let the officiating get in their head to compound all of that.

Philadelphia was called for 26 personal fouls compared to 18 for Washington and they were not happy about it. Tobias Harris ended up fouling out, Joel Embiid had four fouls, and Andre Drummond had five off the bench.

On top of that, Drummond was called for a technical foul, and Rivers was also called for a tech. It seemed that the officiating was a bit of an issue in this one for the Sixers.

We gotta fight through officials, man, said Tyrese Maxey. Whatever they call, they call it, and you gotta move on. We dont have to like it, but we gotta respect it. At the end of the day, you just gotta move on. It is what it is. They make good calls and they miss calls sometimes and theyre human. I cant fault them for that.

The Sixers will now have to bounce back when they return home to host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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The Mobile County Sheriffs Office responded to a Jan. 16 call in Eightmile, Alabama, regarding a deceased female and two men who had been attacked and were suffering from lacerations, officials said.

Deputies arrived to find a brutal scene, MCSO Captain Paul Burch told WPMI.

According to police, Helen Nettles Washam was found dead in the home. She was reportedly attacked by her son, Damien Winslow Washam, who used a sword to attack his mother. Damien Washam is also accused of attacking his uncle, who is bedridden with cerebral palsy and was left with severe lacerations on his face, according to the police report, and his brother, who suffered minor injuries.

Apart from the reportedly brutal nature of the incident, it was also an uncommon scene for the deputies to walk into, Burch said, according to WALA.

I can only, maybe, think of one or two other times where there was a large sword-type weapon used, you know, in either an assault or homicide, he told WALA. And this ones even worse because the, you know, offender killed his mom, you know, with a sword.

When deputies arrived, Washam fled, which started a chase. Washam escaped the deputies in a dark green 2000 Honda Accord, and when police located the vehicle, they attempted to stop Washam, who refused to comply, according to the sheriffs report. Deputies worked with Saraland Police to deploy spike strips along Highway 158, which stopped Washams car.

When they pulled over the vehicle, Washam attempted to flee on foot, the police report said, and he was tased by MCSO deputies. Burch told WALA that Washam had a taser prong lodged into his head, so he was taken to a hospital and was expected to have surgery before being released into police custody.

According to the incident report, Washams brother was treated at the scene for lacerations to his wrist, and Washams uncle is in a hospital in critical condition.

Deputies are still piecing together what triggered the incident, according to WPMI.

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I talked with the dad several times last night and he doesnt know what could have triggered this behavior. He said theres no known mental illness, no criminal history, has not been a bad kid and he just really has no idea what couldve triggered this behavior, Burch told WPMI. This is pretty brutal with a ceremonial type of sword, not very sharp and thats what he attacked and killed his mom with.

The husband of Helen Washam and father of Damien Washam told WPMI that he was heartbroken and wanted people to remember Helen for her kindness, rather than the recent attack.

Damien Washam will be booked into Mobile County Metro Jail on charges of murder, attempted murder, assault in the 2nd degree and attempt to elude, according to the sheriffs office.

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WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared to be leaning against a program in Boston in which the city raises the flag of third-party groups outside City Hall to promote diversity and other messages but declined to fly a Christian flag.

Boston argued that the flags on its flagpole are government speech and that city officials may choose the messages they want to convey. Justices questioned whether the city relinquished control of that message by approving just about every other request to fly a flag except for the one made by the religious group in 2017.

"Is it consistent with the principles of the free speech clause if you say anybody can speak, except we are going to monitor what is said and we're not going to allow religious speech?" Associate Justice Samuel Alito asked. "The court has said you can't do that."

The religious group that made the request, Camp Constitution, argued that Boston's flagpole is a public forum, a concept in First Amendment law used by courts to help analyze when the government may regulate speech on public property. The government can't restrict speech based on a speaker's viewpoint in a public forum.

Justices questioned how far Boston would have to go to accommodate third-party groups if city officials are not permitted to choose the flags on a flagpole that is a public forum. Would cities be required to fly a Nazi flag? Or one celebrating al-Qaida?

"To an ordinary observer walking past City Hall, if you see a flag on the pole, you think it's City Hall speaking," said Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who took part in the arguments Tuesday remotely from her chambers at the Supreme Court building.

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Conservative and liberal members of the court indicated the dispute could have been settled relatively easily with a few minor changes to Boston's policy, such as having city officials more involved. That was similar to the position taken by the Biden administration, which supports Camp Constitution.

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"If you look at the lack of control over this flagpole, it's hard not to think of it as a public forum," said Associate Justice Elena Kagan, a member of the court's liberal bloc.

The Supreme Court heard arguments in a case about which flags can fly at Boston City Hall.

In other contexts, the Supreme Court has looked favorably on claims of religious freedom in the face of assertions of the requirement to keep government and religion separate. In 2019, the court ruled that a Latin cross on government property outside Washington did not have to be moved in the name of church-state separation. In 2014, the court upheld the practice of offering prayers to open government meetings, even if those prayers are overwhelmingly Christian.

But a 5-4 court held in 2015 that specialty license plates promoting everything from "Choose Life" to "Conserve Water" could prohibit images such as the Confederate flag because license plates are government speech. The decision drew a sharp dissent from Alito, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and two others who have since left the court.

Boston's guest flag program is relatively rare. Perhaps anticipating lawsuits, more than 7 in 10 cities do not fly third-party flags, according to a survey by the International Municipal Lawyers Association.

The Supreme Court will hand down its decision this year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court questions Boston policy barring flying of Christian flag
Ceres Police arrested a man early Sunday morning suspected of attacking people with a two-by-four piece of lumber affixed with metal screws inside a Save Mart grocery store.

The incident occurred around 7:11 a.m. at the Save Mart on East Whitmore Avenue.

The suspect allegedly tried to steal a delivery truck at the loading dock but couldnt get the vehicle started, according to Sgt. Keith Griebel. When the driver confronted the suspect, he picked up the two-by-four and attempted to strike the driver with it several times.

The suspect chased the victim into the store, where he then began attacking store employees with the weapon, according to a press release. At least one person was hit but Griebel did not have details about the extent of the injuries.

The suspect then ran back to the loading dock and threatening more employees until Officer Christian Izquierdo arrived with his K-9, Banner.

The male was agitated and began advancing on Officer Izquierdo in a threatening manner, however complied with officers once K-9 Banner was brought out of the vehicle, according to the press release.

The suspect, 26-year-old Lucas Lee of Ceres, was detained without further incident and without being bitten.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted carjacking, robbery and making criminal threats.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Travelers to Sweden will no longer be required to show a negative COVID test before entering the country, the government said on Tuesday.

Sweden introduced rules for a recent negative COVID test on Dec. 28 last year in a bid to slow the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant. Since then, Sweden has repeatedly set new daily case records with Omicron now the totally dominant variant.

"Travelers are no longer considered to pose a particular risk of affecting the spread of Omicron in Sweden," the government said in a statement.

Sweden has recorded more than 20,000 new daily cases over the past few days, roughly double the previous record from earlier waves. The number of cases has put a strain on healthcare services but not to the same extent as before the vaccine rollout.

(Reporting by Johan Ahlander; editing by Niklas Pollard)
Police cars sit outside John Adams High School as the school continues a lockdown following an incident on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2021, in South Bend.

SOUTH BEND  A teenage boy faces criminal charges following last week's stabbing at Adams High School, with prosecutors saying the 15-year-old stole THC vape cartridges and money from his classmate at knifepoint before stabbing the victim.

The boy is accused of armed robbery, two counts of battery and bringing a weapon onto school property, all of which would be felony charges if committed by an adult.

The Tribune does not name juvenile suspects unless they are charged in adult court.

Police and medics were called to Adams shortly after 8 a.m. on Jan. 11 after teachers and the school's student resource officer found a student with stab wounds in a second-floor bathroom. The student told police five males attacked him, according to scanner traffic from the incident.

Police cars sit outside John Adams High School as the school continues a lockdown following an incident on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2021, in South Bend.

Multiple South Bend officers and medics responded and the victim was taken to the hospital. Police detained and questioned "several" juveniles that morning, though only one remained in custody by the end of the day.

More: Teen charged in death of New Carlisle girl told police a 'shadowy man' controlled him

Court documents say the accused assailant stabbed his classmate in the rib cage and that the attack caused "extreme pain." The 15-year-old threatened the victim with a knife and took "currency and/or THC cartridges" from him, the documents say.

Officials said on the day of the stabbing that the victim was in stable condition at a local hospital. There has been no update on his condition since then.

The school was placed on lockdown immediately after the incident, as detectives investigated the scene. According to a letter to Adams parents from principal James Seitz, the lockdown was lifted late that morning and students returned to classes.

Proceedings against the boy will take place in probate, or juvenile, court unless prosecutors try to move the case to superior, or adult, court. The boy has been in detention at the Juvenile Justice Center since the incident.

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Indiana law states a probate court shall waive jurisdiction to superior court in cases that would involve felonies if committed by an adult, unless it would be in the best interests of the child and the safety and welfare of the community for the child to remain within the juvenile justice system."

In general, the states decision to transfer the case to superior court is based on a number of factors, including the nature of alleged offense and the juveniles history and age.

The superior court system generally has more severe sentences should a defendant be convicted of a crime, as sentences, or dispositions in probate courts are often focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Email Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@sbtinfo.com. Follow him on Twitter: @marek_mazurek

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Stabbing at Adams High School leads to robbery charges for teenager
A week after a 16-year-old was shot and killed while walking her dog, the girls 17-year-old boyfriend has been charged with her murder.

Police in Houston say Diamond Alvarez learned her boyfriend, 17-year-old Frank Deleon Jr., was in a relationship with another girl and the couple met at a park on Jan. 11.

Diamond was found dead on a corner next to that community park, and officers said she was shot multiple times by Deleon.

Her stepfather, Tito Mozzygamba, said Diamond was a straight-A student and multi-sport athlete at Madison High School, KHOU reported.

Whoever shot this girl 22 times in the back ... they are cowards, Mozzygamba said last week.

Police said after the killing they were searching for a dark-colored vehicle involved in the shooting, but officers did not release information at the time regarding a suspect.

Deleon was arrested Monday, Jan. 17, Houston police said, after detectives tracked down witnesses and leads. He was allegedly packing his bags to flee the area, according to court records obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Diamonds mother, Anna Machado, said her daughter was always crying about Deleon during their off and on relationship, according to The Associated Press.

I went up over there (to the memorial) again, crying and said: Baby you have justice. Its not done yet. Its not over yet. But at least we know a name, Machado said.

More than 200 people showed up to a benefit on Saturday, Jan. 15, in Diamonds honor at the park where she was found dead, according to KTRK.

Machado said Deleon should be held in jail without bond because he executed her daughter, the AP reported.

HPD expresses its heartfelt condolences to Ms. Alvarezs family and looks forward to following this case through the courts as we seek justice on her behalf, Houston Police said.

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By Elvira Pollina

MILAN (Reuters) -Telecom Italia (TIM) General Manager Pietro Labriola on Tuesday outlined to the company's directors his draft plan to revamp the former phone monopoly, an alternative strategy to weigh against a takeover approach by U.S. fund KKR.

TIM, which on Friday is set to appoint Labriola chief executive, is yet to respond to KKR's non-binding 10.8 billion euro ($12.28 billion) proposal which is contingent on support from TIM's board and Italy's government.

Labriola's final plan, which the board will examine on March 2 when it meets to discuss full-year results, will provide a benchmark for TIM to evaluate the price of 0.505 euros per share KKR indicated in its Nov. 19 proposal.

Doubts over whether KKR's tender offer will materialise weighed on TIM shares, which fell 3.2% on Tuesday, underperforming a 0.8% all-share index drop.

Upcoming presidential elections in Rome add to the uncertainty.

Labriola is studying a range of options to KKR's offer, two sources familiar with the matter have said, looking in particular at splitting TIM's infrastructure and services assets to try and appease all of the group's stakeholders.

Under the plan, TIM would spin off its services and network assets in a way that would see each assume a portion of the company's debt and equity, the sources said.

A veteran TIM executive, Labriola has been running the group's prized Brazilian operations since 2019.

Tuesday's informal briefing with directors was seen as a key step for Labriola to secure wide board support on Friday for the CEO role which has been vacant since November when Luigi Gubitosi was ousted after a string of profit warnings.

"The atmosphere was positive and constructive and this bodes well for Labriola's appointment as CEO," a source close to TIM said.

Competition has hammered debt-laden TIM's profit margins at a time when it needs to invest to upgrade its network - Italy's main telecoms infrastructure and a strategic asset for the country.

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Labriola's nomination has been promoted by TIM's single largest investor Vivendi, which has said that KKR's offer does not sufficiently value TIM.

He is expected to receive the backing also of state investor CDP, which is TIM's second-largest shareholder with a 10% stake, people close to the matter have said.

CDP, which invested in TIM to oversee its network assets, recently called on TIM to revive a plan to merge them with those of fibre-optic rival Open Fiber, which is 60% owned by CDP.

($1 = 0.8797 euros)

(Reporting by Elvira Pollina; Editing by Valentina Za, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Andrea Ricci)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Elon Musk will visit Tesla's factory in Berlin in mid-February, the chief executive tweeted on Tuesday, following speculation on Twitter that he would be in Germany this month.

"I obv cant comment on every rumor, but this isnt true. Am headed to Berlin mid Feb, not this week," Musk tweeted in response to an article by website Drive Tesla CA which cited a tweet claiming he was visiting Berlin on Jan. 16.

Musk added in a separate tweet that rumours around his travel plans online were becoming a "security issue," in response to an apology from the account owner who first posted the wrong travel date, Sawyer Merritt.

Musk said last year he expected the Berlin factory to have received its licence to begin mass production of its Model Y cars by December, but bureaucratic hurdles and an ongoing court case over the factory's water use have delayed the process.

A first hearing in the court case will take place on Feb. 11, although regional finance minister Joerg Steinbach told German newspaper Tagesspiegel earlier this month that the license to begin production could come before the case was resolved.

Tesla was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Nadine Schimroszik, Editing by Louise Heavens)
 Flash

The United Nations and its agencies are readying relief efforts for the remote South Pacific island nation of Tonga following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"Our humanitarian colleagues and the government report significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu (the main island) and no contact from the Ha'apai group of islands," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "We are particularly concerned about two small islands, Mango and Fonoi, following surveillance flights confirming substantial property damage."

Australia and New Zealand carried out the flights over the weekend.

While there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries following Saturday's massive eruption, two people were reported missing, Dujarric said.

He said the World Food Programme is mapping efforts to deploy relief supplies and staff. The agency is sending its emergency communications cluster to help restore communications lines in Tonga.

The spokesman said the UN Children's Fund awaits government confirmation before transporting prepositioned emergency supplies from Fiji and Brisbane, Australia, warehouses. Included are essential water, sanitation and hygiene kits, water containers and buckets and water-field test kits, tarps, recreational kits for children and tents.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the tsunami that occurred in the aftermath of the massive eruption has brought extensive damage on the western beaches of Tongatapu, with several resorts and houses destroyed or badly damaged.

Other UN agencies working on relief include the UN Population Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Organization for Migration and the World Health Organization, the office said. The agencies work closely with relevant authorities in Tonga, humanitarian partners and donor countries.

The New Zealand and Australian governments announced emergency funding for the immediate aid response, and Australia is preparing a vessel to sail to Tonga with relief supplies, OCHA said.

The Red Cross offered assistance and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community is providing technical support on the impact of the eruption and ashfall, the office said. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community is an international development organization comprising 22 Pacific island countries and territories.

Tonga's National Emergency Management Office is leading assessments and government response. The Tonga Red Cross Society and OCHA provide communication support.

The humanitarian office said there was no serious impact on Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands besides limited flooding.
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty

As Democrats nationally gird themselves for a tough year, progressives are looking to Texas first-in-the-nation primaries on March 1, and two Texas candidates in particular, to test their midterm muscle.

Both Jessica Cisneros and Greg Casar are supported by Justice Democratsan organizing group known for backing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs successful bid to oust incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in 2018.

Progressive ideas have always proven to be extremely popular across the country, Justice Democrats candidate communications manager Usamah Andrabi told The Daily Beast, citing positions like Medicare for All and access to reproductive health services. The first primary will be a testing ground for some of that.

Its the second time Justice Democrats has backed Cisneros, a 28-year-old immigration attorney who came within 3.6 points of unseating longtime Texas incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar in the 2020 Democratic primary.

Now, with name recognition and campaign experience in hand, Cisneros is running against Cuellar again with hopes that her district has warmed up to her progressive chops.

Cuellar had been running on this myth that South Texas is conservative and hes the only kind of Democrat thats able to win. Again, we kind of showed how weak, you know, that actual myth is, Cisneros told The Daily Beast, referencing her sizable portion of the vote last primary election.

And not unlike 2020, some of Cuellars own congressional colleagues are backing his opponent this cycle. Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have already endorsed her. Groups including Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Emilys List, and Sunrise Movement, among others, are lining up behind Cisneros as well.

Cuellar is one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress and the only House Democrat to vote against codifying abortion rights into law last September. In 2019, he was given an A by the National Rifle Association.

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Progressives Learn a Hard Lesson From Joe Manchin: Dont Compromise

Their race is the latest illustration of the moderate versus progressive wings of the party facing off, an occurrence that has happened with increasing frequency around the country over the past few election cycles. In 2020, longtime New York Rep. Elliot Engel fell to Bowman. That same cycle in Illinois, Rep. Dan Lipinski, who like Cuellar opposed abortion rights, lost his primary to Rep. Marie Newman.

Jessicas race especially provides a microcosm for the progressive movement writ large and kind of what were up against when were talking about right-wing corporate Democrats, Andrabi said.

Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project, said its unclear whether theres a broad, new-age appetite for progressive candidates in Texas. If Cisneros wins, he said its because Cuellar is out of line with the broader Democratic Party.

If [Cuellar] goes down, its not because, you know, her progressive vision necessarily won out, its because his position on issues on what it means to be a Democrat are high out of step, Blank said.

But, a new cluster of districts in Austin could also open up the possibility for more successful progressive runs, Blank said. Casar, an Austin City Council member, is running in an open seat left vacant after its longtime congressman, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, opted to run in a newly created district next door.

When you consolidate some of these districts into some urban areas, especially places like Austin thats highly educated and very white, it certainly does raise the probability that youre going to get a more progressive candidate, Blank said.

Democrats for years have tried flipping Texas blue, investing time and cash galore. Those efforts have come to limited statewide avail, as Republicans have a stronghold on both Senate seats and the governors mansion. Texas ultimately went to Donald Trump by 5.6 points in 2020 (versus 9 points in 2016).

But Casar says those breakthroughs are happening at the local level, including in Austin. Where people are at politically in Texas is shifting, and then the electeds start catching up, he told The Daily Beast.

Casar has received endorsements from Reps. Bowman, Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), and Mondaire Jones (D-NY). The Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC also issued an endorsement of Casar, with Co-Chair Mark Pocan (D-WI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) saying in a joint statement they look forward to helping him win on March 1.

(The CPC PAC does not endorse candidates running primary challenges against incumbents, like Cisneros.)

Casar faces three other Democrats in his race. While hes not the only one running in the district who calls themselves a progressive, hes widely regarded as the most progressive of the bunch.

In the days and weeks following Texas first-in-the-nation primary night, scores of progressives nationwide will make similar attempts as Casar and Cisneros to win a ticket to Congress. Some candidates more viable than others, of course, and all with more time to persuade voters than the Texas group.

The seriousness of going first is not lost on Cisneros, who said with early voting starting on Feb 14, shell be spending the next few weeks ensuring folks understand whats at stake.

We need to do a good job because we are setting the tone for the rest of the election cycle, she said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(Independent)

Two teenagers arrested in Manchester after a British gunman took hostages at a Texas synagogue have been released without charge.

Forty-four year old Malik Faisal Akram, a British citizen, was shot dead after a standoff with police in Colleyville near Dallas on Saturday.

The teenagers were arrested in south Manchester on Sunday evening.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Dominic Scally, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: CTP North West is continuing to assist with the investigation which is being led by US authorities.

Overnight, constructive meetings with colleagues from the United States have taken place.

As part of our enquiries, were also working with colleagues in other forces and Lancashire Police are working with communities in the Blackburn area to put measures in place to provide reassurance.




The long-simmering tensions between former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) are reaching a boiling point ahead of a potential 2024 primary clash.

Trump has griped behind the scenes for months about DeSantis's rapid political rise, including chatter about a future White House bid. But the complaints from the former president have only grown louder, raising concerns among some Republicans about a looming brawl between two GOP heavyweights.

"President Trump is the one clearly picking a fight here, and it's a fight that's too early and unnecessary," said Sam Nunberg, a former adviser to Trump who stressed that he is neutral in a dustup between Trump and DeSantis. "We're not in Republican primary season. This is a fight for mid-2023. It's not a fight to start having in 2022."

Still, Nunberg added, "If Donald Trump believes he is punching down when he's attacking Ron DeSantis, then why do it?"

The tensions have come into sharper focus in recent days. An article published on Sunday by The New York Times offered a detailed accounting of an increasingly confrontational relationship between Trump and DeSantis.

Likewise, a story published by Axios on Monday reporting that Trump has been privately disparaging DeSantis as "dull" and lacking in "personal charisma" found itself front and center on the conservative website Drudge Report.

And just last week, Trump appeared to take a thinly veiled shot at DeSantis for refusing to say publicly whether he has received his COVID-19 booster shot. In an interview with the conservative One America News Network, the former president slammed "gutless" politicians who won't reveal their booster status, a comment that was widely viewed as aimed at the Florida governor.

"The answer is yes, but they don't want to say it, because they're gutless," Trump said. "You got to say it. Whether you had it or not, say it."

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Trump's frustration with DeSantis stems in part from the governor's refusal to say publicly that he won't challenge Trump for the 2024 Republican nod if the former president decides to make another run for the White House. Several other would-be contenders have already done so, while DeSantis has largely skirted the question in public.

Trump is also said to be irked by what he sees as DeSantis's lack of deference. A former congressman, DeSantis won the 2018 Republican nomination for governor after Trump endorsed him over a better-known opponent, former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

While DeSantis's political brand in many ways mirrors Trump's combative style, he's also begun to carve out his own reputation, notably as a staunch opponent of COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

In a recent interview on the conservative "Ruthless" podcast, DeSantis said that he regretted not pushing back more aggressively when Trump advised Americans to stay home in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I was probably the first governor in January of 2020 to call for travel restrictions from China. I supported President Trump when he did that," DeSantis said. "But we have to take a step back and acknowledge that those travel restrictions just didn't work."

But DeSantis has also been careful to avoid direct confrontation with Trump, especially given the fact that he's facing reelection this year and needs to maintain the support of the former president's loyal voter base. In the interview with "Ruthless," DeSantis dismissed the notion that his relationship with Trump had soured, blaming the media for fueling such rumors.

"You cannot fall for the bait," he said. "You know what they're trying to do, so just don't take it. Just keep on keeping on. We need everybody united for a big red wave in 2022. We've got to fight the left, and not only fight, but beat the left. And that's what we're doing in Florida."

And even in saying that he wished he had spoken out more aggressively against Trump's early calls for coronavirus restrictions, DeSantis blamed "people like" Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for advising Trump on his early response to the pandemic.

Still, DeSantis's appeal among Republicans - including Trump's base - is clear. Ford O'Connell, a Florida-based GOP strategist and former congressional candidate, said the governor has been successful in taking aspects of Trump's political brand and making them his own, especially amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"What he's done is he's taken Donald Trump's America First playbook and crafted it as a Florida First playbook," O'Connell said.

"If you had told me that Ron DeSantis would display more political courage than Greg Abbott, I wouldn't have believed it," he added, referring to the Republican governor of Texas. "The idea that DeSantis gave all the other Republicans a backbone and cover to do what's best for their states is why conservatives are rewarding him now."

One Republican consultant with ties to Florida said that part of the interest in DeSantis as a future presidential candidate stems from the perception among many in the party that the Florida governor is effectively "Trump without the baggage."

"He's a little more polished, I think. He's got the Harvard credentials, he served in the military, he's the governor of the third largest state, but he can still speak the language of the MAGA crowd," the consultant said. "With Trump, there's still a lot of drama, so I think it probably worries him that there's this other guy who's getting a lot of attention."

To be sure, DeSantis has tried to tamp down speculation about his ambitions for 2024. He officially kicked off his 2022 reelection bid in November and has said that he's focused on the governor's mansion.

Some Republicans have also sought to dismiss talk of a budding feud between Trump and DeSantis. Giancarlo Sopo, a Republican media strategist who worked on the Trump campaign's national Hispanic advertising in 2020, said the recent news stories about the tensions were part of an effort to shift attention away from President Biden's political woes.

"The 'Trump vs. DeSantis' stories are not a coincidence. They're a Beltway concoction meant to distract from Biden's disastrous presidency," Sopo tweeted. "Don't take the bait."

Regardless, DeSantis looks in many ways more like a budding candidate for national office than someone content on remaining in the governor's mansion. His political committee has amassed nearly $70 million.

And in his annual State of the State address last week, DeSantis repeatedly slammed the federal government over coronavirus restrictions and mandates while proclaiming that his administration "was right" and the feds "were wrong" in their approach to the pandemic.

DeSantis's popularity among Republicans is also reflected in polling. While surveys of the potential 2024 GOP primary field show him running a distant second behind Trump, he has routinely scored double-digit support and gains significant ground when Trump is taken out of the running.

There's also plenty of time between now and the start of the 2024 primaries for DeSantis to close the gap. Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida, said that while Trump remains the front-runner for now, that may not necessarily be the case in another two years.

"Right now, things do look pretty good for DeSantis politically, but I still think there's a ranking and it's Trump first then currently, as of today, DeSantis," Jewett said. "But we don't know that that will be the case for long. Historically, early front-runners fade."

Brett Samuels contributed reporting.
Photograph: Jorge Duenes/Reuters

Mexicos embattled press corps has suffered a shattering start to the new year with the murders of two journalists who had dared chronicle their countrys slide into drug- and corruption-fuelled violence.

Margarito Martinez Esquivel, a crime reporter and photographer who often collaborated with members of the foreign media, was shot dead outside his home in the northern city of Tijuana on Monday lunchtime.

Unfortunately, I couldnt do anything for him, his distraught wife, Elena Martinez, told the San Diego Union-Tribune  one of numerous international outlets the journalist had worked with, including the BBC, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post.

Martinezs death came a week after another journalist, Jose Luis Gamboa, was fatally stabbed in the eastern state of Veracruz, another of Mexicos most violent regions.

Two days earlier Gamboa, the director of a news website called Inforegio, used Twitter to call for the appointment of an anti-drug tsar who might slow the decades-long escalation in bloodshed. Last year he lamented how parts of the government, instead of fighting drug trafficking, had been sucked into a great criminal association with the cartels. The Mexican population still hasnt grasped how serious this is, Gamboa tweeted.

The two as yet unexplained killings  which follow the murder of nine journalists last year  sparked outrage and mourning in the Latin American country, which is considered the worlds most dangerous country for reporters outside war zones.

Related: Murder in Mexico: journalists caught in the crosshairs

In some regions journalists have become so fearful of being abducted and killed that they take DIY dental impressions and leave them in the freezer at home before going out to report so relatives can identify their remains.

Its shocking to have this happen so early in the year and to have one murder happen so shortly after the other, said Jan-Albert Hootsen, the Mexico representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists.

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The Tijuana-based press collective Yo Si Soy Periodista (Yes, Im a journalist) demanded a swift investigation into the killing of Martinez, who spent more than two decades documenting the border citys security crisis and worked for the weekly newspaper Zeta.

The group said Martinez was the 29th Mexican journalist to be killed since Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, took power in December 2018 promising to pacify the country.

Wendy Fry, who reports on Tijuana for the San Diego Union-Tribune and knew Martinez, remembered an industrious and kind colleague who was almost always the first to arrive on the scene of a story.

Its a risky thing to be a journalist in TJ and he just had a lot of pride in doing it  He worked tirelessly: day, night, afternoon, said Fry, one of the shellshocked journalists who gathered outside the photographers house on Monday.

As news of Martinezs killing spread, the Facebook page where he would livestream murder scenes to tens of thousands of followers was flooded with messages from workmates and politicians.

I feel heartbroken. I cant believe Margarito Martinez is gone  they murdered him in cold blood, wrote one friend, Gabriela Diaz.

Another journalist friend, Manuel Ayala, tweeted: The name of Margarito Martinez has this afternoon been typed out in every Tijuana newsroom with tears and with blood. We will never forget because on this day they shot every single member of our community through the chest.

Michael Robinson Chavez, a Pulitzer-winning photographer for the Washington Post, called him a true professional, brave and tenacious.

He will be missed, Chavez tweeted.

Hootsen said the seemingly never-ending wave of journalist killings was driven by government inaction and impunity.

What it boils down to is that in Mexico if you want to hurt a reporter you can do it and there is a very small chance you will be caught  and an even smaller chance you will be sentenced to jail time, he said. The Mexican government kind of makes it easy for people who want to hurt reporters.
An RAF C-17 plane seen at RAF Brize Norton air base, England, in August. UK MOD via Reuters

The UK sent Ukraine anti-tank weapons for self-defense in case Russia invades, MP Ben Wallace said.

Royal Air Force planes carrying the weapons flew around German airspace to get there, data showed.

Germany had declined to send military support to Ukraine and blocked NATO shipments to Kyiv.

British Royal Air Force planes flew around German airspace when they delivered anti-tank weaponry to Ukraine on Monday, flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has called on the likes of the US, UK, and Germany to provide military aid to help counter the buildup of Russian troops at its border. Ukraine and the US have long warned of an imminent Russian invasion.

Ben Wallace, the UK defense minister, told Parliament on Monday that Britain was sending "light, anti-armor, defensive weapon systems" to Ukraine to use only in self-defense in case of a Russian invasion.

The weapons were transported on RAF C-17 planes that flew to Ukraine by an unusually long route: through Danish instead of German airspace, as can be seen below.

An image from Flightradar24 showing the flight path of the C-17 that flew to Ukraine on January 17. Flightradar24

The choice of route is notable given that Germany declined to send arms to Ukraine in December.

Germany has also blocked Ukraine from receiving NATO shipments of rifles and anti-drone weaponry sourced from the US and Lithuania in recent months, the Ukrainian news outlet ZN reported.

The Daily Mail reported that Germany denied the C-17s permission to use its airspace.

But a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence told Insider: "Germany has not denied access to its airspace as the UK did not submit a request. There has been no dispute between the UK and Germany on this issue."

And a spokesperson for the German defense ministry told Bild, "There had been no application from the British for the flights."

The C-17s were therefore "not prohibited" from using German airspace, the spokesperson said, Bild reported.

The planes also avoided German airspace on their return flights to RAF Brize Norton, FlightRadar24 data showed.

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A photo taken on November 9 that shows elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery, and other military equipment deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the RussiaUkraine border. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies.

The UK also sent a small number of troops to Ukraine on Monday to help with "early-stage training for a short period of time," Wallace told Parliament. A number of British troops have been stationed in Ukraine since 2015.

But Wallace said in December that the UK would not send troops to Ukraine if Russia invaded.

President Joe Biden ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine in December, but warned Russia that it would face harsh sanctions should it invade Ukraine.

The US sent a consignment of military aid, including small arms and ammunition, to Ukraine in December, CNN reported. Four countermortar radars were scheduled to be sent from the US to Ukraine in 2022, CNN said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
State law now essentially places a three-year pause on the statute of limitation for sexual assault, allowing survivors to file claims that had been barred by time. They include Angelica Saupe, who alleges she was abused by her high school basketball coach for years.
LONDON (AP)  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday denied misleading Parliament about lockdown-breaching parties, and confirmed he has given an account of events to an inquiry probing alleged violations of coronavirus rules by the government.

Senior ministers in Johnson's Conservative government said they believed him  but added the prime minister would have to resign if he is proven to have lied.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray is investigating a string of alleged rule-flouting government parties that have sparked calls for Johnsons resignation, including a May 2020 staff party in the garden of the prime minister's Downing Street residence.

Former Johnson aide Dominic Cummings has said he is willing to swear under oath that the prime minister was warned in advance that the party would violate coronavirus restrictions, which at the time barred people from meeting more than one person outside their household.

Johnson told Parliament last week that he had attended the event, billed as a bring your own booze gathering in an invitation sent to 100 people by his principal private secretary. But he said he considered it a work gathering that fell within the rules.

Im absolutely categorical, nobody said to me, This is an event that is against the rules, Johnson said Tuesday.

When I went out into that garden I thought that I was attending a work event," Johnson told broadcasters during a visit to staff at a London hospital. That is the very, very best of my recollection about this event, that's what I've said to the inquiry."

Gray is due to report by the end of the month on claims that government staff held late-night soirees, boozy parties and wine time Fridays while Britain was under coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and 2021. The allegations have spawned public anger, incredulity and mockery, and prompted some in the governing Conservative Party to call for Johnsons resignation.

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Treasury chief Rishi Sunak  often cited as a potential successor to Johnson as prime minister  said he believed Johnsons explanation. But he said that the Ministerial Code is clear about the consequences of misleading Parliament. Ministers who do that are expected to resign.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab agreed that deliberately lying to Parliament was normally ... a resigning matter. But he dismissed Cummings claim that Johnson was warned about the party as nonsense.

Cummings, an architect of the victorious 2016 referendum campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, left Downing Street in late 2020 and has become a vociferous critic of the prime minister he helped put in office.

Johnsons spokesman, Max Blain, said the prime minister supported the rules in the Ministerial Code when it comes to knowingly misleading the House.

Johnson's political fate may rest on the word knowingly. In his carefully worded apologies over the allegations, Johnson has acknowledged misjudgments but not admitted personal rule-breaking.

He expressed regret Tuesday for a Downing Street staff party held the night before Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. The widowed Queen Elizabeth II sat alone at the church service for her 99-year-old husband to adhere to social distancing rules.

Johnsons office has apologized to Buckingham Palace over the party.

I deeply and bitterly regret that that happened, Johnson said Tuesday. I can only renew my apologies both to Her Majesty and to the country for misjudgments that were made, and for which I take full responsibility.

Johnson has urged his opponents to wait for Grays verdict, though experts say there is a good chance it will neither exonerate him nor conclude he broke the law.

Meanwhile, Conservatives are watching nervously as the partygate revelations hit their popularity, with recent opinion polls giving the main opposition Labour Party a double-digit lead.

Under Conservative rules, a no-confidence vote in the party's leader can be triggered if 54 party lawmakers write letters demanding it. Its unclear how many have already been submitted, and so far only a handful of Conservative members of Parliament have openly called for Johnson to quit.

___

Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
A deluge struck Uruguay's capital of Montevideo at the beginning of the week, causing chaotic scenes across the city as streets were left underwater after more than a month's worth of rain fell over the course of several hours.

The torrent of rain began Sunday night and continued through Monday morning, pouring down at a pace too quick for the ground to properly absorb and storm drains to keep up.

Two to 4 inches (50-100 mm) of rain fell in downtown Montevideo with up to 5 inches (120 mm) recorded in Canelones, located about 25 miles (40 km) north of the city. The highest rainfall total was reported in Carrasco, a neighborhood on the east side of Montevideo, where 6 inches (147 mm) fell. Uruguay's meteorological service, Inumet, said that most of the rain fell within a two-hour window early Monday.

The average precipitation for the entire month of January stands at 2.90 inches (74 mm) for Uruguay's capital.

Residents who weren't awakened by the heavy rain, thunder and lightning during the middle of the night woke up to scary scenes Monday morning as streets throughout the city turned into raging rivers that swept away vehicles and other objects. Among the objects included a dumpster being tossed down a street by the fast-moving floodwaters.

A flood of simultaneous requests for help caused the telephone lines to go down at the National Directorate of Firefighters, according to MercoPress, a news agency covering Latin America and the South Atlantic. By midmorning, the department had received nearly 150 evacuation requests and 37 reports of fallen trees. Around 12,000 people were affected by power outages.

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Ya esta en marcha el operativo para dar apoyo a las familias damnificadas por las inundaciones.



Entregaremos colchones y kit de limpieza en distintos barrios de la ciudad. pic.twitter.com/s5WWhVbIJv  Intendencia de MVD (@montevideoIM) January 18, 2022

The official Twitter page of the city of Montevideo posted images of crews delivering mattresses and cleaning kits to various neighborhoods across the city Tuesday morning. City officials said they were utilizing all of their available resources to deal with the "unprecedented" event. Bulldozers have been called in to clear the mounds of debris off of roadways.

There have been no reports of deaths or injuries due to the severe flooding event as of Tuesday.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

In addition to the intensity of the rainfall, the extremely dry state of the ground due to an ongoing drought likely added to the severity of the floods. Ground that is very dry is less able to absorb water which causes an excess of runoff, especially if the rain is coming down as quickly as it did Monday morning.

A car is displaced behind a house after heavy rain caused flooding in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Jan. 17, 2022.

This latest flooding event is part of a string of extreme weather that has occurred in South America over the past few weeks, including a historic heat wave in portions of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay and a deadly rockfall associated with heavy rain at a tourist attraction in southeastern Brazil.

As cleanup efforts continue across Montevideo and surrounding areas, forecasters say that more rain could lead to additional problems.

"It looks like it remains unsettled across that region through much of the week with several rounds of rain and thunderstorms moving through," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tony Zartman said, adding that an additional 1-3 inches of rain with locally higher amounts could occur.

Even if the heaviest rain stays away from the hard-hit flood areas, Zartman warned that it would not take very much rain to cause additional flooding problems.

For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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Iran is ready to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Remarking at a weekly press conference, Saeed Khatibzadeh said the decision still depends on the Saudi side and the practical measures it takes, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Khatibzadeh added that Iran is now focusing on the resumption of activities by its mission to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian revealed earlier in an interview with Al Jazeera English-language news channel that Iran has held four rounds of positive and constructive talks with Saudi officials in Iraq.

"What we have stated as our official position is that relations between the two countries would return to normal whenever the Saudi side wishes. Iran is ready and welcomes the reopening of the embassies and consulates," Abdollahian said.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in protest against the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following the Saudi execution of a Shiite cleric.
Teens lined the snow-covered sidewalks Monday afternoon, shoveling snow about a foot deep in Des Moines River Bend neighborhood.

With shovels in hand, they worked side by side to clear a path for the residents at a senior apartment building at the corner of Sixth and Forest avenues. Since the snow pummeled Des Moines Friday night, no one had cleared the apartments sidewalks and doorways, leaving the residents  many of whom have disabilities  without a way to get outside.

The neighborhood snow cleanup was part of Urban Dreams annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Executive director Izaah Knox told the Des Moines Register that the nonprofit added snow cleanup to its service day this year after learning that Bo James, founder of another nonprofit in the metro, suffered a heart attack while shoveling snow on Saturday.

James, founder of the nonprofit Hip-Hope, is recovering according to the nonprofits Facebook page, but Knox said it made him think about others who could be at similar risk who might not be able to clear their walkways.

Shoveling snow can be deadly for those over 45, especially for individuals who have medical conditions like hypertension and heart disease. Experts even recommend that people over 55 stop shoveling snow all together, according to USA TODAY.

We wanted to make sure that we were helping our neighbors that couldnt push their snow. Not only will it help neighbors get their driveway or sidewalk clear, but it also helps the community be more walkable, Knox said.

Residents told the Des Moines Register that it was a relief to finally see the sidewalks outside the building being cleared. One resident said she even fell while attempting to walk outside on the snow-covered walkways.

Were a handicap building. Everyone is in wheelchairs and all that, said resident Brenda Humvurd. Nobody had done anything ... weve all been falling or have been stuck in our cars.

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Another resident in the River Bend neighborhood said its been hard for his street, as most of his neighbors are elderly and have trouble getting around in the winter.

I feel like this is more of like an older person thing. If they don't have grandchildren who are my age or younger, who could do it for them. They won't come outside, said 17-year-old Training Tarlue. We definitely appreciate Urban Dreams doing this for us.

Deshawn Coleman, 18, left, and Evonte McGee, 17, both of Des Moines, shovel sidewalks during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event hosted by Urban Dreams on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022.

In addition to shoveling, volunteers also helped the nonprofit deep clean its headquarters. Everything from dusting to shampooing the carpets gets taken care of during Urban Dreams MLK day of service.

Its just an opportunity for people to come help us so that we can continue to help others, Knox said.

For more information on Urban Dreams and its services visit urbandreams.org

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Urban Dreams shovels River Bend for Martin Luther King Day of Service
United Airlines planes are seen at Newark International Airport in New Jersey, United States on September 29, 2021. United Airlines is firing employees over its vaccine mandate. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Verizon and AT&T said they'll delay rolling out 5G near airports but go ahead with deployment plans elsewhere.

The news comes after major airlines warned 5G deployment would cause massive flight disruptions.

The aviation industry has long raised concerns that 5G frequencies could interfere with plane safety systems.

Cell carriers are delaying their rollout of 5G service near airports after airlines warned the deployment would spell "catastrophic disruption" for the aviation industry.

Verizon and AT&T said Tuesday they will temporarily hold off on deploying C-band 5G technology near airports but will otherwise roll out as planned on Wednesday.

"As the nation's leading wireless provider, we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports," Verizon said in a statement Tuesday. "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and our nation's airlines have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports, despite it being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries."

"At our sole discretion we have voluntarily agreed to temporarily defer turning on a limited number of towers around certain airport runways as we continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA to provide further information about our 5G deployment, since they have not utilized the two years they've had to responsibly plan for this deployment," an AT&T spokesperson told Insider in a statement.

"We are frustrated by the FAA's inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner," the AT&T statement continued. "We are launching our advanced 5G services everywhere else as planned with the temporary exception of this limited number of towers."

President Biden thanked Verizon and AT&T for their decision to delay.

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"This agreement will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90 percent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled," Biden said in a statement released Tuesday. "This agreement protects flight safety and allows aviation operations to continue without significant disruption and will bring more high-speed internet options to millions of Americans."

Biden added that his team is working with cell carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to "close the remaining gap and reach a permanent, workable solution around these key airports."

In a letter sent Monday by trade organization Airlines for America, the leaders of 10 major US carriers warned that rolling out 5G too close to airport runways would harm "the aviation industry, traveling public, supply chain, vaccine distribution, our workforce and broader economy."

"Every one of the passenger and cargo carriers will be struggling to get people, shipments, planes and crews where they need to be," the letter reads. "To be blunt, the nation's commerce will grind to a halt."

The airlines requested that 5G not be deployed within two miles of key airport runways.

The letter's signatories included carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, FedEx Express, and UPS Airlines. The letter was addressed to White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, and Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Earlier this month, Verizon and AT&T agreed to delay the rollout by two weeks at Buttigieg's request after the Transportation Secretary cited concerns that the new 5G frequencies could interfere with planes' safety systems. The companies had initially rejected the request.

The FAA and Airlines for America did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The author went to Yardbird's first location in South Beach, Miami, to try the restaurant's famous fried chicken. Joey Hadden/Insider

I visited Yardbird Southern Table and Bar, one of South Beach, Miami's most popular restaurants.

I thought its famous fried chicken was crispy and juicy, but the flavor was a bit bland on its own.

However, with Yardbird's signature sauces, the chicken was delicious and I'd go back for more.

Yardbird Southern Table and Bar is a South Beach hot spot known for comfort food and some of the best fried chicken in the US, according to Southern Living.

The outside of Yardbird on a Thursday evening in South Beach. Joey Hadden/Insider

Yardbird made Southern Living's list of the best fried chicken in the US.

I recently ate at Yardbird for the first time and thought it lived up to the hype thanks to its delectable sauces.

The author eats fried chicken at Yardbird. Joey Hadden/Insider

Yardbird has restaurants in Las Vegas; Dallas; Washington, DC; Los Angeles; and Singapore. But the restaurant's first location opened in Miami in 2011, The Miami New Times reported.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was the dress code sign  casual, but neat. I wore this dress with comfy shoes and had no issues getting seated.

The author wore this dress to dine at Yardbird. Joey Hadden/Insider

Since the dress code was so casual, I assumed it was there to deter nearby beachgoers with incomplete outfits.

Inside, the restaurant was pretty busy on a Thursday night, but I didn't need a reservation.

The inside of Yardbird on a Thursday evening in South Beach. Joey Hadden/Insider

Rustic lighting and decor gave the space a country vibe.

The menu was mostly comprised of Southern comfort foods from a skillet cornbread appetizer to a shrimp and grits entree. But the star of the show is the chicken.

The restaurant's 2021 dinner menu. Mark M./Yelp

Of course, I had to order the fried chicken.

Within five minutes of placing my order, there was a cast-iron skillet of four crispy chicken pieces in front of me.

The author's order of fried chicken. Joey Hadden/Insider

I ordered the half chicken, which came with four pieces.

Two sauces  honey hot and bourbon maple syrup  to go with the chicken were already on the table.

There were two sauces for the chicken. Joey Hadden/Insider

A representative for Yardbird told Insider the restaurant makes its own honey hot sauce and bourbon maple syrup.

I tried the chicken by itself first, and I found that the flavor was simple and subtle.

The author presents her pieces of chicken before and after taking bites. Joey Hadden/Insider

The chicken could have done with slightly less breading, in my opinion, but I was thrilled with how crispy and juicy the meat was.

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In terms of flavor, the chicken tasted a bit bland to me on its own, even though, according to a representative for Yardbird, the chicken is soaked in a sugar-salt brine with paprika and cayenne pepper for 27 hours before being fried in lard.

If I didn't have sauces to hand, I would have added salt and pepper to give the chicken a bit more flavor. And as I soon found, adding Yardbird's sauces to the chicken changed everything.

Then it was sauce time. I tried the honey hot sauce first.

The author pours the first sauce onto the crispiest pieces of chicken. Joey Hadden/Insider

I thought the honey hot sauce was delicious and not too spicy, better than any buffalo sauce  which I'm used to having on fried chicken  that I've ever tried. The sauce was also surprisingly thin, so it didn't stick to my hands and make a mess.

I asked for another plate to try the bourbon maple syrup.

The author pours the second sauce over a fried-chicken thigh. Joey Hadden/Insider

As someone who hates the taste of bourbon, I found the subtle flavor in the sauce complemented the maple well. It was so good, I felt like I was eating chicken and waffles  except I didn't even miss the waffle.

While I preferred the honey hot sauce, each sauce was super flavorful in its own way  and they worked well with the chicken.

The author's plates as she nears the end of her meal. Joey Hadden/Insider

The sauces were so different from one another, that it made sense to me that the chicken flavor was a bit bland on its own so as to be complemented by the sauces.

In my opinion, any additional seasoning on the chicken would have taken away from one sauce or the other.

Next time I'm in a city with a Yardbird, I'll definitely make the stop  as long as the honey hot sauce is on the table.

The author enjoys her meal at Yardbird. Joey Hadden/Insider

Even though I wasn't a big fan of the chicken without any extra flavor, its juicy, crispy texture paired with Yardbird's amazing sauces make it worth coming back for  which I fully intend to do.

Read the original article on Insider
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska, and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion.

And yet, despite sitting almost on top of the volcano that erupted so violently on Saturday, the Pacific nation of Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread devastation that many initially feared.

In its first update since the eruption, the government said Tuesday it has confirmed three deaths  two local residents and a British woman. Concerns remain over the fate of people on some of the hard-hit smaller islands, where many houses were destroyed. Communications have been down everywhere, making assessments more difficult.

But on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, perhaps the biggest problem is the ash that has transformed it into a gray moonscape, contaminating the rainwater that people rely on to drink. New Zealands military is sending fresh water and other much-needed supplies, but said Tuesday the ash covering Tongas main runway will delay the flight at least another day.

On Tongatapu, at least, life is slowly returning to normal. The tsunami that swept over coastal areas after the eruption was frightening for many but rose only about 80 centimeters (2.7 feet), allowing most to escape.

We did hold grave fears, given the magnitude of what we saw in that unprecedented blast, said Katie Greenwood, the head of delegation in the Pacific for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Fortunately, in those major population centers we are not seeing the catastrophic effect we thought might happen, and thats very good news.

Greenwood, who is based in Fiji and has been talking with people in Tonga by satellite phone, said an estimated 50 homes were destroyed on Tongatapu but that nobody needed to use emergency shelters. She said about 90 people on the nearby island of 'Eua were using shelters.

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U.N. humanitarian officials and Tongas government reported significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu and concerns about the lack of contact from some of the low-lying islands. The Geneva-based U.N World Health Organization reported that many people remained unaccounted for.

New Zealands High Commission in Tonga also reported significant damage along the western coast of Tongatapu, including to resorts and the waterfront area.

Tonga's government said all the homes on Mango island  where about 36 people live  were destroyed and only two houses remained standing on Fonoifua island, home to about 69 people.

The government described the event as an unprecedented disaster and said tsunami waves had risen as high as 15 meters (49 feet) in places.

Like other island nations in the Pacific, Tonga is regularly exposed to the extremes of nature, whether it be cyclones or earthquakes, making people more resilient to the challenges they bring.

Indeed, Greenwood said Tonga does not want an influx of aid workers following the eruption. Tonga is one of the few remaining places in the world that has managed to avoid any outbreaks of the coronavirus, and officials fear that if outsiders bring in the virus it could create a much bigger disaster than the one they're already facing.

Another worry, said Greenwood, is that the volcano could erupt again. She said there is currently no working equipment around it which could help predict such an event.

Satellite images captured the spectacular eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai volcano on Saturday, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a giant mushroom above the South Pacific. The volcano is located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Tonga's capital, Nukualofa.

Two people drowned in Peru, which also reported the oil spill after waves moved a ship that was transferring oil at a refinery.

In Tonga, British woman Angela Glover, 50, was one of those who died after being swept away by a wave, her family said.

Nick Eleini said his sisters body had been found and that her husband survived. I understand that this terrible accident came about as they tried to rescue their dogs, Eleini told Sky News. He said it had been his sisters life dream to live in the South Pacific and she loved her life there.

Tonga's government said a 65-year-old woman on Mango island and a 49-year-old man from Nomuka island had also died, while a number of other people had suffered injuries.

New Zealands military said it hoped the airfield in Tonga would be opened either Wednesday or Thursday. The military said it had considered an airdrop but that was not the preference of the Tongan authorities.

Jonathan Veitch, the U.N.s Fiji-based acting resident coordinator for the Pacific islands, said he was hopeful the runway would be operational very soon. And despite damage on the coastline and at the port in Tongatapu, he said, ships should be able to dock.

New Zealand also sent two navy ships to Tonga on Tuesday and pledged an initial 1 million New Zealand dollars ($680,000) toward recovery efforts.

Australia sent a navy ship from Sydney to Brisbane to prepare for a support mission if needed.

Theyre a faithful community and theyre a beautiful community and Im sure theyll be supporting each other but they need us now and theyre getting our help, said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said China is preparing to send drinking water, food, personal protective equipment and other supplies to Tonga as soon as flights resume.

The U.N. World Food Program is exploring how to bring in relief supplies and more staff and has received a request to restore communication lines in Tonga, which is home to about 105,000 people, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Communications with the island nation are limited because the single underwater fiber-optic cable that connects Tonga to the rest of the world was likely severed in the eruption. The company that owns the cable said the repairs could take weeks.

Samiuela Fonua, who chairs the board at Tonga Cable Ltd., said the cable appeared to have been severed soon after the eruption. He said the cable lies atop and within coral reef, which can be sharp.

Fonua said a ship would need to pull up the cable to assess the damage and then crews would need to fix it. A single break might take a week to repair, he said, while multiple breaks could take up to three weeks. He added that it was unclear when it would be safe for a ship to venture near the undersea volcano to undertake the work.

A second undersea cable that connects the islands within Tonga also appeared to have been severed, Fonua said. However, a local phone network was working, allowing Tongans to call each other. But he said the lingering ash cloud was continuing to make even satellite phone calls abroad difficult.

___

Associated Press journalist Jill Lawless in London and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Forsyths view would have been similar to this (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A plane passenger has shared his experience of being the only person aboard an eight-hour flight from the UK to Florida.

TikTok user Kai Forsyth said it was the weirdest experience to be on the British Airways flight alone but the comfiest he has ever been on a plane.

He documented the journey in a video posted to the social media platform this week and since been viewed more than 200,000 times.

The short clip shows a completely empty plane, leaving Forsyth to pick any seat he wishes for the duration of the long-haul flight.

He chose a middle aisle and put up the arm rests to create a makeshift bed.

Literally the comfiest Ive been on a plane, was his verdict.

As there were no other passengers aboard, he was also treated to an unlimited supply of snacks and food.

They literally gave me all the snacks and unlimited food, he said, showing a wholesale box of Walkers biscuits.

Forsyth said he had hoped to be upgraded to a business class seat as there were no other passengers on the flight, but sadly he was not offered the opportunity.

Responding to a TikTok user who said they would feel too paranoid on an empty plane, Forsyth said the journey was fun.

Some people also shared their own experiences of being on empty or near-empty flights.

I remember the flight home from John F Kennedy International Airport [New York, US] to Gatwick, about 10 people [were in] the whole of economy. Was the best flight, one person said.

Recent weeks have seen environmental groups urge the European Union to change policies which force airlines to fly thousands of ghost flights  empty flights with no passengers on board.

Under EU regulations, airlines must operate a certain percentage of their scheduled flights to maintain their take-off and landing slots at airports. If they dont, they may forfeit the slots.

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Last week, Belgian magazine The Bulletin reported that Brussels Airline operated 3,000 empty or near-empty flights this winter to avoid losing slots at major airports.

Brussels Airlines makes 3,000 unnecessary flights to maintain airport slots



The EU surely is in a climate emergency modehttps://t.co/eHLFrd06y0  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 5, 2022

The airlines parent company, Lufthansa, operated approximately 18,000 flights in total.

The practice was denounced by climate activist Greta Thunberg, who wrote in a tweet: The EU surely is in a climate emergency mode
A Russian service member walks near a T-72B3 main battle tank during military drills at the Kadamovsky range in the Rostov region of Russia on December 20, 2021. Sergey Pivovarov/Reuters

The White House warned that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine "at any point."

The US has warned of severe consequences if Russia invades the former Soviet republic.

"No option is off the table, in our view," Psaki said.

The White House on Tuesday warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent as top US and European diplomats scramble to prevent a new conflict in Europe.

"We believe we're now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine. I would say that's more stark than we have been," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, describing the circumstances on the Ukrainian border as an "extremely dangerous situation."

Russia, which invaded and annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, has gathered tens of thousands of troops along its next-door neighbor's border in recent weeks. The Kremlin has claimed it has no plans to invade, but Western powers are highly skeptical.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to Ukraine and Germany this week as the crisis escalates and the White House continues to warn Russia of massive economic consequences if it invades.

"What Secretary Blinken is going to do is highlight very clearly that there's a diplomatic path forward," Psaki said, underscoring that it is Russian President Vladimir Putin's choice "to make whether they are going to suffer severe economic consequences or not."

"No option is off the table, in our view," Psaki said. "We continue to consult closely with European counterparts on severe consequences for Russia if it further invades Ukraine."

After visiting Kyiv and Berlin, Blinken is set to travel to Geneva to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday. Blinken spoke to his Russian counterpart via phone on Tuesday, stressing "the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military build-up in and near Ukraine," the State Department said in a statement.

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There have been no major breakthroughs in diplomatic talks between Russia and the US and its allies and partners in Europe this month. Russia has continued to make demands for binding security guarantees that the US and NATO have made clear are non-starters. This includes insisting that Ukraine and Georgia, another former Soviet republic that Russia invaded in 2008, never be permitted to join NATO.

Top US officials and Russia watchers have expressed concerns that Russia is looking for a "pretext" to invade amid reports of intelligence pointing to Russian operatives planning a "false-flag" operation within Ukraine to create the justification for an invasion.

Putin has blamed the US and NATO for the heightened tensions, despite his history of aggressive actions toward Ukraine and even as his troops stage provocative exercises in the region. In addition to the recent military buildup along the Ukrainian border, Russia also sent troops into Belarus this week for war games near Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Verizon and AT&T reached an 11th-hour compromise that would clear the way for a nationwide launch of new 5G wireless service on Wednesday  without triggering the catastrophic flight cancellations that the airline industry has warned would ensue.

The two wireless giants said Tuesday that they had voluntarily agreed to postpone the debut of the 5G service near some airports, amid concerns that the signals might confuse some kinds of aircraft safety equipment. Airlines for America, the trade group for U.S. airlines, said that while it has yet to see the details of the agreement, the industry appreciates that it provides the opportunity to ensure all stakeholders, consumers and the U.S. economy are served in the long run.

Tuesday marks the second time in two weeks that the wireless industry has agreed to measures to ease the launch of new 5G services, which has also provoked a public divide between President Joe Bidens appointees at the Department of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission.

But it leaves unresolved the major stumbling blocks plaguing the United States attempts to launch its generation of fast wireless service  a realm in which the U.S. risks falling behind global rivals like China.

The deal also doesnt entirely rule out the possibility of airlines canceling enough flights this week to disrupt the already stuttering U.S. economy. On Tuesday afternoon, a handful of foreign airlines canceled some of their flights to the U.S., on fears that their airplanes and crew could be stranded here until the uncertainty cleared.

Biden praised the deal nonetheless Tuesday, saying it would allow more than 90 percent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled.

Expanding 5G and promoting competition in internet service are critical priorities of mine, and tomorrow will be a massive step in the right direction, he added. My team has been engaging non-stop with the wireless carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to chart a path forward for 5G deployment and aviation to safely co-exist.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg applauded the agreements as the companies' commitment to protect the flying public and the countrys supply chain.

However, retiring Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chair of the House Transportation Committee, was far less sanguine, saying he wouldn't plan on flying anywhere tomorrow.

In recent years, FCC approvals of telecom industry wireless plans have drawn ire from airlines, automakers and even the Pentagon, all of which complained that the decisions could disrupt or intrude on airwaves they depend on. The most recent 5G flap involves a Trump-era FCC auction in which Verizon and AT&T agreed to pay $80 billion for a swath of spectrum that can transmit data up to 100 times faster than standard 4G service.

Those kinds of speeds can enable the spread of technologies such as telemedicine and internet-connected cars. But airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration say 5G has the potential to interfere with the instruments that measure planes altitude, potentially making it dangerous for aircraft to land in poor weather. And the airlines had warned Bidens appointees Monday that they would have no choice but to ground thousands of passenger and cargo flights if Wednesdays launch went ahead with no changes.

AT&T lashed back at the airlines and the FAA on Tuesday, saying they had failed to use the last two years theyve had to responsibly plan for this deployment. AT&T and Verizon have previously dismissed the airlines warnings as overblown and pointed to other countries where 5G and aviation services coexist.

We are frustrated by the FAAs inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it to do so in a timely manner, a spokesperson for the company said, reiterating that the tech will activate tomorrow with the temporary exception of this limited number of towers.

However, aviation groups like the Air Line Pilots Association, the union for pilots, have dismissed such comparisons, saying other countries' broadcast strength is significantly less than what is proposed in the U.S., and that in some cases siting and other mitigations are significantly different in other countries.

In a statement, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said she is confident that 5G and aviation can safely coexist. The FAA has a process in place to assess altimeter performance in the 5G environment and resolve any remaining concerns. It is essential that the FAA now complete this process with both care and speed.

Airlines and airports have warned in increasingly dire language that absent further buffers, the 5G rollout would force chaos in the skies and bring commerce to its knees, with untold numbers of flights canceled and diverted to other airports outside the 5G service zones. Neither the FAA nor AT&T and Verizon would provide a list of which airports the new deal encompasses, but the agency has put together an index of 50 airports in the 5G service area where interference will be mitigated with added buffer zones.

United Airlines, for example, said it estimates about 1.25 million of its passengers, and at least 15,000 flights and much-needed goods and tons of cargo traveling through more than 40 of the largest airports in the country, are likely to see negative impacts annually under the current 5G plans.

The airline industry on Monday first requested that the Biden administration block any wireless transmission within a two-mile radius of airport runways. The latest proposal that the companies agreed to would allow roughly 90 percent of the wireless tower deployment overseen by AT&T and Verizon to begin Wednesday.

With safety as its core mission, the FAA will continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G, the agency said Monday in response to the airlines collective plea, signed off by Airlines for America. The FAAs work continues even as the 5G services roll out on Wednesday, the agency said.

The FAA expects to issue additional directives in the coming days, including alternative ways to ensure safety measures are met in the event that pilots and crew cant land despite the mitigations currently planned. In December, DOT, AT&T and Verizon agreed to still employ additional protections in certain airport zones over the next six months.

Alex Ward and John Hendel contributed to this report.
Woman discovers her mystery vacation man is married after TikTok users find her wife (TikTok/@micarenee @irontemple07)

An American woman recently enlisted the internets help to track down a man she met on vacation, only to discover that hes married.

Earlier this week, Mica Renee posted a TikTok video asking users to aid her search for the mystery man who approached her while she was on holiday in Miami.

Her caption read: TikTok I come to you today cause I heard what you do for others. I think he said hes from Detroit.

Detailing the conversation they had, Renee said the man walked right into the ocean to introduce himself, adding that she didnt save his number because I was lit.

Hopefully he aint married, she wrote.

However, in a follow-up TikTok video, Renee revealed that social media users searching for the man had located his wife instead.

Explaining the circumstances of her original video, she said: I was in Miami, looking all good in the ocean, and my friend was taking pics of me. 

He came up to me and introduced himself. My friend thought he was bold so she kept recording, Renee continued, reiterating that the man, who goes as AJ on TikTok, had given her his number.

She also said AJs wife requested that Renee leave her post up, and included apparent screenshots of their chat.

On 15 January, AJ denied Renees claims about their beach interaction and called her little miss cheater in a three-part TikTok rebuttal.

AJ said he spoke to Renee for seven minutes at the most when the pair met in Miami five months ago.

I didnt even know your name until all of this transpired and you sent this crazy video, he continued, alleging Renee had edited and sliced the video to depict whatever the hell you trying to prove.

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He also said that he was just having fun, their conversation was nothing serious, and he would have been more intimate if he was trying to cheat.

Its really weird that you think a five-minute convo gave you everything you need to know, to search a man out that you havent even talked to since that moment, five months ago, he added.

Comments were turned off on all of AJs videos.
Chloe-Mairead studying in Florence, Italy in 2019 (Collect/PA Real Life).

Chloe-Mairead Donnelly, 23, of Cheshire, was branded naughty at school but now teaches languages to students with conditions from autism to dyslexia

A woman with ADHD and autism who sees her conditions as a superpower not a disadvantage has used being picked on at school as a springboard to success  becoming fluent in nine languages and turning to teaching.

Chloe-Mairead Donnelly, 23, struggled to pay attention in lessons  behaviour which she says was wrongly perceived as naughtiness.

But her experience made her determined to help other children who find it difficult to focus in mainstream education and she has started her own language tuition school, CMD Tutoring, where she has taught over 200 students with conditions from autism to dyslexia.

Chloe-Mairead, of Winsford, Cheshire, said: I know how to work with my students, because I have the same challenges.

I make them laugh, I make the work fun and I try to pass on my passion. Learning difficulties are not a disadvantage, theyre a superpower.

Facing adversity even before she was born, Chloe-Mairead felt huge guilt over losing for her mum Denise Donnelly at the age of 48, when she was just 10.

Chloe-Mairead with her boyfriend, Charlie (Collect/PA Real Life).

She said: I developed a cyst on my ovary in the womb. I was born ill and rushed straight into surgery to have most of my intestines removed.

The stress of my birth caused Mum to leave hospital in a wheelchair and she never walked again.

The experience had led to Denise, who had progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), suffering a relapse  something for which Chloe-Mairead felt responsible.

For years, I thought her relapse was all because of me," she said. "Id tell myself I was the reason Mum had died.

Grieving as she started secondary school, just months after her mothers death, Chloe-Mairead turned her focus to her favourite lesson  Spanish.

Watch: 'If you're neurodiverse, you want to take this occasion and really run with it'

In Spanish lessons I just found I was so focussed that I didnt have time to think about whatd happened. I really threw myself into it. Now I see that languages are one of my autistic fixations.

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Placed into grief counselling by her school when she was 13, it was her counsellor who diagnosed Chloe-Mairead with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)  a neurodevelopmental disorder that means people have trouble paying attention and controlling impulsive behaviour.

Unfortunately, she felt stigmatised by her diagnosis.

I think actually being diagnosed was when the stigma started. Someone even called me a 'ret***'. Some people just didnt believe me. Theyd say, Girls cant have ADHD.

And some teachers just thought I was naughty.

Chloe-Mairead at 15 years old in October 2014 (Collect/PA Real Life).

When she was told she would not go to university or study languages, she became determined to prove her doubters wrong.

Id be told off for fiddling in class, but moving my hands helped me focus my ears to listen to what was going on. Now I know more about my condition, I use it to my advantage. Ill teach with a PopSockets in my hands, rolling the marble between my fingers, as I know it aids my concentration.

Her methods clearly worked, as Chloe-Mairead is fluent in nine languages and conversational in four more, speaking English, Spanish, French, Italian, Catalan, Romanian, Indonesian, Irish, Tetum, Portuguese, Latin, Welsh and Galician.

Read more: 25 Most Spoken Languages in the World

And, in 2019, a chance encounter when she and her engineer boyfriend, Charlie, 23, were in the pub and overhead a father giving his daughter advice about her upcoming French GCSE, propelled her into teaching. By then, studying for a degree in French, Italian and Spanish at the University of Bangor in North Wales, Chloe-Mairead said she could not help interrupting.

She said: I went up to them, being too nosy, and asked if I could help. The dad asked how much Id charge for tutoring, but I was honestly planning to help for free. I love languages and just want to share them.

That young girl become Chloe-Maireads very first student. Soon after, she paid for a private diagnostic session and was told she had autism - which, according to the NHS, means "your brain works in a different way from other peoples."

Chloe-Mairead winning inspirational woman award in March 2021 (Collect/PA Real Life).

Far from being upset, I just thought, This is great. Imagine how many languages I can learn now? And when the first lockdown fell in March 2020, she posted online for additional students to teach remotely.

I knew parents were at home stressed out with all the home schooling. Said Chloe-Mairead.

So, I put a thing on Facebook saying Id teach any kid a language for 5 an hour.

Before I knew it, my phone was crashing from all the notifications. Business boomed from there." Chloe-Mairead has now taught a variety of languages to around 200 students from school age to the retired.

Some are neurotypical  meaning their brain functions are considered typical. But it is with the neurodiverse  who have a variation in the brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood and other mental functions in a non-pathological sense  that her passion truly lies.

Watch: Drone pilot living with autism soars to new heights in aviation

I know the challenges that people with learning difficulties face because I face them too. Teachers and tutors can think were naughty or just putting on a show.' She added: I let my students know that theyll work best if their own needs are met.

If youre sad when we start our session, well talk it through. If youre distracted, well do something about that. Need the loo? Then do that first. No one works best if they arent looking after themselves.

Chloe-Mairead also has other tactics to make her lessons successful. She talks to her students about their personal interests, allowing them to call her by her first name, takes regular breaks with ADHD students and plays close attention to how engaged they are feeling at any moment.

She said: Its my job to remind my students how capable they truly are. Her work has seen her students sail through exams, find new confidence - and even led to one being diagnosed with dyslexia.

Chloe-Mairead now teaches six days a week and has earned a clutch of awards, including an 'inspirational woman' award for contributions to education, and taken fourth place in Young Trader of the year 2021.

Chloe-Mairead getting a highly commended award at a regional final of Young Trader of the year in 2019 (Collect/PA Real Life).

Read more: Prison Break star Wentworth Miller, 49, shares autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. How rare is an adult diagnosis?

But, while business is booming, Chloe-Mairead is not in it for the money. Most of what I make I put back into the community or my students, she said. "I pay for them to do diplomas in the languages they are studying, to boost their self-confidence and give them a qualification.

Ill send them books in the languages they are studying to reward hard work and I also donate a large proportion of my profits to a local womens refuge.

She is even planning to defer her masters degree in secondary Spanish, which would allow her to become a school teacher, to support her students. I graduate from my degree in June. Id planned to go straight on to my masters, but I have students whove been with me for nearly two years now.

Some are just looking to sit their GCSEs. What kind of a teacher would I be if I left them here?

Chloe-Mairead has also launched a range of learning aids, especially with the neurodiverse in mind  including note pads in five different languages and revision guides.

I think my guides are different as theyre some of the only ones that say, Forget about your exams. What are you doing to look after yourself today?

Thats even more important for those of us with learning difficulties than it is for the neurotypical.

Additional reporting, PA
China sees continuous improvement in wetland ecology

09:15, January 18, 2022 By Li Xiaoqing ( People's Daily

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China joining the Ramsar Convention, or the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitats.

Oriental storks, a species under first-class national protection in China, forage on the Huangpo Lake wetland in Lujiang county, Hefei, east Chinas Anhui province, Jan. 3, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Zuo Xuechang)

Over the past three decades, the country has witnessed continuous improvement in its wetland ecology thanks to the strenuous efforts it has made to conserve and restore wetlands.

Chinas wetlands account for only four percent of the worlds total wetland coverage, but they have well played their role in providing production and living resources, optimizing ecological environment, and offering cultural sites for 1/5 of the total population on Earth.

The country has gone through three major stages in its wetland conservation. It learned about the general conditions of its wetlands between 1992 and 2003, which helped it lay a solid foundation for future conservation, and rescued them in the following 12 years. In the period between 2016 and 2021, the country carried out comprehensive protection over these wetlands.

As a wetland protection law is coming into force this year in the country, Chinas wetland conservation will embrace higher-quality development in a new era.

The wetland protection law was passed at the end of the last year, and it was followed by relevant local regulations issued in 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. It will come into effect on June 1 this year.

Photo taken on Dec. 4, 2021 shows the magnificent scenery in the Canghai Lake wetland park in Longxu district, Wuzhou, south Chinas Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (Peoples Daily Online/ He Huawen)

China currently has 64 sites designated as wetlands of international importance, and has established 602 wetland nature reserves, over 1,600 wetland parks and a number of community conserved areas for wetlands, putting 52.65 percent of its wetlands under protection.

In 2003, the State Council approved and released a national engineering plan on wetland protection for the period between 2002 and 2030, under which China has invested a total of 19.8 billion yuan ($3.11 billion) and implemented over 4,100 engineering projects to help local efforts in wetland conservation and restoration.

China is the first country in the world to have completed three nationwide investigations on wetland resources. The third national land resource survey of the country officially placed wetlands in the top-level category of Chinas land classification system.

Pied avocets fly over the Tiaozini wetland, Dongtai, east Chinas Jiangsu province, Jan. 6, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Sun Jialu)

As a member of the Standing Committee and chair of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention, China is contributing its wisdom and schemes to global ecological governance.

So far, China has established 899 national wetland parks since it initiated a pilot program in 2005. These parks, as a part of the national nature reserve system, have effectively put 2.4 million hectares of wetlands under protection, bringing about 50 billion yuan of economic benefits. About 90 percent of the national wetland parks are open to the public free of charge.

Photo taken on Dec. 18, 2021 shows woods growing on a piece of wetland in Hongxing village, Chunan county, Hangzhou, east Chinas Zhejiang province. (Peoples Daily Online/Yu Jianfeng)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in his telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday that the Chinese side is ready to work with the German side to push for a steady and long-term development of bilateral ties.

Congratulating Scholz once again on his inauguration as German chancellor, Li said China and Germany are both major economies and responsible countries in the world, as well as supporters of multilateralism and practitioners of free trade, adding that their cooperation not only benefits the two countries, but is also in the interests of China and Europe as well as those of the whole world.

Noting that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Germany, Li said that Chinese President Xi Jinping recently held a telephone conversation with Scholz to jointly push forward bilateral relations.

China is ready to work with Germany to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year as an opportunity to further consolidate political mutual trust, step up dialogue and exchanges, and uphold two-way opening-up so as to better achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results, and push forward the steady and long-term development of China-Germany relations, Li said.

He also said that the practical cooperation between the two countries, which has been expanding in both depth and breadth, has been a "ballast stone" for bilateral relations and is bringing benefits to the people in both countries.

China is ready to hold a new round of China-Germany intergovernmental consultations at an early date and let the "super engine" of bilateral practical cooperation promote the upgrading of bilateral cooperation, Li said.

He expressed hope that the two sides could tap cooperation potential in advanced manufacturing, service trade, digital economy and climate change, and foster new growth points for China-Germany cooperation.

Calling the more than 2,000 Chinese companies in Germany and the more than 7,000 German firms in China as dynamic forces in bilateral cooperation, Li said the Chinese and German governments need to stay committed to creating a fair and non-discriminatory environment for these companies to invest and do business.

Li also said that he hoped the German side can treat Chinese firms with a more open mind, adding that the Chinese side is willing to work with Germany to continue to make good use of the "fast track" for personnel of the two countries so as to better facilitate personnel exchanges between the two sides on the basis of effective pandemic prevention and control.

Pointing out that China and Europe are two important forces on the world stage who share extensive common interests, Li urged the two sides to approach bilateral relations from a long-term and broader perspective, uphold dialogue and cooperation as the dominant aspect, respect each other and treat each other as equals, and promote the steady and sound development of China-Europe relations.

He also said that Germany is an important member of the European Union (EU), adding that China hopes that Germany will continue to play a positive role in promoting China-EU cooperation and relations.

For his part, Scholz said Germany attaches great importance to Germany-China relations and adheres to the one-China policy, expressing the hope to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Germany and China as an opportunity to promote the further development of bilateral relations.

Germany, he said, is ready to work with China to make good preparations for a new round of consultations between the two governments, further deepen cooperation on economy and trade, climate change and pandemic prevention and control, and make full use of the "fast track" for personnel exchanges.

He also said that Germany has been and will always be committed to promoting the healthy development of EU-China relations, adding he hopes that the EU-China investment treaty can come into effect at an early date.

The two leaders also exchanged views on strengthening China-Germany cooperation in multilateral dimensions as well as on international and regional issues of common concern.
Vasquez Lonon is about to pin his Mt. Zion opponent in the 170 weight division. Lonon's win put SCHS over the top at 42-16 in their second round state match in the Harold Lee Scott Gymnasium last Friday. [Contributed photo by Nikki McFarland]

Utilizing a streak of six consecutive wins between the 132- and 170-pound classes, the SCHS Gamecock wrestling team of Griffen Greene rolled to a 54-24 win over Mt. Zion Carrollton to claim a spot in the GHSA Class A state finals in Commerce this weekend. The win Friday afternoon improved the teams duals record to 22-6 on the season.

Opponents for Saturdays matches were unknown at press time as the seeding meeting for the eight participating teams was not to take place until Monday evening. Whoever the opponent the Gamecocks will wrestle, their opening match is at 10:00 a.m. Win or lose their second match will be at 11:30. The consolation semifinals will be at 1:00 with the consolation finals and the championship at 3:00.

Local fans might have felt a case of deja vu in the Harold Lee Scott Gymnasium Friday afternoon. The previous Saturday in Mt. Vernon the Gamecocks trailed Dublin 12-6 after four matches and Friday they trailed Mt. Zion 16-6 after the same four classes (106-126). Each time SCHS went on a roll to quickly pull comfortably ahead, winning the region 60-18, one win less than Fridays final score.

We were down a few matches after 126 and they were building momentum, said Greene. We got on a run of matches (132-170) where we maxed out on points (6) and that sealed the deal for us. I think that our tough regular season schedule really prepared us for this part of the season. It is a great feeling to be able to lead an awesome group of athletes to the Elite 8 for the second year in a row.

Also just as a week ago, it was sophomore Ryder Rankin (132) who got the winning streak started when the team was down, this time with a pin just 30 seconds into the match. Timothy Frank (138) recorded a pin with just :03 remaining in the first period to put the Red and White ahead and they never looked back. Carson Ellis (145), David McFarland (152), Kody Cochran (a forfeit at 160), and Vasquez Lonon (170) continued the wins. With the Lonon pin the score rose to 42-16 and the Gamecocks had the match sewn up with four weight classes to go.

Story continues

Ben Warren (182) was pinned followed by Ed Lees (195) pin. Luke McFarland (220) picked up a forfeit. The afternoon was finished when Jemiah Stewart (285) lost a 2-1 decision to an opponent who was on the defensive, never trying to get a pin, the entire match. The match opened with Bella Maust (106) recording a forfeit followed by Justin Pearce (113) losing 15-4. Pearce not getting pinned, though constantly in trouble, saved the Gamecocks two points which enabled them to clinch a weight class earlier. Both Sam Robbins (120) and Hayden Skinner (126) were pinned.

Greene continued, This group has worked so hard to become one the elite programs in Class A. Now we need to go fight our way into the top four, which has been our goal all season since our fifth place finish last season.

The day was to have been a four team, single elimination tournament. As Area 3 champion the Gamecocks were to have faced Area 1 #4 Brookstone. The Cougars opted not to come as they could field no more than eight wrestlers. Mt. Zion, Area 5 #2, faced off with Area 7 #3 Armuchee and emerged with a 42-40 win to advance to face SCHS.

Putting the day in perspective Greene finished with, Armuchee and Mt. Zion are located in a wrestling hotbed, so we knew we had our hands full with whoever made it out of the first round. I honestly did not know how it would play out.

The starting lineup for SCHS on Friday and their current records are Maust 20-16, Pearce 21-17, Robbins 13-20, Skinner 17-11, Rankin 24-16, Frank 25-7, Ellis 32-11, David McFarland 29-12, Cochran 2-0, Lonon 23-13, Warren 0-9, Lee 19-13, Luke McFarland 29-8, and Stewart 27-15.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Screven Gamecocks wrestlers whip Mt. Zion, heads to finals in Columbus
Before the end of 2021, Miriams House started a Home for the Holidays campaign where donations were fully designated to assist with rent, utility and housing costs in order to keep formerly homeless families housed and to move newly homeless families into housing.

Sarah Quarantotto, executive director, said the nonprofit rehoused 22 homeless households between Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, exceeding its goal of 20 households.

We're housing people every day of the year, but I think people get really excited around people being in homes for the holidays so we used that to get more people in housing, she said.

In addition, it runs a street outreach program, Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement (H.O.M.E.), working with unsheltered neighbors who are sleeping outside, in parks, cars or under bridges. HOME is the only street outreach program in the region and has a 68% success rate of moving individuals off the streets and into housing, which is significantly higher than the national average of 30%, Quarantotto said.

Its really good to meet the chronically homeless in the community, so were literally sending staff members out to find people instead of sitting to wait, Quarantotto said. People have their own reservations and ideas about that so we go and find those solutions and find them on the streets.

In the past year, the community has seen a 50% reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness, she said.

And obviously, it's mostly because we didn't have evictions for most of the year thanks to the Virginia Rent Relief Program, she said, referring to a program designed to support and ensure housing stability across the commonwealth during the coronavirus pandemic. So it's always nice to have reductions in homelessness.

Evictions started back up in August 2021, but the states rent relief program will have enough money to fund that program for all of 2022, Quarantotto said.

We want landlords to take advantage of that, so they're not evicting their tenants and they get all their money, she said.

The biggest cause of eviction is nonpayment of rent.

We're still seeing people experience homelessness, she said. Maybe their landlord didn't go to the court and just sent them a text they had to be out and people dont necessarily know that that's illegal. Or maybe they weren't in a rental agreement, so maybe they were staying with family or seeing a friend's rental house and they never had a lease, so were still seeing those experiencing homelessness, but weve never seen a year-over-year reduction like that.

She said thats mostly attributable to safety nets such as benefits and increases in unemployment last year and tax credits.

Miriams House has had a homeless hotline in the community that it started as a partnership with the City of Lynchburg in 2013. It brought that in house to the nonprofit this summer. It allows staff to triage, much like a hospital emergency department, to figure out the right intervention for clients.

Miriams House offers various housing programs to work with people experiencing homelessness. One is focused on families, another works with the chronically homeless and provides rental assistance and supportive services.

So when a family is homeless, like at Salvation Army or Hand-Up Lodge, our caseworkers meet with them and figure out a housing plan, Quarantotto said.

Lynchburg Community Action Group works with Miriams House through the CHIA Program and Homeless Prevention Services in serving persons experiencing homelessness.

Lyn-CAG works with Miriam's House to connect citizens experiencing homelessness to information, immediate assistance and referral to housing resources, said Treney Tweedy, executive director of Lyn-CAG.

We have a homeless prevention coordinator, Diana Brown, who provides additional case management services to those needing help, she said. Lyn-CAG also operates the only non-barrier, emergency homeless shelter in our region, Hand-Up Lodge.

Hand-Up provides emergency shelter for up to 28 individuals and families and currently is operating around the clock during the COVID pandemic. Their stays are for up to 30 days.

These individuals may be referred from Miriam's House and other community organizations into the Lodge, Tweedy said. Our Hand-Up director, Jacqueline Jones and her staff, closely coordinates services with Miriam's House and other COC providers to ensure emergency shelter is available to people at their moment of crisis.

Hand-Up connects shelter guests with the appropriate services and resources as needed.

Due to the increased need at this time for emergency shelter, additional funding is also needed to sustain our programs and services, she said. Community support is vital to all of our operations. Having this network of providers, who work together tackling homelessness in our community, addresses the issue, but does not completely solve the issues.

She said there are many factors contributing to why an individual or family may experience homelessness at any given time including mental health and medical issues, loss of income and increasing senior needs.

It takes each of our organizations working closely together and collaboratively seeking resources to help people where they are and navigate them toward better days, she said.

The nonprofit also works with 50 to 70 private landlords and they help match a client with a rental unit.

And we're paying the security deposit, first month's rent, utilities deposit to get them into the home and then we work with them to keep the home so we work to increase employment, income, benefit, childcare, education, all of that to keep people in house, she said.

While Miriams House works with people who are usually already homeless, Virginia Legal Aid Society (VLAS) works with those who are facing evictions and works to prevent homelessness.

Jeremy White, managing attorney for VLAS, said the two organizations work toward the same goal of getting people housed and making sure they stay in their housing.

And then if not, and there obviously are other cases where things happen, and there's an eviction or they need to relocate or move quickly and then we lean on agencies like Miriam's House for that kind of assistance, he said.

White said Miriams House is not only providing the specific services for homeless individuals and trying to get them established in permanent housing but they're also using their role in the community to make sure the community gets money from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

I think it's the combination of those things that really makes their impact vital, he said.

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When COVID-19 vaccines became available, retired Registered Nurse and local resident Hanna Burruss began training to administer the vaccinations as a volunteer.

But with her husband being at high-risk for complications from the virus, plus having the time-consuming responsibilities of training a puppy, Burruss had to give up her desire to be of service as a vaccinator.

Id been a nurse almost my whole life, Burruss said. It was hard to give up my idea that I could help others. It was really hard to face that.

Although she was deeply disappointed to be unable to give the jab, Burruss found a creative way to support those who were giving out vaccines  unique, fun headwear that could bring a smile to many faces.

Burruss, 68, took up this style of crafting at age 17. In what she calls artifact jewelry, Burruss has created things like a necklace featuring parts of an old flintlock from Afghanistan and, most recently, a biker helmet studded with syringes and spikes called The Vaccinator.

When she still was planning to be a vaccine administrator, Burruss made a special hat intended for herself. The idea was to make getting a shot less intimidating.

At one time in my career, I also worked in pediatrics, with children, so you always need a little fun when youre dealing with shots and kids, you know? Sometimes it makes things better, sometimes it doesnt, but whatever helps, helps, Burruss said.

Instead, Burruss gave this hat to a friend and medical practitioner in the Richmond area, still ensuring it went to good use. With this gesture, Burruss realized perhaps there was a different, yet still meaningful way she could help support vaccinators who were working hard to keep up with COVID-19 vaccine demand.

Walking through Walmart one day, Burruss said she saw something that immediately inspired her with her next headwear project: a studded motorcycle helmet that would come to be called The Vaccinator.

I saw this bike helmet. It was black, and it had these barbs on top. I saw it, and I immediately knew what I wanted to make, Burruss said.

The spikes, she said, represent the spikes on the COVID-19 virus as seen under a microscope. Burruss then studded the helmet with syringes in a nod to the many vaccinations given out to help fight mortality rates of the pandemic.

Burruss knew exactly who she wanted to gift this helmet to.

Over the past several years, Burruss got to know a senior pharmacy tech who works at the Walgreens pharmacy on Boonsboro Road: Donte Jones. The two formed a friendship as they interacted periodically.

Toward the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination efforts, Burruss said she noticed Jones looked especially weary. That day, he told her he had given 80 shots. Between COVID-19 and flu shots, Jones said he is consistently busy giving vaccinations, averaging 60 to 80 shots daily last fall, an amount which has tapered down recently to about 40 vaccinations per day.

Burruss wanted to do something to bring a smile to her friends face, and thank him for his service to the community. Not long after this encounter, just after Halloween, she presented him with The Vaccinator helmet.

I met him and said, I have something for you, Burruss said. We went back into the vaccination room, and I said, Im giving this to honor you as a vaccinator. You are one of our heroes. And I handed it to him, and he busted up laughing immediately.

Jones said he had no idea Burruss was working on such a thing for him. In his 14 years of working for this local Walgreens pharmacy, no customer had done anything quite like this.

She kept saying she had a gift for me, they were appreciative of the work that all of us were putting in at our store, Jones said. It was kind of shocking that I got a name out of it, to be known as The Vaccinator.

The helmet has been a hit with children and adults alike, Jones said of customer reactions. He and his team of about 18 pharmacy workers, he added, also appreciated the gesture as they continue working to serve their community.

Since The Vaccinator came to Walgreens on Boonsboro Road, Burruss said she has seen pharmacy workers sharing it, taking turns wearing the gear as they continue administering COVID-19 shots.

Burruss said the gesture is not meant to set herself up on a pedestal; she was simply glad to help uplift the individuals working hard to help keep the public safe and healthy.

Somehow, I finally felt like I accomplished something, even though it wasnt what I thought it would be, Burruss said.

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Public school districts across Iowa are struggling to return to the certified enrollment levels seen before the pandemic.

Declining enrollment is still a major concern in many districts throughout Iowa and in the nation, said Diane Ostrowski, chief communications officer for Council Bluffs Community Schools.

Certified enrollment, tallied in October and reviewed by the Iowa Department of Education, reflects extra weight given to students who need more services and is the number used by the state to calculate how much aid each district will get the following school year.

Totals from fall 2021 showed that many school districts have rebounded from the

Overall, the total enrollments increased by 1,471.9 (0.3%), the Iowa Association of School Boards summarized. Of the 327 school districts, 169 (51.7%) had an increase in enrollment, but 158 (48.3%) had a decrease.

But the state as a whole has seen a significant drop since before the pandemic.

While enrollments increased this past fall, the total is still below the level seen in October 2019.

Statewide, public schools recorded total weighted enrollments of 485,630.4 in fall 2021, up 1,471.9 from 2020 but still 4,464 short of the 490,094.4 counted in 2019.

Council Bluffs Community School District has had substantial drops the past two years. The district lost 237.3 in 2020 and another 196.7 in 2021 for a two-year plunge of 434  almost 10% of the states total loss.

A bright spot is the relatively higher number of students entering our preschools and kindergarten, Ostrowski said. Our preschool enrollment is up by 85 students, and the kindergarten enrollment increased by 56 students.

Lewis Central fell by 16.2 in 2020 but reversed that with a gain of 18.6 in 2021.

Ive learned as a school administrator over the years that enrollment numbers can ebb and flow, but there is no doubt that the pandemic significantly impacted our numbers, Superintendent Eric Knost said. Im very happy with the rebound and I expect well see numbers continuing to grow in the coming years.

Around southwest Iowa, enrollment increased throughout the pandemic in some school districts and faltered since it started in others. Here are fall 2021 numbers from nearby school districts and how they compare with 2019 totals:

AHSTW  765.3, up 10.3 from 2020, still short of 2019 total of 780.7

Fremont-Mills  436.0, down 10.1 from 2020, short of 2019s 464.1

Glenwood  1,933.5, up 6.6 from 2020, up from 2019 total of 1,931.5

Griswold  456.7, up 4.5 from 2020, short of 2019s 457.5

Hamburg  227, up 31 from 2020, surpassed 2019 total of 199.0

Harlan  1,351.6, down 3.1 from 2020, short of 2019s 1,384.2

Logan-Magnolia  574.7, up 30.6 from 2020, above 2019s 572.1

Missouri Valley  772.3, up 0.6 from 2020, short of 2019s 803.5

Riverside  694.2, up 9.0 from 2020, nearing 2019s 705.0

Treynor  591.2, up 1.6 from 2020, short of 2019s 623.7

Tri-Center  667.1, up 4.2 from 2020, above 2019s 657.0

Underwood  765.2, up 39.1 from 2020, well beyond 2019s 690.0

Woodbine  478.4, up 8.1 from 2020, surpassed 2019s 454.1

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Morocco was cited as one of the four countries in the world with a significant potential to become exporters of green hydrogen, the international renewable energy agency IRENA said.

Morocco has already announced a national plan to increase the share of renewable energy in overall energy consumption with a potential to supply 4% of global demand on clean hydrogen.

In a recent report, IRENA experts believe Australia, Chile, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United States are best placed to emerge as major clean hydrogen producers by 2050

The IRENA report highlighted Moroccos potential to produce competitive green hydrogen thanks to its ability to generate cheap renewable electricity.

Countries such as Chile, Morocco, and Namibia are net energy importers today, they are set to emerge as green hydrogen exporters, the INRA said.

By 2030, Morocco plans a local hydrogen market of 4 terawatt hours (TWh) and an export market of 10 TWh, which, taken together, would require the construction of 6 GW of new renewable capacity and support the creation of more than 15 000 direct and indirect jobs (MEM, 2021), the report said.
Spains King Felipe VI urged his countrys cabinet to take steps in order to improve ties with its southern neighbor Morocco on solid foundations.

Relations between Morocco and Spain worsened after Madrid acted in connivance with Algeria in hosting for medical treatment the Polisario chief who entered Spain under a false identity and an Algerian passport to shun the judiciary.

Speaking to diplomats, King Felipe VI made the case for mending ties with Morocco which he said should be laid on solid foundations.

Now, both nations must walk together to start materializing this new relationship, King Felipe VI had said.

The Spanish monarch also stressed the need for supporting efforts to make the Western Mediterranean a region of peace and stability.

Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, on his part outlined this Monday that Spain and Morocco maintain a strategic cooperation in all areas.

For Spain, Morocco is a strategic partner with which we must walk together, Sanchez noted during a joint press briefing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is visiting Spain.

We appreciate the partnership and strategic cooperation that we have with Morocco, insisted, in this regard, the head of the Iberian executive.

Sanchez echoed the statement made by King Felipe VI of Spain while receiving the diplomatic corps accredited to Madrid, stressing the importance of redefining the relationship with Morocco on stronger and more solid pillars.

I agree with the statements of the head of state on Morocco, Sanchez said.

Moroccos ambassador to Madrid Karima Benyaich was recalled in May 2021 and has not returned to Spain since then.

During the crisis referred to as the Benbatouch case, referring to the fake identity given to Polisario leader Brahim Ghali, Morocco has asked Spain to leave ambiguity and express a clear position on the Sahara issue.

Morocco has also reminded Spain of its shared responsibility in managing migration flows and cross-border threats.
The French Foreign ministry slammed Monday police treatment of journalists during Jan. 14 pro-democracy demonstration against President Kais Saied, in the Tunisian capital Tunis, reports say.

Several journalists, including correspondents from the French and international press, were victims of violence while covering the demonstrations in Tunis on January 14, 2022. This is not acceptable, the spokesperson of the ministry said in the statement to AFP.

Tens of hundreds of people showed up Friday to protest against President Saied who has seized all major powers since July 25 when he fired then Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and froze the activities of the parliament and suspended lawmakers.

The police broke the protest using tear gas and water cannons. Several people were also injured as result of the scuffle with police.

French media Liberation, following the protest, indicated that its reporter was aggressed by police.

The correspondent of the daily Liberation in Tunisia was roughed up on Friday by police officers and prevented from covering a demonstration against President Kais Saied, the media said in a statement.
The Libyan parliament, House of Representatives (HoR), is set to appoint a new cabinet today, Tuesday, house member Abdelmoneim al-Orafi has confirmed, Libya Update media reports.

Al-Orafi also indicated in press statements that the Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Abdulhamid Dbeibeh has officially ended its mandate, pointing out that the candidates to head the new government will present their candidacy documents on Tuesday.

The MP added that there are known personalities, including deputies and public figures, waiting for the announcement of the formation of a new government to submit their candidacy documents to head the government.

There has been growing demands for the Dbeibah-led GNU to be removed and replaced by a new government.

Dbeibah, appointed in February 2021, is facing home criticism for taking advantage of his position to impose himself and his close circle.

During a HoR session Monday, Speaker Aqila Saleh considered that the GNU was no longer legitimate. He also called on the Attorney General to investigate what the government spent, especially in the development and emergency items, and the transfer from one item to another.
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Agnieszka Pilat with her robot dog and muse, Spot. Photo: Mark Sommerfeld

When I meet Agnieszka Pilat, a pixie-ish Polish emigre who has become the court painter of the potentates of Silicon Valley, she has just returned from Necker Island, the private Caribbean domain of Richard Branson. Im always the poorest person in the room at places like that, she says with a laugh, curling her paint-flecked Yves Saint Laurent sneakers beneath her on the couch as she absentmindedly twists and untwists her hair. Weve met up in her Chelsea studio, in which paintings of robotic limbs in repose dot the concrete walls. She has another studio in San Francisco. In each, she kennels a duplicate Spot, her 70-pound emergency-yellow cybernetic dog, muse, studio assistant (it paints, too), and, in some sense, protector, both on loan to her from Boston Dynamics, where she was once artist in residence.

Despite her Chelsea digs near the blue-chip Gagosians and Zwirners, Pilat does not have much of a reputation in the mainstream art world. She hasnt been sought after in big biennials and isnt owned by major museums, and the critics mostly ignore her. But the 48-year-old is beloved by a group of very well-off men  her collectors are mostly men  who dont participate much in the art world and are likely turned off by its snobberies and sanctimonies. Instead, she puts Silicon Valleys Ayn Randian, futurist ideologies into paint. Her work can even be found, if you look carefully, decorating the sets of the new Matrix movie. And shes definitely not being ironic about any of it.

I am always that kid who grew up in Poland, in communism, she says, and for me, America and American aristocracy, which you guys dont have  aristocracy like we have in Europe  the aristocracy here is the industry. So I think its important to give moral tribute to people in technology. She is merrily in service to the tech nomenklatura at a time when much of the country has come to despise its members for the forces they have unleashed on society and for their obscene levels of wealth.

Pilat describes Craig McCaw, the press-averse telecommunications billionaire who also purchased his own island, as her top patron and angel. Another collector is John Krafcik, the former CEO of Waymo, Googles self-driving-car unit. Agnieszkas work captures the magic of technology in a human, heroic way, and I think that helps us all better relate to it, he says.

Pilat in her studio. Photo: Mark Sommerfeld

Krafcik introduced her to Yuri Milner, the reclusive Russian Israeli venture-capital billionaire. He has reportedly sprinkled Kremlin cash across Silicon Valley, where he spent $100 million on a nouveau chateau in Los Altos Hills. Hes very hard to reach, says Pilat. Even his billionaire neighbors dont know him. Milner commissioned a painting of a piece of machinery found in self-driving cars. He liked it, she says, but hell never hang the painting. He never displays real work. His whole house is like a digital Sistine Chapel, so you come into the house and its like a very opulent kind of cathedral-looking thing, and you think all these are paintings, but then everything changes. Theyre huge, like, the whole ceiling  its all LEDs. She says hell probably just keep the analog painting in storage.

What is it like dealing with these dudes? Theyre all egomaniacs, she says, sounding thoroughly amused, even a bit affectionate. Theyre all wrapped up in themselves. Its like talking to a fish out of water. They just dont get it.

Jaron Lanier, the Silicon Valley oracle who is often described as the godfather of virtual reality, sums up some of Pilats appeal to this cohort: Successful techie guys love, love, love it when an attractive woman speaks their language, even if not everything she says is supportive. They find it irresistible. I dont think what she actually says is uniformly positive, but people hear what they want to hear.

Born in 1973, Pilat grew up during the bitter, last-gasp years of the Cold War. Her mother was a gym teacher and her father a pastry chef. There was just overall misery around, she recalls. Everyone was poor and lived in these gray big blocks. It didnt matter if you were a doctor or a janitor; you had everything the same. The early-pandemic rush on two-ply made her nostalgic: We never had toilet paper. It was, like, the biggest commodity. She laughs. I remember always standing in line as a little kid. She hated the Soviets and longed for the West. In 1985, her love for America crystallized when Rocky Balboa knocked out Ivan Drago: Everyone in Poland was like, Yeahhhh! 

Her father adapted well to the transition to capitalism and ended up owning many bakeries. The family grew prosperous. I have a love for free enterprise and also value the value of hard work, because thats how I grew up, she says.

Walking Spot in Chelsea. Photo: Mark Sommerfeld

In 2004, as it happens, the year that what was then called TheFacebook was founded, she moved to San Francisco. Her first job was at Golds Gym, and she enrolled in the Academy of Art University to study illustration. She was technically skilled. One of her earliest commissions came from Paul Stein, a developer who built Airbnbs headquarters. He wanted a portrait, not of a man but of a machine. Pilat did an oil painting of an old-school fire alarm that he loved. Soon word got around about her work. The Bay Area is a very small crowd, Pilat says. When you meet one person, you meet many. She found a patron in the tech executive Peter Hirshberg and scaled up from there. Pilats next collector was Steve Jurvetson, one of Silicon Valleys top venture capitalists. Jurvetson was a board member of Tesla and currently sits on the board of SpaceX. Hes the one who opened a lot of doors for me, recalls Pilat.

And she genuinely admired what they were building, unlike many in San Francisco, which she calls the center of liberal crazies: They dont understand what collectivism leads to and what punishing someone just because theyre successful leads to. A friend gave her a copy of Rands Atlas Shrugged. I would not be the artist that I am without that book, she says. It gives you a moral right to develop your talent to the fullest and focus on what you think your talent is, and theres an amazing power that comes from that, and I think America is a lot about that. The brutality of Randian individualism, of the cult of the ego and its success, galvanized Pilat.

In Silicon Valley, the book is very popular, of course, she says. But its quiet because if you are very wealthy, and white, and you like Atlas Shrugged  oh boy, you are a target. She remembers being astonished at a dinner party when she discovered that Mark Pincus  the tech billionaire who co-founded the online-gaming company Zynga (Words With Friends, FarmVille, etc.) and made early investments in Facebook and Twitter  was, in Pilats telling, all about Ayn Rand. (Pincus says he has no recollection of this.) McCaw, Pilat says, is so old and wealthy he doesnt care at this point, but hes famously a Republican, but he will not have a conversation about it because its just bad for business to be a Republican openly in those tech circles.

Photo: Mark Sommerfeld

Most recently, Pilats work was featured in the home of another tech-world legend: Neo. She was commissioned to do art for The Matrix Resurrections, and one of her paintings can be seen while Neo  er, Thomas Anderson  chews a piece of steak in his penthouse apartment. She thinks the Matrix is already coming true in the form of the metaverse. The masses will increasingly, and voluntarily, plug in. The waking world, real-life experiences, will be for only the one percent. I think the divide is happening already, she says, telling me about some real-estate deals going down in the metaverse that she knows about. The myth of the metaverse, its happening in front of our eyes, and the pandemic only accelerated it. Holy Wachowski!

Machines are children of humanity, she adds, waxing philosophical next to Spot. So us, as good parents, stewards of machine technology and AI, its our obligation to culturally and morally have a relationship with them so they grow up to be good citizens.

Spots movements are uncanny, those of a blood-and-guts pup. Up the stairs, down the hall, and lumbering around the corner it goes. Pilat can simply point to an object in the room with her controller and the dog will maneuver over and snatch it up with an outstretched claw.

Pilat sometimes affixes an oil stick to the dogs claw to paint. Its like an extension of my arm, she says. In other paintings, presumably made the archaic way  by hand  Spot is the subject, emulating works from art history. There it is posing for a reimagined version of Marcel Duchamps Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2). And here are two roboclaws nearly touching, an homage to God and Adam on Michelangelos ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

Dorka Keehn, a San Franciscobased art adviser and curator who was on the citys arts commission, calls Pilat an incredible painter and says shes doing a service to the art world by engaging the tech machers. Its very intimidating to go into a contemporary museum or gallery and look at some of this stuff if you dont have any kind of context, says Keehn, and I think these titans dont like not knowing. Theyre used to being the smartest person in the room, and so they come in and whos telling them? Some 20-something right out of art school. But with Pilat, says Keehn, theyve got Spot the dog, which they can kind of geek out on the robotic aspect of it, but then shes making these classical references to art, to the Renaissance.

Photo: Mark Sommerfeld. Photo: Mark Sommerfeld.

I ask this magazines art critic, Jerry Saltz, to take a look, but he is less convinced. Derivative dreck, he says. Not one lick of life, originality, idea about surface, color, structure, or even subject matter. This work is and will be worth nothing  except to the Silicon rubes who see that other Silicon rubes like them bought art like this. Not long ago, one painting Pilat made with Spot, B70 Self Portrait 02, sold for $31,500 at Sothebys as part of an auction presumably designed to appeal to Bay Area types called Boundless Space  The Possibilities of Burning Man.

Not surprised about Jerry, says Pilat when I tell her about his harsh review. The art world is notoriously unhappy about tech billionaires, and I am singing their song. Unlike Diego Rivera, I wont put Lenin in a commission paid by an industrialist. (In 1932, Rivera was commissioned to do the main mural in the lobby of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Riveras finished work, Man at the Crossroads, which contrasted socialism and capitalism with a worker at the center, got destroyed when he refused to remove a depiction of Lenin.)

In any case, its clear whose side she is on: the machines. She says about Spot, I think this is going to be the first celebrity robot. Indeed, Spot is Pixar-cute. But sinister, too. Remember that wild episode of Black Mirror with the killer dog-bot? When the NYPD got its paws on a version of Spot (its was blue) and sicced it on a crime scene in the Bronx, it was swiftly banished back to Boston.

It was a horrible PR moment, Pilat says. She believes the public must be properly introduced to the machines. We take the dog for a walk on West 26th Street. I try to always dress in yellow so that you can easily see theres a human with it, she says. A woman approaches, trepidatious, to ask if its sold on Amazon. (It is not.) I post a video of Spot on my Instagram Story with a poll asking if the dog is cute or scary; 88 percent of respondents choose the latter. KILL IT NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE, one replies.

My patrons are actually the machines of the future, Pilat says matter-of-factly. I work for the machine, not the man. When you go to a museum today in Europe and you see a picture of an aristocrat or some rich guy, you think, Oh, these are my cultural ancestors. So in my mind, I see the museum of the future when an intelligent AI comes in and looks at this  she gestures to a painting of Spot  and, in the same way, is like, Oh, these are my ancestors.
Ukrainian servicemen walk past a minefield warning sign on the front line with Russia-backed separatists near Luganske in Ukraines Donetsk region. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images

Over the past few months, Russia has amassed tens of thousands of soldiers, along with tanks, artillery, and other materiel near its border with Ukraine in what U.S. intelligence (and much of the world) has interpreted as a buildup in preparation for an invasion. At the same time, online propaganda and disinformation activity has increased, as have cyberattacks on Ukrainian targets, including one that took down several government websites on Friday.

It is no coincidence that these ominous activities look strikingly similar to the lead-up to Russias 2014 invasion of its weaker neighbor, in which it annexed Crimea and launched the still-ongoing insurgency by Moscow-backed separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Indeed, if Russia does send troops into Ukraine in the coming weeks, it will be a continuation of the same conflict that has been going on since 2014, and in some ways since 2008.

The U.S. is taking the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine very seriously. The Biden administration, in concert with NATO, has prepared a package of multilateral sanctions to slap on Russia if it invades, including potentially cutting the country off from the global financial system. U.S., European, and Russian officials met last week to attempt to defuse the crisis, but the three days of talks ended inconclusively, with the Russians describing them as a dead end, but saying they were still open to a diplomatic solution.

This map shows the current buildup of Russian forces on Ukraines borders pic.twitter.com/wVDe4PhGA8  Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) January 16, 2022

In the meantime, the situation continues to escalate closer to the tipping point. U.S. officials revealed on Friday that they had identified a group of Russian operatives who have been sent into Ukraine to potentially conduct a false-flag operation against the Russian proxy forces in Donbas, giving Russian president Vladimir Putin the pretext he would need to invade. We saw this playbook in 2014, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday.

satellite photos of Soloti staging ground, near Belgorod, ~ 10 kms from Ukrainian border. Armored infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, support equipment. Photos 1-2: September. Photos 3-4: December 5.  @Maxar pic.twitter.com/TfxPQPMNRR  Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) December 23, 2021

The Biden administration is now being forced to decide how far it is willing to go to defend Ukraines sovereignty if Russia follows through on its threats. The New York Times reported on Friday that the administration is considering supporting an insurgency to raise the cost of a Russian occupation higher than Moscow could afford. Arming and providing battlefield intelligence to Ukrainian insurgents would represent a significant shift in policy from recent years, during which the U.S. has only provided Ukraine with defensive military aid to avoid provoking Russia. Of course, a U.S.-Russia proxy war on the borders of the E.U. is a Cold War nightmare scenario, so the revelation of these plans is surely meant to deter Putin from invading in the hope that they will never need to be executed.

As long as a diplomatic solution remains elusive, however, the crisis still threatens to spiral into full-blown war.

President Joe Biden talks on the phone with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky from the Oval Office at the White House on December 9. Photo: Doug Mills/Getty Images

So far, the emergency talks have broken down over a sticking point that is a sine qua non for Russia, but a nonstarter for the U.S. and NATO: namely, a promise to halt the alliances eastward expansion and prevent Ukraine and any other former Soviet countries from ever joining it. Such promises were included in draft treaties Russia put out last month, which were summarily rejected. This has been a core foreign-policy goal of Putins since NATOs 2008 Bucharest summit, in which the bloc invited Ukraine and Georgia to pursue membership. That statement started a chain of events that led to Russias military intervention in Georgias breakaway region of South Ossetia in 2008, as well as its annexation of Crimea and proxy occupation of Donbas in 2014 following the Euromaidan revolution, in which Ukraines geopolitical orientation tilted abruptly toward the West.

The other key backdrop for the present crisis is the Minsk agreements, a European-brokered peace deal Russia and Ukraine signed in 2015 to halt the fighting and take steps toward a more durable modus vivendi. The Minsk agreements provided for the withdrawal of troops and weaponry and the disarmament of militias, while its political sections strongly favored Russia, calling for Ukraine to decentralize and grant more local autonomy to its Russian-oriented (and largely Russian-speaking) eastern-border regions. Hastily drafted in the heat of an ongoing conflict, the Minsk agreements dissatisfied both sides: Ukraine would be forced to make major concessions to its sovereignty, while Russia didnt get all the assurances it wanted, such as a neutrality clause in the new Ukrainian constitution. As a result, neither side has done much to enforce the deal.

If the contradictions in the Minsk agreements are a driver of the current crisis, resolving them may be the key to defusing it. In a press conference last week, Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko indicated that finally implementing the Minsk agreements would settle Russias concerns over Ukraine. The Biden administration is also looking into the Minsk agreements as a way forward, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys peace plan is broadly consistent with the Minsk framework as well.

Some analysts also see a solution to the current crisis via the Minsk agreements, decentralizing Ukraine and giving Russia some assurances of Ukrainian neutrality for at least the next decade or so, if not forever. Ukrainian nationalists will balk at granting as much autonomy to the Russian-speaking regions as Minsk envisioned, but there is nothing wrong in principle with a decentralized, federated state, especially in a multilingual, multiethnic country.

The problem is that the two sides have very different views of Ukraines sovereignty, which are baked into what was (and was not) decided in Minsk seven years ago. The U.S., Europe, and Ukrainian nationalists envision a Ukraine that is free to make its own choices about which countries and alliances to associate with, whereas Putin insists on keeping Ukraine within the Russian sphere of influence, whether it wants to be there or not.

From the Russian perspective, leaving Kyiv with the option of NATO membership would leave in place a perpetual threat of NATO forces right on its border  an unacceptable outcome, especially considering that the former Soviet Baltic states already joined the alliance in 2004. From the Ukrainian perspective, ruling out NATO membership would leave in place a corresponding threat of Russian domination, invasion, or annexation. The Baltic states did join NATO for a reason, after all.

These opposing views are fundamentally irreconcilable, so if this conflict is to be resolved diplomatically, something has to give. In a recent op-ed at Politico, analysts Thomas Graham and Rajan Menon suggested a potential solution that would pragmatically accommodate some of Russias security concerns without outright abandoning NATOs open-door policy or sacrificing European security. They envision the creation of a pan-European security order that includes Russia and reduces the risks of crises and confrontations on the continent. This would include the resumption of Cold War confidence-building measures and a commitment not to deploy intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Europe, as well as a lengthy moratorium  not a permanent ban  on NATO accession by Ukraine or other ex-Soviet countries. In theory, this would address Russias key concerns without forcing the alliance to abandon its open-door principle entirely.

Russian T-72B3 tanks take part in drills at the Kadamovskiy firing range in the Rostov region in southern Russia on January 12. Photo: Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock

A darker view of Russias intentions, however, holds that Putin has no actual interest in Ukrainian neutrality, but rather expects that country to retake its historical position as a subsidiary of Russia. Part of the reason the Minsk agreements have failed is that Moscow insists on holding elections in the eastern Ukrainian separatist regions while Russian forces and proxies still occupy them, effectively allowing Russia to dictate the outcomes. In an article published last summer entitled On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians, Putin espoused a revisionist perspective on Ukraine that casts any opposition to Russian influence there as the product of a western anti-Russia project. He declared that the true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia. In this framework, Ukraine is either a partner/puppet of Russia or a pawn in a western scheme to undermine Russia. If Putin is open to a third option, it is not apparent from any of his words or actions.

There are also good reasons to be suspicious of Putins ultimate goals, which extend beyond Ukraine and encompass the entire former Soviet sphere. The recent military intervention in Kazakhstan, the propping up of Alexander Lukashenkos despotic regime in Belarus, and Russian-brokered cease-fire in last years Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict are just the latest examples of Putins consistent policy of reasserting Russian influence in its near abroad.

As historian Adam Tooze has pointed out, Russia can afford to throw its weight around: Between its massive foreign-exchange reserves and its abundance of natural gas, Russia is well-protected against economic sanctions. Iran-style sanctions on energy exports, for instance, would be a complete nonstarter with Germany, which depends too heavily on Russian gas to let that supply be disrupted. Russia will not be as easily isolated as it might have been 15 or 20 years ago.

Russias growing power and confidence  along with its advances in military technology, nuclear-weapons modernization, and cyber warfare  underscore the more hawkish argument that a forceful U.S. response is needed to deter Russia from pursuing irredentist goals in Ukraine and beyond. On the other hand, the risks of escalation with Russia are frightening. And it may not be worth running to defend Ukraine, a country that has spent the past three decades failing to achieve political or economic stability.

People in Sevastopol, Crimea, watch a televised address by Russian president Vladimir Putin on New Years Eve. Photo: Alexei Konovalov/TASS via Getty Images

Kyiv has done its part to stoke this crisis, as well. Zelensky was elected in 2019 on a peace platform, promising to resolve the conflict with Russia. But as Tooze explains, Zelensky has proved unable to walk the line between the Russian-speaking opposition in the east and the hard-line Ukrainian nationalists in the west, and his popularity has collapsed amid continued economic stagnation. His government has also taken further steps toward a closer relationship with NATO and cracked down on pro-Russian politicians and media.

Zelenskys gambit in this conflict may be to let things unfold and hope for enough western military support to drive Putins proxy forces out of Donbas and maybe even recapture Crimea (Russias annexation of which is now near-universally accepted as a fait accompli). This seems to be how Putin perceives the situation, or at least how his propagandists are representing it: as a Ukrainian (not Russian) land grab.

If a middle ground can be found between antagonizing Putin and capitulating to his threats  between containment and appeasement  it is likely the best option. To get there, the Biden administration and NATO leadership will need to decide whether drawing a line on the blocs eastward expansion is a reasonable price to pay for peace, and whether the risks of rewarding Putins aggressive behavior are greater than the risks of escalation. The stakes are high, not only in Ukraine but also in demonstrating to other authoritarian regimes (especially China) how far the U.S. will go to defend those regimes smaller neighbors against aggression.

Slates Fred Kaplan, advocating a diplomatic approach on the Minsk framework, concludes that the success of such diplomacy depends on whether Putin is a rational leader. If he is, he should happily accept something less than everything he wants in exchange for appearing statesmanlike and avoiding a likely costly and unpopular war. If he is not, then war and a further escalation of Russian-European tensions is inevitable either way. As much as the Biden administration should work tirelessly toward a peaceful resolution to this crisis, it must also prepare for the worst.

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BC Court of Appeals decision deals a knockout blow to Concord Pacific in long standing dispute over prized Vancouver waterfront property.

Vancouver, BC, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VANCOUVER, BC  The BC Court of Appeal today rejected an appeal by Concord Pacific, one of Canadas largest property developers, upholding an earlier judgement that its senior management were egregiously dishonest.

The judgment signals an end to the core of a long-standing legal dispute between Singapore-based Oei Hong Leong and Concord president, Terry Hui , one of BCs most controversial developers.

The dispute was over a 4.16-hectare (10.28 acre) site known as the Plaza of Nations, which is one of the most valuable remaining developable pieces of waterfront property in downtown Vancouver, valued at over $800 million today.

The legal battle stems from a suit filed by Hui against Oei in 2015 for allegedly acting in bad faith and breaching an agreement to sell his Plaza of Nations project to Concord. After a lengthy court battle, in July 2019, then BC Supreme Court judge Mr. Justice Peter Voith dismissed the claim in its entirety, describing the evidence and conduct of Concord Pacifics senior management as problematic, unreliable and dishonest.

He concluded that Concord had negotiated with Oei and his company in bad faith from the start. Concord Pacific appealed this decision saying it was flawed.

But a three-panel BC Court of Appeal in its 2-to-1 majority judgement summary today said that Justice Voiths findings are rooted in the evidence presented during the trial.

Mr. Justice David C. Harris and Madam Justice Gail M. Dickson dismissed Concords appeal, while Madam Justice Sunni Stromberg-Stein dissented.

Oeis vision for his Plaza of Nations land is a waterfront neighbourhood of terraced buildings of up to 30 storeys including a community centre, a child-care facility, and a gradual amphitheatre for cultural and performing art events.

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It will also have 380 units of social housing, a seawall and extensive public spaces suitable for events and festivals, retail stores, restaurants, cafes and breweries, with a pedestrian bridge linking the area to the neighbouring Rogers Arena and BC Place Stadium.

The development project, called Expo Gardens, is in the final stages of permitting at Vancouver City Hall.

I am glad that this abuse of process against me by a mega Canadian developer is coming to an endThe false allegations against me has been taken down blow by blow by the courts in BC, said Oei, who hopes to start constructing his Expo Gardens this year.

"My biggest capital is integrity. With integrity people trust you. And the BC courts have upheld my integrity and for that I am grateful.

Now I can build something iconic for Vancouver and give something back to this city I love, he said.

Todays BC Appeal court judgement follows a rare $5 million special costs award granted to Oei by Justice Voith in February 2021, after he found David Ju, Concords vice-president, had misled the court in the case.

Justice Voith also held Concord and its president, Terry Hui, responsible for providing incorrect information to the court.

That rare special costs award, which is pending another appeal by Concord, is among the highest ever awarded in Canada and sends a warning to litigants that the courts will not tolerate being misled with false claims.

I plan to give this special cost award away to the those in the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 in Vancouver, should I be able to collect it, he said.

CONTACT: Shawn Hall 604.619.7913 shawn@apogeepr.ca




NIAGARA, Ontario, January 17, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--extractX Ltd. ("extractX" or the "Company"), today announced financial results for the Company and its subsidiary extractX Incorporated ("EXI") as at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Previously, the Companys year-end was December 31st but with the October 1, 2021 reverse takeover with EXI both companies changed year-ends to September 30th. Therefore EXI which previously had a June 30 year-end is presented as at and for the three months ended September 30, 2021. EXI retroactively adopted the International Financial Reporting Standard effective July 1, 2019 and so the financial statements restated for IFRS for the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 and as at July 1, 2019 have also been posted. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

2021 Operational Highlights

During the year and following the successful operation and proof-of-concept of the prototype mobile lab, the Company accelerated its sales and marketing efforts on a global scale. As a result of these focused sales and marketing activities, during the year ended September 30, 2021, the Company entered into two commercial contracts for the provision of mobile extraction labs.

The first contract is for the provision and operation of a mobile extraction lab to a client partner in Franklin, Kentucky. The lab was successfully shipped in March 2021, and the extractX installation team completed the installation and commissioning of the lab within 4 weeks. The lab was operational shortly thereafter, and successfully processing biomass to distillate. During the initial phase of this three year contract the mobile lab generated $407,549 of revenue ($241,323 to June 30, 2021, and $166,226 to September 30, 2021). Through the process, the extractX team identified and implemented additional productivity upgrades and operational changes as part of the Companys continuous improvement program.

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The second contract is for the provision of a mobile lab to a client partner in Chiang Mai, Thailand for a three year contract to process CBD from hemp. In mid-July 2021 the mobile lab was shipped from the manufacturing facility in Winnipeg and arrived in Chiang Mai on September 18, 2021. Using the Companys Installation & Commissioning Guide, as well as support from the extractX team, the team in Thailand were able to get the lab operational within the expected timeframe and this mobile lab started to run the commissioning tests using small batches of biomass during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, generating $14,704 of revenue.

With the Companys mobile lab deployed and operational in two locations, the Company is now developing the next generation mobile lab, which is expected to provide a substantial increase in biomass throughput over the previous mobile labs. This increase in throughput is expected to be accomplished using the same footprint as previous labs.

The Company is also currently designing an approved lab to meet EU GMP regulations and standards, which will enable extractX to provide pharmaceutical-grade mobile labs for the pharmaceutical sector. This will be the production model and standard as the Company moves forward. These initiatives were supported in part through a 50% cost sharing grant under the Agricultural Clean Technology Program of the Canadian Government.

The Companys sales and marketing programs continue to generate qualified leads from around the globe and management is in various stages of discussion and contract negotiations with several parties.

2021 Financial Highlights

extractX Incorporated

EXI previously reported using the Canadian Accounting Standard for Private Enterprise but adopted the International Financial Reporting Standard effective July 1, 2019 due to the reverse takeover acquisition on October 1, 2021 of extractX Ltd., a reporting issuer. The EXI consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board effective as at January 1, 2021.

Selected audited financial highlights for the three months ended September 30, 2021, and the years ended June 30, 2021, and June 30, 2020 include the following:

Three

Mos.

Ended Year

Ended Year

Ended (in $CDN) Sep 30, 2021

$ June 30, 2021

$ June 30, 2020

$ Contract revenue 166,226 241,323 1,409,237 Extraction wages and supplies 42,490 218,643 405431 Gross profit 123,736 22,680 1,003,806 Expenses Corporate and operations salaries 218,020 590,528 408,567 Operating and administrative 788,623 1,210,334 829,892 Amortization of capital assets, net of credits 54,554 295,924 274,866 1,061,197 2,096,786 1,513,325 Net loss before other income and expenses (937,461) (2,074,106) (509,519) Other income and expenses (8,033) 404,597 54,418 Write-off of mobile extraction lab - (532,086) - Net loss for the period (954,494) (2,201,595) (455,101) Net comprehensive loss per share (0.04) (0.10) (0.02) Total assets Cash 1,141,761 1,077,898 721,095 Other current assets 746,434 1,513,659 559,079 Capital and other assets 4,523,097 4,344,512 3,936,328 6,411,292 6,936,069 5,216,502 Total long-term liabilities Deposits on contracts 828,165 923,881 - Other current liabilities 519,361 658,933 1,016,233 Deferred contributions 1,084,640 987,176 514,077 Long term debt 32,880 33,285 40,000 2,465,046 2,603,275 1,570,310 Shareholders Equity 3,946,246 4,332,794 3,646,192 % of equity in total assets 61.55% 62.47% 69.90%

extractX Ltd.

Selected audited financial highlights for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, and years ended December 31, 2020, and December 30, 2019 include the following:

Nine Mos. Ended Years Ended (in $CDN) Sep 30, 2021

$ Dec 31, 2020

$ Dec 31, 2019

$ Revenue 13,400 12,000 - Expenses 58,288 95,388 63,615 Loss before discontinued operations (44,888) (83,388) (63,615) Income from discontinued operations - 45,639 92,569 Net operating income (loss) (44,888) (37,749) 28,954 Gain on sale of digital marketing business - 34,236 - Government grant - 10,000 - Gain on accounts payable settlement - 3,405 44,119 Gain on distribution of investment in associate 3,178,837 - - Share of loss of associate (11,611) (19,969) (11,164) Net comprehensive income (loss) 3,122,338 (10,077) 61,909 Net operating income (loss) per share (basic) 3.32 (0.00) (0.00) Total assets 32,613 1,233,639 1,239,330 Total debt lease obligations - - 33,752 Due to extractX Incorporated 279,595 232,017 5,000 Due to related parties 55,417 321,681 350,306 Shareholders equity (deficiency of assets) (302,399) 562,941 573,018 Dividends declared per share 4.65 - -

Through the past four quarters the Company has maintained an office for itself and the proposed reverse takeover target, EXI. EXI provided sufficient cash advances to do so. In advance of the reverse takeover on October 1, 2021 the Company, as authorized by the extractX shareholders, distributed the lhivelive Inc. security interest to the existing extractX shareholders. The increase in value of $4,361,187 over the cost base of $1,182,350 was recorded in the last quarter as a $3,178,837 gain.

Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the consolidated financial statements of extractX Incorporated as at and for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and accompanying management's discussion and analysis have been filed with the securities regulators and are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Companys issuer profile.

No stock exchanges have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this press release.

About extractX Ltd.

extractX designs, builds, and operates industrial scale self-contained mobile extraction laboratories equipped with the most effective and reliable equipment, allowing for efficient 24/7 operation, and unlimited scalability to meet the demand of any size operation. Built to GPP/GMP/EU GMP standards, extractX purpose builds mobile extraction laboratories to service biomass cultivators and producers wherever and whenever the service is needed, onsite and on demand anywhere in the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding business and financing, business trends and future operating revenues and expenses. Statements regarding the aforementioned are based on several assumptions and are not to be considered fact. Although extractX Ltd. believes that the statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectation will prove to be correct. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements made by extractX Ltd. contain no guarantee of future performance and that actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. For additional information see the reports filed by the company in its securities filings with applicable securities regulators (currently available at www.sedar.com).

Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, extractX Ltd. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220117005519/en/

Contacts

Albert Iannantuono, Co-CEO

extractX Ltd.

1027 South Pelham St Unit 2,

Welland, Ontario, L3C 1L7

Tel: (905) 327-5313

Web site: www.extractx.com
East Alabama Medical Center reached an all-time high of 96 hospitalized COVID patients on Sunday, and that number remained the same on Monday.

The previous high for COVID hospitalizations was 93 on Sept. 4.

On Thursday, the COVID patient count increased by 15 to reach a peak high of 87 before dropping to 80 on Saturday. On Sunday, hospitalizations jumped 16 notches to reach a record high since the pandemic hit the area in 2019.

Over the holiday weekend, the hospital's drive-through testing facility saw 335 patients with 154 testing positive for a 46 percent positivity rate. The moving 7-day positivity rate for Alabama is 42.6 percent, while Lee Countys is 44.2 percent.

East Alabama Health will continue to host COVID-19 drive-through testing this week for people who are symptomatic. It will take place Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Appointment scheduling begins one day in advance of each testing day, but some same-day testing appointments may be available. Appointments may be made by calling the hospital's Call Center at 334-528-4YOU (4968).

Meanwhile, Auburn City Schools and Opelika City Schools announced that students, faculty and staff would be required to wear masks when they returned to school on Tuesday after the MLK holiday.

Dr. Ann Shannon, East Alabama Healths chief of staff, said in a video Thursday that more than 120 employees at the hospital are out due to COVID-19 infection, and that many of them are nurses and very key support staff in patient care. She also said that elective surgeries were being postponed and that EAMC was not able to accept the usual patient transfers from other facilities.

We have at some times been so full in our emergency department that weve asked ambulances to divert their services routing patients to other services for care, she said.

Our employees and our physicians are working tirelessly to take care of every patient in our facility and anyone who walks through our doors, Shannon said.

Since Christmas, East Alabama Health officials have been pleading with people experiencing COVID symptoms not to go to their emergency departments for testing, and these pleas have become increasingly urgent.

On Thursday, Shannon increased the intensity of the message.

We need your help, she said. If you begin having mild COVID symptoms just assume you have COVID, you likely do. Do not use our emergency department. We are currently overrun, and we do not have the staff to get to you quickly and timely.

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U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo recently announced that 50 organizationsincluding nonprofits, institutions of higher education, state government agencies and other entrepreneurship-focused organizationsfrom 26 states will receive grants to support programs that will fuel innovation and economic development.

Auburns grant, awarded as part of the U.S. Economic Development Administrations Build to Scale Program and Venture Challenge, is for a combined $657,622 federal share and a $657,622 local match. Auburn Research and Technology Foundation Senior Director Cary Chandler and New Venture Accelerator Director Lou Bifano serve as co-principal investigators on the grant.

The Venture Challenge awards grants to intermediary organizations like accelerators, universities, community colleges and nonprofits to support new business ventures that are scalable by nature, challenge the status quo of markets, commercialize technologies and further job creation.

Auburn is one of Americas best places to live and to start a business, Chandler said. Through its proven entrepreneurial and innovation educational programing and one-on-one business counseling, the New Venture Accelerator and its predecessors have successfully launched over 50 businesses from Auburn Universitys student and faculty entrepreneurs. These businesses have received over $32.5 million of venture investment and have created over 370 jobs.

This expertise and track record of success has us well-positioned to foster robust economic growth in the Auburn-Opelika area by utilizing the EDA grant to offer unique tools and programming to the greater community.

The grant is part of the EDA Build to Scale Program, which aims to accelerate entrepreneurship by increasing inclusive access to business support and startup capital.

Working together, the Harbert College of Business, the New Venture Accelerator, the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation, the City of Auburn and others have created a vibrant, supportive entrepreneurial environment that is committed to advancing new and growing businesses, Bifano said. Fully funded by the Harbert College of Business, the New Venture Accelerator has a unique combination of resources to offer the local business community including education, skills development, mentoring, collaborative workspace, networking opportunities and consulting expertise.

The current entrepreneurship ecosystem at Auburn University has allowed students and employees to engage in entrepreneurship education and programming through the New Venture Accelerator. This EDA grant provides opportunity to expand education and programming to include members of the local community.

Bifano said Auburn University and the City of Auburn encourage entrepreneurs to visit the Start in Auburn website.

Anyone interested in starting a new business in the Auburn-Opelika area or who may need help growing their business is encouraged to reach out to Bifano at loubifano@auburn.edu, Chandler at carychandler@auburn.edu or Caitlin Myers at cmyers@auburnalabama.org to learn more about the full range of programs and business counseling services that are offered by the Harbert College of Business, the New Venture Accelerator, the Auburn Research Technology Foundation and the City of Auburn.




- His two older brothers bullied him, his mother was "capricious and withholding" but less scary than his father. As a result, he says he suffers from complex post-traumatic-stress disorder, a condition that can lead to relationship problems, self-destructive behavior, and addictions of various kinds.



- An anecdote: When he was 5, a 4-year-old boy, the son of family friends, disappeared on his parents property upstate. Eventually, his body was found; he had drowned in the pond. Years later, as a teenager, Whedon remembered he had called the boy over to the pond to play with him. After getting bored, he had walked away, leaving the boy alone by the water. I didnt think it was my fault, Whedon said. I knew I was 5. But it doesnt just disappear as a thought. It took him another 30 years, he said, before another thought dawned on him: Even after the incident, his parents never taught him to swim. There was no structure, he said. There was no safety.



- On Buffy: He wanted to tell a story about someone who turns out to be important despite the fact that no one takes that person seriously. It took me a long time to realize I was writing about me, he told me, and that my feeling of powerlessness and constant anxiety was at the heart of everything. His avatar was not a fearful young man, however, but a gorgeous girl with extraordinary courage. He wanted to be her, and he wanted to fuck her.



- A Firefly writer remembered him belittling a colleague for writing a script that wasnt up to par. Instead of giving her notes privately, he called a meeting with the entire writing staff. It was basically 90 minutes of vicious mockery, the writer said. Joss pretended to have a slide projector, and he read her dialogue out loud and pretended he was giving a lecture on terrible writing as he went through the slides and made funny voices  funny for him. The guys were looking down at their pages, and this woman was fighting tears the entire time. Ive had my share of shitty showrunners, but the intent to hurt  thats the thing that stands out for me now.



- Whedon acknowledged he was not as civilized back then. I was young, he said. I yelled, and sometimes you had to yell. This was a very young cast, and it was easy for everything to turn into a cocktail party. He said he would never intentionally humiliate anyone. If I am upsetting somebody, it will be a problem for me. He had some regrets about how he spoke with Charisma Carpenter after learning she was pregnant. I was not mannerly, he said. I asked if he had called her fat when she was pregnant. I did not call her fat, he quickly replied. Of course I didnt.



- I asked Whedon about his affairs on the set of Buffy. I feel fucking terrible about them, he said. When I pressed him on why, he noted it messes up the power dynamic, but he didnt expand on that thought. Instead, he quickly added that he had felt he had to sleep with them, that he was powerless to resist. I laughed. Im not actually joking, he said. He had been surrounded by beautiful young women  the sort of women who had ignored him when he was younger  and he feared if he didnt have sex with them, he would always regret it.



- Sarah was a 22-year-old freelance writer who interviewed him for a pop-culture website; after the piece published, they began a sexual relationship. He led me to believe he was single, she said. One night she went out for drinks alone with a friend Whedon wanted her to meet. After the friend mentioned she had a long-term boyfriend, Sarah asked what his name was. Im dating Joss Whedon, the woman replied.



- Erin Shade got involved with Whedon in 2013 while working as a showrunners assistant on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He was 49; she was 23 and a virgin. One day, Whedon texted her with an unusual request: Would she come over to his house for the weekend to watch him write? He would pay $2,500  more than Shade made in a month as an assistant. There was one caveat: She had to hide it from her bosses. They dated on and off in secret for nearly a year before she slept with him. Not long after, he sent her a brief email telling her he couldnt have a girlfriend. Whedon says he should have handled the situation better.



- When Arden Leigh met Whedon in 2012, she was a sex educator in her 20s and author of The New Rules of Attraction. After their second date, Whedon sent her DVDs of Dollhouse. The heroine has no friends, no family, and no personality. A secret corporation has used advanced technology to erase her memory and turn her into a doll  a living robot customized to cater to the darkest desires of the companys wealthy clients. Some critics argued the premise was sexist, but Leigh, whod worked as a professional dominatrix, related to the dolls and was moved by Whedons depiction of them. She and Whedon began a relationship as owner and doll. For the most part, she found it gratifying, and she believed he did too. Whedon told Leigh he identified with a character in Dollhouse: Topher, the nerdy scientist who imprints the dolls with their personalities. Its not a flattering comparison. As one of Tophers colleagues points out, he was picked to work at the dollhouse because he had no morals. In her epilogue to The New Rules of Attraction, Leigh wrote that one of her worst memories was of a boyfriend breaking up with her on her birthday. Whedon read the book, and they talked about the epilogue. In 2015, hours before her birthday, he came over to her house and told her their relationship was over. If he was like, What could I do to Arden that would be her worst nightmare?, that would have been it, she said. Joss destroyed a beautiful thing just to show he had the power to. Thats literally everything you need to know about him.



- Last year, Gal Gadot told reporters Whedon threatened her and said he would make her career miserable. Whedon told me he did no such thing: I dont threaten people. Who does that? He concluded she had misunderstood him. English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech. He recalled arguing over a scene she wanted to cut. He told her jokingly that if she wanted to get rid of it, she would have to tie him to a railroad track and do it over his dead body. Then I was told that I had said something about her dead body and tying her to the railroad track, he said. (Gadot did not agree with Whedons version of events. I understood perfectly, she told New York in an email.)



- As for Whedons claim that he doesnt threaten people, an actress on Angel told me that hadnt been true back when she knew him. After her agent pushed for her to get a raise, she claims Whedon called her at home and said she was never going to work for him, or 20th Century Fox, again. Reading Gadots quote, she thought, Wow, hes still using that line. (Whedon denied this too.)



- Nobody ever fell from a pedestal into anything but a pit, Whedon told me on a call one day. A few months had passed since our conversations at his house. In that time, hed finally made peace with himself, he said. Could I have done marriage better? he asked. Dont get me started. Could I have been a better showrunner? Absolutely. Should I have been nicer? He considered the question. Perhaps he could have been calmer, more direct. But would that not have compromised the work? Maybe the problem was hed been too nice, he said. Hed wanted people to love him, which meant when he was direct, people thought he was harsh. In any case, hed decided he was done worrying about all that. People had been using every weaponizable word of the modern era to make it seem like I was an abusive monster, he said. I think Im one of the nicer showrunners thats ever been.
ANYONE but peggy carter ugh i'm so sick of ha!

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she was such a NOTHING character i cannot believe people are this obsessed over her. honestly the worst part of endgame was steve going back to her.

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I truly cannot watch the end of that movie because it undoes his entire arc. They keep shoehorning Peggy into his story for no reason.

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part of my annoyance of her was because of just how prominent the fandom made her out to be especially during my time on tumblr - anyone that was a mcu fan was also somehow a peggy stan it was TOO MUCH. she felt like such a self insert type of character that a lot of the fangirls related to and i was not into that at all.



and like you said they made her out to be this important character when all of it was felt so forced??? so many prominent and ICONIC characters from the comics to choose from and they pick...HER??? the presence of her character held steve back in endgame, i get so riled up thinking about how they ended up together in the end ugh



Edited at 2022-01-18 08:05 pm (UTC)

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I liked Peggy and even watched Agent Carter but I agree that the ending of Endgame sucked; it made no sense for either character and ruined both of their arcs.

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the peggy/steve endgame was truly my villain origin story

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you think you can stop me from hating peggy -the mary sue- carter by DISLIKING MY COMMENT? HA! THINK AGAIN!

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Fucking agreed god

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Hard disagree. I think shes neat. 

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She is the worst omg

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any goodwill I had left for her vanished with Hayley Atwell's continuous behavior. I don #t think I'd watch MoM if she really does show up lol

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I loved McAvoy's Professor X and would not be mad if he showed up. I don't really care about anyone else!



edit: if you "know" bc of leaks or whatever, please don't tell me. thanks!



Edited at 2022-01-18 06:56 pm (UTC)

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I loved McAvoy's Prof X and I'm ambivalent about Fassbender but they have such great chemistry.

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I heard that Emily Blunt could show up as Nat with Tom!Tony

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I'm still mad we didn't get her as Natasha

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She would have gotten the same shitty writing imo.

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Dont dont give me false hope

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Couch-Defiling Cult Leader and Notorious Deadbeat Tom Cruise in a cameo as 616-Iron Man is insanely believable to me given Scientologist Tom's terminal addiction to attention. He'd get attention for once for not trying to splatter himself on cement or yelling. Cause no one (s)creams over a reference or cameo like MCU fans. As soon as the movie drops, you'd have all the clickbait headlines going, "Feige in Talks with Tom Cruise for New Iron Man Trilogy (RandomSource)."



Mission Impossible 87 is coming out next year too, so you can see him cheesing through his new fillers talking about "what a great time it was on set " like his Scientology slaves just presented him with their new tribute commissioned by alleged wife murderer David Miscavige.

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I don't understand why people love him hes fucking insane.

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The fact that Christian Bale even with his anger issues decided to use Pre-Couch Stomp Tom Cruise as his inspo for cannibalistic serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho has profoundly influenced my perception of him. I see him with his First 48 mugshot eyes and , and I'm like, "Damn, this dude is crazy crazy."



What's scary is how charismatic his crazy is. I do get how people who don't know (somehow) feel magnetized. Thank god he only participates in human slavery on the side and does movies full-time. Man could do large amounts of damage in this world.

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Bruce Campbell is definitely getting a cameo in this right? it is a Raimi movie after all.



I also hope that actor doesnt play that character. it doesnt make sense to me if they cast a white dude bc Jonathan Majors is playing Kang who has connections to that character in the comics. also I just dont think hes a good screen presence.

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He better be! Re Bruce 

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i'm at 'bitch eating crackers' levels with john krasinski so i hope he gets nothing lmao.

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Im starting to get there too and I dont even know why. I find him handsome, I liked A Quiet Place (1&2) a lot.



I think part of it is that I think hes a stealth libertarian who is going to wait until hes mega famous to unveil it.

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i feel like he did some sort of right wing / lib pandering tv show (or movie?) so that's why i agree with you

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Im getting there with Emily Blunt too

Omg I hated Quiet Place II and the deification of his character so much

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Ioan Gruffudd is literally RIGHT THERE and hes got a sexy silver streak now

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same. I don't think I've even watched anything with him in it but I hate him

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i thought loki was confirmed to be in MoM



im fairly certain well see lots of what if? characters and sophie going red and macavoy shaving are p much confirmations lol



anyways this sounds like a bloated mess lol but i will watch it to support sam raimi 

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i cant wait until "mcuwemakestuffup.org said so-and-so would be in it and they werent so this movie sucks" starts up.



every single cameo theory ive seen has been worse than the one before it so im hoping for zero cameos tbqh!

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I will legit boycott FF if they cast Krasinski lmao



This isn't a serious threat, I have no interest in FF to begin with but still, he'd be a horrible Reed, imo.

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You're not alone! I like FF but I would have -100 interest in seeing it if he was Reed Richards

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I hope none of them. Honestly, the "leaks" and "spoilers" make the movie sound like a terrible mess.

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The more I hear about this movie, the less I want to see it tbqh.



Esp Captain Carter. What does Hayley Atwell have on Kevin Feige?! I cannot phathom any other reason why she seems to pop up in everything going forward. Honestly they ruined Steve Rogers' arc by having him go back to the past and the MCU continuing to use Peggy Carter is just a frustrating reminder of that.

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Marvel studio Reddit boards asked the MCU character people (on Reddit: mostly straight men) were most attracted to and it seems like she won by a lot. Like, a lot of dudes think shes really hot.



I personally really like her too.

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Hot character =/= an interesting character



Her arc died with her in Civil War. I see no reason to keep bringing her back tbh. And Captain Carter in What If...? had the exact same story beats as Steve's trilogy, which undermines his arc and what made Steve Rogers the right type of person who was worthy of the serum. They just handed her Steve's entire story in What If and ruined both characters in the process.

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The more I think about Steve's ending the less it makes sense and the more I become irritated with Endgame in general.

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With all the reshoots and rumors, it's making MOM sound like a mess. Too many characters can ruin this movie. It's already rumored to have a 3 hr run time which is ridiculous.

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I saw some quote how MoM will have more name characters in the movie than Endgame ... like that is a good thing? Endgame already felt like where is Waldo and they might end up putting actors/characters in we haven't seen before? it's gonna be so messy

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Exactly. There was too much going on and I was ready for the end fight halfway through. This sounds like it will be a clusterfuck. This is like Civil War to me. It was supposed to be Cap's movie but was just another Avengers film. I feel like MOM will just be them throwing everything against the wall to see what will stick with the audience.

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stopppppp 

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lmao ngl when people ask what mine is my mind goes straight to them thinking im a serial killer

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Dr Strange gets some strange ... ??? Here for it ngl

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Some of these could be fun



I will say I think its a big mistake that any character can just show up whenever because it makes the deaths in the movies have zero emotional impact

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Nice post OP! 



I think I'm at the point where cameos aren't that fun right now - work on better stories for your main and secondary characters (re any MCU film.)

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Sorry! I didn't mean to reply directly to you! 

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I'll be genuinely surprised if they aren't setting up X-Men characters at least a little bit in this.

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Why would they bring back the old cast though? Wouldnt the multiverse be the perfect excuse to start fresh with new people? Cheaper for them too. The cast cant be cheap at this point

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I don't disagree actually, I don't see them getting old cast members but starting fresh with new ones. I'd just be shocked if we don't have at least one cameo of a new X-Men character.

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Last week saw a series of meetings in Beijing between senior officials from the Chinese government and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). At these meetings, the principal topics of conversation were to finally seal a China-GCC Free Trade Agreement and deeper strategic cooperation in a region where U.S. dominance is showing signs of retreat, according to local news reports.

As OilPrice.com has been highlighting for some time now, the U.S.s influence across the Middle East has been in particular decline since the presidency of Donald Trump, in line with his comments to get out of endless wars and that the U.S. should no longer resolve old conflicts in distant lands. The repercussions of this broad policy idea found the greatest resonance in those countries already aligned to the U.S.s primary global rivals for power  China and Russia. These included most notably Iran, Iraq, other states in the Shia crescent of power, and Syria, a shift that is analyzed in-depth in my new book on the global oil markets. Following the U.S.s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in May 2018, and the subsequent broad- and deep-ranging alliance between Iran and China as delineated in its 25-year comprehensive strategic agreement, it was Irans historical enemy, Saudi Arabia, that felt particularly vulnerable to a seemingly newly-reenergized Tehran, and looked to the U.S. for reassurances.

The problem at that point was that a series of events in the preceding years had undermined the core relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. that had been formulated and formalized at a meeting on 14 February 1945 between the then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Saudi King at the time, Abdulaziz. This agreement was that the U.S. would receive all of the oil supplies it needed for as long as Saudi Arabia had oil in place, in return for which the U.S. would guarantee the security both of the ruling House of Saud and, by extension, of Saudi Arabia. However, facing the prospect of having its own oil industry  the only substantial revenue generator it has  marginalized by the then-nascent U.S. shale oil sector, Saudi Arabia launched the 2014-2016 Oil Price War to try to destroy the U.S. shale threat, or at least severely disable it. When that effort failed to have the desired effect  succeeding only in destroying Saudi Arabias own finances and those of its oil-producing neighbors as well  the U.S. changed the 1945 agreement in one key way. The new understanding was: the U.S. will safeguard the security both of Saudi Arabia and of the ruling House of Saud for as long as Saudi Arabia guarantees that the U.S. will receive all of the oil supplies it needs for as long as Saudi Arabia has oil in place and that Saudi Arabia does not attempt to interfere with the growth and prosperity of the U.S. shale oil sector. Shortly after that (in May 2017), the U.S. assured the Saudis that it would protect them against any Iranian attacks, provided that Riyadh also bought a huge quantity of weapons from Washington  US$110 billion immediately and US$350 billion over the next 10 years. However, the Saudis then found out that none of these weapons were able to prevent Iran from launching successful attacks against its key oil facilities in September 2019, or several subsequent attacks.

At around the same time as the U.S.s assurances of its security were proving of limited worth to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh was also trying to raise money to plug the huge holes in its finances that had been caused by the 2014-2016 Oil Price War by doing an initial public offering (IPO) for its oil and gas giant, Saudi Aramco. The additional problem in this respect for Saudi Arabia was that whenever oil prices rose to or above the level where it could make a profit (US$84 per barrel of Brent was its budget breakeven price for a couple of years after the end of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War), the U.S. told it and its OPEC brothers to pump more because it was damaging the U.S.s economic prospects. Specifically, before the latest disconnect between oil and gas prices, the longstanding rule of thumb was that for every one cent that the U.S.s average price of gasoline increased, more than US$1 billion per year in discretionary additional consumer spending was lost. The U.S.  and every other Western country  refused to allow Aramco to undertake any part of its listing on their respective benchmark stock exchanges for a wide range of reasons, thus limiting Saudis ability to begin to repair its own finances, but China was ready, willing, and able to provide a solution for the Aramco IPO problem.

Chinas willingness to do this  and more importantly from the personal perspective of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) to allow him to save face over the IPO  was another major milestone in the shift of Saudi towards China. The solution was that China would simply buy the entire stake  at that time 5 percent was the stated amount to be offered  in a straight private placement. This would have the twin huge benefits for MbS of firstly, raising the money that Saudi Arabia needed immediately, and secondly, not requiring any public disclosure of the offer price per share. This latter factor would allow MbS to assure the senior Saudis, who by that time were skeptical of his abilities to lead the country when the time came, that he had managed to hit the US$2 trillion valuation for the whole of Aramco that he had publically set as a benchmark for IPO success.

Although the offer was eventually declined, the fact that China had offered itself as a backstop bid for MbSs most important public project to that point was not forgotten, and nor were the corollary desires of China to forge closer links with Saudi Arabia going forward. Shortly after the offer was made, China was referred to by Saudi Arabias then-vice minister of economy and planning, Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, as: By far one of the top markets to diversify the funding basis of Saudi Arabia and that: We will also access other technical markets in terms of unique funding opportunities, private placements, panda bonds and others. These comments came at around the same time as the visit of high-ranking politicians and financiers from China in August 2017 to Saudi Arabia, which featured a meeting between King Salman and Chinese Vice Premier, Zhang Gaoli, in Jeddah and, during the visit, Saudi Arabia first mentioned seriously that it was willing to consider funding itself partly in Chinese yuan, raising the possibility of closer financial ties between the two countries. At these meetings, according to comments at the time from then-Saudi Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih, it was also decided that Saudi Arabia and China would establish a US$20 billion investment fund on a 50:50 basis that would invest in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, mining, and materials, among other areas. The Jeddah meetings in August 2017 followed a landmark visit to China by Saudi Arabias King Salman in March of that year during which around US$65 billion of business deals were signed in sectors including oil refining, petrochemicals, light manufacturing, and electronics.

With Russia having already positioned itself as being vital for the efficacy of any future OPEC policies and deals in the aftermath of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War, China through its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) program  with all of its associated investment  was and remains ideally placed to pick-up influence across the region as the U.S. eases back. Moreover, for the oil-producing countries of the Middle East, China is not a threat to their positions in the global oil sector, as the U.S. is through its shale oil sector, but rather remains a notable end consumer. The fact that the OBOR-related investments made by China come with considerable caveats allowing Beijing to secure key strategic tracts of land or sea in lieu of debts owed or investments made - including Irans major airports and naval ports under the 25-year deal with China, Sri Lankas Hambantota Port, and Djiboutis Doraleh Port  may be regarded by these Middle Eastern states as being little different to the conditions attached to U.S. investment since the end of the Second World War. For the U.S., though, news just before Christmas that Saudi Arabia is now actively manufacturing its own ballistic missiles with the help of China, may not be regarded as part of a reasonable rebalancing of power in the Middle East, especially in light of Washingtons current and ongoing efforts to address Irans nuclear ambitions.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The geopolitical risk premium is soaring as fears of Russia invading Ukraine combine with recent reports of a Houthi drone attack on the UAE.

Chart of the Week

- Colombias presidential front-runner Gustavo Petro is likely to nudge Colombia away from hydrocarbon production, currently accounting for half of the Latin American countrys export revenues.

- Petro pledged to replace oil and gas output with a knowledge-based, tourism-driven economy, arguing that there would be roughly 12 years to finish production at currently producing assets.

- These comments helped to make the Colombian peso last weeks worst-performing currency in emerging markets.

- With crude reserves worth only 6.5 years of production at 2 billion barrels, Colombia remains an important supplier of heavy sour crude to complex refiners in the USGC, its largest market outlet.

Market Movers

- UK oil major BP (NYSE:BP) signed a strategic agreement with Omani authorities, setting up a net-zero task force that would evaluate wind and solar data from 8,000 km2 of land and potentially kickstarting new renewable projects.

- French oil major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) sold its interest in Angolas mature Block 14 to local firm Somoil, saying it wants its portfolio to include assets with low costs and low emissions.

- London-headquartered energy firm Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) emerged as the main winner of the last offshore wind auction, landing the worlds first large-scale floating wind farms with Scottish Power Renewables.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

The Houthi drone attack on the United Arab Emirates triggered a swift escalation in one of the most important oil-producing regions globally, adding a hefty geopolitical price premium to markets that are already on edge over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. With Omicron failing to significantly dent global crude demand and recent reports suggesting that it is less likely to damage lungs than previous variants, oil prices shot up in the first two trading sessions of this week.

UAE Attack Sends Regional Tensions Flying. A deadly missile attack on ADNOCs storage area in the industrial Musaffah area close to the Abu Dhabi airport triggered a sudden deterioration in the Arabian Peninsulas security climate, making further attacks likely.

The US Mulls Europe Gas Contingency Plans. US authorities have held talks with several oil and gas majors on contingency plans for supplying natural gas to Europe in case a Russo-Ukrainian military conflict breaks out and disrupts pipeline flows from Russia.

Libyan Oil Production Comes Back. Following last weeks restart of four crude and condensate fields in Libyas western regions, the North African country has seen its production move to 1.2 million b/d. This brief respite doesn't change the fact that future disruptions remain likely as a general lack of funds makes proper maintenance difficult.

OPEC Sees 2022 Oil Markets as Well Supported. The most recent issue of OPECs monthly report reiterated the oil groups view that oil markets will remain well supported over 2022, with global demand rising 4.15 million b/d year-on-year, surpassing the 100 million b/d mark in Q3.

UK Court Ruling Dismisses Climate Activists. A UK High Court dismissed claims from climate activists that the countrys oil and gas regulator unlawfully assessed oil and gas projects on a pre-tax basis, setting a precedent for further activist-driven cases vis-a-vis the UK government.

Gazprom Still Doesnt Supply Gas via Yamal Pipeline. After one month of reverse flows via the Yamal pipeline, Russian gas giant Gazprom sent shockwaves across Europe again by not booking any gas capacity to Europe through Yamal in February 2022.

Japan Wants to Drill for Gas. Japans largest oil and gas explorer INPEX (TYO:1605)will carry out exploratory drilling off the countrys western coast from March to July, hoping to find natural gas deposits and alleviate Japans 98% import hydrocarbon dependency.

Norway Awards 53 Oil Drilling Licences. In its most recent APA 2021 offshore license auction Norway allocated 53 blocks, with regional heavyweights Equinor (NYSE:EQNR), Aker BP (FRA:ARC), and Lundin Energy (STO:LUNE) taking stakes in 26, 15, and 10 licenses, respectively.

Chinese Bunker Takes Over Singapore Hub. Chinese oil major Petrochina became the top marine fuel supplier in the worlds largest bunkering hub in Singapore, overtaking previous leader Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) and followed by leading trading firms Vitol, Trafigura and Glencore.

Germany's Largest Power Producer Backs LNG Terminal. The head of Germanys largest power producer RWE (FRA:RWE) stated that if the countrys security of supply would eventually narrow down to gas, it would need the proposed LNG terminal in Brunsbuttel.

Chinese Coal Production Hits All-Time High. Chinas coal output reached a record high in December at 384.67 million tons, 4% higher than the previous all-time high set in November, putting an end to a year when Beijing ordered miners to run at maximum capacity.

India Draws Even Closer to Iraq. Indias state refiner Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL), on the verge of completing expansion works at its soon-to-be 300,000 b/d Vizag refinery, reportedly signed a supply deal with Iraqi state oil marketer SOMO that would see it buying more than 100,000 b/d of Basrah grades.

US Bill Seeks China Rare Earths Ban. A bipartisan bill introduced in the US Senate would force American defense contractors to stop buying rare earths from China by 2026, trying to cut short a long-time dependence on Chinese minerals as the US currently has no capacity to refine rare earth minerals.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
There is little left to do for the White House and other decision-makers than sit and wait to see how the oil price game will play out.

When President Joe Biden announced plans to release up to 50 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve to lower retail fuel prices, many analysts warned that any effect this move would have would be short-lived. Indeed, prices dropped for a very short while and are now on the climb again, with the number of three-digit price forecasts growing.

The strategic reserve release was already a desperate attempt to put a lid on gasoline prices, pushed up by crude oil prices, themselves the result of a faster rebound in global demand and production constraints among OPEC members. The Omicron variant of the coronavirus, like the SPR release plans, had a transitory negative effect on benchmarks, but before long, they were once again on the rise.

Morgan Stanley expects Brent crude to reach $90 per barrel later this year. This is also the price forecast of Goldman. JP Morgan recently said that crude could reach and exceed $100 this year, noting the decline in OPEC spare production capacity. The latest to join the bullish choir is Vitol, whose head for Asian operations told Bloomberg last week that oil had further up to go because of tight supply.

What this means for the Biden administration and its efforts to keep gasoline affordable for voters ahead of the midterms is nothing good. Perhaps more SPR releases could be organized, but that would have little more effective than the first announcement: like plenty of analysts has explained, oil prices are influenced by global rather than local factors, even a major oil-producing country such as the United States.

"Assuming China doesn't suffer a sharp slowdown, that Omicron actually becomes Omi-gone, and with OPEC+'s ability to raise production clearly limited, I see no reason why Brent crude cannot move towards $100 in Q1, possibly sooner," OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley told Reuters last week.

If Brent moves towards $100, West Texas Intermediate will not be far behind, even with rising U.S. production. The problem, from a Washington perspective, is that even with rising U.S. production, global supply remains short of demand, ironically because of OPEC, which Biden personally pleaded with to raise oil production so U.S. prices at the pump would ease.

"OPEC+ remain steadfast in adding 400,000 bpd back to the market each month, but our data suggests that monthly additions tally closer to 250,000 bpd," said RBC Capital Markets commodity strategist Mike Tran in a note, as quoted by Reuters.

Many OPEC members are struggling with their higher production quotas because of technical issues, such as Nigeria, or because of political factors, such as Libya, which, to be fair, has been exempted from any production cuts and can pump at will as long as the political situation in the country allows it. Recent outages took an estimated 500,000 bpd or more out of its total output.

Just how strong the upside potential for oil prices is right now is evident in the fact that although Libyan production is on the rebound, prices are not declining. The country's oil minister said at the end of last week that production was back to 1.2 million bpd. Yet Brent crude was trading at more than $86 a barrel at the time of writing, with WTI at over $84.

The reason for this is structural. The supply problem is not a temporary issue that can be fixed quickly or easily. First, there is the limited OPEC spare capacity, which has been on the decline for the past two years amid the pandemic. Second, there is the potentially more serious problem of underinvestment, this one driven not so much by the pandemic as by the ESG trend that has made shareholders a lot more demanding about companies' environmental credentials than their money-making abilities.

Apparently, however, end-consumers do not care as much about environmental credentials as shareholders. They care about having fuel for their cars, resulting in demand rising so steadily. Even the International Energy Agency had to backtrack from calls for the immediate suspension of all investments in new oil and gas production and instead call for more investments. According to the IEA, global oil supply is at least 1 million bpd below demand.

This is a gap that would be difficult to fill, even if the whole U.S. shale oil industry started drilling wells. First, because shareholders would lash out. Second, because even in the shale patch, it takes some time to drill enough wells to make a difference in international prices, especially when few other producers have the capacity to do the same.

There is little left to do for the White House and other decision-makers than sit and wait to see how the oil price game will play out. It is telling enough that OPEC does not want Brent to reach $100, per comments made by the oil minister of Oman.

"We're very careful at OPEC+, we will look at each month as we go," Mohammed Al Rumhi told Bloomberg in an interview last week. "But so far, I think 400,000 is good because demand is increasing and we want to make sure that the market is not overheating. We don't want to see $100 a barrel. The world is not ready for that."

Yet if OPEC is not ready to add enough production to keep the market well supplied, then the future of oil prices is out of the cartel's hands as well.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Oil jumped to a seven-year high early on Tuesday, the day after Iran-aligned Houthis attacked targets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with drones, adding to the continued tightness in the oil market to lift prices.

As of 8:04 a.m. EST on Tuesday, WTI Crude was up 1.20% at $84.90. Brent Crude traded at $87.20, up 0.76%, having risen to $87.80 earlier in the day and hitting the highest price since October 2014.

Apart from the numerous signs of tightness in the physical crude market, oil futures reflected on Tuesday the growing risk premium after the attack on the UAE in the most important oil-producing and exporting region in the world.

An attack with drones on Monday, for which the Houthi rebels aligned with Iran later claimed responsibility, killed several people, and blew up fuel tanker trucks near storage facilities owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

The United States strongly condemns the attack, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, adding that Our commitment to the security of the UAE is unwavering and we stand beside our Emirati partners against all threats to their territory.

The Houthis claim there will be further attacks.

This operation is a prelude and there are still a lot of surprises in the pocket of our military forces, Abdulmalik Al-Ejri, a Houthi leader, told Al-Masirah, as carried by Bloomberg.

Attacks from the Houthis, which have frequently launched drones and missiles from Yemen into Saudi Arabia, are raising the geopolitical premium in oil at a time when the market fundamentals are also bullish.

This growing geopolitical risk comes at a time when there is already plenty of concern in the market over the potential impact of an escalation in tensions between Russia and Ukraine. These growing risks, combined with worries over OPEC spare capacity, have meant that sentiment in the oil market has remained bullish, ING strategists Warren Patterson and Wenyu Yao said on Tuesday.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Germany said on Tuesday that it could nix the Nord Stream 2 pipeline should Russia invade Ukraine, Reuters has reported.

Fears that Russias troop movement in the area could spark a war have intensified in recent days. But an important bargaining chip remains in the hands of Germanyif it is willing to use it.

That bargaining chip is Nord Stream 2the controversial natural gas pipeline project that could alleviate a fair chunk of Europes energy woes. And Europe is looking pretty desperate in that regard.

Nevertheless, Germany has said that it could halt the projecta move that would be as much at Germanys expense as it would be Russias.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated on Tuesday that if Russia does attack Ukraine, Germanys response could include stopping the pipeline, adding that it was clear that there will be a high price to pay and that everything will have to be discussed should there be a military intervention in Ukraine.

Russia contends that Nord Stream 2 will carry essential natural gas to Europe, and as such, is a lifeline to Europes security.

At the end of December, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the pipeline was loaded with gas and ready to deliver. But Germany pushed back its decision on the pipeline to July 2022, citing regulatory hurdles that Nord Stream 2 AG had yet to makenamely, that the operator of the pipeline must be incorporated in Germany.

While Germany says it is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep Russia from invading Ukraine, the U.S. Senate voted this week against levying sanctions on Nord Stream 2, despite some senators insistence that Russia is using the pipeline and natural gas flowsor lack thereofas blackmail.

High natural gas prices continue to be a major headache for Europe, with end-users floundering under the high prices and several power providers going under.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The majority of U.S. states and the District of Columbia see a future for nuclear power in their respective energy policies for a transition away from fossil fuels, a survey by the Associated Press showed.

Two-thirds of all states and the District of Columbia say that in one form or another, nuclear power generation will be needed in the United States to meet the goals of a carbon-free grid by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050, the survey found.

However, the other one-third of U.S. states say their green energy plans do not include relying on nuclear power.

The U.S. Administration wants to reach the zero-carbon electricity goal and "that means nuclear, that means hydropower, that means geothermal, that means obviously wind on and offshore, that means solar," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told the Associated Press.

The Administration has included nuclear power in provisions for planned production tax credits in the Bill Back Better bill, which is stalled in the Senate.

"The hardworking men and women at our nation's nuclear power plants are on the front lines in the fight against the climate crisis, keeping the lights on without any carbon or air pollution and supporting our economy with 24/7 electricity," Secretary Granholm said in December after touring Exelon's Braidwood Generating Station in Will County in Illinois.

"The Build Back Better bill will help keep our existing nuclear fleet running while we invest in new nuclear technology," Granholm added.

West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is seeking tax credits for nuclear power plants for 10 years instead of the six years as put in President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill, which Manchin himself stalled late last year with his opposition to many of its provisions.

Senator Manchin supports at least one climate policy in the billtax credits to nuclear power plants as part of the U.S. Administration's ambition to make the American power grid carbon-free by 2035. However, Manchin wants the tax credit for nuclear plants to last for 10 years, four years longer than in the draft, Bloomberg reported last week, citing three sources with knowledge of the matter.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The effect of the Omicron variant on global oil demand has been weaker than expected a month ago, and the oil market is set to be well-supported throughout 2022 despite monetary tightening policies, OPEC said on Tuesday, leaving its demand growth estimates for this year unchanged.

In its closely watched Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) today, OPEC kept its oil demand growth forecast for 2022 unchanged at 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd). Average global consumption is set to reach 100.8 million bpd, exceeding pre-COVID levels.

The Omicron impact was indeed mild and short-lived, OPEC said, reiterating its December view, when it didnt make any significant changes to demand forecasts either.

After Q4 2021 ended, OPEC has now adjusted its oil demand forecast for the last quarter of 2021 higher, mainly to account for stronger-than-expected demand in Americas and the Asia Pacific and despite the emergence of the new COVID -19 variant (Omicron), the cartel said in its January MOMR.

OPEC does not expect monetary actions from the Fed and other central bankswhich have already signaled rate hikes are coming this yearto slow the current global economic momentum.

In summary, monetary actions are not expected to hinder underlying global economic growth momentum, but rather serve to recalibrate otherwise overheating economies. With an ongoing robust oil demand forecast, and the continuing efforts of OPEC Member Countries and non-OPEC countries participating in the DoC, the oil market is expected to remain well-supported throughout 2022, OPEC said.

The emergence of new variants after Omicron is a key uncertainty for 2022, as are supply chain bottlenecks that could hold back some of the momentum, OPEC said.

The cartels figures for its oil production in December are also a bullish signal for the oil market. For yet another month, OPECs production increase was lower than what it is entitled to under the deal. OPECs crude oil production rose by 170,000 bpd last month, per the cartels secondary sources, compared to a 253,000-bpd allowed monthly increase under the OPEC+ deal.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Russia, the leader of the non-OPEC producers in the OPEC+ pact, is unlikely to deliver all the 100,000 bpd monthly increases under the agreement this year, analysts tell Bloomberg, in another bullish factor for oil market tightness and prices in the first half of 2022.

Under the OPEC+ agreement, Russia, like Saudi Arabia, is allowed to increase its oil production by around 100,000 bpd each month out of the total OPEC+ monthly production growth of 400,000 bpd.

Russia, however, has seen setbacks recently in its attempt to pump to its quota, and will likely continue to lag in the coming months.

According to analysts polled by Bloomberg, Russia may be able to raise its output by 60,000 bpd each month in the first half of 2022just over half of the monthly production growth it is entitled to.

We have a hard time seeing Russian suppliers maintaining 100,000 barrels-a-day production increases each month for the next six months, Karen Kostanyan and Ekaterina Smyk, analysts at Bank of America, told Bloomberg.

Russias December oil and condensate output together totaled 10.903 million bpd, which was flat on November, suggesting it was using up all its available production capacity.

Russia doesnt differentiate between crude oil production and condensate production in its official output figures. After years of debates within the OPEC+ group, Russia has won an exemption not to consider its condensate output as part of the production cut agreement.

Russia continues to say that it is hitting its oil production target. The country will pump 10.1 million bpd in January under the OPEC+ deal, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told TASS news agency last week.

Its target for February is 100,000 bpd higherat 10.227 million bpd, according to the production table released by OPEC after the latest OPEC+ meeting earlier this month.

Russian supply will level off in the next two months, Francisco Blanch, head of global commodities at Bank of America, told Bloomberg last week, saying that triple-digit oil is in the works for the second quarter.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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It is the prerogative of the U.S. Administration whether to draw crude oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Saudi Arabias Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Monday, as carried by Reuters.

U.S. President Joe Biden said at the end of November that the Department of Energy would release 50 million barrels of oil from the SPR in a bid to lower high gasoline prices in a coordinated effort with other major oil-consuming nations. The SPR release from the United States will be carried out in parallel with other major energy-consuming nations, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, the White House said at the time.

The SPR release was largely priced in by oil market participants and hasnt contributed to lowering gasoline prices significantly in America, which hit a seven-year high in the autumn.

The move by the U.S. and other major oil consumers has not materially lowered international crude oil prices, which is the largest component of gasoline pricing in the United States.

At the end of December, the U.S. Department of Energy approved a third exchange of two million barrels of crude oil for release to ExxonMobil from the SPR as part of the Biden Administrations efforts to boost fuel availability and lower gasoline prices.

So far, the U.S. DOE, as authorized by President Biden, has provided more than seven million barrels of SPR crude oil to companies, including two previous exchanges awarded earlier in December.

At the end of 2021, Japan and South Korea also said they would soon offer oil from their strategic reserves. Japan said it planned to auction in February 629,000 barrels of crude oil from its national reserves, while South Korea plans to release 3.17 million barrels of its oil reserves in the first quarter of 2022.

China has reportedly agreed with the United States to release crude from its strategic reserves around the Lunar New Year holiday on February 1, as part of the broader U.S.-led effort for strategic releases to bring oil prices down, sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters last week. The news out of China failed to lower oil prices at the end of last week.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Many industries are experiencing worker shortages, and the trucking industry is no exception. Truck drivers play a vital role in keeping businesses afloat, completing construction projects on time and delivering goods to people across the country. When the industry is faced with driver shortages, it creates a ripple effect that is felt by many. The good news is that for those looking to make a career change, these shortages mean that truck driving jobs abound, and getting started down that path can be as easy as taking an eight-week certification course.

Courses to obtain a Class A commercial drivers license

One such course is offered by Southeast Community College at its Milford, Nebraska, campus. This truck driver training program prepares students to become truck drivers through a mix of lecture-style and hands-on coursework. By the end of the program, students will have obtained their Class A Commercial Drivers License, allowing them to legally operate a tractor trailer semi truck.

Program director Kevin Uhler notes that nearly every student who completes this course comes out of it with a job offer. We work with industry partners and have a job fair every eight weeks so that we have industry people who come out and try to hire our students. Typically there are more jobs at that hiring fair than there are students, he explains.

Customized learning to suit students needs, goals

SCC gives students the opportunity to customize their learning experience to suit their needs and goals. Administrators collaborated with course instructors to create a program that not only prepares students for a successful career, but also works with nontraditional schedules, opening the door for anybody to become a licensed truck driver.

For the staff at SCC, it was important that the program could empower students to participate in the way that works best for them, while still fulfilling the requirements it takes to become a qualified driver.

Online and weekend classes are available

The staff at SCC know that not every student can attend in-person weekday classes, so the program offers online and weekend courses.

We wanted to make access available to people who are looking at job retraining, Uhler says, and one of the things that weve tried to do with the truck driver program is open up opportunities to do some Friday afternoon and Saturday classes so that they can work full-time and provide for their needs and their families needs and do this on site.

Students can customize their experience by choosing whether they would like to become certified on a truck with a manual or automatic transmission. With the colleges variety of trucks available to learn on, students may choose to test on a manual truck, earning them a Class A license without restrictions, which opens their career growth opportunities even further.

More efficient and accessible program to be available in fall 2022

The program will see a few updates starting in August 2022. At the start of the fall semester, the course will be restructured into a four-week lecture segment and a four-week driving lab, for a combined eight-week program.

While this is intended to make the course more efficient, Uhler notes that the change will also make the course more accessible to students who reside outside of Milford, as they will only need to be there in person for four weeks to complete the behind-the-wheel training, rather than eight, as previously required, and can complete the lecture portion online or in person.

New year, new career

For those who are interested in becoming truck drivers, Uhler suggests looking into joining Southeast Community Colleges Professional Truck Driver Training program, as it gives students the skills and certifications they need to start a career with the opportunity to make a good salary while customizing the work to fit their individual lifestyles.

We work with many industry partners to help produce skilled workers that are prepared for many industries. This adds value to our students and to their employers. So with this program specifically, many of our students are nontraditional. Theyre changing careers or may be attending college for the first time and this is an opportunity that helps provide access that many of them may not have previously thought was possible.

If you are interested in joining this program or any of SCC's other technical programs, visit southeast.edu to learn more about it and sign up for a campus visit or virtual tour.

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.
The government website where you can order four free at-home COVID-19 tests and get them shipped to your doorstep is now live and available to use.

Starting today, Jan. 18, you can visit a new website run by the federal government, COVIDtests.gov, and order reserve free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will deliver them to your home, also for free. The website was scheduled to officially launch on Jan. 19, but it is up and running and accepting orders one day early.

The program is part of President Bidens efforts to procure and distribute 1 billion at-home coronavirus tests to the American public at no cost. So far, the White House has obtained contracts for 420 million tests and tens of millions are ready to ship immediately, senior officials said in a background phone call to reporters Jan. 14, ahead of the websites official launch.

Staying healthy has never been more important. Protect yourself and your loved ones with a comprehensive and affordable health insurance plan. Click your state to learn more.

How to order free at-home coronavirus tests from the government

Heres how to get your free at-home COVID-19 tests:

Visit COVIDtests.gov, the official federal government website for the program.

Press the order free at-home tests button, which will forward you to a separate site run by the USPS to place your order.

Input your name and residential address that will be used for shipping.

Follow the prompts to place your order, which includes four tests per address.

OPTIONAL: Put in your email address to track the shipment of the tests.

Folks who have difficulty accessing the internet or the website can order the tests by calling a forthcoming toll-free number. (We will update this article when the phone number is released.)

At-home COVID-19 tests will ship free starting in late January. USPS will only send one set of 4 free tests to valid residential addresses, states an order confirmation message from the USPS. We are unable to process duplicate orders for the same address.

Once your order is confirmed, the White House says the USPS will ship your tests in seven to 12 days via first class mail. Senior officials said they expect the shipment time to reduce as the program ramps up.

Every website launch comes with risks, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press conference Tuesday. We cant guarantee there wont be a bug or two, but the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.

A quality Health Insurance Plan can cover most unexpected incidents. With a Health Insurance Plan that meets your needs while remaining affordable, you'll be good to go. Click below to find out more.

FAQs about free at-home COVID-19 tests

What kind of free COVID-19 tests are available delivery?

The White House says the tests are at-home rapid tests that have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration. The exact brands arent clear, but the administration says the tests will only be rapid antigen tests, which are also called over-the-counter (OTC) or self tests or at-home tests. PCR tests, which require samples to be shipped to labs for results, arent a part of the program.

How long will it take for the tests to deliver?

Orders will ship between seven and 12 days, according to White House estimates.

Exact delivery time frames may vary. The USPSs website says first class mail typically delivers within five business days. And that may be in addition to the shipment processing time.

How many at-home tests can I get for free?

The current order limit is four per residential address. That number is regardless of how many people live in your home. The order limit is currently on the first 500 billion tests. The Biden administration is in the process of procuring another 500 billion, and officials have indicated the four-per-household limit may be revisited as more tests are available.

Do I need health insurance?

No. The tests available through COVIDtests.gov are available to anyone with a residential shipping address in the U.S. and its territories. No proof of residency or insurance is required to place an order.

I was able to order my tests before Jan. 19. Was this a glitch?

Psaki on Tuesday acknowledged the website was live and accepting orders before the official launch of COVIDtests.gov and special.usps.com/testkits as part of a beta test. Orders placed during the beta testing period will be honored.

How else can I get free at-home COVID-19 tests?

In addition to the four free tests available through COVIDtests.gov, the White House announced a free at-home testing program for people with private health insurance.

As of Jan. 15, private insurers are required to cover the cost of at-home tests, either by covering the costs upfront at pharmacies and retailers  similar to how prescription programs already work  or by reimbursing you the cost for tests that you paid for out-of-pocket.

Additionally, several states have been distributing their stockpiles of at-home tests through local libraries and community centers. In-person testing is also available for free at more than 20,000 testing centers or pop-up FEMA sites, according to the White House.

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Hospital leaders from across the state urged Nebraskans on Monday to take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the face of an omicron variant that last week drove case numbers to unprecedented levels.

Hospitalizations in the state also are rising sharply, raising additional concerns for health systems already strained by an increased demand for COVID and non-COVID care. Making things worse are staffing shortages caused by providers leaving the field, burning out or becoming ill themselves.

Theres no doubt we are still in one of the darkest times of the pandemic right now, said Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association.

Nordquist said last weeks activation by Nebraska Medicine of its crisis plan and the contingency actions taken by other hospitals just show that youre not going to be able to count on every health care service that youre used to.

A loved ones cancer surgery may get delayed because of such measures, Nordquist said: Were hoping that message resonates with Nebraskans, because it really could impact any one of us.

The crunch is likely to continue for a while, he said. The state is projected to be a couple weeks from its peak cases. Hospitalizations lag a week or two behind positive cases, and rural Nebraska is lagging the eastern portion of the state in positivity rates.

We have a long haul ahead of us over the next four to five weeks with COVID in our state, Nordquist said.

Nebraska recorded 27,987 new cases for the week ending Thursday, which nearly doubled both the previous weeks figure and the highest weekly tally seen during the states fall 2020 surge.

Nebraskas 85% case growth for the week  up from 76% growth the previous week  was the 11th-highest among the states, according to a World-Herald analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Sharply higher new hospitalizations drove total COVID-19 hospitalizations in Nebraska to 677 by Friday. The state was averaging 76 new admissions a day, up 36% from the previous week. Douglas County reported 376 patients hospitalized with COVID on Sunday.

While the omicron variant appears to cause less-severe illness, it is so much more contagious that U.S. hospitalizations have now reached their highest point in the pandemic.

Nebraska hospitalizations remain well below the pandemic peak of 963 from November 2020. But based on the current case growth, its conceivable that hospitalizations here could again approach that level.

It appears omicron may have peaked in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Washington, D.C., the only states that saw notable drops in case numbers last week. The omicron surges began in those states at least two weeks before Nebraskas surge, suggesting Nebraska still is more than a week away from seeing its case wave crest.

Lori Mazanec, CEO of Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance, said the Panhandle Public Health District is seeing an increase in cases and hospitalizations.

But the biggest challenge for the Alliance hospital and others like it is getting getting patients transferred to facilities where they can receive a higher level of care.

Because our big hospitals are full, it has a rippling effect on our smaller hospitals, Mazanec said. The result is staff calling 40 to 60 hospitals to get a transfer for a single patient. That means delays of 24 to 36 hours in getting that advanced care, with the hospitals staff relentless in providing care while they wait.

Dr. John Trapp, vice president of medical affairs for Lincolns Bryan Health, said the hospital had 543 patients Monday, significantly higher than usual, with more than 100 with COVID-related illnesses.

The hospital was holding 20 patients in its emergency rooms who were waiting for beds and had 19 on a waiting list seeking transfers from other facilities. Some of those people had COVID; others had other conditions.

Ed Hannon, president of St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, said the 100-bed hospital is doing its best to accommodate patients, no matter what brings them in.

It really is hard to say no, that we are at our capacity as well, he said.

But hospitals are facing staffing shortages, including having staff out with the virus or caring for ill family members.

Hannon said about 400 of the roughly 11,000 employees at CHI Healths hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa are out ill, including more than 40 at St. Francis.

All three hospital officials urged Nebraskans who havent been vaccinated or boosted to get the shots, wear masks in public indoor places, avoid crowds and stay home if ill.

Hannon said 25% of St. Francis beds are filled by COVID patients. Up to 75% of them are not vaccinated, and 90% to 95% of the ones in its ICU and on ventilators with COVID are unvaccinated.

Its pretty rare that somebody who has been fully vaccinated and gets a booster shot ends up in somebodys ICU or on a ventilator, he said. Its not too late to get vaccinated. Its not too late to get boosted and stay healthy.

The omicron surge may be causing some Nebraskans to rethink their decisions not to get vaccinated.

Some 5,500 Nebraska adults received their first vaccine doses last week, and 3,300 children also received first doses. An additional 3,300 adults and 3,000 children received their second doses.

In all, just over 60% of all Nebraskans have been vaccinated, and 44% of the vaccinated have received booster doses.

Nebraska recorded 35 new deaths last week, bringing the pandemic total to 3,298. As of Saturday, the state had recorded 383,915 cases of COVID-19.

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In the minutes before 5 a.m., a group of Nebraska correctional officers arrives at the Omaha Correctional Center, a few miles east of downtown.

The officers go inside, clock in for a 12- to 16-hour shift, and then walk back out the way they came.

In the prison parking lot, a pair of idling vans wait to take them to the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, a 72-mile drive.

These officers boarding vans in the darkness have become crucial to the continued operations of the Tecumseh and the Nebraska State Penitentiary maximum-security prisons that house nearly 2,400 inmates.

The officers have become so essential that the state is willing to pay them for the three-hour round trip  one part of ballooning overtime payments that cost taxpayers millions each year.

Nebraskas prison system has for years faced interlocked twin crises: too many prisoners and not enough employees to guard them.

The prison population has been over capacity since 1982, according to department data. By September 2021, the average number of prisoners reached 149.8% of the systems design capacity.

This crisis has consequences, say the nearly dozen former guards, former prisoners, family members, and advocates interviewed by the Flatwater Free Press.

It cost taxpayers $31 million in overtime payments in the past two years. It keeps prisoners locked in cramped cells for days at a time. It works a dwindling correctional staff to exhaustion.

Its harder to stop assaults on prisoners and staff, harder to search for weapons and drugs, and more likely that prisons become powder kegs, experts said.

Its one thing to have a staffing issue. Its one thing to have overcrowding, said Dan Pacholke, former secretary of the Washington State Department of Corrections. Its a whole other challenge to have them both going on at the same time and at a very high level. Prison crowding and staff shortages are two indicators that a system is in trouble.

In the past decade, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services annual overtime spending nearly tripled. It reached $15.7 million in 2020  the most spent by a state agency, according to the State Personnel Almanac.

And overtime is about to jump again: A new contract for correctional officers boosts salaries  a move state leaders think will eventually help recruitment and retention. It also bumps overtime pay from time-and-a-half to double.

From here until June, its going to be such a significant dollar amount for overtime, said Doug Koebernick, inspector general of the Nebraska Correctional System. I think were going to get blown away.

FOR GUARDS, PANIC ATTACKS AND CONSTANT THREATS

Former correctional officer Laura Sanchez was working anywhere from 70 to 80 hours a week when she left the department in July 2021.

Shed get panic attacks on the way to work. The next shift filled her with dread  16 hours keeping an area secure as prisoners yelled and threatened her with sexual violence.

Both the State Penitentiary and Tecumseh have been on 12-hour shifts since late 2019, to maximize what little staff they have. At that time, Corrections Director Scott Frakes said the longer shifts were not a long-term plan.

The department denied an interview request with Frakes for this story. A spokesperson instead shared a press release about the recent spike in correctional officer applications.

Only former guards were willing to speak with the Flatwater Free Press  current employees deferred to the spokesperson, or said they feared retribution for speaking publicly.

Former Tecumseh guard Brooke Myers said whether shed be released from a shift on time was always a guessing game.

Sometimes, the 19-year-old would be the only correctional officer assigned to a 60-man gallery.

You have staff that are completely exhausted, mentally drained, Sanchez said. Theyre getting slammed with overtime. Theyre getting to the point where theyre putting staff at risk. If a huge staff assault were to happen, we wouldnt have enough staff to cover that.

Often, correctional officers dont find out theyre working a 16-hour overtime shift until 30 minutes before they had expected to leave, Myers and Sanchez said.

Sanchez said she averaged about five hours of sleep between shifts.

Once they get into this vortex  it makes it impossible for them  to remain vigilant, to think not only about the safety of themselves and their colleagues, but also of all the detained people, said Dr. Homer Venters, former chief medical officer of the New York City jail system.

During her time at the State Penitentiary, tension between staff and inmates felt so thick you could literally choke on it, Sanchez said.

A lot of inmatesnow realize that this is not a staff-caused problem, Sanchez said. A lot of them have grown to understand that we dont like it as much as they do. And I cant say I blame them for being angry. I would get angry too.

LOCKED-DOWN PRISONERS LIKE RATS IN A CAGE

On a normal day, prisons teem with movement. Groups of men walk from their cells to the yard to the cafeteria. They visit the library or chapel. They perform jobs around the prison.

During lockdowns  sometimes scheduled, sometimes not  that grinds to a halt.

The Diagnostic and Evaluation Center puts four to a two-man room. Designed to hold 160 people, the Lincoln prison where new prisoners start their sentences houses some 500 men.

Those who cant fit in cells are kept in large rooms, sleeping on toboggan-like plastic cots  essentially bins on the ground with a thin mat inside. Cots fill the prison gym.

Ryan Shannon, former prisoner at the State Penitentiary in 2019, said he was housed with 200 men in a room with rows of plastic cots stacked up during the day.

Lockdowns made the dorm feel like rats in a cage, he said.

Debra Johnsons son is a prisoner at Tecumseh, one of the three prisons that moved under a regular three-day lockdown schedule in the fall.

Every Thursday night, the men at Tecumseh, Lincoln and the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center are locked in their cells or overcrowded rooms. The cells arent unlocked until Monday morning.

When these lockdowns occur in response to staffing shortages, it represents a real downward spiral, Venters said. It does not fix any problems. It creates brand new problems.

The mandatory lockdowns take a mental and physical toll, he said.

This is just too much, Mom, Johnsons son, who requested anonymity because of safety concerns, told her over the phone one day. Even if theyd get it down to two days, anything would help.

Weekend lockdowns mean no or little exercise, one 20-minute shower and disruption to medication schedules. Time for classes is limited to four days a week. The men at Tecumseh, Diagnostic and Evaluation and the Lincoln Correctional Center  who together comprise roughly 40% of Nebraskas male prison population  cant see visitors on weekends.

Imagine sitting in a closet for that long, Johnson said. These three days are just killing these guys.

RELIEF ON THE WAY?

The state hopes raises for state correctional officers will lower the departments reliance on overtime work and minimize lockdowns.

Starting wages for corporals and caseworkers went from $20 an hour to $28.

The raises have already impacted recruitment: 630 people applied for corporal positions since the Nov. 10 announcement, the department said in December, quadrupling the five weeks prior.

The change seems to be slowing the exodus that had drained the department, Koebernick said.

Thats a really good sign, Koebernick said. What were hearing is that its giving staff out at the facilities hope that theres relief on the way.

The department will need a steady flow of new hires over the long term if it wants to meet appropriate staffing levels, he said.

Meeting those staffing goals should mean fewer overtime hours needed as well, said Sen. Steve Lathrop, chair of the Judiciary Committee.

The raises demonstrated the significance of the problem we have found ourselves in, Lathrop said. These people deserve to be well paid for what they do. $56 an hour to work overtime? Thats not sustainable if thats your business model and you dont get to fully staffed.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

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BLOOMINGTON  State Farm is looking to hire more than 3,400 employees, the company said Monday.

The full- and part-time positions are remote and in-person and include claims, customer service, sales and underwriting jobs.

Bilingual employees also are needed for Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Korean languages.

In-person positions will be based in Bloomington, Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta.

The Bloomington-based auto and home insurer is celebrating 100 years in business this year.

As part of the anniversary, the company earlier this year announced it will award 100 $25,000 grants to nonprofit organizations to fund neighborhood improvement projects.

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BLOOMINGTON  The executive director of Central Illinois Regional Airport said Tuesday that they haven't been notified of "any potential impact" from the rollout of new 5G wireless service, which has been delayed in some parts of the U.S. over concerns about interference with aircraft technology.

Carl Olson told The Pantagraph that the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration and airlines are working to determine the scope of the issue and what measures should be taken if necessary.

"The Central Illinois Regional Airport has not been identified as an airport that may be impacted, and we (are) awaiting further direction from the FAA when appropriate," he said in an email.

AT&T and Verizon on Tuesday announced that the launch of 5G will be stalled near some airports after the nations largest airlines said the service would imped with aircraft systems and cause massive flight disruptions.

The decision from the telecommunication companies arrived as the Biden administration tried to broker a settlement between the telecom companies and the airlines over a rollout of new 5G service, scheduled for Wednesday.

Airlines want the new service to be banned within two miles of airport runways.

AT&T said it would delay turning on new cell towers around runways at some airports  it did not say how many  and work with federal regulators to settle the dispute.

A short time later, Verizon said it will launch its 5G network but added, we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports." It blamed airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, saying they have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports although it is working in more than 40 countries.

The announcements came after the airline industry issued a dire warning about the impact a new type of 5G service would have on flights. CEOs of the nations largest airlines said interference with aircraft systems would be worse than they originally thought, making many flights impossible.

To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines side in the matter.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that if hundreds or thousands of flights are grounded, it would affect passengers and the shipping of cargo needed for the nation's supply chain. We want to avoid that and prevent it, she said.

Psaki said among those taking part in ongoing negotiations with airlines and telecoms were Buttigieg, members of President Joe Biden's economic team, the FAA and FCC.

The new high-speed wireless service uses a segment of the radio spectrum, C-Band, that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground. Altimeters are used to help pilots land when visibility is poor, and they link to other systems on planes.

AT&T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries.

However, the CEOs of 10 passenger and cargo airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest say that 5G will be more disruptive than earlier thought because dozens of large airports that were to have buffer zones to prevent 5G interference with aircraft will still be subject to of flight restrictions announced last week by the FAA. They add that those restrictions wont be limited to times when visibility is poor.

Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays, the CEOs said.

The showdown between two industries and their rival regulators  the FAA and the FCC, which oversees radio spectrum  threatens to further disrupt the aviation industry, which has been hammered by the pandemic for nearly two years.

The airline industry and the FAA say that they have tried to raise alarms about potential interference from 5G C-Band but the FCC has ignored them.

The telecoms, the FCC and their supporters argue that C-Band and aircraft altimeters operate far enough apart on the radio spectrum to avoid interference. They also say that the aviation industry has known about C-Band technology for several years but did nothing to prepare  airlines chose not to upgrade altimeters that might be subject to interference, and the FAA failed to begin surveying equipment on planes until the last few weeks.

The Associated Press and Chicago Tribune contributed to this story.

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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BLOOMINGTON  Two exhibits showcasing Black artists opened in Illinois Wesleyan Universitys galleries Monday.

Future Spaces in Community Places is on display at Merwin Gallery, centered on the ideas of practical Afrofuturism, and Celebrating Blackness found home at Wakeley Gallery, reflecting on Black identity and the ways Blackness shapes social, cultural and political experiences.

Art can be a powerful visual mechanism and, all too often, Black artists go unrecognized and uncelebrated, said Carmen Lozar, director of Merwin and Wakeley galleries. Being part of a healthy community means representing the whole, and I believe IWU is seeking to do that with these exhibits.

These exhibits will be on display until March 3, spanning the entirety of Black History Month, as part of a joint project between the School of Art and the School of Theatre Arts.

Each gallery will host a reception 6-9 p.m. Feb. 24 that is free and open to the public. The reception will include a lecture, student performances, a poetry reading and music.

Future Spaces in Community Places features collaborative work from five artists: Shaya Robinson, Kamau Grantham, John Jennings, Kofi Bazzell-Smith and Stacey Robinson.

Their work focuses on Afrofuturism, a term that describes many lines of thinking regarding the future of Black individuals and their contributions to society, according to a news release from IWU.

Lozar and Michelle Gibbs, assistant professor of theatre arts, said Celebrating Blackness is a community-driven exhibit wherein IWU students and the community were invited to submit artwork that reflected on Black identity, ranging from performance art, paintings, drawings, glass and sculpture.

Celebrating Blackness is not about perpetuating white-centric narratives and tropes about The Tragic Negro. This art show is about experiencing the fullness of Black lives, Gibbs said, noting the intention to uplift the myriad of ways we experience and revere phenomenal Blackness.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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BLOOMINGTON  Central Illinois donors showed their commitment to helping animals by giving to local animal rescues on Monday during the Betty White Challenge.

The challenge was meant as a commemoration for actress Betty White on what would have been her 100th birthday. White died on New Years Eve.

Many area rescues, some of which had promoted the event on social media, saw increased donations on Monday, sometimes into the thousands of dollars.

Donations "are pouring in, said Humane Society of Central Illinois manager Jane Kahman. White "was the A-number-one animal welfare advocate, so its a pleasure to accept these in her honor.

White, an Oak Park native, was a fierce advocate of animals. The #BettyWhiteChallenge sprang up on social media shortly after her death, with the idea of donating $5 to a local animal rescue group in honor of the late actress.

Rubys Rescue and Retreat in McLean raised more than $9,000 from its Facebook drive by early afternoon on Monday, said founder Jean Ann Hert.

That is a lot of dogs that can be helped with that money, Hert said.

There has been a steady amount of support so far this year as well, she said, with some checks coming in that they would not have normally received.

Pets Central Helps has also been seeing more donations, as well as people reaching out asking how they can specify in their donation that it is being made in honor of White, said Paige Sveda, an adoption team staff member.

January can be a slower part of the year for many rescues, as holiday donations and adoptions wrap up. This year has been a little different, however, in part due to the challenge. Pets Central normally is less busy this time of year as it organizes for the new year but has seen more inquiries about donating, Sveda said.

The Humane Society had 15 adoptions just on Saturday, Kahman said.

Our Loveable Angels, another smaller rescue, is 100% volunteer run, said founder Michelle Masi. She founded the non-profit in memory of her sister, who was always willing to help anyone in need, human or animal.

Whites advocacy "really just meshed with what we do as well, Masi said.

The need for assistance runs all year long, however, and people can help the rescues in ways besides financial giving as well. Masi encouraged people to share posts form the rescue on social media, to help reach more people, including potential adoption families.

In-kind donations are also really helpful, Kahman said. Needs include not just standard pet supplies but also things like dish soap to clean food dishes and laundry supplies, because animals can be messy. The Humane Society also has wish lists on Amazon and on Chewy.com.

Volunteering or fostering is another way to help, as many of the rescues only have limited shelter space.

We can only save as many animals as we have places to put them, Sveda said.

Masi is impressed with the Bloomington-Normal areas support for rescues, and how each rescue is able to find a niche to operate in.

(The community has) such giving hearts that all the rescues are doing well, Masi said.

Many of the rescues are left feeling thankful for the support they have seen this week.

I had no idea there would be such an outpouring of support like there has been, Hert said.

Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood

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CHICAGO  Nearly five months after her son went missing, Carmen Bolden Day was honored Monday by the Rainbow People United to Serve Humanity Coalition.

As part of the 32nd annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Bolden Day received the Profile in Courage Award during the coalitions virtual presentation.

My whole quest now is for accountability and to find the answers as to what happened to my son, she said during the award presentation. I thank Rev. Jackson and the PUSH Coalition for their assistance to bringing awareness to Jelanis case and helping me in my quest to find answers. Im just a mother that has always been active in all of my childrens lives, and now that my son is no longer physically here, Im still going to be active in his life because I expected to have my son here with me.

In a Facebook post, she wrote I don't think I've done anything that's deemed me worthy of such an honor but I'm grateful that other's recognize my fight and this further solidifies that my quest for Justice is NOT in vain.  I would rather have my son than to receive any reward, meet any celebrity, or be in anyone's spotlight.

In presenting her award, the Rev. William Hall, senior pastor of St. James Community Church, gave a brief call of remembrance to Emmett Till, a Black teenager who was lynched in 1955 Mississippi.

Through the dehumanizing murder of this young boy, America had to own what it had been trying to hide, he said. A little over 60 years later, Jelani Day  young scholar, Illinois State University, who had a pathway to success, a heart to serve humanity and most of all a faith that was unshakable  was found dead, murdered. Investigation now open.

We want to celebrate his mother who for months cried for help, and now the push is on as we look for justice for Jelani Day. Mrs. Bolden Day, we honor you, we salute you for your courage, your virtue and most of all your heart for justice.

Bolden Day said she hopes her pursuit of justice and answers will help other families, as well.

I hope too that I can help other families and other mothers and fathers and siblings that are experiencing this disparity that Ive received during this quest for finding out what happened to my son and that I can make changes so they dont have to endure what Ive had to endure, she said.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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A Chicago rapper was arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday after U.S. customs agents reported they found a cache of drugs in his baggage, officials said.

Vic Mensa, 28, arrived at the Virginia airport about 7 a.m. on board a flight from Ghana, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During a secondary examination of his baggage, customs officers found the drugs, including about 41 grams of liquid LSD, about 124 grams of psilocybin capsules, 178 grams of psilocybin gummies and six grams of psilocybin mushrooms, the release said.
Tonga's small outer islands suffered extensive damage from a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, with an entire village destroyed and many buildings missing, a Tongan diplomat said on Tuesday, raising fears of more deaths and injuries.



"People panic, people run and get injuries. Possibly there will be more deaths and we just pray that is not the case," Tongas deputy head of mission in Australia, Curtis Tuihalangingie, told Reuters.



Tuihalangingie said images taken by New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) reconnaissance flights showed "alarming" scenes of a village destroyed on Mango island and buildings missing on nearby Atata island.



Tonga police told the New Zealand High Commission that the confirmed death toll stood at two but with communications in the South Pacific island nation cut, the true extent of casualties was not clear.



Australia's Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said Tongan officials were hoping to evacuate people from the isolated, low-lying Ha'apai islands group and other outer islands where conditions were "very tough, we understand, with many houses being destroyed in the tsunami".



The United Nations had earlier reported a distress signal was detected in Ha'apai, where Mango is located. The Tongan navy reported the area was hit by waves estimated to be 5-10 metres (15-30 feet) high, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).



Atata and Mango are between about 50 and 70 km from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, which sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard some 2,300 km (1,430 miles) away in New Zealand when it erupted on Saturday.



Atata has a population of about 100 people and Mango around 50 people.



"It is very alarming to see the wave possibly went through Atata from one end to the other," said Tuihalangingie.



The NZDF images, which were posted unofficially on a Facebook site and confirmed by Tuihalangingie, also showed tarpaulins being used as shelter on Mango island.



British national Angela Glover, 50, was killed in the tsunami as she tried to rescue the dogs she looked after at a rescue shelter, her brother said, the first known death in the disaster.



CLEARING THE RUNWAY



A thick layer of ash blankets the islands, the aerial images provided to Tonga by New Zealand and Australia showed.



The archipelago's main airport, Fuaamotu International Airport, was not damaged in Saturday's eruption and tsunami but heavy ashfall is preventing full operations, hampering international relief efforts.



The U.N. humanitarian office said Tongan officials had said that clearing the runway would take days, as it was being done manually, with the earliest opening Wednesday.



People on the west coast of the main island of Tongatapu had been evacuated because of "significant damage", OCHA added in an update, while government ministers had broadcast warnings on radio against price gouging amid worries of supply shortages.



The New Zealand's foreign ministry said two ships, HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa, had departed New Zealand carrying bulk water supplies, survey teams and a helicopter.



Tonga is expected to set out its formal requests for aid today, said Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne.



C-130 flights from Australia could deliver humanitarian assistance including water purification supplies, she said, while the HMAS Adelaide, which would take five days to arrive by sea, was ready to carry engineering and medical personnel and helicopter support for distribution.



"The impact not just of the inundation, but of the extraordinary volume of ash which is covering everything, plus the communications issues, of course, makes this very difficult," she said.



International mobile phone network provider Digicel has set up an interim system on the main island using the University of South Pacifics satellite dish, New Zealand said.



ANZ said the bank's Nukualofa branch is open for limited services, although clean water supply and communication were a major challenge for the bank.



CUT CABLE



The archipelago has remained largely cut off from the world since the eruption which cut its main undersea communications cable.



Subcom, a U.S. based private company contracted to repair various subsea cables in the Asia-Pacific, said it was working with Tonga Cable Ltd to repair the cable that runs from Tonga to Fiji.



Samiuela Fonua, the chair of Tonga Cable, said there were two cuts in the undersea cable that would not be fixed until volcanic activity ceased, allowing repair crews access.



"The condition of the site is still pretty messy at the moment," Fonua told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.



The island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, all but disappeared following the blast, according to satellite images taken about 12 hours later, making it difficult for volcanologists to monitor activity.



Tonga is a kingdom of 176 islands, of which 36 are inhabited, with a population of 104,494 people.

Source: REUTERS









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The Reverend John Ntim-Fordjour, the Deputy Minister of Education, says parents have no excuse not to send their children to school.



He said because Government had made education free from pre-school to Senior High School.



The Deputy Minister said this on Tuesday when he toured the Sakumono School Complex in Accra to observe the annual "My First Day in School" and to welcome the newly admitted pupils to the learning environment.



The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service have collaborated to establish My First Day At School, to complement the efforts of school leaders to facilitate childrens entry into the education system at the beginning of the academic year.



The Minister presented the pupils with learning materials, including books, pencils, erasers, crayons, and sanitizers to enhance learning and make them feel welcomed in their new environment.



The Rev Ntim-Fordjour said the Government had repositioned the educational system to ensure quality teaching and learning in schools.



The Government, he said would work assiduously to meet the Sustainable Development Goals four-to ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.



That, he explained was necessary because education was the bedrock to the socio-economic development of every country.



"Government will continue to invest in education and ensure that all children have access to quality education and produced responsible professionals for the country's development," he said.



The Rev Ntim-Fordjour advised the pupils to learn hard to become responsible citizens, saying "we will continue to equip the pupils with the requisite knowledge, skills and aptitude to compete with the best in the world."



Ms Monica Ankrah, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, commended teachers for their efforts and urged them to teach and mentor the pupils to become responsible leaders.



She advised the teachers to initiate innovative ideas that would ease learning in the classroom, especially at the Creche and lower Primary levels and appealed to them to make the teaching environment home for the kids.



Ms Anna Adukwei Addo, the Municipal Chief Executive for Tema West, assured stakeholders that the environment was safe for the resumption of school activities.







Source: GNA









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A Medical Research Scientist who has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region, Dr. Jacob Sampson Barnor, has recommended Thorntina 74 Mixture for fighting the global Covid-19 disease.



Dr. Barnor who is a retiree from the Noguchi Memorial Institute and Medical Research, after serving for over three decades, said the decision to recommend the product to the general public stems from his personal experience as a user of the medicine.



Speaking on Anpa Bofo morning show, Dr Barnor said his work as a consultant on herbal medicines has made him develop the interest in using the products himself to aid in providing expert advice to his patients.





There are the producers, Thorntina 74 mixture, but I am using myself as an animal model to test it and their efficacy.



Ive used similar herbal products to manage my diabetes which helped so when I heard about the T-74, I decided to take it and compare with what I have already taken, he said.



Some of his friends who have used T-74, he added, have also been cured of their various ailments including hypertension, peptic ulcer and sickle cell anemia.









Most importantly, I tested positive for Covid-19I had taken the injection [vaccination] which I recommend others do. My recovery rate from the disease was fantastic because I has taken Thorntina 74.



By three to four days, I was well and when I tested, I got a negative report he told Kofi Adoma Nwanwani, adding that his recovery rate surprised his doctor who in turn asked about the contributory factors.



The Medical Research Scientist mentioned Vitamin C as one of the main components of T-74.



Everyone speaks of Vitamin C and it is part of Thorntina 74, and the Phytochemicals that make you recover quickly from any ailment, he said.



He therefore encouraged all and sundry to patronise the herbal medicine since it is for general wellbeing and is an immune system booster.



You always have to prepare towards diseases than wait to suffer before curing them he advised.



Explaining his point with an example, Dr. Barnor said steroids used in managing health problems are made of hormones which come with side effects.



He further called on the government to support the producers.



We have to be proud about the product because it is locally produced with herbs he concluded.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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An Adentan Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, for failing to appear before it.



The Deputy Minister has been charged for allegedly violating Section 7 (1) and (2) of vigilantism and related offence and forcibly entering the land of one Alhaji Tony Baba.



Mark-Okraku was to appear in court today for the continuation or completion of case management conference for the trial to commence but failed.



His lawyer was also absent, but he sought permission from the court.



Prosecuting, Superintendent of Police Patience Mario, prayed the Court for a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused person.



The Court presided over by Mrs Sedinam Awo Balokah, issued the warrant, and adjourned the matter to February 8.



The case of the prosecution was that the complainant, Alhaji Tony Baba, was an Estate Developer residing at North Legon, Accra.



It said the complainant was developing a parcel of land at Oyarifa, High Tension, which the accused person was allegedly claiming ownership for.



The prosecution said on March 3, last year, the accused person went to the site with three thugs two of whom were on a motorbike and another in his (Deputy Ministers) car.



The prosecution said on March 9, last year, the accused person visited the site a few hours after, which

the thugs he previously visited the site with went back to the site and attacked the workers and caused damage to parts of the building allegedly.



It said the complainant reported the matter to the Police and mentioned the accused person as the one behind the unwarranted attacks and damages.



The prosecution said during interrogation, the accused person was contacted to report at the Police to assist in investigations.



It said while the Police was waiting for the accused person, more damages were allegedly caused to the three-bedroom building on March 10, last year, and he was identified as the one who brought and ordered the thugs to cause the damage.



The prosecution said on April 3 last year, the complainants workers were allegedly attacked gain and two persons sustained injuries.

It said the injured were issued with Police medical forms to seek treatment.



On March 20, last year, extensive damage was allegedly caused to the building, which was at lintel level and valued at GHC63,700.





Source: GNA









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The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) are undertaking the first-ever actual corruption survey to provide the right information on the levels of corruption in the country.



Currently, the two institutions are evaluating about 250,000 households, using the methodology of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), a United Nations corruption agency, for the survey.



Data collection officials are currently on the field across the country to obtain information to produce a report that will shape how Ghana fights corruption, going forward.

When completed, the survey will take the fight of corruption to another level, where corruption will not be based on perception but the reality on the ground.



Corruption prevalence



In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Friday, the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, said the survey would not only expose how corruption manifested in households and the regional prevalence but also serve as a baseline to deploy effective measures better than what the corruption perception index offered.



He said the work would, therefore, provide the country the opportunity to define the level of corruption with data of real cases, instead of the corruption perception index, to support the fight against the menace.





Over the years, Ghanas score and ranking on corruption has been measured by Transparency International (TI), through its local chapter, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), as an index of peoples perception.



Survey



"We are currently in the field and hoping to do an evaluation of 250,000 households, out of which, when the report comes out in June, we hope the baseline, in terms of where we stand on actual corruption, will give us the basis to see what we need to do annually to improve the fight against corruption, he said.



It is not about perception but based on the reality of Ghanaians who have, one way or another, been made to get a service either by giving money or doing something corrupt, he explained.



Although Ghana had improved on its fight against corruption over the years through various institutions, it could not continue to rely on perception to deal with issues of corruption, he indicated.



"The whole issue of corruption is based on perception," Mr Whittal said, adding that with corruption perception index, it was not clear who fed the perception, who gave the details and who was interviewed.



We don't know because it is done by TI, using businesses and others which may not necessarily be available for anybody to question, he explained.



Novel initiative



CHRAJ, Mr Whittal said, had the mandate to protect and promote administrative justice to ensure that the government and its officers were accountable and transparent.



As a novel initiative, he said, recommendations of the survey could lead to certain law reforms and changes in certain attitudes.



The survey would again help CHRAJ, as an investigating body, to act and use the information for advocacy work in terms of getting people to know what they ought to do and not do when it came to issues of corruption, he added.



Corruption fight



An assessment by Transparency International shows that the country has made significant strides in the fight against corruption.



The drivers include the introduction of anti-corruption legislation with respect to financial administration, public procurement, internal audit and whistleblowing.



Parliament has also improved its watch-dog status with its Public Accounts Committee holding public sittings to expose issues of corruption.



The establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to tackle corruption without fear or favour by prosecuting corruption cases has boosted the confidence of the citizenry that corrupt practices in the public sector would be reduced.



The Mr Whittal expressed the hope that erasing the perception and providing factual evidence of corruption would put Ghana in a better position to deal with the menace, which affected its development.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The outgoing Deputy Director-General of Prisons (DDGP) in charge of Finance and Administration, Mrs Josephine Fredua-Agyemang, has called on officers to strive for success in their work.

It is not enough to limit yourselves within the confines of our everyday routine but to activate your creative minds, develop a strong will and resilience, and go all out to plan and execute programmes and projects that will drive the Service to achieve its mandate, she said.



She gave the advice at the a pull-out ceremony the service organised in her honour to appreciate her distinguished service to the Prisons Service and the country.



DDGP Fredua-Agyemang was honoured with a citation presented to her by the Director-General of Prisons, Mr Isaac Kofi Egyir, in appreciation of her 32 years and 13 days of meritorious service to the nation.



Expressing her gratitude for the unwavering support given her over the years last Friday at the Prisons Officers Training School, DDGP Fredua-Agyemang commended staff of the Ghana Prisons Service for their role in ensuring the welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.



Law-abiding citizens



She was also full of praise for the Church of Pentecost for its immense support and massive infrastructural developments being carried out to ease congestion in the prisons.



Mrs Fredua-Agyemang urged officers to continue to work hard, be open-minded and always exhibit professionalism in carrying out their duties as correctional officers, so that inmates entrusted in their care would leave reformed, rehabilitated and return to society as law-abiding citizens with value added to their lives.



Challenges



She, however, deplored some challenges that militated against the effective running of the service such as inadequate operational and utility vehicles, lack of training opportunities for officers, inadequate workshops to equip prisoners with employable skills, inadequate healthcare facilities, lack of logistics such as body scanners and close circuit television (CCTV) cameras, among others.



Mrs Fredua-Agyemang appealed to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to support the service to overcome the challenges.



She also called on individuals and corporate bodies to partner the service in the areas of agriculture, health, building and construction, education and sanitation.



I wish to emphasise that ameliorating the above mentioned operational and logistical challenges is crucial to enhancing the capacity of the Prisons Service to fulfil its constitutional mandate, she stressed.



Previous appointments



Prior to her appointment as the Deputy Director-General of Prisons in charge of Finance and Administration, she was the Director of Prisons in charge of Welfare.



She held other command positions, including the Western Regional Commander and Officer in charge of Sekondi Central, Kumasi Female, Nsawam Female and Sunyani Female Prisons and Ag. Commanding Officer of Prisons Headquarters.



During her administration as the Prisons Ladies Association (PRILAS) President, the association saw a tremendous growth in size and in assets which have contributed positively towards the standard of living of female officers.



During her service with the GPS, she was decorated with four medals in recognition of her hard work and commendable service to the country.



Some personalities



Present at the ceremony were the Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mr Paul Baffoe-Bonnie; Justice of the Appeal Court, Justice Novisi Aryene; a member of the Council of State, Professor Margaret Ivy Amoakohene; the Chief Director of the Ministry for the Interior, Mrs Adelaide Anno Kumi; the Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration in charge of Legal and President of the Immigration Ladies Club, Ms Victoria Baaba Asare; the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr Isaac Owusu Mensah; the Director in charge of Welfare of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO), Mr Tony Gomez, and representatives of other sister security services.



Others are the Director of Prisons (DOP) in charge of Welfare and Human Resource Development, Mr Francis Omane Addo; the DOP in charge of Technical and Services, Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie; the DOP in charge of Operations, Mr Samuel Akolbire and DOP in charge of Agriculture, Mr Hanson Adu-Awuku.



The rest are the immediate past Director-General of Prisons (DGP), Mr Patrick Darko Missah (retd); DGP Ms Matilda Baffour-Awuah (retd); DDGP Mr Sylvester Rabbles (retd); DOP Mr Stephen Cofie (retd); DOP, Mr Leopold Ansah (retd); DOP, Mr Nelson Duut; DOP (retd), Mr Samuel Adofo (retd) and other serving and retired officers of the service.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament(MP) for South Dayi Constituency, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has described making public the withdrawal of the Speakers military bodyguard by the Ghana Armed Forces as Unfortunate.



According to him, the idea behind the withdrawal might be political to frustrate him.



His comment comes after the Ghana Armed Forces in a statement said the Speakers military guards were deployed without due process.



Government has also justified the withdrawal of the soldiers saying they are not supposed to be part of Speaker Alban Bagbin's security detail.



But Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie' said the approach by Armed Forces was wrong.



It should have been just a phone call. Who wrote the letter? Couldnt we have done this quietly? he questioned.











Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Minority National Democratic Congress Minority in Parliament has launched fresh attacks on President Akufo-Addo and the Ghana Armed Forces over the withdrawal of the military bodyguards assigned to the Speaker of Parliament.



The NDC MPs led by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddirisu have described the incident as politically motivated.



According to the Minority, the Speaker followed all due process in securing the guards from the armed forces.



Even though, the Government has also justified the withdrawal of the soldiers saying they are not supposed to be part of the Speakers security detail.



But the NDC says they will hold President Akufo-Addo responsible if anything happens to the Speaker as a result of the action.



The minority MPs in a statement said It is pertinent to note that the only reason given for the shameful withdrawal of Mr. Speakers security detail is that the attachment was done without following the proper procedure.



Curiously, the government fails and/or omits to spell out the procedure for the attachment of military personnel to high profile personalities such as the Speaker of Parliament. If the action of the military high command is in good faith, the irregularity about the attachment could be rectified without necessarily having to withdraw the personnel, the Minority said.



The statement also noted it is shameful for the government to withdraw the soldiers when state officers below the rank of the Speaker have military bodyguards.



Below are details of the Minority Statement:



STATEMENT BY THE PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS OF THE NDC ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE MILITARY SECURITY DETAIL OF THE SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, RT. HON ALBAN BAGBIN BY THE NANA AKUFO ADDO LED GOVERNMENT.



The Minority in Parliament is saddened and strongly denounce the withdrawal by President Akufo-Addos government of the military detail attached to the office of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin with effect from the 14th January, 2022. It is pertinent to note that the only reason given for the shameful withdrawal of Mr Speakers security detail is that the attachment was done without following the proper procedure. Curiously, the government fails and/ or omits to spell out the procedure for the attachment of military personnel to high profile personalities such as the speaker of Parliament.

If the action of the military high command is in good faith, the irregularity in relation to the attachment could be rectified without necessarily having to withdraw the personnel.



The only logical conclusion a reasonable mind would draw with respect to the failure of government to indicate the nature of the procedure supposedly breached by Mr Speakers outfit is that proper procedure was followed for which reason the military high command had no difficulty attaching the military personnel in question to his office. Indeed, the Clerk to Parliament on the 21st January, 2021 did write to the chief of staff of the Armed Forces and duly requested the attachment of the military personnel in question. At this point, the chief of staff did not detect any procedural irregularities in relation to Mr Speakers request.However, one year on the same chief of staff who on behalf of the military high command granted the request now wants Ghanaians to believe that he acted in error in the first instance? The posturing of the chief of staff in this regard is to say the least preposterous.



The minority states further without any equivocation that the attachment of military personnel to the office of the speaker is not an isolated incident at all. For instance, members of the executive branch of government other than the president and Vice President who are below the speaker of Parliament in terms of status and rank as provided for in the constitution have at various times had soldiers attached to their offices. A notable example is the current Attorney General and Minister for Justice who, even as deputy Attorney General had a soldier for his bodyguard.



Another example of a state official below the speaker in terms of status and rank who roams town with military protection is the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, madam Jean Mensah.



Flowing from the above, the minority is certain that the action of the military high command relative to the withdrawal of Mr Speakers security detail is politically motivated and calculated to diminish his confidence in his bid to impartially and independently steer the affairs of the legislative arm of government.



In the circumstances, the minority shall hold the government of President Akufo Addo responsible should the security of Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin , the speaker of Parliament be compromised in any way.



We further call for the immediate withdrawal of the letter with ref no: GH/ 1002/ 01/ COS written on behalf of the armed forces by the chief of staff and purporting to withdraw the military personnel attached to Mr Speakers office.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The embattled founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, has offered to refund another GH130 million out of the GH620 million bailout money he allegedly stole from the bank which led to its insolvency and subsequent government takeover.



Mr. Essien who is standing trial alongside two others for the alleged theft, at the early stages of the trial which is going into its third year, elected to refund GH27.5 million he had carried in a jute bag known in local parlance as Ghana Must Go, per the prosecutions account.



Section 35 of the Courts Act (Act 459, 1993) allows an accused person who admits the offence and is willing to offer compensation or make restitution and reparation for the loss, harm or damage caused, and Ato Essien appeared to have taken advantage of the Act to make the refund.



Although the prosecution is yet to accept the proposal on the payment of the GH27.5 million which includes terms of payment and reparation, Ato Essien has indicated his intention to make a further payment of GH130 million in a bid to assuage the charges levelled against him.



Baffuor Gyau Bonsu Ashia who held brief for Thaddeus Sory, counsel for Ato Essien, disclosed the plan to the trial High Court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffuor, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, last Thursday.



Counsel said they are negotiating with the Attorney General on how to make the refund.



Unlike the initial prayer where we made an appeal to this court to pay the GH27.5 million which form the basis of some of the charges, we have also included GH130 million that also forms part of the charges, he said, adding the discussion has been very fruitful to the extent that the prosecution has written to us dated December 30, 2021, where the prosecution has made its stance very clear.



Counsel said however that the only difficulty between us as defence counsel and the prosecution is the quantum which can easily be resolved by an independent auditor.



Judges Enquiry



Justice Kyei Baffuor then requested the said letter from the Attorney and upon perusing it, he said the content of the letter looks like an 80 per cent rejection from the prosecution.



He said the prosecution seems to disagree with the amount involved, the terms of payment and the amount to pay as reparation, but the parties could continue with the negotiations and if they are able to strike a deal finally, they would inform the court.



The judge, however, indicated that the trial will take its normal course and if at the end of the trial the parties are not done with the negotiations, he will hold on to the judgment until they reach an amicable agreement.



He also said that when they reach an agreement and the prosecution decides not to pursue the case any further, he as a servant of the law will have nothing he would do about it.



Last Warning



During the trial on Thursday, the court warned that it will revoke Ato Essiens bail and incarcerate him if his lawyers do not cooperate with the court in the ongoing trial.



The judge issued the warning after lawyer for the embattled businessman failed to file a witness statement on his behalf as ordered by the court last year.



It was not the first time his lawyer failed to file the documents in the trial in which Ato Essien and the defunct banks former Managing Director, Reverend Fitzgerald Odonkor as well as Tetteh Nettey, a former Managing Director of MC Management Service owned by Ato Essien, are before the court charged with 23 counts of conspiracy to steal, stealing, and money laundering.



The three are alleged to have misappropriated a total of GH620 million liquidity support given to the bank by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) as bailout to enable it service its maturing debt.



The accused persons, according to the prosecution, allegedly opened various bank accounts with Capital Bank through which the GH620 million BoG liquidity support were transferred to while others were carried in jute bags (Ghana Must Go) to Ato Essien as payment for business promotion.



Court Order



The court on November 25, last year, ordered Ato Essien to file his witness statement as well as those of any witnesses he intended to call by December 7, 2021, after the court expressed concern about the snail pace at which the accused person was giving his evidence-in-chief.



The accused was initially giving oral testimony but failed to show up in court and the court was told that he was suffering from sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which ones breathing repeatedly stops and restarts.



Baffuor Gyau Bonsu Ashia, then told the court that they were unable to file the documents because there were certain documents they requested from the Receiver of the defunct bank which they were yet to receive.



The court subsequently gave him additional two weeks to file the witness statements and adjourned the trial for case management.



Non-Compliance



Mr. Bonsu Ashia then indicated on Thursday that they were not able to comply with the courts orders because they only got the requested documents on January 12 in the evening.



He, therefore, prayed the court to grant him another adjournment to enable them attach what he described as vital documents to the witness statement.



The prosecution led by Marina Appiah Opare, a Chief State Attorney, said they were prepared for the case management as scheduled but was not opposed if the court allows the accused person the two weeks requested to file the witness statement.



Court Unimpressed



Justice Kyei Baffuor, who was visibly unimpressed, said the lawyer could have used a subpoena to obtain the documents from the person who was unwilling to release them.



He then turned to Mr. Essien and told him that he as a judge has the power to rescind his bail and put him in custody until the end of the trial if his lawyer fails to comply with the orders of the court.



He said one of the conditions for the grant of bail is not only to ensure that the accused person will show for the trial, but that the accused person would cooperate with the court.



The judge also expressed worry about the manner in which criminal trials are conducted in Ghana, which usually take a very long time to complete compared to other jurisdictions where even trials on indictment are concluded over a short period of time.



Justice Kyei Baffuor said a time will come when what he referred to as anachronistic Act 30 (the Act that regulates criminal proceedings in Ghana), will be overhauled.



I will hold in abeyance the invocation of the powers vested in the court to moderate and control its proceedings and extend the time for two more weeks for the first accused to comply with orders of the court, he said as he reluctantly adjourned the trial to January 27, 2022.







Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sounded a note of caution to one of its flagbearer hopefuls, Alan Kyerematen to rein in some of his supporters who have gone haywire ahead of the partys internal contest.



According to General Secretary of the party, John Boadu, the conduct of some supporters of the Trade and Industry Minister can be described as diabolic and meant to rock the boat of the party which is on a mission to break the 8 and retain power in the 2024 polls.



This comes on the heels of concerns by a section of the NPP supporters and sympathisers over what they described as the witch-hunting of those perceived to be in the camp of Alan Kyerematen.



But Mr. Boadu has categorically denied those claims and called on Alan Kyerematen to dissociate himself from such diabolic agenda against the NPP.



The General Secretary also categorically denies the groups allegation of discriminatory application of the Code against the supporters of Alan Kyerematen as a presidential hopeful. In any case, until the party opens nomination for presidential primaries, there cannot be any aspiring presidential candidate duly recognized by the party.



It is also to be noted that when party members are suspended on allegations of misconduct, as in the case of what happened in the Northern Region, the partys Constitution provides the aggrieved members a remedy in Article 4.



Mr Boadu added that the party will not hesitate to sanction supporters of aspirants whose actions and utterances will bring the name of the party into disrepute, thereby jeopardising its chances in the 2024 polls.



Read full statement below:



January 17, 2022





NPP INTERNAL ELECTIONS: JOHN BOADU RESPONDS TO THE ASHANTI PATRIOTS MOVEMENT AND OTHERS



The attention of the NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, has been drawn to a press conference on January 12, 2022, by a group purporting to be a pro-NPP group, calling themselves, the Ashanti Patriots Movement, where they made some wild claims in respect of the partys forthcoming internal elections including the next presidential primaries of the Party ahead of election 2024.



The group also took issues with the party leadership, particularly the General Secretary, John Boadu, whom they asked to resign if he was unable to enforce the CODE OF CONDUCT issued under his hand.



The gravamen of the groups claim was that, supporters of Hon. Alan Kyerematen were being victimized with suspensions for merely declaring support for the Trade Minister, whereas those who declared support for the Vice President, H.E Mahamudu Bawumia, in clear breach of the Code, were not visited with similar sanctions.





On the basis of this, the group contended that, it would be difficult if not impossible for the NPP to break the 8, as their members may be forced to vote against whoever the Party brings as Presidential Candidate in the 2024 General Elections.



The General Secretary wishes to respond as follows:



First of all, the said group is alien to the NPP, and has never been part of the partys volunteer groups in any previous elections. In fact, the convenor of the group, Emmanuel Osei-Gyamfi, who addressed the presser, is NOT even a member of the Party.



Records show that he voluntarily forfeited his membership of the NPP (even if he ever was), when in 2020, he filed to contest as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency of the Ashanti Region.



How can somebody who is not a member of the NPP, purport to lead a group in the Party to fight for the interest of Alan Kyerematen? It is not surprising that the group would threaten that they may vote against the partys Presidential Candidate in 2024 if their concerns were not addressed.



Certainly, the group can only be said to be on a mischievous and destructive mission, and it will be in the interest of Mr. Alan Kyerematen to dissociate himself from such diabolic agenda against the NPP.



The General Secretary also categorically denies the groups allegation of discriminatory application of the Code against the supporters of Alan Kyerematen as a presidential hopeful. In any case, until the Party opens nomination for presidential primaries, there cannot be any aspiring presidential candidate duly recognized by the party.



It is also to be noted that when party members are suspended on allegations of misconduct, as in the case of what happened in the Northern Region, the party Constitution provides the aggrieved members a remedy in Article 4.



The partys disciplinary and grievance procedures do not permit the General Secretary to directly interfere in disciplinary matters at the constituency and regional level until the necessary processes are initiated to invoke the jurisdiction of the National Disciplinary Committee and the National Executive Committee.



Equally, the Code of Conduct launched by the party in July, 2021 expressly provides clear procedure for handling alleged breaches of party rules, which however, do not derogate from the provisions in Article 4 of the Party Constitution.



Finally, the General Secretary wishes to use this opportunity to reiterate the partys caution to individuals wishing to lead the party in the future to take the necessary steps to rein in their supporters. They should not allow their individual ambitions to affect the partys forward march.



The Party is resolved to crack the whip when it becomes necessary in order to ensure party discipline and sanity, which are the essential prerequisites for victory in 2024.





Signed



Iddi Muhayu-Deen

Press Secretary to John Boadu













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ningo-Prampram National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Secretariat in the Greater Accra Region, has congratulated the Member of Parliament, Sam George on his recognition as the overall best MP of 2021 by FAKS Investigative Services.



In a statement signed by the Constituency Chairman, Enoch Kwame Nortey, it expressed delight in the MPs dexterity and ability to relentlessly search for solutions to problems of his constituents and the nation as a whole.



It was not surprising that you were previously honoured in a similar fashion by U.S Congressman Danny K. Davies, among other well-deserved awards.



The way of accomplishment is constantly extreme and the individuals who are constantly prepared to take challenges and have the boldness to prevail upon it, are just those granted these accomplishments. We compliment you as you have such an identity, especially as demonstrated in your fight against LGBTQIAA+ in our country. Indeed, you overcame many obstacles in achieving this height.



It further commended the MPs relentless fight against LGBTQIAA+ activities as well as its legalization.



Today, the Ghanaian people have such a strong abhorrence to LGBTQIAA+ and are ready to reject it in no uncertain terms. Thanks to you as the lead advocate. Your quote God created Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve has become so famous with Ghanaians that it shall remain on the minds for decades if not centuries to come.



Its our prayer that you never restrict yourself with lacking; rather, we hope that you break the limits and advance higher in the coming years. Certainly, you can be assured of our unflinching support in your every endeavour, it added.



FAKS Investigative Services announced the Performance of Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Regional Ministers for the year 2021.



The annual survey also included the performance of Members of Parliament and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the country.



Mainly, the survey focuses on opinions from the public, assessment from the ministries, agencies as well as information from the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs).



The public, who are the respondents, contributed largely to the outcome of this survey, especially concerning the Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers and the CEOs of State Institutions.



Its team is made up of researchers, media practitioners and scholars who do the assessment based on the outcome of the findings they received.



The survey took place between the months of October and December, 2021 and it was the 10th Edition since FAKS started this project.



Respondents for the survey were, journalists, students, traders in general, traditional rulers, teachers, business owners, civil society organizations (CSOs), drivers, academia, and others.



About 69% of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 55, while the remaining 31% were between the ages of 56 and 77.



Ashanti Region recorded the highest respondents, followed by Greater Accra Region, Western Region, Eastern, Central, Volta, Bono, Oti, Western North, Bono East, Upper East, Upper West, Savanna, Ahafo, North East and Northern Region respectively.



In total, 3,953 respondents were recorded, representing 91.36% of respondents recorded in the 2020 survey that was 4,327.



Out of the 3,953 feedbacks received during the period, 2,365 of the respondents, representing 59.83% were females, while the remaining 1,588 representing 40.17% were males. Meanwhile, the ranking was between 50% and 100%.



FAKS Investigative Services is a Ghanaian research and investigative firm.

Source: Citinewsroom









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr. Tony Aidoo, Ghana's former ambassador to the Netherlands, has analysed the candidature of the Vice President as the leader of the governing NPP as the party prepares to 'break the eight' in 2024.



According to him, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, would have to deal with the crisis of credibility as he aspires to put himself up as the flagbearer of the NPP.



Speaking on Alhaji and Alhaji on Pan African TV, the former Senior Presidential Aide and Head of the Policy Evaluation and Oversight Unit of the Office of the President from 2009 to 2013 indicated that, Dr. Bawumia has over the years proved himself to be a lair and the electorates would not want to vote for such a candidate.



He described the Vice President as a flip-flopper, who is not disciplined and uses all kinds of derogatory words on his political opponents.



Dr. Aidoo explained, the word incompetence which stakes with President John Mahama was coined by Bawumia and over the period, he had made sure that every platform, he makes innuendos towards the competence or incompetence of former President John Mahama.



And he does it with the most annoying guffaw or belly laugh; Its amazing. But this is a man who has managed Akufo-Addos economic management team since 2017 and its full of ideational contradictions.



He added, one day he says when the fundamentals are wrong, the exchange rate will expose you, the next day he says when the exchange rate is flatulating, it does not mean fundamentals are wrong. Ei!...say what you mean and mean what you say.



But this flip-flopper, self-styled or acclaimed to be an economic Wizkid of the NPP is so inconsistenthe is your ideal flip-flopper, he lacks credibilitythe so-called econometric analysis he was making were all theoretical; come to the real world, you will find that they cut no eyes, they dont gel.



The NDC never took Bawumia on to expose the shallow depth of his economic trick knowledge, Dr. Tony Aidoo stressed.





Bawumia "defined" in few minutes by Dr Tony Aidoo. Watch! pic.twitter.com/ZzhM9LypWm

 General Marcus! (@marcusadampah) January 16, 2022

Source: twitter/ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is currently in the United Arab Emirates seeking medical review.



He is expected back in the country on Sunday 23rd January 2022 to preside over the opening of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament on Tuesday 25th January 2022.



In a letter dated 6th January 2022, to the Presidency, the speaker said that he was traveling to the UAE on 7th January 2022 for a medical review.



It is the second visit of the Speaker to Dubai for medical attention in less than two months where collosal amount of money is spent.

He has occasionally been traveling to Dubai for medicare since he was elected speaker with large retinue of personal and domestic staff following him.



The Speaker was recently in Dubai for similar medical review after creating confusion in Parliament over the Electronic Levy controversy.



He had allegedly presided over the rejection of the budget after the majority walked out.



In a letter issued and signed on behalf of the Clerk of Parliament to the Head of Mission of Ghana Embassy in UAE, it stated that I have been directed by the Clerk to Parliament to inform you about the arrival of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in Dubai to undergo a medical review.



The speaker stormed Dubai with his wife and other family members as well as staff of Parliament.



The statement said that the Speaker will be accompanied by the following: Alice Adjua Yornas, his wife, Dr. Prince Kofi Pambo, head of medical at Parliament house, Patience Bagbin, speakers secretariat and Justice Norvor, his aide.



It added that Mr. Speaker and his delegation will depart Accra on Saturday, 27 November 2021 at 18.50 hours and arrive in Dubai at 6.20 hours on flight EK788 the next day.



They departed for Dubai on Tuesday, 14 December 2021 at 7.35 hours and arrive in Accra the same day at 12.05 hours on flight EK787.







Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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An Accra High Court has granted a total of GHc9 million bail to Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, a former Deputy Minister of Finance under the John Dramani Mahama administration, and two other persons standing trial for wilfully causing financial loss to the State.



The accused persons who include Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health as well as businessman, Richard Jakpa are standing trial for the purchase of 200 defective ambulances worth 2.37 million for the health sector.



While Dr. Forson was granted a GHc3 million self reconnaissance bail, Mr. Anemana was granted a bail of GHc1 million with three sureties one who must be a public servant not below the rank of a Director.



Mr. Jakpa on the other hand was granted a bail of GHc5 million bail with three sureties one of whom must be justified with documents of a landed property.



The prosecution was ordered by the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, to file their disclosure by February 8, while the case has been adjourned to Feb 15 for case management.



The three have been charged with five counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the public procurement act and intentionally misapplying public property.



The offences relate to the purchase of what court documents describe as defective vehicles which were not originally manufactured to function as ambulances hence could not be converted for such a purpose.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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STC Boss, Nana Akomea has called on both the Majority and Minority to cease politicizing the withdrawal of Speaker Alban Bagbin's Military protection.



The Speaker has been stripped of his Military protection after four soldiers who were guarding him were recalled to their base.



A letter dated 11th January, 2022, cited by Peacefmonline and signed by Major General Nicholas Peter Andoh, the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters of GAF, ordered the soldiers to return by January 14, 2022; saying they were "attached to the Office of the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament without the proper procedure."



It is humbly requested that the personnel are withdrawn with effect from 14 January 2022 while efforts are made to regularise their attachment, the letter further said.



But the Majority and Minority have been arguing about government's action.



To the Minority, the withdrawal is politically motivated since, to them, ''the only reason given for the shameful withdrawal of Mr Speakers security detail is that the attachment was done without following the proper procedure'' and to the Majority, there are no political under-dealings.



The statement from the Speaker's office emphasises that the withdrawal of the military personnel is an attempt to gag Mr. Bagbin. It is difficult to comprehend the meaning of this. Speakers are supposed to be neutral umpires or referees in Parliament. They are supposed to listen to Members in silence and not participate in debates.



They make rulings when called upon to do so by Members. The rulings must conform to the Rules of Procedure of the House otherwise referred to as Standing Orders. In that regard the Speakers lose their persona whilst presiding. Therefore, what voice does the Speaker have that is being muted or gagged? portions of Majority's statement read.



Nana Akomea, in his submissions on the issue, condemned the partisan nature of the discourse and asked both sides in Parliament and all politicians to discuss it without reading political meanings into it.



To him, the Military is one of the most disciplined security services and so using it to score political points could have grave repercussions for the country's democracy.



''When you do that, you discourage the Military. You reduce them to politicians. You're harming the Military when they take action and you mix it with politics'', he said on Peace FM's morning programme ''Kokrokoo''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, has cautioned that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will succeed at breaking the eight years of political rule based on how well members interested to lead the party play their roles.



The overall performance of the government in its second term will be key to breaking the eight and continuing to govern after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has left the reins of government.



The two most important issues which will determine who our flagbearer is will be how well this government performs and how well those who are interested function in their roles effectively and efficiently and if this administration does not perform well, nobody cares about your presidential ambition then we are all going down so you have to be interested in helping us perform well for you to handle your portfolio well, Mr Nkrumah pointed out.



He explained that the president has had cause to remind persons interested in the flagbearership of the NPP to remain focus and steadfast to push the partys agenda for the second term in office but he could not tell whether the president would sack ministers who did not give off their best due to divided attention.



Mr Nkrumah reiterated President Akufo-Addos calls for hundred percent commitment, dedication and determination to his agenda and averred that the country had not seen harder working president within the current age bracket of him who is even keener on executing his agenda despite winning re-election and thus not subject to another vote.



This is a president whose agenda on his second term is clear cut, keen on executing it, I have never seen a harder working president even at this age, tell me a harder president who was working at this age literally crisscrossing the country, the president is in Kumasi to attend to business of the state, this is not a president who is relaxed after he has won a second term, Mr Nkrumah touted.



Under the Fourth Republic, the late Jerry Rawlings of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), handed over to Agyekum Kufuor of the (NPP) in 2001, he handed over to the late Atta Mills in 2009 and John Mahama handed over to Nana Akufo-Addo in 2017.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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New study of UMA shows benefits of ammonium for pine root growth. Credit: University of Malaga

In ecological terms, coniferous formations represent the biggest terrestrial carbon sink, they play an essential part in the pollination of the ecosystems where they grow and, moreover, help improve agricultural production. At the same time, from an economic point of view, they are the main source of raw material for wood industries.

This is confirmed by researchers of the groups of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology and the Integrative Molecular Biology Lab of the University of Malaga, who have conducted an unprecedented study whereby they evidence the benefits of ammoniumone of the most abundant forms of inorganic nitrogen available in soilsfor the development of the roots of a specific conifer: the pine.

"An appropriate development of roots enables the establishment and proper growth of plants, which is essential for crop production," explains Rafael A. Canas, head of the study, recently published in the scientific journal Plant, Cell & Environment.

Thanks to this study, they could evidence that, although excessive amounts of ammonium can cause toxicity in most plants, conifers show higher tolerance, as they do not suffer adverse effects.

"This finding is highly important, since it is a first step to discover new molecular mechanisms involved in the presence of ammonium, which will enable higher crop production with a more effective and resilient root system," assures the researcher of the UMA Francisco Ortigosa.

State-of-the-art techniques

The use of state-of-the-art techniques, such as tissue isolation by laser capture microdissection, which enabled the identification of different regulators of root growth and architecture, was essential for this research.

Likewise, in collaboration with Professor Shu Taira of the Fukushima University (Japan), the researchers applied a cutting-edge technique of mass spectrometry to determine how ammonium affects the distribution of phytohormones in growth areas of pine roots.

Future source of nitrogen

The scientists of the University of Malaga propose ammonium as the best source of nitrogen in the future. This way, one of the next steps of this study is performing comparative analyses with other plant species with higher sensitivity to ammonium nutrition and great agronomic value.

All this, as they say, will allow them to identify genes eligible to be used as biotechnological tools to obtain new crop varieties, which are very useful to avoid soil erosion, as well as better adapted to the current atmospheric CO 2 increase, and help ensure the agricultural production.

Explore further Ammonium triggers formation of lateral roots

More information: Francisco Ortigosa et al, Ammonium regulates the development of pine roots through hormonal crosstalk and differential expression of transcription factors in the apex, Plant, Cell & Environment (2021). Francisco Ortigosa et al, Ammonium regulates the development of pine roots through hormonal crosstalk and differential expression of transcription factors in the apex,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/pce.14214

Provided by University of Malaga
Credit: Tom Horton

Bluefin tuna have been tagged with state-of-the-art acoustic tracking tags for the first time in UK waters.

The huge fish, which in UK waters can be up to 2.5m long, are commercially valuable and biologically fascinating.

The 7cm long tags send individually coded sound (acoustic) messages to listening stations moored on the seabed, allowing the team to record how long bluefin tuna are in UK waters each year.

The project team has attached acoustic tags to 30 bluefin tuna. The tags will also help the project team understand when the fish arrive, and how quickly they can make the journey across the Channel to France.

Dr. Lucy Hawkes, senior lecturer in ecology at the University of Exeter, is leading the bluefin tagging work. She said:

"We typically see bluefin tuna in waters around the south-west UK in the summer and autumn months, but do not know if we are seeing the same fish every year, nor the same fish all summer. For the first time we will be able to tell, with the acoustic tracking tags sending data for up to five years."

The team have already heard 81 messages from the tags across five listening stations in south-west UK, including one fish several times.

This work is part of the FISH INTEL project, funded by the EU's Interreg France (Channel) England program, which is establishing a network of acoustic receivers on both sides of the Channel.

The research will assist authorities across the Channel region to implement Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) programs with the aim of enhancing the condition and water quality of these habitats, as well as enabling human activitiessuch as fishing, civil engineering projects and extract industriesto function in a sustainable way.

The project lead for FISH INTEL, Dr. Emma Sheehan, said:

"Bluefin tuna are sentinels of healthy ecosystems, and travel between waters that provide them with food and clean conditions. Developing a clear understanding of their movements will help us not only pinpoint those habitats, but also implement measures to preserve and protect them in the future."

The team will continue to collect data from the tagged fish until 2026, and will gain the most comprehensive understanding of the importance of UK waters to bluefin tuna to date.

Explore further UK waters are home again to the bluefin tuna
Its important for parents to get comfortable having conversations with their kids early on about consent and boundaries. Credit: Shutterstock

Psychiatrist Dr. Gaiathry Jeyarajan envisions a future where parents are comfortable having conversations with their kids early on about consent and boundaries. Avoiding these discussions only perpetuates the culture of silence that allows interpersonal trauma to thrive, says Jeyarajan.

"I want to remind parents, if it's this hard for you to talk about, can you imagine how hard it is for your child?"

Jeyarajan is the author of a self-published book Ella's Choice, which teaches children about consent and healthy boundaries in hopes of modeling a strong awareness of their own and other's bodies and boundaries, normalizing these discussions in daily life.

Interpersonal trauma, such as abuse and sexual assault, are intensely private crimes but pervasively common, constituting a public health crisis that affects both children and adults.

The recent #MeToo movement, explosion of research and advocacy around "adverse childhood experiences" and awareness of escalating intimate partner violence during the pandemic are helping make it known that interpersonal trauma is widely experienced.

All too common

Half to two-thirds of people have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (such as abuse or exposure the domestic violence).

Over four in 10 women and one-third of men report some form of intimate partner violence. More than one-third of men and women (and even higher rates for transgender Canadians) have experienced at least one physical or sexual assault since the age of 15 outside of their intimate partnership.

As a psychiatrist who specializes in treating adult survivors of interpersonal trauma, I regularly see how these health effects last a lifetime and expand beyond post-traumatic stress disorder. Many studies show what I see every day in my clinic: Interpersonal trauma is pervasive, enduring and at times, deadly.

Beyond PTSD

Interpersonal trauma can lead to depression, anxiety, problems regulating emotions, substance use disorders, eating disorders, problems with attention, relationships, sexuality, violence in intimate relationships, suicidality and many stress-mediated physical illnesses.

People who suffered high levels of adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse or exposure to domestic violence die nearly 20 years prematurely. These adverse childhood experiences are linked to a long list of illnesses including cancer, heart disease, stroke, asthma, chronic inflammatory lung disease, diabetes, chronic pain, mental health problems and substance use disorders. They are also associated with job instability, social problems, learning disabilities and violence.

While our knowledge of interpersonal trauma has grown, our parenting strategies to recognize and help prevent it may not have kept up, says Jeyarajan. "We learn how to set and respect boundaries at home," she says.

Many of us adopt parenting styles passed down from previous generations without being mindful of repeating unhealthy patterns that ignore concepts of consent and boundaries, such as forcing food intake or hugs and kisses with others, Jeyarajan says.

As Jeyarajan writes in Ella's Choice:

But if Ella doesn't want to give a hug,

She will say "NO" without a shrug.

Mom says, "That's totally fine,

Because it's your body, not mine!"

"Knowing your limits is part of growing,"

Applauds Daddy.

Proud Ella is glowing.

"Trauma often relates to boundary violations," Jeyarajan says. "If you know that this is my body and this is what makes me uncomfortable, then you can come tell your parents and say, "Listen, I feel this person is making me uncomfortable." How are you going to respect boundaries if you don't even know they exist?"

Jeyarajan hopes to model for children that consent can be withdrawn at any time. "Maybe their friend wanted to play fight and now they don't want to play fight anymore: They can change their mind."

She wonders whether as a society, we can teach children to listen to their body's limits and cues rather than rigidly following through at any cost. By starting these conversations early, we can change our culture from one of silence around boundary crossings and violations to explicit consent and empowerment.

So, when Ella meets a fluffy bright-eyed cat, Jeyarajan writes: "She seeks Lexi's permission before reaching for a pat."

Ellie's respect for the boundaries for the kitten

Leaves everyone around her smitten.

Witty Ella wants everyone to know

That touch without an approval is a "no-go."

"It's never too early to starting teaching children about boundaries if we want to raise a new generation of empowered youth," Jeyarajan says. "If that's the kind of humans we're raisingthat are aware of their own and others' bodies and needs and have empathy from a really young agethen I think we're heading in the right direction with regards to changing rape [and abuse] culture."

We can't separate our personal health from that of the environment we inhabit. To protect our children, we must shift our collective culture away from a silent complacency around interpersonal trauma and towards intentionally working to prevent it.

Explore further For one group in child welfare, trauma is especially common

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Climate change will force 45 per cent of the fish stocks that cross through two or more exclusive economic zones to shift significantly from their historical habitats and migration paths by 2100, a challenge that may lead to international conflict, according to a new UBC study.

By 2030, when United Nations Sustainable Development Goals should be met, 23 per cent of these 'transboundary' fish stocks will have changed their historical habitat range. The modeling study also projected 78 per cent of exclusive economic zones (EEZs)where most fishing occurswill see at least one shifting fish stock. By 2100, this climbs to 45 per cent of stocks, with 81 per cent of EEZs seeing at least one stock shift if nothing is done to halt greenhouse gas emissions.

"This is not only an issue of stocks leaving or arriving to new EEZs, but of stocks that are shared between countries, completely changing their dynamics," said lead author Dr. Juliano Palacios-Abrantes, who conducted the study while at UBC's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF). Now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he said the study provides a timeline suggesting these shifts had already been underway since the beginning of the 21st century. "We will see even more dramatic changes by 2030 and onwards, given current emissions rates. Many of the fisheries management agreements made to regulate shared stocks were established in past decades, with rules that apply to a world situation that is not the same as today."

The study tracked the shifting ranges of 9,132 transboundary fish stocks, which account for 80 per cent of catch taken from the world's EEZs, starting in 2006 and projecting to the year 2100.

Changes in stocks' distribution will affect catches. By 2030, 85 per cent of the world's EEZs will have seen a change in the amount of their transboundary catch that exceeds normal yearly variation. It is a shift that Dr. Palacios-Abrantes expects will raise tensions over which countries can claim majority ownership of certain stocks, particularly given that between 2005 and 2010, fishing of transboundary species in total netted an estimated US$76 billion in revenue.

In the 1980s and 1990s, a shift in the distribution of various salmon stocks disrupted fishing agreements between Canada and the U.S. and contributed to the overfishing problems of these stocks. Such conflicts will be magnified in the future, and may collapse international agreements, Dr. Palacios-Abrantes said.

Countries in tropical locations such as the Caribbean and South Asia will be hit first as water temperatures increase, but northern countries will also be affected. Overall, 10 shared stocks in Canada and the U.S. Pacific are projected to shift by 2033.

"By providing estimates of the size and timing of projected shifts, our study offers tangible reference points around which to consider climate change impacts and negotiate fair policies for sustainable management" said co-author Dr. Colette Wabnitz, lead scientist at Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions and IOF research associate.

The study makes a number of suggestions to avoid the worst outcomes from potential disputes, such as crafting agreements that allow fishing fleets to fish in neighboring countries' waters while offering a share of the catch or profit.

It will also require rebalancing and renegotiating many of the catch quota agreements that are already in place. And any action on mitigating climate change should help reduce projected shifts, the authors say.

"We must accept that climate change is happening, and then move fast enough to adapt fisheries management regulations to account for it," said co-author Dr. Gabriel Reygondeau, a research associate at IOF.

This means that countries must be willing to work with one another to prevent potential conflict due to species climate shift and keep the industry profitable and sustainable, he said. "We evaluated where the potential shift and conflict could emerge and when it's going to happen following climate models and scenarios. At some point, scientists cannot help more and the question becomes: does politics want to deal with climate change effects on primary resources and production now?"

The study was published in the journal Global Change Biology.

Explore further Management of exploited transboundary fish stocks requires international cooperation

More information: Juliano PalaciosAbrantes et al, Timing and magnitude of climatedriven range shifts in transboundary fish stocks challenge their management, Global Change Biology (2022). Journal information: Global Change Biology Juliano PalaciosAbrantes et al, Timing and magnitude of climatedriven range shifts in transboundary fish stocks challenge their management,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16058
A male pied flycatcher (F. hypoleuca) bringing food to a female next to their nesting hole. Credit: Jorma Tenovuo (photographer).

An international team of researchers has found that extra-pair paternity in pied flycatchers leads to cooperation between males and females in feeding and fending off threats. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes experiments they conducted with wild pied flycatchers given boxes for nesting and what they learned from them.

Prior research has shown that many bird species are mostly monogamous and that such monogamy helps improve the gene pool. In this new effort, the researchers wondered about the behavior of generally monogamous bird species who are faced with unusual circumstancespredators that require the combined efforts of multiple birds to protect the young. To learn more about such instances, the researchers looked to pied flycatchersa species native to Europe that migrates back and forth to northern parts of Africa. After observing multiple males banding together to ward off predators, they wondered about the reasons for such cooperationthey suspected the birds were protecting not only the young of their mate, but those they had sired with other females.

To find out if this was the case, the researchers set up 44 nesting boxes in groups of threeseach box became the home of a male and a female and their offspring. The researchers studied their mating behavior and then placed stuffed predator replicas near the boxes to learn more about the defensive strategies of the birds.

In watching the birds and recording their actions, the researchers found that it was common for the male birds to mate with other nearby females when their companion was off foraging. It was also common for those matings to result in extra-pair paternity. But most interesting was that the males seemed to know which offspring were theirs. If a predator arose near nests that did not house their offspring, the males would not assist in helping to ward off the threat. But if the threat arose near hatchlings that they had sired (determined genetically by the researchers), they would help to fight off the threat as strongly as they did those in their home nest. The researchers found that the males would also not only help their mate to feed their offspring, but the mothers of their other offspring as well.

 2022 Science X Network
In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, volcanic ash covers roof tops and vegetation in an area of Tonga, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. Credit: CPL Vanessa Parker/NZDF via AP

The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska, and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion.

And yet, despite sitting almost on top of the volcano that erupted so violently on Saturday, the Pacific nation of Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread devastation that many initially feared.

In its first update since the eruption, the government said Tuesday it has confirmed three deathstwo local residents and a British woman. Concerns remain over the fate of people on some of the hard-hit smaller islands, where many houses were destroyed. Communications have been down everywhere, making assessments more difficult.

But on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, perhaps the biggest problem is the ash that has transformed it into a gray moonscape, contaminating the rainwater that people rely on to drink. New Zealand's military is sending fresh water and other much-needed supplies, but said Tuesday the ash covering Tonga's main runway will delay the flight at least another day.

On Tongatapu, at least, life is slowly returning to normal. The tsunami that swept over coastal areas after the eruption was frightening for many but rose only about 80 centimeters (2.7 feet), allowing most to escape.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows ash covered homes and buildings in Tonga Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 after a huge undersea volcanic eruption. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

"We did hold grave fears, given the magnitude of what we saw in that unprecedented blast," said Katie Greenwood, the head of delegation in the Pacific for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "Fortunately, in those major population centers we are not seeing the catastrophic effect we thought might happen, and that's very good news."

Greenwood, who is based in Fiji and has been talking with people in Tonga by satellite phone, said an estimated 50 homes were destroyed on Tongatapu but that nobody needed to use emergency shelters. She said about 90 people on the nearby island of 'Eua were using shelters.

U.N. humanitarian officials and Tonga's government reported significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu and concerns about the lack of contact from some of the low-lying islands. The Geneva-based U.N World Health Organization reported that many people remained unaccounted for.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on Dec. 24, 2021. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

New Zealand's High Commission in Tonga also reported significant damage along the western coast of Tongatapu, including to resorts and the waterfront area.

Tonga's government said all the homes on Mango islandwhere about 36 people livewere destroyed and only two houses remained standing on Fonoifua island, home to about 69 people.

The government described the event as an "unprecedented disaster" and said tsunami waves had risen as high as 15 meters (49 feet) in places.

Like other island nations in the Pacific, Tonga is regularly exposed to the extremes of nature, whether it be cyclones or earthquakes, making people more resilient to the challenges they bring.

Indeed, Greenwood said Tonga does not want an influx of aid workers following the eruption. Tonga is one of the few remaining places in the world that has managed to avoid any outbreaks of the coronavirus, and officials fear that if outsiders bring in the virus it could create a much bigger disaster than the one they're already facing.

This combination of the satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows homes and buildings in Tonga on Dec. 29, 2021, above, and on Jan. 18, 2022. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

Another worry, said Greenwood, is that the volcano could erupt again. She said there is currently no working equipment around it which could help predict such an event.

Satellite images captured the spectacular eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano on Saturday, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a giant mushroom above the South Pacific. The volcano is located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa.

Two people drowned in Peru, which also reported the oil spill after waves moved a ship that was transferring oil at a refinery.

In Tonga, British woman Angela Glover, 50, was one of those who died after being swept away by a wave, her family said.

Nick Eleini said his sister's body had been found and that her husband survived. "I understand that this terrible accident came about as they tried to rescue their dogs," Eleini told Sky News. He said it had been his sister's life dream to live in the South Pacific and "she loved her life there."

In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, volcanic ash covers roof tops and vegetation in an area of Tonga, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. Credit: CPL Vanessa Parker/NZDF via AP

Tonga's government said a 65-year-old woman on Mango island and a 49-year-old man from Nomuka island had also died, while a number of other people had suffered injuries.

New Zealand's military said it hoped the airfield in Tonga would be opened either Wednesday or Thursday. The military said it had considered an airdrop but that was "not the preference of the Tongan authorities."

Jonathan Veitch, the U.N.'s Fiji-based acting resident coordinator for the Pacific islands, said he was hopeful the runway would be operational very soon. And despite damage on the coastline and at the port in Tongatapu, he said, ships should be able to dock.

New Zealand also sent two navy ships to Tonga on Tuesday and pledged an initial 1 million New Zealand dollars ($680,000) toward recovery efforts.

Australia sent a navy ship from Sydney to Brisbane to prepare for a support mission if needed.

This combination of the satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows the main port facilities in Nuku'alofa, Tonga on Dec. 29, 2021, above, and on Jan. 18, 2022. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

"They're a faithful community and they're a beautiful community and I'm sure they'll be supporting each other but they need us now and they're getting our help," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said China is preparing to send drinking water, food, personal protective equipment and other supplies to Tonga as soon as flights resume.

The U.N. World Food Program is exploring how to bring in relief supplies and more staff and has received a request to restore communication lines in Tonga, which is home to about 105,000 people, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Communications with the island nation are limited because the single underwater fiber-optic cable that connects Tonga to the rest of the world was likely severed in the eruption. The company that owns the cable said the repairs could take weeks.

In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, volcanic ash covers roof tops and vegetation in an area of Tonga, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. Credit: CPL Vanessa Parker/NZDF via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on Jan. 6, 2022, before a huge undersea volcanic eruption. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This photo provided by Maxar Technologies shows a cleanup of volcanic ash on the runway of Fua'amotu International Airport on the Tongatapu island in Tonga, Monday, Jan. 18, 2022. The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska, and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion. Credit: Maxar Technologies via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a view of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 after a huge undersea volcanic eruption. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the main port facilities in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a closer view of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on April 10, 2021. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a closer view of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on Jan. 6, 2022, before a huge undersea volcanic eruption. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the main port facilities in Nuku'alofa, Tonga on Dec. 29, 2021. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC, shows Kanokupolu in Tongatapu, Tonga on Jan. 16, 2022, after a huge undersea volcanic eruption. Credit: Planet Labs PBC via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows homes and buildings in Tonga on Dec. 29, 2021. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This combination of this satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on April 10, 2021, top, on Jan. 6, 2022, middle, and Jan. 18, 2022,, showing what's left after the Jan. 15 eruption. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on April 10, 2021. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, Air Movements personnel stack and secure pallets of disaster relief supplies at an airbase in Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, to be sent to Tonga in the wake of a Tsunami triggered by volcanic eruption. Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. Credit: Dillon Robert Anderson/NZDF via AP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a general view of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 after a huge undersea volcanic eruption. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP

Samiuela Fonua, who chairs the board at Tonga Cable Ltd., said the cable appeared to have been severed soon after the eruption. He said the cable lies atop and within coral reef, which can be sharp.

Fonua said a ship would need to pull up the cable to assess the damage and then crews would need to fix it. A single break might take a week to repair, he said, while multiple breaks could take up to three weeks. He added that it was unclear when it would be safe for a ship to venture near the undersea volcano to undertake the work.

A second undersea cable that connects the islands within Tonga also appeared to have been severed, Fonua said. However, a local phone network was working, allowing Tongans to call each other. But he said the lingering ash cloud was continuing to make even satellite phone calls abroad difficult.

Explore further Volcanic ash delays aid to Tonga as scale of damage emerges

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Neighbouring countries and international agencies are clambering to try to grasp the scale of the damage on Tonga.

A volcano that exploded in the Pacific island nation of Tonga has almost disappeared from view, new images revealed Tuesday, with swathes of the country smothered in grey dust or damaged by a tsunami.

The volcano erupted 30 kilometres (19 miles) into the air on Saturday and deposited ash, gas and acid rain across a large area of the Pacific.

In the tsunami that followed, waves in Tonga rose up to 15 metres (50 feet), its government said in a statement.

Three people were killed and "a number" were injured, the government said on Twitter, calling the volcano explosion "an unprecedented disaster."

Three days after the eruption, the outside world is still struggling to understand the scale of the damage using patchy satellite phone connections, surveillance flights and satellite images.

While power and local phone systems have been partially restored, international communications remain severed and the internet is down.

Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on Tuesday showed that where most of the volcanic structure stood above sea level a few days ago, there is now just open sea.

Only two relatively small volcanic islands were still visible above sea level after the eruption.

New Zealand released aerial images taken from a surveillance flight the previous day, revealing a tree-lined coast transformed from green to grey by the volcanic fallout.

Wrecked buildings were visible on the foreshore alongside others that appeared intact.

Volcanic ash blanketed island fields, images from an Australian Defence Force P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft showed.

Shipping containers had been knocked over like dominoes at a port on the main island.

The World Health Organization said in a statement Tuesday that its liaison officer in Tonga, Dr. Yutaro Setoya, was "channelling communication between UN agencies and the Tongan government".

Satellite images show residential homes and buildings in an area of Tonga on December 19, 2021 and the same area on January 18, 2022, after the tsunami.

"With international phone lines and internet connectivity still down, Dr. Setoya's satellite phone is one of the few ways to get information," it said.

The officer has "literally been standing outside from dawn until long into the night for the past few days to ensure that the phone can reach the satellite signal", said the WHO's Health Cluster Coordinator for the Pacific, Sean Casey.

The UN health agency said around 100 houses had been damaged, with 50 destroyed on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu.

Between five and 10 centimetres of ash and dust had fallen on Tongatapu, the UN said.

Water supplies "have been seriously affected by the volcanic ash," the government said in a statement.

The WHO said the ash and dust were "raising concerns of air pollution and potential contamination of food & water supplies".

"The gov't has advised the public to remain indoors, use masks if going out & to drink bottled water due to the ashfall," according to WHO.

Distress beacon

Australia's HMAS Adelaide and New Zealand's HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa were ordered to be ready for a possible aid request from Tonga, which lies three to five days' sailing away.

The Red Cross said it was sending 2,516 water containers.

New Zealand has allocated NZ$1 million ($680,000) in humanitarian assistance and the United States has pledged $100,000.

France, which has territories in the South Pacific, pledged to help the people of Tonga's "most urgent needs".

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said a signal had been detected from a distress beacon on a low-lying island, Mango.

Tonga has been virtually cut off from the rest of the world since Saturday's volcanic blast.

The agency said surveillance flights had confirmed "substantial property damage" on Mango, home to about 30 people, and another island, Fonoi.

Images released by the United Nations Satellite Centre showed the impact of the disaster on the island of Nomuka, one of the closest to the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano.

The satellite centre said that of 104 structures analysed in a cloud-free area, 41 structures were damaged.

The government has begun evacuating the affected areas, according to its statement.

Tonga's airport was working to remove volcanic ash from the capital's runway. Australia said the ash must be cleared before it can land a C-130 military plane with aid.

One of the three people confirmed dead was Briton Angela Glover, a 50-year-old who ran a stray animals charity and was reported missing by her husband after the tsunami hit.

"Earlier today my family was sadly informed that the body of my sister Angela has been found," her brother Nick Eleini said after being given the news by the husband, James Glover.

"James was able to cling on to a tree for quite a long time, but Angela was unable to do so and was washed away with the dogs," he told The Guardian newspaper.

A 65-year-old woman from Mango and 49-year-old man from Nomuka island were also killed.

Communications cut

Even when relief efforts get under way, they may be complicated by COVID-19 entry restrictions.

The eruptionone of the largest in decadeswas recorded around the world and heard as far away as Alaska, triggering a tsunami that flooded Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States.

In Peru, authorities sealed off three beaches Monday after they were hit by an oil spill blamed on freak waves caused by the eruption.

The blast severed an undersea communications cable between Tonga and Fiji that operators said would take up to two weeks to repair.

Explore further Volcanic ash delays aid to Tonga as scale of damage emerges

 2022 AFP
Fig. 1. Mathematical model of single-mirror optical system. Credit: DOI: 10.1364/OE.447556

Characterized by large aperture and long focal length, the reflective optical system has the advantages of small number of optical elements and simple optical structure. But the intrinsic aberration and the misalignment derived aberration increase exponentially with the increase of focal length and aperture, resulting in a significant degradation of the optical system imaging quality caused by just a small amount of misalignment.

In a study published in Optics Express, Prof. Meng Qingyu and his Doctoral student Qin Zichang from Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed a comprehensive reflective optical system design method with low tilt error sensitivity. This method not only optimizes the imaging performance of the system and controls the tilt error sensitivity of the optical system, but also considers the uniformity of the sensitivity of each mirror of the system.

Using the method of geometric optics, the researchers established the mathematical analysis models of single-mirror system and two-mirror system. Through the theoretical derivation of the relationship between the variety of optical path difference (OPD) caused by the tilt of optical system and the parameters of optical system, they concluded that the system with large incidence angle has greater variety of OPD and higher sensitivity when the tilt error applied, and the tangent slope at the intersection of ray and mirror is the key factor to determine the error sensitivity of optical system.

Based on the above finding, the researchers proposed the evaluation function S of tilt error sensitivity of optical system, and established a desensitization design method of reflective optical system. Taking an off-axis three-mirror optical system with a focal length of 100mm and an F-number of 5 as examples, they compared the tilt error sensitivity of the two systems before and after the desensitization design by using the proposed method. The results showed that this method is effective.

Explore further Towards automatic design for freeform optics

More information: Zichang Qin et al, Design method for a reflective optical system with low tilt error sensitivity, Optics Express (2021). Journal information: Optics Express Zichang Qin et al, Design method for a reflective optical system with low tilt error sensitivity,(2021). DOI: 10.1364/OE.447556
Fig. 1. Early Pliocene (4.5 Ma) paleogeographic reconstruction showing deep-sea drill sites (ODP and IODP) discussed in this study. In total, 25 paleoproductivity records from 18 (mostly low-latitude) sites were compiled (closed symbols). Other deep-sea sites (open symbols) and terrestrial records from Central China (squares) were evaluated but not included in the nal data compilations. Modern (perennial and equatorial) upwelling regions are indicated as orange shadings. EAM: East Asian Monsoon (green shaded area). PF: Polar Front (Southern Ocean; dashed line). Map generated on www.odsn.de (webpage consulted in 2020). Credit: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27784-6

By drilling deep down into sediments on the ocean floor researchers can travel back in time. A research team led from Uppsala University now presents new clues as to when and why a period often referred to as the 'biogenic bloom' came to an abrupt end. Changes in the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun may have played a part in the dramatic change.

Healthy ocean systems contain healthy primary producers, such as the single-celled algae diatoms and coccolithophores, which sustain all other life in the oceans through the marine food webs. Primary producers also release oxygen and regulate the climate by taking up CO 2 and binding carbon into solid components that are buried in deep-sea sediments, which is an effective long-term solution for carbon removal from the atmosphere.

Most of these algae use sunlight, CO 2 and inorganic nutrients to build up their body mass. However, these nutrients are quickly exhausted in the sun-lit surface waters, if not replenished by ocean mixing or renewed by river supply.

Throughout Earth's history, paleoceanographers reconstruct changes in primary productivity by looking at algal remains buried in ocean-floor sediments. Although only a small fraction of surface water production is recorded in marine sediments, on geological time scales, changes in the accumulation of biogenic sediments (including the calcareous scales of coccolithophores and siliceous shells of diatoms) are linked to past changes in ocean productivity.

It is important to understand what factors influence ocean productivity on a global scale, but also how fast or slow this complex system may respond to environmental changes.

For many decades, geoscientists have known about an extended period of time when ocean productivity was much higher than today. This occurred during the late Miocene to early Pliocene (from 9 to 3.5 million years ago) and the period is often called the 'biogenic bloom.' However, to date, scientists still do not fully understand the reasons why productivity was so much higher in the past, or why this period came to an end.

A group of scientists collaborating with Boris-Theofanis Karatsolis, a Ph.D. student at Uppsala University, combined multiple deep-sea sediment drill cores from all major oceans to investigate what caused the end of the high ocean productivity. Using scientific ocean drilling, it is possible to operate in waters as deep as 4 kilometers and still drill 1 kilometer down into the sediments, recovering millions of years of ocean history.

The sediments studied by Karatsolis and colleagues were recovered from 200350 meters below the seafloor on the northwestern Australian shelf. The researchers measured the accumulation rates of biogenic particles and combined their data with those previously collected using similar methods at 16 additional locations. The accuracy of the ages of each dataset was first critically assessed, to ensure reliable comparisons across the different regions.

Their results show that productivity declined abruptly 4.6 million years ago in the tropics. A possible explanation for this rapid decrease may involve reduced East Asian monsoon intensity and decreased riverine nutrient supply, coinciding with changes in the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

The study adds new pieces to the larger puzzle but the mechanisms behind this event will need further study.

"Understanding the natural pace of past events provides a good comparative measuring stick for the changes we observe in our environment today," says Boris-Theofanis Karatsolis.

Explore further Supernovae and life on Earth appear closely connected

More information: B.  Th. Karatsolis et al, Abrupt conclusion of the late Miocene-early Pliocene biogenic bloom at 4.6-4.4 Ma, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications B.  Th. Karatsolis et al, Abrupt conclusion of the late Miocene-early Pliocene biogenic bloom at 4.6-4.4 Ma,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27784-6
Workers on a Peruvian beach clean up an oil spill caused by abnormal waves triggered by a massive underwater volcanic eruption half a world away in Tonga.

Peruvian authorities sealed off three beaches Monday after they were hit by an oil spill blamed on freak waves caused by the volcanic eruption in Tonga.

The Pampilla Refinery, part of the Spanish company Repsol, said there had been a "limited spill" of oil off the coast of Callao and Ventanilla districts near Lima Saturday due to the violent waves produced by the eruption on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

It said the spill occurred during offloading from a tanker.

The National Emergency Operations Center said in a statement that the spill had been brought under control.

Environment Minister Ruben Ramirez said the accident had affected a three-kilometer (two-mile) stretch along three beaches.

"There is great damage to biodiversity, and it could even impact human health," he said.

"And so it has been ordered that the area is cut off for all kinds of activity," Ramirez told reporters.

Pampilla could face a fine of up to $34.5 million, the environment ministry said, as prosecutors opened an investigation into the company for environmental contamination.

Pampillawhich did not indicate exactly how much oil was spilledsaid it was working with authorities to clean up the affected beaches.

Ships worked on collecting oil still floating in the water, while workers in protective gear began cleaning oil that had washed ashore.

"We want to tell the environment ministry to please follow up, and that those responsible receive a punishment, because this affects the fishermen, the population that they feed with the fish, and marine animals," local Ventanilla resident Brenda Ramos told AFP.

Elsewhere in Peru, two women drowned after being caught in waves caused by the volcanic eruption in Tonga.

The island nation, in the southwest Pacific, has been nearly entirely cut off from the outside world after the eruption severed an undersea communications cable.

The eruption was recorded around the globe and heard as far away as Alaska, triggering a tsunami that flooded Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States.

Explore further Images reveal devastation in tsunami-hit Tonga

 2022 AFP
Interaction plot for target. This figure presents the marginal effects of the premium on CAR for the target. The solid line represents the estimated marginal effect depending on political affinity as the continuous moderator variable. The long-dash, dash, short-dash, short dash-dot, and dot lines represent confidence intervals (upper and lower boundary) with p values of 15, 12.5, 10, 7.5, and 5%. Credit: DOI: 10.1002/smj.3325

Investors react more negatively to transactions between firms in different countries if there is evidence of weak political affinity, a new study suggests.

The study, published in Strategic Management Journal, looked at whether investors use political affinity information to assess the reliability of premiumsthe price paid above the target firm's valueto secure a deal.

When one public company buys another, investors are left to decide whether the premium is an overpayment and if the deal is good or bad news.

Typically, value is wiped off the acquiring firm's shares due to investor fears about overpayment, and the target firm's share price tends to rise.

Researchers from the University of Exeter Business School, the University of Bremen and University of Hamburg examined 1,183 cross-border acquisitions between 1999 and 2018 and found that investors assess a deal and the premium differently depending on political affinity.

They found that when companies are based in countries with strong political affinity such as the UK and US, investors in both the acquiring and target firms react more moderately to the premium paid.

But when political affinity is weak, such as between the US and China, investors worry that the premium paid is an overpayment, and concerns about government intervention and whether the deal will go through result in value being wiped off the share price.

The researchers used voting behavior at the UN General Assembly over the past 10 years as a proxy for political affinity.

The data allowed the researchers to see how close UN member countries were on a range of global political issues at any time during the past decade.

According to Professor Sebastian Tideman, a Lecturer in Finance and Accounting from the University of Exeter Business School, the findings should be of interest not only to business and investors but to politicians too.

"The findings show there's a heavy cost to firms when you have too much disagreement between nations, with cross-border acquisitions leading to value to be wiped off a company's share price.

"Governments that want to maintain a healthy and open capital market should be aware of this, and businesses when they acquire other companies must remember to be careful who they select and factor in that investors will react more negatively if, for example, a US company is buying a Chinese firm as opposed to a UK one.

"If you can get similar deal conditions, it's better to pick the company either in the same country or with a high level of political affinity, and don't try to acquire a firm in a country where there is weak political affinity."

The researchers highlighted Microsoft's reported attempt to buy a stake in Chinese social media company TikTok as an example of how political tensions can harm deals between companies in different countries.

Microsoft was reportedly interested in becoming a minority investor in the video-sharing app, a prospect that resulted in US President Donald Trump signing an executive order threatening to ban TikTok in the US, saying it posed a security threat.

"It goes to show that all that we see now, with tensions in countries such as Russia, the Ukraine and China, is costly for the capital market and costly for acquiring and target firms alike."

The study "Political affinity and investors' response to the acquisition premium in cross-border M&A transactionsa moderation analysis" by Professor Sebastian Tideman and co-authored by Professor Christian Fieberg, Professor Kerstin Lopatta and Professor Thomas Tammen, is published in the Strategic Management Journal.

Explore further Supporting both political parties can help companies reduce risk

More information: Christian Fieberg et al, Political affinity and investors' response to the acquisition premium in crossborder M&A transactionsA moderation analysis, Strategic Management Journal (2021). Christian Fieberg et al, Political affinity and investors' response to the acquisition premium in crossborder M&A transactionsA moderation analysis,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/smj.3325
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Support for populist parties and politicians, and agreement with populist sentiment, has diminished during the pandemic, according to a "mega-dataset" taking in attitudes of over half a million people across 109 countries since 2020.

A University of Cambridge team say there are clear signs of a turning tide for the "populist wave", as the mishandling of coronavirus by populist leadersalong with a desire for stability and a decline in "polarizing" attitudes resulting from the pandemicstarts to move public opinion.

The authors of the new report, from Cambridge's Center for the Future of Democracy (CFD), describe the study as the first global overview of how the COVID-19 crisis has affected political beliefs.

They say that threats posed by the pandemic saw a "technocratic" shift in political authority worldwide, with increased trust in government, and in experts such as scientists and civil servants. Yet faith in the democratic process continued to falter.

"The story of politics in recent years has been the emergence of anti-establishment politicians who thrive on the growing distrust of experts," said Dr. Roberto Foa, Co-Director of the CFD and the report's lead author.

"From Erdogan and Bolsonaro to the 'strong men' of Eastern Europe, the planet has experienced a wave of political populism. COVID-19 may have caused that wave to crest."

"Electoral support for populist parties has collapsed around the world in a way we don't see for more mainstream politicians. There is strong evidence that the pandemic has severely blunted the rise of populism," said Foa.

The findings are published by Cambridge's Bennett Institute for Public Policy.

The first months of the pandemic saw many political leaders get a boost in ratingsa classic "rally round the flag" effect in troubled times, say researchers.

However, the approval ratings of populist leaders the world over began declining almost as soon as coronavirus hit, and have continued to sink ever since.

On average, populist leaders have seen a 10 percentage point drop between the spring of 2020 and the last quarter of 2021, while ratings for non-populistson averagereturned to around pre-pandemic levels.

Electoral support also plunged for their partiesseen most clearly in Europe, where the proportion of people intending to vote for a populist party* has fallen by an average of 11 percentage points to 27%.

Overall, across Europe, early lockdowns saw voting intention for incumbent parties increase. Yet all the continent's governing populistsfrom Italy's Five Star to Hungary's Fidezsbucked the trend with the largest declines in support.

Support for Europe's opposition populist parties also fell over the pandemicby 5 pp on average to 11%  while it rose for "mainstream" opposition.

Researchers suggest several factors for populism's fading appeal. One is simply the botch job made of the pandemic by populist governments: from Bolsonaro's mask veto to Trump's "bleach injection" suggestion.

The report's polling shows the public considered populist leaders to be less trustworthy sources of virus-related information than centrist counterparts.

In June 2020, approval of government handling of the crisis was 11 percentage points lower on average in countries with populist leaders than in those with more centrist governance. By the end of 2020, this gap had widened to 16 points.

Researchers also found that political "tribalism"fertile ground for populistshas declined in most countries. The percentage of party supporters expressing a "strong dislike" of those who vote for opposing politicians fell in most nations (although not the US) during the crisis.

"The pandemic fostered a sense of shared purpose that may have reduced the political polarization we've seen over the last decade," said CFD researcher and report co-author Dr. Xavier Romero-Vidal. "This could help explain why populist leaders are struggling to mobilise support."

Some of the ideas propagated by populists are losing ground. Levels of agreement with statements such as "corrupt elites" divide our nation or the "will of the people" should be obeyed fell in almost every nation surveyed.

For example, agreement with four such statements fell on average by 9 percentage points in Italy to 66%, 10 points in France to 61%, and 8 points in the UK to 64%, between 2019 and 2021.

Commitment to these ideas has also waned. Even among supporters, in almost every nation a smaller number now "strongly agree" than did in 2019. In developed democracies, this shift is predominantly among those aged over 55.

Moreover, areas with the sharpest drops in populist attitudes are some of the poorer "left behind" regionsfrom Eastern Poland to Southern Italy and Northern Hungarythat have been a focus for populist rhetoric and support.

"This may be down to some rebalancing of wealth as people escaped cities overrun with the virus," said Foa. "In addition, COVID-19 border closures stopped migration and globalized trade more effectively than any populist government."

However, some "illiberal" policies gained traction while populations were in the teeth of the pandemic. Majorities in all major nations surveyed in 2020 were content with banning handshakes, and much of the publicincluding majorities in Japan and Germanysupported restricting online discussions of the virus.

The consequence of populist decline has not been renewed faith in liberal democracy, say researchers. Perhaps tainted by the record of populists in office, support for democracy has also waned.

Instead, citizens increasingly favor technocratic sources of authority, such as having "non-political" experts take decisions.

By the start of summer 2020, belief that experts should be allowed to make decisions "according to what they think best for the country" had risen 14 points to 62% in Europe and 8 points to 57% in the US.

While trust in government has steadily climbed since the pandemic hit, increasing by 3.4 percentage points on average right across the world's democratic nations, faith in democracy as a political system barely changed.

"Satisfaction with democracy has recovered only slightly since the post-war nadir of 2019, and is still well below the long-term average," said Foa.

"Some of the biggest declines in democratic support during the pandemic were seen in Germany, Spain and Japannations with large elderly populations particularly vulnerable to the virus."

In the US, the percentage of people who consider democracy a "bad" way to run the country more than doubled from 10.5% in late 2019 to 25.8% in late 2021.

Added Foa: "The pandemic has brought good and bad news for liberal democracy. On the upside, we see a decline in populism and a restoration of trust in government. On the downside, some illiberal attitudes have are increasing, and satisfaction with democracy remains very low."
Projected L-CAM1 field of view from Schrodinger Basin on April 14, 2024. Credit: AstronetX

The SETI Institute teamed up with Louisiana State University (LSU) and Mississippi State University (MSU) to help students design the science program for AstronetX PBC's first lunar-based camera (L-CAM 1). The scientific program planning is funded by a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation grant to AstronetX. Additional funding for student participation is provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergrads (REU) program at LSU.

L-CAM1 will capture images for research in astrophysics, planetary science and planetary defense. Dr. Franck Marchis, a senior planetary astronomer at the SETI Institute, leads the SETI Institute's involvement. In addition to Marchis, Dr. Tabetha Boyjian (LSU) leads the science team with Dr. Matthew Penny (LSU) and Dr. Angelle Tanner (MSU).

"To develop the best plan, our student team first needed to create simulations of the portion of lunar sky L-CAM1 will see during the mission's multiple lunar days as a way of determining visible astrophysical and astronomical targets. One of the unique benefits L-CAM1 will provide is the duration of uninterrupted time individual subjects can be observed," said Marchis. "A next step for the solar system portion of the L-CAM1 science program was determining the asteroid population in the main belt that will cross our field of view."

The students developed two science cases for the observing program, based on understanding the benefits and limitations of a lunar observatory:

Improving the characterization of previously known exoplanets: Space-based observations allow high-precision measurements of parent star brightness changes when an orbiting exoplanet briefly passes in front of the star. The brightness changes can be a few percent for large exoplanets, down to less than 100 parts per million for rocky exoplanets similar in size to the Earth. Working continuously during a lunar day (~14 Earth days), L-CAM1 data will have long, uninterrupted observing sequences of exoplanet transit events. These long observing sequences will allow scientists to target specific systems and capture new data that can be used to determine properties of both the exoplanets and their host stars.

Asteroid observation and characterization: Approximately 200 asteroids will be observable by L-CAM1 during a multi-lunar day mission, including approximately one near-Earth asteroid (NEA) per month. The combination of lunar day length and the stable platform the lunar surface provides will enable precise astrometric (position) and photometric (brightness) observations for determining the physical properties and orbits of these small solar system bodies.

"Giving early-career students the chance to design a frontier, space-based science program that will operate on the lunar surface is a wonderful and unique opportunity to support the progression of tomorrow's leading astronomers and astrophysicists," said Boyajian, LSU Assistant Professor of Physics & Astronomy. "Planning a science program from scratch also presents a number of challenges that students often don't get exposure to this early in their careers."

Student Experience

Rendering of AstronetX L-CAM 1 Telescope. Credit: AstronetX

"Some of the specific data analysis was classifying targets by type and observability, including opportunities to continuously observe the light curves of near-Earth asteroids so we can characterize them in new ways," said Peter Santana, L-CAM1 Student Science Team member who worked at the SETI Institute as part of their REU program. "Where we're really limited by time, weather and other conditions when observing from Earth, we anticipate being able to observe some targets for up to 100 continuous hours. This is something that ground-based and low-Earth orbiting telescopes generally cannot do."

"Working on L-CAM has been a dream come true for me. I've been an astronomer since I was 13, and now I'm developing the science program for a lunar surface telescope," said Farzaneh Zohrabi, L-CAM1 student science team member studying at LSU. "A unique thing that we're planning to do with L-CAM makes precise measurements of nearby bright stars and their exoplanets. This is something that cannot easily be done using ground-based telescopes on Earth because of the atmosphere and saturation limits."

The long-duration and precise light curves of stars and asteroids may enable the detection of exomoons orbiting the exoplanets or moons orbiting their host asteroids. The light curves of transiting exoplanets captured by L-CAM can also detect a phenomenon called "transit timing variations," which occur due to the gravitational tug of additional objects orbiting the host star being observed. Scientists using L-CAM1 will similarly be able to study the light curves of near-Earth asteroids over longer durations to better characterize orbital parameters and rotational spin, contribute to advanced 3-D modeling and identify transiting asteroid moons.

"Because of my data science background, the initial challenge presented to me was to think about how we can map all the known exoplanets and their hosts in order to identify what will be observable from L-CAM1's landing site," said Carol Miu, L-CAM1 student science team member studying at Collin College. "I wrote a script that uses the Stellarium planetarium (stellarium.org) to determine what stars and known exoplanets will be in our planned field of view at specific times, and matched the results against NASA's exoplanet archive data to determine orbital periods and our list of candidate targets."

"My focus began with determining where we should be looking by using the Stellarium planetarium and other software to model the night sky. This enabled us to put together a list of candidate host stars and exoplanets for observation," said Connor Langevin, L-CAM1 student science team member studying at LSU. "More recently, I've started to identify the observability of near-Earth asteroids. This involves determining L-CAM's field of view at specific times and matching that with specific asteroids that will be viewable."

After selecting initial science targets, the team considered alternate mission schedule and landing locations for L-CAM1, requiring additional analysis to modify the list of targets. The team was able to step back and consider how programmatic changes or a multi-mission program can be efficiently designed while minimizing rework. The student team also had to develop a data acquisition strategy constrained by transmission limitations from the Moon to Earth for analysis.

"L-CAM has several advantages. The lack of atmosphere on the lunar surface, compared to ground-based telescopes for deep space science, will provide a higher level of precision, there will be longer continuous observation windows due to the two-week-long lunar day, and we will be able to observe areas closer to the sun than we can from Earth," said Dr. Jonas Kluter, L-CAM1 student science team member studying at LSU. "However, our observing and data strategy posed a challenge. Because data transmission from L-CAM to Earth is limited, we needed to determine how much data we require on stars and asteroids in order to fully characterize them. This includes exposure time, magnitude limits, and how many pixels are required to conduct the science."

Explore further Astronomers discover a sub-Neptune exoplanet orbiting nearby star
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

High school students who have trouble paying attention in class are more likely to admit to cheating, a new study shows.

Researchers found that inattention led to hyperactivity in the students, and both together contributed to higher levels of cheating.

The issue is important because many students with attention problems don't get an official diagnosis, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, said Eric Anderman, lead author of the study and professor of educational psychology at The Ohio State University.

"Students diagnosed with ADHD get a lot of support and help in school, but many other kids with attention problems fall through the cracks," Anderman said.

"They don't get the help they need that could help them do better in school and avoid cheating."

Anderman conducted the study with Richard Gilman of Terrace Metrics and Xingfeiyue Liu, a doctoral student, and Seung Yon Ha, a postdoctoral scholar, both in education at Ohio State. Their results were published recently in the journal Psychology in the Schools.

The researchers studied 855 adolescents from three midwestern public schools, two suburban and one rural. Data was collected twice from the students, about one year apart.

The students completed a standardized measure of inattention that asked them to rate how much they felt they had trouble paying attention to their teacher, how forgetful they were, whether they had a short attention span, and similar questions.

Students' hyperactivity was rated by their responses to questions like whether they had trouble sitting still and whether they talked over other people.

To evaluate cheating, students rated how true it would be to say they used cheat sheets when they took tests, copied answers from other students, and similar statements.

The results showed that students with higher levels of inattention reported higher levels of hyperactivity, and students who were more hyperactive reported a higher rate of cheating.

Hyperactivity by itself was not linked to more cheating.

"Inattention is the driver here, the issue that leads to problems in the classroom," Anderman said.

"The student is not paying attention, so he gets out of his seat and goofs around, and when you put both together, that is a perfect setup for more cheating."

The study took into account a wide variety of other factors that have been linked to cheating, including depression, learning disabilities, gender, ethnicity, grade point average and whether students qualified for special education servicesand inattention still was related to cheating.

In addition, the researchers also examined how disruptive students were in class, based on reports from their peers. That didn't influence cheating.

"Once you account for inattentiveness and hyperactivity, we found that disruptiveness wasn't related to cheating. That is not what is driving cheating behaviors," Anderman said.

Generally accepted rates of ADHD are between 7-9% of students aged 17 and younger. Studies suggest, however, that up to three times as many students have problems with attention or hyperactivity, but either don't meet the criteria for the ADHD diagnosis or have never been evaluated.

That doesn't mean they don't need help, Anderman said.

"There are so many evidence-based programs that can help these students who have problems with attention learn to self-regulate, to learn how to be a learner," Anderman said.

"If they had access to these programs, they could learn in class and they wouldn't have to cheat. And these students are not learning partially because of attention issues they can't help."

Explore further How disliked classes affect college student cheating

More information: Eric M. Anderman et al, The relations of inattention and hyperactivity to academic cheating in adolescents with executive functioning problems, Psychology in the Schools (2022). Eric M. Anderman et al, The relations of inattention and hyperactivity to academic cheating in adolescents with executive functioning problems,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/pits.22644
A new study of zebra mussels, like this one growing in a tank in the lab of U of T Engineering researcher Eli Sone, offers insights into creating new medical adhesives as well as ways to prevent fouling of water intake pipes. Credit: Angelico Obille

A water tank full of coin-sized invertebrates may not be the first thing you'd expect to see in a materials science and engineering research lab.

But Eli Sone, a professor in the department of materials science and engineering in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, and his team have been studying both zebra and quagga mussels for years in the hope that they can help solve a diverse range of challenges.

"There's a materials science angle, but there's also a biomedical angle," says Sone. "On the one hand, these mussels are a problem in terms of what we call biofouling, so we're looking to design materials or coatings to keep them from clogging water intake pipes, for example."

"But on the other hand, if we understand why they stick so well, that could help us design things like non-toxic biodegradable glues, which could offer an alternative to internal stitches for surgery or localized drug delivery applications."

Zebra and quagga mussels are native to the lakes and rivers of southern Russia and Ukraine. They arrived in the Great Lakes of North America in the 1980slikely by hitching a ride in the ballast water of ships that departed from Europe.

They have since become invasive in many North American waterways, displacing native mussel species and fouling boats, water intake pipes and other infrastructure.

The team's latest study, recently published in Scientific Reports, outlines new techniques for measuring the adhesion of zebra and quagga mussels to various surfaces.

"One of the challenges is how small these mussels are compared to other species," says U of T Engineering alumnus Bryan James, who worked on the project as part of his undergraduate thesis and is now a post-doctoral scholar at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Mass.

"The threads they use to attach themselves to surfaces are only a few millimeters long and as thin as a human hair. You can't put them in a traditional apparatus for testing tensile strength."

The team's improvised solution involved a pair of fine-tipped, self-closing tweezers, a digital camera and a force gauge. With these, they were able to measure just how much force was required to break the protein-based glue that the mussels secrete.

The team found that the mussels adhered more strongly to glass than they did to plastics such as PVC or PDMS. This was expected, as glass is a hydrophilic (water-attracting) material similar to the rocks that the mussels use as substrates in nature. PDMS, on the other hand, repels water and is often applied to boat hulls to prevent biofouling.

But there were some surprises as well.

"The actual magnitude of these values was comparable toor in some cases greater thanreported values for other species of mussels," says James. "This suggests that there may well be something special about the glue they have evolved."

After the threads had been detached, the team scanned the glue left behind on the surfaces using electron microscopy.

"On some surfaces we found that a thin protein residue was left behind after detachment," says Kenny Kimmins, a current Ph.D. student in Sone's lab.

"This shows that the proteins at the interface interact very strongly with these surfaces even in wet conditions, which most synthetic adhesives can't do."

Sone and his team are continuing their research in the area, working with Associate Professor Ben Hatton on new types of surfaces to prevent fouling of critical infrastructure.

"Right now, people often use chemical treatment to remove the mussels," says Sone. "That works, but it also kills everything else nearby. Having surfaces that are naturally hard for the mussels to stick to could offer a more environmentally sustainable option."

The team is also analyzing the glues produced by both zebra and quagga mussels, with the aim of mimicking them in biomedical adhesives.

"Nature has had a few million years' head start on us in terms of designing high-performance adhesives that are resilient even when wet," says Sone. "If we can learn from that, we may be able to come up with better solutions than what we have right now."

Explore further Quagga mussel found to be primary regulator of phosphorus cycling in lower four Great Lakes

More information: Bryan D. James et al, Attachment of zebra and quagga mussel adhesive plaques to diverse substrates, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Bryan D. James et al, Attachment of zebra and quagga mussel adhesive plaques to diverse substrates,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03227-6
Almirall and IRB Barcelona announce a research collaboration to discover novel molecular glue therapeutics for severe skin diseases

Details Category: More News Published on Tuesday, 18 January 2022 10:55 Hits: 2354

The collaboration aims to identify novel oral therapies for immune-inflammatory skin diseases with high unmet medical needs using a novel therapeutic modality called molecular glue degraders

Molecular glue degraders could represent an opportunity to expand the scope of druggable targets with small, drug-like molecules that can reprogram natural cellular mechanisms to selectively remove disease driving proteins from human tissues

BARCELONA, Spain I January 18, 2022 I Almirall, S.A. (ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health, and IRB Barcelona (the Institute for Research in Biomedicine), an independent, international research centre engaged in fundamental and applied biomedical science, announced today a research collaboration to identify new oral treatments for immune-inflammatory skin diseases with remaining high unmet medical needs using molecular glue degraders, a novel therapeutic modality. These monovalent degraders offer a new avenue to induce the degradation of potentially disease-causing proteins that cannot be targeted with conventional therapeutic agents.

The collaboration brings together Almiralls scientific, dermatological, and data analysis knowledge with the expertise of the IRB Barcelonas Targeted Protein Degradation and Drug Discovery lab, led by Dr. Cristina Mayor-Ruiz. Recently awarded with an ERC Starting Grant, Dr. Mayor-Ruiz is a reputed expert on targeted protein degradation and pioneer investigator in the areas of the rational screening of molecular glues as well as the elucidation of their mechanism of action. Through this partnership, Almirall is expanding its toolbox of Targeted Protein Degradation approaches by entering the field of molecular glues.

Almirall scientists have identified several proteins whose abnormal function is associated with inflammatory immune skin diseases. However, many of these potentially therapeutically relevant proteins are not amenable to conventional small-molecule inhibitors, as they lack defined ligand-binding pockets. Molecular glue degraders can harness and reprogram natural cellular mechanisms to selectively remove those disease driving proteins from human tissues. They can do so by promoting interactions ("gluing") between these therapeutically relevant proteins and the machinery used by cells to naturally tag and destroy proteins.

"This exciting collaboration underlines Almirall's R&D commitment to provide innovative treatment options to patients suffering from severe skin diseases. It also builds on complementary core expertise of each partner to facilitate research and drug development. We are eager to start working with Dr. Cristina Mayor-Ruizs group in the development of molecular glue therapeutic and are convinced that this partnership has the potential to address unmet needs in dermatological diseases.", states Dr. Thomas Huber, Head of Research at Almirall.

We are very excited about this collaboration with Almirall. It's an amazing opportunity to put their knowledge and experience in dermatology, together with our expertise in molecular glues to accelerate drug discovery to treat skin diseases. The biochemical characteristics of molecular glues make them suitable candidates, and this innovative approach could really mark a turning point in dermatological pharmacology. So much looking forward to making this vision a reality together with Almiralls fantastic team, explains Cristina Mayor-Ruiz, Ph.D., Junior Group Leader at IRB Barcelona

Over the past year, Almirall has established strategic collaborations to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapies in Medical Dermatology. Examples of these agreements are the partnership with BIOMAP, the first dermatology project of the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), to advance the field of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and the collaboration with the University of Dundee, which will bring with it the opportunity to develop new therapies based on Proteolysis Targeted Chimeras, another type of targeted protein degraders.

About IRB Barcelona

Created in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) and University of Barcelona, IRB Barcelona is a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, a seal that was awarded in 2011. The institute is devoted to conducting research of excellence in biomedicine and to transferring results to clinical practice, thus improving peoples quality of life, while simultaneously promoting the training of outstanding researchers, technology transfer, and public communication of science. Its 27 laboratories and eight core facilities address basic questions in biology and are orientated to diseases such as cancer, metastasis, Alzheimers, diabetes, and rare conditions. IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 400 employees and more than 30 nationalities. It is located in the Barcelona Science Park. IRB Barcelona is a CERCA center, and a member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST).

For more information, please visit www.irbbarcelona.org

About Almirall

Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patients needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients in need.

The company, founded in 1943 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange and is a member of the IBEX35 (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 78-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Currently, Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, through 13 subsidiaries, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2020 were 814.5 million euros.

For more information, please visit almirall.com

SOURCE: Almirall
As Dr. Kathleen Braico watched Afghan families evacuate Afghanistan as the Taliban took over in August, she knew she needed to find a way to help.

At least 55,000 are currently living on U.S. Army bases, unable to find housing, their relocation delayed by a housing shortage and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The government has been helping these people find homes, but its just the numbers are so huge and the housing situations so difficult in the United States that its been a very slow process, Braico said. And many people are still stuck waiting, hoping to start their new lives and not being able to do so.

Through research, she found an organization called Sponsor Circles, a nongovernmental group that helps Afghan refugees find homes on a one-family-at-a-time basis.

Braico reached out to local friends, including Dr. Richard Leach, and formed a group called Adirondack Welcome Circle to find a way to bring one Afghan family of four to settle in the Glens Falls area.

The refugees will arrive with Social Security numbers and green cards so they are able to work. But they will need help finding rental housing, applying for benefits, job training, health services and possibly English lessons. Children will need to be enrolled in school.

They need to be oriented to this culture, Braico said. Perhaps theyve never shopped at a grocery store before. Perhaps they are unfamiliar with how to ride a bus and buy the tickets to get on the bus ... so all of that is what were going to be helping them with in the first three months.

Sponsor Circles requires Adirondack Welcome Circle to raise $2,275 per family member, which is $9,100 for a family of four. That money needs to cover all these expenses and more.

We will need in-kind donations as well. I presume that we will not find a furnished apartment, Braico pointed out. I presume that were going to have to find furniture, linens, towels, dishes, toilet bowl cleaners, everything that a new family needs to start.

The family may need clothing as well.

Adirondack Welcome Circle is currently raising money to help fund this project. There is an account open at Glens Falls National Bank. They also plan to start a GoFundMe page.

More information can be found on the groups Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/354576082782939. Donations can be mailed to Adirondack Welcome Circle, P.O. Box 132, Glens Falls, N.Y. 12801. The group will soon have a website that will also accept donations.

The group also needs more people to assist the effort, including someone who can handle the financial end of the project and legal services, because the in-coming family will have temporary visas and will have to apply for asylum. They also need people who know about the system of help thats available.

It takes a village to raise a child, Braico said. Well, its going to take a whole community to make these people welcome here.

The relocation and transition may be difficult for the refugee family, since there are few Afghan families in the Glens Falls area and the closest mosque is in Latham, Braico said.

It may also be difficult for locals who may not fully accept the new family into the area.

Im very concerned about that actually, said Leach, to the point where weve actually asked a sheriff into our organization with that specific thing in mind. And we are already reaching out to the Jewish community, too, of course, who has a historical problem with Arabs. So were kind of anticipating that thats going to happen.

But both Leach and Braico are optimistic, however, that the community will welcome the new neighbors.

Leach said a lot has changed about the demographics of the area since he moved here in 1977 to set up his medical practice.

There was very, very little diversity here, Leach said. I dont remember anyone Black or even Brown on the streets in those days.

That is not the case now, he said.

Braico said she is confident the Glens Falls community is willing and able to be welcoming to this Afghan family. She hopes locals will value the need for diversity in the community.

She moved here in 1978 and said she couldnt imagine a better place to raise her family.

I think that we need immigrants, she said. Like most white Americans, Im here because my grandparents immigrated. If it wasnt for a grandmother at the age of 16 was willing to leave her family in Czechoslovakia and never to ever see them again and come to this country  I wouldnt be here. Most of us are the descendants of immigrants. And its a way to pay it forward.

They were willing to take big risks and come here, Braico continued, and I think that we can help other people who are willing to take big risks and come here. And they will enrich our community.

Gretta Hochsprung writes features and hometown news. She can be reached at 518-742-3206 or ghochsprung@poststar.com.

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When you walk into Izzys Steak & Seafood House at The Inn at Sugar Hill, you obviously feel the warmth, charm and beauty of a place that has endured for more than 170 years in Mays Landing.

But if you know the history and the tough times it has encountered in the last decade or so, you cant help but also feel a sense of relief that the place is still there for you to enjoy. Once you get to know the new owners, you will be even more relieved that its in good hands and will hopefully be around for another 170 years.

The Inn at Sugar Hill defines Mays Landing. Since 1846, its the place where families have celebrated milestones, whether staying in one of its six rooms  like many diginitaries have done over the years  to getting married overlooking the Great Egg Harbor River to simply enjoying a great meal inside its formal dining rooms or casually on its manicured lawn.

Last year, after working together at the now-closed Pork Island Grill in Ocean City, Wendy and Victor Fabietti decided to continue their collaboration with Israel Izzy Rodriguez and purchased the landmark inn and restaurant and eventually spawned two eateries at the location: Izzys River Landing, a casual, outdoor spot right on the river that opened over the summer; and Izzys Steak & Seafood House that opened this fall inside the historic building.

Although they arent legal business partners, Fabietti says she considers Rodriguez, their executive chef, a true partner.

It all came about meeting Izzy, Wendy Fabietti says. He is such a great chef and a great person, and my husband and I were looking for something and someone to invest in, and I couldnt find a better person than Israel Rodriguez.

Fabietti appreciates the historic side of the Inn, but she said buying it was not personal, it was business.

It was a great deal, she says. Its right on the river, and I knew Izzy would do a great job on the menu, which he has, and it has a liquor license, Fabietti says. For us it was more of an investment at the forefront, and the sentimental part took a back seat. It can be as beautiful and historic as can be, but if its not financially viable, you cant pull the trigger. But this is and thats why we purchased it. It has everything we were looking for: The river, a liquor license and Izzys great food.

Steak and seafoodSpeaking of food, thats where Rodriguez comes in. The Academy of Culinary Arts in Mays Landing graduate is a restaurant veteran and has worked in area restaurants including the former Buddakan and Continental in Atlantic City, Chickies & Petes at the Tropicana, Margaritaville at Resorts and the former Roberts Steakhouse at Trump Taj Mahal, now Hard Rock.

I am just grateful for the opportunity, Rodriguez says. It took a lot of hard work and determination to get here, going up the ranks of all those different places. I had the pleasure of working for some great chefs and kitchen managers You take a little from everywhere you worked and use that as your base for the future. At the beginning I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going, but it shaped up to be a great 15-plus years, and hopefully the next 15 years are even better.

By the way his fans at Izzys Steakhouse & Seafood are responding, he has nothing to be worried about.

Start with some fresh oysters or middleneck clams from the raw bar, or one of the half dozen appetizers on the menu, including standouts such as the garlic and herb chicken meatballs ($13), scalloped ($16) wrapped in bacon with a sesame soy glaze, fresh hummus with pita bread, coconut shrimp ($11) or sesame-crusted tuna ($16) with a ginger and ponzu sauce.

Homemade soups include Italian wedding ($8), and the crab bisque special was outstanding last weekend. Fresh salads like the wedge ($12) with an outstanding smoked blue cheese dressing and Izzys Salad ($24) with lump crab, broiled shrimp, roasted scallops, red onion, tomatoes, green beans and a lemon-herb vinaigrette wont disappoint.

But the stars of the show are the three certified angus beef steaks on the menu, including a 10-ounce filet ($52), 22-ounce, bone-in cowboy steak for two ($72), a 16-ounce, bone-in N.Y. strip ($48), plus an 8-ounce American wagyu flat-iron kobe steak ($28) to go along with a 16-ounce bone-in, center-cut pork chop ($27) served over hot apple cinnamon chutney and chicken cacciatore ($18).

I am a steakhouse guy at heart, Rodriguez says. I always loved to have a great steak with some whipped potatoes. I love the classic feel of a steakhouse, and when I worked for Chef Will Savarese at Roberts, he really opened my eyes to what makes a great steakhouse. Its about clean, simple, quality, classic food made from scratch served cleanly on a plate. It doesnt have to be Picasso on a plate. I just find it soothing that guests can walk in and find a great steak on a plate with some delicious smashed potatoes. It might sound simple, but its what people want. Its what I want.

While the prices can rival some casinos, Izzys Steakhouses entrees are accompanied with smashed potatoes and broccoli rabe so you arent getting hit over the head a la carte for sides, a rarity in a steakhouse these days.

You can always go a step above and go prime, but with the way beef prices are right now, I think angus is the way to go so you dont price people out of coming to your restaurant, Rodriguez says.

As the restaurant name implies, seafood plays a big role, including an 8-ounce jumbo lump crab cake ($32) with smoked paprika garlic aioli, a 12-ounce Maine lobster tail ($60), the popular roasted salmon oreganata ($25) served over parmesan risotto and Mediterranean scallops ($22) with a spicy Pomodoro sauce with sauteed olives and fennel.

Rodriguez also knows pasta, including his signature pasta Bolognese ($20) with pork and beef, shrimp scampi or Fra Diavalo ($20), clams and linguini ($20) served with a red or white sauce, and Riverside Rigatoni ($22) with white and red kidney beans, Italian sausage, broccoli rabe and chili flakes in a white wine garlic sauce.

Its all about nice, classic food presented well, Rodriguez says. Its the simple things in life that are special.

Hard work pays offOne thing immediately noticeable is that the Fabiettis and Rodriguezes are hard workers.

Izzys wife Alisha is working the door and manages the front of the house while her husband is running the kitchen and cooking his butt off. Wendy Fabietti, meanwhile, is jumping from table to table, ensuring customers are pleased, while her husband Vic is in the kitchen expediting orders. This is a family affair.

I think we are both dedicated to our craft, Rodriguez says. I am dedicated to putting out the best food I can, whether I am flipping burgers at McDonalds or here. Vic wakes up and works as an accountant all day and then comes here and expedites in the kitchen. And Wendy is up at the crack of dawn getting stuff done from the business side of the restaurant, and then she works in the restaurant all night. We all work really hard and mesh really well. We dont stop. Even on days off when we think we wont talk to each other, we talk for hours at a time making sure everything is right.

On a recent Saturday night, Izzys Steakhouse & Seafood at The Inn at Sugar Hill was quite crowded despite it being cold, January and during a COVID outbreak, a good sign that people are responding to whats being done at their favorite, historic Mays Landing institution.

Come hang out for whatever reason, Rodriguez says. Whether you are staying the night, coming for dinner, coming in to sit at the bar to have a drink, or just stopping in for a coffee and a creme brulee, we make you feel at home. Come in as friends, leave as family.
LOS ANGELES  Netflix could be a dominant force at next months NAACP Image Awards.

The streaming giant on Tuesday emerged with a leading 52 nominations including the film The Harder They Fall. The movie  featuring a large starry cast including Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba and LaKeith Stanfield  pulled in 12 nominations, including for best picture. Netflix landed 23 nominations in the television/streaming categories.

The Harder They Fall, produced by Jay-Z, is based on real Black characters from the Old West who have generally been overlooked in the genre. The story follows Nat Love, a cowboy whose gun-slinging crew face off with Rufus Black, an outlaw who killed Loves parents years ago.

Issa Raes Insecure earned 13 nominations including best comedy television series. Harlem, black-ish, Run the World and The Upshaws are also competing for best comedy series. The Upshaws and Colin in Black & White are among the Netflix series recognized by the Image Awards.

H.E.R. received the most nominations in the music recording categories with six, including best female artist and album for her project Back of My Mind. She will compete in the outstanding album category against Silk Sonics An Evening with Silk Sonic, Drakes Certified Lover Boy, Jazmine Sullivans Heaux Tales and When Its All Said and Done Take Time by Giveon.

Regina King will compete for entertainer of the year against Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson and Tiffany Haddish.

The nominees were announced by black-ish actor Marcus Scribner, singer Tinashe and actor/musician Kyla Pratt.

In addition to The Harder They Fall, the nominees for best picture are King Richard, Respect, The United States vs. Billie Holiday and Judas and the Black Messiah

Stanfield could come away with best leading and supporting actor trophies. Hes nominated for best actor in a film for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah and his supporting efforts in The Harder They Fall.

For best actor, Stanfield will compete against Denzel Washington, Majors, Mahershala Ali and Will Smith.

The nominees for best actress in a film are Andra Day, Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Tessa Thompson and Zendaya.

RCA Records might make its presence felt with the most nominations across record labels. The label garnered 15 nominations with the musical success of H.E.R, Sullivan, Doja Cat and Kirk Franklin.

With the rise in COVID-19 cases, the awards honoring entertainers and writers of color will move forward without an in-person audience. The two-hour awards show, hosted by Anthony Anderson, will be telecast at 8 p.m. on Feb. 26 on BET.
Events

Wednesday, Jan. 19

BINGO: 1 to 2 p.m.; virtual event presented by The Lynn Kramer Village by the Shore at Jewish Family Service. 609-287-8872 or JFSVillageByTheShore.org.

WEEKLY WEDNESDAY OPEN GAMING: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays; open gaming; masks required; Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org.

Saturday, Jan. 22

WEEKLY SATURDAY OPEN GAMING: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays; join friends to play mah-jongg, scrabble, canasta or pinochle; masks required; Longport Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org.

Monday, Jan. 24

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ATLANTIC CITY SPEAKER SERIES KICKOFF: 5 to 7 p.m., featuring Chris Singleton, former professional baseball outfielder, a sportscaster and inspirational speaker; free livestream; for all ages; details visit acbgc.org or the organizations Eventbrite and Facebook pages.

Wednesday, Jan. 26

CUMBERLAND COUNTY LIBRARY ONLINE MOVIE CLUB: 6:30 to 8 p.m. fourth Wednesdays; hosted by Cumberland County Library; for ages 18 and older; watch movies for free with Hoopla, then meet up on Zoom for discussion; registration required. 856-453-2210, ext. 26103 or CCLNJ.org.

ONLINE MOVIE CLUB: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesdays; hosted by Cumberland County Library; for ages 18 and older; meeting on Zoom. 856-453-2210, ext. 26103 or CCLNJ.org.

Thursday, Feb. 3

TOWNSHIP OF HAMILTON GREEN TEAM MEETING: 7 to 8:30 p.m. first Thursdays; join the Township of Hamilton Green Team to see how you can make a difference; Municipal Building, 6101 13th St., Mays Landing. TownshipOfHamilton.com.

For kids

Wednesday, Jan. 19

STORYTIME: 10 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19, 26; for kids ages 5 and younger with their caregiver; Vineland Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Ave., Vineland. 856-794-4244 or VinelandLbrary.org.

Groups

Wednesday, Jan. 19

MONTHLY VIRTUAL ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: 2 to 3 p.m. third Wednesdays; hosted by Alzheimers Association; for caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimers and others dealing with the disease; facilitated by trained individuals. 800-272-3900.

TOO MUCH STUFF? GROUP: 1 to 2 p.m. first and third Wednesdays; the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County offers an online support group for individuals with clutter challenges and collecting behaviors that impede their day-to-day living; group meets virtually via Zoom. 609-652-3800, ext. 303 or MHAAC.info.

TOO MUCH STUFF? MEETINGS: 1 to 2 p.m. first and third Wednesdays; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; online or call-in support for those with clutter challenges, collecting behaviors, or hoarding tendency. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info.

Thursday, Jan. 20

ONLINE MENS WELLNESS GROUP: 6 to 7 p.m. first and third Thursdays; offered by The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; via Zoom or by call-in; topics vary, but may include family/relationships, substance use and coping strategies during COVID; to receive a link, email jangelini@mhanj.org. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info.

NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: 1 to 3 p.m. third Thursdays; lunch meeting of South Jersey Shore Chapter 1664 of NARFE; current, retired and spouses of Federal Employees are welcome; Shore Diner, 6710 Tilton Road, Egg Harbor Township. 609-822-2018 or NARFE.net.

Friday, Jan. 21 NICOTINE ANONYMOUS: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays; fellowship of men and women helping each other to live free of nicotine; 351 Cincinnati Ave., Egg Harbor City; free. 609-602-5701, 609-965-4847 or 609-226-4193.

Sunday, Jan. 23

MEDITATION  ONLINE GROUP: 7:15 to 8 p.m. Sundays; offered by The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; staff offer a guided calming meditation or breathing exercise; to receive a link by email and join the group online, email btrendler@mhanj.org. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info.

Thursday, Jan. 27

ICI OF SOUTH JERSEY RESUMES MEETINGS: 6 to 8:30 p.m. fourth Thursdays through June 2022; creates an awareness and appreciation of Italian culture; St. Frances Cabrini Church, Room C, 114 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City; $4 donation non-members. 609-602-9017.

Tuesday, Feb. 1

ARCHERY CLUB: 7 to 8 p.m. first Tuesdays; meeting in Egg Harbor Township; all types of bows and expertise welcome. 609-601-2663.

Thursday, Feb. 3

TWP. OF HAMILTON GREEN TEAM MEETING: 7 to 8:30 p.m. first Thursdays; join the Township of Hamilton Green Team; Municipal Building, 6101 13th St., Mays Landing. lmccardell@townshipofhamilton.com.

Monday, Feb. 7

NAMI ATLANTIC CAPE MAY CONNECTION MEETING: 7 to 8:30 p.m. first Mondays; NAMI Connection is a recovery support group for adults living with mental health issues; peer run group offers attendees a safe, confidential place to share and understand their experiences living with mental health issues; held via Zoom; free. 609-741-5125 or NAMIACM.org.

Saturday, Feb. 12

SOUTHERN NJ AFRICAN VIOLET CLUB: 10 a.m. to noon second Saturdays; Elwood Volunteer Fire Dept., 414 Elwood Road, Mullica Township; discuss plant care tips and needs; open to all; no membership fees; masks required and COVID-19 social distancing rules in effect. snjavc.org or email snjavc.violet@gmail.com or Facebook@southernnewjerseyafricanvioletclub.

Monday, Feb. 14

NAMI ATLANTIC/CAPE MAY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP: 7 to 8:30 p.m. second Mondays; virtual meeting for family members of individuals struggling with mental health illness and co-occurring addiction disorders; free, registration required. 609-741-5125 or NAMIACM.org.

Health, fitness</&h1>

Tuesday, Jan. 18

BODY IMAGE & BALANCE MEETINGS: 7 to 8 p.m. first and third Tuesdays; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; call-in and online group for those living with or recovering from disordered eating. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info.

COMFORT CUISINE: HEALTHY & DELICIOUS: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Comfort Cuisine: Healthy & Delicious; presented by The Lynn Kramer Village by the Shore at Jewish Family Service. 609-287-8872 or JFSVillageByTheShore.org.

Wednesday, Jan. 19

BOOMERS CONNECTION & WELLNESS HOUR: 7 to 8 p.m. first and third Wednesdays; boomers meet virtually or by call-in for a social connection and wellness group; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info.

MIND AND BODY VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays; workshop is provided to individuals who live with a disability; participants discuss topics such as adapting, goal setting, refocusing and more; offered by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County. 609-652-3800, ext. 308 or MHAAC.info.

Thursday, Jan. 20

RISING MINDS ONLINE MEETING: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; offered by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; peer-led meeting for individuals age 18 to 30; participants discuss mental health, share experiences, develop tools for self-care and connect to others. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info.

Music</&h1>

Thursday, Jan. 20

VIRTUAL JAM SERIES: 7 p.m. Thursdays; hosted by Absecon Cultural Arts Alliance streaming live via Facebook; features local musicians. AbseconArts.com.

</&h1>
SHAMONG  Advocates for New Jerseys ecologically sensitive Pinelands region say the state is not doing nearly enough to protect the fragile woodlands from damage caused by motorcycles and off-road vehicles.

Parts of numerous state forests contained within the 1.1 million acre Pinelands district are marred by tire tracks, huge potholes flooded with water and trampled trees and vegetation caused by vehicles venturing off approved paths.

The state Department of Environmental Protection says it is planning two significant initiatives to address illegal vehicle use in the Pinelands: requiring vehicle users to register with the state later this year and obtain a permit to operate in the district, and the creation of an interactive map showing where off-road vehicle use would be approved or prohibited.

Interested parties can comment on the map, including circling areas of concern. The tool could be ready by April, the department said, and will be used to help create final maps for vehicle use.

Many people who hike the Pinelands point out giant mud holes carved by those vehicles. They say they come across barriers that were run over or chain-sawed to allow vehicles into forbidden areas and find tire tracks cutting gashes through otherwise pristine forests.

When seeking something beautiful, you find instead a hilltop ripped to shreds, or you dont even get there because the road is bombed out with monster truck ruts, said Jared Flesher, who spent four years on a documentary film about damage to the Pinelands caused by recreational vehicles.

TackleDirect building in Egg Harbor City still possible, mayor says EGG HARBOR CITY  A new TackleDirect building in the city may still happen despite public di

Lee Yeash, a Pinelands conservationist, says she no longer wants to hike in the woods.

No matter where I have gone, I have been run off the trails by ATVs and motorbikes, she said. I cant walk on the Batona Trail and not be run off by motorized vehicles. I cant walk on trails I used to hike because they have been washed away due to (off-road vehicle) destruction.

I have done what I can to tolerate and share the Pines with other groups, but they have won, she said. I will not go back. The DEP has done nothing to help me despite calls, letters, emails and activism.

Shawn LaTourette, the DEP commissioner, said the state is obligated to balance the competing demands of users.

Its not as though theres one group thats noble and one group that isnt, he said. Its far too easy to idealize one party and villainize another. Its not the case that every off-road vehicle user is a bad guy, and not every environmentalist is automatically virtuous.

Albert Horner, a Pinelands nature photographer and advocate, said the state has shown itself incapable of protecting the Pinelands by failing to make difficult choices.

If you are trying to appease all the stakeholders, it is a no-win situation, Horner said. If there was a group called the New Jersey Bulldozer Association or the New Jersey Tree Axing Association and they wanted to use our public lands, would you give them permits? The only way to get around the multiple stakeholder issues is for the DEP to determine what are proper uses for our public lands.

Created by an act of Congress in 1978, the Pinelands district is overseen by a joint federal and state commission. It occupies 22% of New Jerseys land area and it is the largest body of open space on the mid-Atlantic seaboard between Richmond, Virginia, and Boston. It also includes an aquifer that is the source of 17 trillion gallons of drinking water.

New Jersey employees patrol the state forests within the Pinelands to enforce rules against illegal vehicle use. Amanda Smith, chief of the State Park Police, said there are 80 park officers statewide, adding the department hopes to add staff this year. They use extra patrols, targeted operations and drones to identify illegal vehicle use, she said.

Sometimes, she said, drivers go off the road into areas that are very sensitive with an intent to do damage. But other times, she added, it can be a matter of a rider not knowing they are in a prohibited area.

An association for a type of motorcycle riding course called enduro in which riders traverse a narrow track through the woods and pass checkpoints at specified times, said a small minority of riders stray from permitted areas or otherwise break the rules.

We are not here to defend scofflaws, people doing illegal activities in the woods, Thomas Hedden, an official with the East Coast Enduro Association, said. Were not the monster truck guys, the ones ripping up the water holes on roads. We own our mistakes and weve been sanctioned for our mistakes. We self-police, and were doing all the steps weve been asked to do.

Three new members approved for Pinelands Commission TRENTON  In the waning days of voting before a new legislative session, the New Jersey Sena

Hedden said his group supports the states permitting proposal.

Public forests around the country are dealing with similar issues. Noise from all-terrain vehicle traffic in Moab, Utah, recently led the local government to pass a temporary moratorium on new rental businesses, and to lower speed limits for them.

Tennessee stepped up enforcement this year of illegal off-road vehicle use. Marble, Colorado, agreed to pay part of the cost of a forest ranger to keep an eye on a heavily used trail that has been the source of numerous complaints.

Confrontations have turned violent. In March, a mountain biker in Bellingham, Washington, was stabbed after a right-of-way dispute with hikers on a popular trail.

Embracing the off-road culture, Elephant Butte, New Mexico, provides a 60-acre park with all-terrain vehicle training, education and courses for riders.

In New Jerseys Pinelands, Richard Lewis has hiked deep into Wharton State Forest for years to photograph a stand of old-growth Atlantic White Cedar trees, but was shocked by what he saw on a recent visit.

The trail had tire tracks from what looked like a dozen ATVs, he said. The tire tracks tore through the area creating a path that cut through young stands of cedar trees and other undergrowth in what was a beautiful piece of pristine forest.
Troopers caring act worth celebrating

Living in a rural area near Wharton State Forest with no streetlights, my daily runs and walks have been getting increasingly scary over the past 18 months or so, with most drivers speeding, passing illegally and many driving while impaired, judging by the number of beer cans and bottles on the side of the roads.

A couple of years ago, a state trooper in an unmarked car flashed his lights and stopped to ask me about my running, since he said he had been a runner at one time as well. He introduced himself, warned me to be careful and went on his way.

After that, whenever he drove past, hed either flash his lights or occasionally stop to say hi. About a month ago, he pulled over and said he had something for me, handing me a vest that flashed bright LED white lights on front and red in back. He said he was concerned because it was often still dark when he saw me out running.

Since then, Ive been happily garbed in my flashy vest, at least a little more secure that I was safe from unwary drivers. The troopers concern, at a time when I was suffering a personal loss and trying to carry on in a new life, touched me beyond measure.

Im grateful for all those who serve and all those who reach out to perform an act of extreme kindness to others. I didnt think Id have anything to celebrate this year, but clearly, I do.

Vera Stek

Egg Harbor City

Chamber wrong to back Van Drew on voteRecently the Chamber of Commerce, practically a Republican PAC, took out a full page ad congratulating Rep. Jeff Van Drew on the passage of the infrastructure bill he voted for. Nowhere did the chamber even remotely allude to the fact that this bill was the brainchild of President Biden. Thats hypocrisy and mendacity.

The benefits that all Americans will derive from long-term improvements embedded in this extraordinary bill are the result of the Biden administration and, in particular, of Bidens leadership.

Van Drew remains an embarrassment. He didnt sufficiently affirm the rightful election of President Biden and raised false suspicions about the 2020 election. What is more disturbing is that the Chamber of Commerce supports him. Shame on both of them.

Stephen Gring

Ocean City

Gender politics wrong for Cape May paradeAll the years enjoying the Cape May Christmas Parade, only to see a LGBQ banner this year. This is an outrage and does not belong there.

Albert Rinaldi

Mays Landing
A Rock Island man who allegedly tried to steal a $199 angle grinder from the Home Depot in Bettendorf on Sunday upped his charge to armed robbery when he allegedly pulled a knife on a store loss prevention employee, Bettendorf Police said.

Eric A. Willemarck, 42, also known as Eric Wilemarck in Scott County District Court electronic records, is charged with one count of first-degree robbery, a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years, 70%, or 17  years, of which must be served before parole can be granted.

Willemarck also is charged with one count of third-degree theft, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Bettendorf Police Officer Lance Wilden, at 7:37 p.m. Sunday, Bettendorf Police were sent to the Home Depot, 920 Middle Road, to investigate a shoplifter at the store.

A Home Depot loss prevention employee had seen Willemarck concealing a Dewalt angle grinder. Willemarck then walked past the point of sale with the concealed grinder.

When the loss prevention employee confronted him, Willemarck pulled a box cutter-razor knife on the employee.

Wilden arrived at the time and told Willemarck to stay out of his vehicle. Wilden then observed Willemarck dropping the grinder from under his clothing at the front of the vehicle where he was standing.

In a post-Miranda interview, Willemarck admitted to taking the tool and admitted that he did pull out the knife.

According to the Iowa Code, normally an item stolen that is less than $300 in value constitutes a simple misdemeanor. Willemarck was charged with third-degree theft because he has two felony and one misdemeanor retail theft convictions on his record.

Willemarck was being held Monday night in the Scott County Jail on a bond of $25,000, cash or surety.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27 in District Court.

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Bettendorf doctor Mary Kathleen Figaro officially announced Tuesday that she is running as a Democrat for the open Iowa Senate District 47 seat, representing Eldridge, Bettendorf, Riverdale, Panorama Park and parts of LeClaire and Davenport.

"Throughout her career, Dr. Figaro has cared for and advocated for patients and families who entrust her with their health," according to her campaign. "She aims to give her constituents the same care and attention as she gives her patients. She is running for State Senate to champion public health and mental health, early child health screenings and care, and to improve social infrastructure."

Figaro immigrated to the United States from Haiti with her parents, small business owners who fled political and economic oppression, according to her campaign biography.

Figaro grew up in New Jersey, "where at a young age, she learned the value and importance of a great public school, as well as the values of hard work and civic engagement," according to her campaign.

She graduated with honors from Princeton University and from Yale University School of Medicine, and went on to earn her master's in epidemiology and health services research from Cornell and taught preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University.

She and her family relocated to Bettendorf six years ago and she has built her own practice, seeing patients with hormone-related conditions as an endocrinologist.

Figaro, a first-time candidate, said she is running to promote "shared accountability as a community" to better protect and provide care and resources for children, the elderly and infirm, and those struggling with mental illness and substance abuse.

"I see those members in our community as needing representation and needing help to improve their status," Figaro said.

She bemoaned Iowa's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think my expectations were not realized and that many people in public health would agree," Figaro said. "And that going forward dealing with our fatigue with the disease is as important as dealing with the disease itself. ... Getting a consensus on truth is very difficult. I see both danger and opportunity ahead."

The danger, Figaro said, is that Iowans lose sight of loved ones still at risk of being severely injured or killed by the disease, and the opportunity to make public health a higher priority.

"I think everyone's expectations in the beginning was that the CDC would become a shining light and we would become the model for all countries, with the least deaths and the least chaos," Figaro said. "And we would show the world how to deal with the pandemic. That was my expectation. Perhaps I was too optimistic."

If elected, Figaro said she would also work to advance policies to improve childhood education, "making sure school is both safe and a good place to learn," that the arts are well-supported and "that teachers are well-respected" and have the freedom, support and materials that they need.

Asked about recent calls from some parents and some Republican lawmakers to remove books in school libraries that they say contain explicit material, Figaro said, "the teacher and families know best."

"And that school districts are local for a good reason," she said. "That they respond to and are accountable to those who use those services. And I am less interested in state representatives promulgating to a school district or to a teacher what he or she can instruct in a classroom."

Some books have been targeted by Iowans who feel their content is vulgar or too graphic. Most feature LGBTQ themes or are written by LGBTQ authors, and include passages that describe sexual experiences.

LeClaire City Council Member Barry Long has also announced his intent to run for the seat as a Republican.

The new district is not currently represented by an incumbent after Iowa State Sens. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport, and Roby Smith, R-Davenport, were drawn into the same district.

Smith, who previously represented parts of the new district, announced last this month that he will run for state treasurer in 2022 rather than seek reelection to the Iowa Senate.

Lykam last week announced he will not seek reelection to the Iowa Senate and will retire after serving out this current term through 2022.

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Kelly Cunningham Haan, an assistant county attorney in Muscatine, announced Tuesday she plans to run for Scott County Attorney in the 2022 election cycle.

Haan said she had worked as a prosecutor for 31 years, 23 of which she spent in Scott County.

"Quite honestly, one of my goals has always been to seek the office of the Scott County Attorney. ... The climate here in Scott County is one of those climates where people are close. There's a strong sense of family in this professional setting, but there has always been a respect for the work that law enforcement has performed for this community," Haan said.

Haan said she had always supported law enforcement, and she wanted to continue providing that support as an elected official. She has worked previously with specialized units, she said, and she's been impressed by the community protection they provide.

"One of my areas of expertise was narcotics. I did gang prosecutions back in the day before we were able to shut down that issue, so I've had the benefit of working with officers who work in those specialized capacities ... I feel that within the last year and a half or so, the dialogue that's going on currently here in the United States relative to law enforcement, discussions about defunding the police, or the lack of regard for our officers who go out and put their lives on the line every day," Haan said. "There is not a recognition or understanding of the issues that they face. As a community, if we want to have a community where we are safe and free from crime taking over, we need to have those officers there who are protecting us, and I think that they need a strong voice to back them."

Another thing Haan said would make her strong presence as the Scott County Attorney is her dedication to giving a voice to victims of violent crimes. Haan said victims often struggled with fear, and she believes part of the job of a prosecutor is to help them overcome that fear, in order to speak up and get justice.

Mike Walton, the current Scott County Attorney, announced in January 2020 that he would retire when his term ends at the end of 2022.

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A new airline will begin flying out of Midway Airport in the spring, bringing the number of airlines operating out of the smaller of Chicagos two airports to six.

Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines will begin flying to eight destinations on April 28, including Atlanta, Denver and Las Vegas, Josh Flyr, Frontiers vice president of network and operational design, said at a news conference Tuesday.

The airline plans to add another two flights, to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, in October.

Frontier used to fly out of Midway, but left the airport in early 2015 to consolidate operations at OHare International Airport as it transitioned to its low-cost model, Flyr said.

The airline now plans to fly out of both airports. Midway will become the companys primary Chicago airport, and service out of OHare will focus on destinations such as Mexico and Caribbean cities.

Specifically for Midway, what we love about it is that its just a great fit for our business model, Flyr said after the news conference. With its flexible operating environment and low cost, that allows us to sort of leverage our low cost, and allows us to pass those low costs onto consumers in the form of low fares.

Frontiers expansion comes as airlines have been battered for nearly two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the hits, Frontier has continued to see some demand for travel and is eyeing a return to prepandemic travel habits, Flyr said.

As the pandemic recedes, and hopefully recedes finally, and people really get back to traveling, being in Midway is going to position us really well for that surge of travel, both leisure and business, that we expect to follow the pandemic, he said.

Midway has long been a major hub for Southwest Airlines. With the return of Frontier, the airlines flying out of Midway will include: Southwest, Delta, Allegiant, Porter, Volaris and, soon, Frontier.

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A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest from Tuesday:

COVID-19 CASES: Five cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Iowa Legislature since Friday, the House Democrats caucus staff said.

Those are only the confirmed cases. There is no requirement in the Iowa Legislature that people report a positive COVID case.

Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, confirmed Sunday that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantining. Wahls said he has received a COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, also confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

ATVS ON HIGHWAYS: All-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, would be allowed to drive on all county highways and some stretches of highways under legislation that advanced out of a legislative subcommittee.

House File 800 would permit ATVs on non-interstate primary highways between trails and other roads on which ATVs are permitted.

Organizations representing counties and county supervisors have registered in opposition to the proposal.

VACCINE ADMINISTRATION: Nurses would be allowed, under the order of a pharmacist, to assist in administering vaccines and immunizations under Senate Study Bill 3006, which advanced out of a subcommittee.

AVIAN FLU: A division of the federal agriculture department confirmed highly pathogenic avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, in a wild bird in South Carolina, prompting Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig to issue a statement encouraging livestock farmers to strengthen biosecurity and closely monitor animals health.

If an animal appears to be ill, farmers should immediately contact a veterinarian or state or federal animal health officials, he said.

HPAI and other foreign animal diseases pose a significant risk to Iowa agriculture, Naig said in a news release.

Our team at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will continue working with USDA, livestock producers and other stakeholders to develop, test and strengthen our foreign animal disease preparedness and response plans.

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A Davenport man wanted in connection with a drug and gun investigation was taken into custody Friday.

James Henry Thomas Jr., 32, of Davenport, was wanted for selling ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm in a case investigated by the Davenport Police Departments Narcotics Unit and Gun Investigations Unit.

Thomas is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of possession with the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of a substance containing methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA, known on the street as ecstasy. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

Thomas also is charged with one count each of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana and possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of violating Iowas drug tax stamp law. Each of the four charges is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

According to the affidavits filed by Davenport Police Cpl. Seth Farley, at 10:17 a.m. on July 26, officers searched Thomass residence in the 2800 block of West 13th Street.

Officers seized 2,411 grams, or 5.31 pounds, of marijuana; 771 grams, or 1.7 pounds of marijuana wax; 6.6 grams of cocaine; 74 ecstasy pills; about 5 pounds of marijuana edible products; working digital scales containing marijuana residue and packaging materials.

Officers also seized .22-caliber ammunition, .223-caliber ammunition, a pistol magazine containing 9mm ammunition and a .22-caliber Marlin rifle. Also seized was $1,176 in cash.

A search of Thomass phone indicated numerous messages related to drug sales.

During a post-Miranda interview with police, Thomas told officers he traded a quarter of marijuana and some marijuana wax to another person for the .22-caliber rifle.

An arrest warrant was issued for Thomas on Oct. 18 after lab results and other aspects of the investigation were completed. He was taken into custody by Scott County Sheriffs deputies.

Thomas also is being held for a domestic abuse charge, a serious misdemeanor; contempt of court for failing to pay child support; and two counts of possession of a controlled substance-third offense, each of which is a Class D felony.

During a first appearance Saturday in Scott County District Court, Thomass bond was set at $31,750, cash only, for the drugs, weapons, contempt and domestic abuse charges, and $5,000, cash or surety, for the possession-third offense charges.

A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for Jan. 25 in Scott County District Court.

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A Davenport man wanted for violating his probation on burglary, eluding and drug convictions is facing new charges, including kidnapping, after Davenport police said he held a woman in his car against her will, all the while threatening to drive the vehicle into the Mississippi River early Monday.

Demico Bronte Hill Sr., 31, is charged with one count each of third-degree kidnapping and eluding while under the influence of drugs or participating in a felony. Each of the charges is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years.

Hill also is charged with possession of a controlled substance  third offense, in this case methamphetamine. The charge is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officers Robert Bytnar and Dustin Mooty, at 7:48 a.m. Davenport Police were alerted that a woman was being held against her will in a vehicle, a silver 2016 Chevrolet Impala.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Hill, threatened to drive the car to the Centennial Bridge and drive the vehicle into the Mississippi River. The man had taken the womans cell phone, but she was able to activate OnStar who directed police.

When police located the vehicle and tried to stop it, Hill sped away from police. He continued to elude police at speeds ranging from 75 to 90 mph.

The woman could be heard at least 10 times asking Hill to stop the car.

The vehicle slowed enough at one point to allow the victim to jump out of the car.

Hill was taken into custody a short time later.

Officers received a search warrant to obtain a blood draw from Hill as he was under the influence of some type of substance. When searched, it was found that Hill had in his pants pocket numerous pills totaling 11 grams and tested positive for methamphetamine.

Additional charges could be filed once lab tests on the blood and pills are completed.

Hill was wanted in Scott County for violating his probation for the second time.

During a hearing in Scott County District Court on Dec. 31, 2019, Hill pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree burglary, a Class C felony. The charge was reduced from Class B felony first-degree burglary. He also pleaded guilty to eluding and possession of a controlled substance-third offense, both Class D felonies. He also pleaded guilty to a serious misdemeanor assault charge.

On Feb. 13, 2020, Scott County District Judge Jeffrey Bert sentenced Hill to serve three years on probation.

On June 21, 2021, a petition to revoke Hills probation was filed by Assistant Scott County Attorney J. Gilbert Carnegie. Hill was arrested July 5, 2021. On Oct. 28, Hills attorney filed in District Court a stipulation that Hill admitted to violating the terms of his probation. District Court Judge Mark Fowler sentenced Hill to 90 days in jail with credit for time served, and Hill was returned to probation.

On Nov. 8, Assistant Scott County Attorney Nathan Repp filed a petition to revoke Hills probation and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Hill also is serving a term on probation for a conviction of assault causing bodily injury. Repp also filed a petition to revoke that probation.

Hill is being held in the Scott County Jail on cash-only bonds totaling $11,000 for the probation violations, and a $21,600 bond, cash or surety, for the new charges.

Hill made his first appearance on all of the charges Tuesday in Scott County District Court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28.

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Codi and Jeremy Denklau are both striving for something better for themselves and their children.

Codi Denklau, 22, Davenport, said she and Jeremy are both working to further their educations  he in mechanics, she in the medical field.

Currently were saving up to get him his GED classes, Denklau said.

Their challenges to achieving those goals right now are being on a single income and childcare, Denklau said.

They are figuring out how to save that money, manage their bills and everything else on one paycheck, Denklau said.

Im currently the childcare, Denklau said.

Thats fine while they are focused on Jeremys education, but it will be a challenge when they are both in school, Denklau said.

If hes working and going to school then me going to school is a little bit of an issue, Denklau said. Not that its a bad thing, its just a little challenging without childcare.

Community Action of Eastern Iowa, which works with the Denklau family, nominated them to get a little extra help this year from Wish List.

To donate, visit unitedwayqc.org/wishlist.

Codi Denklau has been in Community Actions programs since she was a teenager, Centira "CeCe" Maid, a family services specialist with Community Action, said. All of her children are also enrolled in Community Action programs.

Maid said shes had the chance to know Denklau for a while now. She is really nice, very responsive and cooperative.

In the nomination, Maid said the Denklau family could use clothing and bedding for the four children.

We only can help with so much in our agency and a lot of times we cant help at all unfortunately for some issues that families have, Maid said.

The help Community Action can give is often energy assistance and help with other bills, Maid said.

Wish List can help with things Community Action cannot easily provide for the families with whom it works, Maid said.

Codi Denklau said she is grateful that someone nominated her family as a candidate for Wish List.

She was not fortunate growing up, Denklau said.

To be in a place where I could get nominated for this, is  I didnt think I made a mark like that on people  so it, its different and Im grateful.

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SPRINGFIELD  Republicans in the Illinois Senate have again introduced a package of proposed constitutional amendments that they argue would give voters more of a direct say in the legislative process.

We're reintroducing these constitutional amendments in order to really put the people back in charge again, Senate GOP Leader Dan McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods, said during a virtual news conference Tuesday.

The package includes a renewed call for an independent redistricting commission. Other amendments would give voters greater power to amend the Illinois Constitution, as well as the power to repeal legislation and the power to recall elected officials at all levels of government.

Specifically, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 13 would remove the current requirement that each Senate district be divided into two House districts and would incorporate provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 into the constitution while requiring that districts be compact and contiguous.

It would also establish a 17-member Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw legislative and congressional district lines starting in 2023. The commission members would be drawn from each of the states 17 congressional districts and would be made up of seven Democrats, seven Republicans and three unaffiliated voters.

SJRCA 14 would expand the ability of voters to amend the constitution by initiative, by deleting current language that limits such amendments to structural and procedural subjects while adding language that would prohibit initiative amendments from altering the Bill of Rights.

In 2016, a sharply-divided Illinois Supreme Court blocked a proposed amendment calling for independent redistricting from going on the ballot, ruling that it changed some of the duties of constitutional officers and therefore went beyond structural and procedural subjects.

SJRCA 15 would give voters authority to repeal legislation by referendum. Voters could call for a referendum on any public act, except appropriations measures, by gathering a number of petition signatures equal to 5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election. Today, that threshold would be 227,383 signatures.

And SJRCA 16 would expand the authority to recall elected officials, which is currently limited to the governor. It would allow for the recall of all constitutional officers, state lawmakers, the auditor general and local elected officials. It would also allow voters statewide to remove a speaker of the House or president of the Senate from those posts.

Over the past year, we've seen the majority party use its supermajorities in the General Assembly, not only to push through controversial and extremely partisan legislation, but sometimes do it with little or no notice, and sometimes to do it in the middle of the night when nobody, including the members that are voting on it on the floor, have any idea what's actually in the legislation, McConchie said.

Many other states allow for initiatives, referenda and recall petitions. They were especially popular during the Progressive Era of the early 20th Century as a way to combat political corruption. But in more modern times, and with the advent of professional signature gathering firms, they have been criticized for giving special interest groups too much ability to bypass the legislative process to push their own agendas.

McConchie, however, said the GOPs proposals for Illinois do not go as far as some other states.

We've tried to model this on the way other states have done it successfully, he said. For example, in the ability to amend the state constitution, we didn't go as far as California has, which certainly you could argue has special interests dominate the putting of constitutional amendments on the ballot. We didn't go that far. We didn't make it quite as open as that.

McConchie also noted that many Democrats, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, have supported an independent redistricting commission, although they did not consider one in the most recent redistricting cycle. And it remained unclear Tuesday whether Democrats would consider any of the GOPs proposals this year.

Im sure they will get the appropriate, thorough review, John Patterson, a spokesman for Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said in an email.

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SPRINGFIELD  Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch announced a new House budget negotiation team Tuesday, led by House Majority Leader and chief budgeteer Greg Harris, D-Chicago.

Former Speaker Michael Madigan appointed Harris to be the chief budgeteer during the Rauner administration. Harris, the second-ranking Democrat in the House, announced in November that he would not seek re-election after the completion of his current term this year. Harris said he will share his knowledge and experience of the budget process with the team to pass the mantle.

We need to continue to keep moving forward, Harris said in an interview. Illinois just had its first bond rating increase in a quarter of a century. We need to continue to keep that going strong.

Harris will lead the group rounded out with Reps. Will Davis, D-Homewood; Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero; Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside; and Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, during this legislative session.

We have made great progress putting Illinois on the path toward financial stability, Welch said in a statement. With the stewardship of Leader Harris and this incredibly diverse group of state representatives, I am confident we will have a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes the needs of hardworking Illinoisans.

The budget negotiation team will meet with caucuses and then work with the Gov. JB Pritzkers office to determine priorities for the next fiscal year.

We want to be sure that the issues affecting Illinois families from all over the state are reflected, Harris said.

Harris said those would include school funding, funding to keep seniors in their homes with supportive services, mental health and addiction services, college and university funding, and public safety, Harris said.

Budgetary planning is complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, too, Harris said.

When we passed the current budget earlier this year, things were opening up and looking good, he said. Now, we have omicron and we have to stand back and see where we are and where this will go.

Davis serves as the chairman of the House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee. Hernandez led redistricting efforts in the House and is a member of the Revenue and Finance Committee, as well as House Appropriations for Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education. Zalewski serves as chairman of the House Revenue Committee. Gabel will take a lead role in the Houses budgeting process due to her leadership on many major legislative initiatives, particularly those focused on Medicaid reform and affordable health care.

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We Are China

Highlights of Special Address by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 2022 World Economic Forum Virtual Session

Xinhua) 09:16, January 18, 2022

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday delivered a special address to the 2022 World Economic Forum virtual session.

Following are the highlights of the address:

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
DES MOINES  Mental health care workers and patients would be in line for assistance under a package of bills introduced by state lawmakers.

Iowa House Republicans have introduced four bills that would aim to add more mental health beds at state-run mental health facilities, establish more psychiatric residencies in the state, and create a loan repayment program for mental health care workers.

Iowa Rep. Ann Meyer, a Republican from Fort Dodge and chairwoman of the House committee through which the bills will run, spoke to reporters about the proposals Tuesday at the Iowa Capitol.

Its just such a crisis, Meyer said. Its a crisis that needs to be addressed in a big way.

 House Study Bill 532 would fund 12 new psychiatric residencies through the University of Iowa at the states mental health care facilities in Cherokee and Independence and the medical and classification center at Oakdale. We know that we can fill those spots. We need to do something to get psychiatrists into the state of Iowa, Meyer said. The program would cost $1.2 million in its first year and double the number of residencies to 24 and the cost to $2.4 million the following year.

 House Study Bill 537 would create a loan repayment program for mental health care workers. Participants would be required to commit to working in Iowa for five years.

 House Study Bill 531 would increase by 50% the number of beds at Independence and Cherokee. Meyer said this proposal faces the unique challenge of also requiring sufficient workers to staff any new beds. We need to have places for our highest-crisis patients to be treated, Meyer said.

 House Study Bill 530 would establish a higher state reimbursement rate to providers for patients with complex psychiatric needs.

Peggy Huppert, executive director of the Iowa chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said the group supports the four bills.

"We really do need to turn our attention to workforce, and beds remain a critical issue, Huppert said.

Iowa Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo and member of the committee through which the bills would advance, said she supports the proposals and believes mental health care policy can and should be bipartisan efforts.

Im excited to see mental health bills come in, said Brown-Powers, who works in health care for MercyOne. Ive been here for eight years, and weve done very little to actually help those families and those folks with mental health. So its time. Its over time to do that.

Brown-Powers said she hopes the legislation has teeth and strong funding behind it.

I just hope that as we move forward we take a sincere look at mental health, she said. These bills are a start, but they surely arent everything that Iowans need right now.

Meyer said she has made mental health care one of her priorities since her first campaign in 2018, when she said she heard from many constituents about the need for expanded mental health care services. She recalled talking to a young woman whose brother was an Iraq War veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, turned to substance abuse and became homeless.

And theres so many stories like that, Meyer said.

One of the four bills was scheduled for a subcommittee hearing  the first step in the legislative process  Tuesday afternoon, and a second will have its first hearing on Wednesday. Meyer said the others likely will have their first hearings next week.

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Some of the most alarming government actions since the COVID-19 pandemic began have weakened state authority to safeguard public health. At least 26 states have removed traditional powers from local health departments, the institutions tasked with protecting us.

New state laws, for example, take away or limit health officials abilities to require masks, promote vaccinations, close restaurants and schools or even impose quarantines.

These limitations on local authority might seem inevitable in a country where voters often fear government overreach. But in fact these changes run counter to the historical trend in the U.S., which has overwhelmingly been to increase public health powers during epidemics.

At the beginning of European settlement in America, there were no government health departments. But, faced with devastating, terrifying and frequent outbreaks of deadly diseases, colonists established temporary boards of health to set public policy intended to save lives.

These temporary boards quarantined ships in the harbor, required sick residents to isolate at home and disbanded when the epidemics passed. But, over time, these boards became permanent. They increasingly expanded local and state authority to regulate community behavior in the name of public health. The public cooperated throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as Americans developed a sense of civic obligation and responsibility.

Because of this growing public commitment, the powers of cities and states to control disease increased with new epidemics. Repeated occurrences of yellow fever, cholera, smallpox and scarlet fever led to the establishment of public health departments that we recognize today.

Paid commissioners and health boards, and their staffs of inspectors and regulators, isolated the sick in contagious disease hospitals, vaccinated residents and created a sanitary environment. Health departments, often in conjunction with other city and state agencies, built clean water and sewer systems, regulated garbage collection and disposal, inspected restaurants, monitored school environments and set safety standards to ensure safe milk and food supplies. During epidemics, officials often forbade public gatherings, closed schools and bars and insisted on social distancing in churches.

Throughout our history, Americans learned that their individual liberty to oppose a health order during a time of community danger must be subsumed to the public good. The right of health officials to try to control infectious diseases was confirmed with the 1905 U.S. Supreme Court decision Jacobson vs. Massachusetts, which empowered local and state health authorities to order vaccinations during epidemic outbreaks when public health was threatened. If some individuals did not comply, they could be fined or jailed.

Although COVID-19 has ignited controversy over local and state health agencies, public acceptance of their power and authority was widespread throughout the 20th century. In 1947, when smallpox threatened New York City, 6 million New Yorkers voluntarily lined up in the streets awaiting their inoculations to comply with the health departments vaccination ruling. This public cooperation took less than a month and resulted in a very low number of infected people.

In addition, since the 1950s, the federal government has played an increasingly prominent role in public health. State governments sought federal help when disease crises crossed state lines and when implementation of effective action required interstate cooperation. During the 1947 smallpox outbreak, the U.S. Public Health Service traced the contacts of the individual who brought smallpox to New York, following his steps across the country  a task outside the purview of city health officials.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as in earlier health crises, state health departments have had to depend on federal support and national coordination to contain the disease. They have not had the capacity themselves to produce an effective vaccine, and since vaccines were developed, states have needed help with procurement and distribution. They still need help with maintaining equipment and personnel in hospitals to care for rapid increases in the number of sick people. And they need national leaders to promote the importance of vaccination and continued mask use.

Yet such coordination in local, state and federal efforts is weakened by the new state laws that limit health officials powers, which will leave us unable to deal with future pandemics effectively.

In earlier periods of American history, increased authority and funding for disease control would have been routine. Now the politicization of masking, testing and vaccination has made efforts to curb COVID-19 even more difficult.

Historically the public response to community health danger was ruled by the need to care about others. This tradition has served the country well over the last 300 years. But it is no longer standard in America. The freedom to not wear a face mask has become more important to many people than any obligation to others. Choosing narrow personal liberties over community cooperation and protection does not bode well for our ability to withstand future crises.

Judith Walzer Leavitt is professor emerita in the history of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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This was an act of terror. There is no indication that the synagogue attack in Colleyville, Texas, was specifically directed at the Jewish community.

That was the contention and, I believe, a sourced quotation in one of the first stories I read Sunday morning about the resolution of the hostage situation. The story has disappeared from my newsfeed. But it cannot disappear from my mind and heart.

Obviously, this was specifically directed at the Jewish community. It was a Jewish house of worship, on the day of the major Jewish weekly worship service, when the rabbi and Jewish congregants were gathered in Jewish worship. It doesnt get much clearer than that; this was no random act of violence.

Two things are deeply troubling here. First is the line of association that led the attacker to Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville to launch his antisemitic attack. Second is the capacity of anyone  journalist or a journalists source  to miss the antisemitic character of the attack.

Colleyvilles Jews were targeted through guilt by association. Two specific references heard over the livestream from the synagogue make that clear. One is the attackers reference to a woman in prison for attacking American personnel in Afghanistan after her arrest for plotting attacks on behalf of Al-Qaida. The woman is serving her sentence in a prison in Fort Worth; that likely helps to account for the attack taking place in the Dallas-Forth Worth metro area.

The second reference is Stacey Silvermans report, quoted in a Washington Post story, that she heard the attacker on the livestream say that he chose an American synagogue because the United States "only cares about Jewish lives." The intersection of America and synagogue, of the United States and Jewish lives, is telling. In the political antisemitism that inhabits al-Qaidas ideology, Israel is the "little Satan" and America is the "big Satan." The two countries are linked by association as enemies of God and of humanity. In this view, by definition, all Jews are associated with Israel.

The equation is clear, if demonstrably inaccurate and somewhat delusional: injustice against an al-Qaida member automatically implicates Israel as an illegitimate presence in the Middle East, which is supported and enabled in its existence by America, where Jews have gained power over Congress and ingratiated themselves into being darlings of the country; therefore, any American Jew is a legitimate target in the cause of justice for the victimized al-Qaida member.

This simple guilt-by-association reasoning is enough to show that the attack specifically targeted Jews. Indeed, it is the irrationality of the chain of association that marks it as classically antisemitic. Antisemitic thinking, like any bigoted thinking, operates outside the realm of reason, so that any and every element of the detested object of hate can be drawn into the circle of sin that justifies its destruction.

The existence of such rank bigotry is troubling enough. Equally troubling is the fact that someone could report an act motivated by that bigotry with an explicit disavowal of its character as antisemitic. Such a report must implicitly assert that that the line of association we just profiled is rational and accurate. Since Jews were attacked, one can only say the attack did not specifically target Jews if their targeting was either random or somehow justifiable. Since the attackers own words show that it was not random, we are left to wonder who thinks that the jailing of an al-Qaida member, even unfairly, justifies attacking a suburban American synagogue and the Jews inside it.

I hope that our first response to realizing the dynamics here is to understand better the background noise of anxiety that legitimately can accompany daily life for the Jews who are our neighbors. They ought not have to request police presence for their worship services simply because they are Jews, but the reality of this dynamic makes that a reasonable request. As neighbors, they deserve anything we can do to support, encourage, and reassure them of their welcome place in our community, to disavow any guilt by association, and to provide protection when bigotry comes calling.

The second response might be to recognize that the same dynamic of guilt by association increasingly infects our society, our social media, and our anxieties. Labels, symbols, trigger words, and more have increasingly become the occasion for dismissing or attacking neighbors. Worry over what might be taken wrongly or lead to an attack causes us to draw back from others, even some of the others we have long known. The crucial social glue of familiarity and interaction dries up, so our communities separate and fall apart. That makes it even easier to generalize, over-simplify, and impute guilt by association.

Today, our Jewish neighbors need our voices, contact, and reassurances as we honor their individuality and show a friendly curiosity about their particular identities and interests. Every day, we all need that from one another.

Peter A. Pettit is teaching pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport.

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For Noah Giles, the Career Learning Center of the Black Hills unfurls an atmosphere thats calmer than what hes experienced in the past.

I do like the fact that theres not a lot of kids around, said Giles, 18, who moved to Rapid City from Arizona. Theres quiet, and its a very peaceful environment to be in.

A space ripe not only for career preparation but also for careful reflection is something staff members at the Career Learning Center are working hard to craft. Theyre well aware that students who come to them need to find sustainable work, but a large part of that task  as they describe it  is finding a place where they can learn and develop strong human connections.

The Career Learning Center is part of the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, which offers in-person adult education classes in Belle Fourche, Spearfish, Sturgis, Rapid City and Custer and distance learning throughout the western part of the state. In Rapid City, students go to the center at 730 E. Watertown St.

Giles is one of more than 300 students who have enrolled in adult education each year for the past several years at the Career Learning Center. The vast majority are preparing to earn their GED diplomas at the center. Factors such as travel and the pandemic may have interrupted their regular high school careers, or they may now find themselves in a situation in which they need a GED diploma  a high school equivalency diploma  to compete for a job.

Among the adult education students are about 15 students each year who study English as a foreign language.

Gloria Pluimer is the director of education and workforce development for the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative. She also serves as director of the Career Learning Center, which is part of the cooperative. She said shes been working for BHSSC for 30 years, including 25 in Rapid City, and shes noticed growing demand for services in recent years.

The needs of the individuals seem to have increased, she said. Over 90% of our students self-identify as being low-income. That has increased over the years.

She also mentioned challenges involving housing, transportation and child care.

Weve seen a significant increase in alcohol and drug usage, which has impacted many of the students weve served, she added. And weve seen an increase in younger students, especially with the onset of COVID.

Pluimer said funding for the center comes from the U.S. Department of Education through the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. The Black Hills Special Services Cooperative competes for grants to secure funding from the Department of Labor and Regulation.

Pluimer said services are free to students, but they do have to pay for the tests, at $37.50 for each of the four subject-area tests. She said various kinds of scholarships, along with financial assistance from the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, may help with the costs.

Stephenie Rittberger, adult education coordinator at the Career Learning Center, emphasized the importance of helping students to prepare for careers, but also to cultivate their interests.

We need to encourage some of their strengths in different ways because obviously something derailed their traditional education, she said. So we want to fill that gap in a way thats really meaningful for them  meaningful in practical ways, but also meaningful in having self-fulfilled lives, too.

Rittberger noted that students often come into the center already working or aiming for work thats been done in their families.

A lot of the students here are very connected to what their family members have done in the past, she said. Or theyre very connected to something that they know or theyve seen, but they might not consider other things that they really love.

Rittberger said she might explore career possibilities after students have taken the first of four tests leading to a GED diploma and shes begun to get to know them.

As we get to know them in that first test, were kind of looking at, Where do you think you want to be? and Is that going to support you at the level that you believe you want to live at?

Rittberger said students also come in excited about a prospective career. Parker Asbjeld described his interest in mechanical work in those sorts of terms. He said hes been around it his whole life and  even though hes only 19  hes worked on building cars for some time.

I started to build cars for fun, Asbjeld said, and then he explained how he feels when hes doing the work.

Did you ever have that feeling when youre doing something and you just know its something you want to do? he asked. Thats just how it is. It just feels right whenever Im working on a car.

The GED diploma may help Asbjeld move forward in the field of diesel technology.

Rittberger said she introduces students to scholarship opportunities  such as Build Dakota Scholarships  that may provide support to students.

Youre looking at a lot of first-generation college attendees, she said. So not only do we have to help them understand what college is going to be like at a commitment level, but we also have to help them start to look at a budget and how to apply for financial aid.

Some students, she said, might pursue further education immediately after the GED, and others might return and begin to prepare later. She stressed the need to lay solid financial groundwork.

I want students to know that every possibility is out there for them, she said, also noting that inclusion and equity are different things. Access to broadband and finances for books, for instance, can provide challenges.

As students talked about the preparation theyre doing, they seemed especially to value some autonomy in carving their paths.

Once youve understood a subject and you take the test and youre done with it, youre not forced to sit in a class for the rest of the school year, said Alex Darga, 18.

Darga said he enjoyed studying social studies, and he described his approach.

Youve got a few teachers in the room who are very knowledgeable, and you can go to them, he said. You can always do quick google searches. There are good ways to do it. The teachers here are good at explaining things really well.

Giles also noted academic interests that stretch beyond his GED preparation. He said, for instance, that he likes to write in his spare time.

I like to write my own stuff when Im at my house, he said, noting that he explores his past experiences.

After the GED, he plans to talk with a military recruiter.

Pluimer and Rittberger said the center receives support from partnerships with 88 community-based organizations in the area, as well as from donations. That kind of support may help students with obstacles such as transportation and child care  though child care has proven to be an especially difficult obstacle lately. Pluimer and Rittberger also noted support from the South Dakota Department of Labor.

Pluimer noted steps people in the community can take to help students coming back to school. She suggested, for instance, that its helpful when employers support employees preparing for the GED with some scheduling flexibility.

She mentioned other ways people can help, as well.

There are so many individuals who dont have a high school diploma that were not serving, Rittberger said. We would love for the community to make those referrals.

People seeking information about the Career Learning Center of the Black Hills can call 605-394-5120 or visit https://clcbh.org/.

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Rapid City Area Schools Superintendent Lori Simon has announced that Caitlin Pierson will serve as the new community relations manager for the school district.

Pierson graduated from Rapid City Christian in 2013, before moving to Tyler, Texas. She earned a bachelors degree from Arizona State University and has worked for several years in the news industry.

Pierson arrives at the position after the departure of Katy Urban, who left RCAS in November. Urban now works for the Douglas School District.

I am excited to be back home in Rapid City and to continue to help RCAS grow, Pierson said in a statement. I look forward to working alongside students, staff, faculty and the community in the coming years.

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Bishop Troy Carr said the United States remains divided like in the 1960s while Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was alive.

Were divided about whether to get the vaccine or not, were divided about whether to wear the mask or not, were divided about whether you were happy or sad the Cowboys won, Carr said. Were divided on all different fronts, but one of the things I took out of the video from today is not the fact that were divided, but how we deal with that division.

Carr said King, a civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1968, preached non-violence and having a conversation to discuss differences while seeking equal rights for Black Americans as opposed to the violence in the country now and hostile exchanges on social media.

Faith Temple Church led about 50 members of the community in the annual celebration Monday for King. The theme was The Dream is Alive.

The celebration included music videos and a video about Kings life along with remarks from Elder Rich Richardson from Faith Temple Church, Twana Carr, Mayor Steve Allender, Chaplain Carl Johnson with Ellsworth Air Force Base, Gordon Howie and Mark Skogerboe, who appeared as President Abraham Lincoln.

Carr said if people had adopted Kings attitude of non-violence, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. capitol would not have happened.

If we remember that, not only remember it, but take it, use it, incorporate it into our lives, thats why today is important, he said.

Johnson said Kings legacy continues to live on and is needed.

We are living in a time that all walks of life need to come together and press forward and carry out that mission, which is loving each other, he said. I believe that America, we have made some progress, but we still have a ways to go.

He challenged everyone at the event to continue as King did and walk with love and respect for others and to embrace one another to live in peace.

Allender said celebrations like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day are an investment in human infrastructure while carrying on the life and legacy of King.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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Editor's note: This story is part of the Lee Enterprises series "Grizzlies and Us." The project examines the many issues surrounding the uneasy coexistence of grizzly bears and humans in the Lower 48, which have come more into focus in recent years as the federally-protected animal pushes farther into human-occupied areas. The 10-part series, comprised of more than 20 stories, was produced by reporters and photojournalists across the Rocky Mountain West.

Although shes moved from black bear management issues in the forests of northwest Montana to the Beartooth Front in the states south-central region to deal with grizzlies, Kylie Kembel said the work remains much the same.

Everyone struggles with bears all across the state, she said.

Kembel was one of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 2017 hires to beef up its bear program, now composed of 11 experts spread across the state. As a bear management technician, she mainly deals with educating the public about how to live and play safely as black bears and grizzlies become more common along the Beartooth Front. These teaching efforts stretch from civic and school groups to local landowners.

My role is to work with the people in Region 5 who have questions, concerns, struggles with bears, she said. People who request me to come to a group event typically have some understanding, but some of the more detailed aspects they have questions about.

Kembel attended the University of Montana majoring in wildlife biology. That led to her working in wild places across the West, including as a volunteer outside of Lander, Wyoming, and in the Flathead Valley next to Glacier National Park and the expansive Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

Red Lodge was picked by FWP as a location to place Kembel because of an increasing grizzly bear presence in an area that for decades only had to worry about black bears. Grizzlies began regularly showing up in about 2011, possibly following the mountains up from Wyoming. Two years later a pair of bears were captured after wandering into the Red Lodge region. They were relocated as reports of eight to 10 bears spread across the landscape trickled in to wildlife officials.

More grizzlies along the Beartooth Front is due to the success of their protection under the Endangered Species Act, as well as the animals population growth in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the core of which is Yellowstone National Park.

Along the Beartooth Front, grizzlies often use drainages as travel corridors, following creeks down from the mountains onto the foothills where they are more likely to run into homes, ranches, towns and farms.

Theyre just out searching for food everywhere, Kembel said.

Her main focus is conflict prevention, helping people to understand what bear attractants are and how to stay safe in bear country. The themes have been widely circulated for years.

Property owners should pick up fruit from trees in their yards, keep barbecue grills inside garages and avoid putting pet food outdoors. Hikers should travel in groups, make noise on the trail, carry bear spray and know how to use it. Campers need to secure their food inside of a hard-sided vehicle when not around or at night.

Backcountry hunters need to hang the carcass of a deer or elk they kill out of a bears reach. Backpackers are also advised to hang their food in bear country or keep it inside bear-proof containers.

Kembel also works with the larger Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee on its information and education outreach for the entire region. She works in partnership with other officials from Yellowstone National Park and Wyoming Game and Fish, to name a few.

The goal is to prevent bears from associating humans with food. Thats safer for bears and humans. The old adage that a fed bear is a dead bear often holds true. When problems arise and a bear needs to be removed or killed, Wildlife Services  a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture  is called. Wildlife Services also partners with FWP to investigate livestock depredations, sometimes trapping problem bears for relocation or, when bears are repeat offenders, to euthanize the animal.

The increased education effort has been paying off, Kembel said, with more people in the community reaching out to her for advice on living safely in an area where homeowners had previously never seen grizzlies. Her work isnt limited to just spring, when bears wake up from hibernation, and fall, when they eat heavily to pack on calories before their long winter nap. Instead, she said shes busy the entire time bears are awake.

Thats OK because Kembel enjoys what shes doing.

There are a lot of fun aspects to my job, she said. Working with people who are just first-time experiencing bears and helping them understand theres ways to be here and enjoy Montana with the bears, helping people understand that is very rewarding.

Bears are also a very charismatic species, she noted, as well as adaptable.

We try to understand bears, but in the end they are wildlife.

Her role, along with others in FWP, similar agencies and conservation groups to spread the word about living with bears will be key to the big animals surviving on a landscape that is seeing increasing development in what used to be largely rural areas. Also, bears are encountering more hikers and campers using forests since the COVID-19 pandemic, some of whom have no knowledge of how to recreate responsibly in bear country.

Theres no place you can go in the Beartooths that you shouldnt be thinking about grizzly bears, said Shawn Stewart, FWP wildlife biologist in Red Lodge. And with COVID, the people are everywhere."

Kembels education efforts have the additional effect of informing the public in hopes of increasing understanding and acceptance of the species.

I think we need people to support the bears if they are going to stay, Kembel said.

If anyone is worried about bears, she encourages them to contact her for more information.

People can reach out any time they have questions and concerns.

Her phone number is 406-850-1131.

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NORFOLK  Sallie Grahams mournful cries gripped a Norfolk courtroom Tuesday as a jury heard a recording of the moment she found out that her son, Graham McCormick, had been found dead floating in a Lancaster County creek.

I heard her scream, testified Gordon McCormick, Grahams younger brother. A sound Ill never forget.

The lament was captured by a Ring doorbell camera at the Irvington home where Graham McCormick had been staying. He had been visiting a close friend from college, John Randolph Rand Hooper, who is on trial in connection with McCormicks 2017 drowning. McCormicks mother, father and brother had driven from the Richmond area to the Irvington home after hearing Graham McCormick was missing, and it was there that they learned he was dead.

The 16-member jury heard from three members of Graham McCormicks family and two of the last people to see him alive on Tuesday, the first of what is expected to be a four-day trial.

Hooper, 35, pleaded not guilty to the charges of felony homicide, aggravated manslaughter while operating a boat under the influence and failure to render aid after an accident resulting in McCormicks death.

The case is being tried in Norfolk because of the media attention the long-running case has received in Lancaster County and Richmond. Hooper and McCormick are from Richmond, though McCormick had moved to Atlanta shortly before his death for a job in banking. Both mens parents still live in the Richmond area.

Attorneys selected a panel of 16 jurors, four more than needed, in order to account for any illness such as COVID or other unexpected reasons that a juror cant fulfill their duties.

On Aug. 11, 2017, Sallie Graham dropped everything when she got a text from Hooper asking if shed heard from McCormick and that he was missing. McCormick, who had flown in from Atlanta the day before, had been visiting Hooper at Hoopers parents Irvington home.

She knew something had to be wrong  as did Burke McCormick, Graham McCormicks father, and Gordon, who also testified Tuesday. Grahampa was the 31-year-olds fraternity nickname, his brother told the jury, because of how responsible he was.

It was so unlike Graham, Sallie Graham testified. He stays within the lines. I was scared. I knew they were around the water and it scared me.

Shed asked Hooper if theyd searched the water or checked with the neighbors, she said. She asked if theyd checked in town, anywhere she could think.

The answers were all no, Sallie Graham said.

She checked by the dock, using an oar Hooper had given her to poke and prod at the calm, shallow water around the dock behind the home. Hooper just watched, she said.

If Graham had fallen off, perhaps he was under the dock, she testified. I was scared I would find him, scared I wouldnt.

After finding nothing, Sallie Graham started knocking on neighbors doors. A few minutes later, a neighbor she had talked to earlier rushed to Hoopers home and told Sallie Graham a body had been found. She knew then: It was Graham, and he was dead. Sallie Graham said she told Hooper: They found him.

He stopped dead in his tracks. Eyes like grapefruit, Sallie Graham told the jury. He didnt ask questions, she said. No, where? What happened? Or, thank God.

McCormicks body was found floating in Carter Creek off the Rappahannock River around 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2017. The state medical examiner concluded that McCormick died from drowning and that blunt-force trauma was a contributing factor in his death.

After an evening of heavy drinking, the two men went for a late-night joy ride in Hoopers 1999 Boston Whaler, according to King William County Commonwealths Attorney Matthew R. Kite, who is trying the case, along with his deputy Tiffany Webb.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries reconstructed the crash and concluded that the vessel struck a bulkhead that jutted out of the water near where McCormick was found. It is believed McCormick was ejected from the boat when it crashed.

Hooper left his friend to drown, returning home and feigning ignorance when McCormick was missing the next morning, according to the prosecutors.

Were here this week to hold this man, Mr. Hooper, accountable for his actions  or inactions, Kite told the jury in his opening statements.

Hooper initially denied taking the boat out again the night before, according to Mary Winston Blair. She was also staying with Hooper along with her sister, who was dating Hooper at the time, and Blairs significant other, Ralph Daniel Jr., who also testified Tuesday. They had all gone out on the boat earlier in the evening, then gone to dinner by car, Blair said. After the group returned to Hoopers home, they played a card game. The women retired early, followed by Daniel. Blair and Daniel testified that they all had been drinking throughout the night.

In a later interview with detectives, Hooper admitted he and McCormick had taken the boat back out and that he remembered the crash but didnt remember who was driving. Veteran attorney Craig Cooley, who is leading Hoopers three-person defense team, told the jury that who was driving the boat will be a pivotal question in the case and that the prosecutors will not be able to prove definitively who it was.

Blair said she finally called the police, after Hooper first told her not to. She said she was the first to identify McCormicks body for the police, saying in court on Tuesday it appeared that it had been slammed against the rocks, over and over again.

Two months later, Hooper was charged with a misdemeanor for failing to report the crash. Former Lancaster County prosecutor Jan Smith, who lost re-election in 2019 and has since had his law license suspended for a year for his handling of this case, withdrew the charge, saying others would be filed. It took nearly a year for Smith to seek new charges. In the meantime, McCormicks family filed a civil lawsuit and received a $4 million settlement.

In 2019, Smith and Hoopers attorneys negotiated a controversial plea agreement in which Hooper would serve only one year of a 15-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter and failure to render aid. McCormicks family said that was too lenient.

Before it could be entered in court, Circuit Judge R. Michael McKenney recused himself after receiving a letter from a witness in the case. In the letter, Benjamin M. Chip Woodson, who owns the land just off of which McCormicks body was found, said Smith alleged that McKenney had already made up his mind about the case, which the judge denied.

He appointed Circuit Judge Herbert M. Hewitt, who typically presides in King George County. Five months later, Hewitt rejected the plea deal, saying the sentence was inappropriate and that Hoopers actions came from a cold and malignant heart.

The case passed through a few other hands until it landed on the desk of retired Judge Charles Poston. A special prosecutor, Kite, was appointed after Smiths successor, Tony Spencer, was removed after Hoopers attorneys alleged his election was supported by McCormicks family.

In October 2020, Kite dropped all charges against Hooper; then, in December 2020, Hooper was indicted on the more serious charges he now faces.

Under Virginia law, felony murder is an accidental killing and is considered second-degree murder, punishable by five to 40 years in prison. Aggravated involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence between one and 20 years in prison; and failure to render aid carries up to five years in prison.

Both sides have agreed not to mention to the jury that Hooper had previously pleaded guilty or any details of the rejected agreement.

Testimony resumes at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
A group of Chesapeake parents filed a lawsuit against Gov. Glenn Youngkin Tuesday, arguing that an executive order that scrapped the statewide school mask mandate, and gave parents an opt-out from local mandates, thwarts state law.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that students and staff wear masks at school, and a 2021 state law requires schools to adhere to the agencys COVID-19 guidelines to the maximum extent practicable. The Chesapeake parents say Youngkins order is in direct conflict with that law, and are asking the Supreme Court of Virginia to declare the governors executive order void.

Youngkins order, slated to take effect Monday, has rankled Democrats in the General Assembly, who say the new governor is overstepping his power and threatening the ability of schools to protect students and staff. Comments from Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to Fox News on Monday fanned the flames: The Republican said Youngkin could withhold funding from districts that dont comply.

Nearly a day later, a spokesperson for Youngkin said Earle-Sears comments were mischaracterized, but added that the governor would consider the tools available to him to enforce the order.

Some of the states largest school districts  including Richmond, Norfolk and the counties of Henrico, Arlington and Fairfax  say they will continue to require masks, citing the 2021 state law.

Locally, one large district that currently requires masks is waffling on its approach: Chesterfield County Public Schools will wait to make a decision until the day before the order takes effect.

The legal complaint against Youngkin argues that his executive order purports to sweep aside masking mandates and other protections with little or no consideration of or respect for CDC guidance, actions taken by the Virginia General Assembly, or the powers vested in school boards.

The suit was filed against Youngkin, State Health Commissioner Colin Greene, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, and the Chesapeake School Board and superintendent. Virginia Beach attorney Kevin Martingayle, a past president of the Virginia State Bar, represents the plaintiffs.

Legislative tension

Democratic lawmakers from the House and the Senate said in a news conference Tuesday that Youngkin does not have the authority to withdraw public funding from school districts over their masking policies. They strongly criticized the executive order and Earle-Sears funding threat.

Earle-Sears said Monday in a Fox News interview that there are certain combinations of monies that we send to the ... local school boards, and [Youngkin] could withhold some of that. And he could possibly, if the law allows, even give the parents the ability to decide what schools their children should attend. So were going to look at all of that.

Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, said Tuesday that Democrats in the legislature would support school divisions in keeping the mask mandates in place.

The science is clear: Masks and social distancing limit the risk of children and adults catching COVID. We now have a new, more contagious variant. Another surge that is putting even more stress on our school system, McClellan said. We will not let the governor overstep his authority and bully our school systems.

Macaulay Porter, the Youngkin spokesperson, said Democrats willfully mischaracterized the comments from Earle-Sears, and played politics in an effort to delegitimize the rights of parents.

The executive order allows parents to opt out of mask mandates so that they can make the best decisions for their children and anyone who wants to wear a mask is free to do so, Porter said. Consistent with the governors past remarks, we will consider the tools available to make sure that parents rights are protected.

McClellan was joined by Del. Jeff Bourne of Richmond, Sen. Ghazala Hashmi of Chesterfield, and Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg of Henrico.

Hashmi said that many parents reaching out to her are worried about COVID-19 safety measures going away. McClellan, VanValkenburg and Bourne  all parents of school-age children  said they worry about their kids contracting COVID-19 at school.

Im not sure exactly which parents [Youngkins] been talking to because Ive been receiving emails and phone calls and have had personal conversations with parents who are my constituents, who are actually quite worried now about their childrens health and safety, Hashmi said, adding that it is of special concern to children and siblings who are too young to be vaccinated.

Democrats argue that the law passed last year calling on school districts to hold in-person classes also requires the districts to follow CDC guidance. The CDC, which cannot issue binding policy, recommends universal mask-wearing in schools.

VanValkenburg, who helped craft the final language with then-Gov. Ralph Northams administration, said the bill was designed to keep schools open through mitigation strategies that would prevent the spread of COVID-19 in school buildings. The Northam administration at one point last year relied on the new law to call on districts to require masks; it later issued its own statewide mask mandate through the state health commissioner.

VanValkenburg pointed to the school district in Colonial Heights, which had to close for virtual learning last week because of staffing shortages fueled by COVID-19 infections.

Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, co-sponsor of the state law that Democrats and school districts are citing, reasserted on Monday that the measure she and Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, brought forward was not meant to prompt a mask mandate.

SB1303 has been used against our children and against its intent this school year to advance an agenda. SB1303 does not mandate the use of masks in school because the CDC does not mandate masks, Dunnavant said in a statement.

Democrats on Tuesday also criticized Youngkins actions as igniting a culture war that could risk health and critical school resources.

I would also remind everyone that the last time the state tried to step in and override local school boards on decisions that were made was Massive Resistance, McClellan said, referring to the states policy, beginning in 1956, to prevent racial integration in public schools.

Localities respond

At a news conference Tuesday, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said he was grateful that Jason Kamras, superintendent of the city school district, had quickly announced that Richmond schools would continue to require masking.

Kamras, who appeared alongside the mayor, said masks are effective at mitigating the spread of the virus.

As the mayor noted, our ability to keep our doors open, which is essential to our kids physical and mental health and their learning, is tied to the extent to which we prevent transmission, Kamras said. Masks not only keep them healthy, they will also keep our doors open.

Richmond School Board members reaffirmed the districts mask mandate in defiance of the executive order in an 8-1 vote. School Board member Jonathan Young proposed an amendment that would have allowed parents to exempt their children from wearing a mask. The motion failed.

I would say were squarely within our rights legally to uphold our own mask mandate, School Board member Liz Doerr said, citing Virginias constitution.

In December, Chesterfield School Board member Ryan Harter, who was chair at the time, wrote in an email that masks would be gone once Youngkin took office.

I have spoken with a few members of the Governors transition team in regards to masking. We stand ready to change when the Governor takes office and action, Harter wrote.

In August when the School Board unanimously voted for students to return for the 2021-2022 academic year in masks, Harter expressed disappointment with the decision.

Theres nothing I hate more than going back on my word. For this I apologize. It was never my intention to change course, but here we are, Harter said.

Not all Chesterfield School Board members are ready to lift a mask mandate. Vice Chair Dot Heffron said in a Facebook post on Sunday: My understanding is that we should not anticipate a change in our mask procedures, as CDC recommendations for mitigation strategies have not changed.

She wants to uphold the superintendents mask recommendation that the board approved in August.

In Richmond Public Schools, the threat voiced by Earle-Sears raised alarm as the city is already poised to lose upward of $7 million in state funding due to changes in the citys local composite index, a formula the state uses to calculate how much it contributes to individual school districts.

Threats of defunding schools dont sound like the pro-schools message he echoed yesterday and Saturday in [Youngkins] inaugural address, Stoney said Tuesday.

What we want from the governor is to get right with the laws that are already on the books.

jnocera@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6023 mleonor@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6254 Twitter: @MelLeonor_ pwilson@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6601 Twitter: @patrickmwilson Staff writers C. Suarez Rojas, Kenya Hunter and Andrew Cain contributed to this report.

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Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressed the Virginia General Assembly for the first time on Monday, pitching his legislative priorities as solutions to kitchen-table issues Virginians face.

Youngkin said he was elected to turn the page on the COVID-19 pandemic and rising cost of living, as well as to address the states fractured politics. He took aim at public schools, which he says are teaching divisive concepts related to race.

From the perspective of everyday Virginia families, times are tough. And the state of our commonwealth is not what it should be, Youngkin told delegates and senators gathered in the House chamber two days after his inauguration.

Theyre genuinely concerned that the cold halls of government are disconnected from the cold realities families face while sitting at their kitchen tables every day.

Youngkin, Virginias first Republican governor in eight years, roundly rejected former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northams outgoing message to the legislature last week, which presented the states economy as thriving and fertile for business growth, and its policies as more equitable compared with four years ago.

Here are some key takeaways from Youngkins address:

Tax cuts, education

Youngkin, a wealthy former private equity executive whos never served in public office, took immediate aim at the states higher-than-expected revenues, promising to deliver a package of tax cuts.

We shouldnt misconstrue record revenue for government as economic success for Virginians, Youngkin said. The view from the people, whose labor generates those tax receipts, is quite different than the talk in Richmond.

Youngkin reiterated to lawmakers his key tax cut priorities: suspending the most recent 5-cent increase to the gas tax; eliminating the states grocery tax; doubling the standard deduction in the states income tax; and offering a tax rebate of $300 for individuals and $600 for families.

He also highlighted his education agenda, which has attracted the most ardent criticism from Democrats. Youngkin promised to raise academic standards and end lessons on inherently divisive concepts related to race and the nations history with racism.

He said we should not be teaching our children to see everything through the lens of race, echoing complaints by conservatives that schools are overly emphasizing racism and inequity in their curricula.

Democrats like Del. Lamont Bagby of Henrico, head of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, have referred to Youngkins education agenda as a war on Black history.

Youngkin also urged lawmakers to pass legislation expanding privately run but publicly funded schools, calling for $150 million to help his administrations goal of starting 20 new charter schools. He also wants more parental control over school curricula and COVID-19 safety measures like masks, and a law enforcement officer stationed at every school.

Youngkin will try to get his agenda through a Senate in which Democrats hold a 21-19 edge and a House in which Republicans now hold a 52-48 edge.

The new governor urged Republicans to bring back some bills Democratic governors had vetoed.

Pass that bill again and I will sign it, he said more than once on Monday.

Youngkin urged lawmakers to bring back legislation allowing for association health plans, a type of health insurance where smaller employers can pool together to offer benefits to their employees. The plans have been criticized for having too few consumer protections and not covering key benefits.

Youngkin also urged lawmakers to bring back a bill that would have required schools to notify parents of any sexually explicit content in instructional materials, and to offer an alternative.

In contrast, Youngkin said he would quash any attempts to repeal the states right-to-work policy, which allows workers to opt out of paying dues to unions in their workplace.

If anyone tries to bring me a bill that creates forced unionization, it will meet the business end of my veto pen, he said.

Democratic opposition

Democrats were mostly silent and sat at their desks during Youngkins address, as Republicans offered many standing ovations.

Democrats did applaud when Youngkin urged all Virginians to get vaccinated and to get boosters, though he said he would never mandate it of any Virginian, including health care workers, which Democrats have heavily criticized.

Speaking to you as your governor, Ill never tell you what you must do, Youngkin said. But speaking to you as a friend and a neighbor, I strongly encourage you to get the vaccine.

Democratic senators, who have the votes to block Youngkins agenda if they choose  and if they have no defections  gathered in the Capitol Rotunda after his speech and said they didnt like what they heard.

What weve heard was a lot of doom and gloom as though nothing has happened in the last four years. Virginia has always been open for business, said Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, the caucus chair.

Weve given teachers raises. Weve done a lot for law enforcement in terms of raises. In listening to the speech, you would think that we had done absolutely nothing for teachers, for law enforcement.

They said Youngkin continued traveling down the wrong path on race in a state where history lessons have often omitted uncomfortable facts about racism and its role in the building of the state and nation.

That is a dog whistle. And its a dog whistle thats throwing red meat to a base, Locke said.

Its a bogeyman for his base, said Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria.

Environmental protections

Youngkin left environmental protection out of his inaugural address, but on Monday, Virginias new governor remarked on the states raw beauty and threw his support behind some ways to protect natural resources. He has said he does not support legislation enacted by Democrats to end coal and gas burning by 2045, and he rarely addresses climate change.

His pick for secretary of natural resources, Andrew Wheeler, who served as head of the Environmental Protection Agency under former President Donald Trump, faces what could be an uphill confirmation fight in the Senate.

Youngkin on Monday, however, said his administration would end the dumping of raw sewage in the James River once and for all, an ongoing effort with a $1 billion price tag.

The governor said he would also support putting funding toward helping farmers avoid toxic runoff into the states waterways  a program Northam also backed. He also supports full cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay; Virginia is part of a multistate partnership working on the issue.

Youngkin also promised to create a Coastal Virginia Resiliency Authority, which will focus on rising seas.

I deeply treasure the natural beauty of Virginia. And my administration will dedicate itself to protecting and promoting it as a core principle of our service, he said.

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Partisan debate unfolded Tuesday in the state Senate over Attorney General Jason Miyares firing of 30 staffers in the office after a Democratic senator said the short notice was unprofessional and caused confusion.

Republicans werent having it. Cry me a river. Mark Herring lost, OK? Get over it, said Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham.

Miyares, a Republican, defeated Democrat Herring in the November election and was sworn in on Saturday.

The day before, Miyares let go of 30 staffers, including 17 lawyers. They included the lawyer investigating dangerous conditions at a South Richmond apartment complex in Richmonds largest Latino neighborhood, where residents faced mold, rat and roach infestations and say management ignored requests to address problems.

Staffers in the attorney generals office serve at the pleasure of the attorney general.

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, gave a speech saying he was concerned about how Miyares, a former state delegate from Virginia Beach, handled the terminations.

Most people received only about 26 hours notice, he said, and some got less.

Im not sure a lot of the terminations really reflect an understanding of the legal responsibilities of the Attorney Generals Office, said Surovell, a lawyer.

Lawyers terminated from the Office of Civil Rights were working on cases that the state was required to file, including housing discrimination cases, Surovell said. One case has a trial set in February and another in March, he said.

He also said he was concerned that lawyers in the offices conviction integrity unit who were working on wrongful conviction cases were terminated.

Attorneys working on a lawsuit cant just walk away, he said. They have to file a motion to withdraw, notify a judge and give a reason.

Miyares can make lots of policy choices, he can change the way he runs that office, Surovell said. But you cant fire 30 people in 24 hours that are involved in legal matters. That aint how it works.

And it gives me serious concern about how seriously that office takes its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to represent the people of Virginia on the matters that we have tasked them as this legislature as things they have to focus on.

Obenshain, who narrowly lost the race for attorney general to Herring in 2013, said in a speech Tuesday that eight years ago, when Democrat Herring became attorney general, succeeding Republican Ken Cuccinelli, Herring let go of 38 people in the attorney generals office.

(Michael Kelly, who was the chief of staff to Herring, disputed that number and said he had no idea where it came from. Obenshain later said the number is 43 and said Miyares office has information. Miyares spokesperson Victoria LaCivita said the number was compiled from conversations with the administration of Republican Cuccinelli, who preceded Herring in the office.)

That number is simply made up. A total fabrication. That wouldve been like 10% of the office at the time, Kelly said.

Im pretty sure if we had fired 10% of the office I would remember, and reporters and others would have heard about it. On the contrary we kept and even promoted many, many people hired by Cuccinelli, McDonnell, Kilgore and others because they were good lawyers and dedicated public servants.

Republican Jerry Kilgore was attorney general from 2002 to 2005 and Republican Bob McDonnell from 2006 to 2009.

Obenshain said in his speech that the cases the fired lawyers were handling are still being handled by the attorney general. The person occupying the office changes, and that person is still responsible for handling cases, he said.

The attorney general of Virginia has not withdrawn from those cases, he said. Should he choose to do so, he will have to go to those courts and withdraw. This is quite frankly exactly what happens every four years or in this instance, eight years.

Its about darn time that the attorney generals office was refocused on doing the job of the people of the commonwealth of Virginia, he said.

Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City, said that a majority of Virginians have cast their votes and have decided that the previous attorney general who politicized that attorney generals office for the last eight years was rejected by a majority of the citizens of Virginia.
A new Twitter star has been born and that star is Sen. Lillie Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, who turns 78 on Saturday.

Since the Virginia General Assembly session started, her Twitter feed -- @SenLouiseLucas -- has been going gangbusters. Over the weekend, she scooped up ten thousand new followers, bringing her following to over 21,000, as of this writing.

She posts memes, gifs and scorchers, mostly aimed at Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

A photo of her sitting behind Youngkin on Monday, shooting burning eyes at the new governor, has already been turned into a meme.

The Twitterverse is officially a-Twitter over her:

To which Lucas responded:

Here are just a few of her recent Twitter gems:

Lucas is president pro tempore of the state Senate, which means she presides over the chamber in the lieutenant governors absence.

That is why Lucas sat behind Youngkin on Monday along with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, when Youngkin delivered his State of the Commonwealth address in the House chamber.

Lucas stepped in for former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and led the Senate on several notable occasions, as when Virginia senators backed legislation to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

A member of the Senate since 1992, Lucas sponsored the legislation that legalized casino gambling in Virginia. It allowed five cities  Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Richmond  to hold referendums on whether to allow casinos. Richmond was the only city to vote down a casino.

Lucas recently said she would donate to charity a $300,000 settlement from the city of Portsmouth that closed a $6.75 million suit she had filed against former Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene and a sergeant.

Lucas filed the suit after she and 18 others were charged with felonies for damaging a Confederate monument during a protest in 2020. A judge later dismissed the charges and Portsmouth officials fired Greene.

But Lucas, of course, isn't the only Virginia politician setting Twitter aflame.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' personal Twitter account, @WinsomeSears, has 183,000 Twitter followers. Her campaign Twitter account, @Winwithwinsome, has an additional 133,500. Both were covered by The Washington Post in an article titled: "Winsome Sears pulls in fans after victory in Virginia with a lighthearted Twitter account."

The article highlighted Sears' funny, sharp-edged humor and led with a photo of Sears' head photoshopped onto the body of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with the caption "We did it, Glenn." Sears' meme, which poked fun at Harris' famous response, "We did it, Joe," when Joe Biden won the 2020 election, took off on Twitter, racking up over 75,000 likes and 10,400 retweets.
Virginia Tech is lifting its vaccine and mandatory testing requirements for employees, a move that was prompted by recently issued orders and directives from Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Tech President Tim Sands addressed the change in a campus message Tuesday.

Radford University made the same decision on Monday.

Over the weekend, Virginias new governor, Glenn Youngkin, issued several executive orders and directives as part of his first day in office, Sands wrote. One of those measures impacts the application of certain COVID-19 policies to our classified employee workforce. To avoid differential treatment of employees in similar roles, all Virginia Tech employees will be included in this alignment and will no longer be required to be vaccinated, report their vaccination status to the university, or participate in mandatory testing.

The change marks an about-face for Tech and its employees with the vaccine situation. Up until now, the university had not only required employees to get vaccinated or subject to regular testing  for those who couldnt get vaccinated for religious or medical reasons  but also receive a booster shot against COVID-19.

The change also comes amid the still ongoing surge of the highly transmissible omicron variant and health experts maintaining that vaccination remains the most effective measure against the virus, particularly in congregate settings such as universities and schools.

Despite the policy change, Tech isnt abandoning its overall message on the vaccine.

We continue to strongly encourage all employees to be vaccinated and get a booster dose as soon as they are eligible, and to report their vaccination status to the university, Sands wrote. Vaccines, including boosters, remain our best protection against COVID-19 and are especially important for public health. We are fortunate that our university community has already achieved a level of immunity that positions us as well as possible to fully maintain operations through the semester.

Testing will continue to be offered to employees on a voluntary basis and masking policies remain in place, Sands wrote.

And while the vaccine requirement has been dropped for Tech employees, the measure isnt changing for students.

The purpose of this presidential policy memorandum is to affirm that the spring 2022 vaccination, booster and testing program for students remains in effect, Sands wrote. As communicated on June 8, 2021, COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all students who do not receive an exemption.

Sands further referred to the recent booster measure, which requires students to upload verification of a COVID-19 booster jab within 14 days of eligibility.

A past university message stated that students who are already eligible need to update the information on their vaccination status by Feb. 1.

The past university message also included a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page on boosters, which recently adjusted its guidance on the period people should wait before getting them. The federal health agency now states people should wait at least five months  instead of six  to get the booster after the completion of their primary vaccination series.

Any student who is not fully vaccinated and boosted by their date of eligibility is required to participate in a surveillance testing program, which includes mandatory testing at an initial frequency of at least once a week, Sands wrote Tuesday. Those requirements are a condition to be part of the university community and impact the ability to live, learn and work in any university-owned or -leased facility.

Of all Tech students, 95% are vaccinated, according to the latest available data on a university dashboard. Employees are at 94%.

Booster information is coming in, of course, but I dont have current percentages of boosters yet since the Dec. 28 mandate, Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski wrote in an email Tuesday.

At Radford, the administration sent out a campus message on Monday.

In part, it read: In observance of Governor Youngkins executive directive, Radford University employees will no longer be required to provide vaccination status and participate in associated testing protocols. The university remains committed to provide resources to help ensure the safety and well-being of our campus communities. COVID-19 testing will remain available for interested asymptomatic employees and the campus-wide indoor masking requirement remains in effect.

The Radford statement also referenced that there is no change to the student vaccine requirements.

Staff writer Sam Wall contributed to this report.
Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick, pre-filed a bill last week requiring high school students to learn about the first debate between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Only problem: that debate never happened.

The bill meant to reference the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates in which Stephen Douglas, a Democratic senator from Illinois, and Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, went head to head on the issue of slavery.

On Friday, the Virginia Division of Legislative Services, a nonpartisan government agency that formats and edits drafts of legislation, claimed responsibility for the error.

Here is the pertinent language from House Bill 781:

The founding documents of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, including Essays 10 and 51, excerpts from Alexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in America, the first debate between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, and the writings of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

The bill also included language banning the teaching of divisive concepts in Virginia public schools, in reference to critical race theory.
The father of Adam Oakes sat down at a conference table inside the Pocahontas government building, faced three state senators and described his life following the death of his only son. It's a "painfully desolate" existence, Eric Oakes said.

Adam Oakes died in February following an inebriated fraternity initiation party. His blood alcohol content was five times the legal driving limit, and 11 members of the fraternity have been charged with hazing.

"I can't understand why nobody got him help," Eric Oakes said.

On Monday, Oakes and his niece Courtney White advocated for legislation to prevent hazing and to toughen the penalties. A Senate subcommittee voted 3-0 to approve a bill that would restructure the roles of advisors, require hazing awareness training and mandate universities publish their fraternity misconduct. Called Adam's Law, the bill heads to the Senate education committee.

A second bill, which would make hazing a felony, was not voted on Monday.

Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, the chairperson of the committee, said she was glad to see the legislation come forward.

"Hazing has gotten out of control," she said.

Five Virginia students have died in alleged hazing incidents in the past 10 years, according to a website that tracks hazing deaths in the U.S.

After Oakes died, his family has worked to prevent more hazing deaths. They created the Live Like Adam Foundation to educate graduating seniors about the transition from high school to college, and they pushed for two bills that address hazing. Both are sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax. Del. Kathleen Murphy, D-Fairfax, sponsored identical bills in the House of Delegates.

The first bill, which was approved by the subcommittee Monday, requires an advisor be present at new-member events. Advisors would be tasked with providing in-person education on hazing to current and new members. Current law suggests anti-hazing training but doesn't require it, Boysko said.

Part of the problem, White said, is that students don't realize they're being hazed when they're encouraged to drink in excess. Their definition of hazing has become distorted.

When she was a student at Radford, White rushed a sorority, and she knew the way she was treated made her feel embarrassed. But she didn't realize until later that she experienced hazing, she said.

The bill would also prevent fraternities and sororities from choosing former members as advisors. Advisors sometimes pass along a culture of hazing to students, White said. Because the advisor once endured a hardship, they think so should the new members.

Also, students who report an act of hazing would be given immunity from punishment, encouraging students to report acts of hazing.

The bill also would require universities to publish online the rule violations of their student organizations. Some colleges, including Cornell University, already do this. VCU says it intends to.

A Times-Dispatch investigation revealed that Oakes' fraternity, Delta Chi, had a bad reputation for sexual assault, underage drinking, low grades and illegal parties. Its infractions were so frequent that in 2018, VCU decided to suspend the fraternity for four years. But the fraternity hired a lawyer, appealed, and VCU reduced the suspension to one year.

If Adam Oakes had any idea what kind of fraternity he was joining, he never would have done so, his father said Monday.

The second bill, which wasn't voted on, would make hazing a Class 5 felony, punishable by 1-10 years in prison, if the hazing causes the death or serious injury of the student. Hazing is currently a Class 1 misdemeanor, carrying no more than one year in jail. Virginia law defines hazing as recklessly or intentionally endangering the health of a student in connection to an organization's initiation.

Twelve states currently consider hazing a felony, White said, and two more states have introduced bills to raise the punishment.

Also part of the bill is a provision that a person can be charged with hazing if it causes severe emotional distress. Current law dictates that bodily injury be suffered. If the hazing does not result in bodily injury, the crime would remain a misdemeanor.

Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, said he favored 95% of Adam's Law. But at some point, he said, young adults must be given the chance to make their own decisions.

He also questioned if fraternities and sororities need the same requirements, saying hazing is a bigger issue for young men than young women. (The Times-Dispatch's investigation revealed that in the past decade, VCU fraternities have been seriously punished far more often than sororities.)

But White countered, saying hazing isn't limited to fraternities alone, and Locke agreed.

"It is both," White said.
A state senator whos tried for years to scale down Dominion Energys influence in the state Capitol called on Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday to join the effort, saying lawmakers need the new governors support if theyre going to pass the legislation.

We need the new governor to speak out on this issue, said Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City. I can get a portion of my caucus. I cant get them all. I certainly cant get the ones that are more senior in leadership. ... The commonwealth needs the new governor to take a firm stand on this issue.

Petersen held a news conference with Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, on Monday to discuss legislation they have filed that would prohibit campaign contributions from any public utility.

The issue: The General Assembly writes laws that regulate Dominion, a monopoly and the states largest electric utility. Dominion is among the largest campaign donors to lawmakers, and those laws they write generally favor the utilitys bottom line.

Last year, Dominion was able to keep hundreds of millions above a fair profit following a review of its finances, rather than return it to customers.

Ware said he thinks the bill has a good chance of passing in the House, where Republicans have a 52-48 edge. This is about ratepayers. At the bottom line, we are concerned for the ratepayers.

Adding to the chances something could pass this year, he said, was Dominions $250,000 in funding to a secretive federal political action committee last fall that funded misleading attacks on Youngkin. The ads were meant to undercut Youngkin with his Republican base by painting him as weak on the Second Amendment.

Dominion CEO Bob Blue apologized last year and said the company failed to properly vet the PAC, while Youngkin attacked the utilitys assistance of his Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe.

On Monday, the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project posted Federal Election Commission data showing all the donors to the anti-Youngkin PAC, called Accountability Virginia.

In addition to money from the Dominion PAC, Accountability Virginia received personal donations from Blue ($10,000), Dominion President Ed Baine ($5,000), Dominion general counsel Carlos Brown ($5,000) and Bill Murray ($7,500), the utilitys head lobbyist.

Dominion donated $50,000 to Youngkins inauguration committee in December.

As for the legislation from Petersen and Ware, Dominion spokesman Rayhan Daudani said on Monday: Campaign finance laws should apply to all equally.

A state filing by Dominions PAC last year showed the utility had given $200,000 to the PAC between July 1 and Sept. 30. A new federal filing by the PAC also showed an additional $50,000 donation from Dominion to Accountability Virginia, received on Oct. 15, bringing the utilitys total contribution to $250,000.

Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, unloaded on the utility in a speech on the state Senate floor on Monday.

I said at the time that we needed to change disclosure policies in Virginia because we would not know exactly what was done until after the next governor was inaugurated, he said.

Suetterlein said Dominions leadership should have known in September what was happening with its money, and noted that the personal donations from its executives came right around the time Blue was apologizing and saying Dominion wanted its money back from the PAC.

I know those folks are sophisticated enough that they knew how to cancel a check between Oct. 16 and Oct. 18. Theres no excuse ... we need more disclosure in this commonwealth, he said.

Daudani said Dominions last donation was made electronically on Oct. 12. We did try and put a stop payment after the fact, but the transaction was complete.
On Monday, Lynchburgs Martin Luther King Jr. Community Council celebrated the 60th anniversary of Kings visit to the Hill City on March 27, 1962, while Americans nationwide celebrated the life of the civil rights hero. The event coincided with nationwide celebrations of Kings life on the 36th celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States.

The event, held virtually due to COVID-19 concerns, was streamed across social media platforms, featuring a reenactment of the speech King Jr. gave at E.C. Glass that night, his famous American Dream speech.

Rev. Virgil A. Woods, who was instrumental in setting up Kings visit to Lynchburg 60 years ago, delivered the keynote speech of the event, talking about his days spent with King, the struggle of African Americans in the country today, and the current political climate around racial issues in America.

Woods, who was close to King, said he spent my lifetime getting behind the worship of Martin Luther King to know the depth of his friendship.

I like to believe that the genius of King was his Jesus story, Woods said.

I want you to think with me a little bit about this story of Black people in America. Right now, the fight has got everybody talking and talking and talking and confusing things. The real struggle for saving the soul of America is the story of the descendants of African slaves and the descendants of African slave owners.

Its reconciliation of relationships and reconciliation of resources, Woods said.

The theme of the event came from a quote from King, Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

The ceremony also featured a virtual tour of Kings stop in Lynchburg, where he visited Diamond Hill Baptist Church, where Woods was the pastor. King also visited the Anne Spencer house; the Lodge of the Fishermen at Cosby Woods, the only dining establishment in Lynchburg other than the hospital where Blacks and whites could dine together; and E.C. Glass High School, where he finally delivered his speech.

Rev. Owen Cardwell, who was 15 at the time, said during his address he doesnt remember much about the visit itself, but he remembers what the days around the visit were like.

It was a whirlwind of activity that day; visits to Diamond Hill Baptist Church, where I am currently blessed to serve as pastor. We went to Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship coffeehouse, there was the rally at E.C. Glass auditorium, and finally, we went to the home of Dr. George F. Jackson, Cardwell said.

And my most vivid memory was because, there in the floor, we were sitting in the presence of Martin Luther King, we joined in singing freedom songs. And my lasting recollection was that, even then, there was an air of melancholy surrounding Dr. King.

Some events across Lynchburg on Monday were either canceled or postponed due to the winter weather Sunday. The City announced its first MLK Jr. Celebration and Walk for Unity would be moved from Monday to Saturday, Feb. 19 at 10:30. The walk will start at the Public Works facility at 1700 Memorial Avenue.

Despite the postponements, the City honored the life and memory of King with a resolution from Mayor Mary-Jane Dolan during the ceremony, remembering all that King did in Lynchburg, as well as around the nation to ensure the rights of African Americans.

We must also be reminded the struggle for civil rights is as real today as it was in 1962. And there is still much to be done today to ensure the rights of all people, the resolution reads.

Woods would echo the resolution during his speech while discussing the current state of racial equality in America today.

Beloved community and beloved economy are one in the same coin, Woods would say. And if you try to have a beloved community without a beloved economy, you dont have anything but a political settlement, and the flag aint nothing but a rag.
When Gov. Ralph Northam began his term in 2018, an estimated 660,000 Virginians lacked high-speed internet access. That staggering figure was a metric the governor took personally.

Northam grew up on a farm just outside of Onancock on the states Eastern Shore. His hometown was among the unserved places, and long before the COVID-19 pandemic became the driving issue behind broadband policy, he channeled his personal experience into a sense of urgency.

Last month, nearing the end of his term, Northam took the podium at a fire station in Goochland County with a sense of accomplishment. He announced more than $722 million in grants that would support 35 broadband projects across 70 localities. Roughly 278,000 households, businesses and community institutions are positioned to gain high-speed service, and Virginia now is on pace to achieve universal broadband by 2024.

We always knew that broadband was important for everybody, said Northam, whose team has steered more than $2 billion in public and private investments over the past four years. No matter who you are, no matter where you are in Virginia, it has become a necessity.

But the metrics that have shaped recent broadband efforts, led by the number of unconnected homes and businesses, have to evolve going forward. Virginia must measure the return on investment. Collect concrete data about who is receiving new internet service, where it is being placed and how it is generating progress.

Circle back to Northams initial case for pursuing universal broadband. The digital divide in Virginia was caused by a fundamental math problem, the governors team explained in its Commonwealth Connect report. For private providers, the cost of building 1 mile of service in Arlington and Accomack counties might be the same, but densely populated areas like Arlington had a distinct advantage.

For areas with lower densities, the cost of the infrastructure outweighs the potential revenue that could be gained from customers, the report warned. In those areas, without government intervention, citizens will never be served.

Government intervention has been characterized by four paths over the past four years:

First, Virginia ramped up state grants that support public-private partnerships between localities and providers. Annual investment in the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative jumped from $1 million in 2017 to $50 million in 2021.

Second, the General Assembly adopted laws that help promote coverage and innovation. For example, Virginias utility-leverage program allows major electricity companies to partner with localities and providers, and build infrastructure serving hard-to-reach areas.

Third, state leadership developed detailed guidance and resources for localities to develop individually tailored broadband plans. Information sharing has ranged from sample requests for proposals, to maps of available services and assets.

Finally, strong relationship-building yielded the Commonwealth Connect Coalition, an alliance of 100-plus businesses, nonprofits and other stakeholders invested in improved access.

Why put time and energy into these initiatives? The Commonwealth Connect report stressed there was a significant return on investment.

One study cited that universal broadband could add $1.29 billion to Virginias gross state product while creating upward of 9,400 jobs. Home property values also were estimated to grow between 3% and 8%.

Another study by the USDA Economic Research Service found agriculture, the commonwealths largest industry, could increase output by 18% through the adoption of connected technologies. Agriculture already generates $70 billion in economic activity for Virginia, and broadbands impact could add another $12.6 billion.

But the Commonwealth Connect report admitted these calculations, while robust, still fail to capture the economic benefits of increased market access for rural businesses, telehealth patients, students and more.

It can be easy to say, Well, some of our county is connected,  Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, added at the Dec. 13 event in Goochland. But thats not everybody.

Extending Spanbergers sentiment, it can be easy to say Well, our entire county is connected. But what about the people behind the data? Theres more work to do to ensure that better outcomes are experienced by households and businesses with newfound connections.

Look no further than the tumult of this past weeks snowstorm across Virginia. Local governments already are using digital tools to send civic alerts that help residents prepare for  and survive during  a crisis.

On Jan. 2, Goochland County reached out to residents via social media: No matter the weather forecast, downloading the @DominionEnergy app to easily report and check the status of power outages right from your fingertips is a smart idea.

By the afternoon of Jan. 4, with a majority of residents facing a multiday power outage, Louisa County announced help via Twitter for residents  with a major caveat: There is a warming shelter available at the Holly Grove [Fire Department]. We cannot provide transportation.

Current broadband investments have to lead to stronger systems in the future  ones that improve power-outage response times, provide shelter and transportation, and most of all, prevent motorists from being stranded for an incomprehensible 24 hours along a major interstate highway.

Great strides have been made in the past four years to close the digital divide. But a connection alone wont result in improved outcomes. With more than $2 billion on the line, we have to monitor the implementation and collect data that demonstrates a real return on investment for Virginians.

Chris Gentilviso is Opinions co-editor. Contact him at: cgentilviso@timesdispatch.com
FLORENCE, S.C.  Duke Energy South Carolina President Mike Callahan is expected to speak in Florence next month.

The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that Callahan will be the keynote speaker at its winter community breakfast.

We are pleased to have Mike Callahan with us this year for the February breakfast, said Chamber President Michael Miller. This is a great opportunity to learn about the energy future of South Carolina from a leader of a company at the forefront of those efforts.

He is expected to speak about the companys history in South Carolina and Duke Energys efforts to bring modern infrastructure to the region.

The chamber annually hosts two breakfast events per year, one in the fall and the winter. The breakfast last fall featured presentations from state Reps. Roger Kirby and Jay Jordan and City Councilwoman Lethonia Peaches Barnes.

The chambers winter community breakfast is scheduled for 7:50 a.m. at the Florence Center at 3300 W Radio Drive.

Doors will open at 7:30 a.m.

This years breakfast is made possible by Duke Energy and Signature Wealth Strategies.

Individual tickets for the breakfast are available for $20 and special reserve tables of 8 are available for $180.

For tickets, register online at: https://web.florencescchamber.com/events/2022-Winter-Legislative-Breakfast-2309/details or call the chamber directly at 843-665-0515.

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FLORENCE, S.C.  Jim, Sherry and David Taylor got involved with Help 4 Kids when Sherry, then a teacher at Savannah Grove Elementary School, noticed bags gathered around the office.

I was a teacher .., and I went up to the office and they had all these bags there ... and then somebody told me what they were, Sherry said last week as the nonprofit group prepared for its annual Vienna sausage drive. I said, well, thats what I want to do when I retire.

Help 4 Kids annually conducts a Vienna sausage drive during the third week of January, which is known as Childhood Hunger Awareness Week.

Sherry said she was inspired to join the program around eight years ago because she had some students who she worried about getting something to eat over the weekend, which is what the organizations bags provide.

Jim joined a couple of years later. David, their son, has an abnormality in his 12th chromosome that causes problems with growth and learning.

Some of them [the bags] are feeding more than those kids, Jim said. Theyre splitting them up in the family.

Sherry said that teachers for years have been providing for children who may not get the chance to eat at home and arrive too late for the schools breakfast meals. She added that once school ends for the week, some children are on their own to find food until that Monday meal.

On the weekends, its pretty tough on some of these kids, Jim said.

Jim added that the bags donated by Help 4 Kids can help make it easier for parents or siblings trying to get their children or siblings to sleep and teachers trying to teach the children.

He currently serves as the warehouse coordinator.

I like this because nobody gets paid, Jim added. Its all volunteer.

Sherry credited President Diane Welsh and others for improving the system the organization uses.

Food donations can be dropped from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at the CSP Insurance Services Building at 2414 Hoffmeyer Road. For large donation or to schedule a pickup, call 843-580-4111.

For more information, visit help4kidsflorence.org.

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A lawsuit against Amazon is expected to be filed Monday by the family of a delivery driver who was killed in December after a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse Downstate, according to a news release from the law firm retained by the family.

Six people who had been working at an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville died following the Dec. 10 storm, which left dozens dead across multiple states. Among them was independent contractor Austin McEwen, 26, who, like other workers, was allegedly required to work under conditions management knew to be unsafe, according to the news release. The facility had inadequate emergency plans and no basement shelter, the lawsuit contends, and McEwen and others who died were told to shelter in a bathroom during the storm.

A spokeswoman for Amazon disputed those claims in a statement, saying members of a local team worked to move people to safety as quickly as possible.

The lawsuit was expected to be the first filed against Amazon in connection with the deaths, according to Clifford Law Offices, the Chicago-based firm representing McEwens family.

It appears that holiday profits took precedence over safety, said the familys attorney, Jack Casciato, according to the news release.

In a statement, Kelly Nantel, a spokeswoman for Amazon, said the lawsuit misunderstands key facts. The building was new and up to code, Nantel said, and local teams were following weather conditions at the time of the storm.

Severe weather watches are common in this part of the country and, while precautions are taken, are not cause for most businesses to close down, Nantel said. We believe our team did the right thing as soon as a warning was issued, and they worked to move people to safety as quickly as possible.

Amazon representatives previously have said its emergency response, including in the event of severe weather, is part of training for warehouse employees. Amazon directs employees to shelter during tornadoes, representatives said last month, but the company declined to specifically state when employees at the Edwardsville facility were warned about the threat.

Amazon recently has opened warehouses across the south suburbs, in Markham, Matteson and University Park.

According to law enforcement officials in December, the other victims at the Amazon warehouse were Deandre Morrow, 28, and Etheria Hebb, 34, both of St. Louis; and Illinois residents Kevin Dickey, 62, of Carlyle; Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, of Alton; and Larry Virden, 46, of Collinsville.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration last month opened an investigation into the facilitys collapse, and has six months to complete it, OSHA officials said at the time.

Clifford Law Offices planned to file the lawsuit and hold a virtual news conference Monday.

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For centuries, libraries have been a gathering place and resource to which people turn for information to improve their lives.

But the challenges patrons face increasingly reach beyond the scope of what most librarians are trained to handle, said Brittany Peacock, community outreach supervisor at the Davenport Public Library.

"Libraries are a hub for information," Peacock said. "And we are a gathering place where there are no expectations. You don't have to pay any money to come here. This is a free space. It's welcome to all. So see people from all walks of life come into the library  young families, low-income, high-income, elderly. We see everyone. And all of those people have unique needs."

For years reference librarians and customer service staff have done their best to connect them to resources and information, "but it was really becoming apparent we needed someone who specialized in this" as requests continued to grow, Peacock said.

In a first-floor office near the elevator of the Davenport Main Library, 321 Main St., Quinn OBrian works to aid in connecting residents to services such as housing, unemployment and child care assistance; substance abuse and mental health services; and more.

The Davenport Public Library hired O'Brian full-time in October, becoming the first public library in Iowa to have a social worker on staff.

The library hired O'Brian using federal grants received by the city of Davenport as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The position is funded for three years.

"We knew there was a need way before these funds became available," Peacock said. "This has been an item on our top priority list because our patrons have  so many unique needs. We have wonderful staff here who have been providing resources for years, but we needed somebody with a specific skill set, has a background, knows what they're doing, specializes in this and can get them the information quickly."

Library officials, too, used the federal grant dollars to hire an early literacy coordinator, Alison McGaughey, to promote pre-K early literacy in the community and assist parents in helping their kids be ready for kindergarten. That includes signing them up for the library's 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. The nationwide program encourages parents to read 1,000 books to their child before they reach kindergarten and help them keep track of the books that they've read.

While each position is funded for three years, Peacock said library staff is "taking meticulous statistics" and is hopeful that with the data "proving just where that need is" the library can make a strong case for future city funding.

"There is no guarantee," she said. "Obviously, we don't know what three years from now will bring us. But, we have that data to show."

A needed service

O'Brian, a licensed social worker since 2011, previously worked for Genesis Health System in Davenport. She said she applied for the position after reading articles about the growing trend nationally of libraries finding ways to hire or partner with social workers.

"I felt like that was a service that was really needed," O'Brian said. "While at Genesis ... I noticed a lot of people had other social needs that a hospital setting can really not meet," like housing, employment and food assistance.

"So when I saw this position that is what I saw  another opportunity for people to be able to meet with a social worker and address those needs that they can't find a proper setting of addressing," O'Brian said. "We are meeting the people at their point of need."

As of December, O'Brian said she had already helped about 80 library guests struggling with housing and food insecurity, finding employment, accessing unemployment and health insurance benefits, and needing mental health assistance, among other challenges.

"For me, libraries are like a community center. A place where people find comfort. A place where people want to get information and want to get knowledge," she said. "So if somebody comes to the library, they want to be able to meet all of their needs," including questions about Social Security benefits and food stamps.

"And librarians are not equipped to do that," O'Brian said. "So who best to answer those questions that are not found in books? Who best to be able to help them? It's a social worker."

O'Brian provides information, support and referrals to appropriate organizations. She also often helps library patrons fill out applications for various benefit and assistance programs and schedule medical appointments, in addition to providing brochures or leaflets to community resources commonly needed by patrons.

"Providing that platform where there is no barrier," she said. "A free service residents can use where I can provide you information or lead you in the right direction."

Building partnerships

O'Brian said her work had been hectic, as the pandemic and bitterly cold weather has exacerbated needs for temporary shelter, affordable housing, and food and utility assistance.

"Just everything," she said. "In December I saw a lot of people (asking about) divorces and questions on that and how to go about it."

O'Brian said she also helped direct residents to tutoring services and filing reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of dependent adults.

Patrons can either walk into the Davenport Public Library and be referred to O'Brian by library staff or make appointments to visit with her, including over the phone or via Zoom.

She makes hourly rounds to assist and identify patrons at the Davenport library's other branches who might be in need of services, "or to look at behaviors and deal with people before things do escalate," O'Brian said. She also offers consultation, training and resources to library staff as needed on issues related to social service needs of patrons, including those who are homeless or dealing with psychiatric issues.

"My role here is to let people understand that, you know, this is a societal issue and to look at these people and come from a place of empathy," she said.

O'Brian utilizes Quad Cities Open Network, a collaboration of social service organizations, to make referrals.

"I can go on that platform and put in a referral to maybe three or four different organizations at the same time," she said.

O'Brian also attends monthly meetings of area nonprofit service agencies "to discuss what they are doing and the opportunities that are there."

"Because as part of my role here is to build those partnerships with other organizations in the community to be able to serve our patrons," she said. "My role is to link them to appropriate resources in the community.

To schedule an appointment call or email O'Brian at 563-888-3371 and qobrian@davenportlibrary.com, or click HERE.

"For me, it's all about serving. It's all about helping people," she said. "Whatever I can do at the moment, that is my focus."

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He is charged with driving a motor home that crashed at about 9:30 p.m. Nov. 26, 2020, near the intersection of County Road L-12 and Quest Avenue near Remsen. The vehicle was traveling north when the driver failed to negotiate a curve, left the road and rolled several times. Law enforcement officers at the scene found open alcoholic beverage containers inside the vehicle. Other passengers told authorities Vlotho was the driver, and a blood sample obtained from Vlotho showed his blood-alcohol concentration was .224 percent, nearly three times the legal limit, according to court documents.
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man accused of sexually abusing a young girl 10 months ago has been arrested.

Jourdain St Cyr, 36, was booked into the Woodbury County Jail Friday on one count of second-degree sexual abuse. He is being held on a $25,000 bond.

According to a complaint filed in May in Woodbury County District Court, St Cyr had sexual contact on March 3 with a girl who is under age 12. The girl told her mother it had happened while St Cyr was lying with her on a couch.

St Cyr initially told the mother that it was an accident that happened while he was playing with the girl, the complaint said. He later admitted he had touched the girl.

The incident was reported to police, and a warrant for St Cyr's arrest was issued in May.

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A jury in Marion County, Tennessee, ordered Cracker Barrel to pay a man $9.4 million after it found the company at fault for serving him a glass filled with a chemical instead of water.

The size of the award may be capped due to a Tennessee law on civil damages.

"The jury returned a verdict for compensatory damages of $4.3 million in just 30 minutes -- one of the fastest verdicts we have ever seen -- and awarded punitive damages of $5 million after only 10 minutes of additional deliberation," Plaintiff William Cronnon's attorney Thomas Greer said in an interview with CNN.

Keep scrolling to see the 50 most popular chain restaurants in America

"The speed of the verdict, combined with an amount in excess of what we asked, speaks to just how dangerous the Cracker Barrel policy was," Greer said.

Cracker Barrel said it was "disappointed" with the award.

"While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jury's award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago," Cracker Barrel Media Relations said in a statement emailed to CNN.

"Although we are considering our options with respect to this verdict, we are glad this matter is behind us so we can better focus on caring for our guests and employees around the country," the statement said.

Cronnon was having lunch at a Cracker Barrel in Marion County in April 2014 when he took a sip of what he believed to be water, "only to immediately realize that it was not ice water but was some chemical that caused a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus," according to court documents obtained by CNN,

It was later discovered Cronnon had been served the chemical Eco-San, which was being used as a cleaner in the kitchen area, according to court documents.

Eco-San, described as a corrosive chemical in the lawsuit, caused permanent and serious internal physical injury to Cronnon, the complaint said.

Cronnon is still suffering from symptoms, including injuries to his mouth and esophagus, Greer said, which have incurred and will continue to incur medical expenses.

"Cracker Barrel's negligence didn't just cause Mr. Smith physical harm; it took away part of his identity," he said.

Cronnon did not wish to comment, Greer said.

***

The-CNN-Wire  &  2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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From the outside, theres nothing to suggest the fire station often is left unstaffed, or that it is used for maintenance rather than as a base for firefighters and paramedics to go out on calls.

Thats one of myriad reasons, experts said, that the person who left a baby boy in a duffel bag outside a Near North fire station around 5 a.m. in the 1000 block of North Orleans Street Saturday should have tried the buzzer and made sure to speak with someone inside. Its possible doing so could have saved the infants life and, ironically, would have meant a no questions asked policy. The biological parents now potentially face arrest and charges for abandoning the baby, officials said.

There is no risk to the person being identified or questioned. You can knock on the door, ring the bell, get our attention, we will take the child from you, thank you and youre on your way, said Larry Langford, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.

Illinois Safe Haven Law offers new parents the option to safely and legally give up their child. Under the 20-year-old law, a baby up to 30 days old may be left at a hospital, emergency care facility, police station or firehouse without the parents facing questions or prosecution.

If they had tried to reach someone inside, Langford said, its likely they would quickly have learned the difference between a firehouse, where full-time firefighters work, and a fire station with minimal staffing  where the baby was left.

This is a building thats used for air maintenance and air supply, Langford explained. This is not a regular-man firehouse, and often there is nobody there at all.

Langford explained the crews at the fire station where the baby was left go out to service and exchange air tanks at fire companies all over the city, so they often can be out for an extended period of time as they go around the city dropping off air tanks or picking air tanks up.

It is imperative that they have contact with someone at the firehouse. Under no circumstances do we want people to leave children outside. And because of the way the Safe Haven Law is written, you may hand the child directly to a staff member or Fire Department member  they wont ask for your name, they wont ask for identification, they wont question you at all, which is far better than leaving the child outside.

Dawn Geras, founder and executive director of the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation, said she isnt sure what the disconnect was in this particular case, but she echoed Langfords sentiments, saying: They could have rung the doorbell or called to say they left a baby outside.

Thats why Geras was both disturbed and puzzled at the decision to leave the baby outside, particularly in winter. She said she believes that, although the Safe Haven Law has been in effect for 20 years, there are still significant gaps in peoples understanding of the law and its protections  if theyre even aware it exists.

There is a toll-free number that people can go to if they have a question about what to do or call for information ahead of time. That number is 888-510-2229, Geras said. The general public can go to our website where there is a lot of information and materials that can be ordered for free for the community to help us distribute lifesaving information such as brochures and posters they can bring to where they work, where they worship, where they get their nails done, anywhere and everywhere.

As of last year, 143 babies had been taken to a Safe Haven since the law was passed in 2001, according to the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation website. During the same time, 87 babies were found illegally abandoned and 51% of those newborns died.

Illegal abandonment has decreased over the years, but one baby death like this is way too many, Geras said. People dont think about (the law) until something like this happens.

Once a baby is left at a Safe Haven location, the newborn will be taken to a hospital to be evaluated. Within 12 hours, either the birth parent or, upon transport from police or a firehouse, the hospital will report relinquishment to the states Department of Children and Family Services, according to the foundation.

Once DCFS confirms that the newborn is not missing, he or she will be placed with a licensed Illinois adoption agency. Birth parents have as many as 60 days to change their minds, but after that, their parental rights will be permanently terminated.

For birth parents, resources for postpartum care also are provided.

They can realize they can take responsible, loving actions for themselves and the baby, Geras said.

At least two other babies were found abandoned in Chicago in recent years, each sparking the same mixture of confusion and outrage. Fortunately, both survived, even though neither was turned over safely or properly under the Safe Haven Act.

In May 2019, a baby was found, umbilical cord still attached, inside a canvas tote on top of a garbage can in an alley in the 1700 block of North Keystone Avenue Hermosa, Geras and Chicago police said at the time.

The boy was screaming loudly and frequently enough that a mother and daughter found him and walked to a firehouse  right around the corner, at 1747 N. Pulaski Road.

The fireman on watch was trying to figure out what they were talking about and they handed him a shopping bag, Langford told the Tribune at the time. He looked inside and was shocked to find a baby.

The boy ultimately survived thanks to heroic efforts by the family who found him, firefighters, paramedics and the team of doctors and nurses at Lurie Childrens Hospital; he was named after a longtime paramedic supervisor and a police officer who cleared a path for the ambulance to the hospital.

In August 2021, another baby was found stuffed in a dresser drawer near garbage bins  on the day and close to the time when trash pickup was due, although it wasnt clear if the dresser would have been hauled off by city workers.

Paramedics were called about 8 a.m. Aug. 10 to the 2300 block of North Oak Park Avenue in the Montclare neighborhood by a person who located the newborn inside the drawer of a dresser, Langford said.

Its a good thing somebody came by. Its hot out there, it couldve ended differently, he said at the time. But its all seemingly worked out.

In both cases, law enforcement searched for the biological parents who abandoned the babies without apparent regard for their safety. Geras said those are precisely the types of scenarios the 2001 law was intended to eliminate.

How tragically sad. And unnecessary, Geras wrote in an email after the 2021 case made headlines across the city. If these parents had known to use the Baby Safe Haven law the police would not now be trying to track them down to press charges.

For more information about the Safe Haven Law or the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation visit saveabandonedbabies.org or text SAFEHAVEN to 313131.

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One of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen has died.

Brig. Gen. Charles McGee was 102 when he died in his sleep Sunday morning, with his right hand over his heart, his family said.

McGee battled fascism abroad and racism at home, both in the name of serving his country.

He was part of the group of Black aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps., a precursor of the U.S. Air Force. Collectively they flew more than 15,000 individual sorties in Europe and North Africa during World War II.

Our task was to keep the air clear of German pilots, McGee said in a 2020 Air Force video.

Their service earned them medals, and their performance paved the way for integration of the U.S. armed forces, according to History.com.

McGee was a cut above even that. He went on to fly for another 30 years as an Air Force pilot in the Korean and Vietnam wars, for a total of 409 aerial fighter missions  a record that still stands today.

Full obituary:
Sometimes, numbers are cold, cruel, impersonal. Other times, they are a measuring stick, telling a story of character, longing, a lifes work.

Both cases were true Friday in a Douglas County courtroom.

First, the cold and cruel facts: A 28-year-old Omaha man was driving 106 mph in a 45 mph zone on West Dodge Road when he crashed into a Toyota Camry driven by Jim Yungbluth  a 63-year-old husband, father, longtime Omaha musician and Nebraska Furniture Mart employee.

Yungbluth  described as one of the nicest men to walk the Earth in his obituary  died at the scene.

Driver John Caillaus blood alcohol content measured .41% about 45 minutes after the crash. That is five times the legal limit of .08% for driving.

Those numbers were so staggering that Judge Horacio Wheelock raised his voice as he repeated them.

The court cannot ignore the fact that Mr. John Caillau was driving at ONE HUNDRED SIX MILES PER HOUR on Dodge Street at 4:03 a.m. July 9, Wheelock said loudly.

Wheelock said he also could not ignore the staggering blood alcohol content. The first blood draw taken at the hospital was .41%. The second, hours later, measured .26%. Either one blew away Nebraskas legal limit, Wheelock noted.

Wheelock then delivered the cold, hard terms of Caillaus sentence: 16 to 20 years in prison, a term that is cut in half under state law. Twenty was the maximum the judge could give Caillau for motor vehicle homicide.

At that, Caillaus mom burst into tears.

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, she said as her son was led away in handcuffs. I cant believe this.

One could have heard the same reaction from Yungbluths relatives the morning of July 9.

And that is where the numbers begin to tell a story of longing. July 9 was the 25th birthday of Yungbluths youngest daughter, Cassidy. It was two days shy of Jim and Becky Yungbluths 29th wedding anniversary. Nine months shy of when Jim Yungbluth would have walked his oldest daughter, Carey, down the aisle for her wedding. Of when father and daughter would have shared a dance to the song Jim Yungbluth sang his daughters before bedtime.

You are my sunshine, Carey said. It was his song for us.

Yungbluth had so much brightness left to give Omaha. The bandmate and music lover had a fitting nickname. Childhood buddies dubbed him Chunga because, they said, he looked exactly like the cover photo on Frank Zappas third album, Chungas Revenge.

Speaking of numbers, Chunga, a drummer and harmonica player, played in more bands than his wife could count. The bands spanned an assortment of classic names: The Eggmen, The Hornets, Jared and the Blues Teachers, The Good Guys, Front Porch Blues and OLUS (Old Like Us).

Like any good dad, he had nicknames for his daughters, eventually calling his oldest daughter by the name of a famous blues harmonica player.

She was Cass, Carey said of her little sister, and I was his Carey Bell.

Yungbluth also had a motto, passed down from his dad, Loyson Joe Yungbluth.

Be good, kind and careful. Sweet and lovable.

Joe Yungbluth lived that motto while a caretaker and property manager at Boys Town  where the Yungbluth children grew up.

Later, Jim Yungbluth had his childhood home moved, via stilts, down West Dodge Road to a lot he bought in Waterloo. He and Becky raised their two daughters there, and the Yungbluth home was the gathering place for family celebrations.

From Waterloo, Jim Yungbluth traveled Dodge daily, showing up for his 4 a.m. to noon shift to make sure delivery vans were loaded with Omahas furniture. He worked for 38 years at Nebraska Furniture Mart, the past several as a warehouse supervisor.

Becky said her husband had the countdown going. That Friday, July 9, he had 255 days until retirement. A long post-work life was a real possibility, too. Dad Joe died five years ago at age 96.

Then an aunt showed up at both Yungbluth daughters workplaces that morning. Cassidy said she had a horrible feeling but hoped against hope that she was just there to cart her away for a surprise 25th birthday party.

It was the wrong kind of surprise, she said.

That morning, Yungbluth was going east on Dodge at 90th Street, less than 2 miles from the Mart.

Caillau, meanwhile, had been out of work from his job at Oriental Trading Co. because of a foot injury. His attorney, Michael Fitzpatrick, said he had been reeling from a breakup with a fiancee of a couple of years.

Fitzpatrick repeatedly emphasized that Caillau had no adult criminal record. In November 2020, he was the subject of a police report that described him as being ejected from a vehicle that nearly hit a pedestrian and crashed into bushes in Sanibel Island, Florida. No arrests were made in that case.

In this case, Caillau drank at least a half-pint of vodka and blacked out, Fitzpatrick said.

Others questioned whether Caillau really blacked out. The cars internal diagnostics noted that it was going over 100 mph for a couple of miles before the crash.

Fitzpatrick said Caillau had no memory of the crash. He has been overwhelmed with grief, Fitzpatrick said.

For his part, Caillau turned to Yungbluths family in court and apologized: Theres nothing I can say to any of you to make any of this right. I completely understand if you guys hate me ... I just ask if you can find it in your hearts to forgive me ... I understand its not likely  If I were in your situation, I probably wouldnt either.

His voice trailed.

Ryan Lindberg, the prosecutor, said he wished he hadnt had to watch surveillance video that captured the devastating crash. At 106 mph  operating essentially as a missile, according to Lindberg  Caillaus 2018 Chevy Equinox vaulted Yungbluths 1998 Camry into the concrete barrier of a bus stop, flipping it on his roof.

By the time medics arrived, Yungbluth had died.

Its hard to understand how this loss has affected and will continue to affect this family, Lindberg said. As one of his sisters put it, it was the loss of a common man who was uncommonly good.

Brother-in-law Bud Sachs  one of more than 30 family members and friends who showed up for Fridays sentencing hearing  vouched for that. He called Chunga a true free spirit, a musician with a heart to match it.

Not a mean bone in his body, Sachs said.

He thumbed through his phone for a photo of Chunga, eventually settling on one. Standing next to Becky, Yungbluth had a slight grin between his salt-and-pepper mustache and beard. Crows feet framed his soft brown eyes.

Such a good man, Sachs said. God always takes the good ones too soon.

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Already facing trial on two felonies, the Rev. Michael Gutgsell was charged with felony theft by deception this past week after allegedly taking more than $100,000 from a church in Sarpy County.

Gutgsell, who served as chancellor of the Archdiocese of Omaha from 1994 to 2003, was arrested in October on suspicion of felony theft and abuse of a vulnerable adult. On Tuesday, the Sarpy County Attorneys Office charged him with another count of felony theft.

An attorney representing Gutgsell did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The complaint alleges that between October 2019 and July 2021, Gutgsell obtained property valued at $5,000 or more from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Springfield by deception.

An affidavit from one of the investigating officers says that during a September interview with police, Gutgsell admitted to taking $106,000 from St. Joseph. He also said he had paid back about $19,000 and intended to pay back the rest.

In the same interview, Gutgsell admitted to taking about $180,000 from the late Rev. Theodore Richling, according to the affidavit. Richlings estate was willed to the archdiocese, and Gutgsell was appointed as the personal representative for the estate.

Gutgsell also served as Richlings power of attorney from January 2017 until his death in December 2019. For most of that time, Richling resided in an assisted living facility because he had late-onset Alzheimers disease.

The affidavit alleges that Gutgsell used his position as power of attorney to withdraw a total of $179,042 in cash and checks from Richlings bank account.

Gutgsell said he took the money  and drained his retirement fund and personal savings  to give it to a homeless man named Michael Barrett, whom he met while working at St. Cecelia Cathedral. Gutgsell said he gave Barrett about $700,000 between May 2013 and July 2021. He repeatedly denied being extorted or manipulated by Barrett in police interviews.

Gutgsell is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on the new charge in Sarpy County on Feb. 8 and will face trial in district court on the other charges this spring. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for March 2.

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Two Omaha business owners were sentenced to prison on Friday for violating worker safety standards before a 2015 explosion that left two of their employees dead.

Brothers Steven and Adam Braithwaite and their company, Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services, pleaded guilty in July to a litany of federal charges.

Steven Braithwaite, who served as president of NRCS, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating a worker safety standard causing a worker death and one count of knowingly endangering others by violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. He will serve 30 months in prison.

Adam Braithwaite, vice president of the company, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating a worker safety standard causing death, two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation and one count of perjury. He will serve one year and one day in prison.

NRCS pleaded guilty to all 21 of the counts with which it was charged.

The Braithwaites have each been ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution. Additionally, the brothers and the company must serve five years of probation and pay a $21,000 fine.

According to a federal indictment, on April 14, 2015, workers were removing petroleum residue from inside a rail tanker car near First and Hickory streets in Omaha when a spark ignited and caused a deadly explosion.

Despite the fact that a safety data sheet identified the petroleum residue as highly flammable and containing benzene, a known carcinogen, workers were sent into the car without testing for benzene levels.

The tanker car had been tested for explosive gas levels prior to the employees entering. The test showed that the explosive gas levels greatly exceeded the acceptable levels established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to the indictment.

About an hour after the workers were sent into the car, its contents exploded, killing Adrian LaPour, 44, and Dallas Foulk, 40. A third man, Joe Coschka, was knocked off the car but escaped serious injury.

The companys troubles predated the explosion, according to the indictment. In 2013, OSHA completed an inspection of NRCS after receiving health and safety complaints from employees. One of multiple violations was a lack of monitoring of atmospheric conditions  such as the presence of benzene  while employees were in confined spaces.

Steven Braithwaite signed a corrective action agreement with OSHA in 2015, certifying that benzene tubes were being used to test tanker cars at least every hour while employees were inside and before their entry, according to the indictment. But when OSHA came back to conduct a follow-up inspection in March 2015, it was denied entry.

On the same day that OSHA was denied entry, Adam Braithwaite placed NRCSs first-ever order of benzene tubes, according to the indictment. OSHA then requested a plethora of records from NRCS, including invoices for benzene tubes.

A week before the explosion, Adam Braithwaite emailed OSHA falsified records that showed that the company bought benzine tubes in June 2014, according to the indictment. In an OSHA interview after the explosion, Adam Braithwaite falsely stated under oath that NRCS began using benzene tubes immediately after the 2013 OSHA inspection.

Tragically, two workers suffered preventable deaths because of the defendants failure to follow the law, Todd Kim, assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division, said in a news release. Todays sentence provides a measure of justice for them and their families.

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Four Omaha area school districts are suing the Sarpy County treasurer for allegedly failing to repay more than $6.5 million in tax payments after being underpaid for three years.

The Omaha, Millard, Gretna and Springfield Platteview school districts filed the lawsuit on Dec. 30. It alleges that Trace Jones, interim Sarpy County treasurer, has refused to pay back what the county owes them in tax payments, despite recommendations from state audit officials.

In March 2021, the school districts were part of a 75-page audit report published by the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts.

The audit showed that the Sarpy County treasurer at the time, Brian Zuger, miscalculated distributions to school districts from 2018 to 2020.

He also conducted inaccurate financial reconciliations and had a patchwork system of bookkeeping in an office that oversees about $130 million on a daily basis.

The payments were funds that the Omaha Public Power District makes to county and city governments and school districts in lieu of paying property and real estate taxes  called payment in-lieu of taxes (PILOT). The utility directs 5% of its gross revenues from the previous years retail electricity sales to those entities.

The lawsuit says Zugers office failed to include the tax levies of all school districts in Sarpy County when calculating those tax payments, which reportedly led to over- and underpayments to Omaha-area school districts and cities by millions of dollars.

The Omaha Public Schools was underpaid by $1.4 million, according to the lawsuit. Millard Public Schools missed out on a $2.3 million payment.

The lawsuit alleges Gretna Public Schools was underpaid by $721,774, while Springfield Platteview Community Schools didnt receive $1.9 million in funds.

Bellevue Public Schools was also reportedly overpaid by more than $2.3 million, and Papillion La Vista Community Schools received $946,054 more than it was supposed to receive, according to the lawsuit. Both schools werent included in the lawsuit, and officials from both districts declined to comment.

Sarpy County and some cities around the Omaha metro area were also overpaid, but the school districts incorrect payments account for more than half of the $12.5 million in calculation errors, said Dakota Christensen, senior auditor for the State Auditors Office.

Christensen said he wasnt sure what the process was to correct overpayments, but the errors will have a widespread impact on multiple school districts in Nebraska.

The state aid formula that provides money to school districts is based on the amount of local revenue each district receives. If an incorrect payment is recorded, the difference makes its way into the formula and will cause other districts to be over or underpaid.

The state auditor said in its report that it recommends the county treasurer correct the erroneous distributions. It also said the treasurer should implement procedures to prevent the mistake from happening in the future.

In April 2021, Zuger was removed from office during an administrative hearing by the Sarpy County Board. Jones has been serving as interim treasurer.

Despite the state auditors recommendation that the treasurer make the correct payments to the school districts, the treasurer has not done so, said Steve Davidson, the attorney representing all four districts.

In April 2021, Jones sent a letter to the Omaha area school districts and cities that receive scheduled payments, saying the county will not be making retroactive adjustments to prior PILOT payments.

Sarpy County declined to comment on the reasons behind the refusal, citing the pending litigation, said Bonnie Moore, chief deputy county attorney.

In the lawsuit, the districts request to be paid back the funds owed, along with court costs.

The parties are working closely with Sarpy County and remain optimistic that a solution can be achieved without further litigation, Davidson said.

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Gov. Pete Ricketts endorsed Jim Pillen on Tuesday, throwing his support as the state's top Republican behind the Columbus pig farmer in the upcoming primary race for governor.

Speaking in the Capitol Rotunda in front of the Pillen campaign team, several state senators and other Republican politicos, Ricketts said Pillen shared his vision for Nebraska.

"He understands what it's going to take to lead this state going forward," the governor said.

Pillen and Ricketts have voiced their support for one another since the former Husker defensive back announced his campaign nearly a year ago.

Pillen, a member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents since 2013, last summer sponsored a resolution banning NU from "imposing" critical race theory on students  a measure Ricketts backed then and lauded again Tuesday. Several former Ricketts campaign staffers now work for the pork producer's campaign.

But Ricketts withheld his official endorsement until Tuesday, when he said Pillen's commitment to cutting taxes, limiting spending "at all levels of government" and his opposition to abortion earned his full support.

The governor also said Pillen had "lived the American Dream" in agriculture, growing a tenant farm into one of the largest hog operations in the U.S. that now employs more than 1,000 people.

Pillen said if elected he will focus on expanding opportunities for young Nebraskans to get an education and a job in the state, slashing taxes and government spending and expanding agriculture.

"Our values is what it's all about  making sure our kids are protected and raised under parents' guidance for what's the most important," he said, "and maintaining common-sense values."

Ricketts' endorsement comes as the Republican primary for the governor's race switches into high gear.

Pillen's first campaign stop following the endorsement came in Norfolk, where about 100 people greeted him at the airport. Later stops were scheduled at Kearney, North Platte and Omaha.

En route to Norfolk aboard a chartered aircraft, Pillen said he is centered on protection of agriculture, efforts to spur the state's economic growth and "family and pro-life values."

Pillen avoided a question detailing his policy differences with Charles Herbster, who joins him as the early perceived front-runners in the Republican race.

Herbster, a Falls City cattle producer and agricultural adviser to former President Donald Trump, secured Trump's endorsement for governor and has had a media presence through campaign commercials for months.

So far, Pillen said, he has racked up about 49,000 miles on his pickup truck in campaigning in all 93 counties throughout the state.

"I thought it would be fun meeting people," he said, "and it has been 10 times better than I thought it would be."

Speaking to the crowd that welcomed Pillen in Norfolk, Ricketts said "Jim is going to take the same approach my administration did and take it to the next level."

Pillen said he will focus on "getting the government out of the way and continuing to grow Nebraska," with a determination to protect agriculture from attacks by animal rights supporters and "fake meat" producers while devoting attention to "workforce development that will keep our kids here."

"I'm about faith, family, pro-life," he said, before embarking for Kearney.

Pillen has raised $5.4 million in contributions to date  an amount that dwarfs the initial campaign finance reports for previous Republican candidates for governor  and had $4.1 million in cash in hand moving into 2022.

The Republican contest also includes state Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha and former state Sen. Theresa Thibodeau of Omaha, along with a number of other announced candidates. Michael Connely of York, Donna Nicole Carpenter of Lincoln and Lela McNinch of Lincoln, too, have filed with the secretary of state.

State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, said it was "clear to all since the beginning" that Pillen was Ricketts' choice to succeed him as governor.

"We've seen many candidates for the Legislature endorsed by the governor who have had little success in actually being elected," Blood said in a statement. "Nebraska voters will let us know very soon who they believe to be the best candidate, regardless of endorsements."

Former Gov. Kay Orr joined Pillen and Ricketts on Tuesday's fly-around.

Former Husker football coach Tom Osborne was scheduled to appear at the announcement, but had to back out, Pillen said.

The primary election is May 10.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS

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Kirk Penner said last week that he represents Nebraska values and will advocate for them as the newest member of the Nebraska Board of Education.

Penner, who served for 16 years on the Aurora school board, now represents District 5, which encompasses much of Southeast Nebraska and rural Lancaster County. He described himself as a conservative first, Republican second who wants to restore local control to public school districts. But his appointment last month drew criticism for his posts on Twitter.

The comments he posted and retweeted reflect skepticism about the governments response to the pandemic, the effectiveness of masks and the safety of vaccines, as well as concern over the lawfulness of mandating masking and vaccines.

For instance, Penner retweeted a post critical of police in Europe checking whether people had the necessary health papers to be on the street during the pandemic. The post compared those checks to police in Nazi Germany checking papers.

Asked about the posts, and whether he regretted retweeting the post referencing Nazi Germany, Penner said: I love my country. And I love the Constitution. And I love our freedom. And I love our liberty. And when I see things that challenge that, it doesnt sit well.

Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, described Penner as an extremist and conspiracy theorist.

Penner compared COVID mask mandates to the Holocaust and repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election results, she said. Penner is not the kind of person we want helping set state education policy.

Penner said hes not against vaccines or masks but opposes government mandating them or requiring vaccine passports.

Its just not right whats happening, whether its in the United States or anywhere, he said.

Penner said he favors local control and parental involvement. Government mandates cost local districts time and money, he said.

When you spend 16 years on the school board, then you learn that youve basically lost local control of your school district, he said.

Much of what districts do is mandated by the state, he said.

When the State Board of Education or the Legislature is telling us as a local school district what to do, we either have to cut something we like to do, that we think is good locally, to absorb the mandate, or we have to raise taxes on the local constituents, Penner said.

Sometimes mandates just lead to more paperwork, but other times, whats mandated is not needed or wanted in a district, he said.

He said his first priority will be pushing to permanently end the boards development of health education standards for public schools  hes only one of eight board members, so it wont happen without the support of others.

The board voted to indefinitely postpone the standards development in September after a groundswell of public opposition, but members could revive the process.

Penner wanted to make a motion to end the standards at his first meeting Jan. 7, but board bylaws prohibited it. He said he will try again Feb. 4.

Why make a motion at the first board meeting? Penner said. Well, why would I wait to the second? Or a third? Sometimes you just have to rip the Band-Aid off and say, Lets go. This has been festering. Its hurt the board that its been festering so long.

Penner said he will run for election to the seat this year. The Protect Nebraska Children political action committee, which fought against the health standards, has endorsed him.

Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Penners appointment Dec. 23, initiating an odd couple of days in which Penners Twitter account was suspended over a goose hunting photo and then restored by the social media company, which said the suspension was a mistake.

Penner said Twitter suspended his account one day after his appointment.

The official reason Twitter gave was a picture he posted two years earlier of him and some buddies from high school with the geese they killed on a hunt near Ogallala, he said.

He said Twitter notified him that the photo violated company policy.

Penner said he objected to the suspension but removed the photo and replaced it with one of him with some friends at the Ryder Cup. Twitter then restored his account, he said.

He suspects that politics played a role in the suspension but admits that he has no evidence to prove that.

Im a 52-year-old guy from Aurora, Nebraska. And theyre going to take a hunting picture down after a Republican governor appoints me, he said. But we have to go with the official explanation.

He said he doesnt know whether his motion to permanently shelve the health standards will be seconded.

It may die, he said.

Proponents of the standards argued that Nebraska needs inclusive standards that recognize and respect people who are gay, lesbian and transgender because otherwise, the state is marginalizing them. They said the standards would save lives by preventing suicides.

Asked to respond to that argument, Penner said those decisions should rest with local boards.

We dont need a government agency getting out of their lane ... and trying to dictate what local school districts want to teach their kids, he said.

State officials said the standards would only be recommended for local adoption. But Penner suggested at his first board meeting that optional government policy always becomes mandatory.

Board member Deb Neary, who advocated for the standards, said that the board did not intend to mandate the standards and that local districts could have adopted just the parts they liked.

Weve always been advocates for local control and parent control when it came to the health standards, she said.

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Recommendations from the Biden administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seem to change weekly regarding coronavirus precautions. Americans are justifiably confused and are at risk of tuning out. For a Democratic administration struggling to create the appearance of command authority during an ongoing national crisis, the mixed messaging feeds the Republican narrative that Democrats are incompetent.

Americans should, first of all, remember the pandemic response under the previous administration. President Donald Trump proposed on national television the consumption of cleaning fluid as a coronavirus remedy. He directly contradicted his own experts. He refused to wear a mask in public, becoming infected and requiring emergency treatment. But to Trumps credit, he spearheaded the crash development of vaccines that, today, are keeping people alive.

President Joe Biden in some senses had to build Americas pandemic-response network from zero because of Trumps obstinacy and cultivation of a political environment that encouraged millions of Americans to reject masks and vaccines. Their refusal is the primary force behind new, record-high infection rates that are pushing health care resources to the breaking point. Such obstinacy also helps extend the life of the virus so it can continue mutating into more infectious variants such as the current omicron wave.

To convince the public that the experts know what theyre talking about, and their advice should be followed, the administrations message must be delivered with greater clarity and consistency.

The pre-omicron quarantine period for people exposed to the virus used to be 10 days. Now its five days, according to CDC guidance, or not at all, unless the person shows symptoms. Asymptomatic people can still be contagious, so they should stay at home. Or maybe just wear a mask. But forget about cloth masks; make sure its an N95. Should students return to remote learning or stay in classrooms? Who knows?

Nationally, courts have flip-flopped on whether employers must comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules. The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked an administration rule requiring employees either to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing and wear masks. Large companies that had just implemented the OSHA rules now could have to change course, adding to the confusion.

The CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, says the virus constantly changing nature creates a moving target. You know, this is hard to come up with a consistent, clear message, she told Fox News.

But the fundamentals havent changed and bear repeating: The safest way to avoid infection is to avoid large groups and wear a properly fitting mask. Fully vaccinated and boosted people are still vulnerable to infection but tend to have milder symptoms, whereas unvaccinated people are the ones currently overwhelming hospitals.

Why should exasperated members of the public not start tuning out? Because they could be the next ones seeking emergency hospital treatment. Given current wait times, its far smarter to be overly cautious than throw caution to the wind.

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Pay Dirt is Slates money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Athena and Elizabeth here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

About five years ago, my parents decided to go into a senior living community several states away. They couldnt bear to part with their house, though, and offered it, rent-free, to my wife and myself, if we lived there. We knew we would be looking for our forever home soon and that their house is just a little too small for us to consider moving into for just two or three years. But we told my parents we just werent ready to take on the care of the property (its rather large). They really didnt want the house to sit empty, so we decided we would figure out renters and manage the property and split the rent.

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Well, fast forward to the beginning of the pandemic. My wife really had an eye on everything and decided to pounce on a perfect house. We had a very generous down payment saved up because of the rental income we had accrued on my parents house. Meanwhile, my parents havent traveled since the pandemic started, and they dont know we bought a house. They think we just decided to rent something because living in an apartment during the pandemic would have been terrible. We had just signed new tenants, so we couldnt move into their house.

My wife thinks we should just continue to tell them were renting our current house, and let them believe were still considering moving into their house sometime. The current tenants have been making some small improvements to the property, and she thinks it would be plausible to tell her parents we think the tenants could make the house nice enough to move into in several years. I feel kind of terrible lying by omission to my parents; I feel like the fact that we bought a home is going to come out at some point and that we should just tell them. My wife is worried about them going back on the agreement that we split the rent, if we tell the truth about our intentions. Do you have any advice?

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A Couple of Pinocchios Over Here

Dear Pinocchio 1 and 2,

Just. Tell Them. The. Damn. Truth.

I get wanting to continue to make money off of the current deal you have, but that doesnt mean you need to be dishonest, especially about a huge thing like purchasing a home for your family. Do you think your parents are going to get mad that you accomplished a major life goal with the money theyve been splitting with you? If anything, theyll probably be ecstatic that you were responsible, and see it as proof they raised you right. If thats not how they react, then you will still know that you did the right thing by telling them the truth.

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Explain to your parents that you are the owners of the nice new home you told them about, and while you really did consider their offer to move into their beloved house (you can stress that part), you decided to take this opportunity instead. Explain that youll still happily help them manage their property, and continue with the current setup you have. If they say no, they can sell it to fund their lifestylejust like youve used it to fund yours.

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Dear Pay Dirt,

Im 34. I have a MS degree, yet I cant really work. I need help (or just encouragement?) on getting onto SNAP and disability. I have severe mental health issues, and I pay out of pocket (thanks to my parents) for psychiatry and counseling. Yet the greatest limitation that prevents me from working is sensory processing disorder. Do neurodiverse folks a favor and do a quick Google search. Yes, it DOES affect adults too; no, its not officially considered a real problem, having been tragically excluded from the latest edition of the gold standard Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and YET it is a TOTALLY disabling condition for me.

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Due to extreme tactile sensitivities, many days I cannot dress myself (even in gym/lounge-wear), which, um, conflicts with holding a job for obvious reasons! While I continue to search for remote work, I would like to apply for disability benefits because its beyond time to lessen the burden on my parents while I work to figure out a way to work!

In addition to the SPD diagnosis, I have anxiety and ADHD (and depression, but thats in remission, yay!). Are these truly legitimate qualifying conditions? I am currently fully unemployed with quite a few large resume gaps. I live in the state of Arizona. Do I have any chance of qualifying for disability benefits, and if so, how does one maximize their chances of a good application process? Its much needed, but even if I qualify, I wont be contentI WANT to work and even (gasp) have a career(!!!!)SO BADLYbut those things just arent possible now. Not when I cant dress without panic attacks, and with society so judgmental around the way women dress. I am really smart, driven, and otherwise capable! But my disabilities are keeping me from the workforce. What do I do?

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Sick of Being on the Sidelines

Dear Sick,

Im neurodivergent, so while I dont need to do a Google search on this particular topic, Ill still share a link so others reading may have an idea of what you may go through daily. The feeling of overwhelm can be crippling, and so hard to work through. It doesnt mean I cant get things done; it just means that a task that someone else can complete in five minutes will probably take me a lot longer. I also know that everyone is different, but I wanted to share that with you to sympathize.

I totally get that youre frustrated with your situation, but I see you going two different ways. On the one hand, you tell me that you have a masters degree, yet cant pursue employment opportunities. You say you want to work, but cant because you cant work in person. But were in year three of a pandemic, and many of us havent worked in person in years. I wonder if there are additional barriers here: Are you having a hard time getting interviews for remote positions, maybe?

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Given the difficulty you seem to be having getting your foot in the door, I would first start with talking to your therapist about whether or not you would be a good fit for disability. I believe you are all of the things you say you are; you just need some help putting a plan to prove it in motion. Its hard to prove a disability without a physical condition. You need to have a paper trail. If your therapist feels you have a strong case, go for it and start documenting. But if they dont, you can either find a new therapist who can help or initiate a treatment plan thats specifically aimed at enabling you to build the skills needed to find and keep employment. Good luck to you!

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Get the Pay Dirt Newsletter Money advice from Athena and Elizabeth, delivered weekly. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

Dear Pay Dirt,

I am 25 and have about $16,000 in student loans left to pay from my undergrad degree. I am lucky enough to have moved abroad after graduation, and recently switched jobs to a fully remote position, earning about $38,000 in a low-cost-of-living area where I spend about $1,300 a month on all living expenses.

My family wasnt particularly financially literate, so I feel like Im kind of stumbling around in the dark trying to figure out what I should be doing. I have about three months living expenses saved up, spread out over various accounts (banking and keeping cards updated abroad can be a nightmare!). But I have so much anxiety about my financial future, and am constantly stressing about whether Im making smart choices.

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I have a detailed budget that I pore over a few times a week and I also use a budgeting app, tracking every dollar. My current plan is to pay off my student loans ASAP (putting about $800 a month toward them) and then put about $500 a month toward a Roth IRA retirement fund and anything left over in savings. But I dont really know if this is smart or if I should be doing something different.

I have combed through your column and the financial advice blogs, but I still feel nervous all the time. Basically, Im asking for reassurance. Is this an OK plan? Should I be doing something different? I feel like since Im abroad, I have less of a safety net than some of my peers who might have family or networks close by. Im grateful to be so far from home, but also I have so much anxiety that if I screw up, I wont have any help.

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Flying Solo

Dear Flying Solo,

You are doing remarkably well for only being 25. I love that youre not only able to cover your living expenses but youre also able to pay off debt and invest for your future. Most people would dream to be in your very position, at any age. You have my full reassurance! Youre doing great. And remember, even those of us who have family or other support networks nearby cannot necessarily count on them for financial help, so you do whats right for you. Living abroad may feel a little dangerous, but you can always come home if you want to, and it sounds like youd be doing so in a great financial positionall the better.

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Dear Pay Dirt,

My father and his (childless) brother inherited their fathers lake house in 1962. On my fathers death in 1997, he gave me his half of the house, indicating that he hoped I would share its use with my three sisters but placing no limits on what I chose to do with it. When my fathers brother died, his half of the house was in a trust, which allowed me to buy that half if I wished. I did, and the money I paid for it went to my sisters, along with five other beneficiaries. One sister was adamant that I sell the house at that time, although she and her husband are well off, and hasnt spoken to me since.

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I have been responsible for upkeep on the house since my fathers death, with little help lately from my sisters or their now-grown children, although they have used it and I have honored my fathers wish that I share its use with them. I have rented it in the summer to pay expenses. It breaks even in large part because my friends and I do the considerable physical labor that is required, as the house is 90 years old and situated on four acres of woods. While they were frequent visitors until I bought my uncles half of the house, my sisters no longer visit it, nor do their children.

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Now my sisters say that if I should need to sell it as I get older and am no longer able to continue the physical labor required for its upkeep, they expect me to give them their part of the money that represents our dads half, or at least leave it to one of their children, claiming that although he gave it to me, he intended it for all of us. (I am single and have no children.)

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I know I have the legal right to keep all the money if I sell it or to give it to one of the friends who have helped me so much, but Im worried about the ethics and whats reasonable, given the work Ive done to maintain it and my sisters minimal contribution in the last years. Certainly, it would cause a family break if I kept all the money, but issues related to the house over the last 25 years have caused permanent rifts that Im not particularly interested in repairing, to be honest. Whats your advice?

Its Been Years of Clearing Brush

Dear Brush-Clearer,

The question I pose to you is this: If your family already doesnt talk to you, why would you pay them money to change their minds?

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Your uncle and father had a fair arrangement, and it sounds like when your father passed, he had a feeling youd be the one to maintain it. This is probably why he said you could split the proceeds of the cabin if you soldbut you didnt have to. He left it in your name, and your name alone, for a reason. Your uncle also allowed you to buy his share, so you didnt have to part with the cabin, and his beneficiaries could still, well, benefit. There is a reason youve been able to maintain this connection to your dad. Dont give it away.

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You can hire help if you want to keep the property arrangement you currently have, or if you want to sell it, the real estate market is hot right now. Whatever you decide to do, dont leave it to your family, who clearly dont respect you. Make sure you meet with an estate attorney who can help ensure all of your affairs are in order. And if your family bugs you again, tell them you plan on dying there. Well, maybe dont go that farbut that will certainly shut them up, thats for sure!

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Athena

More Advice From Slate

I didnt really think I had good reason to question my own straightness, but heres the thing: I love musical theater. And musical theater fandom (and more broadly, an affinity for all sorts of camp and pageantry) is not the only quality I have that reads as gay. For some reason I trigger other peoples gaydar on a not-infrequent basis. Being read as gay does not bother me, but it does have me asking questions as to why I give off that vibe. Im not gay, but maybe I really do I have a kind of queerness that people are responding to?
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Dear Care and Feeding,

Im a Black woman married to a white man and we have a teenage son together. Our son goes to a private school in the next town over thats probably 85 percent white, and one of the schools administrators asked if I could speak to the student body during their Black History Month celebration in February about the importance of creating a racially inclusive community. Im not an experienced public speaker, but I have some good ideas about how the school could improve in that regard. The only sticking point is the school isnt willing to pay me to speak, and the admin said, The speech will provide you with great exposure since it will be broadcast virtually to influential parents and boosters. Also, your speech could help numerous parents see the light, and you cant put a price tag on that. This irks me because this school is flush with cash, and I know theyve paid other (white) speakers before. When I told my son that I wanted to approach the administration about wanting to be paid to do this, he begged me to speak at the event for free and not make a scene that could put a target on his back. Im not sure how to proceed. Should I take the unpaid speech for the sake of my son?

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Unpaid Labor

Dear Unpaid Labor,

As a Black man who speaks to schools and corporations as an anti-racism expert for a living, Ill be very clear here: Unless I want to, I never work for free.

The sheer audacity of that school to ask a Black parent to share her expertise on being Black to help its predominately white community see the light during Black History Month without payment makes me roll my eyes so hard that I can see out of my own rear end. Not to mention exposure is not currency.

I cannot count the number of times in my career that Ive had companies approach me for advice on how to help them create a more inclusive and equitable workforce, but followed up with something like We dont have the budget to pay outside consultants right now. As one of my friends in the business says, You can pick my brain after you pick your payment type. Humility aside, I believe Im one of the best in the world at what I do, so why would I give up my expertise for free? You need to hit your sons school with the same energy.

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As for your son, youre teaching him a valuable lesson by standing up for yourself and owning your worth. In life, there will be people who want to use his time and talents, and he should only do so on his terms, not theirs.

Dear Care and Feeding,

I am a white, cis-het single mother of two biological children (also white). In addition, I am a licensed foster parent for my county department of social services, or DSS. We live in a rural, impoverished county in the mountains of a Southern Bible Belt state that is roughly 88 percent white and 5 percent African American. Recently, I was contacted by DSS to foster a brother and a sister, both African American and both under 5. The kids all get along, we are learning about each other, and it has been an incredible experience to really become our own little family. The community we live in, however, has proven to be filled with the most intolerant and horrible people that you can imagine. My neighbors, once they realized my foster children are part of the family, have all but shunned us. There are comments and insinuations cast at us when were out in public as a family (mostly about my apparent choice in sexual partners, since I have both white and African American children). Even our church has changed how it interacts with usa place where I was once a central volunteer.

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And it isnt just the white community. I needed help learning how to care for my daughters natural hair, so I took her to a salon that specializes in the care of her hair texture, and I was met with similar disdain. I even overheard one of the African American stylists make a comment about white saviorism in reference to me and my daughter. I really dont know what to do. The kids and I all talk openly about how wrong this behavior is and how we can be strong as a family. We have stock responses of that is rude and racist that even the youngest children have grown accustomed to delivering, and I seek out spaces in larger towns in our region where we can be comfortable in public. But what on earth do I do in our hometown?

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As a parent, I am isolated and exhausted. The kids are often brokenhearted. My older childrens social groups are starting to exclude them lest I show up at an event with their siblings. I own a home, work full time at a well-paying job, and cant afford to move. Plus, there is a possibility that if I did move, I would lose my son and daughter. The DSS isnt any help; they barely have enough resources to keep the doors open and just tell me what a blessing it was that I was willing to accept my children into my home. I lie in bed most nights crying, both at the injustice and my seeming helplessness to shield my children. Are there any strategies you can offer for how we can survive this? Its like were trapped in a horrific Jim Crowera time warp that never ends.

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I Have a Dream

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Dear I Have a Dream,

This letter is heartbreaking, but also not the least bit surprisingat least not surprising to me. America was built on the premise of white supremacy, and it permeates through the Bible Belt just as much as it does in blue states. Predictably, whenever the dirty boots of racism land on the doorstep of an unsuspecting white person, its often met with the incredulous shock that I read here. I get that youre isolated and exhausted, but that describes the experience of countless Black people who lived on this land for the past 400-plus years.

You mentioned that you dont have the means to move and that relocating could result in losing your children. That could be a blessing in disguise, because I think you should stay and fight. Not fight literally, of coursebut fight for love and equality.

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Heres the question, though: Are you built for it? Ive noticed that many white people say theyre about that anti-racist life, but as soon as it gets hard (and it always gets hard), theyll curl up in the fetal position or make excuses why its not worth the hassle and quit. Dont believe me? Then why is racism still a thing in America? Spoiler alert: Its not because Black people arent doing enough to stop it.

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We celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.s holiday yesterday, and if we want to truly achieve his dream, we need more white people who are as loud with their love as they are with their hatred and bigotry. In other words: Darkness cannot drive out darknessonly light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hateonly love can do that. Show up as a beacon of love and light all day, every day. If you do that, I guarantee that good people in your community will gravitate toward you and your children. But you have to persevere through the darkness to find them.

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As difficult as it is, remind yourself that their hatred is their problem, not yours. You should also remind yourself that youve done absolutely nothing wrongand since thats the case, you should walk around your hometown with your head held high knowing that you stand on the right side of history. None of this will be easy, and as a Black man in America, I know that all too well.

Because, as the great Dr. King once said, love is the only force capable of turning an enemy into a friend.

Catch Up on Care and Feeding

 If you missed Mondays column, read it here.

 Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!

Dear Care and Feeding,

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My daughter has exhibited behavior that is very concerning. She is 9 years old and mostly a happy and content child. However, she can rage at her father, her brother, and me about seemingly innocuous things. For example, she will scream at her brother and throw items at him if he doesnt comply with a request or if he acts a little pushy. He is the older annoying brother, so I totally understand, but sometimes it seems excessive. If she doesnt get her way, she will scream at both of us, run upstairs, and slam her door and tell us we dont understand her or we dont care. I could understand if perhaps she were in the midst of puberty, but at 9 it has me worried.

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For context, I do occasionally yell at my children for misbehaving; we are a loud Italian family, so that happens. But we dont swear or use hurtful language and we try to help both of our kids understand the importance of kindness towards others. She is a perfect angel in school and saves all the raging for us. She also gets very upset about the loss of one particular family member who she never met and will sort of spiral about certain topics. I am just not sure how best to help her or if this is typical behavior for a young girl. Thank you so much for your help!

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Troubled Mama

Dear Troubled Mama,

You mentioned that youre part of a loud Italian family and youll yell at your kids every now and then, and youre wondering where your daughter gets her rage from? Im not saying its 100 percent why your daughter flies off the handle, but not every child adapts well to that type of environmenteven if its the only environment she knows. And just a friendly reminder: You dont have to curse out a kid in order for the language to be deemed hurtful. In many cases, just the sheer volume of your voice can be damaging, as research has shown that kids are more prone to have behavioral issues when exposed to constant yelling.

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To be clear, Im not saying that you yell at your family 24/7 like a lunaticbut I am saying you may not be aware of how much your yelling affects your daughter whenever you do it. A perfect example of this is how she transforms into a perfect angel at school. Id venture to guess that she views school as a safe space where she wont have to hear loud voices and is able to thrive and be happy. She should feel that way at home, too.

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That said, its hard to tell from your example exactly how concerning the behavior is. If an older brother is taunting her and she gets upset and throws a teddy bear, thats different from ragingand throwing something that could hurt someonefor no reason at a sibling who has done nothing to them. Not to excuse bad behavior by any means, but there are gradations of bad behavior.

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But since its bad enough that youve written, and its alarming you, Ill assume that its the latter. That behavior does not sound typical for a 9-year-old child, and it could go sideways, fastespecially the part about throwing things at her brother, which can easily escalate to more violent behavior if not addressed. I suggest taking her to a family therapist to help her regulate her emotions, uncover any other issues, and get her the help she needs.

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Want Advice From Care and Feeding?

Submit your questions about parenting and family life here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.)

Dear Care and Feeding,

My husband and I met in college while attending a prestigious university, and after graduation we both became public school teachers. This caused some consternation in our family that we were wasting our expensive degrees on our low-wage career choices. While we enjoy teaching, we have been forced to live frugal lifestyles as a result, and honestly, we regret taking this vocation. We now have a bright, outgoing, and seemingly well-adjusted teenage son who recently received a very generous need-based scholarship to a very selective university. For much of his life, he complained to us that our family never had money for any expenses (while his peers enjoyed lavish vacations, received cars when they got drivers licenses, etc.) and often told us that he doesnt want to end up like Mom and Dad. We were actually happy that our kid was looking to improve his economic lot in life. We were surprised last month that he arrived home from college and told us that he wishes to become a public school teacher just like his parents. When informed of this, we asked him what led to this drastic change of attitude and warned him that he may end up broke like his mom and dad. All we could get in response was I dunno, I like the material and I think Id be good at it.

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We love our son very much and wish to see him happy. If we were able to afford it, we would have set him up financially so he can realize his dreams as a teacher, but other than our pensions, we have no savings and very little equity in our town house. Our son is also an adult. Any advice on how we can gently and positively encourage him to select a more financially stable career that wont leave him in the poor house when he reaches middle age (other than marrying into money)?

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Tormented Teacher

Dear Tormented Teacher,

If youre looking for me to tell your son to not follow his passions and simply look for a high-paying job, youre barking up the wrong tree. On the surface you may look at the neighbors with nice cars and fancy vacations and think theyve made it, but you have no idea what life is like for them behind closed doors.

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I know at least 10 people earning between $250,000 and $750,000 a year in income who are completely miserable due to their jobs. They work long hours, have health issues due to stress, have no relationship with their kids, and are deeply depressed (one even contemplated suicide a couple of years ago). What good are all of the material things if they come with all of that baggage? If I had to choose between my mental health or money, Id choose my mental health every day of the week.

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I think you should sit down with your son, have a heart-to-heart with him, and remind him that there are a lot of different career paths and he should figure out something hes passionate about. If hes choosing teaching by default just because he doesnt have much exposure to other possible options or because he wants to please you, it wouldnt be wise.

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However, if he is passionate about teaching, then you should throw all of your support behind him and let the chips fall where they may. As I alluded to earlier, the old saying that money cant buy happiness is one of the truest statements of all time.

Doyin

More Advice From Slate

Im a single mom of an amazing 6-year-old boy. I asked my best friend if she would be his guardian if anything happened to me, and she said no. Shes always said she didnt want children, but shes so great with my son that it really shocked me when she turned me down. What should I do?
Threats to American democracy are real, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema declared on the floor of the Senate last week, pointing to efforts in several states that will make it more difficult for Americans to vote and undermine faith that all Americans should have in our elections and our democracy. The senator, whom I first met in 2006 when we were campaigning in Arizona for marriage equality, said flatly, These state laws have no place in a nation whose government is formed by free, fair, and open elections.

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She is right. This subversion of our freedoms is existential, and must have no place if American democracy is to survive.

In this speech, which some outlets described (prematurely, in my view) as the death knell for voting rights legislation, Sinema also repledged her support for legislative responses to address these state laws, including the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, that the Senate is currently considering. The reason for the pessimism after Sinemas speech is that despite the strong support she professes, she wants the Senates response to these attacks on American democracy to be bipartisan, a near-term impossibility thanks to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells and his Republican conferences staunch opposition to protecting voting rights.

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Retaining the legislative filibuster is not meant to impede the things we want to get done, Sinema has asserted. Rather, its meant to protect what the Senate was designed to be. I believe the Senate has a responsibility to put politics aside and fully consider, debate, and reach compromise on legislative issues that will affect all Americans.

Sinemas quandary is that it is the abuse of the filibuster that stands in the way of the very measures Sinema concedes are necessary to address the attacks that should have no place in our democracy. It is the filibuster as practiced today that actually has vitiated the very debate and action that Sinema is for.

The wave of measures ramping up voter suppression, election interference, gerrymandering to lock in partisan advantage, and so on is part of a power grab that is, in fact, virtually entirely partisana Trump-inspired campaign to seize and preserve power for an increasingly authoritarian Republican Party not just over Democrats, but over the wishes of the American electorate. The reasons Sinemas Senate Republican colleagues have repeatedly blocked even debate over these attacks on democracy is that they dont want to stop them. The current version of the filibuster allows them to preserve these barriers and cheats in place without debate.

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Is there a bipartisan solution to a problem that one side has created precisely because it sees it is to its partisan benefit? As Deep State Radios David Rothkopf put it, how do you persuade a fire not to burn down our system of government? Its a fire were dealing with. Fires dont negotiate.

Some see Sinemas profession of strong support for necessary measures to address the threats she herself decries, combined with her refusal to act to actually ensure that such measures pass, as evidence of her bad faith. Ive known Sinema since the successful 2006 Arizona Together campaign against an anti-gay ballot measure, in which she played a leading role. In my many decades of activism, I always believed it more useful to focus not on what an elected official may think privately, but, rather, on what she does.

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Back then, I experienced Kyrsten Sinema as self-confident, canny, and intent on doing what she determined was needed to get the job donenot one to give up lightly, not one to take no for an answer. And now, at this crucial moment, she still has a chancean obligation in the eyes of history, I would tell herto follow up on last weeks speech with action. Action to address the threats to the freedom to vote and elections. Action by Americas Senate to pass urgently needed restorative measures that, in her own words, strengthen Americans access to the ballot box and better ensure that Americans votes are counted fairly.

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In teeing up such action to pass the needed measures, Sinema can begin with the fact that the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act have broad bipartisan support in the country, even if not among Republican elected officials, including the Senate Republican Caucus. This includes, as Politico recently reported, significant majority support for expanding access to early voting, prohibiting partisan gerrymandering, and enhancing mail-in voting and same-day voter registration.

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If Sinema sees threats, supports the cures, and is joined by bipartisan majorities of the American peopleand yet also believes she should retain the filibuster because she wants robust debate and minority inputwhat should she do to thread her own needle?

Sinema herself noted that senators of both parties have offered ideasincluding some that would earn my supportto make this body more productive, more deliberative, more responsive to Americans needs, and a place of genuine debate about our countrys pressing issues. One way to prove she is serious is to require that there actually be the debate she says she wants.

Wholly compatible with Sinemas commitment both to preserving the filibuster and to making the Senate deliver for the American people, she should now lead the charge for at least restoring the talking filibuster. Thats the version that existed for most of the filibusters history. By requiring at least two-fifths of the full Senate, or 40 senators, to keep debating instead [of] requiring 60 to end debate, as Senate expert Norm Ornstein explains, the burden would fall to the minority  and if only once they couldnt muster 40the equivalent of cloturedebate would end, making way for a vote on final passage of the bill in question. Sinema should also press for a return to the traditional present and voting standard, requiring enough senators opposed to moving forward to actually show up, explain their position, and hold the floor until the cloture vote is taken, even if a three-fifths cloture requirement remains, as Sinema believes it should.

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Consider this the Sinema Solution. If she leads on it, call it the Sinema Solution. But, Senator, get it done.

Dont get me wrongI believe that the ahistorical 60-vote threshold that Sinema extols (but the Framers rejected) is destructive of good government, actually weakens bipartisanship, and should go. As Stand Up America recently noted, if it takes only 51 votes to confirm Supreme Court and Cabinet nominees, pass trillions in budget legislation and corporate tax cuts, and, just recently, raise the debt ceiling, why should it require 60 votes to protect Americans elections and freedom to vote?

But I am not in the Senate. Kyrsten Sinema is. And so what matters is what Sinema thinksor, more precisely, what she does.

Sinema was right when she said threats to American democracy are real, and right when she said we need a sustained, robust effort to defend American democracy. What she must do now is follow up on her words with action. She needs to take responsibility for leading a sustained, robust effort that begins with real action in the Senate. Its time for her to embrace and push forward the Sinema Solution.
Mehdi Hasan first came to my attention for his debates and heated viral interviews with public figures like Israeli politician Danny Ayalon and Blackwater founder Erik Prince, in which he pushed past the usual evasions with precision and verve. His subjects clearly relished the challenge, but often seemed to end up in more trouble than they anticipated. After a start in the British press, then a move to the U.S. (he became a naturalized American citizen in 2020), Hasan hosted a popular podcast at the Intercept, Deconstructed, on which he challenged seemingly natural allies to his politics like Riz Ahmed and Noam Chomsky. More recently, he took a nightly show on Peacock, the NBC streaming service. Since March, that show has also aired Sunday nights on MSNBC, vaulting Hasan to a prime-time role on American cable news.

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Hasan began his MSNBC berth since we last spoke, and his show has been promising: He had a sharp interview with Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, where he skipped an ad break and kept focused on the border and immigration policy, an unfortunately rare event in cable news. But hes also found himself in the middle of a cable environment that can promote the same mindless factional politics that he made his career subverting, little by little. We spoke recently about whats surprised and vexed him about his arrival to cable news, the differences in covering Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and what hes learned since becoming an American himself just before the breach of the Capitol last Jan. 6. Our interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Aymann Ismail: Youve quickly gone from anchoring a show on Peacock to anchoring a prime-time slot on MSNBC. Whats surprised you most about doing a show like this?

Mehdi Hasan: Its a different audience. Is it a bigger audience? I dont know what the Peacock ratings arethey dont tell me. But its interesting to have access to this historic platform, now a 25-year-old channel with a lot of loyal viewers, to be able to do my thing that Ive been doing for years in all sorts of other places.

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Im busier now. I do the Peacock show Monday to Thursday. Then I have Friday, Saturday, as my weekend. I have the Middle East, Islamic weekend, Friday and Saturday off. Then I work the Sunday show with a totally different team. Its a different beast because it has a different structure. People dont realize this, but ad breaks make a huge difference. A Peacock hour of TV is longer than a cable hour. You have to think differently about interviewees and conversations. What can you go long with? What do you have to go short with? I like to do the odd rant. Where do they fit in, in a MSNBC hour? I did a commentary block on Julian Assange, which was nearly five minutes long and not the top of the showthis was just in the middle of the show, which is an eternity for most cable shows. Im getting my style there.

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But your trademark style, confronting politicians and pundits and not allowing them to evadewhy do you think you havent been able to do that as much on cable?

The Republicans who will come on dont pass my hygiene test.  Mehdi Hasan

A couple of things. Number one, they dont want to come on and take tough questions from me. Its very hard to get Republicans to come on MSNBC, or Peacock for that matter, because they want to go to the safe space of Fox and Newsmax and OAN. Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders may go on Fox. There are very few high-profile Republican equivalents who will come on my show, or on my network as a whole. Thats just a reality. Number two, the Republicans who will come on dont pass my hygiene test. Im up for a debate, but Im not going to waste time interviewing some crazy MAGA person who thinks the election was stolen, thinks climate change isnt real, or thinks masks are the sign of this devil. I dont want to insult my viewers or amplify their craziness. So, where do you find non-crazy Republicans? They are few and far between these days.

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I persuaded Dan Crenshaw to come on in March after a row on Twitter. It was a 16-minute conversation. We dropped an ad break live on MSNBC. I thought that was an interesting conversation because, as frustrating as it wasand I think he was wrong on everything he saidit was important to do. You dont often see right-wing Republican Congress members arguing on a substantive matter, immigration reform, for 16 minutes live on cable. We were very proud of it, we had millions of views online, a mass audience on a policy matter. It wasnt shouting about stuff. We actually talked about immigration policy. Id like to do more of that, but its hard to find guests who are willing to do it. Crenshaw kind of passed the hygiene test because he didnt vote to overturn the election at least.

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And the last point Ill make is that while we get a lot of Democrats on MSNBC, I cant speak for others, but on my show, nobody gets a pass. I have had a bunch of prominent Biden administration members on the MSNBC Sunday night show.* Weve had Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff, on. Weve had Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, on. We had Chuck Schumer, who does very few TV interviews. All of them got pushed by me. All of them took tough questions, whether it was about the filibuster with Klain or the failure of Senate Democrats to secure voting rights with Schumer. I pushed them all.

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What about the environment on prime-time cable news in general? Bill OReilly of all people recently told Dan Abrams cable news is fractured and is just playing to different viewers laziest politics. Abrams agreed and told him, Yeah, there isnt any debate on MSNBC or Fox. Do you see the same problem?

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First off, Bill OReilly lecturing anyone on fracturing the country is like asking the arsonist outside the house fire, Hey, how upset has this fire made you? OReilly and Fox are at the heart of fracturing and polarizing and dividing this country. In terms of the wider argument, are a lot of news organizations preaching to their choir? I think thats undeniably true in some ways, but I dont think thats wittingly. I dont think you find journalists saying, I hope I can find a bunch of people to agree with me. In fact, its the opposite. All we doand Im sure you have this at Slatepeople sit around editorial meetings and say, How do we reach that person? How do we get this new audience member? Everyone in the corporate and public relations side is always trying to get more viewers, more noise, more attention. The idea that we are happy in our bubbles or our cocoons is absurd. Its a weird conspiracy, and I dont buy that. But I do accept the reality we live in a very tribal age.

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After Brexit, I remember British friends and family members of mine were like, How did this happen? Nobody I know supports Brexit when I looked online. Yeah. Youre only friends with people online who agree with you politically. Thats a wider problem that none of us can deny, which applies to social media, to TV, to print, to our everyday lives. Thats a much wider problem in America. The media in some ways reinforces it, but it also reacts to it.

But do you think cable news specifically feeds off of and deepens divisions? What do you see as your responsibility there?

Im not going to slice and dice network news and print media. I think all of us in what is usually called the mainstream mediathe fake news media, as the GOP would call itall of us have to understand our role in this moment. We are in a deeply historic moment. In many ways, we are cursed by the pressure were under, by the craziness thats going on. On the other hand, as journalists, were blessed. A lot of people who lived in the quiet in the 1990s might say, This is a moment where its actually a time for us to prove ourselves. Were all under pressure to get this right. It is not the role we played in the pastnot that I think it was right in the past, eitherthis idea that we shouldnt have biases. We should. The fourth estate is part of democracy. If democracy is under attack, we are under attack. We should have a pro-fact, pro-reality, pro-democracy bias.

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You used to work alongside Glenn Greenwald at the Intercept, known for its investigations and left-wing politics. And now, were seeing him become a regular on Tucker Carlson on Fox. Does his trajectory tell us anything about the current media environment?

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If I were you, I would have come to this interview with that question as well. Im going to say that Glenn and I have been friends for many, many years. I hope we will always stay friends, but his and my politics have diverged. There was a time when people at the Intercept would worry if we filed at the same time, because it would be like, Are they writing on the same story? We dont want two pieces at the same time on the same thing. I think theres no danger of that now. He knows I dont agree with a lot of his perspectives right now on domestic American politics. I would hope we still agree on a lot of foreign policies. But you know what? He and I, we have our arguments in private. We dont tend to argue publicly because I dont like having arguments in public with friends of mine. Glenn and I have been friends for almost a decade, man.

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You two have had your public moments 

We try and keep them to a minimum simply because Twitter is a horrible platform for engaging with nuance or engaging with friends. You do it in private. In the past, weve aired our healthy disagreements. Glenn knows my views on Tucker Carlson. I know Glenns views about MSNBC. Hes not a fan of this network, but I think Tucker Carlson is one of the greatest dangers that American democracy has seen in the modern era.

What do you think about how the American media cover the Biden administration? The administration itself has complained quite a lot about it.

Do Democratic voters believe in silly things? Yes.  Mehdi Hasan

My view is we should hold Biden to a standard that is not the not Trump standard. There are some people who say, Well, hes not Trump. Thats not good enough. Lets take immigration. Is he taking kids from their parents at the border? No, he is not, but are children still suffering in our immigration system at the border? Yes. Did the Biden administration just recently walk away from a compensation deal with those families, shamefully, after Fox News attacked them? Yes, and they should be called out for that. I do on my show, Ive done many segments on the subject. On the other hand, have they done good things? Yes, they have, in my view. Im very clear on my show where I agree with the Biden administration, where I think they deserve credit. Take COVID. I think theyve done a very good job on the vaccination front despite all the constraints and all the crazy propaganda from Fox and co. On the other hand, testing is a debacle, and the failures on rapid testingI dont think theyve taken it seriously enough. I call it as I see it.

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You recently said you were exhausted with the coddling happening for the people on the right who dont believe various things. Whos doing that exactly?

I do still get frustrated at both sides of some media outlets. There was a New York Times piece recently about emailthey have great journalists but occasionally they cant help themselveswhere they went through hundreds of political candidates emails to see what theyre telling people. Listen to this paragraph, Aymann. Both parties delivered heaps of hyperbole in their emails. One Republican, for instance, declared that Democrats wanted to establish a one-party socialist state, while a Democrat suggested that the partys Jan. 6 inquiry was at imminent risk because the GOP could force the whole investigation to end early.  Only one of those statements is false. We still see this both-sides nonsense in a lot of our political coverage, and it drives me mad. We live in an age where there are not two sides of this, sadly. There is one party that has a lot of problems, but still believes in democracy as we know it. Theres another party that is basically working towards overturning the next election result. We know more every day that they tried to prevent the 2020 votes from even being counted. Look at the texts to Mark Meadows from Republican lawmakers.

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Do Democratic voters believe in silly things? Yes. Americans have always had crazies on both sides, no doubt about that. But right now, its Republican voters who are rejecting science and dying at disproportionate numbers. We cant just shy away from that because we dont want to offend people. That is a reality. Tens of millions of people in this country are getting the rest of us ill and killed. A lot of them disproportionately are Republicans. We cant shy away from that fact.

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Its amazing to me that as soon as you became a card-carrying American, Jan. 6 happened. We hit the one-year anniversary. Do you have any complicated feelings about that?

A lot of friends of mine across the pond said to me, Why? Why would you become an American now? They said that to me in October 2020. I feel like that questions even more relevant in January. What I would say is I am an American. I love this country. I loved this country before I was American, even as a visitor. Im married to an American. Im not covering this stuff as a dispassionate foreign correspondent wandering through. Im covering this as someone who has skin in the game, who wants to save this country for my kids and my grandkids. Im covering as someone who cares what my kids read and see. Its so depressing to me to see my kids are growing up in an era where they dont know what to trust online. They dont know what to read. News is so messed up that those of us who work in news have a great responsibility to a younger generation who is switching off, who doesnt watch cable news, and are streaming and TikToking. As an American, I care about the future of the American media. I care about the future of American democracy. Its very personal to me.
ARCHIVED - Spain fines Ryanair 24,000 euros for making passengers pay for hand luggage



Changes to the free hand luggage policy have been labelled as abusive by a Spanish consumer affairs board

Authorities in the Balearic Islands, which include Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza, have imposed a fine of 24,000 euros on Ryanair for charging passengers to bring hand luggage into the cabin.

Since 2018, the airline has changed its policy on free hand luggage and started to apply an extra charge to be able to take a bag on board their planes. The only passengers exempt from this charge are those who have bought their tickets with the Priority Boarding fare for an additional price. Everyone else is charged for any luggage that they take on board that exceeds 25cm x 20cm x 40cm.

The FACUA Consumers in Action organisation already launched complaints against this practice in November 2019 for being abusive towards airplane passengers, and the Balearic Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs opened a disciplinary case against the Irish low-cost airline back in March 2021 stating that charging for cabin baggage could be an infringement of consumer regulations.

This is an abusive practice, says the Directorate-General, pointing out that several court rulings have ruled that hand luggage is not considered baggage, and that airlines are obliged to allow passengers to put it in the cabin free of charge.

In light of this, they have therefore decided to impose on Ryanair the maximum fine possible of 24,000 euros.

Ryanair may still lodge an administrative appeal in the courts against this decision.

See more news about Travel & Tourism in Spain

Image: Ryanair
The idea floated during the negotiations on the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, is an exemplary case study on how legislative proposals evolve during the negotiations just to reach a workable compromise  hopefully.

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Filip Kuzma is a research analyst at the EPPP  European Public Policy Partnership.

Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) are some of the key legislative files that will define how the digital market in the EU should look in the decades to come. However, they could also be an example in EU studies textbooks, showcasing the complexities and nuances of policy-making processes in Brussels. This can best be demonstrated on the issue of a ban on targeted ads, which could pose serious problems for businesses, citizens and civil society alike, unless the virtue of compromise in the EUs digital policy-making is respected.

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With the DSA and DMA proposals, the European Commission intended to create fair and clear rules for digital market players  be it large online platforms or businesses and individuals using the services of these platforms. Among other measures, the EC wanted to boost the transparency of online advertising by obliging online platforms to inform the recipients of the service that a piece of information is an advertisement, what natural or legal person published the ad and what were the main parameters used to determine that the ad should be displayed to the respective recipient of the service (Art. 24, Digital Services Act). Thus, the EC intended to achieve an outcome where internet users would be better informed about online ads and their targeting.

However, soon after the proposal hit the table of the Members of the European Parliament, calls for an immediate outright ban on targeted ads started to grow louder and louder, for instance through the so-called "Tracking-Free Ads Coalition" uniting several MEPs. After dozens of discussions, hearings and social media campaign, the lead internal market committee (IMCO) finally agreed on a compromise text of the Digital Services Act on 14 December 2021.

IMCOs resolution clearly demonstrates the virtue of compromise in EUs policy-making leading to rational results. It maintains the DSA's horizontal nature as well as the essential intermediary liability principle, one of the tenets of EUs digital regulations. On the issue of targeted advertising, more balanced approach was found in banning targeting only for minors. Yet, ahead of the vote of the European Parliament's plenary on the DSA at the end of January, there are still some MEPs and advocates attempting to shatter this compromise.

Targeted ads are essential part of online advertising enabling their creators to reach the intended audience more efficiently with lower costs. The ratio of users clicking on an ad and users who visit the website where an ad is displayed (click-through rate) is 5.3 times higher in the case of personalized advertising. It is estimated that EU businesses' spending on targeted online ads reached 16 billion in 2020. From the academic literature it follows that the ban would decrease the effectiveness of online ads by 50-70 percent, meaning that advertisers would have to spend 2-3.3 times more money on non-personalized ads to achieve the same results as with personalized ads (Center for Data Innovation). Other studies indicate that limiting personalized advertising could reduce the EU's GDP by 76-106 billion per year, amounting to 171-237 per EU citizen annually (Copenhagen Economics).

But it is not just about business. Targeted ads have proven to be very effective in raising awareness on social issues and gain funds for civil society. Research shows that personalized charity communication can increase the willingness of 44 percent of donors and interested individuals to donate up to 10 percent more and in the case of the millennials even 62 percent more money.

There are several successful examples of NGOs such as the Swedish Red Cross or Germany's Save the Children that noticed a significant increase in donations and awareness with their personalized campaigns (ThinkYoung Research). It is therefore no surprise that numerous political bigwigs, including Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager or French digital minister Cedric O, whose country currently holds the rotating EU Presidency, are opposed to an outright ban on targeted ads.

Hastily introduced DSA amendments could run counter to the personal data protection framework established around GDPR, which already provides robust safeguards against misuse. Moreover, the entire sector of targeted advertising is under transformation through the development of privacy preserving technologies.

Halting this evolution towards privacy-safe online advertising by a ban could harm the interests of businesses, consumers, publishers and also third sector actors working on important social issues. Let us therefore stick to the virtue of compromise instead of radical solutions that could harm economic recovery and benefit no one. Let rationality win in the EUs digital policy-making.
https://sputniknews.com/20220117/no-charisma-dull-personality-trump-says-desantis-could-never-beat-him-in-2024---report-1092327799.html

No Charisma, Dull Personality: Trump Says DeSantis Could Never Beat Him in 2024 - Report

No Charisma, Dull Personality: Trump Says DeSantis Could Never Beat Him in 2024 - Report

Virtually all polls over the past year have shown that Trump, if he decides to run, remains the undisputed leader of the Republican primaries in the 2024... 17.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-17T23:55+0000

2022-01-17T23:55+0000

2022-01-17T23:55+0000

donald trump

us

florida

election

republican party

ron desantis

2024 us presidential elections

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/11/1092329809_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_95ec80549841ac6c9b741db8388a808b.jpg

Former President Donald Trump privately sees fellow Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as an ingrate with a "dull personality" who stands no chance of defeating him in a potential 2024 Republican matchup, Axios reported, citing sources within Trump's circle.According to the insider, Trump makes a point of stating that he is unconcerned with the Florida governor as a prospective 2024 opponent.Both Republican politicians are among the most popular in the GOP in the country, and Trump is reportedly irritated by DeSantis' popularity and refusal to rule out a run against him in 2024.Several potential GOP presidential candidates have either ruled out running if Trump runs, or stated their support for the former president if he does. Republican Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem, and Senators Marco Rubio of Florida, Rick Scott of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Josh Hawley of Missouri are among others who have expressed their support for Trump should he run. According to Axios, these endorsements have already piqued Trump's interest.There are two potential opponents to the ex-POTUS: DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, as neither has ruled out challenging Trump in 2024. According to Axios, however, Pence seems to bother Trump less than DeSantis. The former president has reportedly informed aides that he believes Pence's political career is done after he rebuffed Trump's request to send electors back to the states on January 6, 2021. Trump reportedly believes "there's no way" DeSantis would have become governor without his support.However, DeSantis has apparently not shied away from firing back at Trump, including for his not-so-subtle criticism, either. One of the governor's biggest regrets in office, he claimed on the "Ruthless" podcast last week, was not speaking out "much louder" in March 2020, when Trump recommended staying at home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.In a recent interview, Trump, without mentioning anyone by name, apparently took a shot at DeSantis and a slew of other politicians for not disclosing their vaccination booster status.US media frequently reports about the so-called Trump-DeSantis feud, stating that Trump's personal dissatisfaction with DeSantis' ungratefulness and willingness to oppose him dates back several years. But DeSantis said on the podcast that allegations of friction between him and the former president were fabricated. However, he dodged a question regarding his chances of becoming the Republican presidential contender in 2024.Apart from those already mentioned, Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), have not publicly ruled out a run against Trump.

https://sputniknews.com/20211102/republicans-believe-in-trumps-2024-success-more-than-democrats-do-in-biden-poll-shows-1090418599.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220113/trump-lashes-out-at-gutless-ron-desantis-others-for-refusing-to-disclose-covid-booster-status-1092222702.html

florida

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Kirill Kurevlev

donald trump, us, florida, election, republican party, ron desantis, 2024 us presidential elections
https://sputniknews.com/20220117/plan-b-not-appealing-to-any-country-iran-slams-us-attempts-to-set-deadlines-on-vienna-talks-1092328967.html

Stop Bullying Behavior: Iran Slams US Attempts to Set Deadlines on Vienna Talks - Report

Stop Bullying Behavior: Iran Slams US Attempts to Set Deadlines on Vienna Talks - Report

On 3 January, the eighth round of negotiations to restore the Iranian nuclear deal in its original form and bring the US back to the agreement resumed in... 17.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-17T22:57+0000

2022-01-17T22:57+0000

2022-01-17T23:11+0000

middle east

iran

antony blinken

vienna talks

iranian nuclear program

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/11/1092329274_0:0:3641:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_7ea7ca18d0a10e29c106ab4752e61b3a.jpg

Tehran has rejected attempts by the United States to set a deadline for striking a final agreement, while suggesting that Washington is to blame for the insufficient speed of the negotiations, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.In response to recent remarks by State Secretary Antony Blinken, Khatibzadeh called on Washington to focus on plan A instead of threatening Tehran with plan B."We have, I think, a few weeks left to see if we can get back to mutual compliance. We're very, very short on time," Blinken said last week. Iran is getting closer and closer to the point where they could produce on very, very short order enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon.He added that the US is looking at other steps, other options, which are considered by Iran as further pressure and military threats.Khatibzadeh stressed that plan B does not suit any country.As parties participating in the talks have returned to Vienna after a short pause for consultations, working groups on sanctions removal and sequencing the implementation of a probable agreement continued to work on draft texts over the past weekend. Many of the tables and columns are ready and some of the parentheses were omitted, Press TV reported, citing Khatibzadeh. He also added that the negotiators have found points of convergence on most parts of an agreement and they are currently being put on paper, but key issues still require specific political decisions.He urged Washington to stop what he termed as bullying behavior and return to its international obligations.Negotiations to return the United States to the agreement and push Iran to abandon its JCPOA violations began in April, but stalled following the election of hardliner Ebrahim Raisi as president of Iran in July last year.The Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA), signed by Iran, the US, Russia, China, Germany, France and the UK in 2015, obliged Tehran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions previously imposed by Washington and Brussels.Washington unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 and restored a number of sanctions despite the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been systematically reporting that Tehran was in compliance with all JCPOA provisions. Initially, Iran had remained committed to the agreement, allowing all IAEA representatives to monitor its facilities and calling on the remaining signatories to persuade the US to fulfill its obligations.Iran radically changed its approach in response to the US assassination of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and has halted IAEA inspections and significantly increased enriching uranium, the production of uranium metal and installed more advanced centrifuges.In earlier claims, Iran has stressed that its nuclear program is developed for peaceful purposes and it has never had plans to construct nuclear weapons. Tehran had announced that its nuclear violations would be quickly reversed when sanctions are lifted. Meanwhile, Washington demands that Iran should first comply with the JCPOA provisions.

https://sputniknews.com/20211227/iran-insists-petrol-export-sanctions-be-removed-as-eighth-round-of-jcpoa-revival-talks-begin-1091845175.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220110/bennett-warns-israel-wont-be-bound-by-any-iran-nuclear-deal-will-reserve-freedom-of-action-1092150401.html

iran

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Alexandra Kashirina

Alexandra Kashirina

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middle east, iran, antony blinken, vienna talks, iranian nuclear program
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/as-netanyahu-is-discussing-a-plea-bargain-tweeps-are-divided-over-the-potential-agreement-1092332291.html

As Netanyahu is Discussing a Plea Bargain, Tweeps Are Divided Over The Potential Agreement

As Netanyahu is Discussing a Plea Bargain, Tweeps Are Divided Over The Potential Agreement

The deal -- that could be inked as early as this week -- stipulates that the former prime minister would evade imprisonment in exchange for leaving the... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T05:24+0000

2022-01-18T05:24+0000

2022-01-18T05:24+0000

israel

middle east

benjamin netanyahu

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/05/1083079187_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_baa26aa438620d3f2ca1152b719197e9.jpg

Israeli media is still discussing a potential plea bargain of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the prosecution, an agreement that could be inked as early as this week.The former PM is currently going through a corruption trial, with the prosecution accusing him of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in a series of graft probes that include buying positive press and receiving gifts from a rich donor.Netanyahu has repeatedly denied these allegations and accused the police, the judiciary and the liberal circles of Israel of setting up a plot aimed at ousting him from the political scene.Now he seems to be making a deal with that same prosecution he has been undermining for years.Deal with a Culprit?The potential plea bargain -- that stipulates he would evade imprisonment in exchange for leaving political life for seven years -- has already made waves on social media platforms. Some tweeps have been mocking the ex-premier for such a move. Others vented anger at the mere thought that such a deal could potentially be reached."Eventually, Bibi the coward is running to sign a deal like a culprit. Your 'leader' is just a Zero. He has only been several months in the opposition and it already finished him.""... how can you strike a deal with a certified and a known liar? And for what?" - wrote one tweep.Another wrote: "I am expressing my rejection of the plea deal with defendant Benjamin Netanyahu, based on the seriousness of his offences, and the principle of equality before the law."But the "seriousness" of Netanyahu's offences is far from the only reason why some Israelis want to see him behind bars. For many, the ex-PM has been associated with division, hatred and incitement, primarily against the Arab community.For others his name has been linked to the current coronavirus pandemic, the economic crisis it unkeyed, high rates of unemployment and the widening gap between the rich and the poor."... [regardless of the deal - ed.] Bibi should go to jail. He destroyed the country. He divided, caused hated, fought with the police, with the prosecution, the judges, the court and the law. Bibi murdered 6,500 Israelis with criminal negligence. He fights with demons and disperses fears like any other dictator."United Behind NetanyahuHowever, not everyone is critical of Netanyahu, and Twitter has also been flooded with messages from his supporters, who have vowed to back Bibi no matter what."...We are fed up with an enforcement system that operates in a selective, arbitrary and illegal manner. We believe in Netanyahu's innocence and that the judicial system should bear the disgrace it inflicts on itself every day by proceeding with its hearings," wrote one Twitter user.Another chimed in: "All these talks about a plea deal have taken the sting out of the hearings that are currently taking place in the Jerusalem court... I don't understand how anyone has any desire or patience to listen to evidence in these cases, when it is already clear that the prosecution is willing to retract the charges it has filed. It's theatre, no more than that."The support was not limited to messages wishing him well. In recent days, Netanyahu's supporters have been leading a massive fundraising campaign that aimed at securing enough cash for a years'-long public trial.So far, nearly $1 million has been raised and the aim is to collect another million. By gathering these funds, the supporters of the ex-premier apparently send him a message that they believe in his innocence, and they're also telling him that he should not be accepting any deals with the prosecution, primarily because it would be an indication of his defeat.Some polls, conducted by leading Israeli TV stations, reflect that trend. Channel 12, for example, found that 51 percent of conservatives are rejecting the deal. Only 31 percent support it.Another Israeli channel, 13, revealed that 40 percent of those asked objected to the charge of moral turpitude that the prosecution is pushing to include, which would bar Netanyahu from political life for the next seven years.Netanyahu is still mulling over the proposed deal. Reports suggest he is inclined to accept it but if he does, he will need to think of a way to sell it to his supporters.

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Elizabeth Blade

Elizabeth Blade

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israel, middle east, benjamin netanyahu
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/australia--nz-send-warships-to-help-tonga-as-surveillance-images-show-devastation-on-island-nation-1092337085.html

Australia & NZ Send Warships to Help Tonga as Surveillance Images Show Devastation on Island Nation

Australia & NZ Send Warships to Help Tonga as Surveillance Images Show Devastation on Island Nation

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said an active distress beacon was detected in the low-lying Islands of Fonoi and Mango. On Tuesday... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T17:01+0000

2022-01-18T17:01+0000

2022-01-18T17:01+0000

new zealand

world health organization (who)

island

un

australia

tonga

pacific

royal australian navy

volcano

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Australia and New Zealand have readied their warships with medical and engineering equipment for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations in Tonga. Tonga's communications and infrastructure were damaged by a tsunami triggered by an underwater volcano eruption on 15 January. The "unprecedented disaster" triggered a mass evacuation. Australia's Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ship Adelaide, which can operate in shallower waters, is also being loaded in Brisbane with medical and engineering equipment and personnel. It will take five days to travel to Tonga.Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said that HMAS Adelaide would act as a base for Australian helicopters to service populations on outer islands such as Mango, Fonoi, and Atata. Tonga's Mango and Atata Islands are 50-70 km away from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano. Atata has a population of about 100 people and Mango around 69 people.Images showed that on Atata, many buildings are either underwater or have been washed away by the tsunami. A general intelligence assessment (GIA) said Mango Island experienced "catastrophic" damage."You can see on the images quite a wave of devastation across infrastructure and houses there," Peeni Henare, New Zealand's defence minister, said on Tuesday. In its first statement since the disaster, the Tongan government said on Tuesday that all houses have been destroyed on Mango Island, while only two houses remain on Fonoifua Island. "To date, there are three confirmed fatalities including a British national; a 65-year-old female from Mango Island; and a 49-year-old male from Nomuka island. There are also a number of injuries reported," the government's statement read. Payne called the damage to the island nation "absolutely devastating" and said that New Zealand and Australia would provide support to the Tongan government. New Zealand's HMNZS Wellington sailed from Devonport Naval Base with personnel, equipment, and supplies to assist the rescue and cleanup efforts. HMNZS Wellington, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, is designed for maritime surveillance, supply and support, and patrol missions around New Zealands 15,000-kilometre coast, the Southern Ocean, and the Pacific.The World Health Organisation (WHO) advised Tongan people to remain indoors as ash in the air and on the ground has raised serious health concerns about air pollution and the potential contamination of food and water supplies.

new zealand

australia

tonga

pacific

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2022

Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg

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new zealand, world health organization (who), island, un, australia, tonga, pacific, royal australian navy, volcano
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/big-explosion-reported-at-turkeys-kirkuk-ceyhan-oil-pipeline-1092350656.html

WATCH: Powerful Explosion Reported at Turkey's Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline

WATCH: Powerful Explosion Reported at Turkey's Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline

WATCH: Big Explosion Reported at Turkey's Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline

2022-01-18T20:09+0000

2022-01-18T20:09+0000

2022-01-18T21:34+0000

fire

middle east

turkey

explosion

pipeline

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A massive explosion hit an oil pipeline in the city of Kahramanmaras in southeastern Turkey on the border with Syria, causing a fire to break out, A Haber TV channel reported late on Tuesday.The nearby highway was reportedly blocked.Footage allegedly showing the pipeline on fire has emerged online.According to the municipality head, Hayrettin Gungor, a total of 19 firefighting vehicles were sent to the scene. "Fortunately, no one was injured," he told Hurriyet.

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2022

Alexandra Kashirina

Alexandra Kashirina

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en_EN

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Alexandra Kashirina

fire, middle east, turkey, explosion, pipeline
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/breivik-places-blame-for-2011-terrorist-attacks-on-neo-nazi-network-1092349528.html

Breivik Places Blame for 2011 Terrorist Attacks on Neo-Nazi Network

Breivik Places Blame for 2011 Terrorist Attacks on Neo-Nazi Network

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik said during a parole hearing on Tuesday that neo-Nazi network Blood & Honour (banned in Russia) was... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T18:49+0000

2022-01-18T18:49+0000

2022-01-18T18:50+0000

anders breivik

norway

terrorist attack

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"I did not execute [terrorist attacks] on July 22. Blood & Honour bears the major responsibility ... Internet radicalization is responsible for it," Breivik told the court, as quoted by Norwegian broadcaster NRK.He said he regretted becoming "radical and militant."In July 2011, Breivik detonated a bomb in Oslo, killing eight people, and shortly after carried out a mass shooting at a youth camp in Utoya, killing 69 more. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Soon after his arrest, Breivik confessed to committing the attacks but has yet to plead guilty.Under Norwegian law, Breivik had the right to apply for parole after serving a decade in prison, and can reapply for a parole hearing every year thereafter. The Norwegian prosecutor's office is opposed to parole for Breivik, saying he still poses threat to society.Blood & Honour is a neo-Nazi group founded in the United Kingdom in 1987 to promote white nationalism.

https://sputniknews.com/20220118/breivik-worst-mass-killer-in-modern-norwegian-history-pushing-for-parole-after-10-years-in-jail-1092332103.html

norway

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anders breivik, norway, terrorist attack
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/dems-take-pains-to-pass-voting-rights-bill-as-gop-doubles-down-on-id-laws-1092348719.html

Dems Take Pains to Pass Voting Rights Bill as GOP Doubles Down on ID Laws

Dems Take Pains to Pass Voting Rights Bill as GOP Doubles Down on ID Laws

Democratic senators have brought "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" to the upper chamber's floor, while Republican legislatures are continuing to implement ID laws nation-wide.

2022-01-18T18:34+0000

2022-01-18T18:34+0000

2022-01-18T18:34+0000

us senate

election

chuck schumer

news

world

us

voting rights act

voter id laws

us midterm elections

2024 us presidential elections

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The Democratic Party's recent effort to pass voting rights legislation in the US Senate is all but doomed, according to the New York Times. Firstly, there are no doubts that GOP senators would block it again; secondly, two Democratic senators have refused to deprive their Republican counterparts of the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to override in order to advance most legislation in the chamber. The upper chamber is evenly split and it's virtually impossible for Democrats to get ten extra votes to pass the bill given the GOP's opposition.Republican senators have previously denounced the Dems' voting rights initiatives as "Democratic" and "federal" takeover and argued that loosened ID rules, enhanced voting by mail, automatic and same-day registration would lead to nothing short of massive election fraud.Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer threatened GOP senators with changing the upper chamber's rules and weakening the filibuster. However, Democratic Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced that they would not support undermining the filibuster to pass legislation no matter what.To avoid an initial filibuster and bring the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act directly to the Senate floor and avoid an initial filibuster the Dems resorted to an unusual manoeuvre. They transformed a bipartisan NASA leasing bill HR 5746, which already passed the House and Senate and was returned to the lower chamber with a couple of amendments, into voting rights legislation called "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act." According to SpaceNews, the move "effectively sacrificed the NASA portions of the bill."Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), chair of the House Science Committees space subcommittee, who introduced the original version of HR 5746, reconciled with the changes announcing that he "would be honoured to make this unexpected contribution to the cause of protecting our democracy."Lucas lamented the fact that the Dems have killed the bipartisan efforts to extend NASAs authority to "lease out underutilised property and save taxpayer money" by changing initial legislation.The new "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" dubbed by the GOP as "Fake NASA Bill" was passed in the House on 13 January by 220 to 203 votes on strict party lines.GOP Continue to Implement ID Laws Across NationWhile the Dems are trying to nationalise their version of election rules, Republicans are racing against the clock to strengthen ID laws across the country. So-called "election integrity reforms" gained steam in GOP-controlled states following the disputed 2020 presidential election which is believed to be rigged by a whopping two-thirds of Republicans, according to various polls. According to New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, 19 states passed 33 voting laws bolstering ID rules.The Heritage Foundation, a US conservative think tank based in Washington, DC published an Election Integrity Scorecard of 50 states and the District of Columbia on their election laws earlier this month. The chart focuses on US states' voter ID implementation; the accuracy of voter registration lists; absentee ballot management; vote harvesting restrictions; access of poll watchers; verification of citizenship; identification for voter assistance; vote counting practices; election litigation procedures; restriction of same-day registration; restriction of automatic registration; restriction of private funding of election officials or government agencies.The top five of the think tank's scorecard includes Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida; while Texas is ranked sixth. The five states with the lowest scores in terms of election integrity are Hawaii, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Vermont.Despite the Arizona state Senate taking efforts to improve voting integrity and auditing the 2020 election in Maricopa County, the Grand Canyon state still has significant room for improvement regarding voter ID implementation and the accuracy of voter registration lists," remarks Just the News, commenting on the Heritage Foundation's chart. Moreover, even though Georgia  which enacted its election integrity bill in March 2021  is ranked No. 1, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told the John Solomon Reports podcast in January that he's considering closing a loophole allowing non-citizen voting.In a preamble to its scorecard, the Heritage Foundation emphasises the necessity to defend the right to vote and cites the US Supreme Court as stating in 2008 that "flagrant examples of [election] fraud" "demonstrate that it could affect the outcome of a close election."In 2012 a Pew Research survey examining the states' voter registration systems found that: approximately 24 million voter registrations were either no longer valid or significantly inaccurate; over 1.8 million deceased individuals were listed as voters; roughly 2.75 million individuals were registered in more than one state. In 2017, the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) found that thousands of votes cast in the 2016 election were illegal duplicate votes. In 2020, the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) released a report examining the US voting system, which was eloquently titled "Critical Condition: American Voter Rolls Filled with Errors, Dead Voters, and Duplicate Registrations."Americans conservatives are trying to make case for the necessity to tighten election rules, which comes in direct contradiction with the Democratic Party's recent effort to expand the nation's voting rights. Meanwhile, US trust in elections is declining, according to the latest Pew Research study and the ABC/Ipsos poll. Just 20 percent of Americans say that they are "very confident" in US election integrity.

https://sputniknews.com/20220112/partisan-fight-intensifies-as-voting-rights-bill-in-hot-water-in-us-senate-yetagain-1092209922.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220108/its-now-or-never-whats-behind-dems-push-for-changing-senate-rules--passing-voting-rights-bills-1092109670.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220103/texas-2020-election-audit-found-about-12000-potential-non-citizens-suspected-of-registering-to-vote-1091998554.html

https://sputniknews.com/20201122/politburo-are-dems-striving-to-win-it-all--turn-us-political-landscape-into-one-party-system-1081242712.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211013/arizona-audit-how-partisan-divisions-upend-us-ability-to-sell-its-image-as-city-on-hill-to-world-1089900845.html

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Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

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Ekaterina Blinova

us senate, election, chuck schumer, news, world, us, voting rights act, voter id laws, us midterm elections, 2024 us presidential elections, us election 2020, filibuster
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/earth-may-become-similar-to-mars-as-planets-interior-cooling-faster-than-predicted---study-1092339772.html

Earth May Become Similar to Mars as Planet's Interior Cooling 'Faster Than Predicted' - Study

Earth May Become Similar to Mars as Planet's Interior Cooling 'Faster Than Predicted' - Study

Earth's molten interior is cooling at a faster pace than previously anticipated, with scientists now warning that our planet might be turned into a barren rock like Mars or Mercury sooner than expected.

2022-01-18T11:50+0000

2022-01-18T11:50+0000

2022-01-18T12:12+0000

science

earth

earth mantle

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Earth's molten interior is cooling at a faster pace than previously anticipated, with scientists now warning that our planet might become a barren rock like Mars or Mercury sooner than expected. A new study examined the thermal conductivity of the minerals that form the boundary between the Earth's outer iron-nickel core and the molten fluid lower mantle above it, with the research published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters. In their paper, Radiative thermal conductivity of single-crystal bridgmanite at the core-mantle boundary with implications for thermal evolution of the Earth, scientists reveal their probe into how well the boundary mineral, bridgmanite could conduct heat from the core to the surface. To achieve this, the team, led by Professor of Experimental Mineral Physics Motohiko Murakami of ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and his colleagues from Carnegie Institution for Science developed a sophisticated measuring system. They irradiated a single crystal of bridgmanite with pulsed lasers to measure its thermal conductivity in a laboratory, under the pressure and temperature conditions simulating those of Earths insides. The results led them to determine that the core-mantle boundary was able to dispense so much heat that Earths cooling was speeding up much faster than previously expected. While 4.5 billion or so years ago, when our planet was formed, extreme temperatu]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]net's surface cooled. However, the enormous thermal energy emanating from the Earth's interior drives dynamic processes, such as mantle convection, plate tectonics and volcanism. The flowing of liquid metal in the outer core of the earth generates electric currents, while the rotation of our planet on its axis causes these electric currents to form a magnetic field extending around it. The latter is vitally important to sustaining life on Earth, as without it, we would be exposed to high amounts of radiation from the Sun. For example, planet Mars doesnt have flowing liquid metal in its core, its weak magnetic field likely allowing its atmosphere to be stripped away by solar winds, rendering it uninhabitable. The question remains how fast the Earth has been cooling and how long it might take for this process to put the lid on these heat-driven processes. As the results of the recent study were released, the team of scientists revealed that the cooling process inside earth could be accelerating. When it cools, bridgmanite transforms into a mineral called post-perovskite, which is even more thermally conductive. He added: "We still don't know enough about these kinds of events to pin down their timing."

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Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

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Svetlana Ekimenko

science, earth, earth mantle
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/france-receives-request-from-mali-to-review-defence-accords-1092348964.html

France Receives Request From Mali to Review Defence Accords

France Receives Request From Mali to Review Defence Accords

PARIS (Sputnik) - The French Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Mali has requested that France review bilateral defence agreements. 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T18:34+0000

2022-01-18T18:34+0000

2022-01-18T18:34+0000

france

mali

defence

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On Sunday, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told the France 24 broadcaster that the African country had officially requested Paris to reevaluate their bilateral defence pact."We have received a request of that sort, [and] are considering it," a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a briefing when asked by Sputnik.At the same time, the ministry did not reveal what exactly Mali wants to review.Mali has experienced two military coups over the past two years. The first coup, which took place in August 2020, resulted in the ousting of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and the appointment of Ba N'daw as interim president.Ba N'daw was arrested by soldiers on 24 May 2021. The Military Council, led by Vice President Assimi Goita, took over the country and announced presidential and parliamentary elections next year. The constitutional court of Mali declared Goita president of the transitional period.In November, Diop said that the general election, which was supposed to end the transition period, will have to be postponed from February 2022 to 2025 due to the volatile security situation.In 2013, France and Mali signed defence agreements after Paris launched a military operation to counter Islamist militants. The deal provides legal grounds for French troops to operate in the country.

https://sputniknews.com/20220116/video-french-president-macron-dummy-allegedly-burnt-in-mali-during-protests-over-ecowas-sanctions-1092297319.html

france

mali

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france, mali, defence
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/french-education-minister-criticised-for-performing-duties-on-ibiza-urged-to-step-down-1092343930.html

French Education Minister Criticised for Performing Duties on Ibiza, Urged to Step Down

French Education Minister Criticised for Performing Duties on Ibiza, Urged to Step Down

PARIS (Sputnik)  French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer has been targeted by opposition with calls for him to resign from his post over a controversy... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T14:14+0000

2022-01-18T14:14+0000

2022-01-18T14:14+0000

france

minister

education

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Blanquer came under fire from a number of opposition politicians after the MediaPart news outlet reported that the minister introduced the controversial health protocol in schools from Ibiza right before it came into effect on 3 January.All this agitation and these [COVID-19] restrictions have no health but political basis. The casualness of Jean-Michel Blanquer, who dictates an infernal protocol to teachers and parents of students from his vacation in Ibiza, proves it, Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party and a 2022 presidential hopeful, tweeted on Tuesday.Yannick Jadot, a presidential candidate from Europe Ecology  The Greens, called on Blanquer to step down for "neglect and irresponsibility."Instead of preparing with teachers and parents of students for a return to school under Covid, the minister organized a media stunt with his feet in the sand. This level of neglect and irresponsibility is not acceptable. I again call for the resignation of @jmblanquer, Jadot tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday.Florian Philippot, a presidential candidate and the leader of The Patriots euroskeptic party, criticized the COVID-19 policies of incumbent President Emmanuel Macron's government at home in France, saying Blanquer deserves to tender "immediate resignation" for escaping to Ibiza.The macronists are putting the French people through hell, especially children at school, and we learn this evening that the Minister of National Education JM #Blanquer has been managing all this from #Ibiza?! Immediate resignation! Philippot tweeted.Several other opposition politicians also made similar statements on the matter.On 13 January, a nationwide strike of teachers protesting the constantly amended health protocol in schools took place. Some demonstrators also demanded the resignation of Blanquer. Earlier this week, teacher unions called for another manifestation against the governments poor management of the coronavirus crisis in schools.

france

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france, minister, education
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/ghislaine-maxwell-agrees-to-unsealing-of-names-of-john-does-involved-in-sex-trafficking-schemes-1092334308.html

Ghislaine Maxwell Agrees to Unsealing of Names of 'John Does' Involved in 'Sex Trafficking Schemes'

Ghislaine Maxwell Agrees to Unsealing of Names of 'John Does' Involved in 'Sex Trafficking Schemes'

Jeffrey Epsteins former pimp, Ghislaine Maxwell, is no longer fighting to keep secret the names of eight people featured in a settled civil lawsuit as having partaken in the duos sex trafficking schemes.

2022-01-18T07:01+0000

2022-01-18T07:01+0000

2022-01-18T07:01+0000

us

ghislaine maxwell

prince andrew

jeffrey epstein

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Jeffrey Epsteins former pimp, Ghislaine Maxwell, is no longer fighting to keep secret the names of eight people featured in a settled civil lawsuit as having partaken in the duos sex trafficking schemes, according to court papers.A lawyer for Maxwell stated in a letter to federal Judge Loretta Preska this week that the disgraced British socialite would no longer object to the unsealing of identities of the John Does.Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre (nee Roberts) had been long seeking to reveal the names of several "John Does" who purportedly had sex with young women procured for them by Maxwell and the late billionaire pedophile. The individuals in question are all linked to a 2015 defamation case brought by Giuffre, who claimed Epstein, with Maxwells assistance, sexually abused her while she was a minor. The case was settled in 2017.Previously, Maxwell, through her attorneys, had objected to the unsealing of the identities of the individuals known in court papers as "Does 17, 53, 54, 55, 56, 73, 93, and 151."On 12 January Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Giuffre, had filed a brief, inquiring about Maxwells previous objections on the issue, according to the Independent.Maxwells attorney Laura Menninger, in her letter to Judge Loretta Preska, said her client no longer wanted to pursue the objections.Furthermore, she added that seven of those eight individuals had already submitted objections through their own attorneys.Maxwell, accordingly, leaves it to this Court to conduct the appropriate review consistent with the Order and Protocol for Unsealing Decided Motions", concluded Menninger.Now, New York federal court Judge Loretta Preska is to consider the arguments set forth by each of the anonymous "John Does", which have been made in court filings.A review of court filings cited by MailOnline showed that six of the "John Does" have objected to making their identities public to avoid "annoyance and embarrassment".There has not been any clarification if any one of the John Does is Prince Andrew.In August 2021 Virginia Giuffre filed a civil case in New York under the state's Child Victims Act alleging that the Duke of York sexually abused her when she was 17 in London, New York, and the US Virgin Islands. According to Giuffre, she was brought there by Jeffrey Epstein and his "madam" Ghislaine Maxwell. The prince has repeatedly denied the allegations.The decision by Maxwell's legal team to drop the fight against the unsealing of names was taken on the same day that a federal judge denied Prince Andrew's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit from Giuffre.60-year-old Ghislaine Maxwell, a former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, was found guilty on 29 December of recruiting underage girls to be sexually abused by the late billionaire financier between 1994 and 2004 at his various properties. She is now facing sentencing on 28 June, with the prospect of spending up to 60 years in a US jail.Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in 2019 on charges of organising the sex trafficking of underage girls. While denying all charges and awaiting trial, the tycoon was found dead in his New York federal jail cell in 2019, with his death being ruled a suicide.

https://sputniknews.com/20220116/prince-andrews-accuser-vows-to-destroy-him-and-leave-him-broke-because-of-his-arrogance-media-says-1092292157.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220114/us-judge-sets-sentencing-of-epstein-associate-ghislaine-maxwell-for-june-28--1092268512.html

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us, ghislaine maxwell, prince andrew, jeffrey epstein
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/houthis-slam-saudi-arabia-uae-for-bombing-residential-areas-in-yemeni-capital-1092344645.html

Houthis Slam Saudi Arabia, UAE for Bombing Residential Areas in Yemeni Capital

Houthis Slam Saudi Arabia, UAE for Bombing Residential Areas in Yemeni Capital

DOHA (Sputnik) - The human rights ministry of the Houthi movement has condemned Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for bombing residential areas... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T14:41+0000

2022-01-18T14:41+0000

2022-01-18T14:41+0000

yemen

houthis

uae

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On Monday evening, the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia announced a campaign in Sanaa in response to Houthi strikes against the UAE."The Arab coalition planes attacked conducted strikes against the Libby residential area in Sanaa. Twenty-three people died. They attacked homes of innocent civilians, [which is] another crime of the Saudi and Emirati regimes, which overwhelms all humanitarian principles and laws," the ministry said in a statement, as quoted by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV channel.The ministry urged humanitarian and human rights organizations to speak up about aggression against Yemen's civilians.According to the broadcaster, five residential buildings were completely demolished and another ten damaged, with people still trapped under rubble.The conflict between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis has gone on for over six years. The situation was further aggravated after the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the conflict on the Yemeni government's side in 2015 and began conducting occasional air, land and sea operations against the Islamist rebel movement.

https://sputniknews.com/20211123/saudi-led-coalition-launches-second-round-of-military-strikes-in-yemen---report-1090971667.html

yemen

uae

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yemen, houthis, uae
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/israel-offers-intelligence--security-support-to-uae-amid-growing-strategic-capability-of-houthis-1092345439.html

Israel Offers Intelligence & Security Support to UAE Amid Growing 'Strategic Capability' of Houthis

Israel Offers Intelligence & Security Support to UAE Amid Growing 'Strategic Capability' of Houthis

Global leaders have rallied around the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since Yemen's Houthi group attacked one of its oil depots using drones and missiles, killing... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T16:17+0000

2022-01-18T16:17+0000

2022-01-18T16:17+0000

yemen

saudi arabia

abu dhabi

energy

coalition

israel

uae

houthi militants

uae armed forces

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Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has strongly condemned the drone attacks in Abu Dhabi, which he said were "carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthis," and vowed to extend support against extremist forces in the region.The offer has been extended to the Emirates as security analysts indicate a significant shift in the "strategic capability" of Houthis, who have also carried out attacks on the energy infrastructures of Saudi Arabia in the past."The reported drone attack in UAE by Houthi militants is geographically curious. Yemen is the stronghold of the Houthis, which has Saudi and Oman in the middle. Houthis on sea operate around the Red Sea. How did they manage to launch drones into Abu Dhabi, and from where?" Kabir Taneja from Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation said.Experts are also wondering if the UAE will join the renewed fighting in Yemen; Abu Dhabi started significantly reducing its troops in Yemen in mid-2019.On 3 January, Israel's Elbit Systems announced a deal with the UAE for supplying direct infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) and airborne electronic warfare (EW) systems for Emirati Air Force's Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport Aircraft under a $53 million contract.The announcement comes a few weeks after Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli leader to officially visit the UAE. Israel has been working to normalise ties with its Middle Eastern neighbours since 2020, when Tel Aviv signed the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement with the UAE.

yemen

saudi arabia

abu dhabi

israel

uae

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2022

Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg

Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg

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yemen, saudi arabia, abu dhabi, energy, coalition, israel, uae, houthi militants, uae armed forces
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/israeli-prime-minister-bennett-speaks-on-second-day-of-davos-virtual-2022-wef-1092333844.html

Israeli Prime Minister Bennett Speaks on Second Day of 'Davos' Virtual 2022 WEF

Israeli Prime Minister Bennett Speaks on Second Day of 'Davos' Virtual 2022 WEF

The World Economic Forum (WEF) summit which traditionally takes place in January in Davos, Switzerland is being held virtually this year, due to the ongoing... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T10:07+0000

2022-01-18T10:07+0000

2022-01-18T10:40+0000

world

world economic forum (wef)

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Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett delivers a special address on the second day of the 2022 World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda.The annual meeting in Davos was to be held from 17 to 21 January 2022. However, on 20 December 2021 it was postponed to the beginning of summer due to the spread of the omicron strain. On 17-21 January, a series of virtual plenary sessions is taking place under the auspices of the World Economic Forum.The WEF has postponed the World Forum in Davos for the second year in a row, due to COVID-19 related restrictions.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More!

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world, world economic forum (wef)
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/lavrov-russia-reserves-right-to-respond-to-rt-de-oppression-in-germany-1092341623.html

Lavrov: Russia Reserves Right to Respond to RT DE Oppression in Germany

Lavrov: Russia Reserves Right to Respond to RT DE Oppression in Germany

RT DE launched broadcasting last month and almost immediately faced pressure from Berlin: its YouTube channel was deleted and an investigation into the... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T12:56+0000

2022-01-18T12:56+0000

2022-01-18T13:30+0000

russia

germany

sergei lavrov

rt

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Moscow does not want to create any obstacles to the work of German journalists in Russia but may be forced to do so, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Moscow on Tuesday. "We expect that Germany ... will nevertheless take measures that will not discriminate against the RT DE channel," Lavrov added.There are reasons to believe that the German authorities are directly related to the oppression of Russia's RT DE broadcaster in Germany, Lavrov went on to say.The Russian Union of Journalists handed over a letter to Baerbock which warns against the politicisation of the work of Russian journalists in Germany. RT launched its 24/7 news service in German last month, broadcasting live news, talk shows, and documentaries from studios in Moscow and Berlin. By that time, RT DE already ranked No. 1 among German-language media platforms by its interactions on Facebook. However, the channel faced pressure from Berlin and its YouTube account was deleted. Apart from this, German authorities launched an investigation into the broadcaster. After the European satellite operator was forced to prevent RT DE from broadcasting, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described it as "persecution of the media" and "informational segregation" and pledged retaliatory measures.

https://sputniknews.com/20220102/russian-ambassador-to-berlin-says-moscow-to-react-to-rt-de-clampdown-1091977004.html

germany

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2022

Sofia Chegodaeva

Sofia Chegodaeva

News

en_EN

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Sofia Chegodaeva

russia, germany, sergei lavrov, rt
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/matter-of-time-after-nicaragua-switch-chinese-deputy-fm-warns-soon-taiwan-allies-will-be-zero-1092350455.html

Matter of Time: After Nicaragua Switch, Chinese Deputy FM Warns Soon Taiwan Allies Will be Zero

Matter of Time: After Nicaragua Switch, Chinese Deputy FM Warns Soon Taiwan Allies Will be Zero

The autonomous island of Taiwan is finding itself with fewer and fewer allies in recent years as nations switch their recognition of the Chinese government... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T19:45+0000

2022-01-18T19:45+0000

2022-01-18T19:46+0000

nicaragua

diplomatic relations

china

asia-pacific

taiwan

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It is a matter of time before Taiwans diplomatic allies will be zero, Chinese vice foreign minister Le Yucheng said on Tuesday at the Macro Situation Annual Forum hosted by Renmin University in Beijing, according to the South China Morning Post.Last month, Nicaragua switched its recognition from Taipei to Beijing following US and European Union sanctions against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and more than 100 members of his government for allegedly undermining democracy in the country by arresting the masterminds behind deadly riots who had registered as election candidates.Others that have switched in that time include Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama, Sao Tome and Principe, and Burkina Faso. A ninth could soon follow, as Honduras President-elect, Xiomara Castro, ran on a platform that included ending relations with Taiwan. However, figures in her transition team say such a policy change isnt likely to be immediate.The government in Taiwan calls itself the Republic of China, and is all that remains of the republican government established after Pu Yi, the last Chinese emperor, abdicated the throne in 1912. The US closely supported the RoC in its fight against Japanese occupation during the Second World War, but the RoC ultimately lost the civil war that followed victory, and the communist Red Army established control over the entire Chinese mainland and founded the Peoples Republic of China in Beijing in 1949. However, unable to invade Taiwan, the PRC has been forced to tolerate the RoC rump states continued existence, regarding Taiwan as a Chinese province in rebellion.It took until 1979 before the US switched its recognition of the Chinese government from Taipei to Beijing, following a series of agreements by which Washington recognized the PRC as the legitimate government of all of China and pledged to end its support for the RoC. Despite this, the US continued informal support for Taiwan, selling it weapons and giving it diplomatic cover on the international stage.Le said Taiwans destiny was to reunify with mainland China. He warned that the Taiwanese independence policy was playing with fire and called it a fuse that should be strongly opposed.

nicaragua

china

asia-pacific

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2022

Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg

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nicaragua, diplomatic relations, china, asia-pacific, taiwan
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/moscow-debunks-us-media-report-on-slow-evacuation-of-russian-embassy-in-kiev-1092341889.html

Moscow Debunks US Media Report on Slow Evacuation of Russian Embassy in Kiev

Moscow Debunks US Media Report on Slow Evacuation of Russian Embassy in Kiev

Western officials and media have spent months alleging that Russia may be preparing to invade its Ukrainian neighbour and building up troops on the border... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T13:10+0000

2022-01-18T13:10+0000

2022-01-18T13:34+0000

new york times

russia

ukraine

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The Russian Foreign Ministry has dismissed reporting by the New York Times about a slow evacuation of the countrys Embassy in Kiev in possible preparation for a conflict with Ukraine.Separately, a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman also announced Tuesday that Kiev was not aware of any plans by the Russian side to evacuate Embassy staff. Kiev has no intention to remove its diplomats from Russia, and its Embassy in Moscow and consulates in St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk are also working as normal, the spokesman said.The flurry of diplomatic denials follows the release of a report by the New York Times on Monday claiming that Russia is engaged in a slow evacuation of its Kiev Embassy, and speculating, citing Ukrainian and US officials, that it could be part propaganda, part preparation for a conflict or part feint, or all three.We have information that indicates the Russian government was preparing to evacuate their family members from the Russian Embassy in Ukraine in late December and early January, an unnamed US official said.NYT speculated that the alleged evacuation could be a sign of preparations for a Russian invasion of Ukraine, but admitted that Russias estimated 77,000 troops near the border with Ukraine is less than half of the 175,000 which the Pentagon recently claimed would soon be deployed.Western officials and media have spent months accusing Russia of engaging in a buildup on the border with Ukraine, citing satellite photos of Russian troop movements nearly 800 km away from the Donbass conflict zone, plus Axis & Allies-style maps supposedly showing a secret Russian plan to conquer its western neighbour.Russian and even some Ukrainian officials have dismissed these reports. Late last year, Oleksiy Danilov, the chief of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council, said that contrary to media claims, we do not see any danger from what is happening on our borders.If were talking about the kind of massed concentration insisted on by foreign media, we do not see anything like this, Danilov said. The NSDC chief, who advises Ukraines president, also insisted that the estimated 122,000 Russian servicemen situated within 200 km of the Ukrainian border were insufficient for any invasion, and that three, four or even five times that number would be needed for such an operation.

ukraine

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2022

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

new york times, russia, ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/netizens-split-as-gb-news-to-play-national-anthem--daily-to-celebrate-queens-platinum-jubilee-1092335964.html

Netizens Split as GB News to Play National Anthem Daily To Celebrate Queens Platinum Jubilee

Netizens Split as GB News to Play National Anthem Daily To Celebrate Queens Platinum Jubilee

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee, GB News has announced it will play the national anthem -God Save The Queen - every single day on both television and radio at 5.59am. starting from 18 January.

2022-01-18T09:01+0000

2022-01-18T09:01+0000

2022-01-18T09:14+0000

queen elizabeth ii

uk

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To celebrate Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee, GB News has announced it will play the national anthem, God Save The Queen, every single day on both television and radio at 5:59am, starting from 18 January. According to editorial director Michael Booker, the decision is regarded as a welcome addition throughout a year which marks 70 years of the British monarch on the throne. Booker added that an uplifting instrumental version had been selected, which, when aired on television, would be accompanied by footage of beautiful UK scenery. We think its a lovely way to start the day, added Michael Booker. However, on social media the reaction was split, with some applauding the patriotic stance adopted by GB News.Other comments were not that complimentary. The move from GB News comes after UK ministers backed calls for God Save the Queen to be played more frequently by the BBC and other public broadcasters.Chris Philp, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, told MPs in the Commons at the start of the year that the more we hear the national anthem sung, frankly, the better.The BBC currently plays the national anthem at the end of every day on Radio 4.Andrew Rosindell, the Tory MP for Romford, said the singing of the national anthem was something that provides great sense of unity and pride in our nation.In response, Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, was reportedly heard quipping fantastic.Buckingham Palace has already unveiled the line-up of celebrations scheduled to mark the Queens Platinum Jubilee.To mark the 95-year old monarchs 70 years on the throne, the programme of events shall include a pageant along the Mall, a four-day bank holiday and performances in Windsor Castle.

https://sputniknews.com/20201112/four-day-weekend-announced-in-uk-for-queens-platinum-jubilee-in-june-2022-1081142091.html

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2022

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

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Svetlana Ekimenko

queen elizabeth ii, uk
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/paedo-home-british-royal-residence-in-scotland-vandalised-by-graffiti-1092349152.html

'Paedo Home': British Royal Residence in Scotland Vandalised by Graffiti

'Paedo Home': British Royal Residence in Scotland Vandalised by Graffiti

A spokesperson for Police Scotland reportedly said that the authorities were notified about the act of vandalism on Sunday and that enquiries are ongoing." 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T18:56+0000

2022-01-18T18:56+0000

2022-01-18T18:56+0000

scotland

vandalism

palace

uk

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The outer walls of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch in Edinburgh, were recently spray-painted with defamatory remarks, as the Mirror puts it.According to the media outlet, the graffiti in question was spotted last weekend, mere days after a court in the United States ruled that Virginia Giuffre (nee Roberts) could proceed with legal action against Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, with whom she was forced to have sex when she was 17  allegations that the royal himself has strongly denied.One graffiti appears to be comprised of the words paedo home, while the other says burn Tory scum."Prince Andrew has already been stripped of his royal patronages and military titles, and recent media reports suggest that he may also lose his role as Counsellor of State.

scotland

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2022

Andrei Dergalin

Andrei Dergalin

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Andrei Dergalin

scotland, vandalism, palace, uk
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/ready-to-indoctrinate-dems-panned-for-saying-kids-are-taught-what-society-needs-them-to-know-1092335305.html

Ready to Indoctrinate: Dems Panned For Saying Kids Are Taught What Society 'Needs Them to Know'

Ready to Indoctrinate: Dems Panned For Saying Kids Are Taught What Society 'Needs Them to Know'

Michigan Democrats have come in for a good deal of censure over a social media post where they chastised parents for trying to tell public schools what to teach their children.

2022-01-18T08:06+0000

2022-01-18T08:06+0000

2022-01-18T08:20+0000

us

michigan

democrats

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Michigan Democrats have come in for a good deal of censure over a social media post where they chastised parents for trying to tell public schools what to teach their children.According to the now-deleted Saturday post, made on the Democratic Partys official Facebook page, public school education teaches their children what society needs them to know.Writing on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Dems blasted the notion that parents should be involved in what is being taught. According to the position outlined on Facebook, the whole purpose of education in public schools was not to teach kids only what parents want them to be taught, but rather to teach them what society needs them to know.Underscoring that the client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public, the post by the Michigan Democrats added:After serious backlash and a barrage of criticism aimed at Governor Gretchen Whitmer for meddling, the Michigan Democratic Party later deleted the post, while retracting its original statement.We have deleted a post that ignored the important role parents playand should playin Michigan public schools. Parents need to have a say in their childrens education, end of story, read the subsequent post on 17 January.It was underscored that the original post did not reflect the views of Michigan Democrats and should not be misinterpreted as a statement of support from our elected officials or candidates.Indoctrination, Not EducationHowever, the state's Republicans took aim at the Democrats over the contents of the scrubbed post.The GOP tweeted on Sunday that the Democrats are "ready to indoctrinate your children with what society needs them to know'."The Republican Governors Association (RGA) spokesman Chris Gustafson was cited by Fox News as saying the Democrat Michigan governor must take action over the post.Republican candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election slated for 8 March, James Craig, issued a statement on Twitter, denouncing the remarks by the Dems as disgraceful.He perceived it as part and parcel of their agenda of indoctrination, not education. Craig emphasised that parents were the true stakeholders of their children's' education.Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Democrat Party were censured for continuing to be in the pockets of teachers unions and are so out of touch with Michiganders by the states GOP communications director Gustavo Portela. In a Monday statement for Fox News, he added:"Studies have shown time and time again that parent involvement leads to student success It is exactly what our students need now more than ever after a year of learning loss that will impact them for years to come thanks to Gretchen Whitmers shutdowns."The Facebook post by the Democrats came amid mounting anger by parents over COVID-19 school closures, which they claim have been detrimental to children's education.Another contentious issue has been efforts to advance teaching the critical race theory (CRT) in schools. The GOP has repeatedly slammed CRT, which originated in the 1960s and further developed in the 1970s, based on the premise that race is not a natural and biologically grounded feature but a socially constructed category used to exploit people of colour. The theory argues that US laws and legal institutions are "inherently racist", tailored to create and maintain social, economic, as well as political inequalities between whites and non-whites, most notably black people.The issue of adding CRT to school curricula has faced strong resistance, both from school personnel and parents, who believe that the theory is akin to brainwashing. Republican lawmakers have been moving to ban it from K-12 public school classrooms in their states. The term K-12, used in the US and Canada, pertains to the grade level system in schools prior to college or university.Adjustment of school curriculum with regard to racial issues has been banned in some states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa and Tennessee.

https://sputniknews.com/20211204/a-critical-race-theory-founder-says-hes-been-receiving-voicemails-full-of-venom-for-months-1091246272.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211110/through-racial-lens-nearly-half-of-elite-private-schools-in-us-adopted-crt-study-shows-1090637990.html

michigan

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2022

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

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Svetlana Ekimenko

us, michigan, democrats
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/russia-us-security-talks-is-ukraine-vital-for-nato-1092339352.html

Russia-US Security Talks: Is Ukraine Vital for NATO?

Russia-US Security Talks: Is Ukraine Vital for NATO?

Russia completed the first round of negotiations with the US, NATO and OSCE over its security proposals last week; lots of issues have yet to be bridged, including Ukraine's potential NATO membership.

2022-01-18T12:00+0000

2022-01-18T12:00+0000

2022-01-18T12:00+0000

russia-nato row on european security

osce

world

europe

us

russia

opinion

ukraine

antony blinken

nato expansion

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A series of Russian meetings with the US, NATO and OSCE over Moscow's security proposals took part last week in Geneva, Brussels and Vienna, respectively. While a number of gaps have not been bridged, the sides clearly and frankly articulated their positions and signalled an openness for more talks. Russia's security proposals include legally binding guarantees of NATO's non-expansion eastward and a pull-out of the bloc's forces from member states that have joined it since 1997, among other measures.There was never the expectation that the meetings would immediately yield some sort of negotiated compromise, according to Tim Buthe, professor of international relations at the TUMT(Technical University of Munich) School of Governance,. What's more important, the talks brought together Russia and its Western counterparts at the negotiating table, he said. For instance, the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) convened for the first time since July 2019, after an almost three-year pause.Is Ukraine Really Important for NATO?The academic admits that Moscow's regional interests have long been overlooked by the US and its Western allies. Russia's security concerns are legitimate and they would be "seriously affected if Ukraine were to become a member of NATO," according to Buthe.In June 2021, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told American senators that the Biden administration "support[s] Ukraine's membership in NATO".However, the academic doubts that the US and NATO have indeed "a particular interest" in Ukraine's admission. It is more likely that their pro-membership rhetoric and failure to guarantee that Ukraine would not be admitted to the Western military bloc is largely driven by an unwillingness to reconsider the present status quo, he surmised.US military and economic experts have repeatedly argued that Ukrainian membership in NATO does not correspond to the alliance's interests nor those of the member states, including the bloc's maintenance and collective security.The alliance has no capacity to defend Ukraine, given the scale of Moscow's military forces in Russia's regions bordering Ukraine, wrote Josh Cohen, a former USAID project officer involved in managing economic reform projects in the former Soviet Union, in his 2016 op-ed.There is no realistic chance that all NATO member states will agree to allow Ukraine to join the alliance, echoed David T. Pyne, a former US Army combat arms and HQ staff officer in his recent op-ed titled "Bidens Opportunity for Peace in Eurasia". Under the bloc's rules, all 30 members need to approve a new state's admission, but France and Germany have in the past opposed Ukraines inclusion.By agreeing to guarantee Ukraine's non-admission to NATO, Biden would simply confirm the real state of affairs, the former Pentagon officer noted. Pyne also suggested that NATO forces, which total a mere 9,000 troops, deployed in the alliance's member states which have been admitted to the bloc since 1997 are inadequate in terms of "deterrence" against Russia and mostly serve as an irritant for Moscow."Agreeing to withdraw them would be the most sensible thing for the United States and NATO to do from a strategic standpoint," argued Pyne, adding that Biden could give peace a chance by negotiating a security agreement with Russia "along the lines of what Putin has offered". Otherwise, the escalation of tensions may spiral out of control, he warned.Meanwhile, the White House reiterated "Russian invasion" rhetoric, claiming on 14 January that Moscow was purportedly preparing a false flag operation to fabricate a pretext for an attack against Ukraine. The scenario as well as an alleged Russia's intention to invade its Eastern European neighbour was shredded as fake news by Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Speaking to CNN on 16 January, Peskov highlighted that soaring tensions on Russia's border with Ukraine urgently require Washington's answers to Moscow's security guarantees proposals.

https://sputniknews.com/20220118/kremlin-concerned-by-reports-of-delivery-of-man-portable-air-defence-systems-to-ukraine-1092337309.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220109/ex-pentagon-officer-biden-should-accept-russias-draft-security-agreements-as-basis-for-yalta-20-1092128161.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220116/peskov-says-theres-too-much-tension-on-russias-border-with-ukraine-1092291747.html

ukraine

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Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

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Ekaterina Blinova

osce, world, europe, us, russia, opinion, ukraine, antony blinken, nato expansion, nato
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/state-dept-claims-belarus-could-play-role-in-russias-alleged-plans-to-invade-ukraine-1092351861.html

State Dept Claims Belarus Could Play Role in Russia's Alleged Plans to Invade Ukraine

State Dept Claims Belarus Could Play Role in Russia's Alleged Plans to Invade Ukraine

Belarus could play a role in the Russian plans to invade Ukraine amid rising tensions between Moscow and Kiev, a senior US State Department official said.

2022-01-18T21:24+0000

2022-01-18T21:24+0000

2022-01-18T21:24+0000

belarus

us

russia

ukraine

troops

nuclear weapons

us state department

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Information we've seen indicates Belarus could play a role in Russia's plan to phase in Ukraine, the official said during a press briefing on Tuesday.The official did not specify what kind of information the United States has on the issue of Belarus allegedly playing a role.He also alleged that proposed changes to the Belarusian constitution indicate Minsk may allow Russian conventional and nuclear weapons to be stationed on its territory, though he did not disclose which articles of the planned changes to the constitution of Belarus indicate that Russian weapons can be placed in the country.The US will monitor the situation with the constitutional amendments in Belarus as regards changing its fundamental approach to housing weapons of foreign countries on its territory, the official added.In recent months, Russia has been accused of building up troops near the Ukrainian border and allegedly planning an invasion - a claim repeatedly dismissed by Moscow. Russia has pointed to NATO's military activity near its that it considers a threat to its national security. The United States and NATO held consultations with Russia earlier in January to discuss the Moscow-proposed agreements on mutual security guarantees in Europe. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, urged the latter not to replicate speculation about the allegedly impending "Russian aggression" against Kiev.According to the Belarusian military, the first stage of the tests will last until February 9 after which the two countries will hold joint military drills that will last from February 10-20, during which the military will practice strengthening sections of the state border.

https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-will-provide-ukraine-with-even-more-defensive-materials-if-situation-escalates-state-dept-says-1092347591.html

belarus

russia

ukraine

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belarus, us, russia, ukraine, troops, nuclear weapons, us state department
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/synagogue-hostage-taker-arrived-in-us-weeks-before-attack-stayed-at-christian-shelter---reports-1092330229.html

Synagogue Hostage-Taker Arrived in US Weeks Before Attack, Stayed at Christian Shelter - Reports

Synagogue Hostage-Taker Arrived in US Weeks Before Attack, Stayed at Christian Shelter - Reports

Synagogue Hostage-Taker Arrived in US Weeks Before Attack, Stayed at Christian Shelter - Reports

2022-01-18T01:46+0000

2022-01-18T01:46+0000

2022-01-18T01:46+0000

us

synagogue

texas

hostage situation

terrorist

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Akram landed in New York on January 2, reportedly flying from Manchester, UK. He was allowed to enter the country despite the criminal record he had, according to The Dallas Morning News.The address he mentioned is one of a hotel in Queens, but its unknown whether he appeared there, as the administrator says that he doesnt remember him and footage from surveillance cameras didnt show Akram.The terrorist traveled to Texas, apparently by a domestic flight, and is said to have stayed at two homeless shelters. One of them was OurCalling, where he stayed for one night on 2 January.The other shelter belongs to the Union Gospel Mission in Dallas, a Texan Christian charity. According to the organizations CEO Bruce Butler, staff saw him come and go from 6 January, but Akram never talked about religion or his plans.The police are now trying to establish where the hostage-taker was during the 48 hours before the attack that took place on 15 January.His brother Gulbar cooperated with the FBI and maintained contact with Malik Akram all night from an incident room at Greenbank Police Station in Blackburn, UK. According to him, a few minutes later a firefight has taken place and he was shot and killed. There was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender. Gulber noted that FBI agents are expected to arrive in the UK to speak to Akrams family.We would also like to add that any attack on any human being be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim etc is wrong and should always be condemned, he concluded.The hostage-taking took place on Saturday morning during a service that was broadcast live on the Internet due to the pandemic. After the attack, the broadcast stopped, but those who followed could hear the words of the attacker: I am going to die today. Are you listening? I am going to die. Ok? So dont cry over me. Ok, dont cry over me.Akram demanded the release of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, also known as Lady Al Qaeda. She is currently at a Texan prison on charges of attempting to murder US military personnel in Afghanistan.

https://sputniknews.com/20220116/watch-two-hostages-escape-texas-synagogue-hostage-taker-minutes-before-he-is-shot-dead-by-police-1092303809.html

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Alexandra Kashirina

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Alexandra Kashirina

us, synagogue, texas, hostage situation, terrorist
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/syrian-media-reports-us-theft-of-additional-oil-supplies-relocation-of-military-equipment-to-iraq-1092345642.html

Syrian Media Reports US Theft of Additional Oil Supplies, Relocation of Military Equipment to Iraq

Syrian Media Reports US Theft of Additional Oil Supplies, Relocation of Military Equipment to Iraq

Large swathes of oil and food-rich northeast Syria are occupied by US forces and their Syrian Kurdish allies. Their presence has been little reported on in US... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T15:25+0000

2022-01-18T15:25+0000

2022-01-18T15:26+0000

us

syria

convoy

oil

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A convoy of 111 vehicles, including 60 trucks loaded with military equipment and dozens of tankers carrying stolen oil, have left Syria and crossed into Iraq, the Syrian Arab News Agency has reported, citing local sources in the Al-Hasakah countryside.Sources told the outlet that the convoy included a six-vehicle armoured vehicle escort, and that it left Syria for Iraq through the Al Waleed border crossing  which Damascus considers an illegal border point because it remains outside the Syrian governments control.The convoys journey is at least the second since the new year. On 3rd January, 128 vehicles, among them 60 refrigerated trucks and oil tankers and 60 carrying military equipment, were spotted leaving Syria on route to the Al Waleed crossing flanked by eight escorts.Last week, sources told Turkish media about US forces being moved in the opposite direction, reporting that a convoy of 30 trucks carrying armoured vehicles, tanks, bulldozers and ammunition had been sent from Iraq to Syria to beef up the US presence near al-Omar  one of Syrias largest oil fields. That convoy was said to have been escorted by Kurdish militia and a pair of US helicopter gunships on route.The US presence in northeast Syria  which includes up to 90 percent of the countrys oil and much of its wheat-producing regions, has been made tenuous by repeated rocket and mortar attacks on troops positions. These attacks have been compounded by efforts by the Syrian Army and local civilians to make moving around on the ground more difficult, with locals reporting dozens of encounters with the Americans on local routes in which the occupying forces are forced to turn around and head back in the direction they came from, or find alternate routes to their destination.The United States currently has at least 900 troops operating in Syria, although the Pentagon and the State Department has previously been accused of covering up the true size of the US military footprint from senior officials  including former president Donald Trump during his tenure.Trump was more open about the purpose of the US deployment in the country than his successor, Joe Biden, with the Democrat insisting that the US presence is aimed at preventing a resurgence of Daesh. Trump  to the horror of officials in Washington and the US mainstream media, repeatedly and openly bragged about taking Syrias oil. I like oil, were keeping the oil, Trump said in one interview with reporters. Were keeping the oil, we have the oil, the oil is secure, we left troops behind only for the oil, he said in another.Syrian President Bashar Assad complemented Trump over his honesty, saying in a 2019 interview that he considered him the best American president, not because his policies are good, but because hes the most transparent president. All American presidents perpetrate all kinds of political atrocities and crimes and yet still win the Nobel Peace Prize and project themselves as defenders of human rights and noble and unique American values, or Western values in general. The reality is that they are a group of criminals who represent the interests of American lobbies, i.e. the large oil and arms companies, and others. Trump talks transparently, saying that what we want is oilWhat more do we need than a transparent opponent?* A terrorist group outlawed across most of the world.

https://sputniknews.com/20220109/us-reportedly-calls-in-reinforcements-hunkers-down-near-syrian-oil-field-amid-spate-of-attacks-1092131614.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211217/watch-syrian-villagers-and-troops-intercept-turn-back-two-us-convoys-1091607820.html

us

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Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

us, syria, convoy, oil
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/ten-nations-jointly-take-down-vpn-service-used-by-criminals-for-cyberattacks-1092345837.html

Ten Nations Jointly Take Down VPN Service Used by Criminals for Cyberattacks

Ten Nations Jointly Take Down VPN Service Used by Criminals for Cyberattacks

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The law enforcement authorities of ten countries have jointly eliminated a VPN service called VPNLab.net that has been used by criminals... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T15:32+0000

2022-01-18T15:32+0000

2022-01-18T15:33+0000

europe

cyber attack

cyber

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"This week, law enforcement authorities took action against the criminal misuse of VPN services as they targeted the users and infrastructure of VPNLab.net," the release said. "The VPN providers service, which aimed to offer shielded communications and internet access, were being used in support of serious criminal acts such as ransomware deployment and other cybercrime activities."Europol noted that coordinated "disruptive actions," led by the Central Criminal Office of the Hannover Police Department in Germany, were undertaken on Sunday and have seized or disrupted 15 servers used by cybercriminals.Europol noted that this made VPNLab.net a popular choice for cybercriminals, who could use its services to carry on committing their crimes without fear of detection by the authorities. The agency also said the investigation identified more than 100 businesses as at risk of cyberattacks."Law enforcement is working directly with these potential victims to mitigate their exposure," Europol added.The authorities of Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Latvia, Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom took part in the operation, according to the release.

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europe, cyber attack, cyber
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-adds-22-countries-to-avoid-travel-list-due-to-covid-19-risk---cdc-1092351534.html

CDC Adds 22 Countries to Avoid Travel List Due to COVID-19 Risk

CDC Adds 22 Countries to Avoid Travel List Due to COVID-19 Risk

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday added 22 more countries, including Egypt, Israel, Australia, and... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T21:00+0000

2022-01-18T21:00+0000

2022-01-18T21:00+0000

us

travel

cdc

covid-19

omicron strain

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"Avoid travel to these destinations. If you must travel to these destinations, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel," the CDC said in an advisory.Starting Tuesday, the CDC also recommends avoiding travel to Bahrain, Bermuda, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Albania, Grenada, Guyana, Panama, Qatar, Suriname, the Bahamas, Uruguay, and others.There are a total of 101 countries in the highest Level 4 category of COVID-19 risk amid a surge in the number of Omicron variant-related cases.

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us, travel, cdc, covid-19, omicron strain
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-carriers-att-verizon-delay-5g-rollout-near-some-airports-over-frustration-with-faa-1092350930.html

US Carriers AT&T, Verizon Delay 5G Rollout Near Some Airports Over Frustration With FAA

US Carriers AT&T, Verizon Delay 5G Rollout Near Some Airports Over Frustration With FAA

AT&T and Verizon said they have delayed introduction of their 5G network near some airports due to airlines concerns about flight safety from the deployment of the technology.

2022-01-18T20:27+0000

2022-01-18T20:27+0000

2022-01-18T21:28+0000

us

faa

5g

aviation

crisis

airlines

airports

flight cancellations

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US mobile carriers AT&T and Verizon said they have delayed introduction of their 5G network near some airports due to airlines concerns about flight safety from the deployment of the technology, and expressed frustration with aviation authorities over the matter.At our sole discretion we have voluntarily agreed to temporarily defer turning on a limited number of towers around certain airport runways as we continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] to provide further information about our 5G deployment, since they have not utilized the two years theyve had to responsibly plan for this deployment, AT&T said in a statement.AT&T also criticized the FAAs processes that had contributed to the decision and called for quick remedial action.Verizon issued a similar statement that it had voluntarily limited 5G deployment near airports.As the nations leading wireless provider, we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports,the carrier said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and our nations airlines have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports, despite it being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries.The 5G C-Band service used by US carriers is close to frequencies used by key instruments of modern aircraft and the FAA had expressed concerns that it could interfere with aviation systems such as radio altimeters.Following the decision, President Biden thanked telecom companies for delaying the deployment of 5G technology, adding though that expanding 5G access and promoting competition in internet service are critical administration priorities.The White House will continue to engage with wireless carriers, airlines and aviation equipment manufacturers to chart a path forward for 5G deployment and reach a workable solution to its deployment around airports, Biden also said.

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us, faa, 5g, aviation, crisis, airlines, airports, flight cancellations
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-coast-guard-employed-unconvincingly-as-proxy-for-american-naval-presence-in-the-pacific-1092336828.html

US Coast Guard Employed Unconvincingly as Proxy For American Naval Presence in the Pacific

US Coast Guard Employed Unconvincingly as Proxy For American Naval Presence in the Pacific

In a speech before the Navy League last December, the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Karl Schultz, bragged about the role his forces playedthe... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T10:03+0000

2022-01-18T10:03+0000

2022-01-18T10:03+0000

us

military

us coast guard

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"We get access. We can go places," Schultz said, underscoring his comments by singling out the recent 102-day mission of the US Coast Guard Cutter Munro. During that time, the Munro trained with US partners in the East and South China Seas, including operations which, as Schultz described, "exercised" a memorandum of understanding between the US and island of Taiwan. This "exercise" included a transit of the Taiwan Strait. According to Schultz, China was "pretty excited when the Coast Guard is over there training with the Taiwanese," adding that the US Coast Guard mission in Taiwan was among several which "move the needle a little bit" when it comes to foreign reaction. The US Coast Guard conducts routine deployments into the area of responsibilities of US Naval Fleets, working alongside US partners and allies to build what its parent organization, the Department of Homeland Security, calls "maritime domain awareness" by sharing "best practices" with partner nation navies and coast guards. Coast Guard participation in these programs is viewed by the US Navy as enhancing its own mission of conducting so-called "full-spectrum joint and naval operations" in concert with allied and interagency partners in a manner that advances US national interests and security and stability in regions of interest, such as Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific.What makes the US Coast Guard particularly attractive in this role is its multi-dimensional mandate, which allows it to transition freely between the military and civilian world. While a purely US Naval presence somewhere in the world would be seen, rightly so, as an exclusively military intervention, the US Coast Guard can finesse this by claiming that its presence is related to maritime security, law enforcement, and maritime search and rescue. US analysts assess that China employs tactics against Taiwan island in support of its efforts in the South China Sea which likewise crosses the boundary between the military and civilian domains, using fishing vessels, commercial vessels, and its own Coast Guard to collect intelligence and assert physical presence in disputed territories or waters, either for the purposes of fishing, exploring for oil, or simply establishing a presence. Confronting China using exclusively Naval forces, these analysts believe, could lead to undesired military-on-military escalation. However, by employing what are ostensibly civilian vessels, such as those of the US Coast Guard and the coast guards of allied nations, the US, according to these analysts, believes it can push back against China without triggering a military response.There is a difference, however, between how the US seeks to thread the needle when it comes to playing legalistic word games regarding the difference between an ostensibly civilian-oriented mission, and one that could be characterized as military in nature. Those responsible for defending the national security interests of a nation like China are, at the end of the day, not going to get tied up in the niceties of the lexicon, but rather respond to a perceived provocation with a response designed to deal with the threat as it exists, not as it is being sold. By trying to navigate in the legalistic grey zone between civil and military operations, employing the US Coast Guard as a proxy for US Naval presence, the US is only fooling itself and, by extension, its allies.Moreover, by deliberately abusing the legitimate maritime security and safety mission of the US and other allied Coast Guards as a cover for "moving the needle" in places like China and elsewhere (the US Coast Guard conducts similarly provocative operations in the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf, targeting Russia and Iran, respectively), the US is undermining legitimate maritime security by deliberately blurring the line between civilian and military operations. While senior US commanders such as Admiral Schultz might view such gamesmanship as contributing to deterrence by expanding the scope and scale of options available to US policymakers, the opposite is trueby allowing what was once viewed as purely civilian domains to be militarized, the US is reducing, not increasing, the deterrence value of such operations, thereby increasing, not decreasing, the potential for conflict. Needles, it seems, don't move by themselves, and when they do move, it's usually for a reason. The author is a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer.This article originally appeared on the Global Times website.

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us, military, us coast guard
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-imperialism-and-european-vassals-are-real-enemies-of-europe-1092343031.html

US Imperialism and European Vassals are Real Enemies of Europe

US Imperialism and European Vassals are Real Enemies of Europe

Russia finds itself in a fiendish situation, one thats almost laughable if it were not so dangerous. One where the right to defence is distorted as an... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T14:29+0000

2022-01-18T14:29+0000

2022-01-18T14:47+0000

europe

russia

united states

columnists

opinion

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And then on top of that, there is a slippery slide towards conflict because Russia is dealing with American and European idiots who have no mental brakes.Heres the theatre of absurd in a nutshell: Moscow is warned by American and European hotheads that if it escalates tensions over Ukraine then Russia will face severe consequences.US undersecretary of state Victoria Nuland sounded gung-ho when she told media that there would be very sharp and very fast pain for Russia if it makes a move that is perceived to be hostile to Ukraine.The Biden White House has been threatening to cut Russia off from international banking systems. That would be tantamount to declaring war.Meanwhile, the German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock warned that any further aggressive act by Russia towards Ukraine will result in a high price, economically, strategically, politically.Baerbock specified that cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 gas project between Russia and the European Union could be one such high price.Washington and its European partners (a euphemism for vassals) have been accusing Russia of planning to invade Ukraine with a purportedly massive troop mobilization on the border. Indeed, US intelligence predicted that Russia would proceed with its alleged invasion plans this month.Moscow has repeatedly dismissed these claims as baseless hysteria. Russia says it has no plans to invade Ukraine or any other country. It asserts that troops within Russias national borders are a sovereign matter requiring no explanation or accountability.Russia points out that the military build-up is actually by the NATO-backed Ukrainian regime as well as by the United States and other NATO members which have warplanes and warships manoeuvring near Russias borders.Reality is thus turned on its head. It is not Russia that is escalating forces. It is the US-led NATO alliance and its partner Ukraine. They are the aggressor.The absurdity is that when Russia points to this abnormal and provocative situation, then Moscow is further wrongly accused of escalating tensions.In high-level meetings last week, Russian officials told US and NATO counterparts that it would not tolerate any further eastward expansion of the Western military bloc, including future membership of Ukraine. Russia also demanded that the US withdraw strike weapons from Eastern European territories, such as the Baltic states.However, these reasonable security proposals by Moscow are distorted and misrepresented as dictates and violation of sovereignty. By insisting on such basic security requirements, Russia is traduced by the US and NATO for ostensibly escalating tensions.In other words, Moscow is being put in a dangerous no-win situation. By merely protesting against provocations and aggression by the US and its NATO surrogates, Russia is further accused of escalation. This is then used as a pretext for NATO to increase its aggressive posture towards Russia, from deploying more military forces close to Russias borders to imposing draconian sanctions that attack the vital fundamentals of its economy  the ability to conduct international trade and banking.Thus alleged Russian escalation becomes a catch-all ploy by which NATO powers beat the war drums harder  and at the same blame Moscow for the crescendo of craziness.A quote from the German foreign minister captures the madness. Speaking alongside her Ukrainian counterpart, Baerbock said: No country has the right to dictate to other countries which direction they may take, which relationships they may have and which alliances they may enter into Each further aggressive act will have a high price for Russia.It is the United States and Ukraine that have been dictating to the European Union that it should not trade with Russia for gas energy.This is central to the current crisis over Ukraine. Washington does not want to see Europe develop a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship with Russia. This goes back decades to real reasons underlying the old Cold War with the Soviet Union.The United States and its surrogates like the Neo-Nazi regime in Kiev and treasonous politicians like Annalena Baerbock would rather see the European Union endure hardship than for it to have normal relations with Russia  the largest country in Europe.Indeed, these are real enemies of the European people who would rather see a war on the continent than let go of their ideological ambitions.Vicky Nuland was instrumental in overseeing the CIA-backed coup detat in Kiev in 2014 when she was photographed egging on protesters by throwing them cookies. That image speaks volumes. She later dismissed European interests when discussing US regime plans for Ukraine in a leaked phone by saying: F..k the EU.People in Europe need to wake up to their real enemies: US imperialism and its European vassals. Blaming Russia for escalating tensions is the ruse of these enemies to wind up a war in Europe in order to project the selfish interests of US global power.

https://sputniknews.com/20220117/white-house-on-possibility-of-disconnecting-russia-from-swift-none-of-options-ruled-out-1092326475.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220117/berlin-warns-of-appropriate-measures-against-nord-stream-2-in-event-of-escalation-over-ukraine-1092318122.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220115/us-prepared-18-response-scenarios-in-case-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-victoria-nuland-says-1092276913.html

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europe, russia, united states, columnists, opinion
https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-warns-of-strong-response-if-russia-tries-to-intimidate-washington-with-nukes-in-latin-america-1092349826.html

US Warns of Strong Response if Russia Tries to Intimidate Washington With Nukes in Latin America

US Warns of Strong Response if Russia Tries to Intimidate Washington With Nukes in Latin America

On Monday, asked to comment on whether Moscow may try to station missiles in some Latin American country or countries to counter US and NATO deployments near... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T19:00+0000

2022-01-18T19:00+0000

2022-01-18T19:48+0000

russia

united states

nuclear

nato

russia-nato row on european security

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Washington will not be intimidated by aggressive Russian brainstorming about putting military hardware or even nuclear-tipped missiles near the United States, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has said.I know that theyre trying to respond in a way to intimidate the world, but were not going to allow ourselves to be intimidated, nor will we allow Ukraine to be intimidated into compromising its own security, the ambassador added.Thomas-Greenfield did not elaborate on why a purely hypothetical Russian military deployment near US shores would be aggressive while the ongoing US and NATO buildup on Moscows doorstep is not. President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about the construction of US missile defence facilities in Poland and Romania which could easily be converted to fire nuclear-tipped Tomahawk cruise missiles deep into the Russian hinterland. Last month, Putin also warned that the deployment of US missiles in Ukraine would mean a flight time to Moscow of just 4-5 minutes in the event of war.A week earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov hinted that Russia remained open to deploying some type of military infrastructure in Latin America. I dont want to confirm anything, I wont rule anything out either, he said.Alternatives to Cuban Missile Crisis 2.0In December, days before the publication of twin Russian security proposals to the US and NATO, Ryabkov said that Russia was offering an alternative to a repeat of a Cuban Missile Crisis-style scenario, including the non-deployment of these kinds of weapons near our borders, the withdrawal of forces and assets which destabilize the situation, a rejection of provocative measures, including various drills.But we need guarantees, and the guarantees must be legal, Ryabkov stressed.Days later, Russias Foreign Ministry published two draft agreements calling for legally binding limits on the deployment of troops, missile systems, aircraft and warships in areas where they could be considered a threat to Russia on one side or the US and NATO on the other. The draft treaties also asked the Western bloc to halt its eastward creep into Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries.On 18 December, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned that if the US and NATO rejected Russias security proposals, Moscow would be forced to create a system of counterthreats.A moment of truth is upon us. Indeed, we have reached a dangerous line. And our proposals are aimed precisely at moving away from this dangerous line and toward some kind of normal dialogue, at the forefront of which will be security interests, the diplomat said. He did not elaborate on what the possible Russian counterthreats might be.Ryabkov and Grushko led the Russian delegations at last weeks talks in Geneva and Brussels with US and NATO officials, with the hours-long talks allowing each side to formally lay out their position in detail. Washington and its allies are expected to provide a formal written response to Russias security proposals this week. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and US officials have already indicated that they will not end the alliances open door policy with regard to Ukraine, nor accept Russias calls on the bloc to refrain from stationing troops and military equipment in the states of alliance members which joined after it began its eastward push in the late 1990s.

https://sputniknews.com/20211210/moscow-offering-us-nato-alternative-to-new-cuban-missile-crisis-scenario-foreign-ministry-says-1091417821.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211218/moscow-if-us-rejects-security-proposals-russia-will-be-forced-to-create-counterthreats-1091631658.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220116/stoltenberg-says-nato-wont-agree-to-keep-military-within-pre-1997-borders-1092303995.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-will-provide-ukraine-with-even-more-defensive-materials-if-situation-escalates-state-dept-says-1092347591.html

US Will Provide Ukraine With Even More 'Defensive Material' if Situation Escalates, State Dept Says

US Will Provide Ukraine With Even More 'Defensive Material' if Situation Escalates, State Dept Says

Earlier Tuesday, Moscow expressed serious concerns over the "extremely dangerous" statements by officials in the United States and Britain about upping weapons... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T17:01+0000

2022-01-18T17:01+0000

2022-01-18T17:50+0000

ukraine

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The United States will provide Ukraine with additional "defensive material" on top of that already scheduled for delivery if the situation escalates into a Russian invasion, a senior State Department official has said.The official's commentary follows on the heels of a warning by a bipartisan group of US lawmakers visiting Kiev on Monday that Washington might send more Javelin anti-tank launchers, small arms, boats, and possibly even Stinger portable anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine in the event of a Russian "invasion.""We will impose crippling economic sanctions, but more important we will give the people of Ukraine the arms, lethal arms they need to defend their lives and livelihoods," Senator Richard Blumenthal, one of the senators in the US delegation, said.Also Monday, UK defence chief Ben Wallace announced that Britain is providing Ukraine with additional "light armour defensive" weapons and sending a small number of troops to the country to teach the Ukrainians how to use them. Wallace stopped short of declaring full-fledged support to Kiev, however, saying that "Russia has the biggest armed forces in Europe" and that Ukraine "is not a member of NATO." Britain, he said, will not unilaterally go into the Eastern European country, and will instead limit its efforts in "helping Ukraine help themselves."On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov called the statements being made by US and British officials "extremely dangerous," warning that the weapons being talked about were not only defensive, but potentially offensive, and that the Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) in particular were a category of weapons regulated by international law.The United States alone has delivered over $2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2014, with about $400 million of that sent by the Biden administration in the past year. The Obama administration limited its deliveries to 'non-lethal' items including unarmed Humvees, radar equipment and combat gear for troops, but the Trump and Biden White Houses have not shied away from lethal weapons, including Javelin anti-tank weapons, sniper rifles, and artillery support systems. America's NATO allies have further complemented the range of equipment being sent to Kiev, with Turkey providing Bayraktar drones and Czechia sending 152mm howitzers. The UK, Italy and Germany have provided armoured command centers, engineering vehicles and medevac trucks.Ukraine slipped into a foreign-backed political, economic and military crisis in 2014, when the US and the European Union assisted a push by pro-Western politicians backed by ultra-nationalist militias to carry out a coup against the country's unpopular but democratically elected government. The coup prompted Crimean authorities to organize a referendum to break off from Ukraine and rejoin Russia, while autonomy and independence-seeking separatists in the country's east took up arms in opposition to the new authorities in Kiev. Kiev sent troops to try to crush the separatist, sparking a bloody civil war which has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2.5 million people.The US and its European allies blamed Moscow for the crisis, slapping the country with multiple rounds of sanctions and beefing up troop numbers and drills on NATO's eastern flank. Russia has shot back with restrictions on the import of a variety of Western food products, and has handed out Russian passports to hundreds of thousands of Donbass residents as an assurance of security in case Kiev attempts to resolve the Donbass conflict by force.In recent months, Western officials and media have accused Russia of staging a troop buildup of "up to 100,000 troops" on Ukraine's borders in alleged preparations for an invasion. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed these allegations, and charged NATO with trying to divert attention from the bloc's own military buildup in the region, including attempts to incorporate Ukraine into the alliance.Moscow has watched NATO push over 1,200 km eastward since the collapse of the Soviet Union, despite assurances to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 that the alliance would not move "one inch" east of the former East Germany after its annexation by the Federal Republic. President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other Russian officials have said repeatedly that Ukraine's membership in the Western bloc would be unacceptable to Russia from a security standpoint, particularly amid the threat of the US stationing offensive missiles in the country which would have a flight time to Moscow of just 5-7 minutes in the event of war.

https://sputniknews.com/20220118/kremlin-concerned-by-reports-of-delivery-of-man-portable-air-defence-systems-to-ukraine-1092337309.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211226/putin-on-red-lines-west-has-pinned-russia-into-a-position-where-it-has-nowhere-to-fall-back-to-1091813306.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220118/volcanic-ash-delays-new-zealand-relief-efforts-in-tonga-1092351345.html

Volcanic Ash Delays New Zealand Relief Efforts in Tonga

Volcanic Ash Delays New Zealand Relief Efforts in Tonga

The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano from Saturday has caused 12 mile-high ash clouds to prevent other military flights and efforts from... 18.01.2022, Sputnik International

2022-01-18T20:53+0000

2022-01-18T20:53+0000

2022-01-18T20:53+0000

new zealand

tonga

volcano eruption

volcanic ash

disaster relief

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New Zealands military has been attempting to send aid, while Tongans are making an effort to clear their runways at the Nukualofa airport so flights are able to land, following the underwater eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai.New Zealand foreign affairs minister Nanaia Mahuta told BBC News that a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying collapsible water containers, generators, hygiene kits, and other humanitarian aid is on standby until the runways are cleared. Water is much needed, as Tongas main sources have been contaminated with volcanic ash. New Zealands military also plans to send two navy ships to Tonga that will leave on Tuesday. Additionally, the nation has pledged 1 million New Zealand dollars ($680,000) towards relief efforts.Communications with Tonga have been nearly cut off as an undersea communications cable suffered damage as a result of the eruption. Chairperson of the board at Tonga Cable Ltd., Samiuela Fonua, said the cable appeared to have been severed only 10 to 15 minutes after the volcanos eruption, most likely having been cut by sharp coral reef. The break may take a week to repair.Australia sent military surveillance flights to assess the damage.Around 104,000 people live in the country, which is made up of 176 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. Tongatapu, Tongas main island, has the highest population. Two smaller islands, Mango and Fonoifua, sent out a distress beacon. The office of Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said in a statement that every home on Mango island, where 50 people live, had been destroyed while only 2 houses remain on Fonoifua.While UN officials and Tongas government have reported significant infrastructural damage, there are still 3 confirmed deaths, as well as the additional death of a British woman named Angela Glover, who died trying to rescue her dogs.The rupture was so large its images were captured by satellites in space, causing tsunami waves to be registered even as far away as parts of the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.Further volcanic activity cannot be ruled out, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reportedly said on Monday. Scientists are concerned as they currently are struggling to monitor the underwater volcano.

https://sputniknews.com/20220118/australia--nz-send-warships-to-help-tonga-as-surveillance-images-show-devastation-on-island-nation-1092337085.html

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tonga

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new zealand, tonga, volcano eruption, volcanic ash, disaster relief
Since Tony Hall picked up the drive six starts ago behind Pick Me Upper, the five-year-old Trixton gelding has scored four Open class victories and earned $58,400.

A late bloomer who earned less than $8,000 as a juvenile, he earned $130,384 as a four-year-old and has already banked $29,400 in 2022.

Pick Me Upper copped two of the final three Open Trots at Hollywood Dayton in December and has matched that feat with two out of three thus far in January at Miami Valley.

Hall left alertly but yielded to second choice Refined (Mitch Cushing) prior to reaching the :27.4 first quarter barrier. Shortly thereafter the winner was sent back to the point before reaching the :56.2 halfway juncture. Pass The Vape came calling at the three-quarters marker in 1:25, but couldnt advance past Pick Me Uppers midsection before tiring. With a :28 final panel Pick Me Upper had enough in reserve to hold off Refined in the stretch. I Know My Chip (Tyler Smith) got up for third with Thunder (Brett Miller) and Delilah Seelster (Trace Tetrick) picking up the minor spoils in the $24,000 event.

A quartet of Claim To Fame divisions for $12,500 claimers (carrying 30 percent enhanced tags of $16,200 in the second leg) also went postward to determine the finalists who will compete for a $25,000 purse next Monday.

Winners were Always A Fiji (Miller, 1:54.1, $9.80), Pointsman (Jeremy Smith, 1:54.3, $16.40), Levi (Tetrick, 1:53.2, $4.40) and Our Zak Whitby A (Trevor Smith, 1:53.3, $21). Joining these four second leg winners in the final will be first leg winners Bettors Dream, N Expense, Criminal Record and Shanghai Bobby as well as Garretts Guide. In the event that any of the top nine money winners in the series fail to enter, Antagonist would be next to move in.

Miami Valley hosts live harness racing Sunday through Thursday with a regular post time of 4:05 p.m.

(Miami Valley)
Two of North America's most active breeding operations have welcomed their first foals of 2022.

A beautiful Muscle Mass filly was born during the first snow storm of the year to first-time mother More Magic. Owned by Bob McIntosh and Dave Boyle, this foal is the first of 100 expected at Seelster Farms this spring.



Winbak Farm of Maryland also welcomed its first foal of 2022, a My MVP half-sister to Aussie Lover, 1:55.4f -'21 ($103,220). The filly's dam, His Mistress, is a half-sister to Mr McRail, 1:53.3f ($305,272). The farm is accepting name submissions through its Facebook page.



(With files from Seelster Farms and Winbak Farm)
Trex Company, the worlds #1 brand of composite decking and railing, innovator of outdoor living products, and a leading national provider of custom-engineered commercial railing systems, is set to break ground this month in Winchester on its new global headquarters.

Trex will begin construction on a brand new 64,000-square-foot office facility situated on eight acres alongside Crossover Boulevard and I-81, according to a January business release.

The composite decking giant also recently revealed intentions to construct a new manufacturing campus in Little Rock, Arkansas, its third U.S. production facility.

It is an exciting time to be with Trex, said Bryan Fairbanks, president and CEO of Trex Company, in a statement. As demand for our products continues to grow and as we plan for the future, these expansion initiatives are strategic investments that should help to ensure we have the capacity and resources to effectively meet the needs of our customers while affording us bandwidth to pursue new opportunities.

The company anticipates a mid-2023 move-in date for the Winchester site. The new building will house approximately 200 corporate employees and will encompass eco-friendly elements reflecting Trexs environmental legacy and commitment to sustainability.

Between its new global headquarters and the recently completed decking production facility at its Shawnee Drive campus, Trex expects to bring more than 350 new jobs to the Winchester and Frederick County area.

The company is currently hiring for positions across departments including engineering, R&D/product development, information technology, human resources, operations, sales, supply chain and production. The company offers leading pay, benefits and training, including fast-track training and opportunities for quick advancement for experienced line technicians. See careers.trex.com.

We have a long, rich history in the Winchester and Frederick County area and are proud to be part of such a strong and supportive community Fairbanks said. This is our home, and we are pleased to be able to contribute to the health and prosperity of the area through jobs creation, community involvement and national recognition from our industry-leading products and brand.

Recently named one of the nations 100 fastest-growing companies by Fortune, Trex opened its first production lines in Virginia with 36 employeessome of whom still work for the company. Over the past two-and-a-half decades, the company has transformed into a $1 billion revenue manufacturer with more than 1,700 employees, industry-leading brand recognition and channel placement in more than 6,700 retail outlets across 40+ countries.
The United Way of Western Nebraska Board of Directors is pleased to announce Karen Benzel has accepted the position of Executive Director. She succeeds Steph Black who is planning to retire from United Way of Western Nebraska on March 31.

UWWN Board President Todd Lewis commented on the hiring, We are sad to see Steph go as she has done so much for United Way and our community, she will be greatly missed and we wish her well in her retirement. We could not be more fortunate to have Karen Benzel taking the helm as Executive Director of United Way. She already has a deep understanding of the position and her passion for the mission is unmatched. Karen has some great ideas on how we move forward as an organization to expand our reach to other areas and to truly become United Way of Western Nebraska. We are so excited for her to execute her vision and move us into the next chapter!

Benzel has been with United Way of Western Nebraska since 2015 serving as the Director for Box Butte and Dawes Counties. With her expertise, United Way was able to successfully implement additional donor options and an online grant application process. She has worked closely with the staff in the Scottsbluff office and many of the area businesses, donors and United Way nonprofit partner agencies in her role at United Way. She began her new duties on January 5.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the Western Nebraska community through the work of United Way, Benzel noted. It has been my pleasure to learn under Stephs leadership and I look forward to continuing and growing the work of United Way in all the communities we serve.

Benzel will continue to be based in the Alliance office and a Director of Development will be housed in the Scottsbluff office. The reorganization will allow United Way to better serve the community and work collaboratively throughout the entire United Way of Western Nebraska service area.

United Way of Western Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that unites people and resources to build a stronger, healthier and more compassionate community. They support 25 local nonprofit agencies in the areas of education, health and financial stability. They have been reinvesting in Western Nebraska since their inception in 1945. For more information, visit www.uwwn.org.
It will still be some time before authorities receive answers involving a human arm bone found by an area hunter, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman told the Star-Herald.

On Oct. 18, 2021, a hunter setting up a goose blind near the North Platte River on property between Minatare and Melbeta, not far from Link 79E on Highway 92, found part of a lower arm bone. A piece of cloth, believed to be a shirt, had also been located about 100 feet from the bone. A local forensic pathologist confirmed the bone to be human, Overman said.

After receiving that confirmation, Overman said that authorities attempted to work with a University of Nebraska lab to conduct testing to determine DNA from bone marrow. However, due to the age of the bone and other factors, such as the bone having been underwater, he said, the lab was unable to return a valid sample. Working the Wyoming Department of Investigations, Overman said authorities were provided some referrals to labs in the country that may be able to complete the testing. Currently, the Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Office is on the waitlist at a Florida university lab and hope to see results returned from that lab once it is accepted for testing.

Two cases have possible ties to the North Platte River and DNA comparisons will be made with material collected in those cases. One case involves that of Walter Gene Patterson-Black. Authorities searched the North Platte River after the man had been reported missing on May 15, 2016. The man had not contacted anyone in several days and authorities located his vehicle in the parking lot of the YMCA in Scottsbluff.

The second case involves Chance Englebert, 25, of Moorcroft, Wyoming, who had been reported missing after he left a Gering residence on Saturday, July 6. He is believed to have been walking in the area of the North Platte River near the river bridge on Avenue I or in the area of Riverview Golf Course due to cell phone activity.

In both cases, authorities with multiple jurisdictions searched the North Platte River. Air and K-9 searches were also conducted as part of the investigations and searches.

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CHADRON  Matt Mason, Nebraska State Poet and executive director of the Nebraska Writers Collective, will present several sessions during Chadron State Colleges Creative Writing Day Thursday, Jan. 20. All events are free and open to anyone who is interested.

Mason is the author of Things We Dont Know We Dont Know, The Baby That Ate Cincinnati and I Have a Poem the Size of the Moon, a book of poems about Nebraska.

Following a meet and greet from 3:30-4 p.m. with English and humanities faculty members in Old Admin Room 227, Mason will participate in a roundtable discussion from 4-5 p.m. about creative writing in the high school classroom, programs such as Poetry Out Loud, writing festivals and events intended for emerging writers.

From 5:15-6:30 p.m., Mason will lead writers through activities he has developed through the Nebraska Arts Councils Artists in the Schools and Communities program. Pizza will be provided.

At a 7 p.m. public reading in the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center, Mason will share excerpts from his third book with a book signing to follow.

Mason is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize for his poem, Notes For My Daughter Against Chasing Storms, and his work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Ted Koosers American Life in Poetry. A sample of Masons pandemic poetry can be seen on YouTube at https://youtu.be/IDD0liihQYg.

For more information, contact Dr. Matt Evertson at mevertson@csc.edu.

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China compiles its first national five-year plan for vocational skills training

09:29, January 18, 2022 By Li Xinping ( People's Daily

China recently released a plan for vocational skills training during its 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the first national five-year plan made by the country for boosting vocational skills training.

Chinas 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) witnessed rapid development in the countrys vocational skills training. During the period, government-subsidized vocational skills training sessions trained a total of nearly 100 million people across the country, among whom more than 30 million were enterprise employees, over 40 million were rural migrant workers, and more than nine million were once-impoverished laborers.

A contestant takes part in a vocational skills competition for pump station operators of water diversion systems held in a technician college in Zichuan district, Zibo city, east Chinas Shandong province, Dec. 11, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhai Shenan)

As of the end of 2020, the country had more than 200 million skilled workers, including more than 50 million highly skilled workers.

From 2021 to 2025, more than 14 million people are expected to enter the urban labor market every year, which creates higher demands for vocational skills training.

According to the newly released special five-year plan for vocational skills training, China will subsidize vocational skills training sessions benefiting more than 75 million people, including training sessions for more than 30 million rural migrant workers, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

The plan also puts forward clear targets regarding the quality of training sessions. It specifies that more than 40 million trainees should obtain vocational qualification certificates or skill level certificates after the training, among whom eight million trainees should reach the skill levels of highly skilled workers such as senior mechanic, technician, and senior technician.

Considering that in order to attract more people to vocational skills training to increase the number of innovative, application-oriented, and skilled personnel, the country needs to foster a sound social atmosphere, the plan specially sets out explicit requirements regarding efforts to improve career development channels for skilled workers.

The country is trying to replace its five-grade vocational skills grading system for skilled workers, which includes junior worker, intermediate worker, senior worker, technician, and senior technician, with a new eight-grade vocational skills grading system.

Chinas Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) has already promoted a new type of apprenticeship system among enterprises across the country, adding apprenticeship, before junior worker, to the job level of enterprises.

A contestant takes part in a CNC lathe operator skills competition in Wuhu Machine Engineering School in Wuhu city, east Chinas Anhui province, Dec. 26, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Xiao Benxiang)

At the same time, the MOHRSS has also piloted a program to recognize and hire super-grade technicians. As grassroots organizations have innovatively created the job title of chief technician, the countrys new eight-grade vocational skills grading system is taking shape.

Efforts will be made to remove barriers blocking career change of skilled workers and their horizontal career growth, according to the plan.

In recent years, the MOHRSS has constantly rolled out policies to support highly skilled workers, including those working in such fields as engineering, agriculture, industrial art, cultural relics and museum, experimental technology, art, and sports, as well as teachers of technician schools, in taking part in professional title evaluation.

The ministry has also encouraged enterprises to enhance alignment of their employment system with the countrys professional title evaluation system.

The country will further improve the evaluation system of skilled workers. The MOHRSS plans to perfect an evaluation system of skilled workers that is oriented toward vocational skills, focuses on work performance, and emphasizes the cultivation of a spirit of craftsmanship and professional ethics.

It will promote independent vocational skills evaluation of skilled workers by enterprises across the country and encourage relevant companies to relate the evaluation results to the use and pay of employees.

So far, more than 3,100 third-party vocational skills evaluation agencies have been selected for relevant endeavors, and over 11,000 enterprises have filed with relevant authorities for carrying out independent evaluation.

Photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021 shows students from vocational schools in Huainan city, east Chinas Anhui province, taking part in an auto repair competition. (Peoples Daily Online/Chen Bin)

In addition to encouraging enterprises to raise salary and enhance recognition of skilled workers, the MOHRSS will also hold a good number of vocational skills competitions, according to Liu Kang, director of the occupational capacity department under the MOHRSS.

Vocational skills competitions will provide opportunities for skilled workers to showcase their skills and stand out from the crowd, Liu said.

China will host the 46th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in October this year. The event is known as the Olympics for vocational skills. China has topped the world in terms of the total numbers of gold medals and medals, as well as the total scores of teams at the 44th and the 45th sessions of the WorldSkills Competition.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Sometimes, numbers are cold, cruel, impersonal. Other times, they are a measuring stick, telling a story of character, longing, a lifes work.

Both cases were true Friday in a Douglas County courtroom.

First, the cold and cruel facts: A 28-year-old Omaha man was driving 106 mph in a 45 mph zone on West Dodge Road when he crashed into a Toyota Camry driven by Jim Yungbluth  a 63-year-old husband, father, longtime Omaha musician and Nebraska Furniture Mart employee.

Yungbluth  described as one of the nicest men to walk the Earth in his obituary  died at the scene.

Driver John Caillaus blood alcohol content measured .41% about 45 minutes after the crash. That is five times the legal limit of .08% for driving.

Those numbers were so staggering that Judge Horacio Wheelock raised his voice as he repeated them.

The court cannot ignore the fact that Mr. John Caillau was driving at ONE HUNDRED SIX MILES PER HOUR on Dodge Street at 4:03 a.m. July 9, Wheelock said loudly.

Wheelock said he also could not ignore the staggering blood alcohol content. The first blood draw taken at the hospital was .41%. The second, hours later, measured .26%. Either one blew away Nebraskas legal limit, Wheelock noted.

Wheelock then delivered the cold, hard terms of Caillaus sentence: 16 to 20 years in prison, a term that is cut in half under state law. Twenty was the maximum the judge could give Caillau for motor vehicle homicide.

At that, Caillaus mom burst into tears.

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, she said as her son was led away in handcuffs. I cant believe this.

One could have heard the same reaction from Yungbluths relatives the morning of July 9.

And that is where the numbers begin to tell a story of longing. July 9 was the 25th birthday of Yungbluths youngest daughter, Cassidy. It was two days shy of Jim and Becky Yungbluths 29th wedding anniversary. Nine months shy of when Jim Yungbluth would have walked his oldest daughter, Carey, down the aisle for her wedding. Of when father and daughter would have shared a dance to the song Jim Yungbluth sang his daughters before bedtime.

You are my sunshine, Carey said. It was his song for us.

Yungbluth had so much brightness left to give Omaha. The bandmate and music lover had a fitting nickname. Childhood buddies dubbed him Chunga because, they said, he looked exactly like the cover photo on Frank Zappas third album, Chungas Revenge.

Speaking of numbers, Chunga, a drummer and harmonica player, played in more bands than his wife could count. The bands spanned an assortment of classic names: The Eggmen, The Hornets, Jared and the Blues Teachers, The Good Guys, Front Porch Blues and OLUS (Old Like Us).

Like any good dad, he had nicknames for his daughters, eventually calling his oldest daughter by the name of a famous blues harmonica player.

She was Cass, Carey said of her little sister, and I was his Carey Bell.

Yungbluth also had a motto, passed down from his dad, Loyson Joe Yungbluth.

Be good, kind and careful. Sweet and lovable.

Joe Yungbluth lived that motto while a caretaker and property manager at Boys Town  where the Yungbluth children grew up.

Later, Jim Yungbluth had his childhood home moved, via stilts, down West Dodge Road to a lot he bought in Waterloo. He and Becky raised their two daughters there, and the Yungbluth home was the gathering place for family celebrations.

From Waterloo, Jim Yungbluth traveled Dodge daily, showing up for his 4 a.m. to noon shift to make sure delivery vans were loaded with Omahas furniture. He worked for 38 years at Nebraska Furniture Mart, the past several as a warehouse supervisor.

Becky said her husband had the countdown going. That Friday, July 9, he had 255 days until retirement. A long post-work life was a real possibility, too. Dad Joe died five years ago at age 96.

Then an aunt showed up at both Yungbluth daughters workplaces that morning. Cassidy said she had a horrible feeling but hoped against hope that she was just there to cart her away for a surprise 25th birthday party.

It was the wrong kind of surprise, she said.

That morning, Yungbluth was going east on Dodge at 90th Street, less than 2 miles from the Mart.

Caillau, meanwhile, had been out of work from his job at Oriental Trading Co. because of a foot injury. His attorney, Michael Fitzpatrick, said he had been reeling from a breakup with a fiancee of a couple of years.

Fitzpatrick repeatedly emphasized that Caillau had no adult criminal record. In November 2020, he was the subject of a police report that described him as being ejected from a vehicle that nearly hit a pedestrian and crashed into bushes in Sanibel Island, Florida. No arrests were made in that case.

In this case, Caillau drank at least a half-pint of vodka and blacked out, Fitzpatrick said.

Others questioned whether Caillau really blacked out. The cars internal diagnostics noted that it was going over 100 mph for a couple of miles before the crash.

Fitzpatrick said Caillau had no memory of the crash. He has been overwhelmed with grief, Fitzpatrick said.

For his part, Caillau turned to Yungbluths family in court and apologized: Theres nothing I can say to any of you to make any of this right. I completely understand if you guys hate me ... I just ask if you can find it in your hearts to forgive me ... I understand its not likely  If I were in your situation, I probably wouldnt either.

His voice trailed.

Ryan Lindberg, the prosecutor, said he wished he hadnt had to watch surveillance video that captured the devastating crash. At 106 mph  operating essentially as a missile, according to Lindberg  Caillaus 2018 Chevy Equinox vaulted Yungbluths 1998 Camry into the concrete barrier of a bus stop, flipping it on his roof.

By the time medics arrived, Yungbluth had died.

Its hard to understand how this loss has affected and will continue to affect this family, Lindberg said. As one of his sisters put it, it was the loss of a common man who was uncommonly good.

Brother-in-law Bud Sachs  one of more than 30 family members and friends who showed up for Fridays sentencing hearing  vouched for that. He called Chunga a true free spirit, a musician with a heart to match it.

Not a mean bone in his body, Sachs said.

He thumbed through his phone for a photo of Chunga, eventually settling on one. Standing next to Becky, Yungbluth had a slight grin between his salt-and-pepper mustache and beard. Crows feet framed his soft brown eyes.

Such a good man, Sachs said. God always takes the good ones too soon.

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January is our back-to-basics month each year. This week, we discuss the importance of local media in building a vibrant transformative community. Dont confuse local media with National media, they are different in their mission and scope. Local media can be vital in a communitys transformation and vibrancy.

It was recently asked, What happens when a community loses their local newspaper? A follow-up question was also asked, How would that community then get their news? As might be expected, answers varied from things such as radio, social media, word of mouth, friends, neighbors, to answers such as other regional outlets and so forth. All of which are accurate to a degree, but regardless, it was agreed the community would suffer from lack of accurate information.

Yes, communities would still figure out when businesses closed, violent crimes tend to blanket social media and word of mouth, the not so pleasant news and information tends to reach far and wide on social media, radio, friends, neighbors etc. And yes, they would get a bit of regional coverage for any high-profile crimes and business closings. They might even get unlucky and have a major news outlet like the NY Times or Washington Post swoop into town doing a feature story on another dying rural American town.

But who is consistently going to be the community voice sharing the communitys feel-good stories, business openings, and convey the great things happening locally to the outside world? Aside from a local media company sharing the great happenings in your community, lets carry reality one step further. When potential new businesses are looking to relocate to a community, they first tend to Google all the prospective communities or locations. Without a voice sharing the great things going on, what they will see besides the business closings, crime stories, obituaries, and yes, that NY Times piece, will appear at the top of their search. Without that voice conveying the good things, they are left with only the impressions of the less desirable things. What conclusions do you think they will make? While I wish this was only a what if situation, unfortunately, nearly two thousand communities across the country experience this scenario today.

Local newspapers can be the eyes into the soul of your community. They should be the communitys ambassador to the outside world. If the local newspaper cant convey your communitys positive message to the outside world, who then will be able to convey that message in a consistent and accurate fashion? If your local newspaper isnt doing this, demand them to do so. Newspapers should be the communitys proverbial communication town square. In todays world of media fragmentation and information sources, providing this role is more critical than ever. Local communities need every bit of help they can muster, having a local media presence fulfilling the above roles is critical to the overall success and vitality of the community.

A recent Notre Dame study indicated a community that loses their newspaper could expect the cost of local government to increase by 30% within five years. This doesnt mean government is bad, but without the media oversight, they tend to spend more than they otherwise might. Regardless of the political leanings of the local newspaper, that simple act of oversight saves a community hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Another recent poll shows most residents believe their local newspaper is doing fine financially. While many newspapers are okay, it is safe to say most local media outlets are facing challenging and potentially crippling economic headwinds. Importantly, it is often the case communities are facing many of these same economic challenges. The media company and the community must work together, finding synergies that can be created to mold a strong community foundation from which to build. For both to succeed, they need each other more than ever before.

When a community loses its newspaper, part of that community dies. In addition to less civil engagement, these communities may lose their identity. A quote by Portland States Lee Shaker was recently shared with me. He said in a Nieman Lab report, If a community loses its newspaper, it stops being its own place. It becomes a satellite of something else, rather than having its own core identity. A community without a newspaper becomes a rudderless ship adrift in the treacherous economic currents of life.

John A. Newby, of Pineville, MO. is the author of Building Main Street, not Wall Street a weekly column appearing in over communities. He is Founder of Truly-Local, LLC and dedicated to assisting communities create excitement, energy and combining synergies with their local media to become more vibrant and competitive. His email is: info@Truly-Localllc.com.
Last Monday, Russian president-for-life Vladimir Putin explained that the peacekeeper paratroopers he sent to Kazakhstan to help quash civil unrest were part of his larger policy of preventing color revolutions in former Soviet-bloc countries.

Putin made his remarks at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which the New York Times described as a body equivalent to NATO that includes six countries from the former Soviet Union.

I bring this up not to indulge in media criticism but to point out how easy it is to fall for Russian propaganda and the logic of false equivalence when discussing relations with Russia and authoritarian regimes generally. Yes, CSTO is, like NATO, a military alliance, but the similarities end there. Commitment to democratic principles is a membership requirement for NATO. None of CSTOs members -- Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan -- are democracies. Armenia comes closest; Freedom House designates it a semi-consolidated authoritarian regime with a Democracy Score of 33 out of 100. The rest are consolidated authoritarian regimes.

In short, CSTO is a dictators club in which authoritarians agree to protect each anothers grip on power, including from internal threats from their own people. NATO doesnt send troops into member countries to prop up failed autocrats.

CSTO is also a tool for Putin to rebuild the lost empire of the Soviet Union.

Putin uses another tool toward the same end: military force, or the threat of it. Thats what hes doing to Ukraine. Putin has deployed about 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border in preparation for what could be yet another invasion of Russias neighbor. The U.S. and Russia are in Geneva this week to figure out a diplomatic exit from the crisis Putin has created.

The mere fact that the U.S. is meeting with Putin to discuss a diplomatic solution is a concession. He loves superpower summits like this because they buttress his governments propaganda about Russias prestige. The fact that Ukraine itself has largely been sidelined in these talks is also a gift to Putin, because it bolsters his claim that a great power like Russia neednt consult with -- never mind recognize the sovereignty of -- the little countries it wants to bully.

None of this is to say that the U.S. shouldnt try to talk Putin out of invading Ukraine. But it does inform what the U.S. should say.

Putins case for invading Ukraine is based on his nostalgia for the Soviet Union and Russian imperialism generally. Ukraine once belonged to Russia, and if Russia cant have it back -- still an if in Putins mind -- it should at least be able to dictate Ukraines destiny and alliances.

Putin subscribes to the myth -- promoted by Russian state propaganda -- that America and the West promised not to expand NATO during the negotiations over German reunification and other agreements in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. No such assurances were made, but the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia did agree to the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. In 1994, in exchange for Ukraine voluntarily giving up Soviet nuclear weapons on its soil -- then the third-largest arsenal in the world -- signatories agreed to defend Ukraines territorial integrity and security. Putin declared that agreement null and void when Ukrainians elected a government that wasnt a vassal to Putin.

Putins appetite is bigger than just Ukraine. According to draft treaties released by Russia, Putin wants a sphere of influence where smaller nations along its near abroad would have to defer to Russias priorities. They would be barred from ever joining NATO, and countries that joined NATO after 1997 would be barred from hosting or training with NATO troops or military assets.

These demands are almost surely a nonstarter, and rightly so. Giving into them would undermine NATO, reward military blackmail and leave our Eastern European allies vulnerable to a regime that has already established it is willing to invade neighbors for its own aggrandizement -- most recently in the 2014 military seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

But Putin is a master of asking for the whole store so he can settle for a shopping cart full of free goodies. And it sounds like the White House is considering concessions, including delaying military assistance to Ukraine.

The political temptation to appease Putin -- just a little -- is understandable. The last thing Biden needs is yet another international crisis, never mind a war. But one thing is certain: Any concessions to Putin will be little more than down payments on more down the road.
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For many in the art world, Egyptian Armenian artist Chant Avedissian is known for his nostalgic stencil paintings of Egypts Golden Age. In 2013, his series Icons of the Nile (1991-2010) set a record for the highest price for a piece by a living contemporary Arab artist when it sold for more than $1.5 million at Sothebys Doha. Avedissian died in Cairo in 2018.

The National has published an extensive article about this Egyptian Armenian artist.

And the Mikaelian family shared their memories of the late artist and his works, which they have acquired for decades and which are now the subject of the exhibition Chant Egyptien, on view at ArtTalks in Cairo.

But four brothers from Downtown Cairo remember Chant Avedissian as a neighbor, a childhood friend, and the artistic protege of the citys culturally active Armenian community. Their father, George Mikaelian, a bookshop owner and arts patron, supported Avedissians work throughout his career in Egypt. I kept asking my father, 'What are we going to do with all these paintings?' says Hratch Mikaelian, the eldest of the brothers. He just said: 'You will see, you will see.'

The exhibition Chant Egyptien shows how Avedissian experimented prolifically with a variety of styles and mediums. Every one of Chants exhibitions had its own subject and style; he developed his styles a lot, says Chris Mikaelian, Hratchs younger brother who took art lessons at the same studio as Avedissian.

Armenian folkloric dance traditions, the lives of rural Egyptian women, Islamic arts and Egypts ancient heritage were among the subjects that the artist captured in painting, photography and costume design.

Chant Avedissian, the son of Armenian refugees, was born in Cairo in 1951.

In 1970, Avedissian travelled to Canada to pursue his studies at the School of Art and Design in Montreal.

Then, after a brief return to Egypt, he moved to Paris in the late 1970s to attend the National Higher School of Decorative Arts.

Photos by Private Collection of George Mikaelian

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Current Affairs

O pposition Leader Eddie Astwood said that after 11 months in office, the Washington Misick-led Progressive National Party (PNP) has been "weighed, measured found wanting".



Addressing a press conference on January 4th, 2022, Astwood said the people in Turks and Caicos Islands do not feel safe nor secure, and many are now questioning the decisions of the premier and his government.



"They do not feel safe because of the great increase in the spread of COVID-19 and the lack of information and response to deal with the spread," Astwood said. "They do not feel safe because of the great increase in violent crime being committed against ordinary residents. They do not feel safe because the great increase in loss of business and entrepreneurship activities, preventing them from supporting themselves and their families."

The Opposition Leader said the current COVID- 19 situation for the country is very concerning.



He said the PNP administration "got elected with everything in place", but full and complete information is not being given to the public.



"What was/is the situation with the Nation Public Health Laboratory? Do the public health teams still come to people's home to take samples for testing? Who is monitoring the persons that are placed in quarantine? Why were the only protocols adjusted were those for the schools, which was needed to happen, but thats it?" Astwood asked.



"What about residents returning to the country? Should an antigen screening COVID test be required for entry, or on arrival before persons return to their families or communities? What are the statistics indicating? - We saw what happened last year during the Christmas holidays which led to a spike in new cases, but there is no indication of learning from the past. They did not have to reinvent anything. We all saw what worked and what did not work. Increased testing sites are needed; drive through, use of mobile clinic. More staff should have been in place by now. Budget and supplementary came and went."



With respect to crime, Astwood said he believes that this is the first time the Turks and Caicos Islands recorded four murders in five days; 3 in Providenciales, and one in Grand Turk.



"What is the governments plan to fight crime? The past PDM administration had a 12-point plan  of which much came to fruition. We now see that more is needed. Again, the current government did not have to reinvent the wheel; just build on and strengthened the things that were put in place," Astwood added.



He said that Premier Washington Misick, who sits on the National Security Council, must come to the people and say what is his administrations plan for fighting crime.



"People are not asking for tactical information; just what is the overall plan. Grand Turk needs more senior officers," Astwood said.



Addressing the Beach and Costal Vending Bill enactment, the Opposition Leader said it is not serving the people well.



"Yes, we all want control and order on our beaches, but what is happening here is negatively impacting our people and beach venders. During the debating of this Bill, Hon. Alvin Garland and I highlighted all those things that we thought would have a negative effect on our people and our beach venders, such as; the insurance requirements, the new fees, the penalties, the lack of protection for the vendors, which then lead to the needed assistance to restart," he added.



"Other categories of businesses also need assistance the money is not coming from the treasury. Funds are coming from the infrastructure fund which free up funds to assist Beach & Costal vending businesses on other islands, in particular Providenciales. Where are the protections for the beach vendors? They need assistance in the promotion of their goods and services. "



Astwood also questioned why government entered another long-term contract with Carnival Cruise Lines.



"With the loan facility in place, we could have funded the $25 million and have full ownership, entering into management contract of the port, and allowing cruise ship lines to who we choose- Disney, Royal Caribbean, etc. The $16 per person head tax could have paid the loan back in under two years," he added.



The Opposition said the Government of the day, and certainly any Government of tomorrow must be accountable to the people. He said the Government must come back to the people and give a truthful account of what they did.



"The actions of this PNP Government so far is not routed in the people; their actions are not in the best interest of the people. It is routed in the exploitation of the people. They want the people to follow, but dont want them to ask any questions, and they dont want to give any answers," Astwood added.



"They do not want to be accountable to our people; maybe other people, but surely not our people. We now see all the flaws in the Premiers style of, and approach to, Governing. The real problems that people are facing are just being ignored. Our people need solutions, our people need answers.



They do not hear anymore the sound bite of We come for this work. We

need the government leaders to lead, time is out for the talking and game playing. If you dont want to do the work, when that time come, with the blessing of the people- we the PDM will happily do it for you."






CASTLE ROCK  A new face has sprouted at The Flower Pot in Castle Rock, as the longtime owner of the floral shop prepares to retire after owning the store for nearly three decades.

Julie McDonald, 48, took over the floral shop off Mount St. Helens Way on Jan. 1, she said, after longtime owner Sue Pulse listed the business for sale in its 51st year of operation.

It seems very fitting, McDonald said. This is something Ive always wanted to do.

Retirement

Pulse, 66, said shes ready for retirement, starting with a week-long vacation to Hawaii with her 16- and 17-year old granddaughters in March. The trip will be her first vacation in five years, Pulse said.

But customers still will see the Castle Rock High School graduate at the shop to help McDonald transition, similar to the way Pulses aunt visited the store when Pulse purchased the business from her in 1993 at age 38, she said.

Pulse plans to spend her usual six days a week at the store through March, she added, then reduce hours to three days week. Eventually, she plans to resume paused hobbies like quilting, she added.

Plus, Im just a phone call away, she said.

The way Sue took care of them

McDonald left her career as a paraeducator at the Kelso School District to run The Flower Pot, she said. McDonald said the name and family atmosphere will remain at the store, but changes could include possibly selling her homegrown blooms like lilies, tulips and irises.

Pulse said McDonalds ideas will bring a a little bit of fresh air, to the business to evolve with changing floral styles. The store also sells jewelry, greeting cards, balloons and candles.

McDonald already has decorated a Christmas Tree for Valentines Day in the shop  a tradition she said she carried over from the farmhouse style of her nearby home, and a similar decoration Pulse had at the store.

The Flower Pot Address: 1254 Mount St Helens Way N.E., Castle Rock. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Info: 360-274-6503 or www.flowerpotcastlerockwa.com.

McDonald and her husband, Gerry, have owned an outdoor wedding venue located at their Spirit Lake Memorial Highway home for about a decade, she added. She said she moved to Cowlitz County in her 20s, and has lived in the Castle Rock area for about 10 years.

The longtime Flower Pot customer said she purchased the business to provide something for her kids down the road, and continue the friendly, family-first atmosphere at the shop. McDonald said she has eight kids from age 20 to 31 and four grandchildren.

Service will remain the same, despite ownership changes, McDonald added, and all three employees are remaining.

Anyone can come back and get taken care of the way Sue took care of them, she said.

Talking Business is a series featuring local new or expanded businesses and prints every Tuesday. The series was suspended during the pandemic and recently restarted. Contact Daily News reporter Hayley Day at 360-577-2541 or hday@tdn.com for possible inclusion in the series.

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Four young men were arrested Sunday after allegedly shooting into two occupied homes and an occupied vehicle early Sunday morning in the Longview-Kelso area, then fleeing in a sedan. Officials report no one was injured.

The men, ages 18 to 20, were booked Sunday into the Columbia County Jail in Oregon. Kelso Police Department Capt. Rich Fletcher said officers still are investigating the incident and could not disclose whether the alleged suspects and alleged targets knew each other.

Police received reports of a light-colored, four-door sedan leaving the sites of two alleged drive-by home shootings early Sunday. A third shooting allegedly hit another driving vehicle, Fletcher said.

The reports occurred Sunday

at 1:13 a.m. in the 900 block of Cedar Street in South Kelso,

at 1:53 a.m. near Long Avenue and West Cowlitz Way, in Kelso and

at 2:13 a.m. in the 4100 block of Ocean Beach Highway, outside Longview in Cowlitz County.

Fletcher said officers later learned the first incident occurred a few blocks from the reported location, in the 700 block of South Ninth Avenue, in Kelso.

Cowlitz County deputies used their vehicles to force the fleeing car to stop, just after the car allegedly sped over the Lewis and Clark Bridge into Oregon and attempted to enter U.S. Highway 30 the wrong way, Fletcher said. Longview Police Department officers also assisted in the pursuit and arrest.

All of the suspects are in the Columbia County Jail, according to jail records. Mateo Emery Chavez, 18, Andres Gabriel Gonzalez, 18, Peterson P. Kasa, 18, and Riki Aron Vasquez Bracken, 20, each were booked for suspicion of attempted first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley said.

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Yet another government has imposed a Bitcoin mining ban. Now, some miners are selling their equipment or trying to move abroad.

Soaring energy prices and power blackouts in Kosovo, one of the poorest countries in Europe, led to a government Bitcoin mining ban. Now, some miners are selling their equipment or trying to move abroad, industry participants say. The landlocked Balkan state is only the latest to crackdown on crypto mining after being buffeted by high energy prices. Kazakhstan, which had become a popular base for miners who fled China, took similar measures late last year.

Kosovo confiscated 429 devices used to mine cryptocurrencies during first few days of January, the newspaper Gazetta Express reported. The move follows energy blackouts because of high import prices and an unexpected shut-down of a power plant a month earlier.

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Generating the worlds biggest cryptocurrency requires special computers that work to solve complex mathematical problems, and the biggest operating expense for miners is electricity.

Ardian Alaj, the co-owner of a crypto exchange in Kosovos capital Pristina, told Bloomberg hed heard of multiple examples of miners selling or trying to sell equipment in the aftermath of the ban. There are minimal cases of miners going to neighboring countries, he said by email.

Mining was done in Kosovo, because it was possible to do it illegally, said Alaj. It was also cheap: the northern region of Mitrovica, a popular hub for crypto mining, is one of the four Serb-majority parts of the country that exempts citizens from electric bills.

Moving operations abroad would create additional costs the local miners are not accustomed to, Alaj said.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after a war over the territory ended with NATO air raids against Serbian forces.

Serbian activists block roads in protest against lithium project

(Reuters) Hundreds of environmental activists on Saturday blocked several main roads in Serbia including a border crossing to Bosnia in the latest protests against Rio Tinto's plans to develop a $2.4 billion lithium mine.

The protests have become a headache for Serbia's ruling coalition ahead of an April 3 general election, and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/serbia-lithium-rio-tinto-idINL8N2TR5AW this week a decision on whether to let the project proceed would be made after the vote.

The government has offered mineral resources to foreign investors including China's Zijin copper miner and Rio Tinto as it seeks to boost economic growth, but green activists say the mining projects will cause pollution.

"We do not want to be quiet ... We want this country to be (safe) for our children," said Ivana, asking not to give her full name, who was among a group of protesters blocking a highway in a neighbourhood of the capital, Belgrade.

Many of the protesters carried banners. "Stop investors, save nature", one of the placards read.

A crossing point to neighbouring Bosnia was also blocked along with roads near the towns of Cacak and Sabac.

The anti-mining protests have been held every Saturday since late November, with a break for the New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays.

Soon after the demonstrations began, conservative President Aleksandar Vucic asked parliament to rework an expropriation law allowing the state to swiftly acquire property for potential development. Environmentalists had opposed the legislation. Serbia is one of Europe's most polluted countries and will need billions of euros to meet the European Union's environmental standards if it wants to join the bloc.

Rio Tinto has said it would adhere to all domestic and EU environmental standards at its lithium mine in Serbia.
NASA Mars Rover Curiosity has detected carbon trapped in rocks that may hint at evidence of past life on the Red Planet.

NASA Mars Rover Curiosity has been exploring the surface of the Red Planet since 2012 to find out about its composition, surface, atmosphere and possible signs of life. The long drawn research on Mars has been quite extensive and scientists are quite literally leaving no stones unturned in order to uncover the truth. Yesterday, on January 17, Mars Rover Curiositys team announced something unusual that may hint at the evidence of past life on Mars. The NASA Mars team has discovered carbon trapped in multiple rocks examined by the rover.

Now, finding carbon by itself is not that exciting. However, the carbon Curiosity has discovered is surprisingly enriched in light isotopes of carbon which would have been a strong indicator of life. Lets understand what this finding means and what could be the possible implications of it.

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NASA Mars Rover Curiosity discovers carbon signatures

Before getting into the findings of NASA Mars Rover Curiosity itself, it is important to note that carbon exists in two stable forms of isotope, namely carbon-12, a light variation that makes up most of the carbon found in the world. And the other one is carbon-13, where the element is weighed down due to an extra neutron. Now, due to an extra neutron in its structure, carbon-13 makes stronger bonds with other elements and does not easily participate in chemical reaction. On the other hand, carbon-12 easily splits and forms complex structures that give results, for example, life on Earth.

NASA Mars Rover Curiosity team examined 24 rocks across Gale Crater, which is a remnant of an ancient lake. Curiosity baked these rocks in an oven inside the rover and found the existence of methane. At at least six sites, the concentration of carbon-12 in methane was more than 70 parts per thousand. Shockingly, that is higher than what is found even on Earth.

Christopher House, a biochemist at Pennsylvania State University and lead author of the study said that It was a dramatic signal and that it inches up the plausibility that microorganisms could have existed on Mars in the past.

While this finding is not conclusive by any means, it raises the hopes of the entire scientific community to better understand the planet and the possible existence of life on Mars.
The Moon will remain brightest for about three days, i.e, from the evening of January 16 to the morning of Jan 19, 2022.

The first Full Moon, also referred to as the "Wolf Moon" of the year 2022 is set for Tuesday, January 18 in India. The Moon will remain in its full phase for about three days, i.e, from the evening of January 16 to the morning of January 19. Moreover, skywatchers may also see Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini near the full moon. Heres all you need to know about the the Wolf Moon 2022 and why it is called the Wolf Moon.

First full moon of 2022: Why is it called Wolf Moon?

January's full moon is traditionally known as the Wolf Moon as wolves can be heard howling at the moon more around this time of year. It is believed that packs of wolves could be heard howling outside the Native settlements amid the cold winters due to hunger. Hence, the year's first Full Moon came to be referred to as the Wolf Moon.

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According to the Farmers' Almanac, wolves howling can also be a sign to define their territory, trying to locate other pack members, reinforcing social bonds or coordinating hunting.

Best time to view the Wolf Moon:

Though the Moon will look mostly full for all three days, the peak of the Full Moon will be visible in India on January 18, 2022, from 05:18 a.m. IST onwards.

Skywatchers won't need a telescope or binoculars to spot the Full Moon as it will be visible with naked eyes.

Why is the Wolf Moon so bright?

The Wolf Moon, like other Full Moons, appears bright because the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon in a way that the two celestial bodies are at the exact opposite ends. The Sun's light fully illuminates the side of the Moon facing Earth making it shine six times brighter than a half-moon. The Wolf moon is believed to be the second brightest object in the sky, after the Sun. It even outshines Venus, the brightest planet in the solar system.

Does the Wolf Moon have anything to do with wolves?

Not really. The Maine Farmers' Almanac began publishing Native American names for Full Moons in the 1930s. After this the names have been used frequently over time and become well-known. January's Full Moon is also known as Ice Moon, Old Moon, and Snow Moon.

Cultural significance of the Wolf Moon 2022

The Wolf Moon has several cultural significances. In India, this Full Moon signifies the Shakambhari Purnima of the Hindu calendar. It marks the last day of the eight-day Shakambari Navratri festival honouring the goddess Shakambhari. The Tamil Hindu community celebrates the Thaipusam Festival on this Full Moon.

It is celebrated as the Moon after Yule and pre-Christian Europeans enjoyed a three-day winter solstice feast.

This also coincides with the week-long Ananda Pagoda Festival in Myanmar which marks the establishment of the Buddhist temple in 1105 A.D. at Bagan. In Sri Lanka, it is known as Duruthu Poya, commemorating Siddhartha Gautama Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka.
A passenger walks past a Southwest Airlines plane at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, March 26, 2021. AT&T and Verizon have agreed to delay the launch of a new slice of 5G service by two weeks after airlines and the nation's aviation regulator complained about potential interference with systems on board planes. Credit: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File

AT&T and Verizon will postpone new wireless service near some airports planned for this week after the nation's largest airlines said the service would interfere with aircraft technology and cause massive flight disruptions.

AT&T said Tuesday it would delay turning on new cell towers around runways at some airportsit did not say how manyand work with federal regulators to settle the dispute.

Verizon said it will launch its new 5G network but added, "we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports."

The moves came after the airline industry raised the stakes in a showdown with AT&T and Verizon over plans to launch 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.

Here is a rundown of the issue from The Associated Press.

___

WHOSE SIDE IS THE GOVERNMENT ON?

Both.

The Federal Communications Commission, which runs the auctions of radio spectrum, determined that C-Band could be used safely in the vicinity of air traffic. The FCC in 2020 set a buffer between the 5G band and the spectrum that planes use to resolve any safety concerns.

But Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson, whose agency is responsible for aviation safety, saw a potential problem. On Friday, they asked AT&T and Verizon to hold off activating C-Band 5G near an undetermined number of "priority airports" while the FAA conducted further study.

___

HOW DID AT&T AND VERIZON RESPOND?

They dismissed the concerns. The wireless industry trade group CTIA notes that about 40 countries have deployed the C-Band strand of 5G without reports of harmful interference with aviation equipment.

But AT&T CEO John Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg did offer to reduce the power of their 5G networks near airports, as France has done.

"The laws of physics are the same in the United States and France," Stankey and Vestberg said in a letter Sunday to Buttigieg and Dickson. "If U.S. airlines are permitted to operate flights every day in France, then the same operating conditions should allow them to do so in the United States."

Although they took steps to soothe the federal officials, the telecoms are still bickering with airlines, which have canceled more than 10,000 U.S. flights since Christmas Eve because of bad weather and labor shortages caused by COVID-19.

"While the airline industry faces many challenges, 5G is not one of them," Vestberg said in a company memo Tuesday.

___

HOW MANY PLANES DOES THIS AFFECT?

Under the agreement, the FAA will conduct a survey to find out. The FAA will allow planes with accurate, reliable altimeters to operate around high-power 5G. But planes with older altimeters will not be allowed to make landings under low-visibility conditions.

___

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

The two-week postponement will give the FAA and the companies time to implement the agreement.

AT&T and Verizon will be allowed to launch C-Band service this month under already-granted FCC licenses. The airlines have until Friday to give the companies a list of up to 50 airports where they believe the power of C-Band service should be reduced through July 5.

Until July, the telecoms will talk to the FAA and airlines about potential long-term measures regarding 5G service near airports. However, under terms of the agreement with the FAA, AT&T and Verizon will have sole power to decide if any changes in service will be made.

"We felt that it was the right thing to do for the flying public, which includes our customers and all of us, to give the FAA a little time to work out its issues with the aviation community and therefore avoid further inconveniencing passengers with additional flight delays," Vestberg said in his memo.

Nicholas Calio, president of the airline trade group, was more muted in his comments about the agreement, although he thanked federal officials for reaching the deal with AT&T and Verizon.

"Safety is and always will be the top priority of U.S. airlines. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to help ensure that new 5G service can coexist with aviation safely," Calio said.

The FAA issued a brief statement about the two-week delay, saying it looks forward "to using the additional time and space to reduce flight disruptions associated with this 5G deployment."

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This image provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies shows Darcy Tello, left, owner of Med City Installation, and her employee, Trevor Hatton-York, visiting a worksite in Rochester, Minn., on Oct. 29, 2021. Tello is part of a team of Rochester residents co-designing a city program through the Global Mayors Challenge to create pathways for minority women to enter the fast-growing construction industry. Credit: Anuja KC/Bloomberg Philanthropies via AP

Bloomberg Philanthropies is supporting the innovative solutions of 15 cities to try to get others to use them as blueprints to battle the world's urban problems.

The winners of this year's Global Mayors Challenge, announced Tuesday, span 13 nations and will make their solutions available to cities worldwide to replicate. They will each receive $1 million and technical support from the philanthropic organization of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to help develop and expand their programs.

They range from using technology to support tree maintenance in Sierra Leone to creating new farm models in the Philippines and addressing the opioid crisis in New Jersey through a public-private partnership that quickly delivers medication to reverse opioid overdoses.

"As the world works to address the profound public health and economic effects of the ongoing pandemic, cities can implement innovative ideas at a pace that national governments simply can't match," Bloomberg, the billionaire founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P., said in a statement. "Our 15 winners offer bold, achievable plans to improve health, reduce unemployment, empower women, and more."

The winning program in Turkey was inspired by the tradition of askda ekmek, which dates to the Ottoman Empire and translates to "bread on the hook," Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said. Some customers would pay for extra bread that bakers would put "on the hook" to let people know it was available to those who could not afford it.

Imamoglu transformed the concept into a network of mutual aid that allows donors and recipients to remain anonymous. He said the pay-it-forward program created a "feeling of solidarity" among people in Istanbul, whether they were giving or receiving.

It comes amid soaring consumer prices that have made it difficult for people in Turkey to buy basic goods.

The program started with utility bills, allowing those who wanted to help to check a city website to see the amounts of water and natural gas bills that needed to be paid.

About $14 million in utility bills have been paid through the program since it began last year, Imamoglu said. Istanbul's program then expanded to include scholarships for university students and packages that support new mothers and their children.

This image provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies shows Aydan Arat, a retired teacher from Istanbul, photographed in Bebek, Istanbul, on Sept. 23, 2021. She donates to Istanbul's Pay It Forward program, which was selected as one of 15 winners in Bloomberg Philanthropies' Global Mayors Challenge. Credit: Ogulcan Delipnar/Bloomberg Philanthropies via AP

"I'm very happy to be able to introduce such a system because this project, it can go on forever, it's very sustainable and renewable," Imamoglu told The Associated Press through an interpreter, adding that if it would be adopted by other cities around the world, he would feel like "a very powerful angel."

James Anderson, who leads Bloomberg Philanthropies' Government Innovation programs, said the organization has high hopes for Istanbul's program because "it's government acting as a platform to make it easy for people to be good neighbors."

Anderson said it was difficult to pick from the 50 finalists, who developed programs last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The winners "really represent the spirit of city innovation, the positive legacy that has come out of a very, very difficult period of time," Anderson said.

Kim Norton, mayor of Rochester, Minnesota, said she wanted her city's program to be bold. The home base of the Mayo Clinic and the $5.6 billion public-private Destination Medical Center decided to address two major issuesa lack of jobs for women of color, who were disproportionately displaced by the pandemic, and a shortage of construction workers.

They found only 1% of the construction jobs for Destination Medical Center went to women of color, even though they make up 13% of the population. Rochester's program encourages the industry to hire women of color and offers mentorship, training and supportincluding help with child care.

"It is vitally important for the businesses in my community to be successful, that we have a workforce able to repair our streets or build a new building, or, probably most desperately, build affordable housing for our community," Norton said. "And we know we're not alone in that need."

Considering all the construction jobs to be funded by the Biden administration's $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill, what Rochester has learned could inform other cities.

"I have a 12-year-old daughter, and I hope that she sees this program and can look at herself differently," said Karen Martinez, a field office assistant for the Education Minnesota union who worked on the initiative. "It's hard for people to shift their mindsets. But once you have a pathway, once you have a model, once you see people who have gone through it, that shifts minds."

The full list of winners are: Amman, Jordan; Bogota, Colombia; Butuan, Philippines; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Hermosillo, Mexico; Istanbul, Turkey; Kigali, Rwanda; Kumasi, Ghana; Paterson, New Jersey; Phoenix; Rochester, Minnesota; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Rourkela, India; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Wellington, New Zealand.

Explore further Eight cities cited in data program from ex-NYC mayor Bloomberg

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Framed by the Manhattan skyline electricians with IBEW Local 3 install solar panels on top of the Terminal B garage at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in the Queens borough of New York. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File

As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources might not be enough to keep the lights on.

Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. The renewed interest in nuclear comes as companies, including one started by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, are developing smaller, cheaper reactors that could supplement the power grid in communities across the U.S.

Nuclear power comes with its own set of potential problems, especially radioactive waste that can remain dangerous for thousands of years. But supporters say the risks can be minimized and that the energy source will be essential to stabilize power supplies as the world tries to move away from carbon dioxide-emitting fossil fuels.

Tennessee Valley Authority President and CEO Jeff Lyash puts it simply: You can't significantly reduce carbon emissions without nuclear power.

"At this point in time, I don't see a path that gets us there without preserving the existing fleet and building new nuclear," Lyash said. "And that's after having maximized the amount of solar we can build in the system."

One of Pacific Gas and Electric's Diablo Canyon Power Plant's nuclear reactors is photographed on Nov. 3, 2008, in Avila Beach, Calif. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. Credit: AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant, File

The TVA is a federally owned utility that provides electricity to seven states as the nation's third largest electricity generator. It's adding about 10,000 megawatts of solar capacity by 2035enough to power nearly 1 million homes annuallybut also operates three nuclear plants and plans to test a small reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. By 2050, it hopes to hit its goal of becoming net zero, which means the amount of greenhouse gases produced is no more than the amount removed from the atmosphere.

An Associated Press survey of the energy policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that a strong majority about two-thirds say nuclear, in one fashion or another, will help take the place of fossil fuels. The momentum building behind nuclear power could lead to the first expansion of nuclear reactor construction in the U.S. in more than three decades.

Roughly one-third of the states and the District of Columbia responded to the AP's survey by saying they have no plans to incorporate nuclear power in their green energy goals, instead leaning heavily on renewables. Energy officials in those states said their goals are achievable because of advances in energy storage using batteries, investments in the grid for high-voltage interstate transmission, energy efficiency efforts to reduce demand and power provided by hydroelectric dams.

Three of Deepwater Wind's five turbines stand in the water off Block Island, R.I, the nation's first offshore wind farm on Aug. 15, 2016. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File

The split over nuclear power in U.S. states mirrors a similar debate unfolding in Europe, where countries including Germany are phasing out their reactors while others, such as France, are sticking with the technology or planning to build more plants.

The Biden administration, which has tried to take aggressive steps to reduce greenhouse gases, views nuclear as necessary to help compensate for the decline of carbon-based fuels in the nation's energy grid.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told the AP that the administration wants to get to zero-carbon electricity, and "that means nuclear, that means hydropower, that means geothermal, that means obviously wind on and offshore, that means solar.

"We want it all," Granholm said during a visit in December to Providence, Rhode Island, to promote an offshore wind project.

Steel and concrete containers used for dry storage of spent fuel at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Sequoyah nuclear plant near Chattanooga, Tenn., are shown to the media during a Friday Jan. 13, 2012 tour. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. Credit: AP Photo/ Bill Poovey, File

The $1 trillion infrastructure package championed by Biden and signed into law last year will allocate about $2.5 billion for advanced reactor demonstration projects. The Energy Department said studies by Princeton University and the Decarb America Research Initiative show that nuclear is necessary for a carbon-free future.

Granholm also touted new technologies involving hydrogen and capturing and storing carbon dioxide before it is released into the atmosphere.

Nuclear reactors have operated reliably and carbon-free for many decades, and the current climate change conversation brings the benefits of nuclear to the forefront, said Maria Korsnick, president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry's trade association.

"The scale of this electric grid that's across the United States, it needs something that's always there, something that can help really be the backbone, if you will, for this grid," she said. "That's why it's a partnership with wind and solar and nuclear."

Peter Galbraith displays his opposition to a proposal to waive an environmental review of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power plant before renewing the plant's license, Tuesday, June 28, 2016, in Sacramento, Calif. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. Credit: AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Nuclear technology still comes with significant risks that other low-carbon energy sources don't, said Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists. While the new, smaller reactors might cost less than traditional reactors to build, they'll also produce more expensive electricity, he said. He's also concerned the industry might cut corners on safety and security to save money and compete in the market. The group does not oppose the use of nuclear power, but wants to make sure it's safe.

"I'm not optimistic we'd see the kind of safety and security requirements in place that would make me feel comfortable with the adoption or deployment of these so-called small modular reactors around the country," Lyman said.

The U.S. also has no long-term plan for managing or disposing the hazardous waste that can persist in the environment for hundreds of thousands of years, and there's the danger of accidents or targeted attacks for both the waste and the reactors, Lyman said. Nuclear disasters at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and more recently, Fukushima, Japan, in 2011 provide an enduring warning about the dangers.

Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, poses for a photo in the company's lobby, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Nuclear power already provides about 20% of electricity in the U.S., accounting for about half the nation's carbon-free energy. Most of the 93 reactors operating in the country are east of the Mississippi River.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved just one of the new, small modular reactor designsfrom a company called NuScale Power, in August 2020. Three other companies have told the commission they're planning to apply for their designs. All of these use water to cool the core.

The NRC is expecting about a half dozen designs to be submitted for advanced reactors, which use something other than water to cool the core, such as gas, liquid metal or molten salt. That includes a project by Gates' company, TerraPower, in Wyoming, the nation's largest coal-producing state. It has long depended on coal for power and jobs, and ships coal to more than half the states.

Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, displays a fuel assembly model, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. The 5-foot model is about one-third actual length and would be vertical when in use, rather than horizontal. By cooling the reactor with liquid sodium, a metal that solidifies at well above room temperature, TerraPower says its relatively small, 345-megawatt plant will be safe and less expensive than conventional, water-cooled nuclear plants. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

As utilities quit coal, Wyoming is tapping into wind and installed the third-largest amount of wind power generating capacity of any state in 2020, after Texas and Iowa. But Glen Murrell, executive director of the Wyoming Energy Authority, said it's unrealistic to expect all the nation's energy to be provided exclusively through wind and solar. Renewable energy should work in tandem with other technologies such as nuclear and hydrogen, he said.

TerraPower plans to build its advanced reactor demonstration plant in Kemmerer, a town of 2,700 in western Wyoming where a coal plant is closing. The reactor uses Natrium technology, which is a sodium-cooled fast reactor paired with an energy-storage system.

In another coal-dependent state, West Virginia, some lawmakers are trying to repeal the state's moratorium on the construction of new nuclear facilities.

TerraPower's Michael Anderson, manager of test engineers and technicians, talks about the large periodic table on the wall overhead during a tour of the nuclear reactor development facility, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. TerraPower plans to make its plant useful for today's energy grid with ever more renewable power. A salt heat "battery" will allow a nuclear plant to ramp up electricity production on demand, offsetting dips in electricity when the wind isn't blowing and sun isn't shining. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

A second reactor design by TerraPower will be built at the Idaho National Laboratory. The Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment will have a core that's as small as a refrigerator and molten salt to cool it instead of water.

Among the other states that support nuclear power, Georgia maintains that its nuclear reactor expansion will "provide Georgia with ample clean energy" for 60 to 80 years. Georgia has the only nuclear project under construction in the U.S.the expansion of Plant Vogtle from two of the traditional large reactors to four. The total cost is now more than double the original projection of $14 billion, and the project is years behind schedule.

New Hampshire said that without nuclear, the region's environmental goals would be impossible to meet as affordably. And the Alaska Energy Authority has been working since 2007 to plan for the use of small modular nuclear reactors, possibly at remote mine sites and military bases first.

Molten sodium sits in a beaker atop a hot plate as part of a demonstration at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. Bill Gates, the man who revolutionized personal computing, is launching an ambitious project to counter climate change: A nationwide reboot of nuclear energy technology. In November, Gates' company TerraPower announced it had chosen Kemmerer, Wy., for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon. The project comes as many U.S. states see nuclear emerging as an answer to fill the gap as a transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

The Maryland Energy Administration said that while the goal of all renewable energy is laudable and costs are declining, "for the foreseeable future we need a variety of fuels," including nuclear and cleaner natural gas-powered systems to ensure reliability and resiliency. Maryland has one nuclear plant, and the energy administration is talking with manufacturers of small modular reactors.

Other officials, mostly in Democratic-led states, said they're moving beyond nuclear power. Some said they never relied heavily on it to begin with and don't see a need for it in the future.

They said the cost of new reactors compared to installing wind turbines or solar panels, the safety concerns and the unresolved question of how to store hazardous nuclear waste are deal-breakers. Some environmentalists also oppose small modular reactors because of the safety concerns and hazardous waste questions. The Sierra Club has described them as "high-risk, highcost and highly questionable."

Test engineer Jacob Wilcox pulls his arm out of a glove box used for processing sodium at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. In November, Bill Gates' company TerraPower announced it had chosen Kemmerer, Wy., for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon. The project comes as many U.S. states see nuclear emerging as an answer to fill the gap as a transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

In New York, which has some of the nation's most ambitious goals to combat climate change, the future energy grid will be dominated by wind, solar and hydropower, said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen Harris.

Harris said she sees a future beyond nuclear, dropping from nearly 30% of the state's energy mix currently to around 5%, but the state will need advanced, long-duration battery storage and perhaps cleaner-burning fuels such as hydrogen.

Nevada is especially sensitive to nuclear energy because of the failed plan to store the nation's commercial spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain. Officials there don't consider nuclear power a viable option. Instead, they see potential for battery technology for energy storage and geothermal energy.

"Nevada understands better than most other states that nuclear technology has significant lifecycle problems," David Bobzien, director of the Nevada Governor's Office of Energy, said in a statement. "A focus on short-term gains can't alleviate the long-term issues with nuclear energy."

A canister containing an ingot of sodium metal is opened at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. By cooling a reactor with liquid sodium, a metal that solidifies at well above room temperature, TerraPower says its relatively small, 345-megawatt nuclear plant will be safe and less expensive than conventional, water-cooled nuclear plants. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

California is slated to close its last remaining nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, in 2025, as it turns to cheaper renewables to power its grid by 2045.

Officials think they can meet that goal if California sustains its expansion of clean electricity generation at a "record-breaking rate for the next 25 years," building on average of 6 gigawatts of new solar, wind and battery storage sources annually, according to state planning documents. California also imports power produced in other states as part of a Western U.S. grid system.

Skeptics have questioned whether California's all-in renewable plan can work in a state of nearly 40 million people.

Research from scientists at Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that delaying Diablo Canyon's retirement to 2035 would save California $2.6 billion in power system costs, reduce the chances of brownouts and lower carbon emissions. When the research was presented in November, former U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the nation is not positioned in the near-term to go to 100% renewable energy.

Test engineer Jacob Wilcox displays an ingot of sodium metal after cutting into it at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. Bill Gates, the man who revolutionized personal computing, is launching an ambitious project to counter climate change: A nationwide reboot of nuclear energy technology. In November, Gates' company TerraPower announced it had chosen Kemmerer, Wy., for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon. The project comes as many U.S. states see nuclear emerging as an answer to fill the gap as a transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

TerraPower's Michael Anderson, manager of test engineers and technicians, stands in front of sodium loops used to test instruments during a tour of the nuclear reactor development facility, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. TerraPower plans to make its plant useful for today's energy grid with ever more renewable power. A salt heat "battery" will allow a nuclear plant to ramp up electricity production on demand, offsetting dips in electricity when the wind isn't blowing and sun isn't shining. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, displays a fuel assembly model, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. The 5-foot model is about one-third actual length and would be vertical when in use, with the uranium fuel inside and sodium flowing on the outside of the tubes. By cooling the reactor with liquid sodium, a metal that solidifies at well above room temperature, TerraPower says its relatively small, 345-megawatt plant will be safe and less expensive than conventional, water-cooled nuclear plants. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Evan Kline, a test engineer at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, works on a project there, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. In November, Bill Gates' company TerraPower announced it had chosen Kemmerer, Wy., for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon. The project comes as many U.S. states see nuclear emerging as an answer to fill the gap as a transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Signs warn of an experiment in progress at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. Bill Gates, the man who revolutionized personal computing, is launching an ambitious project to counter climate change: A nationwide reboot of nuclear energy technology. In November, Gates' company TerraPower announced it had chosen Kemmerer, Wy., for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

TerraPower's Michael Anderson, manager of test engineers and technicians, holds a glass jar holding purified salt during a tour of the nuclear reactor development facility, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. TerraPower plans to make its plant useful for today's energy grid with ever more renewable power. A salt heat "battery" will allow a nuclear plant to ramp up electricity production on demand, offsetting dips in electricity when the wind isn't blowing and sun isn't shining. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors, smiles as he talks about the project, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

"They'll be times when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine," he said. "And we will need some power that we can actually turn on and dispatch at will. That leaves two choices: either fossil fuel or nuclear."

But the California Public Utilities Commission says it would likely take "seismic upgrades" and changes to the cooling systems, which could cost more than $1 billion, to continue operations at Diablo Canyon beyond 2025. Commission spokesperson Terrie Prosper said 11,500 megawatts of new clean energy resources will be online by 2026 to meet the state's long-term needs.

Jason Bordoff, co-founding dean of the Columbia Climate School, said that while California's plans are "technically possible," he's skeptical because it's challenging to build that much renewable capacity quickly. Bordoff said there is "good reason" to think about extending the life of Diablo Canyon to keep energy costs down and reduce emissions as quickly as possible.

"We have to incorporate nuclear energy in a way that acknowledges it's not risk-free," he said. "But the risks of falling short of our climate goals exceed the risks of including nuclear energy as part of the zero carbon energy mix."

Explore further US officials eye fuel supply for advanced nuclear reactors

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
US Big Tech firms are the main targets of the global minimum corporate tax.

The EU's effort to implement an internationally agreed minimum tax on big multinationals was met with opposition by Poland and Hungary on Tuesday, endangering a major priority of France's presidency of the bloc.

The EU is trying to seal into law a landmark agreement by nearly 140 countries that forces governments to impose a 15-percent minimum tax on the world's biggest companies.

Under France's just begun six-month presidency, the 27-member EU intends to be the first jurisdiction to implement the OECD-brokered agreement in time for its application on January 1, 2023.

But this would require unanimous approval by bloc members and Poland led a small group of countries with a varied list of misgivings about moving forward.

The resistance by Poland and Hungary comes when the relationship between both countries and their EU partners are fraught, with Warsaw and Budapest seen as steering away from the bloc's democratic values.

The global minimum tax is just one part of the OECD deal, and at the heart of the criticisms by the two countries are that the other key part, or "pillar one", needs to be implemented at the same time.

That part involves a highly complex agreement which would see companies taxed where their profits are made; it targets big tech groups, but has yet to be fully finalised.

"Poland cannot support a unilateral EU introduction of a global minimum tax, reducing the competitiveness of the EU, while leaving behind pillar one," Poland's deputy ambassador to the EU, Arkadiusz Plucinski, said at a meeting of European finance and tax ministers.

"To this end, we insist on our proposal... that is linking the two pillars legally," he said.

Hungarian Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said failing to tackle the other pillar "would endanger the political leverage on third countries to effectively implement" the deal.

Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister who is spearheading the proposal, defended the two-track approach.

The EU text transposes the minimum tax "in exactly the same terms" as the OECD proposal, so "there is something incomprehensible" in saying that it should not be adopted, Le Maire said.

France hopes for a final agreement on the minimum tax as early as March, just weeks ahead of presidential elections in which President Emanuel Macron is a likely candidate and would hail the deal as a major accomplishment.

 2022 AFP
South Hills (15301)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 60F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 60F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Former Sen. David Perdue and his wife Bonnie didnt have to wait long in line Monday to cast their ballots for the May 24 primary, which will determine who will receive the Republican nomination for the race to serve as Georgias next governor.
Organizers of Bryan-College Stations annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Program said Mondays holiday was a time to reflect and recharge.

It is as time to recognize the struggle and to see how powerful a man he was in the United States, said Agnes Gray, the MLK Program chair for the Brazos Valley Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. This is another day where we are going to be rejuvenated and reenergized to keep our relationship with these situations and keep them alive and well, and encourage people to keep moving forward.

The sorority canceled its annual Freedom March in Bryan, citing the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the area. Community members were encouraged to celebrate and honor Kings legacy through a program streamed on YouTube.

The programs featured speaker was George Lee, a Bryan High School graduate and professor at the University of Oklahoma.

Olivia Body-Davenport, the sororitys chapter president, said Lees experiences with adversity still influence his decisions today.

Lee started his speech by recalling a phrase he has heard many times.

Old folks used to say tell the truth and chain the devil, and from my understanding of history, that is exactly what [MLK] did, he said. He had a mastery of being able to speak truth to power, politically, socially and economically. So much to where they act like they love him today in this country, but we know that way back when, they did not like this man.

The same country that asks do you think Dr. Martin Luther King would approve of this? is the same country that didnt approve of Dr. Martin Luther King, Lee said.

He said the country that wants us to believe they celebrated him in life and in death is the same country that literally blamed his death on him.

Lee quoted tweets from Kings daughter, Bernice King, including: Black children are human. Brown children are human. Racism is destroying the world that all children live in. And if adults are not courageous enough to confront it, what are we teaching our children? What are we leaving our children?

Lee compared the civil rights movement with the modern Black Lives Matter movement.

A lot of the ways that the media responds to us is the same exact ways that the media responded to us back in the 60s and one of the reasons why [MLK] talked about riots being the language of the unheard, Lee said.

Lee challenged viewers of the program to consider their actions.

In 2022, the question now is being given to you: What are you doing right now? Are you being defined by the times that are going around us or are you trying to define the times around us? Are you being reactive or proactive? he said. You can graduate from high school and have a 4.0 [grade point average] and not know anything about Black history or Black people, but you cant say that the other way around. There is no way for you to be able to graduate from a high school or from a university and not know anything about the European history, or not knowing what white folks have done here in America. Education is elevation.

Body-Davenport said Lees message was you cannot change that which you do not understand, and in order to change you must have a starting point, and that starting point is consciousness.

To watch the virtual event, visit go.theeagle.com/mlk.

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Grand Island is doing its part to help meet Nebraskas growing workforce needs.

Gov. Pete Ricketts at a State of the State stop in Grand Island last week proposed $90 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the states community colleges to help them be able to train people more quickly.

With its current 1.8% unemployment rate, there are lots of jobs available in Nebraska.

We know for our employers that makes it hard to hire people, he said. One of the things we need to do, as part of this pandemic, is to make sure the young professionals who want to get into that certification program and get their two-year degree, can get that done as quickly as possible.

To meet this need locally, Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Wayne State College for a cooperative internship program.

Students in the program will get career scholarship funding for their first three years of study, and for the fourth year, spent in Grand Island, they would also get a stipend that would support housing locally.

A new bill, LB-902, the Nebraska Career Scholarship Act, introduced by State Sen. Ray Aguilar (D-35) on Jan. 7, if passed, would provide greater funding for such career scholarships.

Chamber President Cindy Johnson said the legislation would benefit the new internship program, especially for providing intern housing.

Within the last two years, the amount of scholarship dollars per student has increased from $10,000 to $15,000, so there is enough scholarship attached to a student so he or she can make it through with very little student debt, she said.

She added, Without the scholarship dollars, our program will be challenged to find that same level of funding.

Key to these efforts is not only fostering local talent, but keeping it from leaving the state after graduation, Johnson said.

We have such a need in this state, she said. One of our former university system presidents said, and everyone gasped when he said it, We need to build a fence around Nebraska, not to keep people out, but to keep our high school graduates in. Theyre being attracted to other states and getting offered incentive packages to go to other schools, and we need to keep our talent here.

The programs first students will be selected this fall and graduate in 2025 after developing their skills and talents exclusively in Grand Island.

Theyll learn what its like to work in a group, Johnson said. This will be a special Grand Island cohort. Theyll learn about Grand Island, and their skill sets for job searches and how to be an employee will all occur at a faster pace than if they were on a four-year program.

She added, Not only do they get their regular education, theyll get information on how to be an employee.

Area businesses and industries continue to struggle to find talent, Johnson reported. Such efforts will help attract and retain that talent.

If we can help our community college provide the services, the training, to our existing workforce, maximize their skill and talents, thats better for our workforce, she said. Stats show 50% of interns will stay at his or her place of internship and 60% stay in the community, so even though they might come here and intern with a business thats not a great fit for them, they might look at another business in the community.

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The Board of Directors of Cornerstone Bank announced the promotion of the following officer of the bank at their recent meeting:

Marj Steever was named Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer at Cornerstone Bank in York. As COO, Steever will supervise many of the Retail Banking Services that Cornerstone offers. She started with Cornerstone Bank in 2001 in the Depositor Services area and most recently served as the Vice-President/Retail Banking Officer since 2016.

She is a graduate of Callaway High School and attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is also a graduate of the Nebraska Bankers Association Leadership Class of 2012.

Cornerstone Bank promotes officers

The Board of Directors of Cornerstone Bank announced the promotions of the following officers, at their recent meeting:

Brittney Poppe was promoted to Human Resources Officer in York. Poppe started with Cornerstone Bank in October, 2018 at its Henderson Branch. In 2019 she transferred to a position in Human Resources & Training being the position she is in at the present time.

Poppe is a native of the Sutton Area and she received her bachelors and masters degree in Human Resources Management from Capella University. She and her husband, Jason, have three sons and reside near Sutton.

Julie Cast was promoted to Assistant Vice-President/Personal & Residential Loan Operations and Assistant S.A.F.E. Act Officer. Cast, who most recently served as, Assistant Vice-President/Personal & Residential Loan Operations Officer in York was given the additional title as Assistant S.A.F.E. Act Officer on December 16, 2021.

Cast started with Cornerstone in 2015 and has worked as a loan officer in the Personal and Residential Loan Department that entire time. She is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University. She and her husband, James, have four children and reside in York.

Cornerstone Bank is a $2 billion bank with 46 banking facilities in 37 communities.

Tabitha to offer a variety of support groups in February

Tabitha, Nebraskas industry-leading Senior Care provider, offers a variety of support groups throughout York, Seward, Butler, Polk, Fillmore, Saline and surrounding counties.

Helpful for many people processing their grief, grief groups give participants the opportunity to connect with others who are experiencing kindred feelings of loss. Tabitha offers multiple support groups online:

Growing through Grief provides basic skills for coping with loss. It also gives participants an opportunity to learn from each other. Evening sessions start February 21and run for six consecutive Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

If you are interested in enrolling in a grief group please contact a bereavement coordinator. Participation is free, register online at Tabitha.org/Hospice/Bereavement or call 402.486.8506.

Tabitha also offers in-person grief support groups. Due to Covid-19, mask and social distancing rules may apply.

Grief Support Group (Seward) is open to anyone in the community and surrounding area experiencing loss or needing support, held the second Tuesday of each month, Feb. 8, 5 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1014 N. 6th St. Please call to register at 402.362.7739.

Additionally, Tabitha is offering online hospice volunteer training. Hospice volunteering is a rewarding opportunity that provides companionship, pet therapy, bereavement support, respite care, office and clerical support while providing comfort and joy to Tabitha clients and families. For questions or to learn more, contact Susan Stearns, Tabitha Hospice volunteer coordinator, at 402.484.9983 or email Susan.Stearns@Tabitha.org.

What the heck?

Ever since my column last week where I announced formally that I will be leaving the full-time word force, part-time job offers have been coming out of the woodwork. While I appreciate the interest I plan on not even considering anything until the end of next summer.

I mean, Im getting out of the workforce in order to NOT work. Thats not to say that I might find myself bored out of my skull and will want to find something at some time. Until then, Im going to give that not working thing a try first.
SHELTON  Larry Brannagan has worked in a grocery store for most of his life.

His father, also Larry, owned and operated Mr. Bs Grocery Store in Wood River. Brannagan followed in his dads footsteps and has owned and operated his own store, Larrys Market, in Shelton for 35 years with his wife, Joanne.

My dad always wanted to own a grocery store. He bought that store in 1980. I kind of learned it from him. We were interested in the same things, Larry said.

Larry attended Kearney State College to study business while continuing to work at Mr. Bs. While he was in college, the Shelton grocery store owner approached the Brannagans about purchasing the Shelton store.

When this one came up, (my dad) was like, Well I cant buy it unless you are going to run it. Joanne and I were going to get married anyway so we both decided that would be something we could try, Larry explained.

The Brannagans purchased the store, and Larry and Joanne have operated the business since. Working with his dad and his wife have been one of the best parts of working at the store.

Its been great. We are a good team. We work well together. Joanne has her departments that she orders and stocks and takes inventory on, and I have mine, Larry said.

Larrys Market is housed in a massive, stately building in downtown Shelton. The age of the building  sections were built in the late 1800s and others in the early 1900s  is one of the challenges of owning the store.

Our building is so old. Its hard to update that. Its been more maintenance than anything, Larry said.

As the only full-time employees at the store, the Brannagans dont often take vacations. However, they often take trips to eastern Nebraska to visit their two daughters and three young grandchildren. Sometimes they will even leave after work to have dinner with their kids and head home the same night.

That is our vacation, Larry said with a laugh.

Vacation or even a day off were even more difficult to come by when the pandemic hit in early 2020. When it first began affecting the area, the Brannagans told their employees if they were uncomfortable working, they didnt have to come to work.

Most of them took that time off. A couple did stay. ... During that period when it first was bad, it was just me and Joanne pretty much all the time, Larry said.

The store also saw an increase in deliveries, and if anyone was quarantined, Larry was the one to drop the groceries on their doorstep.

Since opening their store 35 years ago, the Brannagans have seen other businesses come and go and more residents traveling out of town for employment.

If people are going to work, they go to Kearney or Grand Island to work. So while they are there its easy to get groceries. I think if we had more employment in town, we would all be better off, Larry said.

Working and living in the small town has been worthwhile for the couple and their family.

Im from Grand Island so Im familiar with the area, and my family is all close. That is one thing I like. Shelton is a great small town. We are really involved in the school and sports, Larry said.

Larry and Joanne have thought about retirement, but its not something they are seriously considering quite yet. Being able to work with family and their employees have helped them build a successful career and business.

We have had some really good employees along the way. ... Our good employees have been the best memories and working alongside my dad was a good memory. Its been great, Larry said.
UPDATE:

EDDYVILLE  Seven volunteer fire departments fought a house fire for 10 hours Monday in Eddyville.

Around 1:30 p.m. the Eddyville Volunteer Fire Department was called to the fire on Center Street in Eddyville in northwest Buffalo County. Shortly after firefighters requested mutual aid from Miller, Oconto, Callaway, Lexington, Ansley and Mason City volunteer fire departments.

Sumner EMTs were also on the scene.

Eddyvile Training Officer Fred Boon said the house had been vacant but people were in the process of moving in at the time of the fire. Boon said the fire appeared to start in the back of the home.

One of the biggest challenges the departments faced was a steel roof on the structure.

That was our biggest problem was that steel roof because we couldnt ventilate (the fire), Boon said.

Firefighters tried to fight the fire from inside the house, he explained. By 10 p.m., the departments removed the roof off the house to better fight the blaze.

Volunteers were able to save the walls and foundation of the house, but with extensive water and smoke damage the house is a total loss, Boon said. A garage and pickup were near the house but weren't damaged.

No injuries were reported. The Nebraska Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Boon said community members assisted firefighters by bringing them pizza, sandwiches and drinks.
WAHOO  When Ron Vanderveen was a child growing up in Ontario, Canada, he had fond memories of going to Dairy Queen with his father.

He continued that tradition with his own children, taking them to the American-based ice cream eatery for every special occasion, like Fathers Day and his birthday.

It was Dairy Queen all the time, said Rons son, Rob Vanderveen.

It didnt matter if it was winter, said Nick Vanderveen, Robs other son.

It would be so cold and I say, I do not want any ice cream, Nick remembered.

So when the Omaha man was preparing to turn 60 years old, his family hit upon a great idea  make him a DQ employee for a day and allow him to learn how to make his favorite twist cone on his own.

The only problem was how to convince a DQ franchise to allow an amateur ice cream artist behind the counter?

Thats where having connections to small towns pays off.

Rons son had a good friend who grew up in Wahoo. Paul Wilson contacted a friend, Josh Hutson, who still lives in Wahoo to ask him if he thought the Dairy Queen in his hometown would be willing to play along.

Hutson reminded him that one of their former Wahoo High School classmates happens to run the Wahoo DQ.

Wilson himself had fond memories of the DQ in Wahoo. He contacted Jacob Pokorny, who has been the manager of the Dairy Queen for several years and recently became owner.

Jacob loved the idea.

It sounded fun, he said.

So on his birthday, Dec. 28, Rons family put him in a car and headed west for a surprise. He had no idea what the surprise was going to be.

When they pulled into the Dairy Queen parking lot, they were greeted with a sign that read: Welcome to the DQ Crew Ron!

Still not sure what was going on, Ron walked into the restaurant and was greeted by Jacob, who handed him a T-shirt bearing the Wahoo Dairy Queen logo. He was told to put on the shirt and then get to work behind the counter, where he began taking orders from his family.

Ron stood there in awe, and then said it was a dream come true.

My life is complete, he added.

His family members and friends continued the fun as they ordered ice cream cones and peanut buster parfaits in a complicated manner, mimicking how Ron gets a little flustered when he places an order.

Ron is a very smart, capable man, but he gets very overwhelmed when ordering food, said his daughter-in-law, Chase Vanderveen.

Rob said his dad cant seem to remember what to call his favorite menu item  the chocolate/vanilla ice cream twist cone.

He cant seem to remember twist. Hell say twirl, swirly, or gesture with his finger, Rob said, making a circle in the air with his finger to demonstrate.

I just cant find the words for twist, Ron admitted with a laugh.

I assume everybody knows what it is, he said as he made the hand gesture.

After the orders were placed, Ron went to work at the ice cream machine. With Jacobs assistance and help from other members of the Wahoo DQ staff, he learned how to make a twist cone with the trademark swirl on top.

Some of his cones may not have looked perfect. But they all tasted wonderful, according to his family and friends. His two sons and their spouses, Rons daughter Natalie and her husband David were there, along with Nicks wife Myca. And of course, Rons two grandchildren, Wilder and Shia, were enjoying a bit of ice cream. A handful of friends were also present, including a couple who traveled from Colorado.

Ron said he has loved Dairy Queen all of his life.

Its all about the ice cream, he said.

While the family lovingly mocked Rons difficulties while ordering, their affection for the family patriarch was evident as they smiled and laughed when he presented his lopsided cones.

After taking orders, making cones, Blizzards and other ice cream treats, Ron sat down to enjoy his own cone and reflect upon his experience.

I have more appreciation of what they do, he said of DQ employees.

Not that Ron has ever been unkind to a DQ employee. Nick remembers his dad making conversation with the staff and asking typical dad questions like Are you open all year long? in mid-January.

Rons love of DQ is legendary. He receives gift cards for the fast-food chain frequently from family and friends.

They know I love it and its a great present for me, he said.

But not nearly as great a present as being an DQ employee for a day.
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A University of Wisconsin-Madison research team has received $7 million from the federal government to help develop a universal coronavirus vaccine that could protect against multiple strains at once.

The group, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka, seeks to make a so-called pan-coronavirus vaccine against a broad range of coronaviruses, as part of a National Institutes of Health effort that started last fall.

This pan-coronavirus vaccine is basically preparing for the future, Kawaoka, a professor of pathobiological sciences in UW's School of Veterinary Medicine, said a statement Tuesday.

With $7 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Kawaoka and his collaborators have been looking for a vaccine to train immune systems against an array of coronaviruses, such as the pandemic strain SARS-CoV-2, including its variants such as delta and omicron, and as-yet unknown coronaviruses.

The pan-coronavirus vaccine may not be as effective as a vaccine that is specific for a particular strain, like SARS-CoV-2, but the trade-off for reduced effectiveness is increased coverage, Kawaoka said.

Peter Halfmann, a research associate professor in Kawaoka's lab at UW's Influenza Research Institute, said it would mean having something ready to go in case something (new) did pop up.

Kawaoka expects vaccine candidates they identify now are at least five years away from the clinic.

SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, belongs to a larger family of coronaviruses that tend to make humans and other animals sick, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, or MERS, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, or SARS, both of which are also responsible for epidemics. At least four other coronaviruses infect most people by age 10, causing little more than annoying colds.

Kawaoka, Halfmann and their collaborators are searching for regions of the viral spike protein, a unique feature that gives coronaviruses their name, that are most likely to be shared between members of the coronavirus family.

Once identified, the scientists will test how well these portions of the protein stimulate the immune systems of mice to generate an antibody response, and compare this to data from independent, complementary studies of human immune reactions.

Members of the collaboration will select proteins, or antigens, that perform well and use them to vaccinate mice and hamsters, studying how well the vaccines protect the animals when they are exposed to coronaviruses in the lab.

The researchers will also take the high-performing antigens and attach them to a nanoparticle that mimics a whole virus. Kawaokas lab had already been testing this platform, developed by Ravi Kane at Georgia Tech University, and their own platform as part of efforts to develop a universal influenza vaccine.

Other major collaborators on the project include Patrick Wilson at Weill Cornell Medicine and Paul Thomas of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

The NIH is also funding work centered at Brigham and Womens Hospital and at Duke University, each focusing on different approaches to developing broad-based vaccines.
CARBONDALEThe local branch of the NAACP on Monday called for solidarity with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to protect access to voting rights.

As we gather to commemorate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us reflect on not just his struggles, then, but our struggles that we have, even today, let us also stand in solidarity with the King family, who have called upon all of us to call attention to securing and protecting the most important right in this democracy, the right to vote, Dr. Linda Flowers, president of the NAACP, said.

Her comments came during the Carbondale branch's annual MLK breakfast.

The King family has mobilized for the right to vote and said in statements to news outlets earlier Monday that this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day is no cause for celebration saying there could be no celebration without legislation.

Martin Luther King Jr. III released a statement via Twitter: Today, remember the true nature of my father's work. He fought for easy access to the ballot box & civil rights protections. He isn't a figurehead to be used to uplift backward agendas. We won't celebrate until Congress does its job and legislates.

The Freedom To Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act activists are advocating for would help to secure the right to vote by defending against voter suppression.

The Freedom to Vote Act would require all 50 states to offer early voting periods, create a national standard for voting by mail, make election day a national holiday, give protections to those with disabilities and create standards for voter validation, according to the Brennan Center.

This is strengthened by the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that would restore protections against discrimination targeting voters of color, according to the Brennan Center.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 19 states have passed 34 laws restricting access to voting and more than 440 bills with provisions that restrict voting access have been introduced in 49 of our 50 states, Flowers said.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act passed the House and is being debated in the Senate.

Flowers said now is the time to put pressure on the Senate to pass the bills as well.

"And even though our Illinois senators are in favor of both of those bills, you have family and friends across the country, contact them and urge them to lobby their senators to pass these bills," Flowers said. "This King holiday let us truly honor the life and legacy of Dr. King by refusing as he said, to stay silent, and speaking out against those things that we know to be unfair and unjust by taking actions to change the status quo."

To help promote voter participation, the NAACP of Carbondale will be hosting community conversations in partnership with the Carbondale Public Library. Flowers said the first of these will take place Tuesday Feb. 18 and will feature John Jackson of the Paul Simon Institute.

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MURPHYSBORO  On March 18, 1925, one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history swept through Murphysboro, leveling much of the town.

Mike Jones, director of the General John A. Logan Museum and a member of Murphysboro Historic Preservation Commission, said the area between Elm Street and Hortense Street from 19th Street to 22nd Street was devastated by the tornado.

Linda Herrold, chairman of Murphysboro Historic Preservation Commission, said bungalow style houses were in favor at that time. Many of the houses damaged by the tornado in this part of town were rebuilt in the bungalow style from 1925 to 1928.

We think its very important part of Murphysboro history. The homes are all about 100 years old, Jones said.

The Murphysboro Historic Preservation Commission is undertaking a project to create the citys second landmark, called the Longfellow Historic Bungalow District.

The first historic district is the neighborhood that is home to the General John A. Logan Museum.

Herrold said the pandemic has made the first step of the process more difficult. Before a historic district can be created, 51 percent of the property owners in the area must agree to the project. There are 360 properties in the area that is proposed for the historic district.

Along with the nearly 100 year old bungalows, Herrold said a few Victorian-style homes dot the area. Those are homes that survived the tornado.

Herrold said packets will be mailed to property owners. They are working on those packets now. They will need approved by the city council before they can be sent. Then, the next step will be a public meeting.

COVID put a dent in trying to get this done, Herrold said.

For homes within the historic district, any changes to the external surfaces of buildings will have to be in the accordance with the bungalow style. Property owners will still apply to the city for a building permit, then the Historic Preservation Commission will have to approve the project.

Herrold said there are advantages for property owners in a historic district. Generally property values go up on the properties in the district because the houses are maintained in their original styles.

She said the commission will approve home additions, as long as they look like the bungalow-style on the outside. They will not have any say on internal modifications.

Murphysboro Historic Preservation Commission hopes to complete the project by the end of this year. If the property owners dont agree, Herrold said the project will be finished.

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One morning in March 2021, at a nursing home in Evanston, resident Velta Saint registered an alarmingly low 44% oxygen level in her blood. Normal levels range from 95% to 100%, and one study recommends hospitalization for any patient with a reading below 90%.

Medical workers tried to improve Saints respiration, then sent her to a hospital  which sent her back to the nursing home, before she was returned to the hospital, where she died. Saints ordeal came after her daughter, a registered nurse, said the home had been slow, in her opinion, to diagnose her condition and failed to treat it aggressively. The daughter, Marlene Bryan, filed a complaint over her mothers treatment with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

What gets me is, I told them, Bryan said. There were so many things that are so wrong. If somebody had said, This is not right, my mom would still be alive today.

But a state inspector found the complaint unsubstantiated, meaning he found insufficient evidence to give it credence. As a result, state regulators took no action against the nursing home  a common occurrence with complaints about long-term care.

In 2021, state inspectors found about 64%  nearly 2 out of 3  of overall complaints and abuse or neglect complaints unsubstantiated. In 2020, 66% of overall complaints were unsubstantiated, and 90% of neglect allegations.

The issue isnt new nationally. As far back as 2009, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that concerns had been raised about the timeliness and adequacy of complaint investigations and federal oversight. GAO found 19% of investigated complaints nationally were substantiated and led to a citation, and that many state agencies had difficulty meeting performance standards for handling complaints.

Illinois had the second-highest rate of complaints and number of substantiated complaints compared with peer states, according to a consultants report that generally found lax state oversight and poor quality of care. Still, the dismissal of most cases has come as residents and loved ones have increasingly complained about conditions in nursing homes. Complaints rose 29% from 2014 to 2019, the report found, and last year, the state failed to investigate the most serious complaints for three months.

The state is required by law to conduct general inspections annually and to respond quickly to specific complaints. One of the prime drivers of complaints, officials say, is a shortage of nursing home workers, which has only grown more severe during the COVID pandemic. To make matters worse, the state has been chronically short of inspectors.

In response to the Chicago Tribunes questions, spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said the health department is not able to comment about individual cases, and she did not address questions about whether the number of complaints that are substantiated is low. But she said the agency has overhauled its Office of Health Care Regulation, hiring a new management team and 40 new nurse surveyors and five supervisors since September 2020 to eliminate a backlog of complaints.

The health department also hired a manager to coordinate the use of proceeds from fines to improve the quality of care at nursing homes, and the state is proposing major changes to tie funding to staffing and performance.

For their part, nursing home industry officials defended their performance, saying regulatory inspections often unnecessarily result in citations and fines, when working together would produce better results.

A rare look inside the complaint process

Saint lived at Symphony Evanston Healthcare, which Medicare rates at four out of five stars overall, based on health inspections, staffing and quality of resident care. It had 13 complaints that resulted in fines in the past three years, federal records show.

Responding to the Tribunes questions about the case, Symphony issued a statement noting that after an inspection and an administrative review, state inspectors did not find any deficiency in the treatment the home provided.

Patient privacy laws limit what we can share on the care provided, the statement read, but we do want to express our heartfelt condolences to (Ms. Bryan) and her family for their loss.

Because Bryan was willing to share the state inspection report with medical records of her mothers experience, the case offers a rare glimpse inside proceedings that typically remain secret due to health privacy laws.

Velta Saint was born in Jamaica and immigrated to the United States as a teenager, according to her daughter. She herself worked as a certified nursing assistant at nursing homes for about 20 years and cared a great deal for her patients, Bryan said.

She married and divorced, and as a single mother raised three children in Evanston. Bryan fondly recalled her mother taking her kids to fly kites and buy caramel apples at the nearby Affy Tapple store, and always emphasizing the importance of education.

Years ago, Saint suffered a stroke that partially paralyzed her left side. Bryan said she took care of her at home starting in 2007, preparing meals, getting her medicine, and testing her blood sugar due to her diabetes. But her mothers health declined. She went from using a cane to needing a walker, and one day she fell down the stairs in her home. Eventually, she could not be left alone, and in 2019, she moved into Symphony nursing home.

Bryan said she visited her mother several times a week, bringing her favorite foods, including Jamaican beef patties. When COVID-19 became widespread by March 2020, visitors were prohibited. Bryan could only see her mother on video calls.

On Feb. 19, 2021, on a FaceTime call, Bryan said, she noticed her mothers face appeared swollen. She sounded congested and was having trouble breathing, and said she was not feeling well. Bryan said she made repeated calls to the director of nursing, and left messages explaining that something was wrong with her mother and she needed diagnostic testing, according to Bryans complaint.

Later that day, according to the complaint, officials at the home called back to say an X-ray showed that Bryans mother had pneumonia, an infection that causes fluid to build up in the lungs. Bryan said that in her opinion, the medical professionals at the home should have noticed her mothers condition and found the pneumonia before she alerted them.

At age 64, Saint had numerous underlying conditions, including heart failure, being overweight, high blood pressure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients with comorbidities who acquire pneumonia in a health care facility such as a nursing home, where the infection might be resistant to treatment, generally should be treated aggressively with intravenous antibiotics to attack any drug-resistant bacteria, according to recommendations from the American Thoracic Society. Medical records show Saint instead was given an oral antibiotic Augmentin for a week.

Nursing home records collected in the state inspection show repeated detailed updates about Saint for March 2, 3, 4 and 5, but appeared to show only vital signs for March 6, the day immediately preceding her being hospitalized.

The records indicated no major complications until before dawn March 7, when Saint suddenly was measured with a dangerously low 44% blood oxygen level after being on a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, which is supposed to blow air into a patients airway to prevent sleep apnea.

Saints medical record from the home states, Incoming nurse on duty went immediately to assess resident. Resident was alert and oriented ... but very tired and weak. Resident reinstructed to keep her CPAP on. Nurse on duty observed that resident was noncompliant on keeping CPAP on. Residents voice sound was moist and audible sound as she were drowning in her own secretion.

Bryan said she believes this should have been considered a medical emergency that required an immediate call for an ambulance.

Instead, according to the complaint, the nurse on duty told Saint to take deep breaths with a measuring device called a spirometer, and got her oxygen level up to 72%  still far too low. She was given Tylenol for her fever, and coughed up thick white mucous. She was put on portable oxygen, and 30 minutes later her blood oxygen was at 70%, nursing home records indicate.

About 2:30 that morning, records show, Saint was taken to Evanston Hospital with shortness of breath, cough and fever.

At present, patient denies any complaint, hospital records stated. At the time her symptoms seemed attributable to HFpEF, the record stated, referring to a form of ongoing heart failure. A chest X-ray found congestion and fluid in her lung, but there appeared to be no mention in the records of diagnosing or treating her pneumonia on that initial visit to the hospital.

According to the complaint, Saint was given Lasix, a diuretic, to help eliminate some of the excess fluid in her body, which shed also been prescribed at the nursing home, and required help breathing with a bi-level positive airway pressure machine, or BiPAP. She tested negative for COVID-19, but told doctors shed had shortness of breath and a cough for a week.

Saint was given several medications, measured oxygen levels above 90%, and was discharged back to Symphony of Evanston. There, she was seen by a doctor, who had her taken back to the hospital that night for admission and treatment of pneumonia.

The second time at the hospital, she was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, and pneumonia, records show. She was treated in the emergency department with IV antibiotics and steroids and a nebulizer to deliver medication to her lungs. She was first admitted to a room, and later put in intensive care on a BiPAP.

But, according to the complaint, she continued to decline the next day, with diminished breathing and increasing levels of carbon dioxide in her blood.

At 6 a.m. the following day, hospital records show, she was found unable to answer, with coarse breathing sounds and crackles. The family was called to her bedside, and requested a morphine drip. A priest from her parish was called to administer last rites. Saint had a do-not-resuscitate order. Her breathing apparatus was removed, and records indicate she passed away peacefully.

Bryan said she believes Evanston Hospital also failed her mother by initially sending her home without resolving her pneumonia. So many people dropped the ball, she said she believes. NorthShore University HealthSystem, which includes Evanston Hospital, declined to comment, citing privacy regulations.

In response to Bryans complaint about her mothers care, the Department of Public Health sent inspector Rick Ramos, a health facility surveillance nurse and a licensed nursing home administrator, to the home March 17. He interviewed the nursing home administrator and director of nursing.

Records show the facility put (Saint) on BiPAP machine to manage her COPD and respiratory needs and was assessed by staff throughout her stay, his report stated. Nursing home officials were interviewed with no concerns related to improper nursing care.

Based on observation, interview and record review, the allegation of improper nursing cannot be substantiated, Ramos wrote. No deficiency cited.

Following Department of Public Health rules, A complaint is considered invalid if the Department determines that there is no credible evidence that there has been a deficiency

In order to cite a violation, health department spokeswoman Arnold said, there must be evidence that a facilitys policies were not followed or didnt meet regulations, or that a doctors orders were not followed. If anyone questions a physicians orders, they can make a complaint against that physician.

Saints daughter disputed the findings, saying she believed her mother was not properly assessed, as indicated by the fact Bryan had to ask for an X-ray that found her pneumonia.

Bryan is appealing the findings of the inspection, and was scheduled for a hearing before an administrative judge Tuesday.

As a nurse, Bryan she said was able to understand the medical issues involved, navigate the system and file a detailed report challenging the inspection. The average person without medical training, she said, would never get that far through the daunting and emotional process.

Noting a Tribune report that Black and brown nursing home residents in Illinois died at a higher rate than whites, Bryan said in her view her mothers case is an example of why Black people are skeptical of their medical care. How would her treatment have been if she was white? she asked.

As complaints mount, regulating roughly 1,200 nursing homes in Illinois is a gargantuan task. Each year, health department inspectors conduct about 10,000 surveys, including annual licensing inspections and complaints, which can be reported by phone at 800-252-4343.

In 2020, 161 cases were cited for putting residents in immediate jeopardy, and 329 plans of correction were imposed. Both numbers mark large increases from 2019, which state officials attributed to inspections for COVID-19 infection control.

More feedback is sought

Pat Merryweather, executive director for Project Patient Care, which advocates for patients, reviewed Saints treatment for the Tribune and said there were many unknowns in the case.

In general, Merryweather advocated for nursing homes to use rapid response teams, as do many hospitals, a tactic advocated by the World Health Organization. When a residents condition seriously worsens, the team is activated to keep the patient from crashing.

In case a physician isnt immediately available in person, Merryweather suggested, nursing homes should be able to reach one quickly through a telehealth consultation.

We need to move away from a wait-and-see mode, she said, to contacting a health care provider that can assess and if necessary, prescribe treatment and (an) intervention plan.

In response to Tribune questions, Matt Pickering, executive director of the Health Care Council of Illinois, which represents more than 300 skilled nursing facilities in the state, said they have experienced strict regulation.

IDPH surveys and citations have actually increased in frequency and severity, he said. From what we can tell, this is one anecdotal example being used to highlight a trend that our members simply arent experiencing.

Instead, Pickering said, the state is increasing citations and fines, without providing substantive feedback for how to improve, as was found in a recent taxpayer-funded report.

We would welcome the opportunity to partner with the department, Pickering said, to identify ways we can better work together to ensure quality care in a collaborative manner.

Dr. Michael Wasserman, a former nursing home administrator and past president of the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine, said the inspection process needs to be reworked.

The system is not effective and also hasnt lent itself to bringing about significant improvements in quality of care, he said.

Rather than pressuring nursing home workers, whom he called incredible people, he said the system should ensure the public funding that goes into nursing homes ends up improving patient care.

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Southwestern Illinois College received two grants for a combined $1.4 million to address equity in the trades.

The Illinois Community College Board granted SWIC a $1.2 million Workforce Equity Initiative Grant that will be used to continue one-year career training programs in East St. Louis, SWIC announced last week.

Those programs include certificates in welding, nurse assistant, food service, forklift training, phlebotomy, practical nursing and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Starting in the fall, a certificate in web design will be offered.

One hundred thirty students have received credentials since 2019.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced $9.6 million in grant funding for construction pre-apprenticeships on Thursday. SWIC is one of 23 organizations receiving grant money, and is receiving $240,000 to provide pre-apprenticeship training and wraparound supportive services to participants.

Between the 23 organizations  which include community colleges, non-profits and industry associations  Pritzker's office said there will be more than 1,000 participants, most of whom are underrepresented in the industry.

Pre-apprenticeship programs aim to help candidates in getting admitted to an apprenticeship program. Participants receive a stipend and workplace experience.

In Illinois, 4% of Illinois apprentices are women and 29% are people of color, according to a 2020 report from the Illinois Department of Labor. Both of the grants SWIC received are aimed at serving those populations that are underrepresented.

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Editors Note: Taylor Vidmar is a student in the Public Affairs Reporting program at University of Illinois Springfield. She is a reporting intern at the Capitol for Lee Enterprises.

SPRINGFIELD  There was once a time when Kristen Holly might see more than 200 applicants for a single elementary teaching position.

It was overwhelming just to figure out how to screen applicants, the assistant superintendent for student services in the Charleston School District, said.

That time is long gone.

Just a decade later, that same elementary position might now yield only six to 10 applications, on a good day. Job openings for more specialized positions  like counseling, special education, or secondary foreign language  Holly said, sometimes draw no applicants at all.

Now, we're going to see your application no matter what, she said.

Most positions in the Charleston district are filled, but with fewer substitute teachers and support staff available, having only a few teachers out because they are sick can pose an issue for the entire district.

Hollys concerns are echoed by superintendents and educators across east central Illinois. Many have observed a rapid decline in new teachers entering the field and reported shortages in school positions ranging from teachers and counselors to bus drivers, custodians, and even administrators.

More recently, many schools have also seen increased illness among both students and educators caused by the COVID-19 omicron variant surge, forcing some to go remote for days at a time.

As Dr. Kyle Thompson, regional superintendent for the Regional Office of Education 11, put it: It's a serious crisis. It has been for several years, and it gets worse every year.

But what caused the crisis? Many educators agree that there was no single cause. Instead, a variety of factors have helped make the education field seem less desirable for both prospective and current teachers.

One of those factors is teacher pay, said Matt Snyder, regional superintendent for Macon and Piatt counties.

Teacher pay isnt as high as for other fields that require a degree, and many college students know they can make more money at other jobs, he said.

In 2019, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill that increases minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 by 2023.

But increasing pay can also create added stress on smaller, rural districts with less disposable income, many of which are already increasing daily pay for substitutes to make up for staffing shortages.

And salary costs arent the only challenge districts face.

Its become too complicated for prospective teachers to get certified, Thompson said.

To teach in Illinois, teachers must obtain a Professional Educator License. For that, they need at least a bachelors degree and some student teaching experience. They must also complete a state-approved teaching program, which can take a few years.

The challenges dont end when teachers get certified. Theres also simply too much stress on teachers, said Aaron Hird, regional superintendent for Vermilion County.

Some districts have combined classes, leaving teachers with more students than before. Many teachers also take on additional school roles like sponsoring activities.

In recent decades, teachers have seen more state oversight than before, Snyder said. State codes requiring specific units of study, extra paperwork for reporting classroom activity, and reliance on test scores can be difficult for teachers to keep up with in addition to their already busy schedules, he said.

Many teachers experience burnout caused by educator shortages and the pandemic, said Lauren Mellott, a fifth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston.

It's hard, because when you walk down the hallway ... you see it in other teachers faces that they just look dejected, she said. They look tired.

I mean, it's always been hard, but it's exhausting now, Kimberly Spanhook, Mellotts teaching partner, said. You feel like you're on fire all the time.

The exhausting environment is also impacting students.

We're seeing fifth-graders that are academically, and, really, behaviorally, socially, emotionally more at a third-grade level because that was the last normal true school year that they had, Mellott said.

This creates more challenges for teachers, who have to adapt their lesson plans and teaching strategies to meet the changing needs of their students.

According to the Illinois State Board of Educations most recent Illinois Educator Supply and Demand Report, east central Illinois had the second lowest average educator retention rate of any other geographic area in the state at 84.2%.

Similarly, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools 2021 Illinois Educator Shortage Survey found that teacher shortages are seen most downstate  91% of districts in east central Illinois reported teacher shortages.

Some are calling on ISBE and the Illinois General Assembly to do more. Thompson said not much will change unless ISBE backs certain policies, like ending the use of the edTPA assessment for licensure.

Even though it's a tough time to be an educator, Mellott said she finds hope through her students.

You work for your kids, even amongst the difficulties, she said. The kids make it all worth it.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

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The Regional Medical Center is engaged in settlement discussions over plans for a private surgery center.

RMC is currently challenging the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Controls decision to allow Ambulatory Partners LLC to build a private center.

A hearing was planned for last week. However, the hearing before the Administrative Law Court has been pushed back to the spring with the consent of all parties, RMC attorney Laura Evans said. The ALC is a court established to hear contested state agency cases.

This is common in complex cases. In the meantime, RMC remains focused on caring for our community during these unprecedented times, Evans said.

A hearing on the motions is scheduled for March 2 and a merits hearing is scheduled for April 11 through April 22.

According to a five-page joint motion of continuance filed Dec. 14 by RMC, Ambulatory Partners and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, a continuance was requested because the parties have engaged in settlement discussions to reach a negotiated resolution that would obviate the necessity of a trial.

Due to the complexity of the regulations governing the healthcare industry and physician-hospital arrangements, reaching a mutually agreeable resolution will take considerable time and effort, the joint motion of continuance states. Moreover, it will require the involvement of one or more healthcare consultants to ensure that any resolution is fully compliant with state and federal law.

The selection, vetting, and retention of these third parties will require additional time, such that they cannot practically perform their work prior to January 10, the motion states. A continuance would allow the parties to continue working towards a resolution that will be beneficial to the parties and the community and it would promote judicial economy.

DHEC has approved a certificate of need for Ambulatory Partners LLC, essentially giving it permission to build a $12.5 million, 12,640-square-foot ambulatory surgery center across the road from the hospital.

Ambulatory Partners is made up of Orangeburg doctors Dion Franga and Amit Sanghi.

RMC also has a certificate of need allowing it to spend $2.4 million to convert its existing Dialysis Access Institute into an ambulatory surgery center on its St. Matthews Road campus.

Ambulatory Partners has said its center will benefit the community. RMC claims the center will harm the hospital financially.

Ambulatory Partners has said both surgery centers are needed in the area.

South Carolina lawmakers are debating whether to get rid of the Certificate of Need process entirely.

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COLUMBIA  Months after a newspaper investigation exposed how dozens of political officials across South Carolina get away with refusing to pay their ethics fines, state lawmakers appear to be taking action.

A Senate committee will soon debate a proposal to ban such officials from seeking re-election unless they pay their penalties, an effort to make politicians take the states ethics laws  and the watchdog that enforces them  more seriously.

That proposal, S. 188, is one of more than two dozen good-government bills that lawmakers could consider as they begin their 2022 session at the Statehouse this month.

Several, like S. 188, address problems that were exposed over the past year by Uncovered, an investigative partnership between The Post and Courier and 17 local newspapers that seeks to expose corruption, conflicts of interest, abuses of power and holes in oversight in every corner of the state.

The project has drawn new attention to questionable conduct within city councils, school districts, fire departments, natural gas authorities, state agencies and the government watchdogs who are tasked with keeping them in line.

Political leaders have responded to some of the scandals, but whether 2022 will become a year for ethics reform at the Statehouse remains to be seen.

Last week, Gov. Henry McMaster urged lawmakers to nearly double the budgets of the Inspector General's Office and State Ethics Commission, giving them more money to hire investigators and uncover misconduct. The Columbia Republican also called for greater ethics training for the states scandal-scarred sheriffs and proposed requiring special interests that lobby local governments to register with the state and disclose their efforts. The governor is expected to tout his ethics plan at his Jan. 19 State of the State address.

One of his top challengers in the 2022 governors race, Charleston Democrat Joe Cunningham, has released his own anti-corruption agenda. The former congressmans plan includes term limits, strengthening the Ethics Commission and limiting special interests ability to influence the General Assembly.

Other lawmakers have proposed their own piecemeal reforms  everything from closing ethics loopholes for utility officials to expanding the states Freedom of Information Act to enacting greater restrictions on lobbying.

But even with the heightened attention on ethics, pushing these proposals through the legislature will be no easy task.

Having worked very hard for ethics reform many years and having seen many great proposals die, I cant say Im wildly optimistic about getting everything, said Lynn Teague, vice president of the League of Women Voters.

Indeed, there is much work to do.

Stiff-arming Ethics Commission

One of the most realistic proposals is S. 188  state Sen. Greg Hembrees bill to ban ethics debtors from seeking reelection until they pay their fines.

The Little River Republican initially filed the bill in December 2020, before the Legislature even began its two-year session. But it got no attention, languishing for more than a year without so much as a subcommittee debate.

Thats changing now, Hembree told The Post and Courier.

As part of its Uncovered series, the newspaper revealed in August that no fewer than 50 public officials were holding office in South Carolina despite being listed on the State Ethics Commissions debtors list. That 28-page chart lists 370 politicians, lobbyists and political groups who have run afoul of ethics laws but refused to pay their fines.

The story showed how the Ethics Commission is able to recoup just a sliver of the $2.9 million those debtors owe to taxpayers each year. Meanwhile, the officials on the list  mayors, county council members, even state lawmakers  continue to seek and win re-election.

Hembrees bill would incentivize those officials to pay up  and perhaps cause them to take ethics laws seriously  by threatening their ability to hold public office.

Most bills that are filed at the Statehouse fade into obscurity without ever getting a hearing. But Hembree appears to have overcome that hurdle. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, has pledged to have a subcommittee take up and vet S. 188, a critical first step toward serious debate and passage.

Were going to take a look at it, and hopefully were going to get some action on it, Hembree said.

Expanding watchdog's authority

Lawmakers will also take a serious look at spending more than $3 million to bolster the funding of the State Ethics Commission and Inspector Generals Office, two agencies that together employee about a dozen investigators.

McMaster has called on legislators to more than double the funding of each agency, empowering them to hire more sleuths and probe allegations of waste, fraud, abuse and other types of misconduct by public officials.

In a recent budget hearing, Inspector General Brian Lamkin told lawmakers the new money would help him hire nine more investigators, increasing his eight-member staff to 19.

Lawmakers will also consider a proposal to expand Lamkins jurisdiction, currently limited to state agencies. A proposal by Hembree, S. 202, would empower the inspector general to also investigate school districts. McMaster wants to expand the bill even more, allowing investigations into cities, counties and nonprofits that get state money.

Lamkin said on Jan. 12 that his office has had to pull the plug on investigations in the past because of his offices limited jurisdiction. But local governments and school districts are sure to oppose any effort to let the inspector general crawl through their finances.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said lawmakers would consider those ideas, but he worries about spreading the Inspector Generals Office too thin by expanding its potential workload. He said both the Ethics Commission and Inspector Generals Office will need to explain what they could do with the extra money and authority.

If you give it too much (to do), its going to be less effective in the areas where you need it to be effective, the Aiken Republican said.

Uphill battle

Other ethics proposals are less realistic as the General Assembly enters the second of a two-year session.

Legislators spent large chunks of their 2021 calendar mired in debates over abortion, guns and COVID-19 issues, such as mask mandates at K-12 schools.

This year, they must navigate a highly contentious redistricting debate and determine how to divvy up the largest spending package in South Carolina history, fueled by mounds of federal aid and a state economy that performed better than expected during the pandemic.

That could leave little time for proposals that arent sexy, face opposition or lack grassroots momentum.

For example, a bill filed last February by a trio of senators  and backed by the governor  that aimed to close ethics loopholes for big-spending natural gas utilities has gone nowhere. S. 548 was proposed days after an Uncovered story revealed how commissioners at the states five public gas authorities secretly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to send themselves to luxurious retreats in recent years.

But the bill still hasnt received a hearing from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Another bill, H. 3622, would apply the Palmetto States Freedom of Information Act to legislators, who have long guarded their emails and official records from prying eyes. But that proposal, which also has the governors support, is likely a nonstarter for the legislators who write the law.

At one point last spring, Greenville-area legislators were talking about creating a task force to study possible reforms for the areas little-scrutinized special purpose districts. That came after an Uncovered investigation found that top officials at one of those districts, Clear Spring Fire and Rescue in Simpsonville, were accused of stealing public money, promoting a commissioners spouse, showering themselves with perks and retaliating against underlings who questioned them.

But that task force never materialized. Instead, state Rep. Bobby Cox said, legislators had informal talks with special district leaders about what can be done to ensure the problems at Clear Spring dont happen somewhere else.

As a result of the scandal, the Greer Republican said, Greenville legislators have spent more time and effort screening potential commissioners before appointing them to lead special districts.

Its never been done before, Cox said. It was always a rubber stamp.

Cox said he also would push to require more ethics training for public officials at all levels of government. Such training is currently voluntary, often offered when a politician first takes office.

Reasons for hope?

Legislators could face outside pressure to take action on ethics in 2022, especially since it's an election year.

Perhaps with a finger to the political winds, both McMaster and one of his Democratic challengers, Cunningham, have publicly released their plans to restore South Carolinians faith in government.

In fact, Cunningham made his anti-corruption plan the first policy rollout of his gubernatorial campaign. It includes term limits for all legislators, a ban on campaign fundraising during the legislative session, giving the State Ethics Commission sole jurisdiction to investigate and punish misconduct by legislators, and stopping dark money groups from anonymously influencing elections.

People are fed up with corrupt politics, and South Carolina is rampant with them, Cunningham said in a recent interview.

Especially in an election year, lawmakers would do well to try to position themselves on the right side of any ethics debates, former S.C. Gov. Jim Hodges suggested.

I wouldnt be surprised if some ambitious legislators see promoting that as good for their political careers, Hodges, a Democrat, said. I wouldnt downplay the importance of that. I think youll find there are legislators who have paid close attention to that and see this as an issue they can take on as their own.

But passing ethics reform could also require grassroots activists and voters to contact their legislators and demand change. And building that momentum has been a struggle, said Teague, the League of Women Voters official.

When her group urges residents to call their lawmakers, they often respond that it wont do any good because government is broken beyond repair, Teague said.

Teague said government leaders "should be ashamed they've given the people of South Carolina reason to be cynical."

Perhaps 2022 will be the year to change their minds.

Glenn Smith contributed to this report from Charleston. Joseph Cranney contributed from Columbia.

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Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Low 61F. WSW winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Low 61F. WSW winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Tomorrow

A mix of clouds and sun with the chance of an isolated thunderstorm in the afternoon. High 82F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
The sisters and widow of a Wyoming Marine killed in Afghanistan are suing Alec Baldwin in federal court, alleging the actor defamed them on his social media after he learned one of the sisters attended a demonstration in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021.

Rylee McCollum, a 20-year-old Marine from outside of Jackson, was one of 13 American troops and more than 100 Afghans killed in August by a suicide bomb at the Kabul airport.

After hearing the news of McCollums death, Baldwin found one of the Marines sisters, Roice, on Instagram and sent her a $5,000 donation to go towards his widow, Jiennah Crayton, and their child born less than a month after his death, court documents state.

Then, this month, Baldwin accused Roice of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021 riots as an insurrectionist, reposting her pictures of demonstrations that day to his account that allegedly caused the McCollum sisters and Crayton to receive harmful messages including death threats. Now, the women are suing Baldwin for $25 million, nearly half of his apparent net worth, on allegations of defamation and violating their privacy.

On Jan.1, Roice McCollum posted images on Instagram showing demonstrators in D.C. with the caption Throwback, showing that she had attended a protest of the presidential election results on Jan 6, 2021, according to the complaint. The suit states she did not take part in the riots that followed the demonstration, and has been cleared after an interview with the FBI.

Neither Crayton nor McCollums other sister, Cheyenne, were reportedly at the capitol on Jan. 6.

The complaint, filed Monday in federal court, states that Baldwin commented on the Instagram post from his account, saying, Are you the same woman that I sent the $ to for your sisters husband who was killed during the Afghanistan exit. That comment appears to have been deleted.

Screenshots included in the lawsuit show Baldwin later messaging Roice McCollum privately, accusing her of being a January 6th rioter and saying that her actions resulted in property destruction and the death of an officer. According to the same exhibits, McCollum responded that she was protesting legally and had already met with the FBI.

I reposted your photo, Baldwin messaged her, according to the complaint. Good luck.

In Baldwins repost of McCollums photos, he said that claims of a non-violent protest at the Capitol that day were bulls*** and commented that truth is stranger than fiction in reference to seeing the photos. He also stated he would take the post down the next day. It was not available on Tuesday.

The suit states that McCollum was quickly subjected to hostile, aggressive, hateful messages and comments from Baldwins 2.4 million followers. One message, which she posted to her account, said: Get raped and die, worthless c*** (kiss emoji). Your brother got what he deserved.

McCollums sister and Crayton also received harmful messages and comments, the suit states, some equating them to ISIS or Nazis or hoping Baldwin would get his donation returned. Their attorney, Dennis Postiglione, said that there are 600, 700 more pages worth of posts not included in the initial filing that make the comments cited in the complaint seem tame.

Postiglione and California lawyer Joseph Casas are set to represent Crayton and the McCollums, with the backing of local attorney Frank Chapman.

The suit calls Baldwins comments false, outrageous, defamatory, irresponsible, vindictive, and alleges that the backlash caused the McCollum sisters and Crayton severe emotional distress and to fear for their lives.

Messages not referenced in the complaint included death threats to all three plaintiffs, their lawyer said.

In comments on the platform, the suit states, Baldwin said at least twice that Roice McCollum was an insurrectionist.

Postiglione said that in talking to Crayton and the McCollums, its clear that the comments really shook them up beyond what they already were. While he says the messages have slowed down, the three women are still receiving some.

Baldwin, known for acting in dozens of films and, more recently, his parodic portrayal of Trump on Saturday Night Live, has long used his social media to voice his political views and to encourage followers to support causes he promotes, the suit cites. The complaint argues that since his politics are so prominent online, its safe to assume that most of Baldwins followers agree with him. The suit also states that Baldwin did nothing to discourage the comments or messages after making the post.

I think its worth noting, too, that his social media following ... is five times the population of your state, Postiglione said. Either he knew what would happen, and he wanted it to happen, or he just didnt think about it.

The plaintiffs are calling for a jury trial in the case, which would determine the amount of any damages if awarded. Most cases of this kind never see a trial, and are often settled out of court.

If I were to try any case in my portfolio, Postiglione said Tuesday, I would love to put this in front of a Wyoming jury.

Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst.

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LARAMIE  Slick, snowy highways are a well-known concern to anyone driving through Wyoming during winter. But for some, the worst part of sliding off the interstate or having your semitrailer blow over from the Cowboy States famous winds is dealing with the aftermath.

Reports of some towing companies charging excessively high prices for vehicle recovery are common throughout Wyoming and the trucking community. In an industry deregulated by the federal government  and left that way by local and state agencies  theres a growing debate between those who view this alleged predatory practice as a serious problem and others who deny it completely.

In 2021, the Wyoming Highway Patrol received 40 complaints about towing companies, most from commercial trucking outfits, said WHP spokesperson Rodney Miears, who also is the departments Tow & Recovery Program coordinator. That number is down from previous years, however.

The Highway Patrol responds to anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000 calls a year for crashes that need a tow truck. Especially when recovering a semitrailer hauling goods across the state, the bills can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

(Unfair pricing is) a big issue, not just in Wyoming, said Sheila Foersch, managing director for the Wyoming Trucking Association, about the practice of padding bills.

Tow outfits then hold the trucks and their cargo until the bills are satisfied, which puts companies in a position of having to pay huge fees to get their cargo released and fulfill their shipping contracts, Foersch said.

Its a big issue in a lot of states, she said, adding that the Wyoming Trucking Association hears complaints from in- and out-of-state carriers that feel they were charged excessive, unfair rates.

The problem seems to be most severe along Interstate 80, she said.

I can track the storms across I-80 by the number of complaints I get, Foertsch said.

Blue Line Distribution, a carrier based in Ontario, Canada, received a $77,280 bill Dec. 11 from Maps Towing and Diesel Repair Inc. of Rawlins for the recovery of a semitrailer that slid off the road on I-80 between Laramie and Rawlins, according to an invoice obtained by the Rawlins Times.

Blue Line ended up negotiating a settlement of $50,000 to retrieve its truck from the tow companys property. Shortly thereafter, the company filed a complaint with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, demanding $45,000 of the fee be refunded.

The tow company basically held us (for) ransom, and they got what they wanted, said Blue Line owner Tom Della Maestra.

Despite disputing the charge, Blue Line had to pay up to regain access to its truck and cargo, he said. After going back and forth with Maps Towing and Diesel Repair and Highway Patrol, Blue Line so far has not been successful in getting a refund.

Along with the practice of overcharging, Della Maestra also is frustrated with law enforcement and the lack of industry regulation in Wyoming that allows it.

WYDOT needs to be investigated, (and) the Wyoming Highway Patrol and everyone else who authorizes the use of this towing company, he said.

Maps Towing and Diesel Repair declined the Boomerangs request for comment on this story.

While it may be frustrating for trucking companies, the state agencies are tasked with enforcing the laws that are  or, in this case, arent  on the books, said Miears.

WYDOT and Wyoming Highway Patrol are taking steps to rectify those issues, but in no way are we involved, he said of the complaints about pricing. I think theres maybe a misconception that Wyoming Highway Patrol gets kickbacks.

Thats a claim Miears said has no truth to it.

Complaints about the allegedly predatory practice of some tow companies also have been made for years to the Wyoming Governors office. The number of complaints has increased, said Michael Pearlman, spokesperson for Gov. Mark Gordons office.

The governor respects the decision of lawmakers in the past who attempted to allow self-regulation; however, it appears that has not been a successful course of action on the whole, Pearlman said. The governor is open to finding a sensible solution to price gouging.

According to a set of federal laws from the late 1990s and early 2000s, states are largely preempted from regulating the towing industry.

Colorado, Utah and many other states have acted on their own to put limits on pricing, but Wyoming has not. The most strict regulation the state has on pricing is a rule that towing companies must charge a fair and reasonable rate for their services.

While companies arent required to post their prices publicly, they do have to submit a fee schedule to the Highway Patrol that the public can access through an open records request.

Anyone who believes a towing or recovery fee is unfair can submit an informal complaint to the WHP, which will start a fee review process.

The agency first collects evidence that could help determine the validity of the charges. This could include photos, dispatch chronology, bill of lading, fee schedules, invoice copies and more.

If the evidence shows charges were, in fact, not fair or reasonable, Miears reaches out to the tow carrier for an explanation, and requests a change in pricing, if necessary.

While the WHP cannot force a recovery business to refund or change a bill, if a charge is deemed unfair or unreasonable, it can act if a company continues to violate the guidelines, such as providing the trucking company with its findings or suspending the company from the WHP call rotation list.

Miears said tow companies typically comply with suggested changes to avoid losing their spots on the rotation list. If trucking companies and truck owners still have problems with recovery outfits, their only remaining option is civil court.

WYDOT and the WHP were tasked with addressing overpricing through their own rules and regulations after testifying before the Legislatures Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee alongside representatives from the towing industry, Pearlman said.

WYDOT has been working to put more strict regulations in place since 2017, Miears said. In 2018, two committees were formed to help WYDOT and the Highway Patrol gain expertise from the trucking industry throughout the review process. These groups are the Towing Advisory Board (TAB) and the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC).

The DRC is a group of volunteers from the trucking and towing industries. When Miears needs more expertise to evaluate a complaint, he reaches out to the DRC for insight. He said it isnt feasible to send the group every complaint because it would take too much time.

If I sent them every (complaint), I wouldnt have any members, Miears said.

A central role of TAB was to provide expertise and opinions from the trucking and towing industries so that the new rules wouldnt be too difficult to follow. With that help, a new set of rules and regulations was proposed in 2019 that would require more consistency across the industry.

Miears said he expected the guidelines to be in effect in 2021, but they are still under review at the Wyoming Attorney Generals office. They are expected to go out for public comment sometime this month.

Everything takes time when there is a process, and that is no different with the proposed WYDOT rules and regulations, said WYDOT spokesperson Doug McGee. With that being said, WYDOT, Wyoming Highway Patrol and the towing industry are excited to see the proposed rules reviewed and finalized.

The changes would include driver and training requirements and more stringent criteria for the WHP to add and remove companies from its call list.

The most notable change for pricing would be a clarified definition of the term fair and reasonable. This would make it easier for the WHP to take action when a company overcharges.

The proposed guidelines would not include price caps, but could require companies to share rates with their customers.

Youre always going to have opposition, but, for the most part, everyone from towing and trucking to the general motoring public are all on board, Miears said of the proposal.

Foertsch said she feels the regulations could help, but wont be enough to resolve the issue.

Because the Highway Patrol is only responsible for a fraction of calls that go out to towing companies, the changes are unlikely to reshape the industry in the state, Foertsch said. Pricing disputes could be caused by other factors, as well, such as a breakdown of communication between the carrier, the towing operator and the insurance company.

For people involved in a crash, their insurance policies should cover at least part of the vehicle recovery costs, said Sandy Bittner, manager of Allen Insurance in Laramie.

An insurance company will typically put a limit on coverage. This could take the form of a price cap or a promise to only cover the cost of moving a vehicle to the closest available service provider. In some cases, an individual or company can buy the price cap they want covered, Bittner said.

Many insurance companies have preferred carriers they recommend to clients because of preexisting agreements on pricing. Trouble comes when clients arent able to use one of those recommended carriers or have to get a vehicle transported a long distance.

This issue comes up a lot in Wyoming because of the states low population and long distances between towns, Bittner said.

Our carriers want a well-trained, good company towing their vehicles, Foertsch said. They want to make sure theyre properly towed and are not opposed to paying a fair price for that service.

The problem, Foetrsch said, is when carriers are charged an exorbitant amount.

The topic of towing and billing is a pretty big subject right now because trucking companies, insurance companies and the general public dont understand how its working, said Dave Rose, manager of Big Als Towing & Recovery in Cheyenne.

Costs for insurance, gas and tires have increased in recent years, which puts extra strain on tow operators.

Bittner explained that insurance prices also are on the rise in all areas because of losses caused by the pandemic and natural disasters.

Towing and recovery companies are getting hit with high operational costs because many insurance companies are pulling their coverage of the industry, Bittner said. This leaves the remaining insurers with a partial monopoly that allows them to increase their rates.

I know that you could do it for free and there would still be somebody who would complain about something, said Chris Hunt of Southern Wyoming Towing & Recovery. Lots of people dont realize the overhead and the liability that would go into running these trucks.

Southern Wyoming Towing & Recovery could charge anywhere from $15,000 to $60,000 to tow a wrecked or blown-over semitrailer, depending on the situation, Hunt said.

Bad weather, scattered cargo and how severely a vehicle is off the road can impact how much a company will charge for the job, Hunt said. If a vehicle simply had a mechanical issue or ran out of gas, that would be considered a tow job and is much more predictable. If there is a crash, or a vehicle goes off the road, that would be considered a recovery, which is more complicated.

Hunt and Rose agreed that its difficult to give a price quote ahead of time for a recovery job because they dont know what equipment and methods they will need until arriving on the scene.

Hunt said pricing regulations would fail to account for the diverse needs of each company and go against the idea of a free market.

(It) doesnt fill the bank account going out and doing good deeds, Hunt said.

Tom Mullan, owner of I-80 Towing & Recovery, suggested that instead of more regulation, the Highway Patrol should focus on streamlining its rotation list and enforcing the rules that are already in place.

When law enforcement responds to a crash scene where a tow truck is needed, its common practice to call in companies based on the rotation list. If someone wants to call a specific company to comply with an insurance policy, they can do that, said Carbon County Sheriff Archie Roybal.

Roybal said his department considers factors such as pricing, availability and location when adding a company to its rotation list, but the decision ultimately comes down to personal judgment.

He said there are some companies that have earned both good and bad reputations. Some whose prices may or may not be too high may get left off the list.

(There are) locals who have been providing services for a while, and (I) havent had complaints with people that I have, so I think its working well, Roybal said.

While they may share information about certain companies, the Sheriffs Office and Highway Patrol do not use the same rotation list, Miears said. The Highway Patrol has specific regulations that determine how companies are added and removed from its roster.

Theyve got tow trucks out here that cant safely tow a truck and trailer, Mullan said, adding that he would like to see the WHP require businesses to spend a few years proving themselves to earn a regular spot in the rotation.

Tow drivers often have to deal with people who are not in their best moments. In addition to seeing people in shock, Mullan said hes dealt with drivers who were drunk and angry about getting into trouble with law enforcement.

A few weeks ago, Mullan said he responded to a call from Wyoming Highway Patrol to tow a vehicle belonging to an older woman who was hard of hearing and disoriented about where she was going.

After calling local law enforcement about the situation and not getting a helpful response, Mullan used his own resources to pay for her motel room and find a family members contact information.

When people are unfamiliar with an area theyre driving through and in shock from a crash, it can be difficult for them to realize and articulate to authorities that they want to call a certain tow company, Mullan said. They would also most likely trust that a police officer will call a reliable company for them.

If youre not used to dealing with authoritarian figures, youre going to be intimidated, Mullan said.

Mullan said he feels he is losing business because officers refer to the rotation list, rather than calling a company drivers would choose for insurance, pricing and safety reasons.

I would rather charge a more reasonable rate. My average is 10 wrecks a month from customers calling me, he said, adding that the cops might let me go after one. Therefore, Ive lost 90% of my revenue.

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NIDCO (the National Infrastructure Development Company) says it has not initiated any tender or award of contract process with regard to the Toco Port.

In a news release, the company said the issuance of any letters of award or contracts relating to the Toco Port project is fraudulent and not authorised by Nidco.
FLASHBACK: Members of the public line up to enter the mass vaccination site at Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain to receive their second vaccine dose in September.

@Caption:Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Many people are struggling during this Covid-19 pandemic as prices increase, while many are 
Those with authority over others often become wolves because the people under their charge 
FLASHBACK: Bheeshan and Ajay Maharaj, grandsons of the late Maha Sabha secretary general Satnarayan Maharaj, light the pyre at the Caroni cremation site as they perform Hindu final rites for their grandfather in November 2019. Photo: Ishmael Salandy
My mother and I traveled together a lot over the years, but she went solo when she traveled to Veracruz.

She debriefed me on her return. The trip had been wonderful, she said, although she didnt love the industrial nature of the city, which remains Mexicos largest seaport, busy with oil production and tanker ships. She raved about the citys anthropological museum, which exhibits Olmec, Totonac, and Huastec artifacts. She had a great passion for Mexicos pre-Columbian history.

But the aspect of the visit she came back to again and again was the seafood. She loved the citys most famous dish, Huachinango a la Veracruzano  red snapper cooked in the Veracruz style  so much that she ate it four of the six nights she spent in the city, she said.

Well, that made my mission pretty simple. In those days, I often cooked for her, and I needed to learn to recreate that dish to tempt her sometimes apathetic appetite.

We were both living in Michigan in those days, and I spent most weekends at her cottage. As she grew older, she needed more and more help with the tasks of daily living  grocery shopping, laundry, keeping up with housekeeping and so on. These things I was happy to do for her. I often dropped her off at the library while I picked up the weeks groceries, and that pleased her.

Still, there was a recurring problem.

Im so hungry for such-and-such, she would say. Accordingly, I would pick up the ingredients for that dish and prepare it for dinner. But when I presented whatever that such-and-such might be for supper, shed merely pick at it, leaving it mostly uneaten. I guess I wasnt as hungry for this as I thought, shed say apologetically.

It was certainly frustrating, although there wasnt any point in letting that aggravation triumph. I was eating well, at least.

But when I mastered seafood in the Veracruzano style, I solved the problem. Shed eat heartily and ask for seconds. Yay! Id found at least one solution to her diminished appetite.

Fresh red snapper was hard for me to find and expensive to boot. I found, though, that shed eat the dish happily even when it was made with easier-to-find fish, including frozen cod and halibut, catfish and even salmon.

My mother has been dead these many years, and I miss her almost every day. But these days, when I make seafood a la Veracruzano, I remember how much it pleased her, and how it pleased me to see her eat so avidly something that reminded her of a trip she enjoyed so much.

Seafood a la Veracruzano

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Traditionally made with red snapper fillets, the Veracruzano sauce suits all kinds of fish and seafood (try it with shrimp!). Both the capers and the olives add a briny accent that complements the fish. My slightly simplified method gets its zing from the chiles in the tomatoes and from sliced pickled jalapenos. Serve with cooked rice.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 softball-sized yellow onions, coarsely chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 10-ounce cans diced tomatoes with chiles, mild or spicy, with their juice

1 cup pitted green olives, such as manzanilla or Castelvetrano, divided use

 cup capers, divided use

 cup sliced pickled jalapenos or banana peppers, divided use

1 teaspoons oregano, preferably Mexican

3 bay leaves

1 teaspoon salt

6 6- to 7-ounce fillets firm fish, such as red snapper, halibut, cod, catfish, tilapia, or salmon

Chopped parsley, for garnish

Limes, quartered, for garnish

Cooked rice, for serving

Preparation

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a saute pan or skillet large enough to hold the fish in a single layer. When the oil is fragrant, add the onions and cook, stirring for 5 to 10 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for a minute or two longer. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.

Stir in the tomatoes, 1/2 cup of the olives, 2 tablespoons of capers, the pickled jalapeno slices, the oregano, and bay leaves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces slightly, about 15 minutes. While the sauce is cooking, season the fish fillets with salt.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

When the sauce has thickened, nestle the fish fillets into the sauce. Add a little water if the sauce seems too thick. Scatter remaining olives and capers over the fish.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Place fish fillets atop or beside cooked rice, spooning some of the sauce over both fish and rice. Garnish with chopped parsley and pass lime quarters so diners can season to suit themselves.

Robin Mather is a longtime food journalist and the author of The Feast Nearby. Follow her blog as she writes her third book, The Feast of the Dove, at thefeastofthedove.com .

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The city of Tulsa and American Airlines recently extended their leasing agreement to nearly the midway point of the century.

The pact between the Tulsa Municipal Airport Trust and the Fort Worth-based airline, approved Thursday, amends and restates the June 1958 sublease and its subsequent 18 amendments, incorporating the language into one document and eliminating provisions no longer needed.

As part of the agreement, American, the oldest and largest tenant at Air Force Plant No. 3 with about 5,200 employees, must pay the airport trust $217,597 in base ground rentals in 2022, an annual rate that nearly triples before the sublease expires in 2048.

This amended lease further solidifies Tulsas relationship with American Airlines for decades to come, paving the way for Americans plans to invest half a billion dollars in the Tulsa Base, Mayor G.T. Bynum said in a statement.

I want to extend a big thanks to Tulsa International Airport, City of Tulsa, and American Airlines staff who have spent the past several years working behind the scenes to structure this new lease. American has stood as Tulsas largest employer for 75 years, and we are thrilled they will continue to claim that title for years to come.

Air Force Plant No. 3 is located at the southeast corner of Tulsa International Airport. A holdover from World War II, when more than 3,000 aircraft were manufactured in the facility, the mile-long building complex contains about 2.9 million square feet of industrial space that houses tenants such as American and Spirit AeroSystems.

The extended sublease between the Tulsa Municipal Airport Trust and American also modernizes much of the decades-old language, updates the legal description of the leased premises (246.14 acres) from a current survey and provides for more robust reporting between American and the airport, the city said.

In addition, the sublease provides a more structured and simplified rental escalation component that ultimately allows the trust to collect more revenue to support Tulsa International Airport operations. Rentals paid to Tulsa Municipal Airport Trust must be remitted to the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust annually.

The base ground rentals grow to $298,924 by 2032 and $584,537 in 2042 before topping out at $635,941 in 2047, the year before the sublease expires.

American Airlines has begun work on $550 million worth of upgrades it pledged in February 2020 to Tech Ops-Tulsa, the largest commercial aviation maintenance base in the world.

Among the main upgrades proposed are a 132,000-square-foot base support building and a 193,000-square-foot hangar that will hold two wide-body aircraft and replace two existing hangars no longer equipped to fully hold Americans current planes.

Featured April 2021 video: Local American Airlines maintenance base readying long-idled planes for flight

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A man was fatally shot Monday afternoon at an apartment complex near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue, police said.

Police were called about 3:45 p.m. to the Villas at Hope Valley apartment complex, where shots had been fired, and they found a man in his 20s or 30s on the ground with gunshot wounds, Tulsa Police Sgt. Robert Bryan said.

Tulsa firefighters and EMSA personnel were already treating the man, who had a little bit of vitals still detectable, but he was pronounced dead after he arrived at a hospital, Bryan said.

The man was shot at least once and likely was shot in the torso, but witnesses heard at least five or six shots, he said.

Bryan said they do have a male person of interest but that little is known about him. With the amount of foot traffic in the area, its hard to pinpoint someone with only a few details, he said.

He said police think the man still could be armed and dangerous, though.

This is Tulsas fourth homicide of 2022.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS (2677), at bit.ly/TCStips or through the Tulsa Tips app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or iTunes stores.

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The 43rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Parade came roaring down John Hope Franklin Boulevard on Monday morning, but in the quiet moments beforehand, a Tulsa father and his daughter perused the Ellis Walker Woods Memorial.

Isaiah Weaver said he and his daughter, Stella, 9, often walk to the parade from their home and that he considered Monday an especially pleasant day, thanks to the sun. Temperatures reached just under 60 degrees by afternoon, making the time the two spent at the memorial honoring the founding principal of Booker T. Washington High School and roadside waiting for the parade to begin bearable with a good coat.

It made me feel happy that Dad wanted to bring me here today, Stella said. I love getting to learn about what happened, and I love to see how people like to celebrate.

Celebrate they did. The parade  one of the only MLK Day celebrations not canceled due to high COVID-19 spread  boasted about 160 entries from schools, businesses and groups all over Tulsa, including a Nigerian organization, Supermercados Morelos and the Tulsa Opera, all paying homage to the life and message of Martin Luther King Jr.

You know, this parade has been around 43 years, but it seems the appeal is broadening, said parade committee spokesman Chris Payne. It seems even more diverse than its ever been.

Spectators lined the boulevard, clapping, cheering and collecting candy from marchers for the almost two-hour-long parade.

Many of the floats rolling and groups walking advocated for voter rights and decried voter suppression.

Members of the Terence Crutcher Foundation called on United States legislators to pass H.R. 1, a bill that, among other things, addresses voter access, election integrity and security, and campaign finance.

One carried a sign that read: Almost 60 years and we still march for voting rights.

The theme of this years event was Hope and Action: The Fierce Urgency of Now.

Payne said the theme was a combination of several ideas from the members of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society, part of which comes directly from one of Kings speeches:

We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.

Payne said Kings words almost seem prophetic considering there are some who would argue that maybe we havent made much progress in achieving the ideals laid out in Kings iconic I Have a Dream speech.

Despite the successful turnout and participation Payne noted of the parade, 9-year-old spectator Kameran Black, who attended with his family to support a member marching with the T-Town Satin Dolls dance group, had a suggestion.

Seeing his teachers march in the parade was by far his favorite part, he said, but it would be even better if Martin Luther King was in the parade.

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The most recent surge of COVID-19 isnt mild for the youngest who are getting infected, with new hospital admissions surging at the Childrens Hospital at Saint Francis.

This is becoming an increasingly worrisome state for our pediatric patients, said Dr. John Lukeman, Warren Clinic pediatrician, in a COVID-19 response update Monday afternoon.

Experts urge as much precaution for the omicron variant of COVID-19 as for the delta surge, yet the misconception that the latest virus has mutated to be less severe is still a danger, Lukeman said.

In my office last week, we had a day that our (COVID-19) positivity rate was 85%, and we had another day where it was 92%, so the number of patients that were seeing in our pediatric offices are drastically increased, and this is worrisome, he said.

So from the beginning of omicron, they were saying this was a more-transmissible variant. But everyone was saying it was a mild variant, as well. Interestingly, thats not necessarily what were seeing in pediatrics. Were seeing an increase in hospitalizations; were seeing our patients under 4 years old have croup-like symptoms, requiring either steroids or breathing treatments to help them to breathe.

State health officials on Monday reported 50 pediatric hospitalizations across Oklahoma, 14 away from the record. Saint Francis reported Monday that its Childrens Hospital was on track to quadruple admissions from December to January, with 60 admitted in just the first two weeks of 2022 compared to 37 the previous month.

About 40% of the patients in intensive care at the Childrens Hospital at Saint Francis are currently being treated for COVID-19, according to Dr. Roopa Thukaram, pediatric critical care medicine specialist.

What Im seeing is these patients present with acute respiratory failure, she said. Although many require oxygen support, mechanical ventilation is needed less than earlier in the pandemic.

Pediatric COVID-19 patients may also present with cardiogenic shock, altered mental status and seizures related to brain inflammation, according to Thukaram.

Many times we see our children progress to acute kidney failure. So this is not something to be taken lightly, she said, adding that some cases could require a hospital stay of 14 to 21 days.

Of the 60 pediatric hospital admissions so far this month at Saint Francis, almost all were unvaccinated children, and 75% were infants younger than 12 months, Thukaram said.

Parents of babies should take note of frequency of diaper changes, as dehydration is one of the most commonly presented symptoms of pediatric COVID-19 infections requiring hospital care, she said.

Lukeman also offered guidance for parents of children younger than 5 concerned about when their symptoms require a more urgent level of care. When the child has difficulty taking in breaths, seek medical attention, he said, and also dont hesitate if the child cant eat and drink.

Omicron has come with a croup-like cough that may sound like barking, he said. Parents should hydrate children with a runny nose and cough while monitoring symptoms. Thukaram said color changes, such as appearing pale and dusky around the lips, can also be an indication that emergent care is needed.

Across Oklahoma, active COVID-19 cases among residents of all ages are up 728% from a month ago, according to data reported Monday.

The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases is above 10,000 for the first time in the pandemic after Saturday and Sunday reporting continued to break records.

Saint Francis health leaders urged adults to vaccinate their eligible-age children and to get up to date on their own vaccinations to limit the virus toll on those most vulnerable.

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A woman was killed while driving an off-road vehicle near the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade route shortly before it started north of downtown, according to Tulsa police.

The crash occurred about 9:30 a.m. at Latimer and Main streets, not far from the start of Mondays parade, which began at 10 a.m. A westbound SUV reportedly crossed the intersection in the path of a woman driving an all-terrain vehicle with her husband as a passenger, Sgt. C.J. Jackson said Monday afternoon.

The husband and wife were both taken to hospitals; she was later pronounced dead, while police said her husband remains in grave condition.

Neither ATV rider was wearing a helmet, according to officers, who said speed appears to have been a contributing factor in the collision. The SUV driver, who was not injured, reportedly remained at the scene to cooperate with officers.

The investigation is ongoing at this time and it is unknown what, if any, charges will be filed, a Police Department news release states.

The name of the woman who was killed has not been released; police said they have yet to notify family.

Jackson said that two hours before the fatal crash, a Tulsa police officer patrolling on Yale Avenue had stopped the driver of the ATV, at that time the husband. The couple told the officer they were en route to the parade, but the man was issued a citation for operating the vehicle illegally on a public street. According to Jackson, the officer advised the couple the vehicle would have to be towed in a trailer to get to the parade legally.

It is unclear whether the vehicle was an official entrant for the parade, which included floats traveling down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard north of downtown Tulsa.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  As more and more schools go to distance learning in the wake of the latest COVID-19 surge, Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday announced a plan to let state employees serve as substitute teachers.

Stitt signed an executive order directing state agencies to create mechanisms for state employees to substitute teach. The order is effective for 120 days.

We expect state employees to be mobilized tomorrow and be reaching out to the school districts, the governor said. That is our intent.

The governor has criticized schools for not having an in-person option for instruction, saying students suffer mentally and academically without it.

State employees would not be paid a substitute teaching rate but would still be paid by their respective agencies, said Steven Harpe, the states chief operating officer.

Oklahoma has 32,000 state employees, Stitt said.

The governor was asked about critics who suggest that the state employees will be merely babysitters.

No. 1, we know that the best solution is our wonderful teachers across the state, in-person teaching young people, Stitt said. The second-best thing is obviously the substitute teachers.

Kids are home alone when parents have to go to work, the governor said, and he would much rather have students in the classroom and believes most parents would agree with him.

State employees would have to pass a background check to be placed in a classroom, said Ryan Walters, education secretary.

Walters came under criticism last week for social media remarks he made saying schools werent doing enough to keep in-person learning a viable option.

Chad Warmington, State Chamber CEO and president, said his group also has launched a program to allow members of the business community to substitute teach in schools.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said the gesture of flooding schools with untrained volunteers is a meager effort.

We all agree the best place for our students is for schools to be open, Hofmeister said. I appreciate that Stitt has finally recognized this crisis. Unfortunately, he has brought a cup of water to a raging fire. This is not leadership. This is political.

Hofmeister recently announced that she is switching parties to Democrat from Republican to run for governor. Stitt, a Republican, is seeking reelection. Walters, also a Republican, is running for state superintendent.

Like many Oklahomans, I have more questions than answers after the press conference, Hofmeister said. If the governor had consulted with the State Department of Education, he would know that substitute teachers require an FBI criminal background check that takes four to six weeks to complete.

El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay said it was noteworthy that the governor was not flanked by a throng of school district leaders and teachers in making his announcement on Tuesday because they were looking yesterday afternoon for people to stand on that podium from public schools to say how wonderful an idea that was.

For McVay, the executive order is a slap in the face and of little help, practically speaking, to schools overrun by employee and student illnesses right now.

Twenty months ago if the governor would have not stuck his head in the sand and said, `Hey, what can we do to help our schools deal with this? and to put out the APB for help then, that would have been nice. Im flabbergasted, said McVay.

Anyone who volunteers in our district is subject to state law, which requires a federal background check showing 10 years with no felonies, for anyone to be around children. There is an absolute barrier to just calling in mom and pop off the streets, McVay said.

Its about 60 days from the time we submit paperwork to when we get the background check back.

In El Reno, the school district already had a dedicated corps of background-checked substitutes from long-standing agreements with the local police and fire unions, as well as a local ministers alliance.

On top of leaning on all of that outside help, El Reno Public Schools has had every central office administrator, including McVay, plus every principal, assistant principal, counselor and secretarial staffer substituting in classrooms for absent teachers  and that has resulted in 100% of them testing positive for COVID after substituting.

Its not like that we arent doing everything we can because we dont believe its better for us to be face to face with our kids. We have the same belief Gov. Stitt has about that, McVay said. Todays press conference did not help us. There are no state employees that want to get in that Petri dish, and I dont blame them.

Asked what he would tell Stitt if asked what help was needed, McVay responded: Trust.

Let us determine locally  seriously locally  when we can and cannot be in person based on whether or not we have the number of adults needed to take care of kids. And honor that decision as if you were sitting in that room with us, he said.

Trust us  we prefer to be face to face because we know its better. And get out of our way.

In a prepared statement, Jenks Public Schools officials said they appreciate anyone who is willing to be a substitute teacher and are grateful to community members who have stepped up to serve so far.

Asking state employees to substitute could be helpful, but there are still unanswered questions about how volunteers will be mobilized to districts across the state, the statement reads. Teachers are not a disposable resource. Teachers are highly qualified professionals, and they cannot simply be replaced. At JPS, in-person learning has always been the priority, and we believe a professional educator is still the most effective leader for a classroom.

Tulsa Public Schools released a statement saying that the pandemic has exacerbated Oklahomas longstanding teacher shortage and state funding challenges. The district is once again pleading for all Tulsans to do what they can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to maximize students opportunities for in-person instruction.

While we are grateful that Oklahoma is recognizing the critical need for substitutes across the state, we are also mindful that Oklahoma has quite a long way to go to meaningfully invest in our public education system, the statement reads. Time and time again, weve seen what Tulsans can do when we come together to support our educators, and substitute teaching is a great opportunity for any Tulsan to make a meaningful difference for our children and families.

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Barbara Hoberock Capitol Bureau Writer I have covered the Oklahoma Legislature since 1994. I cover politics, appellate courts, state agencies and the governor. I have worked for the Tulsa World since 1990. Phone: 405-528-2465 Follow Barbara Hoberock Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
A bill virtually outlawing the procedure altogether has already been signed into law this session, but on Tuesday the House passed and sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt a bill designed to cover the circumstances should the high court modify but not reverse Roe outright.
Chairman of Vietnamese FLC Group Trinh Van Quyet has been fined VND1.5 billion (US$65,900) and suspended from securities trading for five months for failing to report the sale of almost 75 million FLC shares.

The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) announced on Tuesday morning it had imposed the fine and the trading suspension on Quyet for his violation.

The suspension starts from Tuesday.

The FLC chairman previously sold 74.8 million FLC shares on January 10 without announcing his planned transactions in advance as promulgated by the law.

The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) announced on the next day the cancelation of the transactions of these shares.

FLC Group confirmed that Quyet had paid the fine upon receiving the decision and he is willing to comply with other measures imposed by the SSC.

As Quyets transactions have been terminated, the ownership structure at the enterprise will not see major changes.

Prior to the unannounced sale, Quyet was the largest shareholder at FLC, owning 215.4 million shares, equivalent to a 30.34 percent stake in the group.

His holding at FLC remains the same after the transactions of the 74.8 million shares were canceled.

However, the incident did dampen investors confidence in the firm.

As investors rushed to sell FLC shares, they dropped from VND24,100 ($1) per share on the morning of January 10 to VND21,150 ($0.9) in afternoon trade and to VND19,100 ($0.84) on January 11.

The SSC said it is still working with relevant authorities to further deal with this case.

To prevent similar cases from happening in the future, the commission said it will tighten the supervision of transactions to promptly detect any abnormal activities that could manipulate securities prices.

In late 2017, the SSC penalized Quyet for failure to report the sale of 57 million shares of FLC.

The chairman could have pocketed at least VND400 billion ($17.6 million) compared to his fine of VND65 million ($2,860) then.

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Some 1,000 container trucks of fresh fruits are stuck at a border gate in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam due to a slowdown in Chinese customs clearance, prompting local authorities to stop receiving trucks carrying exports to China.

From 00:00 on Tuesday, Lao Cai will temporarily halt letting vehicles carry fresh fruits to Kim Thanh International Border Gate, whose Chinese counterpart is Beishan, until further notice, the provincial administration stated in its decision issued on Sunday.

The decision came as nearly 1,000 trucks are currently waiting for customs clearance by Chinese customs forces to enter the Chinese province of Yunnan for goods delivery, the Lao Cai administration explained.

As Chinese authorities have been tightening COVID-19 prevention measures in border areas, the customs clearance process by the Chinese side for exports from Vietnam has significantly slowed down, leading to the congestion, Lao Cai authorities elaborated.

This stagnation came only four days after the Yunnan authorities announced the resumption of receiving exports from Vietnam on January 12, following five months of suspension since July last year due to China's detection of the coronavirus on packaging of Vietnamese dragon fruit imports.

From January 12 to 15, only 60 container trucks carrying fresh fruits were cleared through Chinese customs formalities to enter Yunnan, equivalent to only 15 to 20 trucks per day, which is considered a snail's pace.

Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles have entered the border gate area every day over the past several days, overloading all warehouses and truck yards there, Lao Cai authorities said.

The suspension is necessary to ease the congestion, prevent fruits from being rotten owing to long storage in unsatisfactory conditions at the border gate, and minimize costs and damage for exporters, the local administration expounded.

The provincial administration said it will work with Yunnan authorities to expedite the progress of customs clearance at the Kim Thanh - Beishan border gate pair.

Vietnamese exports had been blocked at border gates with China for the same reason before, not only in Lao Cai but also in some other northern provinces.

Among the affected provinces, Lang Son and Quang Ninh have decided to cease receiving trucks of fresh fruits bound for China from January 17.

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The Aussie Study Day took place both online and offline in Ho Chi Minh City last weekend, offering Vietnamese students more opportunities to pursue masters and doctoral degrees at prestigious Australian universities next year.

Vietnamese student associations in both Vietnam and Australia joined hands to organize the workshop, which marked the welcoming of international students to Australia following its 18-month-old border closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event saw the attendance of many prestigious Australian universities, on which Vietnamese scholarship hunters were looking for up-to-date recruitment information.

The Australian partners came to this years workshop with more attractive scholarships in financial support and additional benefits, in the hope of luring more international students after a long period of distance learning.

Pham Thi Hai Yen, a Southeast Asia representative from the University of Canberra, said that the university will grant more scholarships along with tuition fee reductions reaching up to 25 percent plus traveling, testing, and isolation accommodation expenses upon arrival for its students.

The university has additionally retained its program in providing students with free fresh vegetables, meat, eggs, and milk since the pandemic first hit the country, Yen said.

We are awarding Vietnamese students more beneficial scholarships, compared to other countries in the region, given good academic performance and high employment rates of Vietnamese graduates, Le Huyen Chi, regional representative (Southeast Asian) from University of Wollongong.

Applicants for bachelor's and master's degrees can receive grants with a maximum tuition fee deduction of 30 percent while the school fee reduction for junior college-bound students extends to 50 percent, according to Chi.

Former students in Australia share their experience at Aussie Study Day, held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 16, 2022. Photo: Hoang Thi / Tuoi Tre

The largest university in Western Australia, Curtin University also offers a tuition fee deduction of 25 percent to freshers as well as engineering and IT students with excellent academic performance.

International students at Curtin University often pay AU$29,000-35,000 (US$20,900-25,200) a year.

Representatives from the University of Melbourne said that they will apply the shared school fee scheme to both online and face-to-face learning, while awarding students with a high grade point average fully and partially funded scholarships.

We plan to maintain the scholarships which cover 25-35 percent of the tuition fee, said Andy Pham, admissions representative from the Australian National University.

Students are advised to update the latest immigration and curriculum policies from both the Australian government and universities, which are ever-changing, to prepare for study abroad, Yen from the University of Canberra said.

It is also important to get the COVID-19 vaccines recognized by the Australian government with enough doses, she noted.

International students in Australia now can work more than 80 hours bi-weekly, a temporary relaxation in working hours for student visa holders granted in accordance with the Australian workplace law, Pham said.

The relaxed policy is a way for Australia to further support international students amidst the financial challenges during the pandemic, she explained.

Rebecca Ball, Australias Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, said at the event that the Australian government is striving to work with international education partners in a joint effort to handle the hindrances resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Australian government has recently partnered with its states, territories, and universities to develop Study Australia, the official website which supports international students in searching for courses, scholarships, and accommodations, Ball said.

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A winter snowstorm creeping up the East Coast of the United States into Canada on Monday was expected to dump more than two feet (60 cm) of snow in some areas, grounding planes and stranding motorists.

More than 4,200 flights in the United States were canceled or delayed on Monday, according to FlightAware. Nearly 90,000 homes and businesses between Georgia and Maine lacked electricity, according to PowerOutage.US.

Traffic was snarled in Toronto, Canada's largest city, as the snowstorm brought visibility to near zero, shut subway lines and left motorists stranded on local highways for hours.

A National Park Service worker shovels snow near the Washington Monument after a stormy night, in Washington, U.S., January 17, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Buses were at a standstill and passing pedestrians helped push cars up a street at a main commuter route in central Toronto. The region was predicted to get up to 2 feet of snow, and an extreme weather warning was in effect. Authorities asked residents to stay off the roads.

In neighboring Quebec, the weather caused traffic accidents, including pileups involving dozens of vehicles that forced authorities to close some highways, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC).

In the eastern United States, officials likewise urged residents to stay off snowy roads on the holiday honoring slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

People jog on the plaza of the Lincoln Memorial after a stormy night in Washington, U.S., January 17, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Ashtabula, Ohio, on Lake Erie, recorded 27 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service, while parts of New York state, Pennsylvania and North Carolina received more than 20 inches.

Atlanta saw its first snow in four years, according to the NWS, and some regions in North Carolina had record snowfalls.

As the storm swept north, northern Maine and New Hampshire were still due for another 2 to 4 inches of ice and snow Monday evening, the weather service said. Blustery conditions were predicted across much of the region into Tuesday.
Vietnams Ministry of National Defense will conduct a memorial service on Wednesday for a Vietnamese officer, Do Anh, who gave up his life during his United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.

The service will be held at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi and the deceased officer will be laid to rest at the Nhon martyrs cemetery in the capital citys Bac Tu Liem District on the same day.

Major Anh, an officer of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, was sent to the UNs Central African Republic mission in 2021 as a military observer.

He passed away at the level-three field hospital of the United Nations in Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda, at 6:00 am on January 6, 2022 (local time), at the age of 39.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) coordinated with the ministry to hold an online memorial service for Major Anh two days later.

The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations held a ceremony on January 15 to receive the deceased officers coffin brought back to Vietnam by the UN on a military plane.

The ministry has posthumously promoted Do Anh to the rank of lieutenant colonel and proposed State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc posthumously confer the third-class Fatherland Defense Order on him.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has also signed a decision recognizing the officer as a martyr and awarding him a 'The Fatherland Acknowledges the Merit' certificate.

Vietnam began to take part in UN peacekeeping operations in 2014 with two officers sent to the UNs South Sudan mission as liaison officers, according to the portal of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Sixty-one Vietnamese officers have since worked as liaison officers, military observers, and staff officers at UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, with eight being servicewomen, Quan Doi Nhan Dan (Peoples Army) newspaper cited Vietnams Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien as saying at the virtual UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting 2021 hosted by South Korea in December.

Three Vietnamese officers have been working at the UN headquarters, General Chien added.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Top Vietnamese and Chinese leaders have exchanged their congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations (January 18), the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Society

-- The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations will hold a memorial service on Wednesday for Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh, who laid down his life while performing UN peacekeeping missions at Field Hospital No. 3 in Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda on January 6.

-- An official in northern Thai Binh Province has been disciplined for locking a family of four inside their home after two of them had returned from northern Hai Phong City, a locality at high risk of COVID-19 infection.

-- About 2,000 people have used the public bicycle rental service in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on a daily basis during the first month of the pilot phase, according to Tri Nam Group, provider of this service.

-- The Ministry of National Defense has issued an arrest warrant for two men who are both 20 years old for beating to death a military officer in Chuong My District, Hanoi last October.

-- A woman and her three children in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City have been repeatedly threatened and terrorized by a group of men over the debt of her ex-husband whom she had divorced six years ago.

Business

-- Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap and T&T Group organized on Monday the groundbreaking of a 25-story residential and shopping hub in Sa Dec City, which will become the tallest commercial center in the province.

Sports

-- Goalie Tran Liem Dieu of the Vietnamese national U23 football team tested positive for COVID-19 in northern Nam Dinh Province on Monday, while the squad are scheduled to participate in the 2022 AFF U23 Championship in Cambodia from February 14 to 26.

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You have to throw it away the instant you light it, or else youll lose your hand, said a seller of firecrackers to a girl named Chau on January 6.

She was doing the transaction in Tan Nhut Ward, Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. For the 100 tiny firecracker balls, the girl paid VND850,000 (US$37).

The production, purchasing, and burning of firecrackers in Vietnam were officially banned nationwide on January 1, 1995, following a decision by the prime minister then.

However, Vietnamese people still enjoy the sight and sound of firecrackers every year around the Tet, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year, holiday.

As Tet starts in early February this year, the smuggling of fireworks has increased again.

Open sales of banned commodities

On January 7, another illegal transaction was carried out in Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province.

Tuan, the seller, demanded VND1.5 million ($66) for a set of firecrackers. He described the products as the 49 model produced in Thailand.

He only sells this model of firecracker within the southern province. For distance buyers, Tuan demands prepayment by bank transfer before shipping the product.

M.A. is one of the 4,000 members of a social network group that commercializes firecrackers, where he introduced a top-notch type for the coming Tet holiday.

In a tutorial video clip and pictures of this firecracker, A. tossed the thing under water for a field test.

He limited its use to distances under 10 meters and warned buyers to keep it away from the underaged and those suffering from a high blood pressure disorder.

A. charged VND1.2 million ($52) for 100 giant ball firecrackers while demanding VND1.3 million ($53) for 50 super giant firecrackers.

After buyers from Ho Chi Minh City make a down payment of VND400,000 ($17.6), they should receive their packages after three to five days via a delivery service.

Dangers from firecrackers

The late evening of December 24, 2021 witnessed a conglomeration of hooligans along National Road 51, in front of the Vedan Vietnam Enterprise Company in Long Thanh District, Dong Nai Province.

They were coming from Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Binh Duong and Dong Nai Provinces.

The thugs sent continuous strings of fireworks and firecrackers into the sky amid their own shrieking, howling, and motorbike races.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Van Vy, lecturer of criminology from the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, warned of the perils of burning and hand-crafting firecrackers.

It can be deadly to practitioners and cause fires and damage to buildings, assets, and the environment.

Firecrackers can also scare people and affect their mentality, he added.

The expert urged an increased public awareness of the consequences from unlawful owning and lighting of firecrackers in order to prevent unwanted accidents.

Extra efforts should be made by the authorities to curb the smuggling and selling of the banned commodity.

Simultaneously, firecracker advertisements and tutorials on how to make them have to be removed from relevant social networking sites.

Cracking down on smugglers

On January 9, the police force of Duong Minh Chau District in Tay Ninh Province arrested two smugglers carrying illegal fireworks.

The exhibits included four firework stands weighing 6.4 kilograms and nine bags of firecracker balls weighing four kilograms.

On January 4, police officers of District 5, Ho Chi Minh City spotted two illegal transactions and arrested two suspects.

They confiscated a total of 55 kilograms of firecrackers of different sorts.

The arrestees claimed that they had purchased the firecrackers over the Internet and planned to sell them to make a profit.

Do Duc Duong, a 39-year-old resident in Phuoc Long Ward of southern Binh Phuoc Province, was captured on January 1 with 104 kilograms of firecrackers.

An investigation into this case was launched immediately.

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Vietnams Ministry of National Defense has issued an arrest warrant for two men for allegedly beating a military officer to death in Hanoi last October.

The criminal investigation agency under the Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Monday it had initiated legal proceedings against Do Han and Do Van Thom, both 20, for murder.

Han and Thom, who reside in Chuong My District, Hanoi, are now being sought by police.

Investigators are also searching for the witness in the case  21-year-old Nguyen Hoai Nam from northern Hoa Binh Province  to facilitate the investigation.

People who know the whereabouts of Han, Thom, and Nam are requested to contact local authorities or the investigators via 0989.274.098.

Preliminary information showed that T.L., who resided in Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, was riding his motorbike in Chuong My District at 12:00 am on October 24, 2021, when an automobile forced him to pull over.

About ten men got out of the vehicle and started attacking L. with weapons.

Local residents later took the victim to the hospital for emergency treatment, but he succumbed to his serious injuries on the same day.

As L. was a military officer, the case was handed over to the criminal investigation agency under the Ministry of National Defense.

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Police in Hanoi apprehended a married couple on Monday for running an online weapon ring.

Last week, officers raided the warehouse of an apartment in Gia Lam District and discovered nearly 3,000 weapons, including 465 swords, 680 tear gas sprayers, 211 stun batons, 650 knives, nearly 200 tridents, and machetes of different kinds.

Functional forces later summoned suspects in neighboring areas and found several suspects to be involved in the weapon dealing.

Police then arrested the married couple Vu Kim Hoa, 32, and ex-prisoner Nguyen Dang Ninh, 35, both hailing from northern Vietnam, as they were determined to be the ring leaders.

Vu Kim Hoa (right) and ex-prisoner Nguyen Dang Ninh are seen at the police station for allegedly running an arms trade ring in northern Vietnam.

The arms traders were reported to order weapons from Mong Cai International Border Gate in Quang Ninh Province and Tan Thanh International Border Gate in Lang Son Province, and then gathered them for sale at the apartment in question.

The rings weapon sales were made primarily online through video clips and live streams on social media and delivered to buyers via shipping services.

Police believed the ring to be a wholesaler distributing a large volume of illicit weapons to brokers and sellers operating across different regions throughout Vietnam.

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Ho Chi Minh City kicked off a two-week festival on Sunday evening to welcome the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which will begin on February 1.

The third annual event, entitled Tet Viet (Vietnamese Tet), opened at the Youth Culture House in District 1 under the joint organization of the cultural house, the municipal Department of Tourism, and the Vietnam Food and Culture Association.

The 14-day long event, in both physical and virtual form, will last until January 30, which is Lunar New Years Eve.

The event came as the city has basically put the COVID-19 pandemic under control and recently become an area at low risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Vietnam reopened the national economy in early October 2021 following months of social distancing due to the health crisis.

An area of colorful Tet decorative items at the Tet Viet festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang An / Tuoi Tre

The festival features plenty of activities including folk games, artisans performances at craft villages, the art of making to he (toy figurines), calligraphy writing, traditional Tet foods and beverages, and a floating-market-in-the-air model, among others.

Visitors can rent ao dai (Vietnamese long dress) for adults and children from an area at the festival so that they can wear them for two hours for photos.

Festival-goers will be provided with information about tourism stimulus programs in 2022 and regional tourism routes, and have the opportunity to receive gifts.

As part of the festival, a Tet Shopping Fair on 2D and 3D online platforms is taking place with the participation of dozens of local businesses and those from over 20 localities nationwide to introduce their special Tet products.

Festival-goers are seen at a calligraphy stall at the Tet Viet festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang An / Tuoi Tre

A Tet culinary performance program will take place from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on January 18, 20, 22, 24, and January 27, which is conducted by artisans and professional chefs from the Saigon Professional Chefs Association, the Vietnam Culinary Conservation Research and Development Center, and others.

Hoang Lan, a festival-goer on Sunday evening, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the citys having kept the pandemic at bay has helped her family for the first time enjoy festive activities in such a public place after months of staying home.

This image shows a crowded food and beverage corner at the Tet Viet festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang An / Tuoi Tre

This photo shows a booth of an artisan who performs calligraphy on pomelos at the Tet Viet festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang An / Tuoi Tre

An area displaying ao dai (Vietnamese long dress) for rent at the Tet Viet festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang An / Tuoi Tre

Visitors are seen at a food stall at the Tet Viet festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang An / Tuoi Tre

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ABC Chief Digital & Information Officer Helen Clifton will leave the broadcaster to take up the role of Executive Director of Product Delivery for National Health Service Digital in London, UK.

She has been an ABC Director since 2017, leading the ABC Product & Content Technology division spanning ABC websites, apps and other products and services.

ABC Managing Director David Anderson said, Helen has been an outstanding executive at the ABC and is highly respected and admired across the organisation.

Her knowledge, leadership and vision in driving critically important work at the ABC as we continue the transition to digital products and experiences has been recognised across the industry, where Helen was recently named one of Australias top technology leaders.

Helen has also been instrumental in guiding the ABC through one of the most testing periods in our history, providing vital digital and technology services during the COVID-19 pandemic, when record audiences turned to us.

On behalf of the leadership team and the ABC, I would like to thank Helen and wish her well in this next chapter of her career.

ABC Head of Content Management Rebecca Matthews will become ABC Chief Digital & Information Officer in an acting capacity while a recruitment process is underway.
Free registration is open for AFTRS second Digital Futures Summit: The Business of Australias Digital Future to be held online.

Tech authority, venture capitalist and metaverse visionary Matthew Ball is to speak on Thursday 17 February.

Ball is considered the worlds leading expert on the Metaverse, a multi-dimensional world that many believe will be the successor to the internet, converging immersive 3D online environments, augmented reality, virtual reality and personal computing with real life.

Author of Metaverse Primer and the upcoming The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything, Ball will open the summit with a session, The Metaverse and What It Means for the Australian Screen Industry.

Ball will be in conversation with Claire Evans, former MD of immersive digital company Grumpy Sailor, who is currently consulting with the Australia Council and recently completed the Master of Arts Screen: Business at AFTRS, where she completed a thesis on the metaverse.

Ball is the Managing Partner of EpyllionCo, an early-stage venture fund, a venture partner at the famed gaming investment fund Makers Fund and a regular contributor to The Economist. From 20162018, Ball served as the global Head of Strategy for Amazon Studios, and prior to that was a Director at Peter Chernins Otter Media.

Thu 17 February 2022, 15.30  20.30 AEDT

More info at AFTRS.
The Australian International Documentary Conference has announced 13 projects and teams that will take part in international pitching showcase The FACTory.

The shortlist of 13 projects will present their work to national and international decision makers including funders, broadcasters, streamers, sales agents and distributors.

Natasha Gadd, AIDC CEO / Creative Director, said: The FACTory remains AIDCs highest profile pitch attracting a high calibre of local and international projects each year. The 13 projects selected are diverse, bold and unique and showcase an array of filmmaking talent who will pitch to an impressive lineup of decision makers from across the globe at AIDC 2022. We look forward to tracking the progress of the films, the productive connections made with decision makers that weve brought to the table and seeing these projects coming to life in the future.

Central Showcase

Being Chloev (pictured)

Chloe Swarbrick  one of the worlds youngest politicians  fights for change within the very institution that she struggles against, as huge challenges in her personal and professional lives collide.

Director: Charlotte Evans

Producer: Letisha Tate-Dunning

Razor Films (New Zealand)

The Day We Saved The Zoo

Set in the world of beautiful Mogo Wildlife Park, this series follows the extraordinary challenges faced by keepers and their animals, through fire, COVID and global threats to precious species.

Director: Madeleine Hetherton-Miau

Producer: Rebecca Barry

Media Stockade (Australia)

Death Of A Shaman

An Indigenous Ecuadorian shaman and his reluctant grandson embark on a magical journey deep into the Amazon jungle.

Director: Dan Jackson

Producer: Dan Jackson

(Australia, Ecuador)

Guardians Of The River

When an enormous mine threatens the Sepik River, Indigenous activist Manu Peni and his people launch an urgent mission to protect the precious waterway.

Directors: Lachlan McLeod, Veialu Aila-Unsworth

Producer: David Elliot-Jones, Kerry Warkia

Walking Fish Productions, Brown Sugar Apple Grunt (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea)

Homemade

Homemade is a cinematic journey into the little black books of immigrant Grandmas, reconnecting us to the power of legacy and tradition to bridge the generational divide and transform lives.

Director: Zia Mandviwalla

Producer: Camilla Mazzaferro

FINCH (Australia)

Red Lipstick Intelligence

When Hitler declared he hated red lipstick, Allied women painted their lips in defiance and a group of secret Australian heroines working as codebreakers helped change the course of WWII.

Director: Nick McInerney

Producers: Yael Bergman, Alli Sinclair

YB Productions, Codeword Productions (Australia)

Solastalgia  Journeys Through A Scarred Landscape

Solastalgia journeys through an Australian continent pockmarked with tens of thousands of mining sites. These epic transformations of landscapes are upending our notions of home. Can we ever recapture it?

Director: Yaara Bou Melhem

Producer: Ivan OMahoney

Illuminate Films, In Films (Australia)

New Talent Showcase

Campesinos

A poetic look at the isolated life of Patagonian Gauchos as they cycle through the rhythms of their day-to-day routine while facing the fading relevance of their way of life.

Director: Matias Bolla

Producer: Carolina Sorensen

People Productions (Australia, Chile)

Concrete Land

A Palestinian Bedouin family of three generations, in its struggle to hold on to its traditional life under the pressures of gentrification. Their only wish is to stay together as a family with their loyal pet sheep Badrya.

Director: Asmahan Bkerat

Producer: Sahar Yousefi

(Jordan)

The Last Daughter

After being raised by a white family, Brenda was the last daughter returned to her Aboriginal family. Decades later, shes on a journey to discover where she truly belongs.

Directors: Brenda Matthews, Nathaniel Schmidt

Producers: Simon Williams, Brendon Skinner

Gravity Films (Australia)

Our Hoolocks

Sidhanta, a fisherman, fights to protect the Hoolock Gibbons, Indias fast-vanishing ape species, in Barekuri. An endearing tale of human-animal coexistence threatened when a nearby oilfield disrupts the delicate ecosystem.

Directors: Ragini Nath, Chinmoy Sonowal

Producer: Gary Byung-Seok KAM

Mirror & Stories, Liminal Pictures Production (India, South Korea)

Rough Cut Showcase

How To Capture A Prime Minister

When a student protest erupts into violence, the Australian Prime Minister is forced into a basement while his minders desperately hatch an escape plan.

Director: Gary Newman

Producer: Gary Newman

Criterion One Pty Ltd (Australia)

I Of The Water: The Unwritten Life Of Sia Figiel

After a painful event pushes her into self-exile, acclaimed Samoan writer Sia Figiel uncovers her complicated past and the impact of childhood sexual abuse and trauma.

Director: Kimberlee Bassford

(USA, New Zealand, Samoa, France)

AIDC 2022 is held 6-9 March at ACMI, Melbourne and online.
Production is underway in Sydney on upcoming Nine jury drama After the Verdict.

New cast members Michelle Lim Davidson (The Newsreader) and Tess Haubrich (Wolf Creek, Pine Gap) join previously announced cast Sullivan Stapleton (Blindspot, Animal Kingdom), Magda Szubanski (Kath & Kim, Babe) and Lincoln Younes (Grand Hotel, Doctor Doctor).

Also appearing are Virginia Gay (Judy and Punch, Winners & Losers), Emma Diaz (Diary of an Uber Driver), Richard Brancatisano (Harrow), Nicholas Brown (Wakefield), Hazem Shammas (Safe Harbour) and Vivienne Awosoga (Wentworth).

Screen Australias Head of Content Sally Caplan said, Creators Ellie Beaumont and Drew Proffitt have a proven track record of highly entertaining dramas and Screen Australia is pleased to support them, together with a talented creative team, on the distinctive new series After The Verdict. With an engaging storyline that showcases contemporary Australia, Im confident it will appeal to audiences here and around the world.

Head of Screen NSW Grainne Brunsdon said: Screen NSW is proud to secure After The Verdict for NSW. This conceptually clever and high-production drama from the talented Subtext Pictures team is supported by Screen NSW through the Made in NSW fund and is expected to create 197 jobs for local cast and crew. Im looking forward to seeing it on screens in 2022.

After The Verdict tells a story of four very different Australians who have just finished jury duty on a high-profile murder trial. As they return to normal life, they begin to question their verdict and take matters into their own hands, investigating the murder themselves as they juggle the pressures and impacts on their personal lives.

Produced by Subtext Pictures for the 9Network, After The Verdicts creative team includes creators, writers and executive producers, Ellie Beaumont and Drew Proffitt (House Husbands, Dead Lucky), writer Romina Accurso (The Heights, Spreadsheet), directors Peter Salmon (Halifax: Retribution, Rake), Ben C Lucas (The Wilds, Fighting Season) and Fadia Abboud (Les Norton, Five Bedrooms), producer Jo Rooney (Jack Irish) and executive producers Greg Sitch (Fisk, The Letdown) and 9Network Head of Drama, Andy Ryan.
China tops world in terms of auto production, sales for 13 consecutive years

09:33, January 18, 2022 By Wang Zheng ( People's Daily

China produced over 26.08 million automobiles and sold nearly 26.28 million in the past year, securing stable growth in the auto industry in the inaugural year of its Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

The 2022 Haikou International New Energy Vehicle & Connected Mobility Show is held at Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou in south China's Hainan province, Jan. 8, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Su Bikun)

These two figures, up 3.4 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, made China the worlds largest auto manufacturer and seller for the 13th year in a row, and further reinforced Chinas position as the largest auto market in the world.

Currently, production lines of a plant of Chinese carmaker Changan Auto in Liangjiang New Area, southwest Chinas Chongqing Municipality are in full swing. The plant has manufactured 13,682 vehicles since the New Year holiday ended, progressing steadily toward the January goal of 79,165 units, said Zhu Huarong, president of Changan Auto.

According to him, the brands under the automobile group sold more than 1.75 million vehicles in the past year, up 16.7 percent from a year ago.

On Dec. 26, 2021, IM Motors, a new smart electric vehicle brand under Chinas major carmaker SAIC Motor delivered its first model. Over the past year, SAIC Motor delivered more than 5.81 million vehicles, up 5.5 percent year on year, ranking first in the country for 16 consecutive years. Among them, nearly 2.86 million were sold by the self-owned brands under the automobile group, accounting for 52.3 percent of the groups total sales volume.

The 2022 Haikou International New Energy Vehicle & Connected Mobility Show is held at Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou in south China's Hainan province, Jan. 8, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Su Bikun)

Putting an end to a three-year downward trend, the auto industry has made huge contributions to the recovery of the Chinese industrial economy and the countrys stable growth in macro economy, said Wang Weiming, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

An obvious consumption upgrade was observed in the Chinese auto market as Chinese residents income gradually increased, Wang noted.

In 2021, 21.48 million passenger vehicles were sold in China, up 6.5 percent from a year ago. High-end passenger vehicle brands sold 3.47 million of them, surging 20.7 percent year on year, 14.2 percentage points higher than the general growth in the total sales of passenger vehicles.

The Chinese auto industry has made remarkable innovations and achieved phenomenal progress in making products more electrified, connected and intelligent, said Fu Bingfeng, executive vice-president and secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Over the past year, single-cell energy density of Chinese-made power batteries neared 300 watt-hours per kilogram of mass, which meant that it is possible to make a battery system of 200 watt-hours per kilogram of mass, Fu introduced. According to him, over 20 percent of the new vehicles sold on the Chinese market last year were equipped with combined driver assistance system.

Chinese brands sold 9.54 million passenger vehicles last year, up 23.1 percent year on year. The figure accounted for 44.4 percent of the total passenger vehicle sales across the country, six percentage points higher from a year ago, which was close to the best record in history.

Chinas new energy vehicle (NEV) industry has entered a new stage of accelerated development, Fu said, adding that the market penetration of NEVs stood at 13.4 percent in China, eight percentage points higher than that in the previous year.

Chinese-made vehicles are being loaded onto an oceangoing "ro-ro" (roll-on/roll-off) ship for exportation at a terminal in Lianyungang, east Chinas Jiangsu province, Jan. 3, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Wang Chun)

The goal of lifting the figure to 20 percent in 2025 and 40 percent in 2030 is very likely to be achieved ahead of schedule, he said.

In 2021, China's auto vehicle exports doubled to 2.02 million units, including 1.61 million passenger vehicles and 402,000 commercial vehicles. Chinas annual vehicle exports usually stood at around one million units in the past decade, and this was the first time for the country to have breached the two-million-mark. Fu called the performance a historic progress that mirrored a tipping point in Chinese automakers overseas development.

All Chinese auto enterprises reported a rapid growth in exports over the last year. Four among the top ten exporters saw a growth of over 100 percent. A total of 310,000 Chinese NEVs were sold to foreign destinations in 2021, increasing threefold year on year.

The UK, Norway, Germany, France and other European countries are major sources of potential consumers of Chinese NEVs in the future.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen in Zurich

By Simon Jessop and Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi

LONDON (Reuters) - Credit Suisse has appointed wealth management executive Emma Crystal as its new chief sustainability officer, replacing Marisa Drew, who leaves after more than 18 years at the bank, a memo to staff seen by Reuters showed.

Crystal, who currently leads the International Wealth Management business for Northern & Western Europe, will start in the new role on April 1 and report directly to Chief Executive Thomas Gottstein, the memo said.

A spokesman for Credit Suisse confirmed the contents of the memo.

Switzerland's second-largest lender created a new division focused on sustainability and research in July 2020, earmarking 300 billion Swiss francs for sustainable financing over the next decade and creating its first executive-level sustainability role, filled by Lydie Hudson.

However, following a series of major scandals, the bank in November 2021 announced a restructuring under recently appointed chairman Antonio Horta-Osorio, which did away with the sustainability division and executive-level sustainability role, reintegrating it into the business divisions instead. Hudson is due to leave the bank at the end of the first quarter.

Horta-Osorio left Credit Suisse on Monday after less than nine months in the job, following an internal probe into his personal conduct.

Drew, formerly an investment banker and then head of the bank's sustainability-focused impact advisory and finance department, was named chief sustainability officer and head of sustainability strategy in Aug. 2020, reporting to Hudson before her departure.

Drew is leaving the bank after 18 years to pursue an opportunity outside the firm, Gottstein said in the memo.

Crystal joined Credit Suisse in 2013 and since 2020 has led international wealth management's sustainable client solutions unit alongside her regional role.

"Emma will be responsible for partnering with the divisions, regions and functions, to deliver on our existing Sustainability commitments, including expanding our wealth management product shelf, investment banking financing offering and net zero deliverables," Gottstein said.

Story continues

Her successor within wealth management is yet to be announced.

(This story corrects spelling of name in fourth paragraph, timing of Hudson's departure in fifth paragraph)

(Reporting by Simon Jessop and Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
(ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

A missing boy was found dead in the Netherlands after allegedly being kidnapped by a babysitter who was jailed for killing another child.

The body of four-year-old Dean Verberckmoes was discovered in Hollands Zeeland province at 10pm local time on Monday after a massive police search to find the child.

Dutch police arrested a 34-year-old Belgian man in the Dutch town of Meerkerk earlier in the day, around 60miles northeast of where the body was found.

The Belgian child was last seen in the company of the man, only identified as Dave De K, the NOS public broadcaster reported.

They were last seen in the Belgian city of Sint Niklaas, near Antwerp.

The man regularly looked after Dean and his younger sister, the childs mother Elke told the Belga news agency.

He was instructed to drop the four-year-old off at the grandmothers house on Thursday last week but failed to do this.

It sparked a huge search for the child.

De K was in prison for eight years for acts of child abuse that caused the death of a two-year-old, prosecutors in Belgium told the news agency.

He served eight years behind bars of a 10-year sentence.

The person concerned served his sentence, and the sentence came to an end in December 2018, the prosecution service said.

After the mans arrest, police had sent out an amber alert which is sent out in abduction cases with a photograph and description of the child.

A police helicopter was deployed and investigators found a possible crime scene before uncovering the body of the child.

Police in Zeeland said in a statement on Twitter, We thank everyone for the help and our condolences go out to the family.
Security Guard at Legends Poker Room Foils Armed Robbery

January 18 2022 Jon Sofen

A security guard at Legends Poker Room in Houston may have prevented a dangerous situation by tackling, and with the help of others, pinned an alleged armed robber down before the incident escalated.

Trelynn Robinson, known as "Tek" to locals, wasn't fazed when a man entered the building at around 1:30 a.m. Monday morning carrying an AR-15. The alleged suspect announced to the more than 40 patrons that he was robbing the place.

Robinson, however, wasn't about to allow an armed robber to force his will upon the business he's paid to protect. He tackled the suspect to the ground from behind, wrestled with the individual carrying a weapon, and then received some assistance from other players and staff. The weapon discharged around a dozen times, but fortunately, no one was hit.

After fighting off the culprit, Robinson was able to keep the man pinned down until police arrived.

"And he was asking me to give him the money," Robinson told KTRK, Houston's ABC affiliate. "But instead, I lunged towards him, fought him, wrestled him with the gun, it started to go off. A couple things happened. I was able to tackle him down and put the handcuffs on him, arrest him."

Robinson said he was injured in the scuffle, suffering a dislocated shoulder. Far more damage could have occurred if not for his strategic and courageous response. The unidentified suspect was arrested and taken in custody.

Returning the Favor

Many local poker players have already showered "Tek" with praise. A dealer at Legends Poker Room has already launched a GoFundMe to raise money to help give back to Robinson for his efforts.

"This man is a hero, he is going to have some medical bills from injuries sustained during this incident, as well as living with the aftermath of what happened tonight. So please, send some money, share this link," the GoFundMe reads.

At the time of publishing, only $50 of the desired $40,000 had been donated to the cause. Sean Benefiel, the dealer who started the GoFundMe, is the only donor thus far.

Here's the video KTRK, Houston's ABC affiliate, did on the story:

Security Concerns at Legends

Legends Poker Room is located within walking distance to the newly-branded 101 Poker Club, previously Johnny Chan's 88 Social, where Sammy Farha was recently involved in a physical altercation.

Legends, one of the newest rooms in town, has built up a solid customer base, but some local players in the area have expressed concerns with the room's safety on social media, even with skilled security guards such as Robinson on staff.

The card room was also the subject of a recent YouTube undercover investigation by Wayne Dolcefino of Dolcefino Consulting, who previously worked at another Houston poker room, Prime Social.

In the video, Dolcefino interviews Legends owner David La and grills him on his previous business dealings. La's gaming license in California was revoked as part of a money-laundering scandal. But many felt the investigative video was biased given Dolcefino's connection to Prime Social.

Lead image courtesy of KTRK.
TAIPEI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan reported 66 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, 17 of which are locally-transmitted confirmed cases, while the other 49 are imported, the island's disease monitoring agency said.

All but one of the new local infections are linked to Taoyuan International Airport, the agency added.

The first case in the ongoing outbreak that originated in the airport was reported on Jan. 3, followed by the infection of more airport personnel and their contacts.

Related cluster infections have emerged in a singing social club, factories, a bank, and most recently, a steakhouse, and 113 cases have been recorded so far.

To date, Taiwan has reported 17,951 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, of which 14,726 were local infections. 
RAMALLAH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Monday warned Israel against its measures of expelling Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem.

"The Israeli attempts to evict the Salhiya family from their home in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood fall within the framework of forced displacement," said President Mahmoud Abbas in a press statement, stressing that the actions contravened international and humanitarian law.

The statement said Israel's use of force for eviction and approval of building thousands of settlement units would escalate tensions in the Palestinian territories.

The evacuation "might be a prelude to a process of forced displacement of dozens of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem," the statement added.

Abbas called for the international community's immediate intervention to protect the Palestinian people and "put an end to the (Israeli) occupation policies."

Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state, while Israel insists that all Jerusalem should be its eternal capital.

Sheikh Jarrah saw several confrontations between Palestinian protestors and Israeli police in the aftermath of an Israeli court's verdict to evict Palestinian families. 
RAMALLAH, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Central Council (PCC) will meet in February for the first time in more than three years over "crucial political, organizational, and national issues," Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh announced Monday without elaborating on the details.

According to Xinhua's sources, the PCC will discuss the internal division with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which rules the Gaza Strip, relations with Israel, and the diplomatic ties with the United States.

If the meeting takes place as planned, it will be the first since the PCC met in October 2008. During that meeting, the PCC decided to end the Palestinian commitment to the peace accords signed with Israel and stop security coordination with Israel.

The PCC makes policy decisions when the Palestinian National Council, which is the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, is not in session. 
City council filing opens

Candidate filing opens Wednesday for the May 7 elections for Waco mayor, city council District 1, District 3 and an unexpired term for District 2. Feb. 18 is the last day to file for a place on the ballot.

Applications can be filed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the city secretarys office, 300 Austin Ave. Because of COVID-19, the office is scheduling appointments for in-person services; call 254-750-5750.

Early voting runs from April 25 to May 3. Applications for ballots by mail must be received by April 26.

NARFE meets Thursday

National Association of Retired and Federal Employees will meet at noon Thursday at the West Waco Library meeting room, 5301 Bosque Blvd.

The agenda includes discussion on current bills before Congress.

YMCA diabetes class

The Waco Family YMCAs yearlong diabetes prevention program is designed to help people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes reduce their risk.

It will meet weekly, starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Waco Family YMCA, 6800 Harvey Drive. The cost is $35.75 per month.

For more information, call 254-776-6612.

Square dancing quarterly

The Texas State Square and Round Dancers group will have its quarterly meeting and dance Saturday at Allemande Hall, 106 Westlake Drive.

Early rounds start at 7 p.m., and square dancing will start at 7:30. Cost to dance is $8 per person.

Peace Lutheran GriefShare

Peace Lutheran Church, 9301 Panther Way, will start a new GriefShare session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Meetings will continue each Tuesday for 13 weeks.

To pre-register, email Becky Ritz at rjritz@earthlink.net or call 832-418-0371.

Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com.
City council filing opens

The general election for the City of Waco mayor, council members for Districts I and III; and a special election to serve an unexpired term for council member District II, will be held on Saturday, May 7. The first day to file for a place on the City of Waco ballot is Wednesday.

Applications are filed at the city secretarys office MondayFriday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Due to COVID-19 concerns and regulations, the city secretary is scheduling appointments for in person services. Call 254-750-5750 to schedule an appointment.

NARFE meets Thursday

National Association of Retired and Federal Employees will meet at noon Thursday at the West Waco Library meeting room, 5301 Bosque Blvd.

The agenda includes discussion on the current bills before Congress. All federal employees and retirees are welcome.

YMCA diabetes class

The Waco Family YMCAs yearlong Diabetes Prevention Program is designed to help those at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes reduce their risk.

It meets weekly beginning Monday at 5:30 pm at the Waco Family YMCA, 6800 Harvey Drive. The cost is $35.75 per month for the duration of the program.

Call 254-776-6612 for more information.

Waco Rotary Club

Doug McDurham, executive director of the Art Center of Waco, will speak to the Waco Rotary Club at noon Tuesday at the Baylor Club, 1001 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The club meets at noon. Lunch costs $20. RSVP by emailing wacorotary@gmail.com.

Northwest Optimist Club

Wacos Northwest Optimist Club meets Tuesday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Uncle Dans BBQ, 1001 Lake Air Drive. Guest Speaker is Kristi DeCluitt, candidate for judge.

Call 254-379-4201 for further information.

Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com.
The rabbi of a Texas synagogue said Monday that he threw a chair at the gunman and then escaped with two other hostages after a 10-hour standoff, crediting past security training for getting himself and his congregation out safely.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told CBS Mornings that he let the gunman in Saturday because he appeared to need shelter. He said the man was not threatening or suspicious at first. Later, he heard a gun click as he was praying.

Another man held hostage, Jeffrey R. Cohen, described the ordeal on Facebook.

First of all, we escaped. We werent released or freed, Cohen said.

Cohen said the men worked to keep the gunman engaged. They talked to the gunman, he lectured them. At one point as the situation devolved, Cohen said the gunman told them to get on their knees. Cohen recalled rearing up in his chair and slowly moving his head and mouthing no. As the gunman moved to sit back down, Cohen said Cytron-Walker yelled to run.

The exit wasnt too far away, Cytron-Walker said. I told them to go. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door. And all three of us were able to get out with even a shot being fired.

Authorities identified the hostage-taker as 44-year-old British national, Malik Faisal Akram, who was killed Saturday night after the last hostages ran out of Congregation Beth Israel around 9 p.m.
CEDAR FALLS  Jenette Stanfield participated in Back Packin the Dome at the University of Northern Iowa for the first time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, volunteering time like many others to assemble meals for less fortunate Iowa kids.

However, it wasnt the first time the Waverly mother had heard of the program. Her children benefited from it six or seven years ago.

Now, its come full circle, and she was helping give back Monday while spending quality time with her husband, Tim.

The program is there for you if you need it, she said. You never know when you might need it, and Im glad it was there for me. I hope people know how much this helps local kids.

A call to action brought hundreds from all walks of life together at the UNI-Dome on Monday to divvy up hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and snacks.

The large majority spent time walking alongside a table with a plastic bag, and filling it with food products like pretzels, cereal, fruit snacks, macaroni and cheese, tuna, and soup. Those bags were tied up and dropped into cardboard boxes.

Those boxes were taped, placed on pallets, and delivered to the food bank to be distributed to several school districts.

It was the second time the event had been held at the UNI-Dome  the first being right before the pandemic in January 2020. But the event itself isnt new; its grown to require a larger venue.

In 2019, it was held at the Maucker Union. In 2021, it was cancelled because of COVID-19.

The BackPack Program serves 4,100 children at more than 140 schools across Northeast Iowa each month. Before schools let out for the weekend, children receive plastic bags full of meals and snacks they can enjoy at home.

Im really overwhelmed that so many people during the pandemic would come out. Its hard to describe in words, but all these people care about the kids in our communities, and they want to volunteer and they want to give back, said Barbara Prather, executive director at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

The food bank partnered with the University of Northern Iowas Office of Community Engagement and Panther Pantry, along with the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, to make a bigger and bolder splash than in years past.

We know the difference volunteers can have in our community, but when you actually see them come out, we get very excited, said Lauren Finke, executive director of VCCV. Its also exciting when they come and find volunteerism to be interesting and impactful and life-changing. We hope that it continues to drive them to want to stay involved.

This year was touted as the single largest volunteer event in the Cedar Valley, and one of the largest such showings in the state.

I brought my two kids here to get them involved in the community and have the chance to give back, said Mylita Barnes of Waterloo. Her daughter, Eonna, 15, chimed in: Its how we make a difference.

Another participant, Adin Abdic, 9, of Waterloo, came with his little sister and father. He noted honestly being in shock and surprised upon seeing the bleachers filled with volunteers. Asked about what hed learned, he said it can teach people not to waste food.

It was great to see all the people come out to help feed people in need, said Izzy Jorgenson, president of Hudson High Schools National Honor Society.

She also noted it gives NHS members a chance to meet new people and learn their stories. Jorgenson said it was particularly memorable meeting someone who had volunteered at the food bank for 40 years.

Two shifts totaled about 1,000 volunteers Monday.

Many volunteers came from organizations and businesses like Boy Scout Troop 44, Hudson High School National Honor Society, AmeriCorps NCCC, 4-H Lucky Hawks Club, St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Target Distribution Center, MidAmerican Energy, John Deere and many others.

Before the two larger shifts, another much smaller one, at 8:30 a.m., was made up of about 160 student-athletes.

A number of dignitaries were in attendance to help out, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, state Rep. Bob Kressig, Mayor Rob Green, and Cedar Falls City Councilors Kelly Dunn and Dustin Ganfield.

It is easy work, but very necessary work, said Grassley. Im really proud of the hundreds of people for coming here today to do this, and to do it on a holiday, when a lot of people might just be watching television.

Similarly, Ernst echoed her appreciation for the volunteers: Im just so incredibly grateful for everyone thats taken this day of service to step up on a national holiday to help address food insecurity.

At virtual banquet, Joy Briscoe urges community to continue striving toward dream of MLK Jr. She gave tips on how to make that happen in hopes the next generation isnt questioning whether enough was done to make transformational change.

Gregg was tapped by Gov. Kim Reynolds to chair the Feeding Iowans Task Force during the pandemic to ensure food banks and pantries have the resources they need to do their jobs.

Im really impressed with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and their operation and all it takes to pull off an event like this, and then of course, to then serve those who are in need in the area, he said.

Gov. Reynolds recently allocated some additional CARES Act funds to the food banks and food pantries, and Barbara Prather just mentioned to me that those funds actually paid for many of the supplies here, he added. I didnt know about that connection before I got here. Thats heartwarming to hear.

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SUVA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two people have died in Tonga after the violent eruptions of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, about 65 km north of the country's capital city Nuku'alofa.

According to Radio New Zealand (RNZ) on Tuesday, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the two deaths.

One of the deaths was British national Angela Glover, who was reported by her family to have been killed by the tsunami caused by Saturday's volcanic eruption. She is believed to have died trying to rescue her dogs at the animal charity she ran.

Tonga police also told the New Zealand High Commission in Nuku'alofa that the confirmed death toll stood at two, but with communications in Tonga cut off, the true extent of casualties in the island nation was not clear.

The report said the tsunami-hit Tonga islands suffered extensive damage, and it is feared that death toll in the island nation would rise.

Tonga's deputy head of mission in Australia Curtis Tu'ihalangingie said that the images taken by the New Zealand military reconnaissance flights showed an entire village destroyed on Mango island and numerous buildings missing on nearby Atata island.

Serious damage has been reported from the west coast of Tonga's main island Tongatapu and a state of emergency has been declared.

On Tuesday afternoon, two New Zealand naval ships carrying fresh water, emergency supplies and diving teams were being sent to Tonga to provide support.

On Friday and Saturday, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted violently and triggered tsunami in Tonga.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano is part of the highly active Tonga-Kermadec Islands volcanic arc, a subduction zone extending from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji. Over the past decades, the volcano has erupted several times. 
The album features seven works that celebrate the organ, designed by Lynn Dobson and built and installed in 1996 by Dobson Organ Builders in Lake City, a highly respected organ builder that has designed and installed organs throughout the country. It also pays tribute to Wartburg heritage as an institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and as a college founded by German immigrants.

This is the organ I play every day. This is where I teach organ lessons, where we have worship. Its been my home for 25 years, said Black, who is Wartburg Colleges Rudi Inselmann Endowed Professor of Organ. She teaches organ and church music, music theory and aural skills. She serves as organist for weekday chapel and Sunday worship services and conducts the Kantorei choral ensemble and Handbell Choir.

Black is impressed by the quality of the Dobson Organ each time she sits down to play it. I think its a combination of a really wonderful builder, Lyn Dobson, both from the construction and musical sides, and its a wonderful instrument to play. The action  the way the keys feel under your fingers  and its easy to play, coupled with wonderful acoustics in the chapel which allows the sound to bloom in the space, she explained.

Until last year, the idea of recording an album with her already busy schedule seemed like a pipe dream. Ive wanted to record this album for a long time. It was a really time consuming project, and I set a firm deadline for the 25th anniversary as a way to commemorate the installation.

The challenge, Black said, was in narrowing down centuries worth of organ repertoire. I didnt want to record too many of the top 10 organ pieces that have been recorded a million times by a million people. I wanted to find some pieces that werent as recognizable, like the really lovely Telemann Trio Sonata.

Other works on the album include a composition by Pamela Decker commissioned in 2002 by Wartburg College, and pieces of the Bach circle. Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, home to the medieval Wartburg Castle. And he was baptized at the church where our Wartburg College musical groups go and perform, Black noted. I wanted to reflect our heritage, but also show that the organ, like our college, is alive for students today by reflecting a broader view of the music and composition for organ.

With encouragement from colleagues, Black also included one of her own compositions on the album, Reflections, which uses the college loyalty song as the musical tune. Recording took place over a period of days in the chapel with Black playing the Dobson Organ.

As a child, Black learned to play piano. At 16, the church she attended in Minnesota installed a pipe organ and the church organist offered her lessons. Thats how I fell in love with the organ. It was the sound. It can be really quiet, or as loud as a symphony orchestra. Then theres the wide range of literature from early on in the history of music to pieces that are written for organ today. The organ covers the whole human expression, she explained.

Black is an active recitalist and clinician and has performed throughout the United States and abroad, including in Germany at Castle Church in Wittenburg and St. Georges Church in Eisenach. She serves as the North Central Regional Councilor of the AGO and has published choral and organ works with Augsburg Fortress.

She received her bachelor of music degree in church music from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, her master of music and doctorate degrees from Indiana University. Prior to coming to Wartburg, Black held positions as director of music at Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches in Minneapolis, and as assistant director at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis.

CDs are $15 and can be purchased through Sarah Bouska, Wartburgs music tour, camp and promotion manager, by emailing sarah.bouska@wartburg.edu. CDs may also be purchased at The Wartburg Store, located in the Saemann Student Center on Wartburgs campus. The album will be available to stream on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube this month.

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The Endow Iowa program began in 2003 with an aim of capturing a percentage of the states transfer of wealth to support Iowa communities now and in the future. Without question, the program has been a huge success and a model for growing community-based endowments. Since the inception of the Endow Iowa Tax Credit program, Iowa community foundations have leveraged more than $336 million in permanent endowment fund gifts. The contributions were made through 43,564 donations. The beauty of endowment funds is that these dollars will continue to grow in perpetuity, improving lives for Iowans both now and for generations to come. Last year alone, Endow Iowa funds at Iowa community foundations granted over $20 million to nonprofits and charitable causes in the state.

Endow Iowa tax credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to donors who make a gift to a permanent endowment fund, established for the benefit of an Iowa charitable cause, at a qualified community foundation in Iowa. Qualified community foundations are those accredited by National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. The program is utilized by a wide range of donors, including individuals and businesses, with a majority of donations being $1,000 or less. The program began when the state legislature made $2 million in tax credits available. Demand for the tax credits has grown each year and since 2013, $6 million has been available annually through this program.

Iowa community foundations have reached a challenging point in being able to realize the programs full potential. The program is so successful that the credits are exhausted earlier and earlier each year. All 2020 credits were allocated before the end of 2019; all 2021 credits were allocated by December 2020; and all 2022 credits were allocated via a waitlist by September 2021. As a result, all Endow Iowa tax credit applications submitted from September 2021 on will be added to the 2023 waitlist. Without legislative action, we anticipate Endow Iowa tax credit applications being added to the 2024 waitlist as early as the first quarter of 2022.

Of course, this demand is a good problem. Iowans are investing in endowed funds at record rates in Iowa, but now they are waiting up to two years to realize this tax advantage. In order for this program to remain effective, the state legislature should increase the annual allocation from $6 million per year to $10 million per year. For each public tax credit dollar allocated, four private philanthropy dollars are leveraged. Those funds are making incredible impact in each county in Iowa.

Funds like the Northeast Iowa Food Bank Endowment Fund, a fund established with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA). Established in 2013 by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, the fund provides a reliable, sustainable source of income for the Food Bank. As food insecurity increases across Iowa, more and more funding is needed to address the needs of families across the Food Banks region. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank Endowment Fund currently provides nearly $15,000 each year to help the organization carry out its mission. The funds incredible growth has, in large part, come through donations by people passionate about making sure local families have food on their tables even when experiencing hardships. The Endow Iowa 25% state tax credit provides an additional incentive for donors to give to a cause close to their hearts. This fund is just one of over 150 endowed nonprofit funds eligible for Endow Iowa tax credits held with CFNEIA and its affiliate foundations, providing a secure, forever source of income for nonprofits across a 20-county region.

The Northeast Iowa Food Banks partnership with CFNEIA is a win for both the community and generous individuals and families. Unfortunately, without an increase to the annual allocation, the Endow Iowa tax credits will continue to compound in future years and Iowa communities may miss out on endowed gifts that could benefit their communities forever. This program not only benefits Iowa donors, but also the nonprofits, charitable causes and communities they love. We hope the Legislature will see the continued value of this program and recommit to the programs goals with an increase in Endow Iowa funds for the future.

Kaye Englin is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Kari McCann Boutell is president of the Iowa Council of Foundations.
~~ I am sure it is true and you must believe, because? ~~

Canadian and Mexican News Agencies  CNMA: Due to the buildup of US forces within the state of Texas and the state of North Dakota, USA. The world should withhold the exportation of gas, oil and block all financial means including SWIFT to the USA. Harsh measures will be required until Biden and or whomsoever is the presidential flavor of this month at the USA Oval Office in DC, promises not to attack Mexico and Canada, of course they would have to first withdraw all of their military forces from Texas and North Dakota. Once the USA forces have been sufficiently moved far enough to satisfy the known and unknown world? Then maybe we will allow the USA to stay on SWIFT? Maybe?

Mexico and Canada have given official statements to the UN as to the fact that the USA has intentionally cut them off from each other and they would be appreciative other countries to help them get a connection roadway between the two countries. The USA refuses to allow free passage of goods and people to and from Canada and Mexico through the US lands!

But the USA vetoed the UN mandate that Canada and Mexico presented and then presented their own mandate against Russia

The USA has given specific information as to why they are not getting ready to attack Canada and Mexico. They are simply getting ready for, The Russian Invasion of North America and gave this image as proof

Russia is amassing weapons at Moscow (yet we are unsure if that is Moscow, USA or Moscow, Russia)

And we (USA) must be proactive and not reactive. If a few innocent countries (Mexico and Canada) get worried about why we are building up forces on their borders? as we quote the unknown observer

An official unknown observer said, We (USA) feel that they would rather be occupied by us (USA) than Russia anyway, so why not????

In other news.the UN is in heated discussion as the the validity of the USA statement that Canada and Mexico would rather be occupied by the USA over the occupation by Soviet Union Russia. This is a serious accusation and the CCCP Russia is being asked why they are amassing troops at the RED SQUARE in Moscow!

Would you like to know more?

WtR

~~ I am sure it is true and you must believe, because? ~~
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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KUNMING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand joined forces on Tuesday for the 113th Mekong River joint patrol.

Two Chinese vessels departed at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday from Jingha Port in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, for the patrol, said the Yunnan provincial public security department.

The vessels will navigate over 600 km in four days and three nights in the joint operation.

The Mekong River, or Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping.

China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand have been carrying out joint patrols on the Mekong River since December 2011. 
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File

En espanol

Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who flew 409 fighter combat missions over three wars and later helped to bring attention to the Black pilots who had battled racism at home to fight for freedom abroad, died Sunday. He was 102.

McGee died in his sleep at his home in Bethesda, Maryland, said his son, Ron McGee.

After the U.S. entry into World War II, McGee left the University of Illinois to join an experimental program for Black soldiers seeking to train as pilots after the Army Air Forces were forced to admit African Americans. In October 1942 he was sent to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama for flight training, according to his biography on the website of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

You could say that one of the things we were fighting for was equality, he told the Associated Press in a 1995 interview. Equality of opportunity. We knew we had the same skills, or better.

McGee graduated from flight school in June 1943 and in early 1944 joined the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Red Tails. He flew 136 missions as the group accompanied bombers over Europe.

More than 900 men trained at Tuskegee from 1940 to 1946. About 450 deployed overseas, and 150 lost their lives in training or combat.

In recent years the Tuskegee Airmen have been the subject of books, movies and documentaries highlighting their courage in the air and the doubts they faced on the ground because of their race. In 2007 a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award from Congress, was issued to recognize their unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.
Non-holy items

When Marla Alt, 60, recently downsized from a house in New Yorks Westchester County to an apartment in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, she had to decide what to do with all the Jewish religious art and decorative items that we no longer needed nor have the space to own. Alt, whos known as The Moving Whisperer, is a move management expert and owner of 123organize. She wanted to get rid of Jewish-themed posters and a havdalah set, which typically includes a kiddush cup to hold wine or grape juices and a candleholder for the candle that, when lit, signifies the end of the Sabbath.

Alt ended up passing those things on to an online auction, which Rabbi Julie Zupan, director of Jewish learning and engagement at the New York City-based Union for Reform Judaism, says is just fine, at least for those particular items. 

Since Jewish practice centers around the home, Jewish families often own a trove of ritual items, but they are not considered holy in the way that a sacred item inscribed with the name of God might be, says Zupan.

However, when something is holy, such as a Torah scroll or a translation of a Jewish sacred work like the Talmud (the main source of Jewish law and religious beliefs), for example, and is in disrepair, its disrespectful to throw it away, Zupan says.

We bury them in the earth in the same way that in Jewish tradition we bury a beloved person who has died, she says. Jewish cemeteries often have a special plot dedicated to these types of items and may periodically have ceremonies to bury Jewish prayer books.

For Christian artifacts, Kenneth Doyle, priest of the Diocese of Albany and a former spokesperson and Rome bureau chief for the Catholic News Service, says, Canon law speaks about sacred objects that are blessed and says they should be treated reverently, and thats as specific as it gets.

So if an item is not blessed, its not considered holy, and its not something that needs special care when it comes to disposal. Doyle cites the examples of statuary or a rosary (a chain, traditionally used during prayer, thats made up of a series of beads, a small medal and a crucifix) that may have been mailed out as a gift from a religious order. Religious orders dont customarily bless articles they send out, Doyle says. In that case, those items could, technically, be thrown away.
N95 respirators, the gold standard of filtration masks, are back in the pandemic spotlight because of the highly contagious Omicron Covid-19 variant.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets via video link at the latter's request on Jan. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets via video link at the latter's request.

Hailing the sound development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 30 years ago, Wang said the past experience shows that as long as the two countries respect and treat each other on equal footings, they can achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

The two sides should continue to attach importance to each other's legitimate concerns in core interests, abide by the international relations norms of non-interference in internal affairs, and safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, he said.

Wang also called on the two sides to expand cooperation in such areas as agriculture and food products, e-commerce and digital economy.

Liimets pledged to firmly adhere to the one-China policy, enhance mutual trust, and jointly promote the development of bilateral relations.

Estonia supports the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and has co-sponsored a resolution on Olympic Truce for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, she said, expressing hope that the Olympic Games will be a complete success.

The two sides agreed to continue to maintain communication, hold diplomatic and political consultations in due course, and speed up the process of signing agreement of exporting Estonian diary and wild aquatic products to China.

They also exchanged views on green and digital cooperation, and believed that international cooperation should be strengthened to jointly address global challenges such as climate change and strive to build a safe, open and cooperative cyberspace. 


Multiple Visible Gold Intersects at Morning Star Gold Mine

Ballarat, Jan 18, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - White Rock Minerals Limited ( ASX:WRM ) ( OTCMKTS:WRMCF ) is pleased to provide an update on surface drilling and initial assay results for the Dickenson South target area at the Morning Star underground Gold Mine.White Rock's primary objective at the Morning Star Gold Mine is to identify and drill areas of the dyke that have the potential to host multiple high-grade gold quartz reefs that are proximal to existing underground development infrastructure to support a low capital restart of production from multiple reef locations.The Dickenson South target area is one such primary target with multiple high-grade gold bearing reefs and proximity to surface and existing underground infrastructure (Figure 1*).Surface diamond drilling of the Dickenson South target commenced in late 2021. To date, seven diamond drill holes have been completed for 1,466 metres, testing mineralised reefs including the Age of Progress, Stacpoole, Exhibition, Shamrock, Dickenson, and Whitelaw reefs, between surface and Level 6 at the Morning Star Gold Mine.Six drill holes (21SDS001-006) have been completed on the first section (Ring 1; Figure 2*) with visible gold intersected in multiple adjacent drill holes (21SDS003, 005 & 006) testing the Age of Progress Reef, and, also in the Whitelaw Reef (21SDS005).Complete assay results have been received for five surface diamond drill holes (21SDS001 to 21SDS005), with assay results also received for the top section of drill hole 21SDS006 through the Age of Progress and Stacpoole Reefs. A further 55 samples from the lower half of 21SDS006 are awaiting assay results. Significant drill intersections from the current drill program are summarised in Table 1 below. All drill assays >1g/t gold are provided in Table 3*.The surface diamond drill rig has now moved along strike to the south to continue testing the Dickenson South target with the first drill hole in Ring 2 (21SDS007) also intersecting visible gold in the Dickenson Reef. Figure 3* highlights the distribution of visible gold within one of the quartz veins contained within a 7.8m zone of strong alteration hosting numerous massive / vuggy quartz veins with laminated contacts and arsenopyrite, pyrite and rare boulangerite mineralisation.Assay results are awaited.Drilling data continues to support the potential for a 150m southern extension of mineralised reefs in the Dickenson South target area between the previously mined high grade reefs systems, close to existing underground development and infrastructure, all the way through to significant historic drill hole intersections at the southern end of the host dyke (Error! Reference source not found.) including:o 2.6 metres at 16.9g/t gold including 0.3 metres at 132.7g/t (MS364)o 0.8 metres at 13.2g/t gold including 0.3 metres at 33.4g/t (20MS01)Preliminary interpretations suggest over eight reefs with the potential for economic mineralisation extend across the Dickenson South target area, with the first ring of 6 drill holes intersecting 26 reef positions with greater than 1g/t gold, used as an indicator for a reef position of interest.At least two new reef structures have been identified with a complex array of structures linking the Dickenson, Shamrock, Exhibition and Whitelaw Reefs suggesting the potential for numerous favourable structural positions not defined by historical work. Interpretations are ongoing with quartz reef geometry an important aspect of determining reef positions with the greatest potential for significant economic mineralisation to develop, given the nuggety nature of gold mineralisation.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About White Rock Minerals Ltd

White Rock Minerals Ltd (ASX:WRM) (OTCMKTS:WRMCF) is a diversified explorer and near-stage producer, headquartered in Ballarat, Victoria. The Company's flagship exploration project is Red Mountain in central Alaska. At Red Mountain, there are already two high grade zinc - silver - gold - lead VMS deposits, with an Inferred Mineral Resource of 9.1 million tonnes @ 609g/t AgEq / 13% ZnEq. The Company is also exploring its recently discovered large intrusion related gold anomaly at Last Chance, also located in the Tintina gold belt of Alaska, home to multi-million gold ounce deposits like Pogo, Fort Knox and the Donlin Project. The Company also has the Mt Carrington project, located near Drake, in Northern NSW, which is a near-production precious metals asset with a resource of 341,000 ounces of gold and 23.2 million ounces of silver on an approved mining lease, and with a Gold First PFS and JORC Reserve.


Mt Monger South Geological Mapping Program Commences

Perth, Jan 18, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Monger Gold Limited ( ASX:MMG ) is pleased to provide assay results from a geological mapping and sampling program completed across the entire 13 (thirteen) tenements of the Mt Monger South Project (MMSP). The geological mapping program was completed by New Finds Minerals Exploration Pty Limited in December 2021 and work continues with delivery of a final report imminent. Fire Assay 50g AAS gold assay results have been received and are listed in table 1*.The highest-grade sample assay was discovered in the eastern sector of the Three Emus Prospect at 89.79g/t gold from an in-situ limonitic quartz vein hosted within ultramafic host rock near a tonalite intrusive contact with surrounding volcanogenic sediments.The second highest sample assay of 9.65g/t gold was found from an in-situ quartz vein hosted in oxidised felsic volcanic rock in a small old workings shaft located 360m northwest of the Three Emus Prospect.Historical carbonate sampled auger soils programs discovered anomalous samples >100ppb gold above Tommies Dam Prospect and proximal down slope anomalies at Three Emus that have been tested by historical shallow drilling. These two prospects align in a linear north-westerly striking trend that also coincides with the Angus Prospect and other prospects outside of MMG's tenements.The geomorphic regime in the north-eastern sector of the MMSP is alluvial plains with the deepest areas having up to 5m of transported material. These covered areas have the potential to conceal basement gold mineralisation, as do higher-energy intermittent water courses and alluvial terraces in the central sector.In the northeast two historical short RAB drill lines (targeting magnetic highs) intersected 1m @ 1.99 g/t gold at the end-of-hole (11MMAC004 ASX.SLR). These historical gold results illustrate that gold mineralisation in basement sediments exists beneath the transported cover. Historical surface stream sediment sample assays were found between 170-370ppb gold in alluvium (Integra Mining Ltd). Proximal and to the south of these samples, on the mid-eastern boundary, MMG geological mapping identified relatively recent mechanical scraping of alluvium that accessed gold nuggets over a 300m wide by 170m long zone (area of 40,000m2).The north-eastern sector of MMG's tenements has east-striking geological units of the Daisy-Milano mine (DM) corridor, as observed from Christmas Flats to the Mirror Open Pit. The DM stratigraphy consists of ultramafic rocks within felsic/intermediate volcanics and associated volcanoclastics (including conglomerates). Faults that strike from 330deg to 360deg magnetic that intersect DM stratigraphy have been identified as the most prospective for gold mineralisation at DM. A major north-striking dextral fault lies immediately east of the MMG tenements that separates the Randall group of gold mines and MMSP. Another northerly structural trend appears at the Three Emus Prospect where rockchip samples of 89.79 g/t gold were found on the surface, to the northeast of a historical drill traverse.MMG is planning a major geochemical sampling program to be completed in the first half 2022 with the geological mapping program having identified the most prospective areas. Samples from the geochemical program will utilise the CSIRO Ultrafine+ fraction soil technique (MMG announcement 11 August 2021 - "Monger Gold signs Agreement with CSIRO for enhanced exploration"). There are colluvium and high energy alluvium deposits at MMSP deriving from relatively elevated topographic relief in the south (Mt Monger). This significant relief produced colluvium, alluvial drainage channels, alluvial fans and alluvial plains and CSIRO spatial data analytics with the supplemental UFF+ sample data like particle sizing will be effective at separating out different regolith types.Tenements covered by this program included; P26/4086, P26/4113, P25/2439, P26/4310, P25/2438, P25/2493, P26/4111, P26/4110, P26/4107, P26/4109, P26/4108, P26/4106, P26/4409 area of 17.7km2.Monger Gold's Non-Executive Chairman, Peretz Schapiro says, "Since the company's formation we have been committed to a program of systematically exploring our tenements. Today's results are exceptionally encouraging and warrant further exploration at the Mt Monger South Project, of which planning is well underway.The early-stage nature of the Mt Monger South Project dovetails nicely with our more advanced prospects at Mt Monger North, providing us with a significant number of prospective targets, all at different stages of the development pipeline.We look forward to further exploration at Mt Monger South, as well as our upcoming RC drilling campaign at Mt Monger North, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the month".*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Monger Gold Ltd

With an enterprise value AUD $1m and AUD $5m in funding, Monger Gold Limited's (ASX:MMG) intention is to generate value for shareholders by directing funds raised by the Offer into targeted and systematic exploration of our Projects, resulting in the definition of one or more JORC compliant gold and nickel resources.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Space University Lobos?

The University of New Mexico was one of a handful of universities tapped to be part of a new Air Force effort to increase academic perspectives in the development of technology for space.

The Air Force Research Laboratory last month announced the winning teams for the Space University Research Initiative, or SURI program. UNM will have a presence on a team formed to tackle space logistics and mobility issues.

Howard Choset, of Carnegie Mellon University, was the principal investigator on the three- to five-year research project, along with partners from CMU, UNM, Texas A&M and Northrop Grumman Corp. Another team headed by a professor from the University of Buffalo got into the program to work on space domain awareness.

Professor Rafael Fierro in UNMs Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will be the schools principal investigator. He said a post-doctoral researcher and doctoral candidates will do much of the research alongside him.

Much of that work will be done at the UNM-AFRL Agile Manufacturing Center at UNMs science and technology park south of the main campus, which has cutting-edge computers and robotics systems and 3D printing technology.

Space is becoming an important frontier, Fierro said. In terms of the success of sending people to orbit, reporting on weather and climate change, volcanoes, communications and the discovery of possible life on other planets  its going to be with us for a long, long time. And its important for UNM to be a part of it because our mission is to train the next generation of engineers and scientists.

Fierro said UNM was included in the project, in part, because it already has partnered with AFRL, which has directorates based at Kirtland Air Force Base, to create the agile manufacturing center, which is backed by a five-year, $6.7 million Air Force grant.

We didnt have to start from zero, he said.

In announcing the winning SURI teams, military officials said the program is one way the military is trying to create more incentives to improve and speed up Department of Defense-related research.

Our way of warfare depends on space superiority and AFRL has a long history of research and development in support of this domain, Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, AFRL commander, said in a statement. With the recent standup of the (Space Force), along with the emergence of U.S. Space Command and new energy in the commercial space sector, we have exciting opportunities to modernize the way we lead and manage science and technology.

The teams will have access to up to $1 million per year for the next three to five years. Much of the proposal by the space logistics team centers around creating technology so satellites can be upgraded, refueled or repaired once they are already on orbit, according to a summary of the research project.

Space is completely different than a terrestrial facility. Everything is going to be more challenging and difficult, Fierro said. If there is a problem, you cant send a crew of operators and engineers to take a look.
PHOENIX  State Sen. Kelly Townsend announced Monday she will run for Congress to represent southern Arizona.

The decision means Townsend will avoid facing fellow Republican Wendy Rogers for a legislative seat in a newly redrawn district. Townsend said she wont leave her position as a state senator while campaigning for Congress.

Townsend announced her bid for Congressional District 6 on a conservative radio show. She will join a crowded field of Republicans vying for the nomination in the August primary. The district leans Republican.

Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is retiring, leaving the congressional seat open. Townsend doesnt live in the district that takes in parts of Tucson and the far southeastern corner of the state, but shes not required to, Phoenix radio KJZZ reports.

Townsend, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been one of the Legislatures most vocal critics of pandemic restrictions and the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Repeated reviews have found no problems with the election results in Arizona or elsewhere, but many Trump supporters still believe his loss was the result of fraudulent activities.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexicos revenue bonanza is leading to some unintended windfalls.

Take, for instance, a state early childhood trust fund that was created in 2020 and is now projected to balloon to more than $4 billion by 2025 due to robust tax collections on oil and natural gas production.

Thats prompted lawmakers to consider passing legislation during the 30-day session that begins Tuesday to increase next years distribution from the trust fund and make it easier to use the fund for other child-related programs.

The proposal is just one of a slew of issues lawmakers are expected to tackle during the session that starts at noon. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will deliver her State of the State address remotely from the Governors Office shortly after the session begins.

But the early childhood trust funds growth exemplifies the states revenue situation, which has been a roller-coaster ride in recent years.

No one ever imagined the fund would grow as fast as it has, said Legislative Finance Committee Director David Abbey during a remote hearing held the day before the sessions start.

The influential panel ultimately voted Monday to endorse the legislation during the upcoming session, though it will still have to advance through the normal process once the session gets underway.

During the 2020 debate over the trust funds creation, backers of the idea argued it could eventually become a major funding source for home visiting, prekindergarten, child care assistance and other early childhood programs.

The trust fund got a $300 million start-up appropriation and also receives energy-related tax collections in years when total state cash reserves exceed 25% of spending levels.

That scenario has materialized in each of the past two years as New Mexico revenue levels surged to record-high levels due to increased oil and gas production, and improving consumer spending. The surge has come after revenue levels dropped during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, the early childhood trust fund is projected to have a balance of more than $2.1 billion at the end of the current budget year, according to LFC data. It is also expected to continue growing rapidly, reaching nearly $4.3 billion by the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

Sen. Steve Neville, R-Aztec, said the explosive fund growth should be scrutinized, especially since a proposal before voters in November would allow even more money to be taken from New Mexicos largest permanent fund  a separate fund  to pay for early childhood programs.

Its way overfunded for early childhood, Neville said of the early childhood trust fund. We need to throttle that back.

Under current state law, $30 million is transferred annually out of the trust fund for programs overseen by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department created by lawmakers in 2019 and launched officially a year later.

That would increase to $40 million for the coming budget year under the legislative proposal discussed Monday.

The proposed bill would also allow those distributed funds to be spent on child-focused programs run by other agencies, such as advocacy centers that work with victims of child abuse.

Meanwhile, New Mexico spending on early childhood programs has increased rapidly in recent years, as Lujan Grisham has a goal of having universal prekindergarten in New Mexico  or at least 85% of 4-year-olds enrolled in private or public programs statewide.

Specifically, recurring early childhood spending has increased from about $140 million in 2012 to nearly $500 million in the current fiscal year.

The 30-day session runs through Feb. 17 and will focus largely on budgetary matters.

However, legislators are also expected to debate bills dealing with crime, voting rights and carbon emissions, all added to the agenda by the Democratic governor.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

In January 2020, a dramatic scene unfolded at the intersection of Coors and Bluewater NW.

Witnesses told Albuquerque police the occupants of two trucks were firing at each other and then one crashed into a bystanders red SUV. The other driver fled the scene and was not found.

Darin Gonzales, then 19, was taken into custody and charged with shooting at or from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors asked for him to be held pending trial, saying his conduct is dangerous because the defendant was allegedly firing a gun on a crowded street in a residential area. Several eyewitnesses were able to see the altercation and the discharge of the firearm, which put them at risk of being struck by a bullet.

That motion was granted and Gonzales was kept behind bars.

Five months later, the case was dismissed because  due to conflicting police reports  prosecutors said they were unable to prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense had argued for dismissal based on a report by a gun crime detective who stated there was not enough information to charge Darin with shooting at or from a motor vehicle because his statement could be seen as self defense. That detective had declined to take the case and advised the officer not to charge Gonzales.

Gonzales wasnt the only person in this situation over the past several years.

The Law Offices of the Public Defender found that 22% of defendants who were held pending trial did not end up being convicted of the crime for which they were locked up. Of the 2,129 cases  where detention motions were granted  that were resolved by the end of 2020, 476 ended without a conviction. That number does not include cases that were turned over to federal prosecutors, were dismissed because of pleas in other cases or where the defendant was found incompetent, or where the defendant died.

This whole system is predicated on innocent until proven guilty, said Jonathan Ibarra, felony supervisor at the Public Defenders office who compiles that data for the office. We dont get to punish people because of something we think they did. You have to prove it and proving it means actually proving it  it doesnt mean keeping somebody sitting in jail as some sort of other fix.

Second Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrez agreed that more needed to be done to effectively resolve cases in a timely way, but he stressed that the acquittal rate for cases is about 0.6%. He said a lot of the dismissals come down to witnesses or victims not being able to be located again or not cooperating with the prosecution within the case deadlines.

I dont have resources to go out into the community and track that person down, and if I dont get some way to find that person, we really run into challenges , Torrez said, adding that investigators send certified mail or email. If theres going to be an expectation that we get victims and witnesses to comply with (Case Management Order) deadlines, then we need to fund the ability to go and track those people down.

Torrez said this issue has gotten significantly worse during the pandemic and provided data that showed dismissals due to a lack of victim or witness cooperation more than doubled from 11.5% of cases where a pretrial motion was granted before the pandemic to 27% of cases since the pandemic began.

Noah Gelb, Gonzaless public defender said his clients case is illustrative of whats happening.

The government knows so little about these cases and these people at the time that they are asking for detention that you often find yourself in a situation as here, where not only was detention not warranted, but also essentially there was a very strong case that Mr. Gonzales was wrongly accused to begin with, Gelb said. There were a huge number of problems that developed in the states case against him.

Pretrial detentions alarm attorneys

Leading up to the legislative session, lawmakers, local law enforcement officials and political leaders have been advocating for changes to the pretrial detention system that would make it easier to keep certain people charged with violent crimes in jail pending trial. The push is part of the governors crime package, which also includes stiffer penalties for some violent crimes and more funding for law enforcement statewide.

Proponents of the legislation say New Mexicans are fed up with crime and want to put an end to the systems apparent revolving door for violent criminals. But defense attorneys say that if it passes, a lot more people will be held in jail waiting for their case to be dismissed and who dont deserve to be there.

In 2016 voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to do away with cash bail. The move made it so a defendant would no longer be held indefinitely because they couldnt pay a $100 bond while a defendant with means could pay and be released.

Currently, after a prosecutor files a pretrial detention motion, a judge can hold a person in jail pending trial if they are deemed to be dangerous and no conditions of release would ensure the safety of the community.

Rep. Marian Matthews, D-Albuquerque, is sponsoring the pretrial detention bill that will be part of the governors package. The bill had not been pre-filed by Monday and a draft has not been provided to the Journal.

So the concept is to hopefully help us get a grip on the level of violence in the city and in the state, Matthews said. What it does is essentially define a set of crimes  serious, violent offenses  which if a person is arrested for them and charged can create a presumption  which is rebuttable  that they are a danger to the community and there arent any conditions of release that would protect people or the community. So they would be held pretrial.

Rep. Bill Rehm, an Albuquerque Republican, pre-filed a bill that would presume a defendant is dangerous and no conditions of release will protect the community if they are charged with a serious violent offense, brandished or discharged a firearm during a violent offense, committed the offense while on probation, parole or post-conviction supervision, failed to appear to a hearing in a felony case in the past, or have demonstrated a pattern of failure to follow conditions of release.

He said he based House Bill 27 on watching the news and seeing who gets re-arrested.

I think the community is demanding that we revisit bail bond and they are totally upset with the way its working, Rehm said. Im responding to the communitys concerns.

A Journal poll conducted by Albuquerque-based Research & Polling in October found that more than three quarters  77%  of likely city voters favored changing pretrial detention to make it easier for those accused of certain crimes to be held in jail until trial. Among Republican voters, 86% supported the change and among Democrats 71% supported it.

Institute studies re-arrest data

The University of New Mexicos Institute for Social Research has been studying cases filed in Bernalillo County and looking at those who were re-arrested after being released from jail. Researchers have examined 23,345 cases filed in a period of four years  from the beginning of July 2017 through the end of June 2021.

Paul Guerin, the director of the Center for Applied Research and Analysis within the institute, said they found people who were arrested on felony violent crimes were not more likely to commit another felony violent crime if released pending trial.

The institute found the current system  the Public Safety Assessment tool  is a better predictor that a person will commit future criminal activity than a previous iteration of Rehms bill or whether a person is charged with a firearm offense. However, the legislation Rehm proposed in 2021 was broader than what he is proposing this year and broader than what Matthews appears to be proposing.

The risk is if we change the way we practice pretrial detention  we begin detaining more people who are charged with a violent crime, and dont allow them to potentially be released pretrial until they can prove that theyre not a danger to the community  we risk holding lots more people who we would not expect to commit a new crime while out of the jail pretrial, Guerin said.

Guerin emphasized that it is impossible to predict with 100% accuracy who is going to commit acts of violence, and violent crimes make up a small fraction of crimes committed.

Judges currently grant about 50% of the DAs requests for pretrial detention. Torrez estimates that could increase to about 80% if lawmakers pass the new law.

The 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office in Bernalillo County compiled its own data and found 15.6% of the people released pending trial committed new felonies before their case closed, and 6.7% were violent felonies. When the data set includes felonies and domestic violence misdemeanors, the overall recidivism rate is 18% and the violent recidivism rate is 9.1%.

Adolfo Mendez, chief of policy and planning with the DAs Office, said the question isnt just about whether someone will commit a new crime.

The question is whether or not theyre dangerous and who were moving to detain are individuals who present a danger to the community, Mendez said. Thats what the voters voted on. It wasnt about predicting the future.

He also pointed out that they are only counting known crimes, not those that have not been reported or have not resulted in an arrest. Extrapolating from national data, Mendez said for every 100 criminal incidents, only 19 end up being known.

Matthews also brought this up, referencing the fact that only about 35% of homicides committed in 2021 have been solved.

Mendez said if the system changes to include rebuttable presumptions, prosecutors wont necessarily file pretrial detention motions on all those cases.

You cant hold everybody

There have been a handful of high-profile cases where a person was released pending trial and then re-arrested. One such case was that of 18-year-old Devin Munford. Munford had been arrested in December 2020 and charged with receiving stolen property, distribution of a controlled substance, and shooting at a building. He was released pending trial and then arrested again about four months later when investigators said he killed a friend he met at jail and robbed a convenience store.

The DAs office has often cited Munford and others as examples of people who should not have been released initially.

But researchers say such cases are anomalies, not the norm.

My primary belief is that evidence based practices should drive policy, or at the very least inform policy, but better to drive that policy, Guerin said.

Ibarra, a former prosecutor and judge and now a public defender, began tracking all the cases where prosecutors filed pretrial detention motions starting in the spring of 2017. Around the first of every year he goes through and updates a spreadsheet, which currently contains the details of almost 5,000 cases.

The spreadsheet contains hundreds of cases where a defendant was locked up in jail for months but ultimately not convicted of a crime. Some of the cases ended in acquittals at trial, but most others were dismissed by the court or prosecutor.

Ibarra said if the law passes there will definitely be more people in custody but there wont necessarily be less crime.

You cant hold everybody and you shouldnt hold everybody, Ibarra said. The real impact is going to be the hundreds or thousands more people who are going to be sitting in jail who didnt need to be there.

DA Torrez said his prosecutors feel a lot of anxiety about getting a case wrong and locking up someone who did nothing wrong. However, he said they are dependant on investigations turned over by detectives.

There are conversations publicly about arrests that are approved, and subsequent deficiencies in the investigations that come out, he said. But there are lots of arrest warrants that are proposed that are not approved by our office because its not there.

No easy answers to solve the issue

As for the pretrial detention bill about to be unveiled, Matthews stressed that the goal of the statute is not to detain people who shouldnt be detained.

Whats happening is that we certainly have people getting out on pretrial detention who have records of a series of violent crimes or a long criminal record, and they come out and they commit a violent crime, Matthews said. Its not a science. I mean, you just try to do the best you can do.

She said if 22.3% of the people held pending trial end up with their cases getting dismissed its too many.

There are no easy answers to this stuff, Matthews acknowledged. Do defendants have an absolute right to justice and due process? Absolutely, theres no question in my mind about that.  Do victims have a right to justice and a resolution of their case? Absolutely. And quite frankly, I think this society has a right to a functioning criminal justice system which acts to deter people from getting into trouble and rehabilitate every chance they get.

Ultimately the life of Gonzales  who had spent months in jail before his case was dismissed  ended in tragedy.

On Dec. 15, 18 months after he was released from jail, Gonzales was killed in a shooting in an apartment in Northeast Albuquerque. Officers were called to the complex near Carlisle and Candelaria NE on a Wednesday afternoon to find a man had been shot and was beyond help. He died at the scene.

An Albuquerque Police Department spokesman said last week that homicide detectives are making progress on the case.

Gonzaless mother referred the Journal to his attorney.

Gelb, Gonzaless public defender, said confidentiality rules bar him from commenting on his clients time in jail but he can say in general five months of incarceration for a young person is absolutely devastating and can lead to the loss of a persons job and relationships with family and friends.

What always strikes me is anytime you are dealing with a person who is in the criminal justice system its easy to think of them as another offender or a crime statistic, Gelb said. But the reality is they are real people who have lives that are deeply affected by their involvement in the system and its important not to forget that.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A judge sentenced Omar Cordero to two years of supervised probation for his role in a 2018 robbery that led to the shooting death of 20-year-old Clifford Patterson.

Cordero, 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery, 2nd Judicial District Court Judge Bruce Fox said before sentencing Thursday.

Police said Cordero was one of five high school students who planned to rob Patterson during a drug deal on April 20, 2018, in Southwest Albuquerque.

Criminal cases are pending against three of Corderos alleged co-conspirators.

Patterson was in the drivers seat of a car in the 9700 block of Gemstone SW, near 98th and Central, when he was shot once in the back of the head. He died at the scene.

A witness told police Patterson had arranged through Facebook messenger to meet the youths in a cul-de-sac and sell them a quarter pound of marijuana when he was fatally shot.

Fox said Cordero was not in the car at the time of the shooting, but conspired with others to rob Patterson.

Cordero served eight months at the Metropolitan Detention Center before he reached a plea agreement in May 2020 and was released, Fox said.

Others charged in connection with Pattersons death are:

 Gabriel Martinez, 18, who pleaded guilty in 2019 to unlawful possession of a handgun by a minor and faces up to two years in juvenile custody. A sentencing hearing had not been scheduled.

 Giovonta Martinez, 18, entered a plea agreement in 2020, which remains sealed. He is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 10.

 Dominic Padilla was charged in juvenile court and records in his case remain sealed. Padilla was 16 at the time of Pattersons killing.

A fifth person charged in the robbery, Ryan Saavedra, 18, was fatally shot in April at Westgate Heights Park near Unser and Arenal SW, police said. No arrests have been made in Saavedras killing.
FARMINGTON  A former Central Consolidated School District employee was sentenced to federal prison for her involvement in a multimillion-dollar scheme that involved stealing and then reselling Apple iPods on eBay that were meant for Native American students in the district.

Kristy Stock, 46, of Waterflow will serve a year and six months and pay restitution of at least $800,000 following a Jan. 11 sentencing hearing in a Baltimore, Maryland, federal court, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release and court documents.

Stock was convicted of federal charges of interstate transportation of stolen goods and tax fraud as part of a July 16, 2019, plea agreement, according to court documents.

CCSD Superintendent Daniel P. Benavidez thanked the federal authorities for doing their due diligence to make sure justice was served.

These types of crimes take time, money, and equipment away from our students. They are ultimately the ones that lose out in these situations, Benavidez said in a statement.

Stock worked for the Central Consolidated School District from 2010 to 2019, overseeing a program to provide Apple iPods to students as part of a program to benefit Native American children living on tribal lands in New Mexico.

She directed federal funds to make bulk purchase orders of iPods from 100 to 250 units per shipment, about two to three times a year.

Stock said she stole more than 3,000 iPods between 2013 to 2019, shipping them to a relative of one of her co-defendants Saurabh Chawla, on the Eastern Shore in Maryland, according to the news release.

Chawla and another co-defendant, James Bender, worked together to sell the stolen iPods online through eBay.

Bender sold the stolen goods through his eBay accounts. Stock would be paid through PayPal, receiving more than $800,000 in funds from the sales of stolen property.

Stock also admitted to falsifying her tax returns for five years, failing to report significant amounts of taxable income.

Bender and Chawla were sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison.

Chawla was ordered to pay about $715,000 to the Internal Revenue Service and forfeit a 2013 Tesla Model S along with about $2.3 million from accounts held in his name, according to the release.
DALLAS  The gunman who took four people hostage at a Texas synagogue in a 10-hour standoff that ended in his death was checked against law enforcement databases before entering the U.S. but raised no red flags, the White House said Tuesday.

Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old British citizen, arrived in the U.S. at Kennedy Airport in New York on a tourist visa about two weeks ago, officials said. He spent time in Dallas-area homeless shelters before the attack Saturday in the suburb of Colleyville.

Akram was not believed to be included in the Terrorist Screening Database, a listing of known or suspected terrorists maintained by the FBI and shared with a variety of federal agencies, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Had he been included, it would have been extremely difficult for him to get into the country.

Our understanding, and obviously were still looking into this, is that he was checked against U.S. government databases multiple times prior to entering the country, and the U.S. government did not have any derogatory information about the individual in our systems at the time of entry, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

She added: Were certainly looking back  what occurred to learn every possible lesson we can to prevent attacks like this in the future.

British media, including the Guardian, reported Tuesday that Akram was investigated by the domestic intelligence service MI5 as a possible terrorist threat in 2020, but authorities concluded he posed no danger, and the investigation was closed.

Britains Home Office did not immediately comment on the reports.

The case illustrated once more the difficulties in identifying potential lone-wolf attackers, despite the U.S. governments enormous strides in its counterterrorism efforts since 9/11.

The standoff in Colleyville, a city of about 26,000 people 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Dallas, ended after the last of the hostages ran out of the synagogue and an FBI SWAT team rushed in. Akram was killed, though authorities have declined to say who shot him.

President Joe Biden called the episode an act of terror.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who was among the hostages, told CBS that he had let Akram into Congregation Beth Israel because he appeared to need shelter. The rabbi said the man wasnt threatening or suspicious at first, but later he heard a gun click as he was praying.

One hostage was released hours later, and the rabbi and two others later escaped after Cytron-Walker threw a chair at the gunman.

During the standoff, Akram could be heard on a Facebook livestream demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist who is suspected of having ties to al-Qaida and was convicted of trying to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The prison where Siddiqui is serving her sentence is in nearby Fort Worth.

An attorney in Texas who represents Siddiqui said the prisoner had no connection to Akram.

The investigation stretched to England, where over the weekend police announced two teenagers were in custody in connection with the standoff. The teenagers are Akrams sons, two U.S. law enforcement officials told AP. The officials were not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Tuesday, police in Britain said the teenagers had been released without charge.

Akram is from the English industrial city of Blackburn. His family said he had been suffering from mental health issues.

Investigators believe he had initially traveled to New York believing that Siddiqui was still being held there  where her trial occurred  without realizing she had been sent to a federal prison in Texas.

During the standoff, Akram forced Cytron-Walker to call Angela Buchdahl, the senior rabbi at New Yorks Central Synagogue, in a bid to win Siddiquis release. In at least one subsequent call, Akram ranted and demanded that Buchdahl try to get Siddiqui freed, an official said. Buchdahl called 911 and reported the calls to New York City police.

Investigators are still sorting through Akrams movements in the U.S. and reviewing his financial and phone records, but believe he may have traveled by bus to Texas, two of the officials said.

Authorities believe he bought the handgun used in the hostage-taking in a private sale, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still going on.

In another major terrorism case, Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at an Orlando, Florida, nightclub in 2016, had been investigated repeatedly by the FBI but not charged. The Orlando massacre and other attacks prompted the FBI to launch an internal review of how it handled tips and leads in terrorism investigations.

___

Balsamo and Tucker reported from Washington. Also contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Paul J. Weber and Acacia Coronado in Austin; Colleen Long in Washington; Jamie Stengle in Dallas; and Jill Lawless in London.
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Ukraine this week as tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalate over a possible Russian invasion of its neighbor, the State Department said Tuesday.

Blinken will be in Kyiv on Tuesday on a hastily arranged trip to show U.S. support following inconclusive diplomatic talks between Moscow and the West in Europe last week that failed to resolve stark disagreements over Ukraine and other security matters.

Instead, those meetings appear to have increased fears of a Russian invasion, and the Biden administration has accused Russia of preparing a false flag operation to use as a pretext for intervention. Russia has angrily denied the charge.

From Kyiv, Blinken will travel on Thursday to Berlin, where he will meet with his German, British and French counterparts to discuss a possible response to any Russian military action. Russia has massed some 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons on its own soil near the Ukrainian border in what many observers believe may be preparation for an invasion.

On Monday, Russias top diplomat rejected the U.S. allegations that it was preparing a pretext to invade Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the U.S. claim as total disinformation.

Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia expects a written response this week from the U.S. and its allies to Moscows request for binding guarantees that NATO will not embrace Ukraine or any other ex-Soviet nations or station its forces and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscows demands during last weeks Russia-U.S. negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels.

The White House said Friday that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that Russia had already deployed operatives to rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine to carry out acts of sabotage there and blame them on Ukraine to create a pretext for possible invasion.

Ahead of Blinkens visit to Kyiv, a delegation of U.S. senators was visiting Ukraine to emphasize congressional support for the country.

Our bipartisan congressional delegation sends a clear message to the global community: the United States stands in unwavering support of our Ukrainian partners to defend their sovereignty and in the face of persistent Russian aggression, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, said in a statement.

Speaking Monday on a visit to Kyiv, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that any further escalation would carry a high price for the Russian regime  economic, political and strategic, and she emphasized the need to continue negotiations.

We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia, because diplomacy is the only way to defuse this highly dangerous situation at the moment, she said.

Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula after the ouster of Ukraines Moscow-friendly leader and in 2014 also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces in the countrys industrial heartland called Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will take unspecified military-technical measures if the West stonewalls its demands.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested a meeting of the Security Council to address Monday's attacks in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital city, by Yemen's Houthi militia.

The UAE, a non-permanent member of the Security Council, has submitted a letter to Norway, which holds the Security Council presidency for the month of January, for the request, said the UAE mission to the United Nations on Tuesday.

The letter condemns the Houthis' targeting of civilians and civilian objects in flagrant violation of international law. It calls on the Security Council to unequivocally condemn the Houthi attacks with one voice, said the UAE mission in a press release.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for Monday's attacks on the Abu Dhabi International Airport and the nearby industrial area, which caused several civilian casualties. The attacks came nearly one week after the Houthis captured a UAE-flagged ship off the Yemeni coast.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened since 2015 to support the Yemeni government. The UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition. 
SNOWFLAKE, Ariz.  A man in the town of Snowflake is in FBI custody after a live grenade was found in his RV.

The Navajo County Sheriffs Office announced the arrest Tuesday of the 61-year-old man.

According to sheriffs officials, they received a call Jan. 2 about a possible explosive device at the mans home.

They spoke to the man, who admitted to possessing a live grenade. He then threatened to make another one if they seized it.

Sheriffs deputies returned the next day with a search warrant. They found the grenade, which was properly disposed by state Department of Public Safety bomb technicians.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for the man Thursday. He surrendered to the FBI without incident.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico on Tuesday reported more than 21,000 new COVID-19 cases since Friday  which means a whopping 1% of the states 2.1 million residents tested positive for the disease over the long holiday weekend.

The state also reported 32 new COVID-related deaths, pushing the statewide toll to 6,177.

State health officials have cautioned it takes several weeks for the number of deaths to mirror a rise in cases, which New Mexico is experiencing amid the emergence of the new and highly contagious omicron variant. The state set daily records of over 5,500 and 5,200 new cases on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Of the 21,305 new cases reported Tuesday, 6,110 were from Bernalillo County. Of the 32 deaths, 15 were Bernalillo County residents.

Despite the high number of new cases, there is optimism among local health care professionals that the new strain of the coronavirus wont be as lethal as prior versions, based on preliminary data from areas that have already experienced a surge of the new variant.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID throughout the state was 624 on Tuesday, up from 586 on Friday.

More than one of every four COVID tests is coming back positive, with the state reporting a seven-day positivity rate of 28.5%.

The staggering number of confirmed cases does not take into account all the positive cases, as at-home testing has become more common. Not all cases found using at-home tests are reported to the state.

And such testing is about to become more common.

New Mexico state officials announced this week a new state-run, at-home COVID-19 testing program would be rolling out soon, though details of how the program will work were not immediately clear.

Part of learning to live with COVID as we go forward is putting the tools to fight the virus into our home, and home testing is one of the tools that, in the long run, will enable us to manage this pandemic, Dr. David Scrase, acting health secretary, said in a news release.

On Monday, the state announced that it was expecting to receive 1 million rapid antigen tests soon that will be distributed to individuals free of charge. A California company, iHealth, makes the tests the state will be using, according to a Department of Health spokeswoman.

The state will order an additional 1 million tests every two weeks, according to the Health Department.

About 400,000 have already been secured and the rest are scheduled to arrive next week, according to a Health Department news release.

The release said that, in the next week or so, the tests will be sent to emergency managers in 26 of the states 33 counties that are home to the states 79 zip codes with the highest social vulnerability index. Factors that can increase a communitys social vulnerability include poverty, lack of access to transportation and crowded housing, according to the CDCs website.

State health officials on Tuesday did not specify which counties and which residents would qualify for the at-home tests once the program is launched. Katy Diffendorfer, a spokeswoman for the Health Department, said officials in individual counties will create their own distribution plans.

Currently, its common to find that pharmacies in the Albuquerque area have sold out of testing kits.

Meanwhile, the federal government has unveiled a new website in order to send rapid COVID tests to homes. The website, covidtests.gov, allows people to get four tests sent to their homes for free.

State health officials are scheduled to provide an update on coronavirus in New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday appear to show the aftermath of a fatal attack on an oil facility in the capital of the United Arab Emirates claimed by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Mondays attack brought the long-running Yemen war into Emirati territory even as fighting raged on overnight with Saudi-led airstrikes pounding Yemens capital, Sanaa, killing and wounding civilians. Meanwhile, fears over new disruptions to global energy supplies following the attack pushed benchmark Brent crude to its highest price in years.

The images by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by the AP show smoke rising over an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. fuel depot in the Mussafah neighborhood after the attack. Another image taken shortly after appears to show scorch marks and white fire-suppressing foam deployed on the grounds of the depot.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., known by the acronym ADNOC, is the state-owned energy firm that provides much of the wealth of the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and also home to Dubai.

ADNOC did not respond to questions from the AP asking about the site and damage estimates from the attack. The company had said the attack happened around 10 a.m. Monday.

We are working closely with the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause and a detailed investigation has commenced, ADNOC said in an earlier statement.

The attack killed two Indian nationals and one Pakistani. Three tankers at the site exploded, police said. Six people were also wounded at the facility, which is near Al-Dhafra Air Base, a massive Emirati installation that is also home to American and French forces.

Another fire struck Abu Dhabi International Airport, though damage in that attack could not be seen. Journalists have not been able to view the sites attacked and state-run media have not published photographs of the areas.

Police described the assault as a suspected drone attack. Yemens Houthis claimed they used cruise and ballistic missiles in the attack, without offering evidence.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said Tuesday it started a bombing campaign targeting Houthi sites in Sanaa and struck a drone-operating base in Nabi Shuaib Mountain, near the Yemeni capital.

Overnight videos released by the Houthis showed damage, with the rebels saying the airstrikes killed at least 14 people. Sanaa resident Hassan al-Ahdal said one airstrike hit the house of Brig. Gen. Abdalla Kassem al-Junaid, who heads the Air Academy. He said at least three families were living in the house. Another adjunct house with a four-member family was damaged.

The office of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said five civilians were among the dead. The Saudi-led coalition has faced international criticism for airstrikes hitting civilian targets during the war.

Later Tuesday, UAEs ambassador to the United Nations called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to address the Houthi terrorist attacks in Abu Dhabi. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh strongly condemned the Houthis targeting of civilians and civilian objects in flagrant violation of international law.

This illegal and alarming escalation is a further step in the Houthis efforts to spread terrorism and chaos in our region, she said. It is another attempt by the Houthis, using the capabilities they have unlawfully acquired in defiance of U.N. sanctions, to threaten peace and security.

Norway, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency this month, said it is consulting other council members on a meeting.

For hours Monday, Emirati officials did not acknowledge the Houthi claims over the Abu Dhabi attack, even as other countries condemned the assault. Senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash broke the silence on Twitter, saying that Emirati authorities were handling the rebel groups vicious attack on some civilian facilities with transparency and responsibility.

The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who had been in the Emirates on a state visit, said he spoke to Abu Dhabis powerful Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, immediately after the attack. The two had been scheduled to meet during Moons visit but the event had been cancelled prior to the attack over an unforeseen and urgent matter of state, according to Moons office.

The Emirati Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment over Moons statement. However, the state-linked newspaper The National in an editorial Tuesday called the Houthis an extremist organization reliant on terrorism and, most of all, fear. It said the Houthis attempts to bring that fear to Abu Dhabi failed as the explosions were swiftly brought under control.

Concerns over future attacks reaching the UAE, a major oil producer and OPEC member, helped push Brent crude oil prices to their highest level in seven years. On Tuesday, a barrel of Brent crude traded at over $87.50 a barrel, a price unseen since October 2014.

The damage to the UAE oil facilities in Abu Dhabi is not significant in itself, but it raises the question of even more supply disruptions in the region in 2022, said Louise Dickson, an analyst at Rystad Energy.

Although the UAE has largely withdrawn its own forces from Yemen, it is still actively engaged in the conflict and supports Yemeni militias fighting the Houthis.

The incident comes as the Houthis face pressure and are suffering heavy losses on the battlefields. Yemeni government forces, allied and backed by the UAE, have pushed back the rebels in key provinces. Aided by the Emirati-backed Giants Brigades, the government forces took back the province of Shabwa earlier this month in a blow to Houthi efforts to complete their control of the entire northern half of Yemen.

While Emirati troops have been killed over the course of the conflict, now in its eight year, the war has not directly affected daily life in the wider UAE, a country with a vast foreign workforce.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Dubai, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  Emergency management officials on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota have a new building, but they have been operating out of an old jail thats set to be torn down.

Thats because the new building near a small airport doesnt have water and sewer connected, said Lislie Mesteth, who runs the Oglala Sioux Tribes solid waste program. A new round of grant funding that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Tuesday will make those connections and help emergency responders into their new digs.

They never had enough money to get it built entirely, so weve been doing little grants here and there, Mesteth said.

The $3.4 million grant to the Oglala Sioux Tribe is part a third round of imminent threat funding from HUD, using money from the American Rescue Plan Act. The latest infusion  $83 million  will benefit 74 tribes across the country and boost the total amount awarded so far to $209 million spread among 191 tribes.

This is thankfully, historic levels of funding in this particular program, and I know were grateful for it, and I know the tribal communities are as well, said Adrianne Todman, deputy secretary of HUD. This is a fair amount of money.

At least one more round of funding is coming with the remaining $71 million, she said.

Tribes have been eagerly awaiting the money to cover cost overruns for existing projects and to start new ones. Tribal officials had expected more grant funding to be released last last year and have been texting, emailing and calling each other routinely for updates.

The Native Village of St. Michael in Alaska faces a housing shortage and wanted to ensure it could start building 26 tiny homes when the weather is good. The tribe got word Tuesday it will get more than $1 million for the project.

This is once-in-a-lifetime funding for tribes, said Hattie Keller, a housing consultant for the tribe.

The tribe already built gravel pads for the homes using $1 million in federal virus relief funding. The village still needs to secure additional grant funding for water, sewer and electric poles, Keller said. About 430 people live in the village that has fewer than 100 houses, she said. Tribal leaders plan to offer the new homes as rent to own.

Tribes in Arizona and New Mexico have been awarded grants in all three rounds for housing, sanitation services, internet access and health care facilities, and to help families struggling to pay housing and utility bills during the pandemic.

Elsewhere, the Northern Arapaho Tribal Housing Authority in Wyoming will use its $1 million grant to buy a couple of mobile medical units to aid its COVID-19 response. The Round Valley Indian Housing Authority in California will use $1.7 million to renovate homes and develop a food bank. And the Nansemond Indian Nation in Virginia will expand and renovate a community center with its nearly $1 million grant.

Todman acknowledge the grants wont be enough to fulfill all the needs in Indian Country. She said budget proposals have included increased funding.

HUD typically awards about $70 million annually through its Indian Community Development Block Grant program for competitive grants and $4 million for imminent threat grants. About 200 tribes apply each year, but only about 80 are funded, HUD spokesman Michael Burns said.

All of the American Rescue Plan Act money for the grants was designated as imminent threat, making it available on a first-come, first-served basis. HUD switched up its approach from awarding grants under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act from releasing it in one batch to doling it out in rounds to give some tribes more time to apply.

HUD also raised the maximum amount that could be awarded through American Rescue Plan Act funding by 15% because it was a bigger pot of money and construction costs have soared, Burns said. The agency first considered requests that werent funded under the CARES Act before taking new applications.

Tribes are required to report back to HUD on how the money is being spent.

Emergency management officials on the Pine Ridge reservation were using the grounds outside their new building Tuesday to make COVID kits. Much of their supplies are stored in shipping containers at the old jail that the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs plans to tear down once they move out, tribal officials said.

The Oglala Siouxs emergency manager, Steve Wilson, said tribal officials have been working out of the concrete jail for several years, even though its been condemned. He said the electrical system is outdated and the building is inefficient.

The tribe applied for a HUD grant for the water and sewer in the new building in 2020 but didnt get it and was placed on a priority list for funding under the American Rescue Plan Act, he said. Construction of the new building started in 2019 but was delayed by a flood and the response to COVID, Wilson said.

Some finishing work still needs to be done, along with work on the computer network.

Im hoping summertime, we can get everything moved over to that place, Wilson said.

Mesteth also turned to HUD to request funding to restore a pump for a well in the village of Pine Ridge, connect 30 homes to the water system, repair broken water pipes in residents homes and remove dilapidated mobile homes that are a health risk, she said. HUD fully funded the requests.

This is really significant, she said. This imminent threat one will be good, really good.
WENN/FayesVision Movie

When denying the Wonder Woman depicter's claim that he threatened her career, the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' creator says that 'English is not her first language,' while he calls Fisher 'a bad actor.'

Jan 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Joss Whedon has finally broken his silence on the allegations of misconduct on the set of "Justice League". When personally denying the claims made by actors such as Gal Gadot and Ray Fisher, the director fired back with a diss.

Gadot previously claimed that Whedon threatened her career. "He threatened my career and said that if I do something, he will make sure my career is miserable," the "Wonder Woman" star said in 2021.

Now in a new interview with New York Magazine, Whedon claimed that the actress misunderstood him. "I don't threaten people. Who does that?" he said of her allegation. "English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech."

Sharing his own account of their conversation, Whedon recalled arguing over a scene that Gadot wanted to cut. He told her jokingly that if she wanted to get rid of it, she would have to tie him to a railroad track and do it over his dead body, but she misheard it as "her dead body."

"Then I was told that I had said something about her dead body and tying her to the railroad track," the filmmaker said. Gadot has responded to Whedon's rebuttal, telling the publication via email, "I understood perfectly."

Whedon also addressed Fisher's allegations that he "was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable" during reshoots on the film. The Cyborg depicter took issue with the director downsizing his character's role, cutting scenes that the actor deemed challenged stereotypes.

"Race was just one of the issues with the reshoot process," he said at the time. "There were massive blowups, threats, coercion, taunting, unsafe work conditions, belittling and gaslighting like you wouldn't believe."

In his own words, Whedon said he trimmed Cyborg's role in the film because his plot "logically made no sense" and he felt the acting was bad. He also denied digital lightening specifically of Fisher's skin tone, explaining that he brightened everything in post-production.

The "Firefly" creator said none of the claims Fisher made in the media were "either true or merited discussing" and described the actor's actions as "a malevolent force." He went on taking a jab at Fisher, saying, "We're talking about a bad actor in both senses."

Fisher seemed to have responded to Whedon's interview with a cryptic tweet. While he did not directly mention the filmmaker's claims in the interview, the actor wrote on Monday, January 17, "Looks like Joss Whedon got to direct an endgame after all  "

"Rather than address all of the lies and buffoonery today-I will be celebrating the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," he added. "Tomorrow the work continues. #MLKDay A>E."

Ray Fisher seemingly responded to Joss Whedon's new interview.

In the same interview, Whedon claimed he was hired to oversee the post-production because the studio bosses had lost faith in Zack Snyder's vision and wanted him to take full control. This has been debunked by a representative from Warner Bros. as Snyder himself publicly stated he left the project due to personal matters. His 20-year-old daughter had died by suicide two months earlier.
Instagram Celebrity

The night out comes after the Jules Vaughn depicter and the musician were reportedly 'kissing and dancing' while hanging out at The Nice Guy with their co-stars, Jacob Elordi and Alexa Demie.

Jan 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Hunter Schafer and Dominic Fike seemingly let actions speak for themselves amid romance rumors between the two. The "Euphoria" co-stars, who have been rumored to be an item, were caught on camera holding hands during a dinner date.

The pair had dinner at The Nice Guy on Sunday, January 16. In some photos surfacing on social media, the Jules Vaughn depicter was seen walking behind her alleged beau as they left the West Hollywood restaurant.

Hunter and Dominic opted to go with casual looks for the outing. The actress wore a white hoodie underneath a dark bomber jacket, a patterned skirt, white sneakers and a red face mask. Her companion, meanwhile, kept it simple in a beige-and black striped sweater, black pants and matching boots.

The dating speculations between Hunter and Dominic first emerged after a fan told Deuxmoi that he/she saw the 23-year-old model backstage at the musician's show. Another online user informed the gossip account that they were "kissing and dancing" while hanging out at The Nice Guy with their co-stars Jacob Elordi and Alexa Demie.

Hunter and Dominic have yet to confirm their relationship status. However, the rumored couple previously posed together for a picture on the red carpet of the "Euphoria" season 2 premiere in Los Angeles on January 5.

The night out took place as the second episode of "Euphoria" season 2 aired on HBO Max. The episode teased a possible love triangle between Hunter and Dominic's characters, Jules and Elliot, and Zendaya Coleman's Rue.

In the episode, Rue found it difficult to balance her relationship with Jules and Elliot, whom she met at a house party in last week's episode. As Rue and Elliot continued hanging out and doing drugs together, Jules accused her girlfriend of having a crush on her new pal.
Instagram Celebrity

Bragging about surviving the disease despite not being inoculated, the controversial political commentator claims, 'I too am shocked that I survived those odds.'

Jan 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Candace Owens has doubled down on her anti-vaccination stance after catching COVID-19. The conservative political activist has mocked vaccinated folks when revealing that she recently battled coronavirus.

The author took to her Twitter page on Sunday, January 16 to casually break the news that she had tested positive for COVID. Bragging about surviving the disease despite not being inoculated, she tweeted, "I would like to apologize to all of the people who are upset that I am unvaccinated and somehow survived covid."

She further undermined the virus as she described it as "a disease with an approximate 99.87% survival rate for individuals under the age of 65." She sarcastically said, "I too am shocked that I survived those odds," before adding in a separate post, "Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket."

Candace Owens bragged about surviving COVID-19.

Needless to say, her tweet rubbed other users up the wrong way. One person called her out, "When did we stop caring about our elders? All lives matter, I thought? On Friday, two people between 25-44 died in Utah, so quite a few younger people are dying."

Another sarcastically responded to Candace's claims, "So comforting to the hundreds of thousands of families who lost someone. Just shhhhh." Someone else explained the importance of the vaccines as writing, "Survival is not the only thing. There is Long Covid that is no joke and potential organ damage. Also 1 in 3000 children get multi systemic inflamation after recovering.and end up in hospital. Data is showing this."

Candace has many times spoken up against COVID-19 vaccines. She even mocked Donald Trump who countered her anti-vax stance, saying he's pro-COVID-19 vaccine because he's too "old" to do better research.

"People oftentimes forget that, like, how old Trump is," the 32-year-old said of the former president in a December 2021 Instagram post. "He comes from a generation -- I've seen a lot of people who are older, have the exact same perspective, like, they came from a time before TV, before internet, before being able to conduct independent research."

"And everything they read to them that was in a newspaper that was pitched to them," Candace, who was a vocal supporter of the former reality TV star, went on explaining. "They believed that that was a reality."
Celebrity

A spokesperson for UTA confirms that the agency has severed ties with the television and radio journalist after she likened the infectious diseases expert to infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele.

Jan 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Lara Logan's controversial comments on Dr. Anthony Fauci has cost her her businesses representative. The Fox Nation host has been dropped by UTA after she compared Dr. Anthony Fauci to a Nazi doctor.

Mediate was the first to break the news that UTA severed ties with the television and radio journalist several weeks ago. According to a so-called insider, the 50-year-old was let go over her "highly offensive" and "unacceptable" comments, which sparked outrage within the agency.

Seth Oster, a spokesperson for the agency, has since confirmed that it no longer represents the former "60 minutes" correspondent. Deadline added that UTA dropped her in December as her comments were deemed "offensive and vile."

Logan, who as of late has earned a reputation for pushing conspiracy theories at Fox News, made the jaw-dropping comment about Dr. Fauci during her guest appearance on "Fox News Primetime" on November 29. When making claims about how others had supposedly been criticizing Fauci for his handling of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she likened the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to Dr. Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who performed cruel medical experiments on Jewish prisoners.

"What you see on Dr. Fauci - this is what people say to me: that he doesn't represent science to them. He represents Joseph Mengele," she told Fox host Pete Hegseth. "Dr. Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who did experiments on Jews during the second World War and in the concentration camps."

She further stressed, "And I am talking about people all across the world are saying this, because the response from COVID, what it has done to countries everywhere, what it has done to civil liberties, the suicide rates, the poverty - it has obliterated economies."

In his response to Logan's remarks, Fauci said that "it's an insult to all of the people who suffered and died under the Nazi regime in the concentration camps." He added that he was "astounded" that Logan's comments on Fox News hadn't led to disciplinary action from the network.

Logan was never employed by Fox News, but she hosted a show, "Lara Logan Has No Agenda", on the network's streaming platform Fox Nation. Fox News has not publicly addressed her status with the company, but she has not appeared on the network since making the controversial comments.
WENN/FayesVision Celebrity

The former 'Kevin Can Wait' star, who has been a vocal critic of the church, reveals that she has 'been living and working with an 8th grade education' for 38 years of her life.

Jan 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Leah Remini continued to speak up against Scientology. When celebrating her NYU enrollment, the former "Kevin Can Wait" star accused the controversial church of "interrupting" her education for years.

On Sunday, January 16, the 51-year-old took to Instagram to share a throwback photo of herself. "This photo was taken when I was 16. I was so proud of this headshot. I thought my side pony made me look so versatile and like the consummate actress. By this point, I had been living the life of an adult for years even though I was just a kid," she began.

"Scientologists are taught that kids are no different from adults. So from a young age I was held accountable like an adult and regularly told that anything bad that happened in my life, even things that I wasn't responsible for, was my fault," she added. "Even though I was just 16 at the time, I hadn't received any sort of formal education for years. Instead, I was working to earn a living to support myself and my family."

"For the last 38 years of my life, I have been living and working with an 8th grade education," the mother of one elaborated further. "I saw a successful acting career as a salvation. It would help me get my family out of poverty and give me a higher standing in Scientology which I truly believed was helping to save mankind."

Leah, who shared her acceptance letter from NYU in May 2021, is still in disbelief that she is now pursuing a college degree after years of working. "Had you told me then that I would be a student at NYU at age 51, I wouldn't have believed it. I had big dreams but looking back they were rooted in my desire to survive, not to educate myself," she pointed out.

"And the idea that I would leave Scientology and work to expose the abuses that members face was not a thought I would even conjure up," the "Dancing with the Stars" alum went on explaining. "Had I heard that anyone else was doing that, I would have seen them as an enemy worthy of punishment."

Leah abruptly left Scientology in 2013 after being a devout member since she was 9 years old. She has since turned into the Church's loudest detractor. In 2015, she released a memoir titled "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology", and produced and hosted a documentary called "Scientology and the Aftermath".
WENN/Derrick Salters/Instar Celebrity

The Ron Weasley of 'Harry Potter' actor addresses the famed author in a new piece, noting that she's an 'auntie' for him despite her controversial standpoints.

Jan 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - J.K. Rowling's controversial comments on the trans community has long created a rift between her relationship with "Harry Potter" cast members, including Rupert Grint. The actor addressed the famed author in a piece for The Times' "What I've Learnt" series, noting that she's an "auntie" for him despite their differing views.

"I liken J.K. Rowling to an auntie. I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie," Grint wrote. The Ron Weasley depicter admitted that "it's a tricky one."

Rowling faced backlash back in 2020 after she was accused of being transphobic. At the time, she tweeted a link to a Devex opinion article headlined "Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate."

" 'People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" the British author reacted to the article. She doubled down on her controversial standpoints in a lengthy essay shared on her website days later.

Among those who criticized Rowling were "Harry Potter" stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Grint himself. Radcliffe wrote in an essay for The Trevor Project, "Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I."

"I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment," Grint said in a statement.

Watson echoed the sentiment, writing on Twitter, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are."

Back to Grint's essay, he went on to say that his character in the "Harry Potter" movie series hugely impacted his life. "I measure my life in 'Harry Potter' movies. They're so ingrained in me. I find it very hard to detach myself from being Ron - we merged into the same person," the "Servant" actor wrote.

"I can't believe it started 20 years ago. It definitely sculpted who I am. I mentally closed the door on it even though I'm constantly faced with it  there's the play, the theme park and it's always on TV," Grint, who participated on HBO Max's "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts" special, continued.

Of the recent reunion, Grint said that he found it as nostalgic as fans might feel. "I don't see Dan and Emma as much as you'd expect, so the reunion was very nostalgic," he shared.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday voiced concern over the Saudi-led coalition's airstrikes in Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital of Yemen, said his spokesman.

Guterres expressed his concern and deplored the recent Saudi-led coalition's airstrikes in Sanaa that resulted in numerous civilian casualties. The UN chief reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and to adhere to the principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman.

"The secretary-general again calls upon all the parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent further escalation and intensification of the conflict in Yemen. He reiterates his calls to the parties to engage constructively and without preconditions with his Special Envoy Hans Grundberg in his mediation efforts to advance the political process to reach a comprehensive negotiated settlement to end the conflict in Yemen," said Dujarric.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened since 2015 to support the Yemeni government. 
NBC TV

The award-winning and 'West Side Story' star hits back at one troll who criticizes her hosting debut on 'Saturday Night Live' in the Saturday, January 15 episode.

Jan 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Ariana DeBose is standing up for herself. The "West Side Story" star hit back at one troll who criticized her hosting debut on "Saturday Night Live" in the Saturday, January 15 episode.

During her monologue, Ariana made a mistake when she said, "2020 has already been an exciting year." Making fun of the faux, one person wrote in an Instagram comment underneath her Monday, January 17 post, "She know it's 2022 not 2020 right???"

The diss didn't go unnoticed by the Broadway star. She quickly hit back at the troll, replying, "You try hosting SNL, reading cue cards with slight dislexia and then get to me brah."

The hater, however, didn't back down despite the clapback. "Maybe get someone who isn't on level with Joe Biden at reading since that's a qualification to acting...reading lines," the person noted. To which, the Golden Globe winner responded, "Cool. You're a troll. Bye."

Despite the criticism, some others had positive reactions to Ariana's hosting debut on the popular comedy show. Writer Julissa Natzely Arce Raya defended the actress, writing, "I thought it was part of the joke! Because you know it's like 2020 all over again!' and adding, 'Forget the haters! You were amazing!!!!"

"SNL" vet Keenan Thompson also chimed in, "Destroyed it !!!!" Chris Redd added, "You're incredible and so damn fun to play with!"

In the post, Ariana was commemorating her time as a host on the sketch comedy show. "The smile on my face says it all. That was,no lie, one of the craziest weeks of life so far, but such a thrilling ride. There's nothing- I repeat- nothing like @nbcsnl," she began her lengthy caption.

"I have so much respect for this cast, crew & creative team producers et all. The amount of work & creativity that goes in to making this show happen is astounding. And they do this all the time. For 47 SEASONS!" she continued.
In the last 10 years, PR has taken a different dimension, especially after the entry of social media and the rapid shift to digital, especially in the pandemic period. At the same time the industry has been facing stiff challenges, moreover client expectations have also increased, with more emphasis being given to digital and online reputation management. The industry has undergone a radical shift and the current times have pushed the industry to change gears.

In conversation with Adgully, Divya Kumar, Manager - PR, Corporate Communications & Sustainability, Air Asia, speaks about how the airline used the past 18 months to expedite digitisation and enhance its customer experience across channels.

The aviation industry got disrupted severely. So, what are some of the challenges you faced for AirAsia? How did PR help you to overcome those challenges?

The travel, tourism & hospitality industry witnessed unprecedented uncertainty in the last year and a half. AirAsia India played a significant role in shaping the new normal in Indian aviation, working collaboratively with airport operators, regulators, and the government. The lockdown necessitated by the pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions impacted travel plans for guests for an extended period. It was imperative at this time that we exhibited empathy in our interactions and policies, to retain the strong brand trust we enjoy with our bookers and guests.

While we remained focused on ensuring the hygiene aspects of safety, consistency and on time performance, we pivoted our communications strategy to adapt to the changing consumer demographics, including incorporating vernacular communication in our social media, chatbot and other guest touchpoints, providing real-time updates on travel guidelines, and introducing and informing flyers about our new service offerings enabling flexibility and convenience.

What kind of PR strategy worked for you during the pandemic? How did you engage with the media during the pandemic to be visible?

We adopted a three-phased marketing & communications strategy of Response, Recovery & Rejuvenation, based on market research, consumer insights and prevailing sentiments and travel trends. Displaying empathy, focusing on the community, celebrating the spirit of resilience, and encouraging adapting to the new normal, was the foundation of our communications strategy. Using owned and earned media, including social outreach, significantly higher engagement levels helped us have a continuous dialogue with guests. We were the first airline to shoot and launch video and feature communication showcasing the new normal of air travel, breaking down the precise procedures and safety protocols through our database marketing and social media outreach.

Highlighting the various safety and flexibility initiatives introduced by us, making information regarding safety and social distancing norms easily accessible, and constantly engaging with guests using all our channels has kept our communication calendars busier than ever before. It gave us a chance to chart the path for the new way in which people fly and being proactive and empathetic helped us garner a larger share of voice across media as well.

When it comes to your PR campaign, what is that one key factor you focus on your messaging to strengthen your corporate image? Please elaborate.

Emphasising the prioritisation of safety and being empathetic to guests needs are the most important. Thanks to our establishment of stringent protocols and communication assuaging concerns, according to a now ongoing survey conducted by AirAsia India to guage Travel Intent among consumers, people rate flying as significantly less of a Covid risk than most other activities including eating out or visiting a mall. Adopting an agile approach and introducing a host of initiatives to help our guests experience safe travel, while communicating these to our target audience was critical.

We continued to build trust with our audience by prioritising and emphasising safety-protocols and launching a slew of new services to provide flexibility to guests, including a revamped Premium Flex offering waiving flight change fees; home to airport baggage delivery services with AirAsiaFlyPorter; and an ecosystem of travel partnerships including hospitality and car rental services with like-minded partners.

Digital has grown rapidly. How is your airline adapted to the digital and what are some of the new things you are planning to leverage digital for AirAsia?

Operations in the aviation industry are round the clock. The immediacy of service responses required and the digital savviness of flying audiences require an agile, passionate, and empowered frontline and customer service to make a difference. The past 18 months were an opportunity to expedite digitisation and enhance our customer experience across channels - including the launch of our new website airasia.co.in, mobile apps, and our AI-powered conversational chatbot, Tia, multilingual and available on our website, Facebook Messenger, as well as on WhatsApp. Tia can modify bookings, assist guests with travel advisories, policies, and FAQs, process instant refunds, advise flight status, enable guests to get a copy of their itineraries to their email IDs, and take feedback. Tia is evolving constantly with guest interactions and feedback.

The adoption of DigiYatra (contactless facial recognition-based check-in at) in partnership with Bangalore International Airport Limited was another step towards using technology to offer seamless, safe, and contactless service. We also became the first domestic airline to launch a safe door-to-door baggage service in June20, FlyPorter, now available in-path on our website and mobile apps.

Crisis communication in the Aviation industry can hit anytime, especially in the digital world. What are some of the steps and processes you follow for managing a crisis?

As a young and nimble organisation, our internal processes are straightforward and simple, enabling us to address crises in the most efficient manner. Fact-based and open responses, prioritising the safety of our guests and Allstars (AirAsia employees are referred to as Allstars) are the cornerstone of our reaction to any situation. Being agile is part of our DNA, and our values drive our response strategy. Established SOPs and protocols enable efficient responses to incidents due to weather or other extrinsic factors which may cause delays or changes to flight schedules. This helps reduce response times, assuage guest concerns and a culture of open and collaborative communication empowers internal stakeholders across levels to communicate facts and recommend inputs in the most efficient and effective manner.

A core group of our communications, safety and senior leadership team remain on stand-by and are activated if any lead indicators to a crisis are foreseen so that proactive measures can help avoid and address adverse incidents in real-time.

New custom-built online reputation management tools have been introduced by AirAsia India as part of our digitisation strategy, integrated with our customer service channels and contact centre, enabling AirAsia India to achieve global benchmark levels of real-time response and resolution rates, across our social media channels.
Axis My India, the countrys leading consumer data intelligence-company, announced the constitution of a pioneering advisory board, with advertising industry experts Shashi Sinha, CEO of IPG Mediabrands and Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO of Madison Media joining the board. Mr. Sakhuja would be Chairman of the board.

The company has embarked on an audacious mission of solving the problems of 25 crore Indian households and transform a billion lives, and the advisory board will serve as the guiding ship to enable the success of these endeavours.

With diversified offerings including but not restricted to new-age advertising solutions, psephology and market research, Axis My India has a physical presence in ~700 out of Indias 740 odd districts and can mobilize engagement with over 80 million Indian households immediately. While this scale presents a plethora of opportunities, it also allows a ring-side view into the countrys socio-political developments and their effect on businesses in real time.

The boards primary responsibility would be to keep track of the big picture of the organization, anticipate challenges in the ambitious path and suggest mitigation tools to avoid the same. Board members would also be expected to bring in diversity of thought and action, and help broaden the companys horizons to engage with constituencies and stakeholders out of its conventional realm.

A key focus of the companys long term vision is to contribute to the development of infrastructure that caters to Indias first gen digital-natives as well as deconstruct the motivations and perceptions that define the workings of the most populous and complex democracy in the world.

Taking over as chairman of the advisory board, Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO, Madison Media, remarked Axis My India has over the years established itself to be the most accurate psephologist in India. Underlying that is one of the most innovative organisations I have encountered, in terms of their leadership, team and processes. As they now roll out more exciting products, they have the potential to provide not only authoritative insights about both Bharat and India, but also create a platform for meaningful dialogue with consumers that can be invaluable for marketers and policy makers. It is my privilege to be able to participate in this journey as an outside-in advisor.

Giving insight into why the board was formed, Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands, remarked There is tremendous innovation and bustling activity coming out of Indias non-metros. Indias small towns and villages will power its rise to an economic powerhouse in the 21st century. It is my privilege to be able to engage with Axis My India on its larger vision to empower these communities and to be a part of this exercise underpinned in nation-building

Commenting on the initiation of the board, Pradeep Gupta, CMD, Axis My India said Our company is certainly at an inflection point, as we look to take to fruition some marquee ideas  Indias first offline-online people empowerment platform focused on listening and facilitating resolution of various issues of an everyday Indian, the countrys largest syndicated brand study, Consumer Trust Index, as well as aggressively expanding by engaging with all echelons of industry with our superior data and research offerings. Shashi and Vikram along with other advisory board members, with their deep understanding of Indias business landscape will be invaluable as guides and mentors as we navigate challenges in our trajectory towards rapid growth and disruption

Axis My India, recently launched Consumer Trust Index (CTI) which is Indias largest syndicated consumption study measuring current product consumption & future purchase intent across 40 categories with yearly 1Mn+ sample spread across 737 districts. The All-Media Measurement module (AMMS) of CTI will capture media consumption habits across touch points - TV, Print, OTT, Digital, Social Media, daily used apps, Radio, Cinema, OOH. As part of CTI, brands will also be able to do media & product consumption linkage analysis. EY are the process advisors for this study.
Heineken Lao, a leading premium beer brand in Laos has been a strong contender in the Laotian market by constantly giving fresh experiences to Laotians. With Covid still at its peak in Laos, festive year-end celebrations was a toned down and subdued affair.

To encourage responsible consumption and staying home, Heineken Lao teamed up with Wunderman Thompson to deliver a fresh and safe festive celebration and experience at home called the Heineken Star Festive BBQ. This initiative focuses on still bringing people together responsibly during Covid times whilst driving sales and growth for the brand.

In Laos, Mu Kra Tah or grilled pork is a national culture, a shared grill pan to be enjoyed eating with friends and usually with fresh, tasty beer. With Laotians love for grilled food on a pan, their consumption is as frequent as 2-3 times a week especially during Covid. It becomes a gathering of friends and family and peaks during end of the year timing when Laotians gear up for year-end celebrations.

Facing a huge competition in Laos from Beerlao, Heineken Lao and Wunderman Thompson needed to find a way to own the festive season in a memorable and unique way for Laotions. With the insight and research above, we found that Mu Kra Tah is the true symbolic of celebration and with that a new Heineken experience was born.

The Heineken Star Festive BBQ is a specially created pan by Heineken Lao to give a Star experience when enjoying the grilled food at home. The Star Grill Pan, is a Heineken signature star-shaped pan, specially designed to distribute the heat throughout the star pan. The product is designed for 5 persons consumption, each person having their own star corner to separate grilling, to encourage limiting celebration size in a fun way. The special grilled pan is prepacked with premium imported meat, organic vegetables and of course 1 extra cold Heineken carton, making the experience tastier and more special.

The campaign was launched nationwide and online on early December 2021 with strong KOL and influencer outreach. Even though on-trade outlets were closed, this campaign overachieved its target goals with sales of over 270k cartons during that period alone. The Star Festive BBQ was sold out and additional 50% more stocks were given away due to positive feedback and participation from consumers.

Fahmi Rajendra, Marketing Director, Heineken Lao

Despite the pandemic, our goal has never changed - to stay connected with our consumers, providing them a new refreshing experience through initiatives. Our ambitious challenge was to find a safe way to connect people in a really fun and engaging way. Thats why we unveiled The Heineken Star Festive BBQ to offer our valued local consumers the chance to enjoy Mu Kra Tah; whilst enjoying ice-cold Heineken.

Park Wannasiri, Chief Creative Officer, Wunderman Thompson Thailand

For a famous global brand like Heineken we believe this is the way to create meaningful relevancy with the local audience. The Heineken Star Festive BBQ will elevate the Laos national culture to the next level, and Heineken is the first brand to proudly share the Mu Kra Tah culture! This is not only a refreshing experience to Laotians, but has proven to drive sales and bring business results as well.

CREDITS

Client Credits: Heineken Lao Brewery Co., Ltd.

Marketing Director: Fahmi Rajendra

Senior Brand Manager: Duangchai Thamhaksa

Brand Executive: Phonepaseuth Phommasoulin

Brand Executive: Sammar Boonyasang

Marketing Trainee: Prisa Senduangdeth

Trade Marketing Manager: Vinith Savattry

Trade Marketing Assistant: Chanpheng Manisone

Trade Marketing Assistant: Airnoy Sorsaiysumphan

Trade Marketing Assistant: Chansouda Saysanavongsay

Brand Designer: Phetaloun Atphasouk

Marketing Trainee: Toulanan Senpaseuth

Brand Portfolio Manage: Ketmany Phimmathath

Agency Credits: Wunderman Thompson Thailand

Chief Executive Officer: Maureen Tan

Chief Creative Officer: Park Wannasiri

Creative Director: Suebthong Thanomsri

Art Director: Naruemon Kongsomthong

Copywriter: Warintorn Patthanakiat

Group Account Director: Wasna Jirasuradej

Account Manager: Pufah Nuntavisit

Agency Production Director: Jiroj Mechoojit

Agency Producer: Jutamas Juntasorn

Planning Director: Puvadon Tarasin

Project Manager: Thanda Panchareon
Advertising boss Sir Martin Sorrell is launching a venture capital fund with a former executive at WPP, the media group Sorrell built along with the investment guru Daniel Pinto, according to the media reports.

Sorrell, Pinto and Sanja Partalo are seeking $150 million (110 million) to invest in early-stage companies. S4S Ventures will target the fields of ad tech, data analysis, content development, monetisation of the virtual reality metaverse and new digital media. Sorrell, 76, and Pinto, 55, are expected to put in up to $15 million combined of their own money and sit on the investment committee. It will be run by Partalo, former head of strategic development at WPP, says the reports.
As a harbinger of progress, trust, transparency and prosperity, Maruti Suzuki Commercial has launched Tarakki Aapki, Saath Hamara, a 3600 media campaign to celebrate the channels success. The campaign aims to spread awareness about Maruti Suzuki Commercial as the one-stop solution of customers business needs and its wide product range of both goods as well as passenger carriers. The campaign highlights the transformative ways through which Maruti Suzuki Commercial is helping enrich the lives and businesses of its customers by becoming a reliable partner in their success.

The campaign Tarakki Aapki, Saath Hamara, recognizes the quintessential powerful drive of customers of this segment to be economically successful and for being socially recognized. In their quest for success, these customers need a reliable and trustworthy partner to guide in their decision-making. This is where Maruti Suzuki Commercial steps in to offer them products that help them succeed. The Commercial channel customers are primarily a mix of owner-cum-driver and fleet owners. While the Owner-cumdriver seek a stable income, the fleetcaptive ownersseek increased productivity, improved earnings, expansion of business and recognition.

Based on this insight, the Maruti Suzuki Commercial was launched in 2016. This first-ever media campaign for Maruti Suzuki Commercial draws inspiration from the innate need of its customers for support and guidance during their purchasing decisions and post-purchase support. By becoming a partner in their success, Maruti Suzuki Commercial assists its customers at every step of their purchase and post-purchase journey and provides the necessary expertise and guidance required to choose a mobility solution that helps them fulfil their dreams.

Speaking on the campaign, Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, At Maruti Suzuki, customer-centricity is at the core of everything that we do and offering solutions to match the customer needs has always been integral to our DNA. More often than not, customer requirements are quite nuanced and there is more than what meets the eye. Maruti Suzuki Commercial was conceptualized and developed keeping in mind the unique requirement of these customers, as they seek a reliable, trustworthy partner and not only a destination to buy. Over 340+ showrooms in 230+ cities in just 5 years are testament to the acceptability that Maruti Suzuki Commercial has received from customers. The Commercial channel has reported over 39% sales growth in FY 2021 despite all the odds. The flagship product Super Carry is the second highest-selling mini-truck in the country. The network now offers a wide range of six goods and passenger carrier vehicles.

He added, Through our campaign Tarakki Aapki Saath Hamara, we have dived deeper into understanding the commercial customers innate requirements and mapped out how Maruti Suzuki Commercial channel accommodates those myriad needs to complement their business growth. The campaign is an ode to hardworking and perseverant commercial customer who is seeking a trustworthy companion to guide them in their journey to success. Today, Maruti Suzuki Commercial channel is a hallmark in partnership, reliability, efficiency and transparency. Through these inherent values, we intend to cater to the unique and changing needs of our commercial network customers and become their true partners in success.

The dedicated 3600 integrated campaign is specially designed to build awareness on:

A. Wide range of Maruti Suzuki commercial vehicles (Goods & Passenger)

Maruti Suzuki Commercial channel caters to the business needs of both goods and passenger carrier customers through its wide range of products. The goods carrier range consists of Super Carry (mini truck) and Eeco Cargo (Versatile Van). While the passenger carrier range includes Tour H1 (hatchback), Tour S (Sedan), Tour V (Van), and Tour M (MPV). Each of these vehicles cater to the unique and diverse requirements of commercial network customers.

B. E xtensive Service Network

With 3800+ service touchpoints spread across 2000+ cities PAN India, Maruti Suzuki Commercial offers the largest service network support among all competition. The customers get to avail vehicle support even in the remotestareas and can rest easy knowing that help is just around the corner. The company continues to further expand andstrengthen its robust service network.

C. Ease of Finance

Maruti Suzuki Commercial provides 3rd party finance option which significantly eases the customers financing burden. Apart from that, the best offers can be availed at the Maruti Suzuki Commercial outlets so that customers can avoid visiting multiple banks to finance their purchases. The documentation and application for financing are completely taken care of by the Commercial Sales Officer at the dealership.

D. Genuine Spare Parts

Maruti Suzuki Commercial customers have access to a wide range of Maruti Suzuki Genuine Spare Parts. This enables customers to access reliable and safe spare parts at all times and complete peace of mind.

E. Vehicles with Powerful Engine

All the vehicles within the Maruti Suzuki Commercial channel portfolio are equipped with powerful engine options which provide a smooth ride, even with heavy loads, leading to profitability. For instance, Maruti Suzuki Super Carry comes with a powerful 1.2L engine and is the most-powerful mini-truck in its segment.

Tarakki Aapki, Saath Hamara campaign is being launched through TVCs, Radio, OOH & Digital platforms. Maruti Suzuki has roped in Bollywood actors Aparshakti Khurana and Manav Kaul to be the face of this campaign. The duo will star in the TVCs of the campaign that showcases the day-to-day business challenges and solutions offered by Maruti Suzuki Commercial at different touchpoints. To ensure that the audience resonates with the campaign sentiment, the contents of the campaign have been designed in Hindi and vernacular languages as well.
Meta today announced the appointment of Meghna Apparao as the Director of E-commerce in India to lead the strategy and solutioning that is focused on the companys largest e-commerce advertisers. Meghnas appointment comes on the back of a series of senior leadership recruitments in the past two years, and many in the recent months, across policy, partnerships, and other key verticals, demonstrating the companys expanding charter and commitment to India.

As a part of her role, Meghna will spearhead the companys strategic relationship with the countrys leading brands in the e-commerce space, enabling a stronger partnership through Meta platform solutions. She will report to Arun Srinivas, Director and Head of Global Business Group at Meta in India.

Meghna comes with 20 years of experience in senior sales, marketing, and business strategy roles at companies such as Unilever, Amazon, Godrej, and Licious. Her last assignment was with Licious, where she was the Chief Business Officer. She is an alumna of Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi. In 2018, she was also selected for the Chevening Fellowship program at the University of Oxford.

Said Arun Srinivas, Director and Head of Global Business Group at Meta in India, We are committed to enabling and multiplying economic opportunities for businesses of all sizes in India. With many of them rapidly moving online and transitioning into an explosive phase of growth, it becomes more important than ever to find the right solutions and strategies that can help them scale quickly. I am thrilled to welcome Meghna as she joins our team to lead this mandate and to shape the role our apps can play in enabling the growth of some of Indias largest online and retail businesses.
Actor Sanjay Dutt is currently gearing up for a power-packed 2022, with three big-ticket films under his belt. The actor who has had 3 OTT releases in these last 2 years, opens up about the co-existence of OTT platforms along with cinema.

Speaking about it to a leading daily, he said, The big screen has its own charm and it allows audiences to enjoy a film in its full spectrum and glory. But theres no denying how cinema is evolving and with the boom of the OTT platform, audiences in every corner now have access to so much content that caters to every need. So both these in my opinion are equally important and can beautifully co-exist.

He also added about missing being on the big screen, but he is grateful for the OTT platforms. He has had three OTT releases in the past two years  Sadak 2, Torbaaz and Bhuj: The Pride of India.

Sanjay Dutt as Adheera will be seen locking horns with Yash in KGF Chapter 2, which is slated to release on 14th April 2022. He also has Shamshera and Toolsidas Junior in the pipeline.
ZEE5 Global, the worlds largest streaming platform for South Asian content and Performics, Indias largest performance marketing agency partnered with mCanvas and created an innovative AI to engage with the consumers, giving them an experience of action-packed film Antim: The Final Truth that released on 24th December 2021. With an ultra-engaging mobile ad, the brand leveraged a first-of-its-kind innovation within the ad that has been driving attention around the brand in the international market. Primarily targeting users in the USA, the promotional campaign is reaching 1.4 million users.

Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer of ZEE5 Global said, Antim: The Final Truth starring Salman Khan is one of the key blockbuster movies we brought to our viewers in December on ZEE5.. Having an innovative virtual mobile ad created by mCanvas to promote the film helped drive a lot of curiosity about the movie among viewers across the globe. We are happy to have partnered with mCanvas to leverage their engagement solution for this innovation which has helped us drive significantly higher engagement.

Bringing in the storyline of the movie, the mobile ad allows users to choose between a cop and a gangster by tilting the phone left and right. On choosing the cop by tilting left, users can physically punch the air to knock the gangster down; the interaction is powered by the accelerometer and gyroscope motion sensors in the phone with unique sound effects and visuals, providing users with an immersive ad experience.

Similarly, on choosing the gangster, users are instructed to tilt their phone to the right, as a way of encouraging them to choose the right path in life. The closing screen seamlessly displays the movie trailer, and the CTA Subscribe Now. This directs users to the landing page, where they can begin their subscription to the streaming service to watch the movie.

Performics, Indias largest performance marketing agency which specializes in data-driven marketing worked closely with ZEE5 as their digital media agency for the promotions of Antim  The Final Truth. Performics strives to create distinct and memorable campaigns & strategically worked with the mCanvas team by leveraging multiple targeting capabilities to ensure we reached the right audience in USA and create a buzz around the digital release of the blockbuster movie.

Users are spending over 8 seconds on average, engaging with the creative. Speaking on the successful ad film, Pallav Jain, CEO, Performics added, By putting users in the shoes of the main characters, we

provided them with a glimpse into the storyline of the film. This approach not only proved effective in generating interest, but also established lasting recall. The success of the ad translated to an engagement rate of over 20X.

We are all about creating the best experiences for users in our mobile ads. For ZEE5s Antim: The Final

Truth, we pulled all the stops to create an industry disruptive campaign that leveraged our engagement solution. We seamlessly communicated the campaign narrative in a manner that is truly memorable, concluded Lavin Punjabi, Co-founder, mCanvas.
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AUKUS: a perspective from Britain

10:39, January 18, 2022 By Jenny Clegg ( People's Daily Online

Cartoon: The show mustn't go on (Xinhua)

The AUKUS agreement should not have come as a surprise in Britain: the Tory government's post-Brexit trajectory had already become apparent. Since the 2019 election win, it had increased defence spending by 26 percent; lifted the cap on nuclear warheads by 40 percent in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); and set its security and defence on an 'Indo-Pacific tilt', dispatching the Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group to the South China Sea in the biggest mobilisation of armed forces since the 1982 Falklands War [also known as the Malvinas War - Editor].

AUKUS commits the US and UK to providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a sharing of weapons-grade uranium which violates the NPT stipulation on the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. To defend the rules-based international order, the AUKUS powers evidently have to elevate themselves above the rules. The arrangement may well set a precedent for others - India, Japan, South Korea - to seek their own nuclear-powered submarine fleets. From there, the further spread of nuclear weapons is just a short step away.

Since nuclear-propelled submarines can stay submerged longer than the French diesel-powered vessels, their 'hunter-killer' capacity will enhance Australia's military reach right up into North East Asia.

Although not named directly, China is clearly the AUKUS target. Former prime minister, Theresa May, expressed certain British establishment concerns when she questioned whether the pact might lead Britain into a war with China over Taiwan.

Claiming to stabilise the Indo-Pacific, AUKUS, as an outside 'Anglosphere' intervention, has already caused upset within the region. ASEAN members are concerned about a regional arms race; Pacific Island states fear an overstepping of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty; whilst the Japanese government is making bolder signals with regard to Taiwan. Beyond the region, the deal has created difficulties in NATO by antagonising France, and may also impact on the Iran nuclear deal: if weapons-grade nuclear materials are simply handed over to Australia, why restrict Iran?

These disruptions foreshadow a radical New Cold War international realignment.

The US has long aspired to create an Asian NATO. However, Australia's fears over Japan's post-war rearmament; the popularity of the 'peace clause' in Japan's constitution; the South East Asian nations' reluctance to compromise their hard-fought independence and India's position of non-alignment have all stood in the way.

For decades, the US has worked to wear away these obstacles, with AUKUS now to spearhead a network of multilateralisms promoted by the Biden administration of US: the Quad, NATO with its Indo-Pacific turn, the newly-revived G7, the summit of democracies. If not ready for direct military commitment, these groupings may serve as appropriate in the delivery of US Cold War strategies - in logistics support, data- and technology-sharing, economic warfare or exclusive supply chains - forming a dragnet to draw 'democratic' states away from economic and diplomatic links with 'authoritarian regimes'.

AUKUS is also to cover AI, quantum computing, cyber- and undersea capabilities. As US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, setting out the Biden administration's stall, stated: 'whether techno-democracies or techno-autocracies are the ones who get to define how technology is used  will go a long way toward shaping the next decades.'

If the Indo-Pacific is the 'pacing theatre', AUKUS will then set the pace in the military use of new technologies, integrating security- and defence-related science and technology as well as industrial bases and supply chains centred on US core technologies.

The three AUKUS members are all part of the 5 eyes intelligence-sharing network, and with Australia's ASPI and the BBC churning out the 'China threat' narratives, this all becomes very suggestive of a globalising of what former CIA analyst Ralph McGovern has called a new Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank (MICIMATT) complex.

Britain, trading on its links with its former Asian colonies, and not least on leadership of the 5 power defence arrangements with Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, seeks a role as subcontractor-in-chief of US foreign and military policy in the region. A Cold War arms race is seen to offer profits for British arms companies, and the UK may hope, as an exclusive rule-maker at the technological frontiers, for rewards in IPR. But it is the US that will claim the lion's share of any benefits.

As AUKUS takes shape over the coming months, so will Global Britain's future direction. Merging UK armed forces into Indo-Pacific war-fighting strategies will further surrender UK national security to the US. Corralling off ever larger areas of UK business from China-related activities, with the science and academic communities also following a militarised agenda will forfeit other opportunities for cooperation.

Despite these huge potential implications, all in the name of upholding democracy in the world, there is remarkably little public discussion. AUKUS hawks are banking on the popularity of an Anglo-Saxon alliance, appealing to the basest white racism of the colonial mentality.

But the last thing the British people can afford is the costly burden of perpetual military upgrading: they want an end to the pandemic, economic recovery and solutions to climate change - this means they will have to take the road of international cooperation.

Jenny Clegg is a former lecturer in Asia Pacific Studies at a UK university and is active in the British peace movement.

The opinions expressed in the article reflect those of the author, and not necessarily those of People's Daily Online.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
KHARTOUM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Tuesday ordered to establish a committee to probe into Monday's clashes between street protesters and security forces which resulted in the deaths of seven protesters.

The committee should submit its report in 72 hours, the sovereign council said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Sudanese police confirmed seven protesters were killed and dozens of others injured, including 50 policemen, during Monday's demonstrations in Khartoum.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Monday in Khartoum and other cities in a new round of demonstrations to demand civilian rule in the country.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, also the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government. 
Jaclyn Wilson Jaclyn Wilson raises Red Angus cattle at Wilson Ranch near Lakeside, Nebraska. Send comments to her at jaclyn@flyingdiamondgenetics.com. Follow Jaclyn Wilson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Thanks for all the comments and emails on last weeks column about legislation on the brand rules. Please continue to reach out to your senators to let them know that LB744 is not in the best interest of the cattle industry in Nebraska.

Ive been hearing more and more through the rumor mill this last week of the reasoning why the bill was introduced. Whether its true or not, I will say this: no politician on any level from local all the way up to sitting in the White House should use legislation as a way to get even or get back at someone.

A lot of things have happened the last couple of weeks that are exciting and a little nerve wracking at the same time. As most of you Im sure know, myself and two others in 2019 started a direct-to-consumer beef business called Flying Diamond Beef. The decision was made the beginning of the year to dissolve the LLC. The ranch is going to continue it on under the Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch label.

I think one of the biggest things that people dont realize is how challenging it is for the middleman  or woman in this case  to make money. When cattle prices are up and we were purchasing the cattle from the ranch, having to pay processing, then having to price product competitively enough that it would sell while making sure there was enough margin in that we could run in the black was a lot tighter than people realize.

Then lets talk about who is making money right now. Processing costs for the customer are higher than they have ever been. There are a lot of factors that are going into this. Supply and demand are one. Labor for the plants and excessive regulations are others. Processing is hard to find, especially USDA-regulated processing, which puts a whole other level on the challenges.

Lets do some simple math. If a feedlot steer is worth $135 and pay weight is 1,550 pounds, processing runs $1,100. You would have to sell that beef for around $6.50 a pound just to break even. If you are talking about ribeyes or New Yorks that seems simple, right? But remember, there are a lot more pounds of ground beef and roasts in a whole beef than there are steaks.

Now, we know supply and demand changes with time. But, Im not for sure if the labor situation and the costs of inputs will change. It seems if one thing we have found out with COVID is 1, people arent valuing a hard day of work like they use to and 2, people think they are worth more monetarily than they are qualified for.

It doesnt make a difference if the packing plant is one of the big four or a small, local locker, the story is the same. Its tough to find help and compensate them enough. That is one thing that I find interesting in these new plants that are opening. When asked about workforce, they seem hesitant to answer. We all know that theres going to be poaching from plant to plant, but then is that really helping the industry?

At the end of the day, it makes a lot more sense to keep the beef business in house instead of being the middle man. What does that mean on my end? Well, a lot more work. I know I do it to myself, but there are ways that by keeping it on the ranch we can also improve efficiencies.

I was able to locate freezer storage that is going to be delivered to the ranch any day now. It will be a game changer from having product stored in Denver. The pricing structure will change, marketing strategies will change, and even simple things like delivery will be adjusted based more on how it works in relationship to the ranch.

There are a lot of great pluses, but truthfully the one Im most looking forward to is being able to have a relationship with my best friend that doesnt include every conversation talking about business.

Its been a work in progress as I get everything switched over and lined up. I have cattle at the processor that are being fabricated as I write, so hopefully things will continue to fall in place. Its exciting.

With all of that, head over to the website at flyingdiamondbeef.com. I continue to add and change things there and on social media, and hopefully as things keep falling in place it will become slicker. I was able to get deliveries out this week to Colorado, filled the front of a trailer to Arizona with beef, and hope to continue shipping and delivering beef moving forward. Because beef is really Whats for Dinner.

Jaclyn Wilson is more than a rancher, raising Red Angus cattle at Wilson Ranch near Lakeside, Nebraska. Shes an artist with a welders torch. She holds leadership positions with several agriculture organizations. She can be reached at jaclyn@flyingdiamondgenetics.com. This column represents the views of one person and are not necessarily the opinion of the Midwest Messenger.

Midwest Messenger Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Midwest Messenger. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
CAIRO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Egypt and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on Tuesday signed an agreement to develop eco-friendly industrial zones, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry said in a statement.

"The agreement will support the Egyptian government to improve the economic, social and environmental performance of industrial zones, as well as Egypt's industrial policies and legislation," the statement said.

The sustainable industrial zones contribute to attracting more local and foreign industrial investments, providing jobs, while preserving the environment and facilitating the transition toward a green industry and economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it added.

Basel Al-Khateeb, chairman of the UNIDO regional bureau, said that the deal aims to promote competitiveness, innovation and sustainability in smart cities and industrial zones.

The agreement is part of an international program funded by the Swiss government for the developing countries to promote eco-friendly industrial zones. 
As far back as the 1800s, when college was reserved for the elite, there were those, including Mark Twain, who had their doubts as to its usefulness. Observed Twain:

Some people get an education without going to college. The rest get it after they get out.

Twain may not be far off the mark. How much knowledge is actually attained in college? If graduates were to stand on a soapbox and be required to recall all they learned while in university, most would come to silence within 5 minutes. If education per se was the goal, it is a poor return on investment.

If graduating students could choose only one -- the education they gained during those 4 years, with no documentation to prove their attendance or the purported ticket to a job or professional school that the degree provided, with none of the knowledge -- which would it be?

These days, most dont go to college to learn. What is learned is of little value, and even that is not retained. One goes to college for advancement, for the credential.

The cost of that credential, for the individual and society, is massive.

Student loan debt is $1.6 trillion dollars. Through lobbying by the financial industry, Congress made student loans non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. The campaign was led by two executives at Sallie Mae, who personally received nearly half a billion dollars in just a 4 year period. This is a remarkable transfer of wealth from the working and middle classes to a politically connected elite.

By giving these loans for the asking, federal policy has allowed colleges to increase tuition to levels far more than a rational free market could otherwise bear. Between 1985 and 2011 average tuition nationwide increased 500%. It continues to rise at only a slightly diminished rate.

Where is that tuition going? The president of Auburn University has a $2.5 million dollar salary. The University of Phoenix earned $423 million in profits in 2012 with a 1% graduation rate. Ashford Universitys CEO earned $20.5 million in 2009.

While corporate academia garners further and further wealth, the greater part of an American generation is consigned to the status of a 19th-century Russian serf  little prospect of ever owning a home or achieving financial independence.

How so? The debt, adversely affecting credit scores, precludes the ability to buy a house. And the financial cost of higher education is not merely in the direct tuition and the living expenses of those college years. More important is the lost opportunity for real wages during that period. This is a period considerably longer than most realize. The four-year college degree is a myth. Nearly 60% of students who pursue a degree will take 6 years or longer to graduate.

As a consequence, most young Americans cannot afford marriage and certainly cant afford children. Both are now significantly delayed. For many, this will not occur at all.

But the financial impact of college is less significant than the temporal impact. It is not unreasonable to surmise that a primary reason for the delay in marriage and decline in children is those 4-6 years spent by much of the younger population in college and the oftentimes subsequent additional years spent in graduate school. One can be in class, or one can be an adult. One cannot be both.

American families are significantly smaller than they were in the 1960s. Intellectuals will hold that this is good. Children eventually turn into people, and fewer people is good for the environment. And many intellectuals will hold that not being burdened with children allows young adults to broaden their horizons.

There is another impact to college -- one that has heretofore not been seen  affecting a very different population. College stereotypically has been the province of the middle class, the bourgeoisie. But it also directly affected the working class. Over 40% of factory jobs now require a college diploma. Even unskilled labor (working the car rental counter) can require a baccalaureate degree.

Young adults are forced into prolonged adolescence. Their maturation is stunted. This was greatly exaggerated by the courts when they barred the use of IQ tests in hiring in 1971. For employers, college replaced that test. It cost the employer nothing. It cost the employee at least 4 years.

How did college become entrenched as a necessary rite of passage for the middle and upper classes?

The genesis is instructive.

In 1904 the American Medical Association set out on a policy to increase the income and prestige of physicians. It would severely limit the number of doctors in the country by requiring college before admission to medical school. To implement its plan, it contracted with the Carnegie Foundation to make a survey of medical education in the US and Canada. Abraham Flexner, who would become one of the pillars of American education, was hired to conduct the survey, covertly funded by the AMA, and to make recommendations. Flexner concluded that the number of schools should be cut, through new regulations by the states, from 155 to 31, and called for a university education as a prerequisite for admission to those few medical schools that remained.

The goal of the AMA was to draw medical students only from the upper class of American society, and the expense of 4 years of college was the means to accomplish that. The report acknowledged, and at the same time was indifferent to, the impact the cost of college would have. As explicitly stated in its introduction: It is clear that the poor boy has no right to go into any profession for which he is not willing to obtain adequate preparation.

With a lobbying assist by the Rockefeller Foundation of 100 million dollars (over 2.5 billion dollars in todays money), state legislatures throughout the country implemented the changes.

Mimicking the template set by organized medicine, the legal profession would soon follow suit. Quickly college became required for all professions, even elementary school teachers. And college became required for virtually all white-collar employment.

The most productive years of tens of millions would be expended in an endeavor that outside the piece of paper it grants, is inherently non-productive. The demographic decline of the middle classes is in no small measure is due to college over family.

Flexner is the author of one of the key writings in American education: The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge, which he published in 1939. His thesis was that all apparently useless research might eventually prove to have some unexpected practical value, and should therefore be encouraged. Its the title, though, not the substance of the piece, that Academia is enamored with. It has used the bon mot as justification for the Academic state. Academia imposes on Americas young adults years upon years of mandated education in useless knowledge.

This should be a political issue. It isnt. We should make it so.

The secret of politics is to learn from the tactics, language, and success of your adversaries.

The overwhelming majority of college students are oblivious to their true station in life. An agenda has to be established. Bar the requirement of a liberal arts college degree for entry to professions and professional schools. Mandate an affirmative action program to prohibit discrimination against those with only high school diplomas in employment and corporate advancement. Use the lefts weapon  affirmative action  against the left.

It will take a mass movement. Perhaps the kids will wake up.

Graphic credit: iconscout CC BY 4.0 license

August Harriman is the pen name of a professor at one of Americas most famous universities
At some point in the relatively near future, President Joe Biden will be handed a speech that will read something like this:

My Fellow Americans -- Our long national nightmare is over. The pandemic is a thing of the past and I am ordering the end of all federal COVID-related efforts and I implore those governors who have not lifted their emergency orders to do so immediately. Its time for all of us to get back to normal.

Given Bidens speech and cognition issues, he will most likely actually say My Felericans -- our long natural fair is covered, but that is beside the point -- his political facts of life demand that this moment must occur within the next few months.

With the abject failure -- so far -- of his massive wokedream spending package and the egregious attempt to federalize all elections, the Biden administration needs a very big win before November, and what could be simpler and easier than simply declaring one? Democrat hopes that the January 6 insurrection would provide one seem to be coming up short, despite someone, desperately in need of a talking point, recently shaking Attorney General Merrick Garland by the lapels to get him to finally file the first and only sedition related charges. (It should be noted here that people who engage in treason tend not to leave their guns at home to comply with local law, or call a few days later to ask if they accidentally left their coat behind, or make sure that the whole thing is wrapped up in time for dinner but I digress.)

Now, predictions are like politicians -- everyones got one and they are usually wrong. However, as to this issue, the only question is one of timing: political timing.

Laying the groundwork (or softening up the enemy, whichever is preferred) is underway; the prequel to official vanquishing of the virus has already begun.

It is not coincidental that the media -- and even the CDC -- has been recently noting there may actually be a difference between dying with COVID and from COVID. There has also been some movement on focusing on death rates instead of case rates, especially since Omicron tends not to be much worse than the icky sniffles and the fact that triple-masked, restaurant scolding, self-quarantining, uber-vaccinated types are getting Omicron in large numbers and adding to the once all-telling, panic driving case count.

To be blunt, this effort has been about as subtle as Ralphies attempts to get a Red Ryder BB gun in A Christmas Story, but even some of these baby steps -- clomps, really -- have provoked outrage from pandemic purists, hence the delicacy. The backlash from the true believers to the CDC mentioning that maybe people should only quarantine for five days instead of 10 was swift and harsh and would have been hysterical if it werent so troubling.

The dedicated pandemicists who have defined their lives over the past 20-odd months by their strict adherence to the SCIENCE reacted to the news as if they were members of an end-of-the-world cult after a predicted doomsday came and went without a whimper. Oh, sorry -- we sure the world is still going to end on a Thursday but it turns out were not really sure which Thursday of what year, so please stick with us the cult leaders try to tell their followers shortly before they are torn limb from limb. It must be a terrible thing to have the very core of ones existence shattered by a bureaucrat; therefore the word must come from on high if they are to be kept quiet.

For most other people, the reaction to such an announcement will range from no kidding, Sherlock, to being somewhat pleased they can now go to a party without going to the doctor first, to glad they dont have to remember to carry a mask around, to happy (maybe?) the kids are back in school for good this time and back again to no kidding, Sherlock.

But what Biden and the Democrats are really hoping for is a reaction of thankyou, thankyou, thankyou, youre our savior -- how many times can we vote for the people you want us to vote for?

Which brings us back to the matter of timing -- too soon and your message of I freed you, now you must vote for me may lose its impact by November; too late and the national angst may build even further and, crucially, you miss the primary season.

Of course, it would be handy to tie the announcement to some real or manufactured good news on the virus, but its not strictly necessary -- why bother to stop playing politics with COVID now?

Announcing in early May -- which could have a nice youre now allowed to go have a Memorial Day backyard barbecue! hook -- would help certain candidates in some rather key states -- Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, for example, all hold votes in that month with New Jersey, California, and New York going to the polls shortly thereafter.

The problem with this timing is that it could come too late to influence early/absentee voters, which is - as we have seen -- an extremely important voting bloc for Democrats. To tap that vein would necessitate an April announcement -- about no more than 10 weeks away, which could be too soon.

Tying it, as Biden attempted to do last year, to the next major holiday -- the Fourth of July -- would give a bit more time for the seeds of the strategy to be sown and could inculcate fond and strong memories in people but it does miss the important primary window (and making an announcement in April that everything will be over by then misses the entire point of the effort and is too muddy and too unbelievable to move the needle).

Which brings us to just before Labor Day, which is handy to jump-start fall campaigns but could be too late to build up any general goodwill.

As for just holding on like grim death to the power they have accrued (and the ratings and clicks they have gotten) over the past 20 months, even lifelong criminals know in their hearts when the jig is up and the marching orders will be reluctantly followed. The faceless (literally in this case) bureaucrats may whine and moan but they will eventually slither away -- like the tree in the forest, if no one hears a public health official order masks for two-year-olds, does it really happen? Anyway, they can just wait around for -- or create -- the next one.

So mark your calendars, my Felericans -- we shall soon be able to breathe free.

Thomas Buckley is the former mayor of Lake Elsinore and a former newspaper reporter. He is currently the operator of a small communications and planning consultancy and can be reached directly at planbuckley@gmail.com. You can read more of his work at https://thomas699.substack.com.

Image: Pixabay
For the leaders and followers of the trans movement, the photo accompanying Gabriel Mac's article "I Didn't Need a Penis to Be a Man. But I Needed One to Be Me" is a political statement concerning equality of the sexes. The ideal human being is neither sex.

Perhaps the symbolic and real significance of Mac's mutilated body can more clearly be seen when viewed as a saintly martyr of the trans cult, for which castration and denaturing of the human being have taken on metaphysical overtones. Mac may be seen as the trans movement's equivalent of Catholic saints like St. Sebastian, who was pierced through with arrows, or St. Agatha, whose breasts were cut off, or St. Bartholomew, who was flayed alive before he was beheaded.

The tortured prose used to describe the surgical transfiguration of Mac's body exhibits a love of pain and death that amounts to the sacralization of both. The lurid descriptions of "Gabriel's" wounds, which elevate her to martyrdom and resurrection to a new identity, seem a secularized version of the feelings experienced by devotees such as St. Clare of Assisi, who contemplated the Five Sacred Wounds of Christ.

Like martyrs of old, Mac writes she was prepared to die in order to achieve her transformation. She adds that as she gazed at the "40-square-inch hole in my thigh where I'd been skinned down to the muscle, I could suddenly feel, in a way I could never have fathomed, that this was what being alive was ... [a]nd it struck me, immediately and only, as another incredibly specific thing I got to love about myself, and I collapsed into the wall, sobbing."

The description of the raptures Mac experiences through suffering resembles the prose of the Marquis de Sade, whose devotion to exquisite pain as a component of sexual bliss is in direct competition with the spiritual ecstasies of Christian saints who sought union with God.

Mac's tortures can be seen as an imitation of the passion of Jesus Christ. The body of "Gabriel" becomes a living sacrifice to the trans religion. She becomes seen by herself and the devotees of the trans sect as having achieved through her horrifying wounds the status of the sacred. She is now beyond reproach because of her suffering and the death of her former identity. Resurrected into a new body that is no longer subject to the natural created order, including the limitations of other mortals, Mac is like a god.

Born again into a new identity, Mac and those who have undergone similar transformations are the secular saints qualified to transform society as surely as Christian martyrs transformed Rome. Christians shattered institutions by establishing a new ideal by which all men and women by the grace of God through Christ's salvific sacrifice may become equal. In like manner, every institution is to be transformed by the new metaphysical realities of the trans movement, whose martyrs are to be leaders of a world in need of the reformation to be achieved by total equality that breaks all binaries.

History has seen the equivalent of the trans cult. The Galli were members of a cult seen by some as a precursor of today's trans movement. The sect's ideology was roundly repudiated by St. Augustine in his City of God, written in A.D. 426.

Augustine noted that the Galli cult was led by "self-castrating priests of the Earth Mother," priests who defied the "divinely created natural world by de-naturing themselves." He continued: "The Great Mother of the gods has brought mutilated men into Roman temples, and has preserved that cruel custom, being believed to promote the strength of Rome by emasculating their men. ... [Such rites] have been incorporated into the body of divine rites and honors, the deities themselves demanding and extorting that incorporation."

In other words, mutilation was sacralized and the practice incorporated into civic worship promoted by the Roman state.

What we are seeing in the West is a combination of fabulous theology  that is, theology unrelated to and even in contradiction to observable natural order  and a "civil theology" espoused by the state, with multifarious regulations designed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 as but one means to establish a civil theology.

The end result is that Americans are being persuaded by and even forced to obey the dictates of a government-supported religious cult. Citizens are being motivated to venerate the new sacred martyrs and to accept the disruption and transformation of every institution, be it sports, academia, public schools, or federal and state governments. In short, the West is faced with the combination of fabulous theology with civil religious practices enforced by the State, including the indoctrination of children into the new trans faith, whose initiation rites include mental and physical castration.

As Augustine wrote, the approved theology of the city (the government), even though it is clearly false, when combined with fabulous theology, windS up becoming a force that even though "equally disgraceful, absurd, shameful and false," become accepted and demanded by the state.

He quotes Varro, who, speaking of the theatrical and fabulous theology, wrote: "They dedicate images [with] the appearance of man, beasts, and fishes, and some make them of mixed sex, and heterogeneous bodies. They call them deities. ... But if they should yet breathe and should suddenly meet them, they would be held to be monsters."

While the ideological impulses behind the trans movement may in time weaken and fade, the danger remains that fabulous and civic theology may be promoted by the State, including a complete revision of Church doctrine and liturgy. A precedent has been set, and as the persistence of the cult of the Galli suggests, such a precedent takes time to undo.

The combination of fabulous and civil religion is resulting in a juggernaut whose stranglehold can be broken only by direct repudiation of and disobedience to a state-sponsored religion. Leaders must realize the danger of taking on the rites, symbols, and saints of the new fabulous civic religion.

But more is at stake than the decline of institutions. At stake is the very idea of what it means to be human. The impulse for the State to become a Frankenstein in charge of the reformulation of the human being is great. Tinkering with the human body seems to promise a new humanity  but in the end, Frankenstein's tinkering produced a monster.

The current iteration of the Galli cult must be resisted as vigorously as Augustine and the Church resisted the original. While those who have been ruined by trans ideology must be viewed with the utmost compassion, the sect itself must be disestablished wherever it has dug in.

The Church particularly must recommit itself to the views espoused by Alice Von Hildebrand, a theologian and philosopher who died Friday, January 14. It must commit itself to the noble and true idea of what she called a "divine invention: man and woman."

It is past time to do so.

Fay Voshell holds an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, which awarded her the prize for excellence in systematic theology. Her thoughts have appeared in many online magazines. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com.

Image via Pxhere.
KHARTOUM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Police confirmed Tuesday that seven protesters were killed in clashes with security forces during Monday's demonstrations in the capital city of Khartoum.

"Police records registered seven death cases for citizens, all of them in Khartoum locality," the police said in a statement.

Moreover, 50 policemen and 22 citizens were wounded during the protests, the police said, adding that 77 suspects have been arrested.

On Monday, the United Nations Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) also confirmed that at least seven protesters were killed and dozens injured during the demonstrations in Khartoum.

Mass protests took place on Monday in Khartoum and other cities to demand civilian rule in the country.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government. 
Merriam-Webster defines a cult as "a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous" and "a small group of very devoted supporters or fans." The keyword in these definitions is "small."

Most human beings may have their quirks and their follies, but they are not so open-minded that their brains fall out. Normal people simply do not want to follow individuals, no matter how charismatic, who promise miracles in return for all of their money and earthly possessions, nor do they want to have their lives completely controlled. Or at least that once was true.

It would seem that this is no longer the case. Millions of people around the world appear to have joined a cult based on COVID. They are wearing masks to show their obedience, although masks may not be effective and have been shown to cause emotional and mental problems.

They are rushing to be vaccinated, although vaccines could be driving COVID mutations. The father of mRNA vaccines, Dr. Robert Malone, has been warning against universal vaccination.

People have been told to be terrified of the latest COVID variant, omicron, and they are duly shaking in their shoes. But omicron generally is so mild that many don't realize they have caught it, and there have been very few deaths.

The cult mentality was on full display when the newly elected governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, issued an executive order allowing parents to opt out of school mask mandates. Youngkin did not forbid anyone to mask his child. He merely ordered that no one can be forced to mask his child.



Image: The COVID cultists (with added text). Freepik license.

Considering the adverse effects of masks on children, this was a decision for the children's benefit. There was immediate backlash from Arlington County, with support from White House press secretary Jen Psaki. The one thing that cults demand above all else is obedience, and the progressives of Virginia are determined to defy the governor and continue to force masks on children.

The country of Greece provided another example of the COVID cult enforcing its doctrine with a decision to fine people 60 and older who are not vaccinated. The total population of Greece is approximately 10,345,314. There have been about 22,000 deaths from COVID. That works out to a death rate of about 0.2%. Nevertheless, the cultists of Greece have decided to fine elderly people, starting with 50 euros in January and going up to a monthly fine of 100 euros after that.

I presume that old people in Greece are like old people in most other countries, in need of care and compassion after spending their lives working hard to be productive members of their society, but that's not how people in a cult think. Only the doctrine matters. Anyone who does not support the doctrine of the cult is to be destroyed.

There have been dangerous cults in the past. The Manson Family, Heaven's Gate, and Jonestown were all hideously destructive, but they were small in number, and their atrocities were at least limited. Germany made a cult of Adolf Hitler, and millions around the world suffered, but at least most of the people in the world fought back against the Nazis, recognizing the danger.

The danger of the COVID cult is that it is not small, nor is it outside the mainstream. The COVID cult has become the mainstream, and normal people have become the fringe, fighting for a return to sanity.

Voltaire warned, "Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." The history of cultism has been people who believe absurdities going on to commit atrocities. Today, there are far too many atrocities being committed by those who believe in the absurdity of the COVID cult.

Pandra Selivanov is the author of The Pardon, a story of forgiveness based on the thief on the cross in the Bible.
With the election of Glenn Youngkin, Virginia now has a Republican governor for the first time since the Charlottesville Riots. He has already shown he is brave enough to take on the left-wing establishment that runs the public schools in his state. But I wonder if he has the moxie to go ask some of his rank-and-file state troopers to tell him what really happened that day in Charlottesville, what orders they followed, and who gave them. Jason Miyares, another Republican determined to make some waves, is the incoming Virginia attorney general. He could also do an inquiry into what law enforcement really did that day.

Back in 1908, G. K. Chesterton wrote what has been described as a psychological thriller, The Man Who Was Thursday, about a detective infiltrating a terror ring, only to find out that all the members were actually other infiltrators. After the FBI started recruiting an army of domestic spies and informants during and after WWII, people wondered if this was a case of life imitating art.

Then we saw the phony kidnap plot for Gretchen Whitmer, and it turns out that the FBI really was running false flag ops. In that case, everybody might have known it was bogus from the start. Who would ever want to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer? It would be like "The Ransom of Red Chief." The kidnappers would have to pay just to get rid of her.

It appears there were also FBI informants encouraging the January 6 riots, and I just wonder if this didn't all start with those curious events in Charlottesville back in August of 2017. The actions taken by law enforcement at the time never made any sense  especially if you know how such things are typically handled in the Southern states, after what is called the Greensboro Massacre in 1979.

Back then, demonstrators from Klan groups clashed with members of militant communist organizations, there was a shoot-out, and several people died. Massive civil suits were filed against the city and the state for not doing more to stop what they call in Chicago these days "mutual combat."

After that, state police agencies have closely monitored such extremist groups in their jurisdictions and will share intelligence with their neighbors. When there is a rare instance of an actual Klan or neo-Nazi march and the attendant Antifa-style counter-rally, state and local police in the South usually pick up on it early and will insist on elaborate precautions to keep the groups apart and other spectators away from both.

Yet that did not happen in Charlottesville. Local police idly stood by while armed protesters formed up to fight. The state police were well aware of the brewing conflict, having a helicopter overhead that suffered a fatal crash. In the aftermath, civil suits were filed against the Unite the Right Groups, who are penniless, but none against the deep pockets of the city and the state. A very suspicious character named Thomas Rousseau and his group, now called Patriot Front, were big players at Charlottesville and continue to act in such an odd way. They are suspected of being another false flag outfit.

At the very least, it seems conceivable a lot of people in the state and federal governments that day were aware of the danger and yet made a decision to let things play out and have the police stand down.

Like so many other problems in America today, we know where to look for answers buried by the perpetrators. The question is, who is in a position of authority has the courage to start digging them up?

Frank Friday is an attorney on Louisville, Ky.

Image: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Leftists like to talk about the "American experiment" as something of a failure. The problem is that their premise is wrong. America was not an experiment, just as Israel was never an experiment. Our nation was much more than that from its inception.

America is a democratic republic designed for liberty and freedom for all, as they pursue happiness, freely practice their religion, and cannot and should be at the mercy of tyrannies.

King George represented the British elite and considered Americans to be lowly, who deserved nothing better than to be ruled over as worthless proletariat dust.

Are we not seeing a repeat of history today?

Leftists are trying to convince Americans that we are a democracy, which allows for the mob rule the Founders feared. We are not a democracy!

Nevertheless, those in charge, who keep changing their spoken principles like chameleons, always push toward the nefarious goal of destroying liberty. Currently, they are working hard to convert America into a wretched, unbalanced democracy, a kind of fake democracy that, once established, will ensure their power and rule forever.

As Turkey's strongman, Erdogan, said, democracy is like a train. You use it to reach your goal, and you stop. For Democrats, the goal is an autocracy of domineering rule and control.

The exponential proliferation of today's massive move against freedom via the lab-engineered COVID virus should not surprise any of us who have been paying attention. For decades, power leftists, from Woodrow Wilson to Franklin Roosevelt to Lyndon Baines Johnson to some more recent presidents, have sought a way to end liberty in America and enshrine their power.

In 2020, China stepped in to help get this done.



Image: Martin Luther King quotation, 1967.

China's government is evil. Xi Jinping is like King Herod, proud of himself and thinking he is near to being a god. He would do well to remember what happened to Herod. History will repeat painfully.

It seems, looking back, as if we were sleeping in a fairytale world, thinking nothing could go wrong. Now it's a wake-up time, even for conservatives who thought they were fighting the big fight.

In fact, what's happening now is the great war  not between right and left political parties, but between basic good and evil, truth and lies, and decency and perversion of a thousand kinds and so-called fake genders! Because of the left's lies, it is a war between the holy and the profane.

I do not propose chaotic anarchy, but I do remember Solidarity and other powerful, peaceful movements against tyranny and dictatorships that were finally brought down before the will of people yearning for liberty.

When will come the time to say enough is enough?

Who will be the George Washingtons and Paul Reveres?

What is it going to take to sacrifice what must be to save and preserve the little bit left of our nation without having to debate the issue in our country's dying hour?

Who has the courage to face this head-on?

Solomon St. Lightstone worked in Soviet Bloc countries and was friends with and a student under Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
Before there was "Crosby, Stills, and Nash," Stephen Stills and Neil Young spent two years in a band called "Buffalo Springfield," which released three albums and one smash hit. Exactly 55 years ago, "For What It's Worth" was on its way to a No. 7 peak on Billboard's hot 100 list.

"There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear." This iconic song became the anthem of Vietnam war protests. But when it was first performed on Thanksgiving Day, 1966, Kent State was four years in the future. Stills was talking about the Sunset Strip Riots.

Pandora's Box, a nightclub that catered to teenage partiers, was about to be bulldozed. On November 12, 1966, teens staged a sit-in that turned violent. Stills witnessed it on his way to a gig, and the song was born. Later, he mused, "Riot is a ridiculous name, it was a funeral for Pandora's Box. But it looked like a revolution."

That, I think, is why the song is so famous. It captured a feeling in the air. While revolutionary events are in process, few contemporaries notice. Stills did, and his words beckon us to do the same.

There is, indeed, something happening today. Pandora's Box  the ancient Greek one  has been opened and has unleashed war upon us. In the fog of that war, it is difficult to know exactly "what it is." But our moment screams for everybody to "look what's going down." If we don't, we will fall under the same harsh judgment that we pronounce on others.

Consider past cultures that failed to understand their own times and to stand against massive evils that we now see with 20/20 hindsight. How could the denizens of France not predict that a Reign of Terror would result from murdering priests and kings? Why didn't more Russians stand against the murderous Bolsheviks who were gaining power? That mistake cost 100 million lives over the next 70 years. What devilry gripped the cultured, Bach-loving Germans? They allowed a madman to turn their industry and efficiency into a murder machine.

While Stills thought the Sunset Strip Riots were hardly riots at all, he couldn't shake the sense that "something's happening here." They were more than another salvo in the Sexual Revolution. They crossed a new and significant line. On that night, the Sexual Revolution enveloped minor children.

The sit-in remained a peaceful protest until the stroke of 10 o'clock. At that time, the LAPD was tasked with enforcing the city's curfew on minors. The people of Los Angeles had passed an ordinance to protect the innocence of children younger than 18. Push came to shove, and the Sunset Strip Riots were born.

The opening salvos of the Sexual Revolution were attacks on marriage. Its philosophical leaders, going back to Jean-Jacques Rousseau (17121778) and Percy Shelley (17921822), were intent on destroying the sacred bond between husband and wife. Divorce, fornication, and adultery were means toward that end.

But as the Revolution advanced, the crosshairs shifted to the children. "Free Love" was never the ultimate goal. It has always been a means toward an end. The goal is the breakdown of the family. Once the marriage vow is obliterated, the battle must shift to the natural bond between parent and child. While that remains, family bonds still have precedence.

Maybe Stills knew this consciously  maybe only subconsciously. But children were the focus of his haunting refrain, "I think it's time we stop, children. What's that sound? Everybody, look what's going down." Whether Stills intended this or not, Carl S. Trueman painstakingly documents the sexualization of children in his new book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.

This book is a must-read for parents and policy-makers who are interested in the health and well-being of children. It helps to explain how the innocence of children came under attack through the militantly atheist philosophy of people like Shelly. It further documents how Sigmund Freud deliberately sexualized every aspect of childhood development  from breastfeeding to potty training.

It is precisely at this point that school boards and library associations come into the picture. Statutes protecting minor children obligate state actors to respect parental rights. But these statutes hinder the agenda to dissolve the natural family and replace it with the state.

Those who tell you that the arguments over objectionable books and curricula are about "free speech," or about "access to information," are either deceived or deceiving. The fact remains that statutory age restrictions on sexual consent (statutory rape) and access to sexual content (e.g., restricted films) are legal recognition of parental rights. Violation of these laws violate parental rights. Nobody has the right to interfere in the sacred relationship between parents and their own children.

Will we, as a lawful society, respect parents who guard the innocence of minors? Will we help them maintain their sole authority to educate their own children in family formation and emotional health? Or will we undermine parental rights and give ever more power to teachers' unions and library associations to indoctrinate our children in the philosophical thought-stream that brought us the French Revolution, the Bolsheviks, and the Hitler Youth?

According to legend, Pandora's Box contains war. The nightclub that circumvented parental rights and brought the Sexual Revolution to minor children could not have been more appropriately named.

Jonathan Lange raises his family in Wyoming and serves as a pastor of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Published in numerous news outlets, he blogs at https://onlyhuman-jl.blogspot. com.

Image via Pxhere.
It has been two days since the hostage crisis in Texas, where a gunman took four hostages at a synagogue. He had demanded the release of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui from a nearby federal prison.

The FBI has identified the current terrorist as Malik Faisal Akram. Akram, 44, is a British subject who hails from Blackburn in the United Kingdom.

Akram was shot dead by the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team after the last of the hostages was evacuated from the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue.

A federal law enforcement sources told CNN that Akram had entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in December 2021 via JFK International Airport in New York. Akram then traveled to Texas, where he spent three nights at Union Gospel Mission in Dallas, a homeless shelter, from which he moved in and out multiple times over the course of a week. He eventually left the facility for the last time on Jan. 13.

U.K. law enforcement has been coordinating with their counterparts in the U.S., and two teenagers from Manchester, reportedly Akram's children, have been arrested and quizzed in connection with the incident.

This crisis offers the following lessons to learn:

1. The first question to ponder is how a purportedly mentally unstable man with a criminal record in the U.K. and no financial backing, such that he was compelled to live in a shelter, received a visa to travel to the U.S.

This highlights the need for better cooperation among law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies in the U.S. and other countries from where travel visas to the U.S. are issued. There is a need for mental evaluation and stricter verification of police and financial records before granting permission to enter the country.

2. The open borders owing to the Biden administration's ineptitude or deliberate policy have facilitated an influx of unvetted and illegal immigrants. There have also been reports of Afghan refugees being allowed into the U.S. Since there is almost no record-keeping of citizens or their criminal records in Afghanistan, vetting is impossible.

This has made U.S. citizens vulnerable to terror attacks.

3. Texas gun laws do not allow non-resident foreign nationals to legally purchase firearms. Akram had arrived in the U.S. two weeks ago, yet he was able to procure a gun. This once again proves that laws pertaining to control or ban or confiscation of firearms will have no effect on the ground; those who want to obtain a weapon will circumvent the law.

It is therefore essential to allow only mentally sound citizens with no criminal record to own guns that can be used for self-defense.

4. The presence of armed personnel within the synagogue might have resolved the crisis sooner. According to a Facebook post by a claimed former congregant, the rabbi did not allow members to be armed during services. But synagogues across the U.S. must now consider protection by armed guards.

5. FBI special agent in charge Matt DeSarno said the bureau believed that the man was "singularly focused on one issue and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community," adding that they will continue to "work to find motive." If the FBI didn't have all the information since their investigation is in progress, they should have stayed silent. This denial of the antisemitic motives of the hostage-taker was factually incorrect, and "the FBI backtracked and issued an updated statement declaring, "This is a terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted, and is being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force."

It has to be remembered that convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, whose release Akram was seeking, was rabidly antisemitic. She had demanded that her jury should be genetically tested so Jewish persons could be excluded.

Also, if Akram merely wanted hostages, he would have targeted a crowded location such as a shopping mall. The choice of synagogue, despite the fact that it had only four individuals present, makes his antisemitic motives obvious.

The fact that the investigative agency chose to dilute the antisemitic angle is unfortunate. It is said that denial of obvious bigotry is bigotry.

How can citizens expect an objective investigation and a factual disclosure of information when the motive that is obvious to all is being denied?

6. In a statement, Akram's brother condemned the attack but added that Akram was "suffering from mental health issues."

His side also claimed to be "confident that he would not harm the hostages." They also claimed: "There was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender."

Also, a post shared on Facebook by the Blackburn Muslim Community that had condemned the attack read:

Mohammed Akram (Inkerman Street, Blackburn) has sadly departed from this temporary world and returned to his Creator. May the Almighty forgive all his sins and bless him with the highest ranks of Paradise. May Allah give strength and patience to his loved ones in dealing with their loss.

You would be forgiven for believing that Akram died for a noble cause for which he deserves the "highest ranks of Paradise."

These statements highlight the lack of willingness to combat radical Islam within the Muslim community.

The claim that he was mentally unstable is obviously incorrect. If that were the case, he would have committed a random act of violence or ranted obscenities in the streets. Akram had a clear demand: to free a convicted Islamist terrorist. His choice of venue to hold hostages was also well thought out. He may have been unstable, but not unhinged enough not to comprehend his mission or hold hostages for ten hours.

A file photo of Akram provides a clue that he was radicalized. This radicalization must have been evident to his community, including his relatives, yet he wasn't reported to the authorities in the U.K.

7. It is also essential to judge a terror attack not solely based on the number of casualties, but on what could have occurred and the psychological effect it has on the community that was targeted. The attack from yesterday did not cause any deaths, but it might have, had the matter gotten out of hand. The community, however, is traumatized. The PTSD suffered by the four hostages and the Jewish American community is immeasurable.

In the end, for a doctor to cure an ailment, he has to first name it and identify what causes it. Being euphemistic and vague will only allow complications to worsen.

Similarly, if the U.S. is to combat radical Islamic terrorism, the fight has to begin with a fearless and objective assessment of the situation and its causes.

If intelligence and law enforcement agencies, politicians, and the news media continue to indulge in understatement for the fear of offending a minority religion practiced by non-white people, you can expect many more incidents such as the one in Texas.

While the hostages in the synagogue were freed or escaped unharmed, not every potential victim may have such luck.

Photo credit: WFAA screen grab.
"The bottom line is that the vaccine is excellent against the Alpha and Delta [variants], for Omicron it's not good enough," said Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay, who led an Israeli experiment of assessing the effectiveness of the vaccine against corona's latest variant.

Given the fact that the vaccines do not work against omicron and that omicron is now the globally dominant COVID strain, it makes no logical or medical sense to continue with vaccinating and boostering at this time.

After all, why would anyone in his right mind needlessly inject people with failed protections that carry a risk of severe adverse reactions?

At this point, we are out of vaccine options. No vaccine that is currently at our disposal can protect people from contracting and transmitting omicron infection or reduce the severity of its symptoms.

We have seen that the opposite is actually the case: the vaccinated and the boostered are contracting omicron at higher rates than the unvaccinated.

This means there is nothing we can do by way of vaccinal intervention with the shots that are available to us at the moment.

Here is the reality of our situation: we have come  at least for now  to the end of the vaccine road as far as COVID-19 is concerned. At this time, we simply possess no effective vaccine with which to tackle this disease.

This may change in the future, but for now, this is the reality of our situation, and it is imperative that we clearly grasp and accept it so we do not inflict any unnecessary injury or death.

Since the vaccines are ineffective against the prevailing variant, all injectioneering has to stop. To give out any more shots of these vaccines  which we know do not work  is senseless and medically irresponsible.

Continuing vaccination under current circumstances can bring no benefit and will only bring needless harm. To pointlessly expose healthy people to potential injury would constitute medical malfeasance.

I therefore call upon health authorities, politicians, employers, and schools to follow science and common sense. The science and common sense clearly show that all vaccine and booster mandates need to be suspended.

I ask that this be done immediately and without delay.

I also ask that all COVID passports schemes be revoked. COVID health passes do not serve any legitimate purpose since the vaccinated are not protected against infection, and, in fact, the data show that they are getting infected more readily than their unvaccinated counterparts. For some reason, omicron seems to target the vaccinated especially.

All throughout this pandemic, we have been told by our politicians and health officials to follow the science. It is time for them to finally live up to their own teaching.

I ask them to do what is right in this situation: end all vaccine mandates and health pass schemes.

In the wake of the vaccinal failure, doing anything other would be medically negligent and scientifically unjustifiable.

Vasko Kohlmayer was born and grew up in former communist Czechoslovakia. You can follow his writings by subscribing to his Substack newsletter "Notes from the Twilight Zone." He is the author of The West in Crisis: Civilizations and Their Death Drives.

Graphic credit: Pixabay.
There is much more to taxidermy then stuffing straw into the hide of a dead animal and sewing it up. It requires the taxidermist to possess detailed knowledge of the animals anatomy, failing which the results may end up looking extremely grotesque or funny, just like the taxidermied lion in Gripsholm Castle, in Sweden.

When alive, the lion of Gripsholm Castle must have been the pride of Gripsholm. Lions were exotic animals that were much sought-after in the royal houses of Europe. Princes from African states would often gift lions to European rulers as goodwill to seal a treaty or forge new relations. Leo the lion was one such gift. No one knows for sure, but he probably came to Sweden in 1731 as a gift to King Frederick I from the the Bey of Algiers. In 1729, the Swedish king had signed a treaty with the Algerian ruler to protect Swedish merchant ships from sea pirates off the coast of Algeria. The lion was a gift in return for the tax that Sweden paid to avoid the Barbary States piracy in the Mediterranean Sea.

Leo was housed on the royal hunting grounds where earlier lions had been housed. After the lion passed away, his pelt and bones were sent to a taxidermist to be mounted. Unfortunately, the taxidermist didnt have the vaguest idea how the animal looked like. Lions are not native to Europe, and as noted, the only lions in the continent were those gifted to rulers (or captured) and they often resided in the royal menagerie. Despite his lack of knowledge, the taxidermist did as best as he could. Some have speculated that the taxidermist may have used heraldic lion images as a guide, like the carved lion at Gripsholm Castle. That would explain the curved tongue and the front paw posed midair.

When seen from the side the lion actually has quite a ferocious appearance, wrote David Mikkelson for Snopes. Perhaps the taxidermist simply focused too much on side-view images when mounting the pelt, or the lion was (somehow) never intended to be seen from more than one angle.

Whatever be the story, the Lion of Gripsholm Castle is now much more memorable than it would have been if the anonymous taxidermist had produced an outstanding example of his craft.
North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
ANTANANARIVO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- In Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, and its surrounding areas, 10 people died after heavy rains fell in the region on Monday night, the risk and disaster management office reported Tuesday.

About 500 people were displaced and two people were injured, according to the office's latest report. The heavy rains also caused material damage including collapsed houses and flooded fields.

Heavy rains fell on Monday night and continued into the early hours of Tuesday morning in the region.

For its part, the authority for the protection against floods of the Antananarivo plain also issued on Tuesday a notice of threat of danger in the plain of Antananarivo crossed by the river Sisaony.

Madagascar is in the midst of rainy season that often results in casualties and widespread damage. 
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(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 18 - Italy sees the "irreplaceable" role of the European Parliament, President Sergio Mattarella said in a message to new EP President Roberta Metsola of Malta, who has replaced Italy's David Sassoli who died last week aged 65.

"Italy looks with unchanged trust to the central, irreplaceable role that the Strasbourg Assembly plays in the process of continental integration," Mattarella said in his message to the43-year-old European People's Party (EPP) MEP.

"The apex of European political debate, under your lead the parliament, I am certain, will continue to wotk so that the highest common ideals find concrete applications in the service of the EU's citizens.

"In this spirit, and in memory of the sadly missed president Sassoli, I renew my cordial congratulations and I wish you a happy birthday.".

Metsola was born on January 18, 1979. (ANSA).


BEIRUT - Some 14 people were reportedly killed on Tuesday by a Saudi airstrike on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, in the hands of the Houthi rebel group, several Arabic media reported.

The news could not be verified in an independent manner.

The news came after the airstrikes on the Iran-backed Houthis on oil facilities in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.

Three foreign workers were killed in the attack: two Indians and one Pakistani.

According to the Houthi-run television station Masira, the Tuesday morning bombing hit civilian homes in the capital.

Media reports state that a retired general of the Yemeni forces and his wife and child were among those killed.



(ANSAmed).


'Zaki and other prisoners of conscience' exhibition in Italy In Imola from 20/1 with Bergonzoni, Noury, and Santori

(ANSAmed) - BOLOGNA, JAN 18 - An exhibition entitled "Zaki and the Other Prisoners of Conscience' will be held in Piazza Matteotti in the town of Imola in northern Italy from Jan. 20 to Feb. 10.



At the inauguration on Jan. 21 - broadcast live on the Facebook page of the Imola municipality - will be the writer Alessandro Bergonzoni in videoconference in the presence of, among others, the head of the Italy branch of Amnesty International Riccardo Noury, Bologna university professor Rita Monticelli, and Mattia Santori, founder of the 6000sardine.



Monticelli is the professor of Patrick Zaki, an Egyptian doctoral researcher at Bologna University who spent 22 months in an Egyptian prison prior to being released last month, in part due to pressure from Italy. The travelling exhibition was initially established as part of the 30th birthday celebrations for the researcher in June under the porticos of Bologna, with banners showing the names and stories of 50 prisoners of conscience from 19 countries, with an aim of bringing the themes of freedom and justice into civil society locations outside of the most traditional governmental places and museums.



The exhibition focuses on men and women who are wrongfully detained or who are entirely unaware of the reasons for their detention.



The show began with 50 faces to bring together stories that would initially seem far from each other.



The list is updated monthly on the basis of the status of the prisoners.



A series of events will be held on the sidelines, including on Jan. 24 the initiative called "Draw those who disappear, Graphic Journalism" by Gianluca Costantini, who designed the banner for the Imola show as well. (ANSAmed).




US not supporting EastMed pipeline 'for economic reasons' Says Erdogan, 'Israeli gas in Europe only through Turkey

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JAN 18 - The US is not supporting the EastMed gas pipeline to bring energy from the eastern Mediterranean because it is not economically viable, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in speaking to journalists on a return flight from Albania to Turkey, according to the Anadolu news agency.



He was cited as saying that analyses had been done and that the US - which he said makes all decisions on the basis of capital - had found that it was not advantageous.



The EastMed gas pipeline "cannot be done without Turkey", he said, reiterating his position against the project, on which there is an agreement between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel even if it has not yet been realized.



According to Greek sources cited by Reuters last week, Washington has expressed reserves over the project for cost and environmental reasons.



The idea of infrastructure to bring has from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe has long annoyed Ankara, which claims the rights to some energy resources off the coast of Cyprus, the northern part of which only Turkey recognizes as an independent state.



According to the Turkish president, Ankara would be able to find an agreement with Israel to take gas to Europe through Turkey.



"The only way to transport (Israeli gas) to Europe is through Turkey, the Turkish president said, adding that "it is possible to sit down and discuss conditions at a table". (ANSAmed).




SYDNEY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ongoing volcanic upheavals are expected to follow the massive eruption off the coast of Tonga on Saturday, according to a leading Australian geologist.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano caused a tsunami to send water flooding into the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa, while large waves and tidal surges rolled across the Pacific region including the east coast of Australia, Japan and Hawaii.

Monash University's Associate Professor of Geochemistry Oliver Nebel told Xinhua on Monday that the disaster was caused by the volcano sitting near the edge of one of the Earth's tectonic plates.

Over time, a plate can "clash" with another, in this case causing an eruption along what is known as the "Ring of Fire" volcanoes, which are already explosive.

"The last eruption of this volcano was about a 1,000 years ago, so it was due for a large eruption, and this is likely what happened now," Nebel said.

Nebel said volcanic activity off the Tongan coast had been detected over the Christmas period which was a sign that pressure was building up along the vulnerable plate edges.

He said hot magma was constantly accumulating within volcanoes, and it is expected that they will create lots of ash and can have "a fair bit of a violent eruption."

Volcanoes build up those underground reservoirs and "every now and then this reservoir is emptied, and this causes an eruption."

"Once the magma is evacuated from underneath the volcano, it's likely that eruptions will go on and on. But once you have a violent eruption it's unlikely the next ones will be as disruptive because there's a good chance that a huge amount of the magma has already erupted."

But it is still "not a very predictable" process as to when it would explode, especially given the lack of data currently.

"At the moment, we actually do not have a lot of data. Most of the stations on the volcano would have been destroyed during the day. We have satellite data, but any sort of other measurement needs to be taken on site, which at the moment is not easy, basically impossible to travel there. Without data, it's really difficult to assess what sort of explosivity index can be assigned to the volcano or how much mess was in place."

Nebel said tsunamis were the biggest hazards of such underwater eruptions.

He said Saturday's disaster had been caused by the "displacement of water mass through injection of material from the deep Earth's interior into the ocean and the possible sinking of the volcano due to lava evacuation from underneath."

He also added that during the eruption, "lava burst into tiny particles that formed volcanic ash, and the interaction of lava with cold seawater likely intensified the plumes of ash."

"This ash is also causing a fair bit of air traffic disruption," he said. "The ash is actually tiny particles of rock, it's not like the ash out of a wood fire."

Nebel said the priority for authorities must now be to help those who have been hardest hit by the eruption.

One such priority will be restoring Tonga's undersea communications cable that was severed during the eruption. It is believed the repairs could take more time, which means the inhabitants of the island country are essentially cut off from communication with the outside world. 
Roberta Metsola elected EU parliament president To 'pay tribute to David and stand up for Europe'

(ANSAmed) - STRASBOURG, JAN 18 - The Maltese Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and member of the European People's Party Roberta Metsola was on Tuesday elected in the first round of voting as President of the European Parliament.



She received a total of 458 votes out of 690, with 74 ballots left blank.



"I have big shoes to fill and I will pay tribute to David and all those before him by always, always standing up for this house and for Europe," she said, referring to her recently deceased predecessor, David Sassoli.



She added that she wanted to restore confidence and enthusiasm in the European "project" and that she believed in a shared space that is more just and fair and that shows greater solidarity.



She stressed that disinformation in the pandemic period had fostered isolationism and nationalism, calling these ideas "false illusions" and saying that "Europe is the exact opposite of this".



Metsola added that was a "fighter for Europe" and that he "believed in the power of Europe. Thank you, David." She said that she felt honored to have been granted the responsibility of the position and vowed to do her best to work on behalf of all citizens.



Her election was greeted with lengthy applause as well as smiles and handshakes even before the official results of the voting were announced.



Metsola got 113 more votes than Sassoli had, who had been votedin only in a second round of voting.



Both the League party and the ECR political group backed her.



Metsola has become President of the European Parliament on her birthday: the Maltese politician, member of the Nationalist Party of the Mediterranean island, was born on January 18, 1979.



She is the youngest president of the Strasbourg assembly ever and the third woman to hold that position. (ANSAmed).




Saudi raid on Yemen capital kills 14 After Houthi rebel attack on Abu Dhabi

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, JAN 18 - Some 14 people were reportedly killed on Tuesday by a Saudi airstrike on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, in the hands of the Houthi rebel group, several Arabic media reported.



The news could not be verified in an independent manner.



The news came after the airstrikes on the Iran-backed Houthis on oil facilities in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.



Three foreign workers were killed in the attack: two Indians and one Pakistani.



According to the Houthi-run television station Masira, the Tuesday morning bombing hit civilian homes in the capital.



Media reports state that a retired general of the Yemeni forces and his wife and child were among those killed.



(ANSAmed).




Turkey rescues over 70 migrants in Aegean Sea Ankara claims Greece involved in pushbacks

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JAN 18 - The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 73 migrants over the night between Monday and Tuesday who had been attempting to reach Greek islands from the coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea.



Reports were the Anadolu news agency, which said that, in response to sightings of boats filled with migrants that were having difficulties at sea, 20 were rescued in Bodrum and another 25 in Marmaris.



In Balikesir, according to a statement issued by the Turkish Coast Guard, 28 migrants were rescued after an alleged pushback by the Greek Navy.



Ankara has consistently spoken out against this sort of behaviour by the Greek Coast Guard in the Aegean Sea, accusations that have always been denied by the Greek authorities.



Recently, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned the issue in a speech to the ambassadors of EU nations in Turkey, asking for greater support from Brussels for assistance to migrants and an updating of an agreement signed with the EU in 2016.



On the basis of that agreement, EU provides funds to Turkey for the management of refugees in its territory in exchange for a commitment by Turkey to stop migrants trying to cross illegally into Europe.



According to figures from the Turkish authorities, over five million refugees are in Turkey, including over 3.7 million Syrians and 500,00 from Afghanistan. (ANSAmed).




KABUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Taliban-led government has discussed land survey for a railway project among Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan at a cabinet meeting, the state-run news agency Bakhtar reported on Tuesday.

Acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund of the caretaker government chaired the cabinet meeting.

The report said the cabinet also directed the Economic Commission to evaluate the terms and conditions put forward by foreign companies that are willing to invest in the field of compressed natural gas.

In efforts to overcome the economic crisis in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led administration has encouraged Afghan and foreign investors to invest in mining and other pillar industries in the country. 
Comic Josh Widdicombe has told how he has never seen someone look more underwhelmed in his life than when he asked the Duchess of Cambridge to appear on his parenting podcast.

Father-of-two Widdicombe presents the hit series Parenting Hell with friend and fellow comedian Rob Beckett, in which they chat to celebrities about the trials and tribulations of modern-day parenthood.

Widdicombe encountered Kate at the Royal Variety Performance in November, and revealed his agent bet him 100 he would not ask the duchess to appear on his podcast.

You've got to shoot your shot!@joshwiddicombe reveals he asked Kate Middleton if she would appear on his podcast and it didn't go down too well! pic.twitter.com/ToJyM8Awm7  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) January 18, 2022

The duchess, mother to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, focuses her charity work on the early years of childhood and its crucial impact on outcomes in later life.

But Widdicombe told ITVs Good Morning Britain (GMB): She brings up parenting because its what I spoke about in the stand-up, and I was like, this is my chance. And I said, Wed love to have you on the podcast.

Ive never seen someone more underwhelmed at a question in my life. She moved very quickly on to the cast of Matilda, Ill tell you that for free.

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to a London nursery (Phil Harris/Daily Mirror/PA)

Asked by presenter Susanna Reid if Kate listened to the podcast, he replied: If she does, shes playing a very canny game of looking like she didnt know what I was talking about.

Kate has already made a parenting podcast debut, appearing on Happy Mum Happy Baby hosted by Giovanna Fletcher in 2020.

She confessed to struggling with mummy guilt and said she tried hypnobirthing when pregnant.
Five companies including Mastercard have been handed fines totalling more than 33 million for infringing competition law in relation to Britains prepaid cards market.

The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) said it had concluded that the companies infringed competition law by agreeing not to compete or poach each others customers.

Mastercard received the biggest fine among the five, of 31.56 million.

The prepaid cards were used by local authorities to distribute welfare payments to vulnerable members of society, such as the homeless, victims of domestic violence and asylum seekers, the PSR said.

Among the other companies, Prepaid Financial Services (PFS) was fined 916,746, allpay was fined 28,553, Advanced Payment Solutions (APS) was fined 755,419 and Sulion was fined 572.

Chris Hemsley, managing director of the PSR, said: This investigation and the significant fines we have imposed send a clear message that the PSR has zero tolerance for cartel behaviour.

We will intervene and enforce the law strictly to ensure there is effective competition in payments markets.

This case is particularly serious because the illegal cartel behaviour meant there was less competition and choice for local authorities. This means they may have missed out on cheaper or better quality products which were used by some of the most vulnerable in society.

The PSR found there were two market sharing cartels in the prepaid cards market in violation of the Competition Act 1998.

The first cartel involved all five parties and lasted from 2012 to 2018, although some parties participated in the infringement for a shorter period of time, the regulator said.

The first cartel developed against the backdrop of the national prepaid cards network, which brought together public sector bodies such as local authorities and housing associations that were potentially interested in prepaid cards. Mastercard sponsored and, other than for a short period in 2016, wholly funded the network, the PSR said.

The second cartel involved APS and PFS and lasted between 2014 and 2016.

It involved an arrangement between APS and PFS not to target each others public sector customers when a contract was up for renewal, including through a public tender, the regulator said.

The PSR announced its provisional findings in March 2021 and it said the companies were handed reduced fines as settling parties.

Mastercard, allpay and PFS settled the investigation with the PSR before the issuing of the statement of objections, which contained the provisional findings. The other two, APS and Sulion, agreed to settle after that.
A British technology tycoon facing extradition to the United States after being accused of fraud has begun the latest stage of a legal battle.

Mike Lynch has mounted a High Court challenge to a decision made by a judge during extradition proceedings.

A High Court judge is considering the argument at a hearing in London.

Mr Justice Swift heard how, in July, a judge at Westminster Magistrates Court rejected various challenges Mr Lynch had made to extradition and said Home Secretary Priti Patel could decide whether he should be extradited.

Ms Patel subsequently asked District Judge Michael Snow if she could have until March 2022 to make the decision.

Judge Snow refused her application and said she should make a decision before Christmas.

Mr Lynch has challenged that ruling by Judge Snow and wants a High Court judge to overturn it.

Alex Bailin QC, who is leading Mr Lynchs legal team, told Mr Justice Swift that Judge Snows decision was irrational.

US authorities have accused Mr Lynch of being involved in a multibillion-dollar fraud in America over the sale of his software company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for 11 billion dollars (8.5 billion), which resulted in colossal financial losses for the US firm.

They claim that he deliberately overstated the value of his business, which specialised in software to sort through large data sets.

Mr Lynch denies all charges against him.

Ms Patel wants to consider another judges ruling, in a separate High Court case involving Mr Lynch, before making an extradition decision.

Lawyers told Mr Justice Swift how that ruling  by Mr Justice Hildyard  was imminent.

Mr Justice Hildyard began overseeing a High Court trial in London more than two years ago.

Hewlett-Packard sued Mr Lynch, and Autonomys former chief financial officer Sushovan Hussain, for around five billion dollars (3.8 billion) over its purchase of Autonomy in 2011.

The technology giant claimed Mr Lynch committed a deliberate fraud over a sustained period of time to artificially inflate Autonomys value, which it says forced it to announce an 8.8 billion dollar (6.7 billion) write-down of the firms worth just over a year after its acquisition.

Mr Lynch argued Hewlett-Packard was trying to make him a scapegoat for their failures.

Mr Bailin told Mr Justice Swift that the issue was significant.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department wishes to consider a very important civil judgment which is due imminently, he said.

She wants to consider that, when decided, whether or not to extradite the claimant.

The civil judgment relates to the very same fraud allegations as are in the US case.

He said Judge Snows ruling was unlawful in public law terms and irrational.

Mr Bailin said lawyers representing the US government opposed Mr Lynchs claim.

He told Mr Justice Swift: The Secretary of State must be master of her own domain.

In my submission, what the judge did was to encroach on her territory.

He said the US Government argued that the likely delay was disproportionate to any conceivable relevance the civil court judgment could have.

Mark Summers QC, who led the US government legal team, said there had historically been problems with delays to extradition.

He said the statutory perspective meant a home secretary was constrained by time.

Mr Summers said Judge Snow was entitled to question the reasoning behind any delay sought.

He said the evidence in the civil case had been concluded two years ago and had not led to US authorities bringing further charges.

Mr Summers said Judge Snows decision was entirely correct.

The judges decision was sound, he told Mr Justice Swift. It was right.

It cannot be vitiated by any conceivable public law error.

Mr Justice Swift said he would deliver a ruling on a date to be fixed.
Universals romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise has halted filming in Australia due to a serious COVID outbreak in Queensland state, according to sources close to the movie. Because of the production pause, stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts have reportedly flown back to the United States.

Ticket to Paradise began production last year in multiple locations in Queensland and had been only two weeks from completion. Local reports say the film will be shut down for three months, but its not clear exactly when cameras will be able to roll again.

Directed by Ol Parker of Mamma Mia fame, Ticket to Paradise follows two divorced parents who rush to Bali to stop their teenage daughter from rushing into an unwise marriage, like their own. The production would make use of the Whitsunday Islands, standing in for Bali, while other locations would include Brisbane and the nearby Gold Coast.

Daily Mail Australia, which first reported the story, said Clooney had shaved off the beard that he had grown specially for the movie, departed on a flight for Honolulu and later caught another plane to California.

Universal had initially scheduled Ticket to Paradise to release in theaters on Sept. 30, 2022, but the studio has since moved it to Oct. 21, 2022. However, a three-month production halt could put the new date in doubt.

Ticket to Paradise is produced through the United Kingdom-based company Working Title, Roberts Red Om Films and Clooneys Smokehouse Pictures. It is financed with support from the Australian Federal Government, Screen Queenslands Production Attraction Strategy and the City of Gold Coast.

At the time the state financing and Queensland locations were announced in March last year, international film and TV production was booming in Australia. The country had been quick to put in place financial and workplace measures that allowed the screen production industry to get back on its feet. Strict border controls had also kept at bay the earlier variants of the coronavirus.

Now, however, the easily transmissible omicron variant has caused case numbers in Australia to spike upwards again, though the impact varies from state to state. Queensland reopened its internal borders in mid-December, a move which was followed by a sharp increase in infections.

Authorities on Tuesday reported the states highest level of fatalities in the omicron wave, with 16 deaths and nearly 16,000 new cases. But with high levels of vaccination (more than 88% of the states over-16 population have received two shots) local health officials are reporting low numbers of hospitalizations. Experts have forecasted the wave will peak by the end of January.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday he will not run for governor, but will instead devote himself to fighting inequality in New York.

His decision to not enter the Democratic primary further strengthens the campaign of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who already has a commanding start locking up endorsements and fundraising.

No, I not going to to be running for governor of New York state. But I am going to devote every fiber of my being to fight inequality in the state of New York," the former mayor said in a video posted on Twitter.

De Blasio did not offer more detail about how he plans to fight inequality.

De Blasio, who left office at the end of 2021, had been hinting for months about a 2022 run for governor, saying he would like to stay in public service and is proud of his eight years as mayor of the largest city in the country.

De Blasio, 60, frequently clashed with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from office in 2021 amid allegations he sexually harassed numerous women.

Hochul, who was Cuomos lieutenant governor and became the first woman to serve as New York's governor when she took over for Cuomo in August, faces two main challengers in the Democratic primary. Jumaane Williams, who serves as a citizen ombudsman in his elected office of New York City Public Advocate, is also in the primary race, as is U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who represents Long Island and has touted his work to get Congress to raise a tax deduction cap that benefits a high-tax state like New York.

State Attorney General Letitia James, who investigated the allegations against Cuomo, dropped out after a short-lived bid and opted to instead run for reelection.

De Blasio  and Williams  would have counted on a base of voter support in Brooklyn, but Hochul has been making frequent trips to New York City and hobnobbing with Brooklyn Democrats, in particular, to shore up support. The Buffalo native had won endorsements from key figures in de Blasio's turf, like the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party and the Manhattan borough president.

De Blasio had been eyeing a campaign for months. He filed paperwork in early November with the state Board of Elections to create a fundraising committee  New Yorkers for a Fair Future  to allow him to raise money for a statewide campaign. In November, he unveiled a campaign-style statewide education plan calling for universal pre-K and 3-K, and stayed coy in a series of interviews as to whether he intended to run.

In 2013, de Blasio became the first Democrat to serve as New York City mayor since 1993 in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7 to 1. He came into office with a liberal agenda but struggled with unsparing and mocking tabloid headlines during his time running the nations largest city.

De Blasio, who was born in Manhattan and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, launched a short-lived presidential campaign in 2019, when he kicked off his first day as a candidate by trading insults with Trump. But he faced pushback from skeptical New Yorkers over his bid, punctuated by him failing to qualify for several debates, flubbing a campaign appearance in Miami by quoting Che Guevara and a technical glitch that distorted his voice when speaking to union workers in Iowa via videoconference.

Before serving as mayor, de Blasio was both a public advocate and a city council member. He worked on the 1989 mayoral campaign for David Dinkins, New York City's first Black mayor, and later served in Dinkins' administration. He also managed Hillary Clintons 2000 Senate campaign in New York, worked in former President Bill Clinton's administration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and managed New York operations for the then-president's 1996 reelection campaign.
Joss Whedon at the premiere for "Bad Times At The El Royale" in 2018. (Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA via Associated Press)

Given the opportunity to answer allegations of grievous misbehavior  including claims of sexist remarks and racist actions  on his sets, Joss Whedon copped to affairs (saying he "had" to have them) and situations he "should have handled better" in his personal life but disputed claims from the likes of actors Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher and others. He dismissed Fisher's complaints as those of a "bad actor." In Gadot's case, he suggested the Israeli actor had misunderstood him because "English is not her first language."

In an extensive New York magazine profile by Lila Shapiro, Whedon offered his first detailed public responses to the negative reports, which began arising in the summer of 2020 and have encompassed not just the disastrous "Justice League" film but also "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the television show that made his fame.

Ray Fisher, whose "Justice League" role as the superhero Cyborg was drastically reduced when the film's director reins went from Zack Snyder to Whedon, has made multiple public statements accusing the writer-director of "abusive, unprofessional" actions on set. In one tweet, he wrote the director's "on-set treatment of the cast and crew of Justice League was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable."

Among Fisher's claims are that the erasure of people of color from the 2017 theatrical version of 'Justice League' was neither an accident nor coincidence, as he told Forbes in an October 2020 interview. Several actors of color (including Harry Lennix, Joe Morton, Karen Bryson, Zheng Kai and Kiersey Clemons) did see their roles reduced or removed altogether from Whedon's version of "Justice League" when compared to the "Snyder Cut," though it's unclear how much those parts would have survived in a theatrical cut of standard length (the "Snyder Cut" is more than four hours long).

Fisher also told Forbes, "Race was just one of the issues with the reshoot process. There were massive blowups, threats, coercion, taunting, unsafe work conditions, belittling, and gaslighting like you wouldnt believe."

In the New York profile that published on Vulture.com on Monday, Whedon dismissed Fisher's claims, saying he made the changes because the storyline featuring Cyborg (who was perhaps the central character in the "Snyder Cut") didn't work  and that he did not think Fisher had delivered a good performance. Were talking about a malevolent force, Whedon is quoted as saying in the New York article. Were talking about a bad actor in both senses.

"Aquaman" star Jason Momoa, however, has backed Fisher, including in a September 2020 Instagram post that reads, in part, "Serious stuff went down. It needs to be investigated and people need to be held accountable. #IStandWithRayFisher. aloha j."

Gadot, who has played Wonder Woman in several DC movies, told Israeli outlet N12 that Whedon kind of threatened my career and said if I did something, he would make my career miserable ... I was shaking trees as soon as it happened. And I must say that the heads of Warner Bros., they took care of it  . Going back to the sense of righteousness that I have  I just did what I felt like I had to do. And it was to tell people that its not OK.

The New York profile quotes Whedon's response to the claim: "'I dont threaten people. Who does that?' He concluded she had misunderstood him. 'English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech.' He recalled arguing over a scene she wanted to cut. He told her jokingly that if she wanted to get rid of it, she would have to tie him to a railroad track and do it over his dead body. 'Then I was told that I had said something about her dead body and tying her to the railroad track,' he said. (Gadot did not agree with Whedons version of events. 'I understood perfectly,' she told New York in an email.)"

The profile didn't specify which scene was at issue, but there have been reports that Gadot refused to shoot a sexual gag in which the Flash (Ezra Miller) lands on her body suggestively; in the finished product, Wonder Woman's face is not visible in that moment, possibly lending credence to reports Whedon resorted to a body double to get the shot.

The New York profile writer addressed Whedons claim that he doesnt threaten people: "An actress on 'Angel' told me that hadnt been true back when she knew him. After her agent pushed for her to get a raise, she claims Whedon called her at home and said she was 'never going to work for him, or 20th Century Fox, again.' Reading Gadots quote, she thought, 'Wow, hes still using that line.' (Whedon denied this too.)"

In the wake of these accusations, "Buffy" castmates publicly condemned their former boss. Michelle Trachtenberg, who joined the show's cast at 16, said there was a "rule" that he couldn't be alone with her. Trachtenberg wrote on Instagram in a post early last year, "I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman. Because. This must. Be known ... As a teenager. With his not appropriate behavior....very. Not. Appropriate. So now. People know. What Joss. Did. ... The last. Comment I will make on this. Was. There was a rule. Saying. Hes not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again."

Whedon says in the profile he knew nothing of this; an unnamed castmate quoted in the article backs Trachtenberg's account but leaves open the possibility it may have been an informal rule of which Whedon himself was not aware.

In the New York piece, Whedon denies many of the charges, though the profile includes quotes from numerous people involved with the show corroborating some reports and making new accusations. One woman described as "a high-level member of the 'Buffy' production team" claims Whedon and an actress engaged in romantic activity in her office while she was working, prompting her to leave the production: "They were rolling around on the floor, making out," says the profile. The woman is quoted as saying, "They would bang into my chair ... . These actions proved they had no respect for me and my work."

While Whedon denied the "rolling on the floor" incident, he said of his now-documented affairs on the set of "Buffy" (while he was married), I feel fing terrible about them ... it messes up the power dynamic." The New York piece continues: "... he quickly added that he had felt he 'had' to sleep with them, that he was 'powerless' to resist. ... He had been surrounded by beautiful young women  the sort of women who had ignored him when he was younger  and he feared if he didnt have sex with them, he would 'always regret it.'"

The New York profile is packed with disturbing accounts by women  some two decades or more younger than he  who'd had relationships with Whedon, describing manipulation and seemingly deliberate cruelty. To more than one of these accounts, his responses in the article were that he "should have handled the situation better" or similar variations.

Whedon told the magazine, "Could I have done marriage better? Dont get me started. Could I have been a better showrunner? Absolutely. Should I have been nicer? Writer Shapiro describes him considering the question, then wondering if the problem had to do with being too nice. He decries the phenomenon of people using every weaponizable word of the modern era to make it seem like I was an abusive monster, he said. I think Im one of the nicer showrunners thats ever been.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on Sunday, the day after four men were held hostage in the synagogue. (Brandon Wade / Associated Press)

On Saturday, an armed 44-year-old British man, a Muslim, stormed into Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, and demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani serving an 86-year sentence in a nearby federal prison on terrorism-related charges.

We dont know everything there is to know about the four people whom Malik Faisal Akram held hostage. But I am certain the 11-hour ordeal  which ended with the hostages safe and Akram dead  left them terrified.

And I can also promise you this: Not one of those four hostages had anything to do with Siddiqui.

Siddiqui was tried and convicted for grabbing a carbine and shooting at U.S. service members while under arrest in Afghanistan in 2008. Considering why a British Muslim might threaten the lives of four Texas Jews in 2022 for the actions of a Pakistani in Afghanistan in 2008 tells you a lot about the poisonous reach of antisemitic conspiracy theories and the need to call out and stop them.

Karachi-born Siddiqui, 49, came from an educated, devout Muslim family. She won entrance to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and, in 1995, went on to obtain an advanced degree in cognitive neuroscience at Brandeis University, a nondenominational liberal arts college founded in 1948 by the Jewish community where 44% of undergraduates identify as Jewish.

At Brandeis, Siddiqui brought her religion into her scientific work, concerning her professors. After the 9/11 attacks, she left the U.S. for Pakistan and Afghanistan. By then, she reportedly had already come to the attention of U.S. authorities.

In 2008, Afghanistan police arrested her. She was carrying documents on making explosives, along with descriptions of the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and other New York City landmarks. During an interrogation, Siddiqui grabbed a rifle and shot at her captors and questioners.

Before her 2009 trial for the shooting, Siddiqui tried to dismiss her lawyers because of their Jewish background and demanded that prospective jurors undergo DNA testing to determine if they had Jewish genes.

Study the history of the Jews, she wrote in a plea to then-President Obama. They have always back-stabbed everyone who has taken pity on them and made the fatal error of giving them shelter. She added: This why holocausts keep happening to them repeatedly! If they would only learn to be grateful and change their behavior!!

A defense psychologist claimed that Siddiquis antisemitism was proof of her delusion.

Her beliefs that Israel, the United States and India are conspiring to invade Pakistan, that Jews are responsible for 9/11 and have infiltrated American political and nongovernmental organizations said the psychologist, Thomas Kucharski, indicated that she was not fit to stand trial.

But in truth, antisemitic conspiracy theories dominate Pakistani textbooks, media and government. Why would Siddiqui believe anything else?

In May, Pakistans top diplomat invoked the myth of global Jewish financial and media control on CNN. He told a CNN anchor that Israel was losing the media war over its policies in Gaza, despite their connections.

What are their connections? he was asked.

Deep pockets. ... They are very influential people. I mean, they control media.

When an FBI spokesman said after the hostage-taking in Texas that the standoff was "not specifically related to Jewish community  a statement that made headlines and deeply upset many Jews  it was both right and wrong. The Jews have nothing to do with Siddiqui, but in minds twisted by antisemitic hate, they have everything to do with her. Once again, Jews became the real-life victims based on utter fictions.

Those fictions are particularly dangerous when they swirl about in unstable minds. The brother of Akram, the hostage-taker, claimed he had mental health issues, and Siddiqui's lawyer once describer her as in "total psychic pain." That may explain their actions, but it doesnt explain the regurgitation of these theories, in some form or other, by those who can make no such excuses.

Crackpot theories about Jews abound in the Muslim world and in the darker corners of the non-Muslim world as well.

We blame the Jews for everything, an Egyptian journalist once told me. Its like a joke.

Antisemitic rants can seem like a joke. Who can take seriously Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes tweet about Jewish space lasers causing California wildfires, or a Utah tech CEOs email that Jews developed the COVID-19 vaccines to kill billions of people?

But when synagogues are attacked, it's clear these jokes arent funny. The man who opened fire and killed a woman in a Poway, Calif., synagogue in 2019 and the white supremacist who killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue six months earlier both believed the antisemitic claptrap they read online.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! tweeted Abdullah T. Antepli, a public policy and divinity school professor at Duke University, and Dukes former Muslim chaplain, in a much-circulated thread over the weekend. Yes, we Muslims living North America undeniably have an increasing anti-Semitism problem and seemingly we have yet to even begin to address the issue honestly, morally and accurately.

We MUST! Without ands and buts, without any further denial, dismissal and or trivializing of the issues. We need to honestly discuss the increasing anti-Semitism within various Muslim communities.

Somebody might think that theyre just making a comment or just making a joke, Congregation Beth Israel's Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, one of the hostages in Colleyville, told a reporter. Unfortunately, someone, somewhere, is going to take that hatred, and theyre going to go to a dangerous place with it.

Sorry to say, the rabbi knows what hes talking about.

Rob Eshman is the national editor of the Forward and writes its weekly "Letter from California."





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Fourth-term state Rep. Emilia Sykes said Tuesday that shes running for Congress, setting up a likely faceoff in a potentially newly competitive northeast Ohio district against Trump-backed Republican Max Miller.

I've got some big news I'm running for Congress!!, the 35-year-old Democrat from Akron tweeted.

Sykes' announcement comes while Ohio's congressional map remains in limbo, with the lines of her specific district  the 13th  uncertain. That's after the Ohio Supreme Court invalidated a Republican-drawn version of the map Friday.

Sykes positioned herself for the run when she stepped down in December after three years as leader of the Ohio House Democratic caucus. During her Statehouse tenure, Sykes has often been mentioned as a possible candidate for higher office.

The Sykes name is well-known in Akron, where either Emilia; her mother, Barbara Sykes; or her father, Democratic state Sen. Vernon Sykes has held the same House seat since Vernon Sykes first won it in 1983. Barbara Sykes now serves as president and CEO of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation.

Miller, 32, who served as both a campaign and White House aide to former President Donald Trump, has a significant head start on Sykes and had raised $1.6 million as of September.

He launched his campaign against incumbent U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez in February 2021, shortly after Gonzalez joined nine other Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Miller was among 10 former Trump aides subpoenaed in December by the House committee investigating the uprising.

Gonzalez dropped out of the running in September, citing the toxic dynamics inside the Republican party. That would have left Miller a strong favorite in Gonzalezs heavily Republican district. Under the new map, however, Miller was running  at least before the map was tossed Friday  in a 13th Congressional District that includes Akron, the liberal city where Sykes was born and raised.

Both Sykes and her father were members of the panel that created Ohios new congressional map, making the Akron-area district lean very slightly Democratic, one of only three out of 15 to do so. Neither voted for the map, which passed along party lines.

Though Sykes legislative service came during a time of strong Republican majorities at the Statehouse, she touts her successes on bipartisan priorities such as job creation, infrastructure investment, the fight against infant mortality and public health.

One of the early bills she co-sponsored, expanding the law governing domestic violence civil protection orders, became House Bill 1, the chambers top priority, and passed unanimously.

Sykes worked previously as a staff adviser in the Summit County Fiscal Office and as a law clerk to a federal bankruptcy judge. She is a graduate of Kent State University and the University of Florida, where she earned a masters in public health and a law degree.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Facing stark criticism from civil rights leaders, senators return to Capitol Hill under intense pressure to change their rules and break a Republican filibuster that has hopelessly stalled voting legislation.

The Senate is set to launch debate Tuesday on the voting bill with attention focused intently on two pivotal Democrats  Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia  who were singled out with a barrage of criticism during Martin Luther King Jr. Day events for their refusal to change what civil rights leaders call the Jim Crow filibuster.

Martin Luther King III, the son of the late civil rights leader, compared Sinema and Manchin to the white moderate his father wrote about during the civil rights battles of the 1950s and 1960s  a person who declared support for the goals of Black voting rights but not the direct actions or demonstrations that ultimately led to passage of the landmark legislation.

History will not remember them kindly, the younger King said, referring to Sinema and Manchin by name.

This will be the fifth time the Senate will try to pass voting legislation this Congress, as elections officials warn that new state laws are making it more difficult to vote in some parts of the country.

The House has passed the package, but the legislation is stalled in the Senate, opposed by Republicans. With a 50-50 split, Democrats have a narrow Senate majority  Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie  but they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the GOP filibuster.

Martin Luther King III speaks during a news conference in Washington. (AP)

Once reluctant to change Senate rules, President Joe Biden used the King holiday to pressure senators to do just that. But the push from the White House, including Biden's blistering speech last week in Atlanta comparing opponents to segregationists, is seen as too late, coming as the president ends his first year in office with his popularity sagging.

Its time for every elected official in America to make it clear where they stand, Biden said on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Its time for every American to stand up. Speak out, be heard. Where do you stand?

The Senate is launching what could become a weeklong debate, but the outcome is expected to be no different than past failed votes on the legislation. Biden has been unable to persuade Sinema and Manchin to join other Democrats in changing the rules to lower the 60-vote threshold. In fact, Sinema upstaged the president last week, reiterating her opposition to the rules changes just before Biden arrived on Capitol Hill to court senators votes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had shelved a promised Monday rules change vote that would have been linked to the King holiday. But he is pressing ahead Tuesday as advocates push to put senators on record, despite the expectation that no bill will pass by week's end.

Senators have been working nonstop for weeks on rules changes that could win support from Sinema and Manchin, only to see their efforts repeatedly dashed. The two senators, both moderates, have expressed openness to discussing the ideas, but have not given them their backing.

Sen. Joe Manchin walks with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema after attending a Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

Both Manchin and Sinema have argued that preserving the Senate filibuster rules as they are, at the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation, is important for fostering bipartisanship. They also warn of what would happen if Republicans win back majority control, as is distinctly possible this election year, and could easily pass GOP-backed bills.

Sinema came under particularly fierce criticism on social media for invoking King as well as the late Rep. John Lewis, whose name is on the legislation, despite her refusal to change the rules.

Blame also fell to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is leading his party against the voting legislation. The Kentucky Republican has argued the legislation is a federal overreach into state-run elections, and he harshly criticized Biden's speech last week as unpresidential.

Civil rights leaders have implored the Senate to act swiftly, as states are passing laws that many argue will make it more difficult for Black Americans and others to vote by consolidating polling locations, refusing to allow water distribution in long lines and requiring certain types of identification.

We cannot think of a time more defining to the American story than the chapter you are presently writing, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson wrote in an open letter to the Senate.

What country will your children and grandchildren be left with, given the relentless assaults on American freedom and democracy?

The voting bill was the Democrats' top priority this Congress

Manchin spokeswoman Sam Runyon said in a statement late Monday: Senator Manchin believes strongly that every American citizen of legal age has not only the right, but also the responsibility to vote and that right must be protected by law. He continues to work on legislation to protect this right.

Sinema's office did not respond to a request for comment.

The voting bill was the Democrats' top priority this Congress, and the House swiftly approved H.R. 1 only to see it languish in the Senate.

Now called the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, the package before the Senate includes some of the most sweeping changes to elections in a generation, including making Election Day a national holiday and requiring access to early voting and mail-in ballots that became overwhelmingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The package is coupled with the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act, which would require voting protections that had been stripped by the Supreme Court and would again allow Justice Department scrutiny of states with a pattern of elections violations.
Rue Saint-Honore in the Afternoon, Effect of Rain, an 1897 painting by Impressionist Camille Pissarro, is now hanging in a Spanish museum. (Getty Images)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a last-chance appeal from a Jewish family in California seeking to recover an Impressionist masterpiece that was seized by the Nazis in 1939 and has been on display in a Spanish museum since 1993.

At issue now after years of litigation, most of it in a Los Angeles court, is whether the dispute should be resolved under the law of California, where the family sued, or the law of Spain, where the painting was sold and displayed.

Under California law, "thieves cannot pass good title to anyone, including a good faith purchaser," lawyers for David Cassirer and the Jewish Federation of San Diego County said in their appeal.

During Tuesday's arguments, several justices said they agreed that a suit like this, filed in California, should be decided under California law.

"Welcome to the United States. That's how our courts work," said Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

Last year, however, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a federal judge in Los Angeles that the painting of a Paris street scene by Camille Pissarro should remain with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection at a state-owned museum in Madrid. The judges did so by applying Spanish law.

The painting had been brought to the U.S. illegally after the war, and it was sold by a Beverly Hills gallery in 1951. The Stephen Hahn Gallery in New York arranged for its sale in 1976 to Baron Hans Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza, a Swiss art collector and the heir to a German steel empire. In 1993, he sold his collection of more than 775 paintings for $340 million to Spain, where they would be exhibited at a new museum in Madrid. The art works were displayed publicly for more than six years, a key issue under Spanish law.

But all the while, Claude Cassirer had been searching for the lost painting that hung on the wall of his grandmother Lilly's apartment in Berlin. She turned over the painting to a Nazi official in 1939 to obtain a visa out of Germany. Separately, her grandson escaped to Britain and then to Cleveland after the war.

When Lilly Cassirer died, she left the rights to the painting to Claude. In a house outside San Diego, where Claude and his wife had retired, the couple kept a copy of the lost Pissarro on the wall.

Then, in 2000, Cassirer received a phone call from an old acquaintance: The painting had been found. I was in shock, he told The Times in 2010.

After being rebuffed by the Spanish government, he filed suit in 2005 in a federal court in Los Angeles seeking to recover the painting, now valued at $30 million.

The state-owned museum sought to have the suit thrown out based on the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, which usually protects foreign governments from being sued. But the museum lost in the first round of litigation because the law has an "expropriation exception" for property confiscated in violation of international law.

In the next phase, U.S. District Judge John Walter applied Spanish law and said the museum had openly purchased the paintings and put them them on display in public.

While the baron had "reasons for suspicion" that the painting may have been stolen and the museum "may have been irresponsible" in failing to investigate its history, Walter said neither had "actual knowledge" that the painting had been essentially stolen by the Nazis.

The judge's ruling, affirmed by the 9th Circuit Court, would have ended the case, but for the Supreme Court's intervention in September.

If the justices reverse the 9th Circuit Court, which appeared likely during the argument, the case will go back to a judge in Los Angeles, with the outcome still uncertain.

It may be several months before the court hands down a decision in Cassirer vs. Thyssen-Bornemisz Collection Foundation.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
JAKARTA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday asked his people to reduce mobility, avoid crowds and work from home whenever possible as the country is struggling with a possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered by the Omicron variant.

"If you don't have any urgent needs, you should reduce activities in crowded places, and for those who can work from home, do work from home," Widodo said.

The president also asked people not to go abroad if it was not urgent, follow health protocols and immediately reach out for COVID-19 vaccination.

Various studies, including those from the World Health Organization, showed that the Omicron variant is more contagious with milder symptoms, but people should still be wary of it, Widodo said.

As of Tuesday, the country recorded 840 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, including 174 local transmissions.

The majority of the Omicron cases were imported cases brought by international travelers returning from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United States, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.

On Tuesday, Indonesia confirmed a total of 1,362 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day rise since October last year, amid the spread of the Omicron variant in the archipelago.

With the increase, the country's tally of infections rose to 4,273,783, the Health Ministry said.

In the past 24 hours, the death toll from COVID-19 in the country rose by nine to 144,183, while 564 more people recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 4,120,036.

As the Indonesian government is accelerating its national vaccination programs, more than 177.25 million people have received their first doses of vaccines, while over 120.62 million have taken the second doses.

Indonesia started mass COVID-19 vaccinations in January last year after the authorities approved the emergency use of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine.

Aiming to fully vaccinate 208.2 million people in the country, the Indonesian government has administered over 299.22 million doses, including the third booster jabs. 
MIAMI  When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis went on a top political podcast last week, he panned the Covid lockdowns former President Donald Trump encouraged early in the coronavirus pandemic.

The remarks made for irresistible headlines  the two GOP heavyweights and possible 2024 contenders were feuding. Just days before, Trump had appeared to take a swipe at DeSantis, calling politicians who have refused to reveal their vaccination status gutless.

Both camps have denied any real friction, and they blamed the media for overhyping tensions, but Trump advisers say they see a hidden hand at play: that of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is in a pitched battle with Trump over the future of the Republican Party in political races all over the country.

They pointed to the podcast itself, because DeSantis made the attention-grabbing remarks on Ruthless, which is co-hosted by McConnells longtime adviser Josh Holmes. Shortly after the podcast was posted Friday, Twitter was flooded with the suggestion that DeSantis had knocked Trump by saying one of his biggest regrets was not having been louder about the harms of the lockdowns intended to help slow the spread of the virus.

To many in Trumps camp, it all looked like a setup.

I like Josh. Josh is great. But hes a wholly owned subsidiary of McConnell World. And theres no way you can tell me that this was all a coincidence, a top Trump adviser said, echoing four others who spoke on condition of anonymity because they didnt have authorization to speak publicly about private discussions in his political shop.

Also, DeSantis and his staff knew what they were doing. How many Florida general election voters are listening to the Ruthless podcast? the adviser asked in an interview. Now, that said, they might have been hoping for more out of Ron, because, lets face it, he didnt really criticize Trump. But they knew the media would instantly jump on it and wish-cast it into existence."

The adviser said McConnell clearly sees DeSantis as a lesser of two evils and a way to annoy Trump.

Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Mark Wallheiser)

Holmes, who said he didnt want to get into a dispute over the interview, vehemently denied any ill intent toward Trump or any coordination with McConnell. He declined to comment further beyond denying the speculation about McConnells involvement, laughing it off as insane.

A Republican operative scoffed at the notion that McConnell, who has said publicly that he would absolutely support Trump if he were to win the 2024 Republican nomination, is plotting to subvert his chances.

Im sure Josh Holmes would like you to believe that Mitch McConnell is behind the scenes, moving pieces against Trump, said Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican strategist. But I dont think thats it. I think that McConnell is wholly owned by Trump.

McConnells Senate spokesman declined to comment, directing questions to John Ashbrook, who speaks for him on matters of electoral politics and is Holmes business partner. In a brief message, Ashbrook indicated that McConnell wouldnt respond to background sniping.

But theres no dispute that Trump and McConnell have refused to speak to each other since a mob of Trumps supporters rioted in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to stop the counting of the electoral votes confirming President Joe Bidens victory over Trump. McConnell criticized Trump for lying about his loss, and Trump has repeatedly called McConnell an old crow and a fake Republican while urging GOP senators to oust him as leader.

Trump is backing a slate of Republican senatorial candidate across the country this year. In Alaska, the Trump-backed candidate Kelly Tshibaka, who is challenging Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an ally of McConnell, has pledged not to support McConnell for his leadership post. Trump is also pressuring candidates from Nevada to Alabama to North Carolina to do the same.

In Arizona, McConnell is striking back by trying to recruit Gov. Doug Ducey  a Trump foe  to run for the Senate. Trump has pledged never to back Ducey after he refused to help him overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state.

McConnell asked me to push on Ducey when I talked to him a month ago when I was in D.C., said Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor. He added that he has texted Ducey since then but not made a pitch in person.

John McLaughlin, who polls for Trump, said: The Senate leaders poll numbers arent as strong as President Trumps. What McConnell can do is direct money and resources to candidates from Washington. Thats about it.

McConnell is also an ally of and a contributor to the campaign of Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, whom Trump has targeted after she voted to impeach him in response to the Jan. 6 riot. She faces a primary challenger.

In Florida, DeSantis is running for his second and final term this year, not for the Senate  a point Trump backers are quick to note.

Everything I hear is that the governor is focused on re-election, McLaughlin said. He added: Trump would crush the field if anyone wanted to run against him in the 2024 Republican primary. And most say they wont.

But its the speculation about DeSantis potential plans for 2024 that has put him at cross-purposes with Trump  and which may have him caught him in the crossfire between Trump and McConnell. As one of the most outspoken and high-profile governors resisting Covid lockdowns and mandates, DeSantis has steadily risen as a national figure in GOP politics and is polling as a Republican primary front-runner for president in 2024 if Trump doesnt run himself.

There are stories out now about Trump and DeSantis snapping towels at each other, said John Bolton, who was national security adviser in the Trump White House, because Trump can see the same thing that everyone else can: DeSantis is getting ready [to run] no matter what Trump does.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. (Reuters)

The Republican love for DeSantis and the favorable coverage he has earned in conservative media circles have irked Trump for months, insiders say, as has DeSantis refusal to say publicly that he wouldnt run against Trump for president. Trump is fond of noting that he made DeSantis in 2018 by endorsing him when he was little-known member of Congress, which enabled him to win the GOP gubernatorial primary against a better-known and better-funded rival.

And when Trump swiped at gutless politicians last week, it looked like a defining moment in Republican politics and a perfect topic to address on the Ruthless podcast when DeSantis recorded it Thursday evening with Holmes in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Ruthless is consistently one of the most popular political podcasts in the country, and while its unabashedly pro-Republican, its not a pro-McConnell mouthpiece, nor is it remotely anti-Trump.

Of the 107 top conservatives interviewed on the show, McConnell has been on just once. Holmes, one of the early Republican voices to identify DeSantis as a top-tier Republican candidate for president if Trump didnt run in 2024, asked DeSantis an open-ended question about whether there was any animosity between him and Trump.

DeSantis said no and blamed the media.

I think this is what the media does, he said. You cannot fall for the bait. ... You know what theyre trying to do, so just dont take it. Just keep on keeping on.

Moments later, Holmes's co-host asked DeSantis about his regrets, prompting him to mention that he believes he should have more vocally opposed the Covid lockdowns in the spring of 2020 and should have opposed travel restrictions, which he had embraced. DeSantis criticized the governments top infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, by name  not Trump.

The comments were almost identical to remarks DeSantis had made months before, but the reaction from insiders and the media appeared to lend credence to the idea that DeSantis was gunning for Trump.

Even some allies of both men thought DeSantis was taking on Trump, his former benefactor.

DeSantis doing a Josh Holmes podcast to thump Trump is not what I had on my bingo card, said a Republican who spoke anonymously to avoid criticism. This is a thing.

A top Trump adviser noted the difference between DeSantis posture toward Trump today and his attitude in 2018, when he released an ad poking fun at himself for being so unabashedly pro-Trump.

DeSantis is definitely asserting his independence, the adviser said. And yeah, its hard not to see the hand of McConnell in all this. Who benefits from a Trump-DeSantis feud? The Democrats. The media. And McConnell.

Said a third: There are no coincidences.

But a former Trump adviser said the former president is hypersensitive about the governor for a simple reason.

I dont think he likes people being more popular than him, the former adviser said.
Vaccination against COVID-19 for children aged 5-11 in New Hyde Park, New York

GENEVA (Reuters) -A World Health Organization committee urged COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday to provide it with the data it requires in order to list their shots for emergency use, saying the delays were affecting equitable vaccine access.

An emergency use listing with the U.N. agency means shots can be shipped to multiple developing nations that rely on WHO guidance for their regulatory decisions. It also allows them to be used by the COVAX vaccine-sharing programme that aims to ramp up vaccinations in poorer countries.

"The Committee recognized the challenges posed by some manufacturers delayed submission of vaccine data to WHO," its Emergency Committee said in a statement, urging vaccine producers to supply the data as soon as possible.

The statement, the outcome of a closed-door meeting held last week, did not clarify which manufacturers had not yet submitted data.

A WHO document dated Dec. 23 listed the Sputnik V vaccine, produced by the Gamaleya Institute, as having submitted incomplete data.

The Emergency Committee, made up of independent experts, meets every three months and makes policy recommendations on key issues relating to the coronavirus pandemic, such as international travel measures and COVID-19 vaccines.

It is also the body within the WHO that first declared COVID-19 a global health emergency, or 'PHEIC' (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) in WHO jargon, nearly two years ago. Its members unanimously agreed last week to maintain the current state of emergency.

(Reporting by Emma Farge and Mrinalika RoyEditing by Mark Heinrich)
In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, volcanic ash covers roof tops and vegetation in an area of Tonga, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. (CPL Vanessa Parker/NZDF via AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska, and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion.

And yet, despite sitting almost on top of the volcano that erupted so violently on Saturday, the Pacific nation of Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread devastation that many initially feared.

In its first update since the eruption, the government said Tuesday it has confirmed three deaths  two local residents and a British woman. Concerns remain over the fate of people on two hard-hit smaller islands, where most houses were destroyed, it said. Communications have been down everywhere, making assessments more difficult.

But on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, perhaps the biggest problem is the ash that has transformed it into a gray moonscape, contaminating the rainwater that people rely on to drink. New Zealands military is sending fresh water and other much-needed supplies, but said Tuesday the ash covering Tongas main runway will delay the flight at least another day.

On Tongatapu, at least, life is slowly returning to normal. The tsunami that swept over coastal areas after the eruption was frightening for many but rose only about 80 centimeters (2.7 feet), allowing most to escape.

We did hold grave fears, given the magnitude of what we saw in that unprecedented blast, said Katie Greenwood, the head of delegation in the Pacific for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Fortunately, in those major population centers we are not seeing the catastrophic effect we thought might happen, and thats very good news.

Greenwood, who is based in Fiji and has been talking with people in Tonga by satellite phone, said an estimated 50 homes were destroyed on Tongatapu but that nobody needed to use emergency shelters. She said about 90 people on the nearby island of 'Eua were using shelters.

U.N. humanitarian officials and Tongas government has reported significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu.

There has been no contact from the Haapai Group of islands, and we are particularly concerned about two small low-lying islands  Mango and Fonoi  following surveillance flights confirming substantial property damage, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

New Zealands High Commission in Tonga also reported significant damage along the western coast of Tongatapu, including to resorts and the waterfront area.

Like other island nations in the Pacific, Tonga is regularly exposed to the extremes of nature, whether it be cyclones or earthquakes, making people more resilient to the challenges they bring.

Indeed, Greenwood said Tonga does not want an influx of aid workers following the eruption. Tonga is one of the few remaining places in the world that has managed to avoid any outbreaks of the coronavirus, and officials fear that if outsiders bring in the virus it could create a much bigger disaster than the one they're already facing.

Another worry, said Greenwood, is that the volcano could erupt again. She said there is currently no working equipment around it which could help predict such an event.

Satellite images captured the spectacular eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai volcano on Saturday, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a giant mushroom above the South Pacific. The volcano is located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Tonga's capital, Nukualofa.

Two people drowned in Peru, which also reported the oil spill after waves moved a ship that was transferring oil at a refinery.

In Tonga, British woman Angela Glover, 50, was one of those who died after being swept away by a wave, her family said.

Nick Eleini said his sisters body had been found and that her husband survived. I understand that this terrible accident came about as they tried to rescue their dogs, Eleini told Sky News. He said it had been his sisters life dream to live in the South Pacific and she loved her life there.

New Zealands military said it hoped the airfield in Tonga would be opened either Wednesday or Thursday. The military said it had considered an airdrop but that was not the preference of the Tongan authorities.

New Zealand also sent a navy ship to Tonga on Tuesday, with another planned to leave later in the day, and pledged an initial 1 million New Zealand dollars ($680,000) toward recovery efforts.

Australia sent a navy ship from Sydney to Brisbane to prepare for a support mission if needed.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said China is preparing to send drinking water, food, personal protective equipment and other supplies to Tonga as soon as flights resume.

The U.N. World Food Program is exploring how to bring in relief supplies and more staff and has received a request to restore communication lines in Tonga, which is home to about 105,000 people, Dujarric said.

Communications with the island nation are limited because the single underwater fiber-optic cable that connects Tonga to the rest of the world was likely severed in the eruption. The company that owns the cable said the repairs could take weeks.

Samiuela Fonua, who chairs the board at Tonga Cable Ltd., said the cable appeared to have been severed soon after the eruption. He said the cable lies atop and within coral reef, which can be sharp.

Fonua said a ship would need to pull up the cable to assess the damage and then crews would need to fix it. A single break might take a week to repair, he said, while multiple breaks could take up to three weeks. He added that it was unclear when it would be safe for a ship to venture near the undersea volcano to undertake the work.

A second undersea cable that connects the islands within Tonga also appeared to have been severed, Fonua said. However, a local phone network was working, allowing Tongans to call each other. But he said the lingering ash cloud was continuing to make even satellite phone calls abroad difficult.

___

Associated Press journalist Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The reset of the presidential agenda is among the most popular of Washington narratives, a beloved if often unreliable attempt to use the power of narrative when the power of politics wont do.

President Biden is about to try one of his own, starting with a press conference on Wednesday, only the second of his presidency, part of a broader effort to reverse a months-long slide in popularity that, at its outer bounds, has even seen (limited) calls for a return of Hillary Clinton in 2024.

Biden has said he will run again, but the shine of his first several months in office has worn off, while recent history hasnt given him much to run on  or, more immediately, to help Democrats in Novembers congressional midterms.

President Biden at the White House on Friday. (Demetrius Freeman/Washington Post via Getty Images)

The press conference will come at a consequential and challenging time for Biden, as a politically perilous narrative is coalescing about his presidency. The last six months have seen a series of setbacks, from the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan to the recent defeat of his vaccine mandate before the Supreme Court. His domestic agenda, Build Back Better, has a seemingly slim chance of passage after moderate Senate Democrats bucked months of entreaties to grant their support. Since that defeat, his administration pivoted to voting rights reform, but those same moderates oppose the kinds of procedural changes without which GOP opposition simply cannot be overcome.

In part, the call for a reset is acknowledgment that a reset is needed, an assurance that it is coming and that it will solve the problems of the relevant party  in this case, Democrats who have grown tired of explaining to voters why schools are closed and supermarkets are empty. With the 2022 midterms nearing and the prospect of a shellacking mounting, Biden will likely signal a renewed commitment to a frustrated agenda while also trying to shift how his presidency is seen, lest he earn the most dreaded of Washington titles  the lame duck  before his presidency even reaches its midpoint.

Nor is Biden especially eager to be compared to an earlier Democratic president: Jimmy Carter. In a famous assessment of that presidency, journalist and former Carter speechwriter James Fallows described him as more concerned with taking the correct position than with learning how to turn that position into results.

Biden with Rep. Maxine Waters and Sen. Bernie Sanders after Biden addressed a joint session of Congress, April 2021. (Melina Mara/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Acutely aware of history, Biden wants to escape similar assessments of his time in office, yet his own decisions have placed him in a difficult position. During the presidential campaign, he adopted progressive rhetoric and political positions, and has continued to do so in office.

His surprising embrace of left-leaning ideas infuriated the right while raising hopes on the left that remain unmet. A year into his presidency, his administration is not so much partisan as it is adrift, battered by disenchantment and dismay. And with a conservative Supreme Court threatening the legality of any unilateral action and a recalcitrant Congress blocking legislative initiatives, Biden has no obvious path forward.

The timeless presidential reset tries to make those realities go away through the sheer bully pulpit of the presidency. That such a reset is usually announced in a public way is only natural, given how much politics is about how a story is being told.

After an anemic start to his own first term, George W. Bush tried a reset that would include, as the New York Times put it, a renewed attention to issues like education and immigration and a vigorous discussion of values. That was on Aug. 5, 2001. Within a month, his presidency would be utterly redefined by terrorism.

Biden was Barack Obamas vice president, watching as his boss tried to salvage an economy battered by the credit and foreclosure crisis, which often meant giving billions to banks and corporations, then facing attacks from both left and right for doing so. In his 2010 State of the Union address, Obama joked about how much he hated the bailouts and how eager he was to move beyond the crisis.

Then-President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address as Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi look on, Jan. 27, 2010. (Molly Riley/Reuters)

Obama pushes reset button, a CNN column said of the speech.

Expect similar headlines after Biden tries an agenda change with Wednesday afternoons press conference. Dissatisfaction with the president is rising, with the Lets Go Brandon slogan increasingly impossible to avoid. The coronavirus, meanwhile, seems to have the nation in an angry funk.

So the reset button will likely get pushed, in an East Room where the number of journalists will be limited because the White House remains on high alert for the coronavirus. The masks and distanced chairs alone will be a reminder that the pandemic funk continues for now.

Unlike the freewheeling Donald Trump, Biden does not take off-the-cuff questions from the press on the South Lawn. He almost never deviates from his remarks. His tweets are 280-character press releases, reviewed by senior staffers ahead of publication. That makes Wednesdays press conference all the more consequential, presenting the media  and the public  with as unfettered access to the president as they are likely to get. It will amount to a chance for Biden to acknowledge that 2021 didnt turn out as planned and give clues about how he might approach 2022 differently.

Presidential press conferences, described as an example to millions of democracy at work by the New York Times when Dwight Eisenhower delivered the first in 1955, are alluring for the narrative possibilities they offer, even if those possibilities end up being inevitably constrained by reality, as Obama learned after his own 2010 reset failed to stem a tea-party-fueled GOP takeover of the House.

Biden speaking about supply chain bottlenecks in October 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden has held only one press conference since taking office, making him far less accessible than his predecessors. His top advisers believe that the media has been unfair to them, so they see little reason to expand that access in an open forum. Trump, of course, also decried the press as unfair, going so far as to brand the media the enemy of the people. But whereas Trump battled perceived bias by sparring with journalists, Biden has generally shied away from them.

The first Biden presidential press conference was in March of last year, when things felt  and were different. If this weeks press conference is an occasion for reflection, Bidens first amounted to something of a victory lap just months after taking office. Vaccines were available, and schools were reopening. Businesses were hiring in preparation for an almost normal spring and summer. Bidens not on a path to being a transitional figure, a political consultant had recently told the Los Angeles Times. Hes on a path to being a transformational figure.

There were comparisons to the progressive legacies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, comparisons that Biden eagerly embraced. As that first press conference opened, he presented himself as the capable leader the country had needed all along, the old Washington hand coming to quell the partisan rancor.

Help is here, Biden said. And hope is on the way.

Ten months later, Biden appears to be learning what Obama did in 2009: that managing through a crisis is an utterly thankless task, and the resistance of congressional Republicans is difficult to break through, especially if fellow Democrats join their ranks, as Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have done to stifle Bidens social spending bill and voting rights agenda.

Biden talking with the media last week. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)

Indeed, the moment seems to have caught Biden in a political bind with his own party as much as with the GOP. Centrists have been warning that Democrats have gone too far to the left on key issues for educated suburban voters and risk a bad loss in November if they dont make a more explicit break with progressive ideas and rhetoric.

The progressive base, meanwhile, is wondering if they made a mistake in supporting Biden in 2020, when their sympathies more clearly aligned with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. On every issue  voting rights, student debt, climate  he lets the bad actors set the terms of the debate, an executive with the Sunrise Movement recently complained to the Hill.

The question, then, is just what kind of reset is possible. There could be some White House departures, but Bidens core advisers have been with him for decades and are unlikely to leave. He could take executive actions, but none will prove as thrilling to the left as the rollbacks of Trumps policies he undertook in the first days of his presidency.

That leaves little room for any kind of meaningful reset before voters weigh in come November. Biden Stuck in the Mud, went the headline of a recent newsletter from the political consultants Mike Murphy and Robert Gibbs. Within the confines of Washington, the presidents powers are remarkably circumscribed.

As the Dartmouth political scientist Brendan Nyhan has argued, presidents are often enthralled by the belief that the president can achieve any political or policy objective if only he tries hard enough or uses the right tactics, by being either more forceful with Congress or more clear with regular Americans. The public reset expected to be undertaken by Biden can only be seen as precisely such an effort.

Biden promotes his Build Back Better agenda in Hartford, Conn., in October. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Yet the effort is doomed to fail, Nyhan argues, because such an approach to the presidency vastly overestimates how much power the office actually has. Biden may say that opponents of new voting rights legislation are complicit with notorious segregationists like Bull Connor and George Wallace, but if Sinema and Manchin hold firm  and they have given no indications otherwise  the fiery rhetoric will have been for naught.

Which leaves Biden to look beyond the Beltway, to a reset of the more superficial variety: a shift in how the presidency is covered, as opposed to a more substantive shift in crafting and selling policy. Bidens 2020 campaign was beset by criticism around how it handled the media, but the low-key approach to coverage ultimately proved successful despite a rough start to the primary.

His advisers are making more or less the same bet today, with the president set to downplay Washington drama in favor of spending more time communicating directly with Americans, according to an NBC News report on those plans.

Wednesdays news conference could mark the beginning of those efforts as much as of new legislative ones, a putting behind of the frustrations of 2021 to focus on the possibilities of 2022. But, just as many New Years resolutions tend to fade away by February, presidential reset buttons have a way of getting jammed. Still, they will be pushed.
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KUNMING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The newly-opened China-Laos Railway has carried over 1 billion yuan (about 157.4 million U.S. dollars) worth of international freight, announced Kunming Customs in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

By Monday, 153 freight trains had been handled by the customs, with the total freight volume reaching 59,500 tonnes.

Since the railway was opened to traffic on Dec. 3, 2021, over 100 types of goods have been transported across the China-Laos border through Kunming. Natural rubber, iron ore, and charcoal are the major imported commodities, while fresh vegetables, daily necessities, and mechanical and electronic products are the major exports.

Kunming Customs said the China-Laos Railway connects 15 Chinese cities with Thailand, Singapore, and several other countries along the Belt and Road. 
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YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Armenia continues holding a session which launched on January 17.

At the beginning of todays session the bills discussed yesterday will be put up to voting.

Thereafter, the lawmakers will debate the other issues on the agenda.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a talk to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Presidential Office said.

The Armenian President and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi discussed issues relating to the Armenia-UAE friendly relations and continuous cooperation.

They touched upon boosting the bilateral mutual partnership in investments and different sectors of economy, implementing the agreements reached during President Sarkissians visit.

A number of international and regional issues were also discussed.
Nancy Carolyn Roberts Chappell, 71, a native and lifelong resident of Crossett, died Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at her sisters residence in Hamburg. She was a 1968 graduate of Crossett High School and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello School of Nursing. She worked as a  Read more
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Five people were injured after a passenger train was hit by a bomb explosion and derailed in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Azam Khan Swati said.

Calling the incident a cowardly attack, the minister said that insurgents blew up explosive materials near the moving train and the culprits would be arrested soon.

He said that a relief train has been dispatched and the passengers will be sent to their destination.

The train Jaffar Express was on its way from the provincial capital of Quetta to the country's north Rawalpindi city when the incident happened shortly after it left Quetta, a source from the media cell of the Pakistan Railways told Xinhua.

The source said that four compartments and the engine of the train derailed after it was hit by the explosives.

The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital in Quetta, and their condition is stable.

Police cordoned off the area following the attack, and repair work is underway at the track to clear it for traffic.

Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the attack and directed the best possible medical treatment for the injured.

He said that the country's security agencies are actively working to fight the menace of terrorism, adding that the government and security forces will not let the terrorists succeed in their heinous plans of deteriorating the law and order situation of the province.

No group or individual has claimed the attack yet. 
The election will now be held on February 20 instead of February 14 as announced earlier

As per the new schedule, the new poll notification will be announced on January 25 and the last date of nomination will be February 1. (Representational Image/ AP)

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has rescheduled the polling date in Punjab by six days in view of the Guru Ravidas Jayanti that falls around the time when Assembly elections were to take place earlier in the state. The election will now be held on February 20 instead of February 14 as announced earlier.

The political parties had requested the EC to postpone the polls in the state till at least February 16 as lakhs of voters are expected to travel to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti. Punjab has a substantial population of followers of Guru Ravidas, including the Scheduled Caste community, which is around 32 per cent of the states population.

The commission has received several representations from the state government, political parties and other organisations drawing attention regarding the movement of a large number of devotees from Punjab to Varanasi for participation in Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrations, which is observed on 16th February 2022. They also brought to notice that a large number of devotees start moving for Varanasi around a week before the day of celebration and keeping the poll day on 14th February 2022 will deprive large number of electors from voting. In view of this, they have requested to shift the poll date a few days after 16th February 2022. The commission has also taken inputs from the state government and the chief electoral officer, Punjab, in this regard, the EC said in a statement on Monday.

It added that after considering the new facts emerging out of these representations, inputs from the state government and the states chief electoral officer, past precedents and all facts and circumstances in the matter, the commission has decided to reschedule the general election to the Legislative Assembly of Punjab.

As per the new schedule, the new poll notification will be announced on January 25 and the last date of nomination will be February 1. The date of scrutiny of nominations will be on February 2 and of withdrawals on February 4. The counting of votes will be taken up on March 10 as per the previous schedule.

Political parties in Punjab have widely welcomed the decision. Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said this will allow a large number of followers from the state, especially its Doaba region, to travel to Varanasi to celebrate the Gurus birth anniversary.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said: We had urged the Election Commission to postpone the date, and we welcome the ECs decision. Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Union minister and BJP leader Som Prakash, Aam Aadmi Partys senior leader Harpal Singh Cheema and BSPs Punjab chief Jasvir Singh Garhi also welcomed the decision.
Singh claimed that someone else managed to get vaccine shots using her PAN card details, and called for a probe

Patna: The Bihar government has ordered an investigation after records showed that a Patna-based civil surgeon was administered five shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The civil surgeon, Dr Vibha Kumari Singh, however, said she had taken the jab thrice as per rules.

Singh also claimed that someone else managed to get vaccine shots using her PAN card details, and called for a probe.

According to the CoWIN portal, she received the first dose on January 28, 2021 and was fully vaccinated by March last year.

Government records showed Singh was also jabbed on February 6, 2021 using her PAN card information, and for the fourth time on June 17 that year. She then took a precautionary dose on January 13, 2022.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh on Monday said the administration has started an investigation. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty, he said.

Earlier this month, an 84-year-old man in the north Bihar district of Madhepura caused a flutter with the claim that he has taken a dozen shots of the coronavirus vaccine.

I have used my Aadhaar card and my voter ID card on different occasions to get myself registered Every single dose has helped relieve my chronic back pain. I have never caught a cold since I took the first shot 11 months ago, the octogenarian Brahmadeo Mandal had said.
Tragically, symbols have acquired all the substitute value of substance under leaders who splash out on the circus of gigantic statues

An Oxfam report claims that Indias richest one per cent holds over four times the wealth of 953 million people who make up the poorest 70 per cent of the population. (Representational image/ AFP)

Nothing could expose the bankruptcy of Indias public life more convincingly than the reported announcement by the Uttar Pradesh government spokesman, Sidharth Nath Singh: There is one biggest OBC leader with us and his name is Narendra Modi. Reducing the Prime Minister of 1.3 billion Indians to the level of a mere sectarian chief in order to woo voters highlights both the fracturing of Indian unity and the appeasement for political purposes of societys lowest common denominators.

No doubt we shall see and hear much more of such counter-productive propaganda as the electoral cycle starts in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur next month and winds its weary way, infecting crowds that ignore all social distancing precepts, to Gujarat in December. The ruling BJPs recent leadership losses in Uttar Pradesh might be the Samajwadi Partys gain.

But, overall, the loss is to India as a whole as contestants for power fight out even legitimate battles with weapons that bestow legitimacy on the most primitive urges and raise the spectre of vicious Mandal-style quarrels.

It would make sense if the mobilisation of forces were on the basis of factors like job creation, housing, education, civic welfare, urban renewal, public health or improved communications. Instead, Yogi Adityanath blatantly sought an 80-20 Hindu vs Muslim polarisation, which surely is in violation of the Election Commissions Model Code of Conduct?

Elsewhere in the world, rational impulses find expression in sensible demands. British Columbia, for instance, refused to join the Canadian confederation until the government agreed in 1871 to extend the Canadian Pacific Railway to the province so that trade and tourism could prosper. Even India has experienced sound sense in public life. The Rs 75 lakhs that the East India Company demanded in 1846 to recognise Maharaja Gulab Singh as sovereign of Kashmir was modest compared to the additional demand that he should also present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female) and three pairs of Cashmere shawls. Pashmina was (and is) wealth. Kashmir boasted 7,000 looms and 17,000 weavers in 1846, but shawl production was valued at nearly Rs 50 lakhs four years later when the trade engaged nearly 50,000 workers. Napoleons nation of shopkeepers knew well which side its bread was buttered.

Such pragmatism seems unthinkable in todays India, with the Centre squandering about Rs 13,450 crores on the Central Vista Redevelopment Project whose only purpose seems to be to feed political egos instead of coming to grips with the surging Covid-19 pandemic with an effective public health strategy.

Official policy on the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and other supposedly disadvantaged groups has also only created a vested interest in backwardness. Although proud of what they call their 5,000 years of uniquely unbroken civilisation, the Chinese are also convinced that their present economic success and scientific and military prowess flow naturally from those 5,000 years.

They proudly show tourists the narrow lanes and courtyard houses of Beijings Ming and Qing era hutongs but do not build them now for contemporary habitation. Nor do todays Chinese men sport pigtails or women bind their feet.

But Dharma Sansads of the kind that were recently held in Haridwar and elsewhere seek to perpetuate the limitations and inhibitions of the past. As the letter by five former chiefs of staff of the armed forces and more than 100 others, including veterans, bureaucrats and prominent citizens to President Ram Nath Kovind and the Prime Minister stressed, repeated calls for establishing a Hindu Rashtra and, if required, picking up weapons and killing of Indias Muslims in the name of protecting Hinduism seem designed to drag India back into an era of bloodthirsty medieval ignorance.

UPs incensed thakurs no doubt regarded foiling dalit attempts to instal an image of the late Dr B.R. Ambedkar at Ravidas temple at Shabbirpur as a major victory. In turn, dalits protested vehemently against a thakur procession to celebrate Maharana Prataps birth anniversary. Both events may have some symbolic value but little contemporary relevance.

Neither can contribute anything towards developing the scientific temper that Jawaharlal Nehru rightly regarded as the sine qua non of a modern republic. Tragically, symbols have acquired all the substitute value of substance under leaders who splash out on the circus of gigantic statues, riverside corridors, lavish bhoomi pujans and ostentatious temples to mythic heroes instead of the bread and vaccines people need.

Not that we have achieved nothing. India may not be able to oust China from Ladakh but our Mukesh Ambani has toppled Chinas Jack Ma, former boss of the Alibaba Group, from the pedestal of Asias richest man. An Oxfam report claims that Indias richest one per cent holds over four times the wealth of 953 million people who make up the poorest 70 per cent of the population. Covid-19 and the consequent lockdowns, curfews and closures have pushed 230 million Indians into poverty although India now boasts the third largest number of billionaires globally. The 15-month farmers agitation, which is now in abeyance, might flare up again if the suspicion is not dispelled that the new dispensation the government wants will benefit most Mr Ambani and Mr Gautam Adani, who is also believed to be close to the Prime Minister.

Anticipating this turn of events, Winston Churchill, arch imperialist and bitter opponent of Indian independence, noted newspaper reports in 1931 of the crowd of rich Bombay merchants and millionaire millowners, millionaires on sweated labour, who surround Mr Gandhi, the saint, the lawyer  He believed that they were making arrangements that the greatest bluff, the greatest humbug and the greatest betrayal shall be followed by the greatest ramp so that nepotism, back-scratching, graft and corruption in every form will be the handmaidens of self-rule.

Opinions differ on the extent to which that grim prophecy may have been fulfilled. But there can be little dispute over the disarray of the political landscape, caused largely by the powerful emergence of identity politics. The strength of individual caste and sub-caste lobbies even within the BJPs Uttar Pradesh unit compounds the challenge that groups like the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and an invigorated Congress present to Mr Adityanaths hopes of repeating his partys impressive performance in 2017. What matters far more than the fate of any political party is the threat to social cohesion in an India that is finding it increasingly difficult to contain its many discontents.
The Edelman Trust Barometer found that trust in Chinas government stood at 83 per cent. In liberal democracies, public support for leaders has plunged, except in India, largely due to the way they tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and handled the economy. Among advanced economies, only Singapore and Greece see China more favorably than the United States.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  Public trust among Chinese in their countrys institutions stood at 83 per cent, a new high, this according to the Edelman Trust Barometer.

For the past 20 years, the global communications firm has vetted public opinion in various countries to measure support for governments, media, businesses and non-governmental organisations.

In its latest trust and credibility survey (November 2021), based on interviews with 36,000 respondents in 28 countries, it reports a decline in trust in democratic governments.

Above all, people are critical of the way their countrys institutions have managed the pandemic and planned for economic recovery, despite trillions of dollars spent by national government to support the economy. By contrast, dictatorships and autocracies have scored far better.

In the United Arab Emirates for instance, public trust in the countrys rulers stood at 76 per cent (up 9 per cent in one year); in Thailand, support for the government led by former coup leader, General Prayuth Chan-ocha has reached 66 per cent, up 5 per cent.

Compared to 2020, public trust in Chinas government has risen 11 percentage points. Recent COVID-19 outbreaks in China have not affected public support for the countrys leaders despite the impact on the economy, nor have the higher cost of living, last summers energy crisis or growing tensions with the United States.

In China, two-thirds were optimistic about their economic prospects, whereas only 15 per cent of Japanese think that they and their families would be better off economically in five years time, with most other democracies ranging around 20-40 per cent.

According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, high public support for Chinese authorities is not only due to economic perceptions, but also a greater sense of predictability about Chinese policy, Reuters reports.

Abroad, attitudes towards China are considerably different though. The latest Pew Research Center study found that out of 17 advanced economies, only two view China more favorably than the United States.

One is Singapore, the only country in the group with a strong authoritarian tendency; the other is Greece, where the China Ocean Shipping Company has run the port of Piraeus since 2016.

Still, like respondents in other countries, Greeks trust US President Joe Biden more than his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, while Singaporeans are more evenly divided between the two.
by Melani Manel Perera

The key-handover ceremony took place during the Pongal harvest festival. India continues to invest in the development of Sri Lankas Tamil community. Thousands of more houses are on the way in the coming months.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  More than a thousand houses were donated to Tamil farmworkers of Indian descent who work on plantations in Sri Lanka.

House keys were handed over last Saturday in a ceremony held in Kotagala during the traditional Tamil Pongal harvest festival, as part of a 60,000-housing project funded by the Indian government.

Indias High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, Sri Lankas Minister of Development Namal Rajapaksa and Sri Lankan Minister of Technology Jeevan Thondaman attended the event.

High Commissioner Baglay noted that plantation communities represent an important cultural link between India and Sri Lanka:

Development assistance is a key pillar of the bilateral relationship between the two countries," said the Indian envoy. At a total of around US$ 3.5 billion, development assistance from India cuts across sectors, he added.

What is more, Baglay explained, India will continue to support the development of the Tamil community in the island nation.

According to data from the Indian High Commission in Colombo, India has already subsidised the construction of 4,000 homes for plantation workers in seven different districts.

About 3,000 houses have already been handed out, whilst another 750 are on their way. A further 10,000 houses are to be built in the near future in order to reach the final goal of 60,000.

In addition, India has also financed the construction of a 150-bed hospital in Dickoya, a key plantation region, as well as a multipurpose hall at Saraswathy Central College in Pussellawa.

An additional 46,000 homes have been built or repaired in Sri Lankas Eastern and Northern provinces as part of the Indian Aided Housing Project.

On the following Sunday, distinguished guests took part in the traditional Mattu Pongal festival, which celebrates the vital role of livestock (especially bulls) in the life of farming communities.
Today's headlines: India pays tribute to the "super-mom" tiger, the country's most famous feline; Bangkok ready to decriminalise marijuana; three Iranian officials in Saudi Arabia at the headquarters of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation;the Russian Orthodox Church issues new prayers, one against "computer addiction"; "Covid-free" Turkmenistan in preventive lockdown.

ISRAEL

The fourth dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are only "partially" effective against the Omicron variant of Covid-19, according to a December study by the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, involving 154 hospital employees and 120 other volunteers. Meanwhile, the Israeli government decided to reduce the quarantine period for positive cases from seven to five days.

HONG KONG - CHINA

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Cuhk) is set to impose the Communist Party's National Security Education Programme on all students from autumn 2022. The course "understanding today's China" will be preparatory for graduation. In the meantime, a growing number of academics and lecturers announced that they were withdrawing from universities in Hong Kong because they were against the new educational "regime".

SOUTH KOREA

The instant meals market increased by 145% in 2020 compared to the previous four years. The spike is linked to a greater presence of budget supermarkets and changing eating habits linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. Exports in the sector grew by 323%, due to increased exposure abroad of South Korean food culture linked to 'pop' groups.

INDIA

In an emotional ceremony, India has paid tribute to its 'super-mother' tiger, the country's most famous feline. The tiger died on the evening of 15 January resulting in an outpouring of grief in the nation. During her lifetime she gave birth to 29 cubs, a record for the species. She was also known as 'Collarwali' in Hindi, as she was the first feline to receive a radio collar in 2008.

THAILAND

Bangkok wants to decriminalise the use of marijuana, legalising its possession and consumption for recreational use. Thailand was also previously the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise cannabis as a medicine and in food and cosmetics. Currently, possession carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The plant is considered a category 5 narcotic drug.

SAUDI ARABIA - IRAN

Three Iranian officials will reside in Saudi Arabia to represent Tehran in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). This will be the first time since 2016 that there will be a permanent presence in the Wahhabi kingdom since relations were disrupted by the embassy assault. The development could give new impetus to the talks and encourage the restoration of relations

RUSSIA

The Russian Orthodox Church has composed new prayers, including one "against addition to computers and IT". The Synodal Commission for the Liturgy, presided over by the Metropolitan of Petrozavodsk Konstantin (Gorjanov), explains that among the "special" prayers are those before exams, for job searches, the end of studies and successful surgery.

TURKMENISTAN

The government has imposed a new "preventive" lockdown without warning. The inhabitants of Asghabat and other cities were faced with the sudden closure of markets, restaurants and public places. Those who are unable to pay their food quotas are obliged to donate 600 grams of blood per month.
by Mathias Hariyadi

President Widodo made the decision in 2019, but the project was halted due to the pandemic. The city will rise in East Kalimantan, in the centre of the country. Jakarta will remain as economic and financial hub.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Indonesia will have a new capital, and it will be called Nusantara. It will rise in East Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, replacing Jakarta, which is located on the more populous island of Java.

The official announcement was made yesterday, but as early as August 2019 President Joko Widodo had announced a multi-billion-dollar project to transfer the capital, which was blocked, citing various reasons, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jakarta, with its 10 million inhabitants, is more prone to natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes and forest fires.

The northern part has already been submerged by water and due to traffic congestion, the city is among the most polluted metropolises in Asia.

By contrast, according to Widodo, Nusantara not only will not have these problems, but will be located in the exact centre of the country between the two developing cities of Samarinda and Balikpapan.

The new urban centre will be home to the governments administrative headquarters, while the current capital will continue to play the role of the country's economic and financial centre.

About 58 per cent of Indonesias total gross domestic product happens on the island of Java, which guarantees food security for the whole country, Jokowi said in 2019.

The countrys new capital will be located in a huge area between North Penajam Paser regency and Kutai Kartanegara regency, he explained, noting the presence of two important transport hubs in East Kalimantan, the international airport and the seaport near Balikpapan.

Nyoman Nuarta, a Balinese artist originally from Tabanan, is the winner of the governments competition to design the new presidential palace.

Nusantara is a popular term that literally means outer islands or more simply archipelago. It was used in reference to the entire Maritime Southeast Asia or to Indonesia (Dutch East Indies) before independence in 1945.

It still includes references to Austronesian-related cultures and other countries in the region, excluding Papua New Guinea.

According to various historical sources, the word stems from the oath made by Gajah Mada, military leader and prime minister of the Empire of Majapahit in East Java in 1336.

Gajah Mada brought the empire to its peak of glory and swore not to eat any food containing spices until he had conquered all of Nusantara.

According to other sources, however, the term has an earlier origin referring to the union of the maritime kingdoms of Southeast Asia in opposition to the rise of the Mongolian Yuan dynasty in mainland China in 1275.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The controversy between the Orthodox patriarchates of Moscow and Alexandria shows no sign of abating, just when almost all the Christian Churches are celebrating the Week of Prayer for the Unity of the Faithful, the texts of which this year were prepared by the Eastern Churches. After Moscow's decision to welcome more than a hundred African priests, the Greeks of Alexandria harshly condemned the "invasion" into their canonical territory, accusing the Russians of behaving just like the enemies they have always criticised.

On 12 December the Alexandrians met in their patriarchal synod under the presidency of Theodoros II (Choreutakis), and approved a pronouncement against Moscow on the basis of the report by the metropolitan of Cameroon, Grigorios (Stergiou), assisted by canonists from the theological faculty of Athens and the metropolitan of Peristerios, Grigorios (Papatomas). The patriarchate of Alexandria regrets Moscow's decision "on the days of the Holy Christmas of Christ, but will continue to carry out its pastoral ministry for the flock entrusted to it by the Lord, submitting to the spiritual heritage of the great Greek fathers of the Church".

The Metropolitan of Klinsk Leonid (Gorbacev), who was appointed exarch of all of Africa, responded to the Alexandrians, assuring Interfax that "we had not planned all this, but we could not exempt ourselves from welcoming these priests". Leonid explained that the Russian patriarchate will launch a vast programme not only to develop parishes, but in general to "affirm a fully-fledged presence of the Russian Orthodox Church on the African continent, with all the theological, educational, social and humanitarian dimensions that are necessary".

The exarch did not rule out the opening of special study institutes and seminaries for candidates to the priesthood on African soil, assuring that the Moscow patriarchate "has the necessary benefactors", probably alluding to the various Russian oligarchs operating in Africa. These "are not indifferent to the destiny of universal Orthodoxy, and are ready to support the Russian mission in Africa with their generosity".

Leonid thanks all those who "understand that the Russian Church today is the only true guardian of Orthodoxy, and does not allow the sacred canons to be trampled underfoot for the benefit of various political decisions". In the interview, he also said that the Moscow Patriarchate does not rule out the opening of its own structures in other countries where the Churches recognise the autocephalous metropolia of Kiev, such as Turkey and Greece, "to protect all the Orthodox who do not want to be associated with the schism".

The interviewer also asked Leonid whether he was not concerned about the acceptance into the Russian Church of "believers who might want to depict Christ and the apostles with dark skin on their icons", raising issues of racism and "Black Lives Matter" style protection, for which the Russians are not very prepared. According to the exarch, "the Church knows neither Jew nor Greek, and therefore any representation linked to national symbolism cannot prevail over Orthodox traditions... there can be no racism in Orthodoxy, if there is no room for ethnophiletism, that is, the heresy of ecclesiastical nationalism".

Leonid points out, special missionaries will be prepared for Africa who will take advantage of "the many Russian institutes specialised in languages and the study of other cultures", and there is already a vast religious, liturgical and catechetical literature in various languages: English, French and even Swahili. All these plans will soon be realised, even if Moscow is still waiting for "the leadership of the Alexandrian patriarchate to realise the tragic error of its decision, and refuse to support the schism. The Russian Church does not want to achieve its own expansion, but places itself at the service of true Christian unity".
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ASEAN's centrality, unity and resilience, the Cambodian foreign ministry said in a press statement on Tuesday.

The two ministers held a telephone conversation on Thursday last week during which they also discussed the situation in Myanmar, the statement said.

"Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work together in strengthening ASEAN centrality, unity and resilience while addressing common challenges and shared goals, thereby enhancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond," the statement said.

Regarding Myanmar's situation, Sokhonn, who is also a deputy prime minister, briefed Balakrishnan on the outcomes of the recent visit by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen to Myanmar, it said, noting that the visit represented an important step to pave the way for an inclusive dialogue among all parties concerned on the Myanmar issue.

"He (Hun Sen) emphasized that Cambodia shares the same aspiration with other ASEAN member states and the international community which is to help Myanmar to achieve durable peace and reconciliation," the statement said.

The statement said the two ministers looked forward to the convening of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, which will be the first major meeting among the 10 member states under Cambodia's ASEAN chairmanship for 2022.

Established in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 
by Guido Alberto Casanova

Parliament is debating the rules for dynastic succession. Today, out of 17 members, only three have the right to succeed Naruhito. Despite the fact that the majority of the population supports the opening up of the imperial family to women, the government party maintains the current principle of patrilineal succession.

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - This week Japan's bicameral parliament will begin studying the measures needed to ensure the continuation of the imperial family. The ball is now in the parties' court, after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida presented parliament with a document containing proposals drawn up by an ad hoc council.

To date, the Japanese imperial family has 17 members. However, only three of them have the right to succeed the current emperor Naruhito, who has no male heirs: his younger brother, Prince Fumihito, his 15-year-old nephew, Prince Hisahito, and his 80-year-old uncle, Prince Hitachi.

According to the law governing the imperial household, in fact, only males belonging to the imperial family and descended patrilineally from an emperor may succeed to the chrysanthemum throne. However, the law, passed in 1947 during the US occupation of the country, can be amended by a vote of parliament.

In 2017, in a special law, Japan's parliament allowed the former emperor Akihito to abdicate in favour of his son Naruhito, but in a separate resolution urged the then government of Shinzo Abe to conduct a study on how to maintain a stable line of succession within the imperial household.

The issue was and remains a thorny one for the generally conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Although voices are occasionally raised in favour of opening up the succession to women, the majority of the governing party supports the existing principle of patrilineal succession. It is no coincidence that the two proposals formulated by the ad hoc council created after 2017 and presented for the first time last December do not even mention the possibility of a woman inheriting the imperial throne.

The two proposals, in fact, focus more on how to prevent the lineage from shrinking further. The options that will be studied by parliament this week are the reintegration into the family of certain members that the 1947 law had cut off and the non-exclusion of women from the imperial family even after marriage. The issue is particularly hot given the recent departure of Princess Mako, who married a commoner last October.

For the time being, however, the question can still be left open. At least that is what the LP seems to think. With a parliamentary election scheduled for this summer, it has no intention of eroding its supremacy with decisions that could shake public opinion.

In fact, some polls published in recent years give the image of a country where 80% of the population would welcome the succession of an empress. And yet, thanks mainly to Abe, the LP has shifted sharply to the right over the past decade, and socially conservative voices now represent a fundamental wing of the party.

Caught between public opinion and his own party, Prime Minister Kishida has wasted no time in getting rid of the issue by leaving it to parliament, perhaps in the hope of postponing the debate until after the elections. But if Prince Hisahito's young age means that a decision can still be postponed, the gender inequality underlying the institutional affair, which still deeply permeates the whole of Japanese society, is a crucial issue that raises the question of what kind of country Japan wants to be today.
Just like before, the Impala used pretty much the same recipe, relying on a wide array of engine options in an attempt to target as many customers as possible.This is why the car was available with both six-cylinder units and V8s, and even the SS could be ordered with any engine in the lineup.At some level, all these efforts eventually paid off, as a year later, the Impala became the first car in the United States to sell more than 1 million units in 12 months.The version we have here is a 1964 model thats now hoping for a full restoration. Its not an SS, though it was born with a V8 under the hood, and the same unit is still there in charge of moving the vehicle.The good news is this engine still runs and drives, and given the overall solid condition of the car, this Impala should be an easy restoration project.The VIN decodes to a 2-door hardtop indeed fitted with a V8 from the factory, though eBay seller mootyssigns says the vehicle now comes with an awful right fender the new buyer will almost certainly want to deal with.Born in California but then moved to Colorado, this Impala ended up living in New York back in 2015, so its now hoping for a full restoration thanks to an eBay auction.The no-rust body and the generally solid condition make it a good candidate for such a project, though the asking price could eventually make many people simply walk away. The top bid is currently at $8,500, but the reserve is yet to be unlocked, with no mention of its value.
Manufactured alongside the Highlander and Sienna in the state of Indiana, the second-generation Sequoia can trace its venerable roots back to 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on the previous-gen Tundra albeit with a fully-boxed frame and independent rear suspension, the full-size utility vehicle is obviously due a ground-up redesign for the 2023 model year.The next big thing from Toyota is on the horizon, according to the attached press release. Something big is coming to the sport utility vehicle lineup. Toyota also highlights that a clear picture will come into view soon, although we already know Toyota refers to the all-new Sequoia.As you can tell from the rear-three-quarter teaser photo, the red-painted example features a better-styled profile, chrome garnish for the side windows, and much sharper taillights. The size of the rearmost windows further points to a three-row seating arrangement just like the current gen, but we currently dont know if were dealing with seven or eight seats.Obviously based on the 2022 Toyota Tundra , the 2023 Toyota Sequoia will ditch the gas-guzzling V8 and the antiquated six-speed automatic transmission for a twin-turbocharged V6 and ten forward ratios. Just like the XK70-generation Tundra, the family-oriented cousin is expected with two states of tune for the V35A-FTS engine as well as a hybrid option.Dubbed i-Force Max, the 3.4-liter hybrid option features an electric motor in the automatic transmissions bell housing, right between the flywheel and torque converter. With 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet (790 Nm) of torque delivered at 2,400 revolutions per minute, the gasoline-electric powertrain is undoubtedly adequate for a vehicle this large and heavy.
AMG

Thats right, the German automaker is planning to retire and replace it with a new one, which will still take on the likes of the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. The executive car has already made its spy photo debut , in the sedan body style, and to absolutely no ones surprise, it was wrapped in thick camouflage.The artificial skin has started to come off in the meantime, though it did not involve anyone working for Daimler , as the commando looks were obtained by using a healthy dose of Photoshop. The renderings came via walterdepipsa on Instagram, and try to imagine how the car will look like once it premieres, likely sometime in 2023.Since they were based on the real prototype, they retain the overall proportions of the car, such as the length of the front and rear overhangs, distance between the axles, profile design, evolutionary greenhouse, and so on, and fill in the blanks by adopting some elements from the latest C- and S-Class . Thus, it features similar headlights up front, albeit with different graphics, a bigger grille decorated by the three-pointed star logo, and generous side air intakes.It has yet to open up to the camera, and we reckon that it wont anytime soon, but the cockpit design should also be influenced by those of the new C- and S-Class. As a result, it should feature a generous portrait-oriented screen, and a tablet-like digital instrument cluster. In all likelihood, it will sport better quality materials, with high-end leather reserved for better-equipped grades, the usual comfortable seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions, ambient lighting, and a host of driver assistance systems that will make the daily commute more pleasant.Expected to be underpinned by the MRA II platform, otherwise shared with the modern C-Class , S-Class, andSL, the 2024 E-Class will be compatible with a host of powertrains. Naturally, we dont know yet what engines it will pack, but we could be looking at the usual 2.0- and 3.0-liter inline- four and inline-six units respectively. Most of these, or perhaps all, should get mild-hybrid assistance.Self-charging hybrids and plug-in hybrids will probably be offered as well, and unlike the smaller C 63 , the E 63 variant, developed by Mercedes-AMG, might remain faithful to the V8. Still, the latter could be assisted by at least two electric motors, which would not only contribute to the extra oomph, but will also improve the fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. It has been reported that diesel mills could be offered too, at least in Europe, but we will just have to wait and see if that is indeed the case.Speaking of the waiting part, the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is understood to premiere sometime in 2023, as we already mentioned, and should go on sale in selected markets shortly after the grand unveiling. It is possible that Europe might get it first, with other continents following it.In North America, it will probably arrive for the 2024 model year, with gasoline and electrified assemblies, and perhaps a higher MSRP. The current E-Class kicks off at $54,950 in the E 350 variant, excluding destination, dealer fees, and options. The all-wheel drive system is a $2,500 premium, and for the E 450 4Matic, you are looking at a minimum of $62,750.
AutoFlight has been working on next-generation air mobility solutions for decades. Its main focus was on unmanned cargo drones. To date, the company has completed more than 10,000 take-offs and landings in different weather conditions of its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).Now, Autoflight is ready to expand its range and build its first manned eVTOL , the Prosperity I. Not only that, but it also plans to expand its footprint as well.A dedicated team will work at the R&D and certification center recently established at Augsburg airport in Germany. That's where the company's Prosperity I will be put to the test, and it will demonstrate its capabilities.Former Airbus manager Mark Robert Henning, who's leading the Autoflight team in Europe, said: "We are bringing aircraft construction back to Augsburg, creating a high-tech location and jobs as we build drones and create a completely new market segment for airtaxis. What I really like about AutoFlight and 'Prosperity I' is the underlying simple concept. Simplicity translates into safety and efficiency."The company has not shared much information regarding the new eVTOL. For now, we only know that the aircraft 's simple design relies on the lift and cruise configuration, which combines range and safety with affordability. Prosperity I will be able to stay up in the air for 250 km (155 miles) on a single charge and carry up to three passengers and a pilot.According to Autoflight, the certification process for its aircraft will begin this year and be finalized by 2025. We should see the manufacturer's results of its transition testing in a few weeks. The company also intends to build more test and demonstration centers across Europe in the future.
Fortunately for us, instead of having to imagine things, someone had gone ahead and analyzed Ayrton Senna's driving style, Michael Schumache r's driving style, and even Fernando Alonso 's peculiar technique, which was not seen before or after the Spaniard used it. All these were analyzed by Scott Mansell, a popular YouTuber with hands-on experience in open-wheel racing.With that in mind, he analyzed the possibility of using Ayrton Senna 's style in modern F1 cars. In those that were used up until the 2021 season, trying to mimic Ayrton's throttle technique would result in a crash.His famous technique that involved multiple throttle adjustments, made with high frequency and even violently, would not have gone well in 2021.As Scott Mansell explains, Senna's technique was fit at the time of the turbocharged era of Formula 1, when the single-seaters worked with massive turbochargers that provided impressive boost figures but also had a delayed throttle response in the form of lag.Senna's technique would help bring a bit of boost without dramatically unsettling the car, but today's highly responsive cars would send anyone who floored it mid-corner into the wall that the nose of the vehicle was pointed towards.If Ayrton Senna had the chance to drive a modern Formula 1 car, he would have adapted his technique to adjust to the ongoing cars. Sadly, that is just an assumption since Ayrton Senna was incredibly talented and could have adapted to a new racing car.This adaptation, as Scott Mansell explained, is what every driver in 2021 already does, which means that they do seem to drive in the same style these days.The style you may have observed involves a smooth approach, which is dictated by the quick response of the engines and transmissions of today, not to mention the difference in tire composition. Today's soft tires would have been destroyed in a matter of laps if a driver were to apply Senna's technique.
EV

Speaking to The New York Times in January 1914, the gentleman some people refer to as Crazy Henry declared that Ford intends to launch a low-costwithin a year with a lil much-needed help from Thomas Edison.Spoiler alert: the Edison-Ford electric vehicle never came to fruition. The Dearborn-based automaker started experimenting with EVs a whopping five decades later, and in June 1967, the Blue Oval unveiled the Comuta.Produced in England rather than stateside, the all-electric minicar was proven to 37 miles (60 kilometers) of range and 37 mph (60 kph). But as you already know by now, the first series-production EV launched by the Ford Motor Company is the Ranger EV that ran from 1997 through 2002.The Ford TH!NK microcar also deserves an honorable mention even though it was a massive commercial flop. The Focus Electric followed in 2011 for MY 2012, but it wasnt exactly desirable. Not only did it receive a puny driving range, but Ford somehow failed to understand that SUVs were in demand.Based on a modified C2 platform (think Escape, Bronco Sport, and Maverick), the Mustang Mach-E is the best series-production EV of the Ford Motor Company thus far. David Long, a.k.a. the Car Wizard of Omega Auto Clinic, had the opportunity of checking one up close and personal.The world-famous mechanic highlights that EVs are much easier to service and maintain compared to combustion-engined vehicles, but nevertheless, there are many things you should consider before putting down a deposit.Tesla, for instance, has a thing for subpar build quality. As for the Mach-E, can you believe its been recalled four times already? Although the powertrain is much simpler compared to the two-door Mustang that actually deserves the pony badge, be warned that EV repair bills can get ridiculously expensive.The Rich Rebuilds Tesla $22,500 battery fiasco comes to mind. The Mach-E's battery, by comparison, costs up to $23,684 sans the $5,000 core charge.
SUV

EV

The Ford Motor Company is the perfect example in this regard, choosing to eliminate its hatchbacks and sedans in favor of an SUV-only lineup with the notable exception of the Mustang. General Motors and Fiat Chrysler also prefer utility vehicles over hatchbacks and sedans, and its not the automotive industry fault for this paradigm shift. Had there not been sufficient demand for this kind of vehicle, SUVs wouldve been niche even in 2022.But with the switch to utility vehicles, many automakers have also watered down their image. The Land Rover Defender comes to mind, now a unibody luxobarge instead of a body-on-frame overlander. Chris Harris actually likes the all-new Defender, but if you put knobbly tires and just drive it around Wandsworth, Im still not impressed. I still think youre a knob.The British automotive journalist and Top Gear host is famous for describing the prospective customer pool for the upcoming Ferrari Purosangue as wealthy tasteless persons. Although pre-production test mules corner as flat as SUVs can at the Fiorano circuit in Italy, theres no denying the Purosangue doesnt have the same tastefulness as a 2+2 GT.But the Maranello-based automaker shouldnt be blamed for it. Just like before, customer demand has forced the Prancing Horse to pour millions of euros in the Purosangue in order to fend off the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, and countless other super-sport or ultra-luxury utility vehicles.In the video below, the one and only Chris Harris also makes a good point regarding the BMW X6 that singlehandedly started the coupe-trend. He also compares the Rolls-Royce Cullinan to a Chinese knockoff, and Harris also loathes electric off-road vehicles. Referring to the likes of the GMC Hummerand Ford F-150 Lightning, the man highlights that theyre too big and too heavy and have too much friction in their tires.On the upside, Wrangler and Bronco customers need not worry because genuine off-roaders are much to the liking of the guy who was banned from driving Ferraris after he shed light on the automakers dubious practices.
It feels cool to be a dough figurine artisan

11:06, January 18, 2022 By Peng Yukai, Yuan Meng, Zhang Wenjie ( People's Daily Online

Walking into Lang Jiaziyus workshop in Beijing, one can see lively figurines and certificates of honor neatly placed on the workbench. However, one can never expect that this third-generation inheritor of the national-level intangible heritage of dough figurine making is a young man born after 1995.

Langs family has been making dough figurines for three generations now. Langs grandfather, Lang Shaoan, and his father, Lang Zhichun, are both known for their exquisite craftsmanship.

Lang Jiaziyu developed an affinity for the art at a young age, starting to learn the craft from his father when he was about four to five years old. Despite repeatedly practicing the same skills, the boy never felt bored, instead he gained quite a great deal of pleasure from the craft.

Lang Jiaziyu makes a dough figurine based on the cartoon character of LinaBell at his studio on Dec. 24, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai)

Lang Zhichun once asked his son to make a dough figurine featuring a child when Lang Jiaziyu was 6 years old. It took the boy two and a half hours to finish the work, but in the end he was quite dissatisfied with the final result. When he was preparing to throw the work away, his father stopped him. My father said the work was not bad and told me that I should keep it, Lang Jiaziyu recalled.

Under the influence of his grandfather and father, Lang Jiaziyu developed a sense of responsibility to carry forward the art when he was young. When he was a second-grade student in primary school, Lang Jiaziyu and his classmates were encouraged by their teacher to make a sentence using the word world-famous. When Lang Jiaziyu spoke up to say excitedly that he wanted to make the dough figurine craft become world-famous, he didnt expect that no one would react. Despite explaining what the craft was to his fellow classmates, no one showed any enthusiasm. It felt really bad then, but now what I can recall is only the sense of responsibility I felt at that time, said Lang Jiaziyu.

Lang Jiaziyu crafts the shape of his figurine in the image of LinaBell, a cartoon character, with various tools inside his studio. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai)

In 2010, Lang Jiaziyu and his father were invited to take part in an activity to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Lang Jiaziyu made a dough figurine of the celestial being of longevity. Because of the exquisite work, Lang Jiaziyu became a member of the Beijing Folklore Society, the youngest member of the organization up until that point.

Lang Jiaziyu had previously considered dough figurines to be an old-fashioned craft, having also felt that the raw materials used for the craft formed a constraint on his creativity, stirring up doubts as to why he had chosen making dough figurines as a career from the outset. However, when Lang Jiaziyu visited an art exhibition as a university student, he was impressed by how one artisan there had made bread into various shapes, and then dried them to generate cracks on their outer surfaces to present a unique aesthetic form.

Photo taken on Dec. 24, 2021, shows the dough figurines of a series of historical celebrities made by Lang Jiaziyu. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai)

Then, I came to realize that instead of complaining about the raw materials, I should pay more attention to improving my skills so that I could turn the disadvantages of the dough into something that I could make full use of to make my works more expressive, Lang Jiaziyu said.

The young man has also turned to new media to promote the art of dough modeling. For Lang Jiaziyu, making dough figurines is a process of self-expression, and it gives him great pleasure to just be himself. This is what Im good at and attracted to, and Im delighted to see a trend towards the revitalization of traditional Chinese culture nowadays, said Lang Jiaziyu.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun)
JAKARTA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's state-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) is seeking investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in eastern Indonesia as an attempt to boost EV usage in the country.

"We open wide opportunities and invite all parties and business entities to collaborate with us in providing EV charging stations," said Adi Prayitno, PLN Regional Business Director for Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua and Nusa Tenggara, in a written statement released on Tuesday.

On Monday, the PLN inaugurated 10 charging stations in Sulawesi, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara and Papua, planning to build 14 more.

Prayitno said Indonesia will need more than 31,000 new EV charging stations by 2030.

The company has allocated 120 billion rupiahs (8.3 million U.S. dollars) to speed up the construction of EV infrastructures for 2022. 
The collaboration will provide companies in the mining business with custom maps and location services, all with the purpose of making their operations more effective.The smart mining push is expected to skyrocket in the coming years, and this is why HERE and Ericsson are working together on an approach that will fuel this growth.HERE will supply location services and capabilities to build custom maps of open-pit mining operations, while Ericsson will contribute with high-performance 5G private networks to guarantee access even in remote areas and underground tunnels.The combination of Ericsson connectivity and HERE location services deliver true smart mining capabilities, from mapping private terrain, to pinpointing and navigating assets in real-time, HERE explains in a press release, also embedded below.By using location data to build continuously updated private maps on the HERE location platform, mining companies can create a canvas to improve operational efficiency and safety. The living map can then be used to search or track, and deploy routing powered by HERE, as well as custom-built applications and services.The partnership is obviously big news for the mining industry, but at the same time, its also a sign that location services can eventually become available even in those areas where public cellular signal isnt currently available. Without a doubt, such a solution isnt necessarily affordable, but bringing an on-premise cellular network to underground tunnels is still a pretty impressive achievement.HEREs location services are currently powering a wide array of advanced services, including the navigation solutions that millions of people out there rely on every day. The company is working with a series of large carmakers to power their navigation software, including BMW , Hyundai, and Volvo.
EV

ICE

Tesla was the No.1 US car brand in W-Europe during the final month of 2021 according to the European Electric Car Study



Dec 2021 W-Europe new car registrations:



1. #Tesla: 34,700

2. #Ford: 31,800



Note: Tesla volumes peak in the final month of each quarter.



Acea/@EuroEVReport pic.twitter.com/WezlgKzXvs  Matthias Schmidt (@auto_schmidt) January 18, 2022

Matthias Schmidt told Automotive News that the result is a consequence of European emission regulations that demand automakers to have a fleet average of 95 g/km. To achieve that, they either had to sell more EVs or buy credits from companies that sold them, such as Tesla. In 2021, with the international health crisis and the semiconductor shortage, legacy manufacturers had to sell more EVs than in 2020.The Americanmaker would have helped achieve the historic number by delivering a large number of electric cars in December. Automotive News did not reveal how many diesel and electric vehicles were delivered in Europe in 2021 because they are currently exclusive to Schmidt Automotive Researchs subscribers. If you are curious about them, we suggest you become one.We have spoken to Schmidt, and he mentioned that he would be happy to share the data after the service subscribers receive it firsthand. His report must also contain Teslas sales in the Old Continent  which is something market analysts of all sorts struggle to obtain  but we have not confirmed that. However, the tweet below shows we are probably right after Schmidt revealed how many cars Tesla sold in December in the region: around 34,700 units.Considering that Schmidt is confident with the data and that the pressure to sell cleaner cars will only intensify, 2021 should be the first of many years in which EVs outsell vehicles with diesel-powered engines. The next milestone will be when they beat cars that run on gasoline. It may seem that these days are far ahead, but they may be closer than mostenthusiasts think.
Well, then it would probably look a lot like these renderings shared by sugardesign_1 on Instagram, which, surprisingly, appear to have been based on the pre-facelifted variant of the premium compact sedan, instead of the latest iteration The model does not sport any modifications up front. In fact, it has remained identical up to the B pillars, but further back, it has a longer roofline that ends with a discreet spoiler. The tailgate has replaced the trunk lid, and still incorporates the horizontal chrome trim that spans between the taillights, above the license plate holder. The bumper carries over, and the whole car sits closer to the asphalt than the original and rides on bigger wheels.Naturally, such a move would open up more headroom for passengers sitting on the rear bench and would significantly increase the cargo space. The new approach would place the five-door variant of the ES against the likes of the German establishment, namely the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series Touring, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, and would be a more family-oriented model.Whether it will indeed happen or not is a good question, though we lean toward the latter, considering that Toyotas premium car brand has had a lot of time to analyze it, and they decided to stick to the four-door body styl e solely. Moreover, with most consumers demanding crossovers and SUVs these days, it looks less likely than ever. Nonetheless, if Lexus decides to launch a wagon version of the ES, would you consider buying it, or would you simply go for something made by its direct rivals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments area down below.
Despite the fact that its been ridden for approximately 54k miles (87,000 km), the 1983 BMW R 100 RS pictured above still manages to look exceedingly tidy. Featuring hard-sided panniers and a set of Metzeler tires, this bad boy was honored with a cocktail of fresh fluids under current ownership, while its carburetors have been resynchronized to keep things running smoothly.Motorrads 83 MY R 100 RS is brought to life by a numbers-matching 980cc boxer-twin power source, with two valves per cylinder head, dual constant-depression Bing inhalers and a compression ratio of 9.5:1. The air-cooled mill is mated to a dry single-plate clutch and a five-speed transmission, which spins the rear 18-inch wheel by means of an enclosed driveshaft.In the neighborhood of 7,000 revs, the engine is capable of producing up to 70 ponies, while a healthy torque output of 56 pound-feet (76 Nm) will be spawned at a lower point on the rpm range. When it reaches the asphalt, this force allows the old-school Bavarian to hit a decent top speed of 124 mph (200 kph).Stopping power is supplied by triple brake rotors that measure 260 mm (10.2 inches) in diameter, and theyre paired with two-piston Brembo calipers on both ends. The Beemer rests on leading-axle telescopic forks up north and dual preload-adjustable shock absorbers at the opposite pole. Finally, the tourer boasts a fuel capacity of 6.3 gallons (24 liters), while its curb weight is rated at 506 pounds (230 kg).This handsome piece of German machinery is searching for a new home on the BaT (Bring A Trailer) website, where you can submit your bids at no reserve until Thursday, January 20. At the time of this article, the top bidder is offering $7,500 for Bavarias phenom , so you might be able to snatch it for less than eight grand if youre lucky!
Back in 1977, two exciting things happened in the world of cinema: George Lucas launched Star Wars: A New Hope, and Hal Needham did the same with "Smokey and the Bandit." The former would go on to create something of a cult following, while the latter cemented Burt Reynolds' career, and made the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am a phenomenon.

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On paper, an AirTag is a tiny GPS tracking device supposed to help people find their lost keys. In the real-life, however, it can be used for all kinds of nefarious purposes, including keeping track of certain individuals.In the last few weeks, the number of cases where people discovered theyre being tracked has skyrocketed, with more and more criminals turning to the AirTag to keep an eye on the location of vehicles they planned to steal. Given its reduced dimensions, the GPS tracker can be installed in places where its impossible to be noticed, such as behind the license plate But more concerning is that the AirTag can also be planted on people, either in their pockets or in backpacks, therefore knowing exactly where they go.And now, the New Jersey police have warned that Apples device could be used to monitor the location of officers and figure out where they are. A recent report reveals officers have received an official warning in this regard, especially as the number of people being tracked is on the rise.The AirTag can indeed warn someone they might be tracked by sending a notification on their iPhone, while people using Android can download a dedicated app to scan for nearby GPS trackers when they suspect someone is monitoring their location.But on the other hand, the nefarious uses of Apples AirTag are on the rise, and right now, it doesnt look like the parent company can do much about it. The iPhone maker recommends users reach out to law enforcement when they believe theyre tracked, so make sure you take the warnings you receive on the mobile device seriously.
Back in 1962, which is exactly six decades ago, a Morgan Motor Companys representative snatched the 2.0-liter class win at the years edition of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was a Morgan Plus 4 SuperSports  remembered thanks to its registration plate (TOK 258) and the dark green finish.Now the vintage British car company has decided to celebrate the achievement in style. To properly commemorate 60 years since winning the class at the grueling endurance race, Morgan is offering the new Plus Four LM62 special edition. Limited to just 62 units, it is already up for global ordering, with pricing kicking off at 78,995 in the UK.That is around $107,722 at the current exchange rates. A true collectible, Morgans new Plus Four LM62 comes after an interesting string of launches, which include the powerful Plus 8 GTR or the Plus Four CX-7 . The new special edition will be up for grabs in either Morgan Jet Green or Morgan Tertre Rouge, as a particular shade of crimson was remarkably successful among motorsport Morgans of the homaged era.To round up the exterior patina, the British automaker offers  for the first time on a Plus Four  a standard Heritage White hardtop. Other bespoke touches include the numbered plaque, an LM62 graphics pack (with appropriate 29 roundels), badges, silver wire wheels, or a Le Mans-style fuel filler cap, among others.Moving inside, the carmaker has equipped the special edition with an LM62 metal plaque, LM62 laser-engraved black saddle-leather door pulls, as well as embroidered headrests or Tawny wood details, and heated black leather Comfort Plus seats. And those were just the highlights . Not to mention there are additional options: soft-top hood or an LM62 accessory pack, just to give a couple of examples.
A series of messaging missteps is threatening the credibility of federal health agencies, and critics say the White House isnt doing enough to manage the fallout.

Why it matters: While much of the unvaccinated population is unlikely to be persuaded by any messenger, large swaths of the public are still receptive to expert guidance, but federal health agencies, particularly the CDC, may be squandering their credibility with this population.

"The administration in general has lost the confidence of people who would be their natural supporters," said Celine Gounder, an infectious disease expert and former Biden administration advisory board member.

State of play: Months of convoluted guidance hit a breaking point over the winter holiday, when the CDC became a viral internet meme amongst frustrated Americans who could no longer take the agency's guidance seriously.

The CDC's new guidance on how long COVID patients should remain in isolation was mocked by thousands of internet meme-makers. The CDC responded by saying the changing guidelines are motivated by fast-moving science.

"It's never good to be the butt of jokes," former CDC director Tom Frieden said in an interview.

Context: The CDC and the FDA also waited months to make booster shots available to all American adults. Those shots have proven especially important against Omicron, and many states, pharmacies and individual patients ignored the CDC's more limited initial recommendations.

Recommendations about masking have fallen flat for months.

What they're saying: "The CDC is facing a real crisis of trust," said Leana Wen, a physician and professor at George Washington University.

And some experts say CDC director Rochelle Walensky should shoulder much of the blame for the administrations messaging mess.

"The primary problem is the policy and how insular Walensky has been in setting it," Wen said. "She and the others are great communicators but no one can communicate a bad policy."

The other side: "It's definitely not Rochelle," said Zeke Emanuel, vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania. "The CDC problems started right at the start" of the pandemic.

Frieden acknowledged a "significant" amount of damage to public trust in the CDC, and that more Americans are now tuning out the agency  but did not fault Walensky. He also said the agency has "basically become a scapegoat" when other agencies and officials share the blame.

"The question is, do I think anybody could do it better? I think it would be a difficult position to put anybody in," an administration official told Axios.

The intrigue: Some sources tell Axios that they're concerned that the Biden administration is relying on too few voices to communicate with the public  particularly given growing distrust in a few key officials.

While NIAID director Anthony Fauci is the most recognizable, he has become a lightning rod on the right.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is notably absent from the COVID response, critics say, and the FDA still doesn't have a Senate-confirmed commissioner.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is another public messenger, as is White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients, who appears in the team's weekly public briefings but is ultimately in more of an operational role.

When these officials contradict one another publicly  as they did on the isolation guidance  it makes an already-difficult situation worse.

"We're focused on getting Americans the information they need from trusted public health experts like CDC and FDA," said an HHS official. "Science is complex, and it often doesn't boil down simply to a one sentence sound bite, especially during a once-in-a-generation pandemic."

The official added that Becerra holds at least one press call or conference a week and routinely appears on TV and radio.

Yes, but: Health officials are trying to effectively communicate with a public that's exhausted from nearly two years of dealing with the pandemic, and the virus itself  along with our knowledge of it  is constantly evolving.

The bottom line: "One of the core tenets of public health is that you have to meet people where they are," Wen said. "If you are seen as being in a totally different place than peoples realities, then they're not going to listen."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday, following a trip to Kyiv to reinforce U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of a possible Russian invasion, according to a senior U.S. official.

Why it matters: The meeting with Lavrov suggests a diplomatic resolution to the crisis may still be on the table, despite the collapse of security talks between Russia and the West last week.

"The fact that Foreign Minister Lavrov and the Secretary are meeting on Friday says to me that diplomacy is not dead," as the Russians suggested last week, a senior State Department official told reporters on Tuesday.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has also invited Russia and all NATO members to a new set of meetings, stressing on Tuesday: "When tensions are high, dialogue is even more important."

Driving the news: Blinken will meet on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, as well as officials at the U.S. embassy to discuss contingency planning.

He'll then travel to Berlin to meet German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and attend a meeting of the "Transatlantic Quad"  France, Germany, the U.K. and U.S.

The State Department said Blinken's trip is intended to reinforce the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's "sovereignty and territorial integrity," and is part of the administration's diplomatic efforts to seek de-escalation and ensure a "united approach" to Russia.

Between the lines: Germany has a key role to play in deterring Russia or responding to any invasion due to its significant economic relationship with Russia. It's unclear how far the new government in Berlin will be willing to push on sanctions, especially given the coalition's own divisions.

Baerbock, who supports a more hardline approach to Russia than many of her colleagues in government, met with Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday.

Standing next to the wily veteran diplomat, Baerbock said it's "hard not to see" Russia's massive military buildup as a threat to Ukraine, and warned that the European Union will impose serious consequences if Moscow proceeds with an invasion.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been criticized for declining to commit to specific sanctions, said Tuesday that all options will be on the table if Russia attacks Ukraine  including halting the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The big picture: Russia said after the "very disappointing" security talks last week that it would wait for the U.S. and NATO to provide written responses to its demands before deciding how to move forward.

Russia is seeking legal guarantees that NATO will halt its eastward expansion  including a ban on membership for Ukraine and Georgia  and roll back its forces to the alliance's 1997 borders.

The U.S. and NATO have dismissed the demands as non-starters and accused Russia of trying to manufacture a pretext to invade Ukraine, which Moscow has denied.

Go deeper: Biden boxed in on Ukraine

Editor's note: This story has been updated with news of Blinken's meeting with Lavrov.
Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed asked Secretary of State Tony Blinken in a phone call Monday to re-designate the Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist organization, a senior Emirati official told Axios.

Why it matters: Less than a month after he assumed office, President Biden rolled back the Trump administrations decision to make the designation. He said it hampered humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people. Since then, the Houthis have escalated their attacks against Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region  including an attack Monday in Abu Dhabi.

What they are saying: During the call between Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed and Secretary Blinken, there was a discussion regarding the idea of re-designation of the Houthis based on their current actions," a senior Emirati official told Axios.

"The latest attack on civilian targets in Abu Dhabi, and the hijacking of a UAE-flagged ship, fall squarely in that category.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan condemned the Houthi attack.

We will work with the UAE and international partners to hold them accountable," Sullivan said in a statement.

"Our commitment to the security of the UAE is unwavering, and we stand beside our Emirati partners against all threats to their territory."

Driving the news: What started as a civil war in 2004 had escalated into a regional conflict, as the Saudis and other Middle Eastern players have come to the aid of the Yemeni government in the face of the Houthi insurgency.

On Monday noon local time, three oil tankers near Abu Dhabi port exploded after being attacked.

Three civilians were killed and at least six were wounded.

The Houthis claimed responsibility and said they fired missiles and drones at Abu Dhabi port.

Since the attacks, Emirati officials held talks with several of their regional allies and with the Biden administration regarding next steps.
KABUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- About 1,000 displaced and needy Afghan families received relief assistance in the capital Kabul on Tuesday as the Taliban-led caretaker government and aid agencies redoubled efforts to help destitute families in winter, authorities said on Tuesday.

"About 1,000 families received assistance packages which included food and non-food items as well as kitchenware and tarpaulin today ... in eastern Kabul," Acting Minister of Disaster Management Mullah Mohammad Abbas Akhund told reporters.

The distributed assistance supplies were recently donated by Turkmenistan, Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Russia, according to the minister.

The needy families also received special food packages for children provided by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), he added.

Economic woes hit the impoverished country following freezing of over 9 billion U.S. dollars of Afghan central bank's assets by the United States as well as a halt of funds by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Aid agencies are racing against time to deliver life-saving aid and supplies to crisis-hit Afghans during winter in the mountainous country. 
The U.S. believes that Russia may use joint military exercises inside Belarus as cover for an invasion of Ukraine from the north, according to a senior State Department official.

Why it matters: New deployments to the Belarus-Ukraine border in the coming weeks  in addition to the 100,000 Russian troops already encircling Ukraine from the north, east and south  could allow Russia to open up a new front less than 100 miles from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

It would also position Russian troops close to the borders of NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

What they're saying: "I think what we should be concerned about is not whether it increases the intent [to attack Kyiv], but whether or not it increases the capability and their ability to launch that invasion of Ukraine with an intent to topple the government," the senior State Department official told reporters.

"What I know about the Kremlin and what I know about President Putin is that he is an opportunist and he creates opportunities," the official stressed.

"And so it is incredibly important that when we see these kinds of movements and when there is a concrete change in capabilities, that we acknowledge it and call it for what it is."

Context: Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko has clung to power over the last year and a half thanks to the support of Russia, after his crackdown on nationwide protests led to Western sanctions and international isolation.

"We know that Putin doesn't give that support for free. It's clear Russia is preying on Lukashenko's vulnerability, and he is calling in some of those accumulated IOUs," the official said.

The official suggested that Lukashenko may not even be a part of the decision-making on how Russian troops are using Belarus territory, and that he has sacrificed his claim as "the guarantor of Belarus' sovereignty and independence" for the last 27 years in a desperate bid to stay in power.

Russia continues to deny that it is planning to invade Ukraine while threatening unspecified action if the U.S. and NATO don't agree to a set of demands, including ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine.

The big picture: The new warning about Belarus is the latest example of the Biden administration urgently sounding the alarm about the possibility of an imminent Russian invasion.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. believes "this is an extremely dangerous situation. We are now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack."

What's next: Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to travel to Kyiv and Berlin this week, before heading to Geneva on Friday for a meeting with his Russian counterpart.
The U.S. claims to have information indicating that Russia has "already prepositioned a group of operatives to conduct a false-flag operation in eastern Ukraine," laying the groundwork for a potential pretext to invade, according to a U.S. official.

Why it matters: Diplomatic talks between the U.S., its European allies and Russia failed to produce a breakthrough this week, raising fears that Moscow will invade Ukraine and unleash a devastating new war.

What they're saying: "The United States is concerned that the Russian Government is preparing for an invasion into Ukraine that may result in widespread human rights violations and war crimes should diplomacy fail to meet their objectives," the official said.

"As part of its plans, Russia is laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating a pretext for invasion, including through sabotage activities and information operations, by accusing Ukraine of preparing an imminent attack against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine."

"The Russian military plans to begin these activities several weeks before a military invasion, which could begin between mid-January and mid-February. We saw this playbook in 2014 with Crimea."

The big picture: Russian diplomats insisted during talks in Geneva, Brussels and Vienna this week that they had no plans to invade, but repeatedly warned that a very dangerous situation would ensue if the U.S. and NATO refused to accept its security demands.

Ukrainian military intelligence issued a similar warning about a potential "false flag" operation on Friday. Ukraine has also warned that an invasion would likely be preceded by an increase in cyber activity by Russian actors.

Websites for the Ukrainian foreign ministry and other government agencies were knocked offline on Friday by a "massive cyberattack." The perpetrators have not yet been identified.

The U.S. official said that "Russian influence actors" have already started to fabricate Ukrainian provocations on social media, including by "emphasizing narratives about deterioration of human rights in Ukraine and the increased militancy of Ukrainian leaders."

Go deeper: U.S. braces for Russian escalation as talks hit "dead end"
A bipartisan group of seven U.S. senators met Monday in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials as Ukraine and the West brace for the possibility of an imminent Russian invasion.

Why it matters: The delegation is seeking to project a united front with Ukraine, following a divisive Senate vote on Thursday in which Democrats blocked sanctions Zelensky's government was seeking against the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

What they're saying: "There is and will be bipartisan support" for major sanctions on Russia if a conventional military invasion occurs, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who led the charge against Nord Stream 2 sanctions, told reporters on a briefing call from Kyiv.

Other members of the delegation included Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

What to watch: Senators are pushing to move forward this week on new sanctions legislation aimed at deterring Russia, though Democrats and Republicans remain divided over how and when those costs should be imposed.

Driving the news: The Biden administration on Friday accused Russia of planning a potential "false-flag" operation in eastern Ukraine that would serve as a pretext for an invasion.

Russia has denied claims that it plans to invade Ukraine, and has said it is waiting for the U.S. and NATO to send written responses to its security demands before deciding the path forward.

In a possible sign of what comes next, Russia began emptying out its embassy in Kyiv in early January, the New York Times reported late Monday.

The backdrop: The Ukrainian government had urged senators to vote for the Nord Stream 2 sanctions last week, calling the Putin-backed pipeline "no less an existential threat to our security" than the tens of thousands of Russian troops massing on its border.

But the Biden administration lobbied Democrats to vote down the bill, seeking to protect its relationship with Germany as the transatlantic alliance engaged in security talks with Russia.

"The fear is that from the outside world, Congress looks hopelessly divided," said Murphy. The senators made the trip in part "to make sure that there wasn't a false impression given by a vote on a very narrow sanction last week."

Between the lines: The senators' trip was partly overshadowed by the return to Kyiv of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who is facing charges of treason that he claims are politically motivated.

Ukraine has long struggled to undertake anti-corruption and political reforms called for by the West, and experts warn Zelensky's feud with his predecessor could divide the country at a critical moment.

Murphy said he raised concerns with Zelensky about "whether this is the right time" for Ukraine to be preoccupied with a "controversial legal case." He declined when pressed by Axios to share more detail.

The bottom line: "If Putin thinks that he's going to walk into central or western Ukraine without a significant fight, then he has fundamentally misread the Ukrainian people and their readiness," Murphy told reporters. "I think I knew that coming in ... but I was confirmed of that belief, having spent the day here."
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Tonga volcanic eruption is not likely to cause global climate change, while the volcanic ash and acid rain may damage crops and water supply, a leading New Zealand volcanologist said Monday.

Professor Shane Cronin of the University of Auckland, who visited the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcano in November 2015, has explained the uniqueness of the volcanic event and its impacts.

According to the professor, the most significant impact so far has been the tsunami generated at the beginning of the eruption.

"Thankfully, the tsunami in Tonga was not so big," said the professor.

All the homes on one of Tonga's small outer islands were destroyed in the massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, with three people confirmed dead so far, the government said on Tuesday in its first update since the disaster hit.

"But mostly the damage is not so far from the coast and especially confined to a few very low-lying areas. Thankfully, most people were able to get away from those waves," he said.

The other impacts locally in Tonga are from the ashfall. "Thankfully again, the ashes mostly fell into the ocean. On the Tongatapu island, there were reports of two centimeters of ash. This ash will impact water supply and some broad-leaf crops like corn, banana and squash, but unless there are more eruptions, this effect should allow a quick plant recovery."

Professor Cronin noted that most of the volcanic plumes from Saturday's eruption were in the troposphere or lower part of the atmosphere, below 25 km. Along with this short eruption means that there is not much aerosol to reflect sunlight and cause global cooling.

"Most of the ash plume and gas plume that went into the air contains gases like sulpha dioxide. The rain will wash them down. There was not too large a volume of particles and aerosols high enough in the atmosphere to cause global cooling," he said.

But the impact from acid rains for the affected areas such as Tonga and parts of eastern Fiji could be real. Should there be many more eruptions to come, and the acid rain continues, it could be more damaging for crops and water supply.

The longer-term effects of the volcanic eruption on marine life could be significant, he said.

On the downside, the local fishing and marine life will experience many changes as part of the volcano is destroyed. But there is some bright side along with the volcanic ashes in the longer term.

"Because when ash falls into the ocean, it brings with it nutrients. For example, It can bring iron, which is usually quite low in the ocean. It can suddenly create a bloom of plankton, which then go through the food chain, creating a population boom later on the fish and other lives too," said Professor Cronin.

According to the professor, a series of more minor eruptions happened in the submarine volcano in 1998, 2009, 2014, 2015 and perhaps even earlier than that. Saturday's eruption was so severe because a lot of the magma in the volcano had been building up for at least 10 years, or maybe longer.

"The magma accumulates to a large size inside the volcano. The pressure of the magma, built up to a point that the top of the volcano can no longer hold it. At this point cracks start to happen, until suddenly the magma is released. The magma is full of gas and it expands extremely rapidly," said Professor Cronin.

The central part of the Hunga volcano is about 150 meters to 300 meters below sea level. The amount of water that went into the crater was just big enough to fuel the big explosion that has sent waves of air pressure traveling around the world.

"Also, tsunami waves were generated by the initial expansion as well as by changes in the surface on the top of the volcano," Professor Cronin said.

"The maximum power of this eruption was very strong, equivalent to the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991 in the Philippines. However, the Saturday eruption was a very short one. It lasted less than 10 minutes for its main active phase. In contrast, the Pinatubo lasted for many hours," he said.

The short period means that the overall amount of materials released from this eruption was relatively small. "We think around 0.5 cubic kilometers of materials was ejected into the air," Cronin said.

The professor's best guess is the lower level of the VEI 5 range. "Which is roughly one per 10 years around the world for such a size," he said. "It may be more sort of normal mid-scale large eruption volume."

However, it is very difficult to predict what might happen next.

"I would suggest that the eruption may be less violent from now on because the beginning of this eruption was all these pent-up magmas with a lot of trapped gas in it," Professor Cronin said.

He also warned of future tsunami events. "This volcano is shallow and still have seawater on top. So any further eruptions or any collapse from the volcano can cause a tsunami in the local region. Probably there will be less wide-spread tsunami." 
Boston Colleges annual economic impact in Massachusetts is $3.3 billion, including $172 million in annual state tax revenues and 17,700 jobs generated by BC operations, according to an analysis by the national independent research firm Econsult Solutions.

The $3.3 billion annual impact includes a $1.28 billion alumni wage premium, which calculates the spending power of BC graduates who live and work in Massachusetts.

In addition to its economic impact, Boston Colleges annual social impact amounts to $16.7 million in support of initiatives that directly serve Boston, Newton, and other communities throughout Massachusetts through community service, service-learning activities, support for local schools, and infrastructure contributions. In total, 8,000 BC students and employees provide 768,000 hours of volunteer service hours annually.

This study demonstrates the benefits and wide-ranging impact that Boston College has on the Massachusetts economy, said University President William P. Leahy, S.J. Boston College generates revenue, investment, and jobs in Massachusetts, and has broad social impact through its educational offerings, community partnerships, and volunteer service, particularly within its host cities of Boston and Newton.

The study details Boston Colleges economic benefits in four separate categories: University operations, capital investments, ancillary spending by students and campus visitors, and the earning power of BC alumni who live and work in Massachusetts.

The Universitys annual operations account for $1.57 billion in economic output for the state, supporting 8,100 jobs that account for $744 million in employment earnings and contribute $57 million in state tax revenues.

BCs capital investments generate $350 million in economic output each year, the study found, supporting 1,550 jobs with $115 million in earnings, contributing $9 million to the states tax revenues.

Ancillary spending by students for living expenses, as well as revenues generated by visitors to the campus and its many events, totaled $112 million in economic impact annually, supporting 690 jobs and contributing $3 million in state tax revenues.

The alumni wage premiumresponsible for a yearly economic impact of $1.28 billionis a measure of increased earning and spending power of graduates who earned degrees or certifications through BC academic programs and now live and work in Massachusetts. The alumni wage premium supports 7,400 jobs with $422 million in earnings and contributions of $103 million in tax revenues, the study found.

The study also found Boston College delivers significant economic support to its host cities of Boston and Newton.

In Boston, BCs annual economic impact is $1 billion, including $675 million from annual operations. In total, the University supports 5,360 jobs generating earned income of $488 million in the city.

In Newton, BCs annual economic impact is $728 million, with annual operations accounting for an impact of $520 million. The Universitys total economic impact supports 4,080 jobs and produces $351 million in earned income.
Big Bend National Park is often heralded as Texas' gift to the nation. Named after the way the Rio Grande curves as it cuts through the Mars-like Chisos Mountains, the mythic enclave is a world famous hiker's destination, chock-full of prickly flora and fauna. After years spent contemplating a trip, I finally ventured to the West Texas outpost for the first time as a San Antonian.

The urge to romanticize the natural area, which is saddled between Texas and Mexico's western border, predates its official beginnings as a national park in the 1930s. Since then, its landscapes have been featured in films by famous Texas directors ranging from Richard Linklater to Robert Rodriguez. In nearby towns, some businesses today even mine the park's fame for commercial kitsch. (The visual pun of a person bent in a 40 degree angle at Big Bend Yoga Center in Alpine, Texas, is permanently etched in my mind.)

While at no point did I endeavor to see all 801,000 acres of the park, I did enjoy a suggested low impact course known as the Santa Elena Canyon trail, which spans only 1.4 miles and is near the border town of Terlingua. It goes without saying that the hike was beautiful, however not everything about it was intuitive. For the curious fellow beginners, here are my suggestions for how to do Big Bend right.

Camille Sauers/MySA

Bring water-safe shoes

My mother's old chocolate brown Sketchers sneakers may have complimented my jacket, but they were in no position to cross the high waters that greeted me at the mouth of the path. Only my friend in hiking boots was spared the soggy humiliation of removing socks and shoes, tying them to a belt loop, and wading through frigid and rocky water to the rest of the trail. If you don't have waterproof hiking boots, perhaps bring a pair of water shoes or sandals to change into just in case the waters prove to be intrusive.

Wear sunscreen

A pillar of outdoor recreation, sunscreen is always a helpful hiking aid. While I applied some before the onset of my journey, I do regret not bringing it along and I'm not afraid to admit that I got a little pink. If this is a risk you do not want to take  keep an adequate SPF within your reach.

Camille Sauers/MySA

Practice patient parking

Patient parking is a term I just made up to describe the practice of not getting stressed out when waiting for a parking space. Parking at the popular trail head is available, but limited. In other words, you may have to do some laps before you secure your spot. This should be no problem for you if you approach your trip with a spirit of quiet cool. Be sure to have a baseline appreciation for the nature that abounds all around you and your favorite West Texas country album at the ready (may I suggest Terry Allen's Lubbock (on everything) ?) Rest assured, in short order, a parking space will be yours.

Prepare to take pictures

If you're like most people, you'll likely find yourself snapping a picture of the dramatic scenery even though your phone camera hardly does it justice. Even if you decide to leave your phone in the truck and let memory do its thing, you may still have to take photos. Be mindful of this. Families travel for miles to see Big Bend in the flesh. You may encounter them on the trail looking sheepish and waiting in a photogenic nook. Spare them the trouble of asking a stranger for a photo and offer to take a picture of them, for them. You'll see a wave of relief pass over their faces as you capture a moment they will never forget.

Camille Sauers/MySA

Secure a case of Lone Stars and celebrate the sublime nature all around you

By the end of the short hike, you will be brimming with love for our great state. Even if you're a bit of a city-slicking rhinestone cowboy who wears Luccheses for fashion reasons, you'll be possessed by the spirit of the west as you watch a hawk fly over the life-affirming terrain. When you get back to the parking area, you're gonna want to enjoy an ice-cold Lone Star with your pals because you're in Texas, and Texas is beautiful. Make sure to keep a spare case in your trunk so you can each take a moment to crack "the National Beer of Texas" open in the picnic area. You may bring a snack, too, whatever your gas station snack of choice may be. When you're done soaking up the sun, be sure to throw your trash away when you're through with it. Protecting and celebrating the abundance of life and nature is the most important thing you will do on your journey through Big Bend.
ANKARA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Tuesday detained nine suspects over their alleged links to a network accused of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.

Ankara chief public prosecutor's office said the suspects had various roles in the Gulen movement, which the Turkish government accuses of infiltrating the state bureaucracy and then attempting a coup on July 15, 2016.

The suspects held positions within the organization hierarchy such as housekeeper and tradesman, said the prosecutor's office, presenting evidence such as testimonies, account records and trails left in a communications app.

In a separate operation based in Turkey's largest city Istanbul, a detention warrant was issued on Tuesday to detain 10 people for allegedly being members of the Gulen movement while serving in the Turkish Armed Forces.

The suspects included private imams, who are accused of communicating and instructing the group's members, and expelled military students, the agency reported, citing evidence based on phone calls and testimonies.

During a simultaneous operation by Turkish police across the city, at least six suspects were detained, the local NTV broadcaster reported.

The Gulen movement, which mainly runs schools around the world, is a community of people named after Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is regarded by followers as a spiritual leader.

Ankara accuses U.S.-based Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the attempted coup in 2016, in which at least 250 people were killed.

Turkey requests the extradition of Gulen, but Washington has declined the demand, saying that Ankara has not presented sufficient evidence against the self-exiled Islamic cleric.

The Turkish government has launched a massive crackdown on suspects with links to Gulen's network in the aftermath of the coup attempt. 
SEATTLE (AP)  A Neo-Nazi who helped lead a campaign to threaten journalists and Jewish activists in three states was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in federal prison  the longest prison term handed out to the participants in the conspiracy.

A jury convicted Kaleb Cole in September of five felony counts related to the delivery of Swastika-laden posters to journalists and employees of the Anti-Defamation League in Washington state, Arizona and Florida in early 2020. The posters warned: You have been visited by your local Nazis, Your Actions have Consequences, and We are Watching.

Seattle U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour handed down the sentence after hearing from victims who spoke of lingering fear and installing expensive home security systems in response to the threats. Miri Cypers, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, described picking up toys from her yard before fleeing to a hotel so that Cole and his followers would not know she had a daughter.

U.S. Attorney Nick Brown credited the victims for facing Cole in court: "Their courage has resulted in the federal prison sentence imposed today, he said.

The judge noted that Cole, 26, had tried to operate under the anonymity of the internet, and that when journalists, including Chris Ingalls of Seattle's KING-TV, exposed him, He took great pains to silence them through threats and intimidation.

"To function as a democratic society, we need reliable and truthful journalism, Coughenour said.

Unlike others sentenced in the case, Cole expressed no remorse, which helped explain why his sentence was more than twice as long as that of the conspiracy's other leader, Cameron Shea. At his sentencing, Shea told the court, "I cannot put into words the guilt that I feel about this fear and pain that I caused.

Cole, most recently of Montgomery, Texas, was a leader of a hate group called Atomwaffen Division. He and four others faced charges including conspiracy, mailing threatening communications and interfering with a federally protected activity. The posters included images such as a hooded figure preparing to throw a Molotov cocktail at a house, and the words Death to Pigs  the same message followers of Charles Manson scrawled in victims blood during a home invasion murder.

Cole had been on law enforcements radar since at least 2018, when he was stopped at U.S. Customs upon returning from a trip to Europe. Authorities searched his cellphone and found photos of him posing at various sites, including at the gates of Auschwitz, or displaying a white supremacist flag and performing the Nazi salute.

Investigators said he became a leader of Atomwaffen Division after another leader was arrested on explosives charges.

In 2019, Seattle police obtained an extreme risk protection order against him, seizing nine guns from his home. They said Cole had gone from espousing hate to now taking active steps or preparation for an impending race war.

Those steps including organizing paramilitary-style hate camps in Nevada and Washington, investigators said.

After the weapons were seized, Cole moved to Texas, where he was found in a speeding car with another Atomwaffen member, marijuana and four guns, including three assault rifles.

Cole's grandmother, JoAnne Powell, pleaded with the judge for leniency Tuesday, insisting that her grandson was a good man who made some poor decisions and never meant to hurt anyone.

I beg that you would not look at him with hatred for what his political views have been, she said. Kaleb is not a violent or mean person."

Cole's attorney, Christopher Black, insisted that he was not really a leader of the conspiracy, and that the threat campaign was Shea's idea. He acknowledged that Cole made the posters and offered suggestions in carrying out the effort, but said others charged had done similar work.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Woods disagreed, saying Cole stood out from the other defendants for his lack of remorse. He decried racism and religious intolerance said it's the great tragedy of this country, 250 years in, so many Americans have that feeling of unease.

That was his identity, his life's work to this point: hate, targeting people to instill terror, Woods said. And it worked.

The other two defendants were Johnny Roman Garza, of Queen Creek, Arizona, who was sentenced to 16 months for affixing one of the posters on the bedroom window of a Jewish journalist, and Taylor Parker-Dipeppe, of Spring Hill, Florida, who received no prison time for attempting to deliver a flier but leaving it at the wrong address. Parker-Dipeppe was severely abused by his father and stepfather and hid his transgender identity from his co-conspirators and the judge found that he had suffered enough.
Parents and politicians in Texas and around the country are working to remove or restrict books from school libraries with the purpose of shielding students from alleged inappropriate content. But more often than not, voices of the actual students are left out of these conversations and their rights ignored. To date, more than half of book challenges are initiated by parents compared to 1 percent of students, according to the American Library Association.

Some of the most egregious book removals in the Lone Star State have been spurred by an October 2021 inquiry launched by Republican state lawmaker Matt Krause into school district books that address race, sex or material that might make students feel discomfort. His action was followed by a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott in November to the Texas Education Agency to identify and remove "pornography or other inappropriate content" from public schools.

Subsequently, in December, San Antonio-based North East ISD pulled 414 books from library shelves to review for vulgar or obscene content, using Krauses list as its guide. Jonathan Friedman, director of free speech expression and education at PEN America, says school boards owe it to students to conduct legitimate reviews of books' content before removing them from shelves. Districts typically have policies in place dictating that books must remain on library shelves while reviews are underway. Friedman says these polices are often ignored.

There is supposed to be in most cases a committee formed to review and make a decision," Friedman says. What were seeing in a lot of cases is school districts simply giving into these demands without following their policies, and often its not necessarily from the majority of people who live in the district. Its not really democratic."

The 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines case established that students have First Amendment rights like anyone else and they do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." The case determined that school officials could not censor free speech unless it "materially and substantially" interfered with school operations.

The case set a precedent for the 1982 landmark Supreme Court case Island Trees School District vs. Pico, which established that no school board can remove a book from a library simply because they disagreed with the content within it, but that boards could remove a book based on concerns about its educational suitability or pervasive vulgarity.

Most books recently targeted by parents and politicians touch on sex education or simply mention topics related to sex and gender. According to an analysis by Book Riot, which bills itself as the largest independent literary site in North America, about 62 percent of books in Krauses list are about LGBTQ themes. However, Friedman says the First Amendment opposes public authorities removing books or attempting to censor speech based on particular ideas.

We dont have a clear decision by constitutional authorities, certainly by the Supreme Court, on each of these cases right now," Friedman explains. "But theres a strong argument that the dislike of the books as an effort to suppress the ideas that those books represent is driving a lot of those removals."

Though book challenges have always existed, Friedman says recent efforts have been more widespread than ever and many of the same books are being targeted over and over again. "We're seeing parents in Utah or in another part of the country see the list of books online, running that list against books in their local school library or school district and then requesting to remove them," he says.

Censorship watchers say book banning has been the worst in recent memory, with Deborah Caldwell-Stone, executive director of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom, recently telling Time magazine that there's been an unprecedented volume of challenges in schools and libraries across the country. Among some of the most commonly targeted books is "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Perez. The award-winning novel depicts an interracial love story between a Mexican girl and a Black boy set in 1930s Texas, with the real-life 1937 New London school explosion serving as a backdrop.

Perez says her book first came under attack in Central Texas in Leander ISD when the district paused its use in its high school reading program and subsequently removed the book from classrooms and book clubs, deeming its content inappropriate. The book, which was also listed in Krauses inquiry, faced more backlash in September when a parent at a Lake Travis school board meeting cited a passage from the book, calling it sexually explicit.

In a December Texas Monthly article, Perez explained the passage referenced was completely de-contextualized and was actually meant to depict harm the character endured as the only Mexican American in her school. "Creating it was painful, one of many times in writing fiction that Ive had to depict harm that I wish did not exist in the world," Perez wrote. "I represent these views in the book so that I can reveal their toxic effect; I dont endorse them."



In regards to concerns about the availability of so-called pornography in school libraries, Friedman says the term is legally vague. None of these books that are being talked about would meet the definition of obscenity, he explains. A book that is obscene is designed with prurient interest. You couldnt read any of these books cover to cover and say thats what the book is designed to do.

Perez's book has been challenged by districts in at least eight different states, including eight in Texas. In Williamson County, located north of Austin, commissioners temporarily withheld pandemic relief funds from two school districts citing a list of 11 books, including Out of Darkness, it said contained X-rated content. Commissioner Cynthia Long promised to grant $3.7 million in CARES Act funding to the districts as long as they removed the books from all school libraries.

The panel eventually voted to grant the funding, but in a phone interview Perez says it still raises major concerns. Antics of these parents groups have created a situation where everyones kids are going to lose resources because of those behaviors, Perez says. She also finds recent reports of bans spreading to public libraries troubling.

Im especially invested in students who rely on libraries who may not have other access and I do not want to see them lose their right to books that reflect their experience or that expand their experience of the world," Perez says.

However, Perez adds that the most devastating outcome is the message being conveyed to young people whose identities are being targeted. While the books are not required reading, their existence for students that need or want them is impactful, she says.

When parents target books that are overwhelmingly about LGBTQ, Black, Latinx, or otherwise non-dominant identities, they are signaling that they object to those identities, that they dont belong and that those identities are a threat to the innocence of their white children, Perez says. Whats worse is when school boards elevate those parents' perspectives, they are endorsing that position and for a young person with a marginalized identity, it can feel like the whole school structure is set against them.

Friedman says young people are more inspired and motivated to read when they identify with characters and experiences in the book, pointing to the temporary removal of New Kid by Jerry Craft in Katy ISD. The book was eventually reinstated on shelves, but the district later pulled five books from other authors it deemed pervasively vulgar in December.

A lot of times librarians are just trying to encourage young people to find interest in reading, Friedman says. If that experience resonates with young people and makes them want to read books and think about storytelling and get into artistry, why is the governor suggesting books like that not be in schools?

While parents play an important role in guiding their own child's education and have the right to express concerns about material in schools, putting their rights and needs over those of students is a disservice, Perez says, adding, if necessary, parents can always request special accommodations for their child.

What we are seeing is a serious overreach of parents' rights to guide their own childs education, Perez says. We are seeing these parents wish to control other peoples kids access to books.

Most conflict arises squarely on this point, Friedman says. Its not whether their own children should have access to a book but whether any children or people of a certain age should have access to a book in a school library. Friedman adds the implication that a small group deciding what books should and shouldnt be accessible presents a dangerous line of thinking.

It suggests people who dont like history should be able to determine that certain history isnt taught or people that dont like science should be able to determine that scientific knowledge shouldnt be taught, Friedman says.

To fight such attacks, Perez encourages students to get their hands on and circulate books that are being challenged. I think that the thing thats most important is to be galvanized and not intimidated by this, to be unstoppable as readers, as young people and to speak up, she says. I think in many of the districts where theres been a successful pushback against these challenges, student voices have been very powerful.

PEN America has provided tips to students on how to fight book bans in their communities, including a virtual teach-in event in December. Students dont even have to say they want to read these books, Friedman says. They just have to say they want the liberty to go to the school library and have the choice. Why wouldnt we want award-winning books in school libraries? Why wouldnt we want books on all kinds of topics available to young people to see a great diversity of literature available to them in school libraries? They should be demanding that.
Residents of Khoksator, a village in southern Thailands insurgency-ridden Narathiwat province, watch police investigate the scene where an eight-year-old boy and three relatives were shot dead on their way to school, March 2, 2017.

Delegations representing the Thai government and Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) rebels met in Kuala Lumpur last week for their first in-person peace talks in about two years.

As expected, there was no breakthrough in the Malaysia-brokered negotiations to settle the decades-old separatist insurgency in Thailands Deep South, although both sides agreed to establish a joint working group for future discussions.

From looking carefully at statements and comments made by each side, its clear that Thailand and the BRN are far apart on key issues.

BRN priorities

According to BRN chief negotiator Anas Abdulrahman (also known as Hipni Mareh), the two sides agreed to discuss four areas identified as priorities by the rebels: governance, education, recognition of the Malay Pattani identity; and their traditional economic system.

In May 2021 the BRN submitted a ceasefire proposal based on the establishment of an autonomous Patani Darussalam region that would have the authority to develop its own education system; that would be both Islamic and in the Malay language; and where the Malay language and identity were to be officially recognized and preserved.

The BRNs call for autonomy, however, is an absolute non-starter for the Thai government.

Thailand is an overly centralized state, all the more so since a military-backed constitution took effect in 2017.

This government will never agree to autonomy. And, frankly, a democratically elected would not support full autonomy for fear of incurring more military intervention in politics. Giving the Malay Pattani people autonomy would create a precedent seen as completely unacceptable to the Thai government.

The Thai government has said it is considering adapting Melayu as a formal second language.

Thai officials know they should do it, but refuse to follow through.

The Thais will never relinquish any of the educational system, because thats one of the key ways to indoctrinate the public  especially under this military-backed government. Its unclear whether the central government would allow the Islamic schools in the far south to be exempted from national educational requirements, including the Thai language.

The BRN rebels have been pushing for the formal recognition of Pattani Malay culture and values. For them, the Thai state poses an existential threat; their struggle is about cultural preservation.

The government has long been frustrated with the Pattani Malay people because they are they only minority group in Thailand that has resisted assimilation. Indeed, the Pattani Malays believe that Thai culture has a corrupting influence and threatens their traditional and conservative Shafii values.

Another of the BRNs priority issues has been the protection of the regions traditional agrarian economy. The BRN has largely rejected large-scale development projects, including the construction of industrial zones.

The government believes that under-development is a cause of unrest, while the BRN believes that Thai economic development programs threaten the traditional Pattani Malay way of life, and that development programs would only benefit the Thai population.

Tempered Thais

The Thai government was more tempered in the latest round of talks.

In a statement published in the Bangkok Post, the government said The proposed framework includes violence reduction, political participation, and discussion mechanism in the [Deep South] region.

The Thai government has always made the cessation of violence a condition for talks, both to show goodwill and a commitment to peace, but also to demonstrate the BRNs command and control over their militants.

Indeed, during last weeks talks in the Malaysian capital, no one from the BRNs military wing was represented on their seven-man panel.

The Thai statement made no specific mention of language, Pattani identity, or the preservation of the traditional economy.

And with violence at historically low levels, the Thai government is not under much pressure to make concessions.

The government is likely to press forward with its current political, economic, and security policies in the south. There may be some room to improve mechanisms for resolving disputes; this is clearly in Thailands interest.

A culture of impunity

Despite differences, the resumption of talks should be viewed positively. But irritants remain.

One of the core grievances of the Pattani public and the BRN, is the culture of impunity for security forces.

Under the 2005 emergency decree that still is in force in the majority of the Deep South, government security personnel enjoy almost blanket immunity for their actions. They are rarely prosecuted for misdeeds, which invariably leads to alleged excessive use of force and human rights violations.

Immunity has been waived on only a handful of occasions since the conflict reignited 18 years ago. There have been convictions of members of security forces but not a single has been upheld on appeal.

What is more common is that when an incident happens, an investigation is conducted. But after the incident is out of the public mind, charges are dropped.

Last week, three police officers were charged with attempted murder when they opened fire on a truck carrying five Muslim teens as it passed through a checkpoint without stopping, wounding two. The police were not in uniform and the young men believed that the police were militants.

The governments quick decision to press charges was welcomed. Yet, it is unlikely that the officers will ever be prosecuted. Upon review of the case, and after a sufficient period, the charges against the three will likely be dropped.

But in a more galling incident, the Department of Special Investigation last week ended its investigation without filing charges in a July 2019 incident, when a suspected militant in military custody, Abdullah Esomuso, was rushed to a hospital unconscious.

The 34-year-old man was photographed in apparent good health during his interrogation. The CCTV in his cell was allegedly not working.

That night, he was rushed to the hospital suffering from conditions consistent with a lack of oxygen. He fell into a coma and died the following month. A government autopsy found no signs of torture.

Ending the culture of impunity in Thailand would do much to build goodwill amongst the public.

But thats another issue where the two sides remain far apart in the southern peace talks.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or BenarNews.
Welcome to the Nations Capital reads a sign at the main gate of what is slated to be Indonesias new capital in East Kalimantan province, Oct. 29, 2021.

Indonesias parliament passed a law Tuesday to move the national capital from traffic-clogged Jakarta to a forested region on Borneo Island, and that clears the way for the construction of the new city called Nusantara.

The opposition Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was the only party in the House of Representatives that rejected the bill, said Ahmad Doli Kurnia, chair of the parliamentary committee that deliberated the legislation.

Approve! lawmakers shouted in unison when House Speaker Puan Maharani asked if they approved of the bill, during a plenary session broadcast on the legislatures YouTube channel.

We have come to the conclusion that eight factions approved, so we can pass it, Puan said, banging the gavel.

In August 2019, President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced that the country would move its capital from crowded and partially sinking Jakarta, on Java Island, to East Kalimantan, a densely forested and thinly populated province in the Indonesian part of Borneo.

The new law names the new capital Nusantara, which broadly means archipelago.

Suharso Monoarfa, the minister for national development planning, said on Monday that Jokowi had chosen the name.

The new capital will cover 256,142 hectares (632,940 acres) of land, and Suharso said the cost to build it from the ground up is estimated at 466 trillion rupiah (U.S. $32.5 billion), 53 percent of which will be covered by the countrys budget.

A ministerial-level official appointed by the president will lead the so-called Nusantara Capital Authority, according to the latest draft of the bill obtained by BenarNews. The official will be appointed no later than two months after the promulgation of the law, it said.

Capital shift

The government has said that traffic congestion, frequent floods and land subsidence caused by uncontrolled ground water extraction in Jakarta were the main considerations for the move.

About 40 percent of the current capital is below sea level and by 2050, the entire North Jakarta area will be submerged, according to experts.

In addition, economic losses caused by the citys traffic jams are estimated at 100 trillion rupiah (U.S. $7 billion) annually, the government said.

In a speech to the parliament on behalf of the president on Tuesday, Suharso said the new capital would create a new economic center of gravity.

The new capital is strategic because it lies close to busy national and international sea routes and is between two cities with developed infrastructure  Balikpapan and Samarinda, Suharso said.

The planned relocation of the national capital is part of the strategy to realize Indonesias Vision 2045 for more inclusive and equitable economic growth through accelerated development of eastern Indonesia, he said.

The National Development Planning Agency projected that by 2045, the new capital would have a population of 1.9 million  about 10 times the areas current number. North Penajam Paser, the regency where the future seat of government will be built, is now home to about 180,000 people.

The population of East Kalimantan is expected to grow to 11 million, from 3.7 million today, according to the agency.

Mardani Ali Sera, a lawmaker from PKS, the only opposition party in the parliament, said there was no compelling reason to relocate the capital from Jakarta, especially at the expense of taxpayers.

It will be very expensive to build [a new city] from scratch, Mardani said.

Clearing a forest and turning it into the national capital also contradicts a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that Indonesia made at the United Nations COP26 climate summit last year, he said.

In addition, Mardani said, the future capital is relatively close to the South China Sea and is therefore vulnerable if armed conflict broke out there.

Faisal Basri, a senior economist at the University of Indonesia, said he and four others would go to the Constitutional Court to challenge the law on the new capital.

I and PKS are not against the capital move, but we need to prepare well, involving the people. he said in a YouTube discussion. Maybe in 10 years, after we have managed to solve major problems.
Illustrative map shows the apparent geographic extents of Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao, and Nansha Qundao, from which the Peoples Republic of China claims its maritime zones.

China appears to be shifting from the so-called nine-dash line toward a new legal theory to support its expansive claims in the South China Sea, although analysts say its alternative is also problematic under international law.

In comments to reporters last week, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Beijing now speaks less of the nine-dash line and more often of the Four Sha. He said the shift has been witnessed by member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is even more serious than the old claim.

Four Sha, or Four Sands Archipelagos, are the four island groups in the South China Sea that Beijing claims to hold historical rights to. China calls them Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao, and Nansha Qundao. Internationally, they are known as Pratas Islands, Paracel Islands, the Macclesfield Bank area and Spratly Islands.

The concept they may be eclipsing, the nine-dash line, is a U-shaped line encircling most of the South China Sea that China has been using to demarcate its sovereignty over the sea.

An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated the line saying China has no legal basis for it. Although Beijing rejected the ruling, other nations have endorsed it.

The nine-dash line has proven to be a really easy target for critics of Chinas South China Sea claims, Julian Ku, a professor at the Hofstra University School of Law in Long Island, New York State, said.

It was also directly considered and rejected by the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal in 2016.

Chinas Four Sha theory was not directly considered by the tribunal ruling, although it would also be difficult to support, Ku said, adding: Still, it is a less dramatic claim and it is also not based solely on historical claims.

Slowly emerging

Bill Hayton, a journalist-turned-scholar who wrote an acclaimed book on the South China Sea, said the Four Sha theory has been emerging slowly, with a boost after the arbitration tribunal ruling.

The Four-Sha is an attempt to develop an UNCLOS-like justification for control over the South China Sea with some sort of legal basis, he said. UNCLOS is the acronym for the United Nations Convention of the Law on the Sea.

But everyone else is still rejecting it, Hayton added.

Each of the archipelagos in the Four Sha consists of a large number of scattered outlying features, most of which are submerged under water. Beijing insists that they are to be treated as whole units for purposes of sovereignty and maritime entitlements.

The Zhongsha Qundao, or Macclesfield Bank area, is actually entirely underwater, and not an archipelago, experts say.

Ku from the Hofstra University said although the first-known attempt by Chinese officials to advance Four Sha as a new legal theory was recorded at a closed-door meeting with U.S. State Department officials in 2017, the Four Sha are not new to Chinas claims in the South China Sea.

The Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone of the Peoples Republic of China, adopted by China in 1992, declared the four island groups. They were also mentioned in a 2016 white paper issued by China disputing the Philippines claims in the South China Sea arbitral process.

These new Chinese legal justifications are no more lawful than Chinas nine-dash line claim but it is more confusing and less simple to criticize, Ku said.

A U.S. State Department report on Chinas South China Sea claims that was published this month, Limits in the Seas, does not mention the Four Sha concept. But it does analyze the Peoples Republic of Chinas (PRC) sovereignty claim over Dongsha, Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha. It concludes that Chinas assertions of sovereignty are unlawful.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah speaks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, Sept. 12, 2019. [Reuters]

Change of approach?

The apparent shift from the nine-dash line to Four Sha has caused concern among South China Sea claimants.

Malaysia is among ASEAN nations whose territorial claims overlap with Chinas in the South China Sea. The others are Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam. While Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing does claim historic rights to areas overlapping Indonesias exclusive economic zone.

In a response to a question posed by a reporter, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin told reporters last Thursday that they (China) have changed from using mostly the nine-dash line narrative to the Four Sha. I can see some policy change in the way they approach the South China Sea.

It is yet to be seen whether the Four Sha [approach] is more aggressive or the nine-dash line [is] more aggressive, Saifuddin said.

Ku said he did not think the Four Sha claim would necessarily lead to more aggressive actions by China, but it provides another justification for aggressive actions that it might want to take.

Hayton, meanwhile, saw potential for escalation in the South China Sea as the Four Sha concept has given Chinese actors some new confidence that they can make a plausible case.

Weve seen a lot more assertive actions recently, like Chinas harassing oil and gas off Malaysia and Indonesia, he said.

In a related development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reiterated that his country will not use its strength to bully its smaller neighbors. He also highlighted the importance of settling disputes in the South China Sea peacefully.

Stressing only one sides claims and imposing ones own will on the other is not a proper way for neighbours to treat each other and it goes against the oriental philosophy of how people should get along with each other, Wang told a virtual forum organised by the Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Monday.

Muzliza Mustafa in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
Relatives of Abdullah Esomuso prepare to transport his body for his funeral at a cemetery in Pattani, a province in southern Thailand, Aug. 25, 2019.

The widow of a suspected rebel who died in military custody in Thailands Deep South in 2019 expressed concern Tuesday that justice would not be served after a law enforcement agency last week terminated its probe into the case.

Abdullah Esomuso was found unconscious at 3 a.m. on July 21, 2019, in an interrogation center at an army camp in Pattani province, where he had been held for 10 hours, prompting his family to question if military interrogators had tortured him. After falling into a coma, he died in a hospital several weeks later, while still in military custody.

We are disappointed with the government agency because our hope is to find justice for the family. We reached out to DSI so they could help find evidence against the offender, the widow, Sumaiyah Minga, told BenarNews, referring to the Department of Special Investigation, which had been investigating the case.

Sumaiyah said her family had received a letter dated Jan. 11 stating that the director of DSI has terminated the probe and will send the finding to the Nong Jik police station. The family has a right to request the DSI to arrange a committee board to consider a re-opening of this case when there is new and significant evidence or fact which has not been included in the last probe.

Our family cannot do that by ourselves. Now the government wants us to find new evidence so they can reopen the case. Where can we find that? Sumaiyah said.

On Tuesday, officials at the DSI did not immediately respond to a request from BenarNews for comment about the status of Abdullahs case.

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Abdullahs survivors said he remained hopeful that court proceedings scheduled to resume next month could lead to a determination of the cause of death.

Zakiman Benjadecha, an attorney with the Muslim Lawyers Foundation, which represents the family, said he did not think that the DSI investigation had turned up essential evidence.

Personally, I think that this termination by the DSI will not affect the court ruling, he told BenarNews.

Abdullahs survivors had previously asked several organizations to investigate his death including the Department of Special Investigation and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC).

In July 2021, the commission notified Abdullahs relatives that it had finished its own investigation.

There was no clear medical evidence to show what had caused his death  and there was no evidence to confirm who had injured or sickened him either, the commission said in an 11-page document seen by BenarNews.

The letter noted that the NHRC was not required to continue with its investigation because a court was holding hearings in the case.

The Songkhla Provincial Court began hearings in November 2020. It has set court dates for Feb. 19 and 20, 2022, to hear additional testimony.

Col. Kiattisak Neewong, a spokesman for Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC-4) which oversees the insurgency-afflicted Deep South, said the army will send staff to talk with the family about what has happened.

The Deep South encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces and four districts of Songkhla province. Since the separatist insurgency reignited in January 2004, more than 7,000 people have been killed and 13,500 others injured in violence across the mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking border region, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank.

We have sent a document to the local agency to discuss with the victims family. This is just a normal access to justice process, Kiattisak told BenarNews. The army has been trying to talk with the family during the process and will continue to do so. We will not leave anyone behind.
ANKARA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is interested in resuming talks with Israel over transporting Israel's natural gas to Europe through Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"If the gas would be transported to Europe, it could only be done through Turkey," he told journalists on his return flight from Albania.

The United States "has made cost analyses" for the Eastern Mediterranean pipeline project that aims to export natural gas from Israel directly to Europe, and decided to withdraw its support because the project would be very costly, semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying.

Erdogan cited that "it is not feasible without Turkey."

The Turkish president recalled that Israel and Turkey had several talks for the transfer of Israeli gas through Turkey and said Ankara is still eager to work with Israel.

"Is there any hope for now? We can sit and talk about the terms," Erdogan added.

The Eastern Mediterranean Natural Gas Pipeline (EastMed) is a 1,900-km natural gas pipeline extending from Israel to Greece and then to Italy. The project originally planned to transfer gas through Cyprus rather than Turkey.

The United States confirmed that it decided to withdraw support from the EastMed gas pipeline project last week.

In 2016, Turkey and Israel held a series of talks for the transportation of Israeli gas through Turkey as part of reconciliation efforts after years of bilateral tension mainly due to the Palestinian issue, but the discussions were fruitless. 
VALLETTA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Malta International Airport saw a 45 percent increase in passenger movements in 2021 compared to 2020, but still far off the pre-pandemic levels, a senior management said on Tuesday.

The 2021 passenger movement was only just under 35 percent of those achieved in 2019, before the pandemic broke out, chief executive Alan Borg told a press conference.

Travel picked up in the third quarter of the year, with figures tripling over the second quarter. Borg said that Malta's recovery is still lagging behind that of its peers.

The airport's best-performing month was October, when more than 428,000 passenger movements were registered, a result of the easing of restrictions and a higher demand for leisure travel.

Air travel also saw an immediate downturn due to tighter restrictions at the end of the year, seeing around 850 flights cancellations for the first quarter of 2022, he said.

"Malta was among the top countries for vaccination rates in 2021 which became a selling point in terms of being perceived as a safe destination. However, as more countries increase their vaccination rates, there will be more competition in the coming months," he said.

"The impact of burdensome travel requirements will continue to be felt in 2022," Borg added. 
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
NORTH ADAMS  The walls of an empty space in the Steeple City Plaza were being painted Tuesday.

A new tenant is moving in.

Rent-A-Center has signed a lease and plans to open in the space, according to Paula Tibbetts, a property manager who works for the group that owns the property. The space once housed Olympia Sports.

The plaza has had turnover in businesses, and a large space that used to house a department store still is empty. Gordmans, the most recent tenant in that space, closed a few months after its grand opening in the city, when its parent company filed for bankruptcy.
NEW YORK, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as investors grew concerned over rising geopolitical tensions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February delivery added 1.61 U.S. dollars, or 1.9 percent, to settle at 85.43 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery increased 1.03 dollars, or 1.2 percent, to close at 87.51 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

Prices for both WTI and Brent crude marked their highest settlements since Oct. 13, 2014, according to FactSet data.

"Besides tight supply that has been cited for some days now, market participants see growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as one of the reasons for the latest upswing," Carsten Fritsch, energy analyst at Commerzbank Research, said Tuesday in a note.

"Houthi rebels launched a drone attack on an oil depot in Abu Dhabi yesterday, for example, and have threatened further strikes," he said.

On Monday, Yemen's Houthi militia claimed responsibility for a military operation that struck areas inside the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an active member of the Saudi-led military coalition.

The Houthis' claim was just after three petroleum tankers exploded in a fire near the storage facilities of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the UAE capital's Musaffah industrial district.

Last week, the U.S. crude benchmark and Brent jumped 6.2 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, based on the front-month contracts. 
Betty White Challenge

Berkshire County animal shelters benefit from the Betty White Challenge

Betty White's love of animals has spurred donations to animal shelters in honor of the late star's 100th birthday
Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington, the top law enforcement official in the Berkshires, took to Twitter over the weekend to defend the state's attorney in Baltimore city, who was recently indicted on federal charges of perjury.
The federal government will provide $1.1 million to Massachusetts to repair 472 bridges, according to U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield.
Massachusetts schools this week will be able to sign up to receive at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for weekly use by their students and staff, and those that choose to do so will stop contact tracing and participating in the test-and-stay program that allows close contacts to stay in the classroom as long as they test negative for the virus daily.

Boy takes COVID test (copy) Santino Herring, 11, takes a COVID-19 test at Reid Middle School in Pittsfield in October. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Seco

State officials said Tuesday the new option for local school districts will allow school nurses to focus more on symptomatic individuals and general COVID-19 management. Schools still will need to continue participating in symptomatic or pooled testing to take part in the new at-home test program.

K-12 students and staff at schools that opt in to the program will receive one packet of two COVID tests each week for use on a day designated by local officials. Local districts can start opting in to the program for staff this week, and they will start receiving tests during the week of Jan. 24, while tests for students will be distributed the week of Jan. 31.

The tests will be shipped directly to school districts and come from a supply of 26 million rapid tests that Gov. Charlie Baker announced last week that his administration had ordered from iHealth.

School nurses and others have done an incredible job around the clock to make [the test-and-stay] program operate as effectively as it has here in Massachusetts, and its been massively successful in avoiding days lost at home, Baker said Tuesday. But, the current state of the pandemic requires that we adapt our efforts to meet the times.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said the move would enable school health staff to spend more time and resources identifying symptomatic individuals and focusing on other aspects of COVID-19 management.

In a news release ahead of the 10 a.m. announcement at the Statehouse, the DESE said states including Connecticut and Vermont have recently transitioned from individualized contact tracing to the use of at-home tests and focusing school health efforts on symptomatic testing.

Jeff Riley, commissioner of the DESE, called the new at-home testing program a game changer, adding that the new program allows schools to pivot strategies away from identifying asymptomatic close contacts to COVID mitigation and symptomatic testing efforts.

Weve also heard from many nurses and school administrators urging us to make changes to our test-and-stay program and the contact tracing associated with it, Riley said. And both our medical advisers and the [Department of Public Health] say its time to pivot.

During the week of Jan. 6 to Jan. 12, school districts reported 41,063 new COVID-19 cases among students and 7,351 in staff members. Despite elevated caseloads, state education officials estimated that individual positivity rates among students and staff still were about one-fifth of the statewide positivity rate.

In a Tuesday letter from Riley to local school officials, Riley said positivity rates from the test-and-stay program indicate that individuals identified as close contacts in school are very unlikely to contract or spread COVID-19.

These data show that transmission from close contacts is a rare occurrence in schools and that, therefore, extensive contact tracing and associated Test and Stay procedures are not adding significant value as a mitigation strategy despite the demand they place on the time of school health staff and school staff at large, the letter said.

As a result, we are recommending that school health personnel increase their focus on identifying symptomatic individuals, rather than monitoring in-school close contacts who are unlikely to contract or spread the virus.

The new testing option, the letter said, will uniquely support the shift in focus, and also will shift some testing responsibilities away from schools and toward parents and students.

Schools will ask parents to sign a permission form and watch an informational video with directions on administering the at-home tests. If an individual tests positive, school officials are asking staff or parents to commit to calling their school and informing it of the positive test results.

Schools then will report positive cases to the DESE, as part of the departments weekly COVID-19 reporting that is in place.

The test-and-stay program allows teachers and students who are identified as close contacts to a COVID-19 case to stay in classrooms, so long as they continue to test negative for the virus on a daily basis.

State education and Baker administration officials argued that the program helped prevent disruptions to in-person learning for students. Riley said Tuesday that the test-and-stay program was conceived and launched before school-age children were eligible for a vaccine.

We need to pivot from strategies that worked in the fall to policies that are more aligned with how things have changed, Riley said. ... This is something that is just better for our kids and gives more coverage, and at the same time provides [health staff] more relief so they can focus on symptomatic cases.

Baker said the new at-home testing program is just the latest way that we think we can keep kids in school.

And while testing is an important tool, I would like to remind everyone, once again, that getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, our educators and our kids, Baker said. If you havent been vaccinated or boosted, please book an appointment.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Windy early with showers becoming likely after midnight. Low 41F. SE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Windy early with showers becoming likely after midnight. Low 41F. SE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Imagine your church family being written about in the Bible. What word would you want to be used to describe you? Loving? Committed? Righteous?

The word that the Bereans got was noble. You may think they earned this word by being quiet and dignified, or even submissive. But they earned this partly by questioning the Apostle Paul, and looking up what he had to say for themselves!

The Berean Church was visited by Paul and written about between 70 and 90 AD. Though their interaction was brief, it was important enough to be recorded  and important enough to be lauded as noble.

Where Do the Bereans Appear in the Bible?

The Bereans are mentioned in the book of Acts as Paul was planting churches in Asia Minor, right after he planted a church in Thessalonica:

As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men (Acts 17:10-12).

The Bereans set an example for how to receive the Gospel with humility, but also to take ownership of their faith. And they did it together!

How Did the Bereans Study the Bible?

A way to remember how the Bereans studies the Bible is that they did it with the three Es: eagerness, examination, and every day.

You can just feel the excitement that this church must have had when you read this passage. I imagine them hearing something new about Jesus from Paul, whispering to each other enthusiastically, and then promptly sending someone young and fast to fetch another scroll from Isaiah to pour over as it dawns on them, that yes, Paul is telling the truth. Jesus is the Messiah that they have been waiting for.

The Bereans were clearly open to the Word of God. It wasnt a chore for them, but something that they were excited about reading.

Their faith wasnt vague or superficialthey examined the Scriptures carefully because it was obviously something of great importance to them.

And this wasnt just a Sunday church activity for them either. It was an everyday decision.

They didnt just take Pauls word for it. Paul was dropping amazing news on them that they could have just celebrated and moved on. But their faith in Gods promises was clearly of so much importance that they had to make sure Paul wasnt just making it up. They had to see it in Scripture for themselves.

Paul commends the Berean church for being more noble than the church in Thessalonica because of their response to his message. If you read Acts 17:1-4, you learn how many of those in Thessalonica apparently did not take what Paul said to be true:

When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah, he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

Although some were persuaded, it is recorded that Paul spent three sabbaths reasoning with them, and has no mention of their eagerness in checking to see if Paul was correct. It seems there is a difference in who is carrying the weight. In Thessalonica, Paul had to do the proving. But in Berea, the Jews took it upon themselves to see if what Paul was saying was true.

It seems like those in Thessalonica did not have as open, soft hearts as those in Berea.

What Can We Learn from the Bereans Today?

The Bereans show us an amazing example of how we should be whenever we come in contact with the Word of God.

To have heard that Jesus was the Messiah would have been incredibly shocking to the Jews. Jesus had been prophesied about for generations and generations, and now someone was claiming that he had appeared, in their lifetime! A fulfillment of the most epic promise God made to his peopleand it happened right near them. And this Messiah was very different from the warrior-king they had expected.

So, it makes sense that what Paul was saying would have taken some persuading to accept. But the Bereans show us that even when Scripture is giving us a hard pill to swallow, our hearts can still be open and trusting. Even when it shifts our paradigms or disrupts our life, we can still allow Scripture to shape us.

The Bereans also very clearly owned their faith. Paul was an Apostle. He experienced a vision and was converted by Jesus Christ himself. If there was someone that the Jews in Berea could have taken at his word, it would have been Paul. But the fact that the Bereans verified Pauls message with Scripture shows that they were not afraid to take their faith into their own hands. They would not be led astray when it came to something so precious to them. We can learn how to humbly question what our spiritual leaders are telling usnot out of rebellion, but out of a passion for the truth and integrity to Gods character.

And finally, the Bereans studied the Scriptures together. The fact that they met in the synagogue to study the Scriptures tells us that this would have been a very communal, interactive time of learning. The Gospel Coalition puts it this way: This wouldve involved public readings of Scripture, debate and disputation by teachers, teaching and exposition, and conversation about teaching. This act of interpretation, whatever else it was in the granular details, was a communal act.

As Westerners, we tend to view Christianity as a solitary, individual thing. But it is very much a team sport. Jesus tells us that something special happens when two or three gather in his name: that he is in the midst of them (Matt 18:20). The Bible holds up community as the clearest way to show Gods relational character. We were not meant to do this alone. And the Bereans show us that even interpreting Scripture is best done together, where we can learn from each other.

How often have you been in a Bible study where youre reading the same passage, but the people around you get something completely different out of it then you do? Its such a beautiful thing that we can hear the Spirits voice through our diverse lenses. And what a joy it must have for the Bereans to learn of the Gospel for the first time with their friends and family around them!

The Legacy of the Bereans

We can only read about the Bereans in the Bible in a total of three verses. And yet were still talking about them today!

The legacy they left was one you can tell that they did not even intend to leave  their impact was simply a result of their humble hearts. That shows us how powerful humility is, because of how powerful Gods Spirit is!

If you want to study Scripture like the Bereans, remember the 3 Es: Eagerly, Examine, and Every day. But dont just do it alone! Bring in your church family and learn the way that God intended you to: within a loving community that more fully shows his face.

Sources

The Bereans Had No Bibles: Re-envisioning Acts 17

Who Were the Bereans?

Photo credit: Getty Images/Yakobchuk Olena

Kelly-Jayne McGlynn is a former editor at Crosswalk.com. She sees the act of expression, whether through writing or art, as a way to co-create with God and experience him deeper. Check out her handmade earring Instagram and Etsy for more of her thoughts on connecting with God through creative endeavors.
To the editor,

Preserving the integrity of the vote is the professed object of both major political parties, and it appears that the airwaves of 2022 will be filled with impassioned arguments from both sides. It is not my purpose to weigh in on the merits of either partys case in this letter, but rather to focus on an aspect of voting that neither party seems eager to broach  the non-voter.

I confess the political events of the last few years have troubled me and frankly disgusted with the superficiality of much that social media offers, Ive lately sought insights through reading the works of a number of political scientists. One of them is Stanford Universitys Francis Fukuyama. His several books published since the early 1990s show not only his evolution from a much-cheered, neo-conservative theorist, but also the evolution of the planets political landscape.

The professors buoyant enthusiasm of 1992, anticipating the success of democratic projects as the Soviet Union and communism crumbled, is strikingly attenuated in a 2011 book when he conceded that a democratic recession had emerged in the first decade of the 21st century as country after country succumbed to authoritarian regimes. Failure to deliver on the promise of democracy poses what is perhaps the greatest challenge he declared.

Democracy more than implies participation, it demands it  ordinary citizens must be willing to become knowledgeable about issues and to express their views at the ballot box.

Fukuyama points out that the contraction of democracy across the globe can be partially explained by the success of determined, ambitious leaders having little regard for democratic principles as they seize power. But such authoritarian leaders are abetted by increasingly disillusioned citizens who are unwilling or incapable to push back on such assaults.

The 2020 U.S. election is cited as garnering the largest number of votes cast in any election, but according to the voter turnout records maintained by Big Rapids City Clerk Tammy Gillis, only 53% of Big Rapids 5,291 registered voters actually voted in 2020.

And according to the 2020 census the city of Big Rapids had a population of 6,937 persons over the age of 20 (age groups in the census combine 15 to 19 year olds), adding to the actual number of potential voters, had they chosen to register in the first place. The percentage of people who could have legitimately voted in our city in 2020 likely hovers in the mid-40% range.

Recent municipal elections have brought out far fewer voters. Mrs. Gilliss statistics for the 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 Big Rapids elections show that only 5.35%, 9.67%, 17.7%, 11.86% and 17.02% of Big Rapids registered voters actually voted, an average of 12% in our last five outings.

Dramatic firey speeches will be heard in 2022 to galvanize the base of either political party, but in our community at least, voter apathy would appear to be a far greater threat to democracy.

Richard M. Cochran

Big Rapids
While theres no denying that the United States is not perfect and there have been missteps throughout our history, there is a delusion among many on the left that the United States today is comparable to countries that continue to act atrociously.

Lets look at Silicon Valley billionaire Chamath Palihapitiyas recent comments dismissing the plight of Chinas Muslim Uyghur population.

Keep in mind that China is holding roughly a million Muslim Uyghurs in concentration camps!



Palihapitiya says the Uyghurs dont make the cut for his concerns, stating there are more important things concerning him, like the potential economic consequences of China invading Taiwan.

Palihapitiya, a minority owner of the NBAs Golden State Warriors who expressed his opinion freely on his podcast, turned his criticism towards his own country (he holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship), yapping about fight clubs in New Yorks Rikers Island prison.

Lets be clear: in the year 2022, there is nothing this country does regarding Human Rights that is comparable to what China does.

While the Biden administration may be afraid to speak up and do anything about injustice in China, billionaires like Palihapitiya could stop doing business with China and perhaps have a speedier impact on a dire situation.



But that wont put money in the billionaires bank account.



Palihapitiya should consider taking his money and at least buy some real empathy.
H2U boasts the resources and networks brought by a team of prominent advisors

Health to U (H2U) Corporation, an industry-leader in connected healthcare technology and provider of digital health and wellbeing platforms, has announced the closing of a $8 million round of funding, led by SHARP and Foxconn Technology.

Aiming at strengthening H2Us partnerships with digital healthcare brands, to create a subscription-based workplace health ecosystem, the funding round attracted strategic investment from ADATA Technology, TOPCO Scientific, UDN.com, WeLeader Bio, Flight International, and Wondercise.

H2U is working on expanding its offering to the international market. In 2022, the company plans to bring in international strategic investors from Japan and Silicon Valley to assist its growth into a digital health unicorn. The objective is to launch an overseas IPO in two years.

Saxon Chen, H2U CEO, commented: Through the platform, users will be able to obtain data from ongoing check-ups and receive personalized health advice and information. The vast uncertainty and unpredictableness brought on by the pandemic have resulted in restrictions and health risks to all of our lives."
Indian biopharma industry HITS Rs 33K Cr WITH 13% GROWTH in 2020-21

Amidst the pandemic, the Indian Biopharma Industry, with over 300 companies, has witnessed a good growth of 13 percent, 2 percent less than the previous years 15 percent growth rate. This growth was largely driven by the performance of the Indian biopharma companies which have done very well as against multinational companies. As a result, the Indian Biopharma Industry has crossed the Rs 33,000 crore mark for the year 2020-21 over the previous years figure of Rs 29,176 crore. The Indian Biopharma industry, comprising hormones, insulin, blood products, and vaccines recorded a sales revenue of Rs 33,067 crore for the year 2020-21.
South Africans will have to say goodbye to Peck's Anchovette and Redro fish paste for the foreseeable future as Pioneer Foods, the local distributor of Peck's and manufacturer of the South African equivalent Redro, has ceased production of the once-iconic products.

Hated fish paste, good riddance. Now marmite must go https://t.co/aTE9e47VHv  Sello (@LoloKale) January 18, 2022

Struggling to find Marmite, and now they take my fishpaste too. Filthy capitalist pigs.  Mandy Collins (@CollinsMandy) January 18, 2022

Not joking: this has wrecked my year. I want to lie on the floor and howl. #Pecks #Anchovette #Redro is the one thing I reliably stock up on every time I go to South Africa. Hot toast, butter and fish paste is the frikkin bomb! https://t.co/UtFsKu9JUc  Jennie Ridyard (@JennieRidyard) January 18, 2022

why both Pecks and Redro? how did that happen? what are the chances? we're not left with even one fish paste brand? my money says this is a conspiracy by Big Marmite. or Big Avo @joerogan @BanKimoon_amdg  Anton Visser (@visseranton) January 18, 2022

I woke up feeling SO goodonly to be informed that theyre discontinuing Fish Paste.Im already over 2022   Fire-Fox (@lana_helberg) January 18, 2022

Very sad to see that Pecks Anchovette has been discontinued in SA along with Redro which will no longer be manufactured. A product that has been around since 1891https://t.co/4Vn14PO0yE  Sam Linsell  (@drizzleanddip) January 18, 2022

In an emailed response to, Pioneer Foods, which is owned by PepsiCo following a $1.7bn acquisition , said the company made the decision to discontinue production of its Redro and Pecks fish paste products towards the end of last year."This was part of our ongoing portfolio review. We communicated this to our customers, stopped production and discontinued the sale of related items in December 2021," commented Mandy Murphy, category manager: foods at PepsiCo sub-Saharan Africa.Murphy added that the company is in the process of finalising the sale of the related assets/brands to a third party.SA consumers hoping to get their hands on the last jars of Pecks and Redro in-store may need to trawl local retailers while the last remaining stock is still available on shelves.As Business Insider South Africa reports, Peck's Anchovette, originally from the United Kingdom, dates back to 1891. It only arrived in South Africa in the 1960s, and until then, South Africans cosied up Redro, a local fish spread developed from a local family recipe in the 1930sadds that when Pecks gained traction locally, Redro was downgraded to a more value for money fish paste alternative.No mention of the history of Redro should exclude a reference to one of SA's iconic early TV commercials, the 'Redro - It's Everything You Love' ad:Consumer sentiment on social media seems to reflect that fish paste can indeed be a divisive topic - with some people lamenting the brands' departure from shelves and others welcoming it. See some of the public reactions below:
If businesses have learned anything from 2021, it's that top-notch product shots are nonnegotiable. The way customers shop has changed forever - online retail is the new normal, making high-quality photos more important than ever before. A single photo can make the difference between making and losing a sale. There are multiple aspects to consider when integrating this into your e-commerce strategy - from 360-degree photography to products in motion, storytelling, search results rankings and more. Craig Bellingham, founder and CEO of Studio[K]irmack, who has overseen over 150 national retail campaigns, with a client list that includes adidas, Puma, Engen, Pick n Pay Clothing, Hi-Tec and Cape Union Mart, among others, shares eight key points to keep in mind.

Name your photos clearly and carefully. Images with names like IMG03.JPG are not helpful to Google or users. Choose terms that actually describe the image but keep the name short - long file names that are stuffed with keywords could have a negative effect on your search rankings.



Add that alt text. Even if it seems like a time-consuming extra step, provide a brief description of the contents of the picture. Search engines rely heavily on alt text to parse images. Make it easier for them, and you might be rewarded.



Check your page load times. If your images are too big, they could be slowing your site down. Slow loading times may mean lower rankings and missed purchases. JPEGs are the most-used file format for e-commerce, as they allow for high-quality previews without chewing up all the bandwidth.

Customers want to learn as much as possible about the products on offer before committing to a purchase. High-quality photos and descriptions can virtually replace the capacity to feel and touch a tangible good, filling in for lost senses in online shops. Research shows that nearly 80% of online shoppers crave a visual experience - they are unlikely to explore the shelves further if there are no photos. Retailers need to give customers what they want; and for maximum satisfaction, its recommended that you provide a number of photo options, video and 360-degree solutions if you are able to do so.Stills have been used to promote products for decades. Various trends and styles have changed the way these pictures have been taken over the years, but the essence has remained the same - until now. In recent years, weve seen a big shift to video. As technology has developed, video has become much more compact - expanding its usage on websites and social media. 73% of consumers are more likely to buy products after watching videos that show them in action. This is exciting, because we know that people pay a lot more attention to video than they do to still images. Savvy brands have been taking advantage of these increased opportunities for exposure, which has had a domino effect on product photographers. Its reasonable to expect the studio you hire to be well versed in videography, even if the degree that product shots require it may be limited. In fact, you could argue that this skill is now a basic requirement.Initially dismissed as a flash in the pan, 360-degree photography has become increasingly popular across the majority of social media platforms and is being integrated into many large e-commerce sites. Its a trend that looks set to stick around, and more and more brands are trying to take advantage of it. Though 360-degree photography is still in its relative infancy, companies can - and should - learn how to implement it into their marketing strategies; this is something that the right e-commerce photography studio should be able to assist with.Customers are bored of seeing the same types of images over and over again, especially when it comes to differentiating one brand from another. Seasoned strategists (and the studios they use) have found a few ways to overcome this catalogue fatigue - one being to capture products in motion. This doesnt have to be the same as using video; it means creating the illusion of action and movement through a series of stills. Products in motion can be a great way to shake things up, so you might want to consider adding them to the mix.Visual material is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media than other types of content. That means quality photos are essential if you want your product to go viral - for the right reasons, anyway. Visual signals trigger emotional responses - and, as we know, these can be powerful for a brand. If a customer likes one of the top product photos from your website, its likely to end up on social media, increasing both your visibility and potential sales. People post photos to their accounts, consult friends and family for advice before buying, and share their shopping experiences. If you want your photos to be shared, make sure they look professional.Simply by selecting a well-placed, thoughtfully designed image, you can conjure up a feeling, dream or vision. Visitors to your website will read your photos and decide - in a split second - whether the rest of the material on the site is relevant to them or not. It all boils down to the stories your photos are telling; you may be able to bring a customer to your product online, but unless the images are appealing, and reinforce the narrative that they will benefit from the product (or service) in their lives, they will ditch the transaction and stop engaging with your brand, taking their interests elsewhere. While its true that well-crafted text can be very persuasive, strategically planned - and placed - visuals can go much further. Studies suggest that people recall 80 percent of what they see, compared to just 20 percent of what they read.Because products look different in reality than in the photos, over 20 percent of all items sold online will be refunded. This is another reason why you need to make sure youve got good-quality product shots on your e-store; it helps set realistic expectations for your customers about what the goods they are ordering are actually like. The right photos will alleviate doubts and concerns - the wrong ones will do the opposite.Optimising your product shots for search engines is an excellent way to increase the number of people who are interested in your products. There are several easy ways to do this, including the following:Studio[K]irmack is an innovative high-tech production studio that enables e-commerce brands to produce best-in-class photography and digital content campaigns faster, easier and more cost effectively. CEO Craig Bellingham is also an authorised agent for Orbitvu automated product photography solutions in South Africa.
2021 was an interesting year for marketing, as more businesses - big and small - turned to digital to reach new audiences and navigate a new normal where digital media consumption increased. Retailers, specifically, were required to adapt and prioritise their digital strategies to avoid falling behind in an extremely competitive and fast-moving environment.

The rise and rise of the hybrid digital marketing team

The omnichannel customer experience

The TikTok Trend

Monetising digital efforts

The growing utilisation of dark social channels

This year, we expect to see the world of digital marketing expand and grow to new heights, as this channel continues to cement itself as critical to the success of any brand or business.These are my predictions for five important digital marketing trends for South African retailers to watch out for in 2022:In the past, many businesses have taken one of two approaches to their digital marketing  an in-house team or outsourced to an agency. Both of these approaches have their unique challenges.In-house marketing teams can be expensive and creativity can sometimes be stifled. The reality of working with an agency is that your resources are shared, and the knowledge of your specific business and industry can take time to come about.This year, I expect to see the rise of the hybrid approach more deliberately, which will see South African businesses having an individual or small team who work directly with the agency to drive their digital marketing strategy. I believe this approach presents the ideal set-up to foster the right balance of creativity, affordability, and understanding of the complexities of the business and industry in question.The hybrid model is powerful for retail, where deadlines are often immediate. In-house teams are able to deliver on these swiftly and effectively where changes are needed, under the creative guidance of the agency.Omnichannel has been a buzzword for a couple of years now when it comes to customer experience, but has not necessarily come to full fruition locally yet through channels like digital marketing.More SA businesses will prioritise using their customer data to create a single view of their customer that allows them to market to them in the best possible way  as digital marketing continues to establish itself as a critical part of the consumer path to purchase. In retail, for example, those brands who are not aware of how their in-store customer behaves on digital channels, or vice versa, run the risk of losing market share and customer loyalty almost overnight.Great marketing provides the customer with an experience that feels personal and seamless  and this is what omnichannel means.2021 saw the rise and rise of TikTok as a platform, and it continues to expand, grow and evolve  making it challenging for brands to figure out how to establish their presence on the platform. I believe that most local brands havent yet figured out how to do this in the right way yet  but that is set to change this year.Content is king on this platform and needs to feel native to the platform and original and entertaining to audiences, while still communicating brand messaging effectively  this can be a hard balance to strike. I believe more brands will be strategising around the best ways to use the platform  be it through influencers or a brand presence  and prioritising their investment in this regard.In the retail world, content and influencer work most needs to champion a product rather than a brand itself. It can often be challenging to find the balance between what is genuine to the creator and creating talkability and excitement about a product. This year, retailers will need to work alongside content creators to create unique and innovative ways to do this.In South Africa specifically, many brands are still using their digital channels for brand awareness and have not yet figured out how to monetise and track the success of their digital approach. For any business that is serious about succeeding in the digital age, this is going to have to change this year.Businesses need to be aware of how their efforts on social media. Google, for example, are contributing toward their overall presence and ultimately, sales. Digital marketers need to be tracking the entire customer journey and have a detailed understanding of how each individual channel is contributing to e-commerce conversions. This is pivotal in ensuring digital marketing investment is geared towards achieving optimum results.Another important aspect of this is influencer relations and looking at new ways to track and monetise these brand relationships without it being to the detriment of originality.For retail brands with a diverse range of products, it is important to understand which channels work best for which categories  a one-size-fits-all approach is not going to cut it in 2022. Each platform has a unique audience profile, and retailers need to ensure their spending aligns to the right categories and products, for best results.Lastly, it is important that brands and businesses are paying attention to those channels where the user journey is encrypted  such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. There is certainly a growing trend locally where brands are investing in the creation of WhatsApp chatbots, but these are being used as customer experience channels rather than a platform for marketing and community building.This year, I expect that will change, as brands look for new and innovative ways to reach their audiences.In conclusion, customer-centricity is king in 2022  and digital marketing is driving this in many ways. For retailers, it is essential to have synchronicity between marketing, products, supply chain and e-commerce or brick and mortar stores in order to ensure customers are presented with the products, services and experiences they desire and expect.While it is certainly important that brands and businesses are keeping up to date with the latest trends, it is important to realise that there will always be a new trend on the rise. Rather than trying to keep up with all of these, or making assumptions about what consumers might want, businesses need to critically interrogate which of these are most aligned to the needs and wants of their customers and use that to create and drive their strategies for 2022 and beyond.
South Africa: Matric results to be released on media platforms

The Department of Basic Education says that it will abide by the North Gauteng High Court ruling regarding the release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results on media platforms.

This means that the department will make available the results to stakeholders who requested access, the department said on Tuesday.

This after AfriForum, Maroela Media and a Grade 12 learner made an urgent application for the court to reverse the departments decision to no longer release matric results on public platforms, which cited the violation of the Protection of Personal Information Act or POPI Act.

However, according to the department, the conditions of the court ruling must be taken into account in line with the provisions of the POPI Act.

In addition to accessing results from media such as newspapers, the department has urged candidates to register on the website to view the results when they become available on Thursday, 20 January 2022.

Registration is now open and more than 10 000 people had successfully signed up by lunchtime today.

According to the department, candidates will have to go through a two-step verification process before receiving confirmation of their registration.

In addition, a 13-digit ID number and exam number will be required for registration.

The department said its website is zero-rated, which means it can be accessed whether you have data or not.

It is in the public interest that this information is shared on public platforms and that is one of the reasons why we brought this application. We are delighted that the court agreed with us in this argument, said AfriForums Education Rights Manager, Natasha Venter.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-01-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Chinese mainland reports 127 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

Xinhua) 11:25, January 18, 2022

Staff members arrange swab samples in Anyang City of central China's Henan Province, Jan. 12, 2022. (Photo by Ma Xiaoran/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 127 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Tuesday.

Of the new local cases, 102 were reported in Henan, 18 in Tianjin, five in Guangdong, and one each in Beijing and Shaanxi, the commission said.

Also reported were 44 new imported cases in nine provincial-level regions, according to the commission.

Three new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day, it added.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 105,258 by Monday, including 3,530 patients still receiving treatment, of whom 14 were in severe condition.

A total of 97,092 patients had been discharged from hospitals on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

A total of 33 asymptomatic cases were newly reported Monday, of whom 32 arrived from outside the mainland.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)


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Bradford, PA (16701)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
If Brian Pallister's last set of changes to Manitoba's cabinet before stepping down as premier was a shuffle, Premier Heather Stefanson changed the whole deck on Tuesday.

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JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson speaks to media prior to the reading of the speech from the throne at the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.

If Brian Pallister's last set of changes to Manitoba's cabinet before stepping down as premier was a shuffle, Premier Heather Stefanson changed the whole deck on Tuesday.

In sweeping changes to the ministerial landscape in the province, only two ministers kept their jobs while the rest either got new jobs or left cabinet entirely.

In Brandon, Spruce Woods Progressive Conservative MLA Cliff Cullen is out as education minister and has been appointed as the new deputy premier and minister of economic development.

Brandon West MLA Reg Helwer is still in charge of the province's civil service but has lost his position as infrastructure minister in favour of becoming the new minister of labour, consumer protection and government services and minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board.

Two more Westman MLAs were also added to cabinet.

Agassiz Progressive Conservative MLA and Eileen Clarke returns to cabinet as minister of municipal affairs after resigning from her post as Indigenous relations minister last year following controversial statements by Pallister over reconciliation and colonialism.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Education minister Cliff Cullen speaks at a press conference announcing a week of remote learning in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. For Maggie/Carol story. Winnipeg Free Press 2021.

In Turtle Mountain, PC MLA Doyle Piwinuk has been lifted from the backbench as minister of transportation and infrastructure.

The third new addition to cabinet is Lagimodiere PC MLA Andrew Smith, the new minister of sport, culture and heritage as well as the minister in charge of Travel Manitoba and the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation.

While Health Minister Audrey Gordon is keeping her role, the mental health and wellness file has once again been split off and given to Sarah Guillemard. The seniors file has also been split off from health, with Scott Johnston now in charge of the Department of Seniors and Long-term Care.

Former premier Kelvin Goertzen, who led the province between Pallister's resignation and Stefanson becoming leader of the PCs, has been shuffled from being deputy premier to being minister of justice and attorney general and the minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance.

He remains government house leader.

Former justice minister Cameron Friesen is now minister of finance and minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro. Departing the finance role is Scott Fielding, who is now minister of natural resources and northern development as well as minister responsible for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation.

Jeff Wharton, who was minister of Crown services, is the new minister of environment, climate and parks and minister responsible for Efficiency Manitoba.

For the education file, Wayne Ewasko is taking over from Cullen as minister of education and early childhood learning.

He departs the advanced education file, now being taken over by Jon Reyes  formerly minister of economic development and jobs  as minister of advanced education, skills and immigration.

The new minister of Agriculture is Derek Johnson, who is moving on from municipal relations.

Minister of Families and Minister responsible for francophone affairs Rochelle Squires is continuing on in her position while also assuming the roles of minister responsible for the status of women and accessibility.

Finally, Alan Lagimodiere remains in place as minister of Indigenous reconciliation and northern relations.

Two minister have departed cabinet, former agriculture minister Ralph Eichler and former minister of sport, culture and heritage Cathy Cox.

Premier Stefanson is set to address the media on the cabinet shuffle at 2:30 p.m.

Read more in Wednesday's edition of the Sun.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
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Where theres smoke, theres consequences.

Thats what two separate but thematically similar presentations tried to get across to Brandon City Council Monday night.

The first of these presentations called on councillors to strengthen Brandons restrictions on public smoking and vaping, while the second asked them to consider banning firepits within city limits because of the potentially dangerous effects of wood smoke.

Leading the charge on the firepit issue was Debbie Parrott, a retired teacher.

Parrott told the Sun Monday afternoon before the council meeting that wood smoke gives her migraines, but her research has shown her that there are more long-term consequences associated with allowing the use of firepits within city limits.

"Ive lived in Brandon 40 years this coming summer," she said. "It hasnt been until the last six, seven, eight years ... backyard firepits [have] increased to the point where unless its raining out or a really fierce wind, people around here are burning them. The smoke has gotten quite bad and its more than a nuisance."

Her research brought her to the Manitoba Lung Association.

"The mixture of gas and microscopic particles are the dangerous components of wood smoke as they can get into your respiratory system, causing serious and lasting health issues," the site states. "This fine particulate matter can aggravate lung and other diseases and have been previously linked to premature death in individuals with existing conditions. It is advised that anyone suffering from diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or asthma should steer clear of wood smoke in general."

However, its not just the immediate health effects of wood smoke that Parrott is concerned with, but the effects on the climate and environment as well.

"Overall, these pollutants can affect all parts of the ecosystem, from micro-organisms and plants to fish and mammals, and some pollutants can pass from one part of the ecosystem to another. For example, dioxins produced from open-air burning [e.g., from the burning of plastics] can be deposited on plants and eaten by livestock. The pollutants are then absorbed into the animals [bio-accumulation] and stay in the food chain, eventually ending up in meat and dairy products," a 2016 document produced by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment said about the environmental effects of open-air burning.

Since Brandon has branded itself a "Bee City" in recent years, Parrott also pointed out that pollutants spread by wood smoke can have negative effects on the bees we rely on for pollination.

If council were to ban firepits, it wouldnt be without precedent in Canada. Cities like Vancouver and Montreal have banned firepits within city limits.

Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes) asked Parrott what she thought had changed over the last few years to make wood smoke a bigger issue.

According to Parrott, previous conversations between her and Berry had revealed that there are six firepit permits issued in her neighbourhood, but more than six neighbours who have fires going.

As the child of a father who died of emphysema at age 63 and of a mother who is currently suffering from the same illness, Parrott expressed support for the other smoke-related presentation before council.

Two representatives from a group called Action on Smoking & Health (ASH), Stephanie Toews and Les Hagen, laid out the health risks from smoking and vaping and called on council to strengthen its current restrictions on public use of those products.

ASH, founded in 1979, is one of Canadas leading tobacco control organizations with staff across the four Western provinces.

"Tobacco use places an enormous burden on our health system, quality of life and our health care," Toews said. "Tobacco use kills about 50,000 Canadians annually, which represents approximately 20 per cent of all deaths in Canada."

The annual economic cost of smoking, she said, is $11 billion.

One of the key negative side-effects of vaping, according to the presentation, is that it leads to children taking up smoking. Toews said youth who vape are three times more likely to start smoking tobacco and for every adult who is able to stop smoking through vaping, 80 youth who vape will start smoking.

Limiting kids exposure to seeing people vaping, smoking or using hookahs will lead to fewer people trying smoking, Toews argued.

"To a five-year-old, smoking is smoking whether it involves smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars or joints," she said. "The more smoking cues that children receive, the more likely they are to become smokers themselves."

The presenter brought up the part of Manitobas Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act that prohibits cannabis use in public places. Since tobacco use kills 50 times more people than cannabis, Toews said any rules prohibiting cannabis use in public can be employed to justify banning public tobacco smoking as well.

Because of this, Toews said Brandon should consider implementing tobacco smoking and nicotine vaping use bans in public as well. To accomplish this, she said ASH is open to working with the city to create a gold standard smoking and vaping bylaw.

"Specifically, we request that you make all parks, public recreation spaces and events smoke-free," she said.

She also called for this ban to be extended to group living facilities and hotel and motel rooms to protect residents, workers and patrons from secondhand smoke. Additionally, she believed the city implementing a licensing fee for tobacco retailers and vape shops could help pay for education campaigns, training and enforcement costs.

Coun. Shaun Cameron (University) asked what is being employed in communities that have implemented tobacco licensing fees.

Toews responded that education would be focused on retailers and making sure they arent selling products to youth, but that funds could also be used to create informative signs on the topic.

Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre) mentioned that Brandon had a comprehensive smoking bylaw years before much of the country implemented the same rules, and asked if ASH had approached the province to work on changing provincial rules on smoking and vaping.

There was a consultation meeting on the subject that ASH participated in last September. However, Toews said that historically, municipalities have led the way on legislation regarding smoking and vaping.

"Usually, it takes a critical mass of municipalities before the province makes any sweeping changes, but that is something were trying to work more closely with the province [on]," she said. "The new mental health and wellness department has hired some analysts in the tobacco strategy area. We are hoping to connect with them."

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
HALIFAX - Some Nova Scotia parents felt more comfortable than others bringing their kids to school on Monday, as the province became the first in Atlantic Canada to reopen in-person classes.

The playground at Shannon Park Elementary School in Dartmouth, N.S., sits empty on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - Some Nova Scotia parents felt more comfortable than others bringing their kids to school on Monday, as the province became the first in Atlantic Canada to reopen in-person classes.

Students in about 400 public schools across the province had been learning remotely since Jan. 10 because of the threat to public safety posed by the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.

Jeremy Webb, a parent to two sons, said he faced feelings of "dread" taking his children to school on Monday in the Halifax area, despite wanting them to get back to in-class learning.

"There's no doubt that mental health and their energy needs to be back," Webb said in an interview. "(But) no matter what we do to teach them and train them to wear their masks and to follow all the rules, at the end of the day, they're in a classroom with a large number of other children."

Nova Scotia Teachers Union president Paul Wozney said Monday in an interview that the government hasn't done enough to ensure students and staff are protected from COVID-19, especially considering officials will not conduct contact tracing in schools.

Wozney says some of his members are being asked to report to work even if they're symptomatic but haven't tested positive for the disease.

The lack of contact tracing is another big concern for Webb, who said he feels parents no longer have the power to take care of the health of their children and themselves.

Tim Rissesco said his two sons both reported enjoying their first day back at school. He said he feels the measures put in place by schools and government officials are adequate to keep his children safe.

"There's always the concern that we're still in a global pandemic  but I think with the protocols in place, they're happy to be back," he said.

Unlike Webb, Rissesco said he wasn't particularly concerned about the lack of contact tracing in schools. "What's happened now, particularly with this latest variant, is that it's all over the place, so the utility of the contact tracing is negated by that."

The teachers union's main concern is that reopened schools could lead to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Wozney said.

"Were beginning the grand 'we have to learn to live with it' experiment in Nova Scotia with the youngest, least vaccinated Nova Scotians," Wozney said, adding that schools could lead to a wave of the disease unlike previous waves.

Meanwhile, public health officials announced Monday that eligibility for boosters shots had been expanded to include residents 18 years and up. Officials have also added 55,000 appointments for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

As well, four more COVID-19-related deaths were reported Monday, along with 73 hospitalizations, including 13 in intensive care. Officials reported 495 new cases.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said some teachers who had tested positive for COVID-19 were being asked to report to work as long as they had no symptoms.
OTTAWA - Jewish community leaders have advised Canadian synagogues to increase their level of vigilance in case of a copycat attack following a hostage taking at a Texas synagogue this weekend.

B'nai Brith Canada Chief Executive Officer Michael Mostyn speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Monday, April 29, 2019. Jewish community leaders are advising synagogues to increase their level of vigilance. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Jewish community leaders have advised Canadian synagogues to increase their level of vigilance in case of a copycat attack following a hostage taking at a Texas synagogue this weekend.

Police in Canadian cities including Toronto have also increased patrols around synagogues and other Jewish community buildings, although they have said there is currently no known threat.

Bnai Brith, which monitors antisemitism and advises the Jewish community on security, has advised Jewish institutions to take extra precautions.

"We take seriously the possibility of copycat acts of violence," said Michael Mostyn, chief executive officer of Bnai Brith Canada, adding that Jewish Canadians face disproportionately high rates of hate crimes.

The daylong siege at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, ended on Saturday night after U.S. federal agents stormed the temple. The hostage taker, whom it later emerged was a British national, was shot and killed.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told CBS News how he and three others were held captive by the gun-wielding hostage taker while they were praying. The rabbi described how eventually he threw a chair at the gunman and managed to escape with two other hostages.

The rabbi said that during the ordeal, he recalled active-shooter drills he and members of his congregation had taken from the Colleyville Police Department and the FBI advising that when your life is under threat you need to do all you can to escape.

Canadian Jewish community leaders spoke this weekend with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino about security for members of the community.

Mendicino reminded Jewish leaders that synagogues, schools and other community institutions would be eligible for funds from the federal government's security infrastructure program to "protect themselves."

The funds can pay to enhance security including to doors and windows. It includes up to $10,000 for basic staff training in response to hate-crime incidents.

Mendicino said during the calls he had expressed "grave concern" and reiterated "our unwavering support."

"Canada's Jewish community should always feel safe no matter where they are  but especially in a synagogue," Mendicino said. "At the request of local communities, municipal police have increased surveillance in several cities across Canada. At this difficult moment we must redouble our efforts to fight antisemitism and all forms of hate."

The minister's office said Toronto, Ottawa and Edmonton were among the cities where police had increased patrols near Jewish buildings.

Richard Marceau, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said it was "reassured by the serious manner in which (Mendicino) is following things, along with a pledge to work with us to explore all measures to enhance security for Jewish community and all at risk communities"

He added: "We are also in continual contact with Canadian law enforcement at all levels."

A report by the Toronto police's hate crime unit found that in 2020 Jews were the most targeted group, ahead of Black, LGBTQ and Chinese Canadian communities.

In 2019, Jews were the victims of nearly half of police-reported hate crimes motivated by religion, more than any other religious group, according to Statistics Canada.

York police are investigating antisemitic graffiti scrawled this month in a park in Markham. The graffiti, which has been removed, shows the image of a Nazi salute and is being investigated by a hate crime officer.

Markham MP Mary Ng, the international trade minister, has condemned the graffiti on Twitter.

Nearby Spadina Fort York MP Kevin Vuong has also publicly condemned the antisemitic graffiti. He said antisemitism was a particular problem in the Greater Toronto Area, alongside anti-Asian hatred, both of which have seen a recent upsurge.

"It is important the we should stand together to speak out," he said.

"These actions are completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated," a spokeswoman for the city of Markham said in a statement. "As a city we are steadfast in standing up and speaking out against all forms of hate and hateful messaging."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.
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Harrisburg, Pa.  Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed more than 50 bills as he begins his final year in office, a number that illustrates the institutionalized gridlock between the Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Wolfs veto tally grew extensively during the pandemic and will likely expand during his final 13 months in office, as GOP leaders continue to largely bypass his agenda and push items such as mandated voter ID and curbs on the executives power.

As Wolf has exercised his veto pen, Republican legislators have increasingly turned to constitutional amendments to advance their priorities. The GOP says the change in strategy turns over decision-making to the voters, and critics say it circumvents the checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches.

Wolf spokesperson Elizabeth Rementer attributed the governors vetoes to Republican incompetence, saying he rejects legislation when its not in the best interest of all Pennsylvanians.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly is failing Pennsylvanians by refusing to pass legislation to make voting more accessible, reduce gun violence, and fairly pay and protect our workers, Rementer told Spotlight PA. Instead, they have spent the last several months passing terrible bills all while Pennsylvanias minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour.

Republicans say their agenda reflects the demands of their constituents and the current economy, and call Wolfs vetoes an attack on constitutional and civil rights.

After Wolf vetoed a bill that would have banned proof-of-vaccination requirements, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) and Majority Leader Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) released a statement saying the governor is running roughshod over the civil liberties of Pennsylvania residents.

Cormans spokesperson referred questions for this story to Wards office, which declined to comment. A spokesperson for House Republicans did not respond to a request for comment.

In Wolfs seven years in office, he has vetoed 54 bills and resolutions. Online records that date to 1975 show that Wolf has surpassed Democrat Bob Casey Sr.s 50 vetoes between 1987 and 1995, but not Democrat Milton Shapp, who rejected more than 70 bills during his two terms in office.

The legislature can overturn a veto with a two-thirds vote, the standard in most states. It has failed to do so during Wolfs time in office.

In 2015, Wolfs first year as governor, his vetoes were primarily directed at the state budget. The protracted battle lasted until March 2016, when Wolf passively allowed a budget plan to become law.

The standoff set the tone for future clashes with lawmakers, but Wolf didnt experience forceful pushback or attempts to limit his powers until the arrival of COVID-19.

In 2020, Wolf signed 140 bills into law, only 27 of which directly addressed problems brought on by the coronavirus. More than a third of Wolfs vetoes  19  were issued that year, a spike that reflects fights over the administrations public health measures, as well as the economic fallout of the pandemic.

As the Wolf administration shut down businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed  measures in line with public health guidance  Republicans with a handful of Democrats passed a number of bills to reopen parts of the economy.

Wolf vetoed those measures, as well as bills designating shooting ranges as life-sustaining businesses, allowing local schools to set their own policies on sporting events, and giving counties control over COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

Angry over Wolfs rejections, Republicans went for the nuclear option: a resolution to unilaterally end the states COVID-19 disaster declaration.

When the state Supreme Court ruled that the legislature didnt have that power, Republican lawmakers launched a push for two constitutional amendments to give the majority that ability. Both were successful.

In 2022, GOP leaders are queuing up even more proposed changes to the constitution  at times in response to Wolfs vetoes  including one mandating voter ID and another that would eliminate statewide elections for appellate judges.

The uptick in proposed changes belies the lengthy and intensive process of amending the state constitution.

First, both the House and Senate must pass the resolution in two separate legislative sessions before it goes to voters. If a majority approves the amendment  and it survives any court challenges  it goes into effect.

But unlike overriding a veto, the amendment process requires consent from only a simple majority of lawmakers and voters. Once they are on the ballot, usually in low-turnout elections, these amendments rarely fail.

Critics of the tactic argue that amending the constitution to evade a veto undermines the balance of power between the legislature and the governor.

Khalif Ali, executive director of the nonpartisan good-government organization Common Cause PA, told Spotlight PA in October that the legislature is attempting to leech power from the other branches of government.

Theyre using the constitutional amendment to pass legislation they cant pass through the traditional and appropriate way, Ali said, calling it unethical.

Democrats have criticized the Republican-proposed amendments as an attempt to exclude the minority party from policymaking. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny) said amendments undermine the executives duty to represent the entire state, a job that differs from that of lawmakers, who represent only their constituents.

These efforts are an end-run around our constitution, Costa said in a statement. Theyre seeking single-party rule in Pennsylvania and thats not healthy for a democracy.

Republican lawmakers have countered that constitutional amendments ultimately give Pennsylvanians the power to decide policy.

I believe that, at the end of the day, that people always have the right to decide how to be governed, House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) said in December.

One proposed amendment moving through the legislature would alter what happens when lawmakers vote to disapprove a state regulation. At the moment, the governor can veto such resolutions, leaving it to the legislature to gather a two-thirds majority.

State Rep. Eric Nelson (R., Westmoreland) in December argued that the bar is too high.

The idea that it takes a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly to stop a regulation or order that the majority would never start in the first place proves how unbalanced the process is in the first place, Nelson said.

Still, Sam Chen, an assistant professor of political science at Northampton Community College and host of the talk show Face the Issues, said Wolfs vetoes are a sign that checks and balances are working.

Because one party does not have enough votes to overturn a veto alone, majority and minority parties are encouraged to work together with the governor to pass bipartisan policy  in theory.

Wolf did sign more than 100 bills and resolutions in 2021, including nearly 20 renaming bridges and highways, a COVID-19 relief package, and a recent measure creating an agency dedicated to expanding broadband coverage in the state.

But the Republican majorities also advanced bills that had no chance of becoming law in support of popular conservative priorities, such as restricting voting access, curtailing abortion rights, and allowing permitless concealed carry.

Lawmakers sometimes pass legislation that they know will be vetoed, but Chen defended this move, saying its a way for legislators to respond to voters.

Theres definitely political jockeying for future political aspirations, but also a need to answer to constituents, he said.

Spotlight PA reporter Danielle Ohl contributed to this article.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundationsand readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Harrisonburg, VA (22807)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 59F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 59F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
It really didnt have to be this hard. More than three decades after a brilliant young mans life was taken from us in a fit of homophobic rage, the killer stunned a closed courtroom with an admission: Guilty. I am guilty. Guilty.

Yes, Scott White admitted to killing Scott Russell Johnson in December 1988. His conviction affirms the incredible 33-year-long odyssey of Scotts brother Steve, who always believed that foul play took his brothers life, not self-harm. But it also raises questions about why it took so long, and how many other gay bashers, killers, and their police enablers still roam free.

Steve Johnson, the brother of murdered Scott Johnson, has finally got closure over the death of his brother.

Through a mutual friend, Steve Johnson contacted me in early 2007 and asked me to go to Sydney to investigate his brothers death. Even though a 2005 coronial inquest had detailed multiple brutal attacks on gay men in the Bondi area, police steadfastly stuck to their belief that homophobic violence miraculously stopped at the Harbour Bridge.

When I met Steve and first poured over the scant materials he had obtained from the original 1989 inquest finding that Scott had committed suicide, I frankly thought the cause of death was a toss-up. The picture painted in the inquest documents was vague, but it seemed possible that the 27-year-old maths genius was too sensitive for this world. His partner had stated that Scott had thought about suicide once before (which turns out to be an elaborately misleading if not completely false story). Being gay in 1988 was particularly difficult at the height of the AIDS epidemic and the era of the Grim Reaper ads. On the other hand, Scott was an incredibly high-achieving, kind, out and apparently happy young man who had moved to Australia to be with his lover and complete his PhD.
He asked people to continue following restrictions  including isolation for cases and close contacts and uploading the results of rapid antigen tests to the Service NSW app  and thanked healthcare workers for their hard work and residents for making COVID-safe choices, such as socialising outside. That sustained sacrifice that people have made has ensured that we keep our communities safe and ensures that, as we move to this next phase, we will come out stronger on the other side. He repeated his commitment to reopening schools on the first day of term one, and said a plan for returning to school would be released after they were presented to national cabinet on Thursday. As a parent, I appreciate that many parents across the state are anxious about kids going back to school, he said. We are working day and night with our health teams and education teams here in NSW to ensure that we have a safe environment for parents, teachers and for students.

Dr Chant said of the 22 men and 14 women who died, 33 were vaccinated, although those who were vaccinated had generally not received a booster shot. Three were aged under 65  including one in their 40s  and two of these were not vaccinated. All three had underlying serious health conditions, Dr Chant said. I really want the community to have a sense of urgency in going and getting boosted, she said. Having said that, were still trying to slow the transmission in the community because we want to give time for people to get those boosters. NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce said it was not too late for people to get a first dose. While obviously we are talking a lot about boosters at the moment, please dont think that its too late for you to be vaccinated, she said. We are ready, willing and able to assist you. Students would be asked to take rapid antigen tests at home twice a week before class under the NSW governments preferred strategy for controlling the spread of COVID-19 when school resumes this month.

Loading Education Minister Sarah Mitchell confirmed the department was deploying hundreds of thousands of free rapid antigen tests across the state. That started last week and will continue over the next couple of weeks in the lead-up to the return of school, she told 2GB radio on Tuesday morning. It is quite a logistical effort to get them out, starting with the regions and then distributing across Sydney. Ms Mitchell said principals and parents would be told later in the week how the tests would be distributed and used. The tests would be provided free to all schools, including private and Catholic institutions.

Loading Infectious disease physician Sanjaya Senanayake said similar models had been successful in keeping children at school in the US and Britain. So if weve got enough rapid antigen tests, and the parents are on board, everyones on board, then it should work, he told Channel Nine on Tuesday morning. Its clearly obvious now that rapid antigen tests are key to keeping our society functioning. So however they can get it, if the government can get enough tests, then I think it is worthwhile using it in the school model.
After the number of hospitalisations almost doubled in the past two days, Queensland health workers are fearful that more staff will test positive to COVID-19, calls from the community will increase, and there will be fewer resources to respond.

On Tuesday, Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said that of the 819 people currently in hospital with COVID-19, 50 were in intensive care and 18 were on ventilators.

Health staff are fearful of whats to come. Credit:Louie Douvis

He said the hospitals most under pressure were on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Ipswich.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union secretary Beth Mohle said she was worried about the pressure on the workforce.
Two men accused of fraudulently claiming more than $360,000 in Queensland disaster funding will front court next month.

The 16-month investigation into the alleged 2019 fraud resulted in police searching a pastoral property near Cloncurry and several businesses in Mount Isa on December 15 and 16 last year.

Queensland police inspected a large pastoral property near Cloncurry to investigate if the alleged expenditure relating to the grant claims had occurred. They allege it had not. Credit:Queensland Police Service

Officers seized documents and electronic evidence. They also arrested a 47-year old Mount Isa man and a 71-year-old man, who lived at the pastoral property.

It will be alleged the men falsified documents and dishonestly gained funding from two grant schemes administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority.
Victoria recorded 20,180 COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths on Tuesday as the state declared a code brown for the hospital system and coronavirus vaccine boosters became available to severely immunocompromised children.

Under the code brown alert  normally reserved for shorter-term emergencies like bushfires  hospitals can cancel the leave of healthcare workers to plug staff shortages. It will apply to all metropolitan hospitals and six regional hospitals.

Responding to the code brown announcement, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the federal government has activated the private hospitals agreement, which was struck in early 2020 to ensure private hospital resources were available to support the public sector during times of peak demand.

Mr Hunt said activating the agreement will see up to 57,000 nurses and over 100,000 staff made available to Omicron-affected areas around the country.
The decision comes after organisers of the upcoming Perth Festival canned its large-scale opening show set for February 11 and 12 as big events sweat over the possible level of restrictions that will be put in place by the West Australian government after borders open on February 5. Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams told 6PR on Tuesday the cancellation of Crabfest, which would have run from March 18 to 20, was a case of common sense. What we know from the eastern states is that people sort of vote with their feet during periods of uncertainty, you wont see crowds of 100-150,000 people at major events and Crabfest is one of those events that would typically draw a crowd like that, he said. Peak transmission [in other states] was about four to six weeks after [transmission starts] ... thats going to be the exact window that Crabfest is in. I think we all know that theres a fair bit of uncertainty coming.

The organiser behind the City to Surf in Perth, Activ, said it had cancelled the fun run due to ongoing risks posed by COVID-19. Activ chief executive Michael Heath said the health and safety of all West Australians must come first and it was a responsible decision to not go ahead with the event. While the majority of shows will go on at the upcoming Perth Festival, which runs from February 11 to March 6, organisers said uncertainty around the Omicron variant of COVID-19 meant it would not continue with its opening event, Escape. Escape would have been a free community event across several sites in Fremantle, but the decision was made not to go ahead because of changing risks around COVID-19 spread. The Mandurah Crabfest has been cancelled for the third year in a row. Credit:Crabfest

The festivals artistic director Iain Grandage said a lot had changed since Escape was programmed last year. Im heartbroken for all those who have put so much of themselves into what was going to be an extraordinary production, he said. Mr McGowan said the government had not received any advice the Perth Festival event could not go ahead. It was their own decision, they made that decision, they didnt have to, he said. There are 2 weeks until WAs borders open with the government expected to announce further restrictions in the lead-up.

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has hinted the possible return of density restrictions but the government has not been forthcoming on what these settings may be. WA opposition leader Mia Davies called for the release of any modelling the government had on how the Omicron variant could spread when the borders came down. This government dragged its feet releasing the modelling used to set the transition plan and date for reopening, and now theyre doing it again, she said. The modelling and any changes to the transition plan need to be released immediately so West Australians can prepare. Having had two years COVID-free and the luxury of time to prepare, it is ridiculous that were three weeks out from the date set by the government and theres still confusion and haziness about how rules and restrictions will be applied, and questions as to whether our health system is ready

An in-depth community campaign devoted to detailing the rules after February 5, including the governments definition of a close contact, needs to be launched as soon as possible. Chief Health Officers house vandalised The home of WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson was vandalised over the weekend as police investigate whether it was graffitied by people with anti-vaccine sentiments. A WA Health spokeswoman said the incident had been reported to the police and was now being investigated. The vandalism comes after Mr McGowans electorate office in Rockingham was closed last year because of death threats.

Protests outside of Mr McGowans home in Rockingham and threats made against him led to his security being increased. Five new exposure sites added Several new locations have been added to the states list of potential exposure sites. People who visited a ToastFace Grillah outlet in Wolf Lane in the CBD and the B103 Library at Curtin Universitys Bentley campus at listed times have been asked to get tested immediately and isolate until returning a negative test. A Priceline Pharmacy at the Kwinana Marketplace Shopping Centre and a City of Perth carpark on Murray Street have also been added but only require people who visited at possible exposure times to monitor for symptoms.
Perths COVID-19 vaccination rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is the worst out of all capital cities in Australia but West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says the state government has done about all it can to get Indigenous people to get jabbed before the borders open.

Only 57.28 per cent of the 27,059 Indigenous people who are on the countrys immunisation register in Perth have had two doses of vaccine as of last Wednesday.

The worst place for vaccination rates of Indigenous people in Australian capital cities is Perth. Credit:Justin McManus

About 40 per cent of WAs Indigenous population lives in the city, but the rest of the state has also lagged with its regional vaccination rate at 53 per cent for two doses.

The vaccination rollout started in February with Indigenous people among the first cohorts to be eligible but first-dose rates were only around 20 per cent as late as September across WA.
A new draft strategy to reduce violence against First Nations women and children has been criticised as a meaningless plan by a national justice advocacy organisation, but the federal government insists it is serious about improving outcomes for Indigenous families.

The draft National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32 was released for consultation on Friday, and it included two five-year plans for First Nations people.

Cheryl Axleby is the co-chair of Change the Record.

Under the draft, a federal government-appointed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory council would create a First Nations-specific plan with a focus on addressing the drivers of violence, systemic change, and encouraging shared decision-making with communities.

But the announcement has been met with exasperation by Indigenous advocacy group Change the Record. Its co-chair, Narungga woman Cheryl Axleby, said the issue was too significant for Indigenous people to be a footnote in a larger plan.
Labors most marginal Queensland MP has embraced RAT running in her community, publishing information on social media every night to help her constituents locate rare rapid antigen tests.

Anika Wells, who holds the north Brisbane seat of Lilley on a razor-thin margin of 0.6 per cent, said she started the Facebook service this week to save people the trouble of hunting for RATs only to face disappointment.

Anika Wells has started a Facebook RAT race to help her constituents in north Brisbane find rapid antigen tests. Credit:Attila Csaszar

The Lilley RAT Run lists every pharmacy and shop in her electorate that sells rapid antigen tests, and includes status updates on their stock expectations.

I am a parent of young kids and Ive had to try to track down RATs to test as weve moved around, and its basically all people can talk about this summer, she said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged parents to ignore George Christensen, a member of his own government, after labelling the member for Dawsons calls for them not to immunise their children as dangerous.

The Queensland MP, who has announced he will not contest the next election, released a podcast on Tuesday morning under the title Do NOT vax your children accompanied by an interview with Dr Robert Malone, whose views on COVID-19 vaccinations have been widely debunked.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nationals MP George Christensen pictured in Parliament last year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Dr Malone has been permanently suspended from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

I strongly disagree with the message sent out by Mr Christensen regarding childrens vaccinations, Mr Morrison said in a statement.
Wellington: The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion.

And yet, despite sitting almost on top of the volcano that erupted so violently on Saturday, the Pacific nation of Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread devastation that many initially feared.

The built and natural environments covered in ash in Fafaa Village, Tonga. Credit:UNOSAT/Stuff

In its first update since the eruption, the government said on Tuesday it had confirmed three deaths  two local residents and a British woman. Concerns remain over the fate of people on two hard-hit smaller islands, where most houses were destroyed, it said. Communications have been down everywhere, making assessments difficult.

On Tongas main island of Tongatapu, the biggest problem is the ash that has transformed it into a moonscape, contaminating the rainwater that people rely on to drink. New Zealands military is sending fresh water and other much-needed supplies, but the ash covering Tongas main runway will delay flights for at least another day.
Latest News Commercial lending market flourishing 40% to 50% uplift, says brokerage

Busy brokers reap benefits of outsourcing Provider can turn applications around within 24 hours

Small Business Australia is appealing for Canberra officials to replace the SME Recovery Loan Scheme with the revenue contingent loan (RCL) of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS).

The scheme allows SME owners to access low-rate loans with the option of deferring repayments for up to 24 months to give them more breathing space as they contend with the economic impacts of the pandemic. It has since been extended for another six months from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2022.

However, Bill Lang, executive director of Small Business Australia, deemed the current loan scheme a failure, given that most impacted businesses in retail, hospitality and travel cannot guarantee their success in a given timeframe.

The SME Recovery Loan Scheme was introduced at the onset of the pandemic, and by mid-December, banks had approved over 80,000 loans amounting to $7.3 billion  way below the $40 billion target. Moreover, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg slashed the loan guarantee from 80% to 50% last December as the economy began to show consistent signs of recovery.

What were hearing from small businesses is that they wont take on risk with a fixed term given the level of uncertainty at the moment, Lang told The Australian Financial Review. The rest of that 50% is effectively guaranteed by the small business owners personal assets.

With the help of Bruce Chapman  the brain behind HECS  Small Business Australia was able to create an RCL in which a small business owner could postpone loan repayments until its income reaches pre-pandemic levels instead of the current 24 months.

A business provided with an RCL will receive financial assistance at the time, now, and will commit to the repayment of the debt depending not on a schedule defined by time, but instead would be contingent on the capacity of the business to do be able to repay, as reflected by the firms future revenue stream, Chapman told AFR. When things in the future are healthy for a business, RCL repayments would be higher accordingly, which is good news for the governments budget.

Such a scheme could quickly be implemented through the Australian Taxation Office, Lang said. Chapman had presented the possibility of adopting the RCL in HECS to Canberra officials, but his proposal was met with resistance.
Lawrenceville, VA (23868)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
By Giulio Piovaccari

MILAN (Reuters) - If playing catch up with is what everyone in the auto industry is about then Stellantis, the company formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot, has had a good start - its shares have far outpaced its U.S. rival in its inaugural year.

But this is just the first lap.

Fixing its business in China and overcapacity in Europe are just two areas where analysts want to see Stellantis making progress when Chief Executive Carlos Tavares unveils his detailed business plan on March 1.

After all, despite its shares surging more than 60% since their debut on Jan. 18, 2021 - compared with a 27% gain for Tesla's - Stellantis' market value of 59 billion euros ($67 billion) is still just 6% of its U.S. rival's.

A strong first year augurs well, though, with Jefferies analysts saying Tavares has shown vision and ambition with a "sustained stream of strategic initiatives."

Since forging the world's No. 4 carmaker by production, Tavares has mapped out a 30 billion euro electrification strategy, and formed alliances with Amazon and iPhone assembler Foxconn to accelerate development of software and semiconductors for future connected vehicles.

He has also drawn up plans for five battery plants and cut deals with unions to keep streamlining its European operations - side-stepping potential labour conflicts and pushing the company's operating profit margin up to around 10%.

Excluding former Peugeot-controlled parts maker Faurecia, Stellantis' workforce was almost unchanged in the past year at around 300,000 - keeping Tavares' promise not to cut jobs or close plants following the merger.

All this despite facing a semiconductor and supply chain crunch that cost global automakers millions of vehicles in lost production last year and is not expected to ease quickly.

Marco Santino, a partner at management consultants Oliver Wyman, said Tavares was living up to his reputation as a practical man avoiding a "muscular" approach with unions and the outlines of his strategy were in place.

"The path has been mapped out already, it needs to be consolidated," he said. "I don't expect fireworks from his business plan".

CHALLENGES

But many say more bold action is needed.

Jefferies analysts, for example, say Stellantis' 14 brands - including Jeep, Ram, Citroen, Opel and Maserati - walk "a fine line between differentiation and internal competition."

This at a time when is leading the industry transition to an electric and software-driven future with a single brand and a highly focused strategy.

Tavares has said every aspect of the group is under the microscope, including its brands, some of which analysts have suggested could be eliminated to save money.

"For the time being, we love them all and you cannot kill what you love," the 63-year old said last year.

"When you love them, you give them a chance," he said, adding each brand would be given 10 years to prove itself profitable.

As the group enters its second year, another long term challenge is reviving its fortunes in China, the world's biggest auto market, where Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot-owner PSA had almost negligible market shares.

"We are now negotiating and changing very many things at core," Tavares has said about his China plans, without giving details.

Jefferies analysts said the company could look to leverage its strong Jeep and Maserati brands there. It could also consider using China as an export base to the rest of Asia, or deepen its ties with Foxconn beyond their current joint venture, they said.

"Luckily for Tavares, he's got time," Oliver Wyman's Santino said. "Investors' focus is on Europe's turnaround at the moment. And on that he is delivering".

($1 = 0.8775 euros)

(Additional reporting by Danilo Masoni in Milan, Brenda Goh in Shanghai and Gilles Guillaume in Paris; Editing by Mark Potter and Carmel Crimmins)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As India renews its thrust on local manufacturing of electronics under the production-linked incentive scheme (PLI) with Union Budget 2022-23 around the corner, and alone are expected to manufacture/assemble smartphones worth around $5 billion (nearly Rs 37,000 crore) in the financial year 2021-22.

The two giants are set to surpass the PLI targets set by the government by over 50 per cent, according to industry experts.

"The leading global value chains (GVC) firms have got off to a blazing start. Besides Pegatron and Bharat FIH which are now gearing up, the big three -- Wistron, Pegatron and -- will achieve significant production of $5 billion in 2022," Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), told IANS.

Apple's contract manufacturers in India -- Foxconn and Wistron -- will avail the PLI incentives for the first time this year.

The iPhone maker's second biggest global manufacturer Pegatron is likely to commence operations in India this year.

Samsung, which has the world's largest mobile handset manufacturing factory in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, will avail the incentives under the scheme for the second year.

According to Mohindroo, Indian players like Lava, Padget Electronics (Dixon) and UTL also appear to be cracking the thresholds while "Opteimus and Bhagwati are gearing up".

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last year extended the PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing with a focus on mobile phones by a year until 2025-26, though the base year of the scheme 2019-20 remains the same.

The PLI scheme provides an incentive of 4 per cent to 6 per cent on incremental sales of goods under target segments that are manufactured in India, for five years.

and are also exporting locally-produced smartphones to the world like never before.

In 2021, the top countries that 'Make in India' iPhones were exported to include the UK (27 per cent), Japan (24 per cent), the Netherlands (23 per cent), Germany (7 per cent), Italy (4 per cent), Turkey (4 per cent) and the UAE (2 per cent), according to data by market research firm CMR.

The top countries that Samsung exported to from India in 2021 include the UAE (47 per cent), Russia (12 per cent), South Africa (7 per cent), Germany (5 per cent), Morocco (4 per cent) and the UK (3 per cent).

The introduction of the PLI scheme has given a positive thrust to India's participation and rise in the global value chains.

"With all the green shoots, the country expects exports from India to grow further in the coming years. Samsung and Apple's manufacturing partners have invested under the PLI scheme and both dominate mobile phone exports from India," said Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, CMR.

For instance, Apple's share of iPhone exports from India stands at more than 4.6 million units in 2021, with exports to Europe, Japan and the Middle East, among others.

"Over the past four years, Apple's share of make-in-India iPhones has grown 15 times to reach 75 per cent in 2021," Ram told IANS.

has now started assembling its new flagship iPhone 13 in India. iPhone 13 is being assembled on trial basis at the Foxconn plant in Chennai, and will be available in the domestic market, as well as for exports from the country by early next year.

It is reportedly ramping up production of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices in India and Vietnam to end its dependence on China.

The tech giant is already assembling its highest-selling models iPhone 12, iPhone 11 and XR in India, along with iPhone SE, 7 and 6S.

Apple started manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 with iPhone SE.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)

--IANS

na/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Arya.ag, Indias largest integrated grain commerce platform, said it has closed its Series C round, having raised $60 million in a mix of equity and debt. The equity round was led by Asia Impact SA, Lightrock India and Quona Capital. The agritech platform also raised debt financing from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) among others. The company has been valued at $300 million in this round, which is a 5X jump from its previous .

Arya.ag connects sellers and buyers of agriproduce, providing complete assurance on quantity, quality and payments. The platform eliminates distress sales of farmers produce by enabling farmgate storage and seamless finance options, offering farmers the freedom of when and whom to sell to. With visibility into over 10,000 commodity storage points across the country, Arya assures year-round supply to SME and corporate buyers with embedded financing options.

We have been able to digitise almost 10,000 agri warehouses across the country which are spread across 21 states. We provide digital identity to about Rs 12,000 crore worth of commodities that are there in these warehouses. You enable about Rs 5,000 crore worth of finance against these commodities that are in the warehouses. We are at a rate of enabling close to about Rs 1500 crore of sale of commodities on the platform, said Arya co-founder and managing director Prasanna Rao.



It is the expansion of these deliverables where the current round would be used. For instance, to ensure that this trading volume of Rs 1,500 crore goes up to about Rs 7,500 crore in the next 12 months.We are also expanding our reach from about 55 per cent of India's districts to about 75 per cent of the districts in the next 12 months. We are also working on integrating technology further to make these transactions, like digitisation of storage, adding embedded fintech layers and then enabling the commerce and commodity marketplace seamlessly, said Rao.

The founders of AryaChattanathan Devarajan, Prasanna Rao and Anand Chandrahave decades of experience in agri-business and agri-finance. Under their leadership, Arya has worked towards the creation of trust, efficient networks, and enduring value for players across the value chain including small-holder farmers, FPOs (farmer producer organisations), small aggregators, and agribusiness corporations. With an established product-market fit with differentiated efficiencies, proven scale, and profitability managing over 3 million metric tons across 21 states, the company has created a strong foundation while building viable options for enhancing the market power of smallholders and their organizations. Arya intends to use the to capture 20 per cent of the $100 billion grain commerce market.

This funding round will help us gain market share for our core offerings and add more services to consolidate our position as Indias most trusted platform in agriculture, said Chattanathan Devarajan, Aryas co-founder. We believe that these partnerships, old and new, are an endorsement of Aryas strength to drive penetration and lead transformation within the sector.

Matteo Pusineri, director of Asia Impact SA said through the pandemic, the investment firm has seen Arya transform agri-commerce across India. Arya will help accomplish Asia Impact's vision to integrate rural under-served farming communities across Asia to markets at scale, said Pusineri. We are confident that Arya, under the leadership of Prasanna Rao, Anand Chandra and Chattanathan Devarajan, will greatly contribute to a unique ecosystem supporting the sustainable growth story of rural India, said Pusineri.

Another investor Vaidhehi Ravindran, partner at Lightrock India said Arya has built a strong and profitable foundation over the last few years, and with the addition of the marketplace are in a period of accelerated growth and impact. With a team that is a great combination of innovation (meeting) prudent risk management, we are confident that Arya will transform the grain markets as a whole, said Ravindran.

Varun Malhotra, partner at Quona Capital said Aryas unparalleled reach across rural India, coupled with its tech-driven integrated service model, has made it one of the fastest-growing agri-commerce platforms in India. Arya is successfully bridging the trust gap in post-harvest agri transactions through complete transparency and assurance on quality, quantity and payments. We are excited to deepen our partnership with Arya, Malhotra.

Asia Impact SA was advised by Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co with a team led by Manav Nagaraj and KS Bhargava. Setuka Partners was the advisor on debt finance from US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
Mining major is committed to meet the elevated demand of the dry fuel from the power sector, including coastal plants dependent on imports, a company official said on Tuesday.

The miner had hoped the demand would ease by December last year, but that did not happen, he said.

We are committed to catering to the coal needs of the power sector, be it domestic or those dependent on imports, despite CIL being stretched, a senior company official told PTI when asked whether it was capable of plugging the gaps arising out of Indonesian supply disruptions.

We have already started supplying some amount of coal to the coastal plants to cut down on imports, he added.

Indonesia had banned coal exports since January 1 due to domestic shortages and the impasse still prevails. This has led to a surge in prices in the international market.

India imports 5-9 million tonnes of coal per month from Indonesia, officials said.

The world's largest miner is trying to keep up to the demand by dispatching over 1.75 million tonnes of coal per day to the power sector, they said.

India's power consumption grew by 4.5 per cent in December 2021 to 110.34 billion units (BU) over the same period a year ago, according to power ministry data.

In the first 16 days, Coal India's average daily production stood at 2.35 million tonnes. It is targeting 670 million tonnes of production in the 2021-22 fiscal. Till January 16, the total ouput was at 445 million tonnes.

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(RIL) has picked up a majority stake in robotics start-up Addverb Technologies for $132 million (approx. Rs 984 crore) as the energy-to-telecom conglomerate looks to automate its businesses.

Addverb has developed highly automated warehouses for RIL, Flipkart, HUL, Asian Paints, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, ITC, and Marico. With this investment, RIL will hold around 54 per cent stake in Addverb, becoming a strategic partner.

The Noida-based start-up had earlier raised around $11 million in Series A and pre-series funding round led by Jalaj Dani, co-promoter of Asian Paints, taking its total funding since inception to $143 million.

This funding round will accelerate the companys expansion in Europe and the US and enable it to set up a large robotic manufacturing facility.

The facility will be completely automated and will propel India as a world leader in the robotic sector, said the start-up.

Addverb also plans to set up an innovation lab with bases in Europe, the US and India.

Reliance was already a client. We had co-created and delivered highly automated warehouses for their Jio-Mart grocery business. This strategic partnership will help us leverage 5G, battery tech through new energy initiatives, advances in material sciences (carbon fibre) to deliver more advanced and affordable robots, said Sangeet Kumar, CEO and co-founder, Addverb Technologies.

With this round of funding, we are planning to deploy our robots across hospitals and airports, said Kumar.

He said the way Reliance is scaling up warehouses, they required a dedicated partner. These are massive warehouses for every segment of the business like grocery, fashion and lifestyle, pharma, general merchandise and furniture, said Kumar. These warehouses require automation and we will be able to test and implement many of our technologies at scale at some of these warehouses. We are also working very closely for their new business solar  and on their petrochemical business.

RIL is also betting big on e-commerce and, according to analysts, Addverbs technology is expected to help Reliance scale up its online retail platforms such as Ajio and JioMart. This will also help RIL to provide automation solutions to firms in which it has investments such as delivery firm Dunzo and online pharma firm Netmeds.

Founded in June 2016, by Sangeet Kumar, Prateek Jain, Bir Singh, Satish Kumar Shukla and Amit Kumar, Addverb has 100 per cent subsidiaries in Singapore, Netherlands and Australia. It provides products across four verticals  robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems, picking, and software. The company was valued at about $285 million during its funding round last year in March, according to data platform Tracxn.

Addverb has provided robots to more than 100 customers, helping streamline their processes. Kumar said the start-up deploys 10 per cent of its revenue on R&D.

Addverb, which globally competes with players such as Kindred, GreyOrange, Locus Robotics, Seegrid and Geek+, said it is a rare hardware and software start-up from India which manufactures its own robots and develops the software to control these robots. This allows it to add unique and innovative features in its products and also provides for customisation and easy integration with the existing infrastructure and software systems of the customers.

It has exported robots to customers in countries like Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Britain and Vietnam.

Addverb has the capacity to manufacture 10,000 robots of various kinds in a year. The manufacturing unit, which was unveiled in March 2021, is spread across 2.5 acres in Noida and has a capacity to produce all kinds of robots and co-bots including mobile robots, sorting robots, pallets shuttle and carton shuttle that helps in transporting and moving material inside factories and warehouses.

It has systems to coordinate the flow of material throughout the warehouse and control a fleet of robots based on different navigation modules.

With the new manufacturing facility  expected to be operational in FY23  the company would have the capacity to produce 50,000 robots in a year.

The global robotics market was valued at $27.73 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $74.1 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 17.45 per cent, according to analysts.

Addverb expects to close the current financial year with 100 per cent growth in revenue at Rs 400 crore.
is revising and curtailing its US operations from Wednesday in the backdrop of commercial rollout in the country. Due to the deployment of communications in USA, our operations from India stand curtailed/revised with change in aircraft type from 19th January, said in a tweet. It said that additional updates will be shared later. Concerns have been raised about possible interference of signals with radio altimeters in aircraft. Altimeters measure altitude above terrain, provide pilots situational awareness during low visibility, and inputs for onboard systems such as the traffic collision avoidance system.

US govt

Meanwhile, the US government is said to be actively engaged with wireless carriers, airlines, airplane manufacturers and key federal agencies to address a looming aviation crisis, a senior administration official told Reuters.

Airlines are preparing to cancel a significant number of passenger and cargo flights in the coming hours to prepare for AT&T and Verizons new 5G C-Band service that starts on Wednesday, after warning on Monday of catastrophic impacts.

Airlines want wireless carriers to not turn on some wireless towers near airport runways in a bid to avoid most of the flight disruptions.
The Antrix-Devas matter was a fraud against the country, and the previous Congress administration should explain how the fraud was perpetrated, Finance Minister said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Devas, said the Finance Minister, claimed to own a technology that did not exist. Based on this, an agreement with Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) was signed, Sitharaman said, adding, The fraud began there.

The United Progressive Alliance government took six years to cancel the agreement that Antrix entered into with Devas in 2005, she said. The Congress allowed blatant selling of Government of Indias resources for a pittance, Sitharaman added.

On Monday, the Supreme Court had upheld the winding up of Devas Multimedia, stating the case involved a fraud of a huge magnitude, which cannot be brushed under the carpet. The apex court had dismissed the appeal filed by Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd, and said when the Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had recorded concurrent findings on facts, it is not open to this Court to reappreciate evidence.

We will now take this SC order, and make sure that justice is served on international fora, Sitharaman said.

The manner in which the agreement was entered into with Devas was not known to the then Cabinet, and the way in which a misleading note was put to the Cabinet shows the affairs of the company were conducted in a fraudulent manner, she said.

Antrix had applied for the liquidation of Devas, and the NCLT and NCLAT had allowed it. The case was taken to the Supreme Court, which upheld the liquidation of Devas, Sitharaman said. Now, Devas is claiming damages of $562.5 million plus interest from 2015. Telcom Devas Mauritius and Devas Employees Mauritius have claimed $93.3 million and $112 million, respectively.

Sitharaman, reading out the Supreme Court judgement, said Devas brought in a total amount of Rs 579 crore, but almost 85 per cent of it was siphoned out of India, partly towards establishing a subsidiary in the US and partly towards business support services and litigation expenses.

Till today we are fighting one arbitration case after the other to save the taxpayers money, which would have otherwise gone for paying for the damages because of this agreement, Sitharaman said.

Since the Supreme Court has upheld the order of the NCLT and NCLAT, the winding up of the company will begin, Ministry of Corporate Affairs Secretary Rajesh Verma said. A liquidator has already been appointed, and has now taken over the management of Devas. It will take over Devass assets both in India and abroad, Verma said.

The Supreme Court, in its judgement said, it does not know if the action of Antrix Corporation, Isros commercial arm, in seeking the winding up of Devas may send a wrong message to the community of investors. But allowing Devas and its shareholders to reap the benefits of their fraudulent action may nevertheless send another wrong message, namely that by adopting fraudulent means and by bringing into India an investment in a sum of Rs 579 crores, the investors can hope to get tens of thousands of crores of rupees, even after siphoning off Rs 488 crore, the bench said.

A top government official said that the decision of the Canadian Court, that Air India is an alter ego of Republic of India, will not impact the handover process to Tata Sons. The official said that the process is going on smoothly and the airline is no longer an entity belonging to the Government of India.

The court rejected the submission that the actual motive behind Antrix seeking the winding up of Devas is to deprive Devas of the benefits of a unanimous award passed by the International Chamber of Commerce Arbitral Tribunals and the two BIT awards, and that such attempts on the part of a corporate entity, wholly owned by the government, would send a wrong message to international investors.





After the Supreme Courts ruling, Jay Newman, a senior advisor to Devas shareholders, said the decision is neither a setback nor a surprise. It was scripted for months. The Modi government will now appeal to global courts waving the NCLT ruling as yet another bogus excuse to evade payment. Courts in the US, Netherlands, Canada and France have seen through the previous sham proceedings and evasion tactics, and this ruling is no different. Devas shareholders will continue to identify and seize Indian state assets around the world until the debt has been paid, Newman said in a statement.

Devas Multimedia is still pursuing seizure of Air Indias assets after Cairn Energy ended its long pending dispute with India by withdrawing the retrospective taxation litigation in order to participate in the scheme introduced by recent Indian legislation, the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act 2021.

After a favourable order by a Canadian court that identified soon-to-be-privatised carrier Air India as an alter ego of the government of India, investors of Devas Multimedia have sought to seize Air India assets in the United States to recover $111 million compensation over a failed 2005 deal. Air India had moved to quash the seizures in Canada, arguing that the allegations are insufficient to demonstrate that the national carrier is an alter ego of India. The investors have also moved a US court to seize Air Indias assets in the US.

The official quoted above said that Devas was going arbitration award shopping, trying to gauge in which jurisdiction it would get the most money.
The Cyber Cell of Mumbai Police on Monday opposed the bail pleas of the three arrested in the 'Bulli Bai' app case, stating that the investigation suggested that the accused were also involved in 'Sulli Deals' app case.

Opposing the bail pleas of Vishal Kumar Jha, Shweta Singh and Mayank Rawat in Bulli Bai app case, the Cyber Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch filed a reply before a city court in Mumbai stating that as per preliminary investigation revealed the accused committed the crime with the help of Niraj Bishnoi, Bulli Bai app creator who was arrested by the Delhi police.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday.

The police, while seeking the court to reject the bail pleas of the three accused, argued that they "could flee or tamper with evidence in the case."

During the hearing, the police added that a team has been sent to Delhi to seek custody of two more persons Niraj Bishnoi, arrested in Bulli Bai app case lodged by the Delhi Police, and one Omkareshwar Thakur, apprehended in the Sulli deals app case.

The police said that the accused were "highly active on social media and were posting material which could cause a breach of peace in the society."

A Delhi court had earlier rejected the bail applications of Thakur and Bishnoi.

Niraj Bishnoi (20), a B.Tech student, was arrested from Assam by Delhi Police Special Cell's Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit (IFSO) team for alleged involvement in the Bulli Bai case.

A Bandra court had earlier sent Bulli Bai app case co-accused Shweta Singh and Mayank Rawat into 14-day judicial custody till January 28. Before this, they were sent to Mumbai Cyber Cell police custody till January 14. They were arrested from Uttarakhand on January 5.

Vishal Kumar Jha has been to judicial custody will January 24.

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A week after an advisory by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) detailing the list of people who need not be tested for Covid, such as asymptomatic individuals in community settings, the Centre has asked states to ramp up testing after noticing a dip in testing numbers.

In a letter Arti Ahuja, additional secretary, health ministry has said that it is incumbent upon all states to enhance testing and increase it in a strategic manner keeping in mind the trends in case positivity in specific geographies.

The Centres advisory, Ahuja said, had to be read in conjunction with earlier guidelines that recommend focused testing of those who are at high risk, more vulnerable or live intensely populated areas with new clusters and hotspots of positive cases.

Both daily and weekly positivity rate for Covid-19 in India on Tuesday was over 14 per cent along with a decline in new cases which stood at 238,018.

Health ministry has clarified that the basic objective of the ICMRs advisory issued on January 10 and all its other advisories is early detection of cases for quick isolation and care.

Ahuja in her letter has said that testing remains a key strategy for the pandemic management because it helps in identification of new clusters of infection which can facilitate immediate containment, contact racing, isolation and follow up.

Testing also helps in ensuring reduction in mortality and morbidity. Progression of disease to a severe category can be averted by strategic testing, Ahuja said.

In its January 10 advisory for purposive testing had said contacts of confirmed cases unless identified as high risk based on age or comorbidities need not be tested. The research body had also said that patients discharged through home isolation guidelines, individuals undertaking inter state domestic travel too can be exempted from testing.

In this context the health ministry has stressed that in a community setting all symptomatic individuals be tested along with risk contacts of laboratory confirmed cases.

According to a study by Local Circles, 41 per cent citizens surveyed said that they have one or more individuals in their close social network who despite having Covid symptoms in the last 30 days did not get an RT-PCR test and went into self-treatment or quarantine.

The new guidelines do not require healthy contacts of COVID positive testing individuals to take the RT-PCR test.

Many people are now preferring to either take the home antigen test or skipping the testing altogether treating Covid like regular viral fever. Many leading scientists around the world are advising against this approach but it is being widely adopted in India now, the survey said.
Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and Minister of State for MSME Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma on Monday inaugurated the MSME Pavilion virtually in the presence of officials from the Government of and dignitaries joining from all over the country at World Expo, 2020 .

According to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the World Expo 2020 Dubai, held under the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) aims at bringing together millions of people for the world's exceptional show, celebrating human brilliance and achievement with the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating Future".

Ministry of MSME's participation in the Expo would help to develop understanding about the MSME ecosystem in India as well as enable interaction with Governments of different countries, Business and Industry leaders, which would help in exchange of best practices adopted across the world, said the ministry.

The Union Ministers also launched the Khadi India Film produced by (Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

In his inaugural address, Rane said that the MSME sector plays a significant role in terms of job creation and expanding manufacturing base. Today, it has over 6 crore units employing over 11 crore people and is a significant contributor to the economic growth with over 30 per cent of contribution to the GDP and over 48 per cent of overall exports from India.

The Ministry's focus is to create a benchmark for MSMEs across the country by scaling them to new heights in terms of exports, quality of products, contribution to GDP and providing world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology to all MSMEs operating in India.

MoS Bhanu Pratap Verma said that the Ministry of MSME has been undertaking various important initiatives to boost the MSME sector and has been actively engaged in spearheading initiatives like finance facilitation, capacity building and skill training, facilitating market linkages, technology up-gradation, etc. for the overall inclusive development of MSMEs across the country.

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The (ED) on Tuesday morning, just weeks before assembly elections, carried out raids at ten different locations belonging to Chief Minster Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey, in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal sand mining in .

A source said that the ED team conducted first raid at the residence of Honey which is at Homeland Heights early Tuesday morning. No one was allowed to leave the house. The ED was scanning various documents and computers.

The source said that raids of the ED were underway at ten locations across in illegal sand mining case.

The political parties in Punjab had earlier accused the Chief Minister many times over illegal mining in his own constituency. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted several times regarding the ongoing illegal sand mining racket. He had tweeted that Punjab CM Channi was not doing anything to stop it.

Local police were already looking into the matter. And on the basis of the local police probe, the ED initiated a money laundering probe.

As of now, the ED has not made any statement regarding the ongoing raids. The sources said that once the raids are over, only then the probe agency will release any statement.

During the raid the ED recorded the statement of those who were present at the house of Honey, the nephew of the Chief Minister.

A large number of people had gathered outside the house and local police were called to avoid any untoward incident.

Further probe in the matter is underway.

--IANS

atk/skp/

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The explosive used in the IED, which was seized from the Ghazipur flower market here, is suspected to be part of consignments dropped in and Jammu Kashmir by drones from Pakistan, officials said on Monday.

The seizures made in recent times and the use of RDX in the improvised explosive device (IED) found at the market indicate towards Pakistani spy agency ISI's role, they said.

The IED was seized from the market on January 14, ahead of Republic Day.

"Nearly 40 people associated with the Ghazipur flower market have been questioned as part of a probe following the seizure of the IED. But we are yet to make any headway in the case. Local enquiries conducted so far have not given any concrete material," a senior police officer, who is part of the investigation, said.

On Monday, after the National Security Guard (NSG) informed the Delhi Police that the IED seized from the market had a timer device attached to it and had ammonium nitrate and RDX as its components, police officials probing the case said that RDX as a component was used in blasts in the national capital earlier.

No arrest has been made in the Ghazipur case till now.

Police are examining footage of multiple CCTV cameras to find a suspect.

Police officials said they suspect that the kind of explosive used in the IED seized from the market could have been part of consignments dropped in Jammu Kashmir and by droned from .

The federal counter-terrorist commando force, NSG had sent experts from its National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) based in Haryana's Manesar to defuse the IED.

Sources said a final post-blast investigation report has been submitted to the Delhi Police and it states that the IED contained ammonium nitrate, RDX, a 9-volt battery, iron pieces that could act as shrapnel during an explosion and had a timer device attached to it.

The RDX was used as the core explosive in the IED but it did not blow off due to a "glitch" in the circuit, they said quoting the investigation report.

The force had defused the about 3-kg IED that was kept inside an iron box and was concealed in a black backpack.

A pit was dug at the "phool mandi" or the flower market campus and the IED was blown under a "controlled explosion" procedure by the NSG personnel.

The incident has been taken very seriously by the Delhi Police and other security agencies as it came just days before the January 26 Republic Day celebrations, for which the security apparatus in the national capital is on a high-alert.

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The government has suspended E S Ranganathan, Director (Marketing) of (India) Ltd, after his arrest by the CBI over allegedly taking bribes to give discounts to private companies buying petrochemical products from the state-owned gas utility.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on January 17 issued orders suspending Ranganathan from service, pending probe, official sources said.

Ranganathan, who was appointed Director (Marketing) of in July 2020, was to superannuate in May next year.

The CBI had on Friday evening started searches in connection with discounts that Ranganathan had allegedly promised to private companies in exchange for a bribe of Rs 50 lakh. On Saturday, it searched Ranganathan's residence in Noida and his office at GAIL's headquarters at Bhikaji Cama Place. The office was sealed and Ranganathan was questioned.

While CBI had arrested some persons of the private companies on Saturday itself, Ranganathan was arrested on January 16 after obtaining requisite sanctions, sources said.

Subsequent to his suspension, the ministry on Tuesday issued an order giving "additional charge of director (marketing) to M.V. Iyer, Director (Business Development), for a period of three months from January 18, 2022 or till appointment of a regular incumbent to the post, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest."



GAIL in a regulatory filing on Tuesday said it has complied with the ministry order and entrusted an additional charge of the post of Director (Marketing), GAIL to Iyer.

On Monday, the company had informed the stock exchanges that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against Ranganathan and other private persons on charges of criminal conspiracy, demand and obtaining undue advantage by public servant, taking undue advantage to influence public servant, bribing public servant etc.

"Further, CBI searched at the premise(s) of Shri E S Ranganathan, Director (Marketing) of the Company and other private persons in connection with the said case," it had said adding Ranganathan has also been arrested in connection with the said case.

"Company is not aware of any information other than those published or reported in the media," it had said. "At this stage no estimated financial impact or estimated amount can be ascertained."



The CBI had last week stated that it had unearthed the alleged bribery scam involving Ranganathan, middlemen, and businessmen and arrested five individuals on Saturday.

The central agency had conducted searches at eight locations including the office and residence of Ranganathan, sources said.

"Cash of Rs 1.29 crore (approx), and gold jewellery and other valuables (having app value of Rs 1.25 crore) recovered during searches from the premises of said accused (Ranganathan)," CBI Spokesperson RC Joshi had said on Sunday.

It alleged that Ranganathan was collecting bribes from prospective beneficiaries of discounts to private companies buying petrochemical products marketed by the Maharatna PSU.

Ranganathan, it alleged, was "indulging into corrupt and illegal activities in criminal conspiracy" with middlemen Pawan Gaur and Rajesh Kumar who is also director of Rishab Polychem Pvt. Ltd based at Bahadurgarh Road, Delhi.

Kumar and Gaur allegedly acted as Ranganathan's middlemen by taking bribes from the private companies buying petrochemical products marketed by GAIL, the FIR alleged.

Based on information of one such bribery exchange, the CBI teams had conducted a trap operation in which two middlemen Gaur and Kumar were nabbed with the bribe amount of about 10 lakh which was collected on behalf of Ranganathan, the CBI had alleged.

Later, Nair, Gupta and Bansal were also taken into CBI custody.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


The on Tuesday held that in case of acquittal in a criminal matter, being the first appellate court, the is required to re-appreciate the entire evidence on record and also the reasoning given by the Trial Court.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna which set aside the order of Allahabad said that the decision is totally erroneous as it has ignored the settled legal position.

As observed, the has not at all discussed and/or re-appreciated the entire evidence on record. In fact, the High Court has only made the general observations on the deposition of the witnesses examined. However, there is no re-appreciation of the entire evidence on record in detail, which ought to have been done by the High Court, being a first appellate court, the bench said.

It said, Under the circumstances on the aforesaid ground alone, impugned judgement and order passed by the High Court deserves to be quashed and set aside and the same is to be remanded back to the High Court to decide the appeal afresh in accordance with and on its own merits being mindful of the observations made hereinabove.

The top court passed its verdict on an appeal filed by a woman from Uttar Pradesh against the High Court order by which it has upheld the decision of the trial court acquitting accused of offenses of assaulting a woman under the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST Act.

The bench said, We are constrained to observe that this is not the manner in which the High Court should have dealt with the appeal against an order of acquittal which as such is a first appeal against the order of acquittal. The High Court has only made general observations on the deposition of the witness examined. However, there is no re-appreciation of the entire evidence in detail which exercise ought to have been made by the High Court while dealing with the judgment and order of acquittal.

It added that the High Court ought to have re-appreciated the entire evidence on the record as it was dealing with a first appeal.

Being the first appellate court, the High Court was required to re-appreciate the entire evidence on record and also the reasoning given by the Trial Court, it said.

The top court said that ordinarily, the High Court would give due importance to the opinion of the Sessions Judge if the same were arrived at after a proper appreciation of the evidence.

Against an order of acquittal passed by the Trial Court the High Court would be justified on re-appreciation of the entire evidence independently and come to its own conclusion that acquittal is perverse and manifestly erroneous, it said.

The bench, after setting aside the judgement, restored the appeal before the High Court and asked it to decide and dispose of the appeal in accordance with and on its own merits, bearing in mind the observations made.

The High Court is requested to decide and dispose of the appeal on merits at the earliest, it said.

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Union minister on Tuesday called for collaboration between India and the UK on issues of mutual concern such as achieving the goals of and zero hunger.

Addressing a joint India-UK meet on 'Sustaining Food Production under Environmental Stress' through virtual mode, Singh said the two countries must invite global collaborations in various dimensions of science like agriculture, medicine, food, pharma, engineering or defense.

The workshop is being organised jointly by Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Mohali, an institute under the Department of Biotechnology, University of Birmingham in the UK and supported by Newton Bhabha Fund and British Council.

He called for collaboration between the two nations on issues of mutual concern like achieving the goals of and zero hunger.

He said India's efforts to safeguard the needs of every citizen in the country have been unprecedented as Prime Minister Narendra Modi even ensured that no person goes hungry during the pandemic time.

Moreover, policies have been framed to protect interests of small and marginal farmers, and conserve local food cultures which in turn will significantly contribute to food security, the minister added.

Singh said India-UK joint collaboration may include programmes like students exchange, basic research, technology development, product development as well as product/process demonstration and their implementation in joint collaboration.

The minister said the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that science is the only major key tool to find solutions and to give solutions for tough times to be faced by the mankind.

He pointed out that Indian science has proved the capability to produce vaccines for such a high risk/devastating disease in a very limited time and added, "We should not restrict our ideas to Indian perspectives, rather there should have a global horizon."



Dwelling on the issue of sustainable food production, Singh said the South Asian region is facing the shrinking arable land, besides the problem of global climate change that needs to be addressed.

Quoting World Bank data, the minister pointed out that arable land in South Asia was reported at 43.18 per cent in 2018 which has been stagnant since the early 1970s and recently declining.

He said growth in yields and more intensive use of land will account for all of the growth in crop production and will also compensate for losses in the arable land area.

Underlining that the global pattern of food production and distribution may need to shift significantly as climate change progresses, Singh called for joint funding to develop a coherent and stakeholder-relevant R&D programme that will address this challenge.

He said the initiative by the British Council to support such interactive meet among the researchers with a common goal will draw attention from stakeholders and nurture young investigators to provide them with an excellent platform to share and rear the ideas.

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NV Ramana has assured that lawyers can attend the proceedings through their mobile phone if they do not have a laptop or desktop, according to the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

The Chief Justice of India, however, requested the members of the bar that the mobile phone should be stationed and placed in such a manner that the face of the lawyer is visible and the voice is audible.

This came a day after the CJI expressed unhappiness over disruptions during virtual hearings due to the use of mobiles.

Later, the apex court registry, through a circular, asked the advocates and litigants to use a desktop or the laptop with a stable internet connection to join proceedings conducted through video conferencing.

Earlier in the day on Tuesday, the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association held a virtual meeting with the and four senior-most judges.

"During the Couse of the meeting, the issue of usage of mobile phone for attending the court proceeding was discussed. The Chief Justice assured the Executive Committee that it is only an advisory for uninterrupted Court Proceeding and in case any lawyer does not have a Laptop/Desktop, he/she can attend the proceeding through the mobile phone," the SCBA said in a press statement.

However, the has requested the members of the bar that in case of using the mobile phone for attending the court proceedings, the mobile phone shall be stationed and placed in such a manner that the face of the lawyer is visible and the voice is audible.

"The Judges have assured that the issue of muting/ unmuting of the lawyers will be looked into and necessary measures will be taken to streamline the system, the statement read.

The SCBA said that the CJI also assured that the oral mentioning is already available in all courts and in case any lawyer needs to mention any matter before any Bench, they may contact the court master in the morning.

A notification dated January 17 had advised the lawyers and litigants to join the virtual proceedings through a single device either a laptop or a desktop.

All advocates, party-in-person must also join the VC hearings preferably using a headset enabled microphone and audio system...Please also close all background applications running on your devices for best VC experience, the notification had read.

The circular was issued after the hearing in as many as 10 cases was to be adjourned by the bench headed by the CJI as the lawyers were either inaudible or invisible or both.

The bench was irked over frequent disruptions as the lawyers or litigants were mostly joining the proceedings through phones using mobile data and even observed that it may have to ban participation through mobiles.

Lawyers are appearing using their mobile phones and are not visible. We may have to ban this mobile business. Mr counsel, you are now practicing in the Supreme Court and appear regularly. Can't you afford to have a desktop to argue, the CJI had observed in one of the cases.

During the hearing of another case, the bench took note of poor internet connectivity at the lawyer's end and said, We have no energy to hear cases like this. Please devise a system by which we can hear you. Ten matters are over like this and we are shouting."



The top court has been hearing cases through video-conferencing since March 2020 due to the pandemic and has been relaxing or tightening the conditions from time to time keeping in mind the changing pandemic situation.

The apex court, on January 2, took note of a sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and decided to hear all matters in virtual mode, and from January 7, the benches are sitting at the residential offices of the judges.

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The COVID-19 tally in rose to 8,45,047 on Tuesday after an addition of 7,154 new cases, while the death toll increased by two to reach 10,547, a health department official said.

The positivity rate stood at 9.7 per cent as against 9 per cent recorded on Monday, when the state had recorded 6,970 infections, he said. The rate indicates the percentage of people who test positive for the virus of those overall who have been tested. Madhya Pradesh's recovery count stood at 7,95,050 after 2,675 people were discharged from hospitals during the day, leaving the state with 39,450 active cases, the official said. Indore and Bhopal, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities in Madhya Pradesh, registered 2,106 and 1,339 cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he added. With 73,586 samples examined during the day, the number of tests conducted so far in MP went up to 2,49,09,681, the official said. A total of 10,79,18,406 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in MP, including 1,54,066 on Tuesday, a government release said. figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 8,45,047, new cases 7,154, death toll 10,547, recoveries 7,95,050, active cases 39,450, total tests 2,49,09,681.

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Odisha Chief Minister Tuesday said the state can cope with the present situation without hampering the livelihood of people.

Asking people not to panic over COVID-19 resurgence, Patnaik said, the situation was completely under control as cases requiring hospital admissions this time was very low.

The number of fresh infections continues to remain at a particular level in our state while active cases have started declining in various parts of the country, the chief minister said while reviewing the situation.

Highlighting that the state government has taken several measures to support livelihoods during the pandemic, Patnaik said, With the help of the public, we can deal with the situation without affecting the economic condition of people.

Emphasising the need for vaccination, Patnaik said journalists should get the booster dose as they too have been identified as frontline workers.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, RK Sharma, said the country is witnessing the peak of the ongoing wave of the pandemic.

The number of new COVID-19 patients in the state is between 10,000 and 11,000 per day, but the number of patients being hospitalised is very low.

Of the 11,291 beds available for coronavirus patients in the state, only 11 per cent of them are occupied at present, Sharma said.

The state has adequate stock of medicines, oxygen, and other essentials he said.

On the progress of vaccination in the state, he said that 82.8 per cent of people had taken the first dose and 70.7 per cent had been administered the second dose.

Altogether 45.8 per cent of children in the age group of 15 to 18 years have been vaccinated while 18 per cent of eligible people have received the booster dose.

Meanwhile, Odisha Tuesday reported 11,086 new COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 11,55,487. So far, 10,66,032 patients have recovered while the active cases surged to 80,914.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Most of India will see a peak in Omicron cases by mid February, health experts said on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, Dr Shashank Joshi, member of Covid-19 Maharashtra State Task Force noted that Omicron has followed the South African pattern in the case of both Mumbai and Delhi.

"It's a very rapidly progressive and explosive wave, which will come very fast and hopefully go very fast.

"Mumbai has already passed the peak, Maharashtra will peak by the first week of February.

"Most parts of India might peak between the first and 15th of February. Somewhere in March, Omicron will be much less and hopefully we should have a disruption free India April onwards," said Joshi, who is also an endocrinologist at the Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.

Recent projections by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Statistical Institute (IISc-ISI) claim that the country is likely to witness over 10 lakh Covid cases a day at January-end/beginning of February when the third wave meets its peak.

The Omicron 'Projections January-March 2022 IISc-ISI Model' by Professor Siva Athreya, Professor Rajesh Sundaresan and team from the Centre for Networked Intelligence at IISc-ISI in Bengaluru predicts that the third Covid wave may peak in January-end and early-February, with daily cases touching 10 lakh.

The peak of the third wave will vary for different states and the Covid-19 curve for India could start flattening by March-beginning.

Joshi also noted that the reduction in Omicron cases will also result in the end of the third wave in India. However, the presence of Delta, in "small pockets" may cause some trouble, he said.

"If there is no new variant of concern, then probably we are looking for disruption free Covid life," he noted.

However, Dr Vikas Maurya, HoD and Director, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, said that it could be too early to predict the end of Covid.

"Gradually it may result in endemicity of virus with continuous presence of few cases in next few months or with recurrent spurts of infection within marginal cases," Maurya told IANS.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Tuesday said that India has witnessed a substantial decrease in fresh Covid cases, reporting 2,38,018 new infections in the last 24 hours, and a total of 310 deaths.

On Monday, the country had reported 2,58,089 new cases and 385 deaths.

But, the Omicron infection tally has risen to 8,891 across the nation, an increase of 8.31 per cent from Monday.

According to Joshi, the key statistics to look for in Omicron is that 80 per cent of people are asymptomatic, and the need for hospitalisations, oxygen, and ventilators are much less compared to previous waves.

Further, "greater vaccine coverage will definitely result in asymptomatic or milder cases rather than severe cases and in complete eradication of this virus in near future", Maurya said.

--IANS

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A total of 15,414 people, including 2,736 healthcare workers, got their "precautionary doses" of COVID-19 vaccine in the national capital on Tuesday, according to government data.

As many as 4,878 people aged above 60 and 7,800 frontline workers also got their third doses.

On Monday, 18,795 people aged above 60, frontline and healthcare workers had taken their third dose.

A total of 1,62,875 people have so far got their precautionary dose in the capital. India started giving a precautionary dose from January 10 to people aged 60 or more, healthcare workers and frontline workers who took their second dose of vaccine nine months ago.

The beneficiaries have been receiving a precautionary dose of the same vaccine they took 39 weeks ago. They are required to book a slot using their existing Cowin account.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on December 24 announced precautionary shots for vulnerable populations and those at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

On January 3, the Centre had already rolled out vaccinations for adolescents aged 15-17.

On Tuesday, 38,678 beneficiaries in this age group got their first.

According to government data, over 2.88 crore doses have been administered in the city since the inoculation exercise started on January 16 last year. As many as 1.20 crore people have received both the doses.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Monday took to Twitter to express his grief over the demise of noted social worker and awardee Shanti Devi.

Shanti Devi, also known as Lugdi Devi, passed away on Saturday night at her residence in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district at the age of 88.

"Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted.

In 2021, she was felicitated with the Award by President Ram Nath Kovind.

In Odisha, Shanti Devi had founded the Seva Samaj Ashram from where she ran her movement of providing education to tribal girls so that they could have a secured future.

"Her lifelong efforts to help the needy and tribal have always been inspiring. Her contribution to social work is invaluable," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted.

--IANS

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PM mourns social worker Shanti Devi's demise

Shanti Devi, also known as Lugdi Devi, passed away on Saturday night at her residence in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district at the age of 88.

"Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted.

In 2021, she was felicitated with the Award by President Ram Nath Kovind.

In Odisha, Shanti Devi had founded the Seva Samaj Ashram from where she ran her movement of providing education to tribal girls so that they could have a secured future.

"Her lifelong efforts to help the needy and tribal have always been inspiring. Her contribution to social work is invaluable," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted.

--IANS

atk/arm

Shanti Devi, also known as Lugdi Devi, passed away on Saturday night at her residence in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district at the age of 88.

"Shanti Devi Ji will be remembered as a voice of the poor and underprivileged. She worked selflessly to remove suffering and create a healthier as well as just society. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted.

In 2021, she was felicitated with the Padma Shri Award by President Ram Nath Kovind.

In Odisha, Shanti Devi had founded the Seva Samaj Ashram from where she ran her movement of providing education to tribal girls so that they could have a secured future.

"Her lifelong efforts to help the needy and tribal have always been inspiring. Her contribution to social work is invaluable," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted.

--IANS

atk/arm

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the rejection of West Bengal's tableau for the parade snowballed into a major row, Defence Minister Tuesday wrote to Chief Minister informing her that the CPWD's float for the occasion pays homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary but her TMC was implacable, saying the state's "dignity has been hurt".

In his letter, Singh hinted since the Central Public Works Department's tableau already featured Bose, West Bengal's float was not included for the parade, without saying it in so many words.

"Our government had celebrated in 2018 with great fanfare the 75th anniversary of the government Netaji formed in exile in 1943. It was our government which included the living soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian Army) in the Parade and felicitated them," Singh said.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, Banerjee had expressed "shock" at the rejection of the state's tableau, themed on Bose and his Indian Army. It also featured other Bengal icons like Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo.

Banerjee, while urging the prime minister to reconsider the decision, said it will cause "pain" to the people of West Bengal if not retracted. She had said no reason was put forth for rejecting the tableau.

Anita Bose Pfaff, the only child of Bose, had said on Monday the legendary freedom fighter's legacy has often been "partly exploited" for political reasons.

She minced no words while acknowledging the fanfare that marked the start of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations of Bose in 2021 in Kolkata had something to do with the elections in West Bengal.

Defence minister wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister over exclusion of the state's tableaux for celebrations



In a letter, the defence minister wrote, "West Bengal's tableau has been selected for participation in R-Day during 2016, 2017,2019, & 2021." pic.twitter.com/7KiAcQjpzm  ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2022

".....the opening of the anniversary year was celebrated in a bigger way, of all places in Kolkata, had something to do with election and election prospects in Bengal. The fact that nothing happened this year....certainly the issue is not as important as last year," she had told PTI in an exclusive interview.

TMC Secretary General and West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee reacted sharply to Singh's letter and tweets by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighting that an expert committee of eminent personalities shortlists the tableau proposals sent by states, central ministries and public sector units.

"The Centre has hurt the dignity of Bengal, which has been the frontrunner of the freedom movement and is the birthplace of Netaji....So much effort and research went behind the tableau but it has been summarily rejected without any reason because of political considerations. They have ignored the history of freedom struggle which is incomplete without Bengal," he said.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) official's comments in New Delhi that the decision to not include the tableaux of Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu at the Republic Day parade will not be revised further angered the TMC, which called the decision an "insult" to the people of West Bengal. All three states have non-BJP governments.

"Existing criteria and proposals for selection were scrupulously followed. Since @narendramodi became @PMOIndia : 2018 & 2021: Kerala's tableau selected. 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 & 2021: Tamil Nadu selected 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2021: West Bengal selected," she wrote on Twitter.

"Incidentally, this year the tableau of @CPWDGOV includes Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Stop seeing bad politics in a display that celebrates India," she added.

All India Forward Bloc, the party founded by the fabled freedom fighter, also reacted angrily to the exclusion of West Bengal's tableau highlighting the contributions of Bose.

"Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's legacy should not be seen through the prism of centre-state politics. The Centre should have a clear policy regarding the representation of states at the Republic Day parade. It can't be whims and fancies of the BJP leaders and some bureaucrats," Debabrata Biswas, its general secretary, said.

Bose had launched the AIFB in 1939.

"It seems the Centre doesn't want to propagate the ideal of the Netaji and that is why it was not keen on allowing West Bengal's tableau. We had earlier demanded that Netaji's life and struggle should be included in the school texts but the Centre did nothing," he said.

Netaji's grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose, however, thanked the Centre for its decision to include CPWD's float on Bose at the Republic Day parade.

"People of our great nation appreciate Government of India is making a Netaji tableau for the Republic Day parade 2022. But there was no harm in allowing the state government's tableau too. However, the real tribute to Netaji would be to follow and implement his inclusive ideology to unite all communities as Bharatiyas to take the country forward, he said.

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Traders of Sadar Bazar Market on Tuesday staged a protest over the DDMA's odd-even arrangement for opening of shops which was imposed due to a surge in Covid cases in the city.

They wore black armbands and displayed placards saying "no odd-even" and "Delhi traders oppose odd-even". Traders have demanded to end this odd-even arrangement.

Paramjit Singh Pamma, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders Associations, said the odd-even arrangement for markets on week days coupled with weekend curfew has limited their number of business days to as low as two per week.

Pamma said that with 8-10 business days a month, it will be difficult for them to manage shop rent, workers' salary and other expenses.

We request the government to allow opening of shops on all week days. They can reduce our timing to 6 pm instead of 8 pm. This odd-even rule should be lifted as we are unable to function and recover losses of previous lockdowns. Our expenses have now surpassed our income, Pamma told PTI.

He added that traders in the market will keep protesting until the odd-even arrangement is lifted.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had in December last year announced odd-even arrangement for markets after cases of Covid and its Omicron variant had started increasing.

On January 4 this year, the DDMA imposed a weekend curfew in the city.

However, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had last week said that the city might see some relaxations once daily cases go below 15,000.

COVID-19 cases in Delhi has been reducing for last four-five days.

According to data shared by the state health department, Delhi reported 11,684 fresh COVID-19 cases and 38 more deaths due to the viral disease on Tuesday, while the positivity rate stood at 22.47 percent.

Pamma further said that these restrictions have no meaning when everything else is open.

Metro and buses are operating at full capacity and also there is no crackdown on street vendors which leads to crowding then there is no point in troubling shopkeepers. These moves are to kill business, Pamma lamented.

Kamla Market Traders Association, President, Nitin Gupta also echoed similar concerns and said that shopkeepers are following all Covid protocols but still they are being punished.

Crowd in markets is due to illegal vendors who also often violate Covid guidelines but there is no crackdown against them. If an odd number shop is closed then street vendors open their makeshift kiosk in front of that closed shop and they do the same when even number shop is shut. So the entire exercise is not serving any purpose, Gupta said.

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Navi issued a show-cause notice to four police officials in connection with the alleged 'secret' meeting between former commissioner Param Bir Singh and dismissed police officer Sachin Waze last November, an official said on Tuesday.

The duo had met in a room adjacent to the chamber of Justice Chandiwal (retd) Commission in a building in south Mumbai.

The one-member panel is probing allegations of corruption levelled against then state home minister Anil Deshmukh by Param Bir Singh after the latter was removed as commissioner.

The four personnel of Navi Mumbai police's Local Arms Unit had escorted Waze from the Taloja Jail to a hearing before the commission in south Mumbai when he and Singh managed to speak to each other in private.

"The show-cause notice has been issued by DCP, Headquarters, who probed the issue. Once he gives the report, we will take necessary action," said a top Navi Mumbai police officer.

The four personnel to whom the notice was issued include a police sub-inspector and three constables, he said.

Waze is currently lodged in the Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai in connection with the 'Antilia' security scare case in which an explosives-laden SUV was found parked outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last February. Waze is also the prime accused in the Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran murder case.

"After the information of the meeting between Singh and Waze came to light, senior officials of the Mumbai Police visited the spot and informed the Navi Mumbai Police. We took serious note of the incident and an inquiry was ordered against the four police officials for the violation of protocol while escorting the accused person," the official said.

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Virtually delivering the 'State of the World' special address to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Davos Agenda, Prime Minister on Monday underlined the role played by India in handling the Covid-triggered crisis and managing the vaccination drive, while touching upon the need to reshape and restructure international organisations.

Armed with data, figure and facts on the Covid-19 pandemic, Modi presented India as not only a future technology and economic powerhouse of the world, but also showcased the country as an indispensable member of the world community.

Without naming the UN, he also demanded restructuring and reforms in international organisations.

"We have not just set a record of administering 1.6 billion Covid vaccine shots, but also stood with the countries which were in need during the pandemic. India always follows the vision of 'One Earth, One Health', and supplied Covid vaccines to more than 150 nations along with life-saving drugs," the Prime Minister said.

"India's health professionals, who are always regarded for their sensitivity, went on to win the hearts of the people. Our 5-million software professionals did not let the world stop digitally by working day and night tirelessly," Modi said in his speech.

Presenting India as one of the world's future tech and economic powerhouse, Modi elaborated the economic and tech reforms taking place in the country, saying that gone are the days when India's business space was badly disrupted by government control, as the present government has removed more than 25,000 such hurdles to start a business in India.

"Today, India is the land of more than 60,000 registered startups, 80 unicorns, country of more than 4 billion UPI transactions, and a nation with 6 lakh villages connected digitally and spending about $1.3 trillion on connectivity," Modi said.

The Prime Minister also came up with a suggestion for the world in dealing with challenges like climate change, saying that time has come for the world to start thinking about its life-style, which is damaging the global environment, whereas the Indian culture still banks on its age-old traditions of preserving the nature.

The Prime Minister underlined that India always advocates growth, which should be green, clean, sustainable and reliable.

"Through the International Solar Alliance and COP21, the world witnessed India's commitments towards saving the Earth," he said.

Without naming the UN, he said when such organisations were formed, the world was different, but now over the years, things have changed and "it is the call of the day that all the democratic countries should come together and make the changes for a better tomorrow".

Beside PM Modi, the Davos summit is also being attended by Japan PM Kishida Fumio, Australian PM Scott Morrison, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Israel PM Naftali Bennett, China's President Xi Jin Ping and EU Commission chief Ursua von der leyen, along with top industry leaders, international organisations and civil society groups.

--IANS

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The Omicron-led third wave of Covid-19 may turn out to be more of a flash flood than a wave for the Indian economy, the RBI has said.

More on that story in our top headlines Tuesday: Synchronised global regulation of crypto needed: PM Modi at WEF

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A e-commerce policy, which has been in the works for close to three years, will direct e-tailers to be fair and non-discriminatory while providing cashbacks or reward offers to consumers, people aware of the matter told Business Standard. Read more

Jhunjhunwala the biggest draw as investors line up to board Akasa

Veterans in the travel industry, a well-known corporate lawyer, and a marquee US-based hedge fund have backed the upcoming low-cost airline . Founded by former Jet Airways chief executive officer (CEO) Vinay Dube, the venture counts ace stock trader and investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala as its biggest financial backer with an investment of around Rs 300 crore. Read more

Tesla's tryst with India: Apple may have a playbook for Musk to follow

Teslas tryst with India is clearly not going as smoothly as it may have expected.

That is why last week, two years after Elon Musk first announced that his company would come to India, then registering a firm in Bengaluru to import cars and holding discussions on setting up company-owned retail showrooms, the maverick entrepreneurs terse Twitter response to a query was: Still working through a lot of challenges with the government. Read more

Omicron a flash flood, not a wave, economic recovery remains strong: RBI

The Omicron-led third wave of Covid-19 may turn out to be more of a flash flood than a wave, and the Indian economy could rebound to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBIs) State of the Economy report released on Monday. Read more
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Tuesday held a meeting with different stakeholders, including domestic and foreign companies, on the proposed e-commerce policy, an official said.

The meeting was attended by domestic and foreign e-commerce firms besides domestic traders body CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) and associations related to the MSME sector, the official added.

CAIT in a statement said the meeting was attended by All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), Retailers Association of India, Laghu Udyog Bharti, and Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME).

Representatives of e-commerce firms, including Amazon and Flipkart, also attended the virtual meeting, which was chaired by Additional Secretary Anil Agarwal, along with other senior officials of the ministry.

Confirming his participation in the meeting, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said the should have clear stipulations about transparent operations of e-commerce platforms, easy accessibility and adequate grievance redressal system, and non-discriminatory access of marketplace platforms to all stakeholders and value chain.

It should also have stipulations about the avoidance of conflict of interest among marketplace platforms, sellers and various service providers on the platform.

The meeting holds significance as the department is in the process of formulating the policy.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India offered a new $500 million credit line to to fund fuel purchases, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said on Tuesday, as the island struggles to manage its worst financial crisis in years.

The credit line, which was under negotiation since August 2021, will ease pressure on the country's dwindling reserves that dipped to $3.1 billion at the end of December.

Last week India also granted a $400 million swap arragement to boost its reserves and help repay debt.

The international rating agencies had expressed doubts over the island nation's ability to meet its international sovereign bond payments of $1.5 billion, including the first $500 million which matured on Tuesday.

The settlement of these bonds, issued in 2012, came despite calls from the business fraternity, economic analysts and opposition politicians to defer the payment in view of the severe foreign exchange crisis.

They opined that the nation's foreign currency reserves should be used to pay for the imports of essentials. Shortages of food and essentials are prevailing due to scarcity of foreign exchange. Shipments are getting held up at the port, while power cuts are imposed as the energy sector has been hit due to the forex crisis.

The next bond payment amounting USD one billion is due in July. The total debt owed by Lanka this year is over $6 billion.

In his address to Parliament in the morning, President Gotabaya Rajapkasa admitted that the most serious challenge his government is facing is the economic management in the current foreign exchange crisis.

Today we are encountering the climax of a problem for which a number of governments have failed to provide a lasting solution...More than $6 billion a year in foreign debt is to be repaid over the next two years. It is the loans taken by all previous governments from time to time that we have to repay," he said.

Last week, Rajapkasa had urged visiting Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to restructure China's debt to as a favour. Over $2 billion are due to be paid to China in 2022.

Lanka's economy shrank 3.6 per cent last year due to the coronavirus pandemic that adversely affected tourism earnings, a major forex earner.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Facing criticism over poor implementation of the liquor ban, the government in is likely to give some relaxation to the violators.

According to a top official of the JDU, the state government is ready to review this issue and a proposal is likely to be put on table in the upcoming budget session of the Vidhan Sabha.

As per the proposal, the violators who are caught in drunken state can be let off after paying penalty on the spot. Though, it is not applicable on repeat offenders. A person repeatedly violating the norms of liquor prohibition law would be liable to face jail term.

Such a relaxation would allow liquor consumption at home and would also promote the home delivery concept, which is already popular among habitual drinkers in .

The JDU official further said that the vehicle used for smuggling of liquor could be released after paying a fine.

He said that the Chief Minister is under huge political pressure after a series of spurious liquor tragedies in different districts in the last four months that have taken the lives of more than 80 persons and many others have lost their eyesight.

Reacting to it, Danish Rizwan, the chief spokesperson of HAM said: "Chief minister Nitish Kumar, instead of bringing amendment or review of liquor prohibition law, should do a survey on this issue. If common people of the state are satisfied with the amendment or review, our party will not go against it. If people of Bihar are in favour of withdrawal of the liquor ban, we also respect that decision."

The liquor tragedies occurred in Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Bettiah, Samastipur, Vaishali, Nawada and now CM's district Nalanda.

This issue is severely affecting government especially after its alliance partners BJP and HAM are extremely vocal. They want a review of the liquor prohibition law. The was enforced in Bihar in April 2016.

The government also came under criticism by the Patna High Court recently. The court said a large number of liquor related cases are pending which has led to a huge burden on the judicial system. Keeping this in view, the government should establish more courts in all 38 districts for speedy trials of liquor related cases.

Though, this would not be the first case of amendment in liquor prohibition act. In 2018, the state government made a provision to grant bail to normal offenders at the police station level. The offenders have to pay Rs 50,000 as fine. In case of offenders unable to give a penalty, they would be liable to face jail term. Under the liquor prohibition law, the maximum jail term is 10 years.

--IANS

ajk/skp/

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In a virtual meeting organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday related to the framework, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) strongly argued for a robust and unambiguous essentially having an empowered Regulatory Authority on the pattern of TRAI. Besides, CAIT, which represents about 70 million traders, the meeting was attended by All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), Retailers Association of India, Laghu Udyog Bharti, Federation of Small Industries (FISME). Other prominent e-commerce players, Amazon, Flipkart, Tata, Reliance, udaan, Pepperfry, Shopclues and Snapdeal also attended the meeting which was chaired by Additional Secretary of Anil Agarwal along with several other senior officials of the Ministry.

Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal advocating for a well defined coupled with definite parameters e-commerce policy, regretted that the explicit provisions of Press Note 2 of the FDI (foreign direct investment) Policy have been continuously violated by foreign-funded e-commerce companies right under the nose of the Government and no action has been taken against them so far. He said that the should have clear stipulations about transparent operations of e-commerce platforms, easy accessibility and adequate grievance redressal system. It should also include non-discriminatory access of marketplace platforms to all stakeholders and value chain, avoidance of conflict of interest between marketplace platforms, sellers and various service providers on the platform.

Khandelwal strongly advocated for mandatory registration of each commerce entity operating business activities in the country, mandatory and strict KYC norms for the sellers. He said there should be a clear distinction between marketplace and inventory models of e-commerce platforms, check on sale of prohibited items. He also argued that all goods traded or services provided through any digital mode including social media platforms, social commerce and WhatsApp groups must be covered under the definition of e-commerce. Several speakers also advocated the need for the removal of the mandatory GST (goods and services tax) number barrier which restricts small traders, artisans, craftsmen, karigars to onboard e-commerce.

Surprisingly, said the e-commerce companies attending the meeting merely said that they have made a note of the concerns raised in the meeting and will submit their views in writing to the . However, they also said that they are engaged in various activities pertaining to the empowerment of small retailers, karigars, artisans and they have opened various channels in their respective portals. said none of the e-commerce companies refuted the charges made by the CAIT and other associations.
The government will use the order calling the 2005 deal between ISRO's commercial arm Antrix and privately-owned Multimedia a fraud, to counter seizure of its properties, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday as she launched a blistering attack on the for handing over airwaves used by the defence to the private firm for pittance.

"It is a fraud of Congress, by (and) for Congress," the minister told reporters as she read out paragraphs from the Supreme Court's January 17 decision allowing winding up of Multimedia because of the fraud.

Antrix the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) entered into an agreement with for providing multimedia services to mobile users, for which it was given S-band satellite spectrum without the knowledge of the Union Cabinet, she said. The took six years to cancel the deal and the then government did not initiate steps to fight the arbitration proceedings the private company brought against the cancellation, she added.

The Congress-led UPA did not cite national security to fight the arbitrations brought by Devas, Sitharaman said and called the party "master of corruption".

Devas initiated arbitration against the annulment at the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC). Two separate arbitrations were also initiated under the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) by Mauritius investors in Devas Multimedia under the India-Mauritius BIT and by Deutsche Telekom a German company under the India Germany BIT. India lost all three disputes and has to pay a total of USD 1.2 billion in damages.

Its shareholders are pursuing Indian assets abroad to recover award and have got a French court order for freezing Indian properties in Paris and got partial rights over funds maintained by Air India in Canada.

The has given a comprehensive verdict upholding the liquidation of Devas ordered by the insolvency court, she said, adding this would be cited in the international courts to challenge enforcement actions of the private firm.

"No country which respects rule of law will ignore these facts," she said, citing the apex court observation that it was a case of fraud of a huge magnitude which cannot be brushed under the carpet as a private lis.

Antrix had approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking liquidation of Devas. Last year, NCLT ordered liquidation of Devas observing that the firm appeared to have been incorporated with fraudulent intentions. Devas appealed against the order before NCLAT which in September 2021 upheld the liquidation. Devas filed an appeal before the which upheld the liquidation, she said.

Calling Congress a "master of corruption", Sitharaman asked if the party's leader Rahul Gandhi had "tore" the Antrix-Devas deal papers in 2011. He and the Congress owes answers to the nation, she said.

The minister was apparently referring to the incident of Rahul Gandhi tearing an ordinance on land acquisition in public in 2013. The ordinance had been cleared by the then UPA II government that was led by Congress.

The Antrix-Devas deal was a fraud perpetuated by the Congress on the nation where spectrum used by defence forces was given for pittance, she said. "This is the level of shameless corruption."



The 2005 agreement was "a fraud on people of India, fraud against the country," she said, adding the government is fighting in every court so that Devas does not get away with Antrix deal fraud and taxpayers' money is saved.

Sitharaman said the commercial terminal award was for a total of USD 1 billion while USD 93.3 million plus cost and interest was awarded against India under the arbitration brought under the India-Germany BIT. Besides, USD 111.2 million plus cost and interest was awarded in the arbitration under India-Mauritius BIT.

"After nearly 10-11 years of struggle, the Supreme Court has come out with the decision on the case. This indicates how the Congress party has misused its position when in power," the minister said.

She also questioned the Congress party for allowing blatant sale of resources of the government and people of India for pittance.

"We are fighting to save taxpayers' money which otherwise would have gone to pay for the scandalous Antrix-Devas deal," she added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Bengal Chief Minister will campaign for in the upcoming Assembly poll and her party - the Trinamool Congress will not contest the election in that state, SP vice-president Kiranmay Nanda said on Tuesday.

Nanda, who returned from poll bound on Monday, held an hour-long meeting with Banerjee at her residence on the issue.

"The Trinamool Congress will not contest in and will support in the fight against the BJP. will hold virtual campaigns along with SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow and Varanasi. She will be in Lucknow on February 8 and attend a virtual campaign. She will then will hold a joint press conference with Akhileshji," Nanda told reporters after the meeting.

Banerjee will also visit Varanasi later in February but the date is yet to be fixed, he said.

"She will visit Varanasi for a virtual meeting," Nanda said and noted that most of the campaigns are being held virtually due to COVID restrictions.

The election to all 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7.

is a strong leader and the way she fought against the BJP and defeated it in the West Bengal Assembly Election in 2021 is a lesson for the entire opposition. Her fight was unprecedented. The entire nation saw the fight she had put up against BJP's juggernaut," he said.

During the high octane West Bengal assembly polls, the had decided against contesting in the state and extended its support to the ruling TMC.

Akhilesh Yadav shares a very cordial relationship with Mamata Banerjee and had even attended the grand opposition meeting hosted by the TMC supremo in January 2019.

One of the longest-serving fisheries ministers of West Bengal during the erstwhile Left Front regime, Nanda had merged his party, the West Bengal Socialist Party with Samajwadi Party in 2010.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kh Ratankumar Singh, who had submitted his resignation from the post of vice-president of the Pradesh Committee of poll-bound Manipur, has been appointed as its working president on Monday, said a press release issued by the party.

Ratankumar's appointment as working president of Pradesh Committee has been approved by the AICC president during the day, party general secretary K C Venu Gopal said.

Ratankumar told reporters at the Bhawan here that he had submitted his resignation from the post of MPCC vice-president on Sunday but not from the party.

Election to the 60-member House will take place in February-March.

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Stating that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) wanted to contest along with Congress in the upcoming Assembly election, senior leader Nawab Malik said that due to the opposition by some local leaders, the alliance could not be formed.

He further said that Shiv Sena, which is the alliance partner in the Maharashtra government, has expressed a desire to join hands with the and the decision on the formation of an alliance with will be taken after the party General Secretary Praful Patel and Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad hold a meeting on Tuesday with the state unit of the .

Speaking to reporters, Malik, who is a minister in the Maharashtra Cabinet, said, "We wanted to contest polls along with Congress but due to some local leaders, the alliance couldn't be formed."

He further said, "Tomorrow, our General Secretary Praful Patel and minister Jitendra Awhad will visit to talk about the alliance. has expressed the desire to form an alliance with us in the . The decision will be taken tomorrow after talking to the NCP state unit."

He added, "After talking to local leaders in UP, we joined hands with Samajwadi Party. We will contest the Manipur polls in alliance with Congress."

UP will have elections in seven phases, starting from February 10, whereas the election in Goa will be held on February 14. In Manipur, the elections will be held in two phases - February 27 and March 3. The results in all these states will be announced on March 10.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An office-bearer of the Bharatiya Janata Party in western Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr was issued a notice on Tuesday for breaching model code of conduct with a communal social media post, according to an official order.

The notice was issued to Anand Chaudhary, the publicity head of the in Bulandshahr Assembly area, by the office of the deputy district collector, who is also the returning officer of the constituency.

"A post has been made by you on social media in favour of candidate Pradeep Chaudhary. The facts mentioned by you in the post do not conform to model code of conduct and are a violation of the model code of conduct," the notice stated, mentioning a line targeted at a minority community.

The publicist has been asked to respond to the notice within two days of receiving it as to what were the conditions that led to the violation of the poll code and why action should not be taken against it.

"If your response is not received within the stipulated time period, it would be considered that you do not have anything to say and further action would be taken accordingly and you will be responsible for it," the notice stated.

The Bulandshahr Assembly seat is currently held by BJP's Usha Sirohi.

She had won the bypolls to the seat in November 2020 after the death of her husband Virendra Singh Sirohi, who had won the constituency in the 2017 polls.

Bulandshahr goes to polls on February 10 and election results will be announced on March 10.

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Secretary of State will visit this week and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as tensions between the US and Russia escalate over a possible Russian invasion of its neighbour, the State Department said Tuesday.

Blinken will be in Kyiv on a hastily arranged trip to show US support following inconclusive diplomatic talks between Moscow and the West in Europe last week that failed to resolve stark disagreements over and other security matters.

Instead, those meetings appear to have increased fears of a Russian invasion, and the Biden administration has accused Russia of preparing a false flag operation" to use as a pretext for intervention. Russia has angrily denied the charge.

Blinken's travel and consultations are part of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russia's military build-up and continued aggression against Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement.

From Kyiv, Blinken will travel to Berlin, where he will meet with his German, British and French counterparts to discuss a possible response to any Russian military action. Russia has massed some 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons on its own soil near the Ukrainian border in what many observers believe may be preparation for an invasion.

Blinken will meet with Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday to reinforce the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the State Department said in a statement.

The trip follows extensive diplomacy with our European Allies and partners about a united approach to address the threat Russia poses to and our joint efforts to encourage it to choose diplomacy and de-escalation in the interests of security and stability, the department said.

On Monday, Russia's top diplomat rejected the US allegations that it was preparing a pretext to invade Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the US claim as total disinformation.

Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia expects a written response this week from the US and its allies to Moscow's request for binding guarantees that NATO will not embrace Ukraine or any other ex-Soviet nations or station its forces and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow's demands during last week's Russia-US negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels.

The White House said Friday that US intelligence officials had concluded that Russia had already deployed operatives to rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine to carry out acts of sabotage there and blame them on Ukraine to create a pretext for possible invasion.

Ahead of Blinken's visit to Kyiv, a delegation of US senators was visiting Ukraine to emphasize congressional support for the country.

Our bipartisan congressional delegation sends a clear message to the global community: the United States stands in unwavering support of our Ukrainian partners to defend their sovereignty and in the face of persistent Russian aggression, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, said in a statement.

Speaking Monday on a visit to Kyiv, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that any further escalation would carry a high price for the Russian regime - economic, political and strategic", and she emphasised the need to continue negotiations.

We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia, because diplomacy is the only way to defuse this highly dangerous situation at the moment, she said.

Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula after the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly leader and in 2014 also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces in the country's industrial heartland called Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will take unspecified military-technical measures if the West stonewalls its demands.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Xi's WEF address shows China's commitment to true multilateralism -- Cambodian experts

Xinhua) 13:38, January 18, 2022

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special address at the 2022 World Economic Forum virtual session has reflected China's commitment to true multilateralism, win-win cooperation and peaceful development, Cambodian experts and scholars said on Monday.

"Countries around the world should uphold true multilateralism. We should remove barriers, not erect walls. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration, not decoupling. This is the way to build an open world economy," Xi said in his speech.

"The right way forward for humanity is peaceful development and win-win cooperation. Different countries and civilizations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other, and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences," Xi said.

Joseph Matthews, senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said Xi's remarks showed China's efforts to promote multilateralism, international solidarity and cooperation to address global challenges for common interest and peaceful co-existence.

"President Xi's speech truly reflects China's unwavering commitment to upholding true multilateralism and free trade, which are the key to global peace, economic recovery and common development in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era," he told Xinhua.

The professor said that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, which came into force on Jan. 1, is a good example of true multilateralism, providing mutual benefit and win-win results for all participating countries.

"Cold war mentality, unilateralism, protectionism, hegemonism, and zero-sum games can only harm others," Matthews said. "Countries should coexist peacefully, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."

In terms of the building of "a global community of health for all," he said that China has already proved its determination by providing 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations.

"Chinese vaccines have protected hundreds of millions of people around the world, including Cambodia, and also helped countries reopen their borders with confidence," he said.

Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that Xi's address has highlighted China's commitment to pursuing win-win cooperation and enhancing friendship with other countries around the world.

"China has always been ready to work with the international community to restore confidence in multilateralism and globalization, build an open and pluralistic world economy, and blaze a new trail in inclusive growth and sustainable development, so as to shape a brighter shared future," he told Xinhua.

Phea said China has been committed to its neighborhood policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, adding that "China has played a crucial role in the regional and global fights against the pandemic."

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said that China has been actively contributing to the global economic recovery, promoting global governance, and working with other countries to cope with global challenges like COVID-19.

"Peace remains the most essential element in President Xi's view of global development," Mengdavid said. "China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind is the blueprint for peaceful, harmonious and prosperous global development."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
At least 12 people were killed and many injured after a magnitude 5.6 hit Afghanistan's western province of Badghis on Monday, a local official has said.

"The worst-hit areas were Badruk, Darband-e-Safed and Khak Polak localities in Qadis district, east of the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw," Xinhua news agency quoted district chief Mohammad Saleh Purdil.

Multiple houses were affected by the quake which occurred at 4:10 p.m., and the number of casualties may rise, the source said.

The US Geological Survey said the with a magnitude of 5.6 jolted 40 km east of Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital of Badghis which borders Turkmenistan.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 34.9479 degrees north latitude and 63.5686 degrees east longitude, it said.

Several aftershocks were also felt in the region.

--IANS

int/shs

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The British hostage-taker shot dead by the FBI to end a siege at a synagogue in was known to Britain's secret service, according to UK media reports on Tuesday.

Malik Faisal Akram, 44, who demanded the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Afia Siddiqui suspected of ties with Al Qaeda, was on the radar of the MI5 intelligence service during the second half of 2020 to assess whether he posed a security threat after suspicion around Islamist terrorism had reportedly been flagged.

According to The Times', Akram was the subject of a short lead investigation for at least four weeks but the case was closed when spies assessed there was no indication that he presented a terrorist threat at that time.

Akram had also been in prison four times, between 1996 and 2012, for a range of offences, including violent disorder, harassment and theft. It emerged earlier that he had even been banned from a British court for ranting about the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York in 2001.

The Exclusion Order at Blackburn Magistrates' Court was made under Section 12 of the UK's Contempt of Court Act over 20 years ago.

However, by the time he travelled to the US in late December 2021, Akram was not on the UK Home Office warnings index, the watchlist that allows police at airports to intercept would-be passengers of concern. Sources told the newspaper that it would be disproportionate for someone assessed as being no threat to be on the list.

Akram was killed by the FBI after the siege at a synagogue in Colleyville, three miles from Dallas, Texas, on Saturday as he demanded the release of Siddiqui, dubbed Lady Al Qaeda.

Akram, whose family based in the UK say he had mental health problems, had stayed at homeless shelters before carrying out the siege. His arrival had raised no red flags in the US, where President Joe Biden declared the incident as a terror act. Biden said that Akram purchased the handgun used in the siege on the street.

Akram's associates in Blackburn said he had quarrelled with his family after moving to a more conservative strand of Islam. They said Akram, who was estranged from his wife and had six children, had a temper and tried to impose his strict religious values on . He had become increasingly religious, had distanced himself from his family and had taken to Wahhabism, a fundamentalist strain of Islam.

Two teenagers arrested in south Manchester in connection with the siege are still being questioned by England's North West Counter Terrorism Unit.

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has terminated its sourcing contract with Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corp following allegations about forced labour, the country's public services and procurement department said on Tuesday.

Malaysian factories making products ranging from medical gloves to palm oil have increasingly come under scrutiny over allegations they abuse foreign workers, who form a significant part of the manufacturing workforce.

had paused imports of Supermax gloves in November, saying it would determine its next steps after receiving an audit report over the firm's labour practices.

"Based on the seriousness of the allegations and expected timelines for the final audit results, the Government of has decided, and Supermax Healthcare Canada has agreed, to terminate by mutual consent the two existing contracts for the supply of nitrile gloves," the department told Reuters in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

Supermax did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In November, Supermax said it will speed up a process it had begun in 2019 to meet labour standards set by the Labour Organisation.

Canada's move to pause imports last year followed an import ban on Supermax by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in October. U.S. Customs cited reasonable information that it said indicated the use of forced labour in the Malaysian firm's manufacturing operations.

Supermax has said it was in contact with the U.S. agency to obtain more clarity and that it had commissioned an independent consulting firm to conduct an audit into the status of foreign workers at its factories.

Earlier this month, Supermax said it had introduced a new foreign worker management policy and enhanced its current human resources policies in light of the labour allegations.

The growing number of allegations over the treatment of labour at Malaysian have started to hurt businesses.

In November, home appliances maker Dyson terminated a contract with its biggest parts supplier, Malaysian firm ATA IMS Bhd , over forced labour allegations.

ATA has acknowledged some violations, made some improvements and said it now complies with all regulations and standards.

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi

Editing by Ed Davies)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cities contribute 80 per cent to global -- but they also account for 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating nature-positive solutions can help protect cities from growing risks associated with extreme weather while driving sustainable economic growth.

In collaboration with the Alexander von Humboldt Institute and the government of Colombia, the World Economic Forum's BiodiverCities by 2030 Initiative published a report addressing the urgency of cities' untenable relationship with nature.

The initiative's goal is to reverse this existential global threat and move forward with a plan that will result in cities and nature co-existing in harmony by the end of the decade.

The report is a call for multi stakeholder action to integrate nature as infrastructure into the built environment. In making the economic case for BiodiverCities, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for infrastructure and land-sparing are found to be cost-effective ways for cities to innovate and meet current challenges.

Spending $583 billion on NbS for infrastructure and on interventions that release land to nature could create more than 59 million jobs by 2030, including 21 million livelihood-enhancing jobs dedicated to restoring and protecting natural ecosystems.

"In the conventional paradigm, urban development and environmental health are like oil and water," said Akanksha Khatri, Head of Nature and Biodiversity, World Economic Forum.

"This report shows that this does not have to be the case. Nature can be the backbone of urban development. By recognizing cities as living systems, we can support conditions for the health of people, planet and economy in urban areas."

The report finds that by incentivizing investments in natural capital, cities can unlock the benefits of nature. Nature-based solutions are on average 50 per cent more cost-effective than man-made alternatives and deliver 28 per cent more added value.

This capitalisation, in turn, instils and nurtures nature-positive values and fosters bio-inspired innovations that will ultimately optimize economic competitiveness and prosperity.

"As cities think about building for the post-pandemic future, they have a priority to provide their citizens with a more equitable and prosperous quality of life by protecting their natural resources," said Mauricio Rodas, Co-Chair of the Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030 and former mayor of Quito, Ecuador.

"In this report, we offer actionable solutions to heal the relationship between cities and nature. We need all stakeholders to invest in urban nature."

"Cities don't need to be concrete jungles in conflict with nature in and outside their boundaries," said Jo da Silva, Arup Global Sustainable Development Leader.

"They should be places where all people and nature co-exist and thrive together. Nature-based solutions offer wider benefits than traditional engineered agrey' solutions -- such as improving resilience, increasing citizens' health and wellbeing and moving cities to net zero.

"Using powerful new digital mapping tools to help us understand cities as complex systems, we are increasingly adopting nature-based solutions in our projects -- this needs to be accelerated on a global scale."

--IANS

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India at the UN said on Tuesday that the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts was not just given state protection but it also enjoyed a five-star hospitality, in a veiled reference to the D-company head Dawood Ibrahim believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the Counter Terrorism Conference 2022 organised by the Global Counter Terrorism Council that linkages between terrorism and transnational organised crime must be fully recognised and addressed vigorously.

We have seen the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts not just given state protection but enjoying 5-star hospitality, he said.

Tirumurti's remarks were a thinly-veiled reference to D-Company and its head Ibrahim, believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

In August 2020, Pakistan had for the first time acknowledged the presence of Ibrahim on its soil after the government imposed sweeping sanctions on 88 banned terror groups and their leaders which also included the name of the underworld don wanted by India.

Tirumurti said that the UN sanctions regimes, including the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, are pivotal to the efforts in preventing terror-financing, terrorist-travel and access to arms by the terrorist organisations.

He, however, voiced concern that the implementation of these measures remains challenging.

It is critical that all sanctions regimes established by the Council ensure due process in their working procedures and decision-making. The decision-making process and listing/delisting measures should be objective, swift, credible, evidence based and transparent, and not for political and religious considerations, the Indian Ambassador said.

He said that a recent report of the Monitoring Team (MT) on the asset freeze exemption procedures pursuant to resolution 2560 (2020) points to the lacunae of asset freeze measures by member states, partly due to deficiencies in the existing guidelines of the Committee.

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The sale of electric vehicles (EV) in the European market has surpassed that of diesel for the first time ever, according to Financial Times preliminary estimates.



Across 18 European markets  including the UKmore than a fifth of vehicles sold were electric, while diesel slumped to less than 19 per cent.

In December, around 176,000 battery EVs were sold in Western European all-time record high and a 6 per cent increase on December 2020 levels  while European car makers sold 160,000 diesel cars, the Financial Times reported.

According to Daniel Clarke, automotive analyst at GlobalData, Europe should be galvanised by todays news.

 Europe has historically been home to a number of dominant players in petrol and diesel car industry, but todays news should galvanise EU carmakers to further boost their EV credentials, he told City A.M.

There has been a clear focus on the demand-side, with incentives, infrastructure and charging stations, however, much more focus should be given to the supply side, specifically ensuring that the EU is not dependent on China for batteries or battery metals.

In Europe the diesel car market has steadily gone down since 2015, when Volkswagen was found guilty of having cheated on diesel emission tests.

The diesel death march has been playing on repeat since September 2015 when Dieselgate was first unveiled  causing VW to draw up the first plans of the ID.3 within 30 days of the scandal coming to light, auto analyst Matthias Schmidt told the outlet.

Despite Dieselgate, Volkswagen has sold worldwide 452,9000 battery-electric vehicles, going up 96 per cent on 2020 levels. In Western Europe, EVs accounted for 10.5 per cent of the groups total deliveries.

Figures for 2021 show how the Volkswagen Groups business model is changing, commented Volkswagen Groups head of sales Christian Dahlheim.

The sources of income will progressively shift further from conventional petrol engines to zero-emissions and from sales of vehicles to software and mobility services, underpinned by the key technology of autonomous driving.
UN Secretary-General has called for diplomatic talks between North Korea and all parties concerned toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, his spokesman said.

North Korea reportedly fired two short-range projectiles into eastern waters on Monday, the fourth launch in less than two weeks, reports Xinhua news agency.

"There haven't been that many periods, I think, in recent time where we have seen so many launches from North Korea," said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman.

"And for us, it is just another reminder of the need for North Korea and all the parties engaged to involve themselves, engage themselves in diplomatic talks so we can get what the UN would like to see, which is a very verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and, in the more immediate term, a lowering of tensions."

Asked whether Guterres should reach out to Pyongyang, the spokesman suggested the existing mechanisms be used.

"I think there are existing mechanisms and existing lines of communications. And I think, at this point, these should be used, and the secretary-general is very supportive of those diplomatic frameworks that already exist. But they need to be used," said Dujarric.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Monday that the military detected two projectiles, presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles, which were launched from North Korea's Sunan airfield in Pyongyang.

Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency said last week that the country's railway-borne missile regiment test-fired two tactical guided missiles on January 15.

The country had also announced that it successfully test-launched a hypersonic missile on January 5 and a missile of the same kind on January 11.

--IANS

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UN Secretary-General on Monday said that he has been in close contact with the US, the UK and several other countries to ensure there are strong efforts to support India in its attempt to achieve 450 gigawatts of installed capacity, saying India does not like a coalition but it has accepted several bilateral forms of support.

Guterres, in his virtual remarks to the opening of the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF), said it must be a priority for all to phase out coal and no new coal plants should be built.

We have had the US and China making an agreement that I hope will provide China with more adequate technologies in order to accelerate the transition from coal.

India doesn't like coalition but India has accepted several bilateral forms of support. And I've been in close contact with the US, the UK and several other countries to make sure that there is a strong project to support India, namely in their investment for 450 gigawatts of solar energy, the UN chief said.

He said that Indonesia and Vietnam have already accepted the concept of a coalition supporting them to get rid of coal.

Guterres said that a number of countries have pledged to make meaningful emissions reductions in the 2020s but other countries face enormous structural obstacles.

"They have an energy mix that relies on heavy dependence on coal. And that stands in the way of progress for us all. So they need assistance.

Let's not go into a blame and shame. Let's assist, help the emerging economies to accelerate the transition, Guterres said, adding that he is calling for the creation of coalitions with countries, governments, public and private financial institutions, investment funds and companies that have the technological know-how to provide targeted financial and technical support for every country that needs assistance.

Last year in October, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has said that India is set to achieve 450 GW renewable energy installed capacity by 2030.

India now has decided to ramp up its solar module manufacturing capacity. The Government of India has also launched the Production Linked Incentive scheme for the manufacture of High Efficiency Solar PV Modules.

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The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen announced that it fired five ballistic missiles and several explosive-laden drones in multiple attacks on airports and an oil refinery in the (UAE).

"The attacks targeted the airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as the oil refinery in Abu Dhabi," Houthi military Spokesman Yehya Sarea said in a statement on Monday.

"We vow to hit more vital targets in the UAE if it continues military escalation in Yemen," the spokesman added.

The UAE state media reported earlier on Monday that three oil tankers in the industrial area in Abu Dhabi were exploded after being hit by small drones, reports Xinhua news agency.

It also reported fire in the Abu Dhabi Airport.

The UAE said it reserved rights to respond to the Houthi threat.

The attacks was widely condemned by Arab and foreign countries.

This attack came nearly a week after the Houthis hijacked and captured a UAE-flagged commercial ship off the militia-held Red Sea city of Hodeidah.

The UN Security Council has called on the Houthi group to release the ship and crew members.

The call was however, rejected by the Houthi group.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led Arab coalition supporting the Yemeni internationally recognized government against the Houthi militia.

Last week, the coalition-backed Yemeni government army recaptured four strategic districts in the oil-rich provinces of Shabwa and Marib from the militia.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

--IANS

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Japan's biggest oil and explorer Inpex Corp will conduct exploratory offshore drilling off western Japan from March to July in the hope of finding natural gas, the company and a ministry of industry official said.

The project, off the Yamaguchi and Shimane prefectures, if successful, is expected to help improve the country's energy self-sufficiency rate, Inpex said in a statement on Monday.

It will be the first offshore exploration in Japan since a project, off Niigata prefecture in central Japan, operated by Japan Petroleum Exploration, started production in 1990, the ministry official said on Tuesday.

For Inpex, it will be the first offshore exploration in Japan since a project off the coast of Fukushima prefecture in northern Japan produced gas between 1984 and 2007, a company spokesperson said.

Under a basic energy plan approved by the cabinet in October, resource-poor Japan aims to raise its rate of self-sufficiency for oil and gas, including stakes held by Japanese in overseas upstream projects, to 60% or more by 2040 from 34.7% in 2019.

The government has conducted some geophysical exploration and evaluation on the Yamaguchi/Shimane area since the 2000s, which raised expectation gas resources are there, the ministry official said.

Inpex declined to comment on the cost of the work but the ministry official said that, including analysis and evaluations over the next few years, it was expected to cost 33 billion yen ($288 million), half of which will be subsidised by the state-backed Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC).

If sufficient quantities of gas and the economics necessary for commercialisation are proven, the project is expected to produce about 900,000 tonnes of gas a year and boost Japan's domestic self-sufficiency rate of gas to 3.4% from 2.2% now, the official said.

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The Jewish family of Anne Frank hiding in Amsterdam during World War Two was most likely betrayed by a notary in Amsterdam, says a new cold case investigation.

The results were summed up in the book entitled "The Betrayal of Anne Frank. A Cold Case Investigation", written by Canadian author Rosemary Sullivan. It was published on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The investigative team that had analysed the betrayal of Anne Frank and her family for years came to the conclusion that Jewish notary Arnold van den Bergh had given away their hiding place to the Nazi German occupiers in the Netherlands along with the addresses of in hiding to save his own family.

No definitive proof was found, but according to the team Anne Frank's father Otto Frank, the only family member who survived the war, himself seemed to have taken the theory seriously.

Anne Frank, born on June 12, 1929, is one the most famous Jewish victims of the Holocaust during World War II.

Her diary has been published in several languages and adapted for stage and screen alike.

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands between 1940 and 1945, Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in Amsterdam in 1942 to escape persecution.

Two years later, the Franks were betrayed and Anne along with her elder sister Margot were transported first to Auschwitz and then to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they both died of typhus probably in February or March 1945.

The exact date of their death remains unknown.

Despite the extensive attention paid to Anne Frank's life since the first publications of her diary, up to now it was not clear how the Nazis discovered the Frank family's hiding place in a secret annex on the Prinsengracht in the centre of Amsterdam.

In 2016, Dutch filmmaker Thijs Bayens came up with the idea to study one of the best-known mysteries of the World War II with the help of modern police techniques and investigative tools.

A 23-strong team led by retired Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent Vince Pankoke collected interviews, diaries, address lists and war files from archives worldwide to test the existing and new hypotheses.

The investigators revisited a series of old suspicions and tested the theory that the discovery of the secret annex was merely a coincidence. Central to their investigation was an anonymous note that was delivered to Otto Frank shortly after the war.

Although the trail to the original was deadlocked, the team managed to find a copy of it made by Otto Frank in a police officer's family archives.

"At the time, your hiding place in Amsterdam was communicated to the Judische Auswanderung in Amsterdam, Euterpestraat, by A. van den Bergh, who at the time lived near Vondelpark, O. Nassaulaan. At the J.A. there was a whole list of addresses passed on by him," the note read.

Otto revealed the note's existence back in 1964. At the time, despite the note, Van den Bergh was not regarded as a suspect, because he himself would have been in a concentration camp in 1944 and so he could not possibly have given the address from there. This changed when the investigators found out that he had not been in a camp at all. This set them on the trail of Van den Bergh.

During the war, Van den Bergh did everything he could to prevent his own and his family's deportation.

As a prominent member of the Jewish Council, he was granted a postponement of deportation for a long time, and he arranged a hiding place for his daughters.

Later, he managed to convince the German officials that he was not Jewish and quit the council, but in 1944 he was again designated as Jewish. That was the moment when Van den Bergh decided to pass on the addresses of hiding he had obtained during his time as a member of the Jewish Council to the Germans.

According to the researchers, questions still remain.

They will never know exactly how and why Van den Bergh, who died in 1950 of throat cancer, betrayed the Frank family.

--IANS

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said Tuesday it has successfully tested a system designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the earth's atmosphere.

The Arrow Weapon System is part of an array of missile defenses has developed in recent years to protect itself in any future conflict with archenemy Iran or regional militant groups, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah or the Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip, both allies of Iran.

The Defence Ministry said the system detected the target and fired two Arrow 3 interceptors at it, calling the mission a success.

With every step forward, with every development, we equip the state of with the capabilities to defend itself against developing threats, Defence Minister Benny Gantz said in a statement. "Our systems provide Israel with the freedom to maneuver strategically.

The system was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, a state-run defence firm, in cooperation with the US Missile Defense Agency.

This test was designed to challenge every element of the Arrow Weapon System, and it performed beautifully," said Vice Adm Jon Hill, director of the agency. MDA remains committed to assisting the government of Israel in upgrading its missile defence capability against current and emerging threats.

Israel's shorter-range missile defences were on vivid display during last year's 11-day Gaza war, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas fired over 4,000 rockets at Israel. The military says it intercepted around 90% of the rockets it targeted, with the mostly falling in open areas.

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Embattled businessman on Tuesday lost a legal battle to hold on to his plush London home after a British court refused to grant him a stay of enforcement in a long-running dispute with Swiss bank UBS.

The 18/19 Cornwall Terrace luxury apartment overlooking Regent's Park in London, described in court as an "extraordinarily valuable property worth many tens of millions of pounds", is currently being occupied by Mallya's 95-year-old mother Lalitha.

Delivering his judgment virtually for the Chancery Division of the High Court, Deputy Master Matthew Marsh concluded there were no grounds for him to grant further time for the Mallya family to repay a GBP 20.4-million loan to UBS the claimant in the case.

"The claimant's position was a reasonable one further time is not likely to make any material difference," Deputy Master Marsh ruled.

"I would also add from my review of the correspondence, I can see no basis whatever for the suggestion that has been made that the claimant has misled the first defendant [Vijay Mallya] in conclusion, I dismiss the first defendant's application, he said.

The judge also declined permission to appeal against his order or to grant a temporary stay of enforcement, which means UBS can proceed with the possession process to realise its unpaid dues.

"I will refuse permission to appeal and therefore it follows that I will not be granting a stay," said Marsh.

Mallya's barrister, Daniel Margolin QC, indicated that the 65-year-old businessman plans to pursue an appeal before a High Court Chancery Division Judge as it has "serious consequences" for his clients, including Mallya's elderly mother who currently resides at the address.

Meanwhile, Fenner Moeran QC made it clear that UBS intends to proceed with the enforcement order without delay.

The case relates to a mortgage taken out by Rose Capital Ventures, one of Mallya's companies, with the former Kingfisher Airlines boss, his mother Lalitha and son Sidhartha Mallya listed as co-defendants with right of occupancy of the property.

In May 2019, Judge Simon Barker had handed down a consent order allowing the family to retain possession with a final deadline of April 30, 2020, granted for repayment of the loan. That deadline failed to be met and with special rules in place over the COVID-19 pandemic period, UBS was legally unable to pursue enforcement until April 2021.

When the bank sought a court order for enforcement in October last year, Mallya filed an application of stay on the grounds that the bank had placed unreasonable obstacles in his path to repay the sums through family trust funds. His legal team also produced a non-binding letter claiming a company was willing to acquire the property, which would help pay off the loan.

However, Deputy Master Marsh concluded that the letter was of limited assistance and expressed real doubts about the bonafide of that offer.

Under the May 2019 order, UBS had been granted an immediate right to possession and Mallya and the co-defendants were not permitted to make any further applications to postpone or suspend the date for giving up possession.

The court order also forbade any further claims arising out of the bankruptcy proceedings against Mallya by a consortium of Indian banks led by State Bank of India (SBI), proceedings which concluded in a bankruptcy order in July last year.

Meanwhile, Mallya is wanted in India to face charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to an alleged Rs 9,000 crores related to loans made to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

The former United Breweries chief remains on bail in the while a confidential legal matter, believed to be related to an asylum application, is resolved following separate extradition proceedings.

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said it had conducted a test launch of tactical guided missiles on January 17, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The report said two tactical guided missiles fired in the western part of precisely hit an island target in the Sea of Japan.

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Poland's Minister Adam Niedzielski has said that the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has come to the country, warning that infections could soon hit record levels.

"We already have the fifth wave of the pandemic ... We predict that infections will peak in mid-February and that peak will be at about 60,000 cases a day," Xinhua news agency quoted Niedzielski as saying.

on Monday reported 10,445 new infections and four more deaths related to Covid-19, bringing the country's total number of cases to 4,323,482 and fatalities to 102,309.

Last week, 13 of the 17 members of the government's medical council that gives advice on Covid-19 policies resigned, citing inaction of the government.

Niedzielski said that a new advisory body will be established and operate in a different form.

--IANS

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is sending troops from the country's far east to Belarus for major war games, officials said Tuesday, in a deployment further beefing up Russian military assets near amid Western fears of an invasion.

Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said the drills are intended to practice a joint response to external threats by the alliance of and Belarus, which have close political, economic and military ties. Fomin didn't say how many troops and weapons were being redeployed for the exercises, or give the number of troops that will be involved in the war games.

Ukrainian officials have warned that could launch an attack from various directions, including from the territory of its ally Belarus.

The deployment would dramatically bolster an estimated 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons amassed near in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion. Russia has denied an intention to attack its ex-Soviet neighbour, but demanded guarantees from the West that NATO will not expand to or other ex-Soviet nations or place its troops and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow's demands during last week's Russia-US negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels.

Fomin said the drills, which involve an unspecified number of troops from Russia's Eastern Military District that encompasses Eastern Siberia and the Far East, reflect the need to practice concentrating the country's entire military potential in western Russia.

"A situation may arise when forces and means of the regional group of forces will be insufficient to ensure reliable security of the union state, and we must be ready to strengthen it," Fomin said at a meeting with foreign military attaches. We have reached an understanding with Belarus that it's necessary to engage the entire military potential for joint defence.

Belarus' authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko said the joint maneuvers will be conducted on Belarus' western border and also in the country's south, where it borders Ukraine. Lukashenko has increasingly relied on the Kremlin's support amid Western sanctions over a brutal crackdown on domestic protests.

The US and its allies have urged Russia to deescalate the situation by calling the troops back to their barracks.

In recent weeks, more than 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and guns have gathered near Ukraine without an understandable reason, and it's hard not to understand that as a threat, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters after the talks in Moscow with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Lavrov has responded by reaffirming Moscow's argument that it's free to deploy its forces wherever it considers it necessary on its territory.

We can't accept demands about our armed forces on our own territory, Lavrov said, adding that troops' training is something that every country does.

We aren't threatening anyone, but we are hearing threats to us," he added. "We will decide how to react depending on what specific steps our partners will take.

Baerbock emphasised that the West is ready to continue a dialogue with Russia to help defuse tensions.

We are prepared for a serious dialogue on mutual agreements and steps to bring everyone in Europe more security, she said, noting that last weeks security talks were a first sensible step toward such a dialogue".

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 after the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly leader and also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting there.

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Satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday appear to show the aftermath of a fatal attack on an oil facility in the capital of the United Arab Emirates claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The images by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by the AP show smoke rising over an National Oil Co. fuel depot in the Mussafah neighborhood of on Monday. Another image taken shortly after appears to show scorch marks and white fire-suppressing foam deployed on the grounds of the depot.

The National Oil Co., known by the acronym ADNOC, is the state-owned energy firm that provides much of the wealth of the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula also home to Dubai.

ADNOC did not immediately respond to questions from the AP asking about the site and damage estimates from the attack. The company said the attack happened around 10 a.m. Monday.

We are working closely with the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause and a detailed investigation has commenced, ADNOC said in an earlier statement.

The attack killed two Indian nationals and one Pakistani as three tankers at the site exploded, police said. Six people were also wounded at the facility, which is near Al-Dhafra Air Base, a massive Emirati installation also home to American and French forces.

Another fire also struck Abu Dhabi Airport, though damage in that attack could not be seen.

Senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash blamed the Houthis for the attack, saying on Twitter that Emirati authorities were handling the rebel group's vicious attack on some civilian facilities in the United Arab Emirates' capital with transparency and responsibility.

The tampering of the region's security by terrorist militias is too weak to affect the stability and safety in which we live, he said.

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed they were behind an attack targeting sensitive Emirati facilities. In a press conference late Monday, military spokesman Yehia Sarea said, without offering evidence, that the Houthis targeted the airports of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as an oil refinery and other sites in the UAE with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones.

Although the UAE has largely withdrawn its own forces from Yemen, it is still actively engaged in the conflict and supports Yemeni militias fighting the Houthis.

The incident comes as the Houthis face pressure and are suffering heavy losses. Yemeni government forces, allied and backed by the UAE, have pushed back the rebels in key provinces. Aided by the Emirati-backed Giants Brigades, the government forces took back the province of Shabwa earlier this month in a blow to Houthi efforts to complete their control of the entire northern half of Yemen.

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With an aim to reign in ads promising wild returns, has now joined countries like Singapore and India, stressing that the advertising of crypto-assets must be clear, balanced, fair and explain risks to the public.

Spain's National Securities Market Commission has issued new guidelines, to come into force from February 17, that mandates the following warning to be placed on all crypto ads: "Investments in crypto-assets are not regulated. They may not be appropriate for retail investors and the full amount invested may be lost".

The aim, said the Spanish watchdog, is to ensure that the advertising of the products offers true, understandable and non-misleading content, and includes a prominent warning of the associated risks.

"This is particularly relevant in the field of crypto-assets as the absence of a complete regulation is a challenge for investor protection," it said in a statement late on Monday.

The new Circular is applicable to crypto-asset service providers when they carry on these advertising activities.

Earlier, Singapore warned and digital token providers not to promote or advertise their digital tokens via various media platforms to the general public.

In new guidelines, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said that digital payment token (DPT or more commonly known as cryptocurrency) service providers should not promote their DPT services to the general public in Singapore.

The new guidelines also apply to banks and payment institutions that offer such services. These will further be expanded to include the transfer of cryptocurrencies and provision of wallet services.

"The trading of cryptocurrencies is highly risky and not suitable for the general public. DPT service providers should therefore not portray the trading of DPTs in a manner that trivialises the high risks of trading in DPTs, nor engage in marketing activities that target the general public," said Loo Siew Yee, MAS Assistant Managing Director (Policy, Payments and Financial Crime).

The authority warned that trading cryptocurrencies is "highly risky" and not suitable for the general public, as the prices of crypto are subject to sharp speculative swings.

The Indian government in November last year raised concerns over crypto ads promising wild returns.

Indian crypto players bombarded the public with advertisements across platforms -- doubling down on their marketing spend when the cryptocurrencies are yet to be accepted as legal tender and lack legal framework and regulatory norms in the country.

An advertisement by the Blockchain and Crypto Assets Council (BACC), a part of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) with industry players like CoinSwitch Kuber, CoinDCX, WazirX and Zebpay on board, had claimed that crores of Indians have invested over Rs 6 lakh crore in crypto assets to date.

Meanwhile, the much-awaited ' and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021', did not make it to the table during the Winter Session of Parliament amid growing concerns over the misuse of digital coins on the Dark Web for terror acts and drugs trafficking by militant organisations, and for money laundering and hawala-based transactions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that all democratic countries need to work together on cryptocurrency and ensure that it does not end up in the wrong hands.

--IANS

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The Taipei District Court on Monday sentenced jail term to five Taiwanese businesspeople working in China, who were found guilty of taking money from Chinese authorities to buy votes for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Han Kuo-yu in the 2020 presidential election.

As per the investigation, the Taiwanese businessmen were organizing gatherings and banquets to convince Taiwanese in Hunan to support the KMT and Han's presidential campaign in late 2019, including offering to pay their airfares, reported Taipei Times.

In their largest election event, the defendants on December 21, 2019, organized a year-end banquet for Taiwanese at Changsha's Huatian Hotel, where they instructed attendees to buy tickets to fly home to vote for Han and other KMT candidates on January 11, 2020, and showed them how to obtain 1,500 yuan to pay for the cost of the airfares, the investigation showed, reported Taipei Times.

Documents showed that 467 Taiwanese who attended the event applied for the money, prosecutors said, reported Taipei Times.

Lin and the defendants gave "bribes" in exchange for votes for specific candidates and breached the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act, the ruling said.

The Taipei District Court sentenced the Association of Investment Enterprises Changsha City Branch chairman Lin Huai to three years and 10 months in jail, with deprivation of his civil rights for four years.

The other four convicted in the case, who all received 20-month prison terms, were New Family Association chairwoman Chiang Ming-sia, Hunan Shaoyang City Association in director Chang Kuo-chun, Hengyang-based businessman Chuang Huan-chang and Chinese Women's Federation deputy secretary Shen Bin, who had conducted business in Hunan, reported Taipei Times.

The probe found that funding for the scheme came from Huang Daonian, director of the Economic Bureau at Changsha City's Affairs Office (TAO).

The Changsha City Government and the local TAO allocated 3.5 million yuan (USD 551,268) to support subsidies for Taiwanese to return home to vote, with Lin applying for and receiving about 1.49 million yuan, the investigation found, reported Taipei Times.

Huang allegedly told his staff to assist Lin and other Taiwanese businesspeople in applying for funds and obtaining registered lists of Taiwanese living in Hunan, prosecutors said.

After learning of the sentences, Han's office yesterday said that he was unaware of the events and that his election campaign headquarters did not receive any funds from those involved, reported Taipei Times.

claims Taiwan as its own territory and has stepped up military and political pressure to force the democratically ruled island to accept Chinese sovereignty, even though most Taiwanese have shown no interest in being governed by Beijing.

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has hired for $900,000 a major supporter of former President Donald Trump to seek influence with U.S. officials in an unusual lobbying contract paid for by its ally Taiwan, foreign lobby records show.

Ballard Partners registered as a foreign agent with the US Justice Department on Jan. 13, according to new filings made public over the weekend. The contract, dated Jan. 12, was signed by Alfonso Quinonez, Guatemala's ambassador to the US, and Brian Ballard, president of the namesake lobbying firm and a longtime Trump ally.

It's not clear how hiring Ballard, who years before Trump ran for the White House worked for him as a lobbyist in Florida, will be able to help Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei draw closer to the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden, which has repeatedly expressed concerns about corruption in the Central American nation.

On Sunday, the U.S. State Department blasted Giammattei's government for seeking to lift the immunity from prosecution of a judge who has won high honors in Washington for exposing bribery in .

This action against an internationally recognized independent judge weakens a vital pillar of Guatemala's democracy and judicial system," spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

In its registration, Ballard only said it would provide strategic consulting and advocacy services related to Guatemala's interactions with the U.S. government and U.S. officials.

Justin Sayfie, a partner in Ballard's Washington office, declined to comment further. But he said that the request for to assume responsibility for payment was not the firm's idea.

It's unusual for one government to be paying the fees for lobbying for another government, said Robert Kelner, an attorney specializing in compliance with foreign lobbying laws for Covington & Burling. It's not illegal. But it does raise a question of whether the government that pays also needs to be listed by the lobbying firm as a foreign principal."



in a statement thanked for the support that allows us to strengthen our positioning in the U.S." It said the one year contract with Ballard, for which it is paying $75,000 a month, will focus on strategic communication, investor outreach and promoting tourism.

Guatemala is one of only 13 mostly small, developing countries that still has full diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which split from mainland communist-run China amid civil war in 1949.

in the past has donated fleets of buses, agricultural equipment and other high-profile gifts to its allies. But it's been unable to compete with China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway territory and has aggressively worked to isolate it on the world stage.

Recently, Beijing secured diplomatic recognition from Guatemala's neighbours Nicaragua and El Salvador. Honduras' new president, Xiomara Castro, as a candidate also threatened to open ties to Beijing but but has since backtracked on the idea.

Giammattei, a law and order conservative, managed to bypass criticism in Washington and forge a productive relationship with the Trump administration by yielding to the White House's pressure to embrace an asylum agreement negotiated by his predecessor that he opposed when he ran for the presidency in 2019.

But he's struggled to build close ties to the Biden administration, which has sought to undo Trump's immigration policies and taken a harsher look at corruption and rule of law issues in the so-called Norther Triangle nations of Central America.

Biden didn't invite Giammattei to his Democracy summit last year and in June Vice President Kamala Harris, in a visit to Guatemala, described having a very frank conversation with the Guatemalan leader about the importance of maintaining an independent judiciary.

The shift toward a less independent justice system began before Giammattei took office but has continued on his watch.

Ballard will manage the account along with two associates with extensive ties to the Republican Party: Jose Diaz, a former Florida state representative who is a managing partner of Ballard's office in Miami; and Sayfie, a one time adviser to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush who also headed the president's commission on White House Fellowships during the Trump administration. A third associate representing Guatemala, John O'Hanlon, is a longtime Democrat.

Ballard amassed dozens of foreign and domestic lobbying clients during the Trump presidency including Qatar, the Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe when he was described by Politico as "The Most Powerful Lobbyist in Trump's Washington.

More recently, it has added a number of influential Democratic fundraisers and named former Congressman Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, as managing partner of its Washington office to bolster its credentials with the Biden White House.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Any Lambs Players Theatre enthusiast knows Cynthia Gerber. Gerber has been associated with Lambs since 1988, starting as part of the Resident Ensemble. Since 2001 she has been an Associate Artist, wearing many hats in over 100 productions including stage manager in about 10.
The rabbi of a synagogue where a gunman took hostages during livestreamed services said Monday that he threw a chair at his captor before escaping with two after an hourslong standoff, crediting past security training for getting himself and his congregants out safely.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told CBS Mornings that he let the gunman inside the suburban Fort Worth synagogue Saturday because he appeared to need shelter. He said the man was not threatening or suspicious at first. Later, he heard a gun click as he was praying.

Another man held hostage, Jeffrey R Cohen, described the ordeal on Facebook on Monday.

First of all, we escaped. We weren't released or freed, said Cohen, who was one of four people in the synagogue for services that many other Congregation Beth Israel members were watching online.

Cohen said the men worked to keep the gunman engaged. They talked to the gunman, he lectured them.

At one point as the situation devolved, Cohen said the gunman told them to get on their knees. Cohen recalled rearing up in his chair and slowly moving his head and mouthing no. As the gunman moved to sit back down, Cohen said Cytron-Walker yelled to run.

The exit wasn't too far away, Cytron-Walker said. I told them to go. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door. And all three of us were able to get out without even a shot being fired.

Authorities identified the hostage-taker as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram, who was killed Saturday night after the last three hostages ran out of the synagogue in Colleyville around 9 p.m. The first hostage was released shortly after 5 p.m.

The FBI on Sunday night issued a statement calling the ordeal a terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted" and said the Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating.

The agency noted that Akram spoke repeatedly during negotiations about a prisoner who is serving an 86-year sentence in the US.

The statement followed comments Saturday from the special agent in charge of the FBI's Dallas field office that the hostage-taker was focused on an issue not specifically related to the Jewish community.

Akram could be heard ranting on a Facebook livestream of the services and demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida who was convicted of trying to kill US Army officers in Afghanistan.

The last hour or so of the standoff, he wasn't getting what he wanted. It didn't look good. It didn't sound good. We were terrified," Cytron-Walker told CBS Mornings.

Video of the standoff's end from Dallas TV station WFAA showed people running out a door of the synagogue, and then a man holding a gun opening the same door just seconds later before he turned around and closed it. Moments later, several shots and then an explosion could be heard.

Authorities have declined to say who shot Akram, saying it was still under investigation.

The investigation stretched to England, where late Sunday police in Manchester announced that two teenagers were in custody in connection with the standoff. Greater Manchester Police tweeted that counter-terrorism officers had made the arrests but did not say whether the pair faced any charges.

President Joe Biden called the episode an act of terror. Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia on Sunday, Biden said Akram allegedly purchased a weapon on the streets.

Federal investigators believe Akram purchased the handgun used in the hostage-taking in a private sale, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Akram arrived in the US at John F Kennedy Airport in New York about two weeks ago, a law enforcement official said.

Akram arrived in the US on a tourist visa from Great Britain, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not intended to be public. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement that its counter-terrorism police were liaising with US authorities about the incident.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel told the House of Commons on Monday that she had spoken to her US counterpart, Alejandro Mayorkas, and offered the full support of the police and security services in Britain in the investigation.

Akram used his phone during the course of negotiations to communicate with people other than law enforcement, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

It wasn't clear why Akram chose the synagogue, though the prison where Siddiqui is serving her sentence is in Fort Worth.

Michael Finfer, the president of the congregation, said in a statement there was a one in a million chance that the gunman picked our congregation.

Cytron-Walker said his congregation had received training from local authorities and the Secure Community Network, which was founded in 2004 by a coalition of Jewish organizations and describes itself as the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America.

Michael Masters, the CEO of the organization, said the congregation had provided security training in August and had not been previously aware of Akram.

The standoff led authorities to tighten security in other places, including New York City, where police said that they increased their presence at key Jewish institutions out of an abundance of caution.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tonga's government confirmed three fatalities in its first official update since Saturday's volcanic eruption and tsunami, and said the evacuation of some outlying islands had begun after the destruction of homes, including an entire village on Mango island.

In a statement, the prime minister's office confirmed the deaths of a 65-year-old woman on Mango Island and a 49-year-old man on Nomuka Island, in addition to a British national. A number of injuries were also reported.

The Tongan navy had deployed with health teams and water, food and tents to the outlying Ha'apai islands, with more aid sent on Tuesday due to the severity of the damage observed on Mango, Fonoifua and Namuka islands, it said.

All the houses were destroyed on Mango island, only two houses remained on Fonoifua, and Namuka island had extensive damage, it said.

Evacuations had begun for Atata island, as well as Mango and Fonoifua, it said.

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Tonga's small outlying islands have sustained major damage from a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, the said on Tuesday, with downed communications and a blanket of ash hampering rescue efforts.

Tonga police have told the New Zealand High Commission that the confirmed death toll stands at two but with communications in the South Pacific island nation cut, the true extent of casualties was not clear.

Tonga's main airport, Fuamotu Airport, was not damaged in Saturday's eruption and but heavy ashfall is preventing full operations, hampering relief efforts.

"The priority now will to be get supplies to Tonga, and the biggest constraint on that at the moment ... is the airport.

There is still a significant amount of ash," Australia's Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said.

Tongan officials were planning to evacuate people from outer islands where conditions were "very tough, we understand, with many houses being destroyed in the tsunami", Seselja said.

The said a distress signal was detected in an isolated, low-lying Ha'apai islands group, adding it had particular concerns about Fonoi and Mango islands. According to the Tonga government, 36 people live on Mango and 69 on Fonoi.

The Tongan navy reported major damage in the Haaapai islands which were hit by waves estimated to be 5-10 metres (15-30 feet) high, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Surveillance images taken by the New Zealand defence force and circulated on social media in Tonga showed "catastrophic damage" to the outlying island of Atata.

The islands of Fonoifua, Niniva, Nomuka and Mango all had damage ranging from extensive to catastrophic, with an entire village destroyed on Mango.

Tonga is a kingdom of 176 islands, of which 36 are inhabited, with a population of 104,494 people.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is about 65 km (40 miles) north of Tonga's capital.

The eruption sent waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard some 2,300 km (1,430 miles) away in New Zealand.

BRITISH WOMAN KILLED

The South Pacific archipelago has remained largely cut off from the world since the eruption which cut its main undersea communications cable.

A thick layer of ash blankets the islands, the New Zealand High Commission said, adding it was working to establish communications with smaller islands "as a matter of priority".

British national Angela Glover, 50, was killed in the as she tried to rescue the dogs she looked after at a rescue shelter, her brother said, the first known death in the disaster.

"We don't have any further information that would suggest ... significant casualties," Seselja told the Australian broadcaster Nine's Today show.

The airport was likely to be open by Wednesday, he said.

Tonga's deputy head of mission in Australia, Curtis Tu'ihalangingie, said Tonga was concerned that aid deliveries could spread COVID-19 to the COVID-free nation.

"We don't want to bring in another wave - a tsunami of COVID-19," Tu'ihalangingie told Reuters by telephone, urging the public to wait for a disaster relief fund to donate.

Any aid sent to Tonga would need to be quarantined, and it was likely no foreign personnel would be allowed to disembark aircraft, he said.

The Red Cross said it was mobilising its network to respond to what it called the worst volcanic eruption the Pacific has experienced in decades.

Alexander Matheou, the Red Cross' Asia Pacific director, said water purification to remove ash contamination, providing shelter and reuniting families were the priorities.

"Further volcanic activity cannot be ruled out," said OCHA.

The impact of the huge eruption was felt as far away as the United States. Two people drowned off a beach in Peru due to high waves caused by the tsunami, while officials in Japan reported several evacuations.

The island of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai all but disappeared following the blast, according to satellite images taken about 12 hours later, making it difficult for volcanologists to monitor activity.

Experts said the volcano, which last erupted in 2014, had been puffing away for about a month before Saturday's eruption.

(Reporting by Jane Wardell, Praveen Menon and Kirsty Needham; Editing by Howard Goller, Richard Pullin and Michael Perry)

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The NSE Nifty is likely to start trade on a flat note as per the indications from the SGX Nifty. As of 07:55 AM, the SGX Nifty January futures were at 18,325, down 10 points compared to its previous close. Meanwhile, here are the for trade on Tuesday.

Earnings Watch: Bajaj Finance, DCM Shriram, Den Networks, Eki Energy Services, Eureka Industries, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, ICICI Securities, Just Dial, Jyoti Structures, Kapashi Commercials, LT Technology Services, Network 18 Media, Newgen Software, Orosil Smiths, Padam Cotton Yards, Ramkrishna Forgings, Shree Ganesh Remedies, Shakti Pumps, Star Housing Finance, Tata Elxsi, Trident and TV18 Broadcast are some of the companies to announce December quarter results today.

Tech Mahindra: The IT services provider has acquired Com Tec Co IT Ltd (CTC) for 310 million (Rs 2,625 crore), including earnouts and synergy-linked payouts. CTC is an IT solutions and service provider serving the insurance and financial services industries with development centres in Latvia and Belarus. READ MORE



UltraTech Cement: The cement producer reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,708 crore in the December quarter, up 7.8 percent from corresponding period last year on the back of tax credits and marginal increase in net sales. Net sales of the Aditya Birla Group company stood at Rs 12,985 crore in the period under review, up 5.8 percent from last year. READ MORE



The companys Q3 consolidated net profit declined 4.7 per cent YoY to Rs 81.10 crore for the quarter ended December 2021 as against Rs 85.11 crore in the year ago period. Total income too was down 5.5 per cent from Rs 1,289.83 crore to Rs 1,129.20 crore.

Further, HFCLs board has approved the production capacity of optical fibre and optical fibre cable by 12 mfkm/ p.a. and 10 mfkm/ p.a, respectively, for a proposed investment of up to Rs 425 crore.

Tata Power: Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), a subsidiary of Tata Power, has commissioned two solar power projects of 50 MW each in Uttar Pradesh. The projects have been completed by TPREL within the agreed timelines despite COVID challenges. The plants are expected to generate more than 221.26 million units annually.

Angel One: The brokerage firms Q3 net profit soared 121.4 per cent YoY to Rs 162.28 crore for the quarter ended December 2021 as against Rs 73.29 crore in the corresponding quarter a year ago. Total income also nearly doubled to Rs 601.93 crore from Rs 311.80 crore in the same period.

Tatva Chintan Pharma: The companys Q3FY22 net rose by 9.24 per cent YoY to Rs 22.81 crore, on the back of 35.4 per cent YoY growth in total income at Rs 109.39 crore.

Maharashtra Scooters: The companys net jumped 25per cent YoY to Rs 3.30 in the quarter ended December 2021. Total income was up 32 per cent YoY at Rs 10.72 crore.

Sonata Software: The companys Q3 net was up marginally at Rs 56.25 crore for the quarter ended December 2021 when compared with Rs 54.30 crore in the year ago period. Total income also inched higher to Rs 229.80 crore from Rs 226.64 crore.

Schaeffler India: The company has fixed 09 February as the record date for allotment of shares post split in the ratio of 1:5.

Tata Steel Long Products: The companys Q3FY22 net profit plunged 65.8 per cent to Rs 1.04 crore when compared with Rs 3.04 crore in Q3FY21. Total income, however, rose 20.5 per cent to Rs 16.87 crore from Rs 14 crore.

Ballarpur Industries: Lenders to the troubled company will meet on January 18 ahead of the application for the companys liquidation, which will be heard by the Mumbai bench of National Company Law Tribunal bench on January 25, 2022. The financial creditors admitted claims are just over Rs 3,100 crore. READ MORE



NTPC: The countrys largest power generating company plans to raise $750 million through external commercial borrowing (ECB) as term loan to fund its expansion plans in the renewable energy and coal mining businesses.

Sugar: India's sugar exports during October-December period jumped nearly four-fold to 17 lakh tonnes on higher demand from overseas, according to industry body ISMA. During the same period in the previous year, about 4.5 lakh tonnes of sugar were exported.

Stocks in F&O ban: Escorts, Granules India, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Vodafone Idea and SAIL are the only stocks in the F&O ban period today.
The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal today said it is possible to achieve exports of USD 650 Billion within the current financial year. Chairing a Review Meeting of all major Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Goyal said the $400 Bn target of Merchandise exports is within sight and the Services sector should strive for $250 Bn exports. Expressing his satisfaction that India achieved $300 Bn Merchandise exports in the first nine months of the current FY (April-Dec, 2022), Goyal assured the EPCs that his Ministry will do whatever it takes in handholding the EPCs and resolving their issues to attain even higher export targets in the next FY.

Goyal said we can set a much higher goods exports target in the current last quarter of this FY. In December alone we touched $37 Bn goods exports despite the Omicron fear factor weighing high. This month, in 15 days till January 15th, we have reached $16 Bn. Goyal said the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has himself set the pace by setting transformational results and not incremental growth. The Commerce & Industry Minister urged the EPCs and entrepreneurs to avail of the Government's initiatives towards Ease of Doing Business such as obtaining clearances through the National Single Window System. He assured the Industry representatives to pursue their demands during the various FTA negotiations.

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Manappuram Finance on Monday announced that the company's board approved fund raising up to Rs 800 crore via non-convertible debentures, on a private placement basis.

The NBFC in an exchange filing said, the board of directors approved the issuance of Listed, secured, rated, redeemable, Non-Convertible Debentures of face value of Rs 10 lakh each for an amount of Rs 200 crore with an option to retain over subscription up to Rs 600 crore aggregating to Rs 800 crore on private placement basis.

Shares of Manappuram Finance were trading 2.71% higher at Rs 172.60 on BSE in morning trade.

Manappuram Finance is one of India's leading gold loan NBFCs. It has 4637 branches (includes branches of subsidiary companies) across 28 states/UTs with assets under management (AUM) of Rs. 272.24 billion.

On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit skid fell 8.8% to Rs 369.88 crore on 1.5% decline in total income to Rs 1,554.42 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21.

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Mastek has announced the opening of its new office in Bucuresti, Romania under the name of Evolutionary Systems B. V. Amsterdam - Sucursala Bucuresti.

Mastek's move to this new location will support the organization's efforts to ensure success for its clients, employees, and society as a whole.

With more than 30 universities and IT talent pool in excess of 0.17 million, the Romania center will play a significant role in expanding Mastek's strategic growth plans in Continental Europe markets.. The new office location will also serve as a hub for our Oracle business' nearshore and offshore developments in the EMEA regions.

Mastek's new office located at the Impact Hub Equilibrium Building, Floor 1&2, Strada Gara Hertr Nr. 2, Bucuresti 020334, Romania, is all set to offer complete new-age technological support and cloud expertise to European clients citing growth in the digital domain. Romanian universities are also known for collaborating with various IT industries. Mastek further has plans to recruit skilled talent into their new office including cloud experts, business analysts, & digital consultants.

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Strides Pharma Science gained 1.1% to Rs 449.90 after the drug company on Monday announced that its step-down wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global Pte. received approval for oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension from the USFDA.

Oseltamivir phosphate is used for treatment of acute, uncomplicated influenza A and B in patients 2 weeks of age and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours.

The product is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug, Tamiflu of Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. According to IQVIA MAT November 2020 data, the US market for Oseltamivir Phosphate for oral suspension was approximately $ 132 million.

The product will be manufactured at the company's facility at Bengaluru and will be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc. in the US market. The company has 271 cumulative ANDA filings with USFDA of which 243 ANDAs have been approved and 28 are pending approval.

Strides Pharma Science is a global pharmaceutical company. The company mainly operates in the regulated markets and has an 'in Africa for Africa' strategy along with an institutional business to service donorfunded markets. The company focuses on difficult to manufacture products that are sold in over 100 countries.

The company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 162.55 crore in Q2 FY22 as against a net profit of Rs 80.94 crore in Q2 FY21. Revenue from operations during the quarter fell by 9.08% YoY to Rs 721.47 crore.

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Tech Mahindra: The IT major announced 100% acquisition of Com Tec Co IT Ltd (CTC) for 310 million including earnouts and synergy linked payouts. Tech Mahindra is also investing a cumulative amount of 20 million, in SWFT and Surance, for a 25% ownership in each of these two InsurTech ventures funded by the same founding group as CTC.

Tata Power: Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), 100% subsidiary of Tata Power announced commissioning of two Solar Power projects of 50 MW each at Prayagraj, and Banda in Uttar Pradesh.

Angel One: The company reported consolidated profit at Rs 164.6 crore in Q3FY22 against Rs 73.2 crore in Q3FY21. Total income surged 92.4% to Rs 607.10 crore from Rs 315.6 crore YoY.

Strides Pharma Science: The company's step-down wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global Pte., Singapore, has received approval for Oseltamivir Phosphate for Oral Suspension,6 mg/mL from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).

IFB Agro Industries: The board of directors of the company has approved an investment of up to Rs 40 crore in equity shares and/or Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) of IFB Refrigeration in one or more tranches for a minority stake.

Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem: The company reported a 9.2% increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 22.8 crore on a 31% jump in net sales to Rs 104.6 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21.

PTC Industries: The company announced that wholly owned subsidiary Aerolloy Technologies has been allotted 20 Hectares (50 Acres) of land next to Brahmos facility, by UPEIDA in Lucknow node of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor.

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Join Edith Salas of Salas Properties & host Jenn Barlow as they visit the Coronado Shores community. The towers have amazing views including the world famous Hotel del Coronado, downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay, the City of Coronado, Point Loma, and the Pacific Ocean.
It was a strangely Indian type of announcement. Just as a subdued city of Delhi coped with a weekend curfew (restaurants, offices were already shut on all days), the Election Commission (EC) of India announced the easing of its restrictions on campaigning.

The Commission said it was now absolutely fine if meetings of up to 300 people were held indoors. There is no doctor on earth (with the possible exception of doctors who work for the Government of India) who will argue that it is imperative to impose night curfews, to stop ordinary citizens from going to work in offices or to earn a ...
Finance Minister on Tuesday accused Congress-led UPA of entering into a "fraud" and "scandalous" deal with Devas Multimedia by allocating S-band spectrum used by the defence for "pittance".

At a press conference, she said the government is now fighting in every court to save taxpayers' money that would otherwise go towards paying for arbitration awards that Devas has won against the cancellation of the 2005 deal.

She said the Supreme Court on January 17 has comprehensively upheld liquidation of Devas Multimedia on grounds that it was incorporated with fraudulent intentions.

Her comments came as Devas shareholders pursue Indian assets abroad to recover $1.29 billion that international arbitration tribunals awarded over a cancelled satellite contract. They have got a French court order for freezing Indian properties in Paris and are seeking Air India funds in Canada.

The 2005 agreement was "a fraud on people of India, fraud against the country," she said, adding the S-band spectrum, which is otherwise used for defence purposes only, was given away for pittance.

Devas, she said, promised to deliver on things on which it didn't even have rights for.

In 2005, Devas Multimedia signed an agreement with Antrix -- the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) -- to provide multimedia services to mobile users using the leased S-band satellite spectrum.

The deal was cancelled in 2011 on the ground that the auction of the broadband spectrum was mired in fraud and that the government needed the S-band satellite spectrum for security and other social purposes.

Devas Multimedia initiated arbitration against the annulment at the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC). Two separate arbitrations were also initiated under the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) by Mauritius investors in Devas Multimedia under the India-Mauritius BIT and by Deutsche Telekom -- a German company -- under the India- Germany BIT. India lost all three disputes and has to pay a total of USD 1.29 billion in damages.

The minister said that arbitration tribunals have awarded USD 1.2 billion plus cost and interest on pleas by Devas shareholders against cancellation of Antrix deal.

Sitharaman said her government was fighting in all courts to save taxpayers' money that otherwise would be going for payment of awards of such a fraud deal.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and .

New Zealand's military is sending much-needed drinking water and other supplies, but said the ash on the runway will delay the flight at least a day. A towering ash cloud since Saturday's eruption had prevented earlier flights. New Zealand is also sending two navy ships to Tonga that will leave Tuesday and pledged an initial 1 million New Zealand dollars ($680,000) toward recovery efforts.

Communications with Tonga have been extremely limited, but New Zealand and Australia sent military surveillance flights to assess the damage on Monday.

U.N. humanitarian officials and Tonga's government report significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

There has been no contact from the Ha'apai Group of islands, and we are particularly concerned about two small low-lying islands Mango and Fonoi following surveillance flights confirming substantial property damage, Dujarric said.

New Zealand's High Commission in Tonga also reported significant damage along the western coast of the main island of Tongatapu, including to resorts and along the waterfront area.

Satellite images captured the spectacular eruption, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a giant mushroom above the South Pacific. waves of about 80 centimeters (2.7 feet) crashed into Tonga's shoreline, and crossed the Pacific, causing minor damage from New Zealand to Santa Cruz, California. The eruption set off a sonic boom that could be heard as far away as Alaska.

Two people drowned in Peru, which also reported an oil spill after waves moved a ship that was transferring oil at a refinery.

New Zealand's Acting High Commissioner for Tonga, Peter Lund, said there were unconfirmed reports of up to three fatalities on Tonga so far.

One death has been confirmed by family: British woman Angela Glover, 50, who was swept away by a wave.

Nick Eleini said his sister's body had been found and that her husband survived. I understand that this terrible accident came about as they tried to rescue their dogs, Eleini told Sky News. He said it had been his sister's life dream to live in the South Pacific and she loved her life there.

The explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano, about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Nuku'alofa, was the latest in a series of dramatic eruptions. In late 2014 and early 2015, eruptions created a small new island and disrupted air travel to the Pacific archipelago.

Earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC had watched the island after a new vent began erupting in late December. Satellite images showed how drastically the volcano had shaped the area, creating a growing island off Tonga.

The U.N. World Food Program is exploring how to bring in relief supplies and more staff and has received a request to restore communication lines in Tonga, Dujarric said.

One complicating factor is that Tonga has managed to avoid outbreaks of COVID-19. New Zealand said its military staff were vaccinated and willing to follow Tonga's protocols.

New Zealand's military said it hoped the airfield in Tonga would be opened either Wednesday or Thursday. The military said it had considered an airdrop but that was not the preference of the Tongan authorities.

Communications with the island nation is limited because the single underwater fiber-optic cable that connects Tonga to the rest of the world was likely severed in the eruption. The company that owns the cable and repairs could take weeks.

Samiuela Fonua, who chairs the board at Tonga Cable Ltd., said the cable appeared to have been severed about 10 to 15 minutes after the eruption. He said the cable lies atop and within coral reef, which can be sharp.

Fonua said a ship would need to pull up the cable to assess the damage and then crews would need to fix it. A single break might take a week to repair, he said, while multiple breaks could take up to three weeks. He added that it was unclear yet when it would be safe for a ship to venture near the undersea volcano to undertake the work.

A second undersea cable that connects the islands within Tonga also appeared to have been severed, Fonua said. However, a local phone network was working, allowing Tongans to call each other. But he said the lingering ash cloud was continuing to make even satellite phone calls abroad difficult.
Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has urged the government to reduce import duty on gold to 4 per cent from 7.5 per cent and a special package for the sector in the forthcoming Budget to boost shipments.

As part of its pre-Budget recommendations, the council has also suggested a reduction in the import duty on cut and polished diamonds; cut and polished precious and semi-precious gemstones from 7.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent.

"If (gold) imported at 4 per cent duty rate....working capital amounting to Rs 225 crore would be blocked instead of Rs 500 crore," the council said in a statement.

The other suggestions of the council include an amendment in taxation provisions to allow the sale of rough diamonds in Special Notified Zone in Mumbai; clarification on online equalisation levy for business to business international diamond auctions; and extension of the sunset clause for SEZ units, as it would allow the SEZ units to stay competitive in the international markets.

Chairman Colin Shah said India is the fifth largest exporter of gems and jewellery, contributing 5.8 per cent of the global gems and jewellery exports.

"We will achieve the target of USD 41 billion for this sector (for the current fiscal). We now target to achieve USD 100 billion exports when India will observe the centenary of its independence. To kickstart the same, we appeal to the government to announce a special package for the sector in the forthcoming Union Budget," Shah said.

He added that the only way to further scale up this sector is through policy reforms, which will make us more competitive in the global market.

"We have requested to reduce import duty on cut and polished diamonds; permit the sale of rough diamonds in Special Notified Zone in Mumbai...This will not only help the Indian diamond industry to remain as the largest diamond producer of diamonds in the world but would also help us to become the largest diamond trading hub," Shah added.

He said that the reduction in import duty on precious metals - gold, silver and platinum - would be a step towards making India "the number one" exporter of jewellery in the world.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The are asking for various tax sops from the central government in the 2022-2023 to encourage Indians to buy more pure-risk products.

Traditionally, tax exemptions have acted as a catalyst for people to buy products. But there is an organic demand for products, especially pure-risk and guaranteed income products, given the uncertainty associated with the pandemic.

The industry, however, still wants the government to continue with tax exemptions so that enough people get insurance coverage. India continues to be a highly under-penetrated market when it comes to insurance.

Insurance penetration in India stands at 4.20 per cent as of 2020-21, with life insurance penetration at 3.20 per cent, and non-life at 1 per cent, according to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdais) annual report of 2020-21.

Currently, under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, an individual can claim a deduction of the life insurance premium paid from his/her taxable income. The deduction is restricted to 10 per cent of the minimum capital sum assured or premium paid, whichever is lower. Further, under 80C, an overall deduction of Rs 150,000 can be claimed.

Similarly, for premiums paid towards health insurance plans taken for self, spouse, dependent children, one can claim a deduction of Rs 25,000 under Section. An additional deduction of Rs 25,000 can be claimed under the same section if the individual is also paying premiums for health plans covering parents.





ALSO READ: Protect yourself from these common mis-selling ploys insurance agents use

Also, policyholders can get a deduction from their taxable income for premiums paid towards pension policies up to Rs 150,000 under Section 80CCC. Under Section 10(10D) proceeds from life insurance policies are also exempt, subject to certain conditions.

Yashish Dahiya, chief executive (CEO) and chairman of PB Fintech, said promoting pure-risk products by increasing the tax deduction limit for health insurance plans and introducing a separate deduction for term insurance could be a positive stride in this direction. a separate deduction of Rs 50,000 from taxable income over and above the maximum limit of Rs 150,000 could be introduced for pure term insurance under section 80CCE. Other pivotal areas should be around flexibility in pension products by introducing separate deductions for them and making annuity income earned from these products tax-free, he said.

According to Rushabh Gandhi, deputy CEO of IndiaFirst Life Insurance, enhancing insurance limits under section 80C will further encourage people to opt for life insurance. Alternatively, having a separate tax deduction towards life insurance premiums, in addition to the 80C limit can also be explored.

Linking of Sec 10(10D) to the minimum number of premiums paid instead of the sum assured multiplier will ensure systematic long-term savings in addition to life cover. We recommend that Sec 10(10D) be available for policies where minimum five annual premiums have been paid, Gandhi said.

Anup Rau, MD & CEO of Future Generali India Insurance, is seeking an increase in the tax deduction limit under Section 80D. This should be raised to Rs 150,000. The rising medical costs and the increase in the incidence of critical illnesses make it an unmanageable expense for middle-income and lower-income groups, he said.

Another demand of the insurance industry has been a reduction in the indirect tax rate that is charged on insurance premiums. In the absence of any social security net, insurance becomes a necessity for people in India. And, while all essential commodities are out of the purview of the goods and services tax (GST), insurance premiums are taxed at 18 per cent.

I strongly recommend the cut in GST rates from 18 per cent to 5 per cent on health insurance premiums, which will encourage people to opt for better health coverage, said Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.

Gandhi echoed Singhels views, saying it is imperative to make pure protection plans more lucrative for a customer. To meet this end, we hope the 2022 relaxes the current 18 per cent GST levied on term insurance plans.
Its November debut on Dalal Street was disappointing, eroding over half of investors wealth. And last Friday, announced that it will wind-up its operations in Canada. Its shares touched an all-time low of Rs 995 that day, before making some recovery. Most market experts are now asking investors to wait and watch, before the companys business model stabilises. So, what is happening inside the countrys fintech giant? Despite the recent developments, experts are hopeful that will bounce back to win investors confidence. And despite the pandemic, 99% CEOs in India foresee a stronger economy in the coming year. And when it comes to the revenue prospects of their own companies, 98% of CEOs are confident about growth in the same time period. These are the India highlights from PwCs 25th Annual Global CEO Survey. To get a better understanding of the sentiment among Indian CEOs, Business Standards Bhaswar Kumar spoke to Sanjeev Krishan, the chairman of PwC in India. The Indian CEOs may well be bullish about the countrys economic growth, but a news from far shores is causing some worry.

Brent crude prices have soared about 25% in a month as demand remains steady and supplies disrupted. And analysts expect prices to rise further. Now, as India remains one of the key importers of oil, is this a worrisome trend for us? Will the government address this in the upcoming Budget? And how can investors benefit from rising oil prices? The rising oil prices may well dent the countrys exchequer. Let us now move on to gadgets. What happens when your pricey phone gets a dent, or worse stops working. You visit its service centre. But what if you are told that the company has stopped supplying its parts and has now moved on to an upgraded version. After foreign shores, the right to repair movement is now gaining ground in India. All these in this episode of the podcast.
Bombay Industries Association (BIA)

News Summary

Bombay Industries Association (BIA), one of Indias most renowned and prestigious business associations, today had its 58th Installation Ceremony. BIA which is stepping into its 75th year, witnessed last years President Mr. Sanjay Shah handing over the office to Mr. Nevil Sanghvi during the ceremony.
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SES is adding a new Chief Strategy and Product Officer (CSPO) to its Senior Leadership Team, underscoring SESs commitment to ideate, build and deliver the services and solutions that create the most value for SES customers and partners, as well as their end-users.

John-Paul (JP) Hemingway is charged with translating SES's corporate vision into strategic action for the company's networks and video markets  including its target applications, strategic partnerships, portfolio of solutions, and the space and network assets required to deliver them. The newly-created function brings together the Corporate Strategy, Product, Commercial Operations, Fleet Development, Innovation and Marketing & Communications teams, and is part of SESs drive to be the most customer-centric, product-led organisation in the industry.

With Hemingways appointment as CSPO, SES is eliminating the role of SES Networks CEO while retaining the strong focus on its video and networks businesses and leveraging its innovative products and solutions. The resulting organisation is flatter, leaner and more customer oriented, with sales reporting directly to the CEO of SES.

The pace of innovation and change is unprecedented in our space and having been a leader in the industry for over 35 years, we are putting in place the vision and focus to ensure that we will lead for the next 35, said Steve Collar, CEO of SES. 2022 is a pivotal year for SES as we launch the infrastructure that will grow and develop our business for the next decade. JP at the helm of our growth strategy and as a partner to our sales teams will be an integral part of our success.

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About SES

SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the worlds only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs video network carries over 8,500 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220117005468/en/
With two pedestrian traffic deaths since the start of the new year, Hartford already has the same number of deadly collisions with walkers, joggers and bicyclists it had in all of 2017.

Its too early to tell if this will be a year like 2018, when city streets claimed 10 lives  the most in decades. City leaders, who have made traffic safety a priority in recent years, hope thats not the case.

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Nationwide, we have an epidemic of traffic deaths, said Nat Gale, Hartfords director of Capital Projects and Operations. Forty thousand people a year die in traffic crashes, so theres a lot of work to be done to reverse those trends.

Our vehicles are getting bigger, and our roads are designed for higher speeds, he said. We know that speed is the No. 1 predictor of death in a traffic crash.

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Speed and reckless operation are believed to be factors in the hit-and-run death of Michael Brown, 51, only minutes into the new year, police said. Brown, from Windsor, was struck on the 2000 block of Main Street, near Battles Street. He was rushed to Saint Francis Hospital, were he later died.

Police learned the driver who left the scene was in a black Infiniti G35. They later found the car, but not the driver. Officers seized the vehicle and are combing it for evidence, police said.

A week later, Jan. 8, about 11:30 p.m., a woman was hit by a car at Franklin Avenue and Bliss Street on the other side of the city. Yarillis Esteras, 43, who lived nearby on Adelaide Street, was taken to Hartford Hospital, where she also later died, police said.

The driver stayed at the scene. Early indications are that Esteras may have tried to cross the street in an unsafe manner, according to police. They continue to investigate.

The number of fatal pedestrian collisions in Hartford soared from two in 2017 to 10 in 2018  a year one city staffer called horrendous. Police said they dont know why there were so many deaths that year.

Hartford wasnt alone. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were 208 more pedestrian deaths (a 3.4% increase) and 51 more bicyclist fatalities (a 6.4% increase) nationally from 2017 to 2018, for a total of 259 more than the previous year.

Since then, the number of deadly pedestrian collisions in Hartford has been much lower and has held steady, with four deaths each year, three years in a row, from 2019-2021.

A two-way bicycle track runs on one side of Main Street in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Hartford in this Complete Streets Plan rendering by Stantec the project consultant for the Re-Imagining Main Street project. (Stantec/City of Hartford Complete Streets Plan)

Safety efforts

Regardless, Hartford has been working hard to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

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Here in the city, were involved in a multi-department effort to reduce traffic crashes, Gale said.

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In June, the city council adopted a Complete Streets Plan, which lays out ways to make Hartfords streets more walkable. The plan notes the shortcomings of roads designed for car travel but not for bikes or pedestrians. A third of Hartford households dont have access to a car, so many walk or bike.

[ Hartford streets walkable, safer to navigate? Thats the vision of a new plan ]

The plan points to things Hartford is doing right as well as what it lacks. For example, the city already has more than 50 fluorescent yellow pedestrian crossing signs that stand in the street to warn drivers to slow down.

Gale ticked off a list of things Hartford is doing to make the capital city safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. The city:

Installed 70 speed humps (which are shorter than speed bumps) on residential streets last year;

Reduced Wethersfield Avenue, where a bicyclist died in a hit-and-run collision in 2020, to one lane in each direction. The city also added center turn lanes and physically protected bike lanes with flexible posts along the busy travel lanes. Such traffic-calming measures are planned in places all over the city;

Plans to set a citywide speed limit of 25 mph. A recent vote by the state legislature that allows towns and cities to set their own speed limits makes this possible.

The city also is working toward getting state approval to install red light traffic cameras at intersections, which would lead to warnings for drivers who blow through red lights. And officials are considering building curb extensions, which bump curbs out into travel lanes, in spots to get drivers to slow down, Gale said.

The state, too, addressed pedestrian safety when the legislature passed laws that went into effect in October. One was the law giving local control over speed limits and another requires drivers to stop for pedestrians who raise their hands at crosswalks.

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As Kafi Rouse, director of communications for the state Department of Transportation, said in September, Often, pedestrians think a driver sees them when they actually dont.

Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.
Penneys yesterday announced it will bring a bigger and better shopping experience to its customers in Dublin as it confirms plans to relocate its existing store in Dundrum Town Centre. The Irish retailer will expand and relocate its Dundrum store to the upper floors of the former House of Fraser site, with doors set to open to customers next year.

Penneys plans to invest 14.8 million into the new Penneys store, which will feature 60,000 sq ft of prime retail space, a 64% increase on the current Dundrum Penneys store. Located on the second and third floors of Dundrum Town Centre, the increased floor space will allow a much wider selection of fashion and products across womens, mens and kidswear as well as its popular beauty and expanded homeware departments.

Work will commence on the new store this Autumn and is set to open in early Summer next year, with the company expecting to create a number of additional job opportunities in the relocated larger store. The current Penneys store will remain open during construction.

This follows the companys announcement last November to invest over 250 million in its Irish business over the next 10 years, creating more than 700 jobs in Ireland over the next three years. Primark will increase its total selling space in Ireland by an estimated 20% within the next 10 years. The international retailer currently operates in over 400 locations across 14 markets in Europe and North America.

Commenting on the expansion, Head of Penneys ROI and NI, Damien ONeill said, "We are so delighted to finally confirm the relocation and expansion of our Dundrum Town Centre store next year. As one of Irelands leading shopping destinations, Dundrum is a really important location for Penneys and very popular with our customers. Increasing the size of the store means we can offer a much wider selection right across fashion, beauty and homewares. We have big plans and great ideas around how we bring our unique in-store design to life for our Dundrum customers, and we look forward to opening early next summer."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Police tape. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Hartford police are investigating a shooting incident involving three victims, including one that resulted in a homicide, according to department spokesman Lt. Aaron Boisvert

Boisvert said the scene is in the area of Mather Street at Brook Street.

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Further information will be added to this story when it becomes available.
A legal challenge against Connecticuts aerospace industry has broadened to include Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies Corp. subsidiary accused in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday of participating in a no-hire agreement that allegedly crippled career and pay opportunities for engineers.

A similar lawsuit in U.S. District Court in December named jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, another business unit of Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon, and engineering firms, of taking part in a so-called no-poach arrangement.

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[ Grand jury indicts six from Connecticut aerospace industry of conspiracy in limiting workers advancement and compensation ]

The U.S. Department of Justice last month indicted six aerospace industry executives on accusations they agreed to a no-poach agreement. The indictments did not identify the companies for whom the defendants worked.

But in a separate civil lawsuit, a former project worker at an East Hartford engineering company accused Pratt & Whitney and other aerospace businesses of enforcing an agreement not to hire workers in the industry to keep down wages. In addition, a former Pratt & Whitney employee was charged by federal authorities of conspiring with suppliers to restrict the hiring and recruiting of engineers and other skilled workers.

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Keller Lenkner, the Chicago law firm that filed the most recent lawsuit, said its challenge is an expansion of the original complaint against Pratt & Whitney and the suppliers after its investigation found information to support allegations that Collins Aerospace also was involved in the practices.

A spokesman at Raytheon declined to comment.

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Collins Aerospace, a manufacturer of airline components and cockpit and cabin systems, is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It employs 68,000 workers and operates in Connecticut, including at the former Hamilton Sundstrand site in Windsor Locks.

The no-poach agreement allegedly was made and enforced privately among top aerospace executives, lawyers claim.

The defendants entered into this... with complete disregard for the impact it would have on their employees, their careers, and their livelihoods, said attorney Jason Zweig at Keller Lenkner.. The only concern was for their bottom line and avoiding disruption to their workforce.

The lawsuit challenges what lawyers claim was an illegal agreement among Pratt & Whitney and Collins and several outsource engineering suppliers to restrict the hiring and recruiting of engineers and other skilled laborers working on aerospace projects.

The no-poach agreement dates to 2011 and continued until at least 2019, according to the lawsuit.

The scope of the no-poach agreement was broad, covering at least all engineers employed by (or working as an independent contractor for) defendants to work on Pratt & Whitney Collins projects and statements of work in the United States and its territories, the lawsuit says.

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Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com.
A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Russia has concentrated an estimated 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons near Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion. (AP Photo)
In a satellite photo by Planet Labs PBC, Abu Dhabi International Airport is seen Dec. 8, 2021. A suspected drone attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting a key oil facility in Abu Dhabi killed three people and sparked a separate fire at Abu Dhabi's international airport on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, police said. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
A National Weather Service graphic issued Tuesday indicates the most likely forms of precipitation coming for areas of eastern North Carolina Thursday and Friday. (NWS graphic)
Dr. Ron Dimock, left, chairperson of the Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament Scholarship Committee in 2020, presents a scholarship check for $3,000 to Swansboro High School graduate Bailey Inga in July 2020. (Contributed photo)
Rosa was born and grew up in Vienna, Austria. Initially, nothing predestined her to art. She attended hotel management school and worked in the hospitably industry for several years in Vienna, London and Geneva. Then, having changed her plans, she began a career as an airhostess for a major German airline, which allowed her to travel around the world and experience all kinds of adventures.

In Frankfurt, she met and worked with Heidi Wagner, an advertising and industrial photographer. In this way Rosa began her artistic activity, discovering an aesthetic sense and developing a certain way of seeing the world. From that moment on, she began capturing the shapes and colours of nature on film during her travels and stays abroad.

When she was 50 years old, she accompanied her husband on a business trip to the island of Crete. A friend sent her a box of oil paints and she began to draw and paint the landscapes all around her. It was a revelation that helped her to decide to make art her profession.

Back in Germany and Austria, Rosa attended seminars and courses at the Art Academy. Through contact with well-known artists such as Hermann Nitsch, Giselbert Hoke, Arnulf Rainer, Sati Zech and Georg Brandner, she learned different techniques. Thanks to these multiple influences, she developed her own pure and intense style and artistic language.

Rosa finds fulfilment in using acrylics on paper, canvas and wood. She multiplies her techniques with chalk, charcoal and oil pastels.

Her works feed heavily on her travels. She seeks to express both the positive and negative; her memories, feelings, joy, pleasure and the energy that is within her. Rosa invites the viewer to let his imagination play and give free rein to his ideas.

Originally self-taught, today she exhibits in numerous galleries and exports her work to major international art fairs.
Glen, NH (03838)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 44F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 44F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Photo: The Canadian Press A meteorite is seen lying on a bed after falling through the roof of Ruth Hamilton's home in Golden.

Scientists studying a meteorite that landed next to a British Columbia woman's head last year say it was diverted to that path about 470 million years ago.

The small meteorite broke through a woman's ceiling in Golden, B.C., in October, landing on her pillow, next to where she had been sleeping moments earlier.

Philip McCausland, a lead researcher mapping the meteorite's journey, says they know the 4.5-billion-year-old rock collided with something about 470 million years ago, breaking into fragments and changing the trajectory of some of the pieces.

McCausland, who's a adjunct professor at University of Western Ontario in London, says it's of scientific significance because it will allow scientists to study how material from the asteroid belt arrives on earth.

He says the Canadian team is now working with scientists in Switzerland, the U.K., U.S. and Italy to learn more about the meteorite and its path to Golden.

Most of the meteorite has been returned to Ruth Hamilton, the woman who had the close call and McCausland says it's up to her to decide what to do with it.
The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March.

The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. has been trending upward since mid-November, reaching nearly 1,700 on Jan. 17  still below the peak of 3,300 in January 2021. COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents started rising slightly two weeks ago, although still at a rate 10 times less than last year before most residents were vaccinated.

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Despite signs omicron causes milder disease on average, the unprecedented level of infection spreading through the country, with cases still soaring in many states, means many vulnerable people will become severely sick. If the higher end of projections comes to pass, that would push total U.S. deaths from COVID-19 over 1 million by early spring.

A lot of people are still going to die because of how transmissible omicron has been, said University of South Florida epidemiologist Jason Salemi. It unfortunately is going to get worse before it gets better.

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Morgues are starting to run out of space in Johnson County, Kansas, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of the health department. More than 30 residents have died in the county this year, the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

But the notion that a generally less severe variant could still take the lives of thousands of people has been difficult for health experts to convey. The math of it  that a small percentage of a very high number of infections can yield a very high number of deaths  is difficult to visualize.

Overall, youre going to see more sick people even if you as an individual have a lower chance of being sick, said Katriona Shea of Pennsylvania State University, who co-leads a team that pulls together several pandemic models and shares the combined projections with the White House.

The wave of deaths heading for the United States will crest in late January or early February, Shea said. In early February, weekly deaths could equal or exceed the delta peak, and possibly even surpass the previous U.S. peak in deaths last year.

Some unknown portion of these deaths are among people infected with the delta variant, but experts say omicron is also claiming lives.

This is omicron driven, Shea said of the coming wave of deaths. The combined models project 1.5 million Americans will be hospitalized and 191,000 will die from mid-December through mid-March. Taking into account the uncertainty in the models, U.S. deaths during the omicron wave could range from 58,000 to 305,000.

Yet, its become increasingly clear that the risk from omicron is lower than from previous variants. New evidence from nearly 70,000 patients in Southern California suggests omicron is causing milder illness than delta.

A study, posted online and cited during a recent White House briefing, found patients with omicron had a 53% lower risk of hospitalization with respiratory symptoms, a 74% lower risk of ICU admission, and a 91% lower risk of death. The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, comes from researchers at Kaiser Permanente and University of California, Berkeley.

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Its hard for me to say straight out its good news, said study co-author Sara Y. Tartof, a Kaiser Permanente research scientist. Maybe theres good news in the sense that if you are infected your chance of becoming severely ill are decreased, but from a societal perspective its a very heavy burden for us. It remains a serious situation, and we need to maintain practices and behaviors we know protect us.

Overburdened hospitals could also contribute to more deaths, said Marc Lipsitch of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and scientific director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions forecasting center.

In places with extremely short staffing and overloads of patients, as the medical professionals have been telling us, the quality of care begins to suffer, Lipsitch said. That may also lead to higher death rates, but thats not in any of the models that Im aware of.

___

Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed.

___

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Photo: CFSEU BC Firearms, drugs, cash and Hells Angels paraphernalia were seized as part of the investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.

A year-long investigation into the alleged drug-trafficking activities of a Vancouver Island crime group has resulted in the arrest of several people and the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms.

B.C.s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, which targets gangs, began the investigation last January into an alleged organized drug-trafficking network with ties to the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.

The arrests were made at multiple Vancouver Island locations.

Four search warrants were executed in the Comox Valley and Campbell River areas early Jan. 13, and located about 3.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about $160,000 in Canadian currency, and firearms that included a handgun, a semi-automatic gun, sawed-off shotguns, long guns and ammunition. As well, a vehicle was seized along with Hells Angels paraphernalia.

Police made a total of six arrests, including a 43-year-old Campbell River man, a 57-year-old Comox man, a 39-year-old Cumberland man, a 46-year-old Comox woman, a 32-year-old Sooke man and a 29-year-old Victoria woman.

All have been released pending charges.

We know small communities and areas outside the Lower Mainland are not immune to the negative effects of guns and organized crime, said Supt. Duncan Pound, deputy operations officer for the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. These groups prey upon the most vulnerable through the sale of often-deadly drugs and using fear and intimidation in order to advance their illicit enterprises.

Working with our partners on Vancouver Island in a collaborative and co-ordinated effort is critical to ensuring that those who seek to put us and our communities at risk are held accountable.
Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta premier Jason Kenney shakes hands with Kaycee Madu, Minister of Municipal Affairs, after being sworn into office in Edmonton on Tuesday April 30, 2019. Madu, who is currently the province's justice minister, is being called on to resign for phoning Edmontons police chief with concerns about a traffic ticket. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Albertas Opposition is calling for the justice minister to resign because he phoned Edmontons police chief with concerns about a traffic ticket.

The Edmonton Police Service says Kaycee Madu phoned Chief Dale McFee shortly after he was ticketed for distracted driving in March 2021.

The service says in a statement that Madu had concerns about the traffic stop but did not ask the chief to waive the ticket.

Police say the ticket was issued correctly and remains valid.

NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir says, regardless of intent, it's an abuse of power for any cabinet minister  let alone the justice minister  to interfere in the judicial process regarding a personal matter.

Madu and a spokesman for Premier Jason Kenney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The issue came to light in a story published Monday by CBC Edmonton.

CBC said Madu was ticketed for distracted driving while using a cellphone in a school zone.

CBC reported that McFee said in an interview Madu, who is Black, called soon after to express concern about people of colour being stopped by officers. It said he later paid the $300 ticket.

Madu represents the constituency of Edmonton-South West for the United Conservative government and has been justice minister since August 2020.

McFee, through the police media relations office, declined an interview. But the service issued a short statement.

Chief McFee did receive a phone call from Minister Madu in relation to a distracted driving ticket he was issued on March 10, 2021, it said.

Minister Madu had concerns about the context of the traffic stop. To be clear, he did not ask the chief to rescind the ticket. The ticket remains valid and was issued correctly.

Sabir, in a statement, said parliamentary precedent demands Madu step down from his cabinet post.

Regular Alberta drivers do not have the ability to call their local police chief and discuss traffic tickets, said Sabir.

Madu used his position as minister to initiate this conversation, and regardless of whether he asked the chief to cancel the ticket, it is political interference for him to have discussed it all.

"It is inappropriate for any cabinet minister to interfere in the administration of justice, even more so when it's directly related to their own personal self-interest, and its utterly unacceptable when that interference is committed but the attorney general."
Photo: CTV News

B.C.s provincial health officer issued a public health order Monday requiring schools across the province to provide proof of vaccination status for its teachers.

The order applies to all staff across B.C.s public, independent and francophone schools, and includes sharing how many doses of vaccine a staff member has received and when they were vaccinated.

An employer must request proof of vaccination from each staff member and must keep a record of each staff members vaccination status, wrote Dr. Bonnie Henry in her order.

That information must be held in a way that does not reveal an individuals identity. In the case of an outbreak or exposure, schools are now required to act as if staff who have not provided proof of vaccination are unvaccinated.

The BC Teachers Federation (BCTF), which represents 45,000 teachers across the province, responded swiftly to the new order, stating in a tweet it had not been consulted or notified the order was coming ahead of time.

It is confusing as we have already agreed with (the BC Public School Employers' Association) to a vaccine mandate process and would like districts to implement those, wrote the BCTF.

BCTF president Teri Mooring wasnt immediately available for comment.

The order, which traces B.C.s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, states that communities with low vaccination rates have seen more cases of serious illness and hospitalizations, including intensive care unit visits.

People who are vaccinated can be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but experience less severity of illness than unvaccinated people, especially in younger populations, states the order.

Vaccinated persons who contract COVID-19 can transmit SARS-CoV-2 but are also generally contagious for shorter periods of time, are less symptomatic, and are less likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2, when compared to unvaccinated infected persons.

The situation, adds Henry in her order, has got worse over time, first with the arrival of Delta and now with Omicron. With hospitals stretched beyond capacity, primarily due to unvaccinated people, B.C.s health-care system is spending a disproportionate amount of its resources on unvaccinated patients.

Last week, Henry pointed to BC Centre for Disease Control data that found unvaccinated people accounted for 47 per cent of all hospitalizations between Dec. 11 and Jan. 12  a period roughly equivalent to the rise of the Omicron variant in B.C.

Despite the nearly 50-50 split, people who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine account for over 82 per cent of B.C. residents  meaning they are landing in hospital at a much lower rate than the unvaccinated.

The data said unvaccinated were 12 times more likely to land in hospital and 27 times more likely to end up in an ICU.

With roughly 350,000 B.C. children between five and 11 years old still waiting for a second dose of the Pfizer paediatric vaccine, Henrys order says they are more at risk than some other demographics.

Cases of COVID-19 among school staff members can contribute to clusters of infection and lead to the isolation of a large number of children who are identified as close contacts, adversely affecting their well-being by preventing them from attending school and other social activities, wrote Henry in her order.

Unvaccinated staff members pose a health hazard to students and other staff members due to the higher risk that they can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to others.

By reporting the vaccination status of school staff members, the order says school administrators will be better able to mitigate risk and respond to school exposures, cases, clusters and outbreaks.

The order says there are various options for establishing vaccine status, including in paper and online format.

Henry said she has information to believe the Omicron variant is leading to an increasing number of infections across B.C., and that a lack in information provided to school boards and administrators of independent and francophone schools interferes with the suppression of SARS-CoV-2.

She added there is an immediate and urgent need to focus action on schools in some health regions across the province.

Failure to comply with the order would be considered an offence under B.C.s Public Health Act.

The order has no expiry date and Henry could adjust it as she sees fit. B.C.'s top doc is set to hold a media availability on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Photo: The Canadian Press

While the most challenging days of COVID-19 are predicted to be ahead for British Columbias health-care system, representatives for doctors and nurses say their members are on the verge of a possible collapse.

Doctors of BC president Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh said it has been an overwhelming three years for her members.

"I am hearing from some doctors who are just ready to quit," she said in an interview.

The organization represents 16,000 physicians in the province.

"People have shared their honest feelings with me and they're feeling so consumed. They're emotionally exhausted. They're feeling depleted," she said.

"They're seeing their patients suffer. They're also under such constraints."

Aman Grewal, president of the BC Nurses Union, said nurses are under "incredible pressure" to balance family and work responsibilities, which doesn't leave them with enough downtime to take care of themselves.

"They are facing verbal and physical harassment from some members of the public who are becoming increasingly frustrated with this ongoing public health crisis," she said. The organization represents 48,000 nurses.

"This, you know, has been an ongoing issue  violence toward nurses and it's very morally distressing to know that our members are having to face that all while they are trying to care for their patients."

On Friday, provincial health care officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the latest wave fuelled by the Omicron variant may have peaked in parts of B.C., but there's a lag between infections and those who end up in hospital. That means difficult days are ahead for hospitals and their staff, Henry said.

Health officials said there were 819 COVID-positive cases in B.C. hospitals Monday, compared with 646 on Friday.

Henry issued an order Monday extending restrictions imposed last month on gatherings and closures of fitness centres and bars.

Her order said she took into account the stress under which the public health and health-care systems are currently operating, and the impact this is having on the provision of health care to the population, due to the rising presence of the Omicron variant.

The representatives said health-care workers are also facing a shortage of personal protective equipment, including masks.

Dosanjh said doctors need more support on the ground, like more family physicians who can share the burden, less paperwork and better infrastructure support such as universal health records so that the same tests are not repeated.

"A lot of people are seeing patients from 8 a.m. till 8 at night and then doing the paperwork. The days are usually very long for most physicians."

BC Emergency Health Services said the number of staff absences last year on Jan. 4 was 38, Jan. 5 was 39, Jan. 6 and 7 was 33, Jan. 8 was 36 and Jan. 9 was 32. This year on Jan. 4 it was 69, Jan. 5 was 52, Jan. 6 was 70, Jan. 7 was 49, Jan. 8 was 53 and Jan. 9 was 41.

The emergency health services, which employs 4,000 paramedics and dispatchers in B.C., said there were 33 people off sick on Jan. 6 last year, while 70 people were ill this year.

Vancouver Coastal Health said in a statement its hospitals mirror what's happening in the communities, which means they are still seeing COVID-19 cases.

Fraser Health said all emergency departments are fully operational, and while they are seeing an increased number of sick calls due to COVID-19, operational teams have a plan in place to mitigate against impact on staff and access to care.

No staff who have knowingly tested positive for COVID-19 have been called into work, said a statement from the health authority.

Between Jan. 3 and 9, there were 7,151 shifts at Fraser Health for which workers called in sick due to short-term illness.

Grewal said there are not enough resources to help nurses deal with their own mental well-being amid the increasing fatigue, anxiety and relentless slog starting to take its toll.

A nurse working four shifts in a row might have seen one death before the pandemic, she said.

"And here these nurses are seeing several deaths and several deaths of patients who are their age. They're not elderly who are always the ones who are dying," she said.

"You know, our nurses are humans as well."

It is important for everyone to pay attention to this burnout, Dosanjh said because if more health-care workers are lost to it then patients suffer.

Her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2020 and died last April.

"He was alone and then had to undergo his chemotherapy alone. And then he had surgery alone and was in the hospital alone," she said.

"There's so many factors that affect our burnout."

Health care is a calling where doctors and nurses are seen as invincible and stoic figures, Dosanjh said.

"We have feelings. We're real people. We share our patients' pain, we really do," she said. "The world needs to recognize that we're humans, you know."
Photo: The Canadian Press Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with his Russian counterpart in Switzerland this week as tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalate over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, the State Department said Tuesday.

The State Department said Blinken will travel to Kyiv on Wednesday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, move on to Berlin and then meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday. The hastily arranged trip aims to show U.S. support for Ukraine and impress on Russia the need for de-escalation.

A senior State Department official underscored the urgency, telling reporters: We are now at a point where Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine at any time. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

The meetings follow inconclusive diplomatic talks between Moscow and the West in Europe last week that failed to resolve stark disagreements over Ukraine and other security matters.

Instead, those meetings appear to have increased fears of a Russian invasion, and the Biden administration has accused Russia of preparing a false flag operation" to use as a pretext for intervention. Russia has angrily denied the charge.

From Kyiv, Blinken will travel to Berlin, where he will meet with his German, British and French counterparts to discuss a possible response to any Russian military action. In Geneva on Friday, Blinken will be testing Lavrov on Russia's interest in a diplomatic off-ramp for the crisis, the senior State Department official said.

Russia has massed some 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons on its own soil near the Ukrainian border in what many observers believe may be preparation for an invasion.

Blinkens travel and consultations are part of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russias military build-up and continued aggression against Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement.

Blinken will meet with Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday to reinforce the United States commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the State Department said.

The trip follows extensive diplomacy with our European Allies and partners about a united approach to address the threat Russia poses to Ukraine and our joint efforts to encourage it to choose diplomacy and de-escalation in the interests of security and stability, it said.

CIA Director William Burns visited Kyiv last Wednesday to consult with his Ukrainian counterparts and discuss current assessments of the risk to Ukraine, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss Burns' schedule, which is classified. While there, he also discussed the current situation with Zelenskyy and efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Blinken spoke by phone Tuesday with Lavrov, discussing the diplomatic talks and meetings held last week. The State Department said Blinken stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine situation and reiterated the unshakable U.S. commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On Monday, Lavrov, Russias top diplomat, rejected the U.S. allegations that his country was preparing a pretext to invade Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, he dismissed the U.S. claim as total disinformation.

Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia expects a written response this week from the U.S. and its allies to Moscows request for binding guarantees that NATO will not embrace Ukraine or any other ex-Soviet countries or station its forces and weapons there.

Blinken underscored to Lavrov on Tuesday that any discussion of European security must include NATO Allies and European partners, including Ukraine, the State Department said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov emphasized in the call with Blinken the key aspects of Russian draft documents envisaging legally binding guarantees of Russias security in line with the principle of indivisibility of security approved by all countries in the Euro-Atlantic. It said Lavrov stressed the importance for Washington to quickly deliver a written response to the Russian proposals.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscows demands during last week's Russia-U.S. negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels.

The White House said Friday that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that Russia had already deployed operatives to rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine to carry out acts of sabotage there and blame them on Ukraine to create a pretext for possible invasion.

Ahead of Blinken's visit to Kyiv, a delegation of U.S. senators was visiting Ukraine to emphasize congressional support for the country.

Our bipartisan congressional delegation sends a clear message to the global community: the United States stands in unwavering support of our Ukrainian partners to defend their sovereignty and in the face of persistent Russian aggression, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, said in a statement.

Speaking Monday on a visit to Kyiv, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that any further escalation would carry a high price for the Russian regime  economic, political and strategic," and she emphasized the need to continue negotiations.

We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia, because diplomacy is the only way to defuse this highly dangerous situation at the moment, she said.

Russia in 2014 seized the Crimean Peninsula after the ouster of Ukraines Moscow-friendly leader and also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces in the countrys industrial heartland called Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will take unspecified military-technical measures if the West stonewalls its demands.
Re.: Christines Peggs letter Mild inconvenience (Castanet, Jan 17)

The writer of this letter is justifying the current restrictions to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system.

This argument was totally valid two years ago but not now.

Canada provincial's governments have had two years to invest massively in health care capacity. Nothing was done.

Other western nations are no better. In Europe, the health care system has lost capacity to comply with European Union directives. The OECD collects hospital bed statistics here.

Over the past 20 years, France alone has lost more than 80,000 beds and Canada has lost 20,000 beds. Meanwhile, China had already built hospitals on an industrial scale, at a fraction of the cost of all our support programs combined.

The current situation is a failure of technocratic, administratively plagued, Western governments that are unable to make decisions, not of gyms or bars.

Mathieu Nouquet, West Kelowna
Photo: The Canadian Press Melanie Joly

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canada has not decided whether it will help arm Ukraine forces with military hardware after NATO ally Britain said Monday it would supply anti-tank weapons to the eastern European country.

Joly is wrapping her two-day trip to Ukraine, the first leg of a three-country continental tour that will include stops in France and meetings with European Union and NATO leaders in Brussels.

Her talks with Canada's allies come as fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are running high in Europe.

In a joint press conference in Kyiv with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, Joly says she heard his country's demand for more military assistance from Canada and that she will make a decision in a timely manner.

Russia has positioned about 100,000 troops on Ukraine's eastern border along with tanks and other heavy artillery but has denied it intends to invade Ukraine.

Russia has demanded assurances from NATO that Ukraine will not be allowed to join the 30-country transatlantic military alliance, but that demand has been firmly rejected by Canada, the United States and their allies.
Preparations start for new plant in the Kyrgyz Republic

ICR Newsroom By 18 January 2022

A total of 10ha of land have been transformed in the village of Tunuk-Suu, in the Batken region of the Kyrgyz Republic to build a cement plant, reports Central Asia News. Currently part of a 60km-long road is being repaired. Part of the plot belongs to the local administration with the remainder leased by investors.



It is expected that the construction of the new plant will be carried out in two years and upon completion, the new facility is forecast to produce 1.8Mta of cement. In terms of employment, there will be 500-1000 jobs for local residents.

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w&p Zement virtually accessible

ICR Newsroom By 18 January 2022

As part of its digitalisation drive, Austrian cement producer w&p Zement is enabling those interested in cement production can now visit three of the companys locations using their computer or smartphone. At the heart of this step towards external transparency is innovative 3D photo technology.



Visitors can also enter areas that are normally out of bounds during regular tours for security reasons. In addition to the tour, integrated information points provide extra information about raw material mining or the workings of a rotary kiln.

It was important to us to make our production facilities accessible to everyone. Especially in times of a pandemic, the virtual factory brings even more advantages. In this way, we can at least continue to offer digital tours for schools and universities - regardless of current safety regulations," reports Peter Ramskogler, sales director at w&p cement.

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Peruvian cement market grows 5% in December

ICR Newsroom By 18 January 2022

Perus cement market expanded by 4.7 per cent YoY in December 2021 to 1.275Mt when compared with the previous years December month, when consumption reached 1.218Mt, according to the countrys cement association Asocem.



Cement production by Asocem members edged up four per cent from 1.077Mt in December 2020 to 1.122Mt in December 2021. They increased their dispatches by a similar figure to 1.093Mt in December 2021 from 1.052Mt. Dispatches from all Peruvian cement producers were also up four per cent from 1.137Mt in December 2020 to 1.185Mt in December 2021.



To supplement domestic production, the country imported 90,000t of cement in December 2021, a 10 per cent advance when compared with December 2020, but clinker imports fell by 73 per cent YoY to 41,000t. Cement was mainly imported from Vietnam through Callao and Tacna with minor volumes entering Peru through Paita and Matarani. Chile and Bolivia exported 5000t and 1000t, respectively to Peru.



Cement exports increased by 121 per cent to 27,000t in December 2021 from 12,000t in the previous year. Clinker exports fell by 51 per cent YoY from 105,000t to 51,000t in December 2021.



January-December 2021

In 2021 cement demand in Peru reached 14.44Mt, representing a YoY advance of 37.4 per cent when compared with 10.51Mt in 2020.



Asocems cement producers saw cement production increase by 41 per cent to 12.9Mt in 2021 when compared with 9.14Mt in 2020. Clinker production was up 79 per cent to 9.9Mt from 5.5Mt over the same period.







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Connecticuts COVID-19 metrics fell over the weekend and continued to decline Tuesday, a further indication the state may have passed the peak of its omicron surge.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Connecticut reached its lowest point in the past week on Tuesday, while the states weekly test positivity rate was the lowest it has been since Jan. 2.

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Medical experts had predicted that Connecticut would hit its peak of COVID-19 cases in mid-January, with hospitalizations peaking somewhat later. Last week offered some promising early signs of those trends, as the states weekly test positivity rate appeared to flatten and the rate of increase for hospitalizations began to slow. Now, both metrics have shown marked declines.

Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said Tuesday that if the omicron variant has, in fact, peaked in Connecticut, it is possible that new variants could emerge in its wake. Even so, he said, it is likely that additional variants would result in increasingly mild disease.

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I dont know if were going to see another surge, he said. The hope is that with each increasing variant, even though it may be increasing in infectiousness, it decreases in terms of its lethality  its ability to replicate in the lungs and send people to the hospital and have them ventilated and in the ICUs.

Cases and positivity rate

Connecticut on Tuesday reported 4,264 new COVID-19 cases out of 23,124 tests administered, for a daily positivity rate of 18.44%. The states seven-day positivity rate now stands at 18.85%, down significantly from 22.16% on Friday.

Connecticut has now averaged 6,545 daily COVID-19 cases over the past week, a noticeable decrease from the all-time high of 10,179 reached on Jan. 10.

Still, all eight Connecticut counties  along with nearly the entire rest of the country  are recording high levels of COVID-19 transmission as defined by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With this level of transmission, the CDC advises people to wear a mask in public indoor settings.

Hospitalizations

As of Tuesday, Connecticut had 1,819 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, a decrease of 38 individuals since Tuesday and an overall reduction of 76 since Friday.

Hospital officials say some of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were admitted for reasons other than the virus before testing positive upon arrival, but emphasize that a majority have significant COVID-19 symptoms.

According to the state, 67.8% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated. Hospital officials say the rate is significantly higher when considering only patients with severe symptoms.

Deaths

Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut >

Connecticut reports COVID-19 deaths on Thursdays. Last week, the state reported 161 deaths in the week leading to Thursday, bringing its total during the pandemic to 9,442.

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As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have surged in Connecticut over recent weeks, deaths have risen but still remain far below the levels recorded last winter. Unvaccinated people in Connecticut have been about 19 times as likely to die from COVID-19 in recent weeks as those who are vaccinated, according to state numbers.

The United States has now recorded 851,949 COVID-19 deaths, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Vaccinations

As of Tuesday, 90.9% of all Connecticut residents and 95% of those 12 and older had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 75.7% of all residents and 84.3% of those 12 and older were fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Additionally, about 47.9% of fully vaccinated Connecticut residents 18 or older have received a booster dose.

The CDC warns that booster shots are sometimes misclassified as first doses, likely inflating the reported number of first-dose coverage and understating the true number of people who have received boosters.

Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com.
Britney Spears felt "so sad" when she split from Justin Timberlake.

The pop star split from Justin in 2002, after three years of dating, and Jamie Lynn Spears - Britney's younger sister - has recalled the blonde beauty being devastated by their break-up at the time.

In a preview from the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast - which has been shared with People - Jamie Lynn said: "I think everyone thought it was forever.

"I was so sad, first off because my sister was so sad, but that, too, was the first time I saw [that] maybe I didn't know everything about the relationship. Perhaps they were protecting me and obviously why would they talk to me about anything."

Shortly after their break-up, Justin released his hit single 'Cry Me a River', which was inspired by his split from Britney.

And Jamie has confessed to having sympathy for her sister at the time.

She said: "I thought how heartbreaking it must have been for my sister when 'Cry Me a River' came out.

"Don't get me wrong, like, that's a way to launch your solo career, right? That's a way to do it, but I felt really sad. And my sister, she wrote that song 'Everytime' and she's beyond brilliant with anything creative and she picked that song out on the piano and she wrote it and it still makes me cry because I think about how heartbroken she was, because that was her song and that was his song."

Last year, Justin took to social media to apologise to Britney and Janet Jackson.

Justin, 40 - who accidentally exposed Janet's breast during the Super Bowl half-time show in 2004 - wrote: "I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn or did not speak up for what was right.

"I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism. I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed."
Morning Pointe Senior Living will mark 25 years of service to seniors throughout the calendar year 2022 as the assisted living and Alzheimers memory care company celebrates its founding in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow.



Officials said, "What originally began as a healthcare real estate development company quickly transitioned into a mission-centered management company dedicated to changing the lives of aging residents well into their retirement years. Today, Morning Pointe Senior Living serves over 1,700 residents with 1,600 associates providing individualized care for 36 (and growing) campuses across the Southeastall with Vital and Farrow still in the captains chairs, charting a path for the next 25 years and beyond. They remain one of the few entrepreneurs left in the senior living industry who are still involved in the daily operation of the company they founded."



A quarter century ago, Franklin and I cast a vision to bring a better senior living offering to complement skilled care in the Southeast, and as we look back across those years, I believe we have accomplished that vision and more, stated Mr. Vital, president of Morning Pointe. It has been an honor to provide compassionate care wrapped in hospitality and socialization to thousands of residents throughout these 25 wonderful years.



Officials said, "Morning Pointe Senior Livings 36 senior campuses in five states across the Southeast focus on two niche services: assisted living (personal care in Kentucky) and Alzheimers memory care. Innovations like a farm-to-table dining program, in-house physical and occupational therapy program, along with a patented Meaningful Day memory care program for residents living with Alzheimers disease. have added value to an already thriving business model. This innovationcombined with improvements in healthcare and technologyhas helped Morning Pointe associates continue to efficiently serve a growing population of seniors."



The company will open two new senior living campuses in the Knoxville area in the first half of 2022, further extending its footprint into the East Tennessee area. Morning Pointe of Hardin Valley will open in February and a new Alzheimers Center of Excellence in Powell is slated to open in the spring. A new senior living campus is planned for north Georgia in 2023. Independent living as a service is also on the horizon as more and more seniors enter retirement looking for no-hassle living.

Greg Vital and Franklin Farrow, associates at a previous company, both decided to leave their prior roles to launch a new venture in 1997. Independent Healthcare Properties was created out of a vision to bring a new line of business focused on a more engaging and active senior living to skilled care partners.



IHP was born as a commitment to providing a new opportunity of care and living for seniors, says Mr. Vital. We felt that this newer business concept focused on compassionate care while still allowing an independent lifestyle was the vision that our skilled care partners needed. A plan was laid out and methodically implemented that brought us to where we are today.

Along with their early growth came change; markets changed and so did the direction of the company. In 2000, Mr. Vital and Mr. Farrow decided to become operators in addition to the real estate investmentnot just building communities, but building Morning Pointe into a full service senior living company. The acquisition of what would become Morning Pointe of Calhoun (Georgia) gave Mr. Vital and Mr. Farrow the first senior community both owned and operated by Morning Pointe. Morning Pointe of Collegedale at Greenbriar Cove in Ooltewah later became the duos first project built from the ground-up.



We refined our business plan and moved forward at that point, realizing that we could be both focused on development of quality healthcare facilities and communities, and at the same time operate them with focus and passion we both shared and always had, said Mr. Vital.



Officials said, "The true spirit and passion of all who are part of the Morning Pointe Senior Living family have kept it only looking forward, with more locations, more partnerships and now a Foundation with connections to nearly a dozen community colleges and universities  a core mission to do more and be more for seniors, caregivers and the workforce."



The Morning Pointe Foundation was spawned out of a need to develop the pipeline of future caregivers in our industry, said Mr. Vital. So in 2014, we began a partnership with Chattanooga-area community colleges to fund scholarships for geriatric nursing students. Additionally, we began raising funds for caregiver support programs as a resource for those who are providing care to an aging loved one. This partnership has grown exponentially ever since, and today we are proud to partner with over ten community colleges and universities across the Southeast, funding annual scholarships for over 65 nursing students to date.



Its been a great run. Heres to 25 more years of serving the greatest generation and providing a wonderful career to many healthcare associates.



Morning Pointe invites the greater public into its yearlong anniversary celebration through a special campaign called 25,000 Touches. Through service to seniors and in the spirit of volunteerism and giving back, Morning Pointe has a goal to touch 25,000 community partners and volunteers throughout 2022.



To get involved in the many different life-enriching activities happening across its footprint, contact a local Morning Pointe or call 877-776-4683.
Modern country artist Steven Cade has partnered with Brent Yates, co-founder of Restore Us, to raise awareness of the importance of music by donating guitars to inspire those in need. His Giving Guitars Tour visits shelters across the country that offer transitional housing and other services to homeless families. Cade tours the facility, interacts with the residents, donates guitars and does a live performance.This month, Mr. Cade will visit shelters in Chattanooga to bring new hope and healing through music for this New Year. Next Thursday, Jan. 27, Mr. Cade will be visiting The Maclellan Family Shelter, 717 East 11th St. at 3 p.m., where he will visit with children and deliver guitars and do a mini-concert.Music changes lives and the guitar is such a powerful tool.Music is healing and allows you to express your stories and brings joy, said Mr. Cade. I give back to homeless shelters because it's part of my story; my family has been homeless as well.For more information visit stevencade.com or if you would like to donate money towards Giving Guitars, go www.stevencade.com/givingguitars.
Army Veteran Larry Gregory was presented the Vietnam Veterans of America Achievement Medal Monday night during Chapter 203s monthly meeting.

Mr. Gregory has been a member of the local chapter since 2006. Fellow member Bob Holloway pinned the medal on his fellow soldier. Mr. Gregory has served as coordinator of the chapter honor guard. President Charles Hobbs praised Mr. Gregory for his tireless efforts where there is a need.



Chapter 203 is now meeting the third Monday of each month in the MAC AVE building, 1304 McCallie Ave. Any Vietnam vet or Vietnam era vet is welcome to attend and join.



The chapter is planning several events for this spring. Among those, they will participate in the annual Armed Forces Day parade downtown on Friday, May 6. Chapter 203 is the second largest VVA in the United States.

For information call Mr. Hobbs, president of Chapter 203, at 991-5858.
The Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce is set to host its 96th Annual Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m.. A celebration of the previous years accomplishments, the meeting also reveals the honorees receiving the annual M.C. Headrick Free Enterprise and the Robert W. Varnell Jr. Leadership Awards. It will be held in-person at Westmore Church of God.



Officials said, "The M. C. Headrick Free Enterprise Award is the highest and most prestigious award given by The Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the award is to focus on the Free Enterprise system and to honor the memory of one of the most outstanding businessmen Cleveland and Bradley County has ever produced. M. C. was a man who believed wholeheartedly in the fundamental concepts of the Free Enterprise System. Larry McDaniel of The Town Squire, 2021 recipient of the M.C. Headrick Free Enterprise Award will present the award for 2022."



In 2021, Beecher Hunter of Life Care Centers of America was honored with the Robert W. Varnell Jr. Leadership Award, in memory of Robert W. Varnell Jr., for his demonstrated leadership in professional, religious and civic endeavors. Mr. Hunter will be presenting the award at the Annual Meeting to the 2022 recipient.



Attendance will be limited, hand sanitizer will be provided throughout the venue and masks are optional.



Individual tickets for the event are $50; a corporate table of eight is $575. The registration deadline is this Friday. Members who wish to use available admission credits should call the Chamber office to make reservations. To register to attend the Annual Meeting, visit Clevelandchamber.com and select the event on the Community Calendar, or call the Chamber at 423-472-6587.



Westmore Church of God is located at 2440 Legacy Parkway, NW in Cleveland.



For more information, contact Tsullivan@clevelandchamber.com.
Music at St. Pauls 2021-22 Artist Series continues with a concert by harpist Parker Ramsay on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The program features Ramsay performing his own transcription of Johann Sebastian Bachs Goldberg Variations, originally written for keyboard, which he has recorded to international critical acclaim.

Artist Series Concerts take place at St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St. (at Pine) in downtown Chattanooga. Tickets are $40, $30, $25 and $10 and can be purchased at the door or in advance through the St. Pauls website.

Harpist Parker Ramsay, a Tennessee native based in New York City, recorded his transcription of Bachs iconic Goldberg Variations in the unique acoustic of the Kings College Chapel. Released in 2020 on Kings College label, the recording has received wide-spread acclaim, being praised as remarkably special (Gramophone), nuanced and insightful (BBC Music Magazine), relentlessly beautiful (WQXR), marked by keen musical intelligence (The Wall Street Journal) and a resounding success (The Independent).

Talking about his decision to make his transcription of the Goldberg Variations, Mr. Ramsay said, I wanted to show the world that the harp is an instrument of beauty, sincerity and transcendence, standing alongside the keyboard and string instruments as a worthy vehicle for the music of J.S. Bach.

Mr. Ramsays career is distinguished by its breadth and crossing of instrumental boundaries and genres as a performer on the harp, organ and harpsichord. He holds a bachelors in history from the University of Cambridge, a masters and artist diploma in historical keyboards from Oberlin Conservatory, and a masters in harp performance from the Juilliard School. Equally at home on modern and period harps, Mr. Ramsay is dedicated to integrating contemporary music and historical performances and to invigorating the existing canon while delving into new and underperformed works.

Paul Thomas, St. Pauls music director, said, We are delighted to present harpist Parker Ramsay in this solo recital featuring his ground-breaking transcription of Bachs Goldberg Variations, which should sound gorgeous in our Sanctuary. This concert, like our others, will include pandemic safety precautions; and we encourage, as strongly as possible, that attendees be vaccinated if they are able. We give thanks to God for the ability to make and listen to live music, a blessing that by its recent absence has become even more special. We hope you will come and experience this beauty with us.

The 2021-22 Artists Series concludes on Friday, March 25, with the Joshua Espinoza Trio, an ensemble with a unique approach to exploring jazz improvisation within the contours of a classical chamber music aesthetic.
Many 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, fans doubt that Mike and Ximena are compatible enough to make it down the aisle. Are Mike and Ximena still together in 2022? Heres what we know so far.

(Spoiler alert: This article contains possible spoilers for 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days Season 5).

Mike and Ximena on 90 Day Fiance Before the 90 Days Season 5 | TLC

Are Mike and Ximena still together?

There were some significant red flags that have appeared in Mike and Ximenas relationship so far. Mike, a loveable firefighter from Thiells, New York, traveled to Pereira, Colombia, to be with Ximena. He plans to get engaged during this short trip and bring her back to the United States on a K-1 visa.

However, after Mike discovers that Ximena had a procedure that prevents her from having more children, he feels betrayed. Still, he forgives her and promises to take care of her two children, 3-year-old Harold Steven, and 9-year-old Juan David, as his own.

Mike and Ximena engaged?

Is it possible that the 90 Day Fiance couple were able to somehow make it work? According to Starcasm, it appears that Mike and Ximena are engaged.

The evidence comes from Ximenas TikTok video that shows Mike holding the engagement ring box with the caption, Te amo mi vida gracias por tanta felicidad. Which roughly translates to, I love you my life, thanks so much for [the] happiness.

Ximena captioned one of the photos in the TikTok video, This was a surprise. And another photo had the caption, Marry me.

Nine days after Ximena posted the video of Mike holding the engagement ring, she posted photos of herself in what appears to be a white wedding gown.

Ximena spoted wearing a ring on her left hand

There are many photos of Ximena wearing what appears to be an engagement ring or wedding ring on her left ring finger. Some of the pictures and videos of Ximena wearing said ring date back to October 2020.

In the recent photos and videos, Ximena appears to be wearing a different ring on her left hand. She was spotted in 2022 wearing a thicker gold band. Still, theres a chance that theyre not engaged and the ring is merely a promise ring.

Regardless, it appears that Mike and Ximenas relationship could be working out after all. Despite the many red flags, it seems that the two could be getting their happily ever after after all.

90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days airs Sundays on TLC and discovery+.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance Spoilers: Is Mahogany Real or Is She Catfishing Ben?
In Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3, Episode 11, Bob Wheeler (Billy Gardell) slips up and tells Chukwuemeka, or Chuey (Tony Tambi), that his former to-be fiance Morenike (Tori Danner) was gay. This caused plenty of fallout from her family, as Nigerians still frown upon it. Co-creator, writer, and actor Gina Yashere addressed Morenikes sexuality in Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3. Or, as her character Kemi calls it in the show, her lesbianity.

Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Tori Danner, and Kimberly Scott as Ebun, Morenike, and Ogechi in Bob Hearts Abishola | CBS

Gina Yashere wanted Morenikes sexuality in Bob Hearts Abishola to come across authentically

When Chuck Lorre first brought Gina Yashere in to help create the show, Yashere took care to represent Nigerian culture as accurately as she could through her own experiences. This included the good and the bad.

For me, its all about authenticity, Yashere told TVLine. Because our cast is half Nigerian, we wanted to do a story about something that is affecting a lot of Nigerians  in and outside of the country.

When Abishola left Uncle Tunde and Auntie Olu, they rented her room out to her niece, Morenike. She increasingly came between Kemi and Chuey, leading to Kemi trying to sabotage people and spread rumors online in Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3, Episode 6. However, Morenike confided in Kemi that she was gay.

Because Im gay and my family is Nigerian, I know what its like, Yashere says. Im lucky I was born outside of Nigeria, so I havent had the same struggles that my gay brothers and sisters have had within Nigeria, and the problems that theyre having: being arrested all the time, being harassed when they go out [and] being thrown out of their families.

Morenikes sexuality in Bob Hearts Abishola was an important story for Gina Yashere to tell to American audiences as well

Beyond addressing Nigerians, Gina Yashere thought the story was also relevant to American viewers.

In America, homophobia and transphobia are causing a lot of people to be attacked violently and to be thrown out of their families, Yashere continued. Youve got people even who are still living in the closet.

In Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3, Episode 11, her family did not take it well when Bob accidentally revealed Morenikes sexuality.

Yashere and Folake Olowofoyeku (another Nigerian actor who plays Abishola) advised Morenike not to come out at first, but the latest episode addressed the damage of that choice.

Politicians [are] caught all the time indulging because theyve been living in the closet because they feel they have to hide who they are to appeal to some right-wing rhetoric, Yashere said. So its a story that plays out wherever you are in the world, not just in Nigeria.

Yashere knew they walked a fine line with the storyline

Morenikes sexuality plot in Bob Hearts Abishola marked a heavy topic for the sitcom. While it balanced out with the lighter romance between Matt Jones Douglas and Edy Ganems bus driver, Yashere wanted to treat the main topic with respect while staying realistic.

We wanted to make it real, but we also didnt want to turn the audience against Abishola, Yashere stressed. Its a fine balance. We also wanted to show that even though what Abishola is doing is 100 percent wrong, she is trying to protect Morenike.

Yashere said several fans did not agree with Kemi and Abisholas choice. Yashere meant that to be intentional, though.

A lot of people think theyre protecting gay people by saying, Just stay in the closet. Itll be easier on your life, so it wasnt coming from a place of hatred; it was coming from a place of love, Yashere said. She was doing what she thought was best.

Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3 will likely deal a lot more with the fallout from Bob saying Morenikes sexuality. Or rather, her lesbianity.

Bob Hearts Abishola Seasons 1, 2, and 3 are available for streaming.

RELATED: Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3, Episode 10: Billy Gardells Bob Steps Up as Deles Step-Father
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry call California home as theyve done for nearly two years. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live beachside with their children, dogs, and rescue chickens. But an expert on the British royal family says the circumstances surrounding their change of address were different than they may have let on.

Harry and Meghan have lived in California since 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | NDZ/Star Max/GC Images

After stepping back as senior royals in 2020 the Duke and Duchess of Sussex put down roots in California. Harry and Meghan purchased a $14.7 million-dollar mansion in Montecito, California.

Meghan and Harrys sprawling property  their 19,000 square foot mansion sits on more than seven acres of land  is in a gated community nestled among other celebrity residences. Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, and Oprah Winfrey are just a few celebrities who also live in the area.

The couples offered glimpses inside their home on numerous occasions. Meghan filmed a video in her office when she turned 40 in August 2021. She and Harry have also given fans a peek of their lush yard, including the bench that inspired Meghans childrens book of the same name, in various videos and photos.

Meghan and Harry had reportedly been planning their move to the U.S. for a while

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Meghan and Harrys California move had twists and turns before they finally settled on Montecito. When they announced their intention to step down as senior working royals in January 2020 theyd been staying in Canada at a house producer David Foster helped secure.

Then, because of coronavirus (COVID-19) and security concerns, Harry and Meghan packed their bags and changed locations. They traveled to California on Tyler Perrys private jet and stayed in his $18.7 million-dollar Beverly Hills mansion. Finally, Harry and Meghan bought their Montecito home in the summer of 2020.

However, as royal expert Andrew Morton told Salon in November 2021, the move to the U.S. hadnt been a spur-of-the-moment decision. In fact, according to the author, Meghan and Harrys California move had been in the works for a while.

I think the narrative that theyd like to project is that they arrived in Los Angeles with a couple of suitcases and a cuddly toy and that was it, the royal biographer said. I think the reality is that theyd been planning this move to Hollywood for some time, not necessarily where they were going to live.

He also noted Meghan had already been in talks regarding the Netflix original series, Pearl. As for Harry, Morton claimed hed had discussions with Winfrey about what would eventually become The Me You Cant See in December 2018. So whilst the plan wasnt fully worked out, I wouldnt suggest that they were babes in the woods, Morton said.

The royals may be moving again soon

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Is Meghan and Harrys California home for sale? That was the question in September 2021. Now, as an unnamed source told The Mirror in January 2022, they may be looking to do just that.

They are thinking of selling their house there, the source said. However, it wont be on the market because of who they are. Its only being shown to people who are confirmed with funds and are serious buyers.

Supposedly, the 37 and 40-year-old parents of two want to look nearby. They want to stay in the neighborhood or nearby but they arent over the moon about the house and the location, the source explained.

RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Talked About Living in New Zealand Less Than 6 Months After Their Royal Wedding
Netflixs Money Heist became one of the streaming platforms major success stories. In 2020, the shows producer and Netflix announced they were developing a Korean drama remake. With actors like Park Hae-soo from Squid Game in one of the leading roles, the remake caught attention. Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area was teased during Netflixs Tudum event.

The upcoming K-drama gets its first official teaser introducing its main character, the Professor, and its main cast. The teaser also included the key marker from the original series.

Face masks from Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area K-drama | via Netflix

What did fans already know about Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area?

While Park Hae-soo was officially announced to star as Berlin in December, according to Variety, the main cast was already locked in since April 2021.

According to Soompi, actor Yoo Ji-tae will play the infamous role of the Professor. He is joined by notable actors such as Jeon Jong-seo, Lee Won-jong, and Kim Ji-hoon. Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area will follow a simialr storyline as the Spanish original.

The setting will change to be adapted into a K-drama but still include key details like the characters robbing a bank. According to Soompi, executive producer Alex Pina explains, I am excited to see what will happen when this case unfolds against the backdrop of the Korean peninsula.

As Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area gets closer to a premiere date, Netflix released its first official teaser introducing fans to the professor, supporting characters, and the cast.

Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area teaser includes the popular mask worn by the characters

RELATED: Hellbound Original Webtoon Had a Different Ending Compared to the Netflix K-Drama

Fans of Money Heist were previously introduced to Yoo as the professor during Netflixs Tudum event. In a special crossover, the many actors of various Netflix series needed help to find the streaming platforms iconic opening sound. Alvaro Mortes the Professor seeks the help of his K-drama counterpart.

The official teaser once again focuses on the K-drama character. In a dimly lit office, the professor looks over something on his desk before turning to approach a wall adorned with traditional Korean masks. With dramatic music playing, fans get their first look at the recognizable Salvador Dali mask worn in the Spanish original.

The scene implies that the Professor is looking over his plans for a heist. After the Professors scene, fans get their first look at another key character. In a control room is Seon Woo-jin, played by actor Kim Yoon-jin. Woo-jin is the leader of a special task force and head of the crisis negotiations division.

The Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area teaser ends by introducing the actors as their characters like Tokyo, Berlin, Oslo, Denver, and more from the original series.

When will the Money Heist remake K-drama premiere?

RELATED: Sweet Home Season 2: Why the K-Dramas Storyline Wont Make Sense Without Actor Song Kang

The K-drama remake has fans excited to see how Netflix will adapt the original storyline with Korean actors and settings. There are high hopes as Alex Pina also serves as an executive producer for the K-drama. Money Heist: Korea  Joint Economic Area does not have a set premiere date according to NME.

According to the press release, the K-drama will premiere sometime in 2022. Until then, fans can look foward to more teaser trailers and the official trailer.
Avelo Airlines takes off Thursday on its first flight from Tweed-New Haven Airport just after 11 a.m. The flight was bound for Orlando. (Kenneth R. Gosselin / The Hartford Courant)

Just two days after the details of a master plan to expand Tweed New Haven airport were released in July, there was a harsh reminder that in a showdown between climate change and Tweed, climate change may well win.

Elsa, the first of three tropical systems this past summer that drenched the Connecticut shoreline, dumped a whole lot of water on Tweed.

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Planning for a changing climate

The terminal flooded; the runways flooded; the access roads flooded; nearby homes flooded.

It nearly happened again when Henri came through and did happen again during Ida. And that was just one summer.

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The problematic climate future Tweed faces actually is possible along just about all of New Havens shoreline. Parts of that shoreline  including the Long Wharf area  were once under water and may be destined for it again as the entire area faces increased battering from ever more-intense and frequent storms and the highest rates of sea level rise in the in the U.S. in the last 60 years, according to multiple studies, including data from NOAA.

Seagulls cluster along the shoreline at Long Wharf Pier Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in New Haven. (KASSI JACKSON/The Hartford Courant)

But New Haven is moving ahead with new projects along Long Wharf and the east shore of the harbor, in addition to the airport, despite the climate risk, citing the need for economic development and city growth.

The city says it can handle growth and climate change at once. Science may say otherwise.

I think in general we should have real reluctance to develop further in areas which are inherently vulnerable to flooding, said Jim ODonnell, executive director of the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation, or CIRCA.

ODonnell has been sounding the climate alarm for years, calculating that sea level rise in Long Island Sound could reach 20 inches by 2050  a metric the state uses broadly for its resilience policies.

Best case scenarios show Tweed and the New Haven shoreline to be among Connecticuts areas most vulnerable to the rising waters from climate change. Interactive mapping by the climate research group Climate Central paints a grim picture of what the future holds.

Even just the projected 20 inches of sea level rise, taking into account existing coastal protections, shows Tweed runways under water, in Climate Centrals map.

Add in factors such as moderate flooding and potential storm surge, and almost the entire airport is underwater by 2050, according to the group.

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ODonnell concedes, however, that development in flood zones, like the one where Tweed sits and the one along Long Wharf that extends inland through the New Haven rail yards to the train station, occurs all over the state. Shoreline properties with their views and waterfront access still command high property tax rates that cities and towns are loathe to forgo despite their vulnerability and repeated post-storm cleanup costs.

East Lyme (Rick Hartford)

New Havens economic development administrator, Michael Piscitelli, is clear about the citys priorities: From an economic development perspective, we have learned over the years, in terms of moving forward on a global economic competitiveness of our city, that access to high quality and convenient air travel is very important both to people who are here now and people who are looking at our region.

Piscitelli said everyone  from city officials to folks in the business community to those at Yale  agrees. All point to the need for a much higher quality and more reliable level of scheduled air service in our region, he said.

The only commercial service so far in the initial expansion ramp-up is a startup discount airline, Avelo, with routes to Florida vacation destinations.

But the goal of more reliable service raises one obvious question: How reliable is an airport that finds itself  not infrequently  under water?

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No one on the city side or the airport side has any intention of looking away from that science. Were working with an existing asset, investing in it to the point that we can make it resilient, Piscitelli said. The Elsa storm is a good indicator of what we need to plan for going forward  more intense rain events over short durations of time. Its as equally a threat and a concern to our city as maybe some of the larger coastal storms.

State Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, who became executive director of the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority a little over two years ago, agrees that resiliency, not retreat, is the goal.

That was never an option, Scanlon said. Because why do anything in the state of Connecticut or even with the shoreline? Were not just going to give up and walk away.

Scanlon said precautions are being taken in the master plan to account for climate change impacts, but there are still questions about whether those precautions and the changes planned for Tweed are worth the cost, will accomplish the job, and last in the face of worsening sea level rise and other climate change impacts.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, talks about the jobs that will be created from the expansion at Tweed. At right, is U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and airport executive director Sean Scanlon. At left is New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. (Kenneth R. Gosselin / Hartford Courant)

For some, the answer to those questions is no.

The Tweed landscape

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Tweed has been around since 1931. It sits in the middle of a neighborhood, crammed along with tightly-packed modest homes onto a spit of what was once salt marsh and wetlands at the edge of Long Island Sound. Its more or less a peninsula between New Haven Harbor and the Farm River mouth that separates East Haven and Branford. Tuttle Brook and Morris Creek run through it. Part is New Haven; part is East Haven.

The airport sits in the low point  basically a bowl  that collects water. It flows in from all directions  from the Sound during storms or due to sea level rise, and from rain  much of it inland runoff from the kind of intense storms Connecticut experienced last summer.

Its almost impossible to get rid of both types of water at once.

There are tide gates not far from the southern-most shore. They predate the airport and were last replaced about a dozen years ago. When theyre open, the water from the massive kinds of runoff that occurred in Elsa and Ida can flow out into Long Island Sound. When theyre closed, they keep high water from the Sound from coming in. But that means runoff cant get out, so inland floodwater will stay pooled at the airport and elsewhere. And if its a really big storm  with surges that overtop the gates  all bets are off.

It is a challenging place to have an airport, said Brian Thompson, director of land and water resources at the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Its not an ideal location.

That has not gone unnoticed by the Federal Aviation Administration, which has the final say on what can be built where. In a 2002 decision authorizing runway safety area and taxiway upgrades to bring them up to federal standards, the FAA noted that the required environmental impact statement showed the changes would result in unavoidable adverse impact to coastal resources that included tidal and freshwater wetlands.

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Wetlands are the natural sponges that soak up excess water and often prevent or mitigate flooding. Many have been lost to development in and around Tweed.

The FAA went on to say that there were no practicable alternatives that avoided wetland impacts or encroaching on the floodplain. And it called the plan it was approving the least environmentally damaging practical alternative.

Opponents of Tweeds expansion worry the new master plan could be another round of least damaging and that, short of turning the airport back to nature, theres no way to prevent an environmental impact.

Probably not, said Chris Kelly, a legal fellow with the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound, when asked this question. The answer to climate change isnt always retreat. But smart planning also requires that you dont just pave over all the land that you have.

Paving more of Tweed or even changing whats paved and what isnt, he said, may mean more of the neighborhood could flood.

In this file photo, Tweed New Haven Airport in 2019 (Patrick Raycraft/Hartford Courant)

New Haven officials often say its better to have the water pooling on airport property instead of peoples homes and the streets around them.

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As soon as theres any storm surge at high tide, no water is getting out of the neighborhood back into the water (of Long Island Sound), Giovanni Zinn, New Havens city engineer told the Connecticut Mirror in 2019. So water has to go somewhere. In this case it goes into the airport.

But the water more and more is winding up in roads and homes too. Last summer, residents documented flooding not only on East Havens primary evacuation route  which is a regular occurrence  but also along roads closer to the airport that are likely to be access roads for the new terminal planned for the East Haven side.

In the past, East Haven mayors have fought the expansion of Tweed. But Mayor Joseph Carfora has been quoted as saying the concerns of his community have been addressed, and he was among the many local, state and federal politicians  including both U.S. senators, who consider themselves environmental champions  supporting the airport expansion plans when they were first announced in May.

Ray Baldwin, East Havens economic development director, noted that there are still many layers of approval  including some from East Haven  before any runway expansion or terminal relocation can proceed. The mayor has always said right along this is not a done deal, by any means, Baldwin said. He said the mayor has consistently said whatever happens, hes going to fight to get the best deal for the people of East Haven.

Baldwin said flood mitigation is a key environmental concern for East Haven, just as it is for New Haven.

Flooding, flooding, flooding, water streaming across the roads, said Rachel Heerema, a key organizer of local opposition, who lives on the New Haven side. She moved there in 2012 and days later had to evacuate in advance of storm Sandy. Ive had water in my basement, the roads have flooded. I think not only is the issue that flooding happens, right in this area, its that we are definitely in climate disorder. Its here and its now and its happening, and we are having tropical storms more than we did.

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Zinn, who lives just beyond the northern end of Tweeds main runway, said what happened during last summers storms was a validation of some of the hydrology.

The airport does act as a reservoir, if you will, for stormwater during these big storm and rain events, he said.

But he admitted a few of the lowest spots of the neighborhood did have standing water until the tides went out. The best plan, he said, would be to use the airport to protect the surrounding neighborhood from stormwater and create resiliency. To that end, Zinn said, the city has asked the airport authority to increase the stormwater retention capability on the site a little. Not a life-changing amount, he said.

Quite frankly, Id much rather be flooding an airport than flooding peoples homes. One is a nuisance for a few hours for travelers. The other one is someones house.

But climate change predictions point to conditions experienced last summer becoming even worse. And some fear the airport expansion plans may make it worse yet as areas that are now grassy are paved, roads are re-routed and the terminal is moved, possibly displacing existing wetlands.

The plan calls for a 2-to-1 replacement of wetlands that are destroyed. But the compounding effect of doing any or all of these on the existing ecosystem really isnt known. Nor is how much excess water runways and other airport facilities can withstand before they degrade and become a danger or safety risk.

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Everyone is worried about climate change. Everyone is interested in us being more resilient, but were not going to give up our way of life simply because of something thats happening. We have to adapt, Scanlon said. We will take a look at the issues that are affecting everybody, not just our airport, and figure out how they can be adapted.

Plans and battles

Talk of expanding Tweed has gone on for years, if not decades, as commercial carriers and flights have come and gone in seemingly never-ending cycles. At times, only general aviation has operated there.

Neighbors have fought expansion throughout, most often citing a litany of longstanding concerns, many of them environmental: noise, pollution, traffic  the kinds of concerns that come up around any airport.

But in this latest skirmish, which has expanded to a wider circle of residents, flooding and climate are more of a focus. Opponents have coalesced under a new group  10,000 Hawks, signifying the raptors that migrate over Tweed every fall. They are among a dozen on more species that could be at risk from changes to the area as documented less than a decade ago.

Some worry repeated floods will wash residue from chemicals used to control overgrowth near the runways as well as sewage overflow from storms onto their properties and elsewhere.

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Theres concern that the wetlands and marsh  both salt and freshwater  are so diminished and overburdened by the repeated rounds of flooding that they will no longer be able to adequately do what theyre supposed to  soak up excess water.

We all have access to the information on climate crisis. We all have access to the information on how to mitigate the damage. And we have government officials both at the state level and even federal, even Chris Murphy, who should know better, supporting this, said Gabriela Campos, who lives on the New Haven side of Tweed. It doesnt just affect the immediate area. It affects the entire region.

The expansion master plan anticipates a significant increase in commercial air service, extension of the runway at both ends and a larger four-to-six-gate terminal to be located on the East Haven side of the runway. The existing terminal has been on the New Haven side for decades.

The new plans for management and financing of Tweed are also very different from previous iterations.

Tweed is owned by the city of New Haven, which leases it to the airport authority, which in turn hires a private company to run it. That company is Avports, which has managed Tweed for a couple of decades. In 2018, Avports was acquired by West Street Infrastructure Partners III, an arm of Goldman Sachs.

But it may have been a move  or more accurately, a non-move  by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020 that paved the way for the current situation. In choosing not to hear an appeal, the high court ended a 10-year dispute over whether the state had authority to limit the size of the runway at Tweed. The final answer was it doesnt. And so an expansion master plan moved forward in earnest.

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The financial changes switch the airport to a private funding model. In a couple of years, New Haven will be off the hook for the annual $325,000 operating subsidy it had been paying to the airport authority. It will no longer have to supply the match for federal grants. Avports will do that.

The airport expansion, anticipated to cost about $100 million, will be privately funded by Avports, as well as with funds from the FAA, already in use for the master plan and an environmental assessment, just getting underway. The FAA will likely pay for the runway component.

Because of the federal component, the project will need to comply with guidelines under the National Environmental Policy Act  NEPA. But because no state money is involved, a state flood management certificate will not be needed.

Its not clear yet what state oversight will kick in, but officials at DEEP said most likely the state role will include water quality certification and issuing federal permits such as a stormwater permit for construction and an industrial stormwater permit, if needed.

The state will be able to comment throughout and look at other environmental impacts, such as on wildlife. And it will be able to ensure work is in compliance with state programs and mandates.

As for issues likely to come up, Certainly flooding is going to be a biggie, said Fred Riese, senior environmental analyst in DEEPs Office of Environmental Review, who acknowledged the project is likely to face political pressures in addition to environmental ones.

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Riese said the state would likely be looking at the change in whats paved and what isnt, what might happen to runoff and drainage rates as well as water quality as a result of any changes, and increases in storms and rainfall intensities.

The Airport Authority has recently named a project advisory committee that includes one resident each from New Haven and East Haven, New Havens Zinn, Baldwin from East Haven, ODonnell of CIRCA, Kelly of Save the Sound and someone from the FAA.

As part of the overall expansion and 43-year lease approved by the New Haven Board of Alders in September, there will also be an environmental stewardship advisory committee consisting of three members each from New Haven and East Haven. The mayors have not made their selections yet. The lease is not final, but one component is that after it ends, New Haven takes back control of the airport. The current lease runs out in 2023.

The idea that we can have a predictable [plan]  lets look out 40 years and make a plan for a coastal floodplain  its really laughable, Heerema said. Its like were going to make a plan on how climate disorder is going to impact this area. And while were making this plan, the plan is actually going to make it worse. Pave more. Pollute more. Its doubling down on the problem.

Kelly of Save the Sound said he couldnt imagine a scenario where 43 years from now the city would be able to do anything with that land if officials are not planning carefully now for the expected climate change impacts.

Im trying to see the value of digging in where there isnt a future, and I dont see it, he said.

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CIRCAs ODonnell said: Its a complicated region, thats for sure. Its existence is tied to the fact that it gets flooded on a regular basis, like all other salt marshes. So its just going to get flooded more frequently as sea level rises. And if you stop flooding in a marsh, the marsh dies, and so you cant do that.

If the marsh dies or is removed, it would mean there would be no natural means to moderate the effects of climate change, though ODonnell points out there are limits to what can be done. A catastrophic hurricane, for example, cant be protected against. Theres basically nothing we can do about those in Connecticut.

He and others have suggested that elevating the runways might be necessary at some point. But that would lessen, if not eliminate, the bowl function the airport provides now, and the surrounding neighborhood would certainly flood. Hes suggested better tide gates but also points out that as with elevating the runways, every mitigating action is likely to set off reactions that may be less desirable.

The rest of New Havens shoreline

As if dealing with the expansion of Tweed isnt enough, New Haven is also facing a reckoning for its entire coast because of climate change.

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The next battle seems to be plans for two large waterfront apartment buildings at the northern end of Long Wharf.

Elsa and the other storms this summer inundated the Long Wharf area. Union Avenue in front of the New Haven train station and police headquarters (at the intersection of the appropriately named Water Street) was impassable. That area, all the way out to the harbor, was once harbor itself  and is now low-lying fill that includes I-95 and the rail yards, both of which flood regularly.

The city and state have chosen to double-down on investment there anyway, infusing money into the rail facilities and the Long Wharf Responsible Growth Plan, an updated version of a renewal and redevelopment plan first conceived of in the early 1980s. A small amount of what was originally envisioned has been built, though reconnecting the waterfront side of the highway and train tracks with the rest of the city has not.

Since then the area has flooded repeatedly. After Irene and Sandy in 2011 and 2012, plans for so-called living shorelines were put in motion at Long Wharf and the East Shore Park in Morris Cove, which was also battered in both storms.

Living shorelines use natural-style constructions such as dunes, slopes and marsh grasses to temper the impact of water. But there are limits to what they can accomplish. New Havens theoretically will moderate wave action and in turn the erosion it causes. But they cant temper sea level rise. And they are of no use for inland flooding runoff  and in fact can make things worse by not letting water out. In large violent storms, waves can easily over-top them.

Theyre not intended to do anything for that, city engineer Zinn conceded. Were looking at really a layered approach in New Haven.

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He said one layer would be natural systems like the living shorelines and the hundreds of bioswales installed around the city to soak up a little excess water and prevent it from becoming runoff. New development would also be required for industrial scale runoff systems, including some way to hold excess water until it can be removed without flooding buildings and streets. The city is considering building new pipe under the railyards into the harbor to help get rid of flood waters.

Another component the city is counting on is its selection by the Army Corps of Engineers for a floodwall project along the highway at Long Wharf, and a large pump station. The concept and selection have been underway for a number of years. The Corps, which is also involved in the living shorelines, declined to discuss the project, only providing material already on its website.

Zinn expects work on the East Shore shoreline to begin in the first half of this year. The two together are expected to cost about $8 million.

While not a development issue, an item added to the citys shoreline headaches are two federal lawsuits filed by the Conservation Law Foundation over some of the massive petroleum product tanks on the water at the port of New Haven.

Just two days before Elsa hit, CLF sued Gulf and Shell, contending they have not prepared properly for the flooding and extreme weather that is now more prevalent due to climate change. Gulf has 13 acres containing 16 tanks at or below sea level. Shell has 39 tanks on 38 acres.

Even a Category 1 hurricane could inundate the area and damage tanks filled with petroleum products, CLF alleges. CLF has filed similar suits in the Boston area and Rhode Island.

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But already making figurative waves are the two apartment buildings  up to 500 units total  proposed by Fusco Development Corporation as part of the redevelopment of Long Wharf.

The site is a high-density flood zone in an area already prone to flooding  which means it will likely get even worse  that DEEP designated for water-dependent use under the Connecticut Coastal Management Act. That means something like a marina or ferry service.

But in November, the Board of Alders approved a zoning change to allow for the apartment buildings, inaccurately claiming DEEP had found the plan consistent with the CCMA. DEEP had not.

The department, in fact, filed a letter reiterating that the development district is located within Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) special flood hazard zones. Sea level rise and other effects of climate change will increase the Districts coastal flood risk and associated damages, loss, and disruption.

The letter further noted that sea level rise will increase the probability of future flooding in the area and that the Long Wharf area has at least a 50% chance of flooding in any given year and local data from the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) at the University of Connecticut that predicts a 50% to 20% chance that some or all of the District will be flooded by storm surge and wave action in any given year.

And it provided maps showing the risk.

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We raised concerns about coastal hazards putting residential development in an area that is vulnerable, prone to flooding and exposed to wave action, said DEEPs Thompson, whose signature is on the letter.

The alders ignored him. But the project faces a long regulatory road.

They will come back to us with a site-specific coastal site plan review. So a more detailed plan for the development of the site, Thompson said. We review and comment on it. And their comments go back to the city, and they make the decision.

But they could very well ignore DEEP then too.

The site faces the same kinds of forces as Tweed: saltwater incursion, freshwater runoff, wave action and sea level rise, all moving in different directions.

Its really a planning and engineering challenge to manage all that. I think the Long Wharf area is probably a really good example of where those forces meet, Thompson said.

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But because conditions are changing so dramatically and so quickly, planners cant rely on old trends and patterns. New models need to be developed.

Thompson said he thinks the various factors can be addressed. But, he said, I think there needs to be a lot of assessment and potentially some hard decisions on what to do.

Dave Anderson, the lands campaign manager for Save the Sound, who has years of experience doing municipal planning on the Connecticut shoreline, also filed a letter with the Board of Alderman expressing concerns about the apartment buildings.

DEEP actually does have the ability to take legal action if the local boards and commissions are not actually enforcing the provisions of the (Connecticut Coastal Management) Act, he said. I think probably DEEP needs to take the lead on identifying priority water-dependent use sites on the shoreline and have a stronger regulatory control of how those sites get developed.

But on the matter of Long Wharf  as with Tweed  New Haven remains committed to the economic development necessity.

The preservation focus of Long Wharf has to be front and center, said Economic Development Administrator Piscitelli. We have 5,000 jobs in this district. We have the Interstate 95 corridor, and we have the rail yard. And when you pull the lens back and you look at New England relative to the United States, its much more plainly evident how important this corridor is.

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The absence of a strong resilient strategy here exposes this corridor and truly complicates the movement of goods, people, services to our entire region.

But he pushes back against the often-raised distinction between protecting whats already there and putting more infrastructure in harms way.

The Amistad America is seen at the Long Wharf Pier in New Haven in June 2007. It's a replica of the original ship that was commandeered by its African captives in 1839. ( Hartford Courant)

Fred Muoio fishes with his 4-year-old dog, Chino, at the Long Wharf Pier Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in New Haven. "He loves to fish," Muoio said of Chino, who he takes out with him on his fishing adventures. (Kassi Jackson/The Hartford Courant)

I think its an overreach to say its putting people in harms way. There is a significant resiliency strategy associated with that development, he said. This is a very important moment for public governance to identify and then fund resilient strategies, where theyre most needed.
Netflixs Singles Inferno contestants have gained considerable fame after the dating shows finale. Female contestant Song Ji-a captured audiences attention with her looks, dynamic storyline, and luxurious designer outfits. But Singles Inferno Ji-a found herself in hot water when she issued an apology for wearing fake designer items like Prada, Chanel, and more.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains mild spoilers for Singles Inferno.]

Song Ji-a from Singles Inferno wearing pink Chanel sweater | via Netflix

Song Ji-a had the most complex story on Singles Inferno

Out of the male and female contestants deserted on the island, Ji-a developed a more interesting storyline throughout the nine days. She immediately caught the attention of Choi Si-hun and Kim Hyeon-joong. During her bio interview, Ji-a claimed she liked tall men but later admitted the male contestants on the island were not her type.

But she found a spark with Hyeon-joong, who she liked most of all. Despite Si-huns constant tactics to get her interested, Hyeon-joong and Ji-a formed a bond on Singles Inferno. The show later introduced a new male contest Cha Hyun-seung.

The drama got intense when it was revealed that Hyeon-joong and Hyun-seung know each other in real life. Hyun-seung also knew of Ji-a. Singles Inferno shifted to the tension between the three contestants as Ji-a had to choose her final partner to leave Inferno with.

Song Ji-a wrote an apology letter to fans on social media regarding her fake luxury items on Singles Inferno

RELATED: Singles Inferno: Why Song Ji-a Chose (Spoiler) in the Shows Finale

One aspect of Ji-a that fans gravitated toward was her impressive style and abundance of luxury brands. Throughout Singles Inferno, Ji-as sported a pink and white knit Chanel sweater, a pink furry Prada bag, and other name-brand clothing items.

As a beauty content creator and influencer, Ji-a often posted the same luxury items and others on her Instagram and Youtube. But the contestants faced backlash when fans noticed her knit Chanel sweater was fake. According to Daily Mail, fans soon realized luxury items on her social media accounts were dupes.

Ji-a posted a handwritten apology letter on Instagram over the scandal. She apologized to fans who were hurt over the news of her using fake designer items. Singles Inferno Ji-a admits the allegations are true.

I apologize once again for any situation caused by the infringement of the designers creations and ignorance of copyright. As a person with a dream of launching a brand, I will seriously recognize the controversy and reflect deeply. All content with exposed fakes has been deleted. I also apologize to the brands who were harmed because of me, wrote Ji-a.

Since her time on the show, Ji-a has received an influx of followers on her social media and Youtube channel. She has also attended luxury brand events like Yves Saint Laurent and promoted makeup and skincare.

Netflixs Korean dating reality show put a spotlight on its contestants

RELATED: Singles Inferno: Will There Be a Season 2 of Netflixs Korean Dating Reality Show?

Ji-a is not the only contestant under a microscope. Since the Singles Inferno finale, fans have dug deep into the contestants lives to know more about them and whether or not the couples are still dating. Fans uncovered Kan So-yeon was once a K-Pop idol in a co-ed group during the 2000s.

The use of certain emojis by Oh Jin-taek has also landed the male contestant under scrutiny. Fans noticed he often used the darkest skin tone emoji available for numerous posts. It has led to an in-depth discussion regarding race and accepted skin tone in South Korea.
For electric vehicles (EVs) to become mainstream, they need cost-effective, safer, longer-lasting batteries that wont explode during use or harm the environment. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology may have found a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries made from a common material: rubber.

Elastomers, or synthetic rubbers, are widely used in consumer products and advanced technologies such as wearable electronics and soft robotics because of their superior mechanical properties. The researchers found that the material, when formulated into a 3D structure, acted as a superhighway for fast lithium-ion transport with superior mechanical toughness, resulting in longer charging batteries that can go farther. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, was published in the journal Nature.

In conventional lithium-ion batteries, ions are moved by a liquid electrolyte. However, the battery is inherently unstable: even the slightest damage can leak into the electrolyte, leading to explosion or fire. The safety issues have forced the industry to look at solid-state batteries, which can be made using inorganic ceramic material or organic polymers.

Most of the industry is focusing on building inorganic solid-state electrolytes. But they are hard to make, expensive and are not environmentally friendly, said Seung Woo Lee, associate professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, who is part of a team of researchers who have uncovered a rubber-based organic polymer superior to other materials. Solid polymer electrolytes continue to attract great interest because of their low manufacturing cost, non-toxicity and soft nature. However, conventional polymer electrolytes do not have sufficient ionic conductivity and mechanical stability for reliable operation of solid-state batteries.

Novel 3D Design Leads to Jump in Energy Density, Performance

Georgia Tech engineers have solved common problems (slow lithium-ion transport and poor mechanical properties) using the rubber electrolytes. The key breakthrough was allowing the material to form a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected plastic crystal phase within the robust rubber matrix. This unique structure has resulted in high ionic conductivity, superior mechanical properties and electrochemical stability.

This rubber electrolyte can be made using a simple polymerization process at low temperature conditions, generating robust and smooth interfaces on the surface of electrodes. These unique characteristics of the rubber electrolytes prevent lithium dendrite growth and allow for faster moving ions, enabling reliable operation of solid-state batteries even at room temperature.

Rubber has been used everywhere because of its high mechanical properties, and it will allow us to make cheap, more reliable and safer batteries, said Lee.

Higher ionic conductivity means you can move more ions at the same time, said Michael Lee, a mechanical engineering graduate researcher. By increasing specific energy and energy density of these batteries, you can increase the mileage of the EV.

The researchers are now looking at ways to improve the battery performance by increasing its cycle time and decreasing the charging time through even better ionic conductivity. So far, their efforts have seen a two-time improvement in the battery's performance / cycle time.

The work could enhance Georgias reputation as a center for EV innovation. SK Innovation, a global energy and petrochemical company, is funding additional research of the electrolyte material as part of its ongoing collaboration with the Institute to build next-generation solid-state batteries that are safer and more energy dense than conventional LI-ion batteries. SK Innovation recently announced construction of a new EV battery plant in Commerce, Georgia, expected to produce an annual volume of lithium-ion batteries equal to 21.5 Gigawatt-hours by 2023.

All-solid-state batteries can dramatically increase the mileage and safety of electric vehicles. Fast-growing battery companies, including SK Innovation, believe that commercializing all-solid-state batteries will become a game changer in the electric vehicle market, said Kyounghwan Choi, director of SK Innovations next-generation battery research center. Through the ongoing project in collaboration with SK Innovation and Professor Seung Woo Lee of Georgia Tech, there are high expectations for rapid application and commercialization of all-solid-state batteries."
Cheshires Senior Services Department will be adding a new handicapped accessible bus to their fleet this year, thanks to the Connecticut Department of Transportation Capital Assistance Grant. Cheshire will receive $80,000 to purchase a new vehicle.

The program is part of the larger state DOT capital plan to assist communities with upgrades across all modes of transportation. The $80,000 will cover the entire cost of the new wheelchair-accessible vehicle, and allow for the Town to retire an older bus and possibly resell it for auction or use as needed.

We currently own it, so there is no returning of the vehicle or anything. Its ours to do with what we want, Town Manager Sean Kimball told the Council during a Dec. 14 meeting. There has been some discussion in the past where the Police Department was looking to possibly use one of the vans at one point, but I dont think thats (going to happen). I am not 100% sure whats going to happen to the oldest (vehicle), but the three newest ones will be in service for the town.

Currently, the Town has three buses that are used by the Senior Center, all of which, including the new one, are wheelchair-accessible The Center utilizes the buses for a variety of tasks such as driving residents to medical appointments, transporting program participants to and from the Senior Center, and for the many events the Center holds annually.

We will bring residents to appointments from everything to basic medical appointments to daily grocery trips, Michelle Piccerillo, director of Human Services, told The Herald. Anything that might consist of regular daily life, we aim to help wherever necessary.

The buses have also been helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The buses are also doing deliveries for the Food Pantry to residents and (the buses will pick up) donated food as well, Piccerillo added.

While the buses are in high demand, Piccerillo mentioned that Cheshire might not see the new addition until late spring due to the labor shortages exacerbated by the pandemic.

A lot of DOT workers are probably working from home right now, so we most likely wont see the new bus until the end of the spring, she said. We still have to choose the vehicle and get out our specific requirements for what we want.
There are three flagpoles outside Boston City Hall. One flies the United States flag. Another flies the Massachusetts state flag. What can  and cant  fly from the third is an issue that the Supreme Court considered during oral arguments on Jan 18.

The case, Shurtleff v. Boston, addresses whether the city violated the First Amendment by denying a request to temporarily raise the Christian flag on a flagpole outside City Hall, where Boston has temporarily displayed many secular organizations flags.

During oral arguments, the justices and the parties agreed that if the flagpole is a public forum open to all comers, then the city of Boston would be unable to deny a request to temporarily raise a religious flag, like the Christian flag.

The key question in the case then is this: is the third flagpole a public forum open to all comers or is it government speech?

To answer this question, the courts decision, which will be handed down later this term, will likely clarify one or more free speech doctrines that I study in my work on free speech and the First Amendment. Such clarification of the courts free speech doctrine would likely impact how courts nationwide interpret the First Amendments guarantees.

Case background

Boston permits groups to request that a flag temporarily fly alongside the American and Massachusetts flags at City Hall to mark special occasions, replacing the city flag that usually occupies the third post. Past examples include flag requests from the Chinese Progressive Association and the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.

In 2017, Camp Constitution, a New Hampshire-based organization, requested to fly the Christian flag, which has a cross in the upper left corner and was designed by a Sunday school teacher and a missionary executive in the late 1800s. Today, some Protestant denominations display the flag inside their churches.

Camp Constitution asked to fly the flag as part of a planned event to celebrate the civic contributions of Bostons Christian community. The organization says its mission is to enhance understanding of our Judeo-Christian moral heritage, our American heritage of courage and ingenuity, including the genius of our United States Constitution, and the application of free enterprise.

Boston denied the request. The city cited concerns that raising the Christian flag at Boston City Hall would violate the First Amendments establishment clause, which bars the government from promoting particular religions over others. After making a second request, which Boston also denied, Camp Constitution sued.

A federal district court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Boston on the grounds that flying a flag on the third flagpole was government speech, not private speech  and therefore the city was entitled to refuse to fly the Christian flag on its flagpole.

Camp Constitution appealed to the Supreme Court, which granted review.

The cases outcome will likely hinge on the Supreme Courts determination of whose views are represented by the flagpole outside City Hall: the private organization whose flag is temporarily flying, or the government. In other words, this case is about who is speaking when that flag goes up, and whose free speech rights are protected.

If the court determines that Camp Constitution is speaking, then a framework the court has developed, known as the public forum doctrine, will apply. This would likely result in a ruling favoring Camp Constitution.

If the court determines that the city of Boston is speaking, then the courts government speech doctrine will apply. This would likely result in a ruling favoring Boston.

Article continues below

Public forum doctrine

Federal, state and local governments oversee a wide variety of public spaces, such as parks, universities and courthouses, just to name a few. These areas serve different functions, some of which require more regulation of speech than others.

The Supreme Court has organized government spaces into several categories, each of which permits different types of restrictions on free speech. This set of categories and permitted restrictions is referred to as the public forum doctrine.

Spaces like public parks and sidewalks are considered public forums, the category that permits the fewest restrictions on speech. In a public forum, a government can never restrict speech based on viewpoint  specific positions on a topic  and is severely limited as to when it can restrict speech based on content  a given topic.

Normally, a flagpole outside a city hall would not be considered a public forum. However, the Supreme Court also recognizes a separate category, designated public forums, which are spaces the government converts into public forums. In a designated public forum, free speech regulation is limited in the same way it would be in a public forum.

In Shurtleff v. Boston, both parties agree that the area surrounding the flagpole is a public forum. But they disagree over whether the flagpole itself is a designated public forum. Camp Constitution argues that Boston has turned the flagpole into a designated public forum by allowing other groups to fly their flags there. Meanwhile, Boston argues that it has not, because the city retained control by permitting limited types of groups to raise their flags.

Camp Constitution notes that Boston previously approved 284 requests to raise other flags, and that there is no record of a prior request being denied.

But Boston counters that none of those previous requests were for religious flags. The city argues that only two types of flags have been permitted: flags representing territories, nations and ethnicities, and flags associated with publicly recognized days of observance, such as Veterans Day and LGBTQ Pride Month. Boston argues that such limited categories of approval are not what one would expect in a designated public forum, and that this is evidence that Boston has not turned its flagpole into a designated public forum.

Government speech doctrine

Over 30 years ago, in Rust v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court recognized that the government itself is a speaker with First Amendment rights  an idea known as the government speech doctrine. Government speech is not subject to the public forum doctrine. Instead, the government has much greater discretion in deciding which messages it endorses.

Boston argues that raising a flag on the third flagpole at City Hall is government speech and therefore the city has the right to determine what views it wants to express on its flagpole. Camp Constitution disagrees, maintaining that the flagpole is a designated public forum and therefore few restraints on private groups free speech are allowed on the flagpole.

Both parties arguments rely on competing interpretations of the government speech doctrine put forward by the Supreme Court in two cases, Pleasant Grove v. Summum and Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

In 2009, the Supreme Court held in Pleasant Grove v. Summum that the permanent monuments in a park owned and operated by the town were government speech. The Supreme Courts unanimous decision allowed the town to deny a request from a small religious group, Summum, to install a permanent monument expressing its beliefs, even though the park had previously accepted a monument of the Ten Commandments.

In 2015, the Supreme Court held in Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans that license plates were government speech. This permitted Texas to deny a request for a specialty license plate featuring the Confederate flag, even though Texas offered a wide range of other specialty plates. Unlike Pleasant Grove v. Summum, this case was decided by a slim 5-4 majority.

Shurtleff v. Boston will likely require the court to further clarify the government speech doctrine. The central issue is this: When another flag temporarily replaces Bostons own, who is speaking?

Mark Satta is assistant professor of philosophy at Wayne State University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article, which was first published on January 6 and updated on January 18.
Houston Northwest Church suffered heavy damage from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. By the time its flooded facilities were finally rebuilt a couple years ago, the congregation was only back at full capacity for six weeks before services were shut down by the pandemic.

As the church endured one setback after another, senior pastor Steve Bezner has seen the flock ebb and flow.

About a third of our congregation worshiping in person are new faces, he said.

His church currently draws 1,600 attendees each week, including several hundred viewing onlinenot far from its pre-pandemic weekly average of 1,700. Bezner marvels at the number of members who left during the pandemic and the number of new people who have showed up to take their place.

It will make you believe in the preservation of the Holy Spirit, the Houston pastor said.

Member turnover is as common to the life cycle of a church as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. But the pandemic has accelerated peoples comings and goings and has required new strategies to welcome and assimilate new members into the church community. These tasks have been complicated by evolving COVID-19 precautions and the challenge of identifying who still belongs to the church, when many continue to worship online.

Not gathering stirred up these questions, said Steve Smith, executive pastor of Highpoint Church in Naperville, Illinois. The gospel hasnt changed, and we will always be Bible-centric, but how we engage people is changing.

COVID-19 has propelled people toward life change of all kinds over the past two years, including career shifts, new relationships, and relocation. Some changes have been out of necessity and some out of new priorities; Pew found three-quarters of have seen some positive impact from the pandemic.

This has played out with church choices as well. For those who were already struggling with their church, the pandemic served as a catalyst to begin exploring other congregations. One Atlanta churchgoer said the pandemic pushed her toward change after navigating difficult social dynamics within her young adult group.

I decided to start fresh somewhere else, said Elisa Hoover, 27. It was easier to visit other churches during the pandemic, and my absence was less noted in my churchs tight-knit community.

For many people, the sustained isolation of the pandemic heightened their desire for connection and spiritual community.

Many new attendees to Houston Northwest Church came from a large apartment complex across the street that houses mostly single adults. They felt the psychological pressure of loneliness and wanted to check it out, Bezner said. They wanted to discover who God is.

This desire for connection and spiritual grounding transcended demographics, affecting everyone from singles living alone to parents with young children to parishioners who lived too far from their church to be deeply engaged.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Dylan Parker and his wife realized they lived too far from their Arkansas church to be as invested as they would like.

Until the pandemic slowed us down, we didnt realize the toll it took on us to live life across multiple cities, he said. They began looking for a church closer to home, but soon learned that he was accepted into a PhD program at Fuller Theological Seminary and would be moving to California. Parker and his wife now live within walking distance of their church and many of its members.

We already feel like we have closer and stronger community here than in Arkansas, said Parker.

The father of two also values his new churchs approach to handling challenging issues that emerged during the pandemic, including social justice. Though he says he would not have changed churches for this reason alone, he acknowledges his California church is a better fit.

My previous church was not allowing space to have conversations I wanted to have on social justice, he said. I have reached a place in my life where I needed space to answer those questions.

Navigating a challenging landscape

It is impossible to analyze the topic of church switching during the pandemic without acknowledging the backdrop of national polarization on issues ranging from masking and vaccination to racial tension to politics. Frequently, pastors have felt ill-equipped to address these issues in ways that satisfy members representing a wide spectrum of viewpoints.

Bezner describes the turbulence of the last two years as compounded national trauma that has caused decision fatigue in pastors.

Controversial decisions, made under heightened scrutiny, could be what prompts certain attendees to reevaluate church fit.

It used to be a quieter thing, but now groups leave together and its louder than it used to be, said Smith at Highpoint in Illinois.

Churches are often losing the back row, with those who were highly involved becoming even more involved during the course of the pandemic, those who were moderately involved holding steady, and many of the less engaged attendees falling away.

Were seeing that the people who came 8 or 12 times a year have stopped attending, said Smith. Their spiritual muscle atrophied.

Across Highpoints seven locations, the nondenominational church saw few of these people re-engage despite a robust communication campaign led by church leaders and volunteers.

Offering virtual services is helpful during the pandemic, but makes it harder to account for members. The mix of people switching churches and worshiping online has created mystery around the true number of members who have exited church permanently.

Nearly all churches had reopened by last summer, with only three quarters of once-regular attendees back in the pews, Lifeway Research found.

Building deeper community

Anonymity is a big part of the American church landscape, said Len Tang, director of the Church Planting Initiative at Fuller Theological Seminary. But in smaller churches, you cant be anonymous.



In some ways, small churches and church plants have been better positioned to retain members during the pandemic. Tangs congregation, Missio Church in Pasadena, California, did not see much church switching during the pandemic.



People are usually loyal to the vision of a church plant and less likely to switch churches, he said. Lifeway also found that smaller churches rebounded more quickly than large ones.

Most small churches are still not back to pre-pandemic levels, but far more of them are reaching this point than larger churches, said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. Its possible small churches are aided by perceived safety of a naturally smaller gathering, differences in technology options for gathering online, or the strength of relational connections.

Churches big and small focused on small-group discipleship when in-person services were paused.

Churches that understood discipleship at their core could continue that mission, said Tang.

At Highpoint, pastors could no longer use Sunday attendance as a measure of church discipleship, so they adjusted their approach to leadership training. Instead of simply sharing discipleship methods, they focused on teaching leaders why discipleship is essential and how to engage people meaningfully.

We are trying to help them understand, How do you pull out of people their deeper struggles and longings as a part of spiritual formation? Smith said.

Down in Houston, Bezners church started hosting vision dinners in order to accommodate more people than their traditional new member classes.

Matt and Dara Osborn of Spring, Texas, recently attended one of these vision dinners to learn more about the churchs past and its hoped-for future.

Some churches are focused on rebuilding and others are sprinting forward, said Matt Osborn. Houston Northwest Church is sprinting forward. In this new era, reopening is like starting over.

Osborn believes this time of transition during the pandemic could be preparing the church for a new phase of growth ahead.He said, Maybe God is placing people where they need to be for his kingdom to grow in post-pandemic times.

[ This article is also available in Portugues, , and . ]
California drops Aztec prayers from ethnic studies curriculum after parents file suit

The California Department of Education said it's removing two religious chants to Aztec gods from its ethnic studies curriculum in response to a lawsuit filed by parents.

As part of a settlement in the lawsuit, the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education have voluntarily agreed to officially remove the prayers from the state-approved Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, according to the conservative legal firm Thomas More Society.

The curriculum included a section of Affirmation, Chants, and Energizers, including the In Lak Ech Affirmation, which invoked five Aztec deities. Although labeled as an affirmation, it addressed the deities both by name and by their traditional titles, recognized them as sources of power and knowledge, invoked their assistance, and gave thanks to them.

The Aztec prayers at issue  which seek blessings from and the intercession of these demonic forces  were not being taught as poetry or history, said Paul Jonna, partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP and Thomas More Society Special Counsel, in a statement shared with The Christian Post.

Rather, the ESMC instructed students to chant the prayers for emotional nourishment after a lesson that may be emotionally taxing or even when student engagement may appear to be low. The idea was to use them as prayers.

Jonna explained in a statement after filing the lawsuit that the Aztecs regularly performed gruesome and horrific acts for the sole purpose of pacifying and appeasing the very beings that the prayers from the curriculum invoke.

He added: The human sacrifice, cutting out of human hearts, flaying of victims and wearing their skin, are a matter of historical record, along with sacrifices of war prisoners, and other repulsive acts and ceremonies the Aztecs conducted to honor their deities. Any form of prayer and glorification of these bloodthirsty beings in whose name horrible atrocities were performed is repulsive to any reasonably informed observer.

While the state has now officially removed the prayers, it continues to dispute any and all liability, says the Thomas More Society, which filed the lawsuit last September on behalf of the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, individual taxpayers and parents of current and former students.

The ESMC was adopted last May, making California the first state in the nation to offer a statewide ethnic studies model for educators, the board said at the time, according to The Epoch Times.

Even after the removal of the Aztec prayers, the curriculum remains deeply rooted in Critical Race Theory (CRT) and critical pedagogy, with a race-based lens and an oppressor-victim dichotomy, Thomas More Society said.

The legal firm said earlier that the curriculum also includes the Ashe Prayer from the Yoruba religion  an ancient philosophical concept that is the root of many pagan religions, including Santeria and Haitian Vodou or voodoo.

The co-chair of the curriculum, R. Tolteka Cuauhtin, developed much of the material cited throughout the lessons, in which Christians, specifically those of European ancestry, are viewed as the source of evil to be resisted and overthrown.

White Christians are guilty of theocide against indigenous tribes, the killing of their deities and replacing them with the Christian faith, Cuauhtin argues in a chart.

The ultimate goal, according to Cuauhtin, is to engineer a countergenocide against whites, investigative journalist Christopher Rufo wrote about the issue in City-Journal last March.

Frank Xu, president of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, said the settlement still gives him hope.

We are encouraged by this important, hard-fought victory, Xu said in a statement. Our state has simply gone too far in attempts to promote fringe ideologies and racial grievance policies, even those that disregard established constitutional principles. Endorsing religious chants in the state curriculum is one glaring example.

He added, To improve California public education, we need more people to stand up against preferential treatment programs and racial spoils. At both the state and local levels, we must work together to re-focus on true education!
U.S. braces for harsh weeks as Omicron surge has not yet peaked: Surgeon General

Xinhua) 15:02, January 18, 2022

A medical worker takes a nasal swab sample from a man for COVID-19 testing in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 13, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States is bracing for "tough weeks" ahead in many parts of the country as the Omicron surge has not yet peaked, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has warned.

In an interview with CNN, Murthy spoke of the good news of the plateaus and drops in known cases in the Northeast, especially in New York City and New Jersey, while noting that challenges remain ahead, The New York Times reported on Sunday.

Medical workers take nasal swab samples for COVID-19 testing in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 13, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

"The challenge is that the entire country is not moving at the same pace," he said, adding "we shouldn't expect a national peak in the coming days," the report said.

"We have seen incredible challenges in our health care network," Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told CBS in an interview as the Omicron variant had overwhelmed hospitals in his city. "It is a substantial concern."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Marilyn Mosby pleads her innocence at Baltimore church after indictment; pastor calls charges 'demonic attack'

Controversial Maryland prosecutor Marilyn Mosby spoke at a prominent Baltimore church on Sunday, where the pastor suggested that the felony charges slapped against her a few days earlier related to allegations she lied on financial documents are the work of Satan.

The 41-year-old Baltimore states attorney, who first gained notoriety in 2015 for prosecuting police officers in the death of African American Freddie Gray, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for perjury and making false statements on loan applications.

Mosby is accused of falsely reporting that she experienced adverse financial consequences due to the coronavirus pandemic when applying to make a one-time withdrawal from her retirement account.

Mosby had not experienced adverse financial consequences stemming from the Coronavirus as a result of being quarantined, furloughed or laid off or having reduced work hours or being unable to work due to lack of childcare or the closing or reduction of hours of a business I own or operate, the indictment states.

In fact, Mosbys gross salary in 2020 was $247,955.58, and it was never reduced. She received bi-weekly gross pay direct deposits in the amount of $9,183.54 in all the months leading up to her City of Baltimore Retirement Savings and Deferred Compensation Plans 457(b) Coronavirus-Related Distribution Request in May 2020. Rather than experiencing a reduction in income in 2020, Mosbys gross salary in 2020 increased over her gross salary in 2019, which was $238,772.04.

Mosby also faces charges for failing to report that she and her husband owed the Internal Revenue Service tens of thousands of dollars in federal taxes when applying for mortgages for vacation properties in Kissimmee and Longboat Key, Florida. She was asked if she was presently delinquent or in default on any Federal debt or any other loan, mortgage, financial obligation, bond, or loan guarantee, and the indictment maintains that she falsely claimed that she was not.

Just days after her indictment, Mosby attended a Sunday service at Empowerment Temple, an African Methodist Episcopal Church in Northwest Baltimore.

The Rev. Robert Turner praised Mosby as a dear servant and a community champion before lamenting the indictment as a "demonic attack.

Turner invited Mosby on stage, alongside several other congregants, and began praying.

We ask right now in the name of Jesus that you cover, that you anoint, that you protect this, your child, from all the fiery darts of the enemy, that you bless her and her family, keep them strong, keep them fearless, he said.

We rebuke the enemy and his attack on their life. The devil is a liar, Turner proclaimed. We surround her physically now but spiritually forevermore as we intercede on her behalf.

Turner pleaded with God to protect her and serve as her advocate in a courtroom.

He also urged God to rebuke wickedness thats in high places, declaring: We plead the blood of Jesus over her life from those that seek to kill her and destroy her and remove her legacy and diminish your glory over her life.

After reiterating his belief that whats being done to this sister is dead wrong, Turner offered Mosby financial support to assist her in legal challenges. Mosby indicated that she could not accept the offer, which Turner contended shows her integrity.

So for anybody watching that thinks shes all about money, Pastor Turner was offering to give her some money.  Empowerment Temple was prepared to give her some money, and I want whoever may serve on the jury to know she turned down  money.

Mosby addressed the charges against her before the congregation.

As a family, we are in the fight of our lives. But I stand before you confident and covered, trusting that with God on our side, I believe the fight is already fixed in my favor, she said.

I am innocent of the charges levied against me, she added. I have done nothing wrong, and Im confident that Ill be exonerated and my name will be cleared.

Mosby previously brought up her Christian faith when speaking at a prayer breakfast shortly after the 25-year-old Grays death caused by injuries sustained while riding in a police van. She pointed to Isaiah 41:10 as a source of inspiration.

The Bible verse proclaims Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Mosby praised the Bible verse for keeping her grounded whenever I had that self-doubt, whenever I said, This is too much for me to handle as a wife, as a mother, as an attorney.

Mosby said, God got me through, and I have to believe that He put me here for a reason.

In his remarks Sunday, Turner credited Mosby as the source of his inspiration for the monthly community prayer walks that his church will lead.

Stating that one of the church's members works in Mosby's office, Turner recalled that he was invited to participate in a community prayer walk that was led and organized by Mosby. He characterized Mosby as a community leader and servant that wants to spiritually cover her jurisdiction in prayer.

The charges against Mosby were announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, FBI agent Thomas J. Sobocinski and Internal Revenue Service  Criminal Investigation agent Darrell J. Waldon. An indictment is not a finding of guilt and Mosby is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

If convicted, Mosby faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each of the two counts of perjury and a maximum of 30 years in prison for each of the two counts of making false mortgage applications. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

Empowerment Temple was founded by prominent pastor and activist Jamal Bryant, who gave the eulogy at Grays funeral. Bryant left Empowerment Temple in 2018 to become the lead pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, following the death of its longtime leader Eddie Long.
Wisconsin high court to hear parents challenge to school district's gender transition policy

Parents suing a Wisconsin school district over a policy that allows officials to withhold knowledge of students efforts to change their gender identity from their families will have their case brought before the state supreme court.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed last Friday to grant a motion for review in the case of Doe v. Madison Metropolitan School District. The case centers on the school districts policy guidance related to trans-identified students.

The unnamed parents suing the school district are represented by the conservative legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.

We are pleased the Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear this important case, WILL Deputy Counsel Luke Berg said in a statement. The Madison Metropolitan School District cannot make decisions reserved for parents.

ADF and WILL filed the lawsuit against Madison Metropolitan School District in February 2020 over its 2018 directive Guidance & Policies to Support Transgender, Non-binary & Gender Expansive Students.

The policy seeks to make the school district more inclusive of trans-identified students.

In MMSD, we will strive to model gender-inclusive language that affirms the gender diversity of our MMSD students, staff, and families and disrupts the gender binary, page 26 of the document states.

The document says that school officials will help guide students through their gender transition. The policy allows the student to decide if their parents should be informed of these changes.

Additionally, the guidance says that children will be called by their affirmed name and pronouns regardless of parent/guardian permission to change their name and gender in MMSD systems.

Transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive students are disproportionately targeted for teasing, bullying, harassment, and physical violence. MMSD staff must consistently confront and report suspected bullying or other behaviors that contribute to an unsafe school community, added the guidance.

This may include name calling, misgendering, microaggressions, and bullying based on gender stereotypes, gender identity, and/or gender expression.

The parents contend that the policy violates parental rights and ignores state law on school confidentiality.

In September 2020, Dane County Court Judge Frank Remington issued a temporary injunction against parts of the school district guidance, namely the refusal to disclose a gender transition to parents.

Remington also concluded in his temporary injunction that he believes that the parents, by remaining anonymous, failed to provide evidence that the guidance harmed them specifically.

[A]nonymous plaintiffs effectively deny the Defendants and the Intervenors the ability to engage in discovery or to otherwise respond to the facts presented by the Plaintiffs in their motion as to the Plaintiffs themselves, Remington wrote.

By remaining anonymous and by asking this court to make evidentiary findings regarding irreparable harm or an adequate remedy unfairly deprives the Defendants a meaningful opportunity to challenge Plaintiffs factual assertions.

An MMSD spokesperson has maintained that the school district cant comment on pending litigation.
Deconstructing and losing faith by reading the Bible

Its January and that means many Christians have started the year with a fresh goal to read through the Bible. In the past, this has generally been celebrated and seen as a positive thing when someone decides to read through the Good Book. However, there is a significant change happening out there regarding the Bible. Many are starting to claim as they read the whole Bible, that it is not the Good Book but it is the Evil Book.

Is the Good Book actually an Evil Book?

If you go on Tik Tok and YouTube, you quickly see the increasing amount of videos made by former Christians who tell their stories of how reading the Bible turned them into agnostics or atheists. The story generally goes that they grew up in churches and heard the usual nice stories in the Bible about Jesus healing the blind and teaching people to care about the poor. They heard the stories of amazing Bible heroes like young David defeating the giant Goliath and saw the childrens artwork depicting the story of a Santa Claus-like looking Noah with smiling happy animals in an ark floating on the water. But as they got older and started reading the whole Bible with a new lens, the Bible doesnt seem so wonderful and good anymore.

They realize that David was a polygamist with at least eight wives and also had concubines (1 Chronicles 3). They read how he even killed 200 men and removed their foreskins as a bridal gift to one of his wives fathers (1 Samuel 18:27). They begin processing that the nice childrens story artwork they grew up on with Noah on a boat with happy smiling animals floating on water, was really a story of God causing massive death with the drowning of women, children, and infants. Also, their childhood childrens storybook and artwork didnt show that Noah got drunk and passed out naked in his tent after God he got off the ark (Genesis 9:20-21).

Does God ban eating shrimp but endorses slavery?

I talked with one college student who was a Christian but lost his faith when he got into a campus Bible study. He said he never knew that slavery was talked about positively in the Bible with people being sold as property and even instructions for a father selling his daughter into slavery (Exodus 21). This student was then led to explore more things about the Bible online and found plenty of graphical memes with Bible verses from the Levitical laws with commands that God said not to eat shrimp or eat bacon or get tattoos. There are repeated accusations that Christians cherry-pick the verses they like and ignore the ones they dont like. There is the understandable question of why would God create rules that ban the eating of shrimp but He didnt ban slavery? This student saw Bible verses that seemed so misogynist like when it says Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submissionit is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church (1 Corinthians 14:33-35).

So, the more the Bible is read, the more it certainly seems to be anti-women, anti-science, pro-slavery, and pro-violence. It makes sense then, as comedian and magician Penn Jillette says: Reading the Bible is the fast track to atheism. But is this true that the Bible is not the good book and if you really read it, you will find things you never knew before and end up rejecting your faith?

There are answers when we understand how to and how (not) to read the Bible

I understand why this is happening as for so many growing up in churches today, many of the very tough and disturbing things in the Bible werent addressed. So, seeing verses put to memes, or mentioned on Tik Tok of course is going to feel shocking and cause doubt and even disbelief. However, there are responses. While the Bible is 100% fully inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), there are some basic Bible study methods we have to put into place to understand it and the difficult things in it. Such as:

1) The Bible is a library, not a book: When opening a Bible or reading it digitally, we dont read it like a normal book. It is a library of books written over 1,500 years, in different genres. When opening the Bible, it is like going into a library and pulling a book off a shelf, and depending on what section of the library you are in, you read it differently. If you are reading a book of poetry, it will be read differently than when reading a book of history. Or when you read a law book that has laws pertaining to certain people at certain times and places, the laws may or may not apply for us today in our world.

2) Never read a Bible verse: Pulling out single Bible verses on their own, one can make the Bible say almost anything. You always need to read the full context of what is happening, not just look at single verses. You dont pull a single sentence from The Lord of The Rings and then make a conclusion, without placing it in the whole story. The Bible is not fiction, but the same principles apply. Every verse is part of a specific section of the whole Bible story we need to examine to make sense of the verse.

3) The Bible was not written to us, but for us: Some parts of the Bible are written to everyone and some parts were written to specific people at a specific time for a specific purpose. It is all 100% inspired by God and for us to learn from. But we must look at each part of the Bible from the eyes and culture of the original reader and why and what God was communicating to them.

4) All the Bible points to Jesus: From the very opening chapters of the Bible to the very end, it all leads to and points to Jesus. When we see this, it all lines up to an amazing beautiful life-changing library of books.

It is so sad seeing so many who are losing faith in the inspired Word of God. I wasnt a Christian growing up and the Bible changed my entire life and I believe it can change so many others. There are answers when we search more deeply and understand it is an ancient text that we cant just read with modern eyes. My prayer is that parents and churches will teach early on about the difficult parts so it doesnt catch people off-guard when they havent seen them before.
George O. Wood, former Assemblies of God leader, dies after 4 month battle with cancer

George O. Wood, the former general superintendent of the Assemblies of God who saw the Pentecostal denomination grow considerably at a time when most religious groups in the United States were in decline, passed away from cancer at age 80.

The Assemblies of God posted an announcement that Wood had died on Wednesday, less than five months after he was diagnosed with stage four cancer in his esophagus.

Wood had attempted chemotherapy treatments at Siteman Care Center in St. Louis, but cancer spread to his liver and vertebrae. His condition worsened earlier this week when he contracted pneumonia.

Doug Clay, Assemblies of Gods current general superintendent, said in a statement Wood had tremendous intellect but never depended on that at the expense of being led by the Spirit.

He had a unique ability to open doors for young people, women, and ethnic minorities by providing them a meaningful seat at the table, Clay said.

Each leadership decision he made was always processed through Scripture. He made my love for the Bible even richer. His legal credentials gave him a unique perspective to address cultural issues with biblical clarity.

Born in 1941 to missionary parents George Roy Wood and Elizabeth Weidman, George O. Wood earned an undergraduate degree at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, a doctoral degree in pastoral theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, as well as a juris doctorate at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California.

Wood was ordained by the Southern Missouri District in 1967 and served as assistant superintendent of the Southern California District from 1988-1993.

Wood pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center of Costa Mesa, California, for 17 years and served as general secretary of the Assemblies for 14 years before being elected general superintendent in August 2007, serving until 2017.

During his tenure, the Assemblies of God saw considerable growth in both membership and number of member congregations, while other Protestant denominations in the United States saw a decline in both areas.

In 2011, for example, the Assemblies of God planted 368 new churches in the U.S. via the Church Multiplication Network, a department in the organizations National Leadership and Resource Center.

Steve Pike, the national director of the Church Multiplication Network, told The Christian Post in an interview in January 2012 that Woods leadership was a factor in the successful growth.

Dr. Wood didnt stop with just saying that starting churches was a value, Pike said. He took a hard look at our organization and recognized that our actions were not lined up with our values. So he set in motion a serious effort to realign our actions with our stated values.

In 2014, in response to growing racial tensions in the U.S., Wood joined with the predominantly black Pentecostal denomination the Church of God in Christ, Inc. to observe Black Lives Matter Sunday.

The lives of all people are precious to God, of course, but at the present moment, many of our black brothers and sisters in COGIC and the AG feel that their lives are not highly valued by many in white America, stated Wood at the time.

Whatever your opinion of those controversial decisions, can we stand with our brothers and sisters and affirm the value of black lives generally and of their lives specifically?

Samuel Rodriguez, a California Assemblies of God pastor who heads the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, tweeted that Woods impact on the Assemblies of God and his personal life is immeasurable.

My heart is broken over the passing of my dear friend George O. Wood, Rodriguez wrote. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and our Assemblies of God family that he loved and lead so well.

Wood leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Jewel, his son, George Paul Wood, daughter, Evangeline Hope Zorehkey, and their families.
People uncertain about their relationship with God more likely to suffer mental distress: study

In the first chapter of the book of James in the Bible, Jesus brother warns against approaching God with unsteady faith because of the instability that comes with being double minded. Now, a new study suggests that people who are uncertain about their relationship with God are more likely to experience mental distress than other believers.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed, James declares in Scripture. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

In Attachment to God and Psychological Distress: Evidence of a Curvilinear Relationship published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion last month, researchers W. Matthew Henderson of Union University and Blake Kent of Westmont College conclude that anxiety or a lack of certainty about ones relationship with the divine represents a threat to psychological well-being.

The study used national data from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey, including more than 1,600 Americans who believe in God. The study wasnt limited to just Christians but respondents were predominantly Christian.

While earlier research has shown that religious practices like prayer and religious service attendance are pretty protective of peoples mental health, Henderson, an assistant professor of sociology at Union University in Tennessee, told The Christian Post that not much data was available about how peoples specific religious beliefs affect their mental health outcomes.

We thought that was a pretty glaring weakness because belief is such an important part of religious practice, he said. And we were especially interested in beliefs about God.

So using a concept called Attachment Theory, the researchers set out to examine how peoples specific ideas about God and their relationship with the divine impact their mental health.

Attachment theory examines child-caretaker bonding as a central motivator of human behavior and a primer for future interpersonal relationships. Young children engage in proximity-seeking behavior, drawing close to primary caregivers to feel emotionally comforted, supported, and safe. In this capacity, caregivers provide infants with a secure base from which to explore the world, the researchers noted. The style of attachment a child develops with the caregiver serves as an internal working model, a collection of neurological, biological, emotional, and social stimuli that coalesce to prime expectations for future relationships.

Attachment Theory, which has been used to provide insight into the dynamics of many relational contexts, proposes that internal working models influence the nature of an individuals relationships throughout childhood and into adulthood. Researchers have also used it to examine the relationships between secure attachment style and measures of depression, distress, coping, psychological functioning, and other mental health outcomes.

Attachment to God summarily is a way to measure peoples dispositions like emotional dispositions towards God. So if you feel like God is consistent and responsive, usually we call that a secure attachment to God. If you feel like God is aloof and distant and you cant really rely on Him, that is an avoidant attachment style. And if youre just not really sure, thats kind of an anxious attachment, Henderson explained.

What we found with the curvilinear relationship was higher levels of psychological distress were predicted for people who were in the middle of this avoidance-secure measure.

However, people who had a more secure or confident relationship with God and those who had a more distant relationship with the divine experienced much lower levels of stress.

Thats not really what would be expected based on previous attachment to God research, Henderson said. The highest levels of psychological distress were people who were kind of in the middle there, and thats where you get this kind of curvilinear hump.

Henderson added that if people who are uncertain about their relationship with God have access to the support of a healthy church, it could help alleviate some of their distress.

If people are uncertain or theyre going through a bit of crisis personally in their lives, and if that crisis tends to also intermingle with their view about God, the more they are doing that in isolation, the more I think that their beliefs are going to lead to anxiety, he said. But if they can do it in a healthy congregation, its probably going to lead to greater stability in the face of hard, stressful moments in their lives.

The scholar contends that the studys findings reveal the sheer complexity of belief in God and its impact on mental health.

What I first encountered looking at the research was that you had to believe that God was a certain way [for it to] correlate to good mental health, that there was this way to believe in God that was healthier than others, Henderson stated. And I just dont think were necessarily seeing that. You can believe a lot of different things about God, and it can correlate to pretty good mental health.

Henderson pointed to something he called the Westboro effect, based on the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. The congregation is a controversial family-run church that describes itself as an Old School Baptist Church adhering to the teachings of the Bible. The church preaches against all forms of sin.

The fundamentalist ministry founded by Fred Phelps, who died in 2014, was branded by the Southern Poverty Law Center as arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America. The churchs slogan, God Hates Fags, is the name of its main website.

Theyve got really aggressive views about God, and [that] God is very angry and hateful and judgmental, he said. And presumably their beliefs about God, I think in popular parlance, would assume they are probably not healthy mentally. If you believe God is that angry, that might lead to a lot of stress on you. I have no data to back this up, but my suspicion is that mentally, they might actually be doing OK because if you believe God is super angry but doesnt hate you, youre good.

We were more convicted that based on the findings, beliefs about God are best understood contingent to the social situations that theyre in to the way they help people make sense of their social settings, Henderson added. Peoples relationships with God, the way they perceive God, those change over time, especially as they run into these stressful life events, which are inevitable.
Candace Cameron Bure releases shirt encouraging people to love like Jesus, hug like Bob Saget

Hollywood actress and devout Christian Candace Cameron Bure is mourning the loss of her TV dad, Bob Saget, who died suddenly this month. She has designed a sweater that both shares the hope of her faith in Jesus and honors the late actor.

"Love Like Jesus, Hug Like Bob Saget," the sweatshirt reads.

The actress shared a photo on Instagram of herself wearing the sweater while out for a walk with her Full House co-star Dave Coulier. Bure, Saget and Coulier shared the screen on the popular family show for most of Bures young life, when she played the role of "D.J. Tanner." Saget, who played the role of "Danny Tanner," was in Bures life for over three decades.

"This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life and yet, incredibly beautiful because of family and close friends," Bure captioned the photo. "Yesterday was a better day. We walked, we laughed, we reminisced."

Saget was found dead in a Florida hotel room on Jan. 9 at the age of 65.

"I had this sweatshirt made. Thanks @erinnoella for the design and help. I think it sums everything up just right. Love like Jesus, hug like Bob Saget," Bure added.

After getting permission from Saget's widow, Kelly Rizzo, and his daughters, Bure is selling the sweatshirt and T-shirt model of the design on HugLikeBob.com.

All of the proceeds of the sales will go to Scleroderma Research Foundation, a foundation that was dear to Sagets heart. Sagets sister, Gay Saget, died of the autoimmune disease in 1994.

The foundations website says it aims to "develop a foundation that would deliver life-changing results by bringing the brightest minds in science together, and harnessing the power of technology to accelerate the progress of scleroderma research."

Saget was a board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation and used his influence to raise millions of dollars to support the research of the disease.

Bures design is fitting for the actress, who uses her platform often to share her faith in Jesus Christ.

"My relationship with God is my guiding light. I'm a Christian and I love the Lord with all my heart. I don't leave that at the doorstep when I work or if I'm on my social media; it is who I am! Bure told The Christian Post in a past interview. I love being able to use that platform of social media to share Scripture and hope that God gives each and every one of us because He loves us all so much.

Along with highlighting the love of Jesus, Bure wants to remember Sagets hugs, which were often caught on camera. Following his death, the actress posted a collage of photos throughout the years of the comedian hugging her.

After Bure posted a photo of the shirt, other celebrities shared their support for the endeavor on social media.

Country star Leanne Rimes wrote, Love the shirt. Massive hug sent your way."

BJ Novak, star of The Office, asked, "Can I order one?"

Bures Hallmark co-star, Nikki DeLoach, wrote, "Beautiful. Been sending up prayers everyday."
Chick-fil-A founder's daughter on how mother's quiet faith, strength led to company's success

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Trudy Cathy White, the daughter of Chick-fil-A's founder S. Truett Cathy and his wife, Jeannette, shared how the faith and quiet strength of her mother contributed to the massive success of the fast-food restaurant beloved by millions of Americans.

White sat down with The Christian Post to discuss her new book, A Quiet Strength, which recounts the life and legacy of Jeannette Cathy, who died in 2015 at the age of 92. Truett Cathy preceded her in death in 2014.

A lot of people know about my dad who invented Chick-fil-A in 1946; theyve heard his story and read a great deal about him, White said. But the story of my mother has never been told. She was such an inspiration to our family. In fact, we would say that we would not be who we are, nor would the business be what it is today, had it not been for the influence of our mom.

When Truett and Jeanette Cathy first married, they worked side-by-side, faithfully building up the Chick-fil-A business, White revealed.

My mother worked as a waitress and did all the accounting and bookkeeping for the restaurant, she recalled. And then when children came along, she realized that my dad was going to be working long hours, and she needed to be a stay at home mom and work from there.

But she did not take that calling lightly at all, she said. She actually is what I call a domestic engineer. She took care of that house, she kept everything organized. She took us wherever we needed to be. And she felt a sense of calling and fulfillment in that.

According to White, her mother was dubbed the "Chief Supporting Officer" for the positive, uplifting way she championed her husband, family, and the company behind-the-scenes.

She was the support behind my dad and everything that he did, White added. She always wanted to make sure that when he walked out the door, he was ready to be able to do his very best. Because of her, he was able to be successful."

The companys dedication to prayer and biblical principles, she said, is largely due to Jeannettes influence. She described her mother as having a simple, yet powerful motto she lived by: "You can with God."

My mother was a prayer warrior, White said. A big part of our culture at Chick-fil-A is to pray for one another, and that is the influence of my mother that has permeated the restaurant culture. She, like my father, believed good business practices are a result of good biblical principles, and we can apply those biblical principles to the practices that we have in business. She believed that God really has the formula for success in life.

The goal of our restaurants is to be a faithful steward of what's been entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A, she continued. So much of this stemmed from mom's intimate walk with the Lord. She would constantly challenge us to make sure that we were stewarding well what God's entrusted to us.

The companys policy of closing on Sunday, White revealed, was also influenced by her mother, who believed in the importance of taking a day of rest after a long work week.

My father would work so hard for six days, and hed physically be very tired, she said. He and my mother decided it was best to close on Sunday because the Bible teaches that we need to take a day of rest to honor the Lord.

Thats why, today, we're committed as a family to keep our restaurants closed on Sunday, White added. Not only is it a big help to our staff to realize they have that day off, but we know it's an opportunity to really honor God through it.

Jeanettes love for her Heavenly Father was birthed from a place of longing, White said, explaining that her grandfather had abandoned her mother when she was just 3 months old.

She (my mom) was raised by a single mother, White recalled. When she realized that she could be a child of God's, she was just enthralled by that and realized that she wanted to give her life to Christ and follow Him. Her Heavenly Father became her perfect Father for the rest of her life.

My mother understood that life can be tough, and there are a lot of difficulties that we all have to face, she continued, but we get to choose how we respond to our circumstances. Jesus was so real to her; she talked to Him, sang songs to Him, memorized Scripture, and challenged us to walk with the Lord as well. She would always say: Remember whose you are. She wanted to help us to remember that our identity is wrapped up in who God is and what He's doing in our lives and not in who we are, what we do, or what we have accomplished.

Though she worked at the family business for many years, White and her husband, John, went on to serve as missionaries in Brazil. Later, they co-founded Lifeshape and the Impact 360 Institute, two faith-based nonprofit organizations. Married for 40 years, the couple has four children and 15 grandchildren.

My mother was not just an incredible role model for me as a person as a follower of Christ, but as a wife, mother, and grandmother as well, White said. She prayed for all of us and was our biggest encourager. There's a great verse In Isaiah that says, In quietness and trust is your strength. And that is the reflection of who my mom was.

Today, alongside her brothers, Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A, and Bubba Cathy, senior vice-president of the fast-food chain, White continues to support the family business and carry on her parents' legacy of faith and perseverance.

I hope my mothers story encourages other women  whether they are businesswomen or stay-at-home mothers  to know that they can make a significant, God-glorifying impact wherever they are, White said. A lot of times women feel that if theyre not in the spotlight, they cant be much of an influence. But my mother was perhaps the greatest influence behind both the success of Chick-fil-A and her family due to her faith and quiet strength.

My mother, she added, was willing to step aside and let others get the praise. She always said, If you help others get what they want in life, youll get what you want out of life. Thats the challenge my mother took on. She helped others achieve what they wanted to achieve because she didnt need the praise. Her identity was firmly placed in Christ, and thats an example I think will inspire all women.
Chick-fil-A inadvertently discredited Salvation Army, Christian orgs in defunding, Dan Cathy says

Chick-fil-A chairman and CEO Dan T. Cathy has admitted that the company inadvertently discredited several outstanding organizations when it announced last November that it would no longer donate to certain Christian organizations, including the Salvation Army, which have been criticized as anti-LGBT for holding biblical views on sexuality.

Cathys admission comes in response to a petition signed by 116,000 people submitted by the American Family Association and American Family Radio President Tim Wildmon. The petition asked the company for clarification on the rationale behind the companys decision to stop donating to the Salvation Army, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Paul Anderson Youth Home.

Wildmon asked in the letter if Chick-fil-A would publicly state that it does not believe the Salvation Army and FCA are hate groups because of the ministries' beliefs about sexuality, marriage, and family. He also asked whether the company would state they will not hesitate to fund the ministries again, should the opportunity arise in the future.

Much of the evangelical community raised concerns that the fast food chains philanthropic restructuring was caving to the LGBT lobby in pursuit of higher profits and abandoning its Corporate Purpose  To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.

In his Dec. 5 letter to Wildmon, Cathy insisted Chick-fil-A is committed to being a faithful steward.

As you have seen, recently we announced changes to our giving strategy at the Chick-fil-A Foundation, Cathy wrote. These changes were made to better focus on hunger, homelessness and education. We understand how some thought we were abandoning our long-standing support of faith-based organizations. We inadvertently discredited several outstanding organizations that have effectively served communities for years. Some also questioned if our commitment to our Corporate Purpose was waning. Let me state unequivocally: It is not.

Chick-fil-A announced in a statement to The Christian Post last year that: Beginning in 2020 the Chick-fil-A Foundation will introduce a more focused giving approach, donating to a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in the areas of hunger, homelessness and education.

The Salvation Army said they were saddened by Chick-fil-As announcement, especially since the organization is a leading provider of social services to the homeless, including the LGBT community.

"We're saddened to learn that a corporate partner has felt it necessary to divert funding to other hunger, education and homelessness organizations  areas in which The Salvation Army, as the largest social services provider in the world, is already fully committed," The Salvation Army said.

"We serve more than 23 million individuals a year, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, we believe we are the largest provider of poverty relief to the LGBTQ+ population, the group continued.

"When misinformation is perpetuated without fact, our ability to serve those in need, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or any other factor is at risk," they added.

Wildmon called Cathys latest response a welcomed clarification.

It appears that Mr. Cathy understands how many evangelicals perceived the company's decision, as he stated that these Christian groups were inadvertently discredited. The fact that Dan Cathy called these two Christian groups outstanding organizations will mean a lot to evangelicals, Wildmon wrote.

He noted, however, that he still has concerns about the companys giving.

I also mentioned in my initial letter that Chick-fil-A stated that the company would support Covenant House, a ministry to homeless youth, including homosexual young people.

"While it is admirable to help hurting youth in desperate circumstances  including those who are LGBTQ  Covenant House also openly promotes homosexuality as normal, natural, and healthy. This was evident in Covenant House's participation in the NYC gay pride parade and a number of other efforts that make it clear the ministry does not hold to a biblical view of human sexuality, Wildmon said.

As a result, AFA will continue to monitor Chick-fil-A's corporate giving, at least for the foreseeable future. We believe our supporters rely on us to do so.
Chick-fil-A scraps plan to open at San Antonio airport despite citys reversal amid FAA intervention

Chick-fil-A confirmed this week that the company has canceled plans to open a restaurant at San Antonio International Airport in Texas.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Christian-owned fast-food chain said the company wont pursue plans at this time to open a restaurant in the airport after city officials last year blocked its plans do so, prompting complaints from the states attorney general, the passing of new state law, and an FAA investigation.

"While we are not pursuing a location in the San Antonio airport at this time, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve San Antonians in our 32 existing restaurants, Chick-fil-A said in a statement Monday, according to The Associated Press.

"We are always evaluating potential new locations in the hopes of serving existing and new customers great food with remarkable service.

In March 2019, the San Antonio City Council voted to remove Chick-fil-A from a concession agreement with San Antonio International Airport amid unproven accusations of anti-LGBT behavior.

The citys move came as the Chick-fil-A Foundation received media scrutiny for donating to Christian organizations, including the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which uphold biblical teachings on marriage  a union between one man and one woman.

Additionally, the companys head, Dan Cathy, has in the past stated his opposition to same-sex marriage, which has, over the years, led to Democrat politicians and far-left groups calling for boycotts against the restaurant chain.

The city councils decision drew the ire of Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton, who last March asked U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to look into whether city officials had unlawfully discriminated against the company "due to the expression of the owner's religious beliefs."

Paxton asked for a determination as to whether city officials broke federal law and department regulations.

On Monday, Paxtons office announced that the FAA reached an information resolution with the city of San Antonio. A statement from the state attorney generals office said San Antonio International Airport will offer Chick-fil-A a lease opportunity for space in Terminal A.

Paxton praised the resolution, saying it was a win for religious liberty in Texas." The FAA formally announced the resolution in a letter to Paxton on Sept. 10.

The letter from the FAA explained that within 45 days, Chick-fil-A was to be offered a lease opportunity in Terminal A and that the new offer will be consistent with customary business practices.

In addition, the FAA will continue to monitor the Citys implementation of the above steps to ensure that they are completed in a timely, reasonable, and fair manner, the letter reads. In the event that they are not, FAA will reopen its complaint investigation, which may result in the finding of a violation of relevant nondiscrimination authorities.

The city was quick to shoot down the attorney general's announcement that included the headline: "City of San Antonio Ordered to Lift Ban on Chick-filA at International Airport," arguing that the city was not ordered to lift [its] ban on Chick-fil-A at the airport.

In a statement provided to local news outlet KSAT, the city argued that the FAA has not ordered the City of San Antonio to have Chick-Fil-A at its airport.

The City itself offered to resolve the FAA investigation informally following Chick-Fil-As publicly stated change-of-position on its charitable giving policy, the city stated, referring to Chick-fil-As decision last year to change its charitable giving structure to no longer give to the Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The City maintains that at no point did it discriminate against Chick-Fil-A. Any placement of Chick-Fil-A at the San Antonio Airport is ultimately contingent on Chick-Fil-As continued interest and approval by the City Council.

The citys statement also called Paxtons comments inaccurate and said that he has not been involved in the conversations between the City and the FAA.

Unfortunately, and ironically, AG Paxtons false declaration of victory significantly jeopardizes the potential for a mutually beneficial and amicable resolution, the citys statement contends.

Last July, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Save Chick-fil-A bill into law, legislation that bans local governments from taking adverse actions against companies or individuals based on their religious beliefs or donations to religious groups.
Federal appeals court keeps Texas abortion ban in place, sends case to state supreme court

A federal appeals court has kept Texas heartbeat abortion ban in place and sent the lawsuit against the legislation to the Republican-controlled state supreme court, a move celebrated by pro-life activists and opposed by abortion-rights proponents.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled 2-1 on Monday to send abortion clinics challenge against the Texas Heartbeat Act passed last year to the Texas Supreme Court, which will likely allow the law to remain in effect for months before a ruling is handed down.

Circuit Judge Edith H. Jones, a Reagan appointee, authored the majority opinion stating that the federal courts are bound by an authoritative determination of state law by the states highest court.

Here, there is a possibility that federal courts could declare S.B. 8 constitutionally infirm even though our conclusions might be based entirely on a faulty understanding of Texas law, continued Jones.

To avert creating needless friction with a coequal sovereign in our federal system, this court reasonably seeks the Texas Supreme Courts final word on the matter.

Circuit Judge Stephen A. Higginson, an Obama appointee, dissented. He believes that by sending the case to the state supreme court, the panel is going against an order by the U.S. Supreme Court.

S. B. 8 and its defenders have challenged Supreme Court authority, first by deliberately nullifying a constitutional right expounded by the Court and now, when checked by that Court, by convincing us, an inferior federal court duty-bound to apply a Supreme Court holding, instead to question that holding, argued Higginson.

Senate Bill 8 was signed into law last May by Gov. Greg Abbott. The law, which went into effect last September, prohibits most abortions once a babys heartbeat can be detected, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy.

The law is unique because it allows private citizens to take civil action against abortion providers or anyone else who helps procure an illegal abortion, with a financial reward for successful suits.

The 5th Circuits decision presents concerns for abortion clinics and supporters since the Texas Supreme Court comprises nine Republican justices.

The pro-life group Texas Right to Life, which supports the law, celebrated Mondays panel decision, calling the decision great news.

This is great news for Texas because such action is more likely to ensure a just and favorable ruling, compared to that which could be expected from a pro-abortion federal district judge, to whom the abortion industry asked to send the case, stated the group.

Beyond this, sending the lawsuit to the Supreme Court of Texas is appropriate because the only defendants left in the case are state agencies. Most exciting of all is that the Texas Heartbeat Act has withstood another court decision and is continuing to save an estimated 100 preborn lives every day.

Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, a pro-choice advocacy organization, said in a statement that the panel had defied a Supreme Court ruling and delayed a reckoning on S.B. 8.

As a result, Texans will continue to have to travel hundreds of miles to access abortion care, and those without means to do so will be forced to continue their pregnancies, said Northup. There is now no end in sight for this injustice that has been allowed to go on for almost five months.

S.B. 8 has been the subject of extensive litigation, with pro-choice groups and the Biden administration wanting the law struck down as unconstitutional.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Texas law to take effect. Last December, the nations high court allowed some lawsuits against the ban to continue but refused to block the law.

The justices also rejected an appeal by the Biden administration against the law, labeling it improvidently granted, or a request that shouldnt have been brought before the court.
A new furniture and decor warehouse and distribution center is expected to bring 26 jobs to Newport News.

Shortly before leaving office last week, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Virginia prevailed in its competition with South Carolina to host the first Mercana Furniture and Decor operation in the United States.

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Located near all major port terminals, railroads and highways, Newport News is extremely favorable for inbound and outbound shipping, said Michael Saby, Mercanas chief operations officer, in a news release. This investment will improve the agility of our supply chain and allow us to get products to our customers quicker than ever before.

In a post on LinkedIn, the company said the new warehouse improves Mercanas flow of goods to customers in the states and triples its storage.

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The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Newport News, the Hampton Roads Alliance and The Port of Virginia to attract the company.

Virginia is offering Mercana reduced human resources costs through a state-funded program in addition to other benefits, including help with recruiting and training employees, according to the release.

Mercana is expected to invest $8.5 million to establish the warehouse and distribution operation in the city. The facility will be used to hold thousands of items including art, furniture and lighting. The company is based in Canada and creates custom-designed furniture and decorations that it sells at wholesale prices to retail partners and interior designers around the world.

Mercana has two existing showrooms in the United States  one in Las Vegas and a second in High Point, North Carolina.

Jessica Nolte, 757-912-1675, jnolte@dailypress.com
Baltimore Gathers Strength Through Faith Rallies, Church Services on Peace, Rebuilding as Curfew Ends

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Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, elected officials and clergy spoke about peace and rebuilding in church services and a rally Sunday, the day curfew ended more than a week after protests erupted over the death of a young man, Freddie Gray, from spinal injuries in police custody leading to violence and looting.

The Rev. Donte Hickman Sr., pastor of the Southern Baptist Church in Baltimore, told the congregation he would make an announcement Monday about rebuilding its project, the Mary Harvin Transformation Center and the entire block, including senior apartments, that were destroyed by a fire nearby during riots a week ago, according to the Baltimore Sun.

"We are elated that these rebuild efforts are moving from a state in the abstract to a very real and material reality that will restore not only a building but the hopes and dreams of a community that has experienced so much," Pastor Hickman said at a press conference after the service.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, was also at the service. "Now we have to rebuild  we have to be the man in the mirror and the woman in the mirror... our children are our future," he told those in attendance.

The protests erupted in Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray, 25, who suffered a fatal neck injury after being in police custody.

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At St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Gov. Hogan addressed the congregants Sunday.

"What we need is a lot of healing," Hogan said, according to the Sun. "There's long-term questions and issues about how we fix this, how we develop more trust between the community and the police, how we fix some of the over-arching problems. But today we're not going to solve that," he said. "Today, we're about having peace in the city."

Archbishop William E. Lori, who presided over the mass, urged that those who are seeking change should do that "in a way that does not create more injustice and more destruction."

"Freddie Gray was your neighbor, and his family members continue to be your neighbors," he was quoted as saying. "Freddie Gray's death has brought to the surface many long-standing issues."

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Normalcy was beginning to return Sunday after the curfew was ended and National Guard troops withdrawn.

"My goal has always been to not have the curfew in place a single day longer than was necessary," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake tweeted. "I believe we have reached that point today."

Faith leaders also held a rally Sunday afternoon.

"Our prayer is that Baltimore will be the model for the rest of the nation," USA Today quoted Rev. Lisa Weah, pastor of New Bethlehem Baptist Church, as saying to the gathering.

Police Capt. Eric Kowalczyk said 486 people have been arrested since April 23, and 113 officers were injured while responding to riots and protests.

Baltimore's newly elected State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby earlier announced that Gray's death had been ruled a "homicide" and six police officers involved in his "unlawful arrest" had been criminally charged and warrants had been issued for their arrests.
John Piper issues blistering condemnation of the lottery, says gambling destructive to peoples lives

John Piper, the founder of DesiringGod.org, has issued a blistering condemnation of the lottery, stating that he believes that gambling endeavors are destructive to peoples lives.

On an episode of his podcast posted Monday, Piper, an author and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was asked to elaborate on earlier comments he made in which he concluded that the lottery involves preying on the less fortunate.

The Don't Waste Your Life author said he believes the lottery deceives the poor into "get rich quick" efforts. He revealed that the less fortunate often sacrifice at least 6% of their annual income on the lottery.

The noted Bible teacher also claimed that the main draw for lower-income individuals when it comes to gambling games is pull-tabs and scratch games.

These kinds of games are less attractive to middle-class people and upper-class people because adding $10, or $100 dollars even, to your bank account really doesnt make that much difference to a middle-class person, said Piper.

But to a poor person  $10, $100, or $500  thats like a windfall. And therefore, the more frequent payout and the greater the likelihood of winning draws in disproportionately more poor people for these kinds of games than for, say, the big Powerball payout," he said.

The theologian went on to note that the lottery did not become a million-dollar industry due to its large output of winners and that, while lotteries are theoretically aimed at funding social services, there are ironies.

Most states allocate some of the lottery income to providing services for gambling addiction, and some try to provide a good kind of education, which creates, supposedly, habits of mind and heart which are the opposite of the habits they exploit by the lottery itself, he continued.

Addictive behaviors are more common among the poor, and living by immediate rather than deferred gratification is more common among the poor. Publicly funded gambling feeds these kinds of habits, which are destructive to peoples lives.

The podcast episode came as a follow-up to a 2016 opinion column in which Piper listed seven reasons why it was wrong to play the lottery. He said the lottery is spiritually suicidal, a kind of embezzlement, a fools errand, built on the necessity of most people losing," and it preys on the poor.

So, if you win, dont give from your lottery winnings to our ministry. Christ does not build his church on the backs of the poor, he wrote at the time.

Pray that Christs people will be so satisfied in him that they will be freed from the greed that makes us crave to get rich.

In an op-ed published by The Christian Post in 2019, Chuck Bentley of Crown Financial Ministries expressed opposition to lotteries, writing that the Lord does not want us relying on random chance to see our needs met.

For most people, the return on investing in lottery tickets is nothing more than the paper on which its printed. Christians should never take the money God entrusts to them and waste it on gambling, wrote Bentley at the time.

God is more than able to meet our needs. When we put more trust in chance than in Him, we need to reevaluate our priorities. Faith that is put in luck and random chance ignores Gods Word.
Supreme Court blocks COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses, allows mandate for health workers

The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandates for large businesses that took effect this week while allowing another mandate for healthcare workers to proceed.

In a pair of per curiam decisions released Thursday, the high court offered a mixed message on President Joe Bidens efforts to mandate vaccination against COVID-19.

In the case of Ohio et al v. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, et al., the Supreme Court issued a temporary stay blocking a requirement for businesses with 100 or more employees to require their employees to get vaccinated or tested regularly.

Applicants are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that the Secretary lacked authority to impose the mandate, the ruling states. Administrative agencies are creatures of statute. They accordingly possess only the authority that Congress has provided.

The Secretary has ordered 84 million Americans to either obtain a COVID19 vaccine or undergo weekly medical testing at their own expense, the ruling added. This is no everyday exercise of federal power.

Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented from the unsigned opinion in the Ohio case, arguing that the employee mandate was a valid response to the dangers of the coronavirus.

In our view, the Courts order seriously misapplies the applicable legal standards. And in so doing, it stymies the Federal Governments ability to counter the unparalleled threat that COVID19 poses to our Nations workers, they argued.

Acting outside of its competence and without legal basis, the Court displaces the judgments of the Government officials given the responsibility to respond to workplace health emergencies.

In the case of Biden et al v. Missouri, et al., the high court concluded that healthcare facilities that wish to participate in Medicare and Medicaid have always been obligated to satisfy a host of conditions that address the safe and effective provision of healthcare, not simply sound accounting.

Vaccination requirements are a common feature of the provision of healthcare in America: Healthcare workers around the country are ordinarily required to be vaccinated for diseases such as hepatitis B, influenza, and measles, mumps, and rubella, noted the per curiam opinion.

We accordingly conclude that the Secretary did not exceed his statutory authority in requiring that, in order to remain eligible for Medicare and Medicaid dollars, the facilities covered by the interim rule must ensure that their employees be vaccinated against COVID19.

Justice Clarence Thomas authored a dissenting opinion. He was joined by Justices Samuel Alito, Neal Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Thomas argued that the government failed to justify its mandate.

These cases are not about the efficacy or importance of COVID19 vaccines. They are only about whether [the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] has the statutory authority to force healthcare workers, by coercing their employers, to undergo a medical procedure they do not want and cannot undo, wrote Thomas.

Because the Government has not made a strong showing that Congress gave CMS that broad authority, I would deny the stays pending appeal.

Last September, President Joe Biden announced that there would be federally enforced mandates requiring vaccination against COVID-19 for both government workers and the private sector.

The federal rules would allow for certain exemptions, excluding employees of the U.S. Postal Service, members of Congress, businesses with fewer than 100 workers, and, in principle, individuals who had a valid religious or medical reason.

Critics argued the mandates were examples of federal overreach and also failed to adequately respect religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine.

As a result, multiple lawsuits were filed against the mandates as they were announced and took effect, with the challenges from states and others having mixed results.
Up to 88K COVID-19 deaths, 1 million hospitalizations possible over next 4 weeks: CDC forecast

A high-end estimate of up to 88,000 deaths and over 1 million hospital admissions could follow the ongoing wave of the COVID-19 pandemic over the next four weeks as the virus moves toward claiming nearly 900,000 lives in the United States alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In an ensemble forecast, which combines data from diverse independent team forecasts on the pandemic, published Monday and updated on Wednesday, the CDC stated its low and high estimates on how many COVID-19 related deaths will likely occur from Jan. 10 to Feb. 5.

This weeks national ensemble predicts that the number of newly reported COVID-19 deaths will likely increase over the next 4 weeks, with 10,400 to 31,000 new deaths likely reported in the week ending February 5, the agency noted.

The CDC report states that the ensemble forecasts have been among the most reliable forecasts in performance over time" but "do not reliably predict rapid changes in the trends of reported cases, hospitalizations, and deaths." Additionally, the forecasts should not be relied on for making decisions about the possibility or timing of rapid changes in trends.

The agency notes that recent national total death forecasts have shown low reliability, with more reported deaths than expected falling outside the forecast prediction intervals.

Therefore, national total death forecasts will continue to be collected and analyzed but will not be summarized until sustained improvements in performance are observed, the CDC stressed.

The outlook for new reported COVID-19 hospital admissions includes forecasts from 9 modeling groups, each of which contributed a forecast for at least one jurisdiction, the CDC said. However, the models make various assumptions about the levels of social distancing and other interventions, which may not reflect recent changes in behavior.

For the period Jan. 10 to Feb. 4, the current forecast for COVID-19 hospitalizations is a cumulative total that could be as high as 1,017,725 or as low as 528,509.

Daily new COVID-19 hospitalizations could be as low as 38,534 or as high as 47,964 on Feb. 4 alone. However, the highest daily prediction for hospitalizations is shown for Jan. 30 when the ensemble forecast says there could be as many as 49,276 hospitalizations.

Reported daily new hospital admissions can vary due to variable staffing and inconsistent reporting patterns within the week. Thus, daily variations in the reported numbers and the forecasts may not fully represent the true number of confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions in each jurisdiction on a specific day, the agency said.

The latest data from the CDC also shows that the fast-spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 has been responsible for more than 98% of new infections as of Jan. 8.

A recently published study of nearly 70,000 COVID-19 patients in California found that while the omicron variant now represents the majority of new infections, it is associated with reduced risk of severe clinical endpoints and shorter durations of hospital stay.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky noted on Wednesday that the majority of the people dying from COVID-19 deaths now are still from the delta variant.

Given the sheer number of cases, we may see deaths from omicron, but I suspect the deaths were seeing now are still from delta, she said.

She also pointed to the recent California study and said the findings are consistent with data from South Africa and the United Kingdom, which could help the U.S. understand what will happen over the next few weeks.

The risk of hospitalization remains low  especially among people who are up to date on their Covid vaccines, she said. However, the staggering rise in cases, over 1 million new cases each day, has led to a high number of total hospitalizations.

In a briefing on Thursday, President Joe Biden said his administration was securing 500 million additional at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to meet demand around the country and would double the number of tests the U.S. plans to send to the public free of charge.

Lines for free testing for COVID-19 have stretched for blocks in some cities, and pharmacies have been struggling to keep up with the demand for rapid tests, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Some families are still reportedly spending hundreds of dollars on testing due to the crisis, while others are forgoing testing altogether.

President Biden urged Americans to either get vaccinated or boosted as the omicron variant surges across the country.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people are testing positive, but what happens after that couldnt be more different, he said, noting that unvaccinated people who get COVID-19 are 17 times more likely to be hospitalized than those who get vaccinated.
Share of Americans who donated to religious organizations remains at all-time low: Gallup

A new survey from Gallup reveals that the share of Americans who have donated to religious organizations remains an all-time low, even as the percentage of Americans that donated to charitable organizations overall increased.

According to the survey, released Tuesday, 44% of Americans surveyed in 2021 reported that they donated money to a religious organization in the previous 12 months. That figure remains unchanged from 2020, when 44% of Americans said the same.

The 44% donation rate represents an all-time low since Gallup first began asking about Americans religious donations and donating habits in general in 2001. The share of Americans who told Gallup that they donated money to a religious organization in the past year reached a high of 64% in 2005 and has either held steady or declined in the years since.

At the same time, the share of Americans who donated to both non-religious and religious charities has increased since reaching a record low of 73% in 2020. Eighty-one percent of Americans surveyed by Gallup reported donating to charitable organizations in 2021.

As with donations specifically to religious organizations, the percentage of Americans who financially contributed to secular and/or religious charities reached a record high in 2005. Specifically, 87% of respondents gave money to charity in 2005.

When asked if they donated specifically to non-religious charitable organizations, 74% of Americans answered in the affirmative. This represents a noticeable jump from 2020, when just 64% of respondents said they donated to a non-religious charitable organization. The 64% donation rate recorded in 2020 constituted an all-time low in the history of the Gallup survey while the year 2001 had the highest donation rate to non-religious charities (79%).

Over the years, Gallup has also asked Americans whether or not they volunteered time to religious organizations and other charitable organizations. While the share of Americans who donated their time to charitable organizations dropped from 58% to 56% from 2020 to 2021, the volunteer rate remains slightly above the record low of 55%, set in 2009.

When broken down into subcategories of religious and non-religious charitable organizations, 35% of Americans claimed to have volunteered for a religious charity in the past 12 months, marking a 3% decline from 2020 and a record low overall. The share of Americans who volunteered for a religious organization reached a record high of 46% in 2013 and has been consistently declining ever since.

By contrast, the share of those surveyed who volunteered for a non-religious charitable organization rose from 43% in 2020 to 47% in 2021. The percentage of Americans who reported donating to secular charities reached a record high of 50% in 2017, a modest increase from the historical low of 43% achieved in 2009.

Gallup attributes the decline in donations to religious organizations to the fact that formal church membership has declined. Specifically, Gallup noted the correlation between the results of the survey about Americans charitable giving and volunteer habits to the finding of another one of its surveys about Americans religious practices: The 44% of U.S. adults donating to a religious organization nearly matches the 47% who belong to a church, synagogue, mosque or temple.

Additionally, Gallup points to the coronavirus pandemic as the reason why 2020 marked a historical low in the share of Americans who gave to charity: Amid economic uncertainty and restrictions on public activity in the initial stages of the pandemic, Americans charitable activity declined. More than a year later, monetary charitable donations are mostly back to their pre-pandemic levels, while volunteerism still lags.

The increase in donations is consistent with Americans intentions in the 2020 Gallup survey when more U.S. adults said they planned to increase (25%) rather than decrease (7%) the amount of money they gave to charity in the coming year. Two-thirds planned to maintain their level of giving.

The polling organization predicted that a recovery in volunteering may be more elusive as concerns about COVID-19 exposure and public health safety measures limit Americans willingness and ability to perform volunteer work. It suggested that the unpredictable nature of the virus and the emergence of new variants could mean a prolonged drop in volunteering for the foreseeable future.

The Gallup survey is based on responses collected from 811 adults residing in all 50 U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia between Dec. 116, 2021. The poll had a margin of error of +/-4 percentage points.
Decline in Christianity among Democrats bringing steep polarization

A telephonic poll by The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports has given a shock to many Republicans about the views of average Democrats regarding basic rights. Around half of Democratic voters (48 percent) believe government should be able to imprison and/or fine those who question the efficacy of vaccines, while only 27 percent of all Americans would support such infringement of free speech. Though 58 percent of American voters would oppose government fines on the unvaccinated, 55 percent of Democrats support such measures. Disturbingly, 59 percent of Democratic voters support confining the unvaccinated to their homes at all times, while the vast majority of American voters oppose such a draconian infringement of rights. Almost a third of Democrats (29 percent) even support removing custody of the children of the unvaccinated, and 47 percent support forced tracking devices on the unvaccinated.



Republicans, vaccinated or not, have been shocked, while Democrats generally dont see the problem. Most Americans are starting to wonder about the source of such divergent values and worldviews and the lack of understanding. This dangerous polarization has followed an increasingly steep trend with the Democratic Party becoming secularized in recent years.

First, the secularization of America is picking up steam and bringing profound change in values. A recent Pew Research Center survey showed that between 2007 and 2021, the number of Americans identifying as Christian plummeted from 78 percent to only 63 percent. During that same period, the percentage of religiously unaffiliated almost doubled from 16 percent to 29 percent. In 2007, 58 percent of Americans prayed daily, and yet that number is now 45 percent, while those who hold religion as very important in their lives sank from 56 percent to 41 percent. The percent of Protestant Americans fell 10 percent in the past ten years to only 40 percent today. These numbers seem to be increasing, as the numbers of Americans who attend religious services at least monthly fell 2 percent (33 percent to 31 percent) last year. By some estimates, around a third of Churches will be shutting down from the start of the pandemic to today.

Though alarming, this decline in Christianity is primarily a dynamic of the Democratic Party. Pew Research finds that the number of Republicans who believe in God has remained relatively consistent at 73 percent, while Democrat believers dropped to 55 percent. Republicans are double (58 percent to 28 percent) the number of Democrats who identify as Evangelical. The number of Republicans who attend church weekly is substantially higher than that of Democrats (44 percent to 29 percent). For those who hold religion as very important in their lives, Republicans outnumber Democrats 61 percent to 47 percent. Most important when it comes to the connection of religiosity to worldview about rights and values, Republicans are significantly above Democrats in two key areas. According to the Pew polls, Republicans look to religion for moral guidance over Democrats by a whopping 44 percent to 29 percent. Further, Republicans believe in absolute standards of right and wrong at over double the numbers of Democrats (47 percent to 23 percent).

Going back several decades, both parties showed comparative numbers of those who looked to religion as a source of moral guidance and believed in absolute standards of right and wrong. In the American experience, both parties generally agreed with the importance of individual rights as being from God or endowed by our Creator as we told King George III. Religion provided firm moral guidance on the respect for each individual and individual rights that political majorities should not infringe. The Christian belief in original sin, and therefore the danger of corruption of power, has driven the value of limiting the power of government.

The more secularized the Democratic Party has become, the more Democrats appear willing to infringe on previously held sacred rights in deference to government power. The more faith they have placed in government (over God), the more willing Democrats have been to wield power against individual rights. Republicans generally put faith in God over government and therefore put primary value in the rights of individuals.

The way out of the polarization appears to be with the Democratic Party moving back from secularization and to the unity of values. Alternatively, the Republican Party can begin repudiating God as a source of moral guidance, but most Americans would agree thats the way to ruin. Americans have a choice to make with our values. Is it government control over individual liberty? Does the value of the collective outweigh the value of individuals? Religion is at the root of the answers. For me, I stand with Joshua when he reasoned with his people about these issues and concluded: as for me and my house, we choose the Lord.
The Bibles accuracy vindicated  again

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, writes the author of Proverbs, but the glory of kings is to search things out. The Biblical account of reality  that God created a world that was knowable and His image-bearers to be knowers  powerfully explains the human drive to learn and investigate the world around us. It also justifies the utilization of general revelation as we pursue knowledge of the created order through various branches of science.

To put it bluntly, the Bible is not anti-science. Rather, the Bible explains why science works. And, every once in a while, the Bible offers an insight that sheds further light on an unsolved question of science. That seems to be the case with the Assyrian destruction of Lachish, an event recorded in the book of Kings. The accurate Biblical accounting of this event has provided scientists with a reliable anchor from which to better answer two tricky dilemmas: one having to do with geophysics and the other with archeology.

A recurring question of geophysics is how to measure changes in the Earths magnetic field over time. The Earths magnetic field acts like a massive cosmic shield, protecting us from solar winds that could disrupt navigational equipment, introduce harmful radiation into the atmosphere, or perhaps even blow our atmosphere away completely.

The earths magnetosphere is not a perfect shield, however. For years, scientists have known of gaps in the magnetosphere over certain regions, which drift over time. However, since measurements have only been collected since the 1850s, there is also a significant gap in our knowledge of how the magnetosphere has changed in the distant past. Though its possible to take sizeable measurements from the magnetic record in rocks, localized measurements are much harder to obtain. Or, at least, they were harder to obtain until research found a way to use burned-out ruins from ancient archeology.

Tel Aviv Universitys Yoav Vaknin recently led a team to Tel Lachish to measure magnetism. When the Assyrian King Sennacherib burned Lachish in 701 BC, he unknowingly reset the magnetic charges in the minerals found in floors, tools, and pottery pieces. As they cooled, these artifacts re-attuned to the Earths magnetic field, forming a snapshot of the Earths magnetic field in that particular location at that specific moment.

With enough snapshots like this one, scientists could much better piece together how the magnetic field has changed over time. If, of course, the Biblical dating of this event is accurate.

The consensus from historians is that it is. In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiahs reign, 2 Kings 18:13 tells us, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah. By providing accurate dating of Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian conquests of the region, the Bible gives scientists the kind of helpful data footholds they can reliably use.

And this is connected to a second advance enabled by the Bible in archeology. For reasons not fully understood, radiocarbon dating isnt accurate around the years 800-400 BC, an historical period known as the The Hallstatt Plateau. The curve of carbon-generated dates around this time is distorted, flattening out where it seemingly shouldnt. As a result, scientists cannot reliably carbon-date objects within a sizeable and important stretch of history.

Breakthroughs like the one at Lachish give us a new way to find those dates through archaeomagnetism, a process that uses the magnetic readings from archeological sites to help determine their age. As with the advance in geophysics, archaeomagnetism is dependent on reliable, independently established dates from ancient history. Thats the kind of thing Scripture offers over and over again.

This isnt the first time the Bibles accuracy has been vindicated, of course. The Old Testament predicted the existence of ancient groups like the Hittites long before anyone discovered evidence of their culture. Its description of the assassination of the same Assyrian king Sennacherib matches the one his son, Esarhaddon, provides in his records. At the ruins of Jericho, many archeologists believe there is evidence of a sudden structural collapse, which would align with how the book of Joshua describes the citys destruction.

Of course, many mysteries remain about how the many pieces of the archeological record fit with the Biblical one. But in the words of archeologist and Jewish scholar Nelson Gluek, [It] may be clearly stated categorically that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a single Biblical reference. Yet, scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible.

This is what we should expect from a religion grounded in history. The Bible describes real things that happened to real people. We should expect it to provide accurate data about the events it reports, even events from the ancient past. And if true, the data it presents could help us solve puzzles about the world around us.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
In a market hurt by external shocks, value investing is fast gaining popularity. The success of value investors like Warren Buffett further underscores this. Buffett and his business partner, Charlie Munger managed to register 20% compound annual growth in the market value of Berkshire Hathaway from 1965 through 2020 compared with a 10.2% rise of the S&P 500 during the same period.

Several stocks, which had declined in the past, have gradually shown an overwhelming success of value investing strategy. Here we will discuss the success of five such stocks and their favorable value parameters. These include Albertsons Companies, Inc. ACI, Laboratory Corp. of America LH or LabCorp, Phillips 66 PSX, FedEx Corporation FDX and Swire Pacific SWRAY.

More on Value Investing

While searching for a suitable investment option, value investors with varied risk appetite are unlikely to consider price/earnings to growth (PEG) ratio among a number of other popular metrics like price/earnings (P/E), price/sales (P/S) or price/book value (P/B).

This is because they often find this ratio complicated, considering the limitations in calculating the future earnings growth potential of a stock. Yardsticks, such as dividend yield, P/E or P/B, are most commonly used to single out stocks trading at a discount.

However, these ratios, while not taking into account the future growth potential of a stock, might end up convincing us to invest in stocks that are at a discount just because of their poor show. This might often lead to value traps  a situation when these value picks start to underperform over the long run as the temporary problems, which once pulled down the share price, turn out to be persistent.

In such a case, even if you buy a stock at less than its fair value, you might still end up paying more. And here comes the importance of this not-so-popular but crucial value investing metric, the PEG ratio.

The PEG ratio is defined as: (Price/ Earnings)/Earnings Growth Rate

A low PEG ratio is always better for value investors.

While P/E alone fails to identify a true value stock, PEG helps find the intrinsic value of a stock.

There are some drawbacks to using the PEG ratio though. It doesnt consider the very common situation of changing growth rates, such as the forecast of the first three years at a very high growth rate, followed by a sustainable but lower growth rate over the long term.

Hence, PEG-based investing can turn out to be even more rewarding if some other relevant parameters are also taken into consideration.

Here are some of the screening criteria for a winning strategy:

PEG Ratio less than X Industry Median

P/E Ratio (using F1) less than X Industry Median (for more accurate valuation purpose)

Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) (Whether good market conditions or bad, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 have a proven history of success.)

Market Capitalization greater than $1 Billion (This helps us to focus on companies that have strong liquidity.)

Average 20 Day Volume greater than 50,000 (A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.)

Percentage Change F1 Earnings Estimate Revisions (4 Weeks) greater than 5% (Upward estimate revisions add to the optimism, suggesting further bullishness.)

Value Score of less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a Style Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1, 2 or 3 (Hold) offer the best upside potential.

Here are five stocks that qualified the screening:

Albertsons Companies: This is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. Albertsons Companies' food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services.

Albertsons Companies has a long-term expected growth rate of 8%. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of 1 and has a Value Score of A. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

LabCorp: Headquartered in Burlington, NC, LabCorp is a leading healthcare diagnostics company, providing comprehensive clinical laboratory services and end-to-end drug development support. In Diagnostics, LabCorp is experiencing a broad geographic recovery in Base Business and across the companys testing portfolio.

LabCorp currently holds a Zacks Rank #1 and has a Value Score of B. It also has an impressive five-year expected growth rate of 24.6%.

Phillips 66: Based in Houston, TX, Phillips 66's operations incorporate refining, midstream, marketing and specialties, and chemicals. The companys operations include processing, transportation, storing and marketing fuels and products all over the world. Phillips 66 Partners, the company's master limited partnership, is an important asset in the portfolio.

Apart from a discounted PEG and P/E, the stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a Value Score of B. Phillips 66 has a long-term expected growth rate of 19.3%.

FedEx Corporation: Based in Memphis, TN, FedEx is the leader in global express delivery services. FedEx Express offers time-definite delivery to more than 220 countries and territories, connecting markets that comprise almost the entire gross domestic product of the world.

FedEx has an impressive long-term expected growth rate of 12%. The stock currently has a Value Score of A and carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Swire Pacific: Swire Pacific engages in property, aviation, beverages, marine services, and trading and industrial businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China, the rest of Asia, the United States, and internationally. SWRAYs Property division develops, owns, and operates mixed-use properties.

Swire Pacific currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 and has a Value Score of B. It also has an impressive five-year expected growth rate of 58%.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.

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From inception in 2012 through 2021, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolios gained an impressive +1,001.2% versus the S&P 500s +348.7%. Now our Director of Research has combed through 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and has handpicked the best 10 tickers to buy and hold. Dont miss your chance to get inbecause the sooner you do, the more upside you stand to grab.

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(Bloomberg) -- The CES technology show in Las Vegas last week was an important milestone for Elon Musks Boring Co., which operates a network of underground tunnels to ferry passengers around the massive convention center in Tesla Inc. cars.

The Vegas Loop performed mostly well, despite hitting some snags that were caught on video and drew mockery on Twitter toward a company that has said its mission is to solve traffic. Another element of Musks initial vision also appears to be fading: The vehicles rely on human drivers behind the wheel, a stipulation thats unlikely to change anytime soon.

However, Las Vegas officials indicated they were satisfied with results last week. Numbers provided to Bloomberg by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority show that the transit system successfully transported some 15,000 to 17,000 people daily during CES, almost half the shows attendees. According to the Boring Co., the average wait times at its three stations were less than 15 seconds. Rides took less than two minutes on average, in line with what the LVCVA predicted when reporters visited the site in April.

The numbers show a solid performance for Boring Co., though CES was hardly the rigorous tests of its systems some were hoping for. Because a Covid-19 case surge dramatically cut down attendance at the conference and shortened the event, many fewer people took the tunnels than otherwise would have. It remains to be seen how the system will hold up under radically higher demand.

The throughput and durability of the Boring Co.s Las Vegas tunnel systemthe companys first commercial projectis important for few reasons. First, the startup is in negotiations with several cities around the country, all of which are probably eager to see how the startups technology performs in the real world before they sign a contract.

Second, the companys compensation for the Las Vegas project is tied to how it performs during large conferences like CES. Under terms of its contract, Boring provided a $4.5 million letter of credit to the LVCVA. The money that Boring Co. owes the authority will be reduced by $300,000 each time the company transports an average of 3,960 passengers per hour for 13 hours at a large conference.

Because this years show attracted only about 40,000 attendees, compared with 170,000 in 2020, the smaller crowds almost certainly mean that Boring wasnt able to prove that it could meet the passenger minimum outlined in the contract. The LVCVA declined to provide the hourly averages.

But the company was able to hit those numbers during a recent test, the agency said. In December, LVCVA Chief Financial Officer Ed Finger told the authoritys audit committee that accounting firm BDO confirmed the system was transporting 4,431 passengers per hour in a test in May. That was more than enough to allow Boring to receive the final chunk of its $44.25 million total payment, per its contract.

The test ran for an hour and involved more than 300 volunteers, Finger said. The contract allows for Boring to run tests using 10% of the vehicles required for system capacity, with the addition of an engineering analysis to predict what the rates would be if more vehicles were used. After the tests, the county approved an increase to 70 Teslas for the transit system.

If the Las Vegas project is a success, it could embolden other cities to ink contracts with Boring Co. Fort Lauderdale, Florida and San Bernardino County, California, are in various stages of negotiations for their own tunnels. In San Bernardino County, where Boring Co. has until the end of this month to submit a proposal, the plans are still in limbo.

Negotiations have proved challenging, said Carrie Schindler, director of transit and rail programs for the county transportation authority, during a public meeting on Thursday. She said that although the Boring Co. originally proposed autonomous vehicles, it was no longer committing to autonomous technology, which would affect the countys budget for the eventual operation of the project. Autonomous technology had once been a key selling point of Boring Loop systems.

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
A man looks at bushmeat for sale in a market in Abobo, a northern suburb of Abidjan, on February 20, 2019. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP) (Photo credit should read SIA KAMBOU/AFP/Getty Images) (SIA KAMBOU/Getty)

An exotic food product known as bushmeat is showing up increasingly at one of the nations busiest airports and U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the mystery meat is potentially deadly.

International travelers are incorrectly identifying the product as fish, officials said in a Jan. 12 news release.

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However, fish is typically only a fraction of the ingredients  if included at all.

Bushmeat can be bats, nonhuman primates, cane rats, and antelope, officials said.

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The term bushmeat refers to raw and minimally processed meat that comes from wild animals. ... Bushmeat is often smoked, dried, or salted, which are not procedures that render the meat noninfectious. Bushmeat could be infected with germs that can cause sickness in people including the Ebola virus.

The product is illegal in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demanding bushmeat found at U.S. ports be destroyed along with any personal items that may have come in contact with the bushmeat.

Customs officials say finding the product is a growing trend at hubs like MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

CBP officers seized more than 100 pounds of bushmeat at the airport the last week of 2021, officials said.

The second week of January, a traveler returning from Liberia in West Africa was found with two primate arms and primate rib material, according to Augustine Moore, area port director.

The chief concern, agriculture specialists say, is the meat could have deadly effects and lead to another outbreak of disease.

News of the trend comes as the world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, which epidemiologists determined ... possibly came from an animal sold at a market in Asia, according to the CDC.

The virus has been linked to more than 5.5 million deaths globally as of Jan. 18, according to Johns Hopkins University, with more than 850,000 deaths in the U.S.

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Ebola, largely spread through direct contact with the blood or body fluids, is an even deadlier concern. It is not typically contracted through food, but cases in Africa have been linked to hunting, butchering, and processing of meat from infected animals, officials said.

The CDC recommends people dont eat the product and dont handle it without wearing gloves.
In the latest trading session, STMicroelectronics (STM) closed at $49.61, marking a +1.91% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.08% gain on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.56%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 4.81%.

Heading into today, shares of the chip company had gained 6.03% over the past month, outpacing the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 2.99% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.64% in that time.

Wall Street will be looking for positivity from STMicroelectronics as it approaches its next earnings report date. This is expected to be January 27, 2022. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.70, up 11.11% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $3.56 billion, up 9.89% from the year-ago period.

Any recent changes to analyst estimates for STMicroelectronics should also be noted by investors. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 5.19% higher. STMicroelectronics is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

In terms of valuation, STMicroelectronics is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 18.37. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 18.29, which means STMicroelectronics is trading at a premium to the group.

It is also worth noting that STM currently has a PEG ratio of 3.67. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. STM's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.84 as of yesterday's close.

The Semiconductor - General industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 54, putting it in the top 22% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America

A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. Its bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.

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Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today its free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.

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STMicroelectronics N.V. (STM): Free Stock Analysis Report



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(Bloomberg) -- New rules requiring truckers to show proof of vaccination when crossing the Canada-U.S. border are cutting into shipping capacity and boosting the cost of hauling everything from broccoli to tomatoes.

The cost of transporting produce out of California and Arizona to Canada jumped 25% last week as fewer trucks are available to cross the border, according to George Pitsikoulis, president and chief executive officer of Montreal-based distributor Canadawide Fruits.

The lower the supply, the higher the price. Ultimately its the consumer that pays for this, Pitsikoulis said Monday by phone.

Canada implemented new rules on Jan. 15 that require border agents to turn away unvaccinated U.S. truckers, a move industry executives warned could slow down supply chains that are already under stress. Canadian truckers who cant show proof of vaccination will be required to quarantine when they re-enter the country from the U.S.

Shipping is expected to get disrupted in both directions, with the U.S. set to impose its own vaccine mandate on foreign travelers on Jan. 22. Only 50% to 60% of U.S. truckers are vaccinated, according to an estimate from the American Trucking Associations.

Bison Transport Inc., one Canadas largest trucking firms, is poised to lose 10% of its freight capacity as a result, prompting the company to boost wages for cross-border drivers and offer signing bonuses of C$2,500 (about $2,000). Those costs have to be passed on to customers, Chief Executive Officer Rob Penner said.

We understood that this would be a challenge for us, Penner said in a Monday interview on BNN Bloomberg Television. We have lost close to 10% of our overall capacity, with many drivers choosing to opt out prior to the deadline.

Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Bison, which is owned by conglomerate James Richardson & Sons Ltd., has about 3,700 employees and contractors operating a fleet of 2,100 tractors and 6,000 trailers, according to its website.

There are already concerns large companies will have be forced pay up to secure vaccinated drivers, pushing up freight costs, said Ron Lemaire, president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.

I have heard anecdotally that truckers are looking to stop hauling perishable products as there are too many risks if they are delayed in their delivery, Lemaire said by email, noting the association will be closely watching the impact on the supply chain.

Canadian importers rely on trucks to transport fruit that arrives from South America to ports in the northeastern U.S. A shortage of global containers and truck drivers is already causing shipping delays of as long as two weeks and having fewer available truckers will likely make things worse, said Larry Davidson, president of North American Produce Buyers Ltd. in Toronto.

The weekend before the vaccine mandate took effect, the company had only one truck available to pick up 75,000 boxes of grapes in Philadelphia, he said.

Thirty-six of 37 loads that were ready for pickup had to wait four or five days, said Davidson, whose company ships produce across Canada. Were seeing the domino effect just continue.

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
If a person goes to the Midland Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, it may be a while before they are admitted to the hospital, if that is required.

Midland Health officials said Tuesday morning that 21 patients were waiting for a hospital bed, because of the increased activity. That activity includes an increased number of COVID patients. As of Tuesday morning, that number was 103 (47.4 percent of the inpatients).

Midland Health officials said Tuesday that there were 217 total patients in house. That meant 80.3 percent of the available beds were filled. Midland Health officials told the Reporter-Telegram that some of those beds available were in specific units (neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatrics and Labor & Delivery), so that limits options. They also said the current lack of staffing also factors how many people can be moved from the Emergency Room at this time. There are 56 MMH employees that are out because they are COVID positive and another 70 who have been exposed but are "self-monitoring" and at work, officials said.

On Tuesday morning, Midland Health Chief Operating Officer Stephen Bowerman said there was one patient that had been waiting in the ER for an inpatient room for 64 hours.

Thats over two days, Bowerman said. Its not ideal, certainly.

Bowerman said Midland Memorial Hospital has remained busy with COVID patients topping 100 for the first time since September. He also said there were 196 ER visits on Monday  a number he said was down from recent peaks around 250. He credited some of that slowdown to Midlanders not using the ER for testing.

One result of the current numbers crunch is MMH will not be accepting patients from outside the county. Bowerman said MMH had been able to take transfers recently, including COVID patients. He said on Tuesday that 19 percent of the 103 COVID inpatients were from outside the county, including from Las Vegas, Harlingen, El Paso and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

So, whenever we're full like we are now, our emergency room -- through a system that we have throughout the Permian Basin -- will let smaller hospitals that refer to us know that we're full and we're unable to take transfers at that time. We've been in that position most of the last two years, it feels like. Certainly, when we have opportunity -- if we have a couple of critical care beds that open up -- we'll communicate on that tool that we have availability and that we'll take patients from the surrounding areas. If we don't have beds available, then we'll communicate with those hospitals that we can't take their patients at that time. That's why you're seeing patients in our hospital from Weatherford and from El Paso. They're experiencing those same things.

Bowerman said Midland Memorial has 24 Critical Care Unit beds.

We have our supervisor and nursing operations team that are evaluating whos waiting in the emergency room. That's another thing you have to take into consideration. You have 21 patients waiting for a bed, if you free a couple of beds up upstairs, you know they're coming from the ER. But they evaluate that an hourly basis. And whenever we have capabilities, we'll update that site and let those surrounding hospitals know that we're ready to take patients, if they have any.
Two men attempted entering the country using counterfeit documents in unrelated cases, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The first case unfolded on Jan. 14 at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. Jesus Torres-Rodriguez, of Acambaro, Guanajuato, Mexico arrived in a private vehicle as a passenger at about 7:04 p.m.

Torres-Rodriguez, 47, claimed to be a legal permanent resident and presented a legal permanent resident card bearing his name and photo to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. Torres-Rodriguez also stated he was returning to his home in Georgia.

The CBP officer referred him to secondary inspection after suspecting that the document was counterfeit. In secondary, Torres-Rodriguez identified himself as an undocumented citizen from Mexico.

Defendant admitted paying a known individual 100,000 Mexican pesos (or about $5,000) for the document and knew that misrepresenting himself as a (U.S.) lawful permanent resident is illegal, states the affidavit.

A second case occurred at about 1:21 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. Efrain Herrera-Rodriguez, 24, of San Alto, Zacatecas, Mexico arrived at the bridge as a passenger in a vehicle.

He presented his Mexican passport containing a Lincoln Tourist Visa and I-94 travel permit bearing his name and photograph to a CBP officer. He added that the document belonged to him and that he had intentions of traveling to Madisonville, Texas.

The CBP officer queried the document in the CBP database system resulting in negative findings, according to court documents. Herrera-Rodriguez was referred to secondary, where he admitted to purchasing the counterfeit visa from a friend of his for 20,000 Mexican pesos, or about $1,000. He added that a woman gave him the travel permit, states the affidavit.

Both are now facing federal charges.
William R. Harvey, president of Hampton University, has crafted a superior manual that every potential college student should read and in most cases implement.

A Guide to Student Success in College (Kendell Hunt Publishing, 169 pgs., $24.99) is a masterfully compiled roadmap for students and parents from the approach to the college admission process to important elements in the early college experience.

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His guidance is both personal and educational.

President William R. Harvey poses for a photograph inside his office at Hampton University on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (Aileen Devlin / Daily Press)

Perhaps, Harveys most significant section reveals significant life skills for success.

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Personal qualities are listening, discipline, loyalty, perseverance and civility, Harvey writes. These qualities along with the character traits of honesty, integrity, respect, trustworthiness and responsible personal behavior are life skills which will lead to success in ones personal and professional lives.

President of Hampton University for the past 44 years, Harvey has become the national leader not only among historically Black colleges and universities, but also a successful, prominent, nationally recognized academic administrator.

It is with this background that his thoughts and visions of and for collegiate students becomes more meaningful.

Since finances are, perhaps, the most challenging aspect of college education for parents and students, Harvey spends some important time on what federal student aid programs are available, including Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants and Teacher Education Assistance for College and High Education (TEACH) Grants.

There are many more federal programs such as work-study programs and direct subsidized loans.

With many of the loan programs putting parents and students in a significant debt situation, Harvey takes the time to offer a series of solutions, some controversial, that he sees as important in helping to reduce and/or eliminate massive student debts.

Currently, he explains, student loans can be used to pay off car loans, support vacation travel or help pay family bills.

Clearly, the student loan program was not designated for this purpose, Harvey stresses. The loans should only be awarded for direct cost of college attendance, such as room, board, tuition and fees.

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Harvey also takes the opportunity to examine various aspects of todays life that have caused problems. He is concerned about the incivility in politics and the media. Again, he offers solutions  a three-step solution to be specific.

There needs to be a spending cap of $20,000 on any one candidate by an individual, their surrogates or their organizations, including their businesses. Next, there need to be term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court, he urges. Third, there need to be major changes in the way the media operates.

The cable news organizations should be communication vessels, not propaganda machines. One rarely sees straightforward, impartial news anymore, he says.

Likewise, some news outlets allow reporters to inject their biases and past negative personal experiences into a present-day story, Harvey adds.

This book provides experiences in modern-living and is valuable to many, many people in all walks of life, not necessarily just students. His personal quality traits are important to us all, regardless of our age, sex, or cultural background. Maybe the title of this book should be William Harveys aid to coping with lifes experience.

Harvey probably has one more book in him. He could write about his experiences at Hampton University  his successes and his failures. Such an introspective account would help college and university presidents and business executives across the country.

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Entertaining Western novel

Harold Burton Meyers, a retired journalist and longtime Time magazine writer, has used his own western America experiences in a novel A Hero of Brag (The Smash-And-Grab Press, 324 pgs., $15) that captures the flavor of Mississippi and Texas in the post-Civil War decades.

A Hero of Brag (The Smash-And-Grab Press, 324 pgs., $15) (HANDOUT)

Meyers, 97, now lives in Williamsburg, where one of his sons, Terry Meyers, professor of English emeritus at the College of William & Mary, has resided for decades.

The story of the book is as interesting as the story in the book itself.

In his retirement years, Meyers wrote the National Novella Award-winning Geronimos Ponies and, subsequently the University of Texas Press or possibly Texas Tech University Press became interested in this Meyers manuscript, his son Terry, recently explained.

Unfortunately, along came the 2008 depression, editors departed and my Dads book was no longer under consideration, he said. My brother, Steven (of Richmond, Indiana), is a self-publishing novelist and took the manuscript and said he could publish it through his Smash-and-Grab Press.

The Western saga is a case of braggadocios gone wild in a whole lifetime.

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Amos Gower, a Mississippi teenager enlists in the Confederate Army at age 15; his war experience was a dismal failure, but he claims to have been a hero. Later, after impregnating a young girl, Minnie Wilkes, and marrying her, Gower suddenly finds himself the son-in-law of a real war hero.

After Maj. Wilkes dies, Gower gradually takes on the war images of his father-in-law and uses them in his own life. He brags about his war exploits and become a successful rancher in West Texas. Gower, however, runs into financial difficulties and loses his ranch.

Meyers wonderfully flowing prose, in a bright and light journalists style, carries the story line without the need of embellishments or any theatricals.

Gowers own children and grandchildren always hears his false tales including the fact that Gen. Robert E. Lee pined medals on him for bravery. Much of his life is spent as a deputy sheriff, spending nightly drinking bouts in the jail where he is supposed to watch the inmates.

His wife never reconciles with him over their pre-wedding intimacy. She claimed her only recourse was to marry him. And their life, as it was, was marred thereafter. His bragging follows him all the way until his death.

This enjoyable, well written story, is entertaining, to say the least.

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Have a comment or suggestion for Kale? Contact him at kaleonbooks95@gmail.com
EDWARDSVILLE - The Clifford Law Offices of Chicago announced they e-filed a lawsuit against Amazon at the Madison County State Court during a Zoom press conference on Monday.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family of Austin McEwen, a 26-year-old Edwardsville man and an independent contractor driving for an Amazon Delivery Service Partner.

Others killed in the Edwardsville tornado were Clayton Cope, 29, of Alton; Larry Virden, 46 of Collinsville; Deandre Morrow, 28, of St. Louis; Kevin Dickey, 62, of Carlyle; and Etheria Hebb, 24, of St. Louis.

McEwen died after a tornado struck an Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville on Dec. 10, collapsing the roof of the 1 million square foot building.

The complaint alleges that Amazon failed to adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration preparedness plans for inclement weather, could have evacuated workers but chose to have workers continue working during a peak holiday season, and failed to have a facility that contained a basement shelter.

After much deliberation, McEwen's mother, Alice McEwen, decided to file a lawsuit against the company.

"It appears that Amazon placed profits first during this holiday season instead of the safety of our son and the other five families who lost loved ones," said McEwen in a statement during the press conference.

She also spoke personally about her son.

Our son was a very loved individual. He spent a lot of time hunting and loved sports. He traveled a lot with his girlfriend of five years, McEwen said, and they intended on continuing to have fun, travel and become a family.

"It has been well-known as early as 4 a.m. on Dec. 9, 2021, that southwest Illinois was at risk of severe inclement weather. Amazon did nothing to warn these employees," said Jack Casciato, partner at Clifford Law Offices who represents the McEwen family, during the press conference.

Casciato said that Amazon should have cleared the work floor and provided an appropriate storm shelter. He used an analogy of people working in the Chicago Loop district, an area of significant skyscrapers.

"If there was a belief that the Loop could be hit by a tornado and those warnings intensified during the day, most management and employers would immediately tell people to take shelter and evacuate the area," he said. "It's very clear that there could be a profits-over-safety argument in this case. This facility could have easily shut down for the day and workers like Austin could have been directed home."

Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, provided the following statement to the Intelligencer:

This lawsuit misunderstands key facts, such as the difference between various types of severe weather and tornado alerts, as well as the condition and safety of the building. The truth is that this was a new building less than four years old, built in compliance with all applicable building codes, and the local teams were following the weather conditions closely.

"Severe weather watches are common in this part of the country and, while precautions are taken, are not cause for most businesses to close down. We believe our team did the right thing as soon as a warning was issued, and they worked to move people to safety as quickly as possible. We will defend against this lawsuit, but our focus continues to be on supporting our employees and partners, the families who lost loved ones, the surrounding community, and all those affected by the tornadoes.

The complaint is also against Edwardsville-based Contegra Construction Company and Missouri-based Tristar Properties, LLC for construction negligence, due to the possibility of the building not having the proper shelters in an area known for tornadoes.

"Records indicate that there have been 11 tornadoes in this area since the year 2000," said Casciato. "Why wouldn't this warehouse, therefore, have an appropriate storm shelter?"

The lawsuit is believed to be the first filed against Amazon related to the incident.

The McEwens made the brave decision to be pioneers here. When one lawsuit is filed, oftentimes other people will follow to seek that same level of justice, said Casciato, And unfortunately we see that only comes when filing a lawsuit as corporations very rarely will provide the answers that victims families need.
Historian James Horn, president of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation and author of books including "A Brave and Cunning Prince: The Great Chief Opechancanough and the War for America (2021). (Michael Lavin)

Local historian and author James Horn is reframing the story around famed Powhatan chief Opechancanough with his new book, A Brave and Cunning Prince: The Great Chief Opechancanough and the War for America.

The book, which was published in November, was about two decades in the making for Horn, who has authored a number of books documenting early 17th century Virginian history. Over the course of many years of research as both an author and as president and chief officer of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, Horn had come across Openchancanoughs name many times.

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Its a story Ive been aware of for quite a long time, Horn said.

Unlike other important and influential figures in early American history such as Powhatan and Pocahontas, Opechancanough is far less known, with no full-length biography, no really detailed account of who he was or what his achievements were, ... no monuments, no memorials, said Horn, who decided to put the record straight.

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Instead of writing this story as though its been recounted by the English ... I wanted to see it much more from the Powhatan point of view, he said. I think thats one of the most important things about the book, actually, that change of angle and vision. It very much sees the English as the invaders just as the Spanish were considered invaders earlier. Those were the key points directing my work.

For those unfamiliar with Opechancanough, he is largely known for leading what has come to be known as the Jamestown massacre in March 1622, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of colonists as well as leading the Powhatans in the second and third Powhatan wars against the British.

Horn found himself especially interested in the story due to one detail that has never garnered much traction in historical circles, which concerns Opechancanoughs early life.

Paquiquineo, the brother or son of a chief from what would later be known as the Chesapeake Bay, was a youth abducted by Spanish mariners and taken to Europe, and, as Horn contends, was also the one and the same person as Opechancanough, who would go on to lead the Powhatans.

There had been suggestions that he might be one and the same, but most historians dismissed that. Im hoping not any longer after theyve read the work that I put together, he said. I have no doubt that he was one and the same person. Its one of those instances where it was hiding in plain sight and for various reasons, historians hadnt put all the pieces together in a way that made that conclusive.

Clearly, in publishing this book, I feel that I did. So well see how people respond to that. But as the author, I have no doubt.

As Horn points out in A Brave and Cunning Prince, understanding Opechancanoughs experience with the Spanish helps to reframe and recontextualize his dealings with the English and how he confronted the European threat.

What the Powhatans were doing and what Opechancanough was doing was defending their homeland against this group of people that had invaded and settled their lands, Horn said.

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For Horn, one big emphasis in writing this book was the desire to spread awareness about Opechancanoughs story, something that will continue this year at Historic Jamestown as the site takes a closer look at 1622 now 400 years later, emphasizing inclusive history and a diverse approach to telling that history.

Diversity is part of our collective DNA, and thats the message, Horn said. We need to understand one another, especially today as were seeing our society fractured by division and much of that in my view is based on race and racism, so all the more important to talk about it in any kind of forum, and thats what we do at Jamestown.

Sian Wilkerson, sian.wilkerson@pilotonline.com
The Texas Farm Bureau recently released tips from Dr. Bob Judd, a longtime Waco-area veterinarian, on welcoming a new pet into the household.

That included choosing the right food, as Judd said he is often asked by clients what he thinks is the best pet food for dogs and cats. In response, he said that pet owners should consider the digestibility, quality control measures and nutritional content of the food.

"There are hundreds of pet foods available on the market, and just because the food is expensive doesnt mean its a high-quality food," Judd said.

Testing for bioavailability and digestibility should be conducted by the manufacturer, Judd said, along with analysis for nutritional content. The manufacturer should also be able to provide information on quality control procedures such as certification by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and testing for pathogens or toxins.

In addition, every food should have an Association of American Feed Control Officials statement that the food is complete and balanced and indicate which life stage the food is intended for use in, such as puppies or adult dogs.

"If you read closely, some foods indicate theyre only approved for supplemental or intermittent feeding and not balanced for complete nutrition," Judd said. "Food trials are the most accurate method of determining balance, and companies that perform food trials likely provide better foods."

There are also many human foods and medications that can be dangerous or deadly to pets, including over-the-counter medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofin or naproxen, which include brands like Advil or Aleve. These can cause stomach bleeding, intestinal ulcers and kidney failure in pets.

Acetaminophen or Tylenol can damage cats' red blood cells and limit their ability to carry oxygen, while it can cause liver failure and red blood cell damage in dogs.

A wide range of prescription medications including antidepressants, amphetamines for attention deficit disorder, sleep aids, hormonal birth control, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors for blood pressure and cardiac disorders can cause serious illness or irreversible organ damage in pets. Judd recommends storing medications in upper cabinets, safely out of the reach of pets and children.

There are also some human foods that pets must avoid.

"You always think about chocolate, and while chocolate is toxic to dogs, there are lots of other ingredients in food that are also toxic," Judd said.

Onions, garlic and other members of the Allium family are very common ingredients in family meals that are poisonous to dogs and cats. Dried and powdered ingredients, such as dried minced onion or garlic powder, contain higher concentrations and can therefore be even more high-risk.

Consumption of these foods can damage the red blood cells in dogs and cats, leading to anemia. Judd noted cats are about twice as sensitive to these ingredients as dogs. Common signs of over-ingestion include gastrointestinal upset like decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or drooling.

The ingestion of larger amounts that cause red blood cell damage often leads to weakness, elevated heart rate, increased respiratory rate or fast, shallow breathing or panting, pale gums and bloody urine, according to the report.

Symptoms of kidney damage in dogs with red blood cell destruction include increased drinking, increased or significantly decreased urination, vomiting and decreased appetite. If a pet is observed ingesting onion, garlic or any related ingredient, Judd advised the pet owner to call the veterinarian immediately.

Inducing vomiting or administering activated charcoal may be necessary to prevent serious harm. He said some pets will even require IV fluids or a blood transfusion to survive. Although not as dangerous, Judd added baked goods can also cause disease or illness in pets.

"Theyre usually high in fat and can lead to pancreatitis if fed frequently enough," he said.

Symptoms of pancreatitis include gastrointestinal upset and abdominal pain. Left untreated, the illness can progress to a more severe level that requires lengthy hospitalization or may even become incurable.

Its best not to feed pets any human food. Judd said small pet treats formulated specifically for occasional feeding are the best alternatives to feeding pets or treats from the human table. Pet treats can satisfy the humans need to reward pets while helping to keep the pet at a healthy weight.

The Farm Bureau said to consult local veterinarians for more information on new pet care.
After working two jobs in order to make ends meet and then getting laid off from a local oilfield service company, Jaime Moran is finally employed at a steady job for one of Midlands most respected HVAC companies. In July 2021, he began working at The Bosworth Company, but he had to overcome several obstacles to get there.

Approximately 22 years ago, Morans mother made her way to California from Mexico when she was pregnant with him. As a single mother with two small children (Moran and his older sister Daisy), it was difficult to make ends meet in a new country, so she returned to Culiacan, Sinoloa, Mexico, and became an English teacher.

Jaime and Daisy grew up in Culiacan. Daisy eventually married and moved to Midland with her husband. After graduating from high school in Culiacan and obtaining an electrician certificate, Jaime wanted to study architecture in Mexico.

It was very difficult to get accepted into a Mexican university because I was born in the United States and had never become a Mexican citizen, Moran explained. Typically Mexican universities only accept Mexican citizens.

So, Moran decided to follow his sister to Midland to see if he could get a job and start college in the United States. First, he had to learn English.

Even though my mother taught English in Mexico, we never really spoke it, Moran said. So, I enrolled in ESL [English as a Second Language] courses at the Midland College Cogdell Learning Center. I also discovered that I needed to obtain my GED certificate before I could get into a college in the United States, and I needed a job. I didnt want to impose on my sister and brother-in-law to support me.

So, Moran began working the 4 a.m.-2 p.m. shift at JumBurrito and also worked from 4 to 11 p.m. at Mr. Gattis Pizza.

Working those hours didnt give me much time for anything else, he said. I also didnt have a car. I would either walk to work or get an Uber. When my manager at JumBurrito found out that I was walking to work in the dark, she was nice enough to drive me to work in the mornings. I had also moved out of my sisters house and moved in with a friend, but it was just a one-bedroom apartment, so I slept on an air mattress in the living room.

After maintaining this grueling schedule for approximately one year, Moran was hired by a local oilfield service company.

My goal was to take the GED exam and then start college, but I was working 18- to 24-hour shifts, he explained. The pay was good; I rented my own apartment and purchased a car, but I still didnt have time to pursue my dream of furthering my education.

In the summer of 2020, during the COVID pandemic and the subsequent downturn in the energy industry, Moran was laid off from his job.

I told myself, Thats it -- time to get serious about going to college, Moran said. So, I spent about a week studying for the GED exam and then took the exam and passed. Now, I could enroll in classes and work toward a career with steady employment. I did a little research and discovered that Midland College offered HVAC training. Since I already had some electrician training in Mexico, I thought that HVAC would be a good fit for me.

Moran enrolled in the Midland College Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology program in fall 2020. By July 2021, he had obtained enough training to get an entry-level technician job at The Bosworth Company.

I love working for Bosworth, he said. They are a great company and really value their employees. Most days I work normal hours  8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Working normal, steady hours is something new for me. It gives me more time to be with my girlfriend, family and friends.

Moran is continuing to take evening classes at Midland College and will receive a certificate in Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology this coming July. He said that The Bosworth Company is encouraging him to complete the certificate program.

Moran is just one of many MC students pursuing certificates and degrees in applied technology programs, ranging from Welding, Auto Technology, Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration, Energy Technology and other hands-on programs.

The Midland West Rotary Club is helping students in MCs Applied Technology programs through scholarship assistance. On March 11, the club will host its Shoot for the Future clay shoot at Windwalker Farms in Stanton. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit scholarships for MC Applied Technology students.

The Midland West Rotary Club recognizes that students in the Applied Technology fields are often overlooked, Tom Jones, Midland West Rotary Club vice president, said. Yet these students are vital to the Permian Basin economy.

It means a lot to me to be able to have a steady job where I can earn a good living, Moran said. It was a long, hard road to get to this place in my life, but Im glad I made the decision to return to my birth country and have been given the opportunity to pursue a career that I enjoy.

For more information about the Midland West Rotary Clubs Shoot for the Future clay shoot fundraiser, visit the Midland College website at www.midland.edu/clayshoot

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Rebecca Bell is the executive director of Institutional Advancement at Midland College.
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HOUSTON (AP)  A man wanted in the fatal shooting of a Houston restaurant manager was shot and killed by deputies in northeast Houston, according to Harris County sheriff's officials.

The 28-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was shot multiple times Monday after he first ran from the undercover deputies who saw him walking along a street, then made gestures indicating he was pointing a gun at them, said Harris County sheriffs assistant chief Mike Lee.
Directed by TJ Gnanavel, 'Jai Bhim' is a hard-hitting courtroom drama about the fight for the oppressed and caste-based discrimination. (Image: @PrimeVideoIN)

Mumbai: It's been three months since Suriya's 'Jai Bhim' had released, and it's still making headlines for one reason or another.

The latest news is that a scene from the film along with the director's story narrative has been featured on the official YouTube channel of the Oscars.

Directed by TJ Gnanavel, 'Jai Bhim' is a hard-hitting courtroom drama about the fight for the oppressed and caste-based discrimination. The film features Suriya in the role of real-life lawyer Chandru, who dedicated his life fighting for the oppressed without charging a single penny.

In the Oscars' video, Gnanavel can be seen discussing how the story narrative was formed and executed.

After seeing a glimpse of Suriya's movie in the Oscars' video, fans took to social media to express their happiness.

"Jai Bhim is going places. Whatta news," a social media user tweeted.

"Pride of Indian cinema, Suriya," another one wrote.

For the unversed, 'Jai Bhim' also entered the Golden Globes 2022 as a nomination under the category of Best Non-English Language Film.
Following a year punctuated by public clashes with disparate elements of the conservative voting base and leadership, Republican congressman Dan Crenshaw found himself again on the receiving end of criticism following a tense exchange with a young attendee at a Monday night speaking event.

Video of the incident was posted to Twitter by conservative personality Seth Weathers. The footage shows the 37-year-old former Navy SEAL at a Montgomery County Tea Party meeting at Citizens Grill on Monday night responding sharply to a young girl at a speaking engagement after being presented with quotes from past comments he'd made on the Jocko podcast back in March of 2020. The video begins with the girl quoting remarks made by Crenshaw in which the congressman seemingly likened Jesus to a fictional character.

"To anyone who hasn't heard," she says. "Crenshaw said 'The most important thing here is that we have important hero archetypes that we look up to. Jesus is a hero archetype. Superman is a hero archetype. Real characters, too. I could name a thousand: Rosa Parks, Ronald Reagan.' End quote."

"I can't wrap my head around this," she finished.

"Well, let me help you," Crenshaw responded. "Put a period after the word 'Jesus' and don't question my faith."

Crenshaw's response drew boos from the crowd and a loud "Wow" from one onlooker.

"You're talking to a little girl!" someone shouts. "You can't talk to a kid like that."

"Don't question my faith," Crenshaw repeats. "You guys can ask questions about all these things, but don't question my faith."

"This is what you said," the young speaker responds.

"You can read the quote again," Crenshaw says. "Nowhere in that quote am I saying 'Jesus is not real.' That's a ridiculous statement."

Crenshaw proceeds to accuse her of "twisting" his words and positions her actions as "not very Christian." Despite Twitter descending on Crenshaw for being "owned" by a 10-year-old girl, social media user @teet_yourself pointed out the individual quoting Crenshaw in the video appears to be an 18-year-old volunteer for Jameson Ellis, one of Crenshaw's political opponents.

Crenshaw's chief of staff Justin Discigil posted a thread Wednesday defending the representative's strong reaction as one rooted in painful lessons of faith learned as a young man. Discigil quoted passages from Crenshaw's book "Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage," in which the representative wrote about losing his mother to cancer at a young age and how it shaped him as a Christian.

The incident is the latest in a series of public dustups involving the second-term Republican congressman.

At an August 2021 fundraising event Crenshaw found himself being heckled by Bobby Piton, a Republican Senate candidate in Illinois, who took objection to the congressman stating he didn't believe the 2020 presidential election had been stolen.

"Don't kid yourself into believing that's why we lost," Crenshaw told attendees at a GOP fundraising function in Rosemont, Illinois, when asked if he believed if the election had been stolen by Democrats. "It's not. I'll tell you openly."

"You're wrong!" Piton shouted. "I have proof."

Crenshaw has also butted heads on social media with rising Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) in recent weeks, culminating with the Texas congressman calling Greene "a Democrator just an idiot" in an Instagram story. The two began feuding after a December FOX News appearance by Crenshaw in which he endorsed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) taking control of COVID-19 testing in the United States.

On January 2, Greene posted an image of Crenshaw's FOX appearance to Instagram and accused Crenshaw of "hurting" the conservative "brand."

Greene concluded by stating Crenshaw should "stop calling himself conservative."
Fewer voter registration forms will be available to voting groups in the Lone Star State this year, according to the Texas Secretary of State office, which cited supply chain issues as among the reasons for a shortage of paper forms prior to 2022 state elections.

"We are limited in what we can supply this year, because of the paper shortage and the cost constraints due to the price of paper and the supply of paper," Sam Taylor, assistant secretary of state for communications, told Ashley Lopez of KUT Austin. The lack of forms is also due to an increase in demand following the passing of Senate Bill 1, Taylor explains.

The voter registration application changed this year for one reason: Its because the legislature decided to increase the penalty for illegal voter registration from a class B misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor, Taylor told KUT. And that has to be reflected on the new voter registration application.

Due to the shortage, the office will limit forms to 1,000 to to 2,000 registration forms per request to voter registration groups.

We are treating all organizations that request these the same, Taylor said. We are trying to fulfill these requests as fast we can. But the fact is we simply dont have the supply to honor every single request for free applications.

Taylor said the secretary of state office has advised that officials and groups should not distribute the old version of the voter registration form. However, county voter registrars may accept completed voter registration applications on the old form, so long as the application is otherwise valid, Taylor explained.

"In other words, using last year's form in and of itself is not fatal to the voter's registration application," Taylor said. "Old forms will be accepted as long as the application is otherwise valid."

Texas' Senate Bill 1, which went into effect in December and was touted by state Republicans as a measure to protect from voter fraud, is also making it harder for Texans to vote from home. Hundreds of mail-in ballots for the upcoming March 1 primaries have been rejected by local election offices for not complying with the new law.

In Harris County, 208 applications  roughly 16 percent of the 1,276 applications received so far  have been rejected based on new rules, the Texas Tribune reported Thursday. That data includes 137 applications on which voters had not filled out the new ID requirements and 71 applications that included an ID number that wasnt in the voters record.

The Department of Justice has filed two federal lawsuits against Senate Bill 1, arguing it creates more barriers to voting and disenfranchises voters with disabilities, elderly voters, members of the military who are deployed, voters with limited English proficiency and voters residing outside of the country.
A total of five outlawed Maoists were gunned by the police in three different encounters on Tuesday. (PTI file photo)

MULUGU/RAIPUR: A total of five outlawed Maoists were gunned by the police in three different encounters on Tuesday. In the first incident, three members of the banned extremist group were gunned down in an encounter that took place early in the morning between the police and Maoists in Karrigutta forest region of Venkatapuram mandal in Mulugu district on Tuesday. In the second such incident, Maoists Telangana state committee member Sudhakar was killed in an encounter in a forested area in the border of Semaldodi village under Ilmidi police station in Bijapur district of South Bastar in Chhattisgarh.

In the third incident, security forces gunned down a woman Naxal, identified as Munni, in a forest on the border of Sukma and Dantewada districts in South Bastar. Munni carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on her head, the police said.

The police along with the Greyhounds personnel were conducting combing operations in the forest regions on the borders of Telangana and Chhattisgarh, when members of the Maoist group opened fire against the police who in return started firing against Maoists in Mulugu district, killing three ultras. The deceased were identified as Madikam Singey alias Shanta alias Anitha who worked in Yellandu and Narsampet area committee and at present was secretary to Wazedu and Venkatapuram area committees and Kommula Naresh alias Buchanna of Jaggaiahpet village of Regonda mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. The police are yet to identify the third person who was killed in the encounter.

Singey was the prime accused in the abduction and murder of former village sarpanch Korasa Ramesh of Sooraveedu village.

During the encounter, a greyhound police constable Madhu was also injured. The police shifted Madhu in a helicopter to Hanamkonda and after giving him primary medication took him to Hyderabad for better treatment.

Meanwhile in a press statement, Mulugu superintendent of police Sangram Singh G. Patil said that receiving information that the Maoist group was planning to abduct and kill some of the prominent political leaders, the Telangana and Chhattisgarh state police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched joint combing operation in Mulugu and Bijapur districts.

The police recovered one SLR, one INSAS rifle, one single bore weapon, 10 rocket launchers and other articles at the encounter site, he informed.

In the encounter took place in a forested area in Bijapur district, Sudhakar, a divisional committee (DVC) member and senior member of Telangana state committee of Maoist was gunned down, Bastar range inspector general of police P. Sunderraj told this newspaper.

According to him, a search party of Greyhounds commandos, was out on anti-Naxal operations in the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border following inputs on the movement of Sudhakar along with 40-50 Maoists in the area.

A joint force comprising personnel of district reserve guard (DRG), an exclusive tribal force trained in counterinsurgency, and CRPF in Bijapur district cordoned off the area, he said.

One SLR and one INSAS assault rifle were also recovered by security personnel at the encounter site.

In another encounter with ultras in a forest in the border of Sukma and Dantewada districts in south Bastar, security forces gunned down a woman Naxal, identified as Munni.
Local

Cities honor legacy of civil rights leaders

busterthompson / Buster Thompson / Chronicle Reporter Jaquez Patterson, Catrice Patterson and Ariana Hemion hold a banner, from left to right, in Crystal Rivers march Monday, Jan. 17, on the citys newly named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Following behind is the unit and color guard of the Crystal River High School Navy Junior ROTC. Meek Meek

Crystal Rivers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue welcomed its first march to honor the legacy of the U.S. civil rights leader who preached a peaceful push toward freedom and equality.

City Council, locals and several area civic groups braved the frigid winds of Monday, Jan. 17, to pay their respects to King and his dream with a communal walk from Jim LeGrone Memorial Park to Frederick W. Copeland Community Park.

Most of the processions half-mile route took place on Eighth Avenue, which the city recently renamed after King at the request of its residents from the Knights Addition neighborhood, which the 2-mile roadway splits before continuing north across State Road 44.

Street signs bearing the title Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue were unveiled Monday in conjunction with the citys annual recognition of Kings birthday on the federal holiday. More signs will be revealed in the future as the city acquires them.

Members of the George Washington Carver Community Center (GWCCC) hosted the event, which ended with a celebration of King with solemn remarks, music and food.

Lord, I ask that you may give us what Dr. King had  a dream  Unity Church of Christ Written in Heaven Pastor Theodore Hopkins said in prayer. We are all of one race, and that is the human race, and you have given us the grace to understand that, and we believe that and were going to walk in it.

While the cold may have kept more people from showing, the lack of attendance didnt dwindle the voices of those who wanted to share Kings vision.

Its not about the people, GWCCC Board President Coressa Natteal said. Its about the message.

Natteal told the Chronicle the GWCCC will work to make the next event for Crystal Rivers Martin Luther King Jr. Day bigger and better.

We just want the community to be more involved, she said, and we want young people to know what this actually means; we need to get back to the roots of what Dr. King said and what he meant.

A Citrus County Sheriffs Office cruiser and Crystal River Fire Department engine led the parade out of LeGrone Park with their sirens and horns ringing out to sound off the occasion.

busterthompson / Buster Thompson / Chronicle Reporter Crystal River City Council members and other city officials lead off the citys annual parade Monday, Jan. 17, to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Crystal River Mayor Joe Meek, City Manager Ken Frink and council members Cindi Guy, Ken Brown, Pat Fitzpatrick and Robert Holmes walked behind the emergency vehicles alongside city staff.

Meek told event attendees the city was grateful its citizenry organized for Eighth Avenues new name.

It was a long time coming, he said. Were happy to be able to partner with the folks who made this happen.

Meek

George Ann Jackson, the GWCCCs secretary, said shes thankful to see Crystal River memorialize King like the cities of Inverness and Dunnellon did long ago.

This day to us means a lot; its a day that has been long past due ... its a day that we dearly deserve, she told the Chronicle. Its long overdue but, now, this is the time for us to celebrate.

Several parade onlookers decided to step in and join the walk themselves after taking videos and photos of the moving gathering.

A caravan of cars with 20 members of the Afro-American Club of Citrus County and its officers trailed behind a uniformed unit and color guard of the Crystal River High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, which yelled out military cadences throughout the march.

Donna Lucas, board president of the countys Afro-American Club, told the Chronicle Kings name above one of Crystal Rivers main roads will help unify the city.

It instills a sense of pride and it instills a sense of community, she said. African Americans in Crystal River and in Citrus County want to be included and want to feel needed and valued so that sign says everything to us.

Lucas said Kings fight for fair and equal voting practices across the U.S. along with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are taking hits with todays discrimination before and at voting booths. She said its up to younger generations to take a stand against such obstacles.

busterthompson / Buster Thompson Chronicle Reporter Members and officers of the Afro-American Club of Citrus County pose for a photo Monday, Jan. 17, after marching in Crystal River's Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade.

Things are starting to slip backwards, and so we have to instill the dream, the future and the hope, Lucas said. Its nice to celebrate a holiday, its nice to have a day off, but the dream has not been realized.

Citrus County Elections Supervisor Maureen Mo Baird set up a table at Copeland Park to encourage and help Mondays parade attendees register to vote.

Members of the Citrus County Democratic Black Caucus, the Citrus County Democratic Executive Committee, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the Unitarian Church and a few political candidates also participated in the citys procession for King.

Bishop Al L. Hopkins, senior pastor at Redemption Center Church in Crystal River, reminded Mondays crowd about the power of Kings advocacy for nonviolent protests and civil disobedience, like sit-ins and boycotts, which prompted Congress to help protect civil rights.

They understood that you did not need a gun ... all you needed was a determined spirit and a life that you were willing to sacrifice, he said. Change will always cost something; Dr. Kings change literally was paid with his life.

How will you honor his memory with your very own life, Hopkins added in his speech, and what will you sacrifice in order to make his dream come to pass?

Hopkins also asked for people to reflect and act on the challenges their neighbors go through.

For all of us to move human progress forward, me must be willing to sacrifice are own way of life to make someone elses better, he said. It is not enough for us to have a greater way of life when we live around people who do not experience the same way of life as we do.
Florida, US (34429)

Today

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
ANALYSIS: This will be the first Immigration Levels Plan announcement since October 2020. It will be announced by February 14, 2022.

Canada to announce Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024 by February ANALYSIS: This will be the first Immigration Levels Plan announcement since October 2020. It will be announced by February 14, 2022.

Canada to announce Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024 by February ANALYSIS: This will be the first Immigration Levels Plan announcement since October 2020. It will be announced by February 14, 2022.

Canada to announce Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024 by February ANALYSIS: This will be the first Immigration Levels Plan announcement since October 2020. It will be announced by February 14, 2022. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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The Canadian government will provide a major update by February when it announces its Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024.

The announcement will contain Canadas immigration targets for this year, and the next two years, as well as the number of new immigrants Canada will seek to welcome under its various economic, family, and humanitarian class programs. It will be the first such announcement since Canada made the surprise announcement in October 2020 it would seek to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants per year moving forward, or about 40,000 more per year than its previous targets.

Under Canadas main immigration law, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the federal government must make this announcement by November 1st of each year when Parliament is sitting. If Parliament is not sitting, the announcement must be made within 30 sitting days of Parliament reconvening.

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The announcement usually occurs by November 1st of each year, but it did not happen in 2021 since the Canadian government dissolved Parliament due to its September election. Following the election, a new session of Parliament began on November 22nd.

Parliament sat for 19 days before taking a holiday break. It will reconvene on January 31st which means immigration minister Sean Fraser must make the new levels plan announcement by Monday February 14th at the latest.

Of note is that the Canadian government will also very likely table a second levels plan this year by November 1st. The Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 will be the regularly scheduled announcement, and will go ahead as planned barring the very unlikely scenario the Canadian government decides to hold an election for the second consecutive year.

Under the current Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is looking to welcome 411,000 new permanent residents to Canada this year. In 2021, IRCC achieved its goal of landing 401,000 immigrants which is the highest level in Canadian history. IRCC made the target last year amid the challenging pandemic environment by focusing on transitioning temporary residents currently living in Canada to permanent residence.

The current plan aims to welcome 241,500 economic class immigrants to Canada this year through the likes of Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, Quebecs programs, among other pathways. This accounts for 59 per cent of Canadas immigration target.

IRCC is looking to welcome 103,500 family class immigrants through the Spouses, Partners, and Children Program and the Parents and Grandparents Program. This is 26 per cent of IRCCs immigration target.

The remaining 66,000, or 15 per cent of the newcomer target, will be welcomed to Canada on refugee and humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

These proportions have been sustained since the mid 1990s when the Canadian government decided to focus admissions on economic class arrivals to help alleviate the economic and fiscal challenges arising from Canadas aging population and low birth rate. This years plans are likely to stick closely to these proportions.

What may change, however, is the total number of immigrants Canada chooses to target in the coming years. On the one hand, the Canadian government may be satisfied with their already ambitious targets and decide to keep them as is. This would mean simply continuing to slowly increase annual admissions now that the baseline is over 400,000 immigrants. By way of comparison, the baseline was about 250,000 immigrants annually up until 2016. Another consideration is the Canadian government may want to refrain from significant increases so it can work towards tackling its backlogs which currently stand at 1.8 million permanent and temporary resident applicants waiting in the queue.

On the other hand, Fraser has indicated an openness to increasing the targets even further depending on stakeholder feedback. The minister noted he would listen to the likes of community groups and employers to see whether they have a desire to welcome more immigrants.

One may argue that Canadas immigration targets are already high, and the government should put the brakes on higher levels for a few reasons. Backlogs need to be contained, communities across the country have housing affordability issues, and historically speaking, welcoming immigrants amid periods of economic downturn has hurt the labour force outcomes of newcomers.

Conversely, proponents of higher levels may argue that Canada needs higher levels to support its post-pandemic economic and fiscal recovery, and that more immigrants are needed to alleviate labour shortages. Higher targets can also be justified on the grounds they may allow IRCC to reduce its backlogs more quickly. In addition, higher targets may be necessary to accommodate the governments goal of resettling 40,000 Afghan refugees.

What is certain is we will not be guessing for long as the February 14 deadline is just around the corner.

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A covid-19 outbreak at the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda saw at least nine doctors, and as many as 57 patients at the hospital being found positive for the disease.  AP

Hyderabad: With a daily rise in Covid-19 cases and patients seeking medical aid turning up at hospitals, more and more doctors are catching the Coronavirus.

However, with the possibility of a sharp rise in the number of doctors and other healthcare workers getting infected with Covid in the days to come, some government medical colleges and hospitals are learnt to have begun issuing informal orders on shorter quarantine periods.

Meanwhile, a covid-19 outbreak at the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda saw at least nine doctors, and as many as 57 patients at the hospital being found positive for the disease on Monday. Health officials said it was too early to find out if all the 57 in-patients at the Institute caught Covid from the doctors or the other way round.

Sources said that doctors at some government hospitals are being asked to stay in isolation just for three days if they catch Covid and are asymptomatic, and if suffering from some symptoms, then for five days. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had said that anyone testing positive for Covid should isolate themselves for at least 7 days with three successive days of no fever after testing positive.

It is learnt that just between Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, Niloufer Hospital for children, the Institute of Mental Health in the city, and the MGM Hospital in Warangal, some 220 doctors, and post-graduate medical students cutting across various departments, in addition to faculty have been infected with Covid-19 in the past few days.
A Conversation with Melyssa Banda, Vice President of Lyve Mobile Solutions

With a large portion of data not being used, how can businesses get the most out of their data?

Data is a treasure trove of value that businesses dont always know what to do with. According to the Rethink Data report, only 32% of data available to enterprises is put to use. How can businesses get more value out of their data?

First, they must tackle the barriers that impede this value, such as:

data sprawl

edge capacity overflow

unstructured data resulting from growing automation and machine data creation

bandwidth limitations

growing TCO associated with data storage and movement

difficulties in finding ways to offload and store massive data sets

ubiquitous data silos

weak data strategies

How does data agility factor into this?

Hugely. About 87% of organizations will use external service providers to migrate data to the cloud by 2026. That movement is happening in an increasingly complex data landscape. It is marked by unprecedented data growth, with nearly 180ZB of data volume expected by 2025, and with enterprise data growing at the rate of 42% on average just last year.

Data is more sprawled than ever.

Not only does data reside at locations that are far from each other, but the movement of heavy data streams between them requires support. The growth of multicloud adds to the complexity. With the exponential costs of cloud storage (egress, ingress, API fees), edge and on-prem capacities started to reach their limits, and data sets became too heavy to move over the network.

The challenge is not just about moving data, but from where to where and who has access and being locked into historical platforms and tools. Enter the need for frictionless physical data transport and the increased frequency of transfers. About 65% of enterprises are physically moving data and the market for physical data movement is growing by double digits.

Can you give an example or two of organizations struggling with data mobility?

Any organization managing massive data sets (100TB and more) finds that the bandwidth is often insufficient for quick transfers, delaying time to insights and value. I know of teams of scientists in the wilderness of Montana whose work combats climate change by tracking wildfire data and sage grouse populations. Researchers working for University of Montanas Autonomous Aerial Systems Office and for Nature Conservancy were frustrated with having to wait for huge data sets to upload to the cloud.

Eliminating the endless delays that impeded their research was crucial for their success. They also needed security so that data wasnt lost to the tough demands of field work, as well as long-term reliability so they could continue pulling insights from their data for years to come. Theyre not fans of idle data and idle hours in the field.

Seagate Technology

This predicament is true for corporations, too.

Yes. The most innovative companies today struggle with data mobility. Take the marine surveyor Terradepth. From predicting atmospheric weather patterns, to building underwater energy and telecom infrastructures, to protecting the future of our coastal communities, Terradepth collects data that is changing the way we interact with the ocean. But the amount of data needed to map the ocean is staggering. With more than 80% of the ocean unexplored, the data collected would clog the pipelines so much that the outflowand insights from itcould never catch up.

What solutions exist for researchers and corporations alike to help them get the most out of their data while lowering TCO?

Data shuttle and offloading services have become a winner in situations when bandwidth transfers would significantly slow time to insights. Thats why Seagate built Lyve Mobile, a mass-capacity mobile edge storage and data transfer service using frictionless, rugged data shuttles that quickly move heaps of data. Faster time to insights means faster time to greater business value. Lyve Mobile was a game changer for the Montana researchers and Terradepth alike.

Another solution to highlight here is managed service providers. About 50% of companies that use physical data transfer turn to managed service providers to help them with their data transfer needs.

What data storage solutions help when data is at rest?

Once the data is done with its journey, organizations need to store it while retaining easy access to it. Companies that reach scale find themselves facing unpredictable bills and fees for moving data sets in and out of the public cloud. As a complement to their cloud strategy, we recommend Lyve Cloud, a TCO-optimizing data storage-as-a-service platform situated close to where data is located (at the edge). Its simple and efficient, with zero unpredictable fees.

Finally, for enterprises that want to scale their private data centers with industry-leading density, nothing beats storage systems powered by industry-leading, capacious enterprise-class hard drives and SSDs. There are a plethora of great self-healing, high-density data storage systems out there, including our own CORVAULT.

Ultimately, so much comes down to being able to use and safeguard data well, doesnt it? Its what propels humanity forward.

To learn more about these and other solutions, visit us here.
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On Martin Luther King Jr. Dayamid the typical stories about marches, political speeches, and lawmakers and corporations that have no business quoting King doing so (and being called out for it)an impending Senate debate on voting protections loomed large in the news cycle, even as its outcome appeared preordained. Senators will today take up a pair of bills, both of which already passed in the House, that enjoy overwhelming support among Senate Democrats but will not pass a Republican filibuster unless Democrats move unanimously to sidestep it, something that senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin (them again) have said they wont do. In a bid to pressure recalcitrant politicians into reversing course, members of Kings family led a march and convened a news conference in Washington, DC, and also spoke to members of the media separately. The family cut through the usual lofty invocations to make a specific ask, Politicos Eugene Daniels writes: No celebration without legislation.

Its not just senators who are coming under increased scrutiny as the fight to preserve Americas democracy heats upthe political press is, too. The debate as to whether major news organizations are doing enough to communicate the threat and fight back against it isnt new, but seems to have taken on fresh urgency since the anniversary, two weeks ago, of the insurrectionand the reviews have, for the most part, been mixed at best, very bad at worst. Margaret Sullivan, a media critic at the Washington Post, concluded that while many individual journalists have contributed impressive coverage of the insurrection and ongoing Republican subversion, their employers are mostly not making democracy-under-siege a central focus of the work they present to the public as a strategic editorial priority; Sullivans colleague Perry Bacon Jr., argued, meanwhile, that many outlets are now defining democracy as a core coverage area, but added that this coverage isnt always sharply framed and that it could be even more prominent, particularly on widely watched local and national TV network newscasts. The press critic Dan Froomkin, for his part, was more scathing still: Top editors and reporters, he wrote, have effectively responded to columns like Sullivans and Bacons by giving us all the finger.

ICYMI: In France, an extraordinary musical interview sparks a debate on infotainment

Froomkin was referring, specifically, to coverage of last weeks congressional wrangling over the voting rights bills, arguing that political reporters largely framed them as they would any other partisan dogfightwithout any sense of urgency, without crucial context, and without even explaining whats in the bills in question. There have been other specific criticisms of this coverage, too. Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman, also of the Post, wrote that many reporters have come to accept unanimous Republican opposition to federal voting rights protections as a natural, unalterable, indelibly baked-in backstop condition of political life, and thus dont often bother to hold them accountable for it, instead obsessing over Democratic infighting; Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at New York University, cited this trend as evidence that the press continues to prize political savviness over integrity in public life, while Wesley Lowery observed that he knows in deep detail what Manchin/Sinemas issues with the bills are but cant say the same for the 50 GOP senators. And various observers pointed out, in a similar vein, that the impending failure of the bills has too often been viewed primarily through the lens of President Bidens political standing, holding him responsible for Republican obstructionism. Numerous prominent journalists fussed, for example, over Bidens divisive tone after he asked in a recent speech whether senators are on the side of King or segregationists like George Wallace.

In addition to such criticism, observers have offered suggestions as to how the press as a whole might cover threats to democracy better. Rosen and others have long called for news organizations to overtly state their institutional commitment to democracy; Sullivan argued, in her recent column, that outlets should consider putting their coverage of election subversion outside their paywalls, while also emphasizing the stories of people who are fighting to reinvigorate democratic processes. Some outlets are trying to do that themselves: noting recently that media navel-gazingrarely results in productive reform, Tony Marcano, the managing editor of KPCC and LAist in Southern California, explained how his newsroom is working to refocus its politics coverage, rebranding the beat as Civics and Democracy and instructing reporters to move beyond electoral horse races and partisan talking points to examine who gets listened to, and why, and provide a guide to anyone who wants to more fully participate in civic life. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, meanwhile, explained that it is taking a citizens agenda approach to a local mayoral election, asking voters what issues they want candidates to address.

We cant just sit back and wait for the national news organizations based in Washington and New York to shift their focus, Marcano wrote of the reset at KPCC/LAist. It has to start locally to drive home the relevance of the threat. Local newsrooms do indeed have a crucial role to play; they are in some ways the medias first line of defense here, since so much Republican election subversion involves local-level rules and offices, with adherents of the Big Lie running for previously obscure posts with direct oversight of vote counting and certification. But national newsrooms must urgently shift their focus, too. There has already been a lot of good national-level coverage of these local maneuvers, but whenever threats to democracy become a really dominant national story, the coverage is usually organized around national-level story lines: the insurrection and probe thereof, federal voting rights bills, what Biden is saying, and so on. These stories are urgent and, in the case of the bills at least, have a necessary local component, since the federal legislation is a response to state-level laws. But, as Froomkin notes, the local specifics have often been downplayed. More broadly, as Bacon notes, the traditional division of focus between national and local outlets simply doesnt work here. Republican operatives rely on quietly moving institutional chips into place below the level of the national spotlight. But they cant do this quietly if the national spotlight finds them.

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The compelling criticisms outlined above are, to my mind, less about increasing the volume of democracy-subversion coveragewere seeing a lot of it at the moment, even if there could still be morethan a hard reset in the culture of much political journalism, which is a harder ask. One part of this, as Ive written many times here, is to stop muddying lines of accountability and to get away from covering politics as a game, as outlets like KPCC/LAist are trying to do. Another imperative is not only to inject more existential urgency across the board, but also to marshal it with greater care; well-placed, genuinely sharp explanatory scrutiny can often do more good than setting your hair on fire on cable news night after night. We also need to see democracy not as a beat or story, but as a principle undergirding all our coverage, since democracy itself is the principle undergirding public life. Its ridiculous, as Ive written before, to cover future elections as normal races when the rules are being warped. But my point here is broader. The climate crisis is a democracy story, as is social policy. Yet Bidens stalled legislation in these areas is often covered separately from his voting legislation; as competing, not complementary, priorities.

Over the long weekend, a Trump rally in Arizona loomed in the news cycle. Thankfully, it didnt achieve the saturation-level coverage of Trump rallies pasteven Fox didnt carry it livebut it nonetheless sparked no little content and punditry. The bulk of this, that I saw, centered on Trump himself, but as Waldman points out in the Post, the much bigger story out of the event should have been the parade of Arizona politicians who came to pay tribute to him, including Kari Lake, a TV anchor turned Big Liespewing gubernatorial candidate, and Mark Finchem, a QAnon-adjacent conspiracy theorist who was in DC on January 6 and now wants to oversee Arizonas elections as a Trump-endorsed candidate for secretary of state. As Waldman notes, you probably havent heard of Finchem, but it is almost impossible to exaggerate what a fanatic he is. If Lake, Finchem, or anyone else of their ilk gets elected in Novemberand thats the first your readers are hearing of themyoure probably doing something wrong.

Below, more on democracy and the press:



Other notable stories:

Podcast: The Chicago ed beat

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
This article is the second in a series focusing on notable forensic journalists for the Tow Center for Digital Journalism.

The truth is its own goal, Emma Best says of the new journalist collective, Distributed Denial of Secrets. Think of DDoSecrets (a play on the name of a type of cyberattack called a distributed denial of service) as an alternative to Wikileaksindeed, in some cases it hosts the same materialthat devotes more attention to explaining its standards for the material it distributes and less to eye-catching press releases. It distributes caches of previously secret dataemails, government records, contractssome via direct download through the site linked above, some by carefully vetted request. We simply want to make the information available, and to prevent it from disappearing, Best, who is the only non-pseudonymous member, says.

The site, which has existed since December of last year, publishes huge volumes of raw data through Tor Hidden Services, an encrypted amenity provided by the Tor Project. In January, for instance, DDoSecrets released a huge dump of emails and messages from Russian officials that Wikileaks had declined to host on the grounds that they were already public (many were not), detailing the deployment of Russian troops to Ukraine in 2014, which the Kremlin categorically denied was happening at the time.

Reportage and opinion based on that data is left to traditional deadline journalists, but DDoSecretss archive, which includes dozens of document troves from around the world, is carefullyjournalistically, evendesigned. State-sponsored hacks are flagged, as are hacked materials that cannot be verified and may be adulterated. Independent journalists like Marcy Wheeler and major organizations like The New York Times have built stories on DDoSecretss publications. Wikileaks, too, has been the source for major news stories, but it has consistently earned criticism for not vetting its sources in the way that DDoSecrets claims to do. (Wikileaks did not respond to request for comment.)

Best says she and another member, called The Architect, began the project last year. In 2018, The Architect came to me with their desire to see a new platform for leaked and hacked materials, along with other relevant datasets, she says. Weve known each other for some time, and they were willing to bring their technical expertise to the project. We pooled our resources, along with those of people who chose to not be directly acknowledged, and worked on the initial archive which publicly launched in early December 2018.

Bests reputation as a national security journalist and dogged FOIA filer precedes her. Now, she is the public face of DDOSs otherwise anonymous or pseudonymous collective, both writing about the groups newest data cache releases and helping to acquire them. On her MuckRock page are both newsy investigations and several indexes of organizational recordkeeping manualsunglamorous to publish and arduous to acquire but priceless to fellow FOIA filers. Her most recent work to catch the broader public eye was about another nontraditional journalistic operation: Wikileakswhich, Best reported, had sent out a list of 140 things the organization considered false and defamatory when said about Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. (Hilarity ensued.) She had reported skeptically on the organization before, noting among other things the incomplete nature of its archive of John Podestas emails.

The project has met with high praise from Bests peers. People are quick to call it the work of transparency activists, which really disappears a lot of labor, Wheeler, who covers national security from an outsider perspective at her blog Emptywheel, says.

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Journalism is changing, and maybe its comfortable [for institutional journalists] to dismiss that. Some of DDoSecretss most scandalous Russian documents had already been made public, Wheeler saystwo Ukrainians brought them to the BBC. But DDoSs freely available download of the entire cache, which had been available only piecemeal and through dodgy websites hosted in Russia and Ukraine, got the attention of The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Daily Beast, and other high-profile newsrooms.

Like Wikileaks, DDoSecrets is cagey about the nature of its operationsalways a paradox for organizations that promote transparency. Best says there are fewer than 20 people working with the collective. And while Best knows who The Architect is, shes not sure whether its the same Architect who was a founding employee of Wikileaksand acrimoniously departed in 2010. I understand people would like that narrative. But an answer would need info I dont have, she tells CJR during an interview conducted using the secure messaging app Signal. She knows the identity of her Architect, but not Wikileakss. If I cant relay the info and dont have a need to know, I try not to even ask..

Some of Bests colleagues have backgrounds working for state authorities. Those experiences are a big part of what drove some of us to (sometimes radical) transparency work, as they did for Chelsea Manning and Ed Snowden (neither of whom are part of DDoSecrets, to be clear), she writes via Signal. Those associations all ended well prior to DDoSecrets coming together and were internally disclosed early on..

At the moment, the entire project is a labor of love for Best, Theor at least or at least anArchitect, and their undisclosed colleagues. Everything is out of pocket for the time being, she says. We havent setup any mechanisms for people to provide financial support, and weve rejected offers from people who were willing to pay for access to our LIMDIS [limited distributionavailable by request only, but listed on the site] data sets or for us to perform searches on them.

The DDoSecrets website also includes a Wanted sectiona list of hacked documents the group is actively seeking. Best cautions CJR that the group does not steal or solicit theft. Our Wanted page lists only materials known to exist from preexisting breaches and leaks for this reason  there are ethical (not to mention legal) lines that would be crossed in soliciting or committing the actual theft of data. No one in the group, she says, has even suggested stealing or copying information in a way that would break the law.

With all this data-gathering firepower, why has DDoSecrets not simply set up a news site? There are, after all, only a few journalist teams capable of navigating the multilingual, technically complex tranches of information that DDoSecrets has made available, and DDoSecrets has one of them. Agendas creep into press releases, and biases, misrepresentations or misunderstandings get repeated, Best says. Weve seen this with releases from some other platforms. By simply saying, Heres the data, it should speak for itself, its easier to accept.

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Sam Thielman is the former Tow editor at the Columbia Journalism Review, and a reporter and critic based in New York. He is the creator, with film critic Alissa Wilkinson, of Young Adult Movie Ministry, a podcast about Christianity and movies, and his writing has been featured in The Guardian, Talking Points Memo, and Variety, among others.
Survivors of a Bronx apartment building fire that killed 17 people last week have already filed a lawsuit, charging that the landlords knew of defective and unsafe conditions in high-rise building.

Rosa Reyes and Felix Martinez allege in the class-action suit that the owners, Bronx Park Phase III Preservation and investment groups and individuals, failed to ensure that steel safety doors were self-closing and that smoke detectors were functioning. The landlords also neglected fire escapes and electrical lines and did not have a sprinkler system installed, the complaint states.

Fire investigators have said that a space heater was the likely cause of the blaze, but that safety doors may not have been working properly to keep smoke from spreading throughout the building. The flames damaged only a small part of the building, but smoke poured through the apartments open doors and turned stairwells into ash-choked death traps. The stairs were the only method of escape in a tower too tall for fire escapes, according to news reports.

The suit, filed in Bronx County, alleges damages exceeding $1 billion. The complaint can be seen here.

The attorney for the plaintiffs, Robert Vilensky, blogged on his web site that city officials also hold some responsibility for what has been called New Yorks deadliest fire in decades.

The unfortunate fact of this accident is that it could have been prevented, with many lives saved, with proper municipal involvement, Vilensky wrote. However, the city institutions and figures we ideally should be trusting have turned a blind eye toward addressing and fixing the condition of crucial fire safety features that the buildings landlords allowed to slide.

Photo: Emergency first responders remain at the scene after a fire erupted at a 19-story residential building in the Bronx on Jan. 9, 2022
When the superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools announced earlier this week a cyber attack would lead to the cancellation of classes for around 75,000 students, he noted that the districts technology department had been fending off attacks for the last few weeks.

Albuquerque is not alone, as five school districts in the state have suffered major cyber attacks in the past two years, including one district thats still wrestling with a cyber attack that hit just after Christmas.

But its the first reporting a cyber attack that required cancellation of classes, all the more disruptive as schools try to keep in-person learning going during the pandemic.

If it seems Ive come into your homes a lot in the past couple of years to share difficult news, youre right. And here I am again, Superintendent Scott Elder said in a video address Thursday. We find ourselves facing yet another challenge.

The closures, on Thursday and Friday, affected approximately one in five New Mexico schoolchildren, in what is the countrys 35th largest school district by enrollment, according to 2019 data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The district was one of the last in the state to reopen last year as vaccines became available.

The small town of Truth or Consequences discovered a cyber attack on Dec. 28, and still hasnt gained control of its computer systems.

Were not out of the woods yet, said Mike Torres, the information technology director of the school system in Truth or Consequences, a small town in central New Mexico.

The attack has not been previously reported. It came when students were on vacation, allowing time to make contingency plans before students returned. Torres says that while the attack made computer systems unavailable, disruption has been minimal.

That wasnt the case in Albuquerque, where teachers discovered Wednesday morning that they were locked out of the student information database that tracks attendance, records emergency contacts for students, and tracks which adults are allowed to pick up which students at the end of the school day.

In 2019, Las Cruces Public Schools also suffered an attack on their student information database, after a phishing attack lured one or more employees to click a malicious link in an email months before, recalls Matt Dawkins, that districts information technology director.

After lurking and scoping out the districts system, a hacker or hackers carried out ransomware attack. Data on many school computers, starting with the student database, was locked up in an encryption. A ransom was demanded in exchange for the key.

Its kind of like when your house gets robbed you know? That feeling of being violated, said Dawkins, in an interview Thursday, as his school went under lockdown due to an unrelated police call a mile away.

The school didnt pay the ransom, and eventually found a way to reset its data systems to the state they were in the day before the attack. But it required months of hands on work, and extra expenses for temporary Wi-Fi hotspots, and some new computers. Insurance covered much of the cost of the attack.

In the past two years, at least four other New Mexico schools have been hit by costly cyber attacks, according Patrick Sandoval, interim director of the New Mexico Public School Insurance Authority, which insures all districts in New Mexico except for Albuquerque.

Targets across the U.S. in 2021 included universities, hospitals, and a major fuel pipeline. Data on the number of attacks and their cost are difficult to track, but the FBIs 2020 annual report on cyber attacks said around $4.1 billion in damages was reported by institutions across the country that year.

Dawkins added if Albuquerque faces a ransomware situation, which hasnt been confirmed, it might face a more complex attack. Instead of holding information hostage, ransomware attacks now threaten to sell data to the highest bidder online. So the student data in Albuquerque might not just be locked up, Dawkins said, but at risk of being shared with identity thieves and other bad actors.

Albuquerque Public Schools hasnt said if the cyber attack they face is a ransomware attack, only that their student information database was compromised, and that its working with law enforcement and contractors to limit the damage.

Whatever the cause, they face a similar problem as Las Cruces faced in the days following the attack.

The database used to track attendance and other students was out of commission. It also realized that laptops needed to be quarantined and taken out of service, forcing teachers to work offline.

Immediately our instructional department pivoted with pen and paper, you know, kind of old fashioned sort of teaching so our print shop was printing materials. Teachers were able to adapt very quickly, Dawkins said.

Albuquerque Public School officials have not elaborate on the decision to close schools, and didnt respond to requests Thursday about why a paper system was not possible.

The decision to continue classes in Las Cruces came at a cost. Dawkins said that it probably took longer to get the schools thousands of computers wiped and reset while teachers and administrators were working normal hours, and they had to live without technology for weeks and weeks.

In January 2020, the districts computers were running again and in good time, too _ the pandemic forced teachers and students into remote learning just a few months later.

Attanasio 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 under-covered issues.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Beachwood, OH (44122)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The tableau of Telangana showing Bathukamma, floral festival of the state, passes through the Rajpath during the 71st Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi. (PTI file photo)

Hyderabad: There will be no Telangana tableau at the Republic Day parade in Delhi this year. Official sources said the state government did not send any proposals to the Centre in this regard for the second year in a row, citing Covid as a reason.

While the Centre and a few states such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc have started a war of words with the Centre over the rejection of their tableaux for the Republic Day parade, the Telangana government chose to stay away from the parade.

Telangana tableaux have figured in the Republic Day parade only twice since the formation of the state in June 2014.

For the first time, Telangana's tableau with Bonalu festival theme was on display in the Republic Day parade in 2015. Later, the proposals submitted by the state government on various themes were rejected by the Centre in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Telangana tableau made it to the Republic Day parade for the second time in 2020 after a gap of five years. It was based on the Bathukamma theme with Goddesses Sammakka-Saralamma depicting famous Medaram Maha Jatara.

Later, in 2021, the state government did not submit any proposals citing Covid. Official sources said this year too, the state government opted out of the Republic Parade race due to the prevailing Covid conditions in the state.
Steve Ly on Jan. 17 announces his campaign for the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors' District 5 race. The former Elk Grove mayor held his rally at Elk Grove's Backer Park.
Clinton, IA (52732)

Today

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 36F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 36F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The Bureau of Corrections has identified another inmate who fled from the New Bilibid Prison's maximum security compound, making him the fourth escapee in Monday's jailbreak incident.

BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said on Tuesday the agency tagged a certain Chris Candas Ablas, who was convicted for robbery with homicide, as among the prisoners who recently broke out of the facility in Muntinlupa.

Chaclag said Ablas was earlier reported missing with the possibility of being the fourth unidentified escapee.

Out of the four who escaped, two were killed in a shootout, while the remaining two  Ablas and a certain Drakilou Falcon  are still at large.

The maximum security compound is still under lockdown while authorities are conducting recovery efforts, Chaclag added.

PMGEN Vicente Danao, Jr., director of the National Capital Region Police Office, said he also ordered a region-wide manhunt for the escaped convicts.

"We have alerted all units to stay on the ground and assist in apprehending the fugitives who are presumed armed and dangerous," said Danao in a statement. "We plead for the public to be alert and vigilant."

The BuCor earlier asked the public to call 09178049362 and 09186001081 for information on the remaining escapee.

The inmates were reported to have fled the facility at 1 a.m. on Monday. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation will also step in to probe the incident.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The Commission on Elections is willing to participate in a congressional hearing to look into the supposed hacking of its servers ahead of the polls.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that while they are sure there was no evidence of any data breach, as so far proven by the National Bureau of Investigation, they understand that other concerned parties would still want to know what truly happened.

Jimenez said the immediate joint congressional oversight committee hearing being proposed by Sen. Imee Marcos in her recent Senate resolution would be a "good idea" to finally put the issue to rest.

Marcos serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation.

"I think its necessary for the comfort of the people who would be attending the oversight committee hearing. As far as Comelec is concerned, we are pretty sure that no hacking has happened," Jimenez said.

"We are thankful that the NBI is validating that assertion but obviously there are stakeholders who will want to hear the story of this alleged hacking. For that reason, if nothing else, The congressional oversight hearing should probably be a good idea," he added.

Last week, a report from the Manila Bulletin revealed that a group of hackers was "able to breach the servers" of the Comelec on Jan. 8, downloading more than 60 gigabytes of data such as usernames and personal identification numbers. Concerns about a potential security leak close to the elections prompted a more thorough probe of the supposed incident.

But the poll body already denied that its systems have been compromised. Jimenez even stressed that it is impossible for PINs to be identified since "it is too early for them to be generated for the elections."

Citing Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, Jimenez added that their system is "not connected" to any network, running contrary to the usual practices of hacking which require remote access to get into the system.

The NBI previously went to the Comelec warehouse in Laguna to conduct a site inspection amid hacking reports. Jimenez said they were scheduled to meet with the bureau's representatives within the day to get more updates on the issue.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) The Department of Health (DOH) is still waiting for experts' recommendation on the COVID-19 booster brand that should be administered to those who received the Sinopharm vaccine as their primary series.

In a House briefing on Tuesday, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said officials are having a hard time coming up with a decision due to the lack of studies and data from the manufacturer itself.

"Unfortunately, we are still studying our policy and our experts are still looking [at] ano po ang booster sa (what will be the booster for) Sinopharm," Cabotaje said.

"[B]ecause there is no data available elsewhere  abroad and in the country and even from Sinopharm  ano ba ang magandang i-booster sa kanya (what will be the best booster for it)," she explained.

Cabotaje also appealed to recipients of the China-made shots for patience.

"We just ask their patience to wait until we have a final recommendation from our experts with the concurrence po ng (of the) FDA (Food and Drug Administration)," Cabotaje said.

Malacanang earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte already received his booster shot of Sinopharm  the same brand he got for his first two doses.

Asked about the matter, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles explained it was the advice of Duterte's physician. "That's under the advice of the doctor, so it's between him and the doctor," he said in his media briefing.

The chief executive received his first Sinopharm dose in May 2021, which he apologized for since the vaccine was not yet approved for emergency use by the FDA at that time. The regulatory body approved Sinopharm use in June.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The Department of Justice on Tuesday said it will recommend the transfer of alleged drug lord Rolan Kerwin Espinosa to a detention center with the tightest security following his reported escape attempt.

But for the transfer to happen, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the courts where Espinosas cases are being tried would first have to issue commitment orders.

He explained that those awaiting completion of their trial  and who have not or cannot post bail  are usually detained in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities.

The courts will determine the appropriate BJMP facility, but well recommend the most secure one, he said.

Guevarra said top security should be ensured in the case of Espinosa "in view of the numerous cases filed against him.

The self-confessed drug lord has been under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) since December 2016. The NBI said he and two other inmates attempted to bolt the bureaus detention center last week via a hole covered by a deformed exhaust fan where a detainee could squeeze through and escape.

Guevarra said the same recommendation for transfer will be made regarding the two other detainees.

Espinosa and his father, the slain Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr., were among the personalities tagged as alleged drug dealers by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.

In the same year, the younger Espinosa was arrested in Abu Dhabi. His father was also caught but was later killed in his jail cell, an incident suspected by some lawmakers as an extrajudicial killing.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18  The Commission on Elections intends to stage the national debates as early as February, ahead of the upcoming elections.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday that they are just securing the memorandum of understanding with aspirants to establish the ground rules in the debates.

"Its good that we have the final list of candidates out now. We will begin the process of negotiation with the candidates," Jimenez said. "We have to secure MOUs with them so they will agree to the rules of the debate."

"We hope to stage the debates starting February, then well have one set of debates per month, for February, March and April," he added. "We will have back-to-back debates  presidential and VP debates, one after the other, once a month."

Jimenez said that even if they are not organizing debates among senatorial aspirants, they are preparing a set of certification rules to be followed by media outlets that will independently hold the debates.

The Comelec earlier said the debates they will hold will be done under a "hybrid" setup, where candidates can attend in-person while the audience would stay at home and watch virtually, to observe health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
China's ex-senior provincial political advisor prosecuted

Xinhua) 15:50, January 18, 2022

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A public prosecution has been initiated against Xiao Yi, a former senior political advisor in east China's Jiangxi Province, over suspected bribe-taking and abuse of power.

The Hangzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate in Zhejiang Province recently filed a lawsuit with the Intermediate People's Court of Hangzhou, an official statement said Tuesday.

The lawsuit follows the conclusion of an investigation by the National Supervisory Commission into the case involving Xiao, who was formerly vice-chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the leading Party members' group of the committee.

Previously, Xiao had served as head of the office of the Jiangxi provincial government in Beijing, and the secretary of the Fuzhou municipal committee of the Communist Party of China. Fuzhou is a city in Jiangxi Province.

The procuratorate charged Xiao with taking advantage of his positions to seek gains for others in project contracting and development and accepting a huge amount of bribes in money and valuables in return. Xiao also helped certain enterprises in seeking funding support and other benefits in breach of regulations, causing huge losses to the public property.

Public prosecutors said that Xiao should be held criminally responsible for committing the crimes of taking bribes and abusing power.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The government is utilizing big pharmacies and private clinics to be able to administer more COVID-19 booster doses.

The pilot run will begin on Thursday in seven locations across Metro Manila.

The Department of Health said booster shots will be available in the following pilot locations:

1. Mercury Drug in Quirino Avenue, Manila City

2. Southstar Drug in SSD, Marikina City

3. Watsons in SM Supercenter Pasig

4. Generika Drugstore Signal 1 in Taguig City

5. The Generics Pharmacy in Sun Valley, Paranaque City

6. Qualimed Clinic in McKinley Road, Makati City

7. Healthway in Manila City

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the booster shots will be free of charge since they are still part of the government's COVID-19 inoculation drive.

He said the private facilities will be given 500 vaccine doses per week. He added local government units will oversee the registration and documentation process.

After the week-long pilot run of the "Resbakuna sa mga Botika" program in Metro Manila, it is set to be rolled out in other parts of the country.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr said the efforts to tap pharmacies will be focused in Metro Manila, 10 other key cities, and other areas with more than 70% vaccination coverage to keep a high and continued level of protection.

He added that mega vaccination sites  like the one in Nayong Pilipino  and shopping malls should be dedicated for the governments booster program, and authorities should also visit barangays and go home-to-home to administer the primary doses.

At least half a million doses need to be administered daily in the country to achieve the target of giving boosters to 72 million Filipinos in 2022. Currently, only an average of 267,900 booster shots are administered in the country per day.

To date, Galvez said 4,765,771 Filipinos have gotten their booster shots.

"Ito po...ay mababa dahil halos sabay natin inilunsad ang pagbabakuna ng mga bata," he said. "Ang mga bata po (na nabakunahan) ngayon ay mahigit na 8 million."

[Translation: This number is low because vaccinations for children were launched almost at the same time. There are now over 8 million vaccinated children.]

RELATED: COVID-19 patient can get booster shot after isolation  DOH
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The newly-renovated Manila Zoo will open its doors for COVID-19 vaccination of minors and senior citizens beginning Wednesday, Jan. 19, the city government announced.

On a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Manila Public Information Office said the facility will cater to senior citizens and minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

Parents and guardians of minors can also secure their COVID shots at the popular zoo, it added.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, however, said the facility will not accept walk-ins. Individuals wanting to get their shots should register at www.manilazoo.ph and www.manilacovid19vaccine.ph.

He also clarified that the facility can only accommodate up to 1,000 Filipinos per day.

The city mayor earlier said the five-hectare recreation facility can serve a "double purpose" as it is an ideal location for a vaccination drive given its open spaces.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The name of presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos will still be part of the ballot for the May polls despite his pending cases before the Commission on Elections.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenes said the poll body has already prepared the ballot face, with Marcos' name included in the roster of 10 aspirants vying for the top post.

"What happened yesterday was we released the final ballot face for the national candidates, we already have what the ballot will look like with all of the names that will be included in the final ballot," Jimenez said.

"Yes, nandoon ang pangalan ni Bongbong Marcos (the name of Bongbong Marcos is there)," he added.

Jimenez noted that aside from the 10 presidential aspirants, the names of nine vice presidential aspirants, 64 senators, and 178 party-lists will be included in the ballot, which will still be printed back-to-back.

RELATED: 10 presidential aspirants remain in Comelec's tentative 2022 roster

The Comelec will print the final version of the ballot around the 20th, two days after the virtual walkthrough of the ballot printers at the National Printing Office on Tuesday, he added.

The basement of the office has been dedicated exclusively to the printing of around 1.1 million ballots per day.

Comelec Deputy Executive Director Helen Aguila-Flores said the last set of ballots will likely be printed on April 12 to 21, days before the May 9 polls.

The poll body said it is looking to tap a pool of reserve workers in case its existing manpower will be affected by the COVID-19 surge.

"Kung bibilangin po natin yung araw magmula ng January 20 ay hanggang mga first week of April lang yan, kaya na sana but again, we are realistic in anticipating contingencies including na po yung COVID surge and infection of our workers," Aguila-Flores said.

[Translation: If we will count the days from January 20, it will only be up to the first week of April but again, we are realistic in anticipating contingencies including the COVID-19 surge and infection of our workers.]

The poll body is expected to print a total of 67,442,714 ballots, 65,745,512 of which will be for the local voters, while 1,697,202 will be dedicated to overseas voters.

Four disqualification petitions challenging Marcos' bid  three consolidated pleas and one plea from an Ilocano group  are still pending before the Comelec' First and Second Division, while three other challenges to his candidacy have been dismissed.

RELATED: LIST: Petitions against Bongbong Marcos' 2022 presidential bid

The first plea seeking to cancel his bid was dismissed yesterday, ruling that there was no ground to cancel Marcos' COC on the ground of material misrepresentation. Petitioners will appeal the decision to the Comelec en banc.

Another petition seeking to cancel his candidacy and a plea to declare him as a nuisance candidate were also dismissed earlier.

Marcos is the son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in a "people power" revolt in 1986.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) expressed optimism the economy could dodge a major blow despite the reimposition of the stricter Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and other provinces.

During a virtual briefing on Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Rose Edillon said the government's shift to the COVID-19 alert level system is "more of a balancing act with respect to the health and economic objectives."

"We have seen indeed the numbers are much tamer in terms of its impact versus what we had before, the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) and MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine)," she added.

Last week, the pandemic response task force placed more areas under Alert Level 3 until the end of the month to stamp out the worsening spread of the coronavirus.

READ: 28 more areas placed under stricter Alert Level 3

The National Capital Region also remains under Alert Level 3 until Jan. 31.

Edillon also noted that metropolitan areas across the country have "a very high level of vaccination rate."

"That's a very good protection first to our kababayans. Then second to the economic sector," she said.

In a statement last Jan. 14, the National Task Force against COVID-19 said 54,457,863 people already received full protection against the coronavirus, which represents 70.60% of the country's target population of around 77 million.

"The third is we've been through this before. We are now much better at managing this risk. It's still early days to be revising the growth target... there's still enough time to catch up," Edillon said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) Following the escape of four inmates from the New Bilibid Prisons maximum security compound, Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III is once again pushing for separate jail facilities for those convicted of heinous crimes.

If we create this separate facility that I have envisioned for a long time already, hindi mangyayari yan, hindi sila makakatakas doon (that will not happen, they would not be able to escape), Sotto said in an online media interview on Tuesday.

No cell site, no signal, no nothing. Separate island for them, the vice presidential aspirant added.

In 2019, the Senate passed a bill that seeks to put up state-of-the-art prison facilities in isolated locations in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Inmates convicted of heinous crimes such as murder will be transferred to these penitentiaries.

The House of Representatives also passed a counterpart measure last year. Lawmakers will reconcile differences in their versions of the bill and send it to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature.

We will just have to wait for the president to sign it and hopefully the next administration will implement it, Sotto said.

The veteran lawmaker added it can then be expanded to create at least one separate "Heinous Crime Facility" per region so inmates can be visited by their families.

Pag ang inmate hindi na dinadalaw ng pamilya niya diyan na nag-uumpisang magloko. Diyan na nag-uumpisang masira ang ulo at bumabarkada na, guma-gang na, Sotto said.

Papaanong dadalawin sa Muntinlupa, NBP 'yung mga taga Sultan Kudarat o taga Surigao, o taga Ilocos, taga Negros? Baka once a month, once a year hindi makabisita. Kaya kailangan i-regionalize 'yan at ihiwalay natin itong mga heinous criminals, he added.

[Translation: When an inmate is not visited by his family, that's when he starts to run amok or join gangs. How can loved ones visit them in Muntinlupa, in NBP, if they are from Sultan Kudarat, Surigao, Ilocos or Negros? They might have no visitors not even once a month or once a year. So, we have to regionalize and separate heinous criminals.]

Meanwhile, instead of housing inmates, the hundreds of hectares of land where the Bilibid stands can be converted into a university belt for the benefit of the government and the public, Sotto said.

As of Tuesday, two inmates who escaped the Bilibid in the wee hours of Monday morning remain at large. The other two were killed in separate firefights with authorities.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) A technical working group under the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry is looking into new price cap for COVID-19 tests which may be issued in the coming weeks, a health official said on Tuesday.

Mayroon na tayong naunang price cap for our testing methodologies katulad ng RT-PCR, said Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire. Magpapalabas po tayo in the coming weeks siguro.

[Translation: We already have our initial price cap for our testing methodologies like RT-PCR. We may issue a new set of prices in the coming weeks.]

The price cap also covers antigen tests, Vergeire mentioned.

In connection to this, she also assured the public that there is no shortage in tests in laboratories, arguing that the delay in releasing results is due to the high demand.

We have enough supplies of testing kits in (the) government and we continuously provide our laboratories with these testing kits, said Vergeire.

In September, the government set the price range for RT-PCR tests at 2,800 for plate-based and 2,450 for cartridge-based GeneXpert in public laboratories; 3,360 for plate-based and 2,940 for GeneXpert in private laboratories, and an additional 1,000 for plate-based and GeneXpert for home services.

However, many netizens have raised concern over such testing price range, complaining it is too expensive for the general public.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia has refused to implement the no vaccination, no ride policy, saying it discriminates against the unvaccinated.

There will be no further requirement like the presentation of vaccination card. That is anti-poor, Garcia said on Tuesday.

How can you require everyone to have this vaccination card presented for them to avail of public transport? As I have always said, vaccination is a matter of choice. Give that respect to the individual, she added.

The Department of Transportation has implemented the policy to control the spread of COVID-19. The policy requires commuters to present their vaccination card to avail of public transport.

Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon clarified that there are exemptions to the policy.

READ: DOTr clarifies: Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated workers allowed in public transport

As for Cebu province, Garcia said the local government will not discriminate the unvaccinated.

If you choose not to be vaccinated, you should not be ostracized Its in the law itself... Why this discrimination against the unvaccinated, when even the vaccinated are not considered immune and may be carriers as well? she pointed out.

The governor was referring to Republic Act No. 11525, or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, which states that individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 shall not be considered immune to the disease unless declared by the Department of Health.

Garcia said that instead of implementing the no vaccination, no ride policy, she has ordered the establishment of border checkpoints to ensure health standards are being followed in public utility vehicles (PUVs), like no overloading and having proper ventilation. PUVs are also required to have passes and trip tickets issued by provincial terminals.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama only encouraged establishments to come up with their own policies. He has not yet issued any recent directive related to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

Based on latest government data, Cebu City has the most COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas with 45,466 cases, of which 2,566 are active cases. It was followed by Cebu Province with 40,326 cases, wherein 1,636 are active cases.
(CNN)  One of the most powerful weapons in the US Navy's arsenal made a rare port call in Guam over the weekend, sending a message to allies and foes amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, analysts said.

The USS Nevada, an Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine carrying 20 Trident ballistic missiles and dozens of nuclear warheads, pulled into the Navy base in the US Pacific Island territory on Saturday. It's the first visit of a ballistic missile submarine  sometimes called a "boomer"  to Guam since 2016 and only the second announced visit since the 1980s.

"The port visit strengthens cooperation between the United States and allies in the region, demonstrating US capability, flexibility, readiness, and continuing commitment to Indo-Pacific regional security and stability," a US Navy statement said.

Movements of the 14 boomers in the US Navy's fleet are usually closely guarded secrets. Nuclear power means the vessels can operate submerged for months at a time, their endurance limited only by the supplies needed to sustain their crews of more than 150 sailors.

The Navy says Ohio-class submarines stay an average of 77 of days at sea before spending about a month in port for maintenance and replenishment.

It's rare for one to even be photographed outside their home ports of Bangor, Washington, and Kings Bay, Georgia. The secrecy surrounding the ballistic missile submarines makes them the "most important survivable leg of the nuclear triad," which also includes silo-based ballistic missiles on the US mainland and nuclear-capable bombers like the B-2 and B-52.

But with tensions brewing between the US and China over the status of the self-ruled island of Taiwan, and as North Korea ramps up missile tests, Washington can make a statement with its ballistic missile submarines that neither Beijing nor Pyongyang can, according to the analysts.

"It sends a message  intended or not: we can park 100-odd nuclear warheads on your doorstep and you won't even know it or be able to do much about it. And the reverse isn't true and won't be for a good while," said Thomas Shugart, a former US Navy submarine captain and now an analyst at the Center for a New American Security.

North Korea's ballistic submarine program is in its infancy, and China's estimated fleet of six ballistic missile submarines is dwarfed by the US Navy's.

And China's ballistic missile subs don't have the capabilities of the US boomers, according to a 2021 analysis by experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

China's Type 094 ballistic missile subs are two times louder than the US subs, and therefore more easily detected, and carry fewer missiles and warheads, CSIS analysts wrote in August.

Besides the political signaling, the presence of the USS Nevada in the region presents another opportunity, said Alessio Patalano, professor of war and strategy at King's College in London.

"The presence of this type of boat  especially in training and exercises  adds an important opportunity to learn how to hunt those of other actors in the region," Patalano said.

"The DPRK (North Korea) is pursuing the development of such a type of a platform, and China already fields them. Honing in the skills to track them is as important as deploying them as strategic deterrent," he said.

The last time a US Navy boomer visited Guam was in 2016, when the USS Pennsylvania stopped there.

Analysts said tensions across the Indo-Pacific have significantly increased since that time, and more such military displays are likely from Washington in the current environment.

"This deployment reminds us that the nuclear order at sea in the (Indo-Pacific) matters, and whilst often outside wider public conversation, we are likely to see more of it in the development of regional strategic balance," Patalano said.

This story was first published on CNN.com "One of the US Navy's most powerful weapons makes a rare appearance in Guam"
(CNN)  It's still too early to predict whether Omicron's rapid spread will help push coronavirus from the pandemic phase to a more manageable endemic phase -- but "I would hope that that's the case," Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday.

A disease that is endemic has a constant presence in a population but does not affect an alarmingly large number of people or disrupt society, as typically seen in a pandemic.

Since Omicron is highly transmissible but apparently less likely to cause as severe disease as some previous variants, it could mark a transition from this Covid-19 pandemic chapter to an endemic phase.

"But that would only be the case if we don't get another variant that eludes the immune response to the prior variant," Fauci told the Davos Agenda, a virtual event this week held by the World Economic Forum.

"We were fortunate" that Omicron did not share some of the same characteristics as Delta, Fauci said. "But the sheer volume of people who are getting infected overrides that rather less level of pathogenicity."

"It is an open question as to whether or not Omicron is going to be the live virus vaccination that everyone is hoping for because you have such a great deal of variability with new variants emerging," he said.

That doesn't mean people should intentionally try to get the Omicron variant. Doctors say that's a terrible idea for several reasons.

And it doesn't mean the battle against Covid-19 is over -- especially as overwhelmed hospitals delay elective surgeries and schools switch to remote learning.

Health care systems -- some facing critical staffing shortages -- have treated more Covid-19 patients in recent days than ever. At least 156,676 Covid-19 patients in the US were hospitalized Monday, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

And an average of 1,695 Americans died from Covid-19 every day over the past week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Schools grapple with the Omicron surge

This week, more school districts -- from Paterson, New Jersey, to Mobile, Alabama -- have moved to virtual learning as the Omicron variant exacerbates staffing shortages.

In Texas, all schools and offices in the Houston Independent School District are closed Tuesday due to rising infections in the area, the school district announced on its website. Classes are expected to resume Wednesday.

HISD encouraged students and staff to take "this extra day to mitigate potential exposure."

But New York City's mayor emphasized that classrooms in the nation's largest school district will remain open -- citing "good news" in the city's fight against Covid-19.

"We have not won yet," Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday, but "we are winning."

Covid-19 hospitalizations have decreased from about 6,500 on January 11 to about 5,800 on January 16, city Health Commissioner Dr. Dr David Chokshi said.

But Chokshi warned Covid-19 numbers are still high, reinforcing the need for vaccination.

While district-wide remote learning is not an option, the mayor said, the city is in talks with the teachers' union about the possibility of a remote option for sick children who are isolating at home.

Meanwhile, a mask mandate in schools is under fire in Virginia.

Citing "individual liberty" and the availability of vaccines for K-12 students, newly inaugurated Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order stating parents will get to decide if their child must wear a mask in class, a departure from his predecessor's public health emergency order in August that masks were to be worn in schools.

Several districts in the Northern Virginia and metro Richmond area announced they will reject the latest order, which is set to begin January 24.

"Our layered prevention strategies have proven effective in keeping transmission rates low in our schools," Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand said in a letter to the school community.

"Universal mask use has proven effective in keeping Covid-19 transmission rates low in our schools and ensuring schools remain safe and open," a statement from Arlington Public Schools said about its decision.

And an email from Henrico County Public Schools to parents and guardians reads, "Mask use is a vital component of the division's layered prevention measures," while noting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masks in schools and that federal law requires masks on school buses.

Progress on future vaccines moves forward

To further get ahead of variants, new vaccines are under development.

Moderna should have data available on its Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine in March, company CEO Stephane Bancel said Monday.

"It should be in the clinic in the coming weeks. And we're hoping in the March timeframe, we should be able to have data to share with regulators to figure out the next step forward," he said in a panel conversation at Davos.

A combined Covid-19 and flu booster shot from Moderna could also be available in some countries by fall 2023, Bancel said, but he cautioned the goal date is a "best case scenario."

Doctors say Covid-19 vaccines and booster doses are the most effective way to ward off severe Covid-19 complications.

Booster doses have successfully demonstrated the ability to raise a person's antibody levels months after initial inoculations, helping to keep those at higher risk out of the hospital.

Early data out of Israel suggests a fourth dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines can elicit an increase in antibodies -- more than what has been seen following a third dose -- but it still might not be enough to protect against possible breakthrough infections caused by Omicron.

In December, Israel started trialing a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccines for healthy participants ahead of a roll out of the additional booster shot to at-risk populations -- marking the first study of its kind among healthy people getting a fourth dose.

"I think that the decision to allow the fourth vaccine to vulnerable populations is probably correct," Dr. Gili-Regev Yochay, director of Infection Prevention Control Unit at the Sheba Medical Center, said Monday of the data. "It may give a little bit of benefit but probably not enough to support the decision to give it to all of the population, I would say."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Omicron might mark the end of Covid-19's pandemic phase -- unless a certain scenario happens, Fauci says."
The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
The Souther Sussex Rotary is now accepting applications for scholarships designed to help those seeking advanced training or certifications for jobs.
With the start of 2022, Penn States Palmer Museum of Art has begun its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration with an abundance of new art  a party fit for the Palmer.

Palmer Museum Director Erin Coe was one of many staff members who dedicated time and effort into the planning of the museums 50th anniversary.

The Palmer Museum of Art looks forward to honoring our past, recognizing those who brought us to this auspicious moment and embracing a bright and dynamic future through this range of accessible and relevant projects, Coe said in a Penn State News release.

The Palmers 50th anniversary programs include a student-centered birthday bash, a Palmer stories reflection video, a gala organized by the Friends of the Palmer on May 21 and a painting event at The Arboretum at Penn State on June 25.

Student Stella Begnal said she was impressed by the Palmer Museums anniversary.

Its an amazing milestone for the Palmer and Penn State community, Begnal (sophomore-digital art and media design) said.

According to a release, the centerpiece of the celebration will be An American Place: Selections from the James and Barbara Palmer Collection. The exhibit will be on display from Jan. 29 through April 24, and it will focus on American art from the years post-Civil War to the civil rights movement.

Additionally, the Palmer Museum will exhibit "A Way Through: Abstract Art of the 1940s" from Jan. 15 to May 15, and "Printmaking in the Age of Durer" will be on display from Jan. 18 to May 8.

Other exhibits that will be on display throughout the year include:

"HOME/STUDIO: 2022 Penn State School of Visual Arts Faculty Show (May 17 through Aug. 28)

"Those Who Taught: Selected Works by Former Faculty (May 20 through Aug. 14)

"The Art of Remembering: A Selection of Gifts from 1974-2020 (Aug. 26 to Dec. 18)

"Designed for the Future: The New Palmer Museum of Art at the Arboretum (Sept. 23 through Dec. 18)

"Looking at Who We Are: The Palmer at Fifty (Sept. 23 through Dec. 18)

Museum Assistant Director Joyce Robinson said via email the Penn State community will likely be intrigued by the museums spring and summer exhibits, which will include "HOME/STUDIO: 2022 Penn State School of Visual Arts Faculty Show" and "Those Who Taught: Selected Works by Former Faculty.

Our hope is that visitors will be as excited as we are to celebrate this milestone by (re)visiting favorite objects from the permanent collection and encountering new works of art, Robinson said.

From its opening in 1972, Robinson said the Palmers collection has grown from 100 pieces of art to over 10,000 works.

Our offerings cover a lot of territory, Robinson said.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Palmer Museum has continued to display art in new ways, including virtual programs, exhibitions and events.

The silver lining of the health care crisis for the museum has been our ability to rise above these challenges and be resilient and stronger together, Coe said via email.

Robinson agreed with Coe and said the museum has been able to adapt with virtual programming.

"The pandemic pushed us to provide more in the way of virtual educational programs, Robinson said. As we move forward, we will continue to develop virtual and technology-based educational content and programs, along with in-person opportunities.

With the continuous expansion of the art collection, the Palmer Museum is currently in the process of relocating to a new 71,000 square foot facility located next to the Arboretum.

Begnal said she is excited for the reopening of the museum at the new location.

The new location will be great next to the Arboretum, Begnal said. I think it will be more inviting to students and visitors.

The museum is scheduled to reopen in its new location in fall 2023, and the 50th anniversary celebration will continue until the end of 2022.

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EDITORS NOTE: A third Timely Warning has been added that was not originally reported by Penn State.

Penn State reported its first and second known forcible sex offenses of the spring semester, according to a University-Park issued Timely Warning.

On Friday, a student reported to Penn State University Police and Public Safety they were allegedly sexually assaulted by a known person in an unknown location in the Eisenhower Parking Deck, according to the University Daily Crime Log.

On Monday, the reported indecent assault allegedly occurred at an off-campus fraternity on Saturday at an unknown time, the Timely Warning said. The student was allegedly "fondled" by an individual at the event.

According to the Timely Warning, a third party reported the incident at 10:06 a.m. on Monday.

On Saturday, a visitor reported they were allegedly sexually assaulted by a known person in a residence hall in South Halls at 3:36 a.m., according to the University's Daily Crime Log.

RELATED
At 13 years old, Penn State student Josh Portney became involved in the politics of his hometown, Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania, sparking an interest in local government that carried over into his college career.

On Dec. 20, State Colleges Borough Council appointed Portney (junior-broadcast journalism and political science) to serve as one of seven members on the State College Planning Commission.

Portney said his mom served as judge of elections in his hometown since he was a baby, and on every Election Day, she would take him out of school to sit and observe.

He said he liked to watch her and watch her do her work.

When Portney was 13  in 2014  a harsher voter ID law was enacted in Pennsylvania, and he said his mother was on the front lines of that as the judge of elections, enforcing the new law.

Portney said he was troubled by this new law because he said it excluded a portion of the population from the polls, which led him to question how he could become involved in the issue locally with Fair Districts PA and other advocacy groups.

He said he really started to network with people, and later, when the Democratic National Convention came to Philadelphia, he worked for the county party when he was 16.

By running Democrat Peter Bucks campaign for Pennsylvania State Lower House Representative in the 171st Legislative District while he was a student at Penn State, Portney was able to meet Ezra Nanes  who now serves as State Colleges mayor.

Nanes originally planned to run for the borough council, but Portney said he told Nanes he would be better suited for mayor.

Throughout Nanes bid for mayor, Portney served as his campaign manager.

At Penn State, Portney is involved in the fraternity Alpha Phi Delta, the president of La Vie  Penn State's yearbook  a member of the Beta Pi chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honors Society. Additionally, Portney works downtown for Democratic Rep. Scott Conklin and continues to work on Nanes staff.

While working for Nanes, Portney was always going to borough council meetings and hearing the council comment on the differing commissions  which made him realize he was interested in applying to serve on one.

Portney said he believes hes the right fit for the position due to his participation in [borough] council meetings and broad knowledge of governmental plans, which is exactly what the planning commission is looking for.

I think my interest in local government, attendance to council meetings and submission of public comment to differing plans that have come before the council is what led to the borough staff, HR department and the council selecting me for the position, Portney said.

Currently, the planning commission is working on a zoning rewrite of downtown State College. There have been many previous attempts to rewrite the zoning code, which is so outdated, according to Portney.

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Finally, this is the year we will do it, Portney said. What that means is we can rewrite that big businesses or buildings cannot be built downtown.

The intended zoning ordinance will specify where condos and apartments can go downtown, Portney said.

This is [the students] downtown as much as the year-round residents  we share that beautiful resource, Portney said. And shaping the look of that downtown for future generations of students to come, you dont want big apartment complexes tattering our streets  you want students and year-round residents to shop and have commercial space.

Portney explained the ordinance isnt meant to deter businesses from State College but that they come and are controlled on where they can go.

Jon Eich, another member of the planning commission, believes Portney, as a Penn State student, will help with soliciting input for decisions.

I believe having a student serve on the planning commission will add some perspective from a portion of the community that is not usually directly represented, Eich said.

Eich said Portney has already attended one meeting and asked some good questions on a development plan that the planning commission has been working on and made suggestions on the process.

In the long-term, Josh is coming on at a good time, Eich said.

Additionally, Eich said Portney brings with him attachment to the community, which adds an important dimension  making Portney the right fit for the planning commission.

Portneys experience made him stand out, Chief of Staff for Conklins State College district office Tor Michaels said, since he has worked in the office in several capacities, such as on the campaign side and legislative side for approximately a year and a half.

Michaels said he has yet to meet a Penn State student who is as passionate about public service as Josh Portney.

Josh Portney has community written on his heart, Michaels said. Not only does Josh bring passion to the position, but he has a work ethic that is limitless.

Because Penn State students make up a majority of the population in State College, Michaels said they should have an active voice in their community and should be reassured their voice is heard in a critical area such as the planning commission.

Having a Penn State student hold such a position is a giant step in the right direction, and other students can be comforted knowing a majority of the buildings going up in State College are for their benefit, Michaels said.

Having Josh on board gives a perspective that is critical  not only for the input but also for the output.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE
How to travel 101: pick a destination, pack, get in your car, drive to said destination, arrive and enjoy your time.

Seems right for traveling domestically in the U.S. However, as the coronavirus pandemic lingers, the simple days of getting in your car and driving are gone for the time being.

This is especially the case if youre traveling abroad.

I recently traveled across the pond to the United Kingdom to study and intern through Arcadia University. Along with this daunting task of flying by myself to a foreign country, I had to worry about a coronavirus test before and after arriving in the country.

I, being someone who has never tested positive for the coronavirus in the two years weve been living in this new normal, was nervous. Nervous I was purchasing the wrong test, nervous I was missing certain paperwork and most of all, nervous that I would test positive days before boarding and miss my flight. Sounds fun right?

Along with the basic documentation of the passport and student visa, I now had to bring a passenger locator form and documentation of my purchase of the after-arrival test. A passenger locator form tracks when my flight arrives in the country and if I purchased an after-arrival test, otherwise known as a day two test.

Luckily for me and my nervous breakdown about testing positive for coronavirus, the U.K. lifted the requirement for a negative coronavirus test prior to arrival for fully vaccinated people, effective Jan. 7. When I got the news, a weight was lifted off of me, and I could focus on the excitement of traveling to a new country  instead of the possibility of missing my flight.

With the many regulations and requirements due to the coronavirus, the U.K. has done well. According to the U.K.s coronavirus dashboard, in the last seven days, the amount of people testing positive for the coronavirus has decreased by over 41% as of Jan. 17.

Only the data will tell if the trend downward in cases will continue after the decrease in coronavirus regulations. Lets compare the U.K.s guidelines to the U.S.s.

In the U.K., both vaccinated and unvaccinated people can enter the country. Unvaccinated travelers are still required to take a pre-departure test and additionally have to pay for and book coronavirus tests on days two and eight of arrival.

In the U.S., only vaccinated travelers are allowed to enter the country, and its recommended they take a coronavirus test within the first few days of entry.

On Jan. 5, the seven-day average for coronavirus cases in the U.K. was 182,201. On the same day in the U.S., the seven-day average was 584,032.

People may come to different conclusions about whether travel restrictions are needed, but  some of  the facts are there. The U.K.s cases are declining, and the U.S. seems to be plateauing.

Can we contribute that to travel restrictions, herd immunity or vaccinations? Or maybe a combination of different factors? For the time being, there are a few more hoops to jump through if we want to travel abroad.

Is it worth it? Yes. I get to experience a new culture and a new city because I followed the regulations. In addition, I can take stock in that when I follow the regulations, Im protecting not only myself but the citizens in the U.K. from coronavirus.

In the face of millions of infections, Id say thats pretty good.
Five more cases made it onto the Colorado Supreme Court's docket last week, implicating the insanity defense, the right of the accused to question alternate suspects at trial, and disputes over oil and gas production.
Evoking apartheid-era voting restrictions and warning of a dire end for America's democracy, Senate Democrats on Tuesday passed a resolution urging Congress to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation to counteract actions by several states they believe have made it more difficult for voters to cast a ballot.

House Democrats replicated the Senate's action soon after.

We have never seen a more dangerous attack on our democracy in modern times than what we have seen in the last two years, Senate Majority Leader Stephen Fenberg, D-Boulder, said.

Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, recounted his time in South Africa shortly after the county began dismantling the apartheid regime and effectively framed America's debate on voting rights legislation as a choice between learning the lessons of the African nations history or embracing its worst manifestations.

"The top priority for the apartheid government was to restrict the right to vote, he said, arguing that Americas experiment in representative democracy will not survive if Congress doesn't act to reverse state laws that he said restrict people's ability to access the ballot box.

We cannot move backwards, Hansen said. We will not stand by silently while forces act to restrict the right to vote.

At issue is two voting rights measures, Senate Memorial 1 and House Resolution 4. In addition to pushing for the passage of Freedom To Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the resolution also reasserts the validity of the 2020 presidential election results as legitimate and verified.

Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, R-Douglas County, said he agrees with many points raised by the resolution, notably the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He would never condone actions that restricted Americans ability to cast a ballot, notably subjecting them to poll taxes, literacy tests and intimidation, he said.

What he cannot agree with, he said, is the claim that Colorado's electoral system serves as an example to the rest of the nation.

He said he has two problems with that claim: he cannot agree with a system that sends ballots by mail to addresses where the intended recipients no longer live and which relies on a simple declaration of intent to be able to vote on the same day.

If youve been out walking door to door, have you ever met someone who says that person doesnt live there anymore? he said.

He also questioned the presumption that congressional actions are ultimately good for democracy.

Do you know what Congress would pass? I dont, he said.

The measure passed on a 20-13 vote, with Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, voting with Democrats.

The same debate played out in the House, where Republicans and Democrats brushed aside House Speaker Alec Garnetts opening day plea that lawmakers avoid using the well of this chamber as your twitter handle as they sparred over voting rights.

The conflict centered on HR 4, which took aim at restrictive voting laws adopted in Georgia and Texas. It also cited the Jan. 6 riot, and said falsehoods and conspiracies regarding the integrity of the 2020 election have run rampant in our media and public discourse.

The resolution concludes by calling on the United States Congress, and specifically members of the United States Senate, to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation to protect the fundamental right to vote, which has been the cornerstone of our democracy since the founding of our republic.

Rep. Tony Exum, a Black Colorado Springs Democrat who sponsored the resolution along with Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, focused on Black Americans' history with voting disenfranchisement. He said things improved after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, but added that the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court decision gutted a major part of the VRA, which, in turn, made it easier for states to begin passing suppression laws.

This is what those laws look like: In 19 states, 34 voter suppression laws are restricting voter registration, eliminating poll locations, cutting back on early voting and reducing voting hours, Exum said. They also criminalized and punished people who give food and water to people waiting in line to vote.

But Republican lawmakers, led by Minority Leader Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, described the resolution as the latest example of the totalitarian tactics of the Democrats, and their attempts to degrade all that we are.

States like Colorado with respected voting systems can shine because state law - not partisan federal edicts - determines how those systems work, McKean said in a statement ahead of the propositions action on the floor. The last thing we need is the federal government stepping in and nationalizing voting procedures. Democrats can not say in one breath that the system works, and in the next breath claim that we cannot trust and must instead change that same system.

Republican Rep. Dave Williams of Colorado Springs introduced a series of amendments, but each was shot down. Those included language aimed at preventing dead people and those who are not citizens to vote, provisions Democrats noted are already in state law.

Rep. Ron Hanks, a Canon City Republican who is seeking the nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, drew criticism during the 2021 session for joking about lynching and arguing that a constitutional provision that treated slaves as three-fifths of a human being wasn't "impugning anybody's humanity."

Hanks views on the 2020 elections, a centerpiece of his U.S. Senate campaign, were on full display on Tuesday.

After praising King and civil rights leaders from the 1960s, Hanks dove into election integrity. That featured a defense of people who, like Hanks, were in Washington, D.C. for the Jan. 6 riot but did not participate in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol.

I am a little offended for some of the people I met in Washington, D.C., Hanks said. These people did nothing wrong. They were afraid for their country.

Hanks also ran an unsuccessful amendment seeking a non-governmental audit of the 2020 election.

McKean, in his final comments, acknowledged that President Joe Biden won the election in 2020, just as President Donald Trump won in 2016. He also voted against the Williams and Hanks amendments.

One amendment called for supporting Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, which Garnett said is contrary to opposing election fraud. Another called for supporting the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Garnett said the resolution isn't partisan or political, but that the amendments offered by Republicans are.

In a speech expressing rare anger, Garnett shouted, "In Colorado we cannot remain silent!"

He added: "The choice is clear between the two groups of elected representatives in this building. You have a choice. Your ability to vote is under threat."

As he held up one of Republican amendments, the speaker said, "In these words ... America, listen up. Your ability to vote is under threat! Pull the records and look at who voted for those amendments!"

House Republicans called for recorded voice votes on the resolution, as well as on their amendments. Roll call votes typically end up in campaign ads.

The House resolution passed on a purely party-line vote.

Meanwhile, state GOP chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown weighed in on the resolution, calling it a blatant political ploy by Democrats in the Assembly to distract from the fact that they have spent years increasing taxes, passing policies that have led to record levels of violent crime, and putting students and parents last.

Nico Delgado, the spokesman for the Colorado Democratic Party, said "two-thirds of the Republican House members voted to thank the U.S. Senate front-runner (Hanks), for being an insurrectionist. The GOP showed their true colors with this vote and it's all part of an extreme agenda that only serves Donald Trump and hurts Coloradans."
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As the Cubs were beating the Braves 6-3 Wednesday night Steve left to see the game with his mom and dad, Reva and Harold, brother Ron and baby niece Elizabeth Henney. He left behind to run the store his wife Kathleen (Knight), Amelia (27), Nathan (24) and his beloved cat Lewis Black. His sis
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This fall, even as the Omicron variant gained steam, we largely pretended it wasnt that bad. We were wrong.

But thats not what Im here to talk about. I want to focus on what youre going to do when you literally cant keep your doors open because all your employees are home sick. (Its already happening.)

In my hometown of Asheville, N.C., schools have closed because the latest spike left the city schools system without enough staff to maintain facilities operations or hold classes. Restaurants, already hard hit by the Great Resignation, are also shutting their doors. Retail stores, concert venues, and theaters are following suit, as they cant keep enough staffers on the floor to take care of customers.

Its not just where I live. Its happening everywhere, though perhaps not all at once. In many ways, what were seeing are rolling shutdowns. Airlines that cant get enough pilots or ground crowds. Retail shops with salespeople out. You get the idea.

It goes beyond just having employees who are simply too sick to come in; secondary effects will keep them at home, too. Some need to take care of kids who, once more, must stay at home because there are no schools or daycare available. Others will want to limit their COVID exposureboth for their own sake and for those that they live with.

This is different from 2020, when companies were forced to close doors because of local and state regulations and orders. Today, the simple, ugly reality is that the lack of workers is shutting them for us.

We were already in trouble with our workforce anyway; the Great Resignation was not a one-and-done event. A record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November.

So, what can you do about it? For starters, accept the fact that you probably will need to shut down for lack of staff within the next few weeks. Nowright nowis the time to plan your resources accordingly. Do you really need those supplies in late January? February? Can you get by for a while until they arrive?

If you can stay open, its important to mask up again and resume social distancing measures. (Its in part because we stopped doing this that the Omicron variant has been more disruptive than earlier outbreaks.) And if there are rapid COVID-19 tests available, stock up on them while you can; even though theyre not 100% reliable, they might help stop an outbreak that shuts you down completely. Your employees will thank you, too.

Do you have a business continuity plan? You might have had one in place for an earthquake or a hurricane, but it could still prove useful during a pandemic. If you dont have one, do your company a favor and spend some time building one. If nothing else is true, we know we cant plan on business as usual these days.

What if your people wont come to work because of the virus when you want them to? Well, I wouldnt push it these days if theyre a valuable employee. Besides, the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) requires companies with at least 50 employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year. The key here is if they or a family member have a serious health condition. Having a nasty case of COVID qualifies; simply wanting to avoid COVID, if the workers are otherwise healthy, doesnt.

If your employees are back to working in the office, its time to return them to working from home. Many big businesses are already doing thisand even delaying plans to reopen. You should, too.

While youre at it, I urge youonce moreto consider switching to, if not a permanent work-from-home plan, then at least a hybrid work model where your employees are only in the office some of the time. Many, if not most, employees who have gotten a taste of working from home often have no desire to come back.

Besides, as Kevin Harrington, CEO of employee-search company Joblist, recently pointed out, With a record number of job openings and the rise of remote work, barriers to job switching are now lower than ever.

Indeed, according to a Joblist survey, a whopping 74% of full-time employees and 51% of part-time workers say theyre already planning to quit their jobs this year. (Of course, the survey involved people already looking at jobs, so that number may be skewed. But the overall sentiment is real.) GoodHire, an employment background check company, found 68% of Americans would choose remote working options over in-office work.

In other words, with the pandemic forcing us to address our worker situation yet again, take the time to consider what you need to do to keep your employees happy for the rest of the year.

What were going through now will pass. And when it does, youll need to make sure your workers are ready to stick with you as everyone rebuilds our businesses to flourish in the new normal.

Next, Read This:
01/18/2022

Photo (c) matejmo - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 66,457,054 (65,700,210)

Total U.S. deaths: 851,732 (850,601)

Total global cases: 331,313,694 (328,350,251)

Total global deaths: 5,548,119 (5,540,981)

Loss of smell could be genetic, scientists say

Scientists are closing in on the reason why some people infected with COVID-19 lose their ability to smell. They think they have found a genetic reason that explains why some patients are affected that way and others arent.

A study published this week in the journal Nature Genetics found a genetic risk factor associated with the loss of smell after a coronavirus infection. Scientists say the discovery brings researchers closer to understanding the pattern and could possibly lead to effective treatments.

Researchers estimate that as many as 1.6 million Americans are unable to smell six months after contracting the virus. The precise cause of sensory loss, however, is still a mystery.

Study finds COVID-19 brain damage similar to Alzheimer's

Older COVID-19 patients may face added risk from the virus. A new study finds that older patients can suffer brain damage that is more extensive than what is caused by Alzheimers disease.

Researchers at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine found higher levels of seven markers of brain damage in patients with COVID-19 with neurological symptoms than those without them. The excess markers are also found in the blood of patients who died in the hospital rather than in those discharged and sent home.

The study found 251 people who had no record or symptoms of cognitive decline or dementia before being hospitalized for COVID-19. Those with higher levels of the seven markets were more likely to die from the virus.

CDC director makes some COVID-19 course corrections

The Biden administrations policies to handle the coronavirus pandemic have been called into question lately, culminating in the Supreme Courts rejection of the vaccination mandate for private businesses. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is hitting the reset button.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Walensky said the pandemic has made twists and turns that have kept medical experts off balance. She says she should have said from the beginning that there is a lot about the disease that she and other experts just dont know.

I think what I have not conveyed is the uncertainty in a lot of these situations, Walensky said.

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Techblix.com scored 57 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3/5.0 Stars by Social Team

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techblix.com is very popular in Facebook. Furthermore its facebook page has 13 likes.

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FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/pages/Techblix/108416715979613 DESCRIPTION All about technology LIKES 13 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 4 PAGE TYPE Community TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE

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Corsicana, TX (75110)

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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About the one thing she has in common with the original Doctor Poison is the "creepy" part. In the early Wonder Woman comics, Doctor Poison was a Japanese princess who posed as a man to help the Nazis win World War II with her near-magical potions. She was only revealed to be Japanese royalty near the end of her first appearance, probably as the creators realized they hadn't filled the issue's obligatory anti-Asian racism quota.

DC Comics "And I just made this elaborate disguise completely pointless."

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Her potions are also much wackier than the chemical weapons seen in the movie. Her most famous one is the "Reverso" formula, which makes people do the opposite of what they're told (it's also known as "being a teenager"). The idea is that the American generals will be like "Hey fellas, let's go win the war," but the soldiers will go and do the opposite, dooming the country. The formula has unexpectedly sexy effects on the troops:

DC Comics

DC Comics This backfires spectacularly when all the enemy soldiers are too aroused to fight.

In the end, Doctor Poison's femininity is her undoing -- Wonder Woman says she realized she must be a lady in disguise because of her "delicate hands."

DC Comics "And if that doesn't work out, do you need hand models?"

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The fearsome Doctor Poison is eventually overtaken by Wonder Woman's dangerously sugar-addicted sidekick, Etta Candy, whose main purpose in the comic was serving as a vehicle for insensitive weight jokes.

DC Comics We'll give you a minute to figure out the meaning of her name.

In her next appearance, Poison poses as a Chinese nightclub dancer and easily fools Wonder Woman's pilot pal Steve Trevor, even though he'd met her before, because all of the billions of people in Asia look the same to him (racism quota: met).

DC Comics "Emperor Hirohito, what are you doing here?!"

This time, Doctor Poison's new formula is a gas that stops the engines of all the planes in America, which is really stretching the definition of "poison." Years later, it's revealed that this criminal genius accidentally killed herself by drinking some "Reverso" and turning into a fetus. We're not sure why a chemical that makes people do the opposite of what they're told would cause reverse aging, so we're guessing someone told her "Hey, don't turn into a fetus" and she went and did that.
Crossville, TN (38555)

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Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low near 60F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low near 60F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Every company, regardless of size, should have an insider risk management playbook in place to address the insider threat. The human factor is always in play, mistakes will happen that inadvertently place the company at risk. The other side of the human factor are the malevolent individuals who opt to break trust and willingly push aside their NDAs and in-place IT data handling processes and procedures to knowingly abscond with sensitive data.

Three recent incidents underscore the importance of having an insider risk management playbook:

Ubiquitis insider risk mitigation plan pays off

Malicious insider Nikolas Sharp of Ubiquiti stole his companys data and then attempted to maneuver the post-investigation efforts away from his own actions and to extort from his employer $2 million. While the Ubiquiti team did not stop the exfiltration of the data, once an anomalous activity was discovered, they executed on their mitigation plan, and eventually brought in the FBI to address the criminal aspects of their insider incident.

Code42 detects improper downloads early

Prime components of the mitigation playbook, or plan, according to Code42s vice president of portfolio strategy and product marketing, Mark Wojtasiak, is embracing the three Ts of transparency, training and technology. In his December 2021 piece, Your employees are making a run for it, and so is your data, he emphasized the need to Teach them company data ownership policies, set expectations in terms of ownership and develop guidelines they can follow when in doubt.

Wojtasiak, wrote the above from a position of personal experience. Speaking to this writer for an earlier article, he noted how a recent incident within his own team at Code42 served to highlight the importance of having the insider incident playbook. In the Code42 case, the employee had given their notice that they were leaving Code42 for another opportunity. The company standard operating procedure (SOP) called for a review of the last 90 days of activity by the employee. The review team discovered the employee had downloaded sensitive internal customer lists to an unmanaged device.

Wojtasiak explained how the playbook allowed Code42 to immediately work the problem. HR, Legal, infosec and the business unit all have a role. He emphasized how the working assumption within Code42 was that the employees actions were not a result of malicious intent. The facts directed the investigation, and they would learn that such was not the case and that the employee had in fact intended to take the customer lists to his next employer.

The employee availed his devices to the mitigation team, which allowed the recovery of the pilfered data. Then when the internal aspects of the incident concluded, Wojtasiak shared how the CEO of Code42 shared directly with the CEO of the company which was hiring the departing Code42 employee what had transpired, how it was handled internally.

Pfizer threat monitoring identifies data theft

Pfizer had beefed up its insider threat monitoring capability when it implemented a technology that monitored employee uploads to devices in October 2021. On October 29, they discovered that between October 23 and 26 an employee transferred over 12,000 files from her Pfizer laptop to an online Google Drive.

The insider risk mitigation teams efforts are detailed within their court filings. Immediately upon discovery of the October 2021 download of the 12,000 files, the team initiated a digital review of the employees emails, file access and internet activity on her Pfizer-issued laptop. This investigation showed, that she had been interviewing with and had received an offer of employment from Xencor.

With this information in hand, the mitigation effort brought together HR, security, and IT (forensics). The team met and then spoke with the employee, twice on October 29. One of those interviews occurred over a video teleconference where the employee logged onto her Google Drive account and deleted all of the files saved there. On November 1, the employee came into Pfizers offices and provided her company laptop and provided access to her personal laptop for forensic review.

The employee was placed on administrative leave and the subsequent investigation showed that the laptop provided was not the laptop which contained the 12,000 documents, and that the companys data, data which included COVID-19 research was no longer in their control.

Pfizer acknowledges in their court filings the detection of the theft, and resulting investigation confirmed their findings, and that this employee attempted to dupe them into thinking that their internal documents were not at risk. Pfizer believes its former employee and others continue to possess Pfizers information.

Importance of an insider risk playbook

Those who eschew the idea of having a playbook in place will find themselves reinventing the wheel with each insider incident. When it comes to reacting to the discovery that a colleague may have mishandled data, having a process takes the emotion out of the equation.

While the makeup of the mitigation team may vary from company to company including HR, legal, security, IT, and the business unit are table stakes. Equally important to identifying elements of the mitigation team is ironing out defined roles and expectations when an incident percolates to the top and requires handling.

Whats in your playbook?
Hoping to foster improved security of open-source software, the White House hosted a meeting last week with some of the largest public and private users and maintainers of open-source software. Widely used open-source software brings unique value, and has unique security challenges, because of its breadth of use and the number of volunteers responsible for its ongoing security maintenance, the White House said.

The meeting was organized in December, shortly after a dangerous vulnerability in the Java-based logging utility Log4j emerged. That easy-to-exploit flaw has the potential to compromise hundreds of millions of machines globally. The FBI, the NSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) quickly branded it as a threat to organizations and governments everywhere. In a letter inviting tech leaders to the meeting, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that open-source software is a key national security concern.

The meeting included attendees from a wide range of government departments and agencies, including the Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, and officials from the Office of the National Cyber Director, CISA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Private sector participants included executives and top-level representatives from Akamai, Amazon, Apache Software Foundation, Apple, Cloudflare, Facebook (Meta), GitHub, Google, IBM, the Linux Foundation, OpenSSF, Microsoft, Oracle and RedHat.

According to the White House, the meeting agenda included three topics:

Preventing security defects and vulnerabilities in open-source code and packages

Improving the process for finding open-source software defects and remediating them

Shortening the response time for distributing and implementing fixes

To address the first topic, participants discussed making it easier for developers to write secure code by integrating features such as code signing and stronger digital identities into development tools and infrastructure used to build, warehouse, and distribute code.

In terms of improving the process for finding defects and remediating them, the participants discussed prioritizing and maintaining a catalog of the most critical projects. Regarding shortening response and remediation times, the meeting attends talked about ways to accelerate and improve the use of software bills of material (SBOMs) to make it easier to know what components go into software.

Incredibly constructive discussion

In a press briefing following the meeting, Sullivan called the gathering an incredibly constructive discussion about ways that the public sector and the private sector can work effectively together to ensure that public sector systems are more robust and resilient and private sector systems are more robust and resilient.

He also pointed to the administrations efforts to tackle the problem of open-source software security. The Presidents executive order (EO) issued in May directed NIST to develop guidance identifying practices that enhance the security of the software supply chain. The EO required NISTs guidance to include standards, procedures, or criteria that ensure and attest to the integrity and provenance of open-source software used within any portion of a product. NIST published these guidelines in draft form in October.

The EO also required the Commerce Departments National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to publish minimum elements for an SBOM. NTIA published a document in July containing those elements.

Googles new open-source security proposals

Industry participants came out of the White House meeting expressing their support for further government collaboration. After the meeting concluded, Kent Walker, president global affairs and chief legal officer, Google and Alphabet, shared a series of proposals for new collaborative models to secure open source software.

The first proposal is to establish a public-private partnership to identify and maintain a list of critical open-source projects, with criticality determined based on the influence and importance of a project. The second proposal calls for the government and industry to come together to establish baseline standards for security, maintenance, provenance, and testing, emphasizing frequent updates, continuous testing, and verified integrity.

The third proposal is to set up an organization to serve as a marketplace for open-source maintenance, matching volunteers from companies with the critical projects that most need support. Google says it has already contributed resources and stands ready to contribute more resources to these efforts.

The tech sector applauds government leadership

The other private sector participants also endorsed the idea of working together with the government to make open-source software more secure. When the security of a widely used open-source component or application is compromised, every company, every country, and every community is impacted, Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin said. We applaud the U.S. governments leadership in facilitating a stronger focus on open-source software security and look forward to collaborating with the global ecosystem to make progress. In particular, the OpenSSF is our key initiative to address the broad set of open-source software supply chain challenges, and it was very heartening to hear our work identified and endorsed by other participants in the meeting as a basis for further collaboration.

Brian Behlendorf, executive director of the OpenSSF, agrees. The open-source ecosystem will need to work together to further cybersecurity research, training, analysis, and remediation of defects found in critical open-source software projects, he said. [The plans discussed at the White House meeting] were met with positive feedback and a growing, collective commitment to take meaningful action. Following the recent Log4j crisis, the time has never been more pressing for public and private collaboration to ensure that open-source software components and the software supply chains they flow through demonstrate the highest cybersecurity integrity.

Mike Hanley, CSO of GitHub, said that addressing software supply chain security is a team sport. Through partnerships with governments, academia, developers, and other organizations, together we can make a significant impact on the future of software security, and todays discussion is an important step in securing the worlds code together.

Akamai said that government and industry should prioritize investments in tools and technologies that can help increase visibility of use of open source, optimally through automated tools. It also said it supports strong private-public ownership and vulnerability management for designated critical open-source libraries.

The Apache Foundation called the White House meeting a good beginning that can help catalyze and direct a wider response to addressing todays security needs for open source software. Red Hat said that it looks forward to working with the Administration and a broad set of stakeholders on any next steps and will continue our focus on supporting our customers and strengthening the open-source ecosystem.
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
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When Connecticut launches its recreational marijuana market for adult use this year, it will balance two issues that have plagued other states when they initiated their programs: Long lines at retail dispensaries and overproduction.

Experts said theres likely to be a surge in demand to start, with supply coming initially from the existing medical marijuana producers in the state.

Figuring out supply can be a really big challenge and it can be fraught with surprises depending on how laws are structured, said David Abernathy, principal at Arcview Management Consulting, a global firm that specializes in the cannabis and hemp industry. A lot of the regulations are created as political compromises, and often created by people who often dont understand the mechanics of the supply chain of the cannabis industry very well.

States have taken varying approaches to cannabis licensing and have set different rules for how much marijuana can be legally grown.

Some states have found themselves relatively quickly with an oversupply of cannabis as markets come online, which can cause the wholesale price to crater and really make it difficult for cultivators, said Abernathy, who serves on the boards of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and the Marijuana Policy Project. Weve also seen states where they didnt have enough supply. Usually, that will resolve itself fairly quickly.

A surplus of legal cannabis in Oregon, for example, prompted efforts by lawmakers there to rein in production. Nevada had the opposite problem. Gov. Brian Sandoval declared a state of emergency in the first week of legal sales due to marijuana shortages.

In its first full year, Connecticuts recreational market could generate $250 million in sales by some estimates.

Thats roughly four times what it is today, said Rob Hunt, a California-based cannabis business consultant. The expectation in Connecticut is that youre going to see a massive jump in revenue production from the medicinal market to the adult use market and it will happen very quickly.

By year four, Connecticuts market is expected to generate $750 million in sales, but Hunt said he thinks the revenue will be closer to $1.25 billion.

Based on rough estimates, Hunt figured that if you assume $250 million in the first year, about $125 million for wholesale market and divide that by $4,000 per pound, which he expects the price to be in the near term, then Connecticut would roughly need 31,250 pounds of dried flower to satisfy the market to start.

That will double into 2023 and 2024 before it starts to slow down, Hunt said, noting other states have seen similar trends.

Compared with California, for example, the recreational market in New England is different given the states are smaller and closer together, theres more of an opportunity for people to cross state lines to buy cannabis.

As more adult-use markets come online in New England, it will be interesting to see the differences in tax rates or product availability and whether that gives some states an advantage over their neighbors, Abernathy said.

Weve seen this in other industries too, he added. A lot of Vermonters will drive to New Hampshire to buy liquor because its cheaper there.

Connecticut will open its initial application period for licenses next month. The states recreational cannabis law does not set a cap on the total number of licenses that can be issued or how much cannabis can be grown, but it does specify how much grow space is allowed  at least 15,000 square feet of grow space for cultivators and 2,000 to 10,000 square feet for micro-cultivators. Producers that grow both medical and recreational marijuana must have at least 250,000 square feet of grow and manufacturing space.

The timeline for licensing businesses can impact supply in the beginning.

If you license retailers before cultivators, you could end up with a situation where retailers are ready to go but theres not enough cultivation capacity that has come online, Abernathy said, adding it takes time to outfit a cultivation facility and get it ready for production

Growing can begin once producers have received final licenses from the state Department of Consumer Protection. Depending on the method used, it takes four and half months to six months to grow a marijuana plant.

Connecticuts law also does not stipulate how much cannabis people can buy at one time, but does set legal possession limits. Recreational users cannot carry in their possession more than 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower or 7.5 grams of cannabis concentrate. The law allows the DCP commissioner to set temporary lower per-transaction limits to avoid cannabis supply shortages or address a public health and safety concern.

Many Connecticut municipalities have instituted temporary or permanent bans on cannabis businesses and ordinances to limit where dispensaries can open. At the onset, there could be long lines at retail stores, depending on how many dispensaries open initially and how many customers show up.

In Connecticut, like other states with existing medical marijuana programs that legalized recreational cannabis, supply early on will largely come from the states existing medical marijuana producers. There are four licensed cannabis production facilities in the state  Advanced Grow Labs, Connecticut Pharmaceuticals, Curaleaf, and Theraplant  all of which are owned by out-of-state companies.

Medical producers can apply to participate in the recreational-use market without going through the lottery process. Medical dispensaries that want to convert to a hybrid retail license similarly are not subject to the lottery.

In addition to the four producers, there are 18 medical dispensaries in Connecticut and nearly 54,000 patients registered through the states medical marijuana program. Registered medical patients can purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis per month.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
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ANSONIA  Police have identified a youth alleged to have made a weekend social media post that resulted in an increased police presence at the school Tuesday, according to Superintendent Joseph DiBacco. He confirmed the information in a text message Tuesday afternoon.

Student they had in custody admitted to the social media post, DiBacco wrote.

The suspect is believed to be an Ansonia High School student.

This is the second instance of social media activity resulting in a police response at Ansonia High School since December. In Mid-December, three students were arrested after being accused of sending threatening messages. The school was sent into lock down then closed for a day as a result.

Then student who received the message was concerned enough to notify police, DiBacco said. The message was concerning enough to warrant an increased presence at the school, he said.

He said something to the effect, he knew the kids who wanted to do stuff to the building, the kids that they arrested, DiBacco said. Police werent sure what the message meant, but they didnt like it. I didnt like it either, he said.

In an email sent out to parents Tuesday morning, DiBacco told parents there was no credible threat to the school, but officers would remain until their investigation was complete.
Elected officials, school children and social activists across Connecticut paid tribute to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, the federal holiday that marks his birthday.

The titan of the Black civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s would have turned 93 over the weekend, had he not been killed by an assassins bullet in 1968. Students from Norwalk, Danbury and Middletown participated in one of the events, mostly remote, held in towns from Stamford to Branford.

I remember watching videos of him and others marching and being hit in the head with rocks and all kinds of stuff that they had to endure, and him being a voice for the people and for the movement, said Chris Wilson, an entrepreneur and artist who headlined Branfords 37th annual MLK event.

Wilson authored a book documenting his rise from a hard upbringing in Baltimore, and spoke during Mondays event of how his mothers sexual assault at the hands of his stepfather, a police officer, led him to spiral onto a path that would see him sentenced to life in prison. Released after 16 years, he recalled how learning about the civil rights movement while working towards a sociology degree inspired him.

I honestly felt ashamed of myself that our people had been through so much and here I was in prison and wasting my life, Wilson recalled during the event, held over Zoom. I went from feeling just ashamed of myself to being motivated to pick up the torch and finish the work.

Gov. Ned Lamont paid tribute to King in a pre-recorded video

When it comes to speaking truth to power, I hope thats one of the things we remember about Martin Luther King, the governor said. He stood up to those forces every day, and Id like to think some of those values he got during his summer here in Connecticut right down the street in Simsbury.

King was among a group of Morehouse College students who worked the tobacco fields at a farm in the town. He later recalled the experience of being able to eat in Hartfords restaurants without fear of discrimination in a letter to his mother.

But others who marked the day pointed to the nations continuing divide over race and issues of social justice.

We dont have segregation in the physical form, said state Rep. Bobby Gibson, a Democrat whose district includes Bloomfield and Windsor. But do we have segregation in the economic or in the form in which we are all living as equals and we have equality and we have equity? he asked, speaking during a virtual event commemorating the day hosted by the state legislatures Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity. This was Dr. Kings dream that we would have these things. But how do we live up to his legacy?

Students who spoke during the event shared quotes from King and talked about what his words meant in their own lives.

Terrence Lamont Jackson Jr., a senior at Middletown High School, drew parallels between Kings words and marches and protests in 2020 following the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

I was already feeling the mental effects of remote learning, but I remember feeling scared and helpless for the first time in my life, all because of the color of my skin, Jackson said. After Arberys death, Jacksons mother forbade the teen from going for a run not because it was too cold, but because she was now scared for me to run in our own neighborhood.

Jackson said he lost his fear after his mother spoke at a protest for George Floyds death and watching the movement of protests grow. Martin Luther King didnt let anyone or anything stop him from speaking, marching or protesting, Jackson said. If you think about all he went through on that bloody Sunday in Selma, because of his legacy, we didnt let the virus stop us from protesting for what was right, he said.
The Moscow-Beijing alliance, according to a western expert, could be under threat due to Kazakhstan's intervention behind the scenes in close-by states.

It was the call of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who requested assistance from the Kremlin, which Beijing approved as well.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation, an organization of former Soviet-Bloc countries, acts as security and intervention forces for allies in eastern Europe.

Russia intervenes in Kazakhs revolt

The unrest in the capital of Almaty has sent in Russian paratroopers to control the rebellion gone amuck, started by the rise of fuel prices. Next came the anti-government protests, which drove the current leader from the palace.

Forces from Russia are keeping the peace and quelling the unrest. Excessive violence has led to deaths amongst civilians and police in the capital city, reported the Express UK.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave its approval for the military action of the Kremlin to stop the rebellion. Adding that both nations are opposed to external forces that are undermining the affairs of Central Asian countries, making an apparent reference to NATO and the US trying to increase their influence.

Kazakhstan closely monitored by the west, two superpowers

Dr. Rasmus Nilsson of the University College London, who specializes in Slavonic and East European Studies, says these two nations should be value personal interests when push comes to shove, cited News Europe.

He went on to say that China is presently ready to keep out of Kazakhstan's challenges because the country holds considerable political and economic relevance for Beijing, stressing that Beijing will not allow gains to be lost due to its partnership with Moscow.

Read Also: Russian Military Drills on Video Shake Up NATO as Putin Beats the War Drums on the Ukraine Border

Two superpowers are eyeing Kazakhstan for being rich with plentiful resources, including oil, valued by both nations. American investors show interest in a source besides oil or coal, including the presence of precious metals valued for their utility.

Its value for Russia and China means it is under watch with its strategic advantages, as with mineral industries, noted Foreign Policy.

Tokayev was assured of any support to prevent any destabilizing influence from the west, said Xi Jinping to the leader of the Central Asian country.

Putin claims West started the unrest

China made it clear it did not want pro-democracy movements to cause unrest and turmoil, like in the early 2000s in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia. Influence from the west is not welcome.

Vladimir Putin said it was foreign, not local forces, that started the unrests, and he gave this damning accusation pointed at the west in a CSTO video meeting. He praised the paratroopers who upheld the state and the situation in Kazakhstan and stopped terrorists, looters, and criminals from causing public disorder.

The Kazakh president thanked the Kremlin leader for the military assistance and said no negotiations with protestors. He condemned them as not nonnegotiable parties, mainly citing the terrorists involved. As local forces were killed by the armed and prepped bandits, he vowed to kill every one of them.

Putin warned that the west inspired the protest and would not be forgotten. He added the CSTO would not allow any member state to face the same west-originated trouble.

Attempts of the West to cause dissension in the Moscow-Beijing alliance are vital to get their hands on resources like in Kazakhstan, which they need, but Russia and China are both dominant in their spheres of influence.

Related Article: Vladimir Putin Dispatches Russian Paratroopers To Quell Protesters at the Request of Kazakhstan Leader as Law and Order Degrades in the Country

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BRIDGEPORT  Investigators seized a vehicle and identified a driver in connection with a fatal pedestrian crash last week, according to police officials.

Just before 6 a.m. on Jan. 13, patrol officers, medics and fire units responded to the area of Main and Hillview streets for a reported serious crash, Traffic Division Sgt. Darryl Wilson said.

Wilson said officers determined a motorist was driving a green 2002 Toyota Camry north on Main Street near the intersection of Hillview Avenue when a pedestrian tried to cross Main Street. Wilson said the driver tried to swerve to the left, but hit and dragged the woman about 20 feet before she fell to the ground.

The driver of the Toyota quickly made a U-turn, parked on the side of Main Street and tried to stop vehicles from driving north on Main Street, Wilson said.

But, Wilson said, as the driver was trying to stop traffic, an unknown vehicle ran over the pedestrian as she was lying in the street. Wilson said the driver fled north on Main Street.

An off-duty nurse and paramedic performed CPR on the woman until an ambulance arrived and took over care. The victim, identified by Wilson as 63-year-old Bridgeport resident Donna Dvornek, was rushed to St. Vincents Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.

As crews were investigating, the police department received a call from an unidentified woman who said she was the driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian and fled. The driver was urged to go to the Traffic Division office at 485 Howard Ave. Wilson said the driver showed up in a 2008 white Mitsubishi Endeavor, which was seized by investigators.

There was no immediate information on any potential charges, but Wilson said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with additional details to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call Traffic Division Officer Thomas Gallbronner at 203-576-7640. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 203-576-TIPS.
BRIDGEPORT - A city man accused of racing has been charged in the December 2020 death of former state Sen. Edwin Gomes.

According to police, Clive Henry, 20, of Bridgeprt, was racing another car at high speeds on Boston Avenue when his car collided with a car driven by Gomes, 84, who died of his injuries nine days later.

Henry was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.

During a brief court appearance on Tuesday, Henry did not plead to the charges and the case was continued to March 24. He is free after posting $75,000 bond.

Later, outside the courtroom at Golden Hill Street, Henrys lawyer, Michael Fitzpatrick said his client cooperated with the police throughout the investigation.

He is distraught over Senator Gomes death, Fitzpatrick said. He knows how beloved Senator Gomes was in Bridgeport and what a tragic loss this has been for the Gomes family and the community. That said, this type of accident normally does not result in serious injuries let alone death. So, as his lawyer, I will be looking very closely at how the accident occurred and why death resulted.

The 84-year-old Gomes served in the state senate, representing Bridgeport, from 2005 to 2019. He died of his injuries nine days after the crash.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, shortly before 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2020, officers were called to a serious car crash at the intersection of Boston and Noble avenues.

Police said surveillance video showed a 2010 Ford sedan, traveling east on Boston Avenue, attempted to make a left turn into a restaurant parking lot when it was struck by an Acura sedan traveling westbound on Boston Avenue.

Gomes, the driver of the Ford, was transported to Bridgeport Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The affidavit states that Henry, the driver of the Acura, was also taken to the hospital with facial injuries.

The affidavit states that witnesses told police the Acura and another car had been racing each other westbound on Boston Avenue when the two cars approached Gomes car in the process of turning into the parking lot.

One of the racing cars managed to avoid Gomes car but the Acura, driven by Henry, crashed into Gomes car, the affidavit states. The driver of the other car was not identified.

The subsequent investigation determined that Henry was driving at 66 miles per hour at the time of the crash, the affidavit states.
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STRATFORD  In 1938, a group of white men accused Donald Smarts grandfather, Oscar James, of stealing pecans from his own property in Georgia. One of them shot and killed James, with his son, Smarts father, bearing witness.

He quickly fled for a life up north in Bridgeport, Conn., where he had family. Smart, who is Black, said the killing shattered his family.

Smart spoke about his grandfather during a scheduled discussion on critical race theory on Monday at the Sterling House Community Center.

Smarts CRT workshop was one of the more popular topics of discussion, according to Sterling House President Amanda Meeson. The community center hosted a series of separate discussions and workshops on Monday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Many residents came in curious about the actual definition of critical race theory.

The audience was at first silent but Smart said drawing a line between his familys personal tragedy and a seemingly abstract theoretical framework wasnt intuitive.

What does my grandfathers lynching have to do with critical race theory? Smart said.

He responded to his own question with a litany of laws and rules that robbed Black Americans of equal rights.

His grandfathers murder, he said, was a consequence of those laws that turned them into second class citizens and led in many ways, to his grandfathers murder. Critical race theory, he said, helps to explain the role of racism in American law to a captive audience. But he also said he understood explaining the concept, let alone delving into its nuances is not going to be easy. Some audience members came away better informed while others said he didnt go far enough.

Susan Radel, who came down from Sandy Hook and was a former librarian, told Smart the term was too abstract, making it out of reach for many people.

Can you think of some better way that we could describe this phenomenon? Radel said.

Smart said no. The framework has roots in earlier critical theories about the law, he said, and he attempted a concise definition of the term, but it still included the word theoretical.

After the discussion, Smart said the theory, which has its roots in graduate level academia, is not going to be an easy topic to discuss. But one of the key components of the theory is the use of narrative storytelling, which Smart used during the workshop.

The theory has been brought up over recent months mainly by conservatives who see it as an attack on American exceptionalism and some people have claimed it attacks white people as inherently evil and is being taught to an entire generation of impressionable children.

But, Smart said in his presentation that CRT does not attack any one race. And, he said, because its a graduate level field of study, K-12 students wouldnt be taught it.

Stephanie Philips, the former Democratic Town Committee chair in Stratford, said the theory has moved from the academic sphere to being used as a political cudgel.

Smart said the theory is just the latest in a series of topics manipulated to serve politicians self-interest.

But for one Stratford resident, Smart didnt go far enough. She said 45 minutes was simply not enough time to discuss the pervasiveness of systemic racism in American history and society.

Mia DuBose-Pettway said afterwards Smart didnt go into enough detail about the theory. She took issue with the term itself. How could the lived experiences of an entire people be considered a theory, she said.

The black experience is not a theory. Its a fact, DuBose-Pettway said.

She wasnt a fan of CRT. To her, she said the framework isnt needed as long as people come to terms with how the consequences of the past have led to the present, but she said it wont happen.

Do we need critical race theory? No, we just need proper history, she said.
Full disclosure: Im new here. I joined the National Credit Union Foundation in mid-December so Im just a month in.

I would have started a week earlier were it not for a car accident. Everyone is fine, thankfully, but there were loose ends to tidy up, family to take care of, insurance claims etc.

In fact, the accident made me take stock of a few things so before I started my new job, I also got married. Yup. Finally tied the knot to the love of my life. In Las Vegas. After that, we spent some time on the west coast. Oh, and now my husband and I are moving, too.

So that was a car crash, out-of-state wedding, quick pitstop on the beach, house-move and a new job, all during the frenetic holidays.

But thats me, Im a maximizer. Someone who thrives on energy, momentum, and doing the most. This would be easy for me. Or so I thought.

This maximizer is at her max.

Dont get me wrong, I am madly in love, super-enthusiastic about my new role, new team and new home. But I did not plan to order as much takeout as I had during the move. On top of that, it seems that with every home improvement project comes another. Its a balancing act. Socially, emotionally, financially I need a moment to recalibrate.

The problem is, you only know this because I told you. And that right there is one of the main challenges facing credit unions: because someones financial well-being is as much about how they feel about their money as it is how they use it. Unless we ask, we may never know.

There are nuances and details that have to be unearthed before we can truly have impact. Here are four steps that can help you get there:

Embrace empathy. Empathy is a gamechanger for credit unions. Through our cooperative values every employee has the latitude (maybe even obligation) to individualize their interactions. To be present and curious. To take whatever time required to understand someones unique circumstances. Because how can we improve someones financial health unless we truly understand where they are? Start at home. It is all too easy for credit unions to talk about members and communities and overlook that their employees are likely a) members and b) live in their communities. Two thirds of the American public are financially unhealthy, so we cannot assume those in need are outside of the organization. Approach partnership with beneficence. Doing good is fine but doing the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount people can be even better. The maximizer in me often thinks, how can we do/add more? The truth is, often, the best quality results come from working with what you already have or with who you already know. Consider the organizations you partner with that provide programs where financial counseling and education can make an impact. Use available resources instead of recreating the wheel. Focus on mission now, product later. I read and re-read this interview with BCUs Director of Financial Well-being, Bjorn Larson. Ive seen credit unions rebrand, even drop the words credit union from their name, but to hear Bjorn talk about positioning a $5 billion credit union as a financial well-being benefit rather than a financial institution  mind blown. I cannot fathom the amount of conversation, debate, strategy and teamwork that got BCU to this point. It has to be applauded and hopefully other credit unions can take stock. We do not exist to provide products, we exist to improve the financial well-being of our members, employees, and the communities we serve. Through empathetic conversations, we will discover issues and opportunities that a product cannot solve, but a financial cooperative can.

So, as I wrapped presents and sent thank you cards, packed and unpacked boxes; blended families and looked for a new car over the holidays, I applied these steps to my own life.

First, I learned to be empathic with myself and others. Knowing we are all doing our best and that even a little bit for one day can be the max.

Next, take care of your home first and the rest will come. The peace of mind that comes from knowing everyone and everything in the home is tended to, makes room for more growth. And no, I dont mean using both air fryers, coffee- and waffle-makers that my husband and I each had. I mean making the best use of our resources for our wants and needs.

Which leads me to the mission  getting settled. If youre wondering: I did not get a car, but I use his and know that when I am ready, the one that best suits me will be there. So will those infamous credit union auto loan rates. For now, my hope for the new year is to keep these things in mind on the journey ahead.
No doubt about it. The CU Space is filled with spectacular people whose stories are too often untoldparticularly those of the MANY women in the industry who are driving the kind of change needed in the communities theyre an integral part of.

And that, my friends, is precisely why CU Change Makers: Women On Work (WOW) was created. Sponsored by CRMNEXTs Banking on Experience, this podcast launches its first episode today, and we cant wait to share it with the world!

Joining forces to shine some light on the unsung heroes of the CU space are Stephanie Smith, Executive Director of Americas Credit Union Museum and JonTaylor, CEO of CU Soltwo people incredibly passionate about the movement and the people in it. So let the storytelling begin!

Whats covered in our inaugural episode?
Timeline

Timeline

According to Kankakee police, the first call for an overdose came at approximately 6:20 p.m. Thursday. Kankakee police and Kankakee fire department responded to an address on West Court Street for a male subject who had overdosed. The subject was revived and transported to the hospital.

At 1:58 a.m. Friday, police and fire personnel responded to an address in the 600 block of West Station Street in response to three subjects who had overdosed. Two victims, both female, were transported to area hospitals. Paramedics were unable to revive a 37-year-old male who died at the scene of a suspected drug overdose.

At 3:30 a.m. Friday, police and fire responded to the 600 block of North Hammes Avenue for two people, one male and one female, who had overdosed while sitting in a vehicle. Both of these subjects were revived at the scene by KFD paramedics and were transported to area hospitals.

At 9:58 a.m. Friday, police and fire responded to the 1700 block of Cedar Street in response to a 20-year-old female who was not breathing. Paramedics were unable to revive the female and she was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time she is suspected of dying from a drug overdose.
Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a suspected drone attack on a major oil facility in Abu Dhabi that killed three people, and a separate fire broke out at the Abu Dhabi International Airport on Monday.

United Arab Emirates Police reported that two Indian nationals and one Pakistani were the casualties of the attack. However, the officers did not disclose the identity of the wounded victim that sustained moderate injuries from the incident at the oil facility of an energy company run by Abu Dhabi's government, according to ABC News.

Preliminary investigations showed small drone-like flying objects that crashed into the areas that possibly caused the fire and explosion. Authorities reported no major damage from the incident.

Yemen's rebel group, Houthi, claimed responsibility for the attack at UAE. But the Iranian-backed rebels did not elaborate.

The incident occurs as the Houthis recently seized an Emirati-flagged vessel amid the years-long conflict in Yemen continues.

Possible Houthis Retaliation

UAE has already pulled out most of its forces from the war troubling the poorest country in the Arab world. However, UAE remains active in supporting local militias fighting the Yemeni rebel organization.

For almost seven years, UAE has been involved in the war in Yemen as a key component of the coalition led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The alliance launched attacks against the Houthis, which gained control of Yemen's capital and threw out the internationally-backed government.

Earlier this month, pro-government forces in Yemen regained the whole province of Shabwa in the south from the Houthis. They have received support from Giants Brigades, backed by UAE, as well as airstrikes courtesy of Saudi, which also help them advance in the neighboring province of Marib.

Authorities describe the airport fire as a minor incident that occurred in an area that is under construction, as per Associated Press.

The other explosion involving three petroleum transport tankers occurred near a large terminal facility of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the Musaffah industrial region. It is about 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) northeast of Saada, Yemen's Houthi stronghold.

The oil facility is also nearby from Al-Dhafra Air Base, a military installation hosts the U.S. and French forces.

Emirati Energy Minister Suhail Mazrouei has not yet commented on the explosion at ADNOC's facility. The official told the media that police would be releasing updates on the ongoing investigation of the incident.

Read Also: UN Warns of Growing Humanitarian Crisis, Famine in Yemen as Aid Agencies Run Out of Money

Houthis Claims Drone Attack

The blast happened during the visit of South Korean President Moon Jae-in to the UAE. On Sunday, Moon met with Emirati Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The two countries reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to sell mid-range South Korean surface-to-air missiles worth around $3.5 billion.

Meanwhile, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemned the attack by the Houthi rebels at Abu Dhabi International Airport, calling it a "cowardly terror attack," as per CNN.

"The kingdom also points out that this terror attack which the Houthi militia is behind reconfirms the danger that this terror group poses and its threat to the security, peace, and stability in the region and the world," stated by Saudi's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Related Article: France, UAE Inks Huge Arms Agreement for 80 Jets After Australia Backed Out From Earlier Deal

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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MLK Day speaker: Voting rights are under attack

jeure / Timothy Barnett/Drone ICS, LLC The Rev. Timothy Stallings (right) leads a group of Elizabeth City State University students and local residents on the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March along Culpepper Street in Elizabeth City, Monday morning. The marchers departed from the ECSU campus and walked to Mt. Lebanon AME Zion Church on Culpepper Street for a service. cday / Chris Day/The Daily Advance A member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (middle) at Elizabeth City State University leads other students and residents in a Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance march from the ECSU campus on Southern Avenue to Mt. Lebanon AME Zion Church on Culpepper Street in Elizabeth City, Monday morning. cday / Chris Day/The Daily Advance The Rev. Charity Fisher, of Greater Revival Outreach Ministries in Virginia Beach, Virginia, speaks at a Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Service at Mt. Lebanon AME Zion Church in Elizabeth City, Monday morning. cday / Chris Day/The Daily Advance/ Keith Rivrs Keith Rivers, president of the Pasquotank chapter of the NAACP, speaks after a march led by members of clergy from churches across North Carolina, as well as churches outside the state, to protest the shooting death of Andrew Brown Jr. by Pasquotank Sheriffs deputies, Saturday.

The leader of the local NAACP chapter, speaking at the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Unity Service Monday afternoon, warned that voting rights in the country are under attack.

Pasquotank NAACP President Keith Rivers issued the warning to around 100 attendees at the unity service at the Mt. Lebanon A.M.E. Zion Church. Most of those in attendance took part in a march from Elizabeth City State University to the church before the service honoring Kings civil rights legacy.

Rivers said Kings family recently said that the federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader should not be a day of service but a day of work to ensure equal voting rights.

New voting rights legislation being pushed by President Joe Biden and other top Democrats to counteract recently enacted restrictive election laws in GOP-led states has stalled. The legislation has met almost universal opposition from Republicans as well as from Democratic U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

Both Democratic senators oppose changing the U.S. Senates filibuster rules to allow a straight-up vote on the voting rights legislation.

Dr. Kings legacy was built on one thing  voting rights, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Rivers said. It is gutted. I dont know any other way to say it. This is why we have all this regression across our city, our state.

Rivers issued a call for people to get more involved in demanding easier access to voting, saying we are in a serious season.

We have to get involved, you have to call your legislators, Rivers said. You have to tell them that the John Lewis Voting Rights Act needs to pass. I am here today standing on the shoulders of those people that marched in the 1950s, 1960s and the early 1970s. They (states that have passed restrictive voting laws) have taken all of that away.

Participants at other MLK Day events on Monday also expressed concern about Congress failure to pass federal voting rights legislation.

Gerry Evans, who attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at Winfall Landing Park Monday morning, said he absolutely is concerned about the current state of voting rights.

He said voting rights should be permanent rather than having to be renewed periodically.

Ever since 65, back in the Civil Rights Movement, were still fighting for the same thing, Evans said.

But hes still hopeful that Congress will pass legislation strengthening voting rights. Always hopeful, he said.

Hertford Town Councilor Sandra Anderson, who also attended the Winfall Landing Park event, agreed that the current prospects for passing federal voting rights legislation isnt good.

Anderson, who noted that she used to work in Washington, D.C., as a Senate aide, said she doesnt think its likely that proposed federal voting rights legislation will pass.

Very much so, she replied when asked whether she was concerned about the state of voting rights in the country today.

Pastor Isaac Lister was one of around a dozen clergy members who spoke at the Elizabeth City service. Lister also took part in the march to the church and said celebrating Kings life work of promoting justice and equality is something that needs to be passed onto younger generations.

Our younger generation needs to realize the sacrifices that were made by Dr. King and other civil rights leaders, Lister said. They were trailblazers for us and we cant let that spirit die.

Elizabeth City resident John Shannon has participated in MLK Day marches and services for many years. He said it is important to remember Kings life and accomplishments.

We need to spread some love, some joy, Shannon said. We need to do this to bring our community and our country together. We need to remember our history going forward.

Pastor Charity Fisher was the featured speaker at the unity service. An ECSU graduate, she told attendees to hold fast to their dreams.

Hard times, trouble, uncertainty have a way of causing us to wonder if our dreams will ever become a reality, Fisher said. (King) believed that God-given dreams were worth holding on to.

Fisher noted that Vice President Kamala Harris shattered another glass ceiling when she became the first woman elected to the nations second highest office in 2020.

In the words of King, even though we faced the difficulties of today and of tomorrow, we still should maintain a dream, Fisher said. The dream is still being manifested today.

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Dalton, GA (30720)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Hello, UO students and welcome to week three, where it seems all sense of regularly-scheduled programming has been lost to a time where the words pandemic and Zoom werent triggering. Universities across the country opted for an online 2022  some choosing to begin the term online and others making a gradual shift to in-person learning based on changing COVID-19 concerns. Here at UO, where the university has conveniently decided to not make any decisions for the term, it is chaos.

On Jan. 6, UO students received clarity from the university in the form of an email, notifying them that instructors may move courses that are experiencing 20 percent or more COVID-related student absences to online learning for a limited period. This decision to return to remote learning ultimately falls on the professors, who require dean approval.

Many are satisfied with this response. Im fully fine with Oregon being in-person and teachers giving options to be online, student Chris Engel said. The ability to learn in-person amid a global pandemic is undoubtedly something to be grateful for, but not all UO students have been given this option.

All of my classes have been moved online  I guess I just didnt expect this to happen so quickly, student Gracie Nelson said. Its been confusing.

It seems unfair that some students should be given the option for in-person learning while others are not, and perhaps a more unified decision from the university would have alleviated this issue. Instead, there was none. Its difficult to complain about this (to Zoom or not to Zoom) when no option is particularly good, but surely the option that least risks student safety is the lesser of two evils.

There has been no effort to reduce class sizes, student Anna Anton said. I am always shoulder-to-shoulder with other students. It risks everyones safety.

Fortunately for us all, with the university seemingly unwilling to reduce class sizes, COVID-19 has jumped into action. Students attending in-person classes may notice each day that one or two more of their peers have opted to stay home, and they may start to hope their name isnt the next to appear at the top of the growing list of the universitys positive cases.

It is clear the university was ill prepared for winter term to elicit so many different student needs and opinions and should have planned to better assist professors in making these accommodations. The school should have provided better resources for teachers, student Tal Lotzof, whose math professor has struggled to show students online clear images of their in-person screen, said. Adequate cameras, instructions on how to use Zooms features like screen-sharing or breakout rooms, smaller class sizes and clearer COVID-19 guidelines all would have eased this transition for professors and students alike.

At the end of the school day, though, there are no real winners  except for perhaps President Michael Schill and his fellow 6-figure-making administrators. In early April 2021, Schill and other administrators did opt to take slight pay cuts, which were expected to last six months. Having cited concerns that students may not stay throughout our first spring term of remote instruction, Schill may be relieved to see the 2021-2022 school year accomplished a record enrollment despite COVID-19 concerns.

If these pay cuts, or ahem, enrollment concerns had persisted, though, the universitys hesitancy to announce this winter term to begin online makes sense. With all students now experiencing a unique winter term (be it online, in person or somewhere in between), the university can hide their accountability behind these shrouded layers of confusion and chaos.

But not from me, they cant. I admit its unfair to assume poor intentions drove the universitys decision  or lack thereof  this term. It is understandable that any institution would struggle to decide what is the best working option amid changing CDC guidelines and a new, rapidly spreading variant. Still, I cant help but wish university officials had been more transparent with their decision-making process and had made clearer efforts to prioritize student and faculty safety.

Ultimately, all the university has really done was choose not to make the hard decision to move winter term, at least initially, online. In perhaps saving themselves some backlash from students and parents hoping for in-person education, they have shirked responsibility onto students and professors to navigate the quick and confusing shift into hybrid learning.

It may be true there are no real winners of winter term, but there are losers. (Thats us, guys.)
Ashland, KY (41101)

Today

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 58F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 58F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Rain likely. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Xi's remarks on economic globalization, joint efforts to tackle common challenges

Xinhua) 16:22, January 18, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a special address at the 2022 World Economic Forum virtual session, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual session, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday championed economic globalization and called for global cooperation to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a historic juncture where countries are struggling with unprecedented challenges, Xi has, in his past addresses at the WEF, expounded on China's stance over upholding economic globalization and multilateralism. The following are some highlights of his remarks.

Jan. 17, 2022

As COVID-19 is resurging with more variants and spreading faster than before, Xi again urged the world to "embrace cooperation and jointly defeat the pandemic" in his special address on Monday.

"Facts have shown once again that amidst the raging torrents of a global crisis, countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather all in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges," Xi said figuratively. "Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm."

Holding each other back or shifting blame would only cause needless delay in response and distract the world from the overall objective, Xi said, urging the world to strengthen international cooperation against COVID-19, carry out active cooperation on research and development of medicines, jointly build multiple lines of defense against the coronavirus, and speed up efforts to build a global community of health for all.

On economic globalization, the Chinese president called it "the trend of the times." Despite the countercurrents and dangerous shoals along the way, he said, economic globalization has never and will not veer off course.

"Countries around the world should uphold true multilateralism. We should remove barriers, not erect walls. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration, not decoupling. This is the way to build an open world economy," Xi said.

In his address, Xi also urged the world to discard Cold War mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes.

"Acts of single-mindedly building 'exclusive yards with high walls' or 'parallel systems,' of enthusiastically putting together exclusive small circles or blocs that polarize the world, of overstretching the concept of national security to hold back economic and technological advances of other countries, and of fanning ideological antagonism and politicizing or weaponizing economic, scientific and technological issues, will gravely undercut international efforts to tackle common challenges," Xi said.

Jan. 25, 2021

Noting that the problems facing the world are intricate and complex, Xi said in his special address at the WEF Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda that the way out of them is "through upholding multilateralism and building a community with a shared future for mankind."

"Multilateralism is about having international affairs addressed through consultation and the future of the world decided by everyone working together," Xi said.

"Decision should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving a big fist," he said, adding that "selective multilateralism should not be our option."

Xi urged abandoning arrogance and isolation mindsets, saying that "we have been shown time and again that to beggar thy neighbor, to go it alone, and to slip into arrogant isolation will always fail."

In his speech, Xi also noted that multilateral institutions provide the platforms for putting multilateralism into action and are the basic architecture underpinning multilateralism, saying that their authority and effectiveness should be safeguarded.

He urged the international community to give full play to the role of the World Health Organization in building a global community of health for all, and to advance reform of the World Trade Organization and the international financial and monetary system in a way that boosts global economic growth and protects the development rights, interests and opportunities of developing countries.

Jan. 17, 2017

Though economic globalization has created new problems, this is no justification to write economic globalization off completely, said Xi at the 2017 WEF at Davos, Switzerland.

"Rather, we should adapt to and guide economic globalization, cushion its negative impact, and deliver its benefits to all countries and all nations," Xi said.

Stressing that "no one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi said that any attempt to cut off the flow of capital, technologies, products, industries and people between economies, and channel the waters in the ocean back into isolated lakes and creeks is simply not possible.

The president called on the international community to face up to the problems caused by globalization instead of dodging them.

"In the face of both opportunities and challenges of economic globalization, the right thing to do is to seize every opportunity, jointly meet challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Martin Luther King Jr.'s offspring led a march in Washington on Monday to push US President Joe Biden and Democrats in the US Senate to pass a law protecting the voting rights of all Americans.

In honoring the civil rights leader's life and legacy, the King Family and more than 100 national and local civil rights groups marched across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge into downtown Washington as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day D.C. Peace Walk, as per Reuters.

The activity comes after President Biden's failed campaign to urge colleagues in the US Senate to modify the chamber's rules last week. It would supposedly allow Democrats to overpower Republican opposition to the bill. However, two conservative Democrat senators rejected the notion.

Read Also: Joe Biden Urges Senate Democrats' Unification To Pass Voting Rights Bill; Mitch McConnell Rips the President's Speech

An Uphill Battle For Voting Rights

Before the start of the march, King's son, Martin Luther King III, acknowledged Democrat lawmakers' efforts to pass a comprehensive infrastructure bill in 2021. However, he appealed to pass the voting-rights legislation using "the same energy to ensure all Americans have the unencumbered right to vote."

If the bill gets passed into law, Americans would have expanded access to mail-in voting, stronger federal supervision of elections in states with a record of racial discrimination, and stricter rules on campaign finance.

Democrats argue that the bill is needed to fight off new voting restrictions passed in Republican-led states that would make the casting of ballots more challenging for minority and low-income voters.

New restrictions on suffrage have been enacted after former President Donald Trump issued false claims that his 2020 election loss was due to massive fraud.

Republican Senators, who control half of the 100 seats, are united in their opposition to the legislation, which they see as a partisan power grab. That left Biden and Schumer with only one option for getting it passed: persuading conservative Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to agree to change the chamber's "filibuster" rule, which requires 60 senators to agree on most bills.

Crucial Moment in US Civil Rights History

Senior Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer announced that the chamber would tackle the legislation and hold a procedural vote on Tuesday, the federal holiday commemorating King, the civil rights activist who advocated for nuclear weapons ban, the end of the Vietnam War, the creation of labor unions and access to healthcare to help improve the living conditions of many people.

On Friday, Biden told reporters that he is unsure if his Democratic Party can pass the landmark voting rights reform bill. But he assured the public that he would continue fighting for its passage, as per Al Jazeera.

"As long as I'm in the White House, as long as I'm engaged at all, I'm going to be fighting," Biden said.

For the late civil rights leader's son, "the stakes could not be higher" for Biden and his lawmaker allies to protect and expand his father's legacy.

"Senators now face one of the most existential choices of their tenure: protect our voting rights or go down in history as an enabler of voter suppression," King noted in a statement, as per CNN report.

Related Article: Voting Rights Advocates Plan To Boycott Joe Biden, Kamala Harris' Speech, Say They Need Federal Legislation Not Talks

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
1: Georgie Porgies first apology

I am sorry if my behaviour has upset people. It was never my intention to kiss those girls.

Strictly speaking, it was more of a peck, but at the time I should have recognised that it could be said technically to fall within the framework of a kiss.

2: Georgie Porgies second apology

Since my last statement two days ago, it has been brought to my attention that, by kissing those girls, I may  or may not  have made them cry. I have no recollection of any such event, but as a man of honour, I do not intend to run away from these accusations, however ill-founded they may be.

King Henry VIII, by the workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, c 1537. The monarch famously beheaded two of his six wives

3: Henry VIII, May 20, 1536

I want to apologise. I recognise that millions of men and women have been married for a great many years without ever having recourse to removing the head of their spouse.

However, it has been brought to my attention that, at some point over the past few days, my wife, Anne Boleyn, inadvertently lost her head when a sword, axe or some other sharp object fell upon it.

I must make it clear that I was not present in the room at the time, so I am not the person to ask about it. I cannot anticipate the conclusions of the report I have commissioned from the independent investigator, Thomas Cromwell.

In the meantime, as a recent widower, I would ask the media to allow me the privacy to grieve for my late wife.

4: The Pied Piper of Hamelin

As a pest control officer, I remain committed to ridding towns and cities of unwanted rodents.

But in the past few days I have learned enough to know that, in my approach to the whole question of Hamelin, there were things we simply did not get right, and I must take responsibility.

With hindsight, I should have recognised that, even if the disappearance of so many children was technically no fault of my own, millions of people through their own pig-headed stupidity might choose to see it that way. And for that I wholeheartedly apologise.

5: Jaws, Amity Island, autumn 1975

I wish to offer an apology for the events of the past summer.

At no point did I have any intention of ruining peoples vacations by eating them alive. If they chose to go into the water during my lunch breaks, then that was entirely a matter for them.

A poster for the movie Jaws 2 (1978), the sequel to director Steven Spielberg's 1975 hit classic

However, I have clearly upset people, and now that I have had time to reflect on the recent report in the Amity Island Courier, there is no question Im sorry for the upset that may or may not have been caused by my swimming beneath them and enjoying a good nibble.

Im sorry if, as a hard-working shark who has struggled all his life to keep moving, there are those who feel I am not entitled to a decent meal. Im also deeply sorry to hear that some of those I ate did not enjoy being eaten.

With hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage with swimmers could be misread, and for this I apologise unreservedly.

William the Conqueror, pictured, is known as the first Norman ruler of England

6: William the Conqueror

Following the Battle of Hastings, one of William, Duke of Normandys senior ministers was interviewed on the fledgling Today programme on Radio 4.

Senior minister: First of all, I wasnt there, so I dont know the details. Like lots of other people Ive seen the Bayeux Tapestry, but thats unreliable.

Interviewer: So you would agree that someone from your side shot an arrow through the eye of King Harold, and that this arrow caused his death?

Senior minister: As I say, I wasnt there. So Im going to wait and see the details of the investigation. Meanwhile, the Duke has apologised, and for that he should be praised.

Interviewer: But what exactly is the Duke of Normandy apologising for?

Senior minister: King Harold says that, with hindsight, he regrets the perceptions of what happened. But he ventured onto the so-called battlefield only for a few minutes to thank his men for all their hard work. If an arrow happened to be fired, then we should have that conversation at a later date. I cant comment on tittle-tattle.

To be continued...
Foodies are loving this Japanese restaurant in the heart of Melbourne where diners are served their food by a robot.

Superhiro Japanese Restaurant and Bar in the Melbourne CBD has been trialling the use of robot waiters since August last year.

The eatery's futuristic servers have been delighting diners and popping up all over social media.

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Superhiro Japanese Restaurant and Bar in the Melbourne CBD has been trailing the use of robot waiters since August last year

The eatery's futuristic servers have been delighting diners and popping up all over social media

Blogger, Abi Su, who goes by Sydney Foodie Gal Pal online, paid Superhiro a visit when holidaying in Melbourne and called it a 'must-try' in a video posted to Tikok.

'It's always so exciting when you go to a restaurant and there's something about it that makes it super interactive,' she said in the clip.

'Ten out of ten experience - would go again.'

Blogger, Abi Su, who goes by Sydney Foodie Gal Pal online, paid Superhiro a visit when holidaying in Melbourne and called it a 'must-try' in a video posted to Tiko

Superhiro serves a range of authentic Japanese dishes including the 40cm long Tasmanian salmon sushi roll (pictured), katsu curry, signature salmon teriyaki and tempura udon soup

Abi's video has racked up more than 57,700 views with many viewers keen to meet Superhiro's robot waiters.

'Oh my god YES! Absolutely trying out this place,' one person wrote.

'We have to go!' said another.

Superhiro serves a range of authentic Japanese dishes including the 40cm long Tasmanian salmon sushi roll, katsu curry, signature salmon teriyaki and tempura udon soup.

Robot servers have become a rising trend recently with more restaurants and cafes across the country 'hiring' the gadgets.

Indonesian restaurant, Ria Ayam Penyet, in Parramatta, Sydney, unveiled their team of robots to order and serve food when they reopened in November, which proved to be a big hit with patrons and on social media.
There's a sour-smelling cloud of discord hanging over the Guerlain family, founders of France's oldest perfume house, as a years-long dispute involving claims of neglect, harassment and a vast family fortune, returns to court.

At the centre of the drama is patriarch Jean-Paul Guerlain, 81, a celebrated perfumer and one of the great 'noses' of the 20th century who is responsible for bestselling scents including Samsara, Nahema and Jardins de Bagatelle.

In 1994, Mr Guerlain oversaw the sale of the brand to French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH in 1994, leaving the family with an estimated 2 billion euro fortune.

The perfumier, who has a form of Alzheimer's remained involved in the company until 2010, when LVMH cut all ties after he used the N-word on national television.

The row is between Mr Guerlain's 63-year-old companion and his only son Stephane, 61, an intellectual property lawyer who has been his father's legal guardian since 2013.

Stephane opposes Mr Guerlain's relationship with Danish-born Christina Kragh, an elegant blonde equestrian 18 years his junior who has lived on the sprawling 133-acre Guerlain estate south of Paris since 2005.

Centre of the drama: Jean-Paul Guerlain, 81, a celebrated perfumer and one of the great 'noses' of the 20th century who is responsible for bestselling scents including Samsara, Nahema and Jardins de Bagatelle. Pictured, with his girlfriend Christina de Kragh, 63

Father and son feud: The row is between Mr Guerlain and his only son Stephane, 61, a intellectual property lawyer who has been his father's legal guardian since 2018. Pictured, Jean-Paul (left) and Stephane, with Jean-Paul's niece Patricia, in 2002

Family estate: Stephane opposes Mr Guerlain's relationship with Danish-born Christina Kragh, 63, an elegant blonde equestrian who has lived with Guerlain senior on his sprawling 133-acre estate south of Paris since 2005. Pictured, the estate, known as The Valley

In turn, Ms Kragh has taken legal action against Stephane, accusing him of a string of charges including moral harassment, willful violence and subjecting a vulnerable person to 'housing conditions incompatible with human dignity', Christopher Mason reported for AirMail.

The charges were filed on behalf of Ms Kragh by her lawyer, Frederic Belot.

Stephane was summoned to appear before the correctional court of Versailles yesterday. The outcome of the hearing is not known.

Speaking to AirMail, Stephane's lawyer, Pascal Koerfer, categorically rejected all allegations made by Ms Kragh and said his client's father 'was placed under Stephanes guardianship in consideration to the risks of manipulation and abuse to which he could have been subjected by Kraghs entourage'.

'"Kristina [sic] Kragh managed to impose herself in Mr. Jean-Paul Guerlains house, Koerfer said, "and for the past nine years, has [engaged in] multiple procedures leading to 12 decisions of justice, that rejected all her claims.

'"Mrs Kragh thinks she can justify the unjustifiable, by multiplying outrageous and shocking penal procedures; with systematic recourse to media".'

The Guerlain fragrance house was founded in 1828 by Jean-Paul Guerlain's great-great grandfather, Pierre-Francois. Jean-Paul took over from his grandfather, Jacques, aged 22.

Golden nose: Guerlain fragrance house was founded in 1828 by Jean-Paul's great-great grandfather, Pierre-Francois. Jean-Paul (pictured) took over from his grandfather aged 22

Common interests: The perfumer, who is thought to have been married twice before, including to Stephane's mother, met Ms Kragh in the early 2000s and they bonded over their shared love of horses. Pictured, Jean-Paul and Ms Kragh at a Christian Dior Show in 2004

In 2012 he was disgraced when he was convicted of making racist insults on national television and fined 6,000 euros (5,000).

Guerlain made the comments in a 2010 interview on France-2 television describing the creation of one of the company's most famous perfumes.

Smells like success! The history of Guerlain, France's oldest parfumerie Pierre-Francois Pascal Guerlain set up shop at 42 Rue de Rivoli in 1828. Back then, perfume was distinctly racy; nice girls stuck to barely there floral waters. But Pierre-Francois Pascal got his first big break with a commission from the novelist Balzac, and the pages of Le Journal des Elegances were scented with another Guerlain creation. In just a few years the Guerlain boutique was throbbing with crowned heads  the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria, Napoleons wife Empress Eugenie and the Tsar of Russia. But it was Empress Eugenie who put Guerlain on the map: he dedicated his Eau de Cologne Imperiale to her  a fresh, citrussy triumph, decanted into a curvy bottle and decorated with golden bees. Aime Guerlain took his fathers place at the perfume organ in 1864, by which time nice girls were definitely dabbing on perfume. His revolutionary creation was Jicky  named after a lost sweetheart  in 1889. Next to inherit the Guerlain nose was Jacques Guerlain, whose fragrant landmarks include Apres LOndee, LHeure Bleue, and fleetingly fashionable, exotically named perfumes such as Liu, Djedi, Vega, and Kadine. Several of Jacques Guerlains other masterpieces are also still available today: Apres lOndee, Vol de Nuit and luminous rose-and-jasmine Ode, co-created in 1955 with his grandson and heir, the 18-year-old Jean-Paul Guerlain, who produced perfume blockbusters such as Samsara (created for his wife  in time-honoured Guerlain tradition), Jardins de Bagatelle and Nahema. Men, meanwhile, have Jean-Paul to thank for Vetiver, Habit Rouge and Guerlain Heritage. Jean-Paul took over from his grandfather, Jacques, aged 22. In 1994 he sold the business to LVMH. Advertisement

He said: 'I worked like a [N-word]. I don't know if [N-words] have always worked like that, but anyway.'

LVMH immediately cut all ties with Jean-Paul, who up until that point had remained a consultant 'nose' at the brand.

The perfumer, who is thought to have been married twice before, including to Stephane's mother, met Ms Kragh in the early 2000s and they bonded over their shared love of horses.

His 133-acre estate, known as The Valley, boasts stables, as well as an orangery and apartments previously rented to tenants.

In the early years of their relationship, they were often seen together in Parisian society events, with Ms Kragh, almost 20 years his junior, cutting a chic figure on the businessman's arm.

She moved into a house at The Valley in 2005, where she remains today.

Stephane has been against his father's romantic relationship for years.

In a previous court appearance, Stephane's lawyer explained his client's suspicions over Ms Kragh's real intentions were first piqued in 2012 when Ms Kragh had approached an art dealer and offered to sell him a Delacroix painting owned by Mr Guerlain.

The dealer recognised the painting and informed the owner's son.

The following year, Stephane became his father's legal guardian. He was reportedly given full control of his father's finances in 2018.

Ms Kragh's lawyer dismisses Stephane's version of events, claiming Jean-Paul had asked her to take it to have it valued for insurance purposes and she had never tried to sell it.

In 2020, Stephane successfully opposed the couple's move to marry, claiming his father was unable to make such a decision due to his senile dementia.

Jean-Paul repeatedly told the court 'I want to get married', even when asked unrelated questions, like his age.

Stephane produced a letter signed by his father saying he did not want to wed, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Ms Kragh hit back at the claim her beau is not in a position to make major life decisions, telling AirMail: 'Jean-Paul is not gaga at all.'

Last year, the family was back in court when Stephane filed charges against Ms Kragh, claiming she had allowed his father to fall into a pitiful state, 'incapable of expressing himself or answering the slightest question'.

Prosecutor Philippe Toccanier told the court Ms Kragh had deprived the perfume heir of 'care, food and basic hygiene' despite living next door in the domain.

'As Ms [Kragh] had failed in her marriage project, she did succeed in sidelining very devoted people to him,' the prosecutor told the court. 'It is borderline physical mistreatment.'

Mr Belot, representing Ms Kragh, argued his client was at Mr Guerlain's 'beck and call' and 'never leaves his side', even choosing to stay with her partner rather than travel to see her own mother in the 10 years before her death.

Under fire: Ms Kragh has taken legal action against Stephane, accusing him of a string of charges including moral harassment, willful violence and subjecting a vulnerable person to 'housing conditions incompatible with human dignity'. Pictured, Stephane with his cousin

He argued: 'The real abandonment comes from the guardian (Stephane Guerlain), who allowed his father to live in totally unacceptable conditions.

'He did nothing to keep the place clean. He cut off heating and hot water everywhere except in his bedroom There is even a tree growing in one of the outhouses.

'Mr Guerlain is a monument of French heritage. If the French knew in what conditions he is ending his life, it would be an absolute scandal.'

All of the charges against Ms Kragh were dropped.

The accusations against Stephane are reportedly reiterated in the most recent legal filings.

Accusations: Ms Kragh claims Stephane has dismissed Mr Guerlain's staff, refuses to pay for maintenance on The Valley and only gives the couple a weekly allowance of some 120 euros. Pictured, Ms Kragh with Jean-Paul Guerlain at the Christian Dior show in 2004

Ms Kragh claims Stephane has dismissed Mr Guerlain's staff, refuses to pay for maintenance on The Valley and only gives the couple a weekly allowance of some 120 euros.

In addition, the legal filing claims Stephane cut off the heat and hot water at the historic property for a three-week period, blocked the internet access and international calls and confiscated his father's passport.

There are also claims of harassment, physical violence and a death threat.

Ms Kragh reportedly hopes the criminal complaints filed by her lawyer will be enough to lead to lessening Stephane's control over their lives.
A woman who was raised in wealth revealed how she left everything to move to Greece because she disliked the UK class system, and now looks after 50 rescue animals.

Sandy, 76, was born in the UK, but moved to Greece when she was 21, more than four decades ago. With her inheritance, she opened the Magic Mountain Animal Shelter when she was in her 60s.

When Ben Fogle visited her for tonight's episode of New Lives in the Wild at 9pm on Channel 5, he discovered that all of Sandy's time and money goes into looking after 25 dogs, 20 cats, eight donkeys, and a horse that live with her on the 300-year-old farm she bought with her savings.

Even though money poured into the shelter has started to run out, Sandy, who spends 3,000 a month on the animals' care, told Ben she hopes to find a solution for the project's future.

The 76-year-old admitted her upbringing was very different from her current life. Her father was an officer in the British army, and the family owned a pile in Norfolk, and were financially well-off.

But Sandy, who told Ben her brother took his own life, said she disliked the class system because her parents would not allow her to speak to just anyone, which is why she moved to Greece, where she lived off her art before starting the shelter.

Sandy, 76, right, welcomed Ben Fogle in her Magic Mountain Animal Shelter on the Greek island of Andros, for tonight's episode of New Lives in the Wild, airing on Chanel 5 at 9pm

Sandy's father line of work meant the family had to move to Australia when she was three, and stayed there for three years.

She told Ben her older brother was sent to boarding school in Britain from Australia by boat, and said the lenghty journey had taken a toll on him.

'It's mind blowing. I'm quite sure it was quite damaging for him,' she said.

'And now, I think about it and I'm kind of sad for me that it happened to him. Actually my brother committed suicide in the end.

Sandy used her inheritance to buy a 300-year-old farm house, and started the shelter when she was in her 60s. She looks after 25 dogs, some pictured, 20 cats, eight donkeys, one horse and one mule

'It affects me now. At the time I didn't really understand it. But later on in life I did.

Sandy herself went to boarding school in Surrey when she was nine. after her family travelled back to the UK and bought a house in Norfolk.

She said she had no problem with boarding school life, but said she thinks it is for 'survivors.'

She said her life was 'okay,' growing up, but was 'regimented and strict.'

Pressed by Ben, she added: 'There were parts of it when I kind of wanted to break out of it, but actually I couldn't.

The dogs rescued by Sandy, some pictured, are often thrown over her fence or tied to her gate Some were rescued from bins

'Sometimes I actually think the reason I came to Greece was because it was a way of breaking away from a class system I didn't really want to fit into.

'There were certain people that I could go out with, but not others. So I think coming here, looking back on it, was because I feel completely free.

'And I'm relating to Greek people who know nothing about my background. You're just a person, I'm just Sandy,' she added.

Speaking of her Magical Mountain rescue, Sandy admitted she was at first a bit 'nervous' to live on the 300-year-old farm she bought with her inheritance.

She explained she was moved by Greece's beauty after a visit when she was in her early 20s.

Sandy spends most of her time looking after the animal ,feeding, bathing and grooming the dogs who are awaiting adoption, like this foursome

'The beauty. I was absolutely overwhelmed by it. I'm a visual person, it is what makes me happy, I was bowled over by the whole place,

'It was a big decision, it's a huge place and it's an isolated area, coming here alone, trying to deal with everything here,' she added.

'I was a little bit nervous about it. Actually I didn't come here for the first six months. I bought it and then kinda just sat there, thinking about it.

'And finally I came, and slowly, slowly I got used to how to run it, learned many, many things which I didn't know how to do. I just watched whoever came here doing things, I watched and learned and now here we are.'

She told Ben that she does not regret her decision forty years on.

'I couldn't have imagined that I could be with these animals and doing what I'm doing now,' she told him.

Ben said Sandy was 'selfless' to let the dog sleep wherever they want in her house while she sleeps in a bunk bed

'And also having lived this amazing life that I've lived on this island.

'It's the old story, money enables you to do things, but the happiness has come from helping these animals. But now I have to think about other ways of raising my money to keep it going, but it don't regret what I did.

'I hope that I keep in good health so that I can continue. My plan is that I keep the place where I'm living and someone continues to run it and live in the house.'

Ben was immediately struck by the huge number of dogs living in the house with Sandy.

'I can barely hear myself talk,' he told the camera, while the dogs howled in the background.

Ben found it remarkable that at the age of 76, Sandy sleeps in a bunk bed to make space for more dogs in her room. Seven pups sleep with her on the floor, while the others bed down in the lounge, kitchen and the other rooms on the 300-year-old farm.

'I don't quite know how she keeps on top of all of that,' he told the camera.

'She is passionate about having animals, it's quite selfless, eccentric, a woman in her 70s sleeping in a bunk bed so that the dogs can sleep wherever they want.'

Sandy spends her day feeding, training, grooming and bathing the dogs, who are awaiting adoption from families either from Greece or abroad. She proudly told Ben one of the pups she rescued has found anew home in Canada.

She does not charge adoptive families for the pets they rescue, and relies on donation and fundraising.

'Everything that I have inherited has gone towards the animals basically,' she said.

'The cost of running the shelter, the cost of the house... But actually, right now, it's starting to run out.'

Ben and Sandy, pictured with some of the shelter's dogs. Sandy said she did not want to fit into the UK's class system when she was younger, which prompted her to move to Greece

Sandy explained to Ben she used to paint portraits of the animal and sell them to fund the shelter, but she does not have time to paint anymore, which means funds have been scarce.

During Ben's visit, Sandy revealed she was looking after a litter of three week-old puppies who had been thrown into a bin.

'It's horrifying, one of the worst crimes, in my mind, that you can commit,' she told Ben.

The puppies had be fed every two hours, which was a massive task for Sandy and her volunteers.

She said she 'definitely' believed dogs were a substitute for human friends.

'Small talk, I'm not really versed in that, I'd rather be doing something,' she told Ben.

'I've had lots of relationshipz, I don't think anybody would want me now,' she continued, adding living with 50 animals made romantic encounters complicated.

Ben asked her if she'd ever swap dogs for a relationship, to which she replied 'definitely not.'

She added she did not buy the farm with the idea of turning it into a shelter, but decided to do it because she had the time, the money and the space to look after the animals.

She added that people usually leave unwanted dogs tied at her gate, or throw them over her fence.

In the show, a nervous Ben also watched as Sandy visited a family after receiving a tip their dog was being mistreated.

She found the dog look very unhealthy and malnourished, so took him with her on the pretense of taking the animal to the vet, but told Ben she planned to keep it at the shelter while it recovered.

Ben Fogle: new Lives In the Wild airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5.
People who struggle with insomnia may find themselves resorting to sleeping pills, however social media users claim they've managed to put an end to their restless nights by picking up a herbal tea while shopping for groceries.

Lindsay Mary, who is a member of Facebook group Aldi UK shoppers, shared a photograph of her collection of teas from the German discount supermarket commenting that the sleep tea gave her the 'best night's sleep in ages'.

She racked up more than 500 comments on the post, with many responses also praising the benefits of the tea.

The demand for Aldi's Diplomat Flower, Camomile & Apple Herbal Tea comes as neurologist Professor Guy Leschziner warns we could be on the brink of a global epidemic of sleep problems after millions of people made reports about their struggles since the pandemic began.

Aldi customers have taken to Facebook to share how their sleep improved after drinking the supermarket's Diplomat Flower, Camomile & Apple Herbal Tea (pictured)

One person commented on Lindsay's post that the demand for Aldi's sleep tea has made the product difficult to purchase.

'Sleep ones all sold out in mine, staff member said they fly off the shelves every time as soon as they come in,' they wrote.

Another gushed: 'I've been taking the sleep one since two days ago and honestly it works better than sleeping pills and also works on my anxiety levels, so I drink a cup here and there during the day... and the taste is lovely too!'

A third added: 'I love it. I take a cup to bed and read for 30 mins before I turn the light out.'

'The sleep really works. It's amazing,' another said.

The highly-rated tea contains just 1kcal per serving and a box contains 20 teabags for just 85p.

A flood of online commenters claimed they've had an 'amazing' night's sleep after drinking the herbal tea from Aldi

Ingredients include passion flower, camomile, apple, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and niacin (Vitamin B3).

According to Aldi, for best results place one bag in a mug then pour freshly boiled water, before allowing to stand until the desired strength is achieved.

Some shoppers have likened the taste of the hot drink to spiced apple.

Despite the rave reviews, Professor Guy Leschziner recently explained that herbal teas may not be enough to solve everyone's sleep problems.

He instead recommends making small changes in your everyday life to improve your chance of having a peaceful night's sleep.

The impressive reviews of Aldi's herbal tea came after a Facebook user shared photos, while gushing about her own experience

He told The Daily Mail, physical issues and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression are among the factors that can wreak havoc on sleep.

Professor Guy Leschziner said: 'There is so much we can do to give ourselves the gift of good sleep, and so much we unwittingly do to rob ourselves of it. Things like eating very late at night, taking in too much caffeine late in the day, or propping our eyelids open in front of bright screens in the evening are obvious yet so often overlooked sleep-snatchers.'

The sleep doctor shared his own list of recommendations for improved sleep including exercise, reducing caffeine and avoiding alcohol in the evening.

'Read a book, listen to music, or do something that doesnt involve bright lights or screens for one to two hours before bedtime.

'Light exposure at night inhibits the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which regulates your sleep. This can delay your sleep phase, making you want to sleep later and wake later,' he added.
A property developer who invested millions into an archipelago of man-made islands in Dubai roped in a nine-year-old Instagram Influencer to help flog luxury villas on the development.

The World, a 300-island chain laid out in the shape of the world's continents and made out of sand dredged from the Gulf, has only been partially developed after the lavish project ground to a halt in 2008.

But enthusiasm for the project has been rekindled in recent years, with the decadent 'Heart of Europe' development set to include a luxury 100-villa resort and floating 'Sea Horse' homes costing up to 20million.

Despite ongoing construction, developers still appear to be struggling to sell property - with one marketing executive enlisting the help of Instagram famous child, Zayed Karam, to sell luxury villas on the 'Island of Sweden'.

Appearing on BBC2's Inside Dubai last night, French expat Delphine - tasked with selling property for Austrian investor Josef Kleindienst - was seen inviting the youngster - who charges 2,000 per post - to one of the properties in the hope he would promote it on social media.

Zayed Karam is one of Dubai's youngest influencers with more than 30,000 Instagram followers and charges as much as 2,000 per social media post

A property developer who invested millions into an archipelago of man-made islands in Dubai roped in a nine-year-old Instagram Influencer to help flog luxury villas on the development

The World, a 300-island chain laid out in the shape of the world's continents and made out of sand dredged from the Gulf, has only been partially developed after the lavish project ground to a halt in 2008

Located 4km off the coast of Dubai, the 5,000-hectare cluster of man-made islands began in 2003 in a multi-billion plan unveiled by ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The islands were marketed as a playground for the rich and famous, but 15 years after the development was built, 80 per cent of the islands remain unsold.

Kleindienst was one of the project's original investors and spent millions on six islands in the 'Heart of Europe' and after raising 5 billion in investment, is keen to build a further 15 five star hotels and more than 100 luxury villas and mansions.

Each of his developments will offer a taste of the country it represents, for example in 'Spain' there will be Flamenco bars, gondolas in Venice, while England will feature a street where artificial rain falls every day, all year.

Zayed, who boasts over 30,000 followers on Instagram, describes himself as the 'youngest Emirati blogger' and has shared videos promoting coffee brands and restaurants

The nine-year-old is pictured pretending to drive a car in a humorous video posted to his Instagram page to promote a coffee brand

'This is a dream come true, and the dream doesn't have a business plan,' said Kleindienst appearing on the documentary series.

'My wife was totally against it and I had to convince her to help me in this project and this was not an easy task, she thought it was too big.'

The investor's right-hand woman Delphine has been tasked with selling the luxury villas on Kleindienst's six islands, and was seen 'trying to sell the Island of Sweden to a nine-year-old' while appearing on the show.

Zayed, who boasts more than 30,000 followers on Instagram, describes himself as the 'youngest Emirati blogger' and has shared videos promoting coffee brands and restaurants.

Despite charging a hefty fee for a post, the influencer visited the luxury villa to post for free with the promise of enjoying the property's artificial snow room.

'It's exciting and entertaining to see kids' reactions and when the reaction is positive it sends a good message we are on the right track,' said Delphine.

Despite charging a hefty fee for a post, influencer Zayed, who boasts over 30,000 followers on Instagram, visited the villa for free with the promise of enjoying the property's artificial snow room

French expat Delphine - tasked with selling property for Austrian investor Josef Kleindienst - invited the influencer to help sell properties

Austrian investor Josef Kleindienst invested millions into the 'Heart of Europe' islands in the 300-island chain laid out in the shape of the world's continents

Viewers weren't impressed with the marketing tactic, with one writing: 'You can sneer at #insidedubai. But a property developer persuading a super rich nine-year-old Instagram influencer to help sell multi-million pound houses on a fake sandbank by seducing him with a room of fake snow says more about the death of the planet than any Attenborough show.'

Others questioned why travellers would visit the archipelago rather than the country itself, with one writing: 'I've never been more PUT OFF a destination than I have Dubai after watching that. Awful place fully loaded with self obsessed morons, and a group of tiny islands named after countries who's culture you can experience there??? Or ACTUALLY visit'.

The chain of 'Sweden' islands also features 133 luxurious floating 'Sea Horse' hotels and villas, which marketing manager Delphine once again enlisted influencers to promote.

Viewers weren't impressed with the development, with some stunned the luxurious floating 'Sea Horse' hotels and villas cost as much as 20million

'As the models will be posting on their instagram the destination will be published, people will be made aware of what the destination looks like and what it feels like when you're there', she said.

'We're selling the dream but also showing the dream is real. So you can live the dream as well as dreaming the dream'.

The floating luxury properties weigh 400 tons once complete and feature bedrooms metres underwater - but with starting costs at 20million, viewers weren't impressed with their hefty price tag.

One shocked viewer wrote: '20million? For that? Holy Hell these people are insane'.

'20million for a house that could possibly sink', said another.
Josh Widdicombe has revealed he asked Kate Middleton to be on his parenting podcast after meeting her backstage at the Royal Variety Performance.

The comedian, 38, from London, appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier today to promote his new Bit Much tour, which starts on 1 February, and discussed appearing on the show last November.

He told presenters Richard Madeley and Susannah Reid that his agent bet him 100 to invite the Duchess of Cambridge, 40, onto his show 'Parenting Hell' last year.

After she approached him in a line up backstage, he revealed: 'I said, "We'd love to have you on the podcast". I've never seen someone so underwhelmed at a question in her life. She moved very quickly onto the cast of Matilda.'

Josh Widdicombe, 38, from London, has revealed he asked Kate Middleton, 40, to be on his parenting podcast 'Parenting Hell' after meeting her backstage at the Royal Variety Performance

Appearing on the programme, Susannah asked Josh: 'You know what a lot of us got addicted to during lockdown was podcasts and you have a brilliant one with Rob Beckett.

'But as we just said one guest that you have not persuaded to talk about parenting is Kate Middleton.'

Josh said: 'I did the Royal Variety Performance and you have to stand there and meet the royals, and it was Kate and Will.

'My agent said: "I bet you 100 you won't ask her to come on your podcast." So I thought, I'm not going to let this opportunity go.'

After he invited the Duchess of Cambridge onto his podcast, he said he had 'never seen someone look so underwhelmed'

He continued: 'Will goes past and then Kate comes up. She spoke about parenting, because it's something I spoke about in the standup, and I was like, this is my chance.'

After explaining that the Duchess had quickly moved on after his invitation, he added: 'She doesn't listen to my knowledge. If she does, she's playing a very canny game of looking like she didn't know what I was talking about.'

Kate has previously appeared as a guest on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast in 2020, telling several personal stories about parenting.

During the tell-all chat she praised her parents Carole, 65, and Michael, 70, for their 'huge dedication' in raising her and her two siblings, Pippa, 36, and James, 32.

He told presenters Richard Madeley and Susannah Reid that his agent bet him 100 to invite the Duchess onto his show last year

Kate has previously appeared as a guest on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast in 2020, telling several personal stories about parenting

In the extraordinary interview  one of the most intimate ever given by a senior Royal  she shared her anxieties and doubts about parenting including battling 'mummy guilt' and worrying about falling short in her parenting to George, Charlotte and Louis.

Josh's comments come as a former staffer said the Royal Family is desperate for 'conventional performers' as it faces a difficult year.

With Prince Andrew's legal battles, as well as the Firm's concerns over the imminent publication of Prince Harry's upcoming memoir, the Duchess has been touted as playing a key role in shaping the future of the Monarchy.

'As the Prince Andrew scandal shows, the monarchy is in desperate need of reassuringly conventional royal performers,' Patrick Jephson, former chief of staff for Diana, Princess of Wales, told the New York Post.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle provided meals for volunteers and staff organising events for Martin Luther King day in Atlanta, the Civil Rights leader's daughter has revealed.

The Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, who live in a $14million mansion in Montecito, California, supported staff at The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta by buying meals from black-owned food trucks who then gave them out to those helping with Monday's events.

Taking to Twitter, a spokesperson for the centre thanked the royal couple, writing: 'Thank you, Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for providing local Black-owned food trucks for our #MLKDay service project volunteers.

'Your care matters so much to those here to register and educate voters and collect items for our homeless neighbors'.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle provided meals for volunteers and staff organising events for Martin Luther King day in Atlanta, the Civil Rights leader's daughter has revealed. They are pictured on their Christmas card with children Archie and Lilibet

They also shared pictures of the volunteers.

The King Center is run by Martin Luther King Jr's daughter Bernice King, and celebrates the activists life and work - as well as organising events to continue his legacy.

Events yesterday included a voter registration drive and a fundraising project for homeless people in Atlanta.

Bernice King also shared a message to her Twitter thanking Harry and Meghan writing: 'Im so grateful for your graciousness in honoring my father.'

Paiges Pastries & Bistro - one of the food trucks that provided the free meals - which has a menu including chicken and waffles, Cajun fish and pound cake took to Instagram to thank the couple.

'Yall see who contacted our business?? This small black owned business some how found its way into the minds of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

'That just blows my mind that our food is reaching that far.

Taking to Twitter , a spokesperson for the centre thanked the royal couple, writing: 'Thank you, Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for providing local Black-owned food trucks for our #MLKDay service project volunteers. 'Your care matters so much to those here to register and educate voters and collect items for our homeless neighbors'. They also shared pictures of the volunteers.

'We are still in shock. We love what we do and yall know we love to feed folks so this was just an all around great day,' they wrote.

PARLAY Savory Saloon, the other food truck which also provided meals took to Instagram to write: 'Someone pinch us now or better yet join us in a praise dance.

'We had the distinct honor and privilege of serving the volunteers and staff at the The King Center today on behalf of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke & Duchess of Sussex, yessssssss folks Harry & Meghan!

Paiges Pastries & Bistro - one of the food trucks that provided the free meals - which has a menu including chicken and waffles, Cajun fish and pound cake took to Instagram to thank the couple.

'Their motto is Shared Purpose, Global Action, Leading the Way with Compassion. Today was just another example of their amazing work!



Elsewhere, the annual King Center Commemorative Service was held, with The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry giving the key note speech.

Reverend Curry gave the sermon at Meghan and Harry's wedding.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year.

Bernice King also shared a message to her Twitter thanking Harry and Meghan writing: 'Im so grateful for your graciousness in honoring my father'

It comes amid reports Prince Charles has invited Prince Harry and his family to stay with him in the UK in the hope of meeting Lilibet for the first time.

The Prince of Wales is yet to see his granddaughter face-to-face, after she was born in California in June last year.

The offer, which would be the first time the family have fully come together since Harry and Meghan decided to quit as working royals, was made just before Christmas, according to the Mirror.

However, his son's refusal to return without a substantial level of security from the Met Police is said to have put the reunion in doubt.

In recent months, the family have communicated via a series of 'good natured' calls, sources told the paper.
Stephanie Garcia, from Santa Rosa, Texas had escaped two abusive relationships when she fell for convicted murderer Gerardo Castaneda in 2007

A mother-of-two who survived two violent relationships before choosing to wed a man who had spent 20 years in prison for murdering his ex wife says she's been 'judged' for her choices.

Stephanie Garcia, a parole case manager from Santa Rosa, Texas, fell for the charms of Gerardo Castaneda just a month after he was released from prison in 2007, after serving 20 years for the murder of his first wife in 1996.

The couple were married just seven months after meeting but Castaneda left Garcia a year later, leaving her feeling 'preyed upon' and 'manipulated'.

She's defended the relationship after she received abuse on social media for marrying a murderer when she'd already endured violence at the hands of two of her ex partners, saying: 'He had 20 years in prison to spend thinking about how he was going to treat a woman when he got out.'

The 49-year-old says that because of her experiences of domestic violence in her previous relationships, she's become 'desensitized' to abusive behavior and didn't initially see his past as a reason not to date him - saying he showed 'remorse' for his crime.

Stephanie Garcia, from Santa Rosa, Texas had escaped several abusive relationships , she says, when she fell for convicted murderer Gerardo Castaneda

Castaneda served 20 years in prison for killing his ex-wife but Garcia, 49, says she believes in 'second chances' and she married him within seven months (The couple pictured on their wedding day in 2008 with her daughters Ashley, far left, and Seleste, right)

Some of the negative reactions that the 49-year-old says she received on social media over the men she's had relationships with

However, when her new husband walked out without giving any explanation just a year after the couple married, she says she realized that she had allowed the convict to 'manipulate' her by treating her so nicely.

The mother-of-two feels that her ex-husband 'took advantage' of her past as a victim of domestic violence, by 'sweeping her off her feet' with charming behavior that was a stark contrast to the treatment she was used to.

Garcia, now a parole case manager, hopes to raise awareness of domestic violence and to encourage people to be more understanding of the impact it has on survivors.

She explains how she fell for his charms, saying he was 'attentive to my needs and everything every woman would want.'

'He had 20 years in prison to spend thinking about how he was going to treat a woman when he got out and so he treated me very well.

'He did confess that he'd gone to prison for murdering his wife and it appeared at the time that he was extremely remorseful.

'Since I had been accustomed to being with a violent man - I can't believe I'm saying this - but at the time it didn't seem all that bad.

She admits that now she looks back and thinks: 'My god, what was I thinking? I married a man that killed his wife. Any other woman would have ran the other way but because of my life experiences I allowed him to manipulate me.'

Despite her husband 'treating her very well' during the early months of her marriage, Castaneda ended their relationship after just a year, leaving her feeling 'manipulated'

Despite the fact the mother-of-two says she feels 'preyed upon' when reflecting on her relationship, she doesn't regret the marriage, saying: 'I do believe that he paid his debt to society - he spent 20 years of his life in prison'

No doubts: She said her ex-husband's 'gentle, remorseful' demeanor meant she didn't have any doubts about marrying him at the time

She says she believes her ex-partner 'took advantage of my prior life experiences, which was that the relationships I'd been in were so violent and he preyed on that.

'These guys spend a long time in prison and what I've learned now is that they learn how to manipulate women.'

I look back now and think 'My god, what was I thinking? I married a man that killed his wife.' Stephanie Garcia

She reveals she was 'happily single' for eight years before she ended up meeting her now ex-husband.

At the time, Garcia was working in a school for troubled youths and says one of her students mentioned a family member had just been released from prison.

As a firm believer in second chances, she says she offered for the man to get in touch with her to see if she could help with his transition back into society in any way.

Despite 'never intending' to become romantically involved with him, the mother-of-two says the convict 'swept her off her feet' and the pair married in July 2016.

The domestic violence survivor says because of her history with violent men and the 'gentle, remorseful' demeanor Gerardo presented himself with meant she didn't have any doubts about marrying him at the time.

The couple were happily married, Garcia thought, but just 12 months after walking down the aisle, her husband had walked out of the door (The former couple pictured with Garcia's daughter Seleste)

She explains: 'We started dating very quickly, within weeks and then a few weeks later he told me his crime.

'When he told me that he'd killed his wife I had a lot of compassion for him because he cried and made it sound like he didn't mean to take her life and I believed him at the time.'

Castaneda is now believed to be in a relationship with another woman and father to a baby with her.

This shock end to their marriage made Garcia believe that her now ex-husband had 'manipulated' her from the beginning and she now questions his feelings for her throughout their marriage.

However since posting about her experiences online to raise awareness about domestic violence she has been inundated with abuse for her decision to marry a man who murdered his first wife.

After sharing her story, Garcia was hit with criticism for marrying a man convicted of murdering a woman, with one writing: 'No one who's [taken] someone's life deserves a second chance'

She says that her critics don't understand that she was 'manipulated' by her ex-partner, saying: 'People judge me for getting involved with him but he manipulated me and people don't understand that.'

Experience: She says she wouldn't date someone with a history of violence against women so quickly again (Pictured: the couple during their marriage)

Some commenters were baffled that Stephanie could have got in a relationship with someone with Gerardo's past after her prior experiences but she believed he had 'paid his debt to society'.

One commenter said: 'So you're a [domestic violence] victim yourself but decided to support and marry [a] man who MURDERED his wife..'

Another said: 'No one who's [taken] someone's life deserves a second chance..'

Stephanie said: 'I think it's unfair to a survivor of domestic violence to be judged so harshly because I feel that the decision I made to get involved with a man that had murdered his wife really came back to the fact that I had been in abusive relationships for so long.

'I do believe that he paid his debt to society - he spent 20 years of his life in prison and it really doesn't make sense but I am a person that believes that people deserve second chances.

'But I also know from working with that population that these people know how to manipulate - people judge me for getting involved with him but he manipulated me and people don't understand that.

'I'm older now and more mature so I can see that now.'

Gerardo Castaneda has not responded to requests to comment. Hidalgo County Court has confirmed that Gerardo Castaneda pleaded guilty to first degree murder on 22 December 1996 and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

For advice and support on domestic violence, visit womensaid.org.uk
She was one of the great beauties of her age who was courted by princes and millionaires.

And it has been revealed Margaret, the Duchess of Argyll, whose notorious divorce was brought to life in A Very British Scandal, also caught the eye of Prince Philip's uncle, Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Lord Mountbatten's daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks, 92, has shared how her father, known affectionately as 'Dickie', once took the society beauty out for a drive and an ice cream, only to play a joke at her expense.

Margaret, the Duchess of Argyll, whose notorious divorce was brought to life in A Very British Scandal, caught the eye of Prince Philip's uncle, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, it has been revealed. Lord Mountbatten (left) took the society swan (right) for a drive and an ice cream

It is not known when their rendezvous took place but it is thought Lord Mountbatten was married at the time.

Mountbatten, who was 12 years Margaret's senior, would have crossed paths with the debutante at society events.

'She was not likable but she had been as a young girl very beautiful,' Lady Pamela recalled of Margaret, in an Instagram video shared by her daughter India Hicks.

'My papa [Louis Mountbatten] took her for a drive in the car because she was so pretty. She wanted an ice cream but she bought her a cornet.

'He was so young, he had that terrible schoolboy sense of humour and while she was putting the cornet to her face, he put the brake on.

'That beautiful face was covered in ice cream. Of course she never spoke to him again!'

Lord Mountbatten's daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks, 92, has shared how her father, known affectionately as 'Dickie', once took the society beauty out for a drive and an ice cream, only to play a joke at her expense. She told the story in a video (above) shared by her daughter India

Born in 1912, the only child of a self-made Scottish millionaire, Margaret was a great beauty of her age, welcoming playwright Noel Coward, actor Cary Grant and oil tycoon J Paul Getty, among others, to her Mayfair home.

She was just 15 when the future movie star David Niven, two years her senior, got her pregnant while holidaying on the Isle of Wight, after which her father sent her to a London nursing home for a secret termination.

In 1951 Margaret wed Ian Douglas Campbell, the 11th Duke of Argyll, after meeting him on a train at Paris's Gare du Nord station in 1949. He'd pursued her relentlessly, knowing she was rich while his own estate was worth nothing.

At the time he was married to her second wife.

The couple are now best remembered for their notorious divorce case, which was brought to life by Claire Foy and Paul Bettany in BBC mini-series A Very British Scandal.

The Duke and Duchess of Argyll are now best remembered for their notorious divorce case, which was brought to life by Claire Foy and Paul Bettany in A Very British Scandal (above)

Society scandal: The Duke of Argyll with his wife, Margaret, in April 1952, whom he met while married to his second wife. Margaret was considered one of the great beauties of her age

The Duke of Argyll went on to marry for a fourth time while Margaret remained alone until her death in 1993.

Meanwhile Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who played an influential role in the life of his nephew, Prince Philip, and his great-nephew, Prince Charles.

Charles referred to Lord Mountbatten as his Honorary Grandfather, and consulted him on matters both of state and of the heart.

Their close relationship was depicted in the hit Netflix series The Crown, where Lord Mountbatten was portrayed by Greg Wise (seasons 1 and 2) and Charles Dance (seasons 3 and 4).

Lord Mountbatten married Edwina (above) and had two daughters, Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who died in 2017, aged 93, and Lady Pamela

Lord Mountbatten married Edwina Ashley and had two daughters, Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who died in 2017, aged 93, and Lady Pamela.

Edwina Mountbatten died of unknown causes in 1960, at the age of 58. Her husband, Louis, died in the 1979 IRA bombing that also claimed the life of his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas and Paul Maxwell, a 15-year-old crew member.

Doreen, Dowager Lady Brabourne, the mother-in-law of his daughter Patricia, died from her injuries.

Charles read the lesson at Lord Mountbatten's funeral.
The US midterm elections are still a year away, President Joe Biden's administration and allies are already planning for a scenario in which Republicans gain control of the House of Representatives, Senate or both, and begin a series of investigations and impeachment proceedings against the president.

Lawmakers, legislative employees, and political strategists expect a wave of probes against the Biden administration, especially if Republicans sympathetic to former President Donald Trump take key committee seats in Congress.

Joe Biden faces another year of tumultuous presidency

House Republicans Matt Gaetz, who pledged in a podcast to target the Department of Justice until "sphincters tighten," Bob Gibbs, who has been pushing to impeach Biden since September over the Afghanistan pullout, and James Comer, a candidate for the House Oversight Committee, are among those seeking investigations.

The president's son Hunter Biden, the administration's handling of supply chain concerns and vaccination requirements, and the dismissal of Trump military academy nominees are among Comer's targets, according to his office. Small actions have already been made by the White House to protect the administration from hostile investigations.

It appointed former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu as a special adviser to supervise the execution of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which Republicans are expected to probe for fraud. The White House also added a seasoned Democratic communications official to the legal counsel's office to assist deal with the impact of the tumultuous US troop departure from Afghanistan last year.

According to one team member, Biden's transition team built the White House counsel's office following his 2020 election victory in preparation for Republicans capturing the Senate and pursuing investigations. Georgia's runoff elections in January 2021 gave Democrats control of the legislature, but the attorney general's office retains its legal clout.

Jonathan Su, who handled investigations throughout the Obama White House years, was named Biden's deputy counsel as part of that strategy. According to strategists, the Biden White House may engage more researchers, attorneys, and communications staff to focus on the investigations, as per Reuters via MSN.

President Joe Biden campaigned on the promise of "shutting down" COVID-19, but in recent weeks, he has made moves toward recognizing that the virus will not be destroyed, repositioning himself to reduce damage in the midterm elections.

Vaccinations, masks, and caution continue to focus on White House and top administration health officials' messaging. However, Biden administration officials have taken steps to reassure the public about the omicron variant's low severity, support the reopening of schools, and accept that the virus's spread is unavoidable, according to the Washington Examiner.

In midterm elections, the incumbent president's party nearly usually loses seats, and Republicans just need one more senator and five more House members to win majority. According to FiveThirtyEight, the public's confidence in Biden's ability to navigate the country out of the crisis has dropped to a new low, with around 48 percent disapproving of his job so far.

Read Also: Joe Biden's Approval Rating Hits New Low as President's Agenda Suffers Roadblocks

Jill Biden on the healing role

Jill Biden, on the other hand, must have had a very busy year. During her husband's disastrous and disaster-filled first year in the White House, the first lady claims she took on a "healing role" while his administration and the country were hammered by the coronavirus epidemic, natural catastrophes, and a major disagreement over President Biden's leadership qualities. 

Biden gave the interview in Las Vegas earlier this month, a day after she and her husband went on a tour of the devastation and consoled victims of a fire in Louisville, Colo., that destroyed over a thousand homes in late December.

In addition to Colorado, the first lady visited Waukesha, Wisconsin, in the aftermath of the Christmas parade tragedy in which a crazed driver drove into marchers, killing six people, and Kentucky, last week after a line of storms, ripped through five Southern states, killing more than 90 people. Biden described the trips as a "great example" of the duty she feels as first lady, as well as a means to bring comfort to Americans during a terrible time, New York Post reported.

Related Article: Joe Biden Blasts Donald Trump Over Jan. 6 Anniversary; Former President Dismisses Speech in 2 Words

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A self-confessed trainspotting fan who took TikTok by storm with clips of his adventures on platforms has been unveiled as the face of the new Gucci and North Face campaign.

Videos uploaded by Francis Bourgeois, a Mechanical Engineering student at Nottingham University, went viral last year, with 11.3million likes and his most popular effort notching up 6.8million views.

In a clip shared by Highsnobiety today, Francis can be seen acting as a train platform announcer while travellers wearing trendy Gucci x North Face outfits board his service.

Sharing the advert, the brand wrote: 'It's full steam ahead for @gucci and @thenorthface as they take their second collaboration to the tracks with TikTok star and trainspotter @francis_bourgeois43.

Francis Bourgeois, who took TikTok by storm with clips of his adventures on platforms has been unveiled as the face of the new Gucci and North Face campaign

In a clip shared by Highsnobiety today, Francis can be seen acting as a train platform announcer while travellers wearing trendy Gucci x North Face outfits board his service

Videos uploaded by Francis Bourgeois, a Mechanical Engineering student at Nottingham University, went viral last year, with 11.3million likes and his most popular effort notching up 6.8million views

'With the bold collection focusing on exploration and outdoor activities, there's no one better than Bourgeois to bring it all to life.'

In the campaign, Francis can be seen taking payments in the ticket office and directing travellers to the platform.

Meanwhile speaking to the outlet, Francis said he became interested in trains as he travelled to school each day.

He explained: 'I'd be transfixed by everything going on outside the window, and I loved seeing the trains come into the platform.

In the campaign, Francis can be seen taking payments in the ticket office , directing travellers on the train and serving breakfast (pictured)

'From the top of the climbing frames in the playground at school, we had the best view of what is now the North London Overground line, so I remember spending all my break times there.'

And while he confessed no one in his family shares his passion for trains, he has long found them fascinating.

He explained: 'One of the most gratifying things is hearing about other trainspotters and their experience in school.

'They've said that people would bully them for their trainspotting hobby, but now they feel more confident and people respect them for it.

In snapshots of the campaign, models can be seen wearing the trendy and colourful jackets from the designers

The North Face was founded in the US in 1968 to supply climbers and its distinctive logo celebrates a granite dome in Yosemite National Park

Models could be seen larking around at the train station in snapshots from the Gucci x The North Face campaign

'That's a really defining thing for me because I experienced the same thing.

'It isn't a cool hobby, so I didn't make it very public, and I think giving other people the power to feel like they can be confident with it is very special for me.'

The North Face was founded in the US in 1968 to supply climbers and its distinctive logo celebrates a granite dome in Yosemite National Park.

However in recent years it has become trendy and is now much-loved by British teenagers.

In one of the snaps, a model can be seen posing in a colourful sweatshirt and a pair of navy dungarees

Appearing on This Morning last year, Bourgeois told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that he's amazed by the outpouring of love he's received on the social media platform.

The student admitted to the duo that he has 'plenty of anoraks' in his wardrobe but said there's a new breed of younger, cooler trainspotters to be seen at stations up and down the country.

His most popular clip sees him sat on a foldable chair on a platform awaiting a Class 377 locomotive that's going from Littlehampton to Southampton Central. As the train flashes past, he's knocked backwards from his seat by the blast of air.

He told Holly and Phil that his favourite train is the Class 43 HS2, which departed from June for the last time from London.


A student teacher has revealed how she was left fighting for her life after her 'winter cold' turned out to be sepsis.

Jemma Butler, 20, from Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, was on a placement at a primary school when she started to feel a little under the weather but assumed it was a viral infection.

Within a week, she was unable to get out of bed and was shaking uncontrollably.

It took multiple trips to hospital before she was told she was suffering from sepsis - a life-threatening reaction to an infection.

Jemma Butler was left fighting for for her light after symptoms of a bad cold turned out to be sepsis. Pictured in September 2019 - pre-sepsis

After scans and tests, doctors discovered Jemma had Lemierre's syndrome, a rare infection in the throat, which is believed to have led her to develop sepsis. Pictured in the hospital in 2019

'I felt ill with what seemed to be a sore throat, and was given antibiotics for suspected tonsillitis but it was actually sepsis,' Jemma said.

'Many people have never heard of sepsis, or if they have, they are often confused about what it is, and what signs to look out for.

'However, sepsis kills 48,000 people in the UK every year, which is more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer deaths combined. If it isn't treated immediately, as a medical emergency, it can take someone's life in under 24 hours.'

'I feel extremely lucky to be alive.'

After calling 111, Jemma was told to go to A&E. When she arrived, her pulse was racing and her temperature was 41C - symptoms associated with sepsis, but this was later dismissed. Pictured in January 2021

Back in November 2019, Jemma was in the first year of her degree at Durham University, which involved a placement at a primary school.

Like in many schools, bugs and viruses often went around so Jemma wasn't shocked when she started to feel a little off.

She said: 'I rested in bed, expecting to feel better within a couple of days.'

'As I was in my first term of university and in a primary school setting some days on placement, I assumed my symptoms were the result of a viral infection and would disappear on their own.'

Jemma Butler with her parents and sisters. Jemma has initially been scared to tell her dad she might have sepsis due to his mother passing of the same condition

But within a week, her symptoms were 'unbearable' and she became more concerned.

She said: 'I was unable to get out of bed and shower. My body was weak and I was unable to stand without my legs uncontrollably shaking.'

'I slept with the window wide open, despite it being mid-November, to try and control my rocketing temperature and profound sweating. I knew something was seriously wrong and decided to seek help.'

After calling 111, Jemma was told to go to A&E. When she arrived, her pulse was racing and her temperature was 41C - symptoms associated with sepsis, but this was later dismissed.

Jemma Butler in March 2021 - a year after she started losing her hair. Despite the hair loss, Jemma feels 'lucky' to be alive

She said: 'The word "sepsis" was briefly mentioned to me at this point and the medical professionals said my observations needed to be monitored as they pointed to some of the "red flags" for sepsis.

'I was aware of the term and I knew it was serious, as this is what my dad's mum had died of when he was just aged four.

'I felt extremely anxious, especially to tell my parents because I thought my dad would be extremely worried for me.'

After two paracetamol, her temperature came down and she was sent home with a course of antibiotics for a week.

Jemma Butler in July 2021 - the end of her second year at university. After building her strength, she was able to return to her university and teacher training in Durham

Although still unable to leave her bed, Jemma did start to improve a little.

With two weeks of the university term left, her parents and college welfare team made the decision that she would be unable to return to lectures and should travel back home to Staffordshire.

She said: 'I had finished the course of antibiotics the hospital in Durham had given me, and although I felt slightly better, the worst was yet to come.

What is sepsis and how to spot the signs? Sepsis occurs when the body reacts to an infection by attacking its own organs and tissues. Some 44,000 people die from sepsis every year in the UK. Worldwide, someone dies from the condition every 3.5 seconds. Sepsis has similar symptoms to flu, gastroenteritis and a chest infection. These include: S lurred speech or confusion

lurred speech or confusion E xtreme shivering or muscle pain

xtreme shivering or muscle pain P assing no urine in a day

assing no urine in a day S evere breathlessness

evere breathlessness I t feels like you are dying

t feels like you are dying S kin mottled or discoloured Symptoms in children are: Fast breathing

Fits or convulsions

Mottled, bluish or pale skin

Rashes that do not fade when pressed

Lethargy

Feeling abnormally cold Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing 44,000 people each year Under fives may be vomiting repeatedly, not feeding or not urinating for 12 hours. Anyone can develop sepsis but it is most common in people who have recently had surgery, have a urinary catheter or have stayed in hospital for a long time. Other at-risk people include those with weak immune systems, chemotherapy patients, pregnant women, the elderly and the very young. Treatment varies depending on the site of the infection but involves antibiotics, IV fluids and oxygen, if necessary. Source: UK Sepsis Trust and NHS Choices Advertisement

'Two days after arriving home, I severely deteriorated. I was unable to eat once again and I had developed a swelling on the right side of my jaw, which meant I was unable to open my mouth more than a couple of centimetres wide.

'It was extremely debilitating and scary, as I felt I had lost control of my body.'

The pain became so severe, Jemma's mum took her to A&E again at another hospital where she was diagnosed with lockjaw.

The next day, the pain in her jaw and throat was even worse and she tried speaking to her GP, who referred her to hospital again.

Jemma said: 'As we were driving back home from the GPs to pick up a bag to take into hospital, I was violently sick.'

'Upon arriving home, I was unable to stand again as I was so weak.'

'I went into my parents' room and lay on their bed. I was sweating profusely whilst also shivering. My skin was pale, mottled and clammy.'

'My heart was pounding and I was finding it difficult to catch my breath.'

'The most unbearable symptom, one of which I will never forget, was the overwhelming feeling that I was going to die.'

Jemma's parents called for an ambulance and when paramedics arrived, they explained they believed she had sepsis and needed to be rushed to hospital.

In resus, doctors confirmed the diagnosis and she was immediately given antibiotics through a drip

She said: 'The quick diagnosis of sepsis at this point alongside the antibiotics are undoubtedly what saved my life.'

'The next part of my hospital journey becomes a blur as I was so ill I am unable to remember the details.'

'My parents were by my side and are able to tell me what went on.'

After scans and tests, doctors discovered Jemma had Lemierre's syndrome, a rare infection in the throat, which is believed to have led her to develop sepsis.

An ultrasound also showed signs of a clot in her neck, which luckily disappeared after Jemma was given blood thinners.

After 13 days in hospital, she was able to go home, but the sepsis had some long term effects,

She said: 'It took a while to build back up my strength after being so severely ill but I was able to return to university the following January and return to my teacher training in Durham.'

'Three months after leaving hospital, my hair started to fall out. At first, I thought this was strange and after having researched this, I realise it is a symptom of post sepsis syndrome that many sufferers go through after recovering.

'Two years on, and my hair continues to fall out and grow back in a cycle. Each piece of hair that grows back reminds me how strong my body is to have gone through such trauma.'

'Although my hair falling out has its own challenges for me personally, I remind myself of how many people die from Sepsis each year and how lucky I am to still be alive, losing my hair is a small price to pay.'
The glamorous granddaughter of the King and Queen of Norway has become a social media sensation after building up a 200,000-strong following sharing snaps of her stylish outfits and easy make-up tips.

Leah Behn, 16, the daughter of Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her late husband Ari Behn, has racked up tens of millions of views across her TikTok, YouTube and Instagram pages where she share insights into her jetset lifestyle.

But the student, who is untitled and sixth in line to the throne, appears to live a life away from royal duty, instead posting about her sunny trips to LA and Dubai, going thrift shopping, and spending time with her mother and sisters Maud, 18, and Emma, 13.

In one clip posted to TikTok, she compares her relationship with her mother to that of Rory and Lorelai Gilmore of hit noughties show Gilmore Girls.

Leah Behn, 16, the daughter of Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her late husband Ari Behn, has racked up tens of millions of views across her TikTok, YouTube and Instagram pages where she share insights into her jetset lifestyle. Pictured in Oslo

The student, who is untitled and sixth in line to the throne, appears to live a life away from royal duty. Pictured in Oslo

The royal often shares posts about her sunny trips to LA and Dubai, going thrift shopping. She is pictured in LA

The show tells the story of Lorelai, a single mother who is very close to her teen daughter, Rory, she had when she was 16.

Despite being born to multi-millionaire old-money parents, Lorelai describes herself as a free spirit and rejects her family's wealth, raising her daughter modestly.

Perhaps seeing a reflection with her own relationship, Princes Martha-Louise, 50, is far from a stiff-upper lip royal.

She describes herself as a 'clairvoyant' and has previously said she wants to help people by teaching them how to talk to angels.

Princess Martha-Louise's boyfriend, who also has a strong TikTok presence, is a bisexual Shaman who works with A-listers including Gwyneth Paltrow. He describes Leah as his 'bonus daughter'.

Clearly close to her mother, another clip shows the pair driving together where Leah says: 'My mum is so pretty'.

Perhaps seeing a reflection with her own relationship, Princes Martha-Louise, 50, is far from a stiff-upper lip royal and even appears on TikTok dances

Leah often shares pretty make-up looks to her Instagram page - this one she says is inspired by Emma Chamberlain

Last year, she won 'beauty influencer of the year' at the Vixen Influencer Awards - which highlights the best influencers in Norway

In one clip Princess Martha-Louise, 50, who is the eldest daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, joins her in a TikTok dance. Another, Leah quotes Gilmore Girls and shares a series of cute pictures with her mother.

In one clip Princess Martha-Louise, 50, who is the eldest daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, joins her in a TikTok dance.

In another, Leah quotes Gilmore Girls and shares a series of cute pictures with her mother.

'My ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from who I received my name and my life blood, Martha Louise,' she mimes before quoting the speech.

'My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to be whoever I wanted to be.

'She filled our house with love and fun and books and music, unflagging in her efforts to give me role models from Jane Austen to Eudora Welty to Patti Smith.

Outside of snaps with her family, Leah has also posted dozens of outfit, make-up and fashion tutorials. Pictured in LA

Leah (pictured) also revealed she spent Christmas in LA with her mother's boyfriend, Shaman Durek

Leah sites Emma Chamberlain among her inspirations, and made her red-carpet debut last year at a Kylie Cosmetics event in Oslo.

'As she guided me through these incredible eighteen years, I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her,' she audio says.

Outside of snaps with her family, Leah has also posted dozens of outfit, make-up and fashion tutorials.

Last year, she won 'beauty influencer of the year' at the Vixen Influencer Awards - which highlights the best influencers in Norway.

She sites Emma Chamberlain among her inspirations, and made her red-carpet debut last year at a Kylie Cosmetics event in Oslo.

Martha-Louise has appeared in TikTok videos with her daughter and her boyfriend Shaman Durek (pictured)

Up for a laugh! Martha-Louise, who said she has 'never felt royal' has dressed up and answered questions on Shaman Durek's TikTok

'I had this kind of palette make-up stuff for little kids and wanted to put tiaras on my head. And then I've been interested in beauty and fashion all my life,' she previously Newsbeezer.

She also revealed she spent Christmas in LA with her mother's boyfriend, Shaman Durek.

A Vlog on her YouTube page shows her playing pool, playing Cards Against Humanity and having brunch at the celeb hotspot, the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Martha Louise, is the only daughter and elder child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, is dating Shaman Durek  a Los Angeles-based 'spiritual guide and gifted healer' whose celebrity following includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek. It is thought the pair haven't seen each other since Christmas.

In a candid interview with Vanity Fair in 2020, Martha Louise revealed her turmoil following the suicide of her ex-husband Ari Behn on Christmas Day in 2019 and revealed her upset that she and her boyfriend Shaman Durek Verrett were blamed for his death.

Traditional! Princess Martha-Louise of Norway and Leah Isadora Behn attend Prince Sverre Magnus' confirmation service at Asker Church on September 5, 2020

Leah is the granddaughter of the King and Queen of Norway. Pictured in 2018 celebrating the royal couple's wedding anniversary. From left: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Prince Sverre Magnus, Emma Tallulah Behn, Crown Prince Haakon, Queen Sonja, King Harald, Leah Isadora Behn, Princess Martha Louise, Maud Angelica Behn and Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner

Leah also shared clips from her day to day life, she is pictured in school where she is studying media

Leah also went thrift shopping with her sister (pictured) on a recent Christmas trip to LA

Discussing the traumatic day, Martha Louise revealed they returned home from the Christmas morning church service to the news.

'They were saying that it was my fault and Durek's faultthat if it hadn't been for Durek, this wouldn't have happened. I was so lucky to have the support of Durek and my family and my friends all around us, but it's a void.

'Suddenly I was a single parent, which is a very different horse, and of course the grief, the anger, the self-pity, the sadness over never seeing him againit's devastating.'

Martha, who added that she 'never felt like a royal' also revealed she's discovered how racist Norwegian people can be since coupling up with Derek, who is of Norweigan, Indian and Haitian descent.
An accountant who changed her professional LinkedIn headshot to show off her heavily tattooed arms - after hiding them at work for years - has seen a post about the image viewed more than 31,000 times.

Jessica Leonard, 36, from Cleveland, Ohio, decided to share a photo on the careers social media networking site that reflected her look more authentically, sharing a bio image with her 'sleeves' clearly on display.

The public accountant, who works for Evolution Capital Partners, says she had a conversation with her boss about whether it was the right thing to do, fearing that people would 'judge' her for the etchings, and that it might harm her career.

She says he reduced her to tears when he wrote back that she should be 'loud and proud' about her body art, a sentiment largely echoed in the 3,000 comments that have been posted about the photo on LinkedIn.

However, some said that body art was still frowned upon in professional environments, with one LinkedIn user calling them 'distracting'.

Jessica Leonard, a public accountant from Cleveland, Ohio, had new professional bio photos taken by her employer, Evolution Capital Partners, late last year showing her with her tattooed arms exposed and hidden by a suit jacker - she decided to post them both on LinkedIn, and the post quickly went viral

The 36-year-old said she was shocked by the positive reaction to the photo of her etchings, saying 'I had grown accustomed to wearing long sleeves in the heat of summer' Pictured: Leonard in her covered up LinkedIn photo

Leonard posted the photo next to one of herself wearing a conventional grey business suit.

She revealed that she'd been told that tattoos 'weren't appropriate' for people in senior positions, with another peer suggesting it wouldn't be a good idea to use the photo as a LinkedIn profile photo.

Leonard told ABC News that while she definitely received some negative comments, with people 'advising' her that she should still be cautious about how tattoos are perceived, the vast majority of comments were positive.

She says the reaction to the photo shows how much the pandemic has seen attitudes to workwear, body art and piercings relax.

Her tattoos include etchings inspired by the Harry Potter films, as well as a tribute to a nephew lost to cancer aged just four.

She told ABC News: 'As soon as it started going viral, I thought, "I know how this works. If I put myself out there, and it's something that is controversial, I should be prepared."

'I did get some comments where people felt like they needed to advise me or others to still be careful about tattoos, because there is still judgment out there.'

Leonard says she has a diverse range of body art on her 'sleeves' - including a Harry Potter etching and a tribute to her late nephew, who died of brain cancer

Leonard, pictured with her husband Joe, told ABC News she had been braced for criticism after the post went viral

Her new bio photo sits next to the logo of the company she works for, Evolution Capital Partners in Cleveland.

The accountant said that while she was initially 'cautious' that the bold bio photo might 'close professional doors' she was given confidence by her boss' positive reaction to the idea.

She explains how the conversation arose after getting a new company headshot taken last month: 'I was cautious but asked our Managing Partner if he was comfortable with me getting a photo taken sans jacket for my personal use on LinkedIn, but that wed use one with the jacket for our website.'

She said his response was: 'Lets roll with the tattoos in both! Loud and proud!'

Many thanked the accountant for raising the issue, suggesting that the pandemic had relaxed attitudes to piercings, body art and hair colours in the workplace

The accountant admitted she was lost for words at the largely positive response to her post

Describing her reaction to his relaxed reply, she told her LinkedIn followers: 'I was honestly shocked. I had grown accustomed to wearing long sleeves in the heat of summer, to tugging on my suit coat sleeves in every meeting, to pulling my hair around my ear so no one would get a glimpse of the small tattoo behind my ear, to avoiding getting any leg or ankle tattoos for fear of never being able to wear a skirt again in a business setting.'

She added: 'I simply felt that I needed to be careful about when I was being too freely me.'

Many thanked the accountant for raising the issue.

One LinkedIn user, Tammy Thrasher, wrote: 'I think you look amazing in both photos. Your smile is brighter being who you are, and showing your tats off. I see a professional in both photos. Be you!'

Rikki Smith added: 'I don't understand how someone can say it's inappropriate for someone to have tattoos because of their position in a company. What a load of old codswallop.'

Others said that it depended on who was hiring. Cassandra Hanson Dyer wrote: 'Good luck in finding that employer. It's all in the manager and your representation of who you are... and the quality of your insides. Ink can enhance but unfortunately a tattoo is stigmatized for most.'

Another, James DeYoung, admitted he thought tattoos were still a no-no in a professional environment, saying: 'My personal opinion is that tattoos are visual noise and distracting in a work environment. The same goes for workers with piercings where Im forced to look at them while talking/interacting with them. It is a form of passive aggression toward a person who chooses to not be tattooed/pierced.'

Leonard followed up on the responses, saying: 'I never in a million years thought this post would touch so many people. I appreciate all of your comments (even the not so nice ones  I hear you too).'
A Sydney woman has revealed how a 4kg tumour grew inside her left ovary for almost two years before she was finally diagnosed with stage three cancer - after her month-long periods were brushed off by doctors.

Jane Warrimer, 50, spent months in agonising pain after doctors brushed off her symptoms as common-place for women about to enter menopause.

Despite excruciating abdominal pains and significant weight gain the disability worker remained completely oblivious to the 'silent killer' growing inside her.

Jane was ultimately forced to wait nearly two years to receive treatment for a cancerous lump so large it was pushing on her other organs.

Sydney disability worker Jane Warrimer, 50, (pictured) spent nearly two years in agonising pain before a 4kg cancerous tumour revealed she was in stage three of ovarian cancer

She told 7News she first felt something was wrong when her menstrual cycle started to play up and caused her to bleed for a month at a time.

Her doctor prescribed an IUD - a tiny device that is placed in the uterus - in an attempt to regulate the prolific bleeding, but Jane's body rejected it.

The device caused the Sydney woman to suffer 'horrific' sepsis - but with no other solution to her agonising pain and bleeding - she soldiered on for another year.

On a whim Jane decided to try her luck with another doctor who she hoped could evaluate her symptoms with fresh perspective but was disappointed.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer? Some of the symptoms that can be indicative of ovarian cancer are: - abdominal bloating - frequent or urgent urination - back, abdominal or pelvic pain - constipation or diarrhoea - menstrual irregularities - tiredness - indigestion - unexplained weight loss or gain - pain during intercourse - difficulty eating or feeling full quickly Source: Cancer Council Advertisement

'They were at a loss to explain my symptoms as well,' she said.

'They tried a few other things and numerous blood tests, but they didn't show any sign of cancer and I guess the point was that they weren't looking for cancer.'

It wasn't until February last year when Jane finally received some clarity on her condition, however it wasn't without many sleepless nights and blinding pain.

One night she decided she couldn't stand it any longer and called triple zero, bracing herself for some bad news.

Her family's history of bowel cancer loomed large on her mind with the disability worker admitting she was 'ready to hear something pretty dark'.

A 4kg tumour in her left ovary was revealed during a CT scan with further tests indicating the cancer had spread to her stomach, kidney and pancreas.

She was prepped for a mammoth 7.5 hour surgery where doctors worked tirelessly to remove the tumour and affected lymph nodes.

The disability worker underwent six weeks of chemotherapy treatments before finally celebrating remission in November last year.

Jane said she doesn't blame anyone for her frustratingly late diagnosis and feels grateful for the care she received at Royal North Shore Public.

She recommends women request CT and PET scans if they have a gut feeling something is wrong, as well as be 'proactive' about their health.

Jane's miraculous recovery comes as the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approved a revolutionary oral pill used to treat ovarian cancer.

The new drug called Zejula can be prescribed to women who have responded to existing treatments for the cancer such as chemotherapy and surgery.

Jane says she doesn't blame anyone for her frustratingly late diagnosis and feels grateful for the care she received at Royal North Shore Public (pictured)

The life-changing oral pill will mean women in advanced stages of the deadly cancer will have another chance at fighting the disease.

Royal North Shore Hospital medical oncologist Sally Baron-Hay called the treatment a 'game-changer' for women with ovarian cancer.

Studies show those who have received the newly-approved pill boost their chances of survival by 30 per cent.

'It offers more women the chance of living a longer life without a recurrence of their disease,' Dr Baron-Hay said.

'All women newly diagnosed with high grade ovarian cancer will have the option to be offered this new therapy  it is a really exciting development.'

While the oral pill will need to be paid in full by patients it is hoped the drug will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by the end of 2022.
A man has revealed how he took revenge on a 'creepy' Currys driver who messaged his pregnant fiancee after delivering a washing machine by posing as her over text.

Pregnant Kacey Wheeler, 21, was home alone in Bradford, West Yorkshire, when two delivery men arrived to drop off a washing machine and dryer.

She claims one of the men, identified only as Jordan, 'couldn't stop staring at her' and made excuses to stay back and chat to her after his colleague returned to the van.

Twenty minutes after he left, Jordan text fiance Ryan's mobile phone number, believing it was Kacey's. The number had been entered into the Currys system so the couple could receive updates on the delivery.

He wrote: 'Hi It's Jordan from currys haha... Haha I took your number I hope you don't mind, you made me laugh wanting washer there???? xxx.'

Ryan, 22, an electrician, decided to embarrass Jordan by replying and posing as Kacey over text, leading the delivery driver into a flirty six-hour exchange that was later shared on Facebook.

Pregnant Kacey Wheeler, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, claims the delivery man, identified only as 'Jordan', 'couldn't stop staring at her' when he arrived with the washing machine and dryer last Thursday. Pictured, Kacey in social media snaps

Twenty minutes after he left, the driver text Ryan's mobile phone number, which had been entered into the Currys system for updates about the delivery, believing it was Kacey's. Ryan deliberately misspelled his partner's name in the exchange

Kacey's fiance Ryan, 22, an electrician, decided to embarrass Jordan by replying and posing as Kacey over text, leading the delivery driver into a flirty six-hour exchange that was later shared on Facebook. Pictured, Kacey and Ryan

In the messages Jordan bragged about being a former prison 'bad boy' earning 36,000 a year while self-employed and cheekily suggested they should 'meet up to get this washer sorted'.

Meanwhile Ryan, pretending to be Kacey, asked Jordan if he would be her sugar daddy.

When Jordan messaged the following day to continue the conversation, Ryan put an end to the exchange and revealed he had been behind the flirtatious texts the entire time.

Kacey said she is now afraid to accept deliveries if Ryan isn't home.

Currys said it is investigating the incident and is treating the matter 'very seriously'.

When Jordan messaged the following day to continue the conversation, Ryan put an end to the exchange and revealed he had been behind the flirtatious texts the entire time. Kacey said she is now afraid to accept deliveries if Ryan isn't home. Pictured, Kacey (left) and with Ryan

Posing as Casey, Ryan led the delivery driver into an X-rated exchange about his fantasies

Kacey said: 'As soon as I opened the door I saw one of the guys just didn't take his eyes off me. I didn't take it in a weird way at first and I thought it was funny. He was just staring at me.

'The other guy just came in, dropped the washer and then left, but the other guy didn't want to leave. He was lingering around telling me where to put it and opening draws.

'It was really creepy but at the time I just thought it was strange. I was winding Ryan up telling him the driver was in love with me, then I thought he was joking when he said he'd got texts from him.

'I can't believe he just took my number off the sheet and he knows where we live. Even if he'd have come into my house and asked for my number it wouldn't have been as weird.

Ryan pretended Kasey had a Captain America fantasy and the driver revealed he earns 36,000 a year

'I thought that would have been the end of it after the driver left. Ryan thought it was hilarious when he got the texts. I kept ringing him asking for updates and when he was home we kept running over to the phone to check the replies.

'It wasn't the worst-case scenario, but the fact he was lingering around in the house and he'd gone out of his way to get my number, I just won't want to take deliveries in on my own.'

Ryan has contacted Currys to complain and insists he'll never order from them ever again.

He continued: 'There's my shoes in the house, Kacey's six months pregnant and she's got an engagement ring on. It's just utter disrespect.

'When I got the phone call and the text came through I was annoyed but then I thought I'd make a laugh out of it.

Ryan pretended to invite the driver to a threesome before revealing his real identity

'I thought 'I'm going to [pull] your leg'. My favourite bit was asking him to dress up in a Marvel costume and him replying that he's a prison boy. He was trying to big himself up.

'It's embarrassing. He deserves to have the mick taken out of him. From the texts you can tell he's a very strange guy.

'I thought I'd scared him off on the night, talking about a threesome, but then when he messaged back the next day and I wasn't having a good day at work so I just told him to "f*** off".

Ryan, pictured with Kasey, said he wanted to embarrass the delivery driver with the texts

Ryan, pictured with Kasey, said the driver's behaviour was disrespectful. Kasey said she wouldn't feel safe receiving a delivery again while home alone

'I'm happy he's wasted all that time. Every time I put something provocative, he'd have been sitting there on his couch sweating, thinking "what do I do with his girl". He thought he'd pulled.

'If it was me I'd have felt tiny. I hope he feels like an idiot. If he came back to the house he'd get it, but it's a shame for Kacey. You shouldn't be made uncomfortable by delivery drivers like that.'

A Currys spokesperson said: 'We're taking the matter very seriously and are currently investigating it further. We will be contacting Mr Sagar and Miss Wheeler as part of our investigation.'
Michelle Obama celebrated her 'sweet 58th' in style on Monday evening with an enormous birthday cake and a fun-filled dance party.

The former First Lady shared a peek into her birthday festivities with an Instagram video in which she can be seen dancing to Stevie Wonder's hit Happy Birthday while sitting in front of an enormous candle-topped cake.

Michelle opted for a relaxed and casual ensemble of a simple black T-shirt under a black, grey, and white robe and went makeup-free for the occasion, showing off her youthful complexion as she danced the night away.

The mother-of-two had her curly hair pulled back from her face with a thick black headband and kept her accessories to a minimum, sporting just her engagement and wedding ring, simple diamond studs in her ears, and a beaded bracelet around her wrist.

Birthday boogie! Michelle Obama celebrated turning 58 on Monday by sharing a video of herself dancing to Stevie Wonder in front of an enormous cake

Shake it! The mother-of-two went makeup-free for the celebration and she kept her ensemble relaxed and casual, opting for a black T-shirt and a patterned grey robe

Movin' and groovin': Former First Lady Michelle had her hair pulled back with a thick black headband

Fun-filled: The mother-of-two showed off some smooth moves in the video, which appears to have been taken shortly after she blew out her candles

In the caption of her video, Michelle offered thanks to everyone who shared birthday messages with her, writing: 'Heres to a sweet 58th! Thank you so much for your outpouring of love. Whether you texted, emailed, or posted on social media, every birthday message I received today meant a lot to me.

'I am so grateful to have so many people cheering me on. Looking forward to seeing what this upcoming year has in store.'

Michelle did not reveal where the video was captured, however, it appears she celebrated her birthday in a private room at a restaurant or a hotel.

Shortly after posting the clip, Michelle was flooded with more celebratory messages, including from actresses Lindsay Lohan and Octavia Spencer.

'You make 58 look 38. Happy birthday,' Octavia wrote, while Lindsay chimed in: 'Happy Birthday!!!'

Michelle's birthday boogie video came not long after her husband, former President Barack Obama, shared a touching tribute to his wife of almost 30 years in honor of her birthday.

Obama, 60, celebrated Michelle by sharing a sweet shot of himself kissing her smiling cheek as a beautiful sunset plays out behind them.

'Happy birthday, Michelle,' he wrote in a to-the-point caption. 'My love, my partner, my best friend...'

Thanks: In her caption, Michelle offered a message of gratitude to everyone who wished her a happy birthday

Eat up! Her cake was topped with striped candles, a Happy Birthday message, and plenty of rainbow sprinkles

Bust a move: Michelle's video was flooded with well wishes from her friends and followers, including actresses Lindsay Lohan and Octavia Spencer

She posted her video shortly after her husband, former President Barack Obama, shared a touching birthday tribute in her honor

'Happy birthday, Michelle,' he wrote in the photo's caption. 'My love, my partner, my best friend...'

The photo appears to be a newly-released image and looks to have been shot in Hawaii, where the couple vacationed over Christmas and New Year's.

A beaming Michelle wears a brown top holds a martini in her right hand, her other around her husband' back.

The former president, meanwhile, is dressed in a white button-down and plants a kiss on her left cheek.

The Obama family visits the former president's home state every year to get in some relaxation and visits with loved ones.

In December, Obama was was pictured donning black swim trunks as he went for a dip in the Pacific Ocean, and was snapped squinting in the sun as he left his sunglasses behind.

The day before, his daughters, Sasha, 20, and Malia, 23, were also caught on camera as they went out on the water on stand-up paddle boards, each wearing a bikini for the beach day.

Obama was also later pictured getting in a round of gold with friends, though Michelle managed to avoid the cameras.

Michelle was not photographed in public in Hawaii, but she did share a photo celebrating New Year's

In December, Obama was was pictured donning black swim trunks as he went for a dip in the Pacific Ocean while visiting Hawaii with his family

The day before, his daughters, Sasha, 20, and Malia, 23, were also caught on camera as they went out on the water on stand-up paddle boards

She did, however, share her own photo from Hawaii, showing how she and her husband rang in the new year with silly star-shaped glasses.

In celebration of her birthday today, well wishes have poured in for the former first lady today, including from current first lady Jill Biden.

Obama frequently shares adoring posts about his wife in honor of her birthday and their anniversaries.

In 2021, he posted a throwback photo of this wife from the '90s and wrote: 'Happy birthday to my love, my partner, and my best friend. Every moment with you is a blessing. Love you, Miche.'

In 2020, he shared a series of four black-and-white snaps, which appear to have been taken inside a photo booth.

All four are exceedingly affectionate, with Michelle hugging her husband's head and sitting in his lap.

One shows Obama kissing her cheek, and another shows him flashing a peace sign.

Obama frequently shares adoring posts about his wife in honor of her birthday and their anniversaries, including this photo in 2021

Last year, he called his wife his 'best friend' and a 'blessing' in a gushing tribute

In 2020, he shared a series of four black-and-white snaps, which appear to have been taken inside a photo boot

All four are exceedingly affectionate, with Michelle hugging her husband's head and sitting in his lap

One shows Obama kissing her cheek, and another shows him flashing a peace sign

'In every scene, you are my star, @MichelleObama!' he wrote, adding: 'Happy birthday, baby!'

'In every scene, you are my star, @MichelleObama!' he wrote, adding: 'Happy birthday, baby!'

In 2019, the message came alongside another old photo.

'I knew it way back then and I'm absolutely convinced of it today  you're one of a kind, @MichelleObama. Happy Birthday!' he wrote.

In return, she has shared similar doting messages, including one on his birthday last year.

'Of all of your accomplishments, I know that being a present, loving father to our girls tops them all,' she wrote in celebration of his 60th.

'Thank you for never letting the weight of the world get in the way of being a wonderful husband and father. Happy 60th birthday, @BarackObama!'
A mother whose teenage son disappeared after a night out with friends 14 years ago has begged for any information about his whereabouts in a heart-wrenching appeal, saying she doesn't want to die not knowing what happened to him.

Luke Durbin was 19 when he vanished from Ipswich town centre in the early hours of the morning of May 12, 2006, following a night out with friends.

The last CCTV image of Luke was captured at 4am and shows him walking across a zebra crossing in the centre of town, towards the local bus stop.

There were sightings in Ipswich and London in the weeks after he went missing but none have been confirmed and he has not been seen alive by his family since.

Speaking on The Missing podcast, his mother Nicki urged anyone with information to phone Suffolk Constabulary.

Final sighting: Luke Durbin was 19 when he vanished from Ipswich town centre in the early hours of the morning of May 12, 2006, following a night out with friends. The last CCTV image of Luke was captured at 4am and shows him walking across a zebra crossing (above)

Vanished: Luke, a keen guitarist, did not have a phone, bag or any money on him when he disappeared. In the weeks after he went missing, his mother learned he was dealing drugs

Linked to the case? This car, a silver or white Volvo 440, passed the CCTV camera moments after Luke. The car was being driven illegally on false number plates - M206 LYE - and the driver has never been identified but experts believe it could be connected to Luke

Same model: Suffolk Constabulary previously released this image of a similar car to help

She also re-shared the final CCTV images of Luke and a shot showing a car with fake licence plates that was in the area at around the time he was last seen.

The car, a silver or white Volvo 440, passed the CCTV camera moments after Luke.

The car was being driven illegally on false number plates - M206 LYE - and the driver has never been identified but experts believe it could be connected to Luke's disappearance.

Nicki pleaded: 'I would just ask, I am 100 per cent convinced that someone locally at that time, if not still, knows what happens to Luke.

'I would absolutely beg you, if you have that vital piece of information, please phone Suffolk Constabulary.

'I don't want to die not knowing what happened to my son. In whatever form, I want to be able to bring him home.'

Nicki, who also has a younger daughter, Alicia, describes how Luke was a quiet and thoughtful child who grew into a personable young man who dreamed of becoming a music technician.

Desperate: Mother Nicki (pictured with Luke and daughter Alicia) said she wants to know what happened to her son before she dies in a new appearance on The Missing podcast

As a teenager he left his local village of Hollesley, in East Sussex, to attend college in Colchester, Essex.

'This is where things started going wrong for Luke,' Nicki said. 'He only ended up doing one year at college and he left, he decided that wasn't for him.

'Luke was completely demotivated. It was such a tough time. It was just like my son that I knew so well, he just wasn't there. It wasn't the same person.

'I had no idea anymore who Luke was hanging around with, or what was going on. He was changing. I felt like our relationship was breaking down so much and it was so shocking.

'I think this is where Luke started smoking quite a lot of cannabis, I could smell it on his clothes. I felt his attitude, even his respect towards me, changed.

'I was really frustrated with him. I felt so devastated for this beautiful, intelligent young man, he had everything going for him and I just felt he was throwing it all away. I couldn't believe it was happening.'

The breakdown in their relationship came to a head at Christmas 2005.

Do you know these people? Luke is known to have left Zest nightclub in Ipswich on the night he disappeared. He was later captured on camera on several streets in the town. Here - he can be seen walking towards Dogs Head Street - from left to right. The camera says it is 03:57 am. Two other people can be seen at the top and bottom of the image

'Basically I said to him, "you get a job, you'll go out when I go to work",' Nicki said. 'I think having that serious a talk, I think it probably shocked Luke. He did get a job.

'It was working in a greengrocers/deli and doing some shifts in a restaurant. He loved his job.'

His grandparents gave him money to buy a motorcycle and he started becoming more involved in family life, making his mother lunch.

Can YOU help find Luke? Key questions that need answered The Missing podcast urges anyone with information to come forward. Particularly those to whom these questions apply: Were you out in Ipswich in the early hours of the morning on Friday the 12th of May, 2006?

Did you see Luke after he left the night club Zest, on Princes Street in Ipswich?

Did you see Luke leaving the taxi office at around 4am?

Did you see Luke as he walked along Dogs Head Street in the Ipswich town centre, in the direction of the bus station?

Did you see the silver or white Volvo 440 that was spotted on Dogs head Street at the same time?

Did you see the dark blue Renault Megane Luke was spotted sitting in on Saturday the 13th of May, sometime between 11am and 2pm?

Might you have spotted someone matching Lukes description in London at some point in 2006? For more information visit The Missing Podcast website. Advertisement

'It was like Luke was back,' Nicki said.

On Thursday 11 May, 2006, Luke packed his bag and said goodbye to his mother and sister. He had taken the Friday off work and was planning on spending the night at his friend Alex's house in nearby Woodbridge.

'He was laughing and I just said "don't drink and drive" because he had this new motorbike,' Nicki recalled. '[And he said] "no I won't".

'That's literally the last thing I said to him. He got on his bike and whizzed off and me and Alicia went to have supper. That's the last time we ever saw Luke alive.'

Nicki explained that, other than him riding a motorcycle, she wasn't worried about her son at all. He regularly went to Woodbridge and there was nothing out of the ordinary.

'If I'd have known what was about to happen, I would have knocked Luke out and tied him up, I wouldn't have let him out,' she said. But you can't live that way with young people. I just never considered anything bad was going to happen.'

After drinks in Woodbridge, Luke, Alex and a third friend made a last-minute decision to take a 20-minute taxi into Ipswich to go to Zest nightclub.

Alex, who had already had too much to drink, went straight home on arriving in Ipswich, while Luke and his other friend went into the club. At some point while inside, the two men lost each other and Luke's friend went home without him.

At around 2am, Luke was captured on CCTV leaving the club and waiting for his friend.

He had left his phones and bag at Alex's house and didn't have any money on him for a taxi home.

Roughly an hour later, Luke was captured on CCTV at the local train station, presumably hoping to catch a late-running service home. After that, he visited a local taxi office and tried to book a cab home but had no money.

The staff suggested he phoned Nicki and ask for her bank card details, but he said he didn't want to wake up his mother.

The final CCTV image was captured at 4am. Luke was seen walking across Dogs Head Street towards the bus station, although it is not clear whether this is where he was headed.

Back at home, Nicki and Alicia had no idea something was wrong.

Family torn apart: Nicki with her son Luke and daughter Alicia, before Luke's disappearance

'I went to work, Alicia went to school,' Nicki said, recalling their movements the following morning.

'As far as I was aware, Luke would have been at Alex's mum's house. Luke's phone just went to answerphone.

'I was just thinking he would come back that Friday evening. I put a note saying, "I'm at Vicky's, phone me when you get the message". I had no idea Luke was missing or anything was untoward. It wasn't until the Saturday... I came home early Saturday morning from my friend's and Alicia came home around 12pm on Saturday.

'And she said, "Mum, I think there's something not right with Luke... Alex told me he didn't come back".'

Final hours: Luke's movements on the night he disappeared Luke Durbin was 19 when he was last seen after a night out at the Zest nightclub in Ipswich, Suffolk, in the early hours of May 12, 2006. Luke, a keen guitarist, was seen at Ipswich railway station between 2.30am and 3am on May 12, 2006, after leaving Zest nightclub. He was then seen at Hawk Express taxi rank in the town at 3.45am, but it is thought he did not have enough money for a fare home to Hollesley. His last confirmed sighting was CCTV images of him crossing a zebra crossing in Dog's Head Street, Ipswich, as he headed for the town's bus station at 4am. He did not return home to collect any of his personal belongings and failed to pick up his wages and a mobile phone he had left at a friend's house. He became one of Britain's highest profile missing people. A man was arrested on suspicion of his murder in 2012, but he was told he was facing no further action in March 2013. Advertisement

Luke's much-loved motorcycle was still parked outside Luke's mother's house where he had left it, while his personal belongings were inside.

Nicki learned his friends hadn't wanted to worry him unnecessarily, initially thinking he had gone home with a woman.

But when he failed to turn up for work on Saturday, Nicki knew something was wrong. 'I knew how much he liked his boss and I knew he wouldn't let her down,' she said.

'He had nothing on him, apart from his clothes. I think at that point I had this horrendous silent hysteria started taking over me.'

Nicki phoned the local hospital and friends before reporting him missing.

'It just became surreal,' she continued. 'I felt I might be wasting police time because "Luke's going to come home". There is an absolute huge divide in my life, from before I placed the phone call and after.'

Police initially thought Luke had fallen into a river near the club.

'I think it's the first time I've ever felt such despair,' his mother recalled. 'It was the realisation that maybe Luke wouldn't come home. I still find that day.

'That day still feels like the worst day in those first few weeks. Police did the sweep of the river and nothing was found.'

Two weeks later, police informed Nicki that three different people had seen Luke in Woodbridge on May 13, the day after he was last seen. All of them knew Luke and confirmed they had seen him in a car with two men.

Then an old classmate of Luke's came forward to say she was '95 per cent sure' she had seen him in London. None of the sightings led police to Luke.

In the days and weeks after the disappearance, Nicki learned her son might have been more heavily involved in drugs than she had realised. He was described as a dealer, not a big time drugs lord, but not insignificant, either.

Some of the rumours she heard connected Luke to a drugs gang in Brixton, south London.

She said: 'I can remember being so horrified and going to the police and asking if his disappearance was drug related, if he'd gotten in way too deep and something terrible and untoward had happened to him. And the guy in charge said "no".'

In 2010, four years after Luke went missing, a fresh review of the case found new CCTV images and evidence he was involved in the cocaine trade.

'Cocaine changed everything for me,' Nicki said. 'It just felt so... Really you're just starting to mess with big boys.'

In 2012 police made two arrests  one on suspicion of murder, the other on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of Luke  however both men faced no further action.

One remaining possibility is that Luke was in debt to dealers higher up in the drug food chain. Another is that he packed up and started a new life somewhere else, afraid of what faced him if he remained in Suffolk.

'Was Luke in huge amounts of debts?,' Nicki asked. 'Nothing made sense. Even if he was in debt, Luke had a brand new motorbike he could have gotten money for and he had his wages waiting for him.

'Luke would not - I would absolutely would put my life on it - Luke would not have voluntarily gone missing to just start up a new life. He was a 19-year-old, naive boy. He had nothing. He had no money. He had nothing. He had a motorbike.'

Regardless of the circumstances, Nicki understands the chances of him still being alive are slim. All she wants to know is what happened that night.

She added: 'Whatever the information is, I definitely want to know what happened to Luke before I die.'

Visit The Missing Podcast for more information.
The mother of BBC podcast star Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, has told fans she has had five operations in 10 days following a medical emergency during which she almost died.

The former deputy head teacher turned cancer campaigner, 40, from London, has been living with stage four bowel cancer since she was diagnosed in December 2016, and was told early on that she might not live beyond five years - a milestone that passed in the autumn.

In a picture shared on her Instagram account, Deborah's mother Heather shared a snap as they posed together in her hospital bed.

She explained: 'How she does it time and time again blows me away. Its early hours, but it went to plan. The aim was to internalised her bile stent if it was working which so far it seems to be.

The mother of BBC podcast star Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, has told fans she has had five operations in 10 days following a medical emergency during which she almost died (pictured together)

'Obviously now shes kept under close monitoring but shes really happy (and emotional) because she has no drains for the first time in weeks.

'We just have to pray she remains stable for the foreseeable future now. Due to the operation today, I was allowed to see her briefly as her nominated visitor - which Im grateful for.'

Heather continued: 'Visiting in Covid is a really hard balance and its heartbreaking that families cant see their loved ones more - I cant imagine what families went through in full lock down (including in our own family).

'Deborah certainly needs the support hence why I was allowed in, but risk has to be kept super low.

BBC podcast star Deborah, who has incurable bowel cancer, revealed how she 'nearly died' last week in an 'acute medical emergency'. She shared this photo from hospital

'Mental health is so important though, we cant underestimate how it helps with recovery.

'I see it with Deborah. I recall times pre Covid when I used to sleep in the same room over night!

'As is usual she asked for her make up as soon as she came round which is always a good sign!'

She went on to hashtag the post with #MotherDaughter and #OneDayAtATime.

It comes days after she filmed herself walking down a hospital hallway. She explained she was 'beyond shattered' after nearly dying last week.

She said she is 'making progress' and tasking her recovery step by step after enduring the 'hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest' period of her cancer battle in the last week, which has involved three operations and 'a lot more procedures' to come.

The mother-of-two was told early on that she might not live beyond five years - a milestone that passed in the autumn (pictured)

Sharing the video on Instagram, Deborah wrote: 'Today I walked - its the first time in nine days Ive been able to try.

'Its never been so hard to muster the strength and conviction to do so. Ive had four operations this week (with more to come), am beyond shattered with a very weak body,' she revealed.

In the video, Deborah can be seen walking tentatively in a hospital hallway.

'But somehow my body is still ploughing on. Sometimes all we can do is take things step by step. The nurses and doctors are being incredible - Ive cried on pretty much everyone that pops their head around the door,' she went on in her post.

'Im making progress, its slow, but steady. Im still being monitored very closely. No idea what the next plan is- its just taking things bit by bit.

'Its hard when you just want a plan, but the plan is really to try to get me better, whatever pathway that takes. My drains are to do with my bile duct - which they finally stented (well we are in the middle of that process), and acities, which Ive had 10 litres drained already hence why Im dont look pregnant anymore,' she explained.

In spite of the grueling ordeal she is facing, Deborah thanked her following for their support.

Days ago, Deborah shared a video as she took her first steps through hospital after her difficult week

Sharing the video on Instagram, Deborah wrote: 'Today I walked - its the first time in nine days Ive been able to try.'

The podcaster shared she is making progress on her Instagram and updated her followers on her condition

'Thanks for all your wonderful messages. They have blown me away. Im not in a position to respond but I very much appreciate the kindness,' she said.

Posting on Instagram on Friday, the mother-of-two spoke of enduring the 'hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest' period of her cancer battle in the last week, which has involved three operations and 'a lot more procedures' to come.

She told how her husband watched as doctors fought to save her life after she 'crashed' in resuscitation.

'A week ago at this time in the evening I nearly died in what was an acute medical emergency,' she wrote. 'I'm not ready to discuss what happened yet as the trauma of it all has been incredibly intense - but it's thanks to an unbelievable team of NHS specialists who worked all through the night and the next day to save me.

'I cannot be more grateful. I'm still not out of danger and I have a lot more procedures to deal with. But I'm now out of intensive care. And for the first time felt able to briefly update you.'

Sharing a photo of her giving a thumbs up from a hospital bed, she continued: 'This is me yesterday having just come round from my 3rd operation this week. I have another operation tomorrow.

'In 5 years of having stage 4 Cancer - this has been the hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest of them all. I'd always prepared for my death, but I wasn't prepared for something so blindsiding and traumatic to happen.

'I can't quite believe I'm here to write this. A week ago my whole family was praying I'd pull through the night. I'm getting a lot of help and support to come to terms with the trauma I've been through.

'My family have been incredible. I don't know how my husband held it together seeing me crash as an army of doctors stabilised me in resus.'

In new series of cancer podcast, You, Me and the Big C, Deborah revealed she had to learn how to walk again after being bed-bound with colitis in December

Posting on Instagram overnight, the mother-of-two spoke of enduring the 'hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest' period of her cancer battle in the last week, which has involved three operations and 'a lot more procedures' to come

After thanking followers for their support, she added: 'Do me a favour and go tell your loved ones how much you love them. To realise in a sudden split moment that you are unlikely to see the next day is utterly heartbreaking. Have no regrets.'

It comes days after Deborah returned to her popular podcast You, me and the Big C and revealed how she'd been 'absolutely floored' by 'big gun chemo' during the summer and then a serious infection at the year's end - which saw her carried into a London hospital at 1am by her husband for treatment.

She told co-hosts Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland on the newest episode of the BBC podcast that she'd had to learn to walk again after being forced to remain in bed for almost a month.

She said: 'After colitis, I had to relearn to walk again because I had so much fluid.

'I'd been bed-bound for three weeks and just learning how to walk to the end of the drive or whatever, is just impossible essentially.'

Discussing how difficult the last six months have been, James said while she was really happy that the 'big gun chemo' she endured has slowed her cancer's growth, which had been 'on the march', it had been an exhausting time.

James marked five years since her 2016 diagnosis - a milestone she thought she wouldn't make - in December but was in hospital with infectious colitis

She explained: 'I have to be honest with you, going from targeted therapy back onto chemo, it was hardcore, big gun chemo, and it absolutely utterly floored me.

BOWEL CANCER: THE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. Symptoms include: Bleeding from the bottom

Blood in stools

A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks

Unexplained weight loss

Extreme, unexplained tiredness

Abdominal pain Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: Are over 50

Have a family history of the condition

Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel

Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease

Lead an unhealthy lifestyle Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy. More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis. This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages. According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Advertisement

'I would say my quality of life was just hideous.'

Updating listeners on the current state of her health, she said: 'Some days I feel fine, my quality of life is OK right now, but I'm not the person people have known for the past four years where I'm running around exercising everyday.'

'It's just stable in a really b****y awkward place.'

The campaigner revealed that because of her reduced liver function and the colitis, she's not likely to qualify for a clinical trial.

She admitted she'd been 'procrastinating' over potential treatment options during the Christmas break.

In the summer, James was told she had an aggressive new tumour that had wrapped itself around her bile duct - requiring a life-saving stay in hospital - and a stent fitted to stop her liver from failing.

The stent fitted to stop her liver failing 'stopped working' in December.

She explained to her followers at the time how hopes at having a 'quick replacement operation' had turned into a 'nightmare'.

She said: 'I'm now at the mercy of hopefully some super 'magic medicine miracle' - but then I always have been, and any chance is a chance right?

'All I ever say Is all I want is hope and options.'

In April, James shared that her cancer, which has been kept at bay by pioneering treatment, was back again and she was forced to endure a 12th operation.

The West London mother-of-two, a deputy head, was diagnosed 'late' with incurable bowel cancer in 2016.

She has frequently said that as a vegetarian runner, she was the last person doctors expected to get the disease.

After sharing her experiences on living with the disease on social media, Deborah became known as the 'Bowel Babe' and began writing a column for the Sun.

In 2018, Deborah joined Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland to present the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live.

Bland tragically died of breast cancer on September 5th that year; her husband Steve Bland now co-presents the show.

The former deputy head teacher celebrated her 40th birthday in October but admitted that 'big gun chemo' in the summer had 'floored her'
An Indianapolis woman has connected with the biological son she never knew existed, two and a half decades after she donated her eggs.

Kristin Schoonveld, 52, had been adopted as a baby and turned to DNA testing as an adult to track down her biological parents.

After submitting her DNA to 23andMe in the fall of 2019, she was shocked to find a match that the company named as her son.

Though she first assumed it was a mistake, having never been pregnant, she soon remembered that she had anonymously donated her eggs as a 25-year-old in 1994.

Parker Erickson, 26, was conceived via in vitro fertilization with one of those eggs and was on the site looking for his biological mother, whom he has since had the chance to meet

An Indianapolis woman has connected with the biological son she never knew existed, two and a half decades after she donated her eggs

Kristin Schoonveld, 52, and Parker Erickson, 26, found each other on 23andMe long after Kristin donated her eggs to a couple she didn't know in 1994

Kristin told the Indianapolis Star that she came upon the idea of egg donation upon reading an article about it in 1994.

Having been adopted in 1969 in a closed adoption, she was intrigued and decided to apply to be a donor.

A couple soon selected her, and after months of hormone injections, she flew to California for the egg retrieval.

The grateful couple sent her a handwritten note, thanking her 'from the bottom of our hearts for helping us try to have a baby.'

'You sound to us like a wonderful, wonderful person,' they wrote. 'We hope this whole experience hasn't been too tough on you.... Take good care of yourself and know that your gift to us means the world to us. Sincerely, hopeful parents.'

Kristin said that in the years since, she 'occasionally marveled at the idea that I might have a biological child out there,' but she rarely gave it much thought at all.

Fast-forward to June of 2012. Kristin was at the Special Olympics, where she ran into a young man named Nick Schoonveld whom she'd known decades before when he was a child.

Kristin was adopted as a child. When she donated her eggs all those years ago, the couple wrote her this grateful note and she moved on with her life

She worked with people with special needs, and in college met a little boy named with Down syndrome named Nick, whom she bonded with. However, they eventually lost touch

Years later, they reconnected - but Nick's mom soon got cancer and passed away. Over time, Kristin fell in love with Nick's dad, Brian, and they married

Kristin had still been in college when she took a semester off to work in a second grade special education classroom where Nick, who has Down syndrome, was a nine-year-old student.

They had been 'drawn to each other from the start,' and Kristin had even nannied for him for the summer.

But 'life eventually took us in different directions and we lost touch with each other,' Kristin said.

When they saw each other at the Special Olympics, the pair reconnected  and grew closer after Nick's mother, Grace, was diagnosed with cancer.

Kristin would visit often, and continued to visit after Grace died at age 60 in January 2015.

She grew close with Nick's father, Brian, as well, and the couple eventually fell in love. They married in January 2018, and Kristin legally adopted Nick months later.

The adoption process  which was completed in the same courthouse where Kristin had been adopted as a child  spurred her interest in learning more about her biological family.

That's how she ended up on 23andMe in late 2019, looking for her biological father. (She'd already found her biological mother on MyHeritage.)

Kristin adopted Nick and got thinking about her own adoption. She decided to try to track down her biological parents through DNA tests

Kristin is pictured with her adopted son Nick. She, Nick, and Brian were a family of three when Kristin learned she had a biological son

While she was looking for her dad, Kristin instead found her son: A young man who grew up in Santa Cruz, California and was no looking into his own background.

At first, Kristin told People, 'I was thinking it must be some sort of mistake.'

'I was staring at the word "son" at the top of my results list,' she said. 'And I couldnt even register what was going on.'

But Parker 'looked like me,' she said, and his profile said he was conceived via IVF using an egg donor  and Kristin remembered her egg donation all those years ago.

Parker had gone on the site not just to find his biological mother, but to discover whether he had any long-lost siblings.

'There was always sort of that question up in the air of like, "Could there be someone else?"' he said. 'Both my parents said no. But as hopeful as [my girlfriend] Kaylee and I were, as hopeful as I was, there might have been someone.'

Kristin and Parker began messaging, and in November of 2019, Kristin and Nick went to Indiana to meet Parker and his parents.

She and Parker (center) met and have kept in touch. Upon meeting Nick, Parker said he always wanted a brother

She described experiencing 'instant love,' gushing: 'It's as if I've known him his whole life.'

'It was like hanging out with people that I already knew,' Parker said. 'It was instantly just easy to love each other.'

Kristin recalls the moment Parker met Nick and said he'd 'always wanted a brother.'

They also discovered a coincidence: The mother who raised Parker is also named Kristin, and both she and Parker's biological mother were named by the same book character, Kristin Lavransdatter, from the book of the same name by Sigrid Undset.

Kristin and Parker have continued to keep in touch, and he has since followed in her footsteps by applying to volunteer with the Special Olympics.

'We've established a relationship that's going to last the rest of our lives,' Kristin said.
In a Facebook post over the weekend, the Democratic Party slammed the concept that parents should have a role in what their children are taught in public schools, arguing that public education provides pupils the knowledge that society requires.

Michigan Democrats criticize parents

A Saturday post on the Michigan Democrats' official Facebook page chastised parents who want to have a say in what their children are taught in public schools. After a barrage of criticism, the post was taken down on Monday morning.

James Craig, a Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Detroit police chief, released a statement calling parents "true stakeholders" in their children's education and denouncing the Michigan Democrats' post as "disgraceful," implying that their goal is indoctrination rather than education.

The death knell for former Democratic Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's 2021 gubernatorial race against Republican Glenn Youngkin, who was inaugurated Saturday, was similar messaging on public education. In a debate, McAuliffe remarked that parents should not be instructing public schools what to teach their children, a soundbite that became synonymous with his campaign, as per Fox News.

Read Also: Receiving Stimulus Checks Without Doing Anything? It's Possible with These Surprise Payments!

Democrats apologize to parents

The Michigan Democratic Party has taken down a Facebook post from the weekend that questioned parents' role in selecting what is taught in public schools, conservative and school-choice advocacy organizations slammed the decision.

The Democratic Party's message, which looked to be a screenshot, stated that the goal of public education is to educate pupils what society requires. Parents who desire more control over their children's education might send them to a hand-selected private school at their own expense.

According to the article, "the client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community." The party stated it had removed the post from its Facebook page in a Monday social media statement. The Facebook post had been shared 2,500 times before it was taken down.

Republicans criticized the message over the weekend, pointing out that deciding and guiding a child's education and instruction is a natural fundamental right of parents and legal guardians, according to Michigan's amended school code.

Months of tense Michigan school board meetings about pandemic school cancellations, student mask laws, and the potential of teaching critical racial theory led to the Saturday Facebook post. The tweet was apparently timed to coincide with a campaign for a tax-incentivized scholarship scheme for private schools. The Detroit News reported.

According to Beth DeShone, executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Democratic lawmakers should publicly chastise and denounce the Facebook post.

Lower-income families are unable to send their children to private schools due to financial constraints. Tori Sachs, the Executive Director of the Michigan Freedom Fund, was similarly offended by the Facebook post. Sachs also mentioned a Michigan law stated in Section 380.10., as per The Center Square.

Related Article: Michigan High School Shooting: Suspect and His Parents Detained in Same Facility; Teacher Suspended for Insensitive Comments to Students

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James Middleton was joined by his wife Alizee Thevenet as he took his beloved dogs for a walk in the British countryside today.

The 34-year-old, who swapped the buzz of London for the countryside when he started a new life with his glamorous bride, looked trendy as they coordinated in winter coats and a cap to brave the cold chills.

He shared the intimate day out in an Instagram post with a candid caption, admitting that he has always found January a 'difficult' month but his canines have helped him to stop thinking about the next moment and to live in the present.

Having racked up almost 10,000 likes, many of James's followers commented that they had needed the reminder.

James Middleton and wife Alizee Thevenet (pictured) shared a glimpse of their walk in the British countryside on Instagram

Animal lover James looked in good spirits as he posed for a photograph with four of his nine dogs.

In another sweet snap, Alizee is seen looking adoringly at James with her hair tied back and subtle pink lipstick to accentuate her natural features.

James wrote candidly in the caption of the post, saying: 'My thoughts on January

'Ive always found January a very difficult month, especially when I was suffering with clinical depression. When everyone is setting new goals, laying down new ground rules and striving to become a better version of themselves, while some of us are just about surviving

'I have, however, set myself a new mantra which was inspired by my dogs Dont spend every moment thinking of the one to come, or ones in the past.

James penned a candid caption explaining that his beloved canines have helped him to stop thinking about the next moment or the past. Pictured: James, with four of his nine dogs

'The past is imperfect, the future will be too, but now  we can do something about that. So right now Im going to take the dogs for a long walk hand in hand with my Wife.'

Having got engaged in September 2019, James and Alizee tied the knot last autumn in Bormes-les-Mimosas in Provence after having to delay their ceremony twice due to Covid.

They were later joined by 50 guests including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children at the Chateau Leoube, an exclusive vineyard in the village.

James and Alizee appeared more in love than ever when they made their first public appearance after getting married at the switch on of Bulgari's Serpenti Christmas lights at its flagship boutique in November.

Alizee (pictured) looked in good spirits, as she coordinated with James in a winter jacket and a cap for the walk

The couple bought a 1.45million mansion for their first home together after deciding to leave London for life in the country.

They had previously been living together in the capital for two years.

Photographs of their four-bedroom Grade II listed period farmhouse in Bucklebury show low ceilings, dark rustic beams and leaded windows.

Entrepreneur James is the youngest child of Carole and Michael Middleton who also have two daughters, Pippa Matthews, 38, and the Duchess of Cambridge, 40.

He spent lockdown at his parents' Berkshire home, often giving a glimpse into their 4.7million Georgian manor house on social media.
Prince Albert of Monaco appeared in good spirits as he attended a presentation in the principality for the 2022 Winter Olympics today.

The 63-year-old royal donned a dapper black suit with a silver and blue striped tie while attending the event at the Monaco Yacht Club, which brought together athletes, trainers and organisers preparing to leave for China within two weeks.

His appearance comes after the Palais Princier announced his wife Princess Charlene is still some 'months away' from a full recovery.

In November, Charlene was admitted to a treatment facility in an undisclosed location within days of her return to Monaco following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa.

Her husband spoke out to say she is suffering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical', while friends recently told Page Six that the mother-of-two 'almost died' while she was in her hometown.

Prince Albert of Monaco, 63, (pictured) attended a presentation in the principality for the 2022 Winter Olympics today

A palace statement revealed Albert and the couple's children (pictured) had plans to visit the princess during Christmas

Attending today's occasion, Albert revealed Monaco skier Arnaud Alessandria will be the flagbearer for the principality.

Wearing his glasses when presenting a speech, the royal then donned a white face covering during part of the event.

Meanwhile, a palace statement released on December 23 revealed Albert and the couple's children were planning to visit Charlene during the Christmas holidays, as well as asking for the family's privacy to be respected.

It added that the princess 'is recuperating in a satisfactory and reassuring manner, although it may take a few more months before her health has reached a full recovery.'

Ahead of December 25th, the mother-of-two shared a sketched Christmas portrait of her family and 'wished everyone a beautiful and safe festive season'.

Today, Prince Albert (pictured) looked polished in a black suit with a silver and blue striped tie while attending the event at the Monaco Yacht Club

The 63-year-old royal was joined by athletes, trainers and organisers preparing to leave for China within two weeks

Prince Albert (pictured left) appeared in good spirits during the presentation of the Monegasque delegation for the Winter Olympics at the Monaco yacht club

The former Olympian took to Instagram to share her festive greeting with her followers, posting a colourful piece of artwork depicting herself in a golden gown when standing next to Prince Albert.

Her husband appeared equally charming in the drawing, sporting a navy suit with a light blue tie, while seven-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella donned all their finery for the image.

With the family posing next to an elaborately-decorated Christmas tree in the artwork, Charlene captioned the design: 'Wishing everyone a beautiful and safe festive season, all my love.'

The royal missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques last month, but shared photos of the celebration on Instagram, writing: 'Happy birthday my babies.

Princess Charlene shared a sketched Christmas portrait (pictured) of her family and 'wished everyone a beautiful and safe festive season' as she remains in a treatment facility

'Thank you God for blessing me with such wonderful children. I'm truly blessed. Love mom.'

Speaking to Page Six, a source described as the royal's friend said: 'It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue.

'We don't know why the palace is downplaying that she almost died in South Africa.'

The source explained the royal had a severe ear, nose and throat infection, which resulted in 'severe sinus and swallowing issues stemming from an earlier surgery'.

The royal missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques last month, but shared photos of the celebration on Instagram, writing: 'Happy birthday my babies'

The friend added: 'She has not been able to eat solid food in over six months because of all the surgeries she has since gone through. She has only been able to take in liquids through a straw, so she lost nearly half her body weight.'

Elsewhere friends of Princess Charlene gave Tatler a rare insight into what the royal is really like, insisting that the former swimmer is a force to be reckoned with.

One source rubbished any public perception that Charlene is 'naive' and trapped in an unhappy marriage with Albert, saying: 'I don't for one second think she did not know what she was doing when she married him.'

But one warned the mother of Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, seven, is not the type to be blindly controlled by the Monaco royal household.

'Charlene is no Princess Di.' one said. 'She may come across as being extremely naive, but nothing could be further from the truth. She is very good at keeping her smarts under wraps.'

Meanwhile Prince Albert has continued to make public appearances with their twins, Jacques and Gabriella. The trio attended a tree planting event in Monaco and the Monaco National Day celebrations, where the children held up heartrending signs saying, 'Miss you Mommy' and 'Love you Mommy'.

Missing their mother: Meanwhile Prince Albert has continued to make public appearances with their twins, Jacques and Gabriella, who held up these signs to Charlene during the Monaco National Day celebrations on November 19

In interviews, Albert explained he had stepped up to play a bigger role in his children's lives as the family copes with Charlene's ongoing health issues.

Timeline: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's 10 months' apart January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was 'unwell' November 13 - Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene Following his return from the trip, Prince Albert holds an intervention with Charlene's brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene 'confirmed' she would seek 'real medically framed treatment' outside of Monaco November 16 - Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19 - Prince Albert attends a Monaco Red Cross event without Princess Charlene November 17 - Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location November 19 - Prince Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility 'elsewhere in Europe' after a family intervention Advertisement

Jacques and Gabriella are homeschooled at the palace after being taken out of the classroom due to Covid.

'For me, it's pretty simple  my priority is my family,' he said in a recent interview. 'Of course, without neglecting state affairs... I hope everyone understands that. When I can be with my kids, I do it without hesitation.

'This is an extremely important time in their life  the way they grow up helps them see the world.

'And if one of the parents is away for medical reasons, the other parent has to be there. I have heard too many friends and acquaintances telling me that they wish they had been there for their children, at a certain age, taken up by their work or their professional life. I don't want to have these regrets.'

Charlene returned to her husband and twins Jacques and Gabriella in Monaco in November following a 10-month absence, while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip to her native South Africa earlier this year.

In the days after her arrival, Charlene's sister-in-law Chantell Wittstock, told MailOnline the princess may not be returning to the palace and did not plan to immediately return to public engagements, although she later retracted the remark.

Charlene's time away followed fresh allegations last December that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, were already in a relationship.

Photographs of their reunion were greeted with a hefty dose of scepticism by the French media.

Albert was waiting for her at the Monte Carlo helipad, along with their twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. The family were joined by a hand-picked photographer inside the Palace walls for the 'reunion' photos.

Albert said the family reunion in Monaco after she spent six months in her native South Africa initially went 'pretty well' in the first few hours, but it then became 'pretty evident' that Charlene was 'unwell.'

He said the former Olympian 'realised she needed help', adding: 'She was overwhelmed and couldn't face official duties, life in general or even family life.'

Albert explained: 'I'm probably going to say this several times, but this has nothing to do with our relationship. I want to make that very clear. These are not problems within our relationship; not with the relationship between a husband and wife. It's of a different nature.'

He went on to tell the magazine her current state was a result of 'several factors which are private'.

Albert continued: 'She hadn't slept well in a number of days and she wasn't eating at all well. She has lost a lot of weight, which made her vulnerable to other potential ailments. A cold or the flu or God help us, COVID.'

He said it is 'not cancer-related or personal relationship issue.'

He later confirmed Charlene has been admitted to a treatment facility for undisclosed medical issues, as she works through a period of ill health. The location of the facility was not confirmed, though several sources claim it is in Switzerland.

The prince also said rumours around the state of his marriage 'don't bother him too much'.

Doubts about the central relationship of Monaco's royal family are not new.

Several residents living in the narrow medieval alleys of Monaco Ville confirmed to MailOnline that before she left for South Africa Charlene was spending most of her time outside the Palace, living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the 12th Century Palace itself.

'We often saw her outside the Palace and she would usually be alone or with a bodyguard,' said one source, 'but she was never with Albert - it was obvious she chose to spend most of her time in the apartment rather than the palace.'

Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014.

Born in Rhodesia- a previously unrecongised state in Southern Africa colonised by the British, she relocated to South Africa aged 11.

She had a successful swimming career and went on to win three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All Africa Games in Johannesburg, as well as representing South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and winning a silver medal in the 4  100 m medley relay in the latter competition.

However the pair's marriage has made numerous headlines over the years, with a third paternity suit emerging last year.

Soon afterwards Charlene infamously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker last December.

This was seen as the first public sign of a worsening crisis that could end in a multi-million pound divorce.

Charlene's exile in South Africa began a month after it emerged last December that Albert was facing yet another paternity suit.

Prince Albert revealed in November that his wife had been admitted to a European treatment facility within days of her return to Monaco following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa. The royal looked frail in this Instagram post shared from South Africa in October

A Brazilian woman who cannot be named for legal reasons said her 15-year-old daughter was the result of an affair with Albert in 2004.

Albert and Charlene were not yet engaged at this time, but they had known each over for four years after meeting at a swimming gala in Monaco in 2000.

Lawyers for the claimant were scheduled to demand a DNA test from Albert at a court in Milan earlier this year, while his own counsel branded the action 'a hoax'.

Neither party is now commenting, suggesting some kind of generous settlement may have been reached, as happened with Albert's earlier love children.

They are Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 17, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess.

Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for vast financial settlements.
The rules for pairing wine and food are well-known. Never serve red wine and fish, always think about acidity, and drink a wine at least as sweet as the food being served.

But what happens, if like the thousands of Britons who have given up booze for January, you can't have a drink when sitting down for a slap-up meal?

For some it's a concern that foes beyond Dry January, with Britons giving up alcohol in record numbers, for the benefit of their livers, waistlines and wallets. One in four adults under the age of 25 are now teetotal, while sales of alcohol-free tipples reached 190million last year.

Yet, being booze free shouldn't stop you enjoying fine dining - with the likes of tea, kombucha and alcohol-free kombuchas pairing with foods just as well as chardonnay or rioja.

'Don't think that food and drink pairing is the sole preserve of wines and whiskies, and if you want to elevate your dining experience by pairing a non alcoholic drink with your food, then do it,' Simon Pearson, owner of alcohol-free restaurant The Great Chase in Islington, north London which has a four-page long rare tea menu told FEMAIL.

Here, Simon and other experts tell FEMAIL the ways to pair your dry dinner parties, for January and beyond...

Simon Pearson, owner of alcohol-free restaurant The Great Chase in Islington, north London which has a four-page long rare tea menu told FEMAIL steak goes perfectly with black tea (stock image)

Beef with black tea

Simon told FEMAIL: 'There are loads of little tips, tricks and pointers for pairing flavours in drink and food, and people tend to get very excited about them.

'Generally, almost all pairings of flavour fall into one of two categories; congruent pairing and complementary pairing.

'Simply put, Congruent pairing is pairing flavours that are alike. Bitter with bitter, fruit with fruit, smokey with smokey etc. It sounds pretty easy to do (and it kind of is to be honest), but there's always a risk that things then become too bitter/fruity/smokey.

'Complementary pairing is a bit more of an art; instead of matching like with like, the flavours are balanced or enhanced by contrasting elements.

'There are loads of flavour wheels and pairing profiles out there, but think of things like 'bitter-sweet'.

White teas on their own Simon says: 'White teas generally have a super luxurious, almost unctuous mouthfeel (especially if it's a Silvertip - the first buds of the season to grow which hold the most of everything before the leaf prepares to burst into life). 'These generally have profoundly delicate flavours, if often beautiful and wide ranging flavours. 'I usually recommend these to be enjoyed on their own. Advertisement

'Tea is great. It has thousands of cultivars, is grown all across the globe, and has a staggering breadth and depth of both terroir and flavour.

'You can share a cup of tea with almost anyone the world over (hygiene considerations notwithstanding). Possibly the only thing closer to a universal language than a cup of tea is mathematics, and you don't need a calculator to do a cup of tea.

'Black teas are generally heavier on the tannins, are bold on the nose and palate, but often have a lighter mouthfeel. It can be earthy, fruity, and smoky. It can have malty notes and notes of dark chocolate and slightly burned caramel. Generally when I'm pairing an aged piece of red meat, it will be with a black tea.

'Think roast beef on a Sunday or a ribeye steak.

Green tea with BBQ

Simon added: 'Green teas are generally brighter; think green, grassy notes (perfect with Asian cuisine).

'Green teas can have a much more luxuriant mouthfeel than a black tea, and something like Sencha (which is a little more vegetal than grassy) is to me reminiscent of nori seaweed; bright flavors and a buttery mouthfeel that goes beautifully with seafood.

'Green Gunpowder teas (hand rolled pellets of tea where small is generally good and larger are generally more accessible) have a lovely smokey flavor, which pairs well with BBQ'd meat!

Oolong with duck

If you're heading out for crispy duck, have a look for Oolong teas, Simon says.

'Oolong teas vary wildly in flavour.

'They can be bright, fresh and complex, or woody, deep and mellow. Some can be fruity and sweet with an almost honeyed nose.

'A darker Oolong tea goes very well with duck, but unlike most teas (which will usually enjoy around two) an Oolong will enjoy around seven infusions using the same leaves, and each infusion will be deeper, richer and more lovely than the one before'.

Alistair Frost, the founder of Pentire, who make non-alcoholic spirits, recommends pairings botanicals with seafood (stock image)

Non-alcoholic pilsner with fish

Chef Owen Morgan, Estrella Galicia Brand Ambassador added to FEMAIL: 'Pair a non-alcoholic pilsner such as Estrella Galicia 0.0% with fresh, citrus flavours because the sharpness of these ingredients complement the clean finish of the beer perfectly.

Pair flavours that work well together, match ingredients that can be an herb or a spice Camille Vidal @mindfullycami founder of @lamaisonwellness and creator of Mindful Cocktails) If the dish is delicate you want a light elegant drink to pair it with but also if the flavours are a little cheesy or spicy you also want to pair that with light like a citrusy refreshing cocktail. But if the drink is bold in flavour you want power a dish that can holds up against it but also you dont want the experience to be too overpowering so if its a bold dish pair it with a lighter drink, if its a bold drink pair it with a light ish drink. In food & drinks it's all about balance. Be creative and don't be afraid to surprise your guests yes an alcohol free sparkling wine or beer if a great drinks but you can make simple Alcohol free cocktails to pair with your meal One other trick is food that come from the same part of the world tend to go well together think alcohol free spritz with your aperitif Italian finger food or alcohol free margarita for your tacos night. Advertisement

He added pilsners also goes well with a seabass ceviche because 'the fresh, citrus flavours of the dish complement the clean finish of the beer perfectly'.

Chef Morgan added that go well with pilsners too as 'the clean, refreshing taste of the larger cuts well through the rich, salty creaminess of the croquettes'.

'I'd also recommend cod cheek tempura. I serve mine with a chorizo sauce and spring onions.

'Cod cheeks in a translucent batter are meaty and pair with light beers so well.

'The spice and difference of a chorizo sauce contrasts as a great accompaniment too. For something more accessible, this would work well for the same reasons with fish n chips!'.

Non-alcoholic botanicals with seafood

Alistair Frost, the founder of Pentire, who make non-alcoholic spirits, recommends pairings botanicals with seafood.

'Our spirits are made by distilling botanicals such as rock samphire and sea rosemary that thrive on our local headlands by the coast in North Cornwall, so naturally the flavours lend themselves really well to a range of dishes, but we love pairing them with fresh seafood,' he explained.

Laura Willoughby MBE, founder of mindful drinking movement, Club Soda, added that the drinks can be treated the same as their alcoholic-counterparts.

'Binary Botanical describes itself as a wine lovers beer and rightly so.

'Brewed with organic hop leaves, it tastes tangy rather than bitter.

'The aroma features lightly roasted malts, cider apple as well as a touch of pineapple, peach and honey.

'Being light bodied, aromatic and flavourful, you should treat Binary Botanical like a white wine and pair it with seafood, chicken dishes and salads.

Kombucha with white meat, cream and cheese

Laura, who as part of Club Soda has also launched the UKs first Alcohol-Free Off-Licence added that kombucha's natural acidity helps to pair it with white meat.

'Kombucha, a fermented tea drink, is perfect with food,' she explained.

'Its natural acidity gives it bite, cuts through strong flavours and creates natural speed humps so you sip your drink more slowly.

'Kombucha is also not too sweet, and when made with specific teas, takes on the characteristics of the leaf. Real Kombuchas Royal Flush (made from first flush darjeeling) is fresh and floral with hints of rhubarb and berries.

'It is great for pairing with white meats, white fish and umami-rich cream sauces. But I love it most with cheesy dishes, or some charcuterie and strong cheddar cheese and biscuits.

Laura Willoughby MBE, founder of mindful drinking movement, Club Soda, added that the drinks can be treated the same as their alcoholic-counterparts. She recommends pairing kombucha with chicken (pictured, stock image)

Alcohol-free stout with steak and chocolate

Laura added: 'I had never considered a strong dark beer as a pairing for food. Then I tasted stout (in its alcohol-free form) for the first time and realised that it has its role to play when eating chocolate desserts.

'Big Drops Galactic Milk Stout is great with steak and vegetable pie, oysters, seafood, fish and game meats - but most of all it enhances a chocolate fondant to beyond this galaxy!

'The number of restaurants offering alcohol-free drinks pairings on their menu has increased dramatically over the last two years. I have attended cheese events with a full flight of kombuchas, shrubs and beers, and fine dining that has offered a mix of cocktails, beer and sparkling teas to accompany each course. Things have really changed.

'Most alcohol-free drinks work the same as their full strength counterparts, for example, the OddBird organic low intervention red wine, a supple blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir, which goes with spaghetti and meatballs, roasted vegetables, chicken or turkey sausages, mushroom risotto or an awesome mac and cheese.
Scientists say that some people who catch Covid develop parosmia  a symptom where people experience strange and often unpleasant smell distortions.

Instead of smelling a lemon sufferers smell rotting cabbage, or chocolate may smell like petrol.

As many as 250,000 adults in the UK have suffered from the condition as a result of Covid infection.

And now smell experts say it could be turning children against their food, with many finding it difficult to eat anything at all.

Professor Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School, joined up with charity Fifth Sense to release guidance and help parents and healthcare professionals better recognise the disorder.

Professor Philpott said: 'Parosmia is thought to be a product of having less smell receptors working which leads to only being able to pick up some of the components of a smell mixture.

'We know that an estimated 250,000 adults in the UK have suffered parosmia as a result of a Covid infection.

You cant walk past a bakery without gagging, the smell of onions makes you physically sick and even brushing your teeth is unbearable. It sounds unthinkable, yet thats the reality for tens of thousands of people after getting Covid  myself included

WHAT IS PAROSMIA? Parosmia causes things you encounter every day to seem like they have a strong, disagreeable odor. In the most severe cases, parosmia can cause you to feel physically ill when your brain detects strong, unpleasant scents. Parosmia usually occurs after your scent-detecting neurons - also called your olfactory senses - have been damaged due to a virus or other health condition. These neurons line your nose and tell your brain how to interpret the chemical information that makes up a smell. A May 2021 study found that participants reported that their parosmia lasted anywhere between nine days and six months, however, the average duration of parosmia was 3.4 months. Researchers are still trying to determine how common parosmia after Covid actually is. A June 2021 survey found that out of the 1,299 survey respondents, 140 of them (10.8 percent) reported having parosmia after Covid. The five most common types of foods that triggered parosmia are chicken and meat, onions, eggs, garlic, and rice. Source: Healthline Advertisement

'But in the last few months, particularly since Covid started sweeping through classrooms last September, we've become more and more aware that it's affecting children too.

'In many cases the condition is putting children off their food, and many may be finding it difficult to eat at all.

'It's something that until now hasn't really been recognised by medical professionals, who just think the kids are being difficult eaters without realising the underlying problem.' Professor Philpott said he is seeing teenage patients with parosmia for the first time in his career, while parosmia in younger children is becoming 'increasingly common'.

'This was nearly unheard of in children pre-Covid,' he added.

The guidance suggests that parents keep a diary to make a note of foods that are safe and those that are triggers if they believe their child is suffering from the condition.

Encouraging children to try different foods with milder flavours - such as pasta, bananas or mild cheese - could also help.

Finally, 'smell training' could work as a simple treatment for smell problems. This involves sniffing at least four different odours - for example eucalyptus, lemon, rose, cinnamon, chocolate, coffee or lavender - twice a day every day for several months.

Duncan Boak, who founded the smell and taste charity Fifth Sense, said: 'We're hearing anecdotal evidence that children are really struggling with their food after Covid.

'If children are suffering smell distortions - and food smells and tastes disgusting - it's going to be really hard for them to eat the foods they once loved.

'We've heard from some parents whose children are suffering nutritional problems and have lost weight, but doctors have put this down to just fussy eating.

'We're really keen to share more information on this issue with the healthcare profession so they're aware that there is a wider problem here.'
Cryptocurrency adverts across Britain will have to meet the same standards as other financial products in a bid to help protect people from potentially misleading claims, the Treasury has confirmed today.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in a statement that while cryptoassets could offer people an alternative means of investing and making payments, 'it's important that customers are not being sold products with misleading claims'.

Promotions for things like bitcoin will be brought into line with other financial advertising, ensuring they are 'fair and clear' to help people make informed decisions, the Government added.

New standards: Cryptocurrency adverts across Britain will have to meet the same standards as other financial products

To date, responsibility for cryptoasset promotions has rested with the Advertising Standards Authority.

Under the plans, the promotion of cryptoassets will come under Financial Conduct Authority rules and be in line with how adverts for financial products like stocks and shares platforms or insurance products are treated.

Only a business regulated by the FCA or Bank of England would be allowed to issue their own promotions for cryptoassets, forcing unregulated firms to pay a regulated company to approve their advertisements.

The Government said that non-fungible tokens and distributed ledger technology, or blockchain, that underpins cryptocurreinces, would not be included in the new rules on promotions.

Secondary legislation to implement the changes will be brought forward once parliamentary time allows.

Around 2.3million people in the UK are thought to own cryptoassets, but research suggests some users may not fully understand what they are buying, posing a risk that products could be mis-sold. People who have cryptoassets in Britain are believed to hold around 300 worth on average.

Nearly a third of cryptoasset holders who saw an advert were encouraged to buy as a result, according to previous research.

Mr Sunak said today: 'Cryptoassets can provide exciting new opportunities, offering people new ways to transact and invest  but its important that consumers are not being sold products with misleading claims.

'We are ensuring consumers are protected, while also supporting innovation of the cryptoasset market.'

Crypto: Rishi Sunak said 'it's important that customers are not being sold products with misleading claims'

In 2018 the Government launched the the Cryptoassets Taskforce to steer the UKs regulatory response to the burgeoning market.

The taskforce previously found that misleading advertising and a lack of suitable information was a key consumer protection issue in crypto markets  and cryptoasset advertising can often overstate benefits and rarely warn of volatility risks.

Industry body CryptoUK said it welcomed any clarity and guidance on promotions and will seek dialogue on how the measures are implemented.

Santander UK recently warned that around 1million of cryptocurrency scams were being reported to it by customers each month.

The bank said it had seen a spike in the value of such cases, which can involve a fraudster taking over a victims computer and freezing them out of their accounts.

Customers may see adverts online for cryptocurrency investment 'opportunities', or be introduced to them by other social media users, and adverts can appear to be endorsed by celebrities.

Laura Suter, head of personal finance at AJ Bell, said: 'The move means that the FCA will have oversight of crypto adverts, in a bid to limit the number of misleading adverts touting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

'You only have to glance through a few cryptocurrency adverts to see that many overstate the potential returns on offer and fail to clearly lay out how much risk individuals will be taking.

'The Advertising Standards Agency has already been banning individual crypto adverts that it deems misleading or understating the risk involved in the market, but this new move by the Government will lead to a wholesale tightening of the rules governing adverts.'

Ms Suter added: 'While the move will help some people, it wont stop the outright scams that have exploded off the back of bitcoin and other cryptos soaring in price.

'What would have a far bigger impact is cracking down on social media accounts.'

Simon Jones of financial comparison website InvestingReviews.co.uk said: 'The bearish performance of bitcoin in recent months underlines the volatility of cryptocurrencies.'

Ed Cooper, head of crypto at financial app Revolut, said: 'Clear guidance in how companies describe their crypto offering will benefit consumers and help improve trust in the sector.'

Other global regulators have already moved to tighten curbs on such advertising.

Mass cryptoasset campaigns in Spain will require authorisation from the CNMV stock market supervisor, the country's government said on Monday. The regulator in Italy has also recently warned about the risk cryptoassets potentially pose, particularly to people with sparse financial knowledge.

On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a collective global effort was needed to deal with the potential problems posed by cryptocurrenices.

'The kind of technology it is associated with, the decision taken by a single country will be insufficient to deal with its challenges. We have to have a similar mindset,' Mr Modi said at the World Economic Forum's virtual Davos Agenda conference.

India has been mulling virtual currency-related regulations which were widely expected to be introduced in the winter session of the parliament in December before being shelved.
More than 21,000 home traders with a combined total of more than $5million in assets have opted to copy the portfolio of Heloise Greeff since 2019.

The Oxford-based scientist is just one of the investors who have embraced a lucrative opportunity on offer from the Covid-19 DIY investing boom.

Stocks and shares platform eToro's CopyTrader feature enables the site's 20million-plus users to follow and copy the portfolios of 'Popular Investors', whom it has invited to the join the programme after a sustained run of good performance.

Popular Investors like Greeff, many of whom continue to hold down full-time jobs, are rewarded for their popularity, with income based on the number of copiers they attract and the total assets their copiers' represent.

Oxford-based academic Heloise Greeff has more than 21,000 home traders with a combined total of more than $5million in assets copying her portfolio

For example, at an income rate of 2.5 per cent, a Popular Investor with 1,000 copiers representing total assets of $10million can pull in $250,000 (188,861) annually if their copier assets increase by more than 1 per cent each month.

Greeff did not reveal what she takes home as a Popular Investor. However, assuming her total copier assets remain stable at $5million over 12 months, she is likely to be raking in at least $75,000 (55,362) annually - or $6,250 (4,613) per month - at the 1.5 per cent pay band.

Those on the programme must embrace eToro's 'social trading' philosophy by regularly keeping followers up to date with their insights on companies and market movements.

Those considering investing should also remember that it can be a risky way to do so and they may be copying someone whose risk appetite is considerably higher than theirs and who might also trade high-risk crypto and CFDs, as well as directly buying shares.

If you are going to follow an investor, then you might be tempted to pick one with the evidence of advanced analytical skills that Greeff has.

With a background in mechatronic engineering  a field related to robotics  a Master's degree in biomedical engineering and a PhD in machine learning, South Africa-born Greeff is a full-time research fellow at the University of Oxford.

Google Scholar shows a list of academic papers co-authored by Greeff, the most cited of which is called 'Distributed inference condition monitoring system for rural infrastructure in the developing world'.

'I was coming back as a mature student and I knew I wouldn't have a pension though an employer scheme like all my friends, so I wanted to be active in terms of making sure that I was keeping up,' says Greeff, explaining how she became involved in DIY investing.

'I joined eToro in 2016 and I found the platform very welcoming. I loved the social feed part of it, especially because I didn't have a finance community at the time to speak to.'

Popular Investors are paid by eToro based on the combined assets of their copiers

After 'doing quite well' with a portfolio comprised mainly of tech and health stocks, informed by her professional credentials, she was in 2019 invited to join the Popular Investor programme and embarked on the new venture in the months before the pandemic hit.

'You just make time for something that's important to you, I suppose,' she says, asked how she fits the work around her day job.

'There's two elements to the Popular Investor role. One is managing my investment portfolio, which is the most important, and then the second part is interacting with my copiers through various different channels.

'I'm quite fortunate that my job, which involves knowing about the latest trends in AI, complements my investing a lot.

'It gives me the advantage of being able to filter through the fluff of marketing, which there's a lot of in AI these days.

'Every other spare minute is spent on staying up to date with the latest market reading, analysing weekends and evenings - everything like that.'

Greeff keeps her copiers regularly updated with analysis of market conditions

Big tech and healthcare stocks dominate Greeff's portfolio, with bluechip names like Amazon, Microsoft, META (Facebook) mixed with lesser-known AI companies, and the odd cryptocurrency.

She says: 'Before the pandemic, my portfolio was almost exclusively tech and healthcare. In the last 20 months, it has diversified quite a bit more.

'The way I use crypto in my portfolio is as a hedge against volatility, it is quite uncorrelated and so the risk-adjusted return can be quite good.

'We have to start talking about this new asset class, because there is a lot of negative experience and media around it because it remains fairly unregulated in a lot of markets.

'I only use the stable coins, my largest crypto holdings are ethereum and bitcoin. I rarely go over 5 per cent exposure to crypto in the portfolio to [minimise] high volatility, which some of the alt coins can still be prone to.'

Greeff's copiers provide feedback on the platform's social function

Should you back a Popular Investor? Beware the risks Holly Mackay, chief executive of Boring Money, says: 'There are several risks when it comes to investing. 'One is that markets have a wobble and head south. The other is that we don't have enough of a spread, so if something goes wrong, it hurts in a very condensed way. 'Following one individual is really hitching your wagon to one person and everyone can make mistakes. So I think it's a pretty risky way to invest. 'It will suit more confident investors who will probably have a bigger pool of money spread around different accounts. 'However I'd always suggest less confident investors took a more "boring" route and use what we call a "multi-asset fund" instead  a sort of investment ready meal.'

It had been a tough recent trading period for Greeff when she sat down to chat with This is Money late last year.

A brief glance at her portfolio showed it was flashing a sea of recent negative red, having been rocked by recent market volatility.

Days before, she'd posted a video to her followers and copiers, reflecting on the damage wrought by market skittishness over the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

On the bright side of recent losses, however, she assured that recent volatility had 'opened several opportunities in previously oversold sectors' and Greeff had 'trimmed some losses to ensure that we have the cash to take advantage of these'.

She added: 'For those who asked, the portfolio is currently down, which makes it an excellent time to add funds since you buy many positions at a discount to my original positions.'

Despite recent volatility, Greeff has a relatively strong track record to call upon.

Copiers of her portfolio would have seen gains of 45.3 per cent in 2020 and 20.3 per cent in 2019, for example. Greeff's portfolio was up 17.7 per cent for 2021.

Greeff's portfolio has performed well in each of the last three years

She says: 'A few years ago, I would see copiers going though that emotional turmoil that comes for anybody the first time they see their portfolio going down, especially if it's a couple percent in a single day.

'But, through repetitive posting and explaining market cycles, and trying to explain to people that this is a normal part of the cycle, I found that over the last year or so people have become a lot more understanding of how the whole thing works.'

While volatility is a norm all investors must accept to some extent, Greeff and other Popular Investors also face pressure from eToro to ensure their portfolios do not take on too much risk.

Popular Investors' portfolios are issued with a risk score ranked 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest and the level at which they could be cut from the programme. Greeff's portfolio is ranked as a 4.

'There is a constant focus [from eToro] on the portfolio's risk score and managing drawdown,' she says.

'My portfolio has a max drawdown of 16 per cent in its entire lifetime, but it's in the single figures for this year.

'It's really just making sure that there's some kind of accountability within the Popular Investor community.'

Depending on the investor on eToro, you may end up copying the portfolio of someone who does high risk CFD derivative trading or holds volatile crypto assets.

EToro confirmed to This is Money that Popular Investors are allowed to hold CFD/derivatives, but said that like all clients they are required to pass an appropriateness and suitability test.

Greeff takes the 'social' responsibility of the Popular Investor programme seriously and is constantly responding to queries from her copiers, or updating her YouTube or Instagram account.

Her role has been described as that of a 'finfluencer' by some.

'I don't think of myself as a social media influencer,' she says.

'But the most important aspect of being a Popular Investor is the community and helping with the financial education of other people on the platform.

'By having a place to tell my story I also hopefully inspire other people to get into investing, especially women or people from developing countries.'
Kwasi Kwarteng is under pressure to launch a full-blown investigation into the private equity takeover of Ultra Electronics.

The Business Secretary will be handed a report today that outlines whether the controversial 2.6billion deal will threaten national security.

Kwarteng, who ordered the review last August, will decide whether to wave it through as it stands, approve it with conditions attached, or refer it to a deeper phase two probe.

Security fears: Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (pictured) is under pressure to launch a full-blown investigation into the 2.6bn private equity takeover of Ultra Electronics

The proposed takeover of a major British defence group by US buyout firm Advent International has provoked uproar among military figures, politicians and analysts.

Whitehall sources said the decision will hinge entirely on the contents of todays report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Phase two interventions are rare. But the Business Secretary is facing calls to step up scrutiny of the deal because of Ultras role making highly sensitive naval kit  including enemy submarine-hunting sonobuoys.

Last night the former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, said: I think it should be referred to a phase two investigation.

He believes it is absolutely critical for the security of us and Nato that we dont lose the edge with anti-submarine warfare.

Critics of the deal say losing Ultra to a US private equity firm could put Britain at a disadvantage as submarine warfare becomes a more important theatre of conflict.

Advent is conducting the deal through Cobham, a British firm it bought for 4billion in 2019.

Advents reputation took a hit after it chopped up and sold more than half of Cobham within 18 months of buying the business, despite promising to be a long-term investor.

Defence analyst Francis Tusa said: I really think it should be referred. Its not being bought by a British firm. It is being bought by an American firm that skinned the Cobham pelt and put it on to look British.

If it was American it would not be allowed to go through.

Today is the deadline for the CMA report. It will be published online at some point in the coming months.

Laws came into force early this month that will automatically trigger Government investigations into takeovers or asset sales in 17 strategic industries, including defence, nuclear and artificial intelligence.

But, because the review was kicked off last year, the 3500p per share deal for Ultra is being evaluated under the Enterprise Act of 2002.

If the takeover is allowed under the Enterprise Act, it could still be called in at a later date to be reviewed under the National Security and Investment Act, which can be used retrospectively.

A Government spokesman said: While the Government welcomes foreign investment, it is right that we fully consider the national security implications of this transaction.
Unilever was forced onto the defensive after its plans to buy GlaxoSmithKlines consumer healthcare division sent shares tumbling 7 per cent.

In a hastily convened press conference yesterday morning, the consumer groups boss Alan Jope said the GSK business would be a strong strategic fit his firm.

He also insisted a deal would be attractive to shareholders having seen three bids turned down by the pharmaceuticals giant, including the most recent offer of 50billion.

In a hastily convened press conference, Unilever chief executive Alan Jope (pictured) said the GSK business 'would be a strong strategic fit' for Unilever

But Unilever shares fell 274.5p to 3662p, wiping 7billion off the 100billion company to leave it worth 93billion.

GSKs consumer brands include Aquafresh, Sensodyne, Advil, Panadol, Chapstick and Centrum while Unilever owns Dove, Domestos, Marmite, Ben & Jerrys and Hellmanns.

Dismissing Unilevers latest 50billion approach over the weekend, GSK said it fundamentally undervalued the business, which is 32 per cent owned by Pfizer.

Analysts believe that Unilever will have to raise its bid to 60billion to secure a deal  a price tag many fear is too high.

Jobs at risk in shake-up Unilever will announce a major initiative to streamline the business this month - raising fears over jobs. Chief executive Alan Jope said he will scrap the companys clunky operating model and make it more simple and agile to boost growth. He did not rule out job losses when asked about the restructuring, saying only that the changes were focused on growth, not cost. An analyst said the changes would be an opportunity to reduce headcount but would not necessarily mean staff would be cut. The analyst said: The idea is for them to be more agile and more relevant to local consumers and trends. It could also be an opportunity to reduce headcount, but not necessarily. Jope said: This is not driven by cost. We are going to announce later this month a simple model, which is designed for speed and agility. Unilever has 149,000 staff worldwide. Ends

The market has given a thumbs down, said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

The negative share price reaction probably reflects investors fears that Unilever is going to come back with a higher offer and potentially pay too much.

Such a takeover would be one of the biggest completed in London, and the biggest in the world since the outbreak of Covid.

But it would likely push Unilevers debt pile from the current level of 19billion to well over 55billion.

Jope said attempts to buy GSKs consumer arm were part of his strategy to pivot away from food and instead focus on faster-growing health, beauty and hygiene brands.

This will see Unilever get rid of poor performing food brands and could see Marmite sold.

Unilever could even offload its whole food and refreshments arm, though Jope stressed brands such as Hellmanns and Ben & Jerrys were growing well in a sign they could remain part of the companys future.

The money from sales will be used to fund takeovers of health, hygiene and beauty brands which Unilever hopes will help turn around years of slow sales growth.

The strategy comes after recent moves by Unilever to slim down its 400-plus brand portfolio into a smaller group of market leaders.

In December 2017 it sold its spreads business which included Flora butter, and in November last year it sold its tea business including PG Tips.

But critics have called on Unilever to fix its own business rather than take over others.

The company was last week slammed by leading investor Terry Smith who said it has lost the plot over its focus on social issues.

Laying out his plans, Jope said GSK was not the only option and if a deal does not go through he would pursue other consumer healthcare brands.

He said he would only pursue takeovers which are value creating and they would come on top of improving the performance of Unilevers existing business.

But his defence of Unilevers interest in GSK failed to win over doubters in the City.

Bruno Monteyne, senior analyst at Bernstein, said it was mind-blowing that Unilever thought such a big deal would benefit shareholders.

Monteyne also said the fact Unilever is planning further deals if it does not buy GSK consumer health is really worrying.

He said: They have lost touch with reality with what investors think is credible and what the industry has known to work and not work.

Even of people who like Unilever shares, not a single one thinks this kind of deal the size of GSK makes any sense. Its way too big.

There is plenty of academic research and anecdotal evidence that mega big deals extremely rarely work, why does Unilever think with their track record in the industry they will buck the trends?
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A hundred horses were made to jump through a string of bonfires as part of a centuries-old purification ritual in a tiny Spanish village which resumed on Sunday after it was halted during the pandemic.

The traditional nighttime celebration of Las Luminarias takes place in San Bartolome de Pinares, a village perched high in the hills 60 miles west of Madrid, every January 16, the eve of Saint Anthony's Day, Spain's patron saint of animals.

Revellers ride their horses through the narrow cobble-stoned streets, which according to tradition, purified the animals with the smoke and flames of the bonfires for the coming year.

A hundred horses were made to jump through a string of bonfires as part of a centuries-old purification ritual in a tiny Spanish village which resumed on Sunday after it was halted during the pandemic

The traditional nighttime celebration of Las Luminarias takes place in San Bartolome de Pinares, a village perched high in the hills 60 miles west of Madrid

Revellers rode their horses through the narrow cobble-stoned streets, which according to tradition, purified the animals with the smoke and flames of the bonfires for the coming year

At full gallop, the horse emerges from the darkness and races through a string of bonfires in an ancient ritual to ward off sickness performed every January in a tiny Spanish village

Known as Luminarias, the festival takes place every January 16 in San Bartolome de Pinares, a village perched high in the hills about 60 miles west of Madrid

After an hour of horses jumping over flames, revellers then took to dancing and drinking in the first ceremony in two years.

'This comes from thousands of years ago. So that animals did not get unwell, the old priests would bless them with fires so that they would jump and be purified,' said Fermin Abad, 64, a local resident.

Despite coming under criticism from animal rights groups over the years, organisers said the horses were not harmed due to precautions taken by riders to cut horse hair to avoid burns.

The exact origin of the Las Luminarias, which dates back to the middle ages, is unknown, though it is thought to have began at a time when animals were contracting unexplained illnesses and dying in huge numbers.

'Before when animal died because of infection, they had to be burned,' said Leticia Martin, a 29-year-old physiotherapist riding a horse called Fiel.

Despite coming under criticism from animal rights groups over the years, organisers said the horses were not harmed due to precautions taken by riders to cut horse hair to avoid burns

The tradition dates back to the 18th century when an epidemic devastated the horse population

ride horses through bonfire made with pine tree branches after horses were blessed by a priest in order to protect and purify them for the year ahead

By the light of an almost full moon, several local officials are sweating copiously, despite freezing temperatures, as they pile branches onto the bonfires blazing along the main street of this village of just 600 residents

As the bells ring out, there's a sudden clatter of hooves as the first horse and rider come charging out on to the streets of San Bartolome de Pinares

In other Spanish villages, bonfires are lit at different times of the year to remember earlier plagues and epidemics, although the global pandemic has given the Luminarias festival a slightly new dimension

'So when the epidemic disappeared, people began to believe that the smoke protected the animals.'

'These fires, which purify animals from all diseases, are lit on the eve of San Anton's day, which is celebrated on January 17,' said Anton Erkoreka of the Museum of the History of Medicine in Spain's Basque Country region.

During the feast, masses are held across Spain to bless animals.

'Fire is always a purifying element and this festival asks the saint for his protection on animals.'

In other Spanish villages, bonfires are lit at different times of the year to remember earlier plagues and epidemics, although the global pandemic has given the Luminarias festival a slightly new dimension.

But locals such as Emmanuel Martin insist the tradition has nothing to do with Covid. It is only about blessing the animals and keeping them 'healthy all year round as the smoke from the green branches purifies them', he says.

After the first horse passes another follows, then a group of them, sparks flying from their hooves as they gallop down the street, cheered on by hundreds of onlookers here to witness this mystical, medieval-like spectacle

The tradition takes place every year on the eve of the feast of San Anton, Spain's patron saint of animals, and dates back centuries when an epidemic devastated the horse population

The silhouette of a man on horseback as he rides through a bonfire on the eve of Saint Anthony's day as part of Las Luminarias Ritual in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain

Horsemen of the apocalypse: Participants believe that horses who leap through the flames of specially constructed bonfires will be purified during the coming year

'It's not a show to entertain people,' insists this 26-year-old who first witnessed the event when he was two years old.

Urged on by the crowd, one rider crosses the bonfires with his arms spread wide in a cross, his horse's mane plaited, its tail rolled up in a type of topknot, to avoid catching fire.

Although the tradition is widely criticised by animal rights groups, Martin insists it doesn't harm the horse nor the rider.

'You don't even notice it,' says his cousin Andrea Lenela, who compares it to brushing a finger quickly through the flame of a cigarette lighter.

Every year, the event is attended by vets and firefighters brought in by the local authorities.

Horses were seen leaping through roaring flames during a controversial annual Spanish festival in the village of San Bartolome de Pinares

The exact origin of the Las Luminarias, which dates back to the middle ages, is unknown, though it is thought to have began at a time when animals were contracting unexplained illnesses and dying in huge numbers

Animal rights activists have raised objects to the festival, but participants say the animals are doused with water before jumping through the flames and do not suffer

The horse's tail in covered to prevent it catching fire as it rides through specially-constructed bonfires laid by townspeople

Animal rights groups have called said the event is abusive to the animals, but its organisers disagree, citing on site vets and independent reports produced each year

'If I thought there was any risk to the horses, I wouldn't do it,' says local resident Mario Candil.

'Nothing has ever happened to anyone, ever,' insists Monce Garcia, 49, who has come along to enjoy the 'atmosphere, the smoke and the typical village tradition'.

Dismounting from her horse, a 46-year-old pharmacist Noelia Guerra speaks animatedly about 'the emotions and the adrenaline' which flood through both horse and rider.

'You don't have to force them, they just go on their own,' she says of the festival, which was celebrated this year for the first time since the pandemic began.

'In this village, there wasn't a single case of Covid until December 2021,' when Omicron arrived, says Leticia Martin.

'We laughed about that, saying it was because we didn't celebrate the Luminarias in January 2021.'
China is now becoming more reliant again on Australia's biggest export, iron ore as it builds subways in the middle of empty fields.

After cutting back on steel production to meet climate change targets, the Communist power is now embarking on large-scale transport infrastructure projects.

This has seen prices for iron ore, the commodity used to make steel, recover to reach a three-month high of $US128 a metric tonne as of Tuesday.

While that is below well the all-time high of $US222 a tonne reached in July last year, the signs are good for Australia with China kickstarting 3 trillion yuan ($A655billion) worth of infrastructure projects in the first three weeks of 2022.

China is now becoming more reliant again on Australia's biggest export, iron ore (pictured is a Fortescue Metals Group dump truck in Western Australia's Pilbara region)

Saxo Bank Australia market strategist Jessica Amir said this was already boosting demand for iron ore from Western Australia's Pilbara region.

'China's steel output is slowly improving but is still at low levels,' she said.

'Shipments leaving the Pilbara are also increasing.'

Ms Amir said China's latest infrastructure spending spree was already almost triple the 1.2 trillion yuan announced during the first three weeks of January 2021, and was likely to increase in March after the Beijing Winter Olympics.

'Iron ore orders will be volatile but pick up again in March,' she said.

'Beijing is likely to very slowly increase its bulk buying of iron ore again with China's steel mills ramping up from March onwards. But this is a wait and see.'

Ms Amir said more China infrastructure spending would be needed to boost iron ore prices closer to $US200 a tonne.

'We'd need to see more stimulus announced from China to move iron ore up again,' she said.

After cutting back on steel production to meet climate change targets, the Communist power is now embarking on large-scaled transport infrastructure projects (pictured is a subway station entrance in the middle of a field at Hangzhou)

'And I expect China will do that, as it wants to aggressively grow its economy and infrastructure is key, with steel being needed.'

The Global Times, the mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party, last week reported a series of new 2022 projects in Shanghai, south-west China's Sichuan Province, east China's Jiangsu Province and northern China's Hebei Province.

In the Hangzhou, a subway has even been build under an empty field, with the Fengbei station located in the middle of open space instead of skyscrapers in the distance.

Infrastructure building could keep iron ore prices elevated as the likely collapse of heavily-indebted property developer Evergrande threatens to cause demand to plummet for iron ore, with less steel required to build apartment towers.

Saxo Bank Australia market strategist Jessica Amir said this was already boosting demand for iron ore from Western Australia's Pilbara region

China, Australia's biggest trading partner, also grew by 8.1 per cent in 2021 - the fastest annual pace in a decade.

This also marked a sharp turnaround from 2020's 2.3 per cent gross domestic product growth which was the slowest since 1976, data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China showed.

Australia, the world's biggest iron ore miner, has also benefited from Brazil suffering heavy rain that has delayed Vale's production levels.

Iron ore volumes from the South American nation have been diminished since the 2019 Vale tailings dam collapse.

In November, Australia's annual exports to China rose by 24 per cent to $179.6 billion.

This was only marginally below September's record of $179.8 billion, a CommSec analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.

Iron ore is by far Australia's biggest export with $10.464billion shipped overseas in November.

But that was still well below June's $20.971billion export haul when iron ore prices were still peaking at levels above $US200 a tonne.
Supporters of former United States President Donald Trump are starting to believe that JFK Jr., the deceased son of a former president, will be coming back and has secretly been an ally of the Republican businessman and will become his VP pick for the 2024 elections.

A die-hard Trump supporter, Ray Kallatsa, was interviewed and said that he wanted to see Trump run for office again in 2024. When he was asked on Saturday who he was leaning on choosing as the former president's VP pick, he pondered for a bit before answering, "JFK Jr."

JFK Jr.'s Return

The answer referenced the son of the 35th president of the United States, a man who died in a plane crash in 1999. While the resident may have realized that he appeared a bit off with his VP pick for his presidential bet, he continued to say that JFK Jr. was "coming back."

Kallatsa said that the son of the 35th president of the United States was supposed to reveal himself on the 17th to show that he was really alive. Additionally, this particular Trump supporter was not alone in believing the conspiracy theory and is shared among people in the crowd that went on to see Trump's first rally in 2022, Politico reported.

Many of the believers are allegedly a band of QAnon supporters that was previously anticipated to descend to Trump's Arizona rally based on a report. The Saturday event had Arizona state Representative Mark Finchem address the audience as a "special guest speaker."

Read Also: Heavy Winter Storm in US East Coast Shuts Down Power Supply, Thousands of Flights Cancelled

The official has repeatedly shared QAnon conspiracies on social media and QAnon-friendly platforms. Just last year, he also headlined a major QAnon conference that was held in Las Vegas.

During Trump's Arizona event, Finchem was joined on stage by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who has been at the forefront of false claims of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election. The former president had previously wrapped up his tour with ex-Fox News host Bill O'Reilly at the end of last year, Independent reported.

Conspiracy Theorists

On the other hand, experts have warned that the conspiracy theory claiming JFK Jr. is coming back that is spreading among QAnon supporters could lead to a bloody end. One group, called Negative48, looks like another QAnon sect but could be a much more troubling group of hardcore believers.

The group made headlines in November when hundreds of its believers gathered at the site of JFK's assassination spot in Dallas, Texas. They waited in the area for the "arrival" of his son, who lost his life in an accident.

The conspiracy theorists believe that the son of the 35th president of the United States will make a "return" that will trigger Trump's return to the White House and make him the "King of Kings." But in recent weeks, the group has taken a grim turn and started sharing chilling messages about the "importance of physical death" and the need to "prepare" for what they called a mass "termination event" on Telegram, a messaging app, The Sun reported.



Related Article: CDC Urges Americans To Wear Mask With Highest Protection as Biden Administration Set To Give Away Free Masks

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Funeral services were held Monday for nine children and three adults who died in a Philadelphia fire five days into the new year, the deadliest blaze in the city in more than a century.

A funeral procession on the rain-soaked streets of the city Monday morning was followed by services at Temple University's Liacouras Center, to which members of the community were invited and asked to wear white.

Those in attendance at the three-hour service listened to Bible readings, official proclamations and music. Relatives spoke about their loss and their memories of their loved ones from two microphones behind tables bearing caskets amid white flowers and large pictures of the victims.

'None of us know what to do with a funeral with 12 people,' said the Reverend Dr. Alyn Waller of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. 'We're in a space of grief and pain we wish on no one else.'

One speaker, an aunt of the children, tearfully said she believed there was 'a family reunion in heaven.'

'I believe they're with their dad. I believe they're with my mother. I believe they're with my father, their uncles and aunts,' she said. 'The hurt is deep but it will subside.'

The coffins of 12 people - including nine children - killed in a Philadelphia apartment block fire are laid out for their funeral on Monday at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church

Mourners embrace during funeral services for the victims of a deadly row house fire, at Temple University in Philadelphia on Monday. Officials say it's the city's deadliest single fire in at least a century

Posters in remembrance of two out of the 12 victims, Virginia Thomas and Janiyah Roberts, stand on top front of the victims' white caskets

The funeral procession for the victims of a deadly row house fire arrive for services at Temple University in Philadelphia on Monday. The fire had claimed the lives of 12 residents, including nine children, after it sparked early on Wednesday morning

The cavalcade of hearses arrive at Temple University for funeral procession on Monday. The fire tore through a duplex apartment at 860 North 23rd Street in Fairmount, Philadelphia, at 6.38am on January 5

A line of black cars drove through the Philadelphia's streets on Martin Luther King Day as residents mourned the lives lost in the fire earlier this month

Dominique Cook speaks during funeral services for the victims of the deadly fire, which was started by a Christmas tree that was believed to be ignited by a five year old boy living on the second floor

Mourners look on as the posters of three victims, including the one of J'Kwan Robinson (middle) were shown on display at the funeral services

The Reverend Dr Alyn Waller spoke at the podium filled with the caskets of the deceased, in front of a packed audience

Mourners were dressed in white to honor the victims, which included nine children. Those in attendance at the three-hour service listened to Bible readings, official proclamations and music

Sallie Thomas, a relative of Virginia Thomas, also spoke at the ceremony

Mourners payed their respects to the victims in Monday's ceremony. Relatives spoke about their loss and memories of their loved ones from two microphones behind tables bearing caskets amid white flowers and posters

Howard Robinson, related to one of the victims, DeKwan Robinson, spoke at the funeral

Mourners embrace at the funeral as the community in Philadelphia was in shock to learn about the January 5 fire

The victims of the January 5 fire were all on the third floor of a duplex north of the city center near the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The three-story brick duplex was owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, which is the city's public housing agency and the state's biggest landlord. Local firefighters responded to the scene after the blaze was reported at 860 North 23rd Street at 6:38 a.m.

Three sisters - Rosalee McDonald, Virginia Thomas and Quinsha White - and nine of their children died in the blaze, according to family members.

The city last week identified the other victims as Quintien Tate-McDonald, Destiny McDonald, Dekwan Robinson, J'Kwon Robinson, Taniesha Robinson, Tiffany Robinson, Shaniece Wayne, Natasha Wayne and Janiyah Roberts.

Philadelphia fire investigators have determined the cause of the January 5 fire was a Christmas tree that was believed to be ignited by a five year old boy living on the second floor

Victim Rosalee McDonald's two children Quintien Tate McDonald, 16, (left) and two-year-old Tiffany Robinson were the oldest and youngest victims in the fire amongst the sister's children

The fire also claimed the life of Virginia Thomas

Victim Quinsha White was one of the 12 killed in the deadly fire on Wednesday

McDonald had been the mother of six children which included three girls and three boys

Three of victim Rosalee McDonald's children are pictured after they died in the fire

Four of victims Virginia Thomas's children pictured in 2019

Officials did not provide their ages.

Despite getting the fire under control within an hour, 12 of the 18 residents living on the second and third floors of the housing complex passed away from smoke inhalation.

Investigators looked thoroughly for the source of the ignition before coming to the conclusion that a lighter found near the Christmas tree was most likely the cause.

'We believe with certainty - so 99 to 100% confidence - that the first item ignited in this blaze was a Christmas tree,' Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said Tuesday at a press conference.

'We believe with near certainty, based on the evidence, the ignition source for this tree was a lighter that was located nearby.'

Thiel also revealed that seven faulty smoke detectors were found in the apartment during the course of the investigation.

The blaze had been the deadliest fire in years at a U.S. residential building but was surpassed days later by a fire in a high-rise in New York City's Bronx borough that killed 17 people, including several children.
Mexico's triple-vaccinated President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that he has beaten COVID for a second time - and that the symptoms of Omicron were mild.

Speaking at a news conference Monday morning - a week after he began experiencing symptoms and testing positive - the 68 year-old leader said his speedy recovery was testament to the dwindling strength of the virus - and the importance of vaccines.

'It is demonstrable that this variant does not have the same seriousness as the earlier, the Delta,' Lopez Obrador said. 'In symptoms and also in recuperation time.'

Lopez Obrador was infected the first time in January of last year. He tends to often not wear a protective mask during his daily news conferences in front of staff and reporters. But he is strongly pro-vaccine, and has shared snaps of himself receiving all three of his AstraZeneca COVID shots, including his booster just last month.

He had sounded hoarse at his news conference last Monday, dismissed it as a cold, but said he would be tested. Later in the day he confirmed he was infected.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Monday, January 17, 2022, that he has recovered from COVID-19 a second time, as coronavirus infections spike in Mexico and virus tests become scarce

The 68-year-old president had received three doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with his first jab taking place in April of last year before receiving his second shot in June.

He publicly received the booster shot during his daily press conference on December 7 of last year.

Last Thursday, the Mexican President also claimed in a video that he is living proof that the COVID-19 strain is not as lethal as the Delta variant, while isolating after testing positive earlier during the week.

'I am getting over COVID. And I also want to share this information with you because I consider that it is quite encouraging to be able to verify in my own flesh now that this variant of COVID does not have the lethality, the danger, of the previous variant, of the so-called Delta,' Lopez Obrador said from his presidential office at the National Palace in Mexico City.

The president tested positive last Monday, hours after he appeared before the media at the National Palace and downplayed the severity of the Omicron variant he tested positive for, indicating it was only 'a little COVID.'

In Mexico, the AstraZeneca vaccine is being used for all boosters shots, regardless of which vaccine the person originally received.

Lopez Obrador gestures after receiving a third dose of the Astra Zeneca coronavirus disease vaccine as Mexico and other countries are stepping up their vaccination efforts as the Omicron coronavirus variant feeds concern about a new wave of infections, in Guadalajara, Mexico December 7

Even though he is triple-jabbed against COVID-19, Lopez Obrador says the omicron strain is not as lethal as the Delta variant after testing positive last week

A male teachers receives a booster shot of the against COVID-19 in Mexico City in January 2022

Residents in Mexico City wait on line at a COVID-19 testing center in the Mexico City neighborhood of Juarez

According to Johns Hopkins University data, Mexico placed fifth in the world with 300,912 confirmed deaths as of Friday.

The country is 15th in the globe with 4,257,776 cases.

Mexico has seen a rise in positive COVID-19 cases in the new year, registering 202,681 infections from January 7 to January 13

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday that the government is expecting a delivery of nearly 27 million additional COVID-19 vaccine doses in the coming weeks.

At least 72.8 million people were fully vaccinated in Mexico as of January 1, according science publication Our World in Data. At least 81.1 million people have at least gotten one dose of the jab.
Doctors could one day be able to determine the survival odds of critically ill Covid patients through a simple blood test.

German and Austrian scientists analysed blood samples of 50 hospitalised patients. They found 14 proteins  mostly linked to inflammation and blood clots  that were associated with an increased risk of death.

Researchers then created an AI programme to predict the survival odds of patients, based solely on scouring the blood samples for levels of the proteins.

Preliminary results showed the test was accurate.

Academics said the test could help doctors find patients who were most in need of care so they can be prioritised.

Intensive care ward in Strasbourg University, France, this year. Doctors say they have developed a blood test that could help spot which patients are most at risk from Covid

Disabling one protein on Covid could render it much less harmful, study says Disabling just one protein on Covid could make it much less harmful, scientists say. Washington State University researchers said the virus uses NS2 to disable a cell's defences allowing it to spark an infection. But  they said  if this protein is removed then the cell can quickly destroy the invading virus. Professor Kim Chiok, from the WSU who led the study, said NS2 was able to 'disable' a cell's defences. She said other viruses besides Covid also use NS2. These include the flu and RSV  which are both seasonal menaces. Advertisement

The participants were either admitted to intensive care at the Charite University Hospital of Berlin, or the Medical University Innsbruck in Austria.

Blood samples were taken from the all of the participants up to three times a week.

Of patients included in the study, 15 died around 28 days after they were admitted to hospital.

The remaining 35 survived, and were discharged from hospital after about two months.

Patients were admitted during the first wave of the pandemic.

Doctors involved in the study said the test needed to be evaluated on a larger sample size.

They added it could be used for critically ill patients suffering from other seasonal viruses besides Covid.

Co-author Professor Florian Kurth, from Charite University Hospital, Berlin, said: 'The clinical picture of Covid is exceptionally diverse  ranging from asymptomatic to very serious disease and death.

'For physicians, it is difficult to estimate the individual risk for a patient of deterioration or death.'

Currently intensive care units rely on the APACHE scoring system to detect the most unwell patients.

It is applied within 24 hours of admission to the specialist ward, and looks at factors including heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature and white blood cell count.

It comes amid reams of studies showing Britain's now dominant Covid variant Omicron is much milder than its predecessors.

Britain's hospitalisations have plateaued at half the levels of the previous wave  at about 2,000 admissions a day  amid the current wave.

But critical care admissions have barely risen with reams of studies showing the variant is milder than its predecessors.

Scientists say it is likely new variants will emerge that are even milder than Omicron but more transmissible, allowing ministers to focus on 'living with' the virus.
The video game giant Activision Blizzard said Monday it has fired 37 employees and disciplined more than 40 others since July as it deals with allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct.

Over the past seven months the company has received about 700 reports of employee concerns over sexual assault or harassment or other misconduct, in some cases separate reports about the same incident, The Wall Street Journal reported.

A summary of the personnel action that the maker of 'Call of Duty,' 'World of Warcraft' and other blockbuster games has taken was scheduled to be released before the winter holidays, the Journal said.

But CEO Bobby Kotick delayed the release, arguing that it would make the company's workplace problems look even bigger than they were known to be, the paper added.

Activision denied as 'simply inaccurate' the allegation that Kotick held up the report, in a statement prompted by the Journal story.

But CEO Bobby Kotick delayed the release, arguing that it would make the company's workplace problems look even bigger than they were known to be, the paper added

The Fortune 500 company is responsible for World of Warcraft, Call of Duty and Candy Crush

'An interim update to our employees is still being worked on, and the company remains committed to continuing to provide periodic updates on its progress,' the statement said.

It said the company has completed reviews of 90 percent of the complaints it has received since July - it did not say how many there were - and that '37 employees have exited the company and another 44 received written reprimands, formal warnings or other discipline.'

In July, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued the Fortune 500 company over what it called a 'frat boy' culture.

The agency says women make up just 20 percent of the workforce and get less money, fewer promotions, are fired more often and suffer from 'constant sexual harassment.'

'Male employees proudly come into work hungover, play video games for long periods of time during work while delegating their responsibilities to female employees, engage in banter about their sexual encounters, talk openly about female bodies, and joke about rape,' the lawsuit states.

The suit names Blizzard President J. Allen Brack, who stepped down in August, and longtime World of Warcraft developer Alex Afrasiabi, who quietly left the company last year.

It alleges that Afrasiabi had a so-called 'Cosby Suite' at a hotel during corporate events.

'During a company event (an annual convention called Blizz Con [sic]) Afrasiabi would hit on female employees, telling him [sic] he wanted to marry them, attempting to kiss them, and putting his arms around them,' the complaint reads.

'This was in plain view of other male employees, including supervisors, who had to intervene and pull him off female employees. Afrasiabi was so known to engage in harassment of females that his suite was nicknamed the Crosby Suite [sic] after alleged rapist Bill Crosby [sic].'

Former World of Warcraft developer Alex Afrasiabi was referenced in a state lawsuit against Activision Blizzard in July. He quietly left the company last year

Afrasiabi poses with a portrait of convicted rapist Bill Cosby and other male workers at BlizzCon 2013. The state lawsuit said Afrasiabi kept a 'Cosby Suite' to lure women

The video game blog Kotaku posted screenshots from social media showing Afrasiabi and other male employees posing with a framed portrait of Cosby, a convicted serial rapist and former comedian.

Activision Blizzard has already agreed to pay $18 million to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle a sexual harassment investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

'I truly wish not a single employee had had an experience at work that resulted in hurt, humiliation, or worse - and to those who were affected, I sincerely apologize,' Kotick said in October last year.

'You have my commitment that we will do everything possible to honor our values and create the workplace every member of this team deserves.'

The company also agreed to an outside monitor to make sure it's complying with he settlement agreement.

In September the federal Securities and Exchange Commission launched a probe into the company over 'disclosures regarding employment matters and related issues.'

And two months later the Journal reported that Kotick, accused of mishandling the harassment complaints, had signaled he would consider stepping down if he failed to quicky fix the company culture. He has led the company for more than three decades.

Nearly 20 percent of Activision Blizzard's 9,500 employees have signed a petition calling for Kotick to resign.

The Journal said the company is under pressure from shareholders and business partners for more accountability over its handling of misconduct issues.

Late last year chief operating officer Daniel Alegre pledged a 50 percent increase in female and non-binary staff over the next five years so that they will account for more than a third of Activision's workers.
An Illinois man died trying to rescue a ten-year-old girl who fell through a frozen pond when she tried to save her dogs.

Carlos Serafin, 31, and his husband of six years Bill Croy, 47, the legal guardians of sisters Ma'Liyah White and Bailey, 8, had all been out walking together in Charleston with the family's three dogs on Saturday morning.

Shortly before 8am, the dogs had fallen through the ice of a frozen pond - and Ma'Liyah ran after them to try and save them.

Serafin showed no hesitation before jumping into the icy pond to rescue Ma'Liyah White, the girl's aunt, Amanda Beals told DailyMail.com.

Both Serafin and Ma'Liyah White were eventually pulled from the water by Lincoln District firefighters and dive crew, but Serafin was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.

Ma'Liyah was airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

She has not shown brain activity but Beals, said she remains hopeful Ma'Liyah will recover as her lungs have shown slight signs of improvement.

'Our families want everyone to know that Carlos died a hero. He was a very spontaneous person and never thought twice about anything,' Beals told DailyMail.com Monday.

Carlos Serafin (left) died trying to rescue 10-year-old Ma'Liyah White (center left) after she fell through a frozen pond when she tried to save three family dogs. Serafin and his husband Bill Croy (center right) have had guardianship of Ma'Liyah and her sister Bailey, 8, (right) for five years

'Our families want everyone to know that Carlos died a hero. He was a very spontaneous person and never thought twice about anything,' Croy's sister Amanda Beals, said. Croy and Serafin had been married for six years

Shortly before 8am, the dogs had fallen through the ice of a frozen pond in Charleston, Illinois, - and Ma'Liyah White ran after them to try and save them

'And it showed until his last breathe trying to save MaLiyah. He loved his girls and dogs so very much,' she added.

First responders arrived to the scene after they were alerted of the tragic accident around 7.45am that day.

Firefighters and dive teams jumped into the frozen pond and began searching for MaLiyah and Serafin.

Crews managed to pull one victim from the water around 8.06am and the second at 8.15am, according to a report by the Lincoln Fire District. They were taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health hospital, where Serafin was pronounced dead.

They also pulled the three stranded dogs from the pond. One dog didn't survive.

Beals added that Serafin (pictured above with the girls) loved them and their dogs very much

Croy gained guardianship over the girls before marrying Serafin, with whom he had a 16-year age difference

Both victims were eventually pulled from the water by Lincoln District firefighters and dive crew, but Serafin was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to a hospital

'They did get MaLiyahs heart going again but unfortunately Carlos didnt make it. He died a hero. He loved these girls more than words can say,' Beals wrote on Facebook after the tragedy.

After being rescued, Ma'Liyah was airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital. While her brain experienced swelling, she did not suffer any fractures, her aunt said.

On Monday, Beals said that the little girl's heart and lungs are improving but doctors have yet to see changes in her brain function.

'She is a strong little girl and when we were telling her we love her before they took her away her head was turning a little bit so we are hopeful thats a good sign,' Beals said.

Beals is asking for prayers as the family navigates this difficult situation, adding that Serafin did not have life insurance. She has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover costs for Serafin's funeral and Ma'Liyah's recovery.

'Thursday we will probably know more about brain activity. Keep the prayers coming. As we all know there is a lot of power in prayer and there can never be too many,' Beals said on a Facebook update Monday on Ma'Liyah's condition.

The girls have been raised by Croy and Serafin, Beals said. Croy gained guardianship over the girls before marrying Serafin, who was 16 years younger than him.

'It's a well blended family,' Beals added.
A major rail carrier being regularly pillaged by looters in the Los Angeles area has lashed out against District Attorney George Gascon, saying his soft-on-crime policies are doing nothing to stop thieves.

Union Pacific (UP) says thefts from its cargo trains parked in Los Angeles County increased 160 percent during the past year - and spiked 356 percent last October compared to the same month in 2020.

The Nebraska-based rail carrier said its agents have made hundreds of arrests, but said less than half are booked are even booked - and some are released in less than 24 hours.

It's now calling on Gascon - who has been heavily criticized for his reformative approach to punishment - to do something to help fend off thieves stealing millions of dollars worth of Amazon and UPS packages.

The packages contain an assortment of consumer goods, ranging from toys, electronics and designer goods to Covid tests and EpiPens.

Crews on Monday were working to clean masses of discarded packaging left behind by the criminals, according to video footage that showed tractors pushing mounds of garbage together.

'Criminals are caught and arrested, turned over to local authorities for booking, arraigned before the local courts, charges are reduced to a misdemeanor or petty offense, and the criminal is released after paying a nominal fine,' Union Pacific said in a letter to the county's top prosecutor.

'These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than 24 hours. Even with all the arrests made, the no-cash bail policy and extended timeframe for suspects to appear in court is causing re-victimization to Union Pacific by these same criminals.'

Union Pacific is experiencing a wave of cargo thefts from its trains parked in the Los Angeles area. Boxes stolen from the trains are pictured scattered throughout the tracks on January 14

Crews on Monday were working to clean masses of discarded packaging left behind by the criminals, according to video footage that showed tractors pushing mounds of garbage together

Union Pacific workers clear the tracks near Los Angeles after thieves raided thousands of parcels

Workers were seen loading up looted packages by the bucket load in order to clear the tracks

The freight-hauling company called upon Gascon in its December 20 letter to take 'immediate action to the spiraling crisis of organized and opportunistic criminal rail theft that is impacting our employees, customers and supply chain industry.'

CP is calling on Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon to do something to discourage criminals

During the past three months, more than 90 packages have been compromised each day by 'criminals vandalizing our trains,' UP said. The crime wave has cost the company about $5 million during the past year.

Despite all the arrests made by its officers and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, UP said it has not be contacted for any court proceedings.

Company spokeswoman Lupe Valdez said officials are now considering diverting trains to avoid passing through Los Angeles County.

'I have been with Union Pacific for 16 years, and I have never, ever seen this situation to this degree,' Valdez told CBS Los Angeles.

'We are making arrests, but what our officers are seeing on the ground is that people are basically being arrested, there is no bail, they come out the next day and come back to rob our trains.'

Pictured: Discarded boxes stolen from freight trains in the center of Los Angeles on January 14

Despite making arrests in connection with thefts and vandalism, UP said it has not been contacted by the DA's office to assist with criminal proceedings. Litter surrounds the tracks in this January 15 photo

Valdez said UP's chief is meeting with the Los Angeles Police Department this week to discuss the issue.

Gascon's office did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment, although it did provide a statement to CBSLA last Friday.

'Our office is committed to working with law enforcement to ensure collective safety across Los Angeles County's sprawling infrastructure, whether it's at our ports or on railroad tracks,' the statement said.

'Some cases presented to our office by Union Pacific have been filed, such as burglary and grand theft, while others have been declined due to insufficient evidence.

The statement continued: 'We make charging decisions based on the evidence. Our office takes Union Pacific's concerns seriously and hopes to discuss this issue more in the coming weeks.'

'Even with all the arrests made, the no-cash bail policy and extended timeframe for suspects to appear in court is causing re-victimization to Union Pacific by these same criminals,' the rail carrier said in its letter to Gascon

Dozens of freight cars are broken into every day on Los Angeles's railways by thieves who take advantage of the trains' stops to loot packages bought online, leaving thousands of gutted boxes and products that will never reach their destinations.

According to the tags found Friday by an Associated Free Press team on a track near the city center - many major US mail order and courier companies such as Amazon, Target, UPS and FedEx are being hit by the thefts.

The thieves wait until the long freight trains are immobilized on the tracks, and then climb onto the freight containers, whose locks they easily break with the help of bolt cutters.

They then help themselves to parcels, ditching any products that are difficult to move or re-sell, or are too cheap, such as Covid-19 test kits, furniture or medications

A train is pictured passing through shredded boxes and packages in downtown LA on January 14

Dozens of freight cars are broken into every day on Los Angeles's railways by thieves who take advantage of the trains' stops to loot packages bought online, leaving thousands of gutted boxes and products that will never reach their destinations

Pictured: an open box of unused Covid-19 tests is left behind on a section of Union Pacific train tracks littered with thousands of opened boxes and packages stolen from cargo shipping containers, targeted by thieves as the trains stop in downtown Los Angeles

The explosion in looting has been accompanied by an upsurge in 'assaults and armed robberies of UP employees performing their duties moving trains,' the letter said.

To combat the trend, Union Pacific says it has strengthened surveillance measures - including drones and other detection systems - and recruited more security staff for its tracks and convoys.

Last week, a UP train filled with packages derailed outside of a depot in the LA area.

It is unclear what caused the derailment, but many torn up packages left in the area by cargo thieves could be seen at the intersection, which remains closed.
The orphaned baby boy whose sheriff's deputy parents killed themselves within days of each other is now at the center of a tug-of-love battle, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Eight-week-old Jayce Osteen's father Clayton Osteen, 24, died in hospital two days after attempting suicide on New Year's Eve  while his grief-stricken mom Victoria Pacheco, 23, killed herself on January 4.

The infant is now living with Clayton's brother Zack Osteen, 31, a fellow sheriff's deputy who was granted an emergency court order for immediate guardianship and has plans for a formal adoption.

However, Victoria's mother Tammy Meyer, 49, has now also decided to launch a legal battle for full custody fearing she could be frozen out her grandson's life, DailyMail.com has learned.

Clayton Osteen and Victoria Pacheco left behind their newborn son Jayce after both parents killed themselves within days of each other earlier this month

Pacheco's mother, Tammy Meyer (pictured together left) is now launching a legal battle for full custody of her orphan grandson after the boy's paternal uncle was granted immediate guardianship

Friends say Meyer gave up her job as a hair stylist and moved closer to her daughter to be a full-time nanny for Jayce

Meyer was in the delivery room in mid-November when Jayce was born and instantly developed a close bond, seeing him every day before her daughter killed herself, said childhood friend Kelly Newell.

She gave up her job as a hair stylist in Jensen Beach, Florida, and moved closer to her daughter in nearby Lakewood Park to be a full-time nanny for Jayce, added the friend.

But Newell, 48, said the situation changed immediately after Victoria  who joined St Lucie County Sheriff's Department in 2020 - took her own life.

'Tammy is concerned about the whole situation and wants some answers,' said Newell, who said she could not go into specific details for legal reasons.

'She has hired a lawyer to help her get guardianship of her grandson.

'Ultimately she wants full custody. She is in the same county. She won't leave that county without the baby. She has retained a lawyer to try to put the baby where it should be. And that is to live with her permanently.

And she added: 'Tammy hasn't been allowed to see Jayce alone because the Osteens aren't allowing it. There are a lot of sides to this story.'

Baby Jayce has been living with his paternal uncle, Zack Osteen, since his parents' tragic deaths. Pictured: Deputy Clayton Osteen

Married Zack (circled) has two children - a girl of 11 and a boy aged two  and has the full support of his sheriff's department for Jayce to remain at the family home and be adopted. He is pictured far left with brother Clayton, Victoria, and his family.

Zack was granted immediate guardianship of the infant under an emergency court order issued earlier this month

Newell's husband Brian also hinted at a rift by saying: 'We went down there for the funeral and it was pretty overwhelming how Tammy was treated.'

Married Zack has two children - a girl of 11 and a boy aged two  and has the full support of his sheriff's department for Jayce to remain at the family home and be adopted.

St Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara explained during a Press briefing: 'After Victoria's passing Clayton's brother immediately took custody of Jayce.

'An emergency court order hearing took place that week and recognized Clayton's brother as Jayce's guardian for at least a year.

'Clayton's brother is married, has two children of his own, so Jayce is in a loving home with two cousins. And we foresee nothing but the best for Jayce in that environment.'

He explained he visited Zack's family home and said of the 11-year-old daughter: 'She has taken a lot of holding of Jayce and making sure he's getting lots of kisses and lots of hugs.

'It was a pretty neat sight when we got there, with the responsibilities she was handling.'

Mascara added his office 'has received numerous donations as well as diapers, baby formula, groceries and free legal help to make the adoption of Jayce permanent. We have also received from Indian River State College a four-year college degree for Jayce.

Family and friends are reeling from the loss are expressing shock at Osteen and Pacheco's choice to end their lives, saying they were as happy as ever after welcoming their new baby and that the reason behind the drastic actions are unknown

The young couple had just welcomed their first child together, a boy, in mid-November. Osteen and Pacheco are pictured during her baby shower in September

St Lucie County Sheriff's Deputy Clayton Osteen, attempted suicide on New Year's Eve and was later taken to the hospital where he was taken off life support two days later. Fellow deputy Victoria Pacheco took her own life on January 4

'The outpouring of support from not only our community but from around the world has been overwhelming.

'Even though we have received a tremendous amount of offers, Jayce is going to need support the rest of his life and we continue to want people to support us and support Jayce.'

Osteen's father Van, 58, briefly revealed his family's heartbreak exclusively to DailyMail.com while at Zack's home.

'You have no idea of the pain we are suffering right now,' he said. 'It is all so raw.'

With him was a woman believed to be Clayton's mother Kathleen, 54. Jayce was also there, being comforted by another male relative.

The family did not want to comment further and Zack referred us to their attorney Elizabeth Berkowitz.

At Van and Kathleen's home a few miles away, a woman who answered the door said she was 'just looking after the place'. Close to tears, she added: 'Nobody has any idea why this happened.'

Berkowitz told DailyMail.com when we asked about Meyer wanting custody of Jayce: 'We are going to hold off on any comments for now.

'The family are still grieving. This is a very emotional process for everybody. At this time we are going to say no comment.

'Just like mom and dad and the family need privacy, so does Jayce. And we need to give Jayce that privacy right now.'

A family friend revealed Meyer, pictured with daughter Victoria at her baby shower, wants full custody of her grandson

Baby Jayce was born on November 22 and was only six weeks old at the time of his parent's death

Meanwhile Newell, of Longwood, Florida, has started a GoFundMe page to help with Meyer with legal expenses. She said: 'Tammy was with Victoria when she gave birth and every day since Jayce was born.

'She has developed a very strong bond with Jayce. I have seen her with Jayce and she really loves him.'

Asked if Meyer has regular contact with Jayce, Newell replied: 'She tries to. She doesn't have him, so it's hard to. You have to get permission.'

Newell, who grew up with Meyer around Boston, Massachusetts, described her friend and Pacheco as 'extremely close mother and daughter. Really close'.

She added: 'When Victoria became pregnant she made it really clear to her, that 'mom I want you to be closer to me.'

'So Tammy moved close to be just five minutes down the street. The plan was that Victoria would have her mom as the baby's nanny, so her daughter and Clayton could work their jobs. Victoria wanted her mother to live with her.

'But Tammy knew they are a young couple, they need their privacy and living together doesn't always work, so Tammy chose to get her own place five minutes up the street and let Victoria live alone.

'Tammy saw the baby every day. In a normal situation you would think the baby would be with its grandmother. A willing grandparent should always be considered first.'

The couple was laid to rest side-by-side on Saturday, January 8 after they both took their own lives within days of each other, leaving their six-week-old son orphaned

Osteen was a retired US Marine, previously serving as a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment

A video of Tammy cradling Jayce after the double tragedy is on her mother Bernice Bartolini's Facebook page. It was filmed at Zack's Fort Pierce family home.

Meyer has two other children, Anthony, 14, and Brianna, 28. 'Tammy is a very caring mother and a very caring grandmother,' said Newell.

'She deserves to be with her grandchild. She wants what's best for Jayce. She has spent her whole life trying to make other people feel good about themselves.'

Newell revealed Pacheco wrote Meyer a heartfelt note two years ago 'just telling her mother how grateful she was for her.

'And how her mother was her inspiration and that her mother guided her to become a sheriff, to be a good person, to try to help people. It's a beautiful note.

'Victoria was very compassionate. She wanted to help everybody. Anybody she met, she wanted to help.'

Pacheco was described as a 'very compassionate' person who 'wanted to help everybody'

Newell wrote on her GoFundMe appeal page: 'After Victoria finished her maternity leave, Tammy, a devoted grandmother, was going to become a full-time nanny working in the home with her grandson Jayce. Now because of this tragedy not only has Tammy lost her daughter, she has also lost her upcoming job.

'At this time I am trying to help her raise money for multiple reasons, unfortunately she will now have to retain counsel to help gain guardianship of her grandson, and she will also need help with all of the unexpected expenses that come along when you lose a family member.

'Tammy is a very strong independent woman who raised three children; although none of us can imagine the pain she is feeling we can help her ease some of her worry.'

Former U.S. Marine Osteen and Pacheco were 'joy-filled' to be new parents and stunning photos of them together and with Jayce graced social media  including beautiful shots of Victoria pregnant and looking thrilled.

The couple had worked together since 2020, when Victoria became a sheriff's deputy. Clayton, who served in the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment U.S. Marines between 2015 and 2019, was awarded deputy of the year in 2020. He was a member of the department's SWAT team.

Another GoFundMe page  launched by Osteen family friend Kelly Ridle and specifically to help raise Jayce, has now reached nearly $123,000. Meanwhile St Lucie sheriff's department has raised more than $20,000 for the child's welfare.

Sheriff Mascara revealed at his briefing that the cause of the double suicide remained a mystery  and the couple had shown no outward signs of the torment that led them to kill themselves.

'While we have many questions of our own, we cannot speculate on what may or may not have happened in this couple's deeply personal relationship,' he said.

A GoFundMe page was organized for the orphaned infant by Osteen's friend Kelly Ridle who announced the baby's adoption

St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara last week revealed the two young outstanding officers had thorough psychological evaluations before they were finally selected for their demanding roles and showed no outward signs of the torment that led them to take their own lives

Mascara revealed the two young outstanding officers had thorough psychological evaluations before they were finally selected for their demanding roles.

Deep scrutiny of his department's work and welfare procedures have thrown no new light on the mental health tragedy. And the top law enforcement officer insisted there was nothing his office could have done differently to prevent the deaths.

'The first thought when I received the call that it was a suicide, was  did I miss something?' he said.

'Did our agency miss something? Did we not have the right safeguards in place to prevent something like this from happening?

'And after reviewing the facts of this tragic incident, after reviewing all of our policies, all of our protocols, I can definitely tell you that we did not miss anything.

'That no matter what we had in place, things that we could have done, this was something that happened that none of us could have prevented. I am 100 per cent sure of that.'

The new parents were laid to rest side-by-side in American flag-covered caskets at a heart-breaking funeral on January 8 attended by family, friends and fellow officers of St Lucie Sheriff's Department, who saluted as their coffins passed.

Mascara said both officers were outstanding candidates for the job while studying at nearby Indian River State College law enforcement academy at different times.

They were talent spotted by senior St Lucie officers  but still had to go through extensive suitability testing.

'We have a situation where many of our upper leadership in the sheriff's office also teach at the law enforcement academy,' he said.

'What this allows us to do is identify really sharp people in our law enforcement academy. And both of these individual were identified early as two special people.'

But he added: 'Not withstanding what we thought of either one of them in the law enforcement academy, our policies and procedures have to do a very thorough background investigation on each one of these individuals before they come to work here.

'That includes physical tests, that includes medical tests and most importantly that includes a psychological test.

'A psychological test on both of these individuals revealed that they were fully compatible and acceptable to enter a law enforcement profession.

'There were no doubts, no concerns whatsoever.'

For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255
The big sister of a little girl who was allegedly tortured and murdered by her parents has issued a heartbreaking plea for help as she aims to take over the care of her younger siblings.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs, 8, was found dead at her home in Toowoomba, Queensland, after her parents allegedly stopped giving her vital type 1 diabetes medication.

Mother of eight Kerrie, 46, and father Jason, 50, instead allegedly prayed over the child at their home-based church.

They have now been charged with murder, torture and failing to provide the necessities of life for the youngster.

Elizabeth's five youngest siblings now face life alone with their parents in jail awaiting trial but eldest sister Jay Struhs has now vowed to take over the distraught family.

Big sister Jayde Struhs of little Elizabeth Struhs (pictured together) - allegedly tortured and murdered by her anti-vaxxer parents - has made a heartbreaking plea for help

'The news has left us completely shattered and heartbroken,' Jay revealed. 'No other family should have to hear or experience what we have had to endure.'

Elizabeth's parents allegedly stopped giving the child her life-saving diabetes medication on January 2 in the belief that God cured illness, not doctors or hospitals.

The youngster is believed to have died on January 7 - but the alarm was only raised the following day when a member of their small prayer group called paramedics.

'We sadly discovered the death of Elizabeth in the cruellest of ways,' said Jay.

'With so many unanswered questions, we have faced the brutal reality that we may never know the full extent of what took place.'

Her parents did not trust conventional medicine and allegedly used faith to cure her in the belief that it was 'worms' and that God had '100 percent promised healing'.

Big sister Jay paid tribute to the lifelong struggle Elizabeth had faced before 'she was taken too soon'.

'The loss of our sister is unbearable. Her brave spirit in the face of medical adversity was inspiring. She was a bright light on all that met her.

Eldest sister Jay Struhs (pictured) has vowed to take charge of the shattered family

'Elizabeth was one of eight children, two now of adult age, including myself and five remaining siblings under 18 ranging from 3 to 16.

'They have had their entire worlds turned upside down.'

Jay has now set up a Gofundme page to raise a nest egg to bring up the youngest children once she is given guardianship.

'As a family united in grief, we have vowed to put their needs ahead of everything else as we help rebuild the lives they have always deserved,' she said.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs, 8, was found dead at her home in Toowoomba, Queensland, (pictured) after her parents allegedly stopped giving her vital type 1 diabetes medication

'We are doing everything in our power to welcome them into a stable and loving environment surrounded by the family that have been previously kept from them.'

She added: 'Our number one priority is the children.

'I will dedicate all money raised to providing the ongoing care for my five youngest family members to ensure they remain in a safe, secure and loving home.

'The responsibility of their future is something we have always fought to protect, and we will continue to do that for the rest of their lives.'

Elizabeth's mother once ran her own business selling at market stalls around Gatton in Queensland's Lockyer Valley and Upper Coomera, in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Mother of eight Kerrie, 46, and father Jason, 50, (pictured) allegedly prayed over the child in bizarre religious rituals at their home-based church cult

Jason Struhs, a keen sportsman, had previously worked night shifts in Toowoomba, with his wife being principal carer for their children.

It is alleged the couple held a bizarre 'prayer ritual' at their home with fellow worshippers, playing music and saying prayers out loud, instead of immediately calling paramedics for their sick daughter.

It will be alleged that the parents called a group of religious friends from two other families to come over to pray to God for their child.

Officers were called to the couple's rental home in Rangeville, about 5.30pm on Saturday, with a neighbour witnessing a paramedic running from the home 'in tears' after finding the girl's body.

Jay Struhs (pictured) has set up a Gofundme page and vowed to spend any money raised on her young siblings once she is given guardianship of the youngsters

The neighbour said he had seen a crowd gathered outside the home earlier that day Saturday and that he had heard loud voices and music.

The parents appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court looking 'emotionless' last Wednesday via video link from the Toowoomba watch house, where they had been in custody since their arrest.

Urged by Magistrate Kay Philipson to seek Legal Aid for the 'very serious matters', Mr Struhs twice declined to do so, and refused to apply for bail.

The case will return to court on March 24.
A red ute belonging to Charlise Mutten's stepfather is at the centre of the police investigation into her disappearance, as officers confirm that they still don't know what the nine-year-old was wearing when she vanished.

The schoolgirl was last seen on Thursday afternoon on the verandah of a sprawling five-hectare property in the Blue Mountains suburb of Mount Wilson, which is owned by the family of her mother Kallista Mutten's fiance, Justin Stein.

Charlise, who usually lives with her grandmother in Coolangatta, Queensland but was visiting her mum for the holidays, was reported missing the following morning at 8.20am.

A search team scouring the bush for Charlise were told during a briefing on Tuesday morning that she would likely be lying still from exhaustion, if she has run off and is still alive.

It is understood police investigators are scouring CCTV footage for evidence about the recent movements of Mr Stein's ute, which officers seized in Penrith last week.

Charlise Mutten, 9, was staying with her mother Kallista Mutten when she disappeared on Thursday at a sprawling private wedding venue owned by the family of her fiance, Justin Stein

Kallista Mutten's fiance Justin Stein (pictured) went to Penrith on Friday to speak with NSW police

Police have seized a red ute (pictured) as part of their investigation, which will be forensically examined

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Stein had anything to do with Charlise's disappearance, simply that his vehicle's movements are being examined.

A small group of emergency services workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, were warned on day five of the search on Tuesday that the nine-year-old would be by now 'lethargic' and 'stationary'.

'It's day five. She's not going to be mobile,' a police officer told the Rural Fire Service and SES searchers.

The officer warned them that Charlise would need water from a 'bottle, puddle or dam'.

He couldn't provide them with a description of what clothes she might be wearing as 'we don't have clothing unfortunately. We don't know what she is wearing'.

The stepfather and mother of Charlise Mutten have told police they can't remember what she was wearing when last seen on the verandah of the wedding venue property Wildenstein last Thursday afternoon.

While Charlise was initially said to be wearing a pink top, black knee-length skirt and pink Nike thongs when she was last seen, neither Kallista Mutten or her fiance have not been able to definitively say how she was dressed.

Pictured: RFS volunteers on day five of the search for missing nine-year-old, Charlise Mutten

Search teams have been tirelessly looking for the schoolgirl since she was reported missing on Friday morning. Pictured: Emergency workers on Tuesday morning

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing on Thursday afternoon. Investigators have been scouring the scene, with the search now entering its fifth day

On Sunday night, Charlise's biological father issued a cryptic social media post.

'Has anyone won the 'Worlds most hopeless person award' twice? We have a repeat entry this year!' he wrote on Facebook.

Detectives are treating the disappearance as a possible homicide, with officers spending five hours on Monday scouring the property she vanished from.

Asked directly if police believed her disappearance was suspicious on Monday, Police Area Command Acting Superintendent John Nelson would only say detectives were 'not discounting any scenario'.

The search was hampered by heavy rain yesterday, forcing SES and RFS volunteers to wind up their search ahead of what would be Charlise's fifth night missing in the mountains.

Charlise Mutten was last seen on Thursday afternoon. She was reported missing on Friday

Police officers and detectives have been stationed at the Mount Wilson estate since Friday (pictured: an officer on Tuesday morning)

NSW Police divers spent hours searching a pond on the Wildenstein property at Mt Wilson on Saturday

Dramatic footage captured by Daily Mail Australia showed police cars and a large number of detectives on foot swoop on the retreat at 11.30am on Monday.

Investigators ordered the media to 'leave, now!' from outside the gates on Monday morning - moments after plain clothes child protection squad officers drove into the property.

A police bus followed by unmarked police cars rolled through the gates as a uniformed officer stood guard.

They stayed at the property for five hours before leaving that afternoon.

Rescue teams spent Monday scouring dense bushland, fire trails, murky ponds and rivers in 30C heat following a promising development on Sunday.

Rural Fire Service volunteers found a 'very small and barefooted' footprint along a trail just a few kilometres away from where Charlise was las seen, with NSW Police Chief Inspector Gary Sims also telling reporters 'certain items' had been found.

But Inspector Sims said the items 'unfortunately haven't led to anything that gives us a definite indication of her location'.

Detectives told searchers that the youngster would likely be stationary and exhausted, if she's lost in the bush

Picture: The sprawling five-hectare Mount Wilson property where Charlise Mutten went missing

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing from the Blue Mountains on Thursday night. Family members have been unable to confirm to police her last known outfit

More than 90 Rural Fire Service officers have been deployed in groups of seven to ten across Mount Irvine and Mount Wilson to search for Charlise, and items of the mystery clothing she was wearing when she vanished.

NSW RFS Commander Peter Bennett told Daily Mail Australia the search parties had reached the 'saturation point' of available officers from four different stations at Chifley, Macarthur, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains.

He described the search areas as 'inhospitable' and the task as 'exhausting', with officers were on the lookout for traces of Charlise 'or anything unusual'.

Ten groups of firefighters searched an area of 10km on Monday.

The search for nine-year-old Charlise started on Friday and went over the weekend (pictured, police at the scene on Monday)

Pictured: Charlise as a toddler with her mother Kallista. The youngster normally lives with her grandmother in Queensland

'It's pretty thick scrub,' he said, 'walking in line through that is exhausting.'

Ms Mutten is not believed to have given a formal interview on Monday, despite expectations she would be spoken to.

Ms Mutten collapsed and was taken to hospital shortly after her daughter was reported missing.

There is no suggestion she or her fiance were involved in her daughter's disappearance.

Searchers who set off to comb vast areas of bush have been encouraged to call out Charlise's name as they conduct line searches.

Her distressed mum Kallista Mutten (pictured, left and right, with Charlise) was consoled by emergency workers on Saturday

Police divers searched the waters of the Hawkesbury River on Saturday (pictured) and seized a boat, which is being scanned for fingerprints

Police divers searched the waters of the Hawkesbury River on Saturday and seized a boat, which is being scanned for fingerprints.

Following her daughter's disappearance, Ms Mutten collapsed and was taken to hospital. Mr Stein spoke to police on Friday.

'For any parent this is a distressing scenario, so yes she is quite distressed so we're providing her with support,' acting superintendent John Nelson said.

The nine-year-old is described as being of Caucasian appearance with brown hair and blue eyes, and is between 130 and 140 centimetres tall.

Rural fire service volunteers have used 'line searching' tactics and marked out any items found in their painstaking search.

NSW Police sent out multiple geo-targeting text messages to all residents in the area on Friday and Saturday evening to inform them of Charlise's disappearance and request help.

They also asked social media users to share the missing girl's photo widely.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about her whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Barnaby Joyce has revealed not all of his family are happy about his engagement to his former political staffer Vikki Campion.

The deputy prime minister, 54, popped the question to Ms Campion, 36, at Coffs Harbour restaurant Latitude 30 on the NSW mid-north coast on Sunday night.

The couple - whose extra-marital affair made national headlines in February 2018 - have been together four years and share sons Sebastian, three, and Thomas, two.

Mr Joyce said his family's reaction was as 'one would have expected' and not everyone was pleased to hear of the upcoming nuptials.

Scroll down for audio

Barnaby Joyce is engaged to his partner and former political staffer Vikki Campion (pictured together with their sons Sebastian and Thomas)

'How has the family received the news?' Sunrise host Natalie Barr asked him on Tuesday morning.

'Obviously, it is as one would have expected. Some are happy and some are understandably not as happy,' Mr Joyce replied.

The politician has four daughters from his marriage of 24 years to his ex-wife Natalie.

The Nationals leader joked that even his two infant sons were less than enthused about their parents' proposal.

'The boys couldn't give a stuff. They are just talking about dinosaurs,' he said.

Mr Joyce said he would still be at the bar downing his sorrows if Ms Campion had turned down his offer of marriage.

'She went to the bathroom and I told the guys at the restaurant "I'm going to propose and if this works out well, it's going to be real nice. If it doesn't, I will join you at the bar for about a day",' he said.

He said he waited for most of the other diners to leave for proposing.

'I waited for most of them to leave in case she said "no",' he said.

The deputy prime minister popped the question at Coffs Harbour restaurant Latitude 30 (pictured) on the NSW mid-north coast

'Rather than being down on one knee I ended up being down on two. I was saying my prayers.'

The Nationals proposed with a parti sapphire ring, a stone popular in his northern NSW electorate.

'Here in New England - particularly Inverell - they're famous for their sapphires,' he told the Kyle and Jackie 'O' show.

Mr Joyce said he had intended to propose in Noosa, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, but the tourist hotspot was completely booked out.

Former political adviser Vikki Campion and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce pictured in 2018 with their eldest son Sebastian

Mr Joyce pictured with his ex-wife Natalie, with whom he shares four daughters

Natalie Joyce (centre) and her daughters Bridgette, 22, Julia 20, Caroline, 19, and Odette 16

Since announcing the engagement, Mr Joyce said the couple have been 'overwhelmed' by the good wishes and 'thank everyone for them'.

'The boys couldnt care less, theyre not aware,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'As long as you take them to the pool at the moment theyre happy.'

Rumours of then-married Mr Joyce and Ms Campion's love affair first surfaced in early 2017.

In December that year, Mr Joyce used the parliamentary debate on same sex marriage to confirm he was no longer with Natalie, his wife of 24 years, with whom he shares four daughters.

Mr Joyce said he and his new fiancee are 'very happy' and he would be still 'getting smashed' at the restaurant where he popped the question had she said no

News of Mr Joyce and Ms Campion hit the headlines in February 2018 after photos emerged of his former staffer heavily pregnant in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

Mr Joyce subsequently resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader, moving to the backbench, amid pressure to quit due to the relationship and after an unrelated sexual harassment allegation was made against him, which he has strenuously denied.

As the scandal erupted, Ms Campion also left her position at Mr Joyce's office in April, the same month she gave birth to their first son.

The couple welcomed their second son Thomas in June the following year.

The Turnbull government responded to the Joyce-Campion affair by introducing the infamous 'bonk ban' on ministers forming relationships with staff.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described Mr Joyce's actions as a 'shocking error of judgement' that created a 'world of woe' for the women in his life.

'I think we know that the real issue is the terrible hurt and humiliation that Barnaby by his conduct, has visited on his wife, Natalie and their daughters and indeed, his new partner,' Mr Turnbull said at the time.

'Barnaby made a shocking error of judgment in having an affair with a young woman working in his office. In doing so, he has set off a world of woe for those women and appalled all of us.'

Mr Joyce said he gave Ms Campion (pictured) a Parti Sapphire ring from the New England region

Amid the media frenzy, Mr Joyce and Ms Campion addressed their relationship in a $150,000 tell-all interview with Channel 7.

At the time, critics slammed the politician for the 2018 interview aired on the broadcaster's Sunday Night program, saying that he shouldn't have profited from a scandal while in office.

Joyce and Ms Campion later said the money would be held in trust for their then-newborn son Sebastian, with neither of them having access.

Last month, Ms Campion revealed she spent her pregnancy with Mr Joyce's first son 'living out of her car' while being hounded about the affair.

'At the time, I was jobless, heavily pregnant, distressed, effectively living out of my car and AirBnBs booked by my brother, with a prepaid phone,' she wrote in her Saturday Daily Telegraph column.

Ms Campion last month revealed she spent her pregnancy with the couple's first son 'living out of her car' amid the affair scandal

'Three times, in three different homes, in two different states, I put together my baby's cot in my third trimester, only to have to take it apart, pack and move again because of parliament-fuelled hounding.'

Mr Joyce regained his position as Deputy Prime Minister in June 2021 after defeating Michael McCormack in a leadership spill.

The happy news comes just a week after the couple suffered a terrifying scare after their youngest son nearly drowned at a community park.

In her column, the former journalist revealed she lost sight of Thomas, two, while playing at Curtis Park, in Armidale, over the festive break.

She said 'time stopped' and panic set in as thoughts began to race through her head of what could have happened to her toddler.

As a frantic search kicked off, a mother visiting the area found the little boy in a nearby creek and pulled him out of the water.
Chinese President Xi Jinping made statements on Monday where he called on other countries to abandon what he called a "Cold War mentality," arguing that history has shown confrontation only ever invited disastrous consequences, and urged global cooperation.

The Asian leader's remarks came at a time when tensions between China and the United States have been deteriorating over the issue with Taiwan's sovereignty. Authorities also have growing fears that Russia could aggressively march into Ukraine.

Xi's Global Address

Xi's speech was made via videoconference at The Davos Agenda virtual event where he said that the world needed to "discard" the mentality and aim for peaceful co-existence and "win-win outcomes." The Chinese president said the world was currently filled with chaos and destruction and hatred.

"History has proved time and again that confrontation does not solve problems. It only invites catastrophic consequences. Protectionism and unilateralism can protect no one. They ultimately hurt the interests of others as well as one's own. Even worse are the practices of hegemony and bullying, which run counter to the tide of history," said Xi based on a translation, CNBC reported.

As Xi was making his urge to other global leaders on Monday, he also called on officials to cooperate against the coronavirus pandemic. The Chinese president also pledged to send out an additional one billion doses to other nations to help with the vaccination of their residents.

Read Also: US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Warns Omicron Could Get Worse in Following Weeks as Average Daily Cases Rise to 800,000

The Chinese president touted his nation's efforts to share its coronavirus vaccines, fight climate change, and promote development at home and abroad. Xi also delivered the opening speech of the virtual gathering hosted by the World Economic Forum.

The online event where Xi spoke was held virtually in place of its annual January meeting in Davos, Switzerland, because of the rising threat of the coronavirus due to the Omicron variant. The Chinese president also addressed standard themes from his previous comments to international audiences, which include complaints by China's trading partners, Fox News reported.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Moderna's CEO said that the company was already working on a single-shot booster for both COVID-19 and the flu. The announcement, which was made in a panel session on the virus, comes as the top infectious disease expert in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that it was "very disturbing" there were still many people who were hesitant to get vaccinated.

Chinese President Xi, who has not traveled outside of his country since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, touted his nation's efforts that have distributed more than two billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine to more than 120 countries and international institutions.

The Asian leader announced plans to donate 600 million coronavirus doses to Africa and 150 million to Southeast Asia. On the other hand, managers of the UN-backed COVAX program that aims to distribute vaccines to developing countries said over the weekend that it has now successfully shipped out one billion coronavirus vaccine doses.

"A zero-sum approach that enlarges one's own gain at the expense of others will not help. The right way forward for humanity is peaceful development and win-win cooperation," said Xi, the Associated Press reported.



Related Article: Experts Warn for More COVID-19 Variants; Current Vaccines May Not Be Effective Against Upcoming Strains

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As Christmas passed and school holidays dragged on, missing schoolgirl Charlise Mutten's doting grandmother agreed to let the nine-year-old visit her mother in Sydney.

The summer trip was the perfect opportunity for mother and daughter to reconnect after Covid-enforced border closures and a jail stint had driven them apart.

Charlise lives with her grandmother, Deborah Mutten, in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast and attends a local primary school south of the border, where she's known as a spritely and cheerful student.

Deborah shared a sweet photo just two weeks ago on January 5. With the ocean as a backdrop, Charlise leaned back and kissed her beaming grandmother on the cheek.

Five days later, after Charlise had already made the trip to NSW to see her mother, Deborah confessed to a friend she was 'struggling'.

Inside Charlise Mutten's complicated family tree - with a former drug addict mother, stepdad on parole and doting grandmother who 'struggled' after letting the nine-year-old travel to Sydney to reconnect with her family

Deborah shared a sweet photo just two weeks ago on January 5. With the ocean as a backdrop, Charlise leaned back and kissed her beaming grandmother on the cheek

Charlise lives with her grandmother, Deborah Mutten, in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast and attends a local primary school south of the border, where she's known as a spritely and cheerful student

A small group of emergency services workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, were warned on day five of the search on Tuesday that the nine-year-old would be by now 'lethargic' and 'stationary'. 'It's day five. She's not going to be mobile,' a police officer told the Rural Fire Service and SES searchers

'A bit of silly business was needed to lift the mood,' she said alongside a photo of herself using a comedic Snapchat filter.

'Struggling a bit to be quite honest.'

Then, on January 14, she learned her beloved granddaughter had vanished while in the temporary care of her daughter, Kallista Mutten.

The nine-year-old's complicated family history has been laid bare as search parties continue to scour the Wildenstein estate in Mount Wilson, in the NSW Blue Mountains, six days after she was last seen.

RFS crews have been searching the area for five days now, after Kallista and her fiance Justin Stein reported Charlise missing on Friday morning. They hadn't seen her since Thursday afternoon.

A small group of emergency services workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, are trawling through overgrown bush

Her distressed mum Kallista Mutten (pictured, left and right, with Charlise) was consoled by emergency workers on Saturday

As Christmas passed and school holidays dragged on, missing schoolgirl Charlise Mutten's doting grandmother agreed to let the nine-year-old visit her mother in Sydney

Charlise's disappearance puts a halt on what should have been a chance for Ms Mutten to bond and reconnect with her daughter after so many missed moments.

Ms Mutten was jailed in November 2017, when Charlise was just five, after she was convicted of dangerous driving occasioning death and driving with an illicit substance in her system.

It's understood Charlise was handed over to her grandmother to care for her at the time.

The court heard Ms Mutten was an ice addict and using two to three points every day when she swerved off the road and into the Tweed River, killing her passenger and friend, 53-year-old Karen 'Kaz' Bunch.

After the crash, Ms Mutten checked herself in to a rehab facility, but relapsed and began using again, the court heard.

She was also expelled from a clinic at Logan in Queensland after she threatened a fellow resident with violence.

It's unclear if Ms Mutten ever regained full time custody after her stint in jail.

Charlise Mutten's stepdad is a convicted serious drug offender who is serving parole in the community after he was caught with an exorbitant amount of drugs in 2016

WHO'S WHO IN CHARLISE MUTTEN'S FAMILY TREE CHARLISE MUTTEN Nine-year-old Charlise Mutten was last seen on the verandah of her step-father's sprawling family home on Thursday, January 13. She was not reported missing until 8.20am the next morning. Police and volunteers have been scouring the Wildenstein estate and surrounds since they first learned of her disappearance. DEBORAH MUTTEN - THE GRANDMOTHER Charlise lives with her maternal grandmother, Deborah Mutten, in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast. Ms Mutten is a local artist who dotes on her granddaughter. She shared a sweet photo with Charlise on January 5, just days before she vanished. On January 10, she admitted she was 'struggling quite a bit'. This was after she'd agreed to allow Charlise to visit her mum in a different state. KALLISTA MUTTEN - THE MOTHER Charlise's mother Kallista Mutten recently spent two years in jail after she was convicted of dangerous driving occasioning death and driving under the influence of an illicit drug. She was released from jail in 2019 and was no longer using drugs after a stint in rehab and prison. It's unclear how involved Mutten has been in her daughter's life, but she was granted the opportunity to spend some time with Charlise over the summer school holidays before she vanished. Charlise and Kallista were at the sprawling family estate of her fiance, Justin Stein, when the nine-year-old vanished. JUSTIN STEIN - THE STEP-FATHER Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday Kallista's fiance, Justin Stein, is a convicted serious drug offender. He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail in 2017 for possessing a marketable amount of an illicit substance, and released on parole in November 2020. Within a month of his release, he had proposed to Kallista. The couple have now been engaged for 13 months. Stein comes from a wealthy family who own the Wildenstein estate where Charlise was last seen. It is a well known wedding venue in the Blue Mountains. THE FATHER Charlise's biological father - who has not been named - is 'absolutely shattered' the nine-year-old is missing, a friend said on Tuesday. He, along with his family and friends, are hopeful she'll be found safe and unharmed. It's still unclear how much time Charlise spends with her biological parents - if any. Advertisement

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday Charlise's stepdad, Justin Stein, also has a criminal past from about the same time as when her mother was convicted.

Stein was sentenced to six-and-a-half years prison for possessing a marketable quantity of a border enforced drug in 2017.

He was released on parole after serving a mandatory three years and nine months in November 2020, and by December 1 2020 was engaged to Ms Mutten.

It's unclear if the duo knew each other prior to Stein's release from jail just three weeks earlier.

Stein comes from a wealthy family who moved to the Blue Mountains from Perth around the time he was born.

They own and operate the Wildenstein estate where Charlise was last seen - which is known as an exclusive wedding venue - as well as a jeweler in the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney's CBD.

Stein posted a photo of a pair of hands tattooed hands with the words 'Magic' on the right fist and 'Man' on the left, inked with tattooed dollar notes and skull-and-bones symbols

Pictured: Charlise as a toddler with her mother Kallista. The youngster normally lives with her grandmother in Queensland

Picture: The sprawling five-hectare Mount Wilson property where Charlise Mutten went missing

Stein, a former steel and timber worker, is understood to split his time between an apartment owned by his mother in Leichhardt and the Mt Wilson venue, which was initially bought by his father James in 1989.

He has a registered business, Magix Steel and Timber, and refers to himself as 'Magix Man' or 'Magic Man' online.

The 31-year-old shared a photo of a pair of hands tattooed hands with the words 'Magic' on the right fist and 'Man' on the left, inked with tattooed dollar notes and skull-and-bones symbols.

Meanwhile Ms Mutten goes by 'KStar' on social media and has ambitions of one day working with women who are victims of domestic violence.

Her goal, she said, is to 'help change and work in the community'.

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing from the Blue Mountains on Thursday night. Family members have been unable to confirm to police her last known outfit

Search teams have been tirelessly looking for the schoolgirl since she was reported missing on Friday morning. Pictured: Emergency workers on Tuesday morning

She previously confessed she 'turned to ice' to help her cope with the struggles of life but said she was remorseful for 'making bad choices' that led to the death of her friend.

'If was able to change places with Karen... now knowing the consequences of my actions I would,' she told a magistrate ahead of her sentencing.

Ms Mutten claimed she was clean and no longer using drugs after stints in rehab and prison.

Charlise's biological father - who has not been named - is 'absolutely shattered' the nine-year-old is missing, a friend said on Tuesday.

He, along with his family and friends, are hopeful she'll be found safe and unharmed.

A spokesperson for Charlise's primary school released a statement on Sunday expressing concern for the nine-year-old's welfare.

'We are very much thinking of Charlise and her family and hope she is found safely as soon as possible,' the statement read.

Police have seized a red ute (pictured) as part of their investigation, which will be forensically examined

Kallista Mutten's fiance Justin Stein (pictured) went to Penrith on Friday to speak with NSW police

It attracted comments from parents and members of the community offering their support.

'Charlise, your teachers have you continually in their thoughts and really want to hear that you are back safe and well,' one teacher said.

'I cant even imagine the anguish her family and friends must be going though. Please let her be found today,' local MP Laura Gerber added.

A small group of emergency service workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, were warned on day five of the search the nine-year-old would by now be 'lethargic' and 'stationary'.

'It's day five. She's not going to be mobile,' a police officer told the Rural Fire Service and SES searchers.

NSW Police divers spent hours searching a pond on the Wildenstein property at Mt Wilson on Saturday

The officer warned Charlise would need water from a 'bottle, puddle or dam' to survive in the wilderness.

He couldn't provide them with a description of what clothes she might be wearing as 'we don't have clothing unfortunately. We don't know what she is wearing'.

While Charlise was initially said to be wearing a pink top, black knee-length skirt and pink Nike thongs when she was last seen, neither Ms Mutten or her fiance have been able to definitively say how she was dressed.

NSW RFS Commander Peter Bennett told Daily Mail Australia parts of the search area were 'inhospitable', made significantly worse by wet weather which hampered investigators on Monday.

'It's pretty thick scrub,' he said. 'Walking in line through that is exhausting.'

Police are appealing for anyone with information about her whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Charlise's disappearance puts a halt on what should have been a chance for Ms Mutten (pictured) to bond and reconnect with her daughter after so many missed moments
An unvaccinated 55 year-old who is being kept alive by a ventilator after catching COVID has been moved from Minnesota to Texas after his wife won a restraining order against a hospital's decision to disconnect him from life support.

Fifty-five-year-old Scott Quiner, of Buffalo, was a patient at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids where he was set to have his ventilator shut off on January 13, despite his wife Anne's insistence that he should remain hooked up to breathing support.

He had been in hospital since October 31 but doctors had determined that it was time to end his treatment after he suffered lung failure.

But Anne sought an injunction against the hospital to prevent them from switching off his ventilator, and a judge ruled in her favor.

This weekend, he was flown to an unnamed facility in Texas, the family's attorney said, where treatment is continuing.

'Scott is now in a hospital in Texas getting critical care,' said attorney Marjorie Holsten.

Scott Quiner, 55, who is unvaccinated, caught COVID and was being kept alive by a ventilator

Mercy Hospital in Minnesota wanted to switch his ventilator off but he has now been moved from to a Texas facility in order to keep him alive

'The doctor said Scott was the most undernourished patient he has ever seen. The last update I got was yesterday afternoon after some tests had been run; all organs are working except his lungs.'

He is now said to be 'receiving necessary nutrition, hydration, and treatments that were requested of the Minnesota hospital and not provided.

'We believe he has turned the corner and is taking baby steps in the right direction,' Holsten added. It is unclear if a lung transplant has been lined up.

Allina Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, issued a statement saying it is grateful the family was able to find a health care facility that will meet their needs.

'We continue to wish them all the best,' the statement said.

An Anoka County judge granted a petition from Quiner's wife, Anne, pictured right, that prevented Mercy from disconnecting the ventilator

The hospital also pushed back on criticism of their treatment of Scott so far.

'Allina Health has great confidence in the exceptional care provided to our patients, which is administered according to evidence-based practices by our talented and compassionate medical teams,' the statement continued.

Scott Quiner's case drew widespread attention last week after Mercy Hospital said it would disconnect the ventilator on Thursday.

Quiner, who was unvaccinated, had been in the hospital's intensive care unit since November 6 with critically low oxygen levels and had shown little signs of improvement since his arrival, the Star Tribune reported.

A picture of his chart that was included in his wife's court filing noted on January 12 that his 'care plan' called for ventilator support to come to an end on January 13.

'Family would be able to be present at the bedside,' the chart reads.

Quiner's wife, Anne, went to court in Anoka County court one day before his machine was due to be switched off, seeking an emergency restraining order to prevent Mercy from disconnecting the ventilator.

Quiner's wife, Anne, left, went to court in Anoka County court one day before his machine was due to be switched off, seeking an emergency restraining order to prevent Mercy from disconnecting Scott's ventilator

Quiner said the decision by the hospital would 'end my husband's life' and appealed for a restraining order against the hospital.

Without a judge's decision, 'my husband will die,' Anne wrote in her petition to the court.

'I have advised the doctors that I vehemently disagree with this action and do not want my husband's ventilator turned off,' court papers said.

Anoka County Judge Jennifer Stanfield ruled in favor of Anne Quiner's request and had set a hearing to be held online February 11.

'I don't think the judge wanted to be on the wrong side of saying, "Well, of course, you should be able to pull the plug,"' attorney Holsten said.

'I think the world is watching what is going on with Scott, and as he gets better and better, we're gonna see that, you know what, there are protocols that should be used that hospitals have not been using,' Holsten told Fox 9.

'I'm hoping that changes are going to be made as a result of this case.'

So far, Quiners case has drawn attention across the country, and his family has raised more than $70,000 on a Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo and GoFundMe.
Hawaii will require tourists to get their COVID-19 booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated avoid a mandatory five day quarantine on arrival.

Gov. David Ige announced plans for the new Safe Travels policy during a press conference last week.

We want to see a booster shot for those who are fully vaccinated within five or six months of completing their vaccination regiment,' he said. 'We are looking to see what actions are necessary to implement that in Safe Travels.

Under the current regulations, travelers who do not wish to quarantine must have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A negative COVID test taken within one day of travel is also sufficient to avoid quarantine.

Ige's announcement comes as Hawaii reports a spike in positive COVID cases, as well as rising hospitalization and mortality rates  likely due to the surging Omicron variant which is impacting citizens nationwide.

In the pas two weeks, the number of COVID deaths in America has risen by 36 percent even as the Omicron variant surge shows signs that daily infections are falling. At least 1,839 Americans are dying from the virus each day  but it's far lower than the peak number of deaths during the Delta surge.

A record 155,000 people are being hospitalized with the virus daily  a 61 percent increase over the past two weeks and an all-time pandemic record. However, experts note that the figure could be misleading and are calling for better data collection practices to be implemented.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige will soon require tourists to get their COVID-19 booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated and permitted to skip the state's five day quarantine policy

In wake of the surging cases, Ige is trying to take additional steps to keep Hawaii residents safe, including making the definition of 'fully vaccinated' to include booster shots.

He said the change to the Safe Travels program will not occur for at least two weeks, giving travelers the chance to either get boosted or adjust their plans accordingly.

'We know that the community needs time to react to that, so we would have to provide at least two weeks for those who may not be up-to-date to go to have the opportunity to go and get vaccinated if they need to,' Ige explained.

The governor is also in discussion with county leaders and mayors about requiring booster shots for access to restaurants and events, but said the decision ultimately rests with the local leaders.

However, he notes he would be willing to step in and issue statewide orders if Hawaii's hospitals and medical system were to become overrun by the surge.

Ige announced plans for the new Safe Travels policy during a press conference last week as the Omicron variant continues to surge and Hawaii's airports are experiencing long wait times as officials conduct required coronavirus screenings

Under the current regulations travelers who do not wish to quarantine must have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A negative COVID test taken within one day of travel is also sufficient to avoid quarantine

Meanwhile, in recent weeks, travelers have complained of longer lines and wait times at Hawaii's airports as the state battles with COVID-related staffing shortages.

During the first week of the year, incoming passengers reported having to wait hours to show officials their proof of vaccination or negative COVID test.

Aviation experts allege the extended wait times stem from airlines reducing or suspending their pre-screening operations at mainland gates.

'Sometimes they have one agent screening and they can get through 25 to 50 people and the rest has to be screened here on Oahu,' Sheri Kajiwara, special projects administrator for the states Safe Travels program, told Hawaii News Now on January 4.

Kajiwara explained that airlines dont get financial compensation to screen passengers for safe travels eligibility so when faced with staffing shortages, are often forced to prioritize flight operations.

The Hawaii Department of Health reported 4,700 new coronavirus infections Monday, raising the statewide total to 174,586. The state has seen a seven-day average of 4,087 cases

No additional fatalities were reported on Monday, leaving the state's COVID death toll at 1,126. The seven-day average for deaths is 4

Hawaii is also seeing a seven-day hospitalizations average of 367

Passengers, however, have reportedly found the entire process frustrating and inconvenient.

'The whole thing is frustrating  especially if youre not coming from out of the country. Just being a regular American you should be able to come and go as you will,' Lonnie Sorci, of Foresthill, California, told the news outlet.

The Hawaii Department of Health reported 4,700 new coronavirus infections Monday, raising the statewide total to 174,586. The state has seen a seven-day average of 4,087 cases.

No additional fatalities were reported on Monday, leaving the state's COVID death toll at 1,126. The seven-day average for deaths is 4.

Hawaii is also seeing a seven-day hospitalizations average of 367.

Ige said the change to the Safe Travels program will not occur for at least two weeks, giving travelers the chance to either get boosted or adjust their plans accordingly

The US daily case average eclipsed 800,000 for the first time over the weekend, with the height of the Omicron surge now reaching four times as many cases as the peak of the Delta wave. Disparities in case figures have not translated into more deaths, though, with the 1,839 deaths being recorded every day in America - the most since early October - is still far below the 3,200 deaths per day being averaged at the peak of the Delta surge in late September.

Cases also seem to be reaching a peak. Week-to-week case growth nationwide is slowing. New daily cases are only up seven percent over the past week, compared to a 75 percent increase the week before. New York and New Jersey were struck hard and fast by the variant last month, but cases in the neighboring states are now decreasing over the past two weeks - down 14 percent and 20 percent respectively.

Dr Vivek Murthy, America's surgeon general, warns that the peak may not be as near as some believe. He told CNN on Sunday that not every state will experience was is currently going on along the east coast.

'There are parts of the country  New York, in particular, and other parts of the Northeast  where we are starting to see a plateau, and in some cases, an early decline in cases,' Murthy said.

'The challenge is that the entire country is not moving at the same pace,'

'The Omicron wave started later in other parts of the country, so we shouldn't expect a national peak in the next coming days. The next few weeks will be tough.'

The US daily case average eclipsed 800,000 for the first time over the weekend, with the height of the Omicron surge reaching four times as many cases as the peak of the Delta wave

In the pas two weeks, the number of COVID deaths in America has risen by 36 percent even as the Omicron variant surge shows signs that daily infections are falling

A record 155,000 people are being hospitalized with the virus daily  a 61 percent increase over the past two weeks and an all-time pandemic record

There is currently a large gulf between case change rates for states east of the Mississippi river and those west of it, as the virus seems to be traveling out west after initial surges along the east coast.

What happens in the UK often proceeds the US by a few weeks. Across the pond, cases are continuing to decline after a massive surge struck the nation last month. The country recorded 84,429 new cases on Monday, and the daily case average has fallen to around the 100,000 mark - and will likely only fall further in the coming days.

The plummeting of new cases has continued in South Africa as well. The country which first detected the variant - and suffered its first major outbreak - is now recording less than 5,000 new COVID cases per day after reaching the heights of more than 23,000 per day only a few weeks ago.
A Catholic hospital chain in the Midwest has axed a policy which gave white patients lower priority for potentially life-saving COVID treatment after a conservative law firm threatened legal action.

SSM Health, based in St Louis, Missouri, runs 23 hospitals across Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, announced the climbdown Friday, hours after the legal warning was filed.

On Friday, attorneys for the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty wrote to the hospital, asking that they end the ranking system used to determine which patients get priority for monoclonal antibodies - a popular method for reducing the risk of severe COVID symptoms.

The letter cited a December 31 email to physicians by SSM Health, which referenced a risk scoring calculator in which non-white patients received a seven-point head start out of 20 total, when judging whether to administer the antibodies.

'For example, a 50-year-old white female (15 points) suffering from obesity (1 point), asthma (1 point), and hypertension (1 point) would not be eligible for mAbs because she does not receive the 20-point minimum score under the calculator,' the letter stated.

'On the other hand, an otherwise healthy 50-year-old African-American female (22 points), without any of these health risks, would be eligible.'

Rick Esenberg (left), an attorney for the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, wrote a letter on Friday to Laura Kaiser (right), the CEO of SSM Health, about their policy for determining COVID treatment

The attorneys, led by Rick Esenberg, wrote that the grading system was immoral and illegal.

'The approach taken by your calculator is not only profoundly unethical and immoral, it is illegal,' they argued.

'Federal law forbids race discrimination.'

SSM Health's CEO, Laura Kaiser, said in response that the calculator cited by the attorneys was outdated and no longer in use.

'While early versions of risk calculators across the nation appropriately included race and gender criteria based on initial outcomes, SSM Health has continued to evaluate and update our protocols weekly to reflect the most up-to-date clinical evidence available,' the company said in a statement.

'As a result, race and gender criteria are no longer utilized.

'The internal memo cited by WILL inadvertently referenced an expired calculator.'

The hospital chain had said previously that the 'ethical justification' for the race-based policy was that 'COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on low income communities and certain racial/ethnic minorities in the United States.'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that racial and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

They say the reasons for the disparity are complex.

'Some of the many inequities in social determinants of health that may increase risk of severe illness (such as hospitalization, intubation, and death) from COVID-19 include access to quality healthcare, general health status, education, economic stability, and many other factors that affect health risks and outcomes,' they state.

'Because of these and other inequities, people from some racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 than non-Hispanic White people.

'COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of COVID-19 and its potentially severe complications.

'Discrimination, which includes racism, shapes social and economic factors that put people at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

'Unfortunately, discrimination exists in systems meant to protect well-being and health.

'For example, discrimination within the healthcare system may deter people from seeking or receiving timely testing, vaccination, and treatment for health concerns, including COVID-19.'

Dan Lennington, an attorney with WILL, said he was pleased SMM Health had dropped the criteria, but race should never have been a factor in prioritizing treatment in the first place.

'We're encouraged that SSM Health has dropped the racial classifications from their risk-scoring calculator,' Lennington said.

'But if they updated this calculator before today, we have yet to see any communication to Wisconsin physicians on the matter.

'We still profoundly disagree with SSM's position that race is an "appropriate" consideration when treating patients for COVID.'

The SSM case came after the health departments in Utah and Minnesota were told they could face potential discrimination lawsuits after they issued guidance using race as a factor in prioritizing COVID-19 treatment.

The Utah and Minnesota Departments of Health both published guidance notifications that stated race and ethnicity could be considered when determining eligibility for COVID Monoclonal antibodies treatment due to the virus' greater impact in communities of color.

Utah's policy also included a COVID-19 Risk Score card for medical professionals to numerically weigh the risks through several medical factors, with 'non-white race or Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity' scoring two extra points.

In response to the backlash, Minnesota last week withdrew the recommendation, but it remains on the books in Utah.

America First Legal, a conservative law group founded by former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller, claimed the policies violated federal law through 'blatant discrimination.'

'Using a patient's skin color or ethnicity - rather than the unique and specific medical circumstances of an individual patient - as a basis for deciding who should obtain lifesaving medical treatment is appalling,' the group wrote in letters first reported by Fox News.

The Utah Department of Health asks medical professionals to use this score card to determine which patients are most at risk. Being non-white grants the patient two extra points

The Minnesota Department of Health said it was following through the recommendations of the FDA, which acknowledge a racial disparity in COVID-19 cases and said race and ethnicity ''may also place individual patients at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19'

The Utah and Minnesota Department of Health both published guidance notifications that stated race and ethnicity could be considered when determining eligibility for COVID Monoclonal antibodies treatment

'The color of one's skin is not a medical condition akin to hypertension, heart disease, or obesity, which are known to aggravate the risk of death or severe illness among those infected with COVID-19,' the letters continued.

'Directing medical professionals to provide or deny medical care based on immutable characteristics like skin color, without regard to the particular health conditions of the individual patients who are seeking these life-saving antiviral treatments, is nothing more than an attempt to establish a racial hierarchy in the provision of life-saving medicine.'

The Utah Department of Health defended their decision in a press release on Tuesday, explaining that those who were 'non-white race or Hispanic/Latinx people are 35-50% more likely to be hospitalized' than their white counterparts.

'For those who do not automatically qualify, the risk score was developed to include other factors proven to increase risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19,' the agency said.

'Each factor in the risk score represents a condition or characteristic that has been shown to put a person at elevated risk for severe disease or hospitalization.'

Nobody automatically qualifies for treatment based on their race or ethnicity through the Utah or Minnesota policies.

In their state's policy, the Minnesota Department of Health said it was following through the recommendations of the FDA, which acknowledge a racial disparity in COVID-19 cases and said race and ethnicity ''may also place individual patients at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.'

Miller told Fox that the policies were discriminatory against white people.

'These racist policies decide questions of life and death based on skin color and must be rescinded immediately. It's an abomination,' he said.

'They radically violate federal law, the United States Constitution, and the sacred principle of equal justice for all.

'No right is safe if the government can award or deny medical care based on race. End this horrid injustice.'

In December, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized AstraZeneca's monoclonal antibody treatment for people at high risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Unlike other monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID, AstraZeneca's treatment is designed for patients who are not currently infected with the coronavirus - but wish to protect themselves from potential future infections.

In a clinical trial, the treatment reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID by 77 percent for patients who were over age 59 or had chronic medical conditions. The treatment may protect patients for up to six months.

The FDA has authorized AstraZeneca's monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID, designed for patients with weakened immune systems. Pictured: A patient receives Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment in Sarasota, Florida, September 2021

Unlike other monoclonal antibody treatments, AstraZeneca's treatment is designed to be preventative - taken before a patient gets sick. Pictured: Packaging and vials for the treatment

Monoclonal antibody treatments give patients' immune systems a boost in warding off COVID disease.

In the treatment, patients are infused with antibodies - a type of immune system protein - that have been designed in a lab specifically to fight COVID.

During the last year, monoclonal antibody treatments have become increasingly popular for patients who are at high risk of developing severe symptoms, due to their age or preexisting health conditions.

The new treatment, called Evusheld, is authorized for patients who have weakened immune systems and are more vulnerable to the virus as a result.

People who have a history of serious side effects from COVID vaccines or components in those vaccines are also eligible for Evusheld.

Unlike monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID that the FDA has previously authorized, AstraZeneca's treatment is designed as a preventative measure.

AstraZeneca's treatment includes a combination of two monoclonal antibody drugs, which are administered together over the course of two injections.
A young Aussie has revealed how easily people can manipulate reporting the results of their rapid antigen tests (RAT) to get time off work and claim up to $750 from Centrelink.

The TikTok user, named Mitch, revealed he tested positive for Covid through a RAT and went to report it on the NSW Health website, as it is mandatory in the state.

While punching in his details on the website, the department never asked for proof of his RAT result, Mitch explained, meaning people can fabricate positive infections.

Mitch said when punching in his details the department never asked for proof of his result, which would allow people to fabricate positive infections

'There's actually nothing stopping anyone just wanting seven days off work and registering they're positive when they're not actually positive,' he said.

Mitch says he received a text from NSW Health immediately after putting in his result, even though he provided no proof of his positive RAT.

'All you have to do is put in a few details, you don't have to post a picture or prove you've tested positive,' he noted.

'Then you get a message the same day from NSW Health saying you've tested positive but there's nothing stopping anyone from wanting seven days off work.'

They can then use this text to claim up to $750 from Centrelink via the government's pandemic leave disaster payment.

NSW Health brought in the mandatory recording of RAT results earlier this month to respond to skyrocketing Omicron cases. Residents can report their infections through the department's website or Service NSW application.

Covid patients who don't register positive rapid antigen test results will be fined $1000 in NSW - even though the Premier admitted that is effectively impossible to enforce.

NSW Health brought in the mandatory recording of RAT results earlier this month as a response to skyrocketing Omicron cases and a change in government tact

Meanwhile, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also revealed he has been receiving text messages after people falsely recorded him as testing positive for the virus, again showing the flaws of the system.

The NSW Health Minister said hundreds of the state's 13,763 rapid antigen tests reported on Tuesday and more in previous days were fake.

'I am aware of some importance that some people think it's a joke, perhaps malicious, to put in false reports, to Health and NSW about somebody being positive,' he said on Tuesday.

'I can now speak from is personal experience, I received notification yesterday and again today from New South Wales Health that apparently somebody has put my name in there as being a positive Rapid Antigen Test.

'It is extremely irresponsible, you are undermining while the public health team is trying to do here to keep the entire community safe.

'It is juvenile, it is moronic but it's also so disappointing to think that you would actually undermine an incredibly hard-working public health team here in NSW.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Health for clarification.
One of Melbourne's trendiest cafes has been forced to issue an apology after it offered customers free rapid antigen tests in return for spending $160.

St Ali Coffee Roasters in South Melbourne sent a text to its VIP subscribers offering two free RATs if they spent a minimum $159.99 in an online-only offer.

The business runs a retail outlet in South Melbourne as well as offering general coffee supplies online.

'We've been fortunate enough to secure a limited number of rapid antigen tests for our staff, families and friends,' St Ali texted subscribers.

'As a special VIP customer, we'd like to extend these to you too.

'We'll gift you a free 2PK rapid antigen test and ship it free in Australia.

'Minimum spend of $159.99 applies.'

Niche coffee brand St Ali was first established in South Melbourne back in 2005

Salvatore Malatesta (left, in hat) is pictured at St Ali in South Melbourne. The business has apologised for a marketing text offering RATs in return for customers spending $160

The text sent to VIP St Ali subscribers offering the 'free' RAT tests in return for a minimum spend with the business

Comments on a Reddit post by someone who received the text message were swift to condemn the business for the offer.

'Is this illegal? It feels like it should be illegal,' one person wrote.

'Disgusting, I have to put up with daily abuse as a 'stockist' who can't get/keep of RATs so a***holes can use them as a promotional tool,' another person posted.

Many people called for a boycott of the business run by Salvatore Malatesta, who is described as a 'disruptive entrepreneur' on the St Ali website.

The backlash to the RAT offer caused Mr Malatesta to issue a hasty apology.

'We believed this was a way of supporting our customers whom purchase from us regularly but the message has been lost.

'We can see in hindsight it was inappropriate.

'We are very sorry.'

The backlash to the RAT offer caused Mr Malatesta to issue a hasty apology. 'We believed this was a way of supporting our customers whom purchase from us regularly but the message has been lost. We can see in hindsight it was inappropriate'

St Ali said it will give an 'equivalent amount' of tests to the Father Bob Maguire Foundation in South Melbourne 'to distribute as he sees fit'.

'That might be the fastest back pedal by a business that I've ever seen,' one person commented in response.

The niche coffee brand was first established in 2005 with the philosophy of bringing 'specialty coffee to the masses through a team of dynamic and drive coffee-lovers'.

It later branched out into wholesale after Mr Malatesta purchased the business in 2008.

Daily Mail Australia has approached St Ali for further comment.

Meanwhile, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has compiled a list a complaints about price gouging for home testing kits.

Rapid antigen tests are being advertised for $1,000 when they are meant to be selling for as little as $12.

'The highest prices by far have been identified on online marketplaces, one of which featured an advertisement of a test for over $1,000 each,' the ACCC said.
Three teenage boys were killed in Southern California when the car they were in struck a curb, collided with a fence and rolled over an embankment, authorities said.

Eric Gullekson, 16, and Andyn Bae, 17, both of Temple City, and Nicholas Torres, 17, of Monterey Park, died after Bae's 2005 Honda Sedan came to rest upside-down on a sidewalk underneath a Pasadena highway overpass.

Gullekson and Bae died at the scene, while Torres was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital but died shortly after.

The single-vehicle crash happened around 8.30pm on Sunday, California Highway Patrol (CHP) said.

Bae was heading south on Michillinda Avenue when he lost control of the vehicle, California Highway Patrol said. The car then crashed with the elevated concrete curb edge and into the chain-link fence, rolling back to the bottom.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Authorities have not disclosed if drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision.

Eric Gullekson, 16, (left) and Andyn Bae, 17, (right) of Temple City, died after Bae's 2005 Honda Sedan came to rest upside-down on a sidewalk underneath a Pasadena highway overpass

Nicholas Torres, 17, of Monterey Park, was also in the crash. He was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital but died shortly after

Bae was heading south on Michillinda Avenue when he lost control of the vehicle, California Highway Patrol said

Preliminary reports that the car plunged off an elevated section of nearby Interstate 210 were inaccurate, the highway patrol said

The car crashed with the elevated concrete curb edge and into the chain-link fence, rolling back to the bottom

Preliminary reports that the car plunged off an elevated section of nearby Interstate 210 were inaccurate, the highway patrol said.

'For unknown reasons at this time, the driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with the raised concrete curb edge, he continued westbound and collided with the chain link fence,' CHP wrote in their crash report. 'The vehicle collided with the descending dirt/shrub embankment and rolled over.'

On Monday, family and friends of the victims gathered at the site of the crash and held a candlelight vigil with balloons and photos of the boys.

Gullekson's mother, Leonor Montelongo, burst into tear when remembering her son

On Monday, family and friends of the victims gathered at the site of the crash and held a candlelight vigil with balloons and photos of the boys

Gullekson's mother, Leonor Montelongo, told FOX 11 she was absolutely heartbroken.

'This is my son, my baby. He was taken too soon from me. I want condolences for all the families of the children that lost their lives here and I just miss him,' she said before bursting into tears.

Gullikson's brother, Luke Gullekson, also remembered his brother fondly.

'He was a good boy. He picked up skating, he was always with his friends. He was the one that made everyone laugh in the room,' he said.

Torres' stepfather, Joe Delatorre, also said his son was a good kid and he did not deserve to die in the crash.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Authorities have not disclosed if drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision

'He was a good kid and a quiet kid. She [Torre's mother] is going through a really bad time right now so what I'm going to do is stay strong for her. I don't want this to happen to anybody else,' Delatorre said.

Torres family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for funeral costs. More than $8,000 had been raised as of Tuesday evening.

Gullekson's family also launched a GoFundMe, with more than $10,500 in donations.

Meanwhile, a friend of Bae remembered him lovingly on Monday.

'He was loyal. He was there for me whenever I needed him. Always. He gave the best advice. He was the best at anything he tried to do,' Bae's friend, Igy Watkins, said about his friend.

Bae would have turned 18 this past Monday, the coroner's office said.
Australia's 29 million pets could soon be vaccinated against Covid-19 thanks to the efforts of a determined vet.

Dr Sam Kovac is doggedly pursued Australian regulatory approval for the world's only Covid vaccine for pets, developed in Russia, and is optimistic recent developments mean it will soon be on the market here.

His practice, Southern Cross Vets in Sydney, has been inundated with calls about vaccines from owners worried about their pets catching the virus.

However, Covid vaccines for furry friends require sign-off from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and as yet that has not been granted.

Vet Dr Sam Kovac (pictured with some furry friends) is confident that a Covid vaccine for pets will soon be allowed in Australia

However Dr Kovac said he has had a 'positive' conversation with a senior figure in the authority about the issue of having to pay a $105,000 application fee to get the medicine registered.

'They put me in touch with getting an alternative permit. So it's looking like, fast tracking is probably the wrong word, but there is an alternative method that we're looking at to get this approved now,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's pretty exciting. It's looking like it's going to happen.'

With 5.1 million dogs and 3.8 million cats, how are all of Australia's pets going to get vaccinated?

'I haven't thought about the logistics of it, but the vaccine itself is not a costly vaccine per vial. In Russia, most of the work is the vets doing their consult and administering it,' Dr Kovac admitted.

'You don't need to import a million vaccines to start off with. If there is interest from a couple of thousand pet owners then we could start with that.

'It's a very simple vaccine and they could manufacture 24 hours a day if there is the demand for it here. But the first step is to get it approved.'

A pet vaccination for Covid-19 could soon be available in Australia. Pictured is a vet giving a dog an injection

Dr Kovac said the APVMA was considering a permit that would allow it to be used in an emergency use situation similar to how vaccines for humans were before they got full registration.

'So I'm hoping with all the relevant paperwork I can submit to them that we should get a quicker response than initially anticipated,' he said.

Pets CAN contract Covid - but most vets can't test for the virus

Despite many people thinking otherwise, Dr Kovac said pets definitely can get Covid, but there is no evidence they can pass it on to humans.

'It's kind of weird because thinking about influenza, colds, other respiratory viruses, they don't really affect dogs and cats. I've never heard of a case,' he said.

'But there's plenty of evidence from overseas that dogs, cats, ferrets, mink can contract Covid-19, the same virus that affects us, and in some cases it can be lethal and cause all the same problems that we get.'

A dog wears a face mask (pictured) because its owner is afraid it will catch Covid-19

But so far, testing pets for Covid is a very difficult process.

'Universities have access to these tests when they're testing vaccines and the prevalence of Covid, but as far as working as a practising vet, I have no test to be able to identify Covid (in pets),' he said.

'There are tests for the regular coronaviruses, but just last week I had a few clients calling up saying, "Look, we're in isolation, I've got symptoms, my dog has started coughing, my cat has diarrhoea or just lethargy".

'"I'm worried that I gave Covid to them, I'm here cuddling them because I'm anxious about Covid.

'"They're my emotional support creature. Do my pets have Covid?"'

Dr Kovac had to to tell them there was no test and the animals were not protected because they're not vaccinated.

'All we need is just one vaccine for pets. I don't think that's too much to ask, especially after these critters have helped us get through so many trying times in the last couple of years. We owe it to them, I think,' he said.

Dogs wear masks in downtown Shanghai, China on February 16, 2020

The Russian pet vaccine has also been approved in Japan, Brazil and other South American countries.

'It's ready to go... This is a safe, tried and tested technology that causes no risk, from the data, to pets, and it's really effective,' Dr Kovac said.

In the current absence of a vaccine, what can owners do if a pet has Covid?

'The old adage is ringing through right now, prevention is better than cure. If you've got Covid, just follow the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice  don't go cuddling your pet, isolate from them,' he said.

'I know it's tempting to because they're our best friends at a time like now, but definitely do everything you can to prevent your pet catching it. Until we get a vaccine, prevention is better than cure.'

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority declined to comment on this story when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.

AUSTRALIA, A LAND OF MORE PETS THAN PEOPLE Almost two-thirds of Australian households have a pet today, and 90 per cent of us have had a pet at some time. There are more pets than people in Australia - 25.69 million people, 29 million pets. This includes an estimated 5.1 million dogs, 3.8 million cats, 11.3 million fish, 5.6 million birds, 614,000 small mammals, 364,000 reptiles and 1.8 million 'other' pets. Dog owners are more likely to be living in the ACT, while South Australians are more likely to have cats. Source: Australian Parliament House Library Advertisement
Employing more health managers or paying them higher salaries does not improve the quality of NHS hospitals, a study suggests.

Those with lots of highly paid bosses are just as likely to have poor finances, long waiting lists and high death rates as those with a smaller payroll.

Researchers say this is likely to be because NHS managers spend more time on bureaucratic box-ticking than on trying to boost staff performance.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid with NHS staffs at the King's College hospital in London earlier this month. He told MPs last year he would be 'watchful for any waste or wokery' as he awarded the NHS a record funding boost

They also have little discretion in how to perform their role unlike leaders in the private sector, London School of Economics (LSE) researchers noted.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs last year he would be 'watchful for any waste or wokery' as he awarded the NHS a record funding boost.

His comments led to speculation there could be a cut in the number of highly-paid managers so more money is available for patient care.

Mr Javid appointed former vice chief of defence staff Sir Gordon Messenger to lead an overhaul of NHS management.

The general, who led the Royal Marines' invasion of Iraq, has been asked to look at how the NHS can boost efficiency and improve care.

Mr Javid pictured earlier this month. His comments last year led to speculation there could be a cut in the number of highly-paid managers so more money is available for patient care

The LSE study, published in Fiscal Studies  a peer-reviewed journal, analysed data on 129 hospital trusts between 2012/13 and 2018/19, looking at factors such as financial position, elective and emergency waiting times and deaths.

This was compared to the number of managers each trust employed and the amount spent on them.

The economists said: 'We find no evidence of an association between our measures of quantity of managerial input and quality of management.

'Furthermore, we find no associations between our measures of quantity of management input and five measures of hospital performance.'

They added: 'This holds, irrespective of how we define managerial input, whether by number of managers or expenditure on management.'

Employing more health managers or paying them higher salaries does not improve the quality of NHS hospitals, a study suggests (file photo used)

Researchers also say there is limited variation in salaries and pensions available to NHS managers, meaning there is 'little room for exceptionally good managers to shine or exceptionally bad managers to do much damage to overall hospital performance'.

Chris Hopson, chief of NHS Providers, which represents health trusts, had said managers with the most challenging roles should be offered similar rewards to those running school academies.

Those leading of large chains have attracted salaries as high as 450,000.

The highest paid hospital chief executives are earning as much as 300,000.
Sailors who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid have been threatened with dismissal.

In a significant hardening of Royal Navy policy, personnel who continue to decline the jab have been told it could cost them their careers.

Previously, unvaccinated Royal Navy personnel have been confined to shore duties, with only fully jabbed sailors going to sea. Those without jabs were not subject to any disciplinary action or threats.

According to official figures, 10 per cent of troops across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force are still not fully vaccinated. In recent days, sailors have received letters indicating they may be subject to discharge from the Royal Navy unless they agree to receive the jab.

Sailors who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid have been threatened with dismissal

The change came as ministers announced the Royal Navy is to assume overall responsibility for tackling the migrant crisis in the English Channel.

A senior naval commander will co-ordinate operations and, given the scale of the migrant problem, the service must maximise the numbers of sailors available for the task.

Last night, former Royal Navy chiefs Admiral Lord West and Rear Admiral Chris Parry expressed support for the clampdown on sailors who refuse the jab.

The letter to reluctant sailors read: Records show that you have not yet received a complete course of vaccination against Covid-19.

As an employer the Royal Navy has a responsibility to take such action as is necessary to ensure that it maximises operational effectiveness and meets its health and safety obligations.

Full vaccination is key to delivering operational effectiveness, maintains the good health of the whole force and serves to reassure them, their shipmates and their families.

If you are choosing not to be vaccinated you are to discuss vaccination with unit medical personnel and your chain of command. Information concerning the options for vaccination against Covid-19 is available [from the NHS].

If after consideration you decided not to accept the offer of Covid-19 vaccination the Royal Navy reserves the right to review your employability and you may be subject to administrative discharge from the service. It remains to be seen whether the Army and the RAF also resort to more draconian measures.

In recent days, sailors have received letters indicating they may be subject to discharge from the Royal Navy unless they agree to receive the jab (file image)

A senior sailor who is against the vaccine expressed alarm last night at the strong-arm tactics. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the chief petty officer said: I am close to retirement and this policy threatens my military pension which I have paid into for decades.

My service record is unblemished and I have every other vaccine I am required to take by the Royal Navy.

But I am worried about this vaccine hence I have not received it. It could make me seriously ill.

I would like more time to consider whether it is safe to take it. But having received this letter it seems I no longer have a choice. There are many other sailors taking the same stance as me. We all feel very strongly.

Last night, a spokesman for the Royal Navy said: Service personnel are encouraged to take up the Covid vaccine in line with Government guidelines.

The vast majority of personnel have already been vaccinated, with 95 per cent of the Armed Forces having received at least one Covid vaccination and nearly 90 per cent being fully vaccinated.
Joe Biden sends its nuclear submarine to Taiwan with several nuclear warheads as its rift with China widens. The US Navy is trying to bolster the president's image after a loss in Afghanistan.

The submarine went to a Pacific base in Guam during the weekend by the USS Nevada. Activity in the Indo-Pacific has heightened as the US moved to cover Taiwan as China has coerced the small nation daily.

US Navy's powerful sub makes appearance

The last visit by any ballistic missile submarine since 2016 in the US Pacific Island is also the second one publicly announced in four decades, noted CNN.

US Navy officials stated it improves collaboration and coordination between the US and its allies, demonstrating US capability, flexibility, readiness, and the US commitment to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, reported Express UK.

The visit comes as animosity between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan's standing continuing to worsen, with the US endorsing the island's independence and China maintaining it as part of its territory.

Ever since the island's autonomy from 1949, when a separate government was proclaimed following the Chinese Civil War, Taiwan has been a source of tension for China.

Washington refutes Beijing's claim as a crucial ally in Asia, but a weakened USA does not easily dissuade the leadership.

President Joe Biden claims China wants to take the island, but the US has contested a drum beating to keep from losing its grip in the region.

Read Also: China Plans To Build Base in the Atlantic Alarms the US; Chinese Military Presence Could Impact the West Seriously More Than Ever

Many are skeptical of the US and its intentions due to the fumble of Biden in Afghanistan, to the point of drafting a plan that is supposed to defend the island if the PLA invades its shores.

Shadow games in the Indo-Pacific

Recent sightings of a Chinese nuclear sub in the Taiwan Strait had started rumors that the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is readying for war.

Beijing has warned the US not to tempt it, or there will be consequences if it supports Taiwan. The US president said he would stop an invasion of the island, cited BBC.

American missile subs are a well-kept secret, and they move stealthily and are rarely broadcast. They can stay underwater for a long time and are not visible because it's how they operate. The visibility of the USS Nevada is a sign that the US Navy is trying to intimidate China in the Indo-Pacific region.

China only has six ballistic missile subs, which are the US has 14 of them, with a technological difference to their US counterparts. This was noted by a 2021 study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the US.

Even as the US military claimed it would have hypersonic missile technology, which has been beaten to the gun. For all intents, Beijing has the edge in this field.

In a town hall organized by CNN, President Biden claimed it has the edge over Russia and China. Developments by Russia and China in missile technology have been seen in successful launches.

Alessio Patalano, a specialist from King's College in London, said to expect more activities like this in the coming days.

Joe Biden is trying to flex and show China the resources to defend Taiwan as simulations have shown the US could lose in an actual conflict.

Related Article: Chinese Submarine Activity in the Taiwan Strait Spotted by Satellite As Tensions in the East China Sea Heightens

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Changes to the government's Covid-19 pandemic leave disaster payment come into effect today for those who have to self isolate or quarantine because of the virus.

The weekly payments will be slashed from $750 to $450 for people doing 19 hours or less of work per week, and will be removed entirely for those doing under eight.

A financial hardship test has also been introduced, which will mean anyone with $10,000 available to them won't get the payment.

Rapid antigen tests are also allowed to be used as proof that you've been infected with the virus, and therefore are eligible for the payment.

Changes to the pandemic leave disaster payment have come into force - but it's still available for those who have been told to self-isolate or quarantine

The pandemic leave disaster payment is available for those who have been told to self-isolate or quarantine.

Australians who can't earn an income or are caring for someone with COVID-19 are eligible.

Centrelink will not automatically give you the payment if you have to self-isolate or quarantine.

Individuals have to apply for the payment for each seven-day period they are isolating.

Australians can apply through the MyGov website, or by calling Centrelink on 180 22 66.

What you need to know about the changes to the pandemic leave disaster payment Previously, the payment was delivered in the form of a $750 lump sum payment for seven days. Now it has been changed to a tiered system. Anyone who loses over 20 hours of work will still receive the full $750, but if you lose between 8 and 20 hours, you will only receive $450. Anyone who loses less than eight hours of work will no be longer be eligible. A financial hardship test has also been introduced, which will mean anyone with $10,000 available and accessible to them will not get the payment. Advertisement

Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Goldie said the changes were 'dreadful penny pinching' from the federal government,

'Not only do people need to deal with the stress of contracting the virus and worry of transmitting it to their loved ones, but many will also now receive less or no income support because of this,' she said.

'Rather than cutting the payment at the height of the pandemic, we urge the government to expand it.'

Dr Goldie says one-in-four people on income support are working paid jobs but would not qualify for the payment if they caught COVID.

'It should also be extended to people who receive income support if they test positive to COVID, must look after a loved one with COVID or are a close contact and must isolate.'

ACOSS also wants the removal of the liquid assets tests and a doubling of the timeframe applicants can claim their support to 28 days.

Dr Goldie's comments come as some Australians criticise the application process as being too complicated.

Daisy Hooper, 23, who was recently struck down with the virus, was forced to wait 12-days for the payment, while isolating from her casual marketing job.

Daisy Hooper, who works as a casual at a marketing agency, described the process of applying for the pandemic leave disaster payment as 'confusing'

'As someone who works in marketing and being pretty good with computers, I found the whole process really confusing,' Hooper told the ABC.

'Nothing really makes sense to me with all the changes every day; it's not rational,' Ms Hooper said. 'It's a bit ridiculous that [the government] thinks they're being clear and concise to people.'

However Minister for Emergency Management Bridget McKenzie said the changes would ensure the payment remained targeted and available for those who need it most.

Huge Covid testing flaw that Aussie workers are using to get off work for SEVEN days and claim $750 - even though they're NOT sick with the virus Mitch said when punching in his details the department never asked for proof of his result, which would allow people to fabricate positive infections A young Aussie has revealed how easily people can manipulate reporting the results of their rapid antigen tests (RAT) to get time off work and claim up to $750 from Centrelink. The TikTok user, named Mitch, revealed he tested positive for Covid through a RAT and went to report it on the NSW Health website, as it is mandatory in the state. While punching in his details on the website, the department never asked for proof of his RAT result, Mitch explained, meaning people can fabricate positive infections. 'There's actually nothing stopping anyone just wanting seven days off work and registering they're positive when they're not actually positive,' he said. Mitch says he received a text from NSW Health immediately after putting in his result, even though he provided no proof of his positive RAT. 'All you have to do is put in a few details, you don't have to post a picture or prove you've tested positive,' he noted. 'Then you get a message the same day from NSW Health saying you've tested positive but there's nothing stopping anyone from wanting seven days off work.' They can then use this text to claim up to $750 from Centrelink via the government's pandemic leave disaster payment. NSW Health brought in the mandatory recording of RAT results earlier this month to respond to skyrocketing Omicron cases. Residents can report their infections through the department's website or Service NSW application. Covid patients who don't register positive rapid antigen test results will be fined $1000 in NSW - even though the Premier admitted that is effectively impossible to enforce. Advertisement

Are you eligible for the pandemic leave disaster payment? You may be eligible if you're unable to work and earn income, have no sick leave entitlements and NSW Health has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. A health official must direct you personally by letter, email, phone or SMS. They need to give you these directions for any of the following reasons: you have coronavirus (COVID-19)

you've been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19

you care for a child, 16 years or under, who has COVID-19

you care for a child, 16 years or under, who's been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19

you're caring for someone who has a disability or severe medical condition who must self-isolate or quarantine If you claim this payment, and you care for someone with disability, or a severe medical condition, you must be living in the same household as the person you're caring for. You may also be eligible if you're caring for someone who has COVID-19. You must also meet all of the following: you're at least 17 years old and live in New South Wales

you're an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia

you're unable to go to work and earn an income

you have no appropriate leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave, personal leave or leave to care for another person

your period of quarantine is after 17 September 2020. If you're a member of a couple, you can both claim this payment. You and your partner will need to complete separate claims. Advertisement
Charlise Mutten's step-father is a convicted serious drug offender who is serving parole in the community after he was caught with a large amount of drugs six years ago.

Justin Laurens Stein, 31, and his fiancee Kallista Mutten, Charlise's mother, are assisting police as the search for the missing nine-year-old enters its fifth day.

Charlise was last seen at a sprawling wedding estate owned by Stein's wealthy family, Wildenstein, in Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains, last Thursday.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Stein was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in 2017 for possessing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug the previous year.

He was locked up about the same time Charlise's mother received a three year sentence with a non-parole period of two years for dangerous driving occasioning death while high on methamphetamines.

Charlise Mutten's stepdad is a convicted serious drug offender who is serving parole in the community after he was caught with an exorbitant amount of drugs in 2016

Pictured: Charlise as a toddler with her mother Kallista. The youngster normally lives with her grandmother in Queensland

Stein posted a photo of a pair of hands tattooed hands with the words 'Magic' on the right fist and 'Man' on the left, inked with tattooed dollar notes and skull-and-bones symbols

Charlise was last seen at a sprawling wedding estate owned by Stein's wealthy family, Wildenstein, in Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains, last Thursday. The property is now the centre of a far reaching search

A small group of emergency services workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, were warned on day five of the search on Tuesday that the nine-year-old would be by now 'lethargic' and 'stationary'. 'It's day five. She's not going to be mobile,' a police officer told the Rural Fire Service and SES searchers

He first became eligible for parole on December 7, 2019 after serving a minimum sentence of three years and nine months.

Daily Mail Australia understands he was released from custody in November 2020, and by December 2020 he and Ms Mutten were engaged.

His ex-girlfriend confirmed Stein had not long got out of jail and was out of work, living in a unit in Leichhardt owned by his mother.

Stein's full sentence will not expire until September this year.

Ms Mutten, meanwhile, is a former ice addict who served two years in jail for killing her 53-year-old friend Karen 'Kaz' Bunch after driving off road and into the Tweed River while high on methamphetamine.

She was convicted of dangerous driving occasioning death and driving with an illicit substance in her system and was sentenced to two years jail at Lismore Court on November 24, 2017.

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing from the Blue Mountains on Thursday afternoon. Family members have been unable to confirm to police her last known outfit

A small group of emergency services workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, are trawling through overgrown bush

A convoy of cars were seen entering the property on Tuesday

Police crews and volunteers are seen moving equipment throughout the search

Ms Mutten is a former ice addict who served two years in jail for killing her 53-year-old friend Karen 'Kaz' Bunch after driving off road and into the Tweed River while high on methamphetamine

The court heard despite checking into a rehabilitation clinic after the crash, Ms Mutten relapsed into ice use and was also expelled from a clinic at Logan in Queensland after she threatened a fellow resident with violence.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Ms Mutten is still using drugs.

The couple were at the Wildenstein wedding estate on Thursday when Charlise vanished.

Stein's family owns the sprawling venue, although it's not clear who else was at the property at the time Charlise disappeared.

Stein, a former steel and timber worker from a wealthy family, is understood to split his time between his inner west home and the Mt Wilson venue, which was initially bought by his father James in 1989.

More than 100 police, firefighters and SES volunteers are involved in the search for the nine-year-old

Closest neighbour John Haitzler (Pictured) who lives at the neighbouring property with his wife Carole, said he'd applied for an AVO against Stein

Pictured: RFS volunteers on day five of the search for missing nine-year-old, Charlise Mutten

Police have seized a red ute (pictured) as part of their investigation, which will be forensically examined

Kallista Mutten's fiance Justin Stein (pictured) went to Penrith on Friday to speak with NSW police

Charlise Mutten, 9, was staying with her mother Kallista Mutten when she disappeared on Thursday at a sprawling private wedding venue owned by the family of her fiance, Justin Stein

He has a registered business, Magix Steel and Timber, and refers to himself as 'Magix Man' or 'Magic Man' online.

He posted a photo of a pair of hands tattooed hands with the words 'Magic' on the right fist and 'Man' on the left, inked with tattooed dollar notes and skull-and-bones symbols.

Stein and Charlise's mother didn't report her missing until Friday morning, at which point Stein drove his red ute to Penrith police station to speak with authorities.

That ute is now a focus the police investigation as detectives scour CCTV footage to trace the movements of the car.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Stein had anything to do with Charlise's disappearance, only that his vehicle's movements are being examined on the day as police cover off every angle.

Police speak with each other at a mobile command post in Mount Wilson as the search for Charlise continues

Police officers and detectives have been stationed at the Mount Wilson estate since Friday (pictured: an officer on Tuesday morning)

Search teams have been tirelessly looking for the schoolgirl since she was reported missing on Friday morning. Pictured: Emergency workers on Tuesday morning

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing on Thursday afternoon. Investigators have been scouring the scene, with the search now entering its fifth day

A small group of emergency services workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, were warned on day five of the search on Tuesday that the nine-year-old would be by now 'lethargic' and 'stationary'.

'It's day five. She's not going to be mobile,' a police officer told the Rural Fire Service and SES searchers.

The officer warned them that Charlise would need water from a 'bottle, puddle or dam'.

He couldn't provide them with a description of what clothes she might be wearing as 'we don't have clothing unfortunately. We don't know what she is wearing'.

Picture: The sprawling five-hectare Mount Wilson property where Charlise Mutten went missing

Her distressed mum Kallista Mutten (pictured, left and right, with Charlise) was consoled by emergency workers on Saturday

NSW Police divers spent hours searching a pond on the Wildenstein property at Mt Wilson on Saturday

While Charlise was initially said to be wearing a pink top, black knee-length skirt and pink Nike thongs when she was last seen, neither Ms Mutten or her fiance have been able to definitively say how she was dressed.

NSW RFS Commander Peter Bennett told Daily Mail Australia parts of the search area were 'inhospitable', made significantly worse by wet weather which hampered investigators on Monday.

'It's pretty thick scrub,' he said. 'Walking in line through that is exhausting.'

Police are appealing for anyone with information about her whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Charlise Mutten was last seen on Thursday afternoon. She was reported missing on Friday

Police, volunteers and RFS crews have been at the scene for five days searching for little Charlise
Lara Logan has been dropped by United Talent Agency over her November remarks comparing Dr Anthony Fauci to the Nazi 'Angel of Death', Josef Mengele.

Seth Oster, chief communications officer for UTA, confirmed to Mediaite that the agency cut ties with Logan several weeks ago.

Logan was let go over her 'highly offensive' and 'unacceptable' comments, which sparked outrage within the agency, a source told Mediaite.

South African-born Logan, 50, angered many with her November 29 appearance on Fox News, with the conservative network now scrubbing her from its broadcasts.

And last week, she told a podcaster that she doesn't know whether her relationship with the Murdoch-owned media giant even remains intact.

Host Pete Hegseth, a known critic of coronavirus vaccine mandates and masking policies, accused the Biden administration of overhyping Omicron.

'There's no justification for putting people out of their jobs or forcing mandates for a disease that's ultimately very treatable, it's cheap to treat, medicines are available all over the world, and it has death rates that compare very much to seasonal flu,' said Logan.

'In that moment, what you see on Dr Fauci, what people say to me, is that he doesn't represent science to them.

'He represents Josef Mengele  the Nazi doctor who did experiments on Jews during the Second World War and in the concentration camps.'

Logan added: 'I'm talking about people all across the world who are saying this.'

Fox Nation presenter Lara Logan sparked a firestorm on November 29 when she compared Dr Anthony Fauci to the Nazi doctor Josef Mengele

'This is what people say to me, that he doesn't represent science to them. He represents Joseph Mengele,' Logan said of Dr Fauci. Mengele, dubbed the 'Angel of Death,' was a doctor at the Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland who performed hideous experiments on prisoners

United Talent Agency is one of the biggest and most influential agencies in the world. Their offices in Beverly Hills are pictured

JOSEF MENGELE, THE 'ANGEL OF DEATH' Josef Mengele Josef Mengele had a doctorate in medicine from Frankfurt University, but used his knowledge in a sickening manner at the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he performed experiments as an SS physician from 1943 to 1945. Although prisoners transferred to his wing to be studied escaped the gas chambers and were well fed, they often ultimately met an even more painful death. Mengele regularly performed surgery without anaesthetic and would obtain bodies to work on simply by injecting chloroform into inmates' hearts while they slept, which would kill them in seconds. He was most interested in heredity and once tried to change the colour of children's eyes by injecting chemicals directly into them. Twins held a particular fascination for him and it's estimated that he examined around 3,000 - but only 100 pairs survived. Pregnant women were also singled out. He was known to have performed vivisections on them before consigning them to the death chambers. The so-called Angel of Death was on the Allied commanders' most-wanted list from 1944, but he escaped to South America and was never found, despite the best efforts of private investigators and the Israeli secret service, Mossad. Advertisement

The comments prompted immediate backlash from the Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee - both demanding apologies from the firebrand journalist.

Fox has remained silent amid the controversy, while Logan stood by her comments, going as far as to encourage attacks on the Auschwitz Museum for condemning her Nazi analogy.

Logan was previously a widely-respected journalist who joined CBS News in 2002, winning praise for her coverage in war zones including Afghanistan and Iraq.

Logan also used to serve as a reporter for CBS News' 60 Minutes, and was chief foreign correspondent and later chief foreign affairs correspondent for their news division until 2018.

In 2011, she was beaten and sexually assaulted by a mob while on assignment in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Logan left CBS News after her tenure at the network was marred by a faulty report about the 2012 attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya  a story that was retracted, and for which she apologized.

In November 2019 Fox announced that she would from January 2020 produce 16 investigative episodes of a new show, Lara Logan Has No Agenda, focused on four subjects: media bias, immigration, socialism and veterans.

Her episodes have not aired since her remarks about Fauci, but on Monday she tweeted once again a link to the second episode of a story about Nigeria. The episode first aired on the streaming service on September 27.

Logan on January 3 said she did not know whether she would ever work for Fox again.

She was paid by the production company for her show, rather than employed directly by Fox, and admitted she appeared for free on Fox's news channels to raise her profile and promote her work.

'Are you still with Fox, or what's going on?' asked podcast host Ivory Hecker - who in June was fired by Fox 26 Houston for disclosing, on air, information about behind-the-scenes discussions, and then leaking them to Project Veritas.

Logan replied: 'Well, you know, I don't know at this point how that's going to turn out.'

Asked why her Twitter bio still states that she is the host of a Fox Nation show, Logan said that she was not good at updating her profile, but would when the situation was clearer.

She has not commented on being dropped by her agent.

Her comments were described as 'disgraceful' by Fauci, who said they were 'slanderous'.

Fauci said at the time that it was an 'absolutely preposterous and disgusting comparison that she makes.'

Logan is seen with Ivory Hecker on a January 3 podcast, in which Logan admitted she did not know if she was still working with Fox

Fauci criticized Logan for her comments comparing him to an infamous Nazi war criminal, calling the conservative journalist's comparison 'slanderous' and 'disgusting'

He added: 'It's an insult to all of the people who suffered and died under the Nazi regime in the concentration camps.

'I mean, it's unconscionable what she said.'

The 80-year-old veteran public health expert added: 'What I find striking is how she gets no discipline whatsoever from the Fox network.

'How they can let her say that with no comment and no disciplinary action? I'm astounded by that!'

Fauci also took issue with Logan's claims that the death rate for COVID-19 is comparable to that of a seasonal flu.

'Forget about the fact that she was being totally slanderous to me and, as usual, had no idea what she was talking about.

'Saying that it's as benign as flu. When did influenza kill 770,000 Americans?'

Fauci added: 'So not only is she being slanderous and disrespectful to so many people who were killed in the concentration camps by Dr Mengele, but she absolutely has no idea what she's talking about.

'She's completely incorrect in everything she says.'
Huddled together with her family in a secret annexe, its entrance hidden behind a bookcase in an Amsterdam warehouse, 15-year-old Anne Frank confided to her diary her anxious hopes for final liberation  for future life.

'Will this year, 1944, bring us victory? We don't know yet,' she wrote after hearing the BBC announce the D-Day landings on their wireless set.

'But where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.'

But it wasn't to be. Tragically, 1944 brought only capture and, a year later, death for the young Anne.

While the Netherlands' liberation by Allied forces began just the following month, on August 4 the Franks  along with four other Jewish people  were discovered after having successfully hidden from the Gestapo for two years.

The investigation found Amsterdam businessman Arnold van den Bergh, pictured, revealed where the teenager was hiding

Anne died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in February 1945, days after the death of her sister, Margot. Their mother Edith had died that January  separated from her daughters in Auschwitz.

Their father, Otto, was the only one to survive. And in 1947 he published Anne's diary about their life in hiding, submitting to history arguably the most moving testament of World War II.

It remains one of the most widely read books in the world, with more than 30 million people having read The Diary Of A Young Girl in 70 languages.

Its author has become an icon of quiet defiance against the Nazis and a symbol of the indomitable human spirit.

Otto Frank is pictured with his daughters Margot and Anne (sitting on his lap), circa 1931

Anne died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in February 1945

Yet the book  with its last entry made just three days before the Franks' capture  leaves readers with a gnawing mystery: who betrayed the family?

The detectives in the Jew-hunting unit who found the Franks appeared to know exactly who they were looking for.

But after decades of speculation, two inquiries in 1947 and 1967, a string of suspects and theories, we've been left with no concrete conclusions as to how they were tipped off.

That is, until now  as a new forensic investigation led by a former FBI agent believes it has finally found the answer.

And  perhaps most shockingly  the investigators apportion blame to a fellow Jew: a wealthy Amsterdam businessman named Arnold van den Bergh.

The hunt that led to him started in 2016 when Thijs Bayens and Pieter van Twisk, a Dutch film-maker and journalist respectively, contacted Vince Pankoke, a retired FBI agent and cold-case specialist from Florida whose illustrious career had included tracking down Colombian drug cartels and 9/11 suspects.

Pankoke, pictured right, had a team which included an investigative psychologist, a war crimes investigator, historians, criminologists plus several archival researchers

Having read Frank's book himself at school and been moved by it, Pankoke agreed to take on the case, which Bayens and van Twisk documented.

And the result is both a forthcoming film and a book  The Betrayal Of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan  published this week.

With funding from Amsterdam's government  as well as from the book deal  Pankoke assembled a 23-strong international team including criminologists, forensic scientists, psychologists, handwriting experts, archival researchers and a rabbi.

Given that all the witnesses were long dead, the Amsterdam-based team came to rely heavily on an artificial-intelligence program developed by Microsoft to analyse tens of thousands of pages of government documents for clues. Perhaps rather usefully in retrospect, the Nazis had insisted on keeping detailed records of everything.

'The [investigation] files were incomplete. And they were scattered about in probably a dozen different archives,' Pankoke said.

Anne Frank lived here in Amsterdam and hid with her parents to escape from the Nazis between June 1942 and August 4, 1944

'Reports were missing. Witnesses had passed on. Memories had failed'

The Franks had moved to Amsterdam from Germany to escape the rise of Hitler and established a new life with Otto setting up a manufacturing business. But in 1940 the Nazis came to occupy the Netherlands and when, two years later, they started to deport Jews to concentration camps, the Franks went into hiding.

Just a handful of Otto's staff knew their location on two cramped floors and would bring them food. One theory of how the family came to be captured was a tip off by a neighbour, who heard them making too much noise or saw them coming too close to a window.

Pankoke's investigators drew up a database of everyone living in the immediate area, mapping potential threats in the form of Nazi Party members and known informants.

The computer software trawled through everything from letters to photos, maps and even books (investigators consulted 29 archives in countries including the UK, Canada, Russia and Israel).

Arrest records from before and after the Franks' capture were of particular interest, since the Nazis relied heavily on offering arrested Jews the chance of survival in exchange for betraying the whereabouts of the other 25,000 Dutch Jews in hiding.

Shortly after the war, Otto Frank wrote to relatives making clear he was convinced they had been betrayed.

Over the years, dozens of names have been suggested and Pankoke's team fastidiously ruled them all out, employing 'standard law-enforcement technique' in each case to conclude they lacked either the motive, knowledge or opportunity.

The Nazi arresting officer  a member of SS intelligence  who found the Franks claimed they received an anonymous phone call the morning of the raid and that the caller had been a 'Dutchman'.

But he later contradicted himself  perhaps in an attempt to protect the true source.

A 2002 biography of Otto posited that Tonny Ahlers, a Dutch Nazi, as their betrayer. He had reportedly blackmailed Frank years earlier after discovering he'd been criticising the Nazis.

Pankoke admits there was a 'lot of information' pointing to Ahlers, but says the team found no evidence to suggest he had knowledge of the Franks' whereabouts.

A 2018 book highlighted another major suspect: a Jewish woman, Ans van Dijk, who was executed after the war for collaborating with the Nazis and betraying dozens of other Jews.

However, again, Pankoke's team doubted she could specifically have known about the Franks. In fact, she was far from Amsterdam when the Franks were captured.

Pankoke also notes that after the war, Anne's father Otto strongly suggested he knew the betrayer's identity but, given he believed it was a fellow Jew trying to save their own skin, he refused to reveal their name.

Then there is the 'insider' theory. Chief suspect here has long been Wilhelm van Maaren, a known thief who worked in the warehouse where the Franks hid.

He was said to be 'suspiciously inquisitive' and would leave pencils balanced on desks, and even sprinkled flour on the floor, to prove people were moving around the building at night.

But the team concluded Van Maaren wasn't anti-Semitic. More important, the Dutchman knew that if he revealed his workplace was being used to hide Jews, he would lose his job  or worse.

So eventually, the team shifted their focus to someone who outwardly wouldn't have attracted any suspicion  neither a neighbour nor employee of the Franks.

Arnold van den Bergh was a prominent Jew with a wife and three daughters (one the same age as Anne Frank) in Amsterdam who acted as a notary in the forced sale of Jewish-owned artworks to Nazi leaders.

Otto Frank, pictured, strongly suggested he knew the identity of the person who had betrayed his family yet kept it quiet - possibly because whoever had done it acted out of self-preservation, according to ex-FBI investigator Pankoke

After the invasion, he served on the Jewish Council, a body the Nazis set up to carry out their policies within the Jewish community. In exchange for doing the Nazis' bidding, members could hope to be spared the gas chambers.

Van den Bergh's name was identified as the betrayer in an anonymous letter to Otto Frank, but, when presented in the 1963 Dutch police investigation, was rather inexplicably given little attention.

Pankoke's team discovered the letter and became convinced it offered the crucial clue to the culprit. According to the anonymous writer  who investigators believe was a conscience-stricken Dutch person working with SS intelligence  Van den Bergh betrayed not only the Franks, but other Jews by giving the Nazis a string of addresses that were being used as hiding places.

These addresses, said Pankoke, would have been known to senior members of the Jewish Council as the most powerful figures in the community.

Predictably, the Nazis broke their promise and when Amsterdam's Jewish Council was disbanded in 1943, its members were dispatched to the concentration camps. Van den Bergh clearly had some leverage, though, and Pankoke discovered that he even managed to reclassify himself as a non-Jew, and neither he nor his family went to the death camps. He died in 1950.

Otto Frank, the team discovered, had gone so far as to type up the anonymous tip-off naming Van den Bergh for his records, so he must have thought it significant. And archive records revealed that there had indeed been someone on the Jewish Council  name unknown  who had been turning over lists of Jewish hideaway addresses.

The Jewish Council of Amsterdam was a body set up by the Nazis to have Jews oversee preparations for the extermination of their own minority throughout the Netherlands during World War II. Arnold van den Bergh is seated fifth from left

For Pankoke's team, the only convincing explanation as to why Otto Frank had kept quiet about the betrayer's identity was because he knew he had done it only out of desperation to save himself and his own family rather than for financial gain or anti-Semitic hatred.

It hadn't been personal, Pankoke added, as Van den Bergh wouldn't have known who was hiding where, only the addresses where they could be.

Ronald Leopold, executive director of the Anne Frank House, urged caution, saying questions remain about the anonymous note the investigators found so damning. While Dutch historian Erik Somers stressed that Van den Bergh was a 'very influential man' and there could have been many other reasons why he was never sent to the camps.

Pankoke admits that in a world in which courts want DNA or video evidence, theirs is circumstantial but, he believes, 'pretty convincing'.

Thijs Bayens, who started the investigation and is making a film of the case, said he found the revelation 'very painful'. He hopes that the Nazis' ability to turn Jew against Jew in a country that prides itself on its tolerance will ultimately only serve to reveal the terrible depths of their wickedness.

In The Betrayal Of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation, published by HarperCollins, is out now.
A triple dose of Covid optimism arrived yesterday with cases falling further, hints that Plan B may soon be lifted and the end of the pandemic coming into view.

A leading government adviser said a 41 per cent weekly decline in infections indicated the Omicron wave might well be 'turning around'.

Professor Mike Tildesley said the latest figures were 'cautiously good news' and Britain might have a flu-type relationship with the virus by the end of the year.

Another 84,429 cases of Covid-19 were reported across the UK yesterday compared with 142,224 last Monday and 218,724 on January 4.

'It does look like across the whole of the country cases do seem to be falling,' Professor Tildesley told BBC Breakfast.

'I would say we probably need about an extra week of data to really see the effect of children going back to school but if we still see that over the next week or so, I'd be pretty confident that we are seeing this wave turning around.'

Asked whether changes in testing rules, leading to fewer PCR swabs, may have contributed to the drop in cases, he replied: 'Even taking into account any changes in testing, I think it is pretty clear the Omicron wave is slowing down.

'If this wave starts to turn around and hopefully as we get towards the warmer weather, we can start to see these restrictions removed and we can have more of a discussion about what living with Covid is going to be like.'

Professor Mike Tildesley, a University of Warwick academic and leading government adviser, said the latest Covid figures were 'cautiously good news'

Professor Tildesley (pictured during an appearance on ITV's Good Morning Britain last year), says he hopes we will have a 'flu-type relationship with Covid'

The University of Warwick academic, who is a member of the government modelling advisory group SPI-M, said new variants of viruses tended to be more transmissible but also generally milder.

He added: 'So my hope is that, as we get further into this year and next year, we are dealing with milder versions of Covid and hopefully we have more of a flu-type relationship with Covid.'

Hospitals in England made 1,604 Covid-19 admissions on Saturday, down from 1,862 on the same day last week.

Wards had 16,621 virus patients, down from 17,120 a week earlier. However, another 85 people have died after testing positive.

Downing Street said there were 'encouraging signs' in the data as Boris Johnson considered whether England's Plan B restrictions can be lifted on January 26, when they are due to expire.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the 'maximum amount of time possible' would be given to prepare for any changes in the rules.

'In terms of the data, there are some encouraging signs that infections are falling across the country,' the spokesman said.

Nadhim Zahawi said it was 'looking positive' for Plan B measures to be lifted on January 26. But the Education Secretary told BBC Breakfast:

'If you look at infection rates, they remain high, hospitalisations are still high, touching 20,000 people in hospital, but it feels like they're plateauing.

'The good news is the number of people in ICU has been coming down, certainly in London, which was the epicentre.'

The latest data shows that the pessimistic estimates of some experts were wildly inaccurate.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine forecast more than 120,000 Covid patients could be in hospital at the peak of the Omicron wave, if booster jabs proved effective and no additional measures other than Plan B were introduced.

Over the past month, bed occupancy peaked at just 17,120 in England.

The University of Warwick forecast more than 20,000 Covid patients could be admitted to hospital every day  but the highest figure so far has been 2,370.
Victoria has called a 'Code Brown' to ease pressure on the state's hospital wards as they are inundated with Covid patients.

The state's health authorities have sounded the alarm for all Melbourne hospitals and six regional hospitals: Barwon, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury/Wondonga and Latrobe.

A 'Code Brown' warning means under-pressure hospitals can defer less urgent health services to other facilities and cut outpatient services to free up staff to work in intensive care units.

The alert will come into effect from midday on Wednesday.

The declaration is expected to last between four to six weeks and will ease pressure on the system ahead of the expected peak in hospital cases.

Victoria has called a 'Code Brown' to take pressure off the state's hospital wards, which are overwhelmed by Covid patients. Pictured is a paramedic moving equipment outside St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne on January 11

WHAT IS A CODE BROWN ALERT? A 'Code Brown' allows health authorities to ease the strain on under-pressure hospitals. Hospitals covered by the code can defer less urgent health services to other facilities. Outpatient services will be cut to free up staff to work in intensive care units. Some hospital staff may be recalled from leave and others will be asked to defer their time off work. Ambulance patients will be offloaded at hospital rapidly so paramedics can get back on the road as soon as possible. Advertisement

The order will also mean some hospital staff may be recalled from leave.

Any cancellation of leave will be negotiated between the hospital and staff.

There are about 5,000 health staff unavailable across the state after they tested positive for Covid or were identified as close contacts.

Despite the seriousness of the alert, many made light of the name of the warning online.

'In my day code brown meant everyone had to get out of the pool,' one person wrote on Twitter.

'Stop saying code brown,' another said. 'It has such smelly connotations.'

The alert came as Victoria recorded 20,180 cases on Tuesday and the state recorded 22 new Covid-related deaths.

Tuesday's new infections include 11,747 from rapid antigen tests and 8433 from PCR tests.

It is the second consecutive day case numbers have declined in the state.

It brings the total number of active cases in the state to 235,035 - a fall of about 10,000 cases since Monday.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Monday said hospitalisation numbers were yet to peak, as he predicted that may not be reached for a month

Victoria recorded a 10 per cent drop in Covid cases on Tuesday (pictured tennis fans attending day one of the Australian Open on Monday)

Paramedics are seen tending to their ambulance outside St. Vincent hospital in Melbourne on January 11. The 'Code Brown' alert will come into effect from midday on Wednesday

Tuesday's patient numbers are a decrease of 77 on the previous day.

The number of people in ICU has decreased by two to 127, though 43 people are now on ventilation, an increase of five.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Monday said hospitalisation numbers were yet to peak, as he predicted that may not be reached for a month.

He said there was a lag of about two weeks between case numbers and hospital admissions, and three weeks for that to translate to ICU figures.

In NSW, a record 36 people died on Monday after testing positive to Covid.

The youngest of the NSW fatalities was aged in their 40s while all but three were over the age of 65.
New York City's embattled district attorney has sought the help of his former boss and drafted a crisis PR guru to combat the outrage over his soft-on-crime policies.

Alvin Bragg has turned to former Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara and veteran public relations professional Risa Heller to address the mounting criticisms he has received after he circulated a day-one memo earlier this month vowing to stop going after some low-level offenses, including subway turnstile jumping, prostitution, and trespassing.

'Risa and Preet have been making calls to people about what Bragg is doing and how to handle the fallout,' an insider told the New York Post.

Bragg made the desperate move to devise a crisis communications team after telling his church congregation on Sunday that he's had a 'challenging two weeks' since his start as Manhattan's top prosecutor, days after it was reported that nine attorneys have quit his office over his 'soft-on-crime' policies.

'It has been a challenging two weeks church family, challenging. That hour with the Sunday school is one of the best hours of the week. I always tell them, "They do more for me than I do for them,'" he said during Sunday service at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, before dismissing the comments from his critics.

Bragg is also planning to address the widespread backlash over his directives to downgrade certain felonies in a major speech, the source told the Post. It is unclear if he plans to retract any of his orders.

Meanwhile, overall crime in New York City is up 30 percent compared to the same time last year, with robbery up by 25 percent and felony assault up by nearly five percent.

Embattled District Attorney Alvin Bragg has sought the help of his former boss and drafted a crisis communications to combat the outrage over his soft-on-crime policies

Bragg has turned to former Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara (left) and veteran public relations professional Risa Heller (right) to address the mounting criticisms he has received after he circulated a day-one memo earlier this month vowing to stop going after some low-level offenses, including subway turnstile jumping, prostitution, and trespassing

Bragg's speech could be delivered as soon as Wednesday, although a date has not yet been confirmed.

'We're looking at different options,' the source said.

The woke district attorney was allegedly also 'talking to senior people in the DA's office' and 'to people who were endorsers and others about moving forward'.

Neither Heller and Bharara  who has been previously applauded for his crackdown on inside traders and corrupt politicians when he was Manhattan US attorney  immediately responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Meantime, critics are continuing to express their disapproval of Bragg on social media.

'The Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has made it crystal clear he will not enforce many of the laws on the books. The Governor of New York MUST now immediately remove him from office!' tweeted Rep. Lee Zeldin.

'Broken Windows worked to turn New York from the Rotten Apple to the safest place in America!' echoed former Trump advisor Andrew Giuliani. 'Alvin Bragg is preaching the exact opposite of Broken WindowsGod help us all.'

Meantime, critics are continuing to express their disapproval of Bragg on social media

However, State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs told the Post he believes in the new district attorney and welcomes his speech because 'the more clarity Bragg can give, the better.'

'I have confidence in District Attorney Bragg. He knows what he's doing. He has good intentions. Creating a safe city is his objective,' Jacobs said.

The chairman also accused Republicans of using Bragg's Day One memo as a 'wedge issue' against Democrats.

In addition to vowing to stop going after some low-level offenses, the January 3 memo also outlined a number of circumstances in which charges should be downgraded, including certain cases of armed robbery and drug dealing.

Bragg, speaking to the church Sunday, admitted that the tone  or grammar  of his day-one policy memo may have been divisive, but he stood by its spirit.

'Part of the discussion that' been so frustrating the last couple weeks is the suggestion that  I don't know public safety,' Bragg said Sunday. 'The reality is  before I turned 21, I had a semi-automatic weapon pointed at my head, I had a knife to my throat, a homicide victim at my doorstep, and was shot at. I know public safety.'

'You know what happens when you provide housing and employment to those returning from incarceration? Recidivism goes down. So, we started the conversation,' Bragg said, as reported in the New York Post.

'Maybe I had a comma out of place, maybe I didnt use the exact right words, but the urgency of now didnt start the conversation, so we started it.

'And it may be a long conversation. [I'm] harboring no illusions that the storm will end soon.'

Bragg made the desperate move to devise a crisis communications team after telling his church congregation on Sunday that he's had a 'challenging two weeks' since his start as Manhattan's top prosecutor

The Democrat has said that offenses like marijuana misdemeanors, prostitution, resisting arrest and fare dodging will no longer be prosecuted. He will continue his predecessor Cyrus Vance Jr's policy of declining to prosecute marijuana possession.

Robbers wielding guns or other deadly weapons to steal from stores and businesses will be prosecuted only for petty larceny - a misdemeanor - provided no victims were injured and there is no 'genuine risk of physical harm,' according to Bragg's memo.

Also, convicts who are caught with weapons other than guns will have their charges downgraded to misdemeanors, as long as they are not also charged with more serious offenses, though the felony would normally see crooks jailed for seven years.

Drug dealers suspected of 'acting as a low-level agent of a seller' will only be charged with misdemeanor possession.

Nearly a dozen lawyers have departed from the DA's office in the first two weeks of Bragg's term. All of the departures are cases of prosecutors quitting, as Bragg has yet to fire anyone.

Overall, crime has gone up 30 percent in citywide through that same date.

There have been eight murders in New York City so far since January 1, up from six at the same time in 2021. Robbery is up by 25 percent and felony assault is up by nearly five percent

There have been eight murders in New York City so far since January 1, up from six at the same time in 2021. Robbery is up by 25 percent and felony assault is up by nearly five percent.

On Saturday morning at around 9.40am, a 40-year-old woman was pushed in front of a train at the West 42nd Street and Broadway station.

Simon Martial, 61, is charged with the second-degree murder of Michelle Alyssa Go, who lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and worked at Deloitte.

Martial has a history of mental illness and told reporters to 'go f*** yourself' as he was walked out of a Midtown precinct on Saturday night, declaring himself 'God.'

'Yeah because I'm God,' he said when asked if he killed Go. 'Yes I did. I'm God, I can do it.'

He then claimed: 'She stole my f***ing jacket, that's why.'

Simon Martial, 61, was arrested after he allegedly shoved Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, right, onto the subway tracks and killed her on Saturday morning

Simon Martial, 61, is charged with second-degree murder after the Saturday morning incident. He is seen Saturday night leaving the Midtown precinct

On Sunday, January 9, Kristal Bayron-Nieves, 19, was killed as she worked the night shift at a Burger King in East Harlem.

Police have arrested Winston Glynn, a homeless Jamaican immigrant who previously worked at the same Burger King location.

The 19-year-old cashier handed Glynn $100, but he demanded more money, police say.

Bayron-Nieves crouched down to try and open a second cash register drawer, but had no key. That is when Glynn fired a single shot and fled, grabbing the injured Burger King manager's phone on his way out.

Glynn's criminal record includes at least four prior arrests, most recently in November 2021, when he was charged with menacing with a weapon.

A spokesperson for the Queens District Attorney told DailyMail.com on Friday that Glynn was released from jail on his own recognizance because the offense he was charged with is an A misdemeanor, which 'is not bail eligible.'

Kristal Bayron-Nieves, 19, was shot dead as she worked the night shift on January 9. She was allegedly crouching down to try to get the gunman more money from a second register

Police arrested Winston Glynn, a 30-year-old homeless man, in connection with the murder
The impressive remains of a 120-year-old saltwater crocodile have been presented to delighted pupils  after being hidden under the school floorboards for decades.

The reptile, which dates back to the 19th century, was restored after workmen discovered it in June 2019.

A story about a crocodile being hidden in the South Wales school has been told across many generations.

The tale describes how a local man who served in the First World War brought back the body of a crocodile as a souvenir.

It is thought that the animal was put on display at the Rhondda school  Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bodringallt  but it was then stored beneath the floorboards to protect it.

The remains of the saltwater crocodile had been stored under the floorboards in a school in South Wales, having been brought back as a souvenir from WW1 by a soldier

The crocodile's underside was missing, along with its feet and the base of its tail

The sorry-looking husk of the crocodile had very few of its teeth remaining in its skull

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council worked with Welsh company Pure Conservation to restore the remains.

The crocodile had suffered significant damage  its entire underside was missing, along with its feet and the base of its tail, and its teeth had fallen out.

The body was initially frozen to remove pests and was tested for dangerous materials.

It was then cleaned and vacuumed to remove dirt, cobwebs and soil, and loose teeth were replaced in the sockets.

The work was completed just before Christmas and the crocodile was put on display last week.

A restoration effort saw the crocodile's remains cleaned and tested for dangerous substances

The WW1 souvenir crocodile had loose teeth replaced in its sockets and has been put on display

Councillor Joy Rosser described the discovery as 'absolutely incredible'.

She added: 'It was the last thing workmen thought they'd find underneath a classroom... It was fantastic to see the excited look on pupils' faces when they saw the crocodile on display.'

She said it was a 'one-of-a-kind, real piece of local history'.

Saltwater crocodiles, the largest reptiles, can grow up to 23ft and weigh up to 2,200lb.

They are mainly found in north Australia and south-east Asia
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has unleashed on Prime Minster Scott Morrison for spruiking rapid antigen tests at state testing clinics in a furious rant.

Ms D'Ath called on Mr Morrrson to apologise for a 'chest-beating' ad campaign in which the Federal government talked about the availability of RATs at clinics run by states.

The ads suggest those who are close contacts of a Covid case, are symptomatic with the virus or are required to take a RAT under a public health direction can get a free test at state testing clinics.

'Queensland has not received the Commonwealth's supply yet,' Ms D'Ath complained.

'Scott Morrison should be apologising when he knows that supply [of RATs] isnt available right now,' Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said

She said 100,000 tests were expected to be delivered by Wednesday but that 50,000 of the consignment were 'point of care' tests not suitable for public testing clinics.

'I think those ads are very self-serving, they are party political and it's about Morrison positioning himself to look good in the lead-up to an election.

'To actually be running these ads knowing there is not enough to supply to give everyone who turns up as a close contact or who has symptoms a free test is, I think, irresponsible.

'It is not Scott Morrison who is standing there at these testing clinics having to deal with the abuse of people who are unhappy because they can't get a free test.

'It's absolutely appalling.

'Scott Morrison should be apologising when he knows that supply isnt available right now.'

Ms D'Ath said she would prefer the Federal government spent more money securing more RATs (picture) to provide through public testing and GP clinics

'To actually be running these ads knowing there is not enough to supply to give everyone who turns up as a close contact or who has symptoms a free test is, I think, irresponsible,' Ms D'Ath said. Pictured: A Brisbane resident during the current Omicron wave.

Later in the press conference Ms D'Ath continued the attack on the ads.

'I think it's a bit rich that the Commonwealth is spending taxpayer dollars running ads about what the state public testing clinics are providing,' she said.

'We're the ones doing all the hard work here.'

Ms D'Ath said she would prefer the Federal government spent more money securing more RATs to provide through public testing and GP clinics.

She said Queensland's supply of RATs would be distributed to hospital and health services and individual testing clinics once received.

Australians have reported paying exorbitant prices for RATs, with stock either sold out or in very short supply even though 70million kits the federal government ordered are due to arrive and be distributed in January.

Changes in Covid testing rules allowing people to use RATs instead of PCR tests to reduce the pressure on testing clinic has seen a nationwide rush to secure the DIY tests.

Asymptomatic close contacts were advised to avoid public testing clinics and instead use a RAT, but the speed of the Omicron spread and increasing hospitalisations has seen the nation caught short on supply of the tests.

Mr Morrison has blamed the shortage of RATs on the Omicron variant.

'The rapid antigen tests are in short supply all around the world,' he told 2GB on Monday.

'This is not something that is unique to Australia going through it.

'It's part of dealing with Omicron. Omicron has disrupted everything.'
A top criminologist says the 15 to 20 hours between when Charlise Mutten was last seen and when she was reported missing could be one of the keys to finding the schoolgirl.

The nine-year-old was staying with her mother Kallista and her fiance Justin Stein at a sprawling estate in Mount Wilson, in the Blue Mountains, on Thursday when she disappeared.

Her family told police she was last seen that afternoon, but they didn't file a missing persons report until 8.20am on Friday.

Criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett said it's 'unusual' for so much time to have elapsed between when a child vanishes and when authorities are notified.

Criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett (pictured) said the first 24 hours in a child's disappearance is critical

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing on Thursday afternoon. Search teams have been scouring the scene for four days

'I think what is unusual is that she wasn't reported missing for a number of hours,' she told Sky News.

'That is quite unusual in a child disappearance.'

Dr Mallett said police will need to interview Kallista and the Stein family, who own the estate where she went missing, to properly determine why there was such a delay.

She pointed out that police missed out on the chance to find Charlise during the first 'critical' 24 hours of her disappearance.

'The first 24, 48 hours are so important in any serious investigation. Certainly those first 24 hours have been lost but [police] would be making up for it, throwing every resource possible at this.'

Charlise's mother collapsed when officers stormed the property on Friday and was unable to speak with police, but she was expected to be interviewed on Monday.

Kallista Mutten's fiance Justin Stein (pictured) went to Penrith on Friday to speak with NSW police

Her distressed mum Kallista Mutten (pictured, left and right, with Charlise) was consoled by emergency workers on Saturday

Mr Stein spoke with investigators on Friday, after police impounded his red Holden Colorado Ute in Penrith for examination.

There is no suggestion Kallista Mutten or Justin Stein are connected with Charlise's disappearance.

It is understood police investigators are scouring CCTV footage for evidence about the recent movements of Mr Stein's ute.

A small group of emergency services workers, whose numbers have been depleted by a Covid outbreak among volunteers, were warned on day five of the search on Tuesday that the nine-year-old would be by now 'lethargic' and 'stationary'.

'It's day five. She's not going to be mobile,' a police officer told the Rural Fire Service and SES searchers.

Charlise Mutten, 9, was staying with her mother Kallista Mutten when she disappeared on Thursday at a sprawling private wedding venue owned by the family of her fiance, Justin Stein

Police have seized a red ute (pictured) as part of their investigation, which will be forensically examined

The officer warned them that Charlise would need water from a 'bottle, puddle or dam'.

He couldn't provide them with a description of what clothes she might be wearing as 'we don't have clothing unfortunately. We don't know what she is wearing'.

The stepfather and mother of Charlise Mutten have told police they can't remember what she was wearing when last seen on the verandah of the wedding venue property Wildenstein last Thursday afternoon.

While Charlise was initially said to be wearing a pink top, black knee-length skirt and pink Nike thongs when she was last seen, neither Kallista Mutten or her fiance have not been able to definitively say how she was dressed.

Pictured: RFS volunteers on day five of the search for missing nine-year-old, Charlise Mutten

Search teams have been tirelessly looking for the schoolgirl since she was reported missing on Friday morning. Pictured: Emergency workers on Tuesday morning

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing on Thursday afternoon. Investigators have been scouring the scene, with the search now entering its fifth day

On Sunday night, Charlise's biological father issued a cryptic social media post.

'Has anyone won the 'Worlds most hopeless person award' twice? We have a repeat entry this year!' he wrote on Facebook.

Detectives are treating the disappearance as a possible homicide, with officers spending five hours on Monday scouring the property she vanished from.

Asked directly if police believed her disappearance was suspicious on Monday, Police Area Command Acting Superintendent John Nelson would only say detectives were 'not discounting any scenario'.

The search was hampered by heavy rain yesterday, forcing SES and RFS volunteers to wind up their search ahead of what would be Charlise's fifth night missing in the mountains.

Charlise Mutten was last seen on Thursday afternoon. She was reported missing on Friday

Police officers and detectives have been stationed at the Mount Wilson estate since Friday (pictured: an officer on Tuesday morning)

NSW Police divers spent hours searching a pond on the Wildenstein property at Mt Wilson on Saturday

Dramatic footage captured by Daily Mail Australia showed police cars and a large number of detectives on foot swoop on the retreat at 11.30am on Monday.

Investigators ordered the media to 'leave, now!' from outside the gates on Monday morning - moments after plain clothes child protection squad officers drove into the property.

A police bus followed by unmarked police cars rolled through the gates as a uniformed officer stood guard.

They stayed at the property for five hours before leaving that afternoon.

Rescue teams spent Monday scouring dense bushland, fire trails, murky ponds and rivers in 30C heat following a promising development on Sunday.

Rural Fire Service volunteers found a 'very small and barefooted' footprint along a trail just a few kilometres away from where Charlise was las seen, with NSW Police Chief Inspector Gary Sims also telling reporters 'certain items' had been found.

But Inspector Sims said the items 'unfortunately haven't led to anything that gives us a definite indication of her location'.

Detectives told searchers that the youngster would likely be stationary and exhausted, if she's lost in the bush

Picture: The sprawling five-hectare Mount Wilson property where Charlise Mutten went missing

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing from the Blue Mountains on Thursday night. Family members have been unable to confirm to police her last known outfit

More than 90 Rural Fire Service officers have been deployed in groups of seven to ten across Mount Irvine and Mount Wilson to search for Charlise, and items of the mystery clothing she was wearing when she vanished.

NSW RFS Commander Peter Bennett told Daily Mail Australia the search parties had reached the 'saturation point' of available officers from four different stations at Chifley, Macarthur, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains.

He described the search areas as 'inhospitable' and the task as 'exhausting', with officers were on the lookout for traces of Charlise 'or anything unusual'.

Ten groups of firefighters searched an area of 10km on Monday.

The search for nine-year-old Charlise started on Friday and went over the weekend (pictured, police at the scene on Monday)

'It's pretty thick scrub,' he said, 'walking in line through that is exhausting.'

Ms Mutten is not believed to have given a formal interview on Monday, despite expectations she would be spoken to.

Ms Mutten collapsed and was taken to hospital shortly after her daughter was reported missing.

There is no suggestion she or her fiance were involved in her daughter's disappearance.

Searchers who set off to comb vast areas of bush have been encouraged to call out Charlise's name as they conduct line searches.

Police divers searched the waters of the Hawkesbury River on Saturday (pictured) and seized a boat, which is being scanned for fingerprints

Police divers searched the waters of the Hawkesbury River on Saturday and seized a boat, which is being scanned for fingerprints.

Following her daughter's disappearance, Ms Mutten collapsed and was taken to hospital. Mr Stein spoke to police on Friday.

'For any parent this is a distressing scenario, so yes she is quite distressed so we're providing her with support,' acting superintendent John Nelson said.

The nine-year-old is described as being of Caucasian appearance with brown hair and blue eyes, and is between 130 and 140 centimetres tall.

Rural fire service volunteers have used 'line searching' tactics and marked out any items found in their painstaking search.

NSW Police sent out multiple geo-targeting text messages to all residents in the area on Friday and Saturday evening to inform them of Charlise's disappearance and request help.

They also asked social media users to share the missing girl's photo widely.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about her whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is meant to help low-income families augment their food budgets so that they can afford to buy healthful food and prevent food insecurity.

As of January 12, 2022, 37 states had joined up for the Emergency Allotment (EA) program, making their inhabitants eligible for additional SNAP payments. The USDA has authorized a rise in food stamp payments for residents in those 37 states this month.

Extra SNAP benefits could give up to $1,504

The EA benefits will not be available to all recipients; instead, they will be used to supplement the entitlement of households who would otherwise be ineligible for the entire amount. The EA benefits will bring your total monthly benefits to the maximum for January 2022 if you were not previously getting the maximum entitlement for your dwelling size, AS USA via MSN reported.

In just a few days, Americans in need will get a significant increase in supplementary food stamp payments worth up to $1,504. After the state Department of Social Services announced that it will distribute emergency money to eligible families this month, food stamp holders in Virginia will be able to get more benefits.

Benefits will be automatically added to beneficiaries' Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Sunday, January 16, according to the agency. SNAP helps over 41.5 million people put food on their tables by giving assistance to low-income individuals and families that qualify.

It comes as people in six states are being handed more food coupons worth up to $157. Food stamps will be distributed to eligible residents in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington.

Read Also: Fourth Stimulus Check in 2022: Americans in These States May Receive New Payments This Month and in February

When can you receive SNAP benefits this year?

SNAP helps over 41.5 million people put food on their tables by giving assistance to low-income individuals and families that qualify. Depending on your status, benefits are paid on a specified day each month. SNAP must be applied for in the state where you reside. Because each state has its own application form and process, each state has its own deadline for depositing SNAP payments into eligible accounts. The Department of Agriculture's SNAP Retail Locator Tool will help you identify approved establishments that take food stamps.

States that administer SNAP programs may frequently request pay stubs or income statements to ensure that you are still in need of assistance. If you don't recertify your food stamps in a timely manner but are still eligible, your benefits may be terminated.

If you are deemed to be eligible, you will be given notification of how long you will be receiving SNAP benefits. This time is referred to as your certification period. You will get another notification before your certification term ends, informing you that you must recertify in order to continue receiving benefits. Information on how to recertify will be provided by your local SNAP office, as per Marca.

New York starts handing out SNAP benefits

Residents in New York City who are eligible for food assistance began receiving more funds in their accounts on Saturday. Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that the state will receive an additional $230 million in federal funds for SNAP participants.

This month, everyone who is registered in SNAP will get the full benefit amount. For a family of four, this comes to $835. Families that currently get the maximum amount of assistance will receive a $95 stipend. Payments for SNAP beneficiaries living outside of the city started on Wednesday, according to CBS New York.

Related Article: New Surprise, Automatic $5,200 Stimulus Checks Are Being Sent Today! Who's Eligible for the Payment?

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26 swans from the Queen's own flock were culled by vets on the Thames at Windsor to stop the spread of bird flu.

At least six of the birds are understood to have died from avian influenza amid fears the virus may spread - and another was 'found dead yesterday morning' bringing the death toll to 33.

Vets at the Swan Lifeline rescue centre were called in by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to humanely cull the swans.

The Crown owns all mute swans - the most common of the UK's three species - found on open water in Britain.

26 swans from the Queen's own flock were culled by vets on the Thames at Windsor to stop the spread of bird flu

At least six of the birds are understood to have died from avian influenza amid fears the virus may spread - and another was 'found dead yesterday morning'

The Queen's Swan marker David Barber has reportedly informed the monarch who is said to be 'saddened' and asked to be kept 'fully updated' with any news, according to The Sun Online.

A traditional annual stock-take of swans on the River Thames is carried out each summer.

Known as Swan Upping, the ceremony dates back to the 12th century when the ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water in Britain was claimed by the Crown in order to ensure a ready supply for feasts.

Vets at the Swan Lifeline rescue centre were called in by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to humanely cull the swans

Bird flu near Eton College could see swans and other birds culled in 3km 'killing zone' Bird flu has flared near Eton College where Boris Johnson, Prince William and Prince Harry were pupils. The location hasn't been revealed but the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says a 'captive bird monitoring controlled zone has been put in place around the premises, spanning three kilometres, and all birds there will be humanely culled'. It will alarm wildlife lovers because the 3km 'killing zone' so close to Eton will cover the River Thames, where there are hundreds of swans - legally owned by the Queen. Outbreaks of bird flu in other regions have seen swans infected and put down. The UK is facing its largest ever outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, with more than 60 cases confirmed since the start of November including among flocks of wild geese and ducks. The UK's chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, is urging all poultry keepers 'not to be complacent and to undertake the urgent biosecurity measures needed to keep their birds safe and help stop the spread of bird flu'. Public health advice remains that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. There is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs. The owner of the infected birds at Eton must make records of the name and address of any person visiting and whether the person had any contact with poultry or other captive birds. A record must also be made as soon as reasonably practicable of all poultry and poultry eggs transported or marketed. The Government urges people not to touch or pick up any dead or sick birds and instead report them by calling 03459 335577. Advertisement

Today, the Queen exercises this right only on certain stretches of the River Thames and surrounding tributaries.

The ownership is shared with the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Worshipful Company of Dyers, who were granted rights of ownership by the Crown in the 15th century.

Swan Upping now serves as an annual health check when swans and cygnets are weighed, ringed and checked for signs of disease or injury.

However, the ongoing Covid pandemic has meant count shave been disrupted due to restrictions - it is estimated there are between 150 and 200 swans in the 3km 'killing zone'.

This news comes after it emerged earlier this month that at least two of the Queens' swans died from bird flu at Windsor, two days after an outbreak of the virus was confirmed in nearby Eton and Maidenhead  where Boris John and Princes William and Harry were pupils at exclusive Eton College.

Swan Support, which rescues sick and injured swans within the Thames Valley area, said two of the birds - a cygnet, a young swan, and a yearling- were found dead from the disease within the flock.

It is also possible that other swans have died along the river but their bodies have not yet been recovered.

Swan Support said a regular checks had been made on the Windsor flock over the last six weeks with no sign of the virus but a number of swans were now displaying symptoms.

The centre said it was likely the virus had 'spread from a recent local outbreak' presumably referring to the Eton and Maidenhead outbreak.

Swan Support said: 'We are sad to report that we have retrieved two dead swans from the Windsor flock - a cygnet and a yearling. Both died from Avian Flu, and whilst we can't be certain of the source, it is likely it has spread from a recent local outbreak, as we have been checking on the Windsor birds for the past six weeks with no incidence of the virus.

'We are now closely monitoring the flock several times a day, and in particular a number of swans that are displaying symptoms.

'We are in regular contact with the Royal Swan Marker and keeping him informed of all developments.

'We are working extremely hard to minimise the impact of this virus and stop the spread. Our rescuers are on call 24 hours a day and we will go out immediately as soon as we are informed of a dead bird.'

Swan Support has asked people in Berkshire to keep a look out for any bird seen swimming in circles and unable to hold its head up.

'We have a designated rescuer in the Reading area who has been dealing with the outbreak there for the past month and now have a designated rescuer in the Windsor area. Both are confined to their individual areas to prevent any cross contamination.

'It is hard and heartbreaking work but we are dedicated and determined.

'We are asking for your help as it is vital to contain this outbreak and limit the devastating consequences we know this virus can have.

'Please pay particular attention to any bird that is swimming in circles and unable to hold its head up. We will then monitor the bird and retrieve it following recommended protocol. We have systems in place to ensure that we do not bring the disease into our facility.'
A father of seven who was crushed to death by a falling shipping container was an amazing dad and loving husband, his grieving widow said.

Forklift truck driver Darren Lamb, 44, died on Monday in the tragic accident at Conroy Removals in an industrial unit in Dandenong, Melbourne.

Paramedics were called to a warehouse in Fowler Road around 6.45am on Monday after reports of an accident at the removal firm.

Now his shattered family - with children aged from 1 to 20, including four under the age of eight - are left to come to terms with the devastating loss.

Father of seven Darren Lamb, crushed to death by a falling shipping container, was an amazing dad and loving husband, his grieving widow Charlene (pictured with Darren) said on Tuesday

'They are wondering where their daddy is and when he will be back,' wife Charlene Lamb told the Greater Dandenong Leader. 'We are just so lost.'

She said the kids were the centre of the veteran forklift driver's life and he loved to allow his daughters to style his hair and paint his nails, which were the subject of much ribbing at his work.

'What Daz enjoyed most about life were his kids,' she said. 'Every spare moment away from work he spent with them.'

The couple married in Las Vegas 22 years ago, and Ms Lamb revealed to the Leader how her husband wept with joy when he saw her walking down the aisle.

Forklift truck driver Darren Lamb, 44, (picrured) died on Monday in the tragic accident at Conroy Removals in an industrial unit in Dandenong, Melbourne

She added: 'He would give me a kiss before he had a shower every single night. He would always joke and say you never know what might happen while Im in there.

'I just dont understand how he can get up and go to work and never come home.'

Pal Brent Pettigrew paid tribute to his friend on social media.

'Am absolutely shattered to hear of the passing of a great mate,' he posted on Facebook.

The shattered family of Darren Lamb (pictured) - with children aged from 1 to 20, including four under the age of eight - are coming to terms with the devastating loss

'Im going to miss our banter and taking the p*** out of people - you definitely were one of kind and will be missed by so many people.

'My love goes out to Charlene and the kids - I know how how much he cherished you all and you him. RIP brother.'

Police are preparing a report for the coroner and WorkSafe has launched an investigation into the accident.
Magistrates are to get more sentencing powers in a push to tackle the backlog in the courts.

They will be able to jail offenders for up to 12 months under measures announced by Dominic Raab today, doubling the current maximum.

The Justice Secretary said the move will free up around 2,000 days of Crown Court time a year, as fewer cases will have to be referred to a judge for sentencing.

He said: Along with the Nightingale courts, digital hearings and unlimited sitting days, we will deliver swifter and more effective justice.

Bev Higgs, chairman of the Magistrates Association, said: We have been campaigning for years for magistrates sentencing powers to be extended, so we are delighted with the announcement.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: Along with the Nightingale courts, digital hearings and unlimited sitting days, we will deliver swifter and more effective justice.

Figures show more than 60,000 Crown Court cases are outstanding in England and Wales, plus more than 300,000 in magistrates courts.

Powers to increase magistrates maximum sentencing powers were first passed into law in 2003 - but have never been brought into force.

The changes are limited to triable-either-way offences meaning that defendants can still opt to have their case heard by a jury.

Crown Courts currently have a backlog of 60,000 cases in England and Wales while magistrates' courts have 300,000 cases pending. Pictured: Brighton Magistrates' Court

They will come into force in the coming months, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.

Legislation will include what the spokesman described as an off switch, so ministers can revert to a lower maximum sentence in magistrates courts.

It may be necessary to bring an end to the measures if the prison population becomes too high, for example.
A disgusted Victorian doctor has revealed how a patient called 000 under the guise of suffering chest pains just so they could get a PCR test done 'quickly'.

The patient was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency room when they revealed their supposed life-threatening condition was an elaborate ruse.

'That is just an unbelievable misuse of resources', fumed Susan Harding, the head of emergency at Royal Melbourne Hospital said on Tuesday.

Dr Susan Harding fumed about the 'unbelievable misuse of resources' on Tuesday afternoon

Dr Harding made the comments at a media conference in Victoria after the state was forced to call a Code Brown alert for hospitals to ease pressure on inundated wards.

The state's health authorities have sounded the alarm for all Melbourne hospitals and six regional hospitals: Barwon, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury/Wondonga and Latrobe.

Such a warning means under-pressure hospitals can defer less urgent health services to other facilities and cut outpatient services to free up staff to work in intensive care units.

The alert will come into effect from midday on Wednesday.

The declaration is expected to last between four to six weeks and will ease pressure on the system ahead of the expected peak in hospital cases.

There are about 5,000 health staff unavailable across the state after they tested positive for Covid or were identified as close contacts.

Victoria reported 20 deaths on Tuesday with the number of patients with the virus falling by 77 and the number of cases relatively stable at 20,180 infections.
A glamorous marketing graduate is accused of using multiple Airbnb properties to traffic commercial quantities of illegal drugs in a 'sophisticated' operation.

Tess Rowlatt, 32, allegedly switched between 16 Melbourne Airbnb rentals including the ritzy Upper West Side CBD apartments and the View Hotel St Kilda to make drug deals.

She appeared in Melbourne Magistrate's court in December charged with more than 100 offences linked to allegedly trafficking meth and 1,4 butenediol - also known as liquid fantasy - along with multiple ounce-bag drug deals at Airbnbs between July 23 and October 21 last year.

The court heard she would stay in the rented apartments for periods ranging from overnight to a few days.

Ms Rowlatt is also accused of selling meth, GHB and heroin going back to January 2021.

Melbourne woman Tess Rowlatt (pictured), 32, has been charged with drug trafficking

On her social media, Ms Rowlett states she graduated with a bachelor of business majoring in marketing from Monash University before going on to hold sales roles at multiple companies.

Magistrate Jelena Popovic said the alleged offending didn't appear to be carried out to fuel a drug habit.

'The businesslike approach to the whole enterprise is of extreme concern... This was an absolute money-making enterprise the likes of which I've rarely seen,' Ms Popovic said, according to The Herald Sun.

Drug squad detectives swooped on Ms Rowlatt's Upper West Side apartment on October 21 after she allegedly organised a deal between her supplier and a buyer.

Major drug squad detective senior constable Scott Davies told the court she checked the buyer had $15,000 and then left the room and returned with drugs.

After her arrest she was denied bail at a November hearing with police saying there was evidence she would act to collect and pay alleged drug debts if released.

The trafficking charges were added before her re-appearance in December.

Ms Rowlatt (pictured) allegedly made numerous drug deals across 16 Airbnb properties between July and October 2021

Detective senior constable Davies also alleged the Airbnbs had been booked with fake IDs and essential worker permits and that her digital devices showed evidence of multiple drug deals including one worth $34,000.

Multiple payment apps were also used as 'tick books' to keep track of the racket, he claimed.

Police prosecutor Thomas Mills said that he was still adding up the amounts and the investigation was ongoing but there appeared to be more than $203,000 worth of transactions.

'I'm seriously doubtful this is going to stay in this jurisdiction,' Magistrate Jelena Popovic said.

Mr Mills said the matter would be better suited to County Court as the investigation was complex involving multiple warrants, addresses and police officers.

Ms Rowlatt was arrested at an Upper West Side (pictured) apartment in the Melbourne CBD in October 2021

Ms Rowlatt's defence lawyer said his client has been grieving the death of her a partner when some of the offending occurred.

'The difficulty with that is she's [allegedly] engaged in high-level sophisticated deceptions and trafficking... probably the most sophisticated drug trafficking I've come across,' Ms Popovic responded.

Ms Rowlatt remains in custody.
COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities continue to grow, with providers suggesting more than half will soon be impacted.

Data released late last week showed there were more than 7000 active cases among residents, spread across about 1100 facilities.

But Aged and Community Services Australia chief executive Paul Sadler said that number was only rising.

'I believe there is now a risk we will have over half of all the aged care homes in Australia with outbreaks. That number is likely to continue to increase,' he told the ABC.

With about three-in-four residents boosted as the Omicron variant sweeps the nation, Australian Health Services Research Institute's Professor Kathy Eagar said the federal government's planning had been "completely incompetent".

'Forty per cent of all homes in Australia have an outbreak of COVID. That is really appalling,' she said.

'I think every family should be really concerned about what's happening in aged care'.

Prof Eagar suggested all residents should have received booster shots before Christmas.

Speaking at an aged care facility, Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the government did not adequately prepare the sector for the surge of cases.

'People in aged care are really suffering  when people saw Scott Morrison there on TV being flippant saying, 'We're living with COVID, we're taking wickets with the virus', they were entitled to be quite angry and frustrated at the failure of this government to put in place the mechanisms that were required,' he said.

'Scott Morrison was so determined everything would be back to normal by Christmas. It just didn't reflect the health advice, it didn't reflect the advice from operators.'

There are more than 7000 COVID-19 cases among aged care residents, across about 1100 facilities

Mr Albanese said the lack of available rapid antigen tests was leaving elderly people isolated from families and care workers.

'We need to lift the entire sector up so our elderly get the respect in their later years and the dignity they deserve,' he said.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath on Monday said boosting aged care residents with urgency was critical.

'I am concerned that not all aged care facilities have their boosters yet. And I am concerned that people in the disability sector as well (do not have boosters)," she said.

Meanwhile, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' recently-released election statement identified improving support for groups including aged care residents as a priority.

One of five initiatives for 'improved patient-centred care', the RACGP is calling for 'improved support for continuous and preventive care for vulnerable Australians, particularly for aged care, mental health, and disability'.
A witness who was reading on her porch at 4.30am has told how she saw a mysterious car with no headlights on leaving a wedding estate where a nine-year-old girl was last seen.

The development comes as an expert bush tracker said the missing girl could stay alive for 'many weeks' in the wild if she has access to drinkable water and shelter.

Charlise Mutten was last seen on Thursday afternoon on the verandah of a five-hectare wedding venue in Mount Wilson, in the Blue Mountains - which is owned by the family of her mother Kallista's fiance, Justin Stein.

But police were only notified of her disappearance at 8.20am the following day, and investigators are now trying to determine whether Charlise is lost in the bush or has been kidnapped.

One theory circulating is that the youngster was whisked away from the property in a mysterious car with no headlights.

On Tuesday, John Haitzler - who lives next to the Steins and claims he previously had a nasty confrontation with Charlise's stepdad - told Daily Mail Australia his wife Carole was reading at 4.30am on Friday when she heard the sound of a car on the driveway.

Charlise Mutten (pictured) was not reported missing for more than 12 hours after she was last seen on Thursday afternoon

John Haitzler (pictured) says his wife Carole saw a vehicle with no headlights leave the Stein's driveway at 4.30am on Friday - approximately four hours before police were notified of Charlise's disappearance

Bush tracker Jake Cassar (pictured) says Charlise Mutten could still be alive if she has access to drinkable water - and could keep going for 'months'

'She got out of bed and went to the window and saw a shadow moving,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'It is very quiet here at night and you can see the headlights - there weren't any on.'

Investigators have been scouring the scene since Charlise (pictured) went missing

Mr Haitzler said his wife couldn't see what make of car it was or who was driving it, but that he reported it to police after he heard a little girl had gone missing from next door.

The orchardist said the Stein family were known to leave their property in the middle of the night, but the headlights were always on.

Mr Haitzler also said Mr Stein lived 'in a shack' on the grounds of Wildenstein and had been there with a different girlfriend when he had got into trouble more than five years ago with 'drug dealing on the property'.

Daily Mail Australia confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Stein was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in 2017 for possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug the previous year.

Police confirmed on Friday that a neighbour saw a car with no headlights leave the property.

Later that day, they seized Mr Stein's red Colorado ute in Penrith for forensic examination.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mrs Haitzler saw Justin Stein's ute leaving the property, or that he is connected to Charlise's disappearance.

Charlise Mutten's stepdad Justin Stein (pictured) is a convicted serious drug offender

Police have seized Mr Stein's red ute (pictured) as part of their investigation, which will be forensically examined

Her distressed mum Kallista Mutten (pictured, left and right, with Charlise) was consoled by emergency workers on Saturday

Rescue teams were warned in a Tuesday morning briefing that Charlise would likely be 'lethargic' and 'stationary' if she's been sleeping in the Blue Mountains National Park for five days.

Expert tracker Jake Cassar told Daily Mail Australia that she would probably be exhausted - particularly if she's stressed and has been pushing through dense scrub - but says she could survive for two months if she has access to drinkable water.

Mr Cassar believes the nine-year-old could potentially have a lot of energy if she stays hydrated and finds shelter.

Charlise Mutten was last seen on Thursday afternoon. She was reported missing on Friday

'Her stomach would have shrunk by now so she's probably not that hungry, but she's probably stationary and sticking close to water, and hopefully shelter as well,' he said.

'If the climate is not too harsh and exposure isn't a risk, and there's water, then evidence suggests people can last for many weeks.'

The search was hampered by heavy rain on Monday, forcing SES and RFS volunteers to wind up their efforts ahead of what would be Charlise's fifth night missing in the mountains - but the downpour could help keep the schoolgirl alive.

Mr Cassar referenced 18-year-old Matthew Allen who was found in dense bushland in Westleigh, near Cherrybrook in Sydney's north-west, two months after he was reported missing in 2013.

The teenager had lost half his body weight, was dehydrated, exhausted and covered in leeches and bugs, but was alive nonetheless.

TIMELINE OF CHARLISE MUTTEN'S DISAPPEARANCE January 13: Charlise Mutten, nine, was last seen on the verandah of an estate called Wildenstein in Mount Wilson, north-west of Sydney. January 14: Charlise was reported missing at 8.20am. Police flocked to the 12.5-acre wedding venue and established a crime scene. Neighbours told detectives they saw a car at 4.20am on Friday, with no headlights on. Investigators seized a Holden Colorado ute on High Street in Penrith for forensic testing, which belongs to her mother's fiance. Her mother Kallista Mutten, 31, collapsed and was taken to hospital. Ms Mutten's fiance Justin Stein, whose family owns the lavish property, spoke with police in Penrith. January 15: Homicide detectives took over the search. Police divers seized a boat in the Hawkesbury River and scanned it for fingerprints. The boat will also be kept for forensic testing. Investigators continued to scour fire trails in dense bushland surrounding the property. January 16: RFS volunteers found 'very small and barefooted' prints along a fire trail. 'Certain items' have been uncovered by detectives, but police have not been able to determine the schoolgirl's whereabouts. January 17: A convoy of five police vehicles and detectives on foot entered the property around 11.30am. One detective ordered media to 'leave, now!' from outside the gates of the five hectare wedding venue retreat A police bus followed by unmarked police cars rolled through the gates as a uniformed officer stood guard. Earlier, plain clothes child protection squad officers drove into the property. Ms Mutten will be questioned by police. January 18: Police say Charlise will likely be 'lethargic' and 'stationary' if she's lost in the bush. January 19: Police reveal Charlise's stepdad Justin Stein has been charged with murder after finding a body in a barrel overnight Later, police reveal they have not yet been able to interview Charlise's mother because she remains in hospital under guard and is difficult to access January 25: Police reveal further CCTV of a red ute travelling between Marsden Park and Drummoyne as they continue to investigate Charlise's death Advertisement

RFS volunteers (pictured) were deployed to the area to search for the nine-year-old and have been combing bushland

Police told volunteers that Charlise would likely be exhausted lying still if she was lost in the bush

Pictured: Police vehicles moving down the driveway at Wildenstein - the five-hectare property in Mount Wilson

Pictured: RFS volunteers on Tuesday. Rescue workers have been searching for five days

WHO'S WHO IN CHARLISE MUTTEN'S FAMILY CHARLISE MUTTEN Nine-year-old Charlise Mutten was last seen on the verandah of her step-father's sprawling family home on Thursday, January 13. She was not reported missing until 8.20am the next morning. Police and volunteers have been scouring the Wildenstein estate and surrounds since they first learned of her disappearance. DEBORAH MUTTEN - THE GRANDMOTHER Charlise lives with her maternal grandmother, Deborah Mutten, in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast. Ms Mutten is a local artist who dotes on her granddaughter. She shared a sweet photo with Charlise on January 5, just days before she vanished. On January 10, she admitted she was 'struggling quite a bit'. This was after she'd agreed to allow Charlise to visit her mum in a different state. KALLISTA MUTTEN - THE MOTHER Charlise's mother Kallista Mutten recently spent two years in jail after she was convicted of dangerous driving occasioning death and driving under the influence of an illicit drug. She was released from jail in 2019 and was no longer using drugs after a stint in rehab and prison. It's unclear how involved Mutten has been in her daughter's life, but she was granted the opportunity to spend some time with Charlise over the summer school holidays before she vanished. Charlise and Kallista were at the sprawling family estate of her fiance, Justin Stein, when the nine-year-old vanished. JUSTIN STEIN - THE STEP-FATHER Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday Kallista's fiance, Justin Stein, is a convicted serious drug offender. He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail in 2017 for possessing a marketable amount of an illicit substance, and released on parole in November 2020. Within a month of his release, he had proposed to Kallista. The couple have now been engaged for 13 months. Stein comes from a wealthy family who own the Wildenstein estate where Charlise was last seen. It is a well known wedding venue in the Blue Mountains. THE FATHER Charlise's biological father - who has not been named - is 'absolutely shattered' the nine-year-old is missing, a friend said on Tuesday. He, along with his family and friends, are hopeful she'll be found safe and unharmed. It's still unclear how much time Charlise spends with her biological parents - if any. Advertisement

He said most people who get lost in the bush are found within a few kilometres of where they were last seen, but are often missed by search teams.

'I've got an enormous amount of respect for the volunteers, but people are often missed in these situations and it's incredibly important to ensure searches go on for weeks,' the bush tracker explained.

'If this girl is in the bush, then statistics would suggest she's no more than three to five kilometres away.'

Mr Cassar successfully helped police search for three-year-old AJ Elfalak when he wandered off into bushland for four days near his home in the NSW Upper Hunter Valley, and says he will join the search for Charlise if she's not found soon.

He said AJ 'set a real benchmark' for how a child could stay alive in extreme circumstances, and said the little boy's story 'taught us not to underestimate the human spirit'.

The bush tracker added that Charlise's state-of-mind is critical to her survival because 'if you were to panic, you could become dehydrated a lot quicker'.

Pictured: RFS volunteers during a briefing on Tuesday morning. Heavy fog descended on the area later that evening

Police an emergency crews have been at the Mount Wilson property for five days (pictured on Tuesday)

A police officer told the Rural Fire Service and SES searchers on Tuesday: 'It's day five. She's not going to be mobile.'

The officer warned them that Charlise would need water from a 'bottle, puddle or dam'.

A thick blanket of fog descended on the Blue Mountains on Tuesday afternoon after a day of slippery conditions in Mount Wilson.

At the search command post in Mt Wilson, a troupe of emergency services volunteers - much-reduced in numbers after some tested positive for Covid - began making their way back to base around 3.30pm as the mist rolled in.

Charlise Mutten (pictured) went missing on Thursday afternoon. Search teams have been scouring the scene for four days

While Charlise was initially said to be wearing a pink top, black knee-length skirt and pink Nike thongs when she was last seen, neither Kallista Mutten or her fiance have been able to definitively say how she was dressed.

NSW Police sent out multiple geo-targeting text messages to all residents in the area on Friday and Saturday evening to inform them of Charlise's disappearance and request help.

They also asked social media users to share the missing girl's photo widely.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about her whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A young woman who tragically lost two members of her family during the White Island volcano eruption said she repeatedly gets asked the same ignorant question.

Stephanie Browitt, a 25-year-old from Melbourne, lost her 21-year-old sister Krystal and father Paul when the volcano exploded on December 9, 2019 on the island in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty.

Ms Browitt, who suffered burns to 70 per cent of her body during the blast, said she is constantly asked why she and her family 'couldn't jump in the water if it's an island'.

'Well as you can see, that's us, circled, on the island that day, at 2.10pm. And the walls are extremely high up, and we are only surrounded by rock. We're nowhere near the jetty, and nowhere near the ocean,' she told her followers on TikTok.

Stephanie Browitt, a 25-year-old from Melbourne, lost her 21-year-old sister Krystal and father Paul when the volcano exploded on December 9, 2019

There were 47 people touring the island when the volcano erupted on December 9, 2019 - killing 22 and severely injuring 25

Marie Browitt (left with her family) was the only member of the family to stay on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship when the tragedy struck

She said she has grown tired of the horrible question that insults the memory of her family members and the 20 others who lost their lives to the eruption.

'We are as inland as you can get and under 140 metres from the crater. So my family and I were at the back of that line, and it was only about a two minute walk, we had only just started walking back to the jetty,' Ms Browitt said.

'This is the same camera only 40 seconds to a minute apart, and as you can see the island was already engulfed in ash and dust.

'So we were never, ever, ever going to make it to water. There was literally no chance for the group of 21 people I was with.'

Ms Browitt's mother Marie stayed behind on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship and watched on helplessly as the volcano erupted.

The 25-year-old spent six months recovering in hospital after the blast, sharing an emotional post on the two-year anniversary of her father and sister's deaths just over a month ago.

Ms Browitt explains they were deep in the island and had no chance of fleeing to the water when the eruption happened

Ms Browitt took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to reflect both on her achievements over the past two years and the loss of her father and sister

'Today's not only the day I survived the unimaginable, it's the day I lost my dad, Paul and sister, Krystal. It's the day that they were taken from us,' she posted to Instagram.

'My accomplishments mean nothing to me knowing they aren't shared with my sister and dad by my side. Everyday I question why we couldn't have gone through this extremely hard journey together, why they couldn't be here also.

'So when I think about today, it's filled with very mixed emotions. I'm extremely grateful that I was able to make it back home to my mum, but I'm also heartbroken that only I made it back. We are a family of four, not two. My heart hurts when I remember what I felt that day, but it hurts more not knowing what my dad and sister felt, that I wasn't next to them during their last moments.'

There were 47 people touring the island when the volcano erupted, killing 22 and severely injuring 25.

In an interview with 60 Minutes in August, Ms Browitt explained how 12 perfect strangers saved her life by generously donating their skin.

'I was very severely injured, very severely burnt and I knew that because I could tell my body was shutting down on me,' she said.

'That gift means everything to me, they gave me my life.

'Every day I think of that and how my life was dependent on that donation being available.'

'Today marks two years since the incident... that ripped us apart,' Ms Browitt wrote on Instagram

Stephanie Browitt (left) lost her sister Krystal (right) and her father Paul in the White Island volcano tragedy two years ago

The donations allowed Ms Browitt to have numerous excruciating but life-saving skin graft surgeries at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

However, a shortage of skin donors when the young woman arrived at the hospital meant doctors were forced to rely on tissue from the other side of the world.

Ms Browitt explained the majority of the tissue came from the US, a similar story for the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires and the Bali bombings.

She said donor skin needed to be readily available in Australia to ensure those affected by such catastrophic events have another shot at life.
The Victorian Government has been forced into a major backflip on suspending IVF procedures after it was accused of ripping women's 'last string of hope'.

A ban on non-urgent elective surgery was imposed on January 6 to help free up the state's hospital resources as Omicron cases continue to surge in the state.

Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters IVF clinics would be contacted by authorities to cancel their upcoming appointments with patients.

WAG Maddison Sullivan-Hunter who is married to Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter (pictured) claimed IVF treatment was not a choice after the Victorian government placed a ban - which was later reversed - on IVF treatments

Ms Sullivan-Hunter shared her frustration towards the government's 90 day pause of IVF procedures in a heartbreaking Instragram post (pictured)

But the 90-day ban triggered backlash from couples trying to conceive, with one AFL wife accusing the government of ripping women's 'last string of hope'.

Maddison Sullivan-Hunter, wife of Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter who had a long battle to conceive a child, argued IVF treatment was not a choice.

'This is not elective. This is heartache, this is life changing trauma that leaves you irretrievably broken,' she wrote on Instagram alongside an image of needles and fertility drugs.

'This is a beast that makes you resent your body, leaves your relationship hanging by a thread, fractures friendships and leaves you feeling achingly alone and filled with a whole new world of loathing every time you feel self pity upon hearing of someone else's joys.

'No one wants to do this, this is no one's first choice - this will forever be a last resort and now you have gone and ripped the last string of hope so many women and couples cling so desperately onto.'

Ms Sullivan-Hunter (pictured) is among many women to slam the government's stance on IVF procedures

A Victorian woman known only as Melanie also shared her tearful plea on Instagram on Sunday, in a video addressed to Premier Daniel Andrews and Mr Foley.

'My name is Melanie and I'm currently going through the IVF process and I really want to let you know this is not something I elected to do,' she said in the video.

'Not one other person who is going through IVF or has been through IVF or is just about to start IVF has elected to do it.

'This is something we are doing as our only opportunity to have a child. We have tried everything else. Trust me. We have tried everything else.

'To just put a blanket ban on IVF for three months... you can't have any idea what this will do to some women.'

On Tuesday, the state announced a 'Code Brown' to ease pressure on the state's hospital wards as they are inundated with Covid patients.

Authorities sounded the alarm for all Melbourne hospitals and six regional hospitals in Barwon, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury/Wondonga and Latrobe.

Acting Health Minister James Merlino (pictured) said the state was working on resuming services 'as quickly as possible' as Victoria announces a code brown for all Melbourne hospitals

The warning means under-pressure hospitals can defer less urgent health services to other facilities and cut outpatient services to free up staff to work in intensive care units.

While the order begins on Wednesday and is expected to last up to six weeks, Acting Health Minister James Merlino said the code should not affect IVF services.

'I've got some dear friends currently going through IVF or have been through IVF. I know what an emotional toll it is what a financial toll it is,' he said.

'This is in many cases a last opportunity to create a family for themselves and I am absolutely empathetic.

'The moment we can boost or return to services for IVF patients we will absolutely do so and we're looking at what we can do right now.'

The Victorian Government is working towards resuming services 'as quickly as possible', he said
Michigan Democrats were heavily criticized over the weekend for telling parents that they are not 'clients' of public schools and that public education teaches kids what society 'needs them to know.'

A Facebook post on Saturday shared by the state's Democrats on their official page blasted the idea that parents should be involved in what public school teach their children. The post was taken down on Monday morning following heavy disapproval.

'Not sure where this "parents-should-control-what-is-taught-in-schools-because-they-are-our-kids" is originating, but parents do have the option to send their kids to a hand-selected private school at their own expense if this is what they desire,' the post read.

'The purpose of public education in public schools is not to teach kids only what parents want them to be taught,' the Michigan Democratic Partys post added. 'It is to teach them what society needs them to know. The client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public.'

The Michigan Democratic Party later deleted the post on Martin Luther King Day and retracted its original statement. It is unclear who wrote the post - but Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been blasted for what many see as meddling by her party members.

Michigan Democrats have been blasted by Republican officials in the state for telling parents to sign their kids up in private schools if they don't like the education curriculum, adding that 'the client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public'

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been pressured to respond to the original post, shared on Saturday before it was deleted on Martin Luther King Day

'We have deleted a post that ignored the important role parents playand should playin Michigan public schools. Parents need to have a say in their childrens education, end of story,' a following post on Monday read. 'The post does not reflect the views of Michigan Democrats and should not be misinterpreted as a statement of support from our elected officials or candidates.'

Republican candidate for the upcoming March 8 gubernatorial election and former Detroit police chief James Craig said in a statement that parents are the 'true stakeholders' of their children's' education. He also labelled the state's democrats' post as 'disgraceful' and claimed that 'they have an agenda of indoctrination, not education.'

'Gov. Whitmers Democratic Party irresponsibly just said, "the client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public." I vehemently disagree,' he wrote in a tweet sharing his statement.

'Parents that expect more out of their local public school and hold them accountable should not be told to get out their checkbook and hit the road. They have already opened their checkbooks by paying their taxes and deserve a high-quality education for their children,' he added.

Former Detroit Police Chief and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate James Craig blasted the Democrats' post and his rival, Governor Whitmer on Twitter on Sundasy

In his post, Craig says 'the Michigan Democratic Party, under Gov. Whitmer, want to take even more control away from parents and give it to the government. As governor, I will never turn my back on the parents of our state. I will be there to support them and their children'

Craig's (pictured) post was followed by criticism from other Republican officials from the state

The post was published as parents lash out at schools over COVID closures which are increasingly believed to have badly harmed children's education.

Anger is also mounting over efforts to push critical race theory-inspired 'equity' lessons in schools - and Democrats' attempts to paint anyone opposed to such lessons as domestic terrorists.

Other Republicans officials from Michigan followed Craig's tone, fiercely criticizing the Democrats' now-deleted post.

'Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Democrat Party continue to be in the pockets of teachers unions and are so out of touch with Michiganders, they believe parents shouldnt be involved in their childrens education,' Michigan GOP communications director Gustavo Portela told Fox News Digital in a Monday statement.

'Studies have shown time and time again that parent involvement leads to student success,' Portela added. 'Parent involvement is exactly what our students need now more than ever after a year of learning loss that will impact them for years to come thanks to Gretchen Whitmers shutdowns.'

Michigan's GOP also denounced Democrats in a tweet shared on Sunday, saying their political rivals are 'ready to indoctrinate your children with what "society needs them to know."'

Republican Governors Association (RGA) spokesman Chris Gustafson told Fox News in a Monday statement that incumbent Democrat Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer must act over the post's condemnation, and cannot stay silent.

'Gretchen Whitmer must condemn the Michigan Democrat Party or admit that she believes teachers unions should control public education, not parents,' Gustafson said.

The Michigan GOP wrote on Monday that Democrats in Michigan are 'ready to indoctrinate your children with what "society needs them to know."'

Many say that former Democratic nominee for Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe lost his seat last year after siding with educators instead of parents on what schools should be teaching children

The issue on public education reform was one that many say condemned former Democratic Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffes to lose his state's 2021 gubernatorial campaign against Republican Glenn Youngkin, who was recently inaugurated on Saturday.

McAuliffe raised eyebrows when he said in a debate that he did not believe parents should be telling public schools what to teach their kids, in a soundbite that proved to be the downfall of his campaign.

In September of last year, the former governor said: 'I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.'
According to a cold case investigation outlined in Rosemary Sullivan's new book, 'The Betrayal of Anne Frank A Cold Case Investigation,' a renowned Jewish businessman may have betrayed Anne Frank a young Holocaust survivor whose posthumously released diary offered the world a taste of what it was like to flee Nazi persecution.

Who betrayed Anne Frank?

The book will be released on Tuesday and will include an investigation undertaken by retired FBI agent Vincent Panoke. In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, Anne spent two years hiding in a secret annex. Nazis burst in on August 4, 1944, and took Anne's family and four other Jewish individuals who were sheltering there to concentration camps. Only Anne's father, Otto Frank, survived. He found his daughter's journal after the war and had it published in 1947.

Pankoke and his team used current tactics and technology to evaluate the World War II-era case, identifying Arnold van den Bergh, a famous Jewish notary in Amsterdam, as the "most probable" betrayer of the Frank family. He may have done so to keep his family from being sent to a concentration camp, according to Fox News.

According to other experts, the evidence against him was inconclusive. An anonymous message to Anne's father Otto was found in an old post-war inquiry file, specifically mentioning Van den Bergh and suggesting he passed on the information, according to Pieter van Twisk, a member of the investigating team.

According to the message, as a member of Amsterdam's wartime Jewish Council, Van den Bergh had access to places where Jews were hiding and to preserve his own family; and he gave the Nazis lists of similar places. Just four of the initial 32 names remained after the inquiry, with Van den Bergh being the leading suspect. Investigators determined that Otto, the family's lone survivor, was aware of the memo but opted not to speak about it publicly.

Frank's reasons for remaining silent about the allegation, according to Van Twisk, were likely that he couldn't be sure it was true, that he didn't want the information to become public and feed more anti-Semitism, and that he didn't want Van den Bergh's three daughters to be blamed for something their father may have done.

Van den Bergh was fortunate to stay in the Netherlands when other members of the Jewish Council were deported in 1943. In 1950, he passed away. The lengthy inquiry was welcomed by historian Erik Somers of the Dutch NIOD center for war, holocaust, and genocide studies, although he was doubtful of its findings.

Read Also: Mystery of 7-Year-Old New Hampshire Girl's Disappearance Only Reported This Week Despite Being Missing 2 Years Ago

Nazi arrest may have stemmed from a Jewish businessman's tip

He questioned the significance of the anonymous message in the case for Van den Bergh's guilt, claiming that the team made assumptions about Jewish organizations in wartime Amsterdam that were not confirmed by other historical studies,as per CNN.

The investigators in the Jew-hunting team who discovered the Franks looked to have a good idea of who they were looking for. However, despite decades of conjecture, two investigations in 1947 and 1967, and a slew of suspects and ideas, we still don't know how they were tipped off.

That is, until today, when a new forensic investigation conducted by a former FBI agent claims to have discovered the solution. The investigators also assign guilt to a fellow Jew, a rich Amsterdam businessman called Arnold van den Bergh, which is arguably the most stunning part.

The manhunt for him began in 2016 when Dutch filmmaker Thijs Bayens and journalist Pieter van Twisk contacted Vince Pankoke, a former FBI agent and cold-case expert from Florida whose long career includes hunting down Colombian drug gangs and 9/11 suspects.

Pankoke volunteered to take on the case after reading Frank's book in school and being inspired by it. Bayens and van Twisk chronicled the case. As a result, a film is in the works, as well as a book - Rosemary Sullivan's The Betrayal Of Anne Frank - that was just released this week.

Pankoke gathered a 23-strong international team, comprising criminologists, forensic scientists, psychiatrists, handwriting specialists, archive researchers, and a rabbi, with funds from the city of Amsterdam and the book deal.

Because all of the witnesses had died, the Amsterdam-based team had to depend primarily on a Microsoft-developed artificial intelligence tool to sift through tens of thousands of pages of government papers for clues. The Nazis insisted on maintaining meticulous records of everything, which turned out to be rather valuable in retrospect, Daily Mail reported.

Related Article: Anne Frank Book Defacer Arrested In Tokyo

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Hollywood stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts are believed to have returned to the US after production on the film Ticket To Paradise was shut down due to Queensland's current Covid outbreak.

Daily Mail Australia understands from one source who worked on the Gold Coast set of the film that people were 'dropping like flies' due to spread of the Omicron variant in the area in recent weeks.

It's believed the film only had two weeks of shooting remaining when writer/director Ol Parker made the call for production to be paused for at least three months.

Some of those who contracted the virus worked in close proximity with Mr Clooney and Ms Roberts.

Julia Roberts (left and George Clooney) are understood to have returned to the US after production was paused on their romantic comedy, Ticket To Paradise, being filmed in Queensland, due to the latest Covid outbreak

George Clooney (in lemon shirt) is seen on the Gold Coast during production of his rom-com with Julia Roberts, Ticket To Paradise

One source said Mr Clooney had shaved off the beard he had grown for the role before departing Australia on a flight bound for Honolulu, where he connected with another flight back to California.

A couple of the film's key international production staff have remained in Queensland for two more weeks.

Ironically production of the film, which is set in Bali, was moved to Australia because of fears about the number of Covid cases in Indonesia.

Arts Minister Paul Fletcher announced in March last year that Ticket To Paradise would film in Queensland locations including the Whitsundays, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

In support of the film, produced by UK film-maker Working Title Films, Universal Pictures, Clooney's Smokehouse Pictures and Roberts's Red Om Films, the Federal government provided a $6.4 million grant.

Mr Fletcher said the movie would generate at least 270 jobs and inject $47 million into the local economy.

On news the big-budget production would be shot in Queensland, Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said: 'We are very lucky to have a Covid-safe destination where people can film right now and luckily not be subjected to delays or shutdowns and as well they can have an amazing lifestyle while they're here.'

George Clooney and wife Amal, with twins Ella and Alexander, pictured boarding a private jet bound for Hamilton Island, in the Whitsundays, during production of a Ticket To Paradise

Mr Clooney and Ms Roberts dined at upmarket Brisbane establishment Calile Hotel just before Christmas

Julia Roberts (left) is seen at The Calile Hotel with George Clooney's wife, Amal (right)

Ticket To Paradise was due for release in October this year, with high expectations for its success because of the reuniting of Clooney and Roberts after box-office successes Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve in the early 2000s.

They also starred together in the 2016 crime thriller, Money Monster, directed by fellow actor, Jodie Foster.

The plot of Ticket To Paradise sees Clooney and Roberts as a divorced couple who, on hearing their daughter plans to get married in Bali, race to the island to stop her from 'making the same mistake they once made'.

Writer-director Parker formerly created The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Mr Clooney relocated to Australia in October with his human rights lawyer wife Amal and the couple's five-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, completing a mandatory 14-day quarantine period at a sprawling NSW Southern Highlands estate.

Ms Roberts also arrived in October, spending her quarantine period at a $56.9million mansion in Sydney's Vaucluse.

In October last year Mr Clooney, 60, told Hollywood site Deadline that he had been on a Keto-based regimen in order to drop weight for a scene in the film where he jumps shirtless into a pool.

Daily Mail Australia has approached director Ol Parker's US representative for further comment.

Queensland enjoyed a status as one of Australia's relatively Covid-free states until it reopened its border to hotspot states on December 13 after reaching 80 per cent of its eligible population with two doses of a vaccine.

Since then new infections have grown exponentially, with 15.962 infections and a record 16 deaths announced on Tuesday.

Forty-five people had now died in the state as a result of contracting Covid since December 13.
The ABC's Leigh Sales has shared a dramatic call to end the 'fear and panic' surrounding Covid, with experts admitting Omicron 'can't be contained'.

The 7.30 host retweeted a post from SBS host Kumi Taguchi linking to an inspirational article by Canadian journalist Jen Garson which calls out Covid doom-mongers.

'Instead of creating a culture that has become better adapted to manage the shifting risks of this pandemic, we've doubled and then tripled down on messages of fear and panic,' the tweet said.

Garson said politicians and leaders had used scare stories about the virus to terrify their people into compliance, undermining trust and destroying lives - and it must stop.

The article recalled an email by top US doctor Craig Smith at the start of the pandemic which was a call to arms for medics in the fight against the virus.

ABC's 7.30 host Leigh Sales (pictured) has spread a dramatic call to end the 'fear and panic' over Covid and end the doomsday dystopian predictions

Leigh Sales retweeted a post (pictured) from SBS host Kumi Taguchi linking to an inspirational article by Canadian journalist Jen Garson, calling out Covid doom-mongers.

Dr Smith warned he could be accused of overstating the threat that faced them in the earliest days of the outbreak and hoped he would have to 'apologise profusely'.

But he said the first couple of months of the outbreak could be a 'horror to imagine if we are under-estimating it.'

Instead though, he said medics should embrace the challenge like huskies pulling a loaded sled in winter and 'mush on' to get to the end.

'Remember that our families, friends, and neighbours are scared, idle, out of work, and feel impotent,' the chair of surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital wrote.

'Anyone working in health care still enjoys the rapture of action. It's a privilege! We mush on.'

Author Jen Garson (pictured) said politicians and leaders had used scare stories about the virus to terrify their people into compliance, undermining trust and destroying lives

Two years later though, the article's author believes that can-do attitude which was once seen throughout the community has been lost in a sea of dire warnings.

'Craig's words ring so clear and so powerfully to me even years afterward,' wrote Ms Garson in The Line.

'Yes, the situation is bad, but we must rise to the moment; we must rise to the best of ourselves and seek to be worthy of the crises we have been prepared to handle. We must mush on.'

But she added: 'Frankly, I've been disappointed, not just in our elected leaders, but in all of us. There has been very little of this.

Two years later though, the article's author believes that can-do attitude which was once seen throughout the community has been lost in a sea of dire warnings (pictured, a sold out rapid antigen sign at a Sydney chemist)

'Instead of creating a culture that has become better adapted to manage the shifting risks of this pandemic, we've doubled and then tripled down on messages of fear and panic.

'No Keep Calm and Carry On in these quarters. No, now we live in a dystopian future of endless waves of variants, forever pandemics and death trap hospitals on the verge of collapse.

'This has not served us well.'

She believes two years of the exhausting fight against the virus has left the world drained, only to be hit by Omicron which is now rewriting the Covid rulebook.

Jen Garson believes two years of the exhausting fight against the virus has left the world drained, only to be hit by Omicron which is now rewriting the Covid rulebook (pictured masked partygoers in Melbourne)

Some top doctors around the world are now warning that everyone will now catch the new variant - with NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant predicting half of the state will catch it.

And while it is milder it is also far more virulent and has placed new and even bigger strain on the health system than ever before..

Ms Garson argues it's no longer plausible to argue the virus can be contained and politicians should be focused on encouraging vaccination and keeping safe.

Reasonable common sense precautions should now be the messaging, says the article - wearing masks, isolating when sick and ventilating enclosed areas.

But she warns too many are still trying to scare the world into compliance through fear, which only undermines confidence in leaders and breeds more distrust.

Reasonable common sense precautions should now be the messaging, says the article - wearing masks, isolating when sick and ventilating enclosed areas (pictured, masked crowds at the Australian Open in Melbourne)

She adds: 'Is scaring the hell out of everybody and shutting everything down every six months something that we can do indefinitely?

'Is how we handled previous waves identical to the way we should handle subsequent ones?

'The answer is no. The answer is obviously no... What other choice do we have, but to mush on?'

The post by Sales sparked messages of support from her 440,000-plus followers on Twitter.

The post by Sales sparked messages of support from her 440,000-plus followers on Twitter (pictured)

'Thank you for sharing this,' said one. 'Let's hope the messaging can change now that the threat is different. I'd love to see those in charge - as well as some folks on Twitter! - ease up on the fear based side of things.'

Another added: 'There has been zero adaptive strategies from the federal government. Fear is all we have as no structural change has been implemented. They seem to think this will be over soon.'

But not all agreed.

'It's not fear, it's people taking responsibility for their personal and collective safety in the context of what is clearly an incompetent Morrison government,' said one.

'We'll take whatever measures we think are necessary. Overall we've done okay thanks to the Premiers (other than NSW).'
Australia can't afford more lockdowns with consumer confidence now at the worst level in three decades.

A surge in the Omicron variant of Covid has made Australians even more despondent they were at the start of the pandemic in 2020 when national lockdowns kicked in.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan measure of consumer confidence for the week ending January 16 produced the worst January reading since 1992 - back when unemployment was twice as high as it is now.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan measure of consumer confidence for the week ending January 16 produced the worst January reading since 1992 - back when unemployment was twice as high as it is now (pictured are young women at Darling Harbour in Sydney)

Australians are usually upbeat during summer but the surge in Omicron cases has made people gloomy.

The 97.9 score was below the 100 level which meant pessimists outnumbered optimists in the online survey of 1,516 people.

The 7.6 per cent weekly drop marked the sharpest decline since March 2020 when the World Health Organisation declared a Covid pandemic.

ANZ head of Australian economics David Plank said a shortage of rapid antigen tests was upsetting consumers and could threaten Australia's economy.

'We don't think the economy is as weak as these data might suggest, with the shock of the Omicron surge and strains on testing capability the key drivers of the fall rather than underlying economic conditions,' he said.

'But the result highlights that concerns about Covid have the potential to significantly impact the economy if they linger.'

The New South Wales government on Tuesday announced 29,830 new Covid cases in NSW and a Covid pandemic record of 36 deaths.

The New South Wales government on Tuesday announced 29,830 new Covid cases in NSW and a Covid pandemic record of 36 deaths (pctured is the state's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant)

Australia's economic fundamentals are better than three decades ago.

November's unemployment rate of 4.6 per cent was less than half the 10.3 per cent level of January 1992, following the 1991 recession when the jobless rate stayed in the double digits until April 1994.

But Mr Plank noted Australians were now going out less with 10 per cent of dining now done online compared with 4 per cent before the pandemic, noting pessimism levels were worst than during the Delta lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne for much of 2021.

ANZ head of Australian economics David Plank said a shortage of rapid antigen tests was upsetting consumers and could threaten Australia's economy
Private hospitals will now be allowed to treat Covid patients as Australia's daily Covid death toll reaches a new record.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the surge in Omicron cases meant the pressure needed to be taken off the public hospital system.

With a record 74 Australians dying of Covid in one day, the federal government is activating an agreement reached with the states and territories in early 2020, during the early stages of the pandemic.

'The states and territories will, where necessary, work directly with the staff and with the hospitals themselves, whether it's the large part of the private hospital networks and it will be up to the states and territories to activate those,' Mr Hunt said.

Private hospitals will now be allowed to treat Covid patients as part of a new stage of fighting the pandemic. Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) said the surge in Omicron cases meant the pressure needed to be taken off the public hospital system

Under the plan, 57,000 nurses and more than 100,000 staff will be made available to treat Omicron patients across Australia.

'Firstly, we are activating the private hospitals agreement,' Mr Hunt said.

'This agreement was established over the course of late March and early April in 2020.

'And it was designed for supporting state hospital systems add any time where they may have significant numbers.'

Under the new plan, private hospital staff will also be directed to aged care homes should outbreaks occur.

'We have activated them at the Commonwealth end and any aged care facilities that will require that additional workforce,' Mr Hunt said.

'It's one of five that are available for work - actions that are available for workforce support.'

The federal government will also be directing stockpiles of personal protective equipment to any states or territories suffering from a shortage.

Australia has suffered its worst day for Covid deaths since the start of pandemic with 74 people losing their lives so far.

Australia has suffered its worst day for Covid deaths since the start of pandemic with 74 people losing their lives so far (pictured are health staff at a testing clinic at Albert Park in Melbourne)

A record 36 people died on Monday in New South Wales after testing positive to Covid, while 22 died in Victoria and another record 16 in Queensland.

The combined total smashed the pandemic record of 59 that was set on September 4, 2020, with other states and territories still to report their own casualties.

The youngest of the NSW fatalities was aged in their 40s while all but three were over-65 on what NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described as a difficult day for NSW.

There was barely any change in new cases as health authorities and experts believe the Omicron wave has peaked in NSW and Victoria.
An ex-girlfriend of Rep. Matt Gaetz was granted immunity by prosecutors after testifying about a 2018 trip they took to the Bahamas with an 18 year-old girl Gaetz denies trafficking.

The ex, who is not named to protect her privacy, testified in front of a federal grand jury in Orlando last Wednesday. She, Gaetz, and two other women - including an 18 year-old Gaetz was also having sex with - made the Caribbean trip four years ago.

It is unclear what the ex said in court, but prosecutors are trying to ascertain whether the 18 year-old was 17 when she began seeing Gaetz, CBS News reported. That would make her younger than the age of consent in Florida. He denies wrongdoing.

The former teenager at the center of the enquiry is still being sought by investigators.

Prior to today's ruling, the ex was seen as a potential key witness into claims Gaetz had sex with an underage girl who was trafficked, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.

The unnamed ex-girlfriend and the other woman allegedly traveled to the Bahamas with Gaetz in 2018, along with a third woman with whom Gaetz was in a sexual relationship, according to multiple sources.

Investigators are also assessing whether any of the three women on the trip were paid and were illegally trafficked across the U.S. border into Florida for the purpose of sex with the congressman.

Matt Gaetz is pictured with wife Ginger Luckey in a New Years picture, captioned: 'Welcome 2022!'

In late 2020, the Department of Justice opened an investigation into allegations that Gaetz, 39, had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl in violation of federal sex trafficking laws, which Gaetz has repeatedly denied. In April 2021, the House Ethics Committee also announced an investigation.

One of the sources said Gaetz's ex-girlfriend possesses information in connection to the investigation of both the sex trafficking and obstruction allegations, CBS News reported. No further details of that information have emerged.

Gaetz is married to Ginger Luckey, the sister of Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus VR, who he wed last year.

'This may be a willing participant who has a smart lawyer who sought an immunity deal from the government,' said former prosecutor and CBS News legal analyst Rikki Kleiman. 'The government does not give immunity blindly, they know what they're getting in exchange.'

U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL), 39, is subject to two investigations over claims he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl in 2018, and whether he was part of a sex trafficking scheme to bring women, some of the minors, into the U.S.

In a statement shared last week, Gaetz's attorney Isabelle Kirshner, told CBS News that 'we have seen no credible basis for a charge against Congressman Gaetz. We remain steadfast in our commitment to challenge any allegations with the facts and the law.'

An unidentified source told the national outlet last week that prosecutors are looking for evidence on whether Gaetz had a phone call with the ex-girlfriend, as well as another woman, who is also considered as a witness in the federal investigation.

Matt Gaetz (third from left), with Joel Greenberg (center) and Ron DeSantis (second from right) in a picture from 2018. Greenberg, a former Florida county tax collector and associate of Gaetz's, introduced Gaetz to a woman he had a sexual relationship with when she allegedly was 17-years-old

Greenberg (front right) pleaded guilty in May 2021 to six federal charges, including trafficking of a minor before agreeing to cooperate with the federal government on prosecutions of other persons involved in the investigation

Two sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News said it was Joel Greenberg, a former Florida county tax collector and associate of Gaetz's, who introduced Gaetz to that woman when she allegedly was 17-years-old.

Greenberg pleaded guilty in May 2021 to six federal charges, including trafficking of a minor.

Greenberg admitted he was involved in 'sugar daddy' relationships in which he paid women for sex, including a minor with whom he engaged in 'commercial sex acts.'

He has signed a plea agreement with the federal government  and it includes a clause stipulating he'll 'cooperate fully in the investigation and prosecution of other persons,' as Gaetz's investigation continues.
A real estate agent has revealed how to sell your home faster and for more money this year as thousands of Australians look to cash in on the property boom.

New research found buying or saving up for a home are among Australians' top goals for 2022 with the property market looking hotter than ever.

So as homeowners are about to list their properties on the market, what should they do to get the best price?

New research from Prime Video found buying or saving up for a home are among Australians' top goals for 2022 (pictured, stock photo)

Findings show 26 per cent of Australians are obsessed with owning a home that is unique rather than a 'stark white blank canvas'.

Real estate agent D'Leanne Lewis, star of Prime Video's Luxe Listings, recommends creating a property ad that will turn heads.

'This is how you nab a buyer, who will splash the cash,' she said.

'Imagery and video content sell homes, so make sure you put the effort into capturing solid pictures and creating a video so the prospective buyer can visualise themselves in the space.'

Over half of homebuyers (56 per cent) like to visualise themselves owning a property so ensure the house feels welcoming and unique to make your listing stand out.

The poll by Pureprofile found an overwhelming 93 per cent of Australians don't consider a lack of natural light a deal breaker when buying a home.

Real estate agent D'Leanne Lewis (pictured), star of Prime Video's Luxe Listings recommends creating a listing that will turn heads over presenting a blank canvas for potential home buyers

Of those surveyed, 30 per cent of said they would prefer 'massive' windows and 62 per cent said they want multiple bedrooms in their future home.

The other major needs are large rooms (63 per cent), multiple bedrooms and bathrooms (62 per cent), and privacy (52 per cent).

With those needs in mind, ensure your listing paints a mental picture for what homebuyers are looking for but make sure you don't lose yourself in the property.

When selling, avoid displaying a blank canvas by presenting a home that people will want to live in while also grabbing the attention of multiple buyers.

A third of Australians (33 per cent) said they loved to look inside other people's homes, so ensure your personality is still present throughout the property.

Keeping your home's features instead of ripping them up, adding a touch of quirk to the property and highlighting its rich history.

'Time and time again I see buyers come to me asking for something a little bit different,' Ms Lewis said.

'Dont hide your quirk; keep your period features.'

When selling, avoid displaying a blank canvas by creating a home that people will want to live in while also grabbing the attention of multiple buyers, tips include keeping the home's original period features and quirks (pictured, Dining room in Roto House in Port Macquarie, NSW)

Ms Lewis demonstrated this desire for unique features in a marketing stunt for new movie Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania on Prime Video, which commissioned the real estate research.

She led viewers around a historic Western Sydney mansion styled to look like Count Dracula's haunt being put on sale 'for the first time in 500 years'.

While owning a home was a top goal for many Australians this year, 62 per cent of respondents said they were worried they would never find their dream property.

Some 65 per cent said the 'right' property was hard to find, with 18 per cent thinking the best homes for them only came on the market once in a decade.

They said the top three barriers to getting into the property market were the worry that it would take a lifetime to save for a deposit (37 per cent), location (34 per cent) and the commitment of a scary 30-year mortgage debt (23 per cent).

Due to such uncertainty, 93 per cent think it is important to be patient and wait to find their dream property before buying, and a quarter would even wait five years.
Conservatives also say the pair are 'the two most important leaders in the Republican Party'

The two are among the most popular Republican figures in the country as Trump and potentially DeSantis eye a presidential run in 2024

He also said his biggest regret in office is not having 'been much louder' in speaking out against Trump's coronavirus pandemic response

Trump is said to have been trashing DeSantis in private, calling the Florida governor an ingrate with a 'dull personality'

The governor, a once-loyal member of Trump's court, has criticized Trump to his inner circle as the ex-president continued to take aim at him

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is refusing to bend a knee to Donald Trump and says backing him in the 2024 election 'is too much to ask'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a once-loyal member of Donald Trump's court, is refusing to bend a knee to the former president and says backing him in the 2024 election 'is too much to ask' after Trump publicly attacked his character, according to a report.

Trump reportedly said the popular governor has 'no personal charisma' and a 'dull personality' as rumors swirl the ex-president is angry DeSantis hasn't declined to challenge him for the GOP presidential nomination.

DeSantis, however, has told his inner circle that Trump's 'expectation that he bend the knee is asking too much,' the New York Times reported.

The governor also reportedly said his biggest regret in office is not having 'been much louder' in speaking out against Trump's coronavirus pandemic response.

The commentary comes after Trump appeared to take direct aim at DeSantis in an interview just last week when he called politicians who refuse to disclose their booster vaccination status as 'gutless'.

Sources close to the former president - who have recently talked to him about the governor - said Trump has grown increasingly irked by DeSantis in recent months, with Trump beginning to voice his frustrations to those in his inner circle.

The Florida governor is extremely popular in Republican circles, and is widely seen as a leader who can push policies popularized by Trump, but without the same level of drama or baggage.

'In the context of the 2024 election, he usually gives DeSantis a pop in the nose in the middle of that type of conversation,' a source who recently spoke to Trump about DeSantis told Axios.

The president also claims 'there's no way' DeSantis would have ever been elected Florida governor without his support.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (left), a once-loyal member of Donald Trump's court, is refusing to bend a knee to the former president (right) and says backing him in the 2024 election 'is too much to ask'

The two are among the most popular Republican figures in the country, and with Trump eyeing another presidential run in 2024, many political pundits believe he is irritated by DeSantis' interest in running against him and his growing popularity.

Trump is said to be further annoyed that DeSantis won't say he will not run against the former president if he did opt to launch another White House bid.

'I wonder why the guy won't say he won't run against me,' Trump has questioned to several associates and advisers, according to the Times.

The former president hasn't actually announced his own bid, and isn't expected to do so until early next year.

Those close to the former president say they expect him to launch a second White House run - but also admit Trump may choose to act as a 'kingmaker' for the next presidential candidate instead.

The source, who was not named or identified, said they have heard Trump regularly criticize DeSantis on more than one occasion.

Trump allegedly branded popular governor as having 'no personal charisma' and a 'dull personality' as rumors swirl the ex-president is angry DeSantis hasn't declined to challenge him for the GOP presidential nomination. The pair are pictured together at a rally in 2019

Longtime Donald Trump advisor Roger Stone attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and linked to a report on a Trump-DeSantis rift with the potential 2024 rival

Donald Trump's advisers have claimed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) is responsible for ramping up stories of a feud between the former President and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

More crossfire came from longtime Donald Trump advisor Roger Stone, who is dumping on DeSantis as an Ivy League 'fat boy.'

Stone, who has known Trump for decades and advised him informally during the 2016 campaign  then got a presidential pardon following a long legal saga amid the Russia probe  tore into DeSantis following the Axios report.

'Trump sometimes President Donald Trump hits it right on the nose. Ron DeSantis Yale Harvard fat boy can't get out of his own way,' he wrote.

'Not smart. Not honest and not going to be president,' Stone wrote on social media.

He called DeSantis, 43: 'An unknown congressman with a bad haircut and an ill-fitting suit until Donald Trump made him governor'  leaving out his latest job title: governor of the state, with a population of more than 20 million, where both Stone and Trump reside.

He also wrote, without explanation: 'I know where he was when he was missing,' in reference to a period when DeSantis was absent from public events, fueling online speculation about his whereabouts. DeSantis' office says he was helping his wife, Casey, with her cancer treatments.

Stone tweeted an expletive about DeSantis and linked to an Axios story about the alleged Trump-DeSantis rift.

In still more kremlinology of the rift, when DeSantis blasted covid lockdowns that began under the Trump administration, he did so on a political podcast of Josh Holmes, a former top aide to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a bitter Trump rival.

The significance of the venue was not lost on a top Trump advisor, who reflected on it in an NBC news report.

'I like Josh. Josh is great. But he's a wholly owned subsidiary of McConnell World. And there's no way you can tell me that this was all a coincidence,' said the advisor.

'Also, DeSantis and his staff knew what they were doing. How many Florida general election voters are listening to the Ruthless podcast?' said the advisor.

The adviser claimed McConnell sees DeSantis as a 'lesser of two evils' and a way to irritate Trump.

Trump and McConnell have not been on speaking terms since the Jan. 6th riot, when an angry rob ransacked the Capitol where McConnell has worked for decades.

Despite rising tensions between the two, conservatives allege both Trump and DeSantis are vital members of the Republican party.

'DeSantis would be a formidable 2024 candidate in the Trump lane should Trump not run,' Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor, told the Times.

'He's Trump but a little smarter, more disciplined and brusque without being too brusque.'

'They're the two most important leaders in the Republican Party,' argued lobbyist Brian Ballard, who has connections to both men.

He also predicted Trump and DeSantis 'will be personal and political friends for the rest of their careers'.

However, Trump reportedly views the governor as 'ungrateful' and argues his 'willingness to defy him dates back several years'.

Despite his claims, insiders still believe the root of Trump's ire towards DeSantis appears to stem from the fact that he 'won't say he won't run [in 2024]. ... The others have stated pretty clearly they won't challenge him,' the source went on to say.

DeSantis (R) sits next to Trump and Kristi Noem during a meeting with Governors elects in the Cabinet Room at the White House on December 13, 2018 in Washington, DC

'Trump has been telling a range of aides a version of, he isn't getting the deference from DeSantis that he wants in the pre-2024 leadup.'

The Florida governor is up for re-election this year and Trump claims he made the politician.

The former president backed then Congressman DeSantis in the Republican primary during the 2018 gubernatorial election.

DeSantis won the general election by heavily tying himself to Trump, including running TV ads where DeSantis taught his children how to 'build the wall' and say 'Make America Great Again.'

'Look, I helped Ron DeSantis at a level that nobody's ever seen before,' Trump told The New York Times' Jeremy Peters for his forthcoming book, 'Insurgency,' on the rightward shift of the Republican Party.

Trump said he believed DeSantis 'didn't have a chance' of winning without his help.

When Trump was president, DeSantis was a frequent guest at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Palm Beach. The two would often dine together when Trump was in town.

Trump (R) listens as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks ahead of the signing an executive order on lowering drug prices at the White House, in Washington, DC on July 24, 2020

Former President Donald Trump listens to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speak about the coronavirus response during a meeting at the White House in Washington, April 28, 2020

Trump had also said he was so confident of being the GOP nominee he has said that if he runs again for president, most other Republicans would 'drop out.'

In October, Trump bragged that if he were to run against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose popularity has has soared during the pandemic, for the 2024 GOP nomination, he would easily 'beat him'.

'If I faced him, I'd beat him like I would beat everyone else,' he said at the time.

'I don't think I will face him,' Trump said during the interview. 'I think most people would drop out, I think he would drop out.'

Trump made the prediction during an interview with Yahoo Finance.

The former president, who lost the 2020 general election, still remains popular and has a lot of influence among Republican voters and GOP politicians as he toys with the idea of a third run at the presidency.

'It's getting to a point where we really have no choice' Trump said last month about him running.
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A dangerous winter storm known as a Saskatchewan Screamer because it originated in the Canadian province, brought significant snowfall, strong thunderstorms and blustery winds to the northeastern U.S. on a Monday leaving two people dead in a car crash in North Carolina.

The storm system dropped a foot or more of snow in parts of New York state - with Buffalo the worst hit. Dayton in Ohio saw 15 inches, with Pottsville in Pennsylvania also covered with the white stuff through Monday morning after pummeling parts of the Southeast on Sunday leaving 150,000 people without power at one stage.

'We've had a very strong area of low pressure that's kind of moved up the coast, with pretty heavy snowfall accumulations from Tennessee, North Carolina all the way into the northeast,' said meteorologist Marc Chenard at the weather service's headquarters in College Park, Maryland.

Lake Michigan is covered with snow and ice at Montrose Beach in Chicago, Monday

One of several hundred crashes across the state of Virginia is pictured on a main highway

There were hundreds of accidents in Virginia, including this smash, but thankfully no fatalities

Two cars that were involved in a collision with one almost ending up on its side are pictured in an accident in Virginia

Police reported there to have been around 500 crashes on the highways of Virginia on Monday, including a collision between three big rigs and a truck

Ice dangles off the pier at Montrose Beach in Chicago on Monday after being blasted by a winter storm

A member of a snow removal company shovels snow during a winter storm in Miamisburg, Ohio on Monday

Lloyd Rhoads of Jenner Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania clears snow from his driveway high atop Laurel Hill during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day winter storm on Monday

A kid snowboards during a winter storm in Miamisburg, Ohio on Monday

Snow fall covers the city during a winter storm in Miamisburg, Ohio in a picture taken with a drone

Forecasters in Buffalo, New York, said almost 18 inches of snow fell by 1pm on Monday. The city advised people not to travel if they didn't need to on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, while some surrounding towns instituted a travel ban.

'WOW! (Latest) snow measurement at 1 AM was 4.6 inches in the last hour at the Buffalo Airport!' the National Weather Service in Buffalo tweeted overnight. 'And tack on another 4 inches in the last hour ending at 2 AM! Total so far since late Sun evening - 10.2 inches.'

Weather service meteorologist Alexa Maines said 15 inches or more of snow were reported in Cleveland, Ohio, and 25 inches in parts of Ashtabula County in the northeast corner of the state.

Power outages affected tens of thousands of customers in the northeast, and hundreds of flights were canceled. Many COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites had to close down.

A snow plow drives down a street in Lewisburg, West Virginia after the area was hit by winter storm Izzy

Heather Fox shovels the sidewalk in front of her store - named Merry Weather's - in downtown Lewisburg, West Virignia

A man knocks icicles off the awning in downtown Lewisburg, West Virginia

A woman walks downtown Lewisburg, West Virginia on Monday as the area was hit by heavy snowfall

A man rides his bicycle near a light dusting of snow at Montrose Beach in Chicago on Monday

A man runs along a snow-covered area at Montrose Beach in Chicago on Monday, with the waters of its marina totally frozen over

Snow and ice cover Lake Michigan as a man runs at Montrose Beach in Chicago

Snow covers a neighborhood during a winter storm in Dayton, Ohio. The area was among the worst-affected by heavy snowfall on Monday

Houses are covered with a thick coating of snow in Dayton after around 15 inches fell in the area

More than 1,700 US flights were cancelled Monday and about 1,500 were delayed, according to the flight tracking website Flightaware.

The roads were also a mess with 500 crashes reported in Virginia alone, and officials are warning people not to travel in some parts of the country.

New York City got less than an inch of snow, which was washed away by rain overnight. The weather service said spotty showers and snow showers might continue through Monday night.

Forecasters said wind gusts in New York City could top out around 45 mph, and around 60 mph on Long Island.

Sleet and rain were the main threats for much of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Periods of snowfall transitioned to rain overnight. NWS meteorologists in Boston said wind gusts could reach 70 mph .

The howling winds spread a fire that destroyed a motel and two other structures in coastal Salisbury, Massachusetts, early Monday.

Vanessa McAuley cleans snow off her car following a storm in Pottsville, Pennsylvania

George Bevan, of Bevan's Garage, of Frackville, Pennsylvania, plows the snow at Ian Campbell's home as he looks on in Frackville, Pennsylvania

Randy Ney clears off the snow from the sidewalk in front of the Schuylkill County Office of Public Safety on N. Centre Street in downtown Pottsville, Pennsylvania

A Jeep drives down a snow covered Oak Street in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, on Monday

Dulcie Howard shovels a driveway during a winter storm in Dayton, Ohio

People shovel their driveways during a winter storm in Dayton, Ohio

The storm brought similar conditions Sunday to the Southeast, where thousands were still without power Monday.

Multiple states reported heavy snowfall, and two people died Sunday in North Carolina when their car drove off the road. The roof of a dormitory partially collapsed in the state at Brevard College, with officials saying it broke under the weight of snow. There were no injuries.

Severe thunderstorms in Florida spun up a tornado with 118 mph winds, destroying 30 mobile homes and majorly damaging 51 more. Three minor injuries were reported.

Wet roadways in the South were expected to refreeze Monday, creating icy conditions for motorists.

Plow trucks were scattered along roads and highways up the East Coast, working to clear the way for travelers. Some crashes were reported in the early morning hours, including an ambulance involved in a wreck on Interstate 279 in Pittsburgh. It was unclear whether anyone was injured.

Jeffrey Stasko, the owner of the Inn on the Mexican War Streets, and Tim, an employee of the inn, clear snow from the sidewalks in North Side, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh

By noon, Camp Horne Road in Emsworth, Pittsburgh was clear but residents were busy cleaning snow from their driveways and sidewalks

A member of a snow removal company plows snow during a winter storm in Miamisburg, Ohio

The icy Allegheny River and snow-covered North Shore in Pittsburgh, Pa., is seen from the Andy Warhol Bridge

Mike Goode digs his car out on Peebles Avenue Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Wilkinsburg, Pittsburgh. Goode was on his way to Seven Springs to take a close friends teenage children to ski for the first time

An 18-wheeler is pictured having been caught in a snow drift in Ohio on Monday

Trucks became stuck in the snow in Virginia as the white stuff came down thick and fast

A 'Saskatchewan Screamer' storm leaves the Northeast and Midwest blanketed in snow and causes coastal flooding as more than 150,000 across the US are left without power and 1,400 flights are grounded. Pictured, a stranded truck in Ohio

The highest level of snow during the storm was recorded in Harpersfield, Ohio where 22.5 inches of snow landed as 40 counties within the state were under storm warnings Monday. Residents of Sherrodsville, Ohio, pulled out their measuring sticks to snap photos of 14 inches of snow piled on the ground.

And in Milford, Connecticut, several homes flooded with water measuring two-feet deep in some spots, Fox News reported.

Forecasters in Buffalo, New York, said the snow was falling fast, dumping more than 16 inches by 8am. The city advised people not to travel if they didn't need to on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, while some surrounding towns instituted a travel ban.

Another arctic blast is expected to hit the Midwest by Wednesday before spreading south and east by Thursday morning.

The wind chill is forecast to dip well below zero degrees Fahrenheit from Des Moines to Chicago and into upstate New York. The wind chill will be in the teens and single digits as far south as Arkansas and Tennessee.

The Saskatchewan Screamer continued to hammer the US on Monday, when it zeroed in on the northeast. A woman is pictured walking past a frozen sculpture on January 17. A woman is pictured walking past a frozen sculpture in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A Suffolk County police car is pictured powering through a flooded area in Coram, New York on January 16 after the ongoing Saskatchewan Screamer storm flooded coastal regions on the east coast and caused snowstorms inland

Pictured: a man walks across the snow-covered Rachel Carson bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 17

A worker uses a snow plow to clear streets in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 17

A cat is pictured playing in the snow in the Toronto, Ontario area on January 17

A National Park Service worker shovels snow near the Washington monument on January 17 following a snow-filled night

An aerial photo shows snow covering the City of Miamisburg, Ohio, on January 17

Visitors walk past the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial as the sun breaks through the clouds in Washington, DC on January 17

Women are seen jogging past the Lincoln Memorial plaza January 17 after a stormy night in Washington, DC

Snow dusts the grass surrounding headstones at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on January 17

States with most power outages West Virginia 8,424 Kentucky 7,084 North Carolina 6,803 Georgia 4,678 Florida 3,723 Source: Poweroutage.us Advertisement

On Monday, New York City and Boston were spared the heaviest snowfall, which was accumulating at higher elevations in western Massachusetts, eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New England.

As eight inches of snow accumulated in the Lower Hudson Valley, downpours drenched coastal cities, causing flooding in some regions, the National Weather Service said.

Flood warnings were in effect Monday morning for parts of New York City, including: Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan.

Winter storm warnings remained in effect from southern New York to Northern New England, said CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray.

'The I-95 corridor has pretty much been the dividing line between rain and snow,' she said on air. 'The snow has really been in interior sections and all the rain along the coast.'

New York Governor Kathy Hochul gave residents a stern warning: 'Please stay home.

'But if your work requires you to be out or you have to be somewhere, make sure that you are fortified even in your own vehicle with food and water and whatever else you may need, including blankets or clothing.'

Residents of Vermont were seen digging themselves out of the snow Monday; about a foot of snow accumulated in Burlington by early afternoon, with some using the opportunity to take their huskies out for a sleigh ride.

In Pennsylvania, Colver was hit with a foot of snow and Pittsburgh received seven inches.

Harry Ruester of Brattleboro, Vermont clears his driveway January 7 during a snowstorm

The snow-covered Pittsburg, Pennsylvania skyline is seen from the Andy Warhol bridge on January 17

A bundled-up woman waits for the bus to arrive in Brattleboro, Vermont on January 17

A man carries his cross-country skis in the Vermont town while walking through the storm January 17

A woman's poncho billows in the wind as she walks through stormy conditions in Queens, New York, on January 17

Visitors walk past the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial following the storm on January 17

'This was a snowstorm that hit fast, it hit hard,' Pittsburg Mayor Ed Gainey said in an online video statement.

The wind-driven storm is being blamed after two people died Sunday night when their car went off road and collided with trees in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Now the extreme weather is battering the northeast, with torrents of snow, sleet and rain triggering widespread flood warnings.

The Canadian province of Ontario was also hit by the storm, which prompted school closures and traffic disruptions due to heavy snowfall and powerful winds.

Most of the New York City area was under a coastal flood warning on January 17

A large tree limb snapped during the storm and took down an electrical wire, barely missing an Audi parked on the street in Babylon, New York on January 17

A woman is pictured walking her dog January 17 along Rockaway Beach, Queens, which was under a flood warning

People in the Bronx are pictured bundling up January 17 as rain hammered the area during the ongoing winter storm Izzy

Waves rage at the Storm Surf and Foam Fire Island in Long Island, New York on January 17

Virginia, Georgia, and North and South Carolina meanwhile have all declared states of emergency as workers attempting to clear debris and restart public transport reel from the brutal conditions.

Areas such as central Mississippi and central North Carolina received around nine inches of snow over the weekend, while parts of central South Carolina had up to a half-inch of ice, according to the NWS.

Forecasters said wind gusts in New York City could top out around 45 mph and around 60 mph on Long Island. NWS meteorologists in Boston said wind gusts could reach 70 mph.

The howling winds spread a fire that destroyed a motel and two other structures in coastal Salisbury, Massachusetts, early Monday.

Pictured: A man clears heavy snow off his driveway in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on January 17

A woman in Pittsfield, Massachusetts clears off her car January 17 during the snowstorm

A Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio resident is pictured plowing their walkway Monday after snow blanketed the region

A backyard in Sherrodsville, Ohio is pictured Monday after 14 inches of snow here in the town

Plows are pictured clearing snow from the streets of Cleveland, Ohio on January 17

In New Hampshire, the state closed its five COVID-19 testing sites as well as a vaccine clinic.

The storm also triggered several tornadoes Sunday, with one twister wiping out mobile home parks in Fort Meyers, Florida, leaving upward of 200 residents homeless.

Shocking video footage showed how the tornado obliterated the local Tropicana RV resort; the nearby Cottage Point Trailer Park was also hit.

Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said 28 homes were destroyed and another 62 were rendered unlivable.

The storm is expected to move into eastern Canada Monday night, although forecasters said strong winds in the US could linger.

New York City employees are seen repairing drains, surrounded by water from the storm, on January 17
A writer held in 'arbitrary detention' in a Chinese prison for three years who claims he has been tortured is gravely ill as Australia's foreign minister says she is 'extremely concerned' for him.

Dr Yang Hengjun, 56, was detained by Chinese authorities in January 2019 at Guangzhou Airport while on the way to visit his sick brother and charged with espionage in October 2020.

The Chinese born Australian citizen was subjected to a closed-door trial in Beijing on May 27 last year but the verdict has been delayed on numerous occasions while he languishes in a cell at a secret detention facility.

'The first six months... was a really bad period. They tortured me,' he said in a message to supporters seen by AFP in 2021.

'I've already been held in a place worse than prison for over two years now,' he said.

An Australian citizen Dr Yang Hengjun (pictured) detained in China on espionage charges is ill with Australia's foreign minister 'extremely concerned' for him

Yang said that he can only eat with two teeth due to dental problems and was 'tired and confused' during his trial, in which he 'didn't have the spirit to speak enough.'

'I only spoke for three-five minutes. My own defence was not so good.'

Yang insisted he is '100 percent innocent' and said he had tried and failed to get records from his 'illegal' interrogation dismissed.

'The interrogations I had been subjected to, I was told I had to confess,' he said.

He has not seen his family since being detained and has had only limited access to lawyers while in custody.

After almost three years in detention concerns are growing for Dr Yang's health, with Foreign Minister Marise Payne saying on Tuesday she is 'extremely concerned' for his physical wellbeing.

He is reportedly suffering from a variety of serious ailments including high blood pressure, high uric acid, gout, vision problems, and dizziness.

'We call on Chinese authorities to meet their obligations to ensure that all necessary treatment for his physical and mental health is provided,' Minister Payne said in a statement provided to AAP.

She said she was also worried about Dr Yang's stalled trial verdict as well as the lack of details about the investigation or charges against the Australian.

'This constitutes the arbitrary detention of an Australian citizen,' she said.

He has been held at a secret detention facility for three years despite no conviction on the spying charges (pictured with his wife who has not seen him since he was arrested)

'We therefore call for Dr Yang's immediate release and his return to Australia.'

Dr Yang, who is also an author, has told family he is innocent and would never confess to something he had not done.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously publicly declared any suggestion Dr Yang acted as a spy for Australia was absolutely untrue.

While Dr Yang did work for the Chinese intelligence service for many years, he broke away two decades ago and has since become a promoter of democracy.

He briefly lived in America before moving to Australia where he wrote spy novels and a blog promoting democracy.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese urged the government to make the 'strongest representation' possible to China on behalf of the detained Australian.

Mr Albanese said he agreed with the government's assessment that Dr Yang was being unfairly held by Chinese authorities.

Lawyers in Australia are concerned about the academic's lack of access to independent legal representation ahead of the legal proceedings and his prospect of a 'fair' trial under the communist regime

'There needs to be transparency with regards to procedural fairness ... which means he should be released,' he told reporters on Tuesday.

Amnesty International said it remained 'gravely concerned' about Yang's welfare.

The human rights group said in Dr Yang's almost three years in detention he had endured 'hundreds of interrogations and been held in inhumane conditions'.

'He remains at grave risk of torture and other ill-treatment,' the group's Australia campaigner Nikita White said in a statement.

'We would encourage (the Australian government) to continue to keep up the pressure for his immediate and unconditional release.'
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Covid infections are falling in the U.S. for the first time since the Omicron variant erupted at the end of 2021, with cases falling at least 10 percent in over the past seven days as former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Scott Gottlieb saying that there is hope on the horizon that infections will drop even lower and that the virus will enter an endemic state in the near future.

Gottlieb's predictions are the opposite of what Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, predicted during a conference earlier this week - when he said there was potential for another resistant strain to emerge in the future.

The U.S. recorded 721,651 new cases on Monday, a steep fall from the 1.364 million cases reported last Monday. America's new daily case average has also dropped 10 percent over the past seven days, from 766,939 to 684,457.

A DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins University data found there were 717,874 new cases recorded between midnight Monday and midnight Tuesday. Monday is often the day when reported case counts are highest as lagging figures from the weekend are finally reported.

Last week's 1.364 million cases recorded on Monday was the highest single day case total the nation ever recorded. This week's total was affected by the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, where many local governments and municipalities were closed and did not fully report cases. It is likely that some cases shift to Tuesday this week instead.

But Covid cases have been plunging for days in those states hardest hit by Omicron when it first arrived in the US in early December, suggesting the latest phase pandemic could really be drawing to a close.

Recent trends in case growth, combined with the more mild nature of the Omicron variant compared to its predecessors, has many hopeful that Covid will soon become endemic. If it reaches endemic stage, humans will be able to live normal lives with controlled circulation of the virus - similar to the flu.

Gottlieb, who is also a current board member at Pfizer, told CNBC's The Squawk Box that unless the virus dramatically shifts from its current state, it will likely enter an endemic state in the foreseeable future.

I think the base case is that this signals the end of the pandemic phase of this virus,' Gottlieb said.

His claim is backed up by figures coming out of the UK and South Africa.

In the UK, cases are continuing to decline after a massive surge struck the nation last month. The country recorded 84,429 new cases on Monday, and the daily case average has fallen to around the 100,000 mark - and will likely only fall further in the coming days.

South Africa is now recording less than 5,000 new COVID cases per day after reaching the heights of more than 23,000 per day only a few weeks ago.

In order for Covid to continue as a pandemic, another major shift in the virus's nature would have to occur. He said that this type of dramatic shift would be unlikely, though it many experts did not see a highly transmissible, vaccine resistant, variant like Omicron emerging after Delta.

'The worrisome scenario is that you get something thats divergent evolution like Omicron did. Something thats dramatically different than the variants that are circulating right now,' he said.

'Most people think thats unlikely to happen but most people felt that was unlikely to happen before and that Delta would be the dominant lineage, and then Omicron came along, it had been mutating in a sequestered pocket somewhere and re-emerged into the human circulation.

On the other hand, Fauci warned at a virtual even that a there is potential for a new strain of Covid to emerge that evades the natural immunity provided by previous Covid infection, putting the world even further away from the endemic stage.

"We've seen this virus continue to drift and undergo gradual evolution...there is a presumption at some point we are going to have a dominant lineage," says @ScottGottliebMD. "The conventional wisdom right now is it's likely to be omicron." pic.twitter.com/6BEEGzDTJs  Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) January 18, 2022

Weve never seen a coronavirus undergo shift, where youve seen a dramatic change in the virus itself and the strain of the virus. What youve seen is these viruses undergo drift,' Gottlieb said, explaining how these new variant emerge.

'And thats in fact what weve seen. Weve seen this virus continue to drift and undergo gradual evolution, and thats how weve gotten these new variants.'

Dr Scott Gottlieb (pictured), former director of the FDA, said Tuesday that he does not expect Covid to make another major shift beyond Omicron, and the endemic stage of the virus could be around the corner

Whenever a pathogen jumps from one host to another, it begins to replicate itself. Every time it has another chance to replicate, there is another chance a virus will slightly mutate. A vast majority of mutations individually do not have any impact on the science of the virus. When mutations begin to stack on each other, though, they start to caused problems.

The Omicron strain is the mutated version of Covid discovered yet, with more than 50 mutations, including dozens on the spike protein. Its mutations have allowed for it to rapidly transmit around the world and evade protection provided by the existing vaccines.

Variants usually come from a base lineage, and continue to mutate from there. Gottlieb expects Omicron to become that base lineage, but is not totally discounting Delta.

'Were gonna have a dominant strain and future mutations will occur within that lineage and Omicron may be it. It may be Delta. Its unclear,' he said.

'I think the conventional wisdom right now is that its likely to be Omicron and that were gonna be formulating vaccines against that variant going forward.'

Either way, Gottlieb still expects the virus to evolve - just as the flu does - in a situation that could require the use of regular Covid shots to control the virus.

'[The virus is] gonna continue to evolve too, in ways that try to partially evade out immune system, and its probably going to achieve some new fitness level and thats why were gonna have to re-inoculate the population at least for a period of time,' he said.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease, warned that Covid becoming endemic may not be as likely as many say at the Davos Agenda virtual event Monday.

The nation's Covid czar warned that a new variant could emerge that makes 'natural vaccination' - or immunity via previous infection - ineffective. If that does happen, then humans will not be able to enter an endemic stage of Covid.

His warning runs counter to the positive predictions coming from Gottlieb and from some officials in the UK who believe that the virus could have a 'flu-type' relationship with people by the end of the year based on its current spread.

Dr Anthony Fauci (pictured) warned that even if Omicron - which has caused a massive surge in new cases worldwide but is not as severe or deadly as its predecessors - is the final strain of COVID, it will likely become endemic

'I would hope that that's the case. But that would only be the case if we don't get another variant that eludes the immune response of the prior variant,' Fauci said.

Fauci has previously made grim projections about new COVID variants, and was ultimately proven correct about a variant like Omicron emerging.

In August, when the Delta variant was first rising in the US, Fauci warned that with transmission of Covid so rampant it was likely that a vaccine resistant variant would eventually emerge.

Months later, than variant did come about, when South African health officials discovered the highly infectious Omicron variant in late November.

He fears that there is a chance another variant emerges that has mutated in a way that allows it to get around protection provided by recovering from Omicron.

COVID becoming endemic as a result of Omicron has become a common theory among health experts and officials, and has served as a beacon of hope for the population suffering through the recent surge.

Omicron is burning through people so quickly, causing daily COVID cases to hit records almost everywhere in the world, that it could soon run out of people to infect.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron accounts for 98 percent of active cases in the US, almost entirely pushing out the much more severe Delta variant.

Add that COVID booster shots have been found to be effective against the variant and the number of people left for the variant to infect is quickly running out.

Once it does burn out, infections will continue at a lower rate, and due to the mild nature of the variant and regular availability of vaccines in the developed world it should be possible to control the virus.

Fauci said reaching that level is what would be needed for COVID to be shifted from a pandemic to endemic.

'Control means you have it present but it is present at a level that does not disrupt society,' he said. 'That's my definition of what endemicity would mean.'

At this point, life would basically be back to normal. Lockdown measures, masking and vaccine mandates would no longer be needed even though the virus is still circulating.

'It's not going to be that you'll eliminate this disease completely. But hopefully, it will be at such a low level that it doesn't disrupt our normal social, economic and other interactions with each other,' Fauci said.

'To me, that's what the new normal is.'

Whether Covid develops into an endemic or not is still in the air, but in the short term, America's Covid situation is starting to look better by the day.

Covid cases are finally on the decline in New York. The Empire state was hit hard and fast by the Omicron variant last month, with cases jumping ten-fold in a matter of weeks. After peaking at 40,000 new cases per day in early January, the state is now recording a 27 percent decrease in new cases over the past two weeks.

The state was once the leader in infection rate in the U.S., but has now fallen out of the top 15 states with 249 of every 100,000 residents testing positive for the virus daily.

Neighboring New Jersey, which was also hit hard by the new variant, has seen a similar dip in its caseload. The Garden state has recorded a 28 percent drop in new cases over the past 14 days, the biggest drop of any state in America. Like New York, New Jersey experienced a massive seven-fold case increase when Omicron first arrived in the U.S. early last month. It seems that the surge is finally starting to burn out.

Others states that were once among the nationwide leaders in case growth are seeing daily cases start to slow as well, like Illinois, Maryland, Florida and Georgia.

Declining case growth nationwide is providing even more evidence that the Omicron-fueled surge is starting to reach its peak. While the MLK day holiday also affected case change counts as well, many states were already trending downwards.

Children make up less than 0.1% of all Covid deaths, CDC reveals Children are extremely unlikely to die from COVID-19, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals. The agency's data shows that around 8.3 million children have contracted Covid and 841 have died since the pandemic began in March 2020. This means that children make up around 12 percent of cases and less than 0.1 percent of deaths in the U.S. The Census estimates that 22 percent of Americans are under the age of 18. Children under the age of five are especially unlikely to die, with 259 deaths being reported among the population that makes up six percent of Americans. It has long been known children do not suffer from Covid as badly as adults do. Previous studies have found that around half of cases among children are asymptomatic. The CDC reports age mortality data on a weekly basis for the previous week. Last week's data included 834,949 total deaths since the pandemic began nearly two years ago. The data highlights the mild risk the youngest children face from Covid. A study published by researchers from the University of Utah in October found that 50 percent of children who contract Covid have an asymptomatic case. The study was also performed during the Delta variant wave, before Omicron stormed the world and took over as America's dominant strain. Advertisement

Two-week case averages are generally the most stable figures and can smooth out single day outliers. Over the past 14 days, overall cases in the U.S. are up 40 percent, though that figure is expected to decline further in the coming days as many previous Covid hotspots in the U.S. are now seeing case counts trend in the right direction.

As of Tuesday morning, Johns Hopkins reports that the U.S. has logged 66,456,516 cases and 851,730 deaths since the pandemic first began. That means there has been one reported Covid case for every five Americans so far - with the figure likely being even higher due to the mass underreporting of cases and test shortages that have been a problem during different waves of the pandemic.

One model projects a grim future ahead for the United States, modeling that 58,000 to 305,000 more Americans will succumb to the virus over the next two months.

Projections shared during a White House briefing Tuesday estimate that between up to 305,000 Americans could die from Covid between now and when the wave is expected to subside by mid-March.

This likely would bring America's overall Covid death total - sitting at over 853,000 as of Tuesday afternoon - over one million, a mark no other country in the world has reached.

Despite signs Omicron causes milder disease on average, the unprecedented level of infection spreading through the country, with cases still soaring in many states, means many vulnerable people will become severely sick.

'A lot of people are still going to die because of how transmissible Omicron has been,' said University of South Florida epidemiologist Jason Salemi.

'It unfortunately is going to get worse before it gets better.'

Morgues are starting to run out of space in Johnson County, Kansas, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of the health department.

More than 30 residents have died in the county this year, the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

But the notion that a generally less severe variant could still take the lives of thousands of people has been difficult for health experts to convey.

The math of it - that a small percentage of a very high number of infections can yield a very high number of deaths - is difficult to visualize.

Overall, youre going to see more sick people even if you as an individual have a lower chance of being sick,' said Katriona Shea of Pennsylvania State University, who co-leads a team that pulls together several pandemic models and shares the combined projections with the White House.

The wave of deaths heading for the United States will crest in late January or early February, Shea said.

In early February, weekly deaths could equal or exceed the Delta peak, and possibly even surpass the previous U.S. peak in deaths last year.

Some unknown portion of these deaths are among people infected with the delta variant, but experts say Omicron is also claiming lives.

'This is Omicron driven,' Shea said of the coming wave of deaths.

The combined models project 1.5 million Americans will be hospitalized and 191,000 will die from mid-December through mid-March.

Taking into account the uncertainty in the models, U.S. deaths during the omicron wave could range from 58,000 to 305,000.

Overburdened hospitals could also contribute to more deaths, said Marc Lipsitch of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and scientific director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions forecasting center.

'In places with extremely short staffing and overloads of patients, as the medical professionals have been telling us, the quality of care begins to suffer,' Lipsitch said.

'That may also lead to higher death rates, but thats not in any of the models that Im aware of.'

The CDC reports that the Omicron variant (purple) makes up 99.5% of Covid cases in the U.S., while Delta (orange) only makes up 0.3%. Last week, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Delta was still responsible for increases in America's Covid mortality.

Georgia, once one of the states leading the south in Covid case growth - mainly fueled by outbreaks in the greater Atlanta area - is now only recording an 18 percent increase in cases over the past two weeks. The Peach state has also dropped all the way to into the bottom five states in infection rate, with only 159 of every 100,000 residents testing positive for the virus every day.

Maryland is also among the states with the lowest infection rate in America. The state is recording 155 cases per every 100,000 residents, the fourth lowest mark in the U.S. Maryland was among the case leaders earlier this month, but a 21 percent decline in cases over the past two weeks has turned the state's Covid situation around.

Outbreaks in the Chicago area placed Illinois among the U.S. leaders in case growth earlier this month as well, but the city, and state as a whole, are now showing signs that the Omicron variant is starting to burn out their as well.

Cook county, which includes Chicago, was recording just under 10,000 cases per day as of January 14 - the last time it reported cases - a near 25 percent decrease from the 13,000 cases it was recording as of January 9.

Cases in the state are up 28 percent over the past two weeks, though that figure has massively declined in recent days, and is likely to drop further as the variant continues to run out of people to infect.

Rhode Island remains the national leader in infection rate by a large margin despite the Ocean State's high vaccination rate. The state is recording 457 new daily cases for every 100,000 residents, the only state with a rate of over 400. It is also tied for the national lead with 78 percent of its population fully vaccinated.

Vermont, which is tied with Rhode Island with a 78 percent vaccination rate, also finds itself among the national leaders in infection rate. Every day, 320 of every 100,000 Vermonters are testing positive for Covid - the third highest rate in America.

The Omicron variant was spreading rapidly across the UK just last week, with many areas recording more than 1,600 cases per day (right). Daily Covid cases are not declining nationwide in the UK, with once-hotspots seeing the virus finally recede after the December surge (left).

SAGE modeler predicts UK will have a 'flu-type' relationship with Covid by the end of the year Britain could have a 'flu-type' relationship with Covid by the end of 2022, one of the Government's scientific advisers said today. Dr Mike Tildesley, who sits on an influential modelling sub-group of SAGE, warned the country 'was not there yet' because hospitalization levels from the virus are still 'relatively high'  despite being just a fraction of those seen in previous waves. But he predicted even milder variants than Omicron would emerge over the course of the year, bolstering the UK's wall of immunity and creating an even bigger disconnect between infection numbers and hospitalizations and deaths. Dr Tildesley, a modeler at Warwick University, said the data suggested the pandemic was 'turning around' following the Omicron wave, meaning ministers could start discussing what 'living with' Covid would be like. Infections are now in freefall across the country, with MailOnline analysis suggesting outbreaks are now shrinking in 96 per cent of England's 7,000 neighborhoods. Hospitalizations also appear to be trending downwards. Education Secretary and former vaccine tsar Nadhim Zahawi today described the figures as 'promising', and a sign 'Plan B' restrictions could be lifted before the end of this month because the country is set to be in a 'much better place' within weeks. The optimistic comments came as a World Health Organization expert today said there was 'light at the end of the tunnel' for Britain amid plummeting case numbers and stable hospital rates. Advertisement

Wisconsin has joined the national leaders as well, posting the second highest infection rate with 396 of every 100,00 residents of the Badger state testing positive daily. Delaware (314 of every 100,000 residents testing positive daily), Utah (304) and Massachusetts (303) make up the rest of the national leaders. All of these states have fully vaccinated more than 60 percent of their populations.

New Mexico is now the national leader in Covid deaths per every 100,000 residents, and the number of states recording more than one per every 100,000 residents every day has increased back to eight. The state is averaging 1.1 deaths per every 100,000 residents.

Indiana held the dubios honor over the past week, and remains second with 1.09 deaths per 100,000 residents. The mortality rate in Maryland and Michigan - states that were previously among the leaders before experiencing declines in recent months - have risen again as well, with both logging 1.08 deaths per every 100,000 residents daily.

Ohio (1.04 daily deaths per 100,000 residents), Pennsylvania (1.06), New Jersey (1.01) and New York (1) are among the national leaders as well.

Across the pond, Covid figures are continuing to shrink in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency reported Tuesday that 96 percent of neighborhoods in the country are reporting a decline of infections since January 11.

The sharp decrease in cases comes only weeks after the country was overwhelmed by the Omicron variant. The European nations quickly emerged as the worst struck nation by the new variant last month, and its capital city, London, became a global Covid hotspot.

It comes amid growing optimism among the Government, its own scientific advisers and even the World Health Organization, who say the UK is on the cusp of taming Covid.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a modeler for Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) - a UK government organization that advises in times of crisis - predicted yesterday that the country would have a flu-like relationship with Covid by the end of the year.

He said the country has almost reached a point where ministers could start discussing what 'living with' Covid would be like.

Dr David Nabarro, the WHO's special envoy on Covid, said there was 'light at the end of the tunnel' for Britain amid plummeting case numbers and stable hospital rates.

France's record Covid wave seems to be cresting as well, with the European nation finally seeing rampant case growth slow down in recent days. The country is averaging 286,000 cases per day, a ten percent increase over the 262,000 cases being recorded daily a week ago.

For comparison, over the previous week, cases had increased by 63 percent.

Denmark was one of the first countries to suffer an Omicron-fueled Covid outbreak. The nation saw cases rapidly increase, and officials in the state instituted partial lockdown measures to counter the spread of the virus. Over the weekend, restrictions were lifted, signaling the nation is more comfortable with Omicron at the moment.

The country is averaging 23,000 new cases per day as on Monday, a record for the Nordic nation. Denmark has never suffered a massive surge of Covid cases, with its record being around 35 per day last winter. Currently, the nation is recording ten deaths from the virus daily.
Buckingham Palace is considering removing another of Prince Andrew and Prince Harry's key duties, as well as depriving them of Jubilee medals like other veterans.

According to Palace sources, the Duke of York and Duke of Sussex would lose their status as Counsellors of State, in addition to the other titles they've had to give up. The monarch's spouse and the following four individuals in the line of succession who are over the age of 21 make up the Counselors of State.

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry denied Queen's Jubilee Medal

Most formal tasks, including as attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine paperwork, and receiving the credentials of incoming ambassadors to the UK, are delegated to them. Due to the former's ongoing legal issues and the latter's choice to leave 'The Firm,' both Andrew and his nephew have had their royal patronages and military titles revoked.

They are still two of the four Counsellors of State, along with Charles and William, who would be called upon to take the Queen's place if she were unable to carry out her responsibilities due to sickness or absence abroad, according to sources, but this position may not last much longer, according to Daily Mail.

One of the accolades will be given to all serving members of the armed services, as well as blue lightworkers and jail officials. Members of the Royal Family who serve in the military on an honorary basis are also eligible. Veterans will not be awarded the medal unless they are live George Cross or Victoria Cross recipients. Despite serving overseas, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry have been deprived of their royal titles and their military honors.

However, they will be classified as veterans under the regulations, which means they will not be eligible for the medal, according to the Telegraph. After being called to Windsor for an emotional meeting with the Queen last week, the Duke of York was virtually exiled.

Read Also: US Judge Rejects Prince Andrew's Bid to Junk Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Prince Andrew faces sex abuse case; Prince Harry faces fury

It comes as he confronts accuser Virginia Giuffre in a civil sex abuse action. Prince Andrew is adamant in his denial of any wrongdoing. In November 2019, he took a step back from public life due to his association with late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. According to a statement made by the Palace, he would never return to the royal battlefield and will instead defend himself as a private person.

The Duke served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, including as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War. He was also in charge of the minesweeper HMS Cottesmore. Following his decision to resign as a working royal and relocate to the United States with his wife Meghan in 2020, his nephew Harry gave up his three honorary titles.

The loss of the duties which included Captain-General of the Royal Marines - a rank previously held by Prince Philip - was said to have left him devastated. The Duke of Sussex spent a decade in the army, rising through the ranks to captain and doing two deployments in Afghanistan. The Royal Family has had few difficult days with news that the males would not be recognized.

In addition to Prince Andrew's shocking demotion, which might see him withdraw from public view forever, it has been revealed that Harry is pursuing legal action against the UK government. After being stripped of his bodyguards, the 37-year-old is prepared for a judicial battle.

Prince Harry has expressed his desire to bring his children home, but he believes it would be too unsafe without Met Police protection. Because he is now a private individual, his offers to pay for round-the-clock policemen, which are traditionally reserved for royals and government officials, have been rebuffed.

The Duke of Sussex is said to have assured his family that he will return for Prince Philip's memorial ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April. Those plans are now in jeopardy, according to royal author Phil Dampier, who believes Meghan will never return to the UK. Despite this, Prince Charles has asked the Sussexes to stay with him, stating that he is eager to spend time with his grandkids Archie and Lilibet, The Sun reported.

Related Article: Prince Harry Launches Legal Action To Ensure Family's Protection When They Return to the UK with Lilibet

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Australia will suffer an 'extensive influx' of cockroaches that likely won't die down until May, in bad news for all coastal Aussies who hate creepy crawlies.

Experts have warned Australians living in coastal areas to be vigilant as recent rain fall and La Nina weather conditions have led to perfect cockroach conditions.

Sydneysiders in particular have been told to stay on high alert as the city, which is already infamous for pest problems, has been swarmed with roaches.

Experts have warned Australians living in coastal areas to be vigilant as recent rain fall and La Nina weather conditions have led to perfect cockroach conditions

The owner of the pest control company Warren Bailey, said Sydney's current 'extensive influx' of roaches likely won't leave until the weather cools.

'Primarily, (the influx of cockroaches) has been due to the excessive rain holding them back, and now the hot weather that is here,' he explained to News.com.

'The influx will most likely last as long the weather stays hot, so possibly up until April or May.'

Western Sydney University Associate Professor of Entomology Markus Riegler revealed the two reasons why cockroaches are attracted to homes and what you can do to keep them out of yours.

He said cockroaches tend to make their home and breed in houses because of consistent temperatures and access to food.

Their most common breeding grounds are under the fridge and dishwasher.

An owners of a Sydney pest control service revealed the unusual rain patterns and humid weather have lead to an 'extensive influx' of roaches in the city

Mr Bailey and Professor of Entomology Markus Riegler recommend storing all food in sealed containers or the fridge, cleaning food scraps, and receiving regular pest service to prevent an infestation (stock image)

Prof Riegler said the worst thing you can do is leave food easily accessible for roaches as they love setting up camp near easy food source.

He recommends cleaning food scraps in the kitchen and on the dinner table quickly, storing food in sealed containers and the fridge, and cleaning pots and pans straight after meal time - so no 'leaving it to soak' overnight.

'It's important to always keep all food in closed containers or the fridge (including food you may usually not have in the fridge such as sugar or fruit); and to regularly remove any food scraps from the kitchen and the kitchen table,' he told News.com.

Mr Bailey said the best way to control an infestation is to call pest control and receive 'regular pest service.'
A yoga expert moonlighting as a massage therapist has had his conviction for indecent assault overturned after one of his clients accused him of 'fondling her breasts'.

Timothy Van Eyle was found guilty of the offence in April 2019 but appealed the ACT Magistrates Court's decision claiming the touching was 'not of a sexual nature'.

Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson ruled it was 'possible' the newly-trained masseuse believed he had consent as the woman had agreed to a 'chest massage'.

Mr Van Eyle told Daily Mail Australia after being vindicated the ordeal has been 'disheartening'.

Timothy Van Eyle (pictured) successfully appealed to have his conviction for indecent assault overturned

'My own lawyer said when they heard of my case that they suspected I was another sleaze ball,' he said.

'But once they properly met me and understood my background they realised I was different and I come from a place of innocents; not of lust, greed or envy.

'In the work I do. I truly have only ever wanted to help others.'

Judge Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson considered the appellant's actions to be somewhat 'reckless' but blamed his 'lack of training' for the incident when she threw out his conviction in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday.

Mr Van Eyle had recently completed his diploma in Remedial Massage Therapy at the Canberra Institute of Technology and had only been working for two or three weeks when the complainant walked through the door of the Spa Mint Massage & Day Spa in Canberra on January 21, 2019.

The woman was there to receive a facial and a Swedish massage.

Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson ruled it was 'possible' that Mr Van Eyle (pictured in a yoga pose) believed he had consent as the woman had agreed to a 'chest massage'

After massaging her neck and shoulders, Mr Van Eyle whispered to the complainant 'do you want me to do the rest of your chest?' and the woman responded by saying 'sure', court documents show.

The woman 'assumed it was part of the procedure and that he would massage the muscles surrounding the area of her chest'.

She was shocked when Mr Van Eyle proceeded to move the sheet down below her belly button.

'So my breasts were uncovered and he was gradually, um, sort of massaging the area around my breasts and between my breasts,' the woman said.

'But then he just ended up fondling my breasts in what I perceived to be quite a sexual manner.

'He was cupping my breasts and moving them around and feeling them. He had his hands on my nipples or the area with the nipples, so I felt quite uncomfortable.'

Timothy Van Eyle (pictured) was found guilty of the offence in April 2019 but successfully appealed the ACT Magistrates Court decision claiming the touching was 'not of a sexual nature'

Mr Van Eyle told the court he 'had no sexual interest in the massage and it was not erotic'.

Justice Loukas-Karlsson said 'It is entirely reasonably possible on examining all the evidence that the complainant and the appellant have both honestly reported different perceptions of the treatment.'

'In my view, that is a reasonable possibility in this case.

'On all of the evidence, I must return a verdict of not guilty.'
A supermarket has banned unvaccinated shoppers from entering its Northern Territory store, despite grocery shops counting as an essential service and therefore exempt from NT's Covid passport rules.

Popular supermarket chain IGA has announced only the vaccinated will be allowed to buy groceries from Yulara store, located inside the Ayers Rock resort.

The decision to refuse un-jabbed customers was backed by tourism operator Voyages, the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC), Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and the Northern Territory government.

Popular supermarket chain IGA has announced only the vaccinated will be allowed to buy groceries from Yulara store, located inside the Ayers Rock resort (pictured)

The NT on January 10 introduced a new vaccine pass system that now requires residents over the age of 16 to prove their vaccination status (pictured, a shopper in a supermarket)

Poll DO YOU AGREE WITH THE IGA'S DECISION TO VAN UNVAXXED SHOPPERS? Yes No DO YOU AGREE WITH THE IGA'S DECISION TO VAN UNVAXXED SHOPPERS? Yes 184 votes

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A Voyages company spokesperson said the ban had been introduced to protect the safety and wellbeing of their guests, staff and the local community.

MCAC chief executive Thalia Bohl-van den Boogaard has also defended the decision and said everyone in the Mutitjulu community had access to a community store or fuel station to buy essential groceries.

The NT on January 10 introduced a new vaccine pass system that now requires residents over the age of 16 to prove their vaccination status to enter recreation venues.

Those who remain unvaccinated are banned from entering a suite of businesses including cinemas, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

The Omicron variant officially reached Central Australia in early December, after NT relaxed its Covid-19 border controls and allowed all vaccinated travellers in.

A Voyages company spokesperson said the ban had been introduced to protect the safety and wellbeing of their guests, staff and the local community (pictured, IGA in NT)

The highly-contagious strain has seen an unprecedented surge in local cases with lock-outs currently in place in Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Yuelamu and Amoonguna.

People in Galiwin'ku and Yirrkala in the East Arnhem region also entered a lockdown on Monday, as the government looks to ease pressure on the health system.

Covid cases across the NT climbed to a record 625 infections on Tuesday, after the territory reported 284 new infections on Monday.

Hospitalisations climbed to 43 on Tuesday with 27 patients classified as 'acute admissions' with one person currently in ICU.

An NT McDonalds posted a sign on the door that reminded residents they must be vaccinated to dine inside the restaurant (pictured)

NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles (pictured) described Tuesday's 625 new cases as a 'large jump' but said it had been predicted with less people getting tested on the weekend

NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles described the tally as a 'large jump' but said it had been predicted with less people getting tested on the weekend.

'When you put it with the numbers we saw yesterday, it's not greatly concerning to us,' Ms Fyles said.

'If you put yesterday and today's figures together you're still seeing around 450 cases today and that's been about around our 14-day average.'

Of the 4,142 active cases across the territory, 2,114 of the cases were in the Greater Darwin area, 543 were in Alice Springs, 70 were in East Arnhem, 211 were in Katherine and 33 were in the Barkly region.

Ms Fyles revealed 13 of the Tuesday's cases were recorded at an Alice Springs hospital which would remain a 'significant focus' for health teams.
An irate diner fed up with slow service at a local restaurant battling through Covid staff shortage has received an earful from its battler owner, calling her an 'embarrassment'.

Kristina and her mother visited the Pelican's Landing restaurant in Williamstown, Melbourne, after booking for a special offer of $19 bar meals and a 'table with a view' on January 8.

However when they arrived they discovered the restaurant was extremely short staffed and offering a 'limited menu.'

Restaurants, shops and bars around Australia have been suffering from staffing issues since the Omicron wave hit, with workers either infected or deemed close contacts and forced to isolate, with remaining staff forced to battle through.

For the Pelican's Landing, 37 of its 45 staff have come down with Covid, leaving the owner and remaining workers fighting to stay open.

The irate customer, known only as Kristina, made a complaint to the owner of Pelican's Landing restaurant in Melbourne (pictured)

The owner responded to Kristina's emailed complaint after she had 'verbally abused' him at the restaurant and called her a 'disgrace' for her behaviour

But diner Kristina was far from sympathetic, claiming she and her mother waited 15 minutes to be seated and 45 minutes for service before they left without eating.

She wrote an email complaining to the restaurant about her experience saying she had spent '$25 on an Uber' to get there and called the service 'disappointing' and 'unacceptable.'

But owner John Mousaferiadis wasn't going to take her complaint lying down, saying he had 'never been abused like this' in his 37 years working in hospitality - claiming even Kristina's mother appeared to be embarrassed.

'We had a wedding of 60 people as well as 104 people downstairs with just two chefs on,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'We explained the situation to people when they came in and people even thanked us for the hard work as they left.'

Kristina and her mother visited the Pelican's Landing restaurant in Williamstown, Melbourne, after booking for $19 bar meals and a 'table with a view'

Kristina claimed her and her mother waited 15 minutes to be seated and 45 minutes for service before they left without eating (pictured, dinner at the restaurant)

Mr Mousaferiadis said Kristina had 'verbally assaulted' him because there weren't $19 bar meals available due to staffing issues.

'We had to do something drastically different (to handle limited staff) and so we put on just a limited menu.'

'(Kristina) got up because the bar meals weren't on and she attacked me.

'She abused me in front of her mother.'

He also revealed he had suffered a heart attack only days prior to the incident due to over working himself throughout Covid.

Mr Mousaferiadis earlier responded to Kristina's complaint in an email she claims to have 'lost sleep' over.

Owner John Mousaferiadis said the restaurant had been serving some 160 people with only two staff and he had 'never been abused like this' in his 37 years working in hospitality

'I am sorry for your experience,' Mr Mousaferiadis replied to Kristina in an email.

'Obviously you have no idea what we are going through and lucky to be just open and trying to serve everyone with no staff.'

Mr Mousaferiadis then continued the email to call out Kristina for expecting a $19 meal and quick service while the restaurant was struggling.

'Are you serious? I had a wedding upstairs with two staff on and 104 people booked in  and yes we did have bar meals on but had to take them off as had no staff on virtually,' he wrote.

'With 37 staff down with Covid you just don't understand and then to have a go at me in front of your mother  what an embarrassment for her.'

'I can't hardly walk now after three days of washing polishing glasses and worked so hard.

'If you noticed most of Williamstown was closed beside us.

'What a disgrace you are to not only yourself but to me and your mother and now my staff.'

Mr Mousaferiadis also revealed he had suffered a heart attack only days prior to the incident due to over working himself throughout covid

In the email Mr Mousaferiadis also said he received no other complaints that night.

Richard Forbes, chief executive of the Independent Food Distributors of Australia peak body is urging the government to get rid of close contact rules for those working in the hospitality industry.

Last week national cabinet made the decision to scrap close contact rules for those working in a large number of sectors to help combat logistic issues.

Mr Forbes believes the same should be done for the hospitality sector to help venues suffering from short staffing.

'Maintaining the close contact isolation rules for the hospitality sector is having a major economic impact on the food supply chain with food distributors reporting an average loss of revenue of up to 40 per cent,' he said.

'Our members in Sydney are reporting losses of well over 50 per cent.'
A pervert who tried to groom a 13-year-old girl online has been jailed after he was caught in a sting by vigilante paedophile hunters who told him: You like being tied up? Well youre tied up now!.

Gareth Holliday, 37, offered to be the childs sex friend and claimed he enjoyed being bound, penetrated with sex toys and having his private parts electrocuted with a cattle prod, a court heard.

But when he tried to arrange a meeting outside a Superdrug store in Rochdale, Greater Manchester in August 2020, he was confronted by hunters from a parent group called the Elusive Child Protection Unit.

In a livestreamed video watched by 134,000 people, Holliday, from Blackburn, shook uncontrollably and puffed on a cigarette before he was led away by police as an angry crowd gathered.

One of the group told him: Some of the chats you wrote are the worst I have ever read. Our decoys have had to tolerate your chats for several weeks and you are probably the most explicit, perverted sadistic dirty rotten f***ing b*****ds that I have stood in front of.

Details emerged at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, where Holliday was jailed for 32 months after he admitted attempted sexual communications with a child, attempting to meet a child after grooming and attempting to cause a child to engage on sexual activity.

Father-of-one Gareth Holliday, 37, offered to be a sex friend and claimed he enjoyed being bound, penetrated with sex toys and even having his private parts electrocuted with a cattle prod, a court heard

In a livestreamed video watched by 134,000 people, Holliday, from Blackburn, shook uncontrollably and puffed on a cigarette as one of the group told him: Some of the chats you wrote are the worst I have ever read

Holliday was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for life and abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard Holliday contacted the paedophile hunter in August 2020 via the Hi5 chat app after she set up a bogus profile in the name of Maddison on various social media platforms.

During the illicit exchanges, Holliday sent the hunter a step-by-step guide on ways to pleasure oneself then suggested they both delete their messages, adding: I'll get locked up if the police find out because youre 13.

At the scene of the sting, one of the parents told the 37-year-old: The things youve said to what you thought was a 13-year-old was (sic) sickening.

Our team have seen a lot of perverts and a lot of weirdos but you are the worst I've seen. We're fathers and grandfathers and how would you feel if someone had sent this to your child.

You are massive danger to young children. You're a proper sausage. You like being tied up  well you're f***ing tied up now! Have a cigarette  it might be your last one tonight.

Holliday can be seen wearing a jumper with a badge that resembles the RNLI logo which are available to buy online. It is not thought that he is a volunteer.

Sentencing, Judge Elliot Knopf told the pervert: This was an intensive level of communication between you and the person who was a decoy.

Details emerged at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, where Holliday was jailed for 32 months after he admitted attempted sexual communications with a child, attempting to meet a child after grooming and attempting to cause a child to engage on sexual activity

You believed when she told you she was 13 that she was 13. your communication with that person developed very quickly into communications relating to sexual activity.

You then arranged to meet with her at a location with the purpose of having sex with the girl in your car.

You led her to believe that she, having expressed concern about pregnancy, you would bring condoms with you but none were found when you were searched. The purpose of this meeting was in little or no doubt.

This was a situation where you were astute enough to groom this girl. You were astute enough to delete messages from your phone and to suggest to her that she should delete messages. You showed a level of awareness and astuteness which is a relevant factor.

These are issues that are all too common in our society nowadays. Those who are going to impose themselves in this sort of activity will face the appropriate punishment from the courts. It will not be tolerated at all.

A woman who posed as the girl told Holliday in a statement: You are vile, you are disgusting. How dare you try and destroy the mind of an innocent child.

What gives you the right to exploit, abuse and violate children. You are the scum of the earth and you made me, a grown woman, feel sick.

When he tried to arrange a meeting outside a Superdrug store in Rochdale, Greater Manchester in August 2020, he was confronted by hunters from a parent group called the Elusive Child Protection Unit

You are a vile excuse for a human being, Youre evil. I am just thankful it was me and not a child who had to put up with you.

Prosecutor Anna Bond told the court: This defendant asked if she wanted to be her sex friend. He said: I can come over anytime you like and he said he would wear a condom. The defendant then gave her his phone number and the conversation moved to WhatsApp.

Over a 16-day period the defendant sent explicit photos of himself and made plans to have sex with her.

On August 18, he arranged to meet her at a shopping centre and on August 20, the defendant went to the meeting point at 9.15pm and was met by the adult decoy.

He was arrested and interviewed and said he had been speaking to Maddison and he agreed he knew she was 13.

He said he struggled with what to talk about on the messages, so they spoke about sexual stuff. He said he enjoyed bondage, BDSM, hardcore pornography and sex toys.

He admitted he encouraged her to carry out sex acts as he pleasured himself. He denied having travelled one hour from Blackburn to Rochdale with the intent of having sex with Maddison. No sexual activity did in fact occur.

Holiday had no previous convictions. His counsel Mark Friend said: His IQ is assessed as being 72. According to the sample, 97 per cent of the sample had a higher IQ than him.

He has learning difficulties and is a vulnerable individual. His partner who is also someone with learning difficulties has been in a relationship with him for some time.
A senior academic who claimed she was sacked from her job because of her loud voice has been awarded more than 100,000 by an employment tribunal after winning a claim for unfair dismissal.

Dr Annette Plaut, 60, alleged it was a combination of her being female and her 'naturally loud voice' that led to her dismissal from the University of Exeter's physics department where she had worked for 30 years.

The lecturer admitted she was 'inherently loud', 'naturally argumentative' in conversation, spoke with vigorous hand gestures, and was so passionate about physics that she would get overexcited.

But while many students and colleagues liked the University of Exeter academic's teaching style, some co-workers found her 'overbearing', 'boisterous' and a 'Marmite' character, the hearing was told.

The physicist was suspended and then sacked following a disciplinary hearing in December 2019, after bosses said she was shouting at PhD students and causing them stress and anxiety.

However, at a tribunal in Exeter, Dr Plaut claimed her eastern European Jewish heritage and upbringing meant she had 'inherent characteristics of loudness'.

Last December employment Judge Paul Housego criticised the way the academic of such long standing was treated and found the university guilty of unfair dismissal.

Dr Annette Plaut, 60, has been awarded more than 100,000 by an employment tribunal after winning a claim for unfair dismissal

The employment tribunal has now awarded Dr Plaut just under 101,000.

The tribunal heard that the senior lecturer was the only woman in the physics and astronomy department when she joined the university in October 1990.

The panel said: 'Dr Plaut's parents left Germany before the Second World War. This was a family experience which Dr Plaut feels deeply.

'Dr Plaut feels very strongly that her inherent characteristics include a stereotypical loudness and demonstrative and argumentative style of interpersonal discourse.

'Dr Plaut is passionate about physics. While she can try to restrain her natural personality it tends to emerge when style becomes engaged in discussion about physics.

'Over the years some colleagues and some students have found this somewhat overbearing, despite Dr Plaut telling students and colleagues that she means nothing by it.

'There was a view amongst some senior members of the department that Dr Plaut had been allowed for years to get away with behaviour which should really not be tolerated.

'Others valued her contribution, and accepted that she was not an unpleasant person even when being loudly argumentative in discussion.'

During the tribunal Exeter University claimed that Dr Plaut was perceived to shout at students and colleagues and was dismissed over the way she dealt with two PhD students.

But the tribunal ruled she was unfairly dismissed.

Dr Plaut told a remedy hearing: 'I want to be reinstated.'

The physicist was sacked from Exeter University following a disciplinary hearing in December 2019

But as for getting another post, she said: 'They don't recruit 60-year-olds, they recruit new blood, innovative thinking, thrusting and they are cheap not expensive. I am too boisterous to develop in a laboratory. I am 60 and have no intention to retire and draw my pension.'

She claimed she was consistently treated unfairly by the university over decades and was targeted for dismissal.

The remedy judgement said it was 'difficult to imagine the depth of humiliation, hurt, stress and worry' for Dr Plaut after she was suspended, adding: 'Every aspect of her life and future was at risk, and for no good reason, and unfairly.'

A University of Exeter spokesperson said: 'We continue to believe there are serious inaccuracies in these judgements and we are appealing the decision of the employment appeals tribunal.'

Dr Plaut's additional claims of racial and sex discrimination were dismissed by the panel.
A high-flying lawyer who had a 'meltdown' due to her 'intolerable' workload at a top City law firm is suing the company claiming stress ended her lucrative career.

Barrister turned yoga instructor Joanna Torode, 46, says working conditions at the London office of international law firm Ropes and Gray were so 'horrific' that she had a nervous breakdown, bursting into tears at work.

After an 'exodus' of colleagues, she had been left with an 'unrelenting' workload and was often the last to leave at night, leading to her emotional collapse from stress over Christmas 2017.

In legal papers, filed to the High Court, she says she has been unable to work since being admitted to hospital in April 2018.

The barrister, who now runs charity yoga classes raising money for children in India, is suing Ropes and Gray for damages for the premature end to her law career.

According to court documents, her claim is for at least 200,000. However, it is likely to run into the millions due to her claim for the loss of her 'substantial' salary in the City.

Though it is not clear what the experienced barrister's salary was, newly qualified lawyers at the firm's London office earn as much as 147,000-a-year, plus bonuses.

The US firm, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is fighting the damages bid, claiming that - as a very high-earning City lawyer - it was expected that Ms Torode would sometimes work long hours.

And they deny that her workload was excessive in any way, suggesting that she was 'over-focused on promotion' and that her tears at Christmas were simply because she was passed over whilst other colleagues moved up the career ladder.

Lawyers for the firm have also attempted to turn the tables on Ms Torode, claiming it was 'typical' of her that she would 'become upset frustrated and angry when she did not get what she wanted'.

Outlining the claim in a writ filed at the High Court, Ms Torode's (pictured) barrister, Jeremy Hyam QC, says she began her employment at Ropes and Gray's Ludgate Hill offices in June 2017

Barrister turned yoga instructor Joanna Torode (pictured), 46, says working conditions at the London office of international law firm Ropes and Gray were so 'horrific' that she had a nervous breakdown, bursting into tears at work

The barrister, who now runs her own yoga business, is suing Ropes and Gray (pictured) for damages for the premature end to her law career

Outlining the claim in a writ filed at the High Court, Ms Torode's barrister, Jeremy Hyam QC, says she began her employment at Ropes and Gray's Ludgate Hill offices in June 2017.

She was a specialist in financial crime and money laundering regulations, including cryptocurrency, and joined the firm's 'government enforcement' team as an 'employed barrister'.

However, only two-and-a-half months later, there was an 'exodus' from her team, as several colleagues left to join another firm.

It left Ms Torode, of Whitechapel, east London, as the only English-qualified lawyer in the team, so that overnight she was faced with a 'substantially increased workload and responsibility,' says the QC.

Her working conditions became 'chaotic, stressful and pressurised' and she told her employer that she needed support, claims Mr Hyam.

'Not only would she frequently be the last lawyer on her floor to leave in the evening as well as frequently working over weekends, but the intensity and pressure of her work was significantly intensified given the absence of any effective support at junior and senior level, and the absence of any effective teamworking,' he says.

'By late November and into early December 2017 the claimant was feeling exhausted and she was showing the incipient signs of major depression with her mood worsening.'

Ms Torode had expected promotion within the firm, but at Christmas 2017 was told at a meeting that two colleagues would be promoted, but she would not, says the barrister.

'The claimant was visibly upset by the news and burst into tears,' he continues.

'Her obvious upset and sobbing was a significant event that went beyond a brief loss of composure.

'It was witnessed by others and was a clear indication of the fragile emotional state she was in as a result of the unrelenting and overwhelming pressure of work she had been under.

'It was, or should have been obvious to the defendant that unless the claimant received appropriate support with her workload and responsibilities she was at risk of a serious deterioration in her mental state.'

He claims that Ropes and Gray's attitude towards the incident was that, while she was good enough to be a partner, getting emotional 'was not appropriate conduct in the office' and would harm her chance of promotion.

Ms Torode eventually went off sick in April 2018 after being told she would face a disciplinary hearing after giving an interview to a journalist, which it was said could have been taken as critical of a client.

Mr Hyam says Ms Torode had not realised that her comments could be taken as criticism of the client and that she had given the interview at a time when she was struggling to cope with the 'overwhelming demands' of her work and was at risk of 'dropping the ball.'

Ms Torode eventually went off sick in April 2018 after being told she would face a disciplinary hearing after giving an interview to a journalist, which it was said could have been taken as critical of a client

The 'heavy handed and disproportionate' conduct of the disciplinary investigation, including her being suspended and told she could be sacked, had triggered a 'sudden deterioration' in her mental health, leading to her being hospitalised.

Accusing Ropes and Gray of causing Ms Torode's illness, he said: 'The claimant's mental illness was caused or materially contributed to by the negligence, breach of contract and/or breach of statutory duties of the defendant.

'The claimant...now suffers from a major depressive disorder, recurrent, treatment resistant, moderately severe without psychotic features with moderate to severe anxious distress.

'She is unlikely to be able to return to work as a lawyer...The claimant has lost the ability to practice her chosen profession in which she was a specialist.

'She is very unlikely to return to employment as a lawyer and has suffered substantial loss of earnings in consequence.'

Defending the claim, Robert Glancy QC, for Ropes and Gray, denies that Ms Torode's workload was excessive, particularly for such a well-qualified, experienced lawyer on a 'substantial' salary and bonuses.

Defending the claim, Robert Glancy QC, for Ropes and Gray, denies that Ms Torode's (pictured) workload was excessive, particularly for such a well-qualified, experienced lawyer on a 'substantial' salary and bonuses

'The work that she did in the evenings and to some extent at the weekends was normal for senior City lawyers who were substantially remunerated and was neither out of the norm, nor excessive,' he says.

'The claimant either knew or ought to have known, when she accepted the employment as a well-remunerated City lawyer, that she would on occasions have to work in the evenings and at weekends.

'It is specifically denied that the claimant's workload, either in relation to the amount of work or the complexity of the work, was in any way excessive or unreasonable for a senior lawyer who was being paid a substantial salary and bonuses in a City firm.

'In particular, it is denied that the situation in which the claimant was working was either chaotic, unduly stressful or excessively pressurised.'

She had not asked for more staff to help her with the workload, but instead - 'excessively and unrealistically focused on promotion' - as part of her determination to 'build a team.'

The announcement at Christmas 2017 that she was not being promoted was no surprise to her, since she had already been told privately.

'The claimant's reaction to this information was, typically of her, to become upset, frustrated and angry when she did not get what she wanted or thought that she should have,' he says.

When she then found out at Christmas that the two colleagues were being promoted, her reaction was to become 'angry and cross.'

'Although the claimant may have shed some tears, it is denied that the claimant's reaction is properly characterised as a 'meltdown' or a significant event that went beyond a brief loss of composure,' the QC adds.

'The claimant's description of this...is significantly exaggerated.

'It is denied that this "event" was a clear or any indication that the claimant was in a fragile emotional state and it is further denied that this alleged emotional state was as a result of any unrelenting and overwhelming pressure that the claimant had been under, as she had not been under any such pressure.'

The claim and defence documents have been filed at the High Court (pictured: The Royal Courts of Justice) in London, but the case has not yet been heard by a judge

He says the disciplinary procedure that was put in place after she gave the interview was a 'reasonable and appropriate' reaction to a 'gross error of judgment' on her part.

She knew she should only give an interview after informing the firm's PR department, but had done so anyway, he says.

'In the circumstances, suspension of the claimant was justified and appropriate and the defendant had no knowledge, actual or constructive, of the claimant's alleged precarious mental state at this time.'

The claim and defence documents have been filed at the High Court in London, but the case has not yet been heard by a judge.

MailOnline has approached Ropes and Gray for a comment.
A former Love Island star has opened up about her shocking experience of being left barely breathing after having her drink spiked while having lunch with her friends.

Sharon Gaffka hit her head on a toilet and was found wedged behind a locked cubicle door after her drink was interfered with while out celebrating one of her friend's birthdays.

She said two male paramedics attended but passed her off as someone who had been 'over drinking' rather than a victim of spiking.

Ms Gaffka, who appeared on this year's edition of the ITV dating programme, has collected more than 1,000 testimonies for the Home Affairs Select Committee as part of an inquiry into spiking.

Recent research has shown a third of women have either been a victim of spiking or know someone who has, yet only 8 per cent of victims have reported the crime to the police.

It comes after a recent report by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner found that spiking cases have surged in recent months due to 'heightened awareness' of the issue, with 95 offences recorded in November.

Sharon Gaffka, who appeared on this year's Love Island, has collected more than 1,000 testimonies from victims of drink spiking after being left barely breathing when her drink was interfered with

Ms Gaffka said two male paramedics attended after she collapsed but passed her off as someone who had been 'over drinking' rather than a victim of spiking

Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain this morning, Ms Gaffka said she has had her drink spiked on 'five or six occasions' since the age of 18.

She said, on one occasion, she was spiked with MDMA but most recently a 'date rape drug' was put into her drink when she was out for lunch with friends celebrating one of their birthdays soon after the first lockdown.

By 7pm that day, Ms Gaffka was taken to hospital after passing out in a cubicle and hitting her head on a toilet.

She told Good Morning Britain: 'I think we can recall exactly which drink it was and I can pass myself as quite a responsible drinker, I know my limits.

'I don't tend to wander off after I've started drinking and things like that, so the fact that I had been gone from the table for ten minutes was alarm bells to my friends and they remembered that we had gone to the toilet together but I never came out.'

Ms Gaffka said her friends went into the bathroom to find her and, after receiving no response, managed to pick the lock to the cubicle door with a pound coin.

She was found 'wedged between the door and the toilet' inside the cubicle before the paramedics arrived.

Host Richard Madeley said: 'But the paramedics basically said "no, no, she's had too much to drink, she needs to go sleep it off" so it wasn't taken seriously, was it?'

Ms Gaffka repiled: 'No. I think for me it was that two male paramedics arrived to look at me.

'I think maybe the NHS and paramedics do have a lot of incidences where people have been over drinking and then, you know.'

Ms Gaffka said the hospital she was taken to did not test for drugs in her system, but she was advised a week later that she should have gone to the police to be tested.

'But, I know what I'm like when I've been drinking,' she added. 'At this point, I couldn't tell you where I was, I couldn't tell you my name, I could barely stand.'

Ms Gaffka said she has used the testimonies from other victims to meet with her MP David Wantage to discuss what she thinks can be put in place to help victims of spiking

Dr Hilary Jones, health editor for Good Morning Britain, said the NHS does not have the capacity to send off every blood test for toxicology 'unless it is subject to a criminal investigation', and the police are already involved.

Ms Gaffka said, while collecting testimonies from other victims, she has spoken to retired and serving police officers who told her 'drinks can be collected, CCTV can be collected, but a lot of establishments are more terrified about the repercussions to their business than they are the victim'.

She said she used the testimonies from other victims to meet with her MP David Wantage to discuss what she thinks can be put in place to help victims of spiking.

She asked for a 'more proactive legislation rather than reactive', including better education in schools around the effects of spiking and consent.

The Home Affairs Select Committee is currently collecting evidence from victims of drink spiking, with tomorrow being the deadline for submissions.

People take to the streets with banners following a surge in drink spiking cases in Manchester

West Midlands Police said it has been consulting scientists in a bid to understand spiking.

Spiking made up 10 per cent of 'violence with injury' crimes in the West Midlands, but only 7 per cent of cases have resulted in a positive drugs test, prompting the force to consult with scientists to better understand spiking.

Earlier this year the Home Secretary Priti Patel demanded an urgent update from police investigating the scale of the UK's 'spiking epidemic'.

The Home Affairs Select Committee launched an inquiry into the issue and is currently collecting evidence from victims of drink spiking.

Only seven per cent of 'spiking victims' in West Midlands had knock-out drug in system when tested, police reveal By Bhvishya Patel Only seven per cent of drinks that were reportedly spiked in the West Midlands resulted in a positive drugs test, police have said. A report by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner found that spiking cases have surged in recent months due to 'heightened awareness' of the issue, with 95 offences recorded in November. Figures also showed that spiking offences made up more than one in 10 of all crimes classed as 'violence with injury'. However only seven per cent of them resulted in a positive drugs test, according to findings. West Midlands Police has said it has been consulting scientists in a bid to understand spiking. It comes amid a nationwide spiking 'epidemic' in recent months that has prompted backlash from students and nightclubs. Advertisement

Police chiefs were also tasked to urgently provide more information on their assessment of the scale of the problem after reports of incidents in several parts of the country, including Nottingham, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Groups from more than 30 universities around the UK recently joined an online campaign calling for the boycott of nightclubs, with campaigners seeking 'tangible' changes to make them safer, such as covers or stoppers for drinks, better training for staff and more rigorous searches of clubbers.

West Midlands' latest police report read: 'Only seven per cent of them resulted in a positive drugs test (albeit there may be factors such as alcohol spiking that would not necessarily indicate).

'These offences are recorded far more frequently without supporting evidence or information and there will undoubtedly be cases where over consumption played a part or a desire to not admit to taking illegal substances.'

Detective Superintendent Sean Phillips, of the force's Public Protection Unit, said: 'I want to be clear and leave people in no doubt about our response to spiking reports.

'Spiking is a serious crime and we investigate every case. I want people to talk to us if they think they've been spiked.

'Our new rapid drug test kits are proving popular with casualties and are giving people the answers they need, fast. But they're not the only tool we have. We're working closely with bars and others to improve safety and people will see that from the extra searches and ID checks.'

In October aspiring police officer Rhiannon Smith, 19, described how her pulse stopped and friends performed CPR on her for 20 minutes after she was allegedly spiked in a nightclub in Ormskirk, Lancashire.

Miss Smith, 19, said she drank three single vodka Red Bulls at Alpine Club Lodge in Ormskirk when her hearing suddenly became muffled and the room began spinning.

When she was taken home by friends she claimed they saw her lips were blue, her pulse had 'stopped' and she was only taking breaths every 20 seconds, and called 999.

Emergency responders ordered them to start 'life-saving' chest compressions, which they did for 20 minutes, before she was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

After waking up in Southport and Formby District General A&E around 4am the next day Miss Smith said she was shocked to hear medics tell her 'she'd just drank too much' without running urine tests.

The teenager, from Rhyl, North Wales, said: 'I feel lucky to be alive. I think I'm still in denial about the whole situation and I don't think it's sunk in that it happened.

Meanwhile teenager Mia Robertson, 18, from Grimsby, needed CPR after she was allegedly spiked in Cleethorpes.

Rhiannon Smith, 19, (left, with her friend Jennie Clegg-Gibson, 21) said she drank three single vodka Red Bulls at Alpine Club Lodge in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on October 22 when her hearing suddenly became muffled and the room began spinning

Teenager, Mia Robertson, 18, from Grimsby needed CPR after a night in October

Ms Robertson told the Grimsby Live: 'We entered a club and got a drink then headed to the smoking area. Whilst I was stood there, my legs began to go numb and one of my friends had to support me.

'They sat me down and said my eyes had gone into the back of my head, at which point they carried me out.

'Apparently I was laid unconscious on the floor and they couldn't find my pulse so called an ambulance. I was given CPR then rushed to Diana Princess of Wales hospital.'

In October, women across the UK took a stand and boycotted bars and nightclubs to demand venues to do more to protect revellers from spiking.

The 'Girls Night In' movement took place in several cities over two weeks amid reports that young women were being spiked at nightclubs.
A female paedophile who raped a young girl and shared images of the abuse online has admitted 34 charges in court.

Vicki Bevan, 37, repeatedly sexually assaulted the child under 13, who cannot be identified, and on some occasions carried out the perverted attacks alongside Paul Rafferty, 62, and a second man, 42-year-old Tony Hutton.

The abuse was filmed and photographed which ultimately led to the arrests of all three.

They had been set to stand trial in April, but the two men entered guilty pleas to a string of sexual offences earlier this month.

Bevan, of St Helens, Merseyside, cried as she appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday via video link from HMP Styal and pleaded guilty to 34 sexual offences, including one count of rape and five counts of assault by penetration.

Vicki Bevan, 37, pleaded guilty to 34 sexual offences in Liverpool Crown Court, including one count of rape and five of assault by penetration against a child

Bevan, of St Helens, Merseyside, cried as she appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday via video link from HMP Styal and pleaded guilty to 34 sexual offences in total, including rape

She also admitted two counts of possessing extreme pornography, relating to 100 'grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise obscene' animal porn images

Bevan also pleaded guilty to 17 counts of making an indecent image of a child, with two of these counts made up of 52 Category A and 42 Category B images.

She also admitted two counts of possessing extreme pornography, relating to 100 'grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise obscene' animal porn images.

The rape, one count of penetration and another of sexual assault on a child under 13 were carried out jointly with Rafferty, of St Helens.

A count of sexual assault involved Bevan and Hutton, also of St Helens, both performing a sex act on the victim

Jonathan Duffy, defending Bevan, yesterday said the two co-accused would be sentenced on March 25 this year and asked that Bevan be sentenced on the same date.

He said: 'Steps are currently in place for her to be seen by a psychiatrist. It's likely there will be a psychiatric report served in due course.'

Bevan pleaded guilty to 17 counts of making an indecent image of a child, with two of these counts made up of 52 Category A and 42 Category B images

Judge Andrew Menary QC, Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, said he would require a pre-sentence report on Bevan ahead of her sentencing on March 25

Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said pre-sentence reports had already been ordered on behalf of Rafferty and Hutton.

Judge Andrew Menary QC, Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, said he would also require a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service on Bevan.

Judge Menary directed that the report must consider exclusively 'the issue of dangerousness' - whether Bevan is a dangerous offender, as defined by law.

If the three paedophiles are found to be dangerous offenders, then they may receive extended sentences of at least two thirds - rather than half - of their custodial term behind bars.

He told Bevan she would now be subject to interim requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Bevan sobbed as Judge Menary remanded her in custody ahead of sentencing on March 25.
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At least three people have been killed and more injured after a 50ft tsunami triggered by an underwater volcano exploding slammed into Tonga, the government has said in its first update since the 'unprecedented disaster'.

The dead include a 65-year-old woman on Mango Island, a 49-year-old man on Nomuka Island, and 50-year-old Briton Angela Glover who was found dead on Tongatapu Island on Monday.

An entire village on Mango Island has been swept away by the tsunami, the government said today, with just two buildings left standing on Fonoifua Island. Namuka Island also has 'extensive damage'.

Rescue operations including evacuations of Mango, Fonoifua and Atata islands are underway, with 'a number of' injuries also reported - though government officials could not say how many.

Communications from Tonga, a remote set of Pacific islands with a population of 105,000, have been sparse since disaster struck late Saturday when the Hunga-Tonga volcano dramatically exploded - sparking a tsunami, covering nearby islands in ash, and severing an undersea internet cable connecting the country with the outside world.

While early reports from the islands were encouraging, as the days have gone on the picture has darkened. Aid workers on the main island of Tongatapu say the death toll there is likely to be limited, but fears are growing for hundreds of people who live on smaller outlying islands and have not been heard from since the eruption.

Reconnaissance planes from the Australian and New Zealand air forces circled some of the islands on Monday, giving a glimpse of the conditions being faced by survivors - moon-like landscapes covered in thick ash, buildings flattened, and people living under tarpaulins.

Aid efforts are being hampered by damage to the islands' main port and airport, but also by the country's strict zero-Covid policy which could see aid shipments and workers quarantined to stop a 'tsunami of Covid'.

Tonga has recorded just one official case in a traveller from New Zealand who tested positive in isolation in October last year, and is determined to keep it that way. Ministers have already warned their counterparts in New Zealand and Australia, which are coordinating aid efforts, that virus protocols will be applied to rescuers.

New Zealand and Australian air force planes have circled Tonga, as the true scale of devastation caused to the islands slowly emerges. Pictured above is one of the smaller islands, which appears grey because it is blanketed in ash

An image taken from a military reconnaissance plane shows a Tongan village inundated with ash, while the beach shows signs of water damage where tsunami waves washed ashore following a huge volcanic eruption at the weekend

Tonga has given its first update on rescue efforts since the eruption and tsunami hit, revealing which islands are worst-affected and where evacuations are currently taking place

Tarpaulin tents are seen being used as temporary shelters on Mango Island, where every building has been destroyed

 Slide me  Satellite images reveal how Kanokupolu, a village on the hard-hit western side of Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, has been almost wiped out as ash turns the landscape grey

 Slide me  Satellite images reveal how the village of Kanokupolu, on the main island of Tongatapu, was completely washed away in a tsunami which struck after a volcanic eruption late Saturday

 Slide me  Satellite images reveal damage caused by the eruption and tsunami at Tonga's main port in the capital Nuku'alofa, which is now blanketed in ash with many buildings damaged or destroyed

 Slide me  Satellite images of Niutoua, a village on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, show how it has been completely destroyed with all buildings washed away during a tsunami triggered by the eruption

 Slide me  Satellite images taken before and after the eruption reveal how a village on one of Tonga's islands has been badly damaged, with the surrounding landscape blanketed in ash

'Tsunami of Covid' fears hamper Tonga rescue efforts Rescue efforts for disaster-stricken Tonga are being hampered because of the Pacific islands' strict zero-Covid policy. The country has confirmed just one case so far - a traveller who was in isolation at the time - and despite 60 per cent of people being fully vaccinated, is determined to stop any more from arriving. Tonga has not spelled out the reasons for its policy, though rates of obesity on the islands are among the highest in the world - almost 60 per cent for men and 45 per cent for women - with obesity being a major comorbidity for Covid. A study by the World Obesity Federation published in March last year found that Covid death rates are ten times higher in countries where more than half of adults are overweight or obese, such as the UK, US, and Italy. Researchers even suggested that obese people be given priority for vaccination, along with elderly or clinically vulnerable people. Curtis Tu'ihalangingie, head of Tonga's mission in Australia, said Monday that any aid sent to the islands could have to undergo quarantine due to the risk of it being contaminated by Covid - despite the risk of transmission from packaging being very low. Humanitarian workers sent to the islands will also be expected to undergo 21-day mandatory quarantine on arrival, the government has warned New Zealand and Australia which are helping rescue efforts. Quarantine may be waived for emergency aid workers. It comes despite the government warning today that water supplies on all of Tonga's islands are badly contaminated with ash from the volcano. Mr Tuihalangingie told Australia's national broadcaster ABC that keeping the country virus-free remains a priority, warning of a second 'tsunami of Covid'. Advertisement

Tsunami waves reaching up to 50ft hit the Ha'apia island group and the west coast of Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, the prime minister's office said.

On the western coast of the main island, 56 houses were completely or seriously damaged and residents moved to evacuation centres.

Mango is about 43 miles from the Hunga Tonga volcano, which sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean when it erupted with a blast heard 1,430 miles away in New Zealand.

A search and rescue operation began on Sunday for Atata island, which has a population of about 100 people.

'Challenges to sea and air transportation remain due to damage sustained by the wharves and the ash that is covering the runways,' it said. Some limited communications had been made with satellite phones, but other areas remain cut off.

The Tongan navy had deployed with health teams and water, food and tents to the Ha'apai islands, with more aid sent on Tuesday due to the severity of the damage observed on Mango, Fonoifua and Namuka islands, it said.

Australia's Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said Tongan officials were hoping to evacuate people from the isolated, low-lying Ha'apai islands group and other outer islands where conditions were 'very tough, we understand, with many houses being destroyed in the tsunami.'

The United Nations had earlier reported a distress signal was detected in Ha'apai, where Mango is located. The Tongan navy reported the area was hit by waves estimated to be 5-10 metres (15-30 feet) high, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Atata and Mango are between between 30 and 40 miles from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, which exploded on Saturday evening in a blast that was heard 1,400 miles away in New Zealand, threw a plume of ash into the atmosphere, and sent tsunami waves rippling across the Pacific.

Atata has a population of about 100 people and Mango around 50 people. 'It is very alarming to see the wave possibly went through Atata from one end to the other,' said Tu'ihalangingie.

The NZDF images, which were posted unofficially on a Facebook site and confirmed by Tu'ihalangingie, also showed tarpaulins being used as shelter on Mango island.

A thick layer of ash blankets the islands, the New Zealand High Commission said, adding it was working to establish communications with smaller islands 'as a matter of priority'.

Buildings and trees on the island of Nomuka, Tonga, are seen covered in ash in an image which first appears to have been taken in black and white but is in fact in colour

Buildings are seen covered in ash with water damage visible along the coastline of a Tongan island in this image taken from a New Zealand air force reconnaissance plane

An image taken from a New Zealand military plane reveals damage to a village on Fonoifua Island, Tonga

An image from a New Zealand military plane reveals damage to Nomuka Island, Tonga, after the eruption

 Slide me  Satellite images show a district of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa before and after the eruption, with the buildings and trees turning grey after being blanketed in volcanic ash

 Slide me  Satellite images taken of the peak of the Hunga-Tonga volcano show how it was all-but destroyed in the explosive eruption late on Saturday, with only one piece left visible above the ocean

 Slide me  Nomuka Island, Tonga, is seen before and after the eruption which caused widespread damage to villages and blanketed the island in ash, turning it a dark grey colour

 Slide me  The peak of the Hunga-Tonga volcano is seen before and after the eruption, which destroyed most of the cone

Aid flights cannot land at Tonga's main airport because the runway is currently inundated with ash, with officials saying it take until at least Wednesday for workers to clear it by hand

Workers are seen clearing the runway of Tonga's main airport in preparation for aid flights to land, though officials warn it could take until Wednesday for that to happen

The archipelago's main airport, Fua'amotu International Airport, was not damaged in Saturday's eruption and tsunami but heavy ashfall is preventing full operations, hampering international relief efforts.

The U.N. humanitarian office said Tongan officials had said that clearing the runway would take days as it was being done manually, by Wednesday at the earliest.

People on the western coast of the main island of Tongatapu had been evacuated because of 'significant damage', OCHA added in an update, while government ministers had broadcast warnings on radio against price gouging amid worries of supply shortages.

The Tongan government is expected to formally request aid from countries including Australia and New Zealand tomorrow. Both antipodean nations have C-130 military aircraft on standby, packed with emergency supplies.

'The priority now will to be get supplies to Tonga and the biggest constraint on that at the moment ... is the airport. There is still a significant amount of ash,' Seselja said.

Tonga is a kingdom of 176 islands, of which 36 are inhabited, with a population of 104,494 people.

The archipelago has remained largely cut off from the world since the eruption which cut its main undersea communications cable.

Subcom, a U.S. based private company contracted to repair various subsea cables in the Asia-Pacific, said it was working with Tonga Cable Ltd to repair the cable that runs from Tonga to Fiji.

Samiuela Fonua, the chair of Tonga Cable, said there were two cuts in the undersea cable that would not be fixed until volcanic activity ceased, allowing repair crews access.

'The condition of the site is still pretty messy at the moment,' Fonua told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, all but disappeared following the blast, according to satellite images taken about 12 hours later, making it difficult for volcanologists to monitor activity.

Damage to coastal areas is visible on Niniva Island, which was damaged in the Tonga tsunami

An image of Tonga's main port taken by an Australian military plane shows stacks of shipping containers have been bowled over by a tsunami wave which swept across the island

Ash is seen covering buildings on O'Ua Island, Tonga, after a devastating underwater volcanic eruption struck the region and triggered a 4ft tsunami
A massive 9-alarm fire engulfed a motel located in Salisbury, Massachusetts, and burned down at least four other buildings early on Monday, displacing dozens of locals as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.

The fire was driven by powerful winds and was first reported shortly after 1:45 a.m. at Michael's Oceanfront Motel at 40 Central Avenue. Large flames were seen throughout the building and fire officials said that an employee with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation was the one who called 911 after seeing smoke and flames.

Massive Salisbury Fire

The motel was only one of the buildings affected by the fire, and nearby, a 12-unit apartment and three homes were also set ablaze. Salisbury fire officials said that the recent incident is the worst that the region has seen in the last two and a half decades.

Authorities believe the fire could have started in the area between the motel and the apartment building. Living across the street from the fire, Robin Weisenstein was woken up by firefighters at around 2:45 a.m. The resident said that she looked over and saw flames at the top of a building coming towards her direction, NBC Boston reported.

There were more than 100 firefighters and 30 pieces of fire equipment that responded to the blaze from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The conditions that firefighters worked in were brutal due to high winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and heavy rain.

Read Also: Joe Biden's Allies Foresee Probes, Impeachment Attempts as Midterm Election Looms

Salisbury Fire Captain Andrew Murphy who said that the fire was the largest the town has seen in 25 years added that the situation was made worse due to hurricane-force winds. The official noted that members of the department did everything they could.

Fortunately, authorities reported that there were no known injuries caused by the blaze and that two occupants who were inside the motel were able to escape safely. Additionally, many of the surrounding buildings were unoccupied seasonal properties, Boston Globe reported.

Responding to the Flames

The Red Cross in Massachusetts said in the hours after the fire that its volunteers were already assisting more than 30 residents who were displaced from the area by the fire. Video of the fire was captured and shared on social media platforms that showed firefighters battling heavy blazes as the flames continued to spread through other nearby buildings.

The North Hampton Fire & Rescue Department in New Hampshire confirmed it was sending out troops to help with the blaze in a Facebook post. The department added that because multiple buildings were on fire, the incident needed the massive mutual cooperated response of three states.

The department also shared a video that was posted on Facebook by a user known as Michael Kent who identified himself as a firefighter with the Newburyport Fire Department in Massachusetts. The footage showed flames of the fire ripping through various structures in the area. Kent did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the incident.

In a Twitter post, the Salisbury Police Department said that roadways near the scene of the blaze would be closed off as crew members continued to fight the fire. Authorities also urged residents to avoid the area for their own safety, NBC News reported.



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North Korea has launched two tactical guided missiles in its fourth sanctions-busting test of the year.

The missiles 'precisely hit an island target in the East Sea of Korea' in the test carried out on Monday, state news agency KCNA announced.

The launches 'confirmed the accuracy, security and efficiency of the operation of the weapon system under production,' it added.

North Korea has launched two tactical guided missiles in its fourth sanctions-busting test of the year (pictured, the latest launch on Monday

Since leader Kim Jong Un avowed his commitment to military modernisation at a key party speech last month, the nuclear-armed country has conducted a string of weapons tests, including of hypersonic missiles.

Washington hit Pyongyang with fresh sanctions last week and North Korea responded by doubling down on testing, asserting its 'legitimate right' to self-defence.

South Korea's military earlier said two suspected 'short-range ballistic missiles' were fired east from near Pyongyang Monday, flying about 240 miles at an altitude of 26 miles.

Japan also detected the test, with Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi warning the string of recent launches indicates North Korea 'is trying to improve its technology and operational capability'.

The launches come at a delicate time in the region, with North Korea's sole major ally China set to host the Winter Olympics next month and South Korea gearing up for a presidential election in March.

Pyongyang is using the new US sanctions as an excuse to proceed with pre-planned conventional weapons tests, an analyst said, as the North seeks to narrow the gap with South Korea's well-equipped military.

Kim Jong Un avowed his commitment to military modernisation at a key party speech last month

'It lags far behind on that point in its rivalry with Seoul,' said Cheong Seong-chang of the Center for North Korea Studies at the Sejong Institute.

'Though it is nuclear-armed, it is not in a position to use them unless it's attacked first and it can only use conventional weapons for possible military conflict along the border areas.'

For now, talks with the United States are 'off the table' as Pyongyang won't respond until Seoul and Washington freeze joint drills - something Washington has said is not up for negotiation, he added.

The United States called on North Korea Monday to 'cease its unlawful and destabilizing activities'.

The US special representative on North Korea, Sung Kim, 'expressed concern' about the missile launches and urged Pyongyang to return to dialogue 'without preconditions', the State Department said.

Even as it flexes its military muscles, the impoverished country, reeling economically from a self-imposed coronavirus blockade, quietly restarted cross-border trade with China this weekend.

A freight train from North Korea arrived at the Chinese border city of Dandong for the first time since early 2020 on Sunday.

'Freight trains carrying goods between Dandong and the DPRK have resumed operation. This work will be conducted in accordance with pandemic prevention measures,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a routine briefing Monday.
Applicant descriptives like 'innovative' will also be replaced by 'problem solving'

Firm says use of the phrases make older workers less likely to apply for the roles

A leading insurance company has banned the words 'energetic' and 'enthusiastic' from its job adverts to avoid putting off older applicants.

Phoenix Group said it was looking at how to write job applications that steered clear of 'younger-age stereotypical words' over fears the over 50s are 'ruling themselves out' of applying.

The company, based in London, is also said to be assessing where it placed its advertisements to ensure they reached older jobseekers.

Phoenix is run by Andy Briggs, who was appointed by the government to be the business champion for older workers in 2017.

Phoenix Group, a leading insurance firm run by the government's business champion for older workers Andy Briggs (pictured), will no longer use words 'energetic' or 'enthusiastic' in its job adverts to avoid putting off older workers.

A spokesman for Phoenix told The Times: 'This is not because people's enthusiasm changes with age but because research shows that some people will rule themselves out of even applying if they don't feel that they are wanted.'

The company will also remove other words such as 'innovative', which it argues could put off older applicants, and instead state that it seeks skills such as 'contributing new ideas' or 'problem solving'.

Phoenix is the UKs largest long term savings and retirement business, operates under a range of brands including Standard Life, Sun Life and ReAssure, and employs more than 7,000 people in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria.

Some 44 per cent of its workforce are aged over 45, according to its website. They are currently looking to fill 80 vacancies.

The company appears to be addressing employment fears from the pandemic, which has disproportionally affected over 50s as well as younger workers.

The company, which has locations across the UK including Birmingham (pictured), is also said to be assessing where it placed its advertisements to ensure they reached older jobseekers

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last year showed there were 180,000 fewer over-50s in work than before the Covid pandemic.

The data also found over a quarter of people furloughed were over 50, around 1.3 million total.

A poll found three in ten of older workers on furlough believed there was a more than 50 per cent chance that they will lose their job when the scheme ended.

It also found 13 per cent of workers have changed their retirement plans, with 5 per cent saying that they will retire earlier and 8 per cent planning to retire later.

Mr Briggs, who co-chairs the 50Plus Choices Employer Taskforce of business groups along with Employment Minister Mims Davies said that the figures showed a significant impact on the employment market.

'Older workers have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, just like the younger generation,' he said in October.

'We must recognise the immediate and longer term impact this will have if we don't take action. The over-50s represent a third of our workforce and yet often, due to their age, they will find it much harder to re-enter the workforce.

'Job losses amongst the over-50s represents a significant loss, both to our economy and to their own later life financial security, with one-in-eight workers over 50 having changed their retirement plans as a result of the pandemic.'
A Tory peer and lingerie tycoon is facing an official probe into her links to a firm that won Government PPE contracts worth 200million via an unlawful 'VIP lane'.

Ultimo underwear founder Michelle Mone is being investigated by the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards over her relationship with PPE Medpro.

The lingerie tycoon  nicknamed 'Baroness Bra'  has faced increasing scrutiny for her ties to a company that last year won two contracts worth a combined 203 million to supply the NHS with face masks and surgical gowns.

Lady Mone has repeatedly denied any association with the company, which she recommended to the Cabinet Office as a potential supplier in May 2020.

Although she has no actual formal connections with the company, her denials have come under scrutiny thanks to publicly documented connections between Anthony Page, PPE Medpro's owner, and businesses run by Lady Mone and her husband, Isle of Man-based billionaire Doug Barrowman.

Labour peer George Foulkes referred her to the commissioners last week. They have have now confirmed she is being investigated under several sections of the Lords' code of conduct, including a section saying peers 'must never accept or agree to accept any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence'.

Ultimo underwear founder Michelle Mone is being investigated by the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards over her relationship with PPE Medpro.

The lingerie tycoon  nicknamed 'Baroness Bra'  has faced increasing scrutiny for her ties to a company that last year won two contracts worth a combined 203 million to supply the NHS with face masks and surgical gowns.

She is also being investigated under as section of the code saying peers 'must not seek by parliamentary means to confer exclusive benefit on an outside body or person (a) in which he or she has a financial interest (including by way of salary, fees, shareholding or other arrangement) or (b) in return for payment or reward'.

Lord Foulkes said Lady Mone had failed to fully disclose her business interests in PPE Medpro and asked the commissioners to investigate whether she had breached the rules against lobbying when she referred the firm to the Government.

Mr Page, the sole owner of PPE Medpro, is a wealth management expert who works for Barrowman's Knox House Trust, part of the Knox Group of companies based on the Isle of Man, where Lady Mone and her husband live on a 25 million estate.

Lady Mone is being investigated under three sections of the Lords' code of conduct

Last month, The Mail on Sunday revealed Mr Page is the director of a firm that owns a luxury yacht, called Lady M, on which Lady Mone sailed around the Adriatic last summer. Mr Page is also the majority shareholder of Lady Mone's new business venture Neo Space, which operates spaces for rent in Aberdeen.

Lady Mone founded lingerie brand Ultimo through parent company MJM International in 1996. She was made a life peer by David Cameron in 2015.

Lady Mone faces a separate fight to clear her name of libel, after Richard Lynton-Jones, who is of Indian heritage, filed a writ in the High Court alleging that Lady Mone had called him a 'waste of a white man's skin' in a WhatsApp group.

Lawyers for Lady Mone say the claim 'lacks merit' and she will 'defend it vigorously'.
The family of a Deloitte executive who was pushed to her death in front of a subway train in Times Square at the weekend have said they are still in shock at losing their daughter in a 'senseless act of violence' - as they demand 'justice' for her death.

Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, was killed on Saturday after being shoved onto the tracks on the southbound N/Q/R/W platform at West 42nd Street and Broadway at around 9.40am.

Simon Martial, 61, was arrested on Saturday on a charge of second-degree murder for allegedly pushing Go.

On Monday, the family of Go released a statement on Twitter expressing their 'shock' at their loss.

'We are in a state of shock and grieving the loss of our daughter, sister and friend,' they said.

'We hope Michelle will be remembered for how she lived and not just how she died.

'She was a beautiful, brilliant, kind and intelligent woman, who loved her family and friends, loved to travel the world and to help others.

'Her life was taken too soon in a senseless act of violence, and we pray that she gets the justice she deserves. Thank you for your condolences.'

The family (pictured) of Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, described her as 'kind and intelligent' in a statement shared on social media today, three days after she was pushed to her death in New York

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the attack was 'unprovoked' and the victim 'does not appear to have any interaction with the subject.'

Simon Martial, 61, (pictured) was arrested on Saturday on a charge of second-degree murder for allegedly pushing Go

Prior to her death, Go worked as a senior manager of strategy and operations for management and acquisitions at Deloitte Consulting, according to her LinkedIn.

She graduated from University of California Los Angeles with a bachelor's in economics and public policy, and earned her Master of Business Administration from New York University.

The statement comes after the sister of Martial - who is homeless - said her brother has been battling schizophrenia for more than two decades and should never have been let out of a mental institution.

When Martial, who has a lengthy criminal history, was asked by a reporter if he had been the one to push Go, he seemingly admitted to killing the subway rider and said: 'Yes, because I'm God. Yes, I did it. I'm God. I can do it.'

Speaking to the New York Post on Monday, Martial's older sister, Josette Simon, from Georgia, argued that her brother belonged in a mental health facility and should have been kept off the streets.

Simon said that in his youth, her brother was a hardworking and giving man, but by the time he was in his 30s, he had succumbed to paranoia and thought that people were after him.

Not long after their mother died 23 years ago, Simon said her brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

For a time, Martial stayed with another sister, but he had been in and out of mental hospitals for the better part of 20 years, according to Simon.

I remember begging one of the hospitals, Let him stay, because once hes out, he didnt want to take medication, and it was the medication that kept him going, his sister told the newspaper.

Simon recounted that during her final conversation with her brother, he told her that 'they' were after him. She said Martial told her he was being watched by people hiding in closets.

Simon apologized to Go's loved ones, saying that news of her violent death at the hands of her 'sick' brother has been tearing her apart.

Im his older sister, and it really breaks my heart that there was nothing I could do, Simon said. And they let him out in the street.

Simon said she now would like to see her brother get professional help, rather than being locked up 'like an animal with people who are really murderers.'

Prior to her death, Go (pictured) worked as a senior manager of strategy and operations for management and acquisitions at Deloitte Consulting, according to her LinkedIn

'I'm not saying let him out, but get his some help,' Simon said.

Martial has a lengthy criminal history, including serving two years in state prison for attempted robbery before being released in August 2021, the New York Post reported, citing state records.

Sources told DailyMail.com that he has been arrested at least twice in the past for robbery. One incident was in August 2017 in Manhattan, when he was charged with first-degree robbery after allegedly entering a car, pretending to have a gun and stealing $43.

He was also arrested in July 1998 for allegedly simulating a gun in an attempt to rob a taxi driver, threatening to kill the driver. He was charged with two counts of robbery and criminal possession of a weapon at the time.

Sources told the Post that he has had three encounters with police as an emotionally disturbed person.

The horrifying attack comes as crime in the subway and around the city continues to soar at the beginning of Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's first terms.

Bragg's controversial decision to downgrade burglary, armed robbery and drug dealings from felonies to misdemeanors has drawn criticism, as it has led to many criminals being let back out on the streets.

The number of felony assaults has since increased by 4.7 percent over the course of the last week, as compared to the same time last year.

Overall, crime is up 30.5 percent from the same period in 2021, according to the city's crime stats.

Former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said newly-elected Mayor Eric Adams has his hands tied in terms of crime while Bragg's office implements its woke policies.

Adams has come under fire after saying at a press conference on Sunday: 'New Yorkers are safe on the subway system... What we must do is remove the perception of fear.'

Curtis Sliwa, former Republican mayoral critic, lashed out at Adams on Twitter, writing: 'What happened to the law & order candidate?'
A heartbroken mother who made a viral video begging for the government not to suspend IVF procedures has explained the urgency behind her tearful plea - that time is running out for her to ever have children.

Melanie Swieconek and her partner Mauricio Graf appeared on The Project on Tuesday night as the Victorian premier was slammed for the 'cruel' policy, which has been brought in to ease hospital staffing pressure during the Covid surge.

The couple won't be able to access the treatment anymore when she turns 46 in October, giving them just a few months to fulfill a lifelong dream of starting a family - time cut short by the policy.

Ms Swieconek told panellist Carrie Bickmore she was 'gobsmacked' after hearing the news IVF procedures would be defined as elective surgeries and paused.

'I could barely breathe, I started crying, obviously didn't sleep, there really are no words,' the hopeful mother told the hosts. 'It was a punch to the gut'.

Melanie Swieconek and her partner Mauricio Graf appeared on The Project on Tuesday night as the Victorian premier was slammed for the 'cruel' three-month ban on IVF treatments

She said the government 'did a sneaky' by tasking fertility clinics with breaking the news of the three-month ban on treatments to their patients.

Ms Swieconek explained her emotional plea - which has racked up more than 700,000 views online - had been prompted by her overwhelming sense of urgency.

'I'm 45 and the fertility specialists actually stop treatment at 46, so I turn 46 in October,' the hopeful mother explained.

'So to have three months just stolen from me, and that's how I feel it is, is - I still don't have any words. I'm still in a bit of a daze to be honest with you.'

In the viral video - addressed to Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Martin Foley - she begged the government to overturn the 'blanket ban' on treatments.

'My name is Melanie and I'm currently going through the IVF process and I really want to let you know this is not something I elected to do,' she says in the video.

'Not one other person who is going through IVF or has been through IVF or is just about to start IVF has elected to do it.

In the viral video - addressed to Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Martin Foley - Ms Swieconek begged the government to overturn the 'blanket ban' on treatments

The hopeful parents (pictured) told The Project that a lot of Australian didn't realise that IVF was not an elective surgery and was usually used as a last-resort procedure

'This is something we are doing as our only opportunity to have a child. We have tried everything else. Trust me. We have tried everything else.

'To just put a blanket ban on IVF for three months... you can't have any idea what this will do to some women.'

The hopeful parents told The Project that a lot of Australian didn't realise that IVF was not an elective surgery and was usually used as a last-resort procedure.

Ms Swieconek explained she needed 'every cycle' possible to help makes her dreams of having a child a reality, with the 90-day ban wasting precious time.

The hosts broke the news to the couple that in an incredible backflip the Victorian government had vowed to resume the treatments as quickly as possible.

'If that is the case, I am beside myself, I will just keep pushing more then. I will keep doing whatever I need to do then to make that happen, I didn't know that was the case, so that's wild,' a flabbergasted Ms Swieconek replied.

A ban on non-urgent elective surgery was imposed on January 6 in Victoria to help free up the state's hospital resources as Omicron cases multiply across the state.

The hosts broke the news to the couple that in an incredible backflip the Victorian government had vowed to resume the treatments as quickly as possible (pictured, host Carrie Bickmore)

Maddison Sullivan-Hunter (right) wife of Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter (left) who had a long battle to conceive a child, argued IVF treatment was not a choice

Health Minister Martin Foley at the time told reporters IVF clinics would be contacted by authorities to cancel their upcoming appointments with patients.

But the 90-day ban triggered backlash from couples trying to conceive with one AFL wife accusing the government of ripping women's 'last string of hope'.

Maddison Sullivan-Hunter, wife of Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter, who had a long battle to conceive a child, argued IVF treatment was not a choice.

'This is not elective. This is heartache, this is life changing trauma that leaves you irretrievably broken,' she wrote on Instagram alongside an image of needles and fertility drugs.

'This is a beast that makes you resent your body, leaves your relationship hanging by a thread, fractures friendships and leaves you feeling achingly alone and filled with a whole new world of loathing every time you feel self pity upon hearing of someone else's joys.

'No one wants to do this, this is no one's first choice - this will forever be a last resort and now you have gone and ripped the last string of hope so many women and couples cling so desperately onto.'

'This is not elective. This is heartache, this is life changing trauma that leaves you irretrievably broken,' Maddison Sullivan-Hunter, wife of Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter, wrote on Instagram alongside an image of needles and fertility drugs (pictured)

Ms Sullivan-Hunter (pictured) is just one of hundreds devastated to hear the news IVF treatments would be considered elective surgery and paused for three months

On Tuesday, Victoria announced a 'Code Brown' to ease pressure on the state's hospital wards as they are inundated with Covid patients.

The warning means under-pressure hospitals can defer less urgent health services to other facilities and cut outpatient services to free up staff for intensive care units.

Authorities sounded the alarm for all Melbourne hospitals and six regional hospitals in Barwon, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury/Wondonga and Latrobe.

However, the policy has since been slammed as 'cruel' with Premier Daniel Andrews facing mounting pressure from hopeful parents to do away with the ban on IVF.

Victorian Liberal Party Senator Jane Hume called on the government to reverse the decision immediately to allow some parents a final chance to have children.

'I have watched the stories of many women going through IVF who have tried every avenue of starting a family and this was the last and only option,' Senator Hume said.

'Some women don't have three months.'

Following the backlash Acting Deputy Premier James Merlino on Tuesday made a promise to resume the services 'as quickly as possible'.

Following the backlash Acting Deputy Premier James Merlino (pictured) on Tuesday made a promise to resume the services 'as quickly as possible'

'I've got some dear friends who are currently going through IVF or have been through IVF so I know what an emotional toll it is, what a financial toll it is, and this is, in many cases, a last opportunity to create a family for themselves so I am absolutely empathetic,' Mr Merlino said.

'The message I want to send today is the moment we can boost or return to services for IVF patients we will absolutely do so.'

His sentiments were echoed by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt who backed Victoria's announcement of a Code Brown but said IVF services should be exempt.

'My one area of concern is to make sure IVF is not stalled. I think that should be regarded as a critical service,' he told reporters in Canberra.

'IVF is something where for many families there is a very narrow window of opportunity and it is absolutely essential'.
Trump is said to have branded DeSantis a 'dull' charisma free-zone as the former President began to voice his frustrations to those in his inner circle

Donald Trump's advisers have claimed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is responsible for ramping up stories of a feud between the former President and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Rumors have swirled about the pair in recent weeks, with Trump reportedly being angry the popular Florida governor hasn't said that he won't challenge him for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Trump is said to have branded DeSantis a 'dull' charisma free-zone as the former President began to voice his frustrations to those in his inner circle.

But now, Trump's advisers have claimed McConnell, who is in a battle with the former President over the future of the Republican Party, is responsible for ramping up the stories of a feud.

They pointed to DeSantis' appearance on the Ruthless podcast, which is co-hosted by McConnell's longtime adviser Josh Holmes, after the Florida governor criticized the Covid lockdowns that Trump had encouraged early on in the pandemic.

A top Trump adviser, voicing the views of four other anonymous staffers, told Fox News: 'I like Josh. Josh is great. But he's a wholly owned subsidiary of McConnell World.

'And there's no way you can tell me that this was all a coincidence.'

Rumors have swirled about the pair in recent weeks, with Trump (left) reportedly being angry the popular Florida governor Ron DeSantis (right) hasn't said that he won't challenge him for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination

Donald Trump's advisers have claimed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) is responsible for ramping up stories of a feud between the former President and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

Trump and DeSantis are among the most popular Republican figures in the country, and with Trump eyeing another presidential run in 2024, many political pundits believe he is irritated by DeSantis' interest in running against him and his growing popularity.

The adviser added: 'Also, DeSantis and his staff knew what they were doing. How many Florida general election voters are listening to the Ruthless podcast?

'Now, that said, they might have been hoping for more out of Ron, because, let's face it, he didn't really criticize Trump. But they knew the media would instantly jump on it and wish-cast it into existence.'

The adviser claimed McConnell sees DeSantis as a 'lesser of two evils' and a way to irritate Trump.

Just days before DeSantis' appearance on the podcast, Trump had torn into politicians - DeSantis included - who will not say whether they have had their COVID vaccine or booster, deeming them 'gutless'.

A Republican who spoke anonymously said: 'DeSantis doing a Josh Holmes podcast to thump Trump is not what I had on my bingo card. This is a thing.'

An adviser added: 'DeSantis is definitely asserting his independence. And yeah, it's hard not to see the hand of McConnell in all this. Who benefits from a Trump-DeSantis feud? The Democrats. The media. And McConnell.'

Another said: 'There are no coincidences.'

The pair are among the most popular Republican figures in the country, and with Trump eyeing another presidential run in 2024, many political pundits believe he is irritated by DeSantis' interest in running against him and his growing popularity

Holmes denied any negative intent toward Trump and said the suggestion that he had coordinated with McConnell was 'insane'.

An anti-Trump Republican strategist told Fox News that they did not believe that McConnell was moving against Trump.

Sarah Longwell said: 'I'm sure Josh Holmes would like you to believe that Mitch McConnell is behind the scenes, moving pieces against Trump.

'But I don't think that's it. I think that McConnell is wholly owned by Trump.'

The advisers' claims that McConnell is behind the tension comes after sources close to Trump who have recently talked to him about DeSantis said Trump has grown increasingly irked by DeSantis in recent months, with Trump beginning to voice his frustrations to those in his inner circle.

'In the context of the 2024 election, he usually gives DeSantis a pop in the nose in the middle of that type of conversation,' said a source who recently spoke to Trump about DeSantis.

'He says DeSantis has no personal charisma and has a dull personality,' the source told Axios.

Many political pundits believe Trump is irritated by DeSantis' interest in running against him and his growing popularity.

'There are stories out now about Trump and DeSantis snapping towels at each other because Trump can see the same thing that everyone else can: DeSantis is getting ready [to run] no matter what Trump does,' John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser told Fox News.

Trump is said to be further annoyed that DeSantis hasn't come out to say he wouldn't run against the former president if he did opt to launch another White House bid.

Trump hasn't actually announced his own bid, and isn't expected to do so until early next year.

Just days before DeSantis' appearance on the podcast, Trump had torn into politicians - DeSantis included - who will not say whether they have had their COVID vaccine or booster, deeming them 'gutless'. Pictured: The pair at a campaign rally at the Pensacola International Airport on November 3, 2018

Those close to the former president say they expect him to launch a second White House run - but also admit Trump may choose to act as a 'kingmaker' for the next presidential candidate instead.

The source, who was not named or identified, said they have heard Trump regularly criticize DeSantis on more than one occasion.

The root of Trump's ire towards DeSantis appears to stem from the face that the Florida governor 'won't say he won't run [in 2024]. ... The others have stated pretty clearly they won't challenge him,' the source went on to say.

'Trump has been telling a range of aides a version of, he isn't getting the deference from DeSantis that he wants in the pre-2024 leadup.'

DeSantis, for his part, has told friends he believes Trump's expectation that he bend the knee is asking too much, The New York Times reported.

The Florida governor is up for re-election this year. And Trump claims he made the politician. The former president backed then Congressman DeSantis in the Republican primary during the 2018 gubenatorial election. DeSantis won the general election by heavily tying himself to Trump, including running TV ads where DeSantis taught his children how to 'build the wall' and say 'Make America Great Again.'

'Look, I helped Ron DeSantis at a level that nobody's ever seen before,' Trump told The New York Times' Jeremy Peters for his forthcoming book, 'Insurgency,' on the rightward shift of the Republican Party.

Trump said he believed DeSantis 'didn't have a chance' of winning without his help.

Trump and DeSantis are pictured at a Florida rally in November 2019. The former president is now said to be bashing the popular Florida governor behind his back, with speculation mounting that the two men could face-off for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination

When Trump was president, DeSantis was a frequent guest at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Palm Beach. The two would often dine together when Trump was in town.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Trump tore into politicians - DeSantis included - who will not say whether they have had their COVID vaccine or booster, deeming them 'gutless.'

'I've taken it, I've had the booster,' Trump said.

'Many politicians - I've watched a couple of politicians be interviewed and one of the questions was 'did you get the booster,' he continued. 'The answer is yes but they don't want to say it, because they're gutless. You gotta say it, whether you've had it or not, say it.'

'The vaccine has saved tens of millions of people throughout the world. I have had absolutely no side effects,' he said in an interview with OAN that aired Tuesday night.

Still, the former president said he does not think young people should get the jab.

'I don't think young, healthy people should take it. I think that, certainly these young kids their immune system is so strong,' he continued, before telling how his 15-year-old son Barron had Covid-19 for 'like two seconds.'

Trump had also said he was so confident of being the GOP nominee he has said that if he runs again for president, most other Republicans would 'drop out.'

In October, Trump bragged that if he were to run against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose popularity has has soared during the pandemic, for the 2024 GOP nomination, he would easily 'beat him'.

'If I faced him, I'd beat him like I would beat everyone else,' he said at the time.

'I don't think I will face him,' Trump said during the interview. 'I think most people would drop out, I think he would drop out.'

Trump made the prediction during an interview with Yahoo Finance.

The former president, who lost the 2020 general election, still remains popular and has a lot of influence among Republican voters and GOP politicians as he toys with the idea of a third run at the presidency.

'It's getting to a point where we really have no choice' Trump said last month about him running.

On September 11th he gave an even clearer indication that he was considering running once again.
GB News honoured its pledge to play the National Anthem every morning today, airing God Save the Queen over a drone-shot montage of scenery just before 6am.

The stirring 5.59am broadcast came before Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster's breakfast show.

It followed calls from Tory MP Andrew Rosindell last week for the BBC to do so.

The news channel is now the only TV news broadcaster to play the anthem after the corporation stopped doing it 24 years ago.

It was welcomed by Mr Rosindell, who got up to be able to watch it live, approvingly tweeting 'Good Morning, Britain!'

He had excitedly trailed it at 11pm last night, exclaiming: 'A proud moment for British broadcasting! At 5.59am GB News will start the day with the National Anthem of our country, whilst showing magnificent scenery from around the United Kingdom.

'What a beautiful way to begin this historic Platinum Jubilee year!'

And other fans were similarly enthused by hearing the famous anthem so early.

Ryedale councillor Nathan Garbutt-Moore said: 'Great to wake up to the National anthem and some scenic images this morning. Nice one GB News.'

Others said it simply with shorter reactions of 'fabulous', 'nice one' and 'well done'.

MP Andrew Rosindell tweeted of his excitement at the National Anthem being broadcast

Nathan Garbutt-Moore was pleased to have the traditional song back on the airwaves

Other Twitter users simply used a few words to express their joy at the anthem's return

There was overwhelming approval at the new addition to the GB News broadcasting schedule

Clips capture sights from the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, the Chepstow Castle in Wales, Runswick Bay on the Yorkshire coast and other sites

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell in 2018. At culture questions earlier this month, he asked: 'Will the minister take steps to encourage public broadcasters to play the national anthem?'

The anthem was also be played on GB News' radio service.

Clips capture sights from the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, the Chepstow Castle in Wales and Runswick Bay on the Yorkshire coast.

Dartmoor, Bristol at dawn and Pen y Fan in Wales are also featured.

The anthem is still played nightly on radio channels like Radio 4, and was previously played at the end of broadcast on television channels.

But since the late 1990s BBC One has run the BBC News Channel overnight from around 1am, while BBC Two plays repeats of daytime shows in the small hours.

Dartmoor, Bristol and Pen y Fan in Wales are also featured in the video clips taken at dawn

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell said the public broadcaster and other television companies should be encouraged to play the patriotic number more often in the year of the Queen's platinum jubilee.

At culture questions earlier this month, Mr Rosenidell - sporting a Union Jack lapel badge - asked: 'I know the minister will agree that the singing of the national anthem is something that provides great sense of unity and pride in our nation.

'So in this year of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, will the minister take steps to encourage public broadcasters to play the national anthem and ensure the BBC restores it at the end of the day's programming before it switches to News 24?'

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries could be heard saying 'fantastic' and Culture Minister Chris Philp told MPs: 'We fully support the signing of the national anthem, Her Majesty the Queen and other expressions of patriotism - including the flying of the Union Jack.

Chepstow Castle in Wales, pictured in GB News' national anthem video which will be played every morning

'The more that we hear the national anthem sung, frankly, the better. Organisations like schools are free to promote it and the more we can do in this area the better it'll be.'

Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler pointed out it was played on the radio every day.

He tweeted: 'Dear Mr Rosindell If you have what's known as ''a wireless'' and are capable of tuning it to the excellent BBC Radio 4, you may find that the National Anthem is played at the end of every day.

'God save the Queen (and the country) from posturing parliamentarians.'
A senior executive who sued his employers at the Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse after colleagues compared him to reality TV star Jessica Alves has lost a sex discrimination case.

Christopher Drake claimed he was targeted in a 'systematic bullying campaign' when staff likened him to the transgender TV personality, who has undergone a number of plastic surgery operations.

Mr Drake claimed the comments made by his colleagues at the banking firm, based in the capital's financial hub of Canary Wharf, led to him suffering debilitating bouts of depression and anxiety.

However, an employment tribunal has now dismissed his claims of sexual discrimination and ruled that Mr Drake submitted his claim too late.

It also ruled he had participated in 'banter' on the WhatsApp group himself.

Mr Drake, who was working as Vice President of Credit Suisse at the time of the claim, told the East London tribunal that he had been the recipient of a number of 'inappropriate comments or jokes' made by his colleagues about his 'perceived sexuality' on a work WhatsApp group.

Senior executive who claimed his colleagues at Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse (branch in Canary Wharf pictured) targeted him in a 'systematic bullying campaign' has had his case dismissed

In particular, his complaints related to a number of messages between February 2019 and January 2020, in which he was 'likened' to reality TV star Jessica Alves.

Alves, who was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but later moved to London at 18, is known for having undergone a number of plastic surgery operations to transition from male to female.

She appeared as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, but was later removed from the show after using the N-word in a conversation about her preferred sexual partner.

Mr Drake told the tribunal his colleagues' comments were 'deeply upsetting' and 'offensive', and commenced a period of sickness absence in February 2020 as a result.

He told his GP of the 'workplace bullying' and said he was suffering from depression which meant he no longer went to the gym and 'did not get dressed' some weekends.

He was prescribed antidepressants but did not make complaints of harassment or discrimination relating to sexual orientation during a phone consultation with his employer's occupational health provider a month later, the hearing was told.

But the report from the consultation did describe Mr Drake as 'clearly anxious' about the security of his role.

In another GP appointment in April the tribunal heard he again described himself as suffering 'bullying at work' regarding his 'sexuality and gender'.

His GP advised him to discuss these matters with the HR team at his company, though Mr Drake felt he 'could not tackle it at this point'.

Mr Drake opened up about the 'systematic bullying campaign' against his 'sexuality and gender' in another occupational health assessment in June, but did not seek legal advice until the end of the year.

When he finally brought his claims to an employment tribunal in November 2020, Mr Drake insisted he had asked the perpetrators to stop but this 'only seemed to fuel the bullying'.

He also explained the effect on his mental health had been 'exacerbated' during the pandemic, having lived alone throughout lockdown period and been 'unable to get out of bed' most days.

But Employment Judge Alison Russell ruled Mr Drake's claims had been submitted out of time, and did not find it 'plausible' that the effects on his mental health led him to him spending the majority of his days in bed.

Judge Russell said: 'I accept [Mr Drake]'s evidence that he experienced poor mental health throughout 2020 and that this affected his ability to deal with the issues at work.

The banker claimed colleagues compared him to reality TV star Jessica Alves in a WhatsApp group

Alves, pictured here before her gender transition, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and appeared as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018

'However, poor mental health does not necessarily prevent the presentation of a claim to the Tribunal.

'I do not find credible or plausible Mr Drake's evidence that in the period up to June 2020 he felt so incapacitated by reason of mental health that he spent the majority of his days essentially unable to get out of bed.

'The claim was presented nine months late and the allegations will be stale by the date of the final hearing.

'Mr Drake's case is that the potential forensic prejudice is minimal as the chats exist and speak for themselves, irrespective of the delay.

'To some extent that is true, however Credit Suisse resists the claim in part on the basis that Mr Drake was a willing participant in the group chats, actively posting similar what is described as ''banter'' type of comments.

'It would not be reasonable for him to have been offended or for the conduct in question to have had the prescribed effect.

'I am not satisfied that it is just and equitable to extend time in this case. For these reasons, the claims are dismissed in their entirety.'

It is unclear if Mr Drake still works at Credit Suisse.
A female prison nurse who was sacked after being accused of having a romantic relationship with a prisoner and smuggling drugs into jail has lost her unfair dismissal claim.

The inmate claimed NHS worker Samantha Ketterer had expressed feelings towards him and that he had used a contraband mobile phone to keep in touch with her for several months.

Miss Ketterer was suspended after intelligence reports suggested she had been compromised amid allegations she had been offered money to bring drugs into HMP Low Moss in Scotland.

The prison nurse was later dismissed for having an inappropriate relationship with the prisoner, after records showed that she had accessed his information an excessive number of times.

She claimed she was unfairly dismissed, but her case was thrown out by an employment tribunal in Glasgow.

NHS nurse Samantha Ketterer was sacked after she was accused of having a romantic relationship with an inmate at HMP Low Moss, an employment tribunal heard

Miss Ketterer started working at the prison on the outskirts of Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire in April 2019.

In September that year, a psychologist working at the prison reported that a patient  referred to in the tribunal only as Patient A  had disclosed, unprompted, during a therapy session he had been having an inappropriate relationship with an NHS nurse called Samantha.

The tribunal heard the prisoner told her the relationship had been going on for several months and that he used a contraband mobile telephone to contact the nurse.

He claimed he had offered her money towards car repairs, and that she agreed to bring a drugs package into the prison, though it was not confirmed by Patient A whether these events actually took place.

HMP Low Moss: Scottish medium-security facility which once held child killer John Leathem HMP Low Moss is based on the outskirts of Bishopbriggs in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Approximately 750 male prisoners over the age of 21 are held at the medium-security facility, and between 25 and 30 NHS staff were employed there. In the past one of the prisons most infamous inmates was John Leathem, who murdered 15-year-old student Paige Doherty in 2016 after stabbing her 61 times. He had to be transferred to a protection wing 75 miles away at HMP Dumfries, which houses the countrys most notorious sex offenders, after prison staff at Low Moss uncovered a plot by other inmates to kill Leathem. Advertisement

Patient A also alleged Miss Ketterer was having similar relationships with other prisoners and had been in touch with his sister.

The following month the nurse was returning to the prison from her evening tea break when a strip of medication in the pocket of her uniform sounded the security alarm.

The tribunal heard she was taken to the office of Anette Dryburgh, Head of SPS Operations. Ms Dryburgh explained she had received a number of intelligence reports suggesting Miss Ketterer had been compromised.

When questioned, Miss Ketterer said she had not felt pressured by any of the prisoners or felt unsafe.

She was also asked if she had done anything outside the scope of her work, and she said she had only performed her role as a nurse.

At the end of the meeting Miss Ketterers bag and locker were searched and she was removed from the prison and took sick leave before being suspended from duty by the Greater Glasgow Health Board while an investigation was launched.

The psychologist Dr Claire Ogilvie was interviewed in June 2020 and she explained how she asked Patient A whether the relationship was of a romantic nature.

He had said the nurse had expressed romantic feelings towards him, but he did not feel the same way, the tribunal heard.

Miss Ketterer denied having had any form of inappropriate relationship with the inmate or bringing contraband into prison.

Ms Dryburgh told the investigation she had received various pieces of intelligence from multiple sources who saw Miss Ketterer spending a lot of time with Patient A, taking him into one of the nurses rooms and going into his cell.

She explained how Scottish Prison Services (SPS) staff are meant to be able to see into the nursess room, but Miss Ketterer kept looking at the window and staring at the staff as if she did not want them to be looking in.

The tribunal heard Miss Ketterer did not answer any of the questions put to her during the investigation, was very unemotional and had been going through a very turbulent time in her personal relationship at that time.

Between April and October 2019, Miss Ketterer made 2,122 entries on the system for logging clinical interventions with prisoners for a total of 662 patients.

There were an average of three entries per patient, whereas Patient A had 72 entries recorded.

The prison nurse claimed she was unfairly dismissed, but her case was thrown out by an employment tribunal in Glasgow (pictured, HMP Low Moss)

Ms Dryburgh said the number of interventions concerned her as Patient A did not have significant health needs that required regular nursing intervention.

The report also showed Miss Ketterer had checked Patient As records 17 times after days off and periods of annual leave or sickness but did not then record any clinical intervention.

A disciplinary hearing took place in December 2020 where Miss Ketterer displayed no emotion.

While there was no evidence of her bringing contraband into the prison, it was ruled her actions resulted in an irreparable breakdown in trust in the employment relationship.

She was dismissed due to unprofessional conduct, serious breaches of confidentiality, accessing computer records or files with no authority, blatant and serious breach of policies and procedures, and action which is likely to bring the NHS into disrepute.

Miss Ketterer insisted that she had been unfairly dismissed and brought a claim to an employment tribunal in Glasgow.

Her claim was dismissed, with Employment Judge Beyzade Beyzade stating: (Miss Ketterers) conduct was a sufficient reason to justify summary dismissal.

Full consideration had been given to alternative outcomes before taking the decision to terminate (her) employment.

It was clear that given the seriousness of (Miss Ketterers) misconduct, the nature of the misconduct, and its potential impact on patient and public confidence together with the breakdown in trust and confidence in the employment relationship this could not be considered.

Approximately 750 male prisoners over the age of 21 are held at the medium-security facility, and between 25 and 30 NHS staff were employed there.
Barbara Stange-Alvarez (pictured) destroyed wine, spirits and beer when she went on the rampage in Aldi, St Albans Magistrates' Court was told

A jobless woman smashed 10,000 worth of alcohol in a five-minute meltdown because she 'lost the plot' in the country's second Covid lockdown, a court has heard.

Barbara Stange-Alvarez destroyed wine, spirits and beer when she went on the rampage in Aldi, St Albans Magistrates' Court was told.

The 36-year-old from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, walked along the aisle at the local store and used her arm to sweep hundreds of bottles off the shelves, a judge heard.

Shocking footage showed the floor littered with shards of broken glass and huge puddles of alcohol after the incident on November 25, 2020.

The video also saw Stange-Alvarez slip on the mess, on to the bottles, and slice her hand open.

She yesterday pleaded guilty to criminal damage, racially aggravated common assault and a racially aggravated public order offence.

The latter was for hurling insults at a security guard at the hospital where she was taken to fix her hand.



Prosecutor Clinton Hadgill told the court: 'She made her way directly to the aisle where the alcohol is and proceeded to drag hundreds of bottles of alcohol off the shelf.'

He said on reaching the end of the aisle she went back to the beginning and repeated the exercise.

He said the defendant slipped and fell on to the broken glass around 90 seconds into the incident.

But she later stood at the end of the row and grabbed single bottles before slinging them on to the floor.

Mr Hadgill said a security guard from another store restrained Stange-Alvarez until police arrived.

The prosecutor said officers took the woman to Lister Hospital in Stevenage where she kicked a security guard in the shin and hurled racial insults at him.

She told him: 'You Indian people. I pay my taxes for you to be in this country. Go back to your own country, I hate Indians.'

She later said to one policeman while she was being booked into custody: 'I did not say Indian f....., I said Kashmir f.....'

Stange-Alvarez said in an interview she was suffering from mental health problems due to having no job, depression and an abusive relationship.

She said that she was not receiving the treatment she thought she should have been.

The 36-year-old from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, walked along the aisle at the local store and used her arm to sweep hundreds of bottles off the shelves, a judge heard

Before head to Aldi that day, she said she had gone to a mental health clinic seeking help - but was unhappy at the response she got and 'lost the plot'.

Strange-Alvarez, who represented herself in court, said she had been unable to work in 2020, adding: 'I struggled because I was unemployed.'

District Judge Margaret Dodd told her 'lots of people' had faced similar hardships during the pandemic.

Stange-Alvarez went on: 'Loads of things affected me and I was not able to get the treatment.'

She told the judge: ''It won't happen again'' and she said the medication she was now on had resulted in her being more ''stabilised''.'

Passing sentence, District Judge Dodd said she could give her credit for her guilty plea and she noted she had not been in trouble before.

She said 'you weren't well at the time' but added many people had also been out of work and furloughed and had not behaved like her.

Stange-Alvarez was told she would have to pay Aldi 5000 in compensation and court costs of 85

She told Stange-Alvarez her behaviour towards the hospital security guard had been 'upsetting and hurtful'.

He had simply been trying to do his job, only to find himself sworn at and assaulted, said the judge.

She was given a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.

She was also made the subject of a Mental Health Treatment Requirement as well as Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

Stange-Alvarez was told she would have to pay Aldi 5000 in compensation and court costs of 85.
East China's Jiangsu sees record low PM2.5 density

Xinhua) 17:02, January 18, 2022

NANJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- East China's economic hub Jiangsu Province reported more days with good air quality and record-low average PM2.5 density in 2021, according to the provincial department of ecology and environment.

The average concentration of PM2.5 in Jiangsu was 33 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, down by 13.2 percent year on year, marking an 8-year straight decline since the data was first collected in 2013. It was also the first time for the province to meet the level-2 national standard for PM2.5 control, which is 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

The percentage of days with good air quality in Jiangsu reached a record high of 82.4 percent during the period.

The PM2.5 reading is a gauge monitoring airborne particles of 2.5 microns or less in diameter, which can penetrate deep into people's lungs.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Two subsequent earthquakes in Afghanistan took the lives of more than two dozen people in the nation's western regions. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 5.3 magnitude earthquake followed by a 4.9 magnitude one that occurred two hours later.

The fatalities from the incident included five women and four children, while four other people were injured because of the tremors. The announcement was made by a spokesman for the province of Badghis, Baz Mohammad Sarwary.

Deadly Earthquakes

The official reportedly added more people to the victim list whose lives were lost after the roofs of their houses crushed them collapsed on top of them. The victims were reported to have come from the Qadis district. Sarwary also warned people that the number of fatalities could go up as the area was a mountainous region and one of the nation's poorest and most underdeveloped areas.

The leader of the Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of State for Emergency Affairs, Mullah Janan Saeqe, confirmed the death toll of at least 26 people. He added that more than 700 homes were damaged by the shaking, The Hill reported.

Read Also: Joe Biden's Allies Foresee Probes, Impeachment Attempts as Midterm Election Looms

Sarwary said that the first rescuers had already arrived at some of the affected areas under heavy rain. The subsequent earthquakes also damaged houses and affected residents of the Muqr district in the province. However, officials have not provided details of the incident, including casualties.

The official noted that the two tremors were felt across the province and that some homes in Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital, suffered cracks. Fortunately, Sarwary said there were no major injuries or widespread damage in the area. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre released a report that showed the quake's depth was at a depth of 30 kilometers, Al Jazeera reported.

Rescuing Survivors

In a phone call with one resident from an affected district, Azmatullah Sharifi said that the death toll would be rising dramatically. He argued that many more families were still buried under the rubble, waiting to be rescued or to meet their end.

Residents took photographs of the aftermath of the two earthquakes and, provided by Sarwary, showed men and boys digging out rocks and debris using their bare hands. Residents worked to remove clay bricks and other rubble to reach any survivor that could still be trapped under the fallen buildings.

The situation came as civilians in the nation were struggling amid a humanitarian crisis brought by a war that had gone on for years. Many earthquakes have struck along Afghanistan's eastern borders with Pakistan and Tajikistan in recent weeks, as shown by data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

A similar incident in 2015 occurred when an earthquake took the lives of more than 300 people in the region's northern areas and from Pakistan. Another tremor, which occurred 24 years earlier, took the lives of a similar number of people, despite the majority of quakes in the region being magnitude 5 or less, the New York Times reported.

Related Article: Trump Supporters Believe Deceased JFK Jr. Is 'Coming Back' To Be Former President's VP

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Russia has started to move its troops towards Belarus for joint military exercises and live-fire drills as fears increase of an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Train and road convoys of armoured vehicles have been arriving after president Alexander Lukashenko announced upcoming war games with Russian forces next month.

The military exercises named United Resolve in Ukraine's northern neighbour are taking place at the same time as Russia continues to amass troops on Ukraine's eastern border, setting the scene for a potential invasion.

Military analysts have suggested Russia could send its forces through Belarus to stretch out Ukraine's defences, taking advantage of their shared 700-mile border.

Lukashenko and his security henchmen have pointed to an alleged build-up of Ukrainian forces near his border, suggesting this justifies a stronger military presence.

Russia has started to move its troops towards Belarus for joint military exercises and live-fire drills as fears increase of an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine

Russia is continuing to amass troops on Ukraine's eastern border, setting the scene for a potential invasion

Train and road convoys of armoured vehicles have been arriving after president Alexander Lukashenko announced upcoming war games

The strongman has formed closer ties with Vladimir Putin in response to pressure from the West over his autocratic regime, publicly supporting the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), a Russian group monitoring military movements, said more military hardware from the Russian far east is expected in Belarus.

Two S-400 mobile surface to air missile battalions, a Pantsir-S battalion and 12 Su-35 fighters will also be transferred for exercises, it was revealed today.

Meanwhile, Britain last night sent troops and hi-tech weapons to Ukraine in a bid to thwart the feared Russian invasion.

Two RAF transporters flew badly needed missile systems to Kiev's forces, and troops aboard the planes will remain in Ukraine to teach their counterparts how to combat Russian tanks.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the deployment came 'in light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia'.

The weapons were transported on RAF C-17 planes which took a longer route over Danish rather than German airspace.

Germany has refused to provide Ukraine with weapons, with Chancellor Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying 'we expect clear steps from Russia to deescalate the situation,' adding that 'military aggression against Ukraine would entail serious political and economic consequences.'

Putin has justified the war games with Belarus because of alleged Nato interference in Poland and the Baltic states which he says threatens Russia.

Lukashenko said: 'Why are we and Russia being reproached for holding manoeuvres, exercises and so forth when youve come from far away?'

Putin has justified the war games because of alleged Nato interference in Poland and the Baltic states which he says threatens Russia

'Planned' Russian tank war games shown on video and involving 2,000-plus soldiers were staged at the Kirillovsky and Luzhsky training grounds

As the Bundestag continues to oppose involvement, flightpath tracking data shows how British aircraft are avoiding German airspace en route to ferrying anti-armour weaponry to Ukraine

Meanwhile, 'planned' Russian tank war games shown on video and involving 2,000-plus soldiers were staged at the Kirillovsky and Luzhsky training grounds in Leningrad region.

These drills involved T-72B3 tanks, AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, RPG-7V grenade launchers, AK-74M assault rifles and SVD-M sniper rifles, according to the Russian defence ministry.

This 'combat training' in Russia's Western military district, which borders Ukraine, involved 'methods of covert movement' in winter conditions.

In Orenburg, special forces with machine guns on camouflaged 'Tiger' military vehicles were seen in separate assault drills destroying a mock enemy in trenches.

Elsewhere, in the Southern military district - into which annexed Crimea has been incorporated - reconnaissance troops conducted mountain training at the Darial mountain training centre in North Ossetia, close to Georgia.

'The servicemen are trained to quickly navigate the terrain, choose firing positions,' said platoon commander senior lieutenant Nikolay Ivanov.

Lukashenko and his security henchmen have pointed to an alleged build-up of Ukrainian forces near his border

'We are improving rapid movement, and every shot is right on target.'

These war games include four battalion tactical exercises with live fire and the use of rocket and cannon artillery and aviation.

Meanwhile, forces were reportedly seen moving westward in Yekaterinburg and Ufa, both in the Urals.

On the movements to Belarus, Alexander Volfovich, head of the country's security council, said in explaining the arrival of Russian forces that 'the number of armies of neighbouring countries is increasing, the intensity of military exercises.

'And this is happening not only in Poland and Lithuania, which are members of the NATO alliance - their militarisation is expected.'

He claimed there was a buildup of troops also in Ukraine which 'does not lag behind them to please its Western curators'.

Negotiations last week between Russian and Western diplomats, who were hoping to defuse the prospect of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, ended inconclusively

This 'combat training' in Russia's Western military district, which borders Ukraine, involved 'methods of covert movement' in winter conditions

He claimed that 'the aggressive and destructive policy pursued by the governments of neighbouring states does not in the least contribute to the preservation and development of good neighbourly relations.

'There will be a provocation and the irreparable will happen.

'In such a situation, we must be ready to act immediately and decisively - both independently and jointly as part of a regional grouping of troops (forces), to make sure of its effectiveness in modern conditions.'

New Russian ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, a senior politician and close ally of Vladimir Putin, said: 'We see that the buildup of NATO personnel and military equipment literally at our doorstep continues without cease. including heavy weaponry.'

He warned: 'Of course, it won't go unnoticed.'

'We are very thorough in our approach to border safety matters.

'Joint Russian-Belarusian patrols of the Union State's aerial borders is conducted on a regular basis, including with the use of Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers and Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft.'

He denied that the joint military drills posed a threat to the West.

'Certainly, at the news about any of our drills, the Western propaganda machine becomes active using all sorts of false information about pseudo-threats,' he claimed.

'This has already happened many times.

'However, the authors of these fake news items have always been put to shame: Russian and Belarusian servicemen clearly and consistently demonstrated their training and aced their drills after which they returned to their permanent duty stations.'

The exercises are due from February 10 to 20.

With tension high, Russian inspectors were today visiting a military facility in Britain under the 2011 Vienna Document on security and confidence-building measures, said the head of Moscow's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre, Sergey Ryzhkov.

'The inspection will take place on January 18, 2021, and will continue for one day,' he said.

'Inspectors will visit a military facility in the United Kingdom, at its usual peacetime location.'
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What are US airlines worried about and could British planes be affected? The debate about whether 5G has the potential to interfere with crucial aeroplane instruments is intense and unresolved. What are the airlines worried about? Airlines are concerned that the new 5G network could affect aircraft instruments including altimeters, which measure a plane's distance from the ground. This is because both the new 5G network and the altimeters will operate at a similar wavelength. What are the networks saying? AT&T and Verizon say there is no evidence their new network will interfere with aircraft operating systems. They have previously delayed the rollout to allow for more research to take place. What is the view in the UK and Europe? 5G is not seen as a problem for aircraft in Britain or Europe, according to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Ofcom and EU Aviation Safety Authority. All three insist there is no evidence 5G interferes with aircraft systems. 5G in Europe is on a different wavelength, which is seen as less likely to affect planes than the one used in America. Advertisement

American mobile phone firms are switching on around 90% of their new 5G network despite fears the masts are dangerous to planes, causing dozens of flights to be cancelled by spooked airlines.

The CEOs of major US carriers earlier warned of an impending 'catastrophic' crisis if AT&T and Verizon were to finally deploy their new 5G services from the early hours, with hundreds of flights potentially called off.

In a bid to allay fears, masts near key airports will remain off today, around 10% of the total network. President Biden vowed to work to find a solution.

Emirates, Japan Airlines, Air India and All Nippon were among the airlines who cancelled some of their Boeing 777 flights to the US.

The new technology is launching around the US on Wednesday - a deadline that has been in the making for two years. To launch, AT&T and Verizon towers that emit the signals necessary to power it were due to be switched on.

However, there are some 500 towers that the FAA says are too close to 88 airports and could make it unsafe for planes to fly.

The fear among airlines, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration was that the new 5G network could interfere with vital aircraft instruments that are on a similar wavelength.

This includes altimeters, which tell pilots their altitude as they fly in low visibility. Any false readings could confuse them as they approach the runway in poor visibility conditions, with potentially disastrous results.

The White House is now helping broker an agreement between the two industries. At a briefing on Tuesday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the White House 'understands what is at stake for both industries', a statement said.

A deal is being worked on negotiated now to allow 90 percent of the towers - 4,500 - to be turned on, holding back the 500 of concern. It's unclear how long the FAA and airlines now have to resolve their safety concerns.

AT&T is now demanding to know why the FAA - a government body - waited so long before sounding such alarm.

'We are frustrated by the FAAs inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner.'

This issue is not seen as a problem in Britain or Europe, with the UK's Civil Aviation Authority, Ofcom and EU Aviation Safety Authority all insisting there is no evidence 5G is a problem.

In Europe, 5G networks run on a different frequency to the US, which is seen as less likely to affect altimeters than the one used across the pond.

An aviation expert who did not want to be named told MailOnline: 'Most of Europe and the rest of the world have 3.2-3.8GHz usage in the 5G spectrum.

'But the US within the spectrum goes up to 3.9GHz to 4.1-4.2GHz.

'Altimeters on planes are in the 4.4GHz range, so there's more chance of potential interference with the 5G spectrum in the US.'

The fear among airlines, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration is that the new 5G network could interfere with vital aircraft instruments that are on a similar wavelength, such as altimeters

The CEOs of some of America's largest airlines wrote to federal officials on Monday warning about the potential negative effects of 5G

The evolution of mobile broadband up to 5G The evolution of the G system started in 1980 with the invention of the mobile phone which allowed for analogue data to be transmitted via phone calls. Digital came into play in 1991 with 2G and SMS and MMS capabilities were launched. Since then, the capabilities and carrying capacity for the mobile network has increased massively. More data can be transferred from one point to another via the mobile network quicker than ever. 5G is expected to be 100 times faster than the currently used 4G. Whilst the jump from 3G to 4G was most beneficial for mobile browsing and working, the step to 5G will be so fast they become almost real-time. That means mobile operations will be just as fast as office-based internet connections. Potential uses for 5g include: Simultaneous translation of several languages in a party conference call

Self-driving cars can stream movies, music and navigation information from the cloud

A full length 8GB film can be downloaded in six seconds. 5G is expected to be so quick and efficient it is possible it could start the end of wired connections. By the end of 2020, industry estimates claim 50 billion devices will be connected to 5G. Advertisement

Travel expert Paul Charles said: 'There's no evidence of any problems in other countries including the UK of 5G interfering with aircraft safety systems, so I think it's a case of American airlines needing more education before 5G can be rolled out

'But from a passenger point of view, the advice is to plan your trip as normal and check for any cancellations.'

UK carriers including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have not said if they expected their services to be affected.

Today British authorities all played down the issue, with a spokesman for the CAA saying: 'We are aware of reports that suggest that the frequency band being used for 5G in a number of countries could potentially pose a risk of interference with aircraft radio altimeters.

'There have been no reported incidents of aircraft systems being affected by 5G transmissions in UK airspace, but we are nonetheless working with Ofcom and the Ministry of Defence to make sure that the deployment of 5G in the UK does not cause any technical problems for aircraft.'

Ofcom said: 'We're aware that the aviation sector is looking at this; we've done our own technical analysis and are yet to see any evidence that would give us cause for concern.'

Gareth Elliott, Head of Policy and Communications at Mobile UK, said the networks were 'coordinating with the aviation authorities' to ensure there was 'no interference in the UK'.

The US airline CEOs claimed in their letter that interference to aeroplanes' altimeters could result in 'more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays.'

Other planes could be grounded permanently because the altimeter provides signals to their mandated safety features.

Action is urgent, they added in the letter, writing: 'To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt.'

It was signed by the chief executives of American Airlines, JetBlue Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, as well as officials from FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Verizon and AT&T have since agreed to push back the launch of their new service from January 4, and it was set to debut on Wednesday.

However, the airline CEOs warned federal officials on Monday, a significant number of widebody aircrafts would become unusable and 'could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas.'

'Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded,' the CEOs wrote.

'The harm that will result from deployment on January 19 is substantially worse than we anticipated for two key reasons,' they explained.

Modern planes, like the one seen here, contain altimeters, which measures altitude and allows pilots to fly when visibility is limited

US airlines claim 5G can render radar altimeters unreliable. Pictured is a Verizon 5G tower going up in Utah

The list of 50 airports with 5G buffers AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD BOEING FLD/KING COUNTY INTL BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH INTL NASHVILLE INTL BOB HOPE AKRON-CANTON CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL DALLAS LOVE FLD DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY ELLINGTON EWR NEWARK LIBERTY INTL FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTL FLINT MICHIGAN WILLIAM P HOBBY NEW HAVEN GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON INDIANAPOLIS INTL LONG ISLAND MAC ARTHUR JOHN F KENNEDY INTL HARRY REID INTL LOS ANGELES INTL LAGUARDIA LONG BEACH (DAUGHERTY FLD) KANSAS CITY INTL ORLANDO INTL HARRISBURG INTL CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL MCALLEN INTL MIAMI INTL MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL/WOLD-CHAMBERLAIN ONTARIO INTL CHICAGO O'HARE INTL SNOHOMISH COUNTY (PAINE FLD) PALM BEACH INTL PHILADELPHIA INTL PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL PITTSBURGH INTL RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL FREDERICK DOUGLASS/GREATER ROCHESTER INTL SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL SAN FRANCISCO INTL NORMAN Y MINETA SAN JOSE INTL JOHN WAYNE/ORANGE COUNTY ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL TETERBORO Advertisement

For one, they said, even though the FAA announced it had cleared for use two radar altimeters used in some Boeing and Airbus jets so they could perform low-visibility landings at many airports where 5G C-band will be deployed, the list did not include many large airports.

Additionally, they argued, because radio altimeters provide critical information to other safety and navigation systems in modern aeroplanes, multiple modern safety systems 'will be deemed unusable.'

'Aeroplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded.'

'The ripple effects across both passenger and cargo operations, our workforce and the broader economy are simply incalculable,' the CEOs wrote as they asked officials 'that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways' at some key airports.

'Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies.'

The carriers added they urge action to ensure '5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.'

The letter, which was obtained by DailyMail.com, went to White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Airlines for America, the group that organized the letter, declined to comment. The government agencies did not immediately comment.

AT&T and Verizon, which won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum in an $80 billion auction last year, on January 3 agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports to reduce interference risks and take other steps to cut potential interference for six months.

They also agreed to delay deployment for two weeks until Wednesday, temporarily averting an aviation safety standoff, but the rollout has now been paused again.

The CEOs of major airlines and Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun held a lengthy call with Buttigieg and Dickson on Sunday to warn of the looming crisis, officials told Reuters.

But the issue doesn't just affect aeroplanes - they could also have a negative effect on the nation's helicopters, including lifesaving medevac choppers.

Under US law, all commercial helicopters must have a working altimeter in order to fly. Without them, officials warn, landing in remote areas or on hospital landing pads will be near impossible.

Helicopter Association International petitioned the FAA in October asking for medevacs to be exempt from the law when 5G rolls out, and the FAA granted it last week for areas where 5G C-Band interference could affect the radio altimeter.
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A gigantic superyacht has been captured barely squeezing under a low bridge as it headed to a port in the north of Holland for sea trials.

The 'Galactica', a whopping 265ft long superyacht built by Heesen, was launched from the southwestern city of Oss in the Netherlands at the start of January to make its way to the northern port city of Harlingen for final outfitting and tests on the open seas.

In order to reach its final destination, the incredible machine is forced to make a painstakingly slow journey through Holland's tiny canals and rivers.

But although negotiating the slim channels is no easy feat, bridges are the biggest danger facing such a huge craft - something which the boat's crew quickly came to realise on January 8 when the boat almost became stuck under a railway bridge near Den Bosch.

Pictures have emerged of Galactica manoeuvring right up to the bridge, before barely scraping underneath with less than six inches to spare.

But Heesen project coordinator Arjan Veldman was confident the vessel would reach its final destination safely.

'The press and public that were watching from the river bank didn't understand all the precise measuring operations we conducted,' insisted Veldman.

'We've been going through locks and under bridges like this for over 40 years!'

Incredible pictures show a superyacht seemingly scraping under low bridges - with less than six inches of clearance. Dutch shipbuilders Heesen were this month tasked with transporting the 80m boat MY Galactica from its shed in Oss to the North Sea for sea trials

In order to reach its final destination, the incredible machine is forced to make a painstakingly slow journey through Holland's tiny canals and rivers. But although negotiating the slim channels is no easy feat, bridges are the biggest danger facing such a huge craft - something which the boat's crew quickly came to realise on January 8 when the boat almost became stuck under a railway bridge near Den Bosch (pictured)

Heesen project coordinator Arjan Veldman was confident the vessel would reach its final destination safely. 'The press and public that were watching from the river bank didn't understand all the precise measuring operations we conducted,' insisted Veldman (concerned bystanders are pictured watching the vessel scrape underneath the bridge)

The astounding vessel also comes complete with a certified heli-pad and a garage, which will contain a custom limousine, and the yacht's four engines can produce an eye-watering 19,000 horsepower

Although Heesen's flagship yacht never made contact with the bridge, it was initially forced to turn back, as the water levels in the River Maas were too high for the boat to pass underneath.

Galactica continued on its journey after waiting for the water levels to recede, but only just managed to scrape underneath without scuffing the paintwork.

'After seeing these photos, my family and friends are still mocking me and asking if I need a tape measure to take with me to work,' Veldman jokingly told Forbes.

The superyacht then continued on its journey along the River Maas, only to get stuck yet again on January 10, according to Dutch newspaper BN De Stem, when water levels were too high for it to squeeze under another bridge near Heusden.

Sara Gioanola, Heesen PR & Press Office Manager, said a voyage such as this takes 3-4 months of preparation, with many permits and certificates required to pass through Holland's complex network of rivers and canals.

Previously known as Project Cosmos, the all-aluminium flagship 'Galactica' was first unveiled at the end of 2020 and upon completion of final outfitting and sea tests will become Heesen's flagship model.

According to Boat International, the Galactica will be the fastest aluminium yacht in her size class upon completion, and was sold in March 2018 to an anonymous buyer for an undisclosed sum - although yachts of similar size are typically sold for tens, if not hundreds, of millions of pounds.

Superyachts of Galactica's size are typically built of steel, but the Galactica's aluminium construction helps to save weight and boost its top speed.

Previously known as Project Cosmos, the all-aluminium flagship 'Galactica' was first unveiled at the end of 2020 and upon completion of final outfitting and sea tests will become Heesen's flagship model

The 265ft long yacht has drawn considerable attention in the Netherlands, with many bystanders in disbelief that a vessel of such size can manoeuvre through the nation's canals

Da past nie jonguh.... Posted by Ron van Zijl on Saturday, January 8, 2022

The Galactica contains accommodation for up to 12 guests split across six cabins, including a main deck master suite, bridge-deck VIP and four lower deck cabins. The crew quarters will also sleep a staff of 19 people.

The astounding vessel also comes complete with a certified heli-pad and a garage, which will contain a custom limousine, and the yacht's four engines can produce an eye-watering 19,000 horsepower.

The biggest Heesen yacht currently in operation, the 'Galactica Super Nova' is a comparatively small 229ft long.
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Covid was not the underlying cause of death in nearly a quarter of virus-related fatalities last week, official figures suggest.

The most up-to-date Office for National Statistics figures showed there were 922 deaths registered in England and Wales mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate in the week to January 7. Of them, Covid was not ruled to be the primary reason for the death in 210 cases, or 23 per cent  although it may have been a contributing factor.

For comparison, the share of deaths not primarily due to the virus stood at around 16 per cent when Omicron first arrived in the UK. With the Alpha wave last January, before the country embarked on its historic vaccination drive, the proportion was about 10 per cent.

The rise of the milder strain has led to a similar pattern emerging in hospitals, where nearly half of virus inpatients are not primarily needing treatment for the infection  compared to about 25 per cent with Delta.

Critics have warned that the rise in so-called 'incidental' cases may be skewing the Government's daily coronavirus statistics.

Covid deaths have been rising slowly for a few weeks and are now hovering at around 200 each day in England on average, meaning they are tracking at around half the level of the peak of a bad flu outbreak. Hospitalisations have flattened off at below 2,000 per day.

And cases are plummeting as the disconnect between infections and severe illness leads to growing optimism that the worst of the Covid pandemic is over.

Amid the mounting promising statistics, Boris Johnson is said to be drawing up plans to ditch all Covid laws from as early as March as the under-fire PM tries to win over his backbenchers. Ministers are already planning to ditch Plan B curbs brought in last month to fight the highly-transmissible variant, with both Covid passports and WFH guidance expected to be scrapped later this month.

The above figure shows the proportion of Covid deaths are people who have died from the disease (red) to those who have died with the disease (blue). It shows the proportion dying with the disease is now rising

The above graph shows the proportion of Covid patients that were primarily admitted with the disease in London (yellow) and across England (red). It reveals that these levels are falling highlighting how the Omicron variant is less severe

Pictured above are the number of Covid patients in hospital (pink) and the numbers who were primarily admitted with Covid (blue) across England up to January 11

All Covid curbs to be ditched from end of March Boris Johnson is drawing up plans to ditch all Covid laws from as early as March as the under-fire PM tries to win over his backbenchers, it was reported today. A senior source claimed the Government was seriously considering abandoning all legally-binding curbs in England and moving to a guidance-based system as it pivots towards living with the virus like flu. The official claimed even the most basic rules could go, such as compulsory self-isolation of cases and the requirement to co-operate with Test and Trace. Emergency Covid laws brought in at the start of the pandemic are due to expire in March if they are not renewed as part of a timetable set out before Omicron hit. Ministers are already planning to ditch Plan B curbs brought in last month to fight the highly-transmissible variant, with Covid passports and WFH guidance expected to be scrapped later this month. Health Secretary Sajid Javid today revealed he is 'cautiously optimistic' that the final Plan B curbs can be 'substantially reduced' next week when ministers review No10's next steps. Mr Johnson is said to have taken huge confidence from the country's collapsing case numbers and flatlining hospital rates that the UK can safely live with Covid. He will finalise the plans to let coronavirus laws expire over the coming weeks, with an announcement on which measurers will be dropped expected in March, according to the Guardian. The embattled PM has laid out a number of other Tory-friendly policies to appease backbench MPs as he faces calls to resign over parties in No10 during lockdown. Advertisement

The weekly ONS report includes all deaths where Covid is mentioned on the death certificate, and then breaks them down into cases where it was the main cause or just a contributory factor.

This is different to the Government's daily tally, which includes all deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid deaths  it means people who test positive for the virus but happen to be killed in a car crash are included.

The ONS says there have been 148,804 Covid deaths in England and Wales since the pandemic began, of which 132,434 were due to the virus.

The official dashboard says there have been 138,971 Covid deaths in both countries since March 2020.

The Government's figure only includes people who tested positive for the virus, which means it does not capture most fatalities during the first wave when swabs were not widely available.

On the other hand, the ONS data includes all fatalities where Covid has been noted on the death certificate.

When Omicron first arrived in late November, official ONS figures showed 14 per cent of deaths registered from coronavirus were not primarily due to the virus.

But as the variant took off, the proportion of Covid deaths that were not primarily triggered by the infection has continued to trend upwards.

For comparison, at the peak of the Alpha outbreak last winter when 8,433 Covid deaths were recorded in a single week, just 823 of these were not due to the virus  or 9.8 per cent.

And in Delta's deadliest week when 1,020 deaths were recorded in mid-November, just 162 were not caused by the virus  or 15.9 per cent.

A similar rise in coincidental Covid deaths has emerged in the nation's hospitals where 6,600 out of 15,000 Covid patients  or 44 per cent  were not primarily in hospital because of the virus at the start of January.

Experts and Tory MPs have called on the Government to differentiate between primary and secondary Covid patients in the daily figures for transparency.

NHS leaders argue, however, that even asymptomatic people who test positive after admission put strain on the health service because they need to be isolated and receive specialist care.

Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University, said that even though fewer deaths were now involving Covid, the virus was likely still played a contributing role in their death from a separate cause.

He said: 'The death certificate has two sections about cause of death.

'In one, the doctor lists the sequence of diseases and conditions that directly led to the death, and if Covid is in that part, it would usually be regarded as the underlying cause.

'In the other section, the doctor lists Other significant conditions contributing to death but not related to the disease or condition causing it.

'If they mention Covid there, it wouldnt be coded as the underlying cause, but it would have to be "significant" and "contributing to death".

He added: 'If Covid is mentioned on the certificate, but not as the underlying cause, that would mean that Covid hastened the death, or made the persons last days much more difficult, or something like that.'

In a sign the worst of the pandemic may be over, a SAGE adviser said it was unlikely the next variant will be more deadly than Omicron because it 'doesn't do the virus any good' to become more severe.

Professor Andrew Hayward, an epidemiologist who sits on the advisory panel, predicted instead that any new variant would outcompete Omicron by being more transmissible or better able to escape past immunity.

He told Times radio: 'In fact, it looks like the Omicron variant, by becoming more transmissible, that it's also become less severe, and we would hope that's the general direction of travel.'

Professor Hayward added that the 'pandemic will end' with the virus continuing to transmit but causing much less disruption.

'It will tend to, I think, settle into a seasonal pattern - we may still get quite big winters of infection but not the sort of level where we can justify wholesale societal closedown.

'So, I think it is genuinely an optimistic picture, but we're still not quite there yet.'

Yesterday SAGE adviser Dr Mike Tildesley suggested a new variant of the virus would emerge in the coming months that would be less severe than Omicron.

He said it would enable the UK to pivot to a 'flu-like' strategy for dealing with the virus, rather than having to impose restrictions every winter.

Ministers are looking to lift 'Plan B' restrictions in England, with vaccine passports and work from home guidance expected to go before the end of this month  but face masks are likely to remain in public settings.

Officials caution they are yet to take a final decision, but will review the data ahead of the current raft of restrictions expiring on January 26.
BBC News reporter Ros Atkins has revealed his surprising past life as a Drum and Bass DJ - before the birth of his first child put paid to his hobby.

Mr Atkins, 47, revealed his colourful background after making a surprise appearance as the presenter of BBC Radio 6 Music's Desert Island Disco All-Dayer.

The presenter, who has received praise for his forensic explainer videos of stories including the Downing Street Party scandal, displayed a series of photos on Twitter of him in his DJing days in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Mr Atkins said that, while living in South Africa, he also worked the decks during a 'huge rave' inside Johannesburg train station.

He said he performed his last 'gig' in 2006 in London's Regents Park, which was a 'reasonably sweaty affair'.

His eldest daughter was born 'a few days later' and he has not performed since.

On Monday, Atkins took to the airways to present his favourite tracks.

Revealing his 'set' on Twitter, he said it included hits from 'DJ Hype & Ganja Max' and 'Shimon and Andy C'.

BBC News reporter Ros Atkins has revealed his surprising past life as a Drum and Bass DJ, before the birth of his first child put paid to his hobby

Mr Atkins, 47, revealed his colourful background after making a surprise appearance as the presenter of BBC Radio 6 Music's Desert Island Disco All-Dayer. He shared a series of images of him performing, including at his last gig (above) in Regents Park in 2006

He said before beginning his 25-minute set: 'Before the BBC was letting me anywhere near a TV studio, I used to DJ drum and bass, and much to my delight Steve Lamacq and the team at BBC Radio 6 Music have asked me if I would like to get back behind the decks for today's desert island disco alldayer, and of course I said yes.

'This mix is inspired by Brixton electric in South London. It is a place I have had some great drum n bass nights, hopefully there are many more to come.'

Mr Atkins, who grew up in Cornwall, said he started 'going to raves' and listening to 'hardcore' Drum and Bass music in the 1990s.

One image he shared showed him wearing a high-viz jacket with a friend after a 'long night' at the 'Helter Skelter' rave in Milton Keynes, Buckingamshire, in 1997.

He said he began DJing at a similar time after being inspired by DJs including 'LTJ Bukem', whose real name is Daniel Williamson.

Mr Atkins then shared an image of him running an event in Brixton, south London. He said he also performed in Cornwall and Cambridge.

Mr Atkins said that, while living in South Africa, he also worked the decks during a 'huge rave' inside Johannesburg train station. Whilst in the country, he also performed at Pretoria's 'Oppi Koppi' festival. Pictured: Mr Atkins at Oppi Koppi

The presenter, who has received praise for his forensic explainers of stories including the Downing Stret Party scandal, displayed a series of photos on Twitter of him in his DJing days in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He said the above image showed him after a 'long night' at the 'Helter Skelter' rave in Milton Keynes

Speaking of his time in South Africa, he said: 'I also lived in South Africa for a while and, improbably, ended up playing in the D&B room at a huge rave in Joburg train station.'

Whilst in the country, he also performed at Pretoria's 'Oppi Koppi' festival.

His final gig came when family life intervened.

'I got booked to play a festival in Regent's Park. It was a reasonably sweaty affair,' he said.

'A few days later, our eldest daughter was born and suddenly I had a lot less time and energy! DJing didn't fit into life so well and I've not done a gig since.'

Mr Atkins said he was then invited onto Radio 6 Music and accepted the offer 'before anyone had a chance to rethink the offer'.

Milton Keynes's 'Helter Skelter' event was held at The Sanctuary music venue (pictured)

A poster for the 1994 Helter Skelter event. The Sanctuary was famous for holding enormous raves from 1991 onwards

He said the 'mix' he selected was inspired after some 'brilliant pre-COVID nights' spent at the Electric Brixton music venue.

The broadcaster added that, to his younger self, the 'idea I'd do a mix on the BBC would have been incomprehensible. I'm very touched to have been asked'.

Milton Keynes's 'Helter Skelter' event was held at The Sanctuary music venue, which was knocked down in 2004. An IKEA branch has since been built in its place.

Mr Atkins said he began DJing after being inspired by DJs including 'LTJ Bukem' (pictured)

The Sanctuary was famous for holding enormous raves from 1991 onwards. An estimated 750,000 people are said to have visited the venue, which could hold 9,000 people at a time.

Last year, an exhibition commemorating the rave hotspot opened in Milton Keynes's MK Gallery.

The Sanctuary had originally been built as an ordinary warehouse before it was used to hold the Dreamscape 1 rave, which is regarded as historic by music fans.

Bands who performed there included The Prodigy and The Cult.
The House of Lords last night inflicted 14 defeats on the Government over its plans to give the police greater powers to stop disruptive protests as peers slammed ministers for trying to ban 'noisy' demonstrations.

The Government is pushing ahead with its mammoth Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill but the Lords have taken an axe to many of the key measures.

Ministers were defeated over plans which would allow police to stop protests which are judged to be too loud and over plans to create a new offence to target protesters who lock themselves to something.

Peers labelled the proposed crackdown on noise 'plain nasty' and questioned why the Government had included it in the legislation, arguing that 'extremely foolish' ministers lacked 'common sense'.

The damaging defeats represent a significant set back for Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel as they seek to introduce the bill largely in response to protest action taken by groups like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.

Ministers signalled this morning that they will seek to reinsert the measures which have been deleted by the Lords when the draft legislation returns to the House of Commons.

That will put the Government and the upper chamber on a collision course as they enter into the back and forth 'ping pong' process of MPs voting for measures and peers voting to remove them.

The House of Lords last night inflicted 14 defeats on the Government over its plans to give the police greater powers to stop disruptive protests

The damaging defeats represent a significant set back for Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel

Peers backed a Labour-led amendment by 261 votes to 166, a majority of 95, to scrap the proposed power to impose conditions on protest marches judged to be too noisy.

A similar amendment put forward by the Liberal Democrats was then passed by 238 votes to 171, a majority of 67.

The defeats came as protests against the draft legislation took place outside Parliament, with the sound of drumming audible in the chamber.

Labour frontbencher Lord Coaker said: 'The right to protest in this country has never, ever had to have a condition placed upon it which is about noise.

'I believe that making a noise is a fundamental part of the freedom to protest properly in a democracy.'

Green Party peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb branded the Government move to impose noise conditions as 'repressive', adding: 'They are plain nasty and they really have to go.'

The Government also faced criticism from Tory peers who said the measures 'go far too far'.

Tory peer Lord Deben said: 'We are a democratic society and if I can't go outside and make a noise to point out that I think that a whole range of things that the Government or any government does are unacceptable, then my human rights are very seriously impugned.

'Dissent and protest are essential parts of democracy. This goes too far.'

Refugee campaigner and Labour peer Lord Dubs said: 'Without noisy demos a lot of changes don't happen. This is the nature of our democracy and this Government is trying to trample all over it.'

Former Labour MP Baroness Hoey, who sits as a non-affiliated peer, said: 'The idea that anyone can go on a demonstration and not make noise is just such a lack of common sense that I really don't understand how anyone could possibly have put this forward.'

Leading QC and independent crossbencher Lord Pannick said: 'The ability to demonstrate and the ability to demonstrate while making a noise is a very valuable safety valve in our civil society. If you close that safety valve off you are going to cause a far greater mischief than is currently the case.'

Former director of public prosecutions and independent crossbencher Lord Macdonald of River Glaven said: 'I don't think the Government is trying to destroy democracy or to steal from us all of our freeborn rights but I do think they are being extremely foolish.'

The defeats came as protests against the draft legislation took place outside Parliament, with the sound of drumming audible in the chamber

Peers backed a Labour-led amendment by 261 votes to 166, a majority of 95, to scrap the proposed power to impose conditions on protest marches judged to be too noisy

But Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford defended the measures, telling the chamber: 'Noise generated by protesters can have a significant and detrimental impact on the wider public.

'It is unacceptable that certain protests can seriously disrupt the lives of ordinary people and it is absolutely right that the Government gives the police the tools that they require to tackle disruptive protests.'

She added: 'These measures do not stop noisy protests, far from it. The overwhelming majority of protests will continue as now without any conditions being attached.

'But it is right that where a protest crosses the line in terms of causing disproportionate harm or disruption to others, the police must have the necessary powers to take effective action.'

The Lords rejected a Government move to create a new offence of 'locking on', a tactic used by protesters to make it difficult to remove them, carrying with it a penalty of up to a year in prison. The provision was rejected by 216 votes to 163, a majority of 53.

Peers also succeeded in watering down plans to impose tougher sentences on people who block roads. The Government wanted the provision to apply to all roads but peers said it should be restricted to major routes and motorways.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab suggested this morning that the Government will bring back the deleted measures.

Asked if they would be reintroduced, the Justice Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We'll look very carefully at all of that, but, yes, absolutely.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab suggested this morning that the Government will bring back the deleted measures

'In relation to noise, of course we support the right to peaceful and rambunctious protest, but it cannot be allowed to interfere with the lives of the law-abiding majority.'

Downing Street said it will 'reflect' on the votes and it was 'disappointing' that peers had opposed some of the bill's public order measures.

The Prime Ministers Official Spokesman said: Obviously we will reflect on last nights votes before the bill returns to the Commons but more broadly, this is a bill that will deliver laws to protect the public, support our police and cut crime.

The spokesman added: This was a bill overwhelmingly backed by elected MPs and will give our police tools they need to go after dangerous criminals.

It is disappointing the Lords did not back the public order measures that will ensure the everyday lives of the overwhelming majority are not disrupted by a selfish minority of protesters whose actions endanger lives and cost the public millions of pounds.

The bill has now almost completed its passage through the Lords and will soon be sent back to the Commons so MPs can consider the changes made by peers.

Any changes then made in the Commons will then be sent to the Lords for peers to consider in the process known as 'ping pong'.

Peers may choose to battle the Government in the opening rounds of 'ping pong' but ultimately they will be expected to backdown because of the primacy of the elected Commons.
A British Army instructor who granted female trainees special privileges in return for 'favours' and told one he would pay for her takeaway if she let him squeeze her bottom has been fired.

Married father-of-two Bombardier Elan Joseph bought 'impressionable young recruits' bottles of vodka and Southern Comfort.

He also sent a message to one recruit, said to be from a traveller background, saying: 'If I grab you by the hair that will make you mine' - a reference to a courtship ritual adopted by some traveller groups.

The 36-year-old, who has served in the armed forces for over 13 years, was convicted of telling another to 'get up and walk' so he could 'look at her a**e' whilst she was wearing pyjamas.

He also 'crossed the line' by handing his phone number to female trainees and collecting takeaways for them, a court martial heard.

Bdr Joseph, an instructor at the Larkhill Royal School of Artillery near Salisbury, Wilts, was accused of 13 charges relating to five young female recruits.

He pleaded guilty to nine charges of contravening standing orders and prejudicial conduct.

Bdr Joseph, an instructor at the Larkhill Royal School of Artillery (pictured) near Salisbury, Wilts, was accused of 13 charges relating to five young female recruits. He pleaded guilty to nine charges of contravening standing orders and prejudicial conduct

A court martial cleared him of one charge of sexual assault by touching and another of entering a female recruit's room and touching her feet as she slept.

But he was convicted of two other charges of agreeing to let a trainee meet her boyfriend 'after bed check' in return for a 'favour' and telling another to 'get up and walk' so he could 'look at her a**e' while she was wearing pyjamas.

Bdr Joseph, who is originally from the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, has now been dismissed from the armed forces and given an 18-month community order.

At Bulford Military Court, Wilts, Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor told him he had 'crossed the line' in his relationships with the 'impressionable' young recruits.

The Larkhill Royal School of Artillery, where Bdr Joseph taught, serves as the Army's principal training establishment for artillery warfare.

Judge McGrigor said: 'Initial training starts the recruits on their army career - so it is essential it remains balanced and impartial.

'You knew you had to be extremely careful not to cross the line between looking after the recruits and having personal relationships with them.

'In this case the recruits were young and female, and young recruits are impressionable. There were sexual connotations in your behaviour.

'We understand that the sentence will put you and your family at risk of deportation [to St Vincent], but your behaviour was such that you cannot remain in the service and must be dismissed.'

Prosecutor Rupert Gregory told the sentencing hearing: 'The matters Bdr Joseph is convicted of are fairly self explanatory.

'Giving out his telephone number [to young recruits]; collecting takeaway food and offering to squeeze [a trainee's] 'a**e' in lieu of payment...

'Buying bottles of [Southern Comfort and vodka] and taking [one recruit] off camp when she was not allowed.

'He also sent a text message to a trainee of traveller heritage, saying "If I grab you by the hair that will make you mine", [alluding to] a custom in traveller heritage.'

Tom Wilkins, defending, had argued Bdr Joseph, of the 19th Regiment Royal Artillery - also known as The Scottish Gunners - should be allowed to 'soldier on'.

Mr Wilkins said: 'He has had an exemplary service up until now.

'He has two children and wishes to continue serving in the Royal Artillery - his heart is in the army.

'Bdr Joseph could still provide valuable service, and could be managed in a role where he is not training young recruits. He should be allowed to soldier on.'
John Francis admitted burgling the first house because he knew where the cash and valuables were after carrying out decorating work at the property

A disabled burglar has been jailed after he made slow getaways from two house raids - on his 8mph mobility scooter.

John Francis, 44, crawled through a kitchen window to get into one home in Worcester while a family of nine people - including children - were asleep upstairs on May 26 last year.

He stole bank cards, cash, a laptop, an iPad and an iPhone before fleeing on his electric cart, which was parked outside, and was caught on CCTV the next day going on a spending spree, buying a drill, whisky, trainers and a hoodie.

Francis later admitted burgling the first house because he knew where the cash and valuables were after carrying out decorating work at the property.

On May 30 he broke into a female student's bedroom in the same town and fled empty-handed before riding away on his getaway scooter.

Police raided his home in Worcester and seized the vehicle as well as a homemade Taser.

He was jailed for 26 months after he admitted burglary, attempted burglary and fraud charges at Worcester Crown Court.

Sentencing him on Monday, Judge Nicholas Cartwright said: 'It must have been terrifying for that young woman to wake and find you climbing in the window that way.'

The judge added that the electronic devices Francis stole from the first house contained the family's personal details.

John Francis arrives and parks his mobility scooter outside Worcester Magistrates' Court

He was jailed for 26 months after he admitted burglary, attempted burglary and fraud charges at Worcester Crown Court

He said: 'The laptops and phones did not just represent a financial loss to their owner but contained photographs, personal messages and other personal data.'

The court heard Francis had a string of 32 previous offences including many for shoplifting and drugs.

He admitted breaking into a six-bedroom house in Hillary Road, Worcester, on May 26, where he sneaked in through a window and ransacked the downstairs rooms.

As well as stealing electronic devices, he also swiped 100 in cash from a tea pot before escaping on the scooter.

One May 30 while dressed in black clothing, he attempted to burgle another house in Devon Road, Worcester, but was caught when he disturbed a female student.

Prosecutor Siobhan Collins said: 'She was woken up at 3.20am to find the defendant attempting to gain access through her bedroom window which was very close to her.

'She described is as being just over her head.

'When the victim shouted at him, he ran away.

'He got on a mobility scooter and left.'

The woman's uncle, who was a taxi driver, obtained a photograph of Francis from a neighbouring property and contacted police.

Officers swooped on his home on June 9 and arrested Francis who was also caught on CCTV using bank cards from the earlier burglary.

Francis said he had been 'looking to burgle' another house when he broke into the student's house because he 'had no money.'

The judge ordered him to serve at least half his sentence in prison.
A man who was filmed laughing during his arrest for the rape of an 18-year-old girl more than 30 years ago has finally been locked up for his crimes.

Paul Shakespeare, 66, of Scaleby Close in Upperby, Carlisle, threatened the teenager with a sharpened stick that had a nail driven through it, whilst she was walking her dog on a footpath in Cheltenham in April 1990.

The predator dragged the young woman into some nearby bushes where he raped her and said he would kill her if she told anyone.

The 66-year-old had evaded investigators for more than 30 years until he was arrested last June after flashing a woman in a park in Carlisle.

Once taken into custody, his DNA was taken and detectives discovered a match to the historic rape case.

Gloucester Crown Court was told yesterday that Shakespeare was identified as the man who raped an 18 year old woman in Cheltenham on April 29, 1990.

Paul Shakespeare, 66, (pictured) from Carlisle, admitted raping an 18-year-old girl who was walking her dog more than 30 years ago after he was tracked down via a DNA match

He admitted the rape and also an offence of having an offensive weapon at the time he attacked the victim.

The weapon was described as an 'adapted wooden stick with sharpened end and protruding nail'.

Prosecutor Virginia Cornwall said 'The 18-year-old victim was out walking her dog along the Honeybourne footpath in April 1990 and was returning to a children's play park nearby when she was approached by Shakespeare.

'She had previously noticed him spying on girls and young women as they passed him. She saw he was holding the stick and scratching at it.

'She calculated that he was 50 yards behind her when he began to approach her, having singled her out.

'She sat on a wall with her dog and Shakespeare approached her. She could smell alcohol on him but he was speaking clearly and not slurring his words.

'He told her to get up and she did so - but not until he raised his stick. He threatened her with the weapon and warned her not to say anything otherwise he would kill her.

'He took her into some nearby bushes and began raping her.'

Shakespeare threatened the teenager with a sharpened stick (pictured) that had a nail driven through it, whilst she was walking her dog on a footpath in Cheltenham in April 1990

The court heard after he had raped her, he threatened the victim again and told her he had obtained details of where she lived and worked and said he would kill her if she told anyone.

'The rape will haunt me for the rest of my life' In a victim impact statement she said: 'I was violently raped by a stranger and I felt so bad that I could not tell my family. 'Since then I have never been able to open up about it to anyone. I have pretended over the past 31 years that it never happened. 'By hiding my secret it has diminished my self esteem and my mental health has deteriorated. 'I've had some very dark moments. I would wake up feeling like there was a dark shadow appearing over me. I attempted to take my own life. 'I received counselling for a while because I wanted to forget about what happened, but this made me relive it all again. 'I put up barriers when I met a man who later became my husband. I then took part in a TV Crimewatch reconstruction, which meant I was going through this ordeal again. 'On August 5 last year police knocked my door and told me that a suspect had been identified. 'The rape will haunt me for the rest of my life. I was petrified. He was able to continue with living his life. He has destroyed mine. 'These memories are never far from my thoughts. I knew that what happened that day made me a different person to what I had imagined. 'I felt cheated and robbed as he evaded arrest. His actions will haunt me forever.' Advertisement

Police were informed and officers found her to be traumatised by the experience and highly anxious, the prosecutor said. The woman was examined and DNA evidence was obtained.

But as Shakespeare did not have a criminal record at the time he could not be identified.

The DNA was stored and when Shakespeare offended again last year, exposing himself to a woman in a Carlisle park, the positive match was made and he was at last arrested. He had a knife with him at the time.

The rape victim, now aged 50, was in court yesterday to witness Shakespeare's sentencing hearing and shared a victim impact statement with the court.

Judge Michael Cullum told Shakespeare: 'I am so relieved that this day has come for the victim. She has been denied justice for the past 30 years, living daily with the nightmare that you inflicted on her. That nightmare does not end with sentence.

'She knew this day would come and her remarkable faith in the criminal justice system has been born out. At least she and all women will be safe from you for a considerable period of time.

'Today is a belated reckoning some 30 years later. Any woman would be traumatised by what your victim went through.

'You are a rapist. It is not often however that a defendant pleads guilty to rape before trial.

'Your physical condition means that you are unlikely to pose a threat to women when you are release from prison.'

Judge Cullum sentenced Shakespeare to nine years in jail and told him he will have to sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

The judge ordered forfeiture and destruction of the offensive weapon, the sharpened stick.

Following yesterday's hearing, the victim said: 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank and praise Gloucestershire Constabulary for their efforts in securing this conviction on my behalf and for handling my case with such professionalism at all times.

'On the actual day of the assault, the police were quick to act with the situation and have throughout the years reassured me of their continued efforts, which has not gone amiss.

During his arrest last August (pictured), 66-year-old Shakespeare casually laughed when he was told by officers that he was being arrested on suspicion of raping a teenager in 1990

'Gloucestershire Constabulary remained respectful of my wishes throughout the investigation and I feel it important to mention that I was never forgotten and it was taken with utmost seriousness at all times, as well as the support I received which has been commendable.'

Detective Constable Simone Bowley said: 'This was a deeply horrifying incident which happened to a teenage girl who was walking her dog on a late Sunday afternoon.

'That young woman was immensely courageous, and her bravery since then has not wavered.

'From day one she worked with police, and she continued to work with us when the case was reopened and reviewed over this time, in the hope that one day he would be caught.

'I am pleased for her that this day has come and I truly hope she can now get the closure which she has deserved for all of these years.

Retired Detective Sergeant Mike Wilson, now 74, the officer who led the initial investigation in 1990, said the case has stayed with him even after he left the force.

He said: 'I was involved in lots of investigations during my 31 years in the police service, but this horrendous crime always stayed in the back of my mind and never went away.

'When I met the victim on that day she was distraught, it was heart-rending to see.

'Despite the crucial help from the media and a huge amount of publicity, which resulted in more than 60 witness statements being taken, that day never came and a name wasn't put forward.

'Being told that there was finally a DNA match more than 30 years later was great news.

'I hope that the courageous victim will find some closure in seeing the man responsible for this abhorrent crime behind bars, where he has deserved to be ever since that horrific day back in 1990.

'The message here is that we will never give up, there is always a glimmer of hope for victims, and that people who commit such heinous crimes will continue to be sought until they are caught.'
Michael Casey, 21, was part of a family crime gang operating out of a travellers' site which burgled more than 70 homes

A burglar whose gang stole more than 500,000 of jewellery has been ordered to pay back just 1.

Michael Casey, 21, was part of a family crime gang operating out of a travellers' site in Swansea Vale which burgled more than 70 homes.

Casey profited by more than 120,000 from his part in the coordinated break-ins which involved using stolen cars to travel between crime scenes.

Casey spent two years on the run from police before eventually being arrested and jailed for four years his part in the jewellery heists.

Yesterday, he appeared at Swansea Crown Court for a proceeds of crime hearing to claw back his ill-gotten gains - but despite the haul of hundreds of thousands of pounds - Casey was said to be penniless with no assets available.

None of the goods from the raids across South Wales were ever recovered.

Swansea Crown Court heard Casey had made around 121,117.89 from his role in the thefts along with his uncles and cousins.

But he was ordered to pay back a nominal fee as financial investigators came up empty handed.

A previous hearing was told the gang operated out of the 'unofficial' travellers site in Swansea Vale which was raided by 200 police officers in January 2019.

Casey appeared at Swansea Crown Court (pictured) yesterday for a proceeds of crime hearing, which heard he was penniless with no assets available

It took police two more years to track down fugitive Casey, who grew up in Ireland, who was found hiding by police at a travellers site in Leicester.

He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and was jailed for four years.

Eugene Hickey said: 'He fell under the entirely corrosive influence of his older and more criminally inclined uncles and cousins.'

'He should have known better.'

Judge Paul Thomas ordered Casey must pay a nominal fee of 1 but said his future assets could be recovered.
Israel will persist in offering a fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot despite initial research findings saying that it is not efficient to prevent Omicron infections, according to the country's senior health official.

Last month, the country began offering a fourth vaccine shot (or second booster) to high-risk groups of the society such as medical workers, people 60 years old and above, and individuals with suppressed immune systems.

On Monday, a preliminary study published by Sheba Medical Center indicated that the fourth shot increases antibodies to higher levels than the third shot. However, it is "probably" not enough to protect the body against the Omicron, a highly transmissible but mild variant of the COVID-19 virus, according to Reuters.

According to Israel Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash, the initial findings were "unsurprising to a degree" as he sees the second booster shot's benefits from a different perspective.

In an interview with Army Radio, Ash said that the Health Ministry sees that the fourth vaccine dose can protect from serious morbidity "especially for the elderly population" and for people who have a higher risk. "Therefore, I call on people to keep coming to get vaccinated," he said.

Read Also: COVID-19 Pandemic Could End This Year If People Would Get Vaccinated, WHO Says

WHO: Repeat Booster Doses Not A Feasible Strategy

COVID-19 cases in Israel have risen dramatically due to Omicron. However, no deaths caused by the variant have been reported. Ash stated that the number of COVID-19 patients on ECMO machines - a measure of the most serious cases - has not risen. The official also predicts that COVID-19 cases in the country will drop in "another week."

"But we still have two or three difficult weeks ahead," Ash cautioned.

On Monday, Israel decided to bring down the mandatory quarantine period for COVID-19 patients to five days. The government also encouraged people to use home antigen kits to lessen the lines at public PCR testing venues. Such measures are expected to reduce the economic impact of the pandemic.

Recently, the World Health Organization said that repeat administration of booster doses of the original COVID-19 vaccines is not a feasible approach to combat emerging variants, as per Al Jazeera's report.

Second Booster Dose Needs Further Studies

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, believes that a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine would be too late to combat Omicron in the United States.

He believes the outbreak will have decreased by the time the dose receives FDA and CDC approval and immunization begins among health care providers.

"By the time we get an immune response and vaccinated health care providers and that's the group I suggested that we tried it for it will be three or four weeks from now and by then possibly the Omicron wave will have subsided substantially and we'll be having to worry about the next variant," Hotez said in a CNN interview.

The medical expert also cautioned that the final data from Israel still needs to be reviewed by US health experts before making any recommendations on treatment.

As of this writing, new COVID-19 numbers worldwide registered at 2,628,680, with a 7-day average of 2,862,311 based on Our World in Data.

Related Article: COVID-19 Around the World: How Different Countries Are Dealing With Omicron Surge in January 2022

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A Tesco store manager is rewarding his staff for smashing their pre-Christmas sales target by ordering them specially embossed pens.

The store, based in Stroud, Gloucestershire is giving everyone a special pen as well as entering staff in a competition to win a new television set because the store exceeded its pre Christmas sales target of 1million.

The pens will be customised with the message: 'I helped take a million Xmas 2021 Thank you.'

Tesco staff in Stroud, Gloucestershire were told they are to receive specially personalised pens after the store exceeded their pre Christmas target by selling more than 1 million n goods over the festive period

As well as the pens, staff at the store will be entered into the draw for a free television

The offer, which was attached to a staff noticeboard in the store in Stroud, said: 'Christmas week sales we took a million pound. This is an outstanding achievement from everyone and was better than store budget.'

It went on: 'As a gesture of recognition I have ordered pens personalised with 'I helped take a million Xmas 2021 Thank you.'

'As soon as they are delivered we will start to give out'.

On social media, one local resident, mjh1972, gasped: 'That's not recognition, it's an insult.

'As for the chance of winning a TV - I presume the heavily discounted LG in the Tesco shop - I wonder how much the manager and his assistants will be getting in bonus?'

Another user, named Sidebottom, said 'Meanwhile the directors get huge bonuses.'

Tesco said 'Colleagues at our Stroud store have done an amazing job over the past year and we have a range of measures in place to thank them for all their hard work including a doubling of the usual colleague discount in the run up to Christmas and in-store activities, such as a free prize draw to win a TV and other prizes.

'The pen is in addition to those and is a small personal thank you from the store manager.'
The husband of a British charity worker killed by a tsunami in Tonga while he clung to a tree to survive has said he is 'guilt ridden' over her death.

Angela Glover, originally from Brighton, was killed late Saturday when 50ft waves triggered by the explosion of a nearby volcano smashed into the west of Tongatapu island, where she had been house-sitting with husband James.

Nick Eleini, Angela's brother, says he has spoken with James since he discovered Angela's body during a search on Monday - saying he is 'shattered' by her passing and 'blames himself' for her death.

It is thought that Angela, who ran a dog shelter on the island, died while trying to save her five adopted pets. Only one has been found alive since the tsunami.

Angela Glover, 50 (left), was killed when a tsunami hit Tonga late Saturday, while husband James (right) survived by clinging to a tree

'Guilt ridden' James was the one who discovered Angela's body during a search on Monday, and now 'blames himself' for her death

Mr Eleini told BBC Breakfast: 'I was able to speak to James last night. He's been able to communicate with us via satellite phone from the British Embassy. He's safe, he has all his basic needs covered, he has shelter, food, water and money.

'I don't believe he sustained any serious injuries. He is naturally just shattered and guilt-ridden as to the events that took place. He's quite naturally blaming himself for not being able to save Angela.

'It doesn't matter how many times we tell him he has nothing to reproach himself for. He is carrying an incredible burden of guilt at the moment.'

Mr Glover reported that damage to the island is bad, with the full extent of it becoming 'quite apparent' in the coming days.

'I think there is going to be a major humanitarian disaster unfolding there. I hope not, but there's a lot of outlying islands in Tonga that haven't been reached that people still need to get to,' he said.

'As far as the main island where James and Angela were living, I believe is quite flat, so the wave from the tsunami would have extended quite a way over the land, particularly on that north and west coast.

Nick Eleini, Angela's brother, said he has spoken to James via satellite phone since Angela was found. While not physically injured, Nick says James is 'shattered' over the death

Tonga was hit by a tsunami measuring up to 50ft after the Hunga-Tonga volcano exploded late Saturday, causing 'unprecedented' damage to the islands

'A lot of the infrastructure is above ground; that has probably been completely destroyed.'

South Pacific Animal Welfare (Spaw), which worked with Mrs Glover in her bid to rescue dogs in Tonga, said the news of her death was 'heart-breaking'.

Founder Karen Schade said in a statement: 'Angela touched so many lives, both human and animal, through the selfless work she did for the Tonga Animal Welfare Society, which she co-founded, and in volunteering during Spaw clinics in the kingdom. Words cannot adequately express what her loss means to us.

'Angela was one of a kind. She loved animals, especially dogs, more than most people are capable of. She and James are part of our Spaw whanau (extended family) and our deepest condolences go out to James, their whanau and friends.'

Including Mrs Glover, the death toll from the disaster now stands at three after the Tongan government said Tuesday that a a 65-year-old woman was killed on Mango Island and a 49-year-old man died on Nomuka Island.

'A number' of people have also been injured, the prime minister's office said without putting an exact figure on it, declaring the eruption an 'unprecedented disaster'.

An entire village on Mango Island has been swept away by the tsunami, the government said today, with just two buildings left standing on Fonoifua Island. Namuka Island also has 'extensive damage'.

Rescue operations including evacuations of Mango, Fonoifua and Atata islands are underway, with fresh water shipped out after local supplies were contaminated by falling ash.

 Slide me  Satellite images show how an entire village on the west side of Tongatapu - where Angela was staying at the time she died - was swept away by the tsunami

An image taken from a New Zealand military aircraft reveals how one of Tonga's islands has been turned completely grey by dust falling from the volcano

Tsunami waves reaching up to 50ft hit the Ha'apia island group and the west coast of Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, the prime minister's office said.

On the western coast of the main island, 56 houses were completely or seriously damaged and residents moved to evacuation centres.

Mango is about 43 miles from the Hunga Tonga volcano, which sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean when it erupted with a blast heard 1,430 miles away in New Zealand.

A search and rescue operation began on Sunday for Atata island, which has a population of about 100 people.

'Challenges to sea and air transportation remain due to damage sustained by the wharves and the ash that is covering the runways,' it said. Some limited communications had been made with satellite phones, but other areas remain cut off.

The Tongan navy had deployed with health teams and water, food and tents to the Ha'apai islands, with more aid sent on Tuesday due to the severity of the damage observed on Mango, Fonoifua and Namuka islands, it said.

Thick ash on runways is making it difficult for New Zealand to send drinking water and other supplies to the island, the military has said.

The country is also sending two navy ships to Tonga on Tuesday and has pledged an initial one million New Zealand dollars (500,000) towards recovery efforts.

New Zealand's Acting High Commissioner for Tonga, Peter Lund, has said there are reports of three people having died so far, but this has yet to be confirmed.

The scale of the damage is not yet known, but Mr Lund told a New Zealand TV broadcaster that there is 'quite a lot of damage on the Nuku'alofa waterfront'.
Giving magistrates more sentencing powers will increase court backlogs as more defendants will choose to 'take their chances' in front of a jury at crown courts, lawyers have warned.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday said magistrates would be able to jail offenders for up to 12 months, doubling the current maximum.

He said the move will free up around 2,000 days of Crown Court time a year, as fewer cases will have to be referred to a judge for sentencing.

However, lawyers have today said the proposal risks seeing defendants, fearing a longer prison sentence being handed down by a magistrate, choosing a trial in front of a jury, or pleading guilty in a crown court where statistics show they are less likely to be imprisoned.

International and national human rights and criminal lawyer Kirsty Brimelow QC said defendants may 'take their chances' and go up to crown court, rather than risk a lengthened imprisonment from a magistrate.

Barrister Max Hardy said the proposal would 'cost the taxpayer a lot of money' as crown court trials are 'dramatically more expensive' than those heard in the magistrates' court, while an increase in the number of prisoners serving short term jail terms would also hit the public purse.

Mr Raab's announcement comes after the Colston Four - who threw a statue of slave trader Edward Colston into Bristol Harbour in 2020 - opted to stand trial in front of a jury, where they were eventually found not guilty of criminal damage.

Figures show more than 60,000 Crown Court cases are outstanding in England and Wales, plus more than 300,000 in magistrates courts.

International and national human rights and criminal lawyer Kirsty Brimelow QC said defendants may 'take their chances' and go up to crown court, rather than risk a lengthened imprisonment from a magistrate after Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, announced measures to increase sentencing powers for magistrates

The Colston Four - who threw a statue of slave trader Edward Colston into Bristol Harbour in 2020 - opted to stand trial in front of a jury, where they were eventually found not guilty of criminal damage

Kirsty Brimelow QC told Times Radio she did not think the new sentencing powers would make a dent in the court backlogs.

She said: 'The incentive for defendants to remain within the magistrates' court is because their sentencing powers are lower. If they're increased, there's less incentive to remain there.'

She said data shows magistrates are 'more likely to imprison than in the crown court'.

She added: 'I think this could potentially increase the backlog by defendants within the magistrates' court thinking "I'm not going to stay here, I'm more likely to be sentenced to imprisonment".

'And also the sentencing powers increased on the length of time I'm going to get here. So therefore I will take my chances and go up to the crown court.'

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: Along with the Nightingale courts, digital hearings and unlimited sitting days, we will deliver swifter and more effective justice.

The lawyer also said somebody convicted and jailed could then appeal, under the proposal of sentencing powers, removing magistrates to sit and hear the appeal in a crown court.

'Whichever way you look at it,' she added, 'it's very difficult to understand the Ministry of Justice logic that this actually is going to assist with the backlog.'

Barrister Holly Oliveira said the increased power for magistrates would result in 'more people electing to crown court, more appeals, more injustice'.

Mr Hardy, anticipates increasing sentences to six to 12 months will have 'a negligible effect on the Crown Court backlog but may have a substantial effect on the short term prison population'.

Criminal offences are split into three categories: summary, which are only heard in a magistrates' court and have a maximum sentence of six months; either-way, which are tried by either a magistrate or a jury and defendants have a complete right to elect a trial by jury; and indictable offences which can only be heard in a crown court by a jury.

Mr Hardy told MailOnline: 'The factors that lead to a defendant's decision to elect trial by the magistrates or by jury are obviously specific to each case.

'But they usually include the following: trials happen much much more quickly in the magistrates, if the defendant is paying privately or worried about costs upon conviction, trial in the magistrates is much cheaper, and the defendant might hope that upon conviction the magistrates will not commit for sentence.

'My bigger concern is that (the new measure) is unlikely in fact to reduce the Crown Court backlog but could lead to a real proliferation of short prison sentences.

'Beyond the "clang of the prison gate" and "short sharp shock" where people think they cannot return to prison which may deter some from further crime, in general it could lead to a constant churn with minimal prospects for rehabilitation.

'This could put taxpayers to very considerable expense with no demonstrable improvement to the criminal justice system.'

Mr Hardy said it may be possible that, under the new measures, criminal offences are reexamined to consider what might be an 'either way' offence or a 'summary' offence and therefore heard in front of a magistrate, to reduce the backlog at crown courts.

MailOnline approached the Ministry of Justice for comment.

The Colston Four - Rhian Graham, 30, Milo Ponsford, 26, Sage Willoughby, 22, and Jake Skuse, 33 - were prosecuted for pulling an Edward Colston statue down during a Black Lives Matter protest on June 7, 2020, in Bristol while a huge crowd was present.

The prosecution said it was 'irrelevant' who Colston was and the case was one of straightforward criminal damage, but the defendants were acquitted by a jury at the city's Crown Court earlier this month.

The verdict prompted a debate about the criminal justice system after the 'Colston Four' opted to stand trial in front of a jury and did not deny involvement in the incident, instead claiming the presence of the statue was a hate crime and it was therefore not an offence to remove it.

The acquittal cannot be overturned and the defendants cannot be retried without fresh evidence, but Section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972 allows the Attorney General, following a submission from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), to ask a higher court to clarify a point of law.

It is not a means to change the outcome of an individual case.

Crown Courts currently have a backlog of 60,000 cases in England and Wales while magistrates' courts have 300,000 cases pending. Pictured: Brighton Magistrates' Court

Powers to increase magistrates maximum sentencing powers were first passed into law in 2003 - but have never been brought into force.

The changes are limited to triable-either-way offences meaning that defendants can still opt to have their case heard by a jury.

Bev Higgs, chairman of the Magistrates Association, said: We have been campaigning for years for magistrates sentencing powers to be extended, so we are delighted with the announcement.

They will come into force in the coming months, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.

Legislation will include what the spokesman described as an off switch, so ministers can revert to a lower maximum sentence in magistrates courts.

It may be necessary to bring an end to the measures if the prison population becomes too high, for example.
Far-right terrorist Anders Behring Breivik gave a Nazi salute in court in Norway today as he launched an unlikely bid for parole after a decade behind bars.

The 42-year-old also carried placards bearing white supremacist slogans, confirming victims' fears that he will use the hearing in order to grandstand.

Despite presenting himself as the leader of a Norwegian neo-Nazi movement, the killer said he was 'brainwashed' when he carried out his terror attack ten years ago.

Breivik was sentenced to 21 years in jail, the harshest penalty possible under Norwegian law, for killing 77 people in a bomb and gun attack in July 2011.

Eight people died when a car bomb planted by Breivik exploded outside government offices in Oslo, and he then gunned down 69 others - most of them teenagers - in an attack on a summer camp run by the ruling Labour Party on a nearby island.

Anders Behring Breivik, the far-right terrorist who killed 77 people in a bomb and gun attack on Norway in 2011, gave a Nazi salute at the start of his parole hearing today

With a shaven head and dressed in a dark suit, Breivik made a white supremacist sign with his fingers as he entered court Tuesday, before raising his arm in a Nazi salute.

He also carried signs, printed in English, bearing slogans that said 'stop your genocide against our white nations' and 'Nazi Civil War'.

Addressing the judge, Breivik described himself as a parliamentary candidate.

Breivik's actions suggest he saw the hearing as an opportunity to disseminate his racist views, though he tried to make the case that he is no longer a threat to society.

He told the Telemark District Court that he would refrain from violence, despite continuing to espouse neo-Nazi beliefs.

'Today, I strongly dissociate myself from violence and terror,' he said in a speech that lasted more than an hour. 'I hereby give you my word of honor that this is behind me forever.'

He added: 'It is critical that you understand how brainwashed I was ten years ago. It's not my fault I was brainwashed. It is those who brainwash online, who bear almost all the responsibility for July 22.'

The Telemark court in Skien, southwest of the capital, where Breivik is serving his sentence, will hear the case this week after the Oslo state prosecutor's office last year rejected Breivik's application for early release.

'Our position is that it is necessary with (continued) confinement to protect society,' the prosecutor in charge, Hulda Karlsdottir, told Reuters ahead of the hearing.

Proceedings will take place over a maximum of four days in a prison gymnasium converted into a makeshift courtroom, with a decision expected about a week later.

Breivik's jail term can be extended indefinitely if he is deemed a continued threat to the public, but he is also entitled to regular parole hearings to review the sentence.

If his request for release is denied, Breivik, who has changed his legal name to Fjotolf Hansen, can apply for a new probation hearing in a year's time, Karlsdottir said.

Breivik lost a human rights case in 2017 when an appeals court overturned the decision of a lower court that his near-isolation in a three-room cell was inhumane.

The European Court of Human Rights rejected a subsequent appeal.

Breivik has shown no remorse since the killings, having used his initial trial and subsequent human rights hearings to brag about the scale of the slaughter and make Nazi salutes in court.

It was July 22, 2011, when, after months of meticulous preparations, Breivik set off a car bomb outside the government headquarters in Oslo, killing eight people and wounding dozens

Randi Rosenqvist, the psychiatrist who has followed up Breivik since his 2012 jailing, says 'I can say that I do not detect great changes in Breivik's functioning.'

'In principle and practice someone seeking parole would have to show remorse, and to show that they understand why such acts cannot be repeated,' she said.

She will give evidence at his hearing and submit the psychiatric report, which is typically crucial if criminals are to demonstrate they are no longer dangerous.

'That is unlikely to happen,' said Berit Johnsen, research professor at University College of Norwegian Correctional Service.

'I think it is quite obvious that there still is a high risk that he will commit new crimes if he is released.'

It was July 22, 2011, when, after months of meticulous preparations, Breivik set off a car bomb outside the government headquarters in Oslo, killing eight people and wounding dozens.

He then drove to the island of Utya, where he opened fire on the annual summer camp of the left-wing Labor Party's youth wing. Sixty-nine people there were killed, most of them teenagers, before Breivik surrendered to police.

In 2012 Breivik was handed the maximum 21-year sentence with a clause  rarely used in the Norwegian justice system  that he can be held indefinitely if he is still considered a danger to society.

It is this clause that means he can demand a parole hearing after 10 years. And while this likely means a lifelong sentence, it also opens the possibility that Breivik can demand annual parole hearings where he can broadcast his views, says Johnsen.

'According to Norwegian law he has a right now to go before a judge,' said ystein Storrvik, Breivik's defense lawyer.

'He emphasizes that right. And his motivation for doing so is difficult for me to have an opinion on.'

Breivik then drove to the island of Utya, where he opened fire on the annual summer camp of the left-wing Labor Party's youth wing. Sixty-nine people there were killed, most of them teenagers, before Breivik surrendered to police (pictured, youths hide as police arrive on the island on July 22, 2011)

Medical workers line up body bags on the islands of Utya as they retrieve victims of Breivik's shooting spree that left 69 dead

Storrvik confirmed that Breivik will call the Swedish neo-Nazi Per Oberg to speak in his defense. He would not otherwise outline the basis of Breivik's case, but made it clear that nobody should expect contrition.

'According to the law there is no obligation that you have to be remorseful,' said Storrvik.

'So it is not a legal main point. Absolutely the legal problem is whether he is dangerous.'

Lisbeth Kristine Ryneland, who heads a family and survivors support group, fears giving Breivik a platform could inspire likeminded ideologues.

'I think he is doing this as a way of getting attention. The only thing I am afraid of is if he has the opportunity to talk freely and convey his extreme views to people who have the same mindset,' she said.

She pointed to the case of Norwegian shooter Philip Manshaus who, inspired by the 2019 New Zealand terror attacks, murdered his stepsister and attempted to storm a mosque.

Breivik has form for grandstanding to try to further his extremist goals.

During his 2012 trial, he entered the courtroom daily flashing a closed fist salute, and telling grieving parents that he wished he had killed more.

He has been trying to start a fascist party in prison and reached out by mail to right-wing extremists in Europe and the United States.

Prison officials seized many of those letters, fearing Breivik would inspire others to commit violent attacks.

In 2016, he sued the government, saying his isolation from other prisoners, frequent strip searches and the fact that he was often handcuffed during the early part of his incarceration violated his human rights.

He made a Nazi salute toward journalists during the case which he initially won, but was overturned by higher courts in 2017.

The new hearing is due to last three days, but the verdict will not be announced for several weeks.
The European Union has deemed Australia a Covid danger zone and removed it from a safe list where freer travel is recommended following a daily pandemic death record.

Travel rules for unvaccinated arrivals were tightened on Tuesday to include travellers from Australia, Argentina and Canada, amid soaring Omicron variant cases.

The European Council of the European Union announced it would continue recommending a ban on non-essential travel to those nations.

Melbourne and Buenos Aires have also had the world's longest lockdowns.

Despite that, Australia is regarded as unsafe with a record 77 new daily coronavirus deaths announced on Tuesday.

But the European Council recommended travel, regardless of vaccination status, to New Zealand, Colombia, China, Indonesia and even Rwanda.

Colombia has seen 5.5 million coronavirus cases to date, and more than 131,000 deaths, while the virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.

Australia's Covid death toll has been relatively low throughout the most of the pandemic, but Omicron is creating challenges with more than 60,000 new daily cases since December.

The European Council has removed Australia from the recommended list of countries whose unvaccinated citizens will be able to enter the EU under lifted Covid restrictions on Tuesday night (pictured, beachgoers on Bondi Beach on January 16)

China is on the list of places the European Council recommends lifting travel restrictions on, despite the virus originating there (pictured, testing at Xian North train station on January 17)

Canada reported 48,964 new infection for January 17 - earning it a place on the EU's danger list

Countries removed from the EU list of people who can travel vaxx-free Australia: 46,220 new cases were reported on January 18 with the majority of cases situated in NSW and Vic. 92.6 per cent of Australia's population aged over 16 is fully vaccinated. Canada: Canada reported 48,964 new infection for January 17. 87.78 per cent of the country's population aged over 12 is fully vaccinated. Argentina: Argentine has reported 161,893 new cases of covid in the last 24 hours. Reuters estimates 91.7 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated. Advertisement

Since the beginning of the pandemic Australia has recorded a total of 1.8 million cases of Covid and 2,750 deaths from the virus.

This means about 6.9 per cent of the population has been infected with Covid, with a death rate of just 0.01 per cent.

By comparison, about 21 per cent of France's population has been infected with the virus since the beginning of the pandemic and 0.18 per cent have died.

Tourists fully vaccinated with European Medicines Agency approved vaccines are now able to travel to EU countries for any purpose.

The vaccines approved include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novavax, and Moderna.

EU citizens and healthcare and transport personnel are exempt from the recommended tightened restrictions.

The EU council stated that the list will be reviewed every two weeks.

When the pandemic began in March 2020, the majority of EU nations agreed on an entry ban for non-essential travel, which now applies to those who aren't vaccinated against Covid.

Roughly 5.5 per cent of Australia's population has been infected with Covid and 0.01 per cent have died from it

EU citizens and healthcare and transport personnel are exempt from the recommended tightened restrictions

The list of countries the EU council recommends lifting travel bans for includes 15 countries and special administrative regions.

The move to remove Australia from the safe list coincided with a pandemic daily death record of 77.

A record 36 people died on Monday in New South Wales, after testing positive to Covid, followed by and 22 in Victoria and 16 in Queensland.

The youngest of the NSW fatalities was aged in their 40s while all but three were over-65.

Australia has banned international tourists since March 2020, the month the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic.

But international students and those with a working visa have been allowed back into Australia since December 2021.

Australians were banned from travelling overseas for a holiday in March 2020 but that restriction was lifted just before Christmas for vaccinated citizens and permanent residents.
A heartbroken mother has told how she is working six days a week to rebuild her shattered home after cowboy builders cheated her out of almost 80,000.

Rogue traders Kyle Muir, 26, and Reece Lloyd, 30, left nurse Vicki Mileham, from Belton, near Great Yarmouth, with a deathtrap extension so unsafe that building inspectors told her to tear it down.

Almost two years after abandoning the job in early 2020, the pair have pleaded guilty to cheating customers out of a combined 116,000.

Ms Mileham, 52, had signed a contract with Muir and Lloyd in November 2019, planning to add a fourth bedroom and an en suite bathroom to her three-bed semi, which she shares with twin 15-year-old daughters Ruby and Ellie.

Lloyd and Muir quoted her 32,000 and said the two-storey build - including a new fitted kitchen and bathroom - would take around three months.

But within weeks Muir walked off the job after falling out with his business partner, and Lloyd failed to show up for weeks on end.

Work in progress on Vicki Mileham's deathtrap extension before it had to be demolished

Rogue traders Kyle Muir, 26, and Reece Lloyd, 30, left nurse Vicki Mileham, from Belton, near Great Yarmouth, with a deathtrap extension so unsafe that building inspectors told her to tear it down

Ms Mileham said: 'When he did eventually turn up in early 2020 he told me the job had gone over budget and he needed another 20k for materials.

'The work seemed to go nowhere over the following weeks but it was always the same story - he needed more cash.'

Ms Mileham remortgaged her home, maxed out credit cards and took out loans to pay for materials, handing over almost 80,000 in total by March 2020.

Muir, from Yarmouth, admitted conning six customers - including Ms Mileham - out of 48,300 by failing to complete work, and pleaded guilty to seven fraud charges

But Lloyd then abandoned the project just four months after starting, leaving Ms Mileham with a saggy roof, wonky brickwork and a cavity wall built around a gas pipe.

Ms Mileham said: 'They hadn't even laid any foundations - they'd started building the extension on bare earth. They'd used the wrong cement and the wrong supports for the roof. Interior bricks had been used on the outside of the building and were joined with the wrong cement - they were basically balanced on top of each other.

'A supporting girder was wedged in place with wooden blocks, and I was left with a gaping hole in the wall where they'd knocked through. The only thing separating us from the wind and rain was a few plastic sheets.

'In a way it's a miracle the work stopped when it did because if they'd ever managed to finish the extension, it would have fallen down at some point in the future and might have killed us.'

Concerned neighbours raised the alarm after spotting Ms Mileham's roof.

With the UK in Covid lockdown, Norfolk County Council had a building inspector survey videos and photos of the extension.

Black mould and cracks appeared on Ms Mileham's walls as rain poured through her leaky roof.

And with her kitchen reduced to a shell - with no electricity or running water - she spent months washing up in her bath between cooking meals in her living room.

Generous neighbours pitched in to help demolish the botched extension and set up a Go Fund Me to raise cash towards a rebuild.

Vicki Mileham's hallway needs work to rectify the damage caused by cowboy builders

A gas pipe was built into a cavity wall - one of several drastic errors madeby cowboy builders

But Ms Mileham was forced to sell personal possessions - even selling her winter coat - to scrape together another 17,000 to make her home habitable.

Lloyd wrote to her in September 2020 to apologise, blaming the pandemic for his failure to finish the job and warning he would file for bankruptcy if she pursued a claim against him.

Ms Mileham and partner Asher Paniri - who she met when he volunteered to help with repairs - exposed Muir as a cowboy on Facebook.

He retaliated by leaving voicemails threatening to 'smash down' Ms Mileham's house, and told Asher he would stab him.

Muir - who has 67 previous convictions - was convicted of harassing Vicki and Asher in October 2020 when he also admitted possessing an offensive weapon and battering his former partner.

He was jailed for 12 months in January last year.

By last summer he was back on the streets and Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court heard earlier this month that his crime spree continued under the guise of 'The Cladding and Roofing Company'.

Muir, from Yarmouth, admitted conning six customers - including Ms Mileham - out of 48,300 by failing to complete work, and pleaded guilty to seven fraud charges.

Besides Ms Mileham's extension, Muir had charged another customer VAT despite not being registered.

A wonky wall on the extension build at Vicki Mileham's home in Great Yarmouth

Demolished: Just the footings are left of Vicki Mileham's botched extension after a building inspector advised it should be torn down

And Trading as The Cladding and Roofing Company he took money for two jobs that never started.

Lloyd, from Gorleston, Norfolk, pleaded guilty last month to knowingly or recklessly engaging in a commercial practice that contravened professional diligence.

In a prosecution brought by Norfolk Trading Standards, Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court heard he pocketed 67,300 of Ms Mileham's cash but completed work worth only 5,000, with another 2,000 spent on kitchen units.

Both Muir and Lloyd are due to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

The pair face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing and could be jailed for their crimes.

Ms Mileham is now pinning her hopes on the hearing to claw back her lost cash.

The mother-of-two said: 'I sold practically everything I owned and I'm working six-day weeks to keep a roof over our heads.

'Two years down the line, I've been left trying to cover two mortgages.

'Seeing Muir and Lloyd convicted feels like a bit of a win but it doesn't change anything in a practical sense. They need to do the decent thing and pay me back.'

Ms Mileham estimates it will take her another three years to remedy their shoddy workmanship.

'I've finally managed to get the outside of the extension rebuilt, but the inside is far from done,' she said.

'We've had to go backwards because of all the damage they did to the existing house - all the ceilings upstairs needed replacing. My hall, stairs, landing and living room all need replastering and reflooring.

'I've only managed to get half the kitchen and half the bathroom done - at the moment it's stop-start, as and when I can afford it.

'Personally I would rather Muir and Lloyd remained free so they could earn money to pay me.'
Dear CEO,

Each year I make it a priority to write to you on behalf of BlackRocks clients, who are shareholders in your company. The majority of our clients are investing to finance retirement. Their time horizons can span decades.

The financial security we seek to help our clients achieve is not created overnight. It is a long-term endeavor, and we take a long-term approach. That is why, for the past decade, I have written to you, as CEOs and Chairs of the companies our clients are invested in. I write these letters as a fiduciary for our clients who entrust us to manage their assets  to highlight the themes that I believe are vital to driving durable long-term returns and to helping them reach their goals.

When my partners and I founded BlackRock as a startup 34 years ago, I had no experience running a company. Over the past three decades, Ive had the opportunity to talk with countless CEOs and to learn what distinguishes truly great companies. Time and again, what they all share is that they have a clear sense of purpose; consistent values; and, crucially, they recognize the importance of engaging with and delivering for their key stakeholders. This is the foundation of stakeholder capitalism.

Stakeholder capitalism is not about politics. It is not a social or ideological agenda. It is not woke. It is capitalism, driven by mutually beneficial relationships between you and the employees, customers, suppliers, and communities your company relies on to prosper. This is the power of capitalism.

In todays globally interconnected world, a company must create value for and be valued by its full range of stakeholders in order to deliver long-term value for its shareholders. It is through effective stakeholder capitalism that capital is efficiently allocated, companies achieve durable profitability, and value is created and sustained over the long-term. Make no mistake, the fair pursuit of profit is still what animates markets; and long-term profitability is the measure by which markets will ultimately determine your companys success.

At the foundation of capitalism is the process of constant reinvention  how companies must continually evolve as the world around them changes or risk being replaced by new competitors. The pandemic has turbocharged an evolution in the operating environment for virtually every company. Its changing how people work and how consumers buy. Its creating new businesses and destroying others. Most notably, its dramatically accelerating how technology is reshaping life and business. Innovative companies looking to adapt to this environment have easier access to capital to realize their visions than ever before. And the relationship between a company, its employees, and society is being redefined.

COVID-19 has also deepened the erosion of trust in traditional institutions and exacerbated polarization in many Western societies. This polarization presents a host of new challenges for CEOs. Political activists, or the media, may politicize things your company does. They may hijack your brand to advance their own agendas. In this environment, facts themselves are frequently in dispute, but businesses have an opportunity to lead. Employees are increasingly looking to their employer as the most trusted, competent, and ethical source of information  more so than government, the media, and NGOs.

That is why your voice is more important than ever. Its never been more essential for CEOs to have a consistent voice, a clear purpose, a coherent strategy, and a long-term view. Your companys purpose is its north star in this tumultuous environment. The stakeholders your company relies upon to deliver profits for shareholders need to hear directly from you  to be engaged and inspired by you. They dont want to hear us, as CEOs, opine on every issue of the day, but they do need to know where we stand on the societal issues intrinsic to our companies long-term success.

Putting your companys purpose at the foundation of your relationships with your stakeholders is critical to long-term success. Employees need to understand and connect with your purpose; and when they do, they can be your staunchest advocates. Customers want to see and hear what you stand for as they increasingly look to do business with companies that share their values. And shareholders need to understand the guiding principle driving your vision and mission. They will be more likely to support you in difficult moments if they have a clear understanding of your strategy and what is behind it.

No relationship has been changed more by the pandemic than the one between employers and employees. The quit rate in the US and the UK is at historic highs. And in the US, we are seeing some of the highest wage growth in decades. Workers seizing new opportunities is a good thing: It demonstrates their confidence in a growing economy.

While turnover and rising pay are not a feature of every region or sector, employees across the globe are looking for more from their employer  including more flexibility and more meaningful work. As companies rebuild themselves coming out of the pandemic, CEOs face a profoundly different paradigm than we are used to. Companies expected workers to come to the office five days a week. Mental health was rarely discussed in the workplace. And wages for those on low and middle incomes barely grew.

That world is gone.

Workers demanding more from their employers is an essential feature of effective capitalism. It drives prosperity and creates a more competitive landscape for talent, pushing companies to create better, more innovative environments for their employees  actions that will help them achieve greater profits for their shareholders. Companies that deliver are reaping the rewards. Our research shows that companies who forged strong bonds with their employees have seen lower levels of turnover and higher returns through the pandemic.1

Companies not adjusting to this new reality and responding to their workers do so at their own peril. Turnover drives up expenses, drives down productivity, and erodes culture and corporate memory. CEOs need to be asking themselves whether they are creating an environment that helps them compete for talent. At BlackRock we are doing the same: working with our own employees to navigate this new world of work.

Creating that environment is more complex than ever and reaches beyond issues of pay and flexibility. In addition to upending our relationship with where we physically work, the pandemic also shone a light on issues like racial equity, childcare, and mental health  and revealed the gap between generational expectations at work. These themes are now center stage for CEOs, who must be thoughtful about how they use their voice and connect on social issues important to their employees. Those who show humility and stay grounded in their purpose are more likely to build the kind of bond that endures the span of someones career.

At BlackRock, we want to understand how this trend is impacting your industry and your company. What are you doing to deepen the bond with your employees? How are you ensuring that employees of all backgrounds feel safe enough to maximize their creativity, innovation, and productivity? How are you ensuring your board has the right oversight of these critical issues? Where and how we work will never be the same as it was. How is your companys culture adapting to this new world?

New sources of capital fueling market disruption

Over the past four decades, we have seen an explosion in the availability of capital. Today, global financial assets total $400 trillion.2 This exponential growth brings with it risks and opportunities for investors and companies alike, and it means that banks alone are no longer the gatekeepers to funding.

Young, innovative companies have never had easier access to capital. Never has there been more money available for new ideas to become reality. This is fueling a dynamic landscape of innovation. It means that virtually every sector has an abundance of disruptive startups trying to topple market leaders. CEOs of established companies need to understand this changing landscape and the diversity of available capital if they want to stay competitive in the face of smaller, more nimble businesses.

BlackRock wants to see the companies we invest in for our clients evolve and grow so that they generate attractive returns for decades to come. As long-term investors, we are committed to working with companies from all industries. But we too must be nimble and ensure our clients assets are invested, consistent with their goals, in the most dynamic companies  whether startups or established players  with the best chances at succeeding over time. As capitalists and as stewards, thats our job.

I believe in capitalisms ability to help individuals achieve better futures, to drive innovation, to build resilient economies, and to solve some of our most intractable challenges. Capital markets have allowed companies and countries to flourish. But access to capital is not a right. It is a privilege. And the duty to attract that capital in a responsible and sustainable way lies with you.

Capitalism and sustainability

Most stakeholders  from shareholders, to employees, to customers, to communities, and regulators  now expect companies to play a role in decarbonizing the global economy. Few things will impact capital allocation decisions  and thereby the long-term value of your company  more than how effectively you navigate the global energy transition in the years ahead.

Its been two years since I wrote that climate risk is investment risk. And in that short period, we have seen a tectonic shift of capital.3 Sustainable investments have now reached $4 trillion.4 Actions and ambitions towards decarbonization have also increased. This is just the beginning  the tectonic shift towards sustainable investing is still accelerating. Whether it is capital being deployed into new ventures focused on energy innovation, or capital transferring from traditional indexes into more customized portfolios and products, we will see more money in motion.

Every company and every industry will be transformed by the transition to a net zero world. The question is, will you lead, or will you be led?

In a few short years, we have all watched innovators reimagine the auto industry. And today, every car manufacturer is racing toward an electric future. The auto industry, however, is merely on the leading edge  every sector will be transformed by new, sustainable technology.

Engineers and scientists are working around the clock on how to decarbonize cement, steel, and plastics; shipping, trucking, and aviation; agriculture, energy, and construction. I believe the decarbonizing of the global economy is going to create the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. It will also leave behind the companies that dont adapt, regardless of what industry they are in. And just as some companies risk being left behind, so do cities and countries that dont plan for the future. They risk losing jobs, even as other places gain them. The decarbonization of the economy will be accompanied by enormous job creation for those that engage in the necessary long-term planning.

The next 1,000 unicorns wont be search engines or social media companies, theyll be sustainable, scalable innovators  startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers. We need to be honest about the fact that green products often come at a higher cost today. Bringing down this green premium will be essential for an orderly and just transition. With the unprecedented amount of capital looking for new ideas, incumbents need to be clear about their pathway succeeding in a net zero economy. And its not just startups that can and will disrupt industries. Bold incumbents can and must do it too. Indeed, many incumbents have an advantage in capital, market knowledge, and technical expertise on the global scale required for the disruption ahead.

Our question to these companies is: what are you doing to disrupt your business? How are you preparing for and participating in the net zero transition? As your industry gets transformed by the energy transition, will you go the way of the dodo, or will you be a phoenix?

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We focus on sustainability not because we're environmentalists, but because we are capitalists and fiduciaries to our clients.

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We focus on sustainability not because were environmentalists, but because we are capitalists and fiduciaries to our clients. That requires understanding how companies are adjusting their businesses for the massive changes the economy is undergoing. As part of that focus, we are asking companies to set short-, medium-, and long-term targets for greenhouse gas reductions. These targets, and the quality of plans to meet them, are critical to the long-term economic interests of your shareholders. Its also why we ask you to issue reports consistent with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): because we believe these are essential tools for understanding a companys ability to adapt for the future.

The transition to net zero is already uneven with different parts of the global economy moving at different speeds. It will not happen overnight. We need to pass through shades of brown to shades of green. For example, to ensure continuity of affordable energy supplies during the transition, traditional fossil fuels like natural gas will play an important role both for power generation and heating in certain regions, as well as for the production of hydrogen.

The pace of change will be very different in developing and developed countries. But all markets will require unprecedented investment in decarbonization technology. We need transformative discoveries on a level with the electric light bulb, and we need to foster investment in them so that they are scalable and affordable.

As we pursue these ambitious goals - which will take time - governments and companies must ensure that people continue to have access to reliable and affordable energy sources. This is the only way we will create a green economy that is fair and just and avoid societal discord. And any plan that focuses solely on limiting supply and fails to address demand for hydrocarbons will drive up energy prices for those who can least afford it, resulting in greater polarization around climate change and eroding progress.

Divesting from entire sectors  or simply passing carbon-intensive assets from public markets to private markets  will not get the world to net zero. And BlackRock does not pursue divestment from oil and gas companies as a policy. We do have some clients who choose to divest their assets while other clients reject that approach. Foresighted companies across a wide range of carbon intensive sectors are transforming their businesses, and their actions are a critical part of decarbonization. We believe the companies leading the transition present a vital investment opportunity for our clients and driving capital towards these phoenixes will be essential to achieving a net zero world.

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Capitalism has the power to shape society and act as a powerful catalyst for change.

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Capitalism has the power to shape society and act as a powerful catalyst for change. But businesses cant do this alone, and they cannot be the climate police. That will not be a good outcome for society. We need governments to provide clear pathways and a consistent taxonomy for sustainability policy, regulation, and disclosure across markets. They must also support communities affected by the transition, help catalyze capital for the emerging markets, and invest in the innovation and technology that will be essential to decarbonizing the global economy.

It was the partnership between government and the private sector that led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines in record time. When we harness the power of both the public and private sectors, we can achieve truly incredible things. This is what we must do to get to net zero.

Empowering clients with choice on ESG votes

Stakeholder capitalism is all about delivering long-term, durable returns for shareholders. And transparency around your companys planning for a net zero world is an important element of that. But its just one of many disclosures we and other investors ask companies to make. As stewards of our clients capital, we ask businesses to demonstrate how theyre going to deliver on their responsibility to shareholders, including through sound environmental, social, and governance practices and policies.

In 2018, I wrote that we would double the size of our stewardship team and it remains the largest in the industry. Weve built this team so we can understand your companys progress throughout the year, not just during proxy season. Its up to you to chart your own course and to tell us how youre moving forward. We seek to understand the full range of issues that you face, not just the ones on the ballot  and that includes your long-term strategy.

Just as other stakeholders are adjusting their relationships with companies, many people are rethinking their relationships with companies as shareholders. We see a growing interest among shareholders  including among our own clients  in the corporate governance of public companies.

That is why we are pursuing an initiative to use technology to give more of our clients the option to have a say in how proxy votes are cast at companies their money is invested in. We now offer this option to certain institutional clients, including pension funds that support 60 million people. We are working to expand that universe.

We are committed to a future where every investor  even individual investors  can have the option to participate in the proxy voting process if they choose.

We know there are significant regulatory and logistical hurdles to achieving this today, but we believe this could bring more democracy and more voices to capitalism. Every investor deserves the right to be heard. We will continue to pursue innovation and work with other market participants and regulators to help advance this vision toward reality.

Of course, many corporate leaders are responsible for overseeing equity assets, whether through employee pension funds, corporate treasury accounts, or other investments your company makes. I encourage you to ask that your asset manager gives you the opportunity to participate in the proxy voting process more directly.

BlackRocks Investment Stewardship team remains core to our fiduciary approach, and many of our clients prefer that the team continues to engage and execute voting on their behalf. But fundamentally, clients should at least be given the choice and chance to participate in voting more directly.

Our conviction at BlackRock is that companies perform better when they are deliberate about their role in society and act in the interests of their employees, customers, communities, and their shareholders.

However, we also believe that there is still much to learn about how a companys relationship with stakeholders impacts long-term value. That's why we are launching a Center for Stakeholder Capitalism, to create a forum for research, dialogue, and debate. It will help us to further explore the relationships between companies and their stakeholders and between stakeholder engagement and shareholder value. We will bring together leading CEOs, investors, policy experts, and academics to share their experience and deliver their insights.

Delivering on the competing interests of a companys many divergent stakeholders is not easy. As a CEO, I know this firsthand. In this polarized world, CEOs will invariably have one set of stakeholders demanding that we do one thing, while another set of stakeholders demand that we do just the opposite.

That is why it is more important than ever that your company and its management be guided by its purpose. If you stay true to your company's purpose and focus on the long term, while adapting to this new world around us, you will deliver durable returns for shareholders and help realize the power of capitalism for all.

Sincerely,

Laurence Fink
Keith Waters (pictured yesterday), who is a minister at an evangelical church, claims he was forced out of his job as a caretaker at a secular primary school after making the tweet in 2019

A Christian pastor has said a 'homophobic' tweet about gay pride being harmful was 'born out of love' as he sues his ex-employer for constructive dismissal.

Keith Waters, who is a minister at an evangelical church, claims he was forced out of his job as a caretaker at a secular primary school after making the tweet in 2019.

The 55-year-old said the tweet, which he later deleted, was an expression of a 'Christian viewpoint' on LGBTQ Pride events.

He wrote on Twitter on June 1, 2019: 'A reminder that Christians should not support or attend LGBTQ 'Pride Month' events held in June.

'They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Christian faith and morals. They are especially harmful to children.'

Social media users accused him of homophobia and parents wrote to his school in Ely, Cambridgeshire, to complain about his 'disgusting, hateful views'.

But Waters, who is married and has a daughter, told an employment tribunal yesterday his tweet was 'born out of love'.

He is suing Active Learning Trust, which runs Isle of Ely Primary School, for direct and indirect discrimination, and constructive dismissal.

On June 24, 2019, Waters handed in a notice to resign from the job he had held since January 2017 after school bosses threatened him with disciplinary action. Pictured: File photo of Pride

On June 24, 2019, Waters handed in a notice to resign from the job he had held since January 2017 after school bosses threatened him with disciplinary action.

In written submissions yesterday, Waters said his tweet was an expression of a 'Christian viewpoint' on LGBTQ Pride events, which are 'diametrically opposed to Christian sexual ethics'.

Waters, minister at New Connexions Free Church in Ely, wrote: 'Beliefs, culture and ethics promoted by 'Pride' are thus diametrically opposed to Christian sexual ethics.

'Not only does 'Pride' promote what we regard as sin; it also encourages people to take pride on [sic] that sin.'

Isle of Ely Primary School argued Waters tweet and the social media outcry had brought the school into disrepute, which warranted a disciplinary investigation.

Yesterday's tribunal in Cambridge heard parents wrote to the school to complain about Waters' tweet.

One letter was summarised by Stephen Peacock, representing the Active Learning Trust.

Isle of Ely Primary School argued Waters (pictured yesterday) tweet and the social media outcry had brought the school into disrepute, which warranted a disciplinary investigation

He said: 'The parent is disgusted that someone with such disgusting, hateful views should be employed in a setting with impressionable children.'

Waters told the hearing: 'Did I particularly think about the implications of this tweet? I didn't. The reason for the tweet was born out of love.

'I didn't talk about Pride month. I was talking about the events and things that are reported to happen at these events.

'I was addressing sexual activity and promiscuity in public. Whether it was heterosexual or homosexual made no difference. It was about nudity.'

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: 'What happened to Keith Waters is the latest in a long line of cases where honest, kind, normal people are subjected to harassment and intimidation for expressing moderate, mainstream Christian views on sexual ethics.

'We live in a world where even questioning the LGBTQ agenda can land you in serious trouble.

'This is another example of how far LGBTQ advocates are prepared to go to silence mainstream Christian views.

'For loving Jesus, speaking biblical truth, and caring for the welfare of children, Keith became persona non grata  his words and intentions distorted, his character assassinated.

'Our schools and churches need more community-minded people like him, not less. For sending one tweet, that raised genuine concern for children, he was vilified, threatened and hounded out of his employment.

'Despite an abundance of psychological studies concluding that children exposed to sexually explicit content at an early age are more likely to develop disorders and addictions, there are many articles online that encourage parents to bring their children to Pride parades.

'Why should a Christian pastor not be able to speak out on such concerning issues without being threatened and losing his job?

'Keith's story is part of a cancel culture where issues, such as LGBTQ pride, cannot be questioned or critiqued without individuals being silenced, vilified or worse.

'We stand with Keith as he seeks justice this week.'
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Snow has settled on the sand of the Sahara Desert after temperatures dropped below freezing.

Ice blanketed the dune in the rare phenomenon in the largest desert in the world, where temperatures of 136.4F (58C) have been recorded.

Photographer Karim Bouchetata captured stunning images of the snow and ice in the town of Ain Sefra in northwestern Algeria yesterday.

Snow has fallen on the sand in the Sahara Desert after temperatures dropped below freezing overnight, creating stunning landscapes

Ice blanketed the dune in the unusual phenomenon in the largest hot desert in the world, where temperatures of 58C have been recorded

Photographer Karim Bouchetata took pictures of the snow and ice in the town of Ain Sefra in northwestern Algeria yesterday

Overnight, the mercury in the Algerian town is currently plummeting to -2C (28F).

The ice created stunning patterns in the sand after the area saw a sprinkling of snow fall unexpectedly.

The dusting of snow is the fifth time in 42 years that the town has seen snow, with previous occurrences in 1979, 2016, 2018 and 2021.

Ain Sefra - known as The Gateway to the Desert - is around 3,000ft above sea level and surrounded by the Atlas Mountains.

Overnight, the mercury in the Algerian town is currently plummeting to -2C (28F) as snow continues to be dumped on the dunes

The ice created stunning patterns in the sand after the area saw a sprinkling of snow fall unexpectedly

The dusting of snow is the fifth time in 42 years that the town has seen snow, with previous occurrences in 1979, 2016, 2018 and 2021

Ain Sefra - known as The Gateway to the Desert - is around 3,000ft above sea level and surrounded by the Atlas Mountains

The Sahara Desert covers most of Northern Africa and it has gone through shifts in temperature and moisture over the past few hundred thousand years.

Although the Sahara is very dry today, it is expected to become green again in about 15,000 years.

Last year, camels were seen surrounded by snow as North Africa was gripped by extreme temperatures in the summer and winter months.

Last January also saw snow blanket the Saharan dunes (pictured) in the region which has only seen snow five times in 42 years

Sheep were seen standing on the ice-covered dunes in the Algerian Sahara in January 2021 as temperatures dipped below zero

Residents of Saudi Arabia expressed joy and excitement over the rare snowfall in the country's Aseer region last year
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged for a diplomatic resolution to the escalating tensions surrounding the 'deeply troubling' build-up of 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine's border in a call to Moscow's foreign minister.

Blinken spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov today and stressed the 'unshakeable' U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid growing fears Russia is set to invade.

The Secretary of State is flying to Kyiv later today on a hastily arranged trip to show U.S. support following inclusive diplomatic talks between Moscow and the West in Europe last week that failed to resolve stark disagreements over Ukraine and other security matters.

Those diplomatic meetings appear to have increased fears of a Russian invasion, and the Biden administration has accused Russia of preparing a 'false flag operation' to use as a pretext for intervention. Russia has angrily denied the charge.

It comes as Moscow officials said Russia is sending troops from the country's far east to Belarus for major war games in a deployment further beefing up Russian military assets near Ukraine.

The State Department said Blinken has spoken to Lavrov over the phone today in an attempt to quell the escalating tensions.

Spokesperson Ned Price said: 'The Secretary stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military build-up in and near Ukraine.

'The Secretary reiterated the unshakeable U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and underscored that any discussion of European security must include NATO Allies and European partners, including Ukraine.'

Lavrov, meanwhile, reaffirmed that Russia expects a quick Western answer to its demand for security guarantees that would preclude NATO's expansion to Ukraine and limit its presence in Eastern Europe.

He urged Blinken 'not to spread speculation about the alleged `Russian aggression' being prepared,' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in its readout of the call.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken (pictured on December 21) will visit Ukraine as tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalate over a possible Russian invasion of its neighbor

Blinken spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov today and stressed the 'unshakeable' U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid growing fears Russia is set to invade

Blinken will arrive in Kyiv today and he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday before flying to Berlin on Thursday.

In Berlin, Blinken will meet with his German, British and French counterparts to discuss a possible response to any Russian military action.

A statement issued today by the State Department said that: 'The Secretary's travel and consultations are part of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russia's military build-up and continued aggression against Ukraine.'

Russia has massed some 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons on its own soil near the Ukrainian border in what many observers believe may be preparation for an invasion.

On Monday, Russia's top diplomat rejected the U.S. allegations that it was preparing a pretext to invade Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the U.S. claim as 'total disinformation.'

Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia expects a written response this week from the U.S. and its allies to Moscow's request for binding guarantees that NATO will not embrace Ukraine or any other ex-Soviet nations or station its forces and weapons there.

And Russia has also begun sending troops towards Belarus for joint military exercises and live-fire drills.

Russia has started to move its troops towards Belarus for joint military exercises and live-fire drills as fears increase of an invasion of neighboring Ukraine

Train and road convoys of armored vehicles have been arriving after president Alexander Lukashenko announced upcoming war games

Train and road convoys of armored vehicles have been arriving after president Alexander Lukashenko announced upcoming war games with Russian forces next month.

Russia's Deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin said the drills are intended to practice a joint response to external threats by the alliance of Russia and Belarus, which have close political, economic and military ties.

He did not say how many troops and weapons are being redeployed for the exercises.

Russia has already started transferring troops for the war games in Belarus. Fomin said it would take through Feb. 9 to fully deploy weapons and personnel for the Allied Resolve 2022 drills, which are expected to take place Feb. 10-20.

As part of the exercises to 'thwart and repel a foreign aggression,' Russia will deploy a dozen Su-35 fighter jets and several air defense units to Belarus, Fomin said.

Ukrainian officials have warned that neighboring Russia could launch an attack from various directions, including from the territory of Belarus.

The military exercises named United Resolve in Ukraine's northern neighbor are taking place at the same time as Russia continues to amass troops on Ukraine's eastern border, setting the scene for a potential invasion.

Military analysts have suggested Russia could send its forces through Belarus to stretch out Ukraine's defenses, taking advantage of their shared 700-mile border.

Lukashenko and his security henchmen have pointed to an alleged build-up of Ukrainian forces near his border, suggesting this justifies a stronger military presence.

Russian military vehicle arrives for Russia and Belarus joint military drill 'Union resolve 2022' in Belarus on January 18

Russian military vehicles arrive for Russia and Belarus joint military drill in Belarus on 18 January

The number of troops and weapons involved in the drills fall within limits that don't require notifying foreign nations, Fomin said.

The deployment would dramatically bolster an estimated 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons amassed near Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion.

Moscow has denied an intention to attack its ex-Soviet neighbour, but demanded guarantees from the West that Nato will not expand to Ukraine or other ex-Soviet nations or place its troops and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow's demands during last week's Russia-US negotiations in Geneva and a related Nato-Russia meeting in Brussels.

The White House said Friday that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that Russia had already deployed operatives to rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine to carry out acts of sabotage there and blame them on Ukraine to create a pretext for possible invasion.

Mr Fomin said the drills, which involve an unspecified number of troops from Russia's Eastern Military District that encompasses Eastern Siberia and the Far East, reflect the need to practise concentrating the country's entire military potential in western Russia.

'A situation may arise when forces and means of the regional group of forces will be insufficient to ensure reliable security of the union state, and we must be ready to strengthen it,' Mr Fomin said at a meeting with foreign military attaches.

'We have reached an understanding with Belarus that it's necessary to engage the entire military potential for joint defence.'

Russian servicemen prepare their military vehicles to unload for Russia and Belarus joint military drill in Belarus on January 18

Russian servicemen holding a traditional Belarus' bread and salt upon their arrival for the joint drills in Belarus on January 18

Amid the tensions, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it was speeding up efforts to form reserve battalions that would allow for the rapid deployment of 130,000 recruits to expand the country's 246,000-strong military.

The battalions from the newly formed Territorial Defense Forces could include reservists between the ages of 18 and 60.

Ahead of Blinken's visit to Kyiv, a delegation of U.S. senators was visiting Ukraine to emphasize congressional support for the country.

Seven senators - both Republicans and Democrats - arrived in the early hours of Monday morning Ukraine time for a briefing at the U.S. embassy and meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

'Our bipartisan congressional delegation sends a clear message to the global community: the United States stands in unwavering support of our Ukrainian partners to defend their sovereignty and in the face of persistent Russian aggression,' Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured last week) has warned that Moscow will take unspecified 'military-technical measures' if the West stonewalls its demands

The US and its allies have urged Russia to de-escalate the situation by calling the troops back to their barracks.

'In recent weeks, more than 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and guns have gathered near Ukraine without an understandable reason, and it's hard not to understand that as a threat,' German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters after the talks in Moscow with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Speaking Monday on a visit to Kyiv, Baerbock warned that 'any further escalation would carry a high price for the Russian regime - economic, political and strategic,' and she emphasized the need to continue negotiations.

'We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia, because diplomacy is the only way to defuse this highly dangerous situation at the moment,' she said.

Lavrov responded to Baerbock by reaffirming Moscow's argument that it is free to deploy its forces wherever it considers it necessary on its territory.

'We can't accept demands about our armed forces on our own territory,' he said, adding that 'troops' training is something that every country does'.

'We aren't threatening anyone, but we are hearing threats to us,' he added. 'We will decide how to react depending on what specific steps our partners will take.'

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday. He said 'the main task now is to make progress on the political way forward' to prevent a military attack against Ukraine.

'NATO allies are ready to meet with Russia again, and today I have invited Russia and all the NATO allies to attend a series of meetings in the NATO-Russia Council in the near future to address our concerns but also listen to Russia's concerns,' Stoltenberg said.

Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula after the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly leader and in 2014 also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces in the country's industrial heartland called Donbas.

Pictured: A Russian train is seen transporting military vehicles into Belarus ahead of a series of military drills

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will take unspecified 'military-technical measures' if the West stonewalls its demands.

Blinken's visit comes as 'planned' Russian tank war games shown on video and involving 2,000-plus soldiers were staged at the Kirillovsky and Luzhsky training grounds in Leningrad region.

These drills involved T-72B3 tanks, AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, RPG-7V grenade launchers, AK-74M assault rifles and SVD-M sniper rifles, according to the Russian defense ministry.

This 'combat training' in Russia's Western military district, which borders Ukraine, involved 'methods of covert movement' in winter conditions.

This 'combat training' in Russia's Western military district, which borders Ukraine, involved 'methods of covert movement' in winter conditions

In Orenburg, special forces with machine guns on camouflaged 'Tiger' military vehicles were seen in separate assault drills destroying a mock enemy in trenches.

Elsewhere, in the Southern military district - into which annexed Crimea has been incorporated - reconnaissance troops conducted mountain training at the Darial mountain training center in North Ossetia, close to Georgia.

'The servicemen are trained to quickly navigate the terrain, choose firing positions,' said platoon commander senior lieutenant Nikolay Ivanov.

'We are improving rapid movement, and every shot is right on target.'

These war games include four battalion tactical exercises with live fire and the use of rocket and cannon artillery and aviation.
Most of Mark Cuban's investments are not in traditional businesses, but in cryptocurrencies.

Around 80 percent of Cuban's non-"Shark Tank" investments are poured "in or around cryptocurrencies," he said in an interview with "The Problem with Jon Stewart" podcast.

Mark Cuban Crypto Investments Planned for DAOs

In the crypto world, Cuban said he is most interested in investing in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), a collective of users from within blockchains that decide on the token's directions and strategies. Changes in the policies governing these DAOs need to be voted on by its members. To secure these voting rights, investors carry the organization's governance tokens.

According to Cuban, these new businesses are being established to take this new approach, adding that DAOs will lead to "game-changing businesses," CNBC reported.

He particularly forecasted such a change to happen in the banking and insurance industries, thanks to the new technologies introduced by DAOs.

Read Also: Dogecoin Price Gets Massive Boost From Mark Cuban: Meme Coin "Better Than a Lottery Ticket!"

Cuban also said he's bullish on smart contracts, or codes that implement a set of instructions or policies in blockchains that run decentralized applications. Smart contracts are crucial in the formation of DAOs and fueling other crypto initiatives like decentralized finance or DeFi.

DAOs and their governance tokens are seen to be risky investments, as experts cautioned investors to invest only what they can afford to lose given the crypto market's volatility and speculative nature.

Despite this, Cuban maintains a positive outlook on the crypto market, including his persistent belief in smart contracts. He has a wide portfolio in the crypto space, including investments in leading tokens, NFTs and investments in blockchains.

Crypto Space Still Nascent, But Will Create Own Economy in 10 Years, Says Cuban

But Cuban admits that the crypto market is still an emerging industry, likening it a casino where people gamble their fortunes since it is still so new. He said the crypto space right is "like the early days of the Internet" wherein the "exact same thing is happening now." Cuban said it is the "1995 for cryptocurrencies."

Cuban added that cryptocurrencies can pose a lot of problems for investors initially, given that it is "hard to understand" and a "hassle." But the Dallas Mavericks owner said that 10 years from now, those who succeed in the crypto space will "create its own economy."

The "Shark Tank" star has been also particularly bullish on the meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which he said will be used as a mainstream currency to make consumer purchases. While he admitted owning just $494 worth of DOGE, Cuban has been so confident of the token's future as a medium of exchange that he is among the first to accept Dogecoin as a payment option for his business.

The Mavs have accepted payments in Dogecoin for merchandise and game tickets. In fact around "95 percent of sales" in Mavs digital payments are in Dogecoin, Cuban said. He also owns a considerable number of other cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Related Article: Dogecoin to the Moon Goes Viral Amid DOGE Price Surge: Best Twitter Reactions, Memes and More
A 13-year-old teenager strangled six-year-old Rikki Neave in woodland in 1994 with his own coat zip and left the naked body posed in a 'star shape' before dumping the clothes in a wheelie bin, a court heard today.

James Watson, now 40, is standing trial accused of murdering the young schoolboy in a 'surprise attack' close to his home in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, more than 27 years ago.

Rikki's mother was wrongly accused of his murder and was cleared by a jury in 1996, the Old Bailey heard today.

Jurors were told that investigators had made a 'fundamental error' in putting too much weight on mistaken sightings of Rikki that left the murder unsolved until it was reopened as a cold case in 2015.

Watson was seen with the victim on the day he went missing and was spoken to by police as a witness at the time, the Old Bailey was told. But he told 'many lies', claimed he did not know Rikki and made no mention of 'physical contact', it was said.

The court heard in late November 1994 Watson had a 'grotesque' interest in child murder, and his teachers noticed he was fascinated with the Rikki Neave investigation.

Prosecutor John Price said it was not until sophisticated DNA testing was used on Rikki's clothes in the cold case review in 2015 that the real killer was unmasked.

At the start of Watson's Old Bailey trial on Tuesday, jurors heard a recording of Ms Neave's 999 call to report her son missing on the evening of November 28 1994.

Just after 12 noon the next day, Rikki's body was found by a police officer in woodland near the housing estate in Peterborough where he lived.

Prosecutor John Price QC said it was a place where Rikki and his friends used to play and was just a five-minute walk from his home.

Mr Price said: 'He had been strangled. The body was naked. It was lying on the ground, flat on its back.

'It had been deliberately posed by the killer, in a star shape, with outstretched arms, and his legs placed wide apart.'

Pictured: Rikki Neave, six, was found dead five minutes away from his house in Peterborough with his school uniform dumped in a nearby bin on the morning of November 29, 1994

James Watson, 40, is on trial for the murder of six-year-old Rikki at the Old Bailey in London

Photograph taken in 1994 which shows where the body of six-year-old Rikki Neave was found

Mr Price said: 'He was only six years old. At 12.05 hours on Tuesday the 29th of November, his body was found by PC Malcolm Graham.

'It was in a wooded area on the fringe of the housing estate in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, where Rikki had lived.'

'There was no sign of any of Rikki Neave's clothing. But perched poignantly on a leaf, just 18 inches from the left hand was a single, small, white shirt button.'

Two days later, the missing clothing was found by PC Andrea Brooks in a wheelie bin on a street just 150 yards from where Rikki's body was found.

Mr Price said the laces on his black shoes were still tied, his underwear and socks were rolled up in his jacket and three small white buttons were missing from his shirt.

In the right-hand pocket of the jacket were two small plastic toys and some cards.

Six months later, in May 1995, Rikki's mother - Ruth Neave - was charged with the murder of her son as well as offences of cruelty to him and two of his sisters.

Artists impression of James Watson facing trial for the murder of Rikki Neave at the Old Bailey

Photo taken in 1995 of a PC leaving flowers at Welland County Primary School, Peterborough

Although she later pleaded guilty to the charges of cruelty, she always denied having anything to do with her son's murder.

Her trial began and ended in October 1996 after which she was unanimously acquitted by the jury.

Prosecutors: 'Rikki was a vulnerable child' Rikki was living with his mother and his two younger sisters on the Welland Estate in Peterborough at the time of his death. His older sister, Rebecca, aged eight at the time of his death, was living in foster care. The family were well known to local social services, the court heard, and Rikki in particular was on the at risk register. 'Fourteen months before he died, in September 1993, police had responded to two reports, made only days apart that he was missing together with his older sister Rebecca, who was then still living at the family home,' Mr Price said. 'At the time, it was not unusual for Rikki and his older sister to return home at well past the time they should have done, if coming straight from school. 'On the 29th of September 1993 Rebecca and Rikki did not arrive home until twenty to seven that evening.' Jurors heard he would be used by his mother to collect drugs, she being a heavy user of amphetamine sulphate at the time. 'This neglect exposed one so young to grave risk,' Mr Price added. 'We would suggest that Rikki Neave for that reason was a vulnerable child.' Advertisement

Mr Price told jurors it was the correct verdict as she could not have done it.

He suggested the 'error' was largely down to incorrect weight given to sightings of Rikki at a time when reliable evidence showed he was already dead.

Mr Price said: 'Much of this reliable evidence was itself acquired during the first investigation, but its true significance and importance was misunderstood or ignored.

'This fundamental error deflected the focus of attention of the investigation. It took it away from where it should have been.'

As a result, Rikki's murder remained a mystery until 2015 when the cold case investigation was opened, jurors heard.

The investigation sought to use techniques previously unavailable and scientific examination was undertaken of adhesive tapings applied in 1994 to Rikki's clothing.

This time, analysis identified a 'definitive match' between DNA traces found on the clothing and the profile of a man called James Watson.

The prosecution said this was significant as Watson featured prominently in the original investigation as a witness.

'On the morning of that Monday in late November 1994, when Rikki Neave had gone missing, James Watson and Rikki Neave had been seen with each other,' Mr Price said.

'But crucially, in his own first account of that meeting in the streetMr Watson had made no mention of any sort of physical contact between himself and Rikki.

'Contact which might innocently account for his DNA being found, so many years later, on the dead child's outer clothes.

'He also said the boy was not someone whom he then knew. This was not true. He knew him well.

'It was one of many lies Watson is alleged to have told others about events on the Monday he had met Rikki and Rikki had gone missing.'

Watson was charged with Rikki's murder on February 17, 2020.

Pictured: File photo dated 29/11/94 of police at the scene where the naked body of six-year-old murder victim, Rikki Neave, was found in undergrowth less than 500 yards from his home

Pictured: File photo dated 10/12 /94 of police officers searching for evidence on the Welland Estate, Peterborough, following the murder of six-year-old schoolboy Rikki Neave

Mr Price said: 'It is the prosecution's case that the new DNA evidence, other scientific evidence, and a wealth of evidence of a variety of circumstances, taken from multiple sources, which importantly are independent of one another, combine surely to prove that James Lewis Watson is indeed the killer of Rikki Neave.'

The court heard Rikki left his home at about 9.30am on Monday the 28th of November 1994.

'He did so alone. He did not attend school,' Mr Price said.

'Scientific evidence shows he met his death approximately two hours after he had eaten some Weetabix breakfast cereal.

'At between about 10.30 and 11.00 on that Monday, a witness saw Rikki in a street on the estate where he lived. He was with James Watson.

'They were playing together, and with other young children.

'A second witness saw Rikki and Mr Watson in the same street.

'Only now, they were walking away. They were walking side by side. They were heading in a direction taking them nearer to the wood.

Ruth Neave pictured with her husband Gary Rogers in April 2016. She was accused of Rikki's murder, but cleared by a jury in 1996. She served time in prison after admitting child cruelty

'A combination of evidence shows Rikki walked willingly into the wood but did not walk out again. Where the body was found is where he was murdered.

'Pathological evidence shows it was most likely a surprise attack. It was one launched upon him suddenly, and from behind.

'Patterned marks of injury on the front of the neck, seemingly caused by the teeth of a zip, indicate that Rikki was most likely strangled by a method whereby the neckline of his own zipped-up jacket was used as an improvised ligature, pulled back hard against his throat from behind.

'He was therefore still fully clothed when he died. His body was stripped after he had been killed.

Adhesive tapings were taken in 1994 from the blue jacket, the grey trousers, and the white shirt.

Examined in 2015 for traces of DNA, a match with the profile of Watson was found, jurors were told.

Later that day, the prosecutor added, a secondary-school-aged youth was seen by a resident walking out of a cul-de-sac on the same street where Rikki's clothes were to be found.

The vulnerable six-year-old was also seen separately on the day of his murder by two local residents on the Welland Estate.

On trial: Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of James Watson (centre), appearing in the dock alongside prosecutor John Price QC (right) at the start of the trial at the Old Bailey in London

The first was Evelyn Pollard.

'From within her home on that Monday, she saw Rikki, out at the front,' Mr Price said.

'When she saw him, she says he was with three other children. Two of them, she thought, were of similar age to him, perhaps just a bit older.

'The third however she could see was much older. He was a teenaged youth.

'From amongst the group of children who were there, she states she knew two of them.

'She recognised Rikki, as one of the younger children, and she also recognised the older boy, the teenaged youth.'

The second witness was Sylvia Clary.

'From within her house, on that day, she too saw Rikki,' said the prosecutor. 'She too saw him out at the front of her home.

'When Ms Clary looked out and saw Rikki, she too saw a teenaged youth with him. As with her near neighbour, Evelyn Pollard, she too recognised the teenaged youth.

'Police searched for Rikki, 6, for 18 hours' The police search for Rikki Neave lasted 18 hours, prosecutors told the jury. 'They [the police] learned early on that Rikki had not been in school on that day,' Mr Price said. 'This was of course, to those involved, a matter of importance. 'If indeed he had not returned home, as his mother had reported in the 999 call, then by the time the police first became involved, a six-year-old boy had not been seen by an adult with responsibility for his care, for more than eight hours.' Jurors heard that news of Rikki's disappearance fast became known amongst the residents on Welland Estate and some of them helped police look for him that Monday evening. Mr Price said: 'Upon first arriving at [Rikki's home address], officers searched the house before leaving to look for him elsewhere, around and about the estate. 'The first phase of the search continued for about eleven hours, until about five o'clock on the morning of Tuesday the 29th, before being suspended until daylight. 'After its suspension at five o'clock on the Tuesday, the search resumed in daylight. 'At five past twelve, just gone noon, the body was found by PC Graham.' Rikki was certified as dead by a doctor who was called to the scene. 'That was at twenty past one,' the prosecutor added. 'The doctor noted that rigor mortis, the stiffening of the limbs, was a process which had already set in.' Advertisement

'She knew him as the son of a man called Jim, who lived very nearby.

'The youth seen by those two ladies with Rikki that morning, and there is no dispute about this, it was James Watson.'

In late November 1994, the court heard Watson was showing a 'grotesque interest' in the subject of child murder in general, including in things he said to his own mother.

Teachers also noted in him 'a conspicuous pre-occupation with the extensive reporting of the fate of Rikki Neave,' said the prosecutor.

Re-examining Watson's contact with the police that year, 'serious discrepancies' were found in accounts of his movements, whereabouts and meeting with the victim on the day he went missing, Mr Price said.

'More recently James Watson has felt obliged very substantially to change his account of their meeting on that Monday.

'Many years after the event, and for the first time in 2016, he introduced an element of innocent physical contact between him and Rikki, a detail notably absent from any of his previous accounts of that evening.

'Why that happened why that change occurred will be a most important matter for the jury to decide.

'Starting in November 1994 and over the years since, it is submitted he has told many lies about events on Monday 28 November 1994 and other important things to do with the case.'

By November 1994, Watson was living in a children's home, Woodgates, in the care of the local authority.

But he was well known to some of the people living on the Welland Estate having lived there previously with his father.

Records from the time show he 'continually absconded' from school and it is surmised that he was 'playing truant' the Monday Rikki died.

Mr Price said: 'On Monday the 28th of November 1994, Mr Watson had gone to the Welland Estate.

'He was to tell the police, he had walked there from the Walton School, alone, and then, alone, he had walked back.

'It would have been a round trip on foot of about six miles.'

Ms Clary saw them walking away together, past her own house and in the direction of the wood.

She said: 'As I looked out of the window, Jim's son [James Watson] looked and waved to me and the other lad who I now know as Rikki looked over at me.

'They walked out of my view into Rotherby Grove [on the Welland Estate].'

Following this conversation with Ms Clary, police went to see Watson in December that year to take a witness statement from him.

Mr Price told jurors: 'Mr Watson duly told the police he had indeed been in Rotherby Grove on Monday the 28th of November 1994.

'He said he had indeed seen Rikki Neave when he, James Watson, was there.

'He said he had exchanged a few words with him.

'But we ask you to ask the question had there been more to the meeting between him and Rikki Neave in Rotherby Grove than his account to the police of a brief exchange of words?

'As it were, a passing of ships in the night?

'Because according to the combined accounts of the two ladies, what they saw of James Watson and Rikki Neave, was not just such a brief encounter.

'Mr Watson was seen by one of them playing with a group of children, including Rikki Neave.

'And he was then seen by the other, walking away from Rotherby Grove.

'And as he did so he was walking away with Rikki.'

The court heard there were discrepancies between the timings of when Watson and Rikki met that morning, as told to police by Ms Pollard, Ms Clary and Watson himself.

Mr Price said: 'For reasons which will be explained, the jury will be invited to conclude that James Watson's timing is not merely incorrect, he knew it to be incorrect when he gave it.

'On the 5th of December 1994, it is submitted he lied to the police about the time on that day when he was with Rikki Neave in Rotherby Grove.

'He knew it had been earlier.

'He was indeed, we submit, still with Rikki at 12.30, but by then they were no longer in Rotherby Grove.

'By then, Rikki Neave was almost certainly already dead, and James Watson was still in the wood.

'And there's no nice way of putting this, but James Watson at 12:30 was keeping company with a child's corpse.'

Watson, of no fixed address, denies murdering Rikki between 28 and 29 November 1994.

The trial continues.
Aussie scientists have worked out how to quickly turn captured carbon dioxide into solid carbon, keeping it safely locked up and out of the atmosphere.

The researchers from Melbourne's RMIT University believe their technology is a potential game-changer for steel and concrete manufacturing, which are fuelling climate change and together produce about 14 per cent of global CO2 emissions.

They found that when captured carbon dioxide is injected into a column of molten metal it sparks a chemical reaction.

Once the gas has percolated up through the metal, like the bubbles in a glass of champagne, solid carbon is left behind.

Researchers from Melbourne's RMIT University have discovered how to turn quickly captured carbon into solid carbon. Pictured: PhD researcher Karma Zuraiqi with the experimental technology

The black powder can then be filtered off the top. As long as it is kept in its solid form the carbon cannot contribute to global warming.

Ultimately the plan is to use the solid carbon to make a new product that has value in its own right, possibly even a new building product, says RMIT Associate Professor Torben Daeneke.

The team's latest work builds on an earlier experimental approach that used liquid metals as a catalyst to produce solid carbon.

That work was successful too but but the electrolysis process was slow, and it was considered too complicated to be able to easily integrate into concrete and steel production lines.

The new process, which involves heating metal in a furnace, is much simpler, produces solid carbon much more quickly and will be vastly easier to scale up, Dr Daeneke says.

And that is the next step. The researchers working towards a modular prototype that will be about the size of a shipping container.

The technology could be a potential gamechanger for climate change by preventing carbon dioxide's deleterious impacts on the environment (pictured, factory emissions in Broadwater in far northern NSW)

Ultimately the dream is for such units to be incorporated into steel and concrete manufacturing lines all over the world.

'We envisage it would just be an additional step that we add to the overall process,' Dr Daeneke says.

'Instead of having a chimney where you are releasing it into the atmosphere, you just put it through our system, and it will be captured and converted into solid carbon.'

A provisional patent application has been filed for the technology.

Dr Daeneke, co-lead researcher Dr Ken Chiang and colleagues also recently signed a $2.6million agreement with Australian environmental technology company ABR, which is looking at solutions to decarbonise cement and steel production.

The team's research has been published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.
A senior teacher at a prep school once attended by Prince Charles took his own life after being accused of a 'serious sexual offence' at a former school, an inquest heard.

On the day of his death, 'devastated' David Cageao had been interviewed by police about the allegation which is said to have taken place 12 years previously.

The head of English at the 30,000 a year Cheam School - where the Prince of Wales was a pupil for five years from the age of nine - hanged himself in a forest near his home in Newbury, Berkshire.

David Cageao was head of English at Cheam School, pictured, where the Prince of Wales attended in the late 1950s. Cageao, 47, took his own life after he was questioned by police concerning an allegation of a 'serious sexual nature' while teaching at a school in Devon between 2007 and 2008

Prince Charles, centre, attended Cheam School, as did his father the Duke of Edinburgh, left

The 47 year old had said in a suicide note that the 'future looked bleak ' and there was a 'great chance' he would end up in prison following the accusation, a coroner was told.

The married father of two had started at Cheam - where the late Duke of Edinburgh had also been sent - in September 2018, where he was 'popular', according to former headmaster Martin Harris.

However, the hearing in Winchester, Hampshire, was told that an allegation was made in 2020 to Devon and Cornwall police about him from when he was a 'teacher at a school in Devon' sometime between 2007 and 2008.

Neither the name of the school nor the nature of the alleged offence were disclosed at the hearing.

The inquest was told Mr Cageao was suspended by Mr Harris on October 8 while matters were investigated and just over a week later on October 17, he first attempted suicide.

His widow Julie told the hearing after this he was 'struggling badly' but he had told family and friends that he 'would not take that action again'.

Mrs Cageao said: 'From the day he found out there was an allegation, he was immediately devastated, immediately emotionally affected in a very bad way.

'I think that continued up until his death. During that period, he had times where he was doing a lot better and where he was not doing well.

'He was affected in a negative way and was increasingly worried about what the consequences would be for him and on us as a family.'

Prince Charles, pictured, attended the school for five years from the age of nine

He was later dismissed from his role at the Hampshire school in February 2021.

On June 4, the inquest heard a police officer had interviewed him.

In a statement read to the court, she said she was 'worried' about him but he assured her that he was 'ok'.

He told her he would call his wife and listen to a podcast on his way to his home from Exeter to Newbury.

After the interview, the court heard he spoke to Mrs Cageao at 4:30pm sounding 'subdued'.

She said: 'He was telling me that there was not really anything further and that they asked him the same questions that he had been asked before.

'He was telling me that it was all over but his tone was not consistent with what he was telling me.'

Mr Cageo - originally from New York - later texted his wife at 9:30pm to say 'I love you to the end of numbers'.

He was reported missing and was found hanged the following day in a forest near his home.

The toxicology report found the teacher - who had previously taught at Millfield Prep school based in Glastonbury, Somerset - was almost three times over the drink drive limit at the time of his death.

Extracts of the letter, addressed to his 'dearest' Julie, was read by Hampshire Area Coroner Jason Pegg: 'The future looks bleak. There is a great chance I will be sent to prison.

'I am sorry for leaving you in a poor financial position.'

Mr Pegg concluded: 'I have read evidence that shows Mr Cageao was someone who was a popular member of the teaching staff at a local school.

'He had been a teacher for a number of years. It was an allegation - it is not for me to determine. It was made during one of his previous employments at a school in Devon.

'He was accused of committing a serious sexual offence that would have been in 2008.

'In 2020, those investigations were taking place and the school where he was teaching were made aware of the allegations.

'As a consequence of that, he was suspended and dismissed.

'He was someone who had, at times, low mood and stress associated with his work.

'On June 4... He sent at text message at 9:30pm to his wife. He stated that he loved his wife "to the end of numbers".

'It seems to me that having send that text message, he had purchased a bottle of whiskey it seems from Sainsbury's and it would seem he had made his way to the forest.

'He took his own life... He talked about the future looking bleak and said to tell the children that he loves them.'

Mr Pegg offered his condolences to Mr Cageao's wife and family. He recorded suicide as the cause of death.
Downing Street today urged Russia to accept an invitation from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to hold crunch talks in London over the Ukraine crisis.

Number 10 said 'we would certainly hope' Moscow will respond positively to the invitation extended yesterday by Mr Wallace but said the minister is still 'awaiting a formal response'.

Meanwhile, the Government has rejected reports that Germany blocked RAF planes transporting weapons to Ukraine from using its airspace.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said it is 'not accurate to say Germany denied access to its airspace' but would not be drawn on why the British aircraft chose a flight path around the country.

Britain last night sent 'training personnel' troops and defensive weapons to Ukraine in a bid to deter a feared Russian invasion.

In a clear signal to Vladimir Putin, two RAF transporters flew badly-needed missile systems to Kiev's forces. Troops were aboard the planes and will remain in Ukraine to teach their counterparts how to combat Russian tanks.

Mr Wallace said the deployment came 'in light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia' with up to 100,000 of Moscow's troops now estimated to be stationed along the border.

There are growing fears that an invasion could be just days away but the Kremlin insists it has 'no plans' to attack despite the build-up of its troops, tanks and artillery.

Downing Street today urged Russia to accept an invitation from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to hold crunch talks in London over the Ukraine crisis

In a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, two RAF transporters flew badly-needed missile systems to Kiev's forces last night

The two RAF planes avoided German airspace as they made the delivery. Downing Street today rejected reports that Berlin had banned the aircraft from its airspace

Up to 100,000 of Moscow's troops are now estimated to be stationed along the border with Ukraine. A Russian troop train transporting military vehicles is pictured arriving for drills in Belarus

What is happening in Ukraine? What is happening? According to UK defence experts, Vladimir Putin is on the brink of invading Ukraine for a second time  having sent troops into the country's eastern regions and Crimea in 2014. His apparent intention is to prevent Ukraine joining Nato, the defensive alliance led by the US and the UK. As a precursor to conflict he issued a set of demands which he surely knew would be rejected, including the withdrawal of Nato troops from all former Soviet republics. Around 100,000 Russian troops are positioned in striking distance of Ukraine and in recent days military hospitals have been built  often an indicator conflict is imminent. How did we get here? Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Ukraine has become increasingly pro-Western and its government is desperate to join Nato and the EU  moves Russia strongly opposes. Putin wants Ukraine back under Moscow's control as part of his 'sphere of influence' strategy to redraw the political map. He has already succeeded in Belarus, a close ally with an autocratic president who shares his ideals. How close is it to war? Days of talks between East and West last week failed to produce any peace settlement. Mr Putin has arguably come too close to conflict to turn back. Experts think he could launch a military offensive within a matter of days  although he may prefer to soften up Ukraine with further cyber-warfare strikes first. Washington has said it has intelligence that Moscow is planning an attack on its own forces so it can blame Ukraine and move in, known as a 'false flag' attack. What will the West do if Putin invades? Ukraine doesn't belong to Nato so there will be no military response, at least not officially. Any military assistance provided by the UK or US will be covert and deniable. President Joe Biden and Boris Johnson have agreed a package of 'unprecedented' economic sanctions against Russia in the event of war. Putin wants to force a favourable diplomatic settlement. He may be able to do so if he restricts his offensive to the eastern regions already occupied by pro-Russian separatists. He could then call for that region to become independent from the rest of Ukraine, just as Crimea is. Advertisement

Mr Wallace said last night that he was 'extending an invitation to my Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, to visit London in the next few weeks' for talks.

He said the UK is 'ready to discuss issues related to mutual security concerns and engage constructively, in good faith'.

Mr Wallace said the 'UKs position on Ukraine is also clear', adding: 'We unequivocally support its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, including Crimea.

'Ukraine is an independent, sovereign country of proud, independent Ukrainian people.'

Downing Street said at lunchtime today that the UK is hopeful Russia will accept the invitation.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'We would certainly hope they would listen to that and engage in further talks.

'We have consistently said Russia need to deescalate and pursue the path of diplomacy. So yes, we hope they will continue to engage.

The spokesman added: The invitation was made yesterday. I understand the Defence Secretary is awaiting a formal response.

Mr Wallace last night warned Russian President Mr Putin against 'what could be a very, very bloody war'.

He said the UK is providing Ukraine with a 'new security assistance package to increase Ukraine's defensive capabilities'.

The UK is supplying Ukraine with light, anti-armour, defensive weapon systems while a small number of British personnel - around 100 - will provide training on how to use the equipment.

The announcement came as German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the country has not changed its position on not providing Ukraine with weapons.

She warned on a visit to Kiev that 'any further escalation would carry a high price for the Russian regime - economic, political and strategic' - and emphasised the need to continue negotiations.

'We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia, because diplomacy is the only way to defuse this highly dangerous situation,' she added.

Ms Baerbock said Germany has offered to send cybersecurity specialists to Ukraine to help investigate last week's cyberattacks, which Ukrainian authorities have blamed on Russia.

'We made clear that we will do everything to avoid escalating the crisis,' she said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on a visit to Spain that 'we expect clear steps from Russia to deescalate the situation,' adding that 'military aggression against Ukraine would entail serious political and economic consequences.'

As the Bundestag continued to oppose involvement, flight path tracking data showed RAF aircraft were avoiding German airspace as they travelled to Ukraine with the new weaponry.

Russia conducted military drills with tanks and explosives in an attempted show of strength

A soldier holding an 84mm unguided anti-armour weapon - effective in assaulting tanks and combat vehicles, landing craft, helicopter, aircraft and armoured vehicles

After taking off from the UK, the pair of aircraft had to cross over Denmark and the Baltic before heading south over Poland.

That prompted suggestions that Berlin may have banned the UK from using its airspace for the purpose of moving weapons in an attempt to remain neutral.

But Downing Street said that 'it is not accurate to say Germany denied access to its airspace'.

However, Number 10 would not be drawn on why the planes had taken a detour around German airspace.
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Airline officials are calling Wednesday's 5G rollout 'reckless' and 'dangerous' as the Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited pilots from using a key altitude measuring tool during landings at more than 80 airports nationwide.

The FAA and airplane manufacturer Boeing have warned that 5G signals, which are set to debut on Wednesday, could interfere with a plane's altimeter, the tool that shows pilots their altitude as they fly in low visibility.

Both AT&T and Verizon said on Tuesday that they will delay the launch of some of their 500 5G towers near 88 airports as the Biden administration is currently in talks with all parties to avoid a crisis, but the telecom giants ultimately blamed the FAA for the problem.

Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Association, has called for better communication between the cellular companies, airlines and federal government to solve the issue, which should have already been settled.

'For this to be resolved requires a whole government approach and strong leadership that we have not been seen yet,' Shahidi told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.

'We need the FAA, the FCC, the airlines, the telecom companies, the White House and all parties involved to come together and form a plan, which hasn't been the case in two years.'

The 5G signals could give pilots false altitude readings as they approach the runway, so the FAA has instructed them to ignore their altimeters to avoid potentially disastrous results at 88 airports across the U.S.

Of the dozens of airports, there are currently 50 with 5G buffers around them to reduce the interference of 5G, including the major John F. Kennedy, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare and Los Angeles International airports. The FAA has not named the remaining 38 affected airports.

The buffer zones call for the 5G towers to be located at least two miles away from airports and to limit the towers' heights. Shahidi said the power of the towers are also lowered, but despite the buffer, the airports could still face 5G interference.

If any of the 88 airports experience bad weather, where altimeters are a necessity, the FAA and U.S. airlines said flights would be cancelled, diverted or delayed.

The warning comes after airline CEOs warned on Monday that AT&T and Verizon's 5G launch will be 'catastrophic,' resulting in more than 1,100 flight cancellations, possibly affecting 100,000 passengers and permanently grounding some planes.

'We are frustrated by the FAA's inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner,' AT&T said in their statement.

International airports and airlines have also begun warning customers to check if their trips to the U.S. will be cancelled or delayed due to the 5G launch.

Shahidi said that while AT&T and Verizon's decision to delay some towers will help mitigate cancellations and delays tomorrow, it will ultimately be the FAA who gives guidance to airports and pilots on how they should operate tomorrow.

This graphic shows how the wireless spectrum used by 5G networks could interfere with altimeters, which measure a plane's altitude and is especially important for low-visibility operations. The CEOs of the airlines have asked officials that the 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways at some key airports

Aviation officials fear that 5G signals near airports could interfere with certain airplane instruments, including the radio altimeter used to gauge altitude

Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer urged cellular companies to push back their 5G rollout due to the signal's effect on a plane's altitude reading

Airline CEOs are calling for immediate intervention ahead of Wednesdays 5G rollout, warning it may cause massive flight disruptions nationwide. @tomcostellonbc has the details. pic.twitter.com/KXr5ptCOuv  TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 18, 2022

The 50 airports with buffer zones of at least two miles to reduce 5G interference AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD BOEING FLD/KING COUNTY INTL BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH INTL NASHVILLE INTL BOB HOPE AKRON-CANTON CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL DALLAS LOVE FLD DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY ELLINGTON EWR NEWARK LIBERTY INTL FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTL FLINT MICHIGAN WILLIAM P HOBBY NEW HAVEN GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON INDIANAPOLIS INTL LONG ISLAND MAC ARTHUR JOHN F KENNEDY INTL HARRY REID INTL LOS ANGELES INTL LAGUARDIA LONG BEACH (DAUGHERTY FLD) KANSAS CITY INTL ORLANDO INTL HARRISBURG INTL CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL MCALLEN INTL MIAMI INTL MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL/WOLD-CHAMBERLAIN ONTARIO INTL CHICAGO O'HARE INTL SNOHOMISH COUNTY (PAINE FLD) PALM BEACH INTL PHILADELPHIA INTL PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL PITTSBURGH INTL RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL FREDERICK DOUGLASS/GREATER ROCHESTER INTL SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL SAN FRANCISCO INTL NORMAN Y MINETA SAN JOSE INTL JOHN WAYNE/ORANGE COUNTY ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL TETERBORO Advertisement

Shahidi said that the FAA will continue to monitor the 5G tower usage near airports and send out notices on how flights should operate in and out of the hubs.

While he acknowledged the cellular companies frustration at the slow rollout despite other countries implementing 5G without a hitch, he said it was not right to compare the US to other countries.

'The 5G we're seeing in the US is not the same like the once in France,' Shahidi said, referencing the successful launch of 5G there.

'The one approved in France is 2.5 times lower than what was approved in the US.'

In Europe 5G networks work in the 3.4-3.8GHz spectrum so regulators on that side of the Atlantic don't appear as concerned about it being close to the 4.2-4.4GHz band for radio altimeters.

He added that in France, the 5G tower antennas are titled downward to mitigate its effects on planes.

Shahidi also said that while the nation's focus is on 5G's impact to major airlines, the technology may also put at smaller regional airlines at risk, as well as helicopters and the operations of the Department of Defense.

He added that unlike a lot of global governments, the US has a lot of agencies involved in air travel and communications that need to be included in the conversation of 5G rollout.

Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer echoed the airlines' concerns and urged the cellular companies to push back the 5G rollout.

'This is reckless, it's dangerous, and it's got to stop,' Tajer told the Today Show on Tuesday.

'Take a pause. This is about a cellphone signal, and we're focused on protecting lives.'

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement on Tuesday: 'We recognize the economic importance of expanding 5G, and we appreciate the wireless companies working with us to protect the flying public and the country's supply chain.

'The complex U.S. airspace leads the world in safety because of our high standards for aviation, and we will maintain this commitment as wireless companies deploy 5G.'

The White House is now helping broker an agreement between the two industries. At a briefing on Tuesday, press secretary Jen Psaki said that the White House 'understands what is at stake for both industries.'

A deal is being worked on negotiated now to allow 90 percent of the towers - 4,500 - to be turned on, holding back the 500 of concern.

Although the FAA approved 48 of the 88 airports most directly affected by 5G to use two radio altimeters to avoid confusion on Sunday, it ultimately issued an order to all pilots to avoid using the instruments because they could still face issues.

'Even with the approvals granted by the FAA..., U.S. airlines will not be able to operate the vast majority of passenger and cargo flights due to the FAA's 5G-related flight restrictions unless action is taken prior to the planned January 19 rollout,' Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Airlines and FedEx, told Reuters.

As of Tuesday morning, the stocks for American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines remained stable with a small upward trend.

AT&T and Verizon, which won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum in an $80 billion auction last year to launched their 5G services, had agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports to reduce interference risks and take other steps to cut potential interference for six months.

The buffer zones call for the 5G towers to be located at least two miles away from airports and to limit the towers' heights.

'Even with these new approvals, flights at some airports may still be affected,' the FAA warned in a statement.

'The FAA also continues to work with manufacturers to understand how radar altimeter data is used in other flight control systems. Passengers should check with their airlines if weather is forecast at a destination where 5G interference is possible.'

Despite the worries in America, 5G's possible effects on planes has not been a major concern in Europe.

Last month, Britain's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement that 5G emission's won't harm British airlines.

'Conversations with [national aviation authorities] has established that there have been no confirmed instances where 5G interference has resulted in aircraft system malfunction or unexpected behavior,' the agency said, adding that it will continue to monitor the issue.

FRUSTRATED TELECOMS GIANTS SLAM FAA FOR 'WASTING' TWO YEARS AT&T 'At our sole discretion, we have voluntarily agreed to temporarily defer turning on a limited number of towers around certain airport runways as we continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA to provide further information about our 5G deployment, since they have not utilized the two years they've had to responsibly plan for this deployment. 'We are frustrated by the FAA's inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner. 'We are launching our advanced 5G services everywhere else as planned with the temporary exception of this limited number of towers.' VERIZON 'We have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports. 'The FAA and our nation's airlines have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports, despite it being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries' Advertisement

AT&T and Verizon told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that they were not commenting on the issue at this time.

On Monday, the CEOs of American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, as well as officials from FedEx Express and UPS Airlines, wrote a letter to government officials urging them to pause the launch of 5G.

The CEOs warned that a significant number of widebody aircrafts will become unusable and 'could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas.'

'Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded,' the CEOs wrote.

'The harm that will result from deployment on January 19 is substantially worse than we anticipated for two key reasons,' they explained.

The CEOs also argued that because radio altimeters provide critical information to other safety and navigation systems in modern airplanes, multiple modern safety systems 'will be deemed unusable.'

'Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded.'

'The ripple effects across both passenger and cargo operations, our workforce and the broader economy are simply incalculable,' the CEOs wrote as they asked officials 'that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways' at some key airports.

'Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies.'

The carriers added they urge action to ensure '5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.'

The letter, which was obtained by DailyMail.com, went to White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

What are US airlines worried about and could British planes be affected? What are the airlines worried about? Airlines are concerned that the new 5G network could affect aircraft instruments including altimeters, which measure a plane's distance from the ground. This is because both the new 5G network and the altimeters will operate at a similar wavelength. What are the networks saying? AT&T and Verizon say there is no evidence their new network will interfere with aircraft operating systems. They have previously delayed the rollout to allow for more research to take place. What is the view in the UK and Europe? 5G is not seen as a problem for aircraft in Britain or Europe, according to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Ofcom and EU Aviation Safety Authority. All three insist there is no evidence 5G interferes with aircraft systems. 5G in Europe is on a different wavelength, which is seen as less likely to affect planes than the one used in America. Advertisement

Airlines late on Monday were considering whether to begin canceling some international flights that are scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday.

'With the proposed restrictions at selected airports, the transportation industry is preparing for some service disruption. We are optimistic that we can work across industries and with government to finalize solutions that safely mitigate as many schedule impacts as possible,' plane maker Boeing said.

United Airlines also separately warned on Monday that the issue could affect more than 15,000 of its flights, 1.25 million passengers and snarl tons of cargo annually.

United said it faces 'significant restrictions on 787s, 777s, 737s and regional aircraft in major cities like Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.'

JetBlue Airways Chief Executive Officer Robin Hayes told employees on Monday that the planned rollout of new 5G service by AT&T and Verizon on Wednesday is set to 'further stress our already fragile air system.'

Hayes said in a memo that the airline is preparing for the 'worst' when the new service and new flight restrictions take effect.

'While we will do our best to avoid customer disruption, we won't be able to avoid the impact of this, including significant flight delays, cancellations, and diversions in low visibility flying,' Hayes wrote.

One area of concern is whether some or all Boeing 777s will be unable to land at some key U.S. airports after 5G service starts, as well as some Boeing cargo planes, airline officials told Reuters.

The airlines urged action to ensure '5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.'

The FAA said on Sunday it had cleared an estimated 45% of the U.S. commercial airplane fleet to perform low-visibility landings at many airports where 5G C-band will be deployed and they expect to issue more approvals before Wednesday.

The airlines noted on Monday that the list did not include many large airports.

The CEOs of major airlines and Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun held a lengthy call with Buttigieg and Dickson on Sunday to warn of the looming crisis, officials told Reuters.

The CEO's also complained that: 'Given the short time frame and the exigency of this completely avoidable economic calamity, we respectfully request you support and take whatever action necessary to ensure that 5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.'

DOES 5G POSE A THREAT TO AIRLINE SAFETY? The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo airlines have warned of a 'catastrophic' aviation crisis this week as AT&T and Verizon deploy new 5G services. They said the new C band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could render a significant number of aircraft unusable, causing chaos for U.S. flights and potentially stranding tens of thousands of Americans overseas. Here is the background to the dispute: WHAT HAPPENED? The United States auctioned mid-range 5G bandwidth to mobile phone companies in early 2021 in the 3.7-3.98 GHz range on the spectrum known as C band, for about $80 billion. WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM? The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that the new 5G technology could interfere with instruments such as altimeters, which measure how far above the ground an airplane is travelling. Altimeters operate in the 4.2-4.4 GHz range and the concern is that the auctioned frequencies sit too close to this range. In addition to altitude, altimeter readouts are also used to facilitate automated landings and to help detect dangerous currents called wind shear. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said last month the FAA's 5G directives would bar the use of radio altimeters at about 40 of the biggest U.S. airports. U.S. airlines have warned the directives could disrupt up to 4% of daily flights. Kirby said if left unresolved it could mean that at major U.S. airports in the event of bad weather, cloud cover or even heavy smog 'you could only do visual approaches essentially.' WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE FREQUENCY MAKE? The higher the frequency in the spectrum, the faster the service. So in order to get full value from 5G, operators want to operate at higher frequencies. Some of the C band spectrum auctioned had been used for satellite radio but the transition to 5G means there will be much more traffic. WHAT DO THE TELECOMS COMPANIES SAY? Verizon and AT&T have argued that C band 5G has been deployed in about 40 other countries without aviation interference issues. They have agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports in the United States, similar to those used in France, for six months to reduce interference risks. WHY NOT AN ISSUE ELSEWHERE? The European Union in 2019 set standards for mid-range 5G frequencies in a 3.4-3.8 GHz range, a lower frequency than the service set to be rolled out in the United States. The bandwidth has been auctioned in Europe and is in use in many of the bloc's 27 member states so far without issue. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which oversees 31 states, said on Dec. 17 the issue was specific to U.S. airspace. 'At this stage, no risk of unsafe interference has been identified in Europe,' it said. FAA officials have noted the spectrum used by France (3.6-3.8 GHz) sits further away from the spectrum (4.2-4.4 GHz) used for altimeters in the United States and France's power level for 5G is much lower than what is authorized in the United States. Verizon has said it will not use spectrum that is closer to the higher band for several years. In South Korea, the 5G mobile communication frequency is 3.42-3.7 GHz band and there has been no report of interference with radio wave since commercialization of 5G in April 2019. Currently, 5G mobile communication wireless stations are in operation near airports, but there have been no reports of problems. 'Wireless carriers in nearly 40 countries throughout Europe and Asia now use the C band for 5G, with no reported effects on radio altimeters that operate in the same internationally designated 4.2-4.4 GHz band,' CTIA, a U.S. wireless trade group, said in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam, Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm, Joyce Lee in Seoul, Tim Hepher in Paris; editing by Grant McCool and Jason Neely) Advertisement

Altimeter's are a key tool for pilots landing in low-visibility conditions

The wireless service can render radar altimeters unreliable. Pictured is a Verizon 5G tower going up in Utah

THE EVOLUTION OF MOBILE BROADBAND UP TO 5G The evolution of the G system started in 1980 with the invention of the mobile phone which allowed for analogue data to be transmitted via phone calls. Digital came into play in 1991 with 2G and SMS and MMS capabilities were launched. Since then, the capabilities and carrying capacity for the mobile network has increased massively. More data can be transferred from one point to another via the mobile network quicker than ever. 5G is expected to be 100 times faster than the currently used 4G. Whilst the jump from 3G to 4G was most beneficial for mobile browsing and working, the step to 5G will be so fast they become almost real-time. That means mobile operations will be just as fast as office-based internet connections. Potential uses for 5G include: Simultaneous translation of several languages in a party conference call

Self-driving cars can stream movies, music and navigation information from the cloud

A full length 8GB film can be downloaded in six seconds. 5G is expected to be so quick and efficient it is possible it could start the end of wired connections. By the end of 2020, industry estimates claim 50 billion devices will be connected to 5G. Advertisement

But the issue doesn't just affect airplanes - they could also have a negative effect on the nation's helicopters, including lifesaving medevac choppers.

Under U.S. law, all commercial helicopters must have a working altimeter in order to fly. Without them, officials warn, landing in remote areas or on hospital landing pads will be near impossible.

Helicopter Association International petitioned the FAA in October asking for medevacs to be exempt from the law when 5G rolls out, and the FAA granted it last week for areas where 5G C-Band interference could affect the radio altimeter.

Airlines for America, the group that organized the letter, declined to comment.

The FAA said it 'will continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G.

'The FAA continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to try to limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations.'

The other government agencies did not comment.

The U.K. CAA, the mobile phone industry and Ofcom released statements earlier this month in response to U.K. concerns. They said they did not share the worries of that in the U.S. at this stage.

A spokesperson for the CAA, the UK equivalent to the FAA, said: 'We are aware of reports that suggest that the frequency band being used for 5G in a number of countries could potentially pose a risk of interference with aircraft radio altimeters.

'There have been no reported incidents of aircraft systems being affected by 5G transmissions in U.K. airspace, but we are nonetheless working with Ofcom and the Ministry of Defense to make sure that the deployment of 5G in the U.K. does not cause any technical problems for aircraft.'

A spokesperson for Ofcom said: 'We're aware that the aviation sector is looking at this; we've done our own technical analysis and are yet to see any evidence that would give us cause for concern.'

Gareth Elliott, head of policy and communications at Mobile U.K., which represents mobile networks, said: 'The U.K.'s mobile network operators follow all health and safety guidelines and engage with a variety of industries on interference. Mobile operators are actively coordinating with the aviation authorities to ensure no interference in the U.K.'

Airlines CEOs URGE the federal government to take action on 5G 'Despite the recent collaboration and data sharing between the telecommunications industry, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation industry, commercial aviation in the United States is facing major disruption of the traveling and shipping public based on our evaluation of the data and discussions that have been ongoing to resolve the issue of how best to deploy 5G 'C-band' in a safe manner around U.S. airports. 'We are writing with urgency to request that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways at affected airports as defined by the FAA on January 19, 2022. This will allow 5G to be deployed while avoiding harmful impacts on the aviation industry, traveling public, supply chain, vaccine distribution, our workforce and broader economy. 'We further ask that the FAA immediately identify those base stations closest to key airport runways that need to be addressed to ensure safety and avoid disruption in a manner that is narrowly focused and consistent with the agreement established on January 3, 2022. 'Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies. The harm that will result from deployment on January 19 is substantially worse than we originally anticipated for two key reasons. 'First, we understand that most of the 50 large airports that were identified by the FAA for relief will still be subject to flight restrictions on January 19. The FAA's statement yesterday minimizes the fact that they are not granting relief to airports that are used by most of the traveling and shipping public. Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. 'This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays. 'Second, flight restrictions will not be limited to poor weather operations. Because radio altimeters provide critical information to other safety and navigation systems in modern airplanes, multiple modern safety systems on aircraft will be deemed unusable causing a much larger problem than what we knew on January 5, 2022. 'Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded. In addition to the chaos caused domestically, this lack of usable widebody aircraft could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas. 'The ripple effects across both passenger and cargo operations, our workforce and the broader economy are simply incalculable. Every one of the passenger and cargo carriers will be struggling to get people, shipments, planes and crews where they need to be. To be blunt, the nation's commerce will grind to a halt. 'Given the short time frame and the exigency of this completely avoidable economic calamity, we respectfully request you support and take whatever action necessary to ensure that 5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption. 'We stand ready and eager to continue our work with the U.S. government and mobile wireless providers on finding a solution set that allows 5G to expand to the 'C-Band' while also protecting aviation from devastating operational restrictions. However, immediate action is necessary to provide ample time for those discussions to move forward in any meaningful way.' Advertisement
Friends and colleagues have been mourning a veteran Los Angeles nurse who was randomly struck in the face without provocation by a homeless man as she waited for a bus to take her to work last week.

Sandra Shells, 70, succumbed to her injuries three days later on Sunday at LAC+USC Medical Center, where she worked for 38 years.

Police arrested Kerry Bell, 48, a transient man with criminal histories in multiple states, charging him in connection with Shell's death.

Just hours after the attack on Shells, a 24-year-old UCLA graduate student was stabbed to death by another homeless man inside a Los Angeles furniture store where she was working.

The back-to-back killings come amid a massive crime wave engulfing Los Angeles, where murder, assault and shooting rates are all on the rise, with its progressive District Attorney George Gascon facing mounting scrutiny for failing to stop the violence.

LA nurse Sandra Shells, 70 (left and right) was attacked at random at a bus stop on Thursday. She died of her injuries three days later at the hospital where she worked

Police said Kerry Bell, a homeless man, struck Shells in the face as she was waiting for a bus at this stop near Union Station in Downtown LA

Shells' colleagues have been leaving candles and flowers at the bus stop where she was attacked.

Two vigils are scheduled to take place on Wednesday at that location to honor Shells' life.

TIMELINE OF FATAL LA NURSE ATTACK: January 13, 5.15am: Nurse Sandra Shells, 70, is waiting for a bus near Vignes Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue in LA when a homeless man hits her in the face, causing her to fall and hit her head January 13, 6.45am: Police find Kerry Bell, 48, asleep near the scene of the attack and arrest him January 13, 9.47am: Bells is booked into the LA County jail on a charge of attempted murder January 16: Shells succumbs to a head injury at LAC+USC hospital where she had worked for 38 years Advertisement

'Sandy was a very hard worker. Very private person, stayed to herself but she was always working. I think her whole job, her whole life, was just helping other people,' Shells' neighbor Liz Anderson told ABC7. 'Her personality would effect anybody. A very caring person that just loved everybody, and I know that this community will really, she's just going to be missed.'

Anderson said Shells has a lemon tree growing in her backyard and would give lemons to people.

'You couldn't meet anybody nicer than Sandy. When I think about it, it just breaks my heart. I'm having a hard time with this.'

Roh Arline, Shells' colleague at LAC+USC, wrote on Facebook: 'I know we arent to question God, but i truly do not understand how something so terrible and senseless could happen to such a humble and joyful person.'

Shells was attacked by a homeless man at about 5.15 a.m. on Thursday near Vignes Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue, half a mile away from Union Station, while she was waiting to catch a bus to her job at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Bell, her suspected attacker, allegedly punched Shells in the face, leading the nurse to hit her head on the ground, likely striking it against the concrete. As a result of her fall, Shell suffered a fractured skull.

Bell was arrested without incident on suspicion of assault, but his charge will be updated to suspicion of murder, according to police.

No motive for the unprovoked attack has been revealed. Bell is being held on $2million bail, according to jail records.

Shells was a nurse at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for nearly 40 years when she passed away on Sunday

A makeshift memorial is seen at the spot where Shells was attacked last week

Neighbors and colleagues described Shells as a compassionate and dedicated nurse

Bell has one prior arrest in Los Angeles, but multiple prior arrests in several other states, according to the LAPD.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore shared on Twitter that Shells' death was 'a tragic and senseless murder directly tied to the failure of this Nation's mental health resources. We can and must do better. This victim lived her life for others. We are falling short.'

'We are deeply saddened by this news,' officials with LA County-USC Medical Center said in a statement. 'Sandra Shells will forever be remembered for her compassionate care and unmatched dedication to her patients and her community throughout her 38-year career at LAC+USC.'

'Sandra worked tirelessly and selflessly to keep her patients safe and healthy and will always be remembered as a kind, compassionate and giving nurse with a helpful and thoughtful nature who was a favorite amongst colleagues and patients.

'There will never be enough words to express our gratitude for her tremendous work and dedication,' the statement added.

The random attack occurred 0.5 miles away from Union Station, where Shells regularly took the bus to get to work

Just hours after the attack on the nurse, UCLA grad student Brianna Kupfer, 24, was stabbed to death inside an LA furniture store

Kupfer was working as a design consultant at the luxury Croft House store when a homeless man walked in, stabbed her to death and then left

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has called for a full investigation into the attack, arguing that essential workers who are already working in tough conditions during the pandemic deserve a 'more safe and stable environments.'

'Learning of this attack is both shocking and heartbreaking,'' Barger said in a statement. 'I'm asking for a full investigation into what caused the attack and any information that can be used to prevent this from happening again.

'It is unacceptable for Metro bus riders to be susceptible to this type of violence. Our essential workers, such as this county nurse, often take public transportation at unconventional times and can become easy prey for violent actors,' Barger said. Los Angeles, like many cities across the country, has witnessed an alarming rise in violent crime over the past two years.

In the wake of Shells' killing, people in the community have called on public transit officials to step up security measures, and Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins issued a statement expressing her commitment to keeping riders safe.

'This tragic and random act of violence makes us even more determined to maintain our vigilance around safety,' she said on Monday. 'We will continue to work to identify long-term public safety measures.'

LA crime is on the upswing, according to police statistics. Shooting victims have increased 10.6 percent year-to-year and 53 percent from the same point in 2019

In November 2021, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva released data related to crime in the city's transportation system over a three-year period, which included a half-dozen murders, 26 rapes, and 1,450 robberies or assaults, reported CBS LA.

Homicides in the City of Angeles rose 52 per cent last year from 2019, and shooting incidents were up 59 per cent, according to LAPD data.

The city has also suffered a shocking wave of follow-home robberies and organized smash-and-grab attacks on retailers.

Just before 2pm on Thursday - just hours after Shells was attacked at the bus stop - police say a homeless man walked into the luxury furniture store Croft House in Los Angeles and fatally stabbed 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer, a UCLA grad student who was working there as a design consultant.

Police said the male suspect slipped out the back door before calming walking down an alley, adding that he did not know the victim and that there is no known motive at this time.
Families of the victims of necrophiliac murderer David Fuller will be 'at the heart' of the inquiry into his crimes, it has been promised.

Inquiry chair Sir Jonathan Michael said the task facing his team was 'challenging but vitally important' and vowed to work with sensitivity and compassion for all those 'so horrendously affected'.

Fuller beat and strangled Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, to death before sexually assaulting them in two separate attacks in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1987.

The hospital electrician also filmed himself abusing at least 102 corpses, including a nine-year-old girl, two 16-year-olds, and a 100-year-old woman, over 12 years before his arrest in December 2020.

He was handed a whole life sentence for the murders, with a concurrent 12-year term for his other crimes, in December 2021.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid promised a full, independent inquiry into what happened, led by Sir Jonathan.

Twisted hospital electrician David Fuller filmed himself sexually abusing at least 102 corpses

His hospital job and access gave him the way into morgues to carry out the evil sex acts

The body of Azra Kemal, 24, who died after a bridge fall , was abused by Fuller three times

In a statement released on Tuesday, the inquiry chair said the investigation would be in two parts.

The first stage will focus on Fuller's activities in the Kent and Sussex Hospital and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital, while the second will look at the implications of his activities for the country as a whole.

Sir Jonathan said: 'No-one reading of David Fuller's acts and the fact that they happened in an NHS Trust's mortuary can fail to be horrified and distressed by them.

He also vowed to seek the views of the families involved and assured them that the inquiry would protect the privacy and the dignity of their loved ones throughout its work.

Wendy Knell, 25, was murdered and sexually assaulted by Fuller in Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Caroline Pierce, 20 from Tunbridge Wells who died following Fuller's attack outside her home

The top NHS executive tasked with leading the inquiry into David Fuller's crimes: Who is Sir Jonathan Michael? Sir Jonathan Michael is the top NHS executive tasked with leading the inquiry into the crimes of mortuary monster David Fuller. Having trained as a doctor at St Thomas' hospital in 1970, Sir Johnathan spent the next ten years training as a physician specialising in kidney disease. At the time, St Thomas and Guy's Hospital were two separate. But in 1993 the two hospitals merged to form Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. From 2000 to 2007, Sir Jonathan was the chief executive of the trust, having been medical director and chief executive of University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust. He was knighted in 2005 in the New Year Honours for his services to the NHS. In 2007, he left the NHS to become the head of British Telecom's Health division. But three years later, in 2010, he moved back to the NHS as chief executive of Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust - one of the biggest and most prestigious acute trusts in England. After a four year stint, he became the chief medical officer of the 6PM group, an IT software firm - now Idox. He returned to hospitals in 2016, having been appointed to provide independent oversight of plans for a single hospital service in Manchester. Advertisement

He added: 'I am determined that my team and I will be objective and thorough in all our work.

'I am equally determined that we will provide an opportunity for those families and staff who have been directly affected by the actions of David Fuller to share their experiences and information with the inquiry in ways that are sensitive and supportive.

'This will be at the heart of how we approach the inquiry.'

An inquiry into the issues raised by the case of murderer David Fuller, who sexually assaulted at least 102 women and girls after their deaths, will be in two parts, its chair has announced.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sir Jonathan Michael said: 'The first stage will focus on Fuller's activities in the Kent and Sussex Hospital and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

'The second part will be to look at the implications of Fuller's activities and the issues identified in part one for the country as a whole, in order to safeguard the deceased and ensure that Fuller's horrendous activity cannot be repeated elsewhere.'

Sir Jonathan said the task will be 'challenging but vitally important' and vowed to write directly to families who have given consent to be contacted.

The families of Fullers victims are set to launch legal action to sue the NHS for failing to prevent the electrician having free rein to abuse bodies in hospital morgues.

The group could be in line for tens of millions of pounds in compensation following Fuller's convictions for spending at least 12 years sexually attacking corpses in the two hospitals.

On three occasions the warped hospital electrician sexually abused Azra Kemal, 24, who died after plunging from a bridge. It is not known if her family will join any litigation.

Horrifically, the first two attacks happened just hours before and after her grief-stricken mother, Nevres Kemal, had visited her daughter and stroked her hair to say farewell.

She said: 'I had spent two hours in the mortuary sleeping with her. And that gave me some sort of comfort.

'Little did I know that my daughter had been violated prior to that day and the evening of that day.

'So, while I'm stroking my daughter's hair, sleeping on her hair, a man had... crawled all over her skin.

'And there's me kissing and cuddling and saying my last goodbyes.'

More than 400 horrified relatives have already called police so far demanding to know if a double murderer defiled their loved ones' bodies in hospital mortuaries.
York Racecourse is set to rebrand one of its most historic events in a bid to distance itself from Prince Andrew amid sexual assault accusations.

The Duke of York Stakes is a prestigious six-furlong sprint contested on the opening day of the Dante Festival.

First staged in 1895, the race derives its name from Prince George, Duke of York, who went on to become King George V.

But concerned racecourse bosses said they now want to revisit the alias after the Queen stripped Prince Andrew of his honorary military titles and a potential trial loomed in the US.

Officials said they planned to 'explore' how they could make the century-old name 'clearer' and avoid any unwanted connection with the embattled royal - who is currently being sued in America for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenager.

Andrew maintains his innocence and intends to fight the civil sex case as a private citizen.

Adam Kirby riding Harry Angel (right) wins The Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes at York Racecourse on May 16, 2018 in York

Officials said they planned to 'explore' how they could make the century-old name 'clearer' and avoid any unwanted connection with the embattled royal - who is currently being sued in America for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenager

The decision comes after York City residents pressed MPs to pass an Act of Parliament to formally withdraw his dukedom - a wedding day present from the Queen in 1986.

York Racecourse's head of marketing and sponsorship, James Brennan, said now was the right time to make the name 'clearer'.

He said: 'It was named in honour of Prince George who went on to become King George V. It has never been directly about Prince Andrew.

'With that in mind, however, we are going to explore how we can make the name a lot clearer about its history - and that the name refers to an entirely different Duke of York.'

Mr Brennan added that the racecourse was mindful of the negative conations surrounding the names connection with the 61-year-old prince.

He said: 'We are aware of the question and will take an appropriate step.'

The Queen's second son was a patron of York Racecourse, and a regular attendee at flagship fixtures like the Ebor Festival, until he relinquished the role in 2019.

First staged in 1895, the race derives its name from Prince George, Duke of York, who went on to become King George V.

It came as he withdrew from public life in the wake of his association with disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

It is alleged the Duke had sex with Virginia Giuffre when she was aged just 17 and had been trafficked by his friend, Jeffrey Epstein.

Maxwell, 60, was found guilty of sex trafficking offences and now faced up to 65 years in prison on December 29 last year.

Prince Andrew is currently being sued in America by Virginia Giuffre for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.

She claims she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with the duke when she was 17 and a minor under US law.

He maintains his innocence and intends to fight the civil sex case as a private citizen.

But after his attempts to have the civil case quashed by a New York judge failed, the duke now faces the prospect of a trial, which could happen as soon as September.

Despite their concerns, officials at York Racecourse said that any changes to the name would need to be carried out in conjunction with the European Pattern Committee.

The body oversees the status and naming Group races, meaning a quick rebrand wouldn't necessarily be possible.

Mr Brennan confirmed this saying: 'It is not entirely in our gift.'
This is the astonishing moment ITV journalist Ranvir Singh appears to reach Prince Andrew's voicemail after finding his number in Jeffrey Epstein's 'black book'.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 44, is seen scrolling through a list of addresses and landline numbers for the Duke of York, including one for Buckingham Palace and another for Balmoral.

The video then shows the broadcaster calling a mobile number from the address book - said to have been compiled by the paedophile financier Epstein.

However when she calls the number it goes straight to a personal voicemail message.

The person, who sounds like Prince Andrew, says: 'I'm afraid I've not been quick enough to get to the phone before it went off to take your message.

'If you do have a message, please leave it and I will get back to you as soon as I can.'



After the voicemail message, the presenter says: 'Hello, I think this might be Prince Andrew.

'This is Ranvir Singh from ITV and we found your number on the little black book and we'd like to have a chat with you if you get back to us, thank you.'

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 44, is seen scrolling through a list of addresses and landline numbers for the Duke of York (pictured), including one for Buckingham Palace

The video then shows the broadcaster calling a mobile number from the address book - said to have been compiled by the paedophile financier Epstein

She then turns to camera and says: 'That sounded like Prince Andrew's voice, Prince Andrew's voice on voicemail?'

Singh, who is GMB's politics editor, phoned the number as part of an upcoming ITV documentary on Prince Andrew and his relationship to the late-Epstein and recently convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

The mobile contact was apparently listed with a contact for Prince Andrew's former Sunning Hill address, as well as his equerry.

Prince Andrew may have DATED Ghislaine Maxwell: Insiders tell documentary the pair had 'easy warmth' around each other Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell had an 'easy warmth' around each other and may have dated in the past, a friend of the pair has claimed. Euan Rellie, who is a New York-based, British investment banker, attended the University of Oxford with Maxwell, 60, and was a guest at dinner parties that she and her disgraced ex-boyfriend Jeffery Epstein hosted in the US. He recalled being invited to Epsteins New York home one evening and the disgraced socialite admitted that it was 'for my friend Prince Andrew'. And a former Palace police guard made similar claims. Paul Page said he and colleagues wondered if the Andrew and Maxwell were 'intimate' due to the frequency of her visits to the Palace. Mr Rellie and Mr Page made the revelations during an interview with Ranvir Singh for the upcoming ITV documentary, Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile. Speaking in the upcoming documentary, Mr Rellie said: 'She described Andrew as being her friend, not Jeffreys.' 'I got the sense that Prince Andrew and Ghislaine had probably been girlfriend and boyfriend in the past. They had an easy warmth around each other', reports The Telegraph. This comes as the disgraced socialite is set to be sentenced on sex trafficking crimes on June 28. The sentencing date was set by Judge Alison Nathan on Friday afternoon. Advertisement

Beside his name were also addresses and contacts for Buckingham Palace, the Queen's Wood Farm home at Sandringham and a number for Balmoral.

Reading the book, Singh says: 'The names and numbers in here are vast, it's not exactly a little black book by any means.

'But one really catches your attention is the one up here and this is for the Duke of York.

'Duke of York, Buckingham Palace London' his address, it says here and there are numbers for Sunning Hill, Wood Farm, his equerry, Balmoral.

'There's what looks like a mobile phone number on here for him, I'm going to give it a go.'

The little black book is said to be a 92-page collection of typed contacts compiled by Maxwell and Epstein.

A version of the book was leaked in 2015, and reportedly includes names and phone numbers of more than 1,000 celebrities, politicians and titans of business.

US blog Gawker, who leaked the contents, claimed it found the directory in court documents.

At least two hard copies of the directory existed, with staff at Epstein's Palm Beach mansions reportedly told to make sure one was kept on each side of Epstein and Maxwell's bed.

The book was used last year as evidence to help convict Maxwell for trafficking underaged girls for sex.

The British socialite, Epstein's madame, was found guilty of five of six charges, including sex-trafficking of minors, in December.

The latest teaser clip came as Singh fought back tears as she spoke about the reason why she decided to speak out her own experience of sexual assault in the documentary, called Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile.

The Good Morning Britain presenter became emotional as she revealed she had only ever told two people in her life and had a 'tug of war' with herself if she wanted to go public with the harrowing ordeal, which took place when she was 12.

Appearing on the show on Tuesday, Ranvir said she felt compelled to talk about her assault when trying to comfort survivor Lisa Phillips, now 45, who is one of the many underage girls targeted by the late Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Speaking to Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Ranvir said her revelation 'came as a complete surprise to me actually, which I suppose speaks to some of the issues around the Ghislaine trial, about memory around incidents that happen in your life of that nature'.

The presenter went on to describe how she saw a distressed Lisa 'retreat into that moment as she was recounting it'.

'I think a lot of people who have crimes of that nature committed to them do feel a sense of guilt, of could I have done more? Should I have shouted, should I have screamed? A sort of survivor guilt I think,' Ranvir said.

Inner conflict; The Good Morning Britain presenter, 44, became emotional as she revealed she had only ever told two people in her life and had a 'tug of war' with herself

Painful: Singh made the admission after speaking to Lisa Phillips, now 45 and one of the many underage girls targeted by the late Epstein (Philips is pictured on her way to Jeffrey Epstein's Caribbean island in 2000)

'Often when we do this job people think we are just out to make people cry on telly, do you know what I mean, I'm being blunt about how people view journalists.'

Ranvir said because the interview was done over Zoom she couldn't physically comfort Lisa, and so decided to confide her as feelings she had felt resurfaced when she was recounting her ordeal.

'It was just an instant thing,' she said. 'I felt a really shocking kind of empathy with what she was describing.

'I was acutely aware we were on camera but it's a human to human experience when someone is telling you something so painful.

'So I did say to her something happened to me when I was 12, and I understand you shouldn't feel guilty about not'.

Ranvir bit her lip as she tried to steady herself from crying. She went on: 'Sorry, do you know what? I've only ever told two people in my whole life, and in the last two weeks I've had to tell family members and so on.'

Susanna told her she didn't need to tell anyone anything, but an emotional Ranvir went on to talk about the turmoil she felt as to whether to include her experience in the documentary.

She added: 'It's odd because it's not something you generally talk about, but the point being even on the Friday it was very touch and go about whether I should leave it in the documentary, because it's a big thing to say.'

The documentary airs on Tuesday evening and shows the mother-of-one admitting she had experienced a similar trauma in her own childhood.

She said: 'Speaking to Lisa brought up something that happened to me when I was 12.

'It happened once  and that person is dead  and so I have an understanding of what its like and why you would never want to speak of it again.'

Former model Phillips, who now lives in Los Angeles, claimed she first met Epstein after a photoshoot in the Caribbean more than 20 years ago, where he invited her and another friend to his island, Little St James.

Admission: Ranvir Singh has revealed she was sexually assaulted at the age of 12 after admitting the testimonies of Jeffrey Epstein's victims brought back 'painful memories'

Disgraced: The late Epstein and his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell before their arrest for the trafficking of minors

She told Singh: 'I went along with it. Youre not going to kick and scream and fight and yell when youre on an island.'

Phillips had previously claimed that Epstein introduced her to Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his military titles this week while facing a civil suit in the United States for the alleged assault of Virginia Giuffre.

Speaking in 2020, she told The Sun: 'I found Jeffrey very charming and he seemed really nice. I had mentioned I had lived in England and he said, "Oh, would you like to meet a prince?"

'This man walked up and I recognised him as Prince Andrew. He was very nice. It was very brief.'

Giuffre said she was 17 when she was introduced to the Queen's second son in London, and described him as an 'abuser' and 'not the prince from the fairy tale stories you read'.

Giuffre, who says she was trafficked by Epstein, alleges the Duke had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law.

Epstein committed suicide at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center while awaiting trial for sex trafficking in 2019.

Close friend Maxwell, the Oxford-educated daughter of the late British press baron Robert Maxwell, will be sentenced in June after being found guilty of assisting him in the procurement of young girls.
Chuck Schumer began debate on the Democrats' doomed-voting rights legislation on Tuesday and called Republican opposition to the bill an 'implicit endorsement of Donald Trump's big lie.'

The Senate Majority Leader took to the Senate floor to double down on his promise to try and kill the filibuster if Republicans use it to stop the legislation from advancing.

'The eyes of the nation will be watching what happens this week in the United States Senate,' Schumer said. 'The public is entitled to know where each senator stands on an issue as sacrosanct as defending our democracy. The American people deserve to see their senators go on record.'

'Republicans will have to choose which side they stand on protecting democracy or offering their implicit endorsement of Donald Trump's big lie,' he said, referring to Trump's false claim he won the 2020 election.

Meanwhile Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell slammed Democrats for their turn against the filibuster - a legislative weapon they wield when in the minority.

'Until the last couple of years, senators on both sides have understood the Senate is not here to rubber stamp massive changes under thin majorities,' he said.

'This is about one party wanting the power to unilaterally rewrite the rulebook,' he noted.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began debate on the Democrats' doomed-voting rights legislation

Chuck Schumer called Republican opposition to the bill an 'implicit endorsement of Donald Trump's big lie' - above Trump at a rally in Arizona on Saturday; he has falsely claimed he won the 2020 election

The action is expected to start on Wednesday when Schumer makes a motion to end debate on the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. That is when he'll need 60 votes in the 50-50 evenly split Senate to move the legislation forward. Given the united Republican opposition to it, that will fail.

Schumer has then vowed to hold a vote to kill the filibuster, allowing the legislation to proceed with a simple majority.

'The only path forward on this important issue is to change the rules to bypass the filibuster,' Schumer said Monday at an event marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 'Right now there are two Democrats who don't want to make that change. But that doesn't mean the fight is overfar from it.'

However, despite a heavy public pressure campaign, Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have remained firm in their resolve to support the filibuster. Without their votes, Schumer's move will fail and the legislation will die on the Senate floor.

Senate Democrats will meet Tuesday evening for one last chance to lobby Manchin and Sinema.

The pressure has been intense on the two from both party leadership and the base.

The president put all his powers of persuasion behind this effort. He went to Capitol Hill to personally lobby Manchin and Sinema. When the two stuck to their guns in favor of the filibuster, he brought them to the White House Thursday night for another round of talks.

Biden tweeted on Tuesday: 'Jim Crow 2.0 is about two insidious things: voter suppression and election subversion. It's about making it harder to vote, who gets to count the vote, and whether your vote counts at all. We have to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.'

And White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended their decision to keep pushing the voting legislation.

'It's never a good idea not to shoot for the moon with what your proposals are and what you're fighting for. And the alternative is to fight for nothing.'

Pressure from Democratic leadership and the party base has been heavy on Senators Joe Manchin (left) and Kyrsten Sinema (right)

King's son Martin Luther King III compared Senator Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema's opposition to voting rights legislation to those who told his father to wait for a more 'convenient time' to fight segregation

Fellow Democratic lawmakers have criticized them.

'These two Democrats have decided that it is much more important to them to protect the voting rights of the minority on the Senate floor than to protect the voting rights of minorities in this great country of ours, the minorities that made it possible for them to be in the position that they're currently in,' Democratic Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina said Sunday on ABC's This Week. 'So, I hope, but I don't think, that we will change their mind.'

And Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted on Monday: 'As the voting rights bill finally comes to the floor of the Senate, there is only one vote which will really matter. Will 50 Democrats vote to override the filibuster, protect American democracy and pass the bill, or will Manchin and Sinema vote with the GOP and let the bill die?'

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, King's son tore into the two senators by name.

Martin Luther King III cited his father's famous letter from a Birmingham jail and compared the two senators to those who told his father to wait for a more 'convenient time' to fight segregation.

'While there he wrote an open letter, in which he said the biggest stumbling block was not the Ku Klux Klan, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to order than justice,' he said.

'He was surrounded by people who told him to wait until a more convenient time and to use more agreeable methods - 59 years later, it's the same old song and dance from Senator Manchin and Sinema.'

'History will not remember them kindly,' he said of the two senators.

This will be the fifth time the Senate will try to pass voting legislation this Congress. Democrats are trying to counter a series of state laws they say make it harder to vote, particularly for minorities and the disenfranchised. Republicans oppose federal legislation, saying elections should be handled on the state level.
In a patent seen on the United States Patent and Trademark Office, it appears that a Facebook robot will have eyes and skin similar to humans.

Facebook Robot Eyes

Since Facebook was rebranded as Meta, the social media giant has been strongly involved in robots.

One of the patents of the firm appears to include a human-like eye gadget, which is coated in a skin-like covering.

To further emphasize the Facebook robot eyes, a patent named "Two-Axis Mechanical Rotatable Eyeball" explained in detail that this robotic eyeball contains a volume equivalent to the human eye. Aside from this, it is also said to include an exterior frame shaped like the outer surface of a genuine human eyeball.

ScreenRant clarified that the resemblances do not stop there since the robotic eyes seem to aim to copy the human eyes perfectly.

The said exterior frame may feature a circular shape imitating a sclera of a human eye and a curved surface representing the eye's cornea--which may contain a pupil.

As readers may recall, Meta has already begun to teach its artificial intelligence to observe the world around it through the eyes of a person.

For those wondering how it will be used, the patent application of Facebook explained that the artificial eye might be used in an eye-tracking system. In relation to this, this type of technology may be utilized as a testing field for enhanced augmented reality or virtual reality devices, such as the company's own Project Cambria headset, which will be released later this year.

Read Also: Deadly Asteroid Passing Earth Soon This 2022; How to Track Its Location, Arrival Time

Digital Information World added that the Facebook robot eye will also support the social media giant in determining the interest of their users, as well as digital advertising. Overall, this product is the first journey of the company into the Metaverse.

Aside from the human-like eye, Facebook previously unveiled ReSkin, a thin synthetic skin capable of simulating human-level feelings in robotic limbs.

The synthetic skin can sense pressures as little as 0.1 Newton on objects as thin as 1mm across, allowing robotic components to handle delicate goods without risking damage, per Screen Rant.

Facebook Robot Skin

Facebook stated in November 2020 that they would begin a collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University to develop touchable sensors and lightweight skin that will give robots a sensation of touch.

"A generalized tactile sensing skin like ReSkin will provide a source of rich contact data that could be helpful in advancing AI in a wide range of touch-based tasks, including object classification, proprioception, and robotic grasping," the company explained.

The Menlo Park-based social media giant also added that ReSkin may be combined with additional sensors to capture vision, sound and touch data from the outside lab and even in uncontrolled environments.

In another ScreenRant report, the synthetic of the robot is said to be composed of a flexible elastomer with magnetic particles integrated into it. The magnetic signals of the particles are captured and subsequently transformed into significant information, such as the site of contact and the amount of force exerted.

Screen Rant also suggested that the Facebook robot might be useful for organizations like NASA, which is now developing semi-autonomous robots in space to perform a variety of jobs.

Related Article: Facebook, Google Lose $226 Million as Punishment Over Cookie Tracking: How to Stop FB, Google From Spying on You
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Social media bosses were labelled a 'disgrace' in the Houses of Parliament today for failing to do enough to stop online scams in an extraordinary attack by a furious committee chairman.

Conservative MP Julian Knight left executives from YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter sitting in silence as he condemned their refusal to share information on scam artists with each other to protect the public.

He demanded that all four companies paid back money that had been defrauded off Britons for 'many years' while the firms were taking adverts from companies not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Mr Knight said none of the companies share the data with each other and were only doing so with the 'already overworked' police, giving scammers a better chance of targetting social media users on different platforms.

He compared this to the Mail Order Protection Scheme (Mops), an old scheme run by newspapers where direct response adverts were vetted before publication and the findings shared with other publishers to protect readers.

Pausing his questioning of the four bosses today, an exasperated 50-year-old Mr Knight issued the attack around 20 minutes into a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport sub-committee on online harms and disinformation today.

He spoke to 'all social media platforms' - including witnesses Iain Bundred, YouTube's head of public policy in the UK and Ireland; Richard Earley, the UK public policy manager for Facebook owner Meta; Elizabeth Kanter, TikTok's director of government relations and public policy; and Niamh McDade, Twitter's deputy head of UK policy.

Conmen stole 754million from Britons through fraud in just the first half of 2021 which was an increase of 30 per cent on the previous year according to trade group UK Finance - with most of these scams originating online.

Conservative MP Julian Knight condemned the refusal of social media firms to share details on scam artists with each other

Niamh McDade (left), Twitter's deputy head of UK policy; and Elizabeth Kanter (right), TikTok's director of government relations and public policy, both gave evidence during the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport sub-committee hearing today

Also giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport sub-committee today were Richard Earley (left), the UK public policy manager for Facebook owner Meta; and Iain Bundred (right), YouTube's head of public policy in the UK and Ireland

Interrupting an answer being given by Mr Earley today, Mr Knight said: 'I'll be honest with you, my thoughts - this goes to all social media platforms, frankly - is that you ought to pay back the money that has been defrauded off the British public over many years while you have been taking adverts which are not FCA authorised.'

Mr Knight has plenty of expertise in the media industry having been a personal finance and consumer rights journalist before entering the House of Commons. The MP for Solihull started off as a personal finance reporter for BBC News before becoming the money and property editor for the Independent on Sunday in 2007.

What was the Mail Order Protection Scheme? The Mail Order Protection Scheme, known as 'Mops', was a reader protection scheme run by the Newspaper Publishers' Association and Periodical Publishers' Association groups for advertisements intended to be displayed in newspaper and magazines. It meant that direct response advertisements were vetted before publication and advertisers have to contribute to a pool which was available to be used to compensation a reader who lost money because a trader went bankrupt. The scheme did not cover classified adverts or goods supplied on approval. In 2006 the scheme was renamed to the Safe Homes Ordering Protection Scheme, or 'Shops', with the intention of emphasising that it protected consumers when they ordered by mail order, telephone or internet. The scheme had been supported by consumer rights champion Lynn Faulds-Wood and companies including John Lewis and the Royal Mint, but it was dissolved last October according to Companies House records. Advertisement

And he told today's hearing in the Grimond Room at Portcullis House: 'Now I used to work in the dim and distant past in the newspaper industry and at that stage we used to have Mail Order 'Mops', it was called.

'You used to be able to see precisely whether or not a company had a deposit, whether or not it was authorised therefore to trade, and whether or not it could effectively advertise in your newspaper.

'And if you found that there was any sort of idea or linkage or the idea that effectively these companies could not so, you phone each other up, you got on the phone, you told each other this company is dodgy and do not take their adverts.'

He continued: 'Now I don't see anything in what you've just said there, in fact I know across all your companies, none of you have effectively even shared this data with each other - you do share it to the police, they're already overworked - but you don't do it with each other.

'And then secondly, as a result, you have for many years taken money from these scam artists and not actually made sure, the one thing you could do to stop it, which is to prevent anyone advertising with you who was not FCA authorised.

'Personally, I think that's a disgrace and I think it's been going on for far too long. And each and every one of your companies should refund the British public any scam money they've been removed.

'That's actually not a question. That's an observation I have to say at this point. But I just have to say anything you say in that regard, I think you've just not done enough over a long period of time.'

Speaking directly to Mr Earley, Mr Knight said: 'It seems incredible to me and to the public, the idea that you are systematically, over a period of years, making money from our constituents' misery over being defrauded.

'You are making money off that and you are continuing to make money, and you're still waiting for legislation to come forward before you appropriately react in order to exclude these scams from your platforms permanently.'

Mr Earley defended Meta's review process, which he said checks over any advertisement to ensure it is in line with their compliance and advertisement policies. However, despite announcing last year that it would do so, Meta's review process does not currently enforce that all advertisements are authorised by the FCA.

Rishi writes off 4.3bn taken by shameless fraudsters from furlough and other business support during lockdown By DAVID WILCOCK FOR MAILONLINE More than 4billion of taxpayers money taken by Covid fraudsters during the pandemic could be written off by the Treasury. Figures released by HM Revenue and Customs show that some 5.8billion has been criminally siphoned off from furlough and other business relief schemes since coronavirus struck. A taskforce set up to get the money back has so far got its hands on around 500million, and is projected to have received a further 1billion by the end of 2023. But questions remain over the fate of the remaining 4.3billion, almost three-quarters of the total, with the Times today suggesting it could simply be ignored. Downing Street did not deny the money could be written off today, with a spokesman instead highlighting the positive impact the furlough scheme had had on the economy. But shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'While prices soar, billions in hard-earned taxpayer cash has been frittered away by fraud - and the Chancellor is happy to shrug his shoulders and lose it forever.' The Prime Minister's official spokesman today told reporters: 'We introduced these unprecedented Covid support schemes at speed to protect jobs and livelihoods. The result of the action is that the economy is back to pre-pandemic levels, and we are the first major European economy to report that. Employee numbers are growing at a record rate and redundancies are at their lowest level since December 2006. 'Obviously fraud is unacceptable and we are taking action against those abusing the system;. 150,000 ineligible claims blocked, 500m recovered last year and HMRC taxpayer protection taskforce is expected to recover an additional 1bn of taxpayers' money.' Advertisement

Mr Knight said: 'People have lost thousands of pounds, some people have lost their entire livelihoods, frankly we have had people commit suicide as a result of the scams, and you have continued to take advertising throughout the entire time from organisations which are not FCA authorised, and only now are you pulling your finger out and bringing that very crucial change. You have just not done enough.'

He added: 'This goes for all social media platforms actually, you ought to pay back the money that has been defrauded off the British public over many years.'

Mr Earley said in response: 'We have been working to try and tackle these uses of our platform ever since we first began to run adverts on our platforms many years ago.

'Certainly one of the big challenges we face is that fraud and advertising scams are by their very nature designed to be difficult to tell apart from authentic advertising.

'That's why we've invested so much money in not just the pre-uploading review... but also our ability to see how scams are performing and use technology to look at any inauthentic signals from the producers of the adverts themselves as well.'

Representatives from Meta, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok were given a grilling by MPs at the hearing, which focused on an inquiry into online safety and online harms and which has previously heard evidence from ex-Love Island contestant Amy Hart.

Mr Knight also quoted money-saving expert Martin Lewis, who he said 'pulls his hair out' at the number of paid-for scam advertisements on Facebook using his face.

The MP criticised the companies for not sharing data with each other regarding scams, calling it a 'disgrace' that 'has been going on far too long'.

During the panel, Twitter was also heavily criticised for its verification process by John Nicolson, MP for the Scottish National Party, Ochil and South Perthshire.

He cited a Twitter account that was created under the name Mickey Mouse, with the email address 'MickeyMouseIsNotMyRealName', and a phone number from a phone that cost 99p, that then tweeted the footballer Marcus Rashford the word 'squeak'.

Mr Nicolson called Twitter's verification system 'hopeless and chaotic' and said it did not work. He said: 'You've tried to manipulate the description of an anonymous account, because someone like that Mickey Mouse account is designated as a non-anonymous account under your current system. Your system does not work.'

He added: 'If you can't protect him (Marcus Rashford) what hope is there for all the anonymous folk who just get the daily misery if they use your platform, of abuse?'

Ms McDade defended the system in place. She said she was not aware of the specific account Mr Nicolson was referring to, but did condemn all forms of racist abuse on the platform.

All four social media bosses appeared at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport sub-committee hearing via videolink today

And Ms McDade said Twitter was 'constantly evolving our rules and policies in terms of the environments we're working within, in terms of the challenges that are faced by our users and communities across the world'.

The social media leaders also said that the different companies do work together through other platforms including on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which reports to the National Crime Agency.

It comes after Culture Minister Chris Philp told MPs last week that there are a 'number of areas' where the Online Safety Bill can be 'improved substantially', with a revised piece of legislation expected in the coming months.

MPs have been debating a report by the Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill, which said more offences needed to be covered.

These included paid-for scam and fraudulent advertising, cyber flashing, content promoting self-harm and the deliberate sending of flashing images to people with photosensitive epilepsy.

The Bill must also be clearer about what is specifically illegal online and proposed that pornography sites should have a legal duty to keep children off them regardless of whether they host user-to-user content, the report added among other recommendations.

The legislation is expected to force the biggest operators, such as Meta  formerly Facebook  and Google, to abide by a duty of care to users, overseen by Ofcom as the new regulator for the sector.

It comes as Ministers revealed today that cryptocurrency adverts will have to meet the same standards as other financial promotions, such as insurance, to help protect people from potentially misleading claims.

Promotions will be brought into line with other financial advertising, ensuring they are fair and clear, and helping people to make informed decisions, the Government said.

Under the plans, the promotion of cryptoassets will come under FCA rules - in line with other financial promotions, for example, stocks, shares, and insurance products.

The Government said this will balance the desire to encourage innovation with the need to ensure adverts are fair, clear, and not misleading.

Around 2.3 million people in the UK are thought to own cryptoassets but research suggests some users may not fully understand what they are buying - posing a risk that products could be mis-sold. Around 300 of cryptoassets are held on average.

The changes will be brought in by amending the Financial Promotion Order, which sets out the investments and activities to which the financial promotion regime applies.

Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, a business cannot promote a financial product unless they are authorised by the FCA or the PRA (Prudential Regulation Authority), or the content of the promotion is approved by a firm which is.

Firms that wish to promote such investments and activities must comply with binding rules that financial promotions must be fair, clear, and not misleading.

The legislation will be brought forward once parliamentary time allows, the Government said.

Santander UK recently warned that around 1 million of cryptocurrency scams were being reported to it by customers each month.

The bank said it had seen an increase in the value of such cases, which can involve a fraudster taking over a victim's computer and freezing them out of their accounts.

Customers may see adverts online for cryptocurrency investment 'opportunities', or be introduced to them by other social media users, and adverts can appear to be endorsed by celebrities.
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A group of New York City commuters were forced to stand behind the subway entryway Tuesday morning while waiting for a train as a screaming man paced on the platform - a scene that is increasingly typical as random subway violence becomes the norm.

Three women waiting for the downtown 6 at the 23rd Street station around 7am stayed behind the turnstiles before running onto their train at the last minute when it arrived.

Jennifer Smith, 29, who has lived in the area for two years and takes the downtown 6 train from 23rd Street regularly to her media job, said when she arrived, she noticed 'two to three other women standing behind the turnstiles.'

'There was also a six-foot man whod gone through the turnstiles who was hovering near the exit door near us. It was a horrible atmosphere and there wasnt a cop or MTA worker in sight,' she told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.

'When the train did arrive, we all raced through,' she said. 'He was still pacing, Im not sure if he even got on the train. Theres always the worry that youll be followed onto the carriage and then youre stuck there, potentially in a dangerous situation.'

Transit crimes have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic, with many commuters becoming increasingly worried about being thrown on the tracks as more horror stories arise. Another woman was thrown to her death in front of a subway at the Times Square subway station on Saturday - despite New York City Mayor Eric Adams, 61, saying the 'subway system is safe.'

Transit crimes are already up 65 per cent in 2022, with 96 crimes taking place in the first 16 days of the year, compared to only 58 in the same period last year, according to New York Police Department crime statistics released on Tuesday afternoon.

The number of felony assaults has since increased by 7.7 per cent, and overall, crime is up 35 per cent from the same period in 2021, according to the city's crime stats.

Subway riders waiting nervously outside behind the turnstiles at the 23rd Street Station in Manhattan as a screaming man paced the platform

The man was behind the turnstiles (pictured), a rider told DailyMail.com, and three women riders had to rush through the terminals to get on the train when it arrived

Adams since went back on his word Tuesday, now saying that not even he feels safe on the subway. Our system must be safe, he said at a press conference on Tuesday at City Hall. It must be safe from actual crime.

We know we have a job to do, and were going to do both: Were going to drive down crime, and were going to make sure New Yorkers feel safe in our subway system. And they dont feel that way now. I dont feel that way when I take the train.

Day one, January 1, when I took the train, I saw the homelessness, the yelling, the screaming early in the morning, Adams, who famously called 911 during his first day of office about a scuffle outside a subway station, said at a press conference. Crimes right outside the platform.

Despite the MTA Chairman Janno Lieber commending the mayor for getting it,' not all New Yorkers are feeling the same way.

'That station has become a lot more dangerous in the last six months,' Smith told DailyMail.com. 'Before the pandemic, it was always fine and there were enough people around that you felt safe.

Now, every other day its just you and either a homeless person or someone with clear mental illness.

When Smith first arrived, she didn't even notice the man lurking on the other side of the turnstile until he walked past with a 'deranged look in his eye.'

What once might have been considered a 'right of passage' to encounter a crazy man on the subway, is now an every day occurrence for New York City subway riders as the weather grows colder and more homeless people take shelter on the trains and inside the stations.

What once was a man or a woman wandering through subway cars asking for spare change has turned more and more sinister; passengers are forced to stand against the wall or use bike locks to chain themselves to poles in double platform stations to avoid being thrown on the tracks and are extra careful about their surroundings.

A Bronx woman, Wanda Vela, recently went viral on TikTok for her radical way of making sure no one pushes her off the tracks. Vela secures herself with a bike lock to a nearby pole on the platform and doesn't take it off until the train has arrived.

Transit crimes already up more than 65 per cent in 2022 as more commuter face dangerous situations on their commute

Overall crime is up 35 per cent in the Big Apple

'Ain't nobody pushing me,' she said in the November video. 'People want to push people into trains, it's bad out here - that ain't gonna happen to me.'

But newly minted mayor Adams, a former NYPD officer, said on Saturday that the subway systems are 'safe,' despite the ongoing increase in transit crimes, and said all New Yorkers have to do is erase the 'perception of fear.'

'New Yorkers are safe on the subway system,' Adams said at a press conference on Saturday. 'Think about that for a moment, what we must do is remove the perception of fear.

'When you see homeless individuals with mental health issues not being attended to and given the proper services, that adds to the perception of fear,' Adams said, who promised New Yorkers he would be 'tough' on crime.

Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, fell to her death after being shoved onto the tracks on the southbound N/Q/R/W platform at West 42nd Street and Broadway on Saturday morning at 9:30.

From January through December 12, 2021, straphangers were pushed onto the tracks 27 times, up from 25 during the same period in 2020, according to the NYPD.

'I dont know the last time Eric Adams took the subway, but every other New Yorker I know has noticed a deterioration in the last year,' Smith told DailyMail.com.

'Were not talking about taking an empty train in the middle of the night. This was at 7am, when people are just trying to get to their jobs. If more cops arent put down there soon, I worry about how much worse its going to get for passengers and MTA workers.'

New York subway stations have been more desolate in the recent weeks as more offices are working from home, leaving riders more vulnerable during what used to be busy commute times.

Homelessness across the city could become more apparent as the two-year eviction moratorium - designed to stop residents from losing their homes during the pandemic - expired on Saturday, leaving many vulnerable to eviction and foreclosures.

Adams' comments came after 40-year-old Michelle Alyssa Go fell to her death after being shoved onto the tracks on the southbound N/Q/R/W platform at West 42nd Street and Broadway on Saturday morning at 9:30.

Simon Martial, 61, who has a lengthy rap sheet, was arrested later that day on a charge of second-degree murder for allegedly pushing Go. He also justified his alleged killing by calling himself 'God,' and saying he 'can do it.'

'Yes, because I'm God. Yes, I did it. I'm God. I can do it,' Martial told a reporter.

Martial is reportedly homeless and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. His sister, Josette Simon, from Georgia, argued that her brother belonged in a mental health facility and should have been kept off the streets.

New York's crime rate continues to rise under new Mayor Eric Adams, who promised to be tough on crime, and 'woke' progressive DA Alvin Bragg

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the attack was 'unprovoked' and the victim did not 'appear to have any interaction with the subject.'

Now, the family of Go has released a statement expressing 'shock' at their loss.

Transit crimes have been rising throughout the pandemic with several people being thrown onto the subway tracks. A woman was killed on Saturday after a homeless person threw her on the tracks at the Times Square Subway Station at West 42nd Street and Broadway in Manhattan (pictured: police on scene in Times Square)

Simon Martial, 61, (pictured) was arrested on Saturday on a charge of second-degree murder for allegedly pushing Go

The statement, shared on Twitter on Monday, said: 'We are in a state of shock and grieving the loss of our daughter, sister and friend.

'We hope Michelle will be remembered for how she lived and not just how she died.

'She was a beautiful, brilliant, kind and intelligent woman, who loved her family and friends, loved to travel the world and to help others.

'Her life was taken too soon in a senseless act of violence, and we pray that she gets the justice she deserves. Thank you for your condolences.'

The horrifying attack comes as crimes in the subway and around the city continues to soar at the beginning of Mayor Eric Adams' and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's first terms.

Bragg's controversial decision to downgrade burglary, armed robbery and drug dealings from felonies to misdemeanors has drawn criticism, as it has led to many criminals being let back out on the streets.

Former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said newly elected Mayor Eric Adams has his hands tied in terms of crime while Bragg's office implements its woke policies.

Rape, robbery, and grand larceny are also up in the Big Apple at 15.8, 25.1, and 61.7 per cents, respectively.

DailyMail.com has contacted the Mayor's Office for a comment.
The mother of a nine-year-old boy who sold air fresheners to boost his pocket money has revealed his teachers called the police on him.

Alicia McHale, from Gorton, east Manchester, said she was shocked when two officers were sent round looking for Donnan.

She blasted Sacred Heart Primary School for leaving her upset and embarrassed and said the authorities did not need to have been involved.

Donnan started buying a packet of four air fresheners from a pound shop then sold them individually for 1 each outside a Tesco petrol station.

He proved to be a natural salesman and in just four weeks had earned enough to buy a coat, phone, bike and tracksuit.

But he was allegedly rumbled by a teacher at his nearby school who later told the police on him.

Alicia McHale, from Gorton, east Manchester, said she was shocked when two officers were sent round looking for Donnan (pictured)

Donnan started buying a packet of four air fresheners from a pound shop then sold them individually for 1 each outside a Tesco petrol station. Pictured: The boy with local rapper Meekz

Alicia said the two officers knocked on her door on January 12 and wanted to speak to Donnan.

She said: 'I asked them what the problem was. They just said ''we've had a phone call from the school, it's from Sacred Heart, could we come in a minute''?'

After speaking with the youngster, she said they seemed unconcerned, adding: 'Donnan explained... the officers were absolutely fine with it.

'They said they would have to pass it on to the care team but they thought he was doing a great job.'

Alicia was called by children's services about the incident and said it had left her upset and embarrassed. She said: 'I was shocked, I've never had police at my door.

'We're really proud of Donnan - they should be praising him for doing something like this when we've got children causing havoc on the streets.'

She continued: 'He was only doing it for an hour after school each night before he came home to get his tea. It's just round the corner.'

She added the manager at Tesco made sure staff kept an eye on him and they had her phone number.

The manager at the Tesco (pictured) made sure staff kept an eye on him and they had her phone number

Alicia said it was a member of staff at the school who told on Donnan when they had visited the petrol station.

She claimed another teacher also pulled the boy out of a class last week to ask him what he was doing.

She said: 'I've no idea why. It should have been the headteacher, it should have been a discussion between us [his parents] and the headteacher.'

Alicia said she had seen the man at the school gates the next day and thought the case was closed.

But she added: '[The teacher] didn't tell me what had gone on, he didn't tell me that he had rung police.'

A spokesman for GMP said: 'In January 2022, police received a report of concern for the welfare of a child in the Gorton area.

'Officers attended the child's home address and completed the necessary checks and paperwork.'

Suzanne Walker, headteacher at Sacred Heart Primary School, said: 'We take the health and wellbeing of our pupils both in school and out very seriously and it is our duty to seek further advice and guidance if concerns are raised with us about the welfare and safety of any of our pupils.'

A Manchester City Council spokesman said: 'Whilst it wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment on an individual child's circumstances, we would of course always want to reassure ourselves that appropriate measures were in place to ensure a child or young person's safety and welfare at all times.'

A Tesco spokesman said: 'When our colleagues heard that Donnan wanted to raise some money to buy his little sister a Christmas present they were very touched and they made sure he was safe at our store.'
A Tennessee man who took a sip of water at a Cracker Barrel in 2014 only to realize he had just swallowed a corrosive kitchen cleaner was awarded $9.4 million by a jury, far above the $150,000 he originally asked for.

William Cronnon, 68, was given $3.6 million in non-economic damages, such as pain and emotional distress, and $730,000 in economic damages by a Marion County jury on January 6. The jury also awarded him $5 million in punitive damages.

Cronnon is unlikely to receive the whole sum because of a Tennessee law that caps non-economic damages at $750,000 and punitive damages at twice the amount of economic damages.

His attorney, Thomas Greer, told DailyMail.com that Cronnon will probably get $4.5 million instead.

Cronnon was having lunch at a Cracker Barrel in April 2014 when he was served the kitchen cleaner Eco-San, leaving him with 'permanent and serious internal physical injury,' according to a three-page lawsuit filed in 2015.

William Cronnon had lunch at a Cracker Barrel in April 2014, when he was served the kitchen cleaner Eco-San instead of water

In a three-page lawsuit filed in 2015, he said the chemical 'caused a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus'

The chemical 'caused a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus,' the lawsuit alleged.

The National Fire Protection Association categorizes the chemicals in Eco-San as 'extremely dangerous'

The National Fire Protection Association categorizes the chemicals in Eco-San as 'extremely dangerous,' according to WTVC.

Greer, Cronnon's lawyer, says his client's life has completely changed since the 2014 incident. Cronnon had to quit his job as a supervisor at a textile factory, where he worked for 40 years, about three years later.

'He has to take a slew of medication to help control his symptoms. Nothing ever makes his symptoms go away. Every single meal he eats, he has reflux pain - basically heartburn.

'On a daily basis, he has cramping, bloating, diarrhea, basically the same symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome,' he said, adding that his client can't stray too far from home because he needs to be near a restroom.

Court documents do not state who provided Cronnon with the poisonous beverage.

The Eco-Sun was allegedly kept in unmarked pitchers, but Cracker Barrel told DailyMail.com that their policy 'has been, and continues to be, to never put chemicals in any unmarked containers.'

Greer called the Republican-backed Tennessee law that caps juries' awards 'unfair.'

Cronnon will likely get just $4.5 million of the total $9.4 million, based on statutes that cap the amount of money juries can give out in civil cases.

'Right now, that's the most likely outcome, but Cracker Barrel is gonna file a motion for a new trial, ask the court to reduce. If that doesn't work, they have the right to appeal to the Tennessee Court of Appeals,' he predicted in an interview with DailyMail.com.

'Jurors are not told about this law. That's how the law is written,' he added. 'You have these people in the community who heard the evidence, became experts on the case, decided what this man should get, and the law says the judge takes that money the jury allowed for.

'We let jurors in Tennessee sentence people to death, but we dont trust them to provide an amount of money that would make someone whole in a case like this.'

Attorney Thomas Greer says his client, Cronnon, is still suffering from injuries to his mouth and esophagus and that he expects Cracker Barrel to appeal the jury's verdict

The Tennessee-based Southern food chain said it was 'disappointed' with the award.

'While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jurys award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago,' the company said in a statement.

'Although we are considering our options with respect to this verdict, we are glad this matter is behind us so we can better focus on caring for our guests and employees around the country.'

On Saturday, a Cracker Barrel manager in Texas was shot dead while she tried to help a co-worker who had just gotten to work escape a gunman.

Robin Baucom, 59, was shot in the torso and rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where she later died, according to Harris County deputies.

The incident happened at a Cracker Barrel on North Freeway in Houston after Buacom's colleague arrived at about 6:15 a.m., KTRK reported.

Robin Baucom, 59, was a manager at a Cracker Barrel in Houston, where she had worked for 34 years until Saturday

Photos released by the Harris County Sheriff's Office show a suspect clad in all-black and the metallic gray Dodge Charger used in the shooting

Mourners gathered at the Cracker Barrell on North Freeway in Houston on Sunday

Deputies say the co-worker was suddenly approached by a man in the passenger seat of a 2018 or newer metallic gray Dodge Charger. The man allegedly got out of the car and tried to grab the employee's purse.

Baucom, a manager at the restaurant who was already inside, let her employee in and pushed back on the door to stop the man from entering. He then pulled out a gun and shot Baucom.

Authorities are still searching for the shooter. Baucom is survived by a husband, three kids and three grandkids, according to KHOU.
A Brooklyn school bus driver was arrested after he fatally struck a 15-year-old trying to cross the street, then apparently fled the scene Monday morning.

Antonina Zatulovska of Coney Island was pronounced dead at the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Avenue P in Midwood after police found her unconscious and unresponsive with head trauma at 7.55 am.

The bus driver, Aleksandr Patlakh, 55, also of Coney Island, was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to use due care, according to the New York City Police Department.

It is unclear where she was headed. James Madison High School is located at that intersection and was closed Monday for Martin Luther King Day, but sources told PIX11 that activities were still scheduled for students on Monday.

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Antonina Zatulovska of Coney Island, 15 (pictured) killed after she was run over by a yellow school bus as she crossed the street outside James Madison High School in Brooklyn on Monday morning

A resident's surveillance footage captured the moment that 15-year-old Antonina Zatulovska was struck by a yellow school bus, driven by 55-year-old Aleksandr Patlakh, on Monday morning

Zatulovska was found on the ground with head trauma at the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Avenue P, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zatulovska was a student at James Madison High School

A spokesperson for the school confirmed to DailyMail.com that Zatulovska was a student at the high school. Because of the federal holiday, the spokesperson said, 'no [Department of Education] buses were running.'

But witnesses said the bus was in use for a private, Jewish school where classes were in session, according to ABC7NY.

Michael Aryeh, who lives at the corner where the accident happened, called Monday's fatality 'really horrible.'

'The weird thing was he slowed down after he hit her, which is kind of shaky,' Aryeh told PIX11. 'The way he, like, slowed down. He didnt come to a complete stop... Either way he should have come out to see if anything happened. But he didnt.'

He said that traffic cameras or some other technology could help prevent future accidents at the intersection, because 'a lot of people drive pretty crazy here.'

Patlakh did not turn himself in. He was tracked down by police in the 61st Precinct of Brooklyn. He was arrested, then released on bail, and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date, according to News 12.

It is unclear where 15-year-old Zatulovska, pictured, was headed when she was struck by the oncoming bus

Zatulovska is pictured at a younger age with her parents

The fatal accident took place just outside James Madison High School where Zatulovska was a student
Penzeys Spices CEO sparked outrage after he renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Republicans are Racist Weekend, in a promotional newsletter for customers.

Bill Penzey Jr., 58, who founded the company in 1986 and does not have any shareholders to answer to, sent out the letter on Friday.

It promised to 'Cheese Off Racists for Free!' as part of a spices promotion that includes ten Black Lives Matter stickers, because they have 'earned our respect!'

The Republicans are Racist letter has infuriated customers on both sides of the aisle who criticized Penzey for his outrageous claims and say they now plan to boycott the company.

'I'm a Democrat and liberal and all that and I know not all Republicans are racist. I think this is going a bit too far with the generalizations,' one customer wrote on the Penzeys website. Another said: 'I am a Democrat. But, I find this bad business.'

Republican Wisconsin State Senator Julian Bradley slammed the company, telling FOX 6 News, 'Penzey's has been grifting off terrible political takes and low name-calling for a decade, so the reporters will give them free media. These lies are news?'

The CEO has previously called Republicans the 'number one threat to this country,' and has spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads calling for former President Donald Trump's impeachment.

Bill Penzey Jr., 58, (pictured) who founded the company in 1986 and does not have any shareholders to answer to, sent out the letter on Friday

The CEO (pictured in one of his stores in 2007) has previously called Republicans the 'number one threat to this country,' and has spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads calling for former President Donald Trump's impeachment

Penzeys Spices announced on Friday a deal offering three spices and 10 Black Lives Matter stickers in a 'Republicans are Racist Weekend' promotion

Penzeys has 53 stores across the country, after having to close some during the pandemic. Here, Leah Madan Bowes, 28, of Denver, and her father, Michael Madan, were seen leaving one of the company's franchises

However, Penzey told DailyMail.com he is not worried about a loss in customers, as he is getting new customers from progressive liberal supporters.

He wrote to DailyMail.com that since he sent out the email on Friday, he has seen 1.13 percent of his customers unsubscribe from his mailing list, but said he imagines he will have an equal amount of new subscribers by the end of Tuesday.

Meet the leftist Penzeys founder who brands all Republicans racist Bill Penzey, 58, began working at his parent's coffee and spice shop in Milwaukee as a child, according to the Los Angeles Times. At 18, he went to college and crafted his own major, combining food science and history to help him better understand the family business. He then founded the Wisconsin-based Penzeys Spices at the age of 22 in 1986, primarily as a catalogue mail-order business. By 2012, the company had 67 retail locations in 29 states, but after the pandemic forced the company to close some stores, it was down to 53 stores by June 2021. Penzey, who is married to wife Jeri, has always been a far left liberal and in the mid-2000s, he featured a gay couple who had triplets via a surrogate on the cover of the spice company's catalogue, long before gay parenthood was widely accepted. In 2010, amid a battle over immigration policy, Penzey created the Arizona Dreaming spice blend. But when Donald Trump announced he was running for the presidency, Penzey launched his first aggressive attack on Republicans, claiming his supporters 'committed the most racist act' by electing Trump in 2016. He later released customer newsletters calling Republicans the 'number one threat to the country' and calling all Republicans 'racist'. Advertisement

'From what we've heard in the way of feedback a lot of our Republican customers wish we would stay out of politics but they are pretty honest about the problems with open racism in their party since President Trump took control,' he said.

'So on one hand they wish we would tone down the racism thing but on the other hand we have really good spices and they are not going to sacrifice those.

'Our more liberal customers of course are excited for us being honest about what the Republican party has become and are forwarding our emails to friends and family which is where our new customers are coming from.'

In fact, after he wrote that President Trump supporters 'committed the most racist act' by electing him in 2016, online sales of Penzeys Spices were up 59.9 percent and gift box sales were up 135 percent, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.

In his letter, FOX Business reports, Penzey praised the Black Lives Matter movement and its actions following the death of George Floyd in 2020, before suggesting that Republicans fantasize about killing black people.

'Remember how Republicans, going against a mountain of evidence to the contrary once again lied and said BLM wasn't a peaceful movement, but instead terrorists inciting violence throughout the country and then raced out to buy a c***load of guns because maybe they were finally going to get their chance to shoot a black person?' he wrote. 'What a bunch of racists.'

Penzey then went on to address Republican voters, saying: 'The racist label is one you will deservingly wear every day you stand with [the Republican Party]. Get used to it, or maybe instead become a better person. The choice is yours. We will be here rooting for you to Choose Love.'

The newsletter follows a similar one Penzey sent out to his supporters earlier this month, marking the first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots by calling Republican voters the 'number one threat to this country.'

He was promoting a new January 6 box including a combination of spices in the newsletter, and called on his customers to 'remember this day forever,' likening the riot to D-Day by calling it a 'plot that will live in infamy.'

In 2010, Penzey created the Arizona Dreaming spice blend to support immigration

Some conservatives took to social media to slam Penzeys for its Republicans are Racist promotion, with many saying they would no longer buy the products

Penzey claimed that 'after a lifetime pledging allegiance to the republic our flag stands for Republican voters have been so misled to where their allegiance is now to those seeing to bring the republic for which our flag stands to an end, and with it, America as we know it.

'Republican voters love America but have become so entangled in the propaganda of those who control their party that they are now actively working to bring the democracy they love to a permanent end.

'The good news is that Republican voters want to be good people,' he continued at the time. 'They can be redeemed, but there's no sugarcoating the reality that they are now the #1 threat to this country they love so much. They need your help.

'The truth we must share is anyone still supporting the Republican Party after January 6 should be ashamed of themselves.'

After the news of that newsletter broke, FOX Business reports, Penzey thanked the station for 'delivering [his] words to exactly where they need to go.'

Penzey has become well-known for his controversial political views.

Penzey, who is married to wife Jeri (pictured with him) has always been a far left liberal and in the mid-2000s, he featured a gay couple who had triplets via a surrogate on the cover of the spice company's catalogue, long before gay parenthood was widely accepted

Bill Penzey, 58, began working at his parent's coffee and spice shop in Milwaukee as a child and at the age of 22, he founded his own company, Penzeys in 1986

In the mid-2000s, he featured a gay couple who had triplets via a surrogate on the cover of the spice company's catalogue, long before gay parenthood was widely accepted, and in 2010, amid a battle over immigration policy, Penzey created the Arizona Dreaming spice blend, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Prior to the 2020 election, Penzey also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Facebook ads supporting the impeachment of former President Donald Trump or railing against the Republican Party or FOX News.

His activism resulted in a Facebook boycott called Goodbye Penzeys, which amassed more than 1,000 members. But he told the Los Angeles Times that he did not regret his actions, saying: 'The luxury of not being on a side is something of the past.'

Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday under former President Ronald Reagan in 1983, 15 years after the famed Civil Rights icon was assassinated

Penzey added at the time: 'I want other businesses to look at what we're doing. If you want customers to support your business, you have to support the values and lives of your customers.'

But now, even some of his most loyal customers are condemning his actions, with one self-proclaimed 'lifelong Penzeys customer' from a prominent investment firm telling FOX Business on the condition of anonymity he was shocked by the newsletter.

'I am not a Democrat or a Republican, having never registered for either party. I am, however, first and foremost a patriot, and as such I recognize the difficult time our country is facing right now as various factions inside and out try to foment discord amongst us.

'The fact that any company feels they can make such a patently absurd statement like this and not immediately be condemned by all is a testament to how far things have deteriorated in this country.

'Our nation faces many challenges, and it's incumbent on all Americans to find ways to bring us closer together to face the many challenges that lie ahead.

'Companies, politicians, celebrities - anyone who has a platform should be working towards that and [be] recognized and rewarded for that contribution.

'In much the same way, those that seek to further create dissent and sow discord should be rebuked and face condemnation for their actions,' he said.

Others took to social media to slam Penzeys, with Frank Moley writing the newsletter is 'just another reason I shop at The Spice House instead of Penzeys.

'Imagine calling your customers racists because of the party they vote for (especially when you ignore the real history, see civil rights act filibuster for just one example).'

Timothy Cox also wrote: 'Do these idiots not realize their party founded the KKK, started the Civil War and voted against desegregation?' And Tommy McDonald tweeted: 'I'm not sure what spices this POS of a CEO's company makes, but you can bet your a** if they're in my house they'll be in the garbage.'

Another Twitter user, sophisTom, simply wrote: 'If you buy/use Penzeys spices, it's time to stop.'

Ben & Jerry's said over the summer it will stop selling its ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, saying the sales in the territories sought by the Palestinians are 'inconsistent with our values'

But Penzey isn't the only CEO that has been losing conservative support for their views. Over the summer, the CEOs of woke ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's announced they would stop selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, claiming the sales in the territories sought by the Palestinians are 'inconsistent with our values.'

The move was slammed by supporters of Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a former leader of the West Bank settlement movement calling it 'an immoral decision and I believe that it will turn out to be a business mistake, too.'

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also slammed the decision, tweeting that: 'Now we Israelis know which ice cream NOT to buy'.

Then in September, the company announced that it is releasing a new ice cream flavor in support of a $10 billion bill by Rep. Cori Bush that would replace police officers with social workers and other first responders in incidents of mental health and substance abuse.

The Vermont-based ice cream company announced the limited batch, Change is Brewing, in a press conference Monday featuring the company's 'head of activism', Jabari Pall, and Bush herself.

The cold brew-flavored ice cream, complete with marshmallow swirls and fudge brownies, was developed in partnership with black-owned coffee and tea company Blk & Bold and New York's Greyston Bakery, known for its brownies.

'The flavor supports the vision of the world in which every community is safe and everyone including black and brown people can thrive,' Pall said.
A couple shocked fellow Tube passengers by snogging passionately for three stops - in the middle of the day.

Martin Besserman was travelling on the Central line at around 2pm on Sunday when the couple began kissing at Tottenham Court Road.

They then carried on through Oxford Circus and Bond Street to Marble Arch - with the woman straddling the man.

Martin Besserman was travelling on the Central line at around 2pm on Sunday when the couple began kissing at Tottenham Court Road. They then carried on through Oxford Circus and Bond Street to Marble Arch - with the woman straddling the man

Mr Besserman, a comedy club host and producer from Camden, north London, said: 'The pair of them just got on the carriage.

'He sat down and she wrapped her legs around him and snogged all the way through three stops.

'There was a poor young girl sitting next to me and she didn't know where to look. She definitely felt awkward.

'One of the most interesting things was the reactions of other people. Most people tried to pretend that it wasn't happening.'

Martin, a comedy club host and producer from Camden, north London, said: 'The pair of them just got on the carriage. He sat down and she wrapped her legs around him and snogged all the way through three stops'

Mr Besserman posted the photo of the incident on Facebook later that day - prompting mixed reactions.

Some posters also highlighted how the couple were technically were breaking Covid rules - as masks are compulsory on public transport.

'One person joked that it was the remnants of Boris' party. Another was saying how they were at least covering their faces to prevent Covid,' Mr Besserman said.

'One woman did give some moral support though, saying that everyone wants to meet someone to behave like that with.'
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A fascinating archive of a World War Two seaman who helped to sink the Bismarck has come to light, revealing an unlikely friendship with one of the few German survivors.

Lieutenant Aubrey Hollick served on the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire, which took part in the infamous destruction of the feared German battleship on May 27, 1941.

He wrote a letter home to his mother four days later which included his sketch of the huge ship's final moments, along with the caption: 'Bismarck on fire before we torpedoed her'.

The drawing shows smoke coming from the beleaguered vessel and, in the distance, the Royal Navy ships HMS Rodney and HMS King George V can be seen.

Between them, the British heavy cruisers fired 3,000 shells at the feared German vessel. Its sinking led to the deaths of 2,200 men. All 115 survivors were captured.

Lieutenant Hollick retrieved the life jacket of one of the survivors and kept hold of it for decades as a souvenir.

Thirty years later he decided to try and return the poignant memento to Germany and contacted the German Embassy in London for help.

They put him in touch with Herr Burkard von Mullenheim-Rechburg, the most highest-ranking survivor of the sinking after he was rescued by Lieutenant Hollick's ship.

A fascinating archive of a World War Two seaman who helped to sink the Bismarck has come to light, revealing an unlikely friendship he formed with one of the few German survivors. Lieutenant Aubrey Hollick (pictured left) served on HMS Dorsetshire, which took part in the infamous destruction of the feared German battleship on May 27, 1941

The two previous foes became pen pals and after exchanging letters they arranged for Herr Mullenheim-Rechburg to visit Lieutenant Hollick at his home in Hertfordshire.

However, Lieutenant Hollick's failing health meant this meeting never took place and he died in 1986.

One of Lieutenant Hollick's letters, penned in 1971, reads: 'As I was serving in the cruiser Dorsetshire at that time, I would have welcomed the opportunity of meeting you.

'We picked up about 100 survivors so I expect you must have been one of them.

'I was a seaman of 19 at the time and I kept one of the Bismarck lifejackets to remind me of the event.'

His German counterpart responded: 'I was delighted to receive your very kind letter.

'Unfortunately I never got round to answering you immediately or to come and see you at your home, which I would have liked to do.

On May 24, 1941, Bismarck (pictured) had sunk the battlecruiser HMS Hood - the pride of the British fleet - killing 1,415 of its crew. The devastating attack prompted Prime Minister Winston Churchill to issue his famous order to 'sink the Bismarck'

Lieutenant Hollick wrote a letter home to his mother four days after the Bismarck's sinking which included his sketch of the huge ship's final moments, along with the caption: 'Bismarck on fire before we torpedoed her'

'I hope to see you when I come to England the next time.'

Lieutenant Hollick became a pen pal of Herr Burkard von Mullenheim-Rechburg (pictured), the most highest-ranking survivor of the sinking of the Bismarck

Lieutenant Hollick was able to return the lifejacket to Germany where it went on display in a museum.

Lieutenant Hollick's archive, which also contains photos of his time commanding Motor Launch 837 against the Japanese in the Far East, has emerged for sale for 600 with C&T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent.

It was discovered during a clear-out at a military collector's estate.

Tim Harper, specialist at C&T Auctions, said: 'It seems to generally be the case that they were all doing their job rather than anything personal so once the guns fell silent they were all in the same boat.

'There was a mutual respect because they had fought, even if on different sides.

'The lifebelt was a unique memento and Lieutenant Horlick decided he wanted to return it to the seaman it belonged to in Germany.

'He contacted the German Embassy who put him in touch with Rechburg, a Bismarck survivor, and they exchanged warm letters.

'They wanted to meet up but never got the chance to do so because of Lt Horlick's failing health.

'It is an unusual and fascinating archive, and the sketch of the Bismarck 'on fire' is remarkable.'

On May 24, 1941, Bismarck had sunk the battlecruiser HMS Hood - the pride of the British fleet - killing 1,415 of its crew.

The devastating attack prompted Prime Minister Winston Churchill to issue his famous order to 'sink the Bismarck'.

The Bismarck was damaged during the attack on Hood in the Denmark Strait and had been attempting to reach the Nazi-occupied port of Brest in France for repairs when it was spotted and chased by the Royal Navy.

On the night of May 26, the ship was swooped on by 15 Swordfish biplanes. The attack jammed her two rudders and paralysed her.

Lieutenant Aubrey Hollick (left) served on HMS Daedulus, Pembroke and Mauritious. He is seen above with crew members holding artillery shells

Lieutenant Hollick's archive captured tense moments at sea. Above: Three crew members are seen on board a Royal Navy vessel

The archive's photo album captures life at sea. Lieutenant Hollick died in 1986, after serving on ships including HMS Dorsetshire

Lieutenant Hollick retrieved the lifejacket of one of the survivors and kept hold of it for decades as a souvenir. Thirty years later he decided to try and return the poignant memento to Germany and contacted the German Embassy in London for help. Above: The letter thanking him for sending the life jacket

Lieutenant Hollick's archive also details some of the places which he visited during his military tours. They included Tunisia and Suakin, in Sudan

Lieutenant also visited Sri Lanka, which was then known as Ceylon and was part of the British Empire

Lieutenant Hollick's images showed other ships, aircraft and coastal scenery. Lieutenant Hollick's archive, which also contains photos of his time commanding Motor Launch 837 against the Japanese in the Far East, has emerged for sale for 600 with C&T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent

Smiling crew members are seen enjoying themselves on the deck of one of the ships that Lieutenant Hollick served on during the war. Also seen is a British submarine

Lieutenant Hollic also took images of guns firing on one Royal Navy vessel, while another showed a craft painted in camouflage paint

Throughout the night and early hours of the next morning the ship was pummelled by nearly 3,000 shells fired by HMS Rodney, HMS King George V, HMS Norfolk and HMS Dorsetshire.

There was a suggestion that the crew had tried to surrender before the ship was sunk.

Had the Bismarck been captured, the lives of hundreds of Germans could have been saved.

It would also have been a prized catch for the British, allowing navy engineers to find weaknesses in the German fleet - including Bismarck's sister ship the Tirpitz which went on to wreak havoc on the Arctic Convoys.

But it would have been highly dangerous operation due to the number of U-boats and Luftwaffe aircraft in the area.

The destruction of the ship was famously portrayed in the 1959 film Sink the Bismarck!

Lieutenant Hollick, a talented artist who did watercolour drawings at sea, also served on HMS Daedulus, Pembroke and Mauritious.

After being rescued Herr Mullenheim-Rechburg remained a prisoner of war in Ontario, Canada, until after the conflict.

He became a German diplomat and in the 1960s served as West Germany's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He died in Bavaria in in 2003 aged 92.

The sale takes place tomorrow.
Microsoft is buying the gaming company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, gaining access to blockbuster games like 'Call of Duty' and 'Candy Crush.'

The all-cash deal will let Microsoft, maker of the Xbox gaming system, accelerate mobile gaming and provide building blocks for the metaverse, or a virtual environment.

The announcement Tuesday arrives with Activision still in turmoil over allegations of misconduct and unequal pay.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a conference call with investors 'the culture of our organization is my number one priority' and that 'it's critical for Activision Blizzard to drive forward on its' commitments to improve its workplace culture.

Activision disclosed last year it was being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission over complaints of workplace discrimination.

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is expected to leave his role once the deal closes, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Microsoft said in its announcement that he will continue to serve as CEO, and that after the deal closes, 'the Activision Blizzard business will report to Microsoft gaming chief Phile Spencer'.

On Tuesday, Kotick told the Wall Street Journal that he will 'always be available to ensure that we are going to have the best integration'. He did not comment on whether he would depart his role.

Microsoft announced on Tuesday it is buying video gaming giant Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion to gain access to blockbuster games including Call of Duty and Candy Crush. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick (pictured) is expected to leave his role once the deal closes, the Wall Street Journal reported. Microsoft said in its announcement that he will continue to serve as CEO, and that after the deal closes, 'the Activision Blizzard business will report to Microsoft gaming chief Phile Spencer'

The Fortune 500 company is responsible for World of Warcraft, Call of Duty and Candy Crush

Kotick, the second highest-paid chief executive in the country, said in October he would cut his yearly compensation from $154 million to just $62,500 - the lowest minimum salary allowed by California law. He slashed his pay and focused on overhauling the company's sexual harassment policy as it faces investigations from multiple state and federal agencies

The pay cut includes bonuses and stocks for an unspecified duration.

'I am asking not to receive any bonuses or be granted any equity during this time,' Kotick said.

The CEO's salary in 2020 was about $1.5 million, with the other $152.5 million coming from other incentives - placing him only behind Tesla mogul Elon Musk on the list of highest paid CEOs, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The deal announced on Tuesday follows Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition last year of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of video game publisher Bethesda Softworks, which is behind popular video games The Elder Scrolls, Doom and Fallout.

Microsoft said in both cases that the deals will help beef up its Xbox Game Pass game subscription service.

Activision Blizzard's stock rose about 27% and shares were trading at $86.55 off the back of Tuesday's announcement.

Activision Blizzard's stock rose about 27% off the back of Tuesday's announcement

Microsoft's opened down by 0.38% on Tuesday

On Monday, Activision Blizzard said it has fired 37 employees and disciplined more than 40 others since July as it deals with allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct.

Over the past seven months the company has received about 700 reports of employee concerns over sexual assault or harassment or other misconduct, in some cases separate reports about the same incident, The Wall Street Journal reported.

A summary of the personnel action has taken was scheduled to be released before the winter holidays, the Journal said.

But CEO Bobby Kotick delayed the release, arguing that it would make the company's workplace problems look even bigger than they were known to be, the paper added.

Activision denied as 'simply inaccurate' the allegation that Kotick held up the report, in a statement prompted by the Journal story.

'An interim update to our employees is still being worked on, and the company remains committed to continuing to provide periodic updates on its progress,' the statement said.

It said the company has completed reviews of 90 percent of the complaints it has received since July - it did not say how many there were - and that '37 employees have exited the company and another 44 received written reprimands, formal warnings or other discipline.'

In July, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued the Fortune 500 company over what it called a 'frat boy' culture.

The agency says women make up just 20 percent of the workforce and get less money, fewer promotions, are fired more often and suffer from 'constant sexual harassment.'

'Male employees proudly come into work hungover, play video games for long periods of time during work while delegating their responsibilities to female employees, engage in banter about their sexual encounters, talk openly about female bodies, and joke about rape,' the lawsuit states.

The suit names Blizzard President J. Allen Brack, who stepped down in August, and longtime World of Warcraft developer Alex Afrasiabi, who quietly left the company last year.

It alleges that Afrasiabi had a so-called 'Cosby Suite' at a hotel during corporate events.

Former World of Warcraft developer Alex Afrasiabi was referenced in a state lawsuit against Activision Blizzard in July. He quietly left the company last year

In July, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued the Activision Blizzard over what it called a 'frat boy' culture. The agency says women make up just 20 percent of the workforce and get less money, fewer promotions, are fired more often and suffer from 'constant sexual harassment'

'During a company event (an annual convention called Blizz Con [sic]) Afrasiabi would hit on female employees, telling him [sic] he wanted to marry them, attempting to kiss them, and putting his arms around them,' the complaint reads.

'This was in plain view of other male employees, including supervisors, who had to intervene and pull him off female employees. Afrasiabi was so known to engage in harassment of females that his suite was nicknamed the 'Crosby Suite' [sic] after alleged rapist Bill Crosby [sic].'

The video game blog Kotaku posted screenshots from social media showing Afrasiabi and other male employees posing with a framed portrait of Cosby, a convicted serial rapist and former comedian.

Activision Blizzard has already agreed to pay $18 million to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle a sexual harassment investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

'I truly wish not a single employee had had an experience at work that resulted in hurt, humiliation, or worse - and to those who were affected, I sincerely apologize,' Kotick said in October last year.

'You have my commitment that we will do everything possible to honor our values and create the workplace every member of this team deserves.'

The company also agreed to an outside monitor to make sure it's complying with he settlement agreement.

In September the federal Securities and Exchange Commission launched a probe into the company over 'disclosures regarding employment matters and related issues.'
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A serial entrepreneur couple who cashed in on the COVID testing boom are now at the center of a federal probe after being accused of fraud by customers who say they never received results or got negative test results via email before they had even taken the test.

Longtime entrepreneurs Akbar Ali Syed, 35, and his wife Aleya Siyaj, 29, of St. Charles, Illinois, have attached themselves to many trending business ventures over the years, including a donut shop, wedding photography and axe-throwing.

Their latest venture, the Center for COVID Control (CCC), is under scrutiny and being investigated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Oregon Department of Justice and multiple state health departments after numerous complaints from across the country, according to reports.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services documented numerous 'deficiencies' at the company's main lab, Doctors Clinical Lab, which has been reimbursed more than $124 million from the federal government's COVID-19 uninsured program, according to public data obtained by USA Today. The probe into the company was only magnified by the couple's social media posts boasting about their luxurious lifestyle, including the purchase of a Lamborghini, and a $1.36 million mansion.

The company, based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, has 320 testing locations in 22 states nationwide that offer free same-day rapid results, according to its state license. The company stated that at its peak, it collected more than 80,000 tests per day at the pop-ups, many of which are reportedly in sheds and storage units.

It was reported that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, conducted surveys at multiple CCC testing sites and 'the main laboratory' in November and December and found 'non-compliance' with numerous standards, affecting more than 400,000 tests.

A serial entrepreneur couple who cashed in on the COVID testing boom, reportedly spending their money on luxury cars and a $1.36M mansion (pictured) in St. Charles, Illinois, are now at the center of a federal probe after being accused of fraud

Aleya Siyaj, 29, left, and her husband, Akbar Ali Syed, 35, right, are longtime entrepreneurs who have attached themselves to many trending business ventures over the years, including a donut shop, wedding photography and axe-throwing. Their latest venture, a COVID-19 testing company, is now at the center of a federal probe

The federal probe into the company has been magnified by the couple's social media posts flaunting their luxurious lifestyle, including luxury cars. Pictured: A Ford GT pictured outside their $1.36 million mansion

Throughout the pandemic, there has been a struggle in the United States to find quick, easy and accurate testing.

So when the couple saw a market for a new venture, Siyaj, who is referred to by the company as the 'CEO and founder,' registered the business, the Center for COVID Control, in December 2020.

'CCC was founded to meet a critical market need to establish testing centers where COVID tests could be provided to patients rapidly and safely to minimize delay, and let people get on with their daily activities,' Siyaj said in a statement posted on the company's website on Thursday.

But by the end of 2021, the company began to experience trouble when the Omicron variant caused a surge in cases, according to USA Today. As testing increased, the CCC reportedly became overwhelmed, revealing cracks in the company's system.

Frustrated consumers took to social media, Google and the Better Business Bureau to complain about their experience with the company's 'sketchy' testing sites, many of which are pop-ups in sheds, storage units and empty store fronts.

There were complaints that some people had received negative test results via email before even taking their tests.

Others complained of delayed results or no results at all, calling the company, which has the Better Business Bureau's lowest customer review rating, a 'scam.'

'There were a TON of red flags that this company was a data mining scam that is a hazard to public health,' a person by the name of Scott F. posted to the BBB website on January 2, adding that the stations were 'not being cleaned or sanitized in between users collecting samples from their noses.'

'I have no confidence these sample were not potentially tainted by cross contamination due to dirty testing stations and haphazard collection practices,' he wrote.

The complaints date back to November 2021, when someone identified as Josh D. posted that the whole ordeal 'seemed very sketchy.'

'I just had a gut feeling that something seemed off,' he added. 'It was an office retail space with literally only a cheap desk in every room. Nothing else. It was super empty in a very odd way. It just seemed so off.'

Earlier this month, Kelly T. posted that 'there's no point to get tested' if they never get the results.

'Not to mention the safety aspect that they are doing testing inside a rented store front with lots of people jammed inside coughing,' she added.

'If you don't have COVID, you will by the time you leave. They should be shut down before someone dies from their failure to provide results. BBB please take notice.'

The BBB has posted an alert on their website about the CCC that states: 'The BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois is actively looking into this company as they have recently received numerous complaints both locally and from across the country.

'The company has been unresponsive to the BBB regarding the resolution of these complaints. Consumers allege problems with not receiving test results, poor customer service, and requesting personally identifiable information (driver's license, insurance, etc.). Consumers with outstanding concerns should still file a complaint with the BBB and the Illinois Attorney General's office.'

The Center for COVID Control has more than 300 testing locations (pictured) nationwide that offer free same-day rapid test results

Many of the sites, like the one pictured, are pop-ups in sheds and storage units

As complaints poured in, the couple continued to flaunt their lavish lifestyle and high-end purchases on social media.

On Syed's TikTok account, which was reportedly taken down on Thursday, he shared photos and videos of luxury cars. His nephew has a YouTube channel that focuses on the family's growing car collection.

In August 2021, Syed posted a photo of a pickup truck with the caption 'no hands ma!!' And he continued post about his extravagant purchases on the account.

At the end of the same month, Syed posted a video to his TikTok account of a red Lamborghini Countach being unloaded from a flatbed truck.

'Countach added to my collection,' Syed wrote in the caption. He also included the tag, '#entrepreneur.'

'Oil money?' a user asked.

No, Syed responded: 'COVID money.'

In November 2021, the couple became owners of a $1.36 million home in St. Charles, Illinois.

The Zillow listing features a 3.65-acre lot on a private road with a gated entry, three-car garage, circular front driveway, fountain, white pillars, iron double doors, crystal chandeliers and a curved floating staircase.

In December 2021, a video posted to the nephew's YouTube channel showed an 'unveiling' of a 2018 Ford GT. An identical 2018 Ford GT was sold for $985,000 on December 3, according to Bring a Trailer Auctions.

At the end of the month, two videos were posted to the channel showing a Ford GT parked in the driveway of the couple's St. Charles home.

On December 22, 2021, a 2003 Ferrari Enzo was auctioned off for $3.7 million to a person in Illinois, USA Today reported. Supercars.net reported the sale set a world record as 'the highest sale price achieved on an online car auction platform' and 'the highest sale price achieved for a Ferrari Enzo at an online auction.'

Syed posted a video to his TikTok account, which was taken down last week, of a red Lamborghini Countach being unloaded from a flatbed truck and when a user commented, asking if it was oil money, he responded 'COVID money'

The couple, whose company made millions off COVID testing, shared photos all over social media of their purchases, starting with a pickup truck last year. The company is now being investigated by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on allegations of fraud

In November 2021, the couple purchased $1.36 million home in St. Charles, Illinois (pictured), complete with a curved floating staircase

The Zillow listing of the couple's house (pictured) features a 3.65-acre lot on a private road with a gated entry, three-car garage, circular front driveway, fountain, white pillars, iron double doors, crystal chandeliers and a curved floating staircase

The couple has previously launched several business ventures.

In 2013, Syed started a wedding photography business. And his wife has reportedly launched at least six businesses.

Siyaj owned the O's Donuts & Cafe, which launched in 2017 and closed in November 2020, according to USA Today.

She is also listed on LinkedIn as the owner of Axe Range, an axe-throwing lounge, which closed in 2020. She reportedly recently established Aenaz, Lom Investments and Testing Solutions.

And she is listed as the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Center for COVID Control.

DailyMail.com reached out to Siyaj for comment.

Aleya Siyaj, who reportedly launched six businesses in the past five years, is pictured in front of the couple's $1.36M mansion
Song Ji-ah wears a tube top with the Dior oblique pattern on it on Netflix's reality dating show, "Single's Inferno." Courtesy of Netflix



By Lee Gyu-lee



Song Ji-ah, a cast member of Netflix's Korean reality show, "Single's Inferno," has admitted to the ongoing rumors that she wore counterfeited luxury brand goods in her YouTube videos and on the show.



The social media star, who rose to global fame after starring in the dating show, released a statement through her Instagram account, Monday, apologizing to the public.



"I apologize to everyone who has been disappointed and hurt by my actions.  There has been a controversy over clothes that I wore on social media and 'Single's Inferno.' And it is true that some of the items were knockoffs," Song wrote.



"I am sorry that my behavior damaged designers' creative work and infringed on copyright."



She added that as a person who "dreams of launching her own brand" in the future, she intends to take this issue seriously and deeply reflect on herself.



"I have deleted all the videos that contain fake luxury goods. I also want to extend my apology to all the brands that were affected by my actions."



The issue surfaced online, Sunday, when an online user posted a video on YouTube claiming that Song has been wearing counterfeit goods of high-end brands like Chanel, Dior and Versace.



The video pointed out that the crewneck short-sleeve sweater with Chanel's logo and bikini with Versace's signature design pattern on it which she wore on the show were replicas of the brands' actual designs. It said that her tube top with Dior's oblique pattern on it, worn on the show, is not an authentic product but one with a fake logo of the brand.



The YouTuber went on to question the authenticity of other accessories and clothing Song wore on social media and her YouTube channel, including a necklace from French luxury jewelry brand Van Cleef and Arpels.





A scene from "Single's Inferno" / Courtesy of Netflix
A killer who stabbed a pregnant woman to death had been allowed to leave a mental health unit despite being 'very psychotic' and telling doctors that he was descended from dinosaurs, an inquest heard today.

Ryan Blacknell, 28, had agreed to visit the Campbell Centre in-patient mental health unit days before attacking Ella Parker while she was decorating the nursery at her home in December 2017.

An inquest before Dr Sean Cummings today heard that Blacknell's mother had called police saying that he had threatened with her a knife.

While at the mental health unit, he told medical staff that he believed he was descended from dinosaurs.

Though community psychiatric nurse Celestina Onah recommended he stay in hospital for 48 hours, she did not have 'concrete reasons' for him to be detained under the Mental Health Act  meaning he was allowed to leave.

Blacknell later stabbed Miss Parker 33 times with a screwdriver at her flat in Milton Keynes, killing the 29-year-old and her unborn son.

Ryan Blacknell (pictured) had agreed to visit the Campbell Centre in-patient mental health unit days before attacking Ella Parker while she was decorating the nursery at her home in Milton Keynes in December 2017

Blacknell later stabbed Miss Parker (pictured) 33 times with a screwdriver at her flat in New Bradwell, killing the 29-year-old and her unborn son died

In 2018, the killer was detained at Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital under mental health laws after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Miss Onah told the inquest today: 'He (Blacknell) came across as very psychotic, but was trying his best to cover that up.

'The threats to his mum indicated he was not well. He was asking 'Can I please go?'. I said 'You are not well enough to leave'.

Miss Onah said if he had remained, he could have been assessed without the effects of any drugs or alcohol in his system.

The nurse was asked by the coroner if she was commonly presented with patients saying they were descended from dinosaurs or were dinosaurs.

She replied: 'Yes, they present with delusions or paranoid. Sometimes it may be drug and alcohol symptoms.'

The crime scene at Miss Parker's home in Milton Keynes in December 2017

The coroner asked: 'Now you know she was viciously killed, was there anything you missed?'.

She replied: 'I think maybe if we had not let him out initially we would have been able to assess his mental health. I did communicate my concerns (to staff at the hospital). I am not sure what I could have done differently.'

Gareth Powell, a social worker and approved mental health worker for Milton Keynes council, said he and two doctors assessed Ryan Blacknell at the police station after his arrest.

He said they believed he had the mental capacity to be interviewed by detectives.

'We did not believe he was presenting with a severe mental health issue at that stage,' Mr Powell said.

'If he was observed in another environment they may conclude he may have a more severe mental illness.'

The inquest continues.
A calf born on a farm in India has started attracting visitors who believe it to be the incarnation of a Hindu god thanks to its third eye - and an extra pair of nostrils.

Despite its extra features, the unusual animal, which was born in the village of Rajnand, Chhattisgarh, has been deemed fit and healthy.

Some locals have claimed that the baby animal is an incarnation of Lord Shiva - one of the three gods of Hinduism.

This has even led to people making special journeys to the farm in order to see the three-eyed calf - with some believing that the birth of the animal will bring luck and prosperity to the village.

A calf in the Indian village of Rajnand, Chhattisgarh, has been born with a third eye and an extra pair of nostrils

Some locals have claimed the animal is an incarnation of the Hindu god Shiva - and have made special trips to see the animal and deliver gifts

Some locals believe that the birth of the animal will bring luck and prosperity to the village

Farmer Neeraj Chandel said: 'As soon as the cow gave birth, we thought it had some kind of a wound on his forehead before finding it as an eye with the help of a flashlight.

'We then found four nostrils which further saw the locals thronging our home after the nocturnal birth.'

Locals have been offering gifts of coconuts and flowers to the newly-born calf.

The mother cow has previously given birth to two calves before who were 'normal' and are now fully grown.

It is understood that the third eye on the animal has been caused by a hormonal disorder.

The calf weighs around 30lbs and has a longer tongue than any other calf.

Despite the animal's extra facial features, it is believed that the calf is fit and healthy

Private practitioner Madan Anand warned people not to get too carried away though, saying that the extra eye and nose is 'just another case of deformity'

It is understood that the third eye and additional nose are the result of a hormonal disorder

Gifts such as coconuts and flowers have also been left for the calf by locals

'The calf is moving normally and drinks milk from the mother's udder and makes good use of the third eye on his forehead.

'It's more like God has visited us,' said Neeraj.

However, private practitioner Madan Anand said: 'The birth of a calf is just another case of deformity. It has nothing to do with superstitions or even faith.

'People should be made aware especially those who are from rural areas who tend to worship such animals.

'The local veterinarians in their respective domains such held awareness campaigns to avoid such practices.'
Garcetti has claimed multiple times to have no knowledge of his ex-adviser Rick Jacob's alleged harassment

A former staffer for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said she was 'abandoned' by Senate Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee after the panel voted to move his nomination as US ambassador to India forward despite allegations he covered up for an adviser accused of sexual assault.

'Ive been a womens advocate and a loyal Democrat my entire life, and I feel really abandoned by the party I love,' Naomi Seligman told Los Angeles Magazine on Monday.

Seligman is one of four women who accused ex-Garcetti adviser Rick Jacobs of sexual harassment, which Jacobs denies.

She claimed the Democratic mayor of California's largest city knew about Jacobs' behavior and did not intervene to stop it, and accused President Joe Biden of 'not caring' about her and other sexual assault survivors' concerns.

Pressed about some of the accusations at his Senate confirmation hearing in December, Garcetti told Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen that he 'never witnessed' Jacobs' alleged harassment nor was he made aware of it.

Garcetti's nomination was approved by the Democrat-led Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week. Seligman slammed lawmakers who voted to advance Garcetti as 'pathetic.'

She pointed out the party's stated commitment 'to #MeToo and women,' adding that they 'did not live up to those values.'

'Wheres Kirsten Gillibrand? Wheres Elizabeth Warren? Where are these warriors for women? That guts me... Has #MeToo ended in the Senate? If we dont have them, who do we have?' Seligman asked.

Naomi Seligman (left), a former aide in the Los Angeles Mayor's office, tore into 'pathetic' Senate Democrats for voting to move Garcetti's nomination forward despite allegations he ignored bad behavior from his ex-adviser Rick Jacobs (right)

Neither Senators Gillibrand nor Warren are on the Foreign Relations committee.

Biden rewarded Garcetti's early support of his 2020 bid in July when he nominated him to be ambassador to India in July last year.

The White House told LA Magazine that the president believes Garcetti's repeated claims that he had no knowledge of the accusations.

But Seligman accused Biden of simply not caring.

'When the White House was asked about the sexual harassment case their reaction was, "Oh, the mayor said he didnt witness anything and we believe him." What they were saying was that victims experiences dont matter,' Seligman charged.

'That the testimony I and many other key witnesses gave under oath didnt matter. Its not that they didnt believe us - they just didnt care.'

Seligman gave a deposition in a lawsuit brought against Jacobs by Los Angeles Police Department Officer Matthew Garza, a member of the mayor's security detail, who alleged Jacobs harassed him over a period spanning years.

Biden rewarded Garcetti's early support of his presidential campaign in July when he nominated the California Democrat to be his ambassador to India

The ex-aide accused Jacobs of pinning her and 'pulling me into him and kisses me on the lips for some long, uncomfortable period of time.'

In her Monday interview Seligman called out a double standard between Biden urging disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to step down over sexual harassment allegations against him, and the president standing behind Garcetti.

'Its confounding that, on the one hand, President Biden would have urged Governor Cuomo to resign, but on the other he would nominate a person who has enabled and covered up sexual abuse as ambassador to one of our most important allies,' she said.

Seligman added, 'That blows my mind.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the White House, and Warren and Gillibrand's offices for comment.

Garcetti landed in hot water in October when it was revealed he was one of 200 members of the wealthy California elite to attend Hunter Biden's Los Angeles art show.

The First Son's new venture into art saw his paintings valued as high as $500,000 despite having no formal training or experience.

It also raised ethical concerns over whether the ultra-rich would seek to curry favor with Hunter's powerful dad by buying the art, which the White House was forced to defend against multiple times.

'Should we expect to see more people who seek jobs in this administration attending events like this in the future?' CBS News journalist Steven Portnoy asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki in October.

In a follow up question Portnoy told Psaki the situation was 'exactly what ethicists said they were worried about.'

'That the presidents son would be selling artwork and then meeting potentially with people who would seek to buy it. If you have attendees who might be seeking either jobs in this administration or favors from this administration, isnt this an awkward situation for the president?' Portnoy pressed.

Psaki referred questions on the matter to Hunter's gallerist.
Nearly three dozen former Trump officials held a conference call last Monday to discuss undermining their former boss's influence in the 2022 and 2024 elections.

Among those who participated were former White House communications directors Alyssa Farah Griffin and Anthony Scaramucci, former White House chief of staff, retired Gen. John Kelly, former Homeland Security and counterterrorism adviser to Vice President Pence Olivia Troye, according to CNN, which first reported the news.

Griffin, now a CNN commentator, became a target of the president after she claimed that he knew he lost the 2020 election. On Monday she publicly encouraged Republicans to challenge Trump.

'DeSantis should run,' she wrote on Twitter Monday, quoting news that Trump had called the Florida governor 'dull.' 'So should Pence, Pompeo, Haley, Cotton, Tim Scott, Sununu, Hogan, etc. Credible Republicans with governing experience should challenge Trump. There's zero reason to nominate Trump again when R's have a bench & Biden is polling in the 30s.'

Troye told DailyMail.com the call was a 'preliminary discussion,' and the group plans to convene again soon.

'We are very concerned about the ongoing trends we are seeing by some of the more extremists following in Trumps rhetoric and footsteps,' she said. 'Its bigger than just Trump.'

Troye, who also served on the White House coronavirus task force and left the Trump administration in August 2020, made headlines the following month when she encouraged Republicans to vote for Biden due to Trump's 'flat out disregard for human life' with the pandemic.

She claimed the Trump suggested maybe the pandemic was a 'good thing' because he would no longer have to shake hands with 'disgusting people.'

Former Department of Homeland Security official Elizabeth Neumann, and former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Chris Krebs were also on the call. Miles Taylor, author of the famed 'Anonymous' New York Times op-ed and former DHS chief of staff, led the efforts.

Taylor told CNN that ideas for sabotaging Trump included 'shining a light' on his corporate contributors or targeting each of the candidates he endorses in state and local elections for defeat in the primary and general elections.

Kelly, who said he was only able to 'monitor' about 10 minutes of the hour-long call, is shying away from the idea of endorsing specific candidates.

Nearly three dozen former Trump officials reportedly held a conference call Monday to discuss undermining their former boss' influence in the 2022 and 2024 elections

Among those who participated were former White House communications directors Alyssa Farah Griffin (above)

Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, above, who served as White House chief of staff, also briefly tuned in to the call

One thing the group agreed on: their efforts are way behind those of the former president, who with a $115 million war chest has come out in full force with rallies, endorsements and campaigning.

Trump has bestowed his blessing upon almost 100 candidates who have agreed to go along with his claims of election fraud in the 2020 election.

Trump-endorsed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has made the president's election fraud claims front and center to her campaign, and it won her the president's endorsement, an invite to Mar-a-Lago and the former president stumped for her in Florence, Arizona over the past weekend.

Asked by NPR if candidates must 'press [his] case' of election fraud in order to win an endorsement, Trump pointed to Lake. 'She's very big on this issue. She's leading by a lot,' Trump said.

One individual said there was unanimity on the call that 'this cannot just be a professional trolling operation, putting out ads like the Lincoln group.'

Former Homeland Security and counterterrorism adviser to Vice President Pence Olivia Troye and former Department of Homeland Security official Elizabeth Neumann were also on the call

Miles Taylor, author of the famed 'Anonymous' New York Times op-ed and former DHS chief of staff, led the efforts on the call

Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci also participated in the call

The Lincoln Project was a band of so-called anti-Trump GOP strategists who fought for Democrats in the 2020 election with bill boards across the D.C. area and beyond. The group's influence fizzled amid allegations of workplace abuse and infighting and a number of bizarre stunts, including placing five fake backers of then- Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Glen Youngkin carrying tiki torches at a Charlottesville campaign stop.

Taylor concurred. 'We all agreed passionately that letters and statements don't mean anything,' he told CNN. 'The two operative words are 'electoral effects.' How can we have tangible electoral effects against the extremist candidates that have been endorsed by Trump?'

The group has plans in the works to hold another call next week.

Former national security adviser John Bolton was not on the call, but his top aide Sarah Tinsley joined to share new polling from Bolton's super PAC finding that Trump's hold over the party was waning.

A November 2021 Marquette University poll finding that 60% of Republicans still want Trump to run again and 73% say they would vote for him if he were the nominee.

Trump has dropped a series of unsubtle hints that he intends to run for the presidency again, but has not come out with a formal announcement.

'I believe 2024 will be even more important,' the former president said at his first rally of 2022 in Florence, Arizona. 'That is the year we are going to take back the House, we're going to take back the Senate and we are going to take back America. And in 2024, we're going to take back the White House.'

GB News' Nigel Farage asked Trump during a sit down at Mar-a-Lago in December, 'Why on earth would [you] consider going into that hell again?'

'So I love our country,' Trump said. 'If you love the country you have no choice. It's not a question.'

'This is a wonderful, beautiful life,' Trump said of his lavish existence in Palm Beach. 'But I like that [being president] too because I was helping people. That's why I did it and I think you'll be happy in the future too because that'll be your next question. You'll be happy.'

And Trump this week has set the stage for all-out war with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his longtime ally.

Trump reportedly said the popular governor has 'no personal charisma' and a 'dull personality' as rumors swirl the ex-president is angry DeSantis hasn't declined to challenge him for the GOP presidential nomination.

DeSantis, however, has told his inner circle that Trump's 'expectation that he bend the knee is asking too much,' the New York Times reported.

The governor blasted back at Trump's criticisms, accusing the ex-president of being 'uncharacteristically out of step with the hard-line elements of his party's base'.

Sources close to the former president who have recently talked to him about the governor said Trump has grown increasingly irked by DeSantis in recent months, with Trump beginning to voice his frustrations to those in his inner circle.

Trump is said to be annoyed that DeSantis has refused to rule out running against him if he launches a second White House bid. The Florida governor is extremely popular in Republican circles, and is widely seen as a leader who can push policies popularized by Trump, but without the same level of drama or baggage.

'In the context of the 2024 election, he usually gives DeSantis a pop in the nose in the middle of that type of conversation,' a source who recently spoke to Trump about DeSantis told Axios.

The president also claims 'there's no way' DeSantis would have ever been elected Florida governor without his support.

The two are among the most popular Republican figures in the country, and with Trump eyeing another presidential run in 2024, many political pundits believe he is irritated by DeSantis' interest in running against him and his growing popularity.

Trump is said to be further annoyed that DeSantis won't say he will not run against the former president if he did opt to launch another White House bid.

'I wonder why the guy won't say he won't run against me,' Trump has questioned to several associates and advisers, according to the Times.
An eight-months pregnant migrant was rescued by firefighters after she got stuck while attempting to cross from Mexico to the United States in the frigid Rio Grande.

The Nicaraguan woman, who was identified only as Jorleni, initially was spotted around 4:45am Sunday standing on an islet in the river by drivers in Piedras Negra, Coahuila. First responders were alerted.

The 23-year-old woman then waded across the river, where temperatures hovered around 33 degrees, before a group of firefighters entered a shallow part of the Rio Grande to stop her from continuing.

Two firefighters in Coahuila, Mexico, spent an hour talking to Jorleni, a 23-year-old pregnant woman from Nicaragua, who was trying to walk through the Rio Grande in hopes of reaching the United States. The migrant, who is eight months pregnant, was convinced to return to the shore where paramedics treated her for hypothermia. She was unharmed

Jorleni told authorities that she was with another friend when she briefly stopped the trek from Mexico to the United States border via the Rio Grande because of the advanced stage of her pregnancy

'We found her climbing on an island where she managed to save herself, but she was already hypothermic,' Coahuila Civil and Fire Department director Jose Contreras told Mexican newspaper El Universal. 'Even so, she did not want to go back and we struggled to convince her.'

The migrant told authorities that she was accompanying a female friend on the illegal trek to the Texas side of the Mexico-United States border.

However, her advanced pregnancy stopped her from going further. The young woman rested on the islet and then tried to proceed when she saw the firefighters arrive.

Jorleni, an eight months pregnant woman from Nicaragua, is escorted to the Coahuila, Mexico, shore of the Rio Grande after she was stopped by firefighters from continuing her journey to the U.S. border

It took nearly an hour for them to persuade her to forgo the dangerous crossing but eventually they escorted her to the Piedras Negra shoreline of the Rio Grande in Mexico where paramedics from the Red Cross were waiting.

She was taken to a local hospital; the woman was unharmed.

The woman, whose case was referred to the National Institute of Migration, remains in Piedras Negra.

According to Contreras, authorities recovered the bodies of at least 166 foreign nationals and Mexicans who drowned attempting to cross from Coahuila to Texas in 2021.

At least two people have drowned attempting to reach the United States border during the first two weeks of the new year.

Mexican government data shows more than 252,000 undocumented migrants were intercepted in the country between January 2021 and November 2021. At least 100,000 were deported during the same period.
A truck driver bolted as Texas law enforcement discovered 28 undocumented immigrants stuffed into the cab of his semi-truck - just 600 miles from the Mexican border.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and investigators with the Laredo Police Department pulled over the big rig, driven by Dartavious Raytrell Dixon, 24, of Houston, last Tuesday.

In footage of the incident captured on law enforcement dashcam, he can be seen opening the passenger-side door of the cab and bolting down the highway in Laredo as an officer approaches the driver's side. Officers quickly catch up to him.

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Dartavious Raytrell Dixon, 24, was charged with 27 counts of smuggling a person, one count of evading police and one count of smuggling a minor on January 11

Dixon can be seen running from the cab of his truck after he is pulled over by police with 28 migrants stuffed into the cab of his truck

Twenty-eight migrants - six women, one minor and 21 men - were found stuffed inside the vehicle

It is unclear whether the migrants were detained and why the semi was pulled over at first

Huddled inside the vehicle were 28 undocumented immigrants - 21 men, six women and one minor.

They can be seen piling out onto the roadside in the video, but the Texas Department of Public Safety did not respond to a request for information about whether they had been detained and where.

It is unclear whether police had reason to believe that Dixon was smuggling immigrants in his vehicle, or if he was pulled over for an unrelated reason.

The bust took place just 600 miles from the Mexican border in Laredo, Texas. Migrants can be seen crammed into the cab of Dixon's truck

Each migrant said they paid up to $16,000 to be smuggled into San Antonio, where they would then disperse to ten different states

Each migrant said they paid up to $16,000 to be smuggled into San Antonio, Texas, then relocated into ten states nationwide, according to Fox News. The outlet said that Dixon used WhatsApp to arrange the illegal trip with cartel members.

Currently, Dixon is being held at Webb County Jail in lieu of $156,000 bail, according to jail records. He has been charged with 27 counts of smuggling a person, one count of smuggling a minor and one count of evading police.
A former Royal Navy gunner dubbed the 'Brighton cat killer' after he carried out a string of deadly attacks on pets has died.

Security guard Steve Bouquet was jailed last year in relation to the deaths of nine cats and injuries to seven more.

His carried out his deadly spree in the East Sussex city between October 2018 and May 2019 before finally being captured on CCTV set up by the owner of a dead feline.

Brighton cat killer Steve Bouquet (pictured above), has died in hospital, the Prison Service has announced. He had been suffering from thyroid cancer which had spread to his liver and lungs

Between October 2018 and June 2019, Bouquet stabbed at least 16 pet cats across the seaside resort, killing nine and seriously injuring seven

On Tuesday, the Prison Service confirmed that he had died at hospital on January 6.

The cause of death is not known, but at his sentencing hearing the court was told Bouquet had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which had spread to his liver and lungs.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Steve Bouquet died at Maritime Medway Hospital on January 6 2022.

'The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.'

Bouquet was jailed for five years and three months at Hove Crown Court last July after being found guilty of 16 offences of criminal damage in relation to the cats, as well as possession of a knife.

Bouquet served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, including in Northern Ireland and Iraq.

During his trial, jurors heard accounts from several cat owners who had found their pets bleeding on their doorsteps.

Nine cats - Hendrix, Tommy, Hannah, Alan, Nancy, Gizmo, Kyo, Ollie and Cosmo - were killed, while another seven were injured.

Bouquet served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, including in Northern Ireland and Iraq

Nine cats - Hendrix, Tommy, Hannah, Alan, Nancy, Gizmo, Kyo, Ollie and Cosmo - were killed, while another seven were injured

Sentencing him, Judge Jeremy Gold QC said his behaviour was 'cruel, it was sustained and it struck at the very heart of family life'.

He added: 'It is important that everyone understands that cats are domestic pets but they are more than that. They are effectively family members.

'They are much loved by the adults and children who live with and care for them.

'Cats and all domestic animals are a source of joy and support to their owners, especially during lockdown.'
A female cop has died from a bullet wound to the head following an argument with her boyfriend in Texas, police said.

Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Amanda Crowder, 33, of Houston, a mother of two, died in the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center after a shooting on Monday.

She and her boyfriend reportedly left the Kung Fu Saloon on Washington Avenue around 12.45am on Monday, then got into an argument and Crowder was shot. It is unclear if her service weapon was used, where exactly she was when the shooting occurred and who fired the shot.

Her boyfriend, whose identity has not been released and who is said to be a Houston firefighter, drove to Fire Station 6, also on Washington Avenue, for emergency help after hearing 'hearing a gunshot' and then saw 'the victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the head,' the Houston Police Department, who is investigating the incident, said in a press release.

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Harris County Police Deputy Amanda Crowder, 33, of Houston, Texas, a mother of two, has died in the hospital after allegedly shooting herself in the head on Monday

Crowder reportedly shot herself after an argument with her Houston firefighter boyfriend, whose name has not been released by police

Crowder was transported to the hospital in critical condition, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a tweet.

'An off-duty HCSO deputy sustained a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound. She's currently hospitalized in critical condition,' he tweeted around 5.30 on Monday.

Hours later, the deputy, who became a cop when she was 19, died from her injuries.

The Houston Police Department is investigating the incident and has not confirmed if the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or not. Officers were seen at Fire Station 6 inspecting the boyfriend's white pickup truck.

No charges have been filed and there have been no arrests in the case.

The pair got into an argument after leaving Kung Fu Saloon (pictured) on Washington Avenue in Houston around 12.45am on Monday

After the shooting, her boyfriend drove her to Fire Station 6 (pictured), which is located on the same road as the restaurant, for emergency medical attention

She was transported to the hospital in 'critical condition' and the Houston Police Department was seen inspecting his white pickup truck (pictured) at the station

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed her death on Twitter around 10.45am on Monday

'Our hearts are heavy and filled with sadness over the death of HCSO Deputy Amanda Crowder,' Gonzalez wrote in a tweet on his personal page around 10.45am Monday. 'Please keep her, her family, and our agency in your thoughts and prayers.'

A GoFundMe page was set up by coworker Terry Garza to help Crowder's two daughters.

Several friends and coworkers have made tribute posts for 'Manda Marie,' including her tattoo artist BK Klev (left) and Terry Garza (right), who has started a GoFundMe for Crowder's two daughters

Crowder was well-beloved among her fellow police officers and has been serving her community since she was 19

Coworker Terry Garza made a GoFundMe page to help Crowler's two daughters

'My heart has been shattered since I got the call.

'So many of us have been devastated since we all heard about it,' Garza wrote. 'Her two beautiful daughters and family members are now having to go on without her. These funds are being raised to help them out since she is now gone.

'If you knew her, you knew she was a great person with a big heart. if you didn't know her, she was an amazing mother, daughter, sister, police officer, and friend.'

So far, more than $3,000 of the $25,000 goal has been raised.

Several tribute posts have popped up honoring the fallen officer, including from Rex Evans, who works in the Constable Office in Harris County and wrote on Facebook: 'There was something inside of you which drove you to always strive to be your absolute best.'

'As a daughter and yourself being a mother, your tenacious drive to be not just a good person, parent and friend, you strived each and every day to, be an example. To, in fact, be a beacon of light for your children and everyone around you.

'Truly, you were the kind of cop, who very few in this profession earn and are described as A Cops, Cop. You excelled because you wouldnt quit.

'One damn good cop. But more importantly, one great daughter, mom and friend. The kind of person, we should all, aspire to one day, ourselves, actually be.'

Taylor Sharp, who had been doing the officer's hair for the 'past couple of years,' said to 'rest easy sweet girl.'

Her tattoo artist, who goes by BK Klev, said on Instagram: 'This one is so heavy on my heart.

'Please take a moment to focus on Manda, her infectious smile, her beautiful relationship with her girls and family, and all of those whose lives she touched and will continue to be part of.

'Godspeed, beautiful. You are missed already.'

DailyMail.com has contacted HPD for comment.
The parents of a two-year-old girl who died after choking while at nursery have today questioned whether the toddler was properly supervised.

Sadie Salt is thought to have choked on a sausage while having lunch with 25 other children at Mini Learners in Radlett, Hertfordshire.

She died in hospital on November 12, 2020, two days after the incident.

At a pre-inquest review at Hertford Coroners' Court today, representatives for Sadie's parents Zoe and Adam Salt, raised questions about the level of supervision at the nursery.

They also raised concerns about the timing of the 999 call, the rescue attempt by staff and have requested to see First Aid certificates and evidence of training courses and childcare qualifications.

Charlotte Gilmartin, representing Sadie's family, said: 'The family would like to raise issues about the 999 call and the response to the incident.

Senior Coroner Geoffrey Sullivan said he hoped an inquest would hear the 'fullest picture possible' of how Sadie Salt died

Sadie's parents Zoe and Adam Salt said in a statement: 'Nothing can make up for the devastating loss of our daughter, but part of being able to come to terms with what happened will be hearing a clear account of the events of that day.'

'The extent to which there was training and supervision on that day and how staff were organised and able to respond to events such as this.'

An inquest jury is set to determine the facts of Sadie's death at a two or three-day hearing expected to take place within the next six months.

Evidence is expected from Ofsted, the Department of Education, police, doctors and the local council.

Today the pre-inquest review heard that a 'distressing' 999 call made as Sadie began choking may be show to the jury.

Senior Coroner Geoffrey Sullivan said he hoped an inquest would hear the 'fullest picture possible' of how Sadie died.

Speaking about the 999 call, Mr Sullivan said: 'I have listened to it, it is distressing.'

However, he added that it could be 'possibly better than any live evidence' that may be heard from witnesses.

A decision has not yet been made over whether a transcript of the call or the call itself will be played to the jury.

Concerns relating to food safety guidance will also be addressed, it was revealed at the pre-inquest hearing today.

Mr Sullivan said: 'The guidance at first appeared to be a matter of great concern.

'The information coming through to this office from the statements from the nursery was that they weren't aware of any guidance in relation to food provision and in particular relation to choking hazards.

'My officer contacted the Department for Education and was able to access specific early years guidance published in March 2017.

Senior Coroner Geoffrey Sullivan said he hoped an inquest would hear the 'fullest picture possible' of how Sadie (pictured) came about

Sadie started choking on the sausage while having lunch at Mini Learners nursery (the synagogue where the nursery is, pictured) in Radlett, Herts

'There is also an updated statutory framework and that has reference to food and drink. The 2021 version contains specific guidance.'

Sadie's parents Zoe and Adam Salt, from Barnet, London, said in a statement: 'In the time that has passed since Sadie's death we have suffered grief and heartbreak that no family should have to endure.

'Nothing can make up for the devastating loss of our daughter, but part of being able to come to terms with what happened will be hearing a clear account of the events of that day.

'We are grateful to the coroner for at this early stage making the space to consider whether there are wider public interest issues surrounding the death of Sadie.'

The inquest, which is expected to last a week, has been adjourned until a date which has not been set.

Sadie's family have raised more than 60,000 for COSMIC, the charity that supports the Children's Intensive Care Unit at St Mary's Hospital in London, since her death.

An online petition to ban nurseries from serving sausages and grapes to under 5s meanwhile was launched after Sadie's death and gained 12,000 signatures.
Dutch police last night discovered the body of a Belgian child whose disappearance five days ago sparked a massive search spanning two countries.

The body of four-year-old Dean Verberckmoes was found on Neeltje Jans, an island in the southern Dutch Zeeland province, near the Delta theme park.

Police were led to the body by the child's babysitter Dave De Kock, 34, who was arrested in the Dutch town of Meerkerk about 60 miles northeast of Neeltje Jans earlier in the day.

A manhunt was triggered on Thursday last week after Dean's mother, Elke Verberckmoes, raised the alarm when De Kock failed to return her son to his grandparents' house in Belgium.

It comes as Belgian prosecutors revealed Dean's abductor had previously been given a 10-year jail sentence for the neglect and abuse of a two-year-old boy, resulting in his death in 2008.

De Kock's sentence ended in December 2018, and police believe he likely groomed Elke to gain access to her son.

Elke told Belgian TV that her son considered De Kock to be 'something of a cuddly uncle'.

The body of four-year-old Dean Verberckmoes was found on Neeltje Jans, an island in the southern Dutch Zeeland province, near the Delta theme park. He was abducted by his babysitter

Dave De Kock, 34, was arrested for abducting Verbeckmoes yesterday daytime and led police officers to the four-year-old's lifeless body later that evening. Dean's abductor had previously been given a 10-year jail sentence for the neglect and abuse of a two-year-old boy, resulting in his death

The body of four-year-old Dean Verberckmoes was found on Neeltje Jans, an island in the southern Dutch Zeeland province, near the Delta theme park. Police were led to the body by the child's babysitter Dave De Kock, 34, who was arrested in the Dutch town of Meerkerk about 60 miles northeast of Neeltje Jans earlier in the day

Police investigate the scene at Neeltje Jans in Zeeland, the Netherlands, on 17 January 2022, where the body of the missing 4-year-old Belgian boy Dean was found

Child abuser De Kock regularly minded Dean and his younger sister according to Elke, who was undergoing treatments for depression and needed support with childcare.





De Kock was supposed to take the child to his grandparents on Thursday and when that did not happen the mother reported him missing.





Verberckmoes was last seen in the Belgian city of Sint Niklaas near Antwerp on Wednesday in the company of a man, who was later identified as De Kock.

Police triggered an international search amid fears that De Kock and the toddler had crossed the border from Belgium, and as a result of De Kock's prior conviction for neglecting and abusing Miguel Van Kriekinge, aged two, in 2008.

The suspect, who has a record of drug use, was severely intoxicated upon his arrest yesterday, police sources told The Times.

De Kock then co-operated with authorities and led them to make the discovery of the body later that evening.

Police said the body was discovered close to the Delta theme park on Neeltje Jans, an island that forms part of the Oosterschelde flood barrier and is popular with Dutch tourists.

'The police investigation pointed to a possible crime scene on Monday evening... and a police helicopter also joined the search,' Dutch police said.

'Around 10pm (9pm GMT) the lifeless body of a child was found.

'We thank everybody who helped and are sending condolences to his family,' they added.

Police cars are stationed during an investigation following the discovery of the body of a missing 4-year-old Belgian boy, Dean Verberckmoes, at Neeltje Jans near Vrouwenpolder in Zeeland on January 18, 2022

The case has raised concerns over how De Kock was able to gain access to Verbeckmoes in the role of a babysitter given his alarming criminal past.

Prior to the death of Van Kriekinge in his care, De Kock had befriended the boy's mother, Sandra Verbeek - a move which closely resembled his approach with Elke Verbeckmoes.

Elke, who appeared to have no suspicions of De Kock's chquered past, told Belgian TV that the abductor had regularly looked after her two children and looked after her son every Wednesday.

'When Dave was baby-sitting for them they always said they'd mucked about and played games with him,' she said.

'There was no indication that he had other plans this time.'
Actor Seol Kyung-gu / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Actor Seol Kyung-gu said the characters in "Kingmaker" are fictional, but they are inspired by prominent politicians, including former President Kim Dae-jung who served from 1998 to 2003. Because the film is inspired by the story rather than a factual telling of it, he had more room to take the film in a far more different direction than the true events.



In the political drama, Seol plays Kim Woon-beom, an opposition party candidate who has failed in several local elections. He teams up with "Seo Chang-dae (Lee Sun-kyung) to win the local election and run for the presidential election. The ambitious and unprincipled Seo uses all means to subvert the powers that be and put Kim in the position of presidential candidate.



The acclaimed actor revealed he was under a lot of pressure because he had to portray a well-known and respected public figure in Korea's modern history.



"The first script for 'Kingmaker' had real people's names. Because Kim Dae-jung was loved and admired by many in our country, I turned down the role. I told director Byun Sung-hyun I wanted Chang-dae's role instead, but he firmly declined. So I asked him to use fictional names instead of real name because it's not a biopic," he said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.



He recalled a nerve-wrecking moment when he presented the film to the late president's family. "We held a VIP screening a few days ago, and the late president's son came to watch our film. I was so nervous, I held down my head and avoided eye contact during the entire event. I later heard that he enjoyed the film," he added.





Actor Seol Kyung-gu in a scene from the film "Kingmaker" / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M
In her memoir, she wrote: 'I turned on the taps for the tub and the heat from the water began to steam up the small room . . . Trying to do the best of my youthfulness to try and act seductive'

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Ghislaine Maxwell's former London pied-a-terre, where Prince Andrew allegedly had sex with Virgina Roberts, is on the market less than a year after she sold it to help pay legal fees for her high-profile trial in the US.

Maxwell sold the mews house in London's Belgravia, just a stone's throw from Harrods, last April for 1.75 million as she prepared to face charges that she recruited and trafficked young girls to be sexually abused by the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Maxwell, 60, was found guilty by a jury last December and faces up to 65 years in prison as she awaits sentencing after fighting the case, which is estimated to have cost her around 7 million.

Her former Belgravia home was purchased by a property development company and is now up for sale for 2.6million, a price which it is likely to fetch given its location in one of London's most exclusive districts.

Ghislaine Maxwell's mews house in Belgravia (pictured) is on the market for 2.6m seven months after she sold it for 1.75m

Would be buyers will get the opportunity to bathe in the bathroom (pictured) where Virginia Roberts alleges that she had sex with Prince Andrew in the bath one night in 2001 when she was a 17-year-old trafficking victim of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Ms Roberts claims that she slept with Prince Andrew at the Belgravia home of Maxwell shortly after this photo was taken of them all together on the first floor landing of the property, which is outside the bathroom

A floor plan of Maxwell's former home (above) shows where the well-known photo was taken which is central to Ms Giffre's civil case against Prince Andrew which is due to be held in the US later this year. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing

The three double bedroom property is said to be where Andrew was photographed with his arm around the bare waist of then 17-year-old Roberts, one of convicted paedophile Epstein's victims, who is now known by her married name as Virginia Giuffre.

The stylish but simple house has emerged as central to her civil action in the US against Andrew. She alleges she had sex with him in the bathroom of the property, one of three occasions in 2001 she claims that she was forced to have sexual relations with him on the orders of Epstein and Maxwell.

Andrew has always strongly denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he has never even met Ms Roberts, now a 38-year-old mother-of-three living in Australia.

The home (above) is being sold by Wellbelove Quested, based in Knightsbridge, specialising in high end properties

In her memoir, recalling her visit to Maxwell's Belgravia house, she wrote: 'I turned on the taps for the tub and the heat from the water began to steam up the small room . . . Trying to do the best of my youthfulness to try and act seductive, I gradually began to strip off my clothing, piece by piece . . . He loved every second of it as I went over to where he was waiting and watching, then began to undress him.'

She also described the bath as being a 'Victorian-style bathtub in the middle of the room' which was on a beige marble tiled floor.'

Ms Roberts claimed that after being with Andrew at Tramps nightclub, where he was 'raining sweat' over her in March 2001 they returned to Maxwell's Belgravia home to have sex.

Andrew hit back at the allegations in a BBC Newsnight interview, denying that he was able to sweat because he had an 'overdose' of adrenaline in the Falklands war when he was shot at.

He insisted that for him it 'was almost impossible to sweat.'

Ms Roberts' lawyers have since asked for medical evidence to prove this as they prepare their civil case against Andrew.

Pictures on property websites where Maxwell's former home is being advertised show a distinctly different bathroom to the one described by Ms Roberts and it could emerge as key issue in Andrew's defence.

There is no a free-standing Victorian bathtub in the middle of the second-floor bathroom room, which according to the property's floor plan, measures 8.2 feet by 7.3 feet.

The property's historic floorplan taken from a 1987 planning application shows a 'standard size'  5ft 6in by 2ft 4in  alcove bath, boxed in on two sides by walls and on a third by the back of the airing cupboard.

Current images show almost the same layout with an average sized alcove bath on one side, with a sink unit and toilet close by as well as a shower area.

Property website Prime Location describes the house, with this spacious lounge (above) it as a 'charming mews house' which requires updating 'with plenty of potential for an incoming purchaser'

The property, which comes with a shabby chic kitchen (above) was purchased last year by Hampshire-based property developers and financers Stuart Robinson, 52; Emma Jane Robinson, 55 and Amy Robinson

The current owners of the home, which comes with at least one en-suite bathroom (above) stand to make a profit of 850,000 if they achieve the sale price of 2.6million, having purchased it for 1.75million just seven months ago

Insiders revealed that no major renovation work has been carried out to the property since its sale by Maxwell aside from its exterior being painted

Maxwell insisted under oath during a defamation action brought against her by Ms Roberts that 'the tub is too small for any type of activity whatsoever.'

It was reported that members of Maxwell's legal team also climbed into the bath together, fully clothed, to test the physical possibility of an assignation such as that described in Ms Roberts' account.

Epstein also questioned the account of what was alleged to have taken place in the bath, given its size.

In his book Relentless Pursuit, Ms Roberts' lawyer Brad Edwards wrote that the bath was discussed when he met Epstein in a Starbucks in Boca Raton, Florida, in 2015. The tycoon had contacted him out of the blue.

He claimed that Epstein had said to him: 'If I could show you how small Ghislaine's tub was in that apartment, it would be tough for two people to fit in there.'

Maxwell sold the property in July last year before her sex trafficking trial began in the US where she was accused of grooming teenage girls for the paedophile US billionaire financier Epstein (pictured together) to have sex with

Ms Roberts, who is now a 38-year-old married mother-of-three living in Australia (left) , is suing Prince Andrew in the US where she is pursuing him for a civil claim as she alleges having sex with him three times when she was a teenager (right)

Property website Prime Location describes the home it as a 'charming mews house' which requires updating 'with plenty of potential for an incoming purchaser.'

It adds: 'The property consists of a generous ground floor reception room with kitchen adjoining. Two double bedrooms alongside a family bathroom on the first floor, and the master bedroom with en-suite, dressing area, study and terrace encapsulating the whole 2nd floor.'

Insiders revealed that no major renovation work has been carried out to the property since its sale by Maxwell aside from its exterior being painted.

Maxwell's former Belgravia home was purchased last year by Hampshire-based property developers and financers Stuart Robinson, 52; Emma Jane Robinson, 55 and Amy Robinson, whose age is not known.

They stand to make a significant profit of 850,000 if they secure the asking price and have been using the property as a London base since purchasing it.

The Robinsons run a property company called Stay Calm Residential Limited in Southampton, which is worth an estimated 20 million and has extensive real estate interests in London and the South East.

Maxwell's former home is being sold by agents; Wellbelove Quested, which is based in Knightsbridge and specialises in high end properties. The company has been contacted for comment.
Former Attorney General William P. Barr has a memoir coming out March 8 titled 'One Damn Thing After Another,' and billed by his publisher as a 'vivid and forthright book' of his time serving two 'drastically different' presidents, Donald Trump and George H.W. Bush.

'Barr takes readers behind the scenes during seminal moments of the Bush administration in the 1990s, from the LA riots to Pan Am 103 and Iran Contra,' William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced Tuesday.

'With the Trump administration, Barr faced an unrelenting barrage of issues, such as Russiagate, the opioid epidemic, Chinese espionage, big tech, the COVID outbreak, civil unrest, the first impeachment, and the 2020 election fallout,' the description continued.

Attorney General William Barr has a memoir out in March, titled 'One Damn Thing After Another' and is billed by his publisher as a 'vivid and forthright book' of his time serving two 'drastically different' presidents, Donald Trump and George H.W. Bush

This cover image released by William Morrow shows 'One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of An Attorney General' by William P. Barr. The book will be released on March 8

The title of the long-rumored book refers to an expression Barr had heard about the nature of the job of attorney general.

Barr, now 71, served under Bush from 1991-93 and under Trump from 2019-2020.

Barr had initially been one of Trump's most ardent allies and was accused of being willing to sacrifice the independence of the Justice Department on behalf of the president.

One of his most controversial actions involved special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of ties between Russian officials and Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.

Before the full report was made public, Barr framed the results in a manner favorable to Trump, even though Mueller pointedly said he couldn't exonerate the president of obstruction of justice.

But Barr parted with Trump a month after the 2020 election when he told The Associated Press that the DOJ had uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud. That contradicted Trump's false contentions that fraud cost him the race against Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

An enraged Trump met with Barr soon after the AP interview was published and alleged, 'You must have said that because you hate Trump, you must really hate Trump.'

Barr stepped down shortly before Christmas in 2020.

After the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the election results, Barr issued a statement in which he condemned Trump for 'orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress.'

'The President's conduct yesterday was a betrayal of his office and supporters,' he added.
A former teacher at a prestigious private school attended by ex-Chancellor George Osborne will serve another five years behind bars for abusing two more boys when they were 12.

David Samson, also known as David Egan Samson-Mallett, 74, was employed at St Pauls Preparatory School (formerly Colet Court) in Barnes, southwest London, in the late 1970s.

Samson was jailed for 14 years and nine months in 2016 for a series of historic sex attacks against three pupils, aged 14 or under.

One of those victims had attended St Pauls while the other two went to Spencer Park School in Wandsworth, and De Stafford School in Caterham, Surrey between 1976 and 1983.

In April last year, Samson admitted four counts of gross indecency with a boy under sixteen, three counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery.

The charges relate to two boys he abused between 1976 and 1980 - both victims reporting the crimes independently to the police in 2017.

David Samson, also known as David Egan Samson-Mallett, 74, will serve another five years behind bars for abusing two more boys when they were 12.

He was employed at St Pauls Preparatory School (formerly Colet Court) in Barnes, southwest London (pictured), in the late 1970s

Prosecutor Heather Stangoe said that the abuse of the first victim started when his parents hired Samson as a maths tutor when the boy was only 12.

Ms Stangoe. said: [The victim recalls going alone to the defendants house in Barnes for maths tutoring.

As he was leaving, he recalls being in the lounge at the defendants house and the defendant being in the hallway.

The defendant opened his dressing gown and revealed his erect penis to the boy. He told him not to mention that to anyone else.'

The boy was horribly naive at the time and did not share the incident with his parents.

His parents became friends with Samson and his wife and would frequently invite them over for meals.

During one visit, the defendant reached under the table and touched his penis over his clothing, said Ms Stangoe.

The court heard that during those visits the predator manufactured a reason to take the boy up to his bedroom and proceeded to molest him.

The defendant would tell him to lie naked on the floor. He took photographs of the naked boy, said the prosecutor.

The brazen abuse continued even when the victims parents were in the house, with Samson once making the boy perform oral sex on him and on another committing a serious sex attack on him.

In total, the abuse went on for a period of about 18 months to two years.

He felt unable to tell his parents, that they would be ashamed of him and they would think it was his fault and that they would not believe him, Ms Stangoe added.

It wasnt until after he confided in a friend in University and the victim was persuaded to share his story.

[He] feels that had he been brave enough to report what happened to him at the time other boys who had been abused by this defendant would not have suffered, said the prosecutor.

In April last year, Samson admitted four counts of gross indecency with a boy under sixteen, three counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery

It has affected [him], not surprisingly. He failed at school, left without any qualifications. He started to drink and take drugs at 14.

He found it very difficult to form relationships with anyone but fortunately now has children and grandchildren, said Ms Stangoe.

The court heard that the abuse of the second victim started when he was 12 and 13 and took maths lessons at Samsons house.

The first time the defendant touched him he was sitting at a table, said the prosecutor.

He asked [the victim] to stand up and he put his hands down his tracksuit bottoms and grabbed hold of his testicles.

He remembers that it hurt and he told the defendant to get off him. The defendant did and they sat back down.

On another occasion, Samson left the room and returned completely naked, which the shocked schoolboy tried to ignore by looking down on his studies.

[The victim] refused to go back to the house and told his mother what happened. She went back to the defendants address and told him what she thought of him.

His father reported the matter to the police but it was decided not to put a young teenager through the trauma of giving evidence, said Ms Stangoe.

In 2017 he became depressed. It was his fiancee that convinced him to do something against the man who cast such a shadow over his adulthood.

The court heard the abuse turned the second victim from an outgoing and popular schoolboy to someone withdrawn and who experienced bullying.

Nicola Shannon, defending, said Samson understands he is facing a sentence of further imprisonment of some length.

He has expressed blatantly to me that his greatest fear is that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

She urged the judge to exercise some measure of mercy to allow him some time in the community to spend time with his children and old friends.

Judge Martin Griffith told the former school master: These are historic offences of sexual abuse committed by you from the 1970s onwards.

I deal with you today against a background of you having been sentenced by me for sexual abuse in a school you taught between 1983 to 1985.

The judge said that while the latest two victims had not come forward during Samsons 2016 trial he would consider how he would have dealt with it if they had when passing sentence.

Sentencing Samson to five years consecutive in jail, he added: It is a great and shocking consideration that that you move from child to child to child throughout your offending here.

Bearded and bespectacled Samson attended court via video-link from HMP Ashfield in Bristol where he is serving his sentence.

He left St Pauls School in 1975 and moved to Spencer Park School in Wandsworth, where he taught between 1976 and 1981.

Samson then went on to teach at a girls school until 1991.

Occupying a 45-acre site beside the Thames, near Hammersmith Bridge, St Pauls boasts facilities, including a purpose-built art gallery and 230-seat theatre.

Famous former pupils of the top school, established in 1509, include the Chancellor, Mumford and Sons banjo player Winston Marshall and TV presenter Dan Snow.

Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve was also a pupil at the school in the Sixties.
A social worker who groomed and sexually abused children in 1980s Lambeth sex abuse scandal has been jailed for another five years for more attacks on two boys.

Leslie Paul, 70, worked at the Lambeth council-run South Vale assessment centre on a temporary basis during the 1980s looking after vulnerable children.

The former special constable groomed four young boys with money and cigarettes before abusing them between 1980 and 1988.

Some were molested at the home itself, while others were abused at Paul's flat in Herne Hill, south London.

In 2016, he was convicted of 17 historical sexual offences against children in his care and jailed for a total of 13 years.

On Monday, Paul was sentenced to another five years by Judge Freya Newbery after he was convicted of nine counts of indecent assault, two of indecency with a child and one of buggery against two boys aged 13 and 14, between 1981 and 1982.

Leslie Paul (pictured), 70, worked at the Lambeth council-run South Vale assessment centre on a temporary basis during the 1980s looking after vulnerable children

The five-year sentence will run consecutively to the 13-year sentence he is already serving.

Paul had admitted sexually abusing four boys at the home when he appeared at the Old Bailey in 2002.

He was charged as part of Operation Middleton, a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of abuse at Lambeth children's homes.

A report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) looking into the allegations found that staff with Lambeth Council failed children in care and foster homes repeatedly from the 1960s.

Sexual and other abuse of children was 'widespread' in Lambeth Council's residential and foster care homes during the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the report said.

Paul molested underprivileged boys as young as 12 after starting work at South Vale in West Norwood in 1979.

Operation Middleton, a joint probe involving the Metropolitan Police and Lambeth Council, traced 200 victims between 1998 to 2003 and secured three convictions, including Paul.

Detective Constable Lisa Main, the investigating officer from Central Specialist Crime, described the care worker's actions as 'evil and calculated'.

In 2016, Paul was jailed for 13 years for 17 historical sexual offences against children. On Monday, Paul (pictured) was sentenced to another five years

She added: 'The two victims who contacted us are now men and have been carrying the trauma of what happened to them for an incredibly long time.

'They were young, in care and vulnerable, and they were preyed upon by Paul... He ruthlessly used and abused the trust placed in his position as a care worker in the most disgusting, evil and calculated way.

'He behaved as if he thought he could get away with it.

'I commend and thank these two survivors for coming forward to report to us what happened to them.

'They have supported us steadfastly throughout our investigation and through the judicial process.

'I hope the knowledge that no other victims will suffer at Paul's hands will go some small way to bringing them some peace of mind as they look to the next chapters of their lives.

'If you have been the victim of a historic sexual offence, I urge you to report it to us. Any discussion will be in the strictest of confidence, we will listen to you, and we will do everything in our power to bring any offenders to justice.'

Paul is already subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The father of slain UCLA student Brianna Kupfer has revealed that his 24-year-old daughter was not supposed to be working on the day she was stabbed in cold-blood inside a high-end furniture store - and he laid some blame for her death on politicians and their skewed priorities.

'I blame what's endemic in our society right now, is that everybody seems to be oriented on giving back rights and bestowing favor on people that rob others of their rights,' Todd Kupfer told Fox News.

Kupfer said he is not blaming any politicians by name, but he argued that their job is 'to make communities better, to make people care more, not to tear down communities by exposing them to people that are falling out the bottom, that really don't care about other human beings and just think they can do whatever they like in our society.'

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Todd Kupfer (right) went on Fox News on Tuesday to talk about the cold-blooded murder of his daughter, 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer, who was stabbed to death in LA last week

Todd told host Steve Doocy that he blames politicians and their skewed priorities for the rising crime rates in communities

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com

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Surveillance video shows a suspect in Brianna's murder calmly walking away from the crime scene in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon

Brianna Kupfer, a graduate student and design consultant, was working alone at the luxury Croft Home furniture store on Thursday afternoon when police say a man, who they believe was homeless, walked into the business, stabbed the employee to death, and then fled out the back door.

As of Tuesday morning, police have not identified a suspect or announced his arrest.

Brianna's father confirmed to Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy that his daughter was not supposed to be at work that day.

'You can question everything, you can spend your nights with all the 'what if's... but it doesn't change anything,' Todd Kupfer said. [Brianna is] a dedicated person. She was at work that day.'

He added: 'I don't know why she was there alone, but she was. I don't think anybody would have anticipated that this could possibly happen there.

'I don't think anybody is to blame other than the assailant - the awful person that did this to my daughter.'

Todd Kupfer said he wants his daughter to be remembered 'as a person, a human being and a caring, loving and devoted family member and a great friend and just a rising star.'

The architectural design student from Pacific Palisades was discovered lying in a pool of blood 20 minutes later by a horrified customer, who was heard screaming, 'Oh, my God!.' Kupfer died at the scene before help could arrive.

Brianna was not supposed to be working last Thursday, but she ended up at the store alone. Her father said no one could have predicted that she would be attacked

Todd (far left) said he wants his daughter Brianna (pictured hugging a pet) to be remembered as a 'rising star'

The LAPD determined that it was a random attack and the suspect did not know the victim. Police say he was wearing a dark hoodie, sunglasses, a white N-95 mask, and carrying a dark back pack.

'Crime is truly spiking, and we have a lot of criminals on the streets that shouldn't be out,' Kupfer's father told Fox News.

His daughter had been working as a design consultant for about a year at the high-end furniture store popular with celebrities like Mandy Moore, whose Pasadena home features a Croft House sofa, according to Architectural Digest.

'She was a kind soul and always was trying to make herself better and everything around her better,' Kupfer, said as he fought back tears. 'She cared about people.'

The murder comes amid a huge crime surge in Los Angeles, with homicides in Los Angeles rising 52 per cent last year from 2019, and shooting incidents were up 59 per cent, according to LAPD data.

Kupfer says he believes politicians are ignoring this spike in violent crime.

'We need to champion [my daughter] as a beacon of what's wrong and make sure that people recognize that  because it could be their children next, and it's just an impossible price to pay,' he said.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon is under fire for failing to crack down on the recent spike in violence.

He won over voters last year with promises of sweeping criminal justice reforms that critics say put the interests of criminals before the safety of the community, Fox News reported.

Brianna (center right) leaves behind her mother, father, brothers Brandon and Tucker and her sister Mikaela, who was her best friend, her family said

Brianna Kupfer, 24, was stabbed to death in a random attack last Thursday while she was working in a luxury furniture store in Los Angeles

LA crime is on the upswing, according to police statistics. Shooting victims have increased 10.6 percent year-to-year and 53 percent from the same point in 2019

The killing comes amid a huge crime surge in Los Angeles, with its woke District Attorney George Gascon under fire for failing to crack down on the violence

The city has also suffered a shocking wave of follow-home robberies and organized smash-and-grab attacks on retailers.

Jacqueline Avant, the 81 year-old wife of music producer Clarence Avant, became the most high-profile robbery victim when she was shot and killed at her $2.7 million Beverly Hills mansion in December.

On January 3 in nearby San Jose, nine hammer-wielding thugs stormed a San Jose shopping center and smashed glass display cases at three stores before fleeing with $110,000 in jewelry.

Los Angeles police arrested 14 people last November in connection with 11 recent smash-and-grab robberies at stores, where nearly $340,000 worth of merchandise was stolen.

A Los Angeles Nordstrom, a Lululemon in Studio City, a Fairfax district store, and a CVS pharmacy in South Los Angeles were among the stores hit.

However, due to county's zero-bail policies, the suspects were all released within hours of being handcuffed.

Gascon said of rising crime rates: 'The reality is that we go through these cycles, and we go through the cycles for a variety of reasons  In many ways we cannot prosecute our way out of social inequalities, income inequalities, the unhoused, the desperation that we have.'

Police said the male suspect (pictured) is believed to be homeless and fled through the back door before calming walking down an alley

The architectural design student from Pacific Palisades was alone in the Croft House store on La Brea Avenue in LA's upscale Fairfax neighborhood when a man entered around 1:50 p.m. and stabbed her. She was found 20 minutes later by a customer

Gascon is currently embroiled in a dispute over a transgender woman who has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, with the DA saying she could be allowed to serve her sentence under house arrest.

He refused to prosecute the 26-year-old Hannah Tubbs as an adult for the crime committed two weeks before her 18th birthday.

On New Year's Eve in 2014, Tubbs spotted a 10-year-old girl at a Denny's in Palmdale, California, followed her into the bathroom, held her by the throat and forced a hand down the girl's pants.

Gascon is refusing to sentence Tubbs as an adult because the defendant was 17 when the attack took place.

Jon Hatami, a prosecutor and supporter of the movement to recall Gascon, said Tubbs was too dangerous to be in the juvenile system.

'This clearly shows you the dangerous aspect of the blanket policies of George Gascon,' he said.

Separately, Gascon is facing another scandal after his own cops went over his head to ask federal prosecutors to charge the alleged killers of an off-duty LAPD officer.

LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva sought out the federal prosecution for the four gang members accused of killing Officer Fernando Arroyos, 27, on January 10 over fears pursing them through Gascon could lead to lighter sentencing.

Last year, Gascon axed sentencing enhancements - such as membership of a gang - that would have seen Arroyos' alleged killers potentially jailed for life if convicted.

California law stipulates a sentence of 25 years to life without parole, whereas Gascon's reforms would see killers offered parole after completing their sentence.

The federal charges they now face come with enhancements which automatically lengthen a sentence should the person be convicted to life without parole.

Gascon previously announced he had decided to no longer pursue sentencing enhancements in cases involving gangs as part of an increasingly controversial prison reform policy aimed at boosting 'equity.'

A memorial for Kupfer has formed outside the Croft House in the days following the deadly attack

A heartfelt note posted to the store's window this week talks about how Kupfer was beloved by her coworkers

Riley Rea, co-owner of Croft House, told the LA Times that Brianna was beloved by her coworkers at the store where she had worked for a year.

She added: 'She was mature beyond her years.'

A heartfelt note was posted to the store's window this week that reads: 'The entire Croft House family is deeply saddened by the devastating loss of our beloved team member on January 13, 2022. Our La Brea Avenue showroom will be closed until further notice to allow our team members to grieve and process this unthinkable tragedy and in order for law enforcement to complete their investigation.

Please keep the family, friends, and colleagues in close thought during this difficult time as we mourn, cherish, miss, and honor someone we care for so much. The entire Croft House family sends our love to our team member's family and friends. Please direct all questions related to this tragic event to the LAPD.'

At the bottom of the page is a handwritten note that reads: 'We love you so much.'

Dr. Jennifer Botelho, the owner of a nearby chiropractic office, said the suspect entered her business shortly before the stabbing.

She said: 'He came in and asked a couple of questions: 'Do you do orthopedics here?' What kind of care we provide, and then he left. So he was just here for a few minutes.'

She added: 'It's terrifying. It's horrible. She's such a young girl.  We feel so horrible for Brianna's family, and hope we can catch this guy.'

Her father described as her an 'angel' and a clever young woman who was devoted to her family with big aspirations.

Brianna leaves behind her mother, father, brothers Brandon and Tucker, and her sister Mikaela, who was her best friend, her family said.
Sarah Everard campaigners who were threatened with 10,000 fines over a vigil at Clapham Common will tell the High Court that the Metropolitan Police breached their human rights.

Members of collective Reclaim These Streets had hoped to raise awareness and provoke change by organising a gathering of women on the common close to where Sarah was kidnapped while walking home from a friend's house on March 3 last year.

However, despite liaising with police, the organisers cancelled the event and 'strongly encouraged people not to gather' amid fears they would be hit with 10,000 fines.

A crowd of around 1,500 people demonstrated at the south London common anyway, though, resulting in scuffles breaking out as police surrounded a bandstand covered in flowers left in tribute.

Dozens of officers had moved in on the bandstand at the vigil to block access to speakers, sparking tensions in the crowd as mourners started chanting 'arrest your own' and 'shame on you' as scenes quickly turned violent.

The Met received widespread criticism for its heavy handed tactics on the night, which resulted in four arrests.

Almost a year later, members of Reclaim These Streets are set to appear in High Court on Wednesday and Thursday to claim the Met Police decision to threaten fines was against their human rights.

Patsy Stevenson, a Physics student at Royal Holloway, was pinned to the floor after joining hundreds of women to mourn Sarah's death at a vigil on Clapham Common in south London on March 13

Sarah Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Met officer Wayne Couzens while walking home in south London

People clash with police during a gathering at a temporary memorial site around the Clapham Common Bandstand

The organisation has revealed a summary of the argument it intends to put forward to court this week, arguing police breached their right to freedom of speech and assembly.

The collective has said if they win, they will claim 'modest damages' that will be given to a charity focused on preventing violence against women.

In a statement, Reclaim These Streets said: 'The evidence in our case shows nonetheless that the Police failed to discharge the responsibilities they have in a democratic society in the context of Article 10 and 11 rights - to facilitate peaceful protest.

'Rather than starting from the premise that the vigil represented an important exercise of individual rights to freedom of expression and association and seeking to facilitate the lawful exercise of those rights, they adopted the stance that the proposed gathering was unlawful and that they should actively deter those organising it and attending it from doing so.

'We therefore ask the Court to make a declaration that our rights under Article 10 and 11 of the HRA [Human Rights Act] were breached.

'If we succeed, this will set an important precedent - not only on policing during the pandemic, but also on the importance of the police not using high level decisions Parliament has made as reason to evade their human rights responsibilities.'

Well-wishers gather beside floral tributes to honour murder victim Sarah Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common in south London on March 14 last year

Vigils were held across the country on March 13 last year following Sarah's disappearance.

She was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Met officers Wayne Couzens, who used Covid laws to stop, handcuff and stage a fake arrest before strangling her 'with his police belt'.

He pleaded guilty to her kidnap and rape at the Old Bailey on June 8, before admitting murder at the same court on July 9.

Couzens was sentenced to a whole life order on September 30.
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On the night of March 20, 1974, crazed gunman Ian Ball tried to kidnap Princess Anne

It was the kidnap attempt which nearly took the life of the daughter of the Queen.

On the night of March 20, 1974, crazed gunman Ian Ball used his Ford Escort car to force the limousine carrying Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips to stop as it was being driven down The Mall.

He then used a pistol to fire volleys of shots through the Austin Princess's windows, prompting the devoted Captain Phillips to shield his wife before he tried to bundle her out the other side of the car.

Anne's police bodyguard, Detective Inspector Jim Beaton, tried to intervene to protect his charge but his gun, a Walther PP, jammed and he was shot three times in the chest and arms.

In the ensuing melee to stop Ball, a further three people were shot  including Anne's chauffeur and another policeman.

Ball was finally stopped when he was bundled to the ground by officer Peter Edmonds after being punched in the head by passing former boxer Ronnie Russell, who had led Anne to safety.

Whilst Ball was later declared to be mentally ill, it emerged in 2014 that he had claimed in police interviews that 'one good thing' to come out of his 'audacious' crime was that officials would 'have to improve' Anne's protection.

Anne is now one of the members of the Royal Family who only receive protection during engagements and official duties, whilst the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate get full-time police bodyguards.

On Sunday, it emerged Prince Harry is taking legal action against the Government over its decision to remove his UK police security after he and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down as working royals two years ago.

Yesterday, Harry was told by former head of royal protection Dai Davies that he cannot 'pick and choose' when he wants to visit the UK and receive bodyguards.

Mr Davies pointed out that Anne does not get full-time protection despite her ordeal.

Ball used his Ford Escort car to force the limousine carrying Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips to stop as it was driving down The Mall. He then used a pistol to fire volleys of shots through the Austin Princess's windows, prompting the devoted Captain Phillips to shield his wife before he tried to bundle her out the other side of the car. Above: The aftermath of the kidnap attempt. Ball's car is seen blocking the path of the royal limousine

Anne's police bodyguard, Detective Inspector Jim Beaton, tried to intervene to protect his charge but his gun, a Walther PP, jammed and he was shot three times in the chest and arms

Prince Harry is told Met Police is NOT for hire as ex-royal cop warns he 'can't pick and choose when he wants to come to UK' Prince Harry 'cannot pick and choose' when he wants to visit the UK and receive protection, a former head of royal protection has warned. The Duke of Sussex should not be expecting bodyguards supplied to him when he decides to return home, Dai Davies said. Mr Davies, who was Operational Unit Commander for the Royals from 1995, told GMB: 'He chose to go to America, that's his prerogative. 'And it's our prerogative to ensure when we look at any aspect of protection, any member of the Royal Family that we actually look and assess it through various security agencies. That's the crux. 'And it's been decided in this level, one they won't supply him with protection because the risk at this stage is deemed low. 'However should there be a risk when he comes then clearly the Metropolitan Police would be duty bound.' He went on: 'Clearly it has been reviewed in the same way as so many other royal security have been done. 'Princess Anne for instance, his aunt, she doesn't get full time protection we're told now and yet arguably in 1974 she was nearly kidnapped and/or murdered. 'Her protection officer was shot. However, with regards to Harry, he can't pick and choose when he wants to come. 'There has never been a precedent where somebody pays for their security in this country. If it's required, it will be provided.' Advertisement

The kidnap attempt on Princess Anne took place at around 8.30pm on March 21, 1974. She and her husband, whom she had married the previous year, had been on their way back to Buckingham Palace after attending a charity film screening.

Inside the car with the couple was Anne's lady-in-waiting Rowena Brassey. Chauffer Alex Callender was at the wheel.

Ball had followed Anne's car down The Mall and overtook it opposite Clarence House before braking sharply to force the limousine to stop.

He then got out and began shooting as he tried to get into the car.

A witness, named as Miss Sammy Scott, told the Daily Mail at the time: 'I could see Princess Anne and Mark huddled in the back of the car.

'They were on the opposite side to the gunman. Suddenly, I saw a man fall down in front of me. He had been shot. He was covered in blood. He lay on the pavement.

'Another man, a detective I suppose, came running up. I said to him: "This man has been shot, why doesn't he go to hospital?"

'The detective looked at me for a moment and then said: "So have I". He opened his jacket and I could see blood pouring from his shoulder. Then he also collapsed.'

DI Beaton, who is now in his 70s, was shot immediately as he tried to intervene, meaning that he missed when he fired his first and only round before his gun jammed.

He was then shot twice more when he instead opted to try to use his body to protect Anne and her husband

He later explained how security measures have changed since the incident. He said: 'I had nothing.

'There was no back-up vehicle. The training was non-existent; but then again, we thought nothing was going to happen. They are highly specialised now, highly trained.'

Brian McConnell, a journalist who had been following the couple, also tried to intervene to stop Ball and was shot in the chest. Mr Callender was also shot.

When Ball told Anne he was going to kidnap her and ordered her to get out of the car, the princess is alleged to have replied, 'Not bloody likely!'.

However, as others then tried to stop Ball, Anne did opt to get out of the car.

The passing former boxer Mr Russell, who won the George Medal for his bravery efforts, led the princess to safety before hitting the gunman twice in the head.

When PC Michael Hills came across the situation, he too was shot after calling for backup and then trying to intervene.

When support arrived in the form of Detective Constable Peter Edmonds, Ball was finally arrested.

Although DI Beaton, PC Hills, Mr Callender and Mr McConnell were hospitalised, all recovered and were able to continue their careers.

The kidnap attempt on Princess Anne took place at around 8.30pm on March 21, 1974. She and her husband, whom she had married the previous year, had been on their way back to Buckingham Palace after attending a charity film screening

A witness, named as Miss Sammy Scott, told the Daily Mail at the time: 'I could see Princess Anne and Mark huddled in the back of the car'

As well as Mr Russell's award, DI Beaton was awarded the George Cross by the Queen, whilst PC Hills was also handed the George Medal.

Speaking in 1984 about the ordeal to chat show host Michael Parkinson, Anne said she had been 'scrupulously polite' to her attacker, because it would have been 'silly to be too rude at that stage'.

Ball went on to plead guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping and is still imprisoned at Broadmoor Hospital under the Mental Health Act.

The excuses Ball made in his police interview were revealed after the Mail on Sunday won a seven-month Freedom of Information battle. They had only been due to be released in 2048.

The would-be kidnapper told police that he had believed Anne would be an easy target. He said he had learned of her movements by phoning the Buckingham Palace press office.

He said: 'I had thought about it for years She would have been the easiest. I have seen her riding with her husband.'

The bid to kidnap Princess Anne was the front page story in the Daily Mail the following day. A witness described the moment she saw DI Beaton collapse after being shot

Princess Anne, Captain Mark Phillips (left) and Queen Elizabeth with a group of guests including Inspector James Beaton (third from left), and former boxer Ronnie Russell (right) after they helped to foil the kidnap attempt

Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips are seen at an engagement the week after the kidnap attempt. The couple divorced in 1992

Ball was finally stopped when he was bundled to the ground by officer Peter Edmonds after being punched in the head by passing former boxer Ronnie Russell (pictured), who had led Anne to safety

The files also revealed Ball showed no remorse for shooting three men.

He said: 'They were getting in my way so I had to shoot them. Well, the police, that's their job. They expect to be shot. I took a chance of getting shot so why shouldn't they?'

Ball had planned to take the Princess to a Central London property which he had rented under an alias, and to demand a ransom of 3 million.

Detectives initially feared Ball was part of the IRA but he told officers: 'I have got no friends. I'm a loner. I put a lot of thought and work into it.

'I can't expect people like you to understand or accept that I did it and planned it alone. Do you think I am part of the IRA or something? If there had been anyone else they would have helped me at the scene.'

It emerged last weekend that lawyers for Prince Harry have written a 'pre-action protocol' letter to the Home Office, indicating they will seek a judicial review if the Sussexes are not given continued security when they are in Britain

He also told police: 'I knew [Beaton] would be armed. If his gun had not jammed, I would be dead.'

Along with her brother Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Princess Anne is now only guarded on official duties and engagements.

Other royals including the Queen's granddaughters Zara Tindall, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie do not have state-funded security, while Prince Andrew lost his after stepping down from royal duties in November 2019.

It emerged last weekend that lawyers for Prince Harry have written a 'pre-action protocol' letter to the Home Office, indicating they will seek a judicial review if the Sussexes are not given continued security when they are in Britain.

They said they were happy to pay for the cover.
It's one way to grab attention.

A Louisiana Senate candidate challenging GOP Sen. John Kennedy released an unconventional new ad featuring him lighting up a massive blunt to underscore the need for weed legalization.

Almost as if he were in a music video, Gary Chambers, a Democrat, is pictured seated on a black leather armchair in the middle of an empty field as he puffs on marijuana rolled into a blunt.

'Every 37 seconds, someone is arrested for possession of marijuana,' Chambers is heard saying in a voice-over recording. 'Since 2010, state and local police have arrested an estimated 7.3 million Americans for violating marijuana laws.'

Chambers then said that black people are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana laws than white people. He then claimed that states 'waste' $3.7 billion enforcing marijuana laws each year.

'Most of the people police are arresting aren't dealers, but people with small amounts of pot, just like me,' he said.

Chambers said the ad was shot in New Orleans, where the City Council has recently voted to decriminalize marijuana.

Almost as if he were in a music video, Gary Chambers, a Democrat, is pictured seated on a black leather armchair in the middle of an empty field as he puffs on marijuana rolled into a blunt

'Every 37 seconds, someone is arrested for possession of marijuana,' Chambers is heard saying in a voice-over recording

Kennedy said in July announcing his run for reelection: 'I will not let you downI'd rather drink weed killer'

'For too long, candidates have used the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters,' Chambers said in a statement released alongside the new ad. 'I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.'

Chambers is in favor of federal legislation that would prompt state and local governments to wipe clean the criminal records of those who have been convicted of marijuana offenses and expand marijuana businesses' access to the financial industry.

Chambers is fighting an uphill battle in the solidly red Bayou State, where Republican Bill Cassidy, who was up for reelection in 2020, won 59% of the vote.

Kennedy won his seat in 2016 with 61% of the vote.

Louisiana has an open primary system in which all candidates run against each other.

Currently 18 states, two territories and Washington, D.C. have laws on the books that allow the regulation of marijuana for nonmedical use.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said last April the Senate would vote to end the federal ban on pot 'soon,' a vote which never came to fruition. The New York Democrat in July admitted he did not have the votes to do so in the split 50-50 Senate.

President Biden supports legislation to decriminalize marijuana, or remove the penalties for simple possession, but not to fully legalize the drug.

Chambers has aimed a few zingers at Kennedy, his colorfully loquacious GOP opponent.

'Five years ago, I made a promise, a promise that I took seriously. I told you that I would work to put our country back on track and make America great again,' said Kennedy announcing his run for reelection in June. 'In the last five years, we've accomplished a lot, but now the socialists are racing to undo it all. So, my jobour jobisn't finished. Today, I'm announcing that I'm running for re-election for the United States Senate.'

He ended the video: 'I will not let you downI'd rather drink weed killer.'

'So what's your favorite brand, John? Roundup? Because you let the people down for the last six years,' Chambers shot back in his own campaign video this month.
A judge at Kingston Crown Court ruled Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt (pictured), 45, had 90,000 in hidden assets, which he claims he is unable to pay back

A Stephen Lawrence murder suspect has complained he cannot be moved to an open prison after failing to pay back 90,000 he made from a 3 million drugs plot.

Jamie Acourt, 45, was jailed for nine years at Kingston Crown Court in 2018 after spending more than two years on the run, living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo.

He complained to Westminster Magistrate's Court on Tuesday that he 'can't move to an open prison or anything' due to not paying back the court-ordered amount, adding he was 'happy' for his sentence to be extended instead - although the judge said that would not wipe out his debt.

Acourt had headed a gang which moved resin worth 7.4 million between London and the north east between 2014 and 2016, and admitted involvement in 28 trips which shipped drugs worth up to 5.6 million.

He was found living in the trendy Diagonal Mar district of Barcelona, until he was finally arrested in May 2018 as he left a gym.

A judge ruled he personally made 500,000 from the scheme and had 90,000 in hidden assets - which he was last January ordered to pay back in ill-gotten gains or face another year added to his jail sentence by a judge at Kingston Crown Court.

Acourt was one of five men arrested over the murder of 18-year-old Stephen, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993.

Acourt appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday by video-link from Brixton prison over his failure to pay the confiscation order, which has risen to more than 95,000 with interest of 19.73 a day.

The court heard Acourt is due to be released on November 3 but he asked for his default sentence to be activated, meaning he would spend another six months behind bars.

'I'm happy to take the default sentence because I have no way of paying the money,' he said.

Acourt (pictured above fighting with crowds after a public inquiry into Stephen's death in 1998), appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday by video-link from Brixton prison over his failure to pay the confiscation order, which has risen to more than 95,000 with interest of 19.73 a day

Acort, pictured above in Barcelona after being arrested, masterminded the 2.1million racket which saw imported cannabis resin distributed across England. He is currently serving a nine-year sentence after being convicted in 2018

The racist murder that shocked the nation Stephen Lawrence's murder in Eltham sparked outrage in 1993 Acourt and his brother were teenagers when Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993. Two of the other suspects, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were convicted of murder in 2012 and jailed for life following a DNA breakthrough. But the Acourt brothers have never been convicted. At the time of Stephen's death, the Acourts described themselves as the Krays, modelling themselves on the brothers who dominated London's criminal underworld in the 1960s. The gang they were in is believed to have been responsible for a string of violent attacks, invariably featuring knives. Advertisement

'In January this was given to me. I can't move to an open prison or anything because of this.'

But District Judge Daniel Sternberg said he would not activate the sentence while Acourt was in prison and explained he had no say in the jail where he is held.

He added: 'Even if you serve the default sentence that does not wipe out the debt you have to pay.

'But it is one of the tools the court has to put some pressure on you to pay.'

The judge said the case will be relisted ahead of Acourt's release date, in October.

His brother Neil Acourt, 46, who was also arrested over Mr Lawrence's murder, was jailed for more than six years over the drugs plot which saw some 750kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of around 3 million moved between London and South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

Only two of the suspects, Gary Dobson and David Norris, have been brought to justice and were both handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.

The fifth suspect, Luke Knight, has remained free.

The drugs plot saw couriers make the 600-mile round trip to South Shields to deliver drugs, collect money, or both - with 34 journeys made over the two-year period.

Once the money was collected, it was handed to Jamie or his brother Neil back in southeast London.

Some of the delivery men were the fathers of their respective partners.

One of the conspirators, Lee Birks, was the father of Jamie Acourts partner while another, Jack Vose, was Neils father-in-law.

Neil Acourt walked free from prison in March 2019, serving less than half of his six-year sentence for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.

The brothers have always denied any involvement in the killing of Stephen.

Jamie's brother Neil (pictured, left, after his arrest in 2016 and, right, after the 1998 public inquiry) also ran the drugs gang and was jailed in 2017

At the time of Stephen's death, the Acourts described themselves as the Krays, modelling themselves on the brothers who dominated London's criminal underworld in the 1960s.

The gang they were in is believed to have been responsible for a string of violent attacks, invariably featuring knives.

Jamie Acourt, of no fixed address and formerly of The Drive, Bexley, had admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis.
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WHICH FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED ALREADY? EMIRATES All Emirates flights to and from these airports are indefinitely canceled; Boston, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle The airline's flights to L.A.X., New York City and Dulles are still operating. ALL NIPPON 20 passenger and cargo flights scheduled on Boeing 777s from Haneda and Narita airports in Japan to the US through Thursday. The airline is advising passengers with tickets to check if they have been rescheduled to a flight on a different aircraft. JAPAN AIRLINES Japan Airlines has canceled three passenger and five cargo flights on Wednesday. AIR INDIA All flights between Delhi and from New York, San Francisco and Chicago, and between Mumbai and Newark are canceled until further notice. Advertisement

Major international airlines are rushing to rejig or cancel flights to the United States after AT&T and Verizon activated their 5G wireless networks at 12.01am on Wednesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had warned that potential 5G interference could affect altitude readings that play a key role in bad-weather landings on some jets, and airlines say the Boeing 777 is among models potentially affected.

Despite an announcement by AT&T and Verizon that they would pause the 5G rollout near airports, several airlines still canceled flights, switched aircraft models, and warned of delays and travel chaos.

Delta Air Lines released a statement that the company 'is planning for the possibility of weather-related cancellations caused by the deployment of new 5G service in the vicinity of dozens of U.S. airports starting as early as Wednesday.'

United Airlines told customers on a flight from Denver to Houston that a three-hour delay was a result of the new 5G systems, according to a notice on its website. It also suggested customers with any concerns reach out to the Federal Communications Commission.

British Airways opted to switch aircraft on its daily flight to Los Angeles to an Airbus A380 from the usual Boeing 777 service, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Emirates, Japan Airlines, Air India and All Nippon have canceled some of their Boeing 777 flights to the US over fears that new 5G towers could pose a safety risk.

The world's largest operator of the Boeing 777, Dubai's Emirates, said earlier it would suspend flights to nine U.S. destinations starting Wednesday.

Emirates flights to New York's JFK, Los Angeles and Washington DC will continue to operate.

Japan's two major airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, said they would curtail Boeing 777 flights.

ANA said it was cancelling or changing the aircraft used on some U.S. flights.

Korean Air Lines said it had switched away from 777s and 747-8s on six U.S. passenger and cargo flights, Taiwan's China Airlines said it would reschedule some flights and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways said it would deploy different aircraft types if needed.

The airlines said they were acting in response to a notice from Boeing that 5G signals may interfere with the radio altimeter on the 777, leading to restrictions.

A spokesman for Boeing had no immediate comment.

This graphic shows how the wireless spectrum used by 5G networks could interfere with altimeters, which measure a plane's altitude and is especially important for low-visibility operations. The CEOs of the airlines have asked officials that the 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways at some key airports

Delta Air Lines released a statement that the company 'is planning for the possibility of weather-related cancellations caused by the deployment of new 5G service'

Korean Air Lines said it had switched away from 777s and 747-8s on six U.S. passenger and cargo flights

AT&T and Verizon on Tuesday agreed to temporarily defer turning on some wireless towers near key airports in a bid to avert further disruption to U.S. flights.

President Joe Biden hailed the agreement, saying it 'will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90 percent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled.'

Verizon will temporarily not turn on about 500 towers near airports, sources told Reuters, or less than 10 percent of their planned deployment, while the carriers and the administration work on a permanent solution, sources briefed on the matter said. Details of the agreement, including the length of the pause, were not disclosed.

Both Verizon and AT&T will launch 5G on Wednesday elsewhere in the country bringing faster speeds to tens of millions of people.

The row erupted on Monday when US airline CEOs begged the Biden administration to stop AT&T and Verizon from rolling out their C-band 5G technology.

The telecoms giants had been planning to launch the technology across the US on Wednesday, turning on 5,000 towers across the country that will bring Americans' faster internet speeds, including 500 which the airline industry say pose a threat to flight safety.

Both AT&T and Verizon have reluctantly agreed to halt turning on those towers of concern until a resolution can be found, in order to avoid a mass cancelation of flights across America and travel chaos that would up end the already distressed supply chain and scupper consumer travel.

It seemed to appease domestic airlines but did not calm international fear.

Emirates has now canceled flights to Boston, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle. All Nippon and Japan Airlines have canceled all of their Boeing 777 flights to the US, and they say they did so at the request of Boeing.

'Boeing has announced flight restrictions on all airlines operating the Boeing 777 aircraft, and we have cancelled or changed the aircraft for some flights to/from the U.S. based on the announcement by Boeing,' a statement from All Nippon Airways said.

Boeing has not confirmed that it has given the order to airlines to ground their US 777s.

It's unclear exactly how many flights have been canceled so far, or how many more will be.

All Nippon said earlier in the day that 20 of its flights would be under review. Japan Airlines has canceled three passenger and five cargo flights on Wednesday.

Air India has canceled flights to and from Delhi to and from New York, San Francisco and Chicago, and between Mumbai and Newark.

Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been unable to offer a solution to the fiasco.

Despite the fact that the towers of concern are not yet operating, Emirates has canceled flights to nine cities out of an abundance of caution. Those cities are Boston, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle

The Japanese airlines say they have been told by Boeing to restrict their 777 aircraft from the US over the 5G fears

Aviation officials fear that 5G signals near airports could interfere with certain airplane instruments, including the radio altimeter used to gauge altitude

Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg has not been able to present a solution

'We recognize the economic importance of expanding 5G, and we appreciate the wireless companies working with us to protect the flying public and the country's supply chain,' said Buttigieg.

'The complex U.S. airspace leads the world in safety because of our high standards for aviation, and we will maintain this commitment as wireless companies deploy 5G,' he said in a statement.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that 5G wireless interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as radio altimeters, which are crucial aids to pilots landing in low-visibility operations.

Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement the FAA 'has a process in place to assess altimeter performance in the 5G environment and resolve any remaining concerns. It is essential that the FAA now complete this process with both care and speed.'

The telecoms giants say they do not understand why the US has not been able to find a workaround when other countries have been able to launch.

The 5G signals that Verizon and AT&T want to emit are stronger than those in Europe.

Despite the delay, some international airlines are already canceling flights to the US out of an abundance of caution.

The list of 50 airports with 5G buffers that should be protected AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD BOEING FLD/KING COUNTY INTL BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH INTL NASHVILLE INTL BOB HOPE AKRON-CANTON CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL DALLAS LOVE FLD DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY ELLINGTON EWR NEWARK LIBERTY INTL FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTL FLINT MICHIGAN WILLIAM P HOBBY NEW HAVEN GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON INDIANAPOLIS INTL LONG ISLAND MAC ARTHUR JOHN F KENNEDY INTL HARRY REID INTL LOS ANGELES INTL LAGUARDIA LONG BEACH (DAUGHERTY FLD) KANSAS CITY INTL ORLANDO INTL HARRISBURG INTL CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL MCALLEN INTL MIAMI INTL MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL/WOLD-CHAMBERLAIN ONTARIO INTL CHICAGO O'HARE INTL SNOHOMISH COUNTY (PAINE FLD) PALM BEACH INTL PHILADELPHIA INTL PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL PITTSBURGH INTL RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL FREDERICK DOUGLASS/GREATER ROCHESTER INTL SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL SAN FRANCISCO INTL NORMAN Y MINETA SAN JOSE INTL JOHN WAYNE/ORANGE COUNTY ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL TETERBORO Advertisement

It's unclear how long the FAA and airlines now have to resolve their safety concerns.

AT&T is now demanding to know why the FAA - a government body - waited so long before sounding such alarm.

'We are frustrated by the FAA's inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner.'

Despite the urgency conveyed by the CEOs of American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, as well as officials from FedEx Express and UPS Airlines, Transport Secretary Buttigieg has yet to make a public statement about the issue ahead of Wednesday's rollout.

Of 88 airports that could be affected around the country, there are currently 50 with 5G buffers around them to reduce the interference of 5G.

The FAA has not named the remaining 38 affected airports.

Despite the buffer, the airports could still face 5G interference.

If any of the 88 airports experience bad weather, where altimeters are a necessity, the FAA and U.S. airlines said flights would be cancelled, diverted or delayed.

Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer echoed the airlines' concerns and urged the cellular companies to push back the 5G rollout.

'This is reckless, it's dangerous, and it's got to stop,' Tajer told the Today Show on Tuesday.

'Take a pause. This is about a cellphone signal, and we're focused on protecting lives.'

The warning comes after airline International airports and airlines have also begun warning customers to check if their trips to the U.S. will be cancelled or delayed due to the 5G launch.

Although the FAA approved 48 of the 88 airports most directly affected by 5G to use two radio altimeters to avoid confusion on Sunday, it ultimately issued an order to all pilots to avoid using the instruments because they could still face issues.

The buffer zones call for the 5G towers to be located at least two miles away from airports and to limit the towers' heights.

'Even with the approvals granted by the FAA..., U.S. airlines will not be able to operate the vast majority of passenger and cargo flights due to the FAA's 5G-related flight restrictions unless action is taken prior to the planned January 19 rollout,' Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Airlines and FedEx, told Reuters.

As of Tuesday morning, the stocks for American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines remained stable with a small upward trend.

AT&T and Verizon, which won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum in an $80 billion auction last year to launched their 5G services, had agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports to reduce interference risks and take other steps to cut potential interference for six months.

'Even with these new approvals, flights at some airports may still be affected,' the FAA warned in a statement.

'The FAA also continues to work with manufacturers to understand how radar altimeter data is used in other flight control systems. Passengers should check with their airlines if weather is forecast at a destination where 5G interference is possible.'

Despite the worries in America, 5G's possible effects on planes has not been a major concern in Europe.

Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer urged cellular companies to push back their 5G rollout due to the signal's effect on a plane's altitude reading

Airline CEOs are calling for immediate intervention ahead of Wednesdays 5G rollout, warning it may cause massive flight disruptions nationwide. @tomcostellonbc has the details. pic.twitter.com/KXr5ptCOuv  TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 18, 2022

DOES 5G POSE A THREAT TO AIRLINE SAFETY? The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo airlines have warned of a 'catastrophic' aviation crisis this week as AT&T and Verizon deploy new 5G services. They said the new C band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could render a significant number of aircraft unusable, causing chaos for U.S. flights and potentially stranding tens of thousands of Americans overseas. Here is the background to the dispute: WHAT HAPPENED? The United States auctioned mid-range 5G bandwidth to mobile phone companies in early 2021 in the 3.7-3.98 GHz range on the spectrum known as C band, for about $80 billion. WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM? The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that the new 5G technology could interfere with instruments such as altimeters, which measure how far above the ground an airplane is travelling. Altimeters operate in the 4.2-4.4 GHz range and the concern is that the auctioned frequencies sit too close to this range. In addition to altitude, altimeter readouts are also used to facilitate automated landings and to help detect dangerous currents called wind shear. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said last month the FAA's 5G directives would bar the use of radio altimeters at about 40 of the biggest U.S. airports. U.S. airlines have warned the directives could disrupt up to 4% of daily flights. Kirby said if left unresolved it could mean that at major U.S. airports in the event of bad weather, cloud cover or even heavy smog 'you could only do visual approaches essentially.' WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE FREQUENCY MAKE? The higher the frequency in the spectrum, the faster the service. So in order to get full value from 5G, operators want to operate at higher frequencies. Some of the C band spectrum auctioned had been used for satellite radio but the transition to 5G means there will be much more traffic. WHAT DO THE TELECOMS COMPANIES SAY? Verizon and AT&T have argued that C band 5G has been deployed in about 40 other countries without aviation interference issues. They have agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports in the United States, similar to those used in France, for six months to reduce interference risks. WHY NOT AN ISSUE ELSEWHERE? The European Union in 2019 set standards for mid-range 5G frequencies in a 3.4-3.8 GHz range, a lower frequency than the service set to be rolled out in the United States. The bandwidth has been auctioned in Europe and is in use in many of the bloc's 27 member states so far without issue. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which oversees 31 states, said on Dec. 17 the issue was specific to U.S. airspace. 'At this stage, no risk of unsafe interference has been identified in Europe,' it said. FAA officials have noted the spectrum used by France (3.6-3.8 GHz) sits further away from the spectrum (4.2-4.4 GHz) used for altimeters in the United States and France's power level for 5G is much lower than what is authorized in the United States. Verizon has said it will not use spectrum that is closer to the higher band for several years. In South Korea, the 5G mobile communication frequency is 3.42-3.7 GHz band and there has been no report of interference with radio wave since commercialization of 5G in April 2019. Currently, 5G mobile communication wireless stations are in operation near airports, but there have been no reports of problems. 'Wireless carriers in nearly 40 countries throughout Europe and Asia now use the C band for 5G, with no reported effects on radio altimeters that operate in the same internationally designated 4.2-4.4 GHz band,' CTIA, a U.S. wireless trade group, said in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission. -Reuters Advertisement

Last month, Britain's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement that 5G emission's won't harm British airlines.

What are US airlines worried about and could British planes be affected? The debate about whether 5G has the potential to interfere with crucial aeroplane instruments is intense and unresolved. What are the airlines worried about? Airlines are concerned that the new 5G network could affect aircraft instruments including altimeters, which measure a plane's distance from the ground. This is because both the new 5G network and the altimeters will operate at a similar wavelength. What are the networks saying? AT&T and Verizon say there is no evidence their new network will interfere with aircraft operating systems. They have previously delayed the rollout to allow for more research to take place. What is the view in the UK and Europe? 5G is not seen as a problem for aircraft in Britain or Europe, according to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Ofcom and EU Aviation Safety Authority. All three insist there is no evidence 5G interferes with aircraft systems. 5G in Europe is on a different wavelength, which is seen as less likely to affect planes than the one used in America. Advertisement

'Conversations with [national aviation authorities] has established that there have been no confirmed instances where 5G interference has resulted in aircraft system malfunction or unexpected behavior,' the agency said, adding that it will continue to monitor the issue.

AT&T and Verizon told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that they were not commenting on the issue at this time.

On Monday, the CEOs of American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, as well as officials from FedEx Express and UPS Airlines, wrote a letter to government officials urging them to pause the launch of 5G.

The CEOs warned that a significant number of widebody aircrafts will become unusable and 'could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas.'

'Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded,' the CEOs wrote.

'The harm that will result from deployment on January 19 is substantially worse than we anticipated for two key reasons,' they explained.

The CEOs also argued that because radio altimeters provide critical information to other safety and navigation systems in modern airplanes, multiple modern safety systems 'will be deemed unusable.'

'Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded.'

'The ripple effects across both passenger and cargo operations, our workforce and the broader economy are simply incalculable,' the CEOs wrote as they asked officials 'that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways' at some key airports.

'Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies.'

The carriers added they urge action to ensure '5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.'

The letter, which was obtained by DailyMail.com, went to White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Airlines late on Monday were considering whether to begin canceling some international flights that are scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday.

'With the proposed restrictions at selected airports, the transportation industry is preparing for some service disruption. We are optimistic that we can work across industries and with government to finalize solutions that safely mitigate as many schedule impacts as possible,' plane maker Boeing said.

United Airlines also separately warned on Monday that the issue could affect more than 15,000 of its flights, 1.25 million passengers and snarl tons of cargo annually.

United said it faces 'significant restrictions on 787s, 777s, 737s and regional aircraft in major cities like Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.'

JetBlue Airways Chief Executive Officer Robin Hayes told employees on Monday that the planned rollout of new 5G service by AT&T and Verizon on Wednesday is set to 'further stress our already fragile air system.'

Hayes said in a memo that the airline is preparing for the 'worst' when the new service and new flight restrictions take effect.

'While we will do our best to avoid customer disruption, we won't be able to avoid the impact of this, including significant flight delays, cancellations, and diversions in low visibility flying,' Hayes wrote.

One area of concern is whether some or all Boeing 777s will be unable to land at some key U.S. airports after 5G service starts, as well as some Boeing cargo planes, airline officials told Reuters.

The airlines urged action to ensure '5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.'

The FAA said on Sunday it had cleared an estimated 45% of the U.S. commercial airplane fleet to perform low-visibility landings at many airports where 5G C-band will be deployed and they expect to issue more approvals before Wednesday.

The airlines noted on Monday that the list did not include many large airports.

The CEOs of major airlines and Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun held a lengthy call with Buttigieg and Dickson on Sunday to warn of the looming crisis, officials told Reuters.

The CEOs of some of the nation's largest airlines wrote to federal officials on Monday warning about the potential negative effects of 5G

Altimeter's are a key tool for pilots landing in low-visibility conditions

Modern planes, like the one seen here, contain altimeters, which measures altitude and allows pilots to fly when visibility is limited

THE EVOLUTION OF MOBILE BROADBAND UP TO 5G The evolution of the G system started in 1980 with the invention of the mobile phone which allowed for analogue data to be transmitted via phone calls. Digital came into play in 1991 with 2G and SMS and MMS capabilities were launched. Since then, the capabilities and carrying capacity for the mobile network has increased massively. More data can be transferred from one point to another via the mobile network quicker than ever. 5G is expected to be 100 times faster than the currently used 4G. Whilst the jump from 3G to 4G was most beneficial for mobile browsing and working, the step to 5G will be so fast they become almost real-time. That means mobile operations will be just as fast as office-based internet connections. Potential uses for 5G include: Simultaneous translation of several languages in a party conference call

Self-driving cars can stream movies, music and navigation information from the cloud

A full length 8GB film can be downloaded in six seconds. 5G is expected to be so quick and efficient it is possible it could start the end of wired connections. By the end of 2020, industry estimates claim 50 billion devices will be connected to 5G. Advertisement

But the issue doesn't just affect airplanes - they could also have a negative effect on the nation's helicopters, including lifesaving medevac choppers.

Under U.S. law, all commercial helicopters must have a working altimeter in order to fly. Without them, officials warn, landing in remote areas or on hospital landing pads will be near impossible.

Helicopter Association International petitioned the FAA in October asking for medevacs to be exempt from the law when 5G rolls out, and the FAA granted it last week for areas where 5G C-Band interference could affect the radio altimeter.

Airlines for America, the group that organized the letter, declined to comment.

The CEO's also complained that: 'Given the short time frame and the exigency of this completely avoidable economic calamity, we respectfully request you support and take whatever action necessary to ensure that 5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.'

The FAA said it 'will continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G.

'The FAA continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to try to limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations.'

The other government agencies did not comment.

The U.K. CAA, the mobile phone industry and Ofcom released statements earlier this month in response to U.K. concerns. They said they did not share the worries of that in the U.S. at this stage.

A spokesperson for the CAA, the UK equivalent to the FAA, said: 'We are aware of reports that suggest that the frequency band being used for 5G in a number of countries could potentially pose a risk of interference with aircraft radio altimeters.

'There have been no reported incidents of aircraft systems being affected by 5G transmissions in U.K. airspace, but we are nonetheless working with Ofcom and the Ministry of Defense to make sure that the deployment of 5G in the U.K. does not cause any technical problems for aircraft.'

A spokesperson for Ofcom said: 'We're aware that the aviation sector is looking at this; we've done our own technical analysis and are yet to see any evidence that would give us cause for concern.'

Gareth Elliott, head of policy and communications at Mobile U.K., which represents mobile networks, said: 'The U.K.'s mobile network operators follow all health and safety guidelines and engage with a variety of industries on interference.

'Mobile operators are actively coordinating with the aviation authorities to ensure no interference in the U.K.'
Mark Patsfall's "Nam June Paik signing 'Chicken II 02'" (1987) / Courtesy of NJP Art Center



By Park Han-sol



Marking the 90th anniversary of Nam June Paik's birth this year, Korean museums and art centers are gearing up to revisit the imposing legacy left behind by the video art visionary.



It was in 1965 when Paik, with his brand-new Sony Portapak recorder in hand, documented the jam-packed procession of Pope Paul VI in New York from a moving taxi  giving birth to the genre of video art.



He was a pioneer in the truest sense of the word, with his oeuvre spanning from an 18.5-meter-tall tower of TVs ("The More the Better") to a dizzying collage of sounds and images projected onto the gallery's entire walls and ceiling ("Sistine Chapel").



The Nam June Paik (NJP) Art Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, announced its aim to bring the artist's innovative, boundless spirit to life this year through special exhibitions and an extensive online archive, under the motto "My Jubilee ist Unverhemmet."



Coined by Paik himself in 1977 through a mixture of English and German, the phrase roughly translates to "My Jubilee is Unmetered."



"It encapsulates the artist perfectly as a figure who could not be stopped, who has always strived to surpass all limits," Kim Seong-eun, the director of the center, said at a recent press conference.



On Jan. 29, which falls on the 16th anniversary of Paik's death, the center will unveil a new online archive, "Paik's Video Study"  to showcase some 700 clips of the artist's single-channel video editions, performances and media appearances.



"The artist's physical video archive has been kept and managed exclusively by the NJP Art Center, but because it was stored in analogue tape formats, its accessibility remained limited," Kim stated.



By digitizing an extensive range of his iconic works, such as the 1984 satellite installation "Good Morning, Mr. Orwell" and 1973's "Global Groove," the online archive can add a new point of dialogue between Paik's oeuvre and present-day viewers.





Nam June Paik's "Rehabilitation of Genghis-Khan" (1993) / Courtesy of NJP Art Center



The artist's "kitschy" yet visionary work will be celebrated further at the center's subsequent exhibitions. "Archeology of the Avant-garde" in March will pinpoint 10 important moments of Paik's five-decade career in a reverse chronological order to trace the origin of his avant-garde spirit of experimentation.



Amid the recent fad of immersive digital art, another exhibition "Analog Immersive" in July will propose a daring question: "What would have Paik done differently?" As early as the 1960s, the artist began to experiment with television screens, later moving on to clothing, musical instruments and eventually site-specific installations that would be projected onto the gallery space itself. The show will bring his raw, energetic combination of immersive images through works like "Sistine Chapel" and "One Candle" to the art center.





Nam June Paik's "The More the Better" (1988) installed at MMCA's Gwacheon branch / Korea Times file



For the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Korea, one of the highlight events of this year will be the lighting ceremony for Paik's largest video tower, "The More the Better."



Composed of 1,003 cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, the tower was installed at the museum's Gwacheon branch in 1988, but it has been switched off since 2018 due to the malfunction of its aging primary components.



"The museum's efforts at restoring and conserving Paik's iconic piece for more than three years are currently in the final stage," MMCA director Youn Bum-mo said. "Once relit in the first half of the year, it will be able to greet viewers once again."



But he added that due to the unknown lifespan of secondhand CRT monitors, the museum will have to continuously monitor the tower and consult with experts to keep it lit.



In celebration of the unveiling of "The More The Better," two exhibitions will be held to study his continuous influence on the present-day Korean art scene, one showcasing archival materials related to Paik's art and the other presenting artists paying homage to the father of video art.



In November, the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) and the NJP Art Center will also jointly host an exhibition dedicated to the video art pioneer, making 2022 truly "the year of Nam June Paik" in Korea, as Youn put it.




She called Maxwell the 'next best thing' to holding Jeffrey Epstein accountable

Ms Knox, 34, was wrongly convicted for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher

Amanda Knox has said massive public interest in Ghislaine Maxwell is partly because of an 'opportunity to vilify a woman for sex crimes'.

Maxwell, 60, was convicted of facilitating the sexual abuse of minors by her former partner, Jeffrey Epstein, on December 29 , 2021. She faces 65 years in prison, meaning she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.

Ms Knox, 34, was wrongly convicted of the 2007 murder of British university student Meredith Kercher, who was 21.

She said Maxwell was the 'next best thing' to holding Jeffrey Epstein accountable.

Amanda Knox, 34, (pictured) has said massive public interest in Ghislaine Maxwell is partly because of an 'opportunity to vilify a woman for sex crimes'

'Maxwell was obviously guilty of these terrible crimes and should be held accountable for her crimes. But also, we should be careful and mindful as a society when we have such raging interest in some cases over others,' she told Times Radio.

'The reason why we really, really cared about this case was because it was the opportunity to vilify a woman for sex crimes.'

She said in the media coverage of her own case, she was portrayed using tropes that relied on 'cult imagery'.

Maxwell, 60, could spend the rest of her life in prison after she was convicted last month on helping her partner Jeffrey Epstein abuse minors

Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell sits as the guilty verdict in her sex abuse trial is read in a courtroom sketch in New York City

Court Evidence photos of Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein as she gave him a foot massage

"Part of the reason why there's so much public interest in this case, is because we wanted to, to hold Epstein accountable, and she's the next best thing."@AmandaKnox believes we must be mindful about why as a society we are more interested in some court cases than others. pic.twitter.com/TDfa81qCkI  Times Radio (@TimesRadio) January 18, 2022

She said: 'Because the crime happened so near Halloween, there was a sort of reliance upon a cult imagery and cult ideas.

'There was a vilification of sex. So in a way it's the oldest story, and in some ways it was so fantastical.

'And what's shocking to me and has always been shocking to me, especially as I was going through it, was that people cared more about that story than they cared about the truth.

Meredith Kercher, 21, from Coulsdon, near London, who was murdered in Perugia while taking part in a study abroad scheme as a student in 2007

Knox being escorted into court on September 26, 2008

Knox and Sollecito both spent four years in prison after their convictions. Knox was also convicted of defamation for wrongly accusing Patrick Lumumba, a bar owner, of the murder. Pictured: Knox and Sollecito in 2007

'And it wasn't like, we didn't know who actually committed this horrific crime, there was copious evidence pointing to the local burglar Rudy Guede.

'And yet, that story of the overly lustful, therefore violent woman, who kills the pure virtuous girl is something that captivated people's attention and they just couldn't let go of it.'

Ms Knox said at the time of the murder she was made to feel like she was going 'crazy' by the Italian police.

'They made me feel like I was insane,' she said.

'They told me that I had amnesia, that I had witnessed the murder, and then if I didn't remember it for them right then and there, I was never going to see my family again and was going to go to prison for 30 years.

'That was the worst experience by far of the entire thing, going through that interrogation and being made to feel like I was crazy. Being made to sign statements that were not true.'

While in prison she said she had contemplated taking her own life.

Amanda Knox in recent posts from her social media account. Knox hosts a podcast with her novelist husband Christopher Robinson called Labyrinths in which they 'delve into stories of getting lost and found again through compassionate interviews, philosophical rants, and playful debate with fascinating people'

Meredith Kercher's killer Rudy Guede (pictured waving from the window of a volunteer centre in 2016, file photo) has ben formally released from prison, 14 years after the grisly murder

She said: 'I felt like my life had been stolen from me. And I felt like I was trapped in my own life.

'The only way to escape is to escape your own life. And I thought very strategically about how I could do it but at the end of the day, it was a conversation I was having with myself about whether my life was worth it.

And I always felt like they had taken so much from me, I wasn't going to relinquish the rest.

'I was going to fight. My life was worth it. My identity was worth it. And even if the only thing I could do that day was write a letter to my mum, to keep a sense of myself and my sanity intact, that was worth it.'
The Grenadier Guards greeted the news that Prince Andrew had lost his honorary role as their colonel with 'three cheers' for the Queen.

After Buckingham Palace announced the decision to strip the Duke of York of his military affiliations, the regiment's ceremonial commander Roly Walker confirmed the position had 'returned to Her Majesty with immediate effect'.

Lieutenant General Walker said in an email sent to all troops: 'I am sure you will offer a personal 'Three Cheers' for the colonel, an appointment she first held in 1942, 80 years to the day on February 24 this year.'

The Grenadier Guards greeted the news that Prince Andrew had lost his honorary role as their colonel with 'three cheers' for the Queen. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth inspects the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards

Prince Andrew, 61, (pictured) inherited the role with the Grenadier Guards from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, when he retired from public life in 2017

Former soldiers spoke out last year over the 'unsatisfactory' state of affairs, especially given the added strain of the US court case against the prince brought by Virginia Roberts. Pictured: Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, then aged 17 at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London, in 2001

Andrew, 61, inherited the role with the Grenadier Guards from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, when he retired from public life in 2017.

The post has huge personal significance for the Royal Family. The prince even took riding lessons so he could lead the regiment on horseback for Trooping the Colour on the Queen's official birthday.

It was one of the positions that he clung to when he first stepped back from official duties in 2019.

But there were repeated reports that officers felt 'uncomfortable' at having to drink to Andrew's health at the end of regimental dinners.

Former soldiers spoke out last year over the 'unsatisfactory' state of affairs, especially given the added strain of the US court case against the prince brought by Virginia Roberts.

Julian Perreira, a three-time veteran of Afghanistan, said: 'Being allowed to retain his role as colonel of the Grenadier Guards and other military titles, Prince Andrew will put a stain on the regiment's proud history. He must step down immediately.'

Lt Gen Walker also said in his email: 'Buckingham Palace have informed me that in due course the colonelcy, along with the duke's other titles and affiliations, will be reallocated to another member of the Royal Family.'

He added that he would write to Andrew 'to thank him for his time as colonel'.

Formed in 1656 by King Charles II, the Grenadier Guards have fought in almost every major campaign of the British Army, including the Napoleonic, Crimean, Boer, First and Second World Wars.

York Racecourse today confirmed it will rebrand one of its most historic events, the Duke of York Stakes, in a bid to distance itself from Andrew

The six-furlong sprint was first staged in 1895 and derives its name from Prince George, Duke of York, who became King George V. Pictured: Prince Andrew next to the Queen

York Racecourse confirmed today it will rebrand one of its most historic events, the Duke of York Stakes, in a bid to distance itself from Andrew.

The six-furlong sprint was first staged in 1895 and derives its name from Prince George, Duke of York, who became King George V.

The racecourse's head of marketing and sponsorship, James Brennan, said: 'It has never been directly about Prince Andrew.

However, we are going to explore how we can make the name a lot clearer about its history  and that the name refers to an entirely different Duke of York.'

The late Jeffrey Epstein and his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell before their arrest for the trafficking of minors

Andrew was a patron of the course, and a regular attendee at flagship fixtures, until he relinquished the role in 2019.

The prince has now been forced to withdraw entirely from public life in the wake of his association with disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his sex trafficker girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein victim Miss Roberts claims she was lent out by the pair and forced to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17. She is now suing him for rape and sexual assault in a civil court.

The prince has always vehemently denied the claims. He was last week forced by the Queen to hand back all his royal privileges in order to fight the US case as a 'private citizen'.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been accused of weakening Europe by refusing to take a hard line on Russia despite warnings that Putin is about to invade Ukraine.

Scholz, who took the job from Angela Merkel last month, has tried to maintain his predecessor's warm relations with Moscow by refusing to supply Kiev with arms and ruling out sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas line if an attack goes ahead.

But the SDP leader - a socialist while he was a student - now stands accused of aiding Putin and undermining the West by creating rifts within the EU, NATO, and even his own fledgling coalition over the best way to deter the Russian strongman.

Today, the German government even went so far as to brief journalists that cutting Russia off from international banking systems - the so-called 'nuclear option' of sanctions - was off the table, prompting angry denials from Washington.

Olaf Scholz, Germany's new Chancellor, has been accused of weakening NATO, the EU and his own country with a soft stance towards Russia even as Putin gears up to invade Ukraine

Western nations were said to be backing off from the idea over fears it would disrupt international markets, according to a government source who spoke to Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper.

But the line was quickly slapped down by the US National Security Council, which insisted 'no option is off the table' as Secretary of State Anthony Blinken prepares to head to Moscow for a fresh round of talks.

It is just the latest incident of Germany blinking in the face of Russian aggression, after Scholz ruled out exporting weapons to Ukraine to defend against any attack.

He insisted on Monday that Germany has a long-standing policy of not exporting weapons even for defensive purposes, and does not intend to change it.

The same day, Scholz also dodged a question from a reporter over whether the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could be targeted for sanctions if Russia attacks.

The pipe, which runs from Russia to Germany while bypassing Ukraine and depriving Kiev of vital transport revenues, was completed last year but has yet to be opened.

Scholz has previously insisted - despite evidence to the contrary - that the pipeline is not a political project and thus should be exempt from sanctions.

Asked by a reporter in Madrid whether he still held that opinion, Sholz demurred - saying only that Russia will face 'serious consequences' if it attacks Ukraine.

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht and SDP party Secretary-General Kevin Kuhnert, two close allies of Scholz, also spoke out in defence of the pipeline last week - saying it should be exempt.

Russia has started to move its troops towards Belarus for joint military exercises and live-fire drills as fears increase of an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine

Train and road convoys of armoured vehicles have been arriving after president Alexander Lukashenko announced upcoming war games

That is at odds with the government's own Defence Minister, Annalena Baerbock - a member of the Green Party - who said on a visit to Kiev that it could be hit.

Such divisions 'are weakening Germany and the EU', according to Stefan Meister, an expert on Eastern Europe for one of Germany's most-respected foreign policy think-tanks who spoke to the FT.

His words echo an open letter signed by 70 German academics and foreign policy heads at the weekend which calls on the government to urgently re-think its stance towards Russia.

German 'passivity' towards Russian aggression over the last 30 years has hurt the West and emboldened Putin, they argue, saying that his invasion of Crimea in 2014 was the 'logical consequence' of Belin's policies.

'[Germany's] Russia policy must be fundamentally corrected,' the letter says.

'Merely verbal or symbolic reactions from Berlin to Russian [aggression] will, as in the past, only tempt the Kremlin into further escapades.

'As a key country of the EU, NATO and the Western community of values, Germany has a special responsibility.'

In the face of mounting criticism, Scholz on Tuesday signalled he would be willing to sanction the pipeline as a way to punish Russia - though again refused to take a clear position on the issue.

Responding to a question from reporters after a meeting with NATO head Jens Stoltenburg, Scholz it was 'clear that... everything will have to be discussed should there be a military intervention in Ukraine'.

Putin has justified the war games because of alleged Nato interference in Poland and the Baltic states which he says threatens Russia (right, ally Lukashenko who is also hosting war games)

The SDP have historically been closer to Russia than other German parties, and Berlin is under pressure to find a way to fill its energy gap as it withdraws from coal and nuclear power production and becomes more green.

Opponents of Nord Stream 2, including Ukraine and the United States, say it will make Europe too dependent on Russia for energy supplies.

The fate of the project could ultimately be out of Germany's hands as it is subject to the approval of European Union regulators.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said last week that approval was tied to any potential conflict with Russia over Ukraine.

Stoltenberg said he had invited NATO allies and Russia to a further series of meetings at the NATO-Russia Council to discuss ways to improve the security situation, after an inconclusive first round of talks in two years last week.

'NATO's allies are prepared to discuss concrete proposals on how to reduce risks and enhance transparency regarding military activities and how to reduce space and cyber threats,' he told a joint news conference with Scholz.

'We are also prepared to resume the exchange of briefings on exercises and our respective nuclear policies.'

Russia denies plans to attack Ukraine. But Moscow says it could take unspecified military action if its demands - including a promise by the NATO alliance never to admit Kyiv - are not met.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said earlier on Tuesday during a visit to see Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow that it was difficult not to assess Russia's military build-up near Ukraine's borders as 'a threat.'

Lavrov suggested Nord Stream 2 would add to both German and European energy security, saying Moscow 'drew the attention of our German colleagues to the counter-productiveness of attempts to politicise this project.'
A newborn baby boy was found dead inside a duffel bag covered in snow on Saturday after he was abandoned outside a Chicago firehouse.

Firefighters at the North Orleans Street firehouse in the North East Side, where temperatures plunged to 25F, went outside to shovel snow around 5am on January 15.

They found a duffel bag with the baby boy's dead body inside beneath a blanket of snow that fell throughout the night.

The Chicago Police Department said on Monday they have launched an investigation into the incident but no suspects have been identified yet.

A newborn baby boy was found dead inside a duffel bag covered in snow on Saturday after he was abandoned outside a Chicago firehouse

Firefighters at the North Orleans Street firehouse in the North East Side, where temperatures plunged to 25F, went outside to shovel snow around 5am on January 15

The Chicago Police Department said on Monday they have launched an investigation into the incident but no suspects have been identified yet

Firefighters at the North Orleans Street firehouse in the North East Side went outside to shovel snow around 5am on January 15, and found the baby boy inside a duffel bag covered in snow

Firehouses are safe havens, designated places for mothers to safely and anonymously surrender their babies, but they are required by law to notify staff to ensure the infants are not left on their own.

'You must turn the baby over to a staff member,' spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department Larry Langford told DailyMail.com.

'If the baby was placed there alive, that baby froze to death,' Dawn Geras, of the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation, told CBS. 'It's Chicago. It gets cold at night. You can't leave a baby out to the elements.'

The Cook County Medical Examiner Office will conduct an autopsy on the baby Sunday.

'It's a tragedy that didn't have to happen,' Geras added. 'And it was so close.'

Laws in all US states protect mothers who wish to surrender their babies from criminal penalties as long as they drop their babies at safe havens, such as fire and police stations or churches where there are adults who can alert authorities.

The Save Abandoned Babies Foundation helped pass the Abandoned Infant Protection Act in Illinois in 2001.

'It allows the parent to hand over a baby to staff at a hospital, police or fire station,' Geras told CBS. 'The reason they hand the baby over is so that maybe the baby doesn't end up frozen to death and not found.'

In Illinois babies must be under 30 days old, but if they are not handed over to staff, it still constitutes illegal abandonment.

Since the safe haven law was passed in the state, more than half of the 85 babies who have been abandoned died, compared to the 100 legally relinquished babies who have all survived, according to Save Abandoned Babies.

'I have anger, real anger and frustration that we've been trying to get the word out there for 20 years, the 20-year anniversary, and yet there was still a woman out there that didn't know how to use the Baby Safe Haven Law,' Geras told NBC.

After the incident, the Chicago Fire Department took to Twitter to remind mothers who are thinking of surrendering their newborns to do so safely.

'Illinois' Safe Haven law is a safe way for parents who make the difficult choice to give up a newborn for adoption. Handing over a newborn to a Firefighter or Paramedic directly at a firehouse can help facilitate the safest outcome. No questions asked and no judgment given,' the department tweeted.

After the incident, the Chicago Fire Department took to Twitter to remind mothers who are thinking of surrendering their newborns to do so safely

Firehouses are safe havens, designated spots for mothers to safely and anonymously surrender their babies, but they are required by law to hand the infants over to staff

The incident in Chicago comes just a week after an 18-year-old woman hurled her hours-old baby boy into a dumpster.

The woman, Alexis Avila, told cops that she had no idea she was pregnant and only realized something was amiss when she started getting abdominal pains.

After giving birth at her parents' home, Avila claimed she panicked and, hours later, wrapped her infant son in a towel and drove him to the Broadmoor Shopping Mall in downtown Hobbs where she was captured on camera throwing him in a dumpster behind oil industry supply store Rig Outfitters.

She was then seen jumping back in her white Volkswagen Jetta and driving off.

The newborn was discovered five hours later by three dumpster divers who initially thought the noise they heard was that of a cat mowing.

Avila was then identified and arrested on attempted murder and child abuse charges.

Cities across the US have taken additional steps to prevent infant deaths after they are illegally by installing 'baby boxes' devices that alert staff at safe havens

The device, which costs $20,000 to install, also keeps babies warm until first responders arrive after being notified by a silent alarm system

Alexis Avila, 18, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and child abuse for allegedly tossing her newborn child into a dumpster

Cities across the US have taken additional steps to prevent infant deaths after they are illegally by installing 'baby boxes' devices that alert staff at safe havens.

The device, which costs $20,000 to install, also keeps babies warm until first responders arrive after being notified by a silent alarm system.

'We are finally at the point where we're going to install our first baby box in the Espanola Fire Station and we are thrilled about that,' Mayor of Espanola, Javier Sanchez said after New Mexico's first baby box was approved earlier in January.

'We're getting more awareness about what the reality is out there in the world.'

'They're temperature-regulated, they have alarm systems that go off and notify us when we're not there,' said John Wickersham, Assistant Fire Chief of the Espanola Fire Department. 'We respond within three minutes.'

The device, manufactured by Indiana-based Safe Haven Baby Boxes, will cost an additional $200 to lease per year.

According to the company's website, there are roughly 60 'baby boxes' and 'baby drawers' across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida and Arizona.
A 'defenceless' toddler was murdered by his mother and her boyfriend after suffering a 'catalogue of very significant' injuries in the weeks before he died, a court heard.

Two-year-old Kyrell Matthews suffered with 41 rib fractures, significant internal bleeding and bruising allegedly caused by 'very forceful squeezing or blows' as he died, prosecutors say.

The boy's mother, Phylesia Shirley, and her then-boyfriend, Kemar Brown, deny murdering Kyrell at Shirley's home in Thornton Heath, south London, on October 20 2019.

Kyrell Matthews, two, was murdered by his mother and her boyfriend after suffering a 'catalogue of very significant' injuries in the weeks before he died, a court heard

Shirley and Brown had been in a relationship for approximately a year when Kyrell died, a month after his second birthday.

Kyrell did not attend a nursery and so was in the full-time care of his mother, then aged 21, however Brown spent almost all of his time at Shirley's one-bedroom flat and regularly slept over, jurors were told.

Neither defendant was employed in the period leading up to Kyrell's death, the court heard.

Prosecutor Edward Brown QC told jurors at the Old Bailey today: 'They therefore together had constant and consistent care of the child.

'You immediately understand the relevance of that issue.

'What you will hear in the evidence amounts to no less than a determined pattern of repeated and significant assaults, on a completely defenceless and young child.

'And it will be no surprise to you that the effect of these injuries would have been real pain, not only on their infliction, of course, but also pain and discomfort after and following each violent episode.'

He added: 'It is the prosecution case that the injuries were inflicted on that very young child by the defendants Phylesia Shirley or Kemar Brown or both of them.'

Mr Brown said that Kyrell is likely to have been suffering with injuries for 'weeks leading up to his death.'

A court sketch of Phylesia Shirley, and her partner, Kemar Brown, at the Old Bailey in London by Elizabeth Cook

He told jurors: 'In addition to the five broken ribs likely to have been inflicted when he was injured so badly that the injuries killed him, he was found to have a total of 36 further rib fractures that had been caused in the days and weeks leading up to his death.

'Some indeed were re-fractures of the same ribs.

'And it will be no surprise that the effect of these injuries would have been real pain, not only on their infliction, of course, but also pain and discomfort after and following each violent episode.'

Shirley, 24, and Brown, 28, of separate addresses in Thornton Heath, deny murder.

Brown also denies two further charges; causing or allowing death, and causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child.

Shirley has admitted allowing the death and allowing serious physical harm to a child.

The prosecution opening will continue on Wednesday, along with a short response from the defendants' barristers.
Boris Johnson's Operation Red Meat plan to see off weeks of damage and criticism of his leadership was lampooned as 'Operation Dog's Dinner' today - by one of his own backbenchers.

Ministers were warned that plans to use the Royal Navy to solve the Channel migrant crisis would result in the senior service being turned into a 'taxi service'.

The scheme was revealed on Monday as Downing Street sought to fight back against the ravages of partygate allegations against the Prime Minister.

But ministers came under fire today from some on their backbenches for not seeking to push back small boats trying to reach England from France, after a record number of people crossed from the continent in 2021.

To laugher in the Commons, Tory MP Philip Hollobone told Defence Minister James Heappey: 'This isn't Operation Red Meat, it's Operation Dog's Dinner.'

Meanwhile plans to fly migrants to Africa were in tatters after Ghana, one of the countries officials said were in talks, said they knew nothing about it.

Ministers were said to be drawing up proposals which would see people arriving illegally in the UK sent abroad for processing and resettlement, with the west African nation and Rwanda named.

But in a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra said it did not want to get involved in what it called 'Operation Dead Meat'.

To laugher in the Commons, Tory MP Philip Hollobone told Defence Minister James Heappey: 'This isn't Operation Red Meat, it's Operation Dog's Dinner.'

The scheme was revealed on Monday as Downing Street sought to fight back against the ravages of partygate allegations against the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile plans to fly migrants to Africa were in tatters after Ghana, one of the countries officials said were in talks, said they knew nothing about it.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is expected to take over command of the operation from Border Force by the end of the month in a move signed off by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Meanwhile in Dover, Kent, a group of people including a child aboard a small boat were met by Border Force just a few hundred metres from the port.

More than 770 people have made the dangerous journey across the Channel in small boats so far this year, following a record-breaking year in 2021 when at least 28,000 arrived in the UK.

Conservative former minister Sir Edward Leigh told the Commons this afternoon warned: 'In the absence of ministers having the political will to use pushback, what is the point in appointing a Royal Naval admiral to help Border Force to be a more efficient taxi service so that the migrants will know that now ''we have got the Royal Navy going to pick us up and we will be taken safety to the UK, and we will be put in a hotel and we will never ever be sent home''?

'This is just an embarrassment. Will the minister now co-ordinate with his colleagues to do what we have been suggesting for months now and that we get rid of the pull factors, namely we reform any piece of legislation that is necessary, including the Human Rights Act, and people who do this illegal crossing are arrested, put in a prison, and then deported?'

Mr Hollobone added: 'If the mission statement was to reduce the level of illegal people trafficking across the Channel, I'd support it.

'But the mission statement as far as I understand it is to lower the number of people landing on their own terms on UK beaches.

'So what the minister has effectively announced with the deployment of Royal Navy vessels is asylum seekers only need to get halfway across the Channel before being intercepted by the Royal Navy.

Mr Heappey said military involvement is part of a wider plan from the Government, which will be announced in the coming weeks, adding: 'His exhortations and those of colleagues have been heard.'

For Labour, shadow defence secretary John Healey said the military are 'there to protect the nation, not to protect Tory ministers', and claimed the announcement 'is the official confirmation the Home Secretary is failing'.

Labour MP Luke Pollard (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport) said: 'The sonic weapons, the long-range acoustic weapons, are already fitted to Border Force vessels, so as the Royal Navy has now assumed operational control of Border Force, can he make the statement that no Border Force sonic weapons will be used for migrant crossings?'

Mr Heappey replied: 'If Border Force vessels are fitted with a capability that the Royal Navy commander feels inappropriate for use, then he won't direct that it is used, but that is his judgment.'
An elite public high school in northern Virginia discriminated against Asian American families when it overhauled its admissions policies amid a push to increase Black and Hispanic representation at the school, lawyers argued Tuesday.

A lawsuit, filed by a group of parents against the Fairfax County Schools board, claims high-achieving Asian teens are being disadvantaged by the new admissions system that prioritizes racial balance over merit.

During the 2021-22 school year - the first curricular year since the new policy took effect - Asian admission dropped from 73 percent to 53 percent, according to district data.

The percentage of black students rose from one percent during the 2020-21 school year to seven percent this year. Hispanic representation ratcheted from three to 11 percent and white enrolment jumped from 18 percent to 22 percent at the Alexandria school.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology - known for churning out top-tier students who go on to attend Ivy League schools - previously accepted students based on a 'race-neutral standardized admissions test,' the lawsuit said.

That policy was replaced with a 'merit based lottery' after officials began feeling pressure to diversity enrolment following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis cop.

Fairfax County Public Schools in 2020 changed its admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology candidates in an effort to strike a racial balance. It resulted in a nearly 20 percent drop in Asian students

A coalition of parents is suing the school, claiming the new policy puts Asian students at an unfair disadvantage

RACIAL BREAKDOWN OF FAIRBANKS COUNTY SCHOOLS STUDENTS 2020-2021 Black students - 1.23% Hispanic students - 3.29% White students - 17.70% Asian students - 73% 2021-2022 Black students - 7.09% Hispanic students - 11.27% White students - 22.36% Asian students - 54.36% Source: Fairfax County Public Schools Advertisement

The case has garnered significant attention in part because of the school's prestigious status: it was ranked the best public high school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

But black and Hispanic students have been woefully underrepresented in the student body for decades.

In June 2020, weeks after Floyd's death, statistics were released that showed the number of black students attending Thomas Jefferson was 'too small to report.'

Fairfax County School Board member Karen Corbett Sanders responded by calling the results 'unacceptable' and promising 'intentful action,' according to court documents.

Likewise, fellow trustee said during a June 18 board meeting: 'In looking at what has happened to George Floyd, we now know that our shortcomings are far too great... so we must recognize the unacceptable numbers of such things as the unacceptable numbers of African Americans that have been accepted to [our school]'

School principal Ann Bonitatibus responded by saying diversity statistics did 'not reflect the racial composition in FCPS,' according to court documents.

'Recent events in our nation with black citizens facing death and continued injustices remind us that we each have a responsibility to our community to speak up and take actions that counter racism and discrimination in our society.'

The new policy guarantees admission to the top students at each of the county's middle schools. It also takes into account factors such as whether the child is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches because of his or her family's income.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was ranked the best public high school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report

The school previously accepted students based on a 'race-neutral standardized admissions test,' the lawsuit said. It contended the new system hurts academically-qualified Asians who might not be admitted under the recently-implemented policy

Chris Kiesar - an attorney for the The Coalition for TJ, which filed the lawsuit - said the geographic quotas are merely a proxy for racial quotas, and that the school board's intent all along was to increase Black and Hispanic representation at the expense of Asian American families.

He said the school board was successful in doing so.

'Racial balancing was always at the forefront of what was going here,' he said.

He cited comments made by school board members throughout the debate over changing the policy, which he said were always focused on racial composition.

In court papers, lawyers for the coalition also cited text exchanges between board members in which one member says 'there has been an anti-Asian feel underlying some of this, hate to say.'

In June 2020, weeks after Floyd's death, statistics were released that showed the number of black students attending Thomas Jefferson was 'too small to report'. Trustees at the local school board were appalled by the revelation, according to court documents

In court papers, lawyers for the coalition also cited text exchanges between board members in which one member says 'there has been an anti-Asian feel underlying some of this, hate to say'

Sona Rewari, an attorney for the school board, said there is nothing discriminatory about the new policy and that it is merely designed 'to give top students from every part of Fairfax County a meaningful opportunity to attend TJ.'

She also argued that if the plaintiffs' legal arguments were adopted, any effort to level the playing field to address past wrongs would automatically be unconstitutional, because increases for Black and Hispanic students would necessarily come at the expense of Asian students who make up a clear majority of the student body.

The proper standard, she said, is to determine whether the board acted with a desire to harm Asian Americans, and she said no evidence of that exists.

The case in Alexandria is being heard while the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether to hear a similar case filed by Asian families against Harvard University over its admissions policies.

U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton gave no indication at Tuesday's hearing of how he might rule, but he said he sees no reason to hold a trial on the matter.

It means his ruling will decide the case, though either side will be free to appeal.


Furious MPs today slammed No10 for its 'despicable' reliance on 'hysterical' Covid forecasts which have repeatedly driven the nation into living under economically-crippling curbs.

In a heated Westminster Hall discussion about coronavirus, Conservative Bob Seely called the use of modelling a 'national scandal'. He argued the projections, peddled by SAGE, created a 'climate of manipulated fear'.

Echoing Winston Churchill's famous wartime speech, Mr Seely said of the modelling: 'Never before has so much harm been done to so many by so few.'

He also criticised SAGE epidemiologist Professor Ferguson for producing 'doomsday scenarios' throughout the pandemic.

The notorious epidemiologist's first model warning of 510,000 deaths if nothing was done to curb the spread of the virus is widely credited with spooking Boris Johnson into announcing the first lockdown in March 2020.

Mr Seely argued this prediction followed a long line of inaccurate models produced by Imperial College London  where Professor Ferguson works  that have caused radical policies, starting with the mass culling of millions of animals during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001.

He was joined by the Covid Recovery Group deputy chair Steve Baker, who accused modellers of bouncing No10 into restrictions throughout the pandemic.

But the debate erupted when SNP MP Brendan O'Hara accused the politicians of not wearing face masks in the hall. It led to MPs being told to calm down during an angry shouting match.

Conservative Bob Seely (right) called for a debate on scientific modelling during the pandemic in which he accused forecasters of wildly inaccurate predictions. He was joined by the Covid Recovery Group deputy chair Steve Baker (left), who accused modellers of bouncing No10 into restrictions throughout the pandemic.

They slammed 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson (pictured) for 'hysterical forecasts' that have created a 'national scandal'

'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson admits his doomsday predictions may have been 'oversimplified' Professor Neil Ferguson described how he had become 'something of a marmite figure' as he admitted he 'made mistakes' and 'oversimplified things' during the pandemic. The Imperial College epidemiologist, whose initial modelling helped shape Britain's Covid response, said while it had been challenging for most Western governments to act in a timely manner the science throughout the crisis 'had basically been right'. However the scientist, nicknamed 'Professor Lockdown', admitted he had 'made mistakes for which he apologised for' as he spoke of the public scrutiny that his private life had come under. He also described how there had been 'a lot of political opposition' as he and scientists spoke of case numbers rising and the hospitalisations and deaths that would follow if action wasn't taken last year. The scientist's comments come after he resigned from the government's scientific advisory group (SAGE) last year after claims emerged that Antonia Staats, who was reported to be his lover, visited him at home - in breach of lockdown rules. Advertisement

Mr Seely said: 'Thanks to some questionable modelling, poorly presented and often misrepresented, I think it is true to say that never before has so much harm been done to so many by so few based on so little, questionable, potentially flawed data.

'I believe the use of data is pretty much getting up there for national scandal.

'This is not just the fault of the modellers but it's how their work was interpreted by public health officials, by the media and yes, by politicians and sadly by Government too.

'Modelling and forecasts were the ammunition that drove lockdown and created a climate of manipulated fear.

'I believe that creation of fear was pretty despicable and pretty unforgivable.'

He said Professor Ferguson's models back in 2001  which have since been harshly criticised by other experts  led to millions of animals being unnecessarily slaughtered because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Britain.

The second stage of the 'scandal', he said, was Professor Ferguson's intervention prior to the March 23 lockdown in 2020.

Professor Ferguson's Imperial modelling team released a paper on March 16 claiming Covid deaths could spiral to 510,000 if restrictions were not implemented.

Imperial later released studies suggesting lockdown had saved hundreds of thousands of lives, which amounted to 'marking their own homework', Mr Steely said.

He cited experts in Sweden who described the modelling as 'almost hysterical'.

And the third stage came this winter when Professor Ferguson's team, along with modellers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and University of Warwick, projected further thousands of deaths and NHS admissions because of the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, Mr Baker said Professor Ferguson's death projections 'disgracefully' bounced Mr Johnson into a lockdown.

He said: 'This is no way to do policy, but the reason someone  we won't speculate who  bounced the Prime Minister is because they'd been shown those terrifying death projections.

'They couldn't possibly be tolerated [but] they were wrong.'

SAGE's models have been criticised several times in the past for overegging the UK's Covid trajectory.

Advocates of modelling insist it's impossible to tell whether or not grim predictions made early on in the pandemic would have been accurate because lockdowns were used to stop thousands dying unnecessarily.

However, the most recent models from the advisory panel warned that NHS could be overwhelmed by the Omicron wave and that up to 6,000 may die each day. Fatalities never breached 1,500, even in the depths of the second wave.

Despite the gloomy projections, No10 never caved into demands for lockdown and the wave naturally fizzled out on its own. Deaths and hospitalisation levels are just a fraction of previous waves, largely thanks to the country's hugely successful vaccine roll-out.

Meanwhile, Mr O'Hara stoked tensions in Westminster Hall when he described the Conservative MPs of a 'libertarian pile-on'.

He said: 'I will not be participating in the libertarian pile-on led by people who I must say even in these circumstances, in a chamber as small as this, still do not use face coverings.'

Mr O'Hara refused to give way to a rebuttal from Mr Baker, saying: 'I think the libertarian right have had enough of a kick of the ball in this debate.'

At the end of his speech, Tory MPs shouted 'shame', with Sir Edward Leigh forced to tell them to calm down.

It came as the UK's daily Covid cases dropped for the 13th day in a row today and hospital admissions have now started to trend downwards as it emerged the Prime Minister is drawing up plans to ditch all coronavirus laws from as early as March.

There were 94,432 new positive tests across the country in the last 24 hours, Government dashboard data shows, which marked a 22 per cent fall compared to last Tuesday. Cases have fallen week-on-week on every day since January 6.

In more confirmation that the Omicron wave is subsiding, new figures show that hospital admissions from the virus have dropped for three days in a row nationally.

There were 1,892 admissions on January 14, the most recent date with data, which marked a 4 per cent decrease on the previous week. Admissions have been in dropping for weeks in London, which became the country's Omicron epicentre last month.

Deaths continued to trend upwards today, however, with 438 registered in the last 24 hours  the most since late February 2021.

There are currently an average of 270 Covid deaths per day in the UK now at what is believed to be the peak of the Omicron wave - a far cry from the 1,200 at the worst of Alpha last January.

The promising statistics come as a senior Government source claimed ministers are seriously considering abandoning all legally-binding curbs in England and moving to a guidance-based system.

The official claimed even the most basic rules could go, such as compulsory self-isolation of cases and the requirement to co-operate with Test and Trace.

Emergency Covid laws brought in at the start of the pandemic are due to expire in March if they are not renewed as part of a timetable set out before Omicron hit.

Ministers are already planning to ditch Plan B curbs brought in last month to fight the highly-transmissible variant, with Covid passports and WFH guidance expected to be scrapped later this month.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid today revealed he is 'cautiously optimistic' that the final Plan B curbs can be 'substantially reduced' next week when ministers review No10's next steps.

Mr Johnson is said to have taken huge confidence from the country's collapsing case numbers and flatlining hospital rates that the UK can safely live with Covid.

He will finalise the plans to let coronavirus laws expire over the coming weeks, with an announcement on which measurers will be dropped expected in March, according to the Guardian.

The embattled PM has laid out a number of other Tory-friendly policies to appease backbench MPs as he faces calls to resign over parties in No10 during lockdown.

It came as Nicola Sturgeon finally agreed to lift remaining Covid restrictions brought in to combat the Omicron variant, admitting the country was on the 'downward slope' of infections.

From next Monday, January 24, bars and restaurants will no longer only be able to serve customers seated at tables, while social distancing will also be removed. Nightclubs will also be allowed to reopen as she sweeps away restrictions in place since before Christmas, while plans to extend the Covid passport scheme have been scrapped.

Attendance limits on indoor events will also be lifted - bringing them into line with outdoor events in a move that came into effect yesterday. However baseline coronavirus measures in place before the Omicron wave will remain, including masks are still legally required indoors and on public transport.
The Biden administration launched its website for ordering at-home COVID tests without fanfare on Tuesday, a day before it was scheduled to officially open.

The website, COVIDTests.gov, includes a link for Americans to order up to four tests per residential address, to be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.

Although it is a central part of President Joe Biden's pandemic response, it still means families of four or more, or people in need of urgent results will have to look for other sources of tests.

And the packs will not start shipping until late in the month.

During her regular briefing on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the site was operating at limited capacity.

'It will officially launch tomorrow morning,' she said.

'It's in the beta testing phase right now.'

The Biden administration opened its website for free at-home tests without fanfare on Tuesday

USers who need a COVID-19 test now, or need more than four tests, are directed elsewhere

The site offers advice for people on when and how to best use the tests

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said it was undergoing 'beta testing' head of an official launch on Wednesday

Traffic to the site surged as news of the soft launch spread, hitting as many 750,000 users and representing more than half of all traffic to administration websites at one point.

But with COVID-19 cases declining at the start of this week, the launch is likely to attract criticism that it is too little, too late.

Biden announced last month that his administration would buy 500 million tests to kickstart the scheme.

On Thursday, he said he doubling the order to one billion tests.

However, Americans in need of urgent results will have to seek other options because of shipping times.

'Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests,' says the website.

'The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

'Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.'

Social media quickly filled up with people welcoming the move and passing on the link to the new website.

But at the same time, dozens more asked what families of more than four should do.

Although many people to Twitter to welcome the news, others pointed out that bigger families or households of more than four would still have to look elsewhere for tests

Traffic to the website surged as news of its soft launch spread, increasing to the point where it accounted for more than half of all traffic to government websites

Anyone clicking on a button to order tests is directed to the United States Postal Service and can check out with a pack of four tests at zero cost.

'COVID-19 tests will start shipping in late January,' it says after orders are placed.

Psaki said the beta testing was designed to provide users with the best service but admitted that teething troubles were possible.

'We didn't start from scratch here, of course,' she said.

'The Postal Service already runs a website that sells goods to the public. As you know, every website launch and our view comes with risk.

'We can't guarantee there won't be a bug or two. But the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.'

Since Saturday, private insurance companies have been required to cover the cost of at-home rapid tests, allowing Americans to be reimbursed for tests they purchase at pharmacies and online retailers. That covers up to eight tests per month.

The administration has been under intense pressure to increase the availability of tests.

The spread of the Omicron variant generated shortages at pharmacies over the holiday season.

But this week brought signs that the worst of the surge may have passed.

Covid infections have begun falling across the U.S. for the first time since the variant erupted at the end of 2021, with cases dropping at least 10 percent in the past seven days.

The U.S. recorded 721,651 new cases on Monday, a steep fall from the 1.364 million cases reported last Monday.

The result is that some public health experts believe the U.S. could be on the way out of the worst of the pandemic.

Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Scott Gottlieb said there was hope on the horizon that infections will drop even lower and that the virus will enter an endemic state in the near future.

He told CNBC's The Squawk Box that unless the virus dramatically shifts from its current state, it will likely enter an endemic state in the foreseeable future.

'I think the base case is that this signals the end of the pandemic phase of this virus,' he said.

Recent trends in case growth, combined with the more mild nature of the Omicron variant compared to its predecessors, has many hopeful that Covid will soon become endemic. If it reaches endemic stage, humans will be able to live normal lives with controlled circulation of the virus - similar to the flu.
This is the incredible moment a shockwave from the Tonga volcanic eruption hit shore, terrifying beachgoers, just minutes before a devastating tsunami hit land.

In the footage taken from 40 miles away from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai underwater volcano, a huge plume of ash is shown rising over the horizon, filling the sky before a deafening boom is heard.

The person filming and other onlookers are visibly shaken as the shockwave hits, and immediately turn away from the ocean and begin running in-land.

Pictured: Video footage captured moments before a shockwave from the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai underwater volcano struck Tonga's shores

The footage spanned across the sky showing the huge plume of ash and steam rising from the volcano, moments before the shockwave hit Tonga

At first, the video shows the huge ash cloud rising into the sky.

The person filming tells viewers to 'check that out' as he pans across the sky, showing the scale of the plume rising from the volcano.

Suddenly, a loud crack is heard in the air and the filmer and others on the beach shout out in surprise as the shockwave blasts through them from across the ocean.

One person, who looks like a young boy, instantly turns away from the water and starts running in-land. After a couple of seconds, the others do the same, presumably after realising the danger they are in.

As they run away, the people can be heard panicking and swearing. The person filming appears to run inside a building and is heard speaking to a woman, before the footage cuts off.

Minutes after the shockwave from Saturday's eruption, Tonga was struck by a tsunami. The scale of the destruction is still being realised.

All the homes on one of Tonga's small outer islands were destroyed, with three people so far confirmed dead, the government said on Tuesday in its first update since the disaster struck.

Pictured: A plume rises over Tonga after the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupted in this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite operated by Japan Meteorological Agency on January 15, 2022

The eruption at the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai off Tonga, January 14, 2022 is seen in a video gran showing the huge plume of ash and steam rising from the ocean

The dead include a 65-year-old woman on Mango Island, a 49-year-old man on Nomuka Island, and 50-year-old Briton Angela Glover who was found dead on Tongatapu Island on Monday.

An entire village on Mango Island has been swept away by the tsunami, the government said today, with just two buildings left standing on Fonoifua Island. Namuka Island also has 'extensive damage'.

Rescue operations including evacuations of Mango, Fonoifua and Atata islands are underway, with 'a number of' injuries also reported - though government officials could not say how many.

Communications from Tonga, a remote set of Pacific islands with a population of 105,000, have been sparse since disaster struck late Saturday when the Hunga-Tonga volcano dramatically exploded.

The eruption sparked a tsunami, covering nearby islands in ash, and severing an undersea internet cable connecting the country with the outside world.

While early reports from the islands were encouraging, as the days have gone on the picture has darkened. Aid workers on the main island of Tongatapu say the death toll there is likely to be limited, but fears are growing for hundreds of people who live on smaller outlying islands and have not been heard from since the eruption.

Reconnaissance planes from the Australian and New Zealand air forces circled some of the islands on Monday, giving a glimpse of the conditions being faced by survivors - moon-like landscapes covered in thick ash, buildings flattened, and people living under tarpaulins.

Aid efforts are being hampered by damage to the islands' main port and airport, but also by the country's strict zero-Covid policy which could see aid shipments and workers quarantined to stop a 'tsunami of Covid'.

Tonga has recorded just one official case in a traveller from New Zealand who tested positive in isolation in October last year, and is determined to keep it that way. Ministers have already warned their counterparts in New Zealand and Australia, which are coordinating aid efforts, that virus protocols will be applied to rescuers.

New Zealand and Australian air force planes have circled Tonga, as the true scale of devastation caused to the islands slowly emerges. Pictured above is one of the smaller islands, which appears grey because it is blanketed in ash

An image taken from a military reconnaissance plane shows a Tongan village inundated with ash, while the beach shows signs of water damage where tsunami waves washed ashore following a huge volcanic eruption at the weekend

Tonga has given its first update on rescue efforts since the eruption and tsunami hit, revealing which islands are worst-affected and where evacuations are currently taking place

Tarpaulin tents are seen being used as temporary shelters on Mango Island, where every building has been destroyed

 Slide me  Satellite images reveal how Kanokupolu, a village on the hard-hit western side of Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, has been almost wiped out as ash turns the landscape grey

 Slide me  Satellite images reveal how the village of Kanokupolu, on the main island of Tongatapu, was completely washed away in a tsunami which struck after a volcanic eruption late Saturday

 Slide me  Satellite images reveal damage caused by the eruption and tsunami at Tonga's main port in the capital Nuku'alofa, which is now blanketed in ash with many buildings damaged or destroyed

 Slide me  Satellite images of Niutoua, a village on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, show how it has been completely destroyed with all buildings washed away during a tsunami triggered by the eruption

 Slide me  Satellite images taken before and after the eruption reveal how a village on one of Tonga's islands has been badly damaged, with the surrounding landscape blanketed in ash

'Tsunami of Covid' fears hamper Tonga rescue efforts Rescue efforts for disaster-stricken Tonga are being hampered because of the Pacific islands' strict zero-Covid policy. The country has confirmed just one case so far - a traveller who was in isolation at the time - and despite 60 per cent of people being fully vaccinated, is determined to stop any more from arriving. Tonga has not spelled out the reasons for its policy, though rates of obesity on the islands are among the highest in the world - almost 60 per cent for men and 45 per cent for women - with obesity being a major comorbidity for Covid. A study by the World Obesity Federation published in March last year found that Covid death rates are ten times higher in countries where more than half of adults are overweight or obese, such as the UK, US, and Italy. Researchers even suggested that obese people be given priority for vaccination, along with elderly or clinically vulnerable people. Curtis Tu'ihalangingie, head of Tonga's mission in Australia, said Monday that any aid sent to the islands could have to undergo quarantine due to the risk of it being contaminated by Covid - despite the risk of transmission from packaging being very low. Humanitarian workers sent to the islands will also be expected to undergo 21-day mandatory quarantine on arrival, the government has warned New Zealand and Australia which are helping rescue efforts. Quarantine may be waived for emergency aid workers. It comes despite the government warning today that water supplies on all of Tonga's islands are badly contaminated with ash from the volcano. Mr Tuihalangingie told Australia's national broadcaster ABC that keeping the country virus-free remains a priority, warning of a second 'tsunami of Covid'. Advertisement

Tsunami waves reaching up to 50ft hit the Ha'apia island group and the west coast of Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, the prime minister's office said.

On the western coast of the main island, 56 houses were completely or seriously damaged and residents moved to evacuation centres.

Mango is about 43 miles from the Hunga Tonga volcano, which sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean when it erupted with a blast heard 1,430 miles away in New Zealand.

A search and rescue operation began on Sunday for Atata island, which has a population of about 100 people.

'Challenges to sea and air transportation remain due to damage sustained by the wharves and the ash that is covering the runways,' it said. Some limited communications had been made with satellite phones, but other areas remain cut off.

The Tongan navy had deployed with health teams and water, food and tents to the Ha'apai islands, with more aid sent on Tuesday due to the severity of the damage observed on Mango, Fonoifua and Namuka islands, it said.

Australia's Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said Tongan officials were hoping to evacuate people from the isolated, low-lying Ha'apai islands group and other outer islands where conditions were 'very tough, we understand, with many houses being destroyed in the tsunami.'

The United Nations had earlier reported a distress signal was detected in Ha'apai, where Mango is located. The Tongan navy reported the area was hit by waves estimated to be 5-10 metres (15-30 feet) high, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Atata and Mango are between between 30 and 40 miles from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, which exploded on Saturday evening in a blast that was heard 1,400 miles away in New Zealand, threw a plume of ash into the atmosphere, and sent tsunami waves rippling across the Pacific.

Atata has a population of about 100 people and Mango around 50 people. 'It is very alarming to see the wave possibly went through Atata from one end to the other,' said Tu'ihalangingie.

The NZDF images, which were posted unofficially on a Facebook site and confirmed by Tu'ihalangingie, also showed tarpaulins being used as shelter on Mango island.

A thick layer of ash blankets the islands, the New Zealand High Commission said, adding it was working to establish communications with smaller islands 'as a matter of priority'.

Buildings and trees on the island of Nomuka, Tonga, are seen covered in ash in an image which first appears to have been taken in black and white but is in fact in colour

Buildings are seen covered in ash with water damage visible along the coastline of a Tongan island in this image taken from a New Zealand air force reconnaissance plane

An image taken from a New Zealand military plane reveals damage to a village on Fonoifua Island, Tonga

An image from a New Zealand military plane reveals damage to Nomuka Island, Tonga, after the eruption

 Slide me  Satellite images show a district of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa before and after the eruption, with the buildings and trees turning grey after being blanketed in volcanic ash

 Slide me  Satellite images taken of the peak of the Hunga-Tonga volcano show how it was all-but destroyed in the explosive eruption late on Saturday, with only one piece left visible above the ocean

 Slide me  Nomuka Island, Tonga, is seen before and after the eruption which caused widespread damage to villages and blanketed the island in ash, turning it a dark grey colour

 Slide me  The peak of the Hunga-Tonga volcano is seen before and after the eruption, which destroyed most of the cone

Aid flights cannot land at Tonga's main airport because the runway is currently inundated with ash, with officials saying it take until at least Wednesday for workers to clear it by hand

Workers are seen clearing the runway of Tonga's main airport in preparation for aid flights to land, though officials warn it could take until Wednesday for that to happen

The archipelago's main airport, Fua'amotu International Airport, was not damaged in Saturday's eruption and tsunami but heavy ashfall is preventing full operations, hampering international relief efforts.

The U.N. humanitarian office said Tongan officials had said that clearing the runway would take days as it was being done manually, by Wednesday at the earliest.

People on the western coast of the main island of Tongatapu had been evacuated because of 'significant damage', OCHA added in an update, while government ministers had broadcast warnings on radio against price gouging amid worries of supply shortages.

The Tongan government is expected to formally request aid from countries including Australia and New Zealand tomorrow. Both antipodean nations have C-130 military aircraft on standby, packed with emergency supplies.

'The priority now will to be get supplies to Tonga and the biggest constraint on that at the moment ... is the airport. There is still a significant amount of ash,' Seselja said.

Tonga is a kingdom of 176 islands, of which 36 are inhabited, with a population of 104,494 people.

The archipelago has remained largely cut off from the world since the eruption which cut its main undersea communications cable.

Subcom, a U.S. based private company contracted to repair various subsea cables in the Asia-Pacific, said it was working with Tonga Cable Ltd to repair the cable that runs from Tonga to Fiji.

Samiuela Fonua, the chair of Tonga Cable, said there were two cuts in the undersea cable that would not be fixed until volcanic activity ceased, allowing repair crews access.

'The condition of the site is still pretty messy at the moment,' Fonua told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, all but disappeared following the blast, according to satellite images taken about 12 hours later, making it difficult for volcanologists to monitor activity.

Damage to coastal areas is visible on Niniva Island, which was damaged in the Tonga tsunami

An image of Tonga's main port taken by an Australian military plane shows stacks of shipping containers have been bowled over by a tsunami wave which swept across the island
A promotional image for Shinhan Bank's new food delivery service app / Korea Times file



By Yi Whan-woo



Commercial banks appear to be getting a sense of how to counter big tech firms, which have been muscling in on the banking industry by capitalizing on their digital prowess as platform operators.



The traditional lenders are becoming more sophisticated over the years in their breakthrough strategies, which are characterized by maximizing their potential as platform operators on the one hand, and getting help from an ally in the ICT sector to make up for their digital shortcomings on the other hand.



Although still in their nascent stages, such strategies are an improvement considering the banks had previously only been mimicking big tech firms and offering supplementary, non-banking services on their respective apps.





Shinhan Bank CEO Jin Ok-dong, left, and KT President Park Jong-ook hold a certificate of strategic partnership during a signing ceremony at the lender's headquarters in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
An MI5 investigation concluded that the Texas synagogue terrorist was not a threat and thus freed him up to travel to the United States, it emerged last night, as a fresh picture of the attacker was released.

The photograph, taken in Dallas, Texas just days before he launched his attack, emerged as British police released two teenagers arrested in Manchester as part of the inquiry without charge.

Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn, was shot dead by US law enforcement on Saturday night after taking four people and a Rabbi hostage in a 10-hour siege.

The 44-year-old was the subject of a 'short lead investigation' - effectively chasing a tip-off - by MI5 for a least four weeks at the end of 2020.

The investigation into the attacker came after he spent six months in Pakistan, with Britain's security service deciding he posed no terrorist threat and closed the case.

While there were concerns about Akram's activities, spooks deemed there was no sign he presented an imminent threat and the case was closed before tactics such as eavesdropping were deployed, according to the Times.

Indeed he wasn't on the Home Office warnings index - a watchlist used by airport police to intercept potential passengers of concern - when he travelled across the Atlantic late last year.

It would be 'disproportionate' to place someone who was assessed as not being a threat on such a list, sources told the paper.

The Times also reported that investigators believe Akram lied on his tourist visa, which requires travellers to declare past offences. Akram had a violent criminal record, and his family has asked why he was not blocked from travelling.

It comes as a new image emerged of Akram tonight, taken at an outreach centre in Dallas - around three miles from the site of the attack in Colleyville - just days before he took hostages.

Wayne Walker, chief executive at the shelter, Our Calling, said Akram was hugged by a man who dropped him off there on January 2.

Meanwhile, police in the UK have released two teenagers who they arrested as part of their inquiry into the attack without charge.

The youngsters, who are believed to be under the age of 18, and cannot be identified for legal reasons, were detained in South Manchester on Sunday.

A new image emerged of Akram tonight, taken at an outreach centre in Dallas - around three miles from the site of the attack in Colleyville - just days before he took hostages

Synagogue terrorist Malik Faisal Akram is arrested outside his Blackburn home and bundled into a police van in 2018

Akram was arrested in Blackburn in 2018 after refusing to pay his landlord any rent. Police vans are pictured at the scene

A Texas Synagogue hostage flees, watched by a SWAT team officer perched in an armoured car

Blackburn terrorist was on call with his children when he was shot dead by a SWAT team, his family claims Father-of-six Malik Faisal Akram was speaking to his children when he was gunned down in a Texan synagogue, it was claimed today. His younger sibling Gulbar has said they are now trying to get his body home for a funeral - but that he will have been riddled with bullets. Gulbar told Sky News said his brother was on the phone with his children when he was shot: 'Why did they have to kill him? They didn't need to do that'. Many relatives had been called into a Blackburn police station to convince him to give himself up, but they were unable to. Gulbar said: 'When we bring my brother's body back, I'm expecting there to be 10 or 12 gunshot wounds in him', adding he 'should never have been able to get through immigration. Someone helped him. He shouldn't have been able to board a plane without any stringent checks'. Advertisement

Police chiefs said officers remain in constant contact with US authorities to support them with their investigation and continue to lead a local investigation, with an address in North Manchester having been searched.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Dominic Scally, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: 'CTP North West is continuing to assist with the investigation which is being led by US authorities.

'Overnight, constructive meetings with colleagues from the United States have taken place.

'As part of our enquiries, we're also working with colleagues in other forces and Lancashire Police are working with communities in the Blackburn area to put measures in place to provide reassurance.'

It comes as further pictures emerged today of the moment Akram was arrested outside his Blackburn home and bundled into a police van after refusing to pay his landlord any rent.

The terrorist was held by officers where he lived in a quiet cul-de-sac because he wouldn't let bailiffs into the property where he lived with his wife and six children.

Residents have described career criminal Akram as the 'neighbour from hell' who made their lives a misery with his anti-social and threatening behaviour before he is believed to have left 18 months ago and moved to Manchester.

MailOnline can reveal that police visited Akram's former home twice in the last two months looking for the terrorist.

Just before Christmas Lancashire Police called at the house looking for him, but didn't disclose why. They returned earlier this month looking for Malik's teenage son, amid concerns for his whereabouts.

The image of Akram being arrested in 2018 came after he hurled abuse at workmen who were trying to install new gas and electricity meters inside the house and stopped them from getting in.

He had failed to pay his rent and reportedly caused 10,000 worth of damage when he was finally evicted.

A neighbour who asked not to be named told MailOnline: 'He only lived here for a few months but he caused so many problems.

'That photo was taken in November 2018 and he had refused to let bailiffs and workmen who were due to install new gas and electricity meters into the property.

'He was abusive and shouting at them in the street so the police were called.

'Rather than deterring him, he refused to budge and was continuing his outburst at police so they put him in handcuffs and led him away. He wasn't a very nice person. He wouldn't engage with anyone in the street unless he was shouting at them.

Faiisal Akram, 44, (pictured) from Blackburn was the gunman in the hostage situation at a Texas synagogue

Police are piecing together the terrorist's final movements after arriving at JFK airport by January 2 before staying in a homeless hostel run by a Christian charity before launching the attack on January 15

'On one occasion he'd parked his car across one of his neighbour's driveways blocking them in.

'The lady went over and knocked on his door and asked him politely if he could move his car but he started to yell and swear at her. He refused to move the car and told her that she could not tell him what to do because she was a woman.

'He had a very sexist way of behaving. He was very extreme in his religious views and did not believe women and men were equal.

'There was another similar row over parking with another neighbour which saw them both square up to each other and nearly turn violent.

'One neighbour wanted to move because he and his family were really disruptive. And this cul-de-sac is normally very peaceful with everyone else getting on with each other.

'He left at some point late in 2018 or early 2019, we believe they went to Manchester. It was a relief when they did finally go. He was the neighbour from hell.

'But it was still a huge surprise to see that he was the one who had laid siege to a synagogue in America and had been shot dead by the authorities.'

The former landlord of the house told MailOnline that Akram had ripped up the carpet, destroyed furniture and damaged the fridge freezer as well as refusing to pay the rent.

He said: 'He liked to pass himself off as a good Muslim but he wasn't at all, he behaved despicably.'

Akram, who MailOnline revealed yesterday was banned from Blackburn Magistrates Court in 2001 for ranting about the 9/11 terror attacks, has a criminal record dating back more than 25-years.

He found himself in Borstal as a teenager before going to an adult prison in 1996, aged 19, for violent disorder after attacking a cousin with a baseball bat.

A year later he was back in prison again, this time for the destruction of property, and then in 1999 for harassment. He is believed to have taken to selling drugs and was then in prison again in 2012 for stealing 5,000 in cash and phones. But the case was later stopped.

Given his background, questions continue to grow over how he was allowed into the United States, as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters today he was checked 'multiple times' before he entered the country.

The White House press secretary said the federal government had no 'derogatory information' on Akram before he landed in the United States

A short while earlier, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy released a blistering statement demanding answers from President Joe Biden's White House and raising alarms over 'what national security concerns remain.'

In addition to condemning the attack, he and other national Republican figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been grilling the administration over its handling of the incident.

'Our understanding, and obviously we're still looking into this, is that he was checked against US government databases multiple times prior to entering the country,' Psaki said on Tuesday.

Akram, 44, flew to New York City from the UK on January 22, despite being known to MI5 and having a criminal record.

She explained that the government did not have any 'derogatory information' on Akram when he entered the country.

'We're certainly looking back, as I referenced, at what occurred to learn every possible lesson we can to prevent attacks like this in the future,' Psaki said.

Akram was fixated with demanding the release of Lady al-Qaeda Aafia Siddiqui, a convicted terrorist in a Texan jail who is a cause celebre for terror groups around the world.

His brother has claimed that he believes 'someone helped him' through immigration because he had been in and out of prison since he was a juvenile.

The terrorist, from Blackburn, England, was shot dead in Texas on Saturday night after a 10-hour siege at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville where he took a rabbi and three of his congregation hostage with a handgun and claiming to be carrying a suicide bomb.

Akram became known to British counter-terrorism police after becoming 'completely obsessed' with Islam and displayed extreme and disruptive behavior at Friday prayers during his most recent spell in prison.

He was also a regular at anti-Israel demonstrations and marches for the release of Muslim prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, having first been put behind bars in 1996 as a juvenile delinquent and going in and out of prison for 16 years until he found religion.

In 2001 he was banned from his local court in England, where he was a regular in the dock, for turning up to abuse staff and ranting about 9/11. He was a regular visitor to Pakistan and reportedly a member of the Tablighi Jamaat group, set up to 'purify' Islam and banned from Saudi after the kingdom described the group as a 'gateway to terrorism'.

One senator, briefed on the case the Department for Homeland Security and a former Pentagon official, told British newspaper The Daily Telegraph today: 'Certainly someone let the ball drop.'

The security services were accused of a serious 'intelligence failure' after a British Islamist was able to travel to the US - and MailOnline can reveal that about a fortnight ago, British police were looking for him at the Manchester home he shares with his six children.
A ten-year-old girl miraculously survived a ferociously cold night in a snow blizzard in Russia by clinging on to a stray dog for warmth.

Vika Z was found with frostbite hugging the 'fluffy' abandoned pet following a frantic search by police, officials and volunteers.

She had got lost half a mile from her home as she returned from school in Uglegorsk on Russia's largest island, Sakhalin, in temperatures that plunged to minus 11C, said police.

Vika Z, ten, (left, with mother Tatyana, and right) miraculously survived a cold night in a snow blizzard in Uglegorsk on Russia's largest island, Sakhalin, by hugging a stray dog for warmth

Vika Z was found with frostbite hugging the 'fluffy' abandoned pet following a frantic search by police, officials and volunteers. Pictured: File photo of Uglegorsk covered in snow

The blizzard led to snowfalls more than 2ft deep with drifts piling up to the first floor of houses in some places.

The girl was eventually found 18 hours after walking home from school.

She told how she was 'hugging a fluffy dog for warmth'.

Vika and the stray mongrel were lying on a mattress, which had been put out for homeless dogs, under a low balcony, giving shelter from the raging storm.

Earlier reports say she had clambered into a kennel, but this was denied.

'She was taken straight to hospital, and found to have mild frostbite,' said a local source.

Vika had left school at 1pm, and was found next morning at 8:45am.

Olesya Voznyuk, an official with the Investigative Committee, said: 'She was hiding under a balcony with the dog.

Vika (pictured) had got lost half a mile from her home as she returned from school in Uglegorsk in temperatures that plunged to minus 11C, said police

Vika and the stray dog were lying on a mattress under a low balcony, giving shelter from the raging storm. Pictured: File photo of a stray dog - the dog that saved Vika has gone missing

'The girl loves animals very much, she used to play with local dogs all the time.

'She went to feed these dogs after school and then got caught in the snow storm and strong winds.'

The space under the balcony gave some shelter but it still took more than 40 people over 12 hours to find her from when her parents raised the alarm .

Her 'relieved' mother Tatyana, 34, was reunited with Vika at hospital.

The girl was allowed home the same day .

Now there are plans to honour the dog that saved Vika - if they can find it.

The stray has gone missing.
Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw was caught on video snapping at a teen at a Texas Tea Party event on Monday evening, earning furious heckling from GOP voters there.

One angry audience member shouted that the girl was just 10 years old. She later confirmed she was in fact 18 years old.

She had asked the veteran-turned-lawmaker about recent comments he made suggesting Jesus Christ was not 'real' despite publicly declaring himself a devout Christian, during a question session at the at the Montgomery County Tea Party meeting.

Crenshaw appeared on the Jocko Podcast in March 2020 to promote his new book Fortitude, where he was asked to elaborate on his thoughts on heroism.

'The important thing is that we societal hero archetypes that we look up to. Jesus is a hero archetype, Superman is a hero archetype. Real characters too, I could name a thousand,' the teen quoted Crenshaw as saying, adding civil rights icon Rosa Parks and former President Ronald Reagan to the list.

She seemed to take issue with him putting Jesus in the same category as Superman.

'I can't wrap my head around this,' she said after reading his own words back to him.

A clearly irate Crenshaw retorted, 'Well, I'll help you.'

'Put a period after the word Jesus and don't question my faith,' he said dryly.

Crenshaw clashed with a young conservative challenging him with his own past statements at a meeting of the Montgomery County Tea Party on Monday night

Someone in the crowd identified the girl as only being 10 years old. She later confirmed she was 18

Some in the crowd made expressions of surprise. Then, a trickle of boos turned into a cascade of disapproval directed at the Texas Republican.

'To a 10-year-old girl!' one heckler can be heard shouting. 'Wait to go, guy!'

Another person derided Crenshaw as a 'moron.'

'Don't talk to her like that,' a woman shouted, and another person added: 'Yeah, you don't talk to a kid like that.'

Crenshaw appeared defiant, once again telling the Tea Party members in the room 'Don't question my faith.'

'Oh, okay,' someone off camera quipped sarcastically.

'You guys can ask questions about all of these things and I will answer them. But don't question my faith,' Crenshaw defended.

The teen, again referring to the quote she cited, said: 'I can question your faith if this is what you said.'

'That's - I mean you can read the quote again, but nowhere in that quote am I saying Jesus is not real. That's a ridiculous statement,' the GOP lawmaker responded.

Crenshaw has been criticized by his fellow Republicans for going against Donald Trump's baseless election fraud claims and saying that some of his fellow GOP lawmakers were 'grifters'

'You can say two different things. You can say that on a podcast and you can say this here,' the teen told him.

Crenshaw told the teen she was 'twisting' his words, prompting more angry crowd reaction and exasperated sighs of 'Come on!'

He took it a step further, chiding the young Texan that her comments were 'not very Christian.'

The room erupted in shouts of 'Let's Go Brandon,' seemingly aimed at the Republican despite it being a right-wing phrase meant to stand in for 'F**k Joe Biden.'

'It's not. And I'm not going to have my faith questioned,' Crenshaw said.

His heated spat with the teen in Montgomery County on Monday night was resoundingly mocked by both sides of the aisle on Twitter.

People from both sides of the aisle mocked Crenshaw's interaction on Twitter

'I dont think Dan Crenshaw is gonna raise a lot of money off *this* video,' wrote Scott T. Parkinson, the vice president of government affairs at right-wing political action committee Club for Growth.

LGBTQ and veterans' affairs activist Charlotte Clymer said, 'the video of Dan Crenshaw livid over a 10 year-old girl reading his own quote to him is pretty damn funny.'

Pat Spearman, a Democrat running for mayor of North Las Vegas in Nevada, praised the teen and other youths for standing up to politicians.

'Dan Crenshaw being intimidated by a 10 year old girl tells you all you need to know about the next generation. They're not here for malarky,' Spearman wrote.

The Texas Republican has been accosted by members of his own party for publicly disputing former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, as well as warning there were 'grifters' and liar within his caucus.

DailyMail.com reached out to Crenshaw's office for comment.
A man has been charged with murder after a nine-year-old girl disappeared in the NSW Blue Mountains six days ago.

The 32-year-old man was arrested at an apartment in Surry Hills in Sydney's inner city at about 8.30pm on Tuesday.

He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged, and will face court on Wednesday morning.

Human remains have been found inside a barrel but are yet to be formally identified.

Detectives last night carried out a search at the Colo River near where the remains were found which are believed to be the girl's.

The river is about an hour's drive away from Mount Wilson where the girl disappeared.

A man has been charged with murder after a nine-year-old girl disappeared in the Blue Mountains. Emergency crews are seen in Colo River near the Blue Mountains

The 32-year-old man was arrested at an apartment in Surry Hills in Sydney's inner city at about 8.30pm on Tuesday

The nine-year-old girl was last seen on Thursday but was reported missing on Friday morning

The 32-year-old man was arrested at an apartment in Surry Hills on Tuesday night. He will face court on Wednesday

The little girl was last seen at the property on the verandah on Thursday. But police were only notified of her disappearance at 8.20am the following day.

The man will face Central Local Court on Wednesday morning. Neither he nor the girl can be identified for legal reasons.

Police are expected to update the media later today.

A neighbour of the property where the girl vanished this week told Daily Mail Australia his wife was reading at 4.30am on Friday when she heard the sound of a car on the driveway.

'She got out of bed and went to the window and saw a shadow moving,' John Haitzler told Daily Mail Australia.

'It is very quiet here at night and you can see the headlights - there weren't any on.'

Mr Haitzler said his wife couldn't see the make of the car or who was driving it, but that he reported it to police after he heard a little girl had gone missing from next door.

John Haitzler (pictured) says his wife Carole saw a vehicle with no headlights leave a property at 4.30am on Friday - approximately four hours before police were notified of the little girl's disappearance

NSW Police also carried out a search at Colo River, about an hour from the Blue Mountains

RFS volunteers (pictured) were deployed to the area to search for the nine-year-old and have been combing bushland

The young girl usually lives with her grandmother in Coolangatta near the Gold Coast but was staying with her mother and stepdad over the school holidays.

Earlier this week police seized a vehicle and a boat as part of the investigation.

When the large scale search commenced for the nine-year-old more than 100 emergency service staff were scouring the ground and searching from the air.

Police divers, dog units and SES and RFS volunteers were also used.

Criminal Psychologist Tim Watson-Munro told 2GB's Ben Fordham the lack of information given about the case by police during the early stages of the investigated suggested they already had leads.

Police held their last press conference over the weekend.

'The media play an invaluable role in assisting in solving these cases, the fact that this wasn't being put out there suggests to me that the police has information, they were playing the cards pretty close to their chests,' Mr Watson-Munro said.

Police are seen near the Colo River during the investigation of the missing girl

Volunteers are seen scouring the area in Mount Wilson after the young girl was reported missing

Pictured: Police vehicles moving down the driveway at Mount Wilson, in the NSW Blue Mountains
Two more House Democrats announced Tuesday they would retire from Congress at the end of their terms, bringing the total to 28 amid polls that show President Biden's party in danger of losing its majority.

Rep. James Langevin, an 11-term lawmaker from Rhode Island who serves on the coveted House Armed Services Committee, announced his decision in an op-ed Tuesday.

He said it was 'time for me to chart a new course, which will allow me to stay closer to home and spend more time with my family and friends.

Langevin, a quadriplegic who uses a motorized wheelchair to get around Congress, also reflected on his career.

Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., announced he will retire from Congress at the end of his 11th term

'Nearly 40 years ago, a tragic accident left me paralyzed. My dreams of becoming a police officer were crushed, and I was forced to dream new dreams, and relearn how to perform almost every daily task. Yet during my hour of need, Rhode Islanders rallied behind me, and I was inspired to give back to the community that gave me so much by pursuing a career in public service. Encouraged by my family's unending love and my faith, that 16-year-old from Warwick became the first quadriplegic ever elected to Congress.'

'Nobody wants to run as a House Democrat because their majority is doomed,' crowed National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Berg

His announcement came on the same day California Rep. Jerry McNerney announced he would leave Congress at the end of his term.

'Today I am announcing that I will not seek reelection in California's newly created 9th Congressional District,' he Tweeted  pointing to the redistricting that has scrambled the state map.

HIs announcement gave fellow Rep. Josh Harder the chance to run in the 9th Congressional District  leaving a more competitive open seat race in the 13th Congressional District.

Representative Jerry McNerney (D-CA) cited redistricting in his own retirement announcement. To date 28 Democrats have said they are retiring

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding on to a narrow Democratic majority

President Joe Biden begins his second year in office with approval ratings in the low 40s  a dangerous position for keeping the House

'I will keep working for the people of my district throughout the remainder of my term and look forward to new opportunities to continue to serve,' he said, the Sacramento Bee reported.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lauded her home-state colleague in a statement. ''As a senior Member on Energy & Commerce with deep expertise in energy, Congressman McNerney has fought relentlessly to move our nation closer to a clean energy future,' she said. 'And, with a PhD in mathematics, he has served as a valued and knowledgeable voice on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.'

The news comes as President Biden prepares to mark his 365th day in office  amid ominous signs about his party's control of Congress.

NBC News cited its latest poll as a predictor in off-year elections where the party controlling the White House is usually at a disadvantage.

'And right now, the arrows are pretty much pointing in the SHELLACKING territory for President Biden and the Democrats as we debut our Midterm Meter, which will use our poll to gauge the overall political environment for the president's party,' the network's 'First Read' wrote.

Earlier this month, Colorado Rep. Ed Perlmutter announced he won't be seeking re-election in 2022.

Perlmutter, who represents the Centennial State's 7th Congressional District, released a statement in the afternoon explaining that he now wants to 'explore other opportunities.'





THE 28 HOUSE DEMOCRATS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN 2022

California Representative Karen Bass is running to be mayor of Lose Angeles

Karen Bass

The 68-year-old was originally elected to the House in the 2010 elections and formerly served as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus from January 2019-January 2021. In her 12 years, Bass represented California's 33rd and 37th congressional districts. She launched her campaign for Los Angeles mayor in September 2021.

Anthony Brown

The congressman has served in Maryland politics since 1999  most recently representing the state's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House. Brown, 60, will not seek reelection because he launched a campaign in October 2021 to serve as Maryland attorney general.

Cheri Bustos

After narrowly winning reelection in 2020, Bustos announced in April 2021 that she will retire from Congress at the end of her fifth term. The 60-year-old led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the 2020 election cycle. Before her only 4-point win last cycle, Bustos won in 2018 by nearly 25 points, exhibiting her falling favor with constituents in Illinois' 17th district, which voted heavily for Donald Trump.

G.K. Butterfield

The North Carolina congressman has served in the House since 2004. Butterfield, 74, said in November 2021 that he won't run for reelection, accusing his state's Republican-led legislature of drawing a 'racially gerrymandered' map

Charlie Crist

The Republican-turned-Democrat announced in May 2021 he is running to once against be governor of Florida  a race unlikely to be victorious in the swing state of Florida, which has gone progressively red in recent years. The 65-year-old was governor of the Sunshine State from 20072011 and was first elected to the House in 2016.

Peter DeFazio

The Oregon congressman announced in December 2021 that he won't seek reelection after 18 terms in the House. DeFazio, 74, serves as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In recent years, Oregon's 4th congressional district has become increasingly competitive, causing him to remain in place for fear of giving up the seat to Republicans. Recently redrawn lines make the district more solidly blue. 'I would have felt more obligation to run again' if the district remained a potential swing seat DeFazio said.

Val Demmings

Serving as Orlando's police chief from 2007-2011, Demings, 64, became a rising star of the Democratic Party and even made Joe Biden's shortlist of running mates in 2020. The congresswoman for Florida's 10th district served as one of the House prosecutors during Trump's impeachment trial after the January 6 Capitol riot. She announced in June 2021 that she will end her House tenure to challenge Republican Marco Rubio for his Senate seat in Florida.

Val Demings quickly became a star of the Democratic Party. She is leaving her House seat to run for Senate in Florida against incumbent Republican Marco Rubio

Michael Doyle

After serving in the House since 1995, the 68-year-old Pennsylvania representative announced in October 2021 he will 'torch to the next generation' and not seek reelection. Doyle cited wanting to spend retirement with his wife and their growing family. Redistricting will also likely change his Pittsburgh-based district's boundaries.

Eddie Bernice Johnson

Johnson was the first black woman to chair the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and was the first registered nurse to be elected to Congress. The 86-year-old first assumed office in 1993 to represent Texas' 30rd congressional district. She announced in November 2021 she won't seek reelection for a 15th term.

Ron Kind

The Wisconsin representative is one of only seven Democrats representing a district that was carried by Trump in 2020. Kind, 58, narrowly won reelection in 2020 with only 51 per cent of the vote. He announced in August 2021 that he would not seek reelection in his state's 3rd congressional district.

Ann Kirkpatrick

Arizona's representative for the 2nd congressional district said in March 2021 she is 'term-limiting myself' by refusing to seek reelection in 2022. She cited wanting to spend more time with family. The congresswoman took a leave of absence from the House in 2020 to recover from alcoholism, but said that did not play a role in her decision. Kirkpatrick, 71, represented the state's 1st district from 2009-2011 and again from 2013-2017 before she switched to the 1st district from 2019 present day.

Brenda Lawrence

The 67-year-old Michigan Democrat said January 4 that she will not seek reelection in her deep blue district. Her announcement made her the 7th member of the Congressional Black Caucus to say she is leaving the House at the end of her term. Before serving as the representative for Michigan's 14th congressional district starting in 2015, she was mayor of Southfield, Michigan.

Conor Lamb

By far the youngest Democrat not seeking reelection in 2022, Conor Lamb, 37, announced in August 2021 that he is instead running for an open Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Lamb narrowly won in 2020 with just two points over his Republican challenger in the swing state. He first came to represent Pennsylvania's 18th  now 17th  district in a 2018 special election for a district previously held by a Republican.

James Langevin

Langevin announced his decision in an op-ed January 18th. The 11-term lawmaker is second in seniority on the House Armed Services Committee. He said it was 'time for me to chart a new course,' and cited a desire to spend more time with family and friends.

Alan Lowenthal

The 80-year-old has represented a safely Democratic Long Beach, California district since 2013. Lowenthal announced in December 2021 he will retire at the end of the 117th Congress to spend more time with family. California had yet to finalize its new congressional map, which could affect his current district's lines.

Jerry McNerney

The Stockton-based California Democrat cited redistricting in his announcement, as a new map scrambled the prospects of several Golden State lawmakers.

'Today I am announcing that I will not seek reelection in California's newly created 9th Congressional District,' he Tweeted January 18th. He vowed to 'keep working for the people of my district throughout the remainder of my term and look forward to new opportunities to continue to serve.'

He easily won his election in 2020, having represented the district since 2007, and serves on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. The district is considered relatively safe for Democrats.

Stephanie Murphy

Murphy, 43, is the first Vietnamese American woman elected to Congress and leads the Blue Dog Coalition. She originally came to represent Florida's 7th congressional district in 2016 by unseating longtime GOP incumbent John Mica, who served there from 1993 until he was beat by Murphy. In December 2021, Murphy became one of the most recent Democrats to announce she won't run for reelection in 2022 midterms, but says she won't leave 'public service.'

Murphy said that she was 'consistently named one of the most bipartisan and effective members of Congress' and was among a small band of Democrats who threatened to vote against Biden's Build Back Better plan until lawmakers knew the full price tag

Ed Perlmutter

Perlmutter, a moderate Democrat who's represented Denver's northern and western suburbs since 2007, announced he's leaving the House to 'explore other opportunities' after previously indicating his intention to run again last November. He ran in 2006 to replace Republican Rep. Bob Beauprez, who left the House to run unsuccessfully for governor. Perlmutter, 68, beat the GOP candidate, State education chairman Rick O'Donnell, by 12 points, and has enjoyed a double-digit victory in each election cycle since. Last year Colorado redrew its Congressional map, giving Republicans slightly more wiggle room in Perlmutter's blue district.

David Price

After three-and-a-half decades in Congress  with a short two-year break in the 1990s  the 81-year-old representative will retire at the end of this term. Price served North Carolina from 1987-1995 and again from 1997 to now, where he currently chairs a House Appropriations subcommittee that has oversight of the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Price announced in October 2021 that he won't seek reelection.

Lucille Roybal-Allard

First elected to the House in 1993, Roybal-Allard announced in December 2021 that she will not seek reelection. The 80-year-old chairwoman of a House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing immigration issues said she was unhappy with the California redistricting commission's map due to concerns it doesn't ensure adequate Hispanic representation.

Bobby Rush's announcement made two dozen Democrat not running in 2022 midterms. Said his decision came after a discussion with his grandson

Bobby Rush

The 15-term 75-year-old representative from Illinois told the Chicago Sun-Times on January 3 that he would not seek a 16th term in the House. Rush represented the state's 1st congressional district since 1993 and was the only politician to ever beat Barack Obama in an election  besting him in the 2000 primary race for the seat he already held. Rush was a civil rights activist and co-founded the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. He attributed his retirement wanting to spend more time with his family and share his story with the next generation.

Tim Ryan

Ohio will lose their ambitious 13th district representative at the close of 2022 as Tim Ryan, 48, attempts to rise to the Senate in a race for Rob Portman's seat. Ryan officially launched his Senate campaign in April 2021 after an unsuccessful run to be the Democratic presidential nominee in the 2020 election. Instead, in 2020, Ryan was reelection to his 10th term in Congress. Ryan currently chairs a House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over legislative branch spending, where he has attempted to investigate Capitol Police handling of January 6.

Albio Sires

Sires, 70, has served in the House representing New Jersey since 2006. In December 2021, he announced he would not seek reelection, claiming he feels good being able to retire with the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which he considers 'the capstone to a career of service.'

'It's time for me to come home. Time for me to be more than a weekend wife, mother and friend,' California Rep. Jackie Speier said when announcing she won't run again in 2022

Jackie Speier

Co-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus Jackie Speier, 71, has served California in the U.S. House since 2008 for both the 12th and 14th districts during her tenure. In November 2021, Speier announced she would run again for the House, claiming, 'It's time for me to come home. Time for me to be more than a weekend wife, mother and friend.'

Tom Suozzi

Long Island's two-term representative Tom Suozzi will not seek a third, he announced in November 2021. Instead, the 59-year-old launched a campaign running for governor of New York as a 'common sense Democrat.'

Filemon Vela

Since 2013, Filemon Vela has represented Texas' 34th congressional district  but he announced in March 2021 that he will not seek reelection in 2022 for a sixth term. The 58-year-old was in a district considered a Democratic stronghold, but it swung hard to the right from 2016 to 2020. The redistricting process this year further gives Republicans in Texas the opportunity to draw a border district to be more competitive.

Peter Welch

After representing Vermont in the House since 2007, Welch, 74, is now taking his ambitions further to represent the state in the U.S. senate. Following Senator Patrick Leahy's retirement announcement, Welch said in November 2021 that he will vie to succeed him.

John Yarmuth

The House Budget committee chairman has helped Democrats craft their social spending package, but will end that effort after next year when he leaves office. Yarmuth, 74, announced in October 2021 he will not seek reelection after 14 years in the House representing Kentucky's 3rd congressional district.
Diabetic Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is attending the Supreme Court remotely because her colleague Neil Gorsuch is reportedly refusing to wear a mask despite pleas from Chief Justice John Roberts.

Last fall, amid a decline in Covid-19 cases, the court resumed in-person arguments for the first time, and none chose to wear a mask except Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is 67 and has diabetes.

But earlier this month when the court returned to the bench following the Omicron surge over the holidays, Sotomayor made it clear she did not feel safe in close proximity with the others unless they were masked, according to NPR.

Roberts then reportedly asked the other justices to mask up so that Sotomayor could return, but Gorsuch, who sits directly next to her, remained obstinate. Sotomayor has thus continued to join court business by phone and has not stepped back into the court.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has reportedly refused to wear a mask in court despite pleas from Chief Justice John Roberts

A masked-up Justice Sonya Sotomayor is pictured above

But earlier this month when the court returned to the bench following the Omicron surge over the holidays, Sotomayor made it clear she did not feel safe in close proximity with the others unless they were masked

The rules are far more strict for those in the chamber who don't rank as justices. Reporters and lawyers are required to wear N95 masks and test negative for Covid-19.

The court could not be reached for comment on Gorsuch's mask wearing, but Mike Davis, Gorsuch's former law clerk, responded on Twitter: 'Every justice is vaccinated and boosted. Don't vaccines work? We know cloth masks don't.'

Gorsuch, appointed by President Trump, also raised questions about vaccine mandates during oral arguments. The high court recently struck down President Biden's vaccine-or-test requirement for private employers, but left in place the mandate for workers in healthcare settings that receive federal funding.

'Could [the government] also implement regulations about exercise regimes, sleep habits, medicines and supplements that must be ingested by hospital employees in the name of health and safety?' he questioned.

In a dissent of the decision to uphold the healthcare worker mandate, Gorsuch, along with Amy Coney Barrett and Clarence Thomas, described the vaccination requirement for healthcare workers as forcing them to 'undergo a medical procedure they do not want and cannot undo.'

The court on Tuesday was hearing arguments over artwork stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish family fleeing Germany.

It also heard arguments on a case centering on Boston's denial of a conservative group's bid to fly a flag bearing a cross outside City Hall.

Last fall, amid a decline in Covid-19 cases, the court resumed in-person arguments for the first time, and none chose to wear a mask except Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is 67 and has diabetes, as is shown in this photo from Nov. 1

Amid the Omicron surge, Roberts reportedly asked the other justices to mask up so that Sotomayor could return, but Gorsuch, who sits directly next to her, remained obstinate. Sotomayor's chair remains empty in the sketch above from Jan. 7

Earlier this month, Sotomayor incorrectly claimed during a hearing on President Biden's vaccine mandate that 100,000 children in the U.S. with Covid-19 are in 'serious condition.'

The justice, appointed by former President Obama, also claimed that Omicron is 'just as deadly' as the Delta variant for the unvaccinated.

Studies have shown the Omicron variant to be more infectious but less virulent than past strains of Covid-19.

'Omicron is as deadly as delta and causes as much serious disease in the unvaccinated as delta did,' she said. 'The numberslook at the hospitalization rates going up. We have more infected people today than we did a year ago in January. We have hospitals that are almost at full capacity with people severely ill on ventilators. We have over 100,000 children, which we've never had before, in serious condition, and many on ventilators.'

If by 'serious condition' the justice means hospitalized, those numbers are inaccurate.

The seven-day average of Covid patients under 18 who were hospitalized on the day of Sotomayor's remarks was 797.

Since August of 2020, there have not even been 100,000 Covid-19 hospitalizations among children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 82,843 children have been hospitalized during that time period.

About 600 Americans under the age of 18 have died of Covid-19 over the course of the pandemic.

The U.S. recorded 721,651 new cases on Monday, a steep fall from the 1.364 million cases reported last Monday. America's new daily case average has also dropped 10 percent over the past seven days, from 766,939 to 684,457.

Recent trends in case growth, combined with the more mild nature of the Omicron variant compared to its predecessors, has many hopeful that Covid will soon become endemic. If it reaches endemic stage, humans will be able to live normal lives with controlled circulation of the virus - similar to the flu.

Deaths are only up 7% this week, down from the 20% increase recorded last Monday.'

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow lambasted Gorsuch for 'keeping [Sotomayor] from being able to come to work.

'It's folly to try to get inside anyone else's head, I know, but I just can't shake this,' Maddow tweeted Tuesday, adding, 'Does Justice Gorsuch revel in everyone now knowing that he's keeping her from being able to come to work? Or is he embarrassed? I mean, how do you live with yourself?'
Nurses have called for the military to be deployed in Australian hospitals as the health system struggles to deal with the Omicron strain of Covid-19.

The Victorian nurses' union are adamant hospitals require urgent military support to keep running after the state government declared a 'code brown' emergency on Tuesday.

Deputy Premier James Merlino said the code brown declaration was necessary to help out hospitals as they struggle to cope with record admission numbers.

'We have reached a point in our healthcare system where it's juggling extreme workforce shortages alongside a vast number of patients with Covid-19 who require hospitalisation,' Mr Merlino said.

'Alongside that is an extraordinary (health) workforce that are absolutely exhausted.'

Nurses in Victoria have called for the military to work out of hospitals as the health system continues to struggle with the Omicron strain of Covid-19

Victoria's nurses' union are adamant hospitals require urgent military support to keep running after the state government declared a 'code brown' emergency on Tuesday (pictured, a paramedic outside St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne)

Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino said the code brown declaration was necessary to provide relief to hospitals struggling to cope with record admission numbers as Covid cases numbers continue to rise (pictured, Australian Army personnel)

This is the first time a statewide code brown - which comes into effect from 12pm on Wednesday - has been declared in Victoria for all major hospitals.

Under a code brown, hospital staff can be asked to defer their leave and work in different roles as needed, and non-urgent clinical services can be reduced or ceased.

Hospital and emergency services are at breaking point, with countless medical wards running with skeleton staff due to coronavirus exposure numbers.

As of Tuesday, just over 4000 of Victoria's public healthcare workers were unable to work because they had been exposed to or infected with Covid-19.

The code brown declaration, which applies to all metropolitan as well as six regional hospitals, allows hospitals to cancel workers' leave and also redeploy staff to priority areas, according to The Age.

Paul Gilbert, assistant secretary at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Victorian branch, is adamant the declaration isn't enough and has called on the federal government to urgently introduce military support.

'We are in a crisis and we need a crisis intervention,' he said. 'This is one clear source of additional support that we cannot be lacking.'

Gilbert went onto state military-trained nurses and doctors could help treat the wave of Victorians expected to arrive at emergency departments over the coming weeks.

The Victorian government has forecast a huge spike in hospitalisations in February, with projections that 100 new Covid patients could be admitted every day.

Australian Medical Association national president Omar Khorshid said the code brown response in Victoria shows the national policy surrounding healthcare has failed.

'Why they let this happen is beyond us,' he said. 'This was absolutely predictable.'

The code brown announcement came after Australia recorded 77 deaths from Covid on Tuesday, the largest number since the pandemic began.

Daily Mail Australia approached the Defence Minister for comment surrounding the proposed role of military staff in hospitals across Victoria.
A conman who posed as a doctor and a lawyer persuaded a vulnerable woman he met through a dating site that she had been raped and was pregnant before accusing her of domestic abuse.

Carwyn Roberts, 29, from Gwynedd, Wales, met his victim, who has not been identified, through dating website Plenty of Fish in 2018 before moving into her flat and beginning his deception.

He created a series of fake email accounts to convince the woman that she had been drugged and sexually abused, while he also persuaded her to give up her job at a school, saying he had secured a job for her with the local council.

Roberts subjected his victim to months of deception, including lying to her about buying their 'dream home', which was said to have had a devastating impact on her mental health, Mold Crown Court heard.

He even convinced his partner she was pregnant with twins, but the police were alerted when her brother's partner noticed something was amiss with the ultrasound scan. During a police interview, Roberts accused his partner of domestic abuse.

Roberts was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years after pleading guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.

Carwyn Roberts (pictured), 29, from Gwynedd, Wales, met his victim, who has not been identified, through dating website Plenty of Fish in 2018 before moving into her flat in Bangor

Jade Tufail, prosecuting, told the court that after Roberts and his victim met through Plenty of Fish in 2018, he moved into her flat in Bangor, north west Wales.

Their relationship was described as 'amazing' and the victim's young daughter even referred to Roberts as 'daddy Carwyn', the court was told.

The woman's previous relationship had ended 'acrimoniously' and had left her 'in a bad way', including engaging in self-harming. She told Roberts about these issues.

Miss Tufail said Roberts told the woman he was inheriting 300,000 from his grandfather's brother and that he would use the money to buy their dream home.

The couple went to view houses together and settled on a property in a new Redrow development in Bangor, with Roberts telling the woman his family's solicitors would handle the legal work.

But there was no money or family lawyer doing the conveyancing work, and the emails the woman received about the house purchase were being sent by her partner from a bogus account he had set up, the court was told.

Roberts (pictured) created fake email accounts to convince the woman that she had been drugged and sexually abused, and lied to her about buying their 'dream home'

Roberts then told his partner he was receiving 'prank' calls from people claiming she was being unfaithful and claimed a solicitor was looking into who was sending them.

He said he had discovered there were hidden cameras in her flat which had filmed her having sex with men, and began to quiz her about her sex life, the court heard.

The woman insisted no such activity had taken place but Roberts, through the bogus solicitor, told her she couldn't remember what happened because she had been drugged and sexually abused, and the police were involved.

Miss Tufail said that at the same time, Roberts started emailing his partner from another fake email account, claiming to be a woman called Amanda Davies, who supposedly worked with him in the local authority.

His victim was persuaded by 'Amanda Davies' to give up her employment in a local school with the promise of job in the council.

Roberts even came home with a work badge in his partner's name along with training and induction materials in a bid to sell the deception, the court was told.

A fake council email account then contacted the victim to say her partner had been drugged at work in a leisure centre in Caernarfon by an associate of her ex-boyfriend.

Over the following days, more emails were sent supposedly containing information from a nurse, saying the drugging incident had affected Roberts' sperm and he would not be able to have children.

The court was told that the victim 'broke down crying' after being told this news because she had wanted to have a child with the defendant.

The email account under the name of Amanda Davies then started giving the woman instructions about having sex with Roberts to increase their chances of conceiving.

He convinced his partner she was pregnant, but police were alerted when her brother's partner noticed something was amiss with the ultrasound, Mold Crown Court heard (pictured)

Meanwhile, the charade about the purchase of the non-existent house was ongoing and the victim, their daughter and Roberts were even packing for the move, the court heard.

Miss Tufail said the victim had effectively been 'brainwashed' into doing whatever the people in the emails told her to do.

Then, Roberts came home with an ultrasound scan showing a pregnancy with twins and convinced his partner that she was pregnant.

The court heard he also sent her emails from another bogus account, which claimed to be a doctor, confirming her pregnancy.

It was later revealed that Roberts had carried out extensive internet searches to get a fake ultrasound image.

The victim was said to be 'confused' about the scan and the emails from the supposed doctor, but the couple still told her brother the happy news, the court heard.

But her brother's partner noticed something wasn't right with the scan and raised the alarm. The police were contacted and an investigation then uncovered the extent of the defendant's deceit.

Roberts (pictured) was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years after pleading guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship

In his first police interview, Roberts claimed his partner had been 'duped by somebody else', but in his second interview he accused his partner of domestic abuse.

In a statement from the woman, which was read to the court, she said she felt ashamed and manipulated by the lies Robert had told her.

She claimed that Roberts had been aware of her vulnerabilities and had 'exploited every single one of them', the court heard.

Roberts, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty on the day of trial to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.

Richard Edwards, for Roberts, said at the time of the offending, the defendant was conscious of his own 'perceived inadequacies' and wanted to 'make himself look better' in the eyes of his partner.

But matters quickly escalated and, in his client's own words, 'the lies got bigger and bigger'.

Mr Edwards said Roberts was taking part in counselling to address the issues in his life and said he was in a new relationship with someone who was aware of the court case and was supporting him.

Judge Niclas Parry told Roberts that if the offending were not so serious, people who heard the bizarre facts of the case would have trouble believing it.

He told the defendant he had taken advantage of a vulnerable woman to control her life, describing his behaviour as 'cruel', 'manipulative and despicable'.

Roberts was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years, which had been discounted by 10 per cent for his guilty plea.

He was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and 250 hours of unpaid work, while he also has to pay 3,230 towards prosecution costs.

Roberts was also banned from contacting his former partner or posting anything about her on social media under a lifelong restraining order.

Speaking after the hearing, Rhian Jones, senior crown prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Wales, said: 'The level of manipulation that Carwyn Roberts exerted on his partner is quite staggering and the effect on her mental health must have been awful.

'The CPS were able to build a strong case showing the number of fake accounts and emails could be traced back to him, demonstrating he had told lie after lie.

'The victim can take comfort in knowing that Roberts is now paying for the horrendous ordeal he put her through and we hope this helps her move forward with her life.'
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The White House on Tuesday said it believed a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come at any time, as Press Secretary Jen Psaki warned of an 'extremely dangerous situation' at the border.

Her words came as Moscow bolstered the number of troops in the region, sending an unknown number of personnel to Belarus for major war games.

Talks between the West and Russia failed to ease tensions last week.

Now Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday before holding talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday in the latest attempt to defuse the crisis.

'Our view is this is an extremely dangerous situation,' said Psaki.

'We're now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine, and what Secretary Blinken is going to go do is highlight very clearly there is a diplomatic path forward.

'It is the choice of President Putin and the Russians to make, whether they are going to suffer severe economic consequences or not.'

A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Russia has concentrated an estimated 100,000 troops with tanks and other heavy weapons near Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion

Ukrainian soldiers with the 56th Brigade maintain their positions in trenches in Pisky

Russian military vehicles arriving in Belarus are seen in this photograph distributed by the Belarus Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, ahead of joint exercises

White House Press Secretary said the situation at the Ukraine border was 'extremely dangerous' and that a Russian invasion could come 'at any point'

The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to the border with Ukraine.

Intelligence officials believe that Putin has not yet made up his mind to invade.

'He clearly is building up a force posture there that provides him multiple options,' said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

'It's just difficult to know right now what options he's going to choose and we still don't believe that he's made a final decision.'

However, officials said last week that Russia had deployed agents trained in sabotage and urban warfare to launch a 'false-flag' attack on proxy forces, providing the pretext for invasion.

At the same time, it has stepped up social media campaigns portraying Ukraine as aggressors.

Russia has repeatedly denied that it is planning an invasion and instead demanded that NATO bar Ukraine from membership.

For their part, the United States and its allies have urged Russia to deescalate the situation by calling back the troops amassed near Ukraine.

Blinken on Tuesday again urged a diplomatic resolution during a call with Lavrov, during which he stressed the 'unshakeable' U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Moscow has for weeks been massing tens of thousands of troops, tanks and artillery pieces along its eastern flank, sparking fears of an invasion, though the Kremlin has insisted it is merely a defence force (pictured, Russian forces currently massed in border regions)

A handout photo made available by the Belarus Defence Ministry press service shows Russian military vehicle arrives for Russia and Belarus joint military drill 'Union resolve 2022' in Belarus, 18 January 2022. The exercises will be held next month

Russian servicemen prepare their military vehicles to unload for Russia and Belarus joint military drill in Belarus on January 18

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday, as part of another round of talks after meetings last week failed to break the deadlock

Spokesperson Ned Price said: 'The secretary stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military build-up in and near Ukraine.

'The secretary reiterated the unshakeable U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and underscored that any discussion of European security must include NATO allies and European partners, including Ukraine.'

Meanwhile, Lavrov has repeated that Russia expects a written response this week from the U.S. and its allies to its request for binding guarantees that NATO will not embrace Ukraine or any other ex-Soviet nations, or station its forces and weapons there.

In a possible sign that preparations for an attack continue, a Ukrainian official said some staff and their families left the Russian embassy in Kiev this month.

The official told the New York Times that wives and children of employees began leaving on Jan. 5, and a total of 18 people had left.

At the same time, train and road convoys of armored vehicles have been arriving in Belarus since president Alexander Lukashenko announced upcoming war games with Russian forces next month.

Russia's Deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin said the drills were intended to practice a joint response to external threats to the two countries.

He didn't say how many troops will be involved in the drills, according to the Associated Press, but mentioned that Russia will deploy a dozen Su-35 fighter jets and several air defense units to Belarus.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine from various directions, including from its ally Belarus.

The growing fears prompted the United Kingdom to send what it called 'training personnel' troops and defensive weapons to Kiev.

In a clear signal to Vladimir Putin, two Royal Air Force transporters flew badly-needed missile systems to Kiev's forces. Troops were aboard the planes and will remain in Ukraine to teach their counterparts how to combat Russian tanks.

Officials said the UK was supplying Ukraine with light, anti-armor, defensive weapon systems while a small number of British personnel - about 100 - will provide training on how to use the equipment.

Yet there were signs of disunity in Europe.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was accused of sowing discord by refusing to take a hard line on Russia.

Scholz, who took the job from Angela Merkel last month, has tried to maintain his predecessor's warm relations with Moscow by refusing to supply Kiev with arms and ruling out sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas line if an attack goes ahead.

But the SDP leader - a socialist while he was a student - now stands accused of aiding Putin and undermining the West by creating rifts within the EU, NATO, and even his own fledgling coalition over the best way to deter the Russian strongman.

The German government even went so far as to brief journalists on Tuesday that cutting Russia off from international banking systems - the so-called 'nuclear option' of sanctions - was off the table, prompting angry denials from Washington.

Tensions escalated at the end of last week after American officials claimed to have information that Moscow had deployed resources for a 'false flag' attack.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki warned of human rights violations and war crimes if diplomacy failed and the Russian government went ahead with its plans.

Russian tanks of the Novorossiysk Guards mountain formation took part in maneuvers on Friday, further raising the temperature along the border with Ukraine where 100,000 Russian troops are massed

'We have information that indicates Russia has already pre-positioned a group of operatives to conduct a false flag operation in eastern Ukraine,' she said.

'The operatives are trained in urban warfare and using explosives to carry out acts of sabotage against Russia's own proxy forces.'

She said it mimicked the playbook used when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, and included social media disinformation to show Kiev as the instigator of violence.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the intelligence was 'very credible.'

The Kremlin quickly denied it was preparing a provocation. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reporting was based on 'unfounded' information, according to the TASS news agency.

Even so, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said it was accelerating its plan to form reserve battalions, a move that would help it rapidly deploy 130,000 recruits to bolster its 246,000-strong armed forces.
By Kim Bo-eun





Kyobo Life Insurance Chairman Shin Chang-jae / Courtesy of Kyobo Life Insurance
An Oklahoma pastor has apologized for his 'disgusting' sermon where he was filmed rubbing his spit-filled hands all over his brother's face.

Michael Todd, 33, who has led the Transformation Church in Tulsa with his wife Natalie Todd since February 2015, went viral after he was filmed spitting on his hands and cupping the saliva for two minutes before rubbing it in the face his brother during a sermon over the weekend to explain God's 'imperfect vision.'

The sermon was based around the idea that 'receiving a vision from God might get nasty' - with Todd demonstrating the idea in grim fashion. The other man in the video was identified as Brentom Todd, according to Tulsa World.

Since the sermon, which has been viewed 50,000 times as of Tuesday, received tons of backlash online, Todd has admitted that his methods went overboard and the act was in bad taste.

'It's never my intention to distract others from God's Word and the message of Jesus even with illustrations! I apologize for my example being too extreme and disgusting!' Todd wrote when he posted an apology video to Twitter on Monday.

'I just want to acknowledge what happened yesterday when the spit hit the fan,' he started off. 'I watched it back and it was disgusting, like that was gross.'

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'I just want to acknowledge what happened yesterday when the spit hit the fan,' Todd said in an apology on Monday. 'I watched it back and it was disgusting, like that was gross'

He said he got carried away with trying to bring the words of the Bible to life.

'I want to validate everyone's feelings,' he continued. 'That was a distraction to what I was really trying to do, I was really trying to make the word come alive and for people to see the story, but yesterday it got too live and I own that.'

Todd went on to jokingly compare the now-viral moment to when Jesus rubbed spit in the eye of a blind man to give him vision.

'When Jesus spit on that man, he was blind but then he could see,' he said. 'For my brother, who I love and honor so much, I just called him, he was bald before I spit on him and he's still bald today. So no miracle here,' he joked.

Todd elicited reactions of surprise and disgust from the congregation as he live-streamed the service hawking a mouthful of spit and wiping it all over the face of a man he referred to as his brother, who has not been named, and stood impassively during the stunt.

In the video, a long strand of spit can be seen dangling from the man's face before he wipes it off incredulously.

'Do you hear and see the responses of the people?' Todd says in the clip.

'What I'm telling you, is how you just reacted, is how the people in your life will react when God is doing what it takes for the miracle.'

Pastor Todd pictured spitting into his hand before wiping the spit onto a churchgoers face to explain God's 'imperfect vision'

Pictured: The moment when Pastor Todd rubbed the man, reportedly his own brother, with his spit about his face
gay rights advocate Jim Obergefell, whose name was atop the U.S. Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, announced Tuesday that he's running for a seat in the Ohio legislature.

Obergefell, a Democrat, said he wants Ohio to be a place where people feel they have equal opportunity.

He was the lead plaintiff in the landmark 2015 ruling that put an end to same-sex marriage bans, turning him into one of the most visible figures in the marriage-equality movement.

Jim Obergefell released a video Tuesday announcing his run for the Ohio state House in the district that contains his hometown of Sandusky, Ohio

Obergefell became an 'accidental' gay marriage activist after his husband John Arthur died and Obergefell would not be listed as a surviving spouse on Arthur's death certificate because same-sex marriage was banned in Ohio

Obergefell (left) and Arthur (right) wed in 2013, months before Arthur died of Lou Gehrig's disease

Obergefell will run for the Ohio House in a district that includes his hometown of Sandusky and has been dominated by Republicans the past eight years.

Obergefell moved back to his hometown in 2021 to be closer to family.

'I think I've proven with my fight for marriage equality that I dont mind being an underdog,' he said.

Obergefell said the area of northern Ohio he wants to represent has struggled to attract good paying jobs and that too many people have been forced to leave.

He said two of his biggest priorities are improving the regions job outlook and protecting Lake Erie, a major driver of the areas economy.

His path to becoming an 'accidental' activist began when he and his partner, John Arthur, were unable to wed in Ohio because of their home state's ban on same-sex marriage.

At the time, Obergefell was living in Cincinnati and hadn't been much involved in politics.

Obergefell and Arthur, who was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease, decided to get married in Maryland after the Supreme Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013.

But Ohio's ban meant Obergefell would not be listed as Arthur's surviving spouse on his death certificate.

They won a temporary injunction and when Arthur died a little over three months after they were married, Obergefell was listed as his spouse on his death certificate.

But the legal victory was overturned, setting the stage for the Supreme Court's historic decision.

By a 5-4 vote, the court ruled on June 26, 2015, that same-sex couples can exercise the fundamental right to marry.

Following the ruling Obergefell has worked for a group that advocates for LGBTQ families and spoken out on transgender and civil rights in appearances, interviews and on social media.
A former Conservative MP contacted police claiming that she had been 'threatened' by a senior party activist in phone calls.

Charlotte Leslie said she had a 'sinister' phone conversation in which she was told to consider whether she could 'walk the dog at night and sleep well'.

The remark was made by government adviser and Tory donor Carl Hunter following a clash between Miss Leslie and telecoms tycoon Mohamed Amersi, who has given more than 500,000 to the Conservatives.

The astonishing comments are revealed today in recordings obtained by the Daily Mail.

There is no suggestion that Mr Amersi was aware of the nature of Mr Hunter's conversations with Miss Leslie or instructed him to speak in the way he did.

Charlotte Leslie (pictured) contacted police claiming she had a 'sinister' phone call with Tory donor Carl Hunter in which she was told to consider whether she could 'sleep well'

They came after Miss Leslie, 43, and Mr Amersi, 61, fell out in a power struggle over UK-Middle East relations.

Mr Amersi, who has also given 1.2million to Prince Charles's charities, was furious to learn a secret dossier compiled by her about him was sent to Tory co-chairman Ben Elliot.

He said claims about him were 'defamatory and inaccurate'  and is suing Miss Leslie for allegedly breaking data protection laws.

Conservative moves to defuse the rift led to a series of phone calls between Mr Hunter, acting as a 'mediator', and Miss Leslie.

The disclosure of Mr Hunter's comments is deeply embarrassing for the Tories and places an awkward spotlight on the party hierarchy's treatment of senior women members. The row is expected to feature in a Commons debate tomorrow.

Miss Leslie, MP for Bristol North West from 2010 until 2017, is director of the Conservative Middle East Council which promotes UK-Middle East links.

She said Mr Amersi attempted to take over her group, which came with an offer of 500,000-a-year funding, but when she rejected his approach he proposed setting up the separate Conservative Friends of the Middle East.

Tory donor Carl Hunter (pictured) made the remark following a clash between Miss Leslie and telecoms tycoon Mohamed Amersi, who has given more than 500,000 to the Conservatives

Miss Leslie and Mr Amersi (pictured) fell out over UK-Middle East relations. There is no suggestion Mr Amersi was aware of the nature of Mr Hunter's conversations with Miss Leslie

It led to Conservative activist and ex-Army captain Mr Hunter talking to Miss Leslie. In phone calls, he told her: 'You need to consider your position  being able to walk the dog at night, being able to sleep well at night.'

He insisted she was 'alone' and faced 'a world of pain' unless she backed down. He also warned she was 'in the eye of the storm... it's you they seem to be after' and claimed: 'It's like a volcano.'

Mr Hunter added it would 'monopolise your life for as long as it lasts... it just weighs on your mind so much... I don't want to see you photographed in some tabloid standing on the steps of somewhere.'

Amersi denies Kremlin 'connections' Mohamed Amersi last night attacked a Labour MP's claim that he was linked to a Russian involved with Vladimir Putin's security services. Former Cabinet minister Liam Byrne told a Commons debate yesterday that Leonid Bogdan was the 'most concerning' of a number of Russians that Mr Amersi was 'connected to'. He claimed Mr Bogdan had 'interesting friends' in the FSB, which replaced the Soviet Union's KGB security service. Mr Bogdan was a 'minor partner' in a Russian bank 'associated with... supplying arms to Syria and Iran', claimed Mr Byrne under parliamentary privilege. Mr Amersi denied any wrongdoing and told the Daily Mail: 'This is utter bulls*** and drivel.' Mr Byrne said Mr Amersi had worked with Russians 'connected' to the Kremlin on the takeover of Georgian telecoms firm MegaFon, later accused of 'illegal operations'. He also claimed that 'despite those connections Mr Amersi was asked to chair Comena'  the Conservative Friends of the Middle East and North Africa. Mr Amersi added: 'My last trip to Russia was when I left the MegaFon board.' Advertisement

He suggested she would face bankruptcy if she did not apologise. There were four phone calls to Miss Leslie's London home in February last year.

Police confirmed that Miss Leslie contacted them that month.

She told officers she 'became frightened as [Mr Hunter's] words sank in and she felt 'threatened'.

A police spokesman told the Mail: 'We received reports of malicious communications and harassment. No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.'

Mr Hunter last night denied threatening Miss Leslie.

Asked if he said she needed to consider if she would be 'able to walk the dog at night,' he said: 'I do not recollect using that sort of language. I was trying to help Charlotte.'

Told that Mr Hunter was accused of using threatening language, Mr Amersi said: 'That is absolutely terrible. It didn't come from me. I would absolutely condemn that if that is what he said.

'I never used any language of the type described in any interaction with Mr Hunter and therefore never requested that this be deployed on my behalf in any of his interactions with Miss Leslie.'

After the phone calls from Mr Hunter, a second attempt to broker a peace deal was launched by Lord Hunt of the Wirral with the official approval of Tory co-chairman Mr Elliot  but it also failed.

There is no suggestion Lord Hunt made any threats against Miss Leslie.

Miss Leslie claims Mr Amersi wanted to take over her group to 'enhance' his hopes of getting a gong.

Mr Amersi strongly denies the allegation  and claims she complained that the Tories had failed to give her an honour when she lost her Commons seat.

Miss Leslie's dossier was also sent to a handful of politicians, ambassadors and individuals linked to MI5 and MI6.

When Mr Amersi, a UK citizen, learned of its existence in January last year, he demanded an apology.

Miss Leslie told Mr Hunter in one of the calls: 'There is only so far I will bend over to apologise because someone has a lot of money and is upset.'

Two days later, she did agree to express 'deep regret at any offence' caused and disowned the dossier, but Mr Amersi rejected the offer.
He was a self-made Yorkshireman who redrew the map of the planet, a pioneering explorer who set foot on lands no European had ever seen, a compassionate captain who spared no effort to look after his men, a national hero whose courage and patriotism inspired millions.

Yet now, poor Captain James Cook is about to be cancelled. To 'woke' activists, the great 18th-century sea captain has become a symbol of supposed colonial oppression, his memorials daubed with vicious graffiti.

'Across New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii,' reported yesterday's Guardian, 'statues of Cook have been defaced. Strutting across a pedestal in his breeches, telescope in hand, a defaced Cook wears a spray-painted bikini; around the neck of another Cook hangs a large, canvas sign that reads, simply: 'Sorry'.'

The Guardian's gloating tone  it sneers at the 'myth of Captain Cook' and boasts the 'heroes of empire will fall'  is no accident.

To the preening prigs of the bien-pensant Left, a patriotic hero like Cook is an affront.

The irony, by the way, is that the Guardian's assault on Captain Cook is actually a heavily edited extract from a book on a somewhat different subject.

Accidental Gods, by Anna Della Subin, is a serious study of human leaders who've been worshipped as gods. How revealing, then, that the Guardian interpreted it in a way to promote its own peculiar agenda.

To cast Cook as a villain, though, is sheer historical illiteracy. As Professor Robert Tombs, one of our most eminent historians, has observed, Cook embodied the Age of Enlightenment. Each time you look at a map of the Pacific, you are looking at Cook's creation. What kind of fool would want to cancel that?

Matt Young (pictured), who played explorer, navigator and cartographer Captain James Cook in a TV documentary

A painting of Captain Cook taking possession of Australia from 'Australia, New Zealand and Oceania in Pictures'

Cook's origins could scarcely have been more modest. The son of a Scottish farm labourer, he was born on October 27, 1728, in Marton, Yorkshire, now a suburb of Middlesbrough.

Leaving school after just five years, he found work in a grocer's shop in the fishing village of Staithes. Here he fell in love with the sea, and aged 17 was apprenticed to a ship owner and became a sailor.

Despite his lack of education, the teenage Cook worked tirelessly to better himself. He taught himself not just navigation and astronomy, but algebra, geometry and trigonometry.

Crucially, he learned how to draw accurate maps  a skill that would make his name.

For the next decade, he served on a succession of North Sea merchant ships. But in 1755 he enlisted in the Royal Navy as an able seaman, calculating that he would gain promotion more quickly if he served his country's colours.

Just a year later, the Seven Years' War broke out with France and Spain. Plunged into action in Canada, Cook put his map-making skills to good use.

By surveying the entrance to the St Lawrence River, he enabled General James Wolfe to land there and so win victory over the French on the Plains of Abraham.

The maps he prepared were little short of revolutionary. His charts of Newfoundland, for example, are regarded as the first truly scientific coastal surveys, and were still being used well into the 20th century.

In 1768, Cook won his first great commission: commanding an expedition to the Pacific.

This was supposedly a scientific voyage, designed by the Royal Society to record the transit of Venus across the Sun.

Captain Cook, played by Matt Young, engages in a traditional Maori greeting during a documentary on his life

A portrait painting of Captain James Cook by Nathaniel Dance

But in reality, Cook was carrying secret orders from the Admiralty, with instructions to open them when he reached Tahiti.

On August 26, 1768, HMS Endeavour left Plymouth and headed south. Aboard were 73 sailors and 12 Royal Marines, as well as the astronomer Charles Green, the botanist Joseph Banks and the 40-year-old Cook. Ahead lay a voyage into history.

By the autumn of 1769 Endeavour had reached Tahiti, in the great emptiness of the Pacific. This was the limit of European understanding. Beyond, all was uncertain.

Now Cook opened his secret orders. They revealed that the Admiralty wanted him to locate Terra Australis Incognita, an undiscovered land believed to lie somewhere to the south of all known countries.

What followed was one of the most thrilling voyages of discovery in history. First Cook struck south towards the 40th parallel, but found no sign of Terra Australis.

Next he turned west. By October 6, 1769, he was approaching New Zealand's North Island, and early the following afternoon he spotted land.

Two days later, on October 9, Cook's men became the first Europeans to set foot on New Zealand since the Dutchman Abel Tasman, more than a century earlier.

It's worth emphasising that Cook arrived as an explorer, not a conqueror. Indeed, the President of the Royal Society, Lord Morton, had specifically told Cook that he should treat all Pacific islanders as 'human creatures, the work of the same omnipotent Author, equally under his care with the most polished European'.

As Morton put it: 'No European nation has the right to occupy any part of their country . . . without their voluntary consent.'

Sadly, Cook's first encounters with the Maoris did not go entirely swimmingly. 'We made them every one presents, but this did not satisfy them,' he wrote in his journal.

'They wanted everything we had about us, particularly our arms, and made several attempts to snatch them out of our hands.'

Alarmed at the Maoris' aggression, Cook told his men to fire warning shots over their heads. Eventually, in desperation, his men opened fire, killing four of them.

A Captain Cook statue in Hyde Park in Sydney, Australia, pictured in June 2020

In his journal, Cook recorded his sadness at the incident, but insisted that he had had no choice. 'I am aware most humane men who have not experienced things of this nature will censure me,' he wrote.

'But I was not to suffer myself or those with me to be knocked on the head.'

Cook left New Zealand in the spring of 1770, having sailed around the North and South Islands. After almost running aground on the Great Barrier Reef, he struggled towards the Australian coast.

Here, he and his men landed at Botany Bay, named after the extraordinary specimens collected by Joseph Banks. Some Aborigines threw spears at them, but Cook avoided bloodshed and left gifts of beads with local children.

It was not until July 12, 1771, that Cook returned home. His voyage had changed the course of history. But perhaps his greatest achievement was the fact that in three years he had not lost a single man to scurvy.

The condition was the curse of naval expeditions then, and Cook was obsessed with preventing it. He always took on fresh fruit and water, and never left home without barrels of sauerkraut, rich in vitamin C.

That was typical of the man. Perhaps because his own background had been so humble, he prided himself on putting his sailors' wellbeing first. And to them he seemed an unalloyed hero.

Cook's second great voyage, which left in 1772, was less successful. Many geographers were convinced the real Terra Australis lay further south of what is now called Australia. So he agreed to circumnavigate the globe at a lower latitude, sailing the Antarctic in his new ship Resolution.

Once again, he did not lose a single man to scurvy, and was able to claim South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands for Britain. But, he reported on his return, the mythical Terra Australis simply did not exist.

Cook's third voyage, which left in 1776, was the most daring. Determined to find the Northwest Passage, which would link the Atlantic and Pacific through the Arctic, he took his ships north, following the freezing shores of Canada and Alaska.

Again, Cook's achievements were extraordinary. Working with his usual meticulous care, he charted much of the north-western coastline of the American continent.

But this time the conditions were horrendous, with blinding blizzards, freezing fogs and potentially deadly ice floes.

To cap it all, Cook was now suffering from severe stomach trouble, which made him more bad-tempered than usual.

Turning south in the autumn of 1778, Cook made for Hawaii, hoping for sunnier weather.

He had already landed on the island earlier in the year, the first European ever to do so. The Hawaiians had never seen white men before, let alone sailing ships.

When he returned in January 1779, they were celebrating a harvest festival in honour of the god Lono. Some seemed to believe that Cook himself was an incarnation of the god, though it's impossible to know exactly what they were thinking.

On February 6 Cook set off again. But after just five days he was back, his mainmast having been badly damaged in a storm.

The mood on Hawaii now was subtly different, heavy with tension. The harvest festival was over; the god was not supposed to have returned.

As one of Cook's men wrote, it was 'evident from the looks of the natives as well as every other appearance that our friendship was now at an end'.

The HM Bark Endeavour pictured as it sails on the Pacific Ocean in 1999. The tall ship is a replica of explorer Captain Cook's 18th century sailing vessel

What followed was very confusing, even to those involved. While the Resolution was anchored in Kealakekua Bay, Cook's men accused the Hawaiians of stealing one of their cutters.

At the same time, Cook tried to take some of the wood the Hawaiians were using to fence their sacred burial ground. Tempers frayed and, for once, Cook's judgment betrayed him.

On the morning of February 14, he decided to take the Hawaiian king Kalaniopuu as a hostage. But by the time he and his men reached the beach with their captive, hundreds of Hawaiians were pouring on to the sands, alarmed and angry.

In the chaos, something went terribly wrong. A scuffle broke out. One of the Hawaiian chiefs pushed Cook to the sand. And then, suddenly, another chief pulled out a knife and plunged it into Cook.

As Cook fell forward into the water, blood gushing from the wound, fighting broke out around him. More blows rained down, the islanders striking again and again with knives and rocks. He did not stand a chance.

Afterwards, as Cook's men retreated to their ships, the islanders treated his body with the honour due to a great chief.

They cut off his hands to preserve them in salt, disembowelled him and baked his carcass in a pit, before cleaning his bones to preserve them as religious relics.

That, then, was the end of Captain James Cook. So how should we remember him?

To anybody familiar with the facts, the idea that he was a villain is simply absurd.

He was not motivated by plunder, conquest or aggression, but by the wonder of discovery, the thrill of adventure and the sheer joy of scientific exploration.

Cook was well aware of the dangers of expansion, warning that Europeans might introduce the Pacific islanders to 'wants and perhaps diseases which they never knew before and which serve only to destroy the happy tranquillity their forefathers enjoyed'.

But activists who claim that he single-handedly brought disease, discrimination and exploitation are living in a fantasy world.

Because of their technological superiority, European expansion into the Pacific was inevitable.

In any case, Cook came as a friend. He personally disliked violence, and it's almost impossible to imagine any other European explorer behaving with such consideration and self-restraint.

Should we cancel Cook, then? Nonsense. You might as well cancel maps, science or humanity itself.

For that, in the final analysis, is what Captain Cook stood for. He embodied the thirst for knowledge, the love of adventure, the thrill of discovery that lie at the very heart of the human spirit.

Just not, it seems, at the Guardian.
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Vladimir Putin will opt for the 'nightmare scenario' of a full invasion of Ukraine as tensions rise towards tipping point, UK defence chiefs fear.

The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to the border.

The White House warned yesterday the situation was 'extremely dangerous' and that Moscow could launch an attack 'at any point'.

It had been thought Mr Putin would choose the 'simple option' of sending troops into the Donbass region in south-eastern Ukraine and then negotiate for it to become an independent state, providing a buffer between pro-western Ukraine and Russia.

As the region is already occupied by pro-Russian separatists, and has been in a state of war since 2014, it was believed it would offer little resistance.

But the latest intelligence now has Ministry of Defence chiefs worried about a much larger incursion, raising fears of warfare engulfing cities and high civilian death tolls.

They believe Mr Putin's troops are being positioned in line with his new objective, with armoured divisions set to head into neighbouring Belarus on exercise but now stationed within striking distance of Kiev.

Last night a senior defence source said: 'We strongly believe [Putin's] preference is for a full invasion rather than a limited offensive. In a sense he might as well go for as much of Ukraine as he can get hold of because the penalties are just the same.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured during a meeting at the Kremlin on Tuesday) has 100,000 troops and military hardware along Ukraine border, say security analysts

The UK's Ministry of Defence fears Putin will inflict large-scale warfare engulfing cities and high civilian death tolls (Pictured: A convoy of Russian armoured vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022)

The White House warned yesterday that the situation was 'extremely dangerous' (Pictured: Anatoliy, a Ukrainian soldier with the 56th Brigade, in a trench on the front line on January 18, 2022 in Pisky, Ukraine)

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Anatolii Petrenko (L) attends the delivery of light, anti-armor, defensive weapon systems, supplied by the UK

Light, anti-armor, defensive weapon systems, supplied by the UK arrive in Kiev, Ukraine on Tuesday amid a Russian military buildup on its border

A member of the 503Ad Naval Infantry Battalion stationed in Donbas, Ukraine on January 18, 2022

The White House warned yesterday the situation was 'extremely dangerous' and that Moscow could launch an attack 'at any point'

It had been thought Mr Putin would choose the 'simple option' of sending troops into the Donbass region in south-eastern Ukraine and then negotiate for it to become an independent state, providing a buffer between pro-western Ukraine and Russia

Members of the 503Ad Naval Infantry Battalion relax and prepare lunch while stationed in Donbas, Ukraine on January 18, 2022

US in crisis talks as Moscow is told: There'll be consequences By Sam Greenhill Chief Reporter for the Daily Mail America last night warned the Kremlin of 'massive consequences' as its top diplomat flew to Europe for last-ditch talks aimed at averting war. In a hastily arranged trip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to arrive in Kiev last night to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He then moves on to Berlin and will also hold talks with France and the UK. Looking to impress on Moscow the need for de-escalation, he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov decided yesterday 'it would be useful' to meet in person on Friday in Geneva. In a call to Mr Lavrov, Mr Blinken 'stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions'. A senior State Department official said: 'This is neither an exercise nor normal troop movement. It is a show of force and plans for a possible invasion. 'This is extremely dangerous. We are now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine.' The official warned the Kremlin: 'Our message, and that of our allies and partners, is that Russia has two choices: diplomacy and de-escalation, or escalation and massive consequences. 'Should Russia invade, we will provide additional defensive equipment to Ukrainians.' Advertisement

'Also, if he just occupies the eastern regions he will never be able to take back the whole of Ukraine because of the inevitable strengthening of Ukrainian forces in the remainder of the country in the aftermath.

'It is the nightmare scenario.'

Mr Putin is aware that as Ukraine does not belong to Nato, there will be no military response by Western states.

Similarly, the economic sanctions threatened by the US and the UK apply regardless of the scale of such action.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday before holding talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday in the latest attempt to defuse the crisis.

'Our view is this is an extremely dangerous situation,' said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

'We're now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine, and what Secretary Blinken is going to go do is highlight very clearly there is a diplomatic path forward.

'It is the choice of President Putin and the Russians to make, whether they are going to suffer severe economic consequences or not.'

Officials said last week that Russia had deployed agents trained in sabotage and urban warfare to launch a 'false-flag' attack on proxy forces, providing the pretext for invasion.

At the same time, it has stepped up social media campaigns portraying Ukraine as aggressors.

Russia has repeatedly denied that it is planning an invasion and instead demanded that NATO bar Ukraine from membership.

Last night, Kiev hailed Britain for sending anti-tank weapons and troops as an 'important first step' to help the country defend itself.

On Monday, two C-17 transporters left the UK with 2,000 armour-piercing missile systems and soldiers to teach Ukraine's forces how to use them.

But the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, called on extra help from Western powers.

The Joe Biden administration fears Moscow could launch an attack against Ukraine 'at any point' (Pictured: Mykola, a Ukrainian soldier with the 56th Brigade, in a trench on the front line on January 18, 2022 in Pisky, Ukraine)

Russian tanks of the Novorossiysk Guards mountain formation took part in maneuvers on Friday, further raising the temperature along the border with Ukraine where 100,000 Russian troops are massed

Russian servicemen prepare their military vehicles to unload for Russia and Belarus joint military drill in Belarus on January 18

A handout photo made available by the Belarus Defence Ministry press service shows Russian military vehicle arrives for Russia and Belarus joint military drill 'Union resolve 2022' in Belarus, 18 January 2022. The exercises will be held next month

Moscow has for weeks been massing tens of thousands of troops, tanks and artillery pieces along its eastern flank, sparking fears of an invasion, though the Kremlin has insisted it is merely a defence force (pictured, Russian forces currently massed in border regions)

Russian military vehicles arriving in Belarus are seen in this photograph distributed by the Belarus Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, ahead of joint exercises

Ukrainian soldiers with the 56th Brigade maintain their positions in trenches in Pisky

'We are asking for more, and we are expecting to have more,' Mr Prystaiko told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'I am not ashamed to ask to help us with everything that is possible to avoid this war.

'Russia is stopped when it is stopped, not when Putin decided that he achieved enough.'

The diplomat hit out at Germany for failing to match Britain's offer of military aid, with Berlin preferring to focus on the threat of sanctions.

'How can we be given a chance to defend ourselves if you're not giving weapons? With what? Rocks?' he said.

Mr Prystaiko also slammed Berlin for pushing ahead with the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that will circumvent Ukraine.

Critics fear it will increase Germany's reliance on Russian energy supplies.

In comments that will alarm Kiev, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said her country needs 'a reliable Russia' to supply Europe with gas.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he may consider halting the pipeline if Moscow attacks.

With pressure to take a more hawkish stance, he met Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Berlin to discuss the next steps.

Mr Scholz told reporters it was 'clear that there will be a high price to pay and that everything will have to be discussed should there be a military intervention in Ukraine'.

The German government even went so far as to brief journalists on Tuesday that cutting Russia off from international banking systems - the so-called 'nuclear option' of sanctions - was off the table, prompting angry denials from Washington.

Tensions escalated at the end of last week after American officials claimed to have information that Moscow had deployed resources for a 'false flag' attack.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki warned of human rights violations and war crimes if diplomacy failed and the Russian government went ahead with its plans.

'We have information that indicates Russia has already pre-positioned a group of operatives to conduct a false flag operation in eastern Ukraine,' she said.

'The operatives are trained in urban warfare and using explosives to carry out acts of sabotage against Russia's own proxy forces.'

She said it mimicked the playbook used when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, and included social media disinformation to show Kiev as the instigator of violence. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the intelligence was 'very credible.'

The Kremlin quickly denied it was preparing a provocation. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reporting was based on 'unfounded' information, according to the TASS news agency.

Even so, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said it was accelerating its plan to form reserve battalions, a move that would help it rapidly deploy 130,000 recruits to bolster its 246,000-strong armed forces.

Meanwhile, in a show of support for former Soviet republics, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday visited Latvia. He told officials the UK stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Baltic state  a Nato ally.

He said the countries were 'united in their resolve' against Russian aggression.

A Royal Air Force transport jet arrives in Kiev, Ukraine, with a shipment of anti-tank weapons designed to deter a Russian attack on the country as Putin masses his forces on the border

A pallet of British anti-tank weapons are unloaded at an airport in Kiev so they can be distributed to troops on the front lines with Russia in an attempt to deter an attack by Putin
The 50 combined deaths are lower than Tuesday's shocking figure of 58

NSW saw 12,450 new positive RAT results with 10,417 from the past seven days

There were 32,297 new infections recorded with 217 people in intensive care

NSW saw 32 Covid deaths on Wednesday in state's second deadliest day

A further 32 people died with Covid in New South Wales on Wednesday in the state's second deadliest day on record - but Australia's overall deaths fell from Tuesday's record high.

There were 32,297 new infections recorded with 217 people still battling the virus in intensive care facilities in NSW.

Victoria recorded 18 deaths on Wednesday with 20,769 new Covid cases. There are 125 people in ICU with the virus, including 42 on ventilators.

The 50 combined deaths are lower than Tuesday's shocking figure of 58 but it underlines the sentiments of Professor Paul Kelly who said Australia was yet to see the worst of the current Omicron wave.

The number of active cases in NSW dropped to 302,453 - a fall of 13 per cent since Sunday - but in Victoria it had increased by seven per cent over that same time period to reach 253,827.

A further 32 people died of Covid in New South Wales on Wednesday in the state's second deadliest day on record

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Victorian leader Daniel Andrews have reduced the booster wait time from four to three months on Wednesday as the states look to reduce the strain on hospitals.

There have been 1,773,457 people in NSW have received a third or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, about half of the eligible 3.4 million.

'We have the capacity for 250,000 vaccines every week in those hubs. Today's decision will enable over 3.5 million more people from our state to be eligible for that booster shot,' Mr Perrottet told reporters.

'As we are clearly seeing, boosters are key to keeping yourself, your friends and your family safe. We have the capacity available. We've seen in our intensive cares the difference vaccination makes.'

Mr Andrews said his team were motivated to keep mandates 'consistent with what New South Wales has announced this morning'.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will reduce the booster wait time from four to three months on Wednesday as the state looks to reduce the strain on hospitals

The Victorian Premier also confirmed the announcement will mean more than one million more residents will now be eligible for the booster immediately.

'It's safe. It's effective. The total number of people eligible increases substantially by 2 million Victorians and it will help us get more people third-dose boosted quicker than would otherwise be the case,' he said in his daily Covid press conference.

'There's currently 1,365,004 Victorians who are 18 and over and have had a third dose and with the announcement I've just made, effective immediately, reducing the interval down to three months, there are now 2.45 million Victorians who are eligible, but have not yet had their third dose.

'So we've got a long way to go but it's a very impressive base to start from.'

Victoria Health announced a vaccine blitz for Friday with major hubs extending opening hours and an extra 60,000 appointments available for those seeking their first jab or booster.

'Hours at major hubs including Sandown, Bendigo and La Trobe University have all been extended specifically for the blitz, which will run from this Friday to next Monday, with key clinics also offering free ice creams in collaboration with Unilever,' the health department said.

Mr Andrews said his team were motivated to keep mandates 'consistent with what New South Wales has announced this morning'

On Tuesday, Dr Kerry Chant said the NSW government were pleased numbers were lower than what they had modelled for and it appeared the curve was starting to flatten.

'The fact that our projections are tracking under (what was expected), the fact that the numbers have stabilised, give us some hope that we have been slowing the spread,' the Chief Health Officer said.

Dr Chant stressed more can be done to bring those statistics back down, pointing out that just a handful of the 36 people who died were triple-vaccinated.

'There needs to be a sense of urgency in embracing the booster doses,' she said.

'For Omicron, we know the protection is lower and we need that next boosting.

'I just can't stress enough the urgency.'

While half the adult population in NSW is eligible for their third dose, only 25 per cent have received one.

Some 70,000 bookings at state vaccination centres went unfulfilled last week, and hundreds are available each day this week.

The state government is also under pressure to boost vaccination rates among schoolchildren, as kids prepare to return to classrooms at the end of January.

There were 32,297 new infections recorded in NSW on Wednesday with 217 people still battling the virus in intensive care

The Federal Chief Health Officer said on Tuesday despite a challenging few weeks dealing with Omicron, it would be some time yet before the worst was reached.

'We expect death and hospitalisations to continue to rise over the next couple of weeks as we are about to peak in terms of case loads, particularly in the eastern states,' Professor Kelly told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

'We know from international experience that Omicron rises quickly, it plateaus and then falls quickly, and I fully expect that this will be the experience here in Australia.'

Australia had its highest one-day death toll from the pandemic on Tuesday, with 77 fatalities reported.

That figure included 36 deaths in NSW, 22 in Victoria, 16 in Queensland - more than double its previous high - two in South Australia and one in the ACT.

The chief medical officer said preparations were being carried out for a second rise of Omicron cases.

NSW also saw 12,450 new positive RAT results, but 10,417 had come from the past seven days

'I expect we will continue to see cases of Omicron right throughout the next few months, but it will be at a much lower level than it is now,' Prof Kelly said.

The federal government has activated its private hospital agreement, which would allow more than 57,000 nurses from private hospitals to be used in Omicron-affected areas across the country.

The agreement was created in 2020 after the start of the pandemic.

However, Prof Kelly said public hospitals were still coping with Omicron cases.

'There is not a public hospital system in the country that has reached their level of concern,' he said.

'For hospitalisations, ICU is under pressure, particularly in Victoria, but again there's plenty of room there.'

The state government is also under pressure to boost vaccination rates among schoolchildren, as kids prepare to return to classrooms at the end of January

The head of Australia's vaccine rollout, Lieutenant General John Frewen, said there wasn't vaccine hesitancy among the community, despite 70,000 vaccination appointments going to waste last week.

'There have been some challenges in the system with bookings,' Lt Gen Frewen told the Nine Network.

'I think some people have been shopping around to get bookings and then maybe when they've got a better booking, they haven't gone back and cancelled some of the other bookings.'

More than 5.3 million people have received their booster shot since the rollout of the third dose began in November.

More than 380,000 child vaccines have been carried out since eligibility opened for five to 11-year-olds last week.
Priti Patel has accused Labour of siding with vandals and thugs after the party voted down legislation to stop eco-protesters disrupting the country.

The Home Secretary said opposition peers were not on the side of the law-abiding majority and had backed groups which bring our country to a standstill.

Measures to prevent activists from movements such as Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Insulate Britain from shutting roads were voted down by the unelected House of Lords on Monday night.

Downing Street said it was disappointed by the move, which would prevent it from tackling guerrilla tactics used by protesters.

Priti Patel has accused Labour of siding with vandals and thugs after the party voted down legislation to stop eco-protesters disrupting the country

Miss Patel added: Labour blocked the Government from introducing new measures to stop Insulate Britain and XR bringing our country to a standstill.

'Once again Labours actions are proving they are not on the side of the law-abiding majority  instead choosing to defend vandals and thugs.

Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden said Labour and the Liberal Democrats were enabling protesters who block highways, ambulances and workplaces. He added they had voted to make it harder for the British people to get on with their lives.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was gutted by peers, who inflicted a series of defeats on the Government.

No10 said it would reflect on the votes, but could use its Commons majority to overturn the defeats.

The Prime Ministers spokesman said: It is disappointing the Lords did not back the public order measures that will ensure the everyday lives of the overwhelming majority are not disrupted by a selfish minority of protesters whose actions endanger lives and cost the public millions of pounds.

Measures to prevent activists from movements such as Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Insulate Britain from shutting roads were voted down by the unelected House of Lords on Monday night

They added that policing XR protests in April and October 2019 cost 37million, more than twice the annual budget of Londons violent crime taskforce, while Insulate Britain cost forces 4million in three months last year.

Yesterday Justice Secretary Dominic Raab suggested the Government would bring back measures to restrict protests following the defeats.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today: Of course we support the right of peaceful and rambunctious protest, but it cannot be allowed to interfere with the lives of the law-abiding majority. Among rejected powers was one that would allow individuals with a history of causing serious disruption to be banned from certain protests.

A proposal to make it an offence for a person to disrupt operation of key infrastructure, including airports and newspaper printers, was blocked too.

In a separate defeat, peers voted to restrict tougher sentences for blocking a highway to major routes and motorways rather than all roads.
Missing schoolgirl Charlise Mutten may have been dead for up to three days before her mother reported her missing, police believe - as her body is found in a barrel and her 31-year-old stepdad is charged with her murder.

The nine-year-old was holidaying with her mother Kallista Mutten and her stepfather Justin Stein at a multi-million dollar property in Mount Wilson, in the NSW Blue Mountains, last week, with police sources telling Daily Mail Australia her last confirmed sighting was about 7pm on Tuesday, January 11.

Police remain on guard at the property where the girl was holidaying before she was allegedly murdered. Two detectives are still stationed at a nearby command post.

The exact date of when the she died is unclear as there were other unconfirmed sightings of her in the days before her mother reported her missing last Friday.

Tragically, the Charlise's body was found inside a barrel in scrub alongside the Colo River late last night, about an hour from where she vanished from last week.

She had arrived in Sydney from the Gold Coast, where she was living with her grandparents, just days earlier to spend the school holidays with her mother and the mother's fiance.

Stein was arrested at a unit in Surry Hills in central Sydney on Tuesday night and charged with murder.

He appeared in Central Local Court on Wednesday morning where he did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

His lawyer asked the court for a 12 week adjournment to seek a mental health assessment, noting he's been on 'long term medication'.

In court documents, police allege Stein murdered his stepdaughter between 7pm last Tuesday and 10am on Wednesday, January 12.

Charlise Mutten, nine, was last seen on Thursday but was reported missing on Friday morning

Daily Mail Australia can reveal shocking new detail about the nine-year-old girl's alleged murder as her 31-year-old stepdad Justin Stein prepares to face a Sydney court on Wednesday morning

Police made the grisly discovery near the Colo River in Sydney's west on Tuesday night

Over recent weeks hundreds of rescuers and police divers have scoured the mountains and the Colo and Hawkesbury rivers for signs of the girl after receiving information a boat was used in the hours after she vanished.

Police will allege the accused tried to get the barrel to the river but couldn't drag it through dense bushland and left it abandoned in scrub nearby.

CCTV footage was used to trace the movements of the accused, including the moment he allegedly purchased sandbags and petrol for a small boat.

However, police will allege the boat would not start and the accused instead opted to head to nearby bush, which is where the girl's body was found.

A vehicle was seized in Penrith in the city's west late last week. Police said they had tracked the movements of the car throughout the investigation.

An eyewitness also told Daily Mail Australia they had seen a car leaving the property the girl was last seen at in the early hours of Friday morning.

The one hour drive from Mt Wilson to the Colo River follows Mt Wilson Road to the Bells Line of Road then via one of two routes to reach the river.

Driving past houses and equestrian properties, the road becomes a dirt track as it enters the Wollemi National Park.

Comleroy Road to Upper Colo is a winding and often steep and treacherous dirt road which crosses through the flowing Colo River past the remote Wheeny Creek campground.

A road posted with a sign warning 'Protect children! Please drive carefully' goes past the Upper Colo Anglican Church and local rural fire brigade headquarters.

The 31-year-old man was arrested at an apartment in Surry Hills on Tuesday night. He will face court on Wednesday

Police had already scoured the Colo and Hawkesbury Rivers after information that a boat was used in the hours after she vanished, but returned to the scene following new information on Tuesday

The young girl attended a local primary school south of the border, where she was known as a spritely and cheerful student.

Tributes have poured in online in the wake of her sudden death.

Her 'shattered' father, who also cannot be identified, shared an emotional tribute on Wednesday morning, hours after learning of her death.

'Goodbye beautiful girl... We will get answers for you baby, and we will honour you properly,' he said.

'You have captured the hearts of the nation and the world, and now those hearts are breaking with mine.'

Her father vowed this 'would not be the end of [her] or [her] story' in his statement.

'This doesn't happen. Kids need to be safe. What is wrong with people?'

A man has been charged with murder after a nine-year-old girl disappeared in the Blue Mountains. Emergency crews are seen in Colo River near the Blue Mountains

Pictured: Police vehicles moving down the driveway at Mount Wilson, in the NSW Blue Mountains

RFS volunteers (pictured) were deployed to the area to search for the nine-year-old and have been combing bushland
High-profile columnist Peter FitzSimons wants to rip the Union Jack from the Australian flag if the nation becomes a republic.

The former Wallaby and husband of TV host Lisa Wilkinson shared a proposed redesign of the nation's flag featuring the Southern Cross with the Aboriginal flag in the space currently occupied by the Union Jack.

FitzSimons retweeted the proposed change, included the caption: 'This would at least be a step in the right direction.'

The flag sparked debate on social media, with many wanting a new design - but not that one.

Former Wallaby star Peter FitzSimons (pictured with wife Lisa Wilkinson) wants to rip the Union Jack from the Australian flag if the nation becomes a republic - and could replace it with the Aboriginal flag

The writer shared a redesign of the nation's flag featuring the Southern Cross with the Aboriginal flag inset in the corner (pictured)

'Honestly it would feel more than a bit disrespectful to fly the Aboriginal flag to represent our nation as a whole,' said one, echoing previous arguments that the red-black-yellow flag belonged to the indigenous people and should not be taken away and repurposed.

Another commented simply on the jarring aesthetics and added: 'Unfortunately it's hideously ugly. Steak and ice cream.'

One sharp-eyed movie fan pointed out that Sam Neill had worn the same design on his arm in the 1997 movie Event Horizon.

One sharp-eyed movie fan pointed out that Sam Neill had worn the same design on his arm in the 1997 movie Event Horizon

The flag design sparked debate on social media (pictured), with many wanting a new design - but not the one FitzSimons posted

Other tweets mocked the rough and ready style of the design (pictured)

FitzSimons, 60, leads the Australian Republican Movement, which wants to replace the Queen with an Aussie as head of state.

He has now set up a company dedicated to finding a new design for the Australian national flag and also for state and territory emblems.

He is one of the directors of Ausflag, alongside politicians, celebrities, writers and businessmen including Vince Sorrenti, Ray Martin, Philip Adams and Anne Keating.

Their website says they aim to find a flag to 'represent our nation and its people, our past, present and future, our land, our equality and diversity, our achievements, our hopes and aspirations.'

It adds: 'We can do much better. Help us tell out story, not someone else's.'

Republican Peter FitzSimons, 60 (pictured with wife Lisa Wilkinson) has now set up a company dedicated to finding a new design for the Australian national flag and also for state and territory emblems

FitzSimons has dismissed the current flag - which has been official since 1953 - with the quote from US comedian Jerry Seinfield: 'I love your flag. Great Britain, at night.'

Ausflag has been collecting designs since 2015 with the public able to support their favourites, with some attracting thousands of votes.

Many of the most popular have incorporated a kangaroo into the design but the current leader is a Southern Cross and a federation star above stripes of green and gold - the nation's sporting colours derived from a blooming wattle.

It just edged out another Southern Cross design which has a green and gold boomerang through the centre.

Ausflag has been collecting designs since 2015 with the public able to support their favourites. Some have attracted thousands of votes

This simple design is currently the most popular on the Ausflag website

Another Southern Cross flag with a version of the Aboriginal flag as a rising sun over a dark red horizon also attracted thousands of votes.

The author and political lobbyist says the national flag could be changed at the stroke of a pen if Canberra chose to.

'Like the republic - though they are separate issues - changing the flag is a matter of political will, not money,' he posted on Tuesday.

Ausflag have now launched a bid for Western Australia to replace their state flag with a new yellow and black design which drops the Union Jack.

They sent a detailed proposal to all WA politicians asking them to support a move to become the first state to abandon the emblematic link to the UK.

'The current state flag is relatively dull and barely indistinguishable from other state flags,' they told state MPs. 'Not enough people recognise it and fly it.

Ausflag have now launched a bid for Western Australia to replace their state flag with a new yellow and black design which drops the Union Jack (pictured)

'WA could become the first Australian state to adopt a flag without the Union Jack.'

It adds: 'All current State flags are similar in appearance and difficult to distinguish from one other (especially when hanging limply on a flagpole).

'They are dull and uninspiring  the people of Western Australia deserve better. In contrast, the Northern Territory has a long tradition of very effectively using its flag.

'It has engendered strong pride in the Territory for Territorians. It is widely flown by businesses and residents alike.'

Ausflag is also backed by WA businesswoman Janet Holmes a Court who said the current state flag makes 'Western Australia look like a British branch office: a veritable Little Britain.'

The plan to replace the state flag has been dismissed by the WA government.

The current Australian flag was adopted upon federation of the six British colonies into a nation in 1901.
Boris Johnson is poised to announce the lifting of Plan B restrictions today as he tries to underline the success of his strategy for beating Omicron.

Downing Street last night said the Prime Minister had summoned a special meeting of the Cabinet this morning to decide whether the measures put in place to halt the variants spread can be lifted.

The changes, which would come into force next week, will see an end to work from home guidance and the scrapping of controversial Covid passports.

Isolation periods for Covid are set to stay for now, however.

A final decision on whether to scrap mandatory face masks was last night said to be in the balance. Government scientists are understood to be pushing for compulsory masks to remain in force on public transport and in shops.

But a Whitehall source acknowledged that extending masks beyond January 26 would require a potentially explosive Commons vote, which Mr Johnson is anxious to avoid.

Senior figures in the Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs have suggested that the Prime Minister would face a mutiny if he attempts to extend the measures.

Ministers believe Mr Johnson deserves credit for his calculated gamble in the run-up to Christmas to accelerate the booster rollout rather than impose lockdown restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce he is bringing Plan B Covid restrictions to an end

Finally! Sturgeon axes virus curbs indoors as infections fall rapidly Covid restrictions are to be lifted in Scotland from Monday after Nicola Sturgeon yesterday revealed the country has turned the corner on the Omicron wave. She confirmed the measures  a limit on the numbers at indoor events, table service only at bars and the closure of nightclubs  will be eased from January 24. The first minister, who has been criticised for introducing extra-cautious rules, said guidance limiting gatherings to a maximum of three households will also end on the same date, along with restrictions on indoor contact sports. She also said there would be no extension to vaccine passports, stating: Given that cases are now falling quite rapidly and the current wave is receding, we decided that we will not at this stage extend the Covid certification scheme to other premises. The announcement comes the day after the Scottish government lifted its cap on numbers at outdoor events. Speaking at Holyrood, Miss Sturgeon said: Although significant pressures and uncertainties remain, the data gives us confidence that we have turned the corner on the Omicron wave. She added that over the last week the number of people testing positive with a PCR test had fallen from an average of almost 13,000 a day to just over 4,600  a drop of 64 per cent. Her comments came as latest figures show Scotland recorded another 7,752 Covid infections, along with a further 31 deaths yesterday. The number of people in hospital with the virus has fallen by 21 to 1,546, with 59 in intensive care  a rise of one. Advertisement

Allies of the Prime Minister say those plotting against him have lost sight of the fact that his decision to defy the doomsday warnings of Government scientists has been vindicated.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday told MPs that the UK was now seeing cases fall despite being the most open country in Europe.

He added: Ive always said that these restrictions should not stay in place a day longer than they are absolutely necessary.

'Due to... the likelihood that we have already reached the peak of the case numbers and hospitalisations, Im cautiously optimistic that well be able to substantially reduce measures next week.

The Prime Minister yesterday said people still needed to be careful, particularly if they are unvaccinated.

He said he was completely focused... on getting us through Covid, adding: Weve had the fastest booster rollout of any European country, weve got the most open economy, thats because of the hard work of everybody in Government, amazing work of the NHS, all the doctors and nurses up and down the country.

The number of people testing positive for Covid has fallen by 39 per cent over the past week and hospital admissions with the virus are down by 3 per cent.

There were 94,432 new UK cases yesterday, which is down from 120,821 last Tuesday and a peak of 218,724 on January 4.

Hospitals in England admitted 1,768 patients with the virus on Sunday, the latest date for which data is available, which is down from a recent high of 2,370 on December 29.

There are now 16,218 patients in hospital in England with the virus, which is also down from 17,120 on January 10. Another 438 people died in the UK within 28 days of a positive test.

A government spokesman last night said the final decision on Plan B was finely balanced, adding: Plan B was implemented in December to slow the rapid spread of the extremely transmissible Omicron variant, and get more jabs in arms.

Its thanks to the phenomenal efforts of the NHS and many dedicated volunteers that we have now delivered over 36 million boosters to people across the UK.

The Omicron variant continues to pose a significant threat and the pandemic is not over. Infections remain high but the latest data is encouraging, with cases beginning to fall.

Vaccines remain our best line of defence and we urge people to come forward, to give themselves the best possible protection.

Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisations special envoy on Covid-19, said the situation in the UK gives us grounds for hope.

He told BBC Breakfast: The goal that were all aiming for is a situation where this virus is present, but life is organised so that it is not disrupted.

We also need to be humble, this virus is continuing to evolve and were never quite sure that we know exactly where its going to go next. We need real honesty  its just no good anybody suggesting that the situation is rosier than it really is.

Thats why Ive been careful. Im saying I can see where the end is, I can see light at the end of the tunnel, but I really do anticipate right throughout the world a bumpy journey ahead during 2022.

He told a press briefing yesterday he was particularly concerned about countries with low vaccination rates.
SillaJen's head office in Busan / Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



The Korea Exchange decided Tuesday to delist SillaJen from the secondary Kosdaq, citing a dim outlook of the troubled drugmaker's sustainable growth.



SillaJen shares have been suspended from trading since May 2020 after its management was mired in an embezzlement scandal.



A Kosdaq market committee will confirm whether to delist the company no later than Feb. 18, according to the corporate review committee of the Korea Exchange which made the decision.



Back in 2020, SillaJen's top management  including former CEO Moon Eun-sang  was indicted on charges of making unmerited profits by setting up a paper company and engaging in illicit trading. The prosecution estimates that SillaJen's management generated 191.8 billion won ($160.97 million) in unfair profits.



The delisting of the company will leave around 170,000 retail investors with substantial losses. According to data from the company, minority shareholders hold a 92.6 percent stake in the firm as of the end of 2020.



SillaJen reacted immediately to the decision by the exchange, saying that it will lodge an objection and take appropriate steps for its return to the stock market.



"We are going to actively explain our position to the committee," the company said in a statement. "SillaJen also wants to stress its business activities  such as research and development  are operating normally. We apologize for causing concerns to shareholders," it added.



The fate of the scandal-tainted biotech firm will be determined in mid-February when the Kosdaq committee will make its final decision on whether to delist the company. If the committee reverses the latest decision and allows trading of the shares to resume, investors can buy and sell SillaJen shares from Feb. 19. In that case, its opening price will be recalculated due to the years-long trading suspension.



But the company will end up being delisted from the stock market unless it presents a specific vision for sustainable growth  such as how to diversify its product lineup.



In August 2020, the exchange discussed whether to delist the company by convening a corporate screening committee meeting, but failed to reach a conclusion. SillaJen was then given a year to improve its management structure.


The congressional investigation into the January 6 attack has reportedly obtained records of phone numbers associated with one of former President Trump's sons, Eric Trump, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is engaged to Donald Trump Jr.

It represents a fresh escalation into probe as the select committee for the first time targeted a member of Trump's family.

The phone records were subpoenaed from communication companies, multiple sources told CNN.

The details reportedly include logs that show incoming and outgoing calls, as well as text messages, but not the substance or content of the messages.

Both Eric Trump and Guilfoyle spoke at the January 6 rally in Washington ahead of the attack on the Capitol.

A source familiar with Eric Trump's thinking about the subpoena told CNN: 'He's not losing any sleep over it.'

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 violence has reportedly obtained records of phone numbers associated with Eric Trump

CNN also said the House probe had obtained phone records of Kimberly Guilfoyle - who recently announced her engagement to Don Jr

And Joseph Tacopina, an attorney for Guilfoyle, said she had not been notified of any subpoena.

He said she was not concerned as she had nothing to hide.

Earlier the committee issued subpoenas to some of Donald Trump's top lawyers - including Rudy Giuliani - who were central to his unsuccessful attempt to overturn last year's election defeat.

The House of Representatives committee demanded that Giuliani, and his assistant Boris Epshteyn, as well as Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis hand over documents and sit for depositions on Feb. 8.

Its chairman Bennie Thompson said: 'The four individuals we've subpoenaed today advanced unsupported theories about election fraud, pushed efforts to overturn the election results, or were in direct contact with the former president about attempts to stop the counting of electoral votes.'

The committee said it was seeking records and testimony from Giuliani in connection to his promotion of election fraud claims.

The panel is also seeking information about Giuliani's reported efforts to persuade state legislators to take steps to overturn the election results.

It is the latest high-profile escalation as the committee seeks to compel Trump's lawyers to hand over information despite their claims of attorney-client privilege.

Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney, was subpoenaed by the House investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on Tuesday

The committee said it was seeking records and testimony from Giuliani in connection to his promotion of election fraud claims

The committee says it has interviewed 400 people so are as it goes about investigating the events of Jan. 6 last year when thousands of Trump supporters marched on the U.S. Capitol

'The Select Committee's investigation has revealed credible evidence that you publicly promoted claims that the 2020 election was stolen and participated in attempts to disrupt or delay the certification of the election results based on your elections,' the committee said in its letter.

'According to witness testimony and public reporting, in December 2020, you urged President Trump to direct the seizure of voting machines around the country after being told that the Department of Homeland Security had no lawful authority to do so.'

Robert Costello, a lawyer for Giuliani, dismissed the subpoena as 'political theater' and said his client was constrained by the legal doctrines of attorney-client privilege and executive privilege.

'I don't think there's anything here he can testify about,' Costello told the Associated Press.

Last week Thompson told CNN that the committee planned to speak to Giuliani.

'He's an integral part of whatever happens,' Thompson said.

Giuliani was reportedly part of a small group of Trump's inner circle that met at the Willard Hotel leading up to Jan. 6, along with Epshsteyn, Bannon and Trump attorney John Eastman. The group strategized plans to overturn the election, hours before Trump supporters mobbed the Capitol, according to the Guardian.

Thompson himself has already sued Trump and Giuliani for allegedly conspiring to incite violence on Jan. 6.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sounded likely on Monday to allow lawsuits from Democratic lawmakers and Capitol police officers to move forward against Trump and his allies, despite pushes to have them thrown out.

Sidney Powell, right, speaks next to former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, as members of President Donald Trump's legal team, during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters on Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington

Trump's legal advisers were responsible for one of the most bizarre moments in the aftermath of his election defeat, when they appeared together at the Republican National Committee headquarters.

They alleged that the election was stolen via a complex conspiracy involving voting machines and the dead Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.

Giuliani and Powell also filed lawsuits in several swing states where they tried to overturn election results.

Powell became notorious after appearing on Fox News claiming she had vast amounts of evidence of rigging.

'Im going to release the Kraken,' she said.

However, not a single court has found merit in the core legal claims made by Trump, Giuliani, Powell and the other two subpoenaed Tuesday.
Collingwood star Jordan De Goey could be offered a plea deal in his American assault case that could see him avoid jail.

The 25-year-old's AFL career with the Magpies hangs in the balance after a night out in New York in October ended with a nightclub brawl.

De Goey appeared in court via videolink from Melbourne on Wednesday over assault and harassment charges.

The midfielder-forward was stood down by Collingwood soon after the fight at a Halloween-themed party at PHD Rooftop Lounge on October 30.

An earlier charge of forcible touching of a woman's genitals was dropped only days after his arrest.

Jordan De Goey (pictured right on the night of his arrest) has played 118 games for Collingwood and is charged over a New York night club incident

Collingwood previously released a statement confirming De Goey was stood down from all club duties.

De Goey previously plead not guilty but at Wednesday's court appearance a possible plea was discussed.

Prosecutor Brendan Mahon said 'the people are likely' to offer a conditional plea deal for a charge of harassment in the second degree after they obtained 'video surveillance footage' of the alleged incident.

Judge Anna Swern called for a brief adjournment and warned De Goey, who appeared on screen wearing a white collared shirt and a black jacket, that he 'must be back' for the hearing.

The incident involved De Goey, his tattoo artist mate Luke Dyson who is on separate charges, and multiple other patrons.

De Goey previously claimed a push and shove was sparked after other guests at the nightclub helped themselves to his bottle service.

Collingwood said they have stood down De Goey (pictured) on pay while the court case is played out

De Goey's tattoo artist mate Luke Dyson (pictured with partner) is on separate charges over the October 31 incident

'Collingwood continues to assess the course of the case against Jordan and awaits meaningful developments that will allow for a more complete review of the facts,' the club's statement read.

'Until that time Jordan will remain stood down.

'Collingwood officials met with Jordan and he will continue to be paid in full while stood down and receive welfare support services through the club.'

De Goey travelled to the US during the off-season to undergo an intensive fitness program at the W Training Facility in California in an attempt to capitalise on an outstanding end to the 2021 AFL season.

After returning to Australia on November 30, De Goey has been seeking alternative avenues to keep training as he is barred from attending Collingwood's headquarters.

He has played 118 games and kicked 155 goals for Collingwood after debuting in 2015.

De Goey is to return to court on January 28.
Carbon discovered in Martian sediments by NASA's Curiosity rover has three plausible origins  including being a chemical trace of ancient microscopic life.

This is the conclusion of Pennsylvania State-led experts, who said the carbon may also have come from cosmic dust or the ultraviolet breakdown of carbon dioxide.

The bacterial theory involves methane, produced by microorganisms living underground, being broken down by ultraviolet radiation on reaching the surface.

All three of these scenarios, the researchers explained, are 'unconventional', in that they are quite 'unlike processes common on Earth.'

Curiosity landed on Mars on August 6, 2012  and since has been roaming around Gale Crater collecting and analysing rock samples, relaying the data back to Earth.

Carbon has been found in ancient Martian sediments from half-a-dozen locations, including one that comprised an exposed cliff.

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Carbon discovered in Martian sediments by NASA's Curiosity rover (pictured) has three plausible origins  including being a chemical trace of ancient microscopic life

Carbon has two stable isotopes  C and C  with the ratio between the two offering insights into a given sample's history.

'The amounts of carbon-12 and carbon-13 in our solar system are the amounts that existed at [its] formation,' said paper author and geologist Christopher House of the Pennsylvania State University.

'Both exist in everything, but because carbon-12 reacts more quickly than carbon-13, looking at the relative amounts of each in samples can reveal the carbon cycle.'

The carbon found by Curiosity  which has the capacity to drill samples out of the ground and subject them to chemical analysis  found extreme variations in C/C ratios depending on where the sediment samples were collected.

Some deposits appear to be exceptionally depleted in C, while other samples were highly enriched instead.

Here on Earth, the presence of a strongly C-depeleted signature from an ancient surface would be considered indicative of the production of methane by subsurface bacteria  with such broken down by ultraviolet radiation at Mars' surface.

'The samples extremely depleted in carbon-13 are a little like samples from Australia taken from sediment that was 2.7 billion years old,' said Professor House.

'Those samples were caused by biological activity when methane was consumed by ancient microbial mats, but we can't necessarily say that on Mars because it's a planet that may have formed out of different materials and processes than Earth.'

The carbon found by Curiosity  which has the capacity to drill samples out of the ground and subject them to chemical analysis  found extreme variations in C/C ratios depending on where the sediment samples were collected. Pictured: the Highfield drill hole made by Curiosity in order to collect a sample from Gale crater's Vera Rubin Ridge

According to the researchers, another explanation for the depletion of C in the carbon analysed by Curiosity lies in how the solar system traverses a vast molecular cloud every couple of hundred years.

This passage, Professor House explains, is hard to see in Earth's geological record, as the cloud 'doesn't deposit a lot of dust.'

For enough to have been concentrated in a layer that the Curiosity rover could sample, the galactic dust cloud would have first have to lower the temperature of Mars' surface  which at that time still sported liquid water  to create glaciers.

Deposited on the surface of such glaciers, the hypothesis goes, the dust would then have left behind after the glacier melted.

To date, little evidence has been found for Mars' Gale Crater having once beeb glaciated. However, the team said, 'this explanation is plausible, but it requires additional research.'

The final explanation put forward by the team for the C-depleted samples involves the ultraviolet radiation-driven conversion of carbon dioxide into compounds like formaldehyde.

'There are papers that predict that UV could cause this type of fractionation,' Professor House explained.

'However, we need more experimental results showing this size fractionation so we can rule in or rule out this explanation.'

Some deposits analysed by Curiosity appear to be depleted in C, while other samples were highly enriched instead. Pictured: The Stimson sandstone formation in Gale crater  near where the rover made the Edinburgh drill hole that yielded a C-enriched a sample

'All three possibilities point to an unusual carbon cycle unlike anything on Earth today  but we need more data to figure out which of these is the correct explanation,' said Professor House.

'We are being cautious with our interpretation, which is the best course when studying another world,' he added.

'It would be nice if the rover would detect a large methane plume and measure the carbon isotopes from that, but while there are methane plumes, most are small, and no rover has sampled one large enough for the isotopes to be measured.'

Finding the remains of microbial mats or glacially-derived sediments, the geologist added, would also serve to help clarify the situation.

On Mars, the Curiosity rover is still working to collect and analyse rock samples  and, in fact, will be returning to the pediment where it found the carbon-bearing sediments of concern in this study in around one month's time

On Mars, the Curiosity rover is still working to collect and analyse rock samples  and, in fact, will be returning to the pediment where it found the carbon-bearing sediments of concern in this study in around one month's time.

'This research accomplished a long-standing goal for Mars exploration,' noted Professor House.

This, he explained, has been 'to measure different carbon isotopes  one of the most important geology tools  from sediment on another habitable world, and it does so by looking at nine years of exploration.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover has passed its latest round of tests and is on course to blast off for the Red Planet in September, the UK Space Agency has revealed.

Part of the ExoMars mission, the rover is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia's Roscosmos, and was assembled in Stevenage, England.

The car-sized vehicle starts the year with months of successful maintenance and functional tests behind it, and confirmation that all instruments are 'go for flight'.

It is currently in an ultra-clean room at the Thales Alenia Space premises in Turin, Italy, alongside launch partner, the Russian Kazachok landing platform.

There will be a final review in April, before the rover, and other components of the mission, are sent to the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, to prepare for lift-off.

The Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover has passed its latest round of tests, and is on course to blast off for the Red Planet in September, the UK Space Agency confirmed

Part of the ExoMars mission, the rover is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia's Roscosmos, and was assembled in Stevenage, England

MARS: THE BASICS Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, with a 'near-dead' dusty, cold, desert world with a very thin atmosphere. Mars is also a dynamic planet with seasons, polar ice caps, canyons, extinct volcanoes, and evidence that it was even more active in the past. It is one of the most explored planets in the solar system and the only planet humans have sent rovers to explore. One day on Mars takes a little over 24 hours and a year is 687 Earth days. Facts and Figures Orbital period: 687 days Surface area: 144.8 million km Distance from Sun: 227.9 million km Gravity: 3.721 m/s Radius: 3,389.5 km Moons: Phobos, Deimos Advertisement

Previously known as the ExoMars Rover, the Rosalind Franklin was due to launch for the Red Planet in the summer of 2020, around the same time as the NASA Perseverance rover, but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials at the European Space Agency felt more testing was needing, including of the descent parachute, before it was safe to launch and there wasn't time to complete the necessary tests due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

It is now scheduled to launch this September, arriving on Mars in June 2023.

'The rover is ready, and together with the recent drop test success for the parachutes, we are positive to be in time for the September launch date,' says Pietro Baglioni, ESA's ExoMars rover team leader.

Only once every two years and for about ten days, celestial mechanics would allow the spacecraft to reach Mars from Earth in the shortest possible time  nine months.

Once it gets to Mars it will undergo a 'nerve-wracking' descent to the surface, after which Rosalind Franklin will leave the landing platform and drive on the Red Planet.

If this goes to plan, ESA will become only the fourth agency to operate a vehicle on another world - following the Soviet Union, NASA and China.

In preparation for this moment, the twin of the Rosalind Franklin rover successfully left the platform during recent tests in a Mars terrain simulator in Turin.

While the driving during these exercises takes about 15 minutes, the whole process will last a few Martian days, due in part to time delays.

'The egress is a long and crucial operation. We need to be gentle and run it in a very slow motion for extra safety,' said Andrea Merlo, ExoMars head of robotics from Thales Alenia Space.

The landing platform has two exit ramps: one at the front and another one at the back. Rosalind is designed to negotiate steep inclines on the ramps, but it is up to ground control on Earth to decide which is the safest way to drive off.

After landing, the rover will be busy for over a week unfolding its wheels and deploying the mast, among other preparations.

It is only possible to make the shorter, nine month long journey to Mars every two years, which is why the rover couldn't launch last year

The ExoMars twin rover, until now known as the Ground Test Model, has a new name: Amalia, named after Professor Amalia Ercoli Finzi, a renowned astrophysicist with vast experience in spaceflight dynamics

ESAs ExoMars orbiter discovers significant amounts of water hiding just three feet below Mars' surface The Europe Space Agency (ESA) announced on Wednesday that it has found 'significant amounts of water' hiding in Mars's Grand Canyon. The discovery was made by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which spotted the water just three feet below the surface of the Valles Mariners  a massive canyon system that stretches more than 2,400 miles across the dusty Martian landscape. The water-rich area is about the size of the Netherlands and overlaps with the deep valleys of Candor Chaos, part of the canyon system considered promising in the hunt for water on Mars. 'We found a central part of Valles Marineris to be packed full of water  far more water than we expected,' Alexey Malakhov, also of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and co-author of the study, said in a statement. 'This is very much like Earth's permafrost regions, where water ice permanently persists under dry soil because of the constant low temperatures.' Advertisement

'Once the six wheels hit the martian surface, it will be the beginning of the story for this rover on Mars. We feel ready and are really looking forward to the real mission,' said Merlo.

The ExoMars twin rover, until now known as the Ground Test Model, has a new name: Amalia, named after Professor Amalia Ercoli Finzi, a renowned astrophysicist with vast experience in spaceflight dynamics.

Amalia Ercoli Finzi was the first woman to graduate in aeronautical engineering in Italy, and besides serving as a scientific advisor for ESA and NASA.

She designed the drill on Rosetta's Philae lander, that touched down on the surface of the comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko.

She also strongly pushed for the development of the ExoMars drill 20 years ago.

'I am flattered and honoured to have this essential element of the ExoMars mission named after me. Mars is waiting for us,' said Amalia after receiving the news.

Engineers are using the Amalia rover to recreate different scenarios and help them take decisions that will keep Rosalind safe in the challenging environment of Mars.

The model is fully representative of what the rover will be able to do on the Red Planet, albeit under Earth gravity and atmospheric conditions.

Amalia has so far demonstrated drilling soil samples down to 5ft 5 inches (1.7 metres) and operate all the instruments while sending scientific data to the Rover Operations Control Centre (ROCC) in Turin, Italy.

This is the operational hub that will orchestrate the roaming of the European-built rover on Mars, and use the Trace Gas Orbiter, currently in orbit around Mars, to relay data from Rosalind Franklin back to Earth.

The ESA-Roscosmos Trace Gas Orbiter is currently carrying out its own science mission, and relaying data from NASA's Perseverance rover.

Before any of that can happen, Rosalind Franklin, the lander, spacecraft and other equipment will make their way to Russia - a final trip on Earth.

'Just before that last trip on Earth, we will upload the final version of the software that will allow the rover to scout Mars autonomously,' explained Baglioni.

The ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars 2022 mission will launch on a Proton-M rocket with a Breeze-M upper stage from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in the 20 September  1 October 2022 launch window.

There will be a final review in April, before the rover, and other components of the mission, are sent to the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, to prepare for lift-off

Engineers are using the Amalia rover to recreate different scenarios and help them take decisions that will keep Rosalind safe in the challenging environment of Mars

A carrier module will transport the descent module with the Rosalind Franklin rover and Kazachok surface science platform inside, to Mars.

Once landed safely in the Oxia Planum region of Mars on 10 June 2023, the rover will drive off the surface platform, seeking out geologically interesting sites to drill below the surface, to determine if life ever existed on our neighbour planet.

Sue Horne, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, said the rover showcases some of the best of the UK space sector.

'Its very exciting to see this flagship mission pass the latest tests and see the fruition of many years hard work as we look forward to the launch later this year.'
The European Space Agency has whittled down more than 23,000 aspiring astronaut applications to a shortlist of 1,391 who could potentially fly to space and the moon.

ESA is on the lookout for a new cohort of six space travellers who will spend time on the International Space Station and may one day land on the lunar surface.

The agency hasn't said where in Europe the shortlisted candidates are from, but during the last round 1,900 of the 23,000 who applied were from the UK.

The UK Space Agency confirmed there are British candidates among the shortlist, but couldn't say who they were, or how many had made it through to the next stage, where those remaining will undergo further testing.

Of the successful next round candidates, 39 per cent were female and 61 per cent male, according to ESA, with 29 'parastronauts' out of 287 being shortlisted.

The call for applicants was made in March 2021, and ESA says it has taken longer than expected to whittle it down due to 'a high volume and caliber of applications'.

The final announcement on the six full time astronauts, any 'parastronauts' and up to 20 reservists will be made by the autumn, the space agency said.

The European Space Agency has whittled down more than 23,000 aspiring astronaut applications to a shortlist of 1,391 who could potentially fly to space and the moon

If one of the British candidates is successful they will be the third British astronaut after Helen Sharman and Tim Peake - who was the first British ESA-astronaut

ESA astronaut criteria To be eligible to file an application, an individual must: Have a master's degree (or higher) in Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Sciences

OR be qualified as an experimental test pilot

Be fluent in English

Have good knowledge of a second language

Be calm under pressure and be willing to participate in life science experiments

Be flexible with regards to place of work Advertisement

The first round of testing for the 1,391 candidates who have made it through focuses on psychological performance, including cognitive, technical, motor coordination and personality tests, taken over the course of a full day.

For successful candidates, this will be followed by a set of psychological interviews and group tests  after which medical testing will begin.

Candidates who successfully pass each of the selection stages will be invited to recruitment interviews with senior ESA officials.

As well as six full time professional astronauts, ESA is looking for up to 20 'reservists', who may be working in a university, and ready to go to space if called upon.

Around 24 per cent of all applicants to ESA's astronaut selection were female, however females made up 39 per cent of those reaching the next round.

'Those who moved through to the next stage of ESA's astronaut selection were chosen based on the strength of their application, not their gender,' ESA said.

The agency's head of space medicine Guillaume Weerts thanked all 23,000 people for applying to be an astronaut.

'We really want to thank everyone who applied to this selection process, both those continuing and those who will leave us at this stage.

'Thank you for your patience and for all the work you put into your applications. We were very impressed by the quality of applicants.'

ESA HR business partner Antonella Costa agreed, saying it was a very competitive process, and just meeting the criteria to apply is 'something to be proud of'.

Just to apply for the role, a candidate had to be either qualified as an experimental test pilot, and or hold a master's degree or higher in Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Sciences.

ESA is on the lookout for a new cohort of six space travellers, who will spend time on the International Space Station, and may one day land on the surface of the moon

PARASTRONAUT: ESA SEARCHING FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED CANDIDATE The European Space Agency is looking for a parastronaut that could travel to the ISS in the future. The person selected will join the reserve crew while ESA work with partners to find a safe way to travel. Individuals with missing feet or lower legs, either from amputation or birth defects, are eligible, as too are people who are shorter than 130 cm (4ft 3in). Tim Peake says he 'wouldn't have any reservations travelling to space with someone with disabilities'. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti said we 'didn't evolve to be in space'. She said we're 'all disabled in space' and it is just a case of perfecting the technology to take candidates who would otherwise be selected to be an astronaut if it were not for a disability. Advertisement

'Though not everybody can become an astronaut, there are many other ways in which you can support Europe in space,' said Costa.

'We strongly encourage people to visit our careers website and see how else they could apply their skills and follow their passion with ESA.'

Applications to become an astronaut closed on June 18 2021, and the total number applying was 23,000 up from 8,413 in 2008 when applications last opened.

If one of the British candidates is successful they will be the third British astronaut after Helen Sharman and Tim Peake  who was the first British ESA-astronaut.

Peake is expected to return to the ISS in the coming years, so the successful candidates could be sent to the station at the same time.

ESA's astronaut selection process consists of six key stages, the first of which we've just entered  screening thousands of candidates to under 2,000.

Candidates will be notified at the end of each stage as to whether their application has been successful in progressing to the next step.

ESA has secured three astronaut trips to the NASA Lunar Gateway due to be built in orbit around the moon, and hopes to be able to send Europeans to the surface of our natural satellite in the future.

'Astronauts will fly further away from Earth than anybody has ever been' when they go to the Gateway as it will be further from Earth than the Moon, says Frank De Winne from the ESA astronaut training centre.

ESA says the number of applicants far exceeded even its most optimistic forecasts, describing it as a positive indication of the level of interest in space activities

France had the highest number of applications, at 7,137 and a quarter of all applicants were women, up from 15 per cent during the last round in 2008. The brighter the colour in this graphic the more applications from that country

'The first five to ten years will see astronauts fly to the ISS, but after that there will be opportunities to fly to the moon and further than the moon.'

It is thought that this cohort of ESA astronauts, much like the Artemis generation of NASA astronauts, could one day stand on the surface of Mars.

NASA is planning to send astronauts to the Red Planet as early as 2035, and the European Space Agency could be part of that mission.

A spokesperson for the UK Space Agency said they hope the next professional British astronaut will emerge from 'this gruelling selection process.'

'They now face a challenging psychological assessment before they can move on to the next phase of medical tests.

'The UK space sector continues to grow fast and, while being an astronaut is a dream for many people, there are a range of potential career paths out there to explore.'
Tiger sharks are starting to move farther up north due to climate change warming oceans that have historically been too cold for the apex predator, according to a new study.

A team of scientists led by the University of Miami found oceans temperatures have been the warmest on record over the last decade, allowing tiger sharks to travel 250 miles poleward.

Because of the warmer oceans, sharks are also migrating 14 days earlier to waters along the US northeastern coast.

Not only do these changes have ramifications for human safety, but these sharks are venturing out of areas that provide them protection from commercial fishing.

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Tiger sharks are starting to move farther up north due to climate change warming oceans that have historically been too cold for the apex predator, according to a new study

Neil Hammerschlag, director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami, said in a statement: 'Over the past 40 years, tiger shark distributions have extended further poleward along with warming waters.

'In fact, off the northeast United States, where it was historically way too cold for tiger sharks, these waters have now warmed to suitable levels for tiger sharks and they've moved into those areas.'

To uncover these changes, Hammerschlag and his colleagues tagged 69 tiger sharks off southeast Florida, southwest Florida and the northern Bahamas, and monitored their migration patterns for nine years - from May 2010 to January 2019.

And tracking data generated 5,227 locations from 47 sharks.

A team of scientists led by the University of Miami found oceans temperatures have been the warmest on record over the last decade, allowing tiger sharks to travel 250 miles poleward

'During the warmest months, for every one degree Celsius [1.8F] increase in water temperatures above the long-term average, tiger sharks have moved poleward by nearly four degrees latitude,' Hammerschlag said in a video.

The results may have greater ecosystem implications.

'Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,' said Hammerschlag.

Tiger sharks are just the latest marine animal found to venture farther north, as a study in April 2021 revealed warming oceans have forced nearly 50,000 marine species to abandon their tropical homes along the equator and relocate to cooler waters.

Not only do these changes have ramifications for human safety, but these sharks are venturing out of areas that provide them protection from commercial fishing

To uncover these changes, Hammerschlag and his colleagues tagged 69 tiger sharks off southeast Florida, southwest Florida and the northern Bahamas, and monitored their migration patterns for nine years - from May 2010 to January 2019

Researchers, led by the University of Auckland, found a mass exodus of nearly fish, mollusks, birds and corals that have moved poleward since 1955.

In other words, scientists say, species that can move are moving to escape warming surface temperatures that currently average 68F (20C).

Senior author Mark Costello, a professor of marine biology at the University of Auckland, told AFP: 'Global warming has been changing life in the ocean for at least 60 years.'

The team found a total of 48,661 species have moved south over three 20-year periods up to 2015.

The number of species attached to the seafloor, including corals and sponges, remained somewhat stable in the tropics between the 1970s and 2010, according to the study.

However, some have been found beyond the tropics, suggesting they are also trying to escape warming waters.
ExxonMobile on Tuesday pledged to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the hopes of catching up with its rivals like Shell and BP that have already made the commitment.

The American oil and gas corporation estimated it released about 762 million tons of greenhouse gasses in 2020 - 650 million was from consumption and 112 million tons from operations.

However, Tuesday's announcement only focuses on cutting the 112 million tons, which is just 15 percent of Exxon's total emissions.

'This announcement is not significant, but it is long overdue,' Paasha Mahdavi, assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told DailyMail.com in a phone interview.

'Exxon can hit this [112-million-ton] target just by cleaning up its operations such as making sure pipes are not leaking methane, which they should have been doing this entire time.

'It is still a far cry from what we need to hit climate goals.'

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ExxonMobile on Tuesday pledged to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the hopes of catching up with its rivals like Shell and BP that have already made the commitment

Exxon mentioned on Tuesday that it has identified 150 potential steps and modifications to help reach its goals, such as electrification of operations with energy from renewable sources.

'The net-zero aspiration applies to Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions,' the company shared in the announcement.

Scope 1 covers covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources and Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the reporting company.

But Scope 3, which is the largest portion of Exxon's emissions, is not under the pledge - it includes all other indirect emissions that occur in a company's value chain.

The American oil and gas corporation estimated it released about 762 million tons of greenhouse gasses in 2020 - 650 million stems from consumption of oil and gas side and 112 million tons is from operations. However, Tuesday's announcement only focuses on cutting the 112 million tons, which is just 15 percent of Exxon's total emissions

'A lot of other companies understand that they will have to change their business models to adhere with regulations,' Mahdavi said.

'They are adopting renewable energies, whether it is EVs [electrical vehicles], solar, wind or geothermal.'

'Exxon, however, is saying 'we don't believe in any of that, we believe in the future of oil and gas'. And they are just going to clean up their operations.'

'That has been their approach for the last decade and they have been the biggest and most profitable company and felt they could win this game - as in be the last one to pump oil.'

'The reality is none of these companies will be producing oil and gas what we need.'

Mahdavi continued to explain that other, smaller companies that focus on the environment will eventually swoop in and take over the industry.

Exxon mentioned on Tuesday that it has identified 150 potential steps and modifications to help reach its goals, such as electrification of operations with energy from renewable sources. however, the public is skeptical about its pledge

'This announcement is not significant, but it is long overdue,' Paasha Mahdavi, assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told DailyMail.com in a phone interview. But some say the plan is completely bogus

'It is good that Exxon is cleaning up methane, but it just fits its own agenda,' he said.

Although it may sound near impossible to regulate emissions released during consumption of oil and gas, Shell was ordered to reduce its carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030 in a 2019 court hearing.



The District Court in The Hague stated that the supermajor was responsible for emissions from customers (scope 3 emissions) and suppliers and that the company must comply with the judgment immediately.

Tuesday's announcement also sparked fury among the public online, with many flocking to Twitter to callout the oil and gas company.

One user said the 'plan is bogus' and another tweeted: 'Never believe Exxon.'

DailyMail.com has contacted ExxonMobile for comment and has yet to receive a response.

Darren Woods, chairman and chief executive officer for ExxonMobile, said in a statement: ExxonMobil is committed to playing a leading role in the energy transition, and Advancing Climate Solutions articulates our deliberate approach to helping society reach a lower-emissions future.

We are developing comprehensive roadmaps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our operated assets around the world, and where we are not the operator, we are working with our partners to achieve similar emission-reduction results.

Other steps of the pledge include power and steam co-generation and electrification of operations, using renewable or lower-emission power.

The company expects to finalize detailed roadmaps that address approximately 90 percent of operations-related greenhouse gas emissions by the end of this year, and the remainder will be completed in 2023.

Exxon, however, may not have the best track record when it comes to caring for the environment.

From the 325 oil spills it is responsible for to allegedly misleading the public about climate change for 40 years and its millions of metric tons of carbon emissions each year.

And the company is aware of its environmental blunders.

In October 2020, internal documents obtained by Bloomberg showed Exxon plans to increase carbon-dioxide emissions by 17 percent by 2025.

The amount is equal to extra 23 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, or the entire output of Greece - but it only accounts for emissions from Exxon's oil and gas production.

Although it may sound near impossible to regulate emissions released during consumption of oil and gas, Shell was ordered to reduce its carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030 in a 2019 court hearing. This Twitter user believes Exxon is a fraud

The added emissions do not include carbon dioxide from the millions of gas-powered vehicles it fuels, which would quintuple that output to 100 million tons of additional carbon dioxide.

The leaked internal report also calls for the production of a million more barrels of oil a day, the equivalent of nearly 158 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Exxon, however, said its Tuesday announcement is to compete with its rivals that are already making moves to reduce emissions.

But in March 2020, Woods dismissed the efforts of BP and shell as window dressing.

'Individual companies setting targets and then selling assets to another company so that their portfolio has a different carbon intensity has not solved the problem for the world,' Woods said.

Exxon is focused on 'taking steps to solve the problem for society as a whole and not try and get into a beauty competition.'

A 2017 study out of Harvard claimed Exxon Mobil misled the public about climate change for over four decades, making 'explicit factual misrepresentations' in newspaper ads.

Researchers said that while, as early as 1979, Exxon scientists internally acknowledged burning fossil fuels was adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and causing global temperatures to rise, the company's position in New York Times advertorials consistently asserted doubt about climate science.

'It's past time for Exxon Mobil to take responsibility for the harmful impacts of its oil and gas products,' said Kathy Mulvey, a campaign director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Bloomberg.

'The world at large and its own investors would benefit from Exxon redirecting its strategy toward the energy we need in a low-carbon future.'
A shoebox-sized robot named Iris is among the final two vying for the chance to become the first US spacecraft to land on the moon in 50 years.

NASA has been sending rovers to the surface of Mars for decades, with two, Perseverance and Curiosity, currently operating and sending back photographs.

However, the US-based space agency hasn't sent a vehicle to explore the surface of the moon since the last Apollo landing in 1972 - 50 years ago this year.

Two contractors funded by NASA have vehicles that could launch this year - including Houston-based Intuitive Machines, and Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic.

With contracts worth more than $70 million each, the firms could launch for the moon this year on a mixture of SpaceX Falcon 9 and United Launch Alliance rockets.

They are part of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload service, that employs private firms to create service missions on the surface of the moon.

A shoebox-sized robot named Iris is among the final two vying for the chance to become the first US spacecraft to land on the moon in 50 years

Two contractors funded by NASA have vehicles that could launch this year - including Houston-based Intuitive Machines, and Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic (pictured)

DELIVERY TIMELINE FOR COMMERCIAL LUNAR PAYLOADS 2022 Astrobotic will carry 11 payloads to Lacus Mortis, a larger crater on the near side of the moon. Intuitive Machines will carry six payloads to Oceanus Procellarum, a scientifically intriguing dark spot on the moon. NASA awarded Intuitive Machines a task order to deliver the PRIME-1 drill to the moon by December. 2023 NASA awarded a task order to Astrobotic to deliver the agencys VIPER to the lunar South Pole. NASA selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver a suite of payloads to a non-polar region of the Moon in 2023. Masten Space Systems has one task order award to deliver and operate eight payloads  with nine science and technology instruments  to the lunar South Pole. Advertisement

One of those rovers, named Iris, is already attached the the Peregrine lander by Astrobotic, that could be sent to the moon in the first half of the year.

In contrast, Intuitive Systems is testing the Nova-C lunar lander that will carry a small 'spider-like' rover from the London-based Spacebit Technologies.

Intuitive has a $77 million contract from NASA for its IM-1 mission, and Astrobotic's Peregrine lander has a $79.5 million NASA contract for Peregrine Mission 1.

They are both designed to investigate landing sites and resources for the Artemis crewed missions, scheduled to operate from 2025 with the first woman and next man to step foot on the lunar surface.

'The first priority is, I hope it's successful - that is the number one priority above all else,' Astrobotic CEO John Thornton said in an interview with UPI.

'We have a good shot at being first, but that's not the driver, that's not the big deal - success is most important.'

The firm has used miniaturisation technologies, similar to those which pack ever increasing power into a smartphone every year, to create a relatively tiny vehicle that can drive across the moon's surface.

Iris is a CubeRover class of vehicles, inspired by the small CubeSats that also come in shoebox size and perform experiments in low Earth orbit.

The firm tweeted: 'Last week, teams from Astrobotic and NASA Glenn integrated the Photovoltaic Investigation on the Lunar Surface (PILS) payload onto our Peregrine lunar lander.

One of those rovers, named Iris, is already attached the the Peregrine lander by Astrobotic, that could be sent to the moon in the first half of the year

In contrast, Intuitive Systems is testing the Nova-C lunar lander that will carry a small 'spider-like' rover from the London-based Spacebit Technologies

'This means all NASA payloads & all powered commercial payloads (cargo) flying onboard Peregrine have been installed!'

The rover was built by students at Pittsburgh-based Carnegie-Mellon University under a program founded by Professor Red Whittaker, who is chairman of Astrobotic.

Thornton expects Astrobotic to make it to the moon first, but 'can't guarantee it' as Intuitive Machines are nearing readiness.

Intuitive confirmed last week that it had completed tests of its tracking network, allowing it to communicate with the Nova-C lander once it is on the moon.

'This was a critical step towards returning the United States to the lunar surface on our IM-1 mission this year,' Peter McGrath from Intuitive Machines explained.

NASA awarded funding for seven lunar lander missions - known as CLPs missions - coming to a total investment of less than a billion dollars. In the past a mission like this would cost that per launch.

The rover was built by students at Pittsburgh-based Carnegie-Mellon University under a program founded by Professor Red Whittaker, who is chairman of Astrobotic

The firm has used miniaturisation technologies, similar to those which pack ever increasing power into a smartphone every year, to create a relatively tiny vehicle that can drive across the moon's surface

Astrobotic has booked space on a United Launch Alliance rocket to get to the moon, whereas SpaceX's Falcon 9 will carry the Intuitive mission.

Both will also carry additional payloads for NASA and commercial customers.

"There's a ton of parts that have to come together and COVID-19 has really thrown a lot of that for a loop," Thornton said.

"You're using high-end stuff that can be very difficult to source in normal times and it gets even more complicated with COVID-19 compounding that."

"We are integrating the propulsion system to the spacecraft and we should have the spacecraft ready in a couple of months," he said. "Then there will be testing and it's going to be off to the launch site."

Rather than mission control being in a NASA facility, both Intuitive and Astrobotic will control their respective lander missions from their headquarters.
A team from Caladan Oceanic went hunting for the USS Johnston, a World War II ship that sank in 1944, in the Philippine Sea when they came across something even more amazing - the world's deepest-dwelling squid.

More than 20,000 feet below the surface, two explorers inside a submarine captured a shadow trailing along the seafloor and a later investigation proved it was a young bigfin squid.

The squid, which featured long slender terminal arms and tentacle filaments, is the first to be observed at hadal depths - this represents the deepest marine habitats on Earth.

The last time a bigfin squid was seen by human eyes was in 2014, but this specimen was just 15,400 feet below the surface.

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More than 20,000 feet below the surface, the two explorers inside the submarine captured a shadow (pictured) trailing along the seafloor and a later investigation proved it was a young bigfin squid

Bigfin squid  or Magnapinna  are known for their long arms and tentacles and can measure up to 22 feet in length, but the one spotted last month was a juvenile so it was not fully developed.

Alan Jamieson, a deep-sea researcher from the University of Western Australia, made the discovery of the squid in footage collected by the researchers, which was just released in December 2021 - but the sighting was earlier in the year.

While watching the footage, Jamieson spotted a shadow moving across the screen and sent the clip and still images to Mike Vecchione, a zoologist at the Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Magazine reports.

And from the outline of the creature, Vecchione concluded it was a magnapinnid.

The last time a bigfin squid was seen by human eyes was in 2014, but this specimen was just 15,400 feet below the surface

Alan Jamieson, a deep-sea researcher from the University of Western Australia, made the discover of the squid in footage collected by the researchers studying the Philippine Sea

The shipwreck, however, was discovered in April 2021 - the squid was spotted shortly after during another dive.

The remains of the USS Johnston are also the deepest on record, which the team has since fully mapped.

The WWII destroyer USS Johnston was destroyed 75 years ago in the Pacific during the largest naval battle in history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

The ship sank four miles to the bottom of the ocean, with the loss of 186 of her crew.

Bigfin squid  or Magnapinna  are known for their long arms and tentacles and can measure up to 22 feet in length, but the one spotted last month was a juvenile so it was not fully developed

Pictured is an image of an adult bigfin squid

During a series of dives, the former US Navy officers were able to relocate the USS Johnston and then spent several hours surveying and mapping the remains of the 376-ft long ship.

Victor Vescovo, the American private equity investor, retired naval officer, and undersea explorer who led the expedition, spoke to the BBC about the challenges in locating the shipwreck - he also shared the footage with Jamison, which led to the discovery of the bigfin squid.

The shipwreck, however, was discovered in April 2021 - the squid was spotted during another dive to the wreck

The vessel is famed for her brave action in the Battle off Samar. Outgunned by the Japanese, USS Johnston led an attack of a handful of lightships against a colossal fleet until it was surrounded

'The wreck is so deep so there's very little oxygen down there, and while there is a little bit of contamination from marine life, it's remarkably well intact except for the damage it took from the furious fight,' he explained.

The vessel is famed for her brave action in the Battle off Samar. Outgunned by the Japanese, USS Johnston led an attack of a handful of lightships against a colossal fleet until it was surrounded.
Anthony Martial has reportedly turned down approaches from Tottenham and Newcastle as he holds out for a move abroad.

The wantaway Manchester United striker is looking to leave Old Trafford this month and is looking for a new challenge away from the Premier League.

And while Spurs and Newcastle were willing to offer the Frenchman an escape route from his United nightmare, he has decided against a loan move to either club, according to the Guardian.

Anthony Martial has reportedly turned down approaches from Tottenham and Newcastle

United are seeking a loan fee for Martial and would like the forward's 150,000-a-week wages to be paid in full.

Sevilla, Barcelona and Juventus have all been linked with a loan move for Martial but terms are yet to be agreed with any club.

Tottenham are understood to be searching for cover for Harry Kane up top while the Magpies are looking to bolster their squad in all positions as they look to beat the drop.

Spurs' Antonio Conte (left) and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe (right) reportedly wanted Martial

Sevilla appear to be leading the race for Martial but are believed to be unwilling to cover his full wages.

Martial made headlines for the wrong reasons again at the weekend when United's interim boss Ralf Rangnick claimed the striker refused to travel with the squad to face Aston Villa.

'He didn't want to be in the squad,' said Rangnick. 'He would have been in the squad normally, but he didn't want to. That is the reason why he was not travelling with us yesterday (on Friday).'

United's interim boss Ralf Rangnick (above) claimed Martial did not want travel to Aston Villa

Martial (left) took to Instagram to deny Ranginck's claims that he was going on strike

But the French striker took to social media to deny those allegations, insisting he would 'never disrespect the fans' after a long career at Old Trafford to date.

Martial wrote on his Instagram story: 'I will never refuse to play a match for Man United. I've been here for 7 years and I never disrespected and will never disrespect the club and the fans.'

Sportsmail understands Rangnick has spoken to Martial about their public spat with the Frenchman said to feel let down by Rangnicks comments.
Governor Wang Qingxian delivered an annual government work report at the 5th Session of the 13th Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress on Monday. The report reflected on Anhuis progress in the past year and set priorities and targets for 2022.

Major achievements in 2021

Anhuis gross domestic product (GDP) exceeded 4 trillion yuan ($630 billion) in 2021, up more than 8 percent from a year earlier.

The fixed-asset investment increased 9.4 percent.

Retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 2 trillion yuan, and foreign trade value topped 100 billion dollars.

Value-added output of major industrial firms grew around 8.9 percent.

Urban residents disposable income increased about 9 percent, while rural residents disposable income went up more than 10 percent.

709,000 urban jobs were created.

Grain output hit a record high of 40.9 million tonnes.

12 sci-tech results were given National Science and Technology Awards.

The number of invention patents per 10,000 people reached 19.9.

12,842 enterprises were registered in Anhui Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Over 1.1 million market entities were added.

Targets and priorities for 2022

The report set the economic growth target at more than 7 percent for 2022.

The province aims to increase its retail sales of consumer goods, imports and exports, urban residents disposable income and rural residents disposable income by around 9 percent, 9 percent, 8 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Over 650,000 urban jobs are expected to be created.

The report also set the CPI growth target at 3 percent.

The province will take measures to ensure stable and sound economic growth, raise sci-tech innovation capacity, and make the manufacturing industry more competitive, according to the report.

Other priorities included building a modern industrial system for the service sector, promoting rural vitalization, and working toward carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.




Lee Jae-myung, right, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and his rival Yoon Suk-yeol, of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), attend a meeting hosted by small businesses on Yeouido in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo



The presidential candidates are pledging to give more cash handouts to people affected by the pandemic, fueling concerns that the country's debt may exceed the 1,060 trillion won ($893.8 billion) estimated for this year.



The amount of national debt projected by the Ministry of Economy and Finance is record-high, with the government planning to draw up a supplementary budget worth 14 trillion won to support small businesses hit by the social distancing measures required to control the spread of COVID-19 infections.



The two candidates  Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)  both view the 14 trillion won as falling short of meeting their campaign promises.



"The supplementary budget is not good enough," Lee said during a recent campaign event, referring to his universal basic income package aimed at offering all citizens annual cash subsidies of at least 250,000 won from 2023.






Ralf Rangnick says his fall-out with Anthony Martial has been resolved following clear-the-air talks with the Frenchman.

Rangnick claimed that Martial, who is pushing for a move in the January transfer window, told him that he did not want to be in the squad for Saturday's trip to Aston Villa.

That brought an angry response from the 26-year-old who posted a message on social media saying that he would never refuse to play for United or disrespect the club.

Ralf Rangnick revealed he has resolved his differences with Man United star Anthony Martial

Interim boss Rangnick insisted that Martial refused to play for United's clash with Aston Villa

Interim boss Rangnick confirmed that the two men had met to discuss their differences at Carrington on Sunday and the matter was now closed.

'I am here now for six weeks,' said the German ahead of Wednesday's trip to Brentford. 'All the things that need to be said, I said after the press conference.

'I had a personal conversation with him on Sunday about what happened and how I saw the whole situation, and the matter is now resolved.

Martial told Rangnick that he wanted to leave, but the pair have now held clear-the-air talks

Taking to social media, Martial hit back at Rangnick's claim, saying he never refused to play

'He didn't train yesterday and the day before yesterday. He will probably train today, and after training I will then take a decision if he is nominated or not. Let's see what will happen then.'

Martial has not played for United since early December due to a knee injury and the uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford.

He met with Rangnick shortly after he began the job and told him of his desire to leave amid interest from Sevilla.

However, United rejected a loan offer from the Spanish club because it did not cover all of the player's 200,000-a-week wages.
Arsenal outcasts Sead Kolasinac and Pablo Mari will leave the North London club in the coming days.

Kolasinac, who is currently undergoing a medical at Marseille, has fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta - making just two Premier League appearances this season.

Mari has also struggled for minutes under the Arsenal boss and will finish the 2021-2022 season on loan at Serie A side Udinese.

Sead Kolasinac (above) and Pablo Mari are both set to leave Arsenal in the coming days

Arsenal have confirmed the termination of Kolasinacs current contract at the Emirates, with the defender signing an 18-month deal with Marseille hours later.

Kolasinac slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal - becoming Arteta's third choice left-back behind Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares.

As a result, the 28-year-old only made two Premier League appearances during the 2021-2022 season for the Gunners.

Therefore, he agreed terms to join Ligue 1 side Marseille and is said to be undergoing a medical as we speak.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international previously thought about leaving the club. Having joined in 2017, Kolasinac came close to signing for Turkish side Fenerbahce last summer.

Kolasinac, who is currently undergoing a medical at Marseille, has fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta (above) - making just two Premier League appearances this season

Mari (left) has also struggled for minutes under the Arsenal boss and will finish the 2021-2022 season on loan at Serie A side Udinese

However, he will now leave the North London side after playing 118 times across all competitions and winning the FA Cup in 2020.

Mari is also set to leave the club in the coming days after struggling to cement his place in the Arsenal first-team.

The Spaniard has not featured for the Gunners since September and is keen to get more minutes under his belt.

Having made just 14 appearances in two years at the Emirates, Mari believes a move to Serie A will be worthwhile.

His departure will see Arteta's squad shrink in numbers as he has already allowed Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Folarin Balogun to go on temporary moves.
Simon Cowell's brother Tony has said their mother Julie would be 'overjoyed' with the news of his engagement to Lauren Silverman.

Speaking with Best Magazine, the writer, 71, said that the Britain's Got Talent judge's new fiancee Lauren, 44. told him about the happy news at 4:30am, after he popped the question on Christmas Eve in Barbados.

Tony shared that their late mother Julie - who died in 2015 - would be thrilled with the news that his son is set to tie the knot, because she 'always wanted him to settle down.'

Brothers: Simon Cowell 's brother Tony has said their mother Julie would be 'overjoyed' with the news of his engagement to Lauren Silverman

He said: 'When I first heard the news from Lauren (Silverman), at 4.30am, I immediately thought of our mum, Julie.

'She would have been overjoyed with the news, and it's sad to think she is not here to see her son finally tie the knot. She always wanted him to settle down with a family. I picture her looking down and saying, 'and about time, Simon!''

He then went onto reveal that Lauren told him that Simon proposed to her on Christmas Eve in Barbados.

He said: 'Lauren tells me Simon proposed to her on Christmas Eve in Barbados; and she said, 'I am so happy.' To be honest, I'm not surprised by the news. Since having his son, Eric, with Lauren, Simon has completely changed his life and, for the first time, he appears to be happy and content.'

Couple: Speaking with Best magazine, the writer, 71, said that the Britain's Got Talent judge's new fiancee Lauren Silverman told him about the happy news at 4:30am

Tony also shared his thoughts on the couples nuptials, which he believes will take place in London, adding that while Lauren may want a glitzy showbiz wedding, while Simon may want to keep it private.

'It will be interesting to see whether Simon will choose a lavish showbiz wedding, or a quiet family affair. Lauren may well favour a glitzy celebrity do. But I'm certain Simon would be happier with a private ceremony.

'I'm sure the wedding will be held in London. As for the date, well I've not been told that, yet.

He went onto reveal that Psychic Sally Morgan has predicted that the couple's big day will take place in May.

Happy news: He also shared that their mother Julie (pictured, 2007) would have been 'overjoyed' with the news and that she always wanted Simon, 62, to settle down

Tony said of their mother: 'She would have been overjoyed with the news, and it's sad to think she is not here to see her son finally tie the knot. She always wanted him to settle down with a family. I picture her looking down and saying, 'and about time, Simon!''

He said: 'However, psychic Sally Morgan predicts a May wedding for the happy couple!'

Simon suffered a broken back after a horrific biking accident in August 2020, with Tony speculating that it was this event which was a catalyst into the engagement.

He said: 'I believe that accident was the catalyst for Simon. He began to think about his future, and who to share it with. I am very fond of Lauren; she is both a caring mum and a loyal companion to Simon.

'She is constantly reaching out to all our family; and was incredibly supportive to all of us following our mum's death in 2015.'

The big day: Tony also shared his thoughts on what the wedding might be, including that he thinks that it will take place in London, and while Lauren may want a glitzy showbiz wedding, while Simon may want to keep it private; the pair pictured as children

Happy: The star certainly looked chipper as he departed BGT auditions in London on Monday

Despite his previous staunch vows to never walk up the aisle, an insider previously claimed the past two years - in which the global pandemic hit and the star broke his back - have made Simon change his stance.

Read the full Tony Cowell column in Best magazine, on sale from today

The source told People: 'They have fun together, as well as being each other's rock. They are both passionate but really do bring out the very best in each other. As a family, they all have such an incredible bond.

'A lot of things have happened in the last few years and just like for everyone else in the world, these things have all been a reminder about what is precious to them.'

Simon may have once branded marriage 'boring', but according to a new report, it was during lockdown that something shifted with Lauren.

The brunette beauty is said to have urged him to commit to their family life and 'prioritise the present' instead of spending time with his famous exes.

A friend told The Sun that 'no one is more shocked about the change in Simon these past few years than Simon', yet was told by Lauren that she needed a 'commitment to family life'.

They explained: 'Not surprisingly, she didn't appreciate Simon hanging out and holidaying with his harem of exes, particularly Sinitta who was forever lurking in the shadows.

'Simon was told in no uncertain terms that it was him or his exes  Sinitta, Terri Seymour and Jackie St Clair  and, wisely, chose to prioritise his present and future, not his past.'

Read the full Tony Cowell column in Best magazine, on sale from today.
Vicky McClure has said she wanted to make a statement that 'you don't really need make-up' while playing her character in new drama Trigger Point.

The Line Of Duty actress, 38, explained how she ditched make-up and an 'actual bra' to make the point that her character 'didn't make a big deal about the way she looks'.

Vicky has once again joined forces with director Jed Mercurio in the ITV drama where she plays bomb disposal expert, Lana 'Wash' Washington.

Role model: Vicky McClure has said she wanted to make a statement that 'you don't really need make-up' while playing her character in new drama Trigger Point

Discussing her character Lana, who didn't wear any make-up in the series, Vicky told Radio Times: 'I wore a crop top instead of an actual bra. I didn't want the character to make a big deal about the way she looks. She is real and human.'

When asked why she did this, Vicky said: 'Well, I do feel a slight sense of responsibility. There is so much pressure on people, especially via social media. I would like to put some kind of message out there, showing people that you don't really need make-up.

'I think it's important to strip things back and be comfortable. I mean, my body isn't fully toned; people will see the real Vicky, as well as Lana. I'm not hiding anything.'

Radio Times: The Line Of Duty actress, 38, explained how she ditched make-up and an 'actual bra' to make the point that her character 'didn't make a big deal about the way she looks'

Vicky said this is something that she wants to bring to her characters, giving them a sense of relatability and realism.

She said: 'I enjoy making characters I can relate to, and which I can bring authenticity to. My favourite way of acting is reacting.

'So playing around with dialogue is important, making sure it's authentic; if I'm working with writers who are collaborative they will help me feel it is. Actors are creatives, and artists, with their own methods.'

Vicky has become a household name in recent years thanks to her role as Kate Flemming in hit police drama Line Of Duty.

She first rose to prominence after playing Lol in Meadows's 2006 film This Is England and the subsequent 2010 Channel 4 mini-series This Is England 86, written by Meadows and Jack Thorne.

Before that Vicky worked in retail and in an office for eight years as she followed her dream of becoming an actor.

Discussing her past CV, Vicky said: '[I worked at] H Samuel, Boots, Dorothy Perkins. Then an office for eight years.

Role: Vicky has once again joined forces with director Jed Mercurio in the ITV drama where she plays bomb disposal expert, Lana 'Wash' Washington (pictured in 2019)

'You do have to have some funds and that's why I worked, so I could afford to get to London. I would have to take a day unpaid off work and go to London for auditions.'

The interview comes after Vicky hinted at a possible return for Line Of Duty, despite AC-12 finally discovering the identity of criminal mastermind H during its series six finale.

Viewers of the hugely popular crime drama were divided after hapless Detective Superintendent Ian Buckells was unmasked as the corrupt senior officer, prompting speculation that he could be taking the fall for a more astute member of the underworld.

Vicky admitted she would be open to reprising her role as straight-talking the Detective Inspector, should show creator Mercurio opt to produce a seventh series.

Discussing her character Lana, who didn't wear any make-up in the series, Vicky told Radio Times: 'I wore a crop top instead of an actual bra'

She told The Guardian: 'I don't know! I don't know, there's no word of it. I think we've all been really honest and said should that happen, we're all game.

'I'll just stick with the guys. I think when it comes to a close, it will be a natural close for us all.'

The police procedural about a fictional anti-corruption unit has become one of the most popular shows on television since its launch in 2012, turning principal actors Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar and McClure into households names.

Sources recently claimed a seventh series is definitely on the cards, but won't be happening at any point in the near future.
She shed a whopping 35kg (5.5 stone) during her 'Year of Health' in 2022.

And it seems Rebel Wilson is continuing her weight loss journey into 2022, after photos surfaced of the comedian, 41, looking slimmer than ever this week.

The Australian actress appeared decidedly svelte in a gallery of photos as she posed alongside Bachelor stars Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne after appearing on their new KIIS FM radio show.

Has she lost even MORE weight? Rebel Wilson, 41, (centre) looked slimmer than ever as she posed with Bachelor stars Laura Byrne (right) and Brittany Hockley (left) while appearing on their KIIS FM radio show this week

Pulling a teethy grin, Rebel swathed her slender silhouette in a baggy button-up shirt by Burberry, worth around $1,600.

She paired her designer top with blue skinny jeans and a simple silver necklace.

In her caption, Brittany heaped praise on the blonde, branding the star a 'powerhouse'.

Svelte: Pulling a teethy grin, Rebel swathed her slender silhouette in a baggy button-up shirt by Burberry, worth around $1,600

'We have absolute powerhouse, good friend and just all round good human @rebelwilson joining us for a very unfiltered, raw and funny chat': In her caption, Brittany heaped praise on the blonde, branding the star a 'powerhouse

'You guys asked for it! Super pumped to bring you guys this episode today! We have absolute powerhouse, good friend and just all round good human @rebelwilson joining us for a very unfiltered, raw and funny chat (she tells stories youre going to want to hear),' the brunette cooed.

'Not only is Rebs a successful actress but shes also a writer, producer, director, lawyer, philanthropist and was just included in BBCs 100 women of 2021. Wondering what the woman cant do? Same,' she added.

It comes after Rebel revealed that walking - rather than doing endless high intensity workouts - was the secret to her incredible weight loss.

Secret weight loss weapon: It comes after Rebel revealed that walking - rather than doing endless high intensity workouts - was the secret to her incredible weight loss. Rebel is pictured left in March 2011 before weight loss and right in January 2020 after shedding over five stone

In an interview for Apple Fitness+, Rebel said a doctor at a health retreat had advised her to take up walking, insisting it was the 'best way' for her to shed the kilos.

'The doctor said to me, "Rebel, the best way for you to lose unwanted body fat is just simply walking",' she explained.

'Doesn't have to be high-intensity, doesn't have to be uphill, just moderate walking an hour a day. And if you can do that, for you, for your body type, it's, like, the best way to lose unwanted body fat.'

Walking it off! In an interview for Apple Fitness+ , Rebel said a doctor at a health retreat had advised her to take up walking, insisting it was the 'best way' for her to shed the kilos

Losing it: 'The doctor said to me, "Rebel, the best way for you to lose unwanted body fat is just simply walking",' she explained. Rebel is pictured left in March 2019 before weight loss, and right in December 2021 after losing 35kg

Rebel made headlines around the world after declaring 2020 her 'Year of Health', and has since lost around 35kgs.

In May, the Fat Pizza star candidly admitted to feeling 'sad' that she'd waited until the age of 40 to embrace a healthier lifestyle.

'Now that I know I can do it, sometimes I feel sad that I didn't do it earlier,' she told InStyle.

Changes: Rebel made headlines around the world after declaring 2020 her 'Year of Health', and has since lost around 35kgs. Rebel is pictured left in May 2018 before her weight loss, and right in July 2021 after losing over 30kg

Admitting she's always been 'a bit of a late developer,' Rebel said she wished she 'tried when I was 30, not 40.'

'But everybody's journey is different, and it's not a race or competition.'

'I have a natural empathy for anyone who struggles with weight issues because that's something I've always struggled with.'

Rebel said that 'anyone can go on walks and drink more water and do little, consistent things that'll improve their lives,' - and it's never too late to start.
Kanye West's new muse Julia Fox replicated an iconic Matrix-inspired look, recently worn by Kim Kardashian, while celebrating her son's birthday.

As she continues to take style advice from her 44-year-old rapper beau, the Uncut Gems star was the spitting image of his estranged wife as she dined at Lucien in Manhattan's East Village on Sunday.

While out with her little boy Valentino and friends, the actress wore a long black leather coat, matching pants, gloves and a tiny pair of sunglasses.

Looks familiar? Kanye West's new muse Julia Fox replicated an iconic Matrix-inspired look, recently worn by Kim Kardashian, while celebrating her son's birthday

The outfit may look familiar to many Keeping Up With The Kardashians fans, since Kim posted photos of herself in a very similar ensemble last month.

Despite turning heads as the KKW Beauty founder's doppelganger, Fox, 31, appeared focusing on creating a memorable party for her one-year-old.

Her ex, Peter Artemiev, was present during the celebration and even posed for pictures with the Italian-American filmmaker as she held onto their tot.

The inspiration: The outfit may look familiar to many Keeping Up With The Kardashians fans, since Kim posted photos of herself in a very similar ensemble last month on Instagram (seen above)

Coparents: Her ex, Peter Artemiev (pictured), was present during the celebration and even posed for pictures with the Italian-American filmmaker as she held onto their tot

Mom and dad: Artemiev, who was married to the model from 20182021, rocked a green button-down, gold watch, black pants and coordinating loafers with gold tips

Forgiven: The former couple appeared cordial with each other, just days after Fox apologized for calling the pilot a 'deadbeat' and an 'alcoholic'

Artemiev, who was married to the model from 20182021, rocked a green button-down, gold watch, black pants and coordinating loafers with gold tips.

West's girlfriend arrived to the French bistro toting a bag from Party City and a number of a bunch of colorful balloons.

The former couple appeared cordial with each other, just two days after Fox apologized for calling the pilot a 'deadbeat' and an 'alcoholic.'

Nailed it: Fox seems to be channeling Carrie Moss from The Matrix

Working it! As she continues to take style advice from her 44-year-old rapper beau, the Uncut Gems star was the spitting image of his estranged wife as she dined at Lucien in Manhattan's East Village on Sunday

Doting mom: West's girlfriend arrived to the French bistro toting a bag from Party City and a number of a bunch of colorful balloons

To mark her little one's special day, Fox shared a sweet birthday tribute to Valentino.

'My beautiful baby is 1 today!! Thank you so much for showing me what love is. Thank you for humbling me and teaching me patience and hard work,' she captioned her slideshow.

She continued: 'Thank you for being my biggest blessing. My greatest accomplishment. My masterpiece. I dont deserve you but somehow were here and I promise to love you unconditionally and accept you for who you are .'

Decorating: Fox made the party special by tying red and white polka-dot balloons to chairs outside

Proud mama: To mark her little one's special day, Fox shared a sweet birthday tribute to Valentino

'My beautiful baby is 1 today!! Thank you so much for showing me what love is. Thank you for humbling me and teaching me patience and hard work,' she captioned her slideshow

She continued: 'Thank you for being my biggest blessing. My greatest accomplishment. My masterpiece. I dont deserve you but somehow were here and I promise to love you unconditionally and accept you for who you are '

Among the cute photos was a video of her son with covered with lipstick kisses and a past Halloween, in which she was Princess Leia and Valentino as Yoda.

Additionally, she uploaded photographs from inside the party, including a closeup of her infant enjoying a custom Alice in Wonderland cake, designed by Michelle Martinez.

The parents seemed to rent of the restaurant, which was filled with balloons and loved ones.

Cutie: Additionally, she uploaded photographs from inside the party, including a closeup of her infant enjoying a custom Alice in Wonderland cake, designed by Michelle Martinez

'We made this baby!!!' Fox captioned a selfie with her son and ex-husband
Jonathan Scott took to Instagram to wish his girlfriend Zooey Deschanel a happy birthday as she turned 42 Monday.

'Happy birthday to the one and only @zooeydeschanel,' the Property Brothers star, 43, said in the caption of the post, adding multiple images of the couple together. 'You make life so much better.'

The New Girl actress replied in the comment thread, 'I'm the luckiest!' with an emoji of heart eyes.

The latest: Jonathan Scott, 43, took to Instagram to wish his girlfriend Zooey Deschanel a happy birthday as she turned 42 Monday

Scott also included a Boomerang clip on his Instagram Stories of the couple holding hands while on a swing set, adding, 'Swinging into another year with this one. Happy birthday, @zooeydeschanel!'

Scott and Deschanel initially met working on Carpool Karaoke: The Series in 2019, and began dating that August.

In December, Scott said they bought a home in Los Angeles in June of 2020, in Drew + Jonathan Reveal, Scott's magazine with his twin brother Drew.

Scott and the 500 Days of Summer actress and her two children with her ex-husband, Jacob Pechenik - son Charlie Wolf, four, and daughter Elsie Otter, six - have been working on renovations to the home, he said.

Scott also included a Boomerang clip on his Instagram Stories of the couple holding hands while on a swing set

Scott and Deschanel initially met working on Carpool Karaoke: The Series in 2019, and began dating that August

Scott said of Deschanel in his Instagram post, 'You make life so much better'

In a piece for Reveal's ninth edition, Scott explained how he and Deschanel complement one another.

'Eight months into our relationship, I already knew Zooey was the yin to my yang, the PB to my J,' the Vancouver, Canada native said in the magazine, according to People. 'We were on parallel paths toward the happiness we'd been seeking our whole lives.'

Scott opened up on how he moved from Las Vegas to Deschanel's native Los Angeles, a locale he has warmed up to in time.

'What I found out very early on is that Zooey loves Los Angeles,' he said. 'Like, love-loves it. She's a native Angeleno, her parents still live in her childhood home, the whole deal.

'I recall thinking, "Okay, okay ... give me the sales pitch," skeptically, not thinking of myself as an "L.A. guy."'

The duo was seen cuddled up in a social media post Scott shared on Monday

The celeb pair was seen last October at an event in LA

Scott said the more of Los Angeles Deschanel showed him - 'the parks she went to growing up, the neighborhoods where she made memories with her closest friends' - the more he found himself 'in love with an Angeleno, and with L.A., too.'

The HGTV star said of his relationship and home: 'We have each other, and we have time - the rest of our lives together in this house. Our house. Our dream home, where we'll see the kids grow up laughing and adventuring in the yard, where we'll play host to friends and family.'

An insider told US Weekly last week that friends of the couple 'have been thinking an engagement is on the horizon for a while now, so its only a matter of time,' adding, 'Building their dream house has taken a lot of focus and energy, but they are loving the process.'
She is one of the most successful and critically-acclaimed stars in Hollywood.

And Nicole Kidman has surprised her fans by revealing she never finished high school.

Speaking to KIIS FM radio host Kyle Sandilands, in an interview which aired on Tuesday, Nicole said she only completed Year 11.

Admission: Nicole Kidman has surprised her fans by revealing she never finished high school

The Undoing star also revealed that one of her very first jobs was as an usherette at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

The admission came after shock jock Kyle, 50, said he doesn't think he had what it takes to be an actor as they discussed Nicole's new film Being the Ricardos.

'I haven't got what it takes to be an actor. I don't have the brains, I didn't even finish year 10, I can't intake all that rubbish,' he said, referring to memorising lines.

Speaking to KIIS FM radio host Kyle Sandilands, in an interview which aired on Tuesday, Nicole said she only completed Year 11. Pictured in her youth

Nicole quipped: 'I didn't finish Year 11 and I somehow got there, are we allowed to say that?'

'We got through on a wing and a prayer!' Kyle added.

Nicole went on to say that her rocker husband Keith Urban, 54, didn't even finish Year 10.

'I don't think Keith finished Year 10 either. But we shouldn't be putting that out there, it's not a good promotion,' she said with a chuckle.

Nicole went on to say that her rocker husband Keith Urban, 54, didn't even finish Year 10

Nicole described her job as an usherette as a 'good gig'.

'You got a bit of cash and you were in the theatre,' she explained.

The flamed-haired star has since gone on to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, known for her critically-acclaimed films Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge! and Australia.

Nicole attended North Sydney Girls' High School, where she met fellow actress Naomi Watts, 53.

Speaking about her bond with Nicole, Naomi previously told People magazine in 2017: 'We've gone through a lot together over a significant amount of time. That history binds you.'

'We have a strong respect and love for one another. If you hang out with us, you'll have fun. I'll promise you that.'
Hugh Jackman began the New Year in isolation after testing positive to Covid-19.

But the actor looked fitter than ever on Monday as he stepped out in New York City ahead of a matinee performance of his Broadway show The Music Man.

The 53-year-old wore black pants and a matching hooded jacket, and kept himself warm during the winter chill with a navy windbreaker.

Back to Broadway! Hugh Jackman, who recently recovered from Covid, looked fitter than ever on Monday ahead of a matinee performance of his Broadway show The Music Man

The Wolverine star also donned a black mask.

Hugh's sighting comes after he was sidelined for more than a week after testing positive for Covid-19 last year.

Upon his return to the show, he shared a positive message with fans on Instagram.

'All right, I cant tell you how good this moment feels - yes, were back, were back,' said Hugh, who plays the role of Harold Hill in the famed musical.

Stepping out: The 53-year-old wore black pants and a matching hooded jacket, and kept himself warm during the winter chill with a navy windbreaker

Optimistic outlook: Hugh's sighting comes after he was sidelined for more than a week after testing positive for Covid-19 last year. Upon his return to the show, he shared a positive message with fans on Instagram (pictured)

'It is Thursday, January 6th and we are back, going to work,' he added.

The Aussie, who tested positive for Covid-19 on December 28, apologised to fans who had tickets to see the show when he was sidelined.

'To all those people who had tickets for the last 10 days Im so sorry, I hope and pray that you have a chance to reschedule,' he said

'Im so excited to be back and to bring the show - which is pure joy and full of hope and belief and faith - back to Broadway.'

Apologies: The Aussie, who tested positive for Covid-19 on December 28, apologised to fans who had tickets to see the show when he was sidelined

The Greatest Showman actor also had kind words for his colleagues as the Broadway community suffers during the Omicron wave.

He said: 'To all the shows on Broadway, Im thinking of you all, and everybody stay safe, be kind to each other and Im looking forward to seeing you soon.'

The Music Man was among the shows that had to cancel performances due to the spike in Covid-19 cases as previews kicked off December 20.
Will Smith and his mother Caroline Bright appeared to be having a blast as they celebrated her 85th birthday.

In a video that the 53-year-old actor shared on Monday, he was seen dancing with Caroline to Whitney Houston's classic hit I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

'85 Today! Happy Bday, Mom-Mom. Lets dance our way to 100,' Will wrote in the caption of his Instagram post.

Happy Birthday! Will Smith and his mother Caroline Bright appeared to be having a blast as they celebrated her 85th birthday

In the clip, the King Richard star donned khaki trousers and a pale pink polo shirt that had a white collar and cuffs along with white sneakers.

Caroline sported an elegant white lace top that had semi-sheer 3/4 sleeves and a white midi skit embellished with black lace flower trim.

She accessorized with gold jewelry including dangly earrings, a necklace, bangle bracelets and rings.

Sweet: In a video that the 53-year-old actor shared on Monday, he was seen dancing with Caroline to Whitney Houston's classic hit I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)

The pair held hands as they swayed to the music on an outdoor patio surrounded by tables that were covered with white linen tablecloths and decorated with small floral arrangements, while the table closest to them was laden with food and drinks.

Will and Caroline sang along to the song, with the Golden Globe winner pointing at his chest when the lyrics 'with somebody who loves me' played.

Caroline clapped her hands and twirled around while onlookers cheered in the background.

Celebration: Will and Caroline sang along to the song, with the Golden Globe winner pointing at his chest when the lyrics 'with somebody who loves me' played.

Showing off their moves: Caroline clapped her hands and twirled around while onlookers cheered in the background.

Will's daughter Willow, 21, also shared a video from the celebration on her own Instagram story.

In the clip, the I Am Legend actress wore a bright green top with matching shorts as she wrapped her arms around her father and grandmother.

The trio danced and sang together as I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) came to an end.

She also shared a photo of a tender moment in which she was seen being kissed on the cheek by Caroline.

Family: Will's daughter Willow, 21, also shared a video from the celebration on her own Instagram story

Grandmother: She also shared a photo of a tender moment in which she was seen being kissed on the cheek by Caroline

Will shares Willow and son Jaden, 23, with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 50. He is also father to son Trey, 29, whom he shares with his ex-wife Sheree Zampino, 54.

A former Philadelphia school board administrator, Caroline gave birth to Will on September 25, 1968. She shared Will and his siblings Pam, Ellen and Harry with her ex-husband, Willard Carroll Smith Sr., whom she divorced in 2000.

In the memoir titled Will, which the actor released in November 2021, he admitted that he contemplated killing Willard after witnessing his father abuse his mother.

Caroline and Will discussed the abuse on an episode of his YouTube docuseries Best Shape Of My Life.

The actor also told his mother that he considered suicide, as he felt like a 'coward' because he didn't try to stop the violence despite being the oldest child.






North Korea's military fires a missile from Sunan Airport in Pyongyang, Jan. 17, the North's official Korean Central New Agency reported Jan. 18. Yonhap



North Korea said Tuesday that it conducted the test-firing of a tactical guided missile a day earlier to confirm the accuracy of the weapon system that is under production.



On Monday, South Korea's military said the North fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles eastward from the Sunan Airport in Pyongyang, marking its fourth show of force this month.






This year's Married At First Sight promises to be its sexiest season yet.

And new brides - Tamara Djordjevic, Domenica Calarco, Ella Ding and Samantha Moitzi - will certainly live up to season nine's raunchy tagline.

Tamara, 29, describes herself as self-assured, confident, direct and a force to be reckoned with.

The brides stripped bare! Married At First Sight bride Tamara Djordjevic will certainly turn up the heat in the series' later this month

The 29-year-old operations manager, who hails from the Gold Coast, has high expectations for a partner and doesn't want to have to carry her new husband.

In the lead up to the show's premiere, the blonde beauty has shared dozens of raunchy bikini photos on her Instagram page.

She proudly shows off her trim and toned figure in several skimpy two-piece ensembles.

Ready for love: The 29-year-old operations manager, who hails from the Gold Coast, has high expectations for a partner and doesn't want to have to carry her new husband

Bikini babe: Tamara is not shy when it comes to flaunting her sensational figure on social media, in a recent photo she showcased her trim and toned figure in a bright green two-piece

Meanwhile, Domenica Calarco, 28, is no stranger to turning up the heat on social media.

The Sydney-based makeup artist has posted slews of busty selfies and racy images of herself on Instagram.

Working as a makeup guru prior to the pandemic meant that she tended to live a life of luxury while attending various events looking glam head-to-toe.

Flaunting it: Domenica Calarco, 28, is no stranger to turning up the heat on social media

Looking for love: The Sydney-based makeup artist has posted slews of busty selfies and racy images of herself on Instagram

Retail assistant-turned-fashion designer Samantha Moitzi is another bride who's certainly not shy.

The 26-year-old, who hails from the Gold Coast, dabbles in modelling.

She's also stripped down to bikinis and racy outfits, showing off her 'delicate' stomach tattoo.

She's got it! Retail assistant-turned-fashion designer Samantha Moitzi is another bride who's certainly not shy

Ella Ding also has no problem leaving nothing to the imagination while posing in a bikini.

The 27-year-old beautician is adorned with tattoos.

Ella hasn't been in a relationship for nine years.

Admitting that she can be moody and impatient at times, she has in the past struggled with finding men who want to commit.

Married At First Sight returns on January 31 on Channel Nine

Summer stunner: Ella Ding, 27, also has no problem leaving nothing to the imagination while posing in a bikini for dozens of social media posts
Neve Campbell and her husband JJ Feild welcomed son Raynor, now three, via adoption back in 2018.

And on Monday, the Scream star explained to Kelly Clarkson why she felt it was important to explain to her son that he was adopted 'from the beginning.'

Appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the 48-year-old said how she believed a sooner rather than later approach is better when bringing up the subject with children who are adopted.

Telling her son the full story: Neve Campbell has always told her son she adopted him, and she said she has a really good reason for doing so (pictured 2019)

'I read a lot about it,' she said. 'I think back in the day we used to think "Keep it from them and throw it at them when they're 21 so their entire reality falls apart," which makes so much sense.'

She continued, 'Really the guidance that I had was even before they understand the language, talk about their birth mother, talk about their story. Tell them who they are.'

She said that, because she's so open with her three-year-old, it's 'no surprise for Raynor in any sense whatsoever.'

No surprise: She said that, because she's so open with her three-year-old, it's 'no surprise for Raynor in any sense whatsoever (pictured 2019)

Lots of connection: The Titanic: Blood and Steel actress went as far as asking Raynor's birth mother for a picture of herself and a letter so that her son would know where he came from (pictured 2019)

'He knows he was in Cynthia's tummy,' the Canada native said. 'She made him.'

The Craft star went as far as asking Raynor's birth mother for a picture of herself and a letter so that her son would know where he came from.

'She actually made an entire album for him of photos of herself and things about her life and things that she likes,' Campbell revealed.

Raynor is Campbell's second of two children. She and her husband JJ Feild also share a 9-year-old son named Caspian.

Staying busy: While she's certainly had her hands full recently with her family, she's also remained quite busy in her professional career

New role: On top of starring in the new Scream movie which came out earlier this month, Campbell also finished filming her part in an upcoming television series The Lincoln Lawyer

While she's certainly had her hands full recently with her family, she's also remained quite busy in her professional career.

On top of starring in the new Scream movie which came out earlier this month, Campbell also finished filming her part in an upcoming television series titled The Lincoln Lawyer.

The series, based on novel and film of the same name, follows an idealistic lawyer as he works out of the trunk of his car.

It will star The Magnificent Seven actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Becki Newton of How I Met Your Mother fame.
Ariana Debose took the time to respond to an Instagram 'troll' who took issue with her recent Saturday Night Live debut.

After the official SNL Instagram account posted her opening monologue, someone in the comments pointed out that the Broadway star made a mistake when she said, '2020 has already been an exciting year.'

'She know it's 2022 not 2020 right????' the critic wrote, to which the 30-year-old actress replied, 'You try hosting SNL, reading cue cards with slight dislexia [sic] and then get back to me brah.'

Hitting back at critics: Ariana DeBose, 30, took the time to respond to an Instagram 'troll' who took issue with a mistake she made during her recent Saturday Night Live opening monologue

The commentator didn't back down, and replied, 'Maybe get someone who isn't on level with Joe Biden at reading since that's a qualification to acting...reading lines.'

DeBose didn't take kindly to the criticism, responding, 'Cool. You're a troll. Bye.'

Though she battled some criticism, the overall response to her performance has been positive for the most part.

Not easy: 'You try hosting SNL, reading cue cards with slight dislexia [sic] and then get back to me brah,' she said to a commentator who pointed out that she got the year wrong

Writer Julissa Natzely Arce Raya stepped into the comments writing, 'I thought it was part of the joke! Because you know it's like 2020 all over again!' and adding, 'Forget the haters! You were amazing!!!!'

Meanwhile SNL veteran Kenan Thompson wrote, 'Destroyed it !!!!'

DeBose made her debut by singing a handful of West Side Story songs with Kate McKinnon.

Criticism: When the commentator didn't back down, the star responded writing: 'Cool. You're a troll. Bye.'; Pictured on SNL sketch where she portrayed a player on the Sacramento Kings

Fresh off winning her first Golden Globe on Sunday, the actress immediately got some laughs in as she joked West Side Story was 'based on another classic tale of star-crossed lovers.'

'90 Day Fiance,' she quipped, before noting she is proud to represent the Latino community both in film, television and on Broadway.

Through the duration of the show DeBose got into the role of various characters, including a player on the Sacramento Kings, a press secretary, and a professor.


Wolf Creek star Tess Haubrich is the latest to join the cast of Channel Nine's new crime drama After The Verdict.

Tess, 31, will be headlining the courtroom drama alongside Michelle Davidson, 34.

They join actors Sullivan Stapleton, Magda Szubanski and Lincoln Younes who are now filming in Sydney.

New addition: Wolf Creek's Tess Haubrich, 31, (pictured) is the latest star to join Nine's new original drama series After The Verdict

The story follows four Australians who have just completed jury duty on a high-profile murder trial.

As the characters each try to return to their normal lives, they start to question their verdict.

They then reinvestigate the murder themselves as they struggle to live with the lasting impacts of the trial.

Drama after the verdict: Pictured: L-R: Michelle Davidson, Sullivan Stapleton, Magda Szubanski and Lincoln Younes

Virginia Gay, Emma Diaz, Richard Brancatisano, Nicholas Brown, Hazem Shamma and Vivienne Awosoga are also set to star on the series.

After The Verdict was one of two dramas announced at Nine's upfronts last September, the other being Underbelly: Vanishing Act.

The news comes just days after the network released a blink-and-you'll-miss-it promo of the upcoming series.

First look: The news comes just days after the network released a blink-and-you'll-miss-it promo of the upcoming series

Fright: In the ad, Magda Szubanski can be seen screaming after she was confronted by Michelle in the dark

In the ad, Magda can be seen screaming after she was confronted by Michelle in the dark.

Another clip sees the pair in full detective mode as they visit a crime scene alongside former Home and Away star Younes.

After The Verdict will air on Channel Nine later this year
Former Married At First Sight star Mishel Karen has finally revealed the real reason behind her decision to join OnlyFans.

The 51-year-old said she was suspended without pay from her job after refusing to comply with vaccine mandates.

On top of that, the mother of two claims she has been caring for an immediate family member who has been suffering from myocarditis after getting vaccinated.

EXCLUSIVE: Married At First Sight star Mishel Karen (pictured) was forced into a hardcore porn career after being suspended from her job for refusing to comply with a vaccine mandate

'I was suspended late last year for not being vaccinated and then on my birthday they told me it would be without pay. I am appealing the decision but they seem to be headstrong,' she explained.

Mishel said she's now relying solely on her OnlyFans income to survive, adding that it has been 'extremely difficult' since her suspension.

She believes Covid vaccine mandates aren't reasonable after claiming a close family member had a suspected side effect, myocarditis.

Tough times: Mishel said she is now relying solely on her OnlyFans income to survive, adding that it has been 'extremely difficult' since her suspension

She also hopes her relative will have access to compensation as part of the government's Vaccine Claims Scheme, which offers people with confirmed Covid-19 vaccine side effects access to between $1,000 and $19,999.

Pericarditis and myocarditis have been observed in an extremely small number of people after receiving mRNA vaccines, of which Pfizer is one.

Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and serious side effects are very rare.

Mishel previously revealed she'd started her porn career to support her children.

'Being a single mum, I have never really had extra cash to do much with or to live an extravagant life, but I just don't want my children to have to struggle to pay bills or be in debt,' she told the Daily Telegraph.

Struggling: The embattled mum of two claims she has also been caring for an immediate family member who has been suffering from myocarditis after getting vaccinated

Red hot: Mishel is older than most of her contemporaries at 51, and is known for performing hardcore acts other OnlyFans models aren't prepared to do

'Whatever I must do so they can get a deposit or loan, so they can move forward, I will do that,' she added.

Mishel, who used to work as a policy trainer in the police force, recently became a grandmother after her son Sam welcomed a baby boy with his fiancee.

She's also a doting mum to daughter Eva, who featured on a few episodes of Married At First Sight and now works as a curve model in Brisbane.

'I don't want my children to struggle': Mishel previously said she'd started her porn career to support her children. (Pictured with daughter Eva, son Sam, and Sam's fiancee Chloe)

Mishel recently contracted Covid just weeks after spending the day on a porn shoot in a Gold Coast warehouse.

The former reality star documented her horrifying ordeal on Instagram.

In a short video, she was lying down on her side and mumbling that her entire body 'ached' from the effects of the virus.

'Every part of my body aches,' she said. 'My fingers ache, my back aches, my legs ache... I can feel my organs aching.'

Provider: The reality star became a grandmother last year and is working hard to ensure her family never has to struggle to make ends meet

She went on to describe the symptoms as 'not pleasant' but said that she was able to make it through without having to go to hospital.

Mishel, who has been a naturopath for thirty years, used 'natural and homemade therapies' to mitigate her symptoms.

'I am not claiming to be an expert. Even though I have been a naturopath for nearly 30 years and was raised using natural therapies,' she wrote.

'There is nothing that replaces your own beliefs and knowing of what is right for you, ultimately we already know what we need. Or you can speak to your doctor for their advice.'

Unsafe? Mishel recently contracted Covid just weeks after spending the day on a porn shoot in a Gold Coast warehouse

Mishel, a mother of two and grandmother of one, is older than most of her contemporaries at 51, and is also known for performing hardcore acts other OnlyFans models aren't prepared to do.

Speaking to The Daily Star recently, she said: 'The content that really excites my followers is videos with other participants, especially where there are sexual interactions.'

She added: 'My most requested content is oral sex.'

Tough and go: The former reality star documented her ordeal on Instagram

The voluptuous star also admitted many of the requests from fans are far from vanilla.

'I get many customer requests that are not always mainstream vanilla requests; everyone has something different that ignites their hormones,' she explained.

One extreme request involved performing an unhygienic sexual act while doing a handstand, which Mishel said she was unable to fulfil.

'I wasn't comfortable in doing it either,' she said.

'My most requested content is oral sex': The bombshell leaves nothing to the imagination on her OnlyFans account

Too far? One extreme request from her fans involved performing an unhygienic sexual act while doing a handstand, which Mishel said she was unable to fulfil

Mishel has been on OnlyFans since late 2020, but last year she transitioned into creating more explicit and hardcore content.

Subscribers are offered a variety of photos and clips of the scantily clad reality star flaunting her curves or dressed up in sexy costumes, like a maid or schoolgirl.

For those who want to take a walk on the wild side, they're able to purchase hardcore 'sex tapes' from Mishel for a higher price through her direct messages.

Most of the acts on offer are too graphic to even describe.

Back in February, Daily Mail Australia reported that Mishel had been hocking her used socks and panties on the site to the highest bidder.

Extra cash: Back in February, it was reported that Mishel had been hocking her used socks and panties on the site to the highest bidder

'The highest tipper gets to keep the dirty knickers!' she wrote on OnlyFans at the time, before later revealing the top bid was $67.

'I have kept the knickers pristine in a clip seal bag so they smell like me. I love the smell of sex. You still have a few more hours to raise the bid or put in your own request.'

Mishel shot to fame on season seven of the Channel Nine series in early 2020.

She was paired with barber Steve Burley, but their relationship proved to be a disaster and they split during the finale.
She's expecting her first child with her Made In Chelsea star husband Oliver Proudlock.

And Emma Louise Connolly was glowing as she shared a snap showing her blossoming baby bump on Monday as her partner cradled her stomach.

The model, 30, looked effortlessly stylish as always in a short black dress which she teamed with a black leather and shearling jacket.

Family: Emma Louise Connolly was glowing as she shared a snap showing her blossoming baby bump on Monday as her husband Oliver Proudlock cradled her stomach

The blonde beauty couldn't stop smiling in the cute images as Proudlock, 33, held her stomach tenderly.

Emma sweetly captioned the two new pictures posted to her Instagram grid: 'Just us three' along with a love heart emoji.

Meanwhile Oliver looked as cool as ever in a khaki padded jacket, cream beanie hat and light blue jeans.

Happy: The model, 30, looked effortlessly stylish as always in a short black dress which she teamed with a black leather and shearling jacket

Thrilled: Emma sweetly captioned the two new pictures posted to her Instagram grid: 'Just us three' along with a love heart emoji

The pair announced their pregnancy news with a sweet video which showed the moment the couple were pronounced husband and wife in 2020, before cutting to Oliver holding up a newborn jumper with the phrase 'Yeah baby!' embroidered on it.

Emma captioned the announcement clip posted on Thursday: '1 year married, 1 yeah baby on the way. We are bursting with love and gratitude for our very precious little growing gift!'

Earlier this year, Oliver revealed he and Emma only met face to face after they spent a staggering four years messaging each other.

Oliver explained that he had been in Scotland for five days to do Personal Appearances and go partying, back in his Made In Chelsea days.

Happy couple: Made In Chelsea star Oliver and model Emma married last year and will soon welcome a baby to the world

He said: 'I hadn't seen any culture and I became good mates with these guys there and they said look 'you should go and check out this art gallery called Kelvin Grove.

'So I was like "ok cool", so I went down there and I was on the ground floor and I came into the central room and there was this long catwalk.

'It was this graduate fashion show, and so I'm standing there at the front and this model walks down and it's Emma. And I'm like "oh my gosh, this chick is out of control." And we catch eyes and then after she's doing her show, doing her thing.

'I went back to my buddies and I said "guys, I saw this girl, described what she looked like, she was just insane!

'And they were like "sounds like this girl Emma Louise." So I was like "show me". So they showed me a picture and I was like "oh my god that's her." I was probably just like 'I'll probably never see her again.'

The Made In Chelsea star admitted: 'Had I not decided to go to this particular place on that day I don't think we'd be together now and I always look back on that moment.'

But, a few weeks later, when Oliver returned to Edinburgh for another PA, he saw a photograph of Emma modelling jewellery.

'I'm standing at the baggage reclaim and I look up and there's this huge billboard for this jewelry company, and it was Emma modelling this jewellery on this billboard.

'And I was like "oh my god" and it was the same guys from Glasgow who picked me up and I was like "guys I just saw her on this billboard, it's a sign. I need to get her number or find her or whatever it is." And I ended up finding her on Facebook.'

Proudlock sent a friend request, which spurred Emma to drop him a message, and their communication began.

Yay: The pair announced the news with a sweet video which showed Oliver holding up a newborn jumper with the phrase 'Yeah baby!' embroidered on it

He explained: 'We ended up talking on Facebook for, I don't know, two or three months maybe and then she was in Glasgow this time.

'I was down in London and then about a year in she moved down to London with modelling, we got each other's number.

'We then messaged for three years. But we never met, and it was a weird one. She was seeing someone at the time, nothing serious but we would just message just like harmless stuff.'

After messaging for years without ever having met, Oliver decided to go to the commonwealth games in Glasgow, after hearing that Emma would be there and knowing that they were both single.

'I was like "I have got to go." I messaged my buddies, same guys from all those years back, and I'm like "guys, I found her four years later. Guys, it's time. I need your help."'

After travelling up to Glasgow, Proudlock messaged Emma to let he know he was there.

Oliver explained that Emma made the train with about a minute to spare, running down the platform carrying numerous bags.

He admitted: 'I was just like "oh my god" I just remember that moment so well, and that was the first time we actually met, on a train journey from Glasgow to London.'

And, it appears that Emma was definitely worth the wait, because not only did their train ride lead to a date the next evening, the couple are now happily married.
Kanye West's girlfriend Julia Fox is apologizing to her ex Peter Artemiev for calling him a 'deadbeat dad' and an 'alcoholic.'

In late December - before her fame blew up after meeting Kanye - the Uncut Gems actress posted an image of private pilot Peter with the caption: 'Have you seen this deadbeat dad?'

Once her romance with the 44-year-old rapper made headlines, the post regarding her ex resurfaced, and Peter was forced to defend himself and deny the claims.

All is forgiven: Kanye West's new love interest Julia Fox publicly apologizes to her ex Peter Artemiev for calling him a 'deadbeat dad' as they reunite for son's birthday on Monday in NYC

However, the former couple were seen reuniting in New York City on Monday for their son Valentino's first birthday, and Julia has now walked back on her claims in the latest episode of her podcast Forbidden Fruits.

'All I want to say is, I'm sorry,' Fox said. 'You're not a deadbeat, I know that you're not, and I know that it wasn't that you weren't trying to see Valentino, it's that you weren't trying to see me.'

She further detailed how she was struggling over the holiday period, saying: 'Everyone had COVID. I had no help at all whatsoever, and my friend was out and saw Peter out and Peter was saying something along the lines of, "That b**** won't let me see my son." And when that was relayed to me my blood boiled. I just snapped.'

All is forgiven: Things now appear to be cordial between the pair

'My beautiful baby is 1 today!! Thank you so much for showing me what love is. Thank you for humbling me and teaching me patience and hard work.'

'Thank you for being my biggest blessing. My greatest accomplishment. My masterpiece,' she penned in a tribute.

'I dont deserve you but somehow were here and I promise to love you unconditionally and accept you for who you are '

Peter, who welcomed their son with Julia in February last year, had previously denied the allegations, calling Julia's claims 'utterly false.'

In her original post, Fox raged: 'I just dont want my son f***ed up cuz he feels like his dad was absent or loved alcohol and partying more than him ... this man left me with a 5 month old and a dog and a home and ALL THE BILLS. It's wrong!!! Its not fair!!!'

Peter denied the allegations to Page Six at the time, saying: 'I was saddened to learn of the utterly false statements made on social media by Julia Fox, my co-parent, who is clearly struggling.'

He continued: 'Out of respect for her privacy and to protect our child, I will not comment further.'

The Milan, Italy-born beauty in late December posted an image of Artemiev and wrote, 'Have you seen this deadbeat dad?'

Fox said that it was 'traumatic' for her to review the screenshots, videos and photos related to her claims about Artemiev

Meanwhile, the former couple - who were married from November 2018 to November last year - appeared cordial with each other as they posed with their son in NYC.

To mark her little one's special day, Fox shared a sweet birthday tribute to Valentino.

'My beautiful baby is 1 today!! Thank you so much for showing me what love is. Thank you for humbling me and teaching me patience and hard work,' she captioned her slideshow.

She continued: 'Thank you for being my biggest blessing. My greatest accomplishment. My masterpiece. I dont deserve you but somehow were here and I promise to love you unconditionally and accept you for who you are .'
Full House's Jodie Sweetin revealed she accepted her longtime boyfriend Mescal Wasilewski's proposal after four years of dating on Monday evening.

Just two days ahead of her 40th birthday, the Hollywood Darlings actress announced the exciting news by posting a selfie with her husband-to-be.

Still glowing after her man popped the question, the mother-of-two smiled brightly while holding her unique engagement ring up to the camera.

She said yes! Full House's Jodie Sweetin revealed she accepted her longtime boyfriend Mescal Wasilewski's proposal after four years of dating on Monday evening

'I love you Mescal, for always. You're my person. I can't wait to see the life that lies ahead for us,' she captioned the announcement.

She continued: 'Here's to us, @ghostfacelito and our life of adventures. Together,' she added. 'I think I'm really gonna like turning 40 .'

Additionally, she paired the image with Maya Angelou's quote: 'In all the world there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world there is no love for you like mine.'

Major bling: Wasilewski shared the same selfie as well as a close-up of Sweetin's latest accessory, with the caption: 'So that happened'

Congratulations: Just two days ahead of her 40th birthday, the Hollywood Darlings actress shared the exciting news by posting a selfie with her husband-to-be

Wasilewski shared the same selfie as well as a close-up of Sweetin's latest accessory, with the caption: 'So that happened'

Their friends, including Candace Cameron Bure, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Christy Carlson Romano were among the first to comment on the post.

The couple first confirmed their relationship in February 2018 and, over the past few years, Wasilewski has become a regular fixture on her social media.

This includes snaps of their fun dates hiking, attending concerts at The Hollywood Bowl, Dodgers games fun-filled vacations.

'I love you Mescal, for always. You're my person. I can't wait to see the life that lies ahead for us,' she captioned the announcement

Forever plus one: The couple first confirmed their relationship in February 2018 and, over the years, Wasilewski has made regular appearances on her Instagram account

In September, she referred to her significant other as her 'safe place', 'partner,' and 'best friend.'

'Weve made it over 4 years. Nearly 3 of them were spent thousands of miles apart. But 4 years ago, on Sep 16, we made a decision,' she wrote under a selfie of them in the desert last year.

She continued: 'That we were 100% completely in this. I wake up every day and love you even more.'

Happy in love: This includes snaps of their fun dates hiking, attending concerts at The Hollywood Bowl, Dodgers games fun-filled vacations

They had their first date at a concert date in Brooklyn, where sparks flew pretty immediately between them.

'You and I have created the kind of love I didn't think existed. Kind, honest, gentle, vulnerable, full of adventures and has no expectations of perfection. We just get to BE together. I couldn't love you more,' the beauty wrote on their three-year anniversary.

She has previously walked down the aisle three times. First with Shaun Holguin, who she was married to between 2002 to 2006, before going on to wed Cody Herpin in 2007.

Fourth times the charm: She has previously walked down the aisle three times. First with Shaun Holguin, who she was married to between 2002 to 2006, before going on to wed Cody Herpin in 2007

During their three-year marriage, she and Herpin welcomed daughter Zoie, 13.

Most recently, she tied the knot with Morty Coyle, the father of her 11-year-old little girl Beatrix, in 2012, before divorcing just four years later.

Their engagement comes just one week after the death of her costar and beloved TV dad, Bob Saget, following his passing at 65.

Mom-of-two: Most recently, she tied the knot with Morty Coyle, the father of her 11-year-old little girl Beatrix, in 2012, before divorcing just four years later

The comedian was found dead in his bed January 9 in a Ritz-Carlton hotel room in Orlando, Florida, the evening after he had performed a two-hour show Saturday at Jacksonville's Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

A private funeral was held for the late entertainer in Los Angeles Friday, which was attended by his Full House castmates John Stamos, Dave Coulier, Candace Cameron Bure, Sweeten, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen; and friends and colleagues such as Jimmy Kimmel, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and John Mayer.

His widow Kelly Rizzo said in an Instagram post Saturday: 'My sweet husband. After much reflection this week, Im trying, really trying, to not think I was robbed of time. But instead to think: How lucky was I that I got to be the one to be married to THE MOST INCREDIBLE MAN ON EARTH.'
Alessandra Ambrosio showed off her pert cleavage in a low-cut bra and matching leggings while heading to Pilates on Monday.

The 40-year-old runway regular was fashionable in the coordinating set and a shrunken white jacket as she walked through West Hollywood.

The mom-of-two threw her hair up into a messy topknot secured with a light-colored scrunchie.

Hot! Alessandra Ambrosio showed off her pert cleavage in a low-cut bra and matching leggings while heading to pilates on Monday

The former Victoria's Secret angel strutted in a pair of white sneakers and a hot pink face mask.

She wore multiple bracelets between both wrists but skipped earrings and a necklace.

The fit beauty held her phone in her hand and walked with a tan handbag that boasted a chain strap over her forearm.

Stylish: The 40-year-old runway regular was fashionable in a coordinating set and shrunken white jacket as she walked through West Hollywood

Also on Monday, the CAA-repped stunner took to Instagram to share a series of images by friend and photographer Stewart Shining.

The two collaboratively released a photography book called Alessandra by Stewart Shining in October.

'In a b&w mood,' she said, adding white and black heart emojis for the set of black and white captures.

Life moments: Days ago Ambrosio appeared on Instagram to share outtakes from her trip to Floripa with her 10.7 million followers

The supermodel is quickly getting reacquainted with life in Los Angeles since returning from a weeks-long trip to her native Brazil.

She was seen out for lunch over the weekend with beau and fellow model Richard Lee.

Before landing back in the states Ambrosio appeared on Instagram to share outtakes from her trip to Floripa with her 10.7 million followers.

She stunned in striking photos taken on the beach with the ocean and a blue sky as her backdrop.

Wow! She stunned in striking photos taken on the beach with the ocean and a blue sky as her backdrop

She flaunted her fabulous shape in a tiny tie-dye bikini before taking a flight back to Southern California.

The catwalk veteran looked incredible with her hair pulled up into a fuss-free updo as the wind blew through flyaway pieces.

She modeled a pair of aviator shades and layered multiple necklaces around her neck.

The top model wrote a caption in Portuguese and the post racked up over 80,000 likes from her loyal following.
Zac Efron's new Stan film Gold is set to drop next week.

And in a new trailer for the upcoming thriller, the 34-year-old American actor looks barely recognisable after undergoing an incredible transformation for the role.

Zac plays a man, who alongside his companion, finds an oversized nugget of gold.

Zac Efron as you've never seen him before! Actor, 34, undergoes a WILD transformation for new Stan film Gold

But he battles the harsh desert wilderness in his quest to keep their find safe.

Zac can be seen with scruffy hair, a bushy beard and incredible makeup, including fake cuts, bruises, fake blood and blistered skin.

He can also be seen covered in dirt after battling the elements.

New role: Zac new Stan film Gold is set to drop next week. Zac plays a man, who alongside his companion, finds an oversized nugget of gold who tries desperately to protect it

In the film, Zac's character starts to experience paranoia as he protects the gold and runs into a mysterious woman, played by Susie Porter.

Following the release of the trailer, Daily Mail Australia noted that 'Zac Efrons performance is extraordinary', and nothing quite like what he's done before.

Gold was filmed in South Australia in the Flinders Rangers and Leigh Creek and began filming in late 2020.

Zac spent over a year in Australia escaping Covid-ravaged America.

In character: Zac can be seen with scruffy hair, a bushy beard and incredible makeup including fake cuts, bruises, fake blood and blistered skin. He can also be seen covered in dirt after battling the elements

New gig: In the film, Zac's character starts to experience paranoia as he protects the gold and runs into a mysterious woman. played by Susie Porter

While Down Under, he was based in the celebrity hot spot Byron Bay and dated local influencer and model Vanessa Valladares, 26, but they have since split.

They are believed to have first met in June 2020, when Vanessa was waiting tables at the Byron Bay General Store cafe.

He also shot scenes for his Netflix docuseries Down to Earth in Australia.

Watch the Stan Original film Gold, on Stan later this month.




People watch a TV screen at a train station in Seoul, Jan. 17, showing a news program using a file image to report about a North Korean missile launch. AP-Yonhap



Grappling with pandemic difficulties and U.S.-led sanctions over his nuclear ambitions, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could be reviving his 2017 playbook of nuclear and missile brinkmanship to wrest concessions from Washington and his neighbors.



North Korea's short-range missile launches Monday were its fourth round of missile tests this month and signaled a refusal to be ignored by the Biden administration, which has focused more on confronting bigger adversaries such as China and Russia.



The tests could also reflect a growing urgency in its need for outside relief after its economy has decayed further under the severe sanctions and two years of pandemic border closures, according to experts.



The two missiles launched Monday from near the capital, Pyongyang, followed a resumption of railroad freight traffic with China that had been suspended over pandemic concerns, in what is likely a desperate attempt to revive the moribund economy.



Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Monday that trade between Dandong in China and Sinuiju in North Korea will be resumed while pandemic controls stay in place.



While North Korea is likely to continue showcasing its weapons in the coming weeks, it could keep things relatively quiet before the opening of the February Winter Olympics in China, its main ally and economic lifeline, launching known short-range missiles rather than more provocative ones.



But it could dramatically raise the ante once the Beijing Games end. Du Hyeogn Cha, an analyst at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said Kim could resume testing nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles.



Kim suspended nuclear and ICBM tests in 2018 while engaging in talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. But this tentative diplomacy remains derailed since their second summit in 2019, when the Americans rejected North Korea's demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.



North Korea in recent months has ramped up tests of short-range missiles designed to defeat missile defenses in the region.



Its leaders may think it needs to stage more provocative tests to move the needle with the Biden administration, which has offered open-ended talks but has shown no willingness to ease sanctions unless Kim takes real steps to abandon his nuclear weapons program.



It's unclear whether nuclear or ICBM tests would extract a compromise from Washington, which is more likely to respond with further sanctions and military pressure, possibly including a resumption of major military exercises with South Korea, Cha said.









Nam Sung-wook, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Korea University, said a nuclear test is more likely than an ICBM test because it would send a greater level of shock. The North may use that test to claim it has acquired an ability to produce a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on its purported hypersonic missile, which it allegedly first tested in September.



Nam said North Korea would time the test to maximize its political effect, with South Korean presidential elections scheduled in March and President Joe Biden facing crucial midterm elections in November. North Korea conducted its sixth and last test of a nuclear explosive device in September 2017.



''In Pyongyang's mind, there is no other way to grab Washington's attention than a major provocation,'' Nam said.





Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, attends a meeting with Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of Vietnam's National Assembly, at the National Assembly in Hanoi, March 1, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap
Criss Angel announced that his young son Johnny Crisstopher was in remission from cancer on Monday on social media.

The 54-year-old magician shared the news with his followers on YouTube and Instagram while also promoting a short film documenting seven-year-old Johnny's journey.

Criss, real name Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos, posted that Johnny on Monday will 'finally ring the bell symbolizing his remission and the end of his treatment!'

In remission: Criss Angel announced that his son Johnny Crisstopher was in remission from cancer on Monday on social media

He added in all capital letters that no network or streaming platform would air the '1095' short film due to the subject matter and added 'but this is real life!'

'I'm asking from my heart to yours if you would kindly share this link on your social media platforms - whether you love me or hate me - so that we can raise awareness and money to help kids battling for their lives right now,' he concluded.

The 13-minute short film opened with clips of Criss performing as he said, 'Magic is everywhere. People don't realize it. Magic is life and life is magic. We just take it for granted'.

The title '1095' was then shown as Criss was seen holding Johnny in a hospital bed as monitors beeped in the background.

Cancer journey: The 54-year-old magician shared the news with his followers on YouTube and Instagram while also promoting a short film documenting seven-year-old Johnny's journey

Film title: The 13-minute film titled 1095 was promoted by the magician on social media

In hospital: Criss was shown holding Johnny in a hospital bed as monitors beeped in the background

A note to viewers said that Johnny Crisstopher in 2015 was diagnosed with cancer.

'I thought it happened to the other person, not to you,' Criss said in a confessional.

His wife Shaunyl Benson was seen at the hospital with Johnny as a nurse with a puppet drew blood from the boy.

Pediatric cancer: A note to viewers said that Johnny Crisstopher in 2015 was diagnosed with cancer

Other person: 'I thought it happened to the other person, not to you,' Criss said in a confessional

Criss and Shaunyl got emotional while talking about the chemotherapy that Johnny had been undergoing for five years.

'Ten percent of kids that go through the treatment they don't even make it, not because of the cancer, but because of the types of medicines they have to put in their bodies. Ten percent lose their lives,' Criss said.

'They say the kids with bald heads are the bravest kids of all,' said Shaunyl who encouraged people to interact with childhood cancer patients.

Getting emotional: Shaunyl Benson got emotional while talking about the chemotherapy that Johnny has been undergoing for five years

'It's okay to have that conversation, it's okay to say, ''I feel you'',' Shaunyl said.

Dr. Alan Ikeda, who is Johnny's doctor, said the public needs to be aware of the scope of childhood cancer.

A message to viewers then said that 'Over 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in the United States.'

Raising awareness: Dr. Alan Ikeda, who is Johnny's doctor, said the public needs to be aware of the scope of childhood cancer

Chilling statistic: A message to viewers then said that 'Over 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in the United States'

The short film got its title from the 1,095 chemotherapy sessions needed to treat Johnny's type of B-Cell A.L.L. Leukemia.

Johnny after three years completed his final day of treatment in December, 2019, and Criss held Johnny while thanking his supporters, but less than a year later Johnny's cancer returned.

Shaunyl and Criss after the remission fought back tears while talking about Johnny's cancer battle while clips showed their upbeat son.

Multiple sessions: The short film got its title from the 1,095 chemotherapy sessions needed to treat Johnny's type of B-Cell A.L.L. Leukemia

Remission nightmare: Shaunyl fought back tears while talking about her son's cancer battle while clips showed Johnny staying upbeat

A month later, Las Vegas was locked down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Criss said he was determined to raise awareness about childhood cancer and vowed to raise 'hundreds of millions of dollars' to fight childhood cancer.

The video ended with Criss saying he wanted to be a voice for the children and to help their families.

New mission: Criss said he was determined to raise awareness about childhood cancer and vowed to raise 'hundreds of millions of dollars' to fight childhood cancer

'Let them know that they are not alone, you know what I mean. There is magic in the world and that magic is love,' Criss said.

'While you watched this short film, 7 children were diagnosed with cancer,' the short film concluded.

Viewers were encouraged to visit CrissAngelHELP.com for more information.

Criss and Shaunyl also have two-year-old son Yanni and 10-week-old daughter Illusia Angelina together.
Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok is set to join rival soap Neighbours.

And the 38-year-old actress updated fans on her role in a series of Instagram Stories on Tuesday.

In one post, Tammin shared a sneak peek from her wardrobe test.

New role: Tammin Sursok (pictured) updated her fans on her new Neighbours role in a series of Instagram Stories on Tuesday

The South African-born star also shared an image of the cover page of a script, describing Neighbours as 'a little gig before my next show'.

Then in a video, she said the role would take 'a month or so' to shoot, and said she was just leaving a hair and wardrobe test.

She later shared a mirror selfie wearing a white blouse and tight, black pants with strappy heels.

She captioned the post: 'Obsessed with this character. So much fun'.

Back to work: In a video, she said the role would take 'a month or so' to shoot, and said she was just leaving a hair and wardrobe test

'Obsessed': She later shared a mirror selfie wearing a white blouse and tight, black pants with strappy heels

The write stuff: The South African-born star shared an image of the cover page of a script, describing Neighbours as 'a little gig before my next show'

Last week Daily Mail Australia broke the news that Sursok had quietly joined the cast of Neighbours 18 years after departing rival soap opera Home And Away.

According to a well-placed industry insider, the Australian actress is set to join the long-running Channel 10 program in a cameo role, and will begin filming in Melbourne soon.

Tammin will temporarily relocate to Melbourne from her home in Queensland as she completes her six-week filming schedule, which is due to wrap in March.

Welcome to Ramsay Street! Last week Daily Mail Australia broke the news that Sursok had quietly joined the cast of Neighbours 18 years after departing rival soap opera Home And Away

While the star has yet to formally announce her new role, she's made no secret of her travel plans to Melbourne.

This week, Tammin revealed on Instagram that she was preparing to embark upon a 17-hour road trip from Queensland to Melbourne with her film producer husband Sean McEwen, and their daughters Phoenix, eight, and Lennon, two.

Choosing not to explain the reason for their trip, Tammin simply told fans on Instagram: 'We have a road trip soon and I'm pretty excited'.

Back to her roots! Tammin is no stranger to the world of soap acting, having portrayed Dani Sutherland on Home And Away from 2000 to 2004 before moving to the US to make it big in Hollywood. Tammin is pictured on Home And Away

Cameo role: According to a well-placed industry insider, Tammin will temporarily relocate to Melbourne her home in Queensland as she completes her six-week filming schedule, which is due to wrap in March

'We have a road trip soon and I'm pretty excited': While the star has yet to formally announce her new role, she's made no secret of her travel plans to Melbourne

It is believed Tammin will spend some time in Melbourne with her family, before Sean drives back to Queensland with the kids ahead of their first day of school.

Tammin is no stranger to the world of soap acting, having portrayed Dani Sutherland on Home And Away from 2000 to 2004 before moving to the US to make it big in Hollywood.

She has previously credited the beloved Australia series for her big break in the industry.

After relocating to LA, the actress nabbed the role of Colleen Carlton on The Young and The Restless, starring on the soap between 2007 and 2009. She also famously portrayed Jenna Marshall on Pretty Little Liars. Tammin is pictured in Pretty Little Liars

After relocating to LA, the actress nabbed the role of Colleen Carlton on The Young and The Restless, starring on the soap between 2007 and 2009.

She also famously portrayed Jenna Marshall on Pretty Little Liars.

Tammin finally returned to Australia with her family in June last year.

Home: Tammin returned to Australia last year after living in LA with her husband, film producer Sean McEwen, and their daughters, Phoenix, seven, and Lennon, two, for years

In May, the star admitted that she would happily return to Home And Away for a temporary role, telling New Idea magazine: 'I would do a cameo for the fans for sure'.

'It's where I started and what gave me everything in my career  if it wasn't for that show I don't know where my life would've gone,' she said.

'I'm very grateful for the experience and the opportunity and so I would definitely do a cameo.'
Influencer Kurt Coleman has lashed out at an Australian pop culture Twitter account.

The Instagram favourite, 24, was outraged on Tuesday when the @AusCrave account described him as a 'former Gold Coast micro influencer'.

'Babe I started the whole entire [influencer] industry in australia,' Coleman objected in an Instagram post.

Hurt: Influencer Kurt Coleman (pictured) has lashed out at an Australian pop culture Twitter account after they described him as a 'former Gold Coast micro influencer'

In a lengthy caption accompanying the post, Kurt wrote, 'there was NO ONE known through social media for purely being themselves in Australia before me'.

'Only after me could anyone make a name for themselves by themselves through the internet,' he claimed.

'I went through so much abuse and hardship for all these people to have a career today'.

Bold claims: 'Babe I started the whole entire [influencer] industry in Australia,' Coleman objected in an Instagram post

Infamy: Kurt first rose to fame in 2016 on social media as a teenager thanks to his very confident social media posts and currently boasts 107,000 Instagram followers

Kurt first rose to fame in 2016 on social media as a teenager thanks to his very confident social media posts and currently boasts 107,000 Instagram followers.

The latest rant comes after Coleman lashed out at Instagram earlier this month, describing the platform as 'sick-minded' in a lengthy rant about 'censorship'.

'If everything I think or say is gonna get censored, like, can someone just tell me a new app [to use instead]?' he said in a shirtless video.

Hysteria: Coleman recently lashed out at Instagram, describing the Facebook-owned social media platform as 'sick-minded' in a lengthy rant

Coleman had previously suggested he'd been 'shadowbanned' by Instagram for sharing questionable content related to Covid.

Shadowbanning refers to the act of hiding or restricting a user's content without informing the user that it's happening.

One of the social media personality's followers suggested the action had been taken because Kurt had posted 'anti Covid' content.

'I will be leaving these apps if there is a better app,' said Coleman.

He then went on to 'agree 1000 per cent' with a fan's hysterical comment that the level of control held by Instagram was 'scary' and that 'it doesn't feel like we're living anymore'.

Paranoia: Coleman had previously suggested he'd been 'shadowbanned' by Instagram for sharing questionable content related to Covid
Steve Harvey opens up about his thoughts on stepdaughter Lori Harvey's relationship with actor Michael B. Jordan on Tuesday's edition of Ellen.

Harvey, who turned 65 on Monday, was asked by host Ellen DeGeneres if Jordan spent Christmas with the Harvey family, which he did.

DeGeneres shared an image of Lori, 25, sitting on the lap of the A-list actor, 34, adding, 'Look at that, thats happening in front of you?'

The latest: Steve Harvey, 65, opens up about his thoughts on stepdaughter Lori Harvey's relationship with actor Michael B. Jordan, 34, on Tuesday's edition of Ellen

Harvey responded, 'Ive never seen that picture before ... I'm very uncomfortable with that picture right now, not really feeling that picture.'

The couple confirmed their romance on Instagram a year ago, as Harvey shared that 2021 marked the Black Panther star's 'second Christmas with' the family.

DeGeneres asked Harvey if Jordan is 'a good gift giver,' to which Harvey responded, 'Hell yeah, thats why I like him!'

The TV stalwart, who was on to promote his new show Judge Steve Harvey, said Jordan 'comes through with some "Impress the family gifts,"' noting that he gifted him with a scarce treasure this past holiday season.

Ellen DeGeneres shared an image of Lori, 25, sitting on the lap of the A-list actor, 34, adding, 'Look at that, thats happening in front of you?'

Harvey responded, 'Ive never seen that picture before ... I'm very uncomfortable with that picture right now, not really feeling that picture'

The couple confirmed their romance on Instagram a year ago, as Harvey shared that 2021 marked the Black Panther star's 'second Christmas with' his family

'He bought me this big 100 cigar box with the most hard-to-get cigars - 100 of them in this big box - and gave that to me,' he said.

The Family Feud host said Jordan presented his wife with a deluxe set of skis.

'Who do that? Only way you give your potential mother-in-law some skis is if you want her to be your mother-in-law!' Harvey joked.

Harvey joked of Jordan, 'I cant whoop him but if he ever turn around Im gonna knock his a** out'

The TV stalwart was on to promote his new show Judge Steve Harvey,

Harvey said he was supportive of Jordan - and protective of Lori.

'I dont know man, Im pulling for him because hes a really good guy, comes from a good family, so Im kind of pulling for him,' he said. 'But at the same time, I got my eye on him.'

Harvey joked, 'I cant whoop him but if he ever turn around Im gonna knock his a** out,' adding he was 'impressed' by Jordan's tenacity in his workouts.

Judge Steve Harvey can be seen on ABC Tuesdays at 8/7c.
Celebrities have publicly backed a woman who issued a heartbreaking plea on Instagram begging Victorian Premier Dan Andrews to reverse a ban on IVF.

On January 6, elective surgery in Victoria was reduced to only urgent procedures to combat the rise of Omicron, and IVF falls under that category.

Aussie stars including Laura Byrne, Angie Kent and Rebecca Maddern have rallied behind Victorian woman Melanie Swieconek, 45, who went viral on Tuesday with a tearful video begging Andrews to reconsider the ban, which has now been reversed.

Support: Stars have publicly backed Victorian woman Melanie Swieconek, 45, (pictured) who issued a heartbreaking plea on Instagram begging Premier Dan Andrews to reverse an IVF ban

'IVF is one of the toughest things you will ever do,' commented Maddern, who said that she had 'tears streaming down her face' as she wrote it.

'It nearly broke me,' she continued. 'Truly broke me. I can't imagine what it's been like during a pandemic. This needs to change. It has to. So many rules don't make sense.'

Laura Byrne added: 'I am so sorry this is happening to you.'

Angie Kent also offered her two cents, writing, 'This is absolutely heartbreaking. Once again women being made to feel less than.

'I am so sorry this is happening to you': Laura Byrne (pictured) was one of the famous faces to reach out

'If the shoe was on the other foot this would never ever be something that would happen,' she continued.

'This hurts my heart!' added Below Deck Mediterranean star Katie Flood.

'I am so sorry for you and anyone else going through this! I have shared in my story for more awareness. Sending so much love.'

Tough: 'IVF is one of the toughest things you will ever do,' commented Rebecca Maddern (pictured), who said that she had 'tears streaming down her face' as she wrote it

In some good news, the Victorian Government has now been forced into a major backflip on suspending IVF procedures after it was accused of ripping women's 'last string of hope'.

A ban on non-urgent elective surgery was imposed on January 6 to help free up the state's hospital resources as Omicron cases continue to surge in the state.

Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters IVF clinics would be contacted by authorities to cancel their upcoming appointments with patients.

But the 90-day ban triggered backlash from couples trying to conceive, with one AFL wife accusing the government of ripping women's 'last string of hope'.

Maddison Sullivan-Hunter, the wife of Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter who had a long battle to conceive a child, argued IVF treatment was not a choice.

Opinions: Angie Kent (pictured) also offered her two cents, writing, 'This is absolutely heartbreaking. Once again women being made to feel less than'

'This is not elective. This is heartache, this is life changing trauma that leaves you irretrievably broken,' she wrote on Instagram alongside an image of needles and fertility drugs.

'This is a beast that makes you resent your body, leaves your relationship hanging by a thread, fractures friendships and leaves you feeling achingly alone and filled with a whole new world of loathing every time you feel self pity upon hearing of someone else's joys.

'No one wants to do this, this is no one's first choice - this will forever be a last resort and now you have gone and ripped the last string of hope so many women and couples cling so desperately onto.'
Liev Schreiber and his Ray Donovan co-star Jon Voight don't talk politics.

The Ray Donovan star, 54, speaking with TV Line on Monday, said that he and the conservative actor, 83, made a pact not to discuss political events while working together on the Showtime drama.

'Jon and I made an agreement years ago to just never talk about politics,' Schreiber said. 'It's just something that we don't want in the workspace. We don't want that.'

The latest: Liev Schreiber, 54, said that he and Ray Donovan co-star Jon Voight, 83, made a pact not to discuss political events while working together on the Showtime drama. The actor was snapped last year in NYC

He continued: 'Our jobs are difficult enough as they are without all the other nonsense coming into it. So, for that brief time that we're working together, we just don't do it.'

The San Francisco native, who played the titular character on the series to Voight's Mickey Donovan, said that he's fond of the veteran actor on a personal level.

'I love Jon,' said Schreiber, who is father to sons, Sasha, 14, and Kai, 13, with ex Naomi Watts, 53. 'I would do anything for him.'

Schreiber, who shared the screen with Voight on the fixer drama for seven seasons between 2013 and 2020, had past spoken out in response to Voight's outspoken political beliefs and support of former President Donald Trump.

Schreiber shared the screen with Voight on the fixer drama for seven seasons between 2013 and 2020

Voight was awarded with the National Medal of Arts by former President Donald Trump in 2019

After Trump's infamous 'Grab them by the p****' discussion with Billy Bush on Access Hollywood went public in October of 2016, Voight took to Twitter to defend then-candidate Trump.

'I don't know of too many men who haven't expressed some sort of similar sexual terms toward women, especially in their younger years,' Voight said, to which Schreiber responded, 'Thankfully they are not running for president.'

Following the 2020 election, Voight took to Twitter to protest the results, declaring President Joe Biden's win as fraudulent.

Schreiber delivered a diplomatic response after Voight took to Twitter to protest the 2020 election results declaring President Joe Biden as fraudulent, decrying Voight's ideas while praising him personally

Schreiber responded to a defense of Trump in 2016 after the release of the Access Hollywood tape

'My fellow Americans, I stand here with all the feelings I do, disgusted with this lie that Biden has been chosen,' Voight said. 'As if we all dont know the truth. And when one tries to deceive, we know that one cant get away with it, there will be a price to pay.'

He added, 'This is now our greatest fight since the Civil War: the battle of righteousness versus Satan - yes, Satan,' adding that those on the left politically are 'evil, corrupt, and they want to tear down this nation.'

Asked for comment on Voight's statement, Schreiber delivered a diplomatic response, decrying Voight's ideas while praising him personally.

'I love Jon and always will,' Schreiber said. 'Even as he instigates violence and division.... While I may not share his views on politics or policy he will always be my brother. For me, that is the guiding principle this country was built on. More important than ever...'
Jamie Lynn Spears has shed light on navigating teen pregnancy, seeking an emancipation at 16 and being 'locked away from her sister' while she was expecting.

In 2007, Britney, 40, shaved her head while suffering from a breakdown in 2007 and was subsequently hospitalised, shortly before, Jamie, 30, found out she was expecting a baby with ex-fiance Casey Aldridge leading to her being 'locked up'.

The Zoey 101 actress has been blazing the promo trail with her upcoming memoir, leading to very public spats with her enraged sister. Her latest insights into the tell-all has seen her speak about her well-documented teen motherhood.

During Monday's episode of Call Her Daddy with Alexandra Cooper, the mother-of-two, who welcomed her first child Maddie in 2008 and her second Ivey in 2018, did not hold back as she reflected on the most challenging years of her life.

Not easy: Jamie Lynn Spears has shed light on navigating teen pregnancy, seeking an emancipation at 16 and being 'locked away from her sister' while she was expecting

When asked how 'things spiraled out of control' after telling her team that she was pregnant, Jamie Lynn said her parents became increasingly controlling.

As they attempted to monitor her every move, including when she was able to see the father of her child, the Sweet Magnolias star admitted she would lie about going to doctors' appointments to 'go meet with a lawyer.'

Before going through with being legally freed of her parents' guardianship before giving birth, the author said her mom and dad kept her locked 'away like a princess.'

Despite being ready to file the papers, Jamie Lynn and her mother Lynn reached an agreement, which allowed the then-teenager to purchase her first home.

Still, the months leading up to welcoming her daughter Maddie, now 13, were lonely as she was cut off from the world, including Britney.

When asked about Britney's reaction to finding out she had a baby by reading a copy of OK!, Jamie Lynn confessed she was shocked her parents never informed her.

Sister act: The duo pictured together at the Kids' Choice Awards in 2003

She said: 'Britney was obviously going through her own s**t, but I think I was so absorbed in my own s**t that I couldn't even think about that...

'I was so consumed with like, you know, I wanted to be around the dad.At first, that was something that, maybe, was harmful and hurtful to her, but I was hurting'.

At that point, she was confused why Britney was not with her and didn't come 'save' her.

Cooper then brought up that 'a month after' Jamie Lynn's pregnancy announcement: 'Britney is hospitalized and held for medical evaluation twice in one month.'

Jamie Lynn insists she doesn't know why as she did 'not have anything to do with that world.'

Candid: During Monday's episode of Call Her Daddy with Alexandra Cooper , the mom-of-two did not hold back as she reflected on the most difficult years of her life

'I was so burned out on myself. I was not speaking to anyone,' she answered. 'I was kind of just an afterthought, like they [her parents] didn't tell me anything.'

She continued: 'I had no idea. I feel like I saw it like the rest of the world and I was never told the details of anything that happened.'

An excerpt from her book revealed the depths of the issue, reading: 'Everyone had their own opinion about what was best for me...

''There was lots of chatter, but none of it felt right to me. [They said]: "It will kill your career. You are just too young. You don't know what you're doing. There are pills you can take. We can help you take care of this problem...

''Think about what you're doing to your family. Doesn't the family have enough to deal with? I know a doctor. There are procedures that remedy mistakes like this. You don't have to do this.''

Happier times: Jamie Spears, Bryan Spears, Jamie-Lynn Spears, Britney Spears and Lynne Spears pictured in 2003

On keeping the news secret from Britney, she went on: 'Home felt like a prison without a smartphone or connection to the outside world...

'My team believed everyone outside of the inner circle was a potential threat. They went so far as hiding my pregnancy from my sister, claiming, 'It's too risky to tell Britney about the baby'...

'I needed her more than ever and she wasn't able [to] help me in my most vulnerable time.'

On her parents' resistance for her to move in with her boyfriend, she revealed the threat of emancipation was her only option: 'My family denied my attempts to be independent and left me with no other choice than to threaten to file for emancipation with the courts...

That was then... Jamie Lynn and then-boyfriend Casey Aldridge pictured in 2007

'I spent days agonizing with my pending decision. But I followed my gut and instructed my new lawyer to go ahead and draw up the petition.' She later decided not to follow through on the petition to avoid negative press.

Back in November her sister Britney's life took a dramatic turn for the better on Friday, as a judge ended her 13-year conservatorship - opening up a whole world of opportunities.

Earlier in the interview, Jamie Lynn admitted when she was 11 she first saw signs that her sister was suffering from 'debilitating exhaustion.'

'Britney was changing in front of my eyes,' she reflected. 'I was still too young to comprehend her struggles, but I was old enough to recognize destructive behaviors, similar to our father's. Something was different with my sister,' Jamie Lynn went on.

Taking control of her life: As they attempted to monitor her every move, including when she was able to see the father of her child, the Sweet Magnolias star star admitted she would lie about going to doctors' appointments to 'go meet with a lawyer'

She admitted: 'I didn't have the courage to speak out.'

When asked about the changes in her sister's behavior, Jamie Lynn said she 'was wanting to escape us [their family] a little bit more' and was going through a 'party stage.'

Jamie Lynn also recounted a scary 'incident' when he mother hit her repeatedly with a large beaded purse with a camera inside, after she was 'mean' and acted like an 'a**hole' to her.

During the episode, Jamie Lynn discussed how her sister was 'so sad' following her split from Justin Timberlake back in 2002.

Jamie admitted she still 'cries' remembering how heartbroken her sister was over the ordeal.

'Britney was changing in front of my eyes,' she reflected. 'I was still too young to comprehend her struggles, but I was old enough to recognize destructive behaviors, similar to ours father's. Something was different with sister,' Jamie Lynn went on; seen in 2016

'I think everyone thought it was forever,' Jamie Lynn said. 'I was so sad, first off because my sister was so sad, but that, too, was the first time I saw [that] maybe I didn't know everything about the relationship.

'Perhaps they were protecting me and obviously why would they talk to me about anything.'

Jamie Lynn was only in her early teens when her big sister split up from Justin after four years together in 2002.

The Zoey 101 actress says she 'truly' does not know why the couple broke up.

But her heart went out to Britney following the release of Timberlake's breakup track Cry Me A River, which all but accused the pop star of cheating on him and included a video of a Britney lookalike reaping the consequences of infidelity.

Power couple: Jamie Lynn was only in her early teens when her big sister split up from Justin after four years together in 2002; Spears and Timberlake pictured in 2001

'I thought how heartbreaking it must have been for my sister when Cry Me a River came out,' she said. 'Don't get me wrong, like, that's a way to launch your solo career, right? That's a way to do it, but I felt really sad.

'And my sister, she wrote that song Everytime and she's beyond brilliant with anything creative and she picked that song out on the piano and she wrote it and it still makes me cry because I think about how heartbroken she was, because that was her song and that was his song.'

Last year Justin published an apology to Britney after the release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary, which explored her conservatorship. She has since been freed from the legal arrangement.

Difficult upbringing: When asked how 'things spiraled out of control' after telling her loved ones, Jamie Lynn noted her parents' behavior became increasingly controlling

'I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn or did not speak up for what was right,' he posted to Instagram.

'I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism,' he said. 'I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.'

In a teaser for a part two interview, Jamie Lynn, who has been locked in a feud with her big sister as she prepares to release her tell-all, also claimed to have a text message from Britney which clears her name.

Lots to discuss: Britney's heartbreak wasn't the only topic discussed on the upcoming interview, set to drop Monday at midnight EST

'You have a text message that clears your name from your sister. Can you pull out your phone and read that recent text from Britney,' the host asks.

Jamie Lynn then asks for her phone and carefully reads the screen before saying something off the microphone.

After a moment, she speaks into the microphone. 'She says to me,' she begins before the screen cuts to black.

'I thought how heartbreaking it must have been for my sister when Cry Me a River came out,' Spears said of the track

Rift: The actress has been feuding with her sister as she prepares to release her memoir Things I Should Have Said, which contains shocking claims about Britney

The actress' sister has vocally disapproved of Jamie Lynn's upcoming memoir Things I Should Have Said, which contains shocking claims about her.

The claims Jamie made in the book include allegations Britney once locked them in a room together while holding a knife - claims the pop star has denied.

Jamie Lynn made the claims in her new book, where she describes her sister's behavior as 'erratic, paranoid and, spiraling.'

Hitting back via Twitter on Thursday, Britney wrote: 'Jamie Lynn .. congrats babe! You've stooped to a whole new level of LOW .. I've never been around you ever with a knife or would I ever even think to do such !!!'

'The only knife I ever saw you with at home was cutting the biggest pieces of squash I ever saw in my life and it was way too big for me to cut... So please please stop with these crazy lies for the Hollywood books !!!'

'NOW and only NOW I do know only a scum person would make up such things about someone... I'm actually very confused about you making that up because it's honestly not like you at all !!!'

She went on: 'Around the kids ???? Jamie Lynn, seriously ??? Come on !!! Congrats on introducing your older sister the concept of getting LOW ... LOWER ... LOWEST ... because you win on that one, babe !!!'

The shocking knife claim was revealed during a conversation with Juju Chang on Wednesday's Nightline, where Jamie Lynn was asked why she included it in her memoir.

Speaking up: Britney also released a message on Twitter where she said she loved her sister 'unconditionally' and backtracked on her 'scum' remarks. She also said it was 'tacky' for a family to 'fight publicly like this'

Talking about the alleged incident further, Jamie Lynn added: 'I was scared. That was a moment I had. I also was fearful to really say anything because I didn't want to upset anybody, but I also was so upset that she didn't feel safe.'

In a separate alleged incident, Jamie Lynn claimed Britney began 'screaming' in her face, years later.

'She cursed at me and so I just walked out of the room, we're all family, I'm not trying to argue. When I tried to remove myself from the situation, that's when I guess she got really angry and my oldest daughter tried to mediate the situation. I hated that,' Jamie Lynn claimed.

'That's not what you're supposed to do, you're 12. [My parents] told me I can't upset Britney. I'm like, you saw me and my children get upset, when will that matter?'

On Saturday Jamie attempted to settle the animosity between her and Britney with a message that was shared to her Instagram Story.

Britney also released a message on Twitter where she said she loved her sister 'unconditionally' and backtracked on her 'scum' remarks. She also said it was 'tacky' for a family to 'fight publicly like this.'

She wrote in the lengthy message: 'Jamie Lynn  I don't think your book is about me at all  I said some harsh things because you obviously hurt me by the things you are making up about me !!!!

'When I said only a scum person would make up things like that about someone, I could have sworn I said 'but you're not'... but it doesn't make sense at all to me what you are saying!!!'

The forthcoming book is set to be made available to the public on January 25th.
Doting mother-of-four Cate Blanchett faced what many parents were forced to do during the pandemic - homeschooling their children.

And on Tuesday's episode of The Project, the 52-year-old actress candidly described the experience as 'traumatic' during a discussion with host Lisa Wilkinson.

Cate admitted that while her three older children would pretty much 'self-direct', attempting to teach her seven-year-old daughter Edith was a different story.

Her hardest role yet! On Tuesday's episode of The Project, actress Cat Blanchett candidly described homeschooling her seven-year-old daughter as 'traumatic' during an honest discussion with host Lisa Wilkinson

'You know, I was amazing for two weeks. I was blitzing it,' she laughed.

'And then all of a sudden my - you know, my older kids were fine, they would sort of self-direct. But I had to do my seven-year-old, and I realised that I couldn't even teach her grade one math.

'She sniffed that out after 14 days, and I was a dead duck. There was no respect there.

Trouble: 'My older kids were fine, they would sort of self-direct. But I had to do my seven year old, and I realised that I couldn't even teach her grade one math,' she said of daughter Edith. Pictured in August 2019

'I had to dress up as her teacher, I had to put on her teacher's voice, and she wouldn't start the classes until we had a full array of stuffed animals - all of which had the names of the people in her class.'

Through laughter, she added: 'It felt like some weird cross between The Muppets and MasterClass. It was quite traumatic, actually!'

The Oscar winner also said that the experience has only emphasised her respect for teachers, adding: 'I tell you - in Finland, which has the highest and most respected level of education anywhere, teachers are paid the same as doctors and lawyers.

'And they should be, because the level of skill to engage a bunch of - often disinterested - students for eight to twelve hours a day is one of the most profound, respected skills of any profession anywhere.'

Method: 'I had to dress up as her teacher, I had to put on her teacher's voice, and she wouldn't start the classes until we had a full array of stuffed animals - all of which had the names of the people in her class' she laughed

Along with little Edith, Cate also shares sons Dashiell, 20, Roman, 17, and Ignatius, 13, with husband Andrew Upton.

The actress appeared on the show to discuss her new psychological thriller, Nightmare Alley.

Director Guillermo Del Toro, the visionary director behind classics like Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape Of Water, helmed the remake of a 1940s film noir which also stars Bradley Cooper, Toni Collette, David Strathairn, Willem Dafoe, Ron 'Hellboy' Perlman and Richard Jenkins.

'As per usual, I'm drawn to work with directors and Guillermo del Toro and I had been speaking for quite a long time, and we'd almost made a limited series together and then out of the blue this came up,' Cate said.

New project: The actress appeared on the show to discuss her new psychological thriller, Nightmare Alley (pictured alongside Bradley Cooper)

Lead star Bradley Cooper plays Stanton 'Stan' Carlisle, a medium with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words.

However, he meets his match when he crosses paths with a female psychiatrist (played by Blanchett) who is even more dangerous than he is.

'I didn't even have to read the script, I just knew I wanted to be in dialogue with [del Toro],' Cat added. 'I wasn't sure what role he wanted me to play, but that was sort of immaterial.

'There's three incredible corker roles for women; Toni Collette plays one of them and Rooney Mara plays the other. We're sort of, three facets of female power that circle around Bradley Cooper's character.'
She's known for her glamourous sense of style.

And Dame Joan Collins pulled out all the stops yet again for her latest Instagram post on Monday.

The actress, 88, exuded elegance in a black figure-hugging dress that clung to her curves and boasted dramatic feather detailing on the sleeves and train.

'Perfect outfit for a casual walk!': Dame Joan Collins, 88, put on a leggy display in a figure-hugging feathered gown with a daring slit as she posed for an Instagram snap on Monday

Her gown featured a daring, thigh-high slit that put her long, chiselled legs on full display.

She added a diamond necklace, and elevated her height in a pair of matching sparkly black heels.

Styling her brown locks in bouncy curls, Dame Joan injected a pop of colour to her all-black ensemble with a slick of bold red lipstick

Captioning the sultry snap, she joked: 'Perfect outfit for a casual walk!'

Hilarious: Captioning the sultry snap, she joked: 'Perfect outfit for a casual walk!'

It comes after the screen legend revealed she felt like she was 'in jail' during the UK lockdown.

She spent the early months of the coronavirus pandemic in London but as soon as international travel was permitted, she relocated to France with her husband Percy Gibson because she felt so frustrated.

She said: 'I was in London for most of the time. But after the three-month period from March 2020, I went to the south of France, as I have a house there.

'I found London difficult because I felt like I was in jail, not knowing when I was going to get out.'

Joan spent a 'ridiculous' amount of time watching TV and admitted she gained weight because there was nothing to do but eat and drink.

She said: 'Of course I was [in tracksuits] werent we all? I gained about half a stone. I was eating as much as possible because aside from drinking bottles of wine and polishing off chocolates  what else was there to do?

'I also watched endless television  it was ridiculous. I watched nine hours one day.

'I would watch the morning programmes and read all the papers, so that would take me up to lunchtime.'
Ranvir Singh fought back tears as she spoke about the reason why she decided to speak out about being sexually assaulted aged 12 in ITV documentary Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 44, became emotional as she revealed she had only ever told two people in her life and had a 'tug of war' with herself if she wanted to go public with the harrowing ordeal.

Appearing on the show on Tuesday, Ranvir said she felt compelled to talk about her assault when trying to comfort survivor Lisa Phillips, now 45, who is one of the many underage girls targeted by the late Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Emotional: Ranvir Singh fought back tears as she spoke about the reason why she decided to speak out about being sexually assaulted aged 12 in an ITV documentary

Speaking to Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Ranvir said her revelation 'came as a complete surprise to me actually, which I suppose speaks to some of the issues around the Ghislaine trial, about memory around incidents that happen in your life of that nature'.

The presenter went on to describe how she saw a distressed Lisa 'retreat into that moment as she was recounting it'.

'I think a lot of people who have crimes of that nature committed to them do feel a sense of guilt, of could I have done more? Should I have shouted, should I have screamed? A sort of survivor guilt I think,' Ranvir said.

Inner conflict; The Good Morning Britain presenter, 44, became emotional as she revealed she had only ever told two people in her life and had a 'tug of war' with herself

Painful: Singh made the admission after speaking to Lisa Phillips, now 45 and one of the many underage girls targeted by the late Epstein (Philips is pictured on her way to Jeffrey Epstein's Caribbean island in 2000)

'Often when we do this job people think we are just out to make people cry on telly, do you know what I mean, I'm being blunt about how people view journalists.'

Ranvir said because the interview was done over Zoom she couldn't physically comfort Lisa, and so decided to confide her as feelings she had felt resurfaced when she was recounting her ordeal.

'It was just an instant thing,' she said. 'I felt a really shocking kind of empathy with what she was describing.

'I was acutely aware we were on camera but it's a human to human experience when someone is telling you something so painful.

'So I did say to her something happened to me when I was 12, and I understand you shouldn't feel guilty about not'.

Bond: Appearing on the show on Tuesday, Ranvir said she felt compelled to talk about her assault when trying to comfort survivor Lisa

Honest: Speaking to Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Ranvir said her revelation 'came as a complete surprise to me actually'

Ranvir bit her lip as she tried to steady herself from crying. She went on: 'Sorry, do you know what? I've only ever told two people in my whole life, and in the last two weeks I've had to tell family members and so on.'

Susanna told her she didn't need to tell anyone anything, but an emotional Ranvir went on to talk about the turmoil she felt as to whether to include her experience in the documentary.

She added: 'It's odd because it's not something you generally talk about, but the point being even on the Friday it was very touch and go about whether I should leave it in the documentary, because it's a big thing to say.'

The documentary airs on Tuesday evening and shows the mother-of-one admitting she had experienced a similar trauma in her own childhood.

She said: 'Speaking to Lisa brought up something that happened to me when I was 12.

'It happened once  and that person is dead  and so I have an understanding of what its like and why you would never want to speak of it again.'

Former model Phillips, who now lives in Los Angeles, claimed she first met Epstein after a photoshoot in the Caribbean more than 20 years ago, where he invited her and another friend to his island, Little St James.

Admission: Ranvir Singh has revealed she was sexually assaulted at the age of 12 after admitting the testimonies of Jeffrey Epstein's victims brought back 'painful memories'

She told Singh: 'I went along with it. Youre not going to kick and scream and fight and yell when youre on an island.'

Phillips had previously claimed that Epstein introduced her to Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his military titles this week while facing a civil suit in the United States for the alleged assault of Virginia Giuffre.

Speaking in 2020, she told The Sun: 'I found Jeffrey very charming and he seemed really nice. I had mentioned I had lived in England and he said, "Oh, would you like to meet a prince?"

Disgraced: The late Epstein and his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell before their arrest for the trafficking of minors

'This man walked up and I recognised him as Prince Andrew. He was very nice. It was very brief.'

Giuffre said she was 17 when she was introduced to the Queen's second son in London, and described him as an 'abuser' and 'not the prince from the fairy tale stories you read'.

Giuffre, who says she was trafficked by Epstein, alleges the Duke had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law.

Epstein committed suicide at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center while awaiting trial for sex trafficking in 2019.

Close friend Maxwell, the Oxford-educated daughter of the late British press baron Robert Maxwell, will be sentenced in June after being found guilty of assisting him in the procurement of young girls.






A health worker wearing protective gear prepares for visitors in sub-zero temperatures at a temporary screening clinic for COVID-19 in Seoul, Jan. 14. AP-Yonhap



The government plans to offer up to 5 million won ($4,200) in medical fee assistance for treatment of post-vaccination side effects among students, officials said Tuesday, as it plans to expand the vaccine pass system to include 12- to 18-year-olds in March.



According to the education ministry, students under 18 showing serious side effects within 90 days of inoculation, albeit without confirmed causality from the vaccination, will be eligible for the medical fee assistance starting next month and running until May 2023.






She's currently enjoying a romantic trip to California with her boyfriend Jordan Saul.

And Daisy Lowe put on a busty display on Monday, when she shared a series of gorgeous snaps of herself frolicking among Big Sur's famous redwood trees.

Slipping into a clinging black top, Daisy, 32, left little to the imagination while working her best angles in a beautiful forest.

Looking good: Daisy Lowe, 32, put on a busty display on Monday, when she shared a series of gorgeous snaps on Instagram of herself frolicking among Big Sur's famous redwood trees

Wearing her raven tresses loose and sporting her staple blunt fringe, the model was in her element while making the most of the region's stunning scenery.

Daisy also shared a photo of beau Jordan, 32, standing on an enormous redwood branch.

Letting her followers know what they were missing, she then uploaded a breath-taking photo of mountains looming behind the forest.

It comes after Daisy struck a sultry pose as she stripped totally naked for a sensational social media snap on Saturday.

Busty: Slipping into a clinging black top, Daisy left little to the imagination while working her best angles in a beautiful forest

The model covered her modesty with her arms as she posed in a mirror while standing in a bathroom with red roses emblazoned across the walls.

She could be seen standing with her arm behind her head as she covered her modesty.

Daisy and Jordan flew to America for a break together earlier this month.

Having fun: Daisy also shared a photo of beau Jordan, 32, standing on an enormous redwood branch

Wow: Letting her followers know what they were missing, she then uploaded a breath-taking photo of mountains looming behind the forest

And the fashionista gave her followers a glimpse at their break as she posted photos from when the couple dined out together and shopped at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California.

The model took to Instagram in June to mark their first anniversary and reveal to her followers how she met her beau with a sweet post where she called Jordan her 'hero'.

She captioned the upload: 'A year ago today I went to meet @misstilda for a walk on the Heath. But I was running a little late- Mercury was in retrograde [crying laughing emoji].

Sizzling: Daisy struck a sultry pose as she stripped totally naked for a sensational social media snap on Saturday

Love: The model took to Instagram in June to mark their first anniversary and reveal to her followers how she met her beau with a sweet post where she called Jordan her 'hero'

'When I arrived, Monty ran straight towards a very handsome Belgium shepherd, attached to this handsome dog was a rather handsome man.

'I dawdled around having some dog chat we ended up walking together for a couple of hours, what a dog walk!'

She continued: 'Here we are a year later, through countless lockdowns, adventures, disasters and triumphs. You @jordanjaysaul have been my hero.

'Through and through. Thanks for feeling like home & always making me giggle even when I really don't want to! It's my absolute favourite making you laugh so much your legs give way.

'I am very happy I was 5 mins late to meet Tilds that day & I am so very grateful you are mine. Happy anniversary my pain in the ass. I love you .' [sic]'.
Ricky Gervais gave viewers an unexpected delight during his appearance on Tuesday's Lorraine, by bringing his beloved dog Anti onto the show.

The actor, whose pet appears alongside him in his Netflix black comedy After Life, praised his German Shepherd for being 'such a good girl,' after the final series of show was universally praised by fans.

During his appearance on the show, Ricky reassured fans that despite fears his character's dog Brandy could meet his maker at the end of After Life's third series, his pet will still be alive by the series' end.

Sweet: Ricky Gervais gave viewers an unexpected delight during his appearance on Tuesday's Lorraine, by bringing his beloved dog Anti onto the show

Appearing on the show with Anti seated alongside him, Ricky admitted he did feel pressure for the third series of After Life to deliver.

He said: 'The emotional response, peole coming up to me in the streets saying it helped them, you realised that everyone's grieving.

'It was never meant to be a show about grief, but more and more I felt a responsibility to treat it with respect.

'When I first came up with it I thought ''can people laugh at this?'' but yes, if you treat it well.

Sweet: The actor, whose pet appears alongside him called Brandy in his Netflix black comedy After Life, praised his German Shepherd for being 'such a good girl'

Jovial: Appearing on the show with Anti seated alongside him, Ricky admitted he did feel pressure for the third series of After Life to deliver

'People say 'i was just like that' people like seeing a bit of themselves on telly, even if it's the bad stuff, it makes them feel normal and not being well is normal.

'Some people came up to me and they were therapists and they said they used the show in some of their sessions.'

Ricky also reassured his fans that his beloved dog won't meet a grisly end during the show's closing series, following a flurry of concerned tweets from fans.

He added: 'Everyone was saying is the dog ok, ive been saying it for a year - the dog does not die. I promise, the dog does not die. She's gonna live forever.'

Important: 'It was never meant to be a show about grief, but more and more I felt a responsibility to treat it with respect,' he said

Calling his dog 'a good girl,' Ricky then clarified to Lorraine: 'I'm talking to the dog, not you.'

Ricky has warmed viewers' hearts with his dog's appearance as Brandy in After Life, acting as a huge emotional support for his character Tony following the death of his wife Lisa.

The Office star also detailed how he adopted his beloved foster cat, seven months after the death of his feline Ollie.

He added: 'We lost our cat Ollie at 16 at the beginning of the pandemic and I wasn't going to get another one until it was all over but Jane said ''we'll foster'' and this beautiful big lump of love came.

'She hid for the first day then she got on my lap and she looked at me and we went ''we're keeping it'' I keep looking at it and I think ''oh youre so beautiful.''

She's fine! Ricky also reassured his fans that his beloved dog won't meet a grisly end during the show's closing series, following a flurry of concerned tweets from fans

Adorable: Calling his dog 'a good girl,' Ricky then clarified to Lorraine: 'I'm talking to the dog, not you'

Anti's appearance on the show certainly delighted many viewers, who shared their thoughts on Twitter.

One wrote: 'Morning Ricky and Brandy, Charlie (my god) & I cried with laughter at you both on Lorraine earlier.'

Another added: '@rickygervais I have watched Ricky Gervais being interview by Lorraine this morning & oh what a lovely man he is.'

'Oh my goodness @rickygervais I relate so much. Humans you can take or leave but all animals are so beautiful. Love hearing your passion for animals. Plus Anti can say Lorraine,' a third posted.

Acclaimed: Ricky has warmed viewers' hearts with his dog's appearance as Brandy in After Life, acting as an emotional support for his character Tony following the death of his wife Lisa

One fan tweeted: '@rickygervais just watched you on @lorraine #AfterLife has literally saved me from my own self, you do not always have to lose someone to grief, I am grieving for a childhood that was taken but you series has helped me get help and feel like I deserve to be here. Thank you.'

@rickygervais @lorraine excellent interview Ricky... saying it exactly like it is as always and so kindly... my mantra for 2022... wow I am normal,' a fan praised.

One viewer also tweeted: 'After Life's closing scenes saw Ricky's character and Tony and his dog Brandy fade away as they walked off together, after the grieving widower discovered a more positive outlook on life, and decided to use his wife's life insurance to help others.'

Happy: Anti's appearance on the show certainly delighted many viewers, who shared their thoughts on Twitter

Ahead of their Lorraine appearance, Ricky and his dog Anti made a hilarious appearance on The One Show on Monday night, causing chaos when she wandered off the set to peruse the cameras.

Ricky was in the midst of discussing how he'd react if his long-term partner Jane Fallon passed away, saying he'd want to die before her to avoid ending up like his After Life character Tony.

He said: 'That's where the idea came from, the first thought I had was, 'What if you lost everything?' You could do what you want without consequences.

Whoops! Ahead of their Lorraine appearance, Ricky and his dog Anti made a hilarious appearance on The One Show on Monday night, causing chaos when she wandered off the set

Funny: Reassuring his pet, Ricky added: 'I won't be going yet, I won't be going anywhere yet,' before Anti ran off to explore the cameras

'I think people connected with it because they hadn't seen anything like that before, and after the first series, people came and told me about their struggles.

'You suddenly realise, everyone is grieving about someone, and this is about Tony trying to get through it and asking ''If you lose everything in life still worth living?''

"I'd be terrible, I want to go first, it's selfish but," Ricky began before Anti jumped up onto the sofa and began licking his face.

Reassuring his pet, Ricky added: 'I won't be going yet, I won't be going anywhere yet,' before his dog ran off to explore the cameras.

Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
Lisa Wilkinson has looked back at her blossoming friendship with Brittany Higgins over the past year.

In a post shared to Instagram on Tuesday, The Project host paid tribute to the 26-year-old's strength and courage.

Alongside a photo of the pair together, Lisa, 62, wrote: 'Hard to believe its exactly a year since this incredible woman @brittanyhiggins___ came into my life.

Courage: Lisa Wilkinson (left) has looked back at her blossoming friendship with Brittany Higgins (right) over the past year. In a post shared to Instagram on Tuesday, The Project host paid tribute to the 26-year-old's strength and courage

'First an email, and then a phone call that began a chain of events that, four incredibly intense weeks behind-the-scenes later, would create headlines and go on to change forever the lives of countless women - and men - across the country.'

She continued: 'The courage you have shown over the past year Britt, and the passion you have in continuing to drive change has been an absolute inspiration to be around.

'You are quite simply an incredible human being. One I am so privileged to know.'

'The courage you have shown over the past year Britt, and the passion you have in continuing to drive change has been an absolute inspiration to be around. You are quite simply an incredible human being. One I am so privileged to know.' Lisa wrote. Pictured together

It comes after news that the man accused of raping former Liberal staffer Higgins in a federal minister's office is set to stand trial from June.

In November, a tentative trial date was set for Bruce Lehrmann, charged with sexual intercourse without consent at Parliament House in March 2019.

Higgins shocked the nation last year when she alleged she was raped by a colleague in former defence minister Linda Reynolds' office after a boozy night out in March 2019. She made a complaint to police in February.

Trial: It comes after news that the man accused of raping former Liberal staffer Higgins in a federal minister's office is set to stand trial from June. In November, a tentative trial date was set for Bruce Lehrmann, charged with sexual intercourse without consent at Parliament House in March 2019

Lehrmann, currently in Queensland, is charged with sexual intercourse without consent at Parliament House in March 2019.

The 26-year-old faces one charge of sexual intercourse without consent which has a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail.

Acting for Lehrmann, barrister John Korn told the ACT Magistrates Court in September he was instructed to enter a plea of not guilty.

Complaint: Higgins shocked the nation last year when she alleged she was raped by a colleague in former defence minister Linda Reynolds' office after a boozy night out in March 2019. She made a complaint to police in February

Lisa has been outspoken on the case and in March, she appeared at the Australian March4Justice protest, where she read a speech written by Higgins.

'The first phone call I made after I was asked was to Brittany Higgins,' she said on The Project at the time.

'I felt it was really important that Brittany's words be heard tomorrow.'

For confidential support contact 1800RESPECT
She's the glamorous ex-Home and Away actress who rarely puts a foot out of line when it comes to fashion.

And Jodi Gordon certainly didn't disappoint on Tuesday, as she oozed glamour in a floor-length kaftan while enjoying drinks with pals in Bondi Beach's trendy Mediterranean restaurant Ikaria.

The 36-year-old appeared in good spirits as she laughed and joked with her friends, with the chiffon ensemble floating down her svelte frame like butter.

Stunner: On Tuesday, Jodi Gordon oozed glamour in a stunning floor-length kaftan while enjoying drinks with her pals in Bondi Beach's trendy Mediterranean restaurant Ikaria

The model teamed her thigh-flashing look with a pair of tan sandals, and wore a pair of oversized sunglasses to protect herself from the scorching Sydney sunshine.

Her naturally striking features were slightly enhanced by a flash of bronzer and some mascara, and she wore her hair in a sleek straight style.

Jodi's appearance comes weeks after it was reported she'd quietly split from her entrepreneur boyfriend Aidan Walsh, just five months after debuting their romance.

Model behaviour: Jodi teamed her look with a pair of tan sandals, and wore a pair of oversized sunglasses to protect herself from the scorching Sydney sunshine

All smiles: The 36-year-old appeared in good spirits as she laughed and joked with her friends, with the floral chiffon ensemble floating down her svelte ensemble like butter

While the exes have yet to make an official statement, they all but confirmed the split after unfollowing each other on Instagram.

The pair have also untagged each other in photos, and wiped nearly all evidence of their relationship on social media.

It is believed the pair split some months ago, and that Jodi has already moved on with someone else.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Jodi and Aidan for comment.

It's over! Jodi's appearance comes weeks after it was reported she quietly split from her entrepreneur boyfriend Aidan Walsh (right), just five months after debuting their romance

No users found: While the exes have yet to make an official statement, they all but confirmed the split after conspicuously unfollowing each other on Instagram

Jodi was first seen packing on the PDA with Aidan back in June during a romantic holiday in the Hunter Valley.

A week later, the couple made their red carpet debut at a GQ event in Sydney.

The pair subsequently travelled to Western Australia for what appeared to be their second romantic jaunt in a matter of weeks.

Jodi's new romance came months after she ended her fraught relationship with British-born investment portfolio manager Sebastian Blackler.
Megan Barton Hanson has detailed the difficulties she faced in 'proving' her interest in women as a 'stereotypically girly girl'.

The Love Island star, 27, who shot to fame on Love Island in 2018, spoke to illustrator, writer, feminist social activist, and influencer Florence Given on her You Come First podcast about how she has battled to establish herself since coming out.

The duo discussed how they navigate being bisexual whilst being 'blonde' and 'girly', with Megan revealing: 'I went to the extent of wearing a golden vagina necklace round my neck to make it clear that I do like vagina'.

I am interested! Megan Barton Hanson has detailed the difficulties she faced in 'proving' her interest in women as a 'stereotypically girly girl'

Megan teased the podcast on her Instagram story on Tuesday morning, where she promised to discuss: 'Exploring your sexuality, cognitive dissonance, break-ups, learning to love yourself and how to be a good ally'.

The duo spoke about their respective experiences with bisexuality.

In June 2019, Megan came out publicly as bisexual and revealed that she 'felt a deeper connection with women' however has felt pressure over the years to have sex with men: 'I just feel like I have a deeper connection with women'.

She went on to date Chelcee Grimes and Demi Sims before recently dating TOWIE's James Lock yet split up soon after.

Golden girl: The duo discussed how they navigate being bisexual whilst being 'blonde' and 'girly', with Megan revealing: 'I went to the extent of wearing a golden vagina necklace (pictured) round my neck to make it clear that I do like vagina'

Despite her candour over her sexuality, she admitted in her chat with Florence that she was forced to 'prove' her attraction to women to others.

Megan concurred: 'As a bi person you have to prove it. If you're stereotypically a girly girl and quite fem, you have to prove that you like girls...

'I went to the extent of wearing a golden vagina necklace round my neck to make it clear that I do like vagina. My dad was like "Is that a coffee bean?"'

The duo admitted that being bisexual means they have to learn that women can be as toxic as men, although this is easily missed at first.

Back then: Megan is pictured with her ex-girlfriend Chelcee Grimes

Megan went on: 'In your first ever same sex relationship, its brave to come out and admit that anyway... you find someone you click with so you ignore the warning signs because you're where you've wanted to be for so long.'

Florence said: 'We're both in the public eye, when you announced you were queer and people don't believe you till you show your f**king girlfriend... there's more acceptance in the LGBTQ community when you date women over men'.

Megan wore a T-shirt designed by Florence during an appearance on Good Morning Britain after she left the villa, with the top reading: 'Stop Valuing Women Based On Their Sexual History, as she believed the tee was 'made for her'.

Star: The Love Island star, 27, who shot to fame on Love Island in 2018, spoke to illustrator, writer, feminist social activist, and influencer Florence Given on her You Come First podcast about how she has battled to establish herself since coming out (Florence pictured in 2019)

In 2019, Megan went public with her romance with Chelcee Grimes, however she seemed to look back less than fondly on the union.

Megan said: 'I was in love with your book... it literally was so empowering and it changed my mindset and I think when I read it I was in a really toxic relationship...

'My first female relationship and I was letting myself deal with things I wouldn't in a straight relationship. I read that and I just felt so powerful afterwards, I was like oh my God. I feel like a copy of that book needs to be given to every girl at school'.

Proof: Megan wore a T-shirt designed by Florence during an appearance on Good Morning Britain after she left the villa, with the top reading: 'Stop Valuing Women Based On Their Sexual History, as she believed the tee was 'made for her'

On how she was in her last female relationship, she said: 'I was in a relationship last year and I felt like I couldn't be how I am with a man. I'm very PDA and hands on but there's so much sexualisation with straight men that I felt I couldn't be like that'.

On what she faced since coming out as bisexual, Megan said: 'People have got over that I'm sex positive and used to be a stripper but now it's about me being bi. People think I'm doing it for press or that I'm confused or that I'm being fake.'

Florence spoke Megan through her life in Plymouth and how she made her journey into feminism and garnering her following on Instagram.

New love: In the pre-recorded podcast, she spoke about dating again - seemingly in reference to her now-defunct romance with TOWIE's James Lock

She revealed she dropped out of university and moved in with her controlling boyfriend - before the split led to her Internet sensation slogans, including 'Dump Him' and 'Stop Raising Him, He's Not Your Son'.

Megan echoed: 'It's just not celebrated as a woman to be single. People see it as a weakness or a bad thing so the fact that you're the first influencer to be like, I'm the happiest I've been, I'm smashing my career, i can do what I want..

'It's amazing... I bet your DMs are full of girls telling you they've left their boyfriends'.

Florence mused: 'I definitely don't think I'm the first influencer to say this stuff but I think it's different because I'm young... People think there's something wrong with you because you're single, so they worry about you...

Gold: She spoke about how the item of jewellery helped her prove herself

'Some people would rather be with someone than be alone'.

Megan admitted that this stance 'infuriates her' while Florence insisted that it was both of their choices to be single - contrary to others' belief.

Megan said: 'I couldn't settle, I hate that. I've been single for like two years, I recently started dating someone but before that for two years, it was a choice...

'I could have anyone if I just settled... people think I'm saying "pick me please!". I could go on Tinder in five minutes and be on a date with an average guy with three brain cells'.

Florence noted that due to being well-known and her niche job - similar to Megan's - and being queer, meant her dating pool was very small: 'If I go on a dating app, queer people in my area will know me or will have read my book'.

Angry: Megan admitted that this stance 'infuriates her' while Florence insisted that it was both of their choices to be single - contrary to others' belief

Megan went on: 'I'm so glad you said that because I thought it was just me. People can't wrap their head around having so many followers but it hard to date somebody but I don't want to meet someone who has preconceived ideas about me'.

Florence said: 'I don't think it's ethical to date someone who looks up to me because people do put me on a pedestal but I wouldn't have it any other way... there's no way to explain to people why you're single without sounding defensive.'

Megan said: 'It's hard not to be defensive but I found the longer I was single the harder the criteria I wanted became even smaller. I can't describe it...

'Now I'm finally happy with myself, I'm recently dating but it took a lot for me to acknowledge my feelings for this person because I don't want to rock the boat. I'm feeling the best I've ever felt. So I'm scared but you've got to live.'
Jenny Slate revealed that she married her fiance Ben Shattuck in her living room on New Year's Eve.

The 39-year-old actress appeared on the cover of Marie Claire's first-ever The Creators Issue and told the magazine that the pair tied the knot after having to cancel three planned weddings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'We were planning on a [wedding] that ended up being almost 200 people, and then now, it's just our parents and siblings,' Jenny said.

Surprise! Jenny Slate revealed that she married her fiance Ben Shattuck in her living room on New Year's Eve

Newlyweds: The 39-year-old actress appeared on the cover of Marie Claire's first-ever The Creators Issue and told the magazine that the pair tied the knot after having to cancel three planned weddings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seen in 2019

The Obvious Child star continued, 'We each invited six friends... I actually like it. I like it better.

'I didn't realize how the large thing was making me feel uncomfortable, a little bit. Just a little.'

Jenny was previously married to filmmaker Dean Fleischer-Camp. The two wed in 2012 but announced that they had separated in 2016 and finalized their divorce in 2019.

The Massachusetts native began dating Chris Evans after they met on the set of the 2017 drama Gifted but the couple split after nine months together.

In September 2019, Jenny announced that she was engaged to Ben after he proposed during a romantic trip to France.

The SNL alum appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers in December 2020 and revealed that she and the art curator were expecting their first child together.

Popping the question: In September 2019, Jenny announced that she was engaged to Shattuck after he proposed during a romantic trip to France. Seen in 2019

Former flame: The Massachusetts native began dating Chris Evans after they met on the set of the 2017 drama Gifted but the couple split after nine months together. Seen in 2016

During a February 2021 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian told the host that they had welcomed daughter Ida Lupine six weeks prior.

In her interview with Marie Claire, Jenny, who has two sisters Abigail and Stacey, described how her experience with motherhood has differed from that of her mother.

'I only realized this after I had the baby, but I thought being a mother would be like a replica of my own mother's experience with motherhood,' Jenny said.

Becoming a mom: Jenny appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers in December 2020 and revealed that she and the art curator were expecting their first child together

Differences: In her interview with Marie Claire, Jenny, who has two sisters Abigail and Stacey, described how her experience with motherhood has differed from that of her mother

She continued, 'At least, how I perceived it: in which she really, really, really loves us so much, and also, she often seemed really stressed out, and at loose ends, and at her wits' end, and exhausted, and splattered in clay.

'Instead, I feel like it's been the opposite of that for me. Not at all that it's not difficult and challenging to have a newborn baby. There are so many profound challenges, but I've never been happier in my life. I feel like I can finally be what I want to be.'

Jenny also discussed her upcoming animated feature film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

She looks regal: The beauty wore her hair back and had on a white top for the cover

She and her ex-husband Fleischer-Camp debuted the beloved character of seashell Marcel in their 2010 short film.

They have collaborated on a sequel short film and two best-selling children's books about Marcel as well as the big-screen adaptation.

Jenny told Marie Claire, 'I feel like I would describe Marcel as ... like I'm putting a hand down into the richest, darkest part of my psyche and trying to pull out the thing that I really want people to see about me, and what I'm like, and how I think, and what I need, and it comes out this way.

'I really, really, really value it.'

New project: Jenny also discussed her upcoming animated feature film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. She and her ex-husband Fleischer-Camp debuted the beloved character of seashell Marcel in their 2010 short film

The actress reflected on roles that she has been offered over the years and her experience on Saturday Night Live.

She told Marie Claire, 'I felt like no one knew what the f**k to do with me.'

Jenny continued, 'Maybe I'm not pushing for anything, but I'm not super interested in jumping up my agents' butts. It's so boring! That's so boring and humiliating.'

'I think, sure, there's a way in which I could have probably had a really successful career doing maybe network sitcoms, and I didn't want to do that because I have a very short attention span.

'I don't like the idea of being under contract for a long time. I think even after being on SNL, and just returning to the same studio every day, I was like, "'As an animal, I don't like this."'
The Bachelorette #14 alum Jordan Kimball tied the knot with his fiancee of 13 months - Christina Creedon - at The Wynden in Houston, TX on Saturday in front of 92 guests.

The 30-year-old groom and the 26-year-old bride - who went public as a couple in November 2019 - obtained their marriage license in Fort Bend last Wednesday.

'My Dear Christina, You are the blessing I've always prayed for, cheers to forever loving you!' Jordan - who boasts 520K Instagram/Twitter followers - gushed.

They do! The Bachelorette #14 alum Jordan Kimball tied the knot with his fiancee of 13 months - Christina Creedon - at The Wynden in Houston, TX on Saturday in front of 92 guests

'I love our unconditional and comforting love. I truly feel you were sent into my life from above, I promise you all of my affection for all of my years. I love you Mrs. Kimball, always.'

Christina replied: 'Jordan Kelly, I am so proud to be your wife. You are my constant and my best friend. I love you beyond the moon and all of the stars. Here's to forever, honey.'

The Kimballs - who will honeymoon in Hawaii this week - both broke down in tears when they first saw each other at the ceremony.

'Seeing her [walk down the aisle] in her dress, [I started crying],' the Keller Williams realtor told Us Weekly.

Just married! The 30-year-old groom and the 26-year-old bride - who went public as a couple in November 2019 - obtained their marriage license in Fort Bend last Wednesday

Jordan gushed: 'You are the blessing I've always prayed for, cheers to forever loving you! I love our unconditional and comforting love. I truly feel you were sent into my life from above, I promise you all of my affection for all of my years. I love you Mrs. Kimball, always'

Christina replied: 'Jordan Kelly, I am so proud to be your wife. You are my constant and my best friend. I love you beyond the moon and all of the stars. Here's to forever, honey'

'Ever since that moment, I've realized how important she is to me. I mean, to cry in front of lifelong friends and family and everything - I've never loved her as much as I do today.'

The special education teacher at Alexander Elementary added: 'Right before I started walking down with my dad, I literally lost it. I just couldn't stop crying...It was so hard not to cry the entire time, just from pure joy.'

Jordan and Christina - who are parents to dogs Indie and June - traded letters, traditional vows, and did their first dance to Allison Krauss' 1994 song When You Say Nothing At All.

'I cried in front of lifelong friends and family': The Kimballs - who will honeymoon in Hawaii this week - both broke down in tears when they first saw each other at the ceremony

The special education teacher (L) told Us Weekly: 'Right before I started walking down with my dad, I literally lost it. I just couldn't stop crying...It was so hard not to cry the entire time, just from pure joy'

Spin on the dance floor: The Keller Williams realtor and Christina - who are parents to dogs Indie and June - traded letters, traditional vows, and did their first dance to Allison Krauss' 1994 song When You Say Nothing At All

Kimball's previous fiancee Jenna Cooper announced her engagement to North Carolina commercial real estate broker Karl Hudson on June 9 and they're parents of 19-month-old daughter Presley Belle.

The Florida-born influencer famously split with the 32-year-old social media manager the day after their proposal aired on the fifth season of ABC's Bachelor in Paradise in 2018 due to her alleged texts with another man.

'I would say that The Bachelor kind of prepared me in a way that I was ready to take it seriously,' Jordan told Us.

December 25 family portrait: Jordan's previous fiancee Jenna Cooper (L) announced her engagement to North Carolina commercial real estate broker Karl Hudson (R) on June 9 and they're parents of 19-month-old daughter Presley Belle

Fabricated scandal? Kimball (R) famously split with the 32-year-old social media manager (L) the day after their proposal aired on the fifth season of ABC's Bachelor in Paradise in 2018 due to her alleged texts with another man

'I was ready to be funny and be who I am - and especially after seeing myself on TV, there's parts of, you know, what I did that I got great joy out of and laughed at. And I'm not my biggest fan, but you can grow from anything. And I think that that's what I've done, grown from it.'

Bachelor in Paradise has the best track record of the Bachelor Nation franchise with 12 winning couples still together after seven seasons.

Only five winning couples remain together after 18 seasons of The Bachelorette and a measly two winning couples are still together after 25 seasons of The Bachelor.
Laura Coates recalled Jeopardy! producers denying her the opportunity to host the iconic game show despite receiving support from the late host Alex Trebek.

The CNN legal analyst was one of two names Trebek had interest in replacing him when the time was right, and had also expressed interest in Los Angeles Kings commentator Alex Faust.

Coates told Tamron Hall on her self-titled talk show Monday that by the time she contacted Jeopardy! after Alex's death, they were not interested.

Trebek died on Nov. 8, 2020 at age 80, after a 20-month battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. The Emmy award-winning host served at the helm of the show for 37 seasons.

Tough spot: Laura Coates recalled Jeopardy! producers denying her the opportunity to host the iconic game show despite receiving support from the late host Alex Trebek

Laura explained that she was 'honored' by Alex's recommendation to take the hosting seat should he retire, kind words which he first said in 2018 and then again in 2019.

Before he died, Alex told TMZ: 'There is an attorney, Laura Coates. She's African American and she appears on some of the cable news shows from time to time. Very bright, very personable.'

'I was honored by it and I had a chance to thank him and also to reach out to him while he struggled with pancreatic cancer,' Laura told Tamron.

'And I asked for the opportunity when it came time, when they were looking for people to possibly fill in. I certainly raised my hand and knocked on doors and found them closed.'

Nice: Laura explained that she was 'honored' by Alex's recommendation to take the hosting seat should he retire, kind words which he first said in 2018 and then again in 2019

Legend: Trebek died on Nov. 8, 2020 at age 80, after a 20-month battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. The Emmy award-winning host served at the helm of the show for 37 seasons

'I was honored by it and I had a chance to thank him and also to reach out to him while he struggled with pancreatic cancer,' Laura told Tamron

'And I asked for the opportunity. I was told "no," which is one of those moments when you have to remember to wear your own jersey.'

She added: 'You have to remember to continue to be your own champion in other respects and sometimes the vision that you have for yourself  or those that surprise you, other people  don't align with what happens, and that happened there.'

The hunt to find the next host was overseen by former executive producer Mike Richards, who eventually received the job, but only for one week.

Facing heavy backlash and criticism, Richards was fired after past offensive comments came to light in addition to his involvement in a wrongful termination lawsuit.

Mayim Bialik and former contestant Ken Jennings currently share co-hosting duties.
An Australian OnlyFans star has been censored by Instagram and accused of 'sexual solicitation' after posting a fully nude photo.

Gabrielle Epstein had her raunchy post deleted by the Facebook-owned platform on Tuesday for violating the website's community guidelines.

The LA-based model, 27, shared a screenshot of the automated alert she'd received from Instagram telling her the photo had been removed.

Censored: Gabrielle Epstein (pictured), an Australian OnlyFans star, has been censored by Instagram and accused of 'sexual solicitation' after posting a fully nude photo

Instagram broadly defines 'adult sexual solicitation' as any content that allows users to 'facilitate, encourage or coordinate sexual activity'.

This includes pornography, 'erotic messages', offering or asking for sex or nude images, use of 'sexualised slang' and 'language that describes sex or arousal'.

Gabrielle laughed off the slap on the wrist by writing 'LOL' next to the screenshot.

Free spirit! She had her raunchy post deleted by the Facebook-owned platform on Tuesday for violating the website's community guidelines

Alert: She shared this screenshot of the automated alert she'd received from Instagram telling her the photo had been removed. Instagram broadly defines 'adult sexual solicitation' as any content that allows users to 'facilitate, encourage or coordinate sexual activity'

The socialite's 'less is more' approach to fashion often gets her in trouble with Instagram's anti-nudity police.

She was censored by the social media giant yet again earlier this month after sharing a photo of herself that was apparently 'too naked'.

She told her followers an image she'd posted to her back-up account - which features more racy content than her main account - was removed because it supposedly violated Instagram's community guidelines.

She posted a comparatively tame gallery of photos of herself in a white lace bra and sweatpants, and wrote in the caption: 'Hi, Instagram removed my pic this morning because I was too naked (what's new?) so here is this instead.'

While it's unclear why Instagram took steps to remove Gabrielle's post, the image may have been reported by a user or alternatively it could have been flagged by an algorithm that detects nudity.

Removed: It comes after the LA-based model was censored by Instagram yet again earlier this month after sharing a photo of herself that was apparently 'too naked'

'What's new?' She said an image she'd posted to her back-up account was removed because it supposedly violated Instagram's community guidelines

Instagram's community guidelines state: 'For a variety of reasons, we don't allow nudity on Instagram. This includes photos, videos and some digitally created content that show sexual intercourse, genitals and close-ups of fully nude buttocks.

'It also includes some photos of female nipples, but photos in the context of breastfeeding, birth giving and after-birth moments, health-related situations (for example, post-mastectomy, breast cancer awareness or gender confirmation surgery) or an act of protest are allowed.

'Nudity in photos of paintings and sculptures is okay, too.'

Drenched: Gabrielle isn't exactly known for her subtlety when it comes to fashion

In November, Gabrielle fired back at critics who said her photos were 'too explicit'.

Speaking to Maxim, she called out the 'toxic double standard' between how men and women are treated differently on Instagram.

'There are plenty of photos of men without their shirts on showing their nipples but the fact that mine can be covered and a photo still gets removed creates a very toxic double standard,' she said.

Defiant: In November, Gabrielle fired back at critics who said her photos were 'too explicit'

'We are all human, we are all born with bodies and we should not be taught to be ashamed of how they look in a natural state.'

She said she'd turned to OnlyFans to get around Instagram's censorship.

'I also feel like I can be more of myself on OnlyFans,' she explained.

'To me showing my body isnt about me being objectified; its about me feeling confident, powerful and beautiful in my own skin.'

Double standards: 'There are plenty of photos of men without their shirts on showing their nipples but the fact that mine can be covered and a photo still gets removed creates a very toxic double standard,' she told Maxim

Gabrielle's Maxim interview came after Instagram removed one of her pictures due to claims of 'sexual solicitation'.

In September, she was frustrated to learn her post breached community guidelines.

She uploaded a screenshot of an alert she'd received telling her a naked photo had been deleted because it breached 'adult sexual solicitation' rules.

Confident: 'To me showing my body isnt about me being objectified, its about me feeling confident, powerful and beautiful in my own skin,' she explained

It wasn't the first time she'd had content removed by Instagram, with the blonde bombshell commenting: '@instagram here we go again.'

'You can't even see ANYTHING what is going on,' she added.

The supposedly offensive photo showed a naked Gabrielle lying on a white sheet while propping herself up on her elbows.

Prior to finding fame as an adult model, Gabrielle was a competitive swimmer and ambassador for fitness brands.
Britney Spears spent some much needed time in nature amid her feud with sister Jamie Lynn Spears over her new memoir.

The 40-year-old former pop star took to Instagram to celebrate her annual visit to see a historic fig tree in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Recently, the Spears sisters have been lobbing barbs at one another on social media with Britney calling Jamie Lynn 'scum' and accusing her of inventing stories in order to peddle her new book.

Tree hugger: Britney Spears took to Instagram to celebrate her annual visit to see a historic fig tree in Los Angeles on Tuesday, amid her ongoing feud with sister Jamie Lynn

Britney's latest Instagram, however, took a much lighter tone and showed the mom of two striking a pose by the Moreton Bay Fig Tree located in the front drive of the Fairmont Miramar.

Spears captioned her fun post: 'Yes thats me  the idiot in a tree at 9:00 at night!!!! I go to visit this tree every year with my kids but now they are too cool for me!!!!

Adding: 'Check the roots on this baby  I like trees!!!!'

In her first snap, a carefree Britney smiled broadly in track pants and a long sleeved shirt with her arms in the air.

'Yes thats me  the idiot in a tree at 9:00 at night!!!! I go to visit this tree every year with my kids but now they are too cool for me!!!!

Fun times! 'Check the roots on this baby  I like trees!!!!'

Tourist spot! The famed Moreton Bay Fig Tree located in the front drive of the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, California

The Circus hitmaker then shared a few artsy shots of the impressive tree with its web of snarled branched by itself.

According to the Santa Monica hotel where it is located, the Moreton Bay Fig Tree is 80 feet high with a 120-foot 'network of branches'.

Spears' upbeat post comes as she is in the throes of a bitter public battle with her sister Jamie Lynn.

Over the weekend the Womanizer crooner tweeted a new statement to her sister having previously denounced Jamie Lynn as a 'scum person' for telling 'crazy lies' about her in her upcoming memoir called Things I Should Have Said.

Wow! According to the Santa Monica hotel where it is located, the Moreton Bay Fig Tree is 80 feet high with a 120-foot 'network of branches'

Change in tone: Spears' upbeat post comes as she is in the throes of a bitter public battle with her sister Jamie Lynn who she called 'scum' and accused of inventing 'crazy lies'

In her new statement Britney struck a more conciliatory tone, repeatedly telling Jamie Lynn she loved her - but she also accused her sister of having treating her 'like nothing,' and of waiting days to respond to her phone calls while she was allegedly 'sent away four 4 months' during her conservatorship.

Jamie Lynn responded with a furious statement of her own, publicly telling her sister to discuss the matter with her 'privately' and to 'stop continuing the narrative that I haven't been there for you or that I'm making things up.'

Britney's conservatorship lasted an overall 13 years, dating back to her notorious breakdown that occurred in 2007 and 2008.

She is locked in a war of words with Jamie Lynn, who is on the verge of publishing a memoir with shocking claims about Britney.

War of words: Both sisters have publicly admitting that they wish to have been able to settle their differences in private over Jamie Lynn's new book Things I Should Have Said

'Jamie Lynn  I dont think your book is about me at all  I said some harsh things because you obviously hurt me by the things you are making up about me !!!!' Britney's new statement this weekend began.

'When I said only a scum person would make up things like that about someone, I could have sworn I said but youre not  but it doesnt make sense at all to me what you are saying !!!' she continued.

'I know you worked hard for the life you have and you have done amazing !!!! But I think we would both have to agree to the fact that the family has never been remotely as hard on you as they have been on me !!!'

'Jamie Lynn  I dont think your book is about me at all  I said some harsh things because you obviously hurt me by the things you are making up about me !!!!' Britney said in her most recent statement

She declared: 'What dad did to me, they dont even do that to criminals  so for you to sit back and act completely aloof to what has happened to me is honesty insane to me !!! Do you know anybody who worked as hard as I did and the hours I put in during those 13 years only to be sent away for 4 months for no reason at all ???'

In the most recent bombshell, it has been revealed that Things I Should Have Said includes an alleged text message from the pop star.

In her book, Jamie Lynn wrote that Britney allegedly texted her 'I know it's not your fault and I'm sorry for being so angry at you. Although I'm your big sister, I need you more than you need me and always have,' according to Just Jared.

Jamie Lynn also accused her older sister of throwing her 'to the proverbial media wolves' in the book, despite her attempt at protecting her as she claims she always have.

Jamie Lynn said after the alleged text in the book: 'I pray for the day she shares these world,' via Just Jared.

Adding: 'I have no control over anything the media reports and cannot be held responsible for something I have absolutely no control over.'
Walid Elfiky, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Egypt in Korea / Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo

By Kwon Mee-yoo











President Moon Jae-in will arrive in Egypt for a state visit today, with a handful of items to strengthen the strategic bilateral partnership. This is Moon's first visit to an African country since he was sworn in as President in May 2017.







"We are willing to receive President Moon Jae-in and the first lady of South Korea with an open heart and ready to use this visit as a springboard for new cooperation between the two countries," Walid Elfiky, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Egypt in Korea, told The Korea Times, Monday.







Moon already met with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in New York during the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 and they held two phone conversations together in 2020. Moon planned to visit Egypt in March 2020, but the visit was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.







Elfiky said up to 10 or more memorandums of understanding will be signed between the two countries, which shows the high level of cooperation.







"Now we are on the top of the list as the most important country in Africa for South Korea. And that entails that the amount of official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans are going to be prioritized according to the Egyptian development needs," he said.







"Most notably, we are looking to cooperate with South Korea in specific areas, which is very important to us, like the development of rural areas. You had here the Saemaul Undong program in the 1970s, which innovated the social and economic status of your rural areas. And I think this is something very important that we'd like to learn from your expertise in this regard."







Moon will also make a visit to Cairo Metro Line 3, for which Korean company Hyundai Rotem supplies trains. The diplomat added that the company will also cooperate in the modernization of Egypt's rail system, such as the train line between Luxor and the High Dam.







The Korean company is also looking to export battle tanks to Egypt, and the envoy hinted at more defense industry cooperation.







"We possibly can have some joint ventures with the defense industry in Korea. We are not in a position to give details about this issue now, but the cooperation between us and South Korea is moving in the right direction. The most important thing is that South Korea is willing to engage with Egypt and we are willing at the same time to engage with South Korea economically and in all walks of life," Elfiky said.







Another sector in which the Egyptian diplomat saw potential for future cooperation is energy.







"Egypt discovered recently a lot of reserves of natural gas. South Korea adopted the initiative to go carbon neutral by the end of the decade. And in this transitional phase, South Korea needs clean sources of energy other than the renewable ones, like natural gas, specifically. Egypt and South Korea can cooperate in this," he said.







"We can export liquefied natural gas to Korea  we already do so but not in big quantities. Maybe we are going to cooperate on this if South Korea is going to diversify its liquefied natural gas sourcing in order not to be dependent on only two countries."







Egypt is the host country for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), transferring the presidency from last year's host, the U.K., and there is still more room for the two countries to join hands in tackling climate change. The Egyptian president designated Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry to lead the climate talks.







"Egypt is going to play a very important role to bridge the gap between the developed countries and the developing, African countries. South Korea through its initiatives to combat climate change and reach carbon neutrality will definitely play an influential role," he said.







"Starting from now till the end of this year. I'm sure that we are going to count on South Korea very much to help us to make this conference a big success for the world, not only for Egypt."


She's a model, new mom and advocate for ovarian cancer awareness, after her mom was diagnosed with it in 2018.

And Grace Elizabeth posed up a storm for Elle Magazine's January 2022 digital cover as she chatted about motherhood as well as her mom during her battle.

The 24-year-old star welcomed son Noah in February 2021, said it's been nice talking about parenting with fellow models and new moms Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski.

Strike a pose: Grace Elizabeth posed up a storm for Elle Magazine 's January 2022 issue

Gigi, 26, welcomed daughter Khai in September 2020 with Zayn Malik and Emily, 30, welcomed son Sylvester in March 2021 with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard.

Grace also is friends with photographer Zoey Grossman, who welcomed twins.

Grace said that she is 'able to to speak about postpartum struggles and what it's like to become a new mom.'

Adding: 'Gigi [Hadid], Emily [Ratajkowski] - our children are around the same age.'

Wow: The 24-year-old star welcomed son Noah in February 2021, said that it has been nice talking about parenting with fellow models Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski

In motion: Grace said that she is 'able to to speak about postpartum struggles and what it's like to become a new mom'

Wow: Adding: 'Gigi [Hadid], Emily [Ratajkowski] - our children are around the same age'

'We don't have to beat around the bush and say, "Oh no, it's wonderful." Because as wonderful as it is, as grateful as we are, it is very hard.'

She said to the magazine that she wants other new moms to even if they think they are failing at it, they are not.

'You feel like you're failing all the time, even when you're not. Hormone flux is crazy. It's up and down.'

Adding: 'I don't think there are a whole lot of conversations around [the] postpartum [period] because there's guilt with it. It's ok to feel angry or alone or tired and confused, or to feel like you're doing something wrong, or to just want to be a little selfish with your time, take 15 more minutes in the shower.'

Mom life: Gigi, 26, welcomed daughter Khai in September 2020 with Zayn Malik and Emily, 30, welcomed son Sylvester in March 2021 with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard

She spoke about her mom as well, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018.

Grace said: 'I've seen her go through treatment, a short intermission, back into treatment. I've seen what the cancer itself does to the body, what chemo does to the body and the mental state. It's life-shattering. It's such an uncommon cancer that there's not enough funding.'

Grace is an advocate for awareness for ovarian cancer, and has posted about it on her social media pages as well as raise funds and done walkathons.

In addition to modeling, Grace hopes to expand her career into acting, and has been taking acting classes and reading up about method acting.

'Walking in all of these shows, it was so amazing to be back in this crazy chaos. Of course, with a bit more precautions and generosity and a little more humanity. Motherhood has been absolutely incredible, and I'm a very lucky woman and hopefully you'll see me on a big screen soon.'

Model style: In addition to modeling, Grace hopes to expand her career into acting, and has been taking acting classes and reading up about method acting; pictured walking in the September 20, 2019 Etro show during Milan Fashion Week

Career: 'Walking in all of these shows, it was so amazing to be back in this crazy chaos. Of course, with a bit more precautions and generosity and a little more humanity. Motherhood has been absolutely incredible, and I'm a very lucky woman and hopefully you'll see me on a big screen soon'

Grace, who welcomed Noah with husband Nicolas Krause, said she was 'born to be a mom, and says that 'everything I have, I pour into him happily.'

Adding: 'It's so amazing to watch him discover the world for the first time. What may be ordinary to us is fascinating to him. We get to see it all over again, see the beauty in things.'

She said mom guilt is 'very real,' explaining: 'I think a lot of women often don't speak about it because they're either afraid of judgement or just [dealing with] self-inflicted guilt.'

Grace noted that she feels 'guilty for enjoying myself when I'm away or at work or having that moment of time to myself. Then I also feel guilty that I'm not there, that maybe he needs me or I'm missing something, because every day he learns something new.'
Mythic Quest star F. Murray Abraham has been cast in the second season of the hit HBO series The White Lotus, which is rumored to be set in Italy rather than Hawaii.

The Syrian-American 82-year-old has signed on to play Bert Di Grasso, an elderly man traveling with his son and grandson.

Abraham famously won the Oscar for best actor in 1985 for his heartbreaking performance as envious composer Antonio Salieri in the late, great Milos Forman's film Amadeus.

Europe bound! Mythic Quest star F. Murray Abraham has been cast in the second season of the hit HBO series The White Lotus, which is rumored to be set in Italy rather than Hawaii (pictured in 2020)

All aboard! The Syrian-American 82-year-old has signed on to play Bert Di Grasso, an elderly man traveling with his son and grandson

The Order alum Adam DiMarco will portray Bert Di Grasso's recent college grad grandson, Albie, traveling with him.

The King's Man star Tom Hollander will take on the role of Quentin, an English expat vacationing with his friends and his nephew.

Unpregnant actress Haley Lu Richardson was cast as Portia, a young woman who is traveling with her boss.

Classic: Abraham famously won the Oscar for best actor in 1985 for his heartbreaking performance as envious composer Antonio Salieri in Milos Forman's film Amadeus

New to the cast! The Order alum Adam DiMarco will portray Bert Di Grasso's recent college grad grandson, Albie, traveling with him (pictured in 2019)

Englishman: The King's Man star Tom Hollander will take on the role of Quentin, an English expat vacationing with his friends and his nephew (pictured December 6)

Starlet: Unpregnant actress Haley Lu Richardson was cast as Portia, a young woman who is traveling with her boss (pictured in 2020)

The growing ensemble joins Best Sellers star Aubrey Plaza, who was cast last week as Harper Spiller, a woman on vacation with her husband and friends.

When Michael Imperioli was cast as Dominic Di Grasso, Albies father and Bert's son on January 5, he gushed: 'Very excited to be joining Mike White and team!'

Interestingly, the 55-year-old Sopranos alum tagged Jennifer Coolidge in his Instagram post as she is rumored to be reprising her scene-stealing role as Tanya McQuoid in season two.

Deadpan diva! The growing ensemble joins Best Sellers star Aubrey Plaza, who was cast last week as Harper Spiller, a woman on vacation with her husband and friends (pictured in 2019)

When Michael Imperioli was cast as Dominic Di Grasso, Albies father and Bert's son on January 5, he gushed: 'Very excited to be joining Mike White and team!'

Confirmed? Interestingly, the 55-year-old Sopranos alum tagged Jennifer Coolidge in his Instagram post as she is rumored to be reprising her scene-stealing role as Tanya McQuoid in season two

Who will win? The 60-year-old funnywoman and Murray Bartlett are nominated for best female actor and male actor in a TV movie/limited series at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, which air February 27 on TNT/TBS

The 60-year-old funnywoman and Murray Bartlett are nominated for best female actor and male actor in a TV movie/limited series at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, which air February 27 on TNT/TBS.

Two-time Independent Spirit Award winner Mike White will be back as executive producer, writer, and director for the satirical dramedy series he created.

The six-episode first season received a 'certified fresh' 89% critic approval rating (out of 90 reviews) and 77% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

At the helm! Two-time Independent Spirit Award winner Mike White will be back as executive producer, writer, and director for the satirical dramedy series he created (pictured July 7)
Joy Corrigan stunned in a revealing green dress as she was seen arriving at Acre Baja restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Monday night.

The Victoria's Secret Angel was celebrating her 27th birthday when she paired her cut-out green dress with small white Bottega Veneta heels and a mini purple handbag.

The blonde beauty styled her hair in beach waves as she was seen walking hand-in-hand with her sister, Gina Corrigan.

Stunning birthday girl: Joy Corrigan stunned in a revealing green dress as she was seen arriving at Acre Baja restaurant in Cabo San Lucas on Monday night

The supermodel even displayed her bottom in her see-through dress as she walked with her sister.

Joy did not seem to be wearing underwear and left little to the imagination in her birthday dress.

The star has been documenting her birthday trip for her nearly one million Instagram followers.

On Sunday, Joy posted a series of pictures in a tiny brown bikini, showing off her gorgeous tan. She kept her post simple, captioning it with three palm tree emojis and tagging the location as Chileno Bay Resort.

Sister trip: The blonde beauty styled her hair in beach waves as she was seen walking hand-in-hand with her sister, Gina Corrigan

Victoria's Secret angel: The Victoria's Secret angel is celebrating her 27th birthday down south

Very exposed: The supermodel even displayed her behind in her see-through dress as she walked with her sister. Joy wasn't wearing underwear and left little to the imagination in her birthday dress

On Friday night, Joy posted a video of herself dancing in a mini dress and drinking wine with her sister upon their arrival.

'First night in Cabo ;),' Joy captioned the post with palm tree, mushroom and beach emojis.

Joy has been modeling since she was 14-years-old and has worked for brands like Guess, Victoria's Secret, and Jimmy Choo.

The sisters: Joy has been documenting her birthday trip for her nearly one million Instagram followers

Toned body: Joy and her sister Gina both showed off their lean, tan figures as they celebrated the birthday girl in Cabo

In a January interview with Maxim, the model discussed her laid back attitude towards showing her body in front of the camera.

'I love to be sexy and I love to show skin cause I work out really hard to get the body that I have. Ive always been very free-spirited about it,' she explained.

In addition, she is also the co-founder and CEO of a clothing brand named Naked Species.

Showing skin: 'I love to be sexy and I love to show skin cause I work out really hard to get the body that I have. Ive always been very free-spirited about it,' she explained in an interview with Maxim
PR queen Roxy Jacenko has revealed how she and her husband Oliver Curtis handle living in different states for work.

The mother of two, 42, spoke about managing a long-distance relationship in the midst of the Covid pandemic during an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday.

The businesswoman, who is based in Sydney, revealed Oliver flies back from his new base in Tasmania every Friday now borders are open.

How they do it: Roxy Jacenko revealed on Tuesday how she and husband Oliver Curtis cope living in different states, after he joined his father in a Bitcoin start-up in Tasmania. The couple are pictured with their children, Pixie and Hunter

Oliver has joined his father in a Bitcoin start-up business in Tasmania.

She joked at first that living interstate actually helps their marriage of ten years.

'How do you and your husband manage living in different states?' one fan asked her, to which she replied: 'It's probably why he still likes me.'

'It's probably why he still likes me!' During an Instagram Q&A with fans, she joked at first that living interstate actually helps their marriage of ten years

'He is doing very well with work so I am happy. I've got lots on as do the kids so it works. At least now the borders have opened he can come back on Fridays. Prior [to that] he was in Tassie full time,' she added.

Oliver, 37, last year made a long-awaited return to the finance industry, five years after he was jailed for insider trading.

The father of two is not permitted to run or serve as a director of a business until June 2022 as part of a court-ordered mandate.

Travelling: 'He is doing very well with work so I am happy - I've got lots on as do the kids so it works. At least now the borders have opened he can come back on Fridays,' she added

He is gearing up to take Bitcoin mining business Firmus Grid to the ASX for 2022.

He serves as the company's chief operating officer while his father Nick, who made his fortune in mining selling rare minerals, is chairman.

Oliver's role, which is well within the guidelines of his court order, does not directly manage the finances and is helping to shape the company as it seeks to become the first of it's kind on the Australian stock exchange.

The Tasmania-based Bitcoin mining operation is seeking to raise $55 million to land on the ASX market this year, the Australian Financial Review reported.

In addition to the Bitcoin mining, Firmus operates a renewables-powered cloud service and 'innovative data centre company'.
Sidney Poitier died aged 94 as a result of 'heart failure, Alzheimer's dementia and prostate cancer' his death certificate reveals.

Poitier - who was the first black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, in 1964 - passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California, earlier this month.

TMZ reports that the legal document confirming his passing had also listed his occupation as an actor, with other 76 years in the business.

Poitier's death was confirmed on Jan. 7 by Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Bahamas, where Poitier grew up.

RIP: Oscar-winning Hollywood star Sir Sidney Poitier has died at 94. He made history as the first black man to win an Oscar for best actor (above) in 1964 for Lilies Of The Field

At the time, his cause of death was not revealed, but now it's emerged that it was due to a combination of heart failure, his battle with Alzheimer's dementia and prostate cancer.

Poitier's trailblazing acting career saw him win an Oscar in 1964 for his role in Lilies of the Field him, and earn two further Academy Award nominations, ten Golden Globes nominations, two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, six BAFTA nominations, eight Laurel nominations, and one Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination.

Twice-married, he had four daughters with his first wife Juanita Hardy and two with his second wife Joanna Shimkus, as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In the last known photo of him, Poitier is seen left in February 2021 celebrating his 94th birthday with his daughter. Right, he is at his 92nd birthday in 2019

Barack Obama paid tribute to the actor's 'singular talent' in a heartfelt post.

'Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together. He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans,' Obama wrote on Twitter.

He accompanied his tribute with a photograph of himself and Michelle with Poitier in the Oval Office after he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Legions of famous faces from across the world shared memories and praise of the actor, including President Joe Biden who said in a statement that Poitier's 'work carried so much dignity, power, and grace that it changed the world on and off the big screen.'

Oprah Winfrey posted a photo of herself hugging Poitier, writing: 'the greatest of the 'Great Trees' has fallen'

Leading the Hollywood tributes earlier this month were Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Harry Belafonte, Whoopie Goldberg, and Tyler Perry, who wrote: 'The grace and class that this man has shown throughout his entire life, the example he set for me, not only as a black man but as a human being will never be forgotten.'

'All I can say is thank you for your life, thank you for your example, and thank you for your incredible gift,' added Perry.

During his first marriage, he began a nine-year affair with actress Diahann Carroll, whom he met when they worked together on the 1959 movie Porgy and Bess. The fallout from the affair ended the marriages of both Carroll and Poitier, whose subsequent second marriage to Shimkus was more enduring, lasting 45 years until his death.

Groundbreaking roles and singular talent: Barack Obama paid tribute to Sidney Poitier, who has died aged 94

In 2016, Poitier was awarded a BAFTA fellowship, but did not attend the event due to ill health.

Poitier received the Kennedy Center Honor in 1995 and an received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2009.

He was also awarded an Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974.

Upon news of his death, tributes flowed in from around the world, with musician Lenny Kravitz writing that Poitier 'showed the world that with vision and grace, all is possible.'

Biden said in his statement that 'Sidney was more than just one of the finest actors in our history.'

'He blazed a path for our Nation to follow, and a legacy that touches every part of our society today,' said Biden.

Poitier's close friend and great contemporary Harry Belafonte issued a statement Friday, remembering their extraordinary times together.

'For over 80 years, Sidney and I laughed, cried and made as much mischief as we could,' he wrote. 'He was truly my brother and partner in trying to make this world a little better. He certainly made mine a whole lot better.'

Sidney Poitier and second wife Joanna Shimkus attend an event at Hotel Bel-Air in California in 2011

During his first marriage, Poitier began a nine-year affair with actress Diahann Carroll (with him in 2005) whom he met when they worked together on the 1959 movie Porgy and Bess

Denzel Washington told the Hollywood Reporter: 'It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend. He was a gentle man and opened doors for all of us that had been closed for years. God bless him and his family.'

Oprah Winfrey posted a photo of herself hugging Poitier, writing: 'the greatest of the 'Great Trees' has fallen.'

'The utmost, highest regard and praise for his most magnificent, gracious, eloquent life. I treasured him. I adored him. He had an enormous soul I will forever cherish,' added Winfrey.

Actor Billy Dee Williams wrote on Twitter: 'You were an incredibly beautiful, kind soul who changed the lives of so many, and a hero to all. The world was a much better place because you were in it, and we will miss you.'

'Sidney Poitier, your last sunset with us is the dawn of many generations rising in the path of light you blazed. We will always hold you in our hearts and forever speak your name,' wrote actor and director Debbie Allen on Twitter.

'One of the greatest actors of his generation,' musician Questlove posted on Instagram. 'We all have our Poitier era. Growing up in the 70s I'd have to say that maybe Uptown Saturday Night was the first movie I ever watched. ... Rest in peace. And thank you.'

Legendary career: Poitier with Pearl Bailey in 1959's Porgy and Bess

In 1967's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner he played a black man with a white fiancee in a groundbreaking role

Poitier wrote three autobiographical books and in 2013 published 'Montaro Caine,' a novel that was described as part mystery, part science fiction.

Poitier was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 1974 and served as the Bahamian ambassador to Japan and to UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency. He also sat on Walt Disney's board of directors from 1994 to 2003.

In 2009, Poitier was awarded the highest U.S. civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Barack Obama.

The 2014 Academy Awards ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of Poitier's historic Oscar and he was there to present the award for best director.
Russian troops arriving in Belarus, near Ukraine, as seen in this handout photograph from Belarus' defence ministry

The United States raised the alarm Tuesday on a potentially imminent Russian attack against Ukraine, ahead of a whirlwind diplomatic mission by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

With tens of thousands of Russian troops already massed on Ukraine's borders, Blinken flew to meet with the Ukrainians and European allies, ahead of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday.

US officials upped the threat level, saying that the slow-brewing crisis was reaching a dangerous new stage.

"We believe we're now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. "I would say that's more stark than we have been."

In an ominous new development, a senior State Department official said there is concern that draft constitutional reforms in Belarus, an authoritarian state closely allied to Moscow, could allow deployment of Russian nuclear weapons.

This came as Russian troops poured into the country for what were said to be training exercises but at levels that the US official said were far "beyond normal."

Map of Ukraine and Belarus

Russia insists it has no plans to invade Ukraine, where in 2014 it already seized one province and backed separatist rebels in another region.

However, Moscow's build-up of offensive weaponry and troops leaves little doubt that at least a potential assault is being prepared as a way to back the Kremlin's broader aim of preventing pro-Western Ukraine from leaving the Russian sphere of influence.

Among Russia's demands is a pledge from the NATO alliance that it never offer Ukraine membership -- something NATO calls a non-starter.

Psaki blamed the Russian leader, saying "President Putin has created this crisis" and warned again that unprecedented economic sanctions would follow a Russian attack against Ukraine.

This photograph taken near Donetsk, capital of a self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (PDR) in eastern Ukraine, on January 18, 2022, shows landmine warning signs in the village of Vesyoloye

"No option is off the table" when it comes to sanctions, she said, warning of an "extremely dangerous situation."

Psaki stressed that this could include shelving the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

The pipeline, which has been completed but not commissioned, is seen as an important part of Europe's energy supply network, but also a crown jewel in Moscow's export capabilities.

"Our view continues to be that stopping the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a credible piece we hold over Russia," Psaki said.

- Multiple talks -

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is headed on a whirlwind diplomatic tour in Europe

Blinken's diplomatic offensive follows inconclusive talks last week in Geneva, Brussels and Vienna, where Russia presented what Western governments say are unacceptable demands.

In a call with Lavrov ahead of his trip, Blinken "stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

A readout from the Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov told Blinken that Moscow needs "concrete article-by-article" responses "as soon as possible."

He called on Blinken "not to replicate speculation about the allegedly impending 'Russian aggression'."

Negotiations between Russia and the West -- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are seen here -- have done little to ease concerns over Ukraine's security

Earlier, Lavrov said at a joint press conference with visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock there would be no further negotiations until the West responds.

In addition to barring Ukraine from eventual NATO membership, Moscow is demanding limits on NATO forces in current member nations like Poland and the Baltic states that were once in the Soviet bloc.

The US State Department said Blinken would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Wednesday, to "reinforce the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Blinken will then hold four-way talks with Britain, France and Germany in Berlin before he meets Lavrov on Friday in Geneva.

- Belarus military drills -

Kyiv has been at war with pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country since 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine

Adding to the tensions, Russia and Ukraine's neighbor Belarus on Tuesday launched snap military exercises.

The Belarusian defense ministry said it was hosting the drills because of the continuing "aggravation" of military tensions, including on its western and southern borders.

Ukraine is located south of Belarus, and east of NATO and EU member Poland.

Neither Moscow nor Minsk has disclosed the number of troops involved, but video published by Belarus showed military vehicles including tanks being unloaded from trains.

"These numbers are beyond of course what we would expect with regards to a normal exercise right. A normal exercise requires notification 42 days in advance," the State Department official said.

NATO member Turkey also warned Moscow against invading Ukraine, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying Tuesday he intends to discuss rising tensions with Putin.

Turkey has supplied combat drones to Ukrainian forces, drawing fierce criticism from Moscow.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced in parliament Monday that London was sending anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

burs-sms/bgs
Terry Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.
President Moon Jae-in receives a welcome by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo



RIYADH  President Moon Jae-in and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a summit on Tuesday (local time), and explored ways to expand bilateral ties in the fields of hydrogen energy, construction and artificial intelligence (AI).



The President arrived in Riyadh for a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia upon the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties. Saudi Arabia is Korea's largest trading partner in the Middle East and is also the biggest market for Korean builders. The leaders met in 2019 when the crown prince visited Seoul.



Initially, Moon was scheduled to meet the crown prince at Al Yamamah Palace. But the prince unexpectedly showed up at the airport to welcome the Korean leader.



According to the crown prince's office, Prince Mohammed's appearance at a foreign leader's reception is "a very special occasion" and reflects the importance of the relations between Korea and Saudi Arabia, Moon's spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee said.



During their official meeting, Moon said that the two countries have built their bilateral relations on cooperation in the infrastructure sector, and their ties are now expanding to hydrogen energy, nuclear energy, defense, healthcare and other future-oriented fields.



Prince Mohammed responded by saying he has high expectations for Korea's participation in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a strategic framework to reduce the Middle Eastern country's dependence on oil and diversify its economy, and hopes to see tangible results in the two countries' cooperation.



Vision 2030 is Prince Mohammed's signature initiative.



As part of that initiative, Saudi Arabia is pursuing a project called NEOM smart city and both Moon and the crown prince expressed their hopes for the participation of more Korean companies.





President Moon Jae-in and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchange words at a reception room at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap
Linda Caldwell is the former executive director of the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association. She has served on numerous regional, state, and national boards for organizations that focus on history, preservation, community arts, and rural economic development. She can be reached at lindacaldwell1942@gmail.com
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The Cabinet directed the officials to complete the vaccination programme at the earliest with the help of municipal and panchayat raj departments. (Twitter)

Hyderabad: The state Cabinet which met here at Pragathi Bhavan on Monday felt that there was no need to impose lockdown or night/weekend curfew in the state to check the spread of Covid virus, according to official sources.

The Cabinet came to this conclusion following the report submitted by health minister T. Harish Rao stating that the Covid-19 situation was under control in the state and the health department was ready to deal with any situation. Harish Rao said the state had so far administered five crore doses of Covid vaccines. The health department will soon administer vaccines to the remaining eligible citizens.

The Cabinet directed the officials to complete the vaccination programme at the earliest with the help of municipal and panchayat raj departments. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao asked the ministers to hold meetings in all districts with district collectors and other officials to complete the vaccination programme.

The Cabinet also took stock of the recent kharif paddy procurement. It noted that the procurement had already completed but due to unseasonal rains, procurement centres were continuing in some districts. It decided that the procurement centres would function till the entire paddy was procured. It was also decided that the Chief Minister would visit undivided Warangal district on Tuesday where unseasonal rains had damaged crops.

The other decisions of the Cabinet include setting up of Women's University and Forest University, reservations to students in Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI) located in Siddipet district, jobs to be filled through direct recruitment exams in forest department, 25 per cent reservations in ACF jobs (assistant conservator of forests), 50 per cent reservations in FRO jobs (forest range officers) and jobs in 'foresters category'.

It was also decided to set up Manjeera Lift Irrigation Corporation to raise funds for construction of Sangameshwara and Basaveshwara lift irrigation projects, Rs 388.20 crore for construction of link canal from Mallannasagar reservoir to Tapaspally reservoir in Siddipet district, revision of cost estimates to Rs 795.94 crore for construction of Chanaka-Korata barrage over Penganga river in Adilabad district and revision of cost estimates to Rs 669 crore for construction of Gattu lift irrigation project in Gadwal district.
Although the High Court asked the state government to devise a mechanism to regulate fees, it got delayed due to various reasons. (Representational image/ PTI)

Hyderabad: The state Cabinet which met here on Monday decided to regulate fee structure in private schools, junior colleges and degree colleges in the state. It was decided to enact a separate legislation to regulate fees in private educational institutions.

There has been a long pending demand from various parents and students associations to regulate fees in private institutions. Parents associations in the past had even moved the High Court seeking directions to the state government to regulate fees. Although the High Court asked the state government to devise a mechanism to regulate fees, it got delayed due to various reasons.

The Cabinet also decided to introduce English medium in all government schools and bring special legislation in this regard.

It was decided to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee to study both these issues and finalise modalities for fee regulation in private institutions and English medium in government schools. The committee will be headed by education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and comprises ministers K.T. Rama Rao, Harish Rao, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, G. Jagadish Reddy, V. Prashanth Reddy, Koppula Eashwar, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, S. Niranjan Reddy, V. Srinivas Goud and Puvvada Ajay Kumar.

The Cabinet also decided to launch 'Mana Vuru, Mana Badi' (our village, our school) to strengthen government schools by providing quality education and beefing up infrastructure facilities at a cost of Rs 7,289 crore.
A view over Banpo Jugong 1 apartment complex in southern Seoul, Dec. 5. / Courtesy of Ron Bandun





By Ron Bandun









Many readers reacted to my previous article, on

, by pointing out that the apartment buildings themselves tend to be a blight on the landscape. They're not wrong, but this point is more of a conversation starter than a real hot take. And so, I've been paying more attention to the south side of the river hoping to find beauty in the dull, repetitive, colorless aesthetic of modern urban architecture.







In fact, while vying for a good position to shoot the Lotte Castle complex with giant phallic shapes on the side, I ended up scaling an abandoned apartment building across the street in the Sinbanpo area. The elevators were offline, so I took the stairs up about 16 floors, careful to avoid any workers inside. I paused my ascent to get a look in the apartment units, which were much smaller than I was expecting, small rooms with barely room for two beds. The unit owners who are participating in the remodeling process are probably looking forward to the completion of the new buildings.







I called it "abandoned," but most likely everyone had moved out for "remodeling," a process whereby old apartments are demolished and then rebuilt, albeit in a much newer form. Several such projects have been carried out across Gangnam, and I've already visited a handful in Garak-dong, Godeok-dong and Gaepo-dong. To be honest, they're not particularly exciting, just lots of buildings that look the same. But still, there has been local Korean interest in these aging buildings which are about to become extinct, mostly by people younger than me who grew up in them.







Gaepo in particular fueled a wave of nostalgia, as evidenced by the number of Instagram accounts I've found: @gaepothere, @for_gaepo, @from_gaepo, @gaepo_nyang (for the stray cats) and @gaepotree (for the majestic trees that grew tall there over the last 40 or so years). All these accounts have gone cold since 2019 due to the remodeling progress.







My first rushed visit to the Sinbanpo building was on deadline day during a light rain shower, so I came back later to take my time and get better pictures. I also decided to look up a few more redevelopment sites on the south side of the river.







But on my way to the next site on my list, I found myself in the middle of the Banpo Jugong 1 apartment complex, which is also currently undergoing a major remodeling process. This was one of Seoul's earliest attempts to mass-produce apartments, with a whopping 114 buildings. And all of them were empty or being emptied out.







It sounds like an urban explorer's dream come true, but I found myself underwhelmed pretty quickly. Parallel rows of five-level apartment buildings, as far as the eye could see, all with black numbers painted on the side. Many had "gongga" (empty house) signs on the front door. The space between buildings was mainly for parking, so I had no trouble driving around. Others were here too, going on nostalgic walks or just taking shortcuts; the security guards stationed in guard shacks everywhere didn't seem to mind, although at some point when the depopulation progresses further, I know this will change.







A sign says "gongga" (empty house) on the front door of an apartment building in Banpo Jugong 1 in southern Seoul, Dec. 5. / Courtesy of Ron Bandun





It made me wonder what it must have been like to grow up in such a place, full of straight lines and right angles on such a colossal scale. It may have been a great communal place, where most of your classmates lived in the same housing and maybe you could have gone out and met them at night after finishing your studies. Or it could have been lifeless and impersonal.









A picture posted last year on the Korea Times Archive page shows a

, back when the trees were too small and the concrete still fresh white. Even the roads through the area looked different, and the dirt or concrete embankment of Banpo Stream can be seen bordering its southern edge. It's an eyesore, harkening back to the latter days of architectural brutalism: blandness, simplicity, almost in defiance of nature.







Buildings of the Banpo Jugong 1 apartment complex are seen between the Han River and an embankment for Banpo Stream, (cropped) published in The Korea Times June 23, 1981. / Korea Times Archive





But the complex as pictured 40 years ago still looks wholly unlike today's Banpo Jugong 1, with its tall trees towering over the homes, uniformly all throughout the complex, creating a natural canopy over all the flat surfaces. As the buildings aged, outliving their usefulness and losing value as demand for larger spaces and taller buildings grew, the trees meanwhile continued to grow, both in height and value. Unless they are saved and transplanted elsewhere, their removal may well be the greatest loss in the reconstruction process.







Banpo Jugong 1 apartment complex in southern Seoul, Dec. 5. / Courtesy of Ron Bandun



Another change for the better is the improvement of Banpo Stream, also known as Seoritgae, now a nice, clean recreation area, if a little too straightforward and featureless to stand out among Seoul's many urban streams. Apparently in the past it had been known for bad smells, and Banpo Jugong 1 residents didn't seem to like living next to it. When Line 9 opened in 2009, a local stop was planned to be named Seoritgae Station, but 6,700 residents protested, resulting in the name being switched to Gubanpo.









I found another possible reason for their suspicion of the stream, when the Korea Times Archive posted a 1996 article, titled "

." Apparently Cho Song-chol, a 51-year-old man, had been walking home after a year-end party, when he fell six meters down an uncovered manhole onto a concrete surface. He survived by drinking sewer water, reminding me of the UE Kingz song "

," in which the vocalist Dr. Drain boasts of "drinking sewer water like champagne." Finally after nine days, someone on the surface heard Cho's cries for help.







A man recuperates in a hospital after being trapped in an underground river for nine days, published in The Korea Times Jan. 7, 1996. / Korea Times Archive





This story led me to take another look at that previous archive picture, and study maps of the area. On my first free day, I returned to Banpo Jugong 1 for a closer look at the stream. Sure enough, from street level all the way down to the water, it was just about six meters.







Banpo Stream, with the underground entrance straight ahead, Dec. 15 / Courtesy of Ron Bandun





I headed upstream until I found the entrance to a giant tunnel, from where the water flowed out. Massive vinyl curtains dangled over the entrance, sealing in all the unpleasant smells generated by such underground rivers. I poked my head inside, and could imagine it was exactly what this poor man  humiliated in this paper for being a "drunk" when clearly some city worker was at fault  would have experienced for those harrowing nine days.







The entrance to the buried section of Banpo Stream is covered with giant vinyl curtains, Dec. 15. / Courtesy of Ron Bandun





The stream apparently originates from Mount Umyeon, about four kilometers to the south, but if he fell in within Banpo-dong as described, he must have been somewhere within the first 1.6 kilometers of the tunnel mouth.







"I tried to find a way out of it but I got lost in the labyrinth of tunnels," he was quoted as saying.







Looking inside the underground river, Dec. 15 / Courtesy of Ron Bandun





Had he followed the water downstream, he might have emerged safely near his home.















Ron Bandun is an urban explorer. He has been visiting forgotten, abandoned and forbidden spaces in Korea for over 16 years, documenting the changes and conflicts of the urban environment.
Vijayawada: Education minister Adimulapu Suresh said on Monday that some 90 per cent of the 26 lakh students have been given the Covid19 vaccine so far.

The government is taking all steps to ensure health protection to students in all educational institutions and parents need not worry on that count, he said.

The minister said as the third C-wave was looming large. But classes are held with all safety norms in place so that students can be properly prepared for the exams and they would avoid losing an academic year, he said.

He maintained that schools were run for nearly 150 days without any major hitch this year and the state government was keeping a close watch on the Covid19 situation in the state. Suitable decisions will be taken at the appropriate time, he said.

He noted that the online method of teaching has its limitations and it could not be a substitute to class-room teaching especially for primary and upper primary sections.

Soon after the reopening of schools post-Sankranti, a 61 per cent attendance was registered on the first day itself in the state. Safety aspects in school will continue to get top priority, he said.

Two control rooms are functional at the department of school education and at the Board of Intermediate Education. Parents may contact them for information on Covid19 related issues. They function from 10am to 5pm. The control room numbers are 7833888555 for school education and 9440816025 for BIE.
Vijayawada: N. Chandrababu Naidu, leader of Opposition, Andhra Pradesh and former Chief Minister tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The Telugu Desam Party chief issued a statement in this regard through his twitter handle on Tuesday.

"I've tested positive for COVID with mild symptoms. I have quarantined myself at home and taking all the necessary precautions. I would request those who came in contact with me to get themselves tested at the earliest. Please be safe and take care," Naidu tweeted.
Approximately 25,000 people were allowed to attend the last year's parade. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The number of people that would be allowed to attend the Republic Day parade this year would be curtailed by 70-80 per cent to approximately 5,000-8,000 due to the ongoing wave of COVID-19, senior officials of the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Approximately 25,000 people were allowed to attend the last year's parade.

Moreover, the decision on whether chief guests will come or not for this year's parade is yet to be taken by the Ministry of External Affairs, the officials mentioned.

There was no chief guest at the parade last year.

Officials said the aim is to keep the people away and maintain social distancing at all times so that the parade should not become a super spreader event.

Therefore, the numbers have been significantly curtailed, they added.

While the exact number is yet to be decided, it would be anywhere between 5,000-8,000 people this year, they mentioned.

People would be encouraged to watch the parade on TV and livestreaming, they stated.

The decision regarding chief guests is being handled by the Ministry of External Affairs and we will wait for their decision in this regard, the officials said.
It is expected that the first phase of the vaccination drive for 15-18 years age group will be completed by the end of this month. (ANI)

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has not yet taken any decision on COVID-19 vaccination for children in the age bracket of 12-14 years, official sources told ANI.

As India has inoculated over 3.5 crore first doses of the Covaxin vaccine in the age group of 15-18 years, it is expected that the first phase of the vaccination drive for this age group will be completed by the end of this month.

However, there is no official statement on when the vaccination for children who fall between the age group of 12-14 years is going to be started in the country.

According to the experts, adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years are actively participating in the inoculation process.

On Monday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated all the teenagers, between the age group of 15 to 18 years, who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Amazing enthusiasm among young India for COVID-19 vaccination over 3.5 crore children between the 15-18 age group have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, since January 3. Congratulations to all my young friends who have got vaccinated," the health minister tweeted.

The country began vaccinating children between the age of 15-18 years from January 3, 2022, onwards, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement on December 25 last year.

Notably, Dr NK Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 working group of NTAGI, said that looking at the current pace of the vaccination, India may begin inoculating children in the age group of 12-14 years in March.

About 46 per cent of adolescents aged 15-18 years have received their first dose in less than two weeks after vaccines were rolled out for them.
HYDERABAD: Director of public health and family welfare Dr G. Srinivasa Rao, education secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania and other officials in the Secretariat were tested positive for Covid-19. In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Dr Rao, who has been the face of the state government in its fight against Covid-19, said, Due to mild symptoms, I got myself tested in a laboratory. The results confirmed that it was Covid-19. I am getting hospitalised and isolating myself for necessary symptomatic treatment.

Saying there was no need to be anxious or to worry about his health, Dr Rao said, I request the people of Telangana to take good care in the fight against Covid-19 by strictly following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.

Meanwhile, as many as 15 employees working in various departments of the Secretariat located in BRKR Bhavan were tested positive for Covid in the last two days. With this, employees and officials working in the Secretariat are jittery over-reporting to work.

Four employees each in medical and revenue departments were also tested positive. Employees said R&B secretary K.S. Sreenivasa Raju and health secretary Syed Ali Murtuza Rizvi were also tested positive but there was no official confirmation in this regard.

Employees requested the state government to implement 50 per cent attendance in the Secretariat on alternate days to check the spread of the virus. Major departments such as general administration, finance, law, minorities welfare, IT etc function from this building having a built-up area of just 1.6 lakh sq. ft.

Employees say that the scope for maintaining physical distancing is little given the limited space available in the building. In addition to existing staff, visitors thronging the Secretariat to meet officials on various works is also huge. Employees want restrictions on visitors until Covid situation improves.

Three employees working in the GAD principal secretary's office were tested positive over the past two days. With this, GAD principal secretary Vikas Raj went into home isolation.

The fear of transmission of virus in BRKR Bhavan impacted the attendance of employees on Tuesday. While some employees opted for leave, a few others sought permission to work from home.

Chief secretary Somesh Kumar reviewed Covid situation in BRKR Bhavan. He instructed staff to strictly follow Covid protocols like wearing of masks and avoid gatherings during lunch and tea breaks. Instructions were issued to sanitise building premises frequently
Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam: As AP sees a steep rise in Covid-19 cases, several VIPs are getting infected with the virus.

Telugu Desam chief and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu was down with the infection on Tuesday. Ive tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms. I have quarantined myself at home and taking all the necessary precautions. I would request those who came in contact with me to get themselves tested at the earliest. Please be safe and take care, he tweeted.

Another TD leader and former minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao tested Covid positive and said he was having mild symptoms and has quarantined himself at home.

Deputy CM and minister for revenue Dharmana Krishna Das tested positive and confined himself to home isolation in Srikakulam on Tuesday. His elder brother and Srikakulam MLA Dharmana Prasada also tested positive last week and is in home isolation at Srikakulam.

Minister for fisheries Seediri Appalaraju held a review meeting with the officials on Covid situation in Srikakulam and said that the third wave was here.

Earlier, TD national secretary Nara Lokesh was infected. However, he was asymptomatic and feeling well and confined himself to self-isolation.

AP witnessed a steep rise in daily cases of infections, and this was at 6,996 with four deaths on the daily chart on Tuesday, against 4,108 cases with no death on Monday. This meant a 70.30 per cent daily rise in cases.

The state health authorities reported here on Tuesday that out of 38,055 samples tested, 6,996 persons were found infected. Out of a total 3,19,22,969 samples tested in the state so far, 21,17,384 were found infected and of them, 20,66,762 recovered while 36,108 are still active with the virus.

Among daily cases of coronavirus infections, Chittoor continues to top the with 1,534 followed by 1,263 in Visakhapatnam, 758 in Guntur, 573 in Srikakulam, 462 in Anantapur, 424 in Prakasam, 412 in Vizianagaram, 326 in Krishna, 292 in East Godavari, 259 in Kurnool, 246 in Nellore, 245 in West Godavari and 202 in Kadapa.

With regard to daily cases of death of infected patients, two were reported in Visakhapatnam followed by one each in Chittoor and Nellore. With this, the death toll mounted to 14,514.

The state health authorities discharged 1,066 infected patients after recovery since Monday.

Chief Minister Jagan tweeted wishing speedy recovery and good health to TD chief Chandrababu Naidu.

AP governor Biswabusan Harichandan expressed concern over Naidus health and wished him swift recovery.
Nellore: As all legal disputes pertaining to land allotment have been resolved, the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, is speeding up the process to have a seafront facility at SPSR Nellore district.

According to NIOT director Ramadass, the seafront facility would have adequate laboratory / field testing facilities and integration bays for development and testing of prototype systems. NIOT functions under the Union earth science ministry.

This is in addition to validation of indigenously developed marine systems in ocean environment for future proposals of NIOT. Since such a facility needs to be established on land abutting the sea, an expanse of 153 acre was allotted for the purpose on the seafront abutting the Bay of Bengal at Pamanji and Vagarru villages. This is in addition to the land in the hinterland at Chittedu village, ameasuring about 53 acres, for the development of training facilities.

In spite of the pending legal issues and problem of access to the site, NIOT has been carrying out various activities at the Pamanji site. The entire site has been fenced. A raceway pond has been constructed for Marine Biotechnology Research for the mass culturing of marine microalgae.

This is for a technology demonstration on mass culturing of marine microalgae for production of nutraceuticals (health supplement) under a programme of technology transfer to the industry. A pump house for reaching seawater to the raceway pond is set up on the seafront.

In order to promote skills on open sea cage culturing of finfish by applying appropriate hatchery and larval rearing technology, a training session for local fishermen was carried out in Pamanji.

At Chittedu campus, a compound wall has been constructed around the entire campus and a building with framework and a project site office has been built.

It is proposed to use the space for promoting incubation and start-up activities, by way of installing test, measuring and assembly units so as to also impart skill development and provide employment opportunity for locals, Ramadass said.

The NIOT director said there were several legal issues related to the Seafront site at Pamanji - Vagarrum which have been amicably resolved by joint efforts of NIOT and the district administration, Nellore. The land has finally been handed over to NIOT in July 2021.

NIOT has erected a temporary road for access to the Pamanji site. This is not an all-weather road. The district administration has been urged to provide a direct all-weather permanent entry to the NIOT site at Pamanji and Vagarru.

He said that the presence of an aqueduct in Tuppilipalem hampers the transport of material for construction to the site. For the past two years, the work has been affected due to Covid19 and the restrictions on interstate travel. However, NIOT has carried out all desk-related studies and obtained environmental clearance for the proposed activities on the seafront.

With the resolving of legal issues pertaining to land acquisition, NIOT now proposes to undertake various activities for which preparation of detailed engineering designs is in progress.
Patna: The Bihar government has ordered an investigation after records showed that a Patna-based civil surgeon was administered five shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The civil surgeon, Dr Vibha Kumari Singh, however, said she had taken the jab thrice as per rules.

Singh also claimed that someone else managed to get vaccine shots using her PAN card details, and called for a probe.

According to the CoWIN portal, she received the first dose on January 28, 2021 and was fully vaccinated by March last year.

Government records showed Singh was also jabbed on February 6, 2021 using her PAN card information, and for the fourth time on June 17 that year. She then took a precautionary dose on January 13, 2022.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh on Monday said the administration has started an investigation. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty, he said.

Earlier this month, an 84-year-old man in the north Bihar district of Madhepura caused a flutter with the claim that he has taken a dozen shots of the coronavirus vaccine.

I have used my Aadhaar card and my voter ID card on different occasions to get myself registered Every single dose has helped relieve my chronic back pain. I have never caught a cold since I took the first shot 11 months ago, the octogenarian Brahmadeo Mandal had said.
Kakinada: Cops are facing a strange problem after seizing prize-cocks used in the cockfights engaged in by gamblers during the Sankranti festival.

It is the responsibility of cops to safeguard the seized birds till they are produced before the court of law. The seized cocks will be auctioned after court gives permission to do so in the areas under the respective police station.

Police personnel districts like East Godavari, Rajamahendravaram Urban Police District and West Godavari have seized 1,038 prize-cocks, registered 1,222 cases and arrested 3,036 persons during the three days of the festival. Now, the cops should keep the cocks in safe custody till they are produced before court.

So, some cops have handed over the seized cocks to bird lovers who are rearing it. Some cops have handed over the birds to the accused themselves. If there was no accused in relation to a seized bird, it should be taken care of by the police stations for now. If any cock dies due to illness or injuries during the cockfight, cops have to prove how it happened and obtain a certificate from a veterinary doctor, said Rajanagaram CI, Subhash.

Kadiam CI Rambabu said the seized cocks would be produced before court every Tuesday and Friday and as per instructions from the magistrate, the auction would be done.

Notably, courts have abandoned the physical hearing of cases due to the Covid19 crisis. If the nagistrates or judges agree for a physical hearing of the cockfight cases, the cops would be happy.

Meanwhile, chances are that the seized cocks may be changed before they are produced in court. The prize cocks fetch a high price and the cops or the accused can keep them aside and produce usual street cocks before the courts and allow them to be lost. They can make good money on the seized cocks.

Meanwhile, East Godavari SP Ravindranath said stringent steps have been taken to curb the cockfight and other gambling games. The district police arrested 1,500 accused and seized Rs 7.32 lakh in cash, 839 cocks and 863 cock-knives during the three days.

West Godavari SP Rahul said 1,085 gamblers were arrested in 452 cases. Cops seized Rs 6.67 lakh cash, 582 cocks and 669 cock-knives. Rajamahendravaram Urban DSP Aishwarya said 431 accused were arrested in 117 cases and Rs 3.35 lakh in cash and 122 cocks seized.
The government in another order sanctioned dearness allowance for the period from 01-07-2019 to 31-12-2021. (Representational image: DC)

Vijayawada: The AP government issued orders to revise the pay scales here on Monday, after the government granted fitment of 23 per cent of the basic pay in the revised scales.

The dearness allowance of 30.392 per cent as on 01-07-2018 will be merged in the pay as recommended by the 11th Pay Revision Commission. The interim relief shall not be included as pay for the purpose of fixation. The revised pay scales will be implemented notionally from 01-07-2018 with monetary benefit from 01-04-2020.

The government in another order sanctioned dearness allowance for the period from 01-07-2019 to 31-12-2021. The government ordered release of all five pending DA instalments from 01-07-2019 to 01-07-2021 and inclusion of the same from the salary of January 2022.

The government also issued an order for revised pensions with effect from

July 1, 2018.
Seen is the poster for the documentary film "Coming to You," released Nov. 17, 2021, and directed by Byun Gyu-ri. The film portrays two mothers' journey of accepting their children's sexual identity and their advocacy work for LGBTQ. / Courtesy of Atnine Film



By Lee Hae-rin



As a mother of two adult children, Kang Sun-hwa, a flight attendant, was a typical working woman who tried hard to balance her career and family. She had been doing so until June 18, 2016, when she and her husband were with their son at the dinner table, expecting to have quality time just like other days. Their son had said earlier that he had something to tell them. Instead of telling them what it was, he gave them a handwritten note, and then left.



Having no clue about his behavior, Kang began to read it. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her son's letter started with the shocking revelation that he is gay, information he understood would come as a big shock to his parents.



"I'd never, ever thought my son could possibly be gay. I thought there was a zero percent chance that he would be like that," Kang said during a recent Korea Times interview.



The moment of confusion, however, didn't last long.



As a mother, Kang said, she came to be sympathetic about her son. "He said he'd known he was gay ever since he was in second grade of middle school. He could have hidden it all his life without sharing it with us. If he had done that, imagine how painful it would have been. But he was courageous enough to speak out and let us know about his sexual identity," she said. "What I liked most about his letter was the part that he knew my husband and I would still love him and accept him as he is. I was touched."



Her son was right. Since that night, Kang has transformed into a campaigner fighting for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights. Like her son and many sexual minorities who go by nicknames, Kang introduces herself as "Vivian."



She is one of the most active members of the Parents, Families and Friends of LGBTQ+ People in Korea (PFLAG Korea). Founded in 2014, it is a non-profit group supporting sexual minorities.



With 130 parent members, the network stands at the forefront of educating and advocating for LGBTQ inclusivity and fighting for their children's rights.





Members of PFLAG Korea hold a press conference in Jongno District, downtown Seoul, on Transgender Visibility Day, March 31, 2021. The slogan in Korean on the closest purple sign reads, "Yes, my child is queer." Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



The support group runs a "free hugs" campaign and celebrates pride month, as well as joining parades at queer culture festivals. It also produces publications and guides for parents of sexual minorities and speaks out actively against discrimination based on sexual and gender identity via social media.



Kang's activism led to her appearance in the documentary "Coming to You," released on Nov. 17, 2021. Directed by Byun Gyu-ri, it features Kang and another brave parent  "Nabi," or Jeong Eun-ae, 58, mother of a transgender son, and their two-year journey of accepting their children's gender identities and growth as human rights activists with PFLAG Korea.



PFLAG Korea is developing collaborative relationships with supportive communities from various backgrounds, including religions and fields of medicine. Catholic and Christian priests, nuns and doctors at gender clinics and researchers have recently joined the monthly sessions for information.





Jeong Eun-ae and Kang Sun-hwa, who appeared in the documentary "Coming to You," speak during an interview with The Korea Times at their office on Jan. 13. / Korea Times photo by Park Ji-won



Pointing out that Korea is still at one of the lowest LGBTQ legal inclusivity levels among OECD member states, PFLAG Korea's activities are inevitably linked to legislative advocacy of inclusive policies and laws.



"It is believed that about 5 percent of every population is LGBTQ, which amounts to 2.5 million in Korea. The number is greater than civil servants and active military personnel here combined, which are at 1.2 million and 60,000 respectively. Then, why do you think it's so difficult to see sexual minorities around us?" asked Jeong, indicating many sexual minorities hide their identities for fear of discrimination.



Korea has not included sexual minorities in official statistics or authentically represented them in the census. The nation's human rights watchdog recommended the government to include sexual minority groups in government statistics last month.



Jeong and Kang joined the grassroots movement to support their children, but their activism is for themselves as well. While learning new concepts and questioning their previous ideas, the two activists said parents face moments where they must choose to become better people.



"Our children's coming out opened up a new world to us, the parents," Jeong said. "I like how I learned to look into the world in more detail and to care about other socially vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, single mothers and animals, through LGBTQ activism," Jeong said.



"Children's coming out is a gift to their parents. We at the PFLAG Korea learned to accept and respect them as individuals and pursue our own happiness, liberating ourselves from nepotism and patriarchy," Kang said.



"I truly thank my son for inviting me into his world. For other LGBTQ people who wish to invite their loved ones into their world but lack courage, we want to be an invitation on their behalf."





Members of PFLAG Korea parade through downtown Seoul during Seoul Queer Culture Festival 2018. / Courtesy of Atnine Film
Vijayawada: Industries minister Mekapati Goutham said on Monday that works on three ports and nine fishing harbours will be taken up at a cost of Rs 18,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh.

Taking part in a PM Gati Sakthi programme to explain the national master plan for multimodal connectivity, held virtually by the Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, the state minister said the AP government had been according top priority to providing all basic transport facilities and is exploring new avenues to further the cause.

Referring to APs Panchasutras, the minister said. We would develop ports and waterways, strengthen the telecom sector with fiber cable network, adopt new ways to enhance power generation and distribution, link regional airways under the Udan scheme to ports and interlink roads under the Bharatmala scheme, and expand freight transport systems to reduce transport charges.

The minister said the AP government was ahead of other states in enhancing maritime-based wealth in addition to creating amenities at ports. We are among the best in developing roads, rail routes and sea ports connecting airports so that multimodal transport cargo hubs and expansion of supply of natural gases would help the state achieve industrial and economic growth.

The minister said three ports -- Bhavanapadu, Machilipatnam and Ramayapatnam -- and nine fishing harbours are being set up in the state at a cost of Rs 18,000 crore. We are also developing three industrial corridors --the Visakhapatnam-Chennai, the Chennai-Bengaluru and the Bengaluru-Hyderabad -- connecting all the districts in the state so that we can provide employment opportunity to the youths and develop the roads system, water families and power supply.

Meanwhile, the Centre has asked the state governments that each of them appoint a nodal officer to coordinate the implementation of the PM Gati Sakthi programme. The states have been asked to submit their opinions on the programme by March 2022.
New Delhi: A day after the BJP leadership expelled Uttarakhand Cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat from the party for anti-party activities, two ruling party MLAs -- Pradeep Batra and Pranav Singh Champion, who had joined the saffron fold along with Mr Rawat and six others in 2016 after rebelling against the then ruling Congress -- on Monday issued statements asserting they are disciplined soldiers of the BJP. The social media was abuzz that Mr Rawat was in touch with some of the leaders who had joined the BJP with him.

Mr Rawat, who was supposed to join the Congress on Monday, is now awaiting a decision from the Congress top brass on whether or not he will be inducted into the party, against which he had rebelled in 2016 before joining the BJP. In the Uttarakhand Congress, there is a sense of unease over Mr Rawats possible ghar wapsi. Also, Congresss state womens wing chief Sarita Arya has joined the BJP and could be fielded from the Nainital Assembly seat, which was won by the BJP, but its MLA Sanjiv Arya has now joined the Congress. Elections for the 70-member Assembly in the hill state are scheduled on February 14.

The BJP claims Mr Rawat was seeking a ticket for at least two family members, including his daughter-in-law, and a shift of his Assembly seat from Kotdwar, and he was hobnobbing with the Congress for months after his demands were refused by the BJP leadership. After being expelled from the BJP, Harak Singh Rawat claimed the Congress was coming back to power in the state and that he was feeling suffocated in the BJP. He had reached New Delhi on Sunday, along with MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, to meet the BJP leadership, which was holding a meeting with the states core group leaders over selection of candidates for the upcoming polls. Mr Kau, considered close to Harak Singh Rawat, met Union minister Amit Shah amid speculation that the BJP could change Mr Kaus Assembly seat this time.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the BJP had tried to take Mr Rawat along and but when he began mounting pressure on the party for a ticket for himself as well as his family members, the party decided to take action against him. He also insisted the BJP was against dynasty politics and follows the path of development and nationalism.

Amid speculation about Harak Singh Rawat joining the Congress, the partys campaign committee chief and stalwart Harish Rawat said the Congress will take a decision (on inducting Harak Singh Rawat) after considering several angles.

If he will accept his mistakes (in) leaving the Congress, then we are ready to welcome him, said Harish Rawat, against whose government the expelled leader had rebelled along with several others, leading to the imposition of the Presidents Rule.
Pakistan last week released its National Security Policy 2022-2026, a document co-authored by its national security adviser Moeed Yusuf, but acknowledging inputs from several government entities. The policy articulates what it sees as Pakistans vision and priorities and provides a detailed implementation framework. About half the document was released to the public and half kept classified. The document emphasises economic security and says that traditional security is only a means to achieving economic prosperity. It speaks of health security, climate change and water stress, food security and gender security.

It refers to terrorism with these words: The most acute form of efforts to undermine the stability and national harmony of a society is terrorism.

The internal security policy objectives are: To ensure the writ of the state in all parts of the country to guarantee security of life and property of all citizens. Prioritise combatting terrorism, violent sub-nationalisms, extremism, sectarianism, and organised crime. Ensure Pakistan remains a secure destination for intellectual activity, businesses, investors, and visitors.

Externally, it says it will seek regional peace through normalisation of relations in our immediate neighbourhood on the basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality.

Pakistan is on the threshold of change because of a corridor that China is building connecting China with the Arabian Sea via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This will help connect Pakistan to Central Asia, especially if Afghanistan remains stable.

Our government should be studying the document (and also trying to access those parts which are classified) to see if it needs responding to and whether our national security policy is affected by this.

Unfortunately, for this to happen, we must first have a national security policy, which we do not. Retired Gen. Prakash Menon has noted that, for several decades, Indias political guidance to the military had been oriented towards Pakistan as the immediate threat. But now that the Chinese threat has reached our doorstep, this has changed. The political objectives expected to be achieved by the military resided in a 2009 document called the Raksha Mantris Directive. That directive, Gen. Menon wrote, continues to lack parentage for the lack of a coherent national security strategy. The Defence Planning Committee, headed by the NSA, was assigned this task two years ago. Nothing has emerged so far.

He adds: In essence, the directive is shaped by inputs not flowing from requisite logic and awareness. Only the adoption of and adherence to the dictates of a politico-strategic approach can provide the desired inputs.

In 2018, the government created the Defence Planning Committee. This was to be chaired by Indias national security adviser Ajit Doval and include the foreign secretary, defence secretary, Chief of Defence Staff, the three service chiefs and secretaries of the finance ministry. It had the enormous task of looking after national defence and security priorities, foreign policy imperatives, operational directives and associated requirements, relevant strategic and security-related doctrines, defence acquisition and infrastructure development plans, national security strategy, strategic defence review and doctrines, international defence engagement strategy, and so on. It met once, on May 3, 2018, and does not appear to have met after that. Our national security adviser is not a scholar like Moeed Yusuf, but a man of action and a man of the field. This is true of the rest of the government too.

In January 2021, a think tank put out a paper by a retired general. He wrote that the changes introduced in the military gave an opportunity for the government to display its strategic and military acumen. Unfortunately, the report concluded that the Chief of Defence Staff was yet to articulate a defence strategy.

In 2020, India was compelled by China to change its national security strategy. From counter-insurgency, which the Army has been focused on for years, we shifted to conventional war.

Late Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat (who along with Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane was a counter-insurgency expert) accepted in June 2021 that China was now Indias primary threat: When you have a larger neighbour, which has got a better force, better technology, you obviously prepare for a larger neighbour. This has upended what is called the Doval Doctrine, which posits that terrorism is Indias primary national security threat and that Pakistan is the primary adversary. In February 2021, India and Pakistan made a surprise joint announcement that they would strictly observe a ceasefire at the Line of Control. This was a surprise as earlier the Indian government and its ministers had made aggressive statements against Pakistan. It was clear that events in Ladakh had done two things. First, India would shift focus away from the Line of Control in the west to the Line of Actual Control in the east. Before Galwan, of the Armys 38 divisions, 12 faced China while 25 were deployed at the India-Pakistan border, with one division in reserve. After the reassignment, 16 divisions would face China. A total of 200,000 Indian troops were now at the China border, fully stretching the Army and reducing Indias military options. Second, India was forced to shift its resources from the Navy to the land border. This was accompanied by a demotion of the so-called Quad alliance with the United States, Japan and Australia, and the militarisation of another alliance (AUKUS) against China between the traditional allies US, Britain and Australia.

All these changes have come due to external pressure and because of a national security policy. This means that we are being compelled to act in a particular way rather than being in control of things and anticipating them. These are the things to think about when we look at Pakistan and its new National Security Policy 2022-2026.
Men stand next to a tank at a storage facility of oil giant ADNOC in the Msaffah industrial district in the Emiarti capital Abu Dhabi (AFP)

New Delhi: Two Indians and a Pakistani were confirmed killed near the Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates on Monday in an explosion of fuel tanks caused by a suspected drone attack carried out by Yemens Houthi rebels. The suspected audacious terror attack sent shock waves through the region.

The UAE authorities informed the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi that two Indians were among the three dead, but there were no further details till Monday evening. The UAE has strong ties with Saudi Arabia that has led a campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi tweeted: UAE authorities have informed that the explosion at Mussafah, near ADNOCs storage tanks, has led to 3 casualties, which includes 2 Indian nationals. The Mission @IndembAbuDhabi is in close touch with concerned UAE authorities for further details. India had recently said it is concerned at the recent intensification of fighting in Yemen and hopes that all parties will come to the negotiating table to find a peaceful resolution to the Yemen issue.

International media reports quoting an Abu Dhabi police statement said three tanker trucks carrying fuel exploded in the emirates Mussafah area after catching fire, with preliminary investigations pointing to a drone attack. According to these reports, Yemens Houthi rebels said they would soon make a statement about a special military operation that was carried out in the heart of the UAE.

This comes just days after seven of the 11 crew members of a UAE-flagged vessel seized by Houthi insurgents in Yemen on January 2 off the port of Hodeidah were confirmed to be Indians, with New Delhi urging the Houthi rebels to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew members and release them immediately.
From his early days as a profound comic actor and satirist on television to his days as a people's politician, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann has come of age.

The Modi juggernaut was unstoppable in 2014 Lok Sabha elections and offered a massive mandate to the saffron party but alongside, a rookie party that until then had no tangible footprints on the national electoral politics left its mark blunting the Modi wave in border state Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) then won four MP seats in the country, all from Punjab.

Ever since, if theres one person who withstood much of the opposition onslaught and offered wings to the AAP in Punjab, its Bhagwant Mann alias Jugnu. A former Punjabi comic actor, Mann has proved his mettle as a politician connecting with people at the grassroots. In 2019, Mann yet again won his MP seat from Punjab.

As Punjab goes to polls shortly, AAP is seen as a formidable challenger to mainstream political parties. Mann (48), who is also president of the AAP's Punjab unit, has been picked for the chief ministerial post if his party comes to power.

MP Bhagwant Mann has been the one to call a spade a spade, even if it has meant expressing displeasure against his party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In 2018, Mann resigned from the post of party president after Arvind Kejriwal apologised to former Punjab minister and Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia for allegations against him for his involvement in drug trade. Mann then tweeted saying, I am resigning as a president of AAP Punjab ...but my fight against drug mafia and all kinds of corruption in Punjab will continue as an Aam Aadmi of Punjab.

Mann stands vindicated today with the state crime branch booking Majithia in a drug case. In the run to the assembly polls, Kejriwals apology, that Mann protested then, has now offered fodder to the opposition parties.

Mann has had his share of controversies in politics. He has been targeted as an alcoholic and has often been accused of reeking of alcohol, even as Mann claims to be only a social drinker. Visuals of an MP getting close to Mann to smell him of alcohol while he was speaking in the Lok Sabha had left many amused. Perhaps realising the extent of damage the label was doing to him, his party and his political prospects, Mann in 2019 vowed not to drink and claimed to have turned into a teetotaler, what Kejriwal called "a great sacrifice for the people of Punjab".

The MP from Sangrur successfully runs an NGO Lok Lehar Foundation that is aimed at helping kids prey to physical deformities resulting from pollution of groundwater in the border areas of Punjab. Mann had earned applause for helping Punjabi youth stranded in Iraq and other parts of the world when he had facilitated their return.

The recent spectacular debut of the AAP in capital city Chandigarh municipal corporation elections, where it won a majority of seats, has buoyed hopes of the AAP in Punjab. The party has 20 MLAs in Punjab.

Before he jumped into politics, Mann was a popular name in Punjab, especially in the hinterland, for his side-splitting comic acts. His quick-witted jibes and satirical postscripts  targeted at his opponents  are a crowd favourite. Mann, a college dropout, became famous through a popular television comedy contest where he competed with fellow comedian Kapil Sharma. After prolonged estranged bouts in his marriage, Mann and his wife Inderpreet Kaur separated in 2015. He has two children.

MP Bhagwant Mann, who is also the president of the Punjab unit of the AAP, has been the one to call a spade a spade, even if it has meant expressing displeasure against his party national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. In 2018, Mann resigned from the post of the party president following an apology by Arvind Kejriwal to former Punjab minister and Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia for levelling allegations of his involvement in the drug trade. Mann then tweeted saying, I am resigning as a president of AAP Punjab ...but my fight against drug mafia and all kinds of corruption in Punjab will continue as an Aam Aadmi of Punjab.

Mann stands vindicated today with the state crime branch booking Majithia in a drug case. In the run to the assembly polls, Kejriwals apology, that Mann protested then, has now offered fodder to the opposition parties.

Mann has had his share of controversies in politics. He has been targeted as an alcoholic, even as Mann claims to be only a social drinker. He has often been accused of reeking alcohol. Visuals of an MP getting close to Mann to smell him of alcohol while he was speaking in the Lok Sabha had left many amused. Perhaps realizing the extent of the damage he was doing to himself, his party and his political prospects, Mann in 2019 vowed not to drink and claimed to have turned into a teetotaler, something that Kejriwal commented saying it was a great sacrifice for the people of Punjab.

The MP from Sangrur successfully runs an NGO Lok Lehar Foundation that is aimed at helping kids with physical deformities, essentially as a result of pollution of groundwater in the border areas of Punjab. Mann had earned applause from people for helping Punjabi youth stranded in Iraq and other parts of the world. He had facilitated their return to Punjab.

The recent spectacular debut of the AAP in capital city Chandigarh municipal corporation elections, where it won a majority of seats, has buoyed hopes of the AAP in Punjab. The party has 20 MLA in Punjab.

Bhagwant Manns image as a leader has remained free of the taint of corruption. His lifestyle sans any ostentation and flamboyance makes him a mass leader. In 2014, Mann won his seat with the highest margin. His narrative and public posturing remain simple, straightforward and appealing to the people.

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Samajwadi Party vice-president Kiranmay Nanda Monday said that the party wants West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to campaign for it in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly election.

Nanda returned from Uttar Pradesh on Monday and is scheduled to meet Banerjee at her residence on January 18 evening when the subject would be discussed. '

The way Mamata Banerjee fought against BJP in the Bengal assembly poll was unprecedented. The entire nation saw the fight she had put up against the BJPs juggernaut. The Samajwadi Party and our party president Akhilesh Yadav wants her to campaign for us in the UP Assembly poll. Banerjee had early communicated to Akhilesh Yadav that if needed she will campaign for the party, he told PTI.

Akhilesh Yadav shares a very cordial relation with Banerjee and had attended the grand opposition meeting hosted by the TMC supremo in January 2019. The election in all 403 Assembly seats of the politically most important state will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7.

Also read: Assembly election: BJP may win UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur; hung house in Goa, Punjab, says Survey

Nanda said most of the campaign is being held virtually due to Covid restrictions.

Praising the TMC supremo, he said, Mamata Banerjee is a strong leader and the way she fought against BJP is a lesson for the entire opposition. I am here to discuss with her the schedule for the campaign, be it virtual or in person. I will meet her on Tuesday".

Banerjee had led TMC to a emphatic win in West Bengal for the third consecutive term in 2021 in the face of a stiff challenge by BJP.

One of the longest-serving fisheries minister of West Bengal during the Left Front regime, Nanda had merged his party - West Bengal Socialist Party with Samajwadi Party in 2010.

During the high octane West Bengal assembly polls in 2021, SP had decided against contesting and extended its support to the ruling TMC
Unfazed by an FIR against him, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday continued reaching out to the public and held door-to-door campaigns in Dadri and Jewar areas of Gautam Buddh Nagar for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in favour of Congress candidates.

Baghel, the Congress' observer for the polls in UP, held door-to-door campaigns for candidate Deepak Bhati 'Chotiwala' in Dadri and Manoj Chaudhary from Jewar, a day after an FIR was lodged against him for flouting Covid-19 norms during a poll campaign in Noida.

"CM Baghel went on a door-to-door campaign in Bisrakh and Dujana villages of Dadri and informed them about public welfare schemes implemented in Chhattisgarh. He exhorted people to rise above the politics of caste and religion and vote the Congress into power in UP for progress and development," a Congress statement read.

With Baghel seeking support for him, Deepak Bhati, who is pitted against BJP's sitting Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar, exuded confidence of the Congress winning the seat this time.

The Chhattisgarh chief minister later visited the Jewar Assembly constituency, where he held indoor meetings with local residents in Devta and Kishorepur villages.

Also read: Baghel questions 'selective' FIR against him by UP police, says EC not acting fairly

According to the Congress, among those Baghel met were villagers affected by the Noida International Airport, a mega greenfield project for which land has been acquired by the UP government from people in Jewar area.

In Jewar, Congress' Manoj Chaudhary has been fielded to take on BJP's popular MLA Dhirendra Singh.

Singh had quit the Congress to join the BJP ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls in UP.

Dadri has 5.86 lakh voters while Jewar has 3.46 lakh voters. Elections to these seats will be held on February 10 and results will be announced on March 10.

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Significant damage was reported along the western coast of Tonga's main island on Tuesday and the death of a British woman was confirmed following the weekend's massive volcanic eruption and tsunami.

The New Zealand High Commission reported the damage along the western coast of the main island of Tongatapu, where there are many vacation resorts, and the waterfront of the capital, Nuku'alofa.

The brother of a British woman, Angela Glover, 50, said she was killed trying to rescue the dogs she looked after at a rescue shelter she had set up with her husband in the South Pacific archipelago.

Glover's brother Nick Eleini confirmed her body had been found. New Zealand state broadcaster TVNZ earlier reported she was missing after being swept away by a wave while her husband managed to hold onto a tree.

Also read: Tonga volcanic eruption shockwaves felt in India too: IMD

The South Pacific archipelago has remained largely cut off from the world since the eruption on the uninhabited volcanic island of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai cut its main undersea communications cable.

A thick layer of ash blanketed the entire island, the High Commission said, adding it was working to establish communications with smaller islands "as a matter of priority."

The United Nations said a distress signal was detected in an isolated, low-lying group of Ha'apai islands, adding it had particular concerns about Fonoi and Mango islands. According to the Tonga government, 36 people live on Mango and 69 on Fonoi.

A satellite image posted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated there was damage to scores of structures on Nomuka island.

"Further volcanic activity cannot be ruled out," OCHA said, reporting only minor injuries but emphasising that formal assessments, especially of the outer islands, had yet to be determined.

Australia and New Zealand sent surveillance flights on Monday to assess damage and Australia's Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said Australian police had visited beaches and reported significant damage with "houses thrown around".

The Haatafu Beach Resort, on the Hihifo peninsula, 21 km (13 miles) west of the capital Nukualofa, was completely wiped out, the owners said on Facebook.

The impact of the huge eruption was felt as far away as Fiji, New Zealand, the United States and Japan. Two people drowned off a beach in northern Peru due to high waves caused by the tsunami, while officials in Japan reported several evacuations.

The island of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai all but disappeared following the blast, according to satellite images from around 12 hours later, making it difficult for volcanologists to monitor ongoing activity. Experts said the volcano, which last erupted in 2014, had been puffing away for about a month before Saturday's eruption.

The Red Cross said it was mobilising its network to respond to what it called the worst volcanic eruption the Pacific has experienced in decades.

Alexander Matheou, the Red Cross' Asia Pacific director, said water purification to remove ash contamination, providing shelter and reuniting families were the priorities.

Relief efforts have been hampered by a lack of communication. Samiuela Fonua, the chair of Tonga Cable, said there were two cuts in the undersea communications cable that would not be fixed until volcanic activity ceased, allowing repair crews access.

"The condition of the site is still pretty messy at the moment," Fonua told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Covid-19 risk

Tonga's deputy head of mission in Australia, Curtis Tu'ihalangingie, said Tonga was concerned about the risk of aid deliveries spreading Covid-19 to the island, which is Covid-free.

"We don't want to bring in another wave - a tsunami of Covid-19," Tu'ihalangingie told Reuters by telephone, urging the public to wait until a disaster relief fund was announced.

Any aid sent to Tonga would need to be quarantined, and it was likely no foreign personnel would be allowed to disembark aircraft, he said.
North Korea fired tactical guided missiles on Monday, state media KCNA said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of recent tests that highlighted its evolving missile programmes amid stalled denuclearisation talks.

The missile test was the North's fourth in 2022, with two previous launches involving "hypersonic missiles" capable of high speed and manoeuvring after liftoff, and another test on Friday using a pair of SRBMs fired from train cars.

South Korea's military had said North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from an airport in its capital Pyongyang, which flew about 380 km (236 miles) to a maximum altitude of 42 km (26 miles).

The Academy of Defence Science conducted a test of tactical guided missiles from the country's west, and they "precisely hit an island target" off the east coast, the official KCNA news agency said, without elaborating.

Also read: North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile: Japan

"The test-fire was aimed to selectively evaluate tactical guided missiles being produced and deployed and to verify the accuracy of the weapon system," KCNA said.

It "confirmed the accuracy, security and efficiency of the operation of the weapon system under production."

The unusually rapid sequence of launches has drawn US condemnation and a push for new sanctions while Pyongyang warns of stronger actions, raising the spectre of a return to the period of "fire and fury " threats in 2017.

Both sides were engaged in a flurry of diplomacy in 2018 but denuclearisation negotiations stalled and slipped back into a standoff following a failed summit in 2019.

North Korea used the Sunan airport to test-fire the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) in 2017, with leader Kim Jong Un in attendance.

Kim did not attend the latest test.

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Two earthquakes struck a remote, mountainous area of western Afghanistan, killing at least 27 people and destroying hundreds of homes, officials said Tuesday.

The earthquakes occurred on Monday after three days of heavy rainfall, which left mud-brick houses vulnerable along the mountain slopes, said Baz Mohammad Sarwari, a spokesman for the governor in Badghis province, near the border with Turkmenistan.

Sarwari said hundreds of houses had been destroyed in impoverished areas in the Qadis District, in the southern part of the province. Men, women and children were killed, many of whom had been inside the buildings.

Azmatullah Sharifi, a resident of the affected district, said by telephone that the death toll would most likely rise significantly, because many families were still buried under the rubble.

Also Read: Taliban pledge all girls in schools soon

Rescue teams were sent to the affected areas. Photos taken by residents and provided by Sarwari showed men and boys using their bare hands to remove clay bricks and other rubble, apparently trying to reach any survivors trapped in the debris.

The first quake struck just after 2 pm local time, east of the city of Qala-e-Naw, the capital of a province that the Taliban swept through in July on the way to capturing Kabul in August. It registered a magnitude of 4.9, according to the United States Geological Survey. The second struck about two hours later 6 miles away, registering a magnitude of 5.3.

Tremors from the quakes were felt across the province on Monday afternoon, causing damage as far away as Qala-e-Naw, officials said.

For civilians in Afghanistan, earthquakes have added to the misery of living through a war that has gone on for years. There have been several earthquakes in recent weeks along Afghanistans eastern borders with Pakistan and Tajikistan, data from the US Geological Survey show. Most were magnitude 5 or less.

A quake in 2015 killed more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan and Pakistan. A similar one in the same region, 24 years earlier, inflicted a similar death toll.

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Firefighters chant slogans during a protest in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, Monday. The banners read, "We don't want to die anymore!" and "We are not fire-extinguishing machines!" / Courtesy of the Confederation of Korean Government Employees' Unions



By Lee Hae-rin



"We don't want to die anymore! We are not fire-extinguishing machines!"



Firefighters held protests in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, calling for the government to improve their working conditions. The collective action came due to several firefighters having lost their lives in a series of recent blazes in warehouses in Pyeongtaek and Icheon.



They urged the government to investigate the recent incidents, hold the people in charge of the Pyeongtaek accident accountable and take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.



Jeong Eun-ae, the chairperson of Korea's firefighters' union, pointed out that the authorities at the National Fire Agency and related government agencies have not taken preventive measures, which is the prime cause of the recurring deaths of firefighters, pressuring the authorities to step up safety measures.



Jeong mentioned the fire at the Coupang warehouse in Icheon in June of last year, as well as the massive blaze at a high-rise apartment in Ulsan and the latest incident in the Pyeongtaek warehouse, saying that they altogether cost the lives of five officers.





Jeong Eun-ae, the leader of Korea's firefighters' union, reads a statement calling for government action to improve their working conditions during a protest in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul Monday. / Courtesy of Confederation of Korean Government Employees' Unions
The South Pacific archipelago of Tonga could spend days, or even weeks, cut off from the rest of the world because of difficulties in repairing its sole undersea communications cable, which an operator said was ruptured during a massive volcanic eruption.

The challenge underlines the vulnerability of undersea fibre-optic cables, which have become the backbone of global communications, thanks to a capacity to carry data that is about 200 times that of satellites.

Also Read: In volcanos wake, an agonizing wait for news from Tonga

Saturday's explosion of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean so that connectivity was lost on the line, operated by Tonga Cable Ltd, in waters about 37 kilometres (23 miles) offshore.

But the repair of Tonga's critical 827-km (514-mile) fibre-optic link to Fiji depends on the arrival of a specialised ship now days away in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

"Typically, all things going well, it would take around two weeks," said Craige Sloots, marketing and sales director at Southern Cross Cable Network, which connects to the Tonga cable at Fiji.

That covers the eight or nine days the Reliance, the specialist cable repair ship in Port Moresby, will take to reach the affected area, while the crew also needs safety clearance for the repairs, he added.

"Its ability to repair would also be dependent, as you would expect, on any volcanic activity," Sloots, who is based in Sydney, told Reuters.

"Fault-finding by Fintel and Tonga Cable Ltd on Sunday afternoon seems to confirm a likely cable break," added Sloots, referring to Fiji's telecoms provider.

The Reliance, owned by US firm SubCom, a builder of underwater cable networks that is the repair contractor for more than 50,000 km (31,070 miles) of cable in the South Pacific, has completed five-yearly maintenance in Singapore.

Also Read: Tonga volcanic eruption shockwaves felt in India too: IMD

It is in Port Moresby en route to its base in New Caledonia.

SubCom, owned by US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, said it was working with Tonga Cable Ltd to mobilise the Reliance for the cable repairs, while it evaluated crew and ship safety.

Fixing a break in a fibre-optic cable on land is easy for an experienced technician, but repairing a cut in one on a seabed is far more complicated.

Cable operators must first locate the fault by seeing how far a pulse of light travels down the cable before it bounces back at the break.

Then a repair ship heads to the site of the break, where it sends down a submersible or deep water hook to grab the cable and pull it up to make the repair.

Global subsea network

More than 99 per cent of global international data traffic is still carried on a network of about 280 submarine cables stretching more than a million kilometres (621,000 miles).

In 2019, Tonga spent more than a week cut adrift from the web, when the undersea cable was damaged, reportedly by a ship's anchor. After that outage, it signed a 15-year deal for satellite connectivity.

But prohibitive costs limit the use of satellites across the archipelago for most people apart from government, officials and some businesses.

The use of satellite phones has also been affected by the ash still blanketing the country after the eruption.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Pacific spokeswoman Victoria Kanevsky said Tonga country head David Dudley could only dial out on his satellite phone, and get signals only when he was down at the waterfront in the capital, Nuku'alofa.

Digicel, an international mobile network provider, said it had set up an interim system on the main island of Tongatapu using the University of the South Pacifics satellite dish, which could allow limited 2G coverage.

Worried relatives overseas still face an agonising wait for news.

"We just wait and pray and hope that communications come back soon because we don't know anything," said Pauline Lavulo, whose husband Aqulia is a pastor to the Tongan community in Sydney.

"Every Tongan ... wherever we are in the globe, we still have family back home."

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Cartoonist Narayan Debnath, the creator of Bengali comic characters 'Bantul The Great', 'Handa Bhonda' and 'Nonte Phonte', died in Kolkata on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness, said the hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

He was 97 and survived by two sons, a daughter and a granddaughter.

Debnath, who was handed the Padma Shri award while undergoing treatment at the hospital, died at 10.15 am, his family said.

He was put on ventilator support as his condition deteriorated after being admitted to the hospital on December 24.

In his career spanning over six decades, Debnath created comic characters such as 'Bantul The Great', 'Handa Bhonda' and 'Nonte Phonte' -- all of which are household names in Bengal.

Condoling the death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Debnath brightened several lives through his works, cartoons and illustrations.

"His works reflected his intellectual prowess. The characters he created will remain eternally popular. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.

Shri Narayan Debnath Ji brightened several lives through his works, cartoons and illustrations. His works reflected his intellectual prowess. The characters he created will remain eternally popular. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 18, 2022

The first comic strip of 'Handa Bhonda' was published in 1962 in Bengali children's magazine 'Suktara', brought out by Deb Sahitya Kutir.

It was followed by 'Bantul The Great' (1965) and 'Nonte Phonte' (1969).

Debnath continued working till the age of 93 when the last comic strip of 'Nonte Phonte' was published in the 2017 Durga Puja issue of Suktara.

Earlier, he created 'Rabi Chobi' -- a comic strip that was published in May 1961 in children's magazine Anandamela to mark the birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore.

Debnath was born in a family of jewellers in Shibpur in Howrah. His enthusiasm for sketching jewellery designs from a very early age prompted his family to admit him to the Government Art College in Kolkata after he completed schooling.

He dropped out of the college to take care of his family business, but soon went back to the drawing board.

Debnath started freelancing for a few advertising agencies, creating movie slides and logos, before getting in touch with Deb Sahitya Kutir.

"Bantul was not much popular during the initial two-three publications, but became a cult as the average Bengalis identified with his traits and exploits," said Rupa Majumder, the publisher of Deb Sahitya Kutir.

Debnath was conferred with Padma Shri in 2021 but could not visit New Delhi to collect the award. State Home Secretary BP Gopalika and Cooperative Minister Arup Roy handed him the medal and certificate on his hospital bed on Thursday.

He was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi award in 2013 and the West Bengal government also honoured him with Banga Bibhushan the same year.

The Rabindra Bharati University gave him an honorary D.Litt in 2015.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who visited Debnath at his home last month, said his death was a huge loss to the world of literary creativity and comics.

"Sad at demise of Padma Shri #NarayanDebnath legendary cartoonist and creator of immortal characters Bantul the Great, Handa-Bhonda, Nonte-Fonte for children's world. Huge loss to the world of literary creativity and comics. My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans," he tweeted.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Debnath's passing away is an immeasurable loss.

"Extremely sad that the noted litterateur, illustrator, cartoonist, and creator of some immortal characters for children's world, Narayan Debnath is no more. He had created Bantul the Great, Handa-Bhonda, Nonte-Fonte, figures that have been etched in our hearts for decades," she said.

"We were proud to bestow upon him Bengal's highest award Banga Bibhusan in 2013. His passing away is certainly an immeasurable loss to the world of literary creativity and comics. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, readers and countless fans and followers," Banerjee added.

The cartoonist's younger son Tapas Debnath told PTI that he would urge the government to help preserve his works.

"We would like to urge the government to help preserve my father's works, a treasure trove, for the future generations," he said.

Debnath is credited to have first introduced the concept of comic-strip in Bengali literature, said actor-MLA Chiranjit Chakraborty, who is the son of noted cartoonist Saila Chakraborty.

"Debnath is the inventor of storyboard in true sense in a comic series," he said.

Publishers' and Booksellers' Guild president Tridib Chatterjee told PTI that Debnath created 'Bantul The Great' during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, and 'Bantul' was often seen pulverising the Pakistani Army in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in the comic strips.

"It was astounding how he could produce so many comic strips with such unfailing regularity. Each of them was unique and unparallel in their strokes, imagination and quotient of humor. He had a razor-sharp mind," Chatterjee said.

The guild will commemorate him at the upcoming Kolkata International Book Fair, he added.

Debnath was confined to his Shibpur home for the last five years as his health condition deteriorated with age. He was also having financial difficulties.

The cost of his treatment at the hospital was borne by the state government. His earlier medical expenses were also borne by the state government, said minister Arup Roy.

Kolkata's mayor Firhad Hakim visited the hospital on receiving the news of Debnath's death and paid tributes to him.

His body was taken to his home in Shibpur before being consigned to flames at a nearby crematorium.

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Bill Scherer, a retired police detective in New York, finally got some hope about performing last rites of his father, William K. Scherer, a 1st Lt. in the US Army Air Corps, 76 years after the aircraft in which he was returning from Kunming in China to Chabua in Assam disappeared over Arunachal Pradesh during the World War II.

The remains of aircraft (C-46A#42-9621) was found in a snow-clad mountain at Dapha Bum inside Namdapha National Park/Tiger Reserve last month by Clayton Kuhles, an independent researcher from the US.

Kuhles' non-profit organisation, MIA Recoveries, Inc has so far helped family members of at least 27 US soldiers who had gone missing in action during WW II  including 21 in Northeast India.

Kuhles, along with tribal hunters belonging to the Lisu community, had trekked for eight days amid snowfall to finally locate the remains of the aircraft at 13,000 feet above sea level.

"It was an extremely difficult expedition. We set up a camp at Dapha Bum after wading across the Dihing and Namdapha rivers. The river depth was chest-deep in some locations, making these river crossings extremely dangerous while carrying heavy packs. My Lisu team members wanted to flee downslope when it started snowing," Kuhles said in an emailed response to DH.

The details of his mission and the identified aircraft will soon be posted on his website, he said.

Aircraft C-46A#42-9621, with four crew and nine passengers including William K. Scherer, had disappeared on January 6, 1945. The aircraft was returning from Kunming to Chabua after offloading supplies when it reportedly disappeared due to bad weather.

More than 500 US aircraft and 1,200 personnel reportedly disappeared in the CBI theatre (China Burma India), of which over 400 personnel still remain missing in Northeast India  mainly in Arunachal Pradesh.

The majority of the episodes that led to the disappearance of 400 Americans in India during World War II are believed to have occurred over parts of Arunachal since the main air re-supply route from India to China during the conflict was over the Himalayas. The US was part of the Allied Forces that also comprised Great Britain and the Soviet Union.

Five years ago, Bill Scherer sought the help of Kuhles to locate the remains of the aircraft. Kuhles said that he did not find any human remains in the aircraft. "The Lisu hunters, however, reported seeing human remains amongst the wreckage during the previous summer. Now the family can request the US government to recover the remains," he said.

"We have been eagerly waiting for recovery of the mortal remains for decades now," Scherer said.

Kuhles said the crewmen and the passengers who were in the aircraft included 2nd Lt. Sydney L. Murphy (pilot), 2nd Lt. Delmar K. Brown (co-pilot), Cpl. Alvin P. Palecek (radio operator), Pfc. Edmund T. Murphy (flight clerk) and 1st Lt. William K. Scherer, 2nd Lt. Carl D. Moyes, T/4 Prayor D. Collings, T/4 O. G. Dishman, T/4 Robert F. Sherman, Sgt. Raymond F. Brunner, Sgt. J. V. Dolton, Sgt. Kenneth Hart (all passengers).

Gary Zaetz, president of Families and Supporters of America's Arunachal Missing in Action told DH on Tuesday that the government of India now has the responsibility to make sure that the crash site is searched for remains and that the remains be returned expeditiously to their families in the US.

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The Sikkim government on Tuesday temporarily banned the entry of all packaged and canned milk from outside the state saying they are of questionable quality.

Buying and selling of packaged milk procured from outside Sikkim will not be allowed from Wednesday, according to a notification issued by the department of animal husbandry and veterinary services.

The government has noticed that various forms of fresh, processed and unprocessed milk in pouches and cans are entering the state from outside to be sold in Sikkim. Random tests and consumer observations of such milk supplied by private entities have reported that those products are either inconsistent in quality or not meeting required standards, the notification said.

The sources of such milk are not regulated by the Sikkim government. Besides, manual handling those pouches and cans can lead to the spread of Covid-19, it said.

The notification said that in view of the safety of consumers of the state, the Sikkim government is imposing a temporary ban on entry of raw or processed milk from outside the state with effect from 19 January 2022.

A source in the department of animal husbandry and veterinary services said that the supply of milk from the unregulated market is "minimal" and the state-run Sikkim Milk will be able to fulfill the demand.

Milk from outside the state mainly come from Siliguri in neighbouring West Bengal.

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India on Tuesday condemned the drone attack on a fuel storage facility near the airport in the capital of United Arab Emirates and called it unacceptable, even as it swung into action to repatriate the mortal remains of its two citizens killed in the incident.

Conveyed our strong solidarity with UAE in face of such unacceptable acts, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on Twitter, after talking to Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed over phone.

Zayed called Jaishankar to express condolence for the death of two citizens of India in the drone attack carried out by the Houthi rebels of Yemen on a fuel storage facility of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) near the airport of the capital city of the UAE.

Deeply appreciate receiving a call from UAE FM @ABZayed. He expressed condolences for the Indian lives lost in the terror attack in UAE yesterday, the External Affairs Minister tweeted.

Deeply appreciate receiving a call from UAE FM @ABZayed . He expressed condolences for the Indian lives lost in the terror attack in UAE yesterday. Conveyed our strong solidarity with UAE in face of such unacceptable acts.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 18, 2022

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi meanwhile initiated the process of repatriating the mortal remains of the two deceased citizens of the country. It posted on Twitter on Tuesday that the identities of the two had been established and its officials were in touch with the family of the deceased. The mission is working closely with UAE authorities, including ADNOC, for early repatriation of (the) mortal remains (of the two Indians), it added.

Also read: Satellite photos show aftermath of Abu Dhabi oil site attack

The Indians killed in the incidents were employees of the ADNOC. Two of the six injured were also citizens of India, but they were already discharged from the hospital after medical treatment.

Our Embassy is working with UAE authorities to provide the fullest support to families of the deceased, Jaishankar tweeted after speaking to Zayed.

A Pakistani employee of the ADNOC was also killed in the incident.

New Delhi is also trying to ensure the release of seven Indians, who are among the 11 sailors held hostage by the Houthis on board the UAE-flagged cargo vessel Rwabee seized by the rebels on the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on January 2.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed reservations against an amendment in the IAS (Cadre) Rules 1954, proposed by the Centre. The proposed change unilaterally mandates the state government to make such number of officers available for deputation as prescribed under Central Deputation Reserve, Mamata stated in a letter she wrote to Prime Minister Modi.

A change has been proposed in Rule 6 of the IAS (Cadre) Rules that concerns Deputation of cadre officers. Administrative sources add that with the change made, it will be possible for the central government to post on central deputation any IAS official working in the state, with the state having a limited say. The states will have to agree to nominate a certain number of officers for central deputation.

The chief ministers letter states, By insisting on officers to be made available for deputation through the proposed amendment, not only will the administration of states be affected but also it would become impossible to assess and plan the administration of a state by engaging such officers who form part of the Central Deputation Reserve, fraught with the uncertainty of their sudden deputation by the Centre.

The amended rules, as stated in the chief ministers letter, suggest that if there is a disagreement between the Centre and the state, the Centre gets to decide and the state will have to oblige in a given time frame. By the proposed amendment, a proviso is also sought to be inserted proposing, inter alia, that in case of a disagreement between the Central Government and the State Government, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government and the State Government shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government within a specific time, Mamata has stated.

Mamata has urged the Centre to reconsider the proposed amendment, which, as being considered, is likely to "affect the state-Centre positions in terms of taking such decisions". The proposed amendment, according to the chief minister, seems to make a permanent dent in the spirit of cooperative federalism. I would beseech you to consider that the reciprocal spirit of interactive and consultative give and take, designed in the existing framework, should not be replaced by unilateralism, the chief minister has urged, requesting PM Modi to withdraw, or not give effect to the proposed amendment.

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Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister and BJP leader Kamal Patel termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi an "incarnation of God", saying he was born to end the atmosphere of despair, like Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, created due to the rise in "atrocities" committed by Congress, corruption, and the destruction of the country's culture.

Speaking to reporters in Harda on Monday, Patel said that the tasks accomplished by PM Modi like leading India on the path of becoming "Vishwa Guru", ridding the country of corruption, and ensuring the public welfare wouldn't have been accomplished by an ordinary person. 

Whenever any crisis descended upon India and tyranny increased, then it is said in our religion and culture that God takes avatar in a human form, Patel said.

Read more: Snappy hashtags, peppy tunes: Political parties hit virtual campaign trail

He said Lord Ram had taken avatar in a human form and established 'Ramrajya' by killing demon Ravan and defeating other evil powers, and protecting the people. When Kansa's atrocities increased, Lord Krishna took birth and ended his cruelties thus giving relief to the common people, the minister said.

Similarly, when atrocities of Congress increased..corruption, casteism rose, the culture of the country was destroyed and an atmosphere of despair was prevailing all around, then Narendra Modi was born to end it, Patel said.

He said India is becoming a "Vishwa Guru" under the leadership of PM Modi who has given a corruption-free government and also ensures the welfare of the common people.

These are impossible tasks which a common person is not able to accomplish. It could have happened in 60 years, if possible. So, PM Narendra Modi ji is an 'Avatari Purush' (incarnate) and did impossible works. He is the incarnation of God, Patel said.

Interestingly, Patel had last November suggested that Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is incarnate of tribal icon Tantya Bhil, known in the tribal narrative as Indian "Robbin Hood".

Tantya Mama used to facilitate marriages of girls. Our 'mama' (as CM Chouhan is fondly called) also does the same. Tantya Mama used to loot the rich and distribute the wealth among the poor. Our CM does not loot, but collects taxes from the rich and spends it for the poor. In a way, we can say that Tantya mama took rebirth as our CM Shivraj, he had said.
The Congress has expressed unhappiness over ED raids on a close relative of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. The party on Tuesday slammed the BJP for misusing the government agency and said it is ready battle it out in Punjab and would tell people how the BJP is trying to harass the country's only Dalit Chief Minister.

The Congress will address press conferences in the entire state beginning Wednesday in Chandigarh with Navjot Singh Sidhu, Randeep Surjewala and Harish Chaudhary expected to address the first one.

The Congress alleged that ED stands for 'Election Department' of the BJP. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Randeep Surjewala said, "The BJP is working with prejudice and taking revenge against only Dalit Chief Minister in the country Sardar Charanjit Singh Channi."

Also Read | ED raids an attempt to pressurise me before polls: Channi

The party wants to take on the BJP politically as it is linking the whole episode to Dalit and issue of Punjab's pride as Dalit's population in Punjab is significant to which AAP is also targeting.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday morning, just weeks before assembly elections, carried out raids at ten different locations belonging to Punjab CM's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey, in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal sand mining in Punjab.

The ED team conducted the first raid at the residence of Honey which is at Homeland Heights early Tuesday morning. No one was allowed to leave the house. The ED was scanning various documents and computers.

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After Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to restart his Davos Agenda address, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a swipe saying "even the teleprompter could not take so much lies", even as BJP leaders pointed to a "technical glitch'' at event organiser World Economic Forum's end.

There was no official reaction from the government or the WEF on the incident.

Several Congress leaders and social media users claimed that it was a "teleprompter gaffe" as Prime Minister Modi had to pause and then restart his special address to the World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda 2022 summit, but BJP leaders and many others pointed out that it was a technical glitch due to which the WEF people were not able to patch the PM and requested him to start again.

Also Read: Congress, SP competing over who can target Hindus more: BJP

In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Modi, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi, "Even the teleprompter could not take so much lies."

  Teleprompter      Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 18, 2022

Fact-checking website Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha said it is unlikely that the prime minister had a teleprompter gaffe.

"If you look at the WEF version of the recording of his speech, someone in the background says, 'Sir, aap unse ek baar pooche ki sab jud gaye kya' (Sir, ask them once if everyone is connected). This portion is not clear in the video live-streamed on PM's YouTube channel."

"After this, the PM questions if he and the interpreter can be heard properly, to which (WEF executive chairman) Klaus Schwab responds stating that he can.

"However, Schwab interrupts the PM's speech to give a brief introduction. The PM repeats the whole speech again," Sinha said, recounting the events from Monday evening during the prime minister's address.

However, several Congress leaders took a dig at the prime minister over the incident.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Teleprompter se bhashan chal sakta hai, shasan nahin. Kal ye poore desh ki samajh mein aa gaya (You can give a speech but not rule using a teleprompter. The whole country understood this yesterday).

The Congress, on its official Twitter handle, shared the video of the prime minister taking a pause in his speech, calling him the "teleprompter guy".

Youth Congress tweeted, "Failed to address after teleprompter stopped working, PM Modi failed to represent the country on World Economic Forum!".

Failed to address after teleprompter stopped working, PM Modi failed to represent the country on World Economic Forum! pic.twitter.com/tIMiVdqMWw  Youth Congress (@IYC) January 18, 2022

In a tweet, BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga slammed those criticising the PM.

"Don't those getting excited at the tech glitch not realise that the problem was at WEF's end? They were not able to patch PM, so requested him to start again, which is evident in the way Klaus Schwab said that he will again give a short introduction and then open up the session," he said.

Several other BJP leaders cited the same reason for the incident and some posted a video from the WEF's YouTube channel, showing the sequence of events.

According to the video and pointers along with it shared by BJP leaders, Prime Minister Modi's speech started abruptly from the middle without English interpretation. The prime minister was interrupted by the co-ordinator who asked him to check if all had been connected, Schwab then started the official session and Modi again started his speech with English interpretation being shared.

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People at Seoul Station, Monday, watch the news coverage about the recordings of Kim Keon-hee's phone calls. Newsis



By Lee Hae-rin



Comments made by Kim Keon-hee, the wife of main opposition People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, have backfired as some #MeToo victims and gender experts demand an apology.



Kim Ji-eun, who worked as a secretary for the former South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung and who exposed the fact that she was sexually assaulted by him, issued a statement via the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, Monday.



"I heard her sarcastic comments on TV where she was speaking about my case. Her words are baseless and contradict the court's judgment regarding the guilty verdict," Kim said in the statement, urging the presidential candidate's wife to deliver a sincere apology for her "reckless remarks."



"Your thoughtless words resulted in secondary victimization and internet users are now harassing me with malicious comments," she said.



The Supreme Court handed down a sentence of three years and six months to former Governor An on the charge of sexual assault by exploiting his position of power at work against Kim Ji-eun, Sept. 2019. The case was viewed as a symbolic event in the #MeToo movement here at the time.



In the recordings of Kim's private phone calls, revealed on Sunday by the local broadcaster MBC, Kim was heard saying, "Conservatives make sure they pay. They never use someone free of charge."



Kim was also heard claiming that #MeToo victims reveal sexual assault allegations because they didn't get paid, referring to several sex scandals within the ruling democratic bloc. She went on to say that she felt sorry for the former governor and she and her husband were on An's side.



In a letter sent to MBC to clarify her position, the presidential candidate's wife said that she made some inappropriate remarks while criticizing some people who were involved in sexual exploitation and she was sorry for that.



Her remarks caused a stir.



Kim Ji-eun said she is still reeling from the traumatic experiences of secondary victimization, chiding the accusers for their careless remarks.



Rep. Kwon In-sook of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) took on the issue, saying what Yoon's wife said was "shocking."



In her social media post, the lawmaker deplored the fact that there are some who deny the importance of the #MeToo movement. "But it is a totally different issue that the wife of one of the leading presidential candidates said that #MeToo came about as a result of victims not being paid off," she wrote.



As his wife's remarks on the leaked phone conversation triggered a controversy, Yoon offered an apology on behalf of his wife. During a meeting with the press after the forum of Buddhist leaders in central Seoul, Monday, he said "Anyway, I am sorry to have caused people so much worry."



When asked on which point he was apologizing for, Yoon said, "I should have taken better care (of Kim), as her husband," and added that he has been too busy with the presidential campaign and did not have enough time to talk with Kim recently.



In an official statement from PPP, vice spokesperson for the Central Election Commission Choi Ji-hyun stated the party intends to press charges against the reporter and the CEO of the YouTube news outlet The Voice of Seoul with "violation of women's rights and privacy," as they delivered the audio recordings to MBC and disclosed them on the YouTube channel, Monday.



Choi also commented, "discreet acquisition and delivery of private recordings are subject to punishment for violation of the Protection of Communications Secret Act," and said that the party will hold them politically and legally accountable for such infringements.


The Delhi High Court Tuesday said there was complete forgery of documents by Uttar Pradesh police personnel who arrested two residents here without informing the local police and kept them in illegal custody for two days.

Justice Mukta Gupta noted that as per the inquiry carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Police, the call data record of the erring officials revealed that the two arrested persons  who were the brother and father of a boy who got married to a girl against her family's wishes  were taken away from Delhi to Shamli in UP where they were shown to be arrested after two days and sent to jail following the failure of talks between the families.

The judge stated that laxity in investigation was not the same as forgery which is an offence and had it not been for the timely intervention, the two arrested persons would be languishing in jail.

From 6th to 8th (of September 2021), they (arrested persons) were in illegal custody. FIR was registered after they were taken away. It is complete forgery of documents. A to Z, every document is forged, the court remarked.

They should have told Delhi Police. They can't put people (in custody) and show arrest wherever they want, it said.

The petitioner couple had moved the high court claiming that they married of their own volition in July last year, contrary to the wishes of the girl's family and were now getting repeated threats from them.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that the father and brother of the boy were taken away by UP Police and for more than one month their whereabouts were not known.

Delhi Police had then informed the court that the boy's family members had been arrested by UP Police in relation to a complaint made by the girl's mother under Section 366 IPC (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc) and no intimation of their arrival was made to local station here.

Justice Gupta emphasised that when the FIR itself disclosed that the girl in question was a major, the UP Police officials concerned should have first ascertained her will instead of taking action against the boy's family.

Additional Advocate General for Uttar Pradesh Garima Prashad ensured the court that erring officers will not be spared and appropriate action will be taken.

The court closed the case and said that in view of the stand taken by the AAG, no more orders were required to pass in the matter.

It also appreciated the inquiry undertaken by UP Police and granted liberty to the petitioner boy's family to take recourse to law against the concerned persons.

On October 26, the court had issued notice to UP Police on the petition while stating that it was trite law that persons under the jurisdiction of Delhi Police could not be apprehended by them without intimation to the local police.

It was unfortunate that even without finding the facts and whether the parties were major or minor, arrests were made by UP Police, the judge had observed.

On October 28, the court had pulled up UP Police for the arrests and said that such illegal acts were not permissible and would not be tolerated here.

I will call for CCTV. I will direct departmental enquiry if I see UP police arresting from Delhi... I want all CCTV footage and vehicle number. If I see Delhi UP police entering, I will take action. We will not permit this. You can't do illegal acts here, the court had said.

The court had sought an affidavit from the SHO on the manner in which the two persons, now in judicial custody in UP, were arrested and directed that appropriate action be initiated in view of the girl's stand that she eloped from her paternal house to get married to the man.

In November, Uttar Pradesh Police had told the court that it has formed a special investigative team to look into the arrest of two city residents and the case against the arrested persons stood closed.

The court was also informed that the responsible officials were suspended.

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Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Tuesday announced a ban on the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms in the national capital for the period of 27 days from January 20 in view of Republic Day celebrations.

"....I hereby prohibit flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or para jumping from aircraft etc. over the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory of Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day Function-2022," read an order by the Delhi Police chief.

He further said the decision was taken as per report that certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations by the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms.

Also Read: Delhi tableau unlikely to be part of 2022 Republic Day parade

"This order shall come into force with effect from 20-01-2022 and shall remain in force for a period of 27 days i.e. up to 15-02-2022 (both days inclusive) unless withdrawn earlier," Asthana added.

The Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements in the national capital keeping in view the upcoming Republic Day on January 26. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Deepak Yadav told IANS that adequate arrangements have been made in and around the RajPath on Republic day.

"Around 300 cameras with face-recognition facilities have been installed around the Rajpath to thwart any threat beforehand," Yadav said. Notably, just 4 days ago, the National Security Guard and the Special Cell of Delhi Police on January 14 averted a major terror attack in the city by timely defusing a 3-Kg IED which was placed at a crowded market by unidentified anti-national elements.

The NSG conducted a controlled explosion of the recovered IED, saving several lives that could have been snuffed out if the bomb had not been found and defused in time.

Meanwhile, the Intelligence agencies have also sounded an alert that the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has activated its terror outfits to execute more terror activities in India.

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The Republic Day parade this year is unlikely to have a tableau from Delhi, official sources said on Monday.

However, there was no version available from the Delhi government on the matter.

"There will be no tableau from Delhi in the Republic Day Parade 2022. The reason is not known," an official said, adding that this year, 'Delhi-City of Hopes' was chosen as the theme for the tableau.

In 2020, too, there was no tableau of Delhi in the Republic Day parade.

Also read: Include TN tableau in Republic Day celebrations: Stalin to Modi

Last year, Delhi's tableau had participated in the parade on Rajpath where the city government had displayed its Chandni Chowk Redevelopment model to portray the amalgamation of architectural heritage of the Walled City of Shahjahanabad with modern infrastructure.

Sources in the central government said a total of 56 proposals had come from states and central ministries. Out of these, 21 were shortlisted and a similar process of selection is adopted every year, they said.

The tableau proposals received from various states and central ministries are evaluated in a series of meetings of an expert committee comprising of eminent people in the field of art, culture, sculpture, music, architecture and choreography among others, the sources said.

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Ahead of Republic Day, the Delhi-National Capital Region has been put under a "very high-security" cover after police received inputs from Intelligence agencies about a possible terror attack, officials said on Tuesday.

Operation of sub-conventional aerial platforms, including UAVs, paragliders and hot air balloons, over the national capital has been prohibited in the city from January 20 in view of Republic Day celebrations, according to a Delhi Police order issued on Tuesday.

The order shall come into force from January 20 and remain in effect till February 15.

Also Read | Delhi: Sub-conventional aerial platforms banned ahead of Republic Day

The order has been issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana in the wake of reports of the possibility of certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists posing a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations, it said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Deepak Yadav said in view of Republic Day, the security has been tightened with the entire area where the celebration would take place being placed under multiple CCTVs fitted with facial recognition software.

All units of the Delhi Police, including local police, Special Cell, Special Branch, Traffic, SWAT (all-woman Special Weapons and Tactics) and teams from the National Security Guard will also be part of deployment besides the paramilitary forces, he said.

Also Read | Covid effect: Only 5-8K people to be allowed at Republic Day parade this year

"Anti-drone arrangement systems have been put up at two different locations. Police personnel will also be deployed on high rise buildings for extra vigil. There's also an air defence gun to keep a watch and tackle any hostile aircraft, the DCP said.

Only those who are completely vaccinated will be allowed to attend the event. No children are allowed. Around 14,000 invitees have been allowed this year out of which around 4,000 tickets have been issued for public," the officer added.

Patrolling teams along with PRAKHAR vans with attached cameras will also be part of the security wing, he said.

According to Delhi Police, there is a three-layered security system in place and the force is always alert and undertakes anti-terror measures especially ahead of any event of national importance.

"We are focusing on anti-terror and sabotage activities. Although it is a usual protocol, we do it especially ahead of any event of national importance. With the upcoming Republic Day event, we have intensified our activities and deployed extra manpower," another senior police officer said.

Citing the recent security breach of Prime Minister Modis convoy in Punjab, the Delhi Police officers said that the force is extra vigilant to ensure no such incident happens in the national capital.

"As the prime ministers security is of paramount importance, we have intensified our vigil and deployed extra manpower to ensure no such (Punjab) incident is repeated. We have also received intelligence inputs that there are chances of a possible terror or drone attack," the officer said.

In the wake of the recent drone attack in Abu Dhabi in which two Indians and a Pakistani national were killed as well as the recovery of IEDs in Punjab and Ghazipur, the possibility of a threat to the prime minister cannot be ruled out, the officer added.

Meanwhile, the personnel have been asked to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour and follow all guidelines while ensuring there is no compromise on the security aspect, police said.

The Republic Day celebrations will now begin every year from January 23 instead of January 24 to include the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Subash Chandra Bose, government sources said on Saturday.

This is in line with the Modi government's focus on commemorating important aspects of India's history and culture, they said, noting it had earlier started celebrating Bose's birth anniversary as 'Parakram Divas'.

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The Delhi Commission for Women on Tuesday sought immediate registration of an FIR against people who allegedly made obscene remarks against Muslim women on audio-chat application Clubhouse.

"Someone tagged me on Twitter the detailed audio conversation on the Clubhouse app which targeted Muslim women and girls and made disgusting sexual comments against them," DCW chief Swati Maliwal said, demanding a punitive action against the alleged persons.

On Monday, a video of a Clubhouse conversation on the topic 'Muslim gals are more beautiful than hindu gals' went viral on social media.

In the said conversation, the participants were allegedly heard making obscene, vulgar and derogatory remarks targeting Muslim women and girls.

The Commission asked the police to register an FIR immediately and arrest the accused participants.

"The Delhi Police has been given five days to submit a detailed action taken report to the Commission," Maliwal said.

"First Sulli deals, then Bulli bai and now indecent sexual remarks against Muslim girls on the Clubhouse app! How long will this go on?," the DCW chief asked through social media.

Maliwal further stated that she feels outraged over the fact that such incidents are increasing in the country.

"Strongest action needs to be taken against the culprits and that's why I have issued a Notice to Delhi Police seeking immediate FIR and arrests in the matter," the DCW chief added.

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India reported 2.38 lakh new Covid cases and 310 deaths on Tuesday, according to Union Health Ministry data. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu tested positive for the virus.
A raid by Enforcement Directorate (ED) of a relative of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in a money laundering probe in the sand mafia case on Tuesday has once again put the spotlight on the actions of central agencies during election season with the Opposition pointing out to similar actions in the past few years under Narendra Modi government.

In the run up to the latest edition of polls, an MLC of Samajwadi Party, who is into business in Kanpur, was raided while some close Akhilesh Yadav aides also bore the brunt of the agencies.

There were similar actions or registration of cases or summoning for questioning by central agencies before the Lok Sabha elections and polls to states like Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, as well as during political crisis situations.

"Conducting an ED raid is BJPs favourite weapon because they themselves have things to hide. Not everyone is like you. We have #NoFear. #BJPFakeRaid," top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Tuesday.

Conducting an ED raid is BJPs favourite weapon because they themselves have things to hide. Not everyone is like you. We have #NoFear. #BJPFakeRaid  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 18, 2022

The leaders who faced action during poll season include NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar, National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah, Congress' Kamal Nath and DK Shivakumar, aides of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's daughter Senthamarai, top DMK MP Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel among others.

While the agencies deny any link to elections, the Opposition leaders accuse the Modi government of using the central agencies with Congress claiming that the ED has now become the "Election Department" of the BJP. The Opposition also accused the agencies of taking action in cases which were old and in which no action was taken for a long while, as they had no merit in them.

The run up to Assembly elections in April-May 2021 saw a number of actions ranging from searches to filing of cases and summoning for questioning. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew and now party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee's wife and in-laws were summoned in a coal theft case in February 2021 while leaders and ministers like Partha Chatterjee, Madan Mitra, Kunal Ghosh and Vivek Gupta were summoned in other cases.

In April 2021 as the campaigning was on, Income Tax authorities searched the residence of DMK chief MK Stalin's daughter Senthamarai's residence following "complaints" of cash distribution. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, top DMK MP Kanimozhi, Stalin's sister, also faced a raid at her residence.

The ED had then brought Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in its line of fire claiming that one of the gold scam accused has said that the smuggling was done with the knowledge of the CPI(M) leader.

Pawar had faced an ED case in connection with Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank case just a month before the Maharashtra Assembly election along with his nephew in September 2019.

Also Read | ED raids an attempt to pressurise me before polls: Channi

Karnataka Congress president Shivakumar faced trouble in August 2017 when he hosted Gujarat Congress MLAs before Rajya Sabha elections to ensure Ahmed Patel's victory. Just before the Karnataka elections, a case was also filed by the Income Tax Department which eventually led to his arrest in 2019 by the ED.

Abullah's properties were attached by the ED when the Jammu and Kashmir District Development Council elections were being held. When Sachin Pilot raised a banner revolt against Gehlot and appeared to be switching sides to the BJP, which he eventually did not, the agencies conducted searches at the premises of Chief Minister's brother in a 2013 case as well as that of his close aides.

Just before the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, a case was slapped against Baghel in the CD scandal case while Haryana Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda too faced trouble.

Months before the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, then TDP MP Y S Chowdhury's firms were raised but he joined the BJP after the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2019. Another TDP MP CM Ramesh, who was also facing cases, also switched sides along with Chowdhury.

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The Bihar government has ordered an investigation after records showed that a Patna-based civil surgeon was administered five shots of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The civil surgeon, Dr Vibha Kumari Singh, however, said she had taken the jab thrice as per rules.

Singh also claimed that someone else managed to get vaccine shots using her PAN card details, and called for a probe.

According to the CoWIN portal, she received the first dose on January 28, 2021 and was fully vaccinated by March last year.

Government records showed Singh was also jabbed on February 6, 2021 using her PAN card information, and for the fourth time on June 17 that year. She then took a precautionary dose on January 13, 2022.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh on Monday said the administration has started an investigation. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty, he said.

Earlier this month, an 84-year-old man in the north Bihar district of Madhepura caused a flutter with the claim that he has taken a dozen shots of the coronavirus vaccine.

I have used my Aadhaar card and my voter ID card on different occasions to get myself registered Every single dose has helped relieve my chronic back pain. I have never caught a cold since I took the first shot 11 months ago, the octogenarian Brahmadeo Mandal had said.

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The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the rationality of suspending 12 BJP MLAs from Maharashtra Assembly for one year, saying this would be dangerous for democracy for resulting in deprivation of representation to their constituencies.

"There should be some purpose of suspension and the purpose is with regards to the session. It should not travel beyond that session. Anything other than this would be irrational," a bench presided over by Justice A M Khanwilkar said.

The bench also referred to the Parliamentary law which required that a constituency can't go unrepresented beyond six months and the role of Election Commission comes into play in such circumstances.

"In case of suspension, there will not be an election but if a person is expelled then election will be conducted. Another is danger to the democracy. Suppose there is a slender lead of the majority, and 15-20 people are suspended, what would be the fate of democracy," the bench asked senior advocate C A Sundaram, appearing for Maharashtra.

The counsel emphasised on the limited scope of judicial review of the decision on punishment by the Assembly.

The bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and C T Ravikumar, said there has to be some rational and constitutional principle behind suspension as houses meet in sessions.

The court was hearing the plea by 12 BJP MLAs against their suspension for one year on July 5.

On January 11, the court had said suspension of the MLAs for allegedly misbehaving with the presiding officer in chair, both inside and outside the Assembly, was worse than expulsion.

The court had then expressed an inclination to interfere with the resolution passed by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to frame a model scheme for opening community kitchens across the states, wondering if it was believable that no death was reported due to starvation.

The top court also asked why political parties, which announced freebies during elections, did nothing against the malnutrition.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice N V Ramana said the states should file a reply in two weeks on malnutrition and starvation deaths.

The court took into consideration a submission by Attorney General K K Venugopal who said that no starvation death has been reported by the states.

"States have reported no deaths due to starvation, is it believable," the bench asked him.

Can we afford to take that there is no starvation death in the country," the court asked further, emphasising the need to end hunger.

Hearing a plea by Arun Dhawan and others related to subsidised canteens across the states and union territories, the bench, comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli told Venugopal that the Union government should give the latest data on starvation deaths.

The bench said that central government should frame a model scheme for community kitchens and leave it on state governments to implement it.

The court clarified that it didn't mean that a universal scheme should be framed, as there was no straitjacket formula to address the issue, but at least government can frame a model scheme. The Centre can explore possibility of providing additional food grains to the state governments and they can take care of logistics, it added.

The court also said States may have to tweak the model scheme to suit local food habits. It also referred to Indira canteen scheme launched by the Karnataka government.

Venugopal, for his part, said that not a single state government has reported starvation death, but pointed at news report claiming that a starvation death was reported in Tamil Nadu since the doctors did not find food in the body of the 5-year-old child in the post mortem.

He cited scarcity of funds for the operationality of community kitchens scheme across the country, to address hunger and malnutrition, saying the Centre was already funding 131 welfare schemes.

The petitioners counsel Ashima Mandla asked the court to set up an expert committee in the matter to formulate scheme for community kitchens across the country.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

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LIANYUNGANG, Jan. 18 -- An office of the Jiangsu provincial government in East China, which is in charge of national security-related affairs, rewarded 11 fishermen and five relevant people for discovering underwater spying devices on January 17.

Since 2020, fishermen in eastern coastal areas of Jiangsu Province have successively captured a number of suspicious devices underwater during fishing operations, and handed them over to the national security authorities in a timely manner.

Great importance was attached to the technical analysis of these devices, among which 10 devices were found to be manufactured by foreign countries, customized for tasks of underwater surveying, intelligence gathering, etc., posing a great threat to the national security.

It is known that Jiangsu Province has held four commendation conferences since 2016 to award fishermen for capturing and turning over suspicious underwater devices, which have greatly stimulated the enthusiasm and initiative of coastal fishermen to safeguard national security.
Lee Jae-myung, center, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a press conference at its headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday, about his election pledges to create jobs. Yonhap



20-something males, unified candidacy among factors determining upcoming election



By Kang Seung-woo



With 50 days left before the March 9 presidential election, the race for the top job in government is still too close to call, as shown in polls that show mixed results.



Some surveys found Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is ahead of his main opposition rival Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party (PPP), but others show opposite results.



Lee has seen his approval ratings remain entrenched in the low 30 percent range, while Yoon's approval has widely fluctuated in accordance with issues linked to his family and election committee as well as himself.



According to a Kantar Korea poll commissioned by the Chosun Ilbo that interviewed 1,010 adults from Saturday and Sunday, Yoon and Lee are competing within the margin of error. The rate for Yoon is 32.8 percent, while Lee's is 31.7 percent. The margin of error of the poll is plus and minus 3.1 percentage points with a 95-percent confidence level.



Another survey by Embrain Public for the Joongang Ilbo also found Yoon ahead of Lee  35.9 percent to 33.4 percent. The poll was conducted on 1,006 adults during the same period.



However, an Embrain Public survey for News1, conducted on 1,000 adults from Sunday to Monday, showed Lee took a lead over Yoon by 1.2 percentage points  35.6 percent to 34.4 percent.



The close results are seen as the result of Yoon taking advantage of a series of developments that are favorable to him, including the resolution of a feud inside the PPP campaign committee and the abrupt death of an activist who raised corruption allegations against Lee. In the previous week, Lee was ahead of Yoon.



With the presidential race expected to be hard-fought down to the wire, political watchers say there are several factors that will decide who will emerge as the winner.



The focal point in the lead-up to the election is for whom voters in their 20s and 30s will cast their ballots as they are emerging as a crucial voting bloc that may well decide the election result.









Yoon recently rekindled the sensitive issue of gender conflict after posting a simple message on his Facebook page that read, "The abolishment of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family," which eventually helped his approval ratings bounce back  particularly among 20-something male voters. Lee, meanwhile, tried to appeal to the hearts and minds of young female voters in an interview with the YouTube channel ".face," which deals with women's rights and feminism, while he asserted that feminism is an attempt to make this world better during his meeting with young people.



In last year's Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, the PPP failed to gain enough support from young female voters and the party chairman, Lee Jun-seok, is seeking to earn more support from young men who are critical of feminism, so young female voters are anticipated to be supportive of the DPK candidate.



Urban voters



Seoul has served as a barometer of public sentiment in past elections, so both candidates are working hard to woo voters in the capital.



Lee is trying to court Seoul residents who have turned away from the ruling party due to the Moon Jae-in administration's failed real estate policy. In a Jan. 7 YouTube video, Lee said there was no candidate who lost in Seoul but won the presidential election. To this end, Lee announced policies to provide regulatory legroom on reconstruction and redevelopment projects, which he believes will curb real estate prices.





Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a press conference with young social workers at the Korea Association of Social Workers in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider a plea for urgent hearing by a PIL for a direction to the Election Commission to de-register a political party which failed to publish on its website reasons for selecting a candidate with criminal antecedents within 48 hours on its website in spirit of the top court's previous directions.

BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay mentioned his plea before a bench presided over by Chief Justice N V Ramana for urgent hearing.

The bench, however, asked the petitioner if the court can prevent those having pending criminal cases from filing nominations. The petitioner said the political parties were violating two judgements by the top court.

The plea, filed on Monday, contended the poll panel should take actions, including contempt against the parties, which violated the directions issued by the Supreme Court on September 25, 2018 and February 13, 2020.

It said that the immediate cause of filing the petition arose after Samajwadi Party, which is a registered and recognised political party, fielded notorious gangster Nahid Hasan from Kairana but neither published his criminal records in electronic, print and social media nor the reason of his selection within 48 hours.

"Nahid Hasan is in custody under the Gangster Act imposed on him around 11 months ago and he is the first candidate to file nomination in the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections," his plea said.

On February 13, 2021, Shamli Police imposed the Gangster Act on Nahid Hasan, the two-time MLA from Kairana. He has multiple criminal cases against him and is the mastermind behind the Hindu exodus from Kairana. There are many criminal cases including fraud and extortion, pending against him and he was declared a fugitive by Special MLA-MP Court, his plea claimed.

"There are precedents for this court to give directions to the EC to preserve purity of elections and protect fundamental rights. In ADR case, the court directed EC to call for information on affidavit from each candidate, inter alia, listing offences with which he is charged, assets of himself and his family by issuing necessary orders in exercise of power under Article 324 of the Constitution," the plea pointed out.

The petition also stated that permitting criminals to become legislator interfered with the purity and integrity of the electoral process; violated the right to choose freely the candidate and amounted to a subversion of democracy, a part of the basic structure; and, finally, was antithetical to the rule of law.

Criminalisation of politics in India has only grown. National Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has analysed the sworn affidavits of 539 out of 542 MPs of the present Lok Sabha, which revealed that 233 (43%) MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves, it said.

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In a shocking and unfortunate incident, three Indian Navy personnel were killed and 11 others were injured following an explosion on board guided-missile destroyer ship INS Ranvir in the Mumbai harbour on Tuesday.

The explosion took place in the internal compartment of the vessel at the Naval Dockyard.* However, the situation is now under control.

INS Ranvir is fourth of the five INS Rajput-class destroyer ships and is a very potent platform - used for anti-aircraft and anti-submarine roles, besides being part of aircraft-carrier task force.

Three Naval personnel succumbed to injuries caused by an explosion in an internal compartment onboard INS Ranvir, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.

The ship's crew responded immediately and brought the situation under control.

No major material damage has been reported, the spokesperson said.

INS Ranvir was on cross coast operational deployment from the Visakhapatnam-headquarter Eastern Naval Command from November, 2021 and was due to return to base port shortly.

A Board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the explosion in the "internal compartment".

The rank and the names of personnel who died in the incident is not yet known.

The immediate cause is not yet known. A probe has already been ordered, an official of the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command said.

INS Ranvir was commissioned on October 28, 1986.

The Rajput-class guided missile destroyers are modified versions of Soviet Kashin-class destroyers known as Kashin-II class.

The Rajput-class were the first to deploy BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems.
Gujarat on Tuesday reported 17,119 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020. A day earlier, the state had recorded 12,753 cases.

The fresh cases took the total number of active in the state to 79,600, out of which 113 patients were on ventilators. Ten more people succumbed to the virus, increasing the death toll to 10,174, according to data released by the state health department.

The state had reported a little over 14,000 cases, the previous highest in April 2021, during the devastating second wave. On that day, over 170 patients had died. Similarly, Ahmedabad city also reported its highest ever single-day cases with 5,997. In April last year, the city had reported 5,740 cases.

Read | Third wave of Covid-19 may peak in next three weeks: Report

Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad municipal corporation announced that it would give an iPhone each to five students for taking vaccines through a lucky draw. In a press release, the civic body stated that five students, in the age group of 15 to 18, will receive the expensive phone on January 26 on the occasion of Republic Day. The announcement is part of promoting the vaccination drive for students. In Ahmedabad, till Tuesday, 1.80 lakh persons aged between 15 and 18 were vaccinated.

The state government, in a statement released late in the evening, said that the chief minister Bhupendra Patel held a "high-level meeting with senior officers and experts doctors, who are part of a special task force" set up to check virus spread.

Officials attributed the sudden rise to large gatherings during Uttarayan celebration and kite flying on January 14. In the meeting, the task force emphasised on strictly adhering to social distancing norms, wearing masks and hygiene.

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Before the rise of Indira Gandhi in the Congress and national politics, there was Sucheta Kripalani (nee Majumdar). She was married to Gandhian socialist Acharya (JB) Kripalani - a staunch critic of Nehruvian socialism who later joined C Rajagopalachari's Swatantra Party. Sucheta Kripalani, however, continued in the Congress and was a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government.

In autumn 1963, the Kamaraj Plan kicked in, and like many party stalwarts, UP chief minister Chandra Bhanu Gupta was asked to relinquish office. To spite Jawaharlal Nehru's and his chief tormentor in state politics, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Gupta hoisted a rank outsider Sucheta Kriplani as the chief minister of UP.

It was under her leadership that the Congress contested the 1967 elections in the state. In a big jolt to the grand old party, the Congress failed to win a majority in UP for the first time since Independence. More surprising was the sharp drop registered in the number of women MLAs, with only six female candidates emerging victorious in 425 constituencies for which elections were held. To date, the 4th UP assembly has the record for lowest representation of women lawmakers.

Also Read | Dining with Dalits: Mere 'noblesse oblige'

Strong woman leadership at the top does not necessarily translate into equitable participation in political processes, especially when winnability is the chief criterion in candidate selection.

Even during Indira Gandhi years, women representation in the UP assembly remained woefully low. The sharpest rise was registered in 1985 under Rajiv Gandhi's leadership when 31 women MLAs were elected.

The 1990s saw the weakening of the Congress and the rise of the Mandal parties. The women representation again turned south to 10 in 1991 and 14 in the 1993 Assembly polls in UP. The decade also witnessed the rise of the second most influential woman politician in the heartland politics, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati.

In the 1996 elections, the first after her ascension as the chief minister of UP, 20 women candidates won their elections, taking the cumulative tally of women MLAs in 13 assemblies between 1952 and 1996 to 223. Data shows that an overwhelming majority of these women lawmakers were from the upper castes or those whose close relations had been active in electoral politics. The Other Backward Caste (OBC) representation was surprisingly low - about half of the Scheduled Castes (SCs). Amongst Dalit women lawmakers, almost 85 per cent belonged to Jatav or Pasi communities - the numerically dominant sub-groups amongst the SCs.

In 2007, three fewer women MLAs (23) were elected to the assembly than the previous one, but the elections ended a protracted political uncertainty in UP as voters obliged Mayawati with a majority government.

Also Read | Yogi's win would change BJP's internal matrix

However, women's participation and representation in UP assembly elections have picked up in the last decade. The 2012 UP polls, in many ways, was a watershed when the polling percentage of female electors surpassed male voters for the first time. The increase indicated women emerging as a separate constituency in the heartland states. Thirty-five women were elected to the assembly, breaking the earlier record of 30 seats in 1985.

This trend was repeated five years later when female voters participation further improved to 63 per cent compared to 59 per cent polling by males. A new record was set, with electors returning 43 women candidates to the state assembly. In absolute numbers, 84 lakh more male electors cast their votes in the 2002 state elections than women voters. This difference had narrowed down to less than 47 lakhs by 2017.

This increase in women participation and representation has also engendered studies on comparative assessment on the performance of women lawmakers vis a vis their male counterparts. Research shows women legislators raise economic activity in their constituencies 1.8 percentage points more than their male counterparts. Male legislators are three times more likely to have criminal charges against them, and female MLAs are more likely to oversee the completion of centrally sponsored schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

The rise in women electors in UP politics as a differentiator is real and perceptible. As a distinct and discernible pressure group, they are forcing political parties to reach out to women both in terms of offering larger representation and policy formation.

Women MLAs in UP Assembly: 2017 - 43, 2012 - 35, 2007 - 23, 2002 - 26, 1996 - 20, 1993 - 14, 1991 - 10, 1989 - 18, 1985 - 31, 1980 - 23, 1977 - 11, 1974- 21, 1969 - 18, 1967 - 6, 1962 - 20, 1957 - 18, 1952 - 20

More women electors voting than males (in terms of percentage)

2002: Female 50.25 per cent; Male 56.72 per cent

2007: Female 41.92 per cent, Male 49.35 per cent

2012: Female 60.28 per cent, Male: 58.68 per cent

2017: Female: 63.31 per cent, Male 59.15 per cent

(Source: Election Commission of India)

(Sumit Pande is a journalist)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.

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The Punjab election has been postponed so that Ravidassias get to vote. The original election date, February 14, coincided with the Dalit sect's annual week-long pilgrimage to Banaras to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Ravidas. That meant they would not have been able to vote in an election where, for the first time, a Dalit is Chief Minister. This was an unthinkable situation for Charanjit Singh Channi. Like all politicians, he too had sought the blessings of the head of the Ravidassia's largest dera, but unlike the others, the CM also showered his largesse on the latter: withdrawal of criminal cases against Ravidassias, a Rs 25 crore advance for a Ravidas Research Centre, and finally, a written request to the Election Commission (EC) to postpone the election.

That's what it means to have one of your own in power.

The importance of being Dalit when elections are around the corner came through in another poll-bound state last week when front page photographs showed Yogi Adityanath dining in a Dalit home. The host, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker, revealed that it was a tradition for the head of the Gorakhpur math to dine with Dalits. Since he became CM, Adityanath had not been following this custom as regularly as he used to, but all their problems were resolved at the math, he added.

Read more: DH Toon | Backward classes 'spend half their budget' on feeding politicians ahead of polls

One problem that hasn't been resolved at the math is the disbursal of the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST) students, a gateway to higher education for them. Only 10 per cent of eligible SC students in Uttar Pradesh have received it in the last academic year. With elections just a month away, the Centre, which contributes 60 per cent of the funds for this crucial scholarship, has requested the EC to allow it to release the pending amount, despite the Model Code of Conduct having come into place.

In making this irregular demand, the Centre has one saving grace: it has asked for permission to release funds not just for UP but for nine states, in some of which not a single student has received the scholarship. These include Punjab and poll-bound Uttarakhand.

In Punjab, to add insult to injury, the Post-Matric Scholarship is at the centre of a Rs 64 crore scam. Unearthed in 2020, no one was punished for it by then CM Amarinder Singh. Today, under the first Dalit CM, the former minister indicted for it has been given a ticket to contest again.

"Dalit empowerment", or the lack of it, is ostensibly the driving force behind the big political shifts currently taking place in Punjab and UP. But ask these states' Dalit students what it means to not receive the Rs 18,000 per annum scholarship. A measly sum by most standards, but for those eligible for it, mostly first-generation learners, it means easing the burden their parents bear to send them to college. The scholarship is only for those whose parents have an annual income of Rs 2.5 lakh, i.e., a little over Rs 20,000 a month. Such earnings are mostly in the unorganised sector, hit the hardest in the last two years by the pandemic.

A survey across six states by the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights on the pandemic's effect on Dalit students showed that 68 per cent felt they would have to discontinue their studies due to lack of money and food insecurity, and 22 per cent had had to take up a job, half of whom had no option but to do manual labour.

But who cares for these details? Not the politicians whose hearts bleed for Dalits in UP and Punjab; in fact, no one in power anywhere. The 14 states that have not disbursed even a single scholarship in the last academic year include both Opposition and BJP-ruled states; in the rest, of the 61.3 lakh students identified for it, just 4.09 lakh received the scholarship. The Centre is as much to blame: before it woke up to the possibility of winning over an important vote bank by releasing Rs 200 crore in delayed scholarship funds, it had spent more than twice that amount on the Central Vista through the pandemic. At any rate, since 2017, the Centre's allocation for this lifeline to education for those historically deprived of it has been declining.

The feudal concept of 'noblesse oblige' sums up our politicians' attitude to Dalits: dine with them occasionally; bathe with them in the four-yearly Kumbh; let them enjoy their annual pilgrimage - all so that they keep you in power. But are Dalit youngsters, for whom lack of access to education often leads to suicide, going to be content with these crumbs?

(The writer is a journalist)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.

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There is no evidence at present that healthy children and adolescents need booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine, the World Health Organization's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news briefing, she said that while there seems to be some waning of vaccine immunity over time against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus, more research needs to be done to ascertain who needs booster doses.

"There is no evidence right now that healthy children or heavy adolescents need boosters. No evidence at all," she said.

Israel has begun offering boosters to children as young as 12, and the US States Food and Drug Administration earlier this month authorized the use of a third dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15.

Last week Germany became the latest country to recommend that all children between ages of 12 and 17 receive a Covid-19 booster shot. Hungary has also done so.

Swaminathan said the WHO's top group of experts would meet later this week to consider the specific question of how countries should consider giving boosters to their populations.

"The aim is to protect the most vulnerable, to protect those at highest risk of severe disease and dying. Those are our elderly populations, immuno-compromised people with underlying conditions, but also healthcare workers," she said.

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Legendary gurus like Birju Maharaj are eternal. I dont see their passing as a loss because what they leave behind is invaluable. He leaves a lasting legacy through his students across the globe not only from the realm of dance but from the Indian film industry.

Birju Maharaj hailed from an illustrious lineage of hereditary Kathak dancers  Gharaanedaars  but he crafted a distinct path for himself.

Maharaj ji, as he was referred to, revolutionised the teaching of Kathak by going beyond the traditional guru-shishya parampara format by opening studio franchises and holding workshops all over the world.

Had Covid not struck, he would have been travelling internationally, teaching and collaborating. He had the maximum reach as a Kathak dancer and guru in the 20th and 21st centuries.

He enjoyed teaching immensely. His disciple Deepti Gupta, who also learnt choreography from my mother Dr Maya Rao, says Maharaj ji was a generous guru. He taught children and seniors with the same enthusiasm and humour. Dance is ananda-dharma. It should evoke joy in you. Unless you experience joy, you cant translate that joy into your dance or for the audience, he would say.

Also read: When Pandit Birju Maharaj taught Kathak to Madhuri, Deepika

He lived to dance. My mother, who was on the academic council of Kathak Kendra, Delhi, used to recount a funny incident from the annual dance exams: Birju bhaiya came late to the assessment, wearing clothesline clips on his hands, and told the jury it was because he was diabetic. But the moment the dance began, he started drumming on the table and then dancing, forgetting that he was supposed to look ill.

This itch was understandable. In his family, children would walk around wearing ankle bells as toddlers and start dancing or singing the moment they were prompted to do so by their elders. That was the life he knew since he started walking.

Birju Maharaj was just not a dancer. He was an accomplished tabla as well as naal player, a Hindustani vocalist, a poet and he could paint. He was from a generation of artists who did not compartmentalise the arts  that is how the treatise Natya Shastra describes a complete performer.

On stage, he was a showman to the core. No one could feel the pulse of the audience and deliver like him.

He had innate wizardry in how he imagined his choreography.

My mother was the first disciple of his famous uncle Shambhu Maharaj and was the one who brought Birju Maharaj to Karnataka for the first time in the 1950s. She wanted people to see the technical brilliance in a male Kathak dancer because what people understood of Kathak was through films and a diluted version.

I feel he was scholarly and quite entrepreneurial. He created recordings of many compositions and made them commercially available for people to learn and perform as he toured on teaching assignments. He wrote books on the pedagogy of Kathak.

His contribution to Kathak spans seven decades during which he danced, choreographed, taught, collaborated and inspired.

His art will transcend his lifetime.

(As told to Barkha Kumari)
As many as 29 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh have tested positive in Madikeri city of Kodagu district which borders Kerala, officials said on Tuesday.

The authorities have isolated the workers who tested positive.

Officials said that the construction site where they worked has been sealed off.

The workers had arrived in the district recently and were working at a construction site near St Michael School.

Also Read | In a massive jump, Karnataka reports 41,457 new Covid-19 cases; 25,595 from Bengaluru alone

Few workers had developed symptoms of fever and tested for Covid-19 at the District Government Hospital.

After they tested positive, all the 150 workers who worked at the site were tested. As of now, 29 have tested positive and results are yet to come for many of the workers.

A team from the department of health has screened all the workers. Only two workers have developed symptoms and all others are asymptomatic.

The contractors and building owners were instructed to provide necessary facilities and ensure that before commencement of work everyone should get negative report. District Health Officer Venkatesh visited the spot and inspected the arrangements.

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Minister for Energy, Kannada and Culture V Sunil Kumar said that an unnecessary row has been created by holding forth the name of Narayana Guru tableau by the Kerala government.

The Minister said "all the states and Union Territories send proposals for the tableau every year. However, only 12 state tableaux are considered for the Republic Day parade. All the states and Union Territories are not given permission to participate. The tableaux from all the states participate once in three years," said the Minister.

Further, he said that the tableau from Kerala had taken part in 2018 and 2021. As per the tradition, 12 states that had taken part in the parade last year, were not given permission this year. Still the Kerala government has raked a controversy by holding forth the issue of Narayana Guru, alleged Sunil Kumar.

"It is not right on the part of the Kerala government to create a controversy by placing the issue of Narayana Guru. The Kerala government through its Communist ideology had been following anti-Hindu policy which has been proved through its stand on Hindu temples and murder of Hindu activists. We need not learn the preachings of Narayana Guru from Communists. Narayana Guru will be remembered by all," said Sunil Kumar.

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The unregulated sale and use of home-testing kits, the results of many of which are being insufficiently reported to the authorities, prompted the government to issue a circular on Sunday. However, it was released to the media on Monday.

This aims to document how many kits are being sold in the state and how many buyers are testing positive.

The circular follows an article by DH published on Monday, which examined the issue.

When asked about the matter, Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar had said that he would consult with experts to determine what measures the government can take to get reporting of the test results.

Another health official had also said he would check with his team about introducing a system of checks to regulate the kits.

In Karnataka, authorities have little idea of how many RT-PCR, RAT self-testing kits are being sold in the state on a daily basis -- which the circular acknowledges.

Also read: Self-test RAT kits for Covid causing reporting hesitancy

Ravindra Kumar M J, secretary, Bengaluru Chemists and Druggists Association, suggested that on an average, about 12,000 kits are being sold in the city alone.

Amid the lack of concrete information, the curricular notes that the Department of Health and Family Welfare has instructed the Karnataka State Drug Control Department to take suitable action.

Carrying and forwarding agents and distributors have to now record details of how many kits they have received and sold.

Furthermore, the Drug Control Department has to ensure that kits are not misused. Medical shop owners have to note down the following details of buyers of such kits: their name, their home address and mobile number, the circular states.

Those selling the kits have to also inform the buyers that they have to download the respective app of the manufacturer and upload their test reports. If (buyers) test positive they have to inform the nearest government hospital or their doctor.

The officers have been instructed to collect data about the sale of these kits from medical shop owners every day by 6 pm.

Kumar noted that it is relatively easy for the association to start cataloguing sales because they have a system of collecting data, but added that only about 60% of medical stores are computerised.

The rest are still using paper billing and phone calls. But they can start uploading the required data using WhatsApp if necessary, he said.

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Visitors walk around Gyeongbok Palace amid falling snow in central Seoul, Jan. 17. Snowfall is expected for the greater Seoul area Wednesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Yonhap
Scholarship for girls

The Central Board of Secondary Education has invited applications from single girl children who have passed Class X in 2021. For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/3nA2I0G

Admissions for development courses

Azim Premji University, Bengaluru has announced admissions to its full-time postgraduate programmes in public policy, development and economics. For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/3tdCMLV.

Master's scholarships

The KTH India Scholarship Foundation awards two scholarships each year. The scholarship covers the tuition fee of a two year masters programme and includes a monthly living allowance. For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/33tpC2Z

Agricultural fellowship

The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management has is inviting applications for its MANAGE fellowship. The appointment will be made on contractual basis. For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/3GGhcnl

Research fellowship

The Research for Impact Fellowship (RFI), hosted by J-PAL/CLEAR South Asia, is designed to enhance the capacity of Indian PhD scholars in cultivating a network of academics who generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence in India. For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/3ftX1Ns

Video journalism internship

DailyBrief is hiring interns for a journalism profile. Students with knowledge of video making and those proficient in spoken English may apply by January 26. The stipend is Rs 15,000 per month. Apply at: https://bit.ly/DH-0518

Journalism internship

CoinCodeCap is hiring interns for a journalism profile to work from home. Students with knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), creative writing, and blockchain may apply by January 22. The stipend is Rs 9,000 per month. Apply at: https://bit.ly/DH-0519

Operations internship

Sigmoid is hiring interns for a DevOps profile in Bengaluru. Students with knowledge of MySQL, Python, and Linux may apply by January 27. The stipend is Rs 15,000 per month. Apply at: https://bit.ly/DH-0521

Engineering internship

Yolabs is hiring interns for an electronics engineering profile in Bengaluru. Students with knowledge of Python, ARM microcontroller, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, circuit design, C++ Programming and EAGLE may apply by January 27. The stipend is Rs 11,000 per month. Apply at: https://bit.ly/DH-0522
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The Derry branch of People Before Profit are hosting an online rally tonight to mark the forthcoming 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

On January 30, 1972, a Civil Rights march in Derry came to a horrific end when British soldiers from the Parachute Regiment opened fire upon the marchers, killing 14 people.

The rally will be chaired by Cllr Shaun Harkin with guests including, former Foyle MLA Eamonn McCann, campaigner and sister of Willie Nash who was killed on Bloody Sunday Kate Nash, the writer Tariq Ali, People Before Profit TD for Dun Laoghaire Richard Boyd Barrett, writer and activist Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and spokesperson for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign Sheila Coleman.

For those interested in attending the online event, it starts at 7pm tonight and can be found by going onto: https://facebook.com/events/s/ bloody-sunday-50-years-on-the- /282681543751901/

Alternatively, you can attend via Zoom using the ID, 863 9560 9567, and clicking on the link at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 86395609567

Cllr Harkin said: The significance of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday can't be understated. The British Army gunned down innocent people at a civil rights march in broad daylight in Derry on January 30, 1972. The parachute regiment was on a killing spree from Ballymurphy, to Derry and to the Shankill Road.

Boris Johnson's attempt to block efforts to hold those responsible for Bloody Sunday and other injustices committed by the British state once again shows the complete disregard from the political establishment for the truth or for seeing anyone, especially those with high political and military rank, ever held to account. The statement 'one rule for elites and another for the rest' has never been so apt.

The recent further revelations of collusion between security forces and loyalist death squads underpins again the rotten role of the British state here.

Families and supporters bravely campaigned for decades to successfully overturn the lies of the official narrative of what happened on Bloody Sunday.

The 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday is an opportunity to commemorate and reflect on those who had their lives taken away, on those who lost loved ones and on the impact it had on politics and people's lives here.

It is also a continuing struggle for justice and for accountability. Those with ultimate responsibility for Bloody Sunday, such as General Michael Jackson, went on to create further carnage here and internationally for decades.

We need to keep a bright spotlight on the British state's role as a continuing sower of injustice across the world. Powerful governments never use military might to advance democracy or human rights. They use their power to do the opposite as we see here, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, Palestine or Yemen.

We are encouraging support for all the events marking the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and for the march and rally on January 30.
A special reconciliation event hosted by the Martin McGuinness Peace Foundation featuring a keynote address from US Congressman Richard E. Neal is to be broadcast online.

Reconciliation and Reflections took place at First Derry Presbyterian Church on October 27th and also featured contributions from Maria Doherty, representing the Foundation and the Rev. David Latimer, the former Minister at First Derry who struck up a friendship with the then Deputy First Minister.

Foundation spokesperson Paul Kavanagh confirmed that the online launch will take place on January 23 at 8pm and the event will be available to view afterwards.

Mr Kavanagh said: This was a very moving and special event which focused on Martin Mc Guinness work for reconciliation and the incredible relationships he built during his lifetime and his ongoing legacy of peace and progress.

We are very grateful to Congressman Richard E. Neal, Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus for delivering the keynote address and all the musicians and poets who also contributed so movingly on the night.

We are very grateful to Congressman Richard E. Neal, Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus for delivering the keynote address and to all those who were part of the music, song and poetry contributions that were so moving on the night.

Obviously, given health restrictions, attendance had to be limited at the live event and for that reason it was recorded for broadcast to facilitate greater participation.

We are now delighted to be launching the event online so that a much wider audience can experience what was a truly remarkable occasion.
Artist Robert Ballagh has said he felt determined to try and do something as an artist to draw attention to the atrocity of Bloody Sunday.

In a video produced by The Bloody Sunday Trust, Mr Ballagh said the events of January 30, 1972 when the British Army shot and killed 13 people in Derry on the day with a 14th victim dying from his wounds six months later, left him traumatised.

Robert produced a controversial visual piece at a gallery in Dublin to mark the killings back in September 1972 and, 50 years on, has produced a painting to commemorate those who were killed and wounded which is now on display at Derry's Guild Hall.

Mr Ballagh insisted the new artwork was to reflect and remind people of why there was a Civil Rights march that day, what the British Army did and their mindset towards ordinary Derry civilians.

He said: I started off this picture almost two years ago. Obviously it was in response to the upcoming 50th anniversary which has now arrived upon us.

I had no idea what I was going to do with the picture when it was finished. But eventually, I came into contact with the Bloody Sunday Trust and also Derry and Strabane Council. Eventually, we came into this idea of unveiling it and showing it in the Guild Hall, which as I say, couldn't have been a better venue.

I'm of an age that I was very impressionable in 1972 and I was effectively almost traumatised when I looked at the news that night and saw what happened in Derry.

Even then, I was determined to try and do something as an artist. In September 1972, I staged an installation in Dublin where I chalk-marked on the floor of a gallery 13 outlines of bodies and then poured real blood  which I had obtained from a friend who worked at a Dublin abattoir  on those victims.

It was very controversial and challenging at the time. Very few people made artworks like that at the time but Bloody Sunday affected me so much that I knew I had to do something.

So now fifty years later, that desire and that compulsion to do something returned and that pictured that is now hanging in the Guild Hall is a result of that compulsion.

The picture, on one level, simply tells the story of that tragedy. I couldn't avoid using that iconic image of Father Daly and the others carrying the body of Jackie Duddy.

I've included things in the picture to remind people  or to let people know who don't even remember that day  that this was a Civil Rights march. This was a march against Internment  which of course was a travesty in itself. As a consequence, there are references to the fact it was a Civil Rights march.

There are other things that are included in the painting to remind people about (back) then and things that might be forgotten today.

Like the families, I was very pleased that all the victims were found to be innocent. But the nagging doubt that I have is that nobody has been found proven to be guilty of anything  and that's the unanswered question.

I included a small reference to that nagging doubt and that was the statement by Major General Robert Ford made sometime before Bloody Sunday.

He suggested that several members of the 'Derry Young Hooligans'  as he called them  should be shot. That suggests to me that there were plans in train for something terrible to happen.

I think we all deserve an answer to that nagging question.
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Irelands Terrorism Investigation Unit, investigating the activities of the New IRA, arrested a woman under the Terrorism Act in Derry earlier today.

Detective Inspector Heaton from the Terrorism Investigation Unit said: A 36-year-old woman has been arrested as part of our ongoing investigation into the discovery of a suspect device in a parked car in the Creggan Heights area of Derry in September 2019.

The woman has been taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Musgrave Police Station in Belfast for questioning.

Todays arrest is part of Operation Ledging, which is our ongoing investigation into the New IRAs bomb-making activities, as well as the groups storage of explosive devices and equipment.

This latest arrest is solely focused on keeping the community safe and protecting them from the threat posed by violent groups.

As we have previously stated, the manufacture, storage and use of unstable, home-made explosive devices in residential areas indiscriminately puts everyone at risk.

I would again strongly urge people to report any suspicions they have about violent criminal activity in our community to police on 101.

Alternatively, information can be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100 per cent anonymous.
Police are urging the people of Derry to talk to older family members following a rise in phishing text, phone call and Whatsapp messages.

The scams involve usually a WhatsApp message, but sometimes a text or phone call, from a person claiming to be a family member, and have the common aim of encouraging the recipient to transfer money.

The renewed warning comes after numerous new reports received from victims across all districts in the North of Ireland. While anyone can fall victim to scams, we are seeing this type of scam targeting older people in particular.

Superintendent Gerard Pollock, Chair of the ScamwiseNI Partnership said: We are noticing more and more reports in recent months of this type of scam from individuals across Northern Ireland.

In each case, a person purporting to be a family member, often a daughter or son, asks for money. Typically, the child is short of money or late paying bills, and asks the recipient to transfer money into an account. This is backed by a story that he or she has recently changed their phone or phone number.

The above are screen-shot examples of how a scam can play out on messaging services such as WhatsApp

Its a despicable act, which takes advantage of a persons willingness to help out loved ones who are perhaps away from home.

In some of these cases, the victim has been careful enough to check with the relative and therefore realise its a scam before departing with any money. Sadly, however, this isnt always the case. Just last week, one victim lost 6000 after receiving one of these messages.

Its really important that if you have older members of your family, talk with them and warn them about this particular type of scam. This is a really important conversation to have.

Superintendent Pollock continued: Fraudsters will try anything to trick people. Scams may come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common  scammers rely upon the good faith and vulnerability of those they target. Hard-earned savings can easily be gone in a flash and, with it, ones confidence.

Please dont get caught out. If you get a message make contact with your son or daughter on their usual number. Dont get into a text or WhatsApp conversation with the scammers. Spot it. Stop it.

For further advice and information visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni. If you have any concerns about unsolicited calls, emails or letters then please report it to Action Fraud via their website www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phoning 0300 123 2040. You can also call police on the non-emergency number 101.

If you receive a suspicious message, whether by email, website or text message you can do the following.

Email  if you feel unsure about an email you have received, you can forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Services at report@phishing.gov.uk

Website  If you have come across a website which you think is fake, you can report it here at: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website

Text message  Report suspicious text messages for free to 7726. Your provider can investigate the text and take action if found to be fraudulent.
For a long time, the UK government has been trying to remove the encryption program from social media sites and now the home office comes with some new sort of tactics used against this ultra privacy program.For privacy purposes, many social media platforms maintain an encryption program for their users, in which the chat that occurred between two parties cant be accessed by any other, even the platform itself. But after some time, it had been seen that some users misused it for illegal actions. So, the ministerial department of the UK decided to remove it through a public opinion program, which management and plans hand over to a popular agency Saatchi. As per the new campaign strategy proposals, the use of public opinions against encryption is foremost and will be worked when the public directly contact tech companies to close this program by giving a genuine reason. And through some other stunts, the Govt. will try to make it successful. But how much it will be affected is not confirmed yet because most of the public still dont know about this end to end encryption. Thats why this scheme is on chance, said James ball.Most privacy critics started to protest against the campaign, which will be expected to start this month. And Saatchi advertising agency starts to bring them all on one platform who oppose the encryption as it is abusive for kids. And still, almost 534,000 pounds have taken place on the latest campaign, and its motive to issue news about all the childcare centers and other organizations raise their voices in favor of child safety and plans to promote the campaign on best electronic media channels and newspapers.The other political parties do not agree with the idea of the UK. They said that it makes it more difficult for the government to tackle the crimes if it happens. As per the opinion of different advocates and internet trust director Wilton, the strategy fully destroys the online community and makes users privacy more vulnerable. Even Facebook is trying to enhance this program through its messenger.But the agency which is hired for the accomplishment of the campaign uses the PR stunt to divert the attention of parents towards it through creating a glass box in which one kid and one adult are sitting and suddenly glass will blackout and others cannot get the idea whats going on inside the box. These kinds of stunts grab most of the child care agencies and parents.Read next: Hybrid Shopping May Be the Next Big Trend
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Photo from FRANKiE4 website [enlarge] The new Pine Street store has clean styling and lots of foliage.





FRANKiE4, an Australian women's footwear company founded in 2010, launched e-commerce in the United States in 2021. Over the weekend, the company opened its first U.S. brick and mortar store at 501 E. Pine St. on Capitol Hill.





. . .
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LOS ANGELES (AP)  Thieves have been raiding cargo containers aboard trains nearing downtown Los Angeles for months, taking packages belonging to people across the U.S. and leaving the tracks blanketed with discarded boxes.

The packages are from retailers including Amazon, REI and others, CBSLA reported Thursday. The sea of debris left behind includes items that the thieves apparently didn't think were valuable enough to take.





. . .
By Ahn Ho-young





2022 is going to be a year of important elections in a large number of countries around the world. In Korea, we are going to have a presidential election in March, which is less than two months away.



Given the grave security and economic risks surrounding Korea presently, the new government will face daunting challenges from day one. It will thus have to focus intensely on two key foreign policy goals relating to the issue of peace and prosperity with a sense of urgency.



When the Cold War came to an end in the 1990s, there was a euphoric expectation about lasting peace. Thirty years on, we now worry about a new Cold War. The inconvenient truth is that Northeast Asia has emerged as a region with the gravest of security challenges. Five of the six strongest military powers confront one another in Northeast Asia, as the Global Firepower report gloomily reminds us.



North Korea commits all available resources to the development of nuclear weapons and delivery systems, making some Korean commentators question the credibility of U.S. extended deterrence for Korea.



What's to be done? The new government must approach North Korea on the basis of firm principles. We must keep the door open for diplomacy. However, we must make North Korea understand that South Korea cannot compromise her national security in the process.



We have long talked about the necessity of significantly strengthening our strike and missile defense capabilities. The new government must now turn words to action. Experiences dealing with North Korea have taught us that appeasement does not lead to peace on the Korean Peninsula.



Second, the new government must clarify the importance it attaches to the alliance with the U.S. In the process of Korea's development over the past several decades, it greatly helped that the U.S. had unique characteristics as a global leader.



The importance the country attached to universal values of human rights, rule of law and openness, its commitment to practice these values in international relations and lack of territorial ambition  all of these made what Joseph Nye has appropriately defined as the soft power of the U.S.



These values have now come to define Korea as a nation as much as they do the U.S. This has happened over the past several decades, during which time Korea has successfully distinguished itself as an example of a nation benefiting from a relatively benign international environment thereby developing its economy, achieving democratization and enhancing its global status.



This momentum must be maintained through the upgrading of the alliance with the U.S., in which Korea should play a bigger role for international peace and prosperity, including humanitarian assistance, fighting the pandemic and climate change. In fact, the U.S. has consistently invited Korea to move in that direction. A good example is the joint statement between Presidents Moon Jae-in and Joe Biden issued in May last year.



Third, given Korea's geopolitical and geo-economic situation, Korea must continue with omni- directional diplomacy. I have to add that this must be based on a rock-solid alliance with the U.S.



We have been obsessed for far too long with the so-called strategic ambiguity between the U.S. and China. For reasons I have often repeated through this column, this will only lead to Korea losing credibility with both the U.S. and China.



With respect to Japan, I cannot overemphasize the importance of both countries' sticking to the "firewall" between the issues of history and other security and economic issues. It is in the past several years that leaders in both countries ignored the firewall, and the price has been a free fall in our bilateral relations.



With respect to ASEAN neighbors, they are far closer to Korea than we realize, in terms of ever expanding economic, security and personnel exchanges. It was in 2012 that Korea became one of the few countries to open a permanent mission to ASEAN in Jakarta, Indonesia.



At the time, ASEAN members welcomed this decision by Korea enthusiastically, and sent a delegation to Seoul consisting of all ASEAN permanent representatives. I recall welcoming the delegation to Seoul as a vice foreign minister, and telling them that "ASEAN is the pride of Asia."



With respect to the EU and the U.K., we presently observe their deeper engagement in the Indo-Pacific. I was personally involved in the negotiation for the Framework Agreement between Korea and the EU. It was during my time as ambassador to the EU that our free trade agreement entered into force, in July 2011.



Even then, during my time in Brussels, I was not happy with the level of attention the Asia-Pacific region was getting in Europe, and often urged my European colleagues to awaken to the opportunities we were missing and the need to level up our relations. Ten years since then, I was deeply pleased to read the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy issued last September.



Last but not least, the new government has compelling reasons to focus on international economic statecraft. Since around 2017, the souring of U.S.-China relations, the sidelining of the WTO in global trade debates and rise in populism in domestic politics have undermined the rules reinforcing the global liberal order.



If anything, we observe such issues accelerating with the onslaught of the pandemic, the rise in the role of the state and the aggravation of geopolitical tensions. Thomas Friedman's "Flat World" is under increasing attack, which is an ominous development for a highly open economy like Korea's. One outstanding difficulty we face for now is in supply chains, but we have to brace ourselves for other related challenges as well.



A large number of countries are responding through strengthening "economic security." We in Korea formed an Economic Security-related Ministers' Council, and are to establish the Economic Security Center at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These are welcome moves, which must be strengthened under the new government with a sense of urgency.





Ahn Ho-young (hyahn78@mofa.or.kr) is president of the University of North Korean Studies. He served as Korean ambassador to the United States and first vice foreign minister.


Local

MLK weekend celebration concludes with scholarship honors, motorcade

Adam Robison | DAILY JOURNAL djr-2022-01-18-news-mlk-motorcade-arp1-toned Adam Robison | DAILY JOURNAL djr-2022-01-18-news-mlk-motorcade-arp2-toned Adam Robison | DAILY JOURNAL Ellen Thompson accepts a scholarship on behalf of her daughter, Allenna McDowell, from Shawn Brevard, chairperson with committee for King, during the MLK Motorcade at the former VF Outlet in Tupelo on Jan. 17, 2022. Adam Robison | DAILY JOURNAL djr-2022-01-18-news-mlk-motorcade-arp3-toned

TUPELO  A motorcade and scholarship giveaway closed out Tupelos annual four-day celebration of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.

Approximately 40 people attended the MLK Birthday Celebration at the former VF Factory Outlet parking area at 2824 S. Eason Boulevard in Tupelo. The event was hosted by the Committee for King (CFK).

About 50 cars participated in the motorcade, sponsored by the Modern Beauticians Club.

In comments during Mondays event, CFK executive director Charles Penson called for celebrating Kings work and legacy by resolving to be a living legacy. He encouraged young people to emulate the youth and young adults whose lives contributed to the civil rights of all Americans.

Let us encourage creativity, energy, passion, gifts and skills of the youth and young adults who surround us, Penson said. Let us pray for wisdom and peace as we pursue justice, we pursue hope, and we pursue love for all people.

The two annual $500 scholarship recipients included Allenna McDowell, who received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship, and Bryson Pierce, recipient of the Delores LaGrone Scholarship. The scholarship is meant to further recipients education and opportunities, said CFK chairperson Shawn Brevard.

The scholarships are presented annually in reverence of Kings belief in the function of education.

(It) is a special opportunity for us and we look forward to it every year, Brevard said.

Ellen Thompson, who accepted the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship in her daughters honor, said they were very surprised when they found out she received the scholarship in December.

McDowell, a May 2021 graduate, hopes to graduate Itawamba Community College with an associates degree in December 2022 with the help of dual-enrollment classes. After graduating ICC, she plans to attend Mississippi State University and earn a bachelor's degree in accountancy. Eventually, she hopes to open her own business.

Although things may sound good, I would tell one that college is not as easy as one may think it to be, McDowell wrote in her essay. I want to give up when things get hard, but I know that is not an option. Self-motivation is the key to stick with the plan.

Mondays program also featured comments from local leaders, including Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan, Tupelo Police Department Chief John Quaka, Councilwoman Nettie Davis and Tupelo/Lee County NAACP President Charles Moore.

This is a time that were moving and have to have boots on the ground, rather than just a celebration, but we have to continue to do the work that Dr. King did, Moore said. I think the way to honor him is to continue to push voting rights, continue to push human rights, to push that we are a people that stand for equality for all men and women.

About a dozen people with Indivisible Northeast Mississippi also attended the event. Holding signs with slogans such as No Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration without voting rights legislation, the goal was to bring attention to the U.S. Senates upcoming debate on the Freedom to Vote-John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

According to Mary Jane Meadows of Indivisible NEMS, the support stems from a national call from Kings family to push action on the federal voting rights bill, as reported by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Mississippi is one of the states in which it is the hardest to vote, Meadows said, citing Mississippis lack of no-excuse voting and other initiatives designed to make voter registration easier as examples. In living the legacy of Dr. King, we need to come together and demand that our senators support and pass the Freedom of the Vote Act.
India, Philippines set to sign first export contract for BrahMos missiles

India is expected to sign a $374.9 million deal with the Philippines under which the country will, for the first time, export multiple BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems.

Reports citing sources said the acquisition of the shore-based missile system, with a range of 290 km, is part of Manilas plan to beef up its defence amid territorial conflict with China.

The contract is for shore-based variant of anti-ship cruise missile and involves an unspecified number of missiles and launchers, spare parts, payment schedule and delivery and training of personnel, according to reports.

This is for the first time that the BrahMos missiles, manufactured by the India-Russia joint venture is being sold to a third country.

Philippines has accepted the Indian proposal and is now seeking to sign the contract. Philippines Department of National Defence on Thursday also published a Notice of Award dated 31 December, asking BrahMos, an Indo-Russian joint venture, to sign the contract.

Reports said an Indian delegation is slated to visit Manila next week to sign the contract.

In November, Chinese coast guard ships blocked and used water cannons on two Philippines supply boats heading to a disputed shoal occupied by Filipino marines in the South China Sea.

This led to a warning from the Philippines government that its vessels are covered under a mutual defence treaty with the United States.

In December, Philippines budget department issued two special allotment release orders (SARO)  worth Peso 1.3 billion (Rs190 crore) and Peso 1.535 billion (Rs224 crore).

The SARO allows the countrys Department of National Defence to finalise contracts for military hardware.

Negotiations for BrahMos between India and the Philippines has been going on for the last few years, but hit a roadblock in December 2020, with Manila citing budgetary limitations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In March 2021, India signed a key enabling pact with the Philippines that had paved the way for government-to-government deals on defence equipment, including BrahMos.
Ten companies submit bids under PLI scheme for ACC battery storage system

The union ministry of heavy industry on Saturday said that a total of 10 companies have submitted bids under the Rs18,000-crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for local production of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery storage system.

The list includes Reliance New Energy Solar Limited, Hyundai Global Motors Company Limited, Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited, Lucas-TVS Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Amara Raja Batteries Limited, Exide Industries Limited, Rajesh Exports Limited, Larsen & Toubro Limited and India Power Corporation Limited, the ministry stated.

The heavy industry ministry had, in October last year, released the Request for Proposal (RFP) and set 14 January 2022 as the deadline for receiving bids. The technical bids were opened on Saturday, 15 January.

The companies selected under the incentive scheme will be required to set up manufacturing facility within a period of two years. The incentive will be disbursed thereafter over a period of five years on sale of batteries manufactured in India.

"A total of 10 bids with capacity ~ 130 GWh received under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage." an official statement released by the ministry said.

The scheme received an encouraging response from local as well as global investors as bids received is 2.6 times the manufacturing capacity to be awarded, ie, 50 GWh, the ministry statement added.

In May 2021, the Modi government approved the PLI scheme (called 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage ) for achieving manufacturing capacity of 50 Giga Watt Hour (GWh) of ACC with the aim of enhancing Indias manufacturing apabilities with a budgetary outlay of Rs18,100 crore.

Under the initiative, the government seeks to encourage greater domestic value addition, while at the same time ensure that the cost of battery manufacturing in India is globally competitive.

The union government hopes that the scheme will attract investment in domestic manufacturing and facilitate battery storage demand creation for both electric vehicles and stationary storage.

ACC PLI scheme is part of government's plan to reduce import of crude-oil to a significant extent and increase the share of renewable energy at the national grid level.

The programme is designed to be technology agnostic allowing the beneficiary firm to choose suitable advanced technology and the corresponding plant and machinery, raw material and other intermediate goods for setting up cell manufacturing facility to cater to any application.
A small viable pipe bomb has been made safe following a security alert in Co Antrim.

The alarm was raised in the Tullyview area of Loughguile shortly after 8.50am on Sunday morning (January 16).

Police responded to a report that a device had been left in the Corkey Road area.

A security alert in Loughguile, Co Antrim, has now ended. pic.twitter.com/PrXB1CjdN9  Police Causeway Coast and Glens (@PSNICCGDistrict) January 17, 2022

A police spokesperson said an object was located and later declared to be a small, viable pipe bomb type device.

It was made safe by ammunition technical officers.

It has since been taken away for further forensic examinations.

A police spokesperson said: At this stage, we believe that the device may have been left sometime between the evening of Saturday January 15 into the morning of Sunday January 16.

This was a completely reckless act and those responsible have shown a blatant disregard for the lives of others.

Their actions are reprehensible and are not supported by the local community.

I am keen to thank local people for their support and patience as we worked to ensure the area was safe.

Our inquiries are ongoing into this incident, and I am appealing to anyone with information, or who witnessed anything suspicious, to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 459 of 16/01/22.
ADA [ndash] Memorials services for Clifford Brent Hall, 63, of Ada are 10:00 A.M. Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Trinity Baptist Church, Doug Brewer will officiate. Mr. Hall passed away Monday, April 25, 2022 at a local nursing home surrounded by family. He was born August 8, 1958 in Shawnee, OK t
A statement by former Minister of State Lucinda Creighton about Lisa Smith's bid to have ISIS membership charges against her dismissed was "a blatant contempt of court", her defence lawyers have told the Special Criminal Court.

Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC, for Ms Smith, raised his concerns yesterday about a statement released last week, in which former Minister of State for European Affairs Ms Creighton said the application made by the accused's lawyers was "deeply concerning" and it was "imperative" that the courts push ahead with the trial.

Ms Smith (39), from Dundalk, Co Louth is charged with an offence contrary to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for being a member of unlawful terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) between October 28, 2015 and December 1, 2019. She is also charged under the same legislation for financing terrorism by sending 800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6, 2015.

The court heard that a statement had been released last week through a public relations firm in response to Ms Smith's pre-trial application for the dismissal of the charges against her.

Ms Creighton said in the press release that efforts by Ms Smith to have ISIS-related terrorist charges against her dropped posed a "significant threat to European security", the court heard.

Ms Creighton, who is described in the statement as an advisor to the "Counter Extremism Project" (CEP), sets out that she was "deeply concerned" at the legal application made by Ms Smith's lawyers and said it was "imperative" that the courts push ahead with the trial.

Mr O'Higgins today read the first paragraph from Ms Creighton's statement to the three-judge court, which said: The news that Lisa Smith is making a last-ditch attempt to have the terrorist charges against her dropped is deeply concerning for two reasons. Firstly, were Smith to avoid facing trial it would undermine the continent-wide cause of foreign fighter repatriation, by casting doubt on the capacity of European courts to prosecute ISIS returnees in a safe and reliable manner".

Addressing the court, the barrister submitted that this statement was "very detrimental" to his client.

Counsel continued to read the second paragraph from the statement to the court, where the former Minister for European Affairs said: "CEP experts have written at length about the dangerous conditions in which European ISIS members and their innocent children are currently being held. Detainee camps such as Al-Hol in Syria are hotbeds of ideological extremism which pose a significant threat to European security.

"While repatriating and prosecuting foreign fighters, so that they can be held in isolation from other extremists, is the only viable means of eliminating these camps, all across Europe governments have proven reluctant to do so due to the legal and political complexities involved in the process. If the Irish legal system fails even to bring such a high profile case to trial, the negligence of these governments in their duty of care for their citizens safety will be vindicated".

Mr O'Higgins called the statement by Ms Creighton "a blatant contempt of court" and said it was an attempt to interfere with the course of justice. He asked Mr Sean Gillane SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) what steps, if any, did the DPP intend to take.

Mr O'Higgins said the defence had a significant concern that this case was coming before the three-judge court with a perception which was not justified. "We are anxious to ensure our client gets a fair trial and is dealt with in a manner which is appropriate and fitting with the case that is being brought," he added.

In reply, Mr Gillane said he would take instructions from the DPP and report back to the non-jury court.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt said he was unsure what application was being made but the court had no view to offer on the matter. The Special Criminal Court, he said, did not have a jury and therefore the court was "completely impervious" to the material put forward by Mr O'Higgins. He said the three judges would await the response from the DPP.

Mr O'Higgins also yesterday made an application on behalf of Ms Smith under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which states that a court can dismiss the charges against an accused person where there is insufficient evidence.

Any evidence heard during the application cannot be published or broadcast.

The three-judge heard submissions from both Mr O'Higgins and Mr Gillane on the accused's application. Mr Gillane will continue his submissions today.

Mr Justice Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne will rule on the application once both sides have completed their submissions.

Ms Smith, who appeared in court yesterday dressed in a full-length grey coat and a full face covering, was remanded on continuing bail until today.

If the trial goes ahead, it is expected to last 12 weeks.
174 new jobs were created across County Louth in 2021 by 232 small businesses supported by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), a Fine Gael Senator, John McGahon has said.

An Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD, announced the annual results of the LEOs for 2021 which showed that LEO supported companies created 7,440 jobs around the country in 2021, with 85% of these jobs outside of Dublin.

Welcoming the news Senator McGahon said:

174 new jobs were created last year in County Louth while the net jobs created by LEO supported clients across the county last year was 50.

During a very difficult year for many small businesses, this is hugely positive news for County Louth and highlights the determination and hard work of business owners and workers across the county.

A total of 898 people employed in small businesses across County Louth benefited from LEO support over the past year.

With a total of 232 clients, the County Louth LEO provides vital support to many of our local businesses, offering advice, mentoring and training, and providing much needed financial backing with programmes such as the Trading Online Voucher, Lean for Micro and Green for Micro.

This support proved particularly valuable over the past almost two years as many businesses were forced to pivot their offerings online or adapt their services to make it through the pandemic.

I want to pay tribute to these County Louth businesses which have persevered through some of the most difficult times and continued to provide jobs and contribute to our local economy and community.

At the launch of the report the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said:

Over 35,000 people employed in small businesses around the country have been helped in some way by our Local Enterprise Offices.

They are at the heart of communities in every county, and have proved invaluable throughout the pandemic, during which I know a huge amount of people relied on their local office.

Last year, businesses supported by LEOs created nearly 3,000 net new jobs, which is remarkable given the year we just had.

Im really pleased to see that 85% of these jobs were outside of Dublin, indicating the Governments focus on balanced regional development is working.

These numbers are a real boost today and will contribute to our overall target of having 2.5m people in work by 2024.

Thank you to all our LEO staff for your phenomenal work over the past year.
Hyundai E&C CEO Yoon Young-joon, left, and Hyundai Engineering CEO Kim Chang-hag / Courtesy of each company



By Park Jae-hyuk



Hyundai Engineering's planned listing on the benchmark KOSPI market next month is prompting investors to continue dumping their shares in its parent firm, Hyundai E&C, based on the belief that the former will become the nation's largest builder in terms of market cap.



According to Hyundai Engineering's prospectus, Tuesday, its market cap may reach up to 6 trillion won ($5 billion), immediately after its initial public offering (IPO) slated for Feb. 15, if its IPO price is set at the top end of the range. Some securities analysts even estimated the company's valuation at 10 trillion won.



In contrast, Hyundai E&C's market cap has remained below 5 trillion won, as its stock price has continued to spiral downwards, since the financial authorities gave their approval for Hyundai Engineering's listing last December.



If Hyundai Engineering becomes the business bellwether, Hyundai E&C could suffer an additional fall in its stock price, because institutional investors will exclude the parent from their index funds and exchange traded funds, while including the subsidiary.



Market participants have continued to shift their focus onto Hyundai Engineering from Hyundai E&C, as the former is set to play key roles in the managerial succession of Hyundai Motor Group's owner family. Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun is expected to sell part of his stake in Hyundai Engineering after its IPO, in order to acquire an additional stake in Hyundai Mobis or pay taxes on the company's shares that he will inherit from his father.



Hyundai E&C, however, has yet to differentiate itself from its subsidiary in terms of business portfolios. Both companies have engaged in the construction of plants and housing, since Hyundai Engineering entered the field after acquiring another unlisted affiliate, Hyundai Amco, in 2014.



In terms of profitability, Hyundai Engineering has already outperformed Hyundai E&C, as the former posted larger operating profits than the latter between 2017 and 2020, by expanding its presence in construction related to renewable energy facilities. Hyundai Engineering plans to focus more on environmental energy sectors, extracting hydrogen from waste plastic and carbon dioxide, as well as building micro-modular reactors. It aims for its renewable energy businesses to generate 10 percent of its revenue within the next three years.



Its ambitious plan is expected to enable the company to supply hydrogen to the group's hydrogen value chain. In that case, Hyundai Motor Group will feel less of a necessity to support Hyundai E&C, according to analysts.



"Investors shifting focus onto Hyundai Engineering before its IPO will affect Hyundai E&C's stock price," KTB Investment & Securities analyst, Ra Jin-sung, said in a report. "This is regrettable ahead of the company's unusual structural reforms."


A legal bid by former Irish Defence Forces member Lisa Smith to have terror-related charges against her dropped will continue at the Special Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Co Louth woman Smith, 39, is accused of being a member of so-called Islamic State (IS) and financing terrorism.

A pre-trial application, brought under section 4.e of the Criminal Procedure Act, to have the case against her thrown out is expected to conclude on Wednesday.

The defence, led by Michael OHiggins SC, made an application on Monday for the case to be dismissed on the grounds there is not sufficient evidence to convict her on any of the charges.

Sean Gillane SC for the prosecution has maintained there is enough evidence to proceed.

The hearing was adjourned on Tuesday and will resume on Wednesday at 10.30am at the SCC.

The details of Tuesdays hearing cannot be reported on by the media.



Lisa Smith, accused of terrorism offences, arrives at the at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday (Niall Carson/PA)

If the application is not successful, the trial will go ahead and is likely to last for 12 weeks.

Ms Smith has appeared in court throughout the application, arriving on Tuesday in a dark coat and black face covering.

The case received widespread attention in 2019 when it emerged that Smith, a former Air Corps soldier who had worked on the Government jet, had been detained in Syria over alleged links to IS.

Smith was arrested at Dublin Airport in 2019 on suspicion of terrorist offences after returning from Turkey in November with her young daughter.

She had travelled to Syria a number of years ago after she converted to Islam.

Smith is charged under Section Six of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 which makes it an offence to join a foreign unlawful organisation.

It is alleged that between October 28 2015 and December 1 2019 at a location outside the State, she was a member of a terrorist group styling itself as the Islamic State.

She has also been accused of financing terrorism, by sending 800 in assistance by Western Union money transfer to a named individual in 2015.

She has denied the charges.
Daewoo E&C's unionized workers hold a rally at their company's headquarters building in Seoul, Monday, to prevent Jungheung Group's underwriters from entering their office. Courtesy of Daewoo E&C union



By Park Jae-hyuk



Jungheung Group is facing growing uncertainties over its ongoing attempt to complete the acquisition of Daewoo E&C, due to intensifying protests from the latter's unionized workers, who asked the buyer to sign a written agreement ensuring independent management.



Earlier this week, the unionized workers barred Jungheung's underwriters from entering their office inside the Daewoo E&C headquarters building in Seoul, following their declaration last week that the workers will go all-out to fight against the buyer. They have also continued to hold a rally in front of Jungheung's headquarters in the southwestern city of Gwangju to request job security.



The Daewoo E&C union urged Jungheung's management not to hire top executives from other companies nor to sell the company's assets after the takeover.



Jungheung promised to guarantee Daewoo E&C's independent management and improve labor conditions, at the time it signed a contract with KDB Investment last December to acquire a controlling 50.75-percent stake in the debt-ridden builder.



"In order for Daewoo E&C employees to display their abilities, I will ensure their promotions," Jungheung Chairman Jung Chang-sun said last month. "Through sincere negotiations with the union, I will also look for ways for co-prosperity between labor and management."



However, the Gwangju-headquartered builder has remained reluctant to sign a written agreement, saying it does not have any legal right as the largest shareholder of Daewoo E&C, unless the acquisition deal is completed.



"We cannot allow Jungheung's underwriters to open their office inside of the Daewoo E&C headquarters building and interfere in our management under the pretext of 'post-merger integration,'" the Daewoo E&C union said.



Despite the union's protests, Jungheung seeks to finish the acquisition procedure as planned, but the conflict can be viewed by market participants as a potential risk to the builder.



If, in the worst-case scenario, Jungheung drops its bid to acquire Daewoo E&C, the Korea Development Bank will suffer another failure in its attempt to restructure the nation's key industries, in addition to the recently canceled sale of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to Hyundai Heavy Industries.


By The Staff of The News

FARWELL  A juvenile male from Clovis and a woman from Bovina died in an apparent homicide-suicide that started early Sunday afternoon with a traffic stop in Bovina.

Parmer Countys acting sheriff, Eric Geske, said Tuesday the pair were riding in a 1998 Chevy Suburban when their southbound vehicle was stopped by Bovina Police on U.S. Route 60.

When police approached the vehicle, Geske said, it drove away south on U.S. 60. Police pursued as the Suburban drove south on U.S. 60.

About halfway between Bovina and Farwell, Geske said, police noted a gunshot was fired inside the Suburban.

When police caught up with the vehicle at the Farwell cemetery, both the female driver and the male passenger were dead from gunshot wounds, Geske said.

Geske said the sheriff's department and Texas Rangers from Company C, based in Lubbock, are investigating the incident.

Geske would not identify the victims Tuesday pending further investigation but said the pair knew each other.
Just after his first week of official practice, new transfer Jesse Miritello persuaded sever
EBRD lends 10 million to OTP Leasing Srbija doo Novi Beograd

New finance to be lent on to small businesses in Serbia

Incentive grants and technical assistance funded by the European Union

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a 10 million loan to OTP Leasing Srbija doo Novi Beograd to support the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia.

The European Union (EU) is also providing 1.5 million in incentive grants for SMEs to make their investments more affordable.

The financing is being provided under the EBRDs SME Competitiveness Programme, through which local companies can access well-structured finance, including incentive grants worth up to 15 per cent of their loan amount. The aim of the programme is to support Serbian SMEs in upgrading their businesses to EU standards in areas such as environmental protection, worker safety and product quality.

Participating small businesses will also be offered technical assistance to help prepare and implement their investments. The grants and technical assistance are being financed by the EU through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and in close coordination with the Ministry of Economy of Serbia.

With its wide regional outreach and focus on SMEs, OTP Leasing Srbija has the potential to provide much-needed financing to smaller businesses and to contribute to the development of the SME sector across the country.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Serbia. The Bank has invested more than 7.1 billion in 303 projects in the country to date. The Banks focus in Serbia is on private-sector development, improving public utilities and facilitating the countrys transition to a green economy.




A government agency recommended Tuesday that POSCO International exercise greater corporate social responsibility over its palm oil business in Indonesia following a complaint by civic groups about the alleged adverse impacts of its activities on the environment.







The Korean National Contact Point (KNCP) for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) made the call, following several South Korean and Indonesian civic groups filing a complaint against the trading arm of steel giant POSCO, the National Pension Service and the Export-Import Bank of Korea back in 2019.







They claimed that POSCO's operation of a palm oil farm in the Indonesian province of Papua caused deforestation and other environmental pollution that negatively affects local residents in violation of due diligence standards of OECD guidelines.







After two years of deliberation and due procedures, the Korean office advised POSCO to continue consultations with local residents in the region over the matter and to actively exercise corporate responsibility in running the business in the future.







It also requested the company submit explanations on related efforts in six months.







"Despite a series of processes for mediation, the two sides failed to reach an agreement, and the KNCP hereby terminated the case," the industry ministry said in a release. The KNCP is chaired by a senior industry ministry official.







POSCO launched the palm oil business in Papua in 2011, and its production of palm oil reached around 80,000 tons per year as of 2020.







In March 2020, POSCO announced a zero-deforestation pledge with regard to the farm operations, vowing to prohibit new plantation development in certain areas and to strive for the human rights of the local people and to compensate for damage caused by its business activities.







Established in 2001, the KNCP is meant to promote the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, voluntary and non-binding recommendations aimed at minimizing adverse impacts from activities of multinational firms and strengthening their responsible businesses.







A total of 50 nations, including 38 OECD member nations, now operate an NCP of their own, the ministry said. (Yonhap)


EBRD President visits Chisinau for talks with government and businesses

Odile Renaud-Basso expected to welcome Moldovas commitment to reforms

Visit includes signing of new credit line to a local lender in a move to support businesses

Odile Renaud-Basso, EBRD President, will visit Moldova between 18 and 20 January 2022 to underscore the Banks support for the country and welcome the governments commitment to reforms. This is Ms Renaud-Bassos first official visit to Moldova since taking the office.

The Bank is a leading institutional investor in Moldova and, to date, has invested more than 1.54 billion in the country through 151 projects. It has also provided advisory services to more than 1,500 Moldovan firms to help them improve performance and grow.

Ahead of her visit, Ms Renaud-Basso said: I am encouraged by Moldovas fresh start, its commitment to reforms and to improving the lives of its citizens. The economy too has been on the path to recovery in 2021 and, reassuringly, the financial sector has continued to harmonise regulation with international standards.

The EBRD stands by Moldova and will continue to provide the support the country needs to tackle its many challenges and charge ahead on the reformist path it has chosen.

While in Moldova, President Renaud-Basso will meet President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, Minister of Economy and EBRD Governor Sergiu Gaibu, other relevant ministers, and the Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Octavian Armasu. Discussions will focus on the countrys energy security, business environment, structural reforms and ways to finance local companies growth to create jobs, support the development of infrastructure and attract foreign investment to the country.

In addition, the President will hold talks with representatives of the business community, key banks, international financial institutions, diplomatic missions and civil society.

Matteo Patrone, EBRD Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, and Angela Sax, the Banks head of Moldova, will join the meetings.
Our Picks for Top Illinois Solar Installers

Here are our top picks for Illinois solar installers.

GRNE Solar Windfree Solar Sun Badger Solar StraightUp Solar Sunpro Solar

Honorable mentions include Blue Raven Solar and SunPower.

Comparing the 5 Best Solar Companies in Illinois

GRNE Solar

Service Area: Entire state; based in Palatine

What We Like: GRNE Solar has established deep roots in the Midwest, with teams dedicated to both residential and commercial solar installations. Its experienced team of consultants, technicians, engineers and electricians cater to a variety of needs, with expertise in pitched roofs, ballasted arrays, ground-mounted panels and more.

What We Dont Like: GRNE Solar has yet to offer backup battery options besides the LG Chem. Though we did name it one of the best solar batteries available, some customers might be interested in other models, like the Tesla Powerwall.

What Customers Are Saying: We had a large, 53-kW ground-mount system installed by GRNE. Everything went smoothly, was professionally done, and I havent had any problems after three years. Being a large system, we did some research and found there was an alternative mounting method that would save a lot of money on the installation. GRNE was one of the few who were capable of using this method, which is one of the reasons we went with them.  Rick T. via Google Reviews

GRNE Solar at a Glance:

Year Founded: 2012

2012 Services Provided: Solar panel, backup battery and electric vehicle charger installations; maintenance; monitoring

Solar panel, backup battery and electric vehicle charger installations; maintenance; monitoring Warranty: Product-specific warranties

Product-specific warranties Financing Options: Solar loans, power purchase agreements (PPAs)

Windfree Solar

Service Area: Chicago metropolitan area

What We Like: Windfree Solar is a full-service renewable energy contracting firm thats run by a team of well-respected, multi-disciplinary leaders from Chicagos business, architectural and artistic communities. With creative solutions, premiere workmanship and a decade-plus of experience, Windfree Solar has cemented itself as a leader in Illinois clean energy economy.

What We Dont Like: Windfree Solars expertise leans toward the commercial side and may be overqualified for simpler jobs. Homeowners looking for an accessible, low-maintenance residential solar system may find a more simple approach elsewhere.

What Customers Are Saying: Superb company. They went out of their way to get materials during this difficult supply chain time. Salespersons are very knowledgeable and helpful. Project managers were available and first-rate. The installers were very professional and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend them.  Christopher Heffner via Google Reviews

Windfree Solar at a Glance:

Year Founded: 2009

2009 Services Provided: Solar panel, backup battery and EV charger installations; energy efficiency upgrades; community solar and small wind power

Solar panel, backup battery and EV charger installations; energy efficiency upgrades; community solar and small wind power Warranty: 15-year workmanship warranty, 25-year product warranty

15-year workmanship warranty, 25-year product warranty Financing Options: Solar loans

Sun Badger Solar

Service Area: Entire state; Based in Wisconsin

What We Like: After its founding in 2018, Sun Badger Solar quickly expanded to become a popular choice for homeowners throughout the four states it serves: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida. Customers who choose Sun Badger Solar rake in the abundant benefits of the companys services, including flexible financing ($0-down solar loans), competitive pricing, information on tax credits, a diverse array of solar brands (Tesla, LG, SolarEdge, Q Cells) and solid warranties.

What We Dont Like: Although Sun Badger Solar is an excellent option for your solar needs, the company does have an A- on BBB, which isnt bad, but is a lower rating than most of its competitors. The company is also kind of young by industry standards, only founded in 2018.

What Customers Are Saying: I have just completed the process of going Solar and I must say that working with Sun Badger was a great experience. They performed all of the heavy lifting with paperwork and equipment and their service was fantastic. They maintained contact with me during every step and now I am enjoying the production of electricity being generated on top of my house at a very affordable price. I highly recommend this company to anyone that is ready to make the switch..  David via Google Reviews

Sun Badger Solar at a Glance:

Year Founded: 2018

2018 Services Provided: Solar panel, battery and EV charger installations; system maintenance

Solar panel, battery and EV charger installations; system maintenance Warranty: 25-year workmanship and equipment warranties

25-year workmanship and equipment warranties Financing Options: Cash, $0 down Solar loans

StraightUp Solar

Service Area: Central Illinois; based in St. Louis

What We Like: Since 2006, StraightUp Solar has installed more than 1,700 residential and commercial-scale solar projects in Illinois and Missouri. An engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, this installer provides reliable, turn-key solutions for solar projects, battery storage, EV chargers and more. StraightUp Solar also has its B Corp certification, committing to a high standard of social and environmental ethics.

What We Dont Like: StraightUp Solars service area might be limited for readers in northern Illinois or the Chicagoland area.

What Customers Are Saying: We just had our solar array installed by Straight Up Solar. Could NOT be happier with the project. From start to finish  and beyond  customer service has been stellar. Im NOT used to that these days! No one was pushy or tried to get me to purchase things I wasnt interested in. Do yourself a favor and give them a call, you wont regret it.  Yvonne via Google Reviews

StraightUp Solar at a Glance:

Year Founded: 2006

2006 Services Provided: Solar panel, backup battery and EV charger installations; community solar; maintenance and monitoring

Solar panel, backup battery and EV charger installations; community solar; maintenance and monitoring Warranty: 10-year workmanship warranty, 10-year production guarantee

10-year workmanship warranty, 10-year production guarantee Financing Options: Solar loans, solar leases via SunPower partnership

Sunpro Solar

Service Area: Entire state; based in Elk Grove Village

What We Like: Sunpro Solar is an experienced and qualified national installer, using products from some of the best solar brands, like LG solar panels and Enphase microinverters. Sunpros warranty is what sets it apart from the competition, however: Each solar panel installation it performs comes with a 25-year labor warranty and a 25-year production guarantee.

What We Dont Like: Sunpro Solar outsources its work to certified installers across the state. Though the standards are high to certify with Sunpro, the quality of its installations is very dependent on the quality of the local installer.

What Customers Are Saying: Amazing team and products. I had been searching for solar for over a year and had quotes from six different companies. Sunpro was by far the best value. Not the cheapest, but the best price for premium LG panels.  Jhorline via Google Reviews

Sunpro Solar at a Glance:

Year Founded: 2008

2008 Services Provided: Solar panel, backup battery and EV charger installations

Solar panel, backup battery and EV charger installations Warranty: 25-year labor warranty, 25-year production guarantee

25-year labor warranty, 25-year production guarantee Financing Options: Solar loans

Solar loans Learn More: Sunpro Solar review

How We Chose the Best Illinois Solar Companies

We thoroughly researched the services, reviews and reputations of as many solar companies in Illinois as we could find so we could rank them impartially. Following this methodology, we landed on the companies listed above as the best solar companies in Illinois.

Choosing the Best Installer For Your Home

Solar companies need to stand out in order to earn your business. For this reason, each focuses on different specialties. Its important to understand your energy goals prior to choosing a solar contractor so you can be sure that you get the most out of going solar.

Services Offered

The services offered by individual Illinois solar companies will vary slightly. Certain companies choose to specialize in roofing and workmanship, and others will focus more energy on solar financing if budget is a priority. We recommend looking for a solar company with a breadth of quality services. Be sure to have a good idea of your goals for going solar  whether thats lowering your electric bill or lowering your carbon footprint  as this will be a good guide for picking a company that can meet your needs.

Coverage Areas

A number of the best Illinois solar companies are actually headquartered in neighboring states like Wisconsin, Iowa or Missouri. As a result, some local providers will only cover certain regions of Illinois. Keep in mind that a smaller service area doesnt equate to a lower-tier company. Be sure to choose a company that covers your area  and keep in mind that your solar projects overall costs will be higher the further your provider operates from your home.

Installation Process

The installation process for a home in Chicago will look a lot different than an agricultural project in a rural area of Illinois. When choosing a solar installation company, look for one that offers a range of high-quality services. We recommend familiarizing yourself with the solar installation process prior to signing a contract. Make sure your solar provider can outline the process for you in detail.

Solar Pricing and Financing

The cost of solar panels is one of the most common deterrents to solar. We understand why. If paying for solar panels upfront isnt feasible for you, many of the best solar companies in Illinois offer flexible financing options.

Industry Affiliations

When narrowing down the best solar installers near you, keep an eye out for certifications that reflect a reputable status within the industry. For example, employing NABCEP-certified technicians or holding membership in the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) are good signs of a reliable company. We also like to see that installers are certified to install equipment from top solar brands.

Types of Panels

Different solar companies will offer slightly different types of solar panels. Youll typically see a lot of the best solar panels  LG, Q Cells, REC and others  but make sure to ask about product portfolios upfront. Reference our guides to the most efficient solar panels and affordable solar panels to learn more about the variations in equipment.

Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Credits

Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (or SRECs), and similar incentives are a big driver of solars popularity in Illinois. In a state where incentives and rebates hold so much significance in value, its wise to choose a company with plenty of experience working through complex tax exemptions and utility rebates. More on this below.

Warranty

Surprises happen, and a solid warranty can ensure the reliability of your system for decades after purchase. A strong warranty should never be an assumption when signing a contract, so always clarify before offering your signature.

An underrated consideration behind a warranty: Your warranty is only valid so long as the company that installed your solar system stays in business. The solar business is booming, and a number of companies will either consolidate or fail over the next decade or so. For this reason, we emphasize industry experience when it comes to determining a warrantys strength.

Cost of Solar In Illinois

Based on market research and data from top solar panel brands, we found the average current cost of solar in Illinois to be around $2.73 per watt, slightly above the national average of $2.66 per watt. Using this average, we can calculate that after applying the federal solar tax credit, a 5-kW solar panel system would cost around $10,113, and a 10-kW system would cost around $20,227.

Any of the best solar companies in Illinois should explain the federal tax credit, local incentives and solar tax exemptions to reduce your overall project costs. In Illinois, expertise in the many statewide incentives may be more important than elsewhere in the U.S., especially for commercial installations.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with whats available in your area as well. Heres a brief rundown of Illinois solar incentives.

Illinois Solar Incentive Illinois Solar Incentive Overview Standardized Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) Illinois incentivizes its residents with SRECs for contributing to the states renewable energy goals. SRECs are certificates earned for every megawatt-hour of clean energy generated by your system. These credits can be sold through the SREC market to help offset the cost of solar. Illinois Net Metering Illinois net metering policy mandates utility companies credit you for any excess energy your solar system produces. Your excess energy savings can offset a big chunk of the cost of solar. Illinois Solar For All Program Illinois Solar for All provides greater access to clean energy for low-income communities through various public grants and loans. ComEd Commercial Solar Rebates Commercial solar panel systems up to 2,000 kilowatt (kW) of total capacity are eligible for a $250 rebate per kW through ComEds solar rebate program. For example, a rebate for a 100-kW system would be $25,000. Property Tax Exemptions Its well-known that solar adds to your property value, but property tax exemptions offer the key value behind that fact. Without an exemption, your property tax would be raised accordingly with the boost in your home value from solar.

Illinois does not offer a sales tax exemption.

How to Find the Best Solar Installer in Illinois

Overall, Illinois residents enjoy access to a number of growing solar companies capable of performing reliable installations. Though each companys specialty might differ slightly, most offer both residential and commercial services backed with knowledge of Illinois financial incentives and tax exemptions.

When narrowing down the best solar companies in Illinois, we recommend reaching out to a few providers and getting free quotes. In the process, youll be able to compare offers to find the most value, as well as learn more about the solar potential or your home or business. Speaking with several companies also allows you to find a representative you trust and makes you feel confident in making the significant investment that solar is.

FAQ: Best Solar Companies Illinois

What is the most reputable solar company in Illinois?

There is no one most reputable solar company in Illinois, as each offers slightly different services. We feel confident in recommending any of the companies listed above as reputable solar companies in Illinois.

Is it worth it to go solar in Illinois?

Illinois may not jump to mind as a good state for solar energy, but its strong financial incentives have generated plenty of growth in the solar industry. If you have the right home for it, solar is well worth the investment in Illinois.

Does solar make sense in Illinois?

Solar makes sense in almost any state of the country, Illinois included. Solar may not offer a blanket energy solution in Illinois as it does in Arizona, but the states renewable energy goals still make solar energy a big part of Illinois future.

People Also Ask
If you live in an apartment without its own roof or if youre a business owner renting a commercial space, a community solar project may help you save on electric bills. Community solar power is a great option for individuals and businesses who cant install their own solar panels.

You can join a community solar project by purchasing a share or by paying a subscription. Then, the electricity production that corresponds to your ownership percentage or subscription will be measured and subtracted from your power bills. This is possible even if the community solar panel installation isnt located in your neighborhood  by investing in the project, your share of the solar generation is simply subtracted from your bill.

In this article, well outline the pros and cons of community solar subscriptions and help you decide whether to invest in your local program.

What is Community Solar?

Community solar is a term used to describe photovoltaic systems that are shared by many consumers, including homeowners, renters, businesses, nonprofit organizations and more. Electricity savings and other benefits from the solar project are split among its shareholders and subscribers at a rate based on the level of investment.

When starting a community solar project, developers will establish the geographic area from which consumers are eligible to join. Some programs have installed multiple solar power systems in the same area, allowing a larger number of shareholders and solar subscribers.

Community solar power is possible thanks to virtual net metering. Through this process, a percentage of the electricity produced by the community solar panels is subtracted from the total amount of power you use in your home even though the panels arent located on your property. Here are a few key things to note:

The kilowatt-hours produced by a community solar project are measured for each billing period and are divided based on ownership shares.

If a community solar array produces 10,000 kWh of electricity and you own 5% of the project, you get 500 kWh for that billing period.

The value of those 500 kWh will be subtracted from your power bill, so if you use, for example, 750 kWh of electricity in your home, youd only pay your utility company for 250 kWh.

Benefits of Community Solar

The main benefit of community solar is saving on power bills, especially in places with high electricity prices and abundant sunshine. However, the concept of sharing a solar array brings many other benefits, both technical and economic. These include:

Community solar can be used by homeowners or renters who cant install rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels. Some roof structures are not suitable for solar panels, and others are too shaded from surrounding buildings or objects to be effective. Community solar may also be an option if you live in an apartment without its own roof or if you simply dont like the appearance of rooftop solar panels.

You can easily take your solar savings to another home or apartment. If you install solar panels and decide to move in a few years, you must either sell them or take them with you. On the other hand, when joining a community solar project, you can simply assign the savings to your new address.

You can sometimes sell or donate your community solar share (depending on program conditions). This is useful if you move to a location that is not covered by the community solar program or if you decide to install your own solar panels in the future.

Community solar supports a more diverse customer base. To install your own solar panels, you must have the cash for an upfront payment or qualify for a loan. This financial barrier is eliminated with community solar  consumers can pay a monthly subscription or can purchase a small share according to their budget.

With community solar, you can forget about maintenance and part replacements. Solar panels need regular cleaning to stay productive, and components like inverters and solar batteries must usually be replaced after about 10 years. However, you dont have to worry about maintenance with community solar, as there is a project developer in charge.

Community solar shareholders are eligible for the federal solar tax credit. When purchasing a share of a community solar project, you can deduct 26% of your investment on your next tax declaration. Just keep in mind that this benefit is not available when joining as a subscriber, since technically you dont own a part of the community solar farm.

Community solar is an easier alternative to installing your own solar power system. The project developer is responsible for financing, installation, operation and maintenance, and you can reduce your electricity bills by simply buying a share of the project or subscribing.

However, installing your own solar power system also brings many benefits. You save the full economic value of the electricity generated, for example. Onsite solar power also increases the value of homes and commercial buildings, and many incentive programs are only available when you buy solar panels directly.

If youre weighing each option, it can be helpful to get a free quote for a home solar installation. Fill out the form below to get connected with a

top solar company near you.

Get Free Quotes From EcoWatch Approved Solar Installers

How Does Community Solar Work?



In a few words, community solar lets you save on power bills with a shared photovoltaic array, instead of having your own system. However, not all community solar projects are alike, and they can be classified into several types:

On-site vs. off-site

Ownership vs. subscription

Community solar should not be confused with group purchasing, which happens when many homeowners or businesses purchase individual solar systems at bulk prices. This does not count as community solar, since the project is split into many private installations.

On-Site Vs. Off-Site Community Solar

Many real estate developers use on-site community solar projects in their residential, commercial or mixed-use projects. The electricity generated by solar panels reaches consumers through a private power system, without depending on the local electric grid. On the other hand, off-site community solar is supplied via the grid.

Here are the main benefits and drawbacks of each type of community solar project:

On-Site Community Solar Off-Site Community Solar Pros On-site community solar systems often achieve higher savings  because they dont use the local electric grid, they dont pay transmission and distribution fees to a utility company. Off-site community solar projects can serve a larger number of customers. You can also keep your ownership share or subscription when moving to another address, as long as you stay within the projects service area. Cons On-site community solar is only available for local property owners and tenants of communities that have installed these energy projects. Depending on limitations with your local power grid, you may not yield as high of savings with off-site community solar.

Ownership Vs. Subscription Model

Community solar projects offer ownership shares and subscriptions. Some projects only have one option available, while others let you choose. You can save on power bills with both options, but understanding the differences between them is important:

When you purchase an ownership share in a community solar project, the corresponding percentage of power generation is yours for the entire service life of the project. Also, since youre a partial owner of the system, you can claim 26% of your investment as a federal tax deduction. However, owning part of a community solar project means you must have the capital to pay upfront.

in a community solar project, the corresponding percentage of power generation is yours for the entire service life of the project. Also, since youre a partial owner of the system, you can claim 26% of your investment as a federal tax deduction. However, owning part of a community solar project means you must have the capital to pay upfront. When you subscribe to a community solar project, there is no upfront investment. Instead, you pay a monthly fee. This means there is an ongoing cost, but the corresponding power bill savings are higher than the subscription fee. Keep in mind that subscription costs may increase over time, while an ownership share represents a single upfront payment.

Each option has pros and cons  you will generally save more when you become a shareholder in a community solar project, but a subscription comes with zero upfront cost. Also, consider that you must sell your share if you move to a location not covered by a community solar project, while a subscription can be easily canceled.

Is Community Solar Available Near You?

Community solar offers many benefits, but it is not available nationwide. To scale these types of projects, state governments must first enable this business model by law. Also, developers are more likely to invest in community solar projects if market conditions are favorable. Generally, the best states for solar power are those with incentive programs, abundant sunshine and/or high electricity prices.

There are currently 40 states with at least one community solar project in operation, and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reported that 3.1 GW of community solar were online and operational by the end of Q1 2021. There is an optimistic outlook for community solar, and the SEIA has forecast a growth of 4 GW over the next five years. Each gigawatt of solar power can cover the electricity needs of around 186,000 American homes.

If youre interested in community solar power, you can check local government and utility websites  there could be several projects available near you.

FAQs: Community Solar

Is community solar legit?

Like all power generation projects, community solar systems are subject to laws and regulations. If you look for a developer that uses high-quality solar components and qualified installers, community solar is a reliable option to save on power bills for many years.

Is community solar a good deal?

To join a community solar project, you must become a shareholder with an upfront investment or pay an ongoing subscription. The power bill savings achieved will be higher than your monthly utility payments in both cases, but depending on the pricing model of your communitys program, one option may present a better deal than the other.

What is community solar, and how does it work?

Community solar is an alternative to installing your own solar panels: You participate in a shared solar project as a shareholder or subscriber, and you get part of the electricity produced. This is a great option for individuals or companies who cant install their own solar panel systems due to lack of space or other limitations.

How does community solar make money?

Based on your ownership share or subscription type, you get part of the electricity produced by a community solar array. The kilowatt-hours generated are subtracted from your power bill  just like when you own solar panels directly.

Leonardo David is an electromechanical engineer, MBA, energy consultant and technical writer. His energy-efficiency and solar consulting experience covers sectors including banking, textile manufacturing, plastics processing, pharmaceutics, education, food processing, fast food, real estate and retail. He has also been writing articles about energy and engineering topics since 2015.
The solar energy industry is booming in Illinois, with a projected 1,700% increase in solar capacity over the next five years. For homeowners considering going sun-powered in the state, there are a number of Illinois solar incentives to take advantage of.

While there is no Illinois tax credit for solar panels, there are renewable energy credits up for grabs, as well as plenty of other local and statewide incentive programs that can help you save money on your renewable energy system.

In this article, we will provide an overview of all the incentives available for solar power systems in Illinois.

Illinois Solar Renewable Energy Credits

Illinois is one of the few states with a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program, which is officially called Illinois Shines. You get one SREC for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours produced by your solar panels. These credits can then be sold to local power companies that are subject to the states Renewable Portfolio Standard, which mandates they generate at least 25% of their power from clean sources by 2025.

With SRECs, you save the value of that electricity on your power bills, and you get an additional payment for every 1,000 kWh. As of December 2021, SRECs are trading above $70 per credit in Illinois, and many homes generate over 1,000 kWh per month.

The Illinois Shines SREC program opened on January 30, 2019. The program was so successful that it ran out of funding, and no new applications were accepted to join the program in 2021. However, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act was signed on September 15, 2021, and it reactivated the Illinois Shines program on December 14.

Other Illinois Solar Incentives

Illinois Shines is not the only solar incentive program in the state  residents also have access to low-cost panels, a favorable net metering policy and solar property tax exemptions. If youre a nonresidential customer of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), the largest electric company in the state, you can also qualify for the Illinois solar rebate program.

Lets review all of these Illinois solar incentives:

Illinois Solar Incentive Benefit for Homeowners Illinois Solar for All Program Income-eligible households can get solar panels installed with zero upfront costs, instead paying a reduced fee for the energy produced over time. Net Metering Local power companies are required by law to give you full credit for all excess electricity your system generates thats exported to the grid. Solar Property Tax Exemption When you install solar panels in Illinois, the resulting increase in your home value is not taxed. ComEd Solar Rebate ComEd pays a rebate of $250 for each kilowatt of solar capacity, and the program is available for nonresidential systems up to 2,000 kW. Other Local Solar Incentives Additional solar incentives may be available from your city, county or power company.

Illinois Solar for All Program

The Illinois Solar for All program is in place to make solar panels affordable for income-eligible households. This program is available for households with a gross income under 80% of the area median income, and multifamily buildings also qualify if they meet the following conditions:

Multifamily buildings with 2-4 dwellings: At least two dwellings must have occupants below 80% of the area median income.

Multifamily buildings with 5 or more dwellings: At least half of the dwellings must have occupants below 80% of the area median income.

Households that qualify for this Illinois solar incentive program will have solar panels installed with no upfront cost, and instead will pay a monthly fee for the power they produce over time. The maximum fee is 50% of the value of the energy produced, which means that clean energy savings are guaranteed for those who qualify.

Net Metering

Having a favorable net metering policy is key for homeowners in Illinois, as the value of the excess electricity produced by their panels can be subtracted from their power bills. For example, if your solar panel system produces 1,000 kWh in a month but you only use 600 kWh to power your home, you can send the remaining 400 kWh back to the central power grid and receive a utility credit worth the retail rate of electricity in your area.

In states without net metering laws that favor solar owners, power companies decide how to manage surplus generation from home solar systems. In many cases, they give a reduced credit, which means you dont save the full value of each kilowatt-hour or no credit at all.

In Illinois, net metering at the full kWh price is available for solar power systems up to 40 kW of capacity, which covers the vast majority of home installations. All credits can be rolled over to future electric bills if they arent used up each month. The balance is reset once per year, and you can choose between two annual periods: May to April or November to October.

Solar Property Tax Exemption

Illinois offers a property tax exemption for solar power systems, which means you are not taxed for the increase in home value after installing them. For example, if you own a $250,000 home and the assessed value increases to $280,000 with solar panels, you will still be taxed on a value of $250,000.

Unfortunately, solar panels are not exempt from the states 6.25% sales tax. However, with all of the other Illinois solar incentives available, this only results in a slight increase in your out-of-pocket cost of solar panels.

ComEd Solar Rebate

ComEd manages the largest Illinois solar rebate program, which is available for three types of customers: commercial consumers, industrial consumers and community solar projects. The rebate is $250 per kilowatt of solar capacity, and the maximum system capacity is 2,000 kW. This means a large solar array can potentially qualify for an incentive of $500,000.

Note that this rebate program is not available for residential systems.

Other Local Incentives

As mentioned above, there may be additional incentives offered by your local government or utility company. Before installing a solar power system, we recommend doing some research about any benefits locally available to you.

Federal Solar Tax Credit

Strictly speaking, there is no Illinois tax credit for solar panels. However, the federal solar tax credit remains available in all states, and you can claim 26% of equipment and installation costs for all systems turned on before the end of 2022. If you miss out, you can still claim a 22% tax credit in 2023. From 2024 onward, unless Congress decides to extend the program, there will only be a 10% tax credit available for solar power systems owned by businesses.

Check out our article here for more info on the government-provided tax credit for solar energy.

Related Topics
Solar industry leader SunPower consistently ranks as one of the best solar installers (and solar panel manufacturers) in the country. In this article, well take a look at why SunPower solar reviews are so positive and help you decide whether the company is a good fit for your home solar installation.

In recent years, SunPower has focused its business on commercial solar energy systems, but the company has since doubled down on the residential solar market. This is good news for homeowners, as SunPower offers some of the best solar panels and energy-related services on the market today.

SunPower Solar Fast Facts Year Started 1985 Service Areas All 50 states, with Master Dealers in AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, HI, IL, LA, MD, MA, MI, NV, NJ, NY, OR, TX, UT Service Types Customized solar panel systems, complete with electric vehicle (EV) chargers and backup battery installations Types of Panels Sold SunPower manufactures its own high-efficiency monocrystalline panels Backup Battery Options SunPower SunVault Storage system Certifications Solar Energy Industries Association, Cradle to Cradle Sustainability, North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) technicians Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating A+ with accreditation

The best way to figure out whether solar is a good investment for your home is to see how much an installation would cost. To receive a free, no-obligation quote from SunPower or a similar company in our network of pre-screened installers, fill out the 30-second form below.

Get Free Quotes From EcoWatch Approved Solar Installers

SunPower Overview

SunPower has been in the solar business since 1985 and strives to provide a safe and reliable experience to customers. The San Jose-based manufacturer and installer currently offers services in every state. The BBB gives SunPower an A+ rating, which is above the industry average.

SunPowers greatest strength lies in the quality of its products, customer service and the comprehensiveness of the systems it designs and installs. SunPower has a product portfolio of high-efficiency solar panels manufactured by Maxeon, which recently spun out of SunPower to form its own entity. SunPowers Maxeon panels are some of the most efficient and durable solar panels on the market, and theyre also the worlds first solar panels to be Cradle to Cradle Certified safe, circular and responsibly made products.

With a strong foothold in manufacturing and commercial solar, SunPower has made moves to double down on its residential services; we expect big things. By acquiring Blue Raven Solar in October 2021, a young company with a reputation for excellent customer service and innovative financing options, SunPower demonstrates its commitment to expanding its share of the residential market.

SunPower Solar Services and Installation

SunPowers broad range of services set it apart from the competition. SunPower systems come complete with customized, fully integrated solar and storage platforms as well as add-ons like EV chargers. Unlike most other solar providers that offer products from varying manufacturers, SunPowers PV cells, panels, inverters, batteries and chargers are all produced in-house, are designed to work in tandem and are covered by the same warranty. This cohesion can simplify the process for SunPowers customers.

SunPower Solar Panels

SunPower offers four types of solar panels:

A Series: Built with the newest Maxeon Gen 5 solar cells, the A Series is SunPowers premiere panel, delivering up to 22.7% efficiency with the worlds first 400-watt panels .

Built with the newest Maxeon Gen 5 solar cells, the A Series is SunPowers premiere panel, delivering up to with the worlds first . X Series: Built with Maxeon solar cells, X Series panels deliver up to 22.7% efficiency and have capacities up to 370 watts . These panels are perfect for space-constrained projects.

Built with Maxeon solar cells, X Series panels deliver up to and have capacities up to . These panels are perfect for space-constrained projects. E Series: Built with Maxeon solar cells, delivering up to 20% efficiency and available in 320, 327 or 435-watt panels , the E Series is a great all-around solar panel.

Built with Maxeon solar cells, delivering up to and available in , the E Series is a great all-around solar panel. P Series: These panels are built with SunPowers unique shingled solar cells. Up to 19% efficiency and available in a range of panels from 380 to 400 watts, P Series panels are optimized for large commercial projects.

SunPower Solar Storage

Unlike most other solar companies, which install third-party battery systems, SunPower offers customers its own SunVault Storage Systems to be paired with its solar panels. SunPros SunVault Storage and Helix Storage (which is used in commercial installations) offer simple but powerful energy storage solutions.

These batteries are designed for day-to-day use and can significantly add to the amount of energy a customer is able to offset with SunPower solar panels. Best of all, these battery systems provide monitoring systems and backup power when the grid fails  something solar panels by themselves are incapable of.

For customers set on purchasing another brands battery, there is no need to worry. SunPower panels pair well with other products like the Enphase Encharge and Tesla Powerwall batteries.

SunPower Solar Installation Process

SunPower prides itself on a smooth and easy customer process that can be carried out entirely remotely if preferable. Its intuitive design studio even lets you build your own solar system online from the comfort of your home, so you can see what solar looks like on your roof.

The installations themselves are carried out by partners within SunPowers nationwide network of certified solar installation contractors. SunPower chooses to hire contractors local to the region so that they can customize your solar system according to local weather patterns, building materials and city codes.

An average SunPower customer can expect the installation process to look like this:

Free online estimate: By giving information about where you live, how much energy you use and your credit score, you can get a free online estimate from SunPower that includes the estimated system cost as well as projected 25-year energy savings. Solar consultation: If you want to move forward with SunPower after receiving your free quote, you can set up a free, virtual consultation with a SunPower representative. At this stage in the process, you have the chance to ask any questions about the systems design and how to meet your homes energy needs. After this, youll receive a proposal. Complete paperwork and obtain solar permits and approvals: SunPower will apply for all permits and building approvals from your presiding city or county on your behalf. This process can take up to a few weeks. SunPower will also ensure youre enrolled in any eligible net metering programs. Solar system installation: SunPower will arrange for your system to be installed by one of its certified partners. Some states have technicians that are part of the companys Master Dealers program, which is an invite-only, rigorously selected list of SunPower dealers that best represent SunPowers brand. Installations typically take less than a day, depending on the complexity of the system. Inspections and permission to operate (PTO): After the system is installed, youll need to wait until its inspected by both your city and your utility company before you can turn it on. SunPower will arrange the inspections, and after your system passes, you can start using your solar power.

Solar Panel Warranty

A major benefit of the complete systems SunPower offers is that the entire solar energy project is covered by the same 25-year warranty. This comprehensive warranty guarantees 25 years of 92% output (most other companies are around 80%) and offers free repairs on any flaws in product performance, workmanship or defects.

SunPowers warranty is one of the best in the business, if not the best, and reflects the companys success in executing its core goals of providing a safe and reliable experience for customers.

SunPower Solar Costs and Financing

Its tough to predict the cost of solar for a single provider, as costs depend heavily on your location, home and energy needs. Though SunPower may have a slightly higher average price tag than some other providers, its business focuses on efficiency, and purchasing more efficient panels will save customers more in the long run.

Many small local solar installers offer discounts and deals to undercut big companies like SunPower. Thats why its smart to get quotes from multiple companies and compare them to see which installer offers the best solar panels at the most competitive price. Keep in mind the quality of panels youre considering, as the cheapest solar panels dont always provide the best value.

Financing Options Through SunPower Solar

SunPower offers three solar purchasing plans for customers, all backed by the SunPower 25-year warranty.

Purchase in cash: Buying your system from SunPower outright will give you the shortest solar panel payback period and the highest return on your investment. Purchase with loan: With a third-party loan, customers can fund the purchase of their solar equipment and pay the loan off typically in five to 10 years. If you go this route, you still own the system, your solar panels will increase your property value and youll be able to claim the federal solar tax credit. However, because of the interest youll be paying and any applicable loan fees, this option is less advantageous than paying cash. Lease solar panels: SunPower offers solar leasing, which means the company retains ownership of the panels and you pay a monthly fee to purchase the power they generate. You dont have to pay much, if anything, for the installation, and your monthly payments are guaranteed to be lower than a typical power bill. But because you do not own the system, it wont add to your property value and you cannot claim the federal tax credit. This is the least advantageous option.

SunPower Solar Reviews

Similar to other larger solar operations, SunPowers size is both a strength and a weakness. Positive SunPower solar reviews praise the companys customer service, installation teams and system performance, yet communication troubles through a large bureaucracy have led to some negative feedback. Overall, it should be noted that SunPower reviews are largely positive.

Positive SunPower Reviews

Positive SunPower solar reviews reflect a successful commitment to its business model of good customer service, the best warranty in the business and highly efficient products. Positive reviews similar to those below usually reflect helpful representatives, consistent system performance and a company true to its warranty.

We have had our panels for about six or seven years now, and they have performed as advertised. SunPower did replace the inverter several years ago with no fuss, no muss. I highly recommend SunPower for solar power generation.  Warren M via BBB

My process took longer than expected due to unexpected issues. Throughout the process, the communication was good. They kept me up to date. All staff that came to my house were courteous and professional. They scheduled appointments around convenient times for me. Overall, it was a pleasant experience to get the system up and running. I would definitely recommend this team.  Linda S via BBB

Negative SunPower Reviews

Most of SunPowers negative reviews stem from issues within its chain of communication. SunPower is a massive organization, and at times some customers can feel lost in the shuffle. The company also outsources aspects of the work to local installers familiar with local ordinances, permitting and utility standards. This can lead to some customers wishing for one central point of contact.

Given the size of SunPowers operation, it has an impressively small number of negative customer reviews. Here are a couple of examples:

We purchased a house that has a leased SunPower solar system. There is a one-time early buyout option that we are considering. SunPower has been impossibly unresponsive to our questions and concerns.  Mark W via BBB

Weve had solar panels for three years. This past May, we were notified that there was an issue with the panels. They have been to our house several times and still cant figure out the problem. They keep sending outside vendors to fix it but no solution.  Samira S via BBB

Our Take on SunPower Solar

SunPowers superior customer service, wide product offerings, complete systems and leading warranty make it one of the most trusted solar providers on the market today. SunPower has an A+ from the BBB and is taking concrete steps to improve any weaknesses to its business model by expanding its availability to homeowners through leases and improved financing options.

Overall, we recommend SunPower to homeowners whose priorities are simplicity, reliability and efficiency. The main downsides to SunPower stem from high initial costs, which can be offset by using high-efficiency products over time. However, some homeowners with plenty of space on their roofs may find better value in a lower-efficiency panel from a different company. Local competitors may also offer more competitive pricing to undercut the larger competition.

SunPower Solar Pros SunPower Solar Cons Large service area Above-average initial cost High-efficiency systems with backup battery and EV charging services Lack of customization with panel choice Strong warranty Excellent customer service Flexible financing and lease options

Solar Energy Provider Comparison



To get a better understanding of our rating, lets look at SunPower compared to two other popular national providers: Sunpro Solar and Sunrun. SunPower typically ranks highly in customer services, service areas and warranty.

SunPower Sunpro Solar Sunrun Year Started 1985 2008 2007 Services Offered Solar panel installation, battery installation, monitoring Solar panel installation, battery installation, monitoring Solar panel installation, battery installation, monitoring, maintenance Batteries Offered Yes Yes Yes Service Areas All 50 States AZ, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, LA, MS, MO, NE, NV, NM, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, HI, IL, MD, MA, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, PA, RI, SC, TX, VT, WI, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. BBB Rating A+ A+ B+ Payment Options Cash, loan, lease Cash, loan Cash, loan, lease, power purchase agreement (PPA)

Freedom Forever Solar, a provider that started up more recently, is another option to check out.

To get connected with one of the best solar companies in your area and get a free, no-obligation quote, fill out the form below.

Get Free Quotes From EcoWatch Approved Solar Installers

FAQ: SunPower Solar Reviews

Is SunPower a good company?

SunPower is a leader in the solar energy market for customer service, warranty and panel efficiency. Whether SunPower is the best company for you will depend on your energy needs, but SunPower is a reputable solar company with an impressive track record of customer satisfaction.

Is SunPower going out of business?

This is a misconception. SunPower recently split into two companies, separating from its manufacturing arm now known as Maxeon. SunPower will continue to work closely with Maxeon by selling and installing its products but will focus its efforts more on expanding the services it offers to customers.

Does SunPower make the best solar panels?

SunPower makes some of the most efficient solar panels available today. Whether they are the best for your home will depend on your energy needs. High-efficiency solar panels are typically best suited for homes with limited amounts of roof space.

Are SunPower panels Tier 1?

SunPowers panels are Tier 1, which means they can be used for larger, utility-scale solar installations. Tier 1 panels are not necessarily higher quality than Tier 2 or 3 panels.

Karsten Neumeister is a writer and renewable energy specialist with a background in writing and the humanities. Before joining EcoWatch, Karsten worked in the energy sector of New Orleans, focusing on renewable energy policy and technology. A lover of music and the outdoors, Karsten might be found rock climbing, canoeing or writing songs when away from the workplace.






Cherkizovo reports 26 % increase in export revenue in 2021





Cherkizovo Group, Russia's largest meat producer, increased its export sales in 2021 by 7% in volume terms, with the rouble-denominated value of exports rising by 26 % due to the growing share of higher value-added products.

The company announced the preliminary results of its export operations for 2021. Total exports are expected to come in at around 88,000 tonnes, up circa 7% from 2020. Like in previous years, poultry accounted for the largest part of its exports (some 63,000 tonnes, or more than 70 % of total foreign sales).

China remains the key export market for Cherkizovo's chicken products (over 32,000 tonnes), with supplies including primarily chicken feet, wings and other cuts.

Over the past year, Cherkizovo ramped up its poultry shipments to the Commonwealth of Independent States, while also ensuring regular supplies to Saudi Arabia and expanding exports to African nations.

Turkey meat was the key driver behind Cherkizovo's growth in foreign markets, as its shipments in 2021 increased by 170 % to 6,000 tonnes. This was mainly due to the launch of turkey exports to China, which amounted to over 2,000 tonnes in 2021. The second largest foreign market for the company's turkey supplies was Benin (more than 1,500 tonnes).

Cherkizovo Group also exported 13,000 tonnes of pork in 2021, with the majority of supplies (over 10,000 tonnes) delivered to the CIS.

Over the past year, the company increased its foreign shipments of ready-to-eat products (sausages and ready-to-cook items) by 25 % to 6,500 tonnes. The key importers in this segment were Kazakhstan (more than 3,000 tonnes) and Azerbaijan (around 2,000 tonnes).

It is worth noting that in 2021, an increase in Cherkizovo's exports in money terms was substantially higher compared to that in volume terms. Total export revenue for the year exceeded 12 billion (US$158 million; up 26 % from 2020), with the sales of turkey, ready-to-eat products, chicken and pork rising by 280 %, 49 %, 20 % and 5 % in money terms, respectively.

"The difference between the increase in value and volume of foreign supplies mainly comes as a result of the company's efforts to shift the focus in 2021 to the exports of higher value-added products with significantly stronger margins," said Elena Volgusheva, exports director at Cherkizovo Trade House. "One of the drivers was that we started supplying nuggets and chicken cuts to Central Asia as a way to cater for the needs of local restaurants and retail chains."

In 2021, Cherkizovo Group further expanded its export geography by adding six new countries  Liberia, Mongolia, Congo, Serbia, Tajikistan and Equatorial Guinea. This takes the total number of the company's foreign markets to 21.

- Cherkizovo
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The European Court of Human Rights has found the Spanish state guilty of preventing a Basque pro-independence prisoner from having access to a lawyer. The abertzale activist Xabier Atristain, who was later convicted of membership of the ETA terrorist group, was being held in solitary confinement. As reported by the Basque media NAIZ, the Strasbourg court has previously handed down a dozen sentences against Spain for failing to investigate multiple allegations of torture, but now the court is questioning a common practice employed with ETA prisoners: maintaining them incommunicado in custody and denying them access to a legal defence.

The ruling of the European court obliges the Spanish state to compensate Atristain with a payment of 12,000 euros for non-pecuniary damage and 8,000 euros for expenses and costs. The Strasbourg court concluded that Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been violated with regard to the right to a fair trial and legal assistance chosen by the person accused. The court ruled that the ban on a freely chosen lawyer "was such as to undermine the fairness of the subsequent criminal proceedings, in so far as the applicant's incriminating initial statement was admitted in evidence."

The ruling also stressed that its role is to "establish safeguards to ensure that the processes followed in each case meet the requirements of a fair trial." In this particular case, it asserted that "there had been no individual assessment and justification by the authorities of the need to restrict the applicants access to a lawyer of his own choosing."

The Catalan case in Europe

The European Court of Human Rights has not only upheld the appeals against the Spanish state filed by pro-independence leaders convicted in the Supreme Court trial over the Catalan referendum of 1st October, 2017. The ECHR has included in the same file an appeal registered in November by former Catalan minister Francesc Homs against the Supreme Court sentence banning him from public office following the unofficial 2014 independence consultation held in Catalonia.

Homs was convicted and sentenced to one year and one month in prison for serious disobedience, forcing him to relinquish his seat in the Spanish Congress where he led the deputies of the pro-independence PDeCAT party. Subsequently, the Court of Accounts also investigated those responsible for the 2014 vote and ruled that they were liable for the 4.9 million euro total of public spending on the consultation. The ECHR informed the former minister of the decision to admit his appeal in Catalan, as it also did with the ex-president of Omnium, Jordi Cuixart, and the other political prisoners of the 2017 referendum trial. In fact, all the submissions were resolved at once and are dated December 14th.

Another Strasbourg ruling

Another of the notable occasions when the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Spain was for its failure to investigate the police action after the 'Surround Congress' demonstration which took place in Madrid in 2012. According to the ruling, the events of September 29th, 2012 constituted a violation of Article 3 of the Convention of Human Rights in its procedural aspect, which contemplates the prohibition of torture. The lack of investigation by the Spanish courts and the impossibility of finding the police officers involved, who were not identified, were key in its decision.

The complainant in the case, who took part in the protest, accused the police of forcibly and humiliatingly evicting her and other protesters who were sheltering from the riots in a bar near the Spanish Congress. The Madrid court investigating the matter was closed by the judge alleging a lack of evidence. After several appeals, the Constitutional Court refused to investigate the police action, considering that there was no violation of fundamental rights. The ECHR unanimously contradicted this decision, declaring that the lack of action by the Constitutional Court constitutes "a violation of the procedural branch of Article 3 of the Convention", and awarding the plaintiff compensation of 1,000 euros for the moral damages suffered.


By Kim Hyun-bin



Industry analysts and investors are now paying keen attention to whether the European Union (EU) will block Korean Air's takeover of Asiana Airlines after vetoing Hyundai Heavy Industries' acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).



The EU has a long track record of opposing large-scale mergers within the airline industry. Last year, the EU Commission turned down two major mergers between Canada's leading carrier, Air Canada, with the country's third largest airline, Air Transat, and also repeatedly took a negative stance on a merger between Spain's leading airline IAG and Air Europa citing monopoly concerns.



However, experts say Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana is different from previous airline takeover, saying it does not raise monopoly concerns because the two Korean carriers are smaller players in the global industry.



The EU Commission usually examines business mergers by going through a preliminary examination. If the EU Commission determines that a merger may impede competition, an in-depth investigation is then launched.



Most of the decisions are made after the initial review. Over the past 10 years, the EU has reviewed more than 3,000 merger deals. Among them, only 75 cases were concluded after an in-depth investigation.



The EU regards mergers as infringing on competition within the aviation industry. The number of mergers continues to rise in the airline industry as carriers face difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local analysts say the situation is a little different in the case of Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana as the takeover is not likely harm European competitors or consumers, which is the EU's top concern.



"Even if Korean Air, which ranks 18th in terms of global air transport market share, and Asiana Airlines, which ranks 32nd, merge, the impact on the international aviation market will not be large, so the opposition from overseas competition authorities will not be great," Hwang Yong-shik, a professor of economics at Sejong University, said. When merged, the combined carrier is forecast to become the world's seventh largest.



An industry official familiar with the matter said there are only four overlapping routes in Europe for Korean Air and Asiana Airlines following the merger, which leaves opportunities for other airlines to enter the market.

In the case of Air Canada, about 30 routes overlapped with Air Transat, which led the EU to oppose the merger.



"So the merger has no monopoly concerns within the EU. There is no concrete reason for the EU to disapprove the merger," the official said.



In December, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) issued a conditional approval?of Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana.



Korean Air still needs approval from seven different aviation authorities  the U.S., China, Japan, European Union, Britain, Australia and Singapore  for the acquisition to proceed. It has currently received approvals from Turkey, Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia.






Washington, MO (63090)

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Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 65F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Athens, AL (35611)

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Variable clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly late. Low 63F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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With the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled to discuss the American Innovation and Choice Online Act and the Open App Markets Act this week, Apple and Google are stepping up their opposition to both bills. According to CNBC , Apple recently told lawmakers the legislation would make iPhone users less safe.

The bills put consumers in harms way because of the real risk of privacy and security breaches, Apple said in a letter seen by CNBC. The company specifically targets app sideloading as a potential threat. One of the provisions of the Open App Markets Act would force platform holders to allow consumers to sideload software and install third-party app stores. But, if Apple is forced to enable sideloading, millions of Americans will likely suffer malware attacks on their phones that would otherwise have been stopped, the company states in the letter.

On Tuesday, Google, in a post attributed to Kent Walker, the companys president of global affairs and chief legal officer, advanced a similar argument. Google is able to protect billions of people around the world from cyberattacks because we bake security and privacy protections into our services, he said.

Walker warns the bills could hurt the companys ability to integrate automated security features in its services. He also claims the bills could hurt the companys ability and that of its US counterparts to compete with foreign firms by forcing them to obtain approval from government bureaucrats whenever they plan to release new features or address existing issues.

Apple and Google may not like the proposed bills, but they have support from others in the tech ecosystem. Specifically, the Coalition for App Fairness, an organization Epic and Spotify co-founded to pressure the two companies to change their app store policies, has come out in support of the legislation. Moving this important legislation forward sends a clear and unambiguous message that monopoly control of the app ecosystem is no longer acceptable, the group said on Monday.
Late last year, Nintendo revealed that the Kingdom Hearts JRPG trilogy would be coming to the Nintendo Switch, with the caveat that they'd be cloud streaming titles only. Now, Square Enix has announced that the three games, Kingdom Hearts - HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III will arrive to Switch via cloud on February 10th for a rather exorbitant $90, or $72 on pre-order.

That's essentially the entire series so far, covering Sora's journey up to the most recent chapter, Kingdom Hearts III. The series is one Square Enix's best-selling franchises of all time, particularly the original and Kingdom Hearts III titles.

Because the Switch trilogy is a cloud version, you'll need a reasonably fast internet connection to have a decent experience. While a cloud release seems valid for the latest Kingdom Hearts III chapter first released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, one has to wonder why the first two games couldn't have been remade to run directly on the Switch. After all, it can run Witcher 3 and the Assassin's Creed collection that's set to arrive on February 18th.

By purchasing the all-in-one collection or individual Kingdom Hearts III version, you'll receive the Advent Red Keyblade for use in the Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC), Square Enix said. There will also be a Kingdom Hearts 20th anniversary event in Tokyo, with a mini concert, Q&A with the development team, an exhibition and more.

The collection is now available for pre-order at $72. If that's too much, you can pre-order individual titles for prices varying from $33 to $40. The trilogy price climbs to $90 afterwards, so if you're interested, try to pick it up ahead of the February 10th release date.

Update 1/18/2022 6:15 AM ET: Pre-order and full pricing added.
Lenovo has revealed its latest batch of devices geared toward students. Perhaps the most eye-catching offering is a Snapdragon 7c-powered Windows 11 tablet. The company suggests the 10w Tablet might be a great fit for younger students, since the device has a rugged design with a rubber bumper and Corning Gorilla Glass on the Full HD, 10.1-inch display. The screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio and 400 nits of brightness. There are 2MP front-facing and 8MP rear-facing cameras too.

Lenovo

The tablet comes with a detachable keyboard and there's an optional pen. The 10w Tablet has a 30Whr battery and comes with up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128GB of eMMC storage. Unfortunately, there's only one USB-C port, but there is a headphone jack, which should help students avoid having to fiddle with the Windows Bluetooth settings. The tablet weighs 573g (1.26 lbs) and 1.1kg (2.42 lbs) with the keyboard.

Lenovo suggests the Snapdragon platform will help deliver responsive performance, dependable WiFi connectivity and an extended battery life. The ARM-based Windows experience hasn't historically been great, but we haven't seen Windows 11 running on Snapdragon 7c chipsets as yet. Microsoft has seemingly improved the Windows-on-ARM experience, however.

The 10w Tablet and keyboard bundle starts at $329 and it's expected to ship in the US in April.

For (perhaps older) students who need extra power, Lenovo is also planning to ship the 13w Yoga convertible laptop in April. The system is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5000 U-series processor with on-chip graphics.

The laptop has a 13.3-inch, Full HD display with 300 nits of brightness. The front-facing 1080p camera has a privacy shutter and you'll find a 5MP camera on the rear. There's an optional fingerprint reader on the power button too.

Lenovo

The 13w Yoga includes up to 16GB of 3200Mhz DDR4 RAM (which users can upgrade) and up to a 512GB SSD. Lenovo says it has Dolby Audio and a 51Whr battery.

The connectivity options are far more generous than on the 10w Tablet. Along with an audio jack, there are two USB-C 3.2 ports, one USB-A 3.2 port, a full SD card reader and HDMI 2.0. There's WiFi 6 and optional 4G LTE support as well. The 13w Yoga will start at $749.

In addition, Lenovo announced a partnership with VictoryXR to offer educational experiences in virtual reality. Students will be able to access more than 60 VR titles from VictoryXR, centered around science, history and career and technical education. They'll be able to virtually visit the likes of The Great Wall of China and see California Redwoods.
Logitech has launched a new stylus called the Logitech Pen designed specifically with K-12 students in mind. It will work with touchscreen Chromebooks that support the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) standard and is Works with Chromebooks certified. Google backed the initiative in 2018 and joined other supporters like Intel and Lenovo in their quest to create an open active stylus standard, and a bunch of manufacturers has released USI-compatible Chromebooks over the years since then.

The Logitech Pen works with various models across brands, namely Lenovo, Acer, HP, Asus and Samsung. Michele Hermann, Vice President of Mobility and Head of Education Solutions at Logitech, said in a statement: "Given that students and educators are increasingly using Chromebooks as an everyday tool in schools and at home, we created the Logitech Pen to unlock the full potential of Chromebooks in the classroom."

The Logitech Pen has a silicone grip, non-slip design and comes in a size that even children can hold comfortably. Its active tip features 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity  that's the same pressure levels as the Surface Slim Pen 2  and can simulate writing on paper more closely than a stylus with a rubber tip or a finger can. As per the standard, the Logitech Pen doesn't need to be paired beforehand, so students can just pick it up and use it.

The Pen's battery can last for up to 15 days with regular school use and can be charged using a standard USB-C Charger. And, since it's designed for students, it's also spill-proof and has military-grade drop protection of up to four feet. It will be available this month from resellers in the United States and select markets for $65.
Microsoft just made one of the largest-ever bids for a game studio. The company has announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for $95 per share, valuing the all-cash deal at an enormous $68.7 billion. The deal would make the combined entity the "third-largest" game company by revenue, according to Microsoft, and would put titles like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush under the company's wing. Microsoft plans to add Activision Blizzard games to Game Pass as part of the deal.

Mobile gaming is also a significant factor in the acquisition, Microsoft said. On top of folding King's phone games into Microsoft's business, the purchase promises to bring franchises like Halo and Warcraft to more devices.

The buyout is expected to close sometime in Microsoft's fiscal 2023 (no later than June 2023) if regulators and Activision Blizzard shareholders greenlight the move. The boards of directors for both companies have already approved the deal.

While news of the acquisition comes as Activision Blizzard is still embroiled in a misconduct scandal, you shouldn't expect significant leadership changes. Bobby Kotick will remain Activision Blizzard's CEO despite calls for his resignation, and will now report to Microsoft Gaming chief Phil Spencer. Separately, though, the Wall Street Journal reports that Kotick will leave shortly after the deal is complete, a move that wouldn't be unexpected given the that Spencer will be leading Microsoft's gaming efforts. In a company letter, Kotick described Microsoft's move as a chance to "further strengthen" Activision Blizzard's workplace culture and "set a new standard" for inclusiveness. He didn't outline specific plans for reform, but did say there would be "minimal changes" to staff counts after the union was complete.

If it moves forward, the merger would help Microsoft compete with heavyweights Tencent and Sony, which have both been on buying sprees in recent months. Kotick also saw this helping his company better compete as metaverse gaming rises to prominence. In that light, this may be as much a matter of future-proofing the company as anything else.

Some major questions remain, though. Microsoft didn't say how many Activision Blizzard games would be Xbox-exclusive on consoles, or Windows-exclusive on computers. It's also unclear how much Microsoft might influence development of key franchises. It's not certain Microsoft will lock Call of Duty or other giant games to the Xbox in the near future, though  PlayStation sales represent a large chunk of Activision Blizzard's revenue, and dropping that platform would significantly reduce the company's clout in the games industry.

CEO Bobby Kotick's letter to Activision Blizzard employees is below:

Team,

Today is an incredibly exciting day. As we continue our journey to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment, we will eventually do so as part of Microsoft. I am certain that our incredible talent and extraordinary games combined with our shared commitment to the very best workplace will enable us to grow in an increasingly more competitive race for leadership as gaming through the metaverse evolves.

How we got here and where were going

When you reflect on what weve built together, we have so much to be proud of. For the last 31 years, weve continuously shaped gaming through our commitment to deliver joy, fun, and the thrill of accomplishment.

Weve transformed games into social experiences and enabled players to find purpose and meaning through the most engaging form of entertainment  our games. By doing so, weve created and entertained communities of hundreds of millions of players.

Connecting these communities together is the next step. Facebook, Google, Tencent, NetEase, Amazon, Apple, Sony, Disney  and many more  have ambitions for their own gaming and metaverse initiatives. Established and emerging competitors see opportunity for virtual worlds filled with professionally produced content, user generated content and rich social connections.

Our talent and our games are important components of the construction of a rich metaverse. We have always attracted the very best game makers and built the very best games, seizing opportunity with passion, inspiration, focus, and determination.

A partnership to define the future

As investments in cloud computing, AI and machine learning, data analytics, and user interface and experience capabilities are becoming more competitive, we believe this partnership will better enable our ambitions.

In considering possible partners, all roads ultimately lead to Microsoft. Like us, they have been making games for a long time. Microsoft has already distributed games to hundreds of millions of the worlds computers and computing devices and has technologies and innovation that will support the next generation of games.

Microsoft also will support our journey to further strengthen our culture. Satya Nadella, Microsofts CEO, has been a passionate advocate for caring as the currency of leadership. Inspiring people through empathy is a powerful motivator, and one we embrace as we renew our resolve  and in the work we are now doing  to set a new standard for a welcoming and inclusive workplace culture.

Importantly, Microsoft wants you  your talent, your creativity, and your dedication to each other. Activision Blizzards success throughout the years can be directly attributed to each of you. Microsoft recognizes the commitment to excellence and creative independence that sets us apart, and we anticipate minimal changes for our workforce following the close of the transaction. Microsofts diverse operations will give us access to valuable expertise, technology, and tools and provide even greater opportunities for learning and development.

No organizations culture, including ours, is without need for improvement, and thanks to your input, we are making strides in improving ours. My commitment is to continue evolving our culture so that come closing, Microsoft is acquiring an exemplary workplace.

Whats next

Transactions like these can take a long time to complete. Until we receive all the necessary regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions are satisfied, which we expect to be sometime in Microsofts fiscal 2023 year ending June 30, 2023, we will continue to operate completely autonomously. I will continue as our CEO with the same passion and enthusiasm I had when I began this amazing journey in 1991.

Of course, this announcement will give rise to so many questions. We will host numerous forums and events to make certain we address your concerns.

I am incredibly proud of this company, you, and the work we have done together. Now its on to our next chapter and the endless possibilities this transaction represents for us. I couldnt be more appreciative of your efforts, focus, and the dedication to connecting the world through joy and fun.

With gratitude,

Bobby
Otto Frank in 1971 holding the Golden Pan award, given for the sale of one million copies of 'The Diary of Anne Frank' in London. AP-Yonhap



One of World War II's most enduring mysteries may have been solved after a cold-case investigation identified a Jewish notary as the prime suspect in the betrayal of diarist Anne Frank and her family.



Arnold van den Bergh may have revealed the Franks' hiding place in Amsterdam to the Nazis in a bid to save his own family, according to the six-year inquiry led by a former FBI agent.



The evidence comes from modern data-crunching techniques combined with a long-lost, anonymous note sent to Anne's father Otto naming Van den Bergh, according to a new book about the investigation.



The Anne Frank House museum said it was "impressed" by the evidence in the book being published Tuesday by Canadian author Rosemary Sullivan, but that further investigation was needed.



Theories have long swirled about the Nazi raid on August 4, 1944, that uncovered the secret annex to an Amsterdam canal-side house where Anne and her family hid for two years.



Anne and her sister died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, but her diary became one of the most haunting accounts of the Holocaust, selling some 30 million copies.



Retired FBI detective Vince Pankoke was enlisted by a Dutch documentary-maker in 2016 to head a team to crack the "cold case" that two previous police investigations had failed to.



"This was frozen," Pankoke, who had previously investigated Colombian drug cartels, told the CBS "60 Minutes" show.





Journalist takes pictures of images of Anne Frank at the renovated Anne Frank House Museum in Amsterdam, Nov. 21, 2018. AP-Yonhap



'Smoking gun'



The name of Van den Bergh, who died in 1950 of throat cancer, had previously received little attention.



But it rose to the top of a list of four suspects during Pankoke's investigation, which used modern techniques including algorithms to find new links in troves of information, and employed experts in various fields.



Van den Bergh was a founding member of the Jewish Council, an administrative body that the Nazis forced Jews to establish to organize deportations from the Netherlands.



Investigators found he had initially managed to get his family exempted from being transported. But this was revoked around the time of the raid on the Franks, leading them to suspect he may have betrayed their hiding place to save his own children.



He would also have had the opportunity to pass on the information, as he had been the notary for a German art dealer's sale of a collection of looted Jewish art to senior Nazi Hermann Goering.



But the most convincing element for the investigators was the seriousness with which Otto Frank treated the allegation.



Anne's father told detectives in 1964 that he had received a note shortly after the war naming Van den Bergh as the betrayer of his family, and of several other people. A copy made by Frank of the note was found by the team in a police officer's archives.



The team discounted some 30 other theories, such as a long-running suspicion that it was linked to black market activity, or just a coincidence, the investigators said.



"We do not have a smoking gun, but we do have a hot weapon with empty casings next to it," Pankoke was quoted as saying by Dutch public broadcaster NOS.





Ronald Leopold, director of the Anne Frank Museum, answers questions next to a map showing the geographical spread of the Jewish community in the capital in May 1941, during an interview in Amsterdam, Jan. 17. AP-Yonhap
Spain is establishing rules related to how influencers, their sponsors and others promote cryptocurrencies. Influencers and other advertisers with more than 100,000 followers in the country must notify the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) at least 10 days before plugging crypto assets. They'll face fines of up to 300,000 (around $342,000) for breaching the rules, which come into force on February 17th.

Influencers need to disclose if they receive payment for talking up cryptocurrencies. If that's the case, they'll need to provide clear and impartial warnings about the risks of crypto, including the fact that investments aren't regulated. The rules also cover companies that promote crypto assets, as well as PR companies they hire.

If influencers werent covered there would be a backdoor to avoid regulation," CNMV chief Rodrigo Buenaventura told the Financial Times. "This is new terrain, for us and for them, and there will be moments of friction but that always happens when you bring in rules for something that wasnt regulated before.

It's believed to be the first time a European Union country has brought in such directives. EU members have yet to agree on how to regulate crypto across the bloc. In the meantime, Buenaventura notes, member states are tackling some crypto-related matters, including how they're advertised.

Some influencers who have plugged crypto assets and related products have found themselves in hot water. In July, French authorities fined a reality TV star 20,000 ($22,800) for misleading commercial practices over a Bitcoin trading site ad on Snapchat. Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather were this month named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit that accuses them of taking part in a "pump and dump" scheme.
The UK government has revealed that it plans to update its laws in order "to bring the promotion of cryptoassets within the scope of financial promotions legislation." That will ensure any crypto promotion will be held to the same standards as promotion for stocks, shares and insurance products. It also has fall in line with the rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Governments have recently started cracking down on crypto ads in an effort to protect consumers from scams they may not be familiar with. The Spanish government is currently establishing rules on how influencers and their sponsors promote cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, Singapore's authorities asked crypto companies outright not to market their services to the public. One type of scam is the "pump and dump," in which fraudsters find ways to artificially inflate the value of a cryptocurrency and to get people to invest money in it. They then unload their shares while the value is high to make a lot of money, thereby lowering the coin's value in the process.

According to the UK government, approximately 2.3 million people in the country are now thought to own a cryptoasset. While cryptoassets' popularity is rising, the FCA's research suggests (PDF) that potential investors' level of understanding about them is on the decline. That means people may not be fully aware of the risks involved when it comes to investing in them, which further supports "the case for regulatory intervention to ensure that cryptoasset promotions are fair, clear, and not misleading. "
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas, including the following counties, in Oklahoma, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman. In northern Texas, Archer, Clay, Wichita and Wilbarger. * WHEN...From Wednesday morning through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Showers and thunderstorms will develop Wednesday morning over a broad swath of the watch area. Another round of rain and thunderstorms is expected later in the afternoon and lasting much of Wednesday night before ending Thursday morning. Storm total amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected. Given recent rainfall, these additional amounts may cause flooding. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
The unprecedented array of meetings between the West and Russia this week to resolve the security crisis surrounding Ukraine have not led to a breakthrough. Experts expect that the crisis will escalate as Moscow ups the ante by threatening to resort to military-technical measures, as President Vladimir Putin put it, if the West continues down that path. Russia has been involved in a large-scale military build up on its borders with Ukraine since autumn last year. The agenda of the talks has revolved around security policy in Europe and the potential NATO membership of ex-Soviet states like Ukraine and Georgia. In 2008, NATO offered both countries the prospect of joining the bloc  without, however, fixing a date. But week of talks has failed to bring the parties any closer  and no signs of any easing of tensions in the Ukraine crisis.

Russia has described its security talks with the United States and NATO as unsuccessful, saying there is continued disagreement on fundamental issues. The two rounds of discussions so far in Geneva and Brussels had produced some positive nuances but that Moscow was looking for concrete results, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday (13 January). The US and NATO, on their part, have rejected Moscows demand for a de facto veto right regarding accession of new members to the military alliance. It will, however, still take a number of days before Washington sends Moscow its official written response. Further talks are not currently planned. Moscow has announced repeatedly that it is not interested in protracted discussions, but wants quick results. But they say they have not set a deadline.

It seems that the risk of war in the OSCE area is now greater than ever before in the last 30 years, Polands foreign minister warned in a speech at the OSCE meeting on Thursday. Due to the current tensions, for several weeks, we have been faced with the prospect of a major military escalation in Eastern Europe, Zbigniew Rau said while not naming Russia, but mentioned tensions in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova  all countries with active or frozen conflicts involving Russia. Meanwhile, Russias aggressive behavior has prompted the neighboring Baltic States to seek to host more NATO troops, according to Estonias prime minister, Kaja Kallas. We are discussing with our allies to increase their presence here to act as a deterrent  If you look at the map, the Baltic states are a Nato peninsula and therefore we have our worries, Kallas said. NATO currently has three multinational battalions in the region.
Frost Tower, the first new office tower to rise in downtown San Antonio since 1989 and a gleaming shakeup of the citys skyline, is on the market.

The silvery 24-story octagonal building at 111 W. Houston St., which opened in 2019, is valued at $99.5 million by the Bexar Appraisal District.

It was developed and financed by Weston Urban, a local firm co-founded by Rackspace Technology co-founder Graham Weston; TRT Holdings Inc., a Dallas company that owns the Omni Hotels and Resorts chain; and Dallas developer KDC.

State corporate filings show it is owned by a limited partnership linked to the three firms. Weston, Weston Urban co-founder Randy Smith, and officials at TRT Holdings and KDC did not respond to inquiries Tuesday.

Newmark is marketing the roughly 457,404-square-foot tower, which is 80 percent leased, and a connected 6.5-story parking garage.

Josie Norris /San Antonio Express-News

About 61 percent of the buildings space is leased to Frost Bank for its corporate headquarters under a lease that runs through June 2039. About 600 bank employees have offices there, though many are working remotely at least part of the time, Frost spokesman Bill Day said.

The proposed sale of the Frost Tower doesnt affect our long-term lease, and nothing has changed about Frosts commitment to downtown San Antonio, he said.

Other tenants include Norton Rose Fulbright, Ernst & Young, Insight Global and Bitdefender. About 54,500 square feet of space is available for lease on the top three floors.

Amenities in the tower, designed by global architecture firm Pelli Clarke & Partners, include a fitness center and tenant lounge. A listing for the property on Loopnet.com was created in November.

Frost Tower was built as part of a complex public-private partnership between Weston Urban, Frost Bank and the city.

As part of the deal, Frost Bank sold its former headquarters at 100 W. Houston St. to the city, which is renovating the building and consolidating employees there.

The city and Frost sold about 9 acres in west downtown to Weston Urban, including the tower site and the Municipal Plaza Building where City Council meetings are held. The firm opened a public park on a slice of that acreage in 2020.

Weston Urban also owns the Weston Centre office tower on Pecan Street and renovated the Dry Goods building on Flores Street and the Savoy and Rand buildings on Houston Street for office and retail tenants, including co-working space Geekdom and technology businesses.

The firm plans to rehabilitate the Milam high-rise on Travis Street and Smith said last year that office space was not among the options under consideration.

Weston Urban has at least two other big projects in the works, both of which are residential.

It plans to replace a parking lot at 305 Soledad St. with a 32-story building with 354 apartments and about 6,275 square feet of retail.

The firm also wants to turn a block bounded by San Pedro Creek and Commerce, Dolorosa and Laredo streets into a mixed-use development. It plans to rehabilitate the Arana and Continental Hotel buildings and construct a mixed-income apartment building between the two.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Marc Proct

Concert: Its been a decade since the Austin blues-rock supergroup Arc Angels has played in public. That changes this week when Charlie Sexton, Doyle Bramhall II and Chris Layton kick off a mini tour of Texas in San Antonio. 7 p.m. Thursday, Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Marys St. $35-$110, theaztectheatre.com.

Comedy: Fortune Feimster, who released the aptly titled Netflix special Sweet & Salty in 2020, is bringing her 2 Sweet 2 Salty tour to San Antonio. Her new show picks up where the special left off. Im just showing people who I am at this phase in my life, and its been really fun telling these stories of me navigating adulthood, she said in a recent interview. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle. $29.50-$49.50, tobincenter.org.
WILD LEOPARD LOOSE NEAR OKLAHOMA CITY screamed a headline on the front page of the Mount Vernon Register News in Illinois on Feb. 27, 1950.

The article tells of a vicious jungle-bred leopard who leaped from an 18-foot pit at the Oklahoma City Zoo and vanished, sparking a massive cat hunt. It also brought the big cat a new name: He had been called Luther when he arrived at the zoo a few weeks earlier but became known Leapy after his ill-fated bid for freedom. Hunters, some aided by mountain lion hunting dogs, fanned out across the city, hoping to bring him to heel.

Instead, as recounted in The Oklahoman newspaper on the one-year anniversary of the incident, Leapy returned to the zoo under his own steam three days later, his belly full of the sedative-laced horse meat that had been put out in hopes of knocking him out so he could be captured more easily. The leopard died 15 hours later. He was then stuffed and displayed at the zoo for years.

Knopf

Austin-based writer Stephen Harrigan, who spent the first five years of his life in Oklahoma City, remembers seeing the stuffed feline on frequent visits to the zoo with his family. And he remembers the escape, too, though he was just 2 years old when it happened.

On ExpressNews.com: Ten notable 2021 books by SA writers for your to-read list

He drew on those memories, as well as newspaper accounts and other sources, for The Leopard is Loose, his new novel out this week and 12th book overall.

An incident like that might not register at all nationally now, but in 1950, folks far and wide were fascinated by it.

For some weird reason, this became national news, Harrigan said in a telephone interview. There was an article in Life magazine.

The whole city went insane. People were out on the street with their hunting guns. So it sort of seemed to me like an interesting event to probe and to look beneath what was going on in the world at this time.

The absorbing novel paints a picture of Leapys escape from the perspective of 70-year-old Grady McClarty, who was 5 when it happened and has been prompted to share his memories with the Oklahoma Historical Society. Rather than doing an oral history, as requested, McClarty writes it all down.

Kenny Braun

The Leopard Is Loose depicts the terror sparked by the leopards escape, including scenes in which cars filled with gun-toting would-be game hunters raced down the citys streets. Woven into that is an affectionate portrait of that time in Gradys life. It captures his day-to-day experiences in a loving family that included his 6-year-old big brother Danny, their war widow mom Bethie and her parents, sister and brothers.

The book also touches on some of the big issues of the time, including the psychological damage sustained by those who fought in World War II. Thats captured up-close in some of the behavior of Gradys uncles, who both served and both continued to wrestle with the experience years after they came home.

It also digs into the Civil Rights Movement in a few vividly rendered confrontations witnessed by Grady, who is white and bewildered by some of what he sees. It was important to include that element in the book, Harrigan said.

The Leopard Is Loose By Stephen Harrigan Knopf 256 pages $26 See More Collapse

For one thing, it serves the purpose of the story, he said. And I feel like you cant write a book today about the 1950s without seriously pondering what was going on in our society and the inequity that was so blatant back then.

On ExpressNews.com: SAs 76-year-old Woodlawn Theatre has a colorful history

Harrigan started working on the book in 2019, shortly after he finished Big Wonderful Thing, a 944-page exploration of Texas history that took six years to complete.

He has written several historical novels that required a lot of research, including The Gates of the Alamo. The Leopard is Loose, which took about two years to come together, didnt require quite so much, since he was around when the events in it happened. He read newspapers from the time, studied civil rights history and consulted maps so he oriented things correctly. He also watched movies from the era and made note of goings-on politically and in sports.

In the book, Oklahomans follow the latest developments in the hunt for the leopard on the radio, in newspapers and on black-and-white televisions. Harrigan writes about Grady and his brother waiting for the set to warm up and the distinctive way that the picture faded after it was switched off.

It was interesting to project my mind back into a time where my experience was innocent of what we have today in terms of technology, in terms of telephones, in terms of a general kind of situational awareness of the world, which can overwhelm us, he said. To a young boy at that time, the world was inscrutable, and to adults, they were not as saturated by news as we are, which is one reason, maybe, the leopard became such a sensational event.

Given the pandemic and the turmoil of this moment, Harrigan said he was grateful to spend so much time immersed in the past.

It was a relief to not be in 2020 or 2021 anymore, he said.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
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Texas State University in San Marcos is partnering up with Amazon, the global trillion-dollar company that has spent the past decade establishing a firm presence in Central Texas.

The university said in a news release Friday that it has been selected as an education partner for Amazons Career Choice program, which provides Amazons hourly employees access to bachelor's degrees.

According to the news release, the program will provide Amazon employees with a variety of education and upskilling opportunities including full college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs, and foundational skills such as English language proficiency, high school diplomas, and GEDs.

"We understand the value of supporting Amazons investment in education and skills training," said Gene Bourgeois, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Texas State, in the news release. "This new opportunity aligns with our educational mission and we are pleased to help drive whats next for Amazon employees."

In the U.S., the company is investing $1.2 billion to upskill more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into higher-paying, in-demand jobs, Amazon said.

Amazon and Texas State are the two largest employers in Hays County, according to economic firm Greater San Marcos Partnership. Amazon employs upwards of 5,000 people, while Texas State employed 3,730 people in 2021.

Amazon opened its fourth distribution center in San Marcos in November 2021 and has additional plans to expand in the area.
Chad Caylor still cant believe he may have saved a mans life by showing him how to make his own knife.

It was around the middle of 2018 when Caylor, a retired Army medic in San Antonio, got a call from an Army buddy about a combat veteran who was suicidal. Caylor had told his friend he hoped to one day open a knife-making studio for veterans with PTSD and other mental health issues as a sort of informal therapy. But he didnt expect to do it for at least a decade because he was still honing his own knife-making skills.

When his friend called, though, he agreed to hosting the troubled vet the very next day.

So that guy came to the house and we just started making a knife, Caylor said. And it was really bad. But he really liked the experience.

Josie Norris /Staff photographer

That experience led to the creation of Reforged, a nonprofit support program Caylor and his wife, Marilyn, started for first responders and former military personnel. They share war stories or just let off some steam  usually by firing up a rusty bar of steel and hammering it into a blade to make whatever regal or rustic knife they can imagine.

Since they started a small blacksmith shop in their home almost four years ago, the Caylors have guided more than 500 men and women through their three-day Reforged course, which Chad Caylor calls a therapy program disguised as a knife-making class.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio sculptor Antonio Medina created local landmarks such as Sea Islands Jolly Jack, Fox Tech buffalo and Karams restaurant warriors

The Caylors provide everything for free, from materials and lodging for out-of-town attendees to group and individual counseling sessions. Marilyn Caylor is a licensed professional counselor.

Reforged has become so popular with blade buffs and veterans that classes are now booked for the next two years. The program also landed several high-profile blacksmiths for partners, including Daniel Casey, star of the History Channel reality series Iron & Fire, and Tobin Nieto, a San Antonio bladesmith who was a winner on the History Channels competition series Forged in Fire.

Josie Norris /Staff photographer

The Caylors host their knife-making classes in a backyard garage built just for the program, a noisy workshop with ball-peen hammers hanging on the walls and blacksmith anvils sitting on cut tree stumps.

Most of the knives that come out of Reforged are either convex drop-point blades, which are used for hunting, or upward trailing-point blades for kitchen detail. There also are classic tanto knives, chisel-like blades first made centuries ago to pierce armor but these days mostly used to break down boxes.

A Reforged participant always starts by drawing the knife design they plan to make. More times than not, the finished product looks nothing like it. Chad Caylor likens the process to a veteran or first responders journey back to civilian life and how they can still make something of it no matter how imperfect or unexpected.

We use recycled steel intentionally because so many vets and first responders feel discarded after their service, he said. Its one of our talking points. This (steel) was originally intended for one thing. Were going to take it, put it through a fire and beat on it, and were going to turn it into something else thats beautiful and useful.

Josie Norris /Staff photographer

On ExpressNews.com: Pop art: San Antonio painter Gerardo Saenz recycles old cassette into colorful canvases he calls TAPEstries

The Caylors credit Reforgeds success both to its hands-on approach to knife-making and its hands-off approach to therapy. Aside from an informal group talking session they call the huddle, Reforged simply and subtly guides participants to open up by using talking points such as the comment about discarded steel in the class.

That may explain why many Reforged alumni come back to the program to help out with classes, or just to hone their own knife-making skills and sharpen their outlook on life.

It shows you when you plan out stuff, sometimes you have to make changes to your work because it didnt quite work out. But you always change it and still come out on top, said Joseph Burks, an Army retiree who has a knife for each of the seven months hes been a part of the Reforged family.

Before Reforged, retired Army medical researcher Paul Leal volunteered with a similar therapy group for veterans that went kayaking and fishing. Leal had served with Caylor and knew about his knife-making program, but he didnt get involved until two years ago when he got hooked on Forged in Fire.

Leal said he loves making Damascus knives, which are known for the ornate patterns on their blades. But he sees a deeper beauty in the intangibles that Reforged has to offer.

I see a lot of vets who leave the military and theyre kind of lost, Leal said. You go from a world where youre told where to go, what to do, when to be there and then you get out. And if you dont have something to do, your mind can kind of go into a dark spot, especially if you already have PTSD issues. So when they come out here theyre getting a sense of purpose.

And you know, for a guy, when you build something  that means something, he added. Its a sense of accomplishment. Its a manly tool that youre making.

Caylor said most Reforged participants are male post-9/11 veterans who just want to make a knife and dont seek counseling. Even so, Marilyn Caylor accesses every participant to determine if they just need to chat or require further professional help.

Josie Norris /Staff photographer

Chad Caylor credits his youngest son Chad Jr., now a Marine, for forging the familys passion project. As a teen, he expressed an interest in knife-making, so Caylor drove him up to Daniel Caseys blacksmith studio in Arkansas to try his hand at the craft.

As Chad Jr. worked on a blade, his dad saw more than just a millennia-old trade. He also saw a simple yet methodical process that could be therapeutic for veterans.

On ExpressNews.com: Historic photos of University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio show big changes over last 100-plus years

Caylor thought that first veteran he helped also would be his last because he just didnt see himself as a good enough knife-maker. But then the veteran told others about his experience, and soon Chad was teaching other veterans how to craft a knife  at first one on one, then two at a time, up to whats now 16 participants per course.

Reforgeds message of giving new life to old material applies to the program itself. It relies mostly on donated and recycled materials, though in a pinch Caylor will buy from blacksmith supply stores.

Reforged participants make two knives  one to keep and one to sell at the familys Caylor Forge store in Gruene. All proceeds from those sales go right back into Reforged. Unpaid volunteers free up those funds for necessary supplies, such as grinding belts and propane, to keep the program running.

Caylor said he hopes one day to make Reforged a full three-day retreat for all participants regardless of where they live. And as long as veterans and first responders need help navigating life outside their vocations, the Caylors will continue to arm them with support as well as steel.

rguzman@express-news.net | Twitter: @reneguz
Tuskegee airman Charles McGee and his great grandson Iain Lanphier react as President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Feb. 4, 2020, file photo. AP-Yonhap



Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who flew 409 fighter combat missions over three wars and later helped to bring attention to the Black pilots who had battled racism at home to fight for freedom abroad, died Sunday. He was 102.



McGee died in his sleep at his home in Bethesda, Maryland, said his son, Ron McGee.



After the U.S. entry into World War II, McGee left the University of Illinois to join an experimental program for Black soldiers seeking to train as pilots after the Army Air Corps was forced to admit African Americans. In October 1942 he was sent to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama for flight training, according to his biography on the website of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.



''You could say that one of the things we were fighting for was equality,'' he told The Associated Press in a 1995 interview. ''Equality of opportunity. We knew we had the same skills, or better.''



McGee graduated from flight school in June 1943 and in early 1944 joined the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group, known as the ''Red Tails.'' He flew 136 missions as the group accompanied bombers over Europe.



More than 900 men trained at Tuskegee from 1940 to 1946. About 450 deployed overseas and 150 lost their lives in training or combat.





Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Charles E. McGee engages the audience following a flight during an aviation weekend to celebrate his 100th birthday at the Fredrick Municipal Airport in Fredrick, Md., in this Dec. 6, 2019, file photo. AFP-Yonhap



In recent years the Tuskegee Airmen have been the subject of books, movies and documentaries highlighting their courage in the air and the doubts they faced on the ground because of their race. In 2007 a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award from Congress, was issued to recognize their ''unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.''



McGee remained in the Army Air Corps, later the U.S. Air Force, and served for 30 years. He flew low-level bombing and strafing missions during the Korean War and returned to combat again during the Vietnam War. The National Aviation Hall of Fame says his 409 aerial fighter combat missions in three wars remains a record.



He retired as a colonel in the Air Force in 1973, then earned a college degree in business administration and worked as a business executive. He was accorded an honorary commission promoting him to the one-star rank of brigadier general when he turned 100. Another event marked his centennial year: He flew a private jet between Frederick, Maryland, and Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.



In 2020, McGee drew a standing ovation from members of Congress when introduced by President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address.



In addition to encouraging young men and women to pursue careers in aviation, McGee was a source of information about the Tuskegee Airmen and offered a unique perspective on race relations of the era through the airmen's nonprofit educational organization.



''At the time of the war, the idea of an all African American flight squadron was radical and offensive to many,'' McGee wrote in an essay for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.



''The prevailing opinion was that blacks did not possess the intelligence or courage to be military pilots. One general even wrote, 'The Negro type has not the proper reflexes to make a first-rate fighter pilot.' The Tuskegee Airmen certainly proved men like him wrong."





Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles McGee, center, a decorated veteran of three wars, receives a congratulatory send off after visiting with 436 Aerial Port Squadron personnel at Dover Air Force Base to help celebrate his 100th birthday in Dover, De., in this Dec. 6, 2019, file photo. AP-Yonhap
The San Antonio Independent School district board of trustees has officially launched its search for the next superintendent by asking the public what they want to see in the next leader.

The board is holding a series of seven town hall meetings between Jan. 24 and Feb. 4, which also will be held virtually for those who cant attend in person. An online survey is also available in both English and Spanish for staff, parents, student and community members to share written input.

The SAISD Board is committed to a transparent process that encourages feedback from everyone in the community, SAISD Board President Christina Martinez said in an announcement.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio ISD chief Pedro Martinez will leave to run Chicago Public Schools

Board members will each conduct a town hall meeting in their single-member districts, but the public is invited to attend any location.

The public input meetings will be held at Brackenridge, Sam Houston, Jefferson, Lanier, Edison and Highlands high schools and Harris Middle School.

The nationwide search comes nearly four months after former Superintendent Pedro Martinez left the district to become the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, leaving Robert Jaklich  a retired former superintendent at the Harlandale and Victoria independent school districts  as SAISDs interim superintendent.

Martinez led the district and its more than 45,000 students since 2015. Amid the pandemic, Martinez held his ground on masking and vaccination requirements as the state pushed back with bans and lawsuits.

At the time of his departure, trustees voiced their wishes to find somebody with a similar vision and sense of mission.

On ExpressNews.com: Steep challenge  but a few advantages  await San Antonio ISDs next leader

There are still unknowns with COVID, board President Martinez said in September. We want a superintendent that is doing whatever it takes to make sure that our schools stay open and our kids stay safe.

The national search will be conducted by JG Consulting. The Austin-based firm was selected by the board on Dec. 13 after interviewing five candidates.

danya.perez@express-news.net | @DanyaPH
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The number of homicides in San Antonio shot up 23 percent in 2021, even as the overall number of violent crimes fell a little more than 9 percent during that time, preliminary numbers show.

San Antonio saw 160 homicides in 2021, compared with 130 the previous year, Police Chief William McManus said Tuesday. Thats an increase from about nine homicides to 11 homicides per 100,000 people.

The numbers are a preliminary count submitted by the San Antonio Police Department to the FBI for the bureaus annual report on crime in America. The FBI will release final numbers later this year.

The nature of last years homicides is concerning to law enforcement, as most cases had no pattern to them, McManus said. He characterized the killings as spontaneous, random and all over the city.

He described it as disorganized as opposed to organized crime and said it was next to impossible to prevent because police typically had no intelligence or advance warning that a killing was being planned.

21 Pro Video /Ken Branca /Contributor Ken Branca Taylor Pettaway / San Antonio Express-News Ken Branca The homicide rate in San Antonio shot up nearly 30 percent in 2021, even as overall violent crime fell 2 percent during that time, preliminary numbers show. (File photos) The homicide rate in San Antonio shot up nearly 30 percent in 2021, even as overall violent crime fell 2 percent during that time, preliminary numbers show. (File photos)

In 2021, over 36 percent of homicides in San Antonio were the result of arguments that turned deadly, and 14 percent of homicides were committed by family members or intimate partners. An additional 28 percent stemmed from unknown factors.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio teen arrested on murder charge after fatal shooting

The chief said many of the victims were engaged in high-risk behaviors, such as drugs, prostitution or affiliating with gangs, although those activities accounted for less than 12 percent of homicides in 2021.

If you are the person who is just going to work or enjoying retirement or taking your kids to school, your chances of being a victim are low, McManus said. I maintain that San Antonio is a safe city unless you are engaging in these dangerous behaviors.

Asked how the Police Department was responding to the increase, McManus said it has two community engagement teams that work with people affected by violent crime.

To combat the 2021 numbers, the SAPD has been conducting a micro hot spot initiative, focused on seven-block areas that have seen at least five violent crimes in a three-month period. The department will focus police presence in those areas in coordination with other city departments and neighborhood residents.

In the next three months, 21 areas in the city will be evaluated as part of this initiative.

Also, SAPD added 12 officers from its San Antonio Fear Free Environment Unit to substations around the city to enhance its presence in neighborhoods and promote greater collaboration with the community, the department said in a presentation to the City Council on Tuesday.

McManus said efforts to solve homicides have been hindered by witnesses reluctance to cooperate with detectives because of a fear of retaliation. He said such fear had increased because courts are releasing more suspects, including those charged with violent crimes, on low bond or no bond while they await trial.

Theres not a lot of pretrial detention going on right now, the chief said.

McManus said property crime also rose in 2021, led by a surge in vehicle burglaries.

He said an SAPD strike force deployed during the holidays made some pretty significant arrests of suspects accused of stealing items from cars. Many of them, he said, had long, long histories of arrests for car burglaries.

The rhetorical question I ask myself is: How many people do we have to arrest to make it stop? McManus said. And I dont know the answer.

Until recently, homicides in San Antonio had generally fallen since the early 1990s, when the city was dubbed the nations Drive-By Shooting Capital. In 1993, the city had 220 killings and a rate of 22 homicides per 100,000 people.

A long, steep decline followed, interrupted by occasional fluctuations. The number of killings never again approached that of 1993, even as the citys population grew significantly.

On ExpressNews.com: After 3-year decline, homicides spiked in S.A. in 2020, making it the second deadliest in 25 years

In 2016, homicides rose sharply  to 149 total, or about 10 per 100,000 people. Before last year, 2016 had been San Antonios deadliest year since 1993, eclipsing the 142 homicides recorded in 1995.

In response, McManus launched a violent crime task force to pursue violent suspects with lengthy criminal records, rather than focus on geographic hot spots, as the department had in the past.

In 2017, 2018 and 2019, San Antonio homicides fell. The pandemic year of 2020 saw a reversal of that trend. In that year, homicides rose to 130 from 105 in 2019, a roughly 24 percent increase, although the per capita rate was lower than during previous spikes.

In keeping with FBI criteria, SAPDs annual homicide counts do not include officer-involved killings or homicides deemed justified.

Staff writer Emilie Eaton contributed to this report.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
Huddled in the parking lot of Lincoln Park on the East Side, Ronnie Nunn said COVID-19 would not have kept Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from a march.

He and his sister, Chandra Nunn, brought his kids, 7 and 10, to hear a message of solidarity and see neighbors of different races and ethnicities come together Monday. Though the city canceled the usual 100,000-person march that marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in light of the fast-spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus, a few hundred residents were determined to honor the holiday Monday.

This is not just a day youre off work, Chandra Nunn said.

Renee Watson, MLK Commission chair, encouraged residents to tune into TVSA and Facebook for an updated virtual march that highlighted voting rights and the need to stop the spread of the virus.

Jessica Phelps /Staff photographer

She said the commission pivoted from an in-person march three weeks ago, working with the citys health department as COVID-19 cases increased.

The omicron variant is a monster that no one has been able to get their hands around, Watson said. It would have been irresponsible for us to bring all those individuals to march when we can march every day. Were telling citizens to march every day, find somewhere to be of service. Dr. King said everyone can serve.

Republican Party helps

This was the first year marchers walked along Commerce Street from Lincoln Park to Martin Luther King Park  the opposite direction from previous marches. There was a sense of celebration in the air as speakers called on people to rise up from their chairs, lift their hands in the air and sing.

Otis Thompson, a precinct chairman with the Republican Party of Bexar County, said he helped organize Mondays march in response to the citys cancellation. For a long time, hes wanted the annual marchers to reverse their direction  to end up at Martin Luther King Park, rather than begin there. He sees that as a sign of heading toward freedom, rather than away from it.

He hopes this years march becomes the first of many future events to reverse the direction of the walk.

The reverse march was organized by various organizations, including San Antonio in Black, White and Brown, a church on the Northwest Side, and Cornerstone Church, an organization that has tried to distance itself from a far-right rally last fall at the megachurch on the far North Side.

Jessica Phelps /Staff photographer

It also was well attended by members of the Republican Party of Bexar County. John Austin, its chairman, said his group didnt organize the event but wanted to get involved to show its support for Kings values.

Im tired of being called a racist, Austin said.

He drew a comparison between Republican values of freedom  such as not wanting the government to tell him he has to get a vaccine or wear a mask  and Kings preaching of freedom and love for neighbors. He said believing in security at the Texas-Mexico border doesnt mean hes racist.

Its a perception thing. Thats why Im here, Austin said. Were not against Blacks or Hispanics. The Republicans are actually the more inclusive party. Were just tired of being portrayed the wrong way.

The Republican Party doesnt want to co-opt the march, but show its support for it, Austin said.

Call to action

Many who showed up to the march said they wanted to share in unity during a time that feels defined by its divisiveness around the pandemic and politics. Thats what prompted Juan Valdez, associate pastor at The Restoring Church, to march Monday.

You can cancel the march, but you cant cancel the vision of Martin Luther King, he said.

The message Valdez understands from King is that its important to argue less and listen more. He sees the march as a time for people to be heard and to reach across gaps  whether socioeconomic, racial or ethnic.

Valdez questioned why the city would cancel the annual outdoor march while other indoor gatherings, such as sporting events, moved ahead. To him, honoring MLK Day is important and worth showing up for during the surge in COVID-19 cases.

The pandemic has felt polarizing for people on different sides of the political aisle. But Valdez said the virus should actually be a reason to bring people together.

The whole planet is facing this one thing: COVID, Valdez said. People dont know what to do.

Two in-person events took place at Pittman-Sullivan Park. A pop-up vaccination and testing clinic, sponsored by the MLK Commission and Metro Health, offered free vaccinations and tests. At the same time, residents stopped by the South Texas Blood and Tissue Centers bus for a blood drive sponsored by District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and the Psi Alpha Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

McKee-Rodriguez walked to the site with more than 70 people on foot and in cars. Police vehicles, flashing blue and red hazard lights, escorted the group along the 2.75-mile route.

Before 10 a.m., an in-person news conference took place outside the East Side YMCA building.

Jessica Phelps /Staff photographer

McKee-Rodriguez said they gathered to remember King, who fought for equality so a diverse group like them could meet in harmony and not just tolerate their differences but embrace them.

He shared how Kings family started a nationwide protest, calling for an end to the celebration of MLK Day until Congress passes comprehensive voting rights legislation.

Were here today, not celebrating his life and legacy, but standing in solidarity with his family to make that same call to action, McKee-Rodriguez said.

Crystal Mason, keynote speaker at the event, said she cast a provisional ballot in the 2016 presidential election while under supervised release for a federal conviction. Because of her ballot, she was convicted of voter fraud and sentenced to five years in prison.

Mason said that based on advice from a poll worker, she cast her provisional ballot that wasnt counted. Shes said she was unaware that she wasnt eligible to vote according to Texas law. Mason has asked the Texas appeals court to reverse her conviction.

The scaled-down festivities didnt appear to affect the mood of the day. As the marchers made their way down Commerce, mini celebrations took place on adjacent streets. A line of neon-bright three-wheel motorcycles stopped traffic as they rolled near streets blocked off to the route.

Allen Eugene Banks, 61, sat on his horse, Throwing a Wishing Fit, while waiting on a side street with three other horseback riders to join the procession.

Thats why were out here, said Banks, owner of Allens Golden Corral. Were out here recognizing MLK. I wasnt going to let them stop me from recognizing MLK.

Michelle Byrd, 59, and several members of the Eastside Ryderz handed out bottles of water to marchers and motorists as they headed toward the Interstate 10 overpass. The aroma of smoked turkey legs and chicken rose from grills outside Skinnys Playground across the street, where onlookers watched the freedom march slowly pass by.

Were sharing the love with the community, Byrd said.

vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis

megan.stringer@express-news.net

Jessica Phelps /Staff photographer
As Daniel Oliver walked through his childhood home Monday, he made the same familiar turns down the hallways he always has. But this time, he felt a glint of sunlight through the collapsed roof above and saw most of his familys belongings covered in ash after an early morning fire engulfed the house.

Olivers mother, Debra Oliver, 68, died in the fire, he said. His father, Cliff Oliver, 70, was still hospitalized with severe burns Monday evening but will be fine. His hands were burned the worst, Daniel Oliver added.

The couples three dogs, all poodles, also died in the fire that broke out around 4:30 a.m. Monday in the 100 block of Brightwood Place near Alamo Heights.

In one day, its all gone, Daniel Oliver said.

Daniel Oliver lives nearby in Terrell Hills. Hed already talked with his two brothers, who live in Germany and New York, to coordinate a plan for them to return home.

He woke up around 7 a.m. Monday to a call from his wifes coworker, who also works with his dad. She heard about the fire on the news and thought it could be the Olivers house. It was all over by the time Daniel Oliver arrived Monday morning.

Neighbors credited a husband-and-wife team who showed up to deliver the San Antonio Express-News newspaper next door with calling 911 to get first responders on the scene.

Robert and Sanjuana Trevino said they have worked that paper route for almost 20 years and drove by around 4:30 a.m. Monday when they saw the smoke. Robert Trevino said he tried to get into the house to help the neighbors, but it was too badly burned for him to enter.

It was just a big old pillar of smoke, Robert Trevino said. I heard a lady saying Help, but I couldnt get through.

He then ran to nearby houses to wake up the neighbors and warn them in case the fire spread to other homes.

Denise Richter lives next door but wasnt home at the time of the fire. She and her husband were out of town for a wedding. When she woke, her phone was blowing up with news of the fire on her street.

Its just a shock. Weve been neighbors for 23 years, Richter said.

She would talk with Debra and Cliff Oliver over the chain-link fence that separated their backyards and through which their dogs would also bark at each other. She often overheard Debra Oliver chatting outside with her grandkids on the phone.

That will always be my memory of (Debra), Richter said.

Neighbor Juliet Langman said she was in her backyard letting her dog out around 4:30 a.m. when she heard the firetruck sirens.

Then, all the sudden, I saw shooting flames 20 or 30 feet in the air, Langman said.

She heard pops from the fire too. She never met Debra Oliver but frequently saw Cliff Oliver and the dogs around the neighborhood.

Other neighbors said the fire spread quickly once they all noticed it  within minutes, it seemed to move from the back of the house to the front, enveloping it in flames. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Tami Goodlette lives across the street and woke up to lights and sirens Monday morning.

It was just covered, both sides of the street, with police (cars) and firetrucks, she said.

The flames looked short at first but eventually shot up high, Goodlette said.

Richter said the neighborhood will try to organize a way to help the Oliver family get back on their feet.

I think everyone wants to help because hes lost everything, Richter said. Not only his wife and three dogs but the house and all their belongings.

Daniel Oliver said neighbors have supported his family, and hes enjoyed hearing from others who know his parents.

He said the family can salvage some belongings from the home if they were under a bed or otherwise out of the way, but most of it is gone.

A few of the only remnants left visible outside the home were a couple of angel statues in the backyard and near the front porch.

megan.stringer@express-news.net
KIN MAN HUI/San Antonio Express-News file photo

Five people were hospitalized after someone opened fire at a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on the East Side Monday night.

The injured people were outside at a family party celebrating the holiday in the 400 block of Spriggsdale, near Jefferson Heights, when an unknown suspect exited his vehicle, ran across the parking lot and started firing at the group standing near the entrance, officials said.
The widow of Randall Glen Goodale, who was shot and killed by members of a fugitive task force two years ago, says in a federal lawsuit her husband was unarmed and disputed claims that he threatened to run officers down with a pickup truck.

Samantha Nicole Houston Goodale filed the civil rights lawsuit Thursday against Deputy U.S. Marshal Mark Seguin, San Antonio police officer Nathan Bundy and the city of San Antonio. It seeks unspecified damages for Goodales death. Much of the lawsuit is devoted to disputing the account given by the San Antonio Police Department, the only agency to provide an account of what happened.

The U.S. Marshals Service declined questions. A message seeking comment was left with the SAPD.

The San Antonio police report says a deputy U.S. marshal and a San Antonio officer shot Randall Goodale as he was preparing to drive into them with a pickup.

The report says law enforcement had Goodale, 45, under surveillance when they surrounded him about noon Jan. 13, 2020, in the 4400 block of Stetson View. Police sought Goodale on a federal warrant of felony possession of a handgun.

The lawsuit says Goodale made no aggressive moves toward any officer, was not armed and was not resisting arrest. Two years later, the suit says, SAPD has refused to hand over the body-worn camera and dash-camera videos of the incident.

Police Chief William McManus said on the day of the incident that police were supporting the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.

Goodale was driving a lifted red Ford F-250 when he backed into the driveway of a home. He got out and hid underneath the pickup, the police report says. Task force members drove up to the front of the home  some wearing marked bulletproof vests. Others were in full police inform.

As they arrived and blocked off the driveway, police said, Goodale jumped back into the pickup.

Several officers approached Goodale with weapons drawn and ordered him to get out of the truck.

Police said Goodale ignored their commands, turned on the pickup and shifted into drive.

He then turned the wheel toward one of the officers, investigators said.

According to the report and McManus, the task force member feared for his life and fired at Goodale. A San Antonio officer also fired at him, according to authorities.

The report did not indicate whether a weapon was found in the truck with Goodale.

The Express-News reported at the time that an unidentified source sent the media video with security camera footage overlooking the driveway where Goodale was shot. It appeared to contradict McManus initial statement.

In the video, an officer wearing tactical gear approached from one side, with a few other task force members behind him, while three San Antonio officers can be seen on the other side.

A view of the inside of the pickup is blocked by a white trailer, and Goodale cannot be seen. The video shows officers approaching with weapons aimed at the pickup, but there is no audio. Two officers then open fire moments after approaching the pickup.

The truck is then seen slowly rolling forward before hitting at least one police vehicle, which appears to be an unmarked van.

McManus initially said Goodale had rammed police vehicles, prompting officers to open fire out of fear for their safety. The lawsuit says other officers immediately adopted that narrative in the reports and search warrants instead of doing an impartial investigation.

Upon information and belief, rather than investigate the incident in an impartial manner, (the city), as it has done in the past, immediately adopted the officers version of events in an attempt to justify its officers use of deadly force to the public rather than determine to truth as to what occurred, the lawsuit states.

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net

Twitter: @gmaninfedland
Relatives of a 61-year-old woman who lost 136 pounds and died while in the Bexar County Jail on a misdemeanor charge in 2018 claim she was ignored to death and argue that the county violated her civil rights.

The family is making its case in a federal trial that started Tuesday.

Janice Dotson-Stephens died of heart problems and a mental disorder after she spent 150 days in jail for a misdemeanor that was later dismissed. Her family alleges she was neglected, deteriorated during the five months she was there and lost all the weight by the time she died on Dec. 14, 2018. Her bond had been set at $300.

The lawsuit names the Bexar County Jail and University Health Systems, which provides medical services in the lockup. One of the familys lawyers, Leslie Sachanowicz, said in opening arguments that the defendants denied her the right to adequate medical care and resulted in cruel and unusual punishment.

Our contention is she was...ignored to death, Sachanowicz told the jury. He added that there were a number of things the jail or health system failed to do that could have prevented her death.

Dotson-Stephens, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, had a history of stays at psychiatric units or mental hospitals, testimony established. She would stabilize after treatment and medication, her husband said.

San Antonio police took Dotson-Stephens to jail on July 17, 2018, and booked her on a misdmeanor trespassing charge after her husband, Reginald Stephens, called them. She had been off her medication and hallucinating, speaking to an imaginary friend, Stephens said.

I told them to take her to crisis center so they could evaluate her, to the hospital or wherever they could find an empty bed, Stephens testified.

Stephens said he did not know she was taken jail because he thought police took her to a mental health crisis center. Stephens last saw her at her funeral after her Dec. 14, 2018, death. She left behind three adult children and 10 grandchildren.

Tom Reel /Staff photographer

It kind of shocked me really because when she went to jail, she weighed about 290, and then I saw her in the coffin and she looked like she was about 100 pounds, Stephens testified.

Lawyers for University Health System and Bexar County denied jailers and medical staff ignored Dotson-Stephens, telling jurors they will hear testimony and see evidence that staffers checked on her repeatedly.

The lawyers also said that even those with mental health histories can refuse treatment, as Dotson-Stephens did.

One of Universitys lawyers, Laura Cavaretta, said Dotson-Stephens was immediately put in an infirmary where she would be separate and safe. Cavaretta said medical staff is barred by law from administering medications by force, unless someone is an imminent threat to others or themselves, or if they are ordered to do so by a judge.

Cavaretta said Dotson-Stephens even refused basic screenings, like a blood-pressure test or to be weighed.

Nurses checked on her and talked to her. Can we give you medication? Can we take your blood pressure? And shed say, Go away; leave me alone. Cavaretta said. You can refuse medical treatment...You can make all sorts of judgments which may not be good for you, even if you are an inmate in jail. When she refused (treatment), our hands were tied. There was nothing we could do.

She added that a hearing to see if she could be committed or forced to take medications never materialized. Dotson-Stephens court-appointed lawyer appeared to never have met with her or pursue the hearing, Cavaretta said.

The only one who can make decision (for her) to go to state hospital, thats the judge, Cavaretta said. Its not (UHS). Its not the jail. Its not the DAs office. ...Unfortunately, thats where Janice Dotson fell through the cracks.

The suit and Sachanowicz also claim Dotson-Stephens lost so much weight while in jail because she did not eat. The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office ruled that she died as a result of cardiovascular disease, contributed to by schizoaffective disorder.

But Cavaretta and Bob Piatt, a lawyer for Bexar County, disputed the weight loss and that it was from neglect. Cavaretta said someone who is not eating might appear weak or faint, but Dotson-Stephens instead was animated when staff checked on her.

They also said neither jail nor medical staff could force her to eat, and Cavaretta said jail logs or testimony will show that, at times, Dotson-Stepehsn asked for a second tray of food or finished some of her meals.

Despite all the checks, there were certain things the the jail could not do, Piatt said.

They were aware what medicine she took, but could not give it unless under court order, Piatt told jurors. Second, they had no authority that she be transferred out of jail to go to a mental hospital.

In a ruling earlier this month, Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth dismissed some claims from the lawsuit against Bexar County and University Health System. He also dismissed from the suit defendants that included Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, University Health Director Jessica Yao, Bexar County Pretrial Services Director Mike Lozito, San Antonio police officer Michael Kohlleppel and the city of San Antonio.

The case, which drew national attention, cast a spotlight on the way mentally ill people are handled in the criminal justice system and the inequities of cash bail. It is the first in-person trial in San Antonios new federal courthouse and is expected to last through next week.

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
Two people are dead, and four are injured after a rear-end collision at a Northwest Side intersection Monday evening.

Derek Reyes, 27, was charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the crash.

San Antonio police said Reyes was speeding near the intersection of the Loop 410 access road and Fredericksburg Road just before 7 p.m. when he failed to stop at a red light. Reyes struck a vehicle, which had been stopped at the light, from behind.

The impact of the crash caused one of the vehicles to hit a pedestrian who was standing near the crosswalk.

On ExpressNews.com: Woman who hit two teenage girls walking to school was intoxicated, police say

The front passenger in the vehicle that was struck, a 42-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries. The pedestrian, a woman in her 30s or 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two people from the struck vehicle  a 21-year-old woman who was driving and a 23-year-old man who was riding in a rear seat  were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, as were Reyes and his passenger.

The 21-year-old woman had to be extricated from her vehicle.

Reyes displayed signs of intoxication at the scene and was arrested, officials said.

He is being held on $200,000 bail.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
At every stage of the pandemic, schools have been at the mercy of COVID-19. Each variant, each surge, brings obstacles and confusion. Now, the wave of omicron cases has systems on the brink.

Hospitals are again overwhelmed, and many schools are running out of teachers and bus drivers, who are calling in sick. Without enough substitute teachers, hundreds of students have been crammed into auditoriums at some schools.

On ExpressNews.com: Battered by virus absences, San Antonios public schools are hanging on

In a Jan. 6 letter, state Sen. Jose Menendez called for a special session to focus on supporting public school and hospital systems as we navigate this next wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But with omicron making more people sick than ever before, there is no time for a special session, and we think this would open the door for the Legislature to focus on other priorities. Instead, we strongly recommend that state officials launch a task force that can immediately identify and implement solutions. Our thinking is this: There will be more variants, and more chaos. The state needs to create a framework to ensure all school districts have the appropriate resources and policies to respond.

The patchwork of school policies isnt working. While we applaud the few districts, such as San Antonio and Edgewood, that have taken aggressive efforts to mitigate the virus, they are still vulnerable. And the districts that appear to bend toward political considerations are at an elevated risk.

On ExpressNews.com: In quick about-face, San Antonio ISD reinstates mask requirement in schools

State leaders have done schools no favors. The decision to politicize COVID-19 and public health is untenable. Although we disagree with it, we respect last weeks U.S. Supreme Court ruling blocking the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from mandating vaccines, testing or masking for large private employers, as well as public employers, including school districts. Regardless of the ruling, state leaders, especially Gov. Greg Abbott, should be working overtime to ensure schools are safe and functional, not just now but through future variants.

This is no time for finger-pointing. We know its optimal for students to attend school in person, both for their learning and mental health. This cant happen effectively if teachers and staff are out sick.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Northside ISD relaxes mask mandate, citing improved coronavirus metrics

Statewide health-first guidelines, streamlined policies and ample resources are desperately needed. The Texas Education Agencys Public Health Guidance memo of Jan. 7 is insufficient for the problems faced by schools.

Guided by the Department of Educations Staying in school in-person advice and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools, a new state task force must include local public health and education experts, including teachers.

It must replace a reactive, partisan politics-saturated response to the coronavirus with a united effort. The surges of new variants are going to keep coming, so what is the statewide plan? How do we create a new environment where masks, vaccinations, testing and staying home at the onset of symptoms are prioritized  not politicized? How do we ensure that learning is happening and mental health support is available? And learning must also be offered online to all students who are sick or quarantined.

All Texas schools following the same policies would establish more equity in education.

In a sobering video Friday, North East ISD Superintendent Sean A. Maika warned parents that bus routes and cafeteria offerings might need to be adjusted.

It is worse in other districts. Because of staffing shortages due to COVID-19, Seguin, Marble Falls and other ISDs closed a day early for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and some extended the time off.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio-area schools extend MLK holiday due to COVID-19 surges

In his video, Maika said teachers were tired and encouraged parents to send gratitude and encouragement. But a bigger thanks to teachers and staff  and a relief to students and parents  would be a statewide task force to keep schools open and safe.
It was a small article that ran in newspapers across the country in May, 1938. It was only one sentence. Under the headline COWBOYS ORGANIZE, the story that had the dateline of Helena, Mont., read, The sole purpose of a newly organized Montana Cowboys Association (MCA) is to restore the hospitality common in the early days of the west and preserve the ideals and colors of the old west.

The brief dispatch appeared in the newspaper in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was seen by readers of newspapers in Fitchburg, MA; Chillicothe, OH; Bristol, TN; Kingston, NY and San Pedro, CA.

Locally, it appeared in The Great Falls Tribune.

That October, A meeting of the Montana Cowboys Association was announced in The Great Falls Tribune. The meeting was to be held at the Hotel Rainbow, according to William Shea, president. The next mention, also in the Tribune, was headlined, Cowboy Meet To Be Held In February. That story set the date for the second convention as February 25, 1939. According to the article, the association has about 200 members representing virtually every section of the state. Phil D. Clack, of Havre, one of the directors, reported that interest in the association was evident as far east as Williston, ND, and that numerous pioneer stockmen and cowboys have expressed a desire to join the association. The association, the story reported, had selected Home on the Range as their official song.

The Montana Cowboys Association dedicated the 1940 convention to the memory of Charlie Russell. One of those who was slated to attend was Henry Keeton, who was a friend and associate of the western artist, in the days when Russell was an unknown cowpuncher.

Keeton, according to a February 15, 1930 story in the Tribune, worked with Russell in the Judith Basin District in 1887. Keeton operated the Running Wolfe Ranch near Stanford and for several years was custodian of Gary Coopers dude ranch, 79, on the Missouri River between Great Falls and Helena, the story reported.

The opening address of the 1939 convention was made by S.A. Sid Willis, pioneer sheriff, intimate friend of Charles M. Russell and former Cascade County State Senator, the Tribune reported on Sunday, February 19, 1939. A large number of the reservations are from men who rode the Montana ranges more than 45 years ago, many of whom are now prominent in business, civic and official circles of the state.

Willis, the story continued, has one of the largest collections of Russell paintings and etchings in the United States and was probably Russells most intimate friend. Willis served as sheriff of Valley County in the days when Montana was still a territory.

As excitement grew in anticipation of the 1940 gathering, the Tribune reported, top cowhands from the olden days of ranching reached out to join the Montana Cowboys. Col. Harry Belding, of Palmyra, NY was one. Belding had worked with the Little outfit near Augusta. He had trailed cattle to Montana from Mexico and is now a featured eastern rodeo performed, a member of the American Rough Riders and the Turtle Association, a rodeo organization.

Charley Ray Adams also reached out to the MCA. Adams, of Hollywood, CA, was, at the time, a motion picture actor and had been a member of the Hoot Gibson Ranch Rodeo. Adams had been employed on the TB horse ranch near Toston in 1907 and was a top hand in the Shonkin pool out of Fort Benton. He had a famous string of horses and rode with Hoot Gibson for 11 years.

Richard Pickett, of Warm Springs, OR wanted to join the MCA. Pickett had once cowpunched at Crow Agency. His father, Joe Pickett and his uncle, Lon Pickett, were freighters with oxen and mule teams out of Fort Benton for the Diamond R about 1878 to 1882, according to the Tribune story.

Pickett, a song writer and composer, the story continued, submitted three songs for use at the reunion. They are Memories of Old Montana, The Old Log Cabin Home and Dreaming of the One I Love So dear.

Guy Weadick, who was set to speak at the 1939 convention, was not able to attend. Weadick was general manager of Canadian Pictures, Ltd., director of the Calgary Stampede and producer of rodeo celebrations.

The Calgary man protested the misrepresentations in fiction, motion pictures, wild west shows and rodeos of cowboys, read a story in the February 26, 1940 Great Falls Tribune. Cowpunching was a profession; it took more than boots, spurs, a six-shooter and a big hat to qualify.

In that same edition, the Tribune ran a brief story about Mose Silverman, who was in town for the convention. Silverman was the son of an early day pioneer of the stage station at the Dearborn crossing and for the past 40 or more years a salesman for Levi Strauss & Co., manufacturers of the overalls which have been a working part of the garb of cowboys since the cattle business became a business. As a youth Mose rode the range in what is now Teton and Chouteau counties, and, he says, I was a cowboy from necessity and not from choice.

There were 550 Riders at the 1940 convention. The oldest in attendance was Bill Skelton, who came to Montana in 1865.

Over the years, the Montana Cowboys Convention seemed to make the headlines less often. Maybe Great Falls found other news to be of more interest than the annual homage to what makes Montana, well, Montana.

Still, the MCA has continued the tradition, with the only interruption coming last year when COVID brought a halt to many traditional events.

The Sun Times met with Larry Gebhardt, the secretary-treasurer for MCA at Cowboys Bar, located at 311 3rd Street NW in Great Falls. The bar was opened in 1941, next door to the home of William Shea, one of the founding members of the association.

The bar is as much museum as watering hole. Along one of the walls there is a collection of items donated to the MCA. There are pictures, saddles, a hanging rope and cowboy hats, including one worn by legendary cowboy movie star Tom Mix.

Gebhardt said that the membership fluctuates. It seems that young ranch hands dont have an interest, or maybe, in todays digital world, they just dont know about the bar and museum.

As a leadup to the convention, Cowboys Bar will be hosting a steak fry. The beef hits the flame from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and $20.00 will get you a steak with the fixins.

On Saturday, the bar will be shut down from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. as the MCA holds their annual meeting there.

On Saturday, the convention will take place at Heritage Inn in Great Falls. Cocktail hour gets underway at 6:00 p.m. and the banquet will start at 7:00.

This year, the banquet will honor Don Jacobs of Great Falls.

During the banquet the MCA will announce their scholarships. Those who purchased a ticket for the event will be entered into a drawing for an Annual Collector Edition Saddle made by Allan Pursley of Broken Arrow Saddlery. Also on the list of drawing items is a Western Hat from Hoglunds Western Wear.

Current MCA members and those interested in joining the MCA are invited. The annual membership for the association is $50.00, and that covers the cost of the banquet and your entry for the drawing for the saddle. Even though this is the 84th convention, the saddle will be the one made for the 83rd gathering, since that convention was scuttled due to COVID.

There will be a live auction, and one of the featured items is the Allan Pursley saddle made for the 50th MCA convention in 1988. Other donated items will be on the auction block as well, including a bison skull painted by Steve Tilleraas of Great Falls.

Darryl L. Flowers is publisher of The Fairfield Sun Times in Fairfield, MT. He can be reached at publisher@fairfieldsuntimes.com
MISSOULA, Mont., Jan. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Momentum is building for the 2022 International Mass Timber Conference, the world's largest mass timber event in Portland, Oregon, USA, April 1214, 2022. Near record attendance is expected as the conference returns in person for the first time since 2019. A companion virtual day is slated for May 12, 2022, offering more opportunities for attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors to learn, engage, and connect online.

Recently announced keynote speakers at the in-person conference in Portland include world renowned architects Shigeru Ban and Jeanne Gang.

Opening the main conference festivities on Wednesday, April 13, is Shigeru Ban of Shigeru Ban Architects. One of the most influential architects of our time, Shigeru Ban inspires, uplifts, and innovates. His efforts on behalf of humanitarian relief and dedication to beautiful design have won him numerous accolades, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize, TIME Magazine Innovator of the Year, and many more. Ban's mass timber projects include the Swatch Headquarters (one of the largest timber developments in the world), Kentucky Owl Park, Aspen Art Museum, and Terrace Housethe Vancouver, British Columbia, timber tower will be the tallest hybrid wood structure in North America.

Jeanne Gang will launch the final day of the conference with a keynote address the morning of Thursday, April 14. Jeanne has been honored with the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in Architecture and been named one of the most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine. She is the founding principal and partner of Studio Gang, an international architecture and urban design practice headquartered in Chicago. Her approach has produced award-winning projects across scales and typologies, from cultural and community buildings such as the Chicago River Boathouses, Writers Theatre, and Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, to structurally dynamic towers like Aqua, Solar Carve (40 Tenth Ave), and MIRA. Ongoing work includes major cultural and civic projects throughout the Americas and Europe. Jeanne is a MacArthur Fellow and a Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Conference participants will have a choice on Tuesday, February 12, of joining one of two optional day-long mass timber toursbuildings, manufacturing, and researchor attending an educational workshop produced by WoodWorksA Mass Timber Clinic: Introducing and Mastering Design Topics. A Welcome Reception will follow later that evening at 5:30 PM for all registered participants.

The conference has already set numerous personal records for its 2022 event. The number of exhibitors has grown by 34% since the conference was last in person and the exhibit hall is almost sold out with over 120 companies slated to exhibit, so far. Only a few exhibit spaces remain available for sale. A record number of sponsorships have been sold out for some time. And interest is high for rooms at the official conference hotelsHotel Eastlund and Hyatt Regency Portland. Reservations currently exceed the contracted room blocks by a wide margin. Although Hotel Eastlund is now sold out, the much larger Hyatt Regency continues to honor the discounted conference rate while rooms last.

Participants save 30% off the full price of select attendee passes and all remaining exhibit spaces when registering through January 19. While most prices increase after that date, attendees can still save 20% through March 16.

The conference is produced by Forest Business Network in cooperation with the wood design experts at WoodWorks-Wood Products Council. The event is supported by Premier Sponsors including Hexion, Kallesoe Machinery, Timberlab, Kalesnikoff, and Western Archrib. Major Sponsors include: Think Wood, Freres Lumber Co. MPP, Sansin, Seagate Mass Timber, Hilti, Nordic Structures, DR Johnson Wood Innovations, Idaho Forest Group, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, WholeTrees, Weyerhaeuser, DCI Engineers, Simpson Strong-Tie, Skanska, USNR, Business Oregon, Sterling, Turner Construction, and TallWood Design Institute. Partners include MOD X, US Forest Service, and Mass Timber Strategy.

About Forest Business Network

FBN is a top-tier consultancy, event marketing, and news and information source in the forest products sector. Its weekly email newsletter is a go-to news resource for global industry professionals. FBN's president and CEO, Craig Rawlings, is a nationally recognized expert in under-utilized timber and biomass.

About WoodWorks

WoodWorks (woodworks.org) provides free one-on-one project assistance as well as education and resources related to the code-compliant design of non-residential and multi-family wood buildings. WoodWorks technical experts offer support from design through construction on a wide range of building types, including mid-rise/multi-residential, educational, commercial, corporate, institutional and public.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

https://www.masstimberconference.com

https://www.facebook.com/masstimberconference/

https://twitter.com/masstimberconf

https://www.instagram.com/masstimberconference/

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mass-timber-conference/

Media Contact

David Parcell, International Mass Timber Conference, (406) 396-7608, dave@forestbusinessnetwork.com

SOURCE International Mass Timber Conference
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 56F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 56F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
At the very beginning of the new year, Kazakhstan witnessed the largest-scale unrest since its independence 30 years ago. In a matter of a few days, a protest triggered by a price hike in residential gas quickly escalated into political unrest sweeping across the country, and has steadily headed in the direction of a color revolution in the following days.

For many years, the US-led West has been waging a wave of color revolutions around the world with the sole objective of overthrowing unruly regimes and upending out-of-favor countries in the name of democracy, freedom, human rights. By planting the western democratic values and fostering pro-West forces, it would easily manipulate those countries and have them serve its own agenda of preserving or seeking hegemony.

The unrest in Kazakhstan in the past few days has shown many familiar maneuvers of the color revolution. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made it clear that it was an organized, premeditated, hostile aggression crafted and waged by overseas forces. Russian President Putin pointed out more bluntly that he was reminded of the Square Revolution in Ukraine.

Ever since Kazakhstan gained independence 30 years ago, external forces have never given up their attempt at a color revolution in the country and have been tirelessly and subtly promoting the American-style democracy and values of freedom in order to remould the country with a democratic reform. Statistics show that there are nearly 40,000 NGOs backed by the US-led West in Kazakhstan, including about 16,000 active ones, engaged in a broad range of areas from the economy, culture and environmental protection to charity and education. The most famous two are Americas National Endowment for Democracy and the Soros Foundation.

These NGOs have been pouring money to support pro-US forces, especially targeting key groups and figures. In 2020, the National Endowment for Democracy spent USD 1.08 million in Kazakhstan, twice as much as in 2018. When engaging and cooperating with Kazakh media, think tanks, and cultural and educational organizations, they spare no effort in peddling the western values, concepts and institutions and instigating public discontent, which has seriously undermined the peace and stability in the country. Those organizations are the eyes, ears and claws conducting ideological infiltration, fostering pro-US forces, and collecting intelligence in Kazakhstan for the US-led West.

As early as the middle of last month, before the riot broke out, the American embassy in Kazakhstan issued one safety warning after another about protests or even violent conflicts in cities such as Nursultan, Alma-Ata and Chimkent, urging American citizens to step up safety precautions. Many wondered at Americas timely and accurate superpower of seeing through the future, an ability thats only possible with inside traders.

That explains why stashes of weapons suddenly emerged out of nowhere the moment the riot began. They were shipped to the site of the riot and handed out at the rioters disposal, otherwise, such a large number of rioters wouldnt have been able to attack the government organs and key infrastructure facilities in such an organized and planned manner.

The US-led western countries still prop themselves up as the founder of democracy today, blind to the fact that their beacon of democracy has long lost luster. Last year, the storming of the Capitol, the debacle from Kabul and the rushed-through Summit for Democracy were three fiascos signifying the incessant decline of American democracy. They showed the world that the US has long fallen down the pedestal of democracy, and heralded the inevitable failure of the revolution drama staged by the US-led West in Kazakhstan.

The political turmoil in Kazakhstan was the first black swan in 2022, which added fuel to the flame of the raging pandemic and mounting economic difficulties that the Kazakh people are grappling with, and also sounded a warning bell for other countries in the region. Fortunately, the Kazakh authorities reacted decisively and resolutely to the riot and kept it from escalating out of control.

Editor's note: The author is Zong Jiahe, an observer of international issues. This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
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Air quality in towns and cities across the world can be modelled quicker and easier than ever using Ricardo's latest air quality modelling software

RapidAir, developed by the global air quality, energy and environment specialists, is the next generation dispersion modelling and policy support platform that enables users to test the impact of scenarios in minutes, supporting the identification of measures that will reduce traffic emissions and consequently improve public health.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220117005253/en/

RapidAir air quality software (Photo: Business Wire)

The ground-breaking air quality dispersion modelling software has already been successfully used across Asia, Europe and the UK, supporting Clean Air Zone evaluations, traffic management measures and wider air quality management activities. In response to requests from clients, including transport and health professionals, Ricardo has developed a cloud-based RapidAir software, complimenting its consultancy offering and making the capabilities of RapidAir more accessible to professionals to support air quality research and targeted policy development.

Stuart Sneddon, Technical Director for Air Quality, said: "We are extremely proud of RapidAir. It has been designed and developed with the needs of our clients in mind and has been subject to intensive testing and peer review to ensure that it performs to the highest possible standard. Its capacity to model large complex domains at high resolution, speed of operation and range of innovations really sets it apart from other software offerings, as well as saving clients time and money.

"Users can quickly evaluate the impact of different mitigation scenarios, generating reliable outputs that they can have confidence in, allowing them to make trusted and informed policy decisions."

Ricardo engineers are active users of the software themselves. RapidAir is currently being deployed as part of a UKGovernment-funded project which uses transport location data to improve air quality in towns and cities around the world. The team is investigating how data from the software can be used in conjunction with vehicle and traffic simulations to understand the full impacts of clean air zones.

RapidAir was initiated in 2012 and has been further developed over the years using an objective and innovative approach, incorporating international best practice and cutting-edge methodologies.

RapidAir was integral to Ricardo's air quality team's support of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in the development of a package of mitigation measures that secured 43 million in Government funding to deliver them as part of its Clean Air Zone commitment.

Sally Jones, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, said: "The air pollution evidence, coupled with Ricardo's economic assessment, equipped us with the high-quality evidence necessary to support our application for Government funding.

"We're confident that the selected measures, when implemented, will be successful in reducing air pollution in the city and, in turn, improve public health."

Dr Sneddon said: "Our team of specialists has been able to overcome common limitations associated with other air quality models to provide rapid, precise and more effective air quality management for authorities, cities and businesses."

For more information on RapidAir, visit https://www.rapidair.co.uk/

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Ricardo

Ricardo plc is a world-class environmental, engineering and strategic consulting company listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading edge and innovative cross sector sustainable products and solutions, helping our global customers increase efficiencies, achieve growth and create a clear and safer future. Our mission is clear -- to create a world fit for the future. For more information visit www.ricardo.com

Ricardo Energy Environment is a leading sustainability consultancy, helping clients to respond to environmental challenges and opportunities around the world. Its team of over 450 staff draws on an impressive heritage supporting governments and businesses for over 40 years. The consultancy is an operating division of Ricardo plc. For more information, visit https://ee.ricardo.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220117005253/en/

Contacts:

Media contacts:

Julie Palmer

Media and communications manager, Ricardo Energy Environment

Tel: 01235 753467

Email: Julie.palmer@ricardo.com

Gill Gibbons

Ricardo Media Office

Tel: +44 (0)7795 342804

E-mail: media@ricardo.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2022) - Brascan Gold Inc. (CSE: BRAS) ("Brascan" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing review of the multiple earn-in options on gold properties in Brazil. As previously announced on December 29, 2021, Brascan completed its due diligence site visit on the Alegre Gold Project (the "Project") in Para State, northeastern Brazil. The site visit verified multiple recently active or active artisanal gold mines (garimpos) of significant size, evidently recovering gold from the weathered saprolite zone within structurally controlled shear zones. These gold garimpos attest to Project's significant gold potential. Brascan believes the saprolite (weathered zone) gold mineralization is likely to extend into the bedrock below, and that this mineralization will be a focus of the anticipated exploration program. This exploration program is expected to include geophysics (magnetics and electromagnetics), surface sampling and planning with respect to the how to cooperatively work with the garimpos. Brascan hopes to develop strong drill targets from this work, especially given the evidence of garimpo gold production.

Location of the Alegre Gold Project:





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Based on the results of the site visit and additional detailed due diligence on the Alegre Gold Project, Brascan intends to formally announce its acceptance of the earn-in option with the 100% claims owners Chapada Brasil Mineracao Ltda. ("CBM" or the "Optionor") by the end of January, 2022.

Gold garimpo of significant scale on the Alegre property.





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The Project is located on the same gold mineralization trend as Goldmining Inc.'s advanced Cachoeira gold project 15 km to the north and Oz Minerals' CentroGold Project 30 km to the south (considered one of Brazil's largest undeveloped gold projects). CBM also reports that other adjacent neighbors to the Alegre Gold Project include Kinross Brasil Mineracao and IAM Gold Corp.

https://www.goldmining.com/projects/brazil/cachoeira/

https://www.ozminerals.com/en/where-we-work/gurupi/centrogold

The Alegre Gold Project (yellow) is located between Goldmining's Cachoeira Gold Project (green) to the north, and OZ Minerals' CentroGold Project to the south, within the same 100 km long structurally deformed volcaniclastic stratigraphic unit.





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Additional Brazilian gold targets

Brascan is concurrently conducting detailed due diligence studies on two other gold projects in Brazil. One is in Goias State, about a 3 hour drive from Brasilia, where Brascan has identified "blue-sky" potential for gold along a 1.6 km mineralized trend. This project also may be suitable for bulk sampling under a Brazilian trial mining licence while the blue-sky potential is being explored. The other Project is located in the heart of Brazil's traditional mining district in Minas Gerais State. In that area, gold mining has occurred since the times of the Portuguese empire, but exploration work suggests high-grade targets may remain.

Balbir Johal, CEO, stated, "we look forward to closing the Alegre Gold option agreement in short order, which we hope will mobilize our exploration immediately to unlock the Project's full potential."

Qualified person

Harrison Cookenboo Ph.D., P.Geo. and a QP by the standards of Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.

For more information, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Contact Information

Balbir Johal

Director and CEO

Telephone: 604 812 1747

Email: bjohal75@gmail.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the terms of the consulting arrangement are "forward-looking information" and in this news release statements respecting: the Company's exploration and due diligence activities in Brazil; the Company's intention to accept the earn-in option with CBM; expectations respecting drill targets and gold mineralization at the Project; potential for bulk sampling at the project being investigated in Goias State; the possibility that high-grade targets may remain at the Minas Gerais State project being investigated, the Company's hope to mobilize its exploration and unlock the Project's full potential. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new.

Not for dissemination in the United States or for distribution to U.S. wires services

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110601
BEIJING, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from chinadaily.com.cn:

President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at a virtual event of the World Economic Forum on Monday amid anticipation of China's contribution to global economic recovery. This was his third time speaking at the forum as a head of state.

Here are some highlights:

On China's economy

- We have every confidence in the future of China's economy

- China's development gains will benefit all its people in a more substantial and equitable way

- China should never grow the economy at the cost of resource depletion and environmental degradation, nor should the country sacrifice growth to protect the environment

On global recovery

- World should follow logic of historical progress, ride tide of times

- No 'counter-currents' can stop trend of economic globalization

- Different countries and civilizations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other, and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences

We need to explore new drivers of economic growth to promote steady and solid progress in global economic recovery

On COVID-19

- Countries need to strengthen international cooperation against COVID-19, carry out active cooperation on research and development of medicines

- Of particular importance is to fully leverage vaccines as a powerful weapon, ensure their equitable distribution

- China will provide another 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to African countries, and donate 150 million doses to ASEAN countries

On Winter Games

China will present streamlined, safe, and splendid Winter Games

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Oslo, 18 January 2022 - DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, will publish its Q4 and full-year 2021 operating and interim financial results on Thursday, 10 February 2022 at 07:00 (CET). A videoconference call with executive management will follow at 15:00 (CET). The Company issues below an update on production and sales volumes for the quarter as well as other key financial information that will be further discussed in the earnings call.







Volumes ( boepd ) ?

Gross operated production Q4 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2020 Kurdistan 107,472 105,179 110,176 North Sea - - - Net entitlement production Q4 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2020 Kurdistan 29,367 26,749 33,417 North Sea 13,571 13,102 15,309 Sales

Q4 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2020 Kurdistan 29,367 26,749 33,417 North Sea 23,289 ?14,653? 21,731





Selected c ash flow items

During the quarter, DNO received refunds of USD 75.4 million in relation to tax losses in Norway and USD 15.3 million in the UK in relation to decommissioning tax refunds.

DNO also received USD 182.8 million net from the Kurdistan Regional Government (previously recognized in Q3 2021), of which USD 132.0 million represents the entitlement share of July, August and September 2021 Tawke license crude oil deliveries. Of the balance, USD 17.3 million represents override payments equivalent to three percent of gross July, August and September 2021 Tawke license revenues and USD 33.4 million represents payments towards arrears built up from non-payment of certain invoices in 2019 and 2020.

The Company paid a dividend of NOK 0.20 per share, totaling USD 22.1 million.

Other

The Mugnetind exploration well in PL906 (DNO 30 percent) in Norway encountered limited hydrocarbons and is unlikely to be commercial.

DNO acquired seismic data at a cost of USD 15.8 million in support of its Norwegian exploration program.





Earnings call login details

Please visit www.dno.no for login details ahead of the call.





Disclaimer

The information contained in this release is based on a preliminary assessment of the Company's Q4 and full-year 2021 operating and interim financial results and may be subject to change.

For further information, please contact:

Media: media@dno.no

Investors: investor.relations@dno.no

DNO ASA is a Norwegian oil and gas operator focused on the Middle East and the North Sea. Founded in 1971 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, the Company holds stakes in onshore and offshore licenses at various stages of exploration, development and production in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Norway, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Ireland and Yemen.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220117005418/en/

AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR

CSL Behring AG, Berne, Switzerland, a wholly-owned subsidiary of global biotechnology leader CSL Limited (ASX: CSL; USOTC: CSLLY), today published the offer prospectus regarding its public tender offer for all publicly held registered shares of Vifor Pharma Ltd. (SIX:VIFN; ISIN:CH0364749348), a global specialty pharmaceutical company with leadership in Iron Deficiency, Nephrology Cardio-Renal Therapies, as indicated in the pre-announcement of the public tender offer published by CSL Limited on 14 December 2021.

The transaction, has been unanimously approved by both companies' Boards of Directors. The offer price for each registered share of Vifor Pharma Ltd. is USD 179.25 in cash. The public tender offer is subject to the offer conditions set forth in the offer prospectus, which includes the report of Vifor Pharma's Board of Directors and the fairness opinion prepared by IFBC Ltd., Zurich, and is available on the website www.CSLtransaction.com.

The main offer period is expected to commence on 2 February 2022 and to end at 4:00 p.m. Swiss time on 2 March 2022. A detailed indicative timetable is set forth in the offer prospectus.

About Vifor Pharma Group

Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is a partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care). Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348).

For more information, please visit viforpharma.com.

About CSL

CSL (ASX: CSL; USOTC: CSLLY) is a leading global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of life-saving medicines, including those that treat hemophilia and immune deficiencies, as well as vaccines to prevent influenza. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies. Today, CSL including our two businesses, CSL Behring and Seqirus- provides life-saving products to more than 100 countries and employs more than 25,000 people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest. For more information visit csl.com.

Legal Disclaimers

Important Additional Information

This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to purchase, sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to sell, purchase or subscribe for any registered shares or other equity securities in Vifor Pharma Ltd., nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor. This release is not part of the offer documentation relating to the tender offer. Terms and conditions of the tender offer have been published in today's offer prospectus regarding the tender offer. Shareholders of Vifor Pharma Ltd. are urged to read the tender offer documents, including the offer prospectus, which are or will be available at www.CSLtransaction.com.

Certain Offer Restrictions

The tender offer is not made, directly or indirectly, in any country or jurisdiction in which it would be considered unlawful or otherwise violate any applicable laws or regulations, or which would require CSL or any of its subsidiaries to change or amend the terms or conditions of the tender offer in any material way, to make an additional filing with any governmental, regulatory or other authority or take additional action in relation to the tender offer. It is not intended to extend the tender offer to any such country or jurisdiction. Any documents relating to the tender offer must neither be distributed in any such country or jurisdiction nor be sent into such country or jurisdiction, and must not be used for the purpose of soliciting the sale or purchase of securities of Vifor Pharma Ltd. by any person or entity resident or incorporated in any such country or jurisdiction.

The tender offer will be made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) of, and Regulation 14E under, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"), subject to the applicable exemptions provided by Rule 14d-1 under the U.S. Exchange Act and Rule 14e-5(b) under the U.S. Exchange Act and any exemptions that may be granted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Swiss law. Accordingly, the tender offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, settlement procedures and timing of payments that are different from those applicable under U.S. domestic tender offer procedures and laws. Neither the SEC nor any securities commission of any State of the United States has (a) approved or dis-approved of the tender offer; (b) passed upon the merits or fairness of the tender offer; or (c) passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in the Pre-Announcement of the tender offer or, when the tender offer is commenced, the tender offer prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

The communication is not being made by, and has not been approved by, an "authorised person" for the purposes of Section 21 of the U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Reference is made to the offer prospectus regarding the tender offer published today for full offer restrictions.

Other Important Additional Information

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "aim", "project", "forecast", "estimate", "risk", "likely", "intend", "outlook", "should", "could", "would", "may", "will", "continue", "plan", "probability", "indicative", "seek", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Any such statements, opinions and estimates in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions and contingencies subject to change without notice, as are statements about market and industry trends, projections, guidance and estimates. Forward-looking statements are provided as a general guide only. The forward-looking statements in this announcement are not indications, guarantees or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of CSL, its officers, employees, agents and advisors, and may involve significant elements of subjective judgement and assumptions as to future events which may or may not be correct, and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

This announcement is not financial product or investment advice, a recommendation to acquire or sell securities or accounting, legal or tax advice. It does not constitute an invitation or offer to apply for securities. It has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial or tax situation or needs of individuals. Before making an investment decision, prospective investors should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own objectives, financial and tax situation and needs and seek legal and taxation advice appropriate for their jurisdiction. CSL is not licensed to provide financial product advice in respect of an investment in securities.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220117005418/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:



Media Relations

Nathalie Ponnier

Global Head Corporate Communications

+41 79 957 96 73

media@viforpharma.com



Investor Relations

Laurent de Weck

Investor Relations Treasury Senior Manager

+41 58 851 66 90

investors@viforpharma.com



CSL

Australia Asia Pacific

Jemimah Brennan

P: +61 412 635 483

E: Jemimah.Brennan@csl.com.au



Switzerland Europe

Martin Meier-Pfister (IRF)

P: 41 432 448 140

E: meier-pfister@irf-reputation.ch



United States Rest of World

Tom Hushen

P: 267-769-6728

E: Thomas.Hushen@cslbehring.com
Some of the best years of my life  I miss those people.

Good times and memories, but I have moved on.

Not my best days, but I have made peace with them.

Glad to be away from those people  I dont miss the high school experience.

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VERONA, Italy, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Milkman Technologies, provider of customer-centric supply chain management solutions focused on last-mile home delivery, reveals the hyper-automated capabilities of its Milkman Smart Appointment.

The product has been designed to offer final customers advanced options of day/time of choice and full visibility of the order journey. Based on the Adaptive Capacity Engine, developed on high-powered and unique algorithms, Milkman Smart Appointment allows Retailers to offer dynamic pricing for real-time demand shaping, boosting brand loyalty.

"Customers are looking for a real promise-to-delivery, based on trust and reliability", said Antonio Perini, CEO of Milkman Technologies. "Pre-configured delivery schedules are no longer perceived as enough; customers become more and more selective by choosing their preferred time-slots and paying accordingly".

The ordering process represents a real opportunity to influence the shopping experience: offering flexible time/date slots gives customers the extraordinary power of selecting the window that fits their needs, paying a price that is adjusted dynamically, according to current and projected capacity.

Benefits for Retailers and Shippers are twofold: economically incentivizing wider slots guarantees better-distributed volumes and eliminates infeasible deliveries reducing operational expenditures.

"There are customers who value a particular time window regardless of cost, so dynamic pricing tools help maximize the revenue opportunity for the business", comments Antonio Perini.

Consumers are becoming more demanding and tend to prefer brands that offer interactive delivery options: Milkman Smart Appointment matches fleet capacity and predicted density, giving retailers and logistic professionals a strategic advantage to successfully manage fulfilment and customer journey.

Colvin, IKEA,Public MediaMarkt and many more have already adopted Smart Appointment to exceed customer expectations and boost loyalty and trust.

Watch our new video and discover how technology can synchronize the shopper's experience with a smart logistics approach. Follow our last mile experts community .

About Milkman Technologies: Milkman Technologies offers a supply chain customer-centric solution to Retailers looking to provide a superior customer journey mastering the last mile and to Carriers that need to increase their profits with scalable hyper-automated operations and resources management. Milkman Technologies was founded in 2015 and now counts 35 million in funding, international clients and offices across Europe.

Web & Social Channels:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Youtube

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LONDON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marston Holdings, the UK's leading provider of integrated, technology-enabled transport solutions, has announced its acquisition of Vortex IoT Limited, supplier of environmental sensors, networks and data solutions that support improved air quality and decarbonisation initiatives.

Marston supports government, utilities and private sector clients through the delivery of market leading integrated technology-enabled solutions from design through to implementation, management and recovery. Marston's clients include local authorities seeking to build environmental schemes that reduce congestion and pollution. With the acquisition of Vortex, Marston will strengthen its offering by delivering complementary air quality and acoustic monitoring solutions that maximise awareness, identify pollution hotspots and improve public health.

Air quality monitors and associated data and analytics are required to assess the success of policy in meeting clean air targets and Marston is excited to extend its technology offering to include these important and timely solutions. The acquisition of Vortex follows the 2019 acquisitions of Videalert, a supplier of intelligent traffic management solutions; ParkTrade, a Swedish-based European tolling payments and collections business; and LogicValley, an Indian-based AI-focused developer. Vortex's products further bolster Marston's transportation technology division, ensuring Marston is best placed to meet the evolving needs of its client base.

Steve Callaghan, Chair of Marston Holdings, commented: "Marston Holdings has been on a journey of enhancing technological capability and I'm delighted that Vortex IoT's innovative solutions now form part of our end-to-end offering delivering cleaner, greener streets."

"We have a long track record of successfully working in partnership with the public sector and this acquisition reflects client feedback seeking innovative, technology-enabled solutions," added Mark Hoskin, Chief Commercial Officer at Marston Holdings. "COP26 demonstrated public support for driving the transition to a zero-carbon economy. We are pleased to further enhance our ability to support our clients and their residents through cleaner, healthier and more people-friendly communities."

Adrian Sutton, CEO of Vortex IoT, commented: "Joining Marston Holdings accelerates our ability to deliver social value and environmental change for clients. We are delighted to collectively build on the existing relationships we have established as trusted partners to our clients."

About Marston Holdings

Marston Holdings is the UK's largest provider of transportation and enforcement services supporting government, utilities and private sector clients. Employing over 6,000 staff and contractors across the UK, Europe and India, Marston Holdings' clients include Highways England, Transport for London and 280 local authorities.

About Vortex IoT Limited

Vortex IoT is a UK based company at the forefront of smart city technologies. The company builds environmental sensors, networks and data solutions to support decarbonisation efforts globally. As experts in the latest IoT, AI, 5G and LiDAR technology, Vortex enables smart cities and smart infrastructures to become more efficient, safer and greener.
BOSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Partners Capital Investment Group announced the promotion of five senior executives, including three new Partners and two new Managing Directors, as well as three new senior hires. Partners Capital is a leading global Outsourced Investment Office with over $46B1 of client assets under management.

In Asia, Adam Watson, Co-Head of Asia Pacific, was promoted to Partner. Adam joined Partners Capital initially in London in 2009 before relocating to Hong Kong in 2013 to help establish the firm's Asia presence. Adam later relocated to Singapore, where he is now based. Dominik Burckgard , Head of the Hong Kong office, was promoted to Managing Director. Dominik joined Partners Capital in 2018 and is responsible for Hong Kong client relationships and the Private Markets investment program across Asia Pacific.

In its New York Office, Partners Capital saw two promotions to Partner in Elizabeth Trotta and Adam Spence . Elizabeth joined the firm initially in the Boston office in 2009 before relocating to establish the New York office in 2014. Elizabeth oversees a number of the firm's largest US institutional and private clients. Adam joined Partners Capital in 2018 and heads the firm's Private Markets Co-Investment strategy.

On the Operations side, Ryan Handler , Head of Finance based in London, has been promoted to Managing Director. Ryan joined in 2014 and is responsible for global finance operations across the firm's seven offices.

"We are thrilled to promote these outstanding individuals to join the next generation of leaders at our firm," said Partners Capital CEO Arjun Raghavan. "Each has contributed to building our platform to deliver exceptional performance to our global clients."

In addition to the promotions, there were three recent Managing Director hires: Abhi Shah, Lenia Ascenso and John Beil.

Abhi Shah, Head of Strategy and Transformation, joined Partners Capital in November 2021. Based in the London office, he is responsible for the firm's global operational strategy. Prior to joining Partners Capital, Abhi worked in strategy and transformation roles at McKinsey, RBS Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Lenia Ascenso, Chief Operating Officer of Investment Research, joined the Partners Capital Boston office in November 2021. Previously Lenia was a Partner and Head of Portfolio Services at NEPC where she oversaw operational functions including OCIO operations.

John Beil, Head of Private Equity and Real Estate, joined Partners Capital in January 2022 and is based in San Francisco. John was previously Managing Director of Private Equity at the University of California Investment Office where he oversaw a $12B private equity portfolio.

"We welcome these exceptionally talented professionals to our Partners Capital team and look forward to each individual's expertise and leadership contributing to our firm's rigorous institutional investment approach," said Partners Capital Chairman and Co-Founder Stan Miranda.

The promotions and new hires highlight the continued success of Partners Capital's global strategic development under its next generation of leadership.

About Partners Capital

Partners Capital was founded in 2001 as an independent Outsourced Investment Office (OCIO) to primarily serve sophisticated institutions and senior investment professionals in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. The firm today manages in excess of $46B1 across asset classes and has 250 employees across its seven global offices. Additional information on Partners Capital may be found at http://www.partners-cap.com

1 As of 30 September 2021

Contact:

Nick Theccanat

Prosek Partners for Partners Capital

Pro-PartnersCapital@Prosek.com

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LYON, France, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bolle Safety, the world renowned leading manufacturer of safety glasses and goggles, today announced the rebranding of its Bolle Tactical division to become Bolle Safety Standard Issue .

The new Bolle Safety Standard Issue range of products have been designed to offer unparalleled eye protection for law enforcement, first responders, firefighters, EMS, military, and special forces as well as shooting enthusiasts and hunters. The company's mission is to give tactical first responders the competitive advantage they need to do their job in the safest way possible. Bolle Safety Standard Issue creates protective eyewear that uses the most advanced technology to ensure their customers not only see the best, but also look the best.

Each Bolle Safety Standard Issue product is a tailor-made solution answering the specific needs of each service provider. Their entire protective eyeglasses range is compliant with all safety standards globally.

"Our mission is to provide the best eye protection to those who need it and the people who protect us, beyond just the military field, so renaming the Bolle Tactical Division was evident," explained Rubina Meunier, Vice President of Brand from Bolle Safety. "Bolle Safety Standard Issue is a more comprehensive name, with the 'Standard Issue' phrasing resonating globally and the new logo being catchy, bold, and a bit mysterious."

Bolle Safety began its origins as part of the Bolle Family as a small workshop in France over 130 years ago, and became the pioneer in creating tactical eyewear in the late 1950s. Since then, Bolle Safety has become a leading global manufacturer of protective eyewear that is worn by first responders, military, healthcare professionals, industrial workers, shooting enthusiasts and hunters worldwide.

To find out more about the new brand division please visit https://www.bolle-safety.com/tactical.html

About Bolle Safety

Bolle Safety provides technology-based lens applications and treatments specifically developed for protective eyewear, and is a leading global manufacturer of protective eyewear worn by first responders, military, healthcare professionals, industrial workers, shooting enthusiasts and hunters all around the world. Having originated as part of the Bolle Family, a small workshop in France founded over 130 years ago, Bolle Safety went on to become the pioneer in creating tactical eyewear in the late 1950's. They were the first eyewear manufacturer to use molded nylon to make protective glasses which were more resilient and flexible while protecting the eyes of the military. Cutting edge lens advancements, with ANSI and Ballistic ratings, and superior frame ergonomics, have made Bolle Safety and Bolle Safety Standard Issue an industry leader in this category. Today, Bolle Safety eye protection is worn by more than 20 million customers in over 100 countries.

Media Contact

Aline Campo

Global BSSI and EMEA Trade Marketing Manager

aline.campo@bolle-safety.com

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / ZincX Resources Corp. ("ZincX" or the "Company", (TSXV:ZNX),(OTCQB:ZNCXF), (FRA:M9R) is pleased to provide an update on the permitting status for its 100% owned Akie project that hosts the premier Zn-Pb-Ag Cardiac Creek deposit.

Permitting Status Update:

The Company has been advised by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources that the surface drilling permit for the Akie property has been renewed for an additional 5-year period that now extends exploration activities to December 31st, 2026. The permit originally expired on December 31st, 2020; however due to COVID-19 it was given a one-time, one-year extension to December 31st, 2021.

The drill permit covers a large exploration area of the 11,580-hectare Akie property, including all three key thrust panels that contain mapped occurrences of the highly prospective Gunsteel Formation. The central thrust panel represents the primary target for exploration on the Akie property and is host to the premier Zn-Pb-Ag Cardiac Creek deposit that has been progressively drilled by the Company. Other high-priority exploration targets on the central panel include the North Lead Zone and NW Extension targets where drilling has identified mineralisation along the same stratigraphic horizon as the deposit. The eastern thrust panel is host to the recently discovered Sitka showing as well as a large open-ended silver soil anomaly. Other exploration targets on this panel include the large South Zinc Anomaly. The western thrust panel is host to the GPS barite showing.

Peeyush Varshney, President and CEO, commented, "We are pleased to have received our drill permit extension for the Akie property. The ongoing support by the government and other stakeholders of our exploration efforts on the Cardiac Creek deposit and Akie property is encouraging.

The spot zinc price is very encouraging and remains well in excess of market expectations, starting 2022 above US$1.60/lb. We believe this is the result of market supply/demand fundamentals and our team remains very bullish on zinc. The addition of zinc to the critical minerals list by Canada and the US Geological Survey in 2021, alongside the approval of massive infrastructure programs in the US and Europe, point to very favorable market demand dynamics. This growing demand, coupled with shrinking supply that is associated with mine closures, will continue to foster strong markets for zinc over the coming years, making the Company's 100% owned Akie project a potential key development project globally."

The Company has initiated planning of exploration activities on the Akie property for the 2022 season, including a number of high-priority drill targets.

The Akie Zn-Pb-Ag Project

The 100% owned Akie property is situated within the Kechika Trough, the southernmost area of the regionally extensive Paleozoic Selwyn Basin and one of the most prolific sedimentary basins in the world for the occurrence of SEDEX zinc-lead-silver and stratiform barite deposits.

Drilling on the Akie property by ZincX Resources since 2005 has identified a significant body of baritic-zinc-lead SEDEX mineralization known as the Cardiac Creek deposit. The deposit is hosted by siliceous, carbonaceous, fine-grained clastic rocks of the Middle to Late Devonian Gunsteel Formation.

The Company updated the estimate of mineral resources at Cardiac Creek in 2018, as follows:

5% Zinc Cut-Off Grade Contained Metal: Category Tonnes

(million) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (g/t) Zn (B lbs) Pb (B lbs) Ag (M oz) Indicated 22.7 8.32 1.61 14.1 4.162 0.804 10.3 Inferred 7.5 7.04 1.24 12.0 1.169 0.205 2.9

The Company announced robust positive results from the 2018 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The PEA envisages a conventional underground mine and concentrator operation with an average production rate of 4,000 tonnes per day. The mine will have an 18-year life with potential to extend the life-of-mine (LOM) through resource expansion at depth. Key parameters for the PEA are as follows:

Parameter Base Case1 Tonnes Mined 25.8 Mt Mined Head Grades 7.6% Zn; 1.5% Pb; 13.08 g/t Ag Tonnes Milled 19.7 Mt Milled Head Grades (after DMS2 upgrade) 10.0% Zn; 1.9% Pb; 17.17 g/t Ag Total Payable Metal (LOM) $3,960M3 Initial CAPEX $302.3M including $45.7M contingency LOM Total CAPEX $617.9M including $58.5M contingency All-in Total OPEX $102.4 per tonne milled Pre-Tax NPV7% $649M Pre-Tax IRR 35% Pre-Tax Payback 2.6 years After-Tax NPV7% $401M After-Tax IRR 27% After-Tax Payback 3.2 years

1. The base case used metal prices are calculated from the 3 year trailing average coupled with two year forward projection of the average price; and are: US$1.21/lb for zinc, US$1.00/lb for lead and US$16.95 for silver. A CDN$/US$ exchange rate of 0.77 was used. The NPV discount rate is 7%. 2. DMS = dense media separation. 3. All dollar amounts expressed in Canadian dollars.

The PEA is considered preliminary in nature and includes mineral resources, including inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have not yet demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to mineral resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any part of a mineral resource will be upgraded to mineral reserves. Therefore, there is no certainty that the results concluded in the PEA will be realized.

Kechika Regional Project

In addition to the Akie Project, the Company owns 100% of eight of eleven large, contiguous property blocks that comprise the Kechika Regional Project including the advanced Mt. Alcock prospect. The Kechika Regional Project also includes the Pie, Yuen and Cirque East properties which the Company maintains a significant 49% interest with partners Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.B) and Korea Zinc Co. Ltd holding 51%. These properties collectively extend northwest from the Akie property for approximately 140 kilometres covering the highly prospective Gunsteel Formation shale; the main host rock for known SEDEX zinc-lead-silver deposits in the Kechika Trough of northeastern British Columbia. These projects are located approximately 260 kilometres north northwest of the town of Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada.

Ken MacDonald P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for the Company, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release. Mike Makarenko P.Eng, JDS Energy and Mining, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the PEA technical information contained in this release.

(1) Murrell, M., and Roberts, W., 1990; Summary Report, 1989 Exploration Program on the Mt. Alcock Property, British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Assessment Report 19829A & B, 133p.

(2) Carne, R.C., 1980; Report on Diamond Drilling on the Bear and SI Claim Group, British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Assessment Report 8626, 51p.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ZINCX RESOURCES CORP.

"PEEYUSH VARSHNEY"

PEEYUSH VARSHNEY, LL.B

CEO & CHAIRMAN

Contact:

Investor Relations

Phone (604) 684-2181

info@zincxresources.com

SOURCE: ZincX Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683823/ZincX-Resources-Receives-Permit-Approval-for-the-Akie-Property
~Installation of zinc-air energy storage system financially supported by NYSERDA~

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc. ("Zinc8" or the "Company") (CSE:ZAIR)(OTC PINK:ZAIRF)(FSE:0E9) is pleased to provide this corporate update.

Further to the private sector deployment agreement with Digital Energy Corporation announced in March 2020 to install its patented Zinc-Air Energy Storage System ("ZESS"), a host site agreement has been signed with Fresh Meadows LLC in Queens, New York, community apartments owned by Cammeby's Realty Corp.

Zinc8 Energy Solutions and partner Digital Energy Corp, a New York based private sector developer of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants, solar systems and microgrids, have concluded negotiations and have signed a host site agreement with Fresh Meadows Community Apartments in Queens, New York, to install a 100kW/1.5MWh ZESS for the purpose of demonstrating its long duration energy storage capability. This agreement is financially supported by The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, known as NYSERDA with a contribution of C$575,000.

The ZESS will support and enhance the economics of a CHP system currently under construction at Fresh Meadows Apartments along with an existing solar system. NYSERDA is financially supporting this project deployment as the result of a call for proposals. In addition, NYSERDA has chosen Digital Energy Corp, and Zinc8 as the Energy Storage System manufacturer to demonstrate the economics and reliability of Zinc8's patented zinc-air battery technology for low-cost long-duration storage in a behind-the-meter application.

Fresh Meadows Community Apartments is a master planned 32-building housing development, which is owned by Cammeby Realty Corp. Cammeby Realty Corp. was founded in 1978, and currently owns and operates hundreds of facilities in the state of New York with over US $13 billion in assets under management.

"We continue to strengthen our position in the state of New York with the support of organizations like Digital Energy Corp and NYSERDA," stated Ron MacDonald, President and CEO of Zinc8 Energy Solutions. "The signing of this host site agreement is another important milestone for Zinc8, and we are looking forward to collaborating with Digital Energy Corp. on this exciting project owned by one of New York's most prestigious and well-known real estate management companies. This an opportunity for Zinc8 to further develop a pipeline of projects and establish a foothold in the New York City market."

Established in 1975, NYSERDA is a New York State public-benefit corporation that promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Collectively, NYSERDA's efforts aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate economic growth, and reduce customer energy bills. This project is focused on advancing, developing and field testing the Zinc8 storage technology that will address cost, performance, and integration challenges in New York State.

"Digital Energy and Integrated Energy Concepts are excited about working with Zinc8 Energy on the deployment of the Zinc8 Energy Storage system at Fresh Meadows Apartments. Zinc8's energy storage system offers a safe, robust and economic solution and we welcome the opportunity to showcase their systems to our customer network" said William Cristofaro, President and CEO of Digital Energy Corp.and Energy Concepts.

Under the Deployment Agreement with Digital Energy, Zinc8 and Digital will not only work together on the Fresh Meadows project but continue working to identify similar projects in the New York market.

Zinc8 Energy Solutions focuses on developing and commercializing its low-cost, long duration ZESS for utilities, microgrid, and Commercial & Industrial markets. By using the patented ZESS as a standalone or an enabling technology, it allows opportunities for peak demand reduction, time-of-use arbitrage, and participation in both the value stacking programs and the distributed long-duration energy storage space, all in conjunction with the opportunity for a significant reduction in carbon footprint. The long duration (8-100+ hours) ZESS has no fire and explosion risk, has no capacity fade over extensive lifetime, and offers complete charge operational flexibility.

About NYSERDA

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA's programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.

About Digital Energy Corp

Digital Energy is a premier consulting firm specializing in the energy industry with a focus on cogeneration plant operations and financial performance. In addition, Digital personnel have experience with the NYISO, REV PSC proceedings, and Utility rate case proceedings, Digital is an authorized aggregator in the Con Edison's BQDM Demand Response Program and has experience with other utility demand response programs. Digital assist its clients in operating their cogeneration plant, analyzing utility bills, procuring energy supply, and assisting standby rate customers in receiving the Standby Reliability Credit.

Digital specializes in maximizing financial performance from your energy infrastructure assets and analyzing upgrades to energy infrastructure quite often utilizing NYSERDA/Utility programs.

For more information on Digital Energy Corp, visit www.digitalenergyny.com

About Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc.

Zinc8 has assembled an experienced team to execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low-cost zinc-air battery. This mass storage system offers both environmental and efficiency benefits. Zinc8 strives to meet the growing need for secure and reliable power. To learn more about Zinc8's technology, please visit: https://zinc8energy.com

More about the Zinc8 Energy Storage System (ESS)

The Zinc8 ESS is a modular Energy Storage System designed to deliver power in the range 20kW - 50MW with capacity of 8 hours of storage duration or higher. With the advantage of rechargeable zinc-air flow battery technology, the system can be configured to support a wide range of long-duration applications for microgrids and utilities. Since the energy storage capacity of the system is determined only by the size of the zinc storage tank, a very cost-effective and scalable solution now exists as an alternative to the fixed power/energy ratio of the lithium-ion battery.

Technology

The Zinc8 ESS is based upon unique patented zinc-air battery technology. Energy is stored in the form of zinc particles, similar in size to grains of sand. When the system is delivering power, the zinc particles are combined with oxygen drawn from the surrounding air. When the system is recharging, zinc particles are regenerated, and oxygen is returned to the surrounding air.

Applications

The flexibility of the Zinc8 ESS enables it to service a wide range of applications. Typical examples include:

Smoothing energy derived from renewable sources such as wind and solar

Commercial/Industrial backup replacing diesel generators

Industrial and grid scale, on-demand power for peak shaving and standby reserves

Grid-scale services such as alleviating grid congestion, deferring transmission/distribution upgrades, energy trading and arbitrage, and increasing renewable energy penetration.

Architecture

The Zinc8 ESS is designed according to a modular architecture that enables a wide variety of system configurations to be created from a small number of common subsystems. Each subsystem implements a single element of the technology:

The Zinc Regeneration Subsystem (ZRS) provides the recharging function

The Fuel Storage Subsystem (FSS) provides the energy storage function

The Power Generation Subsystem (PGS) provides the discharging function

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Zinc8 Energy Solutions that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Zinc8 Energy Solutions which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Zinc8 Storage anticipates or expects may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements.

Forward looking statements in this press release include that the ZESS will support and enhance the economics of a CHP system currently under construction at Fresh Meadows Apartments, we will commence the demonstration unit now, that we can validate a low-cost, long-duration (8-to-100-hour), and sustainable energy storage technology which can provide megawatt-scale standby power solutions; that we can execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low cost zinc-air battery; that our mass storage system offers both environmental and efficiency benefits; and that we can help meet the needs for secure and reliable power. Zinc8 Energy Solutions believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking 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, without limitation: that the demonstration unit does not provide the kind of data that can be applied in other projects or validate our technology; that our technology fails to work as expected or at all; that our technology proves to be too expensive to implement broadly; that customers do not adapt our products for being too complex, costly, or not fitting with their current products or plans; our competitors may offer better or cheaper solutions for battery storage; general economic, market and business conditions; increased costs and expenses; inability to retain qualified employees; our patents may not provide protection as expected and we may infringe on the patents of others; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in Zinc8 Energy Solution's public disclosure documents, copies of which are available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information please contact:

Incite Capital Market

Kristian Schneck / Eric Negraeff

Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc.

Ron MacDonald

Ph: 604.493.2004

Email: investors@zinc8energy.com

SOURCE: Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683816/Zinc8-Energy-Solutions-Inc-Announces-Signing-of-Host-Site-Agreement-with-Partner-Digital-Energy-Fresh-Meadows-Community-Apartments-in-Queens-New-York
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - BASIN URANIUM CORP. (CSE: NCLR) (OTC Pink: BURCF) (FSE: 6NP0) ("Basin Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company has engaged TerraLogic Exploration Inc. to facilitate the proposed exploration and development work program on the Company's Mann Lake uranium project in Saskatchewan's prolific Athabasca Basin. The Mann Lake project is located 25km southwest of the McArthur River Mine, the largest high-grade uranium deposit in the world, and 15 km to the northeast along strike of Cameco's Millennium uranium deposit. The work program is fully funded with cash on hand from the capital raises completed in 2021.

"We are excited to partner with TerraLogic for our upcoming 2022 work program, which is to include a significant diamond drill program. TerraLogic has extensive experience in the Athabasca Basin, having fully-managed numerous exploration programs throughout the area," commented Mike Blady, CEO of Basin Uranium. "We are currently working through the permitting process, consulting with stakeholders including the Ya' thi Nene and the local First Nations groups, in addition to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Fish, Wildlife and Lands. We are also finalizing agreements with the various surveying and drilling crews to be able to mobilize once the permitting process is completed."

Permitting Update

In December 2021, the Company submitted its permitting package to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Fish, Wildlife and Lands and began the consultation process with local stakeholders. The Company has engaged the Ya' thi Nene, a non-profit organization owned by the seven Athabasca Basin First Nations communities, in addition to other local stakeholders to ensure the highest level of engagement with all groups.

The proposed 2022 work program will include geophysical surveying and geochemical sampling, in addition to an extensive diamond drill program. Past exploration, which totalled over $3 million by previous operators, has identified a number of basement conductors and structural corridors which is the prospective horizon for uranium mineralization. Preparations are underway for the rapid mobilization upon receipt of all necessary permits and approvals, in addition to completing stakeholder consultation, with the work program anticipated to commence later this quarter.

About TerraLogic Exploration Inc.

TerraLogic Exploration Inc. is a dynamic and innovative company that provides a full spectrum of mineral exploration consulting services to the mineral exploration industry ranging from permitting through to surveying / prospecting, drilling and resource modelling. TerraLogic has been operating mineral exploration projects in North America since 2004. Since then, TerraLogic has successfully managed hundreds of exploration programs including numerous uranium focused projects in the Athabasca Basin.

Board Change

The Company also announces the resignation of Mr. David Goertz from the Board of Directors. The Company thanks Mr. Geortz for all of his contributions and wishes him the best in future endeavors.

Qualified Person:

R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (B.C.), a technical advisor to the Company, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.

About Basin Uranium Corp.

Basin Uranium Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration company focused diversified mineral resources. The Company recently acquired an option to acquire a 75% interest in the Mann Lake uranium project, located in the Athabasca basin in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, and is also currently undertaking the CHG gold exploration project located approximately 15 kilometers northwest of the town of Clinton in south-central British Columbia. The CHG Project consists of seven contiguous mineral claims covering 3,606 hectares.

For further information, please visit https://basinuranium.ca or email info@basinuranium.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Mike Blady

Chief Executive Officer

info@basinuranium.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Cautionary Note Regarding 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. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. 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". Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary include, without limitation, uncertainties affecting the expected use of proceeds. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110249
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Siemens Mobility said it signed an agreement to divest Yunex Traffic, the international road traffic business, to Atlantia S.p.A for enterprise value of 950 million euros. The agreement marks the conclusion of a bidding process launched by Siemens in recent months, and which has seen Atlantia beat off competition from a large number of international bidders, Atlantia said in a statement. Closing is expected by September 2022, subject to the relevant regulatory approvals. Munich-based Yunex Traffic is a global leader in the Intelligent Transport Systems and Smart Mobility businesses. Its traffic management and urban mobility infrastructure and platforms are used in over 600 cities and on four continents (Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania). Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
A British-Indian research group has developed an active cooling technique that is claimed to improve a PV system's yield by around 0.5%. The system could be used in residential solar arrays and the water heated by the PV modules may be fed into a solar water heating system.A group of researchers from the PSG College of Technology in India and the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom has developed a spraying water system to reduce the operating temperature of photovoltaic modules. The active cooling system, which consists of a water tank and a spraying unit made with flexible PVC tubes ...

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.
Fast-growing U.S. cybersecurity company heads to the North East to expand EMEA operations and tap into the region's thriving base of technology talent

Arctic Wolf, a global leader in security operations, has today announced the establishment of the company's Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters in Newcastle, following a period of continued expansion and rapid growth for the business across the region.

Located in Newcastle's city centre, it is anticipated that the new headquarters will bring hundreds of new jobs to the North East over the next three years, aiming to tap into the region's growing pool of world-class technology talent. To meet the accelerating demand the business is seeing for cloud-native security operations across the UK and Europe, Arctic Wolf will begin hiring 30 new roles for the office, set to open in 2022 in line with local COVID-19 guidelines.

Establishing a headquarters in the UK follows hot on the heels of the opening of the company's first European Security Operations Centre in Germany in November 2021. Since opening for EMEA business in April 2021, Arctic Wolf has doubled its customer count quarter-on-quarter across the region, has established teams in four European countries (covering the UK, DACH, Benelux and the Nordic countries) and has onboarded over 60 new partners including Trustack Ltd., Storsafe Sweden AB, Loop Partners ApS, nLogic AS, medocino Hamburg GmbH, and sysmind Service- und Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH. Arctic Wolf secured a $150 million series F financing round in July 2021, valuing the business at $4.3 billion.

Clare Loveridge, Arctic Wolf's Vice President General Manager EMEA, commented: "The UK economy is rebounding from the impact of the pandemic, and central to that growth are the technology and security requirements that businesses must implement to support hybrid operations. With less of a need for workers to be based in London, the North East has quickly established itself as a new hub for leading technology firms looking to set up shop outside of the capital.

"While I grew up in Newcastle, I spent much of my career in the South. When I returned to the North East five years ago, I could see first-hand the fantastic pool of talent that is growing in the region. I am incredibly excited and proud to be establishing Arctic Wolf's European operations in Newcastle, a city that I believe will bring undoubted long-term recruitment benefits to the company's next phase of growth in EMEA."

Jen Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: "Arctic Wolf's decision to establish its EMEA headquarters in Newcastle is testament to the growing appeal of the North East as a talent hotspot for leading technology companies and our thriving business community. As recent government figures show, Newcastle has one of the fastest growing tech sectors in the UK, so it's fantastic to see one of the world's leading cybersecurity companies choose our region as its primary base in the UK and EMEA."

"We've loved working with the team at Arctic Wolf on their decision to choose the city and we're looking forward to working with them further as they grow their exciting business here in the heart of Newcastle."

Phil Cambers, Trustack Primesys' Commercial Director, commented: "As businesses here in the UK and across EMEA work to defend against the evolving threat landscape, we are thrilled to see a leading global cybersecurity company establish its EMEA headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne. Arctic Wolf's decision underscores the long-term growth opportunity for the technology talent in the North East, as well as the companies investing in the area."

Arctic Wolf is a global leader in security operations, delivering the first cloud-native security operations platform to end cyber risk. Powered by threat telemetry spanning endpoint, network, and cloud sources, the Arctic Wolf Security Operations Cloud ingests and analyses more than 1.6 trillion security events a week across the globe, enabling critical outcomes for most security use cases and optimizing customers' disparate security solutions. Now deployed to more than 2,300 customers worldwide, the Arctic Wolf Platform delivers automated threat detection and response at scale, and empowers organizations of any size to establish world-class security operations with the push of a button.

Additional Resources:

Join the conversation with Arctic Wolf on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube

Visit arcticwolf.com to learn more about our security operations solutions

If you're ready to get started, request a demo, get a quote, or conduct a Security Operations Maturity Assessment

Want to join Arctic Wolf's Partner Program? Apply today

2022 Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Arctic Wolf, Arctic Wolf Platform, Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response, Arctic Wolf Managed Risk, Arctic Wolf Managed Cloud Monitoring, Arctic Wolf Managed Security Awareness, and Arctic Wolf Concierge Security Team are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc. or Arctic Wolf Networks Canada, Inc. and any subsidiaries in Canada, the United States, and/or other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005179/en/

Contacts:

Reagan McAfee

Reagan.mcafee@arcticwolf.com

916.996.4969

Archetype UK

Jack Shilling: +44 (0)7821 667749

Sam Keefe: +44 (0)7712 134600

arcticwolf@archetype.co
- Dermaliq Therapeutics, Inc. is an independent private pharmaceutical company emerged from Novaliq

- Spin-off to unlock value in the space of medical dermatology by using Novaliq's transformative technology outside eye care

- 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd join as new investors

- Proceeds will be used for three Phase 1/2a clinical development programs in dermatology

WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novaliq GmbH, 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd. today announced the establishment of Dermaliq Therapeutics, Inc (Dermaliq), a newly formed Delaware-based pharmaceutical development company, and the signing of a USD 15 million Series A financing round. 3E Bioventures Capital, a leading international life science investor, led the round and was joined by Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd. Dermaliq's existing shareholder Novaliq has transferred, and licensed Intellectual Property (IP) related to the field of dermatology to Dermaliq.

Skin diseases are the fourth leading cause of non-fatal disease burden worldwide, underscoring the role of dermatology in the growing field of global health. Skin conditions have significant impact on patients' well-being, mental health, and social participation. Although topical and local delivery of active ingredients to diseased skin is the preferred treatment route for the majority of patients, current therapies often lack satisfactory skin penetration and patient compliance.

Dermaliq is developing the next generation of skin care therapies to enhance targeted penetration into skin tissues and to reduce unwanted side effects for millions of patients. The unique and proprietary technology now owned by Dermaliq, called hyliQ, is designed to allow cutaneous drug delivery with unmatched bioavailability. The technology enables the development of superior, highly effective liquid drug products with exceptional cosmetic properties.

The proceeds will be used to conduct three Phase 1/2a clinical dermatology programs with the goal to demonstrate safety and efficacy and to advance this novel skin care drug category to market to improve the lives of millions of patients:

DLQ01 is a liquid drug candidate for the topical treatment of female and male androgenetic alopecia, targeting the prostamide E2 (PGE2) receptor in hair bulbs through specific follicular drug delivery.

DLQ02 is a novel and liquid topical calcineurin inhibitor drug therapy for plaque psoriasis, particularly in difficult to treat areas.

DLQ03 is a broad-spectrum liquid antibiotic drug candidate that targets topical treatment of bacterial skin and soft tissue infections, including the reduction of antibiotic-resistant strains.

The Company has demonstrated proof-of-principle for enhanced topical drug delivery using hyliQ in nonclinical models for all three applications.

"We are excited that 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation have committed to support Dermaliq as new investors in the Series A round," said Dr. Frank Loscher, Chief Executive Officer of Dermaliq. "Our spin-off from Novaliq and successful raising of significant funds provides us with the opportunity to build a leading specialty pharmaceutical company and expand the application of Novaliq's transformative drug delivery technology into dermatology."

"3E is committed to investing in global leading life sciences and biomedical companies and help them grow with access to globalized resources and capabilities," said Karen Liu, Managing Director 3E Bioventures Capital. "Dermaliq is using a unique, and scientifically sound technology to achieve high efficiency drug delivery across the skin. The technology is already proven in ophthalmology and holds great promise for dermatology. We will be excited to explore additional drug pipelines in China and synergize with Dermaliq on both pre-clinical and clinical development."

"Whale Technology values the solid science foundation of Dermaliq's proprietary hyliQ technology platform," said Ming Gao, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Whale Technology Co. Ltd. "Dermaliq's founding team demonstrates a great combination of science, clinical experience and commercialization strength. We see great potential of Dermaliq's pipeline in the field of dermatology after Novaliq's proven clinical and commercial success in ophthalmology."

"Dermatology is the logical next step into using Novaliq's proprietary technology platform outside eye care," said Dr. Christian Roesky, Chief Executive Officer Novaliq. "The spin-off into an independent company allows Dermaliq to greatly benefit from our experience in ophthalmology while being fully committed to the multiple product development activities in dermatology, and likely to further broaden its pipeline to other skin conditions."

To reflect the new shareholder structure, Karen Liu of 3E Bioventures Capital will join Dermaliq's Board of Directors. Dr. Loscher has also transitioned from his role as Chief Technology Officer at Novaliq to lead Dermaliq as its CEO & President.

About Dermaliq:

Dermaliq Therapeutics, Inc. is a private company founded in 2021 through a spin off from Novaliq to reimagine topical dermatology. The Company is incorporated in Wilmington (DE), USA under Delaware law. The company has signed a USD 15 million series A round to advance three transformative skin care drug therapies through clinical trials. Key shareholders are Novaliq GmbH, 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd.

About 3E Bioventures Capital:

3E Bioventures Capital is a healthcare venture capital firm, dedicated to investing in cutting-edge life sciences and biomedical technologies, with a focus on breakthrough first-in-class therapies and disruptive cross-disciplinary innovations in medical devices and diagnostics. 3E Bioventures takes on a science-driven, entrepreneur-friendly investment philosophy by working closely with companies and research institutions to develop drugs or products that have strong unmet medical needs. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and the San Francisco Bay Area, 3E Bioventures leverages its experience, capabilities, and network to help companies tap into markets and resources across the Pacific and advance with greater speed and capital efficiency. The motto of 3E Bioventures Capital is captured in its name 3E: Expertise, Efficiency, Execution.

About Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd.:

Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd. is a China-based pharmaceutical group committed to the long-term sustainable development in the fields of chemistry, pharmaceuticals and aesthetics. With more than 20 years of history, Whale Tech. has developed two core business units. On one hand, Whale Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Whale Chemistry Co. Ltd. and Whale Pharmatech Co. Ltd. are grouped as pharmaceutical and chemistry business unit. On the other hand, Whale Biotech is a research stage biotech company with the focus of developing aesthetics products.

About Novaliq:

Novaliq is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on EyeSol, the worldwide first water-free eyedrop technology. Novaliq offers an industry-leading portfolio addressing today's unmet medical needs of millions of patients with eye diseases. Novaliq GmbH is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany and Novaliq Inc. has an office in Cambridge, MA, USA. The long-term shareholder is dievini Hopp BioTech holding GmbH & Co. KG, an active investor in Life and Health Sciences companies.

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For further information, please contact:

Dermaliq Therapeutics Inc.

Dr. Frank Loscher

Chief Executive Officer

info@dermaliq.com

+49 6221 50259-272
January 18, 2021

New capabilities on Philips Image Guided Therapy Mobile C-arm System - Zenition - and collaboration with Cydar offer the latest advances in endovascular treatment

Partnership adds new innovations to the Zenition platform to elevate the clinical experience, enhance workflow efficiency and help improve patient outcomes

Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Royal Philips , delivering enhanced clinical accuracy and efficiency, and aiming to improve the outcomes for patients undergoing endovascular treatment. The company has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Cydar , a UK-based provider of cloud-based procedure maps software to plan and guide surgery in real time.

As patient numbers rise and procedures become more complex and time-consuming, patient-specific real-time procedure planning and guidance, optimization of equipment utilization, and usability have become ever more important. To help overcome these challenges, Philips Image-Guided Therapy Mobile C-arm System - Zenition - brings together innovations in image capture and processing, ease-of-use, and versatility, many of which were pioneered on Philips' highly successful image guided therapy platform Azurion. Like Azurion, the Zenition mobile C-arm system allows hospitals to maximize operating room performance, enhance their clinical capabilities, and provide staff with a seamless user experience. The integration of Cydar EV Maps software into the Zenition platform now adds extended procedure planning and real-time 3D guidance capabilities.

Cloud-based AI and computer vision

Cydar EV Maps assists in the planning, real-time guidance, and post procedure review of endovascular surgery. It brings cloud-based AI and computer vision to mobile surgery, enabling reductions in radiation exposure, fluoroscopy time, and procedure time together with improved ease of use [1,2]. It enables surgeons to create a detailed patient-specific 3D map of the target vasculature to help plan surgery, and then uses these maps to augment intraoperative live image-guidance, updating the maps in real time to account for deformations during surgery, such as guidewires and instruments deforming the patient's blood vessels. Cydar EV also facilitates post procedure outcome analysis. The combined result of this integration of procedure planning, guidance and review is that surgeons can work more accurately and efficiently - enabling an approximate 50% reduction in radiation exposure [1], a significant reduction in fluoroscopy time and a reduction of procedure times by more than 20% [2], while helping achieve better outcomes for patients.

"With Philips' integrated portfolio, using validated AI and cloud technologies, we can facilitate collaborative care to optimize surgical pathways," said Karim Boussebaa, General Manager Image Guided Therapy Systems at Philips. "Philips has a strong global network of mobile surgery systems and recognizes that Cydar's EV Maps solution can play a key role in further improving our integrated offering for endovascular procedures."

"By partnering with Philips to bring our Cydar EV Maps solution to Philips' user-friendly Zenition platform of mobile C-arms, we are a step closer to achieving our mission to ensure every image-guided minimally-invasive surgical procedure goes exactly as planned," said Paul Mussenden, CEO of Cydar. "The benefits of this combined solution, with integrated and enhanced procedure planning and visualization, include shorter and more predictable procedure times, reduced X-ray exposure to patients and staff, and fewer injections of iodine dye - the leading cause of in-hospital kidney failure."

Cydar EV Maps is currently in use across the EU, UK and US. It is certified Software-as-a-Medical Device with EU CE mark and U.S. FDA 510(k) clearances.

[1] Southerland K, Nag U, Turner M, Gilmore B, McCann R, Long C, Cox M, Shortell C. IF09. Image-Based Three-Dimensional Fusion Computed Tomography Decreases Radiation Exposure, Fluoroscopy Time, and Procedure Time During Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair. J Vasc Surg. 2018;67: e61-e61

[2] Shortell C., Veith Symposium New York, 2017

For further information, please contact:

Joost Maltha

Philips Global Press Office

Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116

Email: joost.maltha@philips.com

Fabienne van der Feer

Philips Image Guided Therapy

Tel: + 31 622 698 001

E-mail: fabienne.van.der.feer@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips.

About Cydar

Cydar Limited specializes in medical computer vision, machine learning and cloud high-performance computing. Cydar EV is a cloud-based software platform that generates patient specific 3D Maps of soft tissue vasculature to support more effective image guided, minimally invasive endovascular surgery. The system comprises pre-operative procedure planning functionality and real time, AI enabled 3D intra-operative imaging and procedure guidance, with procedure video capture and post procedure review functions.

Cydar EV Maps harnesses the latest in cloud GPU computing, computer vision and machine learning technology to advance surgical visualization and decision-making in theatre and across the surgical pathway. Cydar's Surgical Intelligence system is learning from every case to develop a deeper understanding of surgery.

Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Cydar's focus is to build a future where all patients benefit from augmented surgical intelligence. Cydar EV Maps is the first product from Cydar's Intelligent Maps system.

Attachments
Mahana IBS recognized as a digital solution with high potential to meet London's NHS and social care challenges

Mahana Therapeutics, a leading developer of prescription digital therapeutics designed to empower people living with chronic health conditions, today announced that Mahana has been selected for the DigitalHealth.London's Accelerator programme.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220116005048/en/

Mahana IBS is a digital therapeutic that delivers cognitive behavioral therapy to empower adults with irritable bowel syndrome to lessen the severity of symptoms. (Graphic: Mahana Therapeutics)

The Accelerator 2022 programme selects companies with digital solutions or services that have high potential to meet London's National Health Service (NHS) and social care challenges. Mahana IBS delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to empower adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to lessen the severity of symptoms. In the UK, up to 10% of the population is affected by IBS and the condition costs the NHS more than 200 million annually.

Now in its sixth consecutive year, the NHS-delivered programme, which is match funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has supported some of the most effective digital innovations now being used by the NHS. The program will help Mahana Therapeutics better engage with the NHS to accelerate adoption of Mahana IBS in clinical practice. Mahana IBS has the potential to deliver significant cost savings for the NHS and provide a new way of treating IBS for millions of people affected.

This year the companies on the program will benefit from international partnerships with two US Accelerators, Cedars-Sinai and Mass Challenge. The partnerships with these US-based Accelerators will provide opportunities for companies such as Mahana to network with global peers, showcase their products/services to key international stakeholders, and gain the tools to navigate a new global market.

Jenny Thomas, programme director, DigitalHealth.London, said: "We are delighted to announce today the 21 digital health companies joining our sixth DigitalHealth.London Accelerator cohort. The application process for this year's programme was competitive as ever and as such, the final 21 companies truly are the ones to watch in the digital health space. We look forward to working with them and continuing to play our part in supporting the NHS and social care through digital transformation."

Jon Scholefield, managing director of Mahana UK Operations, said: "Mahana Therapeutics is committed to helping people living with IBS and other chronic conditions access effective cognitive behavioral therapy digitally. We are excited to join this prestigious program to accelerate adoption of and experience with Mahana IBS within the NHS. We look forward to providing this valuable new treatment option in clinical practice to people living with IBS."

Sonia Patel, chief information officer, NHSX, said: "The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme has established itself as an important player in supporting the NHS and social care to make the most of the opportunities digital health offers. I look forward to seeing the next group of innovators bringing their solutions to London's NHS."

DigitalHealth.London's Accelerator aims to speed up the adoption of technology in London's NHS, relieving high pressure on services and empowering patients to manage their health. For every 1 spent on the programme through the AHSNs, 12.70 is saved for the NHS*. It works with around 20 high potential SMEs over a 12-month period, giving bespoke support and advice, a programme of expert-led workshops and events, and brokering meaningful connections between innovators and NHS organisations with specific challenges. The companies successful in getting onto the Accelerator programme have been chosen through a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, involving expert NHS and industry panel assessments, interviews, and due diligence checks.

For more information about the companies on the programme visit: digitalhealth.london/cohort-6-accelerator.

About Mahana Therapeutics

Mahana Therapeutics is a leading developer of effective prescription digital therapeutics that are designed to empower patients with chronic conditions to live fuller lives. The Company's first product, Mahana IBS, is the world's first digital therapeutic to receive FDA clearance and CE Mark for the treatment of IBS and provides gut-directed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to adults with IBS. More information is available at www.MahanaTx.com.

About DigitalHealth.London Accelerator

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator was the first programme of DigitalHealth.London. It is aimed at digital health companies that would benefit from better engagement with the NHS and the wider health sector, in order to refine and develop products and services that meet the needs of the system.

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator is run by a consortium of founding partners comprising two of London's Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) the Health Innovation Network, and UCLPartners as well as CW+ and MedCity. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme.

*DigitalHealth.London Accelerator Interim Evaluation report available to download here: digitalhealth.london/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Digital-Health-Accelerator_Interim-Report_v1-2.pdf

Cedars-Sinai Accelerator: https://csaccelerator.com/program

Mass Challenge partnership announcement: https://digitalhealth.london/digitalhealth-london-and-masschallenge-partner-to-support-international-adoption-of-us-and-uks-best-health-tech

About European Regional Development Fund

The project is receiving up to 3.8 million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community.

For more information visit gov.uk/european-growth-funding.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220116005048/en/

Contacts:

Mahana Therapeutics Media Contact

Michele Parisi

Bioscribe

1.925.864.5028

mparisi@bioscribe.com
Collaboration brings expanded value to Fine Fragrance category

GENEVA, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Firmenich, the world's largest privately-owned fragrance and taste company, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with HARMAY, a leading new retail brand in China. Under the agreement, Firmenich and HARMAY will join forces to contribute to the development of the Fine Fragrance category in China, by leveraging their respective capabilities to support the development of new fragrance brands, concepts, experiences and models.

"As a world leader in fine fragrance, Firmenich is focused on leading the transformation of this industry and creating trends to future-proof the business," said Ilaria Resta, President, Global Perfumery, Firmenich. "After more than 30 years of successful operations in China, this partnership with HARMAY serves as a significant enhancement to our capabilities in China and fortifies our ambitions as the partner of choice in the Chinese market."

Founded in 2008, HARMAY is China's premier global beauty collection store, a warehouse-based aesthetic new retail brand with a strong Generation Z customer base. The brand has become synonymous with art and culture in China by offering premium beauty, skincare, fragrance and lifestyle products through its online and offline stores. All of its offline stores feature innovative designs and have gained a loyal following for their unique consumer experience.

"China is projected to be the new frontier of the global fine fragrance market, with many local brands emerging and a significant increasing usage among consumers, especially with Gen Z. We are honored to play a key role in propelling this growth with the synergies between HARMAY and Firmenich," added Jason Ju, Co-founder, HARMAY. "We hope this inspires even greater innovations and creations for the industry."

"Thanks to this strategic partnership with HARMAY we are joining forces to incubate brands of tomorrow and leverage our mutual capabilities in consumers insights, digital, creativity and art of perfumery," added Olivier Viejo, Head of Fine Fragrance, Firmenich China. "This will pave the way for more growth in the Fine Fragrance industry both within China and globally."

As part of its China expansion strategy, Firmenich is bringing additional value to customers by creating highly localized customer journeys, first-hand. In 2019, the company became the first global fragrance house to establish a Fine Fragrance Atelier in China and was the first to offer a dedicated business model that provides easy access to all fine fragrance capabilities under one roof, serving all local customers in China and global customers worldwide. The company also opened its new Studio Guangzhou in September 2021, allowing it to deliver a diverse range of benefits to an even wider base of consumers.

About Firmenich

Firmenich is the world's largest privately-owned perfume and taste company, founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895 and has been family-owned for 125 years. Firmenich is a leading business-to-business company operating primarily in the fragrance and taste market, specialized in the research, creation, manufacture and sale of perfumes, flavors and ingredients. Renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its leadership in sustainability, Firmenich offers its customers superior innovation in formulation, a broad and high-quality palette of ingredients, and proprietary technologies including biotechnology, encapsulation, olfactory science and taste modulation. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 4.3 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2021. More information about Firmenich is available at www.firmenich.com.

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HARRISON (dpa-AFX) - The Payment Systems Regulator in the UK has fined Mastercard, allpay, Advanced Payment Solutions, Prepaid Financial Services and Sulion as they were found to infringe competition law by agreeing not to compete or poach each other's customers in the prepaid cards market in Great Britain. The PSR has imposed fines totalling more than 33 million pounds for each party's participation. Mastercard was fined 31.56 million pounds. The decision concludes the PSR's investigation that was opened in October 2017 following a complaint made by allpay. The pre-paid cards in question were used by local authorities to distribute welfare payments to vulnerable members of society. All parties settled and admitted breaking the law, the PSR noted. 'This case is particularly serious because the illegal cartel behaviour meant there was less competition and choice for local authorities. This means they may have missed out on cheaper or better-quality products which were used by some of the most vulnerable in society,' Chris Hemsley, Managing Director of the Payment Systems Regulator, stated. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ADC Therapeutics to receive $30 million upfront payment, up to $205 million in milestones, and double-digit royalties based on net sales in Japan

ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage biotechnology company improving the lives of those affected by cancer with its next-generation, targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, today announced it has entered an exclusive license agreement with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) for the development and commercialization of ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) for all hematologic and solid tumor indications in Japan.

Under the terms of the agreement, ADC Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $30 million and up to an additional $205 million in milestones if certain development and commercial events are achieved. ADC Therapeutics will also receive royalties ranging in percentage from the high teens to the low twenties based on net sales of the product in Japan. MTPC will conduct clinical studies of ZYNLONTA in Japan and will have the right to participate in any global clinical studies of the product by bearing a portion of the costs of the study.

"This license agreement with MTPC, a leader in the Japanese pharmaceutical industry, expands our global footprint in an important geography, and furthers our goal to make ZYNLONTA available globally to patients," said Chris Martin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "We are excited to bring together our expertise in ADCs with MTPC's extensive experience in Japan where there is significant unmet need for a safe and effective therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL."

"MTPC is delighted to collaborate with ADC Therapeutics, a leader in the field of antibody drug conjugates, to develop and commercialize ZYNLONTA in Japan," said Hiroaki Ueno, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation. "We will try to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from cancer with the use of ADC Therapeutics' novel anti-CD19 ADC, ZYNLONTA."

In April 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to ZYNLONTA as the first and only CD19-targeted ADC as a single-agent treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. A Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for ZYNLONTA has been validated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is under review by the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). ZYNLONTA has also received Orphan Drug designation in Europe for DLBCL. In addition, Overland ADCT BioPharma, a joint venture formed by Overland Pharmaceuticals and ADC Therapeutics, is working to develop and commercialize ZYNLONTA in greater China and Singapore. Overland ADCT BioPharma is now conducting a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of ZYNLONTA in relapsed or refractory DLBCL in China, which is intended to support the anticipated registration of ZYNLONTA in China.

About ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA is a CD19-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ZYNLONTA is internalized by the cell, where enzymes release a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) payload. The potent payload binds to DNA minor groove with little distortion, remaining less visible to DNA repair mechanisms. This ultimately results in cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including DLBCL not otherwise specified, DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma and also high-grade B-cell lymphoma. The trial included a broad spectrum of heavily pre-treated patients (median three prior lines of therapy) with difficult-to-treat disease, including patients who did not respond to first-line therapy, patients refractory to all prior lines of therapy, patients with double/triple hit genetics and patients who had stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy prior to their treatment with ZYNLONTA. This indication is approved by the FDA under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

ZYNLONTA is also being evaluated as a therapeutic option in combination studies in other B-cell malignancies and earlier lines of therapy.

About ADC Therapeutics

ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage biotechnology company improving the lives of those affected by cancer with its next-generation, targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The Company is advancing its proprietary PBD-based ADC technology to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

ADC Therapeutics' CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents. Cami (camidanlumab tesirine) is being evaluated in a late-stage clinical trial for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and in a Phase 1b clinical trial for various advanced solid tumors. In addition to ZYNLONTA and Cami, ADC Therapeutics has multiple ADCs in ongoing clinical and preclinical development.

ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanne (Biopole), Switzerland and has operations in London, the San Francisco Bay Area and New Jersey. For more information, please visit https://adctherapeutics.com/ and follow the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

ZYNLONTA is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA.

ADC Therapeutics Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business and commercialization strategy, products and product candidates, research pipeline, ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials, regulatory submissions and approvals, planned commercialization activities, research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success, as well as plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including those described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this press release. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005229/en/

Contacts:

Investors

Eugenia Litz

ADC Therapeutics

Eugenia.Litz@adctherapeutics.com

+44 7879 627205

Amanda Hamilton

ADC Therapeutics

amanda.hamilton@adctherapeutics.com

+1 917-288-7023

EU Media

Alexandre Muller

Dynamics Group

amu@dynamicsgroup.ch

+41 (0) 43 268 3231

USA Media

Mary Ann Ondish

ADC Therapeutics

maryann.ondish@adctherapeutics.com

Tel.: +1 914-552-4625
BUDAPEST, Hungary, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastic by AxFina is a solution allowing corporates to run a fully-fledged digital and customer-centric debt collection process. The application also helps individuals to overcome financial distress by providing them with all-in-one platform for convenient self-service debt management. Grape Solutions played a significant role in developing the solution, including the web and iOS/Android mobile application of Finastic platform.

AxFina, operationally headquartered in Austria, is a pan-European service provider that reinvents loan servicing, debt collection and outsourcing solutions. Finastic, their cutting-edge digital debt collection technology developed by Grape Solutions, is a FinTech solution that allows corporates to improve efficiency of their debt collection process and to reduce costs by implementing digital collection strategy, while allowing their clients to manage their debts in a friendly and amicable way.

The innovative technology supports omnichannel communication with debtors, allows making one-click and recurring repayments and empowers individuals to be in charge of their debts by setting up repayment plans fully online. A data-driven approach enables the optimization of the debt collection strategy, offering tailored messaging and dedicated collection strategies while engaging with individual debtors.

"It is always exciting to be a part of emerging solutions that make our daily lives more straightforward. Transparency and predictability are not only crucial in financial services but in general. Finastic is a niche application that contributes to helping us in the often opaque financial world", added Szell Szilard, CEO of Grape Solutions Plc.



"The mission of the Finastic debt collection solution is to start a new era in financial awareness and planning not only with innovative tools but most importantly an empathetic collection approach", said Johannes Wolfslehner, CTO of AxFina.

Finastic is in the core of AxFina's receivable management operations and is of as white label Software-as-a-Service solution.

About Grape Solutions:

Grape Solutions Plc. is one of Hungary's leading software development companies, which has implemented more than 100 successful enterprise projects in various industries since its launch in 2006. Over the past 15 years, it has worked with clients such as Wizz Air, Bayer, MOL, Rossmann, Magyar Posta and Unicef, and in 2021 it was named one of Europe's fastest-growing companies by Financial Times.

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Media contact: Dorina Pall, pall.dorina@grape.solutions
NEW DELHI (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices climbed to their highest level since 2014 on Tuesday amid worries about possible supply disruptions after Yemen's Houthi group attacked the United Arab Emirates. Brent crude futures for March delivery rose around 1 percent to $87.35 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for March settlement were up 1.4 percent at $84.44. Both benchmarks hovered near their highest levels since October 2014 as attacks in the Mideast Gulf added to an already tight supply outlook. A suspected drone attack in the United Arab Emirates has killed three people and injured six others. While Houthi rebels far away in Yemen claimed credit for the attack and warned to attack more facilities, the UAE said it reserved the right to 'respond to these terrorist attacks. UAE oil firm ADNOC said it had activated business continuity plans to ensure uninterrupted supply of products to its local and international customers after an incident at its Mussafah fuel depot. Goldman Sachs analysts said they expected oil inventories in OECD countries to fall to their lowest since 2000 by the summer, with Brent oil prices rising to $100 later this year. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
- Major satellite launch vehicle market players include Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Boeing Company, Arianespace SA, Arca Space Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.(SpaceX), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Kelly Space and Technology Inc., Virgin Galactica, ISIS - Innovative Solutions In Space B.V., GeoOptics, Inc., and ArianeGroup SAS.

SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) Market size is anticipated to record a valuation of USD 8 billion by 2027, according to the most recent study by Global Market Insights Inc. The market growth is attributed to the development in space navigation technologies and rising SLV startups across the globe. Increasing government focus on deep space exploration activities is increasing the adoption of satellite launch vehicles, thereby contributing to the market expansion.

The global satellite launch vehicle market was negatively impacted by the end of 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To curb virus transmission, various governments imposed strict lockdown in 2020. Lockdowns led to the temporary suspension of manufacturing facilities and R&D centers. Additionally, component import & export for rockets were disturbed attributed to restrictions on international travel and logistics services. Owing to this, SLV manufacturers experienced a significant decline in market demand. However, the post-pandemic market is poised to witness steady growth credited to government initiatives on boosting innovations in the space sector.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2853

Increasing remote detecting application development and interplanetary missions are driving the Europe satellite launch vehicle market value. European countries are investing in R&D to improve the capability of their SLVs to reduce their dependency on other regions. For instance, in July 2021, the Government of France announced to develop reusable rockets in collaboration with Ariane Group to assist ESA in various space missions. Ariane Group will develop the small-lift reusable rocket, Maia by 2026.

Key players operating in the market include Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Boeing Company, Arianespace SA, Arca Space Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.(SpaceX), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Kelly Space and Technology Inc., Virgin Galactica, ISIS - Innovative Solutions In Space B.V., GeoOptics, Inc., and ArianeGroup SAS. Industry leaders are adopting various marketing and business strategies to stay competitive in this consolidated market.

Request for customization of this research report @

https://www.gminsights.com/roc/2853

Some major findings in the satellite launch vehicle market report include:

The availability of established companies and their significant investments in R&D activities are fostering the industry growth in North America . Government initiatives on strengthening space exploration capabilities and the new lunar mission planning will further fuel the industry expansion.

. Government initiatives on strengthening space exploration capabilities and the new lunar mission planning will further fuel the industry expansion. Rising satellite dispatch vehicle startups and frequent launches of satellites to the Earth's orbit to strengthen communications are propelling SLV sales in APAC. Additionally, market participants are adopting various business strategies to attract government-backed space organizations to secure high-value contracts that will contribute to industry progression.

Increasing satellite launches for Earth and space observation activities are creating market value opportunities in Europe . Market leaders focus on innovating new SLVs with a high payload capacity and low fuel consumption will improve the industry statistics.

. Market leaders focus on innovating new SLVs with a high payload capacity and low fuel consumption will improve the industry statistics. Several governments such as India , Russia , China , and the U.S. are focusing on launching separate space stations in the coming years.

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3 Satellite Launch Vehicle Market Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Impact of COVID-19 onindustry landscape

3.2.1 Global outlook

3.2.2 Regional impact

3.2.2.1North America

3.2.2.2Europe

3.2.2.3Asia Pacific

3.2.2.4 Rest of the World

3.2.3 Industry value chain

3.2.3.1 Research & development

3.2.3.2 Manufacturing

3.2.3.3 Marketing

3.2.3.4 Supply

3.2.4 Competitive landscape

3.2.4.1 Strategy

3.2.4.2 Distribution network

3.2.4.3 Business growth

Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @

https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/satellite-launch-vehicle-slv-market

About Global Market Insights Inc.

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

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Global Market Insights Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: sales@gminsights.com

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Fast-growing blockchain Authorised Signatory Management platform joins the London-based scaleup cohort on the prestigious 12-month London Partners programme

Leading blockchain specialist, Cygnetise, has been accepted onto the prestigious London Partners Mayor's International Business Programme (MIBP) 2022, supported by the Mayor of London. The programme helps ambitious scaleups from London's technology, life sciences, creative and urban sectors to expand their businesses internationally, providing world-class support and advice for international business success, including bespoke, on-the-ground support in key global markets. Notable alumni include companies such as Monzo, Revolut, Elvie, and Bloom Wild.

The award-winning Cygnetise is already live in over twenty countries and, having recently attracted investment from specialist blockchain West Coast VC firm, Bloccelerate, as it prepares to scale, the timing of acceptance onto the MIBP is ideal. Founded in 2016, the corporate blockchain platform is one of the first to demonstrate the successful real-world application of blockchain to industry problems, with clients including PWC, Societe Generale, Raymond James, Vistra, and MorningStar.

Cygnetise transforms the process of Authorised Signatory Management for operations and finance departments. The solution enables customers to digitally manage and share authorised signatories in real time with their banks and other counterparties, making the process more efficient, transparent, and secure. This significantly reduces the risk of fraud, transforms operations, facilitates business continuity, strengthens governance, dramatically increases efficiency, and cuts costs.

Cygnetise CEO, Steve Pomfret, said, "We are very proud to have been accepted onto the Mayor's International Business Programme. The quality of the previous alumni is indicative of what we have achieved to date and the programme will help accelerate our progress. The timing is perfect with the stage of growth we are at, as we attract ever more attention from overseas."

Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the MIBP is supported by seven lead partners: Ciklum, Globalization Partners, GrantTree, Microsoft, Moore Kingston Smith, Taylor Wessing and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati. Cygnetise will have its first opportunity to meet fellow cohort members, programme partners, and mentors at the MIBP's Cohort 22 Launch.

Dhaval Gore, Head of the Mayor's International Business Programme at London Partners, said: "I am delighted to welcome Cygnetise to the Mayor's International Business Programme (MIBP). To date, the MIBP has helped more than 1000 high-growth London companies win business in international markets, creating more than 4000 jobs for the global economy. We are extremely proud to be shining a light on what London's fastest-growing businesses have to offer overseas."

ENDS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005656/en/

Contacts:

Press Enquiries:

Amy Dron

Communications

amy@cygnetise.com

+44 (0)7808 29 59 59
Customer data science experts dunnhumby launch clear, simple, data-led platform for retail media

Automated workflows, AI-driven audiences and customer-centric measurement allows for greater collaboration between retailers, brands and agencies, creating a better customer experience

dunnhumby, the world's leading retail data science organization, has today launched dunnhumby Sphere, an all-in-one customer first retail media platform.

dunnhumby Sphere is the end-to-end retail media platform that takes users from brand insights to campaign billing through its fully integrated set of modules, helping to unify audience targeting, media booking, forecasting and measurement across a range of retail media channels.

The platform, available to retailers looking to build and expand their retail media capability, allows retailers to scale and maximize revenues from retail media, while advertising partners will benefit from enhanced collaboration and the ability to plan, book, measure and pay for campaigns across online and in-store channels.

Retailers will be able to use dunnhumby Sphere to transform their media business, increasing the sophistication of their omnichannel media offerings without any of the complexity or cost that this change usually involves. And as a modular solution that integrates with the broader ad ecosystem, dunnhumby Sphere will also allow retailers to incorporate their existing retail media technologies.

dunnhumby Sphere is already used by Tesco in the UK to power several of the retail media products offered as part of the Tesco Media and Insight platform, which was recently launched in the UK to help Tesco suppliers and agencies engage with customers and understand their evolving needs.

Reducing complexity

"Retailers are finding out that building their own retail media business is complex," explainsJulie Jeancolas, Head of Media and Customer Engagement Products, dunnhumby. "The retail media ecosystem is highly fragmented, making platforms difficult and expensive to develop. This often means that the value of data gets trapped, with some third-party data platforms serving unusable data to brands and agencies, which undermines the point of a self-service platform

"Brands need a single point of access for all their measurement reporting to compare the relative performance of each channel, while retailers need a way to validate the long-term impact of Retail Media on the customer experience and sales."

"And that's where dunnhumby Sphere will make a real difference. It allows retailers to efficiently manage a complex ecosystem, unlocking the value of their data by making on-demand AI-based audiences easily accessible to CPGs, whilst still allowing the retailer to measure the true impact of media on their core business."

Efficient workflows: everything in one place

With dunnhumby Sphere, everything from insights to billing is controlled via one intuitive interface, covering all retail media channels. The platform makes it easier for retailers to optimize the performance of their retail media activity by providing an overall representation of their customers across every channel and campaign. dunnhumby Sphere can also help retailers to access larger brand budgets, with access to new revenue from agencies who would traditionally be excluded from this activity, thanks to the integrated multi-channel offering.

Science-based audiences: simple but powerful

As the world leaders in customer data science, dunnhumby Sphere gives access to simple but powerful AI powered audiences to predict the customer likelihood to buy any given product, resulting in up to twice the return on ad spend (ROAS) when compared to standard descriptive segmentation models.

dunnhumby Sphere helps retailers and brands save time by making complex workflows easier to manage across all media channels. Bringing together multiple sets of data, Sphere provides retailers and their advertising partners with a single view of all audience activations, providing easy access to AI-powered audiences to help brands find the shoppers they need to target in order to hit their marketing goals and deliver high return on ad spend.

Customer centric measurement: impact made clear

With consistent, cross-channel customer profiles, dunnhumby Sphere tracks the long-term impact of retail media on the shopper experience. Retailers can monitor the impact on customer lifetime value, loyalty, and basket size. At the same time, in-depth measurement helps to maintain campaign relevance as shopper needs change, while transparent closed-loop measurement provides gives advertisers the proof of incremental performance.

Jeancolas continues: "dunnhumby Sphere enables retailers and brands to collaborate in a way that will really improve the customer experience. Retailers can set their own parameters around how advertisers can engage with their shoppers, while brands will have self-service access, making it easier to target the right shoppers with the right messages. It's a true omnichannel approach to ensure a consistent experience for all customers

????????dunnhumby Sphere will launch in several stages, with modules including digital, store media, digital onsite and sponsored products to follow throughout 2022. For more information, visit dunnhumby.com/retailers/retail-media/dunnhumby-sphere

About dunnhumby

dunnhumby is the global leader in Customer Data Science, empowering businesses everywhere to compete and thrive in the modern data-driven economy. We always put the Customer First.

Our mission: to enable businesses to grow and reimagine themselves by becoming advocates and champions for their Customers. With deep heritage and expertise in retail one of the world's most competitive markets, with a deluge of multi-dimensional data dunnhumby today enables businesses all over the world, across industries, to be Customer First.

The dunnhumby Customer Data Science Platform is our unique mix of technology, software and consulting, enabling businesses to increase revenue and profits by delivering exceptional experiences for their Customers in-store, offline and online. dunnhumby employs over 2,000 experts in offices throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas working for transformative, iconic brands such as Tesco, Coca-Cola, Meijer, Procter Gamble, Raley's, L'Oreal and Monoprix.

Learn more at www.dunnhumby.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005255/en/

Contacts:

Gavin Greene

gavin.greene@dunnhumby.com
Company Signs Binding Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Seven Acquisitions for Aggregate Cash Proceeds of $21.6 Million; Management Expects to Realize Over $78 Million in Incremental Revenue

EL CAJON, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (OTC PINK:SIRC), an integrated, single-source solar power, roofing systems installation and EV charging company, today announced that it has signed a series of binding Letters of Intent (LOIs) as part of its planned acquisition of seven companies, adding an anticipated $78 million in incremental annual revenue.

Management plans to integrate the following seven firms into the SIRC family of companies:

Storm Ventures Group ("SVG"), a respected industry contractor consulting firm Standard Eco , a licensed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solar provider with a presence spanning five states and over 4,000 solar installations Eco Management , a licensed EPC solar provider with a presence spanning four states and over 2,000 solar installations BVI Solar , a California licensed roofer and solar contractor which has been party to over 1,000 solar installations - founded by an early pioneer of the solar roof concept, which later became the CertainTeed Apollo II Solar Shingle Bel Aire Construction and Development , an established property development firm to drive the development of green housing developments, driving notable synergies across the SIRC family of companies Music City Roofing , a very highly-rated roofer in Tennessee, with over 5,000 roofs replaced and over 3,400 roofs repaired since inception - while furthering a charitable mission centered on giving back to the local community Heartland Constructors , a licensed EPC and a premier west Texas solar provider which has served as a lucrative referral source for SIRC - referring a nationwide EV charging station contract spanning over 200 apartment complexes as well as several high-value solar projects

"This extremely exciting series of planned acquisitions represent a significant expansion of our business, growing our revenue by an expected $78 million annually," said David Massey, Chairman and CEO of Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. "These acquisitions are a testament to our focus on identifying exciting niche industries to leverage our vast network and generate additional revenue through synergies and cross-selling. Given our planned transition to a more traditional December 31st year-end, we don't anticipate these acquisitions will have any adverse effects on our plan to uplist to the OTCQX by mid-March, following a successful near-term uplist to OTCQB.

"These all-cash, no-dilution planned acquisitions are made possible through our strong relationship with Arbiter Bank, who has served as a valued financing source - enabling our mutual growth. We anticipate that these acquisitions, given the inherent synergies from being part of the SIRC family of companies, have the potential to pay for themselves within two years. I am incredibly proud of our team's ability to find attractively priced companies, efficiently integrate them into our corporate structure and drive sale and operating synergies firm wide. This has proven instrumental to our ability to create sustainable, long-term value for all stakeholders.

"We eagerly await our Discord Q&A session with shareholders this afternoon - interested investors can learn how to join by clicking here . I will be joined by special guest Darin Pastor from Arbiter Capital at 4:00pm Pacific time today. I look forward to continued operational execution in the coming year, striving to create a clear national leader in the solar power, EV charging and roofing sectors," concluded Massey.

Pablo Diaz, CEO of USA Solar Networks and President of Solar Integrated Roofing, added: "Reflecting on my experience as the CEO of a Company acquired by SIRC, I am thrilled to welcome these seven companies - each clear thought leaders in their respective fields - to the SIRC family of companies. Our revenue increased by several fold since joining SIRC, which was made possible through the countless synergies, deep resources, technology and incredible corporate infrastructure that SIRC has to offer. Looking back, joining SIRC was the best business decision I have made in my life. I look forward to working closely with each of the acquired companies to help them spread their wings and reach their full potential, creating value for our shareholders."

Closing of any potential acquisition is subject to final due diligence, negotiation and execution of a definitive purchase agreement and all necessary approvals. The seven aforementioned planned acquisitions are being purchased for an aggregate $21.6 million in cash proceeds, with no new shares issued and no dilution taking place.

About Solar Integrated Roofing Corp.

Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (OTC:SIRC), is an integrated, single-source solar power and roofing systems installation platform company specializing in commercial and residential properties throughout the United States. The Company serves communities by delivering the best experience through constant innovation & legacy-focused leadership. The Company's broad array of solutions include sales and installation of solar energy systems, battery backup and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to roofing, HVAC and related electrical contracting work. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.solarintegratedroofing.com or join us on Twitter , Facebook or Discord .

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements made in this press release which are not historical facts contain certain forward-looking statements; as such term is defined in the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the company as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation.

Investor Relations Contact:

Lucas A. Zimmerman

Director

MZ North America

Main: 949-259-4987

SIRC@mzgroup.us

www.mzgroup.us

SOURCE: Solar Integrated Roof Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684247/Solar-Integrated-Roofing-Corp-Announces-Seven-Planned-Acquisitions-Totaling-Over-78-Million-in-Projected-Annual-Revenue-Positioning-Company-for-Significant-Growth-in-2022
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. (CSE:YUM)(OTCQB:KOMOF)(FRA:9HB) ("Komo"), a premium plant-based food company, is pleased to announce that it is now available in the U.S. on RangeMe, the leading industry online platform that streamlines new product discovery between brands and retailers.

Komo is a verified brand on RangeMe and currently has its full line of frozen meals uploaded on the platform, making its products visible to thousands of retail stores in the U.S. and Canada. Through this platform, U.S. buyers are able to discover new products and brands. U.S. retail chains on the RangeMe platform include Walmart, Whole Foods, Safeway, 7-Eleven, Kroger, Lowe's Foods, Harris Teeter, Albertsons, AHold USA, Food Lion, Publix, Meijer and Wakefern, as well as thousands of local and boutique retailers. Through RangeMe, Komo will be able to submit its products for retailer category reviews throughout the year.

"After successfully establishing distribution across all key territories in Canada, Komo is now focused on expanding our retail distribution platform throughout the United States," says Komo CEO William White. "Listing on RangeMe is the first of many initiatives we are planning to make our U.S. launch a success. In addition to reaching potential retailers through traditional channels, we are utilizing RangeMe to reach buyers and submit our products for upcoming category reviews."

Komo has also completed its food packaging design for sale in retail stores in the United States and will be ready to be sold in U.S. retail stores next month, pending retail orders.

About RangeMe

RangeMe, an ECRM company, is the leading online platform that streamlines new product discovery between suppliers and retailers. The platform empowers retail buyers to efficiently discover innovative and emerging products, while streamlining the inbound product submission process. For product suppliers, RangeMe enables them to grow their retail relationships with a platform that gives them the tools to manage their products, market their brand, and build awareness. Now integrated into the ECRM product offering, RangeMe adds increased breadth and depth to the industry's most complete sourcing solution for top retailers and product suppliers in the U.S.

About Komo

Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. is a premium plant-based food company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based frozen meals that are always hearty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients. At Komo, our mission is to help make plant-based meals a staple on every dinner table by sharing our love for feel-good food that connects the people to the planet. We believe plant-based eating is the future and - Change can start with a single biteTM. Our experienced plant-based innovation and development team recreates vegan versions of traditionally cheesy and meaty classics, with 100% plants. Komo's products are sold direct-to-consumer through our eCommerce website and a distribution network of online and brick and mortar grocery, convenience and natural retailer channels. Our operating subsidiary Komo Comfort Foods launched in 2021 with our flagship products: plant-based Lasagna, Shepherd's Pie and Chickenless Pot Pie and has recently launched a new line - Komo Plant-Based Meal HelpersTM - versatile meal starters to allow the creation of many dishes at home. All of our products are 100% plant-based, made with wholesome ingredients, free from preservatives, and frozen for freshness. Freezing products is a natural and effective way of keeping food products for longer without having to use any preservatives. Komo's meals have a 1-year frozen shelf life. Komo also sells hot ready-to-eat meals in Metro Vancouver through Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes.

Learn more at: www.komocomfortfoods.com and follow on Instagram: @komocomfortfoods

For further information, please contact:

William White, President & CEO, Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

will@komoeats.com

1-866-969-0882

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Komo's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "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 Komo's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, Komo's product development plans, its ability to launch its products on food delivery apps, its ability to retain key personnel, its revenues, and its expectation as to the acceptance of its products by retailer stores and consumers constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Komo disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: KOMO Plant Based Foods Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684274/Komo-Plant-Based-Foods-Launches-US-Wholesale-through-RangeMe
eyeo, developer of best-in-class ad-filtering technology found in millions of browsers and products around the world, today announced that it has successfully defended and won a landmark court decision involving whether HTML can be subject to copyright enforcement.

Resolving this copyright case upholds the open standards mission of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and sets an important legal precedent and defines who 'owns' the HTML code underlying websites and how popular browser features and utilities can continue to operate lawfully on the public Internet.

This most recent court action also marks the 16th time that eyeo has prevailed against targeted lawsuits, and successfully defended the legal rights of internet users, code developers, publishers, and other participants to a fair and sustainable internet ecosystem for everyone to enjoy.

Facts of the 2021 Hamburg Copyright Case:

The 2021 copyright lawsuit was brought against eyeo by Axel Springer, a large conglomerate based in Germany, and it sought to dictate that the HTML language used to render a website page should be protected under copyright law -- effectively making it illegal for any technology or any consumer to alter a website page appearance. The copyright claim ignored the core principles and mission of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is the international community that manages open web standards.

This 2021 copyright lawsuit filed in Hamburg was a new challenge to a 2018 Federal Court case, also brought against eyeo by Axel Springer, which was also decided in favor of eyeo.

While the website HTML copyright protections sought by the plaintiff appear innocent on the surface, the technical ramifications are onerous and dangerous. In practice, most of the modern browser features that the Internet ecosystem enjoys today would have become instantly illegal, and copyright sanctions would have become enforceable: all privacy and anti-tracking technologies; all website language translation features; all accessibility utilities for blind and handicapped readers; all ad blockers; and all CSS modifications of any kind. The burden would have fallen upon code developers and ordinary users to seek explicit permission from a website publisher to grant an exception to run their browser features -- before visiting each and every website.

Rightfully, the Hamburg court rejected the copyright argument from the plaintiffs and once again decided in favor of eyeo.

Legal Precedent (Why It Matters):

Resolving this copyright case was an important legal precedent for defining who 'owns' Internet code and what rights the Internet community has to continue to develop new browser features and extensions that improve user experience.

The final 2021 Hamburg court decision, as successfully defended by eyeo, establishes that there is a limit to copyright after which the website author can no longer assert any right of retention. This limit boundary exists between the code provision level and the code execution level.

In a worst case scenario, had the copyright claim been declared legal and enforceable, any ordinary computer user who uses (even unknowingly) browser extensions or features that modify HTML would have been automatically deemed as infringing on copyright law and subjected to a cease-and-desist letter. More dangerous still, any developer who writes code for an offending browser feature could have been liable to pay damages for any lost revenues claimed by a website owner.

Expert Comments:

Quote from Kai Recke legal expert:

"This legal argument simply went too far. HTML is a widely adopted open standard that underpins most websites, and shifting the burden of permission to users and developers is clearly unreasonable. We are pleased that the Court agrees, and we feel honored and privileged to be able to take up this legal fight on behalf of the interests of all Internet participants everywhere," said Kai Recke, General Counsel for eyeo.

Quote from Julia Reda copyrights expert:

"This ruling sends an important signal that frivolous lawsuits will not be accepted. The court has correctly concluded that the copyright protection of software does not extend to the outputs of software. Just as copyright law does not entitle a book publisher to forbid readers from underlining sections of a book or writing in the margins, copyright law does not give digital publishers the power to tell users how to display a website," said Julia Reda, copyrights expert at Gesellschaft fur Freiheitsrechte (Society for Civil Rights) and former member of the European Parliament.

Quote from TIll Faida eyeo founder:

"People may not realize that many advertisers, publishers and ad-tech companies have partnered with us with a common goal of maintaining a fair and prosperous internet. But we have also defended and won sixteen legal decisions against those who want to corner the public Internet for their own private interests. We believe it is our duty as a 'net citizen to fight these legal battles on behalf of the interests of all Internet participants everywhere," said Till Faida founder CEO of eyeo.

About HTML Open Standards:

HTML is the standard markup language for anything meant to be displayed in a web browser. It was released to the world in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee as a free, open web standard for all to enjoy. Since 1996, the HTML specifications have been maintained by the international community of the W3C.

About eyeo

eyeo is dedicated to empowering a balanced and sustainable online value exchange for users, browsers, advertisers and publishers. By building, monetizing, and distributing ad-filtering technologies, we create solutions that allow all members of the online ecosystem to prosper. Our ad-filtering technology powers some of the largest ad blockers on the market, like Adblock Plus, Adblock and Adblock Browser, and is distributed through partnerships to millions of devices. We are constantly innovating to meet the expectations of the changing online world, with privacy solutions such as Crumbs, our white label browsers for distribution partners, and the Acceptable Ads Standard, which reaches over 225 million users.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005556/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Rich Mullikin, APR

Rocket Science PR

Tel: +1 415 464 8110 x216

Mobile: +1 925 354 7444

Email: rich@rocketscience.com
In 10 Months Since Acquisition, Environmental Risk Transfer Services Leader Has Successfully Executed Demolition of Power Plant and Sale of Property; Remediation of Existing Ash Ponds and Landfills Underway

Proven Environmental Risk Transfer Services Model Benefits Utility Partners, Shareholders, Local Communities and the Environment

LOUISVILLE, KY / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Charah Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:CHRA) (the "Company"), a leading provider of environmental services and byproduct sales to the power generation industry, today announced that it has completed the sale of nearly 80% of the real property acreage that the Company acquired through a subsidiary in February 2021 from the Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA) at the former Gibbons Creek Steam Electric Station and Reservoir in Grimes County, TX. A local investor group has purchased and closed on 4,860 acres of the 6,166 acre area, including the 3,500 acre reservoir, dam and spillway with the intent of future residential development. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Charah Solutions' proven Environmental Risk Transfer (ERT) services model has resulted in sale of the property in just 10 months since the site was acquired from TMPA. In October 2021, the Company completed the implosion of the retired coal-fired power plant as part of the shutdown and decommissioning process. Environmental remediation work for the existing ash ponds and landfills is underway and ahead of schedule and is expected to continue through 2023. A contract for the sale of the remaining 20% of the real property acreage, which includes the site's higher value commercial and infrastructure assets such as office buildings, gas line, warehouses, rail line and access to the power distribution switchyard, is expected to be announced in 2022, completing the full sale of the property.

As previously announced, Charah Solutions, through its subsidiary Gibbons Creek Environmental Redevelopment Group, LLC (GCERG), is remediating and repositioning the property in an environmentally conscious manner that expands economic activity and benefits the surrounding communities through job creation, promotion of industry, and support of the tax base, including the Grimes County Schools. GCERG has retained Avison Young to provide real estate advisory, development, and brokerage services to oversee the redevelopment and future sale of the remaining 20% of the Gibbons Creek property.

An industry leader in providing ERT services to the power generation industry, Charah Solutions has multiple ERT projects underway, including the former B.C. Cobb Generating Facility ERT project located in Muskegon, MI, which is on schedule to be completed in 2022, as well as the recently announced Avon Lake Generating Station ERT project in Avon Lake, OH.

Charah Solutions is dedicated to preserving natural resources in an environmentally conscious manner through environmental remediation and redevelopment projects such as the Gibbons Creek project. Sustainability is a Charah Solutions core value, and Charah Solutions focuses its business on developing innovative solutions to complex environmental issues for the betterment of the planet, the communities in which it operates, its customers and its investors. Charah Solutions' sustainability services reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease landfill disposal, remediate land for community and business use, conserve natural resources, and protect waterways. For more information regarding Charah Solutions' commitment to sustainable practices, download our 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report at charah.com/sustainability.

According to Scott Sewell, Charah Solutions President and CEO, "I am very pleased to achieve this important milestone at Gibbons Creek. In only 10 months, our team has successfully executed our Environmental Risk Transfer services to benefit not just our utility partners but our shareholders, local communities, and the environment. This proven strategy represents one of our most innovative solutions designed to meet the evolving and increasingly complex needs for utilities. Given the increased need to retire and decommission older or less economically viable generating assets over the next 20 years, we believe this service offering will continue to grow dramatically as we work with our utility partners to minimize costs and maximize the value of the assets and improve the environment. Through our custom approach for these complex projects, we provide not only the environmental remediation expertise needed to meet regulations but also the ability to redevelop the property in an environmentally responsible way while creating local jobs and lowering the cost for our utility partner. And as this sale represents, by matching the right potential buyers to the right assets, we plan to achieve the greatest possible outcome for the property and the surrounding communities."

About Charah Solutions, Inc.

With 30 years of experience, Charah Solutions, Inc. is a leading provider of environmental services and byproduct sales to the power generation industry. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Charah Solutions assists utilities and independent power producers with all aspects to sustainably manage and recycle ash byproducts generated from the combustion of coal in the production of electricity. Charah Solutions also designs and implements solutions for ash pond management and closure, landfill construction, fly ash sales, and structural fill projects. Charah Solutions is the partner of choice for solving customers' most complex environmental challenges, and as an industry leader in quality, safety, and compliance, Charah Solutions is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for a cleaner energy future. For more information, please visit www.charah.com or download our 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report at charah.com/sustainability.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Charah Solutions expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "may," "expect," "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "intend," "achievable," "anticipate," "will," "continue," "potential," "should," "could," and similar terms and phrases. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by Charah Solutions based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Charah Solutions, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. See Charah Solutions' Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and other periodic reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for further information regarding risk factors.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and Charah Solutions undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Investor Contact:

Roger Shannon

Charah Solutions

(502) 245-1353

ir@charah.com

Media Contact:

Tamara Davis

PriceWeber Marketing

(270) 202-8516

media@charah.com

SOURCE: Charah Solutions, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683762/Charah-Solutions-Completes-Sale-of-80-of-Real-Property-Acreage-at-Former-TMPA-Gibbons-Creek-Steam-Electric-Station-and-Reservoir
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. (OTCQB:SWLFF)(TSXV:SWLF) ("Silver Wolf" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the assay results from one hundred and fourteen (114) grab/chip samples collected during the on-going surface sampling program at the Ana Maria Property, located 21 kilometres (km) northwest of the City of Gomez Palacio and the adjacent City of Torreon. The property consists of 9 mining concessions encompassing a total of 2,549 hectares (ha) in the well-known Mexican silver belt, adjacent to claims owned by Penoles.

"We continue to execute on our exploration plan as we develop our understanding of the Ana Maria Property using the CRD model developed by Dr. Peter Megaw" said Peter Latta, President. "The results of these samples confirm the mineralized skarn structure previously identified in September. The high-grade channel samples, taken over a cross section of an underground level accessed from surface, provides an indication of the key geological features that host high grade mineralization in the El Sarnoso area. This gives us more confidence that the other areas of the large skarn structure could host similar mineralization providing the basis for a significant new discovery. In the southern claim, the extremely high-grade zinc and lead mineralization along with the high-grade silver values as well as the recently discovered historical workings indicate the potential for a carbonate replacement deposit. This aligns well with the hub and spoke theory created by the El Sarnoso intrusion. We will layer in data from the recently started geophysical survey to finalize our drill targets for later this year. Finally, we have submitted an application to more than double our land package in the area."

Ana Maria Exploration Work

The Ana Maria Central claim, know as the La Recompensa claim, is shown in Figures 1 with the location of samples that have assays of zinc grades greater than 1% from this set of sample results. These channel samples are listed with the assay results and corresponding widths in Table 1. The numbers listed in the figures correspond to the sample number in the full list available on our website and in the abbreviated table. Figure 2 shows the development of a skarn structure underground from a plan view, represented by the iron oxides (hematite, magnetite, jarosite) and weak veinlet of white calcite. Gold and zinc grades are shown from the channel sampling. The Ana Maria South claim, known as the El Soldado claim, is shown in Figure 3 with location of samples with lead or zinc grades greater than 1%. These grab samples are listed with the assays results in Table 2. The numbers listed in the figures correspond to the sample number in the full list available on our website and in the abbreviated table. Historic workings where recently discovered in the claim indicating historic small-scale mining.

Silver Wolf has been following a structured approach to exploration, as laid out in the NI 43-101 technical report as filed on SEDAR, which consists of field mapping, sampling, LIDAR and hyperspectral imaging. In addition, a geophysical survey, performed by Terraquest, using electromagnetic methods has started and is ongoing. With the completion of the geophysical survey in early Q1, the Silver Wolf team will interpret the data to finalize the drill targets planned for 2022.

Highlights from Ana Maria Central and Ana Maria South are indicated in the tables below. The complete list of the samples are available at this link.

Table 1: Significant highlights from Ana Maria Central

Sample Number Coordinate-X (WGS84) Coordinate-Y (WGS84) Width Meters Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % 544 633847 2839587 0.4 2.48 8 0.06 0.02 5.25 545 633847 2839588 0.3 3.29 1 0.02 0.01 3.18 546 633848 2839587 0.7 36.98 1 0.02 0.01 7.57 547 633848 2839586 0.9 5.83 1 0.01 0.01 6.33 548 633849 2839586 0.4 7.66 1 0.03 0.01 5.35 549 633848 2839589 0.3 0.88 11 0.05 0.07 2.37 552 633850 2839589 0.4 0.41 1 0.01 0.02 2.53 553 633851 2839589 0.5 2.06 8 0.05 0.05 4.50 554 633851 2839590 0.3 0.22 6 0.04 0.02 9.65 555 633851 2839588 0.8 0.83 6 0.07 0.04 3.80 562 633855 2839593 0.6 1.10 12 0.02 0.07 2.18 568 633856 2839588 0.6 2.24 9 0.05 0.06 11.90

Reported widths are not true widths and cannot be determined due to style and orientation of mineralization

Figure 1: Ana Maria Central Claim Showing Sample Numbers with Significant Results

Figure 2: Plan view of Underground Level Showing Geological structure and Channel Sample Lines

Table 2: Significant Grab Sample highlights from Ana Maria South

Sample Number Coordinate-X (WGS84) Coordinate-Y (WGS84) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % 600 635978 2828199 0.00 74 0.01 3.37 0.00 601 635959 2828204 0.00 120 0.02 11.60 0.00 602 635959 2828204 0.00 169 0.02 11.50 0.00 606 636053 2828185 0.00 150 0.02 5.96 0.00 626 636341 2828240 0.00 54 0.01 1.88 12.30 627 636342 2828239 0.00 56 0.01 1.61 21.30 628 636336 2828246 0.00 53 0.01 1.92 7.80 632 636350 2828205 0.00 40 0.02 1.17 16.60 644 636433 2828203 0.00 199 0.02 20.10 1.71 829 635910 2828234 0.00 247 0.02 7.33 0.00 830 635901 2828224 0.00 339 0.06 9.99 7.94 831 635920 2828244 0.01 319 0.03 8.33 5.76

Figure 3: Ana Maria Southern Claim showing Sample Numbers with Significant Results

Silver Wolf has updated the mineral contouring maps presented in the September 27, 2021 new release with the additional sampling data as shown in Figures 4 through 8. These maps show the intensity and extent of the respective element being mapped. The grade contours represent anomalies, that, when overlayed with anomalies generated in the upcoming geophysical surveys, will provide a basis for prioritizing drill targets.

Figure 4 - Gold Grade Contour Map for the Central Claim Area

Figure 5 - Zinc Grade Contour Map for the Central Claim Area

Figure 6 - Copper Grade Contour Map for the Central Claim Area

Figure 7 - Silver Grade Contour Map for the Southern Claim Area

Figure 8 - Lead Grade Contour Map for the Southern Claim Area

Figure 9 - Zinc Grade Contour Map for the Southern Claim Area

Corporate Update

Silver Wolf is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Trevitt to the position of Corporate Secretary in December 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Trevitt served as the Corporate Secretary and Vice President Corporate Affairs of Minco Silver Corporation and Minco Capital Corp. for 13 years. She is a Capilano College Certified Paralegal working in the Securities/Corporate finance industry for 23 years. In 2019, she obtained her Certificate in Mining Law and in November 2021 she completed the Fundamentals of U.S. Securities Law with Osgoode Hall Law School. She was also appointed Corporate Secretary of Avino Silver and Gold Mines Ltd. in December 2021.

The Company wishes to express its heartfelt thank you and appreciation to Dorothy Chin who has retired from the position of Corporate Secretary. Silver Wolf wishes her the very best for a happy retirement.

Sampling and Assay Methods

Grab samples are selective in nature, and do not necessarily reflect the general geology of the Ana Maria property. True widths cannot be determined with the channel sample information as presented. Samples were submitted to the SGS Laboratory facility in Durango, Mexico. Gold is assayed by fire assay with an AA finish. Multi-element analyses are completed using SGS ICP14B methods. Any copper, manganese or iron samples exceeding 10,000 ppm (1%) are assayed using SGS ICP90Q methods. SGS is an ISO9001 certified laboratory.

Qualified Person

Mr. Garth Kirkham P. Geo., Independent Consultant for Silver Wolf, is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

For further information please contact Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. at ph. (604) 682-3701 or visit our website at www.silverwolfexploration.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Peter Latta"

Peter Latta, P.Eng.

President

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on numerous assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

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.

SOURCE: Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684163/Silver-Wolf-Announces-37-gt-Gold-and-76-Zinc-Over-070-Meters-From-On-Going-Surface-Sampling-Program
BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (the "Company")(TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1)is pleased to announce the completion of its MPX Geophysics Ltd. ("MPX") airborne survey of the Melchett Lake Zn-Cu-Au-Ag volcanogenic massive sulphide project ("Melchett" or the "Property"). Melchett is an advanced precious and base metal property located in the Thunder Bay Mining District, northern Ontario, Canada (the "Property"). The Property lies 110 km north of Geraldton and 60 km north of Nakina.

"With the high-resolution digital data in hand from MPX, we are pleased to engage Todd Ballantyne and in3D Geoscience ("in3D") to carry out a comprehensive interpretation and compilation of the historical and current survey data concurrent with activation of our winter exploration program. Pending completion of ENDM permitting for ground activities and contractor scheduling, the camp construction and line-cutting is scheduled for February 2022 with the Quantec deep-penetrating SPARTAN MT survey booked to follow grid completion," said Greg Davison, Vice-President Exploration and Director of Silver Spruce. "To facilitate the geophysical data analysis, we have acquired the 2002 DighemV property-scale survey, 2007/2008 BHPEM drill hole surveys, and 2010 regional magnetic survey raw data files, supplemented by several other EM, IP and MAG surveys from Melchett area exploration programs over the past 40 years. A clearer understanding of the folding, sulphide-oxide zoning and potential displacements of the principal mineralized target horizons across the fault sets and dyke arrays is key to our interpretation prior to execution of the Relf Lake ground geophysical survey and planning of core drilling for Q3 2022."

The principal target area for the program has extensive soil and rock geochemical anomalies, known VMS style mineralization from surface to >500 metres depth, highly favorable alteration type and intensity, increasing Cu to Zn with depth, and deep Maxwell modelled plates off-hole from borehole EM surveys. The MPX survey data complements our project ArcGIS database with state of the art, high resolution magnetic, radiometric and VLF data over these promising targets and extends through several historical gold, silver and base metal showings and geochemical anomalies identified on the eastern and western claims covering >15km along strike.

The final airborne survey area (Figure 1) comprised a 1087.4 line-km grid along 994.2 line-kilometres of N-S flight lines with 100 metre nominal line spacing, and 93.2 line-km of E-W oriented tie lines with 1,000 metre nominal line spacing (Figure 2). The Property grid covers a total area of approximately 18 km E-W along the general strike of the VMS mineralization and 5km N-S with three 1 km steps to encompass the claim location. The Piper Navajo P31 aircraft flew daily from Thunder Bay 310 km SW of the Property.

Figure 1. Melchett Lake Claims on 2010 Regional Magnetic Survey showing location of MPX Geophysics airborne survey area. Inset map to left indicates property location northeast of Lake Nipigon, Ontario.

Figure 2. Melchett Lake Claims showing location of MPX Geophysics airborne survey (UTM WGS 84) using 100m N-S flight lines and 1000m E-W tie lines. Base map - World Imagery.

The survey collected magnetic, radiometric and VLF EM data supported by leading-edge positioning and processing equipment, both in the aircraft cabin and on the ground with the GEM Systems GSM-19 Base Station Magnetometer and a field data processing workstation.

Preliminary analysis of the MPX airborne survey confirmed and provided considerable detail over and above the 2002 and 2010 property scale and regional scale airborne surveys, respectively (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 3. MPX Geophysics airborne survey (TMI RTP) over Melchett Lake claim package. Inset area (white) identifies Relf Lake target location of Quantec Spartan MT survey scheduled in Q1 2022.

Figure 4. MPX Geophysics airborne survey (1VD) over Melchett Lake claim package.

Numerous NW-trending faults transected and offset the Melchett Lake metavolcanics, in some areas by hundreds of metres, with complementary NE-trending faults, typically with lesser amounts of apparent displacement. The movement is noted in dykes with several major orientation sets and range of magnetic character from strong positive to moderate negative relative to the metavolcanic package. Tracking of the metavolcanics from east to west indicates a potential imbricated displacement pattern moving further north going westward.

The western and parts of the eastern metavolcanics are characterized by strong magnetic and VLF/EM response attributed to the presence of pyrrhotite and other sulphides in chemical metasediments or other exhalite horizons peripheral to the Zn-Ag core of the alteration system. The core area has much less defined VLF/EM response though the magnetics suggest that several parallel east-west trending units are present though discontinuous and offset by branching faults.

The eastern area of the belt clearly indicates tight isoclinal folding with steeply dipping trends based on the symmetry of the magnetics in total field and vertical derivative maps, though the transition into the core of the metavolcanics loses clarity due to paucity of chemical metasediment, oxide iron formation and magnetic sulphide exhalite, and the confluence of several dykes.

Property Highlights

The Property covers 5,022 hectares (247 single cell mineral claims and two multi-cell mineral claims) with VMS and Au targets located in east to southeast-striking, subvertical to moderately north-dipping quartz-sericite schists. These units exhibit steep down-dip to southeast raking or plunging lineations. The metavolcanic contain occurrences of polymetallic Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag-Au mineralization analogous to deposits at Geco, Mattabi, and Winston Lake, among others.

Highlights of the prospective geology, alteration and mineralization include a strike extent of more than 20 km, multiple folded or stacked horizons of coincident alteration and metal mineralization, high Zn/Cu, Zn/Pb and Ag/Au ratios, increasing Cu/Zn at depth, extensive remobilization of major and trace elements with defined enrichment (Fe, Mg, Co, Cr, Cd) and depletion (Na, Sr, Ca) zones. Surface samples with abundant Fe-sphalerite occurred as locally high-grade lenses of Zn & Ag with variable Cu, Au and Pb, and historical gold grades to 28.8 g/t Au, silver grades to 560 g/t Ag and zinc grades to 19.1%.

The claims staked to the east and west of the core Relf and Nakina targets cover 11 kilometres of known mineralized horizons with high-potential VMS and Au targets located along sub-parallel isoclinal folds. These targets exhibit chargeable, weakly magnetic trends or coincident EM and magnetic responses related to variable oxide and sulphide content, including pyrrhotite and pyrite, with base metals and gold. Only limited and shallow historical diamond drilling was conducted.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the Melchett Lake Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About in3D Geoscience Inc.

in3D Geoscience Inc. provides geophysical consulting services. The company, founded in 2010, is led by Todd Ballantyne, P.Geo., Principal Geophysicist with thirty-four years of national and international work experience in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mali, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Mexico and Papua New Guinea among others. They process and analyze ground or airborne geophysical data and use 2D/3D modelling and visualization techniques to further interpretations. Unified data compilations consisting of geophysical data, geology and geochemical data are a key focus for working with their clients. The company, located in Gabriola, BC, Canada, services exploration projects world-wide.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, a drill-ready precious metal project, and up to 50% interest in each of Colibri's early stage Jackie Au and Diamante Au-Ag projects, with the three properties located from 5 kilometres to 15 kilometres northwest from Minera Alamos's Nicho deposit, respectively. The Company is acquiring 100% interest in the drill-ready and fully permitted Pino de Plata Ag project, located 15 kilometres west of Coeur Mining's Palmarejo Mine, in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire 100% interest in three exploration properties in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, located 15-40 kilometres from recent discoveries by Sokoman Minerals Corp. and New Found Gold Corp., central Newfoundland and Labrador. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director

(250) 521-0444

gdavison@silverspruceresources.com

Michael Kinley, CEO and Director

(902) 402-0388

mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com

www.silverspruceresources.com

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.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684294/Silver-Spruce-Completes-MPX-Airborne-Survey-Engages-in3D-Geoscience-For-Geophysical-Interpretation-Of-Melchett-Lake-VMS-Project-Ontario
1933 Industries Signs Binding Letter of Intent to Acquire Beverage Company Day One

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / 1933 Industries Inc. (the "Company" or "1933 Industries") (CSE:TGIF)(OTCQB:TGIFF), a Nevada-focused cannabis consumer packaged goods company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") to acquire 100% of all of the authorized and issued shares of Day One Beverages, Inc. ("Day One"), a disruptive beverage company with a portfolio of next-level CBD-infused sparking water products. 1933 Industries will acquire Day One in an all-stock arm's length transaction via the issuance of an aggregate of 55,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company. 45,200,000 shares will be issued at closing, and the balance of 9,800,000 shares will be issued subsequent to closing in quarterly installments. All shares issued under the transaction will be subject to a contractual one-year hold period, in addition to any resale restriction that may be required under applicable securities laws. In addition, the vendors will be eligible to receive up to a further 27,500,000 share purchase warrants of the Company, exercisable at a price of $0.0545 (USD) per share based on the achievement of certain gross revenue milestones over a period of 30 months following the closing of the transaction.

The closing of the transaction is anticipated on or around January 31st, 2022 and is subject to regulatory approval as well as other customary conditions of closing. The Company has also entered into a loan agreement to advance up to US$300,000 to Day One in anticipation of the successful closing of the transaction, upon which event any amounts loaned would be forgiven and the loan agreement retired. No persons are expected to become new 10% shareholders of the Company because of the transaction, but the vendors will be granted the right to nominate a director to the Company's Board upon closing.

With the goal of providing 'clarity in a can', Day One offers a modern take on sparking CBD drinks, bringing focus on natural and simple ingredients with a refreshing delicious taste that promotes health and wellness, a balanced mindset and post-exercise revitalization. With broad appeal and a familiar form factor that can deliver fast-acting effects, Day One operates out of Los Angeles, California, one of the largest and most competitive markets in the US. "Our brand promotes a positive message that resonates with a large consumer audience that understands and embraces the benefits of CBD and want a zero-calorie, unsweetened beverage, at the right price point and delivered in a way that connects with people", stated Mr. Chris Clifford, Founder and CEO of Day One Beverages.

Every can of Day One brings a guilt-free delicious drink with zero calories and no sugar. Packed with 20mg of broad spectrum, USA-sourced 100% legal CBD and real fruit juices, Day One's proprietary formulation was designed to bring a holistic approach to overall health and wellness. Day One sparking water is available in Lemon, Lime and Grapefruit. Products are non-GMO, gluten-free and free of preservatives.

Mr. Paul Rosen, Chairman and CEO of 1933 Industries stated, "The intended acquisition of Day One strategically positions the Company at the forefront of one of the fastest growing categories in the beverage space. CBD-infused beverages are part of the healthier for you movement targeted towards a health-conscious social consumer who wants a better alternative to high-sugar drinks. With strong distribution channels already in place and an innovative approach to marketing, we anticipate Day One to be a key revenue growth driver for the Company in the future. We are also very excited about the promising synergies between Day One's management team and distribution channels, and 1933's own Canna Hemp line of CBD wellness products".

According to Fortune Business Insights, North America is at the forefront of the cannabis-infused beverage sector, accounting for over US$500 million in 2020, with a CAGR of 54.31% forecasted for the period of 2021 to 2028.

About Day One Beverages

Day One offers clarity in a can, designed to get consumers ready for whatever they want to accomplish next. Each 12oz can includes 20mg of CBD, zero calories, 0% sugar and 100% natural fruit juice, to deliver a balanced and refreshing sparkling citrus drink for any occasion. Day One Lemon, Lime, and Grapefruit round out the brand's first flavors, with additional offerings planned in 2022. CBD is non-intoxicating and became federally legal pursuant to the 2018 Farm Bill. CBD is a hemp-based extract adaptogen with several potential health benefits. Day One tests its products rigorously and test results are transparently displayed at DrinkDayOne.com/Pages/Test-Results. Try Day One's lemon, lime, or grapefruit CBD sparking waters-- clarity, calm, and ideal hydration for your next drink.

DrinkDayOne.com

About 1933 Industries Inc.

1933 Industries is a Nevada-based, growth-orientated company, focusing on the cultivation and manufacturing of a large portfolio of cannabis consumer-packaged goods in a variety of formats for both the wholesale and retail markets. Its product offerings include: THC flower, pre-rolls, and extracted products under the AMA and Level X brands for the Nevada market; Canna Hemp, national cannabidiol (CBD) brand of infused wellness products including CBD tinctures, gummies, topicals and sport recovery products. Day One is the Company's national CBD-infused beverage brand. The Company owns 91% of Alternative Medicine Association, LC (AMA), 100% of Infused MFG LLC (Infused), and subject to the closing of the proposed transaction, 100% of Day One Beverages Inc.

www.1933industries.com

For further information please contact:

Alexia Helgason, VP, IR and Corporate Communications

C: 604-728-4407

E: alexia@1933industries.com

Paul Rosen, CEO

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. 1933 Industries undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: 1933 Industries Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684271/1933-Industries-Signs-Binding-Letter-of-Intentto-Acquire-Beverage-Company-Day-One
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Monterey Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "Monterey") (CSE:MREY)(FSE:2DK) is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent (the "LOI") to purchase a uranium exploration land package consisting of seven properties from a group of private prospectors in Namibia (the "Vendors").

Monterey will acquire an 85% interest in seven prospecting licenses (the "Estate Uranium Properties") totalling 93,514 hectares located in the Erongo Province, Namibia. A number of the properties are proximal to significant Namibian uranium assets such as the Husab Mine, the Rossing Mine, the Langer Heinrich Mine as well as the Etango and Marencia deposits. One of the Estate Uranium Properties, consisting of 4,690 hectares, is located between Forsys Metal Corp.'s (FSY) Valencia and Namibplaas uranium deposits, known as the Norasa Project.

"We are excited to complete due diligence and move this proposed transaction forward given the proximity to a number of well-known uranium projects in the world's 4th ranked uranium producing country. As is custom in Namibia, we welcome the opportunity to explore with our 15% Namibian partners," commented newly appointed President and CEO, Jason Bagg.

As outlined in the LOI, Monterey will pay US$175,000 cash and 8,000,000 common shares of the Company as consideration to the Vendors for the acquisition of the Estate Uranium Properties.

Qualified Person

Bruce Durham, P.Geo, is a Qualified Person, as that term is defined by Canadian regulatory guidelines under NI 43-101, and has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release.

On behalf of the Board,

Jason Bagg, President & CEO, Director

About Monterey Minerals Inc.

The Company owns the Cobalt Mountain poly-metallic project near the town of Smithers in British Columbia. The Company also has an option to purchase a 100% interest in 35 mineral claims in Ontario.

For more information, please contact investor relations at info@montereyminerals.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Monterey Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684234/Monterey-Minerals-Announces-Transformative-Letter-of-Intent-to-Acquire-Seven-Namibian-Uranium-Prospecting-Licenses
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Vox Royalty Corp. (TSXV:VOX)(OTCQX:VOXCF) ("Vox" or the "Company"), a high growth precious metals focused royalty company, is pleased to announce that it has executed a binding agreement with a private South African registered company, to acquire two platinum group metals ("PGM") royalties for total consideration of up to C$10,400,000.

Pursuant to the terms of the purchase and sale agreement, Vox will issue C$1,500,000 of Vox common shares (the "Vox Shares") upon closing and make additional cash payments or issue additional Vox Shares (at Vox's sole election) upon achievement of certain production milestones (the "Transaction"). Closing of the Transaction remains conditional upon customary approval by the TSX Venture Exchange for the issue.

The royalties include a 1.0% gross receipts royalty over the Dwaalkop Project ("Dwaalkop") and a 0.704% gross receipts royalty over the Messina Project ("Messina", and together with Dwaalkop, the "Royalties"), which collectively cover the full extent of the Limpopo PGM Project ("Limpopo"), operated by Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. ("Sibanye") (JSE: SSW / NYSE: SBSW). Limpopo was last mined in 2009 via the existing Baobab shaft and concentrator ("Baobab Operation"), which are both in place and subject to ongoing re-opening feasibility studies by Sibanye.

Transaction Highlights(1)(2)(4)

Provides exposure to a substantial 18 million ounce 4E (platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold) Measured and Indicated PGM resource and a further 18 million ounce 4E Inferred PGM resource over past-producing mine on prolific Bushveld Igneous Complex (" BIC ");

"); Full surface and underground infrastructure in place at the Baobab Operation, including a vertical shaft to 450m depth and a 90,000tpm concentrator which is currently on short-term lease to Anglo American Platinum;

Detailed feasibility study completed by Sibanye in 2017 and in 2020 the feasibility study was reviewed and a conceptual level re-opening study for the Baobab Operation was completed, which demonstrated the financial viability of the project;

High-quality operating partner in Sibanye (current market capitalization US$10 billion), who currently manages 5 PGM and 5 gold operations in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as 2 PGM operations in Montana;

Significantly increases Vox's exposure to 'battery metals' such as rhodium, copper and nickel contained within the resource - in 2007, Lonmin plc produced 73,600 ounces of PGMs, along with 752MT of nickel and 513MT of copper, at the Limpopo Project; and

Near-term development potential with existing infrastructure in place and categorised in Sibanye's South Africa 2 - 5 year project development pipeline.

Riaan Esterhuizen, Executive Vice President of Australia stated: "We are very excited to be adding exposure to a fully constructed world-class 18 million ounce PGM resource with near-term restart potential from a US$10B operator. With mine infrastructure already in place, feasibility studies underway and a financially strong operating partner in Sibanye-Stillwater, we see tremendous upside for these assets. Based on the existing resource alone and not considering the upside from the fact that the resource is open at depth, we see this asset as holding potential to become a high-tonnage, multi-decade operation."

Kyle Floyd, Chief Executive Officer stated: "Vox continues to successfully execute its strategy of finding world-class royalties on de-risked operations with meaningful near-term catalysts. This is an extraordinary acquisition that we expect will provide significant value to Vox shareholders for decades to come."

Figure 1: Baobab Mining Area and surrounding royalty-linked royalty properties

(Source: https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/business/reserves-and-resources/)

Asset Overview - Limpopo Project(1)(2)(4)

The Limpopo Project is located on the northern sector of the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex ("BIC") in the Limpopo Province, approximately 250km northeast of Johannesburg and 50km south of Polokwane (Figure 1). The larger project area consists of three contiguous mineral title areas, Voorspoed, Dwaalkop and Doornvlei (all royalty-linked), which are centered around the Baobab Operation on the Voorspoed mining right. The Royalties cover the full project area, with the 0.704% gross receipts Messina royalty applicable over the Voorspoed and Doornvlei properties and the 1.0% gross receipts Dwaalkop royalty applicable over the Dwaalkop property.

The Baobab Operation currently has full surface and underground infrastructure to support a designed mining rate of 90,000tpm, including a vertical shaft to 450m depth as well as 90,000tpm haulage capacity. Furthermore, the Baobab Operation has a fully operational 90,000tpm concentrator which is currently being leased to Anglo American Platinum, preserving optionality for a potential Sibanye re-opening of the Baobab Operation.

The Baobab Operation was a producing operation between 2002(3) and 2009 and reached a maximum extraction rate of 75,000tpm. The mine was placed on care and maintenance in 2009. The mining method applied during this period was conventional down-dip stoping, conventional apparent dip raise, long-hole stoping and mechanised, long-hole stoping.

The recent focus has been on comprehensive studies to deliver an integrated development strategy for Limpopo, which includes not only the Baobab mine but instead incorporates all three properties. A detailed feasibility study was completed by DRA Global Limited in 2017, which proposed a phased approach, starting with the re-opening of the Baobab Operation and then incorporating production from the Dwaalkop and Voorspoed areas via a series of decline portals. Sibanye completed a feasibility study in 2020 and completed a conceptual re-opening study for the Baobab mine, based on a mechanised long-hole stoping methodology. The steep-dipping nature of the Merensky and UG2 Reefs are considered amenable to further mechanisation which fits well with Sibanye's started strategic goals.

Figure 2: Limpopo Project - Key Developments and Intentions from 2020 Feasibility Review

(Source: https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/business/reserves-and-resources/)

Limpopo Resource Estimate as at 31 December 2020(1)(4)

Sibanye holds an attributable interest of 95.3% in the Baobab (Voorspoed) and Doornvlei properties and 45.3% in the Dwaalkop property (a joint venture with Northam Platinum Limited ("Northam")). Northam holds a 50% interest in the Dwaalkop property with minority partners holding the remaining 4.7% interest in each of the properties. The Voorspoed and Doornvlei mining rights were granted on 26 February 2014 and are valid to 25 February 2044, whilst the Dwaalkop mining right was granted in Q3 2021 with final execution of the grant in progress.

Resources outlined in Table 1 reflect the attributable ounces reported by Sibanye and Northam, whilst the resources attributable to minority shareholders was calculated by Vox using the Sibanye resource numbers. Accounting for the 4.7% interest held by minorities and grossing up the resource to a 100% attributable basis, delivers a total resource of approximately 36.4 million 4E PGM ounces on an aggregated Measured, Indicated and Inferred basis.

Table 1: Limpopo 4E PGM Mineral Resource estimate as at 31 December 2020 attributable to royalty

(Source: https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/business/reserves-and-resources/ & https://www.northam.co.za/)

For more information on the Limpopo Project, please visit the Sibanye website at https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/ as well as the Northam website at https://www.northam.co.za/.

Transaction Closing

Closing of the Transaction is expected to occur in Q1 2022. Closing of the Transaction will occur following satisfaction of customary conditions.

Qualified Person

Timothy J. Strong, MIMMM, of Kangari Consulting LLC and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press release.

About Vox

Vox is a high growth precious metals royalty and streaming company with a portfolio of over 50 royalties and streams spanning eight jurisdictions. The Company was established in 2014 and has since built unique intellectual property, a technically focused transactional team and a global sourcing network which has allowed Vox to become the fastest growing company in the royalty sector. Since the beginning of 2019, Vox has announced over 20 separate transactions to acquire over 45 royalties.

Further information on Vox can be found at www.voxroyalty.com.

For further information contact:

Riaan Esterhuizen

Executive Vice President, Australia

riaan@voxroyalty.com Kyle Floyd

Chief Executive Officer

info@voxroyalty.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the royalties and projects related thereto (including expectations for production from the underlying projects and estimates of project success) and the ability of Vox to continue to complete the acquisition. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Vox. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Vox's actual results, performance or achievements or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statement prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Vox cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

Vox has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Vox as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While Vox may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Technical and Third-Party Information

Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this press release is based on information publicly disclosed by project operators based on the information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof and none of this information has been independently verified by Vox. Specifically, as a royalty investor, Vox has limited, if any, access to the royalty operations. Although Vox does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such information from the project operators is complete or accurate. Some information publicly reported by the project operators may relate to a larger property than the area covered by Vox's royalty interests. Vox's royalty interests often cover less than 100% and sometimes only a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and production of a property.

Technical References & Notes:

Asset Overview - https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/business/reserves-and-resources/. The mineral resource estimate is dated 31 December 2020 and published under consent of Lead Competent Person Andrew Brown, Vice President: Mine Technical Services; a Competent Person under the rules and requirements of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) and an employee of Sibanye. Resources are reported in compliance with the South African Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC) and the South African Code for the Reporting of Mineral Asset Valuation (SAMVAL) (2016 Editions). Sibanye-Stillwater: SA PGM operations - Investor day (session 3), 23 September 2021 - https://thevault.exchange/?get_group_doc=245/1633518765-ssw-investor-days-session-3-SA-PGM-operations-23sep2021.pdf Lonmin Platinum Limpopo Division - Baobab TSF - Investor Information. https://thevault.exchange/?get_group_doc=245/1561379071-lonmin-platinum-limpopo-division-baobab-TSF-07062019.pdf Northam Platinum Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves statement as at 30 June 2021-https://www.northam.co.za/. The mineral resource estimate is dated 30 June 2021 and published under consent of Lead Competent Person Andrew Brown, Vice President: Mine Technical Services; a Competent Person under the rules and requirements of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) and an employee of Sibanye. Resources are reported in compliance with the South African Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC) and the South African Code for the Reporting of Mineral Asset Valuation (SAMVAL) (2016 Editions).

SOURCE: Vox Royalty Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683799/Vox-to-Acquire-Royalties-on-Sibanye-Stillwater-18-Million-Ounce-Limpopo-PGM-Project
Sustained focus executing on investment pipeline, revenue and U.S. listing strategy

Carbon Streaming Corporation (NEO: NETZ) (OTCQB: OFSTF) (FSE: M2Q) ("Carbon Streaming" or the "Company") is pleased to provide its 2022 strategic objectives, including acquiring additional carbon credit stream and royalty investments, revenue from the sale of carbon credits, and executing on its U.S. listing strategy. Values in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

Reflecting on the first calendar year of formal operations and the Company's outlook for 2022, Justin Cochrane, CEO stated: "If last year was about laying the foundations for success raising significant capital, listing on the NEO Exchange, announcing our first three flagship carbon streaming investments and expanding our investment and management team 2022 is the year in which we accelerate the growth of our business."

Mr. Cochrane continued, "Growth was slower than expected in 2021 because of due diligence delays related to Covid and changes to carbon baseline methodologies for specific pipeline opportunities. Moving into 2022, we anticipate the delivery of approximately 7.0 million carbon credits from our existing stream investments, announcing new carbon project investments around the globe and deepening relationships with our growing community of carbon project developers. We will continue to invest in building the best team in the carbon markets industry and progressing our plans for a proposed U.S. Listing."

2022 Strategic Plans and Guidance

Carbon Streaming expects to receive the first annual delivery of carbon credits from its streaming investments in Rimba Raya and Cerrado Biome.

Low End High End 2022E Carbon Credit Volumes (1) Credits 6,400,000 7,400,000 2022E Attributable Carbon Credit Volumes (2) Credits 5,000,000 5,600,000 2022E Delivery Payment (3) Sale Price 75% 85%

(1) Carbon Credit volumes are estimated based on forecasts provided by project developers and historical credit generation by the project. Actual results may vary. For the Rimba Raya project, volumes reflect receiving 2 annual verification cycles of credits; for the Cerrado Biome project, volumes reflect receiving 4 annual verification cycles of credits.

(2) Attributable volumes are composed of credits attributable to the Company, which is calculated based on the carbon credits estimated to be verified by the registry, less (i) credits committed to previous buyers and (ii) credits that are subject to stream participation rights.

(3) Delivery payment to project developers is subject to fluctuation based on the net realized price obtained on the sale of carbon credits and the terms of the carbon credit stream agreement.

Focus on acquiring additional stream and royalty investments to grow its portfolio. The Company has a pipeline of potential opportunities of $200 million near term (defined by management as less than 12 months), out of a total pipeline of $700 million, with plans to invest in new carbon projects as the Company focuses on growing and diversifying its high-quality portfolio of carbon credit streams and investments.

The Company continues to advance its U.S. listing strategy, with a potential listing on a major U.S. stock exchange, targeted within the first half of this new year.

Brand Refresh and New Logo

The Company is pleased to reveal a new Company logo and associated website. The new logo retains its signature tree and stream, in the emblematic colors of the planet Earth, with the "O" in CARBON being the slashed or communications zero a nod to the Company's vision of accelerating the transition to a net-zero carbon future.

About Carbon Streaming

Carbon Streaming is a unique ESG principled company offering investors exposure to carbon credits, a key instrument used by both governments and corporations to achieve their carbon neutral and net-zero climate goals. Our business model is focused on acquiring, managing and growing a high-quality and diversified portfolio of investments in projects and/or companies that generate or are actively involved, directly or indirectly, with voluntary and/or compliance carbon credits.

The Company invests capital through carbon credit streaming arrangements with project developers and owners to accelerate the creation of carbon offset projects by bringing capital to projects that might not otherwise be developed. Many of these projects will have significant social and economic co-benefits in addition to their carbon reduction or removal potential.

To receive corporate updates via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, 'forward-looking information') within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements and figures with respect to the timing and estimation of future carbon credit generation from the Company's existing investments; revenue from the sales of carbon credits; the ability to acquire additional investments; the estimated values associated with such additional investments; timing and ability to achieve a U.S. listing; and statements regarding the Company's financial future) are forward-looking information.

There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to enter into definitive agreements for, or otherwise complete the acquisition of, all or any of the potential carbon streaming opportunities referenced above. The opportunity pipeline represents an estimate prepared by management based on current potential investment opportunities and the estimated values of such opportunities, which remain under various states of non-binding proposal, negotiation and/or evaluation by the Company.

This forward-looking information is based on the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information is 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 information, 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. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: general economic, market and business conditions and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of September 27, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005469/en/

Contacts:

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY:

Justin Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 647.846.7765

info@carbonstreaming.com

www.carbonstreaming.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Inomin Mines Inc. (TSXV: MINE) ("Inomin", "MINE" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gustavo Allende Igarashi as Head of Corporate Development - Mexico for the Company's operations in Mexico.





Inomin Mines appoints Gustavo Allende Igarashi head of corporate development - Mexico

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3069/110516_65e2843d946d4a98_001full.jpg





Gustavo Allende is a metallurgist and industrial engineer with 35 years of mining management experience in Mexico's public and private sectors. Mr. Allende recently served (2017 - 2021) as Director of Industry and Mining for the State of Oaxaca, Mexico where he headed investment programs, development activities, and Government affairs for the State's industry and mining sectors.

In the private sector Mr. Allende was Superintendent at Gold Resource's flagship El Aguila polymetallic (gold-silver-copper-lead-zinc) project in Oaxaca. At El Aguila he was a key member that developed the project into a successful mining operation.

Mr. Allende will spearhead project acquisition opportunities in Mexico for Inomin, as well as be involved with community relations.

John Gomez, President & CEO of Inomin Mines, says, "I'm delighted to have Gustavo join our team; this is a strong endorsement of our projects, people, and growth plans in Mexico. Given his leading positions in Mexico's mining industry, Gustavo will increase our opportunities in the country and be a tremendous asset for Inomin."

MINE also welcomes Mr. Anil Jiwani, CPA, CA, as Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Company. Anil Jiwani has more than 15 years' of financial reporting experience with publicly listed companies. He is Chief Operating Officer of Avisar Everyday Solutions Ltd., a company that provides a wide range of financial services to growing businesses. Effective January 31, 2022, Mr. Jiwani will replace Inomin CFO and Director George Pietrobon who is leaving due to the demands of his business. The Company is grateful to George for his services and contributions, and wishes him the best in his future endeavours.

About Inomin Mines

Inomin Mines is focused on the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties with strong potential to host significant resources, especially gold, silver and nickel projects. Inomin holds the La Gitana and Pena Blanca gold-silver properties in Mexico. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Beaver-Lynx sulphide nickel project in south-central British Columbia, and the Fleetwood zinc-copper-gold-silver VMS project in south-west British Columbia. Inomin also holds a royalty on the King's Point gold-copper-zinc project in Newfoundland owned by Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE). Inomin trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MINE. For more information visit www.inominmines.com and follow us on Twitter @InominMines.

On behalf of the board of Inomin Mines:

Inomin Mines Inc.

Per: "John Gomez"

President and CEO

For more information please contact:

John Gomez

Tel. 604.566.8703

info@inominmines.com

Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither 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/110516


SAN FRANCISCO (dpa-AFX) - Amazon has dropped its earlier plan to stop accepting credit cards issued by Visa Inc. in the United Kingdom. The e-commerce giant said it is working on a potential solution with the payments processor to resolve a dispute over the payment fees.



In an email to customers, the company reportedly said, 'The expected change regarding the use of Visa credit cards on Amazon.co.uk will no longer take place on January 19. We are working closely with Visa on a potential solution that will enable customers to continue using their Visa credit cards on Amazon.co.uk.'



In November last year, the world's largest online retailer had stated that it would stop accepting Visa credit cards issued in the UK from January 19, 2022 due to the high fees Visa charges for processing credit card transactions. The company then revealed that Amazon.co.uk will continue accepting Visa debit cards, and any Visa credit card issued outside of the UK.



Amazon, which already has a partnership with Mastercard and American Express in the U.K., then had urged customers to find new payment methods instead of Visa credit cards.



Following Brexit, an EU-enforced cap on fees charged by card issuers is no longer in place in the country. Visa recently hiked the interchange fees on purchases using the Visa credit cards issued in the U.K. to 1.5 percent from the previous fees of 0.3 percent.



In the past few months, Amazon has begun to impose a surcharge on the use of a Visa credit card for purchases on their websites in Singapore and Australia in order to overcome the high fees charged by Visa.







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Cresco Labs (CSE:CL) (OTCQX:CRLBF) ("Cresco Labs" or "the Company"), a vertically integrated multistate operator and the number one U.S. wholesaler of branded cannabis products, is expanding its Sunnyside brand in Pennsylvania with a new store located at 28 W Skippack Pike in Ambler. This location becomes the Company's 10th store in Pennsylvania and 47th dispensary nationwide.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005232/en/

Cresco Labs' new Ambler dispensary marks its 10th Pennsylvania location and 47th store nationwide. (Photo: Business Wire)

"We are thrilled to be opening our 10th store in Pennsylvania, a continuation of our strategy of going deeper in our footprint and tailoring to individual state dynamics," said Charlie Bachtell, Cresco Labs' CEO Co-founder. "With our CPG and wholesale focus, we've been able to take the top market share in Pennsylvania according to Headset. Adding additional fully-owned retail will support our brand building and provide more access to Cresco Labs' amazing products for patients across Pennsylvania."

Located in the borough of Ambler north of Philadelphia, the dispensary is a few miles away from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a superhighway transporting thousands of people daily east-west across the state. Sunnyside Ambler resides in an area home to large facilities operated by major pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson Johnson, Merck and Janssen.

The dispensary will be open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Patients can place online orders, browsing live inventory, on www.Sunnyside.shop and pick up orders in-store the same day. Store phone is 267-405-2622.

For more information about Sunnyside, visit www.sunnyside.shop.

About Cresco Labs Inc.

Cresco Labs is one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis operators in the United States, with a mission to normalize and professionalize the cannabis industry. Employing a consumer-packaged goods ("CPG") approach, Cresco Labs is the largest wholesaler of branded cannabis products in the U.S. Its brands are designed to meet the needs of all consumer segments and comprised of some of the most recognized and trusted national brands including Cresco, High Supply, Mindy's Edibles, Good News, Remedi, Wonder Wellness Co. and FloraCal Farms. Sunnyside, Cresco Labs' national dispensary brand, is a wellness-focused retailer created to build trust, education and convenience for both existing and new cannabis consumers. Recognizing that the cannabis industry is poised to become one of the leading job creators in the country, Cresco Labs operates the industry's largest Social Equity and Educational Development initiative, SEED, which was established to ensure that all members of society have the skills, knowledge and opportunity to work and own businesses in the cannabis industry. Learn more about Cresco Labs at www.crescolabs.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'could,' 'would,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'predicts,' 'potential' or 'continue' or the negative of those forms or other comparable terms. The Company's forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed on March 26, 2021, and other documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Because of these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. No assurances are given as to the future trading price or trading volumes of Cresco Labs' shares, nor as to the Company's financial performance in future financial periods. The Company does not intend to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the Company's forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, any future event or otherwise. Except as otherwise indicated, this press release speaks as of the date hereof. The distribution of this press release does not imply that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company after the date hereof or create any duty or commitment to update or supplement any information provided in this press release or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005232/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Jason Erkes, Cresco Labs

Chief Communications Officer

press@crescolabs.com

Investors:

investors@crescolabs.com

For general Cresco Labs inquiries:

312-929-0993

info@crescolabs.com
RAIPUR, India, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Thermoset Molding Compound Market by End-Use Industry Type (Transportation, Construction, Consumer Goods, Electrical & Electronics, and Others), by Compound Type (SMC and BMC), by Fiber Type (Glass Composites and Other Composites), by Resin Type (Polyester Composites and Other Composites), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2021-2026.

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's thermoset molding compound market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate growth strategies.

Thermoset Molding Compound Market: Highlights

Thermoset molding compounds include sheet molding compound (SMC) and bulk molding compound (BMC). BMCs are more preferred in developing small-sized complex parts, mainly through the injection molding process, whereas SMCs are more preferred in large-sized parts that are less complex in nature. Both, SMCs and BMCs are largely reinforced with glass fibers. However, in some cases, carbon fibers are also opted for based on the requirement of strength and ability to go with the greater cost.

The outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted the growth trajectory of the thermoset molding compound market. The crisis led to countries imposing lockdowns, restricting the international movement of non-essential goods and resources, ultimately putting a brake on the manufacturing activities of various industries that create gargantuan demand for thermoset molding compounds. The transportation industry is the major demand generator for these materials; hence, any movement in the production of automobiles has a similar reflection on the demand for thermoset compounds.

Although some manufacturers have had to temporarily shut down some of their operations, others have been able to continue as normal. The gradual reopening of manufacturing facilities with stringent cleaning and safety practices, paired with collective efforts of OEMs and other sectoral stakeholders towards mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19, is signaling towards healthy and quick recuperation, helping the market to grow at an expected CAGR of 4.9% during 2021-2026 to reach US$ 4.6 billion in 2026.

Click Here to Run Through the Detailed TOC: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/2495/thermoset-molding-compound-market.html

Based on the end-use industry type, transportation is expected to remain the biggest demand generator for thermoset compounds in terms of both value and volume during the forecast period. The industry type is also the biggest demand generator for thermoplastic compounds (SFT, LFT, and GMT). Class-A panels are preferably manufactured through thermoset compounds across the world. Also, different end-use industry is dominated by thermoset compound type. For instance, transportation is the key market for SMCs whereas electrical & electronics is for BMCs.

Based on the fiber type, glass fiber remains the choice of material for making SMCs and BMCs. The fiber type dominates across regions largely due to its excellent strength paired with its low cost. Carbon fiber, a relatively insignificant material in this market, is subjected to grow at an excellent rate in the coming years, mainly gaining traction in electric and premium vehicles.

Click Here and Ask for a Free Sample of the Exhaustive Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/2495/thermoset-molding-compound-market.htmlform

In terms of regions, Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest market over the next five years. This can largely be attributed to the rapid expansion of the transportation, E&E, and construction industries in the region. The growth in Asia-Pacific is primarily led by China, where the price of raw materials is relatively low. Despite the tough market environments amid the pandemic, the Chinese market recovered well from the 2nd half of 2020 and registered overall growth during that year.

North America and Europe are also large markets in terms of demand generated for SMCs and BMCs. Both regions witnessed a huge decline in the year 2020 amid the pandemic and have already started rebounding from 2021 onwards. There is a relatively high penetration of SMCs and BMCs over other materials in the vehicles in both regions compared with Asia-Pacific.

The supply chain of this market comprises several nodes including raw material suppliers, SMC and BMC manufacturers, tier players, OEMs, and end users. Following are the key players in the thermoset molding compound market:

Continental Structural Plastics (Teijin Group)

The Polytec Group

Core Molding Technologies, Inc

IDI Composites International

Polynt S.P.A.

Premix Inc.

Lorenz-Kunststofftechnik GmbH

Menzolit GmbH

Huayuan Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (HAMC)

Changzhou City Jiangshi Composite Technology Co. Ltd.

The market stakeholders are hammering hard, aiming towards developing application-oriented products for industry-specific demands. For example, products that offer exceptional flame and track resistance, electrical insulation, corrosion and stain resistance are being developed.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.

This report studies the global thermoset molding compound market and has segmented the market in five ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the five ways in which the market is segmented:

Thermoset Molding Compound Market, by End-Use Industry Type

Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Construction (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Consumer Goods (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Electrical & Electronics (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Thermoset Molding Compound Market, by Compound Type

Sheet Molding Compounds (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Bulk Molding Compounds (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Thermoset Molding Compound Market, by Reinforcement Type

Glass Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Other Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Thermoset Molding Compound Market, by Resin Type

Polyester Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Other Composites (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Thermoset Molding Compound Market, by Region

North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , Mexico )

Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , the UK, Russia , and Rest of Europe )

Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , Japan , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil , Saudi Arabia , and Others)

Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the advanced materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/composites.html

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

Stratview Research has launched 'Composights', an online portal which offers free thought leadership reports, whitepapers, market report synopsis and much more for Composites and allied industries, worth US$ 20,000 every year.

Click here to sign up (No costs involved): https://www.stratviewresearch.com/composights/sign-in

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- The acquisition is expected to speed up the process of obtaining a banking license, triple its credit portfolio and reduce costs of funding in Europe.

- Dr. Gal Aviv, CEO of Blender Financial Technologies Group: "This acquisition is a new milestone to fulfill our vision to become a market leader in digital banking in Europe"

TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blender Financial Technologies (TASE: BLND) announced the acquisition of a Lithuanian credit union which has approval in principle to convert from a credit union to a bank and is in advanced stage of obtaining a specialized banking license. The acquired corporation specializes in real estate-backed credit with a total secured loan portfolio of NIS 112 million, manages deposits reaching NIS 124 million and has Equity of around NIS 9 million. Blender will purchase approximately 77% of the credit union shares, held by the seller through a wholly owned company, at a price of around NIS 18 million.

This acquisition is subject to the completion of a satisfactory full due diligence and the conversion of the credit union license into a specialized bank - conditions precedent to the transaction.

The goal of this acquisition is to promote Blender to be a pan-European digital bank that specializes in mortgages, real estate-backed credit and secured consumer credit. In addition, the acquisition is expected to speed up the process of obtaining a banking license, triple Blender's credit portfolio and reduce its costs of funding in Europe.

This is another significant milestone in Blender's expansion since its IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in January 2021, following its operations' expansion in Europe in the past year. Last September, the company also announced the signing of an agreement with Bank Hapoalim, under which a joint company will be established to provide digital consumer credit to finance purchases at points of sale and on e-commerce websites. With its cutting-edge product BlenderPay, Blender leads the field of BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later), field which is experiencing an accelerated growth in the world, and also in Israel.

The acquired company was established as a credit union in 2012, providing financial services in secured credit and deposits. The credit union manages deposits of around NIS 124 million paying average annual deposit rate of 2.2% and run a secured credit portfolio of NIS 112 million with a focus on mortgages, secured loans for businesses and secured credit for real estate developers.

Lithuania has a high potential in credit in general and in real estate-backed credit in particular. In the first half of 2021, Lithuania's economy and real estate continued to experience a strong growth with an emphasis on new housing sales, showing consistent growth at a rate of 5.6% in average in the recent years.

According to Dr. Gal Aviv, CEO of Blender Financial Technologies Group: "This acquisition is a new milestone to fulfill our vision to become a market leader in digital banking in Europe. We estimate that this acquisition and obtaining our banking license will be finalized during this second quarter. This is a turning point for the company, highlighting our rapid growth in digital banking in Europe, that will accelerate our fundraising through new and diversified funding sources while increasing our overall profitability. Our full focus is on the company's growth and on fulfilling our vision to lead a new technology-based banking model."

About Blender

Blender is an international fintech company that provides innovative credit and financing solutions to tens of thousands of customers, according to their preferences and needs. The company has developed a unique and efficient technology to provide credit, using methodologies, tools and ideas from the fields of big data, data mining, machine learning, behavioral psychology and more. The company was founded in 2014 by CEO Dr. Gal Aviv, Deputy CEO and Chief Technology Officer Boaz Aviv and Deputy CEO and Chief Product Officer Barak Gur. The company operates in Israel and Europe. In January 2021, the company completed its IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

For more information:

https://blender.global/

Reut Gilady

Head of Marketing and Communications

reut.g@blender.co.il
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Meysan Partners advised National Real Estate Company Co ("NREC"), a publicly listed real estate and investment company based in Kuwait, as sole legal advisor on the sale of its entire participation in its Erbil-based subsidiary, KREDCO Real Estate Company ("KREDCO").

The participation, representing 51% of KREDCO's share capital, was sold to the Kurdistan Development Corporation Limited (KDC). The deal was made under the authority of the Investment Board in Kurdistan granting the prerequisite approvals to the transaction. The transaction was completed on 22 December 2021.

Faisal Sultan, Vice Chairman and CEO of NREC, commented: "Selling our investment in Erbil was a strategic decision and had various complex elements that required a specialized law firm. Fortunately, our legal advisors Meysan Partners leveraged their expertise with unwavering support. Their team provided us with robust, highly technical advice in a commercially sound manner, making the process run smoothly from the beginning till the end."

"We are very pleased to have been able to assist our client NREC in this deal. The Middle East real estate sector is an exciting and challenging space, especially at the current time. It takes an exceptional level of teamwork to execute transactions, and we are honored to have been a part of that team" commented Bader El-Jeaan, the co-founder and senior Partner of Meysan Partners.

Established in Kuwait in 1973, NREC is a publicly listed real estate and investment company with a presence in the Middle East and North Africa. NREC has grown into one of the largest real estate companies in the GCC, with assets exceeding KD700 million (US$ 2.3 billion).

Meysan Partners team was led by the senior partner Bader El Jeaan with support from Senior Associate Patrick Obeid.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728583/Bader_el_Jeaan.jpg
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Houston real estate agent Violet Gonzalez extends her donation drive with Emergency Aid Coalition, a local Houston nonprofit organization that serves residents in need in Houston's inner city and Midtown neighborhoods.

The donation drive will be extended through to February 18, 2022. Items can be dropped off at Violet's office located at 6060 Richmond Ave., Suite 100 in Houston. Those wishing to donate are urged to call 713-570-6906 in advance of their drop-off.

"With the busy holidays, we just didn't receive as many donations as we had hoped for and so I am happy to be extending the drive so that the community can join me in giving back and helping those in need," said Violet Gonzalez.

Wishlist items being collected include:

Washcloths

Disposable razors

Deodorant (travel size)

Combs

Shampoo/body wash (travel size)

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste (travel size)

Face masks

Hand sanitizers (travel size)

An interfaith organization, Emergency Aid Coalition was founded in 1983 in Houston, Texas, and their mission is to serve the working poor by providing temporary assistance in the form of food, clothing, and other basic needs. EAC helps over 50,000 individuals on the edge of poverty each year with the support of member congregations, fundraisers, and dedicated volunteers.

About Violet Sells Realty

Violet Sells Realty works with both buyers and sellers to guide clients and provide them with the most honest and detailed information, while also helping them make the best choice for their home and/or commercial property. It makes buying, selling, and leasing a hassle-free experience from start to closing. Violet serves zip codes 77000-77599. For more information, please call 713-570-6906, or visit violetsellsrealty.com .

For media inquiries, please call THE NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361.

SOURCE: Violet Sells Realty

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683780/Violet-Sells-Realty-Extends-Local-Houston-Nonprofit-Donation-Drive
TORONTO, ON and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / GlobeX Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SWIS) ("GlobeX" or the "Company"), the leader in Swiss hosted secure communications and secure data management, is pleased to announce that, after discussing its qualifications with the OTC Markets management, it has submitted an application for uplisting to the OTCQX marketplace, from its existing listing on the OTCQB marketplace. The listing of the Company's common shares on the OTCQX remains subject to the approval of the OTCQX and the satisfaction of applicable listing requirements.

The Company meets several requirements in accordance with OTCQX listing requirements, under the OTCQX International Tier Initial Eligibility Criteria. However, in order for the application to be accepted, the Company shall submit its 2021 audited financial statements, as per OTC Markets regulations as soon as the audited financials are ready. The Company anticipates its audited year end 2021 financial statements to be completed by March 15 2022 or sooner and is working closely with its auditors in order to meet this goal. According to OTC Markets, once the financials have been submitted, it should take a few weeks for final approval and the shares effectively listing on the OTCQX. There will be no symbol change and everything else shall remain the same. Shareholders do not need to do anything.

OTCQX is the top tier of three markets organized by OTC Markets Group Inc. for trading over-the-counter securities, and is designed for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To qualify for the OTCQX market, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, demonstrate compliance with U.S. securities laws, and be current with their disclosure. Investors can find current market information and real-time quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com .

Alain Ghiai, CEO of GlobeX Data said: "We are very pleased to be able to qualify to list on the OTCQX this year. Listing on higher quality exchanges, and more liquid exchanges, is one of the ways we can contribute to the general liquidity of our securities. With many US and foreign investors already in our rosters, and with the Company being recognized more and more as a leader in private and secure communications, we are attracting new investors that are looking to invest in the long-term success of the Company. These investors are global, and when it comes to trading our security in the USA, they are looking at the quality of the exchange, and the liquidity of the securities. OTCQX meets such rigorous quality standards that foreign investors are looking for. It also demonstrates that GlobeX is meeting strict guidelines for listing, transparency and high ethical standards. I look forward to announcing our completion of listing on the OTCQX, and I would like to thank all our shareholders and customers for their continued support of GlobeX Data."

Sekur , which includes SekurMessenger as part of a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one app solutions, includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur 's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications and in particular in the WhatsApp application have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications form cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices.

SekurMessenger eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a SM number. The SM number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other SM users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including GlobeX's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

Additionally, SekurMessenger now comes with a proprietary feature and technology called Chat by Invites. This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, financial, government, energy, mining, manufacturing, trade and medical sectors.

GlobeX's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About GlobeX Data Ltd.

GlobeX Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure communications and secure data management. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, and secure communication tools, secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery and document management. GlobeX Data Ltd. sells its products directly through its websites, through its approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. GlobeX Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

On behalf of Management

GLOBEX DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@globexdata.com

For more information, please contact GlobeX Data at corporate@globexdatagroup.com or visit us at https://globexdata.com .

For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com .

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. GlobeX cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond GlobeX's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GlobeX's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, GlobeX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: GlobeX Data Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684146/GlobeX-Data-Announces-Application-to-Uplist-to-OTCQX-Listing-in-the-United-States
Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Novamind Inc. (CSE:NM)(OTCQB:NVMDF)(FSE:HN2) ("Novamind" or the "Company"), a leading mental health company specialized in psychedelic medicine, announces that, further to its press release dated December 23, 2021, it has closed its acquisition (the "Acquisition") of Arizona-based Foundations for Change, Inc. ("Foundations"), a mental health practice specialized in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

"We're thrilled to welcome the team from Foundations," commented Novamind CEO and Director, Yaron Conforti. "The Acquisition is an exciting opportunity for Novamind to expand the reach of our clinic network, bringing our model for innovative mental healthcare to a new market in Arizona."

With the closing of the Acquisition, Foundations founder Jeff Edelman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, assumes the role of Medical Director at the Peoria and Phoenix clinic locations.

Mr. Edelman commented: "Joining Novamind is the right fit for our team and aligns with our mission to provide innovative and compassionate mental healthcare. I would like to thank our patients, partners and community for their ongoing support over the years. We look forward to integrating our team and operations with Novamind and benefiting from its deep expertise and infrastructure as we continue to serve a growing patient population."

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company issued 441,261 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares") pursuant to the terms of debt settlement agreements entered into with certain holders of debt of Foundations (the "Debtholders"), at a deemed price per share equal to CAN$0.468 per Share. The Shares are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on May 18, 2022 in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company also paid to the Debtholders an aggregate of US$336,955 cash. The Company's news release dated December 23, 2021 provides additional details for the consideration payable by the Company pursuant to the Acquisition.

About Novamind

Novamind is a leading mental health company enabling safe access to psychedelic medicine through a network of clinics and clinical research sites. Novamind provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and other novel treatments through its network of integrative mental health clinics and operates a full-service contract research organization specialized in clinical trials and evidence-based research for psychedelic medicine. For more information on how Novamind is enhancing mental wellness and guiding people through their entire healing journey, visit novamind.ca.

Contact Information

Yaron Conforti, CEO and Director

Telephone: +1 (647) 953 9512

Samantha DeLenardo, VP, Communications

Email: media@novamind.ca

Investor Relations

Email: IR@novamind.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. 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 including the failure to satisfy the conditions to completion of the Transaction, including the failure to obtain requisite third party consents and regulatory approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. 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 only update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable laws.

Cautionary Statements

The securities of the Company referred to in this press release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Novamind Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684189/Novamind-Closes-Arizona-Acquisition
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CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro weakened against its most major rivals in the European session on Tuesday amid risk aversion, as U.S. 10-year treasury yields climbed to a two-year high on intensifying expectations of Fed beginning the tightening cycle in March.



Treasuries dropped across the curve, with the two-year yield reaching the highest level since 2020.



Tech stocks slid on the back of a spike in treasury yields, weighing on European shares.



Investors are preparing for the possibility of more aggressive tightening to contain price pressures.



Survey results from the ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research showed that German economic confidence improved more-than-expected to a six-month high in January as the economy is expected to pick up over the coming months.



The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment rose to 51.7 in January from 29.9 in the previous month. The reading was well above the economists' forecast of 32.0.



The euro remained lower against the greenback, after having fallen to a 6-day low of 1.1385 in the previous session. At yesterday's trading close, the pair was quoted at 1.1403.



The euro retreated from an early 5-day high of 131.18 against the yen, with the pair trading at 130.47. If the euro falls further, it is likely to test support around the 127.5 level.



The euro reached as low as 1.0414 against the franc, registering nearly a 2-week low. The euro is likely to challenge support around the 1.03 level.



The euro touched 1.4226 against the loonie, its lowest level since December 8. The euro is seen finding support around the 1.40 mark.



The euro pulled back to 1.6793 against the kiwi, after approaching 1.6843 for the first time since September 2021. The next possible support for the euro is seen around the 1.64 level.



In contrast, the euro held steady against the aussie, following a 4-week high of 1.5872 hit in the previous session. The pair had finished yesterday's deals at 1.5808.



The euro was up against the pound, at a 2-week high of 0.8378. Next key resistance for the currency is likely seen around the 0.86 level.



Looking ahead, at 8:15 am ET, Canada housing starts for December are scheduled for release.



New York Fed's empire manufacturing survey and U.S. NAHB housing market index for January are set to be released in the New York session.







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Agreement brings SentryBay's unique solutions to established Vendor line-up

SentryBay, the cybersecurity software company, has come to a partnership agreement with TD SYNNEX, one of the world's leading IT distributor and solutions aggregators. As a result, TD SYNNEX, which was formed out of a merger between Synnex and Tech Data earlier this year, will add SentryBay's Armored Client and Data Protection Suite solutions to its extensive portfolio.

Initially the partnership will serve TD SYNNEX's channel network of resellers and integrators in the USA and Canada, however, the plan is to expand this globally, particularly into Europe and Asia, where the distributor has significant operations.

TD SYNNEX selected SentryBay due to the unique approach it takes to protecting corporate applications and data on the endpoint. By partnering, TD SYNNEX can offer a differentiated solution to its Partner ecosystem which particularly meets the needs of organisations adopting BYOD business models and ensures their security product portfolio remains at the forefront of innovation.

While SentryBay will be a unique element in the specialty security portfolio at TD SYNNEX, it will complement existing vendors and solutions, including those from Microsoft and VMWare.

SentryBay's Armored Client creates a confined environment within which any application can run, including VDI clients, thin clients, DaaS, VPN clients, browsers and enterprise/SaaS applications. All data entered into the application at the endpoint is automatically protected without any need to identify the threat. The SentryBay Data Protection Suite protects information from keyloggers and spyware when data is entered or viewed via the browser. This simplified, yet effective solution is targeted at enterprises, as well as SMEs.

"As the business world pivots to manage vulnerable devices accessing corporate networks it is more important than ever that we have a breadth of solutions designed to keep them secure. This partnership with SentryBay not only provides our network of resellers with a unique, proven solution to manage endpoints, but also boosts sales of other security solutions in our portfolio," said Cheryl Neal, vice president, New Vendor Acquisition, TD SYNNEX.

Jamie Box, VP Global Sales at SentryBay, said: "We are growing our distributor representation in North America and globally and TD SYNNEX represents the commitment, connections and established channel that is ideal for us as we seek to expand our enterprise user-base with initial focus in the North America region."

More information on how SentryBay software can help to address key infosec gaps and enhance compliance of any remote access, enterprise and SaaS application is available at www.sentrybay.com.

About SentryBay

SentryBay is a pioneer in technology that approaches security issues from a different and more proactive perspective. Endpoint data protection is essential to provide a secure, cloud-based IT ecosystem that avoids the weaknesses inherent in both technology and users. SentryBay's confined environment within which applications can run underpinned by multi-layered anti-keylogging technology -allows these weaknesses to be overcome. The company's product is used by some of the world's largest enterprises from global FI's to small, medium and large enterprises across all verticals.

About TD SYNNEX

TD SYNNEX (NYSE: SNX) is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. We're an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEX' 22,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 1,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this news release that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance that may be suggested in this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

2022 TD SYNNEX Corporation. TD SYNNEX, the TD SYNNEX Logo, and all other TD SYNNEX company, product and services names and slogans are trademarks of TD SYNNEX Corporation. Other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005256/en/

Contacts:

Further information

Julie Kirby

Zaboura Consultancy

sentrybay@zaboura.com
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Toronto-based CO2 GRO Inc. ("CO2 GRO") (TSXV:GROW)(OTCQB:BLONF)(Frankfurt:4021) is pleased to announce that Canada's Trade Commissioners to the Netherlands and Belgium have invited CO2 GRO to participate in its ag tech virtual trade mission from February 21st to 25th, 2022.The criteria for selection were 1) companies already generating revenue, 2) actively exporting to the EU and 3) offering a value added and/or unique technology or product.

This Trade Mission is for Canadian ag tech exporters looking to accelerate their EU market knowledge and meet with potential customers and partners in a B-2-B matchmaking program. It will provide an overview of the Canada-European Comprehensive and Economic Free Trade Agreement (CETA). Local consultants will be assisting CO2 GRO and other selected Canadian ag tech firms to accelerate their penetration in Belgium and The Netherlands.

According to Aaron Archibald, VP Sales & Strategic Alliances "We are honored to be selected again by our Canadian Trade Commissioners in Belgium and The Netherlands. Our UK based international marketing partner, Rika Biotech, represents our CO2 Delivery Solutions technology in the UK, Belgium and The Netherlands. International trade missions, trade shows and other marketing and sales forums are a critical factor of our business development strategy and have generated significant customer and partner opportunities to date. We are thankful to our EU-based Trade Commissioners for their invitation to participate in this mission to the most sophisticated greenhouse market in the world."

Visit www.co2delivery.ca for more information on CO2 Delivery Solutions or watch this video .

About CO2 GRO Inc. CO2 GRO Inc.

CO2 GRO's proprietary CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is revolutionizing the global 600 billion square foot protected agriculture industry (Cuesta Roble 2019). We create a dissolved CO2 solution that when misted onto plants provides growers that cannot gas with CO2 the opportunity to increase plant yields by up to 30% and gross profits by up to 100%. Applying dissolved CO2 also suppressed the development of pathogens such as E.coli and powdery mildew, helping to reduce crop losses. CO2 GRO's CO2 Delivery Solutions is protected by a suite of patents and patents pending.

The worldwide market for CO2 GRO's disruptive CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is the 50 billion square feet of greenhouses and 550 billion square feet of protected agriculture facilities (Cuesta Roble 2019). Growers can maximize revenue and profits with our systems' low fixed and variable costs and ease of systems installation.

CO2 GRO's management is rapidly expanding its international marketing partner relationships into Mexico, Spain, the EU, the UK, South Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin America as well as in its North American base.

CO2 GRO is committed to good Environment, Social and Governance (ES&G) policy and practices. We are an equal opportunity employer of choice and opportunity.

Our mission is to accelerate the growth of all value plants safely, economically, naturally and sustainably using our patented advanced CO2 Delivery Solutions while accreting value to our customers, stakeholders and shareholders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities. Forward- looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: statements regarding the future direction of the Company; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business and financial objectives; plans for expansion and the ability of the Company to obtain, develop and foster its business relationships; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning the business of the Company's future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates that management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company's competitors; and that good relationships with business partners will be maintained. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; in particular, in the ability of the Company to raise debt and equity capital in the amounts and at the costs that it expects; adverse changes in applicable laws or adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws; the biotechnology industry and the greenhouse growers market are highly competitive, and technical advances in the industry will impact the success of the Company, and other risks described in the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com . Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca or contact Michael O'Connor, Manager, and Investor Relations at 604-317-6197 or michael.oconnor@co2gro.ca

SOURCE: CO2 Gro Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684272/CO2-GRO-Inc-Selected-to-Participate-in-a-Canadian-Ag-Tech-Virtual-Trade-Mission-to-Belgium-and-the-Netherlands
The National Bank of Serbia and Discover signed a strategic agreement that increases the global acceptance footprint for Discover Global Network cardholders within Serbia. The agreement gives Discover, Diners Club International, PULSE and Network Alliance cardholders the ability to use their cards on the DinaCard payment network, which includes Point-of-Sale (POS), e-commerce platforms and ATMs across Serbia.

This alliance enhances the National Bank of Serbia DinaCard's strategy to grow the number of payment options available in Serbia and provides more choices to consumers on how they want to pay. The agreement will provide Discover Global Network cardholders access to more than 111,000 POS terminals and more than 3,000 ATMs across Serbia.

Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Dr Jorgovanka Tabakovic said: "This strategic partnership with Discover reinforces the National Bank of Serbia's continuous efforts to offer multiple payment options and cashless payments facilities across the country. We believe that this new alliance with the Discover Global Network will grant all cardholders across the Discover Global Network a compelling shopping experience in our country."

"Building on our strong partnership the National Bank of Serbia complements Discover's strategy of creating worldwide alliances that provide consumers with more choices when it comes to how and where they pay," said Matt Sloan, vice president of International Markets at Discover Global Network.

About DinaCard

DinaCard is a national payment card of the Republic of Serbia operated by the National Bank of Serbia. With 20 local issuing banks and more than 5.00 million cards which can be used on the overall acquiring network in Serbia, it is the largest card scheme in the country. Beside the DinaCard, the Republic of Serbia is side by side with the largest European countries in which, for economically rational reasons, the usage of national payment cards by population is dominant, as always, a more favourable choice in terms of costs for the national economy. For more information visit https://dinacard.nbs.rs/.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005448/en/

Contacts:

Rob Weiss

Discover

robertweiss@discover.com

224-405-6304

National Bank of Serbia

Communication Department

Kralja Petra 12 104130 Belgrade

Tel.: (+381 11) 3027 262 Fax: (+381 11) 3282 285

press@nbs.rs www.nbs.rs
Increase in production of electric vehicles and growing inclination toward low-emission & fuel-efficient automobiles propel the growth of the global electric vehicle charging system market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Electric Vehicle Charging System Market by Product Type (Home Charging Systems and Commercial Charging Systems), Mode of Charging (Plug-in Charging System and Wireless Charging System) and Charging Voltage Level (Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030." According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global electric vehicle charging system market was estimated at $4.26 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit $42.62 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 26.2% from 2021 to 2030.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Rise in production of electric vehicles and growing inclination toward low-emission & fuel-efficient vehicles drive the growth of the global electric vehicle charging system market. On the other hand, high cost of electric vehicles impedes the growth to some extent. However, development of wireless charging technology and incorporation of Vehicle-To-Grid (V2g) EV charging stations are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Download Report (234 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/781

COVID-19 scenario-

Interruptions in export of Chinese automotive parts, huge manufacturing disruptions across Europe , and the shutting down of assembly plants in the United States impacted the global unified automotive industry badly, thereby hampering the growth of the electric vehicle charging system market, especially during the initial phase.

, and the shutting down of assembly plants in impacted the global unified automotive industry badly, thereby hampering the growth of the electric vehicle charging system market, especially during the initial phase. However, as the global situation gets better, the market is projected to recoup soon.

The plug-in charging system segment to retain the lion's share-

By mode of charging, the plug-in charging system segment held the major share in 2020, garnering 98% of the global electric vehicle charging system market, due to its greater availability in the market. The wireless charging system segment, on the other hand, is projected to cite the fastest CAGR of 28.8% throughout the forecast period. The fact that it holds remarkable opportunities for the players operating in the market drives the growth of the segment.

Request for Customization at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/781

The level 2 segment to dominate by 2030-

By charging voltage level, the level 2 segment contributed to the lion's share in 2020, holding 87% of the global electric vehicle charging system market. This is due to the fact that it charges the vehicle up to ten times faster than Level 1 charging and offers better cost to the performance ratio. However, the level 3 segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 34.8% from 2021 to 2030. This is because level 3 charging is the fastest type of charging available in the market.

Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, held the major share in 2020-

By region, the market across Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, dominated in 2020, garnering nearly half of the global electric vehicle charging system market, due to rise in extent of electric vehicle sales in the region. Simultaneously, North America, is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 30.0% throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the rapidly growing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the region.

Interested to Procure the Data with Actionable Strategy & Insights? Inquire here at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/781

Key players in the industry-

Delta Electronics, Inc.

Eaton Corporation plc.

BorgWarner Inc.

Moser Services Group, LLC

Plugless Power Inc.

Webasto Group

Robert Bosch GmbH

Schneider Electric

General Electric

Siemens AG

Tesla

Schedule a FREE Consultation Call with Our Analysts to Find Solutions for Your Business at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/781

Similar Reports We Have on EV Charging Industry:

Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Market by Power Source (3-<11 Kw, 11-50 Kw and >50 Kw), Installation (Home and Commercial), Distribution Channel (OEMs and Aftermarket), and Vehicle Type (Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Commercial Electric Vehicles): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018-2030.

Electric Vehicle Charger Market by Vehicle Type (Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)), Charging Type (On-board Chargers, and Off-board Chargers), and End User (Residential and Commercial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030.

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Market by Power Type (Alternating Current (AC) Power, and Direct Current (DC) Power), Product Type (Portable Charger, Electric Vehicle Kiosk, Onboard Charging Station, and Others), Charging Station Type (Normal Charging, Super Charging, and Inductive Charging), and Application (Commercial, and Residential): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030.

EV Charging Cable Market by Power Type (AC Charging and DC Charging), by Application (Private Charging and Public Charging), by Cable Length (2 Meters to 5 Meters, 6 Meters to 10 Meters, and Above 10 Meters), by Shape (Straight and Coiled), by Charging Level (Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3), by Jacket Material (Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Jacket, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Jacket, and All Rubber Jacket): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030.

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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LOS ANGELES CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Med-X, Inc., a leading innovator of all-natural green scene solutions addressing the pest control, health and wellness markets, has engaged international investor relations specialists MZ Group (MZ) to lead a strategic investor relations and financial communications program across all key markets.

MZ Group will work closely with Med-X management to develop and implement a comprehensive capital markets strategy designed to increase the Company's visibility throughout the investment community. The campaign will highlight the Company's diverse family of brands, developing all-natural and alternative solutions to outdated poisonous chemicals and harmful pharmaceutical products often used in pest control and pain management applications. MZ maintains offices worldwide and has developed a distinguished reputation as a premier resource for institutional investors, brokers, analysts and private investors.

Lucas A. Zimmerman, Director at MZ North America, will advise Med-X in all facets of corporate and financial communications, including the coordination of non-deal roadshows and investment conferences across key cities and building brand awareness with financial and social media outlets.

Lucas Zimmerman commented: "Med-X has developed a comprehensive suite of proprietary, all-natural green scene products under the Nature-Cide, Thermal-Aid and Malibu Brands divisions to offer eco-friendly solutions to consumers and communities. Nature-Cide's all-natural essential oil blends of indoor and outdoor pesticides, insecticides and repellents are applicable across countless industries - providing a more sustainable alternative to harmful pesticides. The Company's Nature-Cide products are particularly popular in residential or commercial real estate applications as well as in crop cultivation, where the products have also been proven within the hemp and Cannabis sector. Nature-Cide has seen continued success due to several inherent benefits such as elimination of exposure to toxic chemicals, ability to be used in organic farming, high efficacy, pleasant aroma and low re-entry times - enabling simple, routine deployment by consumers and pest management experts.

"Addressing the vast pain management market, they have developed a more sustainable family of products within their Thermal-Aid and Malibu Brands offerings - avoiding the often-harmful side effects common to mainstream pharmaceutical and over-the-counter pain management solutions. As the hidden costs of pharmaceutical pain medications continue to come into the public eye, solutions such as theirs will become increasingly invaluable to consumers. Thermal-Aid's all-natural heating/cooling pain and physical therapy products, taken in tandem with Malibu Brands' all-natural homeopathic topical botanical blends - including an upcoming line of hemp and CBD oil products - provide a compelling solution to countless ailments."

Greg Falesnik, CEO of MZ Group added: "Each Med-X vertical addresses a key market need under adjacent and complementary green scene categories. The combined commercial and consumer pesticides and insecticides market in the U.S. is over $25 billion annually, with an industry increasingly looking for environmentally friendly solutions. The sustainable consumer goods market in the U.S. is forecast to be over $150 billion in 2021 according to Nielsen, with 90% of millennials reporting they are willing to pay more for products that contain environmentally friendly or sustainable ingredients. Med-X's consumer category is well-posited to increase market share through its ecommerce platforms and national distribution outlets positioned across the United States. We believe that Med-X is fundamentally well positioned to succeed in the public markets and look forward to helping guide their capital markets journey in the years ahead."

"2021 has been a milestone year for Med-X as we are positioning our flagship division Nature-Cide into tier-1 retailers and distribution partners, leveraging the $100 million capital commitment from Luxembourg-based institutional investor GEM Global Yield," said Matthew Mills, Chief Executive Officer of Med-X. "Looking ahead, we are very thankful to our shareholders who have enabled Med-X to become premiere marketing partners with all of our distribution venues for 2022 and beyond, and are seeing a great deal of growth in our e-commerce positioning for all of our divisions. We look forward to working with Lucas and the entire team at MZ Group to effectively communicate our strategy for sustainable, long-term value creation for our incredible shareholder base."

For more information on Med-X, please visit the Company's website at www.medx-rx.com . To schedule a conference call with management, please email your request to MXRX@mzgroup.us or call Lucas Zimmerman at 949-259-4987.

About Med-X, Inc.

Med-X, Inc. is a leading innovator of all-natural green scene solutions addressing the international pest control , health and wellness markets. Capitalizing on its diverse family of in-house brands to offer safe alternatives to conventional chemical and pharmaceutical products using ingredients such as natural essential oils and CBD compounds, Med-X's comprehensive go-to-market strategy includes an integrated e-commerce, brick and mortar distributor and on-site services presence in key national markets. For more information, please visit www.medx-rx.com .

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements

The securities offered by Med-X, Inc. hereby are highly speculative. Investing in shares of MED-X, INC. involves significant risk. This investment is suitable only for persons who can afford to lose their entire investment. Furthermore, investors must understand that an investment could be illiquid for an indefinite period of time. No public market currently exists for the securities and if and when a public market develops following this offering it may not continue. You should read the Regulation A+ Offering Circular Securities and Exchange Commission filings before making any investment in the Company. This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding projected business performance, operating results, financial condition, and other aspects of the company, expressed by such language as "expected," "anticipated," "projected" and "forecasted." Please be advised that such statements are estimates only and there is no assurance that the results stated or implied by forward-looking statements will actually be realized by the company. Forward-looking statements may be based on management assumptions that prove to be wrong. The Company and its business are subject to substantial risks and potential events beyond its control that would cause material differences between predicted results and actual results, including the company incurring operating losses and experiencing unexpected material adverse events.

Investor Relations Contact

Lucas Zimmerman

Director

MZ Group - MZ North America

949-259-4987

MXRX@mzgroup.us

www.mzgroup.us

SOURCE: Med-X, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683779/Med-X-Engages-MZ-Group-to-Lead-Strategic-Investor-Relations-and-Shareholder-Communications-Program
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - GoldHaven Resources Corp. (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS) ("GoldHaven" or the "Company") is pleased to report the rock grab and stream sediment (silt) sample results from the fall reconnaissance mapping, prospecting and sampling program completed at the Company's Smoke Mountain Property. Smoke Mountain is strategically located in the Central British Columbia Porphyry-Epithermal Belt, 15 km northeast of Surge Copper's Berg project, and 23 km north of the Imperial Metals Huckleberry project (Figure 1).

Daniel Schieber, GoldHaven's CEO, stated: "We are very encouraged by the results of the 2021 Phase I exploration program at Smoke Mountain. Smoke Mountain is situated in an 85 kilometre belt of rocks that are prospective for structurally-controlled gold-silver-zinc epithermal deposits as well as for porphyry copper-gold deposits. The first exploration program yielded the discovery of a significant new trend of copper, gold and zinc mineralization, in addition to new prospective drainages for follow-up in 2022."

Field Program at Smoke Mountain

GoldHaven completed a 7-day Phase 1 reconnaissance mapping, sampling and prospecting exploration program in September, 2021. Twenty-two rock samples were collected as well as 14 stream sediment samples during the first-pass exploration program. Highlight results from the rock grab (Table 1; Figure 2) and stream sediment (Figure 3) sampling program are as follows:

Up to 0.70 g/t Au sampled in outcrop (rock grab sample; Table 1). The highest gold in stream sediment result was 0.22 g/t Au.

Zinc sampling up to 1.96% Zn in rock.

Silver in rock samples up to 30.5 ppm Ag. Stream sediment results up to 0.84 ppm Ag.

Up to 5050 ppm Cu (0.5% Cu) in rock grab samples.

All rock samples were collected from outcrop with one float sample exception (Table 1). Alteration in the samples is dominated by quartz-silica with local sericite and potassic domains, and associated quartz +/-epidote veins which are locally stock-work style. Mineralization identified includes chalcopyrite, malachite and galena with associated iron oxides.

The distribution of anomalous Cu-Au-Zn rock samples demarcates a newly-identified, open-ended northeast trend measuring at least 2.5 km. The highly anomalous gold in stream sediment result (0.22 ppm Au) corresponds to a new area (west of the 2.5 km mineralization trend). The highest silver stream sediment result (0.84 ppm Ag) is situated in a new unexplored area in the northwest part of the property. All of these target areas are prioritized for prospecting, mapping and follow-up work in 2022. Upcoming geological mapping work in 2022 aims to further understand the setting of the newly identified Cu-Au-Zn mineralization within the framework of this extensive polymetallic belt.

Plans for 2022 include flying Lidar and aeromagnetic surveys in addition to follow-up geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs with the objective of expanding the new mineralized zones. The Smoke Mountain property is highly prospective for gold, copper, silver and zinc and the land position is road accessible from Houston, BC.

Table 1. Rock sample results from the Fall 2021 reconnaissance mapping and sampling program. Sample coordinates are given as NAD83 UTM zone 9.

Sample ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Au (ppm) Cu (ppm) Zn (ppm) Ag (ppm) 149201 615580 5973994 0.019 3310 90 0.9 149202 615586 5973993 0.021 2380 100 2.5 149203 615583 5973994 0.053 1610 83 5.1 149204 615506 5973935 0.169 5050 403 10.2 149205 615505 5973936 0.176 3500 433 7.1 149206 615372 5974056 0.009 4520 161 2 149207 615381 5974074 0.0025 260 83 0.25 149208 614227 5972867 0.011 80 39 0.25 149209 614477 5972886 0.108 1570 115 1.8 149210 614476 5972875 0.03 19 32 0.25 149211 614545 5972867 0.696 392 19600 30.5 149212 614520 5972873 0.152 1755 66 1.3 149213 616924 5974573 0.008 53 382 0.25 149214 616885 5974531 0.015 1765 36 4.5 149216 616900 5974386 0.007 45 56 1.7 149217 616744 5974385 0.0025 250 361 0.25 149218 615372 5976836 0.0025 323 53 0.7 149219 614437 5976505 0.0025 100 121 0.25 149220 614495 5976132 0.014 40 140 0.25 149221 611741 5973214 0.0025 62 88 0.25 149222 615189 5973386 0.006 120 70 0.25 149223 617004 5975519 0.0025 75 143 0.25

Figure 1. The location of the Smoke Mountain property in the Central BC Porphyry-Epithermal Belt. Note, the mines, deposits and prospects in this part of BC provide geologic context for the Smoke Mountain property, but this is not necessarily indicative that the Property hosts similar grades or tonnages of mineralization.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7246/110552_0e70173a64a719f3_002full.jpg

Figure 2. Rock grab sample results from initial mapping, prospecting, and sampling at GoldHaven's Smoke Mountain Project. Polymetallic mineralization has been discovered over a +2.5km strike length.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7246/110552_0e70173a64a719f3_003full.jpg

Figure 3. Silt sample results from initial mapping, prospecting, and sampling at GoldHaven's Smoke Mountain Project. The southwest domain showed most anomalous gold and copper, and the eastern area showed most anomalous zinc, and the northwest showing the highest silver. The catchment basin containing the highest gold silt sample is outlined (top left).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7246/110552_0e70173a64a719f3_004full.jpg

Analytical Methods

The rock samples and the silt samples were sent to ALS minerals, located in North Vancouver, BC. The rocks were crushed, split and pulverized, weighed and treated with a 33 element four acid ICP-AES (ME-ICP61). Rock samples were also analyzed with fire assay (prep code Au-AA23) for gold. The silt samples were dried and sieved and weighed and treated with a 25g trace Au + Multi element PKG (prep code AuME-TL43). Two blank samples were inserted into the rock sampling string for quality control.

Path Forward

In addition to Smoke Mountain, GoldHaven controls 251 km2 across 7 assets in the highly prospective Maricunga Gold Belt. The Company completed Phase 1 and is preparing its Phase 2 drill campaigns. These targets have been designated as high priority based on extensive and pervasive alteration, favourable geology, highly anomalous rock geochemistry results, and their relative proximity to existing major deposits. GoldHaven now controls 228 km2 in the highly prospective Central Newfoundland Gold Belt and is preparing the two projects for exploration.

Qualified Person

Daniel MacNeil, MSc. P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release.

News Release References

1 Giroux, G.H., 2012. MINERAL RESOURCE UPDATE On The POPLAR DEPOSIT, OMINECA MINING DIVISION BRITISH COLUMBIA. Prepared for Lions Gate Metals Inc. Prepared by Giroux Consultants Ltd. Effective Date: March 30, 2012 https://www.universalcopper.com/UNV_Presentation_Web.pdf?a28db

2 Norton, C., Huang, J., and Lui, D., Updated Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on the Berg Project, British Columbia. A NI43-101 Technical Report prepared by Tetra Tech Canada Inc. EFFECTIVE DATE: MARCH 9, 2021; RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2021.https://surgecopper.com/site/assets/files/5735/updated_technical_report_mineral_resource_estimate_on_the_berg_project-_bc.pdf

3 Christensen, K., Connaughton, G.R., and Ogryzolo, P., 2011. TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE MAIN ZONE OPTIMIZATION HUCKLEBERRY MINE OMINECA MINING DIVISION BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. Prepared for Huckleberry Mines Ltd. and Imperial Metals Corporation November 22, 2011 The effective date of the exploration data is September 1, 2011, Amended May 11, 2016. https://www.imperialmetals.com/assets/docs/2016-hml-43-101-technical-report-on-the-main-zone-optimization.pdf

4 Burga D., Barry J., Grant D., Hutter J., Puritch E., Sutcliffe, R.H., and Wu, Y., 2019. INITIAL MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE NUMBER 3 VEIN, SILVER QUEEN PROPERTY, OMINECA MINING DIVISION, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. Prepared for NEW NADINA EXPLORATIONS LIMITED

NI 43-101 & 43-101F1 TECHNICAL REPORT by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. Effective Date: July 15, 2019 Signing Date: August 29, 2019. https://equitymetalscorporation.com/site/assets/files/3673/sq_ni43-101_aug29_2019.pdf

5 https://sunsummitminerals.com/news/2021/sun-summit-drills-31-6-g-t-gold-over-4-0-metres-including-246-g-t-gold-over-0-5-metres-in-the-trench-zone-and-1-07-g-t-gold-over-109-metres-including-7-17-g-t-gold-over-5-2-metres-in-the-horseshoe-zo/

6 Diakow, L.J., and Drobe, J.R., 1989. The Geology and Mineral Occurrences in the North Newcombe Lake Map Sheet, NTS 093E/14. Open File Map 1989-1 British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Map.

About GoldHaven Resources Corp.

GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration Company active in the highly gold and silver endowed Maricunga Gold Belt of northern Chile. The Maricunga Belt measures 150 km north-south and 30 km east-west and is host numerous mines and advanced exploration projects including Salares Norte (Gold Fields), Esperanza (Kingsgate Consolidated), La Coipa (Kinross), Cerro Maricunga (Fenix Gold), Lobo Marte (Kinross), Volcan (Volcan), Refugio (Kinross/Bema), Caspiche (Goldcorp/Barrick), Cerro Casale (Goldcorp/Barrick). The Company has agreements in place to acquire seven high priority exploration targets as identified by geological studies. To date, GoldHaven has identified "High Priority" targets on four of the seven exploration properties and will commence a drilling program during the first quarter of 2021. The four priority targets include Coya, located approximately 16 km northeast of the Kinross La Coipa mine; the second is Rio Loa, a project located 25 km south of Gold Field's Salares Norte deposit (5.2 million ounces of Gold equivalent5; the third and fourth projects are Alicia and Roma which are approximately 35 km south of the Salares Norte deposit. These exploration targets have been designated High Priority due to extensive, pervasive alteration, favourable geology, highly anomalous rock geochemical results, and their relative proximity to existing deposits. The company has also made recent acquisitions in high profile metal belts in British Columbia and Newfoundland.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Daniel Schieber

For further information, please contact:

Bonn Smith,

Head of Business Development

www.goldhavenresources.com

bsmith@goldhavenresources.com

Office Direct: (604) 638-3073

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the intended use of the proceeds received from the Offering, the possible acquisition of the Projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that investor interest will be sufficient to close the Offering, and the receipt of any necessary regulatory or corporate approvals in connection with the Offering and the Assignment, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the inability to close the Offering, the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of the Letters of Intent which are the subject of the Assignment, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110552
Bloom launches program for K-12 schools for lab-based testing along with supply and management of rapid tests

Vancouver, British Columbia and Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Bloom Health Partners Inc. (CSE: BLMH) (OTCQB: BLMHF) (FSE: D840) ("Bloom" or the "Company"), a global platform for operational health, announces that it has been awarded a state-wide contract for testing in Texas for K-12 schools for the remainder of the 2022 school year. Bloom's program includes both rapid and lab testing to make up a complete program that covers the needs of schools as they navigate the pandemic. RT-PCR testing will be conducted in Bloom's Dallas based laboratory. Rapid tests are being supplied by Bloom to schools, with results being managed on Bloom's cloud data platform.

Similar to Bloom's testing program at schools in the state of Alabama (see news release dated November 29th, 2021), families in Texas have the opportunity for their children to be tested on a voluntary basis. Bloom's Dallas facility is equipped to handle high volume RT-PCR based testing producing results within 24 hours. Rapid test supply chain is provided by Bloom with fulfillment supported by Bloom's Dallas facilities and team. Management of test data and results are supported by Bloom as part of the program. With both lab testing and rapid testing, Bloom will handle the high volume needs of schools that choose to work with Bloom in the program.

"Effective and reliable testing is critical to keeping schools safe and operational," said Andrew Morton, CEO of Bloom. "As an occupational health-tech provider, our team is well equipped to work with schools in Texas on a successful program. With operations and a team based in the Dallas area, we're excited to do our part for the state of Texas."

About Bloom Health Partners Inc.

Bloom Health Partners Inc. (CSE: BLMH) (OTCQB: BLMHF) (FSE: D840) is a global platform for healthcare security, diagnostic testing and occupational health-tech. Our mission is to ensure that "unstoppable is possible" for businesses and their employees through innovative, customized healthcare models. Bloom offers a system for businesses and organizations that helps engage employees and creates strategies to manage health and safety. Our stable, scalable system is an integrated health-tech platform that securely manages data while delivering comprehensive workplace health and safety outcomes.

For more information: investors@bloomhealthpartners.com.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Bloom Health Partners Inc.

Andrew Morton, Chief Executive Officer

State of Texas Disclaimer

This project is supported by the National Testing Action Program (NTAP) of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $10B with 100 percent funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the HHS Coordination Hubs. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the Company's forward-looking statements include the potential that milestones may not be satisfied, acquisitions may not achieve expected benefits, financing requirements, and the other risk factors described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on www.sedar.com. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110586
Expanding brand awareness and access to HaluGen's Psychedelics Genetic Test Kit

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Entheon Biomedical Corp. (CSE: ENBI) (OTCQB: ENTBF) (FSE: 1XU1) ("Entheon" or the "Company"), a biomedical company focused on the research and development of psychedelic drugs and leading-edge biomarkers to provide personalized treatment of addiction disorders, has announced an agreement with Psychedelics Today, LLC ("Psychedelics Today') to help drive brand awareness of the Company's Psychedelics Genetic Test Kit, developed and commercialized by its wholly-owned subsidiary HaluGen Life Sciences Inc. ("HaluGen").

The agreement with Psychedelics Today - a leading digital media, education, and training company in the field of psychedelic studies - represents an opportunity to expand access to and visibility for HaluGen's Psychedelics Genetic Test Kit, which is available for sale both in the US and Canada.

The test kit identifies specific DNA biomarkers to gauge the risk and potential of adverse reactions toward hallucinogenic drugs. The test provides users with personalized reports and actionable insight into the short and long-term potential of psychedelic-induced risks, such as psychosis.

The test kit was recently expanded to include a key pharmacokinetic biomarker, the CYP2D6 gene. The CYP2D6 'poor metabolizer' gene mutation, carried by approximately five to ten percent of the population, influences the metabolism of LSD, MDMA and ayahuasca, which can cause individuals to metabolize these hallucinogenic drugs up to two times slower than normal. Poor metabolizers can also experience an increased duration, intensity of effect and adverse drug reactions.

HaluGen's Psychedelics Genetic Test Kit also includes other relevant pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and mental health risk biomarkers including:

HTR2A gene - This gene can impact response to serotonin, the "happiness hormone", which is the primary mechanism of action for psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD and DMT, for the twenty percent of the population that carry a specific gene variant which influences serotonin receptor density;

- This gene can impact response to serotonin, the "happiness hormone", which is the primary mechanism of action for psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD and DMT, for the twenty percent of the population that carry a specific gene variant which influences serotonin receptor density; CYP2B6 gene - This gene can decrease the metabolism of ketamine for the ten to twenty percent of people who carry a specific 'poor metabolizer' gene variant; and

- This gene can decrease the metabolism of ketamine for the ten to twenty percent of people who carry a specific 'poor metabolizer' gene variant; and C4A, NRG1 and DISC1 genes - These genes can influence mental health risk.

Genetics can play a role in determining how an individual may respond to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. HaluGen's psychedelics pre-screening platform provides genetic, personal and familial insights to better inform one's potential psychedelic experience. By obtaining DNA test results and data from mental-health surveys, individuals are equipped with valuable insights to make more informed decisions around their psychedelic-assisted therapy, potential side effects and risk profile.

For more information on pricing and ordering, please visit HaluGen's website at www.HaluGen.com.

"We're excited to team up with a leader in the psychedelic space and quality content producer such as Psychedelics Today and look forward to our collaboration and to the increased exposure that this relationship will provide to HaluGen's test kit," said Entheon Biomedical Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Ko. "Entheon and its subsidiaries share a common vision with Psychedelics Today: to help create safer psychedelic experiences and help people make informed choices in pursuing psychedelic-based therapies."

"Psychedelics Today welcome this partnership with HaluGen Life Sciences. More and more people are becoming interested in psychedelic therapy and have genuine questions about any potential risk factors from using psychedelics," said Psychedelics Today Chief Executive Officer, Joe Moore. "This kind of harm reduction service provides people with the personalized data they need to answer their own questions and make informed decisions about potential psychedelic use."

About Entheon Biomedical Corp.

Entheon is a biotechnology research and development company committed to developing and commercializing a portfolio of safe and effective N,N-dimethyltryptamine based psychedelic therapeutic products ("DMT Products") for the purposes of treating addiction and substance use disorders. Subject to obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals and permits, Entheon intends to generate revenue through the sale of its DMT Products to physicians, clinics and licensed psychiatrists in the United States, certain countries in the European Union and throughout Canada.

About Psychedelics Today

Psychedelics Today is a leading digital media, education and training company in the field of psychedelic studies. Psychedelics Today has operations spanning journalism, broadcasting, training, conferences, and social media. Their podcast 'Psychedelics Today' has over 2.5 million downloads and their online training platform 'Psychedelic Education Center' has enrolled over 9,000 students.

https://psychedelicstoday.com/

For more information, please contact the Company at:

Entheon Biomedical Corp.

Joseph Cullen, Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 (778) 919-8615

joe@entheonbiomedical.com

https://entheonbiomedical.com/

For sales & marketing inquiries, please contact the Company at:

Entheon Biomedical Corp.

Ryan McCreanor, HaluGen/Lobo Genetics Business Development Manager

Telephone: +447921886252

ryan@entheonbiomedical.com

For media inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Glassen of BlueSky Communications at:

BlueSky Communications

Elizabeth Glassen, Account Manager

Telephone: +1 (647) 309-0141

eglassen@blueskycommunications.com

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to the generation of revenue by the Company and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the Company being able to follow through with anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company and Psychedelics Today, sales and referrals, if any, and the business operations of the Company and Psychedelics Today.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this presentation or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110594
NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 13, 2022, Pentwater Capital Management LP ("Pentwater"), the largest minority shareholder of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill") (TSX:TRQ) (NYSE:TRQ), sent the following letter to the members of the Board of Directors of Turquoise Hill. As with every other letter we have sent for the past year, there was no response. Pentwater urges all Turquoise Hill shareholders to make their voices heard by reaching out directly to the members of the TRQ Board. A copy of the letter is as follows:

Dear Board of Directors of Turquoise Hill Resources:

As you know, we at Pentwater Capital Management have been your largest minority shareholders for many years.

I write to you because weeks have passed since a resolution was voted on in the Mongolian Parliament that could have materially detrimental effects on TRQ, and yet we have not heard any comment from TRQ's Board or management. As a result, we are gravely concerned that you and your cohorts at Rio Tinto may be on the verge of committing some or all of the following flagrant derelictions of fiduciary duty:

(1) TRQ would agree to forgive $2.3bn in debt that the Government of Mongolia owes TRQ, half of which the minority shareholders will have to absorb even though the only basis to forgive any debt is the malfeasance and misconduct committed by the operator of the mine, Rio Tinto;

(2) You have not secured for TRQ minority shareholders any compensation from Rio Tinto in return for the costs and damages they suffered at the hands of Rio Tinto despite the fact that TRQ owns twice as much of the mine as the Mongolian government and the Mongolian government is receiving a package worth well in excess of $2.5 billion;

(3) You are going to allow Rio to settle on terms that will restrict you from raising debt at the OT level and require you to fund the whole underfunding needed to complete the project, further harming the TRQ minority investors.

If this does, in fact, turn out to be the outcome, you should steadfastly refuse to sign such a deal, and should resign if need be. Over the years, numerous Mongolian government officials - including two Prime Ministers - have been held in jail related to their actions regarding OT; Rio Tinto personnel have had to leave Rio under a cloud of scandal, while the recent independent consultant's report is damning regarding Rio Tinto's actions. Nevertheless, TRQ board members have acted like puppets of Rio Tinto. There is so much blame to go around. Signing off on any of the scenarios listed above would constitute your admission of liability for such a blatant disregard for your fiduciary duties to your shareholders.

As a significant investor in Turquoise Hill equity, Pentwater does not prefer to see the underground cease operations. But it is preferable to have a pause in operations than to have you practically give away the mine. Agreeing to the proposal that seems to be on the table would simply be an audacious and astonishing disregard for duty, and the blame would rest at your feet. Rio is desperate to sweep their malfeasance under the rug and will eventually agree to appropriate economic compensation even if it is necessary to pause construction. This mine will eventually operate and will be a windfall to the people of Mongolia and TRQ's investors. The minority shareholders have borne the burden of financing the construction and have had to live with consequences of Rio's misconduct and should be reasonably compensated for such. The minority shareholders continue to carefully watch your actions. You will surely be held to account for breaches of your fiduciary duties.

We have seen enough from your past actions to not have much hope of our pleas leading to any result. With that said, it is never too late to begin doing the right thing. Please publicly reply to this letter and release this letter along with your response.

Kindest Regards,

Matthew Halbower

Chief Executive Officer

Pentwater Capital Management

Cc: Members of the Board of Directors of Turquoise Hill Resources

peter.gillin@turquoisehill.com; Maryse.Saint-Laurent@turquoisehill.com; george.burns@eldoradogold.com; Stephen.Jones@turquoisehill.com and Steve.Thibeault@turquoisehill.com

Contact:

David Zirin- Chief Operating Officer

Pentwater Capital Management

312-589-6401
PARK CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / NRP Stone, Inc. (OTC PINK:NRPI) NRP Stone Inc. subsidiary, Uplift Aerospace, Inc., is pleased to announce that the Director of Communications and Special Projects, Emily Higgins, will be attending Cryptopia this week in Salt Lake City as a panelist. As Utah's largest cryptocurrency event, Cryptopia is a Web3 pop up event that features some of today's foremost leaders in the crypto landscape. Higgins will be part of the panel for the NFT workshop, where attendees will learn about recent innovations in creating, buying, and selling NFTs.

Higgins is currently heading up the community launch and development for Uplift's new Space+ NFT Project. With a Masters degree in Visual Communications, Higgins specializes in community building through impactful visual media (film, photography, graphics), combining art and information to create deeper connections with environments that are difficult for members to visit. Higgins's background in community engagement is an important aspect of Space+ NFT Project's mission to democratize and diversify access to space, while providing real life access to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond.

ABOUT UPLIFT AEROSPACE

Uplift Aerospace, Inc. is an emerging leader in the rapidly transforming space industry, pioneering revolutionary systems to manufacture, trade, and deliver products for a multiplanetary economy.

For more information, visit https://www.upliftaerospace.com/investors .

MEDIA CONTACT: press@upliftaerospace.com

US OTC Symbol: NRPI; CUSIP: 62940J200. For the latest updates, visit upliftaerospace.com and follow @upliftaerospace on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Disclosures and Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, economic and market factors, successful integration of acquisitions, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The actual results that the company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company, its management, or affiliates, undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

SOURCE: NRP Stone, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684278/New-Director-for-Space-Project-Joining-Cryptopia-NFT-Panel
PayMe, Hong Kong's leading e-wallet, uses Episode Six's payments platform

HSBC is an early-stage investor in Episode Six, which has raised US$40m of funding

HONG KONG / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Episode Six and HSBC are celebrating the third anniversary of a technology partnership that has played a role in helping PayMe from HSBC become Hong Kong's leading e-wallet provider and proven how Episode Six's platform, Tritium, can help banks quickly scale up products aimed at large customer bases and easily extend those products into new areas.

Since the partnership between PayMe and Episode Six started in 2018, PayMe's user base has grown to over 2.5 million, while the app has gained the largest share of all e-wallet peer-to-peer fund transfers in Hong Kong and consistently expanded its merchant network across sectors in the city. Tritium is the industry's most flexible and extensible technology of its kind with over 600 APIs and ready-to-launch product suites.

"The three-year milestone of our collaboration with Episode Six illustrates our dedication to nurture a strong ecosystem with the wider fintech community," said Catherine Zhou, Global Head of Ventures, Digital Innovation and Partnerships at HSBC. "Partnerships like this are key to drive innovation within financial services and shape how the future of banking will look. With PayMe, we have re-imagined digital payments, enabling our customers and merchants to transact seamlessly within an engaging digital platform. Episode Six enables banks, fintechs and the broader business community to design effective digital journeys with efficiency."

"We're proud to be working with HSBC and growing our partnership while advancing financial technology," said?John?Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of Episode Six. "Our platform is enabling traditional and digital first banks around the world to bring on-demand digital payment offerings to their customers, responding to the shifting needs of consumers and businesses globally. Our vision is for our extensible and adaptable platform architecture to empower all of our clients with unparalleled user-driven configurability to enable any payment transaction across any imaginable asset class, any time and in any way."

#1 social payments app

PayMe from HSBC has quickly become Hong Kong's most popular social payment app and a preferred channel for transferring money and connecting with friends and family since its launch in 2018. The roll-out of PayMe for Business, PayMe's business solution, followed in early 2019, offering businesses in the city a new way to conveniently collect digital payments from consumers and manage cash flow.

Episode Six gives banks, fintechs and brands the freedom to design and bring winning payment propositions to market with unmatched speed across any asset class. The company's clients include global, regional, and domestic banks, neobanks, fintechs and insurtechs around the world. These organizations are drawn to Episode Six's proven and high-performance technology, which can handle multiple thousands of transactions per second.

Tritium provides debit and credit wallet management, a native multi-asset ledger, payment processing and closed loop payment?between merchants and consumers?in one tech stack. By allowing HSBC to configure and reconfigure innovative payment offerings?in real-time, the platform has supported PayMe's efforts to respond quickly to?changing consumer needs and?merchant demand and become the leading digital payments app in Hong Kong.

Alongside institutions including Mastercard, SBI Investment Co., Ltd., and Anthos Capital, HSBC is also an investor in Episode Six, which has raised US$40m of capital since its foundation in Hong Kong in 2015.

About Episode Six

Episode Six is a payments technology company that gives banks, fintechs and brands the freedom to design and bring to market leading digital payment propositions. It powers its clients' payments journeys with the most flexible and adaptable platform on the market today, providing highly configurable products with user-driven tools and technology to optimize competitive response and customer demand. Episode Six's platform, Tritium, and ledger enables the transfer of value of any kind - fiat currency, cryptocurrencies, brand value points, gold, and more. Episode Six operates globally across 24 countries with an expanding team located in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Brisbane. Investors include HSBC, Mastercard, SBI Investment Co., Ltd. and Anthos Capital. For more information, visit www.EpisodeSix.com or LinkedIn.

Media contact:

Heather Valle

Caliber Corporate Advisers

heather@calibercorporateadvisers.com

(888) 550-6385 x 18

SOURCE: Episode Six

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/676218/Third-Anniversary-of-Episode-Six-and-HSBCs-Partnership-Shows-the-Power-of-Banks-and-Fintechs-Working-Together
Partnership to enable access to retirement solutions for millions currently not participating in the retirement market

NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Smart , a leading global retirement technology provider, announced a partnership with Finhabits , a market-leading fintech company making financial services more inclusive in the US through bilingual offerings designed for the Latino community. Utilizing the Finhabits financial wellness platform, Smart will integrate its retirement technology within the app to help Latino small business owners and their workers gain access to a one-stop location for retirement savings plans.

Roughly one in four Americans are not saving for retirement, and minority communities fare worse, facing a disproportionate disadvantage of not having access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. Access is critical, as research suggests that workers are 15 times more likely to save for retirement if they can easily enroll into a workplace retirement plan. Smart and Finhabits aim to bridge this gap. Smart's nimble technology will integrate with the Finhabits app-driven small business journey to enable Latino businesses to enroll their workers in a retirement plan with just a few clicks. There are 4.65 million Latino-owned businesses in the US, and this effort aims to bring retirement plans to those businesses with seamless onboarding and the delivery of an end-to-end retirement plan experience.

"Smart and Finhabits share a vision for leveraging technology to simplify individuals' financial lives," said Jodan Ledford, CEO of Smart in the US. "We are thrilled to announce this partnership and introduce easy ways to save for Finhabits' users. Saving for retirement should be feasible, affordable, and easy to achieve for every employer and employee, and together, we want to make this goal achievable."

Smart offers modular ways for financial institutions, including recordkeepers, advisors, and asset managers, to build scalable, low-cost retirement solutions, with a specialization in technology for pooled retirement plans. Smart's streamlined technology empowers these financial institutions to facilitate a higher volume of retirement plans, providing access to retirement plans for participants in previously underserved markets. Smart's success is evidenced by its experience across multiple regions, such as Ireland, the Middle East, and the UK, where over 70,000 employers onboarded to its Smart Pension Master Trust in just a four-year period.

Finhabits is a leading digital financial services company serving the Latino community. Through its bilingual, mobile-first platform, it offers a variety of financial services and educational tools that allow Latino families to plan for the future and protect their finances. While the Latino community continued to be underserved by financial institutions, Carlos A. Garcia, the CEO and Founder of Finhabits, understood the importance of making disciplined financial habits the new norm in multicultural families.

"Finhabits empowers Latinos to build wealth for their future. This partnership will enable millions of workers employed by Latino small businesses to save for retirement for the first time," Garcia said.

About Smart

Smart is a global savings and investments technology provider. Its mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial well-being, across all generations, around the world.

Smart partners with financial institutions (including broker-dealers, RIAs, retirement providers, insurers, recordkeepers, asset managers, banks) and financial advisers to deliver retirement savings and income solutions that are digital, customized, and cost-efficient.

Smart, founded in the UK, operates in the USA, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East with close to a million savers entrusting over $3 billion in assets on the platform. Smart supports its clients with a 650 strong global team and saw over 2,000% growth in assets on its platform since 2018.

Legal & General, J.P. Morgan, the Link Group, Barclays, Natixis Investment Managers, Chrysalis Investments, and DWS Group are all investors to date in Smart.

For more information, please visit www.smartretire.com .

About Finhabits

Finhabits is a leading fintech company making financial services more inclusive in the United States. Through its bilingual, mobile-first platform, Finhabits allows the Latino community to invest for the future, take video classes on healthy financial habits, and sign up for affordable health insurance. In 2020, Fast Company named Finhabits an Innovation by Design honoree for its Money Journeys, a series of personal finance lessons. For more information, visit www.finhabits.com .

Media Contact:

Jacqueline Silva

Caliber Corporate Advisers for Smart

Jacqueline@calibercorporate.com

Media Contact:

Adal Gutierrez

VP Marketing and Communications for Finhabits

Press@finhabits.com

SOURCE: Smart

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683253/Global-Retirement-Technology-Provider-Smart-Partners-with-Finhabits-a-Leading-Money-App-for-the-Latino-Community
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Eagle Plains Resources (TSXV:EPL) is pleased to announce that option partner Rockridge Resources Ltd. (TSXV:ROCK)(OTCQB:RRRLF)(FRA:RR0) ("Rockridge") has released further sampling and prospecting results from the 2021 exploration program at the Knife Lake Copper VMS Project located in Saskatchewan, Canada (the "Knife Lake Project" or "Property"). The Knife Lake Project, consisting of 82 claims totaling 56,865 hectares (140,516 acres), is an advanced-stage copper, silver, zinc and cobalt exploration property in Saskatchewan host to the Knife Lake Deposit.

Rockridge holds the exclusive option from Eagle Plains to acquire a 100% interest in the Property that covers the Knife Lake Cu-Zn-Ag-Co VMS deposit (details following). The contiguous claims are located approximately 50 km northwest of Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan. A 357kV powerline runs within 16 km of the Knife Lake Deposit area.

See Knife Lake VMS Project Location Map here

Rockridge has received results from a field program completed in October of last year. A two-person field crew was mobilized to complete mapping and prospecting at regional target areas, investigating conductivity and magnetic anomalies identified through the Phase I (Winter 2021) and Phase II (Fall 2021) airborne geophysical programs (VTEM).

See Knife Lake Project VTEM Coverage Map here

A total of 29 samples were submitted for assay, 26 samples from regional targets and 3 confirmation samples from historic trenches at the Knife Lake Deposit. Two samples collected from historic trenches at the Knife Lake Deposit returned significant results and are summarized in the table below.

Sample ID Au Ag Cu Co Zn (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) OMKFR006 0.11 4.34 1.60 0.01 0.10 OMKFR007 0.70 15.45 4.06 0.01 0.55

*Rock grab samples are selective and not necessary representative of the mineralization throughout the deposit

Prospecting on the west side of the Gilbert Lake target identified altered volcanic and green pegmatite lithologies consistent with the host rocks at the deposit, indicating continuity of favourable stratigraphy approximately 10 km west of the deposit. Field geologists reported visual confirmation of trace interstitial chalcopyrite hosted within the green pegmatite interval.

See Knife Lake Grab Sample Survey Map here

Field crews were only able to investigate a limited number of high-priority regional targets and additional field work is required to adequately study the source of these newly defined regional conductors. Interpretation of field results and geophysical modelling is underway to further refine drill targets for Rockridge's planned upcoming diamond drill program.

Rockridge's CEO, Jonathan Wiesblatt, commented: "We are very pleased with these sampling results as we enter 2022 with robust discovery potential around the deposit and at regional targets that we plan to test with an upcoming drill program. The findings from geophysical programs and field work carried out in 2021 have refined existing targets and have identified new ones. We look forward to continuing to advance the Knife Lake Project as we believe there is significant value yet to be unlocked at the property."

Knife Lake Geology and History

The Knife Lake Deposit is interpreted to be a remobilized VMS deposit. The stratabound mineralized zone is approximately 15m thick and contains copper, silver, zinc, gold and cobalt mineralization which dips 30 to 50 eastward over a known strike-length within Rockridge's claim area of 3,700 metres, and a known average down-dip extension of approximately 300 metres.

See Knife Lake Deposit Map here

The deposit is hosted by felsic to intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks which have been metamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies. The deposit contains VMS mineralogy which has been significantly modified and partially remobilized during the emplacement of granitic rocks. The mineralization straddles the boundary between two rock units and occurs on both limbs of an interpreted overturned fold.

Rockridge has completed twenty-four holes consisting of 3096 metres of diamond drilling in the 2019 and 2021 winter drilling programs. This represented the first drilling on the property since 2001. Both programs have given Rockridge's technical team valuable insights into the property geology, alteration, and mineralization that will be applied to future regional exploration on the highly prospective and underexplored land package.

Highlights from the drill programs include previously reported hole KF19003 which intersected net-textured to semi-massive sulphide mineralization from 11.2m to 48.8m downhole. This 37.6 metre interval returned 2.03% Cu, 0.19 g/t Au, 9.88 g/t Ag, 0.36% Zn, and 0.01% Co for an estimated 2.42% CuEq.

In August 2019, Rockridge announced a maiden NI 43-101 resource estimate for the Knife Lake deposit which consisted of a pit-constrained indicated resource of 3.8 million tonnes at 1.02% CuEq and an inferred resource of 7.9 million tonnes at 0.67% CuEq using a 0.4% CuEq cut-off. For more information, please refer to the News Release dated August 14th, 2019 or the NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Knife Lake Property, Saskatchewan dated September 27, 2019, filed on Sedar.

Knife Lake Option Agreement Details

To earn a 100% interest in the Knife Lake Project, Rockridge has agreed to make a cash payment to Eagle Plains of $150,000 (complete), issue up to 5,550,000 common shares of Rockridge (4,550,000 shares issued to date) and complete $3,250,000 in exploration expenditures over four years. Eagle Plains will retain a 2% net smelter royalty ("NSR") on certain claims which comprise the project area. Under the terms of the agreement Rockridge is designated as the Operator of the project.

Qualified Person

Kerry Bates, P. Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and a Geologist employed by Eagle Plains Resources, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release relating to the Knife Lake Project.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSX-V (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin-outs, has transferred approximately $95,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and Taiga Gold being notable examples.

The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team. Eagle Plains also holds significant royalty interests in western Canadian projects, covering a broad spectrum of commodities. Management's focus is to advance its most promising exploration projects. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

Expenditures from 2011-2021 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $27M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 42,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683620/Eagle-Plains-Partner-Rockridge-Resources-Reports-406-and-160-Copper-in-Grab-Samples-and-Identifies-New-Target-West-of-Gilbert-Lake-at-its-Knife-Lake-Project-Saskatchewan
CHEYENNE, WY / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / CADUCEUS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, CORP. (OTC PINK:CSOC) ("Caduceus" or the "Company"), a consumer goods focused holding company and owner of McLovin's Pet Food, Inc., is pleased to announce that it will participate in a live Discord Questions & Answers Meeting with shareholders and prospective investors.

The Company will be attending the Q&A on January 19th, 2022, at 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

The Q&A will be conducted on the Company's Discord Channel and hosted by Apollo Assets. We invite investors to attend the Live Questions & Answers event by joining the designated Discord channel. Use this link to join and access the Caduceus / Apollo Assets Discord channel:

https://discord.gg/apolloassets

"2021 was a very busy year for us. The acquisition of a solid company like McLovin's completed one of our major milestones. Since then, many developments have taken place. The McLovin's brand is stronger now than ever before. Feedback has been amazing, and this has translated into many new opportunities for the Company. We wish to update our shareholders and listen to their questions. We are looking forward to this next Discord Q&A.", said Alex Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Caduceus Software Systems, Inc.

About Caduceus Software Systems, Corp.

Caduceus Software Systems Corp is a Wyoming-based holding company with is wholly owned subsidiary McLovin's, a Pet Food and Pet Care company. The Pet Food and Pet Care market size was USD 207 Billion in 2020 with a stellar growth of 28.11%. The industry is expected to grow to USD 325 Billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 5.6%. The Pet Food and Pet Care products include food, hygiene, toys, and other accessories. The Company is traded on the OTC Markets under the trading symbol" CSOC".

For more information:

OTC Markets: (OTC Pink: CSOC)

Website: https://caduceuscorp.co

Email: info@caduceuscorp.co

Discord: https://discord.gg/apolloassets

Twitter: https://twitter.com/caduceuscorp

About McLovin's Pet Food, Inc

McLovin's, Inc. is a California company specialized on the manufacturing and distribution of quality pet foods. We believe in real food. What you'll find in McLovin's is similar to what you'll find in your own grocery cart. In the case of our premium treats, it starts (and ends) with real beef, chicken and salmon. Our products are developed using responsible sourcing and quality is a key part of every single part of our manufacturing process.

Corporate Website: https://mclovinspetfood.com/

Forward-Looking Statements:

Safe Harbour Statement - In addition to historical information, this press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the intent, belief, or expectations of the Company and members of its management team with respect to the Company's future business operations and the assumptions upon which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, failure to complete anticipated sales under negotiations, lack of revenue growth, client discontinuances, failure to realize improvements in performance, efficiency and profitability, and adverse developments with respect to litigation or increased litigation costs, the operation or performance of the Company's business units or the market price of its common stock. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found on the Company's website. The Company disclaims any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Caduceus Software Systems, Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683805/Caduceus-To-Participate-in-Live-Investor-QA
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF) (the "Company" or "Fathom") is pleased to announce the buyback of the 2% net smelter return royalty on the Albert Lake nickel, copper, PGE property located in north-central Saskatchewan (the "Albert Lake NSR").

Pursuant to a Royalty Purchase Agreement dated January 12, 2022, between Uravan Minerals Inc. ("Uravan") and Fathom's wholly owned subsidiary, Fathom Minerals Ltd., Fathom paid cash consideration of $175,000 for the purchase of the Albert Lake NSR. The Albert Lake NSR was originally granted to Uravan in accordance with a Purchase and Sale Agreement dated April 15, 2015, wherein Fathom acquired the Albert Lake property from Uravan (then named the Rottenstone Property).

Brad Van Den Bussche, President and CEO commented, "With the buyback of the Albert Lake NSR, Fathom has now eliminated third-party royalties on all but approximately 856 hectares of the 90,000+ hectare Albert Lake Property, or less than 1% of the total project. The completion of this transaction gives us increased financial flexibility as we continue to explore the Albert Lake property."

Fathom is also pleased to announce that the Q1-2022 exploration drill program commenced on January 12, 2022 and the first diamond drill hole of the planned 5,000m program has been completed. Assay results will be released as received over the coming months.

About Fathom Nickel Inc.

Fathom is a junior resource exploration and development company that is targeting high-grade nickel sulphide discoveries for use in the rapidly growing global electric vehicle market.

The Company is accelerating exploration on its flagship Albert Lake Project, host to the historic Rottenstone mine, which is recognized as one of the highest-grade (Nickel, Copper, Platinum group metals) deposits of its type ever mined in Canada. The Albert Lake Project consists of over 90,000 ha of mineral claims located in the Trans-Hudson Corridor of Saskatchewan, which is home to numerous world-class mining camps.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Brad Van Den Bussche"

President and CEO, Director

For Further Information Please Contact:

Brad Van Den Bussche, President and CEO

or

Manish Grigo, Director of Corporate Development

+1-416-569-3292



Email: ir@fathomnickel.com

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the enhancement of the Company's geologic model and extending the areas of known mineralization and the Company's work towards defining a resource base. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the results of exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110615
Paper introduces new business model for bringing first party data on-chain

Today, the Pyth Data Association, in collaboration with the community of Pyth network participants, announced the publication of its whitepaper that expands on the design of the Pyth Network and the governance structure that will guide the development of the protocol and governance input from PYTH token-holders, who will help secure the accuracy of the data on the Pyth network.

Traditional markets typically maintain strict control over live and historical price feeds, and financial market data is often only available to a limited set of institutions and users. This has made it challenging for centralized and decentralized applications (dApps) to access secure and accurate price updates for cryptocurrencies and data from traditional markets. The Pyth whitepaper outlines how the introduction of data fees and data staking pools can be used to incentivize data contributors to self-publish price data for developers to incorporate into smart contracts or dApps.

The protocol will have three different sets of participants:

Publishers publish price feeds and earn a share of data fees in exchange. Publishers are typically market participants with access to accurate and timely price information. The protocol rewards publishers in proportion to the quantity of new pricing information that they share.

Consumers read price feeds, incorporate data into smart contracts or dApps, and optionally pay data fees. Consumers can either be on-chain protocols or off-chain applications.

Delegators stake tokens and earn data fees in exchange for potentially losing their stake if the oracle is inaccurate.

These participants will interact via four mechanisms. All of these mechanisms will be implemented on-chain:

Price aggregation combines the price feeds of individual publishers into a single price feed for the product. This mechanism is designed to produce robust price feeds, that is, feeds whose prices cannot be significantly influenced by small groups of publishers.

combines the price feeds of individual publishers into a single price feed for the product. This mechanism is designed to produce robust price feeds, that is, feeds whose prices cannot be significantly influenced by small groups of publishers. Data staking allows delegators to stake tokens to earn data fees. The delegators in aggregate also determine the level of influence that each publisher has on the aggregate price. In addition, this mechanism determines whether delegators' stakes are slashed. Finally, the mechanism collects data fees from consumers and distributes a share to delegators. The remainder goes into a reward pool that is distributed to publishers.

allows delegators to stake tokens to earn data fees. The delegators in aggregate also determine the level of influence that each publisher has on the aggregate price. In addition, this mechanism determines whether delegators' stakes are slashed. Finally, the mechanism collects data fees from consumers and distributes a share to delegators. The remainder goes into a reward pool that is distributed to publishers. Reward distribution determines the share of the reward pool earned by each publisher. This mechanism preferentially rewards publishers with higher quality price feeds and reduces the likelihood that uninformed publishers will earn rewards.

determines the share of the reward pool earned by each publisher. This mechanism preferentially rewards publishers with higher quality price feeds and reduces the likelihood that uninformed publishers will earn rewards. Governance determines high-level parameters of the other three mechanisms and the protocol broadly.

"Blockchain technology has accelerated a massive transformation that's happening right now in the financial industry," said Mike Cahill, Director of the Pyth Data Association. "The demand for high-quality, reliable, real-time data will only continue to grow as developers build new Web3 dApps and find new uses for first-party data."

"The Pyth Network will power an autonomous and decentralized marketplace for traditional finance firms to participate in the DeFi data economy," said David Mercer, CEO of LMAX Group and Pyth Data Association Board Director. "Some of the biggest players in the financial industry, already joined the Pyth network as data providers, contributing to how market data is being used in the DeFi ecosystem."

The Pyth whitepaper also highlights how PYTH (the native token for the Pyth network) will be used to participate in the decentralized project. With the goal of making the Pyth network self-sustaining, the Association and network participants will guide the initial development of the protocol based on the ideas in the whitepaper, feedback from the broader crypto community, and governance input from PYTH token-holders.

The initial version of the Pyth Network is running on the Solana network and counts Bitstamp, FTX, Jane Street, Jump Trading Group, LMAX Group, MEMX, TwoSigma Securities, Virtu as data publishers. Leading Solana dApps like Bonfida, Drift, Hxro, Mango Markets, Port, Saber Labs, Solend, Synthetify and Zeta Markets have already integrated with Pyth network to strengthen their protocols' uptime guarantees and automate critical on-chain functions. At the end of 2021, the Network secured $1.17B in total value with over 40 data providers onboarded and 55 price feeds available for use across 15 international communities.

The white paper can be viewed in its entirety at pyth.network.

About Pyth Data Association

The Pyth Data Association is a Swiss association founded by Pyth Network participants to advance the development of the network. For more information, please visit PythDataAssociation.com

About Pyth Network

Pyth connects high-fidelity market data from first-party data owners including exchanges and trading firms to any smart contract, anywhere.

To learn more about the Pyth network, visit pyth.network, visit us on Discord or follow us on Twitter @PythNetwork

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005750/en/

Contacts:

Carissa Felger

Gasthalter Co.

(212) 257-4170

pyth@gasthalter.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Thunderstruck Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AWE) (The "Company") is pleased to announce the following updates on its exploration projects in Fiji:

Preliminary results from Liwa indicate the presence of a large mineralized system interpreted to be the top of a porphyry copper-gold system.

Full assays from the 2021 exploration program are pending. Initial results are encouraging and demonstrate the presence of anomalous gold in the system.

The Company has appointed Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol to Thunderstruck's Board of Directors and as Senior Exploration Manager, in which role he will oversee the Company's exploration programs.

Nicol Appointed to the Board to Oversee Exploration

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol to the Board of Directors and the position of Senior Exploration Manager. Dusty has a B.Sc. degree in Earth Science from M.I.T. and an M.A. degree in geology from Indiana University. Dusty has over 45 years of world-wide experience in gold exploration and mining. He has designed and managed successful gold exploration programs throughout North and South America, Africa, Russia and the Former Soviet Union, and Papua New Guinea. He has also designed and managed generative gold exploration programs in Africa and Europe. At Jerritt Canyon, Nevada, he designed and managed the exploration program which discovered over 1.5 million ounces of gold at a discovery cost of about $18 / ounce over a 5-year period. His exploration program at the Tulkubash oxide deposit, Kyrgyzstan, added over 600,000 ounces of gold to M&I Resource in the first year, at a discovery cost of $11.40 / ounce.

Dusty has held senior corporate positions on several publicly listed companies (TSX, TSX-V, ASX, AIM, and ASE), having served as a CEO / President, VP-Exploration, Technical Director, and Independent Director. Dusty is a QP (NI 43-101) and CP (JORC).

Bryce Bradley, Thunderstruck's President/CEO states, "With the addition of Dusty to the Board of Directors, and taking on the role of Senior Exploration Manager, we are poised for an aggressive advancement of our Fijian assets. His exploration experience, passion and track record for discoveries will lead the Company to great success, and we're very happy that he believes in the significant upside of our projects."

Dusty added, "I am very pleased to be joining Thunderstruck in this role. I believe the Company's projects are very exciting and have tremendous discovery potential. I look forward to being part of the excellent and professional exploration team that the Company has put together and participating in the discoveries that I feel are going to be made on our projects."

Liwa

Drillhole "Liwa 1" intersected a broad zone (over 15.5 m) of clay-sericite-quartz alteration as well as other significant zones of alteration and mineralization, including over 25.5m of intense silicification, and zones up to 5.6m of visible sulphides. This alteration and mineralization are interpreted as epithermal, consistent with the upper portion of a porphyry copper-gold system. Assays from this drillhole are pending. An interval of 0.24m at 1.65 g/t Au and 5.14 g/t Ag was intersected in this drillhole.





Figure 1: Diagram of a telescoped porphyry-copper system from Sillitoe, 2010 "Porphyry Copper Systems". Edited to show possible relationship between Liwa and Rama.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2901/110631_d3bfb1f8c474bad4_002full.jpg

Results from the drill hole confirm the presence of anomalous gold grades at depth on the property. Further, they indicate that the epithermal system linked to gold grades at surface continues at least 72m below ground, with continued potential at greater depths. Mineral alteration and vein textures at depth suggest that a complex and potentially ore-forming system exists at Liwa. Additionally, these features allude to the existence of a deeper "boiling zone" that is predicted to host higher gold grades at depth (See press release dated October 11, 2019).

Assays of samples collected during the 2021 mapping campaign confirm further extension of the epithermal system along-strike at Liwa, with samples in the new area grading up to 0.4 g/t Au. Additionally, the new outcrop of the Liwa Ridge breccia graded up to 1.010 g/t Au and 22.3 g/t Ag. This outcrop allowed for structural measurements to be taken of the breccia, which will lead to much improved drillhole targeting when the structure is drilled in 2022. The geochemistry and alteration at Liwa support the idea that is the top of a porphyry copper-gold system. Liwa is adjacent to the Company's Rama License, which has been identified as a porphyry copper-gold system. This supports the speculation that Liwa and Rama may be part of one large mineralized porphyry copper-gold system.

In addition, a distinct unit of volcanic rock hosting sulphide mineralization has been identified at Liwa, similar to the volcanic unit hosting massive sulphide mineralization at the Company's volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) projects, Korokayiu and Nakoro. This volcanic unit has been identified in both drill core and outcrop. This adds credence to the notion that the company's properties are all situated within a broad metallogenic region hosting a variety of deposit types. The geological team is excited to develop this idea further as they continue to refine their understanding of the region's geology.

Table 1: Intervals from the Liwa 1 drillhole with the highest precious metal grades. Interval Start Interval End Interval Length Au g/t Ag g/t 30.9 31.14 0.24 1.675 5.14 100.8 101.5 0.7 0.07 1.34 103.9 104.4 0.5 0.01 1.86

Table 2: Rock samples collected during Liwa mapping with significant precious metal grades. Sample Au g/t Ag g/t 21OVP029 1.010 5.19 21OVP030 0.511 22.3 21OVP031 0.539 19.75 21OVP032 0.013 1.65



Nakoro

Mapping on the Nakoro prospect was carried out between 24/11/2021 and 03/12/21. The purpose of this was: to verify the work and results of previous studies; develop a better understanding of the structure in the area; develop a better understanding of the alteration in the area; and to investigate the extension of existing targets along-strike.

Company geologists uncovered a 2km along-strike extension of the Nakoro massive sulphide gossans that can be correlated to targets that were historically drilled by Anglo American. This represents a significant enlargement of the prospect and provides additional targets for drilling in the 2022 season. Additionally, a gabbro intrusion hosting copper minerals such as bornite and chalcopyrite was discovered to the east of Nakoro Village. This is a potentially significant component of the mineralising system at Nakoro, and company geologists are excited to develop it further through upcoming assay results and investigation in the 2022 exploration season. The complexity of the geology in the area confirms that this was a geologically dynamic region of Fiji with great mineral potential.

2022 Exploration Plans

The exploration program for 2022 is being developed and is contemplated to include the following:

Liwa: Drilling at Liwa Ridge, Jensen's, Gunn and Vatuvatulevu.

Nakoro: Drilling Gossan Unit, geological mapping, and geochemical sampling both directions along strike; potentially drilling intrusive unit.

Rama: Investigating Senikura Zone: objective to confirm presence of high-sulphidation epithermal system and define drill targets for late 2022 or early 2023.

Korokayiu: drilling defined targets at Wainaleka. Defining and drilling new targets at Kula 1.

Regional and district-scale geologic mapping and geochemical sampling over Liwa-Rama and Nakoro-Liwa deposits.

About Fiji

Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji, has a long mining history. It is on the prolific Pacific Ring of Fire, a trend that has produced numerous large deposits, including Porgera, Lihir and Grasberg. The island of Viti Levu hosts Namosi, held by a joint venture between Newcrest and Mitsubishi. Newcrest published Proven and Probable Reserves for Namosi of 1.3 billion tonnes at 0.37% Cu and 0.12 g/t Au (5.2M ounces Au and 4.9M tonnes Cu). Namosi is now undergoing environmental assessment as part of the permitting process. Lion One Metals is now developing its Tuvatu Project, with Indicated Resources of 1.00 million tonnes at 8.48 g/t Au (274,600 ounces Au), and Inferred Resources of 1.33 million tonnes at 9.0 g/t Au (384,000 ounces Au) reported at a 3.0 g/t Au lower cutoff. The Vatukoula Gold Mine has been operating for 80 years, producing in excess of 7 million ounces.

About Thunderstruck Resources

Thunderstruck Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company that has assembled extensive and highly prospective properties in Fiji on which recent and previous exploration has confirmed zinc, copper, and precious metals mineralization. The Company provides investors with exposure to a diverse portfolio of exploration stage projects with potential for zinc, copper, gold and silver in a politically safe and stable jurisdiction. Thunderstruck trades on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol "AWE" and United States OTC under the symbol "THURF".

Methodology and QA/QC

The analytical work reported on herein was performed by Australian Laboratory Services Pty. Ltd. (ALS) at Perth, WA. ALS is an ISO-IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited geoanalytical laboratory and is independent of the Thunderstruck Resources and the QP.

Rock and drill core samples were subject to crushing with >85% passing 3.15mm and then pulverised to better than 85% passing minus 75 micron. Samples were then split using a riffle splitter. A 0.25 gram sample pulp was then subject to 4-acid (HF-HNO3-HClO4) digestion and analysis through a combination of ICP-AES & ICP-MS (ME-MS61) for most elements, including silver. A 30 gram fire assay fusion (Au-ICP22) was used for gold determination.

Thunderstruck Resources follows industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Liwa prospect, with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate and standard samples were inserted into the sample sequence sent to the laboratory for analysis. Thunderstruck Resources detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data. Thunderstruck Resources is not aware of any sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.

Qualified Person Statement

Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, FAusIMM, RG, the Company's Director and Senior Exploration Manager, is a Qualified Person for the Company's projects as defined by National Instrument NI 43-101. Mr. Nicol has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

For additional information, please contact:

Rob Christl, VP Business Development and Investor Relations

Email: rob@thunderstruck.ca

P: 778 840-7180

or, visit our website: http://www.thunderstruck.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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 contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Although Thunderstruck believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Thunderstruck's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Thunderstruck undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110631
MORRISTOWN (dpa-AFX) - Honeywell International Inc. (HON), a diversified manufacturing and technology company, said on Tuesday that it has elected Rose Lee as CEO of Cornerstone Building Brands, manufacturer of exterior building products in North America. Lee has extensive environmental, social and governance (ESG) experience and has served as president, chief executive officer, and a member of the board of directors of Cornerstone Building Brands since September 2021. Lee is also a member of the board of Crown Holdings, Inc., where she serves as the board's representative on sustainability. Earlier, Lee had served as president of DuPont's Water & Protection business. Prior to joining DuPont in 2015, Lee spent 15 years with Saint-Gobain in a number of general management, strategic planning, and information technology roles. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Nuclera, a UK-based biotech company developing cutting-edge benchtop protein printing technologies, announces the opening of its US subsidiary in Boston, MA.

The addition of this US facility in the rapidly growing biotechnology hub of greater Boston is a critical step in the company's plans, paving the way for Nuclera's revolutionary eProteinTM desktop bioprinter-that offers unprecedented speed and convenience for biotherapeutics, agribiotech and other markets of global importance. Nuclera's eProtein bioprinter is born out of a strategic partnership with E Ink-the pioneers of ePaper-allowing the combination of biopolymer synthesis technologies with digital microfluidics.

The US facilities are the result of a $4.5 million E Ink renovation, reinforcing Nuclera's position as a technological innovator in the bioprinting space. "Our new laboratories and pilot manufacturing facilities in Boston will support Nuclera's goal to commercialize its eProtein technology significantly accelerating drug discovery workflows", says Dr Michael Chen, CEO and cofounder of Nuclera.

"This site opening just outside one of the most important biotech markets is a big step towards Nuclera's goal to make proteins accessible through desktop bioprinting", added Chen. "Our new facility has been specifically designed to accommodate our expanding team and will support Nuclera's ambitious roadmap. We are proud to have operations in both the UK and US, further strengthening our position in the global biotech space."

As part of Nuclera's global expansion, Richard Paolini Jr, has been appointed Vice President of eDropTM R&D, the first of many US-based appointments. With over 20 years of R&D experience, Rick is an inventor named on over 100 US patents on technologies that have helped E Ink to enable and transform the eReader market. Rick is now leading the development of closely related technologies to enable Nuclera's eDropTM digital microfluidic systems-requiring integration of complex chemical, biological, electronic, and mechanical elements.

Dr Michael McCreary, E Ink's Chief Innovation Officer and Nuclera Board Director commented, "E Ink is very excited about the continuing collaboration and partnership with Nuclera in this expanding biotechnology market sector that is of such global importance. The transfer of Rick and his talented microfluidics team of scientists from E Ink to Nuclera and the renovation of the US-based biotechnology R&D center that Nuclera will occupy will ensure ongoing biotechnology advancements leading to a successful commercial launch of the Nuclera eProtein platform."

www.nuclera.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005332/en/

Contacts:

Victoria Coupe

+44 (0)1489557672

victoriac@alto-marketing.com
The Regional Managing Director at Apex Group and Board Member of Mauritius Finance comments:

We are delighted with the European Commissions decision to remove Mauritius from the EU blacklist at the end of February 2022. Following the removal of Mauritius from the FATF list of high risk countries last year, this news is another positive step forwards for its financial services industry and further positions Mauritius as a jurisdiction of choice for funds. In recent years, Mauritius has made significant progress with regard to AML/CFT compliance and can now be considered a model jurisdiction ahead of countries like Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and even some member states of the European Union and the FATF.

Since its establishment in Mauritius in 2006, Apex has played a leading role in its financial services industry, growing both organically and through acquisition to support over 200 clients and now administering over 15% of all new funds in the jurisdiction. We are proud to have actively contributed to the recent positive outcomes and successful efforts to continue Mauritius role as an attractive financial centre enabled by a robust regulatory framework.
REDMOND (dpa-AFX) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) said it plans to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) for $95.00 per share, in an all-cash deal valued at $68.7 billion, inclusive of Activision Blizzard's net cash. The planned acquisition includes iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty and Candy Crush in addition to global eSports activities through Major League Gaming. Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard. The Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming. Microsoft said the acquisition will accelerate the growth in its gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse. The company noted that, with the acquisition, it will become the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. The acquisition is expected to close in fiscal 2023. Microsoft said the deal will be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share upon close. It also bolsters Microsoft's Game Pass portfolio with plans to launch Activision Blizzard games into Game Pass. When the transaction closes, Microsoft will have 30 internal game development studios, along with additional publishing and esports production capabilities. Shares of Activision Blizzard were up 35% in pre-market trade on Tuesday. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Prominent industry experts share their predictions for the year ahead

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are maturing from tech world's favorite buzzwords to indispensable solutions for real-world problems. What to expect in terms of their development in 2022? Renowned industry experts and members of Oxylabs AI & ML Advisory Board - Pujaa Rajan and Gautam Kedia from Stripe, Ali Chaudhry from University College London and AI researcher Jonas Kubilius share their views.

Where AI meets blockchain

Pujaa Rajan, Machine Learning Engineer at Stripe and AI&ML Advisory Board member at Oxylabs, believes that some of the most interesting new developments will be where AI meets blockchain technology.

According to her, the advent of Web3 and crypto will have an interesting intersection with artificial intelligence in 2022. AI and blockchain together have applications in finance, healthcare, and more.

"Blockchain has the potential to give people the power to manage data privacy and security. Imagine a world where you own your data and/or algorithms, control it's transparency, and maybe even get paid for your data. Currently, a lot of AI applications do not run on the blockchain because of latency issues and data centralization. However, advancements in both fields could change this in 2022," Pujaa says.

Machine learning expert predicts that we may start to see decentralized artificial intelligence in the new decentralized web.

"In this new world, machines may make decisions on data around the world independently without the middleman or middlewoman. While I don't think we'll get this advanced in one year alone, we still need to be aware of the perpetuation of any existing biases in Web3 while we are still building the foundation of this new world," Pujaa argues.

Gautam Kedia, Machine Learning Engineering Manager at Stripe and Oxylabs Advisory Board member has similar hopes for Web3: "In my view, Web3 will likely release its first killer application," he says.

Natural language processing going mainstream

Jonas Kubilius, Co-founder and senior AI engineer at Three Thirds, and member of Oxylabs Advisory Board, expects to see the continued emergence of tools for managing various aspects of ML/AI infrastructure and operations.

"With this ecosystem maturing, more ML/AI solutions will be successfully deployed at scale and start bringing value to customers. Personally, I'm really hoping to see content generation and speech-to-text and text-to-speech products going mainstream," Jonas says.

Ali Chaudhry, researcher at University College London and also a member of Oxylabs Advisory Board, seconds these predictions:

"Considering the increased accuracy of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques in recent years, we will see a rise in NLP powered tools and apps. Reinforcement Learning will continue to play an important role in AI breakthroughs and real-world deployments," Ali says.

Meanwhile, Gautam Kedia believes that some of the industries where we could see AI breakthrough will be the health industry and transport: "AI will be more widely used in medical developments. Self-driving robotaxis will start challenging traditional rideshare," he says.

Focus on AI ethics

On the other hand, Ali Chaudhry believes that in 2022 we will see more regulations specifically targeting AI systems deployed in the real-world. Companies will be required to share more information on how they build AI systems and what are their limitations.

"Last year I predicted more real-world AI failures and we have recently seen Zillow's AI debacle along with Facebook stepping back from facial recognition systems. This trend may unfortunately continue in 2022 as well, as we see more AI failures in real-world deployments," Ali says.

He adds that there will be more publications on AI ethics by the industry and academia as well. We will also see a great influx of talent in the data science and artificial intelligence fields to meet the growing needs of companies becoming data-driven and AI ready.

Oxylabs AI & ML Advisory Board comprises leading figures in the machine learning, AI, and data science industries, many of whom have experience working for highly reputable organisations such as NASA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and UCL. The Board consists of 5 members: AI researchers Ali Chaudhry from University College London and Jonas Kubilius from Three Thirds, Pujaa Rajan and Gautam Kedia from Stripe, and renowned data science consultant Adi Andrei. The board supports Oxylabs commitment to innovation providing expertise and guidance on new technology developments.

About Oxylabs

Oxylabs is a leading global provider of premium proxies and data scraping solutions for large-scale web data extraction. The company's mission is clear: To give every business - whether big or small - access to big data. With unmatched hands-on experience in publicly available web data gathering, Oxylabs is in trusted partnerships with dozens of Fortune 500 companies and global businesses, helping them unearth hidden gems of business intelligence data through state-of-the-art products and technological expertise. For more information, please visit: https://oxylabs.io/

Media Contact:

Vytautas Kirjazovas

Email: press@oxylabs.io

Website: www.oxylabs.io

SOURCE: Oxylabs

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684290/AIML-in-2022-More-Real-World-Deployments-Focus-On-AI-Ethics-and-Blockchain-Hopes
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) ("Southern Silver" and the "Company") reports that it has received all approvals from the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division, the New Mexico State Land Office, and the Bureau of Land Management to conduct an approximate 4,000-metre diamond drilling program to test several copper porphyry and skarn targets at its wholly owned Oro property, located in southwestern New Mexico, USA.

Figure 1: Selected Drill Targets (A-H) on the Oro Project



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5344/110583_25ff1e5c746eda26_002full.jpg

The property consists of patented land, New Mexico State leases, and Federal/BLM mineral claims acquired by purchase, staking and lease over the past several years. Several historic mines produced copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold from discrete portions of the amalgamated property. The property covers a large, well-zoned Laramide-age mineral system consisting of a ring of Carbonate Replacement Deposits (CRDs) around a core of intense sericite-pyrite alteration, which clay mineralogy indicates is the lithocap overlying an unexposed porphyry centre. Targeting for copper mineralization is based upon 3D modelling of data generated by geologic mapping, historic drill holes, geochemical zoning studies, alteration clay zoning studies, and geophysical surveys. A 6-hole (4,000-metre) diamond drill program will focus on porphyry and skarn targets and is expected to commence early in February.

Surrounding the CRD zone are distal-disseminated, sediment-hosted, gold showings, such as at the Stockpond target, where the Company has conducted limited exploratory drilling. The drilling encountered strongly oxidized, disseminated gold mineralization beneath shallow gravel cover that was limited by a post-mineral fault which buried potential extensions beneath thick gravel cover and which remains open for further exploration.

Southern Silver also expanded the property by staking 40 new unpatented lode claims to cover a gold + copper geochemical anomaly in soils along the projection of the gold zone under gravel cover south of the Stockpond target where gravity geophysics indicates that the gravel is shallow. The new claims increase the size of the property to approximately 26 square kilometers. The soil sampling was conducted in early September, with follow-up soil lines added in October which verified the soil anomaly.

President, Lawrence Page Q. C. commented, "Oro is a large district play that we have been systematically consolidating and advancing for several years, and we feel this is an opportune time to test the copper targets and potentially develop a copper resource. For several years our financing and exploration and development efforts have been concentrated at our Cerro las Minitas property in Durango Mexico where the mineral inventory of silver, lead and zinc has been increased to Indicated 137Mozs AgEq or 2.3Blbs ZnEq: 42.1Mozs Ag, 358Mlbs Pb, and 895Mlbs Zn; and Inferred 198Mozs AgEq or 3.3Blbs ZnEq: 73.6Mozs Ag, 500Mlbs Pb, and 1,009Mlbs Zn(1) with a Preliminary Economic Assessment currently being conducted by an independent consultant. Addition of a significant copper resource to our global mineral inventory, assuming success in our exploration program, would add a component to an inventory of metals which are increasingly in demand by manufacturers in the emerging energy storage and transmission industries."

Figure 2: Interpretive Cross-section of Porphyry targets on the Oro Property



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5344/110583_25ff1e5c746eda26_003full.jpg

Hermanas Project

In other news, geological mapping and sampling at the Company's recently acquired Hermanas Gold/Silver property is expected to be completed in early February. Following receipt of assays, Southern Silver will select drill sites and begin permitting an initial drilling program, planned for Q4 2022 or Q1 2023.

Figure 3: Location of Oro and Hermanas Projects in southwestern New Mexico, USA



To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5344/110583_25ff1e5c746eda26_004full.jpg

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is a precious and base metal exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in north-central Mexico and in the Southern USA. Our specific emphasis is the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The property portfolio also includes the 100% owned Oro porphyry copper-gold project as well as the recently acquired Las Hermanas project, both located in southern New Mexico, USA. The Oro claim package covers a large, zoned Laramide-age mineralizing system containing a number of highly prospective, drill -ready porphyry/skarn and distal gold targets. Five historic mines on the Oro property produced silver, gold, lead, and zinc at shallow levels from carbonate-replacement deposits which the company interpret as being outboard of a deeper porphyry copper deposit. The Company recently acquired an option to earn 100% interest in the Hermanas gold-silver epithermal vein system 30km east of the Oro project. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is the VP Exploration of Southern Silver Exploration Corporation, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the supervision of the Company's exploration programs and for the preparation of the technical information in this disclosure.

(1) The 2021 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 3m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn values interpolated using ID2 weighting. Silver, zinc equivalent and $NSR/t values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The model is identified at a $NSR/t cut-off, with an indicated resource of 12,325,000 tonnes averaging 106g/t Ag, 0.07g/t Au, 1.3% Pb, 3.3% Zn and 0.16% Cu and an inferred resource of 19,605,000 tonnes averaging 117g/t Ag, 0.12g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 2.3% Zn and 0.23% Cu. AgEq cut-off values and NSR values were calculated using average long-term prices of $20/oz. silver, $1,650/oz. gold, $3.50/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.20/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries are variable as a function of deposit and concentrate and are detailed in NR-18-21, Oct 27, 2021. Base case cut-off grade assumed $60NSR/tonne operating, processing and sustaining costs. All prices are stated in $USD. Silver Equivalents, Zn equivalents and $/t NSR values were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine final values. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

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 may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110583
-Advantages of low risk of complications with improved patient outcomes stimulate demand for minimally invasive continence care products

-Presence of handful of companies in the manufacture of wearable and non-implantable devices opens opportunities for startups and small players to boost R&D

ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Transparency Market Research: Analysts at TMR estimate the continence care market to expand at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2031. Increase in prevalence of stress incontinence and urge urinary incontinence fuels the growth of continence care market. Rising preference for minimally invasive continence care products for low risk of complications gains prominence in the continence care market. These devices help to prevent bladder injury, and are receiving adoption to reduce hospitalization and treatment costs for improved patient outcomes.

Moreover, product innovations and product approvals stimulate the growth of continence care market. The U.S. FDA approval of 'Attain' - a non-implantable muscle stimulator for the treatment of urge, stress, mixed urinary incontinence, and bowel incontinence in women, which is available over-the-counter is a case in point.

Request Brochure of Continence Care Market Research Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=50643

North America holds substantial revenue in the continence care market. The availability of a range of continence care products, along with recent development of electric stimulation devices in the U.S. spells growth in the continence care market of the region. The availability of reimbursement schemes such as manual electric stimulation of the pelvic floor for 15 minutes that is covered under the CPT code of 97032 of the U.S. reimbursement program stokes growth.

Continence Care Market - Key Findings of Report

Incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection necessitates companies to shift product offering from traditional indwelling catheters and increase the availability of intermittent catheters

Innovations for non-implantable and wearable electrical stimulation devices due to their efficiency to treat and manage stress, urge, and mixed incontinence among men and women to expand growth frontiers of continence care market

Companies in the continence care market engage in R&D to increase the availability of over-the-counter products for home use

Absorbents product segment held the leading share of 71.3% of the continence care market in the recent past

Availability of alternative incontinence treatment and management methods such as incontinence pads and therapeutic drugs affecting sales of continence care devices. In order to minimize dwindling sales, manufacturers in the continence care market need to diversify production into alternative treatment and management methods such as absorbable underwear and antispasmodic agents.

Presence of a handful of companies in the manufacture of non-implantable and wearable electrical stimulation continence care products opens opportunities for startups and small players to foray into the space

Launch of wearable continence care products supported by mobile apps to catalyze the continence care market. For instance, the first wearable continence care device DFree is supported by a mobile app that features to adjust the threshold timings and notifies the user based on their selection of 70%, 80%, or 85% fullness of the bladder.

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Continence Care Market - Growth Drivers

High prevalence of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder, expanding geriatric population, technological advancements, and favorable reimbursement policies fuel the growth of continence care market

Product innovations such as electrical stimulation devices and R&D for increasing range of over-the-counter (OTC) products stimulates the continence care market

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Continence Care Market - Key Players

Some of the key players operating in the continence care market are;

ABENA A/S

Attends Healthcare Products Inc.

Beambridge Medical Ltd.

Boston Scientific Corporation

ConvaTec Group plc

Hollister Incorporated

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Pacey MedTech Ltd.

Uresta

Vesiflo Inc.

Atlantic Therapeutics

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Coloplast A/S

Drylock Technologies

InControl Medical LLC

Optimum Medical Limited

Renew Medical Inc.

Urocare Products Inc.

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The continence care market is segmented as follows;

Continence Care Market, by Product

Urinary Catheters

External Catheters

Indwelling Catheters

Intermittent Catheters

Catheter Accessories

Male Bodyworn Urinals

Mechanical Devices for Women with Urinary Incontinence

Urethral Inserts

Intravaginal Devices

Urine Drainage Bags & Accessories

Leg Drainage Bags

Night Drainage Bags

Accessories

Absorbents

Penile Clamps

Non-implantable Electrical Stimulation Devices

Others

Continence Care Market, by Indication

Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI)

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)

Mixed Urinary Incontinence (MUI)

Others

Continence Care Market, by End-user

Acute Care Facilities

Long-term Care Facilities

Home Care

Others

Continence Care Market, by Region

U.S.

Canada

Germany

U.K.

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

China

Japan

India

Australia & New Zealand

& Rest of Asia Pacific

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

Modernization of healthcare in terms of both infrastructure and services have pushed the healthcare industry to new heights, Stay Updated with Latest Healthcare Industry Research Reports by Transparency Market Research:

Veterinary Equipment & Disposables Market: Increasing expenditure for maintaining superior animal health and rising demand for pet insurance, growing number of veterinary practitioners in the developed economies, and development in the market for companion animals are some the important factors that are helping to drive the growth of the global veterinary equipment and disposables market in the coming years of the forecast period ranging from 2018 to 2026.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Market: Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI is an advanced diagnostic technology for obtaining information from the interior of the body. Magnetic resonance imaging is also used in the industry for additional technical purposes. Main advantage of magnetic resonance imaging is that it can create 3D images of the object or patient under study without hurting the patient in any way and without using any ionizing radiation.

Botulinum Toxin Market: Surge in the rate of adoption of non-surgical botulinum toxin procedures, due to their noninvasive or minimally invasive nature, is boosting botulinum toxin market. Rise in the number of worldwide geriatric population and incidences of esthetic issues, such as crow's foot and lateral canthal lines, is a key factor that is anticipated to propel the botulinum toxin market during the forecast period.

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Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its partner Tocvan Ventures Corp. ("Tocvan") has reported four trench sample results at the Pilar Gold & Silver Project.

Tocvan is currently in its 3rd year of a 5 year agreement to earn an initial 51% of Colibri's Pilar Gold & Silver Project located in the prolific gold producing state of Sonora in Mexico. For full details of Colibri's agreement with Tocvan please see the Company's news release dated September 24th, 2019.

Tocvan reports

A total of four trenches were completed in December, 2021 totalling 80 meters length. All four trenches intersected mineralization with two trenches yielding consistent mineralization across the entire length of the trench. T-21-2, intersected 19.5 meters of 0.61 g/t Au across the entire length of the trench in an area along the developing 4-Trench Trend. T-21-3, yielded 19.8 meters of 0.73 g/t Au and was targeted to provide key geochemical information across the Main Zone where mineralization outcrops at surface. Initial bulk-sample material from T-21-3 will be submitted to SGS Laboratories in Durango, Mexico and used for column leach studies. Follow-up metallurgical studies will utilize the surface material extracted from the other three trenches.

Trench Results Highlights

T-21-1 - 4.9m at 0.55 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag

T-21-2 - 19.5m at 0.61 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag Including, 11.5m at 0.87 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag Including, 2.7m at 3.01 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag

T-21-3 - 19.8m at 0.73 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag Including 8.6m at 1.27 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag

T-21-4 - 7m at 0.54 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag

"The results from our trench program are very encouraging, especially in regard to defining key material for advanced metallurgical studies and showcasing the surface continuity of gold values" commented CEO, Brodie Sutherland. "Material from these trenches will be utilized for advanced column leach studies to build off our encouraging bottle roll results from 2021 that yielded over 90% recovery of gold. Trench T-21-2 has yielded promising results in our developing 4-Trench Trend which we will follow up with systematic drill targeting."

Discussion of Trench Results

Trenches completed were 20 meters long, up to 5 meters wide and up to 2 meters deep. Samples were collected as channel samples perpendicular to structures over intervals up to 2 meters in length and adjusted to match changes in lithology or alteration.

T-21-1: This trench was completed to test a broad mineralized zone with visible copper oxide mineralization along the northwestern most extent of the Pilar main vein trend. The trench totalled 21.5 meters in length and intersected 4.9 meters of 0.55 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag. Weak anomalous copper values averaged 0.1% across the entire length of the trench. Copper mineralization is a unique characteristic to this northwestern area of the property.

T-21-2: This trench was completed to better understand the controls of mineralization along the 4-Trench Trend. The trench returned significant mineralization across the entire length of the trench, intersecting 19.5 meters of 0.61 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag. A mineralized fault structure returned higher grades across 2.7 meters with 3 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag. The results from this trench further confirms the prospectivity of the 4-Trench target and the importance of continuing systematic exploration across the trend. Material from this trench will be selected for later metallurgical test work.

T-21-3: This trench was completed to collect fresh channel samples across the surface expression of the Main Zone showing. Significant mineralization was intersected across the entire length of the trench, returning 19.8 meters of 0.73 g/t Au and 8 g/t Ag, including 8.6 meters of 1.3 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag. Historic sampling suggests the mineralized zone extends on either side of the trench. Material from this trench will be bulk sampled for detailed column leach metallurgical test work.

T-21-4: This trench was completed to test the northwestern extent of the Main Zone surface expression where a historic artisanal adit is located along the mineralized trend. The trench totalled 21 meters in length and intersected 7 meters of 0.54 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag. Material from this trench will be selected for later metallurgical test work.

Table 1. Summary of Trench Program Results.

Trench Cutoff (Au g/t) From To Length(m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn(ppm) T-21-1 None 0.0 21.5 21.5 0.18 5 1219.86 49.96 256.25 T-21-1 0.1 3.5 15.8 12.3 0.28 7 1136.35 60.97 279.73 T-21-1 0.5 4.6 9.5 4.9 0.55 11 1162.16 109.27 235.12 T-21-2 None 0.0 21.5 21.5 0.57 6 457.73 512.09 5816.81 T-21-2 0.1 2.0 21.5 19.5 0.61 6 498.12 497.84 6140.59 T-21-2 0.5 6.0 17.5 11.5 0.87 7 578.20 491.47 6558.39 T-21-2 1 6.0 8.7 2.7 3.01 20 1979.44 1404.44 11827.78 T-21-3 0.1 0.0 19.8 19.8 0.73 8 268.53 112.09 3336.15 T-21-3 0.5 1.2 13.8 12.6 1.02 9 344.22 147.86 4259.03 T-21-3 1 1.2 9.8 8.6 1.27 12 279.67 198.72 5739.51 T-21-4 None 0.0 21.0 21.0 0.24 2 246.90 39.07 1597.48 T-21-4 0.1 10.0 21.0 11.0 0.43 4 359.36 51.50 2613.18 T-21-4 0.5 12.0 19.0 7.0 0.54 5 401.57 56.36 3110.71

Figure 1. Plan Map of Highlighting Trench Program.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/110632_7df020e024285ae4_001full.jpg





Figure 2. Schematic Cross-Section along trench T-21-3

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/110632_7df020e024285ae4_002full.jpg

About the Pilar Property

The Pilar Gold-Silver property is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal project hosted in andesite rocks. Three zones of mineralization have been identified in the north-west part of the property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-Trench. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Over 22,700 m of drilling have been completed to date. Significant results are highlighted below:

2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 0.96 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14. g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.70 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.71g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.66 g/t Au

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

17,700m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 16.5m @ 53.5g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag



Soil and Rock sampling results from undrilled areas indicate mineralization extends towards the southeast from the Main Zone and 4-Trench Zone. Recent Surface exploration has defined three new target areas: Triple Vein Zone, SE Vein Zone and 4 Trench Extension.

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company has six exploration projects of which five currently have exploration programs being executed in 2022. (1) The flagship Evelyn Gold Project is 100% owned and explored by Colibri, (2) the Pilar Gold & Silver Project (optioned to Tocvan Ventures- (CSE: TOC)), (3) the El Mezquite Gold & Silver Project , (4) the Jackie Gold & Silver Project, and (5) the Diamante Gold & Silver Project. 3,4,and 5 are subject to earn-in agreements by Silver Spruce Resources - (TSXV: SSE).

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

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.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For information contact: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, rongoguen@colibriresource.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110632
Seattle, Washington--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Pervasip Corp. (OTC Pink: PVSP) ("Pervasip" or the "Company"), a developer of companies and technologies in high value emerging markets today announced that wholesale sales have grown 330% year over year to $3.9 million.

As Pervasip recently announced, several exciting accomplishments and initiatives will be shared over the next few months, and wholesale growth is one of the keystone initiatives that has been successfully executed over the past months. On the heels of announcing a $2.5 million non-dilutive investment to build out additional state of the art cultivation, the wholesale division will be a material go to market channel for overstock as well as selected contract grow products.

Pervasip's newly created wholesale division is poised for continuing growth in 2022, and has become an important go to market channel for various independent cultivation partners that the Pervasip group of companies is servicing. "The wholesale team has worked with hundreds of Washington growers and processors since 2014," said German Burtscher, the Company's president and chief executive officer. "Our network of industry partners and competitors has been ready for a more organized effort in this arena. We are turning this opportunity into a wholesale market, managed by our wholesale group where buyers and sellers can easily exchange inventory information and execute purchases."

Burtscher continued: "We estimate growth in the new wholesale division will reach $12 million in annualized revenues within a year. Doing so would increase our total sales to more than $30 million when taken with the $6 million annualized from our recently announced client facility expansion, before the impact of acquisitions or other pending initiatives for 2022. We are focused on realistic initiatives that will lead to material increases in harvest yields and quality for our independent cultivators, and provide an opportunity to diversify our revenues. Wholesale will be key to our longterm success."

Pervasip Corporation

Pervasip Corp., a developer of companies and technologies in high value emerging markets, owns Artizen Corporation and its subsidiary, Zen Asset Management LLC, a diversified asset management company founded to acquire, develop, and support companies and technologies in the cannabis industry. ZAM's existing clients operate four licensed cannabis cultivation and one processing facility in Washington. Most of the biomass produced by these independent cultivators has been sold historically under the Artizen brand, including all-time top selling products in flower in Washington state. Additional information on Artizen-branded products is available online at www.artizencannabis.com. Pervasip additionally owns 5% of KRTL Biotech, Inc., a developer of biotechnologies with a focus on pharmaceutical applications of cannabinol and psilocybin. Additional information on KRTL is available online at www.krtlbiotech.com. Additional information on Pervasip can be found at www.pervasip.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as may, would, could, will, likely, except, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, forecast, project, estimate, outlook, or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the objectives and business plans of the Company; ability to realize benefits from its recent corporate appointments; ability to retain its key personnel; the intention to grow the Company's business and operations; the competitive conditions of the industries in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company. Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; and the Company's ability to secure financing on reasonable terms. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all, as well as all of the other risks as described in the Company's periodic disclosure statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company's management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

T: 206-590-2408, Extension 102

E: info@pervasip.net

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110584
CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketsandMarkets has released 360 Quadrant for Best Cybersecurity Software vendors to help businesses make quicker and more informed decisions. Ranking quadrants are generated post-analysis of companies based on product portfolios and business strategies and will be updated every six months based on market and regional analysis and developments in the Cybersecurity industry. Of 120 parameters, the top criteria for company evaluation were Risk and Compliance Management, Security and Vulnerability Management, Identity and Access Management (IAM), Unified Threat Management (UTM), and SIEM.

Cybersecurity Software is the program used for the protection of network, device, or any system from cyberattacks. Cyberattacks are aimed to access, change, or destroy sensitive data at an enterprise level or personal level. Cybersecurity software offers multiple levels of security across devices and networks. Important features of cybersecurity software include security and vulnerability management, cloud security, network security, and disaster recovery. Growing cyberattacks is one of the major factors driving the cybersecurity market. The increasing demand for cybersecurity mesh and cyber-savvy boards is also fuelling the growth of the market.

CATEGORIZATION OF CYBERSECURITY SOFTWARE VENDORS ON 360QUADRANTS

Cybersecurity Software vendors' evaluation was conducted over 82 companies, of which the top 20 were categorized and placed on a quadrant under Visionary Leaders, Innovators, Dynamic Differentiators, and Emerging Leaders.

Microsoft, AWS, Palo Alto, IBM, McAfee, Trend Micro, Mandiant (FireEye), Fortinet, and Cisco have been identified as visionary leaders as they have established product portfolios and a robust market presence and business strategy.

Alert Logic, Malwarebytes, Avast, OpenText (Webroot), and eSentire have been identified as innovators as they have focused product portfolios and an innovative business strategy, which helps them in setting new trends in the market.

Arctic Wolf, Code42, and Havoc Shield have been identified as emerging companies as they have a niche product offering and a decent business strategy, which helps them in having consistent growth.

Qualys, RSA Security, and F5 Networks have been recognized as dynamic differentiators as they have an innovative portfolio of solutions and services.

360Quadrants Scoring Methodology

360Quadrants assessed some of the Top Cybersecurity Software providers. These vendors were assessed based on more than 120 specifically selected parameters, which were finalized based on the product and business strategies of the software provider, and the data received from the buyers as well as the industry experts. All these parameters were assigned a specific weightage, post which they were measured as well. This study also helps the analysts calculate the total score based on which cybersecurity software vendors were ranked and positioned on 360Quadrants.

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats, which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently, servicing 7500 customers worldwide, including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 full-time analysts and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high-growth markets following the Growth Engagement Model - GEM. The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify the most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high-growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for a deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

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PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FinancialNewsMedia.com News Commentary - The demand for cleaner fuel alternatives is on the rise. As one of the world's most abundant metals, uranium is a popular choice. A single pellet of uranium produces the same amount of electricity as: One ton of coal; Three barrels of oil; or 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas. In 2020, the U.S. government began to invest heavily in uranium mining, contributing to an uptick in the stock market. Uranium fuels nuclear power, which represents approximately 20% of America's energy and 10% of the world's electricity. And its use is growing. An article predicting a rise in uranium stocks said: "About 50 new reactors are under construction in countries that include China, India, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, with completion dates ranging from 2021 to 2027 All told, about 445 nuclear power reactors are operating and 300 more are proposed, mainly in Asian nations, where electricity demand is increasing quickly. The use of electricity is considered one of the greatest signs of a strong economy for nations around the world. The strength of the world economy contributes a lot to demand in the stock market in general Uranium is trending as a way to fuel electricity. In turn, the rise in electricity use is fueling the demand for nuclear power and uranium. Investors see the demand for a product or service as a sign to invest for the potential to earn a profit." Active companies in the markets today include:BASIN URANIUM CORP. (OTCPK: BURCF) (CSE: NCLR), Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO), Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) (TSX: CCO), Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE: UEC), Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU) (TSX: EFR).

It continued answering why it feels uranium stock are going up, saying: "The U.S. currently imports about 90% of its uranium. Increased demand is putting pressure on the government to produce more of its own uranium for nuclear power. Joe Biden's presidential victory in the 2020 election gave uranium stock prices a boost because he is emphasizing alternative fuels. Even without Biden's victory, the demand for uranium would be high. The need for uranium spans across the political spectrum since electricity is such a basic necessity. Because of the many shutdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for medical application to help to combat it, the demand for uranium increased quickly last year and remains high. This puts pressure on governments to fund uranium mining. It also puts pressure on the miners to produce enough to meet demand."

BASIN URANIUM CORP. (CSE: NCLR.CN) (OTCPK: BURCF) BREAKING NEWS: BASIN URANIUM ENGAGES TERRALOGIC FOR 2022 EXPLORATION PROGRAM - BASIN URANIUM CORP. ("Basin Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company has engaged TerraLogic Exploration Inc. to facilitate the proposed exploration and development work program on the Company's Mann Lake uranium project in Saskatchewan's prolific Athabasca Basin. The Mann Lake project is located 25km southwest of the McArthur River Mine, the largest high-grade uranium deposit in the world, and 15 km to the northeast along strike of Cameco's Millennium uranium deposit. The work program is fully funded with cash on hand from the capital raises completed in 2021.

"We are excited to partner with TerraLogic for our upcoming 2022 work program, which is to include a significant diamond drill program. TerraLogic has extensive experience in the Athabasca Basin, having fully-managed numerous exploration programs throughout the area," commented Mike Blady, CEO of Basin Uranium. "We are currently working through the permitting process, consulting with stakeholders including the Ya' thi Nene and the local First Nations groups, in addition to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Fish, Wildlife and Lands. We are also finalizing agreements with the various surveying and drilling crews to be able to mobilize once the permitting process is completed."

Permitting Update - In December 2021, the Company submitted its permitting package to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Fish, Wildlife and Lands and began the consultation process with local stakeholders. The Company has engaged the Ya' thi Nene, a non-profit organization owned by the seven Athabasca Basin First Nations communities, in addition to other local stakeholders to ensure the highest level of engagement with all groups.

The proposed 2022 work program will include geophysical surveying and geochemical sampling, in addition to an extensive diamond drill program. Past exploration, which totalled over $3 million by previous operators, has identified a number of basement conductors and structural corridors which is the prospective horizon for uranium mineralization. Preparations are underway for the rapid mobilization upon receipt of all necessary permits and approvals, in addition to completing stakeholder consultation, with the work program anticipated to commence later this quarter.CONTINUEDRead the BASIN URANIUM full press release by going to: https://basinuranium.ca/news/

In other news and developments of note in the markets this week:

Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) (TSX: CCO) and Terrestrial Energy, both leading Canadian companies in their fields, have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to examine potential partnership opportunities to deploy Terrestrial Energy's Integrated Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) Generation IV nuclear power plants in North America and worldwide, and to evaluate possible opportunities for the supply of uranium supply, fuel and other services. As part of these activities, the companies are investigating the potential of Cameco's Port Hope uranium conversion facility in southern Ontario for IMSR fuel salt supply.

This MOU is non-binding and non-exclusive. It follows Terrestrial Energy's prior agreements with Cameco to supply uranium products for its ongoing fuel testing programs.

"Nuclear energy is a proven, reliable source of carbon-free power and a critical tool in achieving a net-zero emissions future in North America and worldwide," said Tim Gitzel, Cameco's president and CEO. "Cameco plans to be a key fuel supplier for the emerging small modular reactor and advanced reactor market. We look forward to investigating with Terrestrial Energy opportunities to partner for possible future deployments of its next-generation nuclear power plant technology."

Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE American: UEC) recently announced the Company has completed the transactions contemplated in the definitive share purchase agreement with Uranium One Investments Inc., a subsidiary of Uranium One Inc. ("Uranium One"), and has acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Uranium One Americas, Inc. ("U1A") for a total purchase price of $112 million in cash together with an additional $2.9 million in estimated working capital (primarily pre-paid insurance and land payments) and the assumption of $19 million in reclamation bonding (the "Acquisition"). Uranium One is the world's fourth largest uranium producer and part of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom.

The Acquisition was fully funded with UEC's existing cash on hand. Subsequent to closing, UEC holds approximately $120 million of cash and liquid assets.

Amir Adnani, President and CEO, stated: "We are very pleased to have closed this highly accretive transaction for UEC. The Acquisition doubles our production capacity in three key categories: total number of permitted U.S. ISR projects, resources, and processing infrastructure. Also, the opportunity to have acquired an advanced asset base of this quality from one of the global leaders in the nuclear energy industry is highly unique."

Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) has recently agreed to purchase four battery-electric trains for use in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as part of the company's strategy to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

Rio Tinto purchased the four 7MWh FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives from Wabtec Corporation with production due to commence in the United States in 2023 ahead of initial trials in the Pilbara in early 2024. The locomotives, used to carry ore from the company's mines to its ports, will be recharged at purpose-built charging stations at the port or mine. They will also be capable of generating additional energy while in transit through a regenerative braking system which takes energy from the train and uses it to recharge the onboard batteries.

Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) recently announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Nanoscale Powders LLC ("NSP") for the development of a novel technology (the "Technology") for the production of rare earth element ("REE") metals (the "Project"). We believe this Technology, which was initially developed by NSP, and will be advanced by the Company and NSP working together, has the potential to revolutionize the rare earth metal making industry by reducing costs of production, reducing energy consumption, and significantly reducing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. Producing REE metals and alloys ("REE Metals") is a key step in a fully integrated REE supply chain, after production of separated REE oxides ("REE Oxides") and before the manufacture of neodymium iron boron ("NdFeB") magnets used in electric vehicles ("EVs"), wind generation and other clean energy and advanced technologies.

Energy Fuels is quickly building a new, environmentally friendly REE supply chain in the United States, and the Project with NSP represents an exciting opportunity to significantly improve the REE metal-making process and potentially provide Energy Fuels with a competitive advantage in the REE supply chain. At its White Mesa Mill (the "Mill") in Utah, the Company is currently producing mixed REE carbonate ("REE Carbonate") while recovering uranium from natural monazite sands ("Monazite") which are produced as a low-cost byproduct of heavy mineral sands mining in the U.S. and around the globe. Energy Fuels' REE Carbonate is the most advanced REE product being produced in the U.S. today. The Company is also moving quickly toward producing REE Oxides at the Mill using proven solvent extraction ("SX") technologies. The Mill has over 40 years of experience producing uranium and vanadium oxides using SX technology.

DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third- party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated twenty five hundred dollars for news coverage of current press release issued by BASIN URANIUM CORP. by a non-affiliated third party.

FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

Media contact: editor@financialnewsmedia.com, +1 (561)325-8757
K2 Partnering Solutions, a global leader in consultative technology solutions, today announced its acquisition of Cloud Pacific.

LONDON, Jan. 18, 2022, a global leader in consultative technology solutions, today announced its acquisition of Cloud Pacific.

Cloud Pacificis a Hawaii-based Salesforce consulting firm and Salesforce Partner that specializes in Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Experience Cloud implementation, app development, and business automation. Cloud Pacific locations span the mainland U.S. and El Salvador. The acquisition, which was completed on 30 December 2021, is K2's 6th in the last 12 months and expands its existing footprint in the Salesforce solutions space.

Commenting on the deal, K2 President Lori Larson said: "K2 is honored and ecstatic to welcome Cloud Pacific as K2's newest family member. By joining teams we are uniquely positioned to deliver Salesforce Solutions globally that encompass all industries. The alignment of our cultures couldn't be more perfect, I am excited for what we will build together."

"Our cultures and our capabilities complement each other so perfectly," Cloud Pacific CEO Paul Karaffa said of the acquisition. "It's an ideal fit. By leveraging our united strengths, Cloud Pacific and K2 are in a perfect position to meet the growing demand for Salesforce optimization across all industry sectors."

"My team is important to me, so I could not be more excited to continue our journey of growth as a part of K2. Our companies have always shared a similar culture and values. Beyond that, we've proven that when we work together, we elevate each other. That's what this partnership is about."

"I feel like the sky's the limit," Karaffa said, adding, "I couldn't be more excited to take this leap together."

"We are thrilled to have Paul and his team joining our Managed and Professional Services team and are very impressed with what Cloud Pacific has achieved in a relatively short period," said K2 Global Head of Managed & Professional Services Javier Ballester. "Their breadth and depth of experience add tremendous value to our Salesforce practice and will significantly contribute to helping us continue delivering world-class solutions to our customers."

ENDS

About K2 Partnering Solutions

K2 Partnering Solutions has been at the forefront of technology and talent for more than two decades, providing world-class solutions that empower businesses to innovate and grow. Its consultative services include outsourced managed services, training and enablement, nearshoring, and contingent and permanent staffing.

About Cloud Pacific

Cloud Pacific is a Hawaii-based Salesforce consulting firm and Salesforce Partner with broad experience across industry sectors and has demonstrated large-scale successes optimizing Salesforce for real estate and financial service industries. Cloud Pacific is known for making media splashes with creative demonstrations of the CRM's capabilities such as BlockZero, a science fiction text-based RPG game built entirely in Salesforce as well as CryptoWizard, a convenient Salesforce cryptocurrency comparison portal.

For more information, please email info@k2partnering.com

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Two new tenants  including a hibachi restaurant  are coming soon to a prominent downtown Bethlehem building.

Larken Associates, offering regional commercial and residential real estate building, development and management services, announced it has negotiated a 4,256-square-foot restaurant lease with Steak & Steel Hibachi and a 1,080-square-foot hair salon lease with Catalina Dry Bar at 3 West Broad Street in Bethlehem.

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Larken Associates, offering regional commercial and residential real estate building, development and management services, announced it has negotiated a 4,256-square-foot restaurant lease with Steak & Steel Hibachi and a 1,080-square-foot hair salon lease with Catalina Dry Bar at 3 West Broad Street in Bethlehem. (Larken Associates/Contributed rendering)

The pair of leases bring the office and retail building to full occupancy, according to the announcement. Lisa Meszler Lyon of ALT Realty serves as exclusive leasing broker for the building and represented Larken Associates in both transactions.

Constructed in 1980, 3 West Broad Street is a two-story, 105,866-square-foot office and retail building that was acquired by Larken Associates in 2019.

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Located a block away from Main Street in downtown Bethlehem, the property is home to a diverse mix of tenants, including PowerSchool, Twisted Olive, I.R.S. and Intelliquip.

Larken Associates is currently conducting an extensive capital improvement plan to modernize the building.

Steak & Steel Hibachi, a six-table hibachi restaurant, plans to open this summer at 3 West Broad Street in Bethlehem. (Steak & Steel Hibachi/Contributed image)

Renovations, set to be completed in the spring, include finish upgrades in the common areas, replacement of outdated escalators with a new elevator and floating atrium staircase, new wood facade accents and replacement of outdoor railings, paint, lighting and signage.

Through our capital improvements and hands-on leasing at 3 West Broad Street, we aim to capitalize on the long-term growth potential of the city as we create the premier retail and office destination in the market, said Rob Marek, executive vice president of Raider Realty, the in-house brokerage division of Larken Associates.

Steak & Steel Hibachi, a six-table hibachi restaurant, plans to open this summer, according to a post on the business Facebook page.

Catalina Dry Bar, offering blow drying, hot tool styling, hair treatments, haircuts, color services, updos and makeup, plans to move from its current location at 644 N. New St. in Bethlehem a couple of blocks away to 3 West Broad Street at a yet-to-be determined date. (Catalina Dry Bar/Contributed image)

Catalina Dry Bar, offering blow drying, hot tool styling, hair treatments, haircuts, color services, updos and makeup, plans to move from its current location at 644 N. New St. in Bethlehem a couple of blocks away to 3 West Broad Street at a yet-to-be determined date, according to the business Facebook page.

The hibachi restaurant as well as the salons new location will be situated across from the Walnut Street Garage.
OSLO, Norway, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MPC Container Ships ASA ("MPCC" or the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is pleased to announce the following market and company update and measures taken to implement the Company's distribution plan. The update includes the following:

Completion of the balance sheet optimization in Q4 2021 leading to more than 30 vessels being unencumbered

The container market started the year 2022 even stronger than it ended 2021

Over the past weeks, MPCC has concluded seven additional multi-year charter fixtures (at strong rates and for forward positions) and one additional vessel sale

As of 1 January 2022 contracted revenues increased to ~USD 1.2 billion and projected secured EBITDA is more than USD 850 million

contracted revenues increased to and projected secured EBITDA is more than An amount of USD 150 - 160 million in proceeds from vessel sales is available for event-driven distributions already in Q1 2022

- 160 million in proceeds from vessel sales is available for event-driven distributions already in Q1 2022 An extraordinary general meeting will be held on 28 January 2022 , where authorisations for both dividend distributions and share buy-backs are proposed to be granted to the board, to commence event-driven and recurring distributions

For further details on the market and operational update on the Company, please refer to the attached presentation. An investor call will be hosted on Wednesday 19 January at 10:00 CET. Please see below for call-in details.

The above information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Investor call and webcast:

The Company will host a webcast for the investor call commencing on Wednesday 19 January 2022 at 10:00 hours CET. The presentation will be made available on the Company's webpage (https://www.mpc-container.com/investors-and-media/press-releases/). There will be a Q&A session after the presentation.

The event is being streamed. It is recommended that you listen via your computer speakers. Please note that for optimal viewing, it is recommended not to use VPN, but instead to connect directly to the internet. Please disable pop-up blockers in order to view the content in its entirety.

The live webcast can be accessed through the following link:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/fibfi3gn

Alternatively, participants may dial in to the earnings call using the below dial-in information:

Norwegian LocalCall Dial-In (Oslo): +47 23 96 02 64

US LocalCall Dial-In (New York): +1 (631) 510-7495

International/Toll Attendee Dial-In: +44 (0) 2071 928000

Conference ID: 3396473

Further information and contact:

For further information, please contact ir@mpc-container.com.

About MPC Container Ships ASA:

MPC Container Ships ASA (ticker code "MPCC") is a leading container tonnage provider with a focus on the feeder segment below 5,000 TEU. Its main activity is to own and operate a portfolio of container ships serving intra-regional trade lanes on fixed-rate charters. The Company is registered and has its business office in Oslo, Norway. For more information, please see our website: www.mpc-container.com.

***

Forward-looking statements:

This announcement includes forward-looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/mpc-container-ships-asa/r/mpc-container-ships-asa-publishes-container-market-and-operational-update,c3488076

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Litera, a global leader in legal technology solutions, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Prosperoware, an enterprise software company for the adoption and governance of collaboration systems. The acquisition will enable teams within law firms collaborate more efficiently and securely when working in the office or from home.

Founded in 2009, Prosperoware has developed the industry's most comprehensive integrated software platform, bringing order to a hybrid workforce's digital collaboration chaos. Prosperoware solutions provide the missing layer of modern collaboration by provisioning and managing the people, data, and risk associated with information exchange inside and outside the firm.

Avaneesh Marwaha, Litera CEO, said that the acquisition would "help Litera execute its vision to transform the way legal teams collaborate. The addition of Litera's tools and other core applications into Prosperoware's platform will automate the new matter, budget, and deal creation process and provide legal teams with a single pane of glass to view and manage their work. Further, this acquisition continues our commitment to partner with law firms to build connections between Litera tools and other core tools lawyers depend on to get their work done, including Microsoft Teams, iManage, NetDocuments, Windows File Shares, and other systems."

"We are thrilled to join the Litera family; the breadth and utility of their solutions are amazing and complement our vision to help teams collaborate more efficiently and securely," said Keith Lipman, Prosperoware CEO and Co-Founder. "The combined solutions will provide firms with everything they need in the one place to work more efficiently, especially as legal teams become increasingly remote or hybrid," he added.

The acquisition provides Litera with a broader range of solutions to improve client relationships and manage matters throughout their lifecycle. "The addition of Prosperoware to the Litera family brings new possibilities of better iManage integration and governance for Transact, and deeper integration with Microsoft Teams," said Vince Cordo, Chief Revenue and Legal Project Management Officer, Holland Knight LLP. Litera clients will be able to develop business more effectively and deliver matters more efficiently with innovative solutions that reduce overall matter cost while securing and governing the data. Also, the acquisition will bring third-party ISVs into Litera's platform vision, including Microsoft M365, time and billing, and document management systems.

Douglas Caddell, Global Chief Information Officer, Mayer Brown LLP, commented, "The combination of Litera and Prosperoware is exciting since the blending of their technology offers a better experience across the firm's global user community. Both are strategic vendors for Mayer Brown."

Both Keith Lipman, CEO and Co-Founder, and Sheetal Jain, Chief Technology Officer, and Co-Founder will join Litera. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Holland Knight LLP, led by M&A partner Paul J. Jaskot, served as legal counsel to Litera. AGC Partners served as financial advisor to Prosperoware and Blank Rome LLP served as its legal counsel.

About Litera

Litera has been at the forefront of legal technology for 25+ years. As a global leader in workflow, AI-powered due diligence review and analysis, collaboration, and data management solutions, Litera provides legal teams with streamlined technology for creating, analyzing, and managing their documents, deals, cases, and data. Litera's solutions help law firms and corporate legal teams around the world to work more efficiently, accurately, and competitively to provide their clients with usable and actionable information. For more information about Litera, visit litera.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.

About Prosperoware

Prosperoware helps teams collaborate more efficiently and securely. The company's software solutions add the missing layer of digital collaboration by providing team-specific context and security to users, data, and projects. This is all enabled through the solution's capabilities to allow organizations to better manage their collaboration systems by making it easier to provision, classify, protect, move, and minimize data ultimately mitigating data chaos and risks related to privacy and cybersecurity. Over 370 clients across industries, 66% Am Law 100, 50% Global Top 20, 24% UK Top 50 have trusted Prosperoware solutions to enable them to collaborate safely with confidence, not chaos. For more information, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005413/en/

Contacts:

Media

Litera

Kerry Carroll

E: kerry.carroll@litera.com

Prosperoware

Keith Lipman

E: keith@prosperoware.com
The "Debt Collection (European) Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Debt Collection (European) Analysis provides a detailed overview of the Debt Collection (European) market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 240 companies, including Accountor Credit As, Argus Kreditt As and Axactor Capital As.

This report covers areas such as debt, finance, collection, collect, repayment and includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over the past four years.

A quick glance of this Debt Collection (European) report will tell you that 36 companies have a declining financial rating, while 51 have shown good sales growth.

Each of the largest 240 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data.

Debt Collection (European) analysis is ideal for anyone wanting to:

See the market leaders

Identify companies heading for failure

Seek out the most attractive acquisition

Analyse industry trends

Benchmark their own financial performance

Every business is examined on the following features:

The Publisher's Chart: A graphical assessment of a company's financial performance

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Debt Collection (European) market.

This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

The publisher provides busy managers with a set of tools to monitor the financial welfare of their company, their rivals, or those they wish to acquire. The reports are used to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain better understanding of a market and identify sound companies with whom to trade.

Key Topics Covered:

The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis analysing the 240 largest Debt Collection (European) companies.

The Debt Collection (European) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.

Indeed, the first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength for example Kruk ESPANA Sl. has been ranked as a best trading partner in the industry.

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company for example FINANS2 As is among the fastest growing.

Profit Analysis Analysis of gross profit and pre-tax profit over the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies.

Market Size: Based on the largest 240 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure.

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit.

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Debt Collection (European) industry.

Each business is analysed using the publisher's unequivocal model and culminates in the production of The Publisher's Chart. The Publisher's Model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.

The Publisher's Chart is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.

Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Utilising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Debt Collection (European) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2j7xxs

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005918/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fabriik is entering the world of NFTs with an exciting and innovative new product called FabriikX. With a preview unveiling from 25th January, the platform will be a uniquely created and curated NFT marketplace, built on the BSV blockchain, that brings together amateurs, enthusiasts, and professionals in the world of digital collectibles. The initial offering of NFTs will be entirely comprised of content from community contributors, affording the opportunity for anyone who is interested to put forward their own creations to be included in the soft launch of the site.

Fabriik is looking to offer around 200 NFTs from community-based creators. It is calling on interested parties to be part of the FabriikX community by putting forward their own NFTs to the Inaugural Community Collection.

Roy Bernhard, President & Chief Product Officer of Fabriik said, "FabriikX is a unique approach to NFTs and this first phase opens up the world of NFTs to absolutely anyone who has created artwork or other original content that they want to make into an NFT. We are looking for people interested in this space to put their work forward and we'll take care of minting and listing for them. We're really excited to be engaging with the community in this way, and we can't wait to see what incredible work we discover and bring to a global audience!"

He added: "We have designed the platform to help guide people through it, in the same way you might view and interact with artwork in a gallery; taking visitors to the sections that appeal to them most, but also allowing them to discover and explore areas new to them."

All community creators who submit their work qualify for an opportunity to be featured on the homepage, providing their NFTs with unparalleled visibility. In addition, selected artists will be chosen to receive additional support on the Fabriik and FabriikX organic channels with specific posts about their work. The most successful creators could also receive future marketing support with any new NFT drops. To learn more about the launch and submit content, contributors should go to https://fabriik.com/fabriikx-landing/

The January 25th launch is just the first phase launch of the platform with more to be revealed in the coming weeks, including partnering with globally recognized artists, athletes, musicians, and other creators, who will be crafting or contributing unique collectibles for the platform.

Summary of features - for content creators:

Community creators: The first phase collection will be built entirely from contributions from the community, making it the most democratic and accessible NFT collection around.

The first phase collection will be built entirely from contributions from the community, making it the most democratic and accessible NFT collection around. Incentives: Community creators will be included in marketing activity to promote the site and the community collections.

Community creators will be included in marketing activity to promote the site and the community collections. Explore Page: Where NFTs are consolidated so that collectors view all the NFTs available in one space.

Summary of features - for NFT buyers:

Curated experience: FabriikX is the first curation focused NFT marketplace built on BSV.

FabriikX is the first curation focused NFT marketplace built on BSV. Direct Purchase: Most NFTs will be sold on a direct purchase basis, where customers won't have to bid and can quickly own an NFT without waiting.

Most NFTs will be sold on a direct purchase basis, where customers won't have to bid and can quickly own an NFT without waiting. Money Button wallet: FabriikX is integrated with Fabriik Money Button, providing customers with a simple sign-in process and the ability to pay for NFTs directly through their Money Button wallet, with its unique single swipe feature.

FabriikX is integrated with Fabriik Money Button, providing customers with a simple sign-in process and the ability to pay for NFTs directly through their Money Button wallet, with its unique single swipe feature. Early access: Buyers from the Inaugural Community Collection will qualify for pre-sale access for the next NFT drop - the first FabriikX Exclusive Collection.

More from Fabriik

Fabriik Money Button is a simple way to make or accept payments over the internet. Payments cost less than one cent and are almost instant. You can pay, tip, and buy BSV with its unique swipe feature. And now you can also trade crypto directly from your wallet too - with Fabriik Weave - a quick and effortless way to trade up to US$1000 in crypto per day.

About Fabriik

Fabriik is made up of a group of developers and innovators who are passionate about the opportunities an interconnected network of cryptocurrency products will bring to the world of finance.

We see a better future for finance - where everything is digital, and anything is possible - where you can have full visibility of your money, all in one place, and it's easy to invest, trade, grow, and transform your assets, your way.

We're building the tools to make this possible so that anyone can grow and spread their wealth - whether you're just starting to explore crypto and NFTs or you're fully invested in the advancement of blockchain technology.

Fabriik. Reimagine Prosperity.

Risk Warning:

Trading in cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for everyone. You should consider whether you understand how cryptocurrencies work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Ford and ADT launch Canopy to provide AI-powered connected security cameras and a corresponding mobile app for a variety of vehicle makes and models

Offerings will integrate the Safe by ADT platform to provide professional monitoring and help businesses protect valuable work equipment in vehicles and individual owners strengthen security inside and outside vehicles

Canopy will build and sell its first product and subscription service early next year to protect cargo areas of high-volume commercial trucks and vans in the U.S. and U.K.

Canopy was incubated by Ford's New Business Platform team and plans to begin integrating its security solution with on-board vehicle cameras in Ford vehicles next year

Canopy expects to expand offering to other manufacturers over time

Ford (NYSE: F) and ADT Inc. (NYSE: ADT) will invest in a new joint venture called Canopy that combines ADT's professional security monitoring and Ford's AI-driven video camera technology to help customers strengthen security of new and existing vehicles across automotive brands.

"The combination of our technologies and our deep security experience creates a new category of protection for work and personal vehicles," said Elliot Cohen, ADT chief business development officer. "Vehicles represent the second-most-valuable asset for consumers, and helping to protect them extends ADT's safe, smart, and sustainable solutions far beyond the home."

Canopy plans to launch industry-first, multi-sensor security systems with available professional monitoring early next year. The first products to be manufactured and sold will be available in the U.S. and the U.K. for the industry's highest-volume commercial and retail pickups and vans including the Ford F-150, F-150 Lightning, Transit vans and E-Transit and will be easily installable by customers to protect expensive work and recreational equipment.

"Thieves have been even more active during the pandemic and know business owners store valuable equipment in vehicles, often hauling more than $50,000 of gear. Canopy is here for those who've had enough of thefts that threaten their livelihoods," said Franck Louis-Victor, vice president, Ford New Business Platform. "Key to Ford's software-led transformation are new ideas such as Canopy and collaborating with other innovators such as ADT, which brings to vehicle security their leadership protecting families, homes, and businesses."

The FBI estimates1 that stolen work equipment cost more than $7.4 billion in 2020 in the U.S., and theft of valuable work equipment is believed to be underestimated in stolen vehicle reports. Small business owners face even greater opportunity costs with the deferral or loss of jobs while replacing stolen items.

Canopy also plans to begin integrating camera security solutions in Ford vehicles next year for seamless protection inside and outside vehicles. Canopy will seek factory-vehicle integrations with other automakers over time.

Starting a Vehicle Security Revolution

Canopy's first smart vehicle security system accessory offering will make use of acoustic sensors for vans, onboard cameras, radar, LTE, and GPS. The initial product will have a camera that can be mounted in either a van's cargo area or on a pickup facing the bed. The platform will use AI technology to identify and report credible threats while reducing false alarm signals.

Customers will be connected to the system via the Canopy app to livestream video from the vehicle, get notified of suspicious activity, or review past events.

The system will trigger a smartphone alert of any indicators of potential criminal activity, such as breaking glass, metal cutting, or suspicious motion or sound near the vehicle.

Customers can warn potential thieves they are being monitored by speaking through the smartphone app, enabled by a two-way audio feature that will be available by next year.

The system's AI is designed to distinguish true threats from benign acts such as a cat jumping into a pickup bed or construction sounds near a vehicle before alerting the owner or ADT monitoring agents of potential theft.

The system will alert ADT monitoring professionals if it detects a person loitering around or breaching the vehicle.2

ADT monitoring agents can then contact customers, fleet managers, or police to take additional measures to help prevent theft. Credible threats will trigger additional responses, including audible alerts and programmable voice recordings and two-way audio in future updates.

The first-of-its-kind Canopy products will be sold through vehicle dealerships, major retailers, and online. Ford Pro will be an important launch partner delivering these solutions to commercial and government customers of all sizes, helping drive business forward and accelerate productivity at a global scale.

"Commercial customers around the world are laser focused on protecting investments from costly replacements that can impact their bottom lines," said Ted Cannis, CEO, Ford Pro. "Canopy will help Ford Pro deliver another service to fleets helping to improve total cost of ownership by staying productive and avoiding downtime associated with stolen tools and damaged vehicles including the majority with mixed fleets since Canopy technology will be available across brands."

More Innovation to Come

The Canopy team has been developing and testing its first technologies for two years as part of Ford's New Business Platform innovation incubation group. They will now be headquartered in Detroit and London and led by Interim CEO Christian Moran.

Canopy also will seek relationships with other automotive, insurance, and technology companies to expand offerings, explore insurance benefits for use of the technology, and co-create new innovations.

Ford and ADT's investment in Canopy is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals, and initial funding is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022. The partners expect to invest approximately $100 million during the next three years.

For more information, visit www.canopy.security

Forward-Looking Statements

ADT has made statements in this press release that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided thereunder. These forward-looking statements relate to our joint venture with Ford, its anticipated impact on our business and cash flows, our anticipated plans and strategies, our anticipated demand for smart vehicle security systems, our ability to expand our offerings both within and outside of the United States, and our ability to continually innovate to create new demand and satisfy the needs of consumers. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of words like "will," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," and similar words and are based on currently available information and management's current beliefs and assumptions. ADT cautions that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of ADT's control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this press release, including among others, risks and uncertainties relating to the launch of a new joint venture, risks and uncertainties in developing and innovating smart vehicle security systems and products, risks and uncertainties in operating in markets outside of the United States, and risk factors that are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. ADT undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company's Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities, and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of connected, increasingly electrified passenger and commercial vehicles: Ford trucks, utility vehicles, vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles. The company is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, connected vehicle services and mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 186,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company is available at corporate.ford.com.

About ADT

ADT provides safe, smart and sustainable solutions for people, homes and businesses. Through innovative products, partnerships and the largest network of smart home security professionals in the United States, we empower people to protect and connect what matters most. For more information, visit www.adt.com.

1 U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Report.

2 Requires subscription to ADT professional monitoring tier.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005866/en/

Contacts:

Ford Communications

Wes Sherwood

wsherwoo@ford.com

313-573-3530

ADT Communications

Paul Wiseman

paulwiseman@adt.com

561-356-6388
CAMBRIDGE, England, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security AI, today announced that one of the world's largest airlines has signed a major renewal with Darktrace as it continues to use Self-Learning AI technology to defend against cyber-attacks.

The global aviation company, which operates close to a thousand flights every day to over 100 destinations, has deployed Darktrace Enterprise Immune System and Antigena Network to protect the business from sophisticated threat actors - from the cloud to the corporate network. It relies on Darktrace's AI to autonomously take machine-speed action against fast-moving, in-progress attacks without disrupting business operations.

The aviation sector has long been targeted by cyber adversaries due to the high volume of sensitive data airline companies hold - whether it be Passenger Manifest data of value to the world's Intelligence Agencies, or data relating to high value transactions which can be exploited by criminals. With unprecedented levels of travel disruption caused by the pandemic, the risk of fraud and abuse has never been higher. The acceleration of contact-free boarding and other digital services has introduced another level of risk as attackers seek new entry points to one of the most safety-critical sectors in the world.

"Darktrace is delighted to be working with this major airline to ensure it stays protected in today's complex threat environment," said Poppy Gustafsson OBE, CEO of Darktrace. "As the aviation industry battles new threats targeting the technologies which are so critical to its business operations, the role of AI in containing and fighting back against these attacks has never been more important."

About Darktrace

Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security AI, delivers world-class technology that protects over 6,500 customers worldwide from advanced threats, including ransomware and cloud and SaaS attacks. Darktrace's fundamentally different approach applies Self-Learning AI to enable machines to understand the business in order to autonomously defend it. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the company has over 1,700 employees and over 30 offices worldwide. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' for 2021.
BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Dr. George Shepley, who has been practicing dentistry at the Rotunda for 35 years, was elected President of the American Dental Association. Dr. Shepley has been actively involved in shaping the future of organized Dentistry for decades. All the while, he has maintained a practice focused on the delivery of the highest quality dental care. He treats his patients like family, and he feels fortunate to have the opportunity to to be part of his patient's lives.

He will be representing 162,000 dentists across the country. He has previously served as president of the Maryland State Dental Association and trustee for the Fourth ADA District.

This summer Dr. Koby Sarubin joined Dr. Shepley. "I have been looking for the right partner for sometime", said Dr. Shepley, "the timing could not have been better".

"I will still be treating some patients, as my schedule allows, but I feel very confident transitioning my practice to Dr. Sarubin. He shares my passion for dentistry and my commitment to quality patient care and satisfaction".

Dr. Koby Sarubin graduated from the University of Maryland, then went on to practice at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, FL. He has been back practicing dentistry in Baltimore for several years. Dr. Sarubin's training will allow for the expansion of some services at the office, including clear braces, dental implants, and enhanced cosmetic procedures.

Dr. Sarubin comes from a family of dentists. His grandfather, Dr. Larry Sarubin, was a practicing dentist who started his practice in 1958. He was joined by his brother, Dr. Murray Sarubin in 1971. Both of their son's, Dr. Todd Sarubin (Koby's father) and Dr. Danny Sarubin still provide dental care in the same practice today, 60+ years later! Their current practice is Sarubin Family Dental, the Rotunda office has been rebranded to Smile Rotunda. Each practice shares the same core values: family, quality, honesty, and compassion.

About Smile Rotunda

Smile Rotunda is a patient-centered family and cosmetic dental practice in Baltimore, MD, offering experience, comfort, and convenience in a friendly and welcoming environment. To learn more or to arrange an interview, please contact 410-431-1463 or visit www.smilerotunda.com.

SOURCE: Smile Rotunda

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/683411/Dr-George-Shepley-Named-American-Dental-Association-President-Elect-Rotunda-Dental-Office-Grows
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today attended the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the global platform for accelerating sustainability hosted by Masdar - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.

The opening event was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcomed the leaders and experts meeting in the UAE to discuss issues related to sustainability and intensify collaborative efforts to find solutions for moving the world towards a more sustainable future.

Highlighting the importance of ADSW, the first global gathering of its kind after COP26, Sheikh Mohammed said, "Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week lays a pathway for COP28 when the UAE will welcome the world in 2023. The continued success of ADSW, which every year sets the sustainability agenda for the year to come, fully reflects our nation's leadership in the field of climate action. This year's convening of ADSW as part of Expo 2020 Dubai provides an opportunity for the convergence of global expertise to stimulate constructive dialogue and push efforts towards implementing innovative solutions."

"The UAE, guided by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was and continues to be one of the pioneering countries in the fields of climate action, energy transformation and the adoption of renewable energy as a solution for addressing environmental issues and their impact on people's lives and the health of the planet. The UAE has continued to express this commitment by developing a group of the world's largest and most innovative clean energy projects. These efforts culminated in the launch of the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, which reflects our commitment to create a future free of emissions," His Highness added.

The opening ceremony, held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai, was also attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and a number of senior officials.

The opening ceremony began with the UAE National Anthem followed by a short film centred on international cooperation to confront global challenges, especially those related to climate change and sustainable development.

Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, thanked the UAE for welcoming him to the country and inviting him to participate in the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. In his keynote speech, he said, "As the first event of its kind since COP26, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a kick start to carbon neutrality this year, offering strength through unity. This event holds great significance with the UAE hosting COP28 in 2023 - a milestone for the country's journey over the next 50 years. The UAE is a powerhouse of sustainable development for the Middle East and beyond, with pathways showing the way for the rest of the world."

He continued, "Last year, the UAE became the first one in the Middle East to commit to carbon neutrality by 2050. Korea too in 2020 declared its commitment to carbon neutrality. And the UAE and Korea both committed to cutting methane by 30 percent by 2030. The UAE and Korea, as special strategic partners, have been working together in the fields of construction, oil field development, national defence, agriculture, health, and much more. This demonstrates the robust relations between our two nations. For our sustainable future, Korea hopes to hold hands together with the UAE even more tightly. Now our two countries are working together to build an economy based on hydrogen - a potential new source of energy in the age of carbon neutrality."

In his keynote address, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and Chairman of Masdar, addressed the challenge of maintaining economic progress, while turning back the clock on emissions.

He said, "Finding the answers to these questions has been the mission of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Zayed Sustainability Prize. A mission that builds on the UAE's position as a pioneer in clean energy. When we began investing in the renewables space more than 15 years ago, our leadership had a theory of the future that has been proven right over time. Today, the UAE is home to the largest and lowest cost solar plants in the world. And globally the future of renewable energy is just as bright."

The objectives of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week are in line with the "Principles of the 50," the 10 principles that represent the UAE's strategic path in a new era and reflect the country's vision and determination to promote development efforts in various economic, political and social fields.

As one of the largest gatherings concerned with discussing sustainability issues, ADSW provides a global platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange, investment and innovation, as it attracts more than 45,000 participants annually representing more than 170 countries and hosts nearly 1,000 international companies.

Key ADSW dates include: January 15-16 - IRENA Assembly; January 17 - Opening Ceremony and the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony, ADSW Summit; January 17-19 - World Future Energy Summit, Innovate, Youth 4 Sustainability Hub; January 18-19 Atlantic Council Forums; January 18 WiSER Forum, Exclusive Panel Session with the President of COP26 and 27 and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber; January 19 - Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum.

Photos, Video and Press Release from the Opening Ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week can be found below.

VNR: https://www.apmultimedianewsroom.com/multimedia-newsroom/adsw-2022

Consumer ready video: https://www.apmultimedianewsroom.com/multimedia-newsroom/adsw-2022-opening-day

Images: http://www.apimages.com/Search?query=Abu+Dhabi+Sustainability+Week+Nazih&ss=10&st=kw&entitysearch=&toItem=18&orderBy=Newest&searchMediaType=allmedia

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728921/ADSW_Expo_2020_Dubai.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728920/ADSW_Expo_2020_Dubai.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1723119/Abu_Dhabi_Sustainability_Week_Logo.jpg
James Stanko of the Allentown Police Department talks to the crowd at Dieruff High School in Allentown during the third annual Unity Game between Allentown Police Department and Dieruff boys. (Rick Kintzel/MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO)

Those who knew him say Allentown police detective and community liaison officer James Stanko cared deeply about strengthening relationships between police officers and the people they serve.

Stanko died Monday after more than two weeks in a hospital due to undisclosed medical issues, according to Allentown police social media posts. Its a huge loss, residents said about a man whose mission was proving true the old saying about the police officer being your friend.

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It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Det. Jim Stanko, police Chief Charles Roca said in a statement Monday. Jim is the type of officer that represents the highest values and ideals of the Allentown Police Department. The positive impact that he made with so many people, speaks to his character and the legacy that he established. From the PAL program to our community policing initiatives, amongst many others. My deepest condolences and prayers of support go to his family and our department during this time. I want to say thank you to our community for the outpouring of prayers and support for Jim.

The police department and those who knew him had been asking everyone through social media to pray for Stankos recovery.

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We need your prayers for one of our most dedicated Allentown Police Officers. Detective Stanko has been hospitalized since the beginning of the year. This has been a very difficult time for his family both at home and APD, read a Jan. 11 post by Allentown police.

Stanko, 51, had worked with Allentown police for more than 13 years.

Throughout my life, I have been led by the morals that have been instilled in me since a child. My father, my Superman, has taught me the value of honesty, integrity and love. These character traits, reflect in my work ethic, decision making and the way I treat and respect others, reads a quote from Stanko on his LinkedIn page.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR SUCH A GREAT OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR DETECTIVE STANKO AND HIS FAMILY!!!!! We still need your prayers moving forward. Let us all pray for those who are in need of them during these difficult times! #Thankyou #AllentownPolice PLEASE SHARE NUESTRO DEPARTAMENTO DESEA AGRADECER A TODA NUESTRA COMUNIDAD POR TAN GRAN APOYO PARA EL DETECTIVE STANKO Y SU FAMILIA!!!!! Todavia necesitamos sus oraciones para seguir adelante. Oremos todos por aquellos que los necesitan durante estos tiempos dificiles! #Gracias #AllentownPolice POR FAVOR COMPARTE Posted by Allentown Police Department on Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Many in Allentown knew Stanko for his work as the community liaison officer, a role he held for six years.

We certainly were shocked and very saddened [when hearing Stanko died], said Cedar Crest College professor and crime science program director Scott Hoke, who worked with Stanko and other officers through the colleges Center for Police Innovation and Community Engagement. He was a very progressive thinker and a very dedicated police officer who really believed in the concepts of community outreach.

Psychology professor Kerrie Baker, who likewise knew Stanko through his CPICE involvement, said, He was very attentive in our meetings, provided valuable input and was engaged in the community projects. His colleagues spoke very highly of him. Im sorry we wont have the opportunity to continue our work with him.

Lehigh County juvenile probation officer Greg Moore, an assistant football coach at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, called Stanko a critical piece of the Lehigh County Youth and Law Enforcement Curriculum in which both men worked.

[Stanko provided] amazing insight as he worked tirelessly to help bridge the gap between youth and their dealings with local law enforcement, Moore said. Jims commitment to change and passion for doing things the right way for all involved was palpable. Jims professional character never wavered. His kindness and appreciation for the youth and members of the community will always be remembered and regarded as legendary. His vision and sincere quest to pull community and law enforcement together is part of his eternal legacy.

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Between offering life lessons at the Childrens Clinic at Lehigh Valley Health Network, taking part in polar plunges for charity and helping with the annual Unity Game between Allentown police and Dieruff High School boys, Stankos focus was to reach out and connect the police department to the community and vice versa.

Debbie Fries-Jackson, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown, said Stanko believed strongly in helping set children on the right path early in their lives.

He was great in coming out with the other officers into the community and interacting with our kids, whether it was through basketball or other activities, Fries-Jackson said. He was a good mentor. He had conversations with kids to steer them in the right direction and let them know that interacting with a cop can be a positive thing.

Former Allentown Police Athletic League basketball coach Ali Wight, a counselor at Dodd Elementary School on the citys South side, said many in the community are feeling the loss.

[Stanko] was just the kindest and most generous, Wight said. He was a calm presence, but you could tell you could count on him.

Wight shared a funny story about when Stanko emailed her a list of T-shirt sizes he was ordering for her PAL team members. She added her and her assistant coachs T-shirt sizes to the list.

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He called me back and said, Ali, Im not ordering coach shirts,  Wight said. I said, No, its OK. And then he said, But, let me check my dresser at home to see if I have any for you that were mine. You guys deserve shirts. That was just who he was. Always willing to do what anyone asked, even if they didnt ask. He was just a great role model and support for our kids.

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He wasnt one to sit behind a desk, she said. When he wasnt doing PAL, he was coming into our schools to talk to kids. I knew him as a counselor before I knew he was involved in PAL. I would bring him into my class to meet the kids to bridge the gap. He was the perfect embodiment of the officer a kid could feel welcome and safe with and go to. Our kids here called him family.

Kiara Perez, an eighth grader at Harrison-Morton Middle School in Allentown, has participated in PAL and the Allentown Police Youth Summit since she was in elementary school.

I will always remember all the fun we had during PAL camp, especially our grilling competition ... on who made the best chicken, she wrote in an email. I will always remember you, Officer Stanko. It was always fun playing all the games!

For a decade, Stanko was also part of the Allentown police recruiting team and for three years was a community bike officer.

Our Allentown Police Department is better for the years of service that Det. Stanko gave, and his life and career provide a great example of the impact that one person can have on a community, Mayor Matt Tuerk said in a statement. The people of Allentown will miss his kindness and grieve with Jims family.

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Stanko is survived by his wife Sharon and daughters Lily and Brooke.

Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.
Cranbrook, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - DLP Resources Inc. (TSXV: DLP) (OTCQB: DLPRF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that Ian Gendall, President of the Company, has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer, with Jim Stypula voluntarily stepping into the role of Executive Chairman. Mr. Gendall will continue to act as President of the Company and Mr. Stypula will continue to serve on the Company's board of directors.

Ian Gendall is an Exploration Geologist with a M.Sc. Exploration Geology degree from Rhodes University in South Africa. He has over 31 years' experience in mineral exploration in South Africa, South America, Canada, Mexico and the USA, and has led and managed exploration teams and evaluated copper and gold projects for previous companies such as Gencor, Billiton, Anglo American, Antofagasta and OceanaGold.

Ian and the Billiton Exploration team were credited with the major porphyry copper discoveries in SE Ecuador which was "farmed out" to Corriente Resources Inc., who were subsequently taken over by CRCC-Tongguan Investment Co., Ltd. for $679 million in 2010.

In 2005, Ian joined Chapleau Resources Ltd., ("Chapleau") and was President and Director of Chapleau until the merger with Magellan Minerals Ltd. ("Magellan"), in September 2009, when he became Chief Operating Officer and Director. During his time with Chapleau and Magellan, he was involved in gold exploration in the Tapajos Gold Province of Brazil and oversaw and managed the resource estimation and preliminary economic assessment study for the Coringa gold project which is currently with Serabi Gold.

Following his departure from Magellan in 2010, Ian was involved in a multi-million-dollar exploration program covering more than 5,000 km2 in the Yukon Territory of Northern Canada, for Ryan Gold Corp. More recently in 2017, Ian was Chief Geologist for Antofagasta Minerals, and was responsible for identifying and evaluating copper-gold projects in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

In 2019, Ian joined OceanaGold as Project Generation Manager for North America and was responsible for generating gold targets, identifying and evaluating gold projects in Canada, with the purpose of entering into a JV or acquisition of projects of merit.

In 2020, Ian joined DLP Resources as President and has overseen exploration in the search for Sedex-type Zn-Pb-Ag and sedimentary hosted copper deposits in SE British Columbia. In 2021 Ian identified an advanced porphyry copper project, Aurora, in southern Peru which is a significant asset for DLP.

Ian Gendall is registered as a Pr. Sci. Nat., a qualified person in compliance with National Instrument 43-101, and is a member of various scientific organizations including the Society of Economic Geologists, Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits and the Geological Society of America.

About DLP Resources Inc.

DLP Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company operating in Southeastern British Columbia and Peru exploring for Base Metals, Cobalt and Molybdenum. DLP is listed on the TSX-V, trading symbol DLP and on the OTCQB, trading symbol DLPRF. Please refer to our web site www.dlpresourcesinc.com for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: DLP Resources Inc.

Ian Gendall, President and Chief Executive Officer

Jim Stypula, Executive Chairman

Robin Sudo, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Telephone: 250-426-7808

Email: iangendall@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: jimstypula@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: robinsudo@dlpresourcesinc.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110658
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) sent letters to the top investors of Moderna, Inc. this week, urging them to divest from the vaccine maker in the interest of corporate social responsibility. After it accepted at least $2.5 billion in US taxpayer funding, Moderna priced its vaccine higher than any other manufacturer and has been unwilling to share the know-how and technology to increase global production.

AHF's appeal to shareholders to release their holdings follows calls by some investors for Moderna to explain why its vaccines are priced so high and virtually unavailable in poorer countries. Moderna expects 2021 sales to be "between $15 billion and $18 billion," according to a People's Vaccine Alliance report. Additionally, the pharma company expects "about $18.5 billion in 2022 from contracts for its COVID-19 vaccine, and about $3.5 billion from potential additional purchases including booster candidates updated for variants," according to Reuters.

"Moderna could be the poster child for corporate greed. And while we've come to expect this from drug companies enough is enough. The world must not allow price-gouging on lifesaving commodities during a pandemic a crisis that's caused over 5.5 million global deaths," said AHF Africa Bureau Chief Dr. Penninah Iutung. "Someone must set the example and put lives before profits-which is why we're calling on investors to dump their Moderna shares and hit the vaccine manufacturer in the only place they care about their pocketbook."

In addition to pricing its vaccine so high it's unattainable for most countries, Moderna has also refused to engage in meaningful negotiations with the US Government to share its technology with other vaccine makers, which would allow vaccines to be produced locally in lower-income countries. To date, only 1% of the nearly 10 billion global vaccine doses have gone to low-income countries. Barely 15% of people in Africa have received even one dose of a vaccine, compared to 84% and 74% for Canada and the United States, respectively.

"The world is entering the third year of living under the shroud of COVID-19 and is more than a year removed from when vaccines became available there's no reason why the majority of countries should still be struggling to get sufficient access to lifesaving doses," added Terri Ford, Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy for AHF. "It's sad that we're left with only extreme measures, but even investors are now telling the world that Moderna's greed must be curbed to meet the global need for vaccines. Today is trash day stockholders must dump their Moderna shares immediately."

AHF has led its Vaccinate Our World (VOW) campaign since early 2021 to push leaders of wealthy countries and vaccine manufacturers to expand vaccine access for resource-poor countries. Learn more by visiting the VOW website today. The list of top 10 institutional shareholders of Moderna is available here.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.6 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118006029/en/

Contacts:

US MEDIA CONTACT:

Ged Kenslea,Senior Director, Communications, AHF

+1.323.308.1833 work +1.323.791.5526 mobile

gedk@aidshealth.org

Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy Communications, AHF

+1 323.308.1829

denys.nazarov@ahf.org
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Angold, Datametrex, Fabled Copper, Nextech AR, Tocvan Ventures, and Silver Bullet Mines discussing their latest press releases.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

Angold (TSXV:AAU) recaps 2021 drill program at the Dorado Project in Chile

Angold Resources (AAU) has provided a summary of the results of its 2021 drill program at the Lajitas target, Dorado Project. The gold distribution suggest that the mineralization is open at depth and in other intrusive bodies located at the border of the drilled area. Adrian Rothwell, CEO of Angold Resources sat down with Dave Jackson to highlight the drill program.

For the full interview with Adrian Rothwell and to learn more about Angold Resources' Dorado Project, click here.

Datametrex (TSXV:DM) reports $20M on the balance sheet

Datametrex AI (DM) currently has approximately $20M in cash and marketable securities on its balance sheet. This is equivalent to approximately $0.056 per share with the company's current market cap of approximately $85M. Datametrex believes it will continue to see growth in revenue and profitability, generating stronger positive cash flow in 2022. Marshall Gunter, CEO of Datametrex sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the news.

For the full interview with Marshall Gunter and to learn more about Datametrex's balance sheet reportings, click here.

Fabled Copper (CSE:FABL) announces second set of results from surface work on the Muskwa Copper Project

Fabled Copper (FABL) has announced the second set of results from surface field work on its Muskwa Copper Project. Of the 5 surface samples collected, all 5 reported greater than 1 per cent copper, 4 greater than 5 per cent copper, 2 greater than 10 per cent copper and 1 greater than 15 per cent copper. Peter J Hawley, President and CEO sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the results.

For the full interview with Peter Hawley and to learn more about Fabled Copper's Muskwa Copper Project, click here.

Nextech AR (CSE:NTAR) (OTCQB:NEXCF) launches ARitize NFT for its 3D models and human holograms

Nextech AR has announced that brands now have the ability to mint NFTs of their 3D models and human holograms created by Nextech. The company is also preparing to launch the capability to showcase these NFTs in any Metaverse, including the Mini-Metaverses created with Nextech's Metaverse creator app, ARitize Maps. Nextech AR CEO Evan Gappelberg sat down with Dave Jackson to discuss the news.

For the full interview with Evan Gappelberg and to learn more about Nextech AR's ARitize launch, click here.

Tocvan Ventures (CSE:TOC) announces trench results from the Pilar Project

Tocvan Ventures Corp. (TOC) has announced trench results from its Pilar Au-Ag Project in Sonora, Mexico. A total of four trenches were completed in December 2021 totalling 80 metres length. All four trenches intersected mineralization with two trenches yielding consistent mineralization across the entire length of the trench. Tocvan CEO Brodie Sutherland sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the results of the program.

For the full interview with Brodie Sutherland and to learn more about Tocvan Ventures' Pilar Project, click here.

Silver Bullet Mines (TSXV:SBMI) reports exceptional assays from Idaho

Silver Bullet (SBMI) has assayed 55.5 oz/t silver from a bulk sample at its Washington Mine in Idaho. Management believes the assays confirm the tenor and range of grades reported historically from the silver veins. Next steps include going underground for visual inspection and gathering a larger bulk sample. Director and VP Capital Markets Peter Clausi spoke with Caroline Egan about the results.

For the full interview with Peter Clausi and to learn more about Silver Bullet Mines' Washington Mine, click here.

Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

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themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684435/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-Interviews-With-Angold-Datametrex-Fabled-Copper-Nextech-AR-Tocvan-Ventures-and-Silver-Bullet-Mines
Slate Roofing Contractor of Covington Georgia, Braswell Construction Group, honored as DaVinci Roofing Project of the Year 2021 winner.

COVINGTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Platinum accredited top Georgia Roofer, Braswell Construction Group (BCG), is honored to be selected as the 2021 DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Project of the Year Award Winner. DaVinci Roofscapes, a Westlake company, and a leading composite roofing manufacturer, has recently announced that only three residential projects and one commercial project from across the country have been chosen to receive the prestigious award. Qualifications for DaVinci Masterpiece Contractors to receive the award include excellence of installation work, outstanding visual impact, and ability of the roofing work to transform the look of a home or commercial project.

Covington GA Top Slate Roofing Contractor , Braswell Construction Group, was selected based on the residential project featured in the photo above. This lakeside, European-style home of Don and Shannon Harvey was re-roofed as part of a home remodeling project, and now features a DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roof in Smokey Gray. Homeowner, Shannon O'Keefe-Harvey stated, "Chris Braswell and his team worked efficiently to get the job done. We understand our home's design is not particularly easy for a roofer. However, this crew respected our property and has given us a DaVinci roof that we truly love."

"DaVinci is known for the best synthetic roofing products on the market today. We are honored to be part of the program and humbled to be chosen as a 2021 Project of the Year Award Winner," says Chris Braswell, owner of Braswell Construction Group. "Synthetic roofing materials is becoming more widely recognized as the preferred roofing material because it is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it stands up to the harshest weather challenges. We love that we are able to offer our customers the best array of products to choose from while providing quality installation and unparalleled customer service."

About DaVinci Roofscapes:

DaVinci Roofscapes, a Westlake company, leads the composite roofing industry in the greatest selection of colors, tile thickness and tile width variety. The company's reliable products have a lifetime limited materials warranty and are 100 percent recyclable. All DaVinci high-performing roofing and siding products are proudly made in America. The experienced team members at DaVinci Roofscapes develop and manufacture industry-leading composite slate and shake roofing and siding systems with an authentic look and superior performance. For information call 1-800-328-4624 or visit www.davinciroofscapes.com .

About Braswell Construction Group:

Braswell Construction Group is a leader in specialty roofing and a DaVinci Roofer Masterpiece Contractor.

BCG has been locally owned and operated since 2002, and prides itself on its high-quality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service, and professional acumen. They have a reputation for always completing its roofing and restoration projects on time and on budget while providing customized service, top-notch customer service, and unparalleled workmanship.

Braswell Construction Group has been featured dozens of times in Yahoo Finance, ABC, FOX, CBS, Atlanta Leader among many others as an industry leader and the top Roofing Contractor in the state of Georgia.

Braswell Construction Group operates from four Georgia locations to service homeowners with all their roofing and restoration needs in Greensboro/Lake Oconee, Covington/Conyers, Stone Mountain, Atlanta, and their respective surrounding areas.

For more information, please visit https://www.braswellconstructiongroup.com

Contact Info:

Name: Michelle Bird

Email: info@braswellconstructiongroup.com

Organization: Braswell Construction Group, Inc. Roofing & Restoration

Address: 6105 Emory St NW, Covington, GA 30014, United States

Phone: (678) 283-2551

SOURCE: Braswell Construction Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684429/Covington-GA-Slate-Roofer-Braswell-Construction-Group-Awarded-DaVinci-Masterpiece-Contractor-2021-Project-of-the-Year
Malmo, Sweden--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Volt Inu ($VOLT), a highly deflationary token, is excited to announce its first two CEX listings. The token will now be listed on BKEX Global, a CEX that provides users in more than 100 countries with services involving blockchain assets and derivatives trading. According to the token's social media handles, Volt Inu's listing on another CEX will come later this week.

Volt Inu has also partnered with CryptoCart CC to become more global and bring more utility. The Volt Inu community will be able to use the token at the CryptoCart checkout as of Wednesday 19th.

The Volt Inu and CryptoCart Partnership

Volt Inu's partnership with CryptoCart is aimed at growing both of the companies' exposure to its audience. As part of this collaboration, the Volt Inu community purchased $5,000 worth of CCV2 to benefit the CryptoCart community. It was then sent directly into the CryptoCart Vault to be removed from circulation.

CryptoCart will accept $VOLT as a payment currency across all current and future stores meaning that $VOLT holders will be able to buy real-word goods from more than 1,700 vendors. CCV2 will also expose Volt Inu to its community.

About CryptoCart

CryptoCart is a stateless and decentralized e-commerce platform. It intends to give consumers a digital marketplace to spend their cryptocurrencies on things at a reasonable price. Users can spend most major cryptos on real-world goods offered by numerous European and US retail partners.

They can also have the goods sent globally without going through a crypto-to-fiat conversion.

About BKEX

BKEX is a digital asset trading platform for professional users worldwide, providing trading and investment services across a broad spectrum of digital assets. It is a worldwide financial service platform for digital assets with autonomous trading. It has operating centers in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Singapore, the United States, South Korea, and other nations and regions.

It is a technology platform, operation, and customer service system leader, among other things.

About Volt Inu

Volt Inu ($VOLT) is a deflationary token. It continues to increase its prowess in the industry via deflationary techniques and revenue-generating mechanisms. VOLT is a community-driven cryptocurrency with significant development potential. You can find out more about Volt Inu on their social media platforms at:

Website: https://voltinu.in/

Telegram: https://t.me/VoltInuOfficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VoltInuOfficial

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110693
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Searchlight Resources Inc. ("Searchlight" or the "Company") (TSXV:SCLT)(OTC PINK:CNYCF)(FSE:2CC2) is pleased to announce that Mr. Bruce Fair has joined the Board of Directors of Searchlight.

Robert Bruce Fair was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He attended high school in Nipawin, Saskatchewan and has an Honours degree in Political Science and English from the University of Saskatchewan obtained in 1981. Mr. Fair is President and founder of Mench Capital Corp., which was incorporated in Vancouver, BC on April 20th, 1999. Mench Capital Corp. is a Canadian merchant banking firm that provides corporate finance & financial consulting services and access to private or public capital to established, mid-market companies in order to achieve their vision. Mench Capital Corp. has participated in and/ or originated in the formation of in excess of $500M+ in private and public equity transactions over the past 22 years mainly focused in the Canadian Resource Industry - oil & gas & mining & Alternative Investment Products & Strategies.

Mr. Fair acted as Executive Vice President and Director for Maple Leaf Funds from 2009-2016, Executive Vice President & Director for Nationwide Self Storage Trust I, and as Regional Director, Western Canada for Next Edge Capital. Next Edge Capital is a Toronto based company with investment products in the alternative asset sector focused on private lending. Mr. Fair has previously served on numerous Boards as an independent Director including; Maple Leaf Flow-Through Limited Partnerships (2009-2016), Nationwide I Self Storage Trust, Maple Leaf Energy Income Limited Partnerships (2009-2016), Maple Leaf Royalty Corp, Richfield Ventures Inc., Orsa Ventures Corp., and Cliffmont Resources Ltd.

Mr. Fair currently acts as the President and CEO of Cordillera Minerals Group Ltd., an entity which creates and provides Investor's access to diversified portfolios of Canadian Junior Exploration Mineral Companies through a tax efficient structure. Mr. Fair is also the President & CEO of the Cordillera Minerals 2021 Flow-Through Limited Partnership

The Company announces that it has granted incentive stock options to officers, directors and consultants under its Stock Option Plan entitling them to purchase an aggregate of up to 2,475,000 common shares of the Company. The stock options are exercisable on or before January 14th, 2027, at a price of $0.10 per share.

About Searchlight Resources Inc.

Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV:SCLT; US:CYNCF; FSE 2CC2) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Exploration focus is on gold, uranium and battery minerals throughout the Province,

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Stephen Wallace"

Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director

SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC.

For further information, visit the Company's website at www.searchlightresources.com or contact:

Searchlight Resources Inc.

Alf Stewart, VP Corporate Development

(604) 331-9326

info@searchlightresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

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.

SOURCE: Searchlight Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684439/Searchlight-Resources-Announces-Mr-Bruce-Fair-as-New-Director
MIAMI, Jan. 18, 2022by the hand of Jairo Gonzalezwas created in 2015, a company dedicated to investment advisory in financial markets, in order to guide, advise and consolidate the finances of its customers.



Harvest Trading Capstrengthens and expands the knowledge of the Cryptocurrency market and has been rapidly introduced in the stock market and has become the most profitable trader in the Dominican Republic and Latin America.

Today, Harvest Trading Capand its team led by CEO Manager Jairo Gonzalezhave created and founded the first cryptocurrency in the Dominican Republic which was created with BlockChain technology to help secure transactions.

Harvest Coinis a solid and reliable cryptocurrency designed for FINTECHe-commerce. It will soon be used all over the world to enjoy its wide range of advantages and alternative services.

Harvest Coinis the official cryptocurrency of HARVEST TRADING CAP, whose strength comes from a financial ecosystem that provides multiple advisory services in international financial markets, education and securities trading in different sectors of the Fintech economy. HARVEST TRADING CAPholders will be able to access multiple benefits and rewards from anywhere in the world, the use of this trading resource will positively boost the economy.

Harvest Coinis the main asset that provides liquidity for trading transactions and will be used in all its services such as wallet and Harvest Exchangewhich is a centralized online exchange marketplace for trading cryptocurrencies, stocks and other assets.

But that's not all, this new cryptocurrency is supported by thousands of users and members of the Harvest Trading Cap communityand Harvest Cap Exchange.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c088c229-671b-4c1a-a250-6aa59310284b

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1e15c9cd-b0fe-4e4c-b536-ed411bcd21d7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e2a4a9d-0ebc-4150-a230-131e8ceb6e87
TechnipFMC (NYSE: FTI) (PARIS: FTI) and Magnora ASA (Magnora) are pleased to announce that their partnership, Magnora Offshore Wind AS, has been offered the opportunity to enter into an Option Agreement for the N3 area by the Crown Estate Scotland in the ScotWind leasing round. The planned development will have a total capacity of approximately 500 megawatts (MW), which could power more than 600,000 homes in the United Kingdom.

Magnora Offshore Wind is a partnership between TechnipFMC and Magnora, combining TechnipFMC's experience executing large integrated offshore projects and delivering industry leading technologies and Magnora's extensive renewable and offshore project development expertise. One of the core principles of the partnership is local commitment, involving local subcontractors and communities to create long-term value in all project phases in a sustainable and responsible way.

Luana Duffe, Executive Vice President, New Energy Ventures at TechnipFMC, commented: "Magnora Offshore Wind is an exciting partnership for TechnipFMC, and we are ready to put our expertise and experience into action following this successful bid. We will build on our core strengths of innovation, integration and collaboration while supporting local communities and developing the local supply chain."

Torstein Sanness, Executive Chairman of Magnora ASA, commented: "Magnora Offshore Wind is a young company with ambitions and capabilities. Extensive experience from renewable and offshore energy production creates a strong foundation for succeeding in growing an offshore wind business with significant long-term value creation for society, employees and shareholders. Together with TechnipFMC, we are proud to be given the opportunity to progress our work to develop the ScotWind N3 area."

The N3 area is situated in the north-western part of Scotland, 40 kilometers offshore Western Isles. The planned wind farm will cover an area of approximately 100 square kilometers in water depths of 106 to 125 meters, and the concept base for the application is 33 semi-submersible floating wind turbines of 15 MW capacity.

The ambition is to achieve Consent in 2026, Final Investment Decision in 2028, and start production in 2030, contributing to achieving Scotland's Net Zero targets, Pathway to 2030.

For the ScotWind N3 application, Magnora Offshore Wind has support from three committed experience providers: Stornoway Port Authority, Kishorn Port and DNV.

Important Information for Investors and Securityholders

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "expect," "believe," "estimated," and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. For information regarding known material factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results, please see our risk factors set forth in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which include our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of our forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

About TechnipFMC

TechnipFMC is a leading technology provider to the traditional and new energy industries, delivering fully integrated projects, products, and services.

With our proprietary technologies and comprehensive solutions, we are transforming our clients' project economics, helping them unlock new possibilities to develop energy resources while reducing carbon intensity and supporting their energy transition ambitions.

Organized in two business segments Subsea and Surface Technologies we will continue to advance the industry with our pioneering integrated ecosystems (such as iEPCI, iFEED and iComplete), technology leadership and digital innovation.

Each of our approximately 20,000 employees is driven by a commitment to our clients' success, and a culture of strong execution, purposeful innovation, and challenging industry conventions.

TechnipFMC uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. To learn more about how we are driving change in the industry, go to www.TechnipFMC.com and follow us on Twitter @TechnipFMC.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118006179/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations

Matt Seinsheimer

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 281 260 3665

Email: Matt Seinsheimer

James Davis

Senior Manager, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 281 260 3665

Email: James Davis

Media relations

Nicola Cameron

Vice President, Corporate Communications

Tel: +44 1383 742297

Email: Nicola Cameron

Catie Tuley

Director, Public Relations

Tel: +1 713 876 7296

Email: Catie Tuley


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL) has been ordered to pay $9.4 million as compensation to a man after he was served chemical instead of water.



A jury in Marion County, Tennessee, ordered Cracker Barrel to pay William Cronnon $9.4 million after the company was found to be at fault for serving him a glass filled the chemical Eco-San, which is used to clean the soda machine, instead of water.



'The jury returned a verdict for compensatory damages of $4.3 million in just 30 minutes -- one of the fastest verdicts we have ever seen -- and awarded punitive damages of $5 million after only 10 minutes of additional deliberation,' Cronnon's attorney Thomas Greer told CNN.



'The speed of the verdict, combined with an amount in excess of what we asked, speaks to just how dangerous the Cracker Barrel policy was,' Greer said.



Meanwhile, Cracker Barrel said it was 'disappointed' with the award.



'While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jury's award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago,' Cracker Barrel Media Relations said in a statement.



'Although we are considering our options with respect to this verdict, we are glad this matter is behind us so we can better focus on caring for our guests and employees around the country,' it added.







Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

CRACKER BARREL-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty ONE Group, a modern, purpose-driven lifestyle brand and ONE of the fastest growing franchisors in the world, was named again real estate's only 'Fast & Serious' franchisors, making Franchise Times' exclusive ranking of the top 40 brands who are growing rapidly and strategically while demonstrating impressive staying power.

Realty ONE Group claimed the No. 12 spot, the only real estate company to be ranked, among other powerhouse brands who are growing 'at a rapid yet smart pace,' according to Franchise Times. The Las Vegas-based global franchisor completed 118,000 real estate transactions and paid over $1.1 billion in commission on $47 billion worth of homes sold, a 46% year-over-year increase.

"Landing on this list is incredibly important to us as it validates that we're a smart, strategic franchisor with a business model and COOLTURE that can stand the test of time," said Kuba Jewgieniew , CEO and Founder of Realty ONE Group. "We continue to follow a disciplined expansion plan that aligns us with partners who believe in our shared long-term success."

This comes on the heels of another celebrated ranking in which Realty ONE Group claimed the No. 1 spot for real estate franchisors on Entrepreneur's highly competitive 2022 Franchise 500 list .

The UNBrokerage, as it's known in the industry, now has more than 17,000 real estate professionals in more than 400 offices in 45 states, Washington D.C. and Canada and will be opening in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Singapore and Spain, in addition to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Learn more at www.OwnAOne.com .

About Realty ONE Group

Founded in 2005, Realty ONE Group is an industry disruptor, radically changing the face of real estate franchising with its unique business model, fun coolture, technology infrastructure and superior support for its real estate professionals. The company has rapidly evolved to include more than 17,000 real estate professionals in over 400+ offices across 45 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Spain, Singapore and Costa Rica. Realty ONE Group ranks in the top one percent in the nation by REAL Trends, has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 5 Real Estate Franchise and has been on Inc. 500's list of the Fastest-Growing Companies for seven consecutive years. Realty ONE Group is surging ahead, opening doors, not only for its clients but for real estate professionals and franchise owners. To learn more, visit www.RealtyONEGroup.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/260011/realty_one_group___logo.jpg
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said Monday three oil tankers exploded at an extension of Dhabi International Airport in a possible drone attack.

The state-run WAM news agency said the explosion killed at least three people and wounded six others. The dead included two Indian nationals and a Pakistani.

Police said initial investigations of the incident indicated a drone could have caused the explosion and a nearby fire.
A memorial is seen Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, at the location of a fatal fire in Quakertown. Eric King, 41, and his two sons, Liam, 11, and Patrick, 8, died in the blaze, officials said. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call )

In less than a month, almost three dozen people, both children and adults, have died in fires in about a 100-mile radius of Allentown.

The fires, in Quakertown, Philadelphia and New York City, are all tragic, not only because of the lives lost, but also because of the ways they could have been prevented or deaths mitigated.

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I wish I could give you like one common thread that linked them all together, Allentown fire Capt. John Christopher said. But really, there isnt one here other than your basic home fire safety, having the proper amount of smoke detectors, making sure those smoke detectors are operational [and] testing them monthly.

In the wake of several deadly fires across the region, including a Christmas Day blaze that killed three in Quakertown, Lehigh Valley fire officials are underscoring the importance of fire education and safety planning, as it may mean the difference between life and death.

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[ I have a big hole in my heart: Thousands remember Eric King, two sons who died in Christmas fire at Quakertown vigil ]

Ten days after the Quakertown fire, a blaze at a housing authority-owned property in Philadelphias Fairmount neighborhood killed eight children and four adults, the citys deadliest tragedy in a generation.

Four days later, a fire in a Bronx, New York, high-rise left 17 people dead, including eight children, and hospitalized 32 residents.

They accentuate how fires are proving more deadly than a decade ago. Data from the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of FEMA, shows deaths related to fires have been steadily climbing, even as instances of fires have slightly declined.

House fire related fatalities have increased 18% from 2010 to 2019, from 3,120 to 3,704, respectively, according to data from the U.S. Fire Administration.

House fire-related fatalities have increased 18% from 2010 to 2019, from 3,120 to 3,704, according to the administration. During the same time period, the number of fires fell 3%, from 1.33 million in 2010 to 1.29 million in 2019.

Lehigh Valley investigations ongoing

Less than three weeks have passed since the Quakertown fire killed Eric King, 41, and his sons, Liam, 11, and Patrick, 8. While officials said the familys Christmas tree lights likely started the fire, the investigation into the precise origin is ongoing.

Were trying to narrow it down to the exact cause on the Christmas tree, whether it was wiring or whatever, but  we got to have outside sources involved and things like that, Quakertown fire Marshal Doug Wilhelm said Thursday. So, people need to understand that this was a fire causing three deaths and this is an extended investigation.

A smoke detector on the first floor of the twin home at 11 Essex Court First worked, but a smoke detector on the second floor did not, Wilhelm confirmed.

Kings wife, Kristin, and one of their three sons, Brady, made it out safely, as did Carol and TJ Arnhold, who lived in the adjoining home.

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Christmas trees have been cited as the cause of an average of 160 home fires per year between 2015 and 2019, resulting in two civilian deaths, 12 civilian injuries and $10 million in property damage annually, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association. About 30% of home fires across the country involving Christmas trees happen in January.

A month before the Quakertown fire, flames gutted a portion of a $6.4 million Salisbury Township mansion. Sixty to 70 firefighters battled the blaze, and, though not fatal, two South Whitehall Township firefighters suffered burn and trauma injuries.

The home, at 3015 Barrington Lane, was built in 1997 and known as Ravenwood. It had just been bought by a group of out-of-town investors whose names officials have not released.

Sgt. Don Sabo, the township fire marshal, did not respond to requests for an update on the investigation into the cause and point of origin of the Nov. 16 blaze.

Lessons learned from Philadelphia, Bronx fires

Fires during the winter are not uncommon, especially considering the increased use of candles, fireplaces, space heaters and the tendency to overload electrical sockets during the holidays.

Ive noticed, personally, any weather extremes, whether you get a heat wave in the summer or you get a cold spell in the winter, Christopher said. Because it just seems like now everyones indoors.

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Older homes, like many in Allentown or Philadelphia, can be prone to electrical issues, he said, because they werent built with todays technology in mind.

When they were built years ago, they werent designed for the amount of electrical appliances we use now, Christopher said. Just think 30, 40 years ago. People didnt have three, four TVs in the home. They didnt have computers. I think that adds to it.

Like the Quakertown fire, the Jan. 5 blaze in Philadelphia has been attributed to the familys Christmas tree.

Though an official cause has not been released, police documents show a 5-year-old who escaped told neighbors hed been playing with a lighter, accidentally setting fire to the familys tree.

If it was a natural tree, which Im assuming it was, was it watered appropriately? Easton fire Chief Henry Hennings asked. When those things dry out, they go up quick.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, in 2017 released a video showing the effects of fire on a dry tree compared with one thats been watered, side-by-side.

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Within 30 seconds, the dry tree is completely engulfed, and the flames had spread to nearby furniture  the entire room is gutted before 2 minutes pass, whereas the watered tree sustained minimal damage and the fire didnt spread at all.

You will see how the smoke layer and the heat layer build up and build up and start coming down, and it gets to a point where, what we call, the room flashes over, Hennings said. Its an unsurvivable event. Everything in the room spontaneously combusts because its heated to that level and, if youre in there, even if a firefighter is in there in full turnout gear, theyre not going to survive.

Modern furniture has proven to accelerate a fires spread, too.

Another side-by-side video, this one from Underwriters Laboratories, a safety certification company in Illinois, shows that a flashover can occur in just under 4 minutes with modern furniture, whereas it took almost 30 minutes for a flashover in a room filled with legacy furniture.

Back in the 40s, 50s, 60s, everything was made out of cotton stuffing, natural fibers, where today you have plastics, polymers, foams, polyesters, Hennings said. And most of that stuff is a petroleum-based product.

The high-rise fire Jan. 9 in the Bronx was apparently started by a malfunctioning electric space heater  the second leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, according to the NFPA.

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The heater was too close to combustibles, Hennings said. If youre using space heaters, you want to give them at least 3 feet all the way around it. You dont ever want to leave it alone when you go to bed.

Reports indicate that, although fire alarms sounded through the building, residents dismissed them as nuisance alarms  another common issue that can be deadly.

When a fire alarm system activates, its activating for a reason, Hennings said. So, regardless of what the reason is, you should still evacuate the building  and this is the perfect reason why.

While the causes might differ, both fires illustrated how closing doors can have a powerful effect on a fires ability to spread.

When crews responded to the Philadelphia fire, the three-story, brick row home had flames showing on the second floor, with heavy smoke on the third. The staircase had become like a deadly chimney, trapping residents inside.

In the Bronx fire, the automatic door closer malfunctioned, allowing smoke to spread and air to feed the flames.

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Photo by @DrLoriUSFA from her visit with @FDNY following the fatal #BronxFire learning what can be done to prevent future tragedies. From the soot-covered hallway, you can see into the nearly pristine apartment adjacent to the apartment where the fire started. #CloseBeforeYouDoze pic.twitter.com/l85W4GOCMG  Fire Safety Research Institute (@FSRI_org) January 12, 2022

However, because the door to an adjacent apartment remained closed, it sustained minimal damage. A photo posted on the New York City Fire Departments Twitter described the apartment as nearly pristine against the soot-covered and damaged hallway.

Officials in New York City and Philadelphia have launched social media campaigns using #CloseBeforeYouDoze, to illustrate how a closed door can slow the spread of fire.

Fire is getting faster. A closed door helps stop the spread of fire. Close before you doze -- it could save your life. Learn more  https://t.co/JyYTdXawax  pic.twitter.com/GyowDIhlIA  Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) January 13, 2022

There might be some smoke damage there, but looking through that doorway, the walls are painted, you can see everything. Theres not a whole lot of damage to be seen, Hennings said. If there is a fire and youre exiting, make sure the door closes behind you. Thats a big one, because the more air you let in there, the bigger the fire is going to grow, and its going to grow fast.

We preach the same things every year

In the Lehigh Valley, fire safety education starts early.

During Fire Prevention Week each October, Easton firefighters visit each elementary school in the city, Hennings said.

We preach the same things every year: the stop, drop and roll, exit drills in the home, dont play with matches or lighters  theyre tools, not toys, all of that and then whatever the fire prevention message is for that particular year, Hennings said. These kids get it from the very first year, all the way through until they go to the middle school  it should be driven into their head.

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Whether the parents arent paying attention to their kids when they bring that information home, or everybodys just so busy doing other things that they dont really go back to the fundamentals that we try to instill in the kids, this unfortunately is the sad result of not paying attention, he said.

Easton isnt the only city in the Lehigh Valley offering fire safety training and prevention  many departments do it, sending firefighters to schools, day cares and businesses to educate and train.

The American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region launched a campaign to install smoke alarms for free for those who cant afford them or are physically unable to install them.

But, even with these resources available, fatal fires still happen, which can be frustrating, fire officials said.

All we can do is educate the people, Hennings said. If they failed to learn the message or follow the message  thats human nature. Theres nothing I can do to impact that, but you can see the sad toll from not following the message.

We go out every year to the schools, and we teach these kids so they get it, he said. Its repetitive through their learning years. But, still, we have fatalities, a lot of them dont need to happen.

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Morning Call reporter Molly Bilinski can be reached at mbilinski@mcall.com.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC (TSX:FAP) (UEN: T21VC0235H) (the "Company"), a closed-end investment company trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, announced today details of the 2022 voluntary cash redemption.

Voluntary Annual Cash Redemption

The redemption date for the Company's annual voluntary cash redemption will be March 31, 2022. Shareholders are entitled to redeem shares of the Company at a price equal to 100% of the Average Net Asset Value (NAV) of the three trading days preceding the March 31, 2022 redemption date, less direct costs. Direct costs are expected to be less than 1%. If all redemption requests exceed 10% of the aggregate outstanding units of the Company on March 9, 2022, the final day to submit units for redemption, the Company will process redemptions to this maximum on a pro-rata basis based on the total number of units tendered. Payment for shares that have been tendered and accepted for redemption will be made on or before April 22, 2022.

Shareholders wishing to redeem their units must provide notice of their intent to do so with their investment advisor or brokerage office no later than 5 pm Eastern time on March 9, 2022. Please note that investment firms may impose an earlier deadline in order to facilitate the processing of redemption requests. Shareholders are strongly urged to consult their investment advisor or brokerage office directly to confirm their internal deadlines. Registered unitholders (those who hold a physical share certificate in their name) should contact the Company's transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., at 1-800-564-6253 to redeem their shares. Shares that have been submitted for redemption will remain eligible for the March 2022 distribution, which will be paid in March 2022.

Key Dates

January 28- March 9, 2022 Shareholders may tender shares for redemption March 28 - 30, 2022 Redemption price determined based on average NAV of these trading days March 31, 2022 Redemption date April 22, 2022 Payment of redemption proceeds on or before this date

Important Information

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal will fluctuate and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. NAV returned data includes investment management fees, custodial charges, bank loan expenses and administrative fees (such as Director and legal fees) and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. The Company is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of principal. Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the Company's net asset value during each period. Total return based on market price reflects changes in market value.

abrdn is the registered marketing name in Canada for the following entities: abrdn Canada Limited, Aberdeen Standard Investments Luxembourg, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, abrdn Capital Partners LLP, abrdn Investment Management Limited, Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited, and Aberdeen Capital Management LLC. abrdn Canada Limited is registered as a Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer in all provinces and territories of Canada as well as an Investment Fund Manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Company's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the company's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Company will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of future financial performance and condition of the Company, are factors and assumptions which, although considered reasonable by the Company, Aberdeen Standard Investments (Canada) Limited, Aberdeen Standard Investments, and/or abrdn Asia Limited, as applicable, at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Shareholders are cautioned that actual results are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general economic and market factors, including credit, currency, political and interest-rate risks and could differ materially from what is currently expected. The Company has no specific intention of updating any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

https://www.abrdn.com/en-ca/canadaclosedend

For More Information Contact:

Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC

Investor Relations

1-800-992-6341

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684446/Abrdn-Asia-Pacific-Income-Fund-VCC-Announces-2022-Voluntary-Cash-Redemption
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - STEVENS GOLD NEVADA INC. (CSE: SG) (the "Company") announces that it will change its name to "Nine Mile Metals Ltd." The change of name is subject to the acceptance of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). At the same time, the Company will change its trading symbol to "NINE".

The Company is changing its name to reflect its new focus on its two proposed mining projects in New Brunswick, Canada, one of which is known as "Nine Mile Brook". The other is known as "Canoe Landing Lake West". The acquisitions, described in the Company's press release dated November 29, 2021, are scheduled to be completed on or about Friday, January 21, 2022. The Company expects to start trading as "Nine Mile Metals Ltd." under its new symbol "NINE" at market open on Monday, January 24th.

About the Company

The Company is a mineral exploration company. Its primary business objective is to explore mineral properties.

ON BEHALF OF STEVENS GOLD NEVADA INC.

"Charles MaLette"

CEO, President, Director & Secretary

T: 604-428-5171

E: info@stevensgold.com

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "will," "may," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "could" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include that the Company will (a) change its name and symbol as described and (b) complete the acquisition of the two mining projects as and when described. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110694
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2022 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIRA)(OTCQX:PMMCF) is pleased to announce that effective January 18, 2022, Paul Gill, currently a Director of Pampa Metals, will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company. Julian Bavin, Pampa Metals' current President and CEO, will continue to serve the corporation as a non-executive director.

The Company is delighted to welcome Paul Gill as CEO, who brings a great track record and key experience to help guide the Company during its next phase of development. The transition of the CEO position has been planned for some time, as Mr. Bavin's original role was to see the Company firmly established during its first year of existence prior to moving into a non-executive role.

Adrian Manger, Chairman of Pampa Metals, commented: "The Board of Directors welcomes the transition of the CEO role to Paul Gill, and sincerely thanks Julian Bavin for his valuable leadership and contribution to Pampa Metals throughout its formative period. Paul's experience and track record in business and capital markets, together with successful prior leadership positions in junior companies, will add further strength to the management team as the company embarks on its next phase of exploration and business growth. Julian's continuation as a non-executive director will provide continuity to the board and management team and will enable the board to continue to draw on his many decades of valuable business and exploration experience in Chile and elsewhere.

Paul Gill stated: "I am delighted to step up from my current director's role to assume the CEO position at Pampa Metals. I am excited to be part of this Company that boasts a highly prospective property portfolio in one of the world's most important mining jurisdictions, Chile, and to work with the rest of the Company's top-class team to achieve its primary objectives. I firmly believe we can guide this Company to success."

Julian Bavin said: "It was always my intention to step down from the leadership role after helping to establish Pampa Metals as an important junior explorer in Chile. That task is now done, and I look forward to taking a non-executive role in order to continue supporting the Company's development. I am delighted we have secured the services of someone with the reputation of Paul to take this company to the next level, and I look forward with anticipation to seeing this Company succeed."

About Paul Gill

Mr. Gill is currently a Director and Chair of Lomiko Metals Inc., a graphite and lithium developer in Quebec. He was previously heavily involved in the dynamic growth stage of Norsemont Mining in Peru, where he served as vice-president of business development, as well as the director, President and CEO, CFO, and Corporate Secretary. In 2011, Norsemont's key asset, the Constancia Project, was purchased by HudBay Minerals for $512 Million. Today, the project is an operating copper-gold-silver mine producing more than 70,000 tonnes of fine copper per year, with an estimated net value of $ 20 billion.

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa Metals is a Canadian company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE: PM) as well as the Frankfurt (FSE: FIRA) and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges. Pampa Metals owns a highly prospective 62,000-hectare portfolio of eight projects for copper and gold located along proven mineral belts in Chile, one of the world's top mining jurisdictions. The Company has a vision to create value for shareholders and all other stakeholders by making a major copper discovery along the prime mineral belts of Chile, using the best geological and technological methods. For more information, please visit Pampa Metals' website www.pampametals.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Adrian Manger | Chairman

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Ioannis (Yannis) Tsitos | Director

investors@pampametals.com

www.pampametals.com

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Pampa Metals

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/684414/Pampa-Metals-Announces-Appointment-of-Paul-Gill-as-Chief-Executive-Officer
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc. (CSE: MJEM), the Canada-based social media and technology company, announces that it has appointed Sophic Capital Inc. ("Sophic Capital" or "Sophic") as its Capital Markets advisor. Sophic Capital is a comprehensive capital markets advisory firm and will focus on increasing Mijem's investor awareness by developing a comprehensive communications strategy and introducing the Company to investment advisors, investment dealers, institutions and other financial professionals.

"Through their other client relationships, Sophic Capital has extensive knowledge of the nuances required to build a business directed at Gen Z, Mijem's targeted market," said Mijem founder and CEO Phuong Dinh. "After comparing several capital markets advisory firms, Mijem decided that Sophic Capital could best communicate our market opportunity and growth strategy to institutional and retail investors throughout North America as well as introduce us to capital markets professionals."

"Prior to the pandemic, Mijem achieved market penetration with their Gen Z community buy & sell app across North American campuses," said Sophic Capital President and CEO Sean Peasgood. "Now that students in the U.S. are returning to university and college, Mijem is continuing to build their user base with proven methods. The Company dovetails perfectly with other issuers we work with, and we look forward to increasing shareholder visibility and building on the recent momentum in the business. On behalf of the partners at Sophic Capital, I'd like to thank Mijem for their vote of confidence."

Mijem's engagement with Sophic Capital is on a fee for services basis of $8,000 per month. In addition, Sophic Capital has been granted options to purchase up to 427,951 shares of Mijem at a price of $0.25 per share. The options will vest quarterly in three tranches of 106,988 each and one tranche of 106,987. The total options outstanding are now 2,675,957 and represent approximately 10% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The options are governed by the provisions of the Company's stock option plan and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE").

The Company also announces that it has engaged the services of Independent Trading Group ("ITG") to provide market-making services in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange TSVX, CSE and Neo policies. ITG will trade shares of the Company on the CSE with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of the Company's common shares.

Under the agreement, ITG will receive compensation of $5,000 per month, payable monthly in advance. The agreement may be terminated by either party with 30 days' notice. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement and ITG will not receive shares or options as compensation. ITG and the Company are unrelated and unaffiliated entities and at the time of the agreement, neither ITG nor its principals have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company.

For further information, please contact:

Corporate

Gord Tomkin, Chief Financial Officer

Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc.

416 915-4747

gtomkin@mijem.com

Media

Laurie Freudenberg

media@mijem.com

Investor Relations

Sean Peasgood

sean@sophiccapital.com

(437) 253-9222

About Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc.

Mijem is a Canadian-based social media and technology company that provides innovative solutions to create a vibrant social marketplace for Generation Z to connect and to efficiently buy, sell and trade goods and services. Mijem's patent-pending flagship technology currently permits thousands of university and college students across the United States and Canada to both connect on-line and engage in consumer-to-consumer commerce.

About Sophic Capital

Sophic Capital is a capital markets advisory firm for public and private growth companies, specializing in developing complete capital markets strategies for companies across all stages of development. Sophic Capital's depth of knowledge in the technology, clean technology, consumer products and other growth sectors combined with decades of experience working in the capital markets, makes it an ideal partner to help lower the cost of capital and accelerate growth. For more information, visit www.sophiccapital.com.

About Independent Trading Group

ITG is Canada's only brokerage firm dedicated specifically to professional trading. As Canada's foremost Market Making Firm, ITG provides Market Making and Liquidity Provider services that are objective and focused. With its head office in Toronto, ITG employs real traders and provides real liquidity, with an underlying emphasis on integrity and success.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved".

Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110702
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - EnerSpar Corp. (TSXV: ENER) (FSE: 5E0) ("EnerSpar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that they have entered into an arm's length securities exchange agreement dated January 3, 2022 (the "Agreement"), with Nurexone Biologic Ltd. ("Nurexone") and the shareholders of Nurexone (collectively, the "Vendors"), pursuant to which EnerSpar and Nurexone propose to complete a business combination (the "Proposed Transaction"). The Proposed Transaction will be considered a "Reverse Takeover Transaction" for purposes of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.2. Prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction, all of the existing assets, liabilities and operations of EnerSpar will be placed into a new subsidiary company, and the shares of the new subsidiary will be distributed to EnerSpar's existing shareholders.

Nurexone, an Israeli pharmaceutical corporation, is developing an off-the-shelf, minimally invasive, revolutionary treatment for the reversal or reduction in the harmful results of spinal cord injury, using Exosome-based patent-pending technology. The breakthrough treatment is based on licensed technologies from Israel's leading Universities, proven in animal studies to have the potential to treat spinal cord injury. In a joint study conducted on rats at the Technion, Israel's Institute of Technology together with the Tel Aviv University, the treatment showed spinal cord nerve regeneration following complete lesion of the spinal cord, allowing the rats to walk again.

Terms of the Proposed Transaction

Pursuant to the Agreement, EnerSpar will acquire each ordinary share of Nurexone in exchange for 17 post-Consolidation (as herein defined) EnerSpar shares from treasury (the "Consideration Shares"). Fractional Consideration Shares will not be issued. Where the number of Consideration Shares to be issued results in a fraction, the number of Consideration Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole number. Existing common share purchase warrants of Nurexone inclusive of Nurexone Warrants issuable on the Nurexone Financing (as such terms are defined below) and stock options and other rights to acquire securities of Nurexone will be exchanged for like securities of EnerSpar on a 17 post-Consolidation (as herein defined) for one basis.

Prior to the consummation of the Proposed Transaction, EnerSpar will, subject to the approval of EnerSpar Shareholders, consolidate all the issued and outstanding common shares of EnerSpar ("EnerSpar Shares") on the basis of 10 pre-consolidation EnerSpar Shares for each one post-consolidation EnerSpar Share (the "Consolidation").

Pursuant to the terms of the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that the board of directors of the company resulting from the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer") will consist of seven directors proposed to be nominated by Nurexone and expected to be approved by shareholders of Enerspar at an annual and special meeting of shareholders, to be held on February 7, 2022, among other matters including the approval of a name change of the Resulting Issuer to "Nurexone Biologic Inc." and an amended and restated stock option plan of the Resulting Issuer.

EnerSpar currently has 25,536,000 pre-Consolidation EnerSpar Shares, nil common share purchase warrants and 125,000 stock options issued pursuant to EnerSpar's stock option plan that are exercisable into 125,000 pre-Consolidation EnerSpar Shares issued and outstanding.

Nurexone currently has 1,409,690 ordinary shares ("Nurexone Shares"), 231,000 ordinary share purchase warrants issued to TRDF ("Nurexone TRDF Warrants"), 419,064 ordinary share purchase warrants ("Nurexone Other Warrants") and 277,735 stock options issued pursuant to Nurexone's stock option plan issued and outstanding.

Nurexone also has an aggregate principal amount of CAD $1,421,500 of convertible loans outstanding (the "Nurexone CLA"). The aggregate principal amount of the Nurexone CLA (not including accrued interest to the date of conversion) are convertible into an aggregate of 130,653 Nurexone Shares and 56,322 warrants of Nurexone (each a "Nurexone CLA Warrants") at a conversion price of CAD $10.88. Each Nurexone CLA Warrant is exercisable into one Nurexone Share at a price of CAD $20.40 for a period of 24 months from the date of issue of the Nurexone CLA Warrant. The Nurexone CLA bears interest at the rate of 8% per annum and matures on May 23, 2023, subject to Nurexone's right to force conversion immediately prior to the completion of the Proposed Transaction.

The Nurexone Offering

Pursuant to the Agreement, on or prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, Nurexone expects to complete a private placement financing for (i) up to a further principal amount of CAD $378,500 of Nurexone CLA which is convertible into 34,821 Nurexone Shares and nil Nurexone CLA Warrants at a conversion price of CAD $10.88 and (ii) up to CAD $1,578,695 being up to an aggregate of 219,263 units of Nurexone (the "Nurexone Private Placement Units") at a price of CAD $7.20 per Nurexone Unit (collectively the "Nurexone Offering"). There is no minimum under the Nurexone Offering. Each Nurexone Private Placement Unit will consist of one Nurexone Share and one ordinary purchase warrant of Nurexone (each a "Nurexone Offering Warrant"). Each Nurexone Offering Warrant is exercisable into one Nurexone Share at an exercise price of CAD $20.40 for a period of 24 months after the date of issue of the Nurexone Offering Warrant.

The Nurexone Offering is ongoing and the gross proceeds of the Nurexone Offering will not be held in escrow pending closing of the Proposed Transaction.

The EnerSpar Offering

In addition, pursuant to the Agreement, on or prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, EnerSpar expects to complete a private placement of up to 5,000,000 subscription receipts ("EnerSpar Subscription Receipts") at a price of CAD $0.80 per EnerSpar Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of up to CAD $4,000,000 (the "EnerSpar Offering") to be held in escrow until the closing of the Proposed Transaction. There is no minimum under the EnerSpar Offering. Each EnerSpar Subscription Receipt will be automatically exchanged, for no additional consideration, into units of EnerSpar (each, an "EnerSpar Unit"). Each EnerSpar Unit consists of one post-Consolidation EnerSpar Share and one warrant of Enerspar ("EnerSpar Warrant"), with each such warrant being exercisable into one post-Consolidation EnerSpar Share at a price of $1.20 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Proposed Transaction. All EnerSpar Subscription Receipts are held in escrow till the completion of the transaction. The exchange of the EnerSpar Subscription Receipts will be conditional upon the satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions including the completion of the Proposed Transaction and the receipt of all corporate, regulatory, and TSXV approvals relating to the Proposed Transaction.

Reverse Takeover Transaction

No finder's fees are to be paid in connection with the Proposed Transaction. However, immediately prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction, Nurexone will issue 67,647 Nurexone Shares to an arm's length financial advisor in connection with certain financial and advisory services related to the Proposed Transaction (the "Advisory Services Shares").

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Advisory Services Shares will be exchanged for 1,150,000 Resulting Issuer Shares (post 17:1 basis).

Assuming completion of the maximum Nurexone Offering, the completion of the maximum EnerSpar Offering, conversion of the EnerSpar Subscription Receipts, completion of the Consolidation, the conversion of the principal amount of Nurexone CLA (not including accrued interest), the issuance of the Advisory Services Shares and the completion of the Proposed Transaction on a 17:1 basis, the Resulting Issuer is expected to have 39,165,713 common shares outstanding on a non-diluted basis of which 7,536,000 common shares (representing approximately 19.2%) will be held by current EnerSpar shareholders, inclusive of the holders of the EnerSpar Subscription Receipts and of which 31,654,713 common shares (representing approximately 90.8%) will be held by current security holders of Nurexone (see table under "Pro-Forma fully diluted shares upon the completion of the Proposed Transaction" below). No one shareholder is expected to own 10% or more of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Proposed Transaction.

Prior to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Company must have completed a court-approved arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), pursuant to which, among other things, all of the existing assets and operations of EnerSpar will have been placed into a new subsidiary company, and the shares of the new subsidiary will be distributed to EnerSpar's existing shareholders. The effect of this is that the existing Enerspar business will continue for the sole benefit of the existing EnerSpar shareholders.

The Proposed Transaction, together with, the name change and Consolidation will constitute a Reverse Takeover pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

The Proposed Transaction may require sponsorship under the policies of the TSXV unless an exemption from sponsorship is granted. The Company intends to apply for an exemption from sponsorship requirements of the TSXV in connection with the Proposed Transaction. There can be no assurance that such exemption will ultimately be granted.

The Company will not be seeking shareholder approval pursuant to TSXV Policy 5.2 Section 4.1 as: (i) the Proposed Transaction is not a Related Party Transaction (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV); (ii) the Issuer currently meets the Tier 2 Continued Listing Requirement (as defined in the policies of the TSXV) and is not listed on the NEX; (iii) the Company is not, and will not, be subject to a cease trade order and will not otherwise be suspended from trading upon completion of the Proposed Transaction; and (iv) shareholder approval for the Proposed Transaction is not required under applicable corporate and securities laws.

Pro-Forma fully diluted shares upon the completion of the Proposed Transaction

The following table outlines in aggregate the number of securities of each of EnerSpar, NurExone, and the Resulting Issuer upon the completion of the Proposed Transaction:

EnerSpar Shareholders

(On a Post-10:1 Consolidation Basis) NurExone Shareholders

(On a Post-17:1

Basis) Resulting

Issuer Total EnerSpar Shares(A) 2,536,000 - 2,536,000 EnerSpar Options (A) 12,500 - 12,500 EnerSpar Offering Shares (B) 5,000,000 - 4,975,000 EnerSpar Offering Warrants (B) 5,000,000 - 4,975,000 Nurexone Shares (C) - 23,964,724 23,964,724 Nurexone Other Warrants (C) - 7,124,090 7,124,090 Nurexone TRDF Warrants (C) - 3,927,000 3,927,000 Nurexone CLA Conversion Shares (D) - 2,221,101 2,221,101 Nurexone CLA Conversion Warrants (D) - 957,472 957,472 Nurexone Offering Shares (E) - 3,727,474 3,727,474 Nurexone Offering Warrants (E) - 3,727,474 3,727,474 Nurexone Offering CLA Conversion Shares (F) - 591,413 591,413 Nurexone Offering CLA Conversion Warrants (F) - - - Advisory Services Shares - 1,150,000 1,150,000 Nurexone Options (G) - 4,721,495 4,721,495 Total Shares 7,536,000 31,654,713 39,190,713 Total Warrants 5,000,000 15,736,036 20,711,036 Total Options 12,500 4,721,495 4,733,995 Total Fully Diluted 12,548,500 52,112,244 64,660,744

(A) Outstanding as of January 17, 2021.

(B) Following the completion of the maximum EnerSpar Offering and the conversion of the EnerSpar Subscription Receipts.

(C) Outstanding as of January 17, 2021.

(D) Issuable upon the forced conversion of the CAD $1,421,500 principal amount of the outstanding Nurexone CLA (but exclusive of accrued 8% interest) on completion of the Proposed Transaction.

(E) Following the completion of the Maximum Nurexone Offering.

(F) Issuable upon the forced conversion of the up to CAD $378,500 principal amount of the Nurexone CLA issuable as part of the maximum Nurexone Offering (but exclusive of accrued 8% interest) on completion of the Proposed Transaction at a conversion price of CAD $10.88 on a pre-17:1 basis (and a conversion price of CAD $0.64 on a post 17:1 basis).

(G) Outstanding as of January 17, 2021.

Management of the Resulting Issuer

Following the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the parties anticipate that the current Board of Directors and management of the Company will resign, with the exception of Mr. James Richardson, remaining as a director of the Company. It is proposed that the following persons will be appointed, in the capacities listed below. Brief biographies of the proposed nominees are as follows:

Yoram Drucker - Chairman of the board and Vice President Strategic Operations

Yoram Drucker has been for the last 20 years a serial entrepreneur in the Israeli biotech industry founding several companies. Mr. Drucker was a co-founder of several companies and is currently serving as a board member at several public companies, among them InnoCan Pharma and IR-Med. Mr. Drucker was co-founder and served as director/management position of Pluristem and Brainstorm presently serves as the CEO of ViruCure Ltd., an Israeli start-up developing a biological cancer treatment. Between 2011 and 2014 Mr. Drucker served as founder, CEO and Chairman of the board of Cell Source Ltd., an Israeli company developing cell therapy to treat transplant rejection and cancer. In 2014 Cell Source Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cell Source Inc., by way of a reverse merger. Mr. Drucker was a member of the Cell Source Inc. board of directors until April 9, 2019. Mr. Drucker was co-founder and served as director/management position of Pluristem Therapeutic and BrianStorm Cell Therapeutics.

Dr. Lior Shaltiel - Chief Executive Officer and Director

Dr Lior Shaltiel is an entrepreneur and an awarded scientist with extensive multidisciplinary international experience, specializing in chemical engineering, molecular biology, electrophysiology, pharmacology and drug delivery systems. Lior has years of experience in accelerating Israeli start-ups. Lior has worked in several nano-drug delivery companies such as LipoCure and Ayana Pharma. Before joining Nurexone, Lior was a VP and Partner at a boutique Chinese investment bank operating in Israel mapping the investment landscape and opportunities in the Israeli pharmaceutical industry. Lior is also the initiator and head of the BioMed-MBA program at the Hebrew University. Lior holds a B.Sc in Chemical Engineering and M.Med.Sc in Physiology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel and a Ph.D in Pharmacology from Ludwig-Maximilans University (LMU), Germany.

Gabi Eldor - Vice President Strategic Operations and Board Member

Gabi Eldor Israeli entrepreneur and an expert in IT and advanced technologies, Gabriel has established several high-tech and biotech start-up companies. Over the past 15 years, had extensive experience in multi-billion $USD infrastructure development projects. Profound experience in project management and funding.

Eyal Flom - Legal Counsel and Director

Eyal Flom has practiced as an independent lawyer in Israel since 1997. Prior thereto, Mr. Flom was an associate at Manusavitch Gotfried Law Firm, located in Israel, where he was engaged in commercial and corporate law, intellectual property registration and litigation matters. Mr. Flom has served as the Israeli Pharmaceutical Association legal counsel since April 1995. Mr. Flom has also served as a director in several start-up companies in the field of technology and biotech. Mr. Flom is a member of the board of directors of Innocan Pharma Corporation. Mr. Flom obtained his LLM from Tel Aviv University and his MBA from Derby University (Tel Aviv Campus).

Ron Mayron - Director

Ron Mayron was a senior executive in Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. until 2014 and has since been a consultant and board member to several public and private healthcare companies. Since 2014, Mr. Mayron served as CEO of Ron Med Ltd., a private consulting firm, while also acting as a board member to several healthcare companies, including Biolight Ltd. and Icecure Ltd. (both traded on the TASE). Between 2009 and 2013 Mr. Mayron was Vice President - Israel & Africa and CEO of Teva Israel Ltd. at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Mr. Mayron has a B.Sc. in Industrial & Management Engineering from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel and an M.B.A from Tel Aviv University.

Oded Orgil - an external Director in Canada

Mr. Orgil has over 25 years of experience in Capital Markets as a Financial Advisor and Senior Executive for both bank-owned and national independent firms. As a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch he achieved executive status early in his career working with families, business owners, and professionals managing their wealth and estate planning.

He moved on to hold Senior Executive positions with Canaccord Genuity and Manulife Financial. He was CEO of Gravitas Securities, a national full-service boutique investment firm. During his time there Oded oversaw the firm's expansion to Vancouver, San Jose, and New York. In his career on Bay Street Oded has participated in over $10 Billion of capital market transitions and acquisitions.

Prior to entering the financial services sector, Mr. Orgil practiced law with a downtown Toronto firm.

Mr. Orgil is an active member of the community and has been President of the Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce since 2010. He is a member of the board of directors of Adcore Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (BA) from The University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University.

James (Jay) Richardson, Director

Mr. Richardson is a Canadian Chartered Accountant (1970), a Singapore Certified Public Accountant (1986) and a Fellow of the Insolvency Practitioners' Association of the United Kingdom. He has practiced as a Partner of Clarkson Gordon Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young, Canada and Singapore) and a Partner of KPMG (UK) prior to establishing his own practice as a company doctor in Toronto in 1993. He has served as the CEO or Chairman of listed public companies on six occasions and in many other CFO and private company situations. He has extensive public company governance experience from over a dozen Board memberships including serving as Interim Chairman of the Argus Corporation. In his very extensive charitable and community activities, he is most commonly associated with the visual arts, having served among others as the Chairman of the Royal Canadian Academy.

About EnerSpar

EnerSpar is a TSX Venture Exchange Tier II listed exploration company focused on industrial minerals oriented to today and future energy requirements. Potassic feldspars are especially significant as a hardening agent in today's solar panels and tomorrow's solar shingles.

About Nurexone

Nurexone is an Israeli start-up pharmaceutical company developing a treatment for spinal cord injury based on exosome technology. Nurexone has signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, to take responsibility for the development and later on manage the clinical studies and commercialization of the technology.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding EnerSpar is available on SEDAR and EnerSpar's website at www.enerspar.com.

Additional information regarding the Proposed Transaction and Nurexone, including the proposed management team and board of directors of the Resulting Issuer, will be made publicly available by EnerSpar and Nurexone in accordance with applicable securities laws and stock exchange requirements upon the execution of a definitive agreement governing the Proposed Transaction.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ENERSPAR:

Jay Richardson, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Contact: info@enerspar.com

Toronto Office: 416-410-JAYR [5297].

ON BEHALF OF NUREXONE:

Ronnie Jaegermann - Advisor

Contact: ronnie@exit-team.com

Tel: +972544202054

READER ADVISORY

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or listing statement of the Company to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of EnerSpar should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

The securities set forth herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements and information concerning the Proposed Transaction, the financings of Nurexone, the expected business of the Resulting Issuer, the negotiation and execution of the Definitive Agreement and the timing thereof and the application to the TSXV in respect of the Proposed Transaction. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by EnerSpar, including expectations and assumptions concerning EnerSpar, Nurexone, the Resulting Issuer, and the Proposed Transaction, the timely receipt of all required securityholder, TSXV and regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of a Definitive Agreement. Although EnerSpar believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because EnerSpar can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, the results of the due diligence review on either EnerSpar or Nurexone by the other are less than satisfactory, or the parties are unable to obtain the required TSXV and shareholder approvals. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward- looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. EnerSpar undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE 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/110703
Anonybit, a NYC and Tel Aviv, Israel-based decentralized biometrics company, closed $3.5m in funding.

The round was led by Switch Ventures with participation from NextGen Venture Partners, Industry Ventures, Preceptor Capital, and several strategic angel investors.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its work with embedded partners and enterprises in support of the need for data protection and enhanced digital security.

Founded by longtime cybersecurity executive and biometric industry veteran, Frances Zelazny; Yaron Azizi, former IDF 8200 and initial platform design architect for BioCatch, the behavioral biometrics leader, and Shaked Vax, former product management and market innovation lead at Trusteer (acquired by IBM), Anonybit has developed a decentralized biometrics infrastructure that addresses a need for improved management of personal data and digital assets across a wide range of use cases.

Anonybit splits sensitive data, like biometrics, private keys and other digital assets, into anonymized bits that are distributed throughout a vast peer-to-peer network of nodes. The system then applies multi-party computing and zero knowledge proofs in a proprietary, patented manner in order to conduct matching functions in a decentralized way.

The company offers three products:

Decentralized identity cloud for biometric solution and identity service providers to use with their algorithms and build privacy-preserving identity solutions;

Decentralized biometric authentication for enterprises and embedded partners, leveraging liveness detection, biometric matching, decentralized storage and integration into orchestration systems;

Digital asset vault for private keys, backup passphrases, crypto assets and more, utilizing the platforms biometric authentication capabilities to ensure that only the authorized user has access to these assets.

In addition to Andy Walter, serving on the companys board of advisors are John Checco, former head of innovation for Bank of America; Ret. Ambassador Robert Gelbard, formerly U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia and Bolivia, and Special Envoy to the Balkans; Bob Seeman, privacy lawyer and bitcoin expert; and Yao Huang, founder of The Hatchery, an incubator for early stage companies based in New York. Paul Arnold, Managing Partner of Switch Ventures, and Avi Turgeman, co-founder and CEO of Ironvest and co-founder of BioCatch, VocalZoom and Tapingo, are on the Board of Directors.

Anonybit has recently announced several implementations and partnerships including Abine, powering the first decentralized password manager; FacePhi Biometria whose facial matching technology is being adapted to Anonybits decentralized identity cloud, allowing enterprises the ability to better secure their customers accounts without storing identity data on their own servers; and DropVault, where Anonybit provides users strong authentication for their B2B encrypted document sharing vault.

FinSMEs

18/01/2022
Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday from Washington, D.C. Due to the pandemic, Harris' remarks were live-streamed to the invitation-only Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on what would have been the civil rights leader's 93rd birthday.
A group of Fontana Police Department Explorers performed very well in a Tactical Competition in Arizona during the weekend of Jan. 15-16, bringing home several top awards. (Contributed photo by Fontana Police Department)
Participants, including Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds, center right, march and sing Monday as they make their way along Broadway to Martin Luther King Park in south Bethlehem during the Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Movement March. The march featured speakers, a wreath laying and a lunch banquet at St. Bernard's Beneficial Society, where the march began. (Douglas Kilpatrick / Special to The Morning Call)

In a day and age when a slew of Twitter followers qualifies you as an influencer, a Dieruff High School senior says her influencer is a man who never lived to see Twitter, Instagram or even the Internet.

Nasheera Brown, the keynote speaker for the Allentown NAACPs 27th annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration, said King and his legacy of fighting for civil rights inspires her to speak up and work for what she believes in.

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In my life, I believe that Dr. King has been my influencer, Brown told a Zoom audience at Mondays program. He was hands-on and upfront and thats where I get my approach. When I need something done, I get it done.  A closed mouth doesnt get fed.

The event was part of holiday observations across the Valley. Also Monday, the annual Martin Luther King Civil Rights Movement March took place in Bethlehem, while the Just Be You Performing Arts Academy celebrated with a scaled-down re-creation of the 1963 March on Washington and recitation of Kings I Have A Dream speech at Bethel Memorial Baptist Church in Easton.

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In Allentown, Brown cited Kings crucial work that galvanized public opinion and spurred Congress to pass the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and his insistence that protesters practice nonviolence in their demonstrations.

Dr. King walked hard so that we would walk easier, she said. He confronted so that we can address. Yes, we still go through racism but its much more subtle than when Dr. King had to fight.

Like everyone, King had fears but he took his fear and turned it into passion and a dream, into motivation and action.

Only you can create the life that you want to live, Brown said.

Brown was introduced by Allentown School District Superintendent John Stanford, who praised the breadth of her activism for social justice and listed some of her many commitments, including as student representative to the Allentown School Board and co-representative of the Allentown Human Relations Commission.

Brown, who is dual enrolled at Lehigh Carbon Community College, plans to attend Howard University in Washington, and hopes to go to law school there.

This young lady is destined for greatness, Stanford said.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk told the audience that he was born in 1975 so he grew up in a country changed by King, who was assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

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I only know a world in which nonviolent protest can get things done, Tuerk said. And Im happy to live in that world.

In 1970, Allentown had an African American population of under 2%, and today its over 10%, Tuerk said.

We still face challenges, he said.

In the fifth-floor City Council room, there are photos of generations of council members going back to the late 1960s. Its not until 2006 that we see an African American face among those city councilors, Tuerk said.  ... Thats a condition that we are in right now. We have a limited representation of our African American community in various different branches of government.

Mondays celebration included warnings about threats to equal representation and voting rights.

Craig Kapilow, co-chair of NAACPs communication, publications and press release committee, urged residents to object to Pennsylvanias redistricting plans by Tuesday.

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Our leaders in Harrisburg have divided Allentown into a very awkward and gerrymandered district, Kapilow said. He urged people to go online to redistricting.state.pa.us and click on the comment tab to weigh in on the plans.

Proposed maps, which would be in effect for a decade if approved, divide the city into two state Senate districts and three House districts, both one more than the current maps. The chair of the commission responsible for drawing the maps said the changes are intended to bolster opportunities for minorities, but critics argue they would do the opposite.

Heres an opportunity for you to make sure that Allentown is represented and has leaders that will benefit the community, Kapilow said.

Walter Felton, president of the NAACP Allentown branch, said King gave a speech titled Give Us the Ballot in May 1957 and still to this day there are over 100 restrictive bills which are attacking voting rights.

Republican-led voting restrictions that make it more difficult to cast a ballot have passed in at least 19 states, The Associated Press reports.

Much of the celebration channeled calls to action but two participants added the gentle catalyst of song. Northampton Community College student Brianna Connor sang Help Us to Love by Tori Kelly. As a kind of valedictory for the celebration, the Rev. Thomas Sweatt, pastor of St. James AME Zion Church in Allentown, delivered in a deep baritone the hymn and anthem of the Civil Rights Movement: We Shall Overcome.

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Margie Peterson is a freelance writer for The Morning Call.
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HARRISBURG  As Pennsylvania remains a leader in the nations still-worsening overdose crisis and the Lehigh Valley sees fresh evidence of its severity, a pair of lawmakers want to legalize needle-exchange programs across the state.

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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released this month shows Pennsylvania had an estimated 5,460 overdose deaths in the 12 months ended in June. It was the fourth-highest total among states and part of the national toll of 101,263.

Everyone knows someone, or has lost a friend, said Republican Rep. Jim Struzzi of Indiana County, who is working with Democratic Rep. Sara Innamorato of Pittsburgh.

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They plan to file a bill that would make it legal for communities to operate syringe services programs that provide access to clean needles and other medical supplies, disposal of needles, referrals to drug abuse treatment and other services.

Only Pittsburgh and Philadelphia offer such programs now.

Struzzi stressed needle-swapping programs would not be safe injection sites and no drug use would occur at them.

The programs, he said, are a harm-reduction measure similar to his proposal to make it legal to possess fentanyl test strips for personal use.

Users who arrive to swap needles would meet people who might help them, he said.

The whole catalyst for this is to get people in front of recovery specialists, Struzzi said.

Innamorato, whose late father was addicted to opioids, said harm reduction measures are crucial because drug abuse recovery can take years.

We recognize addiction is a human disease, she said of people caught in a cycle of substance abuse. Lets make sure they are the healthiest version of themselves.

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Innamorato said she knows what the biggest roadblock will be to passage of the bill she and Struzzi intend to file.

It will be the perception that this is enabling drug use rather than being something that reduces harm.

Lehigh Valley opinions

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said he had mixed feelings about the proposal.

The safe needles dont do a thing to stop overdoses, Martin said. I empathize with the objective. But it cant be considered a treatment modality for people with substance abuse problems.

Martin said the biggest push to curb the surging drug crisis should be aggressive treatment.

The severity of the drug problem, he said, was illustrated Thursday night when three people in the midst of drug overdoses were given naloxone by law enforcement. One, Martin said, was in her 20s and at home, the second was 32 years old and in a vehicle, and the third was 68 years old and at home.

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Martin said he was lukewarm, too, on the concept of fentanyl test strips.

You are not hitting the root cause, or the treatment that is necessary, to stop the behavior, he said.

Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck said he favored legalization of needle swap programs.

I would have no problem with that, Houck said. We would be blind if we didnt acknowledge that drug addiction is a serious problem in these communities.

Houck said his office has started treating every overdose death as a potential crime, with attempts to reconstruct the events that led to the individuals death possibly leading to charges.

Houck also favors allowing individual use of fentanyl test strips.

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Morning Call Capitol correspondent Ford Turner can be reached at fturner@mcall.com

Pennsylvania a leader

The latest federal data on estimated drug deaths in the last 12 months shows Pennsylvania with the fourth-highest total.

The 10 states with the highest numbers, listed with the number of estimated overdose deaths in the 12 months ended in June, are:

California 11,141

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Florida 7,874

New York 5,548

Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. >

Pennsylvania 5,460

Ohio 5,373

Texas 4,830

North Carolina 3,683

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Tennessee 3,583

Illinois 3,536

New Jersey 2,899
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A man was arrested in Virginia on charges of fatally shooting another man over a marijuana deal on New Years Eve in Allentown, authorities said.

Joseph Suydam, 25, of the 200 block of South Franklin Street, Allentown, is charged with criminal homicide and illegal gun possession in the death of Jermel Johnson, also 25, of Northampton. Suydam was arrested Jan. 9 in Highland Springs, Virginia, the Lehigh County district attorneys office said in a news release.

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Police were called Dec. 31 to the 300 block of North Ninth Street and found Johnson suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He died that day from his injuries.

According to the news release:

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Video surveillance from businesses near the shooting show Johnson parking his car and walking across the street to a home where another man, later identified as Suydam, waited on the front porch.

The men briefly embraced, but almost immediately began struggling. Johnson ended up on the ground, and Suydam shot him. Johnson ran, dropping his cellphone. Police later recovered the phone, and found Facebook messages about a scheduled marijuana deal between Johnson and Suydam.

Johnson was picked up in Virginia by U.S. Marshals on a Lehigh County parole violation and counterfeit money charge, the news release said. Suydam is awaiting extradition.

Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.
Muenster ISD Senior Kelsey Eldridge (right), who will make her pledge to attend NCTC as a Red River Promise Scholar later this month, spoke at the launch of the Red River Promise Program Tuesday night. She is pictured with NCTC Chancellor Dr. Brent Wallace (left).
After months of wrangling, the U.S. Senate plans to vote this week on an ambitious Democratic bill on voting rights.

The bill is already doomed. Senate rules require 60 votes to move most bills to final passage; this one has only 50  all Democrats, opposed by all 50 Republicans.

The debate will provide plenty of angry rhetoric and finger-pointing. It will give Democrats new opportunities to complain about their two most conservative senators, Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who refused to change the rules even for the cause of voting rights.

But that anger won't solve the problem: Our electoral system is still in peril.

So Congress should try a different approach  less ambitious, more bipartisan.

At least three measures that won't pass the Senate this week have bipartisan support, at least in principle. They're still worth trying for.

The first and most urgent is protecting against "election subversion"  attempts to change the outcome after the voting.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald.

That should begin by fixing the Electoral Count Act, the 1877 law whose murkiness then-President Donald Trump tried to exploit to overturn Joe Biden's victory.

Then-Vice President Mike Pence thwarted Trump by refusing his demand to discard some of Biden's electoral votes. But the outcome of an election shouldn't rest on one man. The law needs to state more clearly that the vice president has no power to reject electoral votes.

Trump also tried to persuade Republican state legislators in Pennsylvania, Michigan and other states Biden won to overrule their voters and appoint Republican electors. Like Pence, the legislators refused. But the law needs to be clearer on that count too: State politicians can write election laws, but they can't change the outcome after Election Day.

"Reforming the Electoral Count Act is the right place to start," Edward B. Foley, an election law scholar at Ohio State University, told me. "Election subversion is an existential question for democracy."

Senators from both parties are already talking about fixing the law. Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent, and Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, are trying to drum up bipartisan support. Manchin, Sinema and Sen. Mitt Romney, the Utah Republican, have reportedly expressed interest. Intriguingly, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky recently said he'd consider changing the law too. Some Democrats doubt he means it, but it's surely worth finding out.

A second issue also falls under the category of election subversion  protecting state and local election officials against threats and intimidation.

Across the country, election administrators have reported receiving a flood of threats, often directed at their families. (The Reuters news agency has compiled a list of more than 800 such incidents.) Many of the messages appear to come from Trump supporters angry that state authorities refused to confirm his baseless charges of election fraud.

Federal law makes it a crime to intimidate voters but doesn't explicitly cover threats against officials who count the votes.

Congress can fix that, starting with increased criminal penalties and more funding. There's nothing partisan about that issue.

Third, take another look at restoring the full scope of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The law, which passed with bipartisan support, required jurisdictions with a history of racial or ethnic discrimination to apply to the Justice Department for approval before changing voting rules. The Supreme Court effectively gutted that part of the law in 2013, but left room for Congress to pass an updated version.

Eleven of the 50 Republicans in the Senate today voted to renew the law as recently as 2006. Only one, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, publicly supported the renewal Democrats tried to advance this year, but that was one more than any other proposal attracted. A new version, if it began with bipartisan negotiations, might win support from enough GOP senators to pass.

That may also be President Joe Biden's strategy; when he talked with Democratic senators last week, he focused on the voting rights bill.

"Like every other major civil rights bill that came along, if we miss the first time, we come back and try it a second time," Biden told reporters. "We missed this time."

Other potentially bipartisan measures are available too: a federal requirement that states and counties use paper ballots to protect against fraud; criminal penalties for tampering with election results; federal standards for election audits, to avoid the kind of circus that occurred in Arizona last year.

But the starting point, in every case, needs to be bipartisan.

"It's time to start again from scratch," Foley said. "The process has to be genuinely mutual and bilateral. It's not useful to start with one party's wish list. That was the flaw with the approach that just failed."

And time is of the essence.

"Reform isn't going to happen unless it happens before the midterm election," Foley noted. "It needs to happen under the veil of ignorance  the fact that we don't know who will be running Congress in 2023 or 2025." That way, neither side knows precisely who will benefit from reforms; they'll have to rely on good judgment as well as self-interest.

It will be tempting for all sides to spend the coming week scoring partisan points and apportioning blame. But our elections still need to be protected. Better to walk away from the wreckage and get back to work.

Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Readers may send him email at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com.

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Words and phrases permeate our lives. Examples include woke; Black Lives Matter; open borders; fake news; domestic terrorist; critical race theory; alternate facts; mainstream media. With each, we invariably and almost immediately have our own definition.

But what is mainstream media?

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In another day and age, it was three major networks, maybe an independent station of two in larger markets, radio, several national newspapers, and a plethora of local newspapers. Then technology took over and we became inundated with seemingly endless choices.

News was covered in small sound bites. People gravitated to outlets that spoke to them and likely spoke to who they actually are. Or do some media outlets actually corrupt, repeating words and phrases over and over, sometimes with such vitriol that the viewers ways of processing information are corrupted?

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Today, the term mainstream media has been weaponized. It is used by one outlet to mean all those other outlets are purveyors of falsehoods and misinformation  tune into me; trust me; I will give you all you need to know.

And in doing so, it covers what it wants, and avoids other news it deems contrary to its mission.

Ron Thornton

Lower Milford Township
Visa and Amazon are reportedly working together to reach a common ground that can help everyone involved in the deal.

Last year, in November, Amazon stated that Visa payment costs were an obstacle to offering customers the best prices. As such, Amazon had declared not accepting UK visa cards from January 19. On the other hand, Visa accused Amazon of threatening to limit consumer choice.

The two firms are now trying to negotiate the dispute. In a recent statement, Amazon has announced that it will not stop taking Visa credit cards for UK payments as initially planned. Amazon declared:

The expected change regarding the use of Visa credit cards on Amazon.co.uk will no longer take place on January 19.

Compassionate alliance

The two firms are said to be working together to find common ground. Visa confirmed it was working closely with Amazon to reach an agreement that benefits the customers as well. Visa would have suffered a significant setback if it had lost the right to be used for payments on the retail platform in the United Kingdom. Visa added:

When consumer choice is limited, nobody wins.

Neither business has indicated the timeline by when they would have a concrete decision. However, Amazon sent out emails to customers and confirmed the news. The email summarised how the two giants are working together on a potential solution that will enable consumers to continue using their Visa credit cards on Amazon.co.uk.

Brexit effects

Since Brexit, the online business is believed to have been particularly enraged by a five-fold increase in interchange fees, or additional cross-border expenditures. Such fees, which would be paid by Amazon or merchants on its platform, would eat into profit margins - or, if passed on to users, would raise prices. Amazon has previously refused to reveal how much Visa charges the store to process credit card transactions.

Visa likewise declined to comment, claiming that it takes less than 0.1 per cent of a purchase's value on average. The Payment Systems Regulator is concerned about the lack of competition in this industry, which is dominated by Visa and Mastercard. According to a strategy released last week, Payment Systems Regulator aims to increase competition among UK payment systems. Their MD Chris Hemsley confirmed,

We will focus more on improving competition between payment systems, not just competition within payment systems.

This is important because we know that the future of retail payments is becoming increasingly about digital payments, most of which are currently made using card payment systems.
Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Cloudy and windy during the evening with light rain becoming likely late. Low 39F. SE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy and windy during the evening with light rain becoming likely late. Low 39F. SE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Madison Metals Inc. (the Company or Madison) is pleased to announce it has entered into a binding letter of intent (the LOI) with Giraffe Energy Investments Close Corporation and Otjiwa Mining and Prospecting Close Corporation (the Vendors) to contemplate the acquisition of 85% interest in 3 separate concessions named the Rossing North Uranium Project. This project is located in the Erongo Province, Namibia Africa, which hosts renowned uranium deposits such as the Rossing Mine, Husab, Valencia, Etango and the Langer Heinrich Mine.



The Rossing North Uranium Project collectively consisting of 38,391 hectares is located directly adjacent to one of the worlds longest running and largest open pit uranium mines, the Rossing Uranium Mine. The area currently hosts excellent infrastructure developed on and around the site. Previous owners conducted limited exploration including a reverse circulation drill program which produced a JORC complaint report prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited (SRK) in November 2015. Madison is enthusiastic about the property as SRK has determined the uranium mineralization is open along strike, at depth and contained within well-defined uranium bearing alaskite beds. SRK also recommended the undertaking of further exploration with a view to determining both extensions to the two larger areas of mineralization already discovered and other areas of the property not yet drilled.

Property wide exploration has also identified 11 new uranium mineralization areas throughout the property that warrant further evaluation by Madison in the future.

Madisons Duane Parnham states: Dr. Laine and I worked closely on the acquisition, exploration and development, including obtaining a mining license at the Valencia uranium deposit in Namibia for Forsys Metals which I founded. We plan on deploying the same skills and strategies to aggressively advance the Rossing North Project into another successful development project for the Company and its stakeholders.

For consideration to acquire the concessions, Madison will pay US$150,000 cash and issue 1,600,000 common shares of the Company (the Consideration Shares) to the Vendors. The Consideration Shares will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day after the closing date.

Bob Komarechka, PGeo, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release as it pertains to the Rossing North Uranium Project.

Additional information about Madison Metals Inc. can be found on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Madison Metals Inc.

Duane Parnham, Director

duane.parnham@gmail.com

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements and include but are not limited to statements with respect to the LOI and the likelihood that the definitive agreement(s) will be entered into and that the transaction will be completed on the terms provided herein or at all, the benefits of the transaction to the Company and the Vendor and the receipt of all required approvals. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as proposed, will, subject to, near future, in the event, would, expect, prepared to and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the state of capital markets; risks relating to (i) the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions precedent to the execution of any definitive agreement(s) or to ultimately agree on definitive terms, (ii) the impact on the respective businesses, operations and financial condition of the Company and the Vendor resulting from the announcement of the transaction and/or the failure to enter into definitive agreement(s) or to complete the transaction on terms described or at all, (iii) delay or failure to receive board, shareholder, regulatory or court approvals, wherever applicable, or any other conditions precedent to the completion of the transaction, (iv) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, (v) other unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and any risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities that are available at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (Sabina) or (the Company) (SBB  TSX/ SGSVF - OTCQX) regrets to report a fatal accident involving an employee of a contractor employed at the Back River Gold District, Nunavut, Canada.

The accident was reported at approximately 3:00 p.m. local time on January 17, 2022. The individuals family has been notified.

While clearing snow, a D6 dozer and its operator were lost through the ice approximately 6km from the Port Facility at Bathurst inlet.

The RCMP in Cambridge Bay, Workers Safety and Compensation Commission and the Mines Inspector have been notified. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

"On behalf of Sabina, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the individuals family, friends and colleagues," said Bruce McLeod, Sabinas President & CEO.

Operations at the Back River Project have been temporarily suspended. Sabina will work with the contractor to ensure all the necessary support and assistance will be provided to the individuals family during this difficult time. The Company will also provide support and counselling to assist our employees and contractors at the camp.

For further information please contact:
Montreal, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boyden, a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 75 offices in over 45 countries, is delighted to announce that Sebastien Zuchowski has been made Managing Partner, Montreal.

Sebastien joined as partner six years ago and has been instrumental in driving growth in Canada, extending and strengthening our footprint, and securing our position at the top of our industry, commented Roger T. Duguay, Global Practice Leader, CEO & Board Services and Managing Partner, Canada. We continue to challenge the status quo, bringing a fresh approach to executive recruitment. Sebastiens innovation and martial art philosophy will help expand our vision for excellence in the client and candidate experience.

The co-leadership of Boyden Quebec by Roger T. Duguay and Sebastien Zuchowski will see Duguay devoting more time to Boydens global CEO and Board Services Practice, while Zuchowski will ensure the further expansion of the team, maintaining the highest standards in executive search and meeting market challenges with Boydens well-recognized determination to deliver the best possible results.

Roger and I are a very effective team and can achieve much more together as we focus on delivering the very best results and experiences for our candidates, clients and colleagues, said Sebastien Zuchowski, Managing Partner Canada, Americas Regional Practice Leader, Technology Practice and Global Sector Leader, Software & Applications. Companies are seeking new, invigorating talent to establish competitive edge. Our reputation enables us to partner with tomorrows leading brands, securing exceptional leadership for start-ups and private equity-backed businesses, while collaborating with todays market leading regional and global organizations.

Zuchowski delivers senior level searches in the technology, media, telecoms and industrial sectors. With experience in mergers & acquisitions, restructuring and team assessment, he is valued as strategic consultant particularly in change management and transformation. He is a board director at Fondation Tel-Jeunes and has also recently been named on the Board of Boyden Canada.

Boyden is one of the largest and best-known executive search firms in Canada, with 107 staff in seven offices across the country. The team has a reputation for delivering on high-profile searches and placing top executives for dynamic organizations.

Clients share their response to the appointment:

Cirque du Soleils comeback is strong, and our talent strategy has never been more critical. Boyden connected us with world class, rockstar leaders, contributing to the success of our executive team. Im truly impressed with their commitment to our team and our purpose.

Stephane Lefebvre, President & CEO, Cirque du Soleil

Boyden is one of the very best international executive search firms in Canada. I had the opportunity to collaborate with Sebastien and his team on a few executive mandates for large public corporations. In all cases, Sebastiens innovative, comprehensive, efficient and personable approach led to the best results. This nomination is great news for both clients and candidates.

Helene Fortin, Former Chair, Board of Directors, Loto-Quebec

In our collaboration with Roger, Sebastien and his team, we experience the work of a firm with a great balance between best practices, proactivity, speed, quality and agility.

JP Chauvet, President, Lightspeed HQ

Lion Electric is growing at an unprecedented pace and is definitely a key disruptive player in our innovative market. We need nimble and agile partners to respond to our needs, and this is what we experience in collaboration with Roger, Sebastien and the Boyden team. With Sebastiens nomination, Boyden is well positioned to remain top of mind for us and their clients.

Marc Bedard, CEOFounder, The Lion Electric Company

About Boyden

Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 75 offices in over 45 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. Boyden is ranked amongst the top companies on Forbes Americas Best Executive Recruiting Firms for 2021. For further information, visit www.boyden.com.

Attachment
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM) (FSE: ZSB) (US-OTC: SRBCF) (Sirona) is pleased to announce that it has renewed an agreement with Luxembourg-based analytics and marketing specialist CURE Intelligence for marketing intelligence services and communications support.



The agreement has been signed for an additional year of services.

We have been utilizing the powerful tools provided by CURE Intelligence which keep us informed on relevant market developments and opportunities that relate to our growing pipeline of projects. We have benefited greatly from the intelligence provided to our team members both for scientific and business development opportunities, said Dr. Howard Verrico, CEO of Sirona Biochem. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the team at CURE. They have proven their ability to add significant value and improve our communications and market intelligence. We continue to fine-tune these services as we utilize their full potential well beyond communication support.

"In 2021, Sirona Biochem achieved a very significant milestone with the launch of a commercial product containing a Sirona compound. A great deal of progress was made in business development and scientific research which provides an excellent basis for further positive developments in 2022. We are very much looking forward to continuing to provide Sirona Biochem with relevant market information and contacts, and to raise awareness of the company and its products among investors, partners and the trade press," comments Marco Feiten, Managing Director at CURE Intelligence.

About CURE Intelligence

Founded in 2009, CURE specializes in the field of media monitoring and analysis, data intelligence, social media communications and marketing. CURE helps its clients make better decisions and improve internal and external communication by effectively combining analytics and marketing.

CURE is a public limited company with its headquarters in Grevenmacher, Luxembourg and a subsidiary in Cologne, Germany. CURE works with internationally renowned clients from Germany, Luxembourg, Brazil, Canada and the U.S. For more information, please visit www.cure-intelligence.com.

About Sirona Biochem Corp.



Sirona Biochem is a cosmetic ingredient and drug discovery company with a proprietary platform technology. Sirona specializes in stabilizing carbohydrate molecules with the goal of improving efficacy and safety. New compounds are patented for maximum revenue potential.

Sironas compounds are licensed to leading companies around the world in return for licensing fees, milestone fees and ongoing royalty payments. Sironas laboratory, TFChem, is located in France and is the recipient of multiple French national scientific awards and European Union and French government grants. For more information, please visit www.sironabiochem.com.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact:

Investor Enquiries:

Jonathan Williams

Managing Director

Momentum PR

Canada

Phone: 1.450.332.6939

Email: jwilliams@momentumpr.com

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.

Sirona Biochem cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Sirona Biochems forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Sirona Biochems business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Sirona Biochem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Dublin, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Nannochloropsis Market by Form (Frozen, Liquid, Powder, Fresh Pastes), Application (Aquafeed, Extraction Companies, Other Application) - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Nannochloropsis market in five major geographies and emphasizes on the current market trends, market sizes, market shares, recent developments, and forecasts to 2028. The Nannochloropsis market is expected to record a CAGR of 8.5% from 2021 to 2028 to reach $15.8 million by 2028.



The increasing demand for algae protein, growing demand for omega-3 fatty acids, and protein- and lipid-rich aquafeed, are driving the growth of the global Nannochloropsis market. Additionally, the growing demand from the biodiesel industry creates lucrative growth opportunities for Nannochloropsis manufacturers globally. However, the complex production process for Nannochloropsis hinders the growth of this market to some extent.



The global Nannochloropsis market is segmented by form (frozen, liquid, powder, and fresh pastes) and application (aquafeed, extraction companies, and other applications). The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the market at the regional and country levels.



Based on form, the Nannochloropsis market is mainly segmented into frozen, liquid, powder, and fresh paste. The frozen Nannochloropsis segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global Nannochloropsis market in 2021. The large market share of this segment is attributed to its wide range of applications in aquaculture hatcheries to establish the initial step of an artificial food chain as frozen Nannochloropsis are rich in fatty acids (EPA, ARA). Additionally, this segment is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period as frozen Nannochloropsis biomass promotes easier management in biomass production of lipid-enriched rotifers.



Based on application, the Nannochloropsis market is mainly segmented into aquafeed, extraction companies, and other applications. The aquafeed segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global Nannochloropsis market in 2021. Nannochloropsis sp. is one of the most extensively used microalgae in aquaculture due to its nutritional value and ability to produce valuable chemical compounds, such as pigments (zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA). The growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the growth of the global aquaculture industry along with the growing aquafeed sector and the increasing demand for protein-rich aquafeeds.



An in-depth analysis of the geographical scenario of the industry provides detailed qualitative and quantitative insights about the five major geographies (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa) along with the coverage of major countries in each region.



In 2021, Europe is estimated to account for the largest share of the global Nannochloropsis market, followed by North America and Asia-Pacific. The large market share of this region is mainly attributed to the growing aquaculture industry and the rising demand for aquafeed, increasing health awareness, rising demand for omega-3 fatty acids, increasing demand for algae protein, and the presence of key Nannochloropsis biomass manufacturers. Additionally, the growing demand from the biodiesel industry is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for Nannochloropsis manufacturers in the region.



The report includes a competitive landscape based on an extensive assessment of the key strategic developments adopted by leading market participants in the industry over the past 4-5 years. The key players profiled in the global Nannochloropsis market research report are Green Aqua Company SGPS S.A. (Portugal), Lyxia Corporation (China), Monzon Biotech S.L (Spain), Shaivaa Algaetech LLP (India), Algatech LTD (a part of Solabia Group) (Israel), Allmicroalgae- Natural Products S.A. (Portugal), BlueBioTech Int. GmbH (Germany), Necton S.A. (Portugal), Reed Mariculture Inc. (U.S.), AlgaSpring B.V. (Netherlands), Archimede Ricerche Srl (Italy), Proviron Industries NV (Belgium), and Astaxa GmbH (Germany).

Key Questions Answered in the Report-

Which are the high-growth market segments in terms of form, application, and region/country?

What was the historical market size for Nannochloropsis across the globe?

What are the market forecasts and estimates for 2021-2028?

What are the major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges for the global Nannochloropsis market?

Who are the major players in the global Nannochloropsis market?

How is the competitive landscape, and who are the market leaders in the global Nannochloropsis market?

What are the recent developments in the global Nannochloropsis market?

What are the geographical trends and high-growth regions/countries?

Who are the local emerging players in the global Nannochloropsis market, and how do they compete with the global players?

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Segment Analysis

3.2.1. Form Segment Analysis

3.2.2. Application Segment Analysis

3.2.3. Regional Analysis

3.2.4. Key Players



4. Market Insights

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Drivers

4.2.1. Increasing Demand for Algae Protein

4.2.2. Growing Demand for Protein-rich and Lipid-rich Aquafeed

4.2.3. Rising Demand for Omega-3 Fatty Acid

4.3. Restraints

4.3.1. Complex Production Process for Nannochloropsis

4.4. Opportunity

4.4.1. Growing Demand from the Biodiesel Industry

4.5. Challenges

4.5.1. Risk of Nannochloropsis Contamination



5. The Impact of Covid-19 on the Nannochloropsis Market



6. Global Nannochloropsis Market, by Form

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Frozen

6.3. Liquid

6.4. Powder

6.5. Fresh Pastes



7. Global Nannochloropsis Market, by Application

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Aquafeed

7.3. Extraction Companies

7.4. Other Applications



8. Nannochloropsis Market, by Geography

8.1. Introduction

8.2. North America

8.2.1. U.S.

8.2.2. Canada

8.3. Europe

8.3.1. Spain

8.3.2. Portugal

8.3.3. Germany

8.3.4. Italy

8.3.5. France

8.3.6. Rest of Europe (RoE)

8.4. Asia-Pacific

8.4.1. China

8.4.2. India

8.4.3. Japan

8.4.4. Australia

8.4.5. Rest of Asia-Pacific (RoAPAC)

8.5. Latin America

8.5.1. Brazil

8.5.2. Mexico

8.5.3. Rest of Latin America (RoLATAM)

8.6. The Middle East & Africa



9. Company Profiles (Business Overview, Financial Overview, Product Portfolio, and Strategic Developments)

9.1. Green Aqua Company SGPS S.A.

9.2. Reed Mariculture Inc.

9.3. Lyxia Corporation

9.4. BlueBioTech Int. GmbH

9.5. Algatech LTD (A part of Solabia Group)

9.6. Allmicroalgae Natural Products S.A.

9.7. Necton S.A.

9.8. AlgaSpring B.V.

9.9. Archimede Ricerche Srl

9.10. Proviron Industries NV

9.11. Monzon Biotech S.L

9.12. Shaivaa Algaetech LLP

9.13. Astaxa GmbH



10. Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hkqx3i
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Association of African American Financial Advisors (AAAA) is excited to welcome Jennifer Givens as its new Executive Director.

Givens joined AAAA in August of this year, from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.'s Asset & Wealth Management business group, where she oversaw government regulations related to disclosures. She holds a B.S. in Health Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

"I look forward to continuing the work of bringing financial empowerment to Black and African American communities with the hopes of bridging the racial wealth gap between black and white America," said Givens.

AAAA's Board of Directors also voted in a new Chairman of the Board.

A current AAAA board member and chairman of the conference planning committee, Christian Nwasike, MBA, JSM, MFP, CRA, CTC, CLC, who is Principal & Executive Managing Partner at Practice Management Consultants, LLC, has been named the new Chairman of the Board and unanimously confirmed by the board. Nwasike has been a member of the AAA Board for three years and previously served as AAAA's Treasurer. He assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors Jan. 1, 2022.

"I am extremely grateful for the nomination and humbled by my colleagues' unanimous support. As the new chair, I am proud to carry forward the strong foundation that was built by our outgoing Chairwoman Lazetta Rainey Braxton. In that spirit, I ask AAAA's community for support as we continue along our ambitious path of growth and impact," Nwasike said.

Nwasike succeeds Lazetta Rainey Braxton MBA, CFP, who has served as AAAA's Board Chair since 2017.

Other AAAA Board of Directors who transitioned off the Board in 2021 are Rene Nourse (Founder/CEO at Urban Wealth Partners), Barrett Wragg (Head of Institutional Consulting and Private Wealth at T. Rowe Price), Malcolm Ethridge (Executive Vice President at CIC Wealth Management) and Lauren Taylor (Vice President, Head of Advisor Diversity & Inclusion at LPL Financial). AAAA will be forever changed by their inspiring leadership and commitment to our shared mission. We look forward to their continued support and engagement.



The AAAA leadership team is actively working to transition outgoing board members and search to appoint new board members. If you are a current AAAA member and interested in becoming an AAAA Board member, email info@aaafainc.com for more information. Certain requirements apply.

More about AAAA

AAAA is 501(c)(6) a non-profit membership organization for African American financial advisors and affiliated professionals. AAAA was created to address the needs and concerns of African American Financial Professionals. We work in alliance with academic leaders at HBCUs that support financial planning degree programs, legislative and regulatory bodies, financial services firms and consumer interest organizations. AAAA fosters the value of financial planning and advances the financial planning profession.

The mission of AAAA includes developing and fostering professional relationships amongst African American/Black and other professionals working in the financial services industry. The organization strives continuously to expose its members to cutting-edge trends and opportunities in the financial services industry, which will assist them in advancing their businesses and careers.



To learn more: https://www.aaafainc.com

Media Contact:

Chelsey Johnson

Email: office@aaafainc.org

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ELO; OTCQX: ELRRF; FSE: P2QM) (Eloro, or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on its Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project in the Potosi Department, southern Bolivia. By the end of 2021, the Company completed 40,468 metres (m) in 73 drill holes at Iska Iska, as shown in Figure 1. Table 1 summarizes drill holes with assays pending. Currently there are two surface drill rigs and one underground drill rig on site. Drilling with all rigs recommenced on January 17, 2022. Highlights of work in progress are as follows:



Definition drilling has been substantially completed over the Santa Barbara target zone which extends for over a strike length of approximately 1,400m, across a width of 500m and to a depth of 600+m . All drill holes in the Northwest Extension intersected significant mineralization confirming that the Santa Barbara mineralization extends across the full 1,400m long resource definition target zone. The mineralized system remains open along strike to the northwest and southeast as well as to the southwest.



. All drill holes in the Northwest Extension intersected confirming that the Santa Barbara mineralization extends across the full 1,400m long resource definition target zone. The mineralized system remains open along strike to the northwest and southeast as well as to the southwest. More assay results are expected to be released in the next 2-3 weeks, but further delays have been experienced due to the impact of Covid-19 on staffing at the laboratories. All drill core completed prior to shutdown of drilling on December 17, 2021, has been logged, sawn and sampled with samples shipped to the laboratories.



The Iska Iska caldera complex, which we now know has both a main caldera and two nested secondary calderas, extends along strike in a northwest-southeast direction for at least 2.5km, a width of at least 2km and likely extends to a depth of more than 1km.



Going forward exploration drilling will be focused on testing the major targets in the Porco and Mina 2 areas along with the potential for a tin porphyry at depth. We are working closely with Micon International Limited to facilitate the National Instrument (NI) 43-101 mineral resource estimation process which we are now targeting to be completed in Q2 2022.



Tom Larsen, CEO of Eloro commented: The last two years have proven to be Eloros most transformative and exciting to date. Our decision in 2019 to pursue a new mineral resource project, which resulted in the January 2020 signing of the Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic property option agreement, has proven to be the catalyst for the Companys upward trajectory and promising future. In just 15 months since the start of diamond drilling, Iska Iska has advanced from a promising grass roots project to being on the verge of outlining a significant NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource. Under the leadership of Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P. Geo., our in-country General Manager, and Dr. Bill Pearson, P, Geo., our Executive Vice President Exploration, we have built a very strong in-country technical team based in Tupiza, Bolivia. This team is supported by several excellent local contractors including Leduc Drilling who have completed more than 40,000 metres of diamond drilling since we started. As outlined in this update, we have a tremendous amount of work in progress, which will lead to the inaugural mineral resource, confirmation of metallurgical recoveries and drill-testing of more major targets in this remarkable mineralized system.

Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Eloro's Executive Vice President Exploration, added: Work is progressing well on completing an updated geological model for the Santa Barbara Target Zone. The bore hole induced polarization (IP) survey results are being processed and the resulting 3D inverse model should help in determining the internal geometry of the deposit, especially of higher sulphide zones, which generally have the best grades. We are working closely with Micon International Limited to facilitate the mineral resource estimation process which we are now targeting to be completed in Q2 2022. Both the ALS and AHK Laboratories are working to reduce the backlog of samples waiting for analysis, however, the recent surge in Covid has created staffing issues for the laboratories, hence there may be further delays in receiving assay results although it is expected that more results will be available for release in the next 2-3 weeks. Definition drilling on our 1,400m by 500m wide by 600m deep mineral resource definition target zone in Santa Barbara is almost complete with the final two holes to be completed in the next two weeks. All drill core completed prior to shutdown of drilling on December 17, 2021 has been logged, sawn and sampled with samples shipped to the laboratories. Going forward exploration drilling will be focused on testing the major targets in the Porco and Mina 2 areas along with the potential for a tin porphyry at depth.

Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo., General Manager of Eloro`s Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L. (Minera Tupiza), said: The Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic deposit is hosted in Miocene breccia pipes, dacitic domes as well as granodiorite stocks and Ordovician sandstones, but especially in the breccia pipes. These breccia pipes were formed by explosive fluids derived from a large magmatic plumbing system, likely comparable to several major deposits in southern Bolivia. Such as Chorolque, Tasna, Tatasi, Chocaya and Siete Suyos. However, in contrast to these other deposits, the Iska Iska system shows a uniqueness of preservation due to the intense and ubiquitous silicification that affects all rocks but especially those with closer proximity to the vents marked by the breccia pipes. The basement Ordovician quartz sandstones are also very erosionally resistant. The combination of the silicification and erosionally resistant basement has preserved an almost complete volcanic edifice at Iska Iska which extends 1km vertically from the valley floor. We now know that the Iska Iska caldera complex consists of a large main caldera covering an area of approximately 1.6km by 1.8km with two nested secondary calderas approximately 1.2 km by 1.0 km in the northwest and approximately 800m in diameter in the southeast as shown in Figure 1. The Iska Iska caldera complex extends along strike in a northwest-southeast direction for at least 2.5km, a width of at least 2km and likely extends to a depth of more than 1km. Iska Iska was not discovered historically because of extensive leaching of metals at surface forming a very depleted oxide zone barren of metals.

Definition Drilling Santa Barbara Target Area

Definition drilling in the Santa Barbara Mineral Resource Definition Drilling Target Area, as shown in Figure 1, has been substantially completed except for one section with holes DSB-26 and DSB-27 that will be drilled in the next few weeks. Overall, 25 surface (18,443m) and 19 underground (8,124m) holes totalling 26,567m have been completed to test the Santa Barbara target zone over a strike length of approximately 1,400m, across a width of 500m and to a depth of 600+m, as shown in Figure 1. The drill holes testing the Northwest Extension all intersected significant amounts of mineralization confirming that the Santa Barbara mineralization extends across the full 1,400m long target zone. Fill-in drilling from underground in the Santa Barbara adit also intersected significant mineralization and completed addition drill coverage in the eastern part of the SBBP. Assay results are pending for 22 of these mineral resource definition holes, as listed in Table 1.

An updated geological interpretation is in progress which will be used to refine the current model developed in Leapfrog mining software. The upper boundary of sulphide mineralization marked by the sulphide/oxide interface is well defined by geological logging and the magnetic susceptibility inversion model. The base of the mineralization, which is up to 600m thick, is defined by the lower limit of the high magnetic susceptibility. The northeast limit of the mineralization is defined by geology near the contact of the basement Ordovician quartz sandstones with the dacitic intrusive domes. The mineralized target zone is open along strike both to the northwest and southeast, as well as to the southwest. Data from the borehole IP inverse model is expected to aid in defining the internal geometry of the mineralization. Zones of higher sulphide content which have greater chargeability and much lower resistivity tend to be higher grade. These zones are also more magnetic because of the presence of pyrrhotite.

Exploration Drilling Porco Breccia Pipe, Gap Area and Mina 2 Targets

The focus of drilling in 2022 will shift to drill-testing the Porco Breccia Pipe (PBP) and the area between the PBP and Central Breccia Pipe (CBP) where there is a major magnetic anomaly (see press release October 21, 2021, and Figures 2 and 3), and testing the potential for a tin porphyry at depth. Figures 1 and 3 show the initial planned drilling. Holes DPC-07 and DPC-08, will initially test the Porco area targets with more follow-up drilling planned. Hole DM2-01, to be collared near the Mina 2 portal, will test for the potential tin porphyry at depth. In addition, an underground drill hole from the drill bay in the Santa Barbara adit, hole DSBU-07, will be drilled to the southwest to test the magnetic anomaly in the northern part of the CBP. Underground geological mapping and channel sampling is also in progress in the Mina 2 workings in the southern part of the property (see Figure 1 for location) with drilling also planned in this area later in the year. This area appears to be associated with a secondary caldera (Figure 1).

Eloro is currently using two laboratories, ALS Global and AHK Laboratories, both of whom have sample preparation facilities in Oruro, Bolivia and laboratories in Lima, Peru. The Company is also planning to use the ALS laboratory facility in Galway, Ireland, to achieve a faster turnaround and to help reduce the large backlog of samples with assays pending. Unfortunately, the recent wave of Covid-19 is impacting staffing at both ALS and AHK laboratories, hence there may be additional delays.

Metallurgical Drill Holes

Two diamond drill holes, METSBUG-01 and METSBUG-02 were drilled to provide larger samples of drill core for metallurgical testing. Hole MESTSBUG-01 was directed to intersect the mineralized breccia of the Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe (SBBP) near the centre of discovery hole DHK-15 which intersected 129.6 g Ag eq/t over 257.5m (see press release January 26, 2021). The second metallurgical hole, METSBUG-02, intersected the centre of hole DHK-18 in the mineralized envelope east of the SBBP. Hole DHK-18 returned 129.65 g Ag eq/t over 300.75m (see press release July 28, 2021). These holes have been sawn and one-quarter core sent for analysis with three-quarters core to be used for metallurgical testing.

Metallurgical Testing

A program of preliminary metallurgical testwork has been completed by the Mineral Concentration Laboratory of the National Faculty of Engineering of the Technical University of Oruro (UTO). The testwork used eight (8) composite samples assembled from early-stage resource definition drilling. These samples were selected to represent oxide and sulphide mineralization from the Huayra Kasa Mine (HKM) area, the SBBP and the CBP targets. Four of the samples were from HKM, three from SBBP and one from CBP. These early-stage drilling samples from these mineralized areas contained relatively low amounts of tin and therefore the conceptual testwork program was focussed on other valuable components particularly silver, zinc and lead.

The objective of this preliminary metallurgical testwork was to develop an early-stage conceptual understanding of the metallurgy. Although the program included basic mineralogy using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, preliminary gravity and leach tests, and work index determinations, the main focus of the scoping level testwork program was to investigate froth flotation, without regrinding, to recover silver into separate lead and zinc concentrates. Detailed development work still needs to be done to investigate the recovery of tin, gold and other potentially valuable elements, such as indium, cadmium and bismuth.

Several open circuit flotation tests were completed using each composite sample and the results provided useful insight into the metallurgy of the Iska Iska project. The program was successful in providing a potential pathway to the successful recovery of lead, zinc and silver into saleable concentrates and will be used as a starting point for further metallurgical optimization during the next phase of testwork.

Richard Gowan, P.Eng., Principal Metallurgist for Micon International Limited, reviewed the preliminary open circuit flotation test results and considers that lead recovery of around 80% to 85% into a saleable lead concentrate could be expected once the flotation conditions were optimized. The projected zinc recovery to a final saleable zinc concentrate is around 80% to 90%. The lead concentrate would also contain considerable valuable silver and potentially payable amounts of gold, while the zinc concentrate would also contain payable amounts of silver and potentially valuable cadmium and indium. Total silver recoveries into the combined lead and silver rougher concentrates were around 73%, but with optimization Micon believes that the total flotation silver recovery can be increased up to 80%. Note that the projected recoveries based on the preliminary test data require confirmation from additional metallurgical testing hence should not be relied upon.

The next phase of testwork will be undertaken by Blue Coast Research Ltd. (Blue Coast) based in Parksville, BC and will optimize the flotation flowsheet to maximize lead, zinc, silver and gold into saleable concentrates and develop an appropriate flow sheet for the recovery of tin. Recovery of other more minor valuable metals including bismuth, indium and cadmium will also be considered. Blue Coast has world-class metallurgical testing, analytical services, flowsheet development, consulting and operational support. Their excellent team has been augmented with the addition of Mr. Mike Hallewell, C.Eng. a senior independent mineral processing consultant based in Cornwall, England, who has extensive specialist knowledge in the recovery of tin at mining operations and exploration projects worldwide.

Eloro, in consultation with Micon International Limited and Blue Coast, has selected four representative metallurgical samples from existing drill core in addition to the two new metallurgical holes: 1) Mineralized breccia in discovery drill hole DHK-15; 2) Mineralized dacitic envelope from hole DHK-15; 3) mineralized dacitic envelope from hole DHK-18 and 4) Sn-rich zone in hole DSB-06. Approximately 60m of core from each drill hole has been quarter cored. These samples, in addition to approximately 60m from the two metallurgical holes noted above (three-quarter core), are in the process of being shipped to Blue Coast with the testing likely to begin in the first part of February.

Bore Hole Induced Polarization Survey

The Bore Hole IP program at Iska Iska, carried out from August 2021 to December 2021, has progressed well with sixty-two (62) separate cross-hole surveys completed using many of the drill holes in the north-northeast part of the property. This program, which is being directed by Eloros Chief Geophysicist, Dr. Chris Hale, P.Geo., initially focused on the mineralization of the SBBP. A further nineteen (19) cross-hole surveys have also been completed to outline the PBP mineralization. In addition, forty (40) profiles have been obtained from twenty-one individual SBBP and PBP drill holes.

Two types of surveys have been carried out with two distinct objectives:

1. Pole Dipole surveys are used to profile the resistivity and chargeability of each drill hole, and

2. Cross-Hole surveys to test the continuity of mineralization between the drill holes.

In pole-dipole surveys current is injected into each hole being surveyed; one dipole length deeper than the lowest potential dipole. The current point changes throughout the survey as the entire array is lowered or raised in the drill hole.

For cross-hole surveys, current is injected at fixed points in several other drill holes around each candidate hole so that the sensitivity of the survey can be concentrated in the various volumes enclosed between different pairs of drill holes.

Low resistivity and high chargeability indicate the presence of metallic mineralization, in both survey types. Dipoles of 10, 25 and 50 m lengths were used to profile different cylinder radii around each drill hole and an additional potential was measured from the collar to depth. This provides a maximum off-hole measurement radius up to several hundred meters for the deepest stations. Profile data from the pole-dipole surveys calibrate the IP/Res response against the known mineralization in the drill core. Cross-hole data are used for inverse modelling with the UBC DCIP3D software and for interpretation of the off-hole distribution of mineralization.

The mineralization of the SBBP is being modeled using current injection from Santa Barbara and Huayra Kasa holes. PBP holes will provide a separate model of mineralization for the southern part of the property including the major target zone between the CBP and PBP.

Synchrotron Study

Synchrotron mineral cluster analysis was performed on 84 drill core samples by Dr. Lisa Van Loon of LisaCan Analytical Solutions and Dr. Neil Banerjee, P.Geo. of Western University, Department of Earth Science. These samples were selected to be representative of higher-grade areas of major and important minor metals including Ag, Sn, Zn, Pb, Au, Bi, In, Cu and Cd. This work builds on previous analytical work done on the underground channel samples from the due diligence program at Huayra Kasa (see press release June 25, 2020). The synchrotron is a type of circular particle accelerator that is an extremely powerful source of broad-spectrum electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light, infrared, UV, & X-rays), approximately 10 billion times brighter than the sun that provides a rapid, high-resolution analytical technique for mineral exploration.

Four (4) mineralogical domains were identified. These domains all have the same or very similar mineralogy. These mineralogical patterns are the result of the time-integrated effects of geological processes with the domains representing every event that has happened to these rocks since they were originally formed, including mineralization. Domain 2 is the largest and includes 60 samples while Domain 1 includes 17 samples, Domain 3 includes 6 samples, and Domain 4 consists of 1 sample. Within the 4 domains, Au-, Cd-, Cu-, Pb-, Sn, and Zn-dominant sub-domains are identified. The sub-domains are interpreted using the available geochemistry data to determine the predominant elements of interest within each sub-domain. These sub-domains can be used in a predictive way to better understand the spatial distribution of these elements of interest.

Domain 2 contains two Sn-dominant sub-domains. In one sub-domain Sn is associated with high Cu, Ag, Bi, and In. Cassiterite was positively identified as the Sn-bearing mineral. In the other sub-domain, Sn is associated with high Ag, but no Sn-bearing minerals were identified but this may reflect the limited number of samples (2) available in the second subdomain.

The sub-domains are interpreted to be likely related to variations in fluid composition, precipitation mechanism, or host rock interaction. The 3D distribution of the sub-domains will be evaluated in the context of lithological and structural variability within the deposit as they have important implications for geometallurgy and processing. Further work will investigate if these 3D subdomains can be used to identify blocks with different processing requirements. Additional testing is planned to further refine this pattern.

Enersoft Inc. GeologicAI Scanning Unit

Eloro has contracted Enersoft Inc. to provide a GeologicAI Scanning Unit on site in Tupiza to enable systematic scanning of diamond drill core. The GeologicAI unit has multiple scanners including XRF, Spectroscopy, 50xMicroscopic images and Laser Profilometer. The scanner, which is in a compact self-contained trailer, will provide real time processing of diamond drill core on-site. It will allow generation of mineral maps including distribution of sulphides of the polymetallic mineralization. Data from the synchrotron study will be used to help calibrate the AI to maximize its efficiency in generating these mineral maps which will be very helpful in defining metal and mineral zonation. The scanner is currently en route by boat to Bolivia and it is hoped that it will be on-site and fully operational by the end of February.

Environmental Studies

The following studies are being carried out by the environmental staff of Minera Tupiza SRL and environmental consultants at Iska Iska:



Collection of existing environmental documentation on the Porvenir concession, where the Iska Iska project is under exploration, including the review of environmental legal documents.



Environmental inspection and evaluation of the Porvenir concession.



Implementation of warning and information signs.



Preparation of detailed environmental studies required by the Bolivian environmental authority.



Regular monitoring of soil, noise, air and water in accordance with current environmental regulations, in all the exploration work.



Control of solid and liquid waste in exploration work.



Construction of sedimentation and infiltration pits for the final disposal of sludge from the cutting of samples.



Construction and implementation of sanitation stations.



Evaluation of all existing underground workings on the property including Huayra Kasa, Santa Barbara, Porco and Mina 2 area.



Preparation of a baseline environmental study for Iska Iska.

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Program

Eloro has a very active program led by ESG Manager Ana Moran, Attorney at Law and Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo. Major ESG initiatives completed in 2021 include the following:

Community support for COVID-19 in Tupiza and surrounding communities.

Building of 110 sanitation stations in homes in the communities of Almona and La Torre, the closest communities to the Iska Iska property at 5km east and 5km southeast, respectively.

Working with the Womens Association of Almona and La Torre to support training courses in baking and embroidery as well as other social activities.

Support for school programs including providing classroom materials, snacks during breaks and support to teachers.

ESG activities planned for 2022 include:

Continued implementation of courses, workshops, classes, materials, and other requirements of social projects focused on women, children, and youth groups in Almona, La Torre and additional surrounding communities.

Construction of an additional 134 sanitation stations in the communities of Almona, La Torre and other surrounding communities.

Delivery of equipment for community medical centers.

Improving educational services of the community schools by delivering computer equipment.

Support for local community strengthening and development through specialized services in consultation with the communities.





Table 1: Summary of Diamond Drill Holes Completed with Assays Pending and Drill Holes in Progress at Iska Iska from November 17, 2021 press release.

Hole No. Type Collar Easting Collar Northing Elev Azimuth Angle Hole Length m Surface Drilling Northwest Extension Santa Barbara DSB-12 S 205072.7 7656867.5 4165.0 225 -40 806.2 DSB-13 S 205072.7 7656867.5 4165.0 225 -60 696.5 DSB-14 S 205283.0 7656587.2 4175.0 225 -65 968.5 DSB-15 S 204973.1 7657053.8 4165.0 225 -40 731.2 DSB-16 S 204973.1 7657053.8 4165.0 225 -65 862.0 DSB-17 S 7656765.4 205131.3 4173.0 225 -40 841.0 DSB-18 S 7656676.3 205207.1 4175.0 225 -40 890.4 DSB-19 S 7656676.3 205207.1 4175.0 225 -65 803.3 DSB-20 S 7656765.4 205131.3 4173.0 225 -65 896.5 DSB-21 S 7657138.0 204870.0 4135.0 225 -40 557.3 DSB-22 S 7657208.4 204799.4 4145.0 225 -40 258.4 DSB-23 S 205341.0 7656535.0 4177.0 225 -40 661.3 DSB-24 S 205341.0 7656535.0 4177.0 225 -65 343.4 DSB-25 S 205283.0 7656587.2 4175.0 225 -40 615.3 Subtotal 9,931.3 Underground Drilling Santa Barbara Adit DSBU-1 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 90 -10 260.5 DSBU-2 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 270 -20 563.6 DSBU-3 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 270 -20 443.5 DSBU-4 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 180 -20 570.0 DSBU-5 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 0 -40 491.7 DSBU-6 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 0 -65 253.5 Subtotal 2,582.8 Underground Metallurgical Drill Holes Santa Barbara METSB-01 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 10 -35 351.0 METSB-02 UG 205285.2 7656074.8 4165.0 40 -10 303.1 Subtotal 654.1 Central Breccia Pipe  Surface Radial Drill Program  North Setup DCN-06 S 204902.0 7655860.0 4420.0 180 -80 626.4 DCN-07 S 204902.0 7655860.0 4420.0 270 -60 680.4 Subtotal 1,306.8 Central Breccia Pipe  Surface Radial Drill Program  South Setup DCS-04 S 204852.1 7655612.3 4429.7 180 -60 644.4 Subtotal 644.4 Porco Central  Surface Radial Drill Program DPC-02 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 225 -60 908.2 DPC-03 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 135 -60 524.5 DPC-04 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 0 -60 371.4 DPC-05 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 90 -60 407.5 DPC-06 S 205457.2 7655110.9 4175.0 243 -60 716.4 Subtotal 2,928.0 TOTAL 18,047.4

S = Surface UG=Underground; collar coordinates in metres; azimuth and dip in degrees. Total drilling completed since the start of the program on September 13, 2020 to December 17, 2021 is 40,468 m in 73 holes. (26 underground holes and 47 surface holes).



Figure 1: Geology of the Iska Iska Caldera Complex showing locations of Major Breccia Pipe targets, the Santa Barbara Resource Definition Target Zone and diamond drill holes completed and planned.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae9f47fe-ad5c-4ede-a35b-54c9b30806f0

Figure 2. Longitudinal Section Showing the Inverse Model of Magnetic Susceptibility. Susceptibility Highlights Major Targets and Geological Features. The location of this Section A-A is shown in Figure 1.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e5e7e61-1572-41d9-95cc-44f517e9897c

Figure 3: 3D Magnetic Inverse Model Showing Locations of initial planned exploration drill holes in the Porco and Mina 2 area. The previous drilling shown is from the Porco radial drill platform as reported in the press release of November 17, 2021.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0221d613-4c98-46a4-b0c2-d76b5c38fb92

Qualified Person

Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P. Geo., General Manager of Minera Tupiza, and a Qualified Person in the context of NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Executive Vice President Exploration Eloro, and who has more than 45 years of worldwide mining exploration experience including extensive work in South America, manages the overall technical program working closely with Dr. Arce. Dr. Quinton Hennigh, P.Geo., Senior Technical Advisor to Eloro and Independent Technical Advisor, Mr. Charley Murahwi P. Geo., FAusIMM of Micon International Limited are regularly consulted on technical aspects of the project.

Eloro is utilizing both ALS and AHK for drill core analysis, both of whom are major international accredited laboratories. Drill samples sent to ALS are prepared in ALS Bolivia Ltdas preparation facility in Oruro, Bolivia with pulps sent to the main ALS Global laboratory in Lima for analysis. More recently Eloro has had ALS send pulps to their laboratory at Galway in Ireland. Eloro employs an industry standard QA/QC program with standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into each batch of samples analyzed with selected check samples sent to a separate accredited laboratory.

Drill core samples sent to AHK Laboratories are sent to their preparation laboratory in Oruro. With pulps sent to AHK laboratory in Lima, Peru. Check samples between ALS and AHK are regularly cone as a QA/QC check. AHK is following the same analytical protocols used as with ALS and with the same QA/QC protocols. Turnaround time is being impacted by the recent surge in Covid-19 cases which has caused disruptions in staffing.

The magnetic survey was carried out by MES Geophysics using a GEM Systems GSM-19W Overhauser magnetometer. Dr. Chris Hale, P.Geo. and Mr. John Gilliatt, P.Geo. of Intelligent Exploration provided the survey design, preparation of the maps and interpretation from data processed and quality reviewed by Rob McKeown, P. Geo. of MES Geophysics. Messrs. Hale, Gilliatt and McKeown are Qualified Persons as defined under NI 43-101. The 3D magnetic inversion model was prepared by Mr. Joe Mihelcic, P.Eng., P.Geo. of Clearview Geophysics in consultation with Messrs. Hale and Gilliatt. Mr. Mihelcic is a QP under NI 43-101.

Borehole IP surveys were carried out by MES Geophysics with data processing, modeling and interpretation by Dr. Chris Hale, P.Geo. and Mr. John Gilliatt, P.Geo. of Intelligent Exploration.

About Iska Iska

Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project is a road accessible, royalty-free property, wholly controlled by the Title Holder, Empresa Minera Villegas S.R.L. and is located 48 km north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi in southern Bolivia. Eloro has an option to earn a 99% interest in Iska Iska.

Iska Iska is a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex associated with a Miocene possibly collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The caldera is 1.6km by 1.8km in dimension with a vertical extent of at least 1km. Mineralization age is similar to Cerro Rico de Potosi and other major deposits such as San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna and Tatasi located in the same geological trend.

Eloro began underground diamond drilling from the Huayra Kasa underground workings at Iska Iska on September 13, 2020. On November 18, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of a significant breccia pipe with extensive silver polymetallic mineralization just east of the Huayra Kasa underground workings and a high-grade gold-bismuth zone in the underground workings. On November 24, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of the SBBP approximately 150m southwest of the Huayra Kasa underground workings.

Subsequently, on January 26, 2021, Eloro announced significant results from the first drilling at the SBBP including the discovery hole DHK-15 which returned 129.60 g Ag eq/t over 257.5m (29.53g Ag/t, 0.078g Au/t, 1.45%Zn, 0.59%Pb, 0.080%Cu, 0.056%Sn, 0.0022%In and 0.0064% Bi from 0.0m to 257.5m. Subsequent drilling has confirmed significant values of Ag-Sn polymetallic mineralization in the SBBP and the adjacent CBP. A substantive mineralized envelope which is open along strike and down-dip extends around both major breccia pipes. Continuous channel sampling of the Santa Barbara Adit located to the east of SBBP returned 442 g Ag eq/t (164.96 g Ag/t, 0.46%Sn, 3.46% Pb and 0.14% Cu) over 166m including 1,092 g Ag eq/t (446 g Ag/t, 9.03% Pb and 1.16% Sn) over 56.19m. The west end of the adit intersects the end of the SBBP.

Since the discovery hole on the SBBP, Eloro has released a number of significant drill results on this target, including:

122.66 grams g Ag eq/t (35.05 g Ag/t, 0.72% Zn, 0.61% Pb, 0.11% Sn and 0.06 g Au/t) over 123.61m including 205.74 g Ag eq/t (92.30 g Ag/t, 0.57% Zn, 0.85% Pb, 0.18% Sn and 0.07 g Au/t) over 32.32m (DSB-07).

105.41 g Ag eq/t (8.55 g Ag/t, 1.01% Zn, 0.48% Pb, 0.06% Sn and 0.38 g Au/t) over 173.58m including 199.77 g Ag eq/t (21.90 g Ag/t, 1.18% Zn, 0.93% Pb 0.12% Sn and 0.94 g Au/t) over 39.08m (DSB-07).

69.89 g Ag eq/t over 252.89m from 355.12 to 608.02m including several higher-grade sections of 196.60 g Ag eq/t including 131.13 g Ag/t over 14.52m, 134.62 g Ag eq/t including 93.25 g Ag/t over 21.08m and 145.35 g Ag eq/t including 2.38% Zn over 10.11m (DSB-08).

114.96 Ag eq/t including 0.325% Sn over 56.2m including a higher-grade section of 187.98 g Ag eq/t including 0.535% Sn over 28.86m; 80.71 g Ag eq/t including 0.213% Sn over 74.39m and 118.69 g Ag eq/t over 10.77m (DSB-10).

129.65 g Ag eq/t (18.38 g Ag/t, 2.14% Zn, 0.67%Pb, and 0.047% Sn) over 300.75m from 65.14m to 365.91m, including higher grade intervals of 215.54 g Ag eq/t over 72.76m, 163.35 g Ag eq/t over 31.83m and 224.48 g Ag eq/t over 19.39m. 82% of this 446.5m long hole contained reportable intervals (DHK-18).

234.19 g Ag eq/t (70.58 g Ag/t, 2.31% Zn, 2.74% Pb and 0.042% Sn) over 53.2m including a higher-grade portion of 931.73 g Ag eq/t (367.29 g Ag/t, 5.64% Zn, 13.67% Pb and 0.10% Sn) over 9.26m (DHK-20).

108.24 g Ag eq/t (3.14g Ag/t, 0.24 g Au/t, 2.03% Zn and 0.58% Pb) over 48.2m including a higher-grade interval grading 180.76 g Ag eq/t (4.46 g Ag/t, 0.35 g Au/t, 3.57% Zn and 1.05% Pb) over 15.02m (DHK-19). 160.22 g Ag eq/t (36.53 g Ag/t, 1.63% Zn, 1.20% Pb and 0.10% Sn) over 194.14m (DHK-21) including higher grade portions of: 250.50 g Ag eq/t (51.31 g Ag/t, 3.35% Zn, 1.78% Pb and 0.10% Sn) over 18.24m. 257.40 g Ag eq/t (75.83 g Ag/t, 2.29% Zn, 2.40% Pb and 0.12% Sn) over 16.33m. 350.91 g Ag eq/t (112.57 g Ag/t, 1.41% Zn, 3.08% Pb and 0.33% Sn) over 30.06m. 64% of this 512.9m long hole contains reportable intersections.

94.68 g Ag eq/t (3.87 g Ag/t, 0.067 g Au/t, 1.63% Zn, 0.43% Pb and 0.05% Sn) over 169.93m including a higher-grade zone that graded 158.64 g Ag eq/t (9.35g Ag/t, 0.016 g Au/t, 3.43% Zn, 0.71% Pb and 0.03%Sn) over 29.84m (DHK-22).

100g Ag eq/t (including 38.71 g Ag/t, 0.88%Zn and 0.51%Pb) over 188.5 m from 58.67m to 247.13m including a higher-grade portion of 154 g Ag eq/t (including 75.51 g Ag/t, 0.96% Zn, 0.65% Pb and 0.16%Cu) over 65.8m (DHK-23).



On May 4, 2021, Eloro released results from the first drill hole on the CBP. Hole DCN-01 intersected multiple mineralized intercepts including 196.09 g Ag eq/t (150.25 g Ag/t, 0.10% Sn and 0.05 g Au/t) over 56.2m and containing 342.98 g Ag eq/t (274.0 g Ag/t, 0.16% Sn and 0.16 g Au/t) over 27.53m.

Hole DCN-04 drilled at -80 degrees to the north from the northern radial platform of the CBP, intersected seventeen (17) mineralized intersections, principally Sn-Ag-bearing, over its 851.4m length. Best results include: 71.54 g Ag eq/t (32.58 g Ag/t and 0.10% Sn) over 97.10m from 134.40 to 231.5m; 101.52 g Ag eq/t (28.74 g Ag/t and 0.19% Sn) over 62.01m; 70.42 g Ag eq/t (28.74 g Ag/t and 0.16% Sn) over 22.59m; and 236.96 g Ag eq/t (92.21 g Ag/t and 0.25% Sn) over 17.45m. Hole DCS-02 was drilled southeast at -60 degrees from the south radial platform of the CBP. This hole, which was drilled to 800.5m, intersected nine (9) reportable Ag-Zn-Pb-Sn mineralized intervals. Best results include 79.53 g Ag eq/t (including 0.21% Sn) over 19.42m, 101.01 g Ag eq/t (32.76 g Ag/t, 0.76% Zn, 0.75% Pb) over 10.47 and 130.95g Ag eq/t (34.14 g Ag/t, 0.10 g Au/t, 1.35% Zn and 0.56 % Pb over 7.40m.

A detailed ground magnetic survey of the Iska Iska property, reported on June 6, 2021, confirmed the extent of the Iska Iska Caldera as determined from geological mapping and satellite interpretation, including Aster data. The SBBP and CBP, both of which have been confirmed by drill-testing, are marked by prominent low anomalies reflecting strong alteration. The magnetic data suggests that the Central and Porco Breccia Pipes likely merge at depth. In addition, there is a prominent area of low intensity magnetics northwest of the SBBP which was reported on in this press release.

Geological mapping and satellite interpretation identified a third major breccia pipe target, Porco (South), that is approximately 600m in diameter (South) located southeast of the CBP in the southern part of the Iska Iska caldera complex. The Porco (South) Breccia Pipe target has a similar magnetic signature to the Santa Barbara and Central Breccia Pipes, further confirming the likelihood of it being a major breccia pipe. Six (6) drill holes have been completed on Porco; assay results are pending. Previous channel sampling in the Porco adit located adjacent the target area 200m to the southeast returned 50m grading 519.35 g Ag eq/t including 236.13 g Ag/t, 1.89 g Au/t, 0.87% Cu, 0.22% Bi and >0.05% Sn over an average sample width of 2.49m.

Currently three diamond drill rigs are active at Iska Iska, two surface rigs and one underground drill. Planned drilling in the current program for Iska Iska is 51,000m of which 40,000m has been completed with the aim of outlining an initial inferred NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource by Q2 2022. The target zone at the SBBP and the surrounding mineralized envelope is 1400m along strike, 500m wide and extends to a depth of 600m. This zone is open along strike to the northwest and southeast as well as to the southwest. A borehole induced polarization/resistivity (IP/Res) survey is in progress to further define drill targets and aid resource definition drilling. Preliminary metallurgical tests are also in progress. An updated NI 43-101 Technical Report is being prepared by independent consultant Micon International Ltd.



About Eloro Resources Ltd.

Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro has an option to acquire a 99% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. Eloro commissioned a NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited and is available on Eloros website and under its filings on SEDAR. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of Barricks Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Pan American Silvers La Arena Gold Mine. La Victoria consists of eight mining concessions and eight mining claims encompassing approximately 89 square kilometres. La Victoria has good infrastructure with access to road, water and electricity and is located at an altitude that ranges from 3,150 m to 4,400 m above sea level.

For further information please contact either Thomas G. Larsen, Chairman and CEO or Jorge Estepa, Vice-President at (416) 868-9168.

Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the 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.
OXFORD, United Kingdom, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terrestrial Energy has appointed a senior nuclear industry executive as Managing Director of UK operations as the company advances its new nuclear technology.



Michael Drury joins the company from the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), where he led the business development function for New Build and Advanced Nuclear Technologies, including Small Modular Reactors and Advanced Modular Reactors.

The appointment comes as Terrestrial Energy moves forward with the development and commercialization of its Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) Generation IV nuclear technology in the UK.

Mr Drury has extensive experience of strategy and execution at the intersection of industry and government in the nuclear industry at both NNL and previously at Nuvia.

Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy said: Terrestrial Energys North American developments are moving its Generation IV nuclear power plant towards near term deployment, and we recognize that IMSR technology is an ideal nuclear technology innovation for the UK, especially at a time of escalating energy and power prices. We are delighted that Michael has joined Terrestrial Energy to lead the companys UK business development as interest in new nuclear innovation gathers pace. He brings a unique and deep understanding of the UKs energy policy framework and its vibrant nuclear sector.

Michael Drury, UK Managing Director of Terrestrial Energy said: Through its Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, the UK is committed to new nuclear technology and innovation to deliver Net Zero goals. This creates an exciting market opportunity for Terrestrial Energys Generation IV power plant. IMSR technology is an ideal fit as it produces clean electricity 50 percent more efficiently than conventional nuclear technology. Its high-quality heat gives a multi-use industrial case that includes cost-effective green-hydrogen production. I look forward to accelerating the companys UK plans and commencing programmes for site identification, regulatory engagement, and supply chain development including national laboratory and university testing of major components.

About Terrestrial Energy

Terrestrial Energy is a developer of small and modular nuclear power plants that use its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology. The IMSR is a non-Light Water Reactor that uses Generation IV technology to generate electricity 50 percent more efficiently than conventional nuclear reactor technology. The IMSR represents a step-change improvement in economics, versatility and functionality of nuclear power plants that is possible only through Generation IV technology. IMSR power plants will provide resilient, reliable, dispatchable, zero-carbon and cost-competitive electric power, as well as high-grade industrial heat for use in many industrial applications, such as chemical synthesis, hydrogen production and desalination, and in so doing extend the application of nuclear energy far beyond electric power markets. IMSR power plants have the potential to make important contributions to industrial competitiveness, energy security, and economic growth. Their deployment will support rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system by displacing fossil fuel combustion across a broad spectrum and can scale to meet net-zero policy goals of major industrial economies. Using an innovative design, and proven and demonstrated molten salt reactor technology, Terrestrial Energy is engaged with regulators and industrial partners to complete IMSR engineering and to commission the first IMSR power plants within a decade.

Website: www.terrestrialenergy.com

E-mail: info@terrestrialenergy.com
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmaCord, LLC, a rapidly growing provider of patient services and other commercialization solutions to life science companies, announced today that Beth Roberts has been promoted to Vice President, Administration. In her new role, Roberts will oversee broad organizational infrastructure support, including the management of all PharmaCord facilities, as well as continue to lead the support activities for business development efforts and certain employee communication and policy matters. Roberts will remain a member of PharmaCord's Executive Committee.

Since joining PharmaCord in 2017, Roberts has been instrumental in successfully implementing and managing corporate best practices across multiple areas. She has been significantly involved in facility operations while supporting human resources, marketing and business development efforts.

Nitin Sahney, PharmaCord's Founder and Chief Executive Officer, added, "I am very pleased to announce Beth's well-deserved promotion. Over the past five years, Beth has played a critical role across a multitude of areas and has consistently helped enable and support growth for the company. We look forward to Beth's future contributions as she takes on additional accountability and oversight for essential organizational functions."

Roberts previously served as Senior Director, Administration. Within this role, she was instrumental in the development and design of PharmaCord's new state-of-the-art facility headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She oversaw facility site inspections and maintenance to ensure a safe and efficient work environment was created for staff. Prior to PharmaCord, Roberts held positions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Omnicare, a CVS Health company.

Roberts holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Kentucky University.

About PharmaCord

PharmaCord is the connector between manufacturers, patients, physicians, and payors. The company provides customized solutions to life sciences companies that span three core areas; patient support, pharmacy services and manufacturer support. These integrated services are designed to increase accessibility, clinical oversight and market acceptance of prescription therapy. Independently owned and organically built, PharmaCord is free from any competing priorities, enabling it to design and implement patient access and support programs that align with the objectives of its life sciences clients. PharmaCord's experienced team coupled with its proprietary CORscend technology platform optimizes workflow to deliver improved program execution, more rapid therapy initiation and increased patient engagement. To learn more about how PharmaCord improves commercial outcomes for life sciences companies, visit pharmacord.com.

# # #

Contact:

Beth Roberts (502) 805-3450

beth@pharmacord.com

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Coventry, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Are you worried somebody is stealing money or valuable data from your company? Are you struggling to prove an employee has been fraudulent? Or are you perhaps concerned that your boardroom has been bugged? A private detective could offer you valuable support and insight in all of these situations and more!

Expert Investigations Group is a trusted, specialist company that has been offering covert private investigation services all around the UK for over 2 decades. The dedicated team there is made up of ex-police individuals who utilise their expert knowledge and experience to conduct effective investigations for private and business clients through nationwide surveillance, computer forensics and other methods.

Why work with Expert Investigations Group?

If youre in search of an experienced, reliable and professional private investigator team, you cant go wrong with hiring those at Expert Investigations Group. The team there strive to be honest and open in their investigations, while also ensuring their work is as cost effective and efficient for each client as possible.

The Expert Investigations team is made up of former police detectives from specialist teams (such as surveillance units, fraud and economic crime units, major incident teams and computer forensic departments). Over the past 21 years they have had a successful track record in managing various areas of private investigations.

Because private investigations usually mean dealing with confidential information, its vital that you feel able to trust your investigation team completely. Expert Investigations Group works tirelessly to earn this trust, maintaining the highest professional standards and security while undertaking such important work. Whats more, the company is fully insured and GDPR compliant, so you can have total peace of mind if you choose to work with them.

Services in search of the truth

Expert Investigations offers a range of services to help solve a variety of commercial, legal and regulatory matters in an efficient and discretely manner. These services include:

De-Bugging Expert Investigations will use high-tech equipment to subtly search your office, home or car for bugging devices and give you peace of mind

Digital investigations Useful for finding and analysing evidence left on digital devices which can prove data theft, fraud, etc.

Lawful covert vehicle tracking Helpful when trying to catch suspected skiving employees or fuel thieves

Process serving Expert Investigations can serve a full range of legal, court and financial documents

Statement taking and interviewing In-depth interviews and statements can be vital when trying to prove theft, fraud and harassment

Surveillance and observations An expert team of covert surveillance officers will follow an individual or observe an individual or property to gather relevant evidence

Trace and asset reports You will receive detailed, organised reports in that are timely, corroborated and accurate

Undercover staff A team member from Expert Investigations will discreetly join your workforce to observe situations and gather valuable evidence



To benefit from any of these useful services, be sure to get in touch with the Expert Investigations team today!

About Expert Investigations Group

Expert Investigations Group was established 21 years ago to lawfully support the legal, commercial and private sector in supplying high quality private and commercial investigations to resolve client issues.

For more information, please visit https: //expertinvestigations.co.uk/ where you can read all about the company on the About Us page. If you have an inquiry and wish to speak to a member of the team, you can email info@expert-investigations.co.uk.

https://thenewsfront.com/leading-specialists-at-expert-investigations-group-provide-professional-investigation-services/
MUNICH, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iC Consult Group, the leading global service and consulting company in the field of Identity & Access Management (IAM), announced today that it has completed the acquisition of SecureITsource, a North American provider of IAM services. This marks iC Consult's second major acquisition in less than a week and takes the consultancy straight to the top of the global IAM services market. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Headquartered in Roswell, Georgia, SecureITsource was founded by a team of experienced IAM practitioners in 2015 to raise the bar and change the status quo in Consulting and Professional Services for Identity Management. The founders accomplished this by focusing on empowering business and by closely collaborating with best-of-breed providers like Okta, SailPoint and CyberArk. Over the past several years, SecureITsource has achieved an impressive year-over-year growth rate, which aligns perfectly with iC Consult's own dynamic growth.

"Coming right on the heels of our recent ICSynergy acquisition, this is a truly relevant strategic addition to our portfolio. SecureITsource is a strong and established IAM player with a large customer base, a deep technological understanding and a very advanced IAM offering," says Jurgen Biermann, CEO of iC Consult Group. "Over the past few years, they have built tremendous momentum - and will help us to further strengthen our leadership position in the IAM services market. We are excited to join forces, and to accompany our joint customers throughout their IAM journey."

Brad Kirkpatrick, CEO of iC Consult U.S., says, "More and more organizations are looking into identity-centric security strategies to protect their customers, their employees and their assets. SecureITsource is one of the leading providers in this growing market - and combines deep IAM expertise with comprehensive strategic advisory services to enable enterprise-wide programs to global industries. Merging our portfolios into a unified platform is a very exciting proposition. The acquisition is a natural fit, and it will allow us to take our best-of-breed solutions to a whole new level."

Ken Stone, CEO of SecureITsource, adds, "Over the past few years, SecureITsource has experienced highly dynamic growth, and has established itself as a trusted and well-recognized name in the U.S. marketplace. The acquisition by iC Consult will enable us to scale for further, sustainable growth and to expand our footprint, both geographically and technologically. It will also allow us to offer our Identity clients a wide range of new services and efficient 24/7 support across all time zones, paving the way for full-scale international projects on both sides of the Atlantic. I am thrilled to be part of this collaboration."

On January 13, iC Consult announced the acquisition of ICSynergy and strengthened its IAM business with the renowned provider of identity-centric cybersecurity services based in Plano, Texas. With these two acquisitions in the books, iC Consult Group, which is held by

The Carlyle Group and Jurgen Biermann as the major stakeholders, employs over 500 people at 15 locations worldwide.

As an established brand, SecureITsource will operate as a standalone business unit within iC Consult Group under the leadership of CEO Ken Stone.

Interested readers can find further information at https://www.ic-consult.com/en/.

About iC Consult

iC Consult Group, headquartered in Munich, Germany, is the leading independent consultancy, systems integrator, and services provider for Identity & Access Management (IAM). The service portfolio covers business and process consulting, architecture, design, implementation, and integration to IAM managed services and identity as a service offerings. The company's more than 500 employees have successfully delivered over 3,000 projects and managed services for IAM. The iC Consult Group, with its affiliates iC Consult, xdi360, IAM Worx, Service Layers and SecureITsource, has offices in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Bulgaria, the U.K., the U.S., Canada, and China.

More information at www.ic-consult.com.

Contact iC Consult Group:

iC Consult Group GmbH

Ulli Rottmuller

Leopoldstrae 252b

80807 Munich, Germany

E-Mail: ulli.rottmueller@ic-consult.com

Internet: www.ic-consult.com

Agency Contact:

H zwo B Kommunikations GmbH

Michal Vitkovsky

Neue Strae 7

91088 Erlangen-Bubenreuth, Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 9131 812 81 25

E-Mail: michal.vitkovsky@h-zwo-b.de

Internet: www.h-zwo-b.de

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RABAT, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's foreign exchange reserves rose to 37.05 billion U.S. dollars by Jan. 7, up by 6.8 percent on the yearly basis, the Moroccan central bank said in a periodical report published on Monday.

The yearly increase is mainly due to the remittances from Moroccan diaspora, which hit a record 11.2 billion dollars in 2021.

The North African country's foreign exchange reserves are enough to cover seven months of imports.

From Jan. 6 to Jan. 12, the central bank injected 8.1 billion dollars into the financial market, the report said.

The interbank rate has remained unchanged at 1.5 percent, it added.

The local currency dirham remained stable during the same period against the U.S. dollar, and depreciated by 0.36 percent against the euro, the report added. 
BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entrepreneurship can be an exciting and thrilling experience, but as recent history showed us, it can also be an unpredictable endeavor full of ups and downs. At the beginning of 2020, nobody anticipated the sudden changes and challenges to the lives of families and businesses caused by the pandemic. As any business owner would tell you, keeping a business operating during some of the most turbulent years in human history has proven to be a task manageable by only the most persistent and determined leaders. Despite these hurdles and obstacles, Success Financial Team, a digital marketing agency based in Boise, Idaho, has managed to close the year 2021 with outstanding earnings and results and thus proven their excellence in the industry.

As far as business goes, 2021 was definitely a little different for the online business service provider Success Financial Team. Many small businesses experienced instability causing a lot of highs and lows. The pandemic, despite its negative effects on traditional businesses, provided lots of opportunities for online businesses and resulted in a massive growth in the e-commerce industry. Success Financial Team has managed to see opportunities where many saw obstacles. They have built an effective and efficient digital platform that offers their clients an easy and straightforward experience and process, and their team full of skilled experts provides real measurable results. Success Financial Team has been recognized for their online education services as they provide a much-needed support system, great networking, tailored solutions to unique business problems, and encouragement and trust in their clients' capabilities.

The company's hard work and dedication in helping their clients unlock their full potential and achieve sustainable growth were not left unrecognized. Success Financial Team went above and beyond what is necessary of them by releasing new exclusive marketing programs to help businesses gain a competitive advantage, making them a top digital business consulting provider. The company didn't focus on the hardships they have faced in helping businesses find and maintain their spot in the industry. Instead, they focused on enhancing the strengths of every business and the team worked together towards achieving success.

According to Success Financial Team, the key to success is providing excellent services and customer support to their clients. It is their ultimate mission to empower businesses and transform the lives of their clients and lead them to greater success. One advice they have for any business out there is to always pay close attention to their clients' needs and demands. Incredible customer support is the cornerstone of any business operation and Success Financial Team's excellence is deeply rooted in always delivering a special pre- and post-purchase customer service.

Based on Success Financial Team's excellent results in 2021, the company has announced their aim to expand their services even further in 2022, and to offer tailored solutions to aspiring or existing entrepreneurs to help them continuously improve their competitiveness and meet their business objectives. The future certainly has a lot in store for Success Financial Team's clients and there is a lot to look forward to.

To celebrate their successful year, Success Financial Team has increased their charitable giving and supported a local food bank based in Boise, Idaho, to help feed the hungry during Christmas. After all, the company's core values and purpose are based in helping those who need assistance and so their charitable efforts come as no surprise. The team at Success Financial LLC is excited to end 2021 on a positive note and pay their success forward. They always encourage others to follow their lead and give back as much as they can. Much like their plans for service expansion, Success Financial Team promises to always keep donating and supporting their local community and continue to give back in a meaningful way.

To know more about Success Financial Team, visit https://successfinancialteam.com/. For inquiries and suggestions, send an email to info@successfinancialteam.com.

For even more updates on Success Financial Team's services and announcements, make sure to follow their social media accounts: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Carbon Mold Market to exhibit an year on year growth of 8.6% in 2022 reaching a value of about US$ 279.9 Mn by 2022 end. Carbon Mold can be manufactured using many materials Carbon fiber and graphite are the examplese of most common materials used in carbon mold. Carbon Molds are used for molding of carbon composite parts used in variety of applications.



A recent market study revealed by Future Market Insights on the Carbon Mold Market incorporates global industry analysis for 2014-2021 and market opportunity assessment for the forecast period of 2022-2029. The market study reveals crucial insights and provides an in-depth market analysis for the historical as well as forecast period. As per the market assessment in the report, the global carbon mold market is estimated to witness noteworthy growth due to growing demand from aircraft and automotive manufacturing sectors.

Carbon Mold Market Base Year Value (2021A) US$ 257.8 Mn Carbon Mold Market Estimated Year Value (2022E) US$ 279.9 Mn Carbon Mold Market Projected Year Value (2028F) US$ 501.4 Mn Value CAGR (2022-2028) 8.6 % Collective Value Share: Top 3 Countries (2022E) 54.2 %



Request a report sample to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-10470

The global carbon mold market was valuated at ~US$ 200 Mn in 2018 and is anticipated to grow with ~9% CAGR throughout the forecast period, 2019-2029.

Growing environmental concerns have shifted the trend towards the adoption of renewable energy. Wind energy has revolutionized the renewable energy sector, owing to increasing government support. Carbon molds are used in the manufacturing of lightweight wind turbine blades from carbon fiber and carbon composites. Increasing installations of wind turbines and growing wind energy installation projects across the globe are estimated to propel the demand for carbon molds.

Opportunities Abound in East Asia and South Asia

East Asia and South Asia, led by China and India respectively, are likely to witness substantial growth in commercial as well as defense aerospace sectors. Increasing military budget will primarily affect the defense aircraft manufacturing activities in the region, and it is likely to lead to upsurge in the demand for carbon mold. Installation of wind turbines has increased significantly in recent years, especially in China, India, and ASEAN countries, which will continue to work to the advantage of the carbon mold manufacturers.

For any Queries Related with the Report, Ask an Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-10470

Scope of the Report

Attribute Details Forecast Period 2022-2028 Historical Data Available for 2013-2021 Market Analysis USD Million for Value and Tons for Volume Key Regions Covered North America, Latin America, Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa Key Countries Covered US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, BENELUX, Russia, ASEAN, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Autralia, New Zealand, GCC Countries, Turkey, and South Africa Key Segments Covered Material Type, Mold Type, Application, and Region Key Companies Profiled MDC Mould & Plastic Co.,Ltd

DEXCRAFT

Mouldbox

Diversified Plastics, Inc.

Xiamen Fengjin Mold Industry Co., Ltd.

Composite Mouldings Ltd

DC Composites

MCT Carbon

Curley Specialised Mouldings

CF Composites Report Coverage Market Forecast, Company Share Analysis, Competition Intelligence, DROT Analysis, Market Dynamics and Challenges, and Strategic Growth Initiatives

Increasing government regulations for the development of fuel-efficient vehicles and aircrafts in North America and Europe, have increased the demand for carbon composites. Predominance of automotive and aerospace industries and increasing adoption of carbon composites make North America and Europe prominent markets for carbon molds.

Carbon Fiber to Remain a Prominent Material Choice

The global carbon mold market has been categorized on the basis of material, different types of mold, and application, along with regions.

Based on material, carbon fiber is projected to remain the material of choice in the upcoming years, and subsequently hold a prominent share in the global carbon mold market throughout the forecast period.

On the basis of mold, the female mold is estimated to hold more than half of the market share owing to its cost effectiveness.

High application potential of carbon mold has been identified in aerospace & defense, followed by automotive & transportation. Increasing incorporation of carbon composites in automotive & aerospace industries is a prime factor responsible for the carbon mold market growth.





We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request Customization @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-10470

Carbon Mold Market: Manufacturer Insights

According to the FMI analysis, the global carbon mold market is heavily fragmented with local and regional players playing key roles. The global carbon mold market report sheds light on few of the key industry players in the global carbon mold market. Some of the examples of key players in the market are MDC Mould & Plastic Co., Ltd., DEXCRAFT, Xiamen Fengjin Mold Industry Co., Ltd., Composite Mouldings Ltd., and DC Composites, among others.

The study finds that slowdown in automotive sales in the past few months has changed the situation. However, government spending, tax cuts, subsidies, and policies will continue to fuel the growth of the auto sector and carbon mold market.

Buy Now@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/10470

Explore FMIs Extensive ongoing Coverage on Chemicals & Materials Domain

Azodicarbonamide (ADC) Market - Azodicarbonamide (ADC) has a large field of commercial applications, the growth of global Azodicarbonamide (ADC) market is driven by the demand for high-value products of plastic and rubber component on a day to day usage.

Diamond-like Carbon Coatings Market - Amid the growing awareness of environmental problems in recent years, diamond-like carbon coatings have been used to reduce the fuel consumption of automobiles by improving tribological properties, thereby, reducing friction loss.

Carbon Nanotubes Market - Carbon nanotubes are used in these polymers as strength and weight enhancers which in turn boosts the demand for polymers as reinforcing material.

Polycarbonate Resins Market - Polycarbonate Resins are thermoplastic generally derived from phosgene and bisphenol A. Polycarbonates properties include ductility, high strength and amorphous.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Market - Global carbon fiber reinforced market is expected to expand at CAGR in range of 8%-10% over the forecast period. Automotive industry is expected to exhibit the largest market share coupled with highest growth during the forecast period.

Carbon Disulfide Market - Carbon disulfide markets growth is driven primarily by growing demand for cellulose and cellulosic fibers from various industries.

Ground and Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market - In terms of market volume, global ground and precipitated calcium carbonate market is expected to witness a steady growth, registering a moderate single digit growth compounded annual rate during the forecast period.

Pelletized Activated Carbon Market - The global pelletized activated carbon market is projected to grow at a significant CAGR as the demand of the pelletized activated carbon is increasing due to rapidly rising industrialization worldwide.

Calcium Carbonate Market - The infrastructure development across the globe is increasing the demand for calcium carbonate market. The growth of automobile industry is also leading to the increase in demand for calcium carbonate as a raw material.

Carbon Fibre Prepreg Market - The global carbon fibre prepreg market is projected to grow at a high growth rate amidst its growing demand for industrial, commercial and residential activities.

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

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Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/carbon-mold-market
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now.



Class Period: Mar. 15, 2021  Nov. 15, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Feb. 22, 2022

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/DM

Contact An Attorney Now: DM@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Desktop Metal, Inc. (DM) Securities Class Action:

The complaint alleges that Defendants made false and misleading statements concerning Desktop Metals widely touted $300 million acquisition of EnvisionTEC, which closed on Feb. 16, 2021.

Specifically, Defendants misrepresented and concealed: (1) that there were deficiencies in EnvisionTECs manufacturing and product compliance practices and procedures; (2) that the foregoing deficiencies presented a material risk to the commercialization of EnvisionTECs products; and (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis

The truth began to emerge on Nov. 8, 2021, when Desktop Metal disclosed that it was conducting an internal investigation into certain matters, including manufacturing and product compliance practices and procedures with respect to a subset of its photopolymer equipment and materials at its EnvisionTEC US LLC facility. The Company also stated that EnvisionTECs founder and CEO (Ali El Siblani) had resigned.

Then, on Nov. 15, 2021, the Company announced that, as of Nov. 12, 2021, based on compliance issues with certain shipments of EnvisionTECs Flexera dental resins and its PCA4000 curing box, the Company would notify the FDA.

These events sent the price of Desktop Metal shares sharply lower.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Desktop Metal lied about the benefits of the EnvisionTEC acquisition, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Desktop Metal and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Desktop Metal should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email DM@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With a $500,000 grant from the SECU Foundation and support from numerous community donors, the dream of building a new homeless shelter is now a reality for The Shepherds House (TSH). The non-profit began the year celebrating the dedication of the new SECU Center at The Shepherds House with a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting attended by local leaders, volunteers, and supporters. The larger 64-bed shelter in Mount Airy will help TSH more than triple the number of individuals and families they previously served in Surry County and the surrounding area.



We are so proud to be a part of this project, which is giving The Shepherds House the ability to offer more families who are experiencing homelessness the hope and support they need to regain control of their lives, said Damian Carter, SECU Regional Senior Vice President. The work undertaken by The Shepherds House to deepen their reach through the new shelter represents their strong commitment and concern for the health and well-being of the vulnerable in their community. We share their strong commitment and concern for others and congratulate them on a job well done!

The Shepherds House, which opened in 2003, is dedicated to ending family homelessness by providing caring support, education, and innovative programs designed to empower families to achieve self-sufficiency.

On behalf of the entire Shepherds House board and staff, and most importantly the many we will serve, I express our unending gratitude toward SECU Foundation and the members of State Employees Credit Union for their generosity and overwhelming support in our mission to build the new SECU Center, remarked Jana Elliott, The Shepherds House Executive Director.

About SECU and the SECU Foundation

A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 84 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the U.S. with over $51 billion in assets and serves over 2.6 million members through 274 branch offices, over 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone, www.ncsecu.org and a Mobile App. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of over $216 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.

Contact: Jama Campbell, Executive Director

Office: 919-839-5562 | secufoundation@ncsecu.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8efc832a-3b23-44e2-b123-c0e595d3fc6b
Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A special milestone deserves a special car. Today, Porsche announces the 2022 Porsche 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design.

This special car commemorates the 50th anniversary of Porsche Design, the firm founded in 1972 by Ferdinand Alexander (F. A.) Porsche, designer of the 911 and son of Ferry Porsche. Based on the 911 Targa 4 GTS, the new model is limited to 750 units globally and features special aesthetic elements inspired by the first product his new company designed: the Chronograph 1.

Exterior Design

All examples of the limited model will be finished in black as an acknowledgement of the Porsche Design Chronograph 1  the first all-black watch.

Additionally, several sections of the exterior are finished in Satin Platinum. These include 20/21-inch center-locking 911 Turbo S wheels, the Targa bar and PORSCHE DESIGN logos on the doors. Brake calipers in high gloss black and a special 50 Years Porsche Design badge on the engine grille are included.

Interior Design

The interior also has several special touches including a silver, numbered badge on the dashboard trim indicating that this is a limited production vehicle. The center console lid also bears the signature of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, founder of Porsche Design and son of Ferry Porsche.

Sport-Tex seat centers with a checked pattern in Black and Cool Grey, headrests embossed with the 50 Years Porsche Design logo and a center marker on the GT Sport steering wheel in Slate Grey are also all special to this model.

Standard Equipment

An elevated level of standard equipment also sets this model apart from the 911 Targa 4 GTS that it is based on. That list includes 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats Plus, seat belts in Slate Grey, and the Sport Chrono Package with Porsche Design Subsecond Clock, distinguished in this case by a red second hand.

At the heart of this very special 911 Targa 4 GTS is a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo flat-six engine thats unchanged from the conventional model, with 473 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, standard Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive, a standard eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission with the option for a seven-speed manual at no additional cost, and Sport Exhaust. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) is also included as standard with the eight-speed PDK, while the seven-speed manual transmission includes a mechanically locking rear differential (PTV).

Two new Porsche Design Timepieces

Porsche Design also announces two new timepieces today: the Chronograph 1  911 50 Years of Porsche Design, and the Chronograph 1 -1972 Limited Edition.

The former represents the first instance of a Chronograph 1 true to the design of the original Chronograph 1 first released by Porsche Design in 1972, and is an accompanying accessory to the new 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design. In place of the historic brand design, the current logo and lettering were used, and it includes a sapphire crystal case back to reveal a winding rotor that shares its design with the wheel of the special edition 911. This version of the watch is also engraved with the same number out of 750 as its corresponding vehicle. The car and watch are sold together for an MSRP of $195,850 excluding $1,350 for delivery, processing and handling.

The latter is limited to 500 units worldwide and is available for customer purchase individually for an MSRP of $7,700. This version of the watch remains completely unchanged from the original in terms of size and design, and features a solid titanium case back with the historic Porsche Design logo.

The 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design is expected to begin arriving in U.S. dealers in spring of 2022.

About Porsche Cars North America, Inc. | One Porsche Drive, Atlanta, GA 30354 USA

Established in 1984, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) is the exclusive U.S. importer of the Porsche 911, 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, Macan, Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, since 1998, PCNA is also home to the first Porsche Experience Center in North America featuring a module-based 1.6 mile driver development track, business center, and fine dining restaurant, 356. The company operates a second Porsche Experience Center near Los Angeles. That 53-acre complex features a driver development track with eight educational modules totaling 4.1 miles, a business center, and Restaurant 917. PCNA supports 193 independently owned and operated Porsche dealerships in the U.S., including supplying parts, service, marketing, and training. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the Porsche brand's more than 70-year history of leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency. PCNA is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

At the core of this success is Porsche's proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000-plus motorsport wins to date.

Follow us: twitter.com/porsche | facebook.com/porsche | instagram.com/porsche facebook.com/PECAtlanta|instagram.com/pecatl|facebook.com/pecla | instagram.com/pecla

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Dallas, TX, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Cares, the community management industrys leading charitable organization, has earmarked funds to assist homeowners affected by the Bronx apartment fire. Associa Cares is the charitable affiliate of Maxwell-Kates which is a member of the Associa family, the industrys largest community management company.

The fire at the Twin Parks North West high-rise apartment building in the Bronx, New York City, killed 17 people, including 8 children, and left dozens more critically injured. The Bronx fire has been identified as the third-worst residential fire in United States history. Associa Cares funds are available to assist impacted residents with immediate needs.

We are saddened to witness the destructive impact of the fire at the Twin Parks North West apartment building, stated Andrew Fortin, Associa Cares president. Our hearts are with the residents impacted by this tragedy and the first responders who bravely risked their lives to address the crisis. Our goal is to provide an outlet of relief and a symbol of hope for the families displaced by the fire.

As fellow residents of New York and leaders in community management, we are devastated by the loss of lives and homes in the Bronx fire, stated David DeGidio, Maxwell Kates, Inc., president. We are honored to work closely with Associa Cares to do what we can to assist the community members affected by this tragedy. We hope this will act as a reminder that there is a network of people who care.

About Associa Cares

Associa Cares is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to assist families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters. Through donations raised from Associa employees and at fundraising events across the country, Associa Cares is able to provide aid to the families affected by these types of tragedies.

Associa Cares funds are distributed to families of Associa-managed and non-Associa managed communities. To donate to Associa Cares or apply for assistance, please visit our website at www.associacares.org.

Associa Cares has provided assistance to more than 3,000 families and more than $4.3 million has been distributed since 2007. To view Associa Cares fundraising disclosure statement, visit www.associacares.org/fundraising-disclosure-statement/.

Stay Connected:

Like Associa Cares on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associacares/

Like Associa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa

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Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa

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Dallas, Texas, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Russell Coleman Logan announces that Robert N. LeMay has been appointed to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the firm. LeMay is a well-known commercial litigation attorney in the firms Dallas office and has been with KRCL for nearly 30 years.

Its truly an honor to be asked to serve in this leadership capacity as the firm enters its 30th anniversary year. Ive been with KRCL since the firms earliest days and Ive been part of every phase of the firms growth and success. Im excited to lead the charge into this year of celebration  we have some big things planned as we look to the firms next 30 years, said Robert LeMay, Managing Director and Chair of the Board at KRCL.

KRCL has also added Director John J. Kane to the Board of Directors. Kane joined the firm out of law school in 2009 and has emerged as a top Dallas bankruptcy litigator. He has played an important role in the firms efforts to give back to the community as past-committee chair of Project Make a Difference, KRCLs charitable donation and volunteerism committee and is currently an active member of the firms Diversity and Inclusion Committee. John also serves on the Dallas Bar Associations Equality Committee and Membership Subcommittee and as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Robert LeMay is an ideal choice to serve as Chair of the Board at this stage of KRCL's growth. The Firms 30th anniversary is a pivotal moment in our history and Robert has been an integral part of the Firm from almost the very beginning, said Joe Coleman, a founding director of the Firm. "Robert is perfect to continue the successful legacy plan the Firm embarked upon over two years ago. We truly appreciate Karen Cox for serving incredibly well as our inaugural Board Chair. Joe Coleman added, I also couldnt be more proud to have John Kane join the KRCL Board of Directors. Despite practicing law for less than 15 years, John is one of the most respected lawyers in the Firm and is exactly what is needed to continue our Firm's dedication to the next generation. I know and hell do a phenomenal job in this important role.

Kane Russell Coleman Logan PC is a full-service law firm with offices in Dallas and Houston. Formed in 1992, KRCL is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. The firm provides professional services for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to medium-sized public and private companies to entrepreneurs. KRCL handles a wide array of transactional, litigation, employment, and bankruptcy matters in Texas and throughout the country.

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Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
WUHAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan University in central China received a donation of 78 million yuan (about 12.3 million U.S. dollars) from an anonymous alumnus on Tuesday, according to sources from the university.

The donor is a genetics graduate from Wuhan University's College of Life Sciences. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the college.

The alumnus expressed gratitude to Wuhan University and named the education fund established with the donation after the late professor Yu Xianjue, who had a profound influence on the donor, college Dean Song Baoliang said. The alumnus donated earnings gained from the scientific and technological achievements.

Yu was a Ph.D. graduate of the California Institute of Technology. He returned to China in October 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, to devote himself to the country's education cause.

The new education fund will be used to support the development of Wuhan University's College of Life Sciences and provide tuition fees for Wuhan University undergraduates in need, per the donor's wishes. 
MANSFIELD [mdash] Patricia Ann Thursby-Daniels, 77, of Mansfield, Texas, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, died Sunday April 10, at Mansfield Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. She was born May 30, 1944, in Elkhart, Indiana, to Robert James and Opal Mae (Allison) Thursby. On Feb. 14, 1965, she marrie
TRIPOLI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Al-Gatrani on Monday suggested expanding two overcrowded correction facilities in the eastern part of the country.

He also stressed that inmates' basic needs should be met and that they should receive fair trials.

Al-Gatrani made the remarks during a meeting with Minister of Justice Halima Abdurrahman, in which they discussed the ministry's efforts to "increase the capabilities of its institutions, mainly the judicial police and correction and rehabilitation facilities," according to a statement issued by the government's information office. 
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for diplomatic talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and all parties concerned toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, said his spokesman on Monday.

The DPRK reportedly fired two short-range projectiles into eastern waters on Monday, the fourth launch in less than two weeks.

"There haven't been that many periods, I think, in recent time where we have seen so many launches from the DPRK," said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman. "And for us, it is just another reminder of the need for the DPRK and all the parties engaged to involve themselves, engage themselves in diplomatic talks so we can get what the United Nations would like to see, which is a very verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and, in the more immediate term, a lowering of tensions."

Asked whether Guterres should reach out to Pyongyang, the spokesman suggested the existing mechanisms be used.

"I think there are existing mechanisms and existing lines of communications. And I think, at this point, these should be used, and the secretary-general is very supportive of those diplomatic frameworks that already exist. But they need to be used," said Dujarric.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that the South Korean military detected two projectiles, presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles, which were launched from the DPRK's Sunan airfield in Pyongyang.

The DPRK's Korean Central News Agency said last week that the country's railway-borne missile regiment test-fired two tactical guided missiles on Friday. Pyongyang said it successfully test-launched a hypersonic missile on Jan. 5 and a missile of the same kind on Jan. 11. 
EV Metals Group plc (EVM) launched the Australian Lithium Alliance, a strategic initiative to partner with Australian companies to accelerate exploration, development, mining, processing and production of lithium minerals.

The strategic initiative will be implemented by Australian Lithium Alliance Pty Limited (ALA), a wholly owned subsidiary of EVM, through joint ventures and off-take agreements as an alternative to Chinese companies that currently dominate the purchase of spodumene concentrate from Australia to supply chemicals processing companies in China.

EVM is building a global battery chemicals and technology business with the development of the worlds first integrated Battery Chemicals Complex (BCC) at Yanbu Industrial City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will produce high-purity chemicals containing lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and other metals required for high energy density cathode active materials used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.

EVM is in a unique position with the development of two processing trains requiring initially 330,000 tpa of spodumene concentrate containing 6% lithium oxide (SC6) to produce 50,000 tpa of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) in the Lithium Chemicals Plant at the Battery Chemicals Complex in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The BCC has been designed for expansion with a further two trains requiring a further 330,000 tpa of SC6 for the production a further 50,000 tpa of LHM.

EVM launched the formation of the Australian Lithium Alliance with the release of details of an agreement in the form of an Earn-in Joint Venture and Lithium Rights Deed (Agreement) between EVM, ALA, Zenith Minerals Ltd (ZNC) and Black Dragon Energy (Aus) Pty Limited (BDE), a wholly subsidiary of ZNC.

The agreement will accelerate the exploration for and, if successful, the development, mining, processing and production of lithium minerals from the strategically located Split Rocks and Waratah Well Tenements under the Zenith Lithium Joint Venture. EVM will also enter into a life-of-mine offtake agreement for all production of SC6 from all lithium minerals projects developed by the Zenith Lithium Joint Venture.





Under the agreement, lithium minerals include lithium (in any and all forms) and all other metals including tantalum, caesium, all rare earth elements, nickel, cobalt, copper and scandium in the Tenements but specifically excludes gold, silver and other precious minerals however they may occur.
South Africa: Class of 2021 went through two years of disruption due to COVID-19

The Class of 2021 was the first Grade 12 cohort to experience the harsh realities of the pandemic for two consecutive years, Umalusi said on Tuesday.

Addressing a media briefing, Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, said that consequently this class needed more academic support compared to their predecessors.

The matric Class of 2021 was the eighth Grade 12 cohort to write final examinations under the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS).

Rakometsi said that the most important beneficiary of Umalusis quality assurance work are the learners - who are eager to know whether Umalusi has done its job to ensure the credibility of their hard earned qualifications.

The Class of 2021 was subjected to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic for two consecutive years, which included a hybrid mode of teaching and learning such as online and rotational classes, Rakometsi said.

He said that despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continued to be a significant factor during the 2021 academic year, Umalusi is entrusted with a critical task of assuring the quality of the entire value chain of the national examination process.

Regardless of the challenges presented by COVID-19, Umalusis quality assurance process focused on the following aspects of its mandate: the external moderation of question papers for all subjects/learning areas/instructional offerings across all qualifications and assessment bodies, verification of a sample of site-based assessment (SBA) marks, monitoring of the assessment bodies state of readiness to conduct and manage the 2021 national examinations, monitoring the conduct of examinations, monitoring and verification of marking as well as the standardisation and approval of results, he said.

The CEO said that Umalusi has taken note of the evidence-based reports on interventions and improvement strategies implemented by all assessment bodies, including the Department of Basic Education and the positive impact of these on the overall assessment system as well as on teaching and learning.

In terms of the quality of question papers, Rakometsi said that this is an essential aspect of the integrity and credibility of the examination.

Therefore, it is pleasing to see a marked improvement in the overall quality of question papers submitted by assessment bodies as more papers are approved after the first or second submission to external moderators, he said.

Touching on irregularities, Rakometsi cautioned learners against joining study WhatsApp groups where papers are shared.

If a paper is shared, all group members will be implicated, including those who did not intend to cheat, he said.

Umalusi further commended all assessment bodies for doing their best to comply with COVID-19 regulations in the administration, conduct and management of the 2021 NSC examinations. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-01-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Asiana Airlines will resume flights to Hawaii from April. It halted flights to Hawaii in March 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The airline said Monday, "We will resume flights to Hawaii three times a week starting from April 3." It added, "We plan to boost the number of flights depending on the status of COVID infections."

Travelers presenting proof of vaccination along with a negative coronavirus test result issued a day before departure do not have to quarantine themselves upon their arrival.


KABUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- "It is our moral responsibility to help our fellow Afghans in this time of need and promote a culture of cooperation," said Mohammad Sharif Tabish.

Tabish works for the Hazara Foundation, a local charity that gives daily flatbreads, locally called naan, to poor families.

Afghanistan currently faces its worse times since the collapse of the U.S.-backed administration in mid-August, with more than 9.5 billion U.S. dollars of the country's assets still frozen. Sanctions have led to banking restrictions and poverty across the country as the new administration finds itself difficult to pay salaries. A humanitarian catastrophe beckons this winter with more than 20 million of Afghanistan's 35 million people facing hunger.

"We give one naan to each member of a family every day, if a family has 10 members it can receives 10 naan each day," Tabish said. "It is not much but we have to do what we can."

The Hazara Foundation is largely financed by well-off Afghans based overseas, many of them refugees themselves, and does not receive aid from any international agency. The foundation has fed 300 families for three months via bakeries in west of Kabul.

"My only income nowadays is nothing but the four naan we receive from the Hazara Foundation every day," said Hanifa, a widow with a family of four. She benefits from a new culture of cooperation that may help her survive the freezing winter.

Many countries including China, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, have supplied humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, but both UN agencies and the new administration are calling for more.

"We have no fuel and no firewood to keep our home warm. We have no food and no income to organize our lives," said Sayed Hashim in front of a Kabul bakery. "Naan alone is not enough to feed a family. We need help to survive the winter." 
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The Community Announcements calendar publishes twice weekly on Thursday and Saturday. The submission deadline for Thursday announcements is noon on the previous Tuesday. The submission deadline for Saturday is noon on the previous Wednesday.
Greensburg, IN (47240)

Today

Showers and a possible thunderstorm during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers and a possible thunderstorm during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
A man stands on the rubble of a house destroyed by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 18, 2022. At least six people were killed and eight others injured in multiple airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

SANAA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and eight others injured in multiple airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

The airstrikes targeted the First Armored Division camp in the central part of Sanaa, it said without providing further details.

Ambulances were seen rushing to the targeted site, and search work is continuing under the rubble.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported a statement from the coalition that the airstrikes targeted a meeting of senior Houthi leaders in Sanaa, killing them all on the spot.

The coalition said that its airstrikes came in response to the militia's cross-border attacks on the airport and oil tankers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The coalition added that it intercepted and destroyed eight explosive-laden drones launched by the Houthi militia earlier in the day from Yemen towards the southern cities of Saudi Arabia.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led Arab coalition supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthi militia.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has recently intensified cross-border drone and missile attacks against cities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. 

A man stands on the rubble of a house destroyed by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 18, 2022. At least six people were killed and eight others injured in multiple airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

People stand on the rubble of a house destroyed by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 18, 2022. At least six people were killed and eight others injured in multiple airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

A man holds a family photo among the rubble of a house destroyed by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 18, 2022. At least six people were killed and eight others injured in multiple airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

A man searches among the rubble of a house destroyed by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 18, 2022. At least six people were killed and eight others injured in multiple airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

People search among the rubble of houses destroyed by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 18, 2022. At least six people were killed and eight others injured in multiple airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)
GREENWICH  Five high school students in Greenwich proved they are among the the nations most promising young scientists after they were chosen as semifinalists in the 81st annual Regeneron Science Talent Search.

A total of 1,804 students entered the program, which is the nations oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors.

To participate, students were required to submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study.

The five local semifinalists are Steven Blank, 17; Ella Moore, 18; and Alexa Nakanishi, 17, who are students at Greenwich High School, and Sachi Laumas, 18, and Natalie Shell, 18, who are students at Greenwich Academy.

Greenwich Academy Head of School Molly King praised the work of Shell and Laumas, who is a Stamford resident.

This is an extraordinary accomplishment, though certainly no surprise coming from these two talented young scholars, King said in a statement. We could not be more proud of the valuable work theyve done, the incredible example they set for those behind them and the contributions theyve made  and continue to make  to our STEM program and GAs reputation as a national leader in STEM education.

The Greenwich High students also were praised by their mentors.

These students are so amazing in their creativity, imagination, hard work and intellect, all of which are nurtured in the Greenwich Public School system, Andy Bramante, Greenwich High science research and ESL chemistry teacher, said in a statement.

All of those GHS students that applied to the 2022 STS conducted a large portion of their research at school, after hours and within the constraints of last years hybrid schedule. This dedication speaks directly to their passion and commitment to their work, he said.

Blanks project is titled Design of a Rapid, Sensitive SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Luminescent Detection Card for COVID-19. All the COVID pandemic waves, including the omicron surge, have highlighted the need for fast reliable testing, particularly at home. Working since September 2020, Blank has developed the framework for a new lateral-flow, at-home COVID-19 test where visible color change on the test strip is replaced with luminescence  or a glow-in-the-dark color change, made visible with an adapted smartphone camera. The test is nearly 1,000 times more sensitive for the detection of COVID-19 antigens compared with what is currently available, according to the projects description.

Moores project is on Inhibition of Covid-19 Respiratory Complications via an R-954 Peptide Bradykinin 1 Receptor Antagonist. One of the most difficult aspects of COVID-19 infection, particularly in its prevaccination stage, lies in the respiratory distress and inflammation that can lead to hospitalization and ventilation. Since the start of her sophomore year in September 2020, Moore has been researching the issue and providing evidence that R954 can be used as an effective therapeutic to prevent the most dangerous, life-threatening aspects of COVID-19 infection.

Nakanishis project is titled Multi-Component Fixation Tracking in Gaze Interaction for Rapid, Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorders. For many, tests for learning difficulties are time-consuming and financially beyond reach. Nakanishi spent two years working on a simple, portable, low-cost solution. She developed a laptop-based, eye-tracking diagnostic system that can successfully diagnose  with 100 percent accuracy  each of three learning disabilities in 10 minutes based on the students eye movements while reading age-appropriate passages.

Laumas project, The Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms by Which MYB Regulates MEP Fate Decision, explores the role of the protein MYB in healthy blood cell development, and contributes to the understanding of its potential as a target in cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia. She conducted her research in coordination with the Krause Lab at Yale University School of Medicines Stem Cell Center.

Shells work, Developing and Testing Updated Geometric Structures to Model the Optical Properties of Spirulina, a Helical Photosynthetic Microorganism, investigates how to efficiently grow the protein-rich algae spirulina as an environmentally friendly replacement for meat through physics simulations and mathematical analyses of its optical properties. She conducted her research with the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Department of Mechanical Engineering through the Research Science Institute.

Laumas and Shell began their original research during the summer and completed their work through GAs independent study program.

The judges narrowed the initial field to 300, making the decisions based on the students research skills, commitment to education, innovative thinking and prospects as a scientist. There are nine semifinalists in Connecticut.

Each semifinalist will receive $2,000 as will their school. GA will use the award toward STEM-related activities.

The semifinalists were announced last week, and Regeneron will name 40 finalists on Jan. 20.

Each finalist will receive $25,000 and participate in the final competition in March, where they will have a national stage to present their original research and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards.

Amid an unprecedented and ongoing global health crisis, we are incredibly inspired to see such an extraordinary group of young leaders who are using the power of STEM to solve the worlds most intractable challenges, said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science, publisher of Science News and 1985 Science Talent Search alum. The ingenuity and creativity that each one of these scholars possesses has shown just how much intellectual curiosity and passion can thrive, even in difficult times.

Christina Chan, senior vice president of corporate communications and citizenship at Regeneron, congratulated the students for their remarkable contributions and discoveries in the STEM field.

We are honored to celebrate this new generation of problem solvers who have demonstrated the depth of their innovative thinking, commitment to continuous learning and ability to tackle global challenges in creative ways, Chan said.

The winner will receive the top prize of $250,000. Regeneron Science Talent Search alumni include 13 Nobel Prize-winners and 22 MacArthur Foundation fellows, among many other honors.

The search is unique among high school competitions, Regeneron said, because the STS focuses on identifying, inspiring and engaging the nations most promising young scientists.

Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the Regeneron Science Talent Search is a program of the Society for Science.
Semma 60 Greenwich Ave., nr. Perry St.; 212-373-8900;

semma.nyc The dining room at Semma. Photo: Adam Friedlander

So how do you enjoy a lavish feast from the south of India while dining indoors (because at Semma theres a hospital-quality air-filter system but currently no outdoor dining) during the great Omicron spike with your KN95 mask firmly affixed to your face?

You dont, Dad, said one daughter as we waited, a bit apprehensively, for dinner to arrive at the latest Chintan PandyaRoni Mazumdar operation, which has been open for a couple of months now on Greenwich Avenue in the West Village.

I think we scarf everything down really quickly, like were in the Army, Dad, and then we get out of here, said the other daughter as alluring, though possibly messy, platters of mung-bean pancakes, great three-cornered dosas, and delicate helpings of stewed goat intestines (kudal varuval) began to clatter down on our table.

In spite of the citys repeated, though slightly garbled, health guidelines, no other guests seemed to be wearing masks in the narrow, boisterous, increasingly crowded room, which, unlike Pandya and Mazumdars other hit restaurants (Adda, Dhamaka), looks less like a casual Indian canteen than a posh hotel bar in Mumbai, say, or the tourist precincts of Goa. The sleek, dimly lit space, which once housed Pandya and Mazumdars original New York venture, the star-crossed Rahi, has been redone in shades of woodsy, tropical brown. Rattan lampshades hang from the rafters, and the ceiling is covered with a pattern of woven bamboo designed to resemble the roof of a southern-Indian houseboat. Polished wood cafe tables are closely packed to enhance a noisy party atmosphere in the pre-COVID style, and the long bar in front is manned by barkeeps vigorously shaking up jauntily named fusion cocktails tinged with curry leaf and cardamom.

Im not taking my mask off for stewed goat intestines, Dad, announced Daughter No. 2 as Dad attempted to shovel dainty bites of this fiery Tamil dish over his briefly lowered mask, before waving one arm wildly in the air and making frantic, muffled cries for a glass of water. The same thing happened with the excellent attu kari sukka lamb appetizer (flavored with slivers of coconut, plenty of black cardamom, and an impressive dose of Tellicherry peppers), though no one had any trouble tackling milder southern-Indian specialties like the crispy-edged mung-bean crepe, or the vegetable-covered uttapam, a pancake made from pounded lentils and rice, or the golden-colored house dosa, which the kitchen seasons with black garam and chile gunpowder spice and folds like a large tri-corner napkin around a mash of spiced potatoes and onions.

Attu kari sukka (lamb with black cardamom and Telicherry peppers ). Gunpowder dosa. Eral thokku (prawns with chiles and fenugreek). Parotta. Nathai pirattal (snails with tamarind and ginger). Kal dosa. Photographs by Adam Friedlander

As with the other unapologetically Indian establishments in the Pandya-Mazumdar portfolio, the idea behind Semma (fantastic in Tamil) is to introduce New Yorkers to regions of the Indian culinary map most have never experienced before, which in this case is the homestyle cooking of southern India, particularly the coastal state of Tamil Nadu. Instead of Pandya, however, the chef in the kitchen here is Vijay Kumar, who, according to our (well-masked) server, has conjured up many of these recipes from his rural childhood. These include the aforementioned goat intestines, vegetable dishes like simple bowls of mustard greens tossed with chunks of butternut squash, and the kind of tender little snails that he used to forage for as a child, flavored here with tamarind and ginger and served with spongy wheels of rice-and-lentil-based kal dosa.

I had enjoyed these snails on a previous, merrily unmasked visit, but when I broached the possibility of ordering them again, my increasingly grouchy guests (Im focusing more on this mask than the food, Dad!) shook their heads in protest. The same thing happened when I mentioned the lobster tail in coconut milk and the signature, undeniably messy Kanyakumari nandu masala, a crab dish named for the town on Indias southern coast, which is reimagined here as a festive preorder group feast complete with plastic Maryland-style crab-boil bibs and a giant Dungeness crab flown in from the West Coast. Imagine smelling that crab in your mask? one of my dining companions said, at which point both they and their cousin (We seem to be drinking less with these masks on, which is less exciting) decided to abandon Dads little experiment altogether.

As a health-conscious working professional, Dad will continue with his personal mask mandate, however, especially when theres no option to sit shivering outside in whats shaping up to be another difficult, gloomy winter for New York restaurants and those of us who love them. Did my KN95 make a difference in how I experienced the rest of our dinner, which included snaky green long peppers drowned in an overly heavy peanut sauce; helpings of leaden, slightly gummy southern-style goat biryani that didnt seem half as artful or satisfying as the goats-neck version available at Dhamaka; and what we all agreed were a couple of forgettable coconut-themed desserts? I suppose the answer is yes, though my daughters would like everyone to know that they noticed no difference between the dyspeptic critic in his sauce-stained mask and the forgetful, genially grumpy gentleman they see around the apartment every day.

Valiya chemmeen moilee (lobster tail in coconut milk). Kanyakumari nandu masala (Dungeness crab for two). Meen pollichathu (black cod wrapped in a banana leaf). Goanese oxtail. Dessert. Photographs by Adam Friedlander

Bites Semma 60 Greenwich Ave., nr. Perry St.; 212-373-8900; semma.nyc Open: Dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

Prices: Small plates, $9 to $25; larger plates, $28 to $44; Dungeness crab for two, $125.

Recommended dishes: Nathai pirattal (snails), gunpowder dosa, parotta, kal dosa, valiya chemmeen moilee (lobster tail), Kanyakumari nandu masala (Dungeness crab for two).

Note: Its suggested to order the crab two days in advance. There are potential plans to reopen an outdoor-dining space in the spring, but until then, the COVID-conscious should agitate for the slightly less crowded tables at the front of the house.
On Wednesday, AT&T and Verizon will begin lighting new C-Band 5G across the United States which has the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) as well as several US airline executives concerned about interference if 5G is deployed too close to airport runways. This is due to the C-Band spectrum potentially interfering with airplane instruments used for low-visibility operation.

In a letter obtained by Reuters, several US airline executives warn that when C-Band 5G goes live on Wednesday it could potentially cause chaos for domestic flights and may strand Americans overseas. The letter was organized by Airlines for America.

Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded [] This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions, or delays [] Multiple modern safety systems on aircraft will be deemed unusable causing a much larger problem than what we knew... Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded."  Letter from Airline executives

The letter was signed by executives of American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, UPS, Alaska Air, Atlas Air, Jetblue Airways, and FedEx and was addressed to key figures of the current administration:

White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

FAA Administration Steve Dickson

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel

With the proposed restrictions at selected airports, the transportation industry is preparing for some service disruption. We are optimistic that we can work across industries and with government to finalize solutions that safely mitigate as many schedule impacts as possible.

Airlines are asking that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles (3.2km) of airport runways, particularly at high-traffic hub airports. Airline officials tell Reuters they are concerned whether Boeing 777s (as well as some Boeing cargo planes) will be able to land at key US with the new 5G service.

When Verizon and AT&T won most of the C-Band spectrum last January, they agreed to deploy buffer zones around 50 airports that should reduce the risk of interference for six months. 5G service will go live on the C-band starting this Wednesday following a 30-day delay, likely done to avoid risks during peak holiday travel activity.

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IP&E Palau Inc. recently donated $15,000 to the Palau International Coral Reef Center. From left, Rodrigo Misajon, IP&E Palau Inc.s commercial accounts manager; King Sam, director of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary; Adeeshia I. Tellei, the centers executive coordinator, and Andrea Uchel, the centers policy development coordinator during the presentation.
Tony Vincent Taimanglo is wanted by the Superior Court of Guam after failing to appear at a hearing where he is facing sexual assault charges.

Taimanglo was scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Jonathan Quan in a continued hearing after he was unable to find a lawyer to represent him in the case.

Quan issued a warrant for Taimanglos arrest following his absence in court Tuesday afternoon.

Lawyer

Taimanglo is still without legal representation after it was revealed he made too much money for court-appointed counsel. However, Taimanglo was unable to find a lawyer for several weeks and was told by Quan to contact the Public Defender Service Corporation to seek representation.

An Assistant Public Defender present at the hearing said that Taimanglo did not contact their office.

Incident

Taimanglo is accused of recording a video of himself sexually assaulting a woman in November and several times before, according to charging documents.

The woman in the recording recalled waking up to find Taimanglo on top of her and sexually assaulting her. In one of the previous incidents, the woman woke up to find Taimanglo fondling her private areas, charging documents state.

Taimanglo has yet to plead guilty or not guilty to three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct as a second-degree felony, invasion of privacy as a third-degree felony and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct as a misdemeanor.
The use of $180 million in American Rescue Plan dollars to build a new hospital and health care campus was approved by the U.S. Treasury, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Del. Mike San Nicolas is questioning the handling of a 102-acre plot of military land in Mangilao, which Adelup plans to lease from the Navy and build the campus on.

The administration has been waiting on final word from the Treasury on Guams ARP money, as initial guidance was unclear on whether the money could be used to build a hospital. Leon Guerrero last year said she wanted to invest $300 million in ARP to build the hospital, though that amount has since shrunk.

Guidance from the Treasury was released earlier this month and allows for money to be used for capital investments in public facilities to meet pandemic operational needs, such as physical plant improvements to public hospitals and health clinics.

It wasnt really that much of a surprise, Leon Guerrero said. In our last visit with the U.S. Treasury  they did inform me that they were going to be issuing the final guidance. They couldnt tell me at the time, but it seemed positive.

The Department of Public Health and Social Services and Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center will be included in the plans.

Strict requirements

Because of the large sum allocated for the campus, Adelup will face stricter reporting requirements. Any project that costs more than $10 million requires written justification to be submitted as part of regular reporting to the Treasury, under the final rule.

The $10 million threshold was selected because these types of larger projects may be less likely to be reasonably proportional responses, the rules state. Among other things, money used for the campus will have to be compared to other potential construction projects.

Were on time, were on target, were working very closely with the federal cabinet, Leon Guerrero said of the new reporting requirements.

She said that negations on a long-term lease for the military land are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2022. A lab for Public Health will go up first, and $33 million in funding for the lab was already secured, she said.

Officials have said that groundbreaking for the campus is planned for October.

Land use

San Nicolas wrote the governor on Tuesday, asking why the land is being leased instead of returned.

Guam law states that excess federal land that is returned to GovGuam shall be given to ancestral landowners or their descendants. Vincent Cabrera, whose mother owned 16 acres of the Mangilao parcel being eyed for the hospital wants it returned, the PDN reported.

San Nicolas asked whether Adelup has petitioned for the Navy to return the land, why a lease is being pursued instead of a return and whether the lease is meant to avoid the local law that would see it returned to ancestral landowners.

It is not in the best interest of the people of Guam for us to undertake a multi-hundred-million-dollar hospital investment in a leasehold that could be similarly made with full ownership, San Nicolas wrote.

Any attempt to circumvent local law would be of serious concern to the federal government, he wrote. The letter was also forwarded to the Legislature and the Office of the Attorney General. San Nicolas said he would be inquiring with the Secretary of the Navy on the matter.

Eagles Field is not excess land, said Krystal Paco-San Agustin, spokesperson for the governor, but the military recognizes the mutual benefit of a hospital and is willing to entertain the possibility of a lease.
Law enforcement officers across government of Guam agencies will receive a pay increase Jan. 30, under an executive order signed by Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Tuesday.

The order covers 965 local law enforcement officers working in different agencies, and is a response to the issue of low recruitment and retention rates for law enforcement officials in Guam.

Base pay will increase by 18%.

A Department of Administration report recommending the increase noted that local competition and uncompetitive salaries have caused attrition in local law enforcement and public safety agencies. The report stated that with the military buildup, officers are being hired by the federal government to law enforcement positions.

We have been losing many law enforcement personnel to federal agencies and off-island jurisdictions. Retention has been the number one issue plaguing our law enforcement agencies and this pay adjustment tackles that issue head on, said Sen. Jose Terlaje.

More than a dozen local agencies and departments with law enforcement officers are affected by the executive order, including the Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, the Department of Corrections, Department of Youth Affairs, Department of Parks and Recreation, Guam Department of Agriculture, Department of Revenue and Taxation and other entities.

Guam Police Department Chief Stephens Ignacio said the starting salary for a police officer trainee was $11.87 an hour and will now rise to $14.88.

Leon Guerrero said that percentage was determined by using the Guam Police Department as a benchmark, since it is the largest law enforcement agency on island.

The Department of Administration found that GPD was 18% behind the national average. The last pay increase for law enforcement officers was eight years ago, according to the governor.

Funds

The governor said funds will come from the American Rescue Plan supplemented by other federal grants and funds supported by the Legislature to sustain the budget the following year.

All those I think work together so that we can sustain this increase in the budget in the next fiscal year, said Leon Guerrero.

The cost will be about $16 million a year according to Edward Birn, the director of the Department of Administration.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday expressed the hope that the action of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should be conducive to achieving long-term stability and security in Sudan's Darfur region.

"The ICC should strictly abide by the principle of complementarity and effectively respect the judicial sovereignty of Sudan. China hopes that the ICC's action on the basis of the Security Council's resolution will be conducive to achieving long-term stability and security in Darfur," said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

China has been watching closely as the ICC addresses the Sudan-related situation, and has taken note of the work done by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan since he took office, he told the Security Council.

With the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement, Darfur has entered a new stage of peacebuilding. China encourages all signatories to continue the implementation of the peace agreement and calls on Dafurian factions that have yet to sign the agreement to join the peace process as soon as possible, said Geng.

The recent intercommunal violence in Darfur underscores the fact that the security situation in Darfur remains daunting. The international community should support Sudan in security capacity-building to enable it to shoulder the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians in Darfur, he said.

However, long-term stability and security in Darfur can only be achieved by way of reconciliation. The Juba Peace Agreement has made clear provisions for this, which include achieving judicial justice, fighting impunity, and establishing a truth and reconciliation commission, he said.

"As the country is facing multiple challenges at this moment, it should come as no surprise that the implementation of the agreement is encountering difficulties. Therefore, the international community should remain adequately patient while providing constructive assistance to Sudan to implement the agreement," he said. 
Matthew San Agustin Manibusan will go to trial on Feb. 9 to defend himself against manslaughter charges connected to the death of Joshua James Meno in Swamp Road last year.

Manibusan appeared before Judge Vernon Perez at the Superior Court of Guam with his attorney, who revealed they are inclined to proceed with a jury trial.

The Office of the Attorney General expressed a desire to resolve the case without going to trial so the parties will meet again Jan. 24 to discuss any new developments.

Manibusan became a suspect in a death investigation last April when Menos body was found lifeless in Swamp Road, according to charging documents.

Meno allegedly injured a man at Manibusans home in Swamp Road with a machete, which caused Manibusan to shoot Meno on the lower right rib. A trail of blood from Menos body led them to the home, documents state.

Manibusan was initially indicted with murder but the charge was later reduced to manslaughter after claiming he acted in self-defense, a press release sent by the Office of the Attorney General stated.
Ysengsong Road in Dededo will getting a full, $6.5 million reconstruction over the next 10 months or so.

Ysengsong, officially Route 28, is a major artery for the densely crowded village, and connects Marine Corps drive to two elementary and two middle schools, along with the NCS and Astumbo area. Residents have to navigate numerous potholes on the way to work and school, especially around the 4-way intersection with Lada and East Santa Barbara Avenue.

Government officials broke ground on the project at the easement beside Island Girl Power on Tuesday. Asphalt will be repaved, signs replaced, and road markers redone.

This is going to be a full reconstruction. Well take the full three lanes, were going to do sidewalks, were going to take care of a lot of the storm drains and things of that nature, said Department of Public Works Director Vince Arriola.

As construction proceeds, portions of the road up to the intersection with Bumachachu Street, which connects Ysengsong to the Guam International Country Club, will be shut down periodically, Arriola said. Money for the project comes from the Federal Highway Administration, and Hawaiin Rock Products was contracted.

There will be several detours that we will work on with DPW on the contractor when the time comes around, but we will carefully let each section of Ysengsong know what the next step is of the project, said Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares, and DPW will be meeting weekly with her office to coordinate.

Savares said the federally funded reconstruction is long overdue. Repairs for Swamp Road and other streets in Dededo are also in the planning process, she said.

Arriola asked that village residents keep the streets clean as DPW proceeds with road repair.

We cant just have nice beautiful streets, and then junk cars parked on the very next day, we do not want that and we wont stand for that, he said.

A derelict vehicle was visible across the street from the groundbreaking. DPW is proceeding with a project to eliminate abandoned vehicles along government easements, and will be issuing citations, he said.
A monument, seen here on July 15, 2020, stands as a strong reminder of the hardships faced by the thousands of men, women and children, many of whom perished, after being forced to march to the concentration camp in Yona during the liberation of Guam in World War II.




Haiti - Culture : Binational artistic residency, success of the first activity





Five magnificent puppets carried were completed during the first binational artistic residency activity of the "Binational cultural dialogue / Dialogo cultural binacional" project, designed and implemented by the Haiti Jazz Foundation and the Caracoli association to strengthen collaboration binational in the field of culture, which brought together a group of ten young artists in Radhames Park, San Cristobal (Dominican Republic).



These puppets were produced under the direction of two artists Louvenson Saint Juste, from Haiti and Luis Rivas from the Dominican Republic who together explored innovative ways to celebrate the secular Carnivals of both countries. Almost as many women as men took part in the making of these five carnival puppets, each of them being the product of collective work between Haitians and Dominicans



The two artists exchanged their knowledge and approaches to integrate recycled materials into their Carnival masks and costumes, for a colorful result. Participants in the creation workshops used plastic bags and bottles, glass, textiles and metal, and other waste, to create beautiful puppets that will be incorporated into Carnival parades in Jacmel on February 20 in Haiti and of the Santo Domingo Carnival parade on March 7 in the Dominican Republic.







Find out more about the "Binational Cultural Dialogue" project :

The "Binational Cultural Dialogue" project supported by the European Union, takes the form of a "Haitian-Dominican cultural season", involving artists from different disciplines (plastic arts, street art, music, etc.), bearers of tradition (carnival, rara, gastronomy...), heads of organizations and cultural professionals. Thus, 11 major cultural events in both countries will host meetings and cultural and artistic exchanges. These events are national events, carried out in different cities of the two countries and carried by well-established cultural organizations.



The project, which extends over 18 months, until January 2023, involves at least 100 Haitian and Dominican cultural professionals, 16 of whom will participate in an exchange in the neighboring country.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















WINDHOEK, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia on Tuesday launched an initiative to encourage and mobilize Namibians from all walks of life to get vaccinated, and to debunk rumours and misinformation that are contributing to vaccination hesitancy.

The initiative dubbed the "Tourism Sector COVID-19 Vaccination Drive in Namibia" was launched in Windhoek by Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta.

Shifeta said the main objective of this drive is to foster awareness in the tourism fraternity, among employees and tourism businesses about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination in order to achieve head immunity among the targeted population and its momentous positive role these may create in stimulating tourism and travel demand to the country.

"It is my understanding that commencing the travel and tourism sector, post COVID-19, relies on the success of the COVID-19's robust public health measures, the sectoral health protocols implemented and above all the percentage coverage of the vaccinated target population," he added.

Speaking at the launch, Ben Nangombe, Namibia's Health Ministry executive director, said the private sector, including the tourism sector, are key partners and stakeholders in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Your participation, standing side-by-side with government has helped in so many ways to save lives, and keep the economy afloat," he said, adding that the launch of the initiative comes at the right time to increase uptake and vaccination coverage in the general population.

According to the health ministry, as of Jan. 17, Namibia administered 413,876 first doses of COVID-19 vaccines, translating to 23.3 percent of the target population of 1,7 million. The figure of the vaccine eligible population was adjusted from the initial 1,5 million, with the addition of children 12 years older and a total of 351,690 persons are fully vaccinated.

"These figures are still far behind where we need to be as a country to control the pandemic," he concluded. 




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Fritz Alphonse Jean and Edgard Leblanc Fils want to be provisional President

The economist Fritz Alphonse Jean and the general coordinator of the OPL, Edgard Leblanc Fils, officially submitted their candidacy files on Monday for the post of provisional president at the Montana Accord Monitoring Office.



Fritz Alphonse Jean accompanied by individuals with weapons of war

The Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince asks the DCPJ to search for and arrest all individuals who carried weapons of war in the company of Fritz Alphonse Jean, this Monday, during his declaration of candidacy at the Monitoring Office of the Agreement (BSA).



Assassination of Moise : there will be no hiding place for those involved

"I am delighted to see that the international effort continues to bear fruit. The arrest of former Senator John Joel Joseph https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35724-haiti-flash-assassination-of-the-president-former-senator-john-joel-joseph-arrested-in-jamaica.html shows that there will be no hiding place for those who are directly or indirectly involved in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise" ex-Chancellor Claude Joseph.



Arrest : Real bandit, fake gun

The National Police of Haiti (PNH) during a checkpoint, arrested in the commune of Cavaillon, (South Dept.), Gaspard Jean Erick (37), from the town of Baraderes, in possession of a fake gun. Gaspard Jean Erick was traveling on a motorcycle, in the company of another individual who escaped at the time of the police check.



Two judges take oath

The Dean of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince, Me Bernard Saint-Vil, received the swearing in of two judges (Jean Wilner Morin and Chavannes Etienne) recently appointed https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35666-haiti-justice-the-government-renews-the-mandate-of-5-judges.html by Prime Minister ai Ariel Henry.



Official Tribute Ceremony

The official Tribute ceremony in memory of Councilor Mehu Milius Garcon https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35566-icihaiti-obituary-death-of-a-csc-ca-adviser.html was held as announced, this Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the central headquarters of the Court, in the presence of the highest dignitaries of the State.



Paralysis at the border

Paralysis at the Malpasse-Jimani border this Monday, January 17. This situation was caused by an incident related to the climate of terror fueled by gang groups in Croix-Des-Bouquets which some Haitian customs officers were victims of last week.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2022/01/17 | Source

Actress Bae Doona will reunite with director July Jung, who she collaborated on the movie "A Girl at My Door" (2014) for the first time in eight years.

Advertisement

The film production company Twin Plus Partners announced that the movie "Next Sohee" (Director July Jung), starring Bae Doona, began filming for the first time on the 16th.

"Next Sohee" is a work that deals with the incident experienced by So-hee, a high school girl who went on a field trip to a call center, and the story of Yoo-jin, a female detective, who doubts her.

Bae Doona plays Yoo-jin in the movie. Having played the role of a police in a couple of movies before, she draws attention to how she will play the role of a cool-headed detective reflecting on the case one by one in "Next Sohee".

In particular, "Next Sohee" is expected to be director July Jung's next film, who was invited to the notable gaze category of the Cannes Film Festival or won various domestic rookie director awards by melting heavy themes into fresh directing. It is also of interest that Bae Doona and July Jung, who worked together eight years ago, reunite once again.

Meanwhile, "Next Sohee" is scheduled to start filming in earnest starting with this crank-in.
Since this is International Dark Sky Week, it seemed like a perfect time to addres
This came through a statement issued by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the attacks of the Turkish occupation on occupied Afrin, and said in the statement:

The twentieth of January coincides with the fourth anniversary of the Turkish attack on Afrin, four years of the most horrific violations and practices that are not related to any moral or emotional standards. After their barbaric attack, after Afrin was a safe haven for more than 180,000 people who went to it from outside Afrin to escape the scourge of the Syrian war.

Today, after four years of mercenary practices in these occupied areas, which clearly express Turkey's despicable intentions to strike the stability of our regions, undermine the democratic experience of our people, and obstruct the path of the Syrian consensus, in addition to its deep project aimed at perpetuating and dividing the Turkish occupation in Syria, as well as Today, there are practices that confirm the reality of division and occupation, so this aggression and occupation is wrong for some to consider it regionally with limited influence, because it is a comprehensive aggression on the whole of Syrian geography. It requires the unification of capabilities in order to liberate it.

The Turkish occupation state is continuing to destroy Syria and divide its society; As what Turkey and its mercenaries are doing today in our occupied areas confirms once again, especially through the silence of international forces, United Nations institutions, the international coalition, Russia and the Syrian government, that Turkey is continuing its policies that are not in line with the Syrian interest, and Turkey does not address the argument of its national security and support for stability in Syria. Some forces that call themselves the Syrian opposition, except to cover up their hostile practices and sabotage intentions in Syria, which requires all Syrian national forces and the international community to be wary of this dangerous scheme against the Syrian people, as well as their project to support terrorism and re-pump the blood of the dead ISIS body, by embracing it Today, thousands of ISIS militants who fled Syria were received by Turkey and organized under the name of the so-called National Army.

On the fourth anniversary of the Turkish attack on Afrin, we confirm in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria that the Turkish presence and its occupation of our regions and all other Syrian regions, and its support for terrorists and its embrace of the forces called the Syrian opposition, is nothing but a poisoned dagger in the Syrian body, without resolving the file of Turkeys occupation of Syria and its practices And with it mercenaries, there will never be stability in Syria.

Therefore, we note to the whole world and to global public opinion, that Turkey, through the policies of demographic change and the forced displacement of our people from their regions, is establishing a new Turkification project aimed at striking the stability of Syria and the region and fragmenting it socially and geographically.

We appeal to the international community with all its institutions, the United Nations, the European Union, the Global Coalition, the Russian Federation and the Syrian government as well, to realize the dangers of Turkish policy in Syria and to stay away from any special interests and agendas with Turkey, at the expense of our country, Syria, its people and its various affiliations.

In conclusion, we affirm in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to stand by the displaced from their homes until the liberation of the entire occupied lands, and we assure our people in north and east Syria, especially our people in Serekaniye, Gere Spi and Afrin who were forcibly displaced from their homes, that we promise you to continue the struggle With you and with you, until the liberation of your areas and your return to them with dignity and pride, and on this occasion we also remember our martyrs and wounded heroes who heroically defended against the Turkish army and its mercenaries, with their absolute belief in freedom and preventing harm to the values and gains of our people, and we pledge them to follow their path and footsteps until victory is achieved and the goals and aspirations of our people are achieved and the success of their revolution democracy.

A

ANHA
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
WINDHOEK Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia recorded an increase of 37.81 percent of tourists arrivals in the country from January to December 2021, when compared to 2020 figures, an official said Tuesday.

"Country arrivals were 354,508 in 2021 as compared to 192,026 in 2020. This is an important achievement for the sector," Namibia's Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said in a statement on Tuesday.

Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda told Xinhua that so much has been lost in terms of income, revenue and employment in the tourism industry due to the ripple effects of COVID-19. The sector will need to move slowly towards recovery and this will require them to be innovative in their product offering and put in measures to prepare them for similar occurrences.

According to Muyunda, Namibia's government interventions like relaxing some restrictions to allow for tourists to visit the country and initiatives also aimed at developing the confidence of tourists to visit Namibian as a safe destination.

Lin Bo, a manager of China Travel Agency, who has been deeply involved in Namibia's tourism market for 12 years, told Xinhua that Namibia's tourism industry developed rapidly in the first few years before the epidemic.

Based on her long-term optimism about the tourism market in Namibia, her company has increased investment since 2015, building a boutique hotel in Walvis Bay, a popular tourist attraction, and a wildlife park in Sossusvlei. But the sudden outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 has hit the entire tourism industry hard, and like other peers, they are also experiencing considerable financial difficulties.

But they have always had confidence in the future, and persisted until now through salary reductions and living allowances without laying off staff. During the nearly two years of the epidemic, all employees have continued to further their studies through online training and online learning to improve their business capabilities and more diversified skills, and fully prepare for the recovery of the market after the epidemic.

"The epidemic will pass, and the recovery of tourism will eventually come," said Lin.

"Namibia's rich natural and cultural resources have attracted tourists from all over the world. However, it can also be clearly felt that the proportion of Chinese tourists is increasing year by year. If there are more convenient visa policies, such as visa-free, visa-on-arrival and resource guarantee for tourist flights, Chinese tourists will show an explosive growth after the epidemic is over," she said.

Gitta Paetzold, CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia, told Xinhua that 2021 has been a very tough year, the third wave outbreak in Namibia in mid-2021, and then the global travel ban on southern Africa in late 2021 due to the Omicron variant.

"This puts the entire travel industry in a difficult situation. But I believe there will be a slow and steady recovery and it is hoped that by mid-2022, tourism flow from international markets will pick up again," said Paetzold.

Tourism in Namibia is one of the pillar industries and is the key to improving people's living standards, especially in remote areas, where it solves a lot of employment and livelihood problems. 
Newest surge, workforce and testing shortage put Pardee under 'perfect storm' of stress, CEO says

Jay Kirby

It is rare that I personally reach out to members of our community to share a direct message from Pardee. Usually, it would be to share some good news about an award or a new service that weve added to our system. Unfortunately, that is not the case today.



Im writing to speak clearly and openly about the strain that our hospital is currently under. As we approach our second full year of battling this pandemic and navigating what feels like a never-ending cycle of surges, its important to understand the impact of this current surge and our ability to provide care to those who need it most.



In the past weekend alone, we have seen a 71 percent increase in patients hospitalized for Covid. As of Monday, Jan. 10, we were caring for 36 COVID-positive patients, with seven of those requiring care in our ICU and four on a ventilator. We anticipate this number will continue to climb until we get through this current wave of community transmission and the highly contagious Omicron variant. We are also seeing high numbers of influenza, RSV and other illnesses that compound our current situation and push our census much higher than normal. We do not expect the peak of omicron to arrive until a few more weeks.

As other area hospitals go on diversion, we continue to accept their patients and are more than happy to do so. But with each additional patient, we experience added strain on our system. To manage the flow and needs of this increase in critical care for our patients, Pardee has had to shift the overflow of critical, non-COVID patients from our ICU to our Post Anesthesia Care Unit, cared for by nurses skilled in the care of ICU patients. We may have to shift patients even more in order to adequately care for patients who require isolation. In addition, we have had to temporarily pause all elective inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as all elective cardiac procedures. We will continue to meet all emergent and critical surgery needs.



At the time of this writing, we have just over 40 of our team members out on quarantine, with that number fluctuating daily. As a result of team member illnesses, both COVID and non-COVID related, we have had to temporarily close two of our urgent care locations  eliminating two options for people seeking a test or care for their non-emergent needs.



As you have likely experienced, PCR COVID tests are in short supply. People want to find out if their sniffles, sore throat and body aches are COVID  and rightly so. Unfortunately, with fewer options available in our community  over the counter, pharmacy, and our urgent care locations people begin to show up in our Emergency Department, which is the least desirable option for an affordable or efficient test.

Add to that our own limited supply of PCR tests and our desire to reserve them for seriously ill patients already hospitalized and you have a perfect storm of frustration. ER wait times will continue to increase. To address this issue, we will reallocate primary care providers and staff to all urgent care locations to reopen all sites and relieve pressure on our ER.



Bottom line, this increase in patient census, levels of critical care needed and associated staffing issues have impacted care across our organization. What does that mean for our community? It means we are caring for more patients  patients that hospitals across the country werent designed to care for  with less staff and fewer resources.

Make no mistake, we are strong and we will weather this storm, but not without some collateral damage. What can you do? Please, if you havent already, get vaccinated or boosted and wear a mask. Daily percentages fluctuate, but on average, 90 percent of the COVID-positive patients in our care are unvaccinated. And unfortunately, the unvaccinated patients are the ones requiring the highest level of care.



Data shows that vaccinated people who also received a booster dose have stronger protection against the Omicron variant. Yes, you may still contract COVID, but the likelihood of your ending up in our Emergency Department or our ICU requiring care and battling for your life is far less than if you were unvaccinated. And when you are able to care for COVID at home, rather than in the hospital, youre freeing up a bed for your neighbor who may have a heart attack or stroke, or a loved one who may be in a serious accident.



These are truly trying times. I am honored to work with the most dedicated and caring healthcare professionals Ive ever encountered. They are doing the best they can, and they are tired. Please pray for their safety and stamina and support and thank them when you see them.

* * * * *

James "Jay" Kirby has served as the president and CEO of Pardee UNC Health Care since 2011, bringing more than 30 years of healthcare management experience to oversee the 222-bed acute care hospital, a comprehensive cancer center, four urgent care locations, six orthopedics clinics, and a physician practice network comprised of 341 physicians. Under his leadership, Pardee has expanded its services to include Board-certified interventional cardiologists and vascular surgeons, and only the second STEMI-certified emergency department in all of western North Carolina. Kirby also led Pardee to add pulmonology, neurology, oncology, thoracic surgery, infectious disease, and the regions second largest orthopedic group to better serve the people of western North Carolina.
A WINE expert from Henley has teamed up with an online cheese company featured on TVs Dragons Den.

Alistair Cooper is helping

Cheesegeek to select wines to go with the different cheeses it offers as the business aims to become market leader in the 3.2billion UK industry.

He says he enjoys working with the firms founders Edward Hancock and Rich Simpson and is looking forward to meeting dragon Steven Bartlett, a 29-year-old online entrepreneur who has invested in the business.

Its very exciting, said Mr Cooper. I think its ground-breaking.

The 44-year-old, who lives in Albert Road with his partner Aspen Weatherburn, has worked in the wine industry for 20 years and is a consultant, writer and wine judge.

He agreed to help Cheesegeek last year after being approached by Mr Hancock, who was looking for a master of wine.

Mr Cooper now visits the companys headquarters in south London once a month to select wines for its range of cheese gift boxes.

He said: The first time I heard about Cheesegeek was when I went to my parents house and my brother had bought one of their subscription boxes and I thought how great it was. As well as being the wine geek, Im a huge cheese fan.

A couple of weeks later, I was contacted by Edward as he was looking for a master of wine to build that side of the company. I was very impressed with the brand and when I met Edward I was blown away with the operation.

It was nice to find someone with the same amount of love and passion for cheese as I have for wine.

One of the things Edward brought me in to do was help pair different wines with different cheeses.

We test about 30 to 40 cheeses with different wines and spend the day talking about what works and what doesnt. Wine and cheese are pretty good bedfellows.

Mr Cooper, who became a master of wine in 2017, said the secret to pairing wine and cheese was about contrasting or complementary flavours.

Port and stilton is a classic pairing, he said. The port is very sweet and the stilton is salty so they go well together.

If youre looking at a creamy cheese, like Bix from the Nettlebed Creamery, youll want something to cut through that creaminess so something with acidity or bubbles.

White wine, especially a Chardonnay, is the best overall wine for most cheeses. A lot of people think its red but its better to have the bubbles and the acidity from white wine.

Im not going to lie, its a huge amount of fun but your palette does get tired so we have to be careful with the order we try things in.

We go from the mildest flavours of cheese all the way through to the strongest because if you start with the blue cheeses then your palette is shot.

Mr Cooper is now helping the company with a new podcast in which he discusses different pairings.

His favourite is Carmenere red wine with a blue cheese such as Bath blue.

He said his family were still fans of Cheesegeek and were delighted when he started working with the business.

They were all very desperate to get a discount, he said. I remember the first thing time I saw the box at their house and how professional and well done it was.

It was educational, too, but not stuffy and thats so important. Wine can be seen as being intimidating so its important that things are not exclusive and the product provides a lot of information but not too much.

The pairing boxes we offer come with a very cool leaflet which has my thoughts on the wine and Edwards thoughts on the cheese so theres lot of information there.

The Cheesegeek founders were featured in the latest series of Dragons Den when they pitched for an investment of 150,000 in return for a three per cent share of the company.

The business, which they launched in 2017, turned over 96,000 in its first year and had increased that to more than

1.54 million in its third year.

Mr Hancock told the dragons that there are about 750 varieties of cheese being made in the UK but that most of us could only name up to 10.

He said: There have been many innovative, tech-led businesses that have revolutionised flowers, craft gin, craft beer [but] cheese has been left behind.

Within five years, we aim to become the dominant brand within the 3.2billion UK cheese industry and beyond.

The pair received three offers before accepting the one from Mr Bartlett, the youngest ever dragon, who founded Social Chain, a social media marketing agency, which is now said to be worth more than 300 million.

He offered them all the money for 7.5 per cent of the business, which will drop to five per cent if they return all his investment within 24 months.

Mr Cooper said: I think the dragon they got was the one they had hoped for and it was his first investment.

Steven has visited quite a few times and I just missed him on the last visit so I havent met him yet but Im sure I will.

Hes got so much experience to drive the business forward and Cheesegeek does fill a gap in the market.

The care that Edward and Rich take is insane. They love what they do and the care they put into the business is second to none.

There will be a new app and Ill be working with them on pairings for that. Its so exciting.
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BERLIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- German chemicals group Covestro has struck a long-term deal on the supply of green hydrogen with Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) in Australia.

FFI will supply Covestro with the equivalent of up to 100,000 metric tons of green hydrogen (GH2) per year, according to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the two companies, which was announced on Monday.

The deliveries are planned for production sites in Asia, North America and Europe, and could begin as early as 2024.

"Green hydrogen and its derivatives play a key role for the chemical industry, both as an alternative feedstock and a source of clean energy," said Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro.

Thanks to the new deal with FFI, he said, Covestro will be able to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 900,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. 
by Xinhua writer Sun Yi

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has recorded over 65 million confirmed cases and 850,000 related deaths, both ranking the first in the world, according to statistics released by Johns Hopkins University on Monday.

In a country considered the most developed in the world with a leading health care system, the government's botched COVID-19 response is yet another testament to the dysfunction of U.S. democracy.

DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN TROUBLE AGAIN

In an article published on Jan. 4 on the website of The Guardian newspaper, Stephen Marche, author of the book "The Next Civil War," warned that the next U.S. civil war is already here -- "we just refuse to see it."

"The United States today is, once again, headed for civil war, and, once again, it cannot bear to face it. The political problems are both structural and immediate, the crisis both longstanding and accelerating. The American political system has become so overwhelmed by anger that even the most basic tasks of government are increasingly impossible," said Marche.

"The legal system grows less legitimate by the day. Trust in government at all levels is in freefall, or, like Congress, with approval ratings hovering around 20 percent, cannot fall any lower," he added.

"Right now, elected sheriffs openly promote resistance to federal authority. Right now, militias train and arm themselves in preparation for the fall of the Republic. Right now, doctrines of a radical, unachievable, messianic freedom spread across the internet, on talk radio, on cable television, in the malls," he added.

"Under such conditions, party politics have become mostly a distraction. The parties and the people in the parties no longer matter much, one way or the other. Blaming one side or the other offers a perverse species of hope," he noted.

Last year, after the Delta variant caused a new wave of outbreaks in the southern states, home to low vaccination rates, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a vaccine injunction, originally scheduled to be implemented from Jan. 4 this year. However, a number of Republican-run state governments took the issue to court and halted the mandate.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the U.S. political system. A December poll last year by Schoen Cooperman Research found that a majority of Americans now believe democracy in the United State is in danger of disappearing, with those aged 18 to 29 expressing the most concern.

"ENTROPY OF CONSTRAINT" INCREASES IN U.S.

"Entropy" is originally a physical concept, which represents the disorder or randomness of a system. The higher the entropy, the more chaotic it is. How to bolster the "Entropy Reduction Mechanism" for all parties to better coordinate and eliminate buck-passing is a major issue facing many governments. Clearly, the U.S. government must reduce its entropy.

"The pandemic has proved to be a nearly two-year stress test that the United States flunked, with an already distrustful populace exposed to a level of institutional failure that added fuel to the angry battles over how to respond," said Zeynep Tufekci, an opinion columnist, in an article in The New York Times.

The United States is "bankrupt" in trust as its people have lost confidence during the pandemic, the columnist said, citing Martin Cetron, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention veteran of battles against Ebola in Africa.

"America's pandemic playbook assumed the U.S. could take collective action. The country proved that wrong," correspondent German Lopez wrote in a story posted on news website Vox.

"Whenever collective action is called for, Americans don't do it -- or, at the very least, don't do it sufficiently. America is too politicized, fractured, and, above all, individualistic for a collective move to save it," said Lopez.

"America's federalist structure also makes collective action, handed down from the federal level, extremely difficult. That's the context in which one very loud politician or a handful of contrarian states have managed to throw the collective project into chaos over the last year and a half," he said.

With the absence of a national strategy at the federal level, states and cities were largely left on their own in battling the pandemic in a disjointed, piecemeal fashion, which proved to be woefully inadequate.

As of Saturday, nearly 40 percent of the population in the United States is still not fully vaccinated.

Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean of the Emory School of Medicine and Grady Health System in Georgia, told Xinhua last month that the main reasons for the recent surge were increasing transmissibility of new variants, seasonality of the pandemic which sees the number of cases increasing in colder weather, and the number of unvaccinated.

"Mandates are important to get more people vaccinated," del Rio told Xinhua. "Getting more people vaccinated through mandates and requirements, providing boosting and making rapid testing readily available are the priorities," he said.

"A more united front (to fight the pandemic) would be very nice. Unfortunately the politicization of the pandemic has been an issue from the start and will continue to be so," del Rio noted.

INTENSIFIED SOCIAL FRAGMENTATION

When a pandemic raging, should the government save the people or save the market first? Which is more important, pandemic prevention and control or economic recovery? These are two must-answer questions in the global fight against COVID-19.

For the United States, protecting the economy is more important than saving lives and saving the stock market is more important than ending the epidemic, clearly exposing the selfish nature of capitalism.

Neoliberalism advocates laissez-faire market economy. In the past decades, American economic governance has been deeply influenced by neoliberalism, and the decline of people's livelihoods in the "Rust Belt" region and the prosperity of Wall Street have become the epitome of social imbalance.

In this regard, American economist Heather Boushey said that to completely transform the American economy, policymakers should understand that the market cannot play the role of government.

Most medical institutions and medical insurance companies in the United States are privately owned, and the cost of medical care is high. About 25 million people belonging to vulnerable groups cannot afford insurance. Many infected people become sources of infection themselves because of the difficulty of securing timely treatment, thus accelerating the spread of the virus.

According to the CDC, Hispanics have twice the risk of contracting COVID-19 and 2.3 times the risk of dying from the virus compared to Whites. Native Americans and African Americans are also at higher risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 than Whites.

While low-income groups are under the pressure of unemployment, poverty and high infection risk, from March 2020 to January 2021 the total wealth of more than 600 American billionaires increased from about 2.947 trillion U.S. dollars to 4.085 trillion, an increase of 38.6 percent, all thanks to the generous financial rescue aid of the U.S. government.

In addition, some politicians have taken advantage of anti-intellectual and populist sentiments in the United States to spread anti-science rhetoric in an attempt to deflect blame for the government's failure to contain the virus.

"The fact that the United States fared so poorly ... is a profound sign of how decayed our institutions and capacity have become," said opinion writer Tufekci. 
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we've all known individuals who have done more than their share to help their neighbors and communities with food, comfort, care, companionship and dozens of other needs. If you know of such a person, you can nominate them to be featured in our upcoming H
HOUSTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday sent the legal challenge filed by abortion clinics against Texas' highly controversial law banning abortion to the state's Republican-majority Supreme Court, a move widely seen as the latest setback for abortion providers.

The decision may significantly delay the case and keep the Republican-backed near-all abortion ban in effect since it could take months before the challenge returns to a federal court, or never, local analysts say.

"This decision now keeps the case in limbo -- and abortion after six weeks in the nation's second-largest state -- a dead-letter, indefinitely," Steve Vladeck, a University of Texas School of Law professor, tweeted.

Until a decision is made, Texas abortion providers have mostly stopped performing the procedure, even though Supreme Court decisions have established a constitutional right to abortion after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that firstly made abortion legal nationwide in 1973.

The U.S. Supreme Court has largely declined to intervene in the Texas case three times, most recently in December when justices kept the ban in effect while allowing a legal challenge to move through a lower state court.

Taking effect from Sept. 1 as reportedly the most restrictive abortion ban in the country, the Texas law prohibits abortions once cardiac activity is detected in an embryo, which can happen as early as about six weeks before many women are aware of their pregnancy.

The state law makes no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from incest or rape. Furthermore, it allows most U.S. citizens, no matter where they live, to file lawsuits against abortion providers who they think infringed the rule. 


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Proxy war with the aid of Khalistanis to break Punjab from India has started !  Mr Pravin Dixit, Former Director General of Police, Maharashtra

A bomb explosion was carried out in a court in Punjab by a former police officer, a bus loaded with RDX has been found in the border area, arms and drugs are being sent to Punjab by drones from Pakistan  all of these indicate that anti-national elements are at work in Punjab. They are connected with the Khalistanis. A proxy war has been launched against the country. However, they will never succeed in this war, because the people of Punjab are with India. The Punjab Government should be vigilant and keep the State and border areas safe, said Mr. Praveen Dixit (Former Director General of Police, Maharashtra and Chairman of Swatantryaveer Savarkar Memorial). He was speaking in a special Online interaction organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti on Conspiracy to separate Punjab from India.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain (Spokesperson of the Hindu Front for Justice and a practising lawyer in the Supreme Court) said, The intelligence agencies are aware that the Khalistani movement is being abetted by China, Pakistan and Islamic militants. Sikhs have made significant contributions to the history of India. However, the Khalistanis have often tried to create a situation where the Government would be forced to open fire on the Sikhs through the farmers agitation, but the Government refrained from doing so. However, if this had happened, it would have destabilised the country. There was a big conspiracy behind the blocking of the Prime Ministers car recently.

During the Online interaction, Ma Rajyalakshmi from the US said, Conspiracies have been going on since Independence to convert Indians, control and then break India. Missionaries, Pakistanis, Chinese, international groups, etc. are active towards this nefarious objective. Some prominent activities such as the Khalistani movement, Islamic terrorism, Dismantling Global Hindutva Conference, Anti-CAA agitations, Farmers agitations, calculated desecration of Hindu Deities are being carried out. This is a global conspiracy.

Mr Abhay Vartak (Sanatan Sansthas Dharma Pracharak) said, The Congress was trying to create a situation like that in 1984. Sikhism is not racist nor anti-national. The concept of Panchapyare was introduced by Guru Gobind Singh, who gave respect to other castes. However, the Congress created casteism for its own political interests. By claiming that Punjab Chief Minister Channi is a Dalit Sikh, the Congress has actually insulted Guru Gobind Singh. Till 2014, there was a road in New Delhi named after Aurangzeb who persecuted Sikhs and their Gurus. Congress did not change this name. In a way, the Congress has insulted the Sikhs
GOVERNMENT yesterday told the United States to back off after Washington said the March 26 by-elections were a test case of Harares commitment to implement sweeping reforms to guarantee free and fair polls.

There have been calls from the opposition, civic groups and independent election watchdogs to implement electoral reforms including recommendations from observer missions who monitored the 2018 elections.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised sweeping reforms when he assumed office in 2017, but critics say political will is lacking while the ruling Zanu PF party is also on record stating that it would not reform itself out of power.

But the United States embassy in Harare said it would start listing a number of requirements that benchmark the holding of free and fair elections to strengthen the integrity of the polls.

March by-elections and the 2023 harmonised elections give the government of Zimbabwe a chance to show that #ZimVotesMatter, especially if it honours its commitment to level the playing field by undertaking #ZimElectoralReform, the US tweeted on Monday.

This week, the US embassy in Harare will tweet several examples of what our government sees as the criteria for a free and fair election. Stated in the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) and also in Zimbabwes own Constitution, these values have remained constant.

The US imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2001 under Zidera, following allegations of gross human rights abuses, economic mismanagement and electoral theft.

Information deputy minister Kindness Paradza told NewsDay last night that the Zanu PF government did not take instructions from Washington, adding that electoral reforms were voluntary.

We dont get and act on instructions from Washington as a sovereign country. We are reforming on our own terms as an independent country. The reforms are voluntary and are not imposed on us, he said.

We are reforming media laws and we are 75% through. By March, we will be done with our media reforms, going by the parliamentary calendar. We will get guidance from Parliament so that we finish off the Bills that are on the table as stipulated by his Excellency, the President in his State of the Nation Address. This is, however, an ongoing process of reforming and we are doing it on our own without external interference.

In October, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen reiterated the need for government to fully implement 2018 election observer mission (EOM) recommendations in a meeting with the Foreign Affairs minister Frederick Shava.

In a preliminary statement after the disputed 2018 polls, the EU OEM noted electoral malpractices such as bias of State media in favour of Zanu PF, adding this meant that a truly level playing field was not achieved.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn), which has been tracking progress in the implementation of the EOM recommendations, recently expressed concern over the snail pace in implementing electoral reforms.

The US embassy also highlighted limited access to public broadcast media, making it difficult for opposition candidates to share their policy agendas with Zimbabwean voters.

#ZimElectoralReform would uphold the Electoral Act and level the playing field by ensuring public broadcast media gives nationwide, equal, non-partisan airtime for all candidates during the election period, it said.

Political analysts said Zimbabwe was sleep walking into a violent election, citing the chaos that characterised Zanu PFs provincial elections.

Political analyst Eldred Masungure said: The intensity of such politically-motivated electoral violence will most likely be calibrated to match the perceived existential threat posed by the opposition, specifically the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance. The greater the perceived threat, the bloodier the violence will likely be. In short, there will be a positive correlation between electoral violence and the seriousness of the oppositions threats to Zanu PF.

Another political analyst Vivid Gwede said the violence in the Zanu PF provincial elections last month was a cause of concern. This calls for the countrys leadership to be unequivocal about zero tolerance to the culture of political violence, he said.

Zanu PF secretary for external affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi recently said the ruling party would use the upcoming by-elections to gauge its support in urban areas, which for years has been strongholds of the opposition.

Zesn said a lot needed to be done to level the playing field ahead of the polls.

No changes were made to the legal framework that enhanced the electoral commission. If anything, some of the changes are potentially negative to the extent that they are viewed as concentrating power in the hands of the Executive, who are contestants for political power themselves, it said. Newsday


CHINESE mining company, Monaf Investments has given villagers in Muchesu ward 12, Binga, three months notice to vacate their ancestral land after it was granted a permit to extract coal in the area.

This is not the first group of Binga villagers to be ordered off their ancestral land to pave way for Chinese coal mining projects.

Last year, government flexed its muscles and ordered villagers in Dinde to relocate to allow for a similar project in their area after they had resisted.

Binga activist Mujopeni Mudimba confirmed the latest development yesterday.

Due to economic challenges, they only did the exploration process, where sample holes were drilled in 2010 and they went back. Now under President Emmerson Mnangagwas vision 2030, they were given the greenlight to carry on with their investment and they came last year in October and resumed the project. They started by drilling a four-square metre hole which measures almost 64 metres deep and this is called a shaft, he said.

Then the eviction starts here. There are 14 homesteads on top of the coal belt, but not under the same village head. Some are under Siamulamfu, others under Ncheme 1, some under Siabutale. The meeting was held last week on Thursday January 12, 2022 in the presence of the Monaf Investments, ZimParks [Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority], district development co-ordinator, council, the Presidents Office, EMA [Environmental Management Authority] and Ministry of Health representatives.

Mudimba said the main agenda was preparation for resettlement of those affected and they were given a three-month notice to leave the area.

All this will be done under Phase 1, but Phase 2 will be in two to five years time, we will see almost half of the ward being evicted, mostly Zuka village, and this village has two schools. The purpose is to build a power plant and other projects on the site, according to Monaf, he said.

Mudimba said villagers were not happy with the evictions although the company promised to create jobs for the youth in the area.

Each village head in the affected area has been given a period to go and look for a good resettlement site where houses will be built for the affected people, boreholes will be drilled and installed. This was a promise from the company. Good sanitation will be a task of the health sector, he said.

There are divisions among the villagers. Some wanted to resist the project, but since unemployment is a major economic challenge, almost half are in support of the project.

A villager from Muchesu said Monaf was just making empty promises so that they could leave the area.

We have seen a lot of people suffering as a result of these resettlements. It is impossible that this company will build houses for us or create jobs here. We are just going to suffer. Its hard to leave our land. Things are not being done according to our will. Government does what it desires with our land, said Simoni Mudenda.

Local councillor Mathias Mwinde confirmed the development, adding that they were holding a meeting to discuss the issue.

Some arrangements are being made to resettle villagers. We are expecting to hold a meeting and discuss the concerns of the villagers because they are not really happy about being moved, he said. Newsday
Lotte Hotel said Monday that it joined hands with Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation to buy the historic Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Chicago for US$36 million.

The U.S. hotel will become the first overseas branch of Lotte Hotel's upmarket L7 chain.
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra)s new manager at Beitbridge Border Post, Kenneth Mungati, has reportedly ordered the transfer of over 300 staff members from the border town after accusing them of corruption.

Mungati took over from Innocent Chikuni, who was transferred to Harare last year.

Sources told NewsDay that Mungati had refused to work with the staff at Beitbridge accusing them of being corrupt.

NewsDay gathered that the first batch of targeted officials left on December 31, 2021 for their new workstations.

Others are expected to have left by the end of next month with their replacements arriving in corresponding batches.

All the affected officers have been given letters of transfer and informed of their new destinations. The transfers were almost indiscriminate and some, who had just arrived at Beitbridge, had spent less than six months, an affected Zimra official told NewsDay.

The new manager refused to work with us because he alleged that we were corrupt. He was here recently as the assistant regional manager to Chikuni, said a disgruntled junior officer.

Ironically, most of the officers coming to replace those leaving Beitbridge were here and they also unceremoniously left in 2016 when Mungati allegedly refused to work with them because they were also corrupt.

Each officer leaving Beitbridge is entitled to slightly more than a months salary as disturbance allowance to cushion them during the relocation exercise.

The salaries for customs and excise officers range from $70 000 to $80 000.

This means that government has to fork out around $48 million to fund the transfers.

Zimra spokesperson Gladman Njanji said all transfers were above board.

The authority has been meeting its set target over the years due to the commitment and dedication of our staff, as well as an effective system of collecting revenue and facilitating trade and travel. The authority has the prerogative to make a business decision that may result in movement of staff anytime, he said, adding that the revenue collector conducted staff transfers each year whenever it sees it fit to do so.

Every year, the authority sets aside funds to meet the cost of the members of staff who will be transferring or rotating from one station to another in keeping up with the relevant policies, procedures, business decisions and as part of best practice of revenue administration.

Njanji said at no time were the transferred officers labelled corrupt, adding that the authority had procedures to eliminate corruption. Newsday
LUMA Hotel San Francisco is set to debut this winter in the rapidly-evolving Mission Bay community, adjacent to Oracle Park and Chase Center, within close proximity to UCSF Medical Center and major technology companies. The property is the first-ever hotel development in the area, setting the standard for Mission Bay's untapped potential for hospitality and serving as the inspiration behind timeless locales welcoming new traditions.

Designed by Hornberger + Worstell, LUMA Hotel San Francisco will showcase an innovative design which features a welcoming glass-enclosed community gathering space and podium wrapped with back-lit, laser-cut panels. These distinctive panels, emulating the crystalline structure of salt found historically in the salt ponds of Mission Bay, will be illuminated at night with a changing array of colors. Taking a cue from its name meaning bright light, LUMA will bridge style with efficiency across the hotel's public and guest spaces featuring large-scale art installations by San Francisco-based artists including Jim Campbell. Floor-to-ceiling windows in guest rooms and suites, outfitted with mechanized privacy shades, offer sweeping views of the surrounding city skyline and bay.

Upon completion, the hotel will also feature 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space for curated experiences, a spacious penthouse suite, state-of-the-art fitness center with FORME technology, and partnerships with San Francisco's community-driven craft cocktail and specialty coffee scene.

Neighborhood adjacent transportation enhancements are also set to roll out over the next year, offering convenient access from LUMA to some of the city's favorite hot spots, including Union Square and Chinatown, courtesy of San Francisco's Central Subway Project.

Hotel website
The lifestyle hotel is expected to resume operations on January 26, 2022.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the rebrand of Andaz Wall Street to Hyatt Centric Wall Street New York. The hotel, which is expected to resume operations and begin welcoming guests on January 26, 2022, will be managed by Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions (BSHS). Bringing a modern lifestyle hotel experience to Lower Manhattan, the hotel features a design that offers a vibrant, playful interpretation of the iconic city in which it resides. The property's guestrooms were modernized in 2019, and the lobby was recently enhanced to reflect the contemporary design of the Hyatt Centric brand. The hotel's ownership group, Navika Group of Companies, plans to invest approximately $5 million to further reimagine the property over the next several years.

Rebranding Andaz Wall Street to Hyatt Centric Wall Street New York was a strategic decision based on the hotel's location in the heart of the world's most exciting city, a key brand differentiator for the Hyatt Centric brand, which is known to embrace the locale and inspire exploration. The hotel is ideally situated at 75 Wall Street and offers a premier location for savvy travelers to discover the best that New York City has to offer with premium lifestyle accommodations in the heart of Wall Street.

Upon entering the lobby, guests will be introduced to a modern design aesthetic where large scale artwork from local artists captures the essence of downtown New York City while textured layers with pops of color will offer points of interest throughout the public spaces. The 253 guestrooms combine upscale, modern comfort with layers of tactile discovery and offer walk-in rain showers, hardwood floors and 12' foot ceilings with oversized windows. In addition, guestrooms will feature shareworthy art and styling elements that celebrate the character of the destination and signature brand amenities including a cozy, Hyatt Centric bathrobes, exclusive Beekind high-end, socially conscious bath amenities, and a Drybar hair dryer in each guestroom.

On January 26, the hotel will also celebrate the re-opening of the Wall & Water restaurant, an open-air eatery concept serving breakfast and dinner, which will be led by New York chef and food and beverage director Alan Ashkinaze. Hyatt Centric Wall Street New York will also provide a new dining experience that will serve as the social center of the hotel and a destination that will meet every guest's needs. The property also offers more than 10,000 square feet of meeting event space to accommodate groups of all sizes.

Hyatt Centric Wall Street New York will be led by veteran industry expert, David Cohen, who has been named as the hotel's general manager. Cohen joins the property team having led luxury properties such as the Five-Star Hotel Plaza Athenee, and The Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria and Four Seasons in New York.

Guided by its purpose of care, Hyatt's multi-layered Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment further enhances its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind. More information on Hyatt's commitment can be found here: hyatt.com/care-and-cleanliness.

The term "Hyatt" is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

Hotel website
The five-star Puente Romano Beach Resort and Nobu Hotel Marbella welcome Gonzalo Rodriguez Fernandez- Diez as General Manager. With over two decades of industry experience, Gonzalo brings with him an in-depth understanding of the hospitality industry and a proven track record in operations, pre-openings, quality of service and achieving top-line results.

In his new role, Gonzalo will be responsible for leading both Puente Romano and Nobu Hotel Marbella's strategic development and customer experience while overseeing all aspects of the resort.

Gonzalo joins from his most recent position as the pre-opening General Manager of Six Senses Ibiza - the first Six Senses Resort in Spain and one of the Mediterranean's most anticipated openings of 2021. Here, Gonzalo envisioned and implemented an out-of-the-ordinary guest journey and spearheaded the resort's exceptional guest experience.

His vast experience also includes key positions for a number of prestigious hospitality firms including Raffles, IHG and H Hospitality in Dubai, UAE where he was General Manager of The H Hotel Dubai - a multi-unit complex containing a five-star hotel, residences, offices, over 12 restaurants and clubs and a Mandara Spa. With a lively entrepreneurial spirit, a special passion for online reputation management and customer service excellence, Gonzalo's notable successes include positioning Raffles Dubai as 1 out of 600 Hotels in Dubai and he moved H Dubai from a 150 ranking to Top 10 within a year, based on online guests reviews and opinions
Deanna Oppenheimer is Non-Executive Chair of Hargreaves Lansdown plc and sits on the Board of Thomson Reuters Corporation. She previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Whitbread PLC and Chair of their Remuneration Committee. She has also been Senior Independent Director of Tesco PLC, where she chaired the Remuneration Committee and served on the Board of Tesco Bank. Prior to this, Deanna led and transformed the retail banking division at Barclays plc. Her extensive board and executive-level experience across high-profile consumer brands will bring valuable insights and perspectives to IHG.

Biography

Deanna Oppenheimer will succeed the role of Chair at IHG on 1 September 2022. She is currently serving as Non-Executive Chair of Hargreaves Lansdown plc, and is on the Board of Thomson Reuters Corporation. Between 2005 - 2011, Deanna worked at Barclays plc where she was Chief Operating Officer of the UK business before becoming CEO of UK and Western Europe Retail Banking and subsequently Vice Chair, Global Retail Banking. Prior to this, Deanna was the President of Consumer Banking at Washington Mutual, Inc.

She was formerly on the Boards of Tesco PLC (as Senior Independent Director), Tesco Bank, Whitbread PLC, Worldpay, Inc., AXA S.A., BrooksSports, Inc., Vettd, Inc., NCR Corporation, Catellus Development Corporation, UNICO Group, Inc, and Plum Creek Timber, Company Inc.

Deanna is founder of CameoWorks, LLC, an advisory firm to CEO's of early-stage technology companies, and BoardReady. She sits on the private boards of Seattle-based Joshua Green Corporation and Slalom, LLC. Formerly, she was a senior advisor to Bain & Company, Inc.

Her non-profit roles include sitting on the global governing board for PATH, one of the leading global health NGOs, as well as other educational and arts organisations in the Pacific Northwest.
Bangkok - Striding into the new year, Cross Hotels & Resorts, Asia-Pacific's leading creator of inspired hospitality solutions, is pleased to announce it has reached a major milestone with the launch of Cross Collection, a blend of stylish resorts and city hotels in first-tier tourist and business destinations. An amalgamation of unique properties throughout Asia Pacific, Cross Collection is a hospitality network for all.

The freshly inked deals mark the beginning of a new chapter for Cross Hotels & Resorts as it continues to add to its impressive portfolio of boutique properties with Havent Met Bangkok Silom and Itz Time Hua Hin Pool Villa. Havent Met Bangkok By Cross Collection is located in the central business district and offers 72 contemporary guest rooms, a rooftop swimming pool and access to the Skytrain via Chong NonSi BTS Station, which makes it a compelling choice for the new generation of travellers who seek excitement, convenience and value for money.

Meanwhile, Itz Time Hua Hin Pool Villa By Cross Collection is a stunning residential-style resort in the coastal town of Hua Hin that features 16 three-bedroom Pool Villas ranging in size from 279440sqm, making them the perfect choice for private weekday staycations or weekend family getaways. Appealing to Cross Hotels & Resorts aficionados of young, independent travellers and ideal for corporate events, the resort offers the ultimate escape in exceptionally appointed villas.

Commenting on the thrilling developments, Harry Thaliwal, CEO of Cross Hotels & Resorts, said: Cross Collection is our white-label branding solution for independent hotels and Im proud to welcome Sincere Capital Land Co., Ltd to our family. Its our entrepreneurial approach that allows us to push traditional hospitality boundaries and offer partners very workable solutions that elevate their businesses to a higher level. We give owners the opportunity to belong to a strong, international brand with a global distribution network thats continually growing. Im confident the future is going to be a bright one for our partners, so watch this space!

Building on Cross Hotels & Resorts Uniquely Yours approach, the new properties share the same corporate vision of providing guests with unforgettable experiences through their passion for hospitality. This hunger to go the extra mile is fundamental to the success of Cross Hotels & Resorts as the company is relentlessly committed to excellence.

We have complete trust and confidence in Cross Hotels & Resorts, in its brands and in the global distribution, which is backed by Flight Centre Travel Group. We are honoured to become part of Cross Collection as we have our own story to tell and we want to bring it to life. With Cross Collection we can be us, said Chayaphon Hunrungroj, Owner of Sincere Capital Land Co., Ltd.

Cross Hotels & Resorts current portfolio includes more than 23 hotels under five distinct brands  Cross, Cross Vibe, Away, Lumen and Cross Collection  across Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan.

For more information on Cross Hotels & Resorts or Cross Collection, go to https://crosshotelsandresorts.com.

About Cross Hotels & Resorts

Cross Hotels & Resorts is an international hotel management company wholly owned by the ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). FCTG is one of the world's largest and progressive travel companies, incorporating diverse worldwide distribution, in destination travel experiences such as transport and touring as well as hotel management solutions. Cross Hotels & Resorts also delivers owner services all the way from the very early sourcing and planning stages of a development, through technical services during build, to pre-opening services and finally professional ongoing hotel management. For more detailed information, visit crosshotelsandresorts.com.

Sumolthip Puyngoen

Marketing Communications Executive

+66 2168 7533 ext. 201

Cross Hotels & Resorts
Key Takeaways

Airbnb is looking for an adventurer with a passion for hospitality to live rent-free and host from a restored Sicilian home for one year.

The project aims to boost tourism and bring new temporary residents to the Italian village of Sambuca as part of a wider commitment to support rural communities and cultural heritage in Europe.

Airbnb is on the search for the ideal candidate to live rent-free for a year and host from a decayed-turned-designer Italian heritage home. With a newfound flexibility to live and work remotely, one person will be given the opportunity to relocate to Sicily with their family, partner, or friend and move into this uniquely restored house.

The picturesque three-story traditional home is located in Sambuca which was made famous thanks to its recent 1 Euro House campaign. Like many Italian villages, Sambuca is suffering from a declining population so it launched the 1 Euro House campaign in 2019 to promote cultural heritage, encourage international investment and appeal to a younger demographic to restore the charm of the once bustling village.

The beauty of this campaign is that it gives a second chance not just to an abandoned heritage home in the heart of our village  its also a second chance to the person who moves into it. We see it as a designer makeover for the house and the Host. Were looking for someone who wants to live with the local population and participate in all the important moments of the community, from the grape harvest to olive picking and we cant wait to welcome whoever gets selected! - Leonardo Ciaccio, Mayor of Sambuca di Sicilia.

Ideal candidates should be committed to hosting and contributing to village life. Their Sambuca residence will take place over a one year period beginning June 30th, with the successful applicant retaining all earnings from hosting on Airbnb.

The new living room Photo by Airbnb

The exterior Photo by Airbnb

The new kitchen Photo by Airbnb

One of the rooms before restoration Photo by Airbnb

The house

What is truly special about this 1 Euro House is that it has been given a total designer makeover. Airbnb worked with the Italian architectural firm Studio Didea to transform the home using materials and colors in harmony with the local landscape. Blending contemporary design with hand-made and local artisanal elements, the structure is typical of Sicilys charming architecture.

The spacious building spans three floors, with plenty of room to work remotely and host on Airbnb.

The ground floor comprises a small living room, master bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite bathroom.

The first floor includes a living room, kitchen, working space, bathroom and mezzanine bedroom with a king-size bed.

The upper floor includes an additional living space with a queen-size sofa bed.

The successful applicant gets first dibs on the bedroom that best suits their needs with the second bedroom to be listed on Airbnb.

The location

Sambuca is a small rural village of about 6,000 inhabitants in Sicily, characterized by a unique blend of Italian and North African cultures and architectural styles. Thanks to the 1 Euro House campaign, the successful applicant will join a growing international community of millennials moving from bigger cities to rural villages in pursuit of a slower pace of life.

Sambuca from above Photo by Airbnb

The grape harvest Photo by Airbnb

A typical village scene Photo by Airbnb

The successful applicant will join a growing international community Photo by Airbnb

How it works

To apply, visit airbnb.com/1eurohouse and complete the application form. Before applying, carefully read the Selection Terms available on the website.

Candidates must be over 18, available to move to Sambuca for at least 3 consecutive months starting from June 30th, 2022, and be able to speak conversational English (Italian a plus!). The selected participant will be given the opportunity to take part in a mentorship program: learning Italian and attending Italian cooking classes. Candidates will need to demonstrate a commitment to hosting one room in the house for a minimum of 9 months.

The successful participant may bring their partner, friend or family (maximum of two adults and two children in total). The successful participant will live rent-free and will retain all Airbnb Host earnings over the course of their residence.

Sambuca is characterized by a unique blend of Italian and North African cultures and architectural styles. Photo by Airbnb

Airbnbs commitment to heritage in Italy

This opportunity in Sambuca, Sicily highlights the potential economic benefits for rural communities as a result of changing travel trends on Airbnb driven by the pandemic. In Q3 2019 just four Italian cities accounted for over 26% of all travel: Rome, Venice, Milan, and Florence. In Q3 2021, however, those same four cities accounted for under 17% of travel and one of the top visited areas in Italy was Sicily.* Airbnb aims to support this demand by working with villages like Sambuca to help restore them to their former glory.

Airbnb has previously supported similar heritage efforts with small villages, such as the restoration of an artists house in Civita, the Italian Sabbatical to support the revitalization of the village of Grottole and the Italian Villages Project to showcase off-the-beaten-track destinations and sustainable tourism.

Airbnb encourages safe and responsible travel. Local and international travel requirements, as well as health guidelines, continue to change quickly. The selected participant and their guests will be required to follow COVID-19 rules applicable at the national and local level.

Read more about: live anywhere

* Report by Oxford Economics, November 2021. You can access the full report here.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc."s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org"s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

Airbnb Press

Airbnb Press Office

Airbnb

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InterContinental Hotels Group ("IHG") [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] today announces:

The retirement of Non-Executive Chair Patrick Cescau from the IHG Board, effective 31 August 2022

The appointment of Deanna Oppenheimer as Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate, effective 1 June 2022, to succeed Patrick Cescau as Non-Executive Chair from 1 September 2022 upon his retirement

Patrick Cescau has been IHGs Non-Executive Chair since 2013. During his tenure, Patrick has overseen IHGs growth with a deep commitment to strong governance and responsible business practices. He has placed high importance on engagement with all stakeholders and leading a Board composed of a rich mix of backgrounds and experiences.

Patrick Cescau, Non-Executive Chair, IHG, commented: I feel honoured to have overseen the growth of IHG over the past nine years and take great pride in the Boards leadership through the pandemic, where we have prioritised doing the right thing by all of our stakeholders. I am confident that I leave IHG in a strong position for growth. The strength of this Board, to be led by Deanna, reflects the range of talent, skills and experience that is integral to the companys culture and future success.

Deanna Oppenheimer is Non-Executive Chair of Hargreaves Lansdown plc and sits on the Board of Thomson Reuters Corporation. She previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Whitbread PLC and Chair of their Remuneration Committee. She has also been Senior Independent Director of Tesco PLC, where she chaired the Remuneration Committee and served on the Board of Tesco Bank. Prior to this, Deanna led and transformed the retail banking division at Barclays plc. Her extensive board and executive-level experience across high-profile consumer brands will bring valuable insights and perspectives to IHG.

Deanna Oppenheimer commented: "I am delighted to be joining the IHG Board and to have the opportunity to work with Keith and his Executive Committee to ensure that IHGs strategic priorities and responsible business goals continue to be delivered successfully. Patrick leaves behind a strong legacy and I look forward to working closely with my new Board colleagues to guide IHGs next phase of growth.

Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, IHG, commented: I would like to thank Patrick for his counsel and support during his tenure as Chair. His dedication and stewardship has left the company in a strong position for high-quality future growth and I am certain the wealth of experience Deanna will bring to the IHG Board will make her an excellent successor.

Deannas appointment follows a thorough and independent recruitment process supported by an external executive search firm. She will join the Nomination Committee of the IHG Board upon her appointment as Non-Executive Director from 1 June 2022 and will subsequently Chair the Nomination Committee upon assuming the role of Non-Executive Chair from 1 September 2022.

Pursuant to LR 9.6.13R, Deanna is currently the Chair of Hargreaves Lansdown plc and a Non-Executive Director of Thomson Reuters Corporation. She was previously a Non-Executive Director of Tesco PLC, Whitbread PLC, AXA S.A. and WorldPay, Inc.

Biographies

Patrick Cescau

Patrick Cescau has served as Non-Executive Chair on IHGs Board since 2013, and is Chair of the Nomination Committee. From 2005 to 2008, Patrick was Group Chief Executive of Unilever Group, having previously been Chairman of Unilever PLC, Vice-Chairman of Unilever NV and Foods Director, following a progressive career with the company, which began in France in 1973. Prior to being appointed to the board of Unilever PLC and Unilever NV in 1999, as Finance Director, he was Chairman of a number of the companys major operating companies and divisions, including in the US, Indonesia and Portugal.

He was formerly a Senior Independent Director and Non-Executive Director of Pearson plc and Tesco PLC, a Director at INSEAD, and Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A.

Patrick is currently a Patron of the St Jude India Childrens Charity and Member of the Temasek European Advisory Panel.

Deanna Oppenheimer

Deanna Oppenheimer will succeed the role of Chair at IHG on 1 September 2022. She is currently serving as Non-Executive Chair of Hargreaves Lansdown plc, and is on the Board of Thomson Reuters Corporation. Between 2005  2011, Deanna worked at Barclays plc where she was Chief Operating Officer of the UK business before becoming CEO of UK and Western Europe Retail Banking and subsequently Vice Chair, Global Retail Banking. Prior to this, Deanna was the President of Consumer Banking at Washington Mutual, Inc.

She was formerly on the Boards of Tesco PLC (as Senior Independent Director), Tesco Bank, Whitbread PLC, Worldpay, Inc., AXA S.A., BrooksSports, Inc., Vettd, Inc., NCR Corporation, Catellus Development Corporation, UNICO Group, Inc, and Plum Creek Timber, Company Inc.

Deanna is founder of CameoWorks, LLC, an advisory firm to CEOs of early-stage technology companies, and BoardReady. She sits on the private boards of Seattle-based Joshua Green Corporation and Slalom, LLC. Formerly, she was a senior advisor to Bain & Company, Inc.

Her non-profit roles include sitting on the global governing board for PATH, one of the leading global health NGOs, as well as other educational and arts organisations in the Pacific Northwest.

About IHG

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Mark Debenham

+44(0) 1895 512 097

IHG
In the case of one hotel, the customer isnt always right, as a resort in Thailand is taking legal action against a guest who left a negative review on a travel booking website.

On Dec. 19, a guest named Khing expressed dissatisfaction with her deluxe room at the Ozone Hotel located near Khao Yai National Park. Given its close proximity to the capital Bangkok, travellers regularly frequent the mountain park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was also a filming location for Leonardo DiCaprios movie The Beach.

In her Agoda review, which scored the hotel 6/10 but has since been removed, Khing described the resort as being too expensive and falling short of expectations.

Read the full article at vice.com
Almost three years ago, the health care provider VillageMD and drug store chain Walgreens piloted a program in Houston to combine primary care clinics and pharmacies under one roof. Now, that effort is being replicated across the country.

The idea was to make primary care more accessible by bringing it into neighborhoods, especially underserved urban and rural communities. More than 75 percent of Americans live within five miles of a Walgreens, according to the company

There are a lot of health care deserts in (Houston) and other cities like it, said Dr. Clive Fields, co-founder and chief medical Officer of VillageMD said. People just dont have access to health care, for many reasons. Sometimes its a lack of access to transportation or providers arent participating in the type of insurance the patient is.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas ranks among worst in the nation for racial health disparities

The program began with just five clinic and pharmacy locations in Houston. Now VillageMD clinics operate 25 Walgreens locations in Houston, and 41 across Texas.

The companies are continuing to expand the national footprint of these pharmacy-clinic combos with 82 in seven markets. The goal is to open up to 1,000 in about 40 markets over the next three to four years, Fields said.

Walgreens, headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., invested $1 billion expand their stores to host VillageMD clinics in the summer of 2020. In November, the pharmacy chain invested another $5.2 billion to accelerate the expansion of the clinics.

The investment increases Walgreens ownership stake in VillageMD to 63 percent from 30 percent. VillageMD remains a standalone company, with its own board and management.

VillageMD brought in $26 million in sales since it was acquired in November of last year, according to Walgreens regulatory filings. During an earnings call in early January, Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer said ventures such as the VillageMD partnership are improving the companys performance.

I am particularly excited about the progress were making in building out Walgreens Health, Brewer told analysts. Our majority investments in VillageMD and Shields closed during the quarter, and were rolling out VillageMD primary care co-locations and Walgreens Health Corners at pace.

Through the partnership, Walgreens said, it is the first national pharmacy chain to offer full-service primary care practices with primary care physicians and pharmacists co-located at this scale.

Michael Wyke / Contributor

Not urgent care

Although the two operations are under the same roof, Fields said, its not like an urgent care center or a CVS minute clinic, which is a walk-in clinic that treats patients on a first-come, first-serve basis.

When someone comes to a clinic at a Walgreens, next to the door to the the retail location is a separate entrance to the clinics waiting room. Most clinics have about eight exam rooms, with devices to monitor heart rate, blood pressure and other vital signs.

The clinics provide the services of any primary care physician, from physicals to chronic disease management. Each site has about five clinicians  usually two doctors and three physicians assistants.

Bringing these resources closer to where people live will ultimately keep health care costs down, and lead to better outcomes for the patients, especially those who have chronic illnesses such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease  all which are less costly to treat with early intervention, Fields said.

Patients who use the clinics have experienced a 30 percent reduction in their use of emergency room hospital beds, and a 30 percent reduction in the total cost of care, according to VillageMD.

Michael Wyke / Contributor

On HoustonChronicle.com: Insight: Health care moves toward value-based care at sluggish pace

Ken Janda, a former health insurance executive who heads Wild Blue Health Solutions, a consulting firm, said the retail pharmacy-clinic combo model has potential, but he remains skeptical that it will drive down the cost of care.

There is a great potential for these models to work, Janda said. But I have a concern that it could look like the reason that there is a primary care physician in this space is to capture additional prescription volume and other products sold in a retail pharmacy.

VillageMD takes most commercial insurance plans, Medicare Advantage plans and Affordable Care Act plans. There is also a discounted fee schedule for patients without insurance. The provider does not participate in Medicaid in the Houston market, but Fields says they plan to in the future.

becca.carballo@chron.com
Beth Ford | Beth Ford has worked for Land O Lakes since 2011 and was the first woman in the company to be appointed chief executive officer in 2018. Coming from humble beginnings, Ford was one of eight children born to working-class parents, and the executive once worked as a janitor to help pay for college. When Ford became CEO, not only was she one of only 25 women to run a Fortune 500 company, but Ford was also openly gay. She and her wife, Jill Schurtz, who is the CEO of the St. Pauls Teachers Retirement Fund, have three children. Ford has gone on record saying that she has never been discriminated against in the workplace for her sexuality or gender, though she did tell CNN, I had made deliberate decisions for some places where I felt as though it may not be as friendly. I said, The job looks great. Youre a wonderful leader. I cant be here because I dont think this will be great. My spouse is a woman, and I have a daughter. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)
A new, low-fare airline is expanding in Houston.

Frontier Airlines announced Tuesday that it has added William P. Hobby Airport to its route map, including three nonstop routes to Las Vegas and Orlando, four times a week.

The airline, which already flies to a handful of domestic destinations out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, also expects to add Cancun to its destinations out of Hobby, pending approval from federal regulators.

As part of the announcement, the company is offering tickets to the three new destinations for as low as $39. That sale ends Monday.

Hobby Airport officials praised the addition in a statement Tuesday.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A steep hill ahead for nonprofits as hiring slows, omicron increases service demands

Having Frontier Airlines at Hobby Airport provides tremendous value for our community and the traveling public, said Molly Waits, chief marketing, air service development and communications officer for Houston Airports.

Its the latest bit of good news for Hobby, the citys second-largest airport.

Earlier this month, Hobby was given a five-star rating by the international air transport agency Skytrax  making it the first airport in North America to receive the agencys highest rating.

Like its counterpart, Hobby had previously been rated four stars, but was upgraded to reflect a bevy of improvements made at the airport in recent years, including changes to nursing or family facilities and additions of animal relief service areas.

Skytrax also named Bush Airport the nations best and cleanest last year, and gave Hobby its most improved award.

robert.downen@chron.com
OnScene TV

A man was fatally shot early Tuesday at an apartment complex near Missouri City, according to Houston Police.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, was shot about 1:05 a.m. at the Willow Park apartment complex in the 14000 block of Fondren Road. He was shot several times, Lt. Pavel of Houston Police said.
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A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of a teen he previously dated and who was fatally shot while walking her familys dog, according to court records.

Police arrested Frank DeLeon Jr. at his home Monday night in the death of Madison High School student Diamond Alvarez. Family members found the girls bullet-riddled body Jan. 11 along Park Manor Street near her southwest Houston home after the dog, Peanut, returned without her  and still wearing its leash.

Alvarezs sister, Ashley Machado, said Peanut had blood on her harness.

More from Nicole Hensley: Synagogue hostage case has strong ties to Houston  where Aafia Siddiqui once lived

Police believe DeLeon had been dating Alvarez for several months while in a long-term relationship with another person, according to court records. Alvarez found out about the relationship and decided to meet him at the Park Manor community park, police said. She brought the dog and he shot her nearly two dozen times.

Police found evidence he was attempting to pack his bags to flee the jurisdiction, court records show. Authorities found a suitcase on his bed with clothes. He lives less than a half-mile from where Alvarez was killed.

HPD expresses its heartfelt condolences to Ms. Alvarezs family and looks forward to following this case through the courts as we seek justice on her behalf, police officials said in a statement.

Prosecutors have asked that DeLeon be held on a $250,000 bond. He is slated to appear before a Harris County magistrate later on Tuesday.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Police video shows exchange of gunfire with Houston officers in east Houston neighborhood

Neighbors on Park Manor heard several rounds of gunfire during the shooting and at least one person reported seeing a dark vehicle flee the shooting site, police said.

DeLeon has no prior criminal history in Harris County, records show.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Harris County sheriff's deputies late Monday shot and killed a man suspected in a fatal weekend robbery attempt that left a 59-year-old Cracker Barrel manager dead, authorities said.

Deputies shot the man while attempting to detain him as a person of interest in Saturday mornings Cracker Barrel shooting that killed Robin Baucom, said Assistant Chief Mike Lee of the Harris County sheriff's office.

The man, whose name was not released, was shot multiple times as he ran away from deputies on a street near Atascocita High School in northeast Houston, Lee said. The 28-year-old was taken in critical condition to Kingwood Hospital, where he was pronounced dead Monday around 7 p.m.

Two undercover deputies were involved in the shooting, Lee said. They had been tracking the man since early Monday in connection with the deadly restaurant shooting. The man had two unrelated open felony warrants, including one for aggrevated assault, officials told reporters at a briefing Monday night.

The (deputies) got out of their vehicles to approach (the man) by foot, called him by name, Lee said. He began running from them, and as they were chasing him, he made some gestures as if pointing a weapon at them. At that time our deputies opened fire.

Investigators had not found a gun or any weapons at the scene of the shooting as of Monday night, Sgt. Dennis Wolford told reporters.

The deputies believed him to be armed and dangerous, Wolford said. It appeared he had a weapon and was pointing it at the deputies.

The undercover deputies have been put on administrative duty during an investigation into the shooting.

The sheriffs office will not identify the man until his next of kin have been notified, Wolford said.

Baucom, a longtime Cracker Barrel manager, died early Saturday following what officials said was an attempted robbery as she prepared to open the store on the 14700 block of North Freeway.

An employee had been ringing a bell to be let inside the store when a man in a gray vehicle pulled up and approached the employee, according to sheriffs investigators. The man tried to grab the employees purse before opening fire, shooting Baucom in the chest as she opened the door for the employee.

Paramedics transported Baucom to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.

nora.mishanec@chron.com
The federal government is clawing back rent relief funds from city, county and state programs that have been slow to disburse the aid to renters.

Six of the 14 programs that have already been forced to return money are in Texas  a sign of how the main Congressional measure passed to support renters and landlords impacted financially by the pandemic has in many cases failed to connect billions of dollars in aid nationwide with those who need it.

This is an all-hands-on-deck situation, said Erin Hahn, a research analyst for the nonprofit housing advocated Texas Housers. Since the statewide rent relief fund has closed, Texas renters and landlords impacted financially by the pandemic are dependent on the aid being distributed by local programs.

So far the amounts being returned are fairly small  the cities and counties in Texas all forfeited less than $1 million. Hays County, which includes San Marcos, forfeited $773,000 (11 percent of its first round of Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds), and Laredo forfeited $587,000 (7 percent). But those amounts could increase in further rounds of clawbacks unless they step up their spending.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston-Harris County rent relief gets a lifeline with $13 million in additional funding

Closer to Houston, Jefferson County lost $315,000 (4 percent) and Brazoria county lost $121,000 (1 percent). Nueces County, which includes Corpus Christi, and El Paso County also lost portions of their funding. In addition to the six Emergency Rental Assistance Programs in Texas that involuntarily relinquished funding, Montgomery County voluntarily returned $7.1 million, or roughly 40 percent, of its first round of Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has begun reallocating Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds from local governments that have been slow to disburse rent relief to those that have distributed theirs more quickly. It announced the first round of reallocated funds earlier this month.

In that round, Houston and Harris County  among the fastest in the nation to establish rent relief programs and distribute funds  received $14.5 million, roughly $13 million of which will be available for renters after administrative costs are taken into account.

The money will come at a time when the joint Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program was drawing low on funds. As of Tuesday, the program had $7.6 million left of its $283 million in rent relief to distribute. Roughly half of that was reserved for tenants at the greatest risk of losing their homes  those who are already in eviction courts. The other half, which consisted of refunds from landlords who had received too much funding, was being used to process tenants and landlords who had already submitted rent relief applications but were not yet in eviction court, according to a Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program spokesperson. Its unclear how the additional $13 million would be allocated between those two buckets of applications.

The Treasury will continue reallocating funds in the coming months. The current round of reallocations was based on whether local programs had spent at least 30 percent of their first round of funds by the end of September  if they had not, the difference between their spending and the 30 percent threshold would be considered excess funds.

The next round will look at whether local programs distributed at least 40 percent of their first round of funds by the end of November. That data came out Jan. 7, showing that 14 rent relief programs across the state had failed to meet that threshold, including Montgomery, Brazoria and Jefferson counties.

Montgomery and Jefferson counties did not respond to requests for comment, but in Brazoria County, the program is racing to ramp up after starting from scratch, a process that included hiring staff and contracting with a software provider. It launched June 14, and made its first disbursement June 24. The number of households it has helped has grown steadily since, from two in June to 98 in September. Kaysie Stewart, who oversees Brazoria County's program, said in an email that as of Tuesday, the program had distributed $4.2 million, or roughly 40 percent of its available allocation to 591 households.

The Treasury expects that local programs will have distributed at least 50 percent of their first round of funds by the end of January and all of it by the end of March.

This story has been updated to include a comment from Brazoria County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

rebecca.schuetz@chron.com;

twitter.com/raschuetz
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Nearly four years after Democrats won many Fort Bend County elections in a so-called blue wave, the Republican Party is vying to regain control of the countys top leadership role.

County Judge KP George is seeking a second term, he said, to build on his administrations progress in such areas as economic development, the pandemic, public safety and emergency management.

George made history in 2019 when he became the first person of color to lead a county long celebrated for its ethnic and racial diversity.

I wont take that lightly, he said. From Day 1, I took it and ran with it.

Meanwhile, Republican Trever Nehls, an Army veteran and former constable who unsuccessfully ran for county sheriff, has launched a bid to unseat the Democrat, citing a lack of true leadership and hyper partisanship.

KP George is focused more on following Harris County than leading Fort Bend, Nehls said in an email. Fort Bend County is not Harris County.

First, both men must get past opponents in the Republican and Democratic primaries on March 1.

Despite victories for Democrats in recent years in Fort Bend, the county judges seat is in reach for Republicans this year because of the declining approval rate for President Joe Biden, said Mark Jones, a political scientist with Rice University.

I think itll be more competitive than we would have thought, say, two years ago, Jones said. While its trending Democratic, it isnt locked down for the Democratic party.

Republicans may view this years election as one of few remaining chances to regain control of the county and win back support from moderates or swing voters, Jones said.

It doesnt take a lot to flip things, Jones said.

Democrats

Ahead of the general election in November, George faces a challenge in the March 1 Democratic primary from Ferrel Bonner, a 55-year-old retired veteran with experience working in government, security and emergency management roles.

If elected, Bonner would be Fort Bends first Black county judge.

His priorities include developing flood mitigation plans, expanding access to health care, protecting residents and their homes, and investing in education and economic development, according to his campaign. His message is one of unity.

This is my home and I am proud to have raised my family here, Bonner said in a statement provided to the Chronicle. But even with all the wonderful things our county has to offer, I have seen people working their hardest just to be able to barely scrape by. As a servant leader I can no longer let this happen.

Bonner last year filed no campaign finance reports, which are not required for candidates who do not exceed $930 in contributions or expenditures for the reporting period.

Financial reports for the second half of last year are due next week.

Meanwhile, Georges campaign finance report shows he raised more than $100,000 in the first half of 2021, and had more than $230,000 cash on hand last July.

George has spent much of his tenure as county judge in the pandemic, rolling out testing, vaccinations and mask mandates. Fort Bend is among the most-vaccinated counties in Texas. Some of Georges efforts to curtail the spread of coronavirus  including business closures and community outreach for vaccinations  spurred backlash and racist hostility against the judge as comments like KP George is NOT an American!!! flooded his social media posts.

We took COVID-19 very seriously, George said. We decided we are going to listen to science, data and experts.

The greatest challenge of running the county is its rapid growth, George said. If re-elected, the judge said he plans to focus on public safety, fighting the pandemic, recruiting new businesses and jobs, flood mitigation and infrastructure.

George also touted the hiring of more law enforcement officers and prosecutors on his watch, as well as a drainage bond to fight flooding, a text emergency notification program, an emergency management building slated to open this spring, and support programs to assist people with rent or small businesses during the pandemic.

Additionally, he said he has made an effort to make county government more transparent and engage with young people and residents from minority and immigrant communities.

For them, it is about grabbing that power back, he said of the GOP. For KP George and our team, its about a purpose.

Republicans

Nehls, now president of a local biotechnology company, was defeated in the 2020 race for county sheriff by Democrat Eric Fagan.

He ran for the position after it was vacated by his twin brother, Troy Nehls, who now represents the 22nd District of Texas in Congress.

Nehls is running against Ibifrisolam Max-Alalibo, a Stafford resident who works in the health care industry, in the Republican primary, according to the Texas Secretary of State.

Max-Alalibo did not respond to a request for comment.

Nehls, who announced his candidacy in August, raised no money for the race before then but reported $2,300 in his campaign account last July.

Nehls said his experience in military leadership, local law enforcement and business give him the insight and skills to tackle public safety issues, understand the challenges of the small business community and address needs such as flood mitigation and transportation.

If elected, his priorities include developing infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing county; giving resources and support to law enforcement agencies; and putting aside partisan politics to bring the court back together.

Nehls also said he would use his relationship with his brother in Congress and bring together local leaders to work on flood control projects, including deepening the Barker Reservoir and addressing erosion on the Brazos River.

We are no better positioned today for the next Harvey than we were in 2017, and that is absolutely inexcusable, he said.

Nehls criticized George for redrawing the precinct boundaries to favor Democrats and said the judge usurped local control and exceeded his authority by implementing pandemic-related business closures.

The countys commissioners for precincts 2 and 4 also are up for re-election this year. Grady Prestage, a Democrat representing Precinct 2, is challenged in the primary election by Geneane R. Hughes and Larry Blackmon. Ken DeMerchant of Precinct 4 will run against three Democratic challengers: Travis Lemos, Dexter L. McCoy and Neeta Sane.

The last day to register to vote in the March 1 primary is Jan. 31, according to Fort Bend County Elections. Early voting is Feb. 14-25.

anna.bauman@chron.com
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When Mayor Sylvester Turner last month announced plans to honor Jose Joe Campos Torres by renaming a downtown plaza and establishing a memorial at the spot where he was killed by Houston police officers, his mother summed up her feelings in one word.

Finally, said 87-year-old Margaret Campos Torres, who has said little publicly in the decades since her son was brutally beaten and dumped in Buffalo Bayou by Houston police in 1977. She spoke recently with the Houston Chronicle, in what she and her family said was her first interview with a media outlet on his death.

Margarita, as she is called, still has the stoic manner and fortitude captured by cameras as she advocated for justice after her sons body was found floating in Buffalo Bayou.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston's 1979 Chicano Squad solved so many murder cases, it changed HPD forever

He was so young, she said of her son, a Vietnam War veteran who was 23 when he died.

In the first couple of years after her sons killing, she made brief speeches in public places and at Guadalupe Church in the East End demanding justice. Then she crashed, depressed from the loss of her son in such a brutal and senseless way, she said, and frustrated by a justice system that didnt deliver. Silence about the topic has been her way to cope with the pain for four decades, her family said.

His case is an example of the worst police brutality and the failure of prosecutors and juries to act upon it, wrote Lupe Salinas, a retired judge and law professor from Houston, in a Michigan State Law Review article.

The 2020 killing of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police brought renewed demands for police reform nationwide. It also led to a push for more accountability in the Torres case. Last spring, Turner and Houston Police Chief Troy Finner issued a formal apology to the family, with Finner describing Torres drowning death as straight-up murder.

His mother and other members of their family, which is of Mexican descent, decided now was the time to talk more about Joe, the tragedy and the need for change.

I wish there is no more (police) brutality, no more having a person beaten up or killed for nothing, Margarita said.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Killed for nothing

On the night of May 5, 1977, Torres went out drinking at Club 21, a neighborhood bar on Canal and North Burr streets, not far from where he was staying at the time with his paternal grandmother in a poor East End barrio.

Torres was involved in a quarrel with two customers  and then a scuffle with the bar manager. Six police officers arrived and Torres was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Instead of taking Torres to jail, the officers took him to a spot known as The Hole, a platform hidden below street level on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou behind a parking lot near Commerce and Austin streets, according to information from court cases and documentaries. All of the officers except for a rookie, 20-year-old Carless Elliott, who would later serve as a witness for the prosecution, took turns brutally beating the handcuffed veteran, who was wearing Army fatigue pants and combat boots.

FROM THE ARCHIVE: Early articles on the pivotal Joe Campos Torres case

Officers Stephen Orlando and Elliot then took Torres to the city jail around 1:15 a.m. on May 6. But he was so severely injured that the sergeant on duty refused to book him and told the officers to take him to Ben Taub Hospital for treatment.

Torres never made it to the hospital. Instead, Orlando arranged a regrouping at The Hole.

Lets see if the wetback can swim, Officer Terry Denson reportedly said, before pushing Torres off the platform and into the bayous swirling waters 20 feet below. His dead body was found floating in the bayou three days later, on May 8.

It was Mothers Day.

Orie Collins, HC staff / Houston Chronicle

The veterans brutal killing and subsequent court trials were covered nationally, drawing attention to racism and brutality within the police department. Denson and Orlando were each convicted in state court of negligent homicide and received probation of one year and a $1 fine.

The Justice Department then brought civil rights charges against Denson, Orlando and a third officer, Joseph Janish. They were each convicted and sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ross Sterling to a year and a day in prison for civil rights violations.

Torres case led to civil rights protests in Houston that eventually sparked reform inside the police department.

Simmering anger within the Latino community boiled over during a riot in Moody Park in 1978 after police were called to respond to a disturbance. Dozens of people were arrested and 15 injured.

To the officers, Torres was no more than an unruly Mexican who needed to be taught respect, wrote Dwight Watson, an associate professor emeritus at Texas State University, in his book Race and the Houston Police Department, 1930-1990: A change did come.

The Torres case, he added, is the ultimate symbol of police racism, injustice and brutality that led to major changes, wrote Watson.

Blair Pittman, HC staff / Houston Chronicle

Mothers Day

Margarita and family members said their nightmare began on the morning of Thursday, May 5, 1977, when they realized that Jose hadnt come home.

They called each other, relatives and friends, but no one had any idea of his whereabouts. It was out of character for Torres to stay out all night without calling or letting his grandma know.

By Friday, when Torres didnt show up for work at a shop where he was a glass laborer, the family knew something was wrong. Worries turned into fear. They called police and reported him missing.

On HoustonChronicle.com: HPD Chief Finner apologizes to family of Joe Campos Torres for 1977 police killing, pledges monument to Vietnam War vet

By that Sunday, Mothers Day, Margarita wasnt feeling up for a celebration. But she agreed to go to the movies with her husband, Jose Luna Torres, and some of their kids. Their second child, Phillip, and a third, Gilbert, were deployed at the time with the Navy and Marines, respectively.

They were at a neighborhood movie theater watching Jaws, a 1975 film that was back in theaters, when they spotted an uncle looking for them in the darkness.

The uncle told the father to come outside to the parking lot, and the family followed. Margarita could not bring herself to talk about it, but the memory of what happened is still vivid in the mind of daughter Janie, who was 10, even though she said she didnt fully comprehended the context of the events at the time.

As the uncle explained what had happened, Jose Luna became emotional.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

I saw my dad screaming, Damn! Damn! Damn! as he slammed his hand with each word on the car, said Janie, seeking to capture her fathers agony by slapping her left hand. She paused and wiped away a tear.

Janie said she and her sisters clung to Margarita.

Ay, mama! They took our boy! They took our boy, Janie heard her father saying. I can just hear my mom screaming and then falling and hes trying to hold my mom up. And shes screaming and kept falling. And I remember shaking.

Back at home, the family prayed and put a green liquid that smelled like alcohol on Margarita.

Everyone was desperate trying to calm my mother  my grandma burning sage in the gas, burning incense, I remember the smell, she said, crying. My gramma trying so hard to find something healing for everyone.

Healing and justice have been elusive for the Torres family.

TORRES FAMILY: 'We can't stop here': Houston activists push for more accountability in wake of Floyd verdict

Margarita has largely avoided the topic over the years. Janie stepped in with her son Richard Molina, advocating for justice and keeping the memory of Torres alive by organizing the annual Joe Campos Torres Solidarity Walk for Past and Future Generations in Houston on the anniversaries of his death.

Family members have been pushing for a memorial to Torres as a way of reminding people of an egregious case of police brutality, abuse of power and racism and to show solidarity with the families of other victims. They said Turners announcement is a good start.

I have never heard my family speak like this with the media about the murder of my uncle, Molina said. But its important that people hear it from the family themselves. People support our cause to end abuse and racism when they understand it from the human level.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

A good son

Sitting in the den of her home in the East End, Margarita reflects on her sons positive attributes.

Joe was good. A good son. And he would eat anything, but he liked my rice and beans, and tortillas with huevos revueltos (scrambled eggs) with potatoes, she recalled. She and family members remembered that Torres, as the elder of eight siblings, used to take a fatherly role sometimes, imparting discipline and encouraging them to do well in school.

He lives in my heart, she said, leaning forward in her seat, surrounded by brown cushions and placing a hand on her chest, touching a rosary she always wears as a necklace, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

Janie Torres held her hands while grandson Richard Molina, in a nearby chair facing her, closely monitored the abuelas feelings.

They are very protective of Margarita, a woman of small frame who now uses a support walker to get around.

Margarita said she still thinks about her son every day. I feel at ease sometimes, but when all of this comes up, it brings memories to me. She said she prays for the police to do their job right, that they are trained.

Thinking about the policemen who killed her son, she said, God gave me the grace to forgive them. I just pray that they will repent. I can hate no more.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter.com/oliviaptallet
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Frances Musgrove bundles against the chill and drives around Austin every few days, searching for her son under highway overpasses and alongside busy thoroughfares.

She doesnt always find him. There are a few spots he frequents, where he knows he can get meth, but hes not always there.

Its often a multi-hour drive, Musgrove holding her breath every time she sees a man of his build; a man with his blanket; a man who seems out of his mind.

She cant believe its come to this.

Justin Brodmann, 40, was supposed to be getting help through a program called Assisted Outpatient Treatment, which would provide court-ordered care for his debilitating bipolar disorder in the community. The federally funded program, operated by Integral Care  the local mental health authority in Austin  is specifically for individuals like Brodmann who have been hospitalized, arrested and/or homeless numerous times because of their mental illness.

But Integral Care has stopped helping Brodmann and left him on the streets, Musgrove alleges in a complaint she filed this week with the U.S. Department of Health Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

Discrimination has been ongoing and constant, Musgrove, who lives in Austin and is retired, wrote in her complaint. The first two weeks of this homelessness, (Integral Care) did not even engage with him, and when I went looking for him I found him without much difficulty, digging through a trash can to find something to eat.

Integral Care declined to comment on the complaint, citing privacy concerns.

The existence of a court order, along with consistent messages from the judge and treatment team that they care about the participants success in the community, are often enough to motivate participants to follow their treatment plans,Anne Nagelkirk, spokeswoman for mental health authority, wrote in a statement. The primary goal of AOT is to encourage the development of an ongoing, positive relationship between the treatment team and the participant so that in time, the person voluntarily engages in treatment.

IN CRISIS: Texas' supposed safety net for mentally ill not helping many of those in need

Brodmann, who has been hospitalized for his mental illness more than 70 times in his life, was featured in the Houston Chronicles investigation,In Crisis, published last year. The investigation found that there arent nearly enough beds  private or state-funded  to help everyone in need, forcing mentally ill Texans to seek out crisis care through emergency rooms and, often, the criminal justice system. Though the state has tried in recent years to fund the addition of hundreds of psychiatric beds to lighten the load, there still were about 1,800 people waiting to get into a state-run hospital as of October.

In summer 2020, Integral Care was awarded federal funds for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program, with a goal to bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient mental health services, improve treatment outcomes and reduce incidence of inpatient psychiatric and reduce criminal justice involvement.

Through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant, the mental health authority receives $1 million of funding each year for four years. During the programs first year, from July 2020 to July 2021, 38 individuals were approved for AOT. Only 22 were enrolled in services.

During the first five months of the programs second year, which runs from July 2021 to July 2022, Integral Cares AOT program has served 26 individuals.

Harris County also has a federally funded Assisted Outpatient Treatment program.

Brodmann was placed in the program in January 2021, court documents show, and his treatment plan specifically states that he could go back to a mental hospital if you do not follow your treatment plan; if your doctor and case manager believe you are getting sick again and you could be a danger to yourself or others.

But by March, Musgrove received an email from Integral Cares ombudsman, Phyllis Wolf, saying that his order for treatment was suspended.

Since Justin wasnt motivated to participate by the court order and isnt taking meds, the Judge isnt willing to extend the order and is letting it expire, Wolf wrote. We have been attempting to meet with Justin  3 times per week for safety reasons (with us cabbing him there and back) but he has declined.

She continued that the plan was to attempt to collaborate with him to establish goals and the service package he would like to use moving forward.

Nagelkirk wrote in her statement Tuesday that: Because AOT is a civil court process, a judge can order a person to follow a treatment plan, but the person cannot be placed in jail for not adhering to a court-ordered treatment plan. The court can order a person to adhere to an outpatient treatment plan but may not compel performance.

Brodmann was placed under another outpatient treatment order in September, court documents show.

Two months later, he had left his supportive housing and began wandering the streets, Musgrove said.

She was infuriated. She felt like Integral Care wasnt being communicative with her, or implementing the program appropriately.

In December, she emailed the mental health authority asking why he hadnt been committed to a mental hospital yet.

The judge requires that the same criteria be met (imminent danger) to send a person back to the State Hospital, Wolf wrote. I was confused by that too and she went on to relay that the judge sees AOT as incentive based not punitive.

Under Texas law, failing to comply with AOT is not grounds for inpatient commitment, said Greg Hansch, executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Texas. However, Integral Care could file a petition for inpatient commitment or the probate court judge could order commitment if a patient meets the criteria. Texas requires a person be a danger to themselves or others or is suffering severe mental, emotional or physical distress and therefore cannot provide for their own basic needs or make rational decisions about whether they need treatment.

The law doesnt include psychiatric deterioration, or harm without further treatment, as a separate type of danger to self  something advocates tried and failed to address during last years legislative session.

Integral Care has failed to report to the judge overseeing his outpatient commitment that Justin has deteriorated to the point where he should be re-hospitalized for supervised treatment, Musgrove wrote in her complaint. They continue to ignore that deterioration is a separate standard for commitment in Texas from harm to self/others.

Musgrove is at a loss for what to do. This month, she fired off a letter to advocates and officials begging for help  asking that her son be committed to a mental hospital again.

Travis County Probate Court judges Guy Herman and Dan Prashner responded in kind, saying that they have nothing but sympathy for a mothers pain for her son suffering from severe mental illness. Both judges were involved in Brodmann's AOT orders.

But what she wants a court to do cannot be done under the law that governs outpatient mental health programs, because even people with (severe mental illness) have rights that courts are required to respect, they wrote. The era of forcing people with (severe mental illness) into hospitals solely because it may be in their best interest is long past.

They noted that the court cannot order someone be hospitalized unless they meet the dangerousness criteria for inpatient care.

Musgrove doesnt understand why living under a highway doesnt meet the dangerousness criteria under Texas law. Shes considered moving to a state with more stringent commitment standards to get her son help.

But how would she get him in a car? And would it be safe?

So, she brings him food when she can. She gets him to change his shirt when she can.

But often, he thinks hes in Iraq even though he never served in the military. Often, hes aggressive.

All she can do now is wait.

Wait for him to want help.

Wait for him to walk into traffic.

Wait for him to overdose.

Wait for him to die.

Alex Stuckey is an investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter/com/alexdstuckey.
A group of inmates being held at an Arkansas jail have alleged medical staff gave them the anti-parasitic ivermectin to treat COVID-19 without their consent, instead telling the men the pills were actually vitamins.

The allegations were raised in a federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Dayman Blackburn, Julio Gonzales, Jeremiah Little and Edrick Floreal-Wooten. All four inmates tested positive for coronavirus back in August and forced to isolate in the quarantine block at the Washington County Detention Center, where they were given a cocktail of drugs that consisted of anywhere between two and 10 pills.

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According to the suit, obtained by the Daily News on Tuesday, the jails medical staff told inmates the regiment was made up of vitamins, antibiotics, and/or steroids. In reality, the men were receiving varying doses of ivermectin  sometimes up to six times the typical amount  without their knowledge or consent.

The practice allegedly started as early as November 2020, but only came to light this summer, when Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder confirmed the facilitys health care provider, Karas Correctional Health, was doling out ivermectin to COVID-19 patients.

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Washington County Detention Center in Arkansas. (Google Maps)

Amid one of the pandemics early peaks, rumors quickly spread online suggesting the anti-parasitic could serve as a treatment for COVID-19. In August 2021, a massive spike in demand for the drug prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue an official warning, emphasizing that ivermectin has not been approved for use against coronavirus.

The Food and Drug Administration has similarly warned against taking the drug, which is typically used to treat animals and livestock. So far, the FDA has only approved the medication for humans to treat river blindness, intestinal strongyloidiasis, head lice and rosacea.

It can also have dangerous side effects when mixed with other medications, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, allergic reactions, dizziness, seizures, coma and even death.

Gary Sullivan, legal director of the ACLU of Arkansas, accused the jail in a previous statement of using the inmates to experiment with the anti-parasitic drug.

No one  including incarcerated individuals  should be deceived and subject to medical experimentation. Sheriff Helder has a responsibility to provide food, shelter, and safe, appropriate care to incarcerated individuals, he said.

The Federal Food and Drug Administration has said that misuse of Ivermectin for COVID-19 can cause serious harm including seizures, comas, and even death. The detention center failed to use safe and appropriate treatments for COVID-19, even in the midst of a pandemic, and they must be held accountable.
Lee Herbert had been to a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade only a handful of times since moving to Houston about 15 years ago, but after last years parades went virtual, he was determined not to miss the opportunity again.

Herbert and his family were among the thousands of people who came out on a beautiful, albeit chilly, Monday morning to see one of the citys two MLK Day parades. Standing downtown as dancers in the Black Heritage Societys Original MLK Day Parade passed by, Herbert, 52, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to honor Kings legacy not only with his family, but with the rest of the city.

After that crazy year we had, you realized you werent really living and that you had to start doing the stuff that Houston has to offer, and this is a positive and very powerful parade and I decided we should come out and be a part of the community, Herbert said.

The 44th Annual Original MLK Day Parade and the 28th MLK Grande Parade in Midtown, though, were just one way for residents to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Elected officials and community groups across the city held service events in Kings honor, using the holiday to turn his words about equality, justice, love and togetherness and turn them into action.

My heart is so warm right now, District D Councilwoman Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said as she watched about two dozen volunteers at the Sunnyside Community Center take up trash pickers and garbage bags for the days community cleanup. Her Director of Constituent Services Steven James divided the volunteers into teams and sent them to six hot spots around Sunnyside where maintenance crews regularly reported a high volume of litter.

As an African-American woman, its important for me set an example and show my children, and my grandchildren, that this is all about us connecting with our communities and being leaders and mentors for those that come after us, said volunteer Amy Stewart, 52.

The parades were quintessentially Houston. Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche served as grand marshal of the Original MLK Day Parade, while the Space Centers Director of School and Community Engagement, Demetres Boyd-Thompson, was the grand marshal of the MLK Grande Parade, alongside Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House and Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Superintendent Bryan Taulton.

Spectators at both parades were treated to processions of marching bands, dance teams and steppers as they chowed down on barbecue from local food trucks. Activist groups, ethnic heritage societies and political candidates moved down the street with cars that had been decked out into makeshift floats, streamers and photos of Dr. King pasted to their doors.

Even a few candy-painted SLABs made an appearance at the MLK Grande Parade, traveling slowly along San Jacinto Street, subwoofers booming.

Both parades provided a spectacle for new residents and lifelong Houstonians alike.

Were loving the parade, Im a big fan of the marching band culture and its really cool to see so many different styles of bands and dancers and performers, said Erika Perez, 33, who recently moved to Houston from New York City.

Perez watched the downtown parade with her partner and their 2-year-old son. For her and others, the parades were an opportunity to teach their children about the values that King preached.

We always try to teach our child that community is very important and that you can lead by example, which is what Dr. Martin Luther King did, Perez said.

Nijia Parker, 30, and her brother came to the MLK Grande Parade with their children for a similar reason. Parker, a middle school teacher in Houston, recognized the importance of exposing young people not only to Dr. Kings ideas, but the ways in which the community can bond around them.

Its important that we show our kids the history that was paved before us, and by instilling that in them, how they can move forward and continue to keep those same traditions alive, Parker said. Its always going to be a fight, but if were all in it together and we come together as a culture, then thats important for us to do.

Parker then turned to her 8-year-old daughter, Maya, as she watched a high school dance team march by and asked what Dr. King fought for. Maya smiled nervously and hid her face behind her hands.

Equality, she said with a giggle.

sam.gonzalez@chron.com
There was a time - not long ago, actually - when community-minded school board members gathered one evening a month or so to discuss whether it was time to replace a fleet of gas-guzzling school buses, whether classroom computers were outdated or whether to build a new band hall at an intermediate school. Maybe things got a little heated when they pondered where to site a new elementary school or whether to accept the superintendents recommendation for a new football coach, but those occasions were rare.

There were other times, of course, when issues of great importance and bitter divisions surfaced, especially off and on during the roughly 30 years it took Houstons school district to comply with Brown v. Board of Educations outlawing of so-called separate-but-equal schools, such as when the Houston ISD board voted in 1970 to ignore thunderous pressure to keep the district segregated. Those votes were anything but easy or quiet.

Throughout that history, though, most school board members approached their duties with integrity, and without adhering to purely partisan movements. If the Texas Republican Party has its way, those times will be long past.

A few weeks ago, the party announced that it would be doing everything possible to transform normally low-key, nonpartisan school board elections into overheated arenas for hard-nosed partisan politics. Announcing the creation of a Local Government Committee composed of the partys executive committee members and local GOP leaders, the objective will be to assist county parties in electing conservative candidates in often-overlooked school board and municipal elections.

In other words, one of the last places in American public life largely free of partisan politicking is about to get a Texas-sized dose of it.

Already, the party is crowing about major successes in recent non-partisan races, including the Carroll ISD in Southlake (a Fort Worth suburb), one of the first places in the country, the party noted, where candidates running to oppose critical race theory took a school board majority. The party also celebrated the success of three GOP-supported challengers who unseated long-time incumbents on the board governing Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, the states third-largest district, after a controversy over  what else?  critical race theory. One of them, Scott Henry, set off a firestorm by implying that Black teachers increase dropout rates.

Never mind that not one public school in Texas teaches the abstruse law-school concept known as critical race theory or that most Texans, including most Republican activists, would find it difficult to even define it. CRT is not the point; power politics is.

In theory, interest in young Texans and the schools we develop to educate them is worthy of commendation, but thats not what the state GOP has in mind. Public education is not its primary focus. The party has come to see school-board races as an opportunity to groom candidates for higher office, actual education issues be damned.

Heres Cat Parks, the state partys vice-chair: We expect voters to choose lower taxes and common-sense conservatism as opposed to the radical left-wing policies, limitless spending, and cronyism that traditionally accompany electing Democrats to those positions.

Parks and her GOP colleagues have adopted the strategy of Steve Bannon, the extremist political provocateur and sometime adviser to former President Donald Trump. The path to save the nation is very simple - its going to go through the school boards, Bannon noted in a podcast last year.

As Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, points out, issues of actual importance to a community get swept aside when school board races become more partisan. This is squeezing local school boards and their ability to operate from a local-issues perspective and superimposing national politics where it may not fit, he told the Texas Tribune.

The Democratic Party of Texas has also been supporting municipal and school board candidates who identity with the party in a bid to cultivate future candidates for partisan races. Now, the Republicans have taken that one step further by framing these races in ideological ways that stress national debates, and in doing so interjecting partisan politics into what should be nonpartisan races.

Candidates emboldened by recent protests are turning their elections into referenda on their adopted hot-button issues  issues that overshadow the real needs of students, warned Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings Institution, in an online piece in November urging more voters to cast ballots in school board elections.

Valant is urging voters to not skip school board elections to keep organized groups pushing super-partisan agendas from winning without even having to win over moderate voters. What happened last fall in a rural Washington State school district is likely to happen in Texas. As the Washington Post reported, two candidates were vying for a vacant school board seat. One had been a PTA volunteer for years and had secured endorsements from educators and local community leaders. Her opponent was an anti-masking member of the extreme-right Three Percent Movement. She had the organizations logo tattooed on her neck in red, white and blue bullets and walked around town with a pistol strapped to her hip. She and her husband homeschooled their three children.

The Three-Percenter won by 200 votes. Her extremist cadre of supporters were organized and were counting on the unfortunate fact that most voters pay little attention to down-ballot races like school boards.

In theory, its possible to extricate school board races from the hyper-partisan maelstrom. Concerned citizens can resist the push to identify school-board candidates by party on the ballot, as several states have done in response to Republican efforts. Concerned citizens might revisit the idea of holding local elections on the same day as state and national elections, with the idea that such a change would increase and diversify turnout.

Of course, the most basic protection against school-board takeovers by extremists or groups eager to subvert our childrens needs to political ends is the simplest: Citizens  Republicans, Democrats and the unaffiliated  have to vote. That means doing a bit of homework: learning the issues, studying voter guides and showing up at candidate forums. As much as were reluctant to admit it, one of the most dangerous men in America may be right: The path to save the nation is very simple - its going to go through the school boards.
High Point, NC (27260)

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This illustration reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
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The New Richmond City Council held its monthly meeting Monday night, Jan. 10.

Beebe demolition scheduled

The summer of 2018 was anything but comfortable for city of New Richmond officials. City officials repeatedly denied speculation that a deal had been struck in private with Beebe Building namesake and owner Jim Beebe to purchase the property.

When the city stepped in to coordinate the relocation of 46 people living in the Lowry Hotel at the time just ahead of the hotels lease ending in August, suspicion persisted. Then in December, the city purchased the property from Beebe for $300,000, about half of the assessed value.

After four years off the tax rolls, all the frustration and questions will be buried in a cloud of dust and debris as the next chapter for the property at 307 S. Knowles Ave. begins when the Beebe Building finally comes down in February.

If an attempt to qualify for tax credits had succeeded in 2019, Gerrard Corporation, chosen to partner with the city to redevelop the Beebe property, would have been preparing for the grand opening of 40 living units this spring in 2022.

Instead, Plan B.

Quick hits... New Richmond City Council Jan. 10 Council members approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance pertaining to short-term rentals. The amendment puts in place a licensing process whereby applicants would pay a $50 annual fee. The fee would cover administrative costs to insure that the applicant has proof of licensure through St. Croix County. The county has an extensive licensing process in place that ensures compliance with both county and state statutes pertaining to short-term rentals.

Council members approved a design and construction agreement with SEH Inc. for 2022 street and utility projects in the amount of $155,100. Projects include reconstruction of Oak Avenue (from East Third Street to East Fifth Street) and North Fourth Street (from CTH K to approximately 44 feet east of Brigetta Drive).

In November 2020, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago awarded $1.5M in two $750,000 loans through its Affordable Housing Program to acquire and construct 100 units of new rental housing in New Richmond. 50 of those units belong to the Dakota Meadows development and the other 50 to the Beebe Building development, both are being constructed and managed by the Gerrard Corporation.

Monday night, Council members approved Resolution #012201 creating Tax Increment District No. 11.

Tax Increment District 11 encompasses the property that we refer to as the Beebe Building. The TID is being created to help support the redevelopment of this area that would build a 50 unit age 55 plus housing complex downtown, said Assistant City Administrator and Finance Director Rae Ann Ailts.

The two primary reasons for creating the tax district are to reimburse the city for the purchase of the property including interest (2.50%) and to pay for costs associated with the development of the new property.

Ehlers representative Sean Lentz explained that because the tax district is being created several years after the city had already purchased the property, a unique solution had to be created in order to reimburse the city for its purchase.

Weve put together a strategy where we involve the Community Development Authority in the development agreement. Through a process, they will acquire the property from the city. Then using the tax increment revenue in the future, we will ultimately be able to reimburse the city for the original cost it outlayed to acquire the property initially, explained Lentz.

The Contribution to the Community Development Authority of $350,000 will be executed with an advance from other city funds in 2022. The advance will be repaid over the life of the tax increment district with interest estimated at 2.50%.

In addition to reimbursing the city for its purchase of the property, the development agreement will specify that tax increment revenue will be used to make annual payments to the developer to assist them in recouping costs associated with making this development successful. Categorized as development incentives, these will be allocated on a pay-as-you-go basis from 70% of the available increment revenues generated by the Beebe Building redevelopment for an amount not-to-exceed $1,550,000.

Development Incentives will begin in 2025 as the first revenues become available from the project.

The term of Tax Increment District 11 is projected to be 27 years, closing in 2050.

The tax district must still be approved by the Joint Review Board consisting of the other taxing authorities, St. Croix County, New Richmond School District and Northwood Technical College. The physical demolition of the building is scheduled to begin in early February. Weeks leading up to the razing will be used to address buried tanks, asbestos abatement and any remaining salvage operations. Street closures are not expected; however, sidewalks will be impacted by a 6-foot-high chain link fence being erected as a protective barrier. Demolition is expected to be completed by March.

Dairy Queen site proposal

Following the closed session at the Jan. 10 council meeting, City Administrator Noah Wiedenfeld announced the council had approved a proposal by the New Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce to acquire and develop the former Dairy Queen property.

Forward New Richmond reviewed two proposals in response to the citys request for proposals and recommended moving the Chambers proposal forward.

The Chamber is seeking to build a small office building on that site. They are proposing to have multiple tenants or condos that would be owned. One issue that will need to be addressed in the developer's agreement is that the city wants to see some tax revenue generated from that site, Wiedenfeld said.
Beijing isnt taking any shortcuts with its zero COVID policy as the highly anticipated Winter Olympics approach. The latest example: locking down office workers after a single omicron case was detected.

According to CNN, government workers were seen Sunday taking bedding and other supplies into a building in the city that was locked down with little notice and will potentially keep the workers inside for several days.

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A man gets a throat swab for the COVID-19 test at a mobile coronavirus testing facility outside a commercial office buildings in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Andy Wong/AP)

The decision to lock down was made after an employee tested positive on Saturday, the first documented case of omicron in the city. The first case in China had been detected only days earlier in Tianjin, a port city with a population of more than 15.6 million, and has already spread hundreds of miles in multiple directions.

However, the woman who became the first documented case in Beijing had not left the city in the last two weeks, leading officials to fear the variant is already spreading. On top of the office building, the womans residential compound is subject to a less-strict lockdown where residents are tested and not allowed to leave the neighborhood.

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Officials have already conducted tens of thousands of tests of people who may have been exposed to the woman recently but no others have tested positive, which could mean a quick end to the current restrictions. A similar snap lockdown at a mall in Shanghai last week confined shoppers and workers for two days of testing.

How and where the woman contracted omicron remains unknown, however.

The measures, while appearing extreme to outside observers, are widely popular in China as they have allowed most people to go about their lives in a manner somewhat resembling pre-pandemic life. And, despite serious undercounting by official tallies, the measures have likely prevented millions of additional deaths in the country.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the seven-day average of COVID cases was over 800,000 as of Jan. 16.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
McCann School Committee Applauds Students for Tornado Relief Drive

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Members of the McCann School Committee congratulated students on Thursday for their work collecting donations for technical school students in Mayfield, Ky.

Led by students Cecilia Marszalek and Jakob Wood, students collected gifts and donations late last month to help students struggling in the aftermath of a destructive tornado. McCann Principal Justin Kratz said a total of 239 boxes were donated for the cause, weighing in at about 5,000 pounds.

"I knew something would happen," he said. "But I had no idea how much was going to happen."

Kratz said SkillsUSA and Business Professionals of America students from the school were more than willing to help out in whatever way they could.

"I said, 'All right, I know you guys got a lot going on, so I'm going to throw another thing at you. How many of you are interested in doing this,'" he said. "They volunteered times before school during lunches after school, and they were all about it. They said, 'Yep. We'll definitely help out. We're more than happy to do this.'"

Northern Berkshire Vocational School District Superintendent James Brosnan said this kind of giving, especially around the holidays, is crucial for the people of Mayfield, many of whom lost everything.

"It was just an incredible outpouring," he said. "I think all of the images of it say that we always help our fellow citizens, and we always help somebody in need. And I think it's a really good lesson for all of us as adults, but it was a terrific lesson for the students."

In addition to bedding, linens and other necessities, one item Brosnan said was a particularly common donation was hand-powered can openers. He said this item is something requested following natural disasters where there is often no electricity.

"People were bringing them in by the dozens," he said.

Kratz called this donation item especially telling, from his perspective, as it showed that the students were actively empathizing and thinking about what people in that situation would need.

"For our kids to take what they see on TV and hear on the news and process it down to the level of, 'Oh, yeah, they do need a can opener. Oh, wait a minute, formula because there are babies down there,'" he said. "Our kids are great kids, but when you're 15 your world kind of revolves around you and that's natural. That's completely normal, but for them to say, 'Oh, man, there's a baby down there that's gonna need diapers.' For them to see that was really, I think, good for them."

Committee Chair Gary Rivers said this donation drive was a perfect example of the student's following the school's mission, which is posted in every classroom.

"I believe if you read through that, you're going to see somewhere in there that it says that 'we strive to develop socially responsible students.' And I think we're living our mission," he said. "We're living our vision. When we put something like that together, it just shows you how much thought went into that and what we were actually trying to do as a school. This is a perfect example of how that played out."

Also at the meeting, the board approved a $73,495 bid for a robotic welding machine. This machine is being paid for, according to Brosnan, by a capital skills grant that the school received explicitly for purchasing such equipment.
New State Program Will Let School Districts Distribute At-Home COVID-19 Tests

BOSTON  Massachusetts schools will have the option to distribute weekly at-home tests to students and staff this month under a new testing program announced by the Baker administration on Tuesday morning.

The at-home testing program is designed to replace the commonwealth's "test and stay" program, which was created to allow in-school testing of asymptomatic close contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley called at-home testing a "game changer" for Massachusetts schools.

Baker said schools will continue to have the option to continue with a test-and-stay program already in place or adopt the new at-home testing. Riley said the latter will allow school health staff to focus on symptomatic people rather than conduct contact tracing whenever there is a positive test in a school building.

"Massachusetts was one of the first states to launch test and stay, and the CDC, so many months after our adoption, recently jumped on board as well," Riley said. "But it is now time for us to lead again and adopt strategies to adapt to the current conditions of this pandemic.

"We need to pivot from strategies that worked in the fall to policies that are more aligned with how things have changed."

Riley said the state has committed to purchasing 26 million rapid tests for the new program.

If districts opt in to the at-home testing program, families will be asked to also agree to a weekly testing regimen. Then schools will distribute a packet of two test kits every two weeks, Riley said.

Families will be given instructions on how to conduct tests and asked to report any positive results to the school district immediately and keep their child home, Riley said. As for timing, he said school districts may recommend what day of the week to conduct in-home tests depending on when students participate in pool testing at school.

"Let's say they do [pool testing] on Thursday," he said. "They may want the kids to do it [at home] on Sunday to spread it out."

Pool testing and the test and stay program have been key strategies to keep kids in school, Baker said. They also have demonstrated that in-school transmission of COVID-19 has been rare.

The test and stay program has allowed close contacts of people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus to remain in school while undergoing daily rapid tests for five consecutive days after their exposure.

To date, the state has conducted 503,32 rapid tests under test and stay, and 496,440, or 99 percent, have been negative, Baker said.

"This confirms that in-school transmission is extremely rare  far more rare than outside of school," Baker said.

Riley said the at-home testing program grew out of conversations with school districts and emphasized that it will be up to individual districts to adopt the strategy, which the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is recommending.

While joining Baker in applauding the work of school nurses, who Riley called "the true heroes among us today," the commissioner indicated that strains in the education system related to the test and stay program are a factor in creating the new program.

"We certainly, like every sector in the country, have staffing issues," Riley said. "I think the nurses have gone above and beyond what anyone could ask of them.

"But this is something that is just better for our kids and gives more coverage. At the same time, it provides [nurses] more relief, so they can focus on symptomatic cases."

Riley pointed out that the test and stay program was created at a time when the majority of the school-aged population was not eligible to be vaccination against COVID-19. Today, all school-aged children are eligible. And Baker took advantage of Tuesday's platform to make yet another plea from the administration to get vaccinated.

"While testing is an important tool, I would like to remind everyone, once again, that getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, our educators and our kids," Baker said. "If you haven't been vaccinated or boosted, please make an appointment.

"The Department of Public Health will continue to support vaccine clinics for students and staff. So far, they have done over 915 [school-based] clinics across 170 communities. We will go to any school at any time that wants to run one of these clinics  any school at any time."
SVHC Announces DAISY Award Winners

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) recently honored four nurses with DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses.

They are Ashley Andrews, AD, RN, and Hannah Hill, BSN, RN, both of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) Emergency Department; Katie Klebbe, BSN, RN, of the Intensive Care Unit at SVMC; and Misty Roy, BSN, RN, of the SVMC Med/Surg Unit.

"Each of these nurses offers her patients an incredible combination of nursing skill and compassion," said Pamela Duchene, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. "There's nothing patients appreciate more than being in gentle and capable hands, and that really shines through in the nominations we received for these professionals."

Andrews was nominated by two families with toddlers who had broken a bone.

"She went out of her way to ensure our wait was as painless as possible. She brought stickers and coloring pages and popsicles," one family wrote. "Our visit to SVMC would not have been the same without her. We were so lucky to get her as our nurse! We are grateful!" A second family wrote, "she was awesome, even when you could tell she only had a few seconds to spare. She truly embodies what I consider to be a high-level healthcare professional, not just treating the injury but the patient and having the empathy and awareness to know when a personal touch would benefit."

Andrews received her bachelor's in biology from Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vt., and her associate's degree in Nursing from Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Troy, N.Y. Andrews helped develop the Community Care Team at SVMC. She lives in Clarksburg, Massachusetts.

"During these trying times in healthcare and the world in general, this recognition is extremely special," Andrews said. "It renews my faith in the profession I chose and reminds me of the 'why.' Being a nurse is about serving those in a time of need, and I really don't think there could be a more critical time."

Hill was nominated by a patient who appreciated her ability to see beyond her physical symptoms.

Hill realized "that I just might need a break from my super busy life. She helped me step back and pay attention to what my body was telling me and what I needed to do for myself."

A second patient appreciated Hill's combination of knowledge and sensitivity.

"Hannah talked me through everything she was going to be doing. She was very professional and compassionate: two things you hardly experience in today's society."

Hill received her LPN and RN at Vermont Tech before pursuing her bachelor's in nursing from Castleton University. She started at SVMC as an LPN/ED tech in the Emergency Department in 2003. She has also worked on the medical-surgical unit as both an LPN and RN. She returned to the Emergency Department at SVMC as an RN in 2017. She is a member of the PEER Support Committee and the ED Nurse Advisory Committee. She lives in Bennington.

"I feel humbled and honored by being awarded the Daisy Award," said Hill. "I love my job, and I love taking care of patients. I couldn't do it without God and my ED team."

Klebbe was nominated by a colleague for her extraordinary leadership when working with a critically ill patient.

"From the moment she came onto the unit I watched her...advocate for the patient, delegate the staff, and [maintain] constant communication with the team and with teleICU. She knew what the patient needed and was not afraid to ask for everything the patient needed."

The nomination went on to express appreciation for Klebbe's knowledge and ability to accomplish tasks in a professional and timely way.

Kleebe received her associate's in nursing from Maria College in New York and her bachelor's in nursing from American Sentinel University in Connecticut. She is currently pursuing a master's in care coordination at Capella University. Before joining SVMC in the ICU, Klebbe worked in the Renal Transplant Unit at Albany Medical Center. While at SVMC, she served as the co-chair of the Night Shift Council. In addition to working per diem for SVMC, she is a case manager for Fedelis Care. She lives in Hoosick Falls, NY.

"I was nominated for a DAISY Award five times when I worked at Albany Med.," said Klebbe said. "It is a great honor to finally win one."

She remembers the patient noted in the nomination. "While it was a difficult case, I am grateful to have been able to help him survive."

Roy was nominated by the wife of a patient.

She wrote, "my husband was so very sad and scared, and she took the time to personally interact with him Her bright and cheerful persona at that time really meant the world to me. The world needs more nurses like her, and I am thankful." The nominator acknowledged Roy's clinical excellence combined with her ability to make her husband laugh. "Which, to me, is one of the best medicines ever."

Roy attended the University of Massachusetts, Boston, received her associate's in nursing from Quincy College in 2016, and earned her bachelor's in nursing from Chamberlain University in 2020. Before joining SVMC, Roy worked as a medical assistant for dermatology at Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts and at Bennington Health and Rehab. She has been at SVMC since 2020. She lives in Bennington.

"I moved to Bennington because I wanted to work at SVMC; this was my...dream job," Roy said. "I feel honored to be recognized for this award. I have met so many amazing people: patients and staff. Everyone has facilitated my learning about myself and how to care for this wonderful community. It just keeps getting better!"

The DAISY Award is part of a national merit-based recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation. It celebrates nurses' education, training, and skill. Nominations can be submitted by patients, families, physicians, and colleagues. All nominations are blinded, so they are anonymous before being reviewed by a selection committee. One nurse is chosen as the DAISY Award winner. DAISY Awards are presented on a regular basis, usually monthly.
Pet shops and owners across Hong Kong have been ordered to turn over their hamsters for culling amid concerns the critters could transmit COVID-19 to humans.

Officials with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department issued the directive on Tuesday, after an employee at the Little Boss pet store, located in Hong Kongs Causeway Bay shopping district, tested positive for the fast-spreading delta variant. Additional testing revealed that 11 hamsters had also become infected.

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The rodents arrived in Hong Kong from the Netherlands in two groups on Dec. 22 and Jan. 7, officials said.

Staff members from Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department investigate in a pet shop closed after some pet hamsters, authorities said, tested positive for coronavirus, in Hong Kong. (Kin Cheung/AP)

While animals do not typically appear to play a major role in coronavirus spread, Edwin Tsui, a controller at the Center for Health Protection, said officials could not exclude the possibility that the shopkeeper was in fact actually infected from the hamsters.

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As a precautionary measure, authorities said they will seize some 2,000 small mammals from all 34 licensed pet stores in Hong Kong. They will then be tested and euthanized in a bid to cut the transmission chain, officials said. Residents who purchased hamsters in the days before Christmas  any time after Dec. 22  are also being urged to turn over their pets to be tested and culled.

Owners will also be required to undergo mandatory testing and are urged not contact others until theyve been cleared. Those who receive a positive test will have to quarantine.

If you own a hamster, you should keep your hamsters at home, do not take them out, department director Leung Siu-fai said at a news conference. All pet owners should observe good personal hygiene, and after you have been in contact with animals and their food, you should wash your hands.

Do not kiss your pets, he added.

Hong Kong also announced a temporary ban on the sale and import of small mammals, including hamsters, chinchillas and rabbits. All shops selling such animals have also been ordered to stop doing so immediately, according to authorities.

The regions Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals hit back at the mass killing, saying it was shocked and concerned by the decision to cull the creatures. It further urged the government not to take any drastic action before reviewing its approach.

With News Wire Services
Its too soon in the omicron variants course to know whether it signifies the beginning of the end of the pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday.

Whether the highly transmissible yet purportedly milder strain of the novel coronavirus will dilute the more severe prevalent ones and take it over to become endemic is yet to be seen, Fauci, the nations top infectious disease specialist and the White House chief medical advisor, said.

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I would hope that thats the case, he told the World Economic Forum at a panel during its annual meeting, held virtually this year instead of in Davos. But that would only be the case if we dont get another variant that eludes the immune response of the prior variant.

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing to examine the federal response to COVID-19 and new emerging variants, in January on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Greg Nash/AP)

Moreover, milder symptoms dont necessarily mean milder illness underlying it, experts have said, and the question of long COVID is still open.

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We have no data yet on what proportion of infections with omicron... end up with Long COVID, Akiko Iwasaki, who studies viral immunology at Yale University, told Reuters last week. People who underestimate omicron as mild are putting themselves at risk of debilitating disease that can linger for months or years.

Compared to previous versions, omicron certainly does look a tad more benign, and seems set to become the dominant strain worldwide in 2022, observers said. But the panel of public health experts whom Fauci spoke alongside at the virtual Davos gathering were divided on whether it would be the final strain, CNBC reported.

It is indeed too early really to call it endemic, said Annelies Wilder-Smith, professor of emerging infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, according to CNBC. There is a high probability that we will have a new variant.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 47 Rio Health secretary vaccinates young Davi Silva as part of the first group of children under 12 years of age to be part of the immunization campaign against COVID-19 on Jan. 17, 2022, at Museu do Amanha in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Davi has type 1 glutaric aciduria. (Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

The best that can be hoped for, even if this is the final strain of COVID-19, is that the disease becomes endemic and treatable, Fauci said  present, but at a level that does not disrupt society.

Once coronavirus had stopped coming in huge waves, people could strip off their masks, he said.

Its not going to be that youll eliminate this disease completely, Fauci said, according to CNBC. But hopefully, it will be at such a low level that it doesnt disrupt our normal social, economic and other interactions with each other. To me, thats what the new normal is.
A critically ill man suffering from a severe case of COVID-19 was transferred to a hospital in Texas after his wife successfully got a restraining order blocking doctors at a Minnesota healthcare facility from taking him off life support.

Scott Quiner, a 55-year-old father who was reportedly not vaccinated, had been battling coronavirus in the ICU at Mercy Hospital, just north of Minneapolis, since early November. By Thanksgiving, he was gravely ill and needed a ventilator to help him breathe.

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All hope seemed lost after Quiner suffered from lung failure, with doctors concluding they could not provide him with any additional care. They told his loved ones they planned on shutting off his ventilator on Jan. 13 at noon, sending his wife, Anne Quiner, on a race to save his life.

Scott Quiner, on right, and Anne Quiner, on left. (Handout)

In a petition filed just one day before the deadline, Anne said the hospitals decision would end my husbands life and asked that doctors be barred from taking her husband off life support. Anoka County Judge Jennifer Stanfield on Thursday agreed to issue a temporary restraining order, giving Anne enough time to locate another facility to treat Quiner.

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Scott is now in a hospital in Texas getting critical care, Annes attorney, Marjorie Holsten, told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The doctor said Scott was the most undernourished patient he has ever seen. The last update I got was yesterday afternoon after some tests had been run; all organs are working except his lungs.

Allina Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, declined to respond the malnourishment allegations, but said it was pleased that the Quiners found a course of action that better suited their needs.

We continue to wish them all the best, part of the statement read.

Allina Health has great confidence in the exceptional care provided to our patients, which is administered according to evidence-based practices by our talented and compassionate medical teams.
Al Jazeera Mubasher has widely covered protests against the military power takeover in Sudan; which were marred by major crackdown on protesters and media censorship.

According to pro-democracy medics, at least 64 protesters have been killed, while the IFJ has reported several media closed and arbitrary detentions of journalists.

In a statement, Al Jazeera said that the Ministry of Culture and Information revoked the accreditation of its journalists Mohammed Omar and Badawi Bashir, under the basis of the un-professional coverage of the Sudanese affairs and the reporting of incorrect information that damages the countrys interest and social fabric.

The Network views this as an attack on press freedom as a whole and calls on international human rights and media organisations to condemn this infringement of journalists safety, Al Jazeera said.

The revocation of Al Jazeera's licence means that the Qatar-based broadcaster will be banned from continuing their reporting on events in the country such as the pro-democracy demonstrations.

Al Jazeera chief bureau El Musalmi El Kabbashi, was arrested and the military forces raided his home earlier in November 2021 in response to the medias coverage of the emerging civil protests.



Sudanese authorities have routinely arrested media workers and prevented agencies from doing their work in Sudan, while several media outlets have been suspended. The latest incident of media crackdown by the Sudanese military happened last week, when Sudanese Security Forces stormed Alaraby Televisions Khartoum office and arrested four media workers.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: The IFJ stands in solidarity with Al Jazeera's media staff and all journalists who are facing a harsh crackdown by the Sudanese military for doing their job. The list of journalists arrested and media suspended has not stopped growing and we call on the international community to not turn a blind eye to whats happening in Sudan. All arrested media workers must be released immediately.
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Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
Deal in Quarter Landowner Buyer City Approx. Size (in Acres) Approx. Value (INR-crore) Proposed Development Q3-2020 Individual Sunteck Realty MMR 50 JDA Residential Q3-2020 Century Group Godrej Fund Management Bengaluru 15 700 Commercial Q4-2020 Anonymous Godrej Properties Bengaluru 18 150 Residential Q4-2020 HSIIDC Flipkart Gurgaon 140 432 Logistic Park Q1-2021 The Garodia Family Shapoorji Palonji Group MMR 500 521 Residential Q2-2021 Ramprastha Group Ashiana Housing Gurgaon 22.1 170 Residential Q3-2021 Kadam Developers M3M Group Noida 73 900 Residential Q3-2021 K Raheja Corp Brookfield Asst. Management MMR 30 550 Data Centre Q3-2021 Macrotech Developers Flyjac Logistics MMR 22.3 80 Industrial Park

The author of this article is Mr. Santhosh Kumar, Vice Chairman - ANAROCK Group

The views and opinions expressed are not of IIFL Securities, indiainfoline.com

Land is still the most precious resource amid rapid urbanization and quite a lot of this finite resource changed hands across the top cities during the pandemic. ANAROCK data indicates that many developers and entities sealed around 45 separate land deals cumulatively accounting for over 1,757 acres of area across the top 7 cities between Q3 2020 and November 2021.Of the total transacted land area, approx. 69% or 1,205 acres are proposed to be developed into multiple residential projects across these cities. The total development potential of these deals works out to at least 45-50 Mn sq. ft. of residential area.As many as 28 residential land deals were closed across the cities in the last year: Land-starved MMR saw 11 land deals involving 768 acres of area  a 64% share of the total 1,205 acres of planned residential development across the top cities NCR came a distant second with 4 separate deals accounting for 12% of the total land deals with approx. 150 acres earmarked for development. This includes 3 deals for a total of 77 acres in Gurugram, and one deal for over 73 acres in Noida Kolkata saw 2 separate deals for over 92 acres of land on a joint development agreement (JDA) basis Hyderabad witnessed 2 separate land deals for a total of 78 acres Bengaluru saw 5 separate deals for a total of 59 acres earmarked for residential development, Pune saw 3 deals for approx. 42 acres, and Chennai saw 1 deal for 16+ acres.The top developers who bought land parcels for residential developments include Godrej Properties, Sunteck Realty, Ashiana Housing, Mahindra LifeSpaces, M3M Group, and Runwal Developers.The last 7-8 months before COVID-19 (March 2020) saw limited land deals as the real estate industry was grappling with liquidity issues at the time," says Santhosh Kumar, Vice Chairman - ANAROCK Group. "Then COVID-19 brought the sector to a virtual standstill for 3-4 months. For about a year, developers preferred to either service their debts or complete previously-launched projects.""However, from Q3 2020, activity resumed and several landowners who previously held fast to their land put their holdings up for sale. Resultantly, some prominent deals took place in the last one year, at more or less the same price points as the previous year. Many developers with the financial wherewithal saw this period as opportune to secure good land parcels in key micro-markets across the top 7 cities.Top Land Deals Across CitiesProposed Developments - Other SegmentsBesides proposed residential developments, industrial, commercial, data centres, and retail also saw land acquired for development: Out of the total of 45 land deals for over 1,757 acres, at least six deals for 411 acres of land are earmarked for a logistics & industrial park and township. Of this, two deals for over 275 acres were closed in Gurugram, followed by two deals in Chennai for over 83 acres, and one each in Howrah and MMR for 31 acres and 22 acres, respectively For mixed-use developments, three land deals for over 58 acres were closed  one each in MMR, Chennai and Gurugram At least five deals for at least 44 acres were closed for commercial developments in Bengaluru (3) and MMR (2). The details for one of these deals have not been disclosed At least 30 acres are proposed to be utilized for data centres in Navi Mumbai Approx. 9 acres have been earmarked for two separate retail developments
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Today

Periods of rain, heavy at times early. Low 59F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch..

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Security agencies are on high alert in wake of reports indicating that Pakistan purchased more drones from China, as per TNN. These drones are likely to be used for dipping arms and ammunition in India. According to Times Now, documents accessed from the intelligence department show that Islamabad purchased drones from China recently.

This alert came after two Indians and a Pakistani were killed along with 6 wounded in a suspected Houthi drone attack near the Abu Dhabi airport.

Security agencies are of the opinion that Pakistan may try to target important installations in India using drones.

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Pakistan bought advanced air drones from China

As per the documents, Pakistan bought new advanced drones from China that are able to fly even when it is raining.

They are able to fly up to 15 to 20 kilometers at a time and can be at a height of 800 meters.

The design means radar can't pick them up, the reports added.

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According to an agency report, 60 or so incidents of drones have been spotted on the Indo-Pakistan border in the Punjab sector. The BSF shot down several of them.

An IANS report said that the ISI has activated its terror outfits in Punjab and UP to affect the elections.

Sources inside the security establishment say that the ISI-backed Sikh terror groups may target the election rallies.



For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


A beetle invasion of biblical proportions has hit the town of Santa Isabel in Argentina, causing damage to buildings and property.

The town of some 2,500 in Argentinas central province of La Pampa has been plagued by swarms of beetles for over a week. Locals are struggling to clear the streets and their homes of this veritable plague, RT reported.

Screengrab/Twitter

"Theyre everywhere  in the houses, in the shops, Deputy Mayor Cristian Echegaray complained to the media.



The local law enforcement has blamed the beetles for damaging the police station, residential buildings, and vehicles, as well as plugging the drains, among other inconveniences.

#ARGENTINA 

Impresionante invasion de escarabajos (cascarudos) afecto la localidad de Santa Isabel, en La Pampa.  @chematierrahttps://t.co/j1nuqCzO2Z pic.twitter.com/08vUASa8ai  C e n t i n e l a 3 5 (@QuakeChaser35) January 10, 2022

As beetles caused havoc, local authorities are trying everything to put a stop to the 'invasion'. They even took the drastic measure to switch off its streetlights and public building lights.

The insects dont bite or sting, but theyre protected by a sturdy shell and have a tendency to hit things as they fly, so locals were recommended to cover their faces while outside to avoid injury.

Los cascarudos invadieron Santa Isabel y planean avanzar sobre la capital pampeana. Ampliaremos. pic.twitter.com/k1Co2V1LuL  Muni Moreno (@munimoreno) January 10, 2022

Some residents have been scooping the bugs up by the massive box-load and dumping them out of town as well.

The authorities attribute the infestation both to unusually heavy rains for the time of the year and the heatwave that recently hit Argentina, which saw temperatures rise to almost 40C (104F).



Those conditions were perfect for the reproduction of the bugs, the larvae of which develop below ground.



For more from trending, click here.
Service on five subway lines will be fully restored Wednesday, four weeks after the MTA slashed train schedules across the city as the omicron wave spread like wildfire among transit workers.

Trains will once again run on the B and Z lines, and express service will return to the Nos. 6 and 7 lines, Metropolitan Transportation Authority acting chairman Janno Lieber said during a news conference Tuesday.

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A 7 train pulls in at 40th Street-Lowery Street subway station in Sunnyside, New York in this file photo. (Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

The Rockaway Shuttle will also return Wednesday, but the W line will remain suspended until more MTA crews return to work, Lieber said.

The announcement comes after front-line transit workers were particularly hard hit by the omicron wave, which worsened a crew shortage thats hindered the MTA for much of the pandemic.

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Roughly 20% of the MTAs subway operators and conductors didnt show up to work in early January, up from the 6% of workers in those jobs who are typically out sick that time of the year, said MTA spokesman Tim Minton.

Lieber said roughly 7% of train operators and conductors are now out sick.

Roughly 11% of the MTAs entire workforce  or about 7,300 of 66,500 employees  was out with COVID-19 during the final week of 2021, transit officials said.

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Our workforce is coming back very quickly, said Lieber. We plan for some unavailability. Some absenteeism, its expected. But with omicron we had a very sudden and significant impact... It did not cripple service, like, for example, in the airline environment.

The surge of cases at the MTA during the omicron wave came as the agency reported one of the lowest vaccination rates among public workforces in New York State.

As of Tuesday, 75% of the agencys employees were confirmed to have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Lieber has for months dismissed the idea of mandating shots for transit workers out of fear it would worsen the crew shortage.

Unvaccinated MTA employees are required to submit weekly negative COVID-19 tests in order to work  and the agency allocated $100 million to test those workers in its 2022 budget.

The hit from omicron came as the MTA has for months scrambled to hire more subway crews to fill a void created by a year-long hiring freeze put in place at the onset of the pandemic. Transit officials have for months apologized for delays sparked by the shortage and advised riders theyre running as much service as we can with the train crews we have available.

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Lieber and other MTA officials on Tuesday did not immediately know when the agency would have enough crews to fully staff its subway operations.

We have done everything possible to bring the crew levels up to full service, said Lieber. Pretty soon were going to be back to providing 24/7, 100% full service.
After Iceland, UK is on its way to allow employees to work just four days each. The trial was launched in the United Kingdom today.

According to reports, company employees will work for just 80 percent of their normal week at 100 percent of their pay to see what difference it makes on productivity, as well as the well-being of the employee.

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Its called the 100: 80: 100 model  you get full pay for 80 percent of the work, but must agree to work at 100 percent productivity.

The trial will be six months long and is being performed by 4 Day Week Global along with think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK campaign and researchers from Cambridge University, Oxford University, and Boston College.

The business and companies that will participate in this programme will receive support from the organisers - it includes access to experts within the field who will provide mentorship as well as research by top academics.

The plan is to get 30 businesses on board and mirror programmes that are planned elsewhere in the world this year. Then, research will be carried out to ascertain what effect the four-day working week had on productivity for the business, as well as the wellbeing of its workers and impact on the environment and gender equality.

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One of the participants involved is Edinburgh-based Canon Medical Research Europe, which employs 140 people. Their president Ken Sutherland said: We recognise that working patterns and the focus that we all give to our work-life balance has changed substantially during the pandemic.



As a responsive employer we are always looking at how we can adapt our working practices to ensure that employees find their time with us is meaningful, fulfilling and productive. For this reason, were keen to pilot a four-day week to see if it can work for us.

Other studies in the past have proved that a four-day week is better for both productivity and worker wellbeing. However, there is more research needed.



Joe OConnor, the Pilot Programme Manager for 4 Day Week Global, said: "More and more businesses are moving to productivity focused strategies to enable them to reduce worker hours without reducing pay. We are excited by the growing momentum and interest in our pilot program and in the four-day week more broadly. The four-day week challenges the current model of work and helps companies move away from simply measuring how long people are at work, to a sharper focus on the output being produced. 2022 will be the year that heralds in this bold new future of work."

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Speaking virtually at the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF)'s annual Davos Agenda Conference, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday called for global cooperation to tackle the challenges posed by cryptocurrencies.

Prime Minister Modi said "Cryptocurrency is an example of the kind of challenges we are facing as a global family with a changing global order. To fight this, every nation, every global agency needs to have collective and synchronized action."

Also Read: Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Announces New Bitcoin 'Legal Defense Fund

Also Read: A Millennials Guide To (Crypto)Currency

Need For Common Thinking

He also mentioned that "the kind of technology cryptocurrency is associated with makes decisions taken by one country inadequate to meet the challenges posed by cryptocurrency. We have to have common thinking."

In his address, Indias Prime Minister also asked whether multilateral organizations are equipped to tackle modern challenges. He further stated that when these institutions were formed circumstances were different and today they are different.

That's why every democratic nation has the responsibility to bring about an emphasis towards reforms in these institutions to make them capable enough to deal with modern challenges in the future.

shutterstock

Also Read: RBI Creates New Fintech Department, May Take Up Crypto Issues

New Challenges Need New Directions

Narendra Modi ended his address at WEF by adding that new challenges need new directions, that every nation needs the support of other nations much more than before, and that he has faith the discussions at the conference will bear fruit.

Also Read: From Working At McDonald's To Becoming A Crypto Pioneer: Meet World's Richest Crypto Billionaire

Promoting India As A Business Hub

The Prime Minister also emphasized that India is sending record number of software engineers to the world, and more than 50 lakh software developers are working in India.

He also stated that India has the third-largest number of Unicorns in the world, with more than 10,000 start-ups registered in the last 6 months.

PM Modi even mentioned how India is promoting ease of doing business and minimizing government intervention.

He said "India has made it the most competitive in the world by simplifying, reducing its corporate tax rates. Last year alone, we have reduced more than 25,000 compliances".

He urged the world to invest in India, by stating that "the spirit of entrepreneurship, which has the capacity to adopt new technology in Indians, can give new energy to each of our global partners".

Also Read: From Bitcoin Crash To Regulatory Crackdowns: Top Crypto Predictions For 2022

Indias Crypto Future?

The Indian government is yet to formulate its own regulatory framework for crypto assets, and the much anticipated Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 is still pending at the government's end.



The Bill was expected to be tabled in the upcoming Budget 2022s session which is less than two weeks away. But as per latest details revealed by a senior finance ministry official to ET, the Bill is further expected to get delayed as the government needs time to build consensus. As per the officials with knowledge of the matter  While the Centre is keen on the bill, it is looking to hold more discussions with stakeholders to firm up a view on the policy.

Also Read: RBI In Favor Of A Complete Ban On Crypto, Says It's A Serious Concern For Them

For more of such interesting financial content, click here.

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The disruption of Marylands reporting of COVID-19 data last month was caused by a ransomware attack, state officials said Wednesday.

Chip Stewart, the states chief information security officer, said the state has not paid extortion demands for the attack, which began on Dec. 4.

While the investigation is ongoing  and is occurring on a parallel track to our restoration efforts we can confirm this much today: this was, in fact, a ransomware attack, Stewart said.

Stewart declined to talk about any motive for the cyberattack on the state health department.

Unlike many organizations, which take days or weeks to contain security incidents, MDH was able to isolate and contain its systems within several hours of first detecting the incident, Stewart said.

As a result of containment measures, some some services were rendered unavailable and some remain offline.

We are recovering with deliberate action to minimize the likelihood of reinfection, Stewart said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cyber COVID-19 Maryland
Two environmental groups have settled a federal lawsuit with a waste management company over allegations the companys landfill in New Hampshire leaked toxic chemicals into a nearby river.

Under the settlement reached this week, Casella Waste Systems and its subsidiary, North Country Environmental Services, have two years to remove sediment from a drainage channel between the Bethlehem Landfill the Ammonoosuc River.

The companies must also pay $50,000 into a trust for projects designed to promote restoration, preservation, protection, and/or enhancement of water quality in the Ammonoosuc River watershed.

We are extremely pleased to achieve a settlement that protects water quality in the Ammonoosuc River and holds Casella accountable for the harmful environmental impacts of one of its landfills, said Hayley Jones, the New Hampshire & Vermont State Director for Community Action Works. This settlement represents a step in the right direction, showing the crucial role that community enforcement of environmental laws plays in protecting our health and environment.

Tom Irwin, vice president and director of CLF New Hampshire, said the settlement demonstrated why New Hampshire needed to focus on reducing waste, rather than putting it into landfills.

By getting Casella to remove a decades worth of contaminated sediments from a polluted channel flowing into the Ammonoosuc, this settlement directly addresses a legacy of landfill pollution, Irwin said in a statement.

Joseph Fusco, of Rutland, Vermont-based Casella Waste Systems, insisted the settlement shows the company felt strongly about the merits of its case based on the facts and the science, and we believe that the settlement shows that we were correct.

The settlement will allow us to move forward and continue to provide the necessary infrastructure to protect public health and the environment for our more than 50,000 customers and 150 communities served throughout New Hampshire for many years to come, Fusco said in an email interview.

Toxics Action Center and Conservation Law Foundation had accused the companies of allowing elevated concentrations of iron, manganese and 1,4-dioxane to leak from its 46 1/2-acre landfill into the Ammonoosuc River. The company denied the claims.

The groups argue the discharges from the landfill in Bethlehem violate the federal Clean Water Act and threaten those who swim in the river.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits New Hampshire
A dramatic fire near a chemical plant burned through the night and into Saturday in northern New Jersey but led to no evacuation orders or serious injuries  just heavy smoke that was seen and smelled in nearby New York City.

The fire at Majestic Industries and the Qualco chemical plant in Passaic was in buildings housing plastics, pallets and chlorine, officials said, but catastrophe was averted.

Crews battled pockets of the blaze into the morning, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said, but it was contained.

The fire was prevented from reaching the main chemical plant, which could have endangered the densely populated New York City suburbs of New Jersey, Lora said.

Nearby residents were advised to close their windows but were not required to evacuate, with officials saying air quality remained acceptable and would be monitored.

Some residents fled nonetheless.

Its worrying. You dont know whats going to happen, Joel Heredia told WCBS-TV.

Frigid weather froze water from hydrants and hoses, hampering boats trying to draw water from the Passaic River and causing firefighters to slip and fall, Lora said. One firefighter went to the hospital with an eye injury, he said.

Security guard Justin Johnson told WCBS-TV he was working alone, checking water pressure, when he noticed smoke coming from a smokestack-like tower. He wasnt sure what to make of it but called the fire department as alarms went off.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Jersey Chemicals
The MAGA hat-wearing former editor-in-chief of the New York Post is a bully who sexually harassed a high-ranking editor who spurned his advances and then made her kill a story about rape allegations against then-President Donald Trump, according to a new lawsuit.

Michelle Gotthelf, the top woman editor at the Post until last Wednesday, said in her suit filed Tuesday in Manhattan Federal Court that Col Allan, 68, resigned as editor-in-chief in 2016 after she alerted higher-ups that hed propositioned her for sex.

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Former New York Post Editor-in-Chief Col Allan. (Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image)

But Allan was not gone for long. He was re-hired as a consultant for the tabloid in 2019 and quickly began issuing orders to Gotthelf, despite an agreement with The Post he would never supervise her again, she claims.

Mr. Allans request that Ms. Gotthelf sleep with him was the culmination of several years of sex-based harassment that Ms. Gotthelf had to endure because, according to Mr. Allan, Ms. Gotthelf reminded him of his wife, the suit reads.

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Gotthelf accuses Allan of homophobia, bullying, sexism and biased coverage of Trump in the lawsuit that gives a rare behind the scenes look at the right-wing paper that plays an important role in Rupert Murdochs media empire.

In 2011, Allan refused to put New Yorks legalization of gay marriage on the front page, according to the suit.

What will these people be marrying next, animals? he allegedly asked Gotthelf.

Former New York Post Digital Editor-in-Chief Michelle Gotthelf. (Facebook)

The Australian Allan, who was known to impose Murdochs right-wing politics on coverage, also referred to women in the newsroom as skanks, stupid women, and sneaky lesbians, according to the suit. He allegedly ordered a story on gossip columnist E. Jean Carrolls lawsuit alleging she was raped by Trump in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s be removed from the Posts website.

An angry Allan told Gotthelf that Carroll was either the world(s) unluckiest woman or a liar and that her rape claims were baseless s--t, the suit states.

I took great pride in my work shaping coverage at one of the most widely read news organizations in the country, Gotthelf, 49, said in a statement provided by her attorneys. While I never intended to become the news, the truth of what happened to me deserves to be heard. I will miss my colleagues dearly and hope that by speaking out there can be positive change for other women at the Post.

Allan made a gross proposition to Gotthelf over drinks following an offsite editors meeting in 2016  after admitting he was a cuckold and peppering her with questions about her sex life, the suit states.

Allan confessed his wife had not slept with him in years and had another lover, the suit says.

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You should get yourself a lover. Thatll fix her, Gotthelf responded jokingly, according to the lawsuit.

What about you? Allan responded, the suit says. We should sleep together.

Gotthelf refused, and Allan responded that he had slept with another female employee at the Post before, the suit says.

The front page of the New York Post on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

After she rejected the proposal, Allan  already known as a belligerent boss prone to profanity-laden outbursts  began treating Gotthelf even worse, the suit says.

In one embarrassing episode, he ripped up a list of stories that she had prepared for a meeting shortly after the rejection and yelled at her to get the f--k out in front of other editors, according to the complaint.

Former New York Post boss Col Allan and Harvey Weinstein. (Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image)

Thats when Gotthelf made a report to HR about the bullying and sexual harassment, the suit alleges.

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Allan was forced to resign in April 2016, though not quite in disgrace, with Murdoch coming to The Posts office to bid him farewell, the suit says.

Mr. Murdoch publicly lauded Mr. Allan, calling him one of the most outstanding editors of his generation and a great friend and colleague, the complaint claims.

The Daily News reported at the time that Allan was known to walk around the newsroom in a red Make America Great Again cap.

New York Post owner Rupert Murdoch. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Despite Gotthelfs complaint to HR, Allan returned to The Post in 2019, much to her dismay, she says. He used the new perch to flaunt his power over her, she claims.

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During a boozy late night prank call just days after Gotthelfs father died, Allan ranted and raved about a story in The News that The Post had missed, only to change tack and tell Gotthelf, I love you, according to the suit.

Previous New York Post executives, from left: Lachlan Murdoch, Col Allan and Ken Chandler. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag)

In late 2021, the Posts new editor-in-chief, Keith Poole, asked Gotthelf during a meeting what happened between her and Allan, the suit says. She told Poole about the proposition.

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Two months later, Poole fired Gotthelf, the suit says.

Any suggestion of wrongdoing related to the management changes announced today is meritless, said a spokeswoman for The Post.

The harassment suit is not the first time Allan has allegedly presided over a dysfunctional newsroom.

Allan and the tabloid were served with a discrimination lawsuit in 2009 by a woman editor who was canned after protesting an Allan-approved cartoon of a slain chimpanzee that many interpreted as a reference to President Obama. That suit ended with a confidential settlement in 2013.

In 2014, the paper settled a defamation lawsuit over its infamous Bag Men front page misidentifying two young men as suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing a year earlier.
New Zealand and Australia were able to send military surveillance flights to Tonga on Monday to assess the damage a huge undersea volcanic eruption left in the Pacific island nation.

A towering ash cloud since Saturdays eruption had prevented earlier flights. New Zealand hopes to send essential supplies, including much-needed drinking water, on a military transport plane Tuesday.

A British woman who was missing has been found dead, her family said, in the first reported fatality on Tonga.

The brother of Angela Glover, who ran an animal rescue center, said the 50-year-old died after being swept away by a wave.

Nick Eleini said his sisters body had been found and that her husband survived.

I understand that this terrible accident came about as they tried to rescue their dogs, Eleini told Sky News.

He said it had been his sisters life dream to live in the South Pacific and she loved her life there.

Communications with Tonga remained extremely limited. The company that owns the single underwater fiber-optic cable that connects the island nation to the rest of the world said it likely was severed in the eruption and repairs could take weeks.

The loss of the cable leaves most Tongans unable to use the internet or make phone calls abroad. Those that have managed to get messages out described their country as looking like a moonscape as they began cleaning up from the tsunami waves and volcanic ash fall.

Tsunami waves of about 80 centimeters (2.7 feet) crashed into Tongas shoreline, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described damage to boats and shops on Tongas shoreline. The waves crossed the Pacific, drowning two people in Peru and causing minor damage from New Zealand to Santa Cruz, California.

Scientists said they didnt think the eruption would have a significant impact on the Earths climate.

Huge volcanic eruptions can sometimes cause temporary global cooling as sulfur dioxide is pumped into the stratosphere. But in the case of the Tonga eruption, initial satellite measurements indicated the amount of sulfur dioxide released would only have a tiny effect of perhaps 0.01 Celsius (0.02 Fahrenheit) global average cooling, said Alan Robock, a professor at Rutgers University.

Satellite images showed the spectacular undersea eruption Saturday evening, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a giant mushroom above the South Pacific waters.

A sonic boom could be heard as far away as Alaska and sent pressure shockwaves around the planet twice, altering atmospheric pressure that may have briefly helped clear out the fog in Seattle, according to the National Weather Service. Large waves were detected as far away as the Caribbean due to pressure changes generated by the eruption.

Samiuela Fonua, who chairs the board at Tonga Cable Ltd. which owns the single cable that connects Tonga to the outside world via Fiji, said the cable appeared to have been severed about 10 to 15 minutes after the eruption. He said the cable lies atop and within coral reef, which can be sharp.

Fonua said a ship would need to pull up the cable to assess the damage and then crews would need to fix it. A single break might take a week to repair, he said, while multiple breaks could take up to three weeks. He added that it was unclear yet when it would be safe for a ship to venture near the undersea volcano to undertake the work.

A second undersea cable that connects the islands within Tonga also appeared to have been severed, Fonua said. However, a local phone network was working, allowing Tongans to call each other. But he said the lingering ash cloud was continuing to make even satellite phone calls abroad difficult.

He said Tonga, home to 105,000 people, had been in discussions with New Zealand about getting a second international fiber-optic cable to ensure a more robust network but the nations isolated location made any long-term solution difficult.

The cable also broke three years ago, possibly due to a ship dragging an anchor. At first Tongans had no access to the internet but then some limited access was restored using satellites until the cable was repaired.

Ardern said the capital, Nukualofa, was covered in a thick film of volcanic dust, contaminating water supplies and making fresh water a vital need.

Aid agencies said thick ash and smoke had prompted authorities to ask people to wear masks and drink bottled water.

In a video posted on Facebook, Nightingale Filihia was sheltering at her familys home from a rain of volcanic ash and tiny pieces of rock that turned the sky pitch black.

Its really bad. They told us to stay indoors and cover our doors and windows because its dangerous, she said. I felt sorry for the people. Everyone just froze when the explosion happened. We rushed home. Outside the house, people were seen carrying umbrellas for protection.

One complicating factor to any international aid effort is that Tonga has so far managed to avoid any outbreaks of COVID-19. Ardern said New Zealands military staff were all fully vaccinated and willing to follow any protocols established by Tonga.

Dave Snider, the tsunami warning coordinator for the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, said it was very unusual for a volcanic eruption to affect an entire ocean basin, and the spectacle was both humbling and scary.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the eruption caused the equivalent of a magnitude 5.8 earthquake. Scientists said tsunamis generated by volcanoes rather than earthquakes are relatively rare.

Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau, who chairs the New Zealand Tonga Business Council, said she hoped the relatively low level of the tsunami waves would have allowed most people to get to safety, although she worried about those living on islands closest to the volcano.

We are praying that the damage is just to infrastructure and people were able to get to higher land, she said.

The explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai volcano, about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Nukualofa, was the latest in a series of dramatic eruptions. In late 2014 and early 2015, eruptions created a small new island and disrupted international air travel to the Pacific archipelago for several days.

Earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC had watched the island in recent days after a new volcanic vent began erupting in late December. Satellite images showed how drastically the volcano had shaped the area, creating a growing island off Tonga.

___

Associated Press journalists Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Md., and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

Photograph: This satellite image shows an undersea volcanic eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. The photo was taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite operated by Japan Meteorological Agency and released by National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). Photo credit: NICT via AP.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Zurich North America announced the following changes:

Jason Meador, currently head of Captives at Zurich North America, has been appointed to lead the Rural Community Insurance Services crop insurance business following the impending retirement of head of RCIS Mike Day.

Alban Laloum, currently head of Customer, Distribution, Marketing & Regional Management for Zurich Canada, has been selected for the role of Chief Customer Officer for Zurich North America.

Dawn Hiestand, currently head of Operations for Zurich North Americas Direct Markets business serving auto dealers, has been selected to replace Meador as head of Captives.

Kelly Kinzer has officially become head of Construction after serving in an interim role following the departure of Karen Reutter.

Rural Community Insurance Services

Meador, who has been at Zurich since 2013, will move to Zurichs crop insurance business, Rural Community Insurance Services, on Feb. 1 as head of RCIS. Reporting to Zurich North America CEO Kristof Terryn, Meador will be responsible for the direction and strategic planning of Zurichs crop insurance business, including the expansion of precision agriculture and other advanced technology, and relationships with key stakeholders in the agriculture industry, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS), crop agents and the U.S. Congress. He will work with Zurichs Government & Regulatory Relations team in Washington, D.C., on issues and advocacy related to the federally funded crop insurance program.

Day will stay on through March 31 to assist in Meadors transition. Days retirement comes after nearly 40 years in crop insurance, which included serving on the NCIS Executive Committee and the Executive Committee of the Crop Insurance & Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB).

Captives

Succeeding Meador as head of Captives on Feb. 1, Hiestand will be responsible for the overall strategy and operational management of Zurich North Americas Group Captives insurance business, which includes member-owned, agency and fronted captives. She will report to Paul Horgan, head of U.S. National Accounts.

Since joining Zurich in 2000, Hiestand has held leadership positions in claims, operational transformation and underwriting. She served as chief operations officer for Alternative Markets before serving in the same role for Direct Markets. She is also head of the Womens Innovation Network, Zurichs largest employee resource group. She previously practiced law at private firms.

Customer Office

Laloum has been selected for the role of chief customer officer, reporting to Kristof Terryn. Effective Feb. 1, Laloum will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for the expanded Customer Office, which now will encompass distribution in addition to marketing and customer experience functions. This will include building on digital and technical capabilities.

Laloum has been with Zurich since 2013, joining as global broker relationship leader after leading Marshs multinational practice globally for three years. His 26 years of experience as a broker include roles leading Marshs international practice for the Midwest region and its risk management and client executive practice.

Construction

Kinzer, previously head of Construction Casualty and, before that, head of Construction Property at Zurich North America, had been leading Zurichs Construction business on an interim basis since November, following the departure of Karen Reutter. Kinzer officially became head of Construction on Jan. 1. She will be accountable for underwriting results, sales execution, talent management strategies and innovative products and services, such as the Zurich Construction Weather Parametric solution that she helped launch in 2021. She will report to Horgan.

Kinzer started her career at Zurich before moving to roles at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty then Marsh & McLennan, where she was senior vice president. She then spent four years at Willis Towers Watson, where she progressed to executive vice president and head of Construction Broking for North America before rejoining Zurich in 2019.

Topics Agribusiness Leadership Construction
Three joint state and federal disaster centers are set to open in northeast Arkansas to assist those affected by tornadoes that killed two people in the area in December.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and state and local agencies will be available to answer questions about disaster assistance, according to a statement from FEMA.

The centers will open Tuesday, Jan. 18 in Trumann, Wednesday in Monette and Thursday in Newport. The centers in Trumann and Monette will then be open Mondays-Saturdays and the Newport center will be open Thursdays and Fridays.

The Dec. 10 and 11 storms spawned dozens of tornadoes that left more than 90 people dead in five states, including a man in Monette and woman in Leachville.

President Joe Biden has declared five counties; Craighead, Jackson, Mississippi, Poinsett and Woodruff, as major disaster areas because of the storms.

Residents of any of the five counties may visit any of the disaster recovery centers for assistance.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Arkansas
U.S. and British authorities Monday continued an investigation into the weekend standoff at a Texas synagogue that ended with an armed British national dead and a rabbi crediting past security training for getting him and three members of his congregation out safely.

Authorities identified the hostage-taker as a 44-year-old British national, Malik Faisal Akram, who was killed Saturday night after the last hostages ran out of Congregation Beth Israel around 9 p.m. The FBI said there was no early indication that anyone else was involved, but it had not provided a possible motive.

The investigation stretched to England, where late Sunday police in Manchester announced that two teenagers were in custody in connection with the standoff. Greater Manchester Police tweeted that counter-terrorism officers had made the arrests but did not say whether the pair faced any charges.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker said security training at his suburban Fort Worth congregation over the years is what allowed him and the other three hostages to make it through the 10-hour ordeal, which he described as traumatic.

In the last hour of our hostage crisis, the gunman became increasingly belligerent and threatening, Cytron-Walker said in a statement. Without the instruction we received, we would not have been prepared to act and flee when the situation presented itself.

Video of the standoffs end from Dallas TV station WFAA showed people running out a door of the synagogue, and then a man holding a gun opening the same door just seconds later before he turned around and closed it. Moments later, several shots and then an explosion could be heard.

Authorities have declined to say who shot Akram, saying it was still under investigation.

Akram could be heard ranting on a Facebook livestream of the services and demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden called the episode an act of terror. Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia on Sunday, Biden said Akram allegedly purchased a weapon on the streets.

Federal investigators believe Akram purchased the handgun used in the hostage taking in a private sale, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Akram arrived in the U.S. at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York about two weeks ago, a law enforcement official said.

Akram arrived in the U.S. recently on a tourist visa from Great Britain, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not intended to be public. Londons Metropolitan Police said in a statement that its counter-terrorism police were liaising with U.S. authorities about the incident.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno had said Saturday night that the hostage-taker was specifically focused on an issue not directly connected to the Jewish community. It wasnt clear why Akram chose the synagogue, though the prison where Siddiqui is serving her sentence is in nearby Fort Worth.

On Sunday night, the FBI issued a statement calling the ordeal a terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted. The agency said the Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating.

Michael Finfer, the president of the congregation, said in a statement there was a one in a million chance that the gunman picked our congregation.

Akram used his phone during the course of negotiations to communicate with people other than law enforcement, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Multiple people heard the hostage-taker refer to Siddiqui as his sister on the livestream. But John Floyd, board chair for the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations _ the nations largest Muslim advocacy group _ said Siddiquis brother, Mohammad Siddiqui, was not involved.

Texas resident Victoria Francis, who said she watched about an hour of the livestream, said she heard the man rant against America and claim he had a bomb. Biden said there were apparently no explosives, despite the threats.

He was just all over the map. He was pretty irritated and the more irritated he got, hed make more threats, like `Im the guy with the bomb. If you make a mistake, this is all on you. And hed laugh at that, Francis said. He was clearly in extreme distress.

Colleyville, a community of about 26,000 people, is about 15 miles (23 kilometers) northeast of Fort Worth. Reached outside his home Sunday, Cytron-Walker declined to speak at length about the episode. Its a little overwhelming as you can imagine. It was not fun yesterday, he told the AP.

Andrew Marc Paley, a Dallas rabbi who was called to the scene to help families and hostages upon their release, said Cytron-Walker acted as a calm and comforting presence. The first hostage was released shortly after 5 p.m. That was around the time food was delivered to those inside the synagogue, but Paley said he did not know if it was part of the negotiations.

Cytron-Walker said his congregation had received training from local authorities and the Secure Community Network, which was founded in 2004 by a coalition of Jewish organizations and describes itself as the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America. Michael Masters, the CEO of the organization, said the congregation had provided security training in August and had not been previously aware of Akram.

The standoff led authorities to tighten security in other places, including New York City, where police said that they increased their presence at key Jewish institutions out of an abundance of caution.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas Training Development
A pilot and passenger are presumed dead after the crash Jan. 14 of a helicopter in a south Louisiana marsh, a local government official said.

The sheriffs office in coastal Lafourche Parish got a call from a witness who saw the aircraft going down about 10:15 a.m. in south Louisiana wetlands. The wreckage was found in a marshy area about 2:45 p.m., parish President Archie Chaisson told reporters.

It appears that the aircraft nosedived and basically sunk into the mud, so theres very little of the aircraft above the water line, Chaisson said. A part of the fuselage was found about 150 yards (140 meters) away, he said.

The bodies had not been found as of Friday afternoon, according to the official.

Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were traveling to the area to investigate.

Separately, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement that its New Orleans sector coordinated the dispatch of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, as well as a special-purpose shallow water boat to assist at the site.

The statement said the sheriffs office was conducting an investigation into what was believed to be the aircrafts debris field, which was first identififed by the aircrew sent from Air Station New Orleans.

The Coast Guard said a privately held helicopter operator, Rotocraft Leasing Co., had alerted the agency that the aircraft was overdue with two people aboard.

Chaisson said the company was expected to release the names of those aboard later.

There was no immediate statement from the leasing company.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
A Miami judges certification of a lawsuit against Floridas largest utility company as a $10 billion class action, with damage claims from more than 4 million people who lost power in Hurricane Irma, could have significant repercussions for self-insurers and insurance companies in the years ahead.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge David Miller issued the order last month, noting that the plaintiffs had shown that the case meets all requirements for a class action. The plaintiffs allege that Florida Power & Light was negligent and breached its contract with customers by failing to fully prepare for the storm or to harden the system, despite collecting a surcharge for that purpose.

Plaintiffs are not claiming that FPL is an insurer against hurricanes, nor will class status produce that result, the judge wrote. Instead, plaintiffs seek class-wide management over a basic contractual issue  whether the utility failed to honor its promise to use reasonable diligence at all times.

Judges and legal scholars have said that, with climate change and the consensus that storms are gaining in frequency and intensity, fewer businesses and utilities will now be able to claim damage was simply an act of God that they could not have anticipated. For some parts of the state, 2017s Irma had weakened to a minor tropical storm, yet thousands of customers still lost power, the plaintiffs in the FPL suit allege.

Plaintiffs, like those in the FPL class, may succeed by showing the utility engaged in gross negligence and reckless disregard for warning signs, as opposed to ordinary negligence that can be chalked up partly to the will of Mother Nature, said professor Joel Eisen, of the University of Richmond School of Law.

I think there will be more claims of this sort and many will succeed, said Eisen, who has studied energy law and policy.

The case, Heydi Velez et al vs. Florida Power & Light, was the second in December in which a court in Florida allowed thousands of claims over the lack of storm preparedness to proceed. In the U.S. District for the Northern District of Florida, a judge found that maritime law did not shield a bridge construction firm, Skanska USA, from property damage claims and business interruption claims. Skanska officials should have known of an impending hurricane in 2020 and should have taken steps to better secure construction barges before they broke loose and knocked out part of the Pensacola Bay bridge and smashed waterfront properties, the judge said.

And while the multinational Skanska and Florida Power & Light are largely self-insured, many smaller construction firms and utilities purchase their coverage. They could face similar legal claims if hurricanes continue to pound the Sunshine State and other coastal areas.

I imagine that every utility is watching the FPL case closely, said Robert Jarvis, a professor at Nova Southeastern University School of Law, in Fort Lauderdale.

The class action against FPL also means that insurance subrogation claims will now become part of the class. That could potentially save insurers the cost of having to pursue hundreds of individual claims to recoup what theyve paid in business-interruption claims that resulted from the 2017 hurricane, which left some Floridians without power for days.

Similar actions against utilities may be on the rise. In Texas, 131 insurance carriers earlier this month filed suit against power companies and the Texas power grid operator over widespread losses from a 2021 winter storm. More than 4.5 million people lost power during the freezing weather, causing pipes to burst in many buildings and damaging property. Some 240 people died and insurers have seen more than 500,000 claims filed for $10 million in losses.

Like the FPL and Skanska suits, the suit against Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Texas power generators argues gross negligence  that the utilities had knowledge of the storms potential but failed to prepare for it.

While many Florida property insurance policies exclude losses caused by power outages, some cover losses of refrigerated, perishable items, said John Ruiz, the lead attorney in the class action against FPL.

Ruiz name will ring a bell for many insurance companies. His Miami-based firm, MSP Recovery, has filed other class-action suits against more than 300 auto insurers around the country, charging that they have failed to correctly report primary payer status in no-fault auto accidents. The omissions have stuck Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans with billions of dollars in illegal costs, according to at least one of the MSP lawsuits.

The tort actions allege that 90% of no-fault auto insurers utilize the same software, produced by the Insurance Services Office, part of Verisk Analytics. It systematically and erroneously reports that Medicare should be the primary payer in many accidents, contrary to federal law, Ruiz said.

If they are aware of the flaws in the software and theyve done nothing to fix it, it becomes intentional, Ruiz said last month.

Verisk declined to comment on its software or the litigation.

Ruiz Florida Power & Light class action puts him on the side as some of the same insurers hes now battling in the auto-insurers suits. The FPL action could end up recouping some funds for carriers but could also potentially mean higher electric bills for Florida residents.

If FPL loses, theyll probably have to raise rates or cut back on promises to customers, said Jarvis, the Florida law professor.

Florida Power & Light, which serves more than 11 million residents in Florida, is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy. FPL notes in its December 2020 annual report that, due to the high cost and limited coverage available from third-party insurers, NextEra does not have property insurance coverage for a substantial portion of its transmission and distribution property.

If storm restoration costs exceed storm reserves already set aside, FPL may recover costs through a surcharge on customers, as approved by Florida regulators, the annual report explains. NextEra, which maintains a captive insurance company, Palms Insurance, does have coverage on its directors and officers.

The class certification is the latest in a four-year legal battle over the Hurricane Irma outages. FPL initially asked a trial court to dismiss the case, then asked an appeals court to force the dispute to be heard by the Florida Public Service Commission. Florida Power lost at both attempts.

In Miami-Dade Circuit Court, the utilitys attorneys argued that the company had no way to be sure that all of the outages for the proposed class had come as a result of the hurricane. But the plaintiffs pointed out that almost 90% of FPL customers who saw outages during the 2017 storm reported a cause code as Hurricane Irma.

The judge, David Miller, said the utility has engaged in some obfuscation on the cause of the power outages, which did not help its cause.

It stands to reason that FPL has identified the cause of an outage where it has been able to turn the power back on, Miller wrote in the opinion. FPL, though, has now dedicated the bulk of its presentation to undermining the accuracy of its own records.

Company officials did not return requests for comment about the lawsuit.

Topics Lawsuits Trends Florida Claims Windstorm
Heavy snow during a winter storm Sunday caused part of a roof to collapse on a dorm at Brevard College, but all 50 students inside got out safely, authorities said.

Emergency crews responded to Jones Hall just after 3 p.m. Sunday.

Melody Ferguson, a sophomore at the college, told WLOS-TV that she saw the roof collapse as she was walking past the dorm. She said as soon as the roof collapsed, someone pulled the fire alarm to alert authorities.

Very scary, she said. Im still shaking to this moment.

Brevard Fire Captain Adam Hughey said that quick thinking with the fire alarm made all the difference.

Everyone got out and was accounted for, Hughey said. No injures were reported.

Brevard College tweeted that the weight of heavy snow caused the partial roof collapse.

Temporary accommodations are being made for those students who were impacted.

The incident was one of several reported across the South as the winter storm moved through. The storm knocked out power, felled trees and fences and coated roads with a treacherous, frigid glaze.

Tens of thousands of customers were without power in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Highway patrols reported hundreds of vehicle accidents, and a tornado ripped through a trailer park in Florida. More than 1,200 Sunday flights at Charlotte Douglas International were cancelled  more than 90% of the airports Sunday schedule, according to the flight tracking service flightaware.com.

Winter Storm Izzy dumped as much as 10 inches of snow in some areas of western North Carolina as the system moved across the southeastern U.S., said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

First Sgt. Christopher Knox, a North Carolina Highway Patrol spokesperson, said that by midafternoon, the agency had responded to 300 car crashes and nearly 800 calls for service. Two people died Sunday when their car drove off the road and into trees in a median east of Raleigh. The driver and passenger, both 41-year-old South Carolina residents, were pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle crash. Knox said investigators believe the car was driving too fast for the conditions, described as mixed winter precipitation.

Durham police tweeted a photo of a tractor-trailer that slid off the N.C. Highway 147 overpass in Durham. The trucks cab appeared to have landed upright on Highway 15-501 below, while the trailer came down in a vertical position from the bridge to the highway below. Police spokesperson Kammie Michael said the driver was stable with injuries that did not appear life-threatening.

Kristen Baker Morrows 6-year-old son made snow angels after their home in Crouse, North Carolina, got four inches of snow Sunday morning, but she said they couldnt stay outside long because of the uncomfortable wind chill.

It took 30 to 45 minutes to get everything on for about 10 minutes in the snow, but it was definitely worth it for him, to get our pictures and make some memories, said Morrow, a 35-year-old registered nurse.

Outages, which had ballooned to a quarter-million customers earlier in the day, stood at around 130,000 customers by late Sunday, according to poweroutage.us. North Carolina was hardest hit, peaking at some 90,000 outages. Parts of Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Kentucky also lost power.

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado with 118 mph winds (190 kph) struck southwest Florida. The weather service said the tornado was on the ground for almost two miles (3 kilometers) with a maximum path width of 125 yards (115 meters). Thirty mobile homes were destroyed and 51 had major damage. Three minor injuries were reported.

Edward Murray, 81, told the Naples Daily News that he was inside his mobile home Sunday morning when a tornado picked it up and tossed it on top of his neighbors home.

Thats my house thats turned upside down, he told the newspaper. The tornado took me off my feet, blew me toward the east wall and buried me under the sink, refrigerator, kitchen chairs and everything else.

Murray and his daughter, Cokie, escaped unharmed, crawling from the wreckage.

I was so happy when I saw the sky, Murray told the newspaper. I said to the devil, `Its not going to be today.

Virginia State Police said traffic came to a standstill on Interstate 81 in Roanoke County for several hours Sunday afternoon after a tractor-trailer jackknifed and the cab of the truck disconnected from the trailer in the northbound lanes. Two additional accidents occurred in the traffic backup, one with minor injuries. Please stay off the roads if possible. Begging again! Hazardous conditions, read a tweet from VDOTs Salem office.

At Mountain Crossings, a hikers outfitting store on the Appalachian Trail near Georgias Blood Mountain, a handful of hikers were trekking up the mountain in the snow, employee Julia Leveille said Sunday.

Were open, but its kind of a mess up here, she said by phone. A tree fell along the highway about a mile south of the store, and crews were working to clear it, she said.

Despite the heavy snow and ice in the area, several hikers had already started hiking from Georgia to Maine, Leveille said.

Youve got to really like the snow for that, because youre heading north and into higher mountains and you could see some nasty storms, she said.

Most of the hikers who stopped in Sunday were ascending Blood Mountain on a day hike. At 4,458 feet (1,359 meters), its the highest peak on Georgias portion of the Appalachian Trail.

In Tennessee, there were multiple reports of abandoned and wrecked cars on snow-covered roads.

The storm system could cause hazardous driving conditions over a large portion of the eastern U.S. through Monday as the wet roadways refreeze in southern states and the storm turns and moves northward through the Mid-Atlantic states and New England.

Its a very expansive storm, Hurley said. A lot of real estate is going to get four to eight inches of snow and a lot more are also going to get to get some of that ice accumulation.

New York City was expected to be spared most, if not all, of the snowfall, but Long Island and Connecticut coastal areas were expecting gale conditions. Upstate New York was projected to get hit with up to a foot of snow along with high winds.

Six to 13 inches (15 to 33 centimeters) of snow was expected in parts of east-central Ohio and western Pennsylvania from Sunday afternoon.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Education Universities North Carolina
Former Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, a longtime leader in North Carolina government and state Democratic Party politics, was named the next Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner on Friday.

Goodwin, the elected state insurance commissioner from 2009 to 2017 and a former state House member, succeeds Torrie Jessup, who left in November to become chief operating officer at the Department of Information Technology, according to a news release.

Goodwin, who starts his new duties on Tuesday, was chairman of the state Democratic Party from 2017 until early 2021. The insurance commissioner regulates automobile insurance rates among other duties.

Wayne is a distinguished public servant who understands how to manage a customer-facing agency and the need to deliver results, said Eric Boyette, secretary of the Department of Transportation, under which DMV operates. Waynes background as an attorney and knowledge of motor vehicle statutes will be invaluable to our agency.

Originally from Richmond County, Goodwin served in the General Assembly from 1997 to 2004. He joined the Department of Insurance in 2005 under then-Commissioner Jim Long.

Goodwins electoral career also included an unsuccessful bid for labor commissioner in 2004 and a 2020 loss to current Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who had taken the job from Goodwin with a 2016 election win.

Jessup led the agency overseeing drivers licenses, license plates and vehicle records starting in 2017.

DMV moved its headquarters from Raleigh to Rocky Mount during his tenure and struggled with long lines at agency offices, initially because of approaching REAL ID requirements. Later delays stemmed from the coronavirus pandemic and staffing constraints.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A retired San Jose Police officer who owns a security business pleaded no contest to insurance fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and worker exploitation and is expected to be sentenced to three years in jail, prosecutors said.

Robert Foster, who retired from the San Jose Police Department after he was charged in the case in July 2020, owns Atlas Private Security with Mikaila Foster, his wife, who also pleaded no contest and is expected to be sentenced to one year in jail and five years of probation, said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen.

Foster started the company, now called Genesis Private Security, without the knowledge of the police department, Rosen said.

The couple illegally reduced their insurance premiums and taxes by reporting false payroll, paying employees off-the-books, and underreporting employee injuries. The Fosters also failed to pay employees overtime and dissuaded them from reporting on-the-job injuries and wage-theft violations, Rosen said.

In one case, an off-the-books security guard suffered severe injuries during a crash while driving an Atlas security vehicle. Robert Foster responded to the guards $1 million medical bill by telling the insurance company that the guard was not an Atlas employee. Investigators found records showing that the guard was driving an Atlas vehicle and wearing an Atlas uniform at the time of the collision.

Exploitation takes a massive toll on workers, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. Our Office does not tolerate the victimization of workers and will prosecute those responsible  no matter who they are.

The investigation also uncovered the couple used a subcontractor that had no knowledge of the employees hours, wages, or schedules. The other company simply moved money from the Fosters firm to the employees so that the Fosters could avoid paying their fair share of taxes, workers compensation insurance, and overtime wages, Rosen said.

Robert Foster will also be ordered to repay $1.13 million to Everest National Insurance and the Employment Development Department, Rosen said. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 25.

Mikalia Fosters sentencing is scheduled for April 29.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California Fraud
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
The day after Eric Garner died in a police chokehold, Phil Banks  then the NYPDs top uniformed police officer  was living it up in Los Angeles with a businessman who bribed cops and a corrupt jails union boss.

Banks, appointed recently as the citys deputy mayor for public safety, and his friend Norman Seabrook enjoyed head massages, trips around the city in a Porsche, martinis and an encounter with television host Larry King on July 18, 2014, photos obtained by the Daily News show.

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The chief of department and influential union leader were visiting their pal, Jona Rechnitz, who would later testify for federal prosecutors about a sprawling bribery scheme aimed at the highest levels of the NYPD and city power players.

Phil Banks (left) and Norman Seabrook enjoy a drink in Los Angeles on July 18, 2014. (Obtained by Daily News)

As Banks and Seabrook enjoyed the L.A. sunshine, a disturbing video of Garners death published by the Daily News was going viral. Soon, protesters would flood the streets  and cities around the world  chanting Black Lives Matter and decrying the NYPD.

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The News first story featuring video of Garners death in a police chokehold was published the evening of his death. Time stamps of photos from Banks L.A. trip show that he was still reveling in the City of Angels until at least 5:30 p.m. the following day.

Critics say NYPD policies on quality of life crimes contributed to the fatal confrontation with Eric Garner on July 17, 2014. (Obtained by Daily News)

A source familiar with the trip, which has not been previously reported, said Banks eventually rushed back to New York City late in the day.

Phil Banks (left) and Norman Seabrook snapped a photo with Larry King while on their July 18, 2014 trip in LA. (Obtained by Daily News)

Criticism of Mayor Adams decision to appoint Banks as deputy mayor of public safety has focused on his status as unindicted co-conspirator in the corruption investigation revolving around Rechnitz and his partner in bribes, Jeremy Reichberg.

Rechnitz is appealing a sentence of five months in prison and five months of home confinement. Reichberg was sentenced to four years in prison for bribing cops. Seabrook, the former president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, is serving a sentence of four years and 10 months for accepting a $60,000 bribe from Rechnitz in December 2014 in exchange for a $20 million investment of union money.

Banks, who was never charged, wrote in a News op-ed announcing his appointment as deputy mayor that his friendship with Rechntiz and Reichberg was a mistake.

These two men were attempting to corrupt public officials  and I now regret the time I spent with them. I realize now that even the appearance of our friendship was damaging to my profession, Banks wrote.

Phil Banks and Norman Seabrook were visiting Jona Rechnitz, a businessman who later testified that he bribed high-ranking cops and other city bigshots. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News)

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Eugene ODonnell, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former NYPD officer, said that the corruption scandal has obscured Banks influence in the NYPD prior to his abrupt resignation in November 2014.

Banks placed a high priority on enforcement of quality-of-life crimes  an approach that critics say contributed to Garners death in a police chokehold after being suspected of selling loosie cigarettes.

He was a major architect of police policy, ODonnell said. Hes ultimately responsible for that decision making on prioritization and implementation. How does that become such a high priority, street-level cigarette sales?

ODonnell argued that Banks bore responsibility for putting cops in unnecessary confrontations with citizens over minor offenses, fueling distrust of the NYPD.

Phil Banks and Norman Seabrook enjoy massages on July 18, 2014. (Obtained by Daily News)

As No. 3 in the department, Banks took an aggressive approach to quality-of-life complaints, which typically came through the 311 system.

Every chief of department has their own flavor, puts their own mark on it. [Banks] really stressed the importance of the 311 system and chronic complaints. He took it to another level by having commanders reach out directly to the complainants, said a former high-ranking official in the NYPD who attended CompStat meetings run by Banks.

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A judicial inquiry into the Eric Garner killing late last year detailed a March 2014 meeting at 1 Police Plaza where Lt. Christopher Bannons supervisors showed him photos of people suspected of selling illegal cigarettes at 200 Bay St., where Garner would later plead I cant breathe.

Banks name did not come up during the inquiry, but Bannon testified that the fateful meeting was chaired by the chief  who sources suspected was Banks.

Four months after the meeting, then-Officer Daniel Pantaleo and his partner, acting on Bannons orders, confronted Garner on suspicion of selling loosies.

Phil Banks and Norman Seabrooks stay in Los Angeles came one day after the police killing of Eric Garner in Staten Island. (Obtained by Daily News)

Eric Garner was killed by the NYPD, not by just a single officer. The whole system murdered him, Garners mother, Gwen Carr, wrote in The News in October. The NYPDs broken-windows policies, which led to the stop that escalated to an illegal arrest, and his death, killed Eric.

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Carr did not respond to an inquiry from The News about Banks.

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Adams has called criticism of his decision to hire Banks unfair, sarcastically saying, I had the audacity to hire blue-collar people.

The News reported weeks after Garners death that Banks had sought to stem the sale of loose cigarettes on Staten Island since at least March 2014.

[Banks] set the whole thing in motion, a police source told The News at the time.

A message left with Banks was not returned.

City Hall spokesman Maxwell Young said it is unfair to blame Banks for contributing to Garners death.

Phil Banks is a lifelong public servant and decorated police chief who led the NYPD while reducing both crime and stop, question and frisk. As you can see from still active NYPD orders and publicly available statistics, from the beginning of his career to the end his focus was on preventing trouble before it starts, requiring officers to focus on solving problems by talking directly to those who filed complaints, instead of focusing on arrests. These attacks against the deputy mayor are part of a disturbing pattern from people with axes to grind who wish to tarnish his record, and suggestions that anything the deputy mayor did led to Eric Garners death is outrageous and false, Young said.
The funeral of 23-year-old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy took place outside Tullamore, Co Offaly this morning.

The primary school pupils who adored Ms Murphy formed a guard of honour and the country came to a standstill to say a final farewell to the schoolteacher who was murdered last week while out running on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore.

Hundreds of people began to arrive at St Brigids Church in Mountbolus before 9am this morning, hours ahead of the 11am start-time for the funeral mass.

Ashling Murphy: Picture: RIP.ie

The assembled, and ever-growing, crowd were largely silent as they waited for the last journey of Ashling Murphy.

Among those in attendance were the pupils and staff of Durrow National School.

The first class that she taught were among those who gave Ashling a guard of honour on the way into the church.

Each of them held aloft a rose and a photo of Ashling that bore the message fly high in the sky our shining light.

Musicians began arriving before 10am, embracing each other as they entered St Brigids, with Ashling well known on the trad scene as a talented musician. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, and Taoiseach Micheal Martin are among those in attendance.

An escort of Gardai on motorcyclists led the way as Ashlings family and friends walked alongside and behind the hearse as it made its way into the grounds of St Brigids.

Amy Murphy paid tribute to her sister ahead of the funeral, describing her as "the light of our lives".

Writing on Facebook last night, she said: Ashling was the light of our lives and the heart of our family. Sadly we will lay her to rest tomorrow.

"Our family kindly asks that any musicians attending please bring their instrument and play music at the lower town cemetery after mass should you wish."

Mourners line the streets of Mountbolus to pay their respects to Ashling Murphy today before her funeral in the local church. Thoughts with her family and friends today. #AshlingMurphy pic.twitter.com/jEbjq6bfmG  Liz Dunphy (@LizDunphy1) January 18, 2022

Parish priest Fr Michael Meade is leading the service which began with music performed by members of Ballyboy Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, teaching colleagues and friends of Ms Murphy.

During the mass, symbols to represent Ashling and her life were shown. They included a Killormac Killoughey GAA jersey, a fiddle, a family photo and a schoolbook.

Ashlings father Raymond, her mother Kathleen, and her siblings Cathal and Amy accompanied her from their home at Cully.

The first and second readings were given by her cousins Emma Murphy and Lorraine Dunne.

Ashling's boyfriend paid tribute to the life""greatest love of and described her as his "shining light" as she was laid to rest this afternoon.

Ryan Casey said that everyone who knew Ashling was "so lucky to know and love and spend as much time with her as possible".

"She was always there, always willing to help anybody, anywhere, at any time, and always put herself last," he said.

"She had so many talents which combined made her an incredibly loving and beautiful person. We were all so lucky to know and love and spend as much time with her as possible.

"I will cherish the last five years we spent together for my entire life. I hope that some day, God willing, we can be reunited once more and continue the great plans we had made for each other.

"Goodbye for now, but not forever, darling. Ashling shall live on in all of our hearts."

Mourners walk beside the hearse as the cortege arrives at St Brigid's Church, Mountbolus, Co Offaly, for the funeral of Ashling Murphy. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

In his homily, Father Meade said: "Together we grieve, we pray, we hurt  this is the heavy price we pay for love  we gather as a family of faith, to be with, to support by our prayer and our presence, those whose darkness is deep, whose pain is raw and fierce.

Kathleen and Ray, Cathal, Amy and her boyfriend, Ryan - you have been robbed of your most precious gift - a gift that gave only joy and love, fun and laughter to many beyond your family.

Father Meade said her life was one of joy and of love.

That same love and joy was not kept on a shelf or wrapped up  it was freely given and shared through music, through sport, through her vocation as a teacher.

"Today we give thanks for the privilege of sharing in this most wonderful gift of Ashling Murphy, today we share our love, our grief, our faith and our comfort with the Murphy and Leonard families.

In an address, Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan said that the past few days had been a nightmare.

A walk on a mild and sunny afternoon in January should be a happy event, promising the brighter and warmer days of spring and summer, he said.

Bishop Deenihan said that a depraved act of violence which deprived a kind, talented, loved and admired young woman of her life has since united the country in grief and support.

Pupils from Ashling Murphy's class hold photographs of her and red roses outside St Brigid's Church, Mountbolus, Co Offaly, ahead of the funeral of the schoolteacher who was murdered in Tullamore, Co Offaly last Wednesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

He said the crime has also asked questions of ourselves and of society. He urged people to show respect for one another and said such violence cannot be allowed to take root in our society and culture.

However, today is about Ashling and her family and friends, the bishop said.

I also think of Ashlings pupils and the staff of Durrow National School who have lost a wonderful colleague and teacher. Their grief and their loss must be acknowledged and supported.

As we return to our lives after today, their grief and loss remains.

Bishop Deenihan said that if there was a chink of light in the darkness, it was the outpouring of sympathy and support.

He said: Community is important and community works. Community is needed to overcome evils such as this and community will be needed here in the weeks ahead.

The funeral mass for Ashling Murphy ended just before 12.45pm with trad musicians among those lining the streets outside St Brigids church.

Before the funeral cortege passed outside the grounds, the assembled musicians began playing in tribute to Aisling. They resumed playing as people began filing out of the church grounds.

She will be laid to rest this afternoon.
A man with a serious drink problem used a wheelie-bin to steal a keg of Guinness that had just been delivered to a pub in Cork early in the morning.

Aaron Babbington, of Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork, is now commencing a four-month jail term for the crime.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing the 30-litre keg of stout.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the keg was one of a number delivered at 6.43am on November 19, 2020, to The Corner House on Coburg St.

The kegs were left outside the premises, including the 30-litre keg of Guinness which was removed from the delivery. Other kegs had been moved around by Mr Babbington.

CCTV was examined and he was observed attempting to lift the keg into a wheelie bin by first stacking the kegs on top of one another and then placing the Guinness keg in the wheelie-bin, Sgt Kelleher said.

The sergeant said Babbington had 103 previous convictions, including two for theft.

For previous thefts, he got a community service order and a four-month prison sentence in 2018 and 2020, respectively. He was also convicted of carrying out a robbery in 2016.

Judge Olann Kelleher said he was very familiar with the defendant. He said bench warrants were issuing for the defendant for failing to turn up in court almost on a fortnightly basis.

Michael Quinlan, defending, said the accused had a chronic difficulty with alcohol and was getting medical treatment for this in prison.

Judge Kelleher imposed a four-month jail term on Babbington.
An Iranian employee of the British Council who was arrested in Tehran and sentenced to 10 years in prison over internationally criticised espionage charges has been freed and has returned to the UK, the organisation said.

Iranian authorities did not immediately acknowledge the release of Aras Amiri, but it came amid negotiations in Vienna between Tehran and world powers, including the UK, over its tattered 2015 nuclear deal.

The British Council said on Wednesday that an appeal her lawyers made to Irans Supreme Court had been successful. Ms Amiri worked for the councils London office.

We are pleased to confirm that British Council employee Aras Amiri has been acquitted in Iran of all charges following a successful appeal lodged by her lawyer. She has returned to the UK.



Read the full statement on our website: https://t.co/Hb1hlwraYU  British Council (@BritishCouncil) January 12, 2022

We have always refuted the original charges made against Aras, the council said in a statement.

We are very proud of her work in our London office as an arts programme officer supporting a greater understanding and appreciation of Iranian culture in the UK.

In Tehran, her lawyer, Hojjat Kermani, confirmed in an interview with the Associated Press that Ms Amiri had been released.

He said Irans Supreme Court had determined that her earlier espionage conviction in the countrys Revolutionary Court was against Shariah, or Islamic law.

Mr Kermani said Ms Amiri left Tehran on Monday but had been free from prison in recent months as she appealed against a travel ban.

Iran announced her conviction in 2019. Authorities had accused her of spying on cultural activities in Iran.

The British Council previously said she had travelled to Tehran to visit family on a private trip that did not involve her work at the non-political organisation which works in arts, culture and education.
Burma Kayah Civilians Urged to Dig Bomb Shelters Amid Myanmar Junta Airstrikes

Displaced civilians prepare to move again after their camp in Hpruso Township, Kayah State, was bombed by regime helicopters early on Monday. / Kantarawaddy Times

Civilians in Kayah State have been urged by the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) to build bomb shelters to protect themselves after Myanmars junta bombed two displacement camps in the state on Monday, killing six people.

The KSCC was formed in April last year by elected lawmakers, representatives of political parties, ethnic armed organizations and civil society groups, including the long-standing Karenni National Progressive Party.

On Sunday evening, three medical volunteers were killed in airstrikes on Nann Mal Khon village in Demoso Township which did not follow any clashes with anti-regime forces, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) resistance group.

It claimed the junta is specifically targeting civilians.

Early on Monday, a seven-year-old girl, an 18-year-old woman and a man in his 50s were killed when at least two junta helicopters bombed a displacement camp sheltering around 600 people in Hpruso Township.

The regime is clearly murdering both innocent civilians and resistance fighters without any discrimination, said the KSCC. The regime is committing genocide and it will potentially increase in ferocity.

The council said regime operations against innocent civilians, religious buildings and displacements camps in the state were increasing.

The KSCC advised people to dig shelters on hillsides which could not be seen from above and to hide if junta aircraft appeared.

It urged people to prepare snacks, water, painkillers, mobile phones, lighting, power banks, radios and some clothes and to listen out for airstrike warnings.

Repeated, indiscriminate airstrikes have been reported on resistance forces, civilians and residential areas in Demoso, Hpruso, Shadaw and Loikaw townships in Kayah State.

The junta has conducted at least eight airstrikes in the state from January 7-17, according to the KNDF.

Tens of thousands of residents have fled their homes.

Although airstrikes on civilian targets are prohibited under the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian laws, more than 35 airstrikes have been over 20 townships in Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah, Shan and Karen states since March last year.



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Burma Myanmar Resistance Forces China-Backed Nickel Plant Shut Down

A Sagaing Region people's defense force blew up electricity pylons supplying the major ferronickel-processing plant in Tigyaing Township.

Three electricity pylons supplying the China-backed Tagaung Taung nickel-processing plant in Sagaing Region have been blown up this month, forcing production to halt.

Tigyaing Township Peoples Defense Force (PDF) said it blew up the pylons on January 7.

The nickel project opened in July 2008 with a 20-year production-sharing contract between the No.1 Mining Enterprise of Myanmar and Chinese state-owned firm China Nonferrous Metal Mining (CNMC).

With an investment of US$800 million, the project is the largest nickel production site in Myanmar with an annual production of 85,000 tonnes of ferronickel, according to the joint venture Myanmar CNMC Nickel.

Around 5,000 tonnes of ferronickel ore each day is transported from the Mt Tagaung mine in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region, to Tigyaing where the nickel is smelted.

The Chinese Embassy in Yangon has reportedly complained to the parallel National Unity Government about the explosions but no details are known.

Chinese mining companies in Myanmar are being called on to demonstrate greater social responsibility and accountability and withdraw their investments since last years coup.

Activists have pushed for the closures of China-backed mines. A report by Publish What You Pay Australia  a coalition of 30 organizations campaigning for transparency and accountability in the extractive industries  said Chinese-backed mines were financially propping up the junta.

The report, How Chinese Mining Investment Funds the Myanmar Military, released in November last year, said the Chinese-run Letpadaung, Sapetaung and Kyesintaung and Tagaung Taung mines paid an estimated US$725 million to the military during the 2020-21 financial year.

Myanmars three largest mines are run by Chinese state-owned enterprises, Wanbao Mining Ltd and CNMC, with a slice of the profits flowing to the generals, said the report.

It said Myanmars economy has been in freefall since the coup meaning the regime is increasingly reliant on oil and gas, gemstones and metal mining, often with heavy Chinese investment.

More than 1,400 people have been killed by the junta since its takeover in February last year, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.



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Myanmar Junta Arming, Training Civilians as Losses, Defections Mount

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Burma The Worst Myanmar Regime Airstrikes on Civilians

Two regime jets during training. Photo-regime's website.

Nearly 200,000 civilians in seven out of Myanmars 14 states and regions have suffered from the military launching airstrikes against what the junta claims are terrorists destabilizing the country.

Those terrorists are the local resistance groups known as Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) fighting against military rule, as well as some ethnic armed organizations (EAO).

As of January 17, the junta has launched at least three dozen air raids since late March last year in over 20 townships in Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin, Kachin, Karen , Kayah and Shan states, according to data collected by The Irrawaddy and the parallel National Unity Government (NUG).

The regime has used helicopters, jet fighters and surveillance drones to indiscriminately attack civilians in those areas, in a brazen breach of the Geneva Convention and international law. Both prohibit aerial attacks that terrorize civilians and kill or injure non-combatants and that destroy or damage private property.

In Papun District, Karen State, over 83,000 residents alone were displaced by regime airstrikes in late March last year, according to relief workers on the ground.

Over 40,000 residents of the Kayah State capital Loikaw have fled the town since last Saturday, due to repeated airstrikes and clashes between regime forces and PDFs.

It is the same story in Sagaing Region, where more than 30,000 residents have fled their homes since late November last year as the junta rained bombs on villages during its clearance operations.

As well as the huge numbers of people displaced, civilians have been killed and injured in the air raids, which mainly target the areas where PDFs are most active and have inflicted heavy casualties on military regime forces. In total, almost 200,000 people nationwide could have been affected by the airstrikes.

The NUG said that the junta has committed crimes against humanity, citing its air raids and artillery strikes on civilians. NUG human rights minister U Aung Myo Min said that airstrikes on civilian targets are prohibited under both domestic and international law such as the 1977 amendment to the Geneva Convention, which the former junta ratified in 1992.

The airstrikes were mostly overseen by recently replaced air force chief General Maung Maung Kyaw, whose relatives established companies involved in deals to supply the Myanmar military and the aviation sector, according to an investigation by Reuters last year.

With the regime continuing to conduct indiscriminate airstrikes, The Irrawaddy highlights some of the worst attacks.

Three civilians killed and thousands displaced by junta airstrikes in Papun, Karen State

The first airstrike in Myanmar after the February 1 coup took place on 27 March 2021. Three ethnic Karen villagers were killed and at least seven injured when two junta jets bombed a village in Papun District, Karen State, in retaliation for the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) seizing a junta outpost early the same day. Over 10,000 villagers were forced to flee their homes and the KNLA said that it would escalate its defensive actions to protect its territory.

Two regime aircraft attack civilian targets in Kachin State

Two junta jets rained bombs on a number of villages in Kachin States Momauk Township on 14 April 2021, following fighting between the military regime and EAO the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). It was the first air raid on the KIA since the coup.

Junta airstrike in Demoso, Kayah State

After suffering heavy losses in a fierce clash with local PDF the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), the regime launched airstrikes in Demoso Township, Kayah State on 31 May 2021, the first time the township was bombed.

Civilian resistance fighters bombed in Chin State

On 6 June 2021, jets bombed resistance fighters in Chin States Mindat Township. The Chin fighters were mostly armed with traditional or homemade hunting rifles.

Airstrikes on PDFs in Magwe

The junta used two Russian-made Mi35 helicopter gunships to attack a combined force of five resistance groups in Saw Township, Magwe Region on 19 November 2021.

30,000 civilians flee airstrikes in Sagaing Region

Over 30,000 residents from 15 villages in Tabayin Township, Sagaing Region, were forced to flee their villages on 27 November 2021, when junta aircraft attacked civilian targets in a nearby village. The raid came after regime forces were frequently ambushed with landmines in the area. Two civilians were killed in the air raids and three others wounded. Junta soldiers subsequently destroyed houses and motorbikes in the villages.

Air raid on Sagaing Region resistance fighters

The junta used a Mi-35 helicopter gunship to attack resistance fighters in Tabayin Township, Sagaing Region on 6 December 2021. Following the raid, some 120 junta troops occupied a nearby village and randomly shelled nearby villages, forcing 2,000 residents from 10 villages to flee their homes.

Airstrikes in Magwe Regions Gangaw Township

Nine civilians including two resistance fighters were killed and over 3,500 villagers displaced on 17 December 2021 by a junta airstrike involving five aircraft on Hnan Khar Village in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region. During the raid, five civilians were killed when regime forces opened fire on a passenger vehicle passing through the village, PDFs and a local source said. Another two Hnan Khar villagers tending cattle were executed after being detained and tied up.

Village in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region hit by airstrike

Eight civilians including women were killed on 20 December 2021 and almost 40 houses destroyed by a regime air raid using five aircraft on Yay Myat Village in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region. Two helicopter gunships opened fire on the village, while more than 100 junta troops were airlifted in on three other choppers in a failed attempt to seize PDF leaders. Regime forces torched 37 houses, 30 motorbikes and three vehicles including one owned by the village for local affairs, claimed the Ye-U PDF. 500 villagers were forced to flee the airstrikes.

10 villagers killed in Sagaings Kale

At least 10 villagers were killed in indiscriminate air attacks during a clash with resistance forces in Nat Chaung Village in Kale Township, Sagaing Region on 23 December 2021. Locals were forced to flee and some houses were destroyed.

Karen State town bombed for three days

Regime aircraft bombed Lay Kay Kaw in Myawaddy Township, Karen State for three straight days from 23 December 2021, following intense firefights with the KNLA and local PDFs. Thousands of displaced civilians were forced to flee across the border to Thailand.

Airstrikes in Demoso, Kayah State

Two jet fighters assisted regime forces defeated on the ground by the Karenni Army (KA) and other local resistance groups in a fierce urban clash in Demoso Township, Kayah State on 31 December 2021. Around 100,000 Demoso residents had already fled their homes due to clashes in the township.

Village attacked in Sagaings Pale Township

Junta forces used three helicopter gunships in a failed attempt to arrest a popular PDF leader in a village in Sagaing Regions Pale Township on 10 January this year. The leader escaped, but several hundred villagers were forced to flee their homes while others were trapped in the village. Over 20 people, including PDF fighters, were later reportedly executed by junta soldiers.

Kayah State capital Loikaw bombed

Six civilians were killed in Loikaw, Kayah State on 11 January and more than 40,000 forced to flee the town when it was hit by air and artillery strikes, after fighting between regime forces and a combined force of PDFs, the KNDF and the KA. The regime used two jet fighters and a helicopter gunship to attack the town.

Civilian targets bombed in Katha, Sagaing

At least 10 civilians, including a senior citizen and two children aged seven and six, were seriously injured when three junta jets bombed Moetar Village in Katha Township, Sagaing Region on 12 January. 10 houses and buildings in the village were destroyed in the air raid.

Karen State hospital destroyed by multiple regime airstrikes

A hospital in Papun Township, Karen State run by the Karen National Union was destroyed by a regime airstrike on 12 January. It was the second time this month that the hospital had been hit in an air raid.

Refugees attacked in Hpruso Township, Kayah

Six people, including a child and three medical workers, were killed on 16 and 17 January when two junta helicopter gunships and jet fighters bombed a refugee camp sheltering some 600 internally displaced persons in Hpruso Township and a village in Demoso township , Kayah State.



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Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha meets UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer at Government House in Bangkok on Monday.

The UN secretary-generals special envoy on Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, held talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok on Monday to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

The meeting was held to coordinate and solicit support for international efforts to help displaced people and press Myanmars junta to commit to ASEANs five-point peace plan.

Heyzer later said in a statement that the prime minister has an important role in preventing further deterioration of the crisis in Myanmar, where an implosion would bring further instability to an already volatile border area.

In a separate statement, Prayut said Myanmars problems were complex and its situation should be addressed gradually with understanding and through building trust with Myanmars leader.

The Thai leader also told the UN special envoy that Thailand had a humanitarian area and refugees were returned only on a voluntary basis.

Thai government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana later briefed media that the prime minister conveyed to the special envoy that Thailand would not push back any refugee fleeing the violence in Myanmar.

Fighting has raged for more than a month between regime troops and the Karen National Liberation Army in Lay Kay Kaw in Karen States Myawaddy Township, sending thousands of villagers and activists fleeing to Thailand since Dec. 15.

Thousands more villagers are internally displaced on the Myanmar side of the Moei River, which forms the border with Thailand, and are in need of humanitarian support. Thai authorities have helped the displaced people access food and clean drinking water by letting migrant volunteers and well-wishers cross the border with food donations.

Junta air raids in Lay Kay Kaw and Kawkarike in Myawaddy, and in Loikaw, Demoso and Hpruso townships in Kayah State this month have pushed more IDPs into difficult conditions. The juntas airstrikes on towns in Kayah have also caused more than half of the states 300,000 population to become internally displaced.

The Myanmar military continues to shell and conduct air raids on locations in Kayah and Chin states and Sagaing Region, where thousands of resistance forces are fighting against the regime. Local residents have fled their homes in their thousands to take refuge in neighboring towns and villages.

After Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose country currently holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, visited Myanmar early this month, Heyzer told him in a videoconference that she was willing to work with Cambodia on resolving the conflict. She said she was pleased with the immediate action taken by the prime minister, given the urgency of the issue. ASEAN member states have expressed reservations about Hun Sens visit, which upset many in Myanmar and has drawn criticism for its potential to confer legitimacy on the junta.

On Jan. 14, Heyzer met Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. The two sides expressed their concern over the violence in Myanmar, and Don reiterated Thailands readiness to cooperate with the UN on finding peaceful solutions to the situation in the neighboring country, the Thai Foreign Ministry said.

In December, Heyzer succeeded Christine Schraner Burgener, who was appointed in 2018, mainly to tackle the Rohingya Muslim issue in Rakhine State in western Myanmar, in partnership with the countrys government. She was not allowed to enter the country after the military staged a coup in February 2021.

Heyzer, 73, a Singporean, will not only inherit Schraner Burgeners main mission but also her failed task of trying to persuade Myanmar junta leaders to engage in dialogue to settle the ongoing political and social turmoil caused by the coup.



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A civilian tortured by junta soldiers in Myaing. / CJ

Hundreds of residents from at least 20 villages in Magwe Regions Myaing Township have been forced from their homes by recent junta raids.

Five columns of junta troops, each one comprising around 100 soldiers, have been raiding villages in Myaing since January 10, according to local resistance groups.

They have been conducting large-scale military operations in Myaing. We havent been able to fight them as they outnumber us and we lack weapons that can match theirs, said a local resistance fighter.

Myaings Peoples Defense Force (PDF) has clashed three times with the military regime troops since the raids began, but has had to withdraw in all those battles when junta forces employed heavy weapons.

The junta raids are retaliation for recent PDF attacks on military convoys in Myaing. The attacks have seriously disrupted the regimes ability to provide logistical support to its forces in Pale, Yinmabin, Monywa and other townships in Magwe and Sagaing regions.

Junta soldiers have killed civilians and torched houses during their raids, as well as torturing villagers while interrogating them about the whereabouts of resistance group leaders, said locals.

Three burned bodies were found after junta troops raided Let Yet Ma Village on January 11, and locals are still identifying them, said a resident.

We are bound to be tortured if we get arrested by them. They have no brains and no humanity. They will torture anyone they arrest, said one local resident.

Regime troops raided Thadut Village in Myaing last Saturday, and torched over 20 houses the following day.

Myaing is located in the northwest of Magwe and borders Pale, Salingyi and Yinmabin townships in Sagaing Region, where fierce clashes between regime forces and resistance groups are ongoing.



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Myanmar's air force chief General Maung Maung Kyaw (center) during the Sin Phyu Shin joint military exercise in Ayeyarwady Region in February 2018. / AFP

The news that Myanmars air force chief has been forced to step down has prompted speculation about the role as the military regime is relying increasingly on airstrikes when fighting resistance groups across the country.

General Maung Maung Kyaw, who has overseen deadly airstrikes on villagers and displaced civilians, was forced to retire on Jan. 10 and replaced by air force chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tun Aung.

Some say his departure followed the militarys retirement policy while others speculate that the move was because of animosity from regime leader Min Aung Hlaing.

Maung Maung Kyaw was appointed in January 2018 and his retirement was due this month under the policy that limits full generals terms to four years.

Retirement is not, however, mandatory, with two-year extensions available.

Some generals close to Min Aung Hlaing have served six years in the three roles that carry the rank of full general: chief of the general staff of the army, navy and air force  the third-highest military rank  and the naval and air force chiefs.

General Khin Aung Myint was air force chief for more than five years from 2013 to 2018. He was concurrently chief of the general staff for more than a year and was the first general to hold both positions at the same time.

Admiral Tin Aung San was naval chief for six years from 2015 to August 2021 when he was appointed transport and communications minister by the regime.

The two generals stayed on for more than four years because both served the interests of Min Aung Hlaing, said a retired lieutenant general.

General Mya Tun Oo, who was once tipped to be the next senior general, was chief of the general staff from August 2016 to January 2021 and appointed defense minister after the coup.

General Hla Htay Win, who allegedly had a poor relationship with Min Aung Hlaing, was moved on after four years as the chief of the general staff after four years from April 2011 to August 2015.

Admiral Thura Thet Swe, 60, retired as naval chief after three years from 2012 to August 2015 before he reached retirement age.

According to military sources at the time, he was sacked because Min Aung Hlaing did not like his wife who was a doctor who often failed to attend military events and show him enough respect.

The fate of former generals supports rumors of animosity between Min Aung Hlaing and Maung Maung Kyaw.

Major General Lwin Oo, the deputy air force chief, retired before retirement age over his allegedly poor performance during the conflict in Kokang near the Chinese border in early 2015.

He was dismissed after most of the missiles landed in Chinese territory, said a retired lieutenant general.

Min Aung Hlaing has often ignored military policies on promotion and retirement when organizing his staff. He promoted the head of a non-combat unit to lieutenant general, which is unprecedented in the militarys recent history. The rank has previously only been awarded to regional commanders.

Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe was sacked as judge advocate general and transferred to the reserve force. He, however, remains the secretary of the State Administration Council, the regimes governing body.

He was replaced by Major General Myo Thant Naing, who was promoted to lieutenant general and was previously the recruitment chief.

To conclude, generals retirement date does appear to be linked to their relationship with Min Aung Hlaing.



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As more patients seek approval for marijuana cards as part of Floridas medical marijuana program, some state lawmakers in the 2022 session are pursuing changes to make it easier to access medical marijuana, raising concerns from some marijuana activists that physicians could be negatively impacted.

The changes could mean everything from allowing patients to get exams to qualify for medical marijuana through telehealth services rather than office visits and allowing medical marijuana cards to last for two years instead of one.

But a push by some lawmakers to require more regulations on how doctors advertise their medical marijuana practices raised concerns for Regulate Florida, a grassroot organization pushing for legalization of recreational marijuana use.

As it stands now, there are 645,687 active patients eligible for medicinal cannabis, compared to 455,425 in 2020, according to the state health department data.

In addition, as of November 2021, the state had received 657,196 applications for medical marijuana cards, compared to 558,711 in 2020.

Christopher Ferguson, director of the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), said, As you can see since 2019, we have seen a steady increase in the amount of applications received as well as patient applications approved, almost doubled, Ferguson told lawmakers at a public health-related committee this week in the state Capitol.

Thats just over a 125 percent growth between 2019 and 2021, he said.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan effort that would make several revisions to the states medical marijuana program was introduced by Democratic state Rep. Andrew Learned and Republican state Rep. Spencer Roach, on the first day of the 2022 session. Roach represents part of Lee County, while Learned represents part of Hillsborough County.

HB 679 would increase training from a two-hour to six-hour course for qualified physicians ordering marijuana for patients, expand telehealth opportunities for patient examinations, restrict advertising practices for medical marijuana and prohibit the sale of ingestible hemp products to residents younger than 21, among other provisions.

In a phone conversation, Michael Minardi, campaign manager for Regulate Florida, told the Florida Phoenix that the bipartisan legislation on medical marijuana practices does some good and bad things.

Specifically, a provision that would revise advertisement rules for qualified physicians could disrupt efforts to bring awareness about their practices related to medical marijuana treatment, Minardi argued.

That bill does some good things and bad things, Minardi said. I think its going to have a negative impact on physicians. The advertising aspect will be much more difficult to them.

HB 679 would implement strict advertising requirements, including prohibiting a qualified physician from engaging in radio or television advertising or advertising that is visible to members of the public from any street, sidewalk, park, or other public place.

They would be allowed to utilize internet marketing for their practice but advertisements may not have any content that specifically targets individuals under the age of 18, the bill states. And all advertisements must be approved by the state.

People dont like how doctors are advertising, he said. Still, Regulate Florida is pushing for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by launching a campaign event in early February, Minardi added.

For the regulation of hemp products, the bill would require hemp extract and hemp extract products distributed in the state to be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

 That agency would be authorized to analyze a sample and inspect product labels to ensure compliance with certain requirements.

Meanwhile, State Sen. Jeff Brandes, representing part of Pinellas County, has introduced legislation that places stricter requirements for medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs) related to licensing and operations.

SB 776 would require the Florida Department of Health to require MMTCs to complete a registration form that expires after a certain period, and MMTCs would need a separate operating licenses to perform certain operations.

It would also require the centers to obtain cultivation licenses and processing licenses and whats called a facility permit before cultivating or processing marijuana in the facility.

The Florida Department of Health operates the Office of Medical Marijuana Use. OMMU is tasked with developing rules for medical cannabis and overseeing the states Medical Marijuana Use Registry, as well as managing licensing for Florida businesses to cultivate and dispense medical marijuana.

Recently, the program has also expanded by allowing its treatment centers to deliver marijuana in the form of smoking and edibles, Ferguson said.

Weve seen quite a few enhancements over the past few years. In addition to the marijuana in the form for smoking and edibles as a permissible use, as a route of administration, we have created a physician certification documentation dashboard, he said.

According to the OMMU, patients are required to submit an application for an ID card to purchase and possess medical marijuana, known as a Medical Marijuana Use Registry identification card. The Medical Marijuana Use Registry is connected to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles database.

In 2019, the approval process for applications on average took about 11 days, but now with the implementation of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle data, we now can process in about six days, Ferguson said.

And pretty soon, the process will be shortened even more, allowing applications to be approved the same day, Ferguson added.

Once we release this new enhancement to the registry using the data, we will be able to same-day approve application cards, allowing patients to then go into the dispensary the same day to obtain their medication, he said.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Kristen Arrington, a Democrat representing part of Osceola County, addressed concerns about patients losing their marijuana cards and being able to receive replacement cards, saying she had helped a constituent with the issue and I had to print out the application and then they had to fill it in and then mail it.

And it took like a couple of weeks for them to get the replacement, she said.

This report first appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee.
A scheduled summit between President Moon Jae-in, who is already in the Middle East, and the crown prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has abruptly been called off.

The crown prince was unable to attend the summit due to an "unforeseen matter of state," a Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson said Monday. "The UAE politely asked for understanding for an unforeseen and urgent matter of state."

Neither Cheong Wa Dae nor the UAE went into specifics.

Moon had planned to meet the crown prince Monday after attending the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Zayed Award ceremony, which the crown prince was expected to preside over.

Earlier Cheong Wa Dae said they "would discuss ways to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in a more substantial and forward-looking way." But instead, UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presided over the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week opening and Moon spoke with him the previous day.
In the wake of the deadly Bronx blaze sparked by a space heater, elected officials are pushing for a law requiring every federally funded housing development to install sensors that will detect when the heat goes out.

Why were tenants using heaters in the first place? And the answer has to do with housing conditions. It has to do with the chronic lack of heat and hot water, said Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx). Space heaters are often a cry for help and a cry for heat, often an act of desperation for decent and dignified housing.

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Torres said he, then-mayor Bill de Blasio and current Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson started a heat sensor pilot program in 2020, when he and Gibson were on the City Council. The program targeted 26 buildings, considered the worst concerning heat complaints  with a 56% drop in complaints after the sensors were installed.

Mayor Adams speaks in front of the Twin Parks North West building that burned in last Sundays fatal fire, proposing heat sensor legislation among other initiatives. (Brittany Kriegstein/New York Daily News)

And so I am going to introduce legislation in the House that would create a federal version of the program, that would require all federally funded housing developments to have heat sensors, he vowed.

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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said shell support the same legislation in the U.S. Senate.

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There are really no words to describe what I just saw in that building, Gillibrand said, after touring the Twin Parks North West building on E. 181st St. in Fordham Heights, where 17 people died Jan. 9. Ive never seen an entire floor destroyed by heat and flame, absolutely charred to a crisp, non-recognizable, a home completely destroyed because of fire and smoke and heat.

Funeral Services for 15 of the 17 victims of the Bronx fire were held at the Islamic Cultural Center in the Bronx on Sunday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

The feeling of loss and devastation shared by this community is not fully comprehensible, and we all have to do what we can to mitigate it, she added.

Mayor Adams, who joined the elected officials outside the building, praised the proposal.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand speaks in front of the Twin Parks North West building that burned in last Sundays fatal fire, proposing heat sensor legislation among other initiatives. (Brittany Kriegstein/New York Daily News)

This is an excellent initiative that is not only useful here in New York, but it could be important across the country, he said.

The massive blaze sent smoke pouring through the building as a number of self-closing doors malfunctioned, allowing the smoke to spread. The dead included eight children under age 12.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 25 Emergency first responders remain at the scene after an intense fire at a 19-story residential building that erupted in the morning on Jan. 9, 2022, in the Bronx borough of New York City. Reports indicate over 50 people were injured. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)

The conditions that led to the fire were created by corporate greed, and a disregard of the safety and dignity of the tenants of this building  in simpler terms, a negligent landlord, said Salim Drammeh, head of the Gambian Youth Organization.

Twin Parks, which is currently owned by a consortium of real estate companies called Bronx Park Phase III Preservation, has a history of malfunctioning self-closing doors, according to city records.
With smartphone shipments in total for Q4 2021 growing by just 1% in an era of supply chain issues and chip shortages, Apple has regained the top spot thanks to the iPhone 13 range, iOS and its unparalleled ecosystem of apps, accessories and hardware companions, such as Apple Watch, AirPods and more.

When it comes to having the most integrated, sophisticated and mature ecosystem of devices, apps, services and accessories, Apple is the No.1 standout digital player.

Samsung has fought hard to be a clear second, and also has an incredible ecosystem of phones, tablets, watches, computers, wireless ear pods, and a rang of connected home appliances that Samsung manufactures across a range of price points that it is promoting and advertising ardently.

Huawei also made great strides with its ecosystem of hardware and apps and also has a well integrated ecosystem, but the company has suffered in Western markets by not having the same Android experience as virtually every other smartphone maker, having been forced to go with its own HarmonyOS - which can run a whole stack of Android apps, but without the effortless simplicity of the Google Play experience.

Apple's strength sees it command the largest individual market share, with what are reported to be the highest margins, giving Apple the profits and capital it needs to keep Apple on its never ending cycle of improvement.

At 22% of Q4 2021 market share, Samsung in is second place with 20%, with Xiaomi in third place with 12%, Oppo in fourth place with 9% and Vivo in fifth place with 8%.

Compared with Q4 of 2020, Apple was 1% larger at 23%, Samsung was at 17%, so this year's 20% shows great growth, with Xiaomi unchanged at 12%, Oppo 1% bigger at 10%, and Vivo 1% bigger in Q4 2020 at 9%.

However, during 2021, Samsung was in top spot with Xiaomi at No.2, but the iPhone 13 range has proven formidable, even in the face of Samsung's impressive folding range, the new competition from Google's Pixel 6 range, and models from brands not mentioned, including Motorola, Nokia, Realme and others.

Of course, the supply chain issues, logistics challenges and chip shortages affected all those brands, too, as they affected everyone, but for Apple to regain the top spot in the Q4 timeframe, which saw my iPhone 13 Pro Max from my local carrier delayed by two months, Apple's strength is clear, despite the other 78% of the market belonging to various flavours of Android.

Oppo and Vivo are separate brands but owned by parent company BKK, so at a combined 17% is larger than Xiaomi, but as separate brands, they compete as hard as they can in their respective price points, with Oppo certainly going for high-end phones while hitting mid and upper-mid range pricing, all the way down to the cheapest models.

Canayls states that Apple accounted for 22% of worldwide smartphone shipments in Q4 2021, thanks to strong demand for the iPhone 13.

Overall, however, Canalys notes "shipments for the quarter grew just 1%, as vendors faced supply chain problems and a resurgence in COVID-19 cases. Samsung took second place, down from the top spot in Q3 2021, with a market share of 20%. Xiaomi maintained its third-place position with a 12% share. OPPO and vivo completed the top five with 9% and 8% shares respectively."

Canalys Analyst Sanyam Chaurasia said: "Apple is back at the top of the smartphone market after three quarters, driven by a stellar performance from the iPhone 13.

Apple saw unprecedented iPhone performance in Mainland China, with aggressive pricing for its flagship devices keeping the value proposition strong. Apples supply chain is starting to recover, but it was still forced to cut production in Q4 amid shortages of key components and could not make enough iPhones to meet demand.

"In prioritised markets, it maintained adequate delivery times, but in some markets its customers had to wait to get their hands on the latest iPhones.

Canalys VP Mobility Nicole Peng added: "Supply chain disruption affected low-end vendors the most. Component manufacturers are eking out additional production, but it will take years for major foundries to significantly increase chip capacity.

"Smartphone brands are already innovating to make the most of their circumstances, tweaking device specs in response to available materials, approaching emerging chipmakers to secure new sources for ICs, focusing product lines on the best-selling models and staggering new product releases.

"These practices lend an advantage to larger brands, and they are set to stay for the short term, as bottlenecks will not ease until the second half of 2022.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Stacker compiled a list of the 100 best sci-fi movies of all time based on our own Stacker score, a weighted index split evenly between IMDb and Metacritic scores. To qualify, the film had to be listed as sci-fi on IMDb, have a Metascore, and have at least 5,000 votes. Click for more.
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The mother of an East Harlem Burger King cashier killed during an armed robbery is calling for more security at all fast food restaurants in the city  and said shes considering suing the outlet for failing to protect her young daughter.

Im working in fast food too. I dont want to go back. Im very scared, said Kristie Nieves, whose 19-year-old daughter, Kristal Bayron-Nieves, was fatally shot Jan. 9 while working an overnight shift at the eatery on E. 116th St. and Lexington Ave.

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(2nd from right) Kristie Nieves, mother of Kristal Nieves, speaks about daughter's slaying and a possible lawsuit Monday. (Brittany Kriegstein)

Maybe my daughter is not the first one who died in this way, but I want her to be the last, she said, speaking in Spanish through an interpreter.

Nieves is being represented by lawyer Sanford Rubenstein, who said Monday that lack of appropriate security may have contributed to the teens death.

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With regard to civil liability, we are looking at the issue of Burger King, the owner of the property, and any security company that was involved with supposedly doing security for Burger King, Rubenstein said.

Winston Glynn, 30, a former employee of the same Burger King, was charged with Bayron-Nieves slaying.

Winston Glynn, 30, the alleged killer of Kristal Bayron-Nieves, 19, is led out of the 25th Precinct on Jan. 14. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

I dont want him out ever again, the distraught mom said.

The younger Bayron-Nieves feared for her safety and wanted to get off overnight shifts at the 24-hour fast food joint.

Samantha Martinez, 20, who worked alongside the teen and quit after her death, said the stores management ignored pleas for more security and didnt even fix the lock on a door that lets people get behind the counter.

Its broken, and its been like that for months. So its not even like they didnt know about it. The owner of the store... he has to open the door to come in, so he obviously knows its broken, Martinez said.

Martinez said she typically finished her shift as Bayron-Nieves started hers, but would stick around to help her at night and hang out before going home.

Because its too much for all of us, she explained. " Were very busy, its only us girls at night. And they have no security. Burger King on 125th (has) security, and theyre not even open all night.

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I asked for security many times, like before this happened, she added. And they ignored me. Its not like yall dont have the money.

Martinez said she didnt know Bayron-Nieves was working the night of the shooting, so she left early.

Its crazy. I never leave early.... I was tired. They had enough people, they had three people on shift that day, she said.

By the time Glynn showed up at 12:45 a.m., Bayron-Nieves and the night manager were the only two employees working, police said.

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So that day I left, and Im texting Kristal because somebodys telling me what happened. So Im calling Kristal, Im calling Kristal, Martinez said. Somebody answers her phone. And I got to the hospital and stuff, and thats when I found out.

I didnt think that was really gonna happen to us, ever, she said. But you know, the conditions that were in, were understaffed, two people every day. Its not like people dont see how our store is. Very bad conditions.

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She said Glynn showed up at the restaurant, maskless, a day before the shooting and detectives used that footage to help identify him.

Kristal Bayron-Nieves, 19, who was working as a cashier inside at Burger King at 154 E. 116th St., was fatally shot during a robbery Jan. 9. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage of the hours leading up to the shooting from the 116th St. 6 train subway stop and saw the suspect walk into the station wearing different clothing and carrying a backpack, cops said.

Police identified him as the gunman by the way he walked and by the white cord from a pair of earbuds hanging from his pants.

Glynn remains held on Rikers Island without bail.

Nieves said she plans to fly to Puerto Rico with her daughters body Thursday for her daughters funeral.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of southeast Kansas, including the following areas, Bourbon, Cherokee and Crawford. Portions of Missouri, including the following areas, Barry, Barton, Benton, Camden, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Polk, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Vernon, Webster and Wright. * WHEN...From Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
A 77-year-old woman was killed and two other senior citizens injured in a fiery Bronx gas explosion that leveled their three-story residence Tuesday morning as one lucky survivor fled barefoot through the flames with her little boy, authorities said.

The blast and subsequent raging blaze decimated the building on Fox St. near Intervale Ave. in Longwood, with a witness recounting how the residence collapsed like a flaming house of cards after the 10:50 a.m. explosion.

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I just looked out the window as soon as I heard it, said lifelong neighborhood resident Alex Catalan, 22, who lives a block away. And I saw a bunch of smoke and fire coming from the house thats collapsed ... The pieces just went everywhere, the debris.

A blast caused a three-story home to collapse on Fox St. near Intervale Ave. in Longwood this morning. (Luiz Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

The victim killed in the explosion was identified Tuesday night as Martha Dagbatsa, 77. She died at Lincoln Hospital, while an 82-year-old woman and a 68-year-old woman were in stable condition at the Bronx medical facility, officials said. Dagbatsa and one of the survivors were sisters, according to police.

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That whole building collapsed, recalled Catalan. Ive never seen anything like it.

When @NYPD41pct officers arrived at the massive explosion at a Bronx home, they saw flames spreading to the adjoining home rocked by the explosion. Knowing there was a person inside, they ran in. They found a woman trapped in the debris. Our prayers are with those affected. pic.twitter.com/UfQWeYT9qo  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 18, 2022

The two sisters were found on the ground outside, while the third woman was removed from the building by NYPD officers, said FDNY Chief John Hodges. Five cops were also taken to Lincoln Hospital with smoke inhalation after working to rescue residents, authorities said.

Our hearts go out to the family members, said Mayor Adams, speaking just nine days after a Bronx high-rise fire that killed 17 people.

Four residents and three police officers were injured Tuesday when a Bronx home exploded, sparking a massive fire and a building collapse, FDNY officials said. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

A building resident who miraculously escaped from the second-floor flames with her 2-year-old son was FaceTiming with her mother when she mentioned smelling something odd in the building Tuesday morning.

We were trying to figure out what it was, and I told her she just heated up her soup, so maybe it was that, recalled mom Ellen Homan, who lives in New Jersey. And then the line went dead ... She called me (back) screaming that the house exploded. I said, Are you OK? She said, Yeah, my feet are bleeding a little.

The shoeless Felicia Homan and her little boy Nico escaped with their lives from the burning wreckage.

Mayor Eric Adams accompanied by Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin (R) and City Council member Rafael Salamanca holds a press conference near the scene of a major explosion and fire on Fox St. in the Bronx on Tuesday. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

Authorities said the buildings on either side of the blast will be demolished due to damage from the explosion and fire, with police sources and local elected officials declaring the incident was apparently triggered by a gas explosion.

Adams said the investigation was ongoing and there was a preliminary report of someone smelling gas before the blast. Con Ed shut off the gas to the block as a precaution.

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Four residents and three police officers were injured Tuesday when a Bronx home exploded, sparking a massive fire and a building collapse, FDNY officials said. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

As firefighters began pumping water on the fire, the building started to collapse, with the front facade falling onto a gray SUV parked outside.

It sounded like a car crash, said Lisa Carrasco, who lived in the adjoining building. But then we see all the smoke coming out, and then I saw what was going on. Everybody was in shock. We didnt know what to do in the moment.

Firefighters were ordered to back out of the building to douse the fire down from outside as more than 100 firefighters, EMTs and paramedics responded to the scene.

A woman who lives across the street said everything happened in an instant: A big boom and everything was moved all over. We came out the door and the house was on fire.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 A track hoe removes debris from the scene of a fatal gas explosion and fire on Fox St. on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in the Bronx, New York. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News)

The 60-something witness said neighbors took to the chilly streets with hoses to keep the wind-whipped flames from spreading, although the two adjoining buildings were damaged as well.

Neighbor Peter King, 56, was awoken by the blast. It was like a truck crashing through the house, an explosion, just going and going, he said.

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He said his family was unharmed, but his home will be condemned, and hell be staying at a hotel near Yankee Stadium Tuesday night.

Life is still going, King said. Im coming early tomorrow to get important stuff, documents.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Currently at the scene of a massive fire due to a gas explosion in my district. All emergency first responders are on the scene and currently battling the fire.



I will continue to remain on site with my team as long as it takes to get answers and ensure the communitys safety pic.twitter.com/S2uwyqWdOl  Rafael Salamanca (@CMSalamancaJr) January 18, 2022

The horror comes just nine days after lethal smoke from a Bronx apartment building fire killed 17 people, the deadliest city fire in decades.

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The Tuesday fire was reminiscent of a 2014 natural gas blast in Harlem that killed eight people, injured another 48 and destroyed a pair of buildings.

Were continuing to investigate, to drill down into finding out exactly what caused this, said Hodges. And we will be on scene operating as we sift through the rubble, just to look for any type of evidence.

With Liam Quigley and John Annese
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A 67-year-old woman has died a month after being struck by a school bus driver a half block from her home in Manhattans Chinatown, authorities said Tuesday.

Ahhon Lau was hit in the intersection of Monroe St. and Catherine St. about 1:45 p.m. Dec. 16, officials said.

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Medics rushed her to Bellevue Hospital, where she died Sunday.

The 63-year-old school bus driver, who works for Shelby Transportation Corp. in the Bronx, remained at the scene and has not been charged, cops said.

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A 15-year-old female was struck by a school bus in Midwood, Brooklyn, on Monday.

A day after Lau died, a Brooklyn teen on her way to school was fatally struck by a school bus driver who did not remain at the scene. That driver, Aleksandr Patlakh, was later arrested for failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to use due care.
"Doctor Prisoner," starring Namgoong Min, Kwon Nara, Kim Byung Chul and more, gave viewers a different kind of medical kdrama.

From its mind-boggling plot to the dark hero featuring the skilled doctor turned prisoner Na Yi Je, the 2019 series definitely got the whole Kdrama fandom hooked throughout the show.

After almost three years since the thriller medical Kdrama aired, here's what's keeping the "Doctor Prisoner" cast busy this 2022.

Namgoong Min (Dr. Na Yi Je)

Playing the role of a skilled doctor who was forced to quit working at a hospital due to accusations of medical malpractice, Na Yi Je worked at the prison with the intention of getting connections for his much-awaited revenge.

After the drama aired, Namgoong Min starred in notable Kdramas, including another hit series, "Hot Stove League" and "Awaken."

In 2021, he returned to the small screen with a massive transformation as he played the role of elite national Intelligence Service (NIS) agent in "The Veil."

Interestingly, this 2022, he is rumored to headline an upcoming Kdrama "One Thousand Won Lawyer" as he transforms into a troublemaker attorney.

Kwon Nara (Dr. Han So Geum)

The 30-year-old beauty is currently in the fantasy thriller Kdrama "Bulgasal: Immortal Souls" with Lee Jin Wook and MBLAQ's Lee Joon.

She took on the role of Min Sang Un, who previously lived as a bulgasal but turned into a human after stealing the soul of Dan Hwal.

Following her role as Dr. Han So Geum in "Doctor Prisoner," she landed the second lead character in "Itaewon Class" with Park Seo Joon and Kim Da Mi and lead role in KBS' "Secret Royal Inspector."

Kim Byung Chul (Sun Min Shik)

Playing the role of the drama villain in "Doctor Prisoner," Kim Byung Chul once again made several viewers furious with his character as Sigma in "Sisyphus: The Myth" alongside Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung Woo.

Interestingly, he will return to Kdrama land with the much-awaited Netflix K-zombie series "All of Us are Dead," playing the role of high school science professor Lee Byeong Chan, who knew the secret and how the virus started.

The thriller-horror Kdrama is scheduled to air on February 28 exclusively on Netflix.

Choi Won Young (Lee Jae Joon)

The 46-year-old actor played Jae Joon, who attempted to murder his own father.

After landing the lead role in "Doctor Prisoner," Choi Won Young appeared in several remarkable Kdrama, some of which are "The Nokdu Flower," "Hyena," and "My Dangerous Wife."

In 2021, he surprised fans with a cameo role in "Youth of May," where he played as the younger version of Lee Do Hyun.

It was then followed by a lead role in "Reflection of You" with Go Hyun Jung and "Hospital Playlist" actress Shin Hyun Bin.

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
"Single's Inferno" star Song Ji Ah breaks her silence amid the issue after being accused of using fake luxury items in the Netflix dating reality show.

The 25-year-old Youtuber faced a wave of backlash after viewers pointed out in online communities that she sported counterfeit branded clothes during the program. It includes the Chanel crewneck logo short sleeve from the Spring / Summer 2020 collection and the Dior monogram tube top.

Song Ji Ah Makes Public Apology on Instagram

After becoming a hot topic on the Internet, the beauty content creator turned reality star issued a public apology.

Over Song Ji Ah's Instagram, she began her statement by apologizing to "everyone who was disappointed and hurt" by her action, revealing that the accusations were "partly true."

"We apologize once again for all the circumstances that have occurred due to infringing on designers' creations and ignorance of copyrights," she added.

Moreover, she mentioned that the incident served as a wake-up call to her and would be "more careful" not to repeat the same mistake.

"As someone who has a dream of launching a brand, We will seriously recognize and reflect on the controversial areas. In the future, we will study more carefully so that this does not happen."

In addition, Song Ji Ah also expressed regret and sorry for the brands who were disappointed with her actions.

"I sincerely apologize to everyone, including fans, subscribers, and brand officials, who have been hurt because of me, and I will live with more responsibility in the future," the reality star added.

Viewers and Netizens React to Song Ji Ah's Apology Amid the Fake Branded Items Controversy

The public has mixed reactions regarding Song Ji Ah's issue and confession that she used fake luxury items on Netflix's "Single's Inferno.

On Twitter, some defended the Youtuber and said that it is "unnecessary" for her to apologize.

song jias apology for wearing fake designer is so unnecessary???? and the way she had to apologize for ppl who were hurt by this LIKE WHY ARE UR FEELINGS HURT OVER SOMEONE U DONT EVEN KNOW WEARING FAKE CHANEL u are some real life loser  sejin (@tokkifm) January 17, 2022

her outfits were cute, who cares!!!! finding fake designer thats pretty isnt being cheap, its being smart. song jia fashion icon https://t.co/ZTHl7tTMUb  kat  (@wh0re4sana) January 17, 2022

However, others blasted the reality star and noted that she created a different persona on social media and acted like a celebrity.

Who is 'Single's Inferno' Song Ji Ah?

Due to her doll-like aura and stunning looks, Song Ji Ah is among the popular contestants of the reality dating show "Single's Inferno."

Three men, which includes Kim Hyun Joong, Choi Si Hun and Cha Hyun Seong, battle it out to get her attention; however, it was fashion model and personal trainer Kim Hyun Joong whom Ji Ah left with the island.

Before entering the show, the 25-year-old South Korean beauty was known in the Youtube community as Freezia, who creates various beauty and lifestyle videos on her channel.

Interestingly, after her stint at "Single's Inferno," she gained a massive following both on Youtube and on Instagram.

From 500,000 followers, Song Ji Ah's Youtube channel now rakes 1.89 million subscribers and counting.

The same goes for her Instagram, with 3.4 million followers.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: 'Single's Inferno' Star Song Ji Ah Reportedly Offered to Appear in Upcoming Film

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
In continuation of her first-ever media interview released on January 12 by various K-media outlets, Director Jung Ji In gets honest about how it was like to work with "The Red Sleeve Cuff" cast, especially Lee Se Young and 2PM's Lee Junho, and the teamwork that they shared in order to have a successful run.

"They are the Best Duo to Work With" - 'The Red Sleeve Cuff' Director Jung Ji In

Director Jung Ji In revealed Lee Junho and Lee Se Young's personalities and professionalism on and off the lens.

She started by saying, "To be honest, Lee Junho and Lee Se Young are never satisfied with themselves when it comes to acting. They are thoughtful and considerate of their workmates. As a director, they were the best duo to work with."

She continued, "With this kind of drama genre, the chemistry between the actors are really important, and Lee Se Young and Lee Junho were consistent in discussing how they would act out and deliver their scenes during rehearsals."

The director of the drama shared that sometimes she had to control herself as she knew that they would all be laughing at how the onscreen couple joked around each other.

She also admired 2PM's Junho and Lee Se Young because they become focused right away whenever the cameras would start rolling.

Jung Ji In continued to praise the lead stars for their dedication at work and the professionalism that they both have, which also became an important part of the drama's success.

'The Red Sleeve Cuff' Stars Lee Se Young and Lee Junho's Professionalism On and Off the Lens

The director said that Lee Se Young never lets go of her script. The "Hit the Top" actress always writes down notes and makes memos. Even though it was already a good take for the director, Lee Se Young will still ask her to shoot the scene again if she's not satisfied with her acting.

Different from the other actors, the actress doesn't monitor herself, and when the director asked her why, the "Kairos" star told her that it's because she trusts her.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'The Red Sleeve Cuff' Director Jung Ji In Wants to Work Again with Lee Junho and Lee Se Young in a New Drama

Unlike Lee Se Young, 2PM member and actor Lee Junho never really looks at the script on set according to director Jung Ji In. He always comes prepared and works hard to deliver his lines flawlessly.

The director added that Lee Junho used to say that it was difficult for him to memorize the long lines, but he always had his lines memorized and gracefully combined his emotional elements to it for a powerful execution.

She continued, "When we finished filming, Junho constantly asks how he did. I tell him that he did great and killed his scenes, but the actor seems discontented with himself and seriously assesses his performance to improve his performance."

With her experience of working for the first time with Lee Se Young and Lee Junho, Director Jung Ji In believes that the two brilliant actors would have had great success even without "The Red Sleeve Cuff."

Before she ended her interview, the director mentioned that she was grateful and it was a great honor for her to be able to meet and work with them. Director Jung Ji In wishes to see them again in the future.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
Recovery operations continue after the partial collapse of an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Edwardsville, Illinois on December 12, 2021. The facility was damaged by a tornado on December 10, 2021.
A 70-year-old nurse who was attacked while waiting for a bus in downtown Los Angeles last week has reportedly died in the hospital where shed worked for nearly four decades.

Sandra Shells, whod spent 38 years helping others, succumbed to her injuries Sunday. Law enforcement officials arrested Kerry Bell, who is homeless, roughly an hour after the 5 a.m. attack. Bell was sleeping when he was apprehended.

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Cops said the blow to the head that let to the fracturing of Shells skull was thrown without provocation, according to Newsweek.

[ Bucket of hot diarrhea dumped on womans head by homeless man ]

She was remembered by colleagues as tireless, helpful and well-liked.

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Sandra worked tirelessly and selflessly to keep her patients safe and healthy and will always be remembered as a kind, compassionate and giving nurse with a helpful and thoughtful nature who was a favorite amongst colleagues and patients, Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center said in a statement.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

L.A. county Supervisor and Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member Kathryn Barger said in a statement that medical workers like Shells are rendered especially vulnerable by the demands of their work.

[ Homeless man shoves stranger to her death in Times Square subway station, then confesses: NYPD sources ]

Our essential workers, such as this County nurse, often take public transportation at unconventional times and can become easy prey for violent actors, Barger said.

L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore tweeted in reaction to Shells death on Sunday.

A tragic and senseless murder directly tied to the failure of this Nations mental health resources, he wrote. We can and must do better. This victim lived her life for others. We are falling short.

Also in Los Angeles Thursday, police say a 24-year-old woman was fatally stabbed by whom they believe to be homeless man while working in a high-end furniture store near Hollywood. That attack was also believed to have been random.

On Saturday, a homeless man in Times Square killed a 40-year-old woman passenger in front of an oncoming subway train, police said. Cops say the man immediately confessed.

With News Wire Services
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has amended pandemic health orders to require school district employees to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status to their employer. However, she has left the decision to do so up to medical health officers in different areas of the province.
Images of large recreation facilities, such as this one, are included in a City of Kelowna report that outlines a $134-million plan to rebuild the Parkinson recreation centre. Councillors embraced the vision Monday and agreed to keep moving forward on the project.
Alberta premier Jason Kenney shakes hands with Kaycee Madu, Minister of Municipal Affairs, after being sworn into office in Edmonton on Tuesday April 30, 2019. Madu, who is currently the province's justice minister, is being called on to resign for phoning Edmontons police chief with concerns about a traffic ticket. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos listens as Minister of Public Services and Procurement Filomena Tassi speaks via videoconference during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and Health Canadas approval of the antiviral treatment Paxlovid in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Hopkinsville, KY (42240)

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A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. NW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph..

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A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. NW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph.
Lyon County had tornado damage and the country government and Macedonia Baptist Church to distribute donations quickly to those who need it.
Amazon was sued on Monday by the family of a delivery driver who died last month at a company warehouse when it collapsed during a tornado.

Austin McEwen, 26, and five others, were killed on Dec. 10 after the storm hit the Edwardsville, Ill. facility. According to the suit, Amazon did not warn workers about the dangerous weather or provide adequate shelter.

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First responders survey a damaged Amazon Distribution Center on December 11, 2021 in Edwardsville, Illinois. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)

Sadly, it appears that Amazon placed profits first during this holiday season instead of the safety of our son and the other five, Alice McEwen, his mother, said at a news conference Monday.

Amazon carelessly required individuals ... to continue working up until the moments before the tornado struck and told them to shelter in a restroom, the lawsuit says.

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The construction company that built the facility and the projects developer are also listed as defendants in the suit.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating the incident.

With News Wire Services
Ketchikan, AK (99901)

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Rain likely. High 48F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Occasional rain. Low around 40F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
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Before there was doom-scrolling, there were sad books. For me, it was Chapter 18 in Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman. The chapter is a fictional portrayal of Mr. Grossman imagining his mothers last words. The protagonistmodeled on the authorand their two mothers have the same fate at the hands of the Nazis. I tried several times to get through that chapter, through that letter, and through the book. I cant do it. There are never enough tissues or enough courage to finish. But, there are moments that the words dont reach.

Cue the pandemic.

Our daughter was born in March of 2020. That virus was a discussion point in the hospital, and I wanted to blow it off. Within days, Michigan was closing, and our world was reduced to the world on phone screens, our dog, and our children. Daily chaos was a lot: spouse trying to work from home, dog, toddler, a refluxy baby, post-operative pain, and crippling hot flashes. My support group was virtual, the hugs I relied on became a thing of the past, and the stress of two small kids had nowhere to dissipate. How lucky we are to be alive right now.

We persevered.

Michigan emerged from that first surge. Our son restarted daycare, then our daughter. Work was different, and COVID became more abstract. Daily hospital emails with COVID case counts, resource utilization, and blood bank statuses bombarded me. That first peak showed our hospital at 20 to 30 percent COVID patients. Summer of 2020 only showed us a handful of patients here and there. Masks were sporadically worn, edicts from the government were inconsistent, outside gatherings were normal, and the Operation Warp Speed vaccine research was promising. History is happening in the greatest country in the world.

December 18, 2020.

There were a lot of hushed discussions between my inside connection on the infection control team to circumvent the issue of lactation. Despite sparse published research regarding mRNA vaccines, there was published research of COVID antibodies crossing through the breast milk and protecting babies. After hours of discussing with various physicians, I decided the vaccine would be a great choice. This could be the end, I thought. And Ill pay it forward, enrolling my milk in an antibody study, which was published in November 2021 in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Would it be enough?

Delta.

Well, delta means change, and change is what happened. COVID was directly affecting my patients in a new way. Sure, there was always an association of COVID and preeclampsia, but now there was the link with stillbirths and miscarriages. To add to it, children were being orphaned. My nightly doom-scrolling was worsening, but like all train wrecks, I couldnt look away. The initial numbers out of Mississippi were terrifying, and then they were echoed here. There is suffering too terrible to name.

I worked so hard to convince my patients. We bargained, I pleaded, I shamed, and once even cried from frustration during an exam, and it never mattered how much science, data, evidence, or good ideas I presented because they dismissed me. They knew more suddenly and were empowered an influencer who said her boyfriends neighbors dogs walker had some weird side effect which isnt even listed in the package insert! Everyone was an epidemiologist, a scientist, a researcher, and more informed than doctors. And people kept getting sicker. It was never enough.

The women couldnt breathe, they were losing their babies, they were losing their uteri to coagulopathies, they were developing lifelong complications with their hearts and lungs, and still, they were recalcitrant. They were gasping for air, unable to communicate, but trying to get me to empathize with them and accept their choices. Their hands clutched at their abdomens, wondering if babies would survive acute respiratory failure while denying the severity of COVID. These were the same women who made callous statements weeks prior, the government conspiracy or whatever the latest fad is, and ridiculing public health efforts that exist to protect the population. The machinations, the myths, the misinformation, all of it was enough to drive me out. And there I was, in the depths of the unimaginable.

There are days I want to write to my patients, the letter I imagine some would want to read. Id post it on the same social media pages that grant everyone virology, epidemiology, and psychology degrees. What would I write to them? Certainly, the facts havent swayed them. I cant. To write that letter, I would write one word, No. But would that be enough?

Yuliya Malayev is an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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PULP ADDICTION

Local man collects, anthologizes men's adventure mags

Photo provided Robert Deis sells some of his books at PulpFest in August 2021. Photo provided Mens adventure magazine collector and publisher Bob Deis gives a presentation at PulpFest 2021 in Pittsburgh. Deis is a Cudjoe Key resident. Photo provided Eva Lynd, a Swedish-born actress and pin-up model, holds a book Deis co-edited about her. Lynd is a celebrity in the realm of vintage mens magazines. The book showcases her career, with text written by Lynd or taken from conversations with her. Photo provided Maneaters: Killer Sharks in Mens Adventure Magazines is a recent release co-edited by Robert Deis and Wyatt Doyle. Doyle is the head of the indie publishing company New Texture. The Frank Zappa album, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, borrowed its title from a cover story in a 1956 edition of the magazine Mans Life. Photo provided Wartime feats of daring and glory are among the popular tales of mens adventure magazines. Photo provided The Frank Zappa album, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, borrowed its title from a cover story in a 1956 edition of the magazine Mans Life.

The mens adventure magazine was a subgenre of print media that was popular in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Theyre now long lost to time, but decades later, a man in the Lower Keys has set out on a mission to collect as many as he can, and in the process has become a recognized expert.

Robert Deis, of Cudjoe Key, said he has more than 6,000 magazines in his home, an estimated 90%-95% of all the mens adventure magazines that were ever made, consisting of more than 160 publications that were at one time printing stories drawing from the pulp fiction tradition. He estimates it to be one of the largest collections in the world. But whether hell ever get to 100% remains in question.

Probably not, because I think theres some issues that are going to be hard to find, Deis said.

It all began with a Frank Zappa album. Weasels Ripped My Flesh to be exact, which came out in 1970. Deis was listening to a CD reissue of the album around 2004, reminiscing about buying the album on vinyl when it first came out, when he was struck by the album cover. On it is, as Deis describes on his website, a vacantly smiling square guy shaving with an, um, electric weasel. The cover, drawn by illustrator Neon Park, is an homage of sorts to a style of illustration that was once popular in American pop culture.

Intrigued, Deis had to know more. He came to find out that Zappa lifted that title from a 1956 edition of the magazine Mans Life and the cover story, about a man attacked by bloodthirsty weasels. It was the early years of eBay, giving shoppers a newfound ability to track down memorabilia such as old magazines. Deis was able to find a copy of that edition of Mans Life and bought it for about $100. In 2021, he said, the same copy would cost much more.

Deis said hed expected the story to be just as crazy as the magazine cover, with a bloodied man fighting off weasels on all sides while bitten by a few more of them. But the story wasnt what hed thought it would be.

I thought the story would be crazy too, but it was actually this dark, noirish story. Sort of like the old B movies but very noirish, he said.

At 71, Deis said hed been aware of this type of magazine as a young man, but had never looked at them much.

So I started going around the internet looking for sources and information and there wasnt much out there so I started to think about creating my own website, Deis said. I collected more and more of them on eBay and they just knocked my socks off.

He ended up creating the website, menspulpmags.com, and through that began to connect with some of the writers, artists and others who had worked for the old magazines (one of the last living writers, he said, currently lives in mainland Florida). He connected with people such as Eva Lynd, a Swedish-born actress and pin-up model who served as the model for many of the illustrations in the magazines; and Josh Alan Friedman, whose father, Bruce Jay Friedman, was an editor of mens adventure magazines and had once been employed by Martin Goodman, who went on to found what would become Marvel Comics.

I contacted Bruce, did some interviews with him and got the idea that this whole area has largely been forgotten, Deis said.

Deis bought the rights and published an anthology of mens adventure stories in 2013, co-written with Josh Alan Friedman and Wyatt Doyle, head of the indie-publishing house New Texture. He gave it the fitting title of Weasels Ripped My Flesh.

Since then, theyve written 13 other books on the genre and Deis has begun a magazine of his own called Mens Adventure Quarterly, reprinting old stories with discussion and interviews. The issues so far have covered a number of the subgenres within the magazines. One was a western theme, another was a spy story theme and another was on vigilante justice.

Mens adventure magazines grew out of the previous pulp fiction genre that was popular from around the turn of the 20th century through World War II. Deis said there were three tiers of publications. The top tier were magazines such as Cavalier and Saga, which at one time had circulation close to a million people. The middle tier, which had circulations of a few hundred thousand, were magazines like those being published by Goodman prior to his Marvel days, such as Stag and For Men Only.

The lower tier are the ones that are the most difficult to find, Deis said. They were made on a shoestring budget by small publishers with a circulation of 50 to 100,000 and only through newsstands. They were the most notorious for their controversial subject matter. Deis said they had the truly wild and crazy covers. A lot of Nazis, bondage and torture and scantly clad women, one of them being the model Lynd. They made no secret about who the target audience was with names such as New Man, World of Men and Mans Epic. Deis said only about 1% of these publications still survive, if one can find them.

When analyzing the magazines and their cultural significance, Deis said its best to avoid generalizations, since the genre was diverse and had a wide array of stories.

People make generalizations that arent true, he said. The critics of these magazines think they all have Nazi bondage covers and the people who liked them all had perverted tendencies.

Deis, instead, sees them as escapist entertainment that was targeted mainly at blue-collar men, many of whom had served in World War II and the Korean War and were struggling to integrate into stateside life and the cultural changes at the time. They also had practical columns on subjects such as mens health and managing money. The top tier publications even had letters to the editor. In that way, Deis said they werent unlike the interest-specific internet forums of the modern day, helping people to connect on common ground.

War was a common theme in many of the publications. They consisted of stories about the recent American conflicts.

They also had columns where people could write in and say, Im trying to find my old foxhole buddy Joe, Deis said.

Some of the magazines also published columns on hunting and fishing. Another part of the appeal was many of the men returning from war had grown up reading pulp magazines, and the mens adventure magazines were a bit of a nostalgia for them. It was a large market, since the U.S. had millions of newly returned veterans at the time.

By the end of the 1970s, all the mens adventure magazines had either gone out of business or evolved into a different type of publication. Deis said television was part of the reason for that. Fewer people were reading regularly and magazines such as Playboy began to dominate the print market geared toward adult men. A few morphed into Playboy clones, Deis said, but most folded.

The guys who served in World War II and Korea were getting older and the younger guys werent as interested in the mens adventure magazines, he said.

Furthermore, Deis said the magazines became more and more politically incorrect. They depicted ultra-macho male heroes and only hyper-sexualized depictions of women at a time when the country was becoming more concerned with social equality.

Increasingly, they were looked at as a relic. They werent liberated enough, Deis said.

During the late 60s and 70s, social fissures began to form around the Vietnam War, many of which are still being felt to this day, perhaps more intensely. The mens adventure magazines came to appeal to one side of that social strife.

Society was divided. A lot of people were against the war. It was a schism that was almost like today, Deis said. The mens adventure magazines were one of the only genres at the time who treated Vietnam War servicemen with respect. These magazines were the only places you could read stories about the war similar to the way they were portrayed in World War II, as people serving their country bravely.

Deis said he was against the Vietnam War at the time and didnt understand why America was in it. But he also saw why some people did, and thought they deserved respect. The mens adventure magazines were an outlet that portrayed the kind of macho archetype that many men held in a high regard in a positive light. Deis said the magazines were certainly conservative by the standards of the time.

Deis likes to think of himself as a pulp historian studying cultural archeology. When asked what todays media might say about our culture to future scholars, he said, What I see today is more segmented.

He said media is more of an individual experience than it used to be.

Theres not as much of a shared culture as back when you only had three channels, Deis said. What it says about the culture, it shows how divided the culture has become. Everything has become politicized.

Deis said the audience fragmentation has caused a more tribal culture, with politics constantly being thrown around. Even clashes over the Vietnam War didnt really put neighbor against neighbor, he said. Today, smaller issues cause bigger rifts.

eweld@keysnews.com
The Hartford school where a 13-year-old boy fatally overdosed last week was still closed Tuesday as authorities continued the days-long process of implementing safety protocols and decontaminating the building.

Police said that the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy seventh-grader, who was not identified because of his age, died Saturday after overdosing Thursday on fentanyl, the Hartford Courant reports. The school started taking those safety steps Thursday.

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The City of Hartfords Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with guidance from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), is the entity responsible for ensuring the safe reopening after the presence of fentanyl was discovered in the building, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez wrote in a letter sent to parents Monday, according to the paper.

Flags fly at half-mast at the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy the day after a 13-year-old student collapsed from a fentanyl overdose. (Mark Mirko / Hartford Courant)

Testing for traces of the opioid in the building was ongoing Monday evening after a sample proved to be slightly over the limit, district spokesman John Fergus told the Courant.

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The decontamination process (wipe sampling and wipe analysis) will be repeated until no fentanyl is identified, Torres-Rodriguez wrote in her email.

The next update is expected Tuesday afternoon when the district will hold a second virtual meeting for parents and guardians, after the first Monday, according to the outlet.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin on Saturday said: Our city grieves for this child lost, for his loved ones, his friends, his teachers and the entire SMSA family.

Bronin went on to say that the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident and how a child had access to such a shocking quantity of such deadly drugs was not known at the time, according to the outlet.

Our police (department) will continue their investigation and seek to hold accountable the adults who ultimately are responsible for this childs death, said Bronin, the Courant reports.

Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert on Saturday said it was believed that two other seventh-graders were also exposed to the fentanyl  which was packaged in what you would see in street-level sales  and were taken to the hospital Thursday, though both were released that night, according to the paper.
The Biden administration is facing intense scrutiny from a small group of Senate Democrats about the administration's Covid-19 pandemic response, mainly the testing shortage as cases of the Omicron variant have surged across the United States.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Days after six people were shot outside the WOW Hall during a concert, details surrounding the incident remain murky, and police are continuing to seek witnesses.

While some have been cooperating with the investigation, police said they need more solid tips and cooperation to help solve the case.

The shooting happened just before 9:30 p.m. on Friday in a parking lot outside the hall in the 200 block of West 8th Avenue. Lil Bean and Zay Bang were among the performers that night.

Police said no suspect has been identified yet -- the only provided detail being a hooded sweatshirt -- and there's not enough information to determine whether the shooting was random or targeted at the people who were injured.

All victims are in stable condition or have been treated and released, police confirmed. They have been identified as the following:

Richard Daniel Lemmon, 26, of Pendleton

Jason Jamell Smith, 25, of San Francisco, California

Aaleigha Mechelle Tynan, 25, of Eugene

Reyshaun Dominique-Joseph Supuni, 30, of Pendleton

Tristin C. Vanblokland, 26, of Pendleton

Priscila Wavaline Camarena, 21, Pendleton

KEZI 9 News talked to Harley, who said he just wants to be referred to by his first name, about his experience. He said he was right behind the back door when the shots were fired and immediately ran out and started helping the victims.

"The first person we came across was the one that was in critical condition; he was the one that had the most blood loss. He was pretty much laying in a puddle of blood," Harley said.

Harley said he grabbed his friend and they began tying things like sweatshirts around the victim's wounds until first responders arrived.

"You could tell by looking at all the other individuals who were wounded that they were all hit in the lower extremities. So I knew that everyone had been hit lower and nobody had been hit high," Harley said.

Performer Savelle Tha Native told KEZI 9 News he was about to go on stage and perform when he heard the gunshots and ran outside to find four of his friends had been shot.

"They traveled out here from Pendleton. They always struggle to get out here because they are six hours away and finally made it, they finally got out here for a show, and this s--- happens," Savelle said.
Kilgore, TX (75662)

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Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
A massive 9-alarm fire engulfed a Massachusetts motel before spreading to several buildings nearby, leaving dozens of residents displaced.

The flames first erupted near Michaels Oceanfront Motel on Monday just before 2 a.m., according to the State Department of Fire Services.

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Strong winds ripping through Salisbury, a beach community located near the New Hampshire border, only stoked the blaze, pushing the fire into several nearby structures. Officials said four residences, including a 12-unit apartment building, were left completely destroyed while a few others were damaged in the early-morning incident.

It took local firefighters hours to battle the fire, even with help from other first responders across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. All together, more than 100 firefighters from 30 separate fire departments helped to fight the flames, according to NBC Boston.

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Video shared on social media show responders struggling to contain the blaze as it reached some of the neighboring buildings.

No injuries or deaths have been reported in connection with the fire, though some 30 residents have been displaced, according to the American Red Cross.

Red Cross volunteers continue to assist more than 30 residents displaced by the 9-alarm, Central Ave fire in Salisbury. Those affected by the fire can come to the Salisbury Council on Aging at 43 Lafayette Ave or call 800-564-1234. pic.twitter.com/jn6FhFE9IX  RedCrossMA (@RedCrossMA) January 17, 2022

Our top priority throughout the night was to protect the surrounding community from a large and growing fire that was being pushed toward other structures by high wind conditions, Salisbury Fire Chief Scott Carrigan said in a statement.

The cause of the fire, dubbed one of the worst the town has seen in 25 years, remained under investigation on Tuesday. Carrigan said its possible the blaze first broke out in the alley space between the motel and the neighboring apartment building.

Local authorities announced in a tweet that a community room had been set up at the Salisbury police station for those affected by the fire or may need assistance.

According to its website, Michaels Oceanfront Motel is locally owned and first opened its doors 17 years ago.

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Monkey business: Mason City PD responds after someone arrives at residence to buy pet monkey just after 1 a.m.
The man who took four people hostage in a Texas synagogue on Saturday was investigated more than a year ago by a British counterintelligence agency, which reportedly concluded he posed no threat.

The United Kingdoms security agency, MI5, investigated Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old British national, as a possible Islamist terrorist threat in the second half of 2020 and cleared him, saying there was no reason to prevent him from traveling abroad, the Guardian reported Tuesday.

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On Saturday, Akram held four people hostage inside Beth Israel Congregation in Colleyville, Texas, while demanding the release of a Pakistani woman serving an 86-year sentence for shooting at U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan in 2008.

Malik Faisal Akram (Handout)

Akram referred to the woman, neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, as his sister. But John Floyd, Siddiquis lawyer, told the Daily News Sunday that Akram has no connection with the family whatsoever and he has also no connection to the Free Aafia movement inside the U.S.

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Akrams family said Sunday that he was suffering from mental health issues.

[ Texas rabbi threw chair at synagogue hostage-taker, escaped with two others ]

In 2001, Akram was banned from Blackburn Magistrates Court, the local legal system, after telling a court usher that he wished he had been on one of the planes hijacked on 9/11, according to the Guardian.

An aerial view of police standing in front of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. (Brandon Wade/AP)

All four hostages were freed unharmed Saturday, including the final three after Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker threw a chair at Akram and ran for the exit.

Akram was dead when agents breached the temple in Colleyville, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 Police stand in front of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. A man held hostages for more than 10 hours Saturday inside the temple. The hostages were able to escape and the hostage-taker was killed. FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said a team would investigate "the shooting incident." (Brandon Wade/AP)

Both President Biden and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss have condemned the hostage-taking as terrorism.

The FBI has said Akram acted alone, but British police announced Sunday that two teenagers in South Manchester had been taken into custody for questioning by counterterrorism officers. They have not been publicly identified, and their connections to Akram were unclear.
Three Democratic congressional lawmakers called on the federal government to fulfill a $5 million grant request for the New York City Fire Department, as they highlighted the toll this months deadly Bronx blaze took on the nations largest firefighting force.

The grant would help FDNY replace oxygen devices and enhance the safety of firefighters, said a letter dated Tuesday and signed by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

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Firefighters on the scene of the deadly fire on East 181st Street in the Bronx, New York on January 9, 2022. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

The Fire Department requested the grant on Dec. 9 and has not received a response, according to Torres office. Schumers office said it spoke directly with FEMA about the grant application.

The federal agency said it expects an announcement on its grant decisions this summer.

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We are acknowledging receipt of the Congressional support letter for FDNYs application for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant, FEMA said in a statement. The AFG application period is open until the end of this week.

The agency has distributed Assistance to Firefighters Grants across two decades. It awarded a $2.3 million grant to the New York City Fire Department in 2018, according to FEMA records.

A $5 million grant would represent a particularly large sum for the program.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 25 Emergency first responders remain at the scene after an intense fire at a 19-story residential building that erupted in the morning on Jan. 9, 2022, in the Bronx borough of New York City. Reports indicate over 50 people were injured. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Torres office said the congressional push was intended to spotlight the harrowing Bronx fire on Jan. 9.

During the blaze, firefighters raced to rescue families and tame the flames as their oxygen tanks ran out, authorities said.

The smoky Fordham Heights inferno, sparked by a malfunctioning space heater, killed at least 17 people, including eight children. It was the deadliest fire in the city in more than three decades.

FDNY must be given all the resources needed to combat any sized fire, which is why it is paramount for FEMA to provide the FDNY their requested funding, said the letter from the three lawmakers.
Jasper, TX (75951)

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 69F. Winds light and variable..

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TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian ambassador to Iran said Iran has made "reasonable" demands for guarantees and verification of lifting U.S. sanctions in the ongoing talks on restoring the 2015 nuclear deal, official IRNA news agency reported Tuesday.

"Do you remember that European and Asian companies came to Iran after the JCPOA agreement, but they fled Iran because of the threats of the U.S. government," Levan Dzhagaryan told IRNA in an interview.

Formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal was signed between Iran and the world powers in July 2015. However, the U.S. government under former President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Iran.

"Therefore, Iran's demands for guarantees and verification of the lifting of sanctions are natural and based on a bitter historical experience," Dzhagaryan was quoted as saying.

Regarding the talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna over the revival of the deal and lifting U.S. anti-Iran sanctions, he said Iran's positions are "very positive," adding that he is "optimistic" about the future of the negotiations.

His remarks came one day ahead of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's planned visit to Moscow for talks on bilateral and international issues.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna, tweeted on Monday that Iran is "absolutely right" to ask for guarantees from Washington after the latter's unilateral withdrawal.

"Some people don't want to learn lessons from the failed maximum pressure policy. Iranians are absolutely right when they ask for guarantees against a repetition of this catastrophic adventure," Ulyanov said. 
Celebrating the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in emotional ceremonies Monday, 93 years after the birth of the slain civil rights hero, New Yorks leaders committed to building a more just city, state and nation.

In the morning, at a downtown Brooklyn tribute, Mayor Adams outlined his vision for a more King-like city, focusing on the need to pause the gun violence and prison pipeline disproportionately plaguing Black New Yorkers.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks at the National Action Networks (NAN) headquarters during the annual Martin Luther King Day event in Harlem, New York on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

In the evening, physical symbols of New York  from Manhattans Freedom Tower to Albanys International Airport Gateway to Syracuses State Fairgrounds gate  were to be bathed in red, green and black light, the colors of the Pan-African flag.

Kings powerful voice for antiracism and nonviolence was muted on April 4, 1968, when an assassins bullet stole his life.

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His name has transcended an identity and has become a message, Adams, the citys second Black mayor, said in remarks delivered without notes at the Brooklyn Academy of Musics 36th annual tribute to King.

Adams, who visited a slave-trading post in Ghana before his inauguration, said his mayoralty will be a failure if he does not deliver a more equal New York City. His term was already affected by a devastating fire in the Bronx, which robbed the lives of at least 17 victims, mostly of West African descent.

If I am just the second African American mayor of the City of New York, and I fail to stop the systemic problems that we have been facing, then I failed that journey I took in Ghana, Adams said. I failed those who laid the path for me to be here.

He faces considerable challenges.

In still-segregated New York City, where yawning racial wealth gaps persist, Black New Yorkers have accounted for 28% of coronavirus deaths, according to state data, despite accounting for 22% of the population.

Gov. Hochul, decrying the 22-month-old pandemics outsized impact on Black New Yorkers, said the coronavirus crisis had showed societys cracks.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks at the National Action Networks (NAN) annual Martin Luther King Day event in Harlem, New York on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

It held up a mirror to injustices that have been there so long, Hochul said in her Martin Luther King Jr. Day remarks at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

The governor, who has declared that racism amounts to a public health crisis, signed legislation last month aimed at improving demographic data collection and generating health equity assessments for hospitals.

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The city and state are reeling from the expiration of an expanded federal child tax credit and the end of the statewide eviction moratorium, which Hochul blamed on a dearth of federal pandemic funds. The deadlines could cut lifelines for low-income Black and brown New Yorkers.

Hundreds pack the National Action Networks (NAN) during the annual Martin Luther King Day event in Harlem, New York on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

Today I think about all the areas we have to do so much more, Hochul said, committing to focusing on education, health care and housing as she puts together the states budget. Lets head to the mountaintop together.

The remark evoked Kings final sermon, known as his Ive Been to the Mountaintop address, delivered one day before he died.

In the afternoon on Monday, the Rev. Al Sharpton pushed for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to call U.S. lawmakers to a floor showdown on voting rights legislation.

This undated file photo shows Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Schumer punted on a Senate vote planned for Monday after two moderate Democrats, Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, said they would not support an elimination of the filibuster necessary to overcome blanket Republican resistance to the legislation.

A vote is now expected Wednesday.

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Republican lawmakers across the U.S. have moved to limit ballot box access after President Donald Trump falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him.

The measures, which appear to disproportionately impact voters of color, have toughened ballot ID rules and allowed for the stripping of inconsistent voters from rolls.

Sharpton said he wants to see Washington legislators show where they stand on ballot access, even if that means sending Democrats into a failed showdown.

You cannot honor Martin Luther King without the vote, Sharpton said at his National Action Networks headquarters in Harlem, as Schumer sat behind him. I want the media to say that when Chuck Schumer goes back to Washington, that his constituents in New York told him they want the vote called.

National Action Networks (NAN) founder Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at his headquarters during the annual Martin Luther King Day event in Harlem, New York on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

Hes not being hard-headed, Sharpton added. Hes delivering a message.

The civil rights activist led chants of Call the vote! in the room, which was crammed with more than 100 people for the holiday.

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Lots of attention paid to @SenSchumer so far.@TheRevAl just led the crowd in a call the vote! chant, urging Schumer to call a Senate vote on the voting rights bill so the country can see which side all senators are on. pic.twitter.com/CjcRQMcmPE  Chris Sommerfeldt (@C_Sommerfeldt) January 17, 2022

Im going down to Washington, and we are going to debate voting rights, Schumer said. The fight is not over.

The senator recalled the rocky road King traveled as he fought for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

He never gave up. Never, Schumer said. We must never give up.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks at the National Action Networks (NAN) annual Martin Luther King Day event in Harlem, New York on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

But as the battle brewed in Washington, local leaders faced the challenges of racial inequality at home.

Jumaane Williams, the citys public advocate, suggested Republicans are not the only politicians who have perpetuated inequalities.

He decried the lapse of the eviction moratorium in deep-blue New York, leveling a not-so-subtle attack on Hochul, whom he is challenging in the states Democratic primary this year.

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If we are going to celebrate Dr. King, let us take some risks, Williams said.

Despite the flash of political tension, the National Action Network event saw moments of unity and celebration in a city that has seen a surge in Black power over the past year.

Adrienne Adams, who this month became the first Black woman to rise to City Council speaker, said Sharptons organization had helped put people of color in places that we never dreamed that wed see people of color.

New York City Council Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) speaks at the National Action Networks (NAN) headquarters during the annual Martin Luther King Day event in Harlem, New York on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Rev. Al Sharpton is pictured in the background. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

She hailed Mayor Adams arrival at City Hall and Alvin Braggs ascension to become the first Black Manhattan district attorney. Concluding her speech, she began to sing I Want Jesus to Walk With Me, an African American spiritual.

The electrified crowd sang along and cheered, offering a standing ovation as Sharpton beamed beside her on stage.
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AT&T, Verizon delay launching 5G near some airports after airlines ask Biden to intervene
President Moon Jae-in holds a phone call with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at a hotel in Dubai, Monday (local time). Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo



DUBAI  President Moon Jae-in has wrapped up his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tuesday (local time), with a botched summit between himself and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The last-minute cancellation of the summit took the shine off of a trip which otherwise had a number of meaningful accomplishments during the three-day visit.



Moon was scheduled to have the summit with the crown prince on Monday on the occasion of President Moon's visit to Expo 2020 Dubai. However, Korea's presidential office announced Sunday night that the meeting was canceled due to "inevitable reasons."



The summit between the two was replaced with a 25-minute phone conversation on Monday night.



Presidential spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee quoted Moon as saying, "I couldn't meet the crown prince this time, but UAE Prime Minister and the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum expressed his warm welcome instead, and I deeply appreciate your sincerity and efforts."



The crown prince is said to have replied to Moon that he was happy to hear the voice of Moon, describing him as "a brother." The UAE leader also offered his apology for talking over the phone, and expressed regrets on the canceled meeting due to "situations which are out of his hands," according to Park.



Moon responded by expressing condemnation on a drone attack in Abu Dhabi, Monday, and offered his condolences to the victims of the tragedy. The attack, claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, exploded three oil tankers and caused a fire at an extension of Abu Dhabi International Airport, killing three people. Moon was staying in Dubai.



According to the spokeswoman, the crown prince said the attack was "already anticipated," triggering various speculations on the reason behind the cancellation of his meeting with Moon.



However, Im Jong-seok, former chief of staff to Moon and special envoy to the UAE told reporters that "(the cancellation) has nothing to do with the attack" and the crown prince's comment is "assumed to be referring to chronic risks of the country."



Despite the leaders' cordial greetings, the canceled summit has overshadowed achievements during Moon's stay in the UAE, including Korean companies' exporting of the Cheongung-II missile to the UAE in a deal reportedly worth $3.36 billion.



Cheong Wa Dae described the deal as an achievement of Moon's trip, but the opposition bloc downplayed this, saying the deal had already been completed regardless of Moon's visit, and the President failed to accomplish the most important goal of his trip  having a summit with the UAE leader.



"Before Moon was to begin his trip, Cheong Wa Dae said it cannot preannounce 'the achievement of (missile) export' because it requires consultation with its counterpart, and this means that the deal was already clinched regardless of Moon's visit to the UAE," Chang Young-il, vice spokesperson of the main opposition People Power Party's presidential election team, said in a commentary, Monday.



In November, UAE's Ministry of Defense tweeted that it plans to acquire the missile system, which was hailed in Korea as a success in the defense export industry.

During Moon's meeting with the ruler of Dubai on Monday, the companies involved in the deal exchanged contracts and did not sign any further documents, as the deal had already be done.





As criticisms stir, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said "Moon's meeting with the Dubai ruler is tantamount to a summit," adding "the crown prince is No. 3 in diplomatic precedence while the ruler of Dubai stands as No. 2."



President Moon had summits with the crown prince twice when Moon visited the UAE in 2018 and the prince paid a reciprocal visit to Korea in 2019.





President Moon Jae-in looks around the Korea Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Sunday (local time). Yonhap
An eruption occurs at the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai off Tonga, Jan. 14, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. Reuters-Yonhap



The first death from a massive underwater volcanic blast near the Pacific island nation of Tonga has been confirmed, as the extent of the damage remained unknown Monday.



Tonga remained virtually cut off from the rest of the world, after the eruption crippled communications and stalled emergency relief efforts.



It is two days since the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano exploded, cloaking Tonga in a film of ash, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami and releasing shock waves that wrapped around the entire Earth.



But with phone lines still down and an undersea internet cable cut  and not expected to be repaired for weeks  the true toll of the dual eruption-tsunami disaster is not yet known.



The first known death in Tonga itself was confirmed: that of a British woman swept away by the tsunami. She was identified as Angela Glover, 50, who lived in the Tonga capital with her husband James, Glover's brother Nick Eleini told British media.



Two women also drowned Saturday in northern Peru in big waves recorded after the volcanic blast, authorities there said.



Only fragments of information have filtered out via a handful of satellite phones on the islands, home to just over 100,000 people.



In one of the few communications with the outside world, two stranded Mexican marine biologists made a plea for help from their government, using a satellite phone provided by the British embassy to call their family.



"They said they were sheltering in a hotel near the airport and they asked us for help to leave the island," Amelia Nava, the sister of 34-year-old Leslie Nava, told AFP in Mexico.



Tonga's worried neighbors are still scrambling to grasp the scale of the damage, which New Zealand's leader Jacinda Ardern said was believed to be "significant".



Both Wellington and Canberra scrambled reconnaissance planes Monday in an attempt to get a sense of the damage from the air.



And both have put C-130 military transport aircraft on standby to drop emergency supplies or to land if runways are deemed operational and ash clouds allow.



There are initial reports that areas of Tonga's west coast may have been badly hit.



Australia's international development minister, Zed Seselja, said a small contingent of Australian police stationed in Tonga had delivered a "pretty concerning" initial evaluation.



They were "able to do an assessment of some of the Western beaches area and there was some pretty significant damage to things like roads and some houses," Seselja said.



"One of the good pieces of news is that I understand the airport has not suffered any significant damage," he added.



"That will be very, very important as the ash cloud clears and we are able to have flights coming into Tonga for humanitarian purposes."



Major aid agencies, who would usually rush in to provide emergency humanitarian relief, said they were stuck in a holding pattern, unable to contact local staff.



"From what little updates we have, the scale of the devastation could be immense  especially for outlying islands," said Katie Greenwood, IFRC's Pacific Head of Delegation.



Even when relief efforts get under way, they may be complicated by COVID-19 entry restrictions. Tonga only recently reported its first-ever coronavirus case.





A plume rises over Tonga after the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupted in this satellite image taken by GOES-17 on Jan. 14. Reuters-Yonhap
Garrett, IN (46738)

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Mayor Adams defended his deputy mayor for public safety Tuesday for a sojourn he took to California immediately after Eric Garners death, contending that his pick for the post is still the best fit for the job.

Deputy Mayor Phil Banks was serving as the NYPDs chief of department at the time of Garners death, but instead of being in the Big Apple for what proved to be the historic aftermath of Garners arrest, Banks was in Los Angeles hobnobbing with two men whod later be convicted on corruption charges.

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Philip Banks (left) and Norman Seabrooks trip to Los Angeles on July 18, 2014, the day after the police killing of Eric Garner. (Obtained by Daily News)

When asked about this Tuesday, Adams responded that Banks is the best person to assist me in coordinating all of my law enforcement agencies so we can create a safe city.

His trip to L.A. on vacation and other things  I know what I must do for this city, Adams said when asked about the trip, which was first reported Tuesday in the Daily News. I must appoint and hire the best talent to do the best job and make sure the taxpayers are getting their moneys worth. And Phil Banks is part of the team that I am putting together, and Im happy [with] the team.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Seth Wenig/AP)

After their trip to California, the two men Banks traveled with  Norman Seabrook, the former head of the correction officers union, and Jona Rechnitz, a donor to former Mayor Bill de Blasio  were ensnared in federal probes that landed Seabrook in prison for accepting a bribe from Rechnitz, who is now appealing a five-month prison sentence.

Since being appointed by Adams, criticism over picking Banks has focused on the fact that Banks was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the corruption trial that involved Rechnitz and his partner Jeremy Reichberg, who was sentenced to four years behind bars for bribing cops.

The trip to L.A. opens a new front for critics unhappy with the pick.

Philip Banks, far, and Norman Seabrook, near, are pictured getting head massages during a trip to Los Angeles on July 18, 2014the day after the police killing of Eric Garner in Staten Island. (Obtained by Daily News)

During their time on the West Coast, Banks, Seabrook and Rechnitz treated themselves to head massages, martinis and drives around town in a slick Porsche. They also had a chance run-in with the television host Larry King.

Meanwhile, a continent away, protesters were slamming the NYPDs treatment of Garner as well as the internal policies that Banks had a hand in promulgating at the time as its chief of department.

And unlike Adams, Banks did not offer an on-the-record statement when asked about the trip.
Angola, IN (46703)

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Rain diminishing to a few showers by morning. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
An Auburn man was taken to an area hospital with head, neck and hip pain when his vehicle left the roadway and sheared off a utility pole on C.R. 35 Monday morning.
Law enforcement agencies across the state of Idaho are reporting an increase in drug and drug trafficking cases, particularly when it comes to cases involving fentanyl. Read more
He went from Swag City to Fear City in about two weeks time.

Mayor Adams confessed to a roomful of reporters Tuesday that he has his own trepidations about riding the subway  just three days after the tragic murder of Michelle Go, a Manhattan woman who perished after being pushed into the path of a train by a mentally ill homeless man.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams riding the subway. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Adams has spoken for months about public safety and New Yorkers perception that the subways arent safe, but his statement Tuesday signaled the first time as mayor in which he said publicly that he shares the same fears many others are gripped with when riding the trains.

Day One, January 1, when I took the train, I saw the homelessness, the yelling, the screaming early in the morning, crimes right outside the platform, he said during an in-person City Hall press briefing. We know we have a job to do  and were going to do both. Were going to drive down crime, and were going to make sure New Yorkers feel safe in our subway system. And they dont feel that way now. I dont feel that way when I take the train every day, or when Im moving throughout our transportation system.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams rides the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan on his first day in office in New York, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. (Seth Wenig/AP)

His words Tuesday come in stark contrast to previous statements hes made in recent days. Three days in as mayor, on Jan. 3, Adams vowed to bring swagger back to the Big Apple.

When the mayor has swagger, the city has swagger, he said at the time. Weve allowed people to beat us down so much that all we did was wallow in COVID.

This weekend, many New Yorkers felt beaten down by Gos tragic passing. Go, a 40-year-old senior manager at Deloitte Consulting who volunteered to help the homeless through the New York Junior League, was waiting on the platform at Times Square when Simon Martial allegedly shoved her into an R train.

Michelle Go

According to police, Martial pushed Go into the train after failing to push another woman. According to cops, he later confessed to the crime, saying, Yeah, because Im God.

Before the horrific incident, Adams has suggested that hes felt safe enough to go without an NYPD security detail, although his position on that, at least publicly, has changed over time. In January 2020, when he was still serving as Brooklyn borough president, Adams said he could do without the security detail and would instead carry a gun himself if he elected mayor.

On Jan. 1, he said hed roll with a detail from time to time and that they would be there when I need them.

Simon Martial, charged with murder, is escorted by detectives from the Midtown South Precinct in Manhattan, New York on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News)

Most recently  and controversially  he has argued that his brother Bernard Adams, a former NYPD sergeant, is the most qualified person to helm his security apparatus.

Bernard retired from the NYPD in 2006 and since then has worked as assistant director of parking at a Virginia college. The mayor first announced Bernard would serve as a deputy commissioner  a job that carried with it a $240,000-a-year salary  but days later he reversed course and signaled he wanted him to work as the NYPDs executive director of mayoral security for $210,000 annually.

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To justify the hire, hes said Bernard is the best person for the uniqueness of how I want my security to be.

Eric Adams' brother, Bernard Adams, celebrates his brother's win as New York City Mayoral at the Brooklyn Marriott in Brooklyn, Nov. 2, 2021. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News)

The appointment is now with the citys Conflicts of Interest Board, which is reviewing an application from the Adams administration thats presumably seeking a dispensation from the citys rules against nepotism.

Alongside that ongoing subplot, Adams candor Tuesday about his own fear seemed to mark a departure, albeit slight, from past rhetoric  both from his own and that of his predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who rarely rode the subway and did not speak much about his own feelings riding it, aside from saying that the subways were by and large safe.

It was extremely impactful for New Yorkers ... losing a New Yorker in that fashion, Adams said Tuesday of Gos death. Our system must be safe. It must be safe from actual crime, which we are going to do, and it must be safe [for] those who feel as though theres a total level of disorder in our subway system.

At an outdoor vigil for Go in Times Square on Tuesday night, Adams told the crowd how her death ripped at my heart, to see what has happened to her and to see what has happened to our city.

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He repeated his commitment to make New York safe again for family members and seniors and elders who are afraid to walk the street, afraid to do the daily interactions that theyve done so many years in this great city, the mayor said. Im recommitted to ensure that this will not happen in our city.
Gary Chambers is running for the 2nd congressional district in New Orleans, La. Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
Washington D.C.- Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to Ukraine this with U.S. and Russia tensions escalate.

Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have been at an all-time high recently.

During the trip, the Secretary of State will meet with the president of Ukraine and the foreign minister.

The press release from the state department says that the United States is committed to reinforce the sovereignty of the Ukraine.

The State Department says Blinken will travel to Kyiv today. The meetings are scheduled for tomorrow.
The features are available for iPhone and iPod touch devices that are running iOS 15.
Two events -- a Trump rally and a voting rights march -- in the same state on the same day this Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend encapsulated a nation at odds with itself about the future of its democracy.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured here, in Riga, Latvia November 30, 2021 will travel to Ukraine and Germany as the Russian threat toward Ukraine continues to loom.
The polls are smiling on the governor and the mayor.

Gov. Hochul held an enormous lead in this years Democratic gubernatorial primary, and Mayor Adams favorability rating in New York City was 63%, according to a Siena College opinion survey released Tuesday.

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In the poll, Hochul carried a 34 percentage point advantage over her closest competitor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio  who made a surprise announcement on Tuesday that he would sit the campaign out.

The survey, combined with de Blasios decision not to run, left Hochul with an increasingly clear path to what would be viewed as a one-sided general election in deep-blue New York. The governor has fund-raised at a furious clip.

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Hochul, who rose to her post in August following the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has appeared in the drivers seat since Attorney General Letitia James ended her run for governor last month, after 41 days.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (left) and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (right) (AP)

James, whose report on allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo led to his downfall, was considered a formidable opponent with deep downstate support.

But she trailed behind Hochul in early polling, and her campaign appeared slow to get off the ground. As she ended her brief run, she said she intended to focus on her work as attorney general.

In the new Siena poll, Hochul, a moderate Democrat from the Buffalo region, had support of 46% of Democrats. Twenty-two percent of Democrats polled did not have a choice in the race.

Jumaane Williams, New York Citys progressive public advocate, picked up 11% of Democratic support in the poll.

Williams seemed to fire some arrows at Hochul during a Harlem event honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, decrying the recent lapse of the states eviction moratorium.

Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Long Island moderate, trailed further behind, with 6% support.

Steven Greenberg, a Siena College pollster, said Hochul was in a very strong position to win the Democratic nomination.

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Shes the incumbent, albeit for only five months, but has the bully pulpit of the incumbent, Greenberg said. Shes got more than $20 million in the bank. Shes got a commanding lead in the polls.

Adams honeymoon in New York City was still going strong in his second week on the job, according to the survey.

The poll found 63% of New Yorkers in the city viewed him favorably, while 20% viewed the relatively moderate mayor unfavorably. Statewide, his favorability rating was 41%, while 19% of respondents viewed him unfavorably.

Siena said it surveyed 806 registered voters across the state, some online and some by phone.

In the polling data, the mayor enjoyed high favorability ratings across regions and income brackets, and more Republicans statewide viewed him favorably (29%) than unfavorably (20%).

If you look at his New York City number, particularly compared to the former mayor, thats a really strong number for him to be starting his administration, Greenberg said.

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De Blasio enjoyed a 47% favorability rating in New York City roughly three months into his term, Greenberg said, citing Siena polling. At the time, the former mayor was viewed unfavorably by 23% of New York City respondents, Greenberg said.

De Blasio entered office at the start of 2014.

His statewide favorability rating was 30% in the latest poll. Fifty-three percent of respondents viewed him unfavorably.
Its Groundhog Day all over again.

Bill de Blasio is well aware that he wasnt the most popular mayor  and hes pointing a posthumous finger of blame at Staten Island Chuck.

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The ex-mayor Tuesday cited the bizarre but mostly forgotten 2014 death of the famed groundhog in explaining why he is pulling the plug on an expected bid for governor.

I made my share of mistakes, de Blasio admitted. I was not good with groundhogs. At all.

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Thats a bit of an understatement.

Then-New York City Mayor de Blasio accidentally dropped Staten Island Chuck during Groundhog Day celebrations in 2014. Chuck died soon after. (Marc A. Hermann/for New York Daily News)

In 2014, the 6-foot-6 mayor handled New York Citys answer to Punxsutawney Phil while participating in the annual Groundhog Day ceremony at the Staten Island Zoo.

The citys most famous rodent was supposed to find out if it could see its shadow and predict whether there is going to be six more weeks of winter. Instead, it tumbled from the grasp of the mayor to the hard ground below.

The groundhog didnt seem any worse for wear from the fall and supposedly participated happily in several events in the following days.

A week to the day after the fall, Charles (Chuck) A. Hogg, was found dead in its pen.

[ Bill de Blasio dropping Staten Island Chuck may lead to hands-off-the-critter policy for Groundhog Day ]

The zoo inexplicably kept the death secret for seven months. Officials belatedly released the results of an official autopsy. It blamed sudden internal injuries. that could have been inflicted overnight while in its exhibit.

Adding to the scent of a cover-up, the zoo admitted that the groundhog in question was actually Charlotte, the daughter of the original Chuck.

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It all amounted to a burgeoning scandal for de Blasio, who was still enjoying something of a honeymoon after his 2013 election to City Hall.

One Republican city council member demanded a probe into what the mayor knew and when he knew it.

Chastened by the tragedy, de Blasio attended the 2015 Groundhog Day ceremony but was separated by a Plexiglass barrier from the new version of Chuck, whom zoo officials identified as the slain groundhogs younger sister, Charlotte Jr.

After that, he never showed up again.

I tried it, it didnt end well, I wont be back, de Blasio explained in 2020.

Why did de Blasio dredge up the ghosts of Groundhog Days past in a speech to announce that hes not running for governor?

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Hizzoner was hoping his lack of popularity, which made him a national punchline during his final years in office, as a straw man to trumpet his wonky policy achievements on a host of issues like universal pre-kindergarten, the COVID pandemic and police reform.

According to his latest video, hell keep fighting the good fight but at least New Yorkers dont have to worry about Staten Island Chuck.
Corey Prince, a community and political organizer from Racine, and Kenosha-based Open Wings Learning Community have been named as recipients of the 2022 Gateway Technical College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award.

The award is an annual effort by the college to honor those individuals or groups who work to support the community and exemplify Dr. Kings values. The award honors students, adults and organizations distinguished for humanitarian contributions to society, education, business or profession, as well as dedication to volunteerism or philanthropic lifes work.

The awards are typically awarded at the colleges annual Martin Luther King Day program, but this years event  which was to take place on Monday  was canceled due to illness, college officials announced Monday morning.

Open Wings Learning Community

Kimberly Hufferd-Ackles founded Open Wings Learning Community in 2012. Her daughter, who has special needs, was the catalyst for founding the school after Hufferd-Ackles couldnt find a school environment that met her needs. The school provides a progressive educational program for children and adolescents that celebrates and embraces learners neurodiversity.

Open Wings Learning Communitys nominator wrote that the school is truly an inspiration and that Dr. King believed It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people. A visit to Open Wings brings to light how students of all abilities are given a voice  The students and faculty of Open Wings work hard to get to know one another and reach out to the community. The priority of having a service learning curriculum in their recently opened middle school is another way they are creating a culture of inclusion and social justice  and learning to live peacefully.

Corey Prince

Corey Prince is founder of Community Consulting LLC. Gateway officials said that he has a passion for engaging people and advocating for marginalized groups. Among other services, Princes company provides assistance with pardon applications, community outreach and training in community and political organizing. Prince serves as the NAACP State Criminal Justice Chair and was named Wisconsin Ambassador for Reform Alliance.

Princes nominator says he is guided by his faith and core principles and that he has worked hard to combat systemic racism. Corey speaks with everyone, he talks with people on-on-one, he uses these conversations to build coalitions. He maintains relationships with everyone he talks to and grows the relationships into genuine friendships and that helps him to bring people together as they work toward a common goal  His peers, including myself, respect Corey and the work he is doing in Racine.
MLK Day has always been a day on, not off, Martin Luther King III said recently regarding the federal holiday to honor his father, the late civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

When we call for no celebration without legislation, were not urging Americans not to honor this day  were asking people to honor Dr. King through action to protect the right to vote, King, chairman of the Drum Major Institute, a nonprofit started by his father, said in a statement to The Washington Post published Thursday. Were directly calling on Congress not to pay lip service to my fathers ideals without doing the very thing that would protect his legacy: Pass voting rights legislation.

That message was shared and elevated Monday by Racine Police Chief Maurice Robinson, Racine Mayor Cory Mason, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and others at the annual MLK Day celebration at Festival Hall in Racine.

When we tamper with the ease of access for people to vote, we tamper with democracy, said Kelly Scroggins-Powell, emcee of the event and founder of the nonprofit Racine Women for Racial Justice. I encourage (those in attendance) to use the vote to stand for those who stand for us.

In the days leading up to and including the celebration of Kings 93rd birthday, several of his descendants marched across the nation, including in Washington, D.C., and in Arizona in support of voting rights, specifically urging the passage of two bills  S.2747, the Freedom to Vote Act, and H.R.4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act  which are currently stalled in Congress; both have passed the House but are expected to not be passed by the Senate.

Robinson said he was inspired by an article by Jelani Cobb, a professor at Columbia University, published last week in The New Yorker magazine.

Robinson said: It was not lost on him (King) that actions designed to oppress poor black people also oppress poor white people  Dr. King said that racial segregation had begun not simply as an expression as an expression of white supremacy but as a political stratagem employed by the emerging bourbon interest in the South to keep the Southern masses divided and keep Southern labor the cheapest in the land  by creating a hyper-exploited class of black people, white elites could hold down the wages of white workers. Therefore, racism didnt just injure black people, its immediate object. It took a toll on white laborers, too.

I would wager that if Dr. King were with us today, he would argue that the efforts to restrict voting rights hurts all Americans. So, we should not lose sight of that most American of rights and responsibilities, and that is to vote. There is a concerted effort to take away the rights of Americans to vote. So remember, thieves never try spending time and money to steal something that has no value.

After U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Janesville Republican whose district includes all of Racine and Kenosha counties, voted against passage of those bills  he said he was specifically opposed to how those bills would gut key voter integrity provisions, particularly restrictions on states looking to pass Voter ID requirements  the Racine Branch of the NAACP called for Gateway Technical College to uninvite Steil from its annual MLK Day event. Gateway upheld its invitation to Steil, but the virtual event was canceled due to illness, the college said.

At Mondays Festival Hall event, Mason said we are lucky to live in a democracy, and mentioned how his daughter, a seventh-grader at Walden Middle School, recently wrote a report on Tunisia. That country was among the first to declare democracy during the Arab Spring in 2011. But in July of last year, Tunisias president, Kais Saied, suspended its elected government and dismissed the countrys prime minister, giving himself almost sole power over the country.

There are countries in our world where democracy can flare out, Mason said. In the U.S., he said, every living adult has the right to vote  I feel like Kings legacy is needed now more than ever.

Kaul connected the unsuccessful attempts to stop the certification of the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021, to the election of Americas first black president, Barack Obama, in 2008. The Oath Keepers, an extremist group that was at the center of organizing the Jan. 6 attack, formed two months after Obama was sworn in, specifically in reaction to Obama. Its leaders have now been criminally charged with seditious conspiracy in their attempt to overturn Bidens election win and keep Obamas successor, Donald Trump, in office.

There is a concerted effort to undermine the progress that has been made as we move to true multiracial democracy, where every voter has an equal opportunity to be heard, Kaul said.

Will Martin, a Republican candidate for Wisconsin lieutenant governor, did not speak about voting rights in his speech Monday. He said that we should not put Dr. King away on a shelf again for another year, from this event to the next. That we commit ourselves, today, to leaving this place and being a part of building a blueprint for a better life for ourselves, and a more just and equitable community, state and nation.

State Rep. Tip McGuire, a Kenosha Democrat whose district includes part of Racine, noted how the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ushered in years of progress in the United States, but that much of it was declared unconstitutional in 2013 by the U.S. Supreme Court because one of the formulas within it was based on outdated data. The provisions ruled unconstitutional have not replaced.

The Pew Research Center reported in 2018 that un the five years since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key parts of the Voting Rights Act, nearly a thousand polling places have been shuttered across the country, many of them in Southern black communities. The trend continues: This year alone, 10 counties with large black populations in Georgia closed polling spots after a white elections consultant recommended they do so to save money. When the consultant suggested a similar move in (predominantly black) Randolph County, pushback was enough to keep its nine polling places open.
Columnist Joyce Bupp discusses the frustrations that come with secure packaging these days. The contents may be safe, but is there such a thing as being overly cautious?
White mold isnt too picky where it grows  it will attack more than 400 species of crops and weeds, and its been gaining ground in Pennsylvania.
Weather Alert

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL AREAS DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS, SANDIA, MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS, WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... .Strong winds will continue through this evening with low humidity, above normal temperatures, and an unstable airmass. Meager mid level moisture may also initiate some virga showers over northwest NM and along the central mountain chain before sunset. Strong west to northwest winds will develop Wednesday, however cooler and more stable conditions are likely for the northwest while areas along and south of I-40 and along and east of I-25 remain warm, very dry, and unstable. Far northeast NM will see higher humidity Wednesday afternoon as a weak back door cold front sags into the area. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING... ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY... * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands, Northeast and East Central Plains, Sandia, Manzano, and Gallinas Mountains as well as the West Central Highlands through 9 pm MDT today and again Wednesday from 10 am to 9 pm MDT. * 20 FOOT WINDS...South to southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph today. For Wednesday, west to northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9 to 15 percent today and 6 to 12 percent Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Outdoor burning should not be done. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. &&

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL AREAS DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS, SANDIA, MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS, WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... .Strong winds will continue through this evening with low humidity, above normal temperatures, and an unstable airmass. Meager mid level moisture may also initiate some virga showers over northwest NM and along the central mountain chain before sunset. Strong west to northwest winds will develop Wednesday, however cooler and more stable conditions are likely for the northwest while areas along and south of I-40 and along and east of I-25 remain warm, very dry, and unstable. Far northeast NM will see higher humidity Wednesday afternoon as a weak back door cold front sags into the area. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING... ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY... * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands, Northeast and East Central Plains, Sandia, Manzano, and Gallinas Mountains as well as the West Central Highlands through 9 pm MDT today and again Wednesday from 10 am to 9 pm MDT. * 20 FOOT WINDS...South to southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph today. For Wednesday, west to northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9 to 15 percent today and 6 to 12 percent Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Outdoor burning should not be done. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. &&

...AIR QUALITY ALERT... The following message is transmitted at the request of the New Mexico Departments of Health and Environment. * WHAT...Southwest transport winds will carry smoke toward the northeast during the remainder of the daytime hours today before winds shift back from the west Wednesday. Lighter wind conditions and nighttime inversions tonight will focus the greatest overnight impacts close to and down-drainage of the large fires. * WHERE...Smoke will continue to significantly impact areas across much of southern Colfax, Los Alamos, Mora, southern Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Taos counties during the next 24 hours. This includes but is not limited to the following communities: Espanola, Kewa Pueblo, La Cueva, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Mora, Ocate, Ohkay Owingeh, Pojoaque, Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Santa Fe, Sapello, Taos, Watrous and White Rock. * WHEN...Remainder of this afternoon through noon MDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Those with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and heart disease will be especially vulnerable to impacts from poor air quality, as will adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant women if smoke concentrations become unhealthy. * HEALTH INFORMATION...Remember, your eyes are your best tools to determine if it is safe to be outside. Use the 5-3-1 Method available at https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. If visibility is: Under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness. Outdoor activity should be minimized. Around 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities. Around 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone. People should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities including running errands. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting New Mexico and with the wildfire season underway, New Mexicans will need to take extra precautions. Smoke from wildfires may cause people to have more severe reactions if they are infected COVID-19. The best way to protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and create a clean indoor air space. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/IndoorQuality.html and https://cv.nmhealth.org New Mexicans will also need to take steps to keep their homes cool to avoid heat-related illnesses. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/health/heatstress/Heat.html. For smoke forecast outlooks from the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program please visit: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...South to southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Central Highlands, Estancia Valley, Far Northeast Highlands, Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass and Northeast Highlands. * WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 9 PM MDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs may be blown down. Expect strong cross winds on area roadways along with areas of reduced visibilities in blowing dust. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. &&
American filmmaker Joss Whedon refuted actor Gal Gadot's allegations that he threatened her career, claiming that there was no conflict between Gadot and him on the sets of Justice League, calling it a misunderstanding due to language barrier. Whedon, who directed Gadot in the 2017 film 'Justice League', addressed her 2021 claims in a new interview with New York Magazine. Gadot had, in a previous interview, said that "he threatened my career and said that if I do something, he will make sure my career is miserable," reported People magazine. The Flash To Cancel Out Zack Snyders Justice League Continuity? Ezra Millers Leaked Insta Chat Throws Light on This Rumour!

"I don't threaten people. Who does that?" Whedon said. The director claimed that the Israeli actor, who speaks fluent English, misunderstood him. "English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech," Whedon told the magazine. The director acknowledged that they argued over cutting a scene and claimed he jokingly told her that she "would have to tie him to a railroad track and do it over his dead body," the outlet explained.

"Then I was told that I had said something about her dead body and tying her to the railroad track," he alleged. Gal Gadot Recalls How Joss Whedon Threatened Her Career During Reshoot of Warner Bros Justice League.

However, the 'Red Notice' star disagreed with his recollection. "I understood perfectly," Gadot told the magazine in an email. The 57-year-old filmmaker reflected on his time taking over the directing duties for the 2017 film. Warner Bros. brought Whedon in to take over for director Zack Snyder, who stepped down after his daughter died by suicide, and the 'Avengers' director worked in many rewrites and 40 days of reshoots, which caused tension on the set.

In April 2021, The Hollywood Reporter outlined how Whedon allegedly "threatened to harm Gadot's career and disparaged Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins" after the 36-year-old actor brought up creative concerns.

Whedon reportedly told her to "shut up and say the lines," threatening to "make her look incredibly stupid in this movie."

When asked about her relationship with the filmmaker, Gadot told THR, "I had my issues with [Whedon] and Warner Bros. handled it in a timely manner." 'The Wonder Woman' actor wasn't the only one who took issue with Whedon. The filmmaker denied actor Ray Fisher's claims that Whedon abused his power and lightened the 34-year-old actor's skin tone. Whedon said none of Fisher's allegations were "either true or merited discussing." He described Fisher's actions as "a malevolent force," adding, "We're talking about a bad actor in both senses."

Fisher, who played Cyborg in 'Justice League', said on Twitter in July 2020 that Whedon "was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable" during reshoots on the film. In an October 2020 interview with Forbes, Fisher further alleged that "race was just one of the issues with the reshoot process."

He said at the time, "There were massive blowups, threats, coercion, taunting, unsafe work conditions, belittling and gaslighting like you wouldn't believe." Fisher went on to say last year in a feature for The Hollywood Reporter that his own creative input was continually not taken seriously by producer and DC Films co-chairman Geoff Johns and other leadership, including Whedon.

Whedon denied Fisher's claims in the new interview, saying he trimmed Cyborg's role in the film because his plot "logically made no sense" and he wasn't a fan of Fisher's acting in it.

He also denied digital lightening specifically of Fisher's skin tone, telling the magazine that he brightened everything in postproduction. Fisher, on Monday, tweeted, "Looks like Joss Whedon got to direct an endgame after all." He added, "Rather than address all of the lies and buffoonery today--I will be celebrating the legacy of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Tomorrow the work continues. #MLKDay A>E." The problems went beyond just the cast members.

According to Us Weekly, an anonymous crew member claimed that Whedon once paused the shoot to announce that he'd never worked with "a ruder group of people." Another unnamed source on set noted that Snyder encouraged improvisation while Whedon wanted the actors to be word-perfect, causing even more tension on the sets of the film.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
By Tanmay Sakalley

Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 18 (ANI): Five Naxals were gunned down by security forces in two different encounters on the border area of Telangana and Chhattisgarh on the Sukma-Dantewada border respectively, informed P Sundarraj, IG Bastar (Chhattisgarh) on Tuesday.

Also Read | Omicron Cases To Peak in India by February 15, May Spell End of 3rd Wave, Say Health Experts.

"An encounter took place in the border area of Telangana-Chhattisgarh in which four Naxals were gunned down by security forces and a Greyhounds jawan was injured in the exchange of fire. The jawan has been airlifted to Warangal for treatment," the IG said in an official statement.

P Sundarraj informed that the Telangana State Committee deployed Greyhounds, DRG, and CRPF forces from Bijapur district on Monday after receiving information of the presence of about 40-50 armed Maoists including senior Maoist leader Sudhakar DVCM, Venkatapuram ACM on the border area of Telangana, and Chhattisgarh.

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During the operation, an encounter took place between the security forces and Maoists in the border area of Bijapur's Semaldodi village and Telangana's Penugolu village on Tuesday around 7 am.

He said that a Greyhound's jawan was also injured in the encounter. Later, the jawan was airlifted to Warangal city in Telangana for treatment.

According to initial reports, at least four Maoist cadres were believed to be neutralized in this encounter, while several other Naxals would have sustained serious injuries. Later, during the search operations, three Naxal dead bodies were recovered including one female Naxal cadre from the border area.

One SLR, one INSAS rifle, one single bore weapon, ten rocket launchers, and other kit articles were also recovered from the site.

Meanwhile, an anti-Naxal operation was also conducted on the border of South Bastar district after the security forces received information about the presence of 20-25 Maoists in the area, the statement said.

Following the information, an encounter took place on Tuesday between the DRG team and Maoists in the forest areas of Marjum and Pratapgiri border area of Dantewada and Sukma districts in the morning.

During the encounter, the body of one female Maoist was recovered from the site who has been primarily, identified as Munni, a member of the Area Committee, the statement added.

Searches are underway. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) The Delhi Police has arrested a man from here over a suspected case of revenge killing after the body of a five-year-old boy was recovered from Uttar Pradesh's Etah, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Sunil, allegedly kidnapped the boy on January 15 when he was playing outside his uncle's house and later took him to Etah where he "strangulated him to death" to take revenge from the victim's family for his brother's death seven years ago, they said.

Also Read | Republic Day 2022: Security Beefed Up in Delhi After Intel Input of Possible Terror Attack.

The matter came to light when the victim's father, who is a labourer, Rajan Singh reported at Ghazipur police station stating that his son has been missing from his residence, police said.

Based on the complaint, a case of kidnapping was registered and CCTV footages in and around the area were checked wherein the boy was seen going with his uncle's wife Pooja, who lived near Rajan's house, a senior police officer said.

Also Read | Omicron Gradually Replacing Delta Variant in Many States, Says Top ICMR Official Dr Samiran Panda.

When Pooja was examined, she told that she had gone to meet Rajan at his house and the boy accompanied her and was playing outside her house, the officer said.

When CCTV footages were examined, the boy was spotted going with Sunil who is a distant relative of the victim's family, police said.

When Sunil was apprehended and interrogated, he disclosed that his brother Manoj was married to Rajan's sister and had died in 2015. He suspected that Rajan and his brother Raj Kumar were responsible for his death. He also disclosed that Rajan's wife had borrowed Rs 1,500 from him and was not returning it," the officer said.

Therefore, Sunil took the five-year-old son to Pillua in Uttar Pradesh's Etah, and killed him on same day by strangulation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Priyanka Kashyap said "The accused Sunil was arrested and during further investigation, the dead body of the child was recovered from Pillua, Etah at his instance on Monday night."

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The ex-girlfriend of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has reportedly been granted immunity by federal prosecutors, raising the odds he will soon be charged in a sex trafficking and obstruction case.

CBS News reported that she testified to a Florida grand jury last week after cutting a deal with prosecutors to spill the beans about Gaetzs alleged hijinx with escorts and an underage girl.

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Cooperation with the feds likely means she provided valuable information about Gaetzs alleged involvement in the scheme to traffic women and at least one underage girl for sex.

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.

The outspoken pro-Trump lawmaker emphatically denies paying anyone for sex or sleeping with an underage girl.

The third-term congressman has made sensational counter-claims that the probe is part of a tangled extortion plot aimed at him and that Deep State liberal elites are targeting due to his staunch conservative views.

The new report says the ex-girlfriend offered details of a trip Gaetz made to the Bahamas with Joel Greenberg, a disgraced former suburban Orlando tax official who has confessed to fraud and sex charges.

Gaetz, 39, represents a very safe GOP seat in the Florida Panhandle and recently carried out a pro-Trump speaking tour with fellow MAGA firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)
Sepahijala (Tripura) [India], January 18 (ANI): In a special operation to thwart the trans-border smuggling activities in Tripura, Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday apprehended a Bangladeshi national.

"On specific intelligence input, BSF troops of BOP Ashabari, Ex-150 Bn BSF, Gokulnagar apprehended Bangladeshi National namely Mohd Deepu Miah, resident of Comila (Bangladesh), while he was trying to negotiate IBBF from Bangladesh side. The apprehended person along with the items recovered from him has been handed over to PS- Kalamchoura, Sepahijala for further course of action," reads BSF statement.

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BSF said the troops seized a consignment comprising of 1,375 Kg Hilsa (ilish) fish worth Rs 2,17,000 on the International Border under Sonamura Police Station, Sepahijala on Monday. The seized fish handed over to Customs- Sonamura for further disposal. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Denis Alipov, a career diplomat and a "dedicated India specialist" with decades-long experience in this country, has been appointed the new Russian Ambassador to India, the Russian Embassy here said on Tuesday.

Alipov will succeed Nikolay Kudashev shortly, it said.

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"Denis Alipov, a career diplomat and dedicated #India specialist with decades long experience in this country has been appointed new Russian Ambassador to India," the Russian Embassy tweeted.

He will succeed Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev shortly, it said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Wont Tie-Up with SP Even for 100 Seats Now, Says Chandrashekhar Azad.

Last month, summit talks were held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here.

At the summit, India and Russia had inked 28 agreements to further broad-base their partnership and vowed to expand cooperation and coordination in dealing with major challenges like the threat of terrorism.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 18 (PTI) The Kerala government on Tuesday decided to strictly implement the COVID-19 health protocols as there is a surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the state which reported over 28,500 new infections.

Also Read | COVID-19 Vaccine for Children: Ensure Only Covaxin Is Given to 15-18 Group, Says Bharat Biotech.

Kerala which had recorded 2,435 new positive cases on January 1 witnessed a steady rise in the number of cases. The daily cases increased to 5,296 on January 7. On January 12 the daily infection rate went up to 12,742 and the state reported 22,946 fresh infections on January 17.

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The state government has informed that a decision on restrictions including the closure of colleges and offices and curbs on people traveling in public transport among other matters will be discussed and decided in the COVID-19 evaluation meeting to be held on Thursday.

The chief minister, who is abroad for the purpose of treatment, will chair the meeting online, government sources said.

The functioning of the state secretariat here has been partially affected as a few ministers' offices have been shut due to the spread of infection among the staff.

State General Education Minister V Sivankutty, former minister and Kazhakootam MLA Kadakampally Surendran tested positive.

Sources in the police department said at least 650 members of the police force are down with the infection, mostly those who returned after Sabarimala temple duty. The KSRTC also has many of its staff down with COVID-19 affecting a few services.

Police officers of at least eight police stations in Thiruvananthapuram city and rural, including Circle Inspectors and DySPs have been found infected. As many as 24 security staff of the famed Padmanabha Swamy temple have also been tested positive.

As per today's health bulletin, 215 health workers are also among the infected. Including doctors, 17 health workers tested positive and one nursing officer lost her life.

P S Saritha (44), a nursing officer from Varkala was tested positive yesterday but lost her life today, the health minister's office said.

State capital Thiruvananthapuram has recorded 48 per cent of Test Positivity Rate (TPR) which means one in two persons tested here turns positive, says state Transport Minister Antony Raju, after an evaluation meeting.

"There are nearly 7,000 cases here. The TPR is at around 48 per cent, that means one in two persons tested turns positive. This is a very serious matter and the guidelines issued by the District administration needs to be implemented strictly. Stern action will be taken against the violators," Minister said.

The evaluation meeting was held to discuss the situation in the state capital.

He said the number of people allowed for weddings is 50 and there are incidents in which more number of people are participating.

Higher Education Minister R Bindu said the government was considering a move to close down colleges and shift to online classes due to the worsening COVID-19 situation.

"The college authorities have been asked to close down the college for 15 days in case a cluster is formed there," the minister said in a statement.

There are 1,42,512 active COVID-19 cases and the state capital has the most number of cases--36,250, followed by Ernakulam with 21,612 cases and Kozhikode and Thrissur districts with 14,408 and 14,407 cases respectively.

Meanwhile, the state police informed that 344 cases were registered in the state on Tuesday for violating COVID-19 health protocols. Cases were registered against 3,681 people for not wearing masks.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress on Tuesday lashed out at the Left government saying there are more COVID-19 cases than the official numbers.

Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said currently the infection is spreading at a faster pace than that of the first and the second wave.

"The health department is standing still during this pandemic. The government has disbanded the COVID brigade. Other than a warning from the health minister that COVID-19 will spread faster in two weeks, the government has not taken any step to mitigate that," Satheesan alleged.

The health department has decided to reopen the COVID-19 First Line Treatment Centres (CFLTCs) in the regions where clusters have been formed.

The state government had earlier informed that the students of class 1 to 9 will have online classes from January 21, after considering the worsening COVID-19 situation.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) A PhD student of Jawaharlal Nehru University was allegedly molested inside the campus, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, a PCR call regarding a female student being molested inside JNU was received at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station at around 12.45 am on Tuesday.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Gaurav Sharma along with SHO Vasant Kunj North and staff rushed to spot.

"It was revealed that at around 11.45 pm on Monday, a PhD student was taking a stroll in the campus. When she was walking on east gate road of the university, a man came on a bike from inside the campus and tried to molest her," Sharma said.

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The girl raised an alarm and the accused ran away. A case of outraging the modesty of a woman has been registered at Vasant Kunj North Police Station and efforts are on to nab the accused, the DCP said.

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New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday seized Rs 6 crore in cash, including Rs 4 crore from the premises linked to a nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, during raids against illegal sand mining operatives in the border state, officials said.

The search operations at a dozen locations in Mohali, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Pathankot began early morning with an armed CRPF escort and were underway.

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Sources said out of the total seizure of about Rs 6 crore in cash, about Rs 4 crore has been seized from the Ludhiana premises of Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh alias Honey.

Channi has told reporters that the raids were an attempt to put "pressure" on him and his ministers as the polling day drew near.

Also Read | Semester Exams for Universities in Madhya Pradesh to Be Held in Offline Mode, Says Higher Education Minister Mohan Yadav.

He said relatives of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were raided during the assembly polls in that state and the "same pattern" is being followed by the ED in Punjab to "pressure" him, his ministers and Congress party members.

Voting for 117 assembly seats in Punjab is slated on February 20.

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New Delhi/Davos, Jan 18 (PTI) Public trust in governments and media has declined in the last one year amid the COVID-19 pandemic while concerns about fake news have reached all-time high levels, a global survey showed on Tuesday.

The annual Edelman Trust Barometer report, released every year during the World Economic Forum's Davos summit, also showed that business has replaced government as the most trusted and is now followed by government and media in that order.

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According to the study, 76 per cent respondents globally said they worry about false information or fake news being used as a weapon. While Spain topped this list with 84 per cent, India came in at the fifth place with 82 per cent.

Respondents in the Netherlands, Japan, France, UK and Germany appeared least concerned about fake news.

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In terms of the average per cent trust in NGOs, businesses, governments and media among their people, China topped the list and India came in at the fourth place and Russia was at the bottom.

India figured in the top-five also in terms of economic optimism.

With regard to the trust in one's employer, India was ranked second (90 per cent) after Indonesia (91 per cent) while China was third (89 per cent) and South Korea came in last.

India saw the trust declining in businesses, governments and media while it was unchanged with regard to NGOs.

Respondents from India reposed the highest trust for NGOs globally and the third-highest each towards businesses and media.

On trust in government, India was ranked fifth after China, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

Businesses were found to be more trusted than governments in 23 of 28 countries surveyed.

The survey was conducted with a sample size of more than 31,000 general population and 6,000 informed public globally.

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New Delhi [India], January 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked BJP workers to encourage farmers for chemical-free farming.

While interacting with BJP party workers in Varanasi, PM Modi said "We need to give a push to natural farming. Farmers should be encouraged for chemical-free farming. We should connect everyone in celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav."

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"Every vote is important, we must tell people the importance of voting, PM Narendra Modi said while interacting with BJP party workers in Varanasi, via the Namo app.

This is PM Modis' first political interaction involving party workers since the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the Assembly polls to five states, including Uttar Pradesh.

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The interaction is taking place via video conferencing as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended all physical rallies till January 22 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Organic farming is recognized as a sustainable agriculture practice promoting the use of organic or bio inputs that takes care of environment including soil, biodiversity and human wellbeing.

Organic agriculture also contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil (FAO).

Centre has been promoting Organic farming in the country through dedicated schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) since 2015-16. Both the schemes stress on end to end support to organic farmers i.e. from production to certification and marketing.

Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

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Puducherry [India], January 18 (ANI): Puducherry schools and colleges will remain closed for the students till January 31 amid rising COVID-19 cases, informed Education Minister A Namasviyam.

Earlier on January 9, the Puducherry government had announced that the physical classes for students of classes 1 to 9 will remain closed.

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The Puducherry government resumed the physical classes for students of classes 1 to 9 on December 4 after the pandemic showed signs of improvement.

Earlier in January, the government had imposed additional restrictions with malls and markets allowed to operate with not more than 50 per cent capacity.

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As per the Puducherry government's order, the intra and inter-district public transport, cinemas, gyms, salons, parlours, auditoriums will also operate at 50 per cent seating.

These restrictions will be effective till January 31, 2022, the official order had said. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Teachers of Delhi University's College of Vocational Studies have written to the vice-chancellor and demanded that an FIR be registered against those who allegedly created a ruckus during a governing body meeting on Monday.

The staff association of the college alleged in the letter that some teachers, who were found guilty of corruption, indulged in hooliganism.

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They alleged that the teachers locked some governing body members and tried to get fake minutes of the meeting signed by them.

They abused the governing body chairman, principal of the college and a woman staffer, the letter read.

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They claimed that police had to be called to pacify the situation.

They demanded that an FIR be lodged against the teachers who created the ruckus.

The principal of the college was recently sent on leave by the university administration after he was found guilty of financial irregularities. Two teachers were also found to be involved with him.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to prepare a model to implement the Community Kitchen scheme across the country and for providing additional food grains to states to run it, saying that presently the issue of "hunger has to be taken care of".

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, during the hearing, took a strong note of the submissions of Attorney General K K Venugopal that no state has reported starvation death by saying, "Are you making a statement that there are no starvation deaths in the country now."

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The law officer told the bench, also comprising justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli, that no such information has been given by the states and the fact about malnutrition cannot be denied.

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The bench said that besides framing the scheme, the Centre will file an affidavit on providing extra food grains to states which have been given liberty to file affidavits on issues of "malnutrition, starvation deaths".

While adjourning the hearing in the case by three weeks, it agreed with the submission of the Centre that the logistical issues, for implementation of the community kitchen scheme, will have to be taken care of by state governments.

"The Attorney General has explained the stand of the Government of India by placing on the additional affidavit dated ... we explained the Attorney General about the intention of the court particularly about the preparation of the model scheme and possibility of exploring the resources ...

So far as the logistics are concerned it has rightly been pointed out by the AG that it has to be done by the state governments...In view of that, we adjourn the case for a period of three weeks, the bench said in the order.

"You are not taking the issue seriously. That is why we imposed the cost, we are waiving off the cost, but you must stick to the schedule given," it said while waiving off the fine imposed on states for not filing their responses in the case.

The bench was hearing a PIL seeking directions to the Centre, states and Union Territories (UTs) to formulate a scheme for community kitchens to combat hunger and malnutrition.

At the outset, the bench was irked over the submissions made in the Centre's affidavit that the courts should not enter into the arena of policy domain.

We are not on the bigger issues of starvation and malnutrition...hunger has to be taken care of to be satisfied and the poor people who are on the street and who are suffering because of that. States are not denying that there are no such issues. Everybody is admitting that there is an issue...You (Centre) ask your officers to apply their mind and formulate a model scheme, the bench said.

Majority of states are willing to run a scheme provided the Centre provides some guidelines and funds, it said.

We will proceed on the basis that community kitchens are necessary and so far as the malnutrition is concerned, it exists and therefore irrespective of whether there is any death or not, the scheme will be framed, the law officer said, adding that the Central government cannot provide funds by cutting it from other existing welfare schemes.

The bench said that the logistics are not an issue because this is a popular scheme and popularity-wise every government will want to run this.

I don't want to comment because this is election time ...the governments are giving so many other welfare schemes. They can give something to survive, the CJI said.

Referring to affidavits of some states, the bench said some of them are already implementing community kitchens and asking for funds, some others have not started but are ready to if they get central funds.

Earlier, the bench had expressed strong displeasure over the Centre's response on framing the policy on Community Kitchen Scheme.

"This affidavit does not indicate anywhere that you are considering framing a scheme. You are extracting information. It does not say what fund you have collected and what you are doing etc. We wanted a uniform model from the Centre. You have to ask the states... Not to collect information like police, the bench had said.

Advocate Ashima Mandla, appearing for the PIL petitioner, had said 69 per cent of children under the age of five have lost their lives due to malnutrition and it is high time that states take steps to set up community kitchens. The apex court had on October 18, 2019, favoured setting up of community kitchens, saying the country needs this kind of a system to tackle the problem of hunger.

It had issued notices to the Centre and all states asking for their responses on a PIL seeking directions to all the states and UTs to formulate the community kitchens.

The plea claimed that many children under the age of five die every day due to hunger and malnutrition and this condition was violative of various fundamental rights, including the right to food and the life of citizens.

The PIL, filed by social activists Anun Dhawan, Ishann Dhawan, and Kunjana Singh, had also sought a direction to the Centre for creating a national food grid for people falling outside the purview of the public distribution scheme.

It had also sought the issuance of an order to the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) for formulating a scheme to mitigate hunger-related deaths.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Vice President Kamala Harris made a plea for action on voting rights on Monday in an address to the observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday in Atlanta.

Speaking via a video link from the White House just days before the Senate was expected to take up significant legislation on voting rights that is looking likely to fail, Harris urged Americans to fight against measures that could make it harder to vote for tens of millions in states across the nation.

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Today our freedom to vote is under assault, Harris said in a five-minute speech. If we stand idly by, our entire nation will pay the price for decades to come.

Vice President Kamala Harris (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Due to the pandemic, the nations first Black vice president addressed a socially distanced crowd of a few dozen people gathered in the historic sanctuary of Ebenezer Baptist Church where King once preached.

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We must not be complacent or complicit, Harris said. To truly honor Dr. King, we must fight for the freedom to vote.

The vice president was meeting with lawmakers in Washington ahead of the vote working to get the legislation passed.

As Ive said before, there are a hundred members of the United States Senate, and Im not going to absolve  nor should any of us  absolve any member of the United States Senate from taking on a responsibility to follow through on the oath that they all took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, she said.

President Biden issued a video statement from his home in Wilmington, Del., urging Americans to speak out on Kings birthday.

Its time for every elected official in America to make it clear where they stand, Biden said. Its time for every American to stand up. Speak out, be heard. Where do you stand?

A litany of political leaders addressed the annual observance ceremony for King, who would have marked his 93rd birthday. The civil rights leader was just 39 when he was assassinated in 1968 while helping sanitation workers strike for better pay and workplace safety in Memphis.

Sen. Raphael Warnock, the only Black senator ever elected from Georgia, called out those who pay lip service to King but fail to fight for his values

You cannot remember King and dismember his legacy at the same time, said Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. If you would speak his name, you have to stand up for voting rights, you have to stand up on behalf of the poor.

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Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta recalled Kings famed reference to the urgency of now when advocating for social justice six decades ago.

We are still now fighting for what should be the cornerstone of American democracy, Dickens said.
Lucknow, January 18: Politician and Islamic cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, who was earlier booked for derogatory comments against PM Narendra Modi and reportedly issuing threats against the Hindu community, joined Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference alongside Ajay Lallu, Khan said "We had resentment with Congress, but Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took advantage of it. We are responsible for the loss of the country. This step has been taken to rectify that mistake." Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 Dates And Full Schedule: Voting in 7 Phases on Feb 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3, 7; Counting And Results on March 10.

"I request all the UP people, especially Muslims if you want to maintain peace here, vote Congress," Khan said. Congress' Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Kumar Lallu who was present at the event, welcomed Khan in the party and said "I am thankful to Tauqeer Raza Khan who has given his support to Congress." Also Read | Supreme Court Asks Centre To Get Data on Starvation Deaths and Frame Model Scheme for Community Kitchens.

"His support will certainly play an important role and ensure Congress forms government in Uttar Pradesh," Lallu said. Meanwhile, the Congress chief criticised the state chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

"Uttar Pradesh is the number one in farmer suicides, violence against women and unemployment rate. Why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is not addressing this?" Lallu asked.

"We will take up issues of people. Congress will talk about women, farmers, poor and youth. Under the leadership of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, our party will form a government in UP," he added.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The polling in UP will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Days after issuing a notice to the Samajwadi Party for violating COVID-19 norms at its office premises in Lucknow, the Election Commission on Tuesday advised it not to violate health guidelines and to be careful in future.

Considering that it is the first reported violation during the current round of elections on the part of the Samajwadi Party, the Commission advises it to be careful in future and to follow all the extant guidelines diligently, according to an order.

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The poll panel also asked the party to instruct its members to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines during the period of elections "without fail".

The Election Commission had on Saturday issued a notice to the Samajwadi Party for organising a public gathering "in the name of virtual rally" at its Lucknow office in violation of COVID-19 norms.

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New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Realty firm Embassy Group on Tuesday said it has provided on lease nearly 4.65 lakh square feet office space to Allianz in Trivandrum in Kerala.

Embassy group has provided space to Allianz companies in its Embassy Taurus TechZone project.

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Allianz has taken 463,704 square feet of the Grade-A office space, Embassy group said in a statement.

This is the largest single office lease transaction in Trivandrum, it added.

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Embassy group and Taurus Investment Holdings India are jointly developing a 3 million square feet SEZ (Special Economic Zone) project. This is part of the Taurus Downtown Trivandrum mixed used project.

Aditya Virwani, Chief Operating Officer, Embassy Group, said, This is a testament to how demand for large office spaces by blue chips has not been diminished by COVID-19, and we are confident that it will continue to grow."

He said the Embassy Group would meet this mounting demand for Trivandrum's booming IT, ITeS and BPM (Business Process Management) sector.

Somesh Jauhari, Chief People Officer for Allianz Technology India and Allianz Services India, said, With this new space, we aim to consolidate our presence of close to two decades in Technopark, Trivandrum, across multiple buildings..."

"This also reaffirms our commitment to further grow in this location that's home to over 5,500 Allianz employees and remains one of the single largest locations for Allianz outside of Europe," he added.

Founded in 1993, Embassy Group is one of India's largest real estate firms with a portfolio of over 62 million square feet of prime commercial, residential, and industrial space in India.

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New York, Jan 18 (PTI) Al-Qaida's linkages with UNSC proscribed Pakistan-based terror groups like LeT and JeM has continued to strengthen, India's envoy to the UN said on Tuesday, underlining that the recent developments in Afghanistan have only served to re-energise the terrorist group.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the International Counter Terrorism Conference 2022 organised by the Global Counter Terrorism Council that the Islamic State (ISIS) has changed its modus operandi with its core focus is now on regaining ground in Syria and Iraq, and its regional affiliates are strengthening their expansion, especially in Africa and in Asia.

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Similarly, al-Qaida remains a major threat and recent developments in Afghanistan have only served to re-energise them. Al-Qaida's linkages with Security Council proscribed terrorist entities like Lashkar e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed has continued to strengthen. Its regional affiliates in Africa continue to expand, he said.

Tirumurti said that in the global counter-terrorism domain, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 had proved to be a turning point in our approach towards terrorism.

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The September 11 attacks highlighted that the threat of terrorism is grave and universal and can only be defeated by the collective efforts of all UN member states, he said.

Tirumurti also said that terrorism in one place can directly impact peace and security in another.

Consequently, the era of classifying terrorists as your terrorist and my terrorist was over. Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is to be condemned and there cannot be any exception or justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of motivations behind such acts, and wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, he said, adding that the menace of terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group.

Tirumurti underlined that the global fight against terrorism is as strong as the weakest link in the global chain of member states, and the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee plays a very important role in identifying such weak links and strengthening them, including by facilitating necessary capacity building.

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Washington, Jan 18 (AP) Bloomberg Philanthropies is supporting the innovative solutions of 15 cities to try to get others to use them as blueprints to battle the world's urban problems.

The winners of this year's Global Mayors Challenge, announced Tuesday, span 13 nations and will make their solutions available to cities worldwide to replicate. They will each receive $1 million and technical support from the philanthropic organisation of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to help develop and expand their programmes.

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They range from using technology to support tree maintenance in Sierra Leone to creating new farm models in the Philippines and addressing the opioid crisis in New Jersey through a public-private partnership that quickly delivers medication to reverse opioid overdoses.

As the world works to address the profound public health and economic effects of the ongoing pandemic, cities can implement innovative ideas at a pace that national governments simply can't match, Bloomberg, the billionaire founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P., said in a statement. Our 15 winners offer bold, achievable plans to improve health, reduce unemployment, empower women, and more."

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The winning programme in Turkey was inspired by the tradition of askida ekmek, which dates to the Ottoman Empire and translates to bread on the hook, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said. Some customers would pay for extra bread that bakers would put on the hook to let people know it was available to those who could not afford it.

Imamoglu transformed the concept into a network of mutual aid that allows donors and recipients to remain anonymous. He said the pay-it-forward program created a feeling of solidarity among people in Istanbul, whether they were giving or receiving.

It comes amid soaring consumer prices that have made it difficult for people in Turkey to buy basic goods.

The program started with utility bills, allowing those who wanted to help to check a city website to see the amounts of water and natural gas bills that needed to be paid.

About $14 million in utility bills have been paid through the programme since it began last year, Imamoglu said. Istanbul's programme then expanded to include scholarships for university students and packages that support new mothers and their children.

I'm very happy to be able to introduce such a system because this project, it can go on forever, it's very sustainable and renewable, Imamoglu told The Associated Press through an interpreter, adding that if it would be adopted by other cities around the world, he would feel like a very powerful angel.

James Anderson, who leads Bloomberg Philanthropies' Government Innovation programmes, said the organisation has high hopes for Istanbul's programme because it's government acting as a platform to make it easy for people to be good neighbors.

Anderson said it was difficult to pick from the 50 finalists, who developed programs last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The winners really represent the spirit of city innovation, the positive legacy that has come out of a very, very difficult period of time, Anderson said.

Kim Norton, mayor of Rochester, Minnesota, said she wanted her city's program to be bold. The home base of the Mayo Clinic and the $5.6 billion public-private Destination Medical Center decided to address two major issues  a lack of jobs for women of color, who were disproportionately displaced by the pandemic, and a shortage of construction workers.

They found only 1% of the construction jobs for Destination Medical Center went to women of color, even though they make up 13% of the population. Rochester's program encourages the industry to hire women of color and offers mentorship, training and support  including help with child care.

It is vitally important for the businesses in my community to be successful, that we have a workforce able to repair our streets or build a new building, or, probably most desperately, build affordable housing for our community, Norton said. And we know we're not alone in that need.

Considering all the construction jobs to be funded by the Biden administration's $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill, what Rochester has learned could inform other cities.

I have a 12-year-old daughter, and I hope that she sees this program and can look at herself differently," said Karen Martinez, a field office assistant for the Education Minnesota union who worked on the initiative. It's hard for people to shift their mindsets. But once you have a pathway, once you have a model, once you see people who have gone through it, that shifts minds.

The full list of winners are: Amman, Jordan; Bogota, Colombia; Butuan, Philippines; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Hermosillo, Mexico; Istanbul, Turkey; Kigali, Rwanda; Kumasi, Ghana; Paterson, New Jersey; Phoenix; Rochester, Minnesota; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Rourkela, India; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Wellington, New Zealand. (AP)

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New Delhi [India], January 18 (ANI): Conveying India's strong solidarity with UAE after explosions in Abu Dhabi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that New Delhi will stand with the United Arab Emirates at international forums on the issue of terrorism.

During a telephonic conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the EAM discussed the terror attack on UAE on Monday that killed two Indian nationals, according to a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs.

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As per the statement, the UAE Foreign Minister shared the details of the attack and conveyed the deepest condolences of the UAE Government on the death of two Indians.

He assured that the UAE Government would extend the fullest support to the families of the deceased and country's authorities are in continuous touch with the Indian Embassy in that regard, the MEA said.

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On his part, Jaishankar condemned the terror attack in the strongest terms. He emphasised that in this day and age, such an attack on innocent civilians was completely unacceptable and against all civilized norms. EAM appreciated the immediate assistance provided by UAE authorities to the Embassy in responding to this tragic situation.

He also conveyed India's strong solidarity with the UAE in the face of such an attack. Given its principled position against terrorism, India will stand with UAE in international forums on this issue.

The MEA is in contact with the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi regarding the return to India of the mortal remains of the deceased, the statement read adding that the Embassy is coordinating with the families. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], January 18 (ANI): Opposition senators in Pakistan on Tuesday questioned the government over the militarization of civil institutions and debated over retired military officers holding key positions in the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) and other state organisations on Tuesday.

They asked why the government had rehired military officers in civil institutions at a time when the youth of Pakistan are wandering around jobless.

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Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed previously on December 29 complained and asked the government to provide the number of ex-military men rehired in Nadra. However, instead of providing the number the authority just said that it has 13,997 employees in total, reported Dawn.

"I asked this question because unemployment in Pakistan has surged, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The youth are not getting employment and on the other hand, we are specifically recruiting retired personnel of the armed forces in good positions," the Senator said.

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Furthermore, Senator Ahmed said, "Why don't you [admit] that you have hired dozens of retired armed forces personnel and you don't want to take their names in the House?"

PPP Senator Raza Rabbani also rebuked the government for not answering the questions which are raised in the parliament. He said that Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid was "probably the minister in charge of answering this question".

"A strange tradition has been set here that apart from one or two federal ministers no one else comes to the parliament to answer questions. This is a matter of the Senate's honour," he said, reported the newspaper.

The Senator railed against the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and said, "You have hired dozens and more personnel of the army, air force and navy in very prestigious positions in Nadra. The whole Nadra is in their (armed forces') control and our youth are wandering around jobless.

"Why don't you want to take their names and give their details in the House? What is so difficult about it? Why are you misleading the House," the Senator asked.

Senator Rabbani asked the minister to confirm or deny whether the individuals holding the positions such as Director general of Anti-Narcotics force, Director of Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, Chairman of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority were from armed forces or not.

Notably, in terms of unemployment, of 22 million Pakistanis, 15 million are under 30 years of age and being jobless they are unable to contribute to the country's growth.

It can be gauged from the fact that in 2020, the joblessness rate in Pakistan was 4.65 per cent which is 0.67 per cent higher than in 2019, The News International reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lahore [Pakistan], January 18 (ANI): Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas has directed private schools to make dupattas or scarves a compulsory part of the school uniform for female students and caps for male students.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, the Punjab education minister said that private schools' uniforms should be revised, according to Geo TV.

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Further, he directed schools to provide male students with caps and female students with dupattas or scarves with their uniforms.

Additionally, the provincial education minister stated that there are over 30,000 vacancies for teachers in Punjab schools and would be filled soon.

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According to Murad Raas, no decision has been made to close educational institutions as a result of COVID-19 as yet. Educational institutions will also remain open until other departments are closed, according to Geo TV.

Murad Raas said no decision had been made yet on closing schools and other educational institutions in the province. .

"The government has recommended cutting down the attendance to 50 per cent of students who are under 12 years old. He highlighted that a majority of students had already been inoculated," he said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Jan 18 (PTI) Foreign Minister of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday called his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and condoled the killing of a Pakistani national in the Houthi drone attack near the Abu Dhabi airport a day earlier.

On Monday, two Indians and a Pakistani national, all staff of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), were killed and six others injured in the attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

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"Thank you brother HH FM @ABZayed for your call of condolence on tragic death of a Pakistan national in the terrorist attack in Abu Dhabi. We offer our condolences to the families of all victims & strongly condemn the attack, violating sovereignty & territorial integrity of #UAE," Qureshi tweeted.

Foreign Minister Al-Nahyan shared details of the tragic incident with Foreign Minister Qureshi and conveyed heartfelt condolences on the demise of the Pakistani national, according to a statement by Foreign Office.

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Qureshi reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the terrorist attack on civilian areas by the Houthi militia. He thanked the UAE government for extending all-out support in early repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased Pakistani national and treatment for the injured.

Underlining that such acts violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United Arab Emirates, Qureshi called for immediate cessation of such attacks, which continue to pose a grave threat to regional and international peace and security.

The UAE has blamed the attack on Houthi rebels, saying this sinful targeting will not go unpunished.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
London, Jan 18 (AP) Britain's Conservative government has suffered a setback in Parliament in its attempt to give authorities stronger powers to curb peaceful but disruptive protests.

Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords, late Monday rejected some of the most contentious provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. The defeated measures would give police officers the right to stop and search people at demonstrations without suspicion, allow courts to bar named individuals from attending protests and empower police to curb protests that are judged to be too noisy.

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Home Office Minister Susan Williams said the bill  targeted at environmentalists who have blocked roads and glued themselves to commuter trains to protest climate change  protected the law-abiding majority from the highly disruptive tactics employed by a small number of people.

But civil liberties groups say the proposed measures violate long-held freedoms of assembly and speech. Thousands of people attended Kill the Bill protests across Britain in recent months to oppose the legislation.

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Brian Paddick, a Liberal Democrat member of the Lords and former senior police officer, said the government plans were reminiscent of Cold War eastern bloc police states.

The move to put noise limits on protests has drawn particular criticism. Labour Lords member Vernon Coaker said making a noise is a fundamental part of the freedom to protest properly in a democracy.

The Conservative government can try to reinsert some of the provisions when the bill goes back to the elected House of Commons, where the party has a majority.

Other measures, which were inserted into the bill by the government at a late stage in its passage through Parliament, can't be reintroduced. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
At this rate, they wont even be able to eat cake.

As the incomes of 99% of the worlds people dropped during the pandemic and 160 million were forced into poverty, the wealth of the worlds 10 richest men more than doubled, according to a new report from Oxfam, an international group that works against inequality, injustice and poverty.

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During the first two years of the COVID pandemic, those fortunes shot up from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion, a rate of $15,000 per second, or $1.3 billion per day, Oxfam said, while everyone elses plummeted.

This happened even as one person died every four seconds from the effects of inequality, Oxfam said in a new report, Inequality Kills, published ahead of the virtual State of the World sessions sponsored by the World Economic Forum. Thats 21,000 people daily, a conservative finding calculated by analyzing global deaths stemming from gender-based violence, hunger, climate breakdown and lack of access to health care, Oxfam said.

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If these 10 men were to lose 99.999 percent of their wealth tomorrow, they would still be richer than 99 percent of all the people on this planet, Oxfam International executive director Gabriela Bucher said in a statement. They now have six times more wealth than the poorest 3.1 billion people.

Oxfam calculated the stark figures by utilizing data from the Forbes 2021 Billionaires List to determine the worlds richest men: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bernard Arnault and family, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Ballmer and Warren Buffett. The 99% figure comes from the World Bank, Oxfam said, and the figures on the share of wealth were culled from the Credit Suisse Research Institutes Global Wealth Databook 2021.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (Britta Pedersen/AP)

Collectively the fortunes of the richest grew by $821 billion from March 2020 through the end of November 2021, Oxfam found.

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Billionaires have had a terrific pandemic, Bucher said. Central banks pumped trillions of dollars into financial markets to save the economy, yet much of that has ended up lining the pockets of billionaires riding a stock market boom. Vaccines were meant to end this pandemic, yet rich governments allowed pharma billionaires and monopolies to cut off the supply to billions of people. The result is that every kind of inequality imaginable risks rising. The predictability of it is sickening. The consequences of it kill.

Oxfam recommended a billionaires wealth tax, though the idea has met with massive resistance in Washington.

There is no shortage of money, Bucher said. That lie died when governments released $16 trillion to respond to the pandemic.

She blamed instead a shortage of courage and imagination to solve the problems.

The report came out just ahead of the scheduled World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which has been postponed, with a scaled-down version happening online because of the omicron variant of the coronavirus sweeping the globe. Normally, thousands of leaders from the corporate and political worlds, plus celebrities, economists, journalists and other luminaries in their fields would be gathering in the Swiss ski resort town this week to hold panel discussions on the state of the world, amid parties and schmooze fests.

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In addition to the other findings, Oxfam said that not only has wealth among those few skyrocketed, but it has also increased more since the pandemics beginning than it has at any time over the past 14 years, with a $5 trillion surge thats the biggest on record in billionaire gains.

This year, whats happening is off the scale, Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of Oxfam Great Britain, told BBC News. Theres been a new billionaire created almost every day during this pandemic. Meanwhile 99% of the worlds population are worse off because of lockdowns, lower international trade, less international tourism, and as a result of that, 160 million more people have been pushed into poverty. Something is deeply flawed with our economic system.
After dealing with thousands of crows gathering in the downtown area, the City of Sunnyvale in California is set to launch a pilot program by the end of January, going high-tech with lasers.

According to press accounts, crows have been roosting in the downtown area for years, but their numbers have risen as a result of the pandemic.

"We love our birds here in Sunnyvale," the city mayor, Larry Klein stated, "but having so many clustered in one little area isn't good for our city."

The birds have become a nuisance in residential areas, as well as a concern for restaurants and other businesses.

"I'll go inside unless I'm under an umbrella," resident Frank Hampton said when it comes to eating outdoors.

"They aren't here during the day. When the sun goes down, it's just when they start coming around," he added.

During the day, the birds are said to forage for food around the South Bay. However, it's unknown why they chose to rest overnight in downtown Sunnyvale around nightfall.

The flock, which is estimated to number in the thousands, has become a significant nuisance, cawing well before daylight and waking up local downtown residents. During outside dining, customers have reportedly been "dive-bombed."

Furthermore, the birds have left large swathes of droppings, which have demanded costly, regular pressure washings and may pose a health threat, according to Klein.

Over the years, the city has tried everything to get the birds to find a new spot, but all success has been short-lived.

"We had a falconry person with hawks here, several years ago. It deterred the crows but it has had limited success," said Klein.

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Because crows cluster at night, reflectors were also a failure. The town is now switching to laser pointers.

The mayor was inspired by a friend who uses a green laser to scatter squawking birds in his yard.

He discovered that other communities with bird problems were using the same method, which the Humane Society of the United States found safe.

Both the city and the Sunnyvale Downtown Association have purchased the laser pointers, which cost less than $20 on Amazon and will distribute them to local homeowners and business owners before the end of the month.

"If the green lasers don't work, we'll search for other opportunities," Klein said. "But this is the city's first step of dealing with the birds."

Local Audubon Society Opposes Use of Lasers

The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society opposed the idea.

"American Crows are a native species here, as in most of the continent, and should be celebrated. They are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918," their statement read.

The Audubon Society also argued that lasers will blind the birds and can also cause harm to humans and aircraft and that the city should continue exploring other options.

Klein referenced his own research, as well as the Audubon Society's, which noted that measures like sound pre-recorded distress calls, falconry birds, cannons, and lasers can be helpful but normally will require professional assistance.

The mayor also cited the website of the Humane Society of the United States, which said that a variety of approaches, including "lasers meant to disturb birds," can be effective.

Green lasers have also been utilized in other localities, according to Klein.

Since 2019, Rochester, Minnesota city workers have been utilizing them to disperse crows in the downtown area.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: South Bay city turns to lasers to scare off pesky crows - KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
Latin American country Puerto Rico has become the new haven for bitcoin millionaires with Act 60, which offers significant tax savings to qualified residents.

Act 60, known as the Individual Investors Act, noted that tax obligation can be down to zero if certain qualifications are met, which can be especially enticing to entrepreneurs and crypto traders, according to a CNBC report.

There is also a huge tax incentive for business owners eyeing to set down roots in Puerto Rico. Mainland companies are subject to a 21 percent federal corporate tax, plus state tax.

However, CPA Shehan Chandrasekera warned that any gains realized before arriving at the nation are still subject to the standard capital gains tax rates on the U.S. mainland.

It is only the gains that are earned after becoming a Puerto Rican resident that is excluded from taxes.

Chandrasekera said that that is the part that people are not talking about.

The tax rules in Puerto Rico were imposed a decade ago to help bring in people and cast at a time when the island was losing substantial amounts of residents and money.

READ NEXT: Couple in Puerto Rico Face Trial After Refusing to Follow COVID Protocol

Puerto Rico For Crypto Millionaires

YouTuber Logan Paul was among the many who flocked to Puerto Rico with its looser tax laws. Paul started his own NFT trading game, CryptoZoo. He is reportedly spending $55,000 per month on a home, according to Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

Haugen moved to the island in 2021 and has been making a living out of crypto investments, according to a New York Post report.

Giovanni Mendez, a local corporate and tax attorney, said that it is not just because of lower taxes, but it was also because everybody is in Puerto Rico. Mendez has been helping onboard new Puerto Ricans. He noted that he started speaking with clients about whether to move to Florida or Puerto Rico. Many opted for Puerto Rico.

The local attorney said that he really was not expecting a lot of people to move with everything going on during the pandemic. However, many did move and coupled with an increase in the value of crypto assets.

Pantera Capital and Redwood City Ventures are also two cryptocurrencies that have recently opened offices on the island, according to TheStreet report.

Brent Johnson, CEO of wealth management firm Santiago Capital, said that moving to Puerto Rico felt like he could do his job while still being connected to the financial community much more, as compared to Hawaii or Mexico.

Locals, however, are seen not to always welcome this type of situation as an influx of high-earning outsiders could worsen inequality and create a situation wherein locals are priced out of neighborhoods and opportunities.

There are also questions whether the tax breaks are achieving what the government was aiming to do, such as creating jobs and sinking more cash into the local economy.

Rising real estate prices and the growing cost of living have also caused concerns.

Keiko Yoshino runs the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association after being a government employee for seven years.

Yoshino said she had been called a crypto colonizer, adding that she is not crypto-rich and does not have incentives. Yoshino said that people need to work on stereotypes going both ways. She added that it does not need to be a social issue; rather it is an opportunity to build community.

READ MORE: Doing Business in Latin America? Here's What You Need to Know

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Crypto millionaires are flocking to Puerto Rico - from Fox Business






The Fair Pay for Home Care Act (S5374, A6329) today reached a Democratic Majority in the State Senate with 32 Democratic sponsors, and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced her support for the Act, which reached 71 Democratic Assembly sponsors. Additionally, the Act is supported by 1199 and AARP, and has bipartisan support with four Republican State Senate sponsors and seven Republican Assembly sponsors. New York State currently faces the worst home care shortage in the nation due to poverty wages and an aging population. The Fair Pay for Home Care Act would lift home care wages and wipe out the home care shortage within five years. In her State of the State, Hochul announced her goal to end the healthcare worker shortage - however, she has not pledged any wage increases for home care workers.

ALSO READ: Elected Officials, 1199, AARP Call on Hochul to End Home Care Crisis - Gov's SOTS Does Not Raise Wages for Home Care

"It is imperative in New York State that we look after our community's elderly and most vulnerable members. That is why I am proud to support the Fair Pay for Home Care Act," said NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes.

"This legislation will help to address home care shortages and ensure that essential home care workers are paid fair wages. I would like to thank all the cosponsors and supporters for their leadership in fighting to help end the home care staffing crisis."

State Senate Sponsors

Democrats: (32)

1. Lead Sponsor Rachel May - D, District 53

2. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr - D, District 15

3. Jamaal T. Bailey - D, District 36

4. Alessandra Biaggi - D, District 34

5. Neil D. Breslin - D, District 44

6. Jabari Brisport - D, District 25

7. Samra G. Brouk - D, District 55

8. Cordell Cleare - D, District 30

9. Leroy Comrie- D, District 14

10. Jeremy A. Cooney - D, District 56

11. Michael Gianaris - D, District 12

12. Andrew Gounardes - D, District 22

13. Pete Harckham - D, District 40

14. Michelle Hinchey - D, District 46

15. Brad Hoylman - D, District 27

16. Robert Jackson - D, District 31

17. Brian Kavanagh - D, District 26

18. Timothy M. Kennedy - D, District 63

19. John W. Mannion - D, District 50

20. Shelley B. Mayer - D, District 37

21. Zellnor Myrie - D, District 20

22. Kevin S. Parker - D, District 21

23. Jessica Ramos - D, District 13

24. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick - D, District 38

25. Gustavo Rivera - D, District 33

26. Julia Salazar - D, District 18

27. James Sanders Jr. - D, District 10

28. Diane J. Savino - D, District 23

29. Luis R. Sepulveda - D, District 32

30. Jose M. Serrano - D, District 29

31. James Skoufis - D, District 39

32. Kevin Thomas - D, District 6

Republicans: (4)

1. Fred Akshar - R, District 52

2. Peter Oberacker - R, District 51

3. Mike Martucci - R, District 42

4. Sue Serino - R, District 41

Assembly Sponsors

Democrats: (71)

1. Lead Sponsor Richard Gottfried - D, District 75

2. Thomas Abinanti - D, District 92

3. Khaleel Anderson - D, District 31

4. Rodneyse Bichotte - D, District 42

5. Harry Bronson - D, District 138

6. Chris Burdick - D, District 93

7. Kenneth Burgos - D, District 85

8. Marianne Buttenschon - D, District 119

9. Kevin Cahill - D, District 103

10. Robert Carroll - D, District 44

11. Sarah Clark - D, District 136

12. Catalina Cruz - D, District 39

13. Michael Cusick - D, District 63

14. Steven Cymbrowitz - D, District 45

15. Taylor Darling - D, District 18

16. Inez Dickens - D, District 70

17. Jeffrey Dinowitz - D, District 81

18. Steven Englebright - D, District 4

19. Harvey Epstein - D, District 74

20. Patricia Fahy - D, District 109

21. Charles Fall - D, District 61

22. Nathalia Fernandez - D, District 80

23. Mathylde Frontus - D, District 46

24. Sandra Galef - D, District 95

25. Emily Gallagher - D, District 50

26. Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas - D, District 34

27. Aileen Gunther - D, District 100

28. Andrew Hevesi - D, District 28

29. Pamela Hunter - D, District 128

30. Alicia Hyndman - D, District 29

31. Jonathan Jacobson - D, District 104

32. Kimberly Jean-Pierre - D, District 11

33. Billy Jones - D, District 115

34. Latoya Joyner - D, District 77

35. Anna Kelles - D, District 125

36. Ron Kim - D, District 40

37. Zohran Kwame Mamdani - D, District 36

38. Jennifer Lunsford - D, District 135

39. Donna Lupardo - D, District 123

40. John McDonald - D, District 108

41. Demond Meeks - D, District 137

42. Marcela Mitaynes - D, District 51

43. Yuh-Line Niou - D, District 65

44. Daniel O'Donnell - D, District 69

45. Steven Otis - D, District 91

46. Amy Paulin - D, District 88

47. Crystal Peoples-Stokes - D, District 141

48. Nick Perry - D, District 58

49. Stacey Pheffer Amato - D, District 23

50. Gary Pretlow - D, District 89

51. Dan Quart - D, District 73

52. Philip Ramos - D, District 6

53. Karines Reyes - D, District 87

54. Jonathan Rivera - D, District 149

55. Linda Rosenthal - D, District 67

56. Nader Sayegh - D, District 90

57. Rebecca Seawright - D, District 76

58. Amanda Septimo - D, District 84

59. Gina Sillitti - D, District 16

60. Jo Anne Simon - D, District 52

61. Michaelle Solages - D, District 22

62. Phara Souffrant Forrest - D, District 57

63. Phillip Steck - D, District 110

64. Steve Stern - D, District 10

65. Al Stirpe - D, District 127

66. Yudelka Tapia - D, District 86

67. Carrie Woerner - D, District 113

68. Kenneth Zebrowski - D, District 96

69. Charles Lavine - D, District 13

70. Jennifer Rajkumar - D, District 38

71. Monica P. Wallace - D, District 143

Republicans: (7)

1. Karl Brabenec - R, District 98

2. Michael Durso - R, District 9

3. Jodi Giglio - R, District 2

4. David McDonough - R, District 14

5. Melissa Miller - R, District 20

6. Doug Smith - R, District 5

7. Christopher Tague - R, District 102

Low wages are the single largest driving factor causing New York's worst-in-the-nation home care shortage. With New York's 65+ population slated to grow 25% in the next 20 years, the current workforce shortage is projected to increase exponentially: New York will have more than 600,000 home care job openings by 2026. Additionally, research has found that recovering Covid patients have fared far better in home care than nursing homes. If passed, the state would see increased revenue totaling $5.4 billion through job creation and moving home care workers off of social assistance like Medicaid and food assistance.

"Home care is about freedom, independence, and choice. It's about dignity. But when you have a system of people making minimum wage - in fact, in Upstate as of July 1st the minimum wage for home care is lower than for fast food workers - that shows we are not valuing this essential work the way we should be. It's critical to provide the freedom for people to stay out of nursing homes. The Fair Pay for Home Care bill would attract more people to the workforce and allow people the ability to stay in their homes," said State Senator Rachel May, Lead Sponsor of the Fair Pay for Home Care Act.

"There is a real shortage of home care workers because more and more people can't go into that line of work. We need to enact fair pay for home care so home care workers can be adequately paid, so people can get the care they need without either having to go into a nursing home or forcing a member of the family to give up their career," said Assemblymember Dick Gottfried, Lead Sponsor of the Fair Pay for Home Care Act.

State Senator Peter Oberacker said, "This legislation is about doing the right thing, plain and simple. New York State needs to make sure our most vulnerable populations are a priority and ensuring our home health care workers are fairly compensated is a significant step in that direction. I am a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Fair Pay for Home Care Act because it will help our direct service professionals and preserve a crucial lifeline to individuals in need."

Senator Andrew Gounardes said, "I am proud to sign on to the Fair Pay for Home Care Act. We in New York are facing the worst homecare shortage in the nation, leaving seniors and people with disabilities without necessary services. My district is a NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) and my community needs to know that they can depend on qualified, well paid and well rested home care workers. With fairer wages we can invest in our workers and our community members who rely on them."

Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson said, ""I am a proud co-sponsor of bill A6329: Fair Pay for Home Care to end the Home Care Shortage Crisis across New York. As we begin moving towards COVID-19 recovery, this bill serves as a reminder of the immense sacrifice that our essential workers, predominantly Black and Brown caretakers, took on during the pandemic. This bill provides fair and equitable pay for those in our communities that provide vital care to our most vulnerable, and we must continue to fight for their livelihoods. I hope to see this passed in the 2022 Legislative Season."

Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato said, "Healthcare workers have borne the brunt of this pandemic - emotionally, physically, and financially. Home care workers are some of the lowest paid in the industry, so we must do better," Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato said. "We need a robust home care industry, and that includes attracting the best talent by offering living wages and benefits to workers who often go above and beyond for their clients and their families. I am proud to sponsor this bill, and am excited to help it pass through the Assembly with my colleagues."

Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon said, "While New York's home care workers are in incredibly high demand, these dedicated professionals have been forced out of the industry thanks to below living wages," said Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon. "The resulting shortage - the worst the nation - is putting some of our most vulnerable family members at risk. The Fair Pay for Home Care Act will help ensure that home care workers are paid the wages they deserve and that our loved ones receive the quality care they need within their own homes. It's time to put an end to this growing crisis, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this vital legislation."

Assemblymember Jodi Giglio said, "I'm very concerned about the decreasing workforce in the healthcare industry, especially in home health care. As a member of the Labor Committee in the Assembly, I've partaken in two public hearings the past few weeks. There is undeniably a shortage of workers in the healthcare industry. Wages benefits and workforce investment can all be attributed to this shortage. My colleagues and I are dedicated to finding solutions and this bill is a great start."

Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou said, "This pandemic has shown New Yorkers and millions of Americans the critical importance of home care workers. Yet those same home care workers are still denied fair and just pay," Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou said. "Home care workers are essential workers, but you wouldn't know it -- on average, they make only $21,000 annually. Our population of aging and homebound New Yorkers continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, and home care workers are the backbone of compassionate, direct care. We must ensure home care workers are receiving a wage equal to the incredible work they provide to our communities and our loved ones every single day."

Assemblymember Al Taylor said, "I am proud to be a sponsor of this legislation and I have an 80 year old father who relies on help from home health aides. It's the kind of job you do because you love the work you do, and you do it proudly. It's important we provide fair wages so people don't have to scrounge or leave a patient they love. I am proud to be a cosponsor and I will continue to fight alongside you."

"We represent over 60,000 home care workers in New York State. We are fighting here in New York State to make sure that people have a right to live independently in their homes; people with disabilities, our mothers, our fathers, our grandparents. Home care workers save lives. But They cannot be home care workers if they cannot pay their rent," said 1199 Executive Vice President Rona Shapiro. "If you want your loved ones to be taken care of, if you don't want to be sent to a nursing home, pay the workers what they deserve."

"The association on aging in New York fully supports fair pay for home care, as for far too long direct care workers have been underpaid for the vital services they provide. Home and community based services are paramount to aging in place, and older New Yorkers deserve to live with dignity and autonomy," said Executive Director of the Association on Aging in NY Becky Preve.

AARP New York State Legislative Representative Bill Ferris said, "The vast majority of New Yorkers who need long-term care want to remain in their own homes, and home care is often less expensive than a nursing home. AARP New York supports fair wages for home care workers because it would be right for the workers, right for care recipients and their family caregivers by alleviating worker shortages and ensuring care is available, and right for taxpayers by saving the long-term care system money."

About the New York Caring Majority

The New York Caring Majority is a coalition of organizations including Hand in Hand, Cooperative Homecare Associates, Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of NY State, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and others who advocate for seniors, people with disabilities, family caregivers, and domestic and homecare workers in the state of New York.

RELATED ARTICLE: Letitia James, Jumaane Williams, 1199, AARP, Seniors & Disabled NYers Launch "Fair Pay for Home Care" to End Home Care Crisis
A rumor about Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a secret daughter was confirmed by a local newspaper on Sunday, claiming that the author had a secret Mexican daughter.

The secret of the Colombian author was confirmed by the newspaper El Universal, revealing the name of Garcia Marquez's daughter as Indira Cato.

Indira Cato was Garcia Marquez's daughter with Susana Cato, a writer and journalist who worked with the Colombian writer for some scripts and films. Reports noted that Susana co-wrote the script of the 1991 film "Con el amor no se romp" and the short film "Elmirro de dos lunas" with Garcia Marquez.

READ NEXT: Skateboarding Scene in Mexico City Grows as Parks for the Sport Emerge

Colombian Writer's Relatives Know About His Mexican Daughter

On Monday, Garcia Marquez's relatives admitted to Associated Press that they knew about the Colombian writer's Mexican daughter.

One of the writer's nieces, Shani Garcia Marquez, said that she knew for years about her cousin Indira. However, Shani noted that she did not mention her Mexican cousin to the media as her parents always asked her to not talk about her uncle's personal life.

Meanwhile, other relatives of the Colombian writer also confessed that they knew about Indira Cato, but they did not mention her "out of respect" for Mercedes Bacha, Garcia Marquez's wife, and their loyalty to the writer. The relatives also noted that they did not mention the author's secret to their children.

Gabriel Eligio Torres Garcia, one of the Colombian writer's nephews, shared that he knew about Indira and that he learned about this from Garcia Marquez's children, Rodrigo and Gonzalo.

"My cousins Rodrigo and Gonzalo told me about her [Indira Cato] casually during a reunion," Gabriel said, adding that he was in touch with Garcia Marquez's Mexican daughter through social media.

To date, the Colombian writer's Mexican daughter is in her early 30s and uses her mother's surname. Garcia Marquez's relatives noted that Indira's mother, Susana, was also quiet about her daughter's roots to keep the lady away from the spotlight.

However, Shani revealed that Indira made a name for her own.

"She leads a very artistic lifestyle, like many people in this family... It makes us very happy that she has shined on her own," Shani noted.

Indira Cato is now a documentary producer in Mexico City and she won several awards for her work in 2014, a documentary that tackles migrants passing through Mexico.

Colombian Writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is the 1982 Nobel prize-winning Colombian writer and was considered one of the greatest Spanish language authors.

The Colombian writer is best known for his magical realism masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude," which sold more than 30 million copies in 1967.

He is also known to be the pioneer of the genre magical realism, which is known to be a unique mixture of the "marvelous and the mundane" in a way that made extraordinary seem routine.

The Colombian writer died in 2014 due to his poor health. His cause of death was not immediately known to the public, but he was hospitalized for a lung and urinary tract infection in Mexico City before his death.

READ NEXT: Puerto Rico Becomes the New Hot Spot for Bitcoin Millionaires With Its Lower Taxes

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WATCH: Gabriel Garcia Marquez: What To Know About The Master Of Magical Realism & Nobel Prize Winner - From TIME
Midwest hospital chain SSM Health has stopped its practice of using race as its determining factor for providing priority on giving COVID treatment after it received a legal threat from a nonprofit conservative law firm.

Lawyers at the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sent a letter to SSM on Friday, warning that it is illegal to distribute monoclonal antibody products based on race, according to a Fox News report.

The letter noted a December 31 email to physicians of SSM health that referenced a risk scoring calculator, citing non-White patients received a seven-point head start out of 20 total.

They were, therefore, more likely to receive life-saving medical treatment than White patients with comorbidities or symptoms.

Attorneys argued using examples that a 50-year-old white female suffering from obesity, asthma, and hypertension would not be eligible for the COVID treatment as she did not receive the 20-point minimum score under the calculator.

Meanwhile, another 50-year-old African-American female without any of the health risks would be eligible.

The lawyers described the pointing system as "unethical and immoral," as well as being "illegal."

READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden's 'Disastrous Policies' Are Driving Hispanic Voters Toward Republican Party, Florida Official Says

SSM Health's COVID Treatment Prioritization

SSM Health CEO Laura Kaiser responded on the issue, saying that the calculator that was mentioned by the lawyers was outdated and no longer in use, according to a Daily Mail report.

Kaiser added that early versions of risk calculators across the country included race and gender criteria based on initial results.

The CEO said that the Midwest hospital has continued to update their protocols weekly to show the updates in clinical evidence available, which as a result, race and gender criteria are no longer used.

The hospital chain earlier said that the "ethical justification" for the use of race on giving COVID treatment has had a disproportionate effect on low-income communities and certain racial/ethnic minorities in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that racial and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately affected.

Black and Latino Communities Amid COVID Pandemic

Healthcare think tank Kaiser Family Foundation said that Black and Hispanic people have been less likely than their white counterparts to receive a vaccine. However, disparities have narrowed over time, especially for Latinos.

The think tank said that White people account for the largest share of people who remain unvaccinated, according to a Market Watch report.

CDC noted that 60 percent of White and Hispanic people had gotten at least one COVID vaccine dose, with Black people at 54 percent.

Meanwhile, a peer-reviewed published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health found that minority status and English-speaking ability were key factors in reducing access to COVID vaccines.

Elise Gould and Valerie Wilson, economists with the Economic Policy Institute, noted that Black workers face two of the most "lethal preexisting conditions" for COVID, citing racism and economic inequality.

They noted that persistent racial gaps in access to healthcare, wealth, employment, housing, and incoming, among other factors have all contributed to greater "susceptibility to the virus."

READ MORE: Couple in Puerto Rico Face Trial After Refusing to Follow COVID Protocol

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WATCH: Monoclonal antibodies helping COVID-19 patients - from KSDK News






With the government's planned revamp of the Mexican electricity market foreseeably on the agenda, United States Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will travel to Mexico this week to meet with senior government officials, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday.

"She'll meet with the Mexican energy minister and the foreign minister, and we'll also welcome her here at the palace," the president said at a usual morning press briefing.

AMLO Eyes Strengthening of State Controlled Power Sectors

The U.S. has voiced concern over a Lopez Obrador-led effort aimed at strengthening state control of the power sector at the expense of private companies.

During the visit, which will include meetings with Granholm and the Mexican foreign and energy ministers, Lopez Obrador stated that no topic will be off the table. He specifically mentioned prospective discussions on his proposed power industry changes.

Private investors have expressed concerns about the idea, and the U.S. ambassador has stated that Washington has "serious concerns" about it.

Previous Mexican governments, according to Lopez Obrador, rigged the energy industry in favor of private capital at the expense of customers and state-run energy businesses.

"I will be pleased to inform her on the reforms if necessary, or if she wishes to know my opinion," the leftist nationalist leader stated.

The Mexican president also expressed gratitude to Granholm for the U.S.' approval of Mexican state oil company (Petroleos Mexicanos) Pemex's acquisition of Royal Dutch Shell's Deer Park refinery in Texas.

ALSO READ: Leader of Notorious Gasoline Siphoning Gang in Mexico Faces 60-Year Prison Sentence

Mexico's 'Open Discussion' on Electric Power Reform

On Monday, the debate over Mexico's contentious constitutional reform of the electric energy sector has restarted, with a panel of governors and state leaders launching an open discussion on electric power reform.

The governors' meeting marked the start of President AMLO's second attempt to approve the bill after he failed to gain the necessary approval from the opposition during the previous parliament session.

Because the proposal includes constitutional changes, Morena, the majority party, will need the backing of two-thirds of members present in both chambers of Congress to enact the reform.

The ruling coalition would need the support of 333 legislators if the lower chamber was full. AMLO's Morena party, together with minor party allies, currently has only 279 seats.

"Despite the numbers, there is no doubt that reform can occur," said Valeria Vazquez, partner and Deloitte's energy and resources business leader. Vasquez, on the other hand, believes the reform will be "extremely difficult to negotiate" in its current shape.

Among other things, the present proposal cancels all current private power generation and sales contracts, which would presumably be renegotiable at a later date.

While the forums ensure that debate will take place this session, Legislators from the three biggest opposition parties - the PAN, PRI, and PRD - have warned that any vote will be postponed until after the June 5 governorship elections.

READ MORE: Mexico's Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona Signs for Sevilla After LaLiga Club Agrees to Pay FC Porto a Hefty Transfer Fee

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WATCH: Announcing the Clean Energy Corps - U.S. Department of Energy
Major U.S. airlines and cargo carriers warned about the introduction of the new 5G wireless service set on Wednesday. The new technology could ground flights, possibly strand thousands of Americans overseas and delay the delivery of major goods.

CEOs of the major carriers wrote in a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden's administration officials that C-band 5G causes disruptions to airplanes' instruments that could cause "huge swaths" of the U.S. fleet unusable, according to The Hill report.

The executive officials noted that most of the nation's large airports will be under 5G-related flight restrictions from the Federal Aviation Administration.

CEOs of Delta Airlines, United Airlines, FedEx, UPS, and others wrote that more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions, or delays.

The FAA has warned that potential interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as altimeters and widely hamper low-visibility operations.

READ NEXT: United Airlines CEO Says COVID Vaccine Mandate Seems to Have Ended Weekly Employee Death Toll

Airlines and 5G Service Launch

On Monday, airline companies were considering whether to start canceling some international flights that are set to arrive in the United States on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report.

Planemaker Boeing said that the transportation industry is preparing for some service disruption with the proposed restrictions at selected airports.

The planemaker said they are optimistic that they can come up with solutions that would safely mitigate as many schedule impacts as possible.

Alaska Air, Atlas Air, and JetBlue Airways also signed the letter sent to White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, and Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel also received the letter.

The group that organized the letter, Airlines for America, has declined to comment on the matter, while government agencies that received the latter have yet to respond.

5G Wireless Service

AT&T and Verizon won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum in an $80 billion auction last year. They agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports to reduce interference risks and another precautionary measure to decrease possible interference for six months, according to a CNBC report.

In addition, they agreed to delay the launch for two weeks until Wednesday, temporarily preventing an aviation safety standoff.

The airlines had also asked the telecommunication companies that the 5G be imposed everywhere in the country except within the approximate two miles of airport runways at major airports.

The carriers added that they want immediate action to ensure 5G is implemented except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can decide how to safely accomplish it without disruption.

The CEOs wrote that unless their major hubs are cleared to fly, the huge majority of the traveling and the shipping public will be essentially grounded.

The FAA released a statement regarding the upcoming 5G service, saying that 45 percent of U.S. commercial flights were cleared to land at airports where 5G will be deployed and that more airports will be cleared in the coming days, according to a Forbes report.

The 5G service is reportedly 16 times faster as compared to 4G.

READ MORE: Passengers Who Filmed Themselves Partying Without Masks Face Being Stranded in Mexico After Airlines Refused to Fly Them Back to Canada

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WATCH: Airline CEOs Sound Alarm Ahead of 5G Rollout - from NBC News






Prince Charles has invited his son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to stay with him in the United Kingdom, hoping to meet his grandchild Lilibet for the first time.

However, Harry's refusal to return without enough level of security from the Met Police has allegedly clouded any chances of reunion, according to a Daily Mail report.

The Prince of Wales has yet to see his granddaughter face-to-face after she was born in California in June last year.

A source said that the family has communicated through a series of "good-natured" calls in recent months.

One source said that the Prince of Wales has been saddened that he has not had the opportunity to have time with his grandchildren.

The source added that Charles is a "fantastic grandfather" and loves playing the role, noting that the prince says he feels there is something missing from his life without the ability to get to know Harry's children.

A former head of royal protection had warned that Prince Harry "cannot pick and choose" when he wants to visit the U.K. and received protection.

READ NEXT: Queen Elizabeth Takes Note of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Daughter Lilibet in Her Christmas Speech

Sussex Family's Invite to U.K. and Security

Harry was reported to have told family members that he would attend a memorial service for his late grandfather Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey, which is planned for April, according to a Mirror report.

The Duke of Sussex claimed he is "unable to return home" after his decision to step out from the royal family, stripping him of his right to personal security provided by the Met Police.

Harry has decided to file a lawsuit against the British government by applying for a judicial review against the decision. It could see him facing the Home Office at the court.

The Duke of Sussex's relationship with his family is understood to have been fractured after his exit. It was a subsequent decision last year with his wife, Markle.

A source close to Charles said that despite reports about the two not on speaking terms, the father and son have been on a "journey of rediscovery" when it comes to their relationship.

Harry's lawyers claim that the duke has asked for U.K. police protection for when he visits Britain. The duke even offered to cover the cost of the security detail, according to an Express report.

Harry's legal team noted that the prince's offer to pay for his own police protection while in the U.K. was dismissed by the Home Office.

Harry argued that his private protection team in the United States does not have enough jurisdiction abroad or access to U.K. intelligence information, which is needed to keep his family safe.

Harry has returned to the U.K. on two occasions but never with his family. In April 2021, he attended the funeral of Prince Philip.

He then returned to the United States to reunite with his family. Harry returned to the U.K. again in July when a statue of Diana at Kensington Palace was unveiled. He was reunited with his brother Prince William at the time.

READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Opt Not to Hold Daughter Lilibet's Christening in U.K. As It's Likely Be in California: Royal Sources

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WATCH: Prince Charles offers major olive branch to Meghan and Harry with UK visit invitation - from Royal News Channel






Parts of Peru's central coast and two beaches were affected by oil spilled from a discharge ship rocked by huge waves caused by Saturday's volcanic eruption near Tonga, authorities said Monday.

According to Reuters, Peru's Environment Minister Ruben Ramirez said the oil spill dirtied at least two kilometers of Peru's central coast and two beaches.

"It is unfortunate. I am seeing that there is a serious impact on the coastal marine area. Initially, two and a half kilometers (of damage) were reported," Ramirez told local reporters.

READ NEXT: Tsunami Warnings Following Tonga Volcanic Eruption Now Lifted in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska

Oil Spill in Peru

Reports said the spill happened during the unloading of crude oil from the ship to supply the La Pampilla refinery, owned by the Spanish firm Repsol, on Sunday.

In a statement, Peru's National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci) and the emergency center of the Ministry of Energy and Mines said that the ship was loading oil into the La Pampilla refinery when strong waves, as a result of the volcano's eruption, moved the boat and caused the spill.

La Pampilla refinery, in Callao province near Lima's capital, is considered the main oil processing plant in Peru.

Indeci did not reveal how many gallons of oil were spilled at the coastal district of Ventanilla in Callao province. However, the Agency for Environmental Assessment and Enforcement said it launched an investigation to determine who was responsible for the oil spill.

Authorities said the spill was controlled within hours, and there was an ongoing process to clean the area affected by the oil spill, the Associated Press reported. Peru's Ministry of Environment oversees the cleaning of the affected area.

2 Drown in Peru as Big Waves Hit Coast After Tonga Volcanic Eruption

Two people died in northern Peru as high waves smashed into some of its coastal areas following the eruption of an underwater volcano in Tonga on Saturday.

In a statement released on Sunday, Indeci said the two women drowned off a beach in the Lambayeque region on Saturday after two-meter waves hit their truck. They were found dead by officers from a Naylamp beach police station after their vehicle was dragged near the sea.

An underwater volcano near the remote Pacific nation of Tonga erupted on Saturday. Satellite images showed a huge eruption, with a plume of ash, gas, and steam rising above the sea. A thunderous roar was reportedly heard as far away as Alaska.

The eruption triggered a 7.4-magnitude earthquake near Tonga and sent tsunami waves crashing into the island's coast. Huge waves also reportedly smashed into some of South America's islands and the U.S. West coast.

TV images and footage on social media showed several homes and businesses in the coastal areas of northern and central Peru flooded by seawater.

According to the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the tsunami that hit Peru was up to 80 centimeters high. The Peruvian Navy did not issue a tsunami warning, but it monitored "abnormal waves" off its coast.

In the U.S., more than four feet waves were recorded on the California coast on Saturday. Tsunami-effect waves were also recorded along the coast in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia in Canada.

According to experts, the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai underwater volcano near Tonga was likely the biggest recorded on the planet in more than 30 years, CNN reported.

Shane Cronin, a professor from the University of Auckland and an expert in Tonga eruptions, wrote in The Conversation that this was one of the massive explosions "the volcano is capable of producing roughly every thousand years."

Cronin added: "We could be in for several weeks or even years of major volcanic unrest from the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano."

Reports said the eruption also created a new island in Tonga, which is the second time such an event had happened in Tonga in 10 years.

READ MORE: Argentina Power Outages Arrive During Extreme Heatwave-More Than 70,000 Residents Don't Have Electricity

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WATCH: Oil Spill Turns Peru Beach Black After Tonga Eruption - From Reuters
The U.S. government has released a new wanted poster for one of the sons of Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

The latest poster released by the U.S. Department of State on Thursday showed an updated photo of Joaquin "El Chapito" Guzman Lopez, who is being hunted down for drug trafficking charges, Daily Mail reported.

According to Borderlandbeat, the State Department had mistakenly used a snapshot of his other brother, Cesar Guzman Salazar, in December, when a $5 million reward was announced for information leading to his arrest. El Chapo's other son is reportedly not involved in the narcotics business.

READ NEXT: Reports on El Chapo Sons' 'Narco Fiesta' Are Fake News, Mexico's Sinaloa Security Chief Says

U.S. Offers Rewards For 4 Sons of Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Chapo

Last month, the State Department offered $5 million rewards for any information that could help federal agents arrest El Chapo's four sons, who reportedly share control of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, and Jesus Alfredo Guzman had reportedly assumed leadership roles in the Sinaloa Cartel with their uncle Aureliano "El Guano" Guzman and co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada after El Chapo was arrested and extradited to the U.S.

El Chapo's sons were known as "Los Chapitos." The U.S. Department of Treasury said Joaquin, Ovidio, and Ivan had been previously indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. The Treasury Department has sanctioned the trio.

Joaquin was indicted with Ovidio in April 2018, and they were both charged with conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, 500 grams of methamphetamine, and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.

Investigators said that Joaquin and his brother manage around 11 laboratories in their home state of Sinaloa that produce up to 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine monthly.

'Los Chapitos' in The Drug Trafficking Trade

The State Department said that "Los Chapitos" are high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel and are each subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in the illegal drug trade.

But despite the million-dollar rewards, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador earlier said that U.S. federal agents could not simply step on Mexico's soil and arrest El Chapo's sons.

In December, the president noted that it is up to the local authorities in Mexico to stop them if the brothers are in the national territory. Lopez Obrador said that foreign agencies are not allowed to do any apprehensions.

InsightCrime reported that Ovidio, Ivan, and Jesus were brought into the Sinaloa Cartel's criminal operations when they were teenagers by their father and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to learn the ins and outs of the organization.

Los Chapitos was reportedly much flashier with spending drug proceeds and partying than El Chapo's former right-hand man, El Mayo, who appears to be the internal enemy number one for Los Chapitos.

El Chapo's sons have also been at odds with their uncle, El Guano. The Los Chapitos are reportedly looking to assume supreme control of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The Sinaloa Cartel is one of Mexico's largest and most powerful drug trafficking organizations. The group was founded in the late 1980s and headed by El Chapo.

Under El Chapo's leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel earned its reputation through violence and outfought several rival groups.

El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.

READ MORE: U.S. Agents Can't Just Step on Mexico's Soil to Arrest El Chapo's Sons of Sinaloa Cartel, Pres. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Says

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WATCH: New Details of Government Plan to Track Down, Arrest 4 of El Chapo's Sons - From ABC 7 Chicago






The federally-defined Urbanized Area 1 (UZA 1) comprises New York City and its suburbs, spreading into New Jersey and Connecticut (UZA 2 is L.A., UZA 3 is Chicago, etc.), so when the Federal Transit Administration had $14 billion in COVID aid to send, Albany, Trenton and Hartford had to agree on dividing the cash.

Despite the two small players (mostly Jersey) teaming up to grab extra slices from the MTA, Gov. Hochul joined with Sen. Chuck Schumer and successfully pushed back, making sure that New York got 78% of the money, $10.85 billion, with the final $6.19 billion coming in last week. It was a victory for the MTA and its riders.

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Get a fair deal for New York. (Mike Groll/Mike Groll/Office of Governor Ka)

Hochuls polite but hard-nosed approach to our cross-Hudson friends must extend to the $33.7 billion Gateway boondoggle, where Jersey has gone all in with Amtrak. Amtraks interests are not New Yorks interests. Despite New York constructing the beautiful Moynihan Train Hall for Amtrak, the railroad is not yielding on allowing New York to fix old Penn Station.

Hochul should ask the MTA if Amtrak is a good partner on anything from Harold Interlocking junction in Queens to repairing the East River Tunnel used by the LIRR. She should ask fellow Buffalonian state Sen. Tim Kennedy, chair of the Transportation Committee, about Amtraks ability to get things done. Kennedy chaired a hearing last spring where Amtrak chief engineer Gery Williams said on repairs, We need a minimum of three years notice, between hiring and training.

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Jersey and Amtrak are as pleased as punch with the wasteful Portal North Bridge, with a price tag of more than $2 billion. An equally pragmatic bridge could be built for a tenth of the cost. Jersey boxed out New York in planning for the span over the Hackensack River, but now wants New York to pay for every dollar Jersey spends.

And on the biggest part of Gateway, a new tunnel under the Hudson, Jersey and Amtrak are foolishly insisting on waiting years to rehab the old tunnel, when immediate repairs will save time and money.
Former President Donald Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, two of the most popular Republicans in the country, had reportedly been taking jabs at each other.

According to multiple published reports, the two possible 2024 contenders appeared to have a political feud. Both sides have denied any friction and blamed "the media" for overhyping statements.

However, Trump's advisers have a different say in this matter as they believe that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had something to do with this, NBC News reported.

McConnell is reportedly in a pitched battle with Trump over the future of the Republican Party in the country's political races.

The former president's advisers pointed to the "Ruthless" podcast, which is co-hosted by McConnell's longtime adviser Josh Holmes.

Last week, DeSantis went on the "Ruthless" podcast and said that one of his biggest regrets since taking office in 2018 was not speaking out "much louder" against Trump at the start of the COVID pandemic.

The Florida governor noted that he was surprised when Trump made the decision that allegedly led to much of the U.S. economy shutting down.

Many in Trump's camp said it all looked like a setup, with a top Trump adviser noting that Holmes is "a wholly owned subsidiary of McConnell World."

"There's no way you can tell me that this was all a coincidence... DeSantis and his staff knew what they were doing. Now, that said, they might have been hoping for more out of Ron, because let's face it, he didn't really criticize Trump. But they knew the media would instantly jump on it and wish-cast it into existence," the adviser told NBC News, echoing four others who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The adviser added that McConnell clearly sees DeSantis as a lesser of two evils and a way to annoy the former president. On the other hand, Holmes has denied any coordination with McConnell and ill intent toward Trump.

READ NEXT: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Refers to U.S. Pres. Joe Biden's Delaware Beach Stay When Slamming Critics for Being Absent in December As Omicron Variant Spreads Around the State

Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis Butting Heads

The Republican governor was reportedly going along fine with the former president when it came to advising Floridians to stay home and closing Florida schools, government buildings, gyms, bars, and restaurant dining rooms, CBS 12 News reported.

However, Ron DeSantis questioned whether banning flights from China was effective. He said he supported Donald Trump when the former president announced travel restrictions from China.

However, DeSantis noted that one had to take a step back and acknowledged that "those travel restrictions just didn't work."

Donald Trump is Trashing Ron DeSantis

Meanwhile, there were reports that Donald Trump is "trashing" Ron DeSantis in private. Sources who've recently talked to the former president about the Florida governor told Axios that Trump called DeSantis an ingrate with a "dull personality" and "no personal charisma."

The sources noted that DeSantis' popularity and his refusal to rule out running against him in the 2024 election bothered Trump, as others have stated pretty clearly they will not challenge him.

A source, who requested anonymity, reportedly heard Trump criticize DeSantis on multiple occasions. The source told Axios that Trump believed that DeSantis had no realistic chance of beating him in a potential 2024 showdown, saying he's not worried about the Florida governor.

A second source noted that in Trump's view, "there's no way" DeSantis would be governor without his endorsement. Last week, New York Times' Maggie Haberman tweeted that Trump has been telling some aides that he isn't getting the deference from DeSantis that he wants in the pre-2024 leadup.

In the "Ruthless" podcast, Ron DeSantis blamed the media for reports of tension between him and Trump. Last September, a poll among Republicans showed that DeSantis was their number one pick for president if Trump will not run.

READ MORE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces State Will Officially File Lawsuit Against Pres. Joe Biden's COVID Vaccine Mandate

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WATCH: Former President Trump Takes Aim At Florida Governor DeSantis - From NBC News






An investigation is currently underway after a Mexican baby was found dead in a prison's dumpster in Mexico.

According to Mexico News Daily, a prisoner at the Center for Social Reinsertion (Cereso) in the San Miguel neighborhood of Puebla was looking for plastic bottles in the trash on January 10 when he found the infant.

The inmate immediately reported his grisly discovery to the prison guards. Puebla Governor Miguel Barbosa Huerta confirmed that the State Attorney General's Office (FGE) is investigating the matter.

Huerta described the case as "very serious" and assured that after the prosecutor's office's investigation, "a lot of crap will come out."

The governor said the investigation would be handled with the necessary secrecy and would focus on determining where the Mexican baby was born, who are the infant's parents, and how the baby entered the Mexico jail. Authorities said the child was not born inside the prison.

READ NEXT: Mexican Drug Cartel Admits Killing a Mayor, Warns Soccer Star Turned Governor of More Political Assassinations Over His Alleged Links to Criminal Groups

Mexican Baby Found in Dumpster of Mexico Prison

According to Milenio, the prison had a maximum capacity of 2,100 inmates. However, its current population exceeds more than 3,000.

Cereso has been the target of human rights investigations in the past, and it has a history of riots, gang violence, and corrupt officials. It also faces a series of accusations for lack of security and control.

According to reports from state ministerial authorities, the baby was entered into prison illegally since visits by children are currently prohibited due to the pandemic. There was also no register of the baby's ingress or a letter from the relative.

Nonprofit Reinserta, which works with children who have been exposed to violence in Mexico, condemned the child's murder in prison that guards did not notice.

The group's founder, Saskia Nino de Rivera, alleged that Cereso is notoriously "self-governed" by its prisoners. De Rivera said that corruption, extortion, visits from outside prostitutes, and the manufacture of illegal drugs are common in the said jail.

She lambasted prison authorities for not carrying out established visitor protocols and ensuring that visiting children have a safe and controlled environment.

"How can it be that the authorities have not realized that a dead or alive minor was admitted and that he never left the prison. Then where are the entry protocols for the children who are inside, who sees that the children who are inside the prison prison are in a healthy, controlled environment," De Rivera told Milenio.

Mexico Group Speculates Mexican Baby Used to Bring Drugs

The dead Mexican baby was found with a surgical incision in the abdomen. Reinserta speculated that the infant was likely used to bring drugs into prison. The group noted that the signs of recent surgery suggest that the baby was used as a drug mule.

In a statement, Reinserta said that bagged corpses of dogs used for clandestine fights had also been found in the same prison. De Rivera condemned Huerta for his "inability to maintain control" of a prison, where the murder of the Mexcian baby went unnoticed.

READ MORE: Colombian Writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez Had a Mexican Daughter: Relatives Reveal

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Inside Mexico's Biggest Prison - El Reclusorio Oriente - From Ioan Grillo
Irish Rail is set to make a significant investment at one of its key facilities in Portlaoise.

The company has invited tenders for the design, supply, delivery & commissioning of two new gantry cranes at the Portlaoise concrete sleeper depot.

The cranes, which will require a lifting capacity of 25 tonnes each, will be located outdoors at the facility on the Old Knockmay Road in Portlaoise.

Irish Rail says the primary purpose of the cranes is to provide tandem lifting capability for the supply of new track panels and removal of redundant track panels from works trains. They may also undertake independent lifting activities.

The cranes will also be integrated with existing infrastructure of guide tracks and power supply rails and shall be capable of being operated from the ground and on-board cabin.

The contract will also include training in the operation and maintenance of the cranes and a remedy of defects.

Irish Rail wants to have all equipment successfully commissioned within six months of contract execution. The company wants to award the contract in May 2022.

Documents say the contract will have a lifespan of nearly six years. More below tweet.

The Portlaoise sleeper plant team stressing concrete sleepers today #24HRSinIE #epic pic.twitter.com/NxQQ5mPhAb  Iarnrod Eireann #StaySafe (@IrishRail) February 2, 2017

The company manufactures concrete sleepers at in Portlaoise. It takes approximately 2,500 sleepers to lay a mile of track.

Iaranrod Eireann already operates the Portlaoise Traincare Depot which is expanding due to the addition of new carriages to the fleet. The depot maintains engines and carriages. A recruitment process began in 2021 for the expanded work that will have to be carried out at the Depot.
Comedian Jim Carrey turned 60 years old Monday with a Twitter video that may require a fact check.

Im 60 and sexy, the Mask star said, contorting his face as only he can. And tonight Im having creamed corn and peaches.

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Its ma birthday! Whoohoo! Im old but Im gold! I Love you all!!!  pic.twitter.com/WvFtbMty80  Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) January 17, 2022

Carey, a native of Ontario, Canada, also joked about becoming a sexagenarian in a caption affixed to his tweet.

Its ma birthday! Whoohoo! he wrote. Im old but Im gold! I Love you all!!!

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Jan. 17, 2021, has been a big day for birthday celebrations. While Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 93 Saturday if he were still alive, his special day was recognized Monday in the form of a national holiday. Former First Lady Michelle Obama turned 58 on Monday and posted an Instagram video where shes dancing in place and sitting in front of a birthday cake.

Happy birthday, Michelle, former president Barack Obama tweeted to her. My love, my partner, my best friend.

While actress Betty White died on New Years Eve, Monday would have been her 100th birthday, which was still celebrated in her honor. Google searches for the Golden Girls star led to rose pedals appearing on computer screens everywhere along with her old shows tagline Thank you for being a friend.

Also on Monday, actor James Earl Jones turned 91, comic Steve Harvey became a senior citizen at 65 and musician Kid Rock became 51 years old. Boxer and civil rights champion Muhammad Ali would have turned 80.

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson wished a happy birthday to the greatest man ever, Muhammad Ali.
One million euro in funding has been announced by the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for research into societal issues.

Minister Simon Harris announced the news - which will allow community organisers and researchers to collaborate on and investigate issues such as gender-based abuse, eating disorders and sexual harassment in schools - yesterday (January 17).

Seventy seven projects are set to benefit, including an NUIG project on immersive technology with the Galway Simon Community, and a DCU collaboration with the National Women's Council exploring Irish female journalists' experiences with hostility and abuse on social networks.

Minister Harris called the partnership "really important".

He said, "This will be incredibly valuable because it will examine societal issues and the impact on the most vulnerable in society. The community and voluntary sector plays a critical role in Irish life and will continue to do so. The questions this research will examine are some of the greatest societal challenges we are facing."

Another project set to benefit from the funding includes Bodywhys, which will help broaden our understanding of the challenges society faces about body image and eating disorders.

A UCC collaboration will work with a secondary school to help empower young people to speak up and demand a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of sexual harassment and violence.
The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport has approved 325,000 in funding to encourage use of the Irish language in the Capital.

The news was announced today (January 18), giving the greenlight to Conradh na Gaeilge to develop the BAC le Gaeilge project.

Deputy Jack Chambers, who is also the Government Chief Whip, said, "This project is of particular importance to ensure that the Irish language thrives in the city, that the language is promoted in the business sector and that it is given economic recognition."

The funding will be used to encourage Dublin businesses to incorporate the Irish language into everyday working life.

Examples of this include promoting the use of Irish in signage, websites, advertising and menus in cafes and restaurants, the development of an Irish language network among businesses, and to develop an Irish Language Quarter in the city.

The Secretary General of Conradh na Gaeilge, Julian de Spainn, said, "Interest in the language and the use of Irish in Dublin is growing, especially among young people, and Baile Atha Cliath le Gaeilge is now in place to ensure that the language is seen, heard, and used more in ordinary city life.

Niamh O'Kennedy, a spokesperson for Murphy's Ice Cream (a supporter of the initiative), agrees that interest is on the rise.

She said, "More and more we have been seeing a huge increase and interest from both our customers and staff in the Irish language. So much so we are now offering all our staff the opportunity to avail of free Irish language lessons. With support of organisations like Baile Atha Cliath le Gaeilge we believe the Irish language can be accessible and enjoyable for all."

A large Irish language community exists in Dublin due to a number of reasons, including the presence of gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholaisti, Irish early education services and language organisations, two radio stations broadcasting in Irish, Na Gaeil Oga GAA club, as well as the availability of third level courses in Irish.

Conradh na Gaeilge's historic headquarters at 6 Harcourt Street will be used as an information and support centre for the city's Irish language community.
A Senator from Kildare has welcomed the announcement of a series of actions to support horticultural growers.

Newbridge based Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O' Loughlin welcomed the news from her colleague, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.

The decision follows the publication of the Final Report of the Working Group on the Use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry.

The Working Group on the Use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry was established following a series of High Court decisions which determined that large scale peat harvesting requires planning permission and licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Working Group was tasked in particular with examining the potential of alternatives to peat for the horticultural industry.

Commenting on the news, Senator O' Loughlin said: "I have been in regular contact with growers and campaigners from across South Kildare in relation to the ridiculous situation they are experiencing in accessing horticultural peat."

"Kildare is the second most affected County in terms of job loss impact as a result of the imminent ending of peat harvesting for power generation in the Midlands region.

She continued: "We are also at a significant disadvantage as we have a shortage of suitable sites to establish new green Enterprises that could replace the labour-intensive work of peat extraction.

"Horticultural peat is a vital element for those in the horticultural, nursery and mushroom industry, and I have engaged extensively behind the scenes with Minister McConalogue and I pleased to see he is progressing the issue."

Senator O' Loughlin also claimed that the Department of Agriculture will be commissioning an independent expert to work directly with growers, and suppliers, along with Bord na Mona, to determine accurately the stock levels that are available.

"I am also pleased that Bord na Mona have committed to working with an independent expert and the growers to see if any stocks of peat they currently have on hand could be of use to the horticulture sector, which is very welcome: funding is also being made available to fund research to deliver alternatives to peat for the horticulture sector," she added.

"I know the difficulties that the lack of access to horticultural peat has caused many local businesses and growers.

"I raised in the Senate the crazy situation where 4,000 tonnes of peat were shipped from Latvia last year which caused significant carbon emissions.

"It was a 3,000km journey by ship, plus 200 trucks to transport it to the port in Latvia and onload it in Ireland.

"We need to see this issue resolved and I am pleased to see the Department engaging proactively with this issue," she concluded.

Senator Fiona O' Loughlin made headlines last week after she voiced her belief that pensioners should not be blocked from buying their own homes.
A domestic violence support group based in County Kildare, Teach Tearmainn, has released a statement over the death of murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy.

Teach Tearmainn held a vigil in its Refuge and Support Services on January 14 to remember and honour Ashling Murphy, in addition to every woman who has died by femicide.

The group said: "We were deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the death of Aisling Murphy."

"The issue of violence against women and the risks posed to women has once again been highlighted following this horrific murder."

Teach Tearmainn described the outpouring of grief for Aisling across communities in Ireland and abroad as "palpable": "The murder of Aisling highlights the every day danger posed to women by violent men.

"This case has resonated with many people and this is evidenced in the vigil's organised in cities, towns and villages across the Country."

"Teach Tearmainn sends our deepest condolences to Aisling's family, friends and community," Teach Tearmainn concluded.

Anyone who is experiencing domestic violence and abuse, please contact Teach Tearmainn's free and confidential service on 045-527584.

If you have been negatively affected, you can find resources to help you by contacting Women's Aid at 1800 341 900. Additionally, you can email Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie or ring 116 123, or visit the Rape Crisis Centre at drcc.ie.
One Kildare Minister has called on researchers to apply to European Commission funded Mission worth 62 million.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Research and Development, Martin Heydon TD, encouraged Irish researchers to apply to the Horizon Europe Soil Mission (HESM) Call, which aims to to protect and restore soils in Europe.

The HESM offers the Irish research community targeted funding opportunities in eight different areas, including the social, economic and cultural factors driving land management, developing indicators for soil health and functions, and linking soil health to nutritional and safe food.

Minister Heydon explained: "Good soil health is critical in sequestering carbon, producing nutrient-dense food, supporting biodiversity, building resilience against climate change and much more besides."

"Food Vision 2030 sets out a range of actions that need to be taken to achieve these objectives and participating in this HESM is one such action."

The Fine Gael TD continued: "I therefore strongly encourage Irish researchers to submit applications to this significant research call and my Dept, through its participation in the Irish support team, will help in any way it can to ensure strong Irish participation."

Minister Heydon added: There are a wide range of research funding opportunities focused on Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment under Horizon Europe."

"Ireland was very successful in the previous Horizon 2020 programme and our aim is to build on this and increase participation and success in Horizon Europe," the Kildare-South Minister added.

A virtual information day will be held on January 19, 2022 to inform potential applicants about the new topics included in the EU Missions work programme 2021, the details of which can be found here.

The Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, Soil Deal for Europe Mission is currently open for applications.

The deadline for submissions is March 24, 2022 (17:00 CEST) with projects expected to commence in Circa November 2022.

In addition, details of the Soil Deal for Europe mission can be found here, while information relating to the various Mission work programmes can be found here.



Further information on the various soil missions can be found on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
One Kildare Councillor has offered her condolences to the family of the late Ashling Murphy, a primary school teacher who was murdered while jogging in Tullamore, Offaly last week.

Independent Cllr Fiona McLoughlin-Healy was among a number of public representatives who attended the Newbridge vigil at 4pm on Friday, January 14, alongside Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender, Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O' Dwyer and Fianna Fail's Noel Heavey.

Cllr McLoughlin-Healy said: "As we walked to the vigil in the Liffey Linear Park, in Newbridge, my daughters had lots of questions about vigils and in particular about the vigils for Ashling."

"I explained as best I could, that todays vigil was an opportunity to show our solidarity, to come together as a community to mourn Ashling, to comfort each other, to validate our shared experiences as women and to manifest the collective hurt, fear and anger, palpable anger that the risk of violence against women is something we have had to learn to live with and to organise our lives around."

She further described the vigil as being "emotional", and noted that it served to remind the Newbridge community "of the bonds and benefits of talking and sharing and relying on each other."

Cllr McLoughlin-Healy continued: "Until we recognise that physical violence against women is the end of a spectrum of physical and psychological aggressions and micro-aggressions against women, and those aggressions are allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged, we will never create a safe environment for women."

"It has been argued that it shouldnt matter what time of day Ashling went for a run, that any woman should feel safe going for a run, anytime of the day, and I agree... but the time of Ashlings murder does matter because it exposes a boldness and an audacity about when and where women may be attacked.

"Women, many of whom didnt even consciously recognise that our world is smaller than mens, - because we reflexively limit when and where we go in order to be safe - were shocked by this encroachment on the safer time and spaces, in which we believed we could expect, at least, a certain level of safety."

She concluded: "My thoughts are with Ashlings family and friends, her students, her fellow musician friends and her community in Tullamore - her loss will be felt for a long time to come; I hope those that knew and loved her will get some succour from the outpouring of grief and solidarity happening nationwide."

The funeral of Ashling Murphy will take place later today in Offaly.

Her death has sparked a debate around violence against women and the importance of a woman's right to feel safe in society, and has prompted calls for more to be done to tackle domestic and gender-based violence within Ireland.

Anyone with information about the murder is asked to contact Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

If you have been negatively affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by contacting Women's Aid at 1800 341 900.

Additionally, you can email Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie or ring 116 123, or visit the Rape Crisis Centre at drcc.ie.
The funeral of Ashling Murphy, a primary school teacher murdered while out for a run, will take place later today in Co Offaly.

The 23-year-old, a talented musician, was found dead after going for a run on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore.

Her death has sparked a debate around womens safety, and prompted calls for more to be done to tackle domestic violence and gender-based violence.

Tens of thousands of people have also attended vigils in recent days to honour Ms Murphy.

It comes as Irish police investigating the death of Ms Murphy renewed an appeal for information, saying significant progress has been made in the murder probe.

Police released the description of a man they want to speak to in relation to the teachers murder in Co Offaly.

Police have asked anyone who saw a man dressed in black tracksuit top with no hood, black tracksuit bottoms with a large white stripe or white writing on the side and black runners to come forward.

Officers have asked members of the public whether they saw this man walking in the Tullamore area, or if they gave the man a lift in the evening last Wednesday.

The public has also been asked if they noticed him loitering at any location or involved in any activity which drew your attention.

Police said that significant progress is being made, but would not confirm any specific details.

It comes as they identified a new person of interest, who is believed to be in hospital in the Dublin region receiving treatment, and are waiting to speak to him.

As their investigation continues, Gardai believe the development of DNA profiles will form an integral part of the search for Ms Murphys killer.

Police appealed to anyone who has not made contact with the investigation team and who has any information to come forward.

Gardai said in a statement: We are now asking for any member of the public who was on the Grand Canal Way on the morning or afternoon of the January 12 between Digbys bridge and Ballycommon to contact the investigation team.

Whether you think you saw anything or not please contact Gardai in Tullamore.

We continue to appeal for any information on a Falcon Storm mountain bike with straight handlebars and distinctive yellow/green front forks prior to 4pm on Wednesday and in the previous days and weeks.

We are now asking for people in Tullamore to think about last Wednesday after 4pm and not to confine their thoughts to the Falcon Storm mountain bike.

Gardai said they are concerned about people sharing information on social media, particularly private messaging apps.

They have appealed for people to stop sharing these messages.

Members of the public continued to bring floral tributes and messages to the canal in recent days.

Ms Murphys funeral will take place at St Brigids Church, Mountbolus at 11am.

Her funeral will be live streamed.

Mr Murphys family have appealed for privacy at her family home before the funeral mass.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD recently joined Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) and Microsoft Ireland for the launch of the Microsoft Cloud Traineeship programme.

This tailor-made programme has been specifically developed by MSLETB and the education team at Microsoft Ireland to equip people with the in-demand skills required to transition into cloud-based roles in the digital economy.

Designed to combine education with on-the-job experience, the new programme will support the development of a new, diverse pipeline of exceptional IT talent while also addressing the technical and digital skills shortage in Ireland.

The Microsoft Cloud Traineeship programme, which is fully funded for eligible participants, will involve 1,200 training hours over 52 weeks in the form of directed and self-directed learning in both a classroom and virtual online learning platform.

In addition to developing in-demand digital skills, learners will be provided with paid work experience to enhance their employment opportunities and support them in building a future career in Irelands digital economy.

Successful participants will receive 120 credits, work placement and extensive experience in Microsoft cloud technologies, which will enable them to advance a career pathway in IT and gain employment across a wide variety of industry and business sectors with a career path in IT. Upon successful completion of the program, trainees will receive a QQI Major Level 5 Award and the latest cloud computing Microsoft Certifications, including Azure.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD, said: Im delighted to join Microsoft Ireland and the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board as they launch the Microsoft Cloud Traineeship programme. From enabling remote working to helping businesses navigate the pandemic, we have all come to know the importance of Cloud technology. Through upskilling and retraining initiatives such as this, we can ensure that people have the opportunities to find sustainable employment within emerging areas of the economy and build Irelands digital leadership long into the future.

Tom Grady, Chief Executive of MSLETB said: MSLETB are delighted to collaborate with Microsoft on this innovative and exciting programme. This is a really great opportunity for individuals interested in a successful career in the IT sector of industry. The Skills and Qualifications successful graduates of the traineeship will acquire will equip them for successful employment in the IT sector. The programme is designed for those who wish to start a new career or those with some prior IT experience in the sector. It will also open other lifelong learning opportunities by providing pathways to further or higher training and education options.

Dr. Kevin Marshall, Head of Education at Microsoft Ireland, commented: Cloud technology is a growth sector providing an increasing number of job opportunities each year. To unlock the full potential of this sector, its vital that we equip people with the Cloud skills to match the in-demand roles emerging within our economy. Thats why we are delighted at Microsoft Ireland to join forces with the team at Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board to develop in the development of this flagship initiative.

The Cloud Traineeship is the latest learning programme to be made available as part of Microsoft Irelands Pathways for Life education and training programme, which is designed to encourage and empower learners at various stages of their career and learning journey to gain the required skills to participate fully in the digital economy. I would encourage anyone looking for an exciting career pathway to consider the Cloud Traineeship programme.

Peter Egan, Director of FET of MSLETB said: We have a long-standing partnership with Microsoft Ireland in helping those in further education and training to develop the digital skills to gain employment. The launch of this new flagship Cloud Traineeship is an example of how further education and training and the technology sector can collaborate to develop a new, diverse pipeline of exceptional IT talent while also addressing the technical skills shortage in Ireland".

Simon Cosgrove, Programme Lead of MSLETB said: The insights and skills provided by Kevin Marshall and the Microsoft Irelands education team were vital in designing a programme that meets the current and future needs of the technology sector. The programme is designed to suit people at all stages of their learning and employment journey, from early school-leavers to those looking to change or advance their career.

This brand new, exclusive Microsoft Cloud Traineeship Programme started on the 11th of October. It will run online while also taking in scheduled modules in a classroom situation over the 52 week-long programme.

On successful completion of the traineeship the trainee will be ideally suited to undertake a cloud support role within a medium to large organisation who have already transitioned to the cloud or are in the process of doing so.

For smaller organisations the trainee will be ideally placed to support and transition the organisation from business processes and IT infrastructure based on the traditional on premises model to a modern cloud model delivered on the Microsoft Azure cloud.

The programme is open to all sectors of the community and applicants who are seeking re-skilling or up-skilling in order to enter or re-enter the workforce. To find out more about the new Microsoft Cloud Traineeship Programme launched today, log onto www.msletb.ie/microsoft

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Hello, its lunchtime in Paris and President Emmanuel Macron (still not a candidate) has a guest, his prime minister Jean Castex. They might speak about the education ministers last misstep: he was on vacation on the festive island of Ibiza when kafkaesque rules for Covid school testing were published.

What happened yesterday? Far-right candidate Eric Zemmour has been convicted by a French court for spurring racial hatred after making remarks on TV in September 2020 about unaccompanied child migrants living in France. Its the third conviction for him on racial hatred grounds in ten years.

Why does it matter? After an unexpected rise on the political scene in October and November, the former polemicist turned politician hit a wall. His offensive against Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement national) for control of the far-right is stalling, and his polling numbers are now withering.

Fluctuat nec mergitur is the motto of the city of Paris. It translates in English to rocked by waves but does not sink. It suggests strength, resilience, and optimism. So it is not to be used to describe the French left three months before the first round of the presidential election even if Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo is running for a decaying Parti socialiste (PS), once a powerhouse in French politics.

Up to now, (but the situation is changing rapidly), most polls give the left 25% to 30% of the vote. Its more than Macrons average 25%. The problem is that the left is fielding eleven candidates. Even if you put aside half of them (those who wont make the last mile, and those who will receive less than 1% of the vote), its hard to see how any of the remaining candidates could reach the second round.

Because he is expected to get about 10% of the votes, according to the January polls, Jean-Luc Melenchon (La France Insoumise), who turned 70 last August, can only envision unity behind him. No way that he will wrap up his third and last presidential bid right now. Yannick Jadot, the winner of the Green party primary, hopes that the demise of other candidates will blow favorable wind into his modest sails (around 6% of the votes). If Anne Hidalgo (projected at 3% to 4% of the votes) is to withdraw, it will sign the death warrant for her party, and it is not very exciting.

Dont expect Fabien Roussel, a communist (2%), to take the back seat behind Jean-Luc Melenchon as his party did in 2012 and 2017 only to lose ground one local election after the other. And dont ask the two main Trotskyists candidates to come to the rescue of the lackeys of capitalism (there is a third one pretending to compete but his electoral future is even duller).

Divisions run deep. On a personal level, Jean-Luc Melenchon despises Anne Hidalgo, who despises Yannick Jadot, and so on. On policies, they can all agree that the poor should not be poorer or that the planet should not get warmer. Everyone does. Other than that (taxation, labor code, energy, the role of the European Union, relations with Russia, China, or with the United States, NATO, secularism, social and racial discriminations...) forget about reaching common grounds, let alone writing a unifying political platform.

We thought the left had hit rock bottom when Anne Hidalgo suggested the organization of an open primary: All the current contenders could take part, yet all of them refused, except that is for Arnaud Montebourg, a minor candidate and former socialist minister turned beekeeper and sovereignist whose campaign has been a disaster. Hes now desperately looking for an exit. We were wrong.

An alleged savior jumped into the race on Saturday with the odds of a Green Party candidate in Wyoming. Her name is Christiane Taubira, a former justice minister of Francois Hollandes government (PS president from 2012 to 2017). A native from French Guyana near Brazil, she is widely seen as a person of high moral value with eloquent speaking skills (and internally as an unbearable diva). Her candidacy was mostly met with sarcasm by the other contenders.

During the second week of January, twelve desperate activists (including a European MP) went on a hunger strike hoping to force a left-wing open primary but gave up after seven days. Two others, an environmental activist and an entrepreneur, have also tried hard to create a dynamic of unity. Their online petition will give rise, next week, to the "Peoples Primary" (La primaire populaire), an open ballot for those who have registered. On Monday morning, only 250,000 had signed the petition, not enough to pressure the main candidates to accept its verdict. If every left-wing political contender keeps pushing the panic button without yielding any results, very soon it may just simply stop working.

Graphic of the day

In Le Mondes recent annual poll survey on the far-right, Marine Le Pens Rassemblement national party received both good and bad news: shes perceived as being less extreme than her rival Eric Zemmour but shes less popular than she was in the 2017 election.

Marine Le Pen image is eroding Jan. 5-11, Kantar poll for Le Monde and Franceinfo of 1,016 French adults Source : Source : Le Monde

Quote of the day

 Of course, we are leaving Nato! 

If elected President of the Republic, the left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon (La France insoumise) will withdraw France from NATO.  Of course, we are leaving NATO! , he said in an interview with Le Monde (in french).  First of all, I want to restore our military sovereignty. France with nuclear deterrence must remain independent and manufacture its weapons without depending on American imports. Why should we take on the quarrels of the Latvians or Estonians with Russia, which have been going on for a thousand years? Why should we guarantee the physical borders of Ukraine? I want a non-aligned, alter-globalist France , he said.

Countdown

82 Days until the presidential elections first round

96 Days until the presidential elections second round

Thanks for reading, see you tomorrow.

Read the previous column: A slow start? Blame candidate Omicron!

Gilles Paris(Columnist and former Le Monde correspondent in Washington)
A LIMERICK mother has kept her eight-year-old daughter off school today over the minute of silence to be held in memory of murdered teacher Ashling Murphy.

Lee-Ann Purcell, who lives in the city suburbs, spoke to Joe Duffy on RTE Radio One's Liveline yesterday, after it emerged unions are asking teachers to hold a moment of reflection at 11am as her funeral takes place.

The mum-of-two says she does not want her eight-year-old daughter finding out about the tragedy, saying: "Childhood is so precious, and this is a moment she'll never forget. My child idolises her teacher. She identifies with it. I feel it would be hugely traumatic for her. If I can avoid it - it may only be for a week - then I will."

She said she wanted to extend her "sincere sympathies" to the family and loved ones of Ashling, who studied at Mary Immaculate College.

But Lee-Ann feels for younger children, a different way of remembering the primary school teacher should be looked at, with perhaps children having a "happy time" at 11, as opposed to a sombre reflection.

"I've a little girl who is eight and in primary school. I'm just concerned when the minute's silence is held, she will find out about this awful tragedy. Myself and my husband are praying for Ashling and her family and everyone impacted by this. We have chosen not to tell our daughter as it's horrific," she added.

Her older child, who is 12, is already aware of the murder which has shocked the country and led to widespread trauma, and faced a difficult discussion with him.

"We had a discussion. His first question was Am I safe? I am just very concerned this will become a topic of conversation tomorrow in schools. I would rather be there with my child when she finds out about this. I'd rather it wasn't left to a teacher. There are other children who are very upset and triggered. It's a beautiful idea, but I'm really worried about it," she told the RTE show.

"It's a very significant thing that the whole school will stop at 11am. I'd be very concerned at the dialogue for the day. We can all commit to remembering Ashling, but if at all possible, it could be managed at home," Lee-Ann said, "The days of childhood are limited and precious, and I've made a decision not to tell her this story. In a school setting I'm very concerned."

She added she'd have preferred if any minute of silence was held, that the Department of Education had called it.

Ashling, who died following the attack on Wednesday evening, will be laid to rest in the Lowertown Cemetery following funeral mass in St Brigids Church in Mount Bolus at 11am.

Information on how to view the funeral can be found here
ABUJA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed following an attack by gunmen in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi at the weekend, the police said on Tuesday.

Nafiu Abubakar, a spokesman for the police in Kebbi, told reporters at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, the state's capital city that a police officer, two soldiers and 13 residents were killed in the attack perpetrated by the gunmen at the Dankade village of the Danko Wasagu local government area of the state on Friday.

According to Abubakar, the gunmen, believed to have fled the neighboring Zamfara state, had invaded the community and unleashed terror on civilians and the security personnel.

On hearing of the invasion, he said a security patrol team was mobilized to the village and engaged the gunmen, who also set some houses ablaze, in a gun duel.

An unknown number of gunmen were killed in the duel, Abubakar said, adding the police had launched an investigation into the attack.

Armed banditry has been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. 
Disgraced director Joss Whedon has spoken out in reply to Justice League star Gal Gadots allegation that he threatened her career.

Despite corroborating allegations by numerous actors and other staff of shows he created and ran  from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Angel to Firefly  he homed in on Gadots supposed facility with language.

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I dont threaten people. Who does that? he told New York magazine in an interview that dropped Monday, implying that she had misunderstood. English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech.

Filmmaker Joss Whedon and actor Gal Gadot. (Getty/Getty Images)

He said they had argued over a scene she wanted to cut and had joked that shed have to tie him to a railroad track and take it out over his dead body. It later got back to him that he was the one who had suggested tying her to a railroad track, the outlet reported.

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I understood perfectly, Gadot, who is Israeli, told New York magazine.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Plenty of other people, native English speakers, have come forward with similar threat-like accusations, such as the time he allegedly called a writer at home as she angled for a raise and told her she was never going to work for him, or 20th Century Fox, again, according to the report.

And actress Charisma Carpenter called his behavior hostile and toxic on the set of Buffy.

Gadot had first spoken of the alleged threat to an Israeli news outlet, telling N12, I had my issues with Joss, and I handled it, according to People. He threatened my career and said that if I do something, he will make sure my career is miserable, and I took care of it on the spot.

Also clashing with Whedon was Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in Justice League and called him gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable during filming.

That got him fired from his executive producer position of Warner Bros. The Nevers, Variety reported. Fisher also alleged that Whedon had lightened his Black complexion in Justice League and cut his scenes. Whedon said he had lightened the entire movie to brighten it up, and as for the latter accusation, that Fisher was a bad actor.

Whedon did, however, acknowledge that his behavior was not always perfect.

I was not mannerly, he said in reference to Carpenters allegations.
THE FUNERAL arrangements for a father-of-two killed in a motorcycle collision at the weekend have been announced this Tuesday.

Anthony (Douey) McCormack, aged 26, of Derrynane, Old Cork Road died following the single vehicle accident in O'Malley Park, Southill at 1pm on Sunday.

A garda spokesperson said: "A male motorcyclist collided with a wall and metal fence. He was pronounced dead at the scene."

Local councillor, Catherine Slattery said she was "shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Mr McCormack".

"While I did not know him personally I know members of his family who live locally to me. On behalf of myself and the community of the Old Cork Road I want to extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. It is a young life taken way too soon. May you rest in peace Tony," said Cllr Slattery.

Mr McCormack was predeceased by his father Tony and his grandmother Mary Cartridge. Sadly missed by his children Ajay and Melanie, mother Tracy, stepfather Greg, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncle, grandparents, nephews, girlfriend, cousins, other relatives, Lisa and the ODonoghue family and his many close friends.

Reposing at Cross' Funeral Home, Gerald Griffin Street, on Thursday from 2pm to 4pm for family and friends. Arriving at St John's Cathedral, Cathedral Place, on Friday for Requiem Mass at 11am. The Requiem Mass will be live-streamed.

Funeral afterwards to Mount St Oliver Cemetery.
THE President of the University of Limerick, Professor Kerstin Mey, has called for urgent Government action on a new funding model for the Irish university sector.

Speaking at the first in-person conferring ceremony to take place at UL for two years, the President said the importance and resilience of the Higher Education sector has never been more evident.

In her first conferring address since being appointed President, Professor Mey detailed the swift and determined response to the Covid-19 pandemic by UL and the wider sector and said there was an opportunity now to transform tertiary education based on the lessons learned.

Continue reading below or click 'next' for more photos

Speaking to graduates in the first of five carefully planned ceremonies taking place this week, Professor Mey said: The Coronavirus pandemic has catalysed a monumental shift to virtual and hybrid learning for the entire, global higher education sector. While this transition has come with challenges to established ways of developing, imparting and assessing knowledge and skills, it has opened up new opportunities to facilitate learning and engagement, to make accessible insights and a diversity of perspectives, for sharing expertise and experience across geographic and institutional boundaries.

We must seize these opportunities and transform tertiary education now to safeguard the resilience of the sector and its ability to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

We have welcomed the establishment of the new Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest here in the region and continue to collaborate with our colleagues in TUSMM and Mary Immaculate College. However, there is little point in creating new universities without funding all higher education institutions sufficiently to enable them to act as societal change engines."

Professor Mey says a lack of adequate funding is pushing Irish universities down the international rankings as the sector struggles to compete with the resources afforded to many of our global university partners.

While we welcome the clear value signal that the government made with the establishment of the Minister and Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, what we need now are the resources to support the extraordinary talent already in place in Irish universities and to welcome significantly more students every year throughout the current decade as a result of continuous demographic growth and the widening of access to higher education.

It has always been our policy in UL to enhance access and to put respective pathways in place so that everyone who could go to university does go to university - but what do we do when we simply no longer have the space or the right learning environment to meet the needs of our diversifying student community or the adequate means to advance research?"

Talent is Irelands treasure and a key resource for its shared prosperity. And we must nurture diverse talents. Furthering and safeguarding inclusion, diversity and equality through higher education and advanced research are vital for the thriving of our communities.

The remodelling of university education to support learning throughout the life-span and advanced inquiry has to go hand in glove with a reform of its funding model, enhanced investment into its research infrastructure, capacity and capability building and a governance approach that is built on partnership, Professor Mey added.

Speaking on a red letter day for University of Limerick and a day that we mark in celebration of your academic success, Professor Mey offered the new UL graduates the warmest of congratulations on completing this hugely important part of your life-long learning journey.

You have excelled academically and all while we faced some of the most challenging days in recent history. Your achievements cannot be underestimated as it shows tenacity, determination and strength of character for each and every one of you to be graduating here today.

Be proud of your accomplishment. I am sure, your family, your friends, your tutors and your peers share in that pride, she added.

Professor Mey said the graduates emerge as our latest cohort of ambassadors from UL.

You are now armed with an award worthy of your efforts. An award from this institution comes marked with one of the highest graduate employability rates in the country.

To that end, it is imperative that we continue to hone and support our strong employer relationships as they are vital too for shaping future facing academic programmes that are relevant for students, parents and guardians, and employers alike.

We will continue to strive for UL to be known as a destination for excellence in education, research and innovation. We will both develop and attract the highest-calibre staff and the best students from all sections of society, both in Ireland and abroad, and ensure that Limerick and the Mid-West are recognised as great places to live, study and work.

Our commitment to the region is steadfast. We are part of a local and international community a community that we are committed to through our development plans for the UL City Centre Campus in the heart of Limerick and our ambitions to grow our campus and its environs.

Our Higher Education Institutes protect the value of academic achievements proudly and fiercely by ensuring that our governance of your educational journey reaches the highest international standards. We stand firm against any dilution of educational standards to ensure that you can use your degree confidently and proudly in the knowledge that it is an unquestionable statement of ability, attainment and academic integrity, she added.

Around 1,700 students are graduating from the faculties of Education and Health Sciences, Kemmy Business School, Science and Engineering and Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in five ceremonies taking place this week.

Over 700 students are due to attend the live on-campus ceremonies, which have been carefully planned to minimise risk of possible infection.

Ceremonies are limited to graduands only, who have been requested to take an antigen test on the morning of their graduation, with advice that they should not attend the ceremony if they have any symptoms of Covid-19.

All graduands are required to show their Digital Covid Certificate as proof of full vaccination to gain entry to the University Concert Hall, which has been limited to one-third occupancy to allow for social distancing during the ceremonies.

Graduands and attending staff are also required to wear face coverings at all times.

* PHOTOS: Sean Curtin / True Media
LIMERICK City and County Council has acted quickly to remove graffiti which was described as "rotten and racist".

Two symbols which reflect the logo of Germany's Nazi party were spraypainted onto the ground on the Shannon Fields over the weekend.

Labour councillor Conor Sheehan reported the issue to local authority staff on Monday morning, and within the space of three hours, the offending graffiti had been cleaned away.

The City North member praised the swift removal of the graffiti.

Of the vandalism, he described it as "absolutely disgusting and appalling and so offensive."

He feels the quick removal of offensive graffiti should be put on a statutory footing, as is the case in Dublin.

I flagged rotten racist graffiti on the Shannon Fields with @LimerickCouncil this morning. Fair play to them as council contractors were straight on site and it has now been thankfully removed.  Cllr Conor Sheehan (@ConorSheehan93) January 17, 2022

"We have had other instances with offensive graffiti in the city. A policy has been brought in with Dublin City Council whereby it has to be removed by the authority within a time period," he said.

Cllr Sheehan said the Shannon Fields is used by many children, and families, and as a result damage like this is "something we need to be mindful of and come in very swiftly and remove it as quickly as it appears".

He reported the incident to the gardai ahead of the council clearing the site, adding: "There are cameras in the Shannon Fields. So I want to see whoever did it caught and face the full rigour of the law."

"If you think of the amount of children who walk along the Shannon Fields, espedcially primary school children, it's worrying really," he added.

A spokesperson for the council confirmed it was informed of the incident and the graffiti has already been removed.
A couple who claimed they had around 28,000 worth of cannabis to manufacture their own cannabis oil to assist the mans dying mother have received suspended sentences.

Jemma Dinnigan (35) of Skelligs Court, Waterville, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 and Kevin Lappin (37) of Corduff Crescent, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply on January 9, 2019.

Lappin had a previous conviction for possession of drugs, while Dinnigan had convictions for assault causing harm and theft. Lappins mother had been diagnosed with cancer in 2018. She has since passed away.

Garda Paul Nolan told Caroline Cummings BL, prosecuting, that he was conducting a garda checkpoint that afternoon when he beckoned the driver of a Seat Ibiza to pull over. The driver, Dinnigan, stopped 20 yards in front of him and he spoke to her through a window after she was unable to roll down the drivers window.

Gda Nolan said he got a strong smell of cannabis from the car. Dinnigan claimed she had just smoked a joint and she was driving to work. She was arrested after the garda determined that she had consumed an intoxicant to such an extent that she was not capable of being in proper control of the vehicle.

Dinnigan later provided a blood sample and was found to be over the limit for driving.

Gda Nolan said that Dinnigans home was later searched and two quantities of cannabis were found in two separate amounts in the bedroom. Her car was also searched and four separate containers were discovered underneath a seat.

The garda confirmed that the total amount of cannabis found in the house was 28,360 and 224 worth of cannabis was found in the car.

During garda interview Dinnigan said her boyfriends mother was ill with cancer and she was intending to make cannabis oil with the drugs to help the woman with pain.

Lappin was arrested the following month and during a garda interview he took full ownership for the cannabis. He said the reason he had the cannabis was to get cannabis oil for his mother who had been unwell since August 2018.

Judge Pauline Codd said there was an unusual aspect to the case in relation to the making of cannabis oil and the unlawful personal use of the cannabis by Lappin and his mother.

People can't take it upon themselves to set up their own factories for making cannabis oil and for treatment, the judge said.

She noted the pair had accepted responsibility for their wrongdoing and had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity. A Probation Services report found they are at a low risk of reoffending.

Judge Codd said it would be unjust to impose the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in this case. She handed down a three-year sentence to both Dinnigan and Lappin, which she suspended in full on a number of conditions.

Gda Nolan agreed with Giolliosa O Lideadha SC, defending Lappin, that gardai accept he bought the cannabis for making cannabis oil but added that it is also believed that he was selling some of the drugs to compensate for the initial purchase of it.

He agreed with Vincent Heneghan SC, defending Dinnigan, that she believed that cannabis oil could be used as a form of medication if other medications are not working and outlined the system she used to make the oil during garda interview.

It was accepted that both have not come to garda attention since their arrest. Mr O Lideadha said his client is now attending a herbal medicine online course in an attempt to find an alternative to cannabis.

Mr Heneghan said his client has a 19-year-old daughter. He added that she accepts she was wrong and that what she did was illegal.

It was not there for her own profit, Mr Heneghan submitted before he added that is client is willing to put her troubles behind her and pick herself up by the boot straps.
MUMBAI : The Supreme Court today expressed satisfaction with the payment of money in the Franklin Templeton India case adding that it had earlier apprehended that there would be some shortfall of money.

The court led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna will now hear the matter in the second week of April.

In the matter, the counsel for Franklin Templeton informed the apex court on record that until now nearly Rs26,098 crores was distributed across the 6 debt schemes.

Franklin Templeton India came under the scanner after the fund house shut its six mutual fund debt schemes in April 2020, citing redemption pressure and lack of liquidity in the bond market. This led to multiple legal cases against the fund house.

The six debt schemes includeFranklin India Low Duration Fund, Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund, Franklin India Credit Risk Fund, Franklin India Short Term Income Plan, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund and Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund.

Independently, SEBI then launched its own inquiry into the events leading up to the scheme's wind-up and whether Franklin Templeton MF administered the schemes in line with the existing regulations after unitholders lodged complaints.

Sebi alleged that the fund house had committed serious lapses/violations with regard to scheme categorization .

As per the regulator, serious lapses and violations appear to be a fallout of the Franklin Templeton AMCs obsession to run high yield strategies without due regard from the concomitant risk dimensions.

In Sebis June, 2021 order required the fund house to credit the six wound-up debt schemes with investment management and advisory fees earned between June 4, 2018 and April 23, 2020. A total amount came upto 512 crore .

For the next two years, the market regulator barred the fund house from launching any new debt schemes.

The Securities Appellate Tribunal, on the other hand, had set aside this order. The tribunal asked the fund house to deposit 250 crores instead of the 512 crores as asked by the markets regulator.

In its order SAT noted that 21 debt schemes are still being managed by Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund and no complaint of these schemes have come to the fore.

This prompted SEBI to move the Supreme Court against the SAT order.

The Supreme Court ruled in its earlier verdict stated that trustees must obtain majority unitholder consent before closing mutual fund schemes after posting a notice detailing the reasons for their decision to wind up debt schemes.

The Supreme Court, in interpreting several clauses of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Regulations on mutual fund winding up, decided that the markets regulator has the ability to intervene if the trustees of such schemes break the rules.

Pratyush Miglani, Managing Partner, Miglani Varma & Co - Advocates, Solicitors and Consultants said

"The disbursement of payments by Franklin Templeton to unitholders of its six shuttered schemes has been consistent and satisfactory, so far. Crucially, the Supreme Court has held that the consent of majority unitholders is a must, should the trustees of a debt scheme decide to wind it up. The decision came in an appeal filed by Franklin Templeton itself, against a Karnataka High Court judgment which had held the same, when FT decided to wind up six of its schemes. The amendment in the regulations incorporates this mandate of the Supreme Court, further safeguarding the interest of mutual fund investors in India."
Dragons are among the most popular and enduring of the world's mythological creatures, believed to have been real for centuries.

Dragon tales are known in many cultures, from the Americas to Europe, and from India to China . They have a long and rich history in many forms and continue to populate our books, films and television shows, as brave heroes routinely fight to slay the beasts.

It's not clear when or where stories of dragons first emerged, but the huge, flying serpents were described at least as early as the age of the ancient Greeks and Sumerians. According to Scott G. Bruce in his introduction to  The Penguin Book of Dragons  (Penguin Classics, 2021), "In the ancient world they took the form of enormous serpents, ready to crush with their coils and kill with their venomous breath." For much of history dragons were thought of as being like any other mythical animal: sometimes useful and protective, other times harmful and dangerous.

That changed when Christianity spread across the world; dragons took on a decidedly sinister interpretation and came to represent Satan . In medieval times, most people who heard anything about dragons knew them from the Bible, and it's likely that most Christians at the time believed in the literal existence of dragons. After all, Leviathan  the massive monster described in detail in the Book of Job, chapter 41  sounds like a dragon:

"Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth."

Related: Top 10 beasts and dragons: How reality made myth

The belief in dragons was based not just in legend but also in hard evidence, or at least that's what people thought, long ago. For millennia no one knew what to make of the giant bones that were occasionally unearthed around the globe, and dragons seemed a logical choice for people who had no knowledge of dinosaurs .

Dancers dress as traditional Chinese dragons at an annual temple festival. (Image credit: Getty/ Forrest Anderson)

Different types of dragons

Though most people can easily picture a dragon, people's ideas and descriptions of dragons vary dramatically, according to Grunge . Some dragons have wings; others don't. Some dragons can speak or breathe fire; others can't. Some are only a few feet long; others span miles. Some dragons live in palaces under the ocean, while others can only be found in caves and inside mountains, such as Smaug in JRR Tolkein's " The Hobbit ."

As folklorist Carol Rose's book " Giants, Monsters, & Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth " (Norton, 2001), dragons "have composite features from many other beasts, such as the head of an elephant in India, that of a lion or bird of prey in the Middle East, or numerous heads of reptiles such as serpents. Their body color may range from green, red, and black to unusually yellow, blue or white dragons."

Zoologist Karl Shuker describes a wide variety of dragons in his book " Dragons: A Natural History " (Simon & Schuster, 1995), including giant snakes, hydras, gargoyles and dragon-gods, and the more obscure variants such as basilisks, wyverns and cockatrices. At its root, the is a chameleon  its features adapting to the cultural and literary expectations of the era.

Dragons continue to capture the public's imagination in fantasy books and films, appearing in everything from the kid-friendly 2010 film "How to Train Your Dragon," to the more adult-oriented "Game of Thrones" books and TV series and "The Hobbit" book and movies. The popular role-playing game Advanced Dungeons and Dragons describes more than a dozen varieties of dragons, each with unique personalities, powers and other characteristics. (Black dragons, for example, are fond of eels  who knew?)

Medieval Painting titled 'Saint George and the Dragon,' by Paolo Uccello (Image credit: Getty/ Universal History Archive )

Origins of dragons

The word "dragon" comes from the ancient Greek word "draconta," meaning "to watch," suggesting that the beast guards treasure, such as mountains of gold coins or gems, according to Dean Miller in " Legendary Creatures and Monsters " (Cavendish Square Publishing, 2014). But this doesn't really make sense because a creature as powerful as a dragon surely doesn't need to pay for anything, right? It's probably more of a symbolic treasure, not for the hoarding dragon but instead a reward for the brave warriors, such as the Knights of Camelot who would vanquish the evil beast.

Dragons are one of the few monsters cast in mythology primarily as a powerful and fearsome opponent to be slain. They don't simply exist for their own sake; they exist largely as a foil for bold adventurers. Other mythical beasts such as trolls, elves and fairies interact with people (sometimes mischievously, sometimes helpfully) but their main role is not as a combatant.

The Christian church created legends of righteous and godly saints battling and vanquishing Satan in the form of dragons. The most celebrated of these was St. George the Dragon Slayer, who in legend comes upon a town threatened by a terrible dragon, according to English Heritage . He rescues a fair maiden, protects himself with the sign of the cross and slays the beast. The town's citizens, impressed by St. George's feat of faith and bravery, immediately convert to Christianity.

Vanquishing a dragon was not only an important career opportunity for any ambitious saint, knight or hobbit, but according to legend it was also a way to raise armies. As Michael Page and Robert Ingpen note in their book " Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were "(Viking Penguin, 1987), "The use of dragon's teeth provides a simple method of expanding the armed forces of any country. It was first practiced by Cadmus, King of Thebes. First, prepare a piece of ground as though for sowing grain. Next, catch and kill any convenient dragon and draw all its teeth. Sow these in the furrows you have prepared, cover lightly, and stand well away." Easy, peasy, right?

Next, veteran warriors "clad in bronze armor and armed with swords and shields ... emerge rapidly from the earth and stand in ranks according to the way in which the dragon's teeth were sown." Apparently these draconis dentata soldiers are a quarrelsome lot and will turn on each other lacking a ready enemy, so if you plan to do this, be sure your adversaries are nearby.

Scholars believe that the fire-breathing element of dragons came from medieval depictions of the mouth of hell; for example, art by Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, among others. The entrance to hell was often depicted as a monster's literal mouth, with the flames and smoke characteristic of Hades belching out. If one believes not only in the literal existence of hell, but also the literal existence of dragons as Satanic, the association is quite logical.

Komodo dragons have long, forked tongues that they use to help smell and taste. (Image credit: Getty/ Wolfgang Kaehler)

Are dragons real?

Medieval theology aside, few people today believe in the literal existence of dragons in the way they may believe in the existence of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster, for example. The dragon (or at least the dragon version most familiar to Westerners) is simply too big and too fantastic to take seriously or literally. In the modern age of satellite imagery and smart phone photos and videos, it's simply implausible that any giant, winged fire-breathers inhabit Earth's lands or skies unseen.

However, only a few centuries ago rumors of dragons seemed to have been confirmed by eyewitness accounts from sailors returning from Indonesia who reported encountering dragons  Komodo dragons, a type of monitor lizard  which can be aggressive, deadly, and reach 10 feet (3 meters) in length.

In a possible parallel to dragons, it was previously believed that the bite of a Komodo dragon was especially deadly because of toxic bacteria in its mouth, though that myth was debunked in 2013 by a team of researchers from the University of Queensland who discovered that the Komodo dragon's mouths are no dirtier than those of other carnivores. Western scientists only verified the existence of the Komodo dragon around 1910 following the investigation of Lieutenant Jacques Karel Henri van Steyn van Hensbroek and Pieter Ouwens, according to The Guardian , but rumors and stories of these fearsome beasts circulated long before that.

Dragons, in one form or another, have been around for millennia. Through epic fantasy fiction by J.R.R. Tolkien and others, dragons have continued to spark our collective imagination and show no sign of dying out.

Additional resources

To find out more about Komodo Dragons, this article from the University of Queensland, has a group of researchers discussing the fascinating detail of their mouths. To discover more about the story of St. George, read this entry from the Catholic Encyclopedia.
Sidney Poitier died from heart failure, according to his death certificate.

The industry-changing actor was also battling Alzheimers disease and prostate cancer in the years before his death Jan. 6 at age 94, according to the official document, which was obtained by TMZ.

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All three health ailments were listed as Poitiers cause of death, though heart failure was ruled the immediate cause.

Sidney Poitier arrives on the red carpet for the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. (VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

Poitier was the first Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, which he earned with his performance in 1963s Lilies of the Field. It was one of several boundary breaking and principled roles that made him Hollywoods first Black movie star.

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I made films when the only other Black on the lot was the shoeshine boy, he told Newsweek in 1988. I was kind of the lone guy in town.

Poitiers legacy was celebrated by actors and fellow trailblazers far and wide during his life and following his death.

Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together, former President Barack Obama said in a statement. He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans.
A man said he needed money and decided to try to smuggle marijuana through the Interstate 35 checkpoint, according to an arrest affidavit.

Benito Cardenas, 44, was charged with possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
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Goods imports from Britain have dropped by more than a fifth since Brexit, figures show.

The latest numbers from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the value of goods imports from Britain fell by almost 3.3 billion (2.75 billion) from January to November in 2021.

Meanwhile, goods exports to Britain in the first 11 months of last year was 13.4 billion (11.2 billion), an increase of more than 20%.

The main changes were increases in the exports of chemicals and related products and machinery and transport equipment, with a decrease in the exports of food and live animals.

Exports to Britain accounted for 11% of total exports in November 2021.

Imports from Britain were 16% of the value of total imports in November 2021.

The drop in imports comes as cross-border trade continues to rise.

Imports from Northern Ireland to the Republic jumped by more than 64%, while exports to north of the border also rose by more than 50%.

The figures come amid ongoing negotiations between the UK Government and the European Union over the future of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Unionists argue that the post-Brexit trade arrangements damage the union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain by placing a border in the Irish Sea.

Those trade arrangements have created economic barriers on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the aim being to avoid the creation of a hard border on the island of Ireland.

It has achieved that by effectively keeping Northern Ireland within the EUs single market for goods, an arrangement which has led to the checks on products crossing the Irish Sea from Britain.

Jarlath OKeefe, from Grant Thornton Ireland, said: The CSO figures for November confirmed that there has been a significant increase in cross border trade on the island of Ireland in 2021 following Brexit.

This is due in part to businesses adjusting their supply chains to avoid the administrative burden associated with importing goods from Britain.

Exports to Northern Ireland were 3,305 million (2.8 billion) in the period January to November 2021, an increase of 1,078 million (900 million) on the same period in 2020.

Meanwhile, the value of goods exports for the period January to November 2021 was 151.7 billion (126.7 billion), an increase of more than one per cent compared to the previous year.

Exports of electrical machinery, appliances and parts was the main driver, while exports of organic chemicals increased by more than 16%.

Exports of food and live animals increased by more than 15%.

Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products decreased by one billion euro (835 million).
A Rollins College student posted to social media the unusual phenomenon of taking a transatlantic flight from London to Florida without any other passengers on board.

Kai Forsyth posted two videos to his TikTok profile on Monday showing the empty British Airways cabin, asking, What would you do if you were the only passenger and had the whole plane to yourself?

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He said the cabin crew told him he was the only person on board the flight.

The flight attendants reminded me that there was more pilots than passengers lol, Forsyth posted in one of the videos. We sat and watched movies for hours and ate unlimited snacks.

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Forsyth told FOX 35 News the nine-hour flight was from Gatwick Airport near London to Orlando International Airport on Jan. 9, and he told the station that he knew something was strange the night before the flight.

You know how you pick seats when youre checking in? There was actually no seats, none taken. I was very confused, Forsyth told FOX 35.

International travel opened back up to the U.S. last November, but the surge in the omicron variant of COVID-19 has cut back on the number of people taking flights.

Read more on Fox35Orlando.com.
The pupils of Ashling Murphy were in school with their teacher last week. On Tuesday, they were in a church for her funeral.

The body of Ms Murphy, a talented musician and teacher, was found on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore in Co Offaly, sparking a murder investigation.

Hours after the funeral on Tuesday, Irish police confirmed that a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

People started to gather early, lining the streets of the small village of Mountbolus to say goodbye to Ms Murphy.

St Brigids Church, where the funeral Mass was held, had seen fewer sadder days in its nearly 200-year history.

Neither had it likely ever seen a gathering of mourners. Irish president Michael D Higgins and Irish premier Micheal Martin, as well as Justice Minister Helen McEntee, made the hour-and-a-half journey from Dublin to attend the funeral which has shocked a nation.

But while those political figures slipped quietly into the church, it was Ms Murphys former pupils who stood outside the church on a cold January day to await the arrival of their former teacher.

Some fidgeted, others giggled. Others looked lost amid the crowd as thousands packed into the small village main street.

An Irish police officer, passing by as gardai managed and marshalled the swelling crowd, absentmindedly patted one of the children on the head as he walked by.

All the children clutched a photo of Ms Murphy, imprinted with the words: Fly high in the sky, our shining light.

It was a depraved act of violence that ended the life of the Durrow National School teacher, Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan told the funeral.

He told mourners that Ms Murphys murder has questioned attitudes, particularly attitudes towards women, and our values and morality.

Respect is an old-fashioned word but it is an important one. Respect was missing last Wednesday but it has re-emerged here all the stronger.

A week later, the people of Co Offaly seemed determined to show the best of Irish values to those watching around the world.

In the local community centre beside the church, people packed inside to listen to the Mass. At the door, local women offered tea and cakes to mourners.

Beside the nearby GAA pitch, a large screen was erected  friends watched the proceedings quietly as only a few yards away, more people stood in the cold and the rain outside the church catching snippets of the service.

That GAA pitch, home to the local club Ms Murphy belonged to, has in previous years been a scene of jubilation and celebration.

On Tuesday, the same terrace was an ocean of sadness and solemn faces.

At times, it felt like grief was too much for words.

Music, so often, filled the gaps.

As the coffin of Ms Murphy left the church, it was to the sounds of the Irish traditional music she knew so well.

In the crowd earlier, children had held tokens of traditional music  tin whistles and fiddles.

I played music with her all my life. Started playing music when I was seven or eight, and all through the years, all through the fleadhs, would have been competing with her. Youd always recognise the face. She was lovely, Neil Corcoran, who attended the funeral with his mother, told PA news agency.

As the reels and rhythms filled the street, the musicians cried silently as they clutched fiddles, accordions and concertinas.

When the music stopped, briefly and suddenly, silence settled on the crowd.

There was no conversational chatter, just the sound of the engine of the hearse as thousands of people stood and stared forward in the direction of the graveyard, where Ms Murphy was to buried.

As suddenly as it had stopped, the music returned  the musicians playing through the cold and the tears.

Together we grieve, we pray, we hurt, Parish priest Michael Meade had earlier told mourners inside the church.

Together, he might also have said, the Tullamore community played music.
A giant asteroid taller than County Kerry's Carrauntoohil mountain is expected to soar past Earth tonight (January 18).

Called 7482 (1994 PC1), the asteroid is more than a kilometre wide at 1,052m and is bigger than any building on the planet including Burj Khalifa in Dubai (830m).

Carrauntoohil reaches a height of 1,038 metres.

The asteroid reportedly poses no threat to Earth and at its closest will pass more than five times the moons distance from the planet.

Robert McNaught discovered asteroid (7482) 1994 PC1 at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia on August 9 1994.

Nasas Asteroid Watch Twitter account posted: Near-Earth #asteroid 1994 PC1 (~1 km wide) is very well known and has been studied for decades by our #PlanetaryDefense experts.

Rest assured, 1994 PC1 will safely fly past our planet 1.2 million miles away next Tues, Jan 18.

The agencys Planetary Defence Coordination Office monitors the skies to find, track, and monitor near-Earth objects.

Nasa is also looking at ways to intercept potentially hazardous asteroids with its double asteroid redirection test (Dart) mission.

The mission aims to prove a spacecraft can autonomously navigate to a target asteroid and intentionally collide with it, smashing it off course.

You can track the asteroid's course on Nasa's Asteroid Watch website.
A legal bid by former Irish Defence Forces member Lisa Smith to have terror-related charges against her dropped has been heard at the Special Criminal Court.

Co Louth woman Smith, 39, is accused of being a member of so-called Islamic State (IS) and financing terrorism.

At a hearing on Monday, Michael OHiggins SC for Ms Smith, made an application for the case to be dismissed on the grounds there is not sufficient evidence to convict her on any of the charges.

The claim was rejected by Sean Gillane SC for the prosecution.

The hearing was adjourned on Monday and will resume on Tuesday at 10.30am at the SCC.

The details of Mondays hearing cannot be reported on by the media.

If the application is not successful, the trial will go ahead and is likely to last for 12 weeks.

Ms Smith appeared in court on Monday wearing a grey jacket and black face covering.



Lisa Smith, accused of terrorism offences, arrives at the at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

The case received widespread attention in 2019 when it emerged that Smith, a former Air Corps soldier who had worked on the Government jet, had been detained in Syria over alleged links to IS.

Smith was arrested at Dublin Airport in 2019 on suspicion of terrorist offences after returning from Turkey in November with her young daughter.

She had travelled to Syria a number of years ago after she converted to Islam.

Smith is charged under Section Six of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 which makes it an offence to join a foreign unlawful organisation.

It is alleged that between October 28 2015 and December 1 2019 at a location outside the State, she was a member of a terrorist group styling itself as the Islamic State.

She has also been accused of financing terrorism, by sending 800 euro in assistance by Western Union money transfer to a named individual in 2015.

She has denied the charges.
A serial arsonist who killed his uncle after setting his house ablaze in an act of revenge was more concerned about the welfare of the family dog when told a body had been discovered in the burnt-out home, a court was told on Monday.

Daniel Murray (40) was charged with the murder of Patrick Oliver Murray on August 2, 2018, at Derrylurgan, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan after telling gardai the house went up like a matchbox when he set fire to some sheets with a lighter.

He denied the murder charge when he appeared before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court, admitting manslaughter instead.

Murray, of no fixed abode, had also admitted arson intending to endanger then life of another, at the same date and place.

His plea was accepted by the State at a hearing last September.

Today, Detective Sergeant Arthur OConnor agreed with prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC that Murray has 48 previous convictions, several of which were for arson attacks carried out at nearby properties.

Det Sgt OConnor also agreed the accused had been staying with his uncle at the time of this offence and was located by a neighbour at his parents house shortly after the blaze had been extinguished by fire crews.

On being told his uncle had lost his in the fire, Murray, the neighbour said, didnt appear too concerned and only asked about the welfare of the dog.

A post-mortem later reported that Mr Murray had died from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Det Sgt OConnor also told the court that when the accused had returned to the scene he said that a murder had taken place.

The garda agreed with Mr Dwyer that Murray had been pointing to a group of people who had gathered outside the house when he shouted: Look at the relations, all talking and staring. Just because there has been a murder. Parasites.

Mr Dwyer told the court that two weeks later the accused had been discussing the fatal fire with his father, Chris Murray, when he admitted to starting the blaze.

He just came out and told me he did it, the father said in a statement to gardai which was read out in court.

He didnt give a reason and didnt seem upset.

Det Sgt OConnor agreed with Mr Dwyer that Murray told investigating officers he started the fire to get back at Oliver for hitting granny, and for the bad things he had done to me.

I wanted to take it out of the house, but it went the wrong way, he said.

I knew him better than anyone else. There was a badness in him. He is better off dead.

Det Sgt OConnor also agreed with Mr Dwyer that Murray also told gardai that he only wanted to frighten his uncle and he never meant to kill him.

If I could turn back time, I would. He would be here and he would be well, the accused told gardai.

A victim impact from the deceaseds eldest brother was also read to the court by Mr Dwyer.

Mr Liam Murray said he had great memories of his brother, whom he described as quiet but good humoured.

He said his brother had stayed in the family home to look after their mother after his siblings had left to raise their families.

Although he said his brother had a drinking problem, he also described him as an absolute gentleman who would often trim their neighbours hedges and clear their driveways of snow.

There was always a bed at Olivers for Daniel, Liam Murray said.

I keep asking myself why? Why did he do it?

Liam Murray also revealed the family can longer drive past the house where they once stayed because of the painful memories the property now holds.

Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC said Murray had unintentionally but recklessly brought about the death of his late uncle.

He said it was tragic case and that his client had never intended to cause this awful harm.

Although he said his clients life had been blighted through the years by alcohol, this wasnt an excuse for his behaviour but was being offered as an explanation.

Mr McGrath said his client had accepted responsibility for his actions and that he had been drinking heavily hours before setting the house ablaze.

Det Sgt OConnor agreed with Mr McGrath that it was fair to say that the accused was a very different man when he was drunk.

Mr Justice McDermott adjourned sentencing until January 25.
A cross-community group of Troubles victims is to outline their opposition to the British Governments legacy proposals during a meeting with the Irish foreign affairs minister.

Simon Coveney is to meet with the group tomorrow (January 19) in Dublin.

The group of victims, including John Teggart  whose father was killed by soldiers in Ballymurphy, Raymond McCord  whose son was killed by loyalists, and Eugene Reavey  whose three brothers were shot dead by a loyalist paramilitary gang, will meet the Fine Gael minister.

Victims campaigners have long outlined their opposition to the proposed amnesty for Troubles offences.

Raymond McCord, from Truth and Justice Movement, said they are seeking support from the Irish government.

The agenda is the British governments shameful amnesty proposals, Mr McCord said.

Our cross community group the Truth and Justice Movement has, since August, been engaged in meetings in London and Belfast with all the main political parties in Ireland and the UK, except the Tories.

Each political representative signed a historical document in agreement of support for us and rejecting the amnesty proposals.

We have also the support of the NIPSA trade union.

We are going to Dublin to talk to and listen to Minister Coveney about how and what the Irish government can do to help us stop all of the British governments proposals.

There has been widespread opposition to the plans to ban future prosecutions of military veterans and ex-paramilitaries for Troubles incidents predating April 1998.

The Government also intends to put forward a new truth recovery model to help bereaved families gain information about the deaths of their loved ones without the prospect of a criminal justice outcome.

Mr McCord said the proposals will deny truth and justice to families.

Minister Coveney has a reputation as a straight talker who speaks his mind and listens as well, and I, as someone from the unionist community, along with our group respect that, Mr McCord added.

The real purpose of these amnesty proposals is to hide the hand of the British states involvement in the murders of innocent people. Murder is murder is murder.

Truth and Justice must not be abolished or denied for the sake of burying the truth.

We all must ensure that its the victims and their families who come first, not those who committed murder, be it the state, members of the security forces or paramilitaries.

Once again the British government has put the murderers first and ignored the victims.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 18 2022

It is important that our residents operate space heaters safely, should they choose to use them, County Executive Blakeman said.

Recently, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman joined Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro, Assistant Chief James Hickman, President of Fire Commission Frank DeBobes, Nassau Fire Education Center Chief Instructor John Murray, and the Nassau County Police Department Arson and Bomb Squad to host a demonstration for residents at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage to show what happens if you don't use space heaters safely.

With the temperature dropping below freezing across our region, it is important that our residents operate space heaters safely, should they choose to use them, County Executive Blakeman said. Thank you to our Fire Marshall, Fire Commission, Chiefs, and our outstanding Fire Academy officers here in Old Bethpage for putting together this demonstration for our residents. He continued.

As we just witnessed with the tragedy in the Bronx, space heaters can be a real hazard if proper precautions arent taken. Chief Uttaro said. Our goal is to educate residents about safe use, and the different steps they can take to make sure they stay safe this winter.

Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro advised to make sure your heater has an auto-shut off to turn the heater off if it tips over, or is knocked down by a child or pet. He also went through the safety tips and recommendations below, which can be found at nfpa.org/education

HEATER CHECKLIST
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The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March.

The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. has been trending upward since mid-November, reaching nearly 1,700 on Jan. 17  still below the peak of 3,300 in January 2021. COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents started rising slightly two weeks ago, although still at a rate 10 times less than last year before most residents were vaccinated.

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Despite signs omicron causes milder disease on average, the unprecedented level of infection spreading through the country, with cases still soaring in many states, means many vulnerable people will become severely sick. If the higher end of projections comes to pass, that would push total U.S. deaths from COVID-19 over 1 million by early spring.

A lot of people are still going to die because of how transmissible omicron has been, said University of South Florida epidemiologist Jason Salemi. It unfortunately is going to get worse before it gets better.

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Morgues are starting to run out of space in Johnson County, Kansas, said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of the health department. More than 30 residents have died in the county this year, the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

But the notion that a generally less severe variant could still take the lives of thousands of people has been difficult for health experts to convey. The math of it  that a small percentage of a very high number of infections can yield a very high number of deaths  is difficult to visualize.

Overall, youre going to see more sick people even if you as an individual have a lower chance of being sick, said Katriona Shea of Pennsylvania State University, who co-leads a team that pulls together several pandemic models and shares the combined projections with the White House.

The wave of deaths heading for the United States will crest in late January or early February, Shea said. In early February, weekly deaths could equal or exceed the delta peak, and possibly even surpass the previous U.S. peak in deaths last year.

Some unknown portion of these deaths are among people infected with the delta variant, but experts say omicron is also claiming lives.

This is omicron driven, Shea said of the coming wave of deaths. The combined models project 1.5 million Americans will be hospitalized and 191,000 will die from mid-December through mid-March. Taking into account the uncertainty in the models, U.S. deaths during the omicron wave could range from 58,000 to 305,000.

Yet, its become increasingly clear that the risk from omicron is lower than from previous variants. New evidence from nearly 70,000 patients in Southern California suggests omicron is causing milder illness than delta.

A study, posted online and cited during a recent White House briefing, found patients with omicron had a 53% lower risk of hospitalization with respiratory symptoms, a 74% lower risk of ICU admission, and a 91% lower risk of death. The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, comes from researchers at Kaiser Permanente and University of California, Berkeley.

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The Health Report Weekly A weekly update on health news in Florida. >

Its hard for me to say straight out its good news, said study co-author Sara Y. Tartof, a Kaiser Permanente research scientist. Maybe theres good news in the sense that if you are infected your chance of becoming severely ill are decreased, but from a societal perspective its a very heavy burden for us. It remains a serious situation, and we need to maintain practices and behaviors we know protect us.

Overburdened hospitals could also contribute to more deaths, said Marc Lipsitch of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and scientific director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions forecasting center.

In places with extremely short staffing and overloads of patients, as the medical professionals have been telling us, the quality of care begins to suffer, Lipsitch said. That may also lead to higher death rates, but thats not in any of the models that Im aware of.

___

Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed.

___

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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18th January 2022

Runtime 25:13





MetalNRG (MNRG) CEO Rolf Gerritsen spoke to London South East and gave us a comprehensive operational update and summed up what's happening with the different elements of the business nicely.

As you may know, MetalNRG consists of a green energy JV with EQTEC and also has a 100% owned gold investment in Arizona, oil through BritNRG, and uranium in Kyrgyzstan.

"On the EQTEK side we are going to have the recommissioning of the plant in Italy, which will probably be Q2 of this year, and that will start producing revenue for the Italian joint venture company. We are also looking at additional investments, and I am expecting further news out of that.

"With GoldRidge in Arizona, it is very early days, but companies have expressed an interest in working with us to develop the GoldRidge project further.

"I do expect news out of Kyrgyzstan and news out of the uranium projects and I think it could well be positive. 18 months ago the Government banned all exploitation of uranium in the country because of projects which had caused ecological damage. Since then an election has brought a new Government which is pro-explotation of certain projects. There is a possibility that our license, not everyone's, will be reinstated.

"On BritNRG, we are working through a legal process and will keep the market informed as and when we can."
(Alliance News) - Plus500 Ltd announced on Tuesday that its status as a preferred technological enterprise has been extended to 2026.

The Israel-based financial technology firm that focuses on trading platforms explained that the status was accredited by the Israeli Tax Authority and will reduce its corporation tax rate as a result.

For each year up to and including 2026, Plus500's corporation tax rate will be reduced from 23% to 12% and the withholding tax rate applicable for dividends will be reduced from 25% to 20%.

Plus500 was initially accredited as a preferred technological enterprise in 2020, at which time the company's corporate tax rate for 2017, 2018 and 2019 were reduced from 24% in 2017 and 23% for 2018 and 2019 to 12% in 2020.

Chief Executive David Zruia said: "Plus500 was one of the first companies to receive the 'preferred technological enterprise' tax accreditation in 2020, delivering significant rebates and cash savings for the company and its shareholders, and helping to support on-going investment in our technology."

Shares in Plus500 were up 3.1% at 1,481.50 pence on Tuesday morning in London.

By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
18 January 2022

Oracle Power PLC

("Oracle", the "Company" or the "Group")

Q4 Update and Shareholder Q&A Session

Oracle Power PLC (AIM:ORCP), the international natural resources project developer, is pleased to provide the following update statement from its CEO, Naheed Memon, with respect to developments during Q4 2021:

"Over the course of 2021, we have been focused on our objective of creating scale and diversification in our portfolio to establish Oracle in the international power and resources sector. I am therefore pleased with the progress we have made throughout this year in achieving this goal and we have ended the last quarter of 2021 on a strong note. We now hold a diversified portfolio with multiple high growth divisions, with the support from two state-owned Chinese enterprises and a highly supportive strategic shareholder. Oracle is developing two highly prospective gold projects in Western Australia, pursuing power and gas generation in Pakistan, and is poised to become a front runner for the clean energy movement in Pakistan by developing a green hydrogen production facility. We are very confident that our growing portfolio of assets and interests will generate significant returns for our stakeholders.

"The Company is making significant progress with the advancement of its two 100% owned gold assets in Western Australia, the Jundee East and Northern Zone projects. Both continue to return highly encouraging results, demonstrating their potential for development.

"At Jundee East, the Department of Mines Industry Resources and Safety approved the programme of work ("PoW") in October for drilling of the five target areas defined as part of the maiden drill programme. BM Geological Services was then contracted to commence drilling shortly after and to secure a drill rig. A slimline Reverse Circulation ("RC") track mounted drill rig was secured in December, and mobilisation of the drill is expected to site in a few weeks. The maiden drill programme aims to confirm the presence of a previously unrecognised greenstone belt proximal to Northern Star's Jundee Gold Mine. With the PoW due to begin later this month, I look forward to sharing updates from the programme.

"At Northern Zone, which is located 25km east of Kalgoorlie, home of the second largest gold mine in Australia, assay results from the maiden drilling campaign were sent for analysis by ALS Global in December and, post-period end, highly positive results were returned in January 2022. The first phase RC drill programme completed in October 2021, mainly targeting gold mineralisation and results were based on 1,161 assay samples that were processed at the lab. Based on historical results and those of the recent seven drill holes, the project has been interpreted as an intrusion related gold system with wide gold mineralised felsic porphyry intrusions, which holds the potential to host significant ounces of gold. Indeed, based on the historical results and the results of this recent drilling, an Exploration Target of 200-250Mt at 0.4-0.6g/t Au for 2.5 to 4.8Moz gold has been established, reconfirming our belief that Northern Zone has the scale and scope to become a significant gold mining operation.

"Moving to our interests in Pakistan, since announcing a non-exclusive co-operation agreement in October with PowerChina International Group Ltd ("PowerChina") with the objective of jointly developing a green hydrogen production facility, we have already made encouraging progress on this new pillar in our strategy. Green hydrogen is increasingly becoming recognised and developed as a competitive fuel source across a range of sectors and forms a key part of the global transition towards a carbon free future.

"I was honoured to be invited to a ceremonial signing of the non-exclusive co-operation agreement with PowerChina in October, held at the Energy Department Sindh, Karachi, Pakistan. Hosted by the Minister of Energy, Sindh, and attended by other government officials as well as the country representative of PowerChina who was joined by the Executive Vice President via video link, this prestigious event was a strong endorsement from the local Government of Sindh. Those who attended recognised this as an historic moment as Pakistan moves towards more renewable energy projects. Moreover, it solidified PowerChina's commitment to the project and the Consul General of China in Karachi assured the support of his government on this. All parties involved clearly recognise the significance of this project on a global level and I was encouraged to see that all are eager to advance the project's development as swiftly as possible.

"Following the agreement, we welcomed Dr Naveed Akhtar as Chief of Technology - Hydrogen, to the Oracle team. An expert in hydrogen fuel cells, this marked an important step towards advancing our green hydrogen strategy in Pakistan and Dr Akhtar's over 20 years of experience in the industry will be key in advising us on the technological aspects as we look to develop a green hydrogen production facility in Pakistan and as we then look to the future commercialisation of hydrogen.

"In December, PowerChina completed a preliminary technical study, establishing the key technical and commercial contours for the delivery of a hydrogen production facility in Pakistan. An ambitious 400MW capacity hydrogen plant is being targeted, with planned production of approximately 150,000kg a day. Our strategic partner is actively pursuing technology suppliers and assessing costs internationally and together we are working to refine the commercial frameworks to advance this project. I hope to share progress on this in the coming months. Meanwhile, the process for arranging land and infrastructure to build this large and important facility in the province is underway at a considerable pace.

"I also had the privilege of being invited by the Government of Sindh to present its green hydrogen production strategy, which has already been defined as a 'Global Goal', at the Expo 2020 in Dubai, a further sign of the government's endorsement of our plans. In such a short time since signing the co-operation agreement with PowerChina and embarking on this new strategic path, we have already made major strides in moving it forward. I am delighted to position Oracle as a frontrunner in Pakistan for the production of clean energy, and I look forward to carrying on this momentum in 2022 and seeing further advancements.

"Also in Pakistan, we continue to make progress with regards to our Thar Block VI Project particularly in the context of the approved Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan 2021-2030 ('IGCEP'), prepared by the National Transmission Dispatch Company ('NTDC') in Pakistan. As previously announced, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority ('NEPRA') has approved a plan to expand electricity generation capacity from the existing 34,776MW to 61,112MW by 2030. In addition, NEPRA has directed the NTDC to consider the Company's Thar Block VI Project for inclusion in the next IGCEP annual review. This is a positive development for Oracle and we continue to monitor the onward progress of the IGCEP annual review and will deliver updates to the market accordingly. Separately, we are also actively pursuing opportunities with our coal-to-gas proposition, and this is beginning to generate significant interest within Pakistan, particularly given the severe gas crisis and weak currency. We look forward to sharing further insights on this, and the other dimensions of our growing business, over the coming weeks."

The Board of Oracle would like to advise shareholders that Naheed Memon, CEO of Oracle, will be conducting a shareholder Q&A session, details of which will be made available on the Company's website by close of business on 25 January 2022.

Shareholders are invited to submit questions to Ms. Memon by 12.00pm on 20 January 2022 via email at shareholderenquiries@stbridespartners.co.uk. There is no guarantee that all questions will be discussed on the call given time limitations and/or specific sensitivities with respect to operations.

*ENDS*

For further information:

Oracle Power PLC Naheed Memon - CEO +44 (0) 203 580 4314 Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser) Rory Murphy, James Harris, Rob Patrick +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 Shard Capital (Broker) Damon Heath, Isabella Pierre St Brides Partners Limited (Financial PR) Susie Geliher, Catherine Leftley +44 (0) 20 7186 9952 +44 (0) 20 7236 1177

About Oracle Power PLC:

Oracle Power PLC is an international natural resource and power project developer quoted on London's AIM market. The Company holds two highly prospective gold assets in two globally significant gold regions of Western Australia. The Northern Zone Project is located 25km east of the major gold mining centre of Kalgoorlie, the home of the 'Super Pit' mine, the second largest gold mine in Australia, and the Jundee East Gold Project is located ~9km east of Northern Star's Jundee Gold Mine, one of Australia's largest gold mines.

The Company is also active in the power industry in Pakistan and is working to establish a green hydrogen production facility in association with PowerChina. The Company's initial project is the Thar Block VI Project in south-east Pakistan where the Company is advancing plans for a combined lignite coal mine, a 1,320MW mine mouth power plant and a proposed coal gasification to urea project.
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Manchester, TN (37355)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 61F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 61F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Tucked among scattered pine and cypress trees near Orlando, a 175-foot-tall mountain of coal ash looms as a stark representation of our booming regions reliance on fossil fuels.

The mound is whats leftover from the decades of coal burned at the Stanton Energy Center, a sprawling power-generation complex nearby whose cylindrical cooling towers send curls of steam into the clouds.

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Piper Vargas thinks a lot about the coal ash landfill. Vargas fears the dust particles from the landfill carried by the wind to her tidy blue lakeside home six miles away, and what inhaling them might do to her family, especially her two young sons. She worries that toxic elements in the coal ash might seep into the areas vital groundwater.

My mind starts to go to those places like, Why do we still live here?, says Vargas, 38, a stay-at-home mom who homeschools her kids. Theyre not cleaning that up. Or theyre still burning (coal) right now. They still have years left of burning it.

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Like many electric utilities, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), which operates the energy center, is moving away from burning coal. It plans to stop coal-fired power generation by 2027 and transition to net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century, mostly through solar energy. But nearly all utilities that burned coal, including OUC, face questions about the potential risks from years of buried coal ash, one of the nations largest industrial waste streams.

For generations, the residue from combusting coal for electricity was dumped into pits, many without adequate liners to protect nearby groundwater. Coal ash contains toxic contaminants like mercury, cadmium and arsenic that can pollute the air and seep into groundwater, and that are associated with cancer and other illnesses.

In 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency adopted the first national regulations for coal ash. They applied to existing and new coal ash sites but exempted landfills that already closed. As a result, the rule may have left as much as half of all coal combustion waste ever produced in the United States unregulated by EPA, including most of whats buried on the OUC property, environmental groups estimate.

Now, environmental activists want the EPA to close loopholes they say were left by the 2015 rule. They want utilities to clean up contamination caused by ash dumping that occurred before the rule went into effect. They also want the agency to enforce the 2015 rule more aggressively and to deny utilities requests for cleanup exemptions.

The Orlando Utilities Commission Stanton Energy Center, on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Orlando Utilities Commission is set to approve its clean-energy plan Tuesday but is facing criticism from several Orlando council members and a state representative, as well many residents and environmentalists. Their criticism centers on fears that OUC would do away with incentives for residential solar energy and lacks efficiency measures for customers. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

EPA officials say they are aware of ongoing concerns about coal waste. And last week, the Biden administration initiated its first steps toward enforcing its ash disposal regulations.

EPAs proposed actions, however, do not address the problem of ash that was dumped and buried before the 2015 regulations went into effect, environmentalists said.

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When waste isnt considered waste

Over the last century, as the U.S increasingly relied on coal to power its economy, hundreds of power plants produced billions of tons of ash and other combustion wastes. All that coal-burning waste had to go somewhere.

Utilities dumped it into watery, unlined pits called coal-ash ponds, and piled it office-tower high in landfills. They sent it to public works departments to spread on icy winter roads, used it as a dirt alternative at construction sites for embankment or structural fill, and disposed of it at old coal mines. The industry found commercial uses for some power plant waste products, including putting the ash into cement or concrete, or converting sludge from smokestack scrubbers into a form of gypsum used to make drywall.

For 28 years, OUC dumped much of its coal ash into its main landfill, covering about 90 acres. That dumping stopped on Aug. 28, 2015, just 52 days before the Obama-era national regulations went into effect. The maneuver exempted the landfill from the new requirements for environmental monitoring and, if contamination were found, a requirement to take corrective actions. Those standards only apply to new dumping areas at the Stanton Energy Center, next to the closed landfill.

OUC isnt unique, according to environmental watchdogs. They say OUC took advantage of a widely used loophole written into EPAs Coal Combustion Residuals Rule, passed in 2015, near the end of the Obama administration after decades of battles between environmentalists, industry and the EPA.

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If you burn coal, its ash will get airborne

Ash blowing into neighborhoods goes away when plants shut down, and ash piles are covered and capped. But coal still provides about 20 percent of the nations electricity, and that means ongoing production and storage of coal-burning wastes.

Kristina Zierold, associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, found that children living near coal ash storage sites in Kentucky have a greater incidence of health issues such as asthma and neurobehavioral problems, compared to children living in areas without such sites.

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Dust does come off these landfills and surface impoundments, Zierold says. You can see it. And it does affect the community surrounding them.

All eyes are on the Biden EPA

The Obama coal ash rule required utilities to monitor and report on groundwater conditions. As a result, a better understanding of the scale of coal ash contamination across the country has emerged.

In a 2019 report, the Environmental Integrity Project and other advocacy groups analyzed monitoring data utilities had posted on their websites. The report found unsafe levels of toxic contaminants in groundwater linked to more than nine out of every 10 coal-fired power plants with monitoring data.

In all, unsafe levels of contamination were reported in groundwater at sites in 39 states and Puerto Rico. Illinois has the most power plants with polluted ash storage sites with 16, followed by Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and Missouri, all with more than 10.

Florida had nine power plants with polluted ash storage sites, including at the Stanton Energy Center, the report found.

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Orlando Utilities Commission had begun to produce electricity at its new solar plant in east Orange County. OUC is offering output of the 12.5 megawatt plant for subscription by residential and commercial customers. This is an area view of the plant at OUC's Curtis Stanton Energy Center. - Original Credit: Orlando Utilities Commission - Original Source: Orlando Sentinel (Courtesy photo)

Last week, EPA began proposing determinations on 57 requests for deadline extensions for the closing down of unlined coal ash disposal pits. The agency said it was also putting several power plants on notice regarding their obligations to comply with its 2015 regulations.

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In announcing its determinations, the agency said it was affirming its view that ash disposal pits or landfills cannot be closed with ash in contact with groundwater. The EPA also said limiting contact between coal ash and groundwater after closure is critical to minimizing releases of contaminants into the environment and will help ensure communities near these facilities have access to safe water for drinking and recreation.

I wanted them to do better

OUC, Floridas second-largest municipal utility with 250,000 customers in Orange and Osceola counties, prides itself on having progressively green energy policies. Last year, it announced it would stop burning coal by 2027 and use fossil gas as a bridge to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while ramping up solar power and energy storage. It has also constructed a 13-megawatt solar array on the older portion of its coal ash landfill that will generate enough electricity to power 2,100 homes.

Its clean energy plan makes the municipal utility a leader in a state that is uniquely vulnerable to the hotter temperatures, rising seas and other consequences of burning fossil fuels, but that lacks any statewide strategy for transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

But OUC has found ways to limit their cleanup obligations that are commonplace in the industry, says Abel Russ, a senior attorney with Environmental Integrity Project, and the lead author of the 2019 national report on coal ash contamination.

Russ says utilities find wiggle room in their interpretations of regulations that require engineering assessments, environmental monitoring, closure plans, and potentially corrective action if groundwater pollution limits are exceeded.

At the Stanton Energy Center, for example, Russ observed that wells used to detect whether the new landfill area is polluting groundwater are more than a half-mile away, and utility consultants have said it would take groundwater several hundred years to reach them.

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If thats true, if it takes hundreds of years for the groundwater to get there, theyre useless wells, Russ says. OUC spokesman Tim Trudell declined to comment on any of Abels specific criticisms of how the company has managed its coal ash.

Its a well-run site, he says of the Stanton Energy Center. It definitely is, and we still have responsibility with coal. We are going to take that responsibility seriously and continue to do so.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

And he adds, We will continue to monitor that site for as long as it takes.

Yet Vargas still has her fears and she hasnt been alone. A lawsuit filed in 2018 on behalf of the areas approximately 30,000 residents alleged that air and groundwater pollution from the landfill were responsible for a cancer cluster, including pediatric cancers of the brain, blood and central nervous system. Named as defendants were OUC and three home builders that the lawsuit contended had built and marketed the neighborhoods without addressing the risks.

OUC argued that the claims were unsupported by science. The home builders said the plaintiffs lacked grounds to sue. Then the plaintiffs dropped the suit late last year for unspecified reasons.

Vargas was not part of the lawsuit. She became aware of the coal ash landfill about five years ago, near the same time her father died of pancreatic cancer. The trauma prompted a new interest in health and wellness. Vargas also got involved in an environmental group called Moms Clean Air Force.

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Thats when I met another mom here  who told me about the cancer cases and about the coal ash, she says. And its when she says she grew more worried about her local utility, OUC.

I wanted them to do better, right?, she says.

This story is a collaboration between Inside Climate News and WMFE Orlando, a member of ICNs National Reporting Network-Southeast.
The second story of an apartment building near campus collapsed around 1 p.m. today after the fire was put out by first responders.
Southwest Florida was hit with multiple tornadoes created by a winter storm moving through the South, destroying and damaging multiple homes on Sunday morning.

Lee County officials announced the storms left about 7,000 homes, nearly 15,000 people, without power. They only reported four injuries up to this point.

Officials confirmed 28 homes were destroyed in Lee County, and at least 62 homes are not livable. The National Weather Service (NWS) said at least one tornado was spotted in Collier County.

A tractor-trailer in Collier County was knocked over by a tornado on the I-75 North, before Mile Marker 96. Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the truck driver is injured, and that the highway has been cleared.
Millions of families in the United States will be happy to know that checks for $1,504 dollars will be automatically deposited today, although not everyone will receive them because the emergency funds will be given only to eligible families.

This week, the Connecticut Department of Social Services announced that they will automatically load additional food stamp benefits to the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards of hundreds of recipients in the state on January 16.

Each month, more than 41.5 million residents of the United States rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through which they receive the so-called 'food stamps' that allow them to put food on the tables of their homes.

Now, not only is Connecticut hoping to deliver a hefty $1,504 payment to eligible low-income families, but California, Virginia, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota and Washington will send additional food stamps worth up to $157.

Requirements to qualify in Connecticut if you're not part of the program yet

Food stamps are a financial aid from the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) whose objective is to guarantee that there is nutritious and healthy food in the most vulnerable households or those facing financial difficulties, even more so in times of pandemic.

Each state of the United States manages the program in its jurisdiction, which makes eligibility vary from one place to another, but in general the aid is intended for those who have gross income of up to 130% of the federal poverty line.

To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Connecticut and meet one of the following requirements:

You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or

You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with one of the following:

A person or persons age 60 and over or

A person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself).

If you meet the requirements visit www.connect.ct.gov, or go to a DSS office to fill out the application form (call 211 or visit https://www.211ct.org/ to find a DSS office near you and check if the nearest office is open), or you can call DSS at 1-855-626-6632 to get an application or if you need help applying. Also see the State of Connecticut SNAP program website.

SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works with state agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits. SNAP is the Federal name for the program.

*For households with more than eight people, add $5,902 per additional person. Always check with the appropriate managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines.
Former Florida Board of Education chairman Andy Tuck (right) resigned in the midst of an investigation into conflicts of interest. Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran (left) said through a spokesman that Tuck and vice-chancellor Melissa Ramsey demonstrated "gross negligence" when they formed a company and tried to score a $1.8 million off the very education system they were running, but claimed Tuck and Ramsey "have great hearts." (Bob Self/AP)

Over the holidays, a scandal emerged at the highest levels of Floridas education system  one state leaders now want to bury.

Two top officials, including a former chairman of the State Board of Education, tried to score a $1.8 million contract off the very division they were helping run  a blatant conflict of interest.

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Both resigned. And the governors office now suggests that should be the end of the story, allowing the conflicted parties to slink away after being caught.

Sorry, but thats not how accountability works.

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Especially because theres a disturbingly common underlying theme here of people bad-mouthing public education and then trying to profit off it.

Did you know that there is a district in Florida that is entirely run by #charterschools? Check out #chartered by @jessicabakeman https://t.co/2WzLbCfZqO pic.twitter.com/zFNLDEtSQy  WLRN Sundial (@WLRNSundial) September 7, 2019

In this case, the scandal involves the tiny, troubled Jefferson County School District in the Panhandle, which state officials turned over to a private company in 2017. The move  giving control of a public school board to a private company  was radical, based on the belief that the private sector could do better.

Yet five years into the experiment of private control, the district was headed for a D grade for quality. Thats when the scandal erupted. In transferring control of the still-troubled district back to local officials, the state wanted to hire yet another company to help oversee the transfer  for approximately $1.8 million.

The money was apparently too much to resist for state Board of Education member Andy Tuck and Vice-Chancellor Melissa Ramsey  both of whom wanted the contract themselves.

State investigators say the two formed their own company and then tried to win the contract  with Ramsey communicating with one of the state staffers drafting the bid specifications.

The conflict of interest was as wrong as it was obvious. Yet it wasnt Tucks first foray into controversy. That happened the moment former Gov. Rick Scott appointed him back in 2014.

Tuck was a citrus grower and Highlands County school board member who didnt believe in teaching students that evolution was real. He once told his local newspaper that, as a person of faith, I strongly oppose any study of evolution as fact at all. Im purely in favor of it staying a theory and only a theory. I wont support any evolution being taught as fact at all in any of our schools.

You know, Im also a person of faith. And frankly, Im sick of indulging people who act like facts arent facts. The earth is round. Water is wet. And human beings are a product of evolution. Even the Pope has said as much, saying faith and evolution are perfectly compatible.

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This is a debate most of the educated world settled a century ago in the Scopes Monkey trial of 1925. But here in Florida, deniers arent just indulged, theyre put in charge of educating 2.7 million children.

Thanks to Scott, Tuck not only took a seat on the state education board, he ascended to chairman. There, he voted to let a private company take over operations of a school district and then formed his own company to try to score a $1.8 million contract off the district.

Tuck didnt comment to Orlando Sentinel reporter Leslie Postal. He also ducked state investigators, resigning his seat on Nov. 16  the day before he was supposed to be interviewed.

At first, I was impressed Florida had actually conducted an investigation into all of this  one that acknowledged conflicts of interest. But then I realized there was another politically connected person trying to score this contract  which brings us to part two of this scandal. Yes, part two.

While Tuck and Ramsey arent getting the contract, the Tampa Bay Times reported that education department officials had been trying to give another company the inside track on the deal  a company run by a former GOP legislator who used to be business partners with Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran.

So now it looks less like education officials were trying to root out corruption and more like they were just trying to grease the skids for someone else  namely Corcorans former partner, former State Rep. Trey Traviesa.

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Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Especially since Corcoran handled Tuck and Ramseys egregious behavior with kid gloves, declaring the investigation closed and saying that, while Tuck and Ramsey displayed gross negligence, they also have great hearts.

And since a spokeswoman for Gov. Ron DeSantis  the guy who appointed Corcoran and is really in charge of this steaming pile of scandal  told the Times that the governor considered the matter closed, despite State Rep. Allison Tant, D- Tallahassee, calling for an investigation.

In what ethically deficient universe is any of this OK?

We have two sets of politically connected cronies trying to cash in on a troubled school district. And the governor and education commissioner are telling you theres nothing to see  and trying to distract you with tirades about critical race theory.

Maybe those tactics will work with some. But most Floridians dont need to be told that its wrong for public officials to try to personally profit off state business theyre either in charge of or connected to.

And theyre not interested in seeing any of this stuff swept under a rug any more than they are in seeing struggling students treated like pawns.

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smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
TALLAHASSEE  An Orlando state legislator has COVID-19, and the absence of several state senators, including one from Central Florida, prompted a legislative committee to cancel a meeting Tuesday.

State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, announced he tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday morning after experiencing moderate symptoms over the weekend.

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Im fully vaxxed, boosted, and now as a result  nearly 100% better! he wrote in a tweet.

Smith wrote he is in isolation away from the Capitol but will continue to work remotely.

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This AM, I tested positive for COVID-19 after having moderate symptoms over the weekend. I'm fully vaxxed, boosted, and now as a result-- nearly 100% better!



Ya'll know Omicron is SUPER contagious, so please mask-up, get vaxxed + boosted to reduce the spread and impact! 1/2  Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) January 18, 2022

The Florida Capitol has no COVID-19 protocols in place. Smith has been wearing a mask, but most lawmakers havent.

Gov. Ron DeSantis made his resistance to COVID-19 restrictions the centerpiece of his State of the State address that kicked off the 60-day legislative session on Jan. 11.

Four state senators, including Central Florida state Sen. Jason Brodeur, requested excused absences for Tuesday, Katie Betta, a spokesperson for Senate President Wilton Simpson, said in an email.

One of those absences was not related to COVID-19, while the other senators did not provide a reason in letters they submitted, Betta said.

Brodeur, R-Sanford, and state Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. State Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, told Florida Politics he tested positive for COVID-19 Friday after having cold-like symptoms, despite being fully vaccinated, boosted and wearing a mask.

Florida's 60-day legislative session kicked off Jan. 11 without any COVID-19 protocols. Most lawmakers haven't been wearing a mask. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

State Sen. George Gainers absence was not related to COVID, Betta said. The Florida Senate has 40 members.

Besides Smith, eight other members of the 120-member Florida House received excused absences Tuesday, spokesperson Jenna Sarkissian said. Its unclear whether those absences were COVID-related.

The absentee list included Central Florida state Reps. Webster Barnaby, R-Deltona; Scott Plankon, R-Longwood; and Keith Truenow, R-Tavares.

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Of the 40 Democratic House members, Smith was the only member known to be sick with COVID-19 Tuesday morning, Democratic Leader Evan Jenne said.

Jenne, D-Dania Beach, said hes disappointed with how the pandemic has been handled in the Capitol.

Its been pretty much a free-for-all here, he said. The guard is completely let down.

sswisher@orlandosentinel.com
Meadville, PA (16335)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 53F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 53F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
People are calling it names, Toxic, "Sweet Poison", "Evil Nutrient", "Killer", "White Devil" and many more. The poor little thing is being targeted left, right and center for being too "sweet", an attribute it is best known for. Isnt it ironical? Indeed, it is.

Although I have nothing personal against sugar, I myself have a sweet tooth, but the constant blabber all around definitely makes me anxious and curious to dig my nose deep in, to find out how good or bad the sugar actually is for our existence and is it practically possible to ignore its presence in our lives?

Among one of the most controversial and popular debates about sugar and its effects was the 90-minute lecture by Dr. Robert Lustig on "Sugar: The Bitter Truth". He spoke about the nuances of fructose biochemistry and human physiology. Dr. Lustig is a Specialist on Pediatric Hormone Disorders and a leading expert in childhood obesity at School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.

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During his lecture, in the most unbashful manner he had repeatedly referred to sugar as a "toxin" and poison. Lustig's anger was not only against the white granulated stuff that we put in tea and coffee (sucrose) but also towards the high-fructose corn syrup, which he called the most demonized additive known to man.

He debated aggressively on how its not all about sugar being an empty calorie thing. He said, It has nothing to do with the mere calorie content. Its a poison by itself. Its effect on us is much more insidious than weight gain. Sugar is known to be the dietary cause for increased risk of several chronic ailments such as diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, some common cancers, and premature ageing. In Lustigs view, sugar should be considered as injurious as cigarettes and alcohol; things that can kill us.

The lecture left everyone pondering if its pure coincidence or whether the association is for real.
Human is a medical thriller starring Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari in lead roles. Helmed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh, the show explores the dark and ugly world of human medical trials.

The official synopsis of the show reads, A pharma giant is using Indias lax clinical trial rules to fast track the development of a new drug, despite lethal side effects. Meanwhile, 35-year-old Dr Saira Sabharwal lands a dream job in Bhopals premier hospital under the mentorship of the iconic 45-year-old Dr Gauri Nath. Saira grows under Gauris tutelage and as the two women start to form a deep bond over their commitment to the medical cause. However, a shocking discovery throws their life into chaos as their story becomes intertwined with that of a young migrant worker, Mangu, who is all set to wreak havoc on the medical system.

Heres the trailer:

The show also touches upon the aspect of homosexuality and Kirti had to share an intimate moment with Shefali In the show. In an interview with Hindustan Times , she has talked about playing a queer and sharing a chemistry with female lead actor.

Talking about it, Kirti said, "There are times our (Shefali and Kirti's) hands touch (in the show), and we also have a kissing scene. I mean, of course, I am an actor, of course, I am up for it; but it is still strange for me. I have never done this before. It is still strange for me to create that chemistry for a woman, to really give the expressions I would, falling for a guy. It is different."

She added, "I did go from one point to another. I knew no preparation could prepare me for it, it was at that moment. I had to wire myself in a way to go beyond the idea of genders and that is when I realized it is not about whether it is a man or a woman in front of me but about the feeling, it is about what I am feeling for the person."

Talking about shooting the kissing scene in Human, the actor said, "I think the most nervous person for the kissing scene was my director Mozez Singh. I was only (thinking) what if I kiss her and feel something, what if I get turned on? That will be something, I will then have to sit back and think if I am also looking at women. That is the only thing I had. We did not rehearse. My director made us do some 8-10 takes for getting different angles of the kiss. We did it the first time, and we were like ok, I was relieved thinking 'thank God koi feeling nahi aya (there was no feeling)'. Then Mozez came back and asked us to give more takes."

She went on to elaborate, After the first couple of takes, we went at it like robots. That is what it is, sex on screen, or kissing on screen. People wonder about it but it is the most boring thing. You have 100 people around and there is no privacy. You are at the mercy of your director saying action-cut, action-cut. You do not have the time for feeling, trust me. She also revealed that Shefali told her that it was the first time that she has kissed on screen.

She also stressed on the fact how the show has helped her see a very different perspective and understand the world beyond genders.

I went beyond genders and that is a very liberating space for me. Somehow we are wired as a society that it is always about male versus female. So much is defined based on your gender, she concluded.

Have you watched the show? Let us know in the comments section below.
South star Dhanush, who was most recently seen in Aanand L Rai's Atrangi Re opposite Sara Ali Khan, has shocked fans by announcing separation from wife Aishwaryaa on Monday. The actor exchanged wedding vows with Aishwaryaa, Rajinikanth's eldest daughter, in 2004. After 18 years of togetherness, the duo has now decided to part ways.

Taking to social media, the estranged couple issued an identical statement and shared the shocking news with fans without revealing the reason behind their split. In the statement, both Dhanush and Aishwaryaa, who are parents to two sons, shared that they want to 'take time to understand' themselves as individuals.

The statement posted by Dhanush on Twitter reads, "18 years of togetherness as friends, couple as parents and well wishers to each other. The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting, and adapting. Today we stand at a place where our paths separate. Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better".

He added, "Please do Respect our decision and give us the needed privacy to deal with this. Om Namashivaaya!"

Aishwaryaa too shared a similar statement on Instagram. In the caption, she wrote, "No caption neededonly your understanding n your love necessary!"

This announcement has left fans heartbroken who are extending support to the duo as well as Rajinikanth. On Dhanush's post, a user wrote, "This hurts me more than my breakup". Another wrote, "That's unexpected and shocking! The reasons behind the breakup are none of our business. Just wishing you and Aishwarya all the best for the future! Be strong Thalaivaa @rajinikanth".



Here are a few reactions:

That's unexpected and shocking! The reasons behind the break-up are none of our business. Just wishing you and @ash_r_dhanush all the best for the future!



Be strong Thalaivaa @rajinikanth  pic.twitter.com/ASCo0ycXDm  Rajinikanth Fans (@RajiniFC) January 17, 2022

this hurts me more than my breakup   Maryam  (@_Maryam_20_) January 17, 2022

This is shocking . I thought u both are ideal couple . Anyway its purely ur private thing. Take care bro and @ash_r_dhanush  N (@rajini_mano) January 17, 2022

Omg, what the heck happened to you both.. I still smile everytime I watch the video of you singing Ilamai Thirumbudhe with your wife.. This is a huge shock. Hope you both get back soon. As of now, strength to both of you and your kids   M O N I S H  (@anbAAna__fan) January 17, 2022

Shocking... Never expected from dhanush.. yes it's a private thing between Aishwarya n him, but my heart goes with Thalaivar..   ,  love  accept ..   ended..

,   ?  Sowmiya (@Sowmi_here) January 18, 2022

When two hearts decide to part ways it isnt a sign that they dont understand each other , but a sign that they have at last begun to



Good Luck #Dhanush #DhanushAishwarya  Le Monk India (@le_monk_India) January 18, 2022

Well, the news has shocked everyone as Aishwaryaa had dedicated a post to Dhanush just a few months ago on Instagram after the prestigious National Awards ceremony was held in Delhi. Post the ceremony, she posted a picture of her father Rajinikanth and Dhanush posing together with their medals. In the caption, she had written, "They are mine". For the unversed, Thalaivar got the Dadasaheb Phalke Award while Dhanush got the Best Actor award for Asuran.

After getting married in 2004, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa became parents after their son Yatra's birth in 2006. Later, in 2010, they welcomed their second son Linga.
There was a time when Joss Whedon was one of the most sought-after filmmakers in Hollywood after delivering pop culture gems like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Cabin in the Woods, Marvels The Avengers & Avengers: Age of Ultron.

It was the kind of success he achieved with the two Avengers movies that led Warner Bros to hire him to fix Justice League originally made by Zack Snyder.

Justice League was released in 2017 with over 40 days of reshoots by Joss Whedon and was a critical and commercial misfire.

 Warner Bros

Soon, the rumours about his supposed misconduct on the sets of Justice League reshoots started doing the rounds while fans gathered together on social media and demanded Zack Snyders version of Justice League be released by Warner Bros.



Amidst Zack Snyders Justice League announcement for a March 2021 release, actors Ray Fisher and Gal Gadot accused Joss Whedon of misconduct on the sets.

While Gadot alleged that Whedon threatened her career, Fisher insinuated that the filmmaker is racist and deliberately erased his scenes from the film.

Finally, after years, Joss Whedon has fired back at the allegations against him.

In an interview with the New York Magazine, when asked about his alleged threats to Gal Gadot, Whedon refuted the Wonder Woman stars claims and replied, I dont threaten people. Who does that?

 Warner Bros

He further added that since English is not Gadots first language, she may have misunderstood what he actually said, English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech.



Whedon recalled that they had argued over a scene while filming and the director had told her she may have to tie him over a railroad and get rid of the particular scene over his dead body. He said, Then I was told that I had said something about her dead body and tying her to the railroad track.

When Gal was asked to comment on Joss clarification, she replied to the magazine saying, I understood perfectly. I will never work with him, and would never suggest any of my peers to work with him in the future.

Cyborg actor Ray Fisher was the major force in bringing down Joss Whedon after his alleged foul behaviour on Justice League sets.

Responding to the claims made by Fisher, Whedon said he cut down the scenes of Cyborg in the film for two reasons - the storyline logically made no sense and the acting was bad.

 Warner Bros

He further added that he had these conversations with Fisher during filming and their discussions were friendly and respectful at that time.



He said that none of the claims made by Ray Fisher were either true or merited discussion. When asked what could be the motive then for Fisher to accuse Whedon, the filmmaker responded that he could think of only one reason, Were talking about a malevolent force. Were talking about a bad actor in both senses.

While Ray Fisher refused to comment on Joss Whedons responses, there is no doubt that this whole controversy is far from over. And we will soon hear from Ray Fisher mostly via his social media account.
TALLAHASSEE  Gov. Ron DeSantis push to prohibit critical race theory and other racially sensitive issues from being taught in schools or used in employee training sessions began moving forward Tuesday in the Florida Senate, as outnumbered Democrats warned that the legislation would stifle educators and lead to frivolous lawsuits.

The Republican-controlled Senate Education Committee approved the bill (SB 148) in a 6-3 vote along party lines. The measure came after the governor last month proposed what he dubbed the Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees Act, or Stop WOKE Act. DeSantis for months has targeted critical race theory, based on the premise that racism is embedded in American institutions, from the workplace and classrooms.

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In part, the bill would prohibit employers from subjecting any individual, as a condition of employment, membership, certification, licensing, credentialing or passing an examination, to training, instruction, or any other required activity that is centered on a number of race-related concepts.

For example, the proposal would prohibit employers from conducting training that compels people to believe that they bear responsibility for, or should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of, actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, sex or national origin.

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The intention of the bill  is to make sure that these trainings that occur are objective, and that were not finding a person guilty of something just because of their ethnic background or the color of their skin. I think that we have to go back to the premise that all of us are created equal, and we should be judged on our individual merits, or deeds, not a blanket statement, Senate sponsor Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, said after the committee meeting.

Sen. Tina Polsky, a Boca Raton Democrat who is an attorney, said the part of the bill that deals with employer training is awful for the business community and criticized what she called vague language in the measure.

Were telling a company if they want to teach anti-discrimination, they want to teach diversity, they want to teach unconscious bias, which is a course in the Florida Senate, that they will potentially be creating the cause of action from a disgruntled employee, Polsky said. I do this all the time, people bring lawsuits because they get terminated and theyre really upset. And they try to find a reason as to why they were terminated.

Opposing critical race theory has become a political rallying cry for Republicans across the country.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

The Senate bill does not specifically mention critical race theory. But it effectively seeks to cement into law a ban on critical race theory as part of Floridas curriculum standards. The State Board of Education passed such a ban during the summer, even though it is not currently taught in public schools.

Diaz said that a lot of us have heard from individual parents with concerns, and that the measure is a preemptive attempt to provide clarity.

The proposal would allow teachers to facilitate discussions in an age-appropriate manner about topics like sexism, slavery and racial oppression and segregation. However, classroom instruction and curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles of this subsection (of law) or state academic standards, the bill said.

But Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, argued that such legislation would suppress teachers freedom to teach certain subject areas.

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All this legislation is going to do is to promote ignorance of race-related content and other content that children should know about and should have access to, said Jones, formerly a classroom teacher.

Neisha-Rose Hines, a lobbyist representing the ACLU of Florida, similarly said the legislation is a censorship bill and would have a chilling effect on educators ability to teach topics like history.

A similar House bill (HB 7) is awaiting committee action.
The Daviess County Animal Shelter is full of dogs, and needs volunteer help to get the animals adopted, shelter director Ashley Thompson said Monday.

Meanwhile the shelter is participating in a fundraiser that coincides with Mondays birthday of the late actor and animal lover Betty White, where two local agencies will match donations to the shelter up to $1,000.

Thompson said the shelter is at capacity for dogs, and said no rescue agencies are taking dogs at this time.

Its not just a problem here, Thompson said. Its a problem nationwide. Rescues are full. We are having a hard time finding anyone to take dogs.

Thats a switch from 2020, when people adopted pandemic dogs.

We were pretty much empty in 2020, Thompson said. We couldnt keep animals in the shelter.

Although the pandemic has continued, people have resumed normal lives, which affects the number of adoptions taking place, Thompson said.

I think people have gone back to work, and are busy, she said.

The dogs in the shelter are not dogs that were adopted during the pandemic and returned, Thompson said. Shelter staff are overwhelmed with care, feeding of animals and cleaning, so they need help to get the dogs before the public.

In particular, the shelter needs volunteers to walk the dogs, play with them and get photos that can be posted on social media, Thompson said.

With photos on social media people can see (the dogs) personalities, Thompson said. Photos are what get peoples attention, she said.

We hope every day we get some moved into adoption, Thompson said.

Spay-A-Stray and Saving Animals In Need Together (SAINT) are honoring White by matching donations to the shelter. Both agencies will match donations up to $500 each, for a total of $1,000.

The donations will be used to spay and neuter animals, and for medical expenses, Thompson said.

Animal welfare groups nation wide are doing donations in honor of Betty White, Thompson said.

Donations can be sent to: Daviess County Animal Care and Control, 2620 Kentucky 81, Owensboro, KY 42310. Online donations can be sent to https://www.PayPal.me/SAINTIncorporated.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
Daviess County Public Schools is inviting all current seventh- and eighth-grade students and their families to attend the 2022 EmpowerU Expos that are slated for Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.

The events will showcase the districts Life Science, Engineering, Agriculture and Early College academies. A presentation about each of the offerings will be given, and instructors and current students from each program will be on site to answer questions. There will also be demonstrations about some of the opportunities the programs provide.

These programs provide students with dual-credit opportunities, which allows them to complete college courses while still in high school, said DCPS college and career readiness coordinator Amanda Jerome.

The academies provide students with the opportunity to do career exploration in high school, and to fine-tune that, Jerome said. I always think that if you can begin studying for a career in high school, itll save you time and money, and assist that student in finding their true calling.

That kind of information is valuable to learn in high school, she said.

Both the Engineering and Life Science academies accept students from within DCPS, as well as Owensboro High School, Owensboro Catholic High School, Trinity and Hancock County high schools.

The Life Science Academy students meet in Owensboro Community & Technical Colleges Science Building on its main campus one period a day. Those students take courses including human body systems, medical intervention and biomedical science, which also incorporate Project Lead the Way curriculums.

The Engineering Academy meets daily on Apollos campus. Students attend the program one period a day. The Engineering Academy is also part of Project Lead the Way, a nationally recognized provider of STEM curriculums. Students in this program can take introduction to engineering, design, principles of engineering, computer programming, and aerospace engineering.

The Early College and Agriculture academies are only available to DCPS students.

The Early College Academy allows juniors and seniors to complete an associate degree program by the time they graduate high school. Students enrolled in the program take courses at OCTC, as well as their home school.

The Agriculture Academy is available to students in grades 8-12. Students enrolled may choose between five ag pathways  environmental science and natural resources; agriculture power, structural and technical systems; horticulture and plant science; animal science or agribusiness.

A good thing about these academies is students can be enrolled in the academies, but still participate in their home schools extracurricular activities, Jerome said.

We want them to still have that high school experience, she said.

The EmpowerU Expos are for any students who may be interested in biology, STEM careers, biomedical fields of study, agriculture and agribusiness, coding and computer programming, and any Advanced Placement of dual-credit opportunities. Students who attend the expos can also tour student-led booths showcasing projects.

Apollos expo will take place on Thursday, Jan. 27, and DCHS will host its expo on Thursday, Feb. 3. Both programs run from 5:30-7 p.m., and students may attend either one, regardless of which high school they will be attending.

To learn more about EmpowerU visit the DCPS district website at www.dcps.org or go directly to that page here: https://www.daviesskyschools.org/News/empoweru#sthash.3bFF0Mth.dpbs.

For more information, contact Jerome at amanda.jerome@daviess.kyschools.us or 270-852-7000.

Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315
It was 28 degrees at Daviess County High School at 9 a.m. Monday and there was snow and slush all around.

But a small group of dedicated marchers were lining up to walk six blocks down New Hartford Road to Owensboro Community & Technical College as part of the communitys tribute to Dr. Luther Martin King Jr. on what would have been the civil rights leaders 93rd birthday.

Olga McKissic, director of the Western Academy at the H.L. Neblett Center, said, Its important for us to be here today because this was his dream. We should all love one another.

Besides, she said, the weather had been worse for the march in the past.

One year, it was 9 degrees, she said.

Darrius Walton Sr., another of the marchers, said it was important to him, because of the influence Dr. King had on my life and the lives of these kids. Its good that we celebrate this.

Scholars at the Western Academy were also among the marchers.

After the march, Owensboro Community & Technical College held a Unity in the Community discussion about Kings influence with Dr. Eunice Taylor, a U.S. Air Force officer and professional nurse; Brionna Greer, chief executive officer and founder of Breaking The Cycle 2.0; Naheed S. Murtaza, an attorney who works to improve the lives of marginalized groups, advance community education and advocate for empowerment of socially disempowered in Owensboro and Daviess County; and Susan Montalvo-Gesser, director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Owensboro.

The Owensboro Human Relations Commission and the Owensboro-Daviess County Education Community co-sponsored the annual event.

I believe in being a change agent, Taylor said. We have to stir the pot. You can move mountains when you work together.

Greer said King changed the country so Im welcome at tables I would have been excluded from. Never let anyone silence your voice.

Murtaza said, As an immigrant and a female, the legacy of Dr. King includes people like me.

Montalvo-Gesser said, Never be lukewarm in your efforts. We only get there (the Promised Land) if we work together.

Taylor said her mother used to say that the only welcome change is for a wet baby.

Change is hard, she said. We have to find the common good for all of us.

She called for including more young people on public boards.

Greer said the community still has work to do in the LGBT community.

Local schools, she said, are working for more diversity.

Owensboro is certainly changing, Murtaza said. But change takes time. You have to keep at it.

Montalvo-Gesser said, Weve had times when we move forward and times when we fall backward. Were seeing progress, but its super slow. When my parents got married in 1967, it was illegal for them to get married.

And just a few years ago, she said, it was illegal for same-sex couples to marry.

Murtaza said the community as a whole has welcomed some 200 Afghan refugees into the community.

Thats going to be good for Owensboro, she said.

And Taylor reminded people that its OK to get in good trouble.

Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301 klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com
A bill filed by area Rep. Jim Gooch would place requirements on businesses that allow paid leave for vaccinated workers who later have to quarantine due to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, a second bill would remove legal protections for businesses that require employees to get vaccinated, if an employee has an adverse reaction to a COVID shot.

House Bill 178 says businesses that offer paid leave to vaccinated workers who must quarantine shall also prove the same type, amount and duration of paid leave and other benefits to employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID1-19 who have to quarantine due to a possible exposure.

An employer who violates the bill could be fined between $100 and $1,000.

Gooch, a Providence Republican, said the bill was prompted by a Kentucky Board of Education rule regarding paid leave. In August, KBE approved an emergency regulation that provided unpaid leave for school employees who have to quarantine, if the employee had been vaccinated or had an exemption from vaccination.

If youre a school employee (and vaccinated) and youre exposed ... they would pay your days off. But if you were unvaccinated, you wouldnt get paid, Gooch said Monday. You cant treat someone different, based on their vaccination status.

Gooch said the bill has support among lawmakers.

The bill would apply whether an employee has actually contracted COVID or not, Gooch said.

The second bill, House Bill 84, eliminates liability protections if an employer requires workers get vaccinated, and the employee has a reaction to the vaccination.

According to a Jan. 11 publication from the Centers for Disease Control, Serious side effects that could cause a long term health problems are extremely unlikely after any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. The CDC publication says rare side effects from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations are myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, or inflammation of the heart lining.

However, the CDC publication says the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks. According to the CDC website, there were 798,000 new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in the United States on Friday, the last day for which data was available.

Lawmakers passed a bill last year that says people cant file suit against a business for claims they contracted COVID there, if the owners followed practices to prevent the spread of COVID.

If you force employees to get a vaccine they dont want, and they get sick ... you lose the liability protection we gave you, and you can be sued Gooch said.

Gooch said the bill is for situations where a employee must be vaccinated or youll lose your job.

When youre taking away peoples rights to do what they want to do, theres going to be pushback, Gooch said.

The bills have not yet been called for consideration.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
In a surprise move, Gov. Ron DeSantis has inserted himself into congressional redistricting by releasing his own map that experts said Tuesday would dilute minority voting power and likely give Republicans an 18-10 advantage in Florida seats.

DeSantis map, released on Sunday in the middle of Dr. Martin Luther King Day weekend, would eliminate a North Florida seat long designed to have African American representation and could create a majority white Democratic primary in the Orange County district represented by outgoing U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who is Black.

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It would also dilute Hispanic voting power in South Florida by splitting up Hispanic voters into several different districts.

The map was dropped just days before the GOP-controlled state Senate could vote on its version, which would keep much of the status quo while still giving Republicans a likely 16-12 advantage over Democrats.

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No governor in recent history has offered a version of a map during the once-every-decade process. A spokesperson for the governors office did not return requests for comment.

Experts said the DeSantis map violates the Civil Rights Act and would likely fail to get through even the conservative state Supreme Court. But it could just be meant to send a political message to both the Legislature and GOP voters nationwide.

I think its performative, said Dan Smith, chair of political science at the University of Florida. This is an effort to, if not to consolidate power, to once again show the Legislature who has power and who controls the process.

Still, Smith said, He is the one who is ultimately going to be either signing [any new map] into law or vetoing it.

The map would be a direct challenge to the sections of the Civil Rights Act that require states to do everything they can to ensure minority representation, experts said.

While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that legislatures could use partisan motivation to draw maps, ethnic representation is still protected under the act. The Fair Districts amendments in the Florida Constitution are also meant to discourage partisan gerrymandering.

Matt Isbell, an elections expert who runs the MCIMaps website, said he saw zero scenario where the map would hold up in court.

This is much more about [DeSantis] trying to look like hes really pushing back and trying to look good before like the conservative activist base, who have expressed more and more frustration with redistricting in Florida, Isbell said.

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DeSantis is running for reelection this year and is also believed to be eyeing a run for president in 2024.

Christian Ziegler, vice-chair of the Florida GOP, wrote in a Tweet Sunday, I had a TON of people come up to me at the Trump Rally in ARIZONA asking about Florida Congressional Maps & if DeSantis was going to get involved. 24 hours later ... Looks like we have an answer!

The DeSantis map also echoes an outlier state House map that would basically eliminate the seat held by outgoing U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy by adding much of GOP-leaning Volusia County. That would make it more favorable for Republicans, including state Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, who praised the map on Twitter.

The map would also affect the race to succeed Demings in a majority-minority district in Orange County by diluting its Black voting power. The race has drawn several African American candidates to succeed Demings, including former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala and state Sen. Randolph Bracy of Orlando.

Theoretically, an African American could win that if they got through the primary, but the primary would [become] plurality white, Isbell said.

In South Florida, Isbell said, the map dilutes Hispanic voting power by splitting them among multiple districts, a move that potentially could turn even a Hispanic seat held by Cuban-American Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart into a majority white one.

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Diaz-Balart could literally lose to a white Republican from Naples in that primary, Isbell said.

A large chunk of Hispanic voters would also be placed in Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultzs district in Broward County, making it likely more Democratic but sapping Hispanic voting strength from other seats to the south.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Not only is bad for African Americans, its theoretically bad for Hispanics, Isbell said. You could go from having three Hispanic congresspeople in South Florida to two.

The elimination of Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawsons seat in North Florida, also designed to create Black representation under the Civil Rights Act, is much more egregious.

You dont have any debate over the 5th District in the Legislature, Isbell said. So the idea that DeSantis can come in and say, Nope, thats not protected at all. Lets just get rid of it?  It reverses a historically [Black] district that has existed again since the 1990s.

The problem, said Michael McDonald, a professor of political science at the University of Florida, is that determining the exact minority representation in this or any new map is difficult because the data havent been released.

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We dont know what minority percentage is necessary in order to elect an African American candidate in any of those districts because theres been no report that has been released by the Legislature, McDonald said.

Despite the legally perilous path for DeSantis proposed maps, Smith said they might still have an effect on GOP legislators.

Now he has lawmakers having to take a position on his map, fanciful or not, constitutional or not, Smith said. Its going to push lawmakers to say, No, governor, were not going to go that direction. And no one really wants to be put in that position if youre a Republican lawmaker.
In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full
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December 27, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Signs Bill to Address Substitute Teacher Shortage, Other Legislation

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Whitmer signed House Bill 4294 to address the substitute teacher shortage, helping keep schools open and students learning in person. House Bill 4294 would temporarily allow trusted staff members such as secretaries, paraprofessionals, and others to work as substitute teachers until the end of the current school year.

"Making sure every child in Michigan has access to a high-quality public education is my top priority, which is why this year we made the largest investment in K-12 public schools in Michigan history without raising taxes," said Governor Whitmer. "The pandemic has been challenging for our children, teachers, and parents, and our educators have gone above and beyond to ensure Michigan's children have a bright future. Allowing schools to employ school staff that students know as substitute teachers will help keep school doors open and students learning in the classroom the rest of the school year. I am committed to working with the legislature to develop high-quality solutions to address these staff shortages long-term so that we can ensure that every child is able to access a quality education."

"Michigan already faced a severe educator shortage prior to the coronavirus pandemic", said Paul Liabenow, Executive Director of the Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA). "The pandemic has only exacerbated that shortage by further hindering school districts' abilities to fill vacant positions and keep buildings open, placing undue stress on educators already working tirelessly every day to ensure all students in Michigan receive quality, in-person instruction. House Bill 4294 will provide districts with additional flexibility to fill substitute teaching vacancies so students can continue to learn in a safe, supportive environment. On behalf of educational leaders throughout Michigan, we want to thank Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Representative Brad Paquette for their continued advocacy on behalf of educators and students throughout Michigan."

House Bill 4294 will temporarily allow schools to employ an individual without certification who already works at the school to substitute teach through the end of the 2021-2022 school year. House Bill 4294 will keep schools open and students learning in person.

House Bill 4294 was sponsored by Rep. Brad Paquette, R - Niles, and a copy can be found here.

View the governor's signing statement here:

Addressing the Truck Driver, Health Professionals Shortage

House Bill 4787 waives the knowledge test required for a commercial driver license for an individual with military motor vehicle experience, honoring the skills developed during military service and helping to address the truck driver shortage.

"This bill will help UP and Michigan veterans transition to civilian life by shortening the process to obtain a CDL," said Rep. Gregory Markkanen, R-Hancock. "I am proud to see it become law."

House Bill 4787 was sponsored by Rep. Gregory Markkanen, R-Hancock, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 759 amends the Public Health Code to allow qualified individuals authorized to practice a health profession in another state to practice in Michigan during an epidemic under certain circumstances, bolstering Michigan's access to mobile medical professionals to help weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Bill 759 was sponsored by Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington, and a copy can be found here.

Bottle Bill Enforcement Fund

House Bill 4780, 4781, 4782 and 4783 amends the beverage container deposit law to create the Bottle Bill Enforcement Fund by taking the first $1 million from unclaimed bottle refunds to allow MSP to run a grant program for local law enforcement to prevent, investigate, and prosecute bottle fraud.

House Bill 4780 was sponsored by Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4781 was sponsored by Rep. Andrew Fink, R - Adams Twp., and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4782 was sponsored by Rep. Tim Sneller, D - Burton, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4783 was sponsored by Rep. Tyrone Carter, D - Detroit, and a copy can be found here.

Voting Equipment Maintenance

House Bill 4282, 4283, 4284, and 4295 amends the Michigan Election Law to make the $100 candidate filing fees nonrefundable for primary elections and directs that money to local governments to be used only for the purchase and maintenance of voting equipment.

"Most candidates didn't even realize that their $100 filing fee could possibly be returned to them," said Rep. Terry Sabo, D - Muskegon. "These bills remove that refund and make the jobs of our local clerks easier, while still allowing candidates the choice of gathering the signatures required or paying a now non-refundable filing fee."

House Bill 4282 was sponsored by Rep. Julie Calley, R - Portland, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4283 was sponsored by Rep. Terry Sabo, D - Muskegon, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4284 was sponsored by Rep. Matt Koleszar, D - Plymouth, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4285 was sponsored by Rep. Ann Bollin, R - Brighton, and a copy can be found here.

Redistricting Commission

Senate Bill 728 amends the Open Meetings Act to clarify that the act does not permit the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) to meet in a closed session for any purpose.

Senate Bill 728 was sponsored by Sen. Ed McBroom, R - Vulcan, and a copy can be found here.

Jail Diversion Fund

Senate Bill 637 creates the community crisis response grant program, in accordance with the recommendations of Governor Whitmer's Mental Health Diversion Council. Under the new law, DHHS will distribute grants to local units to establish or expand community-based mobile crisis intervention services, giving priority to applications that demonstrate a commitment to best practices as identified by DHHS in coordination with the council.

"We must change how we respond to behavioral health emergencies -- so that we get people the help they need in times of crisis," said Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit. "Having more behavioral health professionals respond on scene with law enforcement will make a big difference for many. I am so grateful to have partnered with Senator Outman and many groups over the past year and a half on these bills which will help direct people to services they need, improve public safety, and keep people out of jail that really need our support."

Senate Bill 637 was sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang, D - Detroit, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 638 creates the Jail Diversion Fund. DHHS will distribute grants to local units to establish or expand behavioral health jail diversion programs in coordination between community agencies and law enforcement agencies

Senate Bill 638 was sponsored by Sen. Rick Outman, R - Six Lakes, and a copy can be found here.

Other Legislation

Together, House Bills 5502, 5503, 5504, and 5505 streamline the process for qualified manufacturers to file for these exemptions and for the state to review them.

House Bill 5502 was sponsored by Rep. Mark Tisdel, R - Rochester, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 5503 was sponsored by Rep. Diana Farrington, R - Utica, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 5504 was sponsored by Rep. Julie Calley, R - Portland, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 5505 was sponsored by Rep. Mary Cavanagh, R - Redford, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 5351 would amend the General Property Tax Act to increase the value of the eligible manufacturing personal property exemption to $180,000, from $80,000. HB 5506 prohibits the issuance of a new industrial facilities exemption certificate for any property that qualifies as eligible manufacturing personal property.

House Bill 5506 was sponsored by Rep. Jim Ellison, D - Royal Oak, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 5351 was sponsored by Rep. Steve Johnson, R - Wayland, and a copy can be found here.

Part of the economic development and small business assistance package signed last week, House Bill 4082 would limit the power of the State Administrative Board to use its power to transfer funds between line items to move money out of the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund created by 2021 PA 137, the Critical Industry Program created by 2021 PA 136, or the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Program created by 2021 PA 134.

House Bill 4082 was sponsored by Rep. Ben Frederick, R - Owosso, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 723 would amend the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Act to allow an application for a neighborhood enterprise zone (NEZ) certificate to be filed after a building permit has been issued for the project, under specified circumstances.

Senate Bill 723 was sponsored by Sen. Ken Horn, R - Frankenmuth, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 764 would amend the Income Tax Act to allow a taxpayer, for tax years beginning 2021, to deduct wagering losses claimed by the taxpayer on their Federal income tax return for that tax year.

Senate Bill 764 was sponsored by Sen. Curtis Hertel, D - East Lansing, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 671 would amend the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to expand the transformational brownfield program to allow combination with other community development incentives, simplify reporting requirements, extend the sunset to 2027. The transformational brownfield program was at the heart of Bedrock's redevelopment of Detroit's historic downtown Hudson's site and surrounding area, as well as the redevelopment of the Vicksburg Paper Mill.

Senate Bill 671 was sponsored by Senator Ken Horn, R - Frankenmuth, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 212 would amend the requirements for affidavits of identity in the Michigan Election Law. Currently under the act, candidates must file an affidavit of identity when filing a nominating petition, qualifying petition, filing fee, or affidavit of candidacy. The bill would add that a candidate must also include information about the jurisdiction, term, party affiliation, and other details.

Senate Bill 212 was sponsored by Senator Ruth Johnson, R - Holly, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 213 would amend the Older Michiganians Act to clarify and expand access to long-term care facilities for the long-term care ombudsman.

Senate Bill 213 was sponsored by Senator Kim LaSata, R - Coloma, and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 461 and Senate Bill 462 together would amend the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act to require as a condition for licensure that an applicant have a liability insurance policy meeting certain requirements and refer license applicants to the Marijuana Regulatory Agency instead of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board.

Senate Bill 461 was sponsored by Sen. Curt VanderWall, R - Ludington, Senate Bill 462 was sponsored by Sen. Paul Wojno, D - Warren, and copies can be found here and here.

Senate Bill 698 would extend to 2022 a provision in the General Property Tax Act that taxable property located on tax day in an alternate location because of the COVID-19 pandemic may not be assessed in that alternate location, but instead must be assessed in its ordinary location.

Senate Bill 698 was sponsored by Sen. Jim Runestad, R - White Lake, and a copy can be found here.

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LINCOLN TOWNSHIP  "Pretty rig," were words used to describe the new, bright red fire engine Lincoln Township Fire Department acquired as a needed replacement.

Members of the fire department and community gathered on a frigid, but sunny afternoon, Saturday, at the Lincoln Township Fire Station for a push-in ceremony and blessing of a new fire truck.

The afternoon began with Richard Steig of T.C. Energy, who used to be in the department, presenting a paycheck for a partial-payment toward the new fire engine to Lincoln Township Fire Chief David Beldon.

TC Energy, at an earlier time, contributed money toward new fire pagers, and now toward purchasing the fire truck, a 2022 Pierce pumper with a $295,000 price tag.

"It's a God send," Beldon said, describing all the support toward the purchase of the much-needed new fire engine. "The other truck was failing and needed immediate replacement."

During the ceremony, members of the fire department gathered around as Beldon welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming.

"I'd like to welcome you this afternoon to our push-in ceremony. We are excited to bring this fire engine into service today," Beldon said, explaining the 'push-in ceremony' is a tradition which dates back to the 1800s when hand-drawn pumpers and horse-drawn equipment were used. When horses couldn't easily back up fire equipment into the station after a fire call, the equipment was removed from the horses, and firefighters would push the equipment back into the bays by themselves.

The new fire engine was built by Pierce Manufacturing in Bradenton, Florida, and seats five firefighters, carries roughly 2,000 feet of hose, has a 1,000 gallon water tank, and pumps 1,250 gallons of water per minute, Beldon explained.

He said how the services the fire department provides significantly changed over the past 20 years, saying how today's fire engines are a multi-purpose emergency vehicle, which, besides fighting fires, can carry needed medical equipment, rescue tools including Jaws of Life, water rescue gear, power saws and large fans to exhaust smoke and toxic gasses.

"Each fire engine has a service life of approximately 20 years and our old fire engine was built in 1995, and has served us well over the last 27 years," Beldon said. "That old engine cost $122,000."

Beldon thanked those who assisted with the purchase of the new engine, including TC Energy, and Lincoln Township Board, who was able to provide enough funding to purchase much needed new equipment to place on the fire engine.

Lincoln Township Supervisor Mark Brock then said a blessing over the new fire engine, praying for safety and protection for all who use the fire engine and all who ride in it.

Members of the fire department then gathered around the back of the new engine and pushed it into the fire bay. Following the push-in ceremony, those present were invited to celebrate inside the station with snacks and light refreshments.

Lincoln Township Fire Department services Lincoln and Cedar townships in Osceola County, and the northern half of Pinora Township in Lake County.
MECOSTA COUNY  Relay for Life of Mecosta, Osceola, Wexford, and Missaukee counties more than doubled its fundraising dollars in 2021.

Volunteers helped raise $32,000 in 2021, surpassing the $15,000 it raised in 2020 as well as its $30,000 goal for 2021, according to a news release from the American Cancer Society's North Central Region.

"The American Cancer Society would like to express our congratulations and gratitude to the volunteers of the Relay For Life movement in Wexford, Missaukee, Osceola and Mecosta counties," the news release stated. "In 2021 the volunteers worked to create an in person experience that included safety measures to keep their community safe."

In 2020, the American Cancer Society loss nearly 50% of its revenue, according to the release. But Relay for Life volunteers hosted a virtual event, raising nearly $15,000.

"When volunteers like those in our area step up to try new things, get creative and continue the necessary work, organizations like ACS are able to continue their impact," the release stated. "We are grateful to our volunteers and communities. Fundraising is not all we do, but all we do depends on it."

The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life hosts events "that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease," according to the Wexford, Missaukee, Osceola and Mecosta County chapter's Facebook page.

For more information, visit facebook.com/Wexfordrfl. Those interested in volunteering for the 2022 Relay for Life, contact Trisha Jackson at trisha.jackson@cancer.org or 989-858-5160.
In November of 2021, FFA students participated in the Michigan FFA broiler contest. After the competition was over, the USA schools FFA started a food pantry to donate the leftovers of the competition.

The Michigan FFAs Broiler Contest is a poultry-based competition, where FFA students are given the responsibility of raising chickens for evaluation. The process starts from their hatching and goes for five weeks, at which point the chicks are fully grown.

The students are responsible for making them the healthiest and biggest chickens they can possibly be by keeping their coops clean and experimenting with different types of feeding and heat.

Once the chickens have grown, theyre evaluated by the state FFA.

However, only the top five best chickens from the grown 25 will be taken to be evaluated.

So, what to do with the other 20? The answer, according to Unionville-Sebewaing Area Schools agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor Jasmine McNary, was to donate them.

The USA FFA took the leftover birds and processed them, plucking and preparing them to be eaten. They then were boxed, along with other food donations from USA teachers, and sent out to the families who needed them. The families were chosen based off polls from the USA teachers.

The FFA students were brought to watch the birds processing, which is part of the reason for the Broiler Contest. By raising the chickens and then watching them be processed, the students are given insight into what they themselves eat.

In the long run, I think its beneficial to know where your food comes from, McNary said.

USA Schools did well in the competition, with the junior high school team earning gold. Though, according to the teams leader, eighth-grader Annie Bowman, the process was more rewarding the gold.

This project has been a very educational and informative experience for me, she said. It teaches so much more than what you learn in a classroom.
In 2016, the race for Central Floridas District 7 was a choice between centrist Democrat Stephanie Murphy and center-right Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica.

This year, its possible that the race could be between conservative iconoclast Anthony Sabatini and outspoken progressive Anna Eskamani.

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That is, if the reported Three Percenter militia member doesnt win the GOP primary. Or the candidate who referred to President Biden in quotation marks.

The race for District 7 may be wide open now that Murphy has announced her retirement after three terms. But Republican and Democratic politics have changed wildly in just the five years since she was elected.

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The next congressional representative of that district could be either much more conservative or much more liberal than the previous ones, said Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida.

Up in the air for Dems

The state Senate this week could approve a redistricting map that only slightly alters Murphys seat, adding some of southern Volusia County to all of Seminole and parts of Orange. But the whole Legislature must still approve a final map, and its possible it could change radically when the House weighs in with a vastly different vision.

The Senates newly reconfigured district, if it looks anything like the final map, voted for President Biden by almost 8 percentage points over former President Donald Trump in 2020.

That would make Democrats the favorites there to retain the seat but give Republicans a good chance if a GOP wave develops, said Matt Isbell, an elections expert who runs the MCIMaps website.

But on the House side, its a different story. While one of its draft maps echoes the Senate map with few changes to District 7, another basically destroys that district, Isbell said.

That outlier House map would essentially shift the district north, removing Orange County and replacing it with much of Republican-leaning Volusia County.

Another map dropped unexpectedly on Sunday by Gov. Ron DeSantis would go even further in redrawing the seat.

So were either dealing with a plan where the 7th, as it currently exists, largely retains its structure, or its just completely nuked and destroyed, Isbell said. If Democrats in Orlando are venturing to run for the 7th, they dont really have the frame for what its going to look like.

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So far, no Democrats have announced a run while the map is in flux.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani during a rally in Orlando, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

If the map looks favorable, Isbell said potential Democratic candidates include state Reps. Joy Goff-Marcil, D-Maitland, whose seat crosses the Orange-Seminole border just as District 7 does, or state Rep. Eskamani, D-Orlando, who has already been touted as a potential candidate for Orange County mayor and governor.

Theyre probably the two clearest potential candidates because the Seminole County bench is still pretty light, Isbell said. Democrats havent made the down-ballot gains there yet. So I think a lot of its going to be more driven by Orange County Democrats.

Goff-Marcil did not rule out a run Friday, saying in an email, My focus right now is on the current legislative session.

Eskamani said she had multiple conversations with different stakeholders, including national partners, but she hasnt made a decision yet.

Growing GOP field

One Republican candidate appears to already running against Eskamani anyway, with a side of 2020 election denial.

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Congressional Democrats like my Progressive opponent are backing [a] President Biden effort to get rid of the Senate filibuster in order to push through their entire unconstitutional agenda that will destroy America, states a campaign email sent Thursday from Cory Mills, a defense consultant and U.S. Army veteran who filed to run in District 7 last year.

Mills had raised more than Sabatini as of Sept. 30, their last filed reports, taking in $552,000 to Sabatinis $558,000 according to Federal Election Commission filings. He also had almost $100,000 more cash on hand, with $486,000 to Sabatinis $391,000.

They must be stopped! Mills wrote of his unnamed Democratic opponent. I will defeat this unapologetic Socialist dead in her tracks.

That kind of rhetoric is old hat for state Rep. Sabatini, who among other provocations has tweeted a picture of an AR-15 targeted at George Floyd protesters and repeatedly called for Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager acquitted last year after shooting and killing two people at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to run for Congress.

Another filed Republican candidate is Jeremy Liggett, whom ProPublica reported is a member of the right-wing Three Percenters militia and who spoke at a pre-Jan. 6 rally in Washington wearing a flak jacket. Liggett raised less than $28,000 and had spent most of it.

Those kinds of candidates, Isbell said, were not a good fit for the Senates Democratic-leaning version of District 7.

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If the Senates version of the 7th becomes law, I think any Democrat would at least still start off favored to hold the seat, even in a bad midterm, because its still thats still a pretty notable Biden advantage, Isbell said. The only real shot people like Sabatini have is with the more aggressive gerrymander.

Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, had previously filed to run in Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Websters district stretching west from his own Lake County before switching to face Murphy last year.

Despite Murphys withdrawal, Sabatini said Friday he still plans to run in whatever seat includes Seminole County, whether its favorable to Republicans or not.

I think its too early to say, Are you going to run in this seat or that seat? Sabatini said. I do know my strong plan now, no matter what it looks like, is to run for the seat thats dominantly Seminole County.  And if it gives the Democrats an advantage built in, Im fine with that. Because its going to be a very strong year for Republicans.

The House map, however, would move the district even further away from Sabatinis home base of Lake County by stretching it into Volusia. While congressional candidates arent required by law to live in their districts, the question of residency and familiarity with the district could be an issue in the campaign.

Among the other active Republican candidates, former Navy Seal Brady Duke of Oviedo, third in fundraising with $514,000 taken in, and new candidate Scott Sturgill of Sanford both live in Seminole County.

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Erika Benfield, the former vice mayor of DeBary in Volusia County, has based her campaign in Seminole as well. She had raised $100,000 as of Sept. 30.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Mills, who has a home in the Washington, D.C., area, moved last year from a family home outside District 7 to a residence in Winter Park, Florida Politics reported.

Sturgill, a former GOP candidate for Congress in 2018, launched his campaign Wednesday.

He said he was one of the only candidates whos actually from Seminole County and operates their business from Seminole County. And I think that does resonate with folks in the district.  They want someone [with] community roots, and thats me.

Isbell said he expected state and national Republicans to potentially play favorites in a primary, possibly by recruiting more candidates.

You could have one of the Republican county commissioners or one of their other state House members, Isbell said. They have plenty of more, I guess you would say, mainstream choices.

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Jewett, however, said hes learned to be cautious when it came to who voters would choose.

In the Trump era, Ive seen people getting elected that, historically, Id thought probably wouldnt have had a shot, Jewett said. So Ill just say, you never know.
All states offer workers compensation insurance, but the particulars of each program vary. Simply Business looks at the requirements, regulations, and fines across the country.
Jozilyn Essenmacher is only 5 years old, but she is already dealing with something that will impact her for the rest of her life.

The young girl was recently diagnosed with a condition called dense deposit disease, a very rare kidney disease that attacks the filters of the kidneys and causes them to shut down.

Jessica Essenmacher, Jozilyns mother, said it all started on Oct. 21, when Jozilyn woke up with an earache. She and her husband Ken did not make much of it at first, but it kept getting worse to the point that they finally went to Covenant hospital in Saginaw from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30.

From there, after being referred to a specialist in Detroit, she went to the Childrens Hospital of Michigan on Nov. 18 where a biopsy of her kidney was done and the results were given on Nov. 24.

Jessica said the disease is not genetic and it can go into remission, but it is not 100% curable, so it is something Jozilyn will have to live with for the rest of her life.

It is treated with different IV treatments, also multiple medications, but she is currently on the last available treatment and as of now, we are unsure if it will treat it fully, Jessica said.

The option of a kidney transplant is available, but not until the disease can be kept under control.

This disease is so rare that our team of doctors has never seen it in a child this young or this aggressive, Jessica said. We are on treatment number three and are hoping this is the one that slows down the disease.

According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, signs and symptoms for dense deposit disease usually start showing between the ages of 5 and 15. It also states that most cases are sporadic, happening in people with no family history of the illness, and can be caused by environmental triggers or bodily proteins called autoantibodies that block the activity of proteins needed for the bodys immune response.

The Essenmachers live in the Tyre area south of Ubly, where Jozilyn attends the young 5s kindergarten program. Jessica works for Emterra in customer service, is currently on family medical leave, and Ken works as a garbage truck driver for Emterra.

A GoFundMe was started by Jessicas sister, Cari Meffer, on Dec. 14. Aside from paying for the Essenmachers medical bills, they hope it can cover gas and food costs. Ken has been driving back and forth between the hospital Jozilyn was staying at and work.

As of Jan. 17, only $290 has been raised so far.

Aside from family collecting money, Jozilyns school has been supportive of her by giving her homework to her brother Connor so that he can take it home.

Jessica said that Jozilyn used to be an open, talkative girl, but since this all started, she barely speaks to anyone besides her parents. This is the scariest thing the family has dealt with, but they will continue to fight however long it goes.

We are very hopeful that she will get through this, Jessica said. Its going to take time right now. The only thing we really hope for is that she will in the near future go back to living a halfway normal 5-year-old's life.

Donations for Jozilyn Essenmachers GoFundMe can be made at https://gofund.me/7f664da1.
Just about every Michigander has heard of Bigfoot, who allegedly roams the forests of the Upper Peninsula, among other places. Sasquatch is known all over the world. He's been the subject of countless books, TV shows and movies, and he can be currently found on social media playing soft rock and smooth jazz on the saxophone. (If you've never heard of "Saxsquatch," do yourself a favor and check him out.)

While Bigfoot has achieved bona fide celebrity status, Michigan is purportedly also home to other legendary creatures who currently languish in relative obscurity, but they deserve some time in the spotlight, too.

Take the Dogman, for instance. The Dogman is said to roam the woods and back roads of the region just to the south of Traverse City. But unlike Bigfoot, the Dogman doesn't have a reputation for being quirky and lovable. In fact, the Dogman has been described as quite fearsome by the very small handful of individuals who've claimed to have seen him.

The first reported sighting was made in the 1880s by a couple of lumberjacks working in the Huron-Manistee National Forest near Cadillac. The duo claimed to have spotted a creature walking upright with the upper body of a man and the head of a dog. Another man, this time in the 1930s, said he was attacked by a pack of dogs, one of which walked on its hind legs.

The Dogman's pedigree may be traced back to a Native American legend involving a tribe whose members could change their physical form, or "shape-shift." One tale I heard while I was living in that part of the state involved a lumberjack crew that was trapped in a cabin by deep snow. The men allegedly were forced to resort to cannibalism to survive, and those that had broken the taboo were inflicted with a curse and eventually transformed into legendary creatures.

An area between Grand Haven and South Haven in western Michigan is rumored to be inhabited by a group of beings known as "melon heads." (This is completely true.)

The melon heads are said to be the descendants of former patients of a state asylum who escaped into the nearby woods, a medical condition giving them their unusual appearance. Whoever came up with this legend not only lacked cleverness when giving the creatures their name, they were also an insensitive jerk, as it turns out.

As a former smoker, I've spent more than my fair share of time standing outside at all hours of the night, and I've yet to see a Dogman, a melon head, a Bigfoot, a UFO, or even Elvis for that matter. Part of me is disappointed. I'm beginning to worry they're avoiding me, for some reason. I'm going to try not to take it personally.

Mark Birdsall is a staff writer for the Huron Daily Tribune. Email him at mark.birdsall@hearst.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MarkEBirdsall.
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MIDDLETOWN  The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a free COVID-19 booster clinic in collaboration with the city of Middletown Health Department later this month.

It will be held Jan. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the chamber office at 393 Main St. The following booster vaccines will also be available: Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson.
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Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced Tuesday her office will release a report this week detailing the investigation into the decades-old homicide of Kathleen Durst.

Her husband, Robert Durst, a former heir to his familys immense New York real estate fortune, died last week while serving a life sentence in California for the murder of his friend and confidante, Susan Berman. Prosecutors claimed Berman helped cover up Dursts role in his wifes disappearance.

After being convicted in Bermans death, Durst was indicted in November in his wifes homicide.

The case gained renewed attention after Durst appeared on The Jinx, an HBO documentary series about his crimes. During filming, Durst was caught on a microphone allegedly confessing to the three killings to which he had been linked in the past 40 years. He was arrested in 2015 days before the series final episode aired.

Rocahs office said the report, which will be released Wednesday during a morning news conference, details certain facts gathered during the investigation into his wifes death. Rocahs office said she will discuss many of the facts that were gathered during the investigation into the disappearance of Kathleen Durst.

Kathleen McCormack Durst disappeared on Jan. 31, 1982 at the age of 29. A graduate of what was then Western Connecticut State College in Danbury, Kathie Durst attended a party in Newtown and vanished later that night after returning home in South Salem, N.Y.

Rocahs office said the district attorney will be joined at Wednesdays news conference by retired New York State Police investigator Joseph Becerra, along with members of the New York State Police and bureau chiefs from the Westchester District Attorneys Office.

In addition to his wife and Berman, Robert Durst was also accused of killing Morris Black, a neighbor he allegedly shot in his apartment in Texas. Durst, who was accused of dismembering Blacks body, was acquitted of the killing after claiming self-defense.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing very minor symptoms, a spokesperson said Monday. The Marine Corps said its commandant, Gen. David Berger, also has COVID-19.

Milley, who has received the vaccine and a booster shot, tested positive on Sunday, Joint Chiefs spokesperson Col. Dave Butler said in a statement. Milley was isolating himself and working remotely from a location where he can perform all his duties, Butler said.

The Marine Corps said in a statement that Berger also tested positive, giving no other details except to say his ability to work is unaffected. Other Joint Chiefs of Staff members tested negative, Butler said.

Milleys most recent contact with President Joe Biden was on Wednesday at the funeral of Gen. Raymond Odierno, who died of cancer in October. Milley, 63, tested negative several days before the contact with Biden and every day after until Sunday, the Joint Chiefs statement said.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms while quarantining at home. Austin, who said he was fully vaccinated and received a booster in October, tested negative about a week later.
The House Veterans Affairs Committee wants to hear from troops and veterans about their environmental exposures while serving in the U.S. military.

Committee Chairman Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., has set up an online survey for veterans asking about what they've experienced as effects of toxic exposure.

The request for help gauging the impact of exposure was announced just before Takano's planned roundtable with veterans organizations Wednesday, titled "The True Cost of our Promise to Toxic Exposed Veterans."

Read Next: Joint Chiefs Chairman and Marine Corps Chief Have COVID-19

The survey seeks info on the extent of exposure, health conditions possibly related to environmental pollutants, the VA's response and what lawmakers can do to help affected veterans.

"Your responses will help the Committee better understand veterans' experiences with toxic exposure and how Congress can help ensure these veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve," Takano wrote in an announcement last week.

Takano is the lead sponsor of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act, which would broadly expand affected veterans' access to health care disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The $282 billion proposed legislation would designate 23 diseases as presumed to be related to battlefield environmental exposures in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

It also would expand eligibility to veterans who have faced challenges applying for benefits, including those who served in Vietnam and have hypertension, as well as Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other defoliants outside the war zone.

An unknown number of post-9/11, Persian Gulf War and Vietnam-era veterans are suffering from respiratory illnesses, cancer and other diseases that many believe are related to exposure to chemicals, radiation and heavy metals during their military service.

A measure similar to Takano's proposal, the estimated $223 billion Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops, or COST, of War Act, has been introduced in the Senate by Montana Democrat Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

The roundtable will be held virtually, an opportunity for committee members to "check in" with veterans groups and advocates on Congress' "efforts" to date on supporting those affected, Takano said in a press release Thursday.

"We made a promise to servicemembers when we sent them into harm's way that we would care for them when they came home. The [Congressional Budget Office] estimate is in -- we now know the true cost of that promise, and we cannot renege on our responsibility," Takano said. "We cannot try to pinch pennies when it comes to covering the care for toxic exposed veterans."

More than 65 Democrats and two Republicans -- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Rep. Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin -- have signed on as co-sponsors of Takano's bill.

In supporting the legislation, as well as other bills designed to provide benefits to veterans sickened by their exposure, Fitzpatrick said that "no veteran should die waiting for care."

"Our veterans are heroes and deserve to be treated as such, yet the VA and [Department of Defense] continue to deny their earned care," he said in a statement released last year.

The House hearing will air on the committee's website and its YouTube channel at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: Young and Dying: Veterans Are Getting Brain Cancer and Struggling to Get Benefits
As officials struggle to keep schools open amid waves of the highly contagious COVID-19 omicron variant sweeping through the nation, New Mexico is considering deploying the National Guard to help schools, many of which have been forced to shift to remote learning.

"We have a proposal I don't think exists anywhere in the nation about what we can do about getting bodies who productively and safely can support our schools to stay open," New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, said at a press conference last week.

It is unclear what staffing shortages troops could possibly fill at public schools. Guardsmen serve in one of many occupations in the military, including infantry, mechanics and pilots. There is no position in the Army or Air National Guard that can qualify troops to be teachers, and a spokesperson for Grisham said using troops is a work in progress.

Read Next: Sedition Indictments of Veterans Unlikely to Solve the Military's Extremism Problem

Since the pandemic, the National Guard has had to juggle a near-constant barrage of domestic missions and its missions abroad. The unprecedented use of the Guard has the service component carrying a heavy workload responding to the pandemic, delivering food to low-income communities, administering tests and vaccines, and filling staffing shortages at hospitals.

"We've seen nothing like this; the Guard might be a victim of its own success," John Goheen, a spokesperson for the National Guard Association, told Military.com. "The Guard has been compared to a Swiss Army knife and, for many governors, has been one, but they can't do everything all the time."

The Guard has also responded to multiple instances of civil unrest, mostly spurred by the police murder of George Floyd and the racial reckoning on police brutality against Black Americans. After a deadily pro-Trump mob seized the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, some 26,000 Guard troops were deployed to Washington, D.C., for nearly three months.

Number of Guardsmen deployed across the U.S. on federal orders:

COVID-19 pandemic relief-related missions: 15,600

Winter Storm Izzy: 350

Tornado response: 60

Wildfire response: 300

U.S.-Mexico border: 2,340 (Plus, some 10,000 on state orders)

In addition to the Guard's domestic missions, 23,600 troops are deployed abroad, including soldiers with the Florida National Guard in Ukraine amid a dangerous faceoff with Russian forces.

Yet governors are increasingly deploying their troops for situations that have not been traditionally in their scope of operations. Massachusetts, for example, is using soldiers to drive school vans amid a shortage of bus drivers. Washington state activated troops to help process unemployment claims early in the pandemic.

Most Guardsmen work full-time civilian jobs, and Goheen noted that every soldier deployed takes someone out of the workforce. That issue has been highlighted by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's troubled border mission, in which some 10,000 Guardsmen are deployed.

A number of Guardsmen at the border also work as correctional officers or police. Documents reviewed by Military.com showed several law enforcement officials begging Texas Guard leadership to excuse their soldiers so they can continue their law enforcement duties, citing shortages of police on the streets and personnel to run prisons. Many of those requests were denied.

"Localities need to be really careful with this stuff," Goheen said. "In a pinch, governors have had a lot of success calling the Guard lately. They have to be careful how often they go to the Guard."

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Texas Denying Most Guard Troops at Border Chance to Help Families Suffering Hardships at Home
The Defense Department has quietly begun looking into how it can allow troops whose gender identity is nonbinary to serve openly in the military, three advocates familiar with the situation told Military.com.

The Pentagon has asked the Institute for Defense Analyses, or IDA, which operates federally funded research centers, to study the issue, said the advocates, one of whom requested anonymity to disclose a sensitive topic.

Someone who is nonbinary identifies as neither male nor female, oftening using "they" and "them" as their pronouns and marking their gender as "X" on forms that have that option.

Read Next: Feared Increase in Suicides Among Troops After Afghanistan Exit Hasn't Materialized

It is unclear exactly how long the research has been going on, but SPARTA, an advocacy group for transgender troops, put researchers in touch with several nonbinary service members this month.

SPARTA President Bree Fram, an Air Force lieutenant colonel, likened the effort to the study the Pentagon asked Rand Corp. to conduct in 2015 before lifting the ban on transgender people serving in the military.

"Speaking with non-binary troops and defense officials to understand what regulation changes may be necessary is a great first step," Fram said in a statement to Military.com. "We are hopeful this will allow non-binary individuals to serve authentically and realize their full potential in the military."

Jennifer Dane, executive director of LGBTQ military advocacy group Modern Military Association of America, said members of her organization have also spoken with IDA and believes initial conversations about open service by nonbinary troops began last year.

Asked for comment, IDA referred Military.com to the Pentagon, which declined to comment "at this time as we do not provide information that may or may not be part of the Department's research efforts."

There is no explicit ban on nonbinary service members, but there is also no official recognition of their existence or guidance about how they should adhere to gendered policies, such as what uniform to wear or where to shower.

Advocates say policies allowing transgender troops to serve openly have made it somewhat easier for nonbinary service members, but add they still face hurdles because there is no official recognition of nonbinary gender identities.

If policies are changed to allow nonbinary troops to serve openly, it would be the latest move to make the military more inclusive for LGBTQ people.

It's been just over a decade since the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the law that banned open service by gay, lesbian and bisexual troops.

In 2016, the Obama administration lifted a ban on transgender troops. Former President Donald Trump reinstated the ban in 2019, but President Joe Biden lifted it last year shortly after taking office.

Dane said she is hopeful the research on nonbinary troops will lead to policy changes, but expressed concern that "there's going to be a lot of hurdles, more so than transgender, I think, because there's no binary on it."

But as more people in younger generations identify as nonbinary, including in official documentation such as passports and driver's licenses, Dane said an open service policy will be crucial to recruitment and retention. A 2021 study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law found about 1.2 million U.S. adults identify as nonbinary 76% of whom are under age 29.

"To get the talent, obviously, you've got to kind of get with the times," Dane said.

Dane also pointed to a recent Air Force decision to allow email signatures to include someone's pronouns, including they and them, as "opening the door to further conversation" about nonbinary troops.

The Biden administration has taken steps to be inclusive to nonbinary people at agencies besides the Pentagon.

The State Department last year issued a passport with an "X" gender marker for the first time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs also recently announced that transgender and nonbinary veterans can identify as such in their official department medical records.

While stressing that he could not speak to the military's current research efforts, Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, which researches issues of gender and sexuality in the military, said he believes there are three categories of policies the military might have to consider as it looks into open nonbinary service.

The first are policies that likely won't need to change at all, such as nondiscrimination policies that already ban discrimination based on gender idenity.

The second are policies that could be made gender neutral, such as some uniform standards  changes Belkin said would benefit not just nonbinary troops but also female troops.

The third category are policies the military can't or won't make gender neutral, such as where to shower. In those cases, Belkin said, commanders could consult with the individual nonbinary service member about which gender's standards would be more appropriate to follow.

"The opponents to nonbinary service, just like they did for Don't Ask, Don't Tell and just like they did for Obama's transgender policy, they're going to insist that implementation is so complicated and so hard, in fact it's so complicated that it can't be done. That's complete bull----," Belkin said. "Implementation is not complicated. Period, full stop. The military could easily pull this off tomorrow. It would not be a big deal."

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: 5 Days into Presidency, Biden Overturns Effective Ban on Transgender Military Service
A new study by Rand Corp. released Tuesday shows that, while the pandemic made it harder for the military services to recruit new personnel, overall numbers actually increased.

According to the paper, the Army, Navy and Air Force all managed to increase the number of troops in their ranks in 2020 compared to the year before, despite a downturn in new enlistments.

After reviewing data provided to Rand by the Department of Defense, the researchers noted that the initial drop in the number of recruits moving through training and the number of enlistment contracts being written happened between March and April 2020, "a period when each of the services placed restrictions on in-person recruiting activities to curb the spread of COVID-19."

Read Next: Feared Increase in Suicides Among Troops After Afghanistan Exit Hasn't Materialized

However, each service maintained or improved the quality of its candidates, the article notes.

Earlier this month, the Army announced that it is offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000, a record, to highly skilled recruits who join for six years..

The Rand paper draws few definitive conclusions about what caused the trends in recruiting and retention but does offer some theories.

"We believe that restrictions on in-person recruiting were more likely to be responsible for the decrease in contracts and accessions during [fiscal year] 2020 than a change in young people's willingness to serve in the military," the paper said.

Meanwhile, the authors also suggest that an increased unemployment rate, as well as a drop in the number of injury-causing exercises, could be responsible for some of the extra retention.

"If the services were concerned about failing to meet their accession mission during the pandemic, they may have allowed more members to stay, thereby increasing retention," the article added.

The authors also noted that their analysis didn't take into account changes in how many resources the branches devoted to recruiting, the state of the economy, or "other factors that past research shows affect individuals' decisions to join or remain in the military."

For example, in discussing the Army's efforts, the paper explained that the addition of COVID restrictions to recruiting should have caused the number and quality of recruits and contracts to fall. "However, the dramatic rise in youth unemployment likely increased the incentive to enlist, which means that the expected direction of changes in contracts and accessions is ambiguous."

The outlier in the trends in the data was the Marine Corps, which not only saw a drop in its end strength figures but also its enlistment rate and retention rate. The authors suggest that this is "more likely linked to a new force restructuring plan that began at the same time as the COVID-19 pandemic."

Part of that plan -- Force Structure 2030 -- is to make the Corps an older, more agile and talent-driven force with a greater emphasis on retaining people instead of recruiting replacements.

Given the data, the authors concluded that "the services primarily focused on retention in order to meet their end strength goals during the COVID-19 pandemic."

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: How the Pandemic Changed Military Recruiting Forever
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

For many Ukrainians, the question "what will the West do if Russia starts a war?" rings hollow. Since 2014 (and even before) Russia has been trying to force Kyiv to acquiesce to its regional dominance. Low-level warfare on Ukraine's eastern border has cost hundreds of lives and disrupted the politics and economy of the rest of the country. Some analysts call this "gray zone" or "hybrid" warfare, although both of those terms suggest more novelty than Russian actions really reveal. But now of course Russia is threatening to enforce its will through more traditional military means.

The U.S. has virtually ruled out a response using military force in the air, at sea, or on the land. U.S. fighters will not contest Ukrainian airspace, and U.S. warships are unlikely to attack their Russian counterparts or deliver ordnance from sea to land. The prospect of U.S. soldiers fighting in Ukraine seems particularly remote. But of course, the United States has lots of tools in the toolbox. In a previous column, I discussed how the United States is considering using its weapons in what we might call the "financial domain." Here, we can think about the steps that the United States might take in space and in the cyber domain.

Russia vs. Ukraine: The Intel Game

In space, the omnipresence of satellites has already changed the calculus of war. Russia's mobilization efforts are glaringly obvious to Ukraine and to the rest of the world. An attack like Operation Barbarossa, in which the German acquired complete strategic and operational surprise, is no longer possible. Russia can disguise its moves in order to give its armed forces a tactical advantage, but the world is watching. The United States can take further steps, however. In the event of a conflict, the United States could supply the Ukrainian armed forces with substantial intelligence with respect to the movement, strength, and logistical support networks of Russian forces in the field. This matters a great deal on the ground; Ukrainian artillery bombardments directed by U.S.-supplied satellite intelligence could kill hundreds or even thousands of Russian troops.

The U.S. could also lend its massive satellite communications capabilities to Ukrainian forces in the field, and although there would certainly be interoperability concerns these networks could provide communications more secure and more immediate than Ukraine's armed forces currently possess. Even if the Biden administration hesitated to turn over the keys to the kingdom, Ukraine could use the assets of private space companies. There is little that Russia can do to prevent this, short of attacks against satellites operated by the United States and other countries. This would represent a massive escalation and might well incur retaliation against Russia's own relatively less-developed satellite networks.

Russia vs. Ukraine: The Cyber Game

With respect to the cyber domain, Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a low-key cyber conflict since before 2014. Russia used cyber-attacks to disrupt Ukraine during the 2014 war, just as it had against Georgia in 2008. Russia's capabilities are surely formidable, with attacks likely to come from both state-owned and state-sponsored actors. Indeed, some reports already indicate that Russia has begun to harass both civilian and governmental Ukrainian targets. The United States tends to keep its cyber capabilities close to the vest, and so it's unclear what Washington can do to disrupt or divert the flow of information in deployed Russian military forces. But freezing or even damaging Russian communications could have significant tactical and operational effects. The U.S. could also launch a wide-ranging set of cyber-attacks against Russian government institutions and Russia's own cyber-agencies; such efforts have seen some success in the recent past. It remains unclear, however, how willing either Moscow or Washington will be to let the cyber dogs off their leashes.

U.S. cyber and space assets probably can't win the war for Ukraine, but they can definitely hurt Russia. Information about Russian troop movements could lead to the deaths of hundreds or thousands of Russian troops. We don't know how Russia will view such efforts, but the sophistication and extent of U.S. capabilities in both the space and the cyber domains are well-known to the Russians. Much will depend on what the Biden administration wants the post-war environment to look like. If Washington decides that relations with the Putin government are unsalvageable, it has little incentive to go easy.

Now a 1945 Contributing Editor, Dr. Robert Farley is a Senior Lecturer at the Patterson School at the University of Kentucky.

This article originally appeared on 19fortyfive.com.
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17.01.2022 LISTEN

The National Vice Chairman of the Ghana Barbers & Barbering Saloon Owners Association Mr. Francis Kobia has disclosed that the Association has put in place, comprehensive measures this year 2022 to ensure the welfare of its members and effective running of the outfit to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.

In his new year message to the members and the country in general, Mr. Kobia observed that the barbering profession though lucrative, people usually look down upon it and discourage the youth from venturing in it.

According to him, it is against this notion that the executive wings of the Association are coming out with initiatives this year to train members to become abreast with the modern technicalities of their profession as well as encourage the youth to adopt interest and further join apprenticeship programs to enable them have permanent jobs.

The Vice Chairman Kobia indicated that the entire sixteen regions will benefit from the programme.

Kobia hinted that the Association has foreign partners in the United States of America and United Kingdom who have expressed interest to engage in exchange programs with the Association to develop the local talents.

Mr. Kobia indicated that with the plans put in place to upgrade the skills of the barbers, the foreigners who travel into the country would soon fall on Ghanaian barbers for equal services.

Touching on the COVID-19 pandemic, Kobia strongly advised members to strictly observe the protocols since their businesses have direct contact with the clients.

Advising the youth to take advantage to assign for six months apprenticeship program, Vice Chairman Francis Kobia hoped that members of the Association would cooperate with the executive wings of the Association in their quest to restructure the Association this year 2022.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA) Pius Hadzide has said government should consider stopping the replacement of vehicles of the former Presidents John Dramani Mahama and John Agyekum Kufuor every four years.

His comment follows a call by NPP Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, who holds the view that government has a responsibility to cut down its expenditure and be transparent to the very people they asking to pay tax.

Mr Hadzide, a former Deputy Information Minister said on TV3 morning show that The MP is an NPP MP and that is our attitude. We mean well for this country, we are not the NDC MPs who will say that Party first before Ghanaians.

The host of the show questioned whether it was right for former President John Agyekum Kufuor to keep enjoying same.

He stated, I agree, there are many areas we can look at because I dont understand why every four years we have to replace John Mahama vehicle. I dont understand why we should do that for Mr Kufuor and Mr Mahama. I dont understand why we should do that every 4 years. So, it is an area we can look at.
Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumankumah, the Chairperson of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), has asked the citizenry to make a pledge against paying or collecting bribes for at least the whole of 2022.

That commitment, she said, could be a "little step" towards creating a great nation that most Ghanaians desired.

"Let's not bribe anybody. Let the police officer do his work, let the teacher work well, let the nurse do her job and everybody must do what they must do," she said.

She made the call at an event to reflect on the contribution of Martin Luther King Junior of US and Gamal Abdul Naseer Hussein of Egypt (Both born on January 15) to the liberation struggle of the African continent.

Nana Sarpong-Kumankumah said the desire of having offsprings and future generations to enjoy the land bequeathed to Ghanaians by forefathers should engender sacrifice and a sense of patriotism and called for action against corruption.

"They have done their part and that is why we are here today celebrating their lives and because they did their part in the most difficult time," she noted.

The occasion was marked with musical performances, poetry recitals and solidarity messages from individuals and representatives of organisations sympathetic to Pan-Africanism.

Present at the event was Mr Ahmed Abubakar, also known as Blakk Rasta, a Musician and Broadcaster, who in an interview, attributed the low sense of patriotism among Ghanaians to factors such as the failure of the country to honour its legends.

He also observed that the ethos of Pan-Africanism appeared to be fading away among the youth due to lack of education and the absence of exemplary leadership to promote the ideals.

"You cannot call yourself a pan Africanist if you don't have patriotism and that is what is lacking now.

Known as the father of Pan-Arabism, Mr Hussein, was born on January 15, 1918, and became the second President of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970.

Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia, Mr King Jr. was a Baptist Minister and a Civil Rights Activist, largely noted for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Civil Rights Act banned discrimination in the workforce and public accommodations based on race, colour, religion, or national origins whiles the voting rights protected African Americans rights to vote.

He visited the country in March 1957 to mark the independence of Ghana and was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

GNA
Ruth Lindenberger

17.01.2022 LISTEN

No one can doubt the significance of the contributions of the diaspora branches of the NPP to the success of the party over the years. The Germany branch in particular towers in this regard, dwarfing most of the other diaspora branches. We have contributed in every regard - human and financial/material resources to the party - a fact that should be acknowledged by all.

Thus, it's important that the Germany branch of the party remains formidable to continue staying relevant in the successes of the party. Admittedly, the prominence of the branch in the NPP has been made possible through the sacrifices of many committed patriots in the past. These patriots served as the sentinels for guarding the party's continual existence here in Germany.

Many a patriot ask whether the feat chalked by the branch in terms of its relevance in the party can be safeguarded on the back of the exiting of gallant patriots who are leading the party currently as executives. This is a legitimate question that should naturally be pricked out of any committed patriot. To address this question sufficiently, we may have to look at the core people who have served as the bedrock of the party's success as touted in this article.

It will be sufficiently clear to any serious mind that the youth constitute the base of the party here in Germany and indeed, in the mother party in Ghana. The youth are not only just the future of the party, but also the present. In terms of strength/manpower for execution, grassroots mobilisation, ideas on prosecution of the party's agenda, financial contributions, enthusiasm, etc, the youth remain seminal.

In this regard, it is important for all and sundry to be interested in who leads the youth wing. Having underscored the importance of the youth's role in the party, it bears saying that, the strength of the youth wing whose constituents are the youth, depends largely on who leads it. Looking at the kind of disenchantment at the grassroots even here in the diaspora, there's the need to get a charismatic personality to lead the youth wing to kindle/rekindle the commitment of members towards 2024.

Per my observations over the period, there's no better replacement for Mr. Emmanuel Boakye aka Prof, than Madam Ruth Lindenberger. Everything Prof tried to establish including his desire to position the youth wing to play a central role in the Germany branch of party, would be negated if other than Ruth Lindenberger takes the realms of leadership. That's why Prof himself should support Ruth to continue what he started.

Here is why I say so. Ruth Lindenberger as deputy youth organiser has fitted in very well as the acting youth organiser after Prof went to Ghana to pursue his political ambitions. Not only has Ruth fitted in but also expanded the frontiers of the wing, she has succeeded at mobilising the youth through her charismatic and inspirational leadership thereby, making the youth wing the toast of the party in Germany. Today, in Germany, some old men and women in the party wish they were youth due to the fragrance of Ruth's leadership. If you want the brightest spot in the party today in Germany, it's the youth wing.

How then can anyone contemplate killing the bird that lays the golden egg? Ruth has demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt that she has what it takes to lead the youth wing to the promise land. She has shown peerless leadership and can therefore not be removed on any frivolous account. Her name has resonated well within the rank and file of the party both in Germany and Ghana. Ruth Lindenberger has become the face of the youth wing through her unmatched leadership skills. Her leadership has helped to create the much-needed relationship between the party in Germany and Ghana. This therefore affords her an opportunity to use the youth wing as a leverage to seek opportunities for patriots in Germany who may need such assistance back in Ghana.

After exuding such great deal of competence, we can only expect a straightforward endorsement of her bid to become the substantive youth organiser of the party. More refreshing is the fact that we have a woman who has for the first time in the history of the party, dared to ascend to become a youth organiser. This is good for the image of our party which has over the years advocated for the inclusion of women in the party.

Ruth Lindenberger is the new face of the youth wing and so should it remain!

Shalom.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) will soon start administering COVID-19 booster shots to stem the spread of the disease in the country.

Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director -General, GHS, told the Ghana News Agency, that the Service had arrived at a booster policy, which would soon be made known to the public.

He said the policy would indicate the category of persons who qualified to receive boosters and the type of boosters to be administered.

We have gone through and completed the needed processes for giving boosters and we will soon announce this. It may cover children within a particular age group, certain categories of people and that may also include pregnant women and the type of vaccines they can take, he said.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye, said a booster policy and system had been developed to serve as a guide for people who were eligible to receive boosters.

The purpose of a COVID-19 booster is to give people an added level of protection from COVID-19 if their existing protection has waned over time.

The booster would enhance their immune system to protect them from infection, hospitalisations, and death, which is the purpose of the vaccine.

The country, per an update by the GHS COVID-19 website as of January 10, 2022, has recorded a total of 153,514 confirmed cases, 9,020 active cases and 1,343 deaths.

GNA
17.01.2022 LISTEN

Ghana has been cautioned against the frequent use of the country's Military for duties that civilian institutions such as the Police should be doing.

A former Senior Governance Adviser to the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Baffour Agyeman-Duah Military should be called in on a need-basis to tackle issues beyond the control of the other security institutions such as the Police.

The Chief Executive Officer of the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation was speaking in an interview with TV3's Noble Crosby Annan on the Mid day news on Monday January 17 in connection with the withdrawal of military attached to the office of the Speaker of Parliament by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

He said First of all, the issue of security must be treated very carefully because people's lives depend on it. The issue of security protection in most democracies, we have what we call permanent protection for the executives. If you go to the United States for instance, they formed a special group fully dedicated for presidential protection .

All other kinds of protections are interim and temporary depending on the security threats to those individuals or institutions. So, when we talk of giving security it has got to be based on a threat assessment which basically is the process whereby you evaluate and verify perceived threats including their likelihood.

In that respect, if you look at the Speaker for that matter you just have to find out whether there is a current threat to the person and the nature of the threats, based on that you devise the protection.

Another point to make on this important conversation is that when it comes to the military we have to be careful. If in fact military protection was provided over the years, to speakers I will be surprised and and it was wrong.

Because I think such individuals do not require military protection. We have to be careful and avoid militarizing civilian governments just as we should avoid civiliazing the Military. We have Police and many other security agencies who can do the job unless there is a serious need for combat battalion to make a protection.

Meanwhile, the government has said in a statement that soldiers do not form part of the security arrangement of the Speaker and Members of Parliament.

They only come in a need-basis in accordance with stated state protocols.

The Ministry of National Security said in a statement the news about the withdrawal of the soldiers attached to the Office of the Speaker had been given misinterpretations by a section of the Ghanaian public.

The statement added that the security of the speaker is intact, no changes have been made to it.

The Ministry of National Security would like to place on record that contrary to the aforesaid misrepresentations, all requisite resources including logistics and personnel required for full protection of the Speaker have been provided.

It is worth noting that for the first time since 2017, the security arrangements for both the Speaker and Members of Parliament have been significantly enhanced. PRESS-RELEASE-15-01-2022-ref Download

It also needs stating that personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces do not form part of the security detail for the Speaker and Parliament as Parliamentary security support is provided by the Ghana Police Service. Any need for specific agency support is typically executed on the need-basis in accordance with stated state protocols.

The clarification comes after Member of Parliament for Banda and Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, has claimed that the removal of the soldiers who were attached to the Office of the Speaker, was on the orders of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo.

Speaking on the News 360 on TV3 Saturday January 15, the Member on the Defence Committee said the news of the removal came at a shock to the Minority in Parliament.

This came to us a great shock, he said, adding that this is the time we all need to come together to work on security.

We are surprised as a minority to hear government withdrawing the military detachment of the speaker. The speaker is number three, even the EC chair is using about ten Military personnel. So if the Speaker duly requested for four and they have been on duty for over one year, the questions is what has changed? It raises security questions.

He added It is president Akufo-Addo who has withdrawn the military detachment, he is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The Minority will meet on Monday.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said that the four soldiers who have been withdrawn from the Office of the Speaker of Parliament were attached to that particular office without proper procedure.

This resulted in the decision to withdraw them while efforts are made to regularise their attachment, a statement said.

The under-named military personnel were attached to the Office of the Rt Honourable Speaker of Parliament without the proper procedure, the statement signed by the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, NP Andoh to the Speaker said.

It is humbly requested that the personnel are withdrawn with effect from 14 January 2022 while efforts are made to regularise their attachment,

3news.com
Anti-Covid face masks are omnipresent in French supermarkets. Like self-tests, thermometers and hand gels, they are predominantly produced in China. RFI takes a closer look at how Beijing has turned the global pandemic to its advantage.

Almost every supermarket in the Paris region displays racks of Covid-19-related merchandise made in China.

"They sell out as soon as they arrive," says one sales person.

A box of black disposable surgical masks is for sale in a Paris supermarket for less than 4 euros. The masks are manufactured by Xiantao Zhuobo Industrial, based in Hubei province, capital Wuhan, the city where the virus first surfaced.

According to the Chinese company search site Kanzhun.com, Zhuobo Industrial was a company with only two employees, specialising in "decoration design, construction, building materials production, processing, sales, vegetables, fruits, and crop planting."

But after Covid swept the world, the company was quick to adapt. Today, Chinese company tracking site Exporthub.cn indicates that Zhuobo Industrial "mainly produces disposable products, including medical protective clothing, medical masks, medical isolation gowns, shoes and hats," with ISO quality stamps.

Exploding market

Another box with 10 FFP2 Folding Protective Masks is manufactured by the Zhejiang Xieli Science and Technology Co. Ltd, which was originally a home decoration and stationary company. Its website shows stickers, notebooks, greeting cards and gift books.

Previously, most of China's top producers of face masks were foreign companies operating as joint-ventures with local partners. The top five were 3M (US,) Cleancool (China,) Honeywell (US,) Uvex (Germany) and Kowa (Japan.)

But when, after the Covid-19 outbreak, domestic demand for face masks exploded, domestic producers where quick to start manufacturing them.

Overseas face mask plunder

During the first months of the pandemic, from January to March 2020, authorities in Beijing sought desperately to get as many masks from abroad as possible, contributing to severe shortages worldwide.

According to a press release from truck manufacturer Build Your Dream (BYD) in March, 2020, overseas branches of the company (which is represented in the US, Europe and Africa) "coordinated foreign resources to purchase N95 masks and other epidemic prevention material ... and successively donated them to the medical staff fighting on the front line against the epidemic."

And Bloomberg suggested that Chinese state-run companies systematically engaged in the mass buying of masks abroad, reporting that oil explorer Petrochina , one of China's biggest companies, "directed employees in 20 countries to buy face masks and send them home to help combat the virus."

But then things changed. A study by medical website VCbeat.top published during the early stages of the pandemic, shows that already in February 2020, non-specialised companies switched to the production of masks.

BYD announced it was starting its own mass-production effort, while SAIC-GM-Wuling , a car joint-venture between General Motors and Chinese partners and iPhone producer Foxconn also went into producing face masks as a sideline.

Turning the tide

On 11 May 2020, state television CGTN reported that oil producer Sinopec was building up the "world's largest mask material production base" while other companies like cell phone manufacturer Changying Precision , diaper maker Daddy Baby , Tuoye Robot jumped on the bandwagon and others started production abroad, like smartphone maker Oppo which had its India outlet producing masks for its local staff.

Eventually, China swept the initial shortages under the table and its powerful propaganda machine started highlighting examples of how planeloads of face masks, respirators and other Covid-19 related material reached countries where the pandemic was raging.

China's propaganda machine showed the triumphant arrival of pallets packed with face masks being received by happy crowds in countries from Serbia to Rwanda.

But not everybody was enthusiastic.

The Dutch government had to recall 600,000 FFP2 masks after they were tested and appeared to fail hygiene standards.

Australian Border police confiscated 800,000 face masks that were counterfeit or otherwise faulty according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Spain and Turkey had to send back large shipments as well. China rejected the complaints, saying they were "politically motivated."

"Geopolitical component"

The EU high representative for foreign policy, Josep Borrell commented on his blog saying that there was a geopolitical component to the Covid-19 crisis, including a struggle for influence through the 'politics of generosity'.

But where are the local manufacturers?

French companies did, belatedly, start to answer the increasing demand for face masks and other Covid-related medical equipment, and tried to counter the flood coming from China.

Diagnostic tool manufacturer NG Biotech in Bretagne finally accelerated its production of auto-tests and massively increased its work force when the Omicron variant hit France in December 2021. Le Masque Francais, a company based in the Paris region, stepped up production of face masks.

The problem is that the cheapest locally produced box of 50 masks is 19,90 euros. They can cost as much as 29,90.

How long will people, who have to change face masks several times a day, be willing to pay for a local product when the alternative made in China sells for a quarter of the price?
Guinea's former president Alpha Conde left the West African state on Monday, two officials said, after being deposed in a military coup last year.

Local news website Guineenews reported that the ex-president had boarded a plane to the United Arab Emirates.

AFP was unable to independently confirm his destination, and there has been no government declaration about Conde leaving the country.

However, a high-ranking official at the foreign ministry, who requested anonymity, told AFP Conde had left Guinea.

And an official on duty at the airport in the capital Conakry, who requested anonymity too, also said he had left on a private plane.

The release of the 83-year-old Conde was one of the demands made by the West Africa bloc ECOWAS after last year's coup, along with the holding of elections within six months.

Conde, who governed Guinea for about a decade, sparked mass protests in 2020 after pushing through a constitutional change that allowed him to seek a third presidential term.

He then won a violently disputed election in October that year, which the political opposition denounced as a sham, while dozens of protesters were killed in nationwide unrest.

On September 5, 2021, young army officers under Colonel Mamady Doumbouya deposed the president in a putsch.

Conde was then held incommunicado for 12 weeks before the junta allowed him to stay with his wife in the suburbs of Conakry.

On December 31 he was granted authorisation to travel abroad for a month to seek medical care.

However, his departure comes after Guinean legal authorities this month opened a probe into alleged crimes committed under his rule.

A former opposition activist who spent decades in exile, Conde became Guinea's first democratically elected president in 2010, and was re-elected in 2015, sparking hopes of a new political dawn in the former French colony.
One out of three washing bay attendants who stole and sold their employer's working tools and abandoned their post has been jailed three years by an Adenta Circuit Court.

Bright Owusu, age 26, charged with stealing, pleaded guilty to stealing hydraulic pumps and a car battery all valued at GHC20,200.

The court presided over by Mrs Sedinam Awo Balokah convicted Owusu on his plea.

Owusu's accomplice who is a minor, was however remanded pending the taking of his plea.

The court directed the Police to send Owusu's accomplice, a scrap dealer to be sent to the Police Hospital for his age to be ascertained medically.

The alleged minor bought the stolen items as scrap and paid a fee of GHC100 for them.

He is facing a charge of dishonestly receiving.

Superintendent of Police Patience Mario, who held the brief of Inspector Gloria Ayim, said the complainant, Yussif Abubakar is a heavy-duty machine operator residing at Mallam, Accra.

Prosecution said the two accused persons reside at Oyibi, Accra.

According to prosecution, the complainant had a washing bay at Oyibi, where he engaged three men including; Owusu to be washing cars and the workers also slept at the workplace.

Prosecution said the complainant left three hydraulic pumps valued at GHC 19,500 and a car battery valued at GHC700 in the care of the workers.

In the second week of December 2021, the complainant visited the washing bay and detected that the items mentioned earlier were stolen and the workers were nowhere to be found.

Prosecution said on January 5, this year, the complainant saw Owusu around the vicinity and apprehended him.

During interrogation, Prosecution said Owusu told the complainant that he stole two of the hydraulic pumps and sold same to the second accused person (the minor) for GHC100.

Prosecution said the Owusu was escorted to the Oyibi Police station, and he also led the Police to apprehend the minor.

GNA
Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, an aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, has defended a former Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, in the case brought against him by the state over his role in the procurement of some ambulances.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the former Deputy Communications Minister, rather accused the Akufo-Addo administration of sidestepping an opportunity to address concerns with the procurement with the Big Sea General Trading Limited, which supplied the ambulances.

Have they asserted our rights under this dispute resolution clause? Have they requested a meeting with Big Sea? And if that meeting failed, have they followed up to go for arbitration, he questioned.

The country is said to have lost $2.4 million after 30 ambulances were procured in 2014 by the Ministry of Health were deemed to be faulty or not fit for purpose.

According to Mr. Ofosu, the issues over defects with the ambulances had been addressed.

There was no quarrel between us and Big Sea because the matters that had been raised with respect to some defects with the vehicles that had been brought in had been resolved to the extent that firm commitment had been extracted from Big Sea to correct it.

Mr. Ofosu also dared the government to allow access to the 30 ambulances, which he said were parked and rotting away at the air force base in Accra.

If this government knows that it is not peddling falsehood, it should grant you access to the air force base to film those ambulances.

He also said Big Sea brought vehicles of a higher spec than we actually requested for at no extra cost to us. They shipped a container load of assemblies which has been here for five years and has not been cleared by this government.

He further held that Mr. Forson did not overstep his mandate with respect to the deal.

Any payment that was made on the advice of the Attorney General is binding. The Attorney General's opinion is binding on all government officials.

Two hundred ambulances were originally meant to be purchased by the government.

The deal was, however, suspended after the 30 which had been delivered supposedly did not meet the required specifications.

Mr. Forson is facing trial alongside a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health; Sylvester Anemana, and a businessman; Richard Jakpa.

The three are facing five counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act, and intentionally misapplying public property.

Richard Jakpa is said to have used his company, Jakpa at Business, to present a proposal and term loan to the Ministry of Health to finance the supply of the ambulances.

Cabinet subsequently endorsed Executive approval for the project, according to the Attorney General.

citinewsroom
President Emmanuel Macron caused a stir when he said his Covid strategy was to "piss off the unvaccinated, to the bitter end", spurning around 10 percent of the French population in the process. It's an unusual decision for a head of state, but it could reap rewards for a presidential candidate.

The French government has made vaccination the cornerstone of its strategy in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, and its policies have convinced most people to get the jab.

Around 90 percent of the over-12s in France are fully vaccinated  78 percent of the population overall.

In a recent interview Macron lashed out at the recalcitrant 10 percent of those eligible, calling them irresponsible and non-citizens, implying that they were putting other peoples' lives in danger.

There is no doubt French hospitals are under strain, and health Ministry data shows a large number of Covid patients in intensive care are unvaccinated. The majority of those who have died with Covid recently have not been vaccinated.

But that does not mean the unvaccinated are solely responsible for the continuing circulation of the virus and skyrocketing infection rates.

Recent research shows that while vaccination can reduce the viral load by between 30-40 percent, it does not prevent infection, and therefore transmission. Vaccination alone won't be enough to break the fourth wave a leading researcher said in July last year.

The government gives the impression it wants to get rid of all the responsibility [for the health crisis] and put it on the shoulders of the unvaccinated," says political scientist Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet.

Listen to the interview with Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet in the Spotlight on France podcast:

Who are the unvaccinated?

Macron and the government depict the five million or so unvaccinated people as all anti-vaxx,

They do make up the hard core, and many have very demonstrated against the vaccine, the Covie health pass and Macron himself most weekends over the last several weeks.

Opposition recently took a more sinister turn as some MPs from the ruling party were targetted and sent death threats in protest at a government bill to transform the health pass into a vaccine pass.

Parliament passed the new legislation, which effectively bars the unvaccinated from many spheres of public life, on Sunday.

But recent data gathered by France's health and medical research institute (Inserm) found that of the people who rejected vaccination, only a third were hardline anti-vaxxers. Others were sceptical and needed convincing.

Significantly, around 40 percent of unvaccinated people were out of the system, including "migrants, the elderly, those living in remote areas," sociologist Jeremy Ward, one of the key researchers, said in an interview.

For Helene Rossinot, a doctor in public health, it was "too simplistic to assimilate anti-vaxx and unvaccinated", given that vaccination is not equally accessible to all.

"Homeless people and migrants are often socially isolated," she told 20 Minutes magazine.

She also highlighted that France's vaccination campaign is geared towards people online, which is "totally anachronistic for some people".

A number of doctors and health professionals have underlined that insulting and shaming the unvaccinated will not improve vaccine uptake, and could have the opposite effect.

"Rule number one in the handbook of things to avoid is being confrontational or insulting the public," said Ward, adding you have to take people's doubts seriously, otherwise "it's counter-productive".

Politics, not health

Macron's strategy in using crude language and insulting the unvaccinated is clearly elsewhere.

The use of a strong swear word in the interview "had no sanitary implications; it was designed to produce an electoral result," Moreau-Chevrolet told RFI. Macron was dog-whistling his electorate.

While Macron still has not thrown his hat into the election ring, he has said he "wants" to run, and his "piss off the unvaccinated" strategy appears to show he's starting to gather votes.

"Polls show 84 percent of Macron's supporters back his comments, as do a large part of the right," Moreau-Chevrolet explains.

"He wants to appear as the only credible candidate for the next elections, and [targetting] the anti-vaxx is just a tool he uses to give the impression that he's the only white knight able to fight."

Singling out a minority is a populist technique, tried and tested by the likes of Hungary's Victor Orban, Boris Johnson in the UK, and former US president Donald Trump.

It always works in politics to single out a minority of the people," the political scientist says, "but it's not a very democratic thing to do."

Long-term damage

Moreau-Chevrolet also reckons Macron's comments could damage his image long term. They were in marked contrast to a televised speech on 15 December in which he appeared apologetic and called for people to come together.

"He asked us to love each other, and then soon after he's telling us to hate a part of the population that is 'responsible for our problems'," says Moreau-Chevrolet.

The President's comments are adding to divisions among French people which the country could well do without.

"Emmanuel Macron is not the president of all the French anymore, he is the candidate of the majority, at least that's what he wishes," Moreau-Chevrolet concludes.

And that candidate has opted for an electoral strategy which, if it works, will be "at the expense of our common social fabric".

This story first appeared in the Spotlight on France podcast. Listen to previous episodes here. Subscribe here.
A former Deputy Minister in the first term of president Nana Akufo-Addo has blamed the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for jeopardizing the security fabric of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

According to Major (Rtd) Derek Oduro, the letter purportedly written to the Speaker by the military high command announcing the removal of the military detail on the basis that they were improperly assigned was leaked to the press by the NDC leadership in Parliament.

He added that the document to the Speakers office was a classified document that should not be leaked to people who do not need to know.

The former Deputy Defence Minister who was one-time the governing New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North Constituency said this in an interview with Kwame Obeng Sarkodie, host of Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM on Monday, January 17, 2022.

The military as a body detest being drawn into petty politics, he cautioned.

He stated that the military cannot be blamed for what has transpired between the office of the Speaker and the military hierarchy on the matter of security of the Speaker of Parliament.

He further extricated the military from any wrongdoing in the matter of the improper assignment of the military details as part of the security of the Speaker of Parliament.

He maintained that There had not been any Speaker of Parliament who had military details in the history of protection for Speakers since the advent of the 1992 Constitutional dispensation. All Speakers had police protection as part of the Article 71 office holders.

Classfmonline.com
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has hit back at the Minority for alleging that the withdrawal of military guards detailed at the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin is politically motivated.

The Ghana Armed Forces in a letter to the Speaker has withdrawn four military officers who had been attached to his office without recourse to proper procedure.

Reacting to the news, the Minority Caucus on Monday issued a statement insisting that GAF's action is politically motivated and an attempt by the government to diminish the confidence of the Speaker of Parliament.

Appalled by the claims, the Majority in Parliament also issued a statement rubbishing those allegations.

The Majority Caucus while describing the claims by the Minority as propaganda has dared MPs on the opposition MPs to present evidence to prove their allegation.

Now he Minority Caucus' statement states that the action by the military High Command is politically motivated. What is the proof? Or is it the case that they consider that since the Rt. Hon. Bagbin is NDC he is there to do the bidding of NDC and hence any critique of the Speaker or any action aimed at the Speaker is a critique of or action against the NDC, and therefore should be considered as being politically motivated? The people of Ghana know better and certainly can make the distinction between truth and sheer propaganda, the Majority statement has said.

The Majority notes that in the history of the Fourth Republic, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has been served with the largest number of security personnel for his protection which none of the previous Speakers had.

The Speaker is said to have four police officers in his known residence. He has three police officers in his secretariat and five other policemen in and around the Speaker's office block any day any time.

Below is the Majority Caucus statement:
18.01.2022 LISTEN

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has pledged to provide a hundred laptops to students of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) under the One student, One laptop initiative by the University.

He made this promise at a meeting organised by the University to launch the One Student- One Laptop initiative by the UGBS on the theme, Supporting Needy Students in the new virtual learning environment.

The project by the Vice-Chancellor of the school, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, is expected to equip students with the adequate skills needed to compete with fellow students in the digital era.

Speaking at the meeting, the Vice President stated, I'm going to commit to providing and supporting at least initially this One Student- One Laptop initiative with 100 laptops for the students.

The launch of the One Student  One Laptop project was crowned by awarding 40 outstanding students who excelled in an essay competition organised by the university with laptops.

The Vice President further expressed his hope that the vision of the school to bridge digital divide among students will be achieved.

Meanwhile, he stated that the One Teacher  One Laptop policy introduced by the government, which provided laptops for teachers at all levels of education, enhanced teaching and helped to bridge the gap between teachers in Urban and Rural areas.
18.01.2022 LISTEN

Three peesons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have been arrested at Nhyiaeso in Asante Akyem North District, Ashanti Region over the death of a teenage boy.

The deceased boy, identified as David Anariya was butchered by some people on Monday, January 22, 2022, over reasons yet to be uncovered by the Police.

Although the Police subsequently took over the matter after conveying the mutilated body of the 15-year-old, the irate youth took matters into their own hands.

They pursued and arrested three suspects believed to have been involved in the heinous crime.

According to Mr. Francis Oti Boateng who is the Asante Akyem North Chairman of Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), the suspects were later handed over to the Police.

The situation is under control because the suspects have been captured and further details to ensure proper prosecutorial processes to put the suspects behind bars to deter recurring of such acts, he told Akoma FM.

Recounting what really happened, Mr. Francis Oti Boateng said, on Monday afternoon, the victim together with his two brothers were drawing water from a stream at Nhyiaeso, then the suspects from nowhere unleashed their cutlasses on them but luckily enough two of the three victims ran leaving the eldest [deceased] behind who was left at the mercy of extreme cutlass wounds and bled to death.

The suspects now in Police custody include Umaru Mohamed, 24, Major Gariba, 28, and Mohamed Umaru, 23.
South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa has stressed the need to protect the country's constitution.

This is after the tourism minister made accusations against judges and attacked the countrys constitution.

Lindiwe Sisulu wrote in an article published by the media that some judges were mentally colonised Africans.

She said the constitution had failed to improve the lives of black South Africans living in poverty.

The president on Monday said he was against attacks on the independence and integrity of our judiciary and stressed the need to protect our constitution.

The remarks by the minister have reignited the debate about leadership wrangles in the ruling party, which is set to hold party elections in December.

Source: BBC
The Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin informed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo about his absence from Ghana to undergo medical review in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) contrary to claims by the Majority that the Speaker did not inform the Presidency.

The Majority in a statement on the withdrawal of the military bodyguards of the speaker in a statement alleged that in all the many travels of Mr Bagbin in 2021, he did not find it worthy to inform the Office of the President.

However, a letter addressed to the President dated 6 January 2022 informing him of the Speakers travel to the UAE for medical review has popped up in what appears to be an attempt to debunk the majoritys claim.

In the letter, Speaker Bagbin left Ghana 7 January 2022 and is expected to return to the country on 23 January 2022.

Meanwhile, parliament resumes sitting for the First meeting of the second session on Tuesday, 25 January 2022.

Prior to the resumption of the house, parliament intends to undertake a covid-19 booster vaccination exercise for the lawmakers and officers of the parliamentary service as part of measures to contain infection and spread of the coronavirus disease.
Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Casiel Ato Forson has been granted GHS3 million bail after pleading not guilty to charges of causing financial loss to the state.

In December 2021, the state through the Director of Public Prosecution Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa filed charges against the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam Member of Parliament and two other persons.

The three have been charged with a total of five counts namely wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic contrary to section 179A (3) (a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29, Abetment of crime namely, Wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic contrary to section 20(1) and 179 A(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Contravention of the Public Procumbent Act, 2003, contrary to section 92 (2) (b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), and Intentionally misapplying public property contrary to section 1 (2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD 140).

In Court today, Dr. Forson did not only plead not guilty to charges of causing financial loss to the state but also did same for to the charge of intentionally misapplying public property.

His lawyers requested for bail and it was duly granted with no opposition from the Attorney General (AG) Godfred Yeboah Dame who was in court together with his two deputies; Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Diana Asonaba Dapaah.

The court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe after listening to the parties admitted the accused persons to bail.

Dr. Casiel Ato Forson (A1), was admitted to a GHS3 million self-recognisance bail, while the second accused person was admitted to bail in the sum of GHS1m with three sureties and with one being a public servant not below the rank of a director.

Meanwhile, the third accused person was also granted bail in the sum of GHS5M with three sureities. One of the sureties the court said should be justified with documents of landed property.
18.01.2022 LISTEN

Two counsels for some of the accused persons standing trial over an alleged treason have challenged the credibility of the work of the translator in the ongoing trial.

Mr Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, counsel for Donyo Kafui, alias 'Ezor,' Bright Alan Debrah, alias 'BB,' Corporal Seidu Abubakar and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewu and Mr Kormivi Doztsi, holding the brief of Mr Martin Kpebu, counsel for Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo, probed as to what qualified him as a translator.

They challenged Mr Isaac Osei, a prosecution witness, during a cross-examination in the Accra High Court trying the case.

Mr Adawudu asked him to tell the Court what qualified one to be a translator, where Mr Osei answered that he had first degree in translation, courses in linguistics and Spanish.

Mr Adawudu also questioned some of the team members involved in both the translation and transcribing work and demanded whether one Abigail and Mrs Jessy Amable had certificates in Ewe language.

Mr Osei told the Court that Abigail had a degree in High National Diploma, in bilingual and a student of school of translators whilst Mrs Amable, a retired English Lecturer, did linguistics in Ewe language.

He explained that though they did not have certificates in the Ewe Language their inclusion was because they were native speakers and competent in English and other languages.

Is it that anyone with a degree and speak native language can transcribe and translate into the native language, the lawyer asked, with Mr Osei replying that Not necessarily so, but if the person has been working in the translation field and has experience, that person can work with the team.

He said since the witness summarised quite often, he might have added his prejudices but Mr Osei stated that they did that to the best of their ability bearing in mind the profession they were involved in, which called for certain standards.

Dr Frederick Yao Mac Palm, Kafui, BB, Johannes Zikpi, Colonel Samuel Gameli, Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewu and Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo have been charged for high treason.

They are facing different charges, including conspiracy, possession of weapons and abetment.

The accused persons are on bail and will make their next appearance on January 25, 2022.

GNA
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into circumstances that led to the death of two persons in a fight over marijuana (wee) at Kotwi in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

A 24-year-old Sherrif and Nana Boakye, age 26, according to report died on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at about 5:30PM.

The police say their outfit received the report on Sunday, January 16, 2022 about the death of the two persons.

The Public Relations Officer for the Command, ASP Godwin Ahianyo who confirmed the deaths to this portal said they are yet to come out with the actual cause of the brawl which led to the demise of the two friends.

But this portal earlier reported that two persons were killed in an alleged violent fight over 'wee' at Kotwi.

Some residents who spoke to this reporter said Mr Boakye was the first to die after he was stabbed by Sherrif.

Residents said the scuffle which started as a joke between the two begun when Boakye refused to sell the marijuana to Sherrif inside a ghetto in the area.

"What we heard was that Boakye denied Sherif the opportunity to buy 'wee' and the incident lead to a fight between the two.

"We later saw over 11 boys from the ghetto including Boakye trying to lynch Sherif over a reason best known to them," a female resident told this reporter.

Reports further revealed that Sherrif in the cause of the attack stabbed Boakye in the chest multiple times leading to his death.

The rest of the gang according to residents accosted Sherif and beat him to death.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident ASP Ahianyo said police will soon invite witnesses in the area to assist investigations.

He called on the residents in the area and the Ashanti Region as a whole to remain calm as police continues to provide maximum security in the area.
Paul Amaning, the Eastern Region New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman hopeful has blamed the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for jeopardizing the security fabric of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

According to him, the letter purportedly written to the Speaker by the military high command announcing the removal of the military detail on the basis that they were improperly assigned was leaked to the press by the NDC leadership in Parliament.

He added that the letter to the Speakers office was a classified document not meant for public consumption.

Paul Amaning said this in an interview with Kwaku Dawuro, host of Anopa Nkomo morning show on Accra 107.7 FM on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

The military as a body detest being drawn into petty politics, he cautioned.

He stated that the military cannot be blamed for what has transpired between the office of the Speaker and the military hierarchy on the matter of security of the Speaker of Parliament.

He further extricated the military from any wrongdoing in the matter of the improper assignment of the military details of the Speaker of Parliament.

He maintained that There had not been any Speaker of Parliament who had military details in the history of protection for Speakers since the advent of the 1992 Constitutional dispensation. All Speakers had police protection as part of the Article 71 office holders.
18.01.2022 LISTEN

This is about reality today not about Slave Trade in the past centuries. Africa is still bleeding, losing lives, wasting real earned incomes, exporting talents; and as usual natural resources by sacrificing this precious life. Most Africans are well aware of money laundering today and loss of natural resources yesterday. Any of these would attract jail or death sentences for drugs outside. Yet, huge foreign profits break the backs of our local miners just to survive.

Africa's most valuable talents in Sciences and Arts are being drained today to fight Covid-19 and the most dangerous jobs as frontline workers abroad. Britain, United States and Canada have temporary Visas for Healthcare workers that have no choice but specifically to be deployed to the most dangerous settings where Covid-19 has become life takers.

Doctors, nurses and health aides in hospitals, nursing homes, homecare; classroom teachers in and service workers are quitting their jobs in large numbers to preserve their precious lives. They are willing to stay home or work from home while Africans are recruited from their countries to replace them temporarily, until situations return to normalcy.

When the statistics of higher casualties in these settings started coming out of Britain, Asian Healthcare workers protested asking for more protection as if they had a choice. The same statistics are now coming out of North America. You do not expect senior workers to go to the Frontline when there are willing migrants from Africa and Asia willing to risk their lives for less money and worse working conditions these elites reject in their countries.

It is not that these talented Africans have no choice or are unemployed in their countries. Indeed, the same poor working conditions they rejected in their countries are embraced with low pay abroad. But when the low pay that cannot provide the type of comfort they dream of abroad, are converted to African devalued currencies, they see themselves as African virtual millionaires in local currencies.

This is apart from Investor Visas that encourage looted funds from poor countries to gain residence permit in rich countries. Each of these incentives to impoverish Africa is enough to kill most poor countries, a combination of all is nothing short of a death sentence to the Continent. Yet, Africans prefer temporary wages where they are debased abroad than stay on average income at home where they can make a difference.

This is why most African leaders should be incarcerated in the same Prison to cure their kleptomaniac tendencies at Robbens Island near Cape Town, South Africa. They need to be purged of their mentality to enrich foreigners, not their own people. Locking these leaders up in the same Prison will send the message as a deterrent to future leaders. They shop for the best personal goods, services and medical treatments while Africans wallow in abject poverty.

Who can believe that some African Youths do not know their Continent is the greatest creator of wealth for the richest countries? Foreigners including a former President of the United States have been told the best place to go and make money is Africa, more so in Nigeria. Africans have been told the same by those wondering why they are running away from home. Its dirty but as long as you can hold your nose, you will make money in Africa, foreigners say.

Accomplices for any other grievous crimes in those richest countries, could have been arrested and charged for treason. This is the reason Africans are slammed for money laundering and their money forfeited if the right foreign partners and lawyers could not navigate the loot, fail or do not get their lion share. They have never benefited the future of African countries in the wealthiest countries.

Indeed, economic slavery is not different from physical slavery. If anything, loans like credit cards in the hands of prodigals are tailored to keep you paying back forever. The difference here is that the negotiators of African loans mortgage their people for life while they spend the money lavishly on themselves, families and cronies. Chinese loans for sovereignty is the latest just as Russian Ajaokuta Steel in Nigeria was one of the biggest scams of all time.

The mentality of normalizing the looting of Africa for Europeans, Americans and Asians with impunity cannot stop unless Africans get the cooperation of the people of goodwill worldwide. As the Europeans exchange gold for mirrors, the Americans took slaves for vanities and the Asians seized our infrastructure or running law enforcement in exchange for odious loans; Africans are backing into the Dark Ages.

Technology transfer has been oversold as intellectual property by those that stole the same from Egypt and Sudan when the Romans that came to learn in Africa called the Northern Europeans Barbarians. The same intellectual properties are guided and monopolized today for maximum profits. Francois Mitterrand said of France: Without Africa, France will have no history in the 21st century. Former French President, Jacques Chirac, in March 2008, put it best: Without Africa, France will slide down into the rank of twenty-third power.

"We drained Africa for 4 and a half centuries. Next, we plundered its raw materials. After that, we said: they (Africans) are good for nothing. In the name of religion, we destroyed their culture and now, as we have to act with elegance, we are picking their brains with scholarships. Thereupon, we are claiming that the unfortunate Africa is not in a brilliant condition, and is not making elites. Having enriched on its back, we are now lecturing".

Some African Youths still think these are fairy tales by the moonlight. They had to hear or read directly from two Presidents of France and the Prime Minister of Italy. Some of them still turned deaf ears and thumbed their noses at Africans teaching them how Europe impoverished Africa. They emulate their leaders and members of their families that behave like children in a candy store when overseas.

Farouk Martins Aresa @oomoaresa
Challenging Heights is pleased to announce to you that it rescued a total of 153 children from forced work, human trafficking, and domestic servitude, in our 2021 program year. Those freed are made up of 106 boys, and 47 girls, between the ages of six and 17. These children were mainly from 12 out of the 16 regions of Ghana.

This brings to over 1,700 the total number of children Challenging Heights has rescued from slavery in the fishing communities in Ghana since our establishment in 2003.

I am particularly worried that the global community might not achieve the 2030 targeted goal 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goal on the elimination of child trafficking and modern slavery in all its forms.

There are a number of challenges working against the progress activists have made over the years:

The COVID 19 pandemic has eroded the gains made in the sector, and worsened the vulnerabilities of women and children, making it difficult to predict when communities could rebuild resilience against slavery. According to a joint ILO and UNICEF 2021 report, the number of children in child labor has risen to 160 million worldwide  an increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years  with millions more at risk due to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time, in two decades, the global community has witnessed increase in the number of children affected by child labor. Challenging Heights has also found evidence to suggest that the worsening climate change impact is destroying family livelihoods, negatively influencing migration decisions, and making more people vulnerable to human trafficking and slavery. Our evidence show that the climate crisis presents a horrifying new threat to the freedoms of people who are already at risk of modern slavery. In a 2021 report we jointly conducted with Antislavery International, and the International Institute of Environment and Development, climate change was identified as a risk multiplier that makes people more vulnerable to exploitation. The disruptions in the education system occasioned by COVID 19, and its associated school closures, long vacation periods, and the uncertainties in the school re-opening for basic and secondary education system are fostering childrens vulnerabilities to trafficking. When children stay home for longer periods, they become exposed to trafficking easily. In some situations, poorer families are forced to allow their children to join their colleagues on the lake to make money to support the families and buy their school needs when schools eventually re-opens. Even worse for the girl child is the fact that, some get pregnant in the process, and dropping out of school. Lack of access to medical care, is further deepening the vulnerabilities of victims of trafficking and abuse. This sometimes result in victims being forced to abandon the pursuit of justice, or are unable to address abuse-related medical issues, which eventually leads to severe physical and mental health conditions, and sometimes death. Challenging Heights shall, at the appropriate time, issue a comprehensive report on the impact of child trafficking on the health of its victims in Ghana.

Unfortunately, younger children are becoming more vulnerable to slavery now, than it was previously. Challenging Heights has gathered evidence that shows that traffickers are losing their investments in older slavery victims, as a result of frequent escapes, refusal to work, and access to modern technology that blows their cover, and are therefore targeting younger children who are mainly invisible.

We found that for every 10 children on the lake, six of them were between the ages of five and 11, as opposed to five years ago when six out of ten children were between the ages of eight and 17.

The evidence clearly demonstrates the need to intensify awareness to increase knowledge, especially among vulnerable populations, in order to decrease further vulnerabilities.

As the Ghanaian government readies itself to draft a new National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking, Challenging Heights is calling for policy reflections on the newly identified risks such as COVID 19 pandemic, as well as the linkages between slavery and climate change. There is also the need for policy reforms within the national health insurance scheme, to address abuse-related illness. We are also advocating for the effective implementation of the domestic workers regulation (2012), and are urging local and district assemblies to enact by-laws to regulate the activities of child domestic workers, as child domestic work has been identified as a breeding ground for trafficking and exploitation of children. If government is able to address the above policy issues, alongside strengthening our school systems, then we will be able to solve the problem of child trafficking in Ghana.

Thank you for your kind attention.

James Kofi Annan

(President)
18.01.2022 LISTEN

MOGADISHU.: SOMALIA. The wreckage of the vehicle of Somalia's government spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim Moallimu is seen at the scene of the explosion and also debris in the rubble of the buildings.

Reports emerging from the Somali capital Mogadishu had confirmed that suicide bomber runs towards his vehicle and blew up the suicide bomber wearing explosive vest had detonated at the sceneas verified by the eyewitnesses.

The prime target was the government spokesman and former journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Moallimu witnesses told the local media that the suicide bomber ran towards Moallimu' s vehicle in Central Mogadishu. Moallimu was sustained minor injuries to the hand and leg from shrapnel from the device.

A photographer at the scene of the blast on Sunday reported seeing body parts lying on the ground outside his residence and was rushed to the hospital.

"A suicide bomber targeted the government spokesman who is now being treated in Erdogan Hospital for his injuries from the blast" police spokesman Abdifatah Aden told the local media.

Nasrallah Bashir Ali, state media special correspondent in the prime Minister's office where Moallimu is based, said on Twitter he did not suffer life threatening injuries in the attack which targeted him as he was passing in his vehicle.

The Somali militant group Alshebab immediately claimed the responsibility for the attack, Moalimu has survived at least three previous attacks and tweeted " it was lucky escape after surviving one in 2016"

Somalia's prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has condemned the attack and said Moallimu is in stable condition and wished him speedy recovery.

Moallimu is a former journalist who served numerous foreign media organizations including BBC World Service and BBC Somali service for several years and he also led media Syndicate promoting and defending press freedom and he was the secretary General of the federation of Somali journalists a national union of professional journalists in Somalia in Somalia before joining the government.

Prime Minister Roble paid a visit to the hospital where Moallimu is being treated but later he was discharged from the hospital when his medical condition exacerbated and today the Turkish government had despatched special plane and Moalimu lying on the stretcher were seen at the airport and the stretcher was pushing by two Turkish qualified nurses and all media professionals and colleagues whom they had collaborated so closely in media outlets were seen mourning and escorting Moallimu before being airlifted to Turkey for specialized and further treatment.

Political and security analysts had said whenever there is a political deadlock and turbulence in the country, the security is always fragile and precarious and sometimes out of control due to simmering and brewing tensions among top politicians and commanders in the security apparatus and made last-ditch appeal to pacify and stabilize the ruined country now recovering from the scratch and also urged to set aside their discrepancies and hold free and credible elections and heralded that elections is the only viable option out of this protracted crisis

On the other hand the caretaker prime Minister had reassured Somali citizens and also assured and guaranteed the security of the Turkish workers, despite escalating attacks.

The primary responsibility of the federal government is to protect their citizens. Somali prime Minister on Wednesday assured security to the Turkish and Qatari construction engineers and workers in East African country.

This alarm was raised by unidentified Turkish officials Stating that Turkish government will withdraw all its construction Engineers and workers due to insecurity. And this news spread like a wild fire.

The prime Minister had vehemently rebutted and described rumours intended to destabilize the public as well as the country and vowed those disseminated such news will be apprehended and prosecuted with immediate effect.

Mohamed Hussein Roble made commitment in meeting with ambassadors of both countries in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. Jubilant to meet Qatari and Turkish ambassadors to whom I expressed gratitude for their enduring developmental partnerships with Somalia, Such as the construction of Mog-Afgoye Road. I assured that our additional security measures in expediting the completion of the project, the caretaker premier tweeted.

Separately, Somali government communication director said the prime Minister solemnly commends the hard work and resilience shown by the workers and offered his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families of Turkish engineers who lost their lives in the attack.

A Turkish company is currently constructing the high way partially sponsored and funded by Doha, Earlier thus month at least four people including two Turkish nationals were killed and 14 others were sustained life-threatening injuries in the suicide attack targeting a construction site in Lafole area of Mogadishu. Two of the injured were reported to have succumbed to their injuries.

Al-Qaeda affiliated islamist group Al-Shebab had claimed the responsibility of the attack. Turkish- Somali relations have experienced great achievements , success and collaboration over the years.

Beside Military training, drilling and cooperation, The two countries, also partner in health, education and other initiatives. Turkish had renovated numerous dilapidated and decrepit buildings which were in state of disrepair for the last two decades and also built others razed to the ground during the brutal civil strife and it also built new schools and hospitals that they run and also actively involved the construction of the economic infrastructure of the country. And has provided Somalis with academic scholarships to study in Turkey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MOHAMED HUSSEIN MENTALIST. Author, blogger, Prominent researcher, Horn of Africa Affairs analyst and Senior lecturer at Mogadishu University.

Author holds BA in English Language and literature at Mogadishu University and BA in Business administration at Simad University and Master of arts in applied Linguistics at Kisii University as well as Master of peace and conflict studies at Uppsala University in Sweden.
18.01.2022 LISTEN

All Members of Parliament (MP) have been asked to go for the Covid-19 booster shot before sitting resumes on January 25, 2022.

Parliament went on recess in December for the Christmas season.

Although the plan was to resume sitting on January 18, the date was later moved to January 25.

Ahead of the resumption of house, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has written to the President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo informing him that he will travel this month to the United Arab Emirates for a medical appointment.

In the latter, he indicates that before sitting resumes, he would want MPs and staff of Parliament to have the chance to receive booster shots to help protect the safety of all during Parliamentary duties in the house.

Prior to the resumption of the House, Parliament intends to undertake a Covid-19 (Booster) vaccination exercise fort Honurable Members of Parliament and Officers of the Parliamentary Service as part of measures to contain the infection and spread of the coronavirus disease within the Parliamentary precinct, particularly in the wake of the spike in infections as well as the new wave of the omicron variant of the disease, part of the Speakers letter reads.

Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin is expected to return from his medical trip to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, January 23, 2022.
The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) has in a statement appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to help GN Bank regain its license.

The party argue that before GN Bank lost its license, it had invested so much in technology which had helped to expand to even rural communities across the country.

Insisting that the facilities worth millions of cedis are now just rotting away, PPP believes they could come in handy if the license of the bank is reinstated.

We now wish to refer to GN Bank and BlackShield both with Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom as a shareholder. We cannot fathom why such a bank that was clearly thriving prior to 2017 could be shut down so abruptly. We know that the liquidity crisis that faced the bank was contrived and allowed to fester by government agencies withholding funds owed by contractors.

We hereby make a special appeal to the H.E. the President of the Republic to use his authority to cause the reinstatement of the GN Bank license. Many of the communities are still without a licensed financial institution. Many valuable assets are simply rotting away. The economy has not grown to absorb the thousands that were abruptly thrown out of jobs, a statement from PPP dated January 18 has said.

GN Bank, a Ghanaian bank with Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum as a majority shareholder was downgraded to a savings and loans company by the Bank of Ghana after it failed to meet the GHS400 million minimum capital requirement.

After what ensued as a tussle with government during the financial sector cleanup exercise, the bank eventually lost its license after it was revoked by the central bank.

Read the full statement from PPP below:

For Immediate Release

Date: 18th January, 2022

To: All Media Houses

Subject: PAY AFFECTED PERSONS IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR CLEANUP EXERCISE

The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) for the first time wishes to weigh in on the matter involving indigenous Ghanaian contractors, financial institutions and their customers. We state upfront that the financial institutions were licensed and regulated by government agencies. The contractors were also given legitimate contracts by government agencies. It is government regulators that made the decisions to revoke the licenses of specific financial institutions. Some of these institutions have complained that they are owed by the contractors employed by the state agencies. They complain further that the decision to withhold payments for work done and cancel contracts, were made by government officials.

The Akufo-Addo Administration is the government of the day under whose tenure these problems have been created by its agencies, ministers and officials. Therefore, we demand urgent action by President Nana Akufo-Addo to solve the problems caused by his government.

We demand urgent action as follows, in priority order:

Pay all the customers of all regulated financial institutions whose licenses were revoked by government regulators, without conditions.

Restore contracts of Ghanaian contractors canceled or suspended because they could not source additional funds to continue the work; and pay the debts (including interest) of the contractors owed to the financial institutions as a result of non-payment over the years. It is our estimate that these amounts could be as high as GHC10 billion.

Give credit to the financial institutions affected for the debts accumulated (including interest) from financing contracts awarded by state agencies.

There are indisputable facts that we have taken time to validate. They include the following:

Contrary to the impression given by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the Receivers and other officials, not all customers of the banks and non-bank financial institutions have received their deposits. Unfortunately, a huge lie has been told to President Akufo-Addo in this regard.

The decision not to pay investments of BlackShield/Gold Coast customers until that company is liquidated does not hold water. The owners of banks and non-bank financial institutions have taken the Bank of Ghana and the Receivers to court to challenge the revocation of licenses. Yet, the customers are being paid. What is good for one is good for the other. Besides, by agreement the customers of fund management companies have been made to sign, they have become customers of a different fund manager approved by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). The payments have been guaranteed to the customers per that agreement executed between the affected customers and the Amalgamated Fund managed by GCB Capital. In effect, the affected customers are no longer customers of Gold Coast/Blackshield, but they are customers of GCB Capital.

The President, the Vice President, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Works & Housing and Roads & Highways have all admitted publicly that indigenous Ghanaian contractors are owed significant sums of money. The Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning led by Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta has been selective in determining which contractors to pay and which ones not to pay. It has directed funds to financial institutions such as Fidelity Bank to pay contractors bypassing the original lenders. This has the potential of denying the original lenders funds due them and likely to cause huge judgements debts and financial loss to the state.

We now wish to refer to GN Bank and BlackShield both with Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom as a shareholder. We cannot fathom why such a bank that was clearly thriving prior to 2017 could be shut down so abruptly. GN Bank invested heavily in technology to enable it to reach 300 locations all over Ghana. It had all manner of infrastructure paid for with valuable shareholder funds including that of a foreign-owned organization. The bank gave good jobs to over 6,000 men and women across the country and supported the business aspirations of many people. It made banking safe for over one million customers. We know that the liquidity crisis that faced the bank was contrived and allowed to fester by government agencies withholding funds owed by contractors.

We hereby make a special appeal to the H.E. the President of the Republic to use his authority to cause the reinstatement of the GN Bank license. Many of the communities are still without a licensed financial institution. Many valuable assets are simply rotting away. The economy has not grown to absorb the thousands that were abruptly thrown out of jobs.

There are thousands of soldiers, police officers, judges, teachers, civil servants, business people and people from all walks of life whose life savings are locked up as a result of SEC revoking fund managers licenses. We make another appeal to the President of the Republic to direct SEC to make sure that all customers of fund managers including Gold Coast/BlackShield are paid their investments without conditions. Thankfully, Parliament in 2021 approved funds to be used to pay customers of ALL fund managers whose licenses were revoked. Government has perpetual life but human life is limited. Some have lost their lives already. The President must intervene with his full executive authority to cause the Finance Minister to make payments to these affected customers who are suffering unnecessarily because of the politics of selective payments to preferred contractors.

Finally, we wish to use this opportunity to ask the President to re-examine the method being used in the financial sector to determine the minimum capital requirements of financial institutions in Ghana. The fixed minimum capital approach adopted by the Ministry of Finance is archaic and discriminates against smaller companies. The modern world uses a flexible risk-based capital method that allows regulators to ensure that financial companies have the right capital to match the business they write and the deposits they collect. We suspect that the one-size-fits-all minimum capital approach adopted by the government is a deliberate tool employed to put the new capital beyond the reach of targeted indigenous business entities in order for elements in government to have a basis to revoke their licenses.

The President and his lieutenants must always put the interest of Ghanaians first in all their deliberations and their decision-making including the application of regulatory minimum capital requirement for regulated financial institutions. A fixed minimum capital requirement for all financial institutions irrespective of their sizes and risk is a bad policy and the President must review same.

We are confident that the President will intervene in these matters to end the pain and suffering of customers, protect indigenous companies and save the much-needed jobs for the betterment of the Republic of Ghana.

May God Bless Our Homeland.

Sign:

Nana Ofori Owusu

National Chairman
The Gambia Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has recommended the payment of a total of $ 612,000 to some 54 West African migrants who were massacred by para-military troops in 2005.

The migrants were tortured, unlawfully imprisoned, unlawfully killed or forced to disappear by the para-military troops who were directly under the control of the then President, Yahya Jammeh.

The money is to be paid to the respective governments of the migrants' countries who would then make the payments to the victims' families and survivors.

These were made known at a press conference in Kumasi to present a report on the findings and recommendations by the Commission on the massacre and enforced disappearances of Ghanaians and other West African migrants.

The massacre happened in July 2005, when a group of economic migrants from West Africa, predominantly from Ghana, were told that they had to come to the Gambia to connect to a boat that would take them to Europe.

Former President Jammeh commanded a paramilitary group for the arrest, killing and disappearance of such persons with the intention that the migrants were criminals.

Mr Williams Nyarko, Coordinator, Jammeh2Justice Ghana Campaign, said the Commission observed that even if they were criminals or in any other way breached Gambia's laws, due process ought to have been followed.

However, Yahya Jammeh and the state apparatus under his control had already made up their minds, namely to extra-judicially execute them without any regard for the law and human life.

Mr Nyarko called the successive governments of the victims' countries to equitably share the monies to victims and families of the said incident.

Mr Martin Kyere, Survivor and Spokesperson for Survivors, commended the Commission for leading the way for justice to take its due processes.

He called on the Gambian President to increase payment fines to a tune of $15,000,000, explaining that could go a long way to help affected families to plan meaningful lives.

GNA
The Gambia Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has found former President, Yahya Jammeh, and 13 others criminally liable for the unlawful murder, torture and forced disappearances of about 67 West African migrants, including 44 Ghanaians.

The accomplices are Ousman Sonko, Solo Bojang, Malick Jatta (Alfidie), Sanna Manjang, Kawsu Camara (Bombardier), Tumbul Tamba, Bai Lowe, Nuha Badji, Landing Tamba, Alieu Jeng, Omar .A. Jallow (Oya), Buboucarr Jallow, and Lamin Sillah, all para-military troops of Jammeh.

Mr Jammeh has been found culpable on the basis of the confessions by the paramilitary group, who were under his direct command and control.

They carried out the extrajudicial killings of these migrants.

Again, his failure to take any measure within his power to prevent or repress the commission of the crimes or submit the matter to the competent authorities for investigation and prosecution, as well as the failure of his government to genuinely investigate and prosecute these crimes, among others.

Mr William Nyarko, Coordinator, Jammeh2Justice Ghana Campaign, briefing the media in Kumasi on the findings and recommendations by the Commission said the TRRC has therefore recommended their prosecution and also the establishment of an International Joint Forensic Investigation Team (IJFIT) based in The Gambia, which would comprise forensic investigators and scientists from The Gambia, Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria, with the relevant skills, training, and background to carry out some tasks.

Mr Nyarko said the joint investigative team would ensure investigations without delay to identify the exact locations where the victims were buried, including the wells and graves mentioned by the witnesses that are located in both The Gambia and also in Casamance, Senegal.

It would also take all reasonable steps to ensure the security and full protection of all the sites where the remains were buried and yet to be exhumed for the purposes of protecting the human remains therein and from tampering with the evidence.

Again, the team would be given the mandate to exhume and conserve the remains of the victims that may be found in those wells or graves.

The team would be given the full cooperation of the Gambian authorities, including full access to all documentary, testimonial, and physical information and evidence in their possession that the Joint Forensic Investigation Team deemed relevant to the inquiry.

According to Mr Nyarko, who is also the Executive Director, Africa Center for International Law and Accountability, the Commission underscored the need for accountability and the importance of bringing to justice those who bear responsibility for the crimes committed against the West African migrants who landed on the shores of The Gambia on July 22, 2005.

The Jammeh2Justice Ghana Coalition, started campaigning when the news broke about the killings of the Ghanaians in the Gambia in July 2005.

The campaign was led by founding patrons -Mr Akoto Ampaw, Professor Kwame Karikari, and Nana Oye Bampo Addo as well as civil society organizations such as the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Media Foundation for West Africa, and Africa Legal Aid.

Their efforts contributed greatly to bringing the issue into the limelight and for national discussion.

Similarly, all past and present governments contributed in bringing the unlawful murder of our citizens into the public and international domain.

In 2018, a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations including Africa Centre for International Law & Accountability (ACILA), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Amnesty International Ghana, Human Rights Advocacy Center (HRAC), POS Foundation, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and spearheaded by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) was formed to revive the campaign.

This became necessary following new evidence by international partners - Human Rights Watch and TRIAL International, alleged that some Ghanaians were unlawfully killed by the Gambian paramilitary group on the orders of President Yahya Jammeh, who coincidentally had lost power and had fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea in January 2017.

Since the initiation of the campaign, the coalition has undertaken several activities including engagements with key institutions such as the Ghana Police Service, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency, Parliamentary select committee on Foreign Affairs, media, CSOs, and individuals, among others.

GNA
Kwasi Wiredu focused on bringing an African understanding to the study of philosophy - Source: Global Echo

18.01.2022 LISTEN

Kwasi Wiredu, often called the greatest living African philosopher, passed on 6 January 2022 in the US at the age of 90.

Wiredu was a central presence in the discipline by virtue of two highly influential books  Philosophy and an African Culture (1980) and Cultural Universals and Particulars .

He and other important contemporaries formed what is known as the universalist school of African philosophy . They included Paulin J. Hountondji in Benin, Henry Oruka Odera in Kenya and Peter O. Bodunrin in Nigeria. Of this ground-breaking philosophical quartet, only Hountondji remains alive.

The universalists worked to establish modern philosophy practices on the continent  away from the dubious credentials of ethnophilosophy .

They did this by keeping to the strictest standards of rigour in philosophy. Collectively, they made a considerable impact on parts of the continent and eventually globally.

Indeed no African philosophy curriculum is taken seriously if it doesn't include all these philosophers. And within this esteemed group, Wiredu is often regarded as first among equals  a view Hountondji himself shares.

Professor Kwesi Prah, a renowned sociologist engaged in a wide spectrum of African Studies-related disciplines and Wiredu's compatriot, simply adds that he did really pioneering work.

His writings are notable for a matter-of-fact fastidiousness and tone. They are unpretentious and avoid academic fads. Whether he was dealing with concepts such as Truth, Mind, Language or Democracy from his native Akan (Ghanaian) perspective or other branches of philosophy such as logic and metaphysics, he was a beacon of conceptual brilliance and clarity.

These qualities are essentially what established his reputation as a revered figure in modern philosophy.

A lifetime academic

Wiredu initially studied philosophy in 1952 at the University College of the Gold Coast in what became Ghana. He then went to Oxford University for his master's degree.

At Oxford, he wrote a thesis titled, Knowledge, Truth and Reason under the supervision of Gilbert Ryle , the world renowned analytic philosopher.

At that time, many scholars were preoccupied with philosophy of language. The pressure would have been on Wiredu to follow. But he refused to be classified as simply an analytic philosopher and rather considered himself to be more beholden to a genetic methodology as developed by John Dewey , the American pragmatist.

It does not appear that when he completed his studies at Oxford, Wiredu had any definite ideas on establishing a modern African philosophical practice. Instead he began to write research papers on W.V.O. Quine , a major American philosopher, which appeared in Second Order: An African Journal of Philosophy.

But obviously the argumentative rigour he had learned influenced his later work which explored ideas in his native Akan context and the dominant western tradition.

Wiredu returned to the University of Ghana, where he taught for several years and became a full professor. He started publishing relatively late in his career but once he was on his way, the range of his research interests made up for lost time in terms of breadth and diversity.

As the Ghanaian economy plummeted during the 1970s he moved to the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. In 1985, he left for the US for good. He lived, worked and retired in Florida.

Arguably, Wiredu formulated the most influential approach in modern African philosophy. He called it  conceptual decolonisation .

Through conceptual decolonisation, Wiredu attempted to tackle the dilemmas of modernity, on the one hand, and the conflicts embedded in the African consciousness, on the other.

By itself, this project appeared quite simple. But it was obviously not, because it entailed building new philosophical foundations for Africa.

In his usual unassuming manner, Wiredu attempted to re-evaluate western philosophical concepts within Akan linguistic and conceptual frameworks. His intention was to attain greater philosophical clarity and relevance.

His findings were path-breaking. Many African philosophers have adopted his approach in their varied ethnic and national contexts.

Over a long and productive professional career, Wiredu planted the seeds that have germinated and are fast growing into a global disciplinary colossus. He also held up a lamp allowing Africans to peer through the morass of coloniality and the ambiguities of modernity.

With astonishing discipline and endurance, Wiredu confronted these existential and conceptual issues with calmness, fortitude and unparalleled inventiveness.

Sanya Osha 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.

By Sanya Osha, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Humanities in Africa, University of Cape Town
Mr. Nii Armah Ashittey , NDC National Chairman hopeful

18.01.2022 LISTEN

The National Democratic Congress's (NDC) National Chairman hopeful, hon. Nii Armah Ashittey has waged into the controversy surrounding the withdrawal of four military guards attached to the office of the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Albin Sumana Kinsford Bagbin.

He questions the rationale behind the actions taken by government and the Military High Command to deprive the third most important person of the land of the military support that he enjoins since taking office in January 2021.

The former Greater Accra Regional and Employment Minister was of the view that the Chief of Army Staff, Major General, N.P Andoh should have engaged the leadership of Parliament to deliberate on the issue before effecting the withdrawal.

"Before the withdrawal of the soldiers, couldn't the Chief of Staff have engaged the leadership of Parliament to discuss the irregularities with the deployment and build a consensus," he queries.

Mr. Ashittey further schooled the Army General that Alban Bagbin is the next most important gentleman of the land after both the President and his Vice.

"Did the Chief of Staff consider the fact that in the absence of the President and the Vice from the jurisdiction, the Speaker acts as the President and consequentially the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces for that period?" the former MP for the Korle Klottey Constituency emphasised.

Mr. Nii Armah Ashittey was reacting to the withdrawal of all military guards attached to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, a move that has received mixed reactions from a cross section of the Ghanaians.

In a letter signed by the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces ( GAF) Major General N.P Andoh to Speaker Albin Bagbin said the withdrawal was necessary because the said officers were earlier attached without proper procedure.

A letter dated January 11, 2022 titled "Withdrawal of Military Personnel Attached to the office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament" informed the Speaker of the withdrawal of the personnel.
The Court of Appeal has struck out the Bank of Ghana's appeal in the GN Savings & Loans case on Tuesday, January 18th, 2022.

The ruling of the Court of Appeal clears the way for the High Court to deliver its final judgement in the protracted legal battle between Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduoms defunct bank, the Bank of Ghana, the Attorney-General, and Eric Nana Nipa, the Receiver.

It may be recalled that in August 2019, Dr Nduom filed a suit challenging the decision of the Bank of Ghana to revoke the operating licence of GN Savings & Loans Company Limited.

The High Court judge set 9th December 2020 for its final judgement, however, just a few days before the judgement, the Bank of Ghana applied to the Court of Appeal for a stay of the High Court's proceedings.

The case had thus paused for over a year.

At the High Court, Dr. Nduom's lawyers, Praetorium Solicitors, argued that the Bank of Ghana's decision to revoke GN Savings' licence was irrational and constitutes an abuse of regulatory authority.

Background

In October 2019, BoG and the Attorney-General raised a preliminary legal objection to the case brought by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom and two other shareholders of GN Savings and Loans Limited.

In the objection, the BoG and the Attorney-General argued that the High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the complaint which is challenging the revocation of GN Savings licence. According to the Attorney-General and the Bank of Ghana's lawyers, the only lawful forum for resolving the Applicants' concerns is the Ghana Arbitration Centre.

This argument was opposed by Mr. Srem-Sai.

In December 2019, the presiding High Court judge, Justice Gifty Adjei-Addo, dismissed the legal objection as frivolous and without merit.

She then ordered the BoG, the Attorney-General and the Receiver of GN Savings to file their defences by January 17, 2020.

The BoG and the Attorney-General failed to file their defence on January 17, 2020, as directed by the court.

Rather, BoG appealed the High Court's decision. It also filed an application at the High Court for a stay of the High Court's proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.

Lawyers for Dr. Nduom, again, opposed the application for stay of proceedings, arguing that it was a mere ploy to delay the proceedings as the BoG has not demonstrated that some exceptional circumstances exist to justify a stay.

The application for stay of proceedings was accordingly dismissed as without merit. By this time the case had reached mid-March 2020.

Further Orders

The trial judge, then, ordered all the parties to file their defences and a closing address by April 13, 2020, but the BoG and Attorney-General failed to do so.

While still yet to file a defence to the substantive case in the High Court, the lawyers for the BoG rather appealed to the Court of Appeal against the High Court's ruling which dismissed their application for stay of proceedings.

While all this was going on, the lawyers of the Bank of Ghana had not taken any steps to prosecute their first appeal. For example, they failed to attend the High Court Registrar's summons to settle the records of appeal.

They also failed to satisfy the conditions of appeal served on them as far back as February 2020.

Fed up with the delays and evasiveness of the Bank of Ghana's lawyers, the High Court Registrar wrote to the Court of Appeal Registrar and recommended that the Court of Appeal should strike out the entire appeal for abuse of the court process.

---citinewsroom
French investigators have not been allowed to travel to Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, to look into the explosion of a vehicle in the Dakar Rally that injured a French driver.

Investigators want to go on site to see the remains of the support vehicle that exploded in Jeddah on 30 December, badly injuring 61-year-old driver Philippe Boutron.

Saudi authorities and organisers of the Dakar, which ended on Friday, have determined the explosion was an accident, and said there was nothing criminal.

French prosecutors opened an investigation into the attempted murder in relation with a terrorism group, and investigators would like access to Saudi police reports on whether or not there were traces of explosives on the car, and to see video surveillance footage from the hotel where the French Sodicars Racing team was staying.

Tough diplomatic and legal negotiations are underway to allow the investigators into Saudi Arabia, according to France Info.

All of the French participants in Dakar Rally left Saudi Arabia at the end of last week, and team members were interviewed Monday by the DGSI security agency in Bordeaux.

They provided information, including their own photos of the crash, to investigators.

Saudi Arabia has been turning to sporting events, like the Dakar race, which has been held there since 2020, to clean up its image tarnished by accusations of human rights abuses.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has said it has evidence against Broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart popularly known as Captain Smart for the offences of defrauding by false pretences and accepting or giving bribe to corrupt a public officer.

According to a police report, an investigation has disclosed that one Gifty Twumasi had interest in a parcel of land in front of her property, which taxi drivers at Achimota Mile 7 were using as a terminal.

The drivers and Ms Twumasi knew that parcel of land is a reserve land and, as such, decided to litigate with a private developer when he attempted to develop the property, the CID said.

After several attempts to prevent the developer from developing the land failed, the taxi drivers went to see Captain Smart to assist them.

According to the police report, because Captain Smart is influential and had access to the airwaves, he was able to broadcast the information about the development on the reserved land, which came to the attention of the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwesi Amoako-Attah, who, in turn, went to stop the project.

Investigations further established that Gifty Twumasi and three taxi drivers; Fred Boamah, Yaw Adu Rockson and Kwabena Anane, went to the residence of Captain Smart to thank him with an amount of GHS10,000 for his assistance in halting the project.

Again, it was revealed that Captain Smart led the four people to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to see the minister without success.

Further investigations, according to the report, also established that after visiting the office of the minister, the same taxi drivers and Gifty Twumasi, for the second time, visited the residence of Captain Smart to hand over GHS25,000 to him for onward delivery to the minister, which the suspect confirmed but insisted the amount was GHS10,000 not GHS25,000.

However, two witnesses corroborated that Captain Smart requested the money to be given to the minister and they were present when the amount of GHS25,000 was handed over to him (Captain Smart).

Investigation also revealed that in January 2019, Kwasi Amoako-Attah visited the reserved land at Achimota Mile 7 due to agitation by some taxi drivers concerning a private developer and halted the developer from work.

Investigation disclosed that somewhere in 2018, Mr Amoako-Attah participated in a radio discussion hosted by Captain Smart and through that the suspect became close to the minister.

Captain smart took advantage and subsequently visited the offices of the minister at the ministries and parliament but could not meet the minister in any of his visit, the report stated.

The CID noted that its investigation could not adduce evidence that Mr Amoako-Attah had knowledge of the money taken from the victim by Captain Smart.

Again, there is no evidence to suggest that Captain Smart after extorting the GHS25,000 from the victims gave same to Mr Amaoako-Attah, noted the report.

The CID, however, said there is evidence against Captain Smart for the offences of defrauding by false pretenses and accepting or giving bribe to corrupt a public officer.

The police said investigation is being finalised for his prosecution.

---Classfmonline.com
A former Member of parliament and long-standing member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, has shown his interest in contesting as a flagbearer in the partys upcoming presidential primary.

He says Ghanas present situation requires that the country moves on a different trajectory, and he is in the best position to lead the charge.

Speaking on Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen show on Tuesday, Dr. Apraku said he has the capacity and capability to deliver [development and progress] to the people of Ghana.

He said although Ghana is making some progress, it needs to speed it up.

I think they [the party] should reward Apraku. Not just because I've been around for a long time, but because I have the capacity and capability to deliver to the people of Ghana. If you've been around for long, and you are not good enough, it doesn't cut it. I can take this country on a completely different trajectory, he said.

There is a lot that we can do. We can't continue on the path that we are. We are making progress, but we need to speed up that process and widen the scope of capability in our country, he added.

Dr. Apraku, who is currently the Commissioner for Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research at the ECOWAS Secretariat, said his goal if elected is to ensure a sustainable and resilient economy where people will be free and live in dignity and make sure that the rules and regulations and laws work the way they are irrespective of personality. I want us to create greater accountability for government.

The former Offinso North legislator and Trade and Industry Minister, has thrice contested unsuccessfully to become the NPPs flagbearer, but is hoping that he will be lucky on his fourth attempt ahead of the 2024 elections.

As President Akufo-Addo is unable to stand again to be president, the NPP is looking to elect a new flagbearer to lead the party into the next elections.

Already, Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen; Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia; former member Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko; and Agric Minister, Owusu Afriyie Akoto have all hinted at plans to contest in the flagbearership race.

---citinewsroom
A former flagbearer aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Kofi Konadu Apraki, has said President Akufo-Addo did not invite him to join his government since winning the presidency in the 2016 polls.

The economist and former Offinso North MP, told Accra-based Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen programme on Tuesday, 18 January 2022 that he would have accepted an appointment from Mr Akufo-Addo had there been an offer.

I have worked with the president since the early days of the formation of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition and we all belonged to the late Adu Boahen stock, Dr Apraku said.

Dr Apraku, who once served as a campaign manager of Mr Akufo-Addos team, said he would have loved to serve under the president but no such offer was made to him.

He said after waiting for an appointment in vain, he jumped at an opportunity to work as a Commissioner with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria.

Per the rules of engagement, I was not supposed to dabble in local politics, hence me missing from the campaign for the 2020 general elections, he explained.

Dr Apraku also revealed that he was lacing his boots for the flagbearer race of the NPP ahead of the 2024 polls once the official green light is given.

Dr Apraku, who claims he introduced the National School Feeding Programme in collaboration with the Netherland Ambassador to Ghana while he was the Minister of New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) in the Kufuor administration, said: If anybody should lay claim to serving the party so well, it is Dr Konadu Apraku.

I did not see any of these personalities now jostling to lead the party when the party was being formed in the early days, he argued.

He expressed confidence of victory after having failed in his past three attempts.

Dr Apraku urged the NPP delegates to elect the best candidate with the capacity to deliver so as to break the eight rather than opting for the man of the moment.

He stressed that political parties choose people who can win, pointing out: We do not experiment with an election.

---Classfmonline.com
Ghanas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has said news going viral that it has an agreement with UK authorities to host deportees in Ghana is false.

Newspapers in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, reported details of a document dubbed "Operation Dead Meat", which contains, among others, a measure supposedly being drawn up by UK authorities to "send migrants to countries such as Rwanda and Ghana for processing and resettlement".

With the attention of Ghanas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration drawn to the reports, it has issued a statement indicating that nothing of that sort has happened.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to state categorically that Ghana has not engaged with the UK on any such plan and does not intend to consider any such operation in the future, the press statement issued to all media houses has said.

The Ministry stresses that the government has no interest in any partnership with the UK to host deported or returned migrants of Third Countries from the UK.

Read the full press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration below:
An Adentan Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey for failing to appear before it.

The Deputy Minister has been charged for allegedly violating Section 7 (1) and (2) of vigilantism and related offence and forcibly entering the land of one Alhaji Tony Baba.

Mark-Okraku was to appear in court today for the continuation or completion of case management conference for the trial to commence but failed.

His lawyer was also absent, but he sought permission from the court.

Prosecuting, Superintendent of Police Patience Mario, prayed the Court for a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused person.

The Court presided over by Mrs Sedinam Awo Balokah, issued the warrant, and adjourned the matter to February 8.

The case of the prosecution was that the complainant, Alhaji Tony Baba, was an Estate Developer residing at North Legon, Accra.

It said the complainant was developing a parcel of land at Oyarifa, High Tension, which the accused person was allegedly claiming ownership for.

The prosecution said on March 3, last year, the accused person went to the site with three thugs two of whom were on a motorbike and another in his (Deputy Minister's) car.

The prosecution said on March 9, last year, the accused person visited the site a few hours after, which

the thugs he previously visited the site with went back to the site and attacked the workers and caused damage to parts of the building allegedly.

It said the complainant reported the matter to the Police and mentioned the accused person as the one behind the unwarranted attacks and damages.

The prosecution said during interrogation, the accused person was contacted to report at the Police to assist in investigations.

It said while the Police was waiting for the accused person, more damages were allegedly caused to the three-bedroom building on March 10, last year, and he was identified as the one who brought and ordered the thugs to cause the damage.

The prosecution said on April 3 last year, the complainant's workers were allegedly attacked gain and two persons sustained injuries.

It said the injured were issued with Police medical forms to seek treatment.

On March 20, last year, extensive damage was allegedly caused to the building, which was at lintel level and valued at GHC63,700.

GNA
A Rwandan court on Tuesday ruled that a prosecution appeal to increase a prison sentence against "Hotel Rwanda" hero Paul Rusesabagina must go ahead even though he is boycotting the proceedings.

The fiercely outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame was sentenced last year to 25 years in jail on terrorism charges after a trial that his family and supporters branded a sham.

But state prosecutors appealed, saying the punishment against the former Kigali hotel manager was too lenient and should be increased to life.

They are also appealing the sentences meted out to Rusesabagina's 20 co-defendants, who were jailed for between three and 20 years.

All were convicted of backing an armed rebel group blamed for a spate of deadly attacks in Rwanda from 2018-2019.

The 67-year-old Rusesabagina -- who is credited with saving more than 1,200 lives during the 1994 genocide -- refused to appear in court on Monday for the first appeal hearing.

On Tuesday, Judge Francois Regis Rukundakuvuga ruled that Rusesabagina "was informed and notified about the appeal hearing in a manner that followed law" and it would proceed despite his absence.

The next hearing was set for January 20.

His family said Friday that Rusesabagina would not participate "in a staged appeal of a political prisoner" and urged the international community to pressure Rwanda to free their father.

Rusesabagina became the most famous Rwandan internationally after American actor Don Cheadle dramatised his deeds during the genocide in the 2004 Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda".

He later used his celebrity to denounce rebel leader turned president Kagame as a dictator, and left Rwanda in 1996, living in Belgium and then the United States.

Both countries have voiced concern that Rusesabagina had been denied a fair trial, and his family insist their ailing father has been mistreated in prison and denied proper legal services.

He was arrested when a plane he believed was bound for Burundi landed instead in Kigali after what his family has described as a kidnapping.
The Wenchi High Court has dismissed an application by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to file extra witness statements in the Techiman South Parliamentary Election Petition.

The court, therefore, awarded a cost of GHS 4,000 against the party.

The ruling came after the Counsel for the Electoral Commission concluded his cross-examination of the petitioners witness, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.

Mr. Nketiah felt the EC lawyers who questioned him did not have much substance.

The lawyers found it hard to find questions to ask. The NPP lawyer asked about 39 questions that were just repetitions, he told the press after the ruling.

Richard Asamoah, Secretary for the Techiman South NPP and representative of the Techiman South MP, Martin Adjei Korsah, however, welcomed the ruling.

We think it was of bad faith just to cause mischief. We vehemently opposed it through our counsel, and the Electoral Commission also did the same, he said.

What they sought to do with the additional witness statements had not been pleaded with their original case.

The Techiman South Parliamentary Election Petition was filed by the NDC's 2020 Techiman South Parliamentary Candidate, Dr. Christopher Beyere Baasongti, to quash the declaration of Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah as the winner of the 2020 parliamentary election.

The case has been adjourned to the 14th and 15th of February 2022, where Shamsudeen Ali, the NDC Bono East Regional Secretary will mount the witness box to be cross-examined.

---citinewsroom
Plans are far advanced for the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) in the Upper East Region to run a Master's degree in Technology programmes, Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, Vice-Chancellor of the University, has revealed.

The programme is expected to kick start in the 2023/2024 academic year to include Masters of Technology Programmes in Animal Science, Crop Science, Soil Science, Farm Management and Irrigation and Drainage systems.

Professor Alnaa disclosed this to the media after a closed-door meeting of the Council of the University to appoint Professor Peter Osei Boamah, Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University as its first substantive Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Boamah's appointment was part of the transitional process of the University since its conversion from Polytechnic to Technical University in April 2020, and the appointment will take effect from February 1, 2022, for a three-year tenure.

Currently, the University runs Bachelor of Technology programmes including Ecological Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Hospitality and Management, Building Technology, Accounting with Computing, Procurement and Supply Chain Management.

It also runs Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Ecological Agriculture, Agriculture Engineering, Medical Laboratory Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Building Technology, HND in Statistics, Accountancy, Secretaryship and Management Studies, Marketing, Hotel Catering and Institution Management, Banking and Finance, Agricultural Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Procurement and Logistics Management, Industrial Art, Electrical and Electronic Engineering among others.

The Technical University also run Diploma in Business Administration, Diploma in Computerized Accounting, Diploma in Catering and Hospitality Management.

Professor Alnaa said the University had already submitted its proposal to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for consideration and approval and expressed optimism for a positive outcome.

He also disclosed that the University's Council has given the approval for the establishment and appointment of Deans and Heads of Departments for the various faculties and the postgraduate school.

He explained that the decision of the University's Council and Management for the Master's programmes was based on the fact that the University had a niche in the area of Eco-Agriculture, and stressed that it is well noted by all Ghanaians and International development partners that the Upper East Region where BTU is located is endowed with agriculture potentials and needed to be tapped for nation's growth and development.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that another factor that necessitated the University to introduce the Masters programmes is that agriculture is a major contributor to the growth of the nation's economy and employment generation.

He noted that the new Programmes would also help offer opportunities for past students of the University who undertook their diploma and first degree programmes in the school to continue as well as pave the way for other students from outside the region to attain higher education particularly in the area of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Professor Alnaa stated that the University is experiencing considerable growth and attributed the growth partly to the majority of the academic staff gaining terminal degrees and the series of capacity building training and refresher courses being run by the University management periodically for teaching and non-teaching staff.

GNA.
The Reverend John Ntim-Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education, says parents have no excuse not to send their children to school.

He said because Government had made education free from pre-school to Senior High School.

The Deputy Minister said this on Tuesday when he toured the Sakumono School Complex in Accra to observe the annual "My First Day in School" and to welcome the newly admitted pupils to the learning environment.

The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service have collaborated to establish My First Day At School, to complement the efforts of school leaders to facilitate children's entry into the education system at the beginning of the academic year.

The Minister presented the pupils with learning materials, includin books, pencils, erasers, crayons, and sanitisers to enhance learning and make them to feel welcomed in their new environment.

The Rev Ntim-Fordjour said the Government had repositioned the educational system to ensure quality teaching and learning in schools.

The Government, he said would work assiduously to meet the Sustainable Development Goals four-to ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

That, he explained was necessary because education was the bedrock to the socio-economic development of every country.

"Government will continue to invest in education and ensure that all children have access to quality education and produced responsible professionals for the country's development," he said.

The Rev Ntim-Fordjour advised the pupils to learn hard to become responsible citizens, saying "we will continue to equip the pupils with the requisite knowledge, skills and aptitude to compete with the best in the world."

Ms Monica Ankrah, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, commended teachers for their efforts and urged them to teach and mentor the pupils to become responsible leaders.

She advised the teachers to initiate innovative ideas that would ease learning in the classroom, especially at the Creche and lower Primary levels and appealed to them to make the teaching environment home for the kids.

Ms Anna Adukwei Addo, the Municipal Chief Executive for Tema West, assured stakeholders that the environment was safe for the resumption of school activities.

Madam Joyce Danso, the Headmistress of Sakumono School Complex, said the attendance for the first day was encouraging and that the teachers and non-teaching staff were ready to ensure sound and effective academic activities.

She said the School's Complex "1" had 92 new entrants in class one (A and B) out of the total number of 100 while Complex "2" had 82.

The Ghana News Agency observed that all the COVID-19 preventive protocols have been put in place to ensure the safety of the pupils.

The pupils were seen wearing nose masks with veronica buckets placed at vantage points.

The Ghana Education Service announced the reopening of all public basic schools in the country on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

GNA
The Ghana College of Pharmacists has officially launched its 10th-anniversary celebration.

The launch event was held on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Colleges premises under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Health represented by the Deputy Minister for Health, Hon Mahama Asei Seini, CEO of NHIA, CEO of Korlebu Teaching Hospital, CEO of Cape Coast Hospital, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and Rectors of sister colleges.

Speaking at the event, the president of the college, Pharm. Joseph Nyoagbe emphasized that the celebration is not much of a festivity but a solemn occasion to pause and look back at this journey to date.

He emphasized, "While we want to recognize and highlight our successes and achievements, It is also a moment to look ahead at the mountains we must still climb and the Many Rivers to Cross!. Our purpose of gathering here is simple. To join and celebrate with us we launch the commencement of our 10` year anniversary."

Recounting the colleges achievement and successes since its inception in 2012, he stated, "I want to pay special tribute to the first Governing Council chaired by Mr Kwabena Akurang Ohene-Manu. a distinguished Pharmacist and an Entrepreneur. Professor Emeritus Kwame Sarpong, a renowned academician, pharmacist and a statesman as the first President of the College as elected among Foundation Fellows, Professor Theophilus C. Fleischer, Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences of (KNUST), Prof Anna Lartey, a Food Scientist; Ms Frederica Salla Illiasu, a representative from Attorney General's office, Dr( Mrs) Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt, then the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, MOH; Mr Joseph Kodjo Nsiah Nyoagbe, then as Registrar of Pharmacy Council: Mr James Ohemeng Kyei of blessed memory, The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana(PSGH) representing PSGH a Representative of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana: and Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi, an Industrialist and a Pharmacist."

According to him, these personalities blazed the trail in uncharted water to lay the sound foundation for the take-off of the College which is arguable the first of its kind globally to be set up by any government. "Recently Sierra-Leone drawing inspiration from us has also followed Ghana's example."

In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Health by the Deputy Minister of Health, Hon Mahama Asei Seini, the minister lauded the innovations and successes chalked by the college which includes the GCP Journal launch and the specialist training. He also indicated that the ministry will consider building ultra-modern infrastructure to aid the college.

According to him, Ghana is moving assiduously towards attaining Universal Health Coverage. "We define UHC as all people in Ghana have timely access to high-quality health services irrespective of the ability to pay at the point of use."

He added that to have access to high-quality health services, there is the need to have highly trained health professionals. "That is where the college comes in, you provide specialist training for pharmacists who are then able to use the knowledge and competencies acquired to improve access to high-quality health services, and your training covers every aspect of pharmaceutical service delivery. The specialist you have trained are providing pharmaceutical services in all spheres where there are services."

The rector of the college, Pharm Yvonne Yirenkyiwaa Eseku, highlighted that the team has put down yearlong activities for the colleges 10th anniversary. "Each month of the year, you will have at least two interesting programmes to participate in, to sharpen your skills as a scientist, keep abreast with current trends in healthcare, to interact with other professionals and to give back to the society through public engagements."

Speaking at the launch, she said," we are introducing the GCPharm Masterclass Series. This series is designed to equip scientists with the relevant skills to communicate and publish their scientific work and research. We have put together faculty from within and outside Ghana who will facilitate the sessions. We will have a session each month starting with the first one on Thursday, January 20, 2022. "

She continued, "All the sessions will be interactive with small group sessions to allow for effective participation among all present. Some of the topics we will be tackling include plagiarism, citing and referencing, and using databases effectively. We will also deal with designing and presenting the work impactfully. If you are a scientist and you have any work or research you want to share, join us on 20th January. The registration link is available on our website.

"To commemorate our 10th anniversary, we will continue to issue statements on some days. But, in addition, we will have sessions where we engage pharmacists, other healthcare workers and the public in general. Our faculties have also lined up various activities to ensure that the specialists and practitioners with interest in the different specializations are not left out during the year-long celebrations."

The rector also highlighted that, all faculties are focusing their activities for the year on the theme for celebration: "Improving access to quality health services through Specialist Pharmacist Training."

The 10th anniversary will climax all activities in December 2022 with a colourful durbar.
Nana Ogyedom Tsetsewa1, Mankralo Gomoa Oguan has demystified myths surrounding the adornment of beads saying there was nothing mystical about it.

Beads serve as a traditional ornament for women to exhibit their beauty and traditional leaders also adorned them to show their power and elegance has over the years been classified as mystical.

She noted that conventional beads are harmless without any spirit inhabitation but could be transformed to possess the power if spoken into by spiritualist who may chant on the beads to serve a certain purpose.

There is no spirit in beads, spirits can only dwell in it when someone invoked or chants words in into it, but revealed that there are different types of beads for specific purposes, Nana Ogyedom Tsetsewal told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Tema.

Nana Ogyedom Tsetsewal noted that beads used by traditional leaders, fetish priests, as well as people with spiritual powers even sometimes what twins used may not be an ordinary one as they are sometimes taken through traditional purification and fortification to protect the user.

She said most often people confused beads used by the classified traditional personalities to the normal ones and conclude that all beads have spiritual powers, that is not true.

The Queen-mother said in spite of the myth surrounding beads, it continues to serve as an ornament for beautification and it is worn during a celebration either around the neck, wrist, wrist, or ankle.

In some traditional cultures, if a woman adorns brown and black beads around the neck, it means she was a widow, but white beads signify that that woman has given birth or is out of widowhood rites.

She said, we have spirits around and therefore it is important to pray over the beads before wearing them.

According to her in Ghana beads are part of our dressing and it depicts the tribe one belongs, people wear beads depending on the occasion they are attending and the time it can be worn.

Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Lartey, the Manager of Hristina Beads Company Limited in Tema also told the Ghana News Agency in Tema that beads are treasures for beautification for women.

He said beads can be designed for specific interests or occasions.

GNA
New York, US (PANA) - Addressing the virtual World Economic Forum, on Monday, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, told world and business leaders that global solidarity is missing in action
A Hyundai Sonata saloon car with the registration number GT 3446-21 has been burnt to ashes on the Tema-Accra Motorway.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency to confirm the incident, Divisional Officer III, Richmond Vanderpuye, the District Commander of the Tema-Ashaiman Motorway Fire Station said, they had a distress telephone call around 07:50 hours on Monday of the fire incident on the TemaAccra Motorway near the Axel Weigh Bridge.

He said the Duty Crew responded swiftly to the fire call and upon arriving at the fire scene at 07:54 hours, the vehicle was burnt.

According to him, the extent of damage suggested that the vehicle was on fire for a long time before the call was made to the Fire Service.

No casualties were recorded and the cause of the fire was also not immediately known.

He urged the public to always contact the Ghana National Fire Service as quickly as possible and not wait until the situation escalated to prevent casualties.

"We urge the general public to keep contacts of the Fire Service and reach out to the Service in times like this," he advised.

GNA
Dr Takyi Duayeden, the Cervical Cancer Specialists Physician at the Abura-Asebu- Kwamankese (AAK) district hospital, has urged Ghanaian women to voluntarily go for regular cervical screening to save their lives from cancer deaths.

According to him, early screening was the road map to saving many women from avoidable deaths and encouraged them to quickly go for the examination this month,(January), declared as " Cervical Cancer Awareness Month".

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr Duayeden, said though Cervical Cancer was widely known as the second leading cause of death among women, it was treatable at the pre-cancer stage when the Human papillomavirus (HPV) had not developed.

He regretted that the nature of the examination made many women shy to undergo physical cervix screening while other factors included ignorance and cultural and religious beliefs.

The HPV, he noted unlike other viruses were very common and dwell at the cervix of women during sexual contact adding that it could be detected through the Visual Inspection using Ascetic acid (VIA) or HPV DNA.

He said January was very critical to the facility because it was the opportune time to enlighten especially rural actors on cervical and health education.

He said the district hospital would extend the VIA and health education services to areas with no health facilities, screen women at various churches, mosques, markets, and training institutions with a focus on women at the pre-cancer stages.

On screening eligibility, he said HPV took 10 to 15 years to develop, and hence women between 30 to 60 years qualified to be screened, and the process repeated after every three years.

We are aware children are sexually active these days, some of them start as early as age 10 to 15, it is purported that if they are even exposed to the HPV, it would have fully developed at age 25 to 30, he said.

Dr Takyi said women with good immunity clear these HPVs through discharges and fight their remains while others with poor immunity are unable to.

Speaking on signs and symptoms, he said cancer had no signs or symptoms at the pre or post-cancer stage, except in special cases where a woman may witness offensive brownish vaginal discharge, contact bleeding, or bumpy growth at the cervix.

This is not the same with every woman, that is why screening is important, you could be attended to even before it develops into cancer because after cancer has developed it is hard to fight.

Find any health centre and get screened, do not allow the nature of the process make it appear distasteful to you, take charge of your health and get checked for your own good  Dr Duayeden, further cautioned.

GNA
A total of 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students of Khana and Gokana extraction, Ogoni, are now counting their blessings for having their school fees largely subsidized courtesy Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The federal lawmaker said he decided to float the education grant to the students to alleviate their financial challenges.

According to the sharing formula, each of the ten postgraduate students received one hundred thousand (N100,000) naira while each of the 122 undergraduate students was given fifty thousand (N50,000) naira.

One million (N1m) naira was granted to 10 university students at one hundred thousand (N100,000) naira for each student in Taaba; and a corresponding one million (N1m) naira for 10 university students at one hundred thousand (N100,000) naira for each student from Kaani.

Of this number, 21 university students, at least one person per ward are from Khana LGA, 24 university students at least one person per ward, from Gokana LGA and 2 university students from St. Luke's Christ Army Church Nigeria, Kono Town, Khana Local Government Area, a brand new musical system for the church and cash donation of N750,000.00.

Rt. Hon. Dekor also facilitated over N500 million for over 300 beneficiaries in small scale businesses from N500,000.00 to N9m each, solar power water projects and distribution in eight communities in Deken, Yeghe amongst others.

Barako Community was also given the sum of one million (N1m) naira for the school building project among others.

Similarly, Rt. Hon. Dekor, lawmaker has assured of partnering with the two council chairmen of Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas respectively to ensure the prevailing peace in the areas is sustained.

Speaking as a guest of Ogonitv in an interview recently, the lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Host Communities said they will stop at nothing to sustain it since there will hardly be any meaningful development in the absence of peace and order.

He promised to donate patrol vehicles to the police in the area to complement the efforts of the Council Chairmen of Khana and Gokana, Dr. Thomas Bariere and Hon. Confidence Deko respectively which he also hopes will boost the operations of the police in the area.

Rt. Hon. Dekor lauded the cordial relationship and synergy between the two council chairmen which he said has consolidated the peace efforts in the two Local Government Areas.

Also applauded by the federal lawmaker are the traditional rulers, leaders and youths of Nwebiara and Barako for their roles in ensuring that peace returned to their communities.

While calling on the youths to embrace hard work if they mean to be successful in life, Rt. Hon. Dekor said his programmes are human capital development-based because they have direct bearing on the people.

He recalled his several intervention programmes in schools across the various communities in Khana and Gokana including the provision of instructional materials and computers for several schools in Khana/Gokana federal constituency, including Bodo City Girls and Community Secondary School, Yeghe, a training centre where students will be trained in various fields of agriculture, renovation of the corpers' lodge and medical outreach across the district.

Rt. Hon. Dekor also announced the provision of cash grants that will benefit over 300 persons, laptops for students and generators to help boost small scale businesses in the area.

A bridge will also be constructed across Kor River to link Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people, with Kor, Kpong, etc to help expand the Bori landscape, the federal lawmaker promised.
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) have demanded that the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Kesiye Wabote, step aside for a thorough investigation of allegations of corruption against him within 21 days.

The CNPP and the CSOs in a joint statement on Tuesday noted that it is in the interest of justice and in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration's avowed stance on war against corruption.

In the statement signed by the CNPP Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu and the Secretary of the CSO coalition, Alhaji Ali Abacha, they noted that "perjury is of serious concern and should be taken seriously.

The statement added, learning of the ongoing case in the United States of America in a libel case instituted by lawyers acting on the authority of the Executive Secretary in which the Defendants counsel is accusing Mr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote of perjury and lying on oath in his case against Jackson Ude, a journalist, in a United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Attorney to Ude from Amadi Law Office at 204 Blossom Street Extension, Suite A. Lynn MA 01901, Barr. Beneth O. Amadi, had in a letter dated January 15, 2022 and addressed to the Honorable Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., United States District Judge, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 504 West Hamilton Street, Suite 3401, alleged that Wabote perjured (lied on oath) in his response to interrogatories.

The court had on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 ordered Wabote, to provide full and complete responses to defendants interrogatories, as the court was not satisfied with earlier responses provided by Wabote and his counsel.

But in his reaction to the responses by Wabote to the interrogatories, counsel for Defendant (Ude) wrote to the court demanding sanction for Plaintiff (Wabote) and his Attorneys for committing fraud on the court, for perjury and for acting in subornation of perjury in this case, the statement recalled.

The CNPP and the CSOs said they found it shocking that if knowingly, and with clear intention, as Mr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote was accused, is working to derail the course of justice and to torpedo Defendants access to justice in a case in far away United States, he will do worse in Nigeria.

To ensure that he does not continue to obstruct the course of justice both in Nigeria and the United States, we call for his immediate suspension or he should voluntarily step aside for proper investigation into corruption allegations against him and to stop further siphoning of the nation's scarce resources for legal fees abroad.

We therefore call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the National Assembly to immediately institute open probe of the core allegations against him as contained in a petition directed to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

If he fails to resign within 21 days, we shall be left with no choice but to take legal actions against him, including mobilising the civil society community to occupy the National Assembly and relevant anti-corruption institutions until the the needful done, the statement read.
18.01.2022 LISTEN

A resident of Nima in Accra who witnessed the violent clash in the area on Tuesday January 18 amidst has recounted how he fled upon hearing gunshots.

I ran away after hearing the gunshots from the people, he told TV3s George Kwening who reported from the scene after the Police had intervened.

The Police had said they strongly intervened in the Nima violence and brought the situation under control on Tuesday January 18.

Meanwhile, the suspected criminals are being pursued to face justice, the Police said.
While 84% of households in the country suffered a decline in their income in a year marked by the tremendous loss of life and livelihoods, the number of Indian billionaires grew to 142 from 102, shows the latest briefing Inequality Kills by Oxfam India. More than 4.6 crore Indians meanwhile are estimated to have fallen into extreme poverty in 2020, which is nearly half of the global new poor, according to the United Nations (UN). The stark wealth inequality in India results from an economic system rigged in favour of the super-rich over the poor and marginalised, the briefing published ahead of the World Economic Forums Davos agenda says.

The briefing indicates that the collective wealth of Indias 100 wealthiest people hit a record high of Rs57.3 lakh crore or about US$775bn (billion) in 2021. In its briefing, the non-government organisation (NGO) also advocates a 1% surcharge on the wealthiest 10% of the Indian population to fund inequality-combating measures such as higher investments in school education, universal healthcare, and social security benefits like maternity leave, paid leave and pension for all Indians. The briefing indicates that the collective wealth of Indias 100 wealthiest people hit a record high of Rs57.3 lakh crore or about US$775bn (billion) in 2021. In its briefing, the non-government organisation (NGO) also advocates a 1% surcharge on the wealthiest 10% of the Indian population to fund inequality-combating measures such as higher investments in school education, universal healthcare, and social security benefits like maternity leave, paid leave and pension for all Indians.

According to the briefing, in India, during the pandemic from March 2020 to 30 November 2021, the wealth of billionaires increased to Rs53.16 lakh crore or US$719bn from Rs23.14 lakh crore or US$313bn.

In the briefing, the NGO recommended specific steps to recognise inequality is real and agree to measure it, redistribute Indias wealth from the super-rich to generate resources for the majority, generate revenues to invest in the education and health of future generations, enact and enforce statutory social security provisions for workers from the informal sector and to change rules and to shift power in the economy and society.

Oxfam India says, A temporary 1% surcharge on the richest 10% population could help raise an additional Rs8.7 lakh crore, which could be utilised to increase the education and health budget. The primary outcome of the pandemic must be a quality, publicly funded and publicly delivered healthcare system that works for all and not just the rich. A secondary outcome should be an education system which addresses the needs of everyone, not just those privileged to attend elite private schools or have access to digital technology.

Historically, India has always been dependent more on indirect taxes. In 2000, the percentage of indirect taxation in the total tax revenue was 63.69%. Sadly, Oxfam India says, even during the pandemic, this trend continued as the government revenue remained highly dependent on the indirect taxesespecially the tax levied on the sale and manufacture of goods and services that ordinary Indians depend upon.

The Oxfam India briefing shows the trend that indirect tax, as a share of the Union government revenues, has been increasing when there is a decline in the proportion of corporate tax for the same in the past four years. It points out that the additional tax imposed on fuel has risen 33% in the first six months of 2020-21 compared to last year and is 79% more than pre-COVID levels.

At the same time, it says, the wealth tax for the super-rich was abolished in 2016. Corporate taxes were lowered to 22% from 30% to attract investment last year, resulting in a loss of Rs1.5 lakh crore, which has contributed to the increase in Indias fiscal deficit. These trends show that the poor, marginalised and the middle class paid high taxes despite going through the raging pandemic while the rich made more money without paying their fair share, the briefing says.

According to the NGO, privatisation of basic services is detrimental to equality. It says the policy push for privatisation of healthcare and education in India further acts as enablers of inequality in India.

In a 2021 survey by Oxfam India, 52% of the parents who send their children to private schools reported paying hiked fees for the assessment year (AY) 21-22. About 35% of children were prevented from accessing education due to non-payment of fees, while 38% of parents had to pay illegal charges as capitation fees at the time of admission, and 57% of parents had to pay additional charges that were not part of the declared official break-up of fees.

Moreover, the survey shows that parents spend a substantial portion of their household income on private school fees, about 15% and above. Oxfam India says that the growing privatisation of school education disproportionately affects the countrys poor and marginalised people, particularly women and girls.

The Inequality Kills briefing shows how deeply unequal our economic system is and how it fuels not only inequality but poverty as well, Amitabh Behar, chief executive officer (CEO) of Oxfam India says, adding, We urge the government of India to commit to an economic system which creates a more equal and sustainable nation. India can show the world that democratic systems are capable of wealth redistribution and inclusive growth where no one is left behind. Indias fight against inequality and poverty must be supported by the billionaires who made record profits in the country during the pandemic.

Apart from the failure of generating equitable revenue, Oxfam Indias briefing shows the de-prioritisation of education and health in the Union government budget when these two services were needed the most. Apart from the failure of generating equitable revenue, Oxfam Indias briefing shows the de-prioritisation of education and health in the Union government budget when these two services were needed the most.

Allocation towards health in 2021-22 saw a decline of 10% in the Union governments budget, while the funding towards education in 2021-22 saw an increase of 10% from the previous year. Health spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) has remained abysmally low at 1.2% to 1.6% and increased only 0.09% over the last 22 years. Similarly, Education spending as a percentage of GDP has remained low at 3% and increased only 0.07%% over the last 18 years, the briefing from Oxfam India shows.

There is also an urgent need to improve medical infrastructure by implementing Indias patent rights charter (PRC), standardising diagnostic procedures, building rural clinics, and developing streamlined health information technology (IT) systems in tandem with adopting a family-health approach, making greater investments in healthcare and training and paying frontline healthcare workers adequately, it added.

According to the NGO, Indias expenditure on social security schemes for workers, under the ministry of labour and employment, and the Centrally sponsored scheme of the National Social Assistance Programme, is abysmally low at 0.6% of total expenditure in 2021-22, a decline from 1.5% of the total expenditure from the previous year.

With 93% of the nations workforce comprising of informal employment, there has been little success in bringing them under the ambit of formal employment, which would give them various benefits like paid leaves, health insurance, paid maternity leaves and pension, it says.

The briefing by Oxfam India also highlights gender parity witnessed during the pandemic. Oxfams global briefing points to the stark reality of inequality contributing to the death of at least 21,000 people each day, or one person every four seconds. The pandemic has set gender parity back from 99 years to now 135 years. Women collectively lost Rs59.11 lakh crore or around $800 billion in earnings in 2020, with 1.3 crore fewer women in work now than in 2019. It has never been so important to start righting the wrongs of this obscene inequality by targeting extreme wealth through taxation and getting that money back into the real economy to save lives, says Mr Behar from Oxfam India.

Politicians, governments, civil society, academicians, and bureaucrats across the country are repeatedly stressing the need to address high wealth inequality and its ill effects in the past few years. This includes Nobel laureate and economist Abhijit Banerjee, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, Keralas chief minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan and Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Reddy.

It is clear from the voices across the political spectrum that India needs to address extreme inequality right now. But we need to move from mere words to taking concrete steps to end the cycle of inequality and poverty. And this is possible if the government of India taxes the wealthy, which will generate much-needed resources to fund the recovery from the pandemic, Mr Behar from Oxfam India says.
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal order, passed in September last year, directing for winding up of Devas Multimedia, which made it a first case of winding up a company on ground of fraud.

A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and V. Ramasubramanian drew out a comparison between The Companies Act, 1956 and The Companies Act, 2013, to examine fraud as a ground for winding up a company.

It said though Section 433 of the 1956 Act did not include fraud as one of the circumstances in which a company may be wound up, there was still an indirect reference to fraud. The bench noted that Clause (a) of Section 243 of the 1956 Act, enabled the Central government to authorise any person to present a petition for the winding up of a company, not directly on the ground of fraud but actually on the ground that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up.

The bench observed that the mandate of Section 243 (a) of the Companies Act, 1956 to take recourse, in cases of fraud, to just and equitable ground, was little incongruous. It elaborated that this is due to the reason that under Section 443(2), the court may refuse to make an order of winding up, on just and equitable ground, if some other remedy was available to the persons seeking winding up.

"The main departure of the 2013 Act from the statutory regime of the 1956 Act, is the specific inclusion of fraud, directly as one of the circumstances in which a company could be wound up. Section 271 of the 2013 Act lists out the circumstances in which a company may be wound up," it said.

"In other words, fraud has now directly become (under the 2013 regime), one of the circumstances in which a company could be wound up, though it also continues to be a ground indirectly, under section 224(2) read with section 213 (as it was under Section 439(1) (f) read with sections 243 and 237(b) of the 1956 Act)."

The bench said: "What is common to both Section 439(1) of the 1956 Act and Section 272(1) of the 2013 Act, is that a petition for winding up may be filed by: (i) the company, (ii) any contributory, (iii) the Registrar, and (iv) any person authorised by the Central government in that behalf."

In May last year, the Bengaluru bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordered the winding up of Devas, at the instance of Antrix. It also appointed a provisional liquidator, saying Devas was incorporated with a fraudulent motive to collude with the then officials of Antrix Corporation, to get bandwidth from it by entering into an agreement in 2005. In September last year, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal upheld the NCLT's order.

Justice Ramasubramanian, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said: "If the seeds of the commercial relationship between Antrix and Devas were a product of fraud perpetrated by Devas, every part of the plant that grew out of those seeds, such as the agreement, the disputes, arbitral awards etc., are all infected with the poison of fraud. A product of fraud is in conflict with the public policy of any country including India."

The bench emphasised that the basic notions of morality and justice are always in conflict with fraud and hence, the motive behind the action brought by the victim of fraud can never stand as an impediment. Dismissing Devas' appeal against its winding up, the bench said: "We find all the grounds of attack to the concurrent orders of the NCLT and NCLAT to be unsustainable."

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Nineteen months after the announcement by none other than the prime ministers office (PMO), ministries and departments under the Union government do not have any answer about receiving any funding from the PMs Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund. In May 2020, the PMO had announced allocating Rs100 crore to support the COVID-19 vaccine designers and developers. Yet, nobody knows if anyone has received funding from the PM CARES Fund for COVID vaccine development. Replies received on applications and appeals filed under Right to Information (RTI) too have remained elusive so far.

After not receiving proper answers from the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) and other departments associated with the COVID vaccine development, Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd) filed an application under RTI with the MoHFW. On 17 November 2021, the department of health & family welfare transferred the RTI to the department of biotechnology (DBT) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The central public information officer (CPIO) of DBT, on 12 December 2021, forwarded the RTI to Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

In its reply, the CPIO of BIRAC, on 7 January 2022, informed Cmde Batra that Through public funds and Union of India budgetary provisions, an amount of Rs115.20 crore and Rs78.96 lakh has been disbursed under Mission COVID Suraksha and COVID-19 consortium, respectively towards research and development of COVID-19 vaccines.

After saying that the public authority-wise data of expenditure done for vaccine development relating to the COVID-19 pandemic does not exist with BIRAC, on 13 January 2022 the CPIO provided the information to Cmde Batra.

However, on the query of expenditure done through PM-CARES Fund, the CPIO says, The information does not exist with BIRAC.

Replying to other points mentioned in the RTI application, the CPIO of DBT informed Cmde Batra that Mission COVID Suraksha - the Indian COVID-19 vaccine development mission - was announced as part of the third stimulus package, Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0, for promoting research and development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines.

The mission is led by the DBT and implemented by BIRAC, a public sector undertaking (PSU) of DBT, at a total cost of Rs900 crore. An amount of Rs180 crore and Rs500 crore has been released by DBT to BIRAC on 12 January 2021 and 21 September 2021, respectively, the CPIO says.

Separately, the CPIO of ICMR told Cmde Batra that it has invested close to Rs55 crore for the development and clinical trials of Covaxin, Covishield and Covovax COVID-19 vaccines.

However, Cmde Batra says, "The CPIO failed to provide 'public authority-wise, organisation-wise and entities wise' data of expenditure done for 'vaccine development' relating to the 'COVID-19 pandemic'. That led to me filing an appeal with the first appellate authority (FAA) of ICMR - seeking point-wise complete information as requested. Even after 37 days of the appeal, and five email reminders, the FAA has not yet responded."

On 13 May 2020, in an official release , the PMO stated, A vaccine against COVID-19 is the most pressing need and Indian academia, start-ups and industry have come together in cutting-edge vaccine design and development. To support the COVID-19 vaccine designers and developers, an amount of Rs100 crore will be given from PM CARES Fund as a helping hand to catalyse vaccine development, which will be utilised under the supervision of Principal Scientific Advisor.

Since there was no information available about the allocation of Rs100 crore from the PM CARES Fund, on 16 July 2021, Cmde Batra filed an RTI.

On 29 July 2021, Satyendra Singh, the central public information officer (CPIO) in the MoHFW, informed Cmde Batra that As far as this office/CPIO for COVID-19 vaccine administration cell (CVAC) is concerned...no fund has been received from PM CARES Fund...However, your RTI application has been transferred or forwarded to the PMO, ICMR and Dept of Biotechnology.

ICMR informed him on 9 August 2021 that ICMR has not received any funds for COVID-19 vaccine development through PM CARES Fund. The dept of biotechnology just forwarded the RTI application to the NITI Aayog.

On the other hand, on 10 September 2021, the PMO disposed RTI filed by Cmde Batra, saying, ...it is stated that PM CARES Fund is not a public authority under the ambit of section 2(h) of the RTI Act. However, relevant information in respect of PM CARES Fund may be seen on the website pmcares.gov.in.

Read: PM CARES Fund: The Mystery of Rs100 Crore Allocated for Vaccine Development ) Even when Cmde Batra filed the first appeal, the FAA (first appellate authority) of PMO reiterated the same thing on PM CARES Fund being out of the ambit of RTI Act. The FAA stated, ...it is held that information provided in respect of your RTI application suffice as they are as per available records. Since PM CARES Fund is not a public authority under the ambit of section 2(h) of the RTI Act, no further information could be shared with you. (

With many CPIOs informing Cmde Batra that they have either not received or have no information on any funding from the PM CARES Fund for COVID-19 vaccine development and the PMO shirking its responsibility, the Rs100 crore allotment continues to remain a mystery.
In a setback to Devas Multimedia, the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which in September last year dismissed a petition filed by Devas Multimedia against the order of the national company law tribunal (NCLT) to wind up the company.

The NCLT's direction had come on a petition filed by Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Devas Multimedia has been fighting a decade-long legal battle against Antrix.

Today, a bench comprising justices Hemant Gupta and V Ramasubramanian dismissed the plea filed by Devas Multimedia challenging the NCLAT order. The detailed judgement will be uploaded on the top court's website later in the day.

The Bengaluru bench of NCLT, on 25th May last year, directed winding up of Devas Multimedia and appointed a provisional liquidator for the purpose. NCLAT upheld this order saying that it has come to a conclusion that the company's appeal is not maintainable in law. NCLAT further added that the agreement by Devas Multimedia with Antrix was "through fraud, misrepresentation or suppression."

NCLT had noted that Devas was incorporated with a fraudulent motive to collude with the then officials of Antrix Corporation to get bandwidth from it by entering into an agreement in 2005. The Central government later cancelled the agreement. Devas Multimedia was incorporated on 17 December 2004.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
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MISSOULA, Mont. - College students will return to the classroom Tuesday. The start of the spring semester begins at a time where daily new COVID-19 cases are at an all time high in Missoula County.

Missoula City-County Health department reports a 146 average of daily new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days.

Amid the spike, the university is planning to proceed with a semester that looked a lot like the fall. Students will be required to mask up indoors.

As the COVID-19 response team continues to meet daily, they're gearing up for more cases on campus.

Students can currently get tested at the Curry Health Center on campus only if they're symptomatic. According to Paula Short, COVID-19 response team lead, the university is working to increase testing for students after travel and without symptoms.

As cases rise in the community, the university is preparing to be stretched thin in multiple areas.

Thats everything from how we deliver our academic instruction, to our UM dining team and our housing team," Short said. "Will we have enough employees? Because certainly we are concerned about how omicron will affect our students, but certainly our employees as well.

Based on the data the COVID-19 response team reviews from the University of Washington, cases are predicted to peak sometime around the end of January or beginning of February.

For that peak, the team is working with Missoula City-County Health Department to develop back-up plans for in case isolation space fills up or if cases cause a worker shortage in Campus Dining.

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services reporters 143 total cases on campus this school year.

As of Tuesday morning, Missoula City-County Health Department reports 98 active cases at the University of Montana
Moultrie, GA (31768)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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The Texas Department of Public Safety has increased the reward money being offered in a 1977 West Texas cold case.

DPS is offering up to $6,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the slaying of 73-year-old S.A. Champ Weaver.

The Texas Crime Stoppers reward is increased with the hope that the higher reward money will generate additional tips, according to DPS. The higher reward amount will only be paid if the tip is submitted before the next case is featured, according to DPS.

On Jan. 4, 1977, Weavers 1971 Monte Carlo was found running on the north shoulder of Highway 302, 4 miles west of Kermit. Weaver was robbed and shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Weaver, who had been elected the Precinct 4 constable for Winkler County, was last seen earlier in the evening at the lounge he owned, the Elbow Room. Weaver also owned a water works pumping station.

The Texas Rangers are assisting the Winkler County Sheriffs Office with this investigation and are the primary investigative agency. Anyone with details regarding the homicide is asked to come forward with information.

To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to authorities by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477). All tips are anonymous. Individuals can also submit information through the Texas Rangers Cold Case website or by phone to the Missing Persons Hotline at 1-800-346-3243.
Earlier this week, Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, professors at the Baylor College of Medicine and co-directors of the Texas Childrens Center for Vaccine Development, were back in the news when they revealed that their open-source vaccine had received zero funding from G7 countries. A donation of $1 million from the philanthropic arm of Tito's Vodka in spring 2020 was still more than any federal funding toward their project of releasing a patent-free, no-strings-attached vaccine to low- and middle-income countries.

Now Hotez says that the Austin-based vodka giant isn't finished funding their vaccine research.

"Theyre committed to additional funding," Hotez tells MySA, without revealing a number. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the vodka company referred only to a prior comment about having more information to share later in January.

Hotez stresses the need for further funding, not only to get the open-source vaccine to more countries, but to plan for future coronaviruses.

"Were also working toward a universal coronavirus vaccine. We had SARS in 2002, MERS in 2012, COVID in 2019  were going to have COVID-26 and COVID-32, so what do we do about that?" Hotez says. "Theres an opportunity to make a universal coronavirus vaccine and thats what were working on with Titos on as well.

On March 13, 2020, Hotez appeared on physician Peter Attia's The Drive podcast, in a conversation that led to Hotez explaining the difficulties in funding the coronavirus vaccine program they'd began work on more than a decade earlier. Sarah Everett, director of global impact and research at Tito's, listened to that episode, and heard the urgency in Hotez's call for funding to accelerate a vaccine for the virus that was quickly spreading across the globe. After mentioning Hotez and Bottazzi's work to the Tito's team, they emailed Hotez. He and Bottazzi asked for $1 million on a later call, and that spring, Tito's obliged.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYCWFF

"We were really sold on the need for a low-cost vaccine that could be easily mass-produced and distributed around the world, especially in developing countries that ordinarily wouldn't have the resources to develop their own vaccines," Everett says.

Hotez and Bottazzi received additional funding from three Texas-based foundations: MD Anderson, Kleberg, and Dunn. Tito's, however, was the only private company to give money.

"I cant say thats ever happened before," Hotez laughs.

The money received has helped transfer Corbavex, what the group calls a "vaccine for all," to five countries: India, South Africa, Botswana, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, which is preparing a halal version of the vegan, yeast-made vaccine. So far, India's government has approved Corbavex under emergency authorization, and its pharmaceutical company Biological E has produced 150 million doses. But Hotez says even more funding  beyond the generosity of Tito's  is required.

"If we even had a fraction of the public funds Moderna or Pfizer got, perhaps the world could be vaccinated by now," he says. "We never would have heard of omicron. Its still possible, but we have got to move. We need that support."

Interestingly enough, Hotez says that his recent calls for government funding in the media have yet to advance those conversations. They have, however, led to vaccine-hesitant individuals reaching out to ask how they can take Corbavex because they'll never take the mRNA vaccines, either because they don't trust big pharma or are worried about side effects, or because Corbavex.

"Even the military, including commanders, [they say,] 'I have X number of troops, and they are not going to take the vaccine, they are going to leave the military, but theyd stay and take our vaccine if it were offered,'" Hotez says. "Even though we didnt design it that way, this could overcome vaccine hesitancy."

Hotez credits the group's move to Texas from Washington, D.C., more than a decade ago to complete research on what became Corbavex. He says that without the support of Baylor and Texas Children's, and without funding from Tito's and other Texas-based philanthropies, there might not be a global vaccine at all.

"Ive only met Tito virtually," Hotez says. "But I want to meet him in person and give him a big hug  and have an interesting vodka drink with him."

This is a side of the state not portrayed on major news networks, Hotez says, that they try to paint Texas as completely backwards.

"This is a special aspect of our state. Even though we lead in anti-science, we lead in science," he says. "Its the yin and yang."

Despite the outpouring of support here, Hotez reaffirms the need for G7 support  and quickly. He warns that once this wave is over, there will be another one to follow this summer, echoing the last two years.

"Were going to get another one  unless theres a global commitment to vaccinate the worlds low and middle income countries," he says. "Thats the only way were going to prevent another deadly variant from sweeping across Texas starting this summer."
Reverend Terry Garrett, in his 64th year, Surrendered his Soul Tuesday from Tulsa. His Sacred Farewell, 10:00 AM, April 30, 2022, Worship Community Center, and until then, he will rest in Oak Hill Cemetery, Talladega, Alabama. biglowfunerals.com
Horry Countys industry recruitment agency celebrated a stronger-than-expected 2021 last week and offered an optimistic forecast for the coming year.

Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corp. (EDC) President Sandy Davis told business leaders at the EDCs annual meeting Friday that she worried how COVID-19 would impact business and tourism on the Grand Strand. However, she said the region has persevered over the last two years.

While COVID has slowed companies from making moves, it did not stop, she said, pointing out that the EDC announced more than 100 jobs and $11.5 million in private capital investment since the pandemic began. Those numbers are not the same throughout the state, and Horry County is being recognized as a leader in economic development.

Davis highlighted how local manufacturers made personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic and how business leaders shared information about healthcare programs for employees and financial assistance. Some companies even thrived.

Businesses who were struggling before the pandemic had some of their best years ever, she said.

Working with state and local governments, the EDC offers incentives such as tax breaks and grants to companies looking relocate to Horry County or expand their existing operations here. With some businesses unable to visit the countys industrial sites because of the pandemic, Davis said the S.C. Department of Commerce provided grants for video presentations of the areas available land and infrastructure.

Davis said her office is now working on 32 projects.

Despite the agencys recent successes, the EDC has been hamstrung in its efforts because of a lack of available buildings suitable for industry.

I am positive that if we had more available buildings, our announcements would have been even higher, regardless of COVID, Davis said.

But the county is making progress in that area.

A former mill site near Conway has become the Ascott Valley industrial park, which is expected to be finished next month. Nine of the parks 13 lots have been sold, another is under contract and there are letters of intent signed for the final three.
PRO-CHOICE. The words burst from the page in our guest register found faithfully in our churchs foyer. I had wondered what happened to the woman who hurriedly packed her things and shuffled out of the church that January morning. As she left, she paused long enough to voice her grievance. It was Sanctity of Life Sunday, either the third or fourth Sunday in January every year. She stopped to scribble her first name in our ledger and, beside it in all caps, PRO-CHOICE, before frustratedly making her exit.

This week, churches across the nation, ours included, pause their regular programming for a moment to reflect and remember the gift of life. Sanctity of Life Sunday was first signed into law during the Reagan Administration, a moment to grieve the effects of the practice of abortion on our world. For years, I have been a proponent of this particular Sunday. A few years ago, however, I came to a place of discouragement concerning it. To be frank, I believe that for many of us the claim of pro-life has often been reduced to just that: a claim, a mere gear in the machine of American politics. For some, it has become a plank in a party platform, a decisive line drawn in the sand between two would-be elected officials. Personally, I am unashamedly pro-life. However, I am disappointed with what that has been reduced to for many of us over the past 40 years. I believe that what the Bible calls for, and what the Church needs, is a more robust definition of what it means to be pro-life, and a deeper determination that this must go beyond one Sunday in January.

First, I approach this topic with great fear, trembling, and conviction. For decades, politicians and preachers alike have largely limited the dialogue surrounding the pro-life perspective to the issue of abortionundoubtedly the grievous focus of this week. Meanwhile, however, we have often allowed other issues connected to the sanctity of life to be overlooked and forgotten. While crying out for the dissolution of what we hold to be unbiblical and inhumane, we often blindly turn away from humanitarian crises at home and around the world. We rightly desire that all babies, regardless of their background, be protected. Meanwhile, however, their fully grown counterparts often suffer in silence and obscurity. As it stands, we need a better definition of what it means to be pro-life. Dr. Tony Evans eloquently puts it, to be pro-life is a full-term endeavor, from womb to tomb. A human life has sanctity and worth within the womb, and every second thereafter.
Matt Plater has been in charge of school districts for more than two decades. Something is happening hes never seen before. Jobs that used to draw hundreds of applications now get a dozen. More specialized positions might not get any at all.

Its horrible, he said. This is my 23rd year as a superintendent in Illinois and this is the worst its ever been.

Plater oversees Havana school district, a small district in Mason County with about 1,000 students spread across three schools. In 2020, the district couldnt find a Spanish teacher, so it contracted with an outside company to offer remote instruction.

Students worked in a classroom with an in-person monitor while they worked online. Theyve cycled through four Spanish teachers in five years.

We went a year and a half without a PE teacher, Plater said.

Havana isnt alone. Western Illinois is the epicenter of an educator shortage that affects the entire state.

Ninety-five percent of superintendents in the region said they were facing a minor to serious problem with finding teachers, according to a 2021 survey commissioned by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools and Illinois State University.

The problem is getting worse, according to the survey, which also revealed that 86% of districts statewide are receiving fewer qualified applicants than in past years.

This lack of qualified applicants has forced some districts to have teachers instruct classes in subjects they arent qualified to teach.

Virtually every district in downstate Illinois has a teacher teaching something theyre not 100 percent qualified in, Plater said.

Jill Reis leads Regional Office of Education 1, an oversight and support agency for school districts in Adams, Brown, Cass, Morgan, Pike, and Scott counties.

COVID has definitely compounded the issue, Reis said.

As of Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health listed 78 active COVID-19 outbreaks at schools. One in five of them are at schools in west-central Illinois. Sangamon County alone has had four outbreaks linked to schools.

This has exacerbated the problem by highlighting the lack of substitute teachers available to schools in the region. Where districts were able to get by for a time by relying on retired teachers to come in and sub for a day or two, theyre unable to do so with the risk of COVID-19.

You take someone who retired five years ago, who may be living with an immunocompromised person, Reis said. They just wont do it.

This has led to districts looking everywhere to find people to watch classrooms, including superintendents, who are now covering cafeteria duty, driving buses and teaching classes.

In Jerseyville, school Superintendent Brad Tuttle is beginning to see the effects of the teacher shortage.

This year is the first year, certainly since Ive been here, where weve had difficulties, he said, adding that because his district is more funded than some neighboring districts, higher pay and more up-to-date facilities have made the district attractive to candidates.

Tuttle is particularly worried for the future of vocational education in his district, a sentiment echoed by Reis. Though he has staff to teach career and technical education now, they will eventually leave or retire.

Im scared of who Im gonna hire to replace those teachers, he said.

The teacher shortage problem has multiple causes. The survey of superintendents found that these include strict licensing standards in Illinois and a perceived degradation of the respect that educators once had. There are also practical issues, like pay and pension.

I think theyre gonna have to fix the pension system, Plater said.

In 2011, the state introduced a new pension system which increased the minimum age of retirement from 55 to 62 and decreased some of the benefits available to retirees in the system.

Over the years, that system has been criticized for being poorly managed. In 2020, the organization that administers teacher retirements in Illinois reported $80.7 billion in unfunded liabilities, meaning it had 40 cents for every dollar it will owe to teachers when they retire.

Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools recommends several policies it says will address the problem. Those include increasing funding for new teacher mentoring programs and scholarship programs for minority teachers, addressing working conditions in schools and creating an online teacher recruitment system.

Reis said she is hopeful for grow-your-own programs which aim to encourage local students in high schools and colleges to go into education. The idea is that they are more likely to stay rooted in their home communities, where finding teachers can be difficult. The median distance between schools that teachers attended and the schools they now work in is 13 miles, according to the association.

Many are geared toward increasing the number of teachers of color in the field, though similar approaches can be used in many types of communities.

Youre seeing more high schools offer electives leaning toward education, Reis said.
Jacksonville and most of west-central Illinois saw 2 inches of snow accumulate as a winter storm moved through the region Friday night into Saturday morning, with White Hall seeing a little more, with 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service. The first real blast of winter provided a chance for readers to get out their cameras and share some of their photos.
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Sonora, CA  The State of Californias Board of Forestry and Fire Protection continues work on new regulations that would notably impact development in the more rural areas of the state.

The State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations are designed to do things like establish standards for fuel breaks, preserve undeveloped ridgelines, create new lot setback requirements, improve roads, and fix areas of inconsistencies or conflicts. However, county officials have raised concerns that there are various aspects, and broad stroke fixes, that would make new development projects nearly impossible, or cost-prohibitive.

Tuolumne County leaders have been voicing concerns over the past year about the proposed regulations. The state is nearing the completion of the review process. It was noted at todays Board of Supervisors meeting that some of the states earlier proposals have now been walked back. For example, there is clarity on the types of projects that could trigger the new regulations. For example, simply pulling a building permit to reroof or do plumbing work on an existing house will not require improvements on things like private roads. Instead, the new rules are triggered by increased land use density or intensity.

All five of the supervisors voiced concerns about the proposed new state rules, especially at a time when new housing is desired statewide. District Two Supervisor Ryan Campbell referred to it as an unfunded mandate. District One Supervisor David Goldemberg, a former firefighter, said he recognizes some of the concerns the state is trying to address, but they have clearly fallen short.

To read more information about the issue, and the letter of concern approved by the board today, click here.
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San Antonio's official Cowboy Breakfast, the tradition that corrals a whopping 40,000 people for a free bite to eat, is holding off another year due to the pandemic. Organizers confirm to MySA that the 2022 installment of the time-honored event will happen privately.

Susan Cochran, a Cowboy Breakfast board member, tells MySA the 44th year of the party will still take place, but it will be a private affair on Friday, January 28 benefiting first responders in San Antonio's fire and police departments. She credits the rise in COVID-19 cases for the decision. Like most U.S. cities, San Antonio has felt a sharp rise in cases due to the omicron variant. The city's current risk level is "severe" and worsening.

"In keeping with the spirit of the event, we will be preparing tacos for our first responders," she adds.

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For four decades, San Antonians have been waking up at ungodly hours to get their free breakfast tacos and drinks at the massive Cowboy Breakfast, which in recent years was hosted at Cowboy's Dancehall. The January event was able to take place in 2020, weeks before COVID-19 hit in earnest, but organizers pivoted to delivery model in 2021. The Cowboy Breakfast Foundation dropped off free meals to organizations that helped San Antonio throughout the pandemic rather than gathering its usual crowd of thousands.

Chuck Christian, vice chairman for the organization, says more information about the private event will be released later this week. He says the cooking for the firemen and police officers will take place at the St. Phillip's College.

Offshoot parties are stepping up to fill the void on Friday, January 28. Doc Brown's is hosting a Big Red and barbacoa breakfast, Smoke is kicking off its second annual Kegs & Eggs party at 8 a.m. and Far West Event Center, on 2502 Pleasanton Road, is opening at 6 a.m.

The breakfasts are seen as a precursor to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo along with the Bar-B-Que Cook-Off. The latter is still taking place, starting on Thursday, January 27 and wrapping up on Sunday, January 29. The outdoor eating event brings in live music like David Lee Garza and Shane Smith and the Saints to the AT&T Center parking lot to celebrate another year of rodeo.

The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo features a carnival, concerts, shopping, and of course, a bucking good time. The major event comes out the chute on Thursday, February 10 and last until Sunday, February 27.
Uvalde CISD and Sabinal ISD are the latest San Antonio-area school districts to close down over staffing shortages amid growing COVID-19 cases.

UCISD will close all of its classes beginning Tuesday, January 18 through Friday, January 21, due to a staffing shortage, the district announced on its website today. Although the announcement doesn't list COVID-19, it does say the goal is to give all staff and students to time to "restore their health" before returning on Monday, January 24.

"This is a difficult decision and we apologize for the impact on our families daily routines," the district announcement says. "We continue to urge everyone to do their part in curbing the spread of the virus."

SISD's Superintendent Richard W. Grill says in a statement that his school district will be closed today and tomorrow, January 19. The statement says staff and students are out have either been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who is positive.

"Closing schools is a difficult decision to make, and I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. However, to mitigate the spread of this virus has lead us to this decision," Grill says in the statement. "As able, our teachers will be providing educational resources for the next two days or until this school closure ends."

Grill goes on to ask staff and students to not meet with people outside of school and get the vaccine if they haven't received it. UCISD and SISD do not require their students or staff to wear face masks,

MySA reached out to both districts for comment.
QuikTrip will make its presence felt in Converse after City Council approved a rezoning request for acreage on School Street that will be the future home of the gas-and-convenience store chain.

City Council conducted a public hearing at its Jan. 4 meeting before taking action that evening to grant the rezoning request.

The convenience store, with more than 900 locations nationwide, first moved into the San Antonio-Austin corridor in 2018 and has more than 57 stores in the region.

QuikTrip is in the process of purchasing a 4.719-acre tract of land from the Judson Independent School District at FM 78 and FM 1516. That land is the current site of the Judson CARE Academy and previously was the home of Converse Elementary School for decades before the elementarys move to a new site on FM 1516.

While terms of Judsons pending land sale are still being tweaked, it is known that the main school building  the two-story structure which also contained principal offices and the school cafeteria/multi-purpose room  will have to be demolished to make room for the convenience store.

Dave Wanders, QuikTrip real estate project manager, told council that the firm had worked with the Converse Economic Development Corp. for the past three years.

Wanders presented a glimpse into QuikTrips history. He said each store hires 20-25 people, with part-time workers earning between $11.50 and $13.50 per hour. Store managers start at $84,000 and assistant manager salaries start at near $50,000 annually.

In response to a council members question, Wanders said the entrance and exit to the store would not be along FM 78, as those rights-of-way belong to the Texas Department Of Transportation.

Our drive along the main roads will be attaching to an existing drive, Wanders told council. And then otherwise, onto School Street.

No timeline was discussed for razing the building, breaking ground for the convenience store, or its eventual opening.

In other council action, the city dissolved the Converse Historical Preservation Commission, merging it with the existing Converse Parks and Recreation Commission.

The Historical Preservation Commission was established in 2017 to handle the formation and organization of Anton Schumann Park, 10565 Old Cimarron Trail in Converse, the citys third park. A grand opening was held in early November 2021 at the park, which includes the Schumann-Scheel Home, the oldest building in the city.

Parks and Recreation will assume control of the park, added to its responsibility for Converse City Park and Converse North Park maintenance and activities.

jflinn@express-news.net
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Nothing like a good Godzilla v. Mothra fight, provided you are not caught between them. This one, showcasing airlines and wireless operators over 5G, is set to blow big on Wednesday. Major airlines are threatening to wreak havoc by cancelling passenger and cargo flights that they deem to be at risk of 5G interference. Remember the reason people do something as crazy-seeming as getting into aluminum canisters that fly at >30,000 feet is the airlines safety record, which is the product of relentless checks and controls. It took only two Boeing 737 Max crashes to have the FAA lose its status as global regulator of US-made aircraft, a position it may never recover.

Wireless carriers thumbed their noses at the airlines request not to deploy 5G transmitters within 2 miles of airports. The airlines did win two delays and some concessions around 50 major airports, but not what the airlines deemed to be a sufficient course change from Verizon and AT&T, who are set to launch their 5G services on January 19. The network operators apparently figured that the two of them having spent $68 billion on spectrum and having a captured regulator gave them the upper hand.

What AT&T and Verizon have missed is air travel and transport are a hell of a lot more important to American commerce than whiz bang cell phone speeds. As Paul MaudDib said in Dune, He who can destroy a thing has real control of it.

Reuters published an exclusive on the revolt of the air carriers. From its piece:

The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers on Monday warned of an impending catastrophic aviation crisis in less than 36 hours, when AT&T (T.N) and Verizon (VZ.N) are set to deploy new 5G service. The airlines warned the new C-Band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas and cause chaos for U.S. flights The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that potential interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays, the letter cautioned. Airlines late on Monday were considering whether to begin canceling some international flights that are scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday. Action is urgent, the airlines added in the letter also signed by UPS Airlines, Alaska Air, Atlas Air , JetBlue Airways and FedEx Express. To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt. United Airlines late Monday separately warned the issue could affect more than 15,000 of its flights, 1.25 million passengers and snarl tons of cargo annually.

The wireless networks contend that the US carriers are being unreasonable because 5G has been deployed overseas with no airline mishaps. But they know this is a bogus argument; the US spectrum abuts the air carriers frequencies, which is not the case elsewhere. As vlade pointed out on an earlier post about this row:

Well, looking at this USA has its own 5G bands, unlike the rest of the world (except for the super-high frequencies, where its joined by Japan and South Korea).Maybe there is a good technical reason why the US has to have the spectrum not just close the to altimeter one (4.2-4.4 GHz), but in fact overlapping?

Reader prof confirmed:

But the A4A said the issue remained unresolved as of December 30, with only days remaining before 3.7 GHz license 5G operations are set to start. According to the A4A, the FCC failed  since the beginning of the C-band proceeding  to explain why it rejected evidence of the detrimental impact of interference from 3.7 GHz licenses on radio altimeters https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/airlines-file-emergency-petition-stop-5g-c-band-deployment-near-airports

And as we had pointed out in our previous post, from a comment on AVWeb:

Unfortunately, as people who have been graced by the magic that is RF on a personal level, from the HAM down the street to the engineer in the lab testing the gear, have learned: just because you want to be transmitting on one set of frequencies doesnt mean you arent also transmitting on a whole host of others. Furthermore, old equipment is not designed with constraints nobody had ever thought of at the time in mind. Mass-produced, cheap RF devices are among the worst offenders, and with 5G base stations deployment being estimated in the millions by the time the rollout is complete to get good coverage, the only way for this huge infrastructure deployment to remain profitable for the carriers is for the equipment to be cheap and installed quickly. Cheap means likely QC issues, which mean a lot of unwanted emissions (including pop-fly spurious emissions) are likely. Installed quickly means people arent going to be going around doing field strength surveys to make sure the antennas arent aimed such that theyre bouncing or even emitting something straight up on the final approach to your local airport. While it isnt likely to be a constant issue that renders your radar altimeter visibly wonky any time you fly over a 5G coverage area, it has been demonstrated by lab testing that there is a good probability that there will interference given the sheer number of interactions and, take this one seriously; the environment the avionics were designed to operate under  was definitely not a world covered in millions of kiloWatt range ERP transmitters broadcasting with massive bandwidth 24/7, 365.

The last standoff took place in early January, when AT&T and Verizon said they would not push back their January 5 5G launch date and the airlines threatened to get an emergency injunction. As we can see, the wireless carriers delayed for two weeks but otherwise appear not to have ceded much ground.

I assume the carriers will go to court but will also start implementing shutdowns. And if the courts do not move fast enough, this mess will fall in the Biden Administrations lap. It is over my pay grade as to whether Biden has the authority to use an executive order to curb the AT&T and Verizon, or whether only the courts or Congress can sort this out.

One upside if the airlines and cargo carriers go into partial cessation of operations: it ought to sink Mayo Pete. Just imagine what the Republicans could do with this fiasco if Buttigieg were to become the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.
He spends his days counting monarch butterflies in L.A. He could use your help Los Angeles Times

A Couple Dressed as Bees Use Spice Shakers to Spread Native Wildflower Seeds Across San Francisco Laughing Squid

John C Williams: Reading the recovery Bank of International Settlements

Climate

#COVID19

Poorest countries face $11bn surge in debt repayments FT

China?

Indonesia releases 48 coal vessels for exports -trade ministry official Channel News Asia

Myanmar

Tarnished Gold: Illegal mining stokes Indigenous divisions AP

Canada ends contract with Malaysias Supermax over labour allegations Channel News Asia. Supermax manufactures gloves.

India

Employers may find it hard to look after well-being, safety of maids if they live out: MOM Straits Times. MOM = Ministry of Manpower.

Pacific Neighbors Rally Around Tonga After Volcanic Eruption Bloomberg

The Koreas

American elites like to think they are cosmopolitan. They are not: A persistent issue I had with the DC blob analyzing S Korean security posture is that they make no consideration for a politician's leadership style, staff selection, etc. Here's a stark example. Is anyone thinking about the possibility of shaman-driven decision-making in Korea?  T.K. of AAK! (@AskAKorean) January 17, 2022 We dont have shamans here; Nancy Reagans astrologer was just a blip. We do, however, have Larry Summers. So theres that.

UK/EU

New Cold War

Bipartisan group of senators meet with Ukraine President Zelenskyy as Russian troops amass on border ABC

A boy from Belarus Yasha Levine. Such a massive excerpt it might as well be a post!

Biden Administration

Supply Chain

Our Famously Free Press

Assange

Punishment by Process: The torture of Julian Assange (PDF) SOAS ICOP Policy Briefings

Big Brother Is Watching You

What a Radicalized Chiropractor Got Away With on Facebook Slate. Interesting, but not for the ostensible topic. Check out the user journey maps. They look remarkably like the intelligence dossiers compiled by, say, the Stasi.

Health Care

Ginnie Graham: Medical debt nonprofit ends campaign after inability to access more overdue bills Tulsa World. Hospitals would rather lay off the debts to legbreakers collection agencies.

Black Injustice Tipping Point

Why is it even like this? The Reformed Broker

Imperial Collapse Watch

Knowing When To Stop The American Conservative

Class Warfare

Even NASA Seems Surprised by Its New Space Telescope The Atlantic

Born in Light London Review of Books. The James Webb Telescope.

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
My Nashville Post role has evolved since 2000 when I joined the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister publication in 2008 (when I began doing some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have been managing editor of the Post since late 2011.

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(Natural News) Retired United States Army Col. John Mills told host Ann Vandersteel about Chinas diabolical plan to clone people during the January 10 episode of Steel Truth on Brighteon.TV.

Vandersteel asked Mills, who writes interesting commentaries from time to time on the Epoch Times, about his recent article on Chinas plan to create a complete digital twin of people.

Does that mean they intend to clone us like the sheep that have been cloned? Do they intend to not only clone our physical likeness, but they intend to take our digital footprint and just completely mimic us so they can exterminate us? What is the plan here? Vandersteel asked Mills. (Related: China unveils cloning factory to produce 1 million cloned cattle per year Cloned humans for organ harvesting will be next.)

Mills confirmed it by saying yes and all of the above.

This is massive data, terabytes of data, they are replicating every single Chinese national, every single American every year, the roughly seven to eight billion humans on the planet. It is all of your technical data when it comes to any of your activities online. But also now we are including the DNA and I dont want to name any of the companies, Mills said.

Sharing DNA, lineage history data

Theres a number of companies that offer this interesting idea of sharing your DNA so you can determine your lineage histories, etc. It sounds appealing, sounds interesting. You do what we call open source research, youll find out that the Chinese have been vacuuming up that data. They have smashed through the defensive perimeters of those network environments and essentially scooped up all of your DNA data so they know who you are.

Vandersteel recalled that the Donald Trump administration had gone after Huawei and other infiltrators that were meaning to do harm in America. She added that under the Joe Biden administration, China has been able to access all this information and march forward in terms of cloning people both physically and digitally.

Mills took note of the Department of Commerces entities list, which he said is the tip of the spear in identifying bad behavior by foreign companies and individuals. The retired Army colonel lamented that the current administration is falling short in following through on the financial front to interdict the financial activities of those companies.

We are on the verge of World War, Mills warned. And I think youre gonna see them play out the genocide games.

He expressed concerns that the Chinese could use the Solomon Islands to essentially bypass and envelop Taiwan. Theyll be behind whats called the second island chain, which includes Guam. If they go down to the Solomon Islands where theyve been invited to provide police trainers, thats a soft invasion under other names.

Lack of accountability on the military, federal government

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller who spoke on social media about the lack of accountability on the part of the military and federal government. People are upset because their senior leaders let them down and none of them are raising their hands and accepting accountability or saying we messed this up, he said.

Scheller, who has served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 17 years and is now on a gag order for four months, pointed out that we have won every tactical battle over the last 20 years. But we are losing at the operational level which is the four-star combatant command level up to the strategic level through the National Security Council, the secretary of defense and the president.

He also believes that U.S. Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie should be held accountable.

General McKenzie, the CENTCOM [Central Command] combatant commander, should be held accountable for what unraveled in Afghanistan. He is the one that is 100 percent accountable in my opinion, Scheller said.

McKenzie apologized for the civilian casualties in the August 29, 2021 air strike in Kabul, targeting what were believed to be ISIS-K fighters. Ten civilians, including seven children, died in the air strike.

The U.S. Marine Corps General was also lying when he said that very few hundreds of American citizens were left behind in Afghanistan.

Reports from the ground in Kabul and throughout Afghanistan have revealed that there are thousands of Americans stranded by the Biden administration. Many American citizens were either unable to go through official channels as they evaded the Taliban or could not sufficiently prove they were Americans.

I think we need leaders, not politicians. I think there are people in Congress that should be doing more, that should be using the DOD [Department of Defense] budget as a lever of control, to hold people accountable to look at metrics of effectiveness, and were just not doing that, Scheller stressed.

And then obviously, I think we need people up in the executive branch through the secretaries that can hold people accountable. And were just not doing that holistically.

Watch the January 10 episode of Steel Truth with Ann Vandersteel in the video below. The program airs from Monday to Friday at 9:30-10:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Follow NationalSecurity.news for more stories on the threats America is currently facing.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

C-SPAN.org

NOQReport.com
(Natural News) Its been a year since Ive written anything for this blog. The reason, frankly, is that I have been at a loss for words. What has happened to human society in the last two years has been, for anyone with an understanding of history, beyond belief.

(Article by Kevin Ryan republished from Off-Guardian.org)

Of course, it should not be beyond belief because we know history repeats itself. And in the last two years it has been repeating with a vengeance.

I spent 18 years working to understand, and help others understand, the crimes of September 11, 2001. Those crimes were never honestly investigated apart from the work of independent researchers. The official accounts are widely known to be false and those who have taken the time to look deeper have found that there are good reasons to believe that people within government and major corporations were involved in planning and executing the attacks.

September 11th was a deception used by rich and powerful people to steal resources, consolidate power, and control the masses. It was just one example of such a mass deception. Others include the following.

The CIAs assassination of JFK

The false Gulf of Tonkin incident that escalated the CIAs war in Vietnam

The deceptions used to justify the 1991 Gulf War

The government-sponsored 2001 anthrax attacks

Claims of weapons of mass destruction used to justify the second invasion of Iraq

The many manufactured terrorist events following 9/11

Previously hyped pandemics, including the 2005 Bird Flu and 2009 Swine Flu that were grossly exaggerated by the World Health Organization for the benefit of big pharma companies

Along with these conveniently over-looked crimes, the last 18 months have shown that the 9/11 lie was not taken seriously. Anyone who still believes that governments and media care about our health has forgotten that deep state actors murdered thousands of citizens on 9/11. The corporate media and corporate-owned governments then covered it up so that a million more could be murdered to steal resources and control people.

Historical illiteracy is largely to blame for the Covid scare although much of that illiteracy is by choice, through willful ignorance of events that cause cognitive dissonance. The examples cited above are but a few in the long history of deceptions used by governments to drive the agendas of the powerful few. People who ignore these historical facts not only turn a bind eye to history, they ignore painfully obvious features of current affairs including that terrorism has mysteriously disappeared.

People dont want to acknowledge the fact that we do not live in democratic societies any longer. Yet today the world is fully run by an oligarchy and that oligarchy wants us to be diverted and outraged about superficial things while staying ignorant or silent on issues important to us like the following.

Indefinite detention without charges at Guantanamo Bay

Unwarranted mass surveillance

Voting machine hacking and election theft

Failure to prosecute the crimes of previous administrations (e.g. drone killings targeting weddings and funerals, torture at CIA black sites)

The increasing totalitarian censorship of dissenting views

Some people have accepted or ignored the poverty and famine being driven by the reckless response to Covid. And they have also ignored that the people driving the Covid scare have a history of crimes against humanity. Not the least of these are Bill Gates, who has monopolized healthcare and has tried to buy off the media, and Anthony Fauci, who is known for having killed nearly 200,000 HIV patients with the toxic drug AZT.

How has the publics willful ignorance been established so easily? The Covid crimes were carefully practiced beforehand through a series of exercises conducted by governments and corporations since 9/11. And the operation builds upon elements utilized in all the previous government crimes against humanity. Here are three primary components.

As has been demonstrated through all of history, the most effective way to dumb down a population is through fear. Communism, terrorism, WMDs, virus it all works the same way. This basic feature of the Covid scare is one of many features and outcomes that it shares with previous psychological operations. Censorship is another hallmark of authoritarian tyranny and we are seeing it raised to a new level in the media today. Any doctor or scientist who has spoken out about the obvious lack of scientific scrutiny applied to the Covid scare has been blocked on social media and ignored or smeared on television, radio, and in print. In America the most useful tool driving willful ignorance has been the narrative behind the phony 2-party system in politics. The Covid scare works in part because many Americans are easily controlled through the farcical theater of right-left identity politics. Today if you want the left to take a position, all that is needed is to frame it as opposition to Trump. Control of the right is just as easy. This works despite the fact that we are ruled by an oligarchy that does the same things no matter who is in office.

Read more at: Off-Guardian.org
(Natural News) Figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Our World in Data showed that countries with high vaccination rates have more deaths and hospitalizations compared to countries with low vaccination records.

The data was culled from the start of a worldwide vaccination program from December 2020 to September 2021 by oncologist and statistician Gerard Delepine, who said current assessment of the most vaccinated countries proved the impossibility of obtaining immunity through vaccination.

Gibraltar

The vaccination in Gibraltar, which has 34,000 inhabitants, started in December 2020. Gibraltar, a British overseas territory on Spains south coast, had 1,040 confirmed cases and five deaths attributed to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) before the mass vaccination program. It achieved 115 percent coverage for its Astra Zeneca injections, which included visitors from Spain.

Instead of reduced infections following its mass vaccination program, deaths increased 19-fold to 2,853 while infections ballooned to 5,314, a five-fold increase. Those responsible for the policy denied that vaccination has a link to the results, though it was very clear that 115 percent vaccination coverage does not protect against the disease.

Malta

With 84 percent vaccine coverage, Malta is one of the European champions of the so-called COVID-19 vaccines. Nearly 800,000 doses have been administered on this islands of 500,000 inhabitants.

But in July 2021, the epidemic started again and fatalities increased significantly, forcing the authorities to recognize that vaccination does not protect the population and impose restrictions. This is another proof that the high rate of vaccination will not protect the population from the epidemic in terms of cases and mortality.

Iceland

More than 80 percent are vaccinated in this small country of 360,000 inhabitants. Seventy-five percent already have a complete vaccination cycle. Daily infections, however continued to rise from 10 to 120 individuals before stabilizing at a rate higher than the pre-vaccination period.

Singapore

With the pandemic exploding, Singapore has abandoned its zero-COVID policy that eyes to eradicate the virus by treating it like a flu.

Nearly 80 percent of the population has received at least one dose. But it has seen an increase in cases from about 10 in June to more than 150 at the end of July and 1,246 cases on September 24.

United Kingdom

Dubbed as the European Astra Zeneca titleholder, the United Kingdom vaccinated 70 percent of its population at least once while 59 percent already completed the two-shot regimen.

Despite this high percentage, U.K saw an explosion of cases at the beginning of the summer, with up to 60,000 new cases per day by mid-July.

This situation forced Andrew Pollard, representative of the Oxford Vaccine Group, to acknowledge before the Parliament that achieving collective immunity through vaccination is a myth.

Israel

Pfizer is the favorite vaccine of Israel, where 70 percent of the population is vaccinated and nearly 90 percent of those at risk have completed the vaccination cycle.

Still, the epidemic is as strong as ever. More than 11,000 new cases were recorded in September 14 alone. This surpassed the peaks, which happened in January 2021 during the outbreak following the first Pfizer injections, by nearly 50 percent. (Related: Israel study questions COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, reveals stunning degree of HARM caused by vaccines.)

Delepine concluded that the insistence of governments to pursue vaccine-only policies are leading to a deadly impasse. The vaccines do not prevent the epidemic from returning, thus an increase in deaths and hospitalizations for the population.

According to Delepine, doctors must be allowed to make early treatments like what happened in India, Japan and Korea, which are faring much better compared to countries focusing on mass vaccination.

They must interrupt their deceptive and deleterious pro-vaccination campaign and recommend early treatment. The continuation of the ban on early treatment by treating physicians leads to a loss of chances for many patients, said Delepine.

Watch this video of Dr. Byram Bridle explaining why highly vaccinated countries are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks.

This video is from the Truth or Consequences channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information regarding coronavirus.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Bureaucracy may have saved thousands of lives in Germany  at least for a few months. The Berlin Daily Tagesspiegel reported that enforcement of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate could be delayed until June as lawmakers want to ensure the technical conditions, such as a nationwide vaccine register, are in place.

Germanys ruling parties hit the brakes on plans for coronavirus vaccinations, saying it may take months for lawmakers to properly debate the contentious measures in parliament.

Dirk Wiese, a deputy parliamentary caucus leader for the Social Democrats, said that a vote probably wont be passed until late March, then the bill would go to the Upper House, which would likely not approve it until April. Political leaders have agreed to let lawmakers vote according to their own conscience rather than along party lines on the issue.

In November last year, Olaf Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel as Germanys chancellor, wanted to see COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory by the end of February or early March and told the tabloid newspaper Bild that the countrys high infection rate warranted the move.

Almost 72 percent of Germans are considered fully vaccinated while 42.3 percent have received an additional booster shot.

A study conducted in the first two and a half months of vaccine rollout in Germany found that 286 vaccinated Germans died between one hour to 40 days after vaccination. They were vaccinated with Pfizers mRNA vaccine. The vaccine rollout in Germany started on December 27, 2020.

Thousands of unvaccinated protest against COVID vaccine mandate

Thousands of unvaccinated Germans are opposing the vaccine mandate. Vaccine resistance is particularly strong deep in the former Communist east, the bailiwick of far-right Alternative for Germany (AfG) Party. Leaders of AfGs parliamentary group, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, are both proudly unvaccinated and both tested positive for the virus in recent weeks.

Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, two wealthy southern states, are also home to a noisy protest movement against tyrannical measures to combat the virus  known as the Querdenker or Contrarians.

The looming mandate has also been a rallying point for vocal anti-vaccine campaigners, who have taken part in protests against Germanys pandemic restrictions. (Related: Germany criminalizes anti-lockdown protests using delta variant spread as an excuse to crush liberty.)

Thousands of protesters have joined in numerous demonstrations in Dusseldorf, western Germany after the government began offering COVID-19 jabs to children between the ages of five and 11 in December.

They held banners that read: We are the red line, no compulsory vaccination, Protect the children and Double vaccinated, lied to multiple times! Booster? No thanks!

According to a police tweet, one protester was seen wearing a Star of David with the inscription unvaccinated.

In Berlin, police counted more than 100 vehicles, 70 bikes and approximately 200 people overall in a coronavirus demonstration that took the form of a car-and-bike convoy.

On January 8, some thousands of protesters rallied in several cities under the banner Enough! Hands off our children, with the largest event held in Hamburg and participated in by 16,000 people, according to the police.

Demonstrations were also held at Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Halle in the eastern Saxony-Anhalt state, Bautzen, Dresden and Leipzig.

Some anti-COVID measures protests have turned violent in recent weeks.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach claimed that the opponents of vaccination are willing to wipe all scientific knowledge off the table and voluntarily entering a bubble of bogus truths.

Watch the video below about worldwide protests against COVID-19 mandates.

This video is from the Contrarian channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

CTV.news

NYTimes.com

PubMed.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

DW.com

Aljazeera.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A Great Awakening is bound to happen this year as the people get galvanized against the ongoing manipulation of the mainstream media in drumming up the Great Reset espoused by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Renowned virologist and mRNA pioneer Dr. Robert Malone, whose honesty in exposing the harmful ways of the experimental Pfizer and Moderna vaccines led to his censorship on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, said that the populace is fighting an information war with the mainstream media, which fails to evaluate the truth and enforces the narrative of Big Tech and Big Pharma.

This is full-on media warfare, information warfare, political warfare, 21st century, like weve never seen before, and coordinated globally, Malone told ZeroHedge writer Kristi Leigh. The other thing for me has been the personal journey of coming to terms with what the World Economic Forum really represents, and I really resisted that. (Related: World Economic Forum simulates global cyberattack that could bring about Great Reset.)

Malone said he is being encouraged by the growing awareness of the population on the true intent and limitations of the Great Reset, and that a change in the dysfunctional structure of top-down governance in large institutions would be one of the noticeable results of this recognition moving forward.

Though it is hard, Malone said he always looks for the silver linings in things.

If humanity recognizes its interconnectedness and the importance of community, integrity and human dignity during this moment in history, we will have a Great Awakening in response to the Great Reset, Malone said. People were coming to me talking about the Great Reset. And I was like, Ah, this crazy talk, but then its all documented and then you see it being deployed. Here it is  theyre proud of it. They dont hide it.

Under attack by the mainstream media, Malone noted the increasing amount of evidence showing that the vaccines are harmful and potentially lethal. Malone, who specializes in virology and vaccines, actually invented the mRNA technology being used by Pfizer and Moderna.

Malone expresses concern about mass vaccinations

During his guesting in the now viral episode of the Joe Rogan Experience early January, Malone expressed his concern about the mass vaccination programs of governments worldwide.

YouTube has removed clips of the podcast, but third-party channels uploaded the episode to Spotify where Rogan has an exclusive deal. The censorship sparked anger among right wing politicians and political commentators. (Related: Top 12 takeaways from the Joe Rogan and Dr. Robert Malone interview.)

He described mass vaccinations as lawless behavior that must stop. I believe nobody should have vaccine mandates for these experimental products, Malone said. I believe it is absolutely contrary to the Nuremberg Code, the Helsinki Agreement, the Common Rule, the Belmont Report, etc. It is lawless behavior thats going  full stop.

While admitting that he is not prepared to be in the spotlight despite having the insiders view of the politics in medicine, Malone said he is convinced that the information control is coordinated worldwide.

I didnt seek this. I never expected it. I find myself at the center of this storm of the resistance. It has profoundly changed my view of the information that we receive, Malone said. I had not been aware before of the information control that is globally coordinated and it is not about evaluating the truth but telling the narrative.

As an undergraduate during the 1980s at University of California-Davis, Malone said he was skeptical on whether the New World Order will be established after reading books on transnationalism.

It turned out its happening today. [We] see it playing out in real time and in a way in which national sovereignty, governments, are increasingly irrelevant. You know, thats the thing that folks got to wake up about. This is not about the vaccine. The vaccine is a symptom.

Watch the video below about global reset.

This video is from the YAHZWILL YAHUDAH channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Conspiracy.news for more news and information related to the Great Reset.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

Globalresearch.ca

Independent.co.uk

NEJM.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Dr. Steve Hotze lauded the boldness and courage of Christian patriot Sherronna Bishop for fighting voter fraud in a city election in Mesa, Colorado during the January 10 edition of The Dr. Hotze Report on Brighteon.TV.

Bishop, who has been leading the Christian patriot movement throughout Colorado over the last four years, spoke against the stealing of votes and the voting of dead people in her county.

She brought it to the attention of the community and the next thing that happened was the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrived at her door to serve her with a search warrant and arrest her.

A mother of four and founder of the activist group Americas Mom, Bishop said she got involved in politics because her children were in a public school and it wasnt going very well. It started in 2018 with her daughter being given a mental health evaluation without her consent.

This was followed in 2019 by what she called crazy leftist propaganda bills and everything from destroying ranching, farming, oil and gas, property tax issues, quadrupling property taxes and the comprehensive sex education bill.

Bishop said that the comprehensive sex education bill was a hyper sex education that allows the government through the school district to sexualize and create little victims of American children lawfully. (Related: Planned Parenthood, LGBT Inc and comprehensive sex miseducation.)

So in 2019, once that bill expressly came through, I was done. I didnt think that people understood what was happening. And if they just could hear it, they would go, I dont want this, and they would stand up. And they would take their responsibility seriously, to push back on bad government and on bad policies, Bishop said.

So we really started on Facebook, I started reading the bills, Americas Mom was born in the spring of 2019. And from there, we began to hold concerned citizens rallies just so we could educate the public. And I feel that my primary duty is to empower regular people, particularly parents to get in this battle. Our founders hoped that we would be those people who would defend what they did for us.

Fighting for freedom, liberty and God

Bishop remarked that she believes in the American spirit and the American dream. She added that its an honor to be fighting with all the great people who wants the simple things in life like freedom, liberty and God.

I believe its Gods second greatest gift that He gave us after Jesus Christ, which is self-determination. We have the right to exercise our free will and to choose what we want our life to look like. And as weve watched under this administration, theyre very bent on removing our ability to choose our own way. They have a plan for us, and its not a good one, Bishop said.
(Natural News) Iowa Rep. Jon Jacobsen said he filed the medical privacy and discrimination bill to protect employees from being terminated by their employers based on their vaccination status during the Jan. 10 episode of the Robert Scott Bell Show on Brighteon.TV.

Jacobsen, a member of the commerce, ethics, government oversight, judiciary and state government committees of the Iowa State Legislature, said it is very clear that the mRNA vaccines have harmful effects on health.

While stressing that he is not pro- or anti-vaccines, Jacobsen told Robert Scott Bell the findings of five physicians regarding the life-threatening side effects of the vaccines like myocarditis particularly among young males and athletes, effects on stillbirths and menstrual cycles of young women, fertility issues and vaginal bleedings.

The mRNA vaccine, Jacobsen said, is not even a vaccine but rather a gene therapy. The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has said it doesnt prevent transmission. The reason they have to call it vaccine is to escape the legal liability at the federal level. Otherwise, if youve looked at the over one million adverse VAERS reports, which are understated, Big Pharma will already be bankrupt, Jacobsen said. (Related: Post-COVID vaccine deaths are not being autopsied  why?)

Scott Bell told Jacobsen that it is only proper to talk about the bill on the state level because the Supreme Court may rule against it, adding that the issue is not limited to Iowa.

Were hearing this repeated in every state in the nation, whether the states are red, blue or purple, there are challenges to our freedom, Scott Bell said.

Would I be surprised if they rule against freedom? No, theyve done it before. Would I be surprised if they rule against the mandates? Maybe a little more surprised, but it would be nice. But the point is, relying on the Supreme Court to limit the federal government is not a great strategy moving forward.

Pharmacists refuse to dispense ivermectin

Jacobsen said it will not be easy to rely on the Supreme Court because even when it hears oral arguments in January, it will not render a verdict until months later. He also batted for the effectiveness of ivermectin, but noted that some pharmacists are refusing to dispense the life-saving drug despite having prescriptions from physicians.

Ive had to go in and lobby with pharmacists, who are refusing to dispense ivermectin, said Jacobsen. Weve also got physicians dissuading people from even mentioning the word ivermectin.

He told Scott Bell the story of two friends working in the defense industry in Omaha who contracted coronavirus and flu. One of them went with traditional hospital protocols and died, while the other was put on ivermectin and was cured within 48 hours to attend the funeral of his friend.

Jacobsen also mentioned the Nuremberg Code. I am being raked over the coals in my own district by big medicine because Ive dared to bring up the Nuremberg Code. Its like dissing the Hippocratic Oath, which theyve now done. But now its forbidden to talk about the Nuremberg Code. This is outrageous. People are dying. I have calls coming in from constituents morning, noon and night, seven days a week, said Jacobsen.

His constituents are asking if he can find a doctor who can prescribe ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, said Jacobsen. Some want to talk to a pastor and get medical religious exemptions.

People already have lost their livelihoods. People have already had deleterious health adverse impacts because they felt theyre in a corner and had no choice but to take the mRNA to save their job to feed their families. This is the worst thing Ive ever seen in terms of invasion of our liberties. And this is where weve got to draw the line.

Watch the full Jan. 10 episode of the Robert Bell Scott Show below. Catch new episodes of the program every Monday at 4-5 p.m. on Brighteon. TV.

This video is from Brighteon.TV.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Media.tghn.org
(Natural News) Investigative journalism organization Project Veritas has uncovered never-before-seen military documents proving that White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci lied to Congress about the governments involvement in gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China.

During his testimony before the Senate, Fauci told Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky that, under the National Institutes of Healths (NIH) working definition of gain-of-function research, the government did not fund any research activities of its kind in Wuhan. (Related: Fauci admits government is planning to change definition of fully vaccinated to include more shots.)

But the documents obtained by Project Veritas, which were allegedly hidden in a top-secret shared drive, refute Faucis claims.

These documents state that the EcoHealth Alliance approached the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in March 2018 looking to obtain funding for Project DEFUSE, a project that involved conducting gain-of-function research on bat-borne coronavirus.

According to EcoHealth, the goal of Project DEFUSE is to analyze, predict, then defuse the potential spillover of a bat-borne coronavirus to humans.

DARPA, which is responsible for research and development of technologies with potential military applications, rejected this proposal because it was far too dangerous and the work was too close to violating the gain-of-function moratorium. EcoHealth maintained its position, saying that the research would not violate the terms of the moratorium.

The documents further state that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), of which Fauci is the director, did not reject EcoHealths proposal and went ahead with working on the project at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and at several sites located in the United States.

Meanwhile, Fauci repeatedly stated under oath during multiple Congressional hearings that neither the NIH nor the NIAID were ever involved in gain-of-function research with the EcoHealth Alliance.

Faucis claims are contradicted by a report submitted to the inspector general of the Department of Defense (DOD) by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Joseph Murphy, a DARPA fellow. When synthesized with the EcoHealth Alliance proposal, U.S. collections confirm EcoHealth Alliance was performing the work proposed [to DARPA], Murphy reported.

DARPA experimenting with weaponizing mRNA technology

According to Project Veritas, the documents it found showed DARPA conducting experiments using mRNA technology and mRNA vaccines.

In fact, Project Veritas was able to uncover a clip of Dr. Steven Walker, former director of DARPA, talking about the potential military applications of mRNA technology.

DARPA, about five or six years ago, set up an office called the Biotechnology Office, said Walker. The real purpose of that was to understand how biology worked and  design, build and test cycles where you could engineer microorganisms to do things that you want to do.

Murphy, in his report to the DOD, mentioned that he was concerned because the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 exactly matched the vaccines that the NIH and EcoHealth program were developing in Wuhan. The DOD previously rejected the use of these vaccines because they found them ineffective against the virus.

Spike proteins being inserted into coronavirus variants too dangerous

The spike proteins being inserted into the [coronavirus] variants were too dangerous, wrote Murphy. He went on to explicitly call SARS-CoV-2 an American-created recombinant bat vaccine, or its precursor virus.

Jared Adams, chief of communications for DARPA, said he does not believe the documents uncovered by Project Veritas are completely accurate.

It doesnt sound normal to me, said Adams. If something resides in a classified setting, then it should be appropriately marked. He added that he has never encountered unmarked documents like the DARPA report that reside in a classified space as this is not a good practice.

If the DOD, the same people who make our nuclear arsenal, felt this research was too dangerous to proceed with, why in the world did the NIH, NIAID and EcoHealth Alliance recklessly disregard the risks involved? said James OKeefe, journalist and founder of Project Veritas, in the video detailing the results of the organizations investigation. Did they purposefully change the definition of gain-of-function in order to bypass the moratorium?

Further, who at DARPA made the decision to bury the original report that could have raised red flags to the Pentagon, the White House or Congress, which may have prevented this entire pandemic that has led to the deaths of 5.4 million people worldwide and caused much pain and suffering to many millions more?

Watch a clip of Project Veritas investigation here:

This video is from the Libertarian channel on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about Faucis involvement in the creation of COVID-19 at BioTerrorism.news.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com



ThePostMillennial.com

TheNewAmerican.com
(Natural News) Per the University of Chicagos newly announced booster mandate, all students and employees must obtain a booster shot by January 24. Those who do not comply will be barred from campus and restricted from attending in-person classes, among other activities.

(Article republished from TheChicagoThinker.com)

This booster mandate is demonstrably unsafe, ineffective, unnecessary, inconsistent, and unethical. Weve struggled beneath UChicagos draconian COVID decrees for years, but the universitys booster mandate reaches a new height of absurdity.

UChicago Demands We Submit to Experimental Shots

UChicago claims to rely upon expert opinion in structuring its COVID regime. Yet, even advisory committees at the FDA and CDC initially declined to recommend the COVID booster for those under the age of 65.

The FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee made an official recommendation to approve Pfizers application for boosters only for those 65 and older and certain high-risk populations after rejecting, in a 16-2 vote, Pfizers application for broader approval for the general population. The committee cited a lack of data on potential adverse effects, particularly the risks of developing myocarditis and pericarditis.

However, the FDA chose to cast aside this concern and granted approval anyways. ??But even this approval is itself questionable. The FDA only granted approval to Comirnaty, a legally distinct version of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine that isnt actually available in the United States. The version of the vaccine currently available in the US remains under Emergency Use Authorization, not formal approval.

Similarly, the CDCs initial recommendation that Americans under the age of 65 receive boosters was made against the counsel of its own Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which voted to recommend boosters only for those over the age of 65 or who have underlying conditions. Director Rochelle Walensky overruled this vote in an unusual departure from agency protocol. The committee later reversed course, recommending a booster for 12-17 year olds. But the calculus behind its sudden 180-degree turn remains unclear, given that the initial concerns regarding myocarditis and pericarditis remain unresolved.

Vaccine-induced heart issues merit legitimate concern, especially for young males. A recent Danish study found that ??pharmacovigilance reports, health system surveillance studies, and case series suggest an association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and myocarditis and myopericarditis. This association is thought to occur particularly after the second booster dose of mRNA vaccines BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna). An analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine reached similar conclusions, particularly in males between the ages of 12 and 29.

Meanwhile, a new study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology found a positive association between COVID vaccination and increased menstrual cycle length.

According to Diana Bianchi, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Nobody expected [the COVID vaccine] to affect the menstrual system, because the information wasnt being collected in the early vaccine studies. The studys authors note that questions remain about other possible changes in menstrual cycles, such as menstrual symptoms, unscheduled bleeding, and changes in the quality and quantity of menstrual bleeding.

Ironically, despite the speed with which the vaccine and booster have been infallibly declared safe and effective in disregard for potential long-term risks, the FDA is in no such rush to release its data on the vaccine.

According to the FDAs statement on expanding eligibility for boosters to individuals 18 years of age and older, Both Pfizer and Moderna are conducting post-authorization/post-marketing studies to assess known serious risks of myocarditis and pericarditis. However, a post-authorization study is useless if everyone has already been boosted 50 times by the time the study is complete.

The Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency (PHMPT) filed a formal request to the FDA for the expedited release of all data on the Pfizer vaccine under the Freedom of Information Act. Members of PHMPT include well-established professors in the relevant fields from Yale, Brown, University of Maryland, UCLA, and other universities. The FDA denied this request, arguing the absence of a compelling need.

In fact, the FDA requested that a federal judge grant it until the year 2076 to release Pfizers data on the COVID vaccine, before it was recently ordered to release it all in eight months.

Despite the lack of transparency, and the boosters observed and potential adverse health effects, UChicago forces its students and employees to accept its cost-benefit analysis: that the booster is preferable to the risk of contracting COVID while unboosted. In so doing, our anti-science university unsafely denies us the right to evaluate the cost-benefit analysis for ourselves.

Dont Be Fooled! Its Not Just One More Jab

If being boosted becomes a prerequisite for participation in normal life, the vaccines diminishing efficacy means the booster campaign will never end.

Comprehensive evidence suggests that the level of vaccination does not have a positive influence on lowering COVID cases. On these very lines, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky contended in August that vaccines no longer prevent transmission, despite confident promises she and many of her fellow experts previously made to the contrary.

Moreover, the original vaccine regime has proven ineffective over time, with another Israeli study showing that effectiveness declined from 95% in January to a mere 39% in June.

When first introduced, the boosters were posited as a way to rebuild the vaccines effectiveness. Yet, the COVID booster contains the same formula as the original, ineffective vaccinations, which means it, too, loses efficacy.

To this point, Cornell, which currently has both a mask and vaccine requirement, and a 97% on-campus vaccination rate, recently experienced a surge of COVID cases. In response, the administration declared an Alert Level Red zone, moved exams online, and shut down the campus. Out of the 930 confirmed cases, Virtually every case of the Omicron variant to date has been found in fully vaccinated students, a portion of whom had also received a booster shot, Vice President for University Relations Joel Malina stated.

If UChicago is planning to mandate recurring boosters (which is the only logical conclusion of its present decrees), then it should just own up and admit it immediately, rather than continue to deceive students with the false impression that these measures are temporary.

We Will Not Play PretendCOVID Is Not the Plague

Mandates for the COVID vaccine and booster are unnecessary to protect the health of the UChicago community.

COVID has a survival rate of over 99.87% for individuals under the age of 65.

According to the CDC, only 5% of COVID deaths are solely attributable to COVID as the cause. The other 95% of COVID deaths involve, on average, almost 4 additional conditions (comorbidities) or causes per death.

We will not play pretend by accepting our universitys gross exaggerations of the public health risks of catching and transmitting COVID. We will not live in fear.

UChicago Ignores Natural Immunity

If slowing the spread of this glorified flu were the goal, UChicago would recognize natural immunity as a robust protection against reinfectionbut it doesnt.

As it stands, UChicagos vaccine requirement cannot be satisfied with proof of T-cell immunity or a positive antibody or antigen test. This is unreasonable, as those who have been vaccinated not only have increased risk for infection, but an increased risk for symptomatic infection, in comparison to those possessing natural immunity.

This is made clear by a recent Israeli study, which demonstrated that natural immunity confers longer lasting and stronger protection against infection, symptomatic disease and hospitalization caused by the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, compared to the BNT162b2 two-dose vaccine-induced immunity.

UChicagos continued refusal to acknowledge natural immunity leads to only one conclusion: our university does not care about science, but only uses science as a guise for mandating recurring injections.

No, You Didnt Misread: Doctors and Scientists Are Exempt (Read the Fine Print)

The Chicago Thinker recently confirmed that the university exempts University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) employees from the booster mandate, precisely because a significant number of doctors will resign if forced to get the jab. The university admitted to the Thinker that its UCMC exemption is an attempt to maintain medical staff, since presumably a significant number of UCMCs 9,000-plus employees will resign if beholden to a booster mandate.

UChicago also exempts clinically active faculty and staff within its Biological Sciences Division (BSD) from its booster mandate, presumably for the same reason.

The lessons here are manifold.

First, UChicago is much less immune to protest than it pretends. If we speak out loudly now, we might just accomplish something.

Second, the science isnt what the university claims and its actually bad business to pretend otherwise.

Consider that the UCMCs total staff is larger than the total undergraduate population at UChicago. If our university truly believes the COVID booster is necessary to save lives, why are UCMC staffwho are arguably most at risk for catching and spreading the coronavirusexempt from the booster mandate? The answer is clear: even the university itself doesnt believe the risks posed by un-boostered employees outweigh the costs of losing crucial personnel.

Rather than allow all UChicago community members to engage in a cost-benefit analysis of our own, the university deceptively exploits tuition payers, in addition to countless employees, by forcing us to get the booster. Meanwhile, UChicagos world-renowned medical health professionals and scientists get to live quietly by a different set of rules.

Moreover, the UCMC and BSD include some of the countrys top doctors and scientists, including experts in immunology. Take that in: Those who know the most about the booster are refusing to get it. What do these experts know about the booster that we dont? And if theyre refusing to inject themselves with the booster, how is it remotely ethical to force us to inject ourselves? Its not.

UChicagos COVID caste system prioritizes the health and freedoms of a chosen few, while trampling on the rest. University instructors and tenured faculty members, University of Chicago police officers, dining hall workers, and twenty-something-year-old college students are all being coerced into getting the booster, but not doctors and select, special scientists.

Obviously, we need instructors in order to learn. Three UChicago community members were shot to death in Chicago in 2021 alone, so, clearly, we also need police officers to defend our community. Yet, by imposing such a discriminatory mandate, our university wrongly suggests some lives are more valuable than others. Or, at the very least, it shows it cares more about maintaining doctors and select scientists than professors and police officers, among others.

To be clear, were not calling for the UCMC and BSD to implement a booster requirement, but we do condemn UChicago for unethically discriminating against its employees and students. Wed expect such behavior from a Soviet committee, not a prestigious university purportedly dedicated to the production of knowledge in a free country.

This Isnt Just Bad ScienceIts Also Wildly Unethical

UChicago directly violates established medical ethics by coercing its community members into experimental vaccination.

Free and informed consent is a precondition for all medical treatments and procedures, including vaccination. For consent to be truly informed, the potential recipient must be proactively informed of all the observable and potential risks, side-effects, and dangers. And for consent to be truly free, the potential recipient must be made aware of all options, including the option to freely decline. Most importantly, this decision must be free of coercion, pressure, or threat of punishment.

For the first time in history, universities like our own are requiring experimental vaccination as a condition of attendance and employment.

The universitys threat of expulsion constitutes unjustifiable pressure, especially considering the vaccines experimental nature; this absolutely qualifies as an element of duress, overreaching, and coercion.

To make matters worse, we find ourselves in a position where those who wish to infringe upon our bodily autonomy have relieved themselves of the responsibility of even having to prove their scientific assertions. Instead, theyve shifted the burden of proof onto us; we must conclusively demonstrate why their hypochondriacal impositions do not make sense, which is a total inversion of the normal process of scientific inquiry.

Rather than allow us to engage in the intimately personal and inherently subjective process of making our own risk-assessments concerning these novel injections, UChicago refuses to allow us to freely consent or decline. Instead, it treats us like lab rats.

The yes-men will try to interject that we can all apply for exemptions and disenroll from UChicago if denied, but this counterargument is as immoral as it is lousy.

First, universities across the country, including UChicago, have consistently announced their new COVID policies on a whimnot even leaving students the time or ability to create contingency plans. Second, choosing a college isnt a game of plug-and-play. Its a process that entails a significant investment of hard work, time, financial resources, and effort to find the right match.

To tell a student who has invested two or three years of hard work and over $100,000 in tuition to attend UChicago that he must suddenly find a way to transfer to a school in a different statea school that might not even be able to properly accommodate his specific academic interests and career trackin the middle of his winter quarter is ludicrous.

UChicagos Booster Mandate Doesnt End the HysteriaIt Enshrines It

For the past two academic years, weve endured mandatory weekly invasive COVID testing; a laundry list of restrictions on movement and socialization enforced by a suffocating surveillance-and-reporting apparatus; needless quarantines in dorm rooms, even after testing negative; lackluster online classes; barred access to countless campus amenities and resources, including libraries and gyms; and, now, vaccine and booster requirements with limited exemptions, all while footing the same $60,000+ in annual tuition.

We went along with these initial edicts for conveniences sake, perhaps contending that compliance in the short term would mean a long-term return to normalcy.

We rationalized that after bearing one year of Zoom classes to slow the spread, wed finally be able to enjoy the state-of-the-art research facilities, nerdy camaraderie, and beautiful campus we were attracted to when we first applied to UChicago.

If we got the vaccine, we thought wed finally be able to take off our masks and breathe, sit in a classroom with our friends, hang out in our dorms, and go to parties.

Those who thought wed be free to enjoy the normal college experience we so desperately wanted if we just got the first two vaccine doses were completely wrong. This isnt over. Its only just begun.

Weve become lab rats in a perpetual war against a glorified fluand theres no end in sight. UChicago continues to defy scientific and moral standards, dehumanizing us in the process.

Clearly, this is not about saving lives. Its about control. We will not be controlled.

Our demands are as follows:

1. We demand that the University of Chicago withdraw its unsafe, ineffective, unnecessary, inconsistent, and unethical vaccine and booster mandates.

2. We demand that the university name those responsible for creating and implementing its COVID decrees, especially with regards to vaccination. We also demand it name those responsible for reviewing and approving both medical and religious exemptions to vaccine and booster mandates.

3. We demand that the university make a public statement to all community members explaining why UCMC staff and BSD personnel are not required to receive boosters, but students and other university employees are.

4. Lastly, we call on all members of our university community to fight back. This mandate is wrong. Do not allow University President Paul Alivisatoss administration to pretend otherwise.

Signed,

The 2021-2022 Editorial Board of the Chicago Thinker:

Audrey Unverferth (Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, 22)

Evita Duffy (Managing Editor, 22)

Declan Hurley (Vice President, 24)

Matthew Heck (Chief Newsletter Author and Senior Editor, 22)

Chad Berkich (Senior Editor, 24)

Sonni Fitzsimonds (Senior Editor, 22)

Aidan Griffin (Senior Editor, 23)

Eden Negussie (Senior Editor, 24)

Mitchell Robson (Senior Editor, 24)

Primary Author: Eden Negussie (Senior Editor, 24)

Read more at: TheChicagoThinker.com
(Natural News) Scientists at the University of Georgias Center for Food Safety (CFS) have found that sewage water throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area is contaminated with an antibiotic-resistant gene that threatens to unleash a public health crisis.

The gene is resistant to colistin, also known as polymyxin E, an antibiotic used as a last-resort treatment for infections. Colistin is currently prohibited for use in livestock in the United States as part of an effort to slow antimicrobial resistance to the antibiotic.

However, the new findings reveal that this mitigation effort may already be a failure as resistance to colistin is already widespread. (Related: Early on, the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) was also found in raw sewage.)

MCR can be spread through global travel and the import of foods from other countries, the researchers said, MCR referring to MCR-9, the gene in question.

Results of the CFS study prove that the U.S. is no less susceptible to the threat than other nations around the world.

The team went on to reveal that if something is not done immediately to curb this threat, human and animal medicine could become jeopardized beyond the point of return.

Its a dangerous problem that requires attention from multiple sectors for us to be able to tackle it properly, they said further.

Now that covid fear is waning, health authorities are pivoting back to antibiotic resistance

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antimicrobial resistance is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.

This latest discovery in Georgia could mean that this public health threat is already much worse than previously believed, having moved from threat to actual nuisance.

A silent spread of colistin-resistant bacteria is happening in Georgia sewers, Zero Hedge reported. If people or animals contract it, there are potentially no medications that can treat their infection, leading to possible death.

Just when you thought things couldnt get any better on the global health landscape, along comes the drug-resistant MCR-9 gene.

It is interesting that all of a sudden this is becoming an alleged issue, right as public fear about the Fauci Flu is reaching two-year lows.

The general public seems to be waking up to the fact that the plandemic was a manufactured psychological operation (psy-op), so it could be the case that this alleged new sewer threat is the latest ploy to create a new bogeyman.

More bio fear needed. Covid is wearing out, is how one commenter at Zero Hedge put it.

Another pointed out that the United States has spent the last 70 years weaponizing life, from viruses and microorganisms to animal and human behavior, so this new antibiotic-resistant bug is to be expected.

Now they wonder why they created super threats, this same person added. You break it, you own it.

A simple solution, another chimed in, is to supplement with chlorine dioxide (ClO2), also known as MMS  or to dispense a solution of it straight into sewer systems.

I had elbow bone infection, was swollen badly. Cured it without antibiotics, using MMS and DMSO to penetrate to the bone. Cured in a day, another commenter explained.

2005 Chinese scientific document as I remember was showing that ClO2 was 5x better in destroying SARS in sewer than usual chlorine pool water treatment. The most potent agent against bacteria and viruses. Forget about antibiotics.

Yet another pointed out jokingly that it must just be a baffling coincidence that this new antibiotic-resistant gene happens to have been found in the Atlanta sewer system, Atlanta being the location of the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

More related news can be found at Biosludge.news.

See Biosludged.com to watch the free film, Biosludged.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Scott Kesterson accused Big Pharma companies of injecting new technology into people through the so-called Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

These arent vaccines. These are a new era of technologies based on injecting people with technologies, not vaccines as we know them. What were calling a vaccine is in fact a genetically modified gene-altering injection that is literally using technologies to modify the genetics and to make people function the way that Big Pharma wants them to function, Kesterson pointed out during the January 13 episode of his show BardsFM on Brighteon.TV.

This whole narrative that is shifting is, in part, in my opinion, centered on the fourth industrial revolution and the push towards transhumanism. It is absolutely essential to understand that much of the COVID process has nothing to do with a pandemic.

The BardsFM host added that a large part of it has to do with a financial reset and moving towards a complete control of the systems of supply chain logistics and transactional control of every aspect of our lives. And the center point of all of this, according to Kesterson, is a vision of integrating both the biological and the digital into a merged space to where they all are integrated to such a degree that they are inseparable over time. (Related: Study: People with Machiavellian tendencies are in favor of transhumanism/mind uploading technology.)

Rapid change to technologies, industries and social patterns and processes

Its the understanding of what transhumanism and fourth industrial revolution really are. So the fourth industrial revolution, which is also known as 4IR or Industrial 4.0, conceptualizes rapid change to technologies, industries and social patterns and processes in the 21st century due to increasing interconnectivity, Kesterson said.

He also mentioned the term smart automation, which was coined by World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab.

It asserts that the changes seen are more than just improvements to efficiency but express a significant shift in industrial capitalism. A part of the space of industrial change is the joining of technologies like artificial intelligence, gene editing, to advanced robotics that blur the lines between the physical, the digital and biological worlds, he explained.

A critical aspect of the process, according to Kesterson, was the integration to society of CRISPR  a gene editing technology. It has been limited by a massive resistance by the evangelical community in the past, but now it has been accepted worldwide by people who rolled up their sleeves and took the injection in their arm.

The backpack journalist and documentary filmmaker also noted that former President Donald Trump signed the executive order that opened the door for the development of mRNA  which uses CRISPR technology. He was referring to Executive Order 13887, which was signed by Trump on September 19, 2019 to promote national security and public health.

Fourth industrial revolution is a merger of technologies

The fourth industrial revolution is a merger of technologies. All transactions are now going to be run digitally, Kesterson said. The point of this whole thing is that every single action that deals with some sort of transaction is ultimately integrated into a master system, a master AI system that tracks every transaction on the globe. That means that all hard money, all hard currency is erased and everything is ultimately done through a digital ecosystem.

The BardsFM host also said that there is very little talk about the full scope of what the industrial 4.0 is doing, and how critical these technologies are to creating economic dominance for the United States. We are on a pathway right now of seeing a massive integration of these technologies in a full court press and in a level we have never imagined. And it all has happened under the covert cover of COVID, Kesterson said.

Watch the full January 13 episode of the BardsFM show below. BardsFM with Scott Kesterson airs every Thursday at 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Follow Vaccines.news to know more about COVID-19 vaccines.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

IMDb.com
(Natural News) A life insurance company in France refuses to pay multiple millions of dollars for a covid vaccine death, say media reports, because the man knew about the risk of death and voluntarily took part in the medical experiment.

The number of young people with life insurance claims skyrocketed in 2021. In the United States, prime age mortality rates were 40 percent higher in 2021 compared to 2019, and the majority of the deaths were not related to covid-19. These claims are burdening life insurance companies, pushing these companies to the brink. To compensate for the excess in prime age mortality, American employers are starting to deny life insurance POLICIES to people with insufficient vaccine uptake, as if these people are the reason the vaccinated are dying. When fully-vaccinated and boosted people pass away, they typically receive full life insurance benefits.

This trend could change real soon, as life insurance companies start to question the propaganda that falsely claims the fully-vaccinated never get covid, never have severe illness, and never die from the vaccine. The vaccines have well-known risks that include death, and insurance companies will have to recognize this growing liability issue that threatens their financial solvency.

Life insurance company reportedly refuses to pay for covid vaccine death in France

A report out of France is starting to make waves online. An entrepreneur from Paris died after getting the covid-19 vaccine. According to media reports, the deceased person had previously taken out a multi-million-dollar life insurance policy to benefit his children and grandchildren. However, the insurance company is refusing to pay out. They claim that the deceased person took part in a medical experiment at his own risk, and the side effects of the covid-19 vaccines are well-known and published. This insurance company says covid-19 is not classified as a critical illness, but the side effects of the vaccine do include death.

The insurance company claims that the deceased person violated the insurance contract by partaking in an experimental medical intervention with known risks. The family is suing the insurance company, but have so far been unsuccessful. The deceased person took a life-threatening risk that can legally be recognized as suicide. The insurance company does not have to pay out for suicide, and refuses to pay for deaths caused directly by the covid-19 vaccines.

The familys lawyer, Carlo Alberto Brusa, posted about the case on social media. According to the report, the court ruled in favor of the insurer. The court recognized the insurers classification of the mans death, that the man knew about the side effects of the phase three experimental vaccine  side effects that include death. The familys appeal was denied because the insurance contract is clear: A fatal risk that is publicly known is not covered by the contract and is legally considered as suicide. The court ruled that the man voluntarily took part in the experiment. The family could appeal that ruling on entirely different grounds and claim the man was compelled to take the vaccines via government mandates. Would the insurance company be forced to pay out for the death if the family could prove the French government compelled him to vaccinate and commit suicide against his own will?

Life insurance claims spiked in 2021, during the year of the lifesaving covid vaccine

Insurance broker Howden says life insurance claims were $3.5 billion in 2020 but rose significantly in 2021, to $5.5 billion. There have been $2 billion more in life insurance claims during the year of the lifesaving covid vaccine.

So far, the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) claim that there have been no reports of non-payment for vaccine deaths, that all fully vaccinated deaths in the United States are paid in full.

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration recognizes death as a side effect of the covid-19 vaccines, along with several other serious adverse events. Over 20,000 deaths have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, and this figure may be under-reported by a factor of eight. How long will it take for life insurance companies to realize that fully-vaccinated deaths are systematically bankrupting them?

Sources include:

FreeWestMedia.com

FreeWestMedia.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters told Alex Newman during a recent episode of Conversations That Matter that 29,000 election records were deleted from the voting systems used in Mesa County during the 2020 election when a computer systems upgrade was done.

I started looking into things when Jena Griswold, the Democrat operative, George Soros operative, came into my town with Dominion IT employees to do what they call a trusted upgrade. I asked if I could have media, if I could have people in to observe this. And I was told absolutely not, said Peters as she recounted what Colorado Secretary of State Griswold and the Dominion Voting Systems staff did when they came to her office.

I wanted to have our IT department to oversee this computer upgrade is how they put it and no one in my countys IT would even touch coming in and observing the election equipment. So I arranged to have a before image done of the system software for Dominion which is completely legal.

There was no personal identifying information. Its just the fingerprints, basically, of how they get to the election results. And then after they left, I did another forensic image. And what has been discovered is its just incredible and this has been going on all over the state and all over the country. (Related: Mounds of evidence suggest widespread election fraud in Michigan, Pennsylvania)

Proof that election results were correct and legitimate all deleted

Peters said those election records are log files, the DNA, the fingerprint and proof that the election results were correct and legitimate and they were all deleted. Newman, senior editor at the New American, commented that it was like burning the ballot box with the ballots inside or the equivalent of going into the evidence room and burning up the evidence of a crime.

The decision of Peters to expose the serious election irregularities made her a target of Democrat operatives from Washington to Denver.

She shared how the operatives of the secretary of state in Colorado raided her elections department offices for two hours and would not let her chief deputy in. Peters also lamented that her election manager, Sandra Brown, was unlawfully fired from her job and charged with a class four felony and burglary for showing up to work.

So you can see that Im locked out of my elections office and they still have not. People elected me and they have still not let me back into my elections office, explained Peters.

Newman asked Peters what was going on with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice in Mesa County and whether there were any charges filed against her.

There are no charges filed. They are basically trying to dig up something to justify their treatment of me and other citizens. So when they raided my home, November 16, they rifled through my things looking for any kind of wire fraud or you know Im not sure exactly what they were looking for, said Peters who called the raid at her home a fishing expedition.

She added that doing an image of before and after image of the election server is not illegal but they are now trying to pick up something to press charges against her.

Stumbled into something significant

Peters believes they may have stumbled into something significant as they caught the attention of Joe Bidens Attorney General Merrick Garland.

I think weve hit a nerve. And they are trying to crucify me in the mainstream media to cast me as some sort of conspiracy nut. But the 80-plus page forensic report, its done by a team of top cybersecurity experts. And the reports that are soon to come out will have major implications for electronic voting in the rest of the country, Peters pointed out.

Im not an expert on whether the election was stolen or not, but I will tell you that what theyre doing to me and my staff, its unwarranted. And I just asked, What do they have to hide? And I believe that people go and look at the report and see what they deleted and what that means, Peters emphasized.

And they have been told or theyre telling the media that those are not essential election records. They are essential election records, every record, if there is a piece of paper on a Voter Service Polling Center floor, we have to pick it up and put it in a box marked trash and save it for 25 months in Colorado and 22 months federally.

Meanwhile, Peters is facing investigations for her actions as clerk and recorder that allowed sensitive passwords to get posted online during a voting system software update aside from lawsuits over alleged campaign finance violations. While she was dismissed as the countys designated election official for the November 2021 election, the Secretary of States Office has not prevented her from overseeing the 2022 primary and general elections.

Watch the video below to know more about election irregularities happening in America.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow VoteFraud.news to read more articles related to election frauds.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TheJournal.com
Facing criticism over poor implementation of the liquor ban, the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar is likely to give some relaxation to the violators.

According to a top official of the JDU, the state government is ready to review this issue and a proposal is likely to be put on table in the upcoming budget session of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha.

As per the proposal, the violators who are caught in drunken state can be let off after paying penalty on the spot. Though, it is not applicable on repeat offenders. A person repeatedly violating the norms of liquor prohibition law would be liable to face jail term.

Such a relaxation would allow liquor consumption at home and would also promote the home delivery concept, which is already popular among habitual drinkers in Bihar.

The JDU official further said that the vehicle used for smuggling of liquor could be released after paying a fine.

He said that the Chief Minister is under huge political pressure after a series of spurious liquor tragedies in different districts in the last four months that have taken the lives of more than 80 persons and many others have lost their eyesight.

Reacting to it, Danish Rizwan, the chief spokesperson of HAM said: "Chief minister Nitish Kumar, instead of bringing amendment or review of liquor prohibition law, should do a survey on this issue. If common people of the state are satisfied with the amendment or review, our party will not go against it. If people of Bihar are in favour of withdrawal of the liquor ban, we also respect that decision."

The liquor tragedies occurred in Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Bettiah, Samastipur, Vaishali, Nawada and now CM's district Nalanda.

This issue is severely affecting Nitish Kumar government especially after its alliance partners BJP and HAM are extremely vocal. They want a review of the liquor prohibition law. The liquor ban was enforced in Bihar in April 2016.

The government also came under criticism by the Patna High Court recently. The court said a large number of liquor related cases are pending which has led to a huge burden on the judicial system. Keeping this in view, the Nitish Kumar government should establish more courts in all 38 districts for speedy trials of liquor related cases.

Though, this would not be the first case of amendment in liquor prohibition act. In 2018, the state government made a provision to grant bail to normal offenders at the police station level. The offenders have to pay Rs 50,000 as fine. In case of offenders unable to give a penalty, they would be liable to face jail term. Under the liquor prohibition law, the maximum jail term is 10 years.
(Natural News) EcoHealth Alliance president Peter Daszak tries to bar the public release of COVID-19-related virus sequence data that has been gathered from China, as part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) PREDICT program.

In late April 2020, employees of EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit organization, received millions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer money as funding to genetically manipulate coronaviruses. One of these projects includes the one with the Wuhan Institute of Virology and Metabiota, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company backed by Google. Together, they worked on the PREDICT program, which tracks down unknown viruses.

A Metabiota scientist, Tammie ORourke, emailed the coordinator of EcoHealth programs in China and Southeast Asia, Hongying Li, an attachment with virus sequences detected in China that had been submitted to the public genetic sequence database GenBank and discussed whether or not the generic sequences should be uploaded into the public database.

Li wanted to hold off on uploading the virus sequence data for several reasons, including the fact that relevant data publication needs to be reviewed and approved by the institution in China due to COVID-19.

Daszak, however, was adamant about keeping the information from public access, saying that it is extremely important that they dont have the sequences as part of the PREDICT release, because the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has just terminated their grant, referring to an article where Trump cut U.S. research on bat-human virus transmissions. (Related: Peter Daszak recused from The Lancets COVID-19 commission.)

Having them as part of PREDICT will being [sic] very unwelcome attention to UC Davis, PREDICT and USAID, said Daszak in the email.

The correspondence was released as part of the California Public Records Act request to UC Davis. However, they do not contain attachments, which is why the actual viral sequence data were not included in the information. It is not yet known whether or not the data referred to in the emails were embargoed or subsequently shared on GenBank.

EcoHealth Alliance also denied that any sequences were kept out of GenBank. Daszak emailed a Nature Communications article in August 2020, writing that all sequences of SARS-related coronaviruses discovered by EcoHealth Alliance in China were sequenced through NIH funding, and have been made public in peer-reviewed scientific papers, and publicly through the GenBank database.

China keeps tight control over coronavirus findings

The Chinese government is now only allowing hand-picked research teams to look into the origins of the coronavirus, clamping down on information while actively promoting theories that COVID may have come from outside the country.

While the government is handing out thousands in grants, it is also monitoring their findings and mandating that publication of any data or research must be approved by a new task force managed by Chinas cabinet, under direct orders from President Xi Jinping.

Because of this, very little information about the coronavirus has been made public, as authorities are limiting information and impending cooperation with international scientists.

The pandemic has severely impacted Beijings reputation and leaders are wary of any findings that could suggest they were negligent. Chinas foreign ministry said that scientists should carry out international scientific research as the coronavirus had been discovered in many parts of the world. (Related: High-ranking CCP defector claims to have direct knowledge of Chinese special weapons programs, including biological weapons like SARS-CoV-2.)

Some Chinese scientists also said that little has been shared simply because they were unable to discover something of significance.

Other public health experts warn that the countrys refusal to grant further access to international scientists has already jeopardized global collaboration that pinpointed the source of the SARS outbreak nearly 20 years ago.

Jonna Mazet, founding executive director of the UC Davis One Health Institute, said: Theres so much speculation around the origins of this virus. We need to step back and let scientists get the real answer without the finger-pointing.

Watch the video below to get more updates on the COVID sequencing data and more

This video is from the Andrew Zebrun III channel on Brighteon.com.

Get more news and updates about the coronavirus at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

TheDiplomat.com
(Natural News) The European Union recently admitted that repeatedly taking Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine boosters could destroy the immune system.

According to the European Medicines Agency, the E.U.s main drug regulator, taking a COVID-19 booster every four months could drastically weaken the bodys defense against infection.

Bloomberg later attempted to backtrack its reporting by claiming that what EU regulators actually said was that repeated booster vaccinations could hamper the immune response and may not be feasible.

[Boosters] can be done once, or maybe twice, but its not something that we can think should be repeated constantly, said Marco Cavaleri, head of biological health threats and vaccines strategy for the EMA. We need to think about how we can transition from the current pandemic setting to a more endemic setting.

Instead of calling for an outright halt to booster vaccinations, the EMA instead suggested that people get a booster for COVID-19 each year during winter, instead of once every four to six months. This would follow the blueprint set out by mass vaccination strategies for influenza.

The EMA added that oral and intravenous antiviral medication should also be prioritized while there is still no COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the post-vaccine omicron variant, approval for which could come as soon as April.

This advice comes as countries all over the world talk about offering people second booster doses supposedly to provide further protection against the surge in post-vaccine omicron variant cases.

So far, only Israel has approved giving a second booster, or fourth shot overall, to people over the age of 60. Others have committed to review the data regarding the protection a second booster supposedly provides.

Jessica Rose, a Canadian scientist, researcher and expert viral virologist, said it is not enough to limit booster vaccinations to once a year. She has called for the rollout of all vaccinations to end immediately.

Rose warned that the spike proteins in the vaccines could impair the immune system.

Thats really scary to me, she said during an interview with Joseph Mercola. And I dont know if thats happening only in certain people, it probably is. Its probably happening, maybe in people who already have pre-existing conditions. But nonetheless, this is something really, really, really scary that we need to investigate. And absolutely another reason why these [vaccine booster] rollouts should stop right now.

We havent even talked about prion diseases, she added.

Link between vaccines and prion diseases another reason to stop mass vaccinations

The COVID-19 vaccines are known to cause many autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, including prion diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

CJD is a fatal degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain. It can cause mental, physical and sensory disturbances like dementia and seizures. This disease is supposed to be very rare, but according to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), at least half a dozen people have already contracted it after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

During his conversation with Rose, Mercola pointed out that because of underreporting in VAERS, there are probably at least 30 to 50 actual cases of CJD caused by the vaccines, most likely more. (Related: Florida woman dies of brain disease after taking Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.)

This isnt something that theres a solution for. It kills you. If it gets into you, and you start getting, like, protein folded bad, youre dead, noted Rose. She added that Americas public health authorities should be sounding the alarm due to the prevalence of multiple cases of CJD occurring after vaccinations.

Its another point of exceedingly important relevance that needs to be explored, she said. Because even in the remote possibility that theres a causal link between these products and prion diseases, the remote possibility needs to be explored, because that would be so disastrous.

Watch this clip of Jessica Rose and Joseph Mercola talking about how vaccines and boosters destroy our immune system.

This video is from the Zbest News channel on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about the deadly side effects of COVID vaccines at VaccineInjuryNews.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Bloomberg.com

Twitter.com

ChristianityDaily.com
(Natural News) The European Medicines Agency (EMA) advised against frequent Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine boosters. It warned that frequent booster injections would have an opposite effect on the immune system and cause unintended consequences.

EMA officials made the warning in a Jan. 11 press conference. The regulator eschewed proposals to inject people with a COVID-19 booster every four months. It argued that repeated, frequent boosters could tire out and eventually weaken the immune response  contrary to the intended goal.

One EMA official disagreed with suggestions to indefinitely inject the population with boosters. Marco Cavaleri, head of the regulators biological health threats and vaccine strategy department, said that boosters can be done once, or maybe twice, but its not something that we can think should be repeated constantly.

While use of additional boosters can be part of contingency plans, repeated vaccinations within short intervals would not represent a sustainable long-term strategy, he continued. We need to think about how we can transition from the current pandemic setting to a more endemic setting.

As an alternative, the EMA officials said countries should leave more time between booster programs. They also suggested tying booster programs to the onset of the cold season in each hemisphere, similar to vaccination programs against influenza. The EMAs recommendations leave the door open for an annual booster similar to the flu booster.

The EMAs suggestions come as several countries impose mandatory boosters amid the B11529 omicron variants spread. Israel mandated a fourth vaccine dose for its citizens aged 60 and above. (Related: Israel says covid booster shots will now be ENDLESS.)

The United Kingdom, meanwhile, said boosters are providing a good level of protection and there is no need for a second booster shot  a fourth dose  at the moment. However, it added that it will review data to determine the need for future boosters.

British scientist also advises against frequent boosters

The EMA has found an ally in its stance against frequent COVID-19 boosters in the person of Andrew Pollard. The scientist from the University of Oxford and chairman of the U.K. Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization called frequent boosting an unsustainable endeavor.

He argued in a Jan. 3 interview with the Telegraph that injecting booster doses to people every four to six months is not a sustainable long-term practice. We cant vaccinate the planet every four to six months. Its not sustainable or affordable. [If] your goal [with boosters] is to stop all infections, that is wrong, Pollard said.

Pollard, who helped develop the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, also said that subsequent shots after the third vaccine dose should be put on hold. Only if strong evidence of their necessity emerges should they be required, he added. (Related: AstraZeneca vaccine creator says continual Covid vaccine booster shots are UNSUSTAINABLE.)

We know that people have strong antibodies for a few months after their third vaccination. But more data [is] needed to assess whether, when and how often those who are vulnerable will need additional doses.

However, Pollard espoused a different approach to boosting compared to EMAs recommendation. He instead suggested that vaccine rollouts target the vulnerable instead of boosting entire populations. The future must [focus] on the vulnerable, and make boosters or treatments available to them [in order] to protect them, Pollard said.

He also expressed agreement with the prevailing opinion that the omicron variant causes less severe disease than the earlier delta strain. Furthermore, Pollard commented that a lockdown is no longer needed to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

At some point, society has to open up. When we do open, there will be a period with a bump in infections  which is why winter is probably not the best time. But thats a decision for the policy makers, not the scientists.

Watch the video below from The Punisher of Truth talking about the COVID-19 booster shots.

This video is from The Punisher of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Vaccines.news has more about the COVID-19 booster shots.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

BloombergQuint.com

LifeSiteNews.com

Telegraph.co.uk

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Our country faces a serious threat from within.

A new Rasmussen poll has found that most Democrat voters are in favor of extreme punishments for people who refuse to get vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

By party breakdown, a whopping 55 percent of Democrats say they support imposing fines on people who refuse to comply with jab mandates. Amazingly (if these polls are to be believed) 19 percent of Republicans said they, too, support fines.

Twenty-five percent of Independents, meanwhile, responded that they support tyrannizing the unvaccinated.

The Heartland Institute survey also asked how voters perceive Tony Fauci, with just 21 percent of Republicans saying they approve of him. An incredible 75 percent of Democrats, comparatively, just love Fauci.

When it comes to the prospect of kidnapping children from their unvaccinated parents, 29 percent of Democrats say they would be all for a policy like this.

Another question asked how voters feel about Joe Bidens jab mandate for all employees of companies with 100 or more workers. Just 22 percent of Republicans agree with this, while 78 percent of Democrats say they want Biden to inject workers by force.

The full poll results are available online.

Some Democrats are waking up and standing in opposition to covid tyranny

Should the unvaccinated be forced to stay at home using force if necessary? Nearly half of all Democrats said yes to a question along these lines, as well as to one about attaching Mark of the Beast-like tracking devices on the unvaccinated.

President Bidens strongest supporters are most likely to endorse the harshest punishments against those who wont get the COVID-19 vaccine, reported the pollster.

Among voters who have a Very Favorable impression of Biden, 51% are in favor of government putting the unvaccinated in designated facilities, and 54% favor imposing fines or prison sentences on vaccine critics.

Rasmussen emphasized that the near half-and-half division on many of the issues addressed in the poll are the result of deep partisan divisions between the left and the right.

Early on in the plandemic, the push for heavy restrictions mostly came from Democrats and RINOs (Republicans in name only) who supported the status quo being pushed by the likes of Fauci.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, bucked the trend by recommending a more freedom-based approach to lockdowns, face masks and the vaccines he helped create through Operation Warp Speed.

Things are beginning to change, though, as even some Democrats are starting to question the constantly shifting narrative coming from government officials.

After two excruciatingly long years, likely voters are beginning to question the federal governments handling of the pandemic, says Chris Talgo, senior editor and research fellow at The Heartland Institute.

First and foremost, likely voters are beginning to sour on Dr. Anthony Fauci, who seems to have lost credibility after countless flip-flops.

Talgo went on to explain that nearly half of all Democrats are against Bidens jab mandates, believing them to be more about expanding the power of the federal government as opposed to stopping the spread of the virus.

The general consensus, Talgo says, is that the federal government should do less  a lot less  not more.

I wont pay their fines, tweeted someone in response to the poll results. I wont take their vaxx. Ill live 100% outlaw if need be. #blackmarketjobspay.

New York restaurants now have stricter requirements than what our southern border does, wrote another. Reflect on that one for a moment.

So Georgia cant host the MLB All-Star Game, but the CCP can host the Olympics? added Laura Ingraham, pointing out the hypocrisy of it all.

More of the latest news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

WashingtonExaminer.com

RasmussenReports.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Because Democrats are really the Tyrant Party and wont take no for an answer even when they issue unconstitutional edicts, the Biden regime is telling American companies to implement mandatory COVID-19 vaccine and testing regimens anyway, despite the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a federal mandate last week.

President Joe Biden urged states and companies to go ahead and implement a vaccine requirement even after the high court ruled 6-3 against the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations mandate that would have required companies with 100 or more workers to require staff to get the jab or subject themselves to weekly negative testing, as well as being forced to wear masks at work.

As a result of the Courts decision, it is now up to States and individual employers to determine whether to make their workplaces as safe as possible for employees, and whether their businesses will be safe for consumers during this pandemic by requiring employees to take the simple and effective step of getting vaccinated, Biden said in a statement, according to The Hill.

Biden went on to indicate that he will pressure companies to voluntarily put in place their own vaccine and testing requirements, though he did not elaborate, saying that the ruling does not stop me from using my voice as President to advocate for employers to do the right thing to protect Americans health and economy.

I call on business leaders to immediately join those who have already stepped up  including one-third of Fortune 100 companies  and institute vaccination requirements to protect their workers, customers, and communities, Biden noted further, claiming that adding a cumbersome (and unnecessary) vaccine and testing mandate would just be a modest burden on workers.

I am disappointed that the Supreme Court has chosen to block common-sense life-saving requirements for employees at large businesses that were grounded squarely in both science and the law, he said. This emergency standard allowed employers to require vaccinations or to permit workers to refuse to be vaccinated, so long as they were tested once a week and wore a mask at work: a very modest burden.

Not content with the SCOTUS ruling either, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh indicated that he will try to find a way around it, declaring in a statement that OSHA will be evaluating all options to ensure workers are protected from this deadly virus.

He also complained about the ruling, saying that it represents a setback for the health and safety of workers, adding that OSHA, which falls under the Labor Dept., stands by the mandate as the best way to protect the nations workforce.

Biden ran on ending the pandemic after savaging Donald Trump for months  though viruses virus, and frankly, this one will simply have to run its course.

As for the high court, though a majority ruled against the vax mandate for businesses, two conservatives  Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh  inexplicably sided with the liberals in upholding a mandate for healthcare workers who are employed by facilities that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding, a decision Biden claimed will save lives.

Last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the healthcare ruling good news, adding its news that maybe isnt getting enough attention.

Requirements for health care workers to be vaccinated will save the lives of patients as well as the lives of doctors, nurses, and others who work in health care settings, she claimed, without evidence (because there is none to justify such an obviously ignorant statement).

She, too, went on to belittle employers when she was asked about the Supreme Courts ruling.

The decision essentially means that in this pandemic, it is up to individual employers to determine whether their workplaces will be safe for employees and whether their businesses will be safe for consumers, she said.

Translation: Our administration cant stop this virus so were looking for scapegoats and we found them in business owners.

Sources include:

TheHill.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Fox News host Laura Ingraham hosted MITs Dr. Stephanie Seneff for a brief segment on Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines, which Seneff warns are extremely dangerous, especially for children.

Seneff, who works in MITs Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, expects a major uptick in prion diseases like Parkinsons due to the way these injections work.

Through the prion-like action of the spike protein, we will likely see an alarming increase in several major neurodegenerative diseases  with increasing prevalence among younger and younger populations, Seneff wrote with the help of Greg Nigh back on January 3 in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research (IJVTPR).

Seneff further told Ingraham that based on everything she has learned so far about the shots, it is absolutely outrageous to be administering them to children, especially since they have an almost zero risk of dying from covid.

When you look at the potential harm from these vaccines, it doesnt make any sense, she explained (watch the full segment below). And repeated boosters will be very devastating in the long term.

Covid shots flood the spleen with deadly spike proteins, which is where neurodegenerative diseases start

As is now becoming widely known, the injections do not stay in the arm. They upset muscle cells which generates a substantial immune response. These immune cells then absorb the nanoparticles inside the jabs, causing them to generate massive amounts of spike proteins.

They start making spike protein, the particles basically get your cells to produce lots and lots of spike protein in a hurry  spike is the most toxic part of the virus, Seneff says.

And these immune cells then rush into the lymph system, many of them end up in the spleen which is where you want them to be to produce the antibodies, thats the goal.

This then invokes an immune response that causes antibodies to be produced, however the dangers associated with this are immense.

The problem is that those germinal centers in the spleen are really the central place where Parkinsons disease develops, and probably many other neurodegenerative diseases, Seneff warns.

But for Parkinsons its been very well laid out that you get prion-like proteins even from infections in the gut, immune cells take them to the spleen, to those germinal centers, and then they start spewing out exosome, these are little lipid particles that are released by the cell, unloading that toxic protein and shipping it along the vagus nerve to the brain.

Seneff is a well-respected expert in this area of study and has spent much time diving deep into the implications of these injections for human health. Based on everything she has uncovered, she says the shots are a perfect setup for the development of Parkinsons and other neurodegenerative disorders, and that parents should do everything they can to avoid letting their children be subjected to these poison shots.

So dont inject the kids to save the kids but keep injecting the adults so that the kids will become orphans? asked one viewer at Brighteon about how the concern only seems to be about children. The world is lunatic crazy.

Another one wrote that none of this is really shocking when considering the fact that governments have a long history of experimenting on the population in the name of national insecurity.

It sounds like the covid narrative is giving both corporations and governments opportunity to do mass experiments upon the public without any liability or accountability or culpability, this same person added.

More of the latest news about Wuhan Flu shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Brighteon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A substitute teacher was ejected from a school for failing to meow at a student during roll call who self-identifies as a cat. A normal student tells the substitute teacher that she has to meow back at him because he self-identifies as a cat. The teacher was flabbergasted and asked if there is a litter box in the classroom. The student leaped out of his (its) seat, as the teacher sarcastically barked roof at him, and the cat-boy scurried out of the classroom and headed to the office to report the insensitive indiscretion of the sub. That teachers reaction really must have rubbed the cats fur the wrong way.

Does the feline-student need a Covid shot since its not human anymore? It wont need to wear a mask either

This is where the gender fluid movement has moved us. The country is under siege, as the Covid regime claims science! behind all the bad advice, and the gender fluidity flowing through the classrooms has absolutely nothing to do with science either. Its all nonsense, and now teachers must endure, play along or be fired for not recognizing a boy who says hes a girl, or a girl who says shes a boy, or a kid who says hes a cat, or a rat, or a spawn of Satan.

Plus, since the child/teen is no longer a human, they wont have to bother getting those deadly blood-clotting Covid vaccines or wear a bacteria-breeding mask all day, since Covid is not transmissible to or from cats. And that IS actual science.

Still, any teacher who does NOT call a student self-identifier by their imaginary coding (gender and sexual preferences) will be fired on the spot and deemed a racist, or bigot, or conservative, or anti-vaxxer, or something. Whatever happened to the difference between fiction and real life? Watch this substitute teacher go off on video after the school told her to go home for taking roll incorrectly. Go to Rumble to watch the teacher rant.

Genetically mutated food, vaccines, children?

Oh science. First scientists took salmon and mixed their genes with giant eels to make more Frankenfood salmon to sell the ignorant consumers on the conventional market, and to every restaurant in America. Then vaccines became byproducts of genetic engineering of viral strains and gain of function capability to hop from animals to humans. Now social media and science have convinced kids and teens that they should get operations to mutate their genitalia, and their breasts, and take hormone pills that cause cancer so they can grow facial hair, or boobs, and change their voice.

This is all supposed to be supported by every parent in the country at all times and at 100 percent compliance or you lose your job, without any say in the matter. You are tried in a court of mass media and your reputation is decimated. You failed social justice warrior academy, libtard school of logic, and the anti-science gender fluidity PC language society.

You have violated community standards if you do not believe girls are born with penises and boys with vaginas. You are no longer allowed to speak or post anything to social media ever again, as the psychotic Leftist (Big Tech) regime plows over and through everyone.

In Leftist-run states, cities and districts, if a teacher calls a boy a girl or a girl a boy who self-identifies as the other, it is grounds for termination, no regard to tenure or retirement benefits. Any child or teen can switch back to the other gender at a moments notice also, and if the teacher fails to recognize this even once, game over. This goes for children and teens who self-identify as cats, dogs, or wild chickens as well.

Tune into HealthFreedom.news for updates on schools and governments making US education a total farce while depriving students of oxygen so they cant learn or even think properly.

Sources for this article include:

CitzenFreePress.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) In the midst of an ever-worsening supply chain crisis comes a new threat that is making it worse: Mass theft of merchandise from idle, poorly guarded trains hauling cargo containers to all parts of the country.

As reported by The Epoch Times, bands of thieves are raiding cargo trains in Los Angeles County, leaving a sea of boxes (and some merchandise) strewn over hundreds of yards of track.:

The issue of abandoned stolen goods went viral with nearly 50,000 likes and 40,000 combined shares on Twitter on Jan. 14 by CBS 2 photojournalist John Schreiber after posting videos of thousands of discarded packages littering the ground outside Union Pacifics LA Transportation Center, in the neighborhood of Lincoln Heights, about three miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Missing a package? Shipment delayed? Maybe your package is among the thousands we found discarded along the tracks, Schreiber wrote on Twitter. This is but one area thieves have targeted trains.

What Schrieber found during his investigation was truly shocking.

Keep hearing of train burglaries in LA on the scanner so went to #LincolnHeights to see it all. And theres looted packages as far as the eye can see. Amazon packages, @UPS boxes, unused Covid tests, fishing lures, epi pens. Cargo containers left busted open on trains. @CBSLA, he wrote along with a short video clip showing a sea of discarded boxes.

Keep hearing of train burglaries in LA on the scanner so went to #LincolnHeights to see it all. And theres looted packages as far as the eye can see. Amazon packages, @UPS boxes, unused Covid tests, fishing lures, epi pens. Cargo containers left busted open on trains. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/JvNF4UVy2K  John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022

Im told by law enforcement these @UPS bags are especially sought after by thieves opening cargo containers they are often full of boxes with merchandise bound for residential addresses. More valuable than say, a cargo container full of low value bulky items like toilet paper, he added.

Im told by law enforcement these @UPS bags are especially sought after by thieves opening cargo containers they are often full of boxes with merchandise bound for residential addresses. More valuable than say, a cargo container full of low value bulky items like toilet paper. pic.twitter.com/Tj5bQNIeby  John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022

As you can see, trains frequently slow or stop in this area as they get worked into the @UnionPacific Intermodal facility near Downtown LA. The thieves use this opportunity to break open containers and take whats inside. Id say every 4th or 5th rail car had opened containers he continued.

As you can see, trains frequently slow or stop in this area as they get worked into the @UnionPacific Intermodal facility near Downtown LA. The thieves use this opportunity to break open containers and take whats inside. Id say every 4th or 5th rail car had opened containers. pic.twitter.com/PHpujyB84M  John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022

According to Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver, thefts of rail cars have gone up about 160 percent over the past year, and much of that is due to the fact that L.A. Countys district attorney, George Gascon, a left-wing lunatic installed with George Soros money, wont prosecute anyone.

Noting that Union Pacific has its own police force, Tysver said that the rail carrier has increased the number of special agents in and around the L.A. rail yards, having spent some $5 million on claims, losses, and damages due to rail thefts just in the last year, The Epoch Times reported.

However, Union Pacific has not been contacted for any court proceedings, Tysver said, meaning none of the 100-odd looters Union Pacific has turned over to L.A. County authorities have been prosecuted.

While criminals are being caught and arrested, charges are reduced to a misdemeanor or petty offense and the person is back on the streets in less than 24 hours after paying a nominal fine, Tysver said. In fact, criminals boast to our officers that there is no consequence.

The Democrat left is hell-bent on destroying our country, or at least the parts of it they control.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ThreadReaderApp.com
(Natural News) Michele Swinick, host of the Everything Home Podcast, discussed the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), wellness therapies and other raging issues with Dr. Alan Keyes during the Jan. 11 episode of Lets Talk America on Brighteon.TV.

Swinick, whose podcast has an audience spanning over 40 countries, said that shes not really feeling well when she went to sleep. But shes feeling much better during her appearance at Keyes program, thanks to ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

Its very important to have supplements and a supply at home of HCQ and ivermectin, which can be used to treat a little cold or flu, Swinick said.

Keyes said well-informed and intelligent people with high credentials in the medical profession have confirmed the positive results of relying on wellness therapies since the very beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. (Related: Meditation, acupuncture and massage now offered in prestigious hospitals across the U.S. as patients embrace wellness therapies.)

One of the things that most notably raises my suspicions and leaves me with a deep distrust of the World Health Organization, Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] is the fact that they tried to discourage discussion of successful therapies, said Keyes, who added that the only reason theyre doing that is because they want people to suffer or die from COVID-19.

Swinick agreed. Its completely by design, and its a bio weapon. Its all been created with a plan, right? We call it the political propaganda pandemic, said Swinick.

But there are people who are not afraid to expose the truth behind the layers of propaganda, including Dr. Bryan Ardis, Dr. Lee Merritt and Karen Kingston, who are trying to explain everything that people must know regarding the timelines.

Dr. Ardis talked about what transpires in the hospital with remdesivir, protocols and therapy, while Dr. Merritt, who is an orthopedic surgeon, discussed the military standpoint which includes propaganda, brainwashing, conditioning and indoctrination, Swinick said.

Former Pfizer Biotech analyst Kingston, on the other hand, talked about the patents from the pharmaceutical companies in the clinical studies and all the information thats on the CDC website, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and other federal entities.

It changes the whole narrative, and you go, Oh, my God, this thing really is crimes against humanity,' said Swinick.

NYC mayor and council pushing for non-citizens to vote

Keyes also raised an issue happening in the city of New York, where the mayor and the city council are pushing for residents who are not U.S. citizens to vote in the elections. Keyes said this doesnt make sense at all.

The United States will resemble what happened in China under the Emperor, who then got into a situation where people were taking over chunks of the territory and removing them from the jurisdiction of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, said Keyes, who noted that people are not reacting to the plan.

Within a few decades, maybe not even a generation, you will have cities that actually have a majority of the citizens who are not U.S. citizens.

Keyes said that Americans are living in a period of time where the elitists are so self-regarding thinking that somehow their abilities give them an entitlement which overrides the premise of government by and for the people. He accused the elitists of determining who we criticize, what we talk about, the facts we have to access and the information we need to discuss.

Thats totalitarian, Chinese communist, Nazi, fascist junk, Keyes said, stressing that many died and a lot of battles were fought to make sure that Americans would not be under such regimes. Keyes said the American people must be allowed to make informed decisions on whom they wanted to put into the seats of power at various levels from local all the way up to the presidency.

Watch the Jan. 11 episode of Lets Talk America with Dr. Alan Keyes below. Catch new episodes of the program from Monday to Friday at 1-3 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

ResearchGate.net
(Natural News) The World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued a warning against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine boosters.

In a January 11 statement, the WHOs Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) said: A vaccination strategy based on repeated booster doses of the original vaccine composition is unlikely to be appropriate or sustainable. The advisory group cited near- and medium-term supply of available vaccines, vaccine equity and the virus continued evolution for its recommendation.

The global health body established TAG-CO-VAC in September 2021 to scrutinize the public health implications of emerging variants of concern (VOCs) on the performance of COVID-19 vaccines and make suggestions on the vaccines formulation. According to TAG-CO-VAC, injecting fresh doses of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines amid the emergence of new variants is not the best way to fight the pandemic.

TAG-CO-VAC said vaccines preventing infection, transmission, severe disease and death need to and should be developed. It added that these vaccines should elicit immune responses that are broad, strong and long-lasting in order to reduce the need for successive booster doses. (Related: World View Report: WHO concerned that vaccine boosters increase risk of longer pandemic.)

The advisory group proposed three options for future vaccines. First, it suggested a monovalent vaccine against dominant SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, it mentioned that this first option faces challenges, such as the rapidly emerging variants and the duration required to modify or develop a new vaccine.

Second, it proposed a multivalent vaccine with antigens taken from different SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Lastly, it put forward a pan-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine  a variant-proof and more sustainable option for the long-term.

In the interim, the TAG-CO-VAC encourages COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to generate and provide data on performance of current and omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccines  including the breadth, magnitude and durability of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to variants through monovalent and/or multivalent vaccines.

European regulators drop boosters

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also warned against frequent booster doses on the same day that TAG-CO-VAC issued its warning. Officials for Europes drug regulator stated that repeated boosters injected every four to six months could tire out people and eventually weaken their immune systems.

EMA Head for Biological Threats and Vaccine Strategy Marco Cavaleri said during a Jan. 11 press conference: While use of additional boosters can be part of contingency plans, repeated vaccinations within short intervals would not represent a sustainable long-term strategy. He continued that boosters can be done once, or maybe twice, but its not something that we can think should be repeated constantly. (Related: Scientists increasingly question the necessity of booster shots; no data show they will help at all.)

We need to think about how we can transition from the current pandemic setting to a more endemic setting, the EMA official added. To this end, Cavaleri and other EMA officials suggested that countries should leave more time between booster programs and tying these to the onset of the cold season in each hemisphere. The regulators recommendations appeared to mirror vaccination programs against influenza in different countries.

According to Cavaleri, more data is needed on the impact of the omicron variant on vaccines in order to decide whether a strain-specific vaccine is needed. It is important that there is a good discussion around the choice of the composition of the vaccine to make sure that we have a strategy that is not just reactive  and try to come up with an approach that will be suitable in order to prevent a future variant.

The head of EMAs vaccine strategy department pointed out omicrons ability to bypass immunity induced by the current COVID-19 vaccines.

Preliminary results from recently published studies are showing that vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease is significantly reduced for omicron and tends to wane over time. More vaccinated people will develop a breakthrough infection and disease resulting from omicron due to the immune evasion associated with this variant, Cavaleri said.

With the increase of immunity in [the] population  and with omicron, there will be a lot of natural immunity taking place on top of vaccination. We will be fast moving toward a scenario that will be closer to endemicity.

Watch the video below of War Room host Steve Bannon talking about the dangers of frequent booster doses with his guests.

This video is from the Mainly Infowars/Banned.Video channel on Brighteon.com.

VaccineDamage.news has more about the negative impacts of COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

WHO.int

BigLeaguePolitics.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

Brighteon.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with BJP workers from his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and urged them to make farmers aware of the use of chemical-free fertilisers.

In an audio interaction with BJP booth level workers, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the BJP's commitment towards development. While interacting with party workers, he discussed several topics including, restoration of Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, women empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare development and other issues.

Interacting with one of the BJP workers, Prime Minister Modi asked him to expand the reach of the government's welfare schemes to farmers. The Prime Minister said, "They (workers) should make farmers aware of the use of chemical-free fertilisers."

The Prime Minister, also, talked about the several central schemes which are benefiting the people of Kashi at large.Prime Minister Modi urged people to contribute to a section, Kamal Pushp, in his NaMo app that features some inspiring party members.

"The NaMo App has a very interesting section known as 'Kamal Pushp' that gives you the opportunity to share and know about inspiring party workers," he said.

The Prime Minister further talked about the BJP's special micro-donation campaign, seeking to raise funds through small contributions from its members and others.

It is learnt that about 10,000 BJP workers participated in the interaction. It will be the first interaction of the Prime Minister with the party workers after the announcement of Assembly poll dates in five states.

It will also be the first virtual address with the party workers after the Election Commission of India (ECI) banned physical rallies and road shows till January 15 while announcing the poll dates. On January 15, the ECI extended the ban on the physical rallies and road shows till January 22.

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.
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RIDGEFIELD  A notable Norway maple behind the Ridgefield Guild of Artists could soon be recognized as one of the largest trees in the nation.

John Kelly, of Pound Ridge, N.Y., is nominating the mammoth maple for American Forests National Champion Trees program with the hopes of adding it to its national registry. The nonprofit launched the campaign in 1940 to locate the countrys largest living trees.

Kelly first encountered the tree last summer when he was invited to view some artwork at the guild. At first he thought it couldnt be a Norway maple, since theyre typically long and slender.

This (one) was fat, stubby and perfectly round, which is very unusual, he said in an earlier interview.

Kelly has an uncommon interest in trees since his property was once home to the second largest tulip tree in the nation, as designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For him, nominating the tree for national recognition is a means to an end, he said.

Clearing for a new parking lot at Halpin Lane is anticipated to start some time this year to serve the guild, the Ridgefield Theater Barn and the Ridgefield Rail Trail, among other entities.

The project will enhance traffic flow and parking availability by creating a circular, two-way lot with 69 spaces. It will eliminate an existing pathway between the guild and the Norway maple to prevent people from parking or driving near it.

My motivation was to save the tree, and it appears were going in that direction, Kelly said. With a story like this, all of Ridgefield is gonna want to save the tree.  Its important for our heritage.

Measuring up

Ridgefields Norway maple is designated as one of Connecticuts notable trees. Ryan OLeary, a commercial arborist representative at Bartlett Tree Experts in Stamford, estimates it could be between 150 and 200 years old.

To see if the tree was the largest Norway maple in the state, the pair enlisted the help of Frank Kaputa, co-chair of Connecticuts Notable Trees Project. Kaputa is considered an official measurer by American Forests given his position, Kelly said.

The team visited the guild this past November to re-measure the tree. They were accompanied by Ridgefield photographer Carmen Martin, who Kelly had met during his initial visit months before. Martin was charged with photographing the tree for dimension purposes, she said.

The tree stands at 77 feet tall, 96 feet across and almost 16 feet in diameter, which equals 291 points by the notable trees projects standards. Notable trees earn one point for each inch of circumference, one point for each foot of height and a quarter of a point for each foot of width, Kelly said.

The point total beats out a 93-foot-tall Norway maple in Suffield, which has 287 points to its trunk.

Putting down roots

Kelly expects to submit the nomination application to American Forests within the next few weeks. He said while Ridgefields Norway maple is indeed Connecticuts largest, it could be the largest in the nation, too.

There (was) a champion Norway maple (with) 288 points in Montana  but that tree is no longer listed on American Forests website, he said. If the tree is gone we would be the national champion all by ourselves.

When the team surveyed the tree in the fall, Kelly was floored that its leaves were still green, as the leaves on surrounding trees were turning brown or had fallen down, he said.

This tree has got a long life ahead of it, he added, and we need to do everything we can to make sure nothing intrudes on it.

American Forests will release additions to its tree registry this November. For more information, visit www.americanforests.org.
New Castle, PA (16103)

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Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 58F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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A huge asteroid bigger than the size of Burj Khalifa is set to fly past Earth at a 1,230,000-mile distance on January 18. The asteroid 7482, also known as 1994 PC1, is about 1.6 km wide and has been categorised by US space agency Nasa as a potentially hazardous object due to its relative proximity to the Earth while shooting past.

Check NASAs tweet here:

Near-Earth #asteroid 1994 PC1 (~1 km wide) is very well known and has been studied for decades by our #PlanetaryDefense experts. Rest assured, 1994 PC1 will safely fly past our planet 1.2 million miles away next Tues., Jan. 18.

https://t.co/JMAPWiirZh pic.twitter.com/35pgUb1anq Track it yourself here:

Near-Earth #asteroid 1994 PC1 (~1 km wide) is very well known and has been studied for decades by our #PlanetaryDefense experts. Rest assured, 1994 PC1 will safely fly past our planet 1.2 million miles away next Tues., Jan. 18.



Track it yourself here: https://t.co/JMAPWiirZh pic.twitter.com/35pgUb1anq  NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) January 12, 2022

According to a report, the giant space rock is about 1.6 km wide, which means it is twice the size of worlds tallest building Burj Khalifa (828 metres). An asteroid of this size has the potential to cause catastrophic damage on the Earth.

The American space agency puts asteroids in potentially hazardous category if they are over 140 meters in size with orbits of them as close as within 4.6 million miles of the orbit of Earth around the Sun.

Track asteroid 1994 PC 1 here.
Whippany, NJ (07981)

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Cloudy with occasional light rain late. Low 49F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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With the coronavirus pandemic that began last year, the way we do weddings changed. From people having Zoom weddings to only inviting close family members instead of everyone they know, Indian weddings definitely changed their approach. Now, making things more advanced and interesting, this couple from Tamil Nadu have decided to get married in the Metaverse. Yes, you read that right.

Dinesh S P and Janaganandhini Ramaswamy will get married on the first Sunday on February in Tamil Nadu's Sivalingapuram village - but their reception will be hosted digitally.

After the wedding ceremony, the couple will switch on their laptops to enter a virtual venue for their Hogwarts-themed reception, which will be attended by friends and family members from across the world, a source reported.

The Harry Potter-themed reception was ideated by Dinesh who said, "I came up with the idea of having a metaverse themed wedding, and my fiance also liked the idea," in a statement to Times of India.

Dinesh is an engineer and blockchain and NFT enthusiast, and Jaganandhini is a software developer.

The wedding will take place with avatars of guests, and will be presided over by Jaganandhini's late father's avatar.

Dinesh shared a glimpse of the wedding invitation on Twitter and wrote, "I feel so proud and blessed that I have seen and taken advantage of many great opportunities in this world before millions of people have seen them, Beginning of something big! Indias first #metaverse marriage in Polygon blockchain collaborated with TardiVerse Metaverse startup."
Pikeville, KY (41501)

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 62F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 62F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Ethan Simmons is a reporter at The News-Gazette covering the University of Illinois. His email is esimmons@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@ethancsimmons).
Our County Editor

Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
An analysis of carbon isotopes in sediment samples taken by NASAs Curiosity rover from Gale crater, Mars, leave planetary researchers with three plausible explanations for the carbons origin: cosmic dust, ultraviolet degradation of carbon dioxide, or ultraviolet degradation of biologically produced methane.

Carbon has two stable isotopes: carbon-12 and carbon-13.

By looking at the amounts of each in a substance, researchers can determine specifics about the carbon cycle that occurred, even if it happened a very long time ago.

The amounts of carbon-12 and carbon-13 in our Solar System are the amounts that existed at its formation. Both exist in everything, but because carbon-12 reacts more quickly than carbon-13, looking at the relative amounts of each in samples can reveal the carbon cycle, said Professor Christopher House, a researcher in the Department of Geosciences at Penn State.

Curiosity drilled into the surface of exposed layers of ancient rock in Gale crater and recovered samples from buried sedimentary layers. The rover heated the samples in the absence of oxygen to separate any chemicals.

Spectrographic analysis of a portion of the reduced carbon produced by this pyrolysis showed a wide range of carbon-12 and carbon-13 amounts depending on where or when the original sample formed.

Some carbon was exceptionally depleted in carbon-13 while other carbon samples where enriched.

The samples extremely depleted in carbon-13 are a little like samples from Australia taken from sediment that was 2.7 billion years old, Professor House said.

Those samples were caused by biological activity when methane was consumed by ancient microbial mats, but we cant necessarily say that on Mars because its a planet that may have formed out of different materials and processes than Earth.

To explain the exceptionally depleted samples, Professor House and his colleagues suggest three possibilities: a cosmic dust cloud, ultraviolet radiation breaking down carbon dioxide, or ultraviolet degradation of biologically created methane.

Every couple of hundred million years the Solar System passes through a galactic molecular cloud, Professor House said.

It doesnt deposit a lot of dust. It is hard to see any of these deposition events in the Earth record.

To create a layer that Curiosity could sample, the galactic dust cloud would have first lowered the temperature on a Mars that still contained water and created glaciers

The dust would have deposited on top of the ice and would then need to remain in place once the glacier melted, leaving behind a layer of dirt that included the carbon. This explanation is plausible, but it requires additional research.

A second possible explanation for lower amounts of carbon-13 is the ultraviolet conversion of carbon dioxide to organic compounds like formaldehyde.

The third possible method of producing carbon-13 depleted samples has a biological basis.

On Earth, a strongly carbon-13 depleted signature from a paleosurface would indicate past microbes consumed microbially produced methane. Ancient Mars may have had large plumes of methane being released from the subsurface where methane production would have been energetically favorable.

Then, the released methane would either be consumed by surface microbes or react with ultraviolet light and be deposited directly on the surface.

However, according to the team, there is currently no sedimentary evidence of surface microbes on the past Mars landscape, and so the biological explanation highlighted in the paper relies on ultraviolet light to place the carbon-13 signal onto the ground.

All three possibilities point to an unusual carbon cycle unlike anything on Earth today, Professor House said.

But we need more data to figure out which of these is the correct explanation. It would be nice if the rover would detect a large methane plume and measure the carbon isotopes from that, but while there are methane plumes, most are small, and no rover has sampled one large enough for the isotopes to be measured.

The teams paper will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

_____

Christopher House et al. 2022. Depleted carbon isotope compositions observed at Gale crater, Mars. PNAS, in press
Longview, TX (75601)

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Cleaning is considered to be a form of stress relief, among other activities such as mindfulness and exercise practices. Research has demonstrated that cleaning can yield several positive effects on mental health. Among them, a sense of control and a calming effect caused by the engagement of cognitive capacity in a repetitive activity is the most notable.

Decluttering Your Life: How Cleaning and Mental Health Are Connected | Dawn Potter, PsyD Play

The Link Between Cleaning, Physical Health, and Mood

Researchers from Indiana University have examined the relationship between physical health activity and the atmosphere in the home. 998 African American participants between the age of 49 and 65, living in Saint Louis were included in the African American health longitudinal study, which commenced in 2000. This group was specifically targeted in the study as they are disproportionately affected by risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It is known that physical activity is likely to reduce this as well as the effect of the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study used self-assessment and objective assessments to gauge the participants' perception of their neighborhoods and residences. Participants were asked to rate the interior and exterior aspects of the home including cleanliness, among other factors including noise, air quality, furnishings, and conditions of these interior and exterior aspects.

The data demonstrated that the interior condition of the home was an instrumental factor affecting the physical health of the study subjects. That is, those with cleaner houses reported greater levels of health compared to those with more cluttered homes, which was similarly correlated with physical activity; those with positively rated internal and external environmental factors were more likely to be physically active.

The Link Between Cleaning and Environmental Control

Environmental uncertainty and uncontrollability are sources of stress in humans, which prevents normal functioning. Response to this form of uncertainty is ritualization, which involves limiting expressions and activities in repetitive motor patterns.

These reactions are thought to be mediated by different neural pathways, and in their extremes unknown to manifest as obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder, however, repetitive, redundant (serving no purpose/fulfillment of a goal), and rigid (inflexible) activities, known to help people regain control.

In an examination of ritualized behavior in anxiogenic situations (that causing anxiety), researchers studied 62 undergraduate students cleaning behaviors assigned to either a high-anxiety or low-anxiety group. The researchers found that induced anxiety increased the likelihood of repetitive and rigid activities. Notably, however, these activities were not redundant. This study emphasized a novel link between anxiety and ritualized behavior, such as cleaning.

The Link Between Cleaning and Mood Enhancement

In a study published in the journal, Mindfulness, researchers investigated whether washing dishes could be used as a contemplative practice, as a means to promote mindfulness in an attendant emotional context.

The study used a sample of 51 university students engaged in either mindful or controlled dishwashing practices; these participants were asked to complete measures of mindfulness, experimental, and effect recall. The outcome suggested that mindful dishwashers experienced the greatest states of mindfulness, with a subsequent increase in positive effects (i.e. feeling inspired) as well as a decrease in negative effects such as nervousness.

The researchers noted that these implications are diverse and suggest that mindfulness can be cultivated via cleaning, and more widely in intentionally engaging activities.

Image Credit: goffkein.pro/Shutterstock.com

The Link Between Cleaning and Focus

According to research, multiple stimuli result in a limited cognitive processing capacity because of overstimulation of the visual system. This limited processing capacity is a result of competitive interactions which can be controlled by the biased bottom-up process is and top-down processes.

The bottom-up process is based on retrieving sensory information from the environment and producing perceptions based on this, in real-time. In top-down processing, previous experiences, expectations, and knowledge, are used to produce a perception.

Bottom-up processes are the driver of top-down processes. When spaces are cleared the degree of bottom-up, stimulus-driven mechanisms are reduced, resulting in an increased ability to focus using top-down processes. Therefore, cleaning can indirectly affect mental health through a reduced pressure to multi-task.

Cleaning results in good mental health through several mechanisms. The absence of clutter can reduce the overstimulation produced by too many visual stimuli, enabling increased focus and the ability to concentrate. In addition, cleaning can enhance mood, particularly when engaged in mindful activity whilst doing the cleaning activity  moreover, the active cleaning itself can result in environmental certainty and controllability, thereby reducing anxiety.

References:

Saxbe DE, Repetti R. (2010) No place like home: home tours correlate with daily patterns of mood and cortisol. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. doi:10.1177/0146167209352864.

McMains S, Kastner S. (2011) Interactions of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex. J Neurosci. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3766-10.2011.

Saxbe DE, Repetti R. (2010) No place like home: home tours correlate with daily patterns of mood and cortisol. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. doi:10.1177/0146167209352864.

Lang M, Kratky J, Shaver JH, Jerotijevic D, et al. (2015) Effects of anxiety on spontaneous ritualized behavior. Curr Biol. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.049.

Hanley AW, Warner AR, Dehili VM, et al. (2015)Washing dishes to wash the dishes: brief instruction in an informal mindfulness practice. Mindfulness. doi:10.1007/s12671-014-0360-9.

Further Reading
Many social and economic factors have a significant impact on one's well-being. Food, water, shelter, education, decent employment, safe working conditions, and so on are all essential for good health. Many higher-order requirements, such as social inclusion, participation in governance problems such as policy formation (e.g., on human rights and gender equity), the right to criticize unfair administration, and the ability to exert political power, are also crucial.

As well-being is associated with a broad ecology of social factors, it has become increasingly clear that a population's health is fundamentally dependent on equitable access to social goods and inequality.

Ending global health inequality: the fight for essential medicines | Nicole Hassoun | TEDxEustis Play

What is health inequality?

Systematic disparities in the health status of distinct demographic groups are known as health inequalities. Individuals and nations alike bear considerable social and economic consequences as a result of these injustices. There is substantial evidence that socioeconomic factors (gender, ethnicity, level of education, employment status, and income level) have a remarkable impact on a person's health.

There are vast inequalities in the health status of different social groups in all countries, whether they are low-, middle-, or high-income. A decline in a person's socioeconomic status directly makes them prone to poor health conditions.

Global health

Global health is currently high on the international political agenda, with summit gatherings of international forums such as the "Group of 7" (G7) and the "Group of 20" (G20) playing an important role (G20).

From the standpoint of health sciences and policy, the increasing political importance of Global Health and international study of this topic is long overdue. Health policy in most nations is concerned with the inherent challenges of national health systems, focusing on health-financing reforms, universal health coverage, access to health care in rural areas, and other local or regional issues.

World health and global governance

Richard Horton is accurate in his assertion that good health is influenced by the political, economic, and social forces that define living situations. Immediate and comprehensive efforts on an international and national level are required to address health care on a global scale.

Climate change is most likely the most pressing and urgent global issue affecting global health. Climate change has both direct and indirect detrimental local effects (for example, droughts, flooding, and starvation) and supraregional ramifications (migration).

Even though the industrialized world receives the majority of medical resources, the majority of those impacted live in low- and middle-income countries.

Global collaboration on this topic has yielded significant results (the Paris climate agreement). Political internationalism (which is based on close international collaboration) attempts to improve equality between and within countries. It can give long-term answers to the most pressing and pertinent health problems.

Furthermore, successful and equitable wealth redistribution has the potential to curb centrifugal, nationalistic tendencies. As a result, a fair, democratic, and competitive political process is supported, laying the groundwork for increasing health and life quality across the world.

Image Credit: Panchenko Vladimir/Shutterstock.com

Public health inequalities during a pandemic

COVID-19 has not been a virus that has affected everyone equally: it has targeted people who are ill and those whose everyday lives expose them to more interaction with others. As a result, it targets the poor disproportionately, particularly in developing countries and established economies such as the United States, where access to health care is not guaranteed.

There are significant differences in how the pandemic has been managed around the world, including how successful countries have been in maintaining their citizens' health (and economic condition) and the magnitude of the inequalities.

There are a variety of factors that contribute to these disparities: the state of health care and health inequalities; the quality of public response, including reliance on science and expertise; a country's preparedness and economic resilience; citizens trust in government guidance; and how citizens balanced their individual "freedoms" to do as they pleased with their respect for others, acknowledging that their actions generated externalities.

Unfortunately, as awful as inequality was before the pandemic and, as forcibly as the pandemic has highlighted our society's disparities, the post-pandemic world may see even bigger inequalities unless governments act. The explanation for this is simple: COVID-19 isn't going away anytime soon. There is also a threat of a new epidemic originating soon.

COVID-19 has revealed and worsened inequities across countries, as well as within them. The least developed economies have worsening health conditions, fewer prepared health systems, and people living in situations that make them more susceptible to infection and, they simply lack the resources that advanced economies have to deal with the economic fallout.

The pandemic will not be controlled unless it is contained globally, and the economic crisis will not be managed until there is a substantial global recovery. That is why it is in the developed economies' self-interest  as well as a humanitarian concern  to provide the help that developing economies and emerging markets require.

Without it, the worldwide epidemic would last longer than it would otherwise, global disparities will widen, and global divergence will emerge.

Organizations working to reduce global inequalities

The study of health inequality between countries is gaining popularity. The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization, the United Nations Development Program, the UK Department of International Development, and the rest of the global health community have all made this a priority. The results of the Global Health Equity Initiative, which looked at social inequalities in health in countries, were published in the book "Challenging inequities in health: from ethics to action".

The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health was established on March 18, 2005, to identify interventions and policies to eliminate global health disparities. However, the lack of a solid knowledge base makes it difficult to formulate a worldwide policy to close the gap between developed and underdeveloped countries.

Several recent global efforts focused on addressing health disparities have been launched. The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) issued the Addis Ababa Declaration on Global Health Equity after the 13th World Congress on Public Health, held 2227 April 2012 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), which was "a call to act on closing some of the critical gaps in global health and well-being."

The Global Health Corps (GHC) is a second example, which was founded in 2009, is galvanizing a global community of young leaders to create a health justice movement. By 2012, 68 fellows were serving in Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the United States as part of the program.

Continue reading about health inequalities here

References:

Stiglitz, J. (2020). Conquering The Great Divide. [online] International Monetary Fund. Available at: https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2020/09/COVID19-and-global-inequality-joseph-stiglitz.htm

Holst, J. (2020). Global Health  emergence, hegemonic trends, and biomedical reductionism. Global Health 16, 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00573-4

Meyer, S. (2019). Inequality, World Health, and Global Governance. The Lancet, 393(10188), p2297. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30350-2

(2018). Health Inequities and their causes. [online] World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/health-inequities-and-their-causes

Coovadia, H., & Friedman, I. (2015-02). Reducing health inequalities in developing countries. In Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2021, from https://oxfordmedicine.com/view/10.1093/med/9780199661756.001.0001/med-9780199661756-chapter-9.

Ruger, J. P., & Kim, H. J. (2006). Global health inequalities: an international comparison. Journal of epidemiology and community health, 60(11), 928936. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.041954

Further Reading
During the earlier phases of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, several remote home-based monitoring programs were set up in England for detecting early signs of deterioration in people with COVID-19 using pulse oximetry. Ultimately, these programs aimed to safely manage patients outside of the hospital, as well as provide reassurance and prompt escalation where necessary.

Study: The impact of post-hospital remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients using pulse oximetry: a national observational study using hospital activity data. Image Credit: Andrey Popov / Shutterstock.com

To this end, the National Health Service (NHS) launched community-based home monitoring services that were referred to as COVID Oximetry @ home ([email protected]) during the second COVID wave in 2020. [email protected] focused on managing COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms diagnosed in the community and was focused on self-escalation and more appropriate admissions.

Thereafter in January 2021, a national launch of post-hospital discharge COVID Virtual Ward (CVW) models was introduced. These were intended to support the early discharge of hospitalized and severely ill patients, as well as prevent unnecessary readmissions.

About the study

A new study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server discusses the impact of the implementation of [email protected] models in other settings and assesses the impact of post-hospital discharge CVW models.

The following questions were to be addressed:

What was the impact of CVW on the length of stay of COVID-19 hospitalizations?

What was the impact of CVW on rates of subsequent readmission for COVID-19?

Were there any associations between patient characteristics and hospital outcomes?

Here, information was extracted on all individuals who recovered in 123 English hospital trusts where there had been a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 ICD-10 diagnosis code from Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC) data.

All patients discharged from August 17, 2020, to February 28, 2021, were included. Importantly, this period marked the entire second COVID-19 wave in England.

Overall, 139,619 patients with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 were discharged during the study period. As some patients were hospitalized multiple times, these discharges attributed to 129,461 individuals. The present analysis included 98.2% of all patients with a primary COVID-19 diagnosis discharged from various institutions in England.

Study findings

The age range of patients who were discharged where a CVW was available was 50-64 years. Discharges of patients where a CVW was available were more likely to be occurring due to the higher levels of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

The mean length of stay (LOS) for patients discharged where a CVW was available was 10.1 days as compared to 8.9 days for patients where a CVW was not available. After adjusting for all covariates, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.05 was estimated for discharges where a CVW was available as compared to those where a CVW was not available. Thus, the LOS was 5% longer for relevant COVID-19 inpatients where a CVW had been available.

Cumulative start dates of CVW services in Englands non-specialist acute hospital trusts (n = 123 trusts). 14 trusts had no CVW by 22 February 2021. The grey box represents the main period of this analysis.

Additionally, people living in the most affluent population quintiles tended to have slightly shorter LOS than those in the most deprived circles. Moreover, the first inpatient stay due to a primary COVID-19 diagnosis was longer than the subsequent stays. Meanwhile, the LOS showed a decreasing trend as the proportion of acute beds occupied by COVID-19 patients increased.

Among the patients discharged from trusts with a CVW available, 3.0% had readmissions with COVID-19 within 28 days. Comparatively, the rate was 132% among patients discharged from trusts where no CVW was available. However, after adjusting for all variables, the difference was found to be insignificant.

The relative odds of readmission and LOS increased proportionately with the patients increasing age. Females had a significantly lower predilection to readmission than males, whereas Black patients had a lower predilection for readmission as compared to Whites. There were no apparent differences in readmissions among patients residing in less deprived areas as compared to the most deprived areas.

Taken together, the study findings did not provide any evidence of early discharges or reduced rates of hospital readmissions associated with the COVID Virtual Wards in England. The results are speculated to project the true impact of the service. Nevertheless, the effects of a lack of data on which patients had been enrolled, the COVID-19 in-hospital treatments, and clinical observations cannot be overlooked.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Thought Leaders Dr. Frank Scheer

Dr. Sarah Chellappa

In this interview, we speak to Dr. Frank Scheer and Dr. Sarah Chellappa about their latest research that investigated the effect meal times has on glucose intolerance.

Please could you introduce yourself and tell us what inspired your latest research into mealtimes and glucose intolerance?

Prof. Dr. Frank A.J.L. Scheer and his Medical Chronobiology Program (MCP) at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School studies the role of the circadian systemand its interaction with behaviors and the environmentin cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, cognitive, and metabolic function and disease, including relevance to hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and obesity. The MCP studies both the fundamental properties of the influence of the circadian system and its disruption as well as the application in the prevention and treatment of disease.

Dr. Sarah Chellappa at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Cologne, Germany, studies the role of the circadian system and sleep on mood, cognition and brain activity in a variety of human populations, including healthy young and older adults, shift workers, patients with depression, patients with ocular diseases and patients with neurodegeneration. In collaboration with Dr. Frank Scheer, Dr. Chellappa studies the role of the circadian system and circadian misalignment on cardiometabolic health.

Night shift work is highly prevalent and is associated with negative cardiovascular and metabolic health consequences, including type 2 diabetes. We and others had previously shown that circadian misalignment, i.e., the misalignment between the circadian clock and our behavioral sleep/wake and fasting/eating cycle, and which is typical in night shift workers, causes adverse effects on metabolism, including glucose control, and may thus play a mechanistic role in explaining the increased health risk associated with shift work.

However, it was unknown how these negative consequences can be prevented.

Based on animal experimental work and our own work in humans, we hypothesized that meal timing may be the critical factor. Hence, we performed the current study with the goal to determine whether meal timing can be effective in preventing disruption of glucose control (i.e., can prevent impaired glucose tolerance and pancreatic beta-cell function) during simulated night work conditions.

What are the differences between central and peripheral circadian body clocks? What role do these clocks play within the body?

The circadian timing system is comprised of a web of clocks, including the central master circadian clock, located in the brains suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and the peripheral clocks that are present in virtually all organs and tissues of the body.

The SCN is responsible for synchronizing our physiology and behavior with the 24-hour light/dark cycle, while many peripheral clocks are especially sensitive to meal timing. In this way, mistimed food can result in an uncoupling of clocks throughout the body, i.e., the SCN and peripheral clocks move to different time zones. This insight has been mostly been established from rodent studies but has recently been suggested to occur in humans as well.

While the SCN is almost exclusively responsible for driving endogenous circadian rhythms in many physiological variables, such as core body temperature, and circulating cortisol and melatonin rhythms, peripheral clocks across the body appear to play an integral role in modulating the circadian expression of a variety of, e.g., metabolic, functions.

Image Credit: Tatiana Shepeleva/Shutterstock.com

Glucose intolerance is often more commonly observed in night shift workers. Why is this?

One hypothesis is that night shift work leads to a mistiming of behavioral cycles, including the fasting/eating cycle, relative to the master circadian clock and its output, leading to, e.g., meal times occurring at a time that the body is not well adapted to deal with those metabolic challenges.

Another hypothesis is that night shift work leads to internal misalignment as discussed above, i.e., where mistiming of different clocks throughout the body leads to mixed messages in the control of organ function and thus to bodily maladaptation.

Can you describe how you carried out your latest research into meal timings and glucose intolerance? What did you discover?

Our study had 19 healthy young participants who underwent a 14-day controlled laboratory protocol. During part of the study, they stayed awake for 32 hours in a highly controlled, dimly lit environment, where they kept constant body posture, consumed identical snacks every hour, and had no time cues  a constant routine protocol to isolate endogenous circadian rhythms in physiology, i.e., independent of the sleep/wake and fasting/feeding cycle.

After that, they had a simulated night work schedule and followed one of two eating schedules: one group ate during the nighttime to simulate a schedule common among night workers, while the other group ate during the daytime, thus aligning their meal schedule to their ~24-hour central circadian clock. After that, they had another constant routine protocol to investigate the aftereffects of the meal schedules on their endogenous circadian rhythms.

Our results show that participants who ate during the nighttime developed relative glucose intolerance, while those who ate only during the daytime showed no such changes. Moreover, nighttime eating decreased pancreatic beta-cell function while no observable changes were observed in those eating only during the daytime.

Beta cells produce insulin, a hormone that escorts glucose into body tissues. Furthermore, nighttime eating caused a misalignment between the central circadian clock, estimated from the endogenous circadian rhythm in core body temperature, and the endogenous circadian glucose rhythms. In contrast, these rhythms remained aligned when participants ate meals only during the daytime despite their mistimed sleep.

Image Credit: Daytime eating prevents internal circadian misalignment and glucose intolerance in night work

What further research needs to be carried out to further confirm your findings?

Our study aimed at answering fundamental research questions; hence, we used a stringently controlled 14-day laboratory protocol. Because of that, it is challenging to make a direct translation of the daytime meal intervention used in our study to meal schedules to real-life shift workers.

Future research using practical interventions to implement daytime eating in night workers, without disrupting their sleep and daily activities, is needed.

Would you expect to see similar results if you studied other reasons behind atypical eating times such as sleep disorders or people suffering from jet lag?

While our study focused on a simulation of night shift work in healthy young individuals, we expect similar findings in individuals eating at atypical times  like those experiencing jet lag, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, or who experience social jetlag (i.e., people who tend to sleep late during the weekends as compared to the weekdays).

In those groups, we would also expect that limiting eating during their endogenous circadian day, according to their central circadian clock, would have beneficial effects on glucose tolerance and could help prevent internal misalignment. However, future studies are needed to directly test these expectations.

Image Credit: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

What advice would you give to nighttime shift workers in order to reduce their risk of developing glucose intolerance?

Our study shows that daytime eating, despite mistimed sleep, maintains internal circadian alignment and prevents glucose intolerance. While the direct translation of our findings into real-life settings is limited because of the stringently controlled nature of our study, we would recommend that night workers reconsider the amount of food (particularly carbohydrates) they eat in the nighttime.

What are the next steps for you and your research?

One of the next steps in our research is to develop a more practical intervention to implement daytime eating in night workers, such that participants would not have to spend e.g., a 12-h night shift without eating, and without disrupting their daytime sleep.

Where can readers find more information?

For more information, see Chellappa, Sarah et al. Daytime eating prevents internal circadian misalignment and glucose intolerance in night work Science Advances DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg9910

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abg9910

About Dr. Frank Scheer

Frank A.J.L. Scheer, Ph.D. is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS), a Neuroscientist at Brigham and Womens Hospital (BWH), and the Director of the Medical Chronobiology Program (MCP) at BWH, Boston.

Dr. Scheer has over 25 years of experience in circadian rhythm research, including the role of the circadian system in disease severity (e.g., nighttime asthma attacks, morning heart attacks), the impact of circadian disruptionsuch as occurs with shift workon cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune function, and the role of meal timing in glucose and body weight regulation. This work has relevance for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic function and disease states such as hypertension, asthma, obesity, and diabetes.

Since 2005, Dr. Scheer has been funded continuously as Principal Investigator by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Scheer has authored over 145 articles and has an h-factor of 65. Dr. Scheer has received numerous scientific awards, including the Young Investigator Award by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Neal Miller Award by the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, and the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award by the Sleep Research Society. Dr. Scheer is an Editorial Board Member of several peer-reviewed journals, an Associate Editor at the journal SLEEP, and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Sleep Research Society.

Dr. Scheer co-founded and currently directs the MCP, an interdisciplinary research program at BWH to foster the translational research in sleep and circadian biology to understand the basis behind time-variant changes in disease severity, the effects of circadian misalignment (typical in night shift workers), food timing, and their interaction with genetics (e.g., the common MTNR1B variant).

Understanding the biological basis of these changes across the day and night and their interaction with genetics may help in the development of personalized and time-based behavioral, environmental, and pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., appropriately timed meals, exercise, light, or melatonin to target specific phases of the body clock) to prevent, treat, and/or manage disease.

About Dr. Sarah Chellappa

Dr. Chellappa is an MD, Ph.D. (University of Basel, Switzerland), and Alexander Von Humboldt Experienced Fellow at the University of Cologne, Germany. Dr. Chellappas work has shown that sleep and circadian rhythms differentially affect mood, cognition, and brain activity in a variety of human populations, including healthy young and older adults, shift workers, patients with depression, patients with ocular diseases, and patients with neurodegeneration.

Her work combines multimodal imaging approaches, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, high-density EEG, and functional magnetic resonance imaging, to assess how sleep and circadian rhythms affect brain activity underlying mood and cognitive control. Her work also includes sleep/circadian interventions to help improve mood, health, and well-being using targeted light exposure and, more recently targeted nutritional interventions (meal timing) to improve metabolic function in humans.

Dr. Chellappa has authored 50 published papers (h-factor: 26) in prestigious journals including Science, Science Advances, Nature Communications, PNAS, JAMA Ophthalmology, among others, and has successfully acquired funding (e.g. the AXA Foundation, Swiss Office for Public Health, Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation Award).
In a preliminary study of 106 people with "wet" age-related macular degeneration, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that as many as a third of those with the blinding retinal disease may someday be able to safely stop eye injection therapy without further vision loss. The findings, say the researchers, fall short of setting a timeline for ending treatment or predicting precisely which patients can stop injections, but they say the results add to growing evidence that many people with the disease may not need the lifelong monthly medication currently recommended.

The findings, the investigators say, also point to specific proteins produced at different levels in the eyes of those who stopped therapy, which may lead to the development of a test to accurately identify who may be weaned off medication.

Such a test could let us tell patients early on how well they would do and when they might be able to stop." Akrit Sodhi , M.D., Ph.D., The Branna and Irving Sisenwein Professor of Ophthalmology associate professor of ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Wilmer Eye Institute

The study published in print Jan. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. The majority of those who lose vision from the condition have the "wet" form, characterized by the abnormal growth of blood vessels that leak damaging fluids into the light-sensitive tissues of the eye.

Treatment of wet AMD requires monthly or bimonthly injections of drugs called anti-VEGF  or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor  into the eye. Anti-VEGF agents can slow or stop the growth of the leaky blood vessels and, in most cases, effectively stave off further vision loss. However, the need to return to a physician's office or clinic each month for injections is a common barrier to care among patients, leading to missed treatments and potentially worsening vision.

For the study, Sodhi and his team analyzed the treatment outcomes of 106 people with wet age-related macular degeneration whom he treated at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute between 2013 and 2020 at the East Baltimore location and at a satellite clinic, both in Maryland.

Each patient had undergone a customized anti-VEGF injection schedule in which Sodhi monitored response to therapy and determined whether patients needed another injection at each visit or if they could enter a treatment pause in which the injection was held unless there was evidence of new disease activity at the next visit. Eyes without treatment that showed no signs of fluid accumulation or advancing vision loss after at least 30 weeks of monitoring were considered safely weaned off anti-VEGF therapy.

At the end of a year, up to a third of the patients had stopped anti-VEGF treatments in at least one eye. That amounted to 38 of 122 (31%) of treated eyes. A smaller percentage of eyes still required monthly injections, amounting to treatments for 21 of 122 (17%) patients' eyes. The other half of patients required treatment every 6-12 weeks; a handful of these patients were also ultimately weaned from treatment at the end of year two.

Patients who stopped anti-VEGF treatments in at least one eye showed the best outcome, with less fluid and improved vision compared with those who required continued injections to maintain their vision.

"Across the board, the patients who could enter a treatment pause did the best even though they were receiving no anti-VEGF drugs. They had better visual acuity, better gain of vision and less fluid in their retina," says Sodhi.

The researchers next sought biomarkers that could show what distinguished these patients from those who required monthly injections to maintain their vision.

Before beginning treatment with anti-VEGF therapy using their treatment plan, Sodhi's team collected small amounts of fluid from the eyes of some of the patients, and continued collecting samples at subsequent clinic visits from many of the patients.

In the fluids, the researchers found differences in the amounts of 172 proteins between patients who were able to stop treatments compared with those who required monthly treatment.

In a proof-of concept experiment, the researchers chose one of the 172 proteins to investigate further  apolipoprotein B100  that other studies had demonstrated is an important part of drusen, the material that accumulates under the retina in all patients with AMD and was thought to promote early changes in dry AMD. The researchers found that apolipoprotein B100 was present at much higher levels in the eyes of patients who had been weaned off anti-VEGF treatment. They further observed that the levels of this protein were higher in patients who did not develop wet AMD compared with patients who did. The researchers hypothesized this protein may help protect patients from developing wet AMD.

The researchers then conducted tests in mice by inciting in the mouse retina abnormal blood vessel growth similar to that seen in humans with macular degeneration. Mice genetically engineered with elevated apolipoprotein B100 levels had less abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina than mice with lower levels of this protein, suggesting the protein indeed has a protective effect against the retinal disorder.

Sodhi says there are potentially other proteins among the 172 that could be used as biomarkers to predict the response to anti-VEGF therapies. He notes that some of these proteins could be used for developing new macular degeneration treatments.

Randomized clinical trials in a large group of patients with wet macular degeneration must happen before broader recommendations on pausing anti-VEGF therapies can be developed, Sodhi adds.

Other researchers involved in this study include Xuan Cao, Jaron Castillo Sanchez, Chuanyu Guo, Tapan Patel, Zhiyong Yang, Ming-Wen Hu, Danyal Malik, Kathleen Jee, Yassine Daoud, James T. Handa, Lijun Chen, Yuefan Wang, Hui Zhang, and Jiang Qian of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Silvia Montaner of the University of Maryland and Aumreetam Dinabandhu of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Maryland.

This work was supported by the National Eye Institute (R01EY029750, R01EY025705, R01 EY27961), Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., the Alcon Young Investigator Award from the Alcon Research Institute, the Robert Bond Welch Professorship, and the Branna and Irving Sisenwein Professorship in Ophthalmology.
A Parkinsons disease gene turns out to provide the key to modify diseases related to immunoaging.

Image Credit: Luxembourg Institute of Healths (LIH)

In a world with an ageing global population, we could all use some good news when it comes to age-related health. The latest findings in a study led by Dr Feng Hefeng at the Luxembourg Institute of Healths (LIH) Immune Systems Biology Group could be just the tonic, having identified surprising age-defying effects on the immune system resulting from a gene deficiency usually causing Parkinsons disease.

The complex network of cells and proteins that make up our immune system is responsible for defending the body against infection from outside sources including bacteria, toxins and (if the pandemic has taught us anything) viruses. As our bodies age, the effectiveness of the immune system begins to decline in a process known as immunoaging, making us more susceptible to many types of illness, such as cancer and infectious diseases. This is creating a growing burden on primary healthcare, making a better understanding of the underlying cause and potential means of prevention an increasingly high priority.

During the study, Dr Hefengs team examined a particular protein (DJ-1), which is deficient in early onset familial Parkinsons disease causing neurodegeneration. It was hypothesized that, based on the teams earlier observations, DJ-1 could also play a critical role in regulating immunoaging, therefore making it an interesting potential target in the battle against many age-related diseases.

To make the work fully translationalable, the researchers started their work from patients with deficiency of DJ-1 function. They compared hallmarks of immunoaging between a patient with early onset Parkinsons disease (the index patient) and the patients two healthy siblings of the same gender and comparable age. Prof. Rejko Kruger, Director of Transversal Translational Medicine at the LIH, who performs research on neurodegeneration in this DJ-1-mediated form of Parkinsons disease, explains that these data encouraged us to believe that the reduced immunoaging observed in the index patient was driven by DJ-1 deficiency rather than any other factors.

While the human study provided a strong indication for the important role of DJ-1 in regulating immunoaging, the findings were further consolidated by a study on mice with a targeted emphasis on its specific action. In this case, wildtype mice were compared throughout the ageing process with otherwise identical mice that had been genetically engineered to fully suppress the expression of DJ-1. Starting from 45-weeks on, which corresponds to a middle age for a mouse, the DJ-1 deficient mice clearly showed reduced signs of immunoaging compared with wildtype mice of the same age. Furthermore, a range of data were discovered highlighting the mechanisms by which reducing DJ-1 from a young age could help to keep the immune system youthful in the future.

Our findings reveal an unexpected causal link between deficiency in a key Parkinsons disease gene (PARK7/DJ-1) and a reduced immunoaging process in the T cell compartments. Dr. Ni Zeng and Dr. Christophe Capelle, Lead Authors, Luxembourg Institute of Healths Department of Infection and Immunity

The director of the department, Prof. Markus Ollert, further emphasized the significance of the findings, suggesting that the data consistency between both human and mice with DJ-1 deficiency supports a highly potent strategy to interfere with or model immunoaging for various complex diseases and infectious diseases.

On one hand, DJ-1 deficiency causes neuronal cell death and consequently early-onset Parkinsons disease. However, on another hand, the authors here show that DJ-1 deficiency results in a more juvenile immune system that might generate beneficial impacts in our body, such as better defense against infection. Therefore, DJ-1 might be the key Yin-Yang point balancing natural ageing and immune ageing. The next stage in targeting such age related illnesses is to further explore and understand the various complex mechanisms that underpin the immunoaging process and their relationships to DJ-1. There is no doubt however, that this marks an important step forward in the field and a foundation upon which the LIH and other research teams can now build. As is summarized by Dr Hefeng:

Our work paves the way for building up a regulatory link between immunometabolism and immunoaging in T cell compartments via DJ-1. <It> also offers a unique animal model with reduced immunoaging phenotypes to allow researchers to explore the potential roles of a relatively juvenile immune system in the immune and ageing associated diseases. Understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms through which DJ-1 regulates immunoaging still requires further investigation
University of South Australia scientists have made a surprising discovery in the origins of an antibiotic-resistant gene previously thought to have been confined to Adelaide.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an organism responsible for thousands of deaths. Image Credit: University of South Australia

The gene, first detected in Adelaide in 2006, is carried by the nasty bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an organism responsible for thousands of deaths among immunocompromised, surgical and burns patients due to its resistance to last resort antibiotics.

This gene makes infections resistant to the most potent antibiotics used in medicine  imipenem and meropenem. Antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa is now listed by the World Health Organization as a critical priority pathogen, one of 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.

Until now, it was believed that the Adelaide Imipenemase (AIM-1) gene was only found in the South Australian capital city after being detected in clinical samples and healthcare-associated wastewater.

But a group of scientists led by UniSA microbiologist Associate Professor Rietie Venter has shown evidence of it worldwide, pinpointing its source in a harmless environmental organism present in soil, groundwater, wastewater and even in plants.

The findings have been published in the journal Microbial Genomics.

The discovery suggests that the gene has mobilized at some stage and jumped from a harmless organism to a nasty pathogen.

Its an opportunistic pathogen which is ubiquitous and very resilient, says Assoc Prof Venter.

The team used innovative ways to track and characterize antimicrobial resistance, making their discovery through wastewater analysis. Their research revealed the AIM-1 gene was prevalent at many sites throughout Adelaide and South Australia, including in every wastewater sample and river water, hinting at a wider spread of the gene than originally thought.

We then investigated the possibility of a global distribution of the AIM-1 gene. Through extensive nucleotide and protein data base searching, we discovered the gene was also present in Asia, North America and Europe. Rietie Venter, Associate Professor and UniSA Microbiologist

However, AIM-1 was predominantly found in harmless environmental organisms and has only made the jump to the pathogen P. aeruginosa in two other locations so far (Iran and Iraq).

Genes that are mobile jump around all the time, but the scenario described in this study is much rarer, says Assoc Prof Venter.

However, as microbes are a great source of antibiotics and very competitive, it is highly likely that many bacterial resistant genes evolve in unknown organisms before making their way to dangerous pathogens, especially P. aeruginosa, which shares a habitat with harmless environmental organisms.

Assoc Prof Venter says the AIM-1 gene requires carefully monitoring.

If we can better understand why genes jump from environmental into human pathogens, we might be able to prevent it from happening more often, she says.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e838844340)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838795f48)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e838844340)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838795f48)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e82bd019c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838795f48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838795f48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e82e3153f8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e8388468c0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e8388468c0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
(Newser)  Update: If memorizing capitals is among your pastimes, here's a new one for you: Nusantara. That's the name that will grace Indonesia's new capital, which is set to take shape somewhere around 2024. It will replace the current government seat, Jakarta, areas of which are sinking at a rate of roughly 10 inches a year, reports the Guardian. Nusantara means "archipelago" in the Indonesian language. CNN reports the country's House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill about the relocation of the capital to the province of East Kalimantan, with a government official calling it "the vision of the birth of a new economic center of gravity in the middle of the archipelago." Our original story from April 2019 follows.

Quick, name the capital of Indonesia. If you said "Jakarta," you win, but not for too much longer. The president of the world's fourth most populous nation has set in motion a plan to move the capital away from Jakarta and, in fact, away from the entire island of Java on which it sits, reports the Jakarta Post. It's not yet clear where the new capital will be located, and the wrangling is expected to take a decade. Jakarta is overcrowded and prone to flooding and sinking, thanks to the aggressive extraction of groundwater, per Reuters. President Joko Widodo also thinks too much of the island archipelago's wealth and power is concentrated in this one place.

We want to have a capital that represents the nations identity and improves the efficiency of the central government and establish a smart, green and beautiful city, says the chief of the nation's planning agency. The island of Borneo is one leading contender for the new capital site, reports the AP. Indonesia has about 260 million people, and more than half live on the island of Java. About 40 million live in or around Jakarta itself, and traffic congestion is notoriously bad. (Read more Indonesia stories.)
(Newser)  Update: A Michigan judge has apologized to a 72-year-old cancer patient after telling him that she would have liked to jail him for his overgrown lawn. "I made a mistake. I acted intemperately. I'm very embarrassed that I did so," Hamtramck Judge Alexis Krot said of her remarks in Jan. 10 hearing, per the Detroit Free Press. "I apologize to the person who appeared before me and to our entire community for having failed to meet the high standards that we expect of our judicial officers, and that I expect of myself." A petition calling for her removal is among the most popular on Change.org, with more than 231,000 signatures. Our original story from Tuesday follows:

A Michigan judge came under fire after harshly lecturing a 72-year-old man with cancer over the state of his yard. Burhan Chowdhury attended the virtual hearing after violating a city ordinance related to lawn maintenance, NBC 12 reports. "The neighbors should not have to look at that, Judge Alexis Krot told Chowdhury, who is in poor health and struggled to breathe at times while speaking. You should be ashamed of yourself. Krot added that if she could give him jail time over the violation, she would. The man's son explained to the judge that his father is undergoing chemotherapy and is too weak to deal with the yard, and that while he normally handles the property maintenance for his father, he was out of the country at the time.

The son admitted it was a "mistake" to have not taken care of the yard, and says the yard has already been cleaned up and the family has no issue paying the $100 finebut even so, the judge was "very rude" to tell someone with cancer they should be jailed over the issue. Nearly 200,000 people have since signed an online petition calling for Krot to be removed as a judge, and ClickOn Detroit reports video of the hearing has been widely shared (and criticized) on social media. Krot told Fox 2 Detroit she'd like to comment on the issue, but the state judge administrator has instructed her not to. (Read more Michigan stories.)
(Newser)  After four inmates in an Arkansas county jail tested positive for COVID-19 last August, they were told about their treatment regimen: some combination of vitamins, antibiotics, and steroids. But what they got was ivermectin, a lawsuit says. The FDA and Merck, the manufacturer, do not recommend prescribing the anti-parasitic drug in an effort to prevent or treat COVID-19, the Hill reports. But it's been used that way since at least November 2020 at Washington County Detention Center, says a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas.

The inmates were given large doses of ivermectin, the suit says, and suffered side effects such as vision issues, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The jail's health care provider, Karas Correctional Health, has said no inmates were forced to take the drug, per NBC. They didn't realize their treatment was ivermectin until later, the suit says. The filing includes pharmacy records showing that Karas dispensed at least 200 ivermectin pills just in November 2020. Inmates were sometimes given 6 times the approved dosage. "No oneincluding incarcerated individualsshould be deceived and subject to medical experimentation," said Gary Sullivan, legal director of the ACLU of Arkansas.

Merck has said that most studies of ivermectin's possible effects on COVID-19 have a "concerning lack of safety data." Karas has reported that 254 inmates were treated with ivermectin "It was not consensual," one inmate said. "They used us as an experimentlike we're livestock," Another inmate whose records showed that, based on his height and weight, was given more than six times the approved dosage said he had diarrhea and upper abdominal pain. "I'm scared," he had told CBS News. "I can't trust any of the medical staff." The detention center "must be held accountable," Sullivan said. (Read more ivermectin stories.)
(Newser)  The family of one of six Amazon workers killed when a tornado ripped through a warehouse in southern Illinois last month is taking the company to court. The lawsuit filed Monday says contract driver Austin McEwen, 26, and other employees were ordered to keep working at the Edwardsville facility Dec. 10 when they should have been sent home, NBC reports. McEwen was killed while sheltering in a bathroom with colleagues. The wrongful-death suit alleges that Amazon supervisors knew severe weather was on the way but had no emergency plan in place. It says McEwen and his colleagues were "improperly directed" to the bathroom at the fulfillment center.

"Sadly, it appears that Amazon placed profits first during this holiday season instead of the safety of our son and the other five, mother Alice McEwen said Monday, per the AP. The family's attorney, Jack Casciato, said the facility could easily have shut down for the day and reopened 12 hours later. There clearly "could be a profits over safety argument in this case, that Amazon was more concerned, during its peak delivery season, with keeping its production lines running," he said. "They had people working up to the point of no return, Casciato said. This is believed to be the first lawsuit filed in connection with the disaster.

The attorney described McEwen's parents as "just small town rural people ... like your prototype hard-working American family," per the Chicago Sun-Times. Casciato said that after the tornado killed their only child, they spent weeks reading about "what Amazon didnt do or what they could have done." He said father Randy McEwen would like to know why Jeff Bezos could go to space but "couldn't make it to Edwardsville." In a statement, Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said the lawsuit "misunderstands key facts." "Severe weather watches are common in this part of the country and, while precautions are taken, are not cause for most businesses to close down," she said. (Read more Amazon stories.)
(Newser)  Military, political, and diplomatic maneuvering took place over the standoff between Russia and Ukraine on Monday. Russia started to move troops into Belarus, Ukraine's neighbor to the north, the Guardian reports. At the same time, Ukraine was on the edge of internal political division. Developments included:



A buildup in Belarus: Russian forces began arriving in Belarus for joint military exercises planned for next month. Video posted on social media from Belarus appeared to show artillery coming by rail, and a Belarus official said troops have landed, as well. Experts have suggested Russia could invade Ukraine through Belarus, the Guardian reports, even if Belarus doesn't otherwise become involved in the fight.

A Russian denial : Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded with anger to the US suggestion that Russia is laying the groundwork for a pretext to invade Ukraine, per the AP. That's "total disinformation," Sergey Lavrov said.

: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded with anger to the US suggestion that Russia is laying the groundwork for a pretext to invade Ukraine, per the AP. That's "total disinformation," Sergey Lavrov said. Britain sending arms : Light anti-tank missiles were sent on Monday from the UK to help Ukraine, along with a reassurance, per the BBC. "This support is for short-range and clearly defensive weapon capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia," said Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. "They are to use in self-defense." A small team of troops will be deployed to train Ukrainian forces, he said.

: Light anti-tank missiles were sent on Monday from the UK to help Ukraine, along with a reassurance, per the BBC. "This support is for short-range and clearly defensive weapon capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia," said Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. "They are to use in self-defense." A small team of troops will be deployed to train Ukrainian forces, he said. A returning figure : Petro Poroshenko, a former president of Ukraine and opponent of the current president, returned Monday to Kyiv to face charges of treason and supporting terrorism, per the New York Times. The case could divide Ukraine even as Russian forces sit on its doorstep. Poroshenko gave a long, rousing speech, per the Washington Post, in which he called for unity but also criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky.

: Petro Poroshenko, a former president of Ukraine and opponent of the current president, returned Monday to Kyiv to face charges of treason and supporting terrorism, per the New York Times. The case could divide Ukraine even as Russian forces sit on its doorstep. Poroshenko gave a long, rousing speech, per the Washington Post, in which he called for unity but also criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky. Germany's caution : In Kyiv for talks, Germany's foreign minister warned Russia against an invasion while urging that talks continue. "We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia, because diplomacy is the only way to defuse this highly dangerous situation," Annalena Baerbock said.

: In Kyiv for talks, Germany's foreign minister warned Russia against an invasion while urging that talks continue. "We are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia, because diplomacy is the only way to defuse this highly dangerous situation," Annalena Baerbock said. Senators' support: A group of visiting US senators met with Zelensky and promised help, including arms, if the Ukrainians are forced to "defend their sovereignty."

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8387bf760)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838810030)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8387bf760)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838810030)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x55e8387c1680)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838810030)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e838810030)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x55e82e314968)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e8387f40a8)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x55e8387f40a8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
(Newser)  For decades renowned Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez kept the public from knowing about an intimate aspect of his life: He had a daughter with a Mexican writer, with whom he had an extramarital affair in the early 1990s. The closely guarded secret was published by Colombian newspaper El Universal on Sunday and confirmed to the AP by two relatives of the Nobel Prize-winning author, who is famous for novels like One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. Garcia Marquez died in Mexico City in 2014, where thousands of his readers lined up to see his casket in a concert hall.

He was married for more than five decades to Mercedes Barcha and the couple had two children named Rodrigo and Gonzalo. They lived in Mexico City for much of their lives. El Universal said that in the early 1990s Garcia Marquez had a daughter with Susana Cato, a writer and journalist who worked with Garcia Marquez on two movie scripts and who also interviewed him for a 1996 magazine story. Cato and Garcia Marquez named their daughter Indira (pictured here): She is now in her early 30s and uses her mother's surname. Some family members said they had not spoken about the writer's daughter previously out of "respect" for Mercedes Barcha who died in August 2020.

Gabriel Eligio Torres Garcia, a nephew of the Colombian writer, told the AP that Indira Cato's mother had also been discreet about her daughter's lineage, to keep her away from the media spotlight. Shani Garcia Marquez, one of the writer's nieces, told the AP that she had known for years about her cousin, but had not mentioned her to the media because her parents always asked her to be discreet about her uncle's personal life. "She leads a very artistic lifestyle, like many people in this family," she said of Indira Cato, a documentary producer in Mexico City who won several awards for a 2014 documentary on migrants passing through Mexico. "It makes us very happy that she has shined on her own." (Read more Gabriel Garcia Marquez stories.)
(Newser)  Verizon and AT&T are set to deploy new 5G service Wednesdayand in a letter to federal officials Monday, major airlines warned there could be "catastrophic" consequences. As Axios notes, the dispute between the airlines and the wireless companies has been going on a while, with the aviation industry having previously warned that interference from 5G signals, particularly during bad weather, could force planes to divert and the FAA having announced restrictions on low-visibility landings at certain airports as a result of that. The wireless carriers have twice delayed the rollout over these concerns, CNN reports. Now, CEOs of 10 airlines including American, Delta, United, and Southwest say there could be "catastrophic disruption" to flight schedules if the C-band 5G deployment goes ahead as planned.

They're asking the Biden administration to allow it to be "implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of" certain airport runways. Per an FAA statement, there were 88 US airports that, as of Jan. 5, would not have been available for landing during low-visibility conditions after the 5G C-band is deployed. But the wireless carriers agreed that for six months, buffer zones would be created around airports with transmitters nearby in order to reduce the risk from interference, and as of Sunday, the FAA had cleared an estimated 45% of the US commercial fleet to land in low visibility at many of those airports (because those planes use newly approved radio altimeter models). That means as many as 48 of those 88 airports are now OK for low-visibility landing. In the letter, the CEOs warn that "unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded." (Read more Delta Air Lines stories.)
(Newser)  Preliminary results are in on a clinical trial testing the efficacy of a fourth COVID shot, the world's first, and when it comes to omicron, that booster isn't doing the job researchers had hoped for. The Times of Israel reports that, in a study that began last month at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, a fourth dose does appear to boost antibody levels "slightly higher" than after a third one, but the vaccine doesn't seem to fend off breakthrough infections from omicron to the same degree it did with other variants. "We see many infected," says Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, one of the scientists leading the study. "Granted, a bit less than in the control group, but still a lot of infections."

The bottom line when it comes to preventing breakthroughs, per Regev-Yochay: "The vaccine is excellent against ... alpha and delta, [but] for omicron it's not good enough." Per USA Today, the admittedly small trial involved 274 medical workers at the hospital who received their second booster shot in December154 with the Pfizer-BioNTech variety, the rest with Modernaafter initially receiving three Pfizer shots. CNN notes there was also a control group not given any boosters. Regev-Yochay says she decided to release the preliminary results due to high public interest in the matter. Despite this development, she says she still thinks it's worthwhile to administer this second booster to "vulnerable populations."

Dr. Nahman Ash, who heads up Israel's Health Ministry, concurs, telling Channel 13 that the antibody boost is of "great importance, especially among the older population," per the AP. He notes, however, that health officials will consider the research as they decide whether to administer a fourth dose to the general population. Israel was the first country to approve a fourth dose for its most vulnerable citizens last month. The World Health Organization, meanwhile, has been urging countries to hold off on booster programs until all nations have access to initial doses of the vaccine. (Read more omicron variant stories.)
(Newser)  Some 4,000 to 8,500 years after a Native American artist made an etching in a 30-million-year-old volcanic boulder at what is now Texas' Big Bend National Park, visitors decided to leave their mark, toodirectly on top. Four names and the dateDec. 26, 2021were carved across the petroglyph in ugly white scratches. Though efforts have been made to repair the damage, much of it is permanent, Tom VandenBerg, Big Bend's chief of interpretation and visitor services, tells Outside. He adds something "priceless" has been lost. It's all the more enraging as this is the 50th case of petroglyph vandalism at the park since 2015. The same thing has been happening at sites across the country.

"Once something is done, you're never going to undo it completely," says Johannes Loubser, a specialist in rock art restoration who last year discovered etches and spray paint atop a set of 3,000-year-old carvings at Track Rock Gap in northern Georgia, per Outside. The problem is "people who are not educated, who don't realize what rock petroglyphs and pictographs are and that they're special to Native Americans, they act inappropriately." That doesn't appear to have been the case in Big Bend, however. VandenBerg tells Outside that there are signs describing the importance of the ancient markings, as well as the penalties for damaging them. They can include a fine of up to $5,000 or up to six months in prison, per the Houston Chronicle.

It's "difficult for those of us that have dedicated our careers to taking care of these places," VandenBerg tells the CBC. "With each instance of vandalism, part of our nation's heritage is lost forever," says Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker. Unfortunately, a well-meaning visitor who attempted to repair the graffiti with water only did further damage, with chlorine from the tap water reacting with the stone's natural patina, creating a white stain. National Park Service officials had to use distilled water and a soft-bristled brush to loosen the stain and remove the remains of the graffiti as best they could. Rangers are asking for the public's help in finding the culprits, who left the names Isaac, Ariel, Norma, and Adrian. (Read more vandalism stories.)
(Newser)  Hong Kong will cull 2,000 small animals after reporting what could be its first-known case of animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. A 23-year-old pet shop employee diagnosed as "the city's first untraceable delta infection in more than three months" is thought to have been infected by one of 11 hamsters imported from the Netherlands that have since tested positive for the virus, per the South China Morning Post. A customer of the pet shop in Causeway Bay and the customer's spouse have also tested positive, the BBC reports, though the Guardian describes the two additional cases as occurring in pet shop employees. Reuters reports 150 customers are being quarantined.

Hong Kong's health secretary, Sophia Chan, said there was no evidence of domestic animals infecting humans. However, Edwin Tsui, a controller at the Centre for Health Protection, said "we cannot exclude the possibility that the shopkeeper was in fact actually infected from the hamsters," per the AP. Some 178 hamsters, rabbits, and chinchillas were tested, reports the Guardian. Some 2,000 small animals throughout the country, including hamsters and chinchillas, are now to be euthanized, though no other species at the pet shop and its warehouse are believed to be affected. Pet shops are to turn over their animals, while owners must turn over any hamsters purchased since Dec. 22, per the BBC.

"We have assessed the risks of these batches are relatively high," said Dr. Leung Siu-fai, head of Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department, per the SCMP. "We urge all pet owners to observe strict hygiene when handling their pets and cages. Do not kiss or abandon them on the streets." An employee at a pet shop on Hong Kong island tells the Guardian that he has 20 hamsters in stock and is waiting for instructions from the government. Some pet shops have been closed, per Reuters. Imports of small animals have been temporarily halted as well. (China on Monday blamed an untraceable omicron infection in Beijing on a package sent from Canada via the US and Hong Kong.)
(Newser)  Update: A Norwegian court agrees with the psychiatrist who has long observed him that mass killer Anders Behring Breivik remains a threat and must remain incarcerated. The court on Tuesday said he was "an obvious risk" despite the decade that has passed since Breivik killed 77 people; he was eligible to seek parole because he has served the first 10 years of his 21-year sentence. "Because his psychiatric condition is unchanged, there is an obvious risk that he will fall back on the behavior that led up to the terrorist acts on July 22, 2011," the three-judge Telemark District Court said in its ruling, per the AP. It added the court "has no doubt that (Breivik) still today has the ability to commit new serious crimes that may expose others to danger." Our original story from Jan. 18 follows:

Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing extremist who killed 77 people in bomb-and-gun massacres in Norways worst peacetime slaughter in 2011, appeared Tuesday before a court for a parole hearing, per the AP. Breivik, sporting a stubble beard and a two-piece suit, walked into the courtroom with a white supremacist message pinned to his blazer and held up a sign with the same message. He made Nazi salutes as he entered the court (he usually does at such appearances) and presented himself as the leader of a Norwegian neo-Nazi movement, suggesting he would use the hearing as an opportunity to manifest his white supremacist views rather than make an earnest attempt for early release.

A decade ago, the Norwegian mass killer was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the terrorist acts on the island of Utoya and in the government quarter in Oslo. The sentence can be extended indefinitely, but under Norwegian law, Breivik, 42, is eligible to seek parole after serving the first 10 years of his term. The court is set to sit until Thursday, and a ruling is expected later this month. Breivik has shown no remorse, and experts say the hearing is unlikely to deliver him an early release.

Ahead of the hearing, Randi Rosenqvist, the psychiatrist who has followed up with Breivik since his 2012 jailing, said she could not detect great changes in Breiviks functioning since his criminal trial. Families of the victims and survivors feared Breivik would use the hearing to try to inspire likeminded ideologues. The only thing I am afraid of is if he has the opportunity to talk freely and convey his extreme views to people who have the same mindset, Lisbeth Kristine Royneland, who heads a family and survivors support group, said ahead of the hearing. (Breivik has sued over his prison isolation.)
(Newser)  The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska, and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion. And yet, despite sitting almost on top of the volcano that erupted so violently on Saturday, the Pacific nation of Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread disaster that many initially feared, reports the AP. Perhaps the biggest problem is the ash that has coated the main island and transformed it into a gray moonscape, contaminating the rainwater that people rely on to drink. New Zealand's military is sending fresh water and other much-needed supplies, but it said Tuesday the ash covering Tonga's main runway will delay the flight at least another day.

Tonga has so far reported two deaths, and concerns remain over the fate of people on two smaller islands that were hard hit. Communications have been down everywhere, making assessments more difficult. But on the main island of Tongatapu, at least, life is slowly returning to normal. The tsunami that swept over coastal areas after the eruption was frightening for many but rose only about 2.7 feet, allowing most to escape. "We did hold grave fears, given the magnitude of what we saw in that unprecedented blast," said Katie Greenwood, the head of delegation in the Pacific for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "Fortunately, in those major population centers we are not seeing the catastrophic effect we thought might happen, and that's very good news."

Greenwood, who's based in Fiji and has been talking with people in Tonga by satellite phone, said an estimated 50 homes were destroyed on Tongatapu but that nobody needed to use emergency shelters. She said about 90 people on the nearby island of 'Eua were using shelters. UN humanitarian officials and Tonga's government have reported "significant infrastructural damage" around Tongatapu. New Zealand's High Commission in Tonga also reported significant damage along the western coast of Tongatapu, including to resorts and the waterfront area.

Like other island nations in the Pacific, Tonga is regularly exposed to the extremes of nature, whether it be cyclones or earthquakes, making people more resilient to the challenges they bring. Indeed, Greenwood said Tonga doesn't want an influx of aid workers following the eruption. Tonga is one of the few remaining places in the world that has managed to avoid any outbreaks of the coronavirus, and officials fear that if outsiders bring in the virus it could create a much bigger disaster than the one they're already facing. Another worry, said Greenwood, is that the volcano could erupt again. She said there's currently no working equipment around it which could help predict such an event.

(Read more Tonga stories.)
(Newser)  Will there be copycats? That is the "palpable fear" at synagogues around the country after the hostage-taking in Texas over the weekend, an exec with the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York tells the New York Times. Mitchell D. Silber adds a jarring observation: More and more, the Jewish community has accepted that unfortunately what it means to be a Jew in the United States in 2022 is that your institution needs to have guards, checkpoints, and security." More on that and related coverage:

Different world: The Texas rabbi who led the dramatic escape of hostages has credited the training he received from law-enforcement in recent years, and the Times notes that such training has ramped up since the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018. The Jewish community security world is looked at as pre-Tree of Life and post-Tree of Life, says Stuart Frisch of the Secure Community Network.

Unacceptable: In a Washington Post op-ed, Michael Gerson notes that armed guards and traffic barriers are indeed routine aspects of services at his neighborhood synagogue. But we shouldn't accept this as a new normal, he writes. "It is not. It is a scandal of the first order when religious worship in America involves routine fear." His piece explores modern anti-Semitism and ways to combat it.

In a Washington Post op-ed, Michael Gerson notes that armed guards and traffic barriers are indeed routine aspects of services at his neighborhood synagogue. But we shouldn't accept this as a new normal, he writes. "It is not. It is a scandal of the first order when religious worship in America involves routine fear." His piece explores modern anti-Semitism and ways to combat it. The attacker: The lone British gunman who staged the attack, Malik Faisal Akram, had been on the radar of security officials in the UK as recently as 2020, reports the Guardian. The MI5 agency investigated him as a "subject of interest" and a potential terrorist but ultimately concluded he posed no risk and should not be barred from traveling abroad. Akram died when his four hostages escaped and police moved in, though it's unclear whether he took his own life or was killed by police.

The lone British gunman who staged the attack, Malik Faisal Akram, had been on the radar of security officials in the UK as recently as 2020, reports the Guardian. The MI5 agency investigated him as a "subject of interest" and a potential terrorist but ultimately concluded he posed no risk and should not be barred from traveling abroad. Akram died when his four hostages escaped and police moved in, though it's unclear whether he took his own life or was killed by police. Brother to brother: One of the people urging Akram to free the hostages and turn himself in during the 11-hour ordeal in Texas was his brother, Gulbar Akram, by phone from the UK. When I phoned him during the siege, I tried to speak, talk him down, Gulbar Akram tells the New York Times. And he said no, he refused. He added that his brother had mental health issues and should not have been allowed to travel abroad.

One of the people urging Akram to free the hostages and turn himself in during the 11-hour ordeal in Texas was his brother, Gulbar Akram, by phone from the UK. When I phoned him during the siege, I tried to speak, talk him down, Gulbar Akram tells the New York Times. And he said no, he refused. He added that his brother had mental health issues and should not have been allowed to travel abroad. On call: In a separate interview with Sky News, Gulbar Akram said his brother was actually on the phone speaking to his children when he was killed. (He believes police killed his brother, though that has not been confirmed.) "Why did they have to kill him? They didn't need to do that." He also said his brother told him that he did not intend to leave the synagogue alive.

(Read more synagogue stories.)
(Newser)  Microsoft is buying the gaming company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, gaining access to blockbuster games like Call of Duty and Candy Crush. The all-cash deal will let Microsoft, maker of the Xbox gaming system, accelerate mobile gaming and provide building blocks for the metaverse, or a virtual environment, per the AP. The deal would make Microsoft the worlds third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Chinas Tencent Holdings and Japans Sony Group, per the Wall Street Journal. The announcement Tuesday arrives with Activision still in turmoil over allegations of misconduct and unequal pay.

Activision disclosed last year it was being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission over complaints of workplace discrimination. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will retain his role, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the companys culture and accelerate business growth. Activision is based in Santa Monica, Calif. The deal Tuesday follows Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition last year of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of video game publisher Bethesda Softworks, which is behind popular video games The Elder Scrolls, Doom, and Fallout. Microsoft said in both cases that the deals will help beef up its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

(Read more Microsoft stories.)
(Newser)  In a story about relations between justices on the Supreme Court Tuesday, veteran NPR reporter Nina Totenberg called attention to an issue that's been percolating for a whileNeil Gorsuch's decision not to wear a mask. Chief Justice John Roberts has asked all the justices to wear one amid the omicron surge, and Gorsuch was the only one to rebuff the request when the court met earlier this month. The move has prompted criticism of Gorsuch, particularly because fellow justice Sonia Sotomayorwhose seat is next to hishas diabetes, which makes her more vulnerable to COVID. Coverage:

Not on the bench: In the most recent arguments, Sotomayor didn't join the other eight justices on the bench and instead participated from her chambers. Seeing Gorsuch appear as the lone unmasked justice in light of this was "pretty jarring," writes Totenberg.

Libertarian streak: David Leonhardt called the decision "surprising" in the New York Times because justices generally treat each other with respect, even if they're polar opposites ideologically. By way of explanation, Leonhardt notes that Gorsuch "is a conservative judge with a libertarian streak who has spent his life around Republican politics." And "in conservative circles, masks have become a symbol of big-government subjugation."

David Leonhardt called the decision "surprising" in the New York Times because justices generally treat each other with respect, even if they're polar opposites ideologically. By way of explanation, Leonhardt notes that Gorsuch "is a conservative judge with a libertarian streak who has spent his life around Republican politics." And "in conservative circles, masks have become a symbol of big-government subjugation." In defense: One person defending Gorsuch's decision was one of his former clerks, conservative activist Mike Davis. "Every justice is vaccinated and boosted," he tweeted. "Don't vaccines work? We know cloth masks don't."

One person defending Gorsuch's decision was one of his former clerks, conservative activist Mike Davis. "Every justice is vaccinated and boosted," he tweeted. "Don't vaccines work? We know cloth masks don't." No explanations: The court hasn't offered an explanation of Gorsuch's decision to forgo a mask or on why Sotomayor didn't participate in person. This rankles Dahlia Lithwick at Slate, who writes that "the courtwhile debating the necessity of COVID mitigation effortsdeclined to enforce its own COVID mitigation efforts. Then, in the face of politically polarized reaction, the court declined to tell us why." The problem may transcend Gorsuch, writes Lithwick. "Perhaps the bigger problem is that the Supreme Court itself agrees with him, even as it declines to tell us why."

The court hasn't offered an explanation of Gorsuch's decision to forgo a mask or on why Sotomayor didn't participate in person. This rankles Dahlia Lithwick at Slate, who writes that "the courtwhile debating the necessity of COVID mitigation effortsdeclined to enforce its own COVID mitigation efforts. Then, in the face of politically polarized reaction, the court declined to tell us why." The problem may transcend Gorsuch, writes Lithwick. "Perhaps the bigger problem is that the Supreme Court itself agrees with him, even as it declines to tell us why." Unloading: Perhaps the most scathing critique of Gorsuch came from Ruth Marcus in the Washington Post, who wrote that his decision to skip the mask "goes to the heart of our fraying social fabric." Elaborating: "Actions that should be understood as minor inconveniences desirable for the greater good have somehow been transformed into intolerable incursions on liberty. Being required to wear a mask has assumed symbolic resonance far in excess of any reasonable objection."

(Read more Neil Gorsuch stories.)
Homestead, FL (33030)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
(Newser)  A 70-year-old nurse who worked most of her life at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center died there last week after being assaulted at a bus stop, reports NBC News. Sandra Shells, who was still employed by the hospital after 38 years, was the victim of what police are calling an unprovoked attack on Thursday morning. In a news release, the LAPD says a homeless man struck Shales in the face as she waited for a bus, causing her to fall and suffer a fractured skull. Officers arrested 48-year-old Kerry Ball, who was found sleeping near the site of the attack that same day, per the Los Angeles Times.

"We are deeply saddened," hospital officials said in a statement. "Sandra Shells will forever be remembered for her compassionate care and unmatched dedication to her patients and her community throughout her 38-year career at LAC+USC." Ball faces a charge of attempted murder and is being held on $2 million bail. Police described him as a transient who has a long criminal record in multiple states. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is calling for a full investigation, saying that nurses and other essential workers need "more safe and stable environments." (Read more nurses stories.)
(Newser)  Yet more bad legal news for Prince Andrew: A woman who says she saw Prince Andrew in a London nightclub with a young girl believed to Virginia Giuffre is willing to testify in Giuffre's lawsuit against him, her lawyer says. Lisa Bloom tells the Guardian that her client, Shukri Walker, "has bravely stepped forward as a witness and encourages others who may have information to do so as well." Giuffre has said she was forced to have sex with the prince after a visit to Tramp nightclub in London in 2001. The prince has denied having sex with Giuffre. In a 2019 interview that focused on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, he said he was at a Pizza Express restaurant in a London suburb that nightand claimed that her account of him sweating profusely in the club could not be true because he is unable to sweat.

Bloom said last year that Walker "remembers the night clearly because she never saw a royal before or since." She said her client remembers that "Prince Andrew was happy, smiling and dancing, and Virginia did not look happy. My client was a trafficking victim herself and wants everyone to know that sex trafficking is real, ongoing and devastating." She said Walker also remembers seeing Ghislaine Maxwell in the club. A judge ruled last week that Giuffre's lawsuit against the prince could go to trial in in the US, and both sides are working on collecting evidence from potential witnesses, the BBC reports.

Giuffre has said Epstein and Maxwell pressured her into having sex with the prince on multiple occasions, but the royal's lawyers want to question her husband and psychologist Dr. Judith Lightfoot, alleging that she "may suffer from false memories," per the BBC. Giuffre's lawyers have said they want to speak to Robert Olney, a former aide to the prince, because he may have "relevant information about Prince Andrews relationship with Jeffrey Epstein." They have also asked for proof of his alleged inability to sweat. (Queen Elizabeth II has stripped the prince of his military affiliations and royal patronages.)
(Newser)  He sued for $150,000, but a jury decided that William Cronnon deserved way, way more after a serious blunder at Cracker Barrel. A jury in Tennessee awarded Cronnon a total of $9.4 million because a waitress served him a glass of chemical kitchen cleaner instead of water, reports Restaurant Business. The mistake happened in 2014 when Cronnon's waitress refilled his water glass from a pitcher. When Cronnon drank the chemical called Eco-San, he immediately felt a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus, per CNN. The 68-year-old's attorney says his client suffered "severe permanent injuries," including cramping, diarrhea, and "reflux pain after meals," per the Washington Post.

The jury awarded Cronnon compensatory damages of $4.3 million and punitive damages of $5 million. However, it's possible he will ultimately receive less. For one thing, Cracker Barrel is expected to appeal. For another, a state law limits economic damages to $750,000, notes the Post. That could wipe out about $3.6 million from the first sum, though the $5 million in punitive damages could stand as is. Cracker Barrel admits the mistake but objects to the size of the penalty.

"While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jury's award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago," it says in a statement. Cronnon made the case that the restaurant where he ate didn't provide adequate training to keep employees from storing unmarked chemicals in unmarked containers. Eco-San, used in industrial dishwashers, has a "high concentration of chlorinating agent" and is described as both a sanitizer and stain remover on the company website. (Read more Cracker Barrel stories.)
Shamokin, PA (17872)

Today

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 52F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 52F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Public sector employee gets seven years in corruption case: Bahrain

Public sector employee gets seven years in corruption case: Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A government employee will now spend seven years behind bars for being found guilty in a corruption case that went on trial before the High Criminal Court.

Another Bahraini man, a clearance agent, also received similar jail terms for assisting the employee at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to attract customers.

Police exposed the employees hand in the crime during an investigation into a trader charged with selling counterfeit goods.

The trader told investigators that a clearing agent claimed that he could remove his violation with the help of a MOICT employee for an unspecified amount.

Police said they found evidence supporting the crime from the phones of both the clearing agent and the MOICT employee.

Investigators also revealed finding solid evidence for the man taking bribes.

The Financial Crimes and Money Laundering Chief Prosecutor had said the investigation followed a tip-off from the Anti-Corruption Department of the Public Prosecution.

The Public Prosecution heard witness testimonies and examined text messages between the pair.

Several business owners told the prosecution that the suspect took money from them for removing violations.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Capital Governorate Police Directorate has revealed that the Pakistani expatriate who has allegedly been missing for more than 40 days is serving time in jail.

Muhammad Shahbaz, 41, was arrested in a robbery and damage case on November 24 in Salmaniya.

He was sentenced to three months in jail followed by deportation.

A lawyer was hired to defend him in court.

The General Directorate of Reformation and Rehabilitation said that Shahbaz enjoys his full rights and gets all services stated in the Reformation and Rehabilitation Law and its rules.

The Daily Tribune was made aware of the case when contacted by Shahbazs family in Pakistan who was inquiring about his whereabouts after losing contact with him.

Unaware of the actual situation, the family sought help from Bahrain authorities and the public to find Shahbaz who came to Bahrain nearly six months ago and was regularly in touch with family members.

However, according to his brother Muhammad Sajjad, suddenly the phone calls stopped and there was no way to contact him.

A friend of Shahbaz, also a Pakistani national, said that he has informed the sponsor, who has agreed to file a police complaint.

The Pakistan Embassy too promised absolute support to the family of Shahbaz in their attempts to locate him.

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) profile of Shahbaz shows that his residency permit in the Kingdom has expired.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Amid a surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the Cabinet has reiterated the importance of being vaccinated and receiving a booster shot to strengthen community immunity.

It also underscored the importance of adhering to all precautionary measures to preserve public health and safety against the deadly virus.

Yesterdays weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, reviewed a report on the national COVID-19 response and the progress of Bahrains National Vaccination Campaign.

The report revealed that 94% of the eligible population have received their first and second vaccination doses, and 83% of the eligible population received a booster shot.

This has had an impact on the decrease in the number of active COVID-19 cases needing hospitalisation or intensive care.

The Cabinet highlighted the governments monitoring of global COVID-19 studies and COVID-19 variants to inform decision making on appropriate and necessary precautionary health measures.

It also received an update on the measures taken by the relevant authorities in response to the recent impact of rainwater on certain areas within Bahrain.

The Cabinet directed the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to continue to monitor residential neighbourhoods and roads affected by the rainfall and to develop appropriate solutions.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh has commended the important role of Bahraini ambassadors and diplomats in consolidating relations between Bahrain and other countries.

This came as Al Saleh received yesterday newly appointed Bahraini Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Shaikh Ali bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.

He congratulated Shaikh Ali bin Abdulrahman on obtaining the royal trust and wished him success in moving Bahraini-Saudi relations towards more prosperity and development in various fields.

Al Saleh affirmed the deep brotherly relations between the two kingdoms and pointed out that the high levels of partnership and strategic cooperation under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The ambassador expressed his great pride in the royal trust and stressed the keenness to continue efforts to support the Bahraini-Saudi relations with further development and progress in all fields.

Al Saleh also received yesterday from Bahrain Society of Engineers (BSE) President Mazen Ahmed Al Omran.

He congratulated Al Omran and its members on their election for the current session 2022-2023.

The chairman affirmed the councils keenness to advance the laws regulating engineering professions and offices in Bahrain in a manner that enhances their role in the urban development in the Kingdom.

He explained that the engineering offices in the Kingdom play a major role in supporting the construction development of the real estate sector in Bahrain, praising the expertise and competencies possessed by Bahraini engineers, and their commitment to professional values and standards
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Cabinet yesterday commended His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for inaugurating the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finances (BIBF) new state-of-the-art headquarters located in Bahrain Bay.

It highlighted the role played by the Kingdoms educational and training institutions, including the BIBF, in creating educational opportunities for Bahraini citizens within the financial services sector and supporting economic development, following the priorities of the Economic Recovery Plan.

The Cabinet also noted BIBFs numerous international partnerships, particularly with The London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF) with whom three agreements have been signed.

These agreements will contribute to the development of local and international banking and finance professionals.

The Cabinet agreed to the formation of a committee, headed by the Minister of Interior and including the relevant authorities, to review and develop the procedures and regulations for importing publications used by government agencies.

The Cabinet approved the following memorandums:

1. A memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding a draft law on the executive regulations for the amended GCC Common Law On Antidumping, Countervailing Measures and Safeguards Measures.

The memorandum aims to protect local industry from harmful practices in international trade conducted by non-GCC member states.

2. A memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance regarding the accession of government agencies to global climate change organisations.

The move supports the Kingdoms effort to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, grow its international contribution to innovation in reducing carbon emissions, and invest in the efficient use of clean energy.

3. A memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding the governments response to 3 proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini citizens are increasingly showing off their skills in the nursing profession and the latest data speaks of the great Bahrainisation success in the field.

Speaking at the Parliament yesterday, Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh revealed that there are currently 2,945 qualified nurses working in the hospitals and health centres affiliated to the Ministry of Health and among them, 1,807 are Bahrainis (1,138 non-Bahrainis) with Bahrainisation standing at 61 per cent.

According to the minister, 3,599 Bahraini medical professionals are working with the Ministry of Health compared to 1,399 expatriates, which highlights a key milestone of 72 per cent Bahrainisation.

Bahrainisation is one of the highest at 90.2pc (1,012 Bahrainis and 109 expatriates) among the support staff at the Health Ministry, the minister said in her response to a question raised by lawmaker Isa Al Dosari.

She said the ministry altogether employed 6,119 individuals including doctors, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, support staff and service staff.

The figures revealed by the minister showed that 385 consultant physicians functioned on the Health Ministry payroll, and, of whom 363 are Bahrainis along with 22 non-Bahrainis (Bahrainisation 94pc).

Among the total number of physicians (602), 493 are Bahraini doctors and 109 non-Bahrainis (Bahrainisation 82pc).

As for dentists, there are 63 Bahrainis and only seven non-Bahrainis.

The ministry employs 276 pharmacists, comprising 262 Bahrainis and 14 non-Bahrainis (Bahrainisation 95pc).

The Bahrainisation rate reached 100pc in several specialities, including nutrition, neurology, psychotherapy and audiology.

And among the jobs category, 100pc Bahrainisation has been achieved among resident doctors, senior resident doctors, resident dentists, senior resident dentists, practical nurses and medical services assistants.

As of now, Bahrain has a large number of Bahrainis working for the three stages of healthcare delivery within the system maintained by the Health Ministry, namely; primary, secondary and tertiary.

Thanks to the ministrys efforts in discovering and retaining talents, Bahrain has advanced and comprehensive healthcare systems in the region, employing both skilled Bahrainis and expatriates.

Bahrain has a unique governance model headed by the Supreme Council of Health to set the national strategy and directions, the National Health Regulatory Authority as a regulator of the health sector, and the Ministry of Health as key operators to manage the health sector.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA) signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INJAZ Bahrain, the non-profit youth empowerment organiSation, to provide 20 of its employees as volunteers for INJAZ programmes.

The agreement was signed by BAC Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah and INJAZ Bahrain Executive Director Hana Sarwani, in the presence of several officials from both parties.

Al Binfalah said: As one of Bahrains largest aviation sector employers, BAC is committed to fostering a strong voluntary work culture among its team and contributing to the development of young talent.

This agreement will not only help further nurture the staffs sense of selflessness and compassion but will also allow them actively to contribute to the betterment of our nation by leading some of INJAZ Bahrains valuable training activities in Bahrain.

BAC will select 10 volunteers per academic year for two years.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB), one of the leading banks in the Kingdom in providing digital financial solutions, announced Aneesa Al Slais as the Tejoori grand prize winner for 2021.

The prize was worth US$600,000, corresponding to a monthly salary of US$50,000 for a full year. A private ceremony was held in the end of December to hand over the largest salary prize in Bahrain to its lucky winner in the presence of several bank executives including Hassan Jarrar, Chief Executive Officer of BisB, Ali AlAradi, Acting Head of Retail Banking, in addition to several staff members.

Commenting on the occasion, Hassan Jarrar, CEO of BisB, said: I would like to congratulate Aneesa Al Slais for winning our Tejoori grand prize for 2021, wishing her prosperity and success in all she hopes to achieve.

Also, we encourage customers to increase their chances of winning by opening a Tejoori account or deposit into their Tejoori account through the BisB app or by visiting any of our branches or financial centres.

The bank also launched a campaign from the 8th until the 18th of December in Bahrain City Centre Mall, providing customers the opportunity to open a new Tejoori account or increase their deposits as well as participate in interactive games for the chance to win instant cash prizes.
IARU-R1: 23cm Band and RNSS  Compromises need to be found

The Chair of IARU Region 1 Spectrum Affairs, Barry Lewis G4SJH, reports on the work being done in defending the interests of the Amateur Services in the 1240-1300 MHz band



On the IARU Region 1 site he writes:



As we head into 2022 the ITUR and CEPT work considering the 23cm band and coexistence with the RNSS systems (GALILEO, COMPASS, GLONASS, GPS) will continue so where have we got to and where is it heading?



The IARU has provided extensive information regarding the amateur and amateur satellite service applications in the band 12401300MHz as well as operational characteristics and data indicating the density of active transmitting stations and the busiest periods when these are most likely to be operational. Using this data, one CEPT administration has provided an extensive set of propagation model predictions for a number of amateur operating scenario assumptions (including satellite working and EME operation) that predict an interfered area over which an amateur transmissions may be received by a RNSS receiver at levels exceeding a defined protection level. Another ITU-R member administration contributed a smaller set of predictions using the same model. The received RNSS interference level that the RNSS can tolerate (receiver protection level) is based on ITU-R recommended criteria and depends on whether narrowband or wideband interfering signals are being transmitted.



The propagation model predicts that an interfered area can extend out to several tens of km (depending on the scenario) but at the extremes of the area, the time probability of exceeding the protection level is very low (1%) and for only 50% of locations. The model can only assume a full power continuous transmission.

In addition much attention has been paid to documenting an interference case recorded in Italy between an Italian 23cm band repeater and GALILEO receivers at the nearby European Commission Joint Research Centre in Ispra where work is undertaken to develop and test GALILEO system applications. The impact of traffic through this very local repeater (12.5km distant) on three different GALILEO receivers has been documented. This work suggests that whilst RNSS receiver bandwidth can have a part to play in enabling coexistence, beyond that nothing has been reported that could help develop any coexistence criteria. Nothing is reported about the mode of failure in the receivers beyond degradation on C/N.



This one case is often cited as the proof that interference can occur.







At present the conclusions from this work are being developed (in ITUR and CEPT) and IARU work continues to ensure these results are put into a real world context to understand what they imply with respect to successful coexistence.



Amateur transmissions virtually anywhere in the band will be co-frequency with the RNSS receivers from one system or another. It is therefore obvious that any RNSS receiver will be open to any co-frequency amateur transmission and amateur operators have no way of knowing where or when a RNSS service user is active. Therefore IARU has expressed a view that for successful coexistence guidance to be developed, some compromises will need be necessary.



As we move through the work in 2022 we need these compromises will become apparent so that the amateur community can know how to respond appropriately in a way that can allow our diverse set of applications to continue to develop whilst minimising any potential disruption to RNSS services. It is anticipated that the international views on the ITUR studies will need to stabilise by the middle of this this year in order to meet the timetable for the WRC-23 preparatory work. These views will likely propose technical and operational measures to be applied to the amateur and amateur satellite services that could be formalised in the Radio Regulations.



As the study activities work towards conclusions it is vital that the national societies engage with their national amateur radio regulators to ensure they understand and hear about the importance of this band for the amateur radio community.



Source IARU-R1

https://www.iaru-r1.org/2022/23cm-band-and-rnss-compromises-need-to-be-found/

https://twitter.com/IARU_R1
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Salam Bank recently announced donating BD10,000 to the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) as part of first activating under its Corporate Social Responsibly (CSR) platform, Al Salam Helping Hands.

Held in collaboration with the local Bahraini artist, Abbas Al Mosawi, the community-led initiative comprised several art pop-ups at key locations involving the Banks employees, clients, and the entire Bahraini community and public at large; enabling the artist to curate all the artistic contributions into a final piece.

For every participation, Al Salam Bank donated an equivalent BD 1 to RHF.

The final painting curated by Abbas Al Mosawi, which was unravelled on the face of the Banks headquarters last year, served as a creative announcement for the banks new refreshed logo featuring its new brand colour palette.

The entire activation was hosted as part of Al Salam Banks rebranding campaign to reflect the banks newly formed Brand DNA and future-ready vision.

Al Salams Helping Hands activation was thereafter wrapped up by a gallery exhibition displayed at the City Centre Bahrain, as well as the reception of Banks new headquarters; featuring all of the community art pieces wherein all the proceeds of the pieces sold were also donated to RHF.

The galleries also featured contemporary pieces designed by the local Bahraini brand, Annada, immortalizing the Banks art collaboration with Abbas Al-Mosawi, in the form of scarves, abayas, shirts, neckties, and other interior home items.

Rafik Nayed, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Salam Bank revealed, We are incredibly proud to embark on our partnership with RHF for our first Al Salam Helping Hands activation, which involved our employees and the entire Bahraini community at large to celebrate the Banks new human-centred values, Brand DNA, and new strategic direction.

Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, the Secretary-General of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), praised Al Salam Banks longstanding support towards the Kingdoms community projects, and its drive towards supporting the Foundations ongoing pipeline of humanitarian projects, which include the provision of humanitarian relief and aid, and philanthropic ventures towards people and communities of fraternal and friendly nations.
The number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolated at home has soared to over 10,000 in Tokyo, reflecting the recent rapid spread of infections blamed on the Omicron variant.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said there were 10,814 such people on Monday, exceeding the 10,000 mark for the first time since the virus' fifth wave of infections last summer.

The number of those battling the virus at home in the Japanese capital had remained less than 100 for more than two months before January 1. But the figure has quickly risen since then, topping 1,000 on January 9 and 5,000 on Friday.

Unlike last summer, people currently in home isolation are mostly those who are without or with only mild symptoms.

But health officials are concerned that those infected with the highly infectious Omicron variant and in isolation at home are highly likely to pass the virus on to other family members.

The metropolitan government is working to boost the number of accommodation facilities and is urging those who have tested positive for the virus to use such facilities for isolation instead of their homes. It is also ramping up a system to better monitor people in isolation at home, as well as another for home visits by doctors jointly with local medical associations.
A government-appointed commission investigating deaths and enforced disappearances failed to make significant progress in investigating violent attacks on activists and politicians, including journalist Ahmed Rilwan who disappeared in 2014, and blogger Yamin Rasheed who was killed in 2017.

by Giriraj Bhattacharjee

On January 9, 2022, Maldives Police Service (MPS) and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) launched a joint operation under the name Gulhigen to ensure the safety of the public and the security and peace of Male City. The reason for the operation was rumored to be linked to terrorism, though no further details are available.

On January 7, 2022, in an operation MPS, arrested an individual, suspected to be linked to terrorism, in Vilimale under North Male Atoll.

In the meantime, for the fourth year in a row, Maldives did not record any terrorism-linked fatality in 2021. The last terrorism-linked fatality was reported on April 23, 2017, when a local affiliate of Al-Qaeda killed blogger Yameen Rasheed.

However, a major Islamic State (IS) 'inspired'-terrorist attack took place on May 6, 2021, when former President and preset Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed was grievously injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast outside his home in the national capital, Male. Three of his bodyguards and two bystanders  a local and a British national  also received minor injuries in the explosion. On December 14, 2021, the Criminal Court sentenced one of the accused, Adhuham Ahmed Rasheed, to 23 years, six months and nine days in jail for the assassination attempt on Nasheed.

The last recorded terrorist attack took place on April 15, 2020, when five speedboats, including a sea ambulance, a Police vessel, and the atoll council's speed boat, were damaged in an arson attack at Mahibadhoo Harbour on the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Two other speed boats and two dinghies were also affected by the fire. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), a total of four terrorist attacks were reported in 2020

The last such terrorist attack which resulted in casualties was reported on September 29, 2007, when 12 foreign tourists, including eight Chinese, two Britishers, and two Japanese, were seriously injured in a bombing in Sultan Park, Male.

On May 15, 2021, moreover, one IS cell was neutralized when the Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defence Force, in a special operation, arrested seven men with suspected links to IS, from Addu City. No further details are available in this case.

According to the SATP database, Security Forces arrested 24 terrorism suspects in 2021, as against 19 in 2020, and three in 2019.

Further, relentless propaganda by ISs monthly magazine Voice of Hind continued to instigate Maldivians against the State. An article published in the 22nd issue of the magazine released in November 2021 demonized the Maldivian Government's efforts to counter extremism, giving an account of a poor family whose daughter was forcibly detained as she was wearing a Niqab (veil worn by women to cover themselves) and was not going to school. At the end, the author exhorts every capable Muslim to sacrifice, so that their compatriots can live and earn happily. Indias anti-terrorism agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), also suspects content creators from the Maldives of sending content for the Voice of Hind.

The threat perception in the Maldives is, consequently, high as a result of significant manifestations of radical extremism. To counter this threat, the Government adopted several measures in 2021, including:

December 15: President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the third amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act. Earlier, on November 29, the Majlis (Parliament) had passed the Bill. The amendment to the Act gives greater powers to police, who can now complete investigations in terrorism-related cases in 90 days, as against 45-days under the previous statute. Further, Police will now be able to detain persons suspected of terrorism-related offenses for 48-hours without a court order. Before this, persons suspected of terrorism-related offenses were only allowed to be detained without a court order for 24-hours.

December 7, 2021: President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih inaugurated the Joint Interagency Operations Center, a new center established to counter terrorist attacks.

November 28, 2021: President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the Fifth Amendment to the Penal Code related to hate crimes. The Hate Crime Bill was passed by Parliament at its 39th sitting on November 16, 2021. The Amendment Bill includes the addition of article 124, following article 123 to the Penal Code. The new article criminalizes portraying people as non-believers or as anti-Islamic based on views expressed on religious matters in which religious scholars have conflicts or opposing views. It also dissuades the labeling of a Muslim as anti-Islamic unless the person publicly proclaims himself to be a non-believer, comes out as a non-believer or deliberately commits an act of kufr.

Even though the Maldives is completely Muslim in its religious composition, the extremists often label their opponents as non-believers, leading to incidents of intimidation.

This was highlighted by Speaker Nasheed after the May 6 attack on his life. On July 17, 2021, Nasheed wrote an open letter and shared it on his Facebook and Twitter accounts. The letter reads, inter alia,

After the most recent assassination attempt in the Maldives, this time directed at me, the government duly recognized the root of the issue as the labeling of people by radical Islamists as un-Islamic, which then leads to death sentences in the form of a fatwa. The hot-headed Jihadi indoctrinated groups then execute the fatwa, as was the case with all the other extremism-motivated murders, including Dr. Afraasheem, Rilwan, and Yameen. As recent history clearly shows, people who are targeted by this labeling and the hate crimes that follow are politicians, journalists, and everyday people who exercise free speech.

Earlier, the UN Maldives Common Country Analysis 2020 too had observed,

While the government continues to express its commitment in building a culture of tolerance as a response to extreme ideologies, social media shows an increase in hate speech...

Indeed, Ministry of Gender, Family, and Social Services data for the year 2020 shows 38 reported cases related to extremist religious ideology. 188 such cases were reported between 2014 to 2019. The data for 2021 has not yet been released.

However, prosecution failures are endemic, as case after case collapses due to lack of acceptable evidence. Such failures are thought to further strengthen the resolve of terrorist and extremist formations, individuals, and their supporters. Terrorism suspects later delegitimize state action as a kind of vendetta of a secular' government against the 'faithful'. On September 16, 2021, the High Court ruled in favor of Mohamed Ameen, who is believed to be the leader of Maldivian faction of the Islamic State, dismissing the charges against him and ordered his release. He, however, remains behind bar, as he was re-arrested on October 11, after the Supreme Court overturned the High Court's September 16, 2021, ruling on October 3, 2021.

Through 2021, the government-appointed Commission on Disappearances and Deaths (DDCom) did not make any headways in two crucial cases: journalist Ahmed Rilwan, who disappeared in 2014, and the blogger Yamin Rasheed who was killed in 2017. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had announced in one of Maldivian Democratic Party (MPD)'s 'Rahvehi Fathis' campaign events (between February and April 2021) that a final report on the investigation on Rilwan would be made by the end of 2021. However, no updates are available. Significantly, the post of the President of DDCom was filled on February 3, 2021, when member Fareesha Abdulla was elevated as the commissions President. The post had been vacant since December 8, 2019, when her predecessor Husnu Al Suood was appointed to the Supreme Court.

The 2022 report of Human Rights Watch under 'Lack of Accountability' further notes,

A government-appointed commission investigating deaths and enforced disappearances failed to make significant progress in investigating violent attacks on activists and politicians, including journalist Ahmed Rilwan who disappeared in 2014, and blogger Yamin Rasheed who was killed in 2017. The commission recommended that the police file charges against former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb for interfering in the investigation and protecting alleged perpetrators. However, as of November, the police had not charged Adeeb. The authorities appeared to stall prosecutions in other cases investigated by the commission.

On September 1, 2019, DDCom revealed that, of the 27 cases being investigated, only four or five were 'currently pending'. No official update regarding the cases is available since then. To date, there have been no convictions in any one of the cases.

Unless investigative and intelligence agencies are strengthened, and the recommendations made by the parliamentary committee on National Security are implemented, it will remain impossible to effectively tackle extremist and terrorist threats in the island nation.

(The writer, Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management)
RIDGEFIELD  Singing, dancing and heartfelt speeches made up Ridgefield Playhouses 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day Jr. celebration Monday afternoon.

At the free, 90-minute event, Rabbi Emeritus Jon Haddon of Temple Shir Shalom in Ridgefield referenced King as someone with a deep selflessness who had a cause and dream about all people.

Haddon said King lived a life dedicated to giving to others in the same way Ridgefield Playhouse Executive Director Allison Stockel  who was honored at the event  leads her life.

For you, too, have had a cause and a dream, to bring culture and joy and some of the greatest talents in the world to a little town called Ridgefield, America, Haddon said to Stockel, who is a Ridgefield resident.

The celebration and tribute was attended by about 150 people in person with another 250 people watching on YouTube.

Stockel received the Playhouses annual Spirit of Dr. King Award for her commitment to service.

Aside from her position at the Playhouse, Stockel has been involved with many other local nonprofits including The Women's Center the Ridgefield Rotary Club, The Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club, and The Ridgefield Guild of Artists.

The event featured performances by actress Kimberly Wilson, The Ridgefield Chorale, The Ridgefield Diwali Committee, Ridgefield A Better Chance students, and a reading by Ridgefield's poet laureate Barb Jennes. Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray provided a rendition of Your World Fulfilled.

In his speech, Mark Robinson, founder of Ridgefields MLK Spirit Day event, spoke about the importance of doing good deeds for others  as King did in his lifetime.

The thing may or may not be in your own personal self interest but is intended to help someone else, Robinson said.

He added no society anywhere can survive without its members helping one another.

Addressing the audience, he asked, Are you ready, willing and able to do something for others? For someone you may have never met or never meet?

He added doing a good deed should not just be done on Martin Luther King Day, nor should it be a one and done.

This is our way of living, he said. This is every day.

Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi referenced Kings I have a Dream speech, asking those in attendance if they thought Kings hope for equality and prosperity for people of color has been fulfilled.

Have we as Americans erased the presence of inequity and opened the roads to prosperity for all? Marconi said.

He added that he doesnt think so.

Have we in Ridgefield done our part? I dont think we have, he said.

Marconi said one way for Ridgefield to become less racially segregated pertains to the topic of education, and specifically the Open Choice program.

This program allows students from city schools to attend suburban schools. Its meant to address increasing enrollment in Danbury and Norwalk schools and declining student population in nearby towns.

Open Choice would allow children from neighboring Danbury to attend Ridgefield schools, Marconi said.

He added while the practice of segregation is illegal, schools right here in Connecticut are still incredibly segregated. We can play a positive role by participating in Open Choice with our neighbor, the city of Danbury.

He added a social education is as valuable as an academic education.

This is what Dr. Kings dreams are all about, he added.

In her speech, Stockel said she looks at the Martin Luther King award as a paying it forward award.

She said there are many people in Ridgefield who embody the spirit of King, in that they volunteer so much of their time and energy towards others.

They care so much about others that they dont take into account how much time or energy taking care of others or committing to a certain nonprofit or nonprofits will take away from their lives  because doing this work is their lives, Stockel said.

She said honoring those people encourages others to follow in their example.

If you think of little Ridgefield and of how much giving we have here and if you can replicate that around the country, around the world, think of how much better a world this would be, she said. We honor Dr. King by honoring those in this community who do his work and by doing so, we encourage others to do the same.

sfox@hearstmediact.com 203-948-9802
Writer/director Mike Mills turbulent new family melodrama delves into the trials and tribulations of parenthood, encompassing its inherent joys and overwhelming responsibilities, including choosing between self-interest and caring for a child.

Living in a small Chinatown apartment, Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) is a New York radio journalist heading a small team of interviewers who travel around the country asking young people probing questions about their aspirations, what they think of the world around them, their uncertainties and what needs to change.

When his estranged sister Viv (Gaby Hoffman) must cope with a mental health crisis involving her bipolar husband (Scoot McNairy), Johnny flies to Los Angeles to care for Jesse (Woody Norman), her imaginative, precociously perceptive nine-year-old son.

Having absorbed Vivs self-help exercises and vocabulary, vulnerable Jesse has been taught to express his feelings openly, leading to insightful cross-generational communication.

The bittersweet plot revolves around the transformation that happens when Johnny, whos single and has no children, steps into the avuncular role.

Inspired by his own parenting experiences with filmmaker Miranda July (Kajillionaire), Mike Mills shot the script in sequence, working with Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan to film in luminous black-and-white, tracing how Johnny and Jesse bond, with music by Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National.

Previously in Beginners, Mills explored his poignant relationship with his father who came out late in life, and in 20th Century Women he recalled his mother and sister who raised him.

Bearded and considerably heavier than he was as the Oscar-winning Joker, Joaquin Phoenix delivers a quiet, gently thoughtful, emotionally satisfying performance, while British newcomer Woody Norman masters an authentic American accent.

FYI: One of the young people interviewed is Devante D-Man Bryant, a 9 year-old who was later killed in a shooting and to whom the film is dedicated.

On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, Cmon Cmon is a sensitive, stylistic, soft-spoken 7, streaming on Prime Video.

Susan Granger has been an on-air television and radio commentator and entertainment critic for more than 25 years. Raised in Hollywood, Granger appeared as a child actress in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, and Lassie. She currently resides in Westport.
"There are no other fans like Canadian fans when it comes to the Olympic Winter Game s," says Mark McMorris, two-time Olympic snowboard medalist and one of Cheerios' partnered athletes . " I'm fortunate to be able to represent Canada and knowing everyone is tuned in and has my back is amazing. The support gives me the ultimate motivation, even if they can't be in the stands, it' s powerful knowing they're watching and cheering me on from home."

Athletes motivate us, inspire us and entertain us, and in exchange, fans have the power to help them be their best. Which is why, alongside McMorris, Cheerios has partnered with Canadian winter athletes Sarah Nurse, Charles Hamelin, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Connor McDavid and Jane Channell to ensure they - and all Team Canada athletes - receive words of encouragement, uplifting messages, and positive support from their fans.

"Behind every athlete, there are thousands of passionate fans," says Jeevan Grewal, Brand Experience Manager of Cereal and Snacks, at General Mills Canada. "For the past 12 years, we've fostered a connection between athletes and fans through our Cheer Card program. This year, we wanted to find a way to deepen that connection and enable fans to share their cheer in new ways. We hope that they still feel the love and support from afar."

HOW TO BECOME A CHAMPION OF CHEER

Look for specially marked boxes of Yellow Box, Honey Nut and Multi-Grain Cheerios in grocery stores nationwide, while supplies last; Scan the QR code and be transported into an interactive experience. Here, you can play interactive games, learn more about the athletes and ultimately, send your written or video cheer; Your message or video will be directly sent to athletes and may be amplified by Cheerios on social media.

CHEER WITH CHEERIOS DIGITALLY

General Mills partnered with Blippar to create multiple AR experiences for some of their top selling brands. The AR experiences launched with their "Cheer" Campaign in support of the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

AR allows customers to engage with their content in a fun way. To make the experience as easy as possible, they used QR codes on the front of packaging to drive customers to a landing page. This is where they can decide if they want to learn more about General Mills' 2022 Sponsored Athletes, participate in 1 of 6 unique fully interactive trivia and games, or send a Cheer to athletes.

The campaign is being promoted on-pack and through a variety of media channels, including television and social media.

POWER OF CHEER: AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE

Going one step further, Cheerios is bringing fans' cheers all the way to Beijing through a custom 'Cheer Booth' set up in the Canadian Team's Athlete Lounge at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Village. This unique space will be covered in words of encouragement from fans across the country. Within the booth, athletes will be immersed in Cheer: seeing, hearing and experiencing the messages and videos from Canadian fans.

EXTENDED PARTNERSHIP

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and General Mills Canada Corporation, the Official Cereal and Cereal Bar of Team Canada, also announced its partnership renewal through the end of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. For over a decade, Cheerios has inspired Canadians to share words of encouragement and over 100,000 Cheer Cards have been sent to Team Canada athletes.

"Now more than ever Team Canada athletes need the cheers from Canadians across the country as they make the final push to the Olympic Winter Games," said Jacquie Ryan, COC Chief Brand and Commercial Officer and the Canadian Olympic Foundation CEO. "We are thrilled to extend our long-standing partnership with General Mills and look forward to the new interactive digital platform for fans and athletes to connect and of course filling our cupboards with those iconic Cheerios boxes."

To learn more about the program, visit @CheeriosCA .

About General Mills Canada Corporation

Established in 1954, General Mills Canada Corporation is based in Mississauga, Ontario. General Mills purpose is to serve the world by making food people love. Its most popular products include CheeriosTM/MC and Honey Nut CheeriosTM/MC cereals, Nature ValleyTM/MC snacks, Yoplait and Liberte dairy products, and Old El PasoTM/MC Mexican products. General Mills Canada is a proud and long-time supporter of Team Canada, Concerned Children's Advertisers and United Way.

*Trademarks of General Mills or its affiliates

 Trademarks of YOPLAIT MARQUES S.N.C. (France) used under license.

SOURCE General Mills Canada

For further information: Sheri Clish, Narrative, [email protected] / 416.728.9160; Holly Wilks, Narrative, [email protected] / 519.495.2568
In a recent development, advocate Vishnu Jain told sources that he received a threatening call today on the same pattern as before, but this time the caller used the name of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra.

Several Supreme Court lawyers once again on Monday received calls from various international numbers, allegedly from Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), that threatened the SC judges regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modis security breach during his visit to Punjab on January 5, 2022. Supreme Court Lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who last week also filed a complaint with the Delhi Police in this regard, today again received threat calls. Jain stated that he has received threat calls from the SFJ for filing complaints against them.

They have further threatened the judges of SC. The pre-recorded calls, allegedly from the SFJ, reiterated its threat against Supreme Court lawyers that they will not allow SC to constitute a committee headed by retired SC judge Indu Malhotra to proceed with the inquiry into the PMs security breach in Punjab, he said in the complaint.

In a recent development, advocate Vishnu Jain told sources that he received a threatening call today on the same pattern as before, but this time the caller used the name of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra.

Other than Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, Advocates Apoorv Shukla and Nishant Katneshwarkar have also received calls from international numbers with pre-recorded audio, threatening them for lodging complaints against SFJ.

Recently, the Delhi Police has registered the First Information Report (FIR) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on the basis of lawyers complaints stating that they have received calls threatening judges over the case related to Prime Minister Security Lapse.

According to complainant lawyers, the FIR has been lodged under sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) read with 13,16,18 and 20 of UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act).

According to the Supreme Court Advocate-On-Record Association (SCAORA) letter, the calls were made allegedly by a pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The Supreme Court also recently set up a committee headed by a retired top court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to probe into the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modis Punjab visit. SFJ is a US-based secessionist group that supports the secession of Punjab from India and formation of Khalistan. Founded and primarily headed by one Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, it was banned in India in 2019 as an unlawful association.
Two Indian nationals are among the three people killed and six injured in the explosions in Abu Dhabi on Monday, Indias envoy to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir confirmed to ANI. The two Indians and one Pakistani national were killed and at least six persons were injured as three petroleum tanker trucks blew up after catching fire near a major oil storage facility in the Mussafah area of the capital of UAE, according to the official state news agency WAM. Two Indian nationals are dead in the explosions and we are trying to ascertain their identities, envoy Sunjay Sudhir told ANI.

Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack that was suspected to have been carried out by drones, WAM said.

UAE authorities have informed that the explosion at Mussafah, near ADNOCs storage tanks, has led to 3 casualties, which includes 2 Indian nationals. The Mission @IndembAbuDhabi is in close touch with concerned UAE authorities for further details., Indian mission in UAE tweeted. Abu Dhabi police said that the explosion involving three oil tankers and a fire in the construction site of the emirates new airport extension were potentially caused by drones.

The fire provoked an explosion in three tanks for transporting fuel in the Misfah area near the fuel depots of the Emirati state-owned company ADNOC, the police said in a statement. Also, a small fire broke out in the construction area of the new airport of the UAE capital Abu Dhabi. According to the preliminary version, this happened as a result of a drone hit, the police added. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree told the Almasirah broadcaster that the Yemeni rebel group will soon reveal details about a special military operation that was carried out in the heart of the UAE.

The UAE has been part of a Saudi-led military campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015. It intervened in Yemens civil war in 2015 as part of the Arab Coalition but scaled down its operations in 2019, according to WAM.
The liberal lions mighty roar might have fallen silent, but his dream shall never die. He belongs to each of us, and now he also belongs to the ages.

by Anwar A. Khan

There prodigious leaders who have been hailed from all over the world, of which some towering exemplaintroit Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin Ahmad, Syed Nazrul Islam, Prof Muzaffar Ahmed and Comrade Moni Singh from Bangladesh, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan from Pakistan, Mohandas Gandhi from India, Bahaullah from Persia, Martin Luther King Jr. from America, the Dalai Lama from Tibet, Nelson Mandela from South Africa. But one of the humanitys brightest lights went out on 20 January 1988 at the age of 98. He is Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a blanked-out politician of perfect finesse of South East Asia.

Khan with Gandhi

He was born on 6 February 1890. Being a secular Muslim, he did not believein religious cleavages. American president, Calvin Coolidge, once said, A nation that forgets its heroes will itself soon be forgotten. When we look back at our history, almost every country in the world has undergone some bod of extraneousmilitary control, colonisation, monumentalferocity and bloodbathmerelygrounded on regional, religious or spiritual, ethnic, or racial contravene.

And while most of the leaders, who have led such warfare and occupations, have been tearing and despotic, there have also been a few, very few, leaders who have gone against the status quo, and only believed in and flackedpassive resistance. In the present times, when unwillingness to recognise and respect differences in opinions or beliefs and furiousness seek to arrogateinscrutableetyma in our bon ton, this King Khan's (Bacha Khan) didacticisms are to a greater extentgermane than ever.

The liberal lions mighty roar might have fallen silent, but his dream shall never die. He belongs to each of us, and now he also belongs to the ages. No words can ever do justice to this irrepressible, larger than life presence who was simply the best; the best non-violent politician; the best advocate you could ever hope for; and the best person to stand by your side in the toughest of times. He will also be remembered, by those who knew him, as an extremely warm and caring human being whose service was a brilliant reflection of his love and devotion to general people.

We will always be grateful for the many gestures of kindness and generosity he extended to us during our glorious Liberation War in 1971, for the concern he showed for all of us, and for his devotion to all those in need whose lives were better because he stood up for them. From Kabul, at the age of 81, he strongly raised his voice almost every day against the devilish Pakistani regime and their brutal acts carried on us. We used to hear his statements condemning the unrighteous dissembles of President Yahya Khan Military Junta through Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Akashbani Radio and BBC news media. This very upright and elderly politician was deeply saddened to hear what magnitude of evil acts was going on in the soil of Bangladesh in 1971 using the name of our holy religion-Islam, by the diabolical Pakistani mass killers.

He was larger than life, and his passing has left an enormous hole in all peace-loving peoples hearts. He had offer comforting words, a hand on the shoulder, a listening ear. His loss is humanitys loss, indeed. Pope Francis in one of his Christmas messages, mentioned three icons of peace and non-violence from the 20th century; Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (popularly known as Bacha Khan). He was a political and spiritual leader known for his nonviolent opposition, and a lifelong pacifist and devout Muslim. A close friend of Mohandas Gandhi, Bacha Khan was nicknamed the "Frontier Gandhi" in British India. Bacha Khan founded the Khudai Khidmatgar ("Servants of God") movement in 1929, whose success triggered a harsh crackdown by the British Empire against him and his supporters, and they suffered some of the most severe repression of the Indian independence movement.

Khan strongly opposed the All-India Muslim League's demand for the partition of India. When the Indian National Congress declared its acceptance of the partition plan without consulting the Khudai Khidmatgar leaders, he felt very sad. After partition, he pledged allegiance to Pakistan and demanded an autonomous "Pashtunistan" administrative unit within the country, but he was frequently arrested by the Pakistani government between 1948 and 1954. The Khudai Khidmatgar was founded on a belief in the power of Gandhi's notion of Satyagraha, a form of active non-violence as captured in an oath. He told its members: "I am going to give you such a weapon that the police and the army will not be able to stand against it. It is the weapon of the Prophet, but you are not aware of it. That weapon is patience and righteousness. No power on earth can stand against it.

Ghaffar Khan forged a close, spiritual, and uninhibited friendship with Gandhi, the pioneer of non-violent mass civil disobedience in India. The two had a deep admiration towards each other and worked together closely till 1947. But the Congress party refused last-ditch compromises to prevent the partition, like the Cabinet Mission plan and Gandhi's suggestion to offer the Prime Ministership to Jinnah. As a result, Ghaffar Khan and his followers felt a sense of betrayal by both Pakistan and India. Ghaffar Khan's last words to Gandhi and his erstwhile allies in the Congress party were: "You have thrown us to the wolves.

He is credited with his tireless advocacy of peace in the region he belonged to. He held liberal views and championed for womens rights which made him much popular among the masses. He was strongly against the partition of India and dreamed of creating a united, independent and secular India.

His passion towards education, for both girls and boys, and the creation of schools in villages especially created quite a melee; his work was not seen as positive reinforcement but taken instead as rebellion  an opposition. And, yet, despite being constantly persecuted, Bacha Khan incessantly defied their ill-intentions and retaliated with selfless devotion and preaching of nonviolence. Khan is his own unique person and should never have to be referred to or viewed in someone elses shadow. Though he and Gandhi shared similar visions, they were undoubtedly two quite distinct individuals.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan or Badshah Khan or Bacha Khan, as he is lovingly known, he was a towering figure in Indian, and later Pakistani, history. He was punished by the British for demanding freedom from foreign rule. After independence, he was punished in the new state of Pakistan for questioning its elites and their policies. The Frontier Gandhi had embraced the philosophy of non-violence. It accused Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan of disloyalty to Pakistan. It is a tragedy that this great freedom fighter spent more time in prison in the independent state of Pakistan than he had even under British rule.

He said, Every religion that has come into the world has brought the message of love and brotherhood. And those who are indifferent to the welfare of their fellowmen, those hearts are empty of love, those who do not know the meaning of brotherhood, those who harbour hatred and resentment in their hearts, they do not know the meaning of Religion. He was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1967. He was also awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1987, making him the first non-Indian to receive this honour. We live in times fraught with intolerance and bigotry. The life and teachings of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan seem more relevant than ever before. The Great Human of the World...We salute him. I take this opportunity to salute the memory of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and his followers.

Bangladesh honoured Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan like humanist posthumously with friends-liberation-war-award for his contributions to the 1971 Liberation War. Once he said, I hereby affirm, and publish for all the world to witness, my moral opposition to the use of violence to settle disputes. Consequently, I refuse to participate in, or cooperate with, any group, organization, or agency of government that would require me to engage in any act of violence against a fellow human being. Furthermore, I hereby pledge and affirm, from this day forward, to organize my life and livelihood in such a way as to promote peacemaking as a practical ideal. Ghaffar Khan or "Bacha Khan" (meaning "King Khan" in Pashto) was one of the pillars of Indian resistance against the British, who continuously fought against injustice and worked for social uplift.

In the present times, when intolerance and violence seek to take deep roots in our society and country, Khans teachings and life remain more relevant than ever before. He was a strong votary of the idea that change need not come from the barrel of the gun, it can start from within too. It is about time the world learns from the struggles of this great man. Abdul Ghaffar was the product of a particular society. If studied in this perspective, one can imagine that his mission was not easy, simple and indulgent, and that his achievements were much more significant than his contemporaries who had risen out of enlightened societies.

Leaders normally stand out on the pedestal of their society. Those leaders are seldom born who raise their society from the ignominious depths of ignorance and obscurity to the heights of enlightenment and glory. Abdul Ghaffar Khan was one of the rare breeds of leaders. He blew new life in the dormant people heretofore groaning under the burden of the worst type of feudalism. It was his stamina, struggles, patience, devotion and determined tolerance in the face of suffering that lifted Pukhtuns from the lowest level of serfdom to the high status of nationhood. That was the reason that not only the British and later Pakistani rulers opposed him tooth and nail, but also the feudal lords and parasitic clergy. Therefore, his name will glitter eternally through the pages of the world history.

When upheavals bubbled in Bangladesh after the general elections of the-then Pakistan in 1970 because of mischievous and loathsome acts by Yahya Khan military junta, Bacha Khan offered his services for mediation. He was then in Kabul and proposed to the Pakistani regime that he would go back to Pakistan to lead a Jirga of a few elders from Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan to meet the Pakistans majority party leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and settle the contravention through negotiations, but there was no response from them. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Qayum Khan of the Muslim League, supported by some Army officers, were determined to grab power, although the majority had voted for the Awami Leauge of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib. Jamaat-e- Islami exploited the Urdu speaking community of Indian refugees and the Bangla-speaking Pakistanis formed al-Badr and al-Shams killing squads and carried out genocide murdering 3 million unarmed people, raping three hundred thousand of our sisters and mothers and displaced one million of our people. When all these strategies failed to cow down Mujib, Pakistan Army launched an operation in the-then East Pakistan. What then happened is an open secret.

Bacha Khan repeated his proposal that Pakistan should not use force there and try to settle the matter through negotiations. During discussion, Bacha Khan mentioned that there were some selfish people who did not like peace in the country. He used to say "The selfish has no sight!" It means that selfish people are driven so rashly by their selfish designs that they do not see the gloom and doom ahead. He had spent 30 years of his life in prison, and fought against oppression, intolerance and violence for more than 70 years.

Those leaders are seldom born who raise their society from the ignominious depths of ignorance and obscurity to the heights of enlightenment and glory. Abdul Ghaffar Khan was one of the rare breeds of leaders. Bacha Khan was too big a stalwart of peace, non-violence and freedom movements to remain obscure forever. Although he had never personally held the reins of power, but when he died on January 20, 1988 national flags in three countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India were brought to half-mast to mourn his death, their mutual differences notwithstanding. Heads of all the three countries were present at different stages of his funeral.

He was a man with no lust, no greed, no hatred, and no violence. His life was dedicated only for peoples welfare irrespective of religions. He is truly the Light Bearers of this planet. He kept glowing from his true being. It is awe-inspiring to hear of a human that is still not living the life that the creator gave to us all in these troubled times. He was taller than six feet, but his heart was larger than his height. He is a very inspired and loving human that resounds with my heart. His statements marked by firm determination or resolution condemning the brutal Pakistani forces and their local cohorts applied on our people; his deep love for the suffering people and to close off all atrocities to us in 1971 war in no time in Bangladesh which were relayed through Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Akashbani Radio, BBC radio, VOA... almost on daily basis, are still ringing into my ears.

-The End 

The writer is an independent political analyst based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs
Sri Lanka will undertake discussions with the Indian Oil Corporation on Tuesday as part of a desperate effort to alleviate the island nations current fuel and energy shortages, according to Power Minister Gamini Lokuge. The negotiations with the Indian Oil Corporations local business, according to Lokuge, would be held to find a solution to the oil shortage.

Since 2002, the Lanka IOC, a Sri Lankan affiliate of Indias largest oil company, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has been operating in Sri Lanka. In the matter, the countrys electricity minister stated he has ordered his officials to begin negotiations with the LIOC tomorrow (Tuesday), and he will participate if required. He further stated that the uninterrupted supply of energy could be guaranteed till January 22. He had previously stated that supply might be guaranteed until January 18.

Udaya Gammanpila, the energy minister, said there was no sense in negotiating continuous supply of diesel and furnace oil, which are needed to generate electricity, with the power ministry. Gammanpila said that they must come up with their own funds to pay for the materials and place their orders well in advance. Srilankan Airlines, the countrys national airline, he said, had obtained funds on its own to pay for fuel supply.

Sri Lanka has been experiencing a serious foreign exchange crisis as its reserves continue to drop. Due to a scarcity of money to pay for imports, the country is experiencing a shortage of practically all basics. Additionally, power cuts are imposed during peak hours due to a lack of fuel to drive turbines by the state power agency. Because the electrical board has substantial overdue obligations, the state fuel organisation has halted oil deliveries. The lone refinery in the country was recently shut down due to a lack of funds to pay for crude imports in dollars.

The Indian government announced a billion-dollar aid package for Sri Lanka earlier this week, in addition to other balance-of-payments assistance. The billion-dollar loan credit facility will be utilised to prevent a food catastrophe while allowing products and medications to be imported. There will also be USD 500 million set aside for petroleum imports from India.
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DARIEN  At the former site of a Stop & Shop opposite the Metro-North Noroton Heights station, a big new development is taking shape that will include a number of dining options familiar to people on both ends of the commute in Connecticut and New York City.

Federal Realty Investment Trusts Darien Commons is the largest retail plaza in years to be built adjacent to a station on the New Haven Line or any of its branches.

Darien Commons will come online in advance of the massive Corbin District project that will reshape downtown a short distance away. Farther up the line in Norwalk, Building & Land Technology is planning to follow up its new Curb apartment complex with the larger North Seven development, which would add several new buildings with ground-floor retail, extending north from the Merritt 7 station of the Danbury branch.

With Walgreens in place along with an existing Equinox fitness club next door, about two dozen more stores and eateries will begin opening at Darien Commons starting this summer, on a staggered schedule extending into 2023. The complex is a short walk from Palmers Market and an adjacent retail plaza that is slated for an overhaul.

The upper levels are reserved for about 120 apartments split between one- and two-bedroom units, with rows of windows to flood interiors with light.

Federal Realty will not finalize its initial lease rates until this spring, according to Patrick McMahon, senior vice president of regional development. He anticipates one-bedroom units likely topping $3,000 a month.

In the two-bedroom units, there are larger kitchens than certainly what you would find in Stamford or Norwalk, McMahon said. Its important to somebody whos either got a small family, or had a family thats left and the kitchen was the center of activity.

The development includes a small hotel apartment that can be reserved by residents as guest quarters for out-of-town visitors. McMahon said he expects other developers will adopt the model for future projects.

Of the two main apartment buildings, one will have a big outdoor deck with common seating, fire pits and grills, flanked by two spacious patios that can be reserved for private use. The other building will include a plaza with plenty of seating and other amenities.

The complex includes an underground garage for residents and surface parking for people visiting Darien Commons to shop, dine or work out.

The storefront lineup includes a mix of familiar names in Connecticut and the Northeast, including Pizzeria Molto in Fairfield, Oath Pizza, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, the Sweetgreen salad chain, the French cafe Tartinery and Gregorys Coffee.

More will be announced in the coming weeks.

It all needs to work together  and thats what makes it work, said Stuart Biel, senior vice president of regional leasing for Federal Realty.

Includes prior reporting by Paul Schott.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
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A New Haven man has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge, after prosecutors said federal law enforcement purchased a Glock handgun, drum magazine and ammo from him during controlled buys last year.

Quinn Mooring, 40, pleaded guilty last week to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, the U.S. attorneys office said. He was previously convicted in state court for robbery, unlawful restraint and failure to appear, the U.S. attorneys office said, making it illegal for him to possess a gun or ammunition.
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NEW HAVEN  Attorneys representing the New Haven police union and the city have submitted arguments for and against vacating a decision upholding the firing of former Officer Jason Santiago, who was found to have used excessive force during a December 2019 arrest, as a court case on the issue continues.

Santiago, dismissed by the Board of Police Commissioners through a 4-2 vote, struck a man, allegedly kicked him in the groin while he was handcuffed on the ground and then pulled the man to his feet by his long braids. His firing was upheld by state arbiters in June.

In a Jan. 4 brief, attorney Norm Pattis, representing Santiago and Elm City Local, argued the arbitration panels decision upholding Santiagos firing should be vacated.

Pattis cited the changed testimony of Officer David Acosta, the departments use of force trainer, and a purported familial relationship between a member of the arbitration panel and a sponsor of the states recent police accountability bill, as enough to prompt the change.

Acosta found during the departments internal investigation that the strike was justified, but the alleged kick and hair-pulling were not. While speaking before arbitrators, he said he could not speak to the appropriateness of the kick without a better understanding of Santiagos perspective and that the hair-pulling could be considered justified if it was not bearing the mans weight, Pattis said.

Pattis contended that, given Acostas changed stance, the city did not have just cause to fire Santiago in the first place.

A second expert, attorney Eric Daigle, testified at arbitration that none of the three uses of force was justified.

Pattis characterized Daigles testimony as after-acquired evidence. Given that, he said, while it was legally proferred to the panel, the situation was at least uncommon and potentially improper.

Pattis said after-acquired evidence usually is used to determine liability, not the facts at hand, noting he could not find another similar instance in which it was relied on in this fashion. He also suggested that Daigles testimony was compelled by financial interest.

As part of his brief, Pattis questioned whether the firing was justified, suggesting that Santiago was made a scapegoat to defuse tension in the city following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

The impact of this termination ... (reflects) a lack of leadership at the highest levels of New Havens politics that will, in the end, cost the life or lives of officers and potentially citizens involved in the often tense and rapidly evolving crises that take place all too often on the citys streets, Pattis said in his brief. On the record considered by the City and examined by the panel, there simply was no justification other than political expediency for the firing.

Pattis sought for Santiago to be reinstated, if it were found that Daigles testimony was improper, or for the decision to be sent back to arbitration if a conflict of interest were determined.

In a Jan. 14 response, attorney Floyd Dugas said the city was permitted to proffer Daigles thoughts under state regulation, noting that the statute governing the Board of Mediation and Arbitration allows parties involved to offer such evidence as they desire, with the panel having the power to weight it as it chooses.

He said Daigles testimony was, regardless, not after-acquired evidence  it was an expert opinion on the previously-established evidence at hand in the case.

Dugas also argued the potential link between an arbitrator and an unspecified relative of their spouse was too nebulous to firmly establish evident partiality, as required under past precedent for vacating such decisions.

He noted that all three members of the arbitration panel voted to uphold Santiagos termination, although one is appointed to represent the interests of labor, another to represent the interest of management, and one to be neutral, and clearly considered the specific question at hand regarding whether there was just cause.

The court is not permitted to reconsider the entirety of the matter at hand, Dugas said, as allowing that level of discretion would invalidate the purpose of arbitration.

(An) application to vacate is not a de novo review or second bite of the apple. Courts are not permitted to substitute their judgement over that of the arbitrators appointed to decide these very issues. If a court could freely substitute its judgement as to whether the just-cause standard was met, the goals of arbitration would be entirely frustrated, said Dugas. Unless one of the limited bases for vacating an award is established, an application to vacate must be denied.

Santiago was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace in connection with the matter. He pleaded not guilty to both charges; the case is set to go to trial, according to court records.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  Five middle school students hospitalized Friday after eating a a candy bar containing THC at school have been released from the hospital, Mayor Justin Elicker said.

Justin Harmon, spokesman for the school district, said New Haven police and the state Department of Children and Families are investigating. He said the district does not currently intend to make any changes to its policies or staff training, but that could certainly change as we learn more.

The Bishop Woods Architecture & Design Magnet school seventh-graders, between 12 and 13 years old, ate the candy bar at school and began to display lethargy and some vomited, officials said at the time. Packaging for the candy indicated it was purchased with THC as an ingredient; Elicker said one of the students brought the candy bar to school and shared it with the others.

Last Fridays incident was very concerning, Elicker said in a statement Tuesday. Our childrens safety and health are our highest priority. The police are investigating the incident to determine how the student who brought in and distributed the THC obtained it and to determine what legal action or discipline will be necessary.

Elicker said that, as cannabis becomes more accessible in the state after it was legalized for adult possession on July 1, 2021, families and our school system will need to have more conversations about safety and be more vigilant.

William Carbone, executive director of justice programs and the Tow Youth Justice Institute at the University of New Haven, said he believes more vigilance from adults will be required in the future now that the drug has been legalized for adult possession.

We used to have a rule with my own kids when they go out trick-or-treating: if something came back in the bag that was not wrapped or looked like it was tampered with, you throw it right out, he said. The same kind of approach needs to be taken by kids in school if they are offered something like this.

Some advocates of marijuana legalization and regulation agree.

Childrens exposure to cannabis products  particularly edibles  a lot of that, we believe, stems from a lack of education in terms of educating parents on how to best protect their kids from marijuana products they may have around the house, said DeVaughn Ward, senior legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project.

Ward said he believes that, as marijuana becomes more commonplace in the state, state agencies should run public education campaigns so that incidents such as the one at Bishop Woods cannot happen again. The statute signed by Gov. Ned Lamont allocates a portion of revenue from all marijuana sales to state agencies  including the Department of Public Health and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He said some of that funding should support public awareness campaigns.

Ward pointed to other components of the statute he believes can prevent illness in young people from THC, such as the cannabis products being required to be packaged individually with 5 milligrams of THC or less per serving; and that cannabis products being required to not resemble non-cannabis products on the market. However, Ward said he believes these measures most likely would be effective for an adolescent population.

Once you get to teenagers, that to me is when we talk about locking your cannabis products away, he said, likening it to a liquor cabinet.

Carbone said the issue also raises questions about criminality.

The question is what kind of care are the parents going to have to be responsible for? he said. What if parents leave it in a place where kids can get easy access to it? What should be the penalties for something like that? Were just putting our foot in the water on this issue right now in Connecticut, but perhaps we can learn something from other states that have done this.

Ward said he does not know of any silver bullet solutions to the issue. He said potential criminal charges could range from reckless endangerment to a felony charge of risk of injury to a minor.

Its important to note no one has died. There havent been any instances of a child overdosing on cannabis, he said. The severe effects are seizures and lethargy, but no one has died.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, is creating an exploratory campaign for statewide office Tuesday, becoming the first Democrat to put down a marker on the office of comptroller since an ailing Kevin P. Lembo quit the post last month.

Comptroller is one of Connecticuts six statewide constitutional offices, responsible for the often-prosaic tasks of keeping the states books and overseeing the administration of state employee payroll and benefits.

But it has evolved in recent decades, first under William E. Curry Jr. in the early 1990s and more recently under Lembo, as a platform with a potential for shaping public policy on health care and retirement.

I think the Office of State Comptroller, which is the focus of my exploratory committee, is a job that is really relevant in this moment where health care affordability is an issue, where the budget is something that needs to be really watched like a hawk, Scanlon said.

Comptroller and secretary of the state are expected to provide the only two open races in 2022 for statewide or congressional offices in Connecticut. Topping the Democratic ticket this fall will be Gov. Ned Lamont and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced in June she would not seek a fourth term, drawing a field of nine politicians who have declared candidacies or are testing the waters with exploratory committees, with a tenth expected to join them shortly.

The field for comptroller has been slow to develop.

Lembo, also in his third term, announced on Dec. 3 he would resign on Dec. 31 due to a serious heart condition. Natalie Braswell, who was appointed by the governor to complete Lembos term, is not a candidate.

Mary Fay, a Republican member of the West Hartford town council who ran for Congress in 2020, is the only declared candidate for comptroller from either party. Without fanfare, she filed papers creating a candidate committee on Jan. 4.

Scanlon was elected to the 98th House District in 2014 as an ambitious 27-year-old aide to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy. He was reelected without opposition in 2016, 2018 and 2020 and has risen quickly in the House.

He was one of two lawmakers named as committee co-chairs in their second terms by then-House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz in January 2017: Scanlon on Insurance and Real Estate; Caroline Simmons, who was elected mayor of Stamford last year, on Commerce.

The first act of House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, as Aresimowiczs designated successor after the 2020 election was to name Scanlon as co-chair of the legislatures Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Scanlon is now 35, married, the father of a 2-year-old and facing a career crossroads. He is known at the Capitol as ambitious yet cautious. He declined entreaties to run for an open state Senate seat in 2018, while making statewide connections working on behalf of House candidates.

He left Murphys staff in 2019 to become the executive director of Tweed New Haven Airport, a city-owned facility with limited commercial services and ambitions of becoming a regional airport. On his watch, the discount airline Avelo designated Tweed as its east coast hub and announced plans for a new terminal.

With mixed results, the office of comptroller has become a springboard for the politically ambitious, albeit one whose powers are largely unknown to the voting public.

After a single term as comptroller, Curry won the 1994 and 2002 nominations for governor, losing both times to Republican John G. Rowland. Currys successor, Nancy Wyman, was elected lieutenant governor in 2010. Lembo explored a run for governor in 2018.

Connecticut is one of just 19 states with a comptroller or controller, whose duties overlap with treasurers in other states. It is an elected position in only nine states.

Somebody may not know what the comptroller does by name, but the things that the comptroller does are relevant to a lot of people in this state, Scanlon said. And one of the things that I want to explore and hear about from people is can that office be more relevant in the day-to-day lives of Connecticut people. And I think the answer is yes.

The office oversees health care coverage for 300,000 people in Connecticut, about 50,000 state employees and 250,000 dependents and retirees. The state has opened its health plans to municipalities, covering another 50,000 people or so, with relatively low administrative costs.

This is pretty wonky stuff. But when you look at what works in one sample and you extrapolate that, you can figure out whether it can work in a larger sample, Scanlon said.

With Lembos support, the General Assembly also authorized in 2016 a quasi-public retirement security authority to develop a voluntary savings mechanism for employees of companies with no retirement benefits. It has been slow to launch. By law, the comptroller is chair of the authority.

The comptrollers office also is meant to act as a fiscal watchdog, an awkward role at times when the comptroller and governor are of the same party.

So I think why that office is relevant today in this moment is because he or she is the chief budget watchdog, he or she is the chief health care officer of the state, he or she is the chief retirement officer for the state, Scanlon said. And all of those things are things that rank and file voters in Connecticut are worried about.

The early months of a campaign or exploratory campaign for nominations on the under-ticket revolve around demonstrating credibility by fund raising and getting commitments from potential delegates to the state nominating convention. The fourth-quarter 2021 campaign finance reports filed last week showed no one escaping the pack in the contest for secretary of the state.

The only declared candidates for the fundraising period reported raising similar amounts:

Rep. Stephanie Thomas, D-Norwalk, raised $31,336.

Republicans Dominic Rapini and Brock Webber raised, respectively, $26,273 and $29,509.

In their second quarter as candidates, Rapini now has raised $47,311; Webber, $52,444.

A half dozen Democrats interested in the nomination raised varying amounts in exploratory campaigns.

Rob Simmelkjaer of Westport, the chair of the CT Lottery board of directors, raised $24,965.

Darryl Brackeen Jr., a New Haven alder, raised $4,310 in the quarter, bringing his total to $15,021.

Maritza Bond, a top public health official in New Haven, raised $30,180 in the quarter, bringing her total to $36,100.

Sen. Matt Lesser of Middletown raised $14,976 in the quarter, bringing his total to $42,275.

Rep. Josh Elliott of Hamden raised $18,930 in the quarter, bringing his total to $21,588.

Rep. Hilda Santiago of Meriden raised $18,105 in her final quarter as an exploratory candidate, bringing her total to $26,840. Santiago reported raising another $9,669 since converting her exploratory effort to a candidate committee.

Sources say Rep. Terrie Wood, R-Darien, is expected to file papers this week creating either a candidate committee or exploratory committee with an eye towards running for secretary of the state. She could not be reached for comment Monday.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Rain. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Flies hovered over the marinara sauce and cockroaches crawled into cooking pots  almost becoming unwanted protein in the process  at two of four restaurants ordered shut by state inspectors.

The closed restaurants included Spoons Grill in Lauderdale Lakes, Discovery Take-Out Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Brimstone Woodfire Grill in Pembroke Pines and Ti Manmis Kitchen in Boynton Beach.

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The South Florida Sun Sentinel highlights restaurant inspections in Broward and Palm Beach counties from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. We cull through hundreds of restaurant and bar inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for high-priority violations, like improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.

[ FULL DATABASE: See Florida restaurant inspection reports from the last 30 days ]

Sun Sentinel readers can browse full Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade county reports on our state inspection map, updated weekly (usually Monday) with fresh data pulled from the Florida DBPR website.

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Any restaurant that fails inspections must stay closed until it passes a follow-up state inspection. If you spotted a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR here. (But dont contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesnt inspect restaurants.)

[ Lee en espanol: Moscas vivas en panes, agujeros de roedores obligan a cinco restaurantes del sur de Florida a cerrar temporalmente ]

Spoons Grill, Lauderdale Lakes

3987 NW 19th St.

Ordered shut: Jan. 10, reopened Jan. 11

Why: Nine violations (six high-priority), such as three live cockroaches found crawling on spice container on top of the kitchens flip-top cooler, on the wall and on the floor beneath the handwashing sink. The state also discovered six dead roaches near the same kitchen sink and flip-top cooler. One inspector spotted an employee blowing into [food prep] gloves before putting on gloves, and place cheese into a to-go box without wearing gloves. The restaurant was allowed to reopen Jan. 11 despite being cited for three more major violations. (The restaurant was ordered shut in August for similar roach problems.)

Discovery Take-Out Restaurant, Fort Lauderdale

501 W. Sunrise Blvd.

Ordered shut: Jan. 4, reopened Jan. 5

Why: 16 violations (four high-priority), including six live cockroaches found crawling inside employee/customer bathroom, inside cooking pot stored under a kitchen prep table, on water heater inside kitchen and on a personal handbag stored on a shelf next to the kitchens to-go containers. (The restaurant operator killed the roaches and cleaned the pot, of course.) Inspectors also found 12 rodent droppings behind boxes in hallway next to the employee/guest bathroom, and inside an old slow cooker stored in kitchen. They also spotted roach killer spray and white paint stored on a shelf next to cooking oil and onions, and ordered the restaurant to move them. The restaurant was allowed to reopen Jan. 5 after the state discovered a pair of minor issues.

Brimstone Woodfire Grill, Pembroke Pines

14575 SW Fifth St.

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Ordered shut: Jan. 5, reopened Jan. 6

Why: 5 violations (one high-priority): an infestation of 47 live flies landing on red onions, flying around sink and alcohol bottles flying over marinara sauce and flying over grill in the kitchen and flying around in office. Other flies flew over the ice machine and landed on cloths and boxes in the storage room. An inspector also spotted an employee leaving a personal cell phone in the bars preparation area, which they later removed. The restaurant reopened the next day with a single minor violation.

Ti Manmis Kitchen, Boynton Beach

306 E. Boynton Beach Blvd.

Ordered shut: Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, reopened Jan. 12

Why: 12 violations (seven high-priority), led by eight live cockroaches spotted crawling next to two buckets of unpeeled plantains, on the floor beneath the kitchen sinks, and on clean lids on shelf next to the kitchen sink. Inspectors also saw 41 dead roaches under refrigeration at cook line, on the kitchens chest freezer and beneath the air conditioning next to upright freezer in back room. The restaurant also was ordered to stop selling and toss its hot dogs, cooked plantains, collard greens, boiled eggs, pork stew and cooked fish due to temperature abuse. The state kept the kitchen closed during its second inspection on Jan. 11 for more live roaches. During the inspectors third visit on Jan. 12, the restaurant reopened after no new issues were found.

[ RELATED: South Florida restaurants: Now open, coming soon and closed | PHOTOS ]
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 48F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 48F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Babangida Aliyu, former Niger governor, says Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is the best person the All Progressives Congress (APC) can prese...

Babangida Aliyu, former Niger governor, says Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is the best person the All Progressives Congress (APC) can present as a candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

Aliyu said this on Tuesday at the 2022 annual lecture of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation held in Kano state.

According to Punch, the former governor said riff-raffs or moneybags will not get to the highest office in the land, even if they offer money in the 2023 election.

Mr vice-president, do you know you are the best candidate in your party? he asked, describing Osinbajo as the only candidate that knows the country and has wide acceptance, regardless of tribe and religion.

On his part, Sidi Bage, Emir of Lafia, also praised the vice-president and promised that Nasarawa state would give him all the necessary support to enable him to become the next president.

Mr Vice-president, wherever you go, we will follow, he added.

Although Osinbajo hasnt expressed interest in running for the office of the president, there have been several calls for the vice-president to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

A group known as the National Womens Coalition for Osinbajo (NWCO), made up of market women, farmers, traders, artisans and professionals, had said Nigeria will have a brighter future under Osinbajo as president, adding that Nigerian women trust him.

Also, The New Tribe (TNT), a political group, had asked Osinbajo to contest the presidency, saying he has the best qualities to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Aisha Buhari, first lady, has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that women occupy strategic positions in the party. ...

Aisha Buhari, first lady, has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that women occupy strategic positions in the party.

Aisha said this on Tuesday at the maiden edition of the APC national women conference which held in Abuja.

She said the future of Nigeria depends on the potentials of women, adding that the APC must move beyond paying lip service to women involvement in governance.

This is the first time the national women conference of the APC is being held to establish our commitment to setting the position of women in matters of national importance, especially in increasing the visibility of women, positioning women for future political offices, and encouraging them to aspire more towards the progress of our great party, she said.





Since 2015, Ive had the privilege of engaging Nigerian women across the entire country. My conviction is that Nigerias future is entirely dependent on actually using the potentials of our women.

It is no mere coincidence that parties that have grown strong, prosperous and influential have prioritised womens participation in national building.

I therefore wish to call upon the APC to double its efforts in promoting women, which I believe will serve as one of the objectives of this conference.

As Nigeria races towards another election, we must go beyond paying lip service to putting women in vital offices within our party and the government.

We must put in place workable strategies to ensure that this actually happens; charity begins at home. And so the APC must start by ensuring that women occupying strategic offices within the party have the most strategic roles in government.

When this happens, it will become a lot easier for us to empower the Nigerian women for the much needed leadership politically and economically.

According to her, encouraging women participation in politics will have a significant impact on the countrys development.

There is no doubt that the future indeed looks bright as APC continues to lead our country. Women who have long been ignored and denied opportunities are now finding their voices gradually. This is a good omen for Nigeria, because when women shine, society shines, she said.

As the governors are here today, before we round off, we will like to know how much percentage is going to be given women in order to tally with the 35 percent affirmative action. The governor of Kebbi has said a lot; we thank him for his long explanation but we need more in Kebbi state.

We need more women in decision-making bodies from local government, state up to federal level. And the governors are here; the ball is in their hands. I think if we do not get 35 percent affirmative action that we desire or that we are entitled to, we will hold the governors responsible.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has expressed bewilderment over the effrontery of suspected Fulani herders launching attacks ...

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has expressed bewilderment over the effrontery of suspected Fulani herders launching attacks on communities in the state despite the security arrangement put in place.

According to the governor, he never imagined that the security threat in the state would get to its current point.

Akeredolu disclosed this on Tuesday while appointing the Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye as his Special Adviser on Security Matters.

Herders numbering about 50 had on January 7, 2022 laid siege to Molege village where three people were hacked to death and houses razed.

The governor emphasised that the invasion of communities and villages by criminals masquerading as herdsmen was part of what informed his decision to have a Special Adviser who had been part of the system.

While disclosing that Adeleye will continue to function as the Corps Commander, Akeredolu noted that the appointment was part of the efforts towards improving the working relationship between government and security agencies in the state.

That people will have the audacity to come to our villages and communities, kill our people and set their houses ablaze. I knew I needed to do something. Part of my immediate reaction is what you are seeing here today.

I am a practical person. And I have seen that we are faced with a lot of challenges. I know that my SSA on Security is never part of our executive council and I am convinced that we have a security council meeting, only few of us here are on it.
After many weeks of conjectures and permutations, the lead counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on ...

After many weeks of conjectures and permutations, the lead counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Tuesday, unveiled Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) as the leader of the defence counsel for Nnamdi Kanu whose trial commences today before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu arrived the court at 7am amidst tight security as operatives of the Department of State Services frisked journalists and lawyers.

As of the time of filing this report, the court had yet to commence sitting.

Yes, Im now in the legal team and thats why youre seeing me in court, Ozekhome said.

Ejiofor had in a statement announced that the fortification of Kanus legal team was the Xmas Gift to Kanu when they visited him at the Headquatres of the DSS where he was being detained.

Ejiofor had however kept the identity of the person to his chest.

He had said, I want to assure you, Umuchineke, that our legal team, is, presently, more fortified than ever to do battle in Court, and God being on our side, victory is assured. We paid our routine visit to our untiring, unwavering, unrelenting, rock-solid and noble client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the DSS detention facility at Abuja. The visit, this time, was spectacular and was greeted by an infectious air of camaraderie. Onyendu was particularly enthused by the visit and preferred to describe it as A surprise Christmas Present. You may not understand the peculiarity of this visit and the how significant it is.

But in due course, I am certain you will be in the best position to fully appreciate the wisdom that informed it. Suffice it to say that as the lead attorney of Onyendu, I took advantage of the visit to unveil a legal giant, a distinguished and an accomplished member of the Inner Bar, whom I have chosen to fortify our defence team. The learned Senior counsel is an excellent and a consummate learned gentleman, distinguished in academics and in the practice of law in our law courts.

The reason that informed this arrangement is my unflinching desire to throw in every weapon in our arsenal to ensure that Onyendu gets the best at all times. This latest master stroke, evident in the legal giant that has intervened, came to Onyendu as a big surprise. Although he was not oblivious of my arrangement to enlist the assistance and co-operation of a Senior Attorney, he did not know that I could get a Senior Attorney of the rarest breed.

He was particularly delighted to welcome this legal giant, a consummate member of the Inner Bar, a legal Iroko, who has distinguished himself in the practice of law, when we visited him yesterday. I must state here and now that the Senior attorney involved has been my mentor over the years. He has worked from the sidelines with our legal team since 2016. He is a man imbued with profound intellect, legal sophistry, an infectious sense of history, much like Onyendu, and of impeccable character.

His brilliance radiates effortlessly. He is indeed an excellent advocate. The stage which we have attained in the Court gymnastics involving Onyendu signposts an auspicious time at which to introduce the leading and erudite member of the Inner Bar to our defence team. Henceforth, he will lead our defence team in proceedings in Court.

Further, in the course of our interaction with Onyendu, the legal giant singled me out for commendation. He paid me effusive compliments for my steadfastness, devotion, commitment and fidelity to Onyendu.

He also variously referred to instances to buttress his conclusion. Onyendu, with a smile on his face, nodded repeatedly in approval. I was particularly touched by these references and it further fortified my firm resolution to the cause of Onyendu.
Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, says the electoral act amendment bill will be reintroduced in the house on Wed...

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, says the electoral act amendment bill will be reintroduced in the house on Wednesday.

Gbajabiamila said this on the floor of the green chamber on Tuesday while addressing his colleagues who resumed sitting for the year.

Recall that the president declined assent to the bill, citing concerns over the recommendation of direct primaries for political parties.

The president had said compulsory direct primary polls for political parties violates the spirit of democracy.

The house will reintroduce the amendment tomorrow and we will work quickly to address the mitigating concern, pass the bill and send it to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent, the speaker said.

Speaking on the concerns raised over errors in the bill, Gbajabiamila said he had set up a technical committee to look into the matter, adding that the report would be made available to the house in a few days.

He said the drafting and other technical errors in the bill, is a matter of concern as it appears the version sent to the president differs from what is circulating in the public domain.

However, in December of last year, I appointed a technical team to look into the issue. I expect to have their report within the next day or two so that we can proceed to the next stage, the speaker said.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the national assembly to override President Muhammadu B...

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the national assembly to override President Muhammadu Buhari and pass the electoral act amendment bill or remove the provisions on direct primary.

The governors position is contained in a communique released on Monday after a meeting in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state.

Recall that the president declined assent to the bill, citing concerns over the recommendation of direct primaries for political parties.

The president had also said compulsory direct primary polls for political parties violates the spirit of democracy.

The opposition party governors said the national assembly must quickly commence work on the bill, adding that it is critical for credible elections.

The PDP Governors requested the National Assembly to quickly conclude deliberations on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill either by overriding Mr Presidents veto or deleting areas of complaints, the communique reads.

The meeting advised that the option of sustaining Mr Presidents veto would lead to a quicker resolution and would deny Mr President the opportunity to once again truncate a reformed Electoral jurisprudence for Nigeria. An early concluded Electoral Act is vital for credible elections.

The governors also expressed reservations about Buharis stance on state police, stating that Nigerias security architecture must be decentralised in order to effectively combat insecurity.

The meeting lamented the continued state of insecurity in the country, the persistent and ceaseless flow of Nigerians blood on a daily basis in many parts of Nigeria, the near-collapse of the security situation in Nigeria. The strategies to confront terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminals is still a major problem of the APC administration, the governors said.

The meeting expressed regrets that Mr President is unwilling, from his recent comments discountenancing the proposals for state policing, to participate in reviewing the structural problems of tackling insecurity in Nigeria and urges Mr President to reconsider his position and consider decentralisation and restructuring of the security architecture as the most viable solution, together with proper arming, funding and training requirements for Security Agencies.

The governors said the next (2023) election is a very consequential election that should be used to end the dominance of very youth unfriendly APC government.
Popular Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo has called for guns to be legalized in Nigeria to deal with child molesters. The mother-of-two ...

Popular Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo has called for guns to be legalized in Nigeria to deal with child molesters.

The mother-of-two made this known while reacting to a video posted by comedienne, Princess, on her Instagram page.

Princess, whose foster daughter was allegedly s3.xually abused by Yoruba actor, Baba Ijesha, shared a video of a four-year-old girl who was s3..xually assaulted by her teacher.

Alongside the video, Princess wrote: Abuse of minors have become the new trend in Nigeria and only a few people are speaking up. Even in the animal kingdom, its not this bad. Our society stigmatizes, even threatening victims and their parents, while the perpetrators like Baba Ijesha walk freely.

Our children are being destroyed daily and most people see it as cruise.

Reacting, Iyabo Ojo made it clear that anyone who messes with her children will be dealt with.

The mother of two wrote: Can they just legalise guns because some demons need to be taken out as soon as possible.

F**k with my kids and youre so f**ked.
Nigeria will receive no fewer than 1,030 Benin artefacts from Germany in 2022, Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monumen...





Nigeria will receive no fewer than 1,030 Benin artefacts from Germany in 2022, Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Abba Tijani, has said.





Tijani told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Tuesday that many artefacts had been received from Germany but the commission would receive at least an additional 1, 030 in 2022.





The objects were taken from the country during the punitive expedition of Benin in 1897.





According to him, when the artefacts would be received, it would give the commission the opportunity to build new museums and attract more tourists across the world.





Tijani said this would also give them opportunities to view the cultural objects from the Nigerian context.





It will make the foreigners understand the significance of the artefacts better and give them an added advantage which they might not get when they visit museums in Europe, he said.





Tijani said the commission had called for the expansion of the National Museum in Abuja and that of Benin so that the objects could be displayed.





He said the commission had partnered with corporate organisations to fund museum activities, adding that it had renovated many museums across the country.





124 years after mass looting, Benin Kingdom recovers two ancient artefacts, Obaseki, Oba Ewuare II, others excited

Oba of Benin hails Aberdeen varsitys return of looted artefact 124 years after Tijani said, The Federal Government is ready to take possession of many of these Benin bronzes being repatriated to the country.





Nigerians should also support us by appreciating these heritages being cherished globally, we should respect them and visit museums to understand them better.





Also, individuals, philanthropists, culture, science and technology sector and all relevant agencies should work together with us to invest in tourism.





Tourism makes a great impact on our economy, many countries rely on tourism for their Gross Domestic Product growth because it is a thriving sector.





There will also be an investment for our local communities because they will benefit when tourists start trooping in from all over the world.





Tijani said the commission would continue to partner with the private sector, adding we are not relying 100 per cent on government funding.





(NAN)
PEMBROKE PINES  A man who shot a woman during a pre-arranged transaction that went bad is on the run and police are searching for him, officials said.

Pembroke Pines police said they responded to a call of shooting at about 11 a.m. Tuesday at The Landings residential community.

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A woman was shot by a man and hospitalized for treatment of a wound that isnt life-threatening.

[ Naked NFL player arrested in Deerfield Beach ]

Police said the woman and man agreed to meet at SW 101st Terrace and SW 16th Street, a parking lot at The Landings, a gated community.

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Capt. Adam Feiner of the Pembroke Pines police said its likely their encounter was based on activity that wasnt legal, but he declined to specify further.

While the duo was in the womans car she was shot by the man, who got out of the car and ran. The woman was driven in her car to a medical care center. Police didnt divulge whether she drove herself or someone else drove her car. The car was impounded.

Employees at the medical center called 911 and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she remained Tuesday afternoon.

Police are searching for the man with dogs and the Broward Sheriffs Office aviation unit.

Feiner said police dont think the man poses a threat to the community.

[ Tua's ex-coach considered a favorite for Dolphins head coach job ]

We do believe that this incident is isolated, he said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Pembroke Pines police at 954-431-2200 or email tips@ppines.com.
Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, says the anchor borrowers programme (ABP) increased rice milling plants from 6 to...

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, says the anchor borrowers programme (ABP) increased rice milling plants from 6 to 50 in the last six years.

Emefiele added that the national output of rice production also increased from 5.4 million metric tons in 2015 to over 9 million metric tons in December 2021.

The CBN governor said this at the unveiling of FCT mega rice pyramids under the RIFAN/CBN anchor borrowers programme on Tuesday in Abuja.

He commended the effort of the rice farmers association of Nigeria (RIFAN) for producing the largest rice pyramids in Africa.

Emefiele said that the national output in agricultural production had tremendously increased since 2016 when the initiative began, adding that it has reduced the dependency on imported rice.

President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, launched ABP  an initiative of CBN  as a fallout of the nations over-reliance on crude oil earnings, which is susceptible to a downturn in the oil market.

The programme has developed an ecosystem among all nodes of the agricultural value chain, and these linkages can be better optimised through synergy among all stakeholders. As the end of December 2021, we have financed 4,489,786 farmers that cultivated 5,300,411 hectares across 21 commodities through 23 Participating Financial Institutions in the 36 States of the Federation and FCT, Emefiele said.

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We are delighted that these efforts have yielded fruits is not just increasing the availability of rice, but also in moderating prices, reducing imports and increasing job creation in the country. For example, Thailand alone exported 1.3 million metric tons of rice to Nigeria in 2014.

The ABP was launched in 2015 to curtail these imports, and since then, we have seen incremental reductions in rice imports from Thailand. By 2016, rice imports from Thailand had fallen to only 58,000 metric tons. As of the end of 2021, they only exported 2,160 metric tons to Nigeria, thereby saving us foreign exchange and helping preserve jobs in Nigeria.

Beyond increasing our national output from about 5.4 million metric tons in 2015 to over 9 million metric tons in 2021, we have also significantly improved the productivity per hectare of the smallholder farmer from about 2.4 metric tons per ha in 2015 to between about 5 metric tons in 2021

Emefiele added that Nigerias milled rice can now match with the foreign-produced rice  in quality.

These expansions have not only made Nigeria the largest rice producer in Africa but has also unlocked enormous private sector investment in the rice value chain as the number of Integrated Rice Mills grown astronomically from 6 in 2015 to over 50 in 2021 with many more in various stages of completion, he said.

Today, Nigerias milled rice matches the foreign rice in quality. Your Excellency, as part of this event, you will be inspecting some of numerous Nigeria milled rice in the exhibition stands.

The apex bank governor acknowledged the efforts of smallholder farmers in executing the food security initiatives, adding that the vision to improve the agricultural value chain has been achieved through the dedication and diligence of the farmers despite facing all odds.

Indeed, we lost some farmers to insurgency attacks nationwide whilst some could not access their farmers for several months. Yet, they kept the faith. They did not give up. They persevered. They did not abandon our fight for food self-sufficiency, Emefiele added.

Todays event, therefore, is a celebration of their doggedness and an appreciation of their commitment to food security.
The chief executive officers (CEOs) of some of the United States largest airlines have raised the alarm on a potential catastrophic disr...

The chief executive officers (CEOs) of some of the United States largest airlines have raised the alarm on a potential catastrophic disruption in the aviation industry if telecoms companies launch 5G services on Wednesday.

In a letter sent to senior officials in the Biden administration on Monday, they warned that thousands of aircraft could be grounded, causing commerce to grind to a halt with Americans stranded overseas if 5G is switched on near airport runways.

The airlines urged US officials to delay deployment of the service within two miles of affected airport runways.

AT&T and Verizon have already twice delayed the launch of their new C-Band 5G service due to warnings from airlines and aeroplane manufacturers concerned that the new system might interfere with their ability to gauge altitude.

We are writing with urgency to request that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate two miles of airport runways as defined by the FAA on January 19, 2022, the letter reads.

The letter was signed by the chief executives of American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, amongst others.

It was addressed to Brian Deese, director of national economic council; Jessica Rosenworcel, chairwoman, Federal Communications Commission; Pete Buttigieg, transportation secretary and Steve Dickson, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator.





The CEOs highlighted the risk of economic calamity should Verizon and AT&T proceed as planned with implementing the technology before the necessary upgrades and changes have been made to aviation equipment.

They warned that disruptions to aeroplanes instruments could ground huge swaths of the US fleet, subjecting more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers to cancellations, diversions or delays.

The ripple effects across both passenger and cargo operations, our workforce and the broader economy are incalculable. Every one of the passenger and cargo carriers will be struggling to get people, shipments, planes and crews where they need to be. To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt, they added.

On Sunday, the FAA said it had cleared an estimated 45 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet to perform low-visibility landings at airports where the new 5G service would be deployed.

But the airlines are concerned that remaining limitations at those airports, as well as a large amount of uncertified equipment, could lead to the grounding of thousands of flights.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 52F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 52F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Miami (AP)  A man who had been kicked out of a bar near Miami after refusing to pay his bar tab returned a short time later and opened fire on a security guard outside the building, police said.

The man had left the area after being escorted from the Chicagoan Bar at 10702 NW Seventh Ave. in Miami-Dade. But he came back around midnight, parked in the street in front of the bar, and opened fire the security guard, Miami-Dade police told news outlets.

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The security guard shot back, as did a second security guard who came outside when he heard the commotion.

The man died at the scene, police said. One of the security guards and three women caught in the crossfire were shot.

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The security guard and two women were taken to the hospital in stable condition, police said. The third woman, who was grazed by a bullet, refused to remain at the scene for medical assistance.

No additional details were available.
There's no doubt about it: Aretha Franklin deserves respect, with a decadeslong career, many hits, acting credits and more.

But the vocal style of this American treasure is the foundation of her appeal. She crafted such hits as "Respect," "Think," "Chain of Fools," "Natural Woman" and "I Say A Little Prayer."

The chart-topping hits she recorded during her years with Atlantic Records will come to life Jan. 28 to Feb. 5 at Cutting Edge Theater when Jovan Mathieu personifies the "Queen of Soul."

A veteran of several Cutting Edge performances, Mathieu brings her considerable talents to the task on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. at 767 Robert Blvd. in Slidell.

Tickets start at $32. cuttingedgetheater.com.

Mystery, she wrote

Agatha Christie's favorite sleuth, the quirky yet brilliant Hercule Poirot, tackles his first case of murder in "The Mysterious Affair at Styles," the author's maiden voyage into mystery writing.

Covington's Playmakers Theater will put the clues before their audiences starting at 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 6 at 19106 Playmakers Road.

Directed by Anna Turner, Derek Thrush takes the role of Poirot. Cast members include James Michel, Shelley Johnson, Paul Hrtle, Delyth Hirtle and Merry Antoon.

The action takes place at an English country manor after World War I when the lady of the house turns up dead. The suspects are plentiful and plausible, so Monsieur Poirot must use his skill and cunning to ferret out the killer. Tickets are $20. playmakersinc.com .

Benefits of music

"Raise Your Voice 4: A Benefit Musical Revue" will be a musical evening for The Good Shepherd Nativity Mission School featuring a raft of rising young performers from the area Jan. 28-30 at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts in Kenner.

Audiences will hear the voices of 26 in a portfolio of musical theater tunes and pop hits from a variety of shows, including "42nd Street," "The Prom," "A Chorus Line," "Frozen" and more.

Put together by the performers and directed by Christian Collins, the show is at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28-29 and 3 p.m. Jan. 30 at the playhouse 325 Minor St. Tickets start at $30. rivertowntheaters.com.

In production

"Cabaret": 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts, 325 Minor St., Kenner. The denizens of the Kit Kat Klub, including expat Sally Bowles and the daring master of ceremonies, perform in Berlin at the end of the Jazz Age as the Nazis gain power in this Kander and Ebb show featuring such hits as "Cabaret," "Willkhommen" and "Don't Tell Mama." Tickets start at $37. rivertowntheaters.com.

"Clue": Opening Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15 p.m. (buffet at 7 p.m.), Sunday shows at 1:30 p.m. (buffet at 11:30 a.m.) through Feb. 6; Terrytown Country Club, 1785 Carol Sue Ave., Gretna. Sandy Roads Productions mounts the hilarious whodunit based on the board game, with a script drawn from the 1985 movie in which guests gather for a deadly dinner party with murder on the menu. Tickets for the show and buffet start at $57. For reservations, call (504) 362-4451.

"Pageant Play": 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Cutting Edge Theater, 767 Robert Blvd., Slidell. The backstage underworld of child beauty pageants gets the full frontal treatment in this comedy about the adults that participate. There's money, kidnapping, false teeth, tawdry entanglements and more in this hilarious take on the "circuit." Tickets start at $32. cuttingedgetheater.com.

"World's Greatest Johnny Cash Experience: Terry Lee Goffee": Opening 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 30; BB's Stage Door Canteen, National World War II Museum, 945 Magazine St., New Orleans. Goffee embodies Cash in the production, belting out 34 songs in the tribute performance to "the man in black." Tickets start at $42. nationalww2museum.org.
Hows 2022 treating you so far? Im guessing a big serving of comfort food could be in order, so thats the theme for this latest edition of our monthly roundup of top-of-mind restaurant picks.

A revived Carnival season is upon us, and theres much to anticipate. Were also trying to navigate the latest turn of the pandemic. Of course, it all impacts restaurants, where the experience has been delicious and disconcerting all at once.

Doors are still open, people are still working, wonderful meals are being had and changes often arrive in rapid form. So, once again, some flexibility is in order from customers too, and empathy goes a long way.

The reward, of course, is on the plate, in your take-out box, and in the uplift and renewal we get from our resilient hospitality scene.

I hope this gives you some fresh ideas, and that you use it in conjunction with earlier editions and our recent round up of stand-out tastes from 2021.

Rosedale

801 Rosedale Drive, (504) 309-9595

Rosedale is a place for comfort food that comes ready for wine pairings. Led by chef Susan Spicer, of Bayona fame, Rosedale is focused on her hometown New Orleans cooking. The turtle soup bobs with gnocchi-like spinach dumplings, the shrimp Creole is paired with paneed eggplant, the cochon de lait po-boy is an ode to Jazz Fest food, the sauteed fish is light and local and the fried chicken gets a drizzle of lip-smacking Tabasco honey. Theres an easy flow between the bar, dining rooms and leafy outdoor patio, opening to the accidentally park-like setting of a railroad right of way. Rosedale is also adept at takeout if thats more your speed right now.

El Pavo Real

4401 S. Broad St., (504) 266-2022

The easy sales pitch of tacos and tequila has lots of places slinging them these days. El Pavo Real has both, but what draws me here is the feeling that youre eating home-style Mexican food. The soulful tortilla soup, rajas con queso (a mellow, gooey, poblano cheese dip), the deeply-layered mole with roasted chicken, even the shrimp ceviche and the crab quesadillas  it all has a hand-made, home-spun appeal. Its in a crossroads setting that feels like an old grocery converted to a family restaurant. Oh yes, and the tacos and tequila work just fine for those comfort cravings, too.

Saint John

1117 Decatur St., (504) 581-8120

This is a new restaurant with an old soul. For proof, just look at the chicken Clemenceau. This isnt a dish you see at modern restaurants, but the version at Eric Cooks new addition in the French Quarter demonstrates how good the classics should be  in this case a plump thigh with an earthy, homey gravy imbued with ham and mushrooms. A triangle of griddled cornbread over the top crumbles apart to add a gratin-like crust. Another example is oysters Saint John, which, on paper, is oysters three ways  fried, stewed, and made into a dressing filling a vol-au-vent pastry shell (a.k.a. an oyster patty). In practice, it works as one dish with the cream and the pastry and cornmeal crust all mingling through different bites, suffused with juicy oyster goodness. The layout, with the open kitchen and dining bar and elevated booths, is the same from the days when this address was Maximos. The feeling of new energy and rejuvenation is everywhere.

Chickens Kitchen

629 Derbigny St., Gretna, (504) 244-2536

Down-home Louisiana cooking is precisely what Marlon Chicken Williams and his family serve in each bulging takeout plate from their steam table lunch counter. The menu of four or five main dishes changes each day, following a weekly schedule (stuffed Cornish hens on Tuesday and fried ribs on Friday are always calling my name), paired with a range of sides worthy of Thanksgiving. Check out the impulse buy desserts from the Anointed Confections stand by the door, or plan ahead and pre-order a king cake from this business-within-a-business to pick up on your lunch visit.

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Pyre Provisions

70437 La. 21, Covington, (985) 888-6129

Smoke and low-and-slow cooking define the approach at the north shore restaurant chef Jeff Mattia debuted in 2019, but there's more in play here. Some ingredients arrive after being rendered through the smoker, others simply speak for themselves with fresh crunch and snap. The blend makes what is ostensibly an elevated barbecue restaurant into more of a modern Louisiana restaurant with a global sensibility, tapping the transformative power of smoke and char. A smoked duck leg is paired with black-eyed pea hummus, for instance. The Cantonese ribs have a thick pineapple barbecue sauce and the fresh interplay of herbs and peanuts. A butter-crisp brisket melt at lunch packs together succulent beef, juicy collard greens and Gouda (smoked, of course).

Wakin Bakin

4408 Banks St., (504) 252-0343; 900 Dumaine St., (504) 233-3877; 3625 Prytania St., (504) 534-5698

The comfort quotient of breakfast is off the charts, and thus its the meal of the day least susceptible to trends or change. And yet, isnt it great to find a low-key breakfast joint doing things just a little different, a little better, than you expected? Thats Wakin Bakin, where the house-made sourdough bread swaddling the thickly layered breakfast sandwich, the crab boil-spiced "smashed potatoes," shrimp etouffee over grits and chile-lemongrass tofu make these three neighborhood spots more than by-the-book diners.

Tavolino Pizza & Lounge

141 Delaronde St., (504) 605-3365

Having a family-friendly pizzeria in your neighborhood is an amenity that cant be overvalued. So too, perhaps, is a lounge with finely crafted drinks and the feel of an escape, if however brief. Algiers Point is lucky to have a spot pulling double duty. Tavolino has room for the stroller crowd and also a separate lounge for date night without the kids. The covered patio is a nice hideaway too. The pizza has its own distinctive style, with a crisp thin crust and inventive toppings beside the classics. For snacks, theres ping, or fried olive stuffed with pork and beef, and chicken liver pate boards. The daily happy hour (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with drink deals is an enticing excuse to start early.

Banh Mi Boys

5001 Airline Drive, Metairie, (504) 510-5360; and 3244 Magazine St., (504) 354-8502

Take the standards of a Vietnamese cafe, cross them with the over-the-top exuberance of modern bar food and you have the recipe thats made Banh Mi Boys a true find. Now you can find it in two locations, with a new Magazine Street restaurant (in a former Reginellis) joining the original in Metairie (attached to a Texaco station). You can get egg rolls and spring rolls and traditional banh mi and New Orleans po-boys. The specialties, though, are where things ramp up. Look for banh mi with Korean bulgogi beef, Chinese char siu barbecue pork and fried shrimp with garlic butter, or loaded fries topped with oyster Rockefeller sauce or Vietnamese bo ne, a sizzling version of steak and eggs with caramelized onions and pork pate.

+31 Ian McNulty: Meet the people behind uplifting New Orleans food stories of 2021 Following the story of New Orleans food means rolling into a lot of great meals and tracking changes in a field thats constantly in flux. It 

+56 Ian McNulty: A year of New Orleans dining in 52 dishes, and a few drinks There are many ways to sum up a year in the New Orleans dining scene. Below, I'm giving you 52 of them, snapshot style, with tastes that contr

+13 Le Chat Noir, new restaurant in a former New Orleans cabaret, makes thrilling debut The look around the dining room is spare, with smooth gray walls catching the patterns of artful light fixtures. Then a flash of flames from t
The local restaurant group New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. has locations spread broadly around the metro area. But that did little to spare them from the wide-ranging, highly-variable damage brought by Hurricane Ida last summer.

The powerful storm caused enough damage to roofs and other parts of the properties that four of the companys seven restaurants remain shuttered all these months later, and a fifth is operating only with its drive-thru window for now.

However, company co-owner Gary Wiener confirmed this week that all of the locations will reopen. Each is in its own progression towards that goal.

When you have five locations damaged at once, its unprecedented waters," he said. "I know some people thought it might be otherwise, but we are reopening them all."

The two locations now fully open are in New Orleans East (12000 E I-10 Service Road, at Bullard Avenue) and Elmwood (1005 S. Clearview Pkwy.), while the Harvey location (2515B Manhattan Blvd.) has its drive-thru window open for takeout only.

That Harvey location is expected to fully reopen in early February, along with the Oakwood Center location in Gretna (197 Westbank Expy.).

The Uptown location (4141 St. Charles Ave.) is slated to open later in February. This restaurant is along the St. Charles Avenue parade route, near Napoleon Avenue, and Wiener said it was important for the location to be open in some way, shape or form by the time parades roll, even if it hasnt resumed full operations by then.

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The two locations in Metairie (817 Veterans Memorial Blvd., at Martin Behrman Avenue, and 6920 Veterans Memorial Blvd., at David Drive) are slated to return by April.

The now-familiar labor and supply chain issues have made repairs stretch longer than foreseen at the start. But Wiener said the company is taking the long view and making improvements at each location, with different upgrades to design and equipment.

There have been lots of road blocks along the way, but I think people will be excited by what they see, Wiener said.

Known for its thin catfish and its burgers, the New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. brand dates back to 1984, when the first location opened in Elmwood.

+7 Oak Street restaurant Cowbell latest to close amid pandemic, Hurricane Ida woes When Brack May and Krista Pendergraft-May opened their art-filled, chef-led cafe in late 2010 it was part of a wave of better-burger concepts 

+3 Uptown bar St. Joes, closed since Hurricane Ida, plans reopening St. Joes bar has always cultivated a dark and cozy vibe, between its Gothic elements and churchy fixtures. For more than four months however,
If you look at this years class of contenders hoping to be crowned best animated feature film of the year, one common element surfaces first: whimsy.

Whether its about a pre-adolescent sea monster (Luca), a magical village (Encanto), a robot-fighting family (The Mitchells vs. the Machines) or a beauty and a beast (Belle), most are colorful explosions of fantasy that the whole family can enjoy together.

Most of them.

One notable outlier is Flee, and its head-and-shoulders the most affecting of the lot.

It might not be as glossily produced as the others. It might not be the kind of animated movie Junior will watch on repeat. It doesnt have an uplifting, show-stopping anthem.

But it has something better than all that: unforgettability.

FLEE 3.5 stars, out of 4 SNAPSHOT: An animated documentary in which, on the eve of his wedding, a man born in wartorn Afghanistan opens up for the first time about his five-year journey to the West and the secret hes kept for fear of being sent back. CAST: Amin Nawabi. Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen. RATED: PG-13, for thematic content, disturbing images and strong language. RUNNING TIME: 1 hour 28 minutes. WHEN AND WHERE: Opens Friday (Jan. 16) at Canal Place.

Searing, sobering unforgettability.

Thats precisely because it isnt a fantasy. Its built on cold, hard truths.

In fact, Flee is technically also a documentary, based on emotional interviews with a man named Amin Nawabi, an Afghan who describes his and his familys years-long flight from their wartorn native country to the West.

Yes, you read that right: Its a documentary and its animated. Its also a Danish film. Im not sure if theres ever been a film nominated for the Oscars in the animated, documentary and international feature categories, but theres a good possibility Flee could be the unicorn to do it.

All that aside, Im not spoiling anything by telling you that, although it has snatches of levity, Amins story is often an unpleasant one. In addition to the heart-wrenching decisions that must be made almost daily simply to survive, Amins family endures cruelty after cruelty at the hands of other people for the simple fact that they are outsiders.

In Amins case, theres also the psychic burden he had to endure in the form of a lie hes had to tell for decades out of fear of being sent back to Afghanistan. He finally unburdens himself of that secret for Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussens camera.

The truth of the matter is that Amin is one of countless people all over the world who  with their lives upended by war, famine or catastrophe  find themselves living as refugees for miserable year after miserable year, holding out hope that human kindness will eventually prevail and theyll find a welcoming new home.

Its a particularly timely topic, and it gives Rasmussen the opportunity to open his film with a moving discussion of home and what it truly means.

But these people are more than merely homeless. Theyre countryless, with nation after nation callously and repeatedly turning them away, or just unceremoniously throwing them out.

But knowing that fact and hearing someones first-hand account of it are entirely different things.

For that reason, Flee is a textbook example of how cinema acts as what movie critic Roger Ebert called an empathy machine.

All of us, Ebert explained, are products of our experiences, impacted not only by those who raised us but also by the times and places in which we grew up, whether thats Terrytown or Timbuktu.

But the true magic of cinema  when its done right, at least  is in the way it can open a window on the lives and cultures of others in parts of the world a viewer would have never otherwise had an opportunity to visit.

Sometimes, if youre lucky, that experience broadens your inborn frame of reference, providing you with just a little bit of understanding of the unique challenges others face.

The really cool thing is, once that window is open, it cant easily be closed. In other words, it changes you on some level.

Thats the case with Flee. It flings that window wide open, and anyone who has a shred of human compassion will be moved by the view it affords.

Mike Scott can be reached at moviegoermike@gmail.com.
A conflict over a Sunrise police sergeants conduct at an arrest scene escalated swiftly this week, as the police union and police chief issued dueling statements over a few seconds of videotape captured late last year.

The union denounced Police Chief Anthony Rosa for criticizing Sgt. Christopher Pullease, who was seen grabbing a fellow officer by the throat and pushing her against a police cruiser as she tried to deescalate a confrontation.

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The chief responded Tuesday by doubling down on his comments, issuing two single-spaced statements that totaled nearly four pages in which he praised the officer who was the apparent victim of the sergeants action.

Sunrise police body-worn camera footage shows Sgt. Christopher Pullease grabbing an unidentified police officer by the throat and pushing her back to a police cruiser. This happened after the female officer tried to deescalate a situation between the sergeant and a handcuffed suspect already in a police cruiser. Pullease has been placed on desk duty. The matter is under review by the departments internal affairs division. Many are asking why criminal charges have not been filed against the sergeant. (Sunrise Police Department/Courtesy)

The sergeant has been placed on administrative duty during the investigation. Meanwhile, the widely-shared footage from Nov. 19 has renewed a heated debate over how officers are held accountable when bodycam footage shows them using force.

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How would a civilian be treated under these circumstances while that, quote, investigation goes on? asked Craig Trocino, the director of the University of Miami Law Schools Innocence Clinic. He gets to sit at his desk. If I did that to her, Id be in jail while everybody figured out what was being said.

He called the sergeants actions the textbook definition of battery.

[ RELATED: Deputy who forced teen against wall had history of force ]

But others say dont rush to judgment. If the sergeant was justified using pepper spray, it could be the female officer who could theoretically be charged with obstruction of justice, said criminal defense attorney Eric Schwartzreich. Im not saying thats the case, but a video doesnt always tell the full story.

He said everyone is so quick to fault police, but its not always so clear cut.

Trocino said, She couldnt be obstructing justice because the gentleman was already in handcuffs in the back of a police vehicle. So that police function of arresting the detaining and securing this gentlemen to go downtown and processed, that was complete by the time any of this happened.

Wednesday marks two months since Pullease placed his hand around an unnamed officers throat and backed her into the cruiser.

[ RELATED: A felon with with a gun veered through the streets and cops let him go ]

Many, including a retired interim police chief, an expert witness on police matters, a professor and the Broward Public Defender say the footage speaks for itself and charges of battery on a law enforcement officer should have happened by now.

James Wright, an assistant professor in the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University, said if anyone else had put their hands around the officers throat, theyd be treated far differently.

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It may be signaling to people there may be a double standard, Wright said.

Philip Sweeting, a retired deputy chief for the Boca Raton Police Department, said it should have taken a few days at best to bring charges against the sergeant.

Joseph Guida, a former New York City Police detective and expert witness with the police consulting firm NYPDTruth.com, said he was horrified watching the video and the officer should be fired.

He attacked her, Guida said. As far as Im concerned, hes got to be fired. He just assaulted a police officer.

Rosa, not the Sunrise city manager, would have the final say of Pullease is terminated.

Even though the internal affairs investigation is not complete, Rosa has publicly called Pulleases behavior disgusting and said the female subordinate acted appropriately when she tried to intervene to deescalate a confrontation at a crime scene.

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I find this behavior to be disgusting and I think the video speaks for itself, Rosa told WSVN Chan. 7 which broke the story last week.

Rosa did not go into detail about what was said between Pullease and the suspect but he told the television station I find it to be inappropriate and unprofessional. What he did is he escalated the situation when calm was actually required.

[ RELATED: Video shows police sergeant grabbing fellow officer by the throat ]

On Monday the union shot back, saying the chiefs remarks indicated hed already made up his mind in the case and that was unprofessional and uncalled for.

We support the sergeant receiving a fair investigative process and await an unbiased and objective conclusion. However, we do not support Chief Rosas bias, prejudicial and unprofessional behavior, wrote Steven Negron, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 80, in a Jan. 17 letter to the Sunrise city manager and elected officials.

Chief Rosa should not be opining as to his personal feelings or assisting in publicly ridiculing the sergeant to the community or his subordinates.

Rosa didnt back down, sending out two more statements Tuesday.

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In the video, Pullease appeared to be arguing with a handcuffed suspect being put into a police car. Pullease pulls out and points a pepper spray dispenser at the suspect who is already in the police cruiser. The audio of the footage was not released, but footage shows the female officer racing toward Pullease, grabbing onto his belt and pulling him away.

Although he did not deploy the spray, the sergeants actions unnecessarily elevated the demeanor of the suspect, the chief wrote in a statement to the media. A nearby officer who was concerned with things escalating further is seen moving into camera view and approaches the sergeant from behind. In accordance with our department policies and procedures that call for intervention when there is an imminent fear of engagements escalating unnecessarily...

After the sergeant shoved his fellow officer into the side of a police car, the video shows, he went back to the cruiser with the suspect inside, opened the door and slammed it before heading back to the female officer. The video shows him pointing at the officer as he says something to her.

I am very proud of the officer involved in this incident and believe that the actions taken were definitive and demonstrative of good leadership during a tense situation, the chief wrote. The men and women of the Sunrise Police Department are expected to de-escalate emotionally charged situations and intervene immediately if it appears that a fellow officer is losing control of themselves or displaying inappropriate conduct while engaged with the public. The actions of our officer involved in this incident are exemplary of the professionalism the personnel of the Sunrise Police Department regularly display while honorably serving the public in a profession that is all too often difficult and dangerous.

Pullease was placed on administrative duty five days after the incident and an internal affairs probe was launched. The union claims that on Nov. 29 Rosa attended several patrol briefings to talk about the incident telling officers that he has launched an investigation against the sergeant. The union claims the chief released details about the situation that should not have been disclosed until the conclusion of the investigation.

[ RELATED: Consequences monumental for trooper who pulled over speeding cop ]

In his statement to the union, Rosa said he had a duty to protect all his officers from workplace violence which include both physical and emotional attacks.

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For many years our practice has been to be open and transparent with our employees whenever possible, the chief said. This has included the chief and /or his staff attending briefings and speaking with everyone when controversial situations arise within the department. Many times the things discussed during these briefings are intended to address those who might otherwise openly talk about situations they did not witness. These briefings are an attempt to inform and control the spreading of misinformation and rumors before they become so egregious that those spreading the misinformation may also violate our policy.

Broward Public Defender Gordon Weekes praised Rosa for speaking out against the sergeants actions but questioned why no criminal action has been taken against Pullease.

Battery on a law enforcement officer is a felony. Weekes told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that if Rosa doesnt take action against the sergeant, he will bring the matter to the Broward State Attorneys Office for review.

Eileen Kelley can be reached at 772-925-9193 or ekelley@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Twitter @reporterkell.
As the fifth wave of the coronavirus sweeps across Louisiana, the state passed a sobering milestone on Tuesday: more than a million residents have been diagnosed with the virus since the start of the pandemic 22 months ago.

The threshold is largely symbolic, but it indicates how broadly the virus has spread since it was first detected in the state in March 2020. And the speed at which cases catapulted towards the seven-figure mark in recent weeks has further demonstrated the incredible transmissibility of the omicron variant sweeping across the globe.

According to the Louisiana Department of Healths daily update on Tuesday, 1,025,748 people  or about 1 in 5 of the states residents  have now tested positive for the virus in Louisiana.

Nearly a quarter of that total, some 248,000 cases, have been reported since the omicron variant began racing across the state in mid-December. Thats already nearly as many cases as were reported in the entirety of the delta wave last summer, which lasted almost three times as long as the current outbreak has so far.

+2 Explosive rise in Louisiana nursing home COVID cases now fueling staffing crisis As the calendar turned to the new year, Louisiana's nursing homes confronted a familiar foe: skyrocketing coronavirus cases among residents an

At least 43,000 of those people have been re-infected with the virus since their initial recovery, according to the health department.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a news release Tuesday that the state had reached "a sobering milestone" even as there were some indications that omicron may soon crest.

While we are looking for early signs that this current omicron surge is letting up, we still have far too many sick people in our state and far too many people in our hospitals with COVID. Most tragically, 15,195 Louisianans have died of this illness, which we know is now largely preventable, Edwards said.

Omicron case surge has 1 in 4 Louisiana hospitals at 'critical' staffing levels Familiar scenes are playing out in hospitals across Louisiana as omicron continues to prompt more people to seek care: emergency rooms are sla

Edwards praised the efforts of doctors, teachers and other essential workers over the course of the pandemic, but said the brightest light in the darkness of the pandemic was the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines.

We know that these vaccines prevent most severe illness, hospitalization and death, he said. It is my fervent hope and prayer each day that more Louisianans will take their vaccines and their COVID boosters and wear their masks while we are in this Omicron surge, so that we can put this pandemic in our rear view

While Tuesday marks the official passing of the million-infection mark, that count is a definitive underestimate. An unknown number of cases across the state were never counted because they were never diagnosed, often because those who were infected had few or no symptoms.

And the rise in the use of at-home test kits has certainly meant an undercount in the current wave, since those results are rarely reported to the state.

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Tuesday's update includes three day's worth of data, since the state did not report statistics on Monday because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The update includes signs that the massive surge in cases brought by the omicron variant of the coronavirus is starting to slow, though the new daily case counts remain at levels far higher than any prior wave. About 52,550 new confirmed cases were reported over the last seven days, nearly twice as many as at the peak of the delta wave last summer.

However, the weekly case count is lower than the nearly 60,000 cases reported last week.

Tuesdays data also showed another decline in cases in the New Orleans area, which had been the center of the omicron outbreak in Louisiana. About 11,600 confirmed and probable cases have been reported in the region over the last seven days, about half the peak the area reached a week ago.

But, like the rest of the state, the New Orleans-area case counts are still almost double the highest counts recorded in any of the prior four waves.

Those declines come as the city is gearing up for Carnival parades and other festivities, which will begin in earnest next month. Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other officials have said they hope the wave has receded by the time those events get into full swing.

The declines in the New Orleans area come as the spread remains relatively high elsewhere in the state. Each of the other eight Louisiana Department of Health regions reported weekly totals at or just below their all-time highs.

Hospitalizations throughout the state continue to rise, though more slowly than they did during earlier stages of the surge. There were 2,183 patients hospitalized with the coronavirus in Louisiana on Monday  the last day for which data is available  a 15% increase over the week before.

The Department of Health also reported 42 new deaths confirmed to have been caused by the coronavirus and 16 new deaths that were likely caused by the virus on Tuesday. That brings the weekly total of confirmed deaths to 66, only a slight increase from the 65 weekly deaths reported a week ago.

"While thankfully omicron is on average less likely to put you in the hospital than other variants, that is just an average," State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter said in a news release. "It is still possible to get very sick from COVID-19 as the large number of people currently hospitalized in Louisiana show us. The best possible protection against being hospitalized and dying from COVID-19 is getting vaccinated and boosted as soon as you are eligible."
A woman was killed in a shooting Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 10 at the Crowder Boulevard exit in New Orleans.

The police investigation closed all eastbound lanes of I-10 there for two hours, until about 5 p.m. Traffic backed up almost five miles, as far as the Chef Menteur Highway exit, according to the Louisiana Department of Development and Transportation.

The fatal shooting was reported to authorities at 2:54 p.m. It was the second shooting on I-10 in New Orleans in 12 hours, and the third in three days, continuing an epidemic of gunfire on the city's highways.

Police said they found a 34-year-old woman with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services declared her dead at the scene.

The Police Department did not say whether the woman was in a vehicle. But photos of the investigation show a black sedan with a side window seemingly perforated by a bullet.

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WWL television said family identified the victim as Whitney Watts.

Anyone with information about the killing may call detective Maurice Stewart at (504) 658-5300 or call Crimestoppers Inc. anonymously at (504) 822-1111.
At a wreath-laying ceremony to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other city officials issued a call to fight for voting rights and social justice, but also decried the increase in gun violence and armed robberies plaguing the city.

"My heart is feeling heavy as I call upon all residents of our community to show that love that Dr. King said can drive out darkness wherever it exists," Cantrell said. "Right now darkness does exist in our community, in our neighborhoods, and throughout our city."

She said it isn't enough to put more city resources behind the effort, or to leave it only to the New Orleans Police Department, but that ordinary citizens have to help in both solving crimes and preventing violence.

Cantrell and several City Council members also evoked MLK in calling for continued work on social justice and voting rights at the ceremony, which was held at the memorial to King at South Claiborne Avenue, at the junction with Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Cantrell noted in particular the several dozen people who held placards at the ceremony in support of the residents of the Gordon Plaza subdivision, who have been pushing for city funding to move them from the former toxic landfill site.

City Council President Helena Moreno referenced the difficulties Democrats are having getting a national voting rights law passed to counteract restrictive measures going on in Republican statehouses across the country.

"It is so important that we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to vote, everyone," Moreno said. "We see what is happening in Washington D.C. and what I say is do not be discouraged. We just have to push harder."

There was no march preceding the wreath-laying this year and the gathering was sparsely attended as the surge in the omicron coronavirus variant has truncated events to mark the holiday.

Jefferson Parish holds a yearly banquet in honor of the national holiday, and school groups and residents carried banners and placards during the procession to downtown Covington on the north shore.

A major theme of the afternoon was the spate of recent carjackings, armed robberies and homicides, which have spiked during the pandemic and plagued communities of color.

NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, in a separate press conference after the wreath laying, noted that suspects believed to have been involved in the weekend's spree of carjackings  specifically five that occurred around the Tulane and Loyola universities' Uptown campuses  had been apprehended.

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He said the investigation into the weekend's surge of violent vehicle robberies  11 from Friday through Sunday, according to NOPD reports  was conducted by the Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team, the unit formed just over a year ago that includes the FBI and Louisiana State Police to track repeat violent offenders.

But he said a lenient criminal justice system and laws decriminalizing low-level crimes have hampered the NOPD's ability to deal with the crime spike.

"We can make all of the arrests we want but until the back portion of this criminal justice system does its part in insuring accountability and insuring consequences to their actions, we're going to continue to spin our wheels," Ferguson said.

"We'll continue to make the arrests but it doesn't mean a thing if there are no consequences to their actions," he added.

Moreno issued a press release after the ceremony confirming that Chief Ferguson will address a special council meeting called this Thursday, Jan. 20, to address the crime spike. She said District Attorney Jason Williams and unnamed criminal and juvenile court judges will address the council on Monday, Jan. 24.

"I don't believe that the 'lock-up everyone' approach is effective, but those committing egregious violent crimes must be caught and held accountable," Moreno said in a press release.

Newly-elected City Council Members at the event who echoed the call for action on crime included Lesli Harris, JP Morrell, Eugene Green, Freddie King III, and Oliver Thomas.

Williams has since taking office offloaded hundreds of cases that he described as "fat" and "bloat," but he and the NOPD have said they were putting together a cooperation plan to provide a "laser focus" on violent crimes in the city.

Ferguson noted that carjacking was up only 1% in 2021 until the sudden surge in December and January.

However, the increase last year was on top of a surge in the first year of the pandemic that saw carjacking spike 64.4%, murders up 31.6%, and auto thefts up 21.4%.

The murder rate last year was the highest it has been since before Hurricane Katrina. Among the most heartbreaking were those of more than a dozen children, including most recently 12-year-old Derrick Cash and 7-year-old Dillan Burton. They attended the same school, Thurgood Marshall, and were murdered within 10 days of each other in separate incidents.
A man was injured in a shooting Tuesday morning on Interstate 10 East at Michoud Boulevard exit, New Orleans police said.

The shooting was reported to authorities at 2:39 a.m.

Police found a man who was bleeding from his abdomen. They did not say if the man was in a vehicle when he was shot.

He was taken via ambulance to a hospital, and his condition was not available as of 9 a.m. No other details, including his age, were immediately available.

Check back for more details as they emerge.
Friends say they believe two men gunned down inside a Metairie home Monday night were playing video games when their killer or killers ambushed them.

Jonathan Pizzuto, 37, had likely left his door unlocked, his best friend, Cortney Dufrene, said, because he was awaiting the arrival of co-workers who usually hung out at his Rosa Avenue home after work.

But when those co-workers arrived just before 9:30 p.m., they walked in to find Pizzuto and another friend, William Mitchell, 36, dead of gunshot wounds in the living room, Dufrene said.

"He didn't bother anybody. You would never expect something like this to happen," Dufrene said Tuesday morning as he stood outside Pizzuto's home.

Mitchell, who grew up with Pizzuto and Dufrene in the Riverdale neighborhood of East Jefferson, was living in San Diego, but had recently returned home to visit family and his girlfriend, Missy Oxford.

"It makes no sense at all," Oxford said. "Will was a phenomenal man."

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating the homicides, which occurred in one side of a double in the 600 block of Rosa Avenue, Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said.

A neighbor described hearing about six gunshots. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

"There's blood everywhere," Oxford said of Pizzuto's single-story home.

Relatives are also looking for Pizzuto's dog, an 80- to 90-lb. pit bull named "Dro" who was missing from the house after the shootings, according to Dufrene and Oxford.

No arrests have been made in the case and investigators did not release any information about suspects or a motive.

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Pizzuto, Mitchell and Dufrene were part of a small but tight group of friends who've known each other since childhood and attended Riverdale High School in Jefferson. The news of the men's deaths has left them and relatives shocked. They don't know who could have carried out such a brutal act of violence.

Pizzuto sold insurance and mostly kept to himself, working all day and playing video games with friends at night when he was off, according to Dufrene.

"He was a quiet and very private person," said Pizzuto's aunt, Kelly Wilbert.

Pizzuto was a generous friend, a son and brother to four sisters.

"He was a big teddy bear," Dufrene said.

Mitchell was a carpenter who had recently started a moving business in California, according to Oxford. A "gym rat," Mitchell had been into bodybuilding and won competitions in his 20s and early 30s and was still in great shape.

"He was a good person. They both were just good people," she said.

Landlord Gina Sanders agreed. Pizzuto had lived at the property for several years and had never been a problem.

"He was such a nice person, quiet," Sanders said.

Oxford said she was at Pizzuto's home Monday night but left about 30 minutes before the shootings must have occurred. In tears, she recalled how happy she'd been when Mitchell surprised her with his trip home from California.

"I wish he had never come," she sobbed.

Anyone with information about the deaths of Jonathan Pizzuto and William Mitchell is asked to call the Sheriff's Office investigations bureau at 504-364-5300. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an indictment.

Carlie Wells contributed to this story.
When Katharine Faust saw her cat, Mr. Business, come limping up the stairs on Jan. 9, her first thought was that he'd been in a fight. She took him to an emergency veterinarian.

"The vet said she was very surprised to see what the X-ray told them," said Faust, an Algiers resident. "The top of his humerus bone was shattered, and there was a bullet."

Euthanasia was an option, but ultimately, Faust spent $4,500 to amputate the leg of the 2-year-old black cat who had "adopted" her and her significant other during the pandemic's stay-at-home orders. A feral cat at first, Mr. Business became more and more comfortable hanging out on the patio with Faust, until he'd finally become a chipped, collared, vaccinated indoor-outdoor family cat with a sweet, easygoing temperament.

The fact that he was so clearly a pet made his shooting even more upsetting for Faust.

"I didn't know whether to be angry or upset or cry," Faust said.

It wasn't Faust's first encounter with violence against area cats. A volunteer for trap-neuter-release organization and nonprofit Trap Dat Cat, she encountered in October a tabby wounded by "three metal projectiles...one in the caudal stifle area of the right hind leg, one in the 11th rib of the left thorax and one near the spine on the left side," according to an SPCA report.

The tabby had been shot near the intersection of Alix and Leboeuf streets. After it was released from the SPCA, it disappeared.

On Dec. 30, violence against cats erupted again in Algiers Point, this time near Teche and Slidell streets. Around 7:30 a.m. that day, Carley Sercovich, founder of cat foster organization NOLA Kitten Nursery, received a call about an injured cat dragging its legs.

"He was not hit with a BB gun. He was shot with a gun," Sercovich said. "It was a .22, very clearly a bullet."

The bullet was lodged near the spine of piebald community cat Norton, and because of the extent of his injuries, he was euthanized. Norton had been part of a colony cared for by volunteers.

"Cats naturally live in colonies. They don't live solitarily like people think," said Coral Pogue, director of Tomato Foster Club, a kitten rescue group. "Caretakers get to know these kitties well. We get calls if a kitty is sick or injured. They will know if a new kitty shows up or if they are missing one. They're aware of whole group."

Properly maintained cat colonies can be a boon to neighborhoods, because cats prey on rats, insects and other nuisances. "As long as they're spayed and neutered, they don't multiply and become a problem," Sercovich said.

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+5 The dos and donts of taking care of community cats TNR, talk with neighbors and more tips for caring for the feral cats in your neighborhood.

Karla Franks too was forced to euthanize her year-old, black-and-gray cat, Teddy, in June. He sustained a bullet injury shortly after the family moved to Algiers. After Teddy's shooting, Franks followed the veterinarian's orders to manually express Teddy's bladder and give him pain medication. But the wounded cat, who moved in what Franks described as an "army crawl," was ultimately in so much pain that she chose to euthanize him.

"They thought he was gonna be OK, but it was all the internal stuff," Franks said. "It is disheartening and very unsettling to know people do that. I don't understand how someone can do that to an animal. He was our sweet Teddy."

Animal cruelty is a violent crime classified as a Group A Offense, alongside arson and assault, in the FBIs National Incident-Based Reporting System. Faust reported the animal cruelty incident to police Sunday night. New Orleans Police Department said the investigation of what they classified as a miscellaneous incident is active and ongoing, though they not named a suspect or made an arrest.

The Louisiana ASPCA did not return requests for a comment.

Last month, the Humane Society of Louisiana held a press conference and stated that cats are being targeted with violence or abduction in Jefferson Parish," according to reporting by BRProud.com. WWL-TV also reported on the rash of cat poisonings, shootings and disappearances in Jefferson Parish.

Faust believes these incidents reflect "a culture of animal cruelty that has just been simmering in this city and in the state for a long time."

Faust and Sercovich are concerned violence against animals could escalate, a link detailed by the FBI.

"It has been proven time and time again that violence against animals can turn into violence against people," Sercovich said. "The city has a huge issue with gun violence. It's sad to see cats being shot in our community when the next bullet could be for a human."

Mr. Business did not lose his life, but he did lose a leg in a successful hour-and-a-half-long surgery. Faust said he did well in surgery on Jan. 11, although he was a little loopy from pain medication when he came home.

"He ate and drank a lot, meandered around the house supervised and is now snoozing comfortably," she stated in an update on her GoFundMe page. "He seems to already be adapting well to tripod life."
Wind-whipped flames are marching across more of New Mexicos tinder-dry mountainsides, forcing the evacuation of area residents and dozens of patients from the state's psychiatric hospital as firefighters scramble to keep new wildfires from growing. The big blaze burning near the community of Las Vegas has charred more than 217 square miles. Residents in neighborhoods on the edge of Las Vegas were told to be ready to leave their homes. It's the biggest wildfire in the U.S. and is moving quickly through groves of ponderosa pine because of hot, dry and windy conditions that make for extreme wildfire danger. Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across New Mexico and in western Texas.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma lawmakers Tuesday vowed that Oklahoma would be the most pro-life state in the nation after learning that the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to allow states to choose whether to allow abortion access. State abortion rights advocates at the same time said they were terrified at this point.
Legions of riders again took to South Floridas roadways on Monday as part of the unsanctioned annual rite known as Wheels Up, Guns Down during the national holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This time, many clogged thoroughfares while pedaling aboard bicycles.

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After the day was over, the Broward Sheriffs Office on Tuesday reported making seven arrests and recovering one firearm.

Countywide all law enforcement agencies involved in tracking the mayhem reported the recovery of two motorcycles, three dirt bikes and two ATVs, The agencies also issued 13 citations, BSO said..

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The action in Broward and Miami-Dade counties seemed to start in earnest around mid-afternoon Monday, when the Florida Highway Patrol observed an estimated 50 to 100 bicyclists traveling northbound on I-95 from State Road 112 in Miami. They reportedly exited at NW 62 Street.

Aerial footage from WSVN-Ch. 7 shows some of the ATV and dirt bike riders that took to the streets of South Florida on Jan. 17, 2022, for the annual "Wheels Up, Guns Down" ride, which has become an annual tradition on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year's ride seemed quieter than in past years, and many of the participants were riding bicycles. (Courtesy WSVN-Ch.7)

Shortly after 4 p.m., ATV and dirt bike riders were witnessed running a red traffic light and forcing other drivers to stop at State Road 7 and Pembroke Road, according to WPLG-Ch.10.

Television footage from WSVN-Ch.7 showed bands of buzzing motorcycles and ATVs that have unnerved motorists in recent years heading south from Broward County into Miami-Dade shortly before 5 p.m. They were observed cutting in and out of traffic and popping wheelies.

In northeast Fort Lauderdale, motorcycles could be seen traveling south at high speeds along Federal Highway.

[ RELATED: Brace yourself South Florida; Wheels Up, Guns Down road mayhem is coming, and officers are ready ]

An unknown number of riders in Broward and Miami-Dade were reported detained by police. Officers in Miami temporarily blocked NW 62nd Street.

But the rogue event appeared to draw fewer riders across the region than in previous years.

Police agencies including the BSO and Florida Highway Patrol vowed over the weekend to keep the riders off the roads and arrest anyone who violated traffic laws by popping wheelies, speeding, blocking lanes, riding against traffic or traveling along sidewalks.

As promised, police officers monitored entrances and exits to several major highways such as Floridas Turnpike to ensure no riders entered. The FHP said every trooper in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties was scheduled to work Monday.
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Harrisburg, Pa.  Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed more than 50 bills as he begins his final year in office, a number that illustrates the institutionalized gridlock between the Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Wolfs veto tally grew extensively during the pandemic and will likely expand during his final 13 months in office, as GOP leaders continue to largely bypass his agenda and push items such as mandated voter ID and curbs on the executives power.

As Wolf has exercised his veto pen, Republican legislators have increasingly turned to constitutional amendments to advance their priorities. The GOP says the change in strategy turns over decision-making to the voters, and critics say it circumvents the checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches.

Wolf spokesperson Elizabeth Rementer attributed the governors vetoes to Republican incompetence, saying he rejects legislation when its not in the best interest of all Pennsylvanians.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly is failing Pennsylvanians by refusing to pass legislation to make voting more accessible, reduce gun violence, and fairly pay and protect our workers, Rementer told Spotlight PA. Instead, they have spent the last several months passing terrible bills all while Pennsylvanias minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour.

Republicans say their agenda reflects the demands of their constituents and the current economy, and call Wolfs vetoes an attack on constitutional and civil rights.

After Wolf vetoed a bill that would have banned proof-of-vaccination requirements, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) and Majority Leader Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) released a statement saying the governor is running roughshod over the civil liberties of Pennsylvania residents.

Cormans spokesperson referred questions for this story to Wards office, which declined to comment. A spokesperson for House Republicans did not respond to a request for comment.

In Wolfs seven years in office, he has vetoed 54 bills and resolutions. Online records that date to 1975 show that Wolf has surpassed Democrat Bob Casey Sr.s 50 vetoes between 1987 and 1995, but not Democrat Milton Shapp, who rejected more than 70 bills during his two terms in office.

The legislature can overturn a veto with a two-thirds vote, the standard in most states. It has failed to do so during Wolfs time in office.

In 2015, Wolfs first year as governor, his vetoes were primarily directed at the state budget. The protracted battle lasted until March 2016, when Wolf passively allowed a budget plan to become law.

The standoff set the tone for future clashes with lawmakers, but Wolf didnt experience forceful pushback or attempts to limit his powers until the arrival of COVID-19.

In 2020, Wolf signed 140 bills into law, only 27 of which directly addressed problems brought on by the coronavirus. More than a third of Wolfs vetoes  19  were issued that year, a spike that reflects fights over the administrations public health measures, as well as the economic fallout of the pandemic.

As the Wolf administration shut down businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed  measures in line with public health guidance  Republicans with a handful of Democrats passed a number of bills to reopen parts of the economy.

Wolf vetoed those measures, as well as bills designating shooting ranges as life-sustaining businesses, allowing local schools to set their own policies on sporting events, and giving counties control over COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

Angry over Wolfs rejections, Republicans went for the nuclear option: a resolution to unilaterally end the states COVID-19 disaster declaration.

When the state Supreme Court ruled that the legislature didnt have that power, Republican lawmakers launched a push for two constitutional amendments to give the majority that ability. Both were successful.

In 2022, GOP leaders are queuing up even more proposed changes to the constitution  at times in response to Wolfs vetoes  including one mandating voter ID and another that would eliminate statewide elections for appellate judges.

The uptick in proposed changes belies the lengthy and intensive process of amending the state constitution.

First, both the House and Senate must pass the resolution in two separate legislative sessions before it goes to voters. If a majority approves the amendment  and it survives any court challenges  it goes into effect.

But unlike overriding a veto, the amendment process requires consent from only a simple majority of lawmakers and voters. Once they are on the ballot, usually in low-turnout elections, these amendments rarely fail.

Critics of the tactic argue that amending the constitution to evade a veto undermines the balance of power between the legislature and the governor.

Khalif Ali, executive director of the nonpartisan good-government organization Common Cause PA, told Spotlight PA in October that the legislature is attempting to leech power from the other branches of government.

Theyre using the constitutional amendment to pass legislation they cant pass through the traditional and appropriate way, Ali said, calling it unethical.

Democrats have criticized the Republican-proposed amendments as an attempt to exclude the minority party from policymaking. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny) said amendments undermine the executives duty to represent the entire state, a job that differs from that of lawmakers, who represent only their constituents.

These efforts are an end-run around our constitution, Costa said in a statement. Theyre seeking single-party rule in Pennsylvania and thats not healthy for a democracy.

Republican lawmakers have countered that constitutional amendments ultimately give Pennsylvanians the power to decide policy.

I believe that, at the end of the day, that people always have the right to decide how to be governed, House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) said in December.

One proposed amendment moving through the legislature would alter what happens when lawmakers vote to disapprove a state regulation. At the moment, the governor can veto such resolutions, leaving it to the legislature to gather a two-thirds majority.

State Rep. Eric Nelson (R., Westmoreland) in December argued that the bar is too high.

The idea that it takes a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly to stop a regulation or order that the majority would never start in the first place proves how unbalanced the process is in the first place, Nelson said.

Still, Sam Chen, an assistant professor of political science at Northampton Community College and host of the talk show Face the Issues, said Wolfs vetoes are a sign that checks and balances are working.

Because one party does not have enough votes to overturn a veto alone, majority and minority parties are encouraged to work together with the governor to pass bipartisan policy  in theory.

Wolf did sign more than 100 bills and resolutions in 2021, including nearly 20 renaming bridges and highways, a COVID-19 relief package, and a recent measure creating an agency dedicated to expanding broadband coverage in the state.

But the Republican majorities also advanced bills that had no chance of becoming law in support of popular conservative priorities, such as restricting voting access, curtailing abortion rights, and allowing permitless concealed carry.

Lawmakers sometimes pass legislation that they know will be vetoed, but Chen defended this move, saying its a way for legislators to respond to voters.

Theres definitely political jockeying for future political aspirations, but also a need to answer to constituents, he said.

Spotlight PA reporter Danielle Ohl contributed to this article.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundationsand readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.

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The Scott and Bonnie Wheeland Farm, Cogan Station, has been recognized as a Century Farm Award recipient through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's nation-leading Farmland Preservation Program. The special event was held during the 106th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

The Century and Bicentennial farm program was established by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to help promote the strength and durability of Pennsylvanias farm families. In order to qualify, a family member must live on the farm on a permanent basis, and the farm must include at least 10 acres of the original holding or gross more than $1,000 annually from the sale of farm products.

The Scott and Bonnie Wheeland Farm was originally purchased by Scott's great, great uncle, George Harmon, along with his wife Margaret Wheeland Harmon, in 1882.

After 21 years, the couple sold the farm to Scott's great grandparents, Harrison D. Wheeland and Ellen Harmon Wheeland. Scotts grandparents, Harrison and Margaret, later bought the property in 1924 for $5,000.

The couple ran the farm for more than five decades until passing it down to Scott's parents, Dale and Connie, in 1982. Each Saturday at the Williamsport Growers Market, Harrison and Margaret would sell the produce that they grew, along with eggs, baked goods, and homemade butter.

Scott and Bonnie purchased the property in 1994 and are still farming to this day, along with their daughter, Megan. The original property consisted of 134 acres. Today, 87.33 of those original acres are still in use. The family currently grows corn, hay, soybeans and wheat and have a beef cattle operation.

The Wheeland family truly represents what makes Pennsylvania agriculture great, Sen. Gene Yaw said. They have provided homegrown food straight from the farm for over a century. It is certainly an extraordinary accomplishment, and I commend them on receiving this award.

During the ceremony, the family received a sign identifying the property as having historic status, which was presented by Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. Additionally, a Senate congratulatory citation sponsored by Senator Yaw was presented to the family.

Lycoming County is home to 70 century farms and 1 bicentennial farm.

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Limestone Twp., Pa. -- Driving carelessly and at a rate deemed "too fast," a driver crashed his vehicle into a piece of farm equipment and became airborne, finally coming to rest in a farmer's field.

Police said the crash occurred on January 13 at approximately 11 p.m., however the driver fled the scene and did not file a report. The crash was reported the next day around 9:43 a.m.

Prior to losing control af the car, Jared Snyder, 34, of Lewisburg was traveling west on Cotner Rd. just west of Rt. 54. Police said he was unable to negotiate a right-hand curve and traveled across the oncoming lane of travel, off the side of the road, and up and embankment where he struck the equipment--a culltipacker.

Snyder's 2011 Jeep Patriot became airborne after striking the equipment and struck a fence and entered a farmer's pasture.

The vehicle "was traveling at such a high rate of speed, once in the pasture it traveled up a small hill and became airborne a second time," the police report said.

Snyder fled the scene, failed to contact police, and failed to provide his information to the property owner. Snyder was not injured; he was wearing his seatbelt and multiple airbags had deployed, according to the report.

Taylors Garage towed the Patriot, and Snyder was cited with driving vehicle at safe speed and careless driving.

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Loyalsock Twp., Pa. -- The cost of repair came in under $50, but charges of criminal mischief will stick for a 20-year-old Williamsport male who is accused of throwing raw chicken through his neighbor's window.

On January 2 around 1:35 p.m., police said they were dispatched to a home on the 900 block of Cemetery Street in Loyalsock Twp.

The victim said she was alerted by a neighbor that another neighbor had thrown something at her house and broken a window. She said she returned home to discover that a rear window in her home had been broken by a piece of raw chicken.

Someone who witnessed the act identified the suspect to police. He now faces a non-traffic citation for Criminal Mischief in district court.

The window was repaired for $43.72.

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Lycoming County, Pa. -- Last evening, in the midst of a snowstorm, a home caught fire on Cement Hollow Road in Piatt Township, Lycoming County.

The weather and severity of the fire impacted the fire response. Due to the weather, the journey "was slow going and none of the roads were plowed," said Mike Bletz, Fire Chief of the Independent Hose Company No. 1.

The Independent Hose Company No. 1 of Jersey Shore was first to arrive on scene. The weather and condition of the structure led the fire company to request a second alarm fire, bringing additional units from Clinton County and the Williamsport area, according to Bletz.

The structure consisted of a front main house and a two story addition on the back; the two story addition was "well-involved," said Bletz.

The fire caused no injuries to residents or firefighters. However, the fire damage forced the resident to leave her home and stay with family.

The resident's family owns three or four properties in the same area as the damaged property, so the resident remains near her home.

The fire response was active from approximately 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on January 16.

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New elections board to start with full plate

Olivia Morley Space for the new elections office is in the demolition stage over at the Floyd County Health Department. This will eventually be the main office area where residents can register to vote and inquire about anything election-related.

An ambitious number of goals prior to the May primary will greet a newly constituted Floyd County Elections Board as it meets for the first time and is sworn in Tuesday.

Prior to the meeting at 10 a.m. at the County Administration Building, the board members will be sworn in at 9 a.m. in Courtroom B of Floyd County Superior Court.

In December, County Commissioners named Ralph Davis and Corey Townsend as the two Democratic Party representatives and Pam Peters and Gary Stamper as the Republican Party representatives on the board. Jerry Lee will serve as the chair.

The only member of the former board who will be on the new board is Townsend. He had only recently been placed on the old three-person board before it was dissolved and re-created by the state legislature.

That new five-person board is going to have to hit the ground running as qualifying runs March 7-11 and the primary elections are on May 24. On top of that, the elections office is to be moved to the health department building on East 12th Street.

Renovations at that facility, a significant upgrade from the basement level of the county administration building, will be finished in February and staff will be able to move in by early March, according to County Manager Jamie McCord.

The $200,000 renovation has been pitched as a purpose built and more secure location, that will include available parking  something the current elections office has been lacking.

The board will also have to hire a chief elections clerk, fill other positions, establish rules and bylaws and also discuss potential new voting locations. That includes at least one new precinct in West Rome as well as early voting locations.

While the chair is established by county appointment, the board will also need to choose a vice-chair from among its membership.

Add to that already long list discussions concerning appointment of a board attorney, the 2022 budget, new meeting dates, pollworker training and recruitment and the status of election preparation.

For the most part, the change to the elections board comes after a number of issues, some real and some imagined, during the 2020 presidential election. Some of those complaints are founded in the debunked claims made by former President Donald Trump that the election was stolen.

Trump won Floyd County by a large margin. However, the first ballot audit, ordered by Georgias secretary of state, found over 2,500 ballots werent counted. The ballots, which elections workers said followed Floyd County voting trends, were entered and counted. Another hand recount followed that audit.

That issue, alongside long lines at polling locations and a confrontational attitude during an elections board meeting, led to the dismissal of the countys former chief elections clerk in 2020. Since then, Deputy Clerk Vanessa Waddell has acted in the role of chief elections clerk.

Runoff elections for the Georgia Senate in early 2021 and municipal elections in November ran smoothly in Floyd County. The first litmus test of the new board, and potentially a new chief elections clerk, will be qualifying in two months and the primary in May.
Americans must commit to the unfinished work of Martin Luther King Jr., delivering jobs and justice and protecting the sacred right to vote, a right from which all other rights flow, President Joe Biden said Monday.

Martin Luther King Day is a moment when a mirror is held up to America, the president said in a video address.

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Its time for every elected official in America to make it clear where they stand, Biden said. Its time for every American to stand up. Speak out, be heard. Where do you stand?

Major holiday events included marches in several cities and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. service at the slain civil rights leaders Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is the senior pastor. Pews have been packed by politicians in past years, but given the pandemic, many offered pre-recorded speeches instead.

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Saturday would have been the 93rd birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who was just 39 when he was assassinated in 1968 while helping sanitation workers strike for better pay and workplace safety in Memphis, Tennessee.

Kings eldest son criticized Biden and Congress as a whole on Monday for failing to pass voting rights legislation, even as 19 Republican-led states have made it harder to vote in response to former President Donald Trumps false claims about election-rigging.

You were successful with infrastructure, which is a great thing -- but we need you to use that same energy to ensure that all Americans have the same unencumbered right to vote, Martin Luther King III said.

Senate Republicans remain unified in opposition to the Democrats voting bills. Biden described their stonewalling as part of a true attack on our democracy, from the Jan. 6 insurrection to the onslaught of Republican anti-voting laws in an number of states.

Its no longer just about who gets to vote. Its about who gets to count the vote. And whether your vote counts at all. Its about two insidious things: voter suppression and election subversion, Biden said.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senates Black Republican, countered with a series of King Day-themed videos he said would emphasize positive developments on civil rights. Scott sidestepped criticism about GOP actions and accused Democrats of labeling his party members as racists.

To compare or conflate people who oppose his positions as being racists and traitors to the country is not only insulting and infuriating, its dead wrong, Scott told The Associated Press.

Warnock, now running for reelection as Georgias first Black senator, said in his speech to the sparse crowd at Ebenezer that everybody loves Dr. King, they just dont always love what he represents.

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Let the word go forth, you can not remember Dr. King and dismember his legacy at the same time, Warnock said. If you will speak his name you have to stand up for voting rights, you have to stand up on behalf of the poor and the oppressed and the disenfranchised.

King, who delivered his historic I Have a Dream speech while leading the 1963 March on Washington and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, considered racial equality inseparable from alleviating poverty and stopping war. His insistence on nonviolent protest continues to influence activists pushing for civil rights and social change.

The U.S. economy has never worked fairly for Black Americans  or, really, for any American of color, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a speech delivered Monday, one of many by national leaders acknowledging unmet needs for racial equality on Martin Luther King Day.

Yellen referred to Kings famous speech in remarks she recorded for delivery at the Rev. Al Sharptons National Action Network breakfast in Washington, noting the financial metaphor he used when describing the founding fathers promises of equality.

King said on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. He called it a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds. But we refuse to believe the bank of justice is bankrupt!

It is compelling rhetoric, but I also think Dr. King knew it was a more than a metaphor. He knew that economic injustice was bound up in the larger injustice he fought against. From Reconstruction, to Jim Crow, to the present day, our economy has never worked fairly for Black Americans  or, really, for any American of color, Yellen said.

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She said the Biden administration has sought to ensure that no economic institution fails to work for people of color. Equity was built into the American Rescue Plan so that communities of color would get pandemic relief, and Treasury is injecting $9 billion into Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions traditionally poorly served by the financial sector.

There is still much more work Treasury needs to do to narrow the racial wealth divide, she said.

Atlantas planned events also included a march, a rally and a voter registration drive by the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda and Youth Service America.
Napoleon, OH (43545)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Samsung has just announced the Exynos 2200, a 4 nm SoC with an RDNA 2-based GPU. While there were rumours of Samsung using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the European versions of the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra, multiple retailers have confirmed that the trio will arrive with the Exynos 2200 instead.

4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker

Samsung has finally unveiled the Exynos 2200, the first mobile SoC with an AMD RDNA 2-based GPU. While Samsung Korea has already verified the Galaxy S22 series' existence, it has not revealed if the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ or Galaxy S22 Ultra would rely on the new 4 nm chip. Rumour had it that Samsung may switch to Snapdragon in more markets, such as Europe.

Subsequently, Ishan Agarwal informed his followers that the Exynos 2200 would make its way to Europe after all. Multiple retailers have since implied that this is the case. As the screenshots below show, Epto, Inkshop and Zanetti have listed the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra as the SM-S901B, SM-S906B and SM-S908B, respectively.

Counterintuitively, Samsung uses 'B' to denote Exynos variants, and 'E' for Snapdragon ones. GalaxyClub.nl has not found any European retailer listings for the SM-S901E, SM-S906E and SM-S908E though, despite their appearance on benchmark databases like Geekbench. Hence, it seems probable that Europe will only receive Exynos 2200 versions of the Galaxy S22 series, mirroring the Galaxy S21 series.
Jan 18, 2022 KRR

Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer 'An Action Hero' is all set to go on floors this month. The film, directed by Anirudh Iyer, will be shot in the UK and India. It will mark Ayushmann's first stint in the action genre and is also his first film to be shot in London.

The film, a joint production between T-Series and Colour Yellow Productions, follows the journey of an artiste, and boasts of slick action and edgy satire.

According to Bhushan Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director of T-Series, the film has a quirky and fresh storyline. Click the Movie button below for more info:

An Action Hero

Ayushmann Khurrana Pictures
Jan 18, 2022 KRR

The official YouTube channel of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has chosen to feature a video of Tamil director Gnanavel explaining his critically acclaimed courtroom drama 'Jai Bhim', under its 'Scene At the Academy' segment.

The 12 minute 47 second video clip begins with the opening scenes of the film. It then shows director Gnanavel explaining about the theme of the film. This is followed by important sequences from the film.

In the video, Gnanavel says, "The opening scene of the film shows the police segregating tribal people on the basis of caste. You could call it the film's theme. How easily a powerful system can brand the oppressed as habitual offenders on the basis of caste.

"This film is not just about custodial violence faced by tribal people. It is about how caste discrimination forms the basis of custodial discrimination," he adds. Click the Movie button below for more info:

Jai Bhim

Suriya Pictures
Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St Augustine, works for his family's development company, The Hutson Companies. He introduced two bills that would severely restrict local governments' abilities to regulate businesses, which would be a boon to developers. (Steve Cannon/AP)

By summer, Floridas cities might exist in name only.

You still would drive from Delray Beach to Hallandale Beach, passing through all the cities on U.S. 1. In practical terms, however, they would be fiefdoms of The Great and Powerful Legislature.

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Home rule isnt a conversation starter over drinks. But the concept of letting local officials decide local issues is at the heart of municipal government. Republicans in Tallahassee, though, consider the concept more threatening even than critical race theory.

Randy Schultz is a Sun Sentinel columnist. (Mike Slaughter / Sun Sentinel/South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Senate Bill 280 would require local governments to craft an economic impact statement for any ordinance. It provides a course of action to sue. Successful plaintiffs could collect as much as $50,000 in legal fees.

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Senate Bill 620 is the other torpedo aimed below the local government waterline. It would allow businesses to collect all revenue lost from an ordinance that a court considers arbitrary.

In recent years, every session of the Legislature has featured special-interest attacks on home rule. Vacation rental companies want to prevent cities from regulating them to protect neighborhoods. Fossil fuel companies want to block promotion of renewable energy.

SB 280 and 620 amount to a favor for every aggrieved industry. Businesses could block all but the mildest regulation. The legislation could discourage cities and counties even from proposing regulation.

There are exceptions, but theyre limited. Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Lighthouse Point, correctly described the bills as the actualization of a nightmare for local government.

In a straw poll last November, Miami Beach voters said they want bars to close at 2 a.m., not 5 a.m. Under these bills, the city commission couldnt do that.

We saw a preview of this power grab last year. The Legislature nullified three voter-approved ordinances in Key West that protect local businesses and the environment from cruise ships. All cruise regulation now goes through Tallahassee.

Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, sponsored both bills. Given their scope, Hutson should offer compelling evidence for their need. Existing law allows landowners to sue if they believe that government action has wrongly lowered the value of their property.

But the analysis for SB 280 offers no justification. The statement of need for SB 620 states only that the continued economic growth and economic prosperity of this state are tied to the protection of private property rights and that the Legislature intends to require counties and municipalities to compensate businesses for business damages when an ordinance or a charter provision causes a business significant economic harm.

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Hutson defended his bills as guardrails to keep cities from going rogue. But St. Augustine City Commission members oppose the actions of their hometown senator and wonder why he didnt consult them. Hutson responded that it wasnt his responsibility to ask.

One motivation surely is the pandemic. Some local governments went easy on businesses and some issued more restrictions. Broward County closed health clubs. Palm Beach County limited indoor restaurant seating.

Gov. DeSantis issued statewide restrictions at the start of the pandemic, something he wants people to forget. Since then, he and the Legislature have all but stripped the ability of local governments to respond during public health emergencies.

Ironically, Republicans in Tallahassee generally consider trial lawyers to be their adversaries. During a hearing last week, however, an official of the growth-management advocacy group 1000 Friends of Florida called the bills a trial lawyers dream come true.

Conflicts of interest dont bother Republicans in Tallahassee. The point person on charter school legislation is a senator tied to the charter school industry.

Similarly, Hutsons family owns a development company. Developers stand to benefit greatly from decreased local regulation, as they did when the Legislature lowered the impact fees they pay to offset the cost of services from their projects.

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This attack on cities and counties follows the attempt to emasculate school boards on everything from mask policies to curriculum. Senate Majority Leader Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne, told school boards, Your role is to do what we put in policy to do.

SB 280 and SB 620 are priorities of Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby. They have passed one hearing and are being fast-tracked.

Last week, DeSantis called Florida the freest state in the union. Only if you obey Tallahassee.

Contact Randy Schultz at randy@bocamag.com.
Japan, South Korea, and the United States held trilateral talks on Monday to discuss countermeasures to North Koreas series of ballistic missile launchesthe fourth already this month.

During the call, U.S. special envoy for North Korea Sung Kim expressed Americas concern over the latest in a series of ballistic missile launches by the DPRK this month, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Kim reiterated that North Koreas actions were in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting the country from engaging in ballistic missile activities, and called on North Korea to cease its unlawful and destabilizing activities and reopen dialogue, Price added.

In a return to old diplomatic approaches, the United States said its offer for open dialogue was without preconditions.

Representatives of the three allied nations agreed to continue close coordination in responding to Pyongyangs destabilizing actions.

South Korea and Japan reported Monday that North Korea launched two suspected ballistic missiles into the East Sea from Sunan Airfield, the fourth such launch this month.

North Korea on Tuesday made its first comments on the tests, saying that it tested firing two tactical guided missiles to ensure the accuracy of its weapons system, which is under production, according to Pyongyangs state-controlled media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The two tactical guided missiles launched in the western area of [Pyongyang] precisely hit an island target in the East Sea of Korea, the regimes media mouthpiece claimed.

According to The Japan Times, Japans Defense Ministry added on Tuesday that it believes the suspected short-range ballistic missiles were a solid-fuel type known as the KN-24, which Pyongyang also tested in March 2020.

North Koreas KN-24 resembles the U.S. MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and is designed to evade missile defences and carry out precision strikes, he said.

Earlier, Pyongyang claimed that another two other missile tests it performed on Jan. 5 and Jan. 11 were hypersonic missiles. Those tests prompted the Biden administration to impose its first sanctions against Pyongyang on Jan. 12, and to call on the U.N. Security Council to blacklist several North Korean individuals and entities.

That was followed by another test by North Korea on Jan. 14, when the regime fired another two tactical guided missiles from a train. North Koreas Foreign Affairs Ministry had issued a statement ahead of the missile launch berating the United States for imposing sanctions on Pyongyang and warning of a stronger reaction if Washington maintains its confrontational stance.

Meanwhile, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the Norths tests on Monday increasingly concerning during a briefing, calling for all parties to return to talks to defuse tension and promote a very verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
Nevin Zehr, of Harrisonburg, speaks during a protest on Court Square on Saturday in solidarity with the unionization efforts of Amazon workers in Bessemer, Ala.
An East Chicago man serving a 30-year sentence for shooting and wounding his pregnant girlfriend and her mother in 2019 while his 1-year-old child was in the room is not entitled to any reduction in his prison term, according to the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Records show Richard E. Johnson Jr., 24, pleaded guilty May 5, 2021, to two counts of aggravated battery, both level 3 felonies, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing the other pending charges against him, including attempted murder.

According to court records, Johnson was covered in blood when he surrendered to East Chicago police June 19, 2019, outside a home in the 4300 block of Magoun Avenue and said, "I did it. I shot both of them."

The shooting happened after Johnson pressured his girlfriend for sex and began choking her when she refused. The girlfriend's mother opened the bedroom door when she heard her daughter scream, setting off a wave of fisticuffs that ended when Johnson exclaimed, "You know what, F-it," and began shooting, records show.

According to court records, the daughter was shot twice near her head and suffered a shattered jaw, visible scarring on her neck and shoulder, and a visible shrapnel would on her face. The mother was shot in the leg and chest, causing a broken arm, broken fingers and permanent nerve damage.

In his appeal, Johnson argued his 30-year sentence  just shy of the 32-year maximum  is inappropriate in light of the offense and his character. He suggested an 18-year prison term  the statutory advisory sentence  would be more fitting.

The appeals court rejected Johnson's claims in a 3-0 ruling.

It said the nature of Johnson's offenses exceeded the crimes to which he pleaded guilty, and Johnson's character, including a series of increasingly violent offenses over a six-year period, his lack of remorse, and disrespect for the judicial process, warrant no reduction in his prison term.

"As Johnson failed to persuade us that his sentence is inappropriate in light of the offenses and his character, we affirm the trial court's imposition of his sentence," the appeals court said.

Johnson still can request the Indiana Supreme Court review his case and consider setting aside the trial and appeals court rulings on his sentence.

Otherwise, Johnson's earliest possible release date from prison  assuming good behavior  is Dec. 18, 2041, according to the Indiana Department of Correction.

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The judicial branch of Indiana government is persevering amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and other societal challenges, because that's what the Constitution demands of the state's court system.

That's the message Chief Justice Loretta Rush and retiring Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David jointly delivered last week to Gov. Eric Holcomb and members of the Indiana House and Senate in Rush's eighth annual "State of the Judiciary" address.

"In many ways, courts have become the government emergency room for societys worst afflictions. Substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, homelessness  the challenges brought to courtrooms each day are the same challenges facing your constituents," Rush said. "And, like you, we are determined to find solutions."

As an example, David pointed to the 118 problem-solving courts scattered in counties across the state that are providing a helping hand to veterans, drug addicts, the mentally ill, troubled families and others, rather than focusing on punishing crimes that sometimes result from those conditions.

"It has been my honor to witness hundreds of people graduate from these extraordinary programs ... You must experience it to really appreciate it," David said.

"Watch the very police officer and the person they arrested for drug use stand together and hug each other in tears and triumph. Or attend a veterans treatment court graduation where a service member  scarred by the experiences and trauma of service, sacrifice, and conflict  who was once willing to give their life for all of us, now has a new life, thanks to all of you. It just doesnt get any better than that."

At the same time, Rush acknowledged the demands on judicial leadership are greater than ever due to a statewide breakdown in mental health care that's led many people with mental illness to languish in county jails, instead of receiving the treatment they need.

"Today, mental illness permeates nearly every type of case that comes before our judges. In fact, the criminal justice system is now a primary referral source for a person to obtain mental health treatment," Rush said.

"Police officers are not social workers, and jails are not treatment centers. And when we ask them to be, we compromise their core function of preserving public safety, which, in turn, puts everyone at risk."

To that end, Rush said the judiciary will convene a 92-county statewide summit Oct. 21 to enable local mental health leaders to collaborate with each other and state-level partners to begin developing responsible, cost-effective solutions that build on the crisis care promise of the new 988 national mental health hotline.

Rush said improving mental health services fit into her goal of modernizing jail management through a centralized system that she said will improve public safety by ensuring accurate criminal records, allowing judges to view real-time incarceration status, and alerting community agencies when a supervised individual is arrested.

"Sharing offender information between jails, courts, community corrections, probation, and all justice partners is vital to public safety and will give you information like you have never had before to guide your policy making," Rush said.

David noted Indiana already has shown with its unified court case management system that it can successfully modernize institutions through technology.

He said instead of tons of paper documents being printed, read, filed and stored at courthouses across the state, the Odyssey system last year provided Hoosier lawyers and citizens free access to more than 34 million court records, including some 140,000 new electronic filings submitted each week.

In that same vein, David said technology and other tools permitting most low-risk arrestees to be released without posting bail also are benefiting the state without endangering public safety.

David insisted no one wants to release a dangerous person back into the community. Yet, he said justice also demands a "constitutionally transparent system to protect due process and equal protection rights."

"Our goal is simple: to make sure that before trial, the right people are in jail for the right reasons," he said. "Nothing more complicated than that."

During the 25-minute speech, Rush and David touted the work of the courts in increasing public trust by bolstering equity and access, as well as strengthening Hoosier families through personalized assistance for abused and neglected children.

Rush also highlighted the court system's efforts to reduce Indiana's sky-high eviction rates by providing additional resources to landlords and tenants, including the launch of a housing court and the establishment of the Indiana Eviction Task Force.

"It is the rule of law and our respect for it that separates us from most of the rest of the world. It makes us the envy of most of the world and the enemy of some of the world. It is precious. It requires constant care and attention. It takes work and commitment to ensure that sacred phrase, 'and justice for all!'" David said.

"Together we are figuring out how to do better for our citizens, and that is indeed serving the public."

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EAST CHICAGO  The City Council met in special session recently to elect new officers for 2022.

Councilwoman Monica Gonzalez, D-1st, was elected president by her fellow council members by a vote of 8-1.

"I'm just really honored that they have the confidence in me to be president," Gonzalez said.

Councilman Terence Hill, D-3rd, was the only other nominee for president.

Gonzalez was elected to the council in 2019 and is employed in the payroll department for Lake County.

Prior to the vote, Gonzalez identified her involvement with the council's finance committee and her experience with public safety as qualifications for president.

Gonzalez was a reserve police officer in East Chicago for eight years before joining the council and had worked as records clerk for the East Chicago police department.

"I'm really an advocate for the police officers and the firemen," Gonzalez said.

One of Gonzalez's goals for 2022 is to try to shorten the time council meetings last.

"We need to get in and say what we mean, mean what we say and just kind of move on," Gonzalez said.

In what was a much tighter contest, Councilman Dwayne Rancifer, D-at-large, was elected as vice president.

The other nominee for vice president was Councilman Robert Garcia, D-5th, who served as vice president last year before taking over as president after former Councilman Emiliano Perez resigned in September.

Rancifer was elected by a vote of 5-4.

"I definitely feel that after the few years that I've been on the council that my experience will allow me to be an effective leader and vice president," Rancifer said.

Rancifer was also elected to the council in 2019.

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A system that prioritizes punishment makes little sense given how much we now know about positive and negative reinforcement and behavioral therapy, writes an inmate under Florida's Department of Corrections. web stock bars (Patti McConville / Getty Images)

China  highlighted in American media for its human rights abuses  has three times fewer people incarcerated per capita than Florida. Inmates here are emotionally stuck between two realities: remorse for the poor choices that brought us to prison and acknowledgement that Floridas system of justice is far from just.

When the state portrays the Department of Corrections as being in crisis, the emphasis tends to be on the financial solvency of a government program  as if we arent talking about warehousing American citizens. Make no mistake, Floridas Department of Corrections does have a dumpster fire of challenges  crumbling infrastructure, underpaid officers experiencing identity crises because of their position, a shortage of bed space and employees, as well as sinking credibility in showing any kind of corrections in a fast-paced, data-enriched society.

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However, financial solutions involving increasing officer pay or lowering the requirements of employment for guards are tantamount to allocating Band-Aids for a terminal disease. That disease is an emphasis on punishment to the exclusion of rehabilitation and productive reintroduction into society.

Chris Salamone is an inmate under the Florida Department of Corrections.

Decades of research in behavioral psychology show that punishment is the least effective method of behavior training. As a consequence, it should come as no surprise that there is no link between lengthy sentences and recidivism. This is because the amount of prison time a person experiences does not cause or correlate to improved behavior.

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Like many inmates, I am filled with sadness for the decisions of the past and have done everything possible to make my time in prison as meaningful as the state allows.

The problem is that the state does not allow inmates to support their families, build personal dignity, or earn an equal place in society once our sentences are completed. Instead, prisoners receive extraordinarily harsh sentences, constant reminders that we are other or less than everyone who happens to be free, and we are humiliatingly reliant on financial support from family and friends while imprisoned.

Rehabilitation, behavior replacement or positive reinforcement, functioning as incentives designed to produce productive citizens, need to be the true face of criminal justice reform in Florida. Society has accepted that locking up animals in small cages is wrong. We no longer whip tigers for the amusement of circusgoers. If cruel corrective action is no longer appropriate for a golden retriever, why are we cruelly punishing humans as a means of correction?

Often, politicians shrewdly answer this question with some reference to deterrence, recidivism or societal welfare/safety. Given that we know there is no link between recidivism and lengthy sentences, the recidivism argument is a sham. Deterrence is worse. To suggest we should send someone away with a lengthy sentence in order to suppress future crimes committed by others is to suggest we should punish people beyond what they deserve for the masochistic education of others. Finally, societal safety is the weakest argument of all. Somewhere near 45% of inmates in Florida committed a nonviolent offense, including me. The population of inmates is aging, increasingly comprised of nonviolent individuals, and the state provides no evidence as to our potential for future crime. This argument, like the other two, is pure speculation cleverly disguised as a moral high ground  as if it is somehow OK for the state to traffic, kidnap, warehouse, malnourish and mistreat citizens who have broken the law.

Floridas prisons do have a crisis. That crisis is a historical tradition of perceiving cruelty as justice.

Like most of us behind bars, I deeply regret the choices I made that brought me here. At 34, I made the worst decision of my life and began a relationship with a 17-year-old. What happened was the product of emotional distress and the only criminal activity of my entire life. I betrayed everything I have ever worked for, the community and my family for another person. My choices were immoral and wrong. I knew better. But I have no clue what purpose being here in prison serves other than state-sponsored retribution. This sentence of prison for punishment only serves to continue harming my family and causing further emotional turmoil, projecting my idiocy into the future and onto others.

Prisoners are people. We cant change the past, but we can work toward a better future. Please help us repurpose ourselves and prisons to build a better tomorrow, rather than wasting public funding on solutions that embolden the status quo of pointless, bloated government punishment, which only serves to reinforce cyclical poverty, hopelessness, desperation and heartache. The states response amplifies and magnifies these problems, perpetuating the same (or worse) problems into the future. Worse still, 13.5% of Floridas population (1 of every 7.5 people) has been incarcerated. That means millions of Floridian family members and friends have been dragged into this dark abyss.

If we were truly serious about deterrence, preventing recidivism, and protecting Florida residents, we would use proven, successful training methods to mitigate criminality.

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Imagine a world where we stop reliving and glorifying the mistakes of the past. Imagine prisons repurposed to rebuild men and women to be productive citizens again. That goal cannot be accomplished by cruelly propagating the myth that punishment is the sole and paramount method to address criminality.

Chris Salamone is an inmate under the Florida Department of Corrections.
HAMMOND  Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. is optimistic a competitive race this year for Northwest Indiana's U.S. House seat will boost his campaign to represent the state of Indiana in the U.S. Senate.

The five-term Democratic leader of Lake County's most populous city said Friday on his "Left of Center" podcast he potentially could benefit the most by former LaPorte Mayor Blair Milo seeking the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland.

McDermott said he's confident Milo will have sufficient Republican Party support to win the May 3 GOP primary and meet Mrvan in the Nov. 8 general election.

But McDermott also is certain Mrvan will prevail over Milo on Election Day.

"Northwest Indiana is not going to lose Frank Mrvan as their congressman. We're going to win this race," McDermott said. "Frank will beat her two-to-one."

At the same time, McDermott said this will be the first real campaign in years for Northwest Indiana's U.S. House seat that features experienced, electable candidates on both the Democratic and Republican tickets.

"I think Blair is the most qualified candidate on the Republican side to run for this office in the last three decades," McDermott said. "That's good for me too."

McDermott explained that a competitive House race in Lake, Porter, and northwestern LaPorte counties will bring out many more Democratic Northwest Indiana voters than if Mrvan simply was cruising to a second-term victory over perennial GOP nominee Mark Leyva, or any of the other potential Republican candidates.

He said that big turnout of Northwest Indiana voters casting their ballots for Mrvan also is likely to vote for McDermott in the U.S. Senate race, giving him a fighting chance against incumbent U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.

"The Region is going to show up to reelect Frank Mrvan, and we're going to vote in full numbers in November  and we don't do that often," McDermott said. "Todd Young  If you had anything to do with this you (fouled) up, man. Big time.

"We're going to show up in force and we're going to vote."

Specifically, McDermott said the crafty redrawing of the 1st Congressional District last year by the Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly and Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, a longstanding Milo ally, to bring a key portion of Milo's hometown of LaPorte into the district could end up backfiring if the competitive House race helps McDermott topple Young in the Senate contest.

That prompted McDermott and podcast co-host Kevin Smith to chuckle at Young's potential defeat coming at least in part because of the actions of Hoosier Republicans manipulating the redistricting process without considering all the potential consequences.

"They weren't thinking about Todd Young. Which makes me laugh. It's like, Todd, you ain't on the radar big guy," McDermott said. "Todd Young, what your team did to you, is they just took the second-largest voting block in the state of Indiana and got 'em galvanized and fired up to support Frank Mrvan for Congress.

"Todd Young, you got screwed. Your own party screwed you."

The Young campaign declined to comment on McDermott's interpretation of past events or predictions concerning future election outcomes.

Meanwhile, McDermott said he was disappointed to read in The Times that Milo is parroting Republican former President Donald Trump and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Munster native, in expressing doubt about the 2020 presidential election results.

McDermott said he can't believe Milo, a fellow U.S. Navy veteran, has "bought into the election bullshit."

He said her doing so makes him view Milo as someone different than the steady, rational, patriotic leader he knew when she was mayor of LaPorte.

"She knows better," McDermott said. "She's being fake. She's being Todd Rokita. You may get more votes being Todd Rokita. But she's not going to beat Frank Mrvan."

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At least two Democratic candidates already are vying for the chance to succeed retired state Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, and both also are competing to represent the new 1st Senate District for a four-year term.

Longtime Highland Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin and Martin Del Rio, a Highland resident and regional coordinator for the Warrior Care Transition Program, have filed paperwork at the Statehouse to run in the May 3 primary election for Indiana Senate.

The winner of that contest is likely to face Lake County Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, who so far is unopposed for the Republican Senate nomination.

However, the Democratic candidate may have the advantage of incumbency, since a caucus of the district's Democratic precinct committeemen is due to meet in the weeks ahead to select Mrvan's replacement for the 10 months remaining in his term.

Mrvan, 88, unexpectedly announced Jan. 11 he was retiring from the Senate, effective immediately, after nearly 40 years of representing Hammond and neighboring communities in the Republican-controlled chamber.

Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl has not yet scheduled the caucus to pick Mrvan's successor.

But it's expected to be held soon enough that the winner will be on the job in Indianapolis for at least a few weeks before the General Assembly's statutory March 14 adjournment deadline.

Griffin, a public finance expert and an instructor at Indiana University Northwest's School of Public and Environmental Affairs, said he's running for Senate to bring his extensive experience in local government to bear on taxes, finance and similar issues at the state level.

He said as Highland clerk-treasurer since 1992 he's led initiatives that have saved the town significant dollars and kept taxes lower than they otherwise would have been.

"My goal in my work is the same as my goal in my life  to serve with honor, distinction and pride," Griffin said.

"There is something very exhilarating about finding yourself in a place that provides another opportunity of service as the General Assembly grapples with very best practices when it comes to structuring government."

Del Rio, meanwhile, said his experience as a combat veteran, as well as the state's wounded warrior advocate, has prepared him to tackle issues including veteran homelessness, opioid addiction, education benefits and unemployment.

He said Indiana senators have made great strides in understanding the struggles and motivations of Hoosier citizens but there's still "more work to do."

"More work to do for our teachers who are still in need of resources in order to guide our children to broader horizons. More work to do for our unions and small business owners. More work to do in the fight for free and fair elections. More work to do in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and enforcement against hate crimes," Del Rio said.

"More work to do in keeping Hoosier jobs from going overseas and more work to do for our health care workers, first responders, and veterans who selflessly served and continue to serve us when we need them most."

The current 1st District includes south Hammond, Munster, Highland, Griffith, Dyer and Schererville.

Mrvan was not expected to run for reelection this fall because his Hammond home last year was shifted into Senate District 2, served by state Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, during the once-a-decade redrawing of legislative district boundaries.

The new 1st Senate District moved a bit south and now encompasses all of Highland, Griffith, Dyer, Schererville, St. John and the southwestern portion of Merrillville.

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HAMMOND  Despite the strides made in social justice and race relations, more work remains at the local, state, and federal levels.

Speakers made that point Monday at the annual candlelight march and celebration in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

There is a critical urgency that we take care of our children, said the Rev. Dr. Shirley Gillespie of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Our country needs healing, our children need healing.

Starting in 25-degree weather from Freedom Plaza at Martin Luther King Park, citizens marched to the Hammond Civic Center for speeches and song in praise of the slain civil rights leader.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Gillespie noted, The Lord has blessed us. Were grateful to be back in this building, where we should be.

Saying that the U.S. is a divided nation, First District U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan said his hometown of Hammond enjoys a diversification and the ability to embrace all walks of life.

Citing voting rights concerns at the federal level, Mrvan concluded, May all of us recognize the beauty and truth and greatness in all we come across.

The Ministerial Alliance of Hammond and Vicinity and city of Hammond sponsored the celebration, where speakers several legislative concerns.

Mayor Thomas McDermott decried the fact that, of Indianas 92 counties, the four with the highest concentration of black voters  Lake, Marion, Allen, and St. Joseph = do not allow voters to decide superior judges.

If King were alive today, the mayor said, he would cite tremendous progress made, but still a lot of work to do to make America equal again.

Hammond School Superintendent Thomas Miller pointed to House Bill 1134. Authored by Tony Cook, R-Cicero, the bill, if passed, would increase parents authority on school content and limit how teachers talk about such topics as race, religion, and politics in their classrooms. It would also threaten teachers with loss of license if they teach such subjects as critical race theory.

Such legislation, Miller said, is morally wrong.

The School City of Hammond recently honored two black leaders and has started a mentoring program for young men of color. The theater at Hammond Central High School will be named for Walter J. Watkins, the school districts first black superintendent.

Also, Maywood Elementary School has been renamed for Annie Burns Hicks, Hammonds first African American teacher. Now an Indianapolis resident, Hicks attended the celebration.

"I just want to thank everyone who is here today, she said. I love Hammond. Im just so glad I was able to work in the school system. Im so happy to see all of you here today.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter and Hammond City Council member Barry Tyler Jr., D-3rd, encouraged doing more for young people and for black males to support women and children as positive role models, to be beacons of light for others.

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It's still too early to predict whether Omicron's rapid spread will help push coronavirus from the pandemic phase to a more manageable endemic phase -- but "I would hope that that's the case," Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday.

A disease that is endemic has a constant presence in a population but does not affect an alarmingly large number of people or disrupt society, as typically seen in a pandemic.

Since Omicron is highly transmissible but apparently less likely to cause as severe disease as some previous variants, it could mark a transition from this Covid-19 pandemic chapter to an endemic phase.

"But that would only be the case if we don't get another variant that eludes the immune response to the prior variant," Fauci told the Davos Agenda, a virtual event this week held by the World Economic Forum.

"We were fortunate" that Omicron did not share some of the same characteristics as Delta, Fauci said. "But the sheer volume of people who are getting infected overrides that rather less level of pathogenicity."

"It is an open question as to whether or not Omicron is going to be the live virus vaccination that everyone is hoping for because you have such a great deal of variability with new variants emerging," he said.

That doesn't mean people should intentionally try to get the Omicron variant. Doctors say that's a terrible idea for several reasons.

And it doesn't mean the battle against Covid-19 is over -- especially as overwhelmed hospitals delay elective surgeries and schools switch to remote learning.

Health care systems -- some facing critical staffing shortages -- have treated more Covid-19 patients in recent days than ever. At least 156,676 Covid-19 patients in the US were hospitalized Monday, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

And an average of 1,695 Americans died from Covid-19 every day over the past week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Schools grapple with the Omicron surge

This week, more school districts -- from Paterson, New Jersey, to Mobile, Alabama -- have moved to virtual learning as the Omicron variant exacerbates staffing shortages.

In Texas, all schools and offices in the Houston Independent School District were closed Tuesday due to rising infections in the area, the school district announced on its website. Classes are expected to resume Wednesday.

HISD encouraged students and staff to take "this extra day to mitigate potential exposure."

But New York City's mayor emphasized that classrooms in the nation's largest school district will remain open -- citing "good news" in the city's fight against Covid-19.

"We have not won yet," Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday, but "we are winning."

Covid-19 hospitalizations have decreased from about 6,500 on January 11 to about 5,800 on January 16, city Health Commissioner Dr. Dr David Chokshi said.

But Chokshi warned Covid-19 numbers are still high, reinforcing the need for vaccination.

While districtwide remote learning is not an option, the mayor said, the city is in talks with the teachers' union about the possibility of a remote option for sick children who are isolating at home.

Meanwhile, a mask mandate in schools is under fire in Virginia.

Citing "individual liberty" and the availability of vaccines for K-12 students, newly inaugurated Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order stating parents will get to decide if their child must wear a mask in class, a departure from his predecessor's public health emergency order in August that masks were to be worn in schools.

Several districts in the Northern Virginia and metro Richmond area announced they will reject the latest order, which is set to begin January 24.

"Our layered prevention strategies have proven effective in keeping transmission rates low in our schools," Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand said in a letter to the school community.

"Universal mask use has proven effective in keeping Covid-19 transmission rates low in our schools and ensuring schools remain safe and open," a statement from Arlington Public Schools said about its decision.

And an email from Henrico County Public Schools to parents and guardians reads, "Mask use is a vital component of the division's layered prevention measures," while noting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masks in schools and that federal law requires masks on school buses.

Progress on future vaccines moves forward

To further get ahead of variants, new vaccines are under development.

Moderna should have data available on its Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine in March, company CEO Stephane Bancel said Monday.

"It should be in the clinic in the coming weeks. And we're hoping in the March timeframe, we should be able to have data to share with regulators to figure out the next step forward," he said in a panel conversation at Davos.

A combined Covid-19 and flu booster shot from Moderna could also be available in some countries by fall 2023, Bancel said, but he cautioned the goal date is a "best case scenario."

Doctors say Covid-19 vaccines and booster doses are the most effective way to ward off severe Covid-19 complications.

Booster doses have successfully demonstrated the ability to raise a person's antibody levels months after initial inoculations, helping to keep those at higher risk out of the hospital.

Early data out of Israel suggests a fourth dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines can elicit an increase in antibodies -- more than what has been seen following a third dose -- but it still might not be enough to protect against possible breakthrough infections caused by Omicron.

In December, Israel started trialing a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccines for healthy participants ahead of a roll out of the additional booster shot to at-risk populations -- marking the first study of its kind among healthy people getting a fourth dose.

"I think that the decision to allow the fourth vaccine to vulnerable populations is probably correct," Dr. Gili-Regev Yochay, director of Infection Prevention Control Unit at the Sheba Medical Center, said Monday of the data. "It may give a little bit of benefit but probably not enough to support the decision to give it to all of the population, I would say."

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CNN's Jacqueline Howard, John Bonifield, Virginia Langmaid, Kristina Sgueglia, Dan Merica, Eva McKend, Ryan Nobles, Livvy Doherty, Carma Hassan and Alex Medeiros contributed to this report.
CHICAGO  The Chicago police officer whose fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald put the city at the center of a national debate about race and law enforcement is set to be released from prison next month after serving less than half of the 81-month sentence imposed three years ago.

Kahalah Clay, chief legal counsel for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, confirmed that Jason Van Dyke  who was convicted in October 2018 in the killing of the 17-year-old  will be released from prison on Feb. 3. She said she did not know where Van Dyke was being held.

McDonald's great uncle, Rev. Marvin Hunter, told media outlets over the weekend that authorities had notified him of Van Dyke's pending release.

"I'm hoping he's learned the errors of his ways. I have always asked for justice and not revenge," Hunter told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We got as much justice you could get with the players that were there at the time he was on trial."

The news of Van Dyke's release after 39 months angered some community activists, about a dozen of whom protested at a train station on Chicago's South Side.

That scene was a far cry from the massive protests in Chicago a year after the 2014 shooting, when a judge forced the city to release police video showing Van Dyke, who is white, shooting McDonald 16 times. Many of the shots were fired when the Black teen was already on the ground.

The police superintendent was subsequently fired, the county's top prosecutor was voted out of office and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who was widely criticized for his handling of the case, decided not to run for reelection.

Van Dyke waited until he was in prison, ahead of formal termination proceedings before the Chicago Police Board, before he resigned from the force.

The graphic video prompted a host of police department reforms and sparked a national debate on how law enforcement treats people of color. The video resurfaced time and again, particularly after other African Americans, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, died at the hands of police.

Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery  one for each bullet he fired at the teenager  and sentenced in January 2019 to 81 months in prison.

Van Dyke, 43, appealed his conviction but abandoned those appeals in 2020. He was eligible to have his sentence cut in half with credit for good behavior.

His time behind bars included transfers from a jail in Cook County to a county jail near the Illinois-Iowa border, and a transfer from the Illinois Department of Corrections to a federal facility in Connecticut. There he was assaulted by fellow inmates, his attorneys said at the time.

He was later moved to a federal facility in New York, but, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons records, was transferred out of the federal prison system in late 2019. On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Corrections, Lindsey Hess, said Van Dyke remains under the jurisdiction of the department but that he was being held in another state. Citing "safety and security purposes," Hess said the department would not discuss where Van Dyke is being held.

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Federal and state officials warned this week of coronavirus testing scams that have taken advantage of the United States strained testing infrastructure and have left Americans with invalid test results, wrongful medical bills and overpriced at-home tests.

Fraud related to the virus has persisted since the onset of the pandemic, but the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has created opportunities for scammers preying on the high demand for tests.

On Friday, the Better Business Bureau issued an alert about phony websites and pop-up testing sites that collect peoples personal information, swab them for a test and then never provide results.

Attorneys general in Oregon, New Mexico and Illinois advised residents this week to use only authorized virus testing centers  which are typically listed on city, state and county government websites or recommended by a primary care doctor  because of scams at pop-up testing sites and online.
Much of this years letter was devoted to Mr. Finks belief that a focus on environmental, social and corporate governance issues  E.S.G., for short  does not conflict with making money. Reducing a companys carbon footprint, for example, makes the business more resilient in the long term, which is in investors interests.

We focus on sustainability not because were environmentalists, but because we are capitalists and fiduciaries to our clients, Mr. Fink wrote.

He suggested that E.S.G. was not a fad but a permanent feature of the corporate world. Business leaders who do not adapt to the new reality, he suggested, risk being overtaken by younger and more innovative rivals in step with the times.

Capital markets have allowed companies and countries to flourish. But access to capital is not a right, he wrote. It is a privilege. And the duty to attract that capital in a responsible and sustainable way lies with you.

But some critics say Mr. Fink and BlackRock are not pushing companies hard enough to go green. Environmental groups have called out what they see as shortcomings in Mr. Finks approach: BlackRocks Big Problem, a collection of nonprofits and other advocates, accuses the firm of failing to exclude major polluters from its investment funds, even in E.S.G.-focused products.

In his latest letter, Mr. Fink defended his more gradual approach, including a refusal to force BlackRock to divest holdings in fossil-fuel companies. (He has said in the past that the firm cannot rid many of its mainstream funds of holdings in companies that are part of major stock indexes.)

Divesting from entire sectors  or simply passing carbon-intensive assets from public markets to private markets  will not get the world to net zero, he wrote. Focusing solely on cutting down on the supply of oil and gas, and not reducing the demand for fossil fuels, would simply drive up energy prices and encourage more of a backlash against green-energy efforts, he argued.
TUESDAY PUZZLE  Congratulations to Kate Schutzengel on her New York Times Crossword debut. This is our fifth debut of the year, and boy is it a silly one (in the best possible way)! Before we get to the theme, though, I want to discuss one clue convention that can be particularly confusing to new solvers.

Specifically, the use of it in crossword clues (as in the clue for 20A: Its the word). A vast majority of crossword clues do not refer to their entry directly, instead simply offering a definition of the entry (or a pun, or a fill-in-the-blank, etc.) without any sort of meta, self-aware acknowledgment of the entry itself. But clues that use it the way we see in 20A (or 10D) are referring explicitly to the word that the clue is about.

I wanted to point out this clue style only because it can leave new solvers scratching their heads, wondering why this clue is written as a complete sentence when the rest are not. For contrast, consider 8D: Academic job security  why was this clue not written as Its academic job security?

I think there are two reasons constructors use the it clue convention. First, to create a bit of variety in clue voice  mixing it up a bit keeps solvers engaged and on their toes. Second, to allow for a particular type of wordplay or misdirection.
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have canceled several trips as the Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc with the cruise industry.

In recent weeks, hundreds of passengers have contracted the coronavirus onboard ships, with many falling ill and spending days in quarantine.

On Friday, Royal Caribbean canceled a sailing on the ship Independence of the Seas, in response to Covid-related circumstances around the world, the company said on its website.

The company said this month that it had called off planned trips on three ships  Serenade of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas  and delayed the return to cruising of another, Vision of the Seas, to March.
On Oct. 11, 1945, Jesse James Payne was taken from the Madison County Jail. The next morning, his body was found riddled with buckshot. Payne, a sharecropper, had been accused of molesting the young daughter of the man who owned the land he worked. But few believed he was guilty. The real source of contention appeared to be a dispute between Payne and his employer, who happened to be the brother-in-law of Madison County Sheriff Lonnie Davis. Please note: Some images in this gallery contain racial slurs and racial terms that are no longer in use - Original Credit: Florida Archives (Courtesy photo)

Gov. Ron DeSantis has a dream. Its a dream in which Florida lives in a post-racial world  not because hes dedicated to righting the myriad disadvantages and inequities that beset racial minorities in this state, but because the official policy is that they must be ignored.

He has a dream in which Florida leaders look out over a state where African-American households have lower incomes than any other racial group, and pretend that those families arent struggling against systemic economic bias.

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He has a dream in which its right for the state to scrub mentions of race-based health inequities from its websites (even from the page of the office set up to address minority health concerns) despite the fact that Black and Latino Floridians are far more likely to lack health coverage and to die of preventable diseases.

He has a dream that Floridians can be forced to overlook the injustice of a legal system that still incarcerates young men of color at a far greater rate than any other group.

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He has a dream where the children of this state are taught lessons sterilized of the brutal realities they see every day, and their teachers face the risk of litigation if they step over an imaginary line into a forbidden territory dubbed critical race theory  or simply offend the delicate sensibilities of a few parents.

He has a dream that makes it acceptable to push for vaguely worded legislation that weaponizes ruinous litigation in service of an official policy of ignorance, and drown out calls for a more just society with a rallying cry for his own political supporters.

We reject this feverish dream for Florida. It is a cruel and suppressive vision, one that pours acid on the still-festering wounds of the Jim Crow era and blocks paths to healing and reconciliation. We call upon members of the Legislature to reject it as well, quashing DeSantis proposed law that would enshrine policies of official fiction in statute books.

Have DeSantis and the lawmakers learned nothing from history? Can he not see how silence about injustice equals complicity? Does he not understand how foolish willful ignorance looks, and how his actions will be judged in the future?

A lesson from history

To that end, we direct the attention of DeSantis and his backers to a shameful  and mostly forgotten  tale of another governor who tried to deny racisms ugliest realities.

His name was Millard F. Caldwell, and at the time he was one of the most wildly popular politicians in the states history. He swept into the governors office in 1944 with a thundering 83 percent of the vote, the midpoint of a career that would span all three branches of government as well as Congress.

In retrospect, however, Caldwells biggest accomplishment was to embarrass Florida with his slavish adherence to the principles of segregation that were being abandoned in other states. Nothing sums up his willful ignorance better than the story of one of Floridas last lynchings.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 On Oct. 11, 1945, Jesse James Payne was taken from the Madison County Jail. The next morning, his body was found riddled with buckshot. Payne, a sharecropper, had been accused of molesting the young daughter of the man who owned the land he worked. But few believed he was guilty. The real source of contention appeared to be a dispute between Payne and his employer, who happened to be the brother-in-law of Madison County Sheriff Lonnie Davis. Please note: Some images in this gallery contain racial slurs and racial terms that are no longer in use - Original Credit: Florida Archives (Courtesy photo)

The victim was a young sharecropper named Jesse James Payne, and he was hunted, incarcerated on trumped-up charges of rape and eventually slaughtered. A convincing weight of testimony suggests that Paynes real crime was that of arguing with his white employer  who just happened to be the brother-in-law of the then-sheriff of Madison County. In the aftermath, Caldwell ignored cries for justice  even when it meant arguing, again and again, that Paynes death was not a lynching despite all evidence to the contrary. Our sister paper, the Orlando Sentinel, laid the story out, complete with photographs and letters Caldwell wrote to outraged Floridians and eminent civil-rights organizations, at orlandosentinel.com/opinion. Suffice it to say this: In the retrospective light of history, Caldwell appears mired in his own weakness and desire to pander to the worst side of human nature  and being forgotten, in his case, seems like a mercy.

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Is this the legacy DeSantis wants? A future in which his name is synonymous with blind ignorance, selfish exploitation of injustice and a stony indifference to the suffering of people who deserve to be seen?

If so, this is a dream from which Florida must awaken.

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com.
WASHINGTON  Each year, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday is commemorated with marches, services and speeches. But the annual peace walk across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge had an additional purpose on Monday: pushing the Senate to pass new voting rights legislation.

The holiday came one day before the Senate returns to debate what is expected to be a doomed effort to pass the legislation. Despite the near certain defeat, voting rights activists, Democratic officials and relatives of Dr. King said they were not giving up.

I hope they do the right thing tomorrow, said DaMareo Cooper, the co-chairman of the Center for Popular Democracy, a progressive advocacy group. But if not, expect to hear from our communities. Expect for this not to just be something that you get to do and hide behind the filibuster.

He added: We are paying attention. We will be in the streets. We will protect our rights.

Speakers at a news conference after the march sharply criticized members of the Senate and President Biden for their failure to enact voting reforms as they focused on other Democratic priorities  and as voters rights have eroded under Supreme Court rulings and laws passed by Republican state legislatures that make it harder for people of color to vote.
Well be fully surrounded by equal forces, the senior Ukrainian security official said.

In Washington, U.S. officials say they still assess that Mr. Putin has not yet made a decision to invade. They describe him as more a tactician than a grand strategist, and they believe that he is constantly weighing a host of different factors. Among them is how well he could weather the threatened sanctions on his banks and industry, and whether his demands that Ukraine stop veering toward NATO  and that NATO stop spreading toward Russia  are receiving enough attention.

But the U.S. officials say Mr. Putin may also have concluded that with the United States and other countries arming Ukraine, his military advantage is at risk of slipping away. Britains defense secretary, Ben Wallace, announced in an address to Parliament on Monday that the country would begin providing Ukraine with light, anti-armor defensive weapons. Mr. Putin may become tempted to act sooner rather than later.

U.S. officials saw Russias embassy evacuations coming. We have information that indicates the Russian government was preparing to evacuate their family members from the Russian Embassy in Ukraine in late December and early January, a U.S. official said in a statement.

Ukrainian officials say they saw the Russians leave.

But that leaves open the question of what, if anything, the Russians were signaling.

It is possible they were trying to bolster the case that the United States and its Western allies should take seriously their demands that Ukraine can never join NATO, and that troops, nuclear weapons and other heavy weaponry must be removed from former Warsaw Pact states, like Poland, that were once allied with the Soviet Union.

It could also be that the Russians were trying to indicate that an attack was brewing, though there were no other signals. In fact, the buildup of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border is not increasing at a rate that Pentagon officials expected a month ago.

The latest U.S. estimates are that about 60 battalion tactical groups, known as B.T.G.s and each with an average of 800 soldiers, are now in place at the border with Ukraine. Combined with other local forces, the Russians have about 77,000 troops at the border, with more on the way. Others put the figure at closer to 100,000  much depends on how different forces are counted  but that is well short of the Pentagons estimate more than a month ago that the total number could rise to 175,000.
Almost five years exactly after its conception, the American L.G.B.T.Q.+ Museum  which aims to open its doors in 2024  has found its first executive director.

The museum announced Tuesday that Ben Garcia, formerly the deputy executive director and chief learning officer of Ohio History Connection, would inaugurate the role in mid-February.

At Ohio History Connection, a statewide history organization, Garcia managed more than 50 museums and historic sites, the state archives and the state historic preservation office. Before that, he worked as the deputy director at the Museum of Us in San Diego and the head of interpretation and operations at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology in Berkeley, Calif.

Ive spent 20 years working in museums dedicated to ensuring that they are places that work for everybodys self-discovery, that welcome everybody, that are working with paradigms of inclusion and equity, Garcia, who identifies as Latine, a gender-neutral term, said in an interview. And so to work for a museum that we get to create from whole cloth, that from the beginning can have those values and the beauty of the diversity of this community is  I mean, I just cant believe that I get to do this.
The subject of the pianist Marc-Andre Hamelins latest album is Bach  no, not that one.

Hamelin  ever inquisitive in exploring the outer reaches of the repertoire, with recent releases of music by Sigismond Thalberg, Samuil Feinberg and Erno Dohnanyi  has now turned to the extraordinary range of keyboard works by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Sebastians second surviving son.

C.P.E. Bach was a prolific composer and an important pedagogue, a significant influence on Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. (Hamelins new album is a welcome companion to the three volumes of solo Haydn that he set down, with ideal panache, a decade and more ago on the Hyperion label.) But if he was more widely appreciated than his father well into the 19th century, that has certainly not been the case more recently.

In part, thats because C.P.E.s category-defying scores challenge preconceptions of the history of music as it has come to be written  coming off as stunningly, even unnervingly, experimental. When did the Baroque end, and the Classical begin? What constitutes early music? The work of C.P.E. Bach invites us to consider these questions anew, suggests the harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, who has recorded some of this music and wrote the booklet notes for Hamelins two-disc set.
Well, guys, former President Trump is in the news. Apparently hes been trashing Florida governor Ron DeSantis behind his back, calling him a dull guy who has no chance of beating him in a potential 2024 matchup. Trump was like, I have to insult him behind his back cause I cant tweet it to his face.  JIMMY FALLON

Former President Trump has reportedly been complaining to confidants about Florida governor Ron DeSantis and said he has a, quote, dull personality. Im sorry, thats suddenly a concern of yours? Your vice president was like if a rice cake went to Bible school.  SETH MEYERS

I feel like Trump is slipping. A few years ago, he would have had, like, 10 nicknames for this guy by now. Hes, like, Ron Dull-Santis.  JIMMY FALLON

I think this is actually a nice change, cause usually when two Florida guys get into a fight, theyre drunk and shirtless.  JIMMY FALLON

But DeSantis doesnt seem fazed. He said that hes going to handle the insult just like Covid and completely ignore it.  JIMMY FALLON
Clowns remain a staple of the circus, but the reach of the ancient art is much wider these days, with a growing theatrical scene as well as performers crossing over into other forms. The alumni network at Gauliers school, where many make lifelong connections, is expansive  spanning film and theater (Emma Thompson, Kathryn Hunter), circus and live comedy, with students like the Los Angeles comedian Dr. Brown becoming gurus themselves. Another protege, Zach Zucker, is the host of Stamptown, a popular showcase of cutting-edge comics in Brooklyn, its name inspired by the town of Gauliers school. He has become the name to drop, Geoff Sobelle, an acclaimed performer and former student, said about Gauliers reputation among clowns.

In a two-hour interview last month, Gaulier, speaking in English, came off less like a teacher than a very funny insult comic, teasing and trash-talking, tossing jabs at everyone from Slava Polunin, the Tony-nominated Russian clown (For children who has problem to sleep, can be good) to the legendary mime Marcel Marceau (Hes a maniac with his gestures). Asked if someone can be funny who didnt make him laugh, he said it was possible, before turning back to me, gesturing at my clothes: Its possible that you with your glasses, your hair, that you are funny, he said, before the punchline. And someone really well-dressed is, too. The opposite of you.

Hes allergic to anything that smacks of pretension, which inevitably inspires one of his favorite expressions: of my balls, as in Slava is a poetic clown of my balls.

Compared with other clowning teachers, Gaulier said he does not emphasize technique or physical virtuosity. His pedagogy aims for something more intangible, nurturing a childlike spirit, a sense of play onstage. The most important quality in a clown is keeping things light and present, and, as he said with the utmost respect, stupid. Finding your idiot, as he calls it, is the essence of clowning, which, unlike comic acting, requires a performer to stick with the same character. A clown is a special kind of idiot, absolutely different and innocent, he said. A marvelous idiot.
BERLIN  Hippies dance to the Beatles while the downstairs neighbor uses her broom trying to get them to turn down the music. Several apartments up, a boy with a bad toothache is waiting for the dentist. The mailman is forced to climb the stairs because the kids have taken over the elevator. In the flat below that of a man with a broken leg, a married couple has just moved in.

For Ali Mitgutsch, who died in Munich on Jan. 10 at 86, all these stories happen on a single teeming page, each of them told not with words but through pictures. And pages like it filled his childrens books.

They have lined the bookshelves of generations of children in Germany, where he became a household name, and where he was celebrated as the father of what Germans call the Wimmelbuch (meaning a book that is swarming)  books whose detailed drawings of vast groups of people may include visual jokes and anecdotes.
Emile Schrijver, the director of Amsterdams Jewish Cultural Quarter, said he got an advance copy of the book late last week. The evidence is far too thin to accuse someone, he said. This is an enormous accusation that they made using a load of assumptions, but its really based on nothing more than a snippet of information.

By Tuesday, after experts on Anne Frank, World War II and the Holocaust had a chance to consider the findings, many said they doubted the books theory.

They came up with new information that needs to be investigated further, but theres absolutely no basis for a conclusion, said Ronald Leopold, the Anne Frank Houses executive director. He added that the museum would not be presenting the findings as fact, but perhaps as one of several theories, including others that have been considered over the years.

The Betrayal of Anne Frank says that van den Bergh had a list of Jews in hiding that he got from the Amsterdam Jewish Council, an organization on whose board he once sat. The Nazi administration in the Netherlands established the council in 1941 to control the Jewish population, appointing its leaders from other Jewish organizations that they banned. The councils staff were given stamps in their identity cards that forestalled their deportation, until 1943, when the organization was disbanded and its employees arrested.

But there is no evidence that the council had any such list, said Laurien Vastenhout, a researcher at the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, who is an expert on the Amsterdam Jewish Councils history. Why would the people in hiding provide the Jewish Council with their addresses? Vastenhout said.

Leopold, the Anne Frank House director, said he had heard rumors that the council may have kept lists of addresses, but only from unreliable sources. He added, The Jewish Council was under special scrutiny from the occupying forces, and that it would be very, very risky to keep lists like that.

Van Twisk confirmed that his team has not found a list. But, he added, we have several sources that mention the existence of the lists.
What is surprising about this buildup  this raising of stakes and throwing down of gauntlets  is that Campaign of the Century is largely a conventional, Nixon-friendly take on the race. Books of this kind are fewer, to be sure, than books by Kennedy partisans, but Gellmans is hardly alone on the shelf. Nixon has always had his defenders (including, not least, Nixon himself) and Kennedy his detractors. White, for that matter, has been picked apart for decades by scholars of all stripes. When Gellman writes that Kennedys operation was far more corrupt and ruthless than has been presented and Nixons far cleaner, this is less a revelation than a familiar brand of spin.

Indeed, Gellmans thumb is firmly on the scales  or in Kennedys eye. From the books first pages, Kennedy is cynical and callow, the unscrupulous son of an unscrupulous father. Gellman is at pains to establish that Kennedy was not a family man but a philanderer, that he was not in fine health but was hobbled by Addisons disease and back problems, and that the news media  besotted by Kennedys youth, his smile, his winsome wife and child  eagerly overlooked it all. Of course, Kennedys infidelities and health issues have long been common knowledge, as have the mores of the midcentury press; even favorable biographies take them into account. Gellman adds nothing here but fresh outrage. In both tone and content, his caricature of Kennedy is an echo of hit jobs like Victor Laskys John F. Kennedy: Whats Behind the Image?, which was stapled together on the eve of the election and distributed by the Republican Party.

Nixon, by contrast, had no sexual adventures and no long-term health issues. And while he was, Gellman concedes, capable of an occasionally vicious attack, he is rendered here as a victim  mainly of a hate-filled press corps that portrayed him unrelentingly in the worst possible light. There is some truth to this picture: Nixon did provoke (and return) a particular sort of loathing among liberal reporters, even when he was on his best behavior  as he generally was in 1960, a year when he forswore the low road in the pursuit of high office. Unfairness, yes, but the book fails to show that it made a difference in November. In fact the bias, as Gellman notes in passing, ran in both directions: Nixon was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of daily newspapers  among them, the Hearst and Scripps Howard chains  and the publishing empire of Henry Luce.

As a political narrative, Campaign of the Century is strangely lacking in both politics and narrative. It dutifully records the clashes of candidates but offers little context for their disagreements. The book fails to explain, for example, where the distinction lay between Nixons anti-Communism and Kennedys, or between their platforms on civil rights. There is, moreover, no analysis of Nixons position in the widening breach between Nelson Rockefeller, on the left of the Republican Party, and Barry Goldwater on the right. Gellman places his man in the middle, but gives no sense of whether this moderation was ideological or tactical. All is left a muddle while the author sprints off in pursuit of historians who have overhyped Kennedys performance in the televised debates.

But the white whale here is proof of a stolen election. This book does not provide it. The case it puts forward is circumstantial  and nothing new. Much is made of suspicions in Texas and irregularities in Illinois as if such charges are, in themselves, dispositive. In the wake of 2020, we should know better than that. And so should a political historian of the mid-20th century: If fraud was a feature of elections in that era, so were accusations of fraud, wielded as a political cudgel. In 1948, for example, a top Republican official charged three Democratic candidates for Senate with serious campaign fraud  more than a week before Election Day. Four years later, pre-emptively again, the Republican National Committee chairman called on federal prosecutors to keep tabs on big-city Democrats  who, he said, would stop at nothing to steal the election.
The book alternates between fictional dispatches from a coming social breakdown and digressions that support its predictions with evidence from the present. The effect is twofold: The narrative delivers Cormac McCarthy-worthy drama; while the nonfictional asides imbue that drama with the authority of documentary.

Marches first dispatch starts with a defiant sheriff reopening a bridge the feds have closed as structurally unsafe. The choice of a local law enforcement officer as an instigator is a well-informed one. The Claremont Institute has announced the creation of a Sheriffs Fellowship to urge local officials not to be beholden to the centralized  bureaucracies of federal or state governments. And the commander of the Oklahoma National Guard recently directed his members to ignore the Pentagons vaccine requirements.

If theres a frustration in reading Marche, its that his book is negative to the last and therefore fails to capture the full complexity of our moment. After all, we recently did something few countries ever do: turn an autocrat out of office. The reality is that the threat has shifted. At the state level, legislatures are changing election laws to make a future coup more possible. At the federal level, the autocrats are storming government buildings from without rather than commanding them from within.

Yet as both books make clear, even the worst-case scenario isnt civil war in the 1860s sense. Neither envisions armies massing across the Potomac. Instead, they predict a conflict more like the Troubles in Northern Ireland or the guerrilla war in Colombia  a normalization of political violence that endangers basic security.

This makes even the use of the term civil war a misleading one: first because it can turn the authors into Cassandras; second because (as Fintan OToole argued in his review of Marches book in The Atlantic) fears of civil war can precipitate one if both sides are encouraged to arm up and pre-empt an attack by the other.

What we need instead is that rare convergence of uncanny leadership from above and below that has marked this countrys previous existential moments: the Revolution, the Civil War, World War II, the civil rights movement. We need Republicans in Congress joining with Democrats to oppose the subversion of future elections (and Democrats passing voting protections alone if necessary); business leaders coming off the sidelines to make democracy a core value of their companies; news media telling unflinching stories about the threats facing our form of government; and neighbors talking to neighbors with empathy to bridge divides.

The two books have divergent takes on those possibilities. Walter nods to them by invoking Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk as past examples of leadership averting a national implosion. Marche on the other hand views the future as hopeless. His prescription is not reform, but secession and disunion.
KINGDOM OF CHARACTERS

The Language Revolution That Made China Modern

By Jing Tsu

One summers evening in 1916, 27-year-old Zhou Houkun stepped up to a podium to unveil a marvelous invention: a new kind of Chinese typewriter. Zhou had recently returned home to Shanghai from M.I.T., where a chance encounter with an American Monotype machine had spurred him to create a Chinese version. But American typewriters, with their QWERTY keyboards, were designed for alphabetic languages like English; with just 26 letters, you could type anything from a shopping list to Shakespeare. The Chinese script is character-based, each character roughly equivalent to what we mean by an English word. Designing a relatively portable machine that could type 4,000 individual characters had been a monumental task, and people gathered in the July heat to hear Zhou speak.

But Zhous first message to his audience seemingly had nothing to do with typewriters. Instead, he pulled an American factory workers outfit over his suit. I have one phrase to impart you with today, he told the crowd. Dont be afraid to get your hands dirty. The Chinese, he said, shun all activities concerning industry and artisanship, which has made the learned inept at anything practical, and the peasants ignorant of real knowledge. Instead, they celebrated the literati over honest laborers. And yet, in America, even President Roosevelts relatives were woodworkers. Zhou wore a uniform from his stint interning at an American factory, to emphasize that however shabby and filthy these clothes may be, I dont abandon them, because they bear the marks of a worker.
FREE

A Child and a Country at the End of History

By Lea Ypi

Perhaps over the past few years, youve sometimes had the feeling of living through history, of experiencing one of those rare ruptures, of witnessing a moment that changes everything. Between the populist elections and the pandemic shutdowns, Ive certainly felt that way. And then I read Free, by Lea Ypi, and I reconsidered.

Ypis memoir about growing up during Albanias transition from totalitarian communism to liberal capitalism is the story of a childhood cleaved, sometimes violently, into before and after. In December 1990, after days of demonstrations, the dictatorship fell, and nearly overnight her world transformed: Her parents told her that they had never supported the party, that the family history she knew was a lie, that the end point of human freedom did not have to be communism. As she archly puts it: Things were one way, and then they were another. I was someone, then I became someone else. OK, I thought, that is what it feels like to live through a rupture in history.

This was just one of the many revelations I had while reading Free. The book is packed with insights, on family as much as on politics. Ypi is a beautiful writer and a serious political thinker, and in just a couple hundred readable pages, she takes turns between being bitingly, if darkly, funny (she skewers Stalinism and the World Bank with equal deadpan) and truly profound (she tries to answer the question What is freedom?).

On one level, Free is a classic, moving coming-of-age story: A girl becomes a woman, a family struggles through hardship. The books intimacy comes in part from Ypis childhood diary, which she draws from to recount memories of classrooms and first crushes and teen angst. Her parents and the grandmother who helped raise her are her main characters, lovingly and vividly described. They have stuck with me. It helps that theres a universality to the family. Despite having grown up in suburban New Jersey, some 5,000 miles from the port city of Durres, on Albanias Adriatic coast, I recognized the Ypis: the father who interrupts sleepovers with jokes about politics, the mother who channels stress into domestic chores, the fawning grandma with a classiness that seems of another era.
THE RISE OF ENGLISH

Global Politics and the Power of Language

By Rosemary Salomone

Every time the question of language surfaces, the Italian Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci wrote, in one way or another a series of other problems are coming to the fore, like the enlargement of the governing class, the relationships between the governing groups and the nationalpopular mass and the fight over cultural hegemony. Vindicating Gramsci, Rosemary Salomones The Rise of English explores the language wars being fought all over the world, revealing the political, economic and cultural stakes behind these wars, and showing that so far English is winning. It is a panoramic, endlessly fascinating and eye-opening book, with an arresting fact on nearly every page.

English is the worlds most widely spoken language, with some 1.5 billion speakers even though its native for fewer than 400 million. English accounts for 60 percent of world internet content and is the lingua franca of pop culture and the global economy. All 100 of the worlds most influential science journals publish in English. Across Europe, close to 100 percent of students study English at some point in their education.

Even in France, where countering the hegemony of English is an official obsession, English is winning. French bureaucrats constantly try to ban Anglicisms such as gamer, dark web and fake news, Salomone writes, but their edicts are quietly ignored. Although a French statute called the Toubon Law requires radio stations to play 35 percent French songs, the remaining 65 percent is flooded with American music. Many young French artists sing in English. By law, French schoolchildren must study a foreign language, and while eight languages are available, 90 percent choose English.

Salomone, the Kenneth Wang professor of law at St. Johns University School of Law, tends to glide over why English won, simply stating that English is the language of neoliberalism and globalization, which seems to beg the question. But she is meticulous and nuanced in chronicling the battles being fought over language policy in countries ranging from Italy to Congo, and analyzing the unexpected winners and losers.
While experts are also divided on why murders spiked in 2020 and 2021, there are three broad explanations they typically point to:

The pandemic. Covid disrupted every aspect of life in the past two years. Social services and supports that help keep crime down vanished overnight. Schools could no longer keep unruly teens safe and distracted. A broader sense of disorder and chaos could have fueled a so-called moral holiday, in which people disregard laws and norms.

A weakness for this theory is timing: The murder spike took off in May and June 2020, months after Covid began to spread in the U.S. Other countries didnt experience similar spikes during the pandemic.

But that doesnt rule out the pandemics role. There could have been something specific to Americas pandemic response that led to more deadly violence, which could have taken months to emerge.

Changes in policing. The fallout from the 2020 racial justice protests and riots could have contributed to the murder spike. Police officers, scared of being caught in the next viral video, may have pulled back on proactive anti-violence practices. More of the public lost confidence in the police, possibly reducing the kind of cooperation needed to prevent murders. In extreme circumstances, the lack of confidence in the police could have led some people to take the law into their own hands  in acts of street or vigilante violence.

The timing supports this theory, with homicides rising unusually quickly shortly after George Floyds murder and the ensuing protests. Killings also spiked in 2015 and 2016, after protests over policing during those years.

More guns. Americans bought many more guns in 2020 and 2021 than they did in previous years. The guns purchased in 2020 also seemed to be used in crime more quickly than firearms bought in previous years. And Americans seemed more likely to carry guns illegally in 2020. In short: Americans had more guns, and were possibly more likely to carry and use them.
The app is an important piece of technology that helps people feel safe coming back to the office, said Myrna Coronado-Brookover, senior vice president of asset services at Transwestern, a commercial real estate company, who helped oversee the introduction of the app in the building.

Building apps also offer the ability to monitor the use of conference rooms, cafeterias and parking lots in an effort to improve operations. This data collection is part of the larger move toward proptech, an approach to real estate that allows companies to track how many people are in different parts of a building, which can help save money on heating, cooling and lighting in unused areas.

But privacy advocates say they are worried about the collection of workers personal data.

Companies have tracked employee phone and computer use for years, but these apps take employee surveillance to a new level, said Lorrie Faith Cranor, an engineering and public policy professor at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the CyLab Usable Privacy and Security Laboratory.

The apps can cause stress for employees who feel their movements at work are being monitored, she said, especially if the system flags personal information such as when employees who dont work together spend long periods in each others offices, or when someone is using the restroom frequently.

Companies should be transparent about what information they are tracking, how they are using it, who will have access to it and why, Dr. Cranor said. Privacy practices should differ depending on the types of data collected, she said, with the idea that the more personal the information, the more restricted the access should be.

To help ease privacy concerns, companies using building apps should anonymize data whenever possible, said Paul Rohmeyer, a professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology. Identifying individuals may be important, for example when contact tracing or investigating a crime committed on the property, but the system default should not be to identify every employee all the time, he said.

The tracking software in building apps should be limited for other reasons as well, Dr. Rohmeyer said. Corporate espionage hackers may be able to identify business processes or what types of deals are in the works by tracking who is meeting together, for example, or they may track the routines of senior leaders.
You dont own web3. The VCs and their LPs do.

Jack Dorsey tweeted this esoteric salvo in late December, not long after he stepped down as the head of Twitter to focus on advancing his Bitcoin ambitions. The post, swiping at the power held by venture capitalists and their limited partners as they try to reorganize the internet around blockchain technology, an effort known as web3, soon set off a public feud among members of the Silicon Valley ruling class. The dispute over what many herald as the next arena of technological revolution has drawn increasingly hard lines. Elon Musk is with Mr. Dorsey; Marc Andreessen is his enemy.

The web3 revolution, backers say, promises the democratization of commerce and information by building a better internet on blockchain networks  distributed ledger systems that form the basis of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It theoretically would cut out traditional middlemen and gatekeepers, letting users transact directly and have a greater stake in the programs they use.

But Mr. Dorsey has a different view. It will never escape their incentives, continued his post about the role of venture capitalists in web3. Its ultimately a centralized entity with a different label.

If you find these messages mystifying and wonder whats at stake, you are not alone. These billionaires are debating the future of the internet, a tool we all use, in a new language that few of us understand. Lets decipher the code.
DEER PARK, Texas  Two giant murals, on storage tanks at an oil refinery here, depict the rebels led by Sam Houston who secured Texas independence from Mexico in the 1830s. This week those murals will become the property of the Mexican national oil company, which is acquiring full control of the refinery.

The refinery purchase is part of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors own bid for an independence of sorts. In an effort to achieve energy self-sufficiency, the president of Mexico is investing heavily in the state-owned oil company, placing a renewed emphasis on petroleum production and retreating from renewable energy even as some oil giants like BP and Royal Dutch Shell are investing more in that sector.

Mr. Lopez Obrador aims to eliminate most Mexican oil exports over the next two years so the country can process more of it domestically. He wants to replace the gasoline and diesel supplies the country currently buys from other refineries in the United States with fuel produced domestically or by the refinery in Deer Park, which would be made from crude oil it imports from Mexico. The shift would be an ambitious leap for Petroleos Mexicanos, the company commonly known as Pemex. The companys oil production, comparable to Chevrons in recent years, has been falling for more than a decade, and it shoulders more than $100 billion in debt, the largest of any oil company in the world.

The decision to pay $596 million for a controlling interest in the Deer Park refinery, which sits on the Houston ship channel and would be the only major Pemex operation outside Mexico, is central to fulfilling Mr. Lopez Obradors plans to rehabilitate the long-ailing oil sector and establishing eight productive refineries for Mexican use. Mexico also agreed to pay off $1.2 billion in debts that Pemex and Shell jointly owe as co-owners of the refinery, which is profitable.
A former high-level editor at The New York Post claimed in a discrimination lawsuit filed on Tuesday that she had endured several years of sex-based harassment during her more than two decades at the tabloid, saying its longtime editor in chief retaliated against her after she reported to company officers that he had sexually harassed her.

The former editor, Michelle Gotthelf, who joined The Post as a reporter in 2000 and was the editor in chief of its website until she was dismissed last week, said in the suit that she had been fired without cause. Ms. Gotthelfs suit names News Corporation, the Rupert Murdoch-owned company that operates The Post, and New York Post Holdings. It also names Keith Poole, the current editor in chief of the New York Post Group, and Col Allan, the former longtime top editor of The Post who spent more than 40 years leading Murdoch publications in Australia and the United States.

In the legal complaint, Ms. Gotthelf said Mr. Allan began to harass her in 2013, claiming that he delighted in degrading Ms. Gotthelf, and women generally, in front of her mostly male peers. She complained to The Posts publisher and chief executive at the time, Jesse Angelo, who told her that there was not much he could do, according to the suit.

Image Col Allan Credit... Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

She also accused Mr. Allan of propositioning her for sex in 2015 by saying, We should sleep together. She rejected his advance and made a complaint to two New York Post editors the next day, according to the suit, and later reported his behavior to the human resources department and Mr. Angelo.
In 2013, when the chefs Mike Brown, Bob Gerken and James Winberg wanted to expand Travail, their tiny gastro pub in Robbinsdale, Minn., into a larger restaurant group with a tasting-menu space and a brewery, they couldnt afford the tear-down and construction costs required to build multiple restaurants. The town government stepped in to acquire the property and demolish the space as an investment: Ideally, the new space would increase property tax revenue.

But Kristen Jeffers, the founder of the Black Urbanist, a media organization whose stated mission is to look at urban planning through a Black, queer and feminist lens, said some suburbs still perpetuate exclusionary practices. Informal redlining continues to occur, making it hard for Black entrepreneurs to get loans, she said. At the same time, she is reassured to see some suburbs growing cadre of younger residents speaking out against such practices and supporting nonwhite business owners.

In fact, Mr. Chang, who runs Chinese restaurants in the Washington suburbs, has been so encouraged by their success that he was skeptical when a few years ago, his daughter suggested opening a restaurant, Nihao, in Baltimore  a city with a population of more than half a million.

He had all kinds of worries: that the operating costs would be too high, that it would be harder to find staff, that there were so many restaurants in Baltimore already. Yet in the year or so since Nihao opened, sales have been steady, he said, and the business has been running smoothly.

It was a big surprise for Mr. Chang: that a restaurant could succeed in  of all places  a city.
WELLS Yeah, I agree, and its particularly frustrating because its been almost two years since the virus arrived on our shores. I have two kids, both in high school, and both were sent home with rapid tests this week. Which is great, but it would have been greater if it had been going on for months already. The failure to provide tests, huge quantities of tests, and the failure to stress the importance of testing until very recently, are just maddening. Because unlike March 2020, weve had a lot of time to prepare.

RAO Its embarrassing, actually. Sidebar, but because the symptoms of this variant have been reported as milder (which doesnt mean mild, necessarily) I think a lot of people who were careful during the previous wave are feeling less careful now, but Im terrified of losing my sense of smell again, among other things.

WELLS No, we dont want you to get sick again! How is your nose, by the way?

RAO Oh, you know. Sensitive! Frightened! Exhausted! No, its fine. Thank you. I got my smell back completely, but unfortunately its a symptom you can experience again and again if you get sick, and theres no guarantee itll come back again just because it came back once before.

WELLS Nobody has any idea whats going to happen, right?

RAO I definitely dont. I will say, I dont feel as hopeless as I did before, as worried, because Ive seen how restaurant people find new ways of doing things, or build new businesses in the margins, and I wish they didnt have to, but they do.

WELLS I keep saying that restaurant people are like theater people  no matter what, the show goes on. As soon as I am fairly certain Im not walking around with virus particles bursting out of my cranium, Ill start doing review meals again.

RAO Its so impressive to me that youve been on a regular review schedule for a lot of the pandemic. I wanted to talk to you, in part, because I feel like I have no idea whats happening or what I should be doing! Everything changes day to day, and even my own risk assessment will change from day to day.

WELLS Yeah, government guidance for restaurant critics has been scarce!

RAO LOL

WELLS A lot of restaurant workers arent even sure what theyre supposed to be doing: How long are they supposed to isolate after an exposure, or after a positive test, etc.? I think a lot of us were feeling very confident that with the vaccines it was kind of game over, and now that were in the middle of yet another surge with its own patterns, its really hard to know what to do.
No one is too good for a grudge. In the Iliad, Apollo inflicts a plague on the Achaeans because they disrespected his priest. King Henry VIII upended his countrys relationship with Catholicism, one could argue, over a beef with the pope. Every Taylor Swift album is a series of grudges set to music.

Let me be clear about terms: A grudge is not a resentment. Sure, theyre made of the same material  poison  but while resentment is concentrated, a grudge is watered down, drinkable and refreshingly effervescent, the low-calorie lager to resentments bootleg grain alcohol. Resentments are best suited for major mistreatment: the best friend who ran away with your wife, the parents who pressured you into a career you told them you hated, the ex who emptied your checking account. Grudges, however, work best in response to small and singular harms and annoyances: the neighbor who parked in front of your driveway, the cashier who charged you for a drink you never ordered. Did someone truly, existentially wrong you? Dont waste your time growing a grudge  save it for something pettier.

Which is to say: The best grudges are small, persistent and powerful, like an ant hauling a twig. And they thrive with the aid of distance and time. In 10th grade, my chemistry teacher offered extra credit to anyone who wrote and performed a song about the periodic table. I wrote the song; I performed it for class; she decided against giving me the extra points. Only recently did I accept that what I feel for that teacher is not anger or resentment or shame  its a grudge. If it sounds as if Im withholding critical details, of course Im withholding critical details! Decontextualized stories are such stuff as grudges are made on. The point is I have no evidence that my chemistry teacher sees the wrongness of her position all those years ago  and in that expanse is where my grudge continues to squat.

There was, for me, an inciting incident. Two years ago I came out as nonbinary and started using they/them pronouns. I was initially a font of forgiveness for everyone who misgendered me: the roommate who remarked on my masculine energy, the cis friend who questioned whether I really was trans.

But when a year passed and it kept happening, I started to think of the immense effort it took for me to come out, and of how the misgenderers seemed to be acting as if it hadnt even happened. I didnt want to cut people out of my life for one-off comments; most often they were honest mistakes, born of ignorance or confusion. Glib jokes werent worth my bitterness. Thats how I discovered my capacity for holding grudges. By expecting people to treat me how I want to be treated, and remembering when they do not  a simple little grudge, nothing as serious as a resentment  I reaffirm my identity and protect my self-worth from those who misgender me.
Divided into two distinct features  the first of which can stand alone, while the second may work best as a dialogue with the first  Nocturna weaves memory and nightmare into a haunting tale of loneliness and regret.

In Side A  The Great Old Mans Night, we meet Ulysses (Pepe Soriano), a confused nonagenarian who lives with his infirm wife, Dalia (Marilu Marini), in a run-down apartment whose soaring ceilings and clouded windows enclose a spacious prison. When Ulysses tries to go shopping, he is gently deterred by the buildings super; yet their food supplies are dwindling, and Ulysses wonders why he can never leave, why their son never visits, and why he cant recall their estranged daughters name. Maybe Dalia is right, and the homeowners association will evict them if they see how the couple is living. Or maybe his confinement is just the latest in a lifetime of Dalias cruelties.
When were talking about the full 9,000 megawatts, thats enough to generate 30 percent of the electricity New York State needs, enough to power six million homes. Right now, only about 5 percent of the states electricity comes from renewable energy, even though the state has been talking for at least a decade about ramping up this sector.

The idea of two large offshore wind projects sounds impressive. Is it?

On the one hand, yes, it is, because the United States doesnt have any offshore wind to speak of. There are only two offshore wind farms operating so far, one off Block Island, R.I., the other off Virginia Beach, so anything to get us started.

On the other hand, if you ask any climate expert or renewable power expert, they will say wind power needs to be scaled up quickly and massively. These projects are only a beginning.

You cant just order a ready-made wind turbine and have it delivered the next day. Where will the wind towers for the two projects be built?

The big towers are to be built in Albany and floated in pieces down the Hudson River on barges. Theyll go to a terminal in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, where the blades and generators will be attached. Then the whole thing has to go on a specialized ship out into the Atlantic Ocean, where it will be planted on the ocean floor.

The ships are amazing. To put the turbines in place, the ship puts down stilts to stabilize itself while an onboard crane lifts the huge, heavy turbines into place.

One of the holdups is that there arent enough ships. I think theres only one that can do the installation at sea thats available to work in these waters. The rest are in Europe.
A political committee Mr. de Blasio set up last fall to explore a possible run for governor had raised $874,000 from around 160 donors in just over two months, according to paperwork filed with the state late Tuesday. The funds included several large checks from stalwart supporters of the mayor, including a total of more than $50,000 from a handful of labor groups.

Little of the money was spent, the records showed, and the committee had just over $800,000 in cash remaining last week.

For months, Mr. de Blasio had signaled that he would run. He appeared on MSNBC frequently and promoted a statewide education plan. He was also sounding out trusted former aides about joining a campaign, and he made overtures to labor leaders.

Mr. de Blasio had said that he was not deterred by polls that showed him badly trailing his rivals.

I have a long, rich history of being an underdog, he said.

New York City mayors have had a difficult time attaining higher office. The last one to do so was John T. Hoffman, who was elected governor in 1868. Many mayors have run for president, including John V. Lindsay in 1972 and, more recently, Michael R. Bloomberg and Mr. de Blasio himself.

Mr. de Blasio had planned to focus on his popular universal prekindergarten policy, his handling of the pandemic and his focus on aggressive vaccine mandates. He also used his final weeks in office to argue that he had reduced inequality, which he set out to do when he was elected in 2013 on a message that he would address the imbalance that had led to a tale of two cities.

In his video on Tuesday, Mr. de Blasio also acknowledged some of his less popular moments as mayor, including accidentally killing a groundhog and driving out of his way to visit his preferred gym in Park Slope.

Now I made my fair share of mistakes, Mr. de Blasio said. I was not good with groundhogs at all. I probably shouldnt have gone to the gym. But you know what, we changed things in this town.

Nicholas Fandos contributed reporting.
Soon the library closed and Chipotle slashed her hours. Then she got pregnant. Her rent was $1,044 and she was taking home about $1,000 a month.

I was actually looking for shelters before I got a reply from the Bridge Project, she said.

After her son, Jeremiah, was born in June, it was quickly apparent that he could not move normally. Doctors told Ms. Gutierrez he might have a form of cerebral palsy.

Ms. Gutierrez is working her job at the college remotely, which lets her take breaks to massage Jeremiah to help relieve the muscle spasms that rack his body. But she is bracing for the day when she will have to return to the office and find a way to pay for child care.

I need to find a place that would care for him the same way I do, she said.

Ms. Gutierrez was under the impression that the Bridge Project money was for only a year. I have six months left, and that rushes by really fast, she said. Its just a stressful, stressful situation.

A few hours later, the Bridge Project confirmed that the payments were for three years.

I think Im going to be sleeping worry-free for the first time in a while, Ms. Gutierrez said.
Most Americans believe that most politicians are corrupt. How depressing  not to mention how terrible for the health of democracy. After all, if the system is broken and everyone is a crook anyway, why not elect a reality TV grifter with a smashed ethical compass to be president?

Sensitive to this problem, Congress typically responds to scandals within its ranks with fits of reform fever. This is what were now seeing with bills  so many bills  aimed at restricting lawmakers from trading stock while in office.

The issue of how to prevent members of Congress from improperly profiting from their positions has long been a tricky one. Lawmakers have access to information unavailable to the general public and the power to shape policy in a direction that could prove personally lucrative. In 2012, Congress passed the Stock Act, which prohibits members from making trades based on their privileged information.

Progressives, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, have been arguing for years that much more needs to be done.
Is there a path to 60 votes?

Yuval Levin, a contributing Opinion writer and the director of constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, thinks so. Both parties, he argues, should be able to put aside their concerns about voter suppression and voter fraud  problems that barely exist, in his view  to deal with the more urgent threat of election subversion.

A compromise Senate bill could, for example, limit the ability of state officials to remove local election administrators without cause; prohibit the harassment of election workers (as happened in Georgia after the 2020 election); mandate a mechanism for postelection audits; require a clear standard for rendering election results final; and modernize the Electoral Count Act of 1887, an ambiguously written law that governs the Electoral College counting procedure.

Our debates about election reform this past year have been misdirected in ways that have rendered them more divisive than they have to be, Levin writes. By beginning from shared concerns and real dangers and from a proper understanding of the strengths of our system and not just its weaknesses, Congress can do better in the year to come.

Whether a narrower bill could earn the support of at least 10 Republicans remains an open question. In the view of Andy Craig of the Cato Institute, Republicans do have self-interested reasons to at least modify the Electoral Count Act.

Its likely that well see another election where Republicans win the Electoral College while getting fewer popular votes nationwide, he writes. Under the essentially unlimited ability of Congress to toss out votes under the E.C.A., Democrats could easily abuse the procedure to overturn that outcome, citing their belief that the national popular vote should be determinative.

And sure enough, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, has suggested that he might be open to changing the Electoral Count Act. Susan Collins of Maine has also convened a bipartisan group to discuss changes to the 1887 law as well as new protections for state election officials against harassment.

But some voting-rights experts and advocates argue that the threat of election subversion shouldnt be used to defang efforts to curb voter suppression. Its all one related attack, Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice told The Times. Its not enough to just stop the attempt to sabotage at the very end of the process if the process is being undermined at every other phase.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  For years, Zara Banks had been looking forward to her 14th birthday  the moment, last June, when her life would no longer be on pause.

Ever since Zara, a transgender girl, was 8, she has been certain she wanted to grow up to be a woman. After conversations with her parents and sessions with a therapist, she began transitioning socially: changing her name to Zara and pronouns to she/her. When she turned 9, she began treatment with puberty blockers, drugs that would place her physiological development in limbo until she was old enough  14 according to her doctor  to begin estrogen therapy and develop a feminine body.

But last spring Arkansas enacted a law, the first of its kind in the nation, barring physicians from administering hormones or puberty blockers to transgender people younger than 18. The bill, called the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, overrode a veto by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and was to go into effect on July 28, about a month after Zaras birthday. It is now on pause because of a legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Zara has been able to get hormones while the court case proceeds, but worries about what the future holds. I was just really happy, after finally waiting so long, to get something that Ive needed for a very long time, she said, sitting in her suburban backyard with her parents, Jasmine and Mo Banks, amid buzzing cicadas.
MILAN  Sometimes its the random adjacencies that make you savor life. You cant exactly call it coincidence  or even entirely unexpected  that one moment during fashion week you find yourself sitting at Zegna corporate headquarters viewing a mens wear show from a venerable house that went public, and abruptly ditched its trademark suiting for a monkishly modular wardrobe, and the next (well, two hours afterward) are being barraged by a welter of images at a Dsquared show epitomizing the kitchen-sink school of fashion styling.

In just over a mile as the crow flies, you have traversed an aesthetic universe.

So joyfully and absurdly maximalist was the return of Dean and Dan Caten, the twin Dsquared designers, to live shows after two years of pandemic privation that the fashion direction was This way to the pandemic exit.

Before the show, the designers took to the stage in hoodies and addressed a small, vaccinated and obligatorily masked, crowd.

We welcome each and every one of you here today, because today for us is a big deal, they said. For us, this is a big step forward  were alive, were excited and it feels good to be back. The feeling was infectious, and it was mutual.
Big World, Small World

My father, Henry, from Kauai, Hawaii, and my mother, Thordis, from the West Side of Chicago, met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, at the popular cafeteria in the student union. My father, just back from Europe, where he served in World War II, came in with his buddies. He saw my mother sitting with her friends. Walking over to her, he said, Stand up, and if youre not taller than I am, Ill take you to a movie. She stood; she was a half-inch taller. They went to the movie anyway, and thats how I came to be.  Lanning Lee
MANZINI  Who commissioned a national dialogue which warrants MSF and pro-democracy movements to engage the public in communities?

This question was posed by the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, following reports that the Multi-stakeholder Forum (MSF) will hold a general council (GC) meeting for pro-democracy movements to discuss various issues. One of the issues is consolidating ideas on how they would go to the communities across the country to give guidance to the people about the anticipated national dialogue, especially how to dialogue. They said this was in line with their call for an all-inclusive dialogue.

When the minister was asked about the plan by the MSF and pro-democracy movements, that of going to communities to conduct civic education in a bid to guide the public regarding the anticipated all-inclusive dialogue, he said; Whosoever wants to engage the public about the expected national talks, they should answer this question - who commissioned the dialogue? He said this question should be answered because the King, who was supposed to call Sibaya and commission the dialogue, had not yet done so.

On the other hand, Manzini Regional Administrator (RA) Chief Gija said some people seemed to have forgotten that the country had a Constitution, which was drafted by emaSwati, which guided them. In that regard, he said they should consult the Constitution in whatever they planned to do. Again, the RA said government structures like Parliament and the executive needed to direct emaSwati on which way to go and clarify who had the power to go to chiefdoms to discuss political issues. He said according to his knowledge, politics that were supported by chiefs had to do with development of the communities. He said core political issues were reserved for the tinkhundla councillors (chiefdom councillors, constituency headmen and members of Parliament (MPs). In that regard, he said the pro-democracy movements should raise their ideas with chiefdom councillors (bucopho), who would take them to the inkhundla and umphakatsi (royal kraal). Thereafter, he said the MPs would take it to Parliament.

On another note, Lubombo RA Themba Msibi said those who wanted to do civic education on the dialogue in communities, should talk to the relevant structures, where they would also get permission. He said people in chiefdoms were under chiefs, thus they needed to approach them and if they got the permission, the headman would be given instructions to call the meeting. He said even non-governmental organisations (NGOs) went through the same procedure when they wanted to meet people in communities. Again, Shiselweni Regional Secretary (RS) Zwelakhe Dlamini said they stood to be guided by government, especially their head office, which was the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development .

Consult

It they come to ask for permission, we will consult our line ministry, the RS said. He said any organisation which wanted to meet people in the communities should have a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development. Meanwhile, Hhohho RA Princess Tsandzile asked not to say much about the matter. However, she said the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, the region (RAs office) and chiefs should be informed about it. In that regard, she said the pro-democracy movements should follow the laid down procedure. On the other hand, MSF Chairman Thulani Maseko, who is also a human rights lawyer, asked not to comment for now as they were still to discuss the subject during their meeting which is scheduled for Friday at Tums Water World at Sidvokodvo.
Investigators said that Dr. Rudolph was having an extramarital affair at the time of his wifes death and had made adjustments to the life insurance policies for her that same year.

About three months after Ms. Rudolphs death, Dr. Rudolphs girlfriend moved into the home in Arizona where the Rudolphs had moved a few years earlier, investigators said. The executive director of the community association told the F.B.I. that Dr. Rudolph and his girlfriend had offered $3.5 million for another home in the same subdivision.

At the time of the shooting, the Rudolphs had traveled to the Kafue National Park in Zambia, an area roughly the size of New Jersey that is popular with safari operators. It is home to an array of wildlife, including leopards, cheetahs, hippos, lions and rare antelopes.

A hunting guide and a game scout told investigators that they rushed to the Rudolphs cabin on the morning of Oct. 11, 2016, after hearing a gunshot and found Ms. Rudolph bleeding from the left side of her chest.

Dr. Rudolph explained that his wife must have discharged the shotgun as she was trying to put it in its case, the authorities said at the time. The Zambia Police Service determined that the firearm was loaded from the previous hunting activities and the Normal Safety Precautions at the time of packing the firearm were not taken into consideration causing the firearm to accidentally fire, according to a summary cited in federal court documents.

Based on the gunshot wound, the F.B.I. and U.S. consular officials concluded that Ms. Rudolph had been shot from a distance of 6.5 feet to eight feet. When they tried to reconstruct the shooting, they determined that it was extremely unlikely that she had accidentally pulled the trigger on the shotgun.

The top consular official told an F.B.I. investigator that Dr. Rudolph had inquired about Zambias privacy laws and pushed to have his wifes body cremated immediately, saying it would be challenging to have it flown to the United States. However, Agent Peterson wrote in the affidavit that Dr. Rudolph frequently arranged for the transportation of animals hunted on his trip to be transported back to the United States, a process that he added is often cumbersome, expensive and time-consuming.
As the argument reached its conclusion, Justice Elena Kagan said the city had made an understandable mistake in relying on the part of the First Amendment that prohibits government establishment of religion when it should have been focusing on its free speech clause. Putting a permanent cross on the roof of City Hall would violate the establishment clause, she said, but banning a religious group from conveying its message in a transient setting open to lots of speakers violates the amendments guarantee of freedom of speech.

The central question in the case, Shurtleff v. City of Boston, No. 20-1800, was whether the city had created a public forum by allowing private groups to use its flagpole or whether it was conveying its own speech by choosing and endorsing the flags it approved. When the government is speaking for itself, it is immune from First Amendment scrutiny.

Sopan Joshi, a lawyer for the federal government arguing in support of Camp Constitution, said that it can be a really fine line between the government soliciting messages from third parties to help shape its own message on the one hand and serving as a conduit for the third parties to express their own messages on the other.

He said the flag program in Boston had created a public forum in light of the number of flags approved and the cursory review most applications received. He used an analogy: Government speech is like a curated symposium, while a public forum is like an open-mic night.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, in Boston, ruled for the city, largely on the ground that the government is entitled to choose the messages it endorses.
Ms. Betancourt, who was captured in 2002 and held by the countrys largest guerrilla force, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, for more than six years, announced her bid for the May election with the country facing enormous challenges.

Following more than 50 years of war, the government and the rebel group, known as the FARC, signed a peace deal in 2016. But since then, a swell of other armed groups have swept into the vacuum and continued to fight.

Violence has surged in parts of the countryside  and critics have faulted the government for not investing enough to address the inequality and poverty that had helped fuel the war, as it had committed to doing in the peace deal.

Many in Colombia are fed up with the political status quo, a sentiment that burst into the public sphere last May, when thousands took to the streets for more than a month to protest hardship that was only made worse by the pandemic.

Following her years in captivity  when she was sometimes held in chains  Ms. Betancourt has both supported the peace process and criticized the FARC, emerging as a symbol of national attempts to acknowledge the costs of the war, but also to move beyond it.
KABUL, Afghanistan  Two earthquakes struck a remote, mountainous area of western Afghanistan, killing at least 27 people and destroying hundreds of homes, officials said on Tuesday.

The earthquakes occurred on Monday after three days of heavy rainfall, which left mud-brick houses vulnerable along the mountain slopes, said Baz Mohammad Sarwari, a spokesman for the governor in Badghis Province, near the border with Turkmenistan.

Mr. Sarwari said hundreds of houses had been destroyed in impoverished areas in the Qadis District, in the southern part of the province. Men, women and children were killed, many of whom had been inside the buildings.

Azmatullah Sharifi, a resident of the affected district, said by telephone that the death toll would most likely rise significantly, because many families were still buried under the rubble.
Hong Kong will cull more than 2,000 hamsters and ban the import of small animals after a pet shop worker, a customer and at least 11 hamsters tested positive for the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Officials said on Tuesday that it was not clear that the virus had been transmitted to humans from imported hamsters. But they called on residents to surrender hamsters imported since Dec. 22 to be tested and euthanized to prevent any further spread.

Theyre excreting the virus, and the virus can infect other animals, other hamsters and also human beings, said Thomas Sit, assistant director of Hong Kongs Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation department. We dont want to cull all the animals, but we have to protect public health and animal health. We have no choice  we have to make a firm decision.

The cluster was traced to a worker at the Little Boss pet shop in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong island who was confirmed on Monday to have contracted the Delta variant. Further tests uncovered another infection in a customer who had a brief transaction with the worker while exchanging a cage and buying hamster food with her daughter on Jan. 7. A preliminary test indicated that the customers husband had also contracted the coronavirus.
We wont be doing anything to threaten the safety of the population, he said, speaking to reporters remotely from Fiji.

But even moving in supplies will take some time.

Both Australia and New Zealand have supply planes loaded and ready to go  but the debris produced by the blast Saturday has rendered the airport runways in Tonga unusable.

The ash has proven more difficult to clear than what was expected, Mr. Veitch said. We thought that it would be operational yesterday.

Equipment that uses water to clear the runways more quickly is making its way to Tonga by ship, but is still six to eight days away.
LONDON  Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have crossed a political Rubicon in recent days over charges that he lied about Downing Street parties during the pandemic. But whether he is forced out of power could depend on whether one of his fellow Conservatives is ready to play the role of Brutus.

As Britains political establishment waits for the results of an internal investigation of the parties, a key question is whether it will trigger a plot against Mr. Johnson, and if so, who would make the first move against him?

There is no shortage of candidates, from the ambitious chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to the crowd-pleasing foreign secretary, Liz Truss. But the tactics and timing of a leadership challenge are fiendishly tricky, and few forget the old British maxim, He who wields the knife never wears the crown.

That may explain the uneasy lull that has settled over Westminster since last week, when Mr. Johnson was forced to apologize for social gatherings in Downing Street that breached lockdown restrictions. His allies and rivals alike are waiting to see how damaging the investigation will be, how badly the Conservative Party has slipped in the polls, and whether a political king slayer emerges.
BRUSSELS  The European Parliament elected a new president on Tuesday, with Roberta Metsola, a 43-year-old Maltese deputy, picked to lead the institution as its seeks to gain a more prominent place in the E.U. power structure.

Ms. Metsolas predecessor, David Sassoli, died at age 65 last week, and she was selected by an overwhelming majority over two other candidates, all women.

The European Union of 27 nations, one of the worlds most ambitious political experiments, is home to 450 million people. The Parliament is the blocs only directly elected institution, and voters have been electing lawmakers to the body since 1979, when the union was much smaller.

Despite the holding of European Parliament elections every five years, the European Union has a complicated structure and is often accused of being a murky bureaucratic machine, detached from its citizens and lacking democratic accountability, even as it grows in power.
Mr. Blanquer announced new coronavirus measures for school in an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien on Jan. 2  during the weekend before schools resumed after their Christmas break, which left schools and students little time to adjust. Mr. Blanquer said last week that he had acted at the last minute because the ministry needed time to consult with the health authorities to ensure that the plans reflected a rapidly changing situation.

Then, on Monday evening, the investigative news website Mediapart reported that Mr. Blanquer had not been monitoring the situation from France when the protocol was announced  instead, it reported, he was on a vacation for several days in Ibiza, a sunny Spanish resort island known for its beaches and party scene.

Although he did not violate any travel restrictions, Mr. Blanquer acknowledged to lawmakers in Parliament on Tuesday that his choice of destination was misguided.

Would the decisions have been any different if I had been elsewhere? No, Mr. Blanquer said, though he added that he should have chosen another vacation spot.

I regret the symbolism, Mr. Blanquer said, noting that his priority was keeping schools open. That is what is crucial. Let us not get lost in the ancillary.
ROME  Just a few months ago at an international summit in Rome, President Biden privately told Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy that when it came to showing that democracies can function well, You are doing it. For good measure, he added, according to a person in the room, the Italian had a hell of a political operation.

Since taking office last February, Mr. Draghi has stabilized Italys volatile politics, made populism unfashionable, and assured international markets with long-sought overhauls and tough coronavirus measures. He has turned a nation whose political chaos has often prompted derision into a leader on the European stage and imbued Italians with a renewed sense of pride and steadiness.

But suddenly Italians are facing the prospect that Mr. Draghi  formerly the president of the European Central Bank and widely credited with saving the euro  could exit as prime minister. Next week, starting on Jan. 24, Italian lawmakers vote for a new seven-year president, an influential but often ceremonial role that Mr. Draghi is widely understood to covet.

If he were to become president, his backers say, the political parties could clear the way for a new technocratic government or join forces again in another national unity government that could last until new elections in 2023. Mr. Draghis steadying influence as president, some hope, could extend a golden age of unusually unified Italian politics even far beyond that.
MANZINI  Common issues delivered in petitions around the country mid-last year, are part of the wish list that some political parties and trade unions want addressed in the Speech from the Throne.

As the reopening of Parliament draws nearer, various stakeholders said they anticipated the tone to be inclusive of the core issues that were raised by the populace in the petitions delivered to almost all the constituencies in the country. Key among the issues that the stakeholders are hopeful would form part of the Speech from the Throne was unemployment. Unemployment in the country, according to the Labour Force Survey 2021, was at 33.3 per cent, which is an increase from 23.4 per cent recorded in 2016. It states that the youth unemployment increased by 10.8 per cent in the past five years as it reached 58.2 per cent this year while 54.1 per cent of the working age population was out of the labour force.

Policies

Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) Secretary General (SG), Moses Ndlela said his organisation was hopeful that the King would assign the legislators to come up with policies that would deal with unemployment in the country. This, Ndlela said, was because unemployment was a core issue outlined in most of the petitions delivered countrywide. In his political partys wish list, the secretary general said, was also the issue of poverty reduction. This issue, he said, did not need rhetorics from politicians but solutions as development was, according to his political party, confined between the Manzini  Mbabane corridor. People are impoverished in the rural areas and there is minimal infrastructure development, he said. This, Ndlela said, was evident even in the infrastructure of schools and health facilities in rural areas. He supposed that this was an issue that needed solutions from Cabinet. He said he was hopeful that the King would command the Executive to deal with it.

However, he said it was essential that the Speech from the Throne pronounced something on the multi-party dispensation as this would lead to decisions being taken based on the needs of the people. At the moment, whatever commitments are made yield nothing because the three arms of government are linked and not independent, Ndlela supposed. Evident to this claim, Ndlela said, was corruption in the kingdom. Annually, he said, the King spoke strongly about corruption but there were still dealings that depicted that government funds were looted and or instances wherein suppliers were paid but failed to deliver the service bought through taxpayers money.

Hopeful

He also said they were hopeful that the monarch would assign the Executive to improve the standard of living as these were no longer in line with what people were getting as remuneration. On the other hand, Secretary General (SG) of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Wandile Dludlu, said his organisation wanted democracy and not an appointed Cabinet. When asked if PUDEMO was incurious to how the tax of its members and the population at large was allocated and spent, he said: Only an accountable government could be helpful. Lets start with the fundamental question an Accountable and Transparent political system, he said. Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General, Sikelela Dlamini, said: We expect a clear line to be drawn regarding the much anticipated dialogue. The ushering of the country to total multi-party constitutional democracy is the only solution that will result in better lives of our people.

Also, President of Eswatini Principals Association (EPA), Welcome Mhlanga, said as a patriotic organisation, they expected a reconciliatory tone from the leaders of the country. Mhlanga said such a tone should unite emaSwati and resuscitate confidence and hope. He said the confidence should be instilled in the government systems and hope for a better Eswatini. As of now, it is clear that people have lost confidence in the ability of government to deliver services to the people. Infrastructure is in a dilapidated state, including schools. The social unrest has not made the situation any better as some parents are withdrawing their children to neighbouring countries, Mhlanga said. He said it may not be because the education system was weak per se, but it was the environment that was no longer conducive.

Mhlanga said they hoped that there would be meaningful dialogue on issues that affected people. This, he said, would foster unity, truth, peace and stability in the country. Mhlanga further said they did not wish to see the unfortunate events of June/July 2021 repeated because they took the country many steps backwards. It is incumbent upon our leaders, including Parliament to ensure that the aspirations of emaSwati are realised and that we realised meaningful development. Also, the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Secretary General, Mayibongwe Masangane, said they wished for the improvement of the public healthcare delivery.

Nurses

He said the issue of contract nurses remained a thorn and should be addressed just like the drug shortages issues which had been perennial within the public health institutions in the county. The lack of medical supplies makes our work difficult. The union would like to see improvement on those areas, Msangane said. To this, the Director at the Kings Office, Percy Simelane, said: There have always been expectations before the Speech from the Throne. We have therefore no reasons to treat the ones brought up this time differently. He said the issue of political parties was in the Constitution and any other school of thought on them would be null and void.
Gulbar Akram, Mr. Akrams brother, has described his sibling as mentally unwell and said he also had a criminal past and was known to the British police. He questioned how his brother was allowed to enter the United States, but he maintained that he did not believe his brother was antisemitic.

The family said they had been cooperating with the British authorities, and Gulbar Akram spoke with his brother during the 11-hour standoff, trying to convince him to release the hostages and turn himself in.

Two teenagers were arrested on Sunday night in the northern British city of Manchester as part of the ongoing investigation into the attack that took place at a Synagogue in Texas, the Greater Manchester Police said in a statement. They were later released without charge.



An address in North Manchester was also searched as part of the investigation by counterterrorism police. Dominic Scally, the temporary assistant chief constable for Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said the police were continuing to assist with the investigation which is being led by U.S. authorities and that they had held meetings with them overnight.

All four people who were held hostage by Mr. Akram in Texas, including the rabbi of the synagogue, made it out unharmed. One man was released a few hours after the standoff began. The rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, described how hours later, he pushed a chair at Mr. Akram, who was wielding a gun, and the remaining three men ran for the door.

Law enforcement then entered the building, and Mr. Akram was shot and killed. The F.B.I. said in a statement over the weekend that there was no indication anyone else was involved in the hostage-taking incident.
JERUSALEM  Preliminary results from a small Israeli study examining the effects of a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose suggest that despite an increase in antibody levels, the additional dose a few months after a third shot may not do much more to prevent infection with the Omicron variant.

Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay, the director of the Infectious Disease Unit at Sheba Medical Center and the leader of the research, cautioned that the results were not yet peer-reviewed. But she said that there was no evidence of any risk from getting a fourth dose, and that she supported giving the shots to vulnerable people who might have some benefit from it.

She said the studys initial results raised questions about giving the extra dose more broadly, including to generally healthy people in their early 60s. For them, she said, it might be preferable to wait for a newer vaccine adapted to deal with variants like Omicron.

On Tuesday, Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, a senior official at Israels Health Ministry, told Kan public radio that the decision to offer a fourth dose to older and more vulnerable people had been correct, since they had produced higher levels of antibodies. Higher levels of antibodies likely would give added protection against serious illness.
Stillwater, OK (74078)

Today

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 49F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 49F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Marjani Williams

The last two years have brought about practically every crisis possible. From the COVID-19 pandemic to social and racial injustice, the world is desperately trying to keep up with managing and communicating to the public. While media coverage of these lingering issues continues, only a small portion of stories focus on the lessons we can all learn concerning insufficient and ineffective communications to communities of color and historically disadvantaged populations. As we set new milestones for the pandemic and its ripple effects, the message for communicators is clear: We must prepare crisis communications plans that fully integrate equitable strategies and actions while reducing harm to our workforces and vulnerable external populations. This lesson isnt only critical to the success of our communications efforts but can be a matter of sink or swim for organizations of all sizes.

Gatekeepers: the role of communicators

Most PR and communications professionals know the ABCs of crisis planning: have a plan ready for multiple situations and scenarios, get in front of the crisis ASAP and prepare your spokespeople.

This article is featured in O'Dwyer's Jan. '22 Crisis Communications & PR Buyer's Guide Magazine

(view PDF version)

There are so many other details that you need to consider and explore, including understanding the complexities of your audience to provide better strategic counsel to executives, your communications team and other stakeholders.

As communicators, were tasked with appropriate planning and distribution of information, but if weve learned anything, its the fact that more needs to be done. As the gatekeepers of information vital to public awareness and directly connected to brand reputation and responsibility, we must be prepared to address people from all backgrounds effectively. Weve learned that to do this, we must change our approach. Diverse populations arent a monolith; one size doesnt fit all when communicating a crisis.

Understanding your audience

For some, understanding your audience may seem like a no-brainer, but times have drastically changed from 20or even fiveyears ago. Understanding who youre communicating with can encompass different factors, including race, age and socioeconomic status. You can be sure that representation is a key aspect when considering any of those factors.

For example, when it comes to information regarding the pandemic, Annals of Internal Medicine recapped a study by Marcella Alsan et al., finding that African Americans who saw messages delivered by physicians of color received those messages better. According to the article, African Americans were immensely impacted by COVID-19, making up 13.5 percent of cases and 26.4 percent of deaths, but only making up 12 percent of the U.S. population. This is a crucial learning moment, not just for public health officials but for all organizations and companies, which is to make sure you have the appropriate people and leaders delivering the message. While this will vary for different organizations, you have to recognize that representation matters in any message youre trying to convey. This is just one example of how you can have better message penetration with diverse and underserved communities in a crisis.

Another way to understand your audience is to recognize the varying degrees of cultures and their significance to your business. A recent McKinsey study, Black consumers: Where to invest for equity, breaks down the Black community in terms of spending power, neighborhood types and how companies can invest in them. 68 percent of survey respondents show loyalty to brands that meet their needs; this statistic is crucial when thinking about any messaging, especially in a crisis. The study adds that Black consumers have dissatisfaction with the lack of DE&I efforts, such as marketing programs that dont reflect them across various industries from consumer technology (40 percent) to Health and Wellness (38 percent). This is a key indicator that we must change our approach as communicators. With the potential spending power of over $1 trillion in 2030, organizations must make an effort to communicate appropriately to this diverse community or risk losing or alienating a large profit margin.

Evaluate, equip and empower your communications team

Communications professionals are key in any crisis and essential workers to any organization. Were often only called upon to deal with a crisis when it happens, but we areor should beready to prepare leadership well in advance of a crisis. Were responsible for advising leaders and clients to help them prepare and deliver the right information, in the right tone, at the right time, to the right audiences. This foundational information was missed in many responses because of a lack of preparation and evaluation through the use of quantitative and qualitative research.

If your communications team doesnt have a plan that includes an understanding of diverse and ethnic groups, its lacking in a key aspect and often reflects a lack of diversity on the team itself. Now more than ever, its imperative to evaluate and equip your current team with the education, training and staff needed to address any group or community in a crisis effectively. This can include hiring a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion position, which is beneficial for all aspects of communication within an organization.

Empower your communications team to familiarize themselves with the latest insights and regular crisis plan training to fully integrate diversity messaging. Create an environment where your team is prepared to discuss a crisis with leadership in what may be an uncomfortable situation. Discussing race and diversity isnt an easy subject, but as weve seen over the past two years, so many organizations have had to address it. Like the pandemic, the call for social and racial justice showed the lack of understanding in corporate America and led to a mad dash to hire DE&I professionals.

Bottom line: enlightened DE&I policies are smart business

As we approach year three in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the call for increased DE&I isnt going anywhere, there are some key takeaways we can all leverage to build more effective and inclusive crisis communications plans.

A crisis plan is much more than a book that sits on a shelf. Its a core document of an organization that should be updated regularly and with an equity lens. We risk widening the disparity gap if we dont. Understanding your audience and appropriately engaging your communications team are critical components of preparedness and crisis planning as it supports the ongoing development of better plans for future events.

We may not know whats next, but what did we learn? As situations, people and companies evolve, we must revisit and reflect on critical considerations and adjust accordingly to prepare for this ever-changing world.

What we do matters and more importantly, what we say and who we say it to matters. Like many people of color during the pandemic, we, as communicators, are on the frontlines. What we do and say impacts lives.

As stewards of corporate reputation and responsible citizens, we must ask ourselves: are we ready for the next crisis? And, more importantly: are we ready to ensure that our companys and clients communications resonate with communities of color?

***

Marjani Williams is Vice President of Client Service at G&S Business Communications.
The number of people who view government and media as divisive forces in society grew sharply during the past year, according to Edelmans 22nd Trust Barometer released today.

Nearly half (48 percent) of respondents living in 24 nations surveyed by Edelman call government a dividing force, compared to 36 percent who view it as a unifying factor.

Media did a little better, chalking up an 11 percent gap between dividing (46 percent) and unifying force (31 percent).

Edelman did not ask the dividing/unifying question in China, Russia and Thailand.

NGOs and businesses reported big increases in the perception that they are unifying forces, according to the Barometer.

Half of those surveyed view NGOs as unifiers vs. 29 percent seeing them as dividers.

Business enjoyed a 14 percent gap between being a unifying (45 percent) or dividing force (31 percent).

More than three-quarters of respondents (76 percent) worry about false information or fake news being used as a weapon.

That was up four points among the Global 27 countries surveyed.

Spain registered the most concern about fake news at 84 percent, while the Netherlands showed the least worry at 63 percent.

China posted a nine percent gain to 80 percent in concern about fake news. Russia was up four points to 78 percent and the US was up two percent to 74 percent.
A further 6,329 cases of Covid-19 have been notified in Ireland.

The latest update came as hospitals remained busy on Monday morning with 1,006 Covid-positive patients, of whom 97 were in intensive care.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan stressed the importance of changes to advice around the wearing of masks designed to limit the spread of the virus.

As we continue to adjust to the latest changes to the public health advice relating to isolation and restriction of movements for cases and close contacts, it is important to remember that the most important change relates to mask wearing.  Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) January 17, 2022

He said it is now recommended that medical grade or FFP2 masks are used by anyone 13 or over who is a confirmed case, close contact or who has symptoms, over 60s and vulnerable people as well as anyone visiting a healthcare setting or anyone vulnerable in any setting.

Masks can play a key role in reducing transmission of Covid-19 if made correctly, well fitted and worn properly, that is they cover the nose, mouth and chin, he said.

The best way to protect yourself against the most severe impacts of Covid-19 is to get your booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr Holohan said evidence indicates that those who have received the booster vaccination are less susceptible to infection, and if infected, less infectious to others.

According to our Amarach research, 68% of those aged under 35 years, who have received a full, primary course of Covid-19 vaccination but are not yet boosted, said that they would receive a booster dose if they were offered it next week, he said.

It is important to remember that you dont need to wait for the HSE to contact you about your booster appointment.

You can book an appointment online on www.hse.ie, drop into your local pharmacy or contact your GP.

In the last week over 46,000 children aged 5-11 have been vaccinated in Ireland.

Vaccines are a very safe and effective way to protect children from the risk posed by Covid-19 infection.

The HSE are operating special child-friendly vaccine clinics.

He added: Continue to layer up on the basic public health measures, including vaccination, to protect yourself and your loved ones from infection.

Wear the appropriate mask recommended for you, practise social distancing and good hand hygiene, work from home unless necessary to attend in person, avoid crowds and ensure indoor spaces and public transport are ventilated by opening windows regularly.
The Irish Jesuit Order is urging survivors of Joseph Marmion to come forward for a redress scheme.

It was announced publicly yesterday following recommendations by the Steering Group representing survivors of Marmion's abuse.

Irish Jesuit Provincial, Leonard Moloney SJ, hopes the scheme will cause " the least possible trauma" to survivors who he says "have already suffered enough".

In a statement, he said, "Once again I want to apologise to all those who suffered in any way at the hands of Joseph Marmion. At the time of naming, I said that words are never enough. They are not. However, it is my sincere hope that this scheme will go some way towards assuring victims of our commitment to continue responding in whatever ways possible to the wishes and concerns of survivors."

According to a document detailing the scheme, it is a way for survivors who suffered abuse perpetrated by Marmion to obtain "reasonable compensation without the need for lengthy investigation and litigation".

It also states the scheme is voluntary in nature and without prejudice to either party's rights to pursue litigation.

Six categories of compensation have been outlined, with the first four in increments of ten from 10,000 to no more than 60,000.

A fifth offers 60,001 to a maximum of 75,000 with the final category of 75,000 and above.

The redress scheme is one of a number of actions being taken since Marmion was named by the Order in March 2021 as a Jesuit who abused pupils.

The abuse reportedly took place forty years ago in Belvedere, Clongowes and Crescent College Limerick.

Father Moloney expressed gratitude to survivors who have engaged "so generously" in developing processes to address the abuse.

He is asking survivors who have not yet been in contact to reach out to the Order's Child Safeguarding Office and the relevant authorities.

Claim forms for the scheme are available here.
A depraved act of violence which deprived Ashling Murphy of her life has united the country in grief and support, mourners at her funeral have been told.

Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan said the murder of the 23-year-old woman has asked questions of ourselves and of society.

The body of Ms Murphy, a talented musician and teacher, was found on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore in Co Offaly, sparking a murder investigation.

Her death has intensified debate around womens safety and prompted calls for more to be done to tackle gender-based violence.

Huge crowds gathered for the funeral in the village of Mountbolus, and outside St Brigids Church, where Ms Murphys funeral mass is being held.

Bishop Deenihan told mourners that Ms Murphys murder has questioned attitudes, particularly attitudes towards women, and our values and morality.

Whether those questions will be addressed or passed over remains to be seen but we cannot allow such violence and disregard for both human life and bodily integrity take root in our time and culture, he added.

The past few days have been a nightmare. A walk on a mild and sunny afternoon in January should be a happy event, promising the brighter and warmer days of spring and summer.

That, as we know, was not the case. A depraved act of violence which deprived a kind, talented, loved and admired young woman of her life has since united the country in grief and support.

We all know that no individual should die like Ashling and no family should suffer like Ashlings.

Respect is an old-fashioned word but it is an important one. Respect was missing last Wednesday but it has re-emerged here all the stronger.

Let us respect each other.

Irish president Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Micheal Martin were among those in attendance at the funeral.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin also attended.

Symbols of Ms Murphys life were brought to the altar during her funeral, including a fiddle, a Kilcormac/Killoughey camogie jersey, a family picture, a school book and her photo.

Parish priest Michael Meade told mourners that Ashlings family has been robbed of your most precious gift.

A gift that gave only joy and love, fun and laughter to many, many beyond yourselves and bounds of your own home, Fr Meade added.

Let us not be afraid to make change a reality in all our lives, change for what only is good.

Together we grieve, we pray, we hurt  this is the heavy price we pay for love  we gather as a family of faith, to be with, to support by our prayer and our presence, those whose darkness is deep, whose pain is raw and fierce.

The issues raised in many ways and by many voices since this horrible act of violence invaded all our lives will, we pray, continue to evolve and bring the change we need so much.

Not to talk about it but to simply give and show respect.

He said that Ms Murphys love was freely given and shared through music, sport and her vocation as a teacher.

Today we can only give thanks for having had small share in the privilege of sharing in this most wonderful and lovely human being.

Today we share our love, our grief, our faith and our comfort with the Murphy and Leonard families.

Children outside the church held photographs of Ms Murphy and roses. The message next to Ms Murphys image read: Fly high in the sky, Our shining light.

Screens were set up in Killoughey community centre and Kilcormac/Killoughey GAA pitch to cater for large crowds at the funeral.

Representatives from Ms Murphys local GAA club as well as from her old school were in attendance at the parish church of Saint Brigid.

Schoolchildren provided a guard of honour outside the church prior to the funeral. A number of children also held fiddles and tin whistles.

Ms Murphys sister paid tribute to her on social media.

Amy Murphy described Ashling as the light of our lives and the heart of our family.

Ms Murphys parents Raymond and Kathleen, and siblings Amy and Cathal and her boyfriend Ryan are among the chief mourners.

Schools across Ireland observed a minute of silence in her memory.

Vigils have been held across Ireland and the world to remember Ms Murphy and to call for a change in tackling gender-based violence.

It comes as gardai investigating the death of Ms Murphy renewed an appeal for information, saying significant progress has been made in the murder probe.

Gardai released a description of a man they want to speak to in relation to the teachers death.

They have asked anyone who saw a man dressed in a black tracksuit top with no hood, black tracksuit bottoms with a large white stripe or white writing on the side and black runners to come forward.

Officers have asked members of the public whether they saw this man walking in the Tullamore area, or if they gave the man a lift last Wednesday evening.

The public has also been asked if they noticed the man loitering at any location or involved in any activity which drew your attention.

Police said that significant progress is being made but would not confirm any specific details.

It comes as they identified a new person of interest, who is believed to be receiving treatment in hospital in the Dublin region.

As their investigation continues, gardai believe the development of DNA profiles will form an integral part in the search for Ms Murphys killer.

Police appealed to anyone who has not made contact with the investigation team and who has any information to come forward.

Gardai said in a statement: We are now asking for any member of the public who was on the Grand Canal Way on the morning or afternoon of the January 12 between Digbys bridge and Ballycommon to contact the investigation team.

Whether you think you saw anything or not, please contact gardai in Tullamore.

We continue to appeal for any information on a Falcon Storm mountain bike with straight handlebars and distinctive yellow/green front forks prior to 4pm on Wednesday and in the previous days and weeks.

We are now asking for people in Tullamore to think about last Wednesday after 4pm and not to confine their thoughts to the Falcon Storm mountain bike.
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PIGGS PEAK  Is corporal punishment still allowed in schools?

This is a question that was being asked yesterday following the release of a video recorded inside a classroom at Mhlatane High School. In the video, the head teacher, Dr Mandla Dlamini, is whipping pupils. The video was shared via Facebook. It shows three pupils being whipped with a cane, each was given three strokes. Other pupils in the classroom appeared quiet, including the ones who were being whipped. Each of the caned pupils quietly left the desk after receiving the four strokes and sat down.

The video has attracted different views on social media, with some complaining that corporal punishment should not be administered to pupils because it was banned.

Essential

Others are of the view that corporal punishment was essential to ensure that pupils were well-behaved. The head teacher (Dr Dlamini) confirmed in an interview with this publication that the corporal punishment incident happened on Friday. He was not aware that while he was meting out the punishment, he was being video-recorded. Dlamini said there was nothing wrong with the punishment. He said he intended to remind the pupils that the school was still in existence. He said he was not harming them by hitting their heads to cause injury. He also added that this was done in the presence of other pupils to set an example for others regarding being disciplined.

Dlamini lamented that there had been a lot of misbehaving in the school such that some pupils drank and smoked within the school premises. He lamented that there were pupils within the school who were disturbing others who were serious about their education. This is not to suggest that these particular pupils were drinking or smoking in class. The head teacher said he had spoken to the particular pupils on moving about within the school during lessons and said this was disturbing yet they did not heed this instruction. We cannot be calling their parents all the time they misbehave, he said. He said he only did this as a reminder. Dlamini further expressed concern that in future, when bad things happened at the school, he would be blamed as the leader. He said even parents were struggling to discipline some of the children in their respective homes. He said it was not possible to just watch while pupils were misbehaving.

Regulations not changed - ministry

PIGGS PEAK  Though schools are supposed to use positive discipline, regulations have not yet been changed regarding who is responsible for punishing pupils. Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training Bheki Gama said the regulations have not yet changed on head teachers administering punishment but the department encouraged positive discipline. He said in this particular incident, they would be investigate it with a view of engaging the head teacher. We are not taking it lightly, he said.
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An elementary school in the city of Armstrong, in B.C.'s Interior, will remain closed this week as teachers refuse to work due to a high number of students not wearing masks amid a surge of COVID-19 cases.
A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada was dismissed Monday as being ludicrous and comical.
Michelle Hanson has been handed a two-year conditional sentence, was put on probation and given driving restrictions for pleading guilty in the death of her three-year-old son, who was swept down the Grand River near Orangeville, Ont., in 2018. Hanson now lives in Newfoundland and Labrador.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Russia would face severe consequences if it invades. "No option is off the table, in our view," she said.
MBABANE - As I write this statement, I am not allowed to make calls using the prison telephone anymore.

Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza made these allegations in a public statement he issued through his legal team. He also pointed out that he was removed from the holding cell he used to share with his co-accused, MP Mthandeni Dube and two inmates, to an isolated single cell inside the Matsapha Maximum Prison. He urged his partners and mass democratic movement that they should not be frightened by what they saw from the alleged State-controlled media. It should be noted that when the issue of the MP was reported by this publication, especially the investigations that are ongoing, his lawyer Ben J. Simelane was called for comment.

Investigations

Simelane is on record having said they were aware of the investigations but were currently awaiting the outcome of same. He said it would be after they had been furnished with the findings that they would see whether it was prejudicial to their client or not and see what step to take. It was previously reported by this publication that Mabuza had been placed in solitary confinement at the Matsapha Maximum Prison. Solitary confinement is a form of imprisonment distinguished by living in single cell with little or no meaningful contact with other inmates, strict measures to control contraband, and the use of additional security measures and equipment. The practice is used when a prisoner is considered dangerous to himself or to other inmates, is suspected of organising or being engaged in illegal activities outside of prison.

The MP has not only been placed in solitary confinement, but is also allowed one visitor who brings him food at the Correctional facility. His legal team is also permitted to see him for consultation purposes. Dube and Mabuza were arrested on July 25, 2021 and their trial was postponed to January 26, 2022. The matter will also be heard on the January 27, 2022. Other dates are February 15, 16 and 17, 2022. It will continue five days later on February 22, 23 and 24, 2022 as well as March 1, 2 and 3, 2022.

The MPs allegedly committed a terrorist act by encouraging people in public statements to disobey the lawful banning by the Government of Eswatini of the delivery of petitions and to reject the appointment of the then Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku.

It is alleged that by so doing, they encouraged civil disobedience, which had one or more of the following intentions or consequences; death or bodily injury, serious damage to property, serious risk to the health of the public or the section of a public and endangering the lives of the people and was designed or intended to disrupt the provision of essential emergency services such as police, civil defence and medical services. Their urgent bail appeal is likely to be heard in February. According to a notice that was issued by the Acting Supreme Court Registrar, Siphiwo Masuku, the chief justice (CJ) directed that the first session of the Supreme Court was scheduled to take place from February 7 to June 10, 2022. In December, Judge Doris Tshabalala ordered the registrar of the Supreme Court to ensure that the MPs urgent bail appeal was enrolled in the earliest sitting of the Supreme Court session this year. The order by Judge Tshabalala came after the duo moved an urgent application where they were seeking an order compelling the registrar of the Supreme Court to enrol their urgent bail appeal.
New Zealand Herald 19 Jan 2022

Days after a volcanic eruption and tsunami turned their world upside down, photos on the ground show streets covered in thick ash..
Canada's foreign minister landed in Kyiv Monday promising more economic assistance to help keep the Ukrainian government afloat in the face of the uncertainty created by the threat of a Russian invasion.
Some Canadian travellers required to spend days in isolation waiting for COVID-19 test results after arriving in the country from abroad want to know why Ottawa allows people coming in from the U.S. to skip quarantine.
Sky News 17 Jan 2022

The British man who took four hostage in Texas was on a call with his children when he was shot dead, his brother has told Sky..
A battered army ambulance pulls up in the freezing, snowy yard of a long-since abandoned factory in eastern Ukraine that is now the headquarters of the army's 24th battalion.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami.



New Zealand's military is sending much-needed drinking water and other supplies, but said the ash on the runway will delay the flight at least a day. A towering ash cloud since Saturdays eruption had prevented earlier flights. New Zealand is also sending two navy ships to Tonga that will leave Tuesday and pledged an initial 1 million New Zealand dollars ($680,000) toward recovery efforts.



Communications with Tonga have been extremely limited, but New Zealand and Australia sent military surveillance flights to assess the damage on Monday.



U.N. humanitarian officials and Tongas government report significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.



There has been no contact from the Haapai Group of islands, and we are particularly concerned about two small low-lying islands  Mango and Fonoi  following surveillance flights confirming substantial property damage, Dujarric said.



New Zealand's High Commission in Tonga also reported significant damage along the western coast of the main island of Tongatapu, including to resorts and along the waterfront area.



Satellite images captured the spectacular eruption, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a giant mushroom above the South Pacific. Tsunami waves of about 80 centimeters (2.7 feet) crashed into Tongas shoreline, and crossed the Pacific, causing minor damage from New Zealand to Santa Cruz, California. The eruption set off a sonic boom that could be heard as far away as Alaska.



Two people drowned in Peru, which also reported an oil spill...
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ELDON [mdash] A graveside memorial service, with military honors, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at the Eldon Cemetery in Eldon, IA for Charles and Irene Stribling. Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
MBABANE - Incarcerated Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza has since come out to dispel the allegations that he had close relations with a wardress.

It was previously reported that through investigations, authorities at His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) purportedly learnt that Mabuza allegedly had close relations with a wardress while behind bars at the Matsapha Maximum Prison. It was reported that investigations, which were commissioned by the office of HMCS commissioner general, purportedly disrupted a plan where it was allegedly gathered that the MP would spend some time with the wardress. According to the previous reports, it was also alleged that other officers within the prison were involved in facilitating the visit by the wardress to the MPs holding cell.

Statement

In a public statement he issued through his legal team yesterday, the MP said: I would like to publicly declare that, to the best of my knowledge, there is no or ever was any wardress I had or have a close relationship with. He went on to state that ever since he was arrested on July 25, 2021 he had been sharing a cell with his co- accused, MP Mthandeni Dube and two other inmates, and he had never stayed alone. Even currently under isolation, I am in a small cell but I always have an official locked in the cell with me and another outside the cell. These allegations of me having relations with a wardress are made to tarnish my reputation and are an attempt to label me as a hooligan to the nation, reads part of the statement. He said even if an offer was made to him that he should have a female companion, he would never agree. Mabuza said he would like emaSwati to know that he was not an ordinary inmate who was in prison for committing a crime, but he was a political prisoner. I was arrested for calling for an elected prime minister, and that is an idea I am willing to stay in prison for or even die for. The public should, therefore, know that those who despise change will try by all means to tarnish my good reputation, said Mabuza.

Politics

The Hosea MP continued to state that: I on the other hand, will not play dirty politics; I will remain resolute to democratic reformations, even if it costs me my freedom. He urged his family, business partners and the mass democratic movement not to be shaken or frightened by what they hear or see in the media. I am the same Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza who was elected by the people of Hosea to represent them in Parliament. I will remain loyal to the people of Swaziland (Eswatini) and I will never sell the struggle for anything. I pray that the country remains peaceful as everyone is preparing for the dialogue, said the Hosea MP. Mabuza concluded by assuring emaSwati that with his co-accused, they had the best legal team that could answer any questions they (emaSwati) might have about their well-being in prison and about their matter, and no one else. He pointed out that as part of their legal team; in South Africa they had Advocate Jacobus Koos Van Vuuren and Sicelo Mngomezululu while in the Kingdom of Eswatini they had Ben J. Simelane, Mhlengi Mabuza and Michael Tsabedze. The MP further highlighted that in Parliament, they had put their trust and faith in MP Timothy Myeni but for their freedom, they trusted emaSwati.
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Midland County commissioners on Tuesday morning approved the efforts of the Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF) to continue removing flood debris from county properties.

This item, among all other agenda items, was voted on during the regular board meeting in the County Services building.

FLTF is entering a second phase of removing flood debris from Midland County properties, and the county had adjustments to make after contractors were experiencing COVID-related challenges.

According to FLTF, this recent action is common practice for all projects in light of a sponsorship agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Originally, Commissioner Steve Glaser said, a park service within Midland County was administering four clean-up sites through a retained contractor. He said the contractor had various equipment failures and difficulties with staffing workers.

Despite some challenges, the contractor was able to clean debris near two Midland County properties. But, Glaser said the county terminated an agreement with the previous contractors.

FLTF is able to oversee two contracts for the remaining county sites with debris. Under the memorandum of understanding, the task force will continue to provide technical and administrative assistance in removing flood debris from county property.

"This (agreement) is to have the invoicing for remaining projects for debris clean up on non-Lake county property coordinated through FLTF since we have the sponsorship agreement with NRCS," said FLTF in a statement to the Daily News. "It is cost neutral to FLTF, and provides the county access to federal funding."

In other county business, the Midland Business Alliance (MBA) Foundation will receive an increase of $10,000 for its services. The pay increase will follow Tuesday's approval. Under the approved agreement, the county will pay a total of $160,000 to the MBA Foundation for its services for the current fiscal year.

And Midland County is still making efforts toward its response to the opioid crisis with help from the state. An $80,000 grant was approved Tuesday as an award from a Michigan Supreme Court office.

The grant will support the state's response project to the opioid crisis within Midland County's Adult Drug Court in the 42nd Circuit Court. The term of this agreement began in December 2021 and continues through the end September 2022.

Prior to Tuesday's special program of the day, commissioners voted on applicants for the Employee Appreciation Committee. The new term includes three full-time employees one part-time employee, who were appointed among five applicants.

The commission appointed the following county employees to be on the committee: Jennifer Anway, Christina Crawford, Michael

Yelsik and Jessica Gilkins.

And Bill Cozat was appointed to the Midland County Emergency Medical Services board. Commissioner Jeanette Snyder of District 1, whose district includes the city of Coleman, said she knows Cozat quite well, and his heart lies within the local community.

"He's such an asset to our community, and I just wanted to give him that public support," Snyder said.

Executive Director Bob Brown of Region VII Area Agency on Aging provided an update to commissioners, who help appoint the agency's governing board of directors.

Midland County provides a stipend of $4,490 each year to the agency. In fiscal year 2021, Brown said there was a 495.4% return rate on investment in terms of the funding provided by Midland County.

"The return on that investment is over $2 million ... to take care of those most vulnerable citizens," he said.

Services are supported by federal, state and local funding, in addition to contribution and/or fees from clients, according to the agency on aging, which was created by the Older Americans Act.

The agency's goal is to provide effective and innovative care to improve the well-being of community residents, according to region7aaa.org. It's also the regional entity which provides both monitoring and auditing on behalf of the state.

Board members of the agency have also been appointed by the commissioners of Bay, Saginaw, Huron, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. A majority of board members are persons with an age of 60 years or older.

For more information on the agency and its resources, residents can call 800-858-1637.

The next board meeting will take place at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1 in the board room of the County Services building at 220 W. Ellsworth Street in Midland.
Individuals of different ages, races, genders and backgrounds gathered both in person and online to participate in Northwood Universitys Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon on Monday.

Fittingly, Midlander Erin Patrice presented on furthering Kings legacy and how to create spaces at the community table.

Patrice, who has lived in Midland for 17 years, is involved with several boards in the community. She is also the creator of The Breaking Bread Village, a space for people to respectfully come together and have conversations and share perspectives.

Patrice, along with Waheed Akbar and Darold Newton, will receive the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award later this week.

Oftentimes when we talk about Dr. King, we talk about equity, we talk about inclusion, we talk about accepting everybody and being able to be accepted. But we dont talk about how we can create those spaces, Patrice said.

Patrice asked others to describe what their table looks like. Responses included factors such as settling disagreements, similar ambitions in different fields, creating safe and open spaces for conversation, and tribe-like atmospheres filled with respect.

Patrice explained that these tables could be formed anywhere, from churches and communities to corporate board rooms and with families.

Patrice challenged the audience to be inclusive of others who have different values or insights. She explained the importance of intentionally welcoming various opinions when creating a table, adding that understanding comes from hearing different viewpoints. She offered the Breaking Bread Village as an example, stating that she intentionally brings together people who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, varying faiths, and those who supported Black Lives Matter as well as Blue Lives Matter.

Other factors in building a table are building a space where people feel safe in being themselves and being transparent; accepting people as they are; not judging or forming assumptions before a conversation is started; and practicing active listening, being attentive to what someone is saying rather than just focusing on how to reply.

What we want, we have to give to others if we want to grow and learn. I believe that when we learn about other people authentically, it truly grows us. When you learn of other peoples experiences, their background, what theyve been through, you understand why they are the way that they are. Even if at the end of it you still dont agree with them, you understand a little bit more, Patrice stated.

Patrice shared that having empathy and compassion is the most important step in creating spaces. She explained that having these two qualities present in conversations gives people space to share about themselves and allows them to open up more; creating open spaces allows for more understanding.

Patrice recalled a conversation she had with a white man who was openly a racist. With an open and transparent environment to talk, Patrice learned that the man had often been bullied in his youth by Black individuals. Patrice thanked him and expressed sorrow that he had gone through that experience. She explained in her presentation that she believed it was good for the man to interact with a Black person who treated him with kindness.

At the end of it, I was able to have some empathy and compassion for him even though I dont agree that anybody should generalize the whole community. I understood why he felt what he felt, Patrice said.

Patrice shared about the beauty of what happens after people leave the table. She has seen people arrange to meet later to continue the conversations. Patrice acknowledged that creating spaces for people isnt always easy or safe, but its necessary in order to realize Kings dream.

This is about creating spaces for all people. Unless we are willing to do that, we cant quote Dr. King, Patrice said. We have to create the space ourselves sometimes. People always say, I want a space at the table. If theyre not offering it, create a table.
Palestine, TX (75801)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
MBABANE - Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza is not denying that he was found in possession of cellphones inside prison.

The incarcerated MP confirmed knowledge of the contraband in a statement that was issued by his legal team yesterday. I would like to acknowledge that on December 10, 2021, I was found with two cellphones within the prison premises, said Mabuza. Mabuza stated that he had been trying by all means not to discuss the enquiry about the cellphones, which were found in his possession by prison authorities.

Enquiry

He said this was mainly because he was told that it was an internal enquiry, which would not involve the courts, his legal team or the public. He said it was unfortunate when he read about same in the local newspapers in different versions and he felt the need to state his side of the story. In the statement, Mabuza stated that the cellphones belonged to him and he used them for three purposes, mainly to communicate with his suppliers, his employees and family members. He disclosed that the numbers contained therein were of the aforementioned people. I have never in any instance communicated with any official using these cellphones or involved any prison official in obtaining these cellphones, but did so through other means when I attended court, said Mabuza.

He went on to assure his family, constituency, colleagues and all emaSwati that the allegations that high ranking officers from His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) facilitated his getting of the cellphones and that he gave them money were not only false but politically-motivated. He also stated that he was not the first inmate to be found in possession of contraband and he had accepted the consequences of his action. I am surprised and further disheartened to the amounts of money and time spent on an enquiry about the cellphones which were found in my possession, yet there is no enquiry put in place to investigate the deaths of 60 Swazis, maiming and arrest of many Swazis since June 2021, reads part of the statement. In the previous report, it was alleged that during the inquiry, a high ranking officer at the His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) was implicated in the issue of the cellphones, which were found in the Hosea MPs possession.

On December 10, 2021, Mabuza was found with two cellphones inside the Matsapha Maximum Prison. The legislator was reportedly found with the gadgets during a random search, which was conducted by HMCS officers. It was said the officers then confiscated the cellphones and the matter was reported to the management and this led to the office of the commissioner general appointing a select team to probe how the gadgets got to Mabuza.

Determine

The findings of the task team will determine who will be charged for the offence as cellphones are prohibited within the area designated for inmates. Just after the discovery of the cellphones, there was a brief investigation which was conducted by the Correctional facility warders, wherein there were allegations that the gadgets were smuggled into the facility allegedly by some of the people who frequently visited Mabuza. There were also suspicions that the MP allegedly got assistance from some of the Correctional officers. Meanwhile, when the duo of Mabuza and Dube was arrested, their cellphones were taken by the police as part of investigations. An expert reportedly failed to retrieve any information from the cellphone that was taken from MP Mabuza when he was arrested. The expert did not find any text and WhatsApp messages that the prosecution could use against Mabuza on the phone which now forms part of the Crowns evidence against him.

Trial

The handset is currently being kept by the police after obtaining an order to keep same pending finalisation of the criminal trial. The failure to retrieve anything from Mabuzas cellphone is reflected on the formal admission he made with Dube. They made the formal admission in terms of Section 272 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No.67 of 1939. Dube on the other hand, admitted that his cellphone was taken by the police and various messages were recovered from it. As part of its evidence, the prosecution provided about 244 WhatsApp messages between MPs Mabuza and Dube. The messages, which are contained in a 72 page document, were retrieved from Dubes cellphone which was also seized from him when he was arrested on July 25, 2021.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudanese Ministry of Interior said on Tuesday that at least seven people were killed and dozens injured, including policemen, during demonstrations that took place on Monday
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Paris, TN (38242)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It's too soon to determine whether Omicron's rapid spread will turn a pandemic virus into an endemic disease, America's top infectious disease expert says.

That "would only be the case if we don't get another variant that eludes the immune response to the prior variant," Dr. Anthony Fauci said this week during the Davos Agenda, a virtual event being held this week by the World Economic Forum, CNN reported.

An endemic disease is constantly present in a population but doesn't cause the massive numbers of infections or societal upheaval typically seen in a pandemic.

Because the Omicron variant is highly transmissible but appears less likely to cause severe disease than previous variants, there are suggestions that it could result in COVID-19 transitioning from a pandemic to an endemic situation, CNN reported.

"It is an open question as to whether or not Omicron is going to be the live virus vaccination that everyone is hoping for because you have such a great deal of variability with new variants emerging," Fauci said.

And doctors and experts warn that it's a bad idea for people to intentionally try to get Omicron, and that the fight against COVID-19 is far from over, CNN reported.

Facing critical staffing shortages, hospitals have treated more COVID-19 patients in recent weeks than ever. At least 156,676 COVID-19 patients in the United States were hospitalized on Monday, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, 1 in 5 Americans have been infected with Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, with just over 680,000 daily cases reported yesterday. An average of 1,695 Americans died from COVID-19 every day over the past week.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the Omicron variant.

SOURCE: CNN
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Avinor has announced 38 contracts  worth 830m (US$946m) in total  for retail, food and beverage (F&B) and convenience opportunities across Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim airports in Norway.

With these contracts, the company is looking to open bookstores, pharmacies, souvenir and electrical shops, as well as lifestyle and fashion boutiques. Smaller operators may bid for individual outlets, while major national and international operators can bid on multiple contracts to achieve economies of scale. The contracts have durations of up to five years and feature risk reduction mechanisms to increase their attractiveness. This includes the removal of fixed rents on retail premises and the implementation of exclusively turnover-based rent and operating costs.

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The airport intends to attract a wide range of concepts that will appeal to Norwegian and international passengers and strengthen the airports sense of place. Avinor is therefore seeking local and international partners with sustainable concepts that can elevate the passenger experience.

Joachim Lupnaav Johnsen, Avinors executive vice president commercial, said, During normal operations, Avinors airports are among the largest and most attractive marketplaces in Norway, with a broad and diverse group of customers with strong purchasing power. We aim to create a wider selection of concepts at each airport and across our portfolio of sites, and we want to strengthen the regional sense of place. For example, we want it to be obvious that you have arrived in Bergen, rather than just any other European airport. We want there to be a good balance between the global and the local providers, and we thereby hope to see new, interesting constellations as a result.
ZB.com, a global trading platform specialising in the exchange and management of digital assets, has expanded operations in the Mena region, with Dubai as a strategic global office.

The expansion of a trading platform of ZB.coms calibre comes at a time when, in the Mena region, the interest in digital assets is translating to investments.

A flagship platform of the ZB Group, ZB.com was founded in 2013 and has a presence in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and the US  growth markets with considerable exposure to digital assets.

The company's one-stop-shop platform, which supports OTC trading, leverage trading, and real-time spot trading of hundreds of digital assets, has catered to over 15 million users since its inception. Under the tutelage of its International CEO Romex Jha, ZB.com has facilitated transactions worth over a whopping $160 billion since 2013.

As a company with a global footprint, ZB.com believes in strategic expansions into growth markets. The demand economics for digital assets in the Mena region is extremely promising. The region is currently undergoing a tech-powered sociocultural evolution, which has consequently increased the appetite for digital assets. ZB.com, with its full-stack model and a host of first-to-market services, is well-positioned to meet the unmet needs of regional investors  both beginners and experts alike, said Jha.

ZB.com provides tutorials for novice traders aspiring to gain exposure to digital assets, in line with its motto of advocating financial inclusion and eliminating entry barriers. It offers a ZB Partner Programme, rewards for task completion, and assistance through its 24/7 customer service center, to incentivise new traders. Most importantly, ZB.coms success in enabling new traders is owed to the platform's fool-proof security.

ZB.com boasts zero security breaches in nine years of operations, making it one of the most secure platforms for digital asset trading in the world. It has successfully safeguarded the trading activities of over 15 million users, building loyalty and trust along the way. ZB.com popularity is also largely owed to its native token, ZB, which is among the top-performing assets in the market today.

Blockchain technology has introduced revolutionary applications such as NFTs, DeFi, metaverse, and Web3, which are collectively changing the course of humanity. Today, globally, there is a fear of missing out associated with digital assets. This mainstream acceptance calls for secure platforms that can successfully onboard enthusiasts, safeguard their interests, and make their pursuits both financially and emotionally rewarding. This is where ZB.com comes in, added Jha.

In order to streamline its offerings for users, ZB.com has launched a mobile app and an API, allowing quick and efficient integration with trading functions. It accepts dozens of currencies, such as AED, USD, and GBP, for deposits and subsequent trading, besides facilitating the exchange of digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other mainstream altcoins based on user demand. Such a user-centric approach has enabled ZB.com to leapfrog its way into a commanding position in the global digital assets market.-- TradeArabia News Service
Microsoft has been on a gaming acquisition tear for the last few years, hoping to give the edge to its Xbox and Game Pass platforms as Sonys PlayStation continues to dominate with exclusive titles. The company previously purchased such notable companies as ZeniMax (AKA Bethesda), Minecraft developer Mojang, Id, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Rare, Double Fine, and 343 Industries. But the computer giants next purchase is so big it might shake the foundations of the gaming industry: Activision Blizzard.

The news comes from as an official announcement from Microsoft itself, emblazoned with its prospective acquisitions biggest game series like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush. The acquisition is valued at $68.7 billion with Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard stock shares at $95 each. The deal is being given a full media blitz with a promotional page, press release, blog posts, open letters to employees, and even a map of the proposed management team.

Assuming it goes through, the nearly $70 billion acquisition would be by far the largest in the history of the gaming industry, with Take-Twos purchase of Zynga earlier this year coming in a distant second at just $12.7 billion. For the sake of comparison, Nintendos current valuation in terms of market cap is approximately $55 billion in USD.

Activision is one of the oldest developers in the industry, starting way back in 1979, publishing classics like Pitfall, Little Computer People, MechWarrior, and Tony Hawks Pro Skater. The publisher survived various crashes and booms to become one of the largest software makers on the planet. It merged with Vivendi in 2008 to create the combined Activision Blizzard, gaining clout from an association with the highly respected developer of Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo. Today, Activision Blizzard publishes and maintains some of the industrys biggest franchises, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Crash Bandicoot, and Overwatch.

Microsoft

The combined Activision Blizzard has had serious troubles over the last few years, caught in a general backlash towards large publishers seeking profit over quality and abusing staff. AB has been specifically criticized for an ongoing collection of social issues, including employee abuse and crunch culture, sexual abuse of female staff members (including a highly public investigation by the state of California), lack of accountability for executives, and embarrassing episodes such as an apparent capitulation to the Chinese government when a player showed a pro-Taiwan message on stream.

ABs issues seem to have been personified in multi-billionaire CEO Bobby Kotick, whos controlled the company for over 30 years. According to a Wall Street Journal investigation, Kotick was aware of abuse issues inside his company and did nothing to stop them, allegedly shielding abusive executives and even threatening to kill an employee. Despite calls from around the industry to step down, including rare recriminations from partners like Microsoft, Sony, and even LEGO, Kotick remains CEO. According to Microsofts press release, Kotick will remain in his position for the time being, reporting to Microsofts Gaming CEO Phil Spencer.

Microsofts interest in one of the largest publishers in the world is obvious. In addition to bolstering a growing library of exclusive game content for the Xbox console and Windows, its attempting to create a platform of streaming games that can be accessed anywhere on any device. The Netflix-style, all-you-can-eat nature of the Xbox Game Pass is shaking up the industry in ways that are still hard to predict  other players like Amazon and Google have invested in game streaming and Sony is reportedly preparing its own similar service. Despite dominating with exclusive titles in the PS4 era, Sonys position at the top of console gaming seems more precarious as Microsoft continues to strengthen its first-party catalog.

The acquisition still needs to be approved by various regulatory agencies, notably the American Federal Trade Commission (possibly even Department of Justice) and the European Unions Commission. Both the US and EU administrations are far less friendly to mega-mergers than they have been in the past, so Microsofts game-changing purchase is by no means a done deal.
Former Guinean President Alpha Conde, ousted in a coup in September, boarded a plane on Monday to go abroad for a medical check-up, two sources said, without revealing his destination.



Last month, the ruling junta said the ex-president would be allowed to travel on medical grounds but could not remain abroad for more than a month. read more



A source close to Conde said he boarded a plane at 2 p.m. (1400 GMT). A top government official confirmed he had left.



The September coup was condemned by Guinea's neighbours and international partners, and led to its suspension from the African Union and the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 15-nation bloc.



Conde, 83, who had been in power since 2010, was detained by the junta after his ouster by military officers who accused the government of endemic corruption.

Source: REUTERS









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Metsola would succeed Italian socialist David Sassoli in the mostly ceremonial role presiding over the 705-member parliament of the European Union, after he died this month at the age of 65.



Sassoli had in any case been due to step down this week as part of a power-sharing deal under which parliament's socialist group would step aside halfway through the assembly's five-year term for a candidate from Metsola's centre-right European People's Party (EPP) grouping.



"It's about time that the European Parliament is led by a woman," Metsola, 42, said in a campaign message on Twitter, calling for the assembly to connect with EU citizens beyond the "bubbles" of Brussels and Strasbourg where it meets.



The parliament, which adopts and amends legislative proposals and decides on the EU budget, has had only two female presidents, Simone Veil and most recently Nicole Fontaine, both French, since it became a directly elected assembly in 1979.



Along with Metsola, three other members of parliament had expressed an interest in the presidency ahead of the deadline for nominations at 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Monday.



They were Sweden's Alice Bah Kuhnke of the assembly's Greens-European Free Alliance group, Poland's Kosma Zlotowski of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Sira Rego of Spain, a member of the Left group.



The candidates will each make a short presentation on Tuesday morning and then there will be up to four rounds of voting by the members of parliament to agree on a winner.



A member of the European Parliament since 2013, Metsola campaigned as a student for Malta to become a member of the EU.



A Mediterranean archipelago with a population of just over 500,000, Malta became the EU's smallest member state when it joined the bloc in 2004.

Source: France 24









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Yaw Atta known to operate a local information centre in Tarkwa in the Western Region has accused the area Police commander of assault.



Sharing his 'near-death' experience with sit-in host, Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Yaw Atta said the Tarkwa Police commander asked his "boys" (police officers) to beat him up for allegedly calling him "sasabonsam" to wit "Satan".



" . . six police officers handcuffed me and took me to the Tarkwa Police station. Then I was taken to the CID office and transferred to the Commander's office and was severely beaten until I became weak. When the Commander realized I was weak he asked the officers to take me away . . "



Meanwhile, he has denied calling the Commander "sasabonsam".



Listen to his explanation in the video below









The police commander, Chief Superintendent George Kumah, has however denied assaulting Yaw Atta.



Speaking on the same platform, he said, when the police officers "brought him to my office, there were already blood stains on his trousers. When I asked the officers what happened, they told me he fell".



Listen to his side of the story in the video below





MCE punches holes in Commander's account

Meanwhile, the MCE of Tarkwa Nsuaem has punched holes in the Commander's claims; backing the report of Yaw Atta.



"The commander told me that he wants to arrest Yaw Atta because he called him "sasabosam" so I calmed him down but he didn't listen. When you listen to the audio recording you will even realize that it wasn't Yaw Atta who called him "sasabosam". The condition of Yaw Atta when I went to the Police station was really bad; he was bleeding and so on..." he said on the same platform



He further described as unfortunate the commander's claims that Yaw Atta was injured after a fall.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A Senior Officer of the Vector Control Unit, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Abel Djangmah, has reiterated the need to continuously intensify the ongoing monthly disinfection operation at the countrys airports.



According to him, this has become necessary, especially in the wake of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 pandemic, which spreads fast, and the fact that a lot of people (both Ghanaians and foreigners) travelled into the country for the Yuletide.



Mr Djangbah made the call while speaking to the media during this months disinfection exercise at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Monday night (January 17, 2022).



He said for the past year, Zoomlion has been disinfecting the countrys airports every month, explaining that we do that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and that just a little about two weeks ago, we were at Kotoka to embark on same all as part of efforts to fight the virus.



However, he indicated that one key challenge with the Covid fight was the unstable nature of the virus.



This development, he stressed, was making the control measures by scientists a little challenging.



Therefore, we cannot relent on our efforts in the previous exercises that we have done. We have to continue applying all the necessary measures until it is finally declared that Covid-19 is no more in the country, Mr Djangbah urged.



In addition to the airports disinfection, the senior officer of the Vector Control Unit of Zoomlion said it was equally imperative that Ghanaians also obey the other Covid safety protocols.



He said these were wearing of nose mask, regular washing of hands with soap, use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and practising social distancing as well.



So, all these measures together will help mother Ghana defeat Covid-19, he said.



On the question of effectiveness of the disinfection exercise, Mr Djangbah said the product being used by his outfit was very potent enough to fight the virus.



and in particular, it works on surfaces very well. So it kills viruses on surfaces instantly when applied. These are products that are not produced here but imported from Germany and other places.



So they have been tested and proven to be efficacious, and they have worked in several countries, he said.







Further, he explained that anytime a disinfection operation was carried out by his company, it was followed by an evaluation exercise.



Evaluation is not done in a day. It takes time so you cannot just stand here and say that what I have done is effective or not. Even with the vaccine, it could be seen that though people have taken the jabs, they were still being entreated to observe the other Covid protocols, he noted.



For scientific tasks, he said after the work is done, there was still the need to evaluate and monitor to be able to come out with good evidence to point out that it has been effective.



So our main aim is not just about being effective today, but then the disinfection is a measure put in place that must be carried out periodically so that the day that the government of Ghana will say Covid-19 is no more in the country, you and I can heave a sigh of relief and say that yes we have defeated Covid together, Mr Djangbah stated.



He used the chance to remind Ghanaians, and in particular travellers coming into the country, to strictly and continuously adhere to the Covid protocols.



He also reassured that his outfit will continue to play its role to make the countrys airports safe for both staff members and travellers.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, has affirmed the Ministrys resolve to work to sanitise the lands and natural resources sector of the country. He said lands and natural resources of any country, constitutes the country and ought to be protected and managed for the benefit of the people.



The Government will therefore not relent in its efforts to sanitise the lands and natural resources sector through appropriate policies and regulations.



According to the Minister, the commitment of President Akufo-Addo to ensure the sustainable and efficient management of the lands and natural resources of the country, anchored on integrity and transparency is total and unflinching. and the Government will be relentless, totally committed, and enhance all the measures that have been put in place to come to grips with the matters of illegal mining.



The Minister made this comment when he appeared on the Breakfast Show of Ghana Television (GTV) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. He observed that the menace of illegal mining is an age-old problem that predates the Fourth Republic. And even though the illegal mining still persists, the Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and its agencies, has worked to bring the situation reasonably under control.



Governments interventions in this area have largely been two-fold, regulatory and enforcement. In the area of regulation, he mentioned some of the governments policies as reforms at the Minerals Commission, including resourcing the Inspectorate Division of the Commission, digitalisation of the Minerals Commission, the introduction of online applications for mineral rights, and the revamping of the Community Mining Schemes. On enforcement, he said some of the policies being implemented by the Government include the declaration of water bodies and Forest Reserves as Red Zones for mining, the ban on reconnaissance, prospecting and/or exploration for minerals in Forest Reserves, the introduction of Operation Halt II, the tracking of earthmoving equipment and machines for mining, among others.



The Minister emphasised that the Government of President Akufo-Addo is not against small scale mining, but wants it to be done in a legally regulated way. To this end, the Government has developed a Manual for Community Mining Scheme, which seeks to ensure that community mining is done in an environmentally sound manner. The manual requires that Community Mining Schemes have sick bays, changing rooms, concurrent reclamation and revegetation, functioning offices, and environmental officers on site.



He added that the Regional, Municipal and District Security Councils have been tasked to led the fight in their various jurisdictions, to be supported by the national task force as and when the need arises. He called on all communities to support this fight as the communities bear the brunt of the consequences of illegal mining.



Touching on lands, the Minister opined that the consequence of a poorly regulated land sector is a serious as illegal mining. The Government is therefore committed to building a robust, efficient and effective land administration that is anchored on integrity. Mr. Jinapor said the Government is therefore investing in technology at the Lands Commission to ensure we achieve this vision.



Some of these technological reforms has resulted in the Lands Commission moving some of its services, including searches, online, and introducing composite search at the Commission to replace the searches at the different Divisions of the Commission. He indicated that the Commission is also implementing a digitisation programme that will see to the digitalisation of the records of the Lands Commission.



On forestry, the Minister said the government was committed to protecting the forest cover of our country while implementing an aggressive afforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover of our country. He added that the Government is doing this through policies like the Green Ghana Project, the ban on harvesting and export of Rosewood, and the ban on commercial production of charcoal in some parts of the country.



He bemoaned the continuous depletion of our forest cover since 1900 without any aggressive effort to restore same. He called on all well-meaning Ghanaians and residents of Ghana to support the Governments afforestation Programme, particularly the Green Ghana Project, which will see to the planting of at least, Twenty Million (20,000,000) trees this year.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has charged Ghanaian journalists to live the mantra of ace Ghanaian journalist Komla Dumor by promoting the good from Ghana as the core of their mandate.



Speaking on the 8th anniversary of the passing of Dumor on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said Komlas mantra that there is so much to tell about the story of Africa and not the usual poverty, war and disease, is what should guide all journalists who seek to become giants like the former Joy FM and BBC journalist.



He said journalists should develop a conscious culture beyond holding duty bearers accountable and pointing to the ills in society to telling the Ghanaian story on their various platforms to unearth local opportunities.



There is a lot more that we can do in the journalism space as we continue to enhance the capacity of journalists. I will go back to one of the favourite quotations of Komla Dumor that says, there is so much to tell about the story of Africa and not the usual poverty, war and disease.



"Bring it to Ghana, there is so much good going on in this country and there is so much to tell about the story of Ghana and not the usual accusations, allegations and claims that nothing works in this country which essentially kills the spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and the can do spirit.



Just like Komla lived in those days and promoted on the BBC after he had done it on JOY FM that we need to unearth Africas talent and good news and let the world know about it, journalists here in Ghana also need to unearth Ghanas talent and good news and share that good news with other people to encourage and inspire other people, he added.



He said journalists play a very critical role in the countrys development and as such must make it a point to project the potentials they find within and not report on sensational issues that damage the countrys image on the international stage.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commiserated with the government and people of Mali over the death of the country's immediate former leader, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.



Keita, who was toppled in 2020 in a military coup, died last Sunday at his home in Bamako, after an illness. He was 76.



In a statement addressed to the Head of the Transitional Government of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, President Akufo-Addo said he was saddened by the death of the ex-president.



The late former President will be remembered as a respected Statesman of Mali and the Ecowas region. His demise is a sad day for the people of Mali and the ECOWAS Community.



On behalf of the people of Ghana and the ECOWAS Community, and on my own behalf, I extend deep condolences to you, the people of Mali, his widow and family, he said in the statement.



Keita was elected president in 2013. He was re-elected in 2018 only to be ousted in a military coup in 2020.





Source: GNA









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Global energy company Engie, in collaboration with Saudi-based contracting firm Nesma and private desalination company Mowah, has broken ground on the Al Rayes seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant.



The plant will use clean energy and be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) structure together with Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC). It is expected to be commercially operational from the last quarter of 2023.



Awarded by SWPC as a build, own, operate contract, the consortium will have a concession period of 25 years. The plant will have a capacity of 450,000 cu m/day and storage facilities for two operational days. Electricity supply to the plant will be supplemented with the addition of an on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) system following construction, helping reduce CO2 emissions. The expected average CO2 emission on the average operating conditions is 220,000 tons per day.



The Al Rayes plant is expected to contribute $400 million to the kingdoms GDP. With Saudization a high priority for the consortium, the project will aim to fill 40% of the 500 jobs created during construction by Saudi Arabian nationals, rising to 50% during the first five years of operation and 70% for the remaining operational period.



Khaled Z Al Qureshi, CEO, SWPC, said: Ensuring the sustainable development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias utilities is essential to the fulfilment of Vision 2030 and our commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. From securing foreign investments to embracing the shift toward renewable energy and creating jobs for the local communities, the Al Rayes desalination plant will significantly contribute to our nation's social, economic, and environmental health.



Turki Al Shehri, CEO, Engie KSA, added: Today is a major milestone for Engie in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as we break ground on the Al Rayes desalination plant. The project provides an excellent model for how the private sector and government can work together to advance net-zero objectives, helping us transition to an emissions-free, circular economy. Moreover, in drawing overseas investment into the country and creating jobs for the local community, this project will successfully help meet the objectives of Vision 2030.



Eric Maka, COO, Engie KSA, added: The integrated seawater, reserve osmosis desalination plant in the region to be powered with the use of clean energy, the Al Rayes desalination plant will provide 450,000 cubic meters of freshwater per day. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the project has proceeded successfully, and we are delighted to break ground on it today. When complete, the project will critically help meet growing water demand while supporting socio-economic development and sustainability goals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  TradeArabia News Service
Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah is the founder and leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministry International, has stated that there is a spirit of death hovering around the Parliament of Ghana.



According to him, he together with his team of prayer warriors and his church at large have started praying to avert the vision he had seen.



He told Okay FM on Thursday, January 13, that he saw some symbolic candlesticks which represents the soul or the lives of some MPs who will be losing their lives.



Therefore, it is only proper for Ghanaians to pray for the Parliament of Ghana to prevent some MPs from losing their lives.



Secondly, there must be serious prayers for the people at the Parliament House because he has seen as a vision that there is a spirit of death hovering around the legislative arm of government, Prophet Owusu Bempah explained.



The Prophet of God believes that things are not okay for the Parliamentarians, which is not due to competition but rather there will be bigger fights in the House this year.



The Ghana Police Service issued a directive on December 27, 2021, warning against doom prophecies on the eve of the year 2022 during the watch night and crossover services.



A number of known annual prophesiers while slamming the police directive against prophecies that could cause fear and panic, adopted rather mute prophecies as compared to point-blank pronouncements they usually make during their services.



In their most recent statement of January 6, 2022, by way of updating the public on the issue of prophecies, the Police have hinted that they are reviewing videos of some 2022 prophecies and will take legal action if need be.



Following this initiative, multiple video footages have come to our attention regarding the communication of prophecies on the night of 31st December 2021. Police have begun analysing these videos to ascertain whether any of them is in breach of the laws of the country and anybody found culpable will be put before a court, part of the statement read.



The statement also urged prophets of the Gospel to continuously observe the ban on doom prophecies on a daily basis, failure which the relevant sanctions will be applied to culprits.



We would like to caution that, the law on publication of information including prophecies that have the tendency to cause fear and panic or put peoples lives in danger, is not limited to 31st December only, but should be adhered to on a daily basis.



We wish to reiterate that the law and the police are not against religious practices of the performance of religious doctrines and beliefs such as prophecies. However, if such information is communicated publicly and undermine the laws of the state, the relevant laws and sanctions will be applied, the statement concluded.





Source: okayfm









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A Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has reiterated that the nation's education sector has seen a massive boost in diverse ways within the past five years.



He explained that the massive infrastructural development by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government had led to easing the pressure on accommodation in Senior High Schools across the country.



Speaking to a section of the media in Accra last Friday, Rev. Fordjour said the increase in infrastructure in schools had led to the new cohort system whereby each year group would be in school together eliminating the Gold/Green double-entry of Form One and Two students.



That, he said, did not mean that the double-track system had been abolished but that it was only being operated in a different form for easy management and administration.



He said each year group being in school at the same time would ease the burden of teachers since they would not have to set different forms of questions for the same year group due to different times of writing their examinations and other forms of monitoring and evaluation.



Rev. Ntim Fordjour, who is the Deputy Minister-in-charge of General Education at the Education Ministry and also the Member of Parliament for Assin South in the Central Region, stated that similarly all Form Two students would go to school as one cohort not divided into two.



He was upbeat that as more school buildings were completed, the school population would report to school at the same time as one cohort as it pertained in Single Track schools.



Rev. Ntim Fordjour assured the nation that irrespective of the cohort that one attended, the same instruction quality would be provided to the students, he, therefore, urged parents not to worry at all.



Background



After weeks of waiting by anxious parents and other stakeholders in the education sector, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Prof. Kwasi Opoku Amankwa, last Friday announced the various reopening dates for pre-tertiary schools as well as other schemes for its operation for the next three years.



It is based on this announcement that many social commentators and social media users started various speculations about the double-track system and the new cohort system.



The Ministry of Education, late last year, set up a team, led by Rev. Ntim Fordjour, to come out with a new timetable for the management of education in the country.



This led to a planned and well-structured timetable for the next three years for the smooth running of the education sector as effort was being made to go back to the previous education calendar as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to a change from the normal school calendar.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Former Member of Parliament(MP) for Nsuta Kwamang Beposo, Kwame Asafo Adjei, has questioned his partys General Secretary caution to the Alan Kyeremanten camp ahead of the partys flagbearership race.



According to him, John Boadus caution is absolutely baseless  he also described it as an empty threat which shouldnt be taken seriously.



The NPP through its Chief Scribe has sent a note of caution to Alan Kyerematen to rein in some of his supporters who have gone haywire ahead of the partys internal contest.



Mr John Boadu explained that the conduct of some supporters of the Trade and Industry Minister can be described as diabolic and meant to destruct the partys mission to break the 8 and retain power in the 2024 polls.



His caution comes on the heels of concerns by a section of the NPP supporters and sympathisers over what they described as the witch-hunting of those perceived to be in the camp of Alan Kyerematen.



But in a statement issued on Monday, dismissing the allegations, Mr. Boadu called on Alan Kyerematen to dissociate himself from such diabolic agenda against the NPP.



The General Secretary also categorically denies the groups allegation of discriminatory application of the code against the supporters of Alan Kyerematen as a presidential hopeful. In any case, until the party opens nomination for presidential primaries, there cannot be any aspiring presidential candidate duly recognized by the party.



"It is also to be noted that when party members are suspended on allegations of misconduct, as in the case of what happened in the Northern Region, the partys constitution provides the aggrieved members a remedy in Article 4.



He warned of sanctions against supporters of aspirants whose actions and utterances will bring the name of the party into disrepute, thereby jeopardising its chances in the 2024 polls.



Commenting on the issue in an interview on NEAT FMs morning show, Ghana Montie, Kwame Asafo Adjei questioned the temerity of the party's General Secretary to issue threats, and counselled him to also channel the warnings to the Vice Presidents camp for flouting the party's rules by massively campaigning ahead of the internal election.



Who [John Boadu] does he think he is? Because he is the General Secretary of the party so he thinks he is above everyone? Why cant he direct that baseless threat to the vice president office because he is also vying for the same position, he told host Mac Jerry Osei Agyemang.



Adding that, tell John Boadu to bring himself to order. He is also campaigning to maintain his position as General Secretary. No one will watch him misbehave in the party.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford, centre, attends a news conference in Toronto on Monday January 3, 2022. Ford says the province is set to make an announcement later this week about reducing COVID-19 restrictions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Health-care workers are pictured through the front window at the Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 13, 2020. While the most challenging days are predicted to come for British Columbias health care system as COVID-19 cases peak in the latest wave, representatives for doctors and nurses say their members are already reaching a breaking point. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
KBR, a US-based company operating in fields of science, technology and engineering, has been awarded an engineering services contract by Woodside Energy (USA) for its proposed H2OK liquid hydrogen production facility project in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide a front-end engineering design for Woodside's H2OK liquid hydrogen facility. Cryogenic liquid hydrogen is used in the transportation industry as a fuel for fleets where the combustion of liquid hydrogen produces zero-emissions, with water as the only by-product.

"KBR is pleased to support Woodside on this project as the company advances its portfolio of decarbonisation solutions," said Jay Ibrahim, President  Sustainable Technology Solutions. "Our focus on energy transition and carbon footprint reduction is helping our clients meet their sustainability goals around the globe. At KBR, we continually strive to develop new technologies and solutions that benefit our planet."

KBR has nearly 50 years of experience designing, developing, and supporting cryogenic liquified natural gas facilities and has extensive experience in hydrogen both through its work in the space industry and in industrial facilities.

This deep domain knowledge makes KBR ideally suited to provide high end engineering and be the integrator for cryogenic liquid hydrogen facilities.-- TradeArabia News Service
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A trailblazing nursing instructor is being remembered this week by former colleagues and students for her innovation in and her passion for the nursing program at Pittsburg State University.

Sharon Bowling died Jan. 13 in Kansas City after a brief illness at the age of 73.

Cheryl Giefer, the director of the Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing, credited Bowling with the program becoming the second in Kansas to gain membership in the prestigious International Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau.

"She was very passionate about the profession of nursing and worked diligently to make Pittsburg State University the finest program in the state of Kansas, Giefer said. She left a legacy.

A native of Mound Valley, Kansas, Bowling earned her bachelors degree in nursing in May 1974, followed by her masters, her nurse practitioner license, her educational specialist degree, and in 1989, a doctorate from the University of Kansas.

Bowling had a passion for education and joined the faculty at PSU; during her tenure of 35 years, she taught thousands of students.

Giefer was one of them.

I was very proud to have been selected as a charter member of our chapter of Sigma Theta Tau as a graduating senior and our class recognized that this would not have happened without Dr. Bowling's leadership, she said.

After Giefer began teaching at Pittsburg State, Bowling recruited her to become a member of a master's degree task force, as once again she was working diligently on another dream: the establishment of graduate level nursing education in 1994 with both a clinical nurse specialist track and a family nurse practitioner track.

In 1994, Bowling was chosen for Pittsburg States prestigious Dr. Kenneth K. Bateman Outstanding Alumni Award. Bowling retired with emeritus status in October 2010.

In working closely as a colleague with Dr. Bowling for many years, it was clear that she was passionate about her family, nursing education, and service to others, said Mary Carol Pomatto, now dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and herself a longtime member of the Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing faculty.

Pomatto described Bowling as a trailblazer whose legacy includes a long list of impressive accomplishments that will endure well into the future.

Joan and Bob Sheverbush, both retired longtime faculty members who were her colleagues, described her as innovative.

I taught in nursing and she had many clever new ideas and was very personable, said Joan, who taught with her until 2005. She cared about the welfare of the school and was always reaching out to other departments.

One of those departments was Psychology, which Bob chaired from 1976 to 2004.

She was one of the first people at Pitt State to come visit, and we had great cooperation over the years between the two departments working on grants, proposals for mental health, and coursework, he said. She made a long-lasting impact.

During her career, Bowling made numerous national and international presentations to the World Health Organization, in England, in China, and in Mexico. In the mid-1990s, she was instrumental in founding the AIDS Resource Network of Southeast Kansas.

She also took great pleasure in spending time with her family and network of grandchildren and traveling with them throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. On Valentines Day in 1982, she married Roy Bowling, who survives in Pittsburg.

Other survivors include a daughter, Karla Mohtashemi, of Seattle, Washington; a stepdaughter, Jennifer Bowling Foster of Springfield, Missouri; a stepson, Ronnie Bowling of Springfield, Missouri; three grandchildren, two sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held Jan. 17 in Mound Valley.
The Aiken Symphony Orchestra has a bit more money in its coffers now to put towards spreading music around Aiken.

The orchestra was awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, which it will use to fund the "Music for All of Aiken" project.

This program is held in conjunction with the Tri-Development Center, which helps those in the community with disabilities, said Deedee Vaughters, the symphony's executive director.

"We go into Tri-Development Centers day facilities once a month and entertain (those) who receive services there," Vaughters said.

The grant is a one-to-one match grant, which means the symphony has to match the grant given to them. Vaughters said Bank of America came forward and matched the donation for the symphony, so a total of $20,000 will be going towards the outreach.

This program is especially rewarding to Vaughters, as she previously served on the board at Tri-Development Center.

"For the most part, (these individuals) do not get to attend concerts so were making sure that theyre not forgotten and were bringing the concerts to them," Vaughters said. "Its lovely."

The symphony was one of only six organizations in South Carolina to receive funding from the NEA during this round, and the only organization in Aiken.

To learn more about the Aiken Symphony Orchestra, visit aikensymphonyorchestra.com.
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COLUMBIA  Months after a newspaper investigation exposed how dozens of political officials across South Carolina get away with refusing to pay their ethics fines, state lawmakers appear to be taking action.

A Senate committee will soon debate a proposal to ban such officials from seeking reelection unless they pay their penalties, an effort to make politicians take the states ethics laws  and the watchdog that enforces them  more seriously.

That proposal, S. 188, is one of more than two dozen good-government bills that lawmakers could consider as they begin their 2022 session at the Statehouse this month.

Several, like S. 188, address problems that were exposed over the past year by Uncovered, an investigative partnership between The Post and Courier and 17 local newspapers that seeks to expose corruption, conflicts of interest, abuses of power and holes in oversight in every corner of the state.

The project has drawn new attention to questionable conduct within city councils, school districts, fire departments, natural gas authorities, state agencies and the government watchdogs who are tasked with keeping them in line.

Political leaders have responded to some of the scandals, but whether 2022 will become a year for ethics reform at the Statehouse remains to be seen.

Last week, Gov. Henry McMaster urged lawmakers to nearly double the budgets of the Inspector General's Office and State Ethics Commission, giving them more money to hire investigators and uncover misconduct. The Columbia Republican also called for greater ethics training for the states scandal-scarred sheriffs and proposed requiring special interests that lobby local governments to register with the state and disclose their efforts. The governor is expected to tout his ethics plan at his Jan. 19 State of the State address.

One of his top challengers in the 2022 governors race, Charleston Democrat Joe Cunningham, has released his own anti-corruption agenda. The former congressmans plan includes term limits, strengthening the Ethics Commission and limiting special interests ability to influence the General Assembly.

Other lawmakers have proposed their own piecemeal reforms  everything from closing ethics loopholes for utility officials to expanding the states Freedom of Information Act to enacting greater restrictions on lobbying.

But even with the heightened attention on ethics, pushing these proposals through the Legislature will be no easy task.

Having worked very hard for ethics reform many years and having seen many great proposals die, I cant say Im wildly optimistic about getting everything, said Lynn Teague, vice president of the League of Women Voters.

Indeed, there is much work to do.

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Stiff-arming the Ethics Commission

One of the most realistic proposals is S. 188  state Sen. Greg Hembrees bill to ban ethics debtors from seeking reelection until they pay their fines.

The Little River Republican initially filed the bill in December 2020, before the Legislature even began its two-year session. But it got no attention, languishing for more than a year without so much as a subcommittee debate.

Thats changing now, Hembree told The Post and Courier.

As part of its Uncovered series, the newspaper revealed in August that no fewer than 50 public officials were holding office in South Carolina despite being listed on the State Ethics Commissions debtors list. That 28-page chart lists 370 politicians, lobbyists and political groups who have run afoul of ethics laws but refused to pay their fines.

The story showed how the Ethics Commission is able to recoup just a sliver of the $2.9 million those debtors owe to taxpayers each year. Meanwhile, the officials on the list  mayors, county council members, even state lawmakers  continue to seek and win reelection.

Hembrees bill would incentivize those officials to pay up  and perhaps cause them to take ethics laws seriously  by threatening their ability to hold public office.

Most bills that are filed at the Statehouse fade into obscurity without ever getting a hearing. But Hembree appears to have overcome that hurdle. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, has pledged to have a subcommittee take up and vet S. 188, a critical first step toward serious debate and passage.

Were going to take a look at it, and hopefully were going to get some action on it, Hembree said.

Expanding a watchdog's authority

Lawmakers will also take a serious look at spending more than $3 million to bolster the funding of the State Ethics Commission and Inspector Generals Office, two agencies that together employ about a dozen investigators.

Gov. McMaster has called on legislators to more than double the funding of each agency, empowering them to hire more sleuths and probe allegations of waste, fraud, abuse and other types of misconduct by public officials.

In a recent budget hearing, Inspector General Brian Lamkin told lawmakers the new money would help him hire nine more investigators, increasing his eight-member staff to 19.

Lawmakers will also consider a proposal to expand Lamkins jurisdiction, currently limited to state agencies. A proposal by Hembree, S. 202, would empower the inspector general to also investigate school districts. McMaster wants to expand the bill even more, allowing investigations into cities, counties and nonprofits that get state money.

Lamkin said on Jan. 12 that his office has had to pull the plug on investigations in the past because of his offices limited jurisdiction. But local governments and school districts are sure to oppose any effort to let the inspector general crawl through their finances.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said lawmakers would consider those ideas, but he worries about spreading the Inspector Generals Office too thin by expanding its potential workload. He said both the Ethics Commission and Inspector Generals Office will need to explain what they could do with the extra money and authority.

If you give it too much (to do), its going to be less effective in the areas where you need it to be effective, the Aiken Republican said.

An uphill battle

Other ethics proposals are less realistic as the General Assembly enters the second of a two-year session.

Legislators spent large chunks of their 2021 calendar mired in debates over abortion, guns and COVID-19 issues, such as mask mandates at K-12 schools.

This year, they must navigate a highly contentious redistricting debate and determine how to divvy up the largest spending package in South Carolina history, fueled by mounds of federal aid and a state economy that performed better than expected during the pandemic.

That could leave little time for proposals that arent sexy, face opposition or lack grassroots momentum.

For example, a bill filed last February by a trio of senators  and backed by the governor  that aimed to close ethics loopholes for big-spending natural gas utilities has gone nowhere. S. 548 was proposed days after an Uncovered story revealed how commissioners at the states five public gas authorities secretly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to send themselves to luxurious retreats in recent years.

But the bill still hasnt received a hearing from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Another bill, H. 3622, would apply the Palmetto States Freedom of Information Act to legislators, who have long guarded their emails and official records from prying eyes. But that proposal, which also has the governors support, is likely a nonstarter for the legislators who write the law.

At one point last spring, Greenville-area legislators were talking about creating a task force to study possible reforms for the areas little-scrutinized special purpose districts. That came after an Uncovered investigation found that top officials at one of those districts, Clear Spring Fire and Rescue in Simpsonville, were accused of stealing public money, promoting a commissioners spouse, showering themselves with perks and retaliating against underlings who questioned them.

But that task force never materialized. Instead, state Rep. Bobby Cox said, legislators had informal talks with special district leaders about what can be done to ensure the problems at Clear Spring dont happen somewhere else.

As a result of the scandal, the Greer Republican said, Greenville legislators have spent more time and effort screening potential commissioners before appointing them to lead special districts.

Its never been done before, Cox said. It was always a rubber stamp.

Cox said he also would push to require more ethics training for public officials at all levels of government. Such training is currently voluntary, often offered when a politician first takes office.

Reasons for hope?

Legislators could face outside pressure to take action on ethics in 2022, especially since it's an election year.

Perhaps with a finger to the political winds, both Gov. McMaster and one of his Democratic challengers, Cunningham, have publicly released their plans to restore South Carolinians faith in government.

In fact, Cunningham made his anti-corruption plan the first policy rollout of his gubernatorial campaign. It includes term limits for all legislators, a ban on campaign fundraising during the legislative session, giving the State Ethics Commission sole jurisdiction to investigate and punish misconduct by legislators, and stopping dark money groups from anonymously influencing elections.

People are fed up with corrupt politics, and South Carolina is rampant with them, Cunningham said in a recent interview.

Especially in an election year, lawmakers would do well to try to position themselves on the right side of any ethics debates, former S.C. Gov. Jim Hodges suggested.

I wouldnt be surprised if some ambitious legislators see promoting that as good for their political careers, Hodges, a Democrat, said. I wouldnt downplay the importance of that. I think youll find there are legislators who have paid close attention to that and see this as an issue they can take on as their own.

But passing ethics reform could also require grassroots activists and voters to contact their legislators and demand change. And building that momentum has been a struggle, said Teague, the League of Women Voters official.

When her group urges residents to call their lawmakers, they often respond that it wont do any good because government is broken beyond repair, Teague said.

Teague said government leaders "should be ashamed they've given the people of South Carolina reason to be cynical."

Perhaps 2022 will be the year to change their minds.
Davis Station business Rickenbaker Gin is at the center of a bankruptcy case in which dozens of farmers and other creditors say they are owed at least $8.3 million. The missing money has spurred a state criminal investigation. Brad Nettles/Staff
Its been two years since Charlestons restaurant industry was turned upside down by the pandemic. As already-short-staffed restaurants are stretched thin by the omicron variant of the virus that continues to surge throughout South Carolina, chefs and owners are working to change operations to fit the new landscape.

Not all change is bad.

Charleston-area owners are using the space inside their own restaurants' four walls more efficiently than ever before, creating new revenue streams in the process. From virtual or ghost kitchens to monthlong Cantonese pop-ups, heres a look at how local eateries are introducing new ideas and keeping their small businesses afloat amid the chaos.

Ghost kitchens

The phrase "ghost kitchen" loosely refers to food operations that lack a physical dining room. These virtual kitchens popularity peaked nationwide in 2020 when takeout and delivery orders were at an all-time high. Some ghost kitchen chefs even kept their identities secret.

In the West Side neighborhood of downtown Charleston, Daps Breakfast & Imbibe owners Nick Dowling and Jeremiah Schenzel arent hiding their identities, but a stack of takeout menus near the cash register is the only sign of their Mamas Boys Sandwich Emporium ghost kitchen.

When people come to Daps, I think now they know its a breakfast spot, said Schenzel, who opened the popular restaurant with Dowling in spring 2018. But if your friend is bringing you to breakfast at 12:30, and you already ate breakfast, you might be looking for something else. And the (Mamas Boys) menu is there. I mean, its still one of those things we dont shove in peoples face. Its kind of like, if you know about it you know about it.

Schenzel and Dowling have always loved sandwiches, but the ones they wanted to make didnt fit into Daps morning menu. They also didnt want to confuse customers and dilute the meaning of Daps, which specializes in breakfast sandwiches, plates and whimsical creations like Captain Crunch pancakes, all of which are made with hyper-local ingredients.

When they realized they could cross-utilize ingredients, debuting Mamas Boys as a virtual kitchen seemed like a no-brainer.

Essentially, youre opening a restaurant inside a restaurant, so how do you operate both at the same time? Theres actually a lot of crossover, especially in this first menu that we did, Schenzel said. It just kind of made sense.

With easy online ordering, the sandwiches cater to West Side residents who want a quick bite to eat in the middle of their work day.

It was really focused for the 9-5 working person whos at their desk, wants something different, can get it delivered, Dowling said. That was really the idea about it; how we can bring more food to other people.

Chucktown Grub owner Nate Tomforde is bringing the same approach to the College of Charleston crowd, even though he refers to his new business as a virtual kitchen. Located inside King Streets Chucktown Brewery, which he owns and opened in fall 2021, Chucktown Grub's operation is similar to Mamas Boys.

Chucktown Grub is divided into six different concepts: Toss It Salads, Rice is Nice, Chuck Cluck, Fresh Wraps, The Big Cheese and Juicy Buns. Customers can order online and pick up their food at 337 King St., next to the brewery it shares a kitchen with.

Variety and selection is what people want, so being able to really pump out just so many different things helps people come back and see us more often, Tomforde said. You get to support local, have a lot of variety and customers down there have the ability to get their food so fast.

Farther North on King Street, the virtual kitchen concept has already proved to be successful at Uptown Social, where ownership first debuted its New York-style sandwich shop, Bodega, in July 2020. After a yearlong run, the Uptown Hospitality Group announced it would open a Bodega brick-and-mortar on Ann Street. Greasy Spoon has since taken Bodega's place at Uptown Social, serving food inspired by New York City diners, like house-made bagels and pastrami hash.

Like most start-up operations, there are bound to be growing pains along the way. After taking Mamas Boys out for weekly pop-ups when it launched, Dowling and Schenzel realized they were better off focusing on takeout and delivery orders for sandwiches like the Ham Melt, a combination of chopped ham, griddled onions, Dukes Mayonnaise, pickles and cheese sauce.

This extra time at the restaurant and closing Mama's Boys and Daps on Wednesdays has freed them up to work on their third venture: Daps Bev. Co., which makes, cans and distributes the 8.7% ABV Daps mimosa with the help of Advintage Distributing.

They liked the product, which was exciting for us because its not something they have in their portfolio, Dowling said. Its not something thats really out there a ton yet.

Because Schenzel and Dowling own a restaurant, they legally have to rely on Ships Wheel Hard Cider in Park Circle to make and can Daps Bev. Co.s mimosas, which are currently available at Bottles Beverage Superstore, Daps and at other local eateries, like Berkeleys and Island Provisions on Johns Island.

The duo eventually plans to roll out more flavors in what they're calling a fruit gang of canned mimosas.

Menu takeovers

On James Island, two restaurants are using kitchen takeovers to test out totally different menus and concepts.

Throughout January, Kwei Fei is swapping its Sichuan menu for Cantonese cuisine reminiscent of what you might find at the Chinese restaurant you visited as a kid. Its the fourth Cantonese kitchen takeover since Kwei Fei opened in 2018, according to chef David Schuttenberg.

We started looking at dips in sales and trying to understand trends, said Schuttenberg, adding that January and August have historically been their slowest months. We thought it would be super interesting to starve our core audience of Sichuan for a month and give something different. What we found is (that) its become our two busiest months.

The Cantonese concept has a name  Lady Xian. Schuttenberg and his wife Tina paid for the branding to bring Lady Xian to life out of fear that their Sichuan menu might become impossible to make given the pandemic-caused supply chain issues.

Frequent trips to H&L Asian Market and even Atlanta have saved Kwei Feis regular menu, Schuttenberg said, but that doesnt mean the future isnt bright for Lady Xian.

The Schuttenbergs are currently shopping for a brick-and-mortar space to serve the Cantonese favorites that are available at Kwei Fei through Jan. 31.

Look for hot and sour soup, Mongolian beef, fried rice and pork lo mein on the menu. More so than the three previous Lady Xian takeovers, Schuttenberg is focusing on food from the Guangdong Province of China.

Im trying to honor the tradition and techniques that I'm reading about and learning about, Schuttenberg said.

One dish that epitomizes this approach is Lady Xians Crystal Chicken, poached and cooked on the bone, chopped into pieces and served at room temperature with ginger scallion dipping sauce. According to Schuttenberg, its on the menu at every Cantonese restaurant in China.

Across the street from Kwei Fei, the reincarnation of a popular pasta pop-up has people lining up at Bar George once a month.

After departing The Ordinary, Bar George chefs Mason Morton and James Ostop launched Lupara at Cuttys in the Cannonborough Elliotborough neighborhood of downtown Charleston. When they landed in the Bar George kitchen, chef and co-owner Alex Lira gave them the go-ahead to bring back the Lupara pop-ups at the restaurant.

So far, Morton and Ostop have hosted three Lupara Sunday Suppers, and theyre planning for more in 2022 starting in February.

The days that we do Lupara are off the walls. Its awesome, Morton said. Something about the chaos of it all kind of adds fuel to the fire.

The duo serves four types of pastas, including their fan-favorite lasagna, at each of the in-house pop-ups. Morton and Ostop say that 30 orders of each pasta is standard for a Sunday Supper.

Unlike Daps, there is little ingredient crossover between Lupara and Bar George, which serves an eclectic menu of oysters, crudos, gourmet hot dogs and Peruvian chicken.

Prep work starts on Monday before each pop-up, when Morton and Ostop develop their menu. The chefs do as much as they can during the week before making the fresh pasta on Saturday or Sunday morning.

Lupara pop-ups start at 5 p.m. and generally sell out by 7:30 p.m., a testament to just how popular it has become, especially among food-and-beverage industry members.

I think one of the things is Lupara fills a niche that already exists but very few people are filling, Morton said.

Consistency is key, but that doesnt have to mean sticking to the same stagnant menu. With these in-house deviations, Charleston restaurants are showing range while paving the way for growth in the future.
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), has signed a trade finance agreement with Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank for a total amount of $15 million.

This will provide Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank the needed funding to meet the growing demand for Shariah compliant trade finance of its private sector clients, including the SMEs.

This is the second line of Trade Finance Facility extended by ITFC to Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank, which is a long-standing partner of ITFC in Uzbekistan. The first facility was extended in 2018 for $15 million, which was successfully utilised by the Bank.

This financing is implemented under the $500 million Framework Agreement signed between the Republic of Uzbekistan and ITFC, with private sector support as one of the main areas of cooperation indicated in the Framework Agreement.

This facility will aim to support the import and pre-export financing needs of Private Sector, including SMEs, in Uzbekistan.

Since joining ITFC in 2019, Uzbekistan has received trade finance and development support across key sectors including agriculture, the private sector, and SMEs.

The private sector clients and SMEs have been supported under 17 Line of Trade Finance Facilities totaling an amount of $166 million.

Abdihamid Aweis Abu, General Manager, Trade Finance signed the partnership on behalf of ITFC with Shukhrat Yakubov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank.

Commenting on the agreement, Abu said: This new agreement reaffirms ITFCs commitment in its long-standing partnership with the Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank and we are confident in the good prospects of our working relation with the bank. We are focused on supporting the private sector, especially SMEs in their post-Covid recovery.-- TradeArabia News Service
GEORGETOWN  William Pierce will shed the "interim" tag and be sworn in as chief for the Georgetown Police Department at the City Council meeting on Jan. 20.

Pierce has been interim since July with police chief Kelvin Waites' retirement after a more than 20-year career in law enforcement.

Since becoming the interim chief, Bill Pierce has been doing an excellent job and I cant think of anyone else more qualified to continue leading the Police Department, engaging the community, and keeping our beloved city safe, Mayor Carol Jayroe said.

Pierce has been deputy chief of police since October 2020 and was with the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office for more than 24 years before that.

He is such a nice, level-headed, genuine person, Jayroe said.

The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Court on Highmarket Street.

Tommy Howard contributed to this report.
GREENVILLE  A Texas-based real estate investment company made its first mark in South Carolina at the start of this year, opening an office in downtown Greenvilles Camperdown development.

New Western expanded into the Upstate and is currently buying, selling properties and networking with the community, general manager of the Greenville office Tim Malley said.

The company buys distressed residential properties then re-sells to local rehabbers with the intention they will remodel and bring it to market. While based in downtown Greenville, New Western will work within about a two-hour radius of Greenville.

With the move into the Palmetto State, the company now has 41 office in 17 states.

"South Carolina is a strategic move for us, co-founder and president of New Western Kurt Carlton said in a statement.

Malley has been with the company since 2018. In his role, he works with acquisition and sales agents and is hiring his team.

The office is located in Falls Tower in the Camperdown development. Malley said they currently have four employees and are hiring "any real estate professional regardless of experience, as long as the person is licensed.

New Western joins other businesses, like accountant firm Elliot Davis and Bank of America, as tenants in the 150,000 square feet of office space in Camperdown.
MOUNT PLEASANT  Sixteen men were charged with various internet-based sex counts against children stemming from a weeklong task force operation detailed by more than a dozen state and local officials.

Operation X-Posed, which took place in early November, sought those on the internet who were soliciting children between ages 12 and 14 for sex, Tyrone Simmons, deputy chief of the Mount Pleasant Police Department, said during a Jan. 18 news conference.

The police department hosted 12 local, state and federal agencies belonging to South Carolinas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Authorities from each of the partner agencies gathered in Mount Pleasant, putting in an 80-hour work week.

The department was responsible for investing its personnel, time and financial resources throughout the operation, providing everything from cars and food to hotel rooms, said Kevin Atkins, an investigator with the S.C. Attorney Generals Office.

When you can go out and arrest people that aim to do our children harm  I mean, what better way to spend your time, he said.

The authorities received special training to conduct the investigations, which involve posing as minors and engaging with potential suspects on social media sites and chat rooms.

Prosecutors were present throughout the operation to ensure each investigation is legally sound and doesnt raise the issue of entrapment, or when law enforcement officers coerce someone into committing a crime.

Much of the work had to be done after the one-week operation when investigators identified and arrested suspects who may not have traveled to the Mount Pleasant area during the actual operation, Atkins said.

Those arrested as part of X-Posed included: John Edgar Arnold; Daryall Lamour Clark; Dylan James Dioguardi; Todd Eric Emery; Kevin R. Gerzema; Paul Andrew Guerry; Charles Alan Hamilton II; David Matthew Hulette; Matthew George Johnson; Andrew Morton Patla Kramer; Michael D. Munib; Brian Frank Murphree; Sabas Morales-Rodriguez; Brandon Lazarus Pelphrey; Devante Jamal Reardon-Williams; and James Davis Wray.

The defendants range in age from 20 to 58. Some were arrested during the weeklong sting while others were identified then but taken into custody as recently as Jan. 17, according to Charleston County jail records.

At least nine of the men have since posted bail and were released from custody.

Hamilton is in Aiken County and awaiting transport to Charleston County, according to a Mount Pleasant police news release.

The defendants face an array of charges, including second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor; criminal solicitation of a minor; first-, second- and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor; and attempting to disseminate obscene material to someone under 18.

Twelve of the 16 men face multiple counts or multiple charges of sex crimes. Half of the defendants traveled to the Mount Pleasant area either during or after the operation.

At least one defendant  Johnson  has faced similar charges before. Mount Pleasant police officers arrested him in November 2020 on one count of second-degree sexual conduct with a minor under 16 and one count of criminal solicitation of a minor, according to jail records.

Johnson was released from the Charleston County jail the following month on personal recognizance bonds, meaning he did not have to pay any money. Both court cases remain pending.

One of the men  Emery  also faces a drug-related charge, according to the news release.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department will continue to conduct these operations, Simmons said. Authorities will keep following leads from X-Posed, and more arrests will be made as a result, he said.

Any arrests made by a task force member which relate to internet crimes against children will be prosecuted by S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilsons office.
Authorities identified the Charleston woman who was killed in a downtown residential fire Jan. 15.

Ethel Jones, 86, died at the residence at 43 Athens Court, according to the Charleston County Coroners Office.

Emergency personnel were dispatched at approximately 3 p.m. for reports of a fire on Athens Court, located off Romney Street between King and Meeting streets.

Residents told first responders that several people might be trapped in the building. Firefighters attacked the blaze while crews searched for victims.

Another occupant and a neighbor who entered the home trying to help were treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.
NORTH CHARLESTON  Authorities identified the North Charleston man who was shot and killed by police early Jan. 16.

Junnie Williams, 35, died at a hospital that day from gunshot wounds, according to the Charleston County Coroners Office. The incident occurred off of Melville Road, the office said.

Officers from the North Charleston Police Department responded to a car break-in at 4 a.m. off of Crossroads Drive, Harve Jacobs, police spokesman, said Jan. 16.

There, police found Williams, who fit the suspects description, who fled from officers. Williams was armed, Jacobs said. It is unclear what weapon Williams had.

Shots were fired while attempting to apprehend the individual, resulting in death of the armed suspect, Jacobs wrote in a news release.

Jacobs said later on Jan. 16 that during a struggle, an officer had tried to apprehend Williams and thats when he was shot.

Police did not confirm whether he was the person involved in the vehicle break-in that morning. They would not release the incident report.

Police reported the incident to the State Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating the case. Standard protocol is that officers involved in a shooting are put on paid administrative leave while SLED investigates.

Jacobs would not release details on how many North Charleston officers were involved and whether any are on leave in connection with the shooting. Jacobs said all inquiries on the case would be deferred to SLED.

SLED also would not answer questions about the shooting death.

No additional information is available from SLED at this time while agents continue to investigate, Ryan Alphin, SLED spokesman, wrote in a statement Jan. 16.

Shadaryl Bassett, who was Williams cousin, said the incident seems as though it were a bad dream.

We have been close ever since we were kids, Bassett said. He was a really big guy. I always called him my bodyguard, but he was also just a big teddy bear.

Bassett lives in Missouri but has been in communication with Williams mother, who was contacted by the Charleston County Coroner, Bassett said.

Bassett said Williams' mother was informed he was suspected of a burglary and there was body-camera footage of the incident, though there were not many other details. A law passed in 2015 requires state and local law officers to wear the devices and agencies to develop policies on their use. But it exempts the videos from open-records requests.

Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary in 2011 and was sentenced to six years in prison, according to court records.

Jail records indicate Williams had several arrests in Charleston County from 2010 to 2015, including some firearms-related charges. Williams complete criminal history, including convictions, was not available on the states online court record system Jan. 17.

Bassett said Williams had served some time and was released from prison in May 2021. Bassett said her cousin had been working different jobs, living with his mother and trying to get his life back together.

Bassett hopes the investigation into Williams death reveals what happened when he was killed. Bassett said the lack of information available to her family and the community leaves her concerned.
MONCKS CORNER  What started as a way to support children of parents with major health concerns has grown into a resource that supports elderly and homeless community members.

"Growing up, they always said it takes a village," Katrina Carpenter, executive director and founder of Jean's Angels, said.

Jean's Angels is a nonprofit based in Moncks Corner that focuses on supporting some of the most at-risk communities in the Lowcountry. It was started in 2014 with Carpenter simply working with children.

Years ago, Carpenter lost her mother, Bobby Jean Smith, to ovarian cancer and her father, Rufus Smith Sr., to heart failure. As an adult, Carpenter said it was hard for her to deal with, so she could only imagine what it would be like for a small child.

While working at a dialysis center, she would routinely run into children who didn't have the chance to travel or do a lot of things because of their parent's health.

"So I would take them to Disney World for a week," Carpenter said.

From there, Jean's Angels was started as a way to support children of parents on dialysis. It was named after her mother.

Over time it would grow to offer tutoring, supporting children of single parents, and those that witnessed domestic violence and gun violence.

Eventually that would expand even further to what it is today. Now, in addition to children, she works with supporting senior citizens in the community through giveaways and pre-pandemic nursing home visits.

The nonprofit also hosts and organizes special dinners for people who are homeless. Gift bags with toiletries items are frequently given away, as well as canned goods

"Our mission is to inspire and put God's love into action," Carpenter said.

Jloundia Pinckney is one of the many individuals that volunteers with Jean's Angels. She is also a longtime resident of Cross in Berkeley County.

Pinckney said she remembers seeing Carpenter as a little girl in the Cross community. She ended up reconnecting with Carpenter through Jean's Angels work for senior citizens.

At one point, Carpenter returned to Cross to gift items to senior citizens. One of those individuals was Pinckney's aunt, who is in her 90s. Pinckney said she was impressed by the quality of items the nonprofit gave away.

Her aunt frequently uses the weighted blanket and heater she got from the organization. As a volunteer, Pinckney said she gets to see firsthand how much work goes into all the work the organization does.

There's not a lot of organizations in Moncks Corner that compare to Jean's Angels, she said.

She gives to people all over the Lowcountry," Pinckney said. I just wish more people would at least be able to give to her.

Carpenter said she is thankful for the support she does get and doesn't have any plans to slow down. Since its creation, Jean's Angels has given away around $200,000 worth of items.

"We are here, we service the Lowcountry," Carpenter said.

In the next six months, the organization will launch a mobile shower space that can be used by people who are experiencing homelessness in the Lowcountry.

For more about Jean's Angels, go to jeanangels.org.
COLUMBIA  U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn said his life was forever changed when he met Martin Luther King Jr. in October 1960.

Clyburn, D-S.C., who is now the House majority whip, met King at a meeting in Atlanta while attending South Carolina State University. Clyburn and other students planned to meet with King at 10 p.m. for an hour. They left the meeting at 4 a.m.

I came out of that meeting a changed person, Clyburn said at the states NAACP event Jan. 17 on MLK Day. I went back to South Carolina State and started reading everything I could about Dr. King.

The holiday memorializes King, a pioneer for civil rights and racial equality across the country. King gave the famous "I Have a Dream'' speech while leading the 1963 March on Washington and was subsequently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King, who was assassinated in 1968 at age 39, would have been 93 on Jan. 15.

Leaders from churches, social justice groups and Southeast representatives for Divine Nine fraternities and sororities spoke at the NAACPs King Day at the Dome event, held virtually in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speakers paid tribute to King's legacy while also recognizing that people of color continue to face racial inequity and barriers impeding voters' rights in South Carolina and the United States.

"Dr. King spent 13 years boycotting, marching, speaking and preaching, demanding that this nation live up to the full promise of its founding documents," said Leon Russell, chairman of NAACP National Board of Directors. "They said 'All men are created equal.' He said: 'Then prove it.' But that check came back marked insufficient funds. Fifty-nine years later, this nation continues to send that check back, uncashed."

In Charleston, Tamara Butler, director of the College of Charleston's Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, told The Post and Courier that people had drawn parallels between the civil rights movement and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.

"We have to understand that there is no need for comparison because they are a part of an arc," Butler said. "At the end of the day, there is a Black freedom struggle, and it has been ongoing from the moment enslaved people landed in the Americas."

Butler said the holiday was a reminder for people to learn more about this fight for Black equality and freedom and called for Charlestonians to learn more about the city's civil rights leaders.

Mayor John Tecklenburg told the newspaper that MLK Day also challenges people to better racial equality in the community.

This holiday, I would offer a challenge to our citizens and to the public at large that 2022 would be a great year to focus on our youth and helping our young adults and kids, Tecklenburg said.

Charleston also celebrated Jan. 17 with its annual MLK Day Parade, hosted by the YWCA Greater Charleston. This was the second year the parade was held virtually because of COVID-19.

Community and business leaders marched across Hampton Park in the recorded event. The event also featured recordings from Lowcountry high school bands.

Back in Columbia, choirs and local artists sang gospel music for the S.C. NAACP's celebration of King. The Smith Sisters, one of the groups that performed, let their resounding voices ring a powerful message: "There is a King in you."
Ask most local restaurateurs, and theyll tell you that staff shortages have been hampering Charleston restaurants for the past five to 10 years.

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the problem into a crisis, and the omicron variant reminded restaurateurs how ongoing staffing struggles, coupled with positive cases, impact daily operations.

In Charleston, King Streets Monza Pizza Bar has been closed since Nov. 6 due to acute staffing shortages." Smallish places like The Pass, a 647-square-foot sandwich shop, have changed operations to limit guest interactions. In Beaufort, a sign from the citys hospitality association cautions patrons that local small businesses are extremely short staffed.

In the first week of January in the Charleston area, Chasing Sage, Jackrabbit Filly, Berkeleys, Wild Olive, Estadio and Home Team BBQ, among others, closed for at least one day due to COVID-19 concerns or to give overworked employees extra time to decompress.

More announcements of temporary closures pop up sporadically on social media. Other restaurants dialed back hours long before the omicron variant.

While COVID-19 continues to be an unpredictable variable, a change in restaurant culture, employee compensation and work environments accelerated by the pandemic could lead to a better future.

Positive tests create chaos

Restaurants with stable staffs continue to be knocked down by COVID-19 two years into the pandemic. Marc Hudacsko, co-owner of Berkeleys in downtown Charleston, experienced it firsthand when positive tests led to the restaurants temporary closure earlier this month.

Its tough to navigate. We are actually staffed pretty well, but with a small staff, even a few positive tests wreaks havoc, Hudacsko said.

Service resumed within days, but another wave of omicron looms over the small neighborhood establishment.

Its hard to know what the right decisions are, but we will always try to do our best to keep our team and our community safe and healthy while still trying to stay open and feed our guests, Hudacsko said.

Shuai and Corrie Wang, owners of Jackrabbit Filly in Park Circle, closed Jan. 6-9 after fully vaccinated staff members tested positive. Missing those days wiped out any chance of the restaurant turning a profit in January, they said.

"We have to worry about making money because we run a business, but that's the last thing we think about," Shuai Wang said. "(We're) just having to make all these hard decisions and hoping it's the right one."

When they are forced to close, the Wangs worry about the hourly line cook who is unable to pull in a paycheck for four days or the server who won't make any tips.

This reality coupled with the chaos of operating a small restaurant in a pandemic has the Wangs questioning the long-term sustainability of their restaurant.

"I just worry that the lack of staffing ... is just (because) no one wants to do it," Corrie Wang said. "And what does that mean for the restaurant industry?"

Finding talent

Nico Romos two Charleston area restaurants, NICO Oysters + Seafood and Bistronomy by Nico, are currently fully staffed, a luxury the longtime chef knows many restaurants dont have.

He estimates 99 percent of his team is composed of friends of friends of staff members who work there. The interviews he has scheduled recently have not gone as planned.

People just dont show up to interviews, Romo said. To me thats the biggest frustration. Thats where it gets you as an owner. I think its just become a bigger problem.

The current climate has Romo concerned about staffing his new 6,000-square-foot Summerville restaurant thats set to open in 2022.

They dont want to come to a job that doesnt have a set opening, Romo said. Im hoping that staffing-wise we may find more people because thats where everybody lives.

Like Romo, Michael Shemtov of Charleston's Butcher & Bee and The Daily has witnessed job candidates not show up for interviews or paid internship opportunities.

"The biggest thing it does is just whittle down morale of the staff," Shemtov said. "They're looking forward to someone joining the team and some help; it's a mental beatdown."

To attract more candidates, Shemtov has turned to hiring advertisements. In a recent month the restaurant group spent $5,636 on ads for Butcher & Bee Charleston and its Nashville location. Diverting this money directly takes away from the restaurants' profitability.

Bringing in less money has its consequences. Plans for upgrades to Butcher & Bee's patio have been pushed aside, and the restaurant temporarily suspended its lunch service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for parts of 2021.

Butcher & Bee and The Daily have also closed for several days in order to give employees mental health breaks. Shemtov, who provides employees with health, dental and vision insurance, a 2 percent IRA match and maternity/paternity leave, says there has been a noticeable shift since his days as a line cook in the '90s.

And that's a good thing.

"Honestly, we were just expected to struggle when I was coming up," Shemtov said. "I'm happy to see the dynamic shifting. I think it's more sustainable long-term that way."

The changes do come at a price, a topic Shemtov will candidly discuss. By adding a 2 percent charge to every check, Shemtov is able to provide those enhanced benefit packages.

Retaining talent

Small staffs have created a scenario in which owners are bearing the responsibility for day-to-day tasks that would normally fall on someone in a supporting role at the restaurant.

Pink Cactus owner Brooke Warden is doing everything in her power to keep employees at her Spring Street restaurant. Currently operating with half of her front-of-house staff, Warden has been constantly forced to reevaluate how best to operate.

During a Jan. 9 interview, Warden, who was at Pink Cactus on the only day the restaurant is closed cleaning its fryer, said the last week of December decimated her slim staff. Employees called out of work at the last minute, a trend that Warden has constantly had to deal with in the past two years.

Especially with (a) small restaurant, if someone doesnt show up for whatever reason, personal things, car problems, then everyone else has to absorb that weight, Warden said. I take that now on myself and I try to absorb a lot of the labor.

Warden described the effort it takes to train new employees. She spends her days in the kitchen cooking scratch-made, labor-intensive dishes, meaning there is little time to show a new staff member the ropes.

Ive had to train people their first day as a server in my restaurant while Im in the kitchen cooking and prepping, Warden said. I dont know how I would be able to run this restaurant every day if I didnt have certain systems.

Warden considers 10 servers a full staff. She hopes to reach that mark by spring, but for now, she made the decision to temporarily suspend the breakfast service she launched midway through 2021.

While many struggle to staff up, some restaurants have found a way to retain talent after contending with high turnover rates at the start of the pandemic.

Nigel Drayton said his three restaurants, Nigels Good Food, Nigels Good Food II and The Slaughterhouse BBQ & Brew, are 80 percent staffed.

Its challenging especially when everyone is looking for hands, Drayton said. We have some people that (were) raised up in the business that are hanging in there and still like it.

Home Team BBQ's five South Carolina locations have had more turnover in the past year and a half than any other in its 16-year existence, but co-owner Aaron Siegel said his staff is as strong as ever. For Siegel, that starts with having dedicated management at each location.

We really focused on just really fighting through and focusing on training and making sure were hiring the right people, he said. I think were in better shape than we have been in a while in terms of the amount of staff that we have and the quality of staff that we have.

Winds of change

Elite kitchens have always stressed discipline, diligence and execution at all costs. If one or two employees couldnt come to work, the evenings service was in danger of crumbling. Grinding through long hours on the way to the top was something food-and-beverage industry workers accepted when they entered the field.

As in other industries, work ethic is paramount in professional kitchens, but employee expectations are changing at some Charleston restaurants.

Acknowledging the shift could bring more people back to the industry.

Warden started paying Pink Cactus workers fair hourly wages with pooled tips, as opposed to the $2.13 per hour, plus tips, that many front-of-house workers make in South Carolina. Drayton has also raised wages at his restaurants.

At Home Team, Siegel has added more paid vacation for hourly workers and raised wages, steps the restaurant was taking prior to the pandemic. Shemtov has increased rates and soon, he hopes to offer paid time off for hourly workers, a benefit rarely seen in the industry.

FIG and The Ordinary chef and owner Mike Lata and his team started to address big-picture industry concerns well before the pandemic. Those conversations have continued in 2022.

In the past few years, wages were raised significantly for all employees at both restaurants. FIG and The Ordinarys opening hours were reduced from six to five days per week, a move that was essential for the high volume of sick leave, employee well-being and maintaining the level of excellence guests have come to expect at both restaurants.

New workflows were developed and chefs were cross-trained in the kitchen, providing them with more diverse skill sets while helping management prepare for times when people couldnt make it to work due to COVID-19 or personal reasons.

Were in this really dynamic, confusing time, and each facet of the business requires such consideration. The employee part has become front and center, even though it always has been for us, Lata said. But weve had to address all these new problems in ways that are fair for everybody while trying to maintain a solvent business.

That has meant carrying more staff and honoring requests off, even if that means the restaurant has to curb demand.

At the restaurants interviewed for this story and others throughout the area, its a daily struggle to figure out how best to operate, especially amid the recent surge of COVID-19.

One positive outcome could be the slowly changing dynamics at Charleston restaurants, trends that some industry experts pointed out earlier this month.

Diners can play a role during this transition period by recognizing that fair wages and more manageable hours for employees might impact the price of their meal, the time it takes food to arrive or the number of days per week their favorite local restaurant stays open.
Nestle has appointed Yasser Abdul Malak as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, effective January 1, 2022.

Nestle Mena provides employment to more than 15,000 people in 19 countries, operates 25 factories across the region, and achieved annual sales of close to USD 3 billion in 2020.

This region is where my journey at Nestle began, and it is really an honor for me to come back here to help grow our business and create shared value for society with our local teams of highly talented and dedicated people, said Malak.

We at Nestle remain committed to living up to our purpose of unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come.

Malak is moving to Dubai from Nestle Turkey where he delivered strong results as CEO and embarked on expansion projects that are already accelerating the companys growth in the country. He has held several leadership positions at Nestle over the years.

He previously served as CEO for Nestles North East Africa Region based in Egypt until he was assigned the role of Dairy Category Head Zone Europe Middle East & North Africa in 2018 at the Nestle headquarters in Vevey.

Malak joined Nestle in Saudi Arabia in 1999. After his first assignment, he moved to the companys regional head office to lead the Maggi business as Senior Brand Manager until mid-2003. He was then appointed Global Marketing Advisor for the Food business in Switzerland. In 2005, he was promoted to head the Food Business in the South East Africa region. Three years later, he returned to the Middle East as Business Executive Officer Food, prior to his assignment as Country Manager.

Malak holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Marketing from the Lebanese American University, and an Executive Development diploma from the IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is a Lebanese national, married, and father of two children.

Malak succeeds Remy Ejel, who joined the global Nestle Executive Board in Vevey, Switzerland, as Executive Vice President and CEO of Zone Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA), which includes the Middle East and North Africa region.-- TradeArabia News Service
WADMALAW ISLAND  The things they find.

The worst was the old toilet, said Michelle Sinkler.

Disgusting.

Her son found a dead opossum inside a beat-up gas canister. Gross.

Sometimes they encounter objects too big to handle themselves, like furniture or mattresses or appliances. So they call Charleston County officials to arrange for their disposal.

The organized effort to keep the roads clear of debris on this rural island began in 2014 and has ramped up ever since. Local residents, frustrated by the unsightly junk tossed out of car windows and piling up on the shoulders of Maybank Highway and Bears Bluff Road, decided to take matters into their own hands, literally.

Sinkler got things started.

One evening, at the Wadmalaw Community Center, someone observed that the island was full of trash. Others at the meeting nodded in affirmation. They all lived in a somewhat remote area with just one way on and off the island. Everyone drove along the same six paved roads, and those roads were getting ugly.

The island, about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide, has less than 3,000 residents who have no traffic lights to obey. The speed limit is 55 mph along Maybank Highway, the main thoroughfare.

Its isolation is not complete. Visitors do come  to the tea plantation or distillery, to launch a boat or get one fixed, to stop into HUM Grocery in Rockville for a sandwich. And theres some commercial activity, too: truckers transporting timber, produce, wine, landscaping material and other goods and supplies to and fro.

The Wadmalaw Convenience Center, a garbage dump, is at 1558 Liberia Road, and that draws people from neighboring Johns Island.

So it was hard to pinpoint just who was responsible for all the rubbish. The only certainty is that it was time to do something about it.

The Wadmalawans consulted with Edisto Island residents who had put together a trash pick-up effort along S.C. Highway 174, and they reached out to Palmetto Pride, South Carolinas litter-fighting organization, for advice.

A small group of volunteers soon became a bevy of 50 or so who, once every three months, would congregate for coffee and doughnuts, then strike out along 2-mile stretches of road to gather the garbage.

It was great, Sinkler said. It was fun. It was an opportunity to forge a sense of solidarity.

But it wasnt enough.

The rubbish accumulated faster than the crews could collect it. So, in 2016, Robert Siedell determined to upgrade the ground plan. This would be a version of Adopt-a-Highway, and the focus would be the initial 2.3-mile stretch of paved road from the Esau Jenkins Memorial Bridge to the fork in the road, where Maybank and Bears Bluff diverge.

Thats the gateway to the island, Siedell said. It sets the tone for the whole thing.

He organized two litter brigades  eight people each, divided into teams of two. He designated Wednesdays and Sundays as cleanup days. The goal was to make trash the exception, not the rule, to remove not just the junk, but the implicit permission to litter in the first place.

Roads strewn with detritus send a psychological message to drivers that its OK to discard their personal debris from the vehicle. In fact, Siedell points out, studies support this notion.

A strong contributor to littering is the prevalence of existing litter, notes the nonprofit Keep America Beautiful. About 15 percent of littering is affected by the environment, or existing litter.

For 18 months, the volunteers answered every careless fling of effluvium with a poke of their pick-up spikes.

It was working, so the brigadiers expanded in numbers and began to work their way along Bears Bluff Road, then farther along Maybank Highway.

It had a downstream effect, Siedell said. Less litter along the gateway resulted in less litter generally.

With the concept proven, he formed in 2018 a formal affiliate of Keep America Beautiful called, understandably, Keep Wadmalaw Beautiful. It was one of 30 or so Beautiful affiliates statewide. Now the group could get essential support from Columbia-based Palmetto Pride. Siedell applied for grants to purchase necessary equipment: pickers, reflective vests, bags, logoed hats.

With that kind of financial support we started expanding, recruiting volunteers, he said.

The brigades multiplied. About 120 people are involved now. Each two-person team is assigned one day a month to spend about an hour and a half along a particular 2-mile stretch of road.

Beginning this year (2021), we have every mile of every major road assigned to a brigade, Siedell said.

The brigadiers, all 21 or older, come from various walks of life. They include teachers and business executives, county workers and judges. Some are native to the island, others newcomers.

The results are visible. The waste has withered.

Martha Smalls, a retired systems analyst for an insurance company, is among the volunteers. Her husband was born on Wadmalaw Island. They settled here in 2010. Smalls lives on Harts Bluff Road and goes walking with friends and neighbors most mornings. She takes a bag along into which she jettisons the jetsam.

So road cleanup has become routine for her. So when a neighbor asked her to join a formal litter brigade, Smalls did not hesitate.

She said she has noticed more garbage on the inbound side of the roads than on the outbound side, and accumulations in certain places, such as the winery, boat ramp or tea plantation.

Sometimes she finds bags or boxes that likely fell out of a vehicle on the way to the dump. Sometimes she finds beer cans of a certain brand, suggesting that someone local is a practiced pitcher of spent matter.

She and the rest of the brigadiers keep at it. The coffee and doughnuts of yore are no more, alas, but they have been replaced with a strong assertion of neighborly pride.

I think that says a lot about where we live, and the people who live here, Smalls said.
Aiken, Lexington and Richland counties were among the fastest growing areas in South Carolina over the past 10 years, adding a combined 71,952 people.

That gain was reflected in U.S. Rep. Joe Wilsons 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses the fast-growing cities of North Augusta and Aiken. Still, its one of four congressional districts in the state that under its current boundaries and with revised districting benchmarks would have to expand due to the even larger growth along the coast.

The recent 2020 Census showed population growth in South Carolina of nearly half a million people, a change of 10.7 percent since 2010. At the county level, that growth was driven in part by York and Lancaster in the upstate and Horry in the east. All three counties outpaced twofold the state's overall growth rate; Horry saw a positive population change nearly three times that of the state average, at 30.4 percent.

But even though District 2 is growing fast, its current boundaries will need to stretch to include another almost 9,400 people while others, notably the 1st District along the coast, will have to contract.

The puzzle has led to a tussle over the boundaries that has largely focused on that coastal 1st District, but as S.C. Rep. Jay Jordan, R-Florence, chair of the House subcommittee on redistricting, noted last week, There is no one change that doesnt ripple across the map and impact any number of other lines.

Different maps

Different proposals for the new congressional maps, which will govern the next 10 years of elections, are now in the state Senate, the House having on Jan. 13 passed an amended map that now will get senators scrutiny.

The proposed maps have received hardly any love by voter advocacy groups that have denounced the proposals for perceived political and racial gerrymandering.

That sentiment again came up Jan. 13 at a Senate subcommittee hearing on its own versions of the map, one of which would divide Charleston and, its detractors argued, cherry pick segments of its population, mostly Black, to lump with those living in Columbia and ensure what Rep. John King, D-York, called a cracked and packed district that would minimize South Carolina's Black vote in Washington.

But proponents argued that the maps were drawn with attention to shared communities of interest, like environmental matters along the coast, transportation projects in the east and inter-county economic ties.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, who has represented the states 2nd Congressional District  including North Augusta and Aiken  since 2001, has already come out in support of a state Senate plan that would redraw congressional boundaries along similar lines to those now snaking through the state and which had been upheld by the Justice Department in 2011.

I dont want to change the lines. People are familiar with who their Congressman is; I would like for there to be some stability, and so Im supporting the state Senate plan, which is minimal change  a couple precincts in Calhoun County and thats all, said Wilson during a press stop at North Augustas Municipal Building on Jan. 7.

The 2nd District is currently short 9,375 people of the targeted 731,204.

The plan favored by Wilson is similar to that passed by the House last week and which is much different from the lower chambers original proposal that would have cleaved Beaufort County from the 1st and added it to the 2nd District.

The 1st District, now held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, has changed party hands twice since 2018 and in close elections: the past two congressional races were decided by a margin of just 2 percentage points.

The Princeton Gerrymandering Project determined that under the Houses original plan, Maces district would have remained competitive by removing more conservative Beaufort County, adding a portion of Colleton County and making some Berkeley County swaps with District 5.

But under the alternative plan, now approved by the House, the Project determined, no Congressional district in South Carolina would be competitive, and Maces Charleston-based district would become more comfortably Republican.

An "I-20 District"

But how will redistricting shake out in the 2nd District? Wilson has held the district since 2001 and has routinely drawn 55-60 percent of the vote. The district has also predictably elected a Republican representative every election cycle since 1964, when then Rep. Albert Watson switched his party affiliation to the GOP.

Wilson, speaking in North Augusta earlier this month, said that those areas of his district that might not be politically positive, for him  like Orangeburg and those parts of Richland he now holds  weren't any reason to alter his district in a largescale way, as the original House plan had proposed.

The district that I represent was only short 8,000 people. And thats simple  you either add 8,000 from Newberry or 8,000 from Calhoun, and you dont have to do anything more, he said.

The first House plan, that released early in December, had proposed to eliminate Orangeburg and Richland from the 2nd District entirely  net positives for Wilson politically  while extending his district from Aiken County down the western edge of the state and picking up three counties currently held by Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn in the 6th District.

The House plan now in the Senate still removes Orangeburg from District 2 but leaves parts of Richland in it, while one of the Senate proposals leaves both Orangeburg and parts of Richland with Wilson, who has called his district an "I-20 District."

The plan now sanctioned by the House had prompted a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union two days after the map was first made public in December. The ACLU is alleging racial gerrymandering in its proposed boundaries. The plan presents minimal changes to any congressional district in South Carolina and, its proponents say, keeps communities of interest together better than would the alternative options.

Still, some of those who called in to the Senate subcommittee hearing last Thursday said they were convinced that should the alternative House plan or the Senate version dividing Charleston County be passed and then signed by Gov. Henry McMaster, that the fight would then fall to the courts and become even more delayed as the late March candidate filing period nears.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Democratic state Rep. Spencer Wetmore of Folly Beach will deliver the party's response to Republican Gov. Henry McMasters State of the State address on Jan. 19.

Our policies under the governors leadership have relied too much on fear and division," she said in a media statement from House Democrats. "Its time we take action for the working families of South Carolina instead of paying lip service to extremist politics. I am looking forward to outlining a different vision for South Carolina on Wednesday night.

Wetmore was first elected to the House District 115 seat in an August 2020 special election, flipping it from GOP control after Peter McCoy left to become U.S. attorney for South Carolina.

The district covers parts of James Island and Folly Beach.

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The governor will appear on SCETV beginning at 7 p.m. to deliver his annual statement. Wetmore will speak live directly following McMasters address.

Wetmore, an attorney, previously served as Folly Beach city administrator and as a prosecutor for the Charleston County Solicitors Office.

The speeches will be simulcast on all SC Public Radio stations and the agencys Facebook and YouTube platforms.
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott is writing a new memoir to be released this summer that will focus on a hopeful vision for America and relay his personal story of being raised in South Carolina.

The publication comes shortly before he will be up for reelection in November.

The book, "America, A Redemption Story," will be released by Thomas Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. It is set to hit shelves in August.

There are two words that define me, Scott said in a statement through his publisher. Twin lenses through which I view the world. These two words have shaped every stage of my life: hope and redemption. No matter how great the darkness, these truths always light the way home."

Scott, a Republican, is the first African American to be elected to both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and has spoken frequently about his upbringing in South Carolina on the national stage.

Facing a safe bet for reelection in 2022, the North Charleston native has raised millions to become Congress second-leading fundraiser as he closes out the year, and is regularly mentioned among the list of top prospects for president in early polling for the 2024 Republican primaries.

Scott told The Post and Courier last year that hed support former President Donald Trump if he makes a run for a second term in the White House, curbing some speculation the South Carolina Republican could himself be a 2024 candidate.

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Three Democrats have announced bids against him this year: Catherine Fleming Bruce, a Columbia author and preservationist; state Rep. Krystle Matthews of Ladson; and Angela Geter, a Spartanburg accountant.

The announcement of Scott's memoir does notably capitalize on the Republicans' skyrocketing national profile.

Were honored to work with Senator Scott on this project and his impactful vision for America, said Tim Paulson, vice president and publisher of Nelson Books. His story will undoubtedly break down stereotypes and inspire readers from all walks of life.

Scott's other books include Opportunity Knocks: How Hard Work, Community, and Business Can Improve Lives and End Poverty, which was published in 2020, and "Unified: How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope for a Divided Country" which he wrote with former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy in 2018.

Scott was also a contributor to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's book "American Strength: Conservative Solutions Worth Fighting For," which was released through her non-profit last month.

In Haley's book, Scott recalls the 2015 shooting death of Walter Scott, a Black motorist, at the hands of a White police officer in North Charleston, and lays out the times he has tried to pass police reform bills in Washington.
Macron assures Putin of negotiated solution to Ukraine conflict 04 May 2022 | 1:32 AM Moscow, May 3 (UNI/Sputnik) French President Emmanuel Macron assured President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Tuesday of his commitment to advance a negotiated peace process in Ukraine. see more..

Obesity in Europe at epidemic proportions: WHO 04 May 2022 | 1:28 AM Geneva, May 3 (UNI) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said that obesity rate in the European region are at "epidemic proportions". see more..

US Supreme Court to investigate leak of draft opinion on abortion rights 04 May 2022 | 1:13 AM Washington, May 3 (UNI/Xinhua) The US Supreme Court will launch a probe into the leak of a draft opinion on abortion rights, a statement said on Tuesday. see more..

Trump pays $750,000 to settle illegal misused fund lawsuit 04 May 2022 | 12:19 AM Washington, May 3 (UNI/Sputnik) The Trump Organization and Donald Trumps Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) have agreed to pay $750,000 to Washington, DC to settle allegations former President Donald Trump illegally misused funds to enrich the Trump family, Washington, DC Attorney General Karl Racine said on Tuesday. see more..
Today it takes three shots to be fully vaccinated; who knows how many it will take in the future? Britains Dr. Clive Dix throws cold water on the idea that we can vaccinate covid into oblivion:

Dr. Clive Dix, who played a key role in helping pharmaceutical firms create the COVID-19 vaccines, told LBC radio on Jan. 16: The Omicron variant is a relatively mild virus. And to just keep vaccinating people and thinking of doing it again to protect the population is, in my view, now a waste of time. Dix said the focus now should be on protecting vulnerable people, such as those over 60, 2 percent of whom remain unvaccinated.

Most people hoped that the vaccines would stop transmission of the coronavirus. Remember herd immunity? But they dont, so where are we now?

Though he supports the ongoing booster campaign, he said he has been critical of boosting everybody as he is not convinced it was needed or is needed for younger people. Dix said, I think the thinking of the time was very much to stop infection and transmission where clearly these vaccines dont do that.

More broadly, with vaccinations providing limited protection for six months or perhaps less, what is the most viable strategy for the future?

Dix told The Observer newspaper last week that mass vaccination against COVID-19 should come to an end and the UK should focus on managing it as an endemic disease like flu. We now need to manage disease, not virus spread, he said. So stopping progression to severe disease in vulnerable groups is the future objective. The UK governments medical advisers have already acknowledged that it is untenable to jab the population every three or six months. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UKs chief scientific adviser, said on Jan. 3 that it is not the governments long-term view to give everyone a booster vaccine every few months. Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and chair of the governments Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told The Telegraph that its not sustainable or affordable to vaccinate the planet every four to six months.

That seems rather obvious. So what is left? First, continuing to protect the vulnerable, i.e., the very elderly and the immunocompromised, through vaccination and other means, like quarantine (them, not the rest of us).

Second, focusing on identification and development of effective treatments. I fail to understand why relatively little attention has been paid to treatment, as opposed to futile efforts to prevent the virus from spreading. Now that Dr. Fraudci has admitted that covid will eventually infect just about everybody, perhaps a long-overdue focus on treatment will ensue.

And, finally, accepting the fact that covid, like the common cold, which is also a group of coronaviruses, will be with us indefinitely. Happily, it is a relatively benign virus, especially in the current omicron variant and most likely in future versions, as viruses tend to become less dangerous over time. (The virus doesnt want to kill you or make you sick enough to stay home; it wants you feeling pretty good and walking around, spreading the virus to others.) Once we get over politically-inspired and media-driven hysteria, living with covid should be more or less indistinguishable from living with the common cold.
When the authorities let the Minneapolis Police Departments Third Precinct headquarters burn following the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020, all hell broke loose. Thugs from all over the state made their way to the Twin Cities to participate in the orgy of riots, destruction and looting that spread throughout the Twin Cities.

One such participant was Montez Terriel Lee, Jr. Lee came up to the Twin Cities from Rochester to get in on the action on May 28. Equipped with a gasoline can for the occasion, Lee was part of a small group that broke into the Max It Pawn Shop on East Lake Street in Minneapolis. They looted the pawn shop. Lee poured out a can of gasoline and ignited a fire that consumed the shop.

Videos captured the action. Lee was proud of it. Filmed outside the shop as it burned, Lee commented: Fuck this place. Were gonna burn this bitch down.

Bystanders knew someone had been caught in the fire. Two months later the authorities found Oscar Lee Stewart, Jr. in the charred remains of the pawn shop. The Star Tribune covered that part of the case here.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner found that Stewart had probably died of injuries and smoke inhalation as a result of the fire. I take it that Stewart himself was unlawfully in the pawn shop at the time of his death.

Lee is not a good citizen. At the time of the arson, he had a rap sheet with convictions for burglary, assault, violation of a no contact order, and theft of property. Indeed, Lee was under a sentence for the prior assault in Olmsted County (Rochester). He is that kind of guy.

Lee pleaded guilty to the arson charge. He committed felony murder in the process of the arson. Federal sentencing guidelines suggested that a sentence of 20 years was appropriate, but the prosecutor argued for 12.

Alpha News posted the prosecutors sentencing memo online here. At page 3 the prosecutor included two video screenshots of Lee in action.

Reasonable minds can disagree about the appropriate sentence. However, the prosecutors rationale for leniency is, shall we say, troubling (citation omitted):

The Guidelines state that departure below this range is not ordinarily appropriate. However this is an extraordinary case. The United States therefore seeks a downward variance, and a sentence of 144 months. Mr. Lees motive for setting the fire is a foremost issue. Mr. Lee credibly states that he was in the streets to protest unlawful police violence against black men, and there is no basis to disbelieve this statement. Mr. Lee, appropriately, acknowledges that he could have demonstrated in a different way, but that he was caught up in the fury of the mob after living as a black man watching his peers suffer at the hands of police. As anyone watching the news world-wide knows, many other people in Minnesota were similarly caught up. There appear to have been many people in those days looking only to exploit the chaos and disorder in the interests of personal gain or random violence. There appear also to have been many people who felt angry, frustrated, and disenfranchised, and who were attempting, in many cases in an unacceptably reckless and dangerous manner, to give voice to those feelings. Mr. Lee appears to be squarely in this latter category. And even the great American advocate for non-violence and social justice, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stated in an interview with CBCs Mike Wallace in 1966 that weve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. Lily Rothman, What Martin Luther King Jr Really Thought About Riots, Time Magazine (2015), https://time.com/3838515. In light of these circumstances, the analysis of the Guidelines does not appear appropriate.

Judge Wilhelmina Wright sentenced Lee to 10 years last week. The Star Tribune covers the sentencing here.

I wrote warmly about Judge Wright when she was confirmed in 2016. The Star Tribune story gives virtually no sense of her view of the case. I dont know whether she bought some part of the prosecutors all-in-a-good-cause rationale. If she did, however, that is troubling too.
It is not news that todays so-called civil rights movement has turned fully away from Martin Luther Kings vision of a color-blind America. Todays evidence comes from Psychology Today magazine:

Colorblind Ideology Is a Form of Racism

Monnica T Williams Ph.D.

At its face value, colorblindness seems like a good thingreally taking MLK seriously on his call to judge people on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. It focuses on commonalities between people, such as their shared humanity.

However, colorblindness alone is not sufficient to heal racial wounds on a national or personal level. It is only a half-measure that in the end operates as a form of racism.
One of the signs that Ronald Reagan noted as an indication that the Soviet Union had entered a state of advanced decrepitude socially and economically were news reports in late 1980 in both the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times about three separate freight trains bound from Moscow to Odessa that simply disappeared, victims apparently of piracy.

One wonders whether Russia, currently contemplating reassembling the Soviet empire starting with the Ukraine perhaps at any moment, is looked out at events in the United States and wondering if were slipping into a similar decadence and decrepitude. I refer to the shocking photos out of Los Angeles of widespread thievery from freight trains.

Even the Los Angeles Times has noticed:

Union Pacific has complained directly and bluntly to LAs soft-on-crime district attorney George Gascon, who does nothing. See especially the circled part on the second page, which is unusually blunt for a private company:

This is liberal America, 2022.
My friend who reads the New York Times called my attention to this frontpage piece about tension between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. Its by Times stalwarts Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Martin, who probably had plenty of fun writing it.

They report that Trump has become unhappy with DeSantis because the Florida governor wont say hed step aside if, as seems likely, Trump decides to run for president in 2024. According to the Times, Trump believes (with justification, I think) that he put DeSantis on the map. From this, Trump concludes (without justification, I think) that DeSantis should not stand in the way of the former presidents future political ambitions.

Trump hasnt yet blasted DeSantis by name. However, he ripped gutless politicians who dodge the question of whether they have been vaccinated against covid, fearing blowback from vaccine skeptics. DeSantis hasnt said whether hes received anti-covid shots.

The answer is Yes, Trump said in an interview last month, but they dont want to say it because theyre gutless  you got to say it, whether you had it or not, say it.

I agree with Trump. Governors who have been vaccinated should say so to reassure the public that the vaccine is safe. Governors who reject the vaccine out of safety or other concerns should share those concerns with their constituents.

Meanwhile, DeSantis, presumably responding to Trumps pointed remarks about vaccination and guts, criticized Trumps early response to the pandemic, in which he backed lockdowns. According to the Times, DeSantis said he regretted not being more vocal in his complaints.

Its fair, I suppose, to criticize Trumps early support of lockdowns. However, were talking here about March and April of 2020, before much was known about the Wuhan coronavirus and how its spread might be stopped or slowed. Everyone was shooting in the dark back then.

That DeSantis is looking at the matter with 20-20 hindsight is clear. He admits not being vocal enough in his complaints.

But its actually worse than that, from an anti-lockdown perspective. DeSantis issued a stay-at-home order in April 2020.

From where I sit, then, Trump has the better of his jousting with DeSantis on covid. But then, the jousting isnt about winning my support which, by the way, would go to DeSantis in a contest against Trump. Its about winning support from people whose views on vaccination and, to some extent, lockdowns diverge from mine.

Meanwhile, Haberman and Martin couldnt resist providing Ann Coulters entertaining take on the Trump-DeSantis mini-clash. Coulter tweeted:

Trump is demanding to know Ron DeSantiss booster status, and I can now reveal it. He was a loyal booster when Trump ran in 2016, but then he learned our president was a liar and con man whose grift was permanent.

Contacted by the Times for more commentary, she added:

Trump is done. You guys should stop obsessing over him.

This strikes me as wishful thinking. Trump isnt done and even if were, the Times wouldnt stop obsessing over him.
Crude prices could rise further amid tighter supplies, Vitol, the world largest independent oil trader, has said.

These prices are justified, Mike Muller, head of Asia for Vitol Group, told Bloomberg in an interview.

Strong backwardation is very much justified, he said, referring to a bullish pattern whereby near-term futures are more expensive than later ones.

Crude oil has already gained 10 percent since the start of the year, amid expectations that it could gain more.

Mr Muller added that unlike natural gas, whose high price has already prompted lower consumption for some industrial users, oil has yet to reach that price level.

People will abstain from buying expensive energy at some point, Mr Muller said of the gas sector at an industry webinar.

The question is at what point that affects the oil market, he added.

Crude oil prices recorded its longest winning streak since October, amid reports that China will release oil from its strategic reserve next month.

Analysts fear that this could disrupt the rally, but things have remained bullish.

The rise in crude oil prices remains significant in Nigeria, especially among its policy makers.

Last December, the National Assembly approved a N17.126 trillion ($38 billion) budget for 2022, anchored on an oil price benchmark of $62 per barrel. The oil price outlook was quite higher than the $57 per barrel price that President Muhammadu Buhari proposed to the parliament on October 7.

While oil exports account for about 80 per cent of Nigerias foreign exchange revenue, the country has battled with a sharp drop in revenue amid a drop in production.

Although rising crude price should signify higher revenues, Nigerians do not get the full benefits of the bullish pattern because a large portion of the the revenues are pumped into petrol subsidies.

Between January and November 2021, subsidy rose to N1.16 trillion, according to data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

Brent crude reached a two-month high last week, trading at $86.06 per barrel as of press time Tuesday morning.

WTI traded at over $83 per barrel as of 9:28am Tuesday.

Mr Muller noted that the White House may decide to release more crude oil from the strategic petroleum reserve, on top of the 50 million barrels announced in November last year.

The markets saying: More, please, he told Bloomberg.
The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) says the country will commence exportation of rice in the near future to engender the twin benefits of food security and economic diversification.

Ado Hassan, Secretary of the Kano State chapter of RIFAN, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the unveiling of the mega rice pyramids in Abuja.

NAN reports that the pyramids, to be unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari, is a joint project between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under its Anchor Borrowers Programme, and RIFAN.

Mr Hassan dispelled insinuations that the rice pyramids on display were not solely rice, adding that the commodity was brought in by rice farmers in virtually all states of the country.

The rice here is from all over the country. RIFAN has always been real, it is not possible to deceive 200 million Nigerians with a project like this.

For the fact that Nigeria has not imported even a grain of rice in the last four years is enough prove that we are already self sufficient in the commodity. The cultivation of rice is a reality and it will continue to happen, he said.

Mr Hassan said that Nigeria had become the highest rice growing country in Africa due the support of the Federal Government and the intervention of the CBN.

There was a time when the CBN was spending N1billion to support rice import bills. Today the apex bank is no longer spending a kobo to support importation of rice.

Today, Nigeria has become the highest rice grower in the whole of Africa. That is a great achievement.

We have leaders of some of our neighbouring countries who are coming here today to see our miracle in rice. They are a sure market for our rice exportation, he said.

He added that although insecurity was a set back, it has not discouraged farmers from cultivating different.
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, granted the Dubai-based Nigerian internet celebrity, Ismailia Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, bail, with strong conditions.

The judge said Mompha, 42, would be granted a bail of N200m with two sureties. She also added that upon the submission of his international passport, Mompha should be remanded in prison until he meets his bail conditions.

Defence

In defence of the accused, the defendant, Boyega Oyewale, revealed that his client had contracted COVID-19, and spent more time seeking medical treatment, which was the cause of exceeding the 14 days granted him.

Mr Oyewale noted Mompha could not maintain a constant visit to the EFCC as ordered by the court because of COVID-19 and the End SARS protest.

However, the defendant noted that his client walked by himself to the anti-graft agency, where he was arrested.

The case was adjourned to March 28 and 29, for further hearings.

Background

The anti-graft agency arrested Mompha on January 10 and arraigned him on January 13 at the Ikeja Special Offences Court.

Mompha was arrested shortly after he announced his arrival to Nigeria with an Instagram photo captioned, About to make some billions in Lagos.

He is standing trial on eight counts bordering on laundering funds obtained through unlawful activities and retention of alleged proceeds of the crime.

Recall that Mompha had earlier been arrested on October 18, 2019, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while boarding an Emirates Airline Flight to Dubai by the staff of the Nigeria Immigration Service, following a watchlist by the EFCC.

Allegations

Mompha is concurrently standing trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos, alongside Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an amended 22-count charge bordering on cyber fraud and money laundering to the tune of N32.9 billion brought against him by the EFCC.

The Prosecution counsel, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, noted that despite standing court trial, Mompha is in the habit of defying court orders, which warranted the EFCC to arrest and remand him in their custody.

Mr Oyedepo noted that contrary to the judgement of Chukwujeku Aneke, a judge at the Federal high court, (now transferred to Kano,) Momphas international passport was released on July 27, 2020, for him to travel to the United Arabe Emirates for medical purposes and sundry purpose for 14 days.

However, defying the conditions of his bail, Mompha had engaged in multiple travels and has failed to return his International passport as against the 14 days ultimatum given to him by the court.

The prosecution counsel also stated that other conditions for Momphas bail then was that he would continually visit the EFCC office to facilitate further investigations, which he had failed to comply with for the past seven months.
New Delhi, Jan 18 (UNI) The Congress on Tuesday slammed the Modi government over the raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Punjab, including the residence of a nephew of state Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, branding the agency as an 'Election Department'.

"Conducting an ED raid is BJPs favourite weapon because they themselves have things to hide. Not everyone is like you. We have no fear," former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet with the hashtag 'BJP fake raid', in an apparent reference to the ED raids at several locations in Punjab.

Earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "Sensing its defeat in the upcoming Assembly polls, the Modi government and BJP have sent the Enforcement Directorate to take revenge against a Dalit Chief Minister in a five-year-old case. ED has become the 'Election Department'."
Members of the House of Representatives will on Tuesday resume plenary after their 27 days Christmas/New Year holiday.

The federal lawmakers proceeded on the holiday on December 21. Before the holiday, they had worked on and passed some resolutions and important bills including the controversial Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Upon resumption, the lawmakers are expected to continue with some unfinished businesses, engage in some more crucial matters and pass bills, especially with their tenure drawing closer to an end.

Although, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had promised that the lower chamber will work until its final day, there is the likelihood that they may be slowed down by political activities which have picked up in the last few weeks.

By the time we resume next year, we will be closer to the end of our tenures, with national elections rapidly approaching. In the past, election years have witnessed a decline in governance activities as political pursuits cloud the calendar. That will not be the case this time around, Mr Gbajabiamila had said.

This is one promise that may be hard to keep, considering that the House had struggled last year to meet up its 181 sitting days stipulated by the constitution.

Nevertheless, the lawmakers are expected to attend to some unresolved issues and work on important bills that may impact on the lives of Nigeria.

Some of the issues are:

Electoral Bill

Before the House embarked on holiday in December, President Muhammadu Buhari notified the lawmakers of his decision to reject the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which the National Assembly had in November passed and transmitted to him for assent.

The controversial clause 87, which is stalling the bill, was proposed by the Speaker, hence, the House has a major stake in the consideration of the clause. However, it appears the House is divided on the direct primaries

On the day Mr Buhari rejected the bill, the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) had moved that the House should consider the bill by removing the controversial direct primary clause the president raised concerns over. He argued that lawmakers can suspend their rules, re-consider the bill and pass it on the same day.

Mr Gbajabiamila while responding to the point of order moved by the minority leader, said the lawmakers should go back to their respective constituencies and consult with their constituents. He added that such urgency will be futile because the Senate must also concur with the House.

Aside from the rejection, it has also emerged that the bill has drafting-errors as exposed by some civil society organisations. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the CSOs had in letters addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker, highlighted 10 errors in the legislation. Some of the errors range from grammatical to cross-referencing inconsistency.

When the lawmakers resume on Tuesday, Nigerians expect them to expedite action on the bill. It is unclear what the lawmakers will do. Will they override the president as advocated by some or remove the direct primary clause in compliance with the thinking of the president?

Mr Buhari had stated that he is willing to sign the bill if the controversial direct primary clause is expunged.

Constitution Amendment Bill

Another issue that will engage the attention of the lawmakers is the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

Time appears to be running against the exercise.

Last year, the House committee led by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, held public hearings across the six geopolitical zones, to get the positions of Nigerians on the bill.

The lawmakers will have to be concerned about time, because of the long procedure involved.

For the constitutional amendments to become law, the two chambers of the National Assembly must support such bill with 2/3 of members of the respective chamber, then a minimum of 24 state Houses of Assembly must also approve the alterations made before it is transmitted to the president for signature.

As it stands, the 9th Assembly has less than 17 months to complete the constitutional alteration process, bearing in mind that electioneering may ikely disrupt governance.

Several bills to alter the 1999 constitution are currently before lawmakers. Some on devolution of power, state police, diaspora voting rights, independent candidacy, extra-seats for women, are among the constitutional alteration bills before the Green Chamber.

In the wake of recent opposition to the creation of state police by Mr Buhari, Nigerians will be keen to see how the lawmakers treat the state police bill.

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In July 2021, the federal lawmakers had passed for second reading a bill by Luke Onofiok (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) which seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution by allowing states to create and maintain a police force.

Earlier in June, the House had passed for second reading a bill by Anthony Afe, which seeks to give legal backing to the creation of state security outfits by states.

In the 8th Assembly, Mr Gbajabiamila had sponsored a bill on state police. The bill sought to allow states to establish police force, however, the bill did not succeed in that Assembly.

The lawmakers will have to commence work as soon as possible for these bills to stand a chance.

Insecurity

The House may make fresh moves towards abating the nations security challenges, which appear to have defied solution. There were bloody incidents in some parts of the country since the lawmakers went on holiday.

For instance, on January 7 while the lawmakers were on holiday with their families, over 200 Nigerians were killed in Zamfara State.

Unfortunately, motions on carnage are not new to the federal lawmakers. Motions on insecurity or killings have turned to weekly issues in the House.

While the expectation on the lawmakers is remarkably low, it is expected that there will be more legislative interventions on security.

Last year, the lawmakers in the lower chamber held a security summit. The summit produce about 19 actions the lawmaker opined will address insecurity in Nigeria.

According to Mr Gbajabiamila, the resolutions from the summit have been transmitted to the president for action, while others that require legislation will be addressed by the lawmakers. It is unclear how fast will the lawmakers act on these.

Recovered loot report

In May, an ad-hoc committee investigating the status of recovered loots started the probe into all the asset recovered by the government.

In the first 10 sittings, the committee had in attendance the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Zainab; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa; the Customs Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali and several others.

During the investigation, several ministries, departments and agencies were queried by the committee, notably Mr Malami, whose office was indicted for spending from the recovered loot account, and the Accountant-General of the Federation for approving money from the account without appropriation by the National Assembly.

Promise to reduce number of MDAs

Before embarking on holiday in December, Mr Gbajabiamila had promised Nigerians that the House will consider legislative intervention in the cost of governance by reducing the number MDAs in the country.

At the same time, we must begin also to consider options for merging agencies where there is a significant overlap in functions and responsibilities, and scrapping other institutions where their utility is no longer apparent, Mr Gbabiamila had said while reacting to complaints of poor funding by MDAs during budget defence exercise.

It is unclear how the House intends to achieve this feat. Perhaps the House plans to adopt the Steve Oronsaye report submitted to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, which listed several MDAs to be merged or scrapped. In 2019, the Federal Executive Council was directed by Mr Buhari to review the Oransaye report.

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dasuki Arabi, had said that after the review, the report will go to the National Assembly (NASS) because most of the agencies to be scrapped or merged have enabling laws. So, they must look at those laws and repeal them before we have the new agencies.

Agencies of government are created to address specific issues at a time; just like the Gurara Water Commission that came on board when Abuja was being created; the dam has been built, we have been using the water, I think they should ease off.

However, despite outcry over poor funding of MDAs, PREMIUM TIMES had reported how lawmakers continue to introduce establishment bills for new ones.

The lawmakers will have to address many of these issues and others in 2022.
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has engaged the services of a prominent lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, to strengthen his defence team in his trial on terrorism charges.

This came on the heels of the amended charges filed against Mr Kanu by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, scaling up the number of counts from 7 to 15.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was seen alongside Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a leading counsel for Mr Kanu, at the Federal High Court premises in Abuja.

I am now a member of the legal team, Im leading this morning, Mr Ozekhome confirmed to a PREMIUM TIMES reporter after taking his seat at the front row of Binta Nyakos court, the trial judge, on Tuesday morning.

Mr Ozekhome, a vocal critic of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, often lambasting it for its poor human rights records, arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja with a retinue of lawyers.

Mr Ejiofor confirmed to journalists that changes have been effected in the defence team in view of the new challenges from the federal government.

At about 9: 30 a.m, Emmanuel Kanu, the IPOB leaders younger brother, arrived at the courtroom in company with his wife, their toddler, to observe the days proceedings.

The younger Kanu donned in the Igbo ethnic attire, Isiagwu with a cap to match, struggled to get seats with his wife and baby clinging to a family member as the courtroom appeared full in line with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

While Mr Kanu arrived at the courtroom at 9: 47 a.m., the trial judge, Mrs Nyako, resumed sitting at 9: 55 a.m.

Security tighter around the court

Security presence at the court premises was heavier than previous sittings, as vehicular and human traffic was completely diverted from the Federal High Court and adjoining streets.

Armed hooded State Security Service (SSS) and police operatives manned strategic locations around the court as they turned people away from the court.

Lawyers and journalists have extreme difficulty accessing the courtroom despite being accredited to cover the days proceedings on Tuesday.
At least 16 people have been confirmed killed in an attack on Friday by suspected bandits in the Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The police spokesperson in the state, Nafiu Abubakar, said two soldiers, a police officer and 13 residents were killed during the attack at Dankade village.

The police spokesperson also debunked reports on some news platforms that 50 deaths were recorded in the incident.

Mr Abubakar, who confirmed the figure to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said, The incident happened on Friday around 3.00 p.m.

He said suspected bandits, believed to be from Zamfara, invaded the community and unleashed terror on civilians and the security personnel.

On hearing of the invasion, the police patrol teams mobilised to the village and engaged them in a gun duel resulting in the loss of one of our police officers and two army personnel.

Thirteen civilians were killed, and we also eliminated an unknown number of bandits in the duel.

Mr Abubakar said the bandits also set some houses ablaze.

He said an investigation had commenced and called on the general public to assist the command with relevant information to facilitate the arrest of the bandits.

The spokesperson said that the police, with the support of members of the public, would evolve strategies to prevent the recurrence of such attacks.

There have been cases of killings and adductions by bands of armed bandits in Kebbi as in some other states in the Nigerian Northwest.

Last year, over a hundred students were kidnapped from a secondary school in Yauri, some of whom were only recently released after months in captivity with the bandits.
Nigerian federal lawmakers resumed legislative activities for 2022 at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The lawmakers had embarked on a four-week break on December 22, 2021, to observe the Christmas and new year holidays. The break was sequel to the passage of the 2022 budget and the Finance Bill. It also followed the rejection of the Electoral Amendment Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, an act which had brewed tension among lawmakers  many of whom were willing to override the presidents decision.

In 2021, the lawmakers treated key legislations like the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill and the Electoral Bill, among others.

The new year brings closer the end of the ninth assembly and as lawmakers resumed legislative activities on Tuesday, here are a few things to expect:

2022 Budget (Amendment)

Although the 2022 budget was signed by the president on December 31, there will be some amendments to it, at least so the president has said.

The N17.01 trillion budget for the 2022 fiscal year was passed by the lawmakers shortly before closing for the year and was signed days later by Mr Buhari. The president had queried the lawmakers for inserting 6,576 new projects worth about N37 billion in the budget.

He also complained that they slashed the allocations for many strategic capital projects to introduce Empowerment Projects.

Mr Buhari, however, noted that he had reluctantly signed the budget to enable implementation to start from January and would revert to the National Assembly with a request for amendment and/or virement when the lawmakers resume from their current recess.

The Senate is expected to prioritise these amendments to the budget to enable early implementation.

Electoral Amendment Bill

Months after it was passed by the National Assembly and rejected by the president, this legislation still remains the talk of the town for many Nigerians especially as the 2023 general elections draw near.

The bill seeks to resolve issues regarding the use of modern technologies in the electoral process and prescribe a particular mode of primary election for political parties to choose candidates seeking elective offices.

In the bill, the National Assembly allowed the use of electronic voting and transmission of results from polling units, at the discretion of the electoral umpire, INEC. They also approved that direct primaries be the only mode of primary election for political parties  a clause the president was not comfortable with and the reason he cited for declining assent to the bill.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how over 73 lawmakers had agreed to override the presidents decision but by the following day, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said they would consult with their counterparts at the House of Representatives before making a final decision.

With the legislation now back at the National Assembly, Nigerians hope the lawmakers will either make the necessary changes to the bill and send it back to the president for assent or override his veto.

Constitution Review

The amendment of the 1999 Constitution is underway. It would be the fifth alteration to the main Nigerian law.

The process which has been on for over a year, has attracted criticisms and commendations from Nigerians.

About N1 billion has been allocated to the constitution review committee for the whole process. And public hearings were held for this purpose  of which many recommendations were made by stakeholders.

Some of the recommendations include calls for restructuring, gender equality, state police, an entirely new constitution, among others.

Nigerians await the report of the Constitution Review committee and it is expected that amending the constitution will be a top priority for the lawmakers in 2022.

Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill

This bill has suffered setbacks at the Senate thrice.

The legislation seeks to guarantee the rights of women to equal opportunities in employment, equal rights to inheritance for both male and female children; equal rights for women in marriage and divorce, equal access to education, property/land ownership and inheritance.

Some male lawmakers first rejected it, arguing that the Nigerian Constitution was clear on the rights of citizens, including women.

The second time it was presented at the Senate, it scaled second reading and was referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters but no public hearing was held. It was reintroduced in November 2019.

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However, at the second reading in December 2021, some male lawmakers argued that equality as prescribed in the bill goes against the morals and socio-cultural practice of Islam.

The sponsor of the bill, Biodun Olujimi, was forced to step down the bill for further legislative work.

Debate on the bill is expected to continue in 2022.

Possible defections

As is common during the pre-election period, many political players  including lawmakers  defected from one party to another, giving several reasons for doing so.

In 2021 some senators defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Some of these lawmakers are Delta senator Peter Nwabaoshi, all Zamfara senators; Adamawa senator Elisha Abbo and Anambra senator Stella Oduah.

In the build up of the 2023 general elections and party crisis in both the APC and the opposition party, PDP, more defections are expected.
The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was truncated on Tuesday due to the late service of the amended charges on the secessionists legal team.

Binta Nyako, the trial judge, after rejecting the prosecutions excuse for the late service of the newly amended charges on the defence, expressed displeasure over how the attitude truncated the days proceedings, forcing her to adjourn the case until Wednesday.

The Nigerian government had on Monday served an amended 15-count charge on Mr Kanus legal team.

Mr Kanu, who is being tried on an a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, was expected to take a fresh plea to 15-count amended charge, dated January 17, 2022.

At Tuesdays sitting, Mr Kanu, who had engaged the services of a prominent lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, to strengthen his defence team, told Mrs Nyako, the trial judge, that he was only served with the fresh amended charge on Monday (yesterday) morning.

The business of today is to deal with three subsisting applications  application for transfer, motion for bail of the defendant and Preliminary Objection raised in respect of the earlier charge of October 2021, Mr Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court.

The defence lawyer with the amended charge only served on him Monday morning, he had yet to discuss the contents of the fresh charge with Mr Kanu.

But the judge disagreed with Mr Ozekhome, insisting that the matter was for trial.

The date that was set down for trial was the day Mr Ejiofor staged a walk-out on the court, Mrs Nyako said.

Responding to Mr Ozekhomes displeasure over late service of court documents, the prosecuting lawyer, Shuiabu Labaran, said the 15-count charge was served on the defence team at 9:45 a.m. on Monday.

He argued that Mr Kanu could still take his plea not minding the lateness in service of the court documents.

Mr Ozekhome lamented that it was the sixth time the federal government had amended charges against the IPOB leader, describing the latest as a judicial ambush, not justice.

The defendant is being told to plead to a charge he has not seen?, the defence lawyer wondered.

Dissatisfied with the prosecuting lawyers argument over the time of service, Mrs Nyako retorted, but it is bad enough.

The days proceedings have been truncated, the judge added, before adjourning the case till Wednesday, January 19, for Mr Kanu to take his plea.

I was almost stripped naked  Ozekhome

Recounting his ordeal in accessing his client at the State Security Service (SSS) detention facility in Abuja, where the IPOB leader is being held since his rearrest last July, Mr Ozekhome said the spy agency ordered him to take off his wristwatch, shoes and socks and almost his pants.

The frail-looking defendant (Mr Kanu) is being denied access to people. I was not allowed to go in to see Kanu with even a piece of paper. I was almost stripped naked, Mr Ozekhome narrated.

The courts orders are being flouted with impunity, the lawyer argued.

In her reaction, Mrs Nyako said: No detention centre in the world would allow wristwatches, pen because they can be used to record in the detention.

But the judge restated her earlier orders, directing the secret police to give Mr Kanu the maximum comfort that is available.

Additional charges

The fresh amendment to the case by the prosecution saw addition of eight charges to make a total number of 15 counts.

In the court document signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, which was filed barely 24 hours before the commencement of Tuesdays proceedings, the IPOB leader was accused of making a broadcast received and heard in Nigeria and in furtherance of an act of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria.

The said broadcast, according to the charge, was intended to destabilise the fundamental political and economic structures of Nigeria.

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You incite the members of the public to stop the Anambra State Elections and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013, Count nine of the charge read.

In count 10, the charge said: between 2018 and 2021, that you Nnamdi Kanu of Afara-Ukwu Ibeku, Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on diverse dates, made a broadcast received and heard in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this court, in furtherance of an act of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you incite members of the public to destroy public facilities and you thereby committed an offence punishable under the Terrorism Prevention Act.

Similarly, in count 5, the IPOB leader was accused of inciting members of the public in Nigeria to hunt and kill families of Nigerian security personnel and that you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1 (2) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

Backstory

Last week, the IPOB leader wrote the United States Ambassador in Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, and the British British High Commissioner, urging them to send representatives to observe proceedings in his trial this week.

A representative from the British High Commission was present in court at the Tuesdays session, but it could not be confirmed if the attendance was at the behest of the letter sent by Mr Kanu, who holds a dual citizenship of Britain and Nigria.

Our reporter could also not confirm if the U.S. Mission in Nigeria attended the proceedings based on Mr Kanus request.

Mr Kanu is being held by the SSS at its headquarters in Abuja, after the Nigerian government repatriated him from Kenya last June, an action his lawyers called abduction.
The global aviation industry faces catastrophic disruption from the rollout of 5G network service this week, airline leaders have said.

In a letter sent Monday to United States transportation and economic officials, the Chief Executive Officers of major carriers said that the launch could ground flights and leave tens of thousands of Americans stranded around the world.

In the letter, obtained by NBC News, the airlines warned that the 5G signals risked interfering with safety equipment pilots rely on to take off and land in inclement weather.

Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded, they said in the letter, which was signed by the chief executives of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and Jet Blue, along with leaders of UPS and FedEx.

Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies, the letter said.

The letter was addressed to National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Stephen Dickson and Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

The CEOs warning came ahead of Wednesdays rollout of the new C-Band 5G service from telecommunications giants AT&T and Verizon.

Widely known as 5G, the fifth-generation wireless technology promises to deliver ultra-fast internet speeds, extra bandwidth and increased connectivity.

Across the world, telecommunications companies are racing to roll out the service.

Both the AT&T and Verizon have previously insisted that 5G networks operate safely without interference in nearly 40 countries and would do the same in the U.S.

READ ALSO:

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says it will take the precaution of prohibiting pilots from using altimeters during landing at more than 80 airports near 5G sites, with airports in Dallas, New York, Chicago and Seattle among those expected to be affected.

FAA is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters.

Last year, after 11 rounds of bidding that lasted eight hours, Mafab Communications Ltd and MTN Nigeria Plc emerged successful winners of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) technology to support the delivery of ubiquitous broadband services in Nigeria.

In his reaction, Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, said Nigeria hopes to have the largest fifth generation (5G) network coverage in Africa by 2022.
The price of rice in the Nigerian market is expected to fall as the country launches 13 pyramids of rice paddy, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

The price of rice, a staple food in Nigeria, began upward trend when the Nigerian government closed the Seme border between Nigeria and Benin Republic in August 2019.

The government said the decision was to strengthen the agricultural sector and curb massive smuggling activities, especially of rice, on that corridor.

The rice pyramids made of 1 million rice paddy was achieved through the Central Bank of Nigerias Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), a programme launched in 2015 to boost agricultural production and reverse Nigerias negative balance of payments on food.

At the launch of the pyramids Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said the measure will aid efforts at reducing the price of rice in Nigeria.

The significance of todays occasion can be better understood by looking at the various economic strides the administration has achieved through agriculture, he said.

When we assumed the reins of leadership of this country in 2015, the administration identified the Anchor Borrowers Programme as an essential policy instrument for achieving economic diversification through agriculture.

To achieve this, the Anchor Borrowers Programme was designed to encourage investments in agriculture and empower smallholder farmers as drivers of transformation in the agricultural sector and as critical enablers of economic growth.

I am indeed delighted that the Anchor Borrowers Programme continues to receive commendations, since its introduction six years ago, as it has become one of the reference points in the administrations agricultural revolution effort, the president said.

According to him, the country can boast of producing over 7.5 million metric tons of rice annually, with over four million farmers benefiting from the programme.

The president also boasted of the success of the programme which was established to provide loans to farmers through Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs), which the programme recognises as Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

In fact, the Programme speaks loudly in its giant strides as it has increased access to finance by our rural farmers, who before now were virtually excluded from the financial system, he said.

The Anchor Borrowers Programme has so far supported over 4.8 million smallholder farmers across Nigeria for the production of 23 agricultural commodities including maize, rice, oil palm, cocoa, cotton, cassava, tomato and livestock.

Today rice production in Nigeria has increased to over 7.5 Million Metric tons annually. Prior to the introduction of ABP, the average production in Nigeria between 1999 and 2015 was less than 4 metric tons annually.

I am aware that the bags of paddy will be moving straight from here to rice milling plants across Nigeria, which leads to the release of processed rice to the markets by the rice millers. The measure will aid our efforts at reducing the price of rice in Nigeria.

He also said the country has been able to conserve foreign exchange and reduce the rate of unemployment through its agricultural revolution.

Before this administration launched the ABP, there were only 15 standard Rice mills in Nigeria. As of today, we have over 50 Standard and integrated Rice mills creating jobs and reducing unemployment, he said.

We expect additional significant output when two new mills are started in Lagos and Katsina. I am also aware that because of the large margins in this business, more people are showing interest in investing in our agribusiness.

Fellow Nigerians, our gathering here today, is no doubt a testament to the fact that the Anchor Borrowers Programme is working. Indeed, these sky-high pyramids for which we are gathered here to commission are part of our commitment at achieving national food security and economic diversification through home-grown policies targeted at securing food for all Nigerians.

As a critical policy of the government, the Anchor Borrowers Programme is expected to catalyse the agricultural productive base of the nation, which is a major part of our economic plan to uplift the economy, create jobs, reduce reliance on imported food and industrial raw materials, and conserve foreign exchange.

The commissioning of these rice pyramids today, is an indication that our country is making steady and assured progress towards self-sufficiency in food production, and it is my desired hope and expectation that other agricultural commodity associations that are yet to participate under the Anchor Borrowers Programme will emulate the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria in supporting our administrations drive for food self-sufficiency, he said.

He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for its efforts at resuscitating the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, which provides the countrys farmers with ready buyers of their produce.

In his remark, the Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aminu Goronyo, appreciated President Buhari for initiating the agricultural revolution programme.

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According to him, the programme has translated into wealth for farmers across the country.

Mr. Goronyo said the rice pyramids unveiled by the President were the largest in the world.

Mr President, you can see your hand work. It is a statement you made during your campaign and it is fulfilled. You said you will pay more attention to agriculture and it has happened. It is not a surprise at all. You promised Nigerians that you will expand the scope of agriculture if elected and you have done that.

What you see here today is a trickle of what we produced in the last wet season. Only 0.05 percent of what was cultivated is what is being displayed.

You have come at the time Nigeria needs you to lead the country and God knows why he has given you the opportunity to lead us now and Nigerians will continue to appreciate your leadership.

You have put this country on track. You have helped us attain food security which translates to national security, and the President that succeeds you should pay attention to that too, he said.

On his part, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria , Godwin Emefiele, expressed delight at the outcome of the programme.

I am particularly delighted because these stacks of rice pyramids provide undisputable and unassailable evidence of significant progress under President Buharis food security initiatives and administration. I personally salute your vision of making agriculture a cornerstone and one of the focal points of your administration, he said.

He also applauded the farmers for summoning courage to go to their farms despite security challenges in some parts of the country.

The past few years have been quite challenging towards some of the farmers, as they have battled with insurgency, banditry, lockdown and other related setbacks.

Indeed we lost some of our farmers to insurgency attacks nationwide while some could not access their farms for several months yet, they kept faith, they did not give up, they persevered, and they did not abandon our fight for food self-sufficiency.

Todays event therefore, is the celebration of your doggedness and an appreciation of their commitment to food security in Nigeria, he said.
At least 220 people have been killed in attacks on about 300 communities in Niger State this year, the state governor has said.

Governor Sani Bello said this while addressing journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

In January this year alone, we suffered not less than 50 reported attacks and loss of lives, between 1st and 17th January. Within the same period, not less than 300 communities have been invaded by bandits.

The number of people kidnapped is 200, including three Chinese nationals. We also lost some security personnel. Their number is 25. Unfortunately, we lost about 165 civilians and 30 local vigilantes. So, its a very dire situation that we have been battling in the last few weeks since the beginning of this year, Mr Bello said.

Mr Bello suggested that the terror groups carrying out the attacks operate not only in Niger State but also in other nearby states.

What I realize is that they have been taking us on a merry-go-round. When we deal with them in Niger, they move to Kaduna. When Kaduna deals with them, they move to Katsina. They have been hibernating in the forest. Some of these operations need to be handled simultaneously so that we get the result.

We are not happy and we are sad with the developments in these states. We are doing whatever we can, using kinetic and non-kinetic efforts to see that we address the present situation. As we go on, we will try to update you from time to time on progress being made in this fight, the governor said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Muhammadu Buhari recently announced a major military operation in Niger to tackle the terror groups there. The president suggested that apart from bandits, elements of the Boko Haram terror group were also operating in the state.

More details later
The National Assembly will amend and pass the Electoral Amendment bill on Wednesday, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said.

He disclosed this at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday shortly after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Buhari had rejected the bill in December.

He cited insecurity, the cost of conducting direct primaries and infringement on the rights of Nigerians to participate in governance as his reasons for declining assent.

The president had, however, said, if changes are made to the clause, to include consensus and indirect primary options as the modes of selecting candidates for elections, he would sign the bill.

In his address, Mr Lawan said the lawmakers will amend the controversial clause in the bill to allow for other mode of primaries.

He said after passage, the legislation will be transmitted to the president  by the end of the week.

by the grace of God tomorrow (Wednesday) both chamberswill pass the bill. And I hope that by before the end of the week, the bill could be brought back to Mr President for his assent.

I hope so but one thing Im sure by the grace of God is, we are passing the bill tomorrow Wednesday the 19th (December) in both chambers,. And we are happy that at the end of the day, we have been able to narrow down our differences and arrive at the very patriotic resolution that our country must have a new electoral law that will guide the 2023 general elections, and Nigeria would have everything to benefit from this law.

I hope that the cleaning process will not take more than a day. But if it does, then it has to be early next week. But Im very optimistic that there is not much to clean because normally when we pass the bill like this, it goes to the legislative drafting unit of the National Assembly, Mr Lawan said.

He also disclosed that political parties will be allowed to choose their mode of primary elections to select candidates for elective offices.

What we need to do is not waste time. Time is of essence in this respect. We should just look at the possibility of opening up the mode of primaries so that you can have direct, you can have indirect and even consensus. And it is up to political parties to decide which option is okay for them, and at what time.

But I am sure that all the options will be used, all the options will be used by political parties, in different occasions or whatever  the Senate President said.

Mr Lawan further said Nigerians who claim there are drafting errors in the bill, probably saw the version passed by the Senate or the House and not the clean version.

maybe what they had was the bill passed in the Senate or House, not the one that was cleaned up. The final document was cleaned up because even we didnt have that document.

On the whole I think its a worthwhile exercise  that we have worked so hard in a very bipartisan manner to pass the Electoral Amendment bill, he stated.

Details of the amendment will be deliberated upon during plenary on Wednesday.
There were multiple attacks by armed persons suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforcing the controversial sit-at-home order across Nigerias South-east.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that there were indications that the residents of the region might be forced to observe a four-day lockdown from Monday following Kanus resumed treason trial.

On Monday, many residents of the five states in the region  Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo  complied with the controversial sit-at-home as roads were deserted. Many banks and filling stations did not also open for business.

The Nation newspaper had reported on Monday that masked gunmen suspected to be members of IPOB, attacked Obollo-Afor town in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerias South-east, and dispersed residents who opened their shops for business. They also burnt a tricycle of a resident and a Sienna vehicle belonging to a vigilante group, Udenu Central Neighbourhood Watch, in the attack, the paper had said.

PREMIUM TIMES also reported that unknown gunmen attacked Amauke and Ogrute communities in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local government Area, Enugu State snatching a motorcycle from an unidentified cyclist and breaking the head of another resident.

On Tuesday, roads remained empty across many parts of the South-east. Banks and filling stations were also shut as residents continued observing the sit-at-home order declared by the IPOB group

I dey go home. My fuel don finish and filling stations no open, a commercial bus driver in Enugu said when asked if he was fully out for work.

However, some youth suspected to be members of IPOB invaded a Catholic church in Onitsha, Anambra State, Tuesday.

Daily Post reported that the thugs, armed with clubs, invaded the church while the morning mass was on. They demanded an explanation from the presiding priest on why he was holding service on the day Mr Kanu was scheduled to appear in court.

In Imo State, residents, especially of Orlu town and Owerri Municipal, on Tuesday, stayed indoors to observe the sit-at-home order. Daily Post also reported that the state secretariat, motor parks, schools, banks, shops and markets across the major cities were all shut down.

In Ebonyi State, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that there was partial compliance to the sit-at-home order on Tuesday.

The lockdown is not completely observed here; (although) filling Stations, banks are not open but in International Market Abakaliki, some of the shops are open, Solomon Alegu, a resident of Abakaliki, the Ebony State capital, told this paper on Tuesday.

In Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the compliance to the order was total as residents remained indoors. Vanguard reported that from the morning hours, economic activities were paralyzed in the area as markets and street shops remained closed.

IPOB, a group agitating for the creation of the state of Biafra from the South-east and South-south, has been linked to deadly attacks in the two regions. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the secessionist group, is currently being tried for alleged treason.

Mr Kanu appeared before a federal court in Abuja Tuesday. His trial continues on Wednesday.


Colombo, Jan 18 (UNI) India on Tuesday offered a new Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 500 million to Sri Lanka for purchase of petroleum products, in critical support to the island nation that is faced with imminent power outage due to shortage of forex needed to keep its power stations running on furnace oil.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended this critical support in his letter addressed to the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Prof. G.L. Peiris, said the Daily Mirror.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo said in tweets:

A friend holds out a helping hand again!!!

Energizing bilateral economic partnership, #India offers a credit line of USD 500 mn to Sri Lanka for purchase of petroleum products.

Critical support by India follows a discussion between EAM

@DrSJaishankar &Hon'ble Fin Minister @RealBRajapaksa

India extended forex support of USD 900 million was earlier this month. 

On January 15, EAM Jaishankar held a virtual talk with Basil Rajapaksa during which it was indicated that India would extend a USD 1.5 billion Line of Credit to Sri Lanka to import food, essential items, medicine and fuel.

The two sides had also held a detailed discussion on various aspects of robust economic partnership between the two countries.

Earlier, India had extended foreign exchange support of over USD 900 million to Sri Lanka  which comprised of US$ 400 million under the SAARC currency swap arrangement and deferral of Asian Clearing Union settlement of USD 515.2 million by two months, which would assist Sri Lanka.

A readout of the January 15 meeting said that EAM Jaishankar conveyed that India has always stood with Sri Lanka, and will continue to support Sri Lanka in all possible ways for overcoming the economic and other challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic. As close friends and maritime neighbours, both India and Sri Lanka stand to gain from closer economic interlinkages.

In a pointer to the acute power problem being faced by Sri Lanka due to forex shortage, the Sapugaskanda thermal power station has already stopped working due to shortage of furnace fuel.

The Ceylon Electricity Board's (CEB) diesel and furnace oil stocks will be sufficient only until Tuesday evening for electricity generation, an official said.

He told the Daily Mirror that, according to the statement made by Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila on Monday, the whole country should be in the dark by Wednesday.

More than 2,000 metric tons of furnace oil and diesel fuel will be required for tomorrow's electricity generation. If we are unable to provide sufficient stock, more factories and companies will have to stop their operations from tomorrow, " he said.

UNI/RN
Suleiman Gumi, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, has disclosed that bandits who carried out the recent massacre in Bukkuyum targeted males in the villages invaded.

Mr Gumi alleged that the terrorists were specific in selecting their victims by checking their gender before killing them.

The lawmaker disclosed this on Monday while speaking with journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Lingering crisis

In the past couple of years, the North-west and some parts of North-central regions have been terrorised by bandits who engage in killings, kidnapping and other nefarious activities.

After months of foot-dragging, the federal government, last week, declared the bandits as terrorists.

Two days later, the terrorists attacked Anka and Bukkuyum local government Areas of the Zamfara State, leaving over 200 dead.

The government, at federal and state levels have taken a series of stringent measures including shutting down telecommunications and restricting sales of petrol products, to bring an end to the security challenges in the troubled areas.

Despite these measures, the attacks continued unabated.

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State on Monday disclosed that the activities of informants are making it hard for the government to end terrorism and other criminalities in the region.

PREMIUM TIMES had also reported how the terrorists wrote nine communities in Bukkuyum Local Government Area to pay levies or risk attacks.

Males as targets

Mr Gumi said the targeting of males may be connected with the decision of the government to brand bandits as terrorists.

He, therefore, called on the military to study the change of tactics and respond accordingly.

The bandits were looking for every male child to kill, no matter how small. They will open and see if it is a girl they will leave but if its a boy they will bring him out and kill him.

And they were looking for men mostly and then the women flee. So, that change in tactics is telling us that something has changed too.

Im not sure if it has to do with the declaration of them being terrorists, but it might be because if you declare someone a terrorist, that means the strategy, your own rule of engagement changes and that means they have to change their own rules of engagement too.

Maybe it has to do with them being declared terrorists. If that would solve the problem, I am 100 per cent for it. But its already done, so we have to now expect maybe rise in action by them then gradually it will come down.

The lawmaker also commended Mr Matawalle for reaching out to Niger Republic. He said such a move is another strategy to cut the supply of arms and ammunition.

If we can get Niger Republic to block all access to all entry points, then what the bandits have will definitely depreciate, and naturally, the cessation of the fight too will cease.

That is one angle, and another angle is using the same strategy.

The military is over-stretched. The police cant be everywhere and if we can get the vigilantes to guard the villages that are within the outskirt of local governments and bigger cities, then we would have a very good arm of security for people that are not covered by the security agents.
Nigeria will receive no fewer than 1,030 Benin artefacts from Germany in 2022, the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Abba Tijani, has said.

Mr Tijani, a professor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday that many artefacts had been received from Germany but the commission would receive at least an additional 1, 030 in 2022.

The objects were taken from the country during the punitive expedition of Benin in 1897.

According to him, when the artefacts are received, it will give the commission the opportunity to build new museums and attract more tourists across the world.

Mr Tijani said this would also give them opportunities to view the cultural objects from the Nigerian context.

It will make the foreigners to understand the significance of the artefacts better and give them an added advantage which they might not get when they visit museums in Europe, he said.

Mr Tijani said the commission had called for the expansion of the National Museum in Abuja and that of Benin so that the objects could be displayed.

He said the commission had partnered with corporate organisations to fund museum activities, adding it had renovated many museums across the country.

The Federal Government is ready to take possession of many of these Benin bronzes being repatriated to the country.

Nigerians should also support us by appreciating these heritages being cherished globally. We should respect them and visit museums to understand them better.

READ ALSO:

Also, individuals, philanthropists, culture, science and technology sector and all relevant agencies should work together with us to invest in tourism.

Tourism makes a great impact on our economy, many countries rely on tourism for their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth because it is a thriving sector.

There will also be an investment for our local communities because they will benefit when tourists start trooping in from all over the world, he said.

Mr Tijani said the commission would continue to partner with the private sector, adding we are not relying 100 per cent on government funding.

(NAN)
About three weeks after contracting the coronavirus pandemic, Nigerias minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, said he has fully recovered and ready to resume official duties.

Mr Bello disclosed this on his official Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon.

He said doctors confirmed him free of the deadly virus and certified him fit to continue his official duties.

Mr Bello wrote: Pleased to report that after taking my prescribed course of COVID-19 medication, I feel very well and great. The doctors have confirmed that Im now free of the virus and its OK for me to resume all official activities.

I wish to convey my sincere appreciation to all those who showed great concern on my health status, through various channels of communication.

The minister had on December 31,2021 announced through the same platform that he tested positive for the virus.

He said he decided to run a test for the virus after feeling unwell for a certain period and the result returned positive.

The minister is one of the many public officials that tested positive for COVID-19 in the past weeks.

The senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, recently tested positive for the virus. Mr Shehu has also recovered from the virus and has since resumed duties.

As of Tuesday, Nigerias infection toll stands at 251,178, while 3,110 have died from complications caused by the virus.

The Nigerian government has continued to urge residents to get their shots of approved COVID-19 vaccines at various designated spots across the country.

I appeal to residents to get themselves vaccinated. Doing so could save their lives, Mr Bello said.
The Speaker of Nigerias House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has pleaded with medical graduates in the country to practise in Nigeria rather than travelling abroad for greener pastures.

Mr Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the deputy chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Service, Samuel Adejare, gave the advice on Monday during the induction of 54 newly qualified medical graduates of the Benjamin Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

He urged the newly inducted doctors and others to stay and offer their services in Nigeria, saying they should be patriotic to a nation that offers them the training.

A statement issued by the universitys director of communication, Joshua Suleiman, quoted the speaker to have said: We need our doctors, please consider your country and God will be with you.

Exodus of Nigerian doctors abroad

Mr Gbajabiamilas call was in response to the exodus of Nigerian medical and paramedical practitioners abroad over poor welfare and unfriendly conditions of practice.

The consequences of the exodus include shortage of healthcare workers when compared to the nations needs and the poor ratios of healthcare workers to Nigerian patients.

As of 2020, Nigeria had a doctor-patient ratio of 1:2,753, in sharp contrast to the World Health Organization (WHO)s minimum recommended ratio of 1:400-600.

In 2021, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) was on strike for 63 days for reasons including the non-payment of some of its allowances.

In August of the same year, the Nigerian Secret Police, SSS, disrupted a recruitment process of doctors by the Saudi Arabian health ministry, in which hundreds of Nigerian doctors were taking part in Abuja, the nations capital.

Abia governor lauds university

Meanwhile, the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has commended the private university for its investment in quality education, and urged the inductees to uphold the hippocratic oath to serve mankind without prejudice.

The governor, whose daughter was among the inductees, urged them to persevere so as to see Canaan land.

I have no doubt whatsoever of the quality of training these doctors have received. If it were not so, I would not have sent my daughter here and another coming along, he said, adding; I am a firm believer of the Nigerian project. Trials will come but giants stand tall in the midst of trials.

Also speaking, MDCN registrar, Tajudeen Sanusi, called on the inductees to always remember to uphold their code of medical ethics and avoid anything that would compromise their professionalism.

Brightest class

The provost of the college, Barnabas Mandong, applauded the inductees, describing the set as the brightest since the inception of the school.

He said 15 of them graduated with distinctions in various courses.

He commended their perseverance, determination and courage to go through the rigours of medical training, and wished them the best in future.
President Muhammadu Buhari departs Abuja Wednesday for Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, to attend the inauguration of Gambian President Adama Barrow following his re-election for a second term.

On the invitation of his host, President Buhari will be Special Guest of Honour at the ceremonies to be attended by other African leaders at the Independence Stadium, Bakau.

President Buhari, along with other ECOWAS leaders, played a leading role in the restoration of democratic rule in The Gambia in 2017 after the former President, Yahya Jammeh, refused to surrender power after losing the election.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai, and other top government officials.

The president is expected back in the country at the end of the inauguration ceremonies.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media and Publicity)
As part of efforts to promote sustainable waste management and circular economy in Africa, KTN Global Alliance Africa has launched a call for entries for start-ups based in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya aimed at connecting them with innovators who are already working on waste management solutions.

KTN Global Alliance Africa is a six-year project funded by UK Aid through Innovate UK (GCRF) and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The Innovation Exchange will leverage inclusive partnerships to mobilise support to help in the scaling up of innovative solutions for sustainable waste management by matching real industry challenges from large businesses or societal challenges from governments, to companies and innovators already working on potential solutions.

Under this initiative, the most innovative solution providers will pitch their ideas to the companies and will each receive 25,000 ($34,000 equivalent) to fund the start-up of their prototype or pilot concept, with additional support from KTN Global Alliance Africa.

Across these three African countries, the project aims to promote sustainable waste management through a complete cycle where products and materials are recycled, repaired, refurbished or reused, so that a by-product or waste from one economic process becomes an input for another.

Similarly, KTN Global Alliance Africa will be intervening in solving AgriFood challenges. Specifically, the Alliance will be supporting Flamingo Horticulture, a horticultural business with a worldwide footprint that covers the farming, production, sales and marketing of fresh produce and flowers, to find innovative solutions to False Codling Moth Control in Fresh Chillies.

Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), better known as the False Codling Moth (FCM), is an economically damaging pest impacting a variety of alternative host plants across its natural range in sub-Saharan Africa.

KTN Global Alliance Africa says start-ups interested in participating in the five challenges available for this project have until January 28, 2022 to submit their applications.
For failing to meet his N200 million bail and other stringent conditions, the popular Nigerian internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha, was on Wednesday, remanded in custody.

Mompha has had several run-ins with the EFCC in the last two years.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on Wednesday, granted Mompha bail with strict conditions.

The controversial businessman was ordered to be remanded in any Correctional Centre of his choice pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

After the court hearing, there was a little delay inside the courtroom.

The lead counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, told journalists present that while attempting to meet up with the strong bail conditions, the judge had magnanimously granted his client the opportunity to choose any of the Correctional Centres in the State, where he would be remanded until he fulfils the conditions for his bail.

Mompha, after consultation with his legal team, opted to be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional centre in Lagos.

This followed his inability to meet the bail conditions required from him by the court.

Background

Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N6 billion fraud on January 12.

The EFCC arrested Mompha on January 10 before arraigning him at the Ikeja Special Offences Court on an eight

-count charge.

Bail Conditions

At Tuesdays proceedings, Momphas counsel moved the bail application for his client through an 18-paragraph affidavit containing eight exhibits.

Mr Oyewole said: Its a bailable offence and most important is that the defendant is also standing trial on 22 counts before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos for a more grievous offence before Justice Mohammed Liman, who also admitted him to bail.

The prosecution has called 10 witnesses and he has never missed court.

Oyewole further told the Court that Justice Liman, who has been transferred out of jurisdiction to Kano, has got fiat to continue the case and we are constitutionally empowered to have access to our client.

We, therefore, plead that he should be admitted to bail, he added.

Opposing the bail application, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, through a 19-page counter-affidavit, including three exhibits, prayed the Court to instead grant an accelerated hearing of the case.

Justice Dada was, however, not persuaded by the arguments canvassed by the defence urging the court to grant Mompha bail on liberal terms.

She noted firmly the arguments of the prosecution hinged on the fact that Mompha was yet to return his international passport.

She said: I am not satisfied that 16 months after, the international passport is yet to be returned, Justice Dada held, and, thereafter, granted Mompha bail in the sum of N200 million, with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must own a property within jurisdiction worth N100 million.

The two sureties must also be gainfully employed, depose to an affidavit of means, and must give the approval to have a lien placed on their bank accounts.

Mompha was also ordered to submit his international passport to the Court, as a necessary condition to fulfil the bail conditions.

She ruled: Both sureties must depose to an affidavit of means to allow the placement of a lien in their respective bank accounts, both sureties must be gainfully employed and resident within the jurisdiction of this court.

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The sureties must provide proof of tax payment for the past three years. The applicant shall however be remanded in a Correctional Center of his choice pending the perfection of his bail.

Offence

Mompha is further accused of using a false document titled SELECT MILK PRODUCER J.P. Morgan, to defraud Continental Diary Facilitate Southwest LLC.

The EFCC is also accusing him of colluding with Olayinka Jimoh (aka Nappy Boy) to retain an aggregate sum of N52,000,000 between January 28, 2019, and February 11, 2019, believed to be proceeds of criminal conduct.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court.

The eight-count charges are conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity and laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity.

Others are retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from unlawful acts, possession of documents containing false pretence and failure to disclose assets and properties.

Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant.
The members of the Ogun State House of Assembly who had been invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning have said they would not honour the invitation because of a suit they had filed against the Commission.

In a letter to the anti-graft agency, the lawmakers reminded the EFCC that it is legally barred from taking any steps against them until their suit is decided by the court.

As you are aware, once a dispute has been submitted to the courts consideration for adjudication, parties must not usurp the courts powers to resolve the matter submitted or do anything that may make the decision of the court nugatory, the lawmakers stated in the letter dated January 14 and written on their behalf by lawyers from Afe Babalola Chambers.

A respondent in an application is particularly obligated to await the outcome of the application and not resort to self-help, foist a completed act on the court, or conduct itself as if no processes are pending.

The legal firm noted that they are representing the Clerk and Director of Finance and Accounts of the Ogun State House of Assembly as well as the members of the House except Oludare Kadiri (Ijebu North Constituency 2), the impeached deputy speaker.

The EFCC had written to the Ogun Assembly requesting for information on all budget appropriations and allocations of the House from May 30, 2015, till date.

The commission also asked the Clerk of the Assembly, the speaker, and members of the House to appear before it on separate dates.

As of the time of this report, only Mr Kadiri had appeared before the agency.

Embattled deputy speaker

Mr Kadiri was impeached in March last year over allegations of gross misconduct.

He was also accused of insubordination to the Office of the Speaker, abuse of office, threat to lives and properties, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and attempted murder, committed in his constituency.

The lawmaker denies all the allegations.

In an interview he granted journalists last November, Mr Kadiri alleged that his signature was forged to swindle the state assembly of about N50 million.

He also said he was kicked out of office for demanding accountability in the finances of the House, being the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Finance (he was also removed from that position).

The Ogun Assembly said Mr Kadiri was using an official of the anti-graft agency to get information given to the agency under confidentiality leaked, with the purpose of smearing the image of the House in the media.

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said he is not aware of any court papers from the Ogun House of Assembly.

As at now, I am not aware of any court papers and you know as the court works, they will serve a respondent/accused person but if I still get more information I will get back.
The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) says plans have been concluded to launch the one million bags of rice paddy stacked as pyramids in Abuja on Tuesday.

Shehu Muazu, Chairman Pyramid Sub Committee, RIFAN told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the rice pyramids show that local production of food is possible.

President Muhammadu Buhari is unveiling the rice pyramids in Abuja on Tuesday, at an event attended by government officials including the central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The rice pyramids were built with one million bags of rice paddy planted and harvested from states across the country under the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme.

According to Mr Muazu, immediately after the unveiling of the pyramids, the Central Bank of Nigeria and RIFAN will allocate the rice to processors.

RIFAN in collaboration with the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria will process the rice and sell at a discounted price, he said.

This will lead to drastic reduction in price once it starts rolling into the market.

Our collaboration with the millers association rests on the agreement that they will sell at a discounted price to Nigerians.

Although, we cannot talk of price in isolation as far as prices all over the world is concerned because all over the world prices of food have gone up.

But the good news is that rice will remain the cheapest commodity as far as food is concerned due to the success recorded through the scheme, he said.

Mr Muazu also noted that the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) which is designed to assist small scale farmers is a testament to the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling food security.

We have over one million bags of paddy rice which was collected from the beneficiaries of the ABP under the business strategy partnership.

Benefiting farmers who received the loan which came in the form of farm inputs and cash, repay with rice paddy of same value.

The significance of this rice pyramids is to showcase the achievement of government as far as agriculture is concerned and to call on Nigerian corporations to queue into investments in agriculture.

If the poor Nigerian farmers can do this then the rich people can do more than this, he said.

On his part, Njack Kane, RIFAN Africa partner, commended the Federal Government for protecting local producers of rice by banning rice importation and setting measures against smuggling.

The Federal Government has taken a very critical decision which is to put protection mechanisms on the local producers of rice and the ban on importation of rice.

And more recently, government has put measures in place to fight smuggling so that locally produced rice can thrive.

Nigeria is one of the successful game changers in massive rice production. This laudable initiative will set a revolution in Africas agricultural sector, Kane said.

NAN reports that the building of the paddy rice pyramids at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Airport Road, started mid-December 2021 and has been a centre of attraction for passers-by. (NAN)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said, for the benefit of the country, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill will be reintroduced on Wednesday for reconsideration.

The speaker, in his New Year speech , on Tuesday, said the lawmakers have two options, to either stick to their guns or expunge the controversial section 87 in the bill.

He noted that the excuse of political parties not having registers is appalling and not valid.

The House resumed from the Christmas/New Year break on Tuesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari had rejected the bill, citing opposition to the controversial direct primaries clause in the bill.

Mr Buhari cited insecurity, the cost of conducting direct primaries and infringement on the rights of Nigerians to participate in governance as his reasons for declining assent.

Opinion on the direct primary clause in the bill is divided with some saying that it should be retained while others say it should be expunged.

On Monday, the governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the lawmakers to either veto the president or remove the controversial areas.

Also, a former INEC Chairperson, Attahiru Jega, said on Sunday that direct primaries are not feasible

Mr Gbajabiamila said it is unlikely that the bill would be assented to by the president in its current form.

Unfortunately, that bill did not receive presidential assent and it is unlikely that it will receive assent in its current form.

Now we have to choose between sticking to our guns regarding the provision to mandate direct primaries for political parties or reworking that provision to save the rest of the bill.

Let it be clear that our only objective in introducing that provision is to strengthen our democracy, Mr Gbajabiamila said.

The Speaker said he is convinced that direct mode of primaries is the way.

He, however, said: We must not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Therefore, the House will reintroduce the amendment tomorrow. And we will work quickly to address the mitigating concerns, pass the Bill and send it back to His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

Mr Gbajabiamila said the argument that political parties do not have proper registers of their members is appalling and disappointing.

According to him, failure to maintain a proper register is a contravention of the 1999 Constitution.

Some argued that political parties do not have proper registers of their members, which was a reason to reject the direct primary option. This is an appalling admission that political parties in the country do not have credible and up to date registers of their members, the Speaker said.

We are left to question how those parties have thus far managed their affairs, including conducting congresses and primary elections, whether by direct or indirect means.

Besides, it can be inferred that the failure to maintain a proper register of members violates the spirit of the constitution, as it makes it impossible for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the constitutional requirement for political parties to ensure that their membership reflects the federal character of Nigeria.

It is disappointing that the failure of political parties to adequately document their membership is being used to not give the Nigerian people the power to fully participate in our nations politics.

If nothing else, including a direct primary mandate in the law, would have forced political parties to properly register their members within the shortest possible time. This would have been the singular most significant reform of our political party system in a generation.

On the drafting errors identified by some Civil Society Organisations, Mr Gbajabimaila noted that the version circulating on social media is not the same version sent to Mr Buhari, adding that there is a technical committee looking at the issue of bill drafting.

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As to the issues relating to inelegant drafting and other technical errors in the bill, this is a matter of concern as it appears the version sent to the President differs from what is circulating in the public domain. However, in December of last year, I appointed a technical team to look into the issue.

I expect to have their report within the next day or two so that we can proceed to the next stage. We have less than 13 months to the next general election, so time is of the essence.

A credible electoral law is what the people want. It is what the people deserve, and we must give to them. The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill includes many other provisions that will serve our democracy well, and we cannot throw away the baby with the bathwater, he said.

Mr Gbajabiamila promised that the constitution amendment bills will get the needed attention of the lawmakers, noting that the state Houses of Assembly will get copies of passed constitutional amendment bills in February.

We will prioritise action to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives. Fortunately, we are in the final stages of that effort and will shortly conclude this all-important work. According to the deputy speaker, the first set of amendments will be forwarded to the state assemblies for consideration before the end of February, he said.

After the Speakers speech, the House went into a closed-door session.
South Africa: Umalusi approves the release of 2021 national examination results

Umalusi, the Quality Council in General and Further Education and Training, has approved the release of the 2021 national examination results, but has requested the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to block the results of candidates implicated in irregularities pending investigation.

Those included in irregularities are candidates involved in group copying and those who had early access to question papers.

During a media briefing on Tuesday, the Quality assurer said it has picked up a new trend in a few sectors in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng where learners were given early access to question papers a few hours before they write.

Professor John Volmink, Chair of the Umalusi Council, said that the executive committee of Umalusi noted that apart from some examination irregularities identified during the writing and marking of the examinations, there were no systemic irregularities reported that might have compromised the credibility and integrity of the November 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations administered by the DBE.

The Executive Committee of Council approves the release of the DBE November 2021 NSC examination results based on available evidence that the examinations were administered largely in accordance with the examination policies and regulations, Volmink said.

In respect of identified irregularities, the DBE is required to block the results of candidates implicated in irregularities, including the candidates involved in group copying, pending the outcomes of further DBE investigations and Umalusi verification. In the cases where candidates had unauthorised access to question papers, the results of the implicated candidates should be blocked pending further DBE investigations and Umalusi verification, he said.

Pay attention to matters of non-compliance

Umalusi has required the DBE to address the directives for compliance and improvement highlighted in the Quality Assurance of Assessment report. The department has until 15 March 2022 to develop and submit an improvement plan to Umalusi.

Particular attention should be paid to recurring matters of non-compliance. The Executive Committee of Council commends the DBE for conducting a successful examination despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, the Umalusi Chair said.

Umalusi noted incidents of unauthorised and early access to question papers detected at some of the examination centres in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Specifically, Life Sciences and Agricultural Sciences papers were the affected subjects in those centres. This practice can potentially compromise the integrity of examinations if it is not addressed decisively, the Umalusi Chair said.

Once again, Umalusi has appealed to all stakeholders involved in the examination process to refrain from engaging in such unscrupulous acts of dishonesty.

In the meantime, the results of implicated learners will be blocked, pending further investigations by the DBE and verification by Umalusi. It is also worth noting that there are severe consequences for those found guilty of such criminal activities, regardless of whether they are learners, teachers or officials.

Similarly, isolated incidents of group copying continue to plague the national examination system. These malpractices do not augur well for our examination system and the education system in general, Volmink said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-01-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Wellington, Jan 18 (UNI/Xinhua) New Zealand has reported 14 new cases of Covid-19 in the community on Tuesday, taking its current community outbreak tally to 11,337.



Among the new infections, seven were recorded in the largest city of Auckland, six in the Lakes district and one in Wellington, according to the Ministry of Health.



A total of 30 cases are being treated in hospitals, including two in intensive care units, a ministry statement said.



The country's total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 stands at 14,794, Health Ministry said.



To date, about 93 per cent of the eligible people in New Zealand are double-dosed or fully vaccinated, said the ministry, adding that from Monday, people over the age of 18 are able to book online to have their booster shot four months since their last vaccine dose.



On the first day the children Covid-19 vaccine became available on Monday, 14,367 child vaccine first doses were administered to 5 to 11-year-olds throughout New Zealand, according to the ministry.

UNI/XINHUA PRT
Attack on human rights is worsening in Nigeria, the Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international non-governmental organisation concerned with human rights matters around the globe, has said.

In its 2022 World Report, which reviews human rights trends and developments in more than 100 countries in the world, the organization said the ban on Twitter in June 2021, was indicative of worsening human rights issues in Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buharis administration had suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria after a controversial tweet by him was deleted by the microblogging site.

The government insisted that its action was unconnected to the taking down of Mr Buharis tweet but was based on alleged roles of the site in fuelling insecurity, fake news, and separatist activities in the country.

Governments attempt to rationalise the justification were not accepted, with leading democratic nations like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and others condemning it as an attack on freedom of expression.

After seven months, the government announced the lifting of the suspension on January 12, after reaching some agreements with Twitter.

But in its 752-page report, the 32nd edition of its World Report, launched on January 13, HRW said the Twitter suspension was a sign of human rights repression in the country.

The Nigerian governments ban on Twitter in June, after the social media company deleted a tweet by President Muhammed Buhari for violating its rules, signaled a worsening repression of fundamental rights in the country, the report read in part.

The report recalled that the ban was widely condemned by citizens who relied on the platform for critical social and political discourse.

Many Nigerians remained active on Twitter using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the ban even as the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, threatened to anyone by passing the ban.

In a decision delivered on June 22, the ECOWAS Court in Abuja stopped the government from taking any action against anyone or media houses still using Twitter.

Other freedom of expression issues

The report cited the Twitter ban as part of freedom of expression issues in Nigeria in 2021, along with the various media bills introduced by the government to firm up its grip on the media and their reportage in the year.

Nigerian media organisations responded in July 2021 by launching a campaign against what they termed as Information Blackout which they considered the bills and other tendencies of the government tried to achieve.

Later that month, Nigerias broadcasting authority asked broadcast stations to stop reporting details of insecurity issues or details of victims so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian military and other security agents, the report added.

It also recalled the October 2021, clampdown on gatherings commemorating the first anniversary of the shooting by security forces in Lekki area of Lagos State during the October 2020 #EndSARS anti-police brutality protest.

Security forces continued to disrupt #EndSARS related gatherings and protests, it said.

A judicial panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos State government to look into the October 20, 2020 incident would later, in its report in November 2021, adjudge Nigerian soldiers to have massacred peaceful protesters at Lekki.

But the federal and Lagos State governments disputed the finding.

According to the report, there has yet to be accountability for violence and other abuses against protesters during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality, including when security forces shot at peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.

Other issues

The report also covered major Nigerian issues including the violence in the North-East, separatist agitations in the south, abuses by armed Islamists in the North-east, accountability for serious crimes, children matters and sexual orientation issues.

It noted that the reported death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in June changed the dynamics of the conflict in the northeast and strengthened the breakaway Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Citing a report of a Nigerian research organisation, SBM Intelligence, the report said 519 people were kidnapped and 22 people killed in kidnapping-related incidents in Northwestern Zamfara State alone, between January and June.

It also referenced how communities in the North-west witnessed a spate of mass kidnappings of school children for ransom.

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It referred to a report by Save the Children International, indicating that over 1,000 children were kidnapped between January and August 2021, by armed groups bandits.

Successive kidnappings of school children in the northern parts of the country, the report said, have impacted the number of children in school and presented an opportunity for families to force their daughters into early marriage.

It also noted that the trials for hundreds of Boko Haram suspects have been repeatedly postponed since 2019, and those that took place in the two preceding years were fraught with irregularities.

In December 2020, the report recalled, the International Criminal Court (ICC) determined that an ICC investigation is warranted for crimes committed in the Boko Haram-related conflict given inadequate domestic efforts to deliver justice for the crimes and after finding reasonable basis to believe the group, its breakaway factions, and Nigerian security forces had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The report also touched on the devastating economic impact of COVID-19 in the country, saying the number of citizens experiencing hunger more than doubled during the pandemic and Nigerians are still grappling with the aftermath.

According to the report, separatist agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-east and Yoruba nation separatists in the South-west also highlighted the worsening divisions and tensions in the country, to which the authorities sometimes responded with excessive use of force.

It added that sexual orientation and gender identity shows that the countrys laws, Sharia and secular criminalise same-sex relations with death and 14 years in prison penalties respectively.

HRWs Executive Director, Kenneth Roth, wrote in the introductory essay on the report, that autocratic leaders across the world faced significant backlash in 2021, but democracy will flourish in the contest with autocracy only if democratic leaders do a better job of addressing global problems.

Mr Roth wrote that in countries across the world, large numbers of people have recently taken to the streets, even at the risk of being arrested or shot showing that the appeal of democracy remains strong.

He added that elected leaders need to do a better job of addressing major challenges to show that democratic government delivers on its promised dividends.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Tuesday, confirmed February 26as the date for its National Convention.

Until today, the date had largely been based on speculation from political actors and unconfirmed sources to the media.

It became official during the address of the chairperson of the Nigerias Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi, at the APC National Women Conference in Abuja.

While speaking on the proposed National Convention of the party, Mr Fayemi urged party leaders and members to use the convention as an opportunity to deliver more people-oriented policies and reflect on its ideals over the years.

The Ekiti Governor only gave a blanket date for the convention until a member of the APC interim committee, who escorted the Yobe State Governor, Mala Buni, to the event, whispered to his ears at the podium.

Oh, the chairman has already announced February 26 as the date for the National Convention, Mr Fayemi said in a manner that suggests he was not aware that the date has become official.

Mr Fayemi advocated the involvement of more women in governance as they play a key role in the economic and social development of a nation.

If we continue to improve on the support and solidarity that we give women of our country, when we do this, we are not doing our women a favour, we are actually doing ourselves a duty because it gives economic strength and anyone who has the privilege of working with women in close rangeYou will understand that they are your best armour and they are also the best deliver agent, Mr Fayemi said as he went on to share the dividends of womens role in governance.

However, the interim chairman of the APC, Mr Buni, in his address, said the APC is the most women-friendly party in Nigeria, but added that he looked forward to having more women in the partys elected offices.

We look forward to having more women contesting in the forthcoming national convention of the party from February 26, 2022 and the general election. Now as we approach the convention and move closer to the next general election, I wish to remind you of the progressive roles in supporting progressive-minded leaders, aspiring for various offices for the betterment of our country, he officially declared.

With many women and youth among the 41 million members of the APC registered across the country, Mr Buni said he is confident that the party would have a landslide victory in the 2023 General Elections.

Although women representation may be said to have improved with President Muhammadu Buharis administration, gender is poorly represented statistically across states in the country.

This gap is also evident in Mr Bunis interim administration of the ruling APC as well as the newly elected members at the last National Convention of the main opposition, PDP.

Of all the 13-member National Caretaker Committee appointed to run the APC by its National Executive Committee (NEC) in June 2020, only one is female.

Similar trend was also recorded at the 2021 PDP National Convention.

No fewer than 11 aspirants have shown interest in the chairmanship seat of the APC.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, has explained his decision not to support the presidential bid of former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu, saying his stance should not be interpreted as a betrayal.

In a statement he posted to his Facebook Page on Tuesday morning, Mr Ojudu said although he and Mr Tinubu had been long-time associates, supporting the former governors presidential bid does not agree with his conscience and ideals.

Messrs Ojudu and Tinubu had related closely since the early 1990s, the former a journalist and the latter a politician who had then won election to the Nigerian Senate.

Mr Tinubu even invested in TheNews Magazine, an influential publication owned by Mr Ojudu and his colleagues.

However, in 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mr Ojudu, a former senator, his adviser on political matters and detailed him to work with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Although Mr Tinubu was largely instrumental to Mr Osinbajos emergence as vice-president, he soon fell out with him and the two have remained politically estranged.

Mr Ojudu seems to have taken sides with Mr Osinbajo whose presidential bid he is now energetically promoting.

In his Tuesday statement, the former senator said he was being threatened while his family members were being embarrassed because of his political opposition to Mr Tinubu.

Let no one think he can browbeat or blackmail me to do what does not go with my conscience or my ideals, Mr Ojudu said. Enough of your phone threats and embarrassment of my family members.

I know Tinubu. I respect and adore him. Many of his latter-day supporters do not even know him. If they do, they wont resort to emotional and physical blackmail. When Tinubu decided to go against Afenifere and the Yoruba elders in 2003 by not supporting President Olusegun Obasanjo, he wasnt betraying the Yoruba nation or a traitor to Afenifere.

He made a choice and history has been his judge. Let history be my own judge too. When he supported Chief Olu Falae against Chief Bola Ige, our respected leader, who fought for him to emerge as the candidate of Alliance for Democracy in Lagos, no one shouted betrayal.

For the irritants who have been sending threatening messages to me and members of my family or calling to abuse me for not supporting Tinubu, do know that is not democracy. It is something else. I spent my youth years fighting autocracy and intolerance of the military and I am still willing and ready, even now, to stand up for what I believe, even if it will cost me my life. Enough said.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BY MR OJUDU BELOW.

I have seen a statement made by me, many years ago, to celebrate the 60th birthday anniversary of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu making the rounds. Yes, I did make that statement. And more of such will come in my autobiography. We, together, have seen good days and bad days.

I and Bola Tinubu have come a long way and we have been there for each other. So let no one use my acknowledgement of his good deeds and my refusal not to support him in his bid for Nigeria presidency to portray me as a betrayer.

Tinubu remains my leader and I will forever cherish him and the contributions he made to my Organisation during our fight against the military.

He however knows I dont follow the herd. I make my choices based on very rigid parameters. He will tell you I am very Independent in my actions and ways.

As a third-year university student, my dad chose to be in NPN. I never considered the fact that he fed me and paid my school fees to join him in a party I despised. I went to UPN and became a youth leader.

Tinubu will tell you that whatever and whoever Ojudu is committed to is in for 100 per cent commitment. Reasons I did rather face torture and possible death in General Sani Abachas detention than reveal certain things they wanted me to reveal about him.

The idea that everyone who has related with Tinubu and disagrees with him on this Presidential bid is a traitor and a betrayal is puerile. Many of us, his associates, were not made by him as you also want the world to believe.

We were already made before meeting him and in the course of relating, we gave one another a helping hand. As far back as 1992 when I came to know him I was already one of the editors of a popular news magazine with a good standing too in the civil society. I walked out of my job when our billionaire publisher (Chief MKO Abiola) requested I and my colleagues to apologise to General Ibrahim Babangida over a story critical of the regime. That was 1992.

When I left that job, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a man whom I was indebted to greatly (gave me a scholarship in my school days alongside King Sunny Ade) invested in my publishing platform (The News, publisher of PM news). The same one that was consequential in the battle to bring democracy back to Nigeria.

At the conclusion of that struggle, Chief Fawehinmi insisted we stay out of politics. Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu disagreed with this notion, and I did as well. Against an obvious choice to blind loyalty, I went along with Senator Tinubu even serving severally in critical roles as he assumed the Governorship position. My actions angered Chief Gani so much he asked that I repay his investments. Guess what? I gladly did.

So if my principled stance against NPN, against IBB and against siddon look was not a betrayal of my father, Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi respectively, why would my principled stance against our leaders present ambition be?

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So, on this matter of 2023, I wish him well but I cannot in good conscience give him my support or cast my vote for him in the coming primary. It is my right. I am above 60 years of age for God sake. I almost died seeking these inalienable democratic rights, held up in detention and severally tortured. Your god is not my god.

Let no one think he can browbeat or blackmail me to do what does not go with my conscience or my ideals. Enough of your phone threats and embarrassment of my family members.

I know Tinubu. I respect and adore him. Many of his latter-day supporters do not even know him. If they do, they wont resort to emotional and physical blackmail. When Tinubu decided to go against Afenifere and the Yoruba elders in 2003 by not supporting President Olusegun Obasanjo, he wasnt betraying the Yoruba nation or a traitor to Afenifere. He made a choice and history has been his judge. Let history be my own judge too. When he supported Chief Olu Falae against Chief Bola Ige, our respected leader, who fought for him to emerge as the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy in Lagos, no one shouted betrayal.

For the irritants who have been sending threatening messages to me and members of my family or calling to abuse me for not supporting Tinubu, do know that is not democracy. It is something else. I spent my youth years fighting autocracy and intolerance of the military and I am still willing and ready, even now, to stand up for what I believe, even if it will cost me my life. Enough said.

Senator Babafemi Ojudu writes from Abuja
The Senate will expeditiously look into the issues raised in the Electoral Amendment bill, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said.

He made the statement in his welcome address to his colleagues at the start of plenary on Tuesday.

The lawmakers, who resumed after a four-week break on Tuesday, held a closed-door meeting for over an hour before commencing plenary proper.

At the end of the executive session, Mr Lawan announced that issues discussed bordered on the workings of the Senate and the National Assembly in general.

All eyes have been on the lawmakers as Nigerians await their decision on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari in December.

The president cited insecurity, the cost of conducting direct primaries and infringement on the rights of Nigerians to participate in governance as his reasons for declining assent.

But in a recent interview, he assured that if changes are made to the clause, to include the addition of consensus candidates and indirect primary options to the mode of selecting a candidate for an election, he would sign the bill.

There was, however, no mention of the bill during plenary, save for the Senate Presidents speech.

The Senate postponed discussions on the consideration of the response of Mr President on the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment bill to enable us consult with our counter parts in the House of Representatives and also consult with our constituents.

Like we all know, the Senate and indeed the National Assembly worked so hard on the Bill. Having consulted, the Senate will expeditiously look into the issue, he said.

A legislative aide, who asked not to he named for fear of victimisation, told PREMIUM TIMES that the lawmakers will likely address the issues raised by the president and pass it as soon as possible.

Already, the Peoples Democratic Party, its governors and CSOs have asked the National Assembly to quickly pass the bill even if it means overriding the president.

2022 budget implementation

Mr Lawan also assured that the provisions of the 2022 budget will be fully implemented.

To this regard, he said the lawmakers will strategise on effective oversight of the implementation of the 2022 Budget.

This is going to be the last budget that would be fully implemented for 12 months in the life of the Ninth Senate. We therefore, need to supervise very closely.

He also noted that funding of the 2022 budget is predicated on significant borrowing.

He said: Our country is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. We have to construct and provide infrastructure, in all parts of our country because infrastructure is needed for our nation to develop.

However, we do not generate enough revenues to fund the provision of such infrastructure. Until more revenues are generated, the country has to borrow and also resort to other sources of funding our infrastructural development. But we cannot continue to borrow endlessly.

The lawmaker also disclosed that the National Assembly committees on Constitution Review will present their report o the Chambers soon.

The Senate will consider the report and the National Assembly will communicate to the State Houses of Assembly within the first quarter of this year, Mr Lawan stated.
The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to give licences to companies that are capable of operating refineries in the country.

The lawmakers said the policy will help to curb the activities of illegal refineries that are causing the current black soot experienced in Rivers State.

This resolution was reached by the House, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Uyime Idem (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) on Tuesday during plenary.

Soot in Rivers

In the past couple of years, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and its environs have been experiencing black soot.

In his New Year address to the residents of the state, Governor Nyesom Wike had said illegal refineries are responsible for the soot.

He also alleged that security-agencies are working in connivance with the illegal refineries.

As part of measures to curb the illegal activities of the refiners, the governor directed all local government chairmen to work with community leaders to locate and identify those behind all illegal bunkering and crude oil refining sites.

Last week, Mr Wike accused the anti-vandal unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of aiding and abetting illegal refiners.

Following the allegation, the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, announced the immediate disbanding of the unit.

The governor had in 2018 claimed that the soot was caused by the destruction of illegal refineries by security agencies.

We set up a technical committee to investigate the black soot problem. The committees report indicated that the black soot was largely a product of the destruction of illegal refineries by security agencies, he said at the time.

Uyimes motion

Mr Uyime, in his motion, said the activities of the illegal refineries are causing negative impacts on the economy and health of the residents of the state.

Illegal activities have sabotaged economic activities of residents of the area, caused severe health hazards on citizens, robbed the country of critical revenue, and aggravated the problem of pollution in the region

Some security agencies and some influential individuals have been alleged of complicity in the activities of these illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region of the Country, the lawmaker said.

Speaking in support of the motion, Luke Onofiok (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) said the government must provide alternatives for people.

He consequently proposed an amendment to the motion that the Department of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation should support the development of licences.

Without justifying the illegal refining, if you dont see what to do, you will do what you see. My amendment is that we should insert a prayer to get the NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Petroleum Resources to give licences for modular refineries and then to equally encourage these companies.

If NNPC can vote over N600 billion for road construction, there is nothing wrong for NNPC to support the establishment of modular refineries, so that the individuals engaging in these activities can be curbed, he said.

However, the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, raised a point of order that by virtue of the Petroleum Industry Bill, the DPR ceased to exist, while the NNPC is now a limited liability company.

According to Mr Monguno, the amendment by Mr Luke was null and an exercise in futility because nothing can be built on nothing.

The amendment moved by Hon Luke is nulled and exercised in futility. Because based on the PIA, DPR is now defunct, while NNPC is now a limited liability company and it has no power to do what it is being asked to do, he stated.

Isiaka Ibrahim (APC, Ogun) also moved an amendment for the existing modular refineries to be reviewed.

According to Mr Ibrahim, there are currently 52 modular licences and some of the licences have not been utilised.

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Following a long debate on the motion, the House nevertheless resolved as follow:

-Mandate the Inspector General of Police Akali Usman and other relevant security agencies to immediately clampdown on the activities of these illegal refineries in the Niger Delta Region of the Country and prosecute those found culpable.

-Mandate the Federal Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Environment to urgently develop and implement modalities to clear off the soot currently experienced in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta Region.

-Mandate the House Committees on Police Affairs, Navy, Army, Defense and Interior to investigate the alleged involvement of security agencies in the illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta Region of the Country.

The committees on Host Communities and Petroleum Resources (Downstream) were mandated to ensure compliance with the resolutions.
The Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered Murtala Nyako, a former governor of Adamawa State, to open his defence in his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Okon Abang, the trial judge, had on July 19, 2021, ordered dismissed the no-case submission filed by Mr Nyako after the prosecution closed their case.

The judge then ordered him and his co-defendants to open their case, dismissed their claims that the evidence led by the prosecution did not link them to the money laundering charges.

Unsatisfied with Mr Abangs decision, Mr Nyako filed an appeal against it.

In the case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mr Nyako, his son, Abdul-Aziz Nyako, two companies, Sebore Farms and Extension Ltd and Pagado Fortunes Ltd, with money laundering.

Other defendants are Zulkifik Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd.

Court of Appeals judgement

Delivering judgment on Mr Nyakos appeal on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja led by Olabisi Ige, held that the trial courts decision was right.

Mr Ige held that the trial court was right in ordering the defendants to enter their defence to answer questions in respect of the allegations levelled against them by the prosecution.

The other panel members unanimously agreed that it was necessary for the appellants to exonerate themselves from the allegations linking them to the commission of the alleged offences.

Non-arraignment of others mentioned during the trial does not vitiate the charge as presented by the defendants.

Appellants appeal is devoid of merit and the lower court was right in over ruling the no-case-submission filed by the appellant.

The appellants are hereby ordered to enter their defence as ordered by Justice Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, Mr Ige held.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC on July 7,2015 filed the charges against the former governor and the other defendants.

The EFCC arraigned the defendants on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29 billion.

To prove its case at the Federal High Court Abuja, the EFCC called 21 witnesses upon whose oral and documentary evidence the court agreed that the prosecution has made a prima facie case against the defendants.

The defendants had filed a no-case submission after the prosecution finished calling its witnesses, urging the court to dismiss the charges against them on the grounds that the prosecution failed to link them to the alleged crimes.

But the court, in its ruling on July 19, 2021, dismissed the no-case submission and urged them to enter their defence.

The judge, who said he had painstakingly scrutinised the evidence of the 21 witnesses and massive documentary evidence that were tendered by the prosecution, found no merit in Mr Nyako and his co-defendants no-case-submission.

Mr Abang noted that extrajudicial statements of the Zenith Bank Plc manager in Yola (Adamawa State capital) and Abdulmalik Dalhatu were admitted in evidence, a ruling of the court that defendants did not appeal against.

In this ruling, it is my humble but firm view that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the defendants, and they are required to enter their defence immediately, the court held.

The no-case-submission filed by the defendants lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed, Mr Abang said.

In their appeal against the decision, Mr Nyako and his co-defendants argued that the essential elements of offences against them were not proved by the prosecution.

More so, the appellants posited that there was no proof of theft, nor was there any evidence adduced by the prosecution to prove its case or linking them to commission of the offence levelled against them.

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It was their argument that Not a single witness called by the prosecution implicated the appellants.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the arguments in its judgement on Tuesday.

(NAN)
A bill that seeks to regulate the mode of payment of rent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been introduced in the Senate.

The bill titled, Advanced Rent (Residential Apartments, Office Spaces, etc) Regulation Bill 2022, was one of the five bills read for the first time during plenary on Tuesday.

Kogi senator, Smart Adeyemi, sponsored the bill.

The bill, if passed, would make it an offence for any landlord to demand payment of advance rent from tenants.

It seeks to reduce advance payment of rents from one or two years by tenants to three months and subsequent monthly payments.

The bill comes amid complaints by Abuja residents of the high cost and mode of payment of rent.

Many residents in the FCT have, overtime, lamented the difficulty involved in getting accommodation due to the high cost and a few, who do, are asked to make advance payment of two or three years.

Accommodation in the city ranges from N1.5 million to N4 million depending on the size.

This has made many opt for accommodation in satellite towns like Nyanya, Kubwa, Lugbe, Kuje, among others.

The bill

Although details of the bill have not been released, the sponsor said the bill would enable tenants to pay maximum advance payment of three months rent, followed by subsequent monthly payment.

Mr Adeyemi, who addressed journalists after plenary, said the legislation is borne out of the realisation that landlords in the FCT compel tenants to pay one or two years advance rent payment before granting them keys to their apartments.

The law, he said, is targeted at welfare and wellbeing of the downtrodden  majority of whom elected those holding public positions into offices.

Many residents of FCT are finding it very difficult to cope with huge rent payment, the reason why many of the houses built for such purposes are empty.

Some landlords always insist their tenants pay for one year or two years rent. That is wrong. By this bill, Nigerians especially Abuja residents will now be paying rent on monthly basis after the expiration of the initial three months.

The law we are proposing stipulates a maximum advanced rent payment of three months. After the expiration of the three months rent, the tenants are expected to pay monthly. There are many tenants whose salaries are competing with their rents because they live in cities like Abuja, he explained.

The bill will provide a window of petitioning for any tenants forced to pay rents above three months, he said.

He also said the bill is important because Nigerians need the protection of the law to be able to meet their basic needs after paying rents.

Many landlords did not secure loans to build their houses, they are products of free money they acquire from the system, yet they make lives difficult for poor Nigerians who do not have such privilege of making ill-gotten money from the system and put up structures.

The buildings are constructed in such a manner that an average Nigerian would not be able to afford it. Many people are involved in corrupt practices to get their rents paid while the ladies took to prostitution.

The law will prevent the poor workers from any form of oppression.

Details of the bill will be discussed on another legislative day after which it will be read for the second time and sent for public hearing and other legislative actions.
The Niger Police Command has confirmed the killing of three of its men and two local vigilantes in an ambush by gunmen in Kwanan Dutse, Mariga Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Monday Bala Kuryas, confirmed this in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

Mr Kuryas said the incident occurred on Monday at about 4 p.m when the Joint Security TaskForce, comprising the police and the local vigilantes were on routine patrol of the area.

He said scores of the gunmen were equally neutralised during the gun battle that lasted for hours.

The exchange of gun fire between the gunmen and the Joint Security TaskForce led to the killing of three policemen and two local vigilantes while others sustained various degree of injury, he said.

He noted that the Joint Security TaskForce had earlier on Sunday morning foiled an attack by another group of gunmen after about two hours of gun battle at Bari village, along Tegina-Kontagora road.

According to him, the detachment of police tactical squad and the military have been deployed to the area and have launch a manhunt with a view to tracking down the criminals.

We appeal to residents to assist security personnel deployed with reliable information that could aid in apprehending miscreants.

We are all out to deal with any person or group of people undermining the peaceful atmosphere our area, the commissioner said. (NAN)
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has put things in place to ensure that Kwara is a top investment destination in Nigeria. Patriotic Kwarans, at home and abroad, and willing investors are hereby assured that Kwara remains the most peaceful and secure state in Nigeria, and a destination for investors in the country.

Kwara State has emerged as the new destination for investors and not an abode for criminals. The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, who has detailed reports of insecurity in the country, attested to the impressive national rating of Kwara as the most peaceful and best secured State in Nigeria during his recent official working visit to Kwara State.

Evident indicators of the State as an emerging investors destination includes the daily increase in flights to and from different locations as a result of a number of new efforts aimed at promoting the ease of doing business by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The State government, among other things, seized the bull by the horns, working with security agencies to address some of the erstwhile security breaches in Kwara State.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has taken bold steps to equip the Police with new vehicles and renovated their barracks.

The newly established Kwara State Residence Agency now has a mandate not only for planning but also identifying strangers, migrants and criminal elements daring to sneak in from neighbouring states.

In addition to aggressive and concerted efforts to secure lives and property, the governor is also opening the State to new investors with the construction of new roads across Kwara.

From the remotest part in Baruten local government area in Kwara North to many communities in Kwara South and Ilorin, the State capital, all communities inaccessible by investors and travellers are now being opened to the World through the construction of new roads and rehabilitation of old ones that have fallen into disrepair.

Four domestic airlines are now operating from the airport, following an increase in the number of passengers coming into the State.

Not only that, the governors policy around the ease of doing business has attracted an international Nigerian business giant, Alhaji Rabiu Abdul Samad to build a multi-billion naira sugar factory in Lafiaji. This is in addition to existing corporate businesses like Lubcon Oil, Tuyil Pharmaceutical Company and others that are doing well in the State.

The BUA multi billion naira investment has rekindled and activated hopes of employment for thousands of youths in the State, while also enhancing the revenue profile of the State government.

The ongoing construction of a garment factory is another source of employment and demonstration to investors that Kwara is open for unlimited business opportunities and investments.

The factory, when completed, will provide about 3,000 jobs for indigenes and non-indigenes of the State. It is the same for the new oncology centre for the treatment of cancer patients at the General Hospital, Ilorin, which is the first of its kind in North-Central Nigeria.

This will, no doubt, stem the trips to take care of cancer patients abroad and open the State for medical tourism. The ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art International Conference Centre in Ilorin has excited leading stakeholders in the tourism industry as an innovation capable of attracting tourists into the State.

At the moment, only Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital, has such a standard International Conference Centre in the whole of the country.

It is believed by experts in the industry that Kwara will provide a better choice for multinational institutions and international agencies willing to organise world class meetings.

The Conference Centre will have a world class hotel, standard swimming pool and shopping mall. This will also provide job opportunities for residents of the State, besides leading to the development of tourist sites in the capital, Ilorin.

There is no doubt Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has opened the state for investments with the provision of infrastructure and enabling of the ease of doing business. He has provided the right environment to attract investors into the State.

While no state may be completely free of criminal elements, given the increasing rates of urbanisation across the country, the proble of high unemployment and challenges of population explosion  especially in the cities, yet the State government is working round-the-clock with security agencies to curb security breaches in Kwara.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has put things in place to ensure that Kwara is a top investment destination in Nigeria. Patriotic Kwarans, at home and abroad, and willing investors are hereby assured that Kwara remains the most peaceful and secure state in Nigeria, and a destination for investors in the country.

Bashir Adigun is the special adviser, Political Communications to the Kwara State governor.
Four persons were on Tuesday reportedly killed in an attack linked to a protracted war between the people of Ukawu and Isinkwo, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The dispute over land has led to the death of dozens of people over the years. Many houses and other properties have also been destroyed on both sides.

The four persons killed are said to hail from Ukawu.

A resident of Ukawu said residents went to a beach in the area to fetch sand when they were ambushed by gunmen who shot four of them dead.

The source, who asked not to be named, said one of those killed was Ujebe Offor, 32, a father of three whose last child is nine months old.

I heard that the people from Ukawu went in a group to the beach to get sand thinking that today being sit at home there will be no problem. But unfortunately for them, Ishinkwo people had already laid ambush and getting to the beach they opened fire on the Ukawu people.

I also gathered that Ukawu people were taken unawares as they went to the beach unarmed. They all scampered for safety, but on getting to a meeting point they discovered that four people were missing. Then some attested to seeing when they were killed and their corpses taken away by the attackers.

ALSO READ: Police declare four persons missing in Ebonyi community

I learnt that Ukawu people have mobilized to Isinkwo for reprisal and to also demand the corpses of those killed. One of the deceased was Ujebe Offor mid-30s, married, had 3 children, the last child is about 9 months, the source said.

PREMIUM TIMES could, however, not ascertain the identity of the attackers.

The police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, said that the command has yet to receive information on the matter.

She, however, promised to contact the police division the warring communities fall into in order to get information on the killings.

The chairman of the local government, Felix Igboke, confirmed the incident.

He expressed disappointment over the incident after the state government had made peace between the communities.

On casualty figures, Mr Igboke said two persons, a woman and a truck driver, are missing.

I am on my way to the place to ascertain the true situation. The people of the two communities are bringing shame to the local government and the state.

The governor had tried to make peace there. The disputed area has been demarcated. So why are they still fighting? If you ask them, they will say it is a fight that started since 1912. But my question is cant it end? he said.
New Delhi, Jan 17 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday spoke with his counterparts from Sweden and Hungary and with the EU foreign policy chief, during which they reviewed bilateral trade ties among other issues.

In a series of tweets, the EAM mentioned about his separate telephonic interactions with the three top officials.

During his conversation with Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto, the two discussed bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education, mobility and health.

A good discussion with FM Peter Szijjarto of Hungary.

Discussed bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education, mobility and health.

Confident that the positive momentum of 2021 will grow further in 2022.

Look forward to welcoming him in India soon, he posted.

On his talk with Swedish FM Ann Linde, he said the two discussed the Covid situation, on Nordic cooperation, and green transition

Nice to speak to FM @AnnLinde of Sweden.

Conversation covered the Covid situation, green transition and Nordic cooperation.

Our bilateral relationship continues to advance steadily.

He also spoke with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles. They reviewed trade and investment, connectivity, and strategic facets of India-EU cooperation, as well as Afghanistan and Myanmar.

A warm conversation with EU HRVP @JosepBorrellF ,our first this year.

Reviewed trade & investment, connectivity, climate action and strategic facets of India-EU cooperation.

Discussed global hotspots, especially Afghanistan and Myanmar.

UNI/RN
Victor Osimhen returned to action for Napoli on Monday, January 17, in a Serie A clash with Bologna.

The Nigerian forward was injured against Inter Milan on November 21, 2021, in a clash with Milan Skriniar.

Osimhen, first named in the Super Eagles to the Nations Cup in Cameroon had to pull out when he contacted Co-19 for the second time in December.

He returned to Napoli to continue his rehabilitation and made a welcome return in the 71st minute, replacing Dries Mertens as Napoli took all three points courtesy of a double from Mexican forward Hirving Lozano.

Lozano scored in the 20th and 43rd minutes to help solidify Napolis third position on the Serie A table.

Before the match, Luciano Spaletti was asked how happy he was that Osimhen and Zielinski were back in the team and he said, I am pleased to have my squad available if not always almost always.

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Because it is from the quality of the whole squad that you can come out as a strong team and then there are characteristics and you can hardly find them in other players, so it is a quality that we would like to have always available. Having them with us today gives serenity to the whole team.

Osimhen sported a face mask and he achieved one dribble and one shot in the 19 minutes of his return to action.

AC Milan lost 2-1 to Spezia, also on Monday night, to miss the chance to go above Inter Milan into first place though the defending champions have a game in hand.

Inter Milan leads Serie A with 50 points from 21 matches followed by AC Milan with 48 from 22 matches, and Napoli in third with 46 points from 22 matches.
Budding trees and blooming flowers.

The return of robins, loons and other migrating birds.

The return of bees, butterflies and frogs.

Melting snow and lake ice.

Longer days and light in the evening.

Shedding the winter garments.

The myriad scents of flowering trees and plants.

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India's achievements in every sphere benefit the world: PM Modi at Indian community event 03 May 2022 | 11:54 PM Copenhagen/New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Indias achievements in every sphere  whether it be welfare measures for its people, its vaccination drive, free healthcare, housing and sanitation  are achievements not just for the country but for one fifth of humanity, which impact the world positively. see more..

PM invites Danish companies to invest in green technologies 03 May 2022 | 11:08 PM New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invited Danish companies to take advantage of India's enormous opportunities in areas like "green technologies, cold chains, waste to wealth, shipping and ports, among others."

He jointly participated with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, and Crown Prince Frederik in the India-Denmark Business Forum at the Confederation of Danish Industry. see more..

TB Alliance lauds Pretomanid's inclusion in WHO's new treatment guidelines for DR-TB 03 May 2022 | 10:30 PM New Delhi, India, May 3 (UNI) TB Alliance on Tuesday applauded the World Health Organization for releasing a new guidelines for treating the drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). see more..

India's achievements in every sphere benefit the world: PM Modi 03 May 2022 | 10:29 PM Copenhagen/New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Indias achievements in every sphere  whether it be welfare measures for its people, its vaccination drive, free healthcare, housing and sanitation  are achievements not just for the country but for one fifth of humanity, which impact the world positively. see more..
Rise in initiatives from government for large-scale sequencing projects drives the growth of the global RNA based therapeutics market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "RNA Based Therapeutic Market by Disease Type (RNA interference (RNAi) and RNA antisense), Application (Genetic Disorders and Auto Immune Disorders) and End User (Research Institutes, and Hospitals & Clinics): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030." According to the report, the global RNA based therapeutics industry was estimated at $4.93 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to hit $25.12 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 17.6% from 2021 to 2030.

Download Sample Report- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/546

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Rise in initiatives from government for large-scale sequencing projects drives the growth of the global RNA based therapeutics market. On the other hand, hurdles in drug delivery, high cost of research, and threats of failure restrain the growth to some extent. However, early commercialization of pipeline therapeutics is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Impact of COVID-19 on RNA Based Therapeutics Market-

There was a steep decline in the number of patients visiting clinics and hospitals for RNA based therapies, which, in turn, decreased the demand for RNA based therapeutic products, especially during the initial phase of the pandemic. This impacted the global RNA based therapeutic market negatively.

Also, mRNA vaccines could potentially offer long-term solutions all over the world for diseases ranging from influenza to AIDS, but owing to lockdown measures and temporary closure of research institutes and academic research, the demand for RNA based therapeutic solutions decreased significantly.

This trend is quite likely to continue till the pandemic is completely over.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the RNA Based Therapeutic Market- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/546?reqfor=covid

The RNA antisense segment to retain the lion's share-

On the basis of type, the RNA antisense segment held the major share in 2020, garnering nearly two-thirds of the global RNA based therapeutics market, due to increase in revenue of RNA antisense drug discovery and therapeutics. The RNA interference (RNAi) segment, on the other hand, is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 18.8% throughout the forecast period.

The genetic disorder segment to dominate by 2030-

On the basis of application, the genetic disorder segment contributed to the lion's share in 2020, holding more than three-fifths of the global RNA based therapeutics market, owing to surge in cases of genetic diseases, rare disorders, and molecular diagnostics. The same segment is also projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 18.2% from 2021 to 2030. The report also analyzes the autoimmune disorder segment.

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North America held the major share in 2020-

By region, the market across North America dominated in 2020, garnering more than two-fifths the global RNA based therapeutics market. High expenditure on R&D, presence of major players & their product availability, and well-established healthcare infrastructure in the region propel the market growth. Simultaneously, the Asia-Pacific region is also expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 18.9% throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to improvements in R&D facilities, available disposable income, and rapidly developing economic conditions.

Key players in the industry-

Silence Therapeutics plc.

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Sarepta Therapeutics

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Benitec Biopharma Inc.

Genzyme (Sanofi), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

Biogen, Inc.

Gradalis, Inc.

Official Press Release: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/press-release/RNA-therapeutics-market-is-expected-to-reach-1-billion-globally-by-2020.html

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambodia begins the new year as the first nation in Southeast Asia to publish a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The roadmap, known officially as a "Long-term strategy for Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN)", was submitted to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the 30th of December 2021. This fulfilled a promise by Prime Minister Hun Sen to present such a plan by the end of 2021 and it followed on the heels of his government's pledge, at COP26 Glasgow last November, to reduce Cambodia's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 percent of median levels by 2030.

"Implementation of the carbon neutrality strategy in Cambodia is expected to increase our nation's GDP by nearly 3 percent and to create some 449,000 jobs by 2050" says Say Samal, Minister of the Environment for Cambodia. "Forestry sector reforms, decarbonization of transport systems and the promotion of low-carbon agricultural and goods production processes will lead the way to a greener economy and more sustainable prosperity for all."

Minister Samal lauds the efforts of his government, the Ministry of the Environment, and those of Cambodia's National Council for Sustainable Development for committing to go beyond putting pen to paper. "In good times and bad, Prime Minister Hun Sen has proven that he is a man of his word, and I take pride in following his example" says Say Samal. "Cambodia has a solemn obligation to do its part, in concert with more developed nations, to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050."

Cambodia's "Long-term strategy for Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN)" is designed to be a synergistic approach that seeks to balance economic growth and social justice with greenhouse gas reductions and climate resilience. The Cambodia Climate Change Alliance program (funded by the European Union, Sweden, and the United Nations Development Program), the United Kingdom, the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Global Green Growth Institute and the Agence Francaise de Developpement have contributed their extensive expertise to the preparation of this strategy. We are most grateful for their input, and we welcome their assistance in the coming years.

Cambodia has a 400 megawatt foothold in solar energy development. The country is steering away from coal-fired power generation and hydro power development on the Mekong River has been ruled out. "We are seeing "REDD" when it comes to our forestry resources" says Say Samal. "REDD, as in "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest degradation in Developing countries" - a program sponsored by the United Nations. Cambodia is committed to reducing deforestation by half by the year 2030 and to reaching zero emissions in its forestry sector by 2040."

We have seen the global community come together to face down a biological threat that most of us could not have imagined barely two years ago. Yet, we had been warned. Let us heed the warnings about global warming. Let us apply ourselves with the same resolve, by increasing international funding for climate change mitigation initiatives. Cambodia stands ready.

Please click the link below to consult the official LTS4CN document as prepared by the Government of Cambodia.

https://bit.ly/3t1BfIL

Media Contact: Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the MOE, Phone: Tel: (855) 12 483 283, Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
Students from all 50 states will unite in a kick-off video streamed nationwide. Tweet this

Arizona families will watch fireworks at a Western-themed school choice extravaganza

families will watch fireworks at a Western-themed school choice extravaganza Missourians will celebrate at the capitol two days in a row highlighting great schools

Wisconsin students will perform at a talent show at the Packers' Lambeau Field

students will perform at a talent show at the Packers' Lambeau Field Parents in 13 states will consider all types of school on School Fair Saturday ( Jan. 22 )

) Students from all 50 states will unite in a kick-off video streamed nationwide

Dozens of state and national landmarks will light up in honor of School Choice Week

National survey results will reveal what parents factor into choosing a school

"I dare you to enter into National School Choice Week with an open mindset and not be moved by the kids whose lives are changed by their school choice," said Andrew Campanella, President of the Week. "Every child deserves access to affordable school choices, so they can thrive today and become who they're meant to be."

Among efforts that focus on K-12 education, School Choice Week uniquely focuses on positive, practical information designed to make a family's opportunity to choose from among traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling as navigable and empowering as possible. This includes comprehensive roadmaps to educational options in each state, paired with a newly developed "Schools Near Me" tool to help parents start the selection process.

More information and resources for journalists interested in the Week can be found at schoolchoiceweek.com/coverage . More information for families can be found at schoolchoiceweek.com/mystate .

National School Choice Week is a charitable, not-for-profit effort that focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Diverse Home Solutions-Nevada is the development entity for Luxury Real Estate Advisors. Diverse Home Solutions-Nevada's primary objective is to work with local municipalities and partner Boxabl to build 50-residence micro-communities on unused or underutilized land parcels in a city's urban core.

Diverse Home Solutions-Nevada communities will create affordable housing options while reducing blight from closed/boarded-up businesses or vacant land, which must be re-imagined.

For more information, visit Diverse Home Solutions-Nevada

About Luxury Real Estate Advisors

Luxury Real Estate Advisors is the preeminent provider of sales, management, and advisory services to the Las Vegas Strip luxury condo segment. Luxury Real Estate Advisors Principle is a partner of Street Dogz, providing food, clothing, and medical care to homeless people's pets.

https://www.luxrealestateadvisors.com/

About Luxury Cares

Luxury Cares partners will local animal cause group Street Dogzs provide food, clothing, and vaccinations to pets in the homeless community.

https://luxurycares.com/

About Lux Development | Diverse Home Solutions-Nevada

Diverse Home Solutions-Nevada is the development entity for Luxury Real Estate Advisors. Diverse Home Solutions-Nevada primary objective is to work with local municipalities and partner Boxabl to build 50-residence micro-communities on unused or underutilized land parcels throughout a city's urban core.

Contact:

Anthony Phillips

President | Realtor

The Luxury Companies

Advisors | Management | Charities

3960 Howard Hughes Pkwy Suite 500

Las Vegas, NV 89169

Phone: 702.482.8885

Email: [email protected]

www.LuxRealEstateAdvisors.com

License # S.0168880

SOURCE Luxury Real Estate Advisors
The AS1000 Portable Air Scrubber is ideal for maintaining clean and healthy indoor air quality in classrooms, hospitals, libraries, gymnasiums, cafeterias, and other large spaces. The AS1000 draws air from inside larger areas, removes contaminants, and discharges cleaner, filtered air. The new portable Air Scrubber has a large capacity and ability to cover a 1,000 sq. ft. space.

"We are excited to introduce the AS1000," said CEO Ed Vlacich. "During these challenging times, our customers reached out to us and asked us to develop a HEPA air scrubber for larger spaces to help protect the health of occupants."

The new unit is portable and plugs into a standard wall outlet. The HEPA filter removes 99.97% of airborne particles including mold, pollen, bacteria, viruses, dust and other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (m).

The AS1000 utilizes three stages of filtration, including a pre-filter, optional 2nd stage, and a HEPA filter. As a result, the Air Scrubber will create cleaner air in any environment. The pre-filter and second stage filter capture larger particles, and the HEPA filter will capture smaller particles. Please contact customer service at [email protected] or 877-800-BAIR (2247) for more details about the AS1000 or for replacement filters.

B-Air is a division of Lasko, a proud American company manufacturing products in the U.S. for the past 115 years. B-Air products are designed for water damage restoration, fire damage remediation and large area air quality. Lasko started as a small shop in Philadelphia in 1906 and now distributes innovative products to people worldwide. The company has remained committed to its mission to provide consumers a healthier and more comfortable home environment.

About Lasko

Lasko is a leading home environment products company, providing fans, heaters, air purifiers, humidifiers, home ventilation products, water damage remediation products, and more. Lasko has been engineering and building high-performance home environment products with leading-edge designs in the U.S. and worldwide for 115 years. Started in 1906 by Mr. Henry Lasko, the company has grown to an international organization whose products can be found at major retailers and online under the Lasko, Air King, B-Air, and Guardian brands. For more information, please visit Lasko.com, AirKingLimited.com, B-Air.com, and GuardianTechnologies.com.

SOURCE Lasko
Born in Manila, Rhuigi Villasenor, is Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of the brand Rhude since 2015. He started his career in Los Angeles, and credits his passion for design and his understanding of garment construction to growing up with a mother who was a tailor and father who was an architect. A Filipino and American national, raised in several continents before emigrating to the U.S. at the age of nine, Villasenor has been recognized as one of today's most promising fashion talents. With a thriving business that includes ready-to-wear and accessories coveted by celebrities around the world, Villasenor's reach extends to a broad and diverse audience, amplified also through his lifestyle partnerships including homeware and automotive. Associated with his unique reinterpretation of the modern wardrobe, Villasenor references American iconography with nostalgic reflections recalling his childhood observing an aspirational culture through a foreign lens, a visual narrative combining luxury techniques with streetwear elements. Villasenor will be based between Los Angeles and Switzerland.

Nicolas Girotto, CEO of Bally, said: "Over the past three years, we have redefined our positioning, successfully consolidating the brand across product offering and customer touchpoints. This strong foundation, rooted in an embrace of our Swiss identity, enables us to progress on our ambitions. In this transformative moment, and having found the right champion in Rhuigi, we are ready to move Bally to the next level. I entrust Rhuigi, a talented visionary, to continue evolving the contemporary relevance of our brand and accelerate growth while preserving Bally's core values. Having acutely followed Rhuigi's ascent I am excited by how his natural creativity and energetic spirit have made him one of the industry's greatest idea generators and community builders. Rhuigi's deep understanding of Bally's history coupled with a distinct appreciation of the Swiss lifestyle will be instrumental in ushering the brand into the future."

Rhuigi Villasenor said: "I am proud to be appointed as the new Creative Director of Bally. As a brand that is very dear to my heart, Bally has been worn in my family from generation to generation, from my grandfather to myself. The brand's pioneering legacy across social innovation and 171 years of luxury heritage is a true inspiration, and I am drawn to the company's paramount commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. I have always admired the Swiss approach to luxury, its discreet representation of excellence, and symbiotic openness and care for the environment. Nicolas [Girotto] and I connected on our shared vision, and it is with immense honor that I accept this challenge. I look forward to invigorating and modernizing the brand while respecting its longstanding tradition, sharing its story further with a wider community."

Manuel Martinez, Bally Board Chairman said: "We are pleased to welcome such an extraordinary talent to Bally. Rhuigi Villasenor has a profound comprehension of the brand's potential and will bring a synergistic creative force, articulating the brand further while propelling the foundational repositioning successfully led by Nicolas [Girotto] over the past three years."

Photograph available here  photography by Lea Colombo.

View & download

ABOUT BALLY

Bally is a Swiss luxury brand established in 1851, with a rich heritage in shoemaking, and a longstanding relationship to architecture, arts and the environment. Today, the brand offers unique designs across shoes, accessories and ready-to-wear, driven by a dedication to craftsmanship and a contemporary aesthetic. Bally has over 320 retail stores and 500 multi-brand points of sale spanning across 60 countries worldwide, including a global e-commerce platform serving 58 countries. The company is owned by JAB Holding Company, a privately held group focused on long term investments in companies with premium brands, attractive growth and strong cash flow dynamics.

CONTACTS

Bally PR

KWT Global x HL Group

[email protected]

Rhuigi Villasenor/Rhude PR

Kevin McIntosh Jr.

Founder

[email protected]

www.Bally.com

Instagram: @Bally

Linkedin: @Bally

SOURCE Bally
LAVAL, QB, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health" or the "Company") announced today that it is seeking to refinance its existing credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement" and such refinancing, the "Credit Agreement Refinancing"). The refinanced Credit Agreement is expected to consist of approximately $2.5 billion of term B loans (the "New Term B Loans") and a $975 million revolving credit facility. The Credit Agreement Refinancing is expected to occur only upon completion of the initial public offering (IPO) of Bausch + Lomb Corporation ("Bausch + Lomb" and such offering, the "Bausch + Lomb IPO") and a related debt financing by Bausch + Lomb (the "Bausch + Lomb Debt Financing"). At the time of the Bausch + Lomb IPO, Bausch + Lomb will initially remain a "restricted" subsidiary subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement covenants, but the Credit Agreement Refinancing is expected to permit Bausch Health to designate Bausch + Lomb as an "unrestricted" subsidiary outside the terms of the Credit Agreement covenants upon achievement of a 7.6x pro forma "Total Leverage Ratio." The Credit Agreement Refinancing is designed to facilitate the separation and distribution of Bausch + Lomb.

The Company also intends, subject to market conditions, to issue approximately $1.0 billion of secured debt securities (the "New Debt Securities"). The proceeds of the New Term B Loans and the offering of the New Debt Securities, along with proceeds from the Bausch + Lomb IPO and from the repayment of an intercompany note owed by Bausch + Lomb (which is expected to be funded by the Bausch + Lomb Debt Financing), are expected to be used to fund the redemption in full of our outstanding 6.125% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "6.125% Notes due 2025"), refinance all of the existing Term B Loans, fund a partial redemption of our outstanding 9.000% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "9.000% Notes due 2025" and, collectively with the 9.000% Notes due 2025, the "Existing Notes") and to pay related fees, premiums and expenses.

The Company also announced that it intends to issue today conditional notices of redemption to redeem in full all of its outstanding 6.125% Notes due 2025 and to redeem $370 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 9.000% Notes due 2025. The redemption of the 6.125% Notes due 2025 will be conditioned upon the completion of the Credit Agreement Refinancing (the "6.125% Notes Condition"). The Company intends to discharge the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes due 2025 concurrently with satisfying such 6.125% Notes Condition. The redemption of the 9.000% Notes due 2025 will be conditioned upon the receipt of aggregate gross proceeds from the Bausch + Lomb IPO, the Bausch + Lomb Debt Financing, the Credit Agreement Refinancing and the offering of the New Debt Securities of at least $7.0 billion (the "9.000% Notes Condition" and, together with the 6.125% Notes Condition, the "Conditions").

Copies of the conditional notices of redemption with respect to the Existing Notes will be issued today to the record holders of the applicable series of Existing Notes. Payment of the redemption price and surrender of the applicable series of Existing Notes for redemption will be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository Trust Company on Feb. 17, 2022, unless the applicable Condition is not satisfied, in which case the applicable redemption date will be delayed until the relevant Condition is satisfied. The name and address of the paying agent are as follows: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., c/o The Bank of New York Mellon; 111 Sanders Creek Parkway, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057; Attn: Redemption Unit; Tel: (800) 254- 2826.

The foregoing transactions are subject to market and other conditions and are anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2022. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully complete the transactions, on the terms described above, or at all.

The New Debt Securities will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The New Debt Securities have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public by prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of the securities in Canada will be made on a basis, which is exempt from the prospectus requirements of such securities laws.

This news release is being issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This news release does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to either series of Existing Notes.

About Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our financing plans and the details thereof, including the proposed use of proceeds therefrom, whether the Conditions to the redemption of the Existing Notes will occur, the expected timing of the Credit Agreement Refinancing (including the New Term B Loans) and our ability to close such transaction, the offering of the New Debt Securities proposed in connection with Credit Agreement Refinancing and the details thereof, the other expected effects of the Credit Agreement Refinancing, the offering of the New Debt Securities, the timing expectations of the Bausch + Lomb IPO, the Bausch + Lomb Debt Financing, the Solta Medical IPO and the Company's plan to spinoff or separate its eye health business from the remainder of Bausch Health, subject to market conditions and regulatory, stock exchange and other necessary approvals, that the spinoff will occur following the expiry of customary lock-ups and the achievement of our target net leverage ratios, subject to receipt of shareholder and necessary approvals, the capitalization structure of such transaction, the anticipated dis-synergies resulting from such transaction (including the allocation thereof between the separated entity and the remainder of Bausch Health) and the Company's plans and expectations for 2022 and beyond. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "predicts," "goals," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," "commit," "forecast," "tracking," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions, and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should or will be achieved, received or taken or will occur or result, and similar such expressions also identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are provided for the purpose of providing additional information about such expectations and beliefs and readers are cautioned that these statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's most recent annual and quarterly reports and detailed from time to time in the Company's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those identified in Bausch + Lomb's filings relating to the Bausch + Lomb IPO, and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which risks and uncertainties are incorporated herein by reference. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties caused by or relating to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the fear of that pandemic, the availability and effectiveness of vaccines for COVID-19 (including with respect to current or future variants), COVID-19 vaccine immunization rates, new lockdowns in certain countries the emergence of variant strains of COVID-19 and the potential effects of that pandemic, the severity, duration and future impact of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may have a material adverse impact on the Company, including but not limited to its supply chain, third-party suppliers, project development timelines, employee base, liquidity, stock price, financial condition and costs (which may increase) and revenue and margins (both of which may decrease).

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accident lawyers from the Baum Hedlund law firm filed a lawsuit today accusing the State of California of negligence and creating a dangerous condition that led to a fatal crash on U.S. Highway 101 near Redcrest.

Lead attorney Timothy A. Loranger filed the complaint in California Superior Court for the County of Humboldt on behalf of plaintiff Rachelle Sepulveda, whose father, Ruben Anthony Sepulveda, sustained fatal injuries in the 2021 crash on Highway 101.

On May 10, 2021, Ruben Sepulveda was driving on U.S. 101 when a Douglas fir tree located within the Humboldt Redwood State Park fell across the full width of the highway. Multiple vehicles, including Mr. Sepulveda's, collided with the tree. Mr. Sepulveda sustained numerous severe injuries, including laceration of his spleen, acute kidney injury, multiple rib fractures, and left humeral neck fracture.

As a result of the trauma and multiple orthopedic surgeries, Mr. Sepulveda suffered a heart attack and a stroke and ultimately fell into a persistent vegetative state. Mr. Sepulveda died from his injuries weeks after the crash.

The lawsuit accuses the State of Californiaspecifically the Department of Parks and Recreation and CALTRANSof negligently creating a dangerous condition and failing to protect the motoring public from a tree that was "decayed and diseased." Per the complaint, the State had the power to "prevent, remedy, or guard" against the foreseeable hazard posed by the tree and warn drivers of the substantial risk of injury but failed to do so.

"The State was on notice of the danger posed by diseased and decaying trees and should have taken protective measures to prevent the tree from falling and warn motorists of the potential for danger in the area," says Timothy A. Loranger, the Sepulveda family's attorney. "We do not believe this failure was the result of budget cuts or lack of resources; this was negligence, and it caused unspeakable harm to our client and others involved in what appears to be a preventable tragedy."

Sepulveda v. State of California (Case No. CV2200080) includes a claim for pre-death pain and suffering. S.B. 447, signed into law last October, provides a decedent's next of kin the ability to pursue non-economic damages for a decedent's pain, suffering, and disfigurement before death.

Read more about the case here.

SOURCE Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman
Ali Kassab, the Chairman of Centurion Investment said, "As the world is evolving, our old traditions are transforming into a world of advanced technologies and digital marketing, involved in automated trading and investments, leading us to a digitalized generation. This transformation was captured by Centurion Investment, the fastest growing platform in its region specialized in trading and investing." He added, "The year 2021 has been a monumental year for cryptocurrency- what has caught my attention is 60% gains for BTC, 400% gains for ETH and a whopping 1300% for BNB which is a Binance platform/utility coin for their platform . This is a testimony in itself that a platform that offers clear values through its ecosystem actors has a winning race as we witnessed with other such platform utility coins and token's performances in the past. Keeping this in mind we designed The Centurion Investment Exchange token CIX- an ERC20 deflationary token that powers our ecosystem as the native currency for all transactions and services across the platform, while enabling loathes of additional benefits to our users and ecosystem actors in the network spanning across buy, sell, transfer, DeFi, payment, trading, and other financial and investment product & services to name a few."

During these two weeklong private-sale phases Centurion Investment plans to offer to a limited number of qualified purchasers, or "Private Sale Purchasers", a right or "Token Right", to receive the Centurion Invest platform's Utility Tokens CIX, upon the completion of an Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) from its fastest-growing crypto trading and investment platform CI-EX and such other cryptocurrency exchanges globally.



Many still see crypto as complicated and tangled, however, what Centurion Investment offers for investors will change minds. An entire system is designed to make it easy for anyone to buy, sell, transfer a digital asset. Centurion offers The CI Wallet, a Defi wallet with a plethora of decentralized finance features, for its users to benefit from the various available DeFI products and protocols. Centurion Platform also boasts of holding CentiPay, the payment gateway that helps online and offline Businesses looking to expand their portfolio to the crypto enthusiast's community. The CI Card, in partnership with Visa offering the hold of crypto and exchange instantly which will be available for acceptance at over 60+ million merchant locations worldwide. This card is designed to give away cash-back, up to 8% when you shop or transact using the card among loads of other offers and promotions.

Following their set Roadmap, Centurion aims to increase the CIX token value gain by up to1600% ROI, listed and tradable in world's top 10 Cryptocurrency Exchanges offering an instant liquidity. Centurion has also publicly announced and released its immediate growth and expansion plan thorough its "Litepaper 2.0" with offices openings across all of Europe and the Middle East. Multiple regulatory approvals and licenses are under process, such as EMI (Electronic Money institution) allowing emission of SEPA Accounts, DMCC and DWTC Licensing in United Arab Emirates, Singaporean License, SYSEC License, and many such establishing its focus to drive a crisp regulatory framework for all operations and products in the ecosystem of the platform. A significant marketing budget, for collaborations and expansion, has been allocated to contribute to digitalization and spread knowledge about blockchain.

Centurion platform is supported by a competent team of top-notch advisors and board members, to name a few among the list: Ali Kassab, the group chairman, is one of the most Innovative Business Leaders of UAE, self-made businessman & a serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience across multinational cloud software. H.E. Zulfiqar Z. Ghadiyali, Executive Director of Directions Investment Holding Co (DIHC), the Chairmanship of the Royal family office of Abu Dhabi, and Executive Director of New York-based Boutique Investment and merchant Bank First Wall Street Capital. Stephen Meade, the Vice Chairman of Corporate - Finance & Fundraising, CEO & Founder of MonetaPro &MagMo. Utpal Nath, the Advisory Board Member, a prominent speaker and thought leader of FinTech & Blockchain ecosystem.

For More Details and Media Brief Please Contact:

MS. Laura Bou Mattar

Media Office

Centurion Invest.

Tallinn, Estonia

Email [email protected]

[email protected]

+442038684807

Website www.centurioninvest.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728930/Centurion_Investment.jpg

SOURCE Centurion Investment
DAPHNE, Ala., Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles W. Anders is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Name in Maritime Security Services for his excellent work for over 35 years.

During this period, Mr. Anders has distinguished himself in this industry by offering professional security and transportation services on the rivers, waterways, and Gulf Coast ports. Following hurricane Katrina, Mr. Anders formed U.S. Maritime Services in 2010, in Daphne, AL. Previously he provided security to vessels in the Port of New Orleans. During his career, he developed a client base of national and international shipping agencies.



Mr. Anders has dedicated his career to maintaining a safe environment for visiting vessels and crew members by following restrictions and guidelines established by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies.



These restrictions can be placed on visiting vessels needing additional security measures to ensure the integrity of the ports. U.S. Maritime Services offers services including transportation, guards, medical repatriations, national and international repatriations, and consultations. During his career, he has served thousands of vessels and has provided repatriation services to over two thousand stowaways and crew members.



At seventy years old, Ms. Anders continues to expand his market and is always seeking new opportunities. He attributes his success to being in the right place at the right time and developing a strong team of dedicated associates that demonstrate his commitment to quality services. He serves the Gulf Coast area from Panama City, FL, to the Texas Gulf region.



On a personal note, Mr. Anders volunteers at his local church in an armed safety capacity. Mr. Anders and his wife Margaret were also featured in the MOBILEBAY magazine for their hydroponic facility. Focusing on growing products in a soil-less environment, it was one of the first such farms in the region.



For more information, visit https://www.maritime.dot.gov/.



Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who
Shiksha Mitras and Anganwadi workers not to be deployed on election duty

Lucknow, Jan 18 (UNI) The Election Commission on Tuesday accepted the proposal of the Uttar Pradesh government to keep Shiksha Mitras, instructors and Anganwadi workers free from the poll duties. They will be kept in the reserve pool.

As per the directive issued by the Chief Election Officer (CEO) office on Monday Shiksha Mitras, female Shiksha Mitras, Rojgaar Sahayaks (employment assistants), Anganwadi workers and Instructors should not be deployed as poll staff.

It has been clarified that they will neither be deployed for general duty nor will they be appointed as in-charges of the polling stations. Though, it has been stated that if required people working on these posts could be called for election duty.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ConMet is pleased to announce the launch of a new, upgraded online training website. The video-based online training features two courses, Hub 101 and Brake Drum 101, that provides users with essential knowledge of ConMet wheel end hubs and brake drums, including inspection and identification, recommended service, replacement or reinstallation, lubrication, and much more.

"With over 4,000 current users, our online training is regarded as one of the best in the industry," said Brian Rieger, Vice President of North American Sales. "Over the many years that we've offered this type of training, it has proven that online learning not only works, but it is a great addition to our hands-on training. We are excited to now give our valued learners access to the new upgraded experience."

The new learning management system (LMS) website includes an enhanced user experience, featuring an easy-to-navigate user dashboard that displays learners' enrollment status and course progress. Users have complete control of their training experience, including the flexibility to start and stop as needed and review previous chapters at any time. Assessment quizzes enhance and sharpen user knowledge of each topic, and learners can download and print certificates after successfully completing the courses.

See the new training website in action at ConMet Booth 1409 during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), January 24-27, at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas.

Or, to sign up and begin learning now, visit training.conmet.com.

About ConMet

ConMet, a division of Amsted Industries, is a leading global supplier of wheel hubs, aluminum castings, and structural plastics to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket channels in the commercial vehicle industry. Founded in 1964, ConMet innovation has been critical in designing, engineering, and manufacturing revolutionary technologies for trucks and trailers. Today, ConMet products are standard equipment on most heavy-duty vehicles in North America and have a growing footprint worldwide.

ConMet is committed to creating products and services that align with critical customer needs. The development of more efficient products, processes, and technology that transform the way customers run and maintain their vehicles is central to ConMet's vision.

Media Contact

Megan Vincent | Marketing Manager, ConMet

360.258.3076

[email protected]

SOURCE ConMet
"Through a combination of legacy products and strategic acquisitions and divestitures over the last five years, we have transformed from a tissue and adhesives focused company to one with a premier portfolio of aortic products," said Pat Mackin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Artivion. "Today marks an important milestone for our company. We look forward to embarking on our next chapter as a leader in developing simple, elegant solutions to address cardiac and vascular surgeons' most difficult clinical challenges in treating patients with aortic disease."

Artivion will discuss its business, its strategy, and the rebrand at an Investor & Analyst Day on March 23, 2022, in New York City. Details of the event will be provided at a later date.

About Artivion, Inc.

Headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, Artivion, Inc. (Artivion) is a medical device company focused on developing simple, elegant solutions that address cardiac and vascular surgeons' most difficult clinical challenges in treating patients with aortic diseases. This multinational company's four major groups of products include: aortic stents and stent grafts, prosthetic heart valves, cryopreserved cardiac and vascular allografts, and surgical sealants. Artivion markets and sells products in more than 100 countries worldwide. For additional information about Artivion, visit our website, www.artivion.com, accessible by the end of day today.

Contacts:

CryoLife

D. Ashley Lee

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

and Chief Operating Officer

Phone: 770-419-3355 Gilmartin Group LLC

Brian Johnston / Lynn Lewis

Phone: 631-807-1986

[email protected]

SOURCE CryoLife, Inc.; Artivion, Inc.
- Dermaliq Therapeutics, Inc. is an independent private pharmaceutical company emerged from Novaliq

- Spin-off to unlock value in the space of medical dermatology by using Novaliq's transformative technology outside eye care

- 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd join as new investors

- Proceeds will be used for three Phase 1/2a clinical development programs in dermatology

WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novaliq GmbH, 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd. today announced the establishment of Dermaliq Therapeutics, Inc (Dermaliq), a newly formed Delaware-based pharmaceutical development company, and the signing of a USD 15 million Series A financing round. 3E Bioventures Capital, a leading international life science investor, led the round and was joined by Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd. Dermaliq's existing shareholder Novaliq has transferred, and licensed Intellectual Property (IP) related to the field of dermatology to Dermaliq.

Skin diseases are the fourth leading cause of non-fatal disease burden worldwide, underscoring the role of dermatology in the growing field of global health. Skin conditions have significant impact on patients' well-being, mental health, and social participation. Although topical and local delivery of active ingredients to diseased skin is the preferred treatment route for the majority of patients, current therapies often lack satisfactory skin penetration and patient compliance.

Dermaliq is developing the next generation of skin care therapies to enhance targeted penetration into skin tissues and to reduce unwanted side effects for millions of patients. The unique and proprietary technology now owned by Dermaliq, called hyliQ, is designed to allow cutaneous drug delivery with unmatched bioavailability. The technology enables the development of superior, highly effective liquid drug products with exceptional cosmetic properties.

The proceeds will be used to conduct three Phase 1/2a clinical dermatology programs with the goal to demonstrate safety and efficacy and to advance this novel skin care drug category to market to improve the lives of millions of patients:

DLQ01 is a liquid drug candidate for the topical treatment of female and male androgenetic alopecia, targeting the prostamide E2 (PGE2) receptor in hair bulbs through specific follicular drug delivery.

DLQ02 is a novel and liquid topical calcineurin inhibitor drug therapy for plaque psoriasis, particularly in difficult to treat areas.

DLQ03 is a broad-spectrum liquid antibiotic drug candidate that targets topical treatment of bacterial skin and soft tissue infections, including the reduction of antibiotic-resistant strains.

The Company has demonstrated proof-of-principle for enhanced topical drug delivery using hyliQ in nonclinical models for all three applications.

"We are excited that 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation have committed to support Dermaliq as new investors in the Series A round," said Dr. Frank Loscher, Chief Executive Officer of Dermaliq. "Our spin-off from Novaliq and successful raising of significant funds provides us with the opportunity to build a leading specialty pharmaceutical company and expand the application of Novaliq's transformative drug delivery technology into dermatology."

"3E is committed to investing in global leading life sciences and biomedical companies and help them grow with access to globalized resources and capabilities," said Karen Liu, Managing Director 3E Bioventures Capital. "Dermaliq is using a unique, and scientifically sound technology to achieve high efficiency drug delivery across the skin. The technology is already proven in ophthalmology and holds great promise for dermatology. We will be excited to explore additional drug pipelines in China and synergize with Dermaliq on both pre-clinical and clinical development."

"Whale Technology values the solid science foundation of Dermaliq's proprietary hyliQ technology platform," said Ming Gao, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Whale Technology Co. Ltd. "Dermaliq's founding team demonstrates a great combination of science, clinical experience and commercialization strength. We see great potential of Dermaliq's pipeline in the field of dermatology after Novaliq's proven clinical and commercial success in ophthalmology."

"Dermatology is the logical next step into using Novaliq's proprietary technology platform outside eye care," said Dr. Christian Roesky, Chief Executive Officer Novaliq. "The spin-off into an independent company allows Dermaliq to greatly benefit from our experience in ophthalmology while being fully committed to the multiple product development activities in dermatology, and likely to further broaden its pipeline to other skin conditions."

To reflect the new shareholder structure, Karen Liu of 3E Bioventures Capital will join Dermaliq's Board of Directors. Dr. Loscher has also transitioned from his role as Chief Technology Officer at Novaliq to lead Dermaliq as its CEO & President.

About Dermaliq:

Dermaliq Therapeutics, Inc. is a private company founded in 2021 through a spin off from Novaliq to reimagine topical dermatology. The Company is incorporated in Wilmington (DE), USA under Delaware law. The company has signed a USD 15 million series A round to advance three transformative skin care drug therapies through clinical trials. Key shareholders are Novaliq GmbH, 3E Bioventures Capital and Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd.

About 3E Bioventures Capital:

3E Bioventures Capital is a healthcare venture capital firm, dedicated to investing in cutting-edge life sciences and biomedical technologies, with a focus on breakthrough first-in-class therapies and disruptive cross-disciplinary innovations in medical devices and diagnostics. 3E Bioventures takes on a science-driven, entrepreneur-friendly investment philosophy by working closely with companies and research institutions to develop drugs or products that have strong unmet medical needs. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and the San Francisco Bay Area, 3E Bioventures leverages its experience, capabilities, and network to help companies tap into markets and resources across the Pacific and advance with greater speed and capital efficiency. The motto of 3E Bioventures Capital is captured in its name 3E: Expertise, Efficiency, Execution.

About Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd.:

Beijing Whale Technology Corporation Ltd. is a China-based pharmaceutical group committed to the long-term sustainable development in the fields of chemistry, pharmaceuticals and aesthetics. With more than 20 years of history, Whale Tech. has developed two core business units. On one hand, Whale Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Whale Chemistry Co. Ltd. and Whale Pharmatech Co. Ltd. are grouped as pharmaceutical and chemistry business unit. On the other hand, Whale Biotech is a research stage biotech company with the focus of developing aesthetics products.

About Novaliq:

Novaliq is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on EyeSol, the worldwide first water-free eyedrop technology. Novaliq offers an industry-leading portfolio addressing today's unmet medical needs of millions of patients with eye diseases. Novaliq GmbH is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany and Novaliq Inc. has an office in Cambridge, MA, USA. The long-term shareholder is dievini Hopp BioTech holding GmbH & Co. KG, an active investor in Life and Health Sciences companies.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728174/Dermaliq_Therapeutics_Logo.jpg

For further information, please contact:

Dermaliq Therapeutics Inc.

Dr. Frank Loscher

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

+49 6221 50259-272

SOURCE Dermaliq Therapeutics
Ex-Samdesk, Magic Leap Executive to Help Drive OTT Shift to Cloud-Native Platforms

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Tina Tuli, who has been instrumental in the success of some of the world's most innovative software and hardware brands, will evangelize the value of cloud-native OTT platforms as Vice President of Global Marketing at Firstlight Media.

Tuli, whose career trajectory has included senior marketing positions with Samdesk and Magic Leap, will lead development and implementation of marketing strategies that emphasize how Firstlight Media's OTT platform can help Tier 1 content providers and distributors create engaging, differentiated OTT services. Firstlight's cloud native platform enables rapid time-to-market and delivers a scalable, extensible, agile and highly-performant OTT experience; furthermore, its modular architecture delivers a future proof solution to accommodate changes in technology or consumer demand.

"From mobile computing to VR, AR and AI, Tina Tuli's impact has been felt across the emerging technology landscape," said Paul Pastor, Chief Business Officer and co-founder of Firstlight Media. "Her proven ability to build teams and programs will be invaluable as we communicate Firstlight Media's leadership position in shifting the OTT industry to fast, flexible cloud-native platforms."

Most recently CMO at Samdesk, Tuli led creation and execution of campaigns that helped the company attract and retain customers and expand market share. At Magic Leap, as vice president, marketing strategy and operations, Tuli developed and launched the company's first-ever go-to-market strategies. Later, as vice president, enterprise and partner marketing, she developed the partner marketing organization and created and implemented an omni-channel enterprise marketing strategy to support ambitious sales objectives. Earlier in her career, Tuli spent eight years with mobile computing pioneer Research in Motion aka BlackBerry.

"Across every area of technology, the transition to cloud-based architectures has resulted in revolutionary product breakthroughs," said Tuli. "In OTT, Firstlight Media is leading the way in helping providers harness the full power of the cloud to quickly and cost effectively transform viewer experiences and engagement; I look forward to working with the industry to highlight how cloud-native platforms in general  and Firstlight's platform in particular  can drive new, dynamic consumer OTT experiences and while positively impacting our partner's bottom lines."

Firstlight Media's platform is designed to build and run scalable applications in the cloud using cloud-native technologies, including containers, microservices, a service mesh, APIs, and immutable infrastructure. The OTT technology stack provides significantly better performance, a modular approach for feature expansion, continuous delivery for rapid iteration, and built-in scalability, observability and security.

About Firstlight Media

Firstlight Media is leading cloud transformations of OTT and in-home experiences for pay-TV, telcos, and MVPDs. The company's cloud-native platform leverages a transformative Gen5 architecture for unparalleled performance in delivering premium video, handling complex use cases, and scaling to millions of viewers. Founded by a team that has built and operated dozens of Tier 1 OTT services worldwide, Firstlight Media is powering immersive sports, live experiences and personalized entertainment on any screen. The company is headquartered in Toronto and has additional locations in Los Angeles, San Diego and Chennai, India. For more information, visit firstlight.ai.

SOURCE Firstlight Media
TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Entree Capital, a leading global venture capital firm, today announced the closing of its fourth Israel-focused early-stage fund and its second Israel-focused early growth fund. The new funds total $300m in new commitments, bringing Entree Capital's total assets under management to $1 Billion.

Entree Capital's Israel Team - Photo credit: David Garb

The new funds will invest primarily in the areas of DeepTech, FinTech, SaaS, Web 3.0 (Crypto/Blockchain), Data/Cloud Infrastructure, and DevOps, as well as consumer and foodtech opportunities where the firm has built expertise. Entree Capital Israel Early Stage Fund IV will provide pre-seed and seed funding to Israeli startups targeting deals of $500k to $6 million. The Israel Early Growth Fund II will focus primarily on Series A and B, with investments of $5 million to $15 million, allowing Entree Capital to both join and lead deals.

Additionally, Entree is honored to announce that existing team member Adi Gozes has been promoted to Partner in Entree's Israel Funds. Adi's stellar career started with her serving in Israel Defense Forces' 8200 Elite Intelligence unit, followed by a B.Sc. in Computer Science and an MBA from Tel Aviv University. Adi started out as a product manager and then as a startup co-founder, eventually moving into the venture capital world four years ago. "We could not have found a better fit to join the partnership. Adi is passionate, empathic, has technical and founder experience, and has contributed to the firm immensely since she joined," says Avi Eyal, Entree Capital's co-founder and General Partner.

Since 2011, Entree Capital's Israel Funds have invested in pre-seed and seed financing rounds of successful Israeli and global startups. Over the last decade, Entree Capital's Israel and Global Funds have realized 27 exits and IPO's, helped build 15 unicorns, and after eight years, its first Israel fund has already distributed 40x (DPI).

"Believing in people who want to change the world is in our DNA, and as serial entrepreneurs ourselves, we know the importance of taking the first steps with world-changing founders. With companies like monday.com, Riskified, Breezometer, Classiq, and others, we have been fortunate and proud to be invested from the pre-seed stage, providing initial capital and support and then following the early investments through multiple rounds as the companies have grown," adds Avi Eyal.

"Entree's global footprint of invested companies such as Cazoo, Glovo, Gusto, Coupang, and more is a key advantage that we bring to Israeli startups," says Ran Achituv, General Partner at Entree Capital. "We have extensive global contacts and a unique perspective, enabling us to look from the outside in. We are proud to be one of the only Israeli funds that heavily invest in both Israeli and global markets together."

"With these new funds, Entree Capital will continue its mission to 'partner with the exceptional to build the impossible," says Eran Bielski, General Partner at Entree Capital. "I tell entrepreneurs: if you're working on something that seems too big for most people to want to stomach, you should probably talk to us."

About Entree Capital

Entree Capital, a global venture capital firm with offices in Israel, the UK, and the US, manages $1B across 9 funds and has invested in hundreds of global startups in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Israel, Australia, Africa, India, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. Entree's portfolio companies include monday.com, Riskified, Rapyd, Cazoo, Coupang, Snapchat, Breezometer, Deliveroo, Fundbox, Glovo, Postmates, Kuda Bank, Stash, PillPack, and more than 130 others with a combined value of $335 billion.

In 2021, Entree was ranked as the 4th most prominent Fund in Europe ( dealroom.co ), the most active Fund in Israel (IVC), and co-founder and managing partner, Avi Eyal was named as number 3 on the 2021 Forbes Europe Midas List . Entree portfolio has achieved over 27 exits and IPOs and more than 15 Unicorns, with portfolio companies Deliveroo, Cazoo, Coupang, Riskified, and monday.com all going public in 2021.

www.entreecap.com

SOURCE Entree Capital
Engraving in-stock items sidesteps global logistics issues, drives sales, and makes the shopping experience memorable. Tweet this

It was a winning collaboration for Crate & Barrel, Cutting Edge Lazer Engraving, and store shoppers.

"People literally teared up watching the holiday ornaments, cutting boards, platters, wine glasses and other items they bought transformed into priceless keepsakes before their eyes," said Smith, who operates her business with her husband, Brandon. "They knew these thoughtful gifts would touch people's hearts and be treasured."

The Crate & Barrel store's promotions were so successful that the engraving events are continuing in 2022. Tong Li, founder, CEO, and inventor of AP Lazer's patented large format, open base laser machine systems that can engrave almost any item on store shelves, believes retailers that embrace what he calls "The Emotional Marketplace" will be at the forefront of an emerging retail revolution.

"Once our basic physical needs for food, shelter, and safety are met, as documented by renowned psychologist, Abraham Maslow, our emotional needs for connectedness, happiness, affection, and giving and receiving love take precedence," said Li. "Enormous opportunities exist for brick-and-mortar retailers that understand this. When meaningful sentiment is engraved onto everyday products, they become cherished mementos because they elicit warm feelings and emotions."

In her article The Rise of Personalized Products in Retail, Shopkeep's Yamarie Grullon writes, "Personalization offers an appealing, cost-effective way for consumers to form an emotional connection to a particular product or brand, while retailers enjoy increased loyalty and customer satisfaction rates." Consumer studies on retail trends by Deloitte and others over the past decade confirm consumers are happy to pay more for personalized products which increases revenue, while custom items spark conversation and free word-of-mouth promotion.

According to Li, the timing couldn't be better for creative merchants to form partnerships with local laser engravers to combat the enormous obstacles, like the pandemic's Great Resignation retail trend, while also forging a promising path forward.

"AP Lazer entrepreneurs throughout the U.S. can serve as house engravers for retailers struggling to find workers, without the overhead costs of hiring, training, and managing an employee," said Li. "In-stock items can be engraved, sidestepping global logistics issues, and revenue increased without adding inventory. Perhaps most importantly, genuine relationships and a competitive advantage can be created by offering shoppers what online retail giants cannot: a high touch, one-on-one, memorable customer experience."

Another AP Lazer entrepreneur, Bonnie Gilbert of Treblig Design in Port Huron, Mich. reached out to nearby retailers when COVID-19 first hit in 2020 and craft shows were canceled. She created partnerships with a local hair salon, alteration shop, menswear store and a cafe, engraving their products and selling her own, increasing revenue for all.

"The future of retail lies in adding meaning to merchandise and humanity to the shopping experience," said Li.

Link to photos here: (photo credit AP Lazer)

About AP Lazer

Headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, AP Lazer is a privately owned designer and manufacturer of patented, open architecture CNC laser machines that engrave and cut a wide variety of materials and objects of all sizes. AP Lazer provides 24/7 tech support 365 days a year. Its customers are located throughout the U.S. and on six continents. For more information visit www.APLazer.com.

CONTACT:

Catherine Ticer

[email protected]

Cell: 248.514.1441

SOURCE AP Lazer
HOBOKEN, N.J., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- eToro, the global social investing network, today announced the expansion of its United States offering to include stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs), in addition to cryptoassets.

The launch of this broader offering for U.S. users comes at a time when cryptoassets are becoming the asset of choice for many first-time U.S. investors. According to new data from a recent eToro survey of U.S. consumers, novice investors who start with crypto are more likely to diversify their investments over time. Of the 2,000 U.S. crypto investors surveyed, 35% have been investing for less than a year, 50% have been investing for one to three years, and 56% indicated that investing in crypto made them more likely to consider investing in stocks in the future.

Lule Demmissie, eToro's US CEO said: "For many new investors, crypto investing is a gateway to investing in stocks  and with broader access to financial education and fewer barriers to entry for first-time investors, we expect this trend to continue. As we continue to expand our offering in one of the world's most important financial markets, we look forward to empowering U.S. users to expand their investing journey on the eToro platform and interact with our social community in new ways."

The launch of stock investing in the United States empowers eToro's millions of U.S. retail investors to manage a portfolio of diversified investments that include traditional assets and cryptoassets side-by-side in a single, easy-to-use mobile app or desktop interface.

eToro customers in the United States may now:

Combine their crypto and stock investments in a single portfolio

Invest in in fractional stocks for as little as $10 , with zero commission

, with zero commission View detailed price charts and analyses

Engage with experienced Popular Investors on investment strategies and market moves.

For more information regarding the rollout of eToro's stock offering in the United States, please visit: https://www.etoro.com/en-us/news-and-analysis/etoro-updates/big-news-stocks-are-now-available-on-etoro-us .

About eToro

eToro is a social investment network that empowers people to grow their knowledge and wealth as part of a global community of successful investors. eToro was founded in 2007 with the vision of opening up the global markets so that everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today, eToro is a global network of more than 25 million registered users who share their investment strategies; and anyone can follow the approaches of those who have been the most successful. Users can buy, hold and sell assets, monitor their portfolio in real time, and transact whenever they want. https://www.etoro.com

Disclosures

Crypto Trading is offered via eToro USA LLC. Securities trading is offered via eToro USA Securities, Inc.("The BD"), a broker dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The BD is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ( FINRA ) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation ( SIPC ). eToro USA LLC (NMLS ID: 1769299 ) is not a registered broker-dealer or FINRA member and your cryptocurrency holdings are not FDIC or SIPC insured. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Our full disclosures page is here . Our fees page is here . eToro USA LLC.  2022

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE eToro
GENEVA, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Firmenich, the world's largest privately-owned fragrance and taste company, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with HARMAY, a leading new retail brand in China. Under the agreement, Firmenich and HARMAY will join forces to contribute to the development of the Fine Fragrance category in China, by leveraging their respective capabilities to support the development of new fragrance brands, concepts, experiences and models.

"As a world leader in fine fragrance, Firmenich is focused on leading the transformation of this industry and creating trends to future-proof the business," said Ilaria Resta, President, Global Perfumery, Firmenich. "After more than 30 years of successful operations in China, this partnership with HARMAY serves as a significant enhancement to our capabilities in China and fortifies our ambitions as the partner of choice in the Chinese market."

Founded in 2008, HARMAY is China's premier global beauty collection store, a warehouse-based aesthetic new retail brand with a strong Generation Z customer base. The brand has become synonymous with art and culture in China by offering premium beauty, skincare, fragrance and lifestyle products through its online and offline stores. All of its offline stores feature innovative designs and have gained a loyal following for their unique consumer experience.

"China is projected to be the new frontier of the global fine fragrance market, with many local brands emerging and a significant increasing usage among consumers, especially with Gen Z. We are honored to play a key role in propelling this growth with the synergies between HARMAY and Firmenich," added Jason Ju, Co-founder, HARMAY. "We hope this inspires even greater innovations and creations for the industry."

"Thanks to this strategic partnership with HARMAY we are joining forces to incubate brands of tomorrow and leverage our mutual capabilities in consumers insights, digital, creativity and art of perfumery," added Olivier Viejo, Head of Fine Fragrance, Firmenich China. "This will pave the way for more growth in the Fine Fragrance industry both within China and globally."

As part of its China expansion strategy, Firmenich is bringing additional value to customers by creating highly localized customer journeys, first-hand. In 2019, the company became the first global fragrance house to establish a Fine Fragrance Atelier in China and was the first to offer a dedicated business model that provides easy access to all fine fragrance capabilities under one roof, serving all local customers in China and global customers worldwide. The company also opened its new Studio Guangzhou in September 2021, allowing it to deliver a diverse range of benefits to an even wider base of consumers.

About Firmenich

Firmenich is the world's largest privately-owned perfume and taste company, founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895 and has been family-owned for 125 years. Firmenich is a leading business-to-business company operating primarily in the fragrance and taste market, specialized in the research, creation, manufacture and sale of perfumes, flavors and ingredients. Renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its leadership in sustainability, Firmenich offers its customers superior innovation in formulation, a broad and high-quality palette of ingredients, and proprietary technologies including biotechnology, encapsulation, olfactory science and taste modulation. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 4.3 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2021. More information about Firmenich is available at www.firmenich.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/798187/Firmenich_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Firmenich
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This Food Antioxidants procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

DuPont de Nemours Inc

BASF SE

Archer Daniels Midland Co.

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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contacts:

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
SALINAS, Calif., Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gary Thelander is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Attorney for his professional excellence in the legal field and his unwavering dedication to serving the legal community with Thelander Law.

Gary Thelander

Proudly serving Salinas, Santa Cruz, and San Benito, Thelander Law, takes pride in providing services that will exceed expectations. Thelander Law, a well-respected firm in Salinas, California, includes a team of skilled paralegals, investigators, and local bail bondsmen, and more, specializing in all facets of criminal law. Thelander Law continuously demonstrates the highest standard of professionalism, honesty, and integrity so that every client can make the right decisions under challenging circumstances.



Seasoned Criminal Law Attorney Gary Thelander has garnered 25 years of vast knowledge and experience in his field, working on thousands of cases and helping countless clients. He is the founder of Thelander Law, where he is devoted to providing a haven where even the most difficult conversations are had without judgment or criticism.



In his 25 years of practice, Mr. Thelander has personally participated in the defense or prosecution of the following types of cases: domestic violence, murder charges, weapons charges, gang-related charges, drug-related charges, theft-related charges, and more. He works with his team of highly trained investigators in case assessment, analysis, and presentation. In addition, Mr. Thelander served the community as a public prosecutor, both as an Assistant Deputy District Attorney in Santa Cruz County and Deputy District Attorney in Monterey County.



Mr. Thelander worked for 16 years as a Deputy District Attorney, during which he prosecuted child sexual assault, murder, embezzlement, drunk driving, robbery, burglary, and other types of criminal cases. He has spent much of his career prosecuting DUI and DWI cases. His experience as a Deputy District Attorney aids him in his current work, as he gladly offers his vast knowledge to those he represents. He believes that "People deserve a second chance," and will not hesitate to take on difficult or complex cases in order to give his clients their best chance for their legal representation. He enjoys giving his clients peace of mind to know that his reputation, integrity, and skilled trial practices will be assets in every case.



In light of his academic achievements, Mr. Thelander obtained his Associate of Arts degree from Cabrillo College in 1991 and his Juris Doctor degree at the Monterey College of Law. He remains abreast of the latest legal developments in criminal law by maintaining active memberships with the California Bar Association, Monterey County Bar Association, California Lawyers Association, Criminal Law Section, and Monterey School of Law Alumni Association.



As a testament to his longstanding professional excellence, Mr. Thelander was honored with the Outstanding Achievement award from the Constitutional Rights Foundation in 1997 and recognized as an Elite Lawyer in 2020. He has had featured profiles on prnewswire.com, announce.today.com, and whoswhopr.com, among others.



To learn more, please visit https://www.salinascalawyer.com/.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who
Abu Dhabi, Jan 17 (UNI) Two Indians and a Pakistani national were killed when three petroleum tankers exploded in Abu Dhabi in a Houthi drone attack on Monday. This comes even as seven Indian crew members continue to be in the captivity of Houthi rebels who seized a UAE-flagged ship on January 2 in the Red Sea.

Mondays drone attack by the Iran-backed Houthis marks an escalation in the fighting between the rebels and the Saudi-led coalition, of which the UAE is a part.

The Houthis have warned of more such attacks on the UAE.

The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed the death of two Indian nationals in the tanker explosion, and said it is in close touch with UAE authorities for further details.

The Indian Embassy in a tweet said: UAE authorities have informed that the explosion at Mussafah, near ADNOCs storage tanks, has led to 3 casualties, which includes 2 Indian nationals.

The Mission @IndembAbuDhabi is in close touch with concerned UAE authorities for further details.

Earlier, UAE's state-run WAM news agency quoted Abu Dhabi Police as saying that three people were killed -- two Indians and one Pakistani -- and six others were injured in the explosion that occurred after a fire broke out on Monday morning in the Musaffah ICAD 3 area near the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).

The explosions happened in ICAD 3, Mussaffah, near Mohamed bin Zayed City.

The UAE police said that preliminary investigations suggested that "small flying objects", possibly related to drones, fell into the areas and started the fires.

A smaller fire was also reported in the new construction area of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The fire has been put out, it said.

On January 3, Yemen's Houthi rebels seized a UAE-flagged vessel in the Red Sea, amid escalation in the fighting between the rebels and Saudi-backed coalition.

The seized UAE flagged ship Rawabi has 11 crew onboard of which 7 are Indian nationals.

India has said it is in touch with the company operating the ship and has urged the Houthis to release the Indian sailors.

Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree on Monday confirmed the drone attack in UAE.

In a strategic operation, we targeted deep inside the UAE territory," said Yemens Armed Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree, after a blast was reported in Abu Dhabi, Irans Mehr news agency quoted him as saying.

The Yemeni army and popular committees used as many as 20 UAVs and 10 ballistic missiles to strike targets deep in the UAE, Lebanese Al-Mayadeen quoted special sources as saying of Mondays attack.

Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, the official spokesperson of the Houthi rebels, said that if the UAE does not stop its aggression on Yemen, it will receive more painful strikes.

Yahya Saree said Monday that the Yemeni military struck areas deep inside the United Arab Emirates after a warning a few days ago by Al-Bukhaiti.

UNI/RN
JUNEAU, Alaska, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 23-Jan. 29 "Alaska School Choice Week." In doing so, he joins a growing number of state, city and county leaders nationwide who have formally recognized the importance of every child having access to effective education options.

Gov. Dunleavy's proclamation marks the sixth time in the last decade that "Alaska School Choice Week" has been named. His proclamation coincides with the twelfth annual National School Choice Week, a yearly celebration that invites all schools and families in the nation to participate in raising awareness about options and opportunity in K-12 education.

Alaska parents, schools, and community organizations will mark the Week with 54 events and activities, including a school choice rally in Anchorage, making up some of the 26,000 events independently planned for the Week nationwide. All of the Week's events aim to foster conversations about what options parents have, and how to find the best fit for each student's learning style.

"We are excited to see Alaskans' enthusiasm for school choice and we're grateful to Gov. Dunleavy for recognizing the Week," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We invite all Alaskans to celebrate great schools, share student success stories, and brainstorm ideas for expanding learning opportunities."

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation.

For more information and to view a video message from Gov. Dunleavy, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/alaska.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
The engagement demonstrates the Government's commitment to bring positive changes to its CBI Programme, which is critical in driving inbound investment to bolster Vanuatu's economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledged the importance of the country's CBI Programme, equating it to nearly 50% of the country's total revenue.

Vanuatu's appointment of the government marketing firm comes following scrutiny from international partners. Apart from CS Global Partners' proven track record, one of the deciding criteria to onboard the firm was its impartiality. The firm had not been previously involved with the Vanuatu Programme. CS Global Partner's objective but critical approach is essential in reshaping the CBI offering, focusing on security and protection to the local and international community at the forefront of its advice. In its consultative capacity, it will not be acting as a processing agent to the Programme.

With the shared goal to achieve a sustainable economic future for the country, the partnership will focus on various aspects of the Programme, including protecting the Programme's reputation, revising the legislation to devise a solid investment framework, and developing strategies for its rebranding and promotion.

CS Global Partners wasted no time with its first line of advice. It recommended that the Government immediately prioritise the engagement of top international due diligence firms to provide thorough background checks on all applicants applying under Section 13 and 14 of the Citizenship Act [CAP 112] for economic citizenship of the country. The first of these firms deployed to office is FACT UK.

CEO of CS Global Partners, Micha Emmett, commented, "Our company vision is to drive transformation in the countries we work with. We will focus on working collaboratively with the Government of Vanuatu to ensure that relevant and effective changes to the regulatory framework, the processing unit and the due diligence structures are in place. It is of paramount importance that only reputable investors can obtain citizenship. Each investor's application will undergo a stringent and comprehensive auditing process to mitigate any security, financial, crime and reputational risk."

"The cornerstone of a respected citizenship by investment programme starts with robust due diligence. Our goal is to transform the Vanuatu Economic Citizenship offering to include a rigorous level of due diligence, starting with the onboarding of reputable independent due diligence agencies with the experience and knowledge to perform proper background checks on applicants."

Due diligence reform is the first step in overhauling the Programme as CS Global Partners' international, multicultural and multilingual team creates a solid framework for a trusted programme. The aim is to meet the growing demand of aspiring global citizens seeking alternative citizenship. CS Global Partners will recommend several other changes for implementation to significantly enhance the country's CBI reputation and get it on its way to becoming the gold standard.

Vanuatu, an archipelago of over 80 islands in the south Pacific to the east of Australia, is part of the Commonwealth. The nation introduced its Citizenship by Investment Programme in 2016, effective from 2017. It is currently the only country in the Oceania continent to operate a CBI programme.



For small nations across the globe, CBI has helped rebuild and build many sectors. Revenue from the programmes often contributes to the construction of bridges, schools, medical institutions, housing, and other essential infrastructure. CBI also helps subsidise the tourism sector, generating hundreds of local jobs annually.



Nations have also seen their CBI Programmes as a crucial crutch during the pandemic. Many countries have relied on CBI funds to provide much-needed assistance to businesses and employees through stimulus packages, food programmes, and housing schemes.

ABOUT CS GLOBAL PARTNERS

CS Global Partners is the world's leading government advisory and marketing firm, specialising in residency and citizenship by investment solutions. Governments around the globe partner with CS Global Partners, relying on our in-depth expertise about the citizenship by investment market. We work closely with government authorities to create synergies to protect and promote the security of their citizenship by investment programmes and attract prospective applicants through stringent due diligence processes. Over the years, we have helped countries attract foreign direct investment into their markets, equating to more than half their GDP. We have been expanding our foreign direct investments and further focusing on recommending premium citizenship and residency programmes to our clients.

With our strong reputation, expertise and integrity, CS Global Partners has created a robust community, linking a well-established global business network with investment bankers, lawyers, high-net-worth individuals, and other like-minded professionals. Our objective is to educate markets, create awareness about global citizenship by investment, and ensure that international stakeholders work effectively with these programmes by properly educating their ultra-high net worth and mass affluent clientele about the best RCBI options available.

Headquartered in the heart of London, the venture was founded in 2012 by Micha-Rose Emmett. Emmett is a dual-qualified attorney and entrepreneur with years of practice in citizenship and residency by investment. Working across multiple time zones, the CS Global Partners team consists of passionate professionals, making it a highly international, multicultural, and multilingual name in the industry. CS Global Partners provides tailored guidance and advice with a global physical presence and an expert legal advisory and marketing team.

Contact:

[email protected]

www.csglobalpartners.com

SOURCE CS Global Partners
"At TotalEnergies Marketing USA, we share common values with Royal Enfield North America; such as proximity, commitment to customers, a significant heritage in the motorcycle world, and a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. We are really excited for the opportunity to grow and support the Royal Enfield North America Dealerships in the United States," according to Senior VP of Lubricants for TotalEnergies Marketing USA, Franck Bagouet.

"We are very pleased and excited to partner with TotalEnergies Marketing USA to provide our dealers and customers with access to high quality lubricants approved by Royal Enfield North America. Oil is the life blood of any motorcycle; it is important to use the best and now you can"  says Vice President, After Sales America of Royal Enfield, Anthony Loffredo.

The Hi-Perf range is the perfect premium engine oil for your vehicle. Especially formulated to provide optimal engine performance with long-lasting protection in any weather condition. It is now available in an innovative design with a new pedagogical label, so that you can choose the most suitable engine oil for your ride. We have one focus in mind: to be the progress accelerator which takes people further. Consequently, the Hi-Perf brand is tailored to meet all customer needs. The Hi-Perf range is empowered with the latest technologies from TotalEnergies.

About TotalEnergies Marketing USA, Inc.

TotalEnergies Marketing USA, Inc. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a part of the Americas Division for the Marketing & Services Branch of the TotalEnergies Company. We are very proud of the global heritage of our parent company, TotalEnergies, the fourth largest oil and gas company in the world. TotalEnergies Marketing USA, Inc. operates through several business lines representative of the TotalEnergies Company. The business lines include products such as: Hi-Perf Motorcycle Engine Oil, Quartz Engine Oil, Rubia Heavy Duty Engine Oil, Kleenmold Glass Lubricants, and TotalEnergies Industrial Lubricants.

TotalEnergiesUSA TotalEnergies_us

About the Marketing & Services division of TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies' Marketing & Services business segment offers its professional and private customers a wide range of broad energy products and servicespetroleum products, biofuels, charging and related services for electric vehicles, gas for road and maritime transportationto support them in their mobility and help them reduce their carbon footprint. Every day, over 8 million customers visit our 16,000 service-stations all over the world. As the world's number four in lubricants, we design and sell high-performance products for the automotive, industrial and maritime sectors. And to provide the best response to the needs of our B2B customers, we deploy our sales forces, our international logistics network and our diverse offering. We operate in 107 countries, where our 31,000 employees stand close to all of our customers.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

@TotalEnergies TotalEnergies TotalEnergies TotalEnergies

About Royal Enfield

The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 140 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for the acts or omissions of these entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

SOURCE TotalEnergies Marketing USA
Hopeful spans from sculptural creations to digital billboards. The large signs in radiant colors range from 20-to-60 feet in size, weigh up to 600 pounds, and are installed in four Maine cities (Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, and Brunswick) as well as in Greenwich, Connecticut; New York City; Jersey City, NJ; Newark, NJ; Easton, Maryland and in more than twenty-two private art collections. Hopeful can be seen on paintings, bumper stickers and pins worn on lapels and has caught attention across the state of Maine. Now, Hewitt is expanding to other states and to a digital campaign across the country.

Hopeful's design incorporates a retro style with their colorfast radiance and round electric lightbulbs, reminiscent of a post-WWII time of hopefulness and progress in the country. The simple but powerful message has inspired citizens to share their feelings upon experiencing Hopeful. Hewitt's wish is for more people to experience the art, both in person and via a social media campaign.

"Hopeful is not a passive project; it requires work and responsibility. My hope with this project is to continue to spread the message of true compassion throughout our country. Being hopeful means being committed and compassionate to what surrounds us as a society. I want a resurgence of this in my life and the lives of others, which is why I'm committed to continuing to expand this project across the United States," said Hewitt.

If you are interested in bringing The Hopeful Project to your community, publicly or privately, please reach out to Charlie Hewitt Studio for more information. Hewitt is represented by Jim Kempner Fine Art in New York City. Instagram: @_hopefulproject.

Charlie Hewitt

Charlie Hewitt, b.1946, is an American painter, printmaker, and public artist. His works are part of the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum, New York Public Library, and Library of Congress. He has also been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions and is the only artist to have a permanent public sculpture, "Urban Rattle," on the High Line in New York City.

The Hopeful Project Artist Charlie Hewitt began The Hopeful Project, 2019-present, with a single lighted aluminum sculpture commissioned by Speedwell Projects for the roof of their headquarters in Portland, Maine. To date, the Hopeful message has spread with installations across seven states at dozens of different sites, both public and private. Follow along on Instagram at @_hopefulproject and with the hashtag #sharehopeful.

Jim Kempner Fine Art

Jim Kempner Fine Art specializes in contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography, and works on paper, with a special emphasis on contemporary master prints and outdoor sculpture. Art inventory appeals to the established as well as beginning collector. The gallery works closely with art advisors, designers, corporations and museums to expand and enrich their varied collections.

CONTACT: Barbara Wagner Elana Bodow

Barbara Wagner Communications Barbara Wagner Communications

(917) 751-4387 (315) 440-7554

[email protected] [email protected] .com

SOURCE Charlie Hewitt Studio
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cetera Financial Group, one of America's largest networks of financial professionals, today announced that InTouch Wealth Advisors, led by industry veteran financial professionals Jason Benedetti, Gus Dekavallas and Larry Ritter, has joined Cetera as part of Wilde Wealth Management. Founded in 2015, InTouch is affiliating with the Cetera Advisors, LLC community with years of experience providing customized financial advice tailored to clients' financial needs. The firm helps businesses, individuals and families pursue their financial goals, providing comprehensive services, including retirement, business, tax and estate planning. InTouch Wealth Advisors was formerly affiliated with MassMutual.

"Joining Wilde Wealth and Cetera empowers us to expand our independence while providing increased flexibility to our clients," Benedetti said. "We expect our business will thrive in many ways thanks to the backing and resources of a large network with a specialized community feel. We are looking forward to continuing our growth trajectory and serving our clients even more holistically by leveraging the top-tier technology, tools and resources now available through Cetera and Wilde Wealth."

"We welcome Jason, Gus and Larry to the Wilde Wealth team," said Trevor Wilde, CEO at Wilde Wealth Management. "They share our values and embrace the importance of placing client interests first, and we know they will make meaningful contributions to our team's success. We expect continued expansion of our team and welcome like-minded advisors who are looking to grow with Wilde Wealth in 2022 and beyond."

"We are thrilled to welcome InTouch Wealth Advisors into the Cetera Advisors community," said John Pierce, head of business development for Cetera. "The strength of Cetera's network rests on a community-based approach to financial advice, where specialized businesses exist to serve financial professionals across dedicated channels and categories. This gives Cetera an unmatched depth of knowledge and allows us to meet advisors on their own terms, so that we can provide a growth plan that works for them and their clients."

InTouch marks the latest recruiting win for Cetera, which attracted nearly $50 billion through business development efforts in 2021.

Click here for more information about Cetera's tools and resources for financial advisors.

About Cetera Financial Group

Cetera Financial Group (Cetera) is a leading financial services firm whose purpose is to enable the delivery of best-in-class financial advice to as many Americans as possible. Cetera empowers its financial professional communities to help clients achieve their version of financial wellbeing through the Advice-Centric Experience. Cetera proudly serves independent financial professionals, tax professionals, banks and credit unions in providing wide-ranging financial planning and wealth management services.

Cetera oversees $344 billion in assets under administration and $120 billion in assets under management, as of September 30, 2021.

Visit www.cetera.com, and follow Cetera on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

"Cetera Financial Group" refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, and First Allied Securities, Inc. All firms are members FINRA/SIPC. Located at: 655 W Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.

Individuals affiliated with Cetera firms are either Registered Representatives who offer only brokerage services and receive transaction-based compensation (commissions), Investment Adviser Representatives who offer only investment advisory services and receive fees based on assets, or both Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives, who can offer both types of services.

SOURCE Cetera Financial Group
NESS ZIONA, Israel, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mileutis, an Israeli-based biopharmaceutical company revolutionizing how farmers and veterinarians treat a range of diseases, today announced the appointment of two new executives to its Board of Directors. Mr. Bret Kossman and Mr. Ori Inbar join Mileutis as the company is on the cusp of introducing its Imilac product, for use in the management, treatment, and prevention of bovine mastitis at dry-off, to the mass market.

The appointment of two seasoned veterans with strong financial, product development, sales, marketing, and agritech experience puts Mileutis in a strong position to tap into the multi-billion-dollar global mastitis market.

"To have such leaders join the Mileutis Board of Directors is significant and illustrates the ambitious goals of the organization to invest in people and technology that will have a significant impact in the sector. Both Bret and Ori bring a wealth of experience to Mileutis and will further strengthen the pioneering work we have been doing for the development of safe and residual-free therapies for animal health," says David Javier Iscovich, CEO and Co-Founder, Mileutis.

Bret Kossman is a 25-year veteran in global financial markets and investment banking with extensive experience in complex corporate turnarounds and financial restructurings, debt and equity capital raising, and assisting companies and management teams with strategic decisions. Much of Kossman's work incorporates valuing and investing in businesses undergoing rapid transformation and dealing with uncertain market conditions.

Currently, Kossman is the Managing Director and Head of Research and Analysis for Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Global Credit and Special Situations Group. Previously, Kossman was the Head of Japan Corporate Principal Investments and Head of Asia Distressed Trading for Merrill Lynch where he led investments in private and public equity, mezzanine, and distressed debt. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2002, he was an investment banker at Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup in New York and Tokyo where he worked on various capital raising and M&A transactions.

Ori Inbar has over 30 years of experience in the dairy industry and is currently an independent entrepreneur, investor, and consultant in agricultural technologies. For over 18 years Inbar has served as senior executive in SCR Dairy (currently owned by Merck & Co.). Here he played a crucial role in steering the strategy of SCR to make it a world leader in technologies for animal monitoring, transforming the way dairy farmers monitor their cows.

During his 18 years at SCR, Inbar served as a senior executive and Vice-President for Marketing, Sales, and Product Management. During that time, SCR revenues have grown by 4000%. Inbar was further involved in several M&As, delivering substantial value to its shareholders.

In October 2020, Mileutis announced it raised $20 million from NovaQuest Capital Management, a first-time investment in the animal health sector by the North Carolina-based private equity firm. Mileutis' first product Imilac is aimed at dairy cows, providing a residue-free non-antibiotic therapy for prevention and treatment of mastitis at dry-off. It is the first in a series of patented products targeting the growing concern of antibiotic resistance and overuse of antibiotics in the global dairy industry.

Media contact:

Amir Ben Artzi

Meirovitch PR

amir@meirovitch.com

SOURCE Mileutis Ltd.
BROKEN ARROW, Okla., Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jean-Maria C. Langley, DO, AOCOHNS, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Otolaryngologist for her exceptional work in the field and in acknowledgment of her work at Utica Park Clinic.

As an Otolaryngologist, also known as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, she has over 14 years of experience in the field. Dr. Langley is a highly-respected doctor who specializes in sinus and sleep apnea surgeries. She is currently one of only three physicians in Oklahoma who are able to perform these types of surgical procedures.



Jean-Maria C. Langley DO AOCOHNS

To achieve her long-standing career, Dr. Langley started by attending Washington State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry, along with a secondary education certificate. She then graduated from Drake University with a Master of Science degree in Biology (Cardiac Physiology). Dr. Langley then completed a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, an internship, and a residency in Otolaryngology at Oklahoma State University Medical Center in 2007. She is a board-certified Otolaryngologist through the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AOCOO-HNS). AOCOO-HNS provides board certification to doctors who meet strict criteria for medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, and throat. Dr. Langley is certified to practice medicine in Oklahoma.



Dr. Langley previously taught high school, and also served as an adjunct professor with Des Moines Community College. In her current role, she welcomes patients of all ages to her Utica Park Clinic. Dr. Langley prides herself on her sincerity, honesty, and compassion in all aspects of her work.



Common reasons patients seek ENT services are for hearing issues, earaches, ear infections, nasal congestion, sleep apnea, and sinus issues. Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common medical complaints in the United States, affecting about 35 million adults each year. Dr. Langely's specialties are sleep apnea and sinus surgeries, and managing disorders of the nose and sinus.



She has been providing top-quality patient care at Utica Park Clinic for nine years. The clinic accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare. Utica Park Clinic offers numerous health services for all age groups and genders. They provide virtual care and telehealth options, and have over 250 providers in over 20 specialties. Dr. Langley provides patient care at the Utica Park Clinic, located at 9001 S. 101st East Ave., Suite 280, in Tulsa, OK. She also sees patients at Hillcrest Hospital South, Hillcrest Medical Center, and Oklahoma State University Center.



To stay alert to new advances in the field, she is a Fellow of the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery; and a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, American Osteopathic Association, Auxiliary of the Tulsa Osteopathic Medical Society, and American Rhinology Society.



Awards for her exceptional accomplishments include the Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2013, 2014, 2015), Patients' Choice Award (2013-2018), Top 10 Doctor  State (2014), On-Time Doctor Award (2015-2018), and Patients' Choice 5th Anniversary Award (2017, 2018).



On a personal note, Dr. Langley has been married to Dan Langley for 22 years, and they have one child together. She enjoys volunteering as Department Chair of the Otolaryngology Department at Oklahoma State University. Her hobbies include exercising, reading, and cooking.



She would like to dedicate this honorable recognition to her mentors, Tom Nunn, DO, and Tom Hamilton, DO.



For more information, visit www.uticaparkclinic.com.



For more information, visit www.uticaparkclinic.com.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]



SOURCE Continental Who's Who
"A critical addition to the KDIGO guideline is the recommendation for accurate assessment of blood pressure." Tweet this

High blood pressure (BP) is the leading modifiable chronic disease risk factor in the world. High BP is not only an important risk factor for CKD and kidney failure, but is highly prevalent in patients with CKD, including kidney transplant recipients.

The combination of CKD and hypertension leads to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (heart disease), which is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. Fortunately, interventions to lower BP reduce the risk for heart disease in patients with CKD, the authors of the commentary report.

"A critical addition to the KDIGO guideline is the recommendation for accurate assessment of blood pressure using standardized office blood pressure measurement," said KDOQI co-author Paul E. Drawz, MD, MHS, MS, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. "In the general adult population with CKD, KDIGO recommends a goal systolic blood pressure less than 120 mm Hg based on results from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) and secondary analyses of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes-Blood Pressure (ACCORD-BP) trial. The KDOQI work group agreed with most of the recommendations while highlighting the weak evidence base especially for patients with diabetes and advanced CKD."

This commentary is the product of the KDOQI working group and presents the recommendations and practice points from the KDIGO guideline in the context of US clinical practice.

"It has been an honor to collaborate with all of the hypertension and CKD experts on the KDOQI work group," Dr. Drawz said. "We hope this commentary will provide guidance to providers as they work with their patients who have CKD to reduce the burden of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality."

The KDOQI commentators are Drawz; Srinivasan Beddhu, MD, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; O.N. Ray Bignall II, MD, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus; Jordana B. Cohen, MD, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia; Joseph T. Flynn, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; Division of Nephrology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle; Elaine Ku, MD, University of CaliforniaSan Francisco; Mahboob Rahman, MD; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Cleveland, Ohio; George Thomas, MD, Department of Kidney Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio: Matthew R. Weir, MD, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore; and Paul K. Whelton, MD, Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans.

To read the KDOQI commentary, go to https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(21)00949-5/fulltext

Kidney Disease Facts

In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD)and approximately 90 percent don't know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for chronic kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are almost 4 times more likely than Whites to have kidney failure. Hispanic or Latino people are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanic or non-Latino people to have kidney failure.

About the American Journal of Kidney Diseases

The American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD), the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, is recognized worldwide as a leading source of information devoted to clinical nephrology practice and clinical research. Articles selected for publication in AJKD undergo a rigorous consideration process, supporting the journal's goal to communicate important new information in clinical nephrology in a way that strengthens knowledge and helps physicians to provide their patients with the highest standard of care.

About the National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.

Facebook.com

www.kidney.org

twitter.com/nkf

SOURCE The National Kidney Foundation
LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Laserfiche  the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation  today announced the winners of the 2022 Laserfiche Run Smarter Awards and Industry Leadership Awards. The Laserfiche Run Smarter Awards were first launched in 2005 to honor people and organizations around the world that use Laserfiche to improve productivity, build innovative processes and achieve exceptional business results. The Industry Leadership Awards, launched in 2020, recognize individual members of the Laserfiche community who drive transformative change in their organizations and beyond, demonstrating leadership and serving as a model for their respective industries.

"While organizations worldwide have accelerated digital transformation initiatives in recent years, our Run Smarter and Industry Leadership Award winners demonstrate how to use this momentum for sustainable change," said Karl Chan, president at Laserfiche. "These individuals, teams and organizations have successfully combined vision, leadership and technology to implement long-lasting solutions and build digital resilience. Congratulations!"

This past year, Laserfiche customers worldwide optimized employee and customer experiences while navigating challenging business landscapes. The 2022 Run Smarter and Industry Leadership Award winners represent Laserfiche users that developed technology-driven solutions which demonstrate innovation, creativity and inspiration to transform the organization and drive change.

The 2022 Run Smarter Award winners:

Best Program ROI: Adams 12 Five Star School District

Laserfiche Program of the Year: Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)

Laserfiche Team of the Year: City of Georgetown, Texas

Change-Maker of the Year: Joseph Battersby, Business Systems Analyst, Tootsie Roll Industries

Executive of the Year: Justin Thomas, VAF Head: Strategy, Alliances and Digital Innovation, Standard Bank

The 2022 Industry Leadership Award winners:

Government Impact Award: Eric Johnston, Environmental Health Director, Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department

Government Influencer Award: Collin Boyce, Chief Information Officer, City of Tucson, Arizona

Tribal Nations Impact Award: Jan Lawrence, former Senior Executive Assistant to CEO and Digital Process Manager, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua Siuslaw Indians

Financial Services Impact Award: Matthew Tingey, Senior Application Specialist, American United Federal Credit Union

Financial Services Trailblazer Award: Gert Bester, Senior IT Business Systems Engineer, Stonehage Fleming Financial Services (Pty) Ltd

Higher Education Influencer Award: Eliza Nicholson, Director, Recruitment and Admissions, Trent University

K-12 Education Impact Award: Lydia Cabrera, Application Support Analyst, Santa Clara County Office of Education

Healthcare Impact Award: Jennifer Washburn, IT Manager, SIU School of Medicine

Manufacturing Influencer Award: Sandra Lund, Payroll Manager, FCA Packaging

The winners of the Laserfiche Run Smarter Awards and Industry Leadership Awards will be celebrated during the 2022 Laserfiche Empower conference, taking place online Feb. 7-17, 2022. To learn more about the winners, click HERE to download an eBook of their stories and register for the conference.

About Laserfiche

Laserfiche is the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation. Through powerful workflows, electronic forms, document management and analytics, the Laserfiche platform accelerates how business gets done, enabling leaders to focus on growth across the enterprise.

Laserfiche pioneered the paperless office with enterprise content management. Today, Laserfiche's cloud-first development approach incorporates innovations in machine learning and AI to enable organizations in more than 80 countries to transform into digital businesses. Customers in every industry  including government, education, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing  use Laserfiche to boost productivity, scale their business and deliver digital-first customer experiences.

Laserfiche employees in offices around the world are committed to the company's vision of empowering customers and inspiring people to reimagine how technology can transform lives.

Connect with Laserfiche:

Laserfiche Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

SOURCE Laserfiche
Rosemergy regularly represents private equity funds and public and private companies in connection with stock and asset acquisitions and divestitures, mergers, add-on and carve-out transactions, bankruptcy-related transactions, joint ventures, spin-offs, and large equity investments. He also advises funds, companies, executives, and management teams on executive compensation matters, including the establishment of equity-based compensation arrangements, other incentive compensation arrangements, and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements.

"Ben is a highly-regarded lawyer with a sophisticated skillset that will be of tremendous value to our clients who are navigating increasingly complex benefits and compensation matters," added Bradd Williamson, Global Chair of Latham's Executive Compensation, Employment & Benefits Practice. "Demand for lawyers with Ben's experience has risen exponentially in recent years in line with the overall growth of Latham's M&A and private equity practices, and we are excited to welcome him to our global team."

"Ben is an excellent addition to our market-leading transactional teams in Chicago as well as throughout the US and globally, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the firm," said Cathy Birkeland, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins' Chicago office. "His experience advising private equity funds, public and private companies, executives, and management teams is aligned with the clients that we serve, and Ben's skillset and commercial sense further enhances the value of service that we provide to support our robust deal pipeline."

"Latham's expansive and diverse global platform is second-to-none, and this is an exciting opportunity that will benefit my clients greatly," said Rosemergy. "I am personally drawn to Latham's collegial culture and team-based approach, and admire the firm's vision for continued development and growth."

Rosemergy received his JD from the University of Missouri School of Law and his BA from the University of Missouri. He joins Latham from Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago.

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Contacts:

Cathy Birkeland,

Chicago Office Managing Partner,

+1.312.876.7681



Bradd Williamson,

Global Chair,

Executive Compensation,

Employment & Benefits Practice,

+1.212.906.1826

SOURCE Latham & Watkins
TUCSON, Ariz., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning A-Z , a Cambium Learning Group company, is honored to be named as one of the "100 Best Arizona Companies" by BestCompaniesAZ as part of its 20th anniversary serving Arizona's business community. Learning A-Z was recognized within the category of "Best of Heart," which honors Arizona's top organizations that build relationships with employees, customers and the community.

"Our first and most important goal is to support communities through enriching young learners, and that goal begins with one group: employees," said Lisa O'Masta, president of Learning A-Z. "We're honored to be recognized for our work in building meaningful relationships with our customers and our community and will continue supporting our employees, customers and community in any way possible."

Winners were chosen and judged based on a variety of factors, including workplace culture, corporate and employer brand, innovative thought leaders and charitable giving initiatives.

"BestCompaniesAZ has been at the forefront of recognizing sought-after employer brands and creating prestigious workplace awards programs in Arizona since 2002. As we celebrate 20 years, we are proud to recognize companies across our state who are making a positive difference in the lives of their employees and our communities," said Denise Gredler, founder and CEO of BestCompaniesAZ.

This honor follows recent Learning A-Z milestones, including the launch of two new products built on the Science of Reading  Foundations A-Z and Writing A-Z Adventure Zone  and being named the winner of the 2021 Supes' Choice Award for Equity and Anti-Racism.

The full list of BestCompaniesAZ winners and finalists can be found at https://bestcompaniesaz.com/100-best-companies-in-arizona/. To learn more about Learning A-Z, please visit www.learninga-z.com .

About Learning A-Z

Learning A-Z delivers pre-K6 solutions that inspire curiosity, ensure comprehension and instill the joy of learning in elementary students. Its award-winning digital products, which include Reading A-Z and Raz-Kids, are used by more than 12 million students in more than 170 countries. Learning A-Z is a Cambium Learning  Group company.

For information, please visit www.learninga-z.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter .

About BestCompaniesAZ

Arizona's Employer Branding Partner, BestCompaniesAZ, specializes in helping corporate clients develop, strengthen and market their unique employer brands through a variety of digital marketing, events, communication and awards programs. Founded in 2002, BestCompaniesAZ pioneered the intersection of recruiting, human resources, marketing and public relations and has evolved into an exclusive, niche PR, marketing and employer branding firm that specializes in building and promoting strong employer brands. For more information, visit BestCompaniesAZ.com.

About Cambium Learning Group

Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services across the K-12 space. With an intentionally curated portfolio of respected global brands, Cambium serves as an education leader, helping millions of educators and students feel more universally seen, valued and supported. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now.

To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Medium. The Cambium family of brands includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia Learning, Learning A-Z, Voyager Sopris Learning, ExploreLearning, Time4Learning and Kurzweil Education.

Media Contact:

Erin McCreadie

[email protected]

SOURCE Learning A-Z
The technology has been recognized with the 2022 Interagency Partnership Award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC). It is on track to eliminate the need for passengers to remove their shoes at the airport. The technology was developed by PNNL and exclusively licensed to Liberty Defense for commercialization

WILMINGTON, Mass., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. ("Liberty" or the "Company") (TSXV: SCAN) (OTCQB: LDDFF) (FRANKFURT: LD2), a leading technology provider of concealed weapons and threat detection solutions, is pleased to announce that the Company's millimeter-wave shoe screening technology, initially developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), was awarded the 2022 Interagency Partnership Award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC).

Millimeter-Wave Shoe Scanner image courtesy of PNNL (CNW Group/Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.)

The annual FLC awards are considered to be among the top honors in the technology transfer field and recognize federal laboratories for outstanding technology transfer achievements. PNNL was honored for its work on the technology, which was developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, and exclusively licensed to Liberty Defense in 2021 for commercialization.

"This is a great accomplishment and a true reflection of the partnership between PNNL and Liberty to bring innovative and next generation security technology to the market," said Bill Frain, CEO of Liberty Defense. "The shoe screening technology, paired with the High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology body scanner, also licensed to Liberty, will revolutionize screening at aviation checkpoints."

The millimeter-wave shoe scanner uses advanced imaging to detect concealed objects in footwear without the wearer having to remove their shoes, creating a highly efficient, seamless screening process.

"In practice, the shoe screener could be integrated into the floor of the existing airport body scanning portals or be used as a standalone unit at the checkpoint," added Frain. "Our goal is to improve not only the efficacy of airport screening, but also improve the experience of passengers. This technology has the potential to do just that."

In additional news, pursuant to its omnibus long-term incentive plan, and subject to regulatory approval, Liberty has granted a total of 100,000 stock options (the "Options") to an employee and 150,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to a former officer, effective January 14, 2022. Each Option is exercisable for one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") at an exercise price of $0.36 per Share. 12.5% of the Options will vest on April 14, 2022, and an additional 12.5% will vest every three months thereafter. The Options will expire on January 14, 2027. All 150,000 RSUs will vest on January 14, 2023.

On Behalf of Liberty Defense

Bill Frain

CEO & Director

About Liberty Defense

Liberty Defense (TSXV: SCAN, OTCQB: LDDFF, FRANKFURT: LD2) provides multi-technology security solutions for concealed weapons detection in high volume foot traffic areas and locations requiring enhanced security such as airports, stadiums, schools, and more. Liberty's HEXWAVE product, for which the company has secured an exclusive license from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a technology transfer agreement for patents related to active 3D radar imaging technology, provides discrete, modular, and scalable protection to provide layered, stand-off detection capability of metallic and non-metallic weapons. Liberty has also recently licensed the millimeter wave-based, High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) body scanner and shoe scanner technologies as part of its technology portfolio. Liberty is committed to protecting communities and preserving peace of mind through superior security detection solutions. Learn more: LibertyDefense.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although Liberty believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Liberty. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Liberty's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The parties undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of their securities or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

Liberty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Liberty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Liberty has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Liberty as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Liberty does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

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 press release.

SOURCE Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.
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According to the recent market study by Technavio, the Linear Actuators Market Size is expected to increase by USD 9.66 billion from 2020 to 2025, progressing at a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period. The report provides a detailed analysis of drivers & opportunities, top winning strategies, competitive scenario, future market trends, market size & estimations, and major investment pockets.

APAC will register the highest growth rate, occupying 45% of the global market share. China and Japan are the key markets for linear actuators in APAC. The market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions.

Download FREE Sample: for more additional information about the key countries in APAC.

Vendor Insights-

The linear actuators market is fragmented due to the presence of several regional and international players. Leading players in the market are continuously focusing on improving and innovating their product lines to increase their market shares. International players are growing organically by acquiring regional and local players. Small players are competing by providing quality products at low costs.

Curtiss-Wright Corp.: The company offers linear electromechanical actuators for the aerospace market.

Emerson Electric Co.: The company offers electric actuators under the brands Bettis and EIM.

Festo SE & Co. KG: The company offers linear actuators for a wide range of industrial applications.

Flowserve Corp.: The company offers electric actuators under the brand, Limitorque.

Kollmorgen Corp.: The company offers a wide variety of linear actuators including rodless actuators and others.

Find additional highlights on the vendors and their product offerings. Download Free Sample Report

Regional Market Outlook

The linear actuators market growth in APAC will be significant during the forecast period. Rapid industrialization and urbanization are contributing to the growth of the market in APAC. The report also provides detailed insights into the growth of the market across Europe, MEA, North America, and South America. The US, Germany, and France are identified as the prominent markets for linear actuators.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Drivers & Trends Driving the Market-

Linear Actuators Market Driver:

Increased demand for electric linear actuators from the automotive industry:

Hydraulic actuators are susceptible to chronic leaks and require frequent adjustment, which increases maintenance costs. Hence, automotive manufacturers are shifting toward the use of electric linear actuators. These are free from leaks and can be installed easily. They are relatively priced lower than hydraulic actuators and offer benefits such as high load capacity, better durability, and lower maintenance costs. Many such benefits are increasing their adoption in the automotive industry, which is driving the growth of the market.

Linear Actuators Market Trend:

Low manufacture and procurement costs:

The cost involved in the manufacture and procurement of linear actuators is lower compared to other product types. For example, the operational cost of a linear actuator is significantly lower than that of a hydraulic actuator. Besides, many vendors are shifting their production facilities to countries such as China and India due to the availability of low-cost labor. This is resulting in the low-cost production of linear actuators. This trend will have a positive impact on the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Find additional information about various other market Drivers & Trends mentioned in our FREE sample report.

Related Reports:

Pneumatic Actuator Market by Product, End-user, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Hydraulic Actuators Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Linear Actuators Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of over 6% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 9.66 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.66 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 45% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, Japan, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Curtiss-Wright Corp., Emerson Electric Co., Festo SE & Co. KG, Flowserve Corp., Kollmorgen Corp., LINAK AS, Moog Inc., Parker Hannifin Corp., Siemens AG, and SMC Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

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 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.



Contact

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
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Given the workplace stress the pandemic has magnified, Sloan Bentley, President and CEO of Lutheran Life Communities, is responding with enterprise-wide programs and opportunities to promote well-being and growth.

Lutheran Life Communities looks at the Great Resignation in a different light. That healthcare workers are leaving the industry after nearly two years of increased workloads, fear of contracting COVID at work and burnout during the pandemic, is well publicized. Most employers are not offering initiatives to counteract employee discontent. Bentley understands many people are resigning for the opportunity to earn more money elsewhere. She believes promoting a workplace where team members feel appreciated and valued sets Lutheran Life Communities apart. Bentley recognizes that providing a work environment of personal growth and fulfillment of mission creates a compelling vision that inspires and excites.

While many other businesses transitioned to working remotely, team members of Lutheran Life Communities did not have that luxury. Residents of senior living communities, including residential living, assisted living and skilled nursing and rehabilitative services, rely on team members to provide care and services around the clock. Team members are Lutheran Life's greatest assetthe heart of the companyand exemplify Lutheran Life's mission of empowering vibrant, grace-filled living across all generations. In recognition of the commitment to the mission and importance of work/life balance, team member well-being is a priority for Lutheran Life Communities.

To recognize team members with perfect attendance while providing care and meeting the needs of residents during the holiday season, the organization created an innovative incentive program. In addition to receiving a $500 bonus for team members who did not call out from work, their names were entered into a drawing for a $5,000 grand prize. At the end of the bonus period, a total of 474 (or 33%) of all team members were entered into the grand prize drawing. The winning team member is employed at Pleasant View, a Life Plan community located in Ottawa, Illinois.

This perfect attendance grand prize is one of many recognition, learning and well-being programs Lutheran Life Communities has planned for team members in 2022. Reclaiming MyJoy, a program centered on both self-reflection and a commitment to engage in activities that bring personal satisfaction, has already been successfully rolled out. Other programs include the Charting Your Course learning and development program, the Team Member Assistance Program and the CARE Fund to assist team members in emergency situations. Future programs are being designed to focus on individual well-being and will include fitness challenges and classes, practicing mindfulness to promote emotional well-being.

With company-designed programs that exceed typical employment benefits, Lutheran Life Communities is becoming a leader in supporting total team member wellness during The Great Resignation.

Lutheran Life Communities, a not-for-profit senior living and services organization

SOURCE Lutheran Life Communities
The MIAX Exchange Group traded a record 1.34 billion multi-listed options contracts in 2021, a 61.8% increase from 2020 Tweet this

The MIAX Exchange Group collectively traded a record 1.34 billion multi-listed options contracts in 2021, a 61.8% increase from 2020 and representing an average daily volume (ADV) of 5,309,972 contracts.

Total multi-list options contract in December 2021 totaled 113.0 million contracts, representing a market share of 14.22% and a 42.4% increase from December 2020.

totaled 113.0 million contracts, representing a market share of 14.22% and a 42.4% increase from December 2020. Total U.S. multi-listed options market share reached a record 14.29% in 2021, 248 basis points higher than the 11.81% market share in 2020 and representing a 21.0% increase in market share.

All three MIAX options exchanges reported record annual multi-list option volume totals in 2021, with MIAX Options reporting volume of 522.6 million contracts, a 58.3% increase; MIAX Pearl, 427.0 million contracts, a 45.5% increase; and MIAX Emerald, 388.6 million contracts, a 90.7% increase.

MIAX Emerald reported a new annual market share record in 2021, accounting for 4.15% of total industry multi-list option volume.

MIAX Pearl Equities

MIAX Pearl Equities reported record volume of 11.07 billion shares in 2021, as compared to 349.8 million shares in 2020 (MIAX Pearl Equities launched in September, 2020).

MIAX Pearl equities reported both a monthly volume record of 1.94 billion shares and a market share record of 0.81% in December of 2021.

MIAX Pearl Equities volume reached a record daily volume of 161.2 million shares on December 3, 2021 , which also represented a daily record market share of 1.15%.

Minneapolis Grain Exchange

MGEX reported record volume of 3,873,016 futures and options contracts in 2021, an increase of 40.0% from 2020.

Hard Red Spring Wheat trading set annual records in both futures and options, with total volume of 2,997,693 and 123,079 contracts, respectively in 2021.

SPIKES Futures volume totaled 752,240 contracts in 2021, after MIAX received approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to relaunch SPIKES Futures in December 2020. New trading incentives enacted on July 1, 2021 contributed to volume totals in the second half of 2021, with 741,819 contracts traded, compared to 10,421 contracts traded in the first half of 2021. ADV for SPIKES Futures in the second half of 2021 was 5,795 contracts, compared to 84 contracts in the first half of 2021.

Additional MIAX Exchange Group volume records are highlighted in the tables included below.

Multi-Listed Options Trading Volume for MIAX Exchange Group, Current Month Year-to-Date Comparison Multi-Listed Options Contracts Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Nov-21 % Chg Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Trading Days 22 22 21 252 253 U.S. Equity Options Industry 794,555,696 719,646,140 10.4% 898,166,403 -11.5% 9,366,823,566 7,004,304,148 33.7% MIAX Exchange Group 113,005,405 79,347,042 42.4% 124,657,770 -9.3% 1,338,112,960 827,187,596 61.8% MIAX Options 42,812,426 31,200,513 37.2% 50,452,313 -15.1% 522,549,941 330,036,680 58.3% MIAX Pearl 31,633,894 22,347,253 41.6% 34,378,589 -8.0% 427,001,176 293,410,388 45.5% MIAX Emerald 38,559,085 25,799,276 49.5% 39,826,868 -3.2% 388,561,843 203,740,528 90.7% Multi-Listed Options ADV Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Nov-21 % Chg Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg U.S. Multi-Listed Options Industry 36,116,168 32,711,188 10.4% 42,769,829 -15.6% 37,169,935 27,684,997 34.3% MIAX Exchange Group 5,136,609 3,606,684 42.4% 5,936,084 -13.5% 5,309,972 3,269,516 62.4% MIAX 1,946,019 1,418,205 37.2% 2,402,491 -19.0% 2,073,611 1,304,493 59.0% MIAX Pearl 1,437,904 1,015,784 41.6% 1,637,076 -12.2% 1,694,449 1,159,725 46.1% MIAX Emerald 1,752,686 1,172,694 49.5% 1,896,518 -7.6% 1,541,912 805,299 91.5% Multi-Listed Options Market Share for MIAX Exchange Group, Current Month Year-to-Date Comparison Multi-Listed Options Market Share Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Nov-21 % Chg Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg MIAX Exchange Group 14.22% 11.03% 29.0% 13.88% 2.5% 14.29% 11.81% 21.0% MIAX 5.39% 4.34% 24.3% 5.62% -4.1% 5.58% 4.71% 18.4% MIAX Pearl 3.98% 3.11% 28.2% 3.83% 4.0% 4.56% 4.19% 8.8% MIAX Emerald 4.85% 3.58% 35.4% 4.43% 9.4% 4.15% 2.91% 42.6% Equities Trading Volume for MIAX Pearl Equities, Current Month Year-to-Date Comparison Equities Shares (millions) Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Nov-21 % Chg Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Trading Days 22 22 21 252 NM U.S. Equities Volume  Industry 238,596 240,220 -0.7% 233,151 2.3% 2,869,009 NM NM MIAX Pearl Volume 1,940 268 NM 1,610 20.5% 11,066 NM NM MIAX Pearl ADV 88 12 NM 77 15.0% 44 NM NM MIAX Pearl Market Share 0.81% 0.11% NM 0.69% 17.7% 0.39% NM NM NM - Not meaningful Futures & Options Trading Volume for MGEX, Current Month Year-to-Date Comparison Futures & Options Contracts Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Nov-21 % Chg Dec-21 Dec-20 % Chg Trading Days 22 22 21 252 253 MGEX Volume 215,062 211,067 1.9% 420,826 -48.9% 3,873,016 2,766,442 40.0% MGEX ADV 9,776 9,594 1.9% 20,039 -51.2% 15,369 10,935 40.6%

2021 Market Share and Volume Records:

miax MIAX Exchange Group Options Records Single Day Market Share 16.82% August 6, 2021 Volume 8,126,083 March 5, 2021 Monthly Market Share 15.53% July 2021 Volume 127,701,099 June 2021 Annual Market Share 14.29% 2021 Volume 1,388,112,960 2021

miax

Options MIAX Options Records Single Day Volume 3,203,327 November 5, 2021 Monthly Volume 55,410,315 June 2021 Annual Volume 522,549,941 2021

miax

Pearl Options MIAX Pearl Options Records Single Day Market Share 6.92% March 5, 2021 Volume 3,506,013 March 5, 2021 Monthly Market Share 6.09% March 2021 Volume 52,194,814 March 2021 Annual Volume 427,001,176 2021

miax

Emerald MIAX Emerald Options Records Single Day Market Share 6.92% July 29, 2021 Volume 3,392,372 January 27, 2021 Monthly Market Share 5.49% August 2021 Volume 41,821,523 August 2021 Annual Market Share 4.15% 2021 Volume 388,561,843 2021

miax

Pearl Equities MIAX Pearl Equity Records Single Day Market Share 1.15% December 3, 2021 Volume 161,173,623 December 3, 2021 Monthly Market Share 0.81% December 2021 Volume 1,940,287,963 December 2021 Annual Market Share 0.39% 2021 Volume 11,066,336,629 2021

About MIAX

MIAX's parent holding company, Miami International Holdings, Inc., owns Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX PEARL, LLC (MIAX Pearl), MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald), Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC (MGEX), and Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX).

MIAX, MIAX Pearl and MIAX Emerald are national securities exchanges registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that leverage MIAX's industry-leading technology and infrastructure to provide U.S. listed options trading to their member firms. MIAX serves as the exclusive exchange venue for cash-settled options on the SPIKES Volatility Index (Ticker: SPIKE), a measure of the expected 30-day volatility in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). In addition to options, MIAX Pearl facilitates the trading of cash equities through MIAX Pearl Equities.

MGEX is a registered exchange with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and is a Notice Registered Securities Futures Product Exchange with the SEC. MGEX serves as the exclusive market for a variety of products including Hard Red Spring Wheat, SPIKES Futures, BRIXX Commercial Real Estate Futures and TAX Futures. MGEX is a Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) under the CFTC, providing DCM, DCO and cash market services in an array of asset classes.

BSX is a leading electronic international securities market regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) specializing in the listing and trading of capital market instruments such as equities, debt issues, funds, hedge funds, derivative warrants and insurance linked securities. A full member of the World Federation of Exchanges and affiliate member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions, BSX is globally recognized, including by the SEC.

MIAX's executive offices and National Operations Center are located in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices located in Miami, FL, Minneapolis, MN, and Hamilton, Bermuda.

To learn more about MIAX visit www.MIAXOptions.com.

To learn more about MGEX visit www.mgex.com.

To learn more about BSX visit www.bsx.com.

Media Contact:

Andy Nybo, SVP, Chief Communications Officer

(609) 955-2091

[email protected]

Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company), and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

All third-party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by the Company remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, the Company's use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between the owners of these trademarks and the Company. Any references by the Company to third-party trademarks is to identify the corresponding third-party goods and/or services and shall be considered nominative fair use under the trademark law.

SOURCE MIAX
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Federated Hermes, Inc. today announced that monthly fund composition and performance data for Federated Hermes Premier Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: FMN) as of Dec. 31, 2021, is now available in the Products section of FederatedInvestors.com. To order hard copies of this data or to be placed on a mailing list, call 800-245-0242 x5587538, email [email protected] or write to Federated Hermes, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Floor 23, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Federated Hermes, Inc. (NYSE: FHI) is a leading global investment manager with $634.1 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, 2021. Guided by our conviction that responsible investing is the best way to create wealth over the long term, our investment solutions span equity, fixed-income, alternative/private markets, multi-asset and liquidity management strategies. Providing world-class active investment management and engagement services to more than 11,000 institutions and intermediaries, our clients include corporations, government entities, insurance companies, foundations and endowments, banks and broker/dealers. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Federated Hermes' nearly 2,000 employees include those in London, New York, Boston and offices worldwide. For more information, visit FederatedHermes.com.

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SOURCE Federated Hermes, Inc.
Integrated marketing agency bolsters leadership team with co-managing directors

CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mosaic North America is excited to announce a new executive leadership team. Debbie Kaplan joins Mosaic as Managing Director, Chief Delivery Officer and Justine Greenwald has been promoted to Managing Director, Chief Creative Officer. This dynamic duo will bring a fresh perspective to agency culture and client success. With this new co-leadership structure in place, Mosaic is uniquely positioned to be a creative-led agency that can deliver highly engaging brand experiences flawlessly and efficiently.

Mosaic is a North American integrated marketing agency that builds brands in dimension. Depending on clients' needs and based on data-led insights, Mosaic pulls in the right capability experts at the right time to create connected brand experiences across the right touchpoints. By being able to quickly tap into different in-house specialists across omnichannel commerce, experiential marketing, content development, brand design, performance media and measurement & analytics, Mosaic is distinctly able to create ideas that make an impact in culture and drive results.

As Mosaic's Chief Delivery Officer, Debbie will be focused on building strategic client engagements and driving operational efficiencies to ensure flawless execution and strong results. Bringing 20+ years as a leader in brand activation and integrated marketing to Mosaic, Debbie was a cross functional leader for some of the top global, most recognizable brands and companies in the world, including Jim Beam, E&J Gallo Winery, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark, Unilever, SC Johnson, Walmart, and American Airlines. She has developed and executed conversion driving, award-winning shopper marketing and experiential campaigns across multiple channels and scale. "I am beyond excited to lead Mosaic into the next chapter. I have been a huge fan of Mosaic, the people, and the work, for years. So, I am humbled and honored to be able to nurture and grow this uniquely-positioned agency, together with the talented collective of multi-disciplined experts here."

As Mosaic's Chief Creative Officer, Justine will lead the Creative, Design, Strategy & Innovation teams in building cutting edge integrated ideas and creative. She brings 20+ years as a creative leader in brand activation and integrated marketing to Mosaic. Before joining Mosaic in 2019, she partnered with Debbie at WPP activation agencies and developed award-winning, insight-driven work for clients in multiple categories including CPG, Bev-Spirits, Lifestyle, Automotive and Travel and Luxury. While leading the North American creative & design team as SVP, Executive Creative Director at Mosaic for the past two years, she's helped grow the agency's client roster and lead teams in the development of award-winning creative. Most notably, Mosaic was the most awarded agency at the 2021 Experiential Marketing Summit's Ex Awards; picking up 12 awards for multiple clients across multiple categories; including Best Event/B-to-B Conference, Outdoor Activation and Sampling and Best Use of Social & Technology. Mosaic also recently took home a silver and bronze at the Clio Cannabis 2021 awards for Canopy Growth's Quatreau brand campaign.

"Debbie and Justine have a strong chemistry and have worked together on top global brands during their time together at WPP agencies. It's a proven leadership team with a successful history of creating award-winning, results-driving integrated marketing campaigns for clients," stated Derek Bowen, President of Marketing Services at Acosta. Justine and Debbie are excited to be working together again to build brands in dimension with the talented team at Mosaic and lead the agency into the future.

About Mosaic North America

Mosaic is a North American integrated marketing agency that builds brands in dimension. We look at the nexus between culture, creativity, and context to build ideas that inspire reactions and drive action. By pulling in the right agency experts at the right time we create connected brand experiences across the right touchpoints that deliver results. For more information, visit www.mosaic.com.

SOURCE Mosaic
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Media accreditation is now open for launch and prelaunch activities related to NASA's Artemis I mission, the first mission in exploration systems built for crew that will travel around the Moon since Apollo. Approximately a week's worth of events will lead up to the launch of the agency's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, targeted for no earlier than March 2022 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The uncrewed Artemis I mission will launch from Kennedy's Launch Complex 39B and is the first integrated flight test of NASA's Artemis deep space exploration systems. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, the mission will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrate NASA's commitment and capability to establish a long-term presence at the Moon and beyond.

NASA will set an official target launch date after a successful wet dress rehearsal test  one of the final tests before launch involving fuel loaded into the rocket  currently planned for late February.

U.S. media must apply by 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, and international media without U.S. citizenship must apply by 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31. A copy of NASA's media accreditation policy is online.

Submit all accreditation requests online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

The agency continues to monitor developments related to the coronavirus pandemic, and Kennedy will grant access to only a limited number of media to protect the health and safety of media and employees. Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions at Kennedy, international media coming from overseas must follow quarantine requirements.

NASA will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the agency's chief health and medical officer and will immediately communicate any updates that may affect media access for this launch.

For questions about media accreditation, email: [email protected]. For other questions, contact Kennedy's newsroom at: 321-867-2468.

Media who would like to bring large vehicles (satellite trucks, microwave trucks, etc.) or any manner of infrastructure (scaffolding, stages, etc.) must notify the Kennedy media team by filling out a forthcoming survey. The survey will be distributed to media once the accreditation window for this launch has closed.

All parties requesting to bring stages, scaffolding, or raised platforms will be required to submit plans, including access limitations/controls, height/width/length, configuration, capacity, and load ratings of the elevated structure and any training, inspection, or other pertinent requirements.

All plans will be reviewed for placement, height, and platform construction as related to all Occupational Safety and Health Administration and NASA requirements. If accepted by NASA safety officials, the requesting party will be notified to move forward. All plans will be sited appropriately, and exact requests are not guaranteed.

Each accepted structure will be tagged at the event site and all non-accepted structures will be removed or placed off limits. Each accepted structure also is subject to daily inspection and required to maintain OSHA and Kennedy requirements.

All large vehicles and stage/scaffolding structures will be assigned physical locations at the discretion of the Kennedy media team.

Para obtener informacion sobre cobertura en espanol en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en espanol, comuniquese con Antonia Jaramillo 321-501-8425.

Learn more about NASA's Artemis I mission at:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-1

SOURCE NASA
Natural Products Expo West 2022 Returns to the Anaheim Show Floor March 8-12 Tweet this

"The Jimbo's Buying Team is looking forward to Expo West 2022 and interacting with the natural foods community in person! Not only is it an opportunity to catch up with owners, vendors and brokers, but it is the perfect venue to explore and experience new products. Expo West is always a highlight of the year and we are excited to be back!" said Kelly Hartford, Director of Marketing, Jimbo's Naturally.

Expo West is following similar registration trends as Expo East in September. The first industry event to return in-person, Expo East provided a valuable opportunity for in-person discovery, drawing retailers from stores such as Kroger, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Dawson's Market, Freshly and many more, who sought out the hottest products in organic and natural foods; clean beauty and home products; and supplements and ingredients.

The quality Expo East audience resulted in a strong return on investment for many exhibitors, a trend expected at Expo West. Exhibitor Joe Christensen of NuSkool Snacks noted, "I'm so happy you put Expo East on New Hope. We met everyone we wanted to meet. Wegman's, the Whole Foods team, 7-11, CVS and several investors we're courting. Honestly, if [Expo East] didn't happen right now, I'm not so sure this company would be around in several months. Thank you so much for putting this on and can't wait for Expo West!"

"We are hearing the industry is ready to get back together in Anaheim and needs to convene to move forward and achieve greater prosperity for all. New Hope is excited to bring back the unique magic of Expo West so that it can be a catalyst to bring more health, joy and justice to all people, while also regenerating the planet," said Carlotta Mast, Senior Vice President and Market Leader at Informa Markets' New Hope Network.

Expo West 2022 will see the return of a robust lineup of events and education as with years past. Highlights include Climate Day, the annual State of Natural & Organic session, Pitch Slam, Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, a JEDI Community Happy Hour, and Evenings on the Plaza with live music.



Industry members who are unable to attend in-person this year will have access to the new Natural Products Expo Virtual Community platform opening February 1. Virtual events will begin February 16 with the Natural Products Expo Kickoff and will include a trend session with SPINS, the live announcement of NEXTY Award winners and more virtual extensions of the in-person Expo West event.

"We are prepared and excited to host a safe and valuable Expo West as we gather this strong community once again. We gained valuable insights through successfully hosting Expo East and implementing policies that ensured the health and safety of the industry members who gathered in Philadelphia. The outpouring of gratitude we received following that show fuels us today, and we are working diligently to create another positive, productive and inclusive environment for all," said Lacey Gautier, Vice President of Events, Informa Markets' New Hope Network.

Masks will be required while indoors at the Anaheim Convention Center and all surrounding hotels and venues, and KN95 masks will be available on-site. In addition, proof of vaccination or a negative covid test will be required of all event participants. New Hope Network continues to adhere to and support local and CDC guidelines and is working closely with the Orange County health agency to outline policies with support from local authorities.

"Natural Products Expo West is one of the most important shows we host, and we know how important this event is to the natural and organic community," said Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu. "Attendees can take confidence in the safety protocols planned for Expo West as well as the leading public health role Anaheim is playing to welcome a prosperous and healthy event in March."

To help answer questions and share more details about Expo West with the community, New Hope will host a Townhall/Live Q&A session on Friday January 21 at 9AM Pacific/ 12PM Eastern. Speakers will include members of the New Hope leadership team and John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix, a technology company that helps event organizers use data to inform their health and safety decisions

Follow @NatProdExpo on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Visit @Natural Products Expo on LinkedIn to join in on ongoing conversations. Natural Products Expo is a business-to-business trade show and is not open to the public.

About New Hope Network

New Hope Network is at the forefront of the healthy lifestyle products industry. With solutions for the complete supply chain from manufacturers, retailers/distributors, service providers and ingredient suppliers, the network offers a robust portfolio of content, events, data, research and consultative services. Through all its actions, New Hope Network aims to cultivate a prosperous high-integrity CPG and retail ecosystem that creates health, joy and justice for all people and regenerates the planet. For more information visit www.newhope.com.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

SOURCE New Hope Network
New Belgium Brewing & Imperfect Foods Launch perfectly imperfect Citrus Rescue IPA Tweet this

To make Citrus Rescue IPA, New Belgium used approximately 35,000 imperfect oranges from Imperfect Foods' supply chain of farmers. The beer was dry hopped with Citra, Lotus and Mosaic hops to amplify those citrus flavors, for a tangy, orange creamsicle like experience. The companies collaborated on a set of digital resources for customers who want to adopt food-rescue practices at home  including several tips for beer drinkers who want to learn how to extend the life of their beer and keep it tasting fresh.

"Beer is a powerful vehicle to create impact. With every beer we make at New Belgium, we ask what purpose it serves for the people in our community," said New Belgium Brand Manager Astrid Moresco. "Citrus Rescue IPA is a delicious way for beer drinkers to start reducing the food  and beer  wasted in their own homes, and we hope it inspires beer drinkers to seek out and support certified B Corps like Imperfect Foods and New Belgium, which make the wellbeing of people and our planet a business imperative as equal to financial success."

One-third of all food grown in the United States is wasted, according to reFED, which produces a greenhouse gas footprint greater than the airline industry. New Belgium has prioritized waste reduction practices for over 30 years and the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council has awarded New Belgium platinum certification  the highest level possible  for its achievements in diverting waste from landfills. Imperfect Foods is on a mission to eliminate food waste by building a better food system. This partnership with New Belgium underscores both brands' commitments to helping solve major social, economic, and environmental issues.

"For our first national retail beverage partnership, we're thrilled to be working with fellow B-Corp New Belgium Brewing to shine a light on food waste with this delicious and waste-fighting beer. This Citrus Rescue IPA is made using cosmetically imperfect, oranges. We hope this collaboration encourages people to think differently about how their food looks and to engage in conversations around food waste over a cold beer," said Maddy Rotman, Head of Sustainability for Imperfect Foods.

For more information about Citrus Rescue and tips for reducing food waste, visit newbelgium.com. To find the nearest Citrus Rescue or any of New Belgium's other offerings, visit our beer finder. Visit imperfectfoods.com to learn how you can receive sustainable, affordable groceries delivered weekly to your door.

Citrus Rescue IPA was brewed and bottled with the following characteristics:

Alcohol : 6.5%

: 6.5% Style: Fruited IPA

Fruited IPA Hops : Citra, Incognito, Galaxy, Lotus, Mosaic, Chinook, Nugget

: Citra, Incognito, Galaxy, Lotus, Mosaic, Chinook, Nugget Malt: 2 Row Pale, Malted Oats, Pale Wheat

2 Row Pale, Malted Oats, Pale Wheat Visual : Pale gold with moderate sheen

: Pale gold with moderate sheen Fruits and Spices: Orange peel, vanilla, and 34,560 Imperfect oranges rescued by Imperfect Foods

Orange peel, vanilla, and 34,560 Imperfect oranges rescued by Imperfect Foods Flavor and aroma: Moderate sweetness with slight-moderate sourness and lingering moderate bitterness. Citrus, Vanilla, Spice and Pine aromas

Moderate sweetness with slight-moderate sourness and lingering moderate bitterness. Citrus, Vanilla, Spice and Pine aromas Availability: Select retailers nationwide

About New Belgium Brewing

New Belgium was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colo., by Kim Jordan, a social worker, who built her company the only way a social worker would: People first. From the beginning, New Belgium established norms that were and still are rare in the business world: fully paid healthcare premiums for all coworkers, paying a living wage, open-book management, renewable energy sourcing, a free onsite medical clinic staffed by a doctor trained in trans medicine, and much more  practices that, all together, represent a unique 'human-powered' business model that has expanded over the years, especially in advocating for human-powered business practices among larger companies. New Belgium is a certified B Corp with a 2030 Net Zero goal, maintains TRUE Zero Waste certification and was the first brewery to join 1% for the Planet. The company expanded to Asheville, N.C., in 2016; Denver, Colo., in 2018, and San Francisco in 2021, and is currently the fastest-growing craft brewer in America. The company is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, America's first certified carbon neutral beer, along with year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA (America's #1 IPA brand), Dominga Mimosa Sour, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; as well as an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about the full product lineup and New Belgium's Human Powered Business model, visit NewBelgium.com.

About Imperfect Foods

Founded in 2015, Imperfect Foods is the leading online grocer at the forefront of eliminating food waste and building a better food system. A Certified B Corporation (B Corp), Imperfect Foods works directly with farmers and producers to rescue, redistribute, and develop goods across multiple grocery categories, including its own private label offerings. To date, Imperfect Foods has rescued more than 150 million pounds of food from lesser outcomes. Customers enjoy a fully customizable service that is more affordable, and more environmentally friendly, than the average trip to the grocery store. To learn more, visit imperfectfoods.com.

Citrus Rescue Product Imagery & Photos:

LINK HERE

SOURCE New Belgium Brewing
, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Organophosphates, like methyl-paraoxon, have grown in prominence as effective pest repellants for crops like cotton and legumes. Studies have shown that these pesticides remain in trace concentrations in the final produce, and cause severe ill effects in humans, including neuro-, embryo-, geno-, cyto-, and immunotoxicity. Hence, detecting and removing even trace amounts of organophosphates in consumed plant products is imperative.

Scientists in China device a sensitive electrochemical method using bifunctional cerium oxide nanozyme to detect pesticide contamination in plants for human consumption. Photo courtesy: Pixabay

Pesticide detection technologies are growing at a rapid pace worldwide. In this regard, a group of scientists in China have taken up the baton to advance pharmaceutical analysis of organophosphates in plants, beginning with methyl-paraoxon. Considering the therapeutic potentials of indigenous herbs, the scientists were concerned if these plants could be contaminated by methyl-paraoxon. Under the guidance of Dr. Peng Li, an expert in Chinese medicine and pharmaceutical analysis, from the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, they scouted for potential sensitive methyl-paraoxon detection methods.

Their research led them to cerium oxide nanozyme. Dr. Li explains, "Under the optimized conditions, we achieved desirable recoveries for different herbal samples using cerium oxide nanozyme. We believe that our electrochemical method can be practically applied in the rapid detection of pesticide residues." Their findings have been made public as a research article, available online on 8th September 2020 and published in Volume 11 Issue 5 of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis.

To arrive at their detection tool, the scientists modified glassy carbon electrode using the cerium oxide nanozyme. Using methods like cyclic voltammetry, they confirmed that there is significant signal enhancement owing to the presence of cerium oxide nanozyme.

Next, they used this electrode to detect methyl-paraoxon, degraded to p-nitrophenol using the same nanozyme. Their analysis showed that the developed electrochemical method provided an unprecedented wider linear range, from 0.1 to 100 mmol/L, and a detection limit of 0.06 mmol/L for methyl-paraoxonquite respectable values, so to say.

Further, they validated this proof of concept, which is electrochemical detection of methyl-paraoxon using bifunctional cerium oxide nanozyme, using three Chinese herb samplesCoix lacryma-jobi, Adenophora stricta, and Semen nelumbinis.

The scientists believe that their design can be further improved by supporting cerium oxide nanozyme on porous or three-dimensional materials with large surface areas, to perform dual functions of catalysis and detection simultaneously, rather than in isolation.

Furthermore, they are hopeful about the extended application of their detection method. Dr. Li says, "With steady methodological improvement, we believe that our method, with its excellent electrochemical performance, can be used to detect other trace substances in a variety of solutions in the near future."

Overall, the study has paved the way for advanced research on effective detection of pesticides in various materials used for human consumption. Although we may not yet be closer to a completely organic future where our dependence on chemicals for growing our food is entirely eliminated, with such advanced technologies in place and adoption of monitoring practices, the judicious use of pesticides may be ensured, which could ultimately facilitate the realization of our organic, chemical-free future.

Reference

Title of original paper: Electrochemical detection of methyl-paraoxon based on bifunctional cerium oxide nanozyme with catalytic activity and signal amplification effect

Journal: Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2020.09.002

Your Press Release Source:

Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis

Media Contact:

Fen Qiu

[email protected]

Xi'an, China

+86-131-5206-8068

Corresponding author's email ID: [email protected]

SOURCE Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by Jen Judson, President of the National Press Club and Gil Klein, President of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the death of Mexican photojournalist Margarito Martinez Esquivel in Tijuana, Monday.

"We call on the Mexican government to do all in its power to bring to justice those who killed photojournalist Margarito Martinez Esquivel outside his home in Tijuana. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Mexico is one of the most dangerous places for journalists to work outside of a war zone. The government of Mexico must increase its capacity to protect journalists in this dangerous climate. We look forward to the results of a complete and swift investigation in this case. According to reports, Martinez received death threats on social media about one month ago. He reported those, and before he was killed, he was seeking protection from the Mexican government program: The Federal Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. We call on the Mexican government to review and improve their processes in this area."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's non-profit affiliate, promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement.

CONTACT:

Bill McCarren for the National Press Club,

202-725-7787.

SOURCE National Press Club
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novva Data Centers , a state of the art data center company providing purpose-built data center facilities, released a case study this week in conjunction with network solutions provider Zayo detailing the two companies' recent partnership to develop diverse, high bandwidth fiber connectivity to Novva's Utah Data Center.

During the build-out of its flagship center in Utah, which opened in September, Novva set out to become Utah's largest hyperscale, multi-tenant data center campus, offering a combination of wholesale and colocation. As such, Novva was particularly focused on ensuring the space would be safe from environmental threats while providing unparalleled connectivity and speed to tenants. With these needs in mind, Zayo provided Novva's Utah center with a diverse four fiber dark fiber ring that connects Novva to major aggregation hubs in the state. In addition to the fiber ring, Zayo also supplied the data center with 100G dedicated internet service.

"Connectivity is essential for our location in Utah, and Zayo provides the infrastructure we need to meet those demands," says Novva CEO Wes Swenson. "Our goal in Utah was to build at scale, and when you achieve that, you can do what we call 'wholocation,' which is wholesale colocation. You can do wholesale of substantial clients, 5, 10, 15, megawatts in the same building or campus. Zayo's network makes that possible."

Another primary interest for Novva was the ability to scale itself and provide the same scalability and flexibility to tenants. The pandemic emphasized the need for centers to be able to scale and do so quickly. Zayo's large network provides Novva with the available inventory to do just that.

"Our fiber or aggregation points are designed for scalability, meaning they're broad, deep, and highly resilient, translating to less downtime," Swenson continued. "This allows for low latency that, at times, beats other carriers by 10 to 20% in speed."

To read the full case study, visit https://go.zayo.com/novva-case-study .

About Novva Data Centers

Novva Data Centers purpose-builds data centers for the future across the United States. Novva's human-centric, sustainable data center solutions are married with a portfolio of high capacity, scalable data center amenities to provide turn-key solutions for any size of business. Novva's flagship campus in West Jordan, Utah, features 180 MW of capacity, and 1.5 million square feet of data center built over four phases. A state-of-the-art waterless cooling system, renewable energy, drone and robot dog facility monitoring and more, provide a one-of-a-kind, modern day data center experience.

About Zayo Group Holdings, Inc

Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world's most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo's 126,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo's communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, dedicated internet access and data center connectivity solutions. Zayo owns and operates a Tier 1 IP backbone and through its CloudLink service, Zayo provides low-latency private connectivity that attaches enterprises to their public cloud environments. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises. For more information, visit https://zayo.com .

Novva Media Contact

Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA)

+1 866.695.3629 ext. 11

[email protected]

SOURCE Novva Data Centers
"Jahon brings more than two decades of experience and success in strategy development to our team. We are pleased to welcome him to NSF International and are confident that he will support our mission to protect and improve human health as we continue to expand our services globally," said President and Chief Executive Officer Kevan Lawlor.

Prior to joining NSF, Jahon worked for Cummins where he led the Strategy function and drove key strategic initiatives including the navigation of technology disruption and uncertainty, organizational design and effectiveness, and organic and inorganic growth. He was instrumental in developing and launching Cummins' Electrification and Fuel Cell businesses as well Cummins' entry into the advanced transmissions space through a partnership and then joint venture with Eaton.

Prior to joining Cummins, Hobbeheydar spent eight years with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, where he worked in a variety of functional roles that included Strategy, Finance, and Risk Management. Prior to this, he spent five years as a management consultant working for both The Boston Consulting Group and Diamond Technology Partners. His work at both firms focused on the Telecommunications industry with client work in disruptive technologies, organizational design, and sales growth.

Jahon earned his bachelor's of science in Physics from Hamilton College and a master's in Physics from Yale University with a specialization in High Energy Astrophysics.

For more information, interviews or photos, please contact Allison Gammel at [email protected].

NSF International (nsf.org) is an independent, global organization that facilitates standards development, and tests and certifies products for the food, water, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. With operations in 180 countries, NSF International is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

SOURCE NSF International
Founded in 2014 in the UK and France, Ogury quickly established itself as a leader in the advertising space with its Personified Advertising Engine, a breakthrough technology that delivers highest-performing mobile advertising with consumer privacy protection. Ogury is a global organisation with over 450 employees across 12 countries, partnering with more than 1,150 advertisers and 1,100 apps and websites globally. In 2016, Ogury opened their first North American office in New York, followed by five other offices throughout the United States. The region represents the company's major market, generating more than half of its revenue.

In Canada, brands working with Ogury will benefit from fully on-screen formats combined with comprehensive audience interest, totally independent from cookies and identifiers. Local publishers will also enjoy the rewards of a respectful user-experience, incremental revenues and premium demand from major advertisers.

To lead all operations in the region from the Toronto office, Sandra Mackechnie has been appointed as Ogury's Country Manager Canada. She has more than 20 years of experience in advertising and publishing, running Sales and Operations for both large and small organisations. In 1999, Sandra began her career in Canada at WarnerMedia. She then spent 5 years at Brunico Communications, followed by 4 years at Rogers Media, both companies in which she led sales activities for advertising solutions. In 2011, she was nominated Vice President, Digital Advertising and Strategy at Postmedia Network Inc., where she led corporate digital strategy at both national and local level. Four years later, she joined BBC News as Vice President, Digital Sales, where she revamped the Canadian Sales office and launched their programmatic offering. More recently, from 2016 to 2021, Sandra held several prominent Sales and Operations positions at technology companies such as Influicity.

"Brands, agencies and publishers in Canada are seeking a long-term solution to combat the effects of the deprecation of the cookie. Ogury is one of the few players on the adtech market able to deliver high performances while being cookieless and ID-less, which is what inspires me about the company. " said Sandra Mackechnie. "My mission for 2022 is to build a solid team of digital advertising experts, ready to bring Ogury's Personified Advertising Engine to Canada. Our goal is to make Ogury the preferred partner for mobile advertising in the Canadian market, just like the company has achieved in our other markets for over 7 years now."

"International expansion is a key pillar of our development strategy and North America is a core market for Ogury. It is only natural for us to expand our presence in the region with a new office in Canada." said Thomas Pasquet, CEO, Ogury. "Mobile video ads accounted for 85% of digital video ad spending in Canada in 2021, and mobile video ad spending is expected to reach 3.9 billions of C$ through 20241. The potential for growth in the region for a technology company specialized in fully on-screen video formats, like Ogury, is huge."

1 eMarketer - Canada Digital Video 2021- September 2021

About Ogury

Ogury, the Personified Advertising company, has created a breakthrough advertising engine that delivers comprehensive audience interest, brand performance, privacy protection and sustainability within one technology stack, built and optimized for mobile. Advertisers working with Ogury benefit from fully visible impactful ads, future-proof targeting and unwavering protection. Publishers enjoy the rewards of a respectful user-experience, incremental revenues and premium demand with Ogury's solutions. Founded in 2014, Ogury is a global organisation with 450+ people, including 100 engineers across 12 countries.

SOURCE Ogury LTD
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fulcrum Lending, a New York and Los Angeles based PropTech multifamily mortgage company, announced today an exclusive partnership with Northmarq, a commercial real estate industry leader in financing, loan servicing, and investment sales with $22 billion in 2021 lending.

Founded in June 2021, Fulcrum Lending's LoanCenter platform enables clients to access loan pricing on multifamily properties in real-time, along with critical market insights and other investor tools not available through a traditional lender.

PropTech Mortgage Company Fulcrum Lending Announces National Partnership with Northmarq Tweet this

The partnership with Northmarq will enable Fulcrum Lending to underwrite loans through its platform directly, completing Fulcrum Lending's offering as a full-service digital lender.

Fulcrum Lending was founded by PropTech veterans Maxwell Wu and Kenneth Mendonca. Wu, who serves as Chief Executive Officer, was previously Chief Underwriter at TapCap, a real estate technology company, which he helped grow from its initial spinout from Greystone to more than $1.3 billion in multifamily loan requests in its first two quarters. Mendonca, who serves as Chief Technology Officer, was previously the lead engineer at both TapCap and Greystone, where he led all platform development and architecture for their digital lending platforms.

"Our proprietary technology and data not only drive down lending costs, which we pass directly to the borrower, but they also enable us to uncover hidden market insights and trends which we share with our clients at no cost," said Wu, Co-Founder and CEO of Fulcrum Lending. "Multifamily loans are a commodity in this market and providing the lowest cost loans was only inevitable with our technology and data capabilities, so our focus turned to, how can we provide long term value for our borrowers beyond just a transactional service."

"They're a great combination of real estate and technology experts who understand the ins and outs of the multifamily mortgage finance business. We're excited to see where this partnership will take the digital experience for borrowers," said Jay Donaldson, President of Northmarq's Fannie Mae and FHA/HUD platforms.

In addition to offering data-driven advice to investors, Fulcrum Lending provides small and medium-sized brokerages with its technology and direct lending channels in exchange for their boots on the ground presence in secondary and tertiary markets.

"Even though we've seen a decade of digital transformation in less than two years, we continue to see demand for data driven human advice delivered through technology. We're confident that Northmarq's national platform of expertise will complement Fulcrum's platform and bring new clients to Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's financing products," says Cody Field, senior vice president  debt & equity for Northmarq in San Francisco.

"Fulcrum is the only provider delivering solutions that doesn't push out the independent mortgage broker," said Mendonca, Fulcrum Lending's Co-Founder and CTO. "Whether it's a one or 100-person firm, our no-code integrations and APIs help our brokerage partners digitize their operations in less than a few days."

Fulcrum Lending Corporation will continue their expansion nationwide, exclusively working with select mortgage brokerages that align with their mission to offer a digital, transparent and personalized lending process for borrowers large and small.

About Northmarq

Northmarq is an industry-leading capital markets resource for commercial real estate investors, offering seamless collaboration with top experts in debt, equity, investment sales and loan servicing. We combine industry-leading capabilities with an open, flexible structure, enabling our team of seasoned professionals to create innovative solutions for clients. Our solid foundation and entrepreneurial approach have built an annual transaction volume of more than $33 billion, and loan servicing of nearly $70 billion. Learn more at northmarq.com.

About Fulcrum Lending

Fulcrum Lending is a full-service digital mortgage company offering multifamily loans nationwide. Their direct lending channels and proprietary technology provide clients direct loans, instant valuations, market insights, and live loan pricing through their LoanCenter platform and APIs. For more information, visit fulcrumlendingcorp.com

SOURCE Fulcrum Lending
The Q Kahaniyan All Animation Channel Targets 15-35 Year Olds On Expanding Smart TV and Mobile App Platforms

Launch on January 26th Includes Samsung TV Plus, Xiaomi Mi TV "Patchwall", Jio TV & Jio TV Plus and TCL's iFFalcon

MUMBAI, India and TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - QYOU Media Inc. (TSXV: QYOU) (OTCQB: QYOUF) has announced that The Q India, the company's Hindi language youth oriented channel, now available in over 122 million TV households and to over 676 million users via OTT, mobile and app based platforms in India, is launching a new all animation channel targeting 15-35 year old young Indians called "Q Kahaniyan". The channel will initially be launched on a variety of smart TV and mobile app based platforms including Samsung TV Plus, Xiaomi Mi TV "Patchwall", Jio TV and Jio TV Plus and TCL's iFFalcon.

The company's flagship channel, The Q India has experienced a significant amount of popularity and viewership coming from its unique alternative animated series including Daravni Kahaniya, Dilchasp Kahaniya and Anokhi Kahaniya. On SNAP India, Q Kahaniya content has secured nearly 500,000 subscribers in under one year. The company believes that there is a significant and growing market in India for a new kind of alternative animated content that attracts an older audience of 15-35 year olds. This animated content is different in style and tone from kids animation that has traditionally attracted a very young audience for generations. The Q Kahaniyan will represent India's first and only television channel featuring this style of alternative animation 24/7.

The growth of smart TV's in India continues to increase at an extraordinary pace. Smart TV shipments in India increased by a record 65% YOY for the quarter ending in June 2021 and this pace of growth is expected to continue as more e-commerce and app based channels become part of the smart TV ecosystem. The global growth of smart TV's is expected to be from 20% to 30% in the next five years setting India up as among the world's fastest growing markets. In addition, the introduction of most smart TV content platforms to the mobile handsets of manufacturers who deliver both types of hardware (i.e.,Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, etc) provides a strong entry point for a large audience of additional mobile based viewers. In the US, where the smart TV market has begun to reach a higher level of maturation, TV[R]EV predicts collective ad revenue of the three largest smart TV manufacturers will grow from $1.37 billion in 2021 to $6.17 billion in 2026.

Curt Marvis, Co-Founder and CEO of QYOU Media commented, "We have experienced tremendous success with our unique alternative animation content both on broadcast and digital platforms. We have expressed our commitment to be a leader in India in the smart TV and emerging content business now known as FASTFree Ad Supported TV. With the addition of The Q Kahaniyan as a one of a kind third channel, we can now begin to form a block of Q channels across smart TV's with the goal of adding more in the future. We foresee the smart TV and FAST channel ecosystem becoming a leading distribution vehicle in India with an impact that is equal or is even greater than what is occurring in North America. Our position in the market is now stronger than ever with the addition of The Q Kahaniyan."

About QYOU Media



QYOU Media operates in India and the United States producing and distributing content created by social media stars and digital content creators. In India, via our flagship brand, The Q and the upcoming Q Marathi and Q Kahaniyan, we curate, produce and distribute premium content including television networks and VOD for cable and satellite television, OTT, mobile, smart TV's and app based platforms. Our India based influencer marketing division, Chtrbox, is among India's leading influencer marketing platforms connecting brands and social media influencers. In the United States, we create and manage influencer marketing campaigns for major film studios, game publishers and brands. Founded and created by industry veterans from Lionsgate, MTV, Disney and Sony, QYOU Media's millennial and Gen Z-focused content reaches more than one billion consumers around the world every month. Experience our work at www.qyoumedia.com and www.theq.tv

Join our shareholder chat group on Telegram: http://t.me/QYOUMedia

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE QYOU Media Inc.
ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With increasing emergence of varied health conditions among populace from across the globe, a need to perform in-depth study of those diseases has increased. The rising prevalence of different chronic health conditions is creating need for R&D projects focused on the development of novel and advanced treatment solutions. This, in turn, is projected to drive the expansion of the global glycomics market in the upcoming years.

In the recent years, there has been an increase in the number of research institutes and pharmaceutical companies, which carry out crucial R&D in drug discovery and development sector. During the coronavirus pandemic, pharmaceutical companies experienced consistent advancements, which have accelerated the drug investigation process.

Increasing financial support for R&D initiatives focused on the study of polysaccharides or gycans, rising disease diagnostics applications, and innovations in the biotechnology field are some of the important factors generating prominent revenues streams in the global glycomics market during the pandemic.

Request Brochure of Glycomics Market Research Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=77846

A study by Transparency Market Research (TMR) projects the global glycomics market to expand at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period, from 2021 to 2031.

Asia Pacific is estimated to gain the dominant position in the glycomics market during the forecast period due to many factors, including rising prevalence of several chronic health conditions in the region. Moreover, the market is estimated to observe promising expansion avenues in emerging nations such as China, South Korea, and India.

Glycomics Market: Key Findings

Increase in R&D Projects Focused on Drug Discovery Fuels Market Growth

The increasing use of glycobiology in disease diagnostics, drug discovery & development, immunology, and oncology is creating substantial business prospects in the global market.

Government authorities of several developing nations across the globe have increased their budgets for R&D projects. Moreover, they are providing financial support to pharmaceutical organizations, which are strengthening their production capabilities to cater to the surging drug demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors are bolstering the global glycomics market.

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Expansion of Academic & Research Institutes to Support Market Growth

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of and modernization in varied academic & research institutes, which study glycomics that plays a key role in vaccine development, precision medicines, rapid development of drugs, etc. Moreover, several research institutes are collaborating with key market contributors in order to receive funding for different researches in biochemistry and biomedical. These factors are propelling the expansion of the glycomics market. Moreover, rising collaborations between research institutes and market players for the study of glycomics and proteomics in order to develop advanced treatment solutions for genetic health conditions is fueling the global glycomics market.

TMR offers custom market research services that help clients to get information on their business scenario required where syndicated solutions are not enough, Request for Custom Research - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=77846

Glycomics Market: Growth Boosters

Technological advancements in the pharmaceutical industry are projected to generate lucrative business prospects in the market

Rising cases of chronic health issues, including cancer and diabetes are estimated to drive demand opportunities in the market

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Glycomics Market: Key Players

Some of the key players in the market are:

Asparia Glycomics

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Canadian Glycomics Network (GLYCONET)

Bruker Corporation

Glycodiag

Glyco Expression Technologies, Inc.

New England Biolabs

Merck KGaA

Shimadzu Corporation

RayBiotech, Inc.

Vector Laboratories

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Glyde Bio , Inc.

Glycomics Market Segmentation

Product Type

Enzymes

Glycosidases



Glycosyltransferases



Neuraminidases



Sialyltransferases



Others

Instruments

Antibody Arrays



HPLC



Lectin Arrays



MALDI-TOF



Other Glycomics Instruments

Kits

Glycan Labeling Kits



Glycan Purification Kits



Glycan Release Kits



Others

Reagents

Glycoproteins



Monosaccharides



Oligosaccharides



Others

Application

Diagnostics

Drug Discovery & Development

Oncology

Immunology

Others

End-user

Academic Research Institutes

Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

Contract Research Organizations

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

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ODESSA, Texas, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Saulsbury Industries, a national, full-service EPC company, has been awarded construction contracts for the installation of a new cryogenic gas processing facility in the Permian Basin with a major oil and gas producer. This facility, designed with a base-rated capacity of 200 MMSCFD, will be Saulsbury's 63rd cryogenic processing facility over the last 15 years, totaling over 11 BCFD of processing capacity. In conjunction, Saulsbury has also been selected to execute a major terminal expansion for the same client at a different location.

Saulsbury will be responsible for the turnkey construction of the processing facility that will include molecular sieve dehydration, cryogenic gas processing, refrigeration, residue gas compression, and all balance of plant equipment, utilities, electrical, instrumentation, and controls infrastructure. The terminal scope will include full construction services for the infrastructure supporting a major expansion to the existing storage capacity.

"We are extremely excited to be the selected partner for these expansion projects," said Jeremy Nelson, Vice President of Operations. "Long-term, repeat clients are core to Saulsbury's continued success and integral to our growth and position as the contractor of choice in the midstream oil and gas sector. This is a significant achievement for Saulsbury, and we look forward to providing another safe, high quality project in this challenging environment."

For Saulsbury, this award supports the company's longstanding history and reputation as an industry leader in the oil and gas industry. Saulsbury is well known for its successful project execution and world-class safety performance.

About Saulsbury Industries

Saulsbury Industries is a full-service engineering, procurement, fabrication, and construction company that specializes in building the infrastructure necessary to fuel the future. Saulsbury serves its clients in heavy industrial markets by designing and building safe, well executed, capital-efficient projects nationwide. Headquartered in Odessa, Texas, the company's national office footprint includes Dallas, Houston, Port Arthur, Henderson, Abilene, Pecos, and Corpus Christi, TX; Carlsbad, NM; Tulsa, OK; and Bismarck, ND. For more information, please visit www.saulsbury.com and follow Saulsbury on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

SOURCE Saulsbury Industries
China willing to maintain friendship, deepen cooperation with Philippines

 00:00:00



Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations via video on Jan. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday that China and the Philippines should maintain their friendship, remove disruptions, deepen cooperation, and jointly open up a better future for bilateral relations.

Wang made the remarks when addressing the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations via video.

Facts have proved that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's strategic decision to improve relations with China is in line with the fundamental interests of the Philippine people. It is also in line with the common interests of China and the Philippines and the trend of peaceful regional development, Wang said.

Noting the friendly exchanges between the two countries have lasted for more than 1,000 years, Wang said China is willing to continue to guarantee Philippine COVID-19 vaccine needs. China will also cooperate on specific drugs and public health capacity-building until the virus is defeated.

China is willing to continue to open the door to more Philippine agricultural products and improve investment to help the Philippines accelerate its industrialization and modernization process and enhance its independent development capabilities, Wang said.

On the South China Sea issue, Wang said China is prepared to promote joint development without affecting each other's respective rights and claims. China is also willing to turn challenges into opportunities, help the development of the Philippines, and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global sodium nitrite market size is anticipated to reach USD 529.9 million by 2028 according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2021 to 2028. The growth can be attributed to the rising demand for preservatives in the food and beverages industry. The preservatives retard the growth of foodborne pathogens and microorganisms increasing the shelf life of the food product.

Globally, the demand for food preservatives is booming with the expanding food and beverages industry in developing countries such as India, Mexico, Brazil, and others. Additionally, with the growing meat processing industries specifically in large meat-producing countries such as China, India, the U.S., and others is anticipated to drive the demand for the product in the coming years.

Key Insights & Findings from the report:

In 2020, food and beverages emerged as the dominant application segment, in terms of both revenue, owing to the rising adoption of flavor and color fixing agents in the poultry and meat industry

The pharmaceutical application is expected to expand at the highest CAGR of 5.3% owing to the increased use of sodium nitrite as a raw material in pharmaceutical formulations such as the synthesis of products like caffeine and saccharine

In 2020, Asia Pacific accounted for the highest share in the market accounting for 70.41% in terms of revenue. This high share is attributed owing to the growing demand for food preservatives in the expanding food and beverages industry

In 2020, China accounted for the largest revenue share in the market in the Asia Pacific region. This high share is attributed to the presence of large-scale manufacturers in the country

Deepak, the largest manufacturer in India , manufactures and supplied more than 80% of the product which finds application in pharmaceuticals, agro-based chemicals, and others

Read 80 page market research report, "Sodium Nitrite Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028", by Grand View Research

Packaged food contains additives to preserve the freshness of the product, and sodium nitrite is among one of the food preservatives used in packaged food. Countries including the U.K., the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, Belgium, and others are the largest consumers of packaged meats including bacon, and ham, among others. The growing penetration of sodium nitrite in packaged food is in turn anticipated to propel the industry over the coming years.

In the U.S.; New York, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania have a high presence of food and beverages processing companies. Meat and beverages account for a major share in the U.S. food processing industry, thereby leading to significant consumption of the product in the country. Moreover, recent research and development activities involving the introduction of natural sources of sodium nitrite, as an attempt to eliminate the health issues, are estimated to drive the demand on a global scale.

The Asia Pacific region is a substantially large market due to high demand for the product from end-use industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and others as well as the presence of large manufacturers in developing countries such as China, India, and others. The market is witnessing high production of Sodium Nitrite, specifically in countries such as India, China, and Japan, owing to the growing consumption of food-grade sodium nitrite.

The COVID-19 spread globally has highly impacted the growth of several industries including the food industry owing to the closure of food production facilities, but the pharmaceutical was the least impacted. Sodium nitrite demand is witnessed to be high in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America region during COVID-19 which is met by domestic production.

The market is highly competitive, due to the presence of a large number of manufacturers across regions. Companies such as BASF SE, OSTCHEM, and Weifang Haiye Chemistry And Industry Co. Ltd have a global presence and cater to various applications.

Market Segmentation:

Grand View Research has segmented the global sodium nitrite market based on application and region:

Sodium Nitrite Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Food & Beverages



Pharmaceuticals



Others

Sodium Nitrite Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons, Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

North America



U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





U.K.





France



Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan



Central & South America



Brazil





Argentina



Middle East & Africa

&

Saudi Arabia





South Africa

List of Key Players in the Sodium Nitrite Market

BASF SE

OSTCHEM

Weifang Haiye Chemistry And Industry Co. Ltd

Deepak

URALCHEM JSC

Hualong Nitrite Limited

Linyi Luguang Chemical Co., Ltd

Radiant Indus Chem Pvt Ltd

Planet Chemicals Pte Ltd

Check out more studies Grand View Research's portfolio on Global Food Additives & Nutricosmetics Industry:

Food Additives Market  The global food additives market size was valued at USD 98.22 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2020 to 2028. The requirement of improving taste, texture, mouthfeel, and overall appearance of food and beverages is expected to propel the demand for food additives.

 The global food additives market size was valued at in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2020 to 2028. The requirement of improving taste, texture, mouthfeel, and overall appearance of food and beverages is expected to propel the demand for food additives. Marine Hydrolyzed Collagen Market  The global marine hydrolyzed collagen market size was estimated at USD 907.2 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2021 to 2028. The market is anticipated to be driven by the growing product application scope in the cosmetics & personal care and food & beverage sectors.

 The global marine hydrolyzed collagen market size was estimated at in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2021 to 2028. The market is anticipated to be driven by the growing product application scope in the cosmetics & personal care and food & beverage sectors. Mussel Oil & Powder Market  The global mussel oil and powder market size was valued at USD 159.70 million in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from 2021 to 2028. This is attributed to the increasing demand for mussel oil and powder from the food and nutrition sector worldwide.

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About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- About 100 students from traditional public, public charter, and private schools, along with homeschoolers, will gather at the Capitol for a celebratory school choice breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25. After the breakfast, students will tour the capitol and learn more about civics and state government.

This event is planned to coincide with the celebration of National School Choice Week Jan. 23-29, 2022, which will feature tens of thousands of school choice celebrations across all 50 states.

"All children in Utah are unique and they need access to an education that fits their needs," said Allison Sorenson.

The event is organized by Education Opportunity for Every Child, a school choice advocacy organization.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations  such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
RAMAT YISHAI, Israel, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Good news for those who chronically capitulate to sugar seduction: Israeli start-up Sweet Victory, Ltd., created a delicious line of botanical-infused chewing gums that are designed to stop sugary treat cravings in their tracks.

Sweet Victory Over Sugar Cravings Sweet Victory Over Sugar Cravings (Photo Credit: Iddo Lavi)

The proprietary chewy composition works within two minutes by blocking the sugar receptors on the tongue, and its effect can last up to two hours. During that time sweet foods or beverages that normally excite the senses will taste bland or even sour, and the impulse for a sweets binge can be abated, lasting even longer than the physical effect.

Watch the video here

Taking on Sugar Addiction

According to Innova Market Insights' global Health and Nutrition Survey, in 2021, 37% of global consumers indicated they decreased their sugar intake over the past 12 months. These efforts reflect the widely held view that high sugar consumption is a causative factor for a range of conditions, including dental caries, weight gain, and diabetes. Research has suggested a role for sugar in activating the opiate receptors (the reward centers) in the brain, which could explain its attractive nature. The American Heart Association recommends that women limit added sugar to no more than six teaspoons per day (24 grams), and men limit added sugar to no more than nine teaspoons per day (36 grams)[1].

"Most of us battle with sweet cravings on a daily basis," notes Gitit Lahav, a psychologist who spent almost a decade researching the link between nutrition and psychology. Lahav co-founded Sweet Victory with Shimrit Lev, a professional nutritional instructor. "Even as awareness of the impact of overindulgent sugar consumption on personal wellbeing grows, kicking the sugar 'habit' is a real struggle for most of us. This is what spurred us to seek a solution that would help consumers take better control over their nutritional choices."

Craving-Crusher Botanical

With their background in botanicals, Lahav and Lev turned to the ancient Indian botanical gymnema, (Gymnema sylvestre) known from Ayurvedic tradition for its positive effect on glucose metabolism. In India, it is known as "gurmar," Hindi for "sugar destroyer." It was said to inhibit sugar absorption beyond its effect on the tongue. "The atomic arrangement of bioactive gymnemic acid molecules is actually similar to that of glucose molecules," explains Lev. "These molecules fill the receptor locations on the taste buds and prevent activation by sugar molecules present in the food, thereby curbing the sugar craving."

Sweet Success

In India, gurmar leaves are chewed to elicit the effect. "We were startled by how quickly this works," notes Lev. "We sought a more effective, fun, and convenient delivery method for this herb, and so set out to overcome its characteristic bitter flavor." The duo experimented with homemade chewing gum recipes at first, using home gum-making kits. Then they combined the techniques with their nutritional knowledge to derive an ideal recipe using a few select natural sweeteners. The formula was further perfected with the help of a leading Israeli confectionary manufacturer. Today, following sourcing of organic gymnema leaves in India, the start-up manufactures its plant-based gum in a facility in Italy approved for producing functional supplements and is available in two flavors: peppermint, lemon and ginger.

The gum has undergone a successful pilot study at the Obesity Research Center of the Sheba Medical Center in Israel. One of the participants stated: "I chew the gum twice a day when I get the urge for something sweet, and I feel that the sweet I eat is tasteless. I even tried a chocolate mousse and it tasted sour! Most surprising is that I have no desire to eat."

"The gum works on both a physical and a psychological level," adds Lahav "Most people crave something sweet at certain times of the day, usually after lunch and at night. Over time, it becomes an automatic instinct that makes the habit even harder to break. Chewing Sweet Victory gum at those challenging moments can slowly break bad habits and help build better, healthier habits." Further clinical trials to determine its effect on blood sugar levels in persons with diabetes are in the pipeline.

Sweet Victory is available commercially in Panama, France, and Israel and will shortly make its way to the USA. From there, the start-up will gradually proceed with a global roll-out.

[1] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/added-sugar-in-the-diet/

SOURCE Sweet Victory
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First Bight Ventures, the Houston-based VC firm, which focuses exclusively on the advancement and acceleration of early-stage Synthetic Biology companies, has established a group of veteran advisors who will work together with Founder Veronica Wu, and play a critical role in the development of the firm's investment and growth strategy. The six individuals offer relevant industry and domain experience within the Energy, Equity Investments, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources industries.

Dr. Ethel Rubin is an experienced life sciences executive with commercialization and investment experience across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities. She has held leadership roles in global clinical strategy, external innovation, medical affairs, business and operations functions in both large public companies as well as entrepreneurial ventures. She earned a PhD in Biochemistry & Biophysics from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, was a fellow in the Breast Cancer Research Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and holds Board certification from The George Washington University School of Business.

Lekan Akinyanmi has over three decades of experience in the oil/gas and natural resources sectors. He currently serves as Founder and CEO of Cambridge Growth Partners, a holding company with interests in mining, finance, oil/gas, and renewable energy. Mr. Akinyanmi received his MBA from MIT Sloan Business School and his Bachelors in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.

Dr. Guochun Liao is the founder of IDbyDNA, which focuses on utilizing next-generation sequencing and AI/ML for infectious disease management. He holds a Bachelors in Biophysics from the University of Science and Technology of China. He earned a Masters in Computer Science (AI), PhD in Genetics, and MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Mario Maia currently heads the corporate investment arm of Novozymes. His portfolio includes companies in the in the agri-food-energy-health sectors. holds an MA in Applied Finance from Macquarie University, a BSc in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and Executive Certificates from Harvard Business School and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Peter Oleksiak is a veteran financial executive who previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President for DTE Energy Co., a Fortune 500 diversified energy company, based in Michigan. Mr. Oleksiak received a Bachelors from Wayne State University (Michigan) and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Davy Wang is Senior Director at Oracle Cloud. Prior to this Mr. Wang served as Chief Solutions Architect for Tencent Cloud, where he built and customized a strong and robust cloud platform for international customers, as well as helped enhance branding awareness and reputation in the United States. He received his Bachelors of Science in Information Engineering from Chong Qing Communication Institute and an MBA from University of Wales.

One of the firm's advisors, Dr. Rubin, has consulted for VCs and other corporate clients, taking the lead on due diligence for investment and M&A efforts. "First Bight is taking a 'first bite' at accelerating innovation in this area by funding the most ambitious and visionary companies utilizing SynBio for the benefit of humankind," said Rubin. "It's a first-of-its-kind venture fund focused on Synthetic Biology for both life sciences and industrial applications, which is poised to drive significant value and growth across these sectors."

Mr. Akinyanmi, who holds the position of Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LEKOIL Nigeria Limited, an Africa-focused oil exploration and production company, "is excited to work with a first-class team led by [Veronica Wu], and to play a role in applying cutting-edge Synthetic Biology technologies to solve some of the world's biggest problems."

"I am excited to be part of an organization whose purpose is to invest in cutting-edge companies," said Mr. Oleksiak. "The use of science and technology will make a positive impact on our environment and overall quality of life," he added.

Mr. Maia sees the timing (and acceleration) of Synthetic Biology as being particularly relevant.

"Synthetic Biology has come a long way in recent years through technological and economic advances with a fast-expanding deal flow of opportunities across a multitude of sectors and supported by a growing ecosystem."

More about First Bight can be found on the company's website at firstbight.com.

SOURCE First Bight Ventures
Sale Features $10 Million in Open-Pit Mining and Construction Equipment and Extensive Site-Related Inventory

VICTOR MINE, NORTHERN ONTARIO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - TCL Asset Group Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the contract to sell surplus assets from the De Beers Canada Victor Mine, currently in closure and rehabilitation.

Victor Mine is a remote fly-in-fly-out mine located in Northern Ontario. This two-year project will consist of private negotiated sales commencing immediately, and (2) auctions scheduled for May 2022 & May 2023 following the shipment of assets during each ice road season. The surplus assets to be sold will be staged in Moosonee and North Bay, Ontario. More information can be found at www.managingyourassets.com.

Assets available for sale will include open-pit mining and construction equipment, general mine site equipment, electrical transformers and substations, wire & cable, over 300 sea containers and contents consisting of general plant machinery, new inventory, spare parts, shop equipment, consumables and related assets.

SURPLUS ASSETS SCHEDULED FOR THE 2022 SALE INCLUDE:

Haul Trucks  CAT 777D, CAT 777F, CAT 735

Cranes  Manatowac 777 - 181 Ton, Broderson IC-35-2E - 4 ton

Wheel Loaders  (3) CAT 992G, CAT 914G, CAT IT38G

Wheel Dozer  834G

Backhoe Loader  CAT 420D

Forklifts, Scissor Lifts, Boom Lifts, Compactors

Drill  Sandvik D25KS

Substations and transformers

"This project will give our buyers the opportunity to acquire well-maintained equipment from a global mining company. There are a lot of complexities and moving parts involved in the removal, marketing and selling of assets from a remote mine site. We look forward to once again working with De Beers, as well as site closure contractor Golder Associates, on this significant event in the mining industry." - Terrance Jacobs, CEO of TCL Asset Group Inc.

TCL previously worked with De Beers Canada to support the sale of assets from the closed Snap Lake Mine in 2017.

About TCL Asset Group Inc.

TCL Asset Group Inc. is a recognized leader in asset management and advisory services. Founded in 1958, the company specializes in machinery and equipment certified appraisals, auctions, private negotiated sales, and real estate auctions. TCL works throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America.

To learn more about this project, please contact Terrance Jacobs, CEO of TCL Asset Group Inc., [email protected], 905-660-1367.

SOURCE TCL Asset Group Inc.
The e-learning market in UK covers the following areas:

E-learning Market In UK Sizing

E-learning Market In UK Forecast

E-learning Market In UK Analysis

Vendor Landscape

The market structure will remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying various growth strategies to compete in the market.

Adobe Inc., Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc., City & Guilds Group, Cornerstone OnDemand Inc., D2L Corp., John Wiley and Sons Inc., Learning Technologies Group Plc, McGraw-Hill Education Inc., SAP SE, and Skillsoft Ltd., among others, are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

Various players in the market are engaging in strategic partnerships. For instance, In April 2021, Adobe Inc. and FedEx partnered to drive e-commerce innovation. Similarly, in April 2021, D2L Corp. partnered with Zoom Video Communications, Inc. to offer a comprehensive education experience.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Product:

Packaged content:



The packaged content segment will have significant market share growth during the forecast period.



Solutions

Segmentation by End User:

K12 :

:

The e-learning market in UK by K-12 end-users is growing due to the need for systems such as LMS and student information systems (SIS), followed by solutions such as learning analytics and adaptive learning.



Higher education



Corporate

Request a FREE Sample of this report for more highlights into the market segments.

Latest Drivers and Trends in E-learning Market in UK

Market Driver:

Learning process enhancements in the academic sector:

Schools are adopting personalized learning and job-embedded professional learning to meet the needs of their teaching schedules as well as to support the learning styles of teachers. They have introduced different types of assessment methods and student-centric learning models in educational institutions. This has led to developments such as personalization of learning processes and adaptive learning. E-learning also allows students to pursue courses beyond the traditional curriculum requirements. The flexibility of e-learning courses provides students with instant access to course materials as per their requirements. Such factors will escalate market growth.

Market Trend:

Increase in the adoption of microlearning:

Educational institutions and corporates are increasingly focusing on personalization and adaptive learning. This has increased the prominence of the concept of microlearning. Academic e-learning vendors are increasingly adopting microlearning course content. Students can find content that is interesting and engaging, and the information is delivered within a short span of time. Microlearning enables efficient just-in-time learning support and plays an active role in closing any learning gaps between individuals.

Find additional information about various other market drivers & trends mentioned in our FREE sample report .

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E-learning Market in UK Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 15.05% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 9.94 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 13.69 Regional analysis UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Adobe Inc., Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc., City & Guilds Group, Cornerstone OnDemand Inc., D2L Corp., Day One Technologies, First Media Solutions Ltd., Instructure Inc., John Wiley and Sons Inc., Learning Pool, Learning Technologies Group Plc, McGraw-Hill Education Inc., Oxford University Press, SAP SE, Skillsoft Ltd., Sponge Group Holdings Ltd., Virtual College LTD., Walkgrove Ltd., and Williom Learning LTD. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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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. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Teneo, the global CEO advisory firm, today announced the appointment of Jay Goffman as Client Chairman of the firm's Financial Advisory business. In this role, Jay will lead client development and execution for Teneo's North American Financial Advisory business as well as working across the broader business globally.

Jay joins Teneo from Rothschild & Co where he was most recently Vice-Chairman Global Advisory. In that role, he advised clients across Rothschild's Restructuring, Debt Advisory and M&A practices.

Before Rothschild, Jay spent 36 years as a lawyer focused on restructuring, debt advisory and distressed M&A. For the last 24 years of his legal career, Jay practiced at Skadden Arps where he was the Global Head of the Corporate Restructuring Department for many years.

Over the course of his career, Jay has consistently been recognized as one of the leading and most innovative restructuring advisors in the world. He has received dozens of professional awards, accolades and honors including being named a Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer and one of the Most Influential Lawyers of the Decade by The National Law Journal. He has also received several Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame honors in addition to numerous philanthropic awards.

"We are delighted to have Jay join Teneo as we continue to grow our business in key markets around the world including the U.S.," said Daniel Butters, CEO of Teneo's Financial Advisory business. "Jay is incredibly well-respected in the industry and brings decades of experience that will be highly beneficial to our clients. We look forward to having him join our leadership team and expect to announce a number of additional senior hires in the US market, and wider global developments to our Financial Advisory business over the coming weeks and months."

"I am excited to be joining Teneo and its fast-growing financial advisory business," said Jay Goffman. "Teneo's broad breadth of services, unique CEO advisory model, and strong global team are already disrupting the traditional restructuring advisory market. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to grow the business in North America and across the globe."

Teneo's Financial Advisory business now has over 350 professionals across the U.S., Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean.

ABOUT TENEO:

Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm. Working with the CEOs and senior executives of the world's leading companies, Teneo provides strategic counsel across their full range of key objectives and issues. Teneo's clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 and FTSE 100, as well as other corporations, financial institutions and organizations.

Integrating the disciplines of strategic communications, investor relations, restructuring, management consulting, physical & cyber risk, financial advisory, corporate governance advisory, ESG, DE&I, political & policy risk, and talent advisory, Teneo solves for the most complex business challenges and opportunities.

The Firm has more than 1,350 employees located in over 38 offices around the world. For more information about Teneo, please visit www.teneo.com

SOURCE Teneo
DILLON, Mont., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Andrus Hotel in Dillon, Montana is pleased to announce it has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Andrus Hotel along with other iconic and legendary historic hotels and resorts from across the United States of America, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C., has been recognized by Historic Hotels of America for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance.

"We are delighted to induct The Andrus Hotel, a Renaissance-Revival architectural style hotel built in 1917 to Historic Hotels of America." said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. "We welcome The Andrus Hotel, Dr. John Paul Micha, and the rest of the team into Historic Hotels of America."

To be selected for membership in Historic Hotels of America, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; has been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historic significance.

"We are honored to be the only private hotel in Montana in the Historic Hotels of America distinguished collection." said Dr. John Micha, President, and owner of The Andrus Hotel. "The Andrus Hotel is a jewel box, museum quality building with 5-star service. Our new affiliation with Historic Hotels of America will help us introduce new generations to the history and beauty of our unique region. As John Steinbeck said in Travels with Charley, 'I'm in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, and even some affection. But with Montana, it is love. And it is difficult to analyze love when you are in it.' That is how we felt while renovating The Andrus Hotel. We fell in love with the hotel and we still feel that way today," said Dr. Micha.

The Andrus Hotel is rich in history and architectural integrity. In December 1916, Harry E. Andrus sold his successful sheep ranch near Dell, Montana, then invested his money in a venture that many felt the growing city of Dillon needed to attract visitors and investments: a high-class hotel. Andrus provided Dillon a beautiful three-story hotel within walking distance of Dillon's bustling train station, sparing no expense to build a quality hostelry for Dillon. The architectural form and detailing of the hotel generated great pride in the community. At the time it was constructed, the hotel cost a whopping $165,000. The Andrus Hotel is an ornate three-story building sporting elements of the Renaissance Revival style with a ground floor designed to hold businesses that augmented the hotel's importance to the city's commercial district. On the occasion of the hotel's opening in February 1918, the Dillon Tribute wrote that the owner, Harry E. Andrus, gave "to Dillon, her people and her visitors one of the finest, most modern and best-equipped hotels in the entire Northwest." The hotel included sixty guest rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a billiard parlor, and a lobby large enough to host dances and other community celebrations.

About Historic Hotels of America

Is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States of America. To be nominated and selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, all historic hotels faithfully preserve their sense of authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. For more information, please visit HistoricHotels.org/US.

Media Contact

Katie Orr

Historic Hotels of America | Historic Hotels Worldwide

Member, Marketing Communications

Tel: +1 202 772 8337

[email protected]

SOURCE The Andrus Hotel
PETAH TIKVA, Israel, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GenCell Energy, (TASE: GNCL), a leading Israel-based developer of green energy solutions based on fuel cells employing hydrogen and ammonia to power is preparing to accelerate its activities. To this end, the Company announces today that it has completed a significant raising of capital to the amount of approximately NIS 112.5 million to support the expansion of its business activities. The fundraising was carried out through a private placement of shares which constitutes approximately 10.4% of the company's capital (fully diluted), by a number of leading institutional entities in the Israeli capital market. Participants in the placement include the Harel Group which has become a stakeholder in the company and Migdal Insurance which has made an additional investment alongside other institutional investors.

Comments Rami Reshef, CEO of Gencell, "We thank the institutional investors and organizations who have participated in this fundraising round and see this as an expression of confidence in the Company's activities and business vision. In our view, the increase of Migdal's holdings, Harel becoming a stakeholder and the entry of Meitav-Dash Investment House into a significant investment in the Company reflect the importance with which the capital market regards GenCell's breakthroughs in the field of clean energy, and we are happy about that. GenCell is currently experiencing tremendous momentum and this new round of capital will support the acceleration of our activities in many directions, first of all in the field of green ammonia development which we are pursuing together with TDK and other potential partners. This capital will also allow us to deepen and expand our strategic cooperation with Deutsche Telekom in the global telecommunications market as well as to advance our activities in the field of charging stations for electric vehicles. Upon reinforcing our technology, expanding our production lines, successfully completing pilot installations around the globe, and signing significant strategic cooperation agreements in 2021, we look at 2022 as a year in which the Company will achieve commercial maturity, a year during which we will begin to see the fruits of all these important steps."

The Harel Insurance Group has invested approximately NIS 60 million as a part of the offering, which has increased Harel's current holdings in the Company to approximately 6.9% of GenCell's shares and makes them a stakeholder in the company. Migdal Insurance, which has been a stakeholder from before this investment, participated in the offering to the amount of approximately NIS 30 million, and as a result its holding in the company will increase to approximately 8.9%. Meitav-Dash, in addition to other entities, participated in this round to the amount of approximately NIS 16.5 million, increasing their holding in the Company to 2.7%. The deal was led by the underwriting company Poalim IBI.

This capital will support the expansion of GenCell's operations through, among other means, execution of the strategic collaborations that the Company signed in the past year with Deutsche Telekom in the telecom sector, with ABB in the energy sector focusing on markets such as medical facilities and rail transportation, and with EV MOTORS in the field of EV charging. In addition, the funds will support the acceleration of the Company's R&D activities in cooperation with the Japanese conglomerate TDK towards development of green ammonia as a fuel for the future.

About GenCell Energy

GenCell Energy (TASE: GNCL) develops total green power solutions based on reliable, zero-emission alkaline fuel cells and green ammonia-to-energy technology which deliver uninterrupted power to help the world #SayNoToDiesel and transition to clean energy. The ability to produce not only clean power from GenCell's fuel cells, but also the green fuel on which the fuel cells run, sets GenCell in a far superior position as a well-to-wheel total green energy solution provider. GenCell delivers resilient, robust and weather-resistant backup power for utilities, telecom and other mission-critical applications which have been deployed in 22 countries. Our hydrogen-on-demand solution provides primary power for off-grid and poor-grid sites, as well as for rural electrification. GenCell Energy numbers more than 110 employees, including veterans of space and submarine projects. The Company is headquartered in Israel with a worldwide distribution and support network and retains unique intellectual property that includes patents, trade secrets and know-how.

Contacts:

Babel PR

Tel: +44 (0)74 3600 2058

[email protected]



Shelli Zargary

GenCell Energy

Tel: +972 54 5617161

[email protected]

www.gencellenergy.com

SOURCE GenCell Energy
EMERALD ISLE, N.C., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TransImpact, an industry-leading supply chain technology and services company, announces the acquisition of Avercast LLC, an inventory forecasting, demand planning and inventory optimization software provider. Avercast empowers global clients to forecast and plan the right products, in the right place, at the right time, for the right price. The acquisition adds seven software products to TransImpact's current technology solutions, deepening the company's technology offering in the supply and demand planning stages of the supply chain process.

"Today's extremely volatile market creates an even greater imperative for clients to be more precise in their demand forecasting and inventory planning. Avercast has over 250 forecasting algorithms that let clients produce expert-level forecasts for up to 60 months into the future," says Berkley Stafford, CEO of TransImpact. "That level of forecasting helps clients optimize inventory to improve top line sales and turn their supply chain into a competitive advantage."

With this acquisition, TransImpact also expands its footprint to add an international presence in six countries to support global clients. In addition, TransImpact will maintain the Avercast offices in Rigby, Idaho and will integrate the Avercast team with the TransImpact teams in California, Ohio and North Carolina to develop new technology solutions that help clients improve margin by solving inefficiencies in their supply chain.

The merger also brings together the companies' two distinct market-leading technology capabilities, forecasting and analytics. "The combination of Avercast's forecasting technology with TransImpact's analytics technology gives clients the ability to plan and forecast with an even greater degree of rigor to improve margin." according to Joe Vocaire, TransImpact Chief Product Officer.

"We are excited about the new ways we will be able to help our clients now that we are a part of TransImpact." said Avercast Co-founder and CEO Jason Averill "To drive profitability, you need to attack all areas of the the supply chain, from planning through delivery and returns. Joining forces with TransImpact allows us to do that."

About TransImpact

TransImpact is an industry leader in the development and application of end-to-end technology-based solutions that optimize supply chain operations, improve margin, and transform the business performance of customers. Formerly known as Transportation Impact, the company now serves over 1,000 customers and manages over a billion dollars in logistics spend. Through expert industry knowledge, an unrivaled service ethic, and intelligent insights, we champion our customers' success and help them pioneer future-focused, innovative strategies that keep them ahead. We pride ourselves in creating value for our customersand in the process, turning them into raving fans.

Driving Value. Creating Next

www.transimpact.com

Media Contact:

Jamie Vogel

VP of Marketing

TransImpact

[email protected]

(252) 764-2885

SOURCE TransImpact
Chinese FM meets Estonian FM

 00:00:00



Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets via video link at the latter's request.

Hailing the sound development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 30 years ago, Wang said the past experience shows that as long as the two countries respect and treat each other on equal footings, they can achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

The two sides should continue to attach importance to each other's legitimate concerns in core interests, abide by the international relations norms of non-interference in internal affairs, and safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, he said.

Wang also called on the two sides to expand cooperation in such areas as agriculture and food products, e-commerce and digital economy.

Liimets pledged to firmly adhere to the one-China policy, enhance mutual trust, and jointly promote the development of bilateral relations.

Estonia supports the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and has co-sponsored a resolution on Olympic Truce for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, she said, expressing hope that the Olympic Games will be a complete success.

The two sides agreed to continue to maintain communication, hold diplomatic and political consultations in due course, and speed up the process of signing agreement of exporting Estonian diary and wild aquatic products to China.
LONDON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Unit4, a leader in enterprise cloud software for people-centric organizations, today announced that Matthew Bagley has been named Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Bagley will lead Unit4's finance organization and will be responsible for accounting, treasury, financial planning and analysis, legal, and business and sales operations. He will succeed Gordon Stuart, who will officially step down from the CFO position having completed the refinancing and transition of Unit4 to its new owners.

Bagley joins Unit4 from RIMES Technologies, a financial managed data services & RegTech specialist providing services to the investment management community, where he has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2020. Previously, Bagley was Chief Financial Officer at eFront, a leading technology solution for alternative investment management. During his tenure, EBITDA more than tripled and the business was acquired by BlackRock resulting in a 6x return to private equity investors in 2019. He has held senior finance and consulting roles at numerous companies including Omnifone, Reevoo, ViewSonic, Alvarez & Marsal, and PWC. Bagley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Financial Accounting and Management Control from Sheffield Hallam University, and he is a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants.

In addition, Unit4 has appointed Russell Alexander as General Counsel reporting to CFO Matthew Bagley. Filling this open position, Alexander will lead the company's worldwide legal organization, responsible for corporate governance, product compliance, data protection, privacy, and intellectual property. He was previously General Counsel at Keyloop, a software and services company in the automotive dealer vertical, and its predecessor organizations as the international division of CDK Global and ADP Dealer Services. Before that, Alexander was General Counsel and Corporate Services Director at logistics company DHL UK & Ireland. As a seasoned legal expert, Alexander spent more than 10 years working in the corporate teams at international law firms in France and the UK. Alexander holds a Bachelor of Business Studies degree from Trinity College Dublin, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of the West of England. Both Matthew Bagley and Russell Alexander will be based in the United Kingdom.

Comments on the News:

"I'm thrilled to welcome Matt to Unit4 at such a pivotal time in the company's 40-year history," said Mike Ettling, CEO of Unit4. "He brings extensive financial, operational, and strategic experience to the company and our global leadership team. This, combined with his proven record of scaling high-growth companies will help Unit4 as it expands its global reach, broadens its product portfolio and scales to become a 10 billion company in the next few years."

"Gordon Stuart has officially stepped down as CFO after having completed the transition of Unit4 to its new owners. I would like to thank Gordon for his exemplary financial and business leadership over the past four years. During that time, he successfully led the divestment of our domestic assets and supported our transition to becoming a leading cloud company, positioning Unit4 for its strategic sale to TA Associates  one of the Top 10 PE Software Buyouts in 2021. We wish him the best success in all his future endeavors," added Mike Ettling, CEO of Unit4.

"It's an exciting time to be joining Unit4 as it comes off a record year of performance including the release of ERPx and the strategic buyout by TA Associates with Partners Group," said Matthew Bagley, CFO of Unit4. "The company's reputation as a market leader in providing next-generation enterprise cloud solutions to people-focused mid-market services organizations will help it capitalize on market opportunities stemming from growing need for digital transformation. I'm also pleased to have Russell Alexander joining the company as our new General Counsel. His broad experience will help us to accelerate Unit4's growth in our existing and new markets and continue to develop our industry-leading innovations."

About Unit4

Unit4's next-generation enterprise solutions power many of the world's most people-centric mid-market organizations. Our state-of-the-art cloud platform, ERPx, brings together the capabilities of Financials, Procurement, Project Management, HR and FP&A onto a unified cloud platform that shares real-time information and is designed with a powerful, people-centric approach, so employees can benefit from better insight and become more effective and increasingly engaged. It supports rapid and continuous change while delivering individualized fit for customers at scale, delivering the right tools to unify the processes across their organization, and connect their people. Unit4 serves more than 6,000 customers globally including, Bravida, Havas, Migros Aare, Americares, Save the Children International, Action against Hunger, Metro Vancouver, Forest Research, Southampton City Council, Habitat for Humanity, Selkirk College, FTI Consulting, and Surrey County Council.

For more information please visit https://www.unit4.com/, follow us on Twitter @Unit4global , or visit our LinkedIn page

Media Contact:

Lisa Stassoulli

Global Communications Manager, Unit4

Mobile: +44(0)7870 916827

[email protected]

SOURCE Unit4
CHICAGO and PITTSBURGH, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Everspring, a leading provider of education technology and services to universities seeking to build or expand their online capabilities, announces a new partnership with the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (Pitt Law). Everspring will support the school's online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) and provide marketing, enrollment and student success services for the MSL and the law school's certificate programs in health care compliance, human resources law, and international business law and dispute resolution.

Pitt Law's innovative new online MSL is a 30-credit hour program designed for professionals who are not attorneys but whose work involves legal issues or requires an understanding of the law. The MSL provides a versatile, flexible path for these professionals to enhance their foundational legal knowledge and skills without obtaining a Juris Doctor degree. Students pursuing the MSL can complete the program fully or partially online. In addition, students may opt to pursue one or more certificates as a standalone offering or complete them as specializations within the MSL degree.

"We are in the midst of real transformation in the legal profession, and legal education must evolve with it. As we change, it is critically important to expand our offerings to allow more people to be trained in the law and to be able, in turn, to provide needed services to a wider array of people in the name of justice and equity. As we do this, we are keenly aware of the need to provide students with more options and flexibility in pursuing a legal education," said Amy J. Wildermuth, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. "Our partnership with Everspring ensures we will continue to enroll excellent students in our programs and that those students succeed and achieve their career goals."

"Everspring is thrilled to partner with Pitt Law in support of their innovative online programs," said Beth Hollenberg, president and co-founder of Everspring. "The school's forward-thinking investment in online legal education will pay dividends as the need increases for a wider range of legal education levels and skillsetsand as students increasingly demand flexibility in how they pursue graduate and continuing education."

Everspring operates a full-service internal marketing agency that focuses solely on higher education growth marketing, including a growing portfolio of law programs. This internal agency consists of industry experts who enable universities to cultivate brand awareness and deliver rapid, sustainable enrollment growth for their programs. Everspring's student success team helps guide enrolled students through their online programs, ensuring they persist and graduate. In addition to growth marketing, enrollment and student success support, Everspring offers a full range of services universities need to build high-quality online and hybrid programs. This includes market research and program design to help guide portfolio planning with in-depth data analytics and market insights, as well as instructional design and course development support that deliver strong student outcomes and earn top rankings.

About University of Pittsburgh School of Law

The University of Pittsburgh School of Law earns an outstanding reputation by virtue of its university resources, its impactful scholarship, its accomplished alumni, its extraordinary cost-to-value ratio and its worldwide impact. Our integration of rigorous classwork with practical experienceacross the city and the worldhelps students develop all the skills legal professionals need, now and into the future.

For more information, visit law.pitt.edu .

About Everspring

Everspring is a leading provider of education technology and services solutions for higher education. Our advanced technology, proven marketing approach, and robust faculty support and instructional design services deliver outstanding outcomes for our university partners, powering their success online. Everspring offers a range of full-service turnkey solutions, as well as standalone fee-for-service offerings, and innovative self-service products that enable universities to establish themselves as leaders in the digital delivery of higher education. Based in Chicago, Everspring serves a growing number of colleges and universities nationwide.

Visit www.everspringpartners.com for more information. Don't just go digital. BE DIGITAL.

SOURCE Everspring
The third-party logistics (3PL) market in Brazil is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

The third-party logistics (3PL) market in Brazil report covers the following areas:

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market in Brazil 2021-2025: Segmentation

End-user

Consumer Goods



Manufacturing



Automotive



Others

By end-user, the consumer goods segment will have significant market share growth during the forecast period. As the demand for consumer goods in Brazil is seasonal and uncertain, most companies prefer 3PL services for storing and transporting goods across the country.

Service

Warehousing And Distribution



Transportation



Others

By service, the warehousing and distribution segment will have significant market share growth during the forecast period. Warehousing refers to activities associated with the storage of raw materials, finished goods, and semi-finished goods.

Download a Free Sample to learn about the contribution of each segment of the market

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market in Brazil 2021-2025: Scope

The soaring e-commerce sector in Brazil is driving the growth of the market. E-commerce companies prefer 3PL to manage their supply chain efficiently by reaching end-users across regions. Therefore, the growth in the e-commerce sector will positively impact the 3PL market in the concerned region. Such growth will increase the demand for 3PL for both long-distance transportation and last-mile delivery across the country.

Rise in cargo theft may impede the market growth. This has propelled the need for precautionary safety requirements, such as insurance, which raises the overall cost of the service. Moreover, due to rising cargo theft, companies in the country are hesitant to expand their presence, despite the increase in demand. Such factors reduce the demand for 3PL in Brazil and are expected to hinder the growth of the 3PL market in Brazil.

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market in Brazil 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market in Brazil, including C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., CEVA Logistics AG, DHL International GmbH, DSV Panalpina AS, Kintetsu World Express Inc., Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Nippon Express Co. Ltd., Sankyu Inc., Schenker AG, and Sinotrans Ltd. are some of the major market participants.

Subscribe to our "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000 that enables you to download 3 reports/year and view 3 reports/month.

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market in Brazil 2021-2025: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist third-party logistics (3PL) market in brazil growth during the next five years

Estimation of the third-party logistics (3PL) market in brazil size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the third-party logistics (3PL) market in brazil

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of third-party logistics (3PL) market in brazil vendors

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The dry bulk shipping market share is expected to increase by from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 3.59%. Spare Parts Logistics Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The spare parts logistics market share is expected to increase by USD 25.36 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 7.00%. Download Free Sample Report

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market In Brazil Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 5.22 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.33 Regional analysis South America and Brazil Performing market contribution Brazil at 100% Key consumer countries Brazil Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., CEVA Logistics AG, DHL International GmbH, DSV Panalpina AS, Kintetsu World Express Inc., Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Nippon Express Co. Ltd., Sankyu Inc., Schenker AG, and Sinotrans Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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SOURCE Technavio
USSFCU's $25,000 donation to the Red Cross has been designated to directly support affected communities across Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri and Indiana. A commitment to helping people in need, the donation enables the Red Cross to expand their reach as they deliver help and essential recovery services to some of the hardest-hit areas.

"Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by this disaster," said Timothy Anderson, USSFCU President & CEO. "This is a time for communities to come together and support one another. Contributing to the American Red Cross is our way of doing what we can to respond to this devastating situation."

USSFCU's commitment to helping DMV communities remains strong.

Prior to the tornado outbreak, the nation was already facing challenges. While employment is rising and strains on household budgets have eased in recent months, the impacts of the pandemic are still widespread. Over 640,000 people report that their households are still not getting enough to eat in Maryland alone.

To help local children and families facing food insecurity, USSFCU has dispersed an additional $30,000 to food banks across their area. $10,000 to Capital Area Food Bank, $10,000 to Virginia's Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and $10,000 to the Manna Food Center in Maryland.

"At USSFCU, we embrace cooperation and collaboration and recognize that in times of crisis, no single organization can do it alone," said Anderson. "On behalf of the entire team at U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union, we're proud to support the remarkable work of these organizations and to aid in their efforts to achieve a common goal."

About USSFCU

For over 85 years, USSFCU has provided the U.S. Senate and Capitol Hill communities with world-class financial stability, security, and service. Now a $1.2 billion credit union with 100 plus paths to membership, almost everyone has the opportunity to experience the USSFCU difference. Learn more at www.ussfcu.org.

View this press release at ussfcu.org/press.

SOURCE US Senate Federal Credit Union
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ValGenesis, Inc., a market leader in enterprise Validation Lifecycle Management Systems (VLMS), today announced that a leading Italian pharmaceutical company selected ValGenesis VLMS  the industry's most trusted electronic validation lifecycle management system  to digitize its corporate validation process. ValGenesis' latest customer in Italy develops pharmacological solutions for cardiovascular diseases, oncology, and anti-infectives.

As one of the oldest pharmaceutical establishments in the country, the company grappled with a manual, paper-based system that prevented them from proactively improving their validation process. Determined to go paperless, the company extensively tested digital validation products. As the only single, end-to-end solution, ValGenesis VLMS was the clear solution to transform their validation program.

"This iconic company is proactively addressing its growth requirements by automating critical validation processes," says Narayan Raj, Chief Operating Officer at ValGenesis. "With its validation operations now enhanced and optimized through a single system like the ValGenesis VLMS, error-prone manual processes are eliminated. We are very pleased to partner with them and eager to continue expanding on the capabilities of our system to meet all their validation lifecycle management needs," he stated.

ValGenesis is the industry innovator of paperless validation, and the inventor of ValGenesis VLMS, the industry's first, proven, 100% paperless validation lifecycle management solution, trusted by life sciences customers as the system of record for validation. Available in six languages and used in hundreds of sites worldwide, ValGenesis VLMS enables new levels of collaboration, data integrity, risk management and compliance with validation lifecycle management processes.

About ValGenesis

ValGenesis, Inc. is the creator of an innovative software platform that serves as the foundation for managing compliance-based validation activities in life science companies. ValGenesis, Inc. is the provider of the first enterprise application that manages the corporate validation lifecycle process. As the first fully paperless solution for 100% electronic management of validation execution and approval, ValGenesis was selected by an industry peer review committee to receive the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) New Innovative Technology Award in 2005.

The solution is also fully compliant with U.S. FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and Annex 11 requirements. For more information, visit https://www.valgenesis.com/

Further information:

Althea D'Sylva, ValGenesis Communications, +1 510-445-0505 Ex. 1026 [email protected]

SOURCE ValGenesis Inc
FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 9; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 1347 Companies: 50 - Players covered include Analytik Jena AG; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.; Cleaver Scientific Ltd.; Corning, Inc.; eikonix Ltd.; GE Healthcare; Gel Company; Syngene International Ltd.; TBG Diagnostics Ltd.; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.; VWR International LLC and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Product Type (Instruments, Software, Accessories); End-Use (Academic & Research Institutes, Hospitals & Diagnostic Centers, Pharma & Biotech Companies) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry

ABSTRACT-



Global Gel Documentation Systems Market to Reach US$321 Million by the Year 2026

Gel documentation systems or gel imaging systems are equipment employed for performing several functions in the medical sectors that include imaging, recording and documentation of stained DNA and protein. Gel imaging systems help to combine varied components that include light source, computer, analysis software imaging system and printer, offering greater efficiency, quicker exposure and superior dynamic range. Gel documentation system is a gel analysis tool employed on a digital platform to track and quantify stained acrylamide gels and agarose gels. The gel documentation system helps to comprehensively image and document nucleic acid and proteins stained in different media that include agarose, acrylamide and cellulose for use in clinical research and molecular biology study. Gel documentation systems are available in different configurations based on the sample type and throughput. Gel documentation is extensively applied in protein and nucleic acid quantification on account of several benefits that include ease-of-use, fast and efficient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Clinical research centers and Molecular biology laboratories use this technology extensively for the imaging and documenting of protein stains and nucleic acid on agarose gels. Additionally, Gel Documentation systems are capable of accurately quantifying samples of proteins and nucleic acids. Ethidium bromide or fluorophores such as SYBR green are commonly used to stain gels utilized in Gel Documentation systems. There are three components to gel documentation systems: a UV light Transilluminator, a UV light hood to protect the user, and a camera-based on CMOS or CCD to take photographs. Protein and Nucleic acid bands can also be quantified using the detectors' fluorescence, density, chemiluminescence, and visible light capabilities. For instance, the system can be used to visualize gel and blot images; count colonies; do immunoassays; detect multiplex proteins; perform 1-D and 2-D electrophoresis; identify monoclonal and polyspecific antibodies, and characterize post-transitional modifications.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Gel Documentation Systems estimated at US$267.9 Million in the year 2021, is projected to reach a revised size of US$321 Million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.6% over the analysis period. Instruments, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 4.1% CAGR to reach US$136.7 Million by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Software segment is readjusted to a revised 3.6% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 32% share of the global Gel Documentation Systems market.

Demand for gel documentation systems is driven by the need for systems that can continuously track data and assist in data analysis. The advanced gel documentation systems make data collection easier for scientists. Their advanced capabilities entail lesser requirement of total protein and lesser amounts of antibodies (both primary and secondary), and deliver superior reproducibility, backed by improved software and hardware, which drives accurate quantification of data. These capabilities allow high quality data to be collected and sample analyses to be conducted at relatively lesser cost. Gel Documentation is a popular method since it is a highly evolved system and capable of providing solutions sought by scientists. Gel imaging and documentation systems are in existence for a while and the technology has advanced significantly. Researchers, who were utilizing first film, have now started using digital scanners for capturing the image of gels and later analyzing the information obtained. Gel documentation is a swift, easy, and inexpensive method of sorting DNA, RNA, and protein molecules. Other systems have their limitations. For instance, electrophoresis helps in sorting DNA, RNA, and protein molecules by size, and gives an approximate idea of the composition of the substance under study. Capillary electrophoresis provides the advantage of higher throughput and hands-free use, but its' resolution is limited. In the antibody-based protein recognition method, not every antibody works well in the capillary system. Therefore, Gel documentation remains the preferred method and is likely to do so for a while.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $93.5 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $31.9 Million by 2026

The Gel Documentation Systems market in the U.S. is estimated at US$93.5 Million in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 34.85% share in the global market. China, the world second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$31.9 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 4.3% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 3% and 3.6% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.7% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$33.3 Million by the close of the analysis period.

Key factors driving the growth of global gel imaging documentation market include rapid technological advancements in gel documentation system, increasing experimental research activities, growing application of molecular natural science techniques in pathology research laboratory practices, increasing governmental funding for genomic and proteomic research, expanding private sector investments in genomic, electrophoresis and proteomic research and increasing opportunities in emerging countries. In addition, the growing incidence of infectious diseases and genetic disorders and increasing research and development activities in the area of molecular biology is also set to drive the growth of global gel documentation systems market. In developing nations, infectious diseases are one of the key factors for higher fatalities. The utilization of PCR techniques and increasing the awareness is expected to help diagnose infection diseases early and develop suitable treatment methods.

The increasing automation in the healthcare industry and greater focus on product innovations is also expected to provide added impetus to the global gel documentation systems market growth. Healthcare companies are increasingly focusing on improving efficiency and reducing costs and automation of also expected to help in improving performance. The automatic gel documentation system could prove useful for research labs and hospitals by saving time through continuous monitoring and provide more accurate analysis. In fact, blending automation with workflows could provide higher time and cost savings. The key factor that is expected to hinder the growth of gel imaging documentation market includes increasing usage of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR). QPCR provides more efficient identification and quantification of DNA and RNA sequences in real-time. In addition, inadequate high complexity genomic testing centers in major growth markets, lack of knowledge dissemination on sophisticated diagnostic capabilities and issues related to genomic data storage are also hindering the global gel documentation systems market. Furthermore, gel documentation systems generally includes advanced components that include light detectors, ultraviolet transmitters and high-resolution imaging system that necessitates skilled professionals and significant capital for operation and maintenance, which is also expected to hinder market growth. However, large scope for adoption of genomic data analysis software in emerging countries is expected to influence the gel documentation systems market positively.

North America is the largest market for gel imaging documentation driven by superior healthcare infrastructure, favorable reimbursement policies and rising per capita income, increasing research and development activities, higher government spending on genomic and proteomic research, increasing experimental research sector and existence of leading market players. In addition, the existence of strong-established industry, for example biotechnology and pharmaceutical that use gel documentation systems and increasing awareness of technology advancements amongst the population are also driving the growth of North American gel documentation systems market.

Accessories Segment to Reach $86.9 Million by 2026

In the global Accessories segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 2.9% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$60.5 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$73.9 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$8.6 Million by the year 2026. More

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NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vinson & Elkins announced today that it has expanded its global Finance practice group with the addition of partners David Berkery and Niels Jensen, who between them have advised many of the world's leading financial institutions, investment banks, airlines, aircraft leasing companies and private investors on all aspects of the acquisition, leasing, financing and trading of aircraft. Joining them is a team of associates, including Demetria Hueth and Coral O'Connor, both from Milbank in New York. The group will be located in the firm's New York office.

"Vinson & Elkins has decades of experience in the infrastructure, transportation and, specifically, aviation, businesses and the addition of David, Niels and their team takes us to the next level in terms of the range of services we can offer clients as they also expand into this sector," said Jim Fox, Vice Chair, Vinson & Elkins. "We see extraordinary opportunities not only in the leasing and financing space, but also in capital markets, M&A, joint ventures and restructuring  all areas where our existing talent is well-positioned to collaborate with this leading aviation group."

Berkery's practice focuses on asset backed securitizations (ABS), airline and aircraft lessor restructurings, secured and unsecured lending, aircraft portfolio sales, industry-specific joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. He joins Vinson & Elkins from A&L Goodbody in Dublin and previously worked at Milbank in New York and London. He is tri-qualified to practice in New York, England & Wales and Ireland.

Jensen, who joins Vinson & Elkins from Milbank in New York, is experienced in a broad range of corporate debt and asset-backed financing transactions, as well as restructurings, portfolio trading and joint venturesincluding ABS, enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs), secured corporate bonds, term loans and warehouse facilities, many of which have been recognized as some of the most innovative transactions in the sector.

"Both Niels and I were attracted to Vinson & Elkins because we feel our practice is perfectly aligned with the firm's strategy for client service and growth," Berkery said. "This is a really interesting and exciting time for the aviation leasing and financing industry. As new debt and equity investors are attracted to the sector, consolidation and JV activity increases, ESG considerations come to the forefront and more private equity players join the large public companies and financial institutions in the space, our clients face a variety of opportunities. Vinson & Elkins' full-service platform will allow us to work with exceptional colleagues in areas like capital markets, M&A, restructuring, ESG and tax, which over the long term will greatly benefit clients."

"V&E is well-positioned to break into a sector that has been underserved by top law firms, which makes it the perfect home for our practice," said Jensen. "In addition to its leading corporate, capital markets and tax practices, the firm's clients include many of the most active institutions in the aviation industry at this time."

"New York is one of the key markets for aviation finance, and as we continue to grow our office here, the addition of David, Niels and their team is exactly the strategic fit with our finance, capital markets and infrastructure projects groups we are looking for," said Eamon Nolan, co-managing partner of Vinson & Elkins' New York office. "Their relationships with many of our existing financial and private equity clients will benefit the service offerings and solutions we can provide to the aviation industry, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the firm."

About Vinson & Elkins

For more than 100 years, Vinson & Elkins has provided deep experience in handling transactions, investments, projects, and disputes worldwide. The firm is a trusted adviser to clients in the most important industrial and digital industries. Learn more by visiting www.velaw.com or follow us on Twitter @VinsonandElkins or connect with us on LinkedIn.

For more information, please speak with our media contacts.

SOURCE Vinson & Elkins LLP
DOVER, Del., Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A virtual event showcasing school choices statewide will bring Delaware families the chance to better understand their K-12 educational options on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Hundreds of community members are expected to attend the virtual event, which will take place at the peak of School Choice Week nationwide.

The informational event will feature panelists representing the many educational options Delaware families can choose from and will explore what makes each school choice a vital addition to the state's education landscape. Keynote speakers include Dr. Bradley Layfield, head principal at Sussex Central High School, and Levy Court Commissioner Eric Buckson, retired educator at Polytech High School.

Families can register for the free event at: docs.google.com/forms/d/12bvtbw6M-5GIxvIM_T3lAfPm1agzsNtNU7nhEA_Oyks/edit

This event is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2022, which will feature more than 26,000 school choice events across all 50 states. In conjunction with the Week, large school fairs will take place in well over a dozen major cities, including Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, and Jersey City.

"Picking the best educational option for families can be a difficult and daunting task," said Britney Mumford, executive director at DelawareCAN. "By bringing together a variety of voices, we hope to shed light on the options offered in Delaware. It is imperative that we provide families the information they need to make the choice that is right for them and ensure that every student in Delaware has access to a high quality education. It is only through transparency and the protection of school choice that we can keep that promise."

This event is organized by DelawareCAN and the Delaware Charter School Network. DelawareCAN is a nonprofit education advocacy organization to empower, mobilize and collaborate with everyday Delawareans to advocate for a high-quality education system. The Delaware Charter Schools Network, a charter support non-profit organization, works with more than 17,000 children in 23 charter schools throughout the state.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations  such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
Thanks to the brilliant work of Attorney Cameron Atkinson (Of Counsel for WTP USA, Inc.) and Attorney Marjorie Holsten, local counsel in Minnesota, a legal action has now been initiated, one aimed at stopping the practice of pharmacists denying life-saving treatments to patients. WTP USA intends to prove in open court that treatments like ivermectin are absolutely safe and effective at treating COVID-19, and that pharmacists who refuse to fill these prescriptions are practicing medicine without a license. The full complaint can be found here .

WTP USA fully funded this litigation. Many more with stories similar to Bill's have reached out to them, but unfortunately they are unable to assist without more funding. Please consider making a contribution today to support this most important work. WTP USA is committed to fighting to restore individual liberties and the God-given inalienable rights of all Americans, as recorded in the United States Constitution. For more information about the organization, please visit www.wethepatriotsusa.org.

SOURCE We The Patriots USA, Inc.
Wellster announces $20M funding extension in B series, just 6 months after raising $40M

funding extension in B series, just 6 months after raising Funding provided by Claret Capital and Mangrove Capital Partners

The German-founded startup confirms its position as Europe's best-funded integrated healthcare company

best-funded integrated healthcare company The digital health market is expected to reach a value of $768B by 2030

The funding will be used to launch a new FemTech vertically across Europe

MUNICH, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wellster Healthtech Group announces a further $20M in funding, just six months after raising $40M. Wellster is thus closing its series B.

The latest funding is provided by Claret Capital, an investor in the FemTech platform Bellabeat and Israel tech VC Mangrove Capital Partners whose other healthtech investments include K Health and Flo.

Europe's leading fully-integrated digital health solution, used by 1.5 million people

Wellster integrates telemedicine with digital services, to provide patients with direct access to treatment for everyday health issuessuch as mental health, reproductive health, hair loss and skin conditions. To date, it has served over 1.5 million patients.

Ease of access to medical care and the prioritisation of patients' needs are at the centre of Wellster's platforms. The HealthTech company partners closely with Germany's leading medical professionals to provide the highest standards.

Wellster to launch FemTech healthcare brand across Europe

Wellster intends to use the $60M funding to launch a women's healthcare brand to accompany their male-focused service, Spring. This new service will offer treatments for a range of intimate and lifestyle health concerns.

"It cements our ambition to continue our established leadership in the European market and expand our offering to more people in need of in-home healthcare services," said Dr. Manuel Nothelfer, co-founder of Wellster.

"Our multi-platform service allows us to tailor personalized treatments to people with different types of healthcare needs. This allows us to better address individual health problems, which ultimately leads to higher treatment success rates, as well as more trust among patients," adds co-founder Nico Hribernik.

About Wellster Healthtech Group

Wellster was founded in 2018 by Dr. Manuel Nothelfer and Nico Hribernik to provide more people with easy access to effective medical treatments. Wellster has developed its platforms to be the primary point of contact for anybody seeking help with their health issues. More than 1.5 million individuals have used the service since it went online in May 2019.

Press Contact

Katia Beau

[email protected]

+49 176 42946912

SOURCE Wellster
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
DUBLIN, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market Research Report by Diameter, by Grade, by Application, by Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market size was estimated at USD 8,748.44 million in 2020, is expected to reach USD 9,355.42 million in 2021, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.30% to reach USD 14,329.86 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market, including AMMAN-TRy, ArcelorMittal SA, Atlas TMT Bars Pvt. Ltd., Balkan Steel Engineering Ltd, Essar Steel India Ltd., HBIS Group, HUS Ltd., Jindal Steel & Power Ltd., JSW Steel Ltd., Metalopromet d. o. o. Kula, MSP Steel & Power Ltd., Prime Gold International Ltd., Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd., ShyamSteel, SIDERAL S.H.P.K., SIJ Group, SRMB Steel, and Tata Steel Ltd..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market?



Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Overview



5. Market Insights

5.1. Market Dynamics

5.1.1. Drivers

5.1.1.1. Increase in demand for low cost reinforcement bars in construction projects

5.1.1.2. Technological advancements in processing thermo mechanically treated

5.1.1.3. Advantages offered by the thermo mechanically treated steel bar

5.1.2. Restraints

5.1.2.1. Technical constraints such as the properties such as ductility

5.1.3. Opportunities

5.1.3.1. Rise in government support for the production of steel and coal

5.1.3.2. Growing investment in emerging economies

5.1.4. Challenges

5.1.4.1. Strength associated with high-grade thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) steel bars

5.2. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19



6. Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market, by Diameter

6.1. Introduction

6.2. 12 MM and Above

6.3. 6-8 MM

6.4. 8-12 MM



7. Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market, by Grade

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Fe-415

7.3. Fe-500

7.4. Fe-550



8. Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market, by Application

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Commercial

8.3. Infrastructure

8.4. Residential



9. Americas Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Argentina

9.3. Brazil

9.4. Canada

9.5. Mexico

9.6. United States



10. Asia-Pacific Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Australia

10.3. China

10.4. India

10.5. Indonesia

10.6. Japan

10.7. Malaysia

10.8. Philippines

10.9. Singapore

10.10. South Korea

10.11. Taiwan

10.12. Thailand



11. Europe, Middle East & Africa Thermo Mechanically Treated Steel Bar Market

11.1. Introduction

11.2. France

11.3. Germany

11.4. Italy

11.5. Netherlands

11.6. Qatar

11.7. Russia

11.8. Saudi Arabia

11.9. South Africa

11.10. Spain

11.11. United Arab Emirates

11.12. United Kingdom



12. Competitive Landscape

12.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix

12.1.1. Quadrants

12.1.2. Business Strategy

12.1.3. Product Satisfaction

12.2. Market Ranking Analysis

12.3. Market Share Analysis, By Key Player

12.4. Competitive Scenario

12.4.1. Merger & Acquisition

12.4.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership

12.4.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement

12.4.4. Investment & Funding

12.4.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion



13. Company Usability Profiles

13.1. AMMAN-TRy

13.2. ArcelorMittal SA

13.3. Atlas TMT Bars Pvt. Ltd.

13.4. Balkan Steel Engineering Ltd

13.5. Essar Steel India Ltd.

13.6. HBIS Group

13.7. HUS Ltd.

13.8. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.

13.9. JSW Steel Ltd.

13.10. Metalopromet d. o. o. Kula

13.11. MSP Steel & Power Ltd.

13.12. Prime Gold International Ltd.

13.13. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd.

13.14. ShyamSteel

13.15. SIDERAL S.H.P.K.

13.16. SIJ Group

13.17. SRMB Steel

13.18. Tata Steel Ltd.



14. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4f636s

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade (Wow Wow), the premier gourmet lemonade franchise, is on track to double its nationwide footprint in 2022 after closing out of 2021 with a record-breaking performance. The 10-unit brand grew more than 25 percent in 2021, with 37 signed franchise agreements and two location openings, all while achieving continuous sales increases YOY.

As consumers are increasingly becoming more health-conscious and sustainability-focused, Wow Wow is capitalizing on growing trends. In 2021, Wow Wow signed franchise agreements to bring additional locations to Utah, California, and Arizona, while also breaking into new states such as Nevada, Florida, and Texas. In addition, Wow Wow completely sold out the state of Arizona in 2021  a first for the brand. 2021 was also a year of many firsts for Wow Wow, including the incorporation of a drive-thru to meet growing consumer habits due to the pandemic, and a newly revamped consumer app launched in Q4 2021 that amassed more than 67,000 loyalty members.

Wow Wow's 2022 goals will remain fixated on finding highly-focused and passionate franchisees who believe in the brand and its direction. It will target Florida, Texas, California, and Nevada for further expansion. The brand also expects the drive-thru model will be a larger part of the Wow Wow strategy in 2022 after the prototype location in Oro Valley, AZ, performed extremely well.

"As we continue to grow our footprint across North America, every new community we've entered has been extremely receptive of the Wow Wow brand," said Tim Weiderhoft, CEO, Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade. "We're excited to bring Wow Wow to new markets in 2022, and we remain focused on existing franchisee profitability and finding the perfect franchise candidates to help us grow and spread the Aloha vibes across the country."

While expanding the brand's nationwide footprint will remain a key objective in 2022, Wow Wow is dedicated to the expansion of its corporate team and will further invest in the overall business as well. Part of that expanding corporate team includes the recently appointed Director of Marketing and Communications, David Allison, who will work on providing marketing strategy guidance to franchisees, planning and coordinating overall brand marketing efforts, and building awareness and positioning for Wow Wow within the fast casual space.

Wow Wow announced in September 2021 that it would be teaming up with Phoenix Children's Hospital (PCH) for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. All Phoenix-area Wow Wow locations had a "Round Up" option for online orders allowing customers to donate change to Phoenix Children's Hospital's Step Up. Stop Cancer. campaign. Wow Wow will continue this partnership into 2022, while also seeking a national charity partner to elevate its corporate giving program.

Every Wow Wow franchisee has the benefit of unmatched franchisee support from the corporate team. Wow Wow is looking for additional franchisees with a head for business, an interest in healthy eating, and a value for community.

For more information on Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades franchising opportunities, visit www.wowwowfranchise.com.

About Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades:

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades offers fresh, all-natural, hand-crafted lemonades and smoothies, as well as a food menu consisting of acai bowls, grain bowls, flatbread sandwiches, and multigrain avocado and nut butter toasts. The fast casual restaurant was founded in Hawaii in 2012. It quickly gained popularity and grew from farmer's markets to a food trailer, and then opened its first brick and mortar location on Maui in 2014. The fast casual restaurant started franchising in 2017 and opened its first franchised location in 2018. Today it has a total of ten lemonade stands domestically and two internationally and was named to Fast Casual's "20 Brands to Watch" list in 2020 and Fast Casual's "10 Fast Casuals to Watch in the Post-Covid Era" in 2021. For more information, please contact the franchisor at [email protected] and visit their website at www.wowwowhawaiianlemonade.com.

Media Contact: Maria Omar, Fishman PR, [email protected], 847-945-1300

SOURCE Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Zink Printing Market By Component (Zink-Based Paper and Zink-Based Printer), Functionality (Compact Photo Printer and Camera Photo Printer), Connectivity (Bluetooth, Near-Field Communication, and Others), and Application (Home and Commercial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030". As per the report, the global zink printing industry was pegged at $745.2 million in 2020, and is estimated to generate $1.01 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2021 to 2030.

Major determinants of the market growth

Rise in use of mobile printers based on wireless technologies, surge in demand for sustainable printing, and increase in need for high-speed, cost-effective, and high-quality printing solution have boosted the growth of the global zink printing market. However, increase in trend of online and paperless e-transactions hinders the market growth. On the contrary, high demand from Asia-Pacific is expected to open new opportunities for the market players in the future.

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Covid-19 scenario:

The pandemic disrupted the day-by-day activities and created uncertainty in the stock market. This resulted in falling business confidence, disruption of the supply chain, and increased panic among customers.

The country-wide lockdown resulted in shutdown of manufacturing units and operations.

The pandemic negatively affected the electronics sector as production facilities have stalled. But the demand for electronics and semiconductor products in these industries has increased during the pandemic, which will positively affect the market growth.

The Zink-based printer segment to portray the highest CAGR through 2028

By component, the Zink-based printer segment would register the highest CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period, due to enhanced security offered by Zink printers and its user-friendly interface. However, the Zink-based paper segment held the largest share in 2020, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global zink printing market, as it is long-lasting, water-resistant, tear-resistant, and smudge-resistant.

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The Bluetooth segment held the lion's share

By connectivity, the Bluetooth segment dominated the market in terms of revenue in 2020, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global zink printing market, due to rise in demand for portable, pocket-friendly printers and on-demand printing. However, the NFC segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 4.6% from 2021 to 2030, as it makes printing documents faster and easier than other types of connectivity.

North America dominated the market in terms of revenue

By region, the global zink printing market across North America held the largest share in 2020, contributing to more than one-third of the market, due to presence of prominent market players in the region. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is anticipated to portray the highest CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period, owing to benefits such as compact size and strong durability compared to other printers along with demand for fast, eco-friendly, and reliable printing device and increase in penetration wireless technologies in the region.

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Key market players

Brother Industries Ltd.

Dell

Canon

HP Inc.

Eastman Kodak Company

Lifeprint

LG Electronics

PRYNT

Polaroid

ZINK Holdings LLC

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FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 8; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 883 Companies: 53 - Players covered include Ajinomoto Co., Inc.; Akzo Nobel N.V.; Bachem AG; Evonik Industries AG; Iris Biotech GmbH; Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd.; Luojiang Chenming Biological Products Co.; Ningxia EPPEN Biotech Co.,ltd.; Sichuan Tongsheng Amino Acid Co., Ltd.; Suzhou Yuanfang Chemical Co. Ltd.; and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Application (Food & Beverage, Animal Feed, Pharmaceutical, Other Applications) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

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ABSTRACT-



Global Glutamic Acid Market to Reach US$13.5 Billion by the Year 2026

Glutamic acid, also known as glutamate, is a non-essential amino acid that is critical for effective functioning of cells. The amino acid is also essential for disposing off excess nitrogen from the human body. In the nervous systems, glutamic acid is a major excitatory neurotransmitter. The amino acid plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity, and takes part in various cognitive functions in the brain including memory and learning. Glutamic acid functions as a precursor for synthesizing inhibitory GABA. Over stimulation of glutamic acid is linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lathyrism. The amino acid is also known to cause epileptic seizures. Glutamate combats fatigue, enables faster healing of ulcers and improves mental prowess. Excessive glutamic acid can cause neuronal damage that leads to premature death of cells. However, the presence of glutamate transporters in glial and neuronal membranes facilitates the disposal of excessive glutamate. Glutamic acid is found in several food ingredients, and also is involved in providing the humans with the sense of taste, particularly in combination with salt. As a result, monosodium glutamate (MSG), the sodium salt of glutamic acid, is extensively used for improving the flavor and functions as a food additive. Glutamic acid is a vital energy source that is found abundantly in wheat and soybean.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Glutamic Acid estimated at US$9.4 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$13.5 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% over the analysis period. Food & Beverage, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 7.3% CAGR to reach US$11.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Animal Feed segment is readjusted to a revised 6.3% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 12% share of the global Glutamic Acid market.

With its multiple advantages, the glutamic acid market continues to witness healthy growth. Growing demand for animal feed, food enhancers and food additives in the food & beverage industry are some of the main reasons for the increasing demand for this product. With increasing awareness about consumption of healthy products, glutamic acid demand in the pharmaceutical, beverage and food industry has increased. Processed food and animal feed industries especially stands out and will witness significant growth due to increasing global population, growing meat and dairy products consumption, rise in disposable income, and increasing demand for healthier, more nutritional, tastier, and higher quality meat food products. This trend would in turn fuel the glutamic acid market growth. Ready-to-eat foods and processed foods are expected to boost glutamic acid market growth through the forecast period, because glutamic acid is used for flavor enhancement in ready-to-eat and processed foods, as well as in food additives. Additionally, increasing numbers of health-conscious consumers are preferring natural food additives to synthetic food additives. In order to cope with the changes in the food patterns of today's consumers, manufacturers are looking at various ways to provide innovative food products. These shifting consumer trends are expected to boost the growth of glutamic acid market.

Sugarcane molasses, glucose and Coryneform bacteria are the raw materials for producing glutamic acid. Some of the main suppliers of raw materials are United States Biological, Mahajan Molasses Company, Eurosweet GmbH, Cargill, Incorporated, Roquette Freres and Ambuja Group having a strong distribution network. The various processes involved in the production of this acid are and ion exchange, crystallization, evaporation, carbon adsorption, centrifugation and fermentation. Manufacturers prefer fermenting as it gives high purity and high-quality products. Nevertheless, the manufacturing process requires high energy and it is water and capital-intensive. However, there are certain issues that are impeding market growth. The excessive intake of glutamic acid can lead to fatigue problems and headaches that may hamper market growth. Some other side effects can be swelling of face, nose and throat, skin burning sensation, rash or itchiness, weight loss or gain, breathing difficulty, dizziness, muscle pain, allergic reactions, bleeding, slow wound healing, cramps, skin thinning, nausea, mood changes, chest pain, stomach pain, bloating, cloudy urine, vomiting, abdominal pain, memory problems, depression, irritability and confusion.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.4 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $5 Billion by 2026

The Glutamic Acid market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.4 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 15.39% share in the global market. China, the world second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$5 Billion by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 8.3% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 5.2% and 6.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.9% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$5.5 Billion by the close of the analysis period.

Asia-Pacific region is forecast to register significant growth and become the fastest growing glutamic acid market over the upcoming years due to growing demand for food additives and processed food in countries such as Japan, India, and China. Demand for food additives is driven by increasing population and rising purchasing power of the people in these countries. These trends are expected to create huge opportunities for existing players as well as new entrants. Widespread use of monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been the key contributor to the overall amino acids market in Asia, although saturating market conditions present a challenge. China and India in particular hold promise due to their huge population, burgeoning economies, increasing income levels, and rising living standards, and the subsequent growth in demand for a range of foods & beverages. The abundant livestock population also contributes to the rising demand for glutamic acid in these regions. Some of the factors for this market growth are expansion of end-use industries such as beverage, food, ready-to-eat foods, personal care, pharmaceuticals and animal feed along with improved purchasing power of consumers and increasing awareness and adoption of healthy lifestyles. It is expected that there will be significant growth in the animal feed industry due to increasing meat and dairy product consumption, growing disposable incomes, increasing population and increasing demand for superior meat quality and processed food. As people prefer natural food additives to synthetic ones for health reasons, it is expected to have a positive impact on glutamic acid industry.

North America is a major consumer of glutamic acid, and the trend is attributed to the region's ever-growing processed food industry, especially in the US and Mexico. In Europe, increasing health concerns and new government regulations related to feed additives and public health are expected to positively impact the region's glutamic acid market. While the established market strengthened by the processed food industry's sustained growth would make North America the market leader, Europe is also expected to play a crucial role in the global glutamic acid market due to stringent government regulations that support the use of natural food additives. Growth of glutamic acid markets in North America and Europe are driven by heightened consumption of packaged and processed foods in these regions.

Pharmaceutical Segment to Reach $1.1 Billion by 2026

Glutamic acid is used in the pharmaceutical industry to stimulate nerves in neural drugs, in the treatment of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and muscular dystrophy, hypoglycemic coma, epilepsy, ulcers, mental retardation, nerve damage during chemotherapy, neurotransmission imbalances, behavioral and cognitive problems among individuals and for metabolic disorders. Glutamates are salts of glutamic acid and are non-essential amino acids. They are metabolized in the brain and act as neurotransmitters in the nervous system for normal and healthy functioning of the brain. Another important function of glutamates is the disposal of excess nitrogen from the body. The sodium salt of this acid is known as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and is one of the most popular food additives. It is used as a food enhancer in cheese, bread, ice cream, carbohydrate-based snacks, processed meat, soups, salad dressings and canned vegetables. MSG is known to improve the functioning of the heart and decrease coronary disease-related chest pain.

In the global Pharmaceutical segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 8% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$508.6 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$873 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$169.7 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 8.1% CAGR through the analysis period. More

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ATLANTA, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelerate360, LLC's A360 Media ("A360") and Bauer Media Group ("Bauer") today announced that A360 has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bauer's U.S. publishing business. This transaction includes the print and digital assets of Woman's World, First for Women and the Bauer U.S. bookazine business which produces more than 100 special interest publications per year. The transaction is expected to close in February 2022.

David Parry, CEO of Accelerate360 said: "This is an extraordinary opportunity to not only add industry leading brands to our brand portfolio, but also add incredibly talented employees with proven abilities in audience development, digital and special interest publications that further expand A360 Media's capabilities and resources."

Doug Olson, president of A360 Media added: "Adding the Bauer U.S. brands underscores our commitment and investment in the company's continued digital transformation as we welcome some of the most trusted, authoritative, and valuable brands to A360 to provide more value to both our consumers and advertisers across multiple platforms."

Bauer Media is one of the most successful privately owned publishing houses, with some of the most popular magazine and digital brands in Germany, the UK, Poland, and France and publishes more 600 magazines, more than 400 digital products.

Bauer will continue to focus on strategic investments and long-term business diversification opportunities in Europe, where it has operations in 13 countries across four business areas: Publishing, Audio, Online Comparison Platforms and digital services in the SME sector. The transaction marks Bauer's exit from the U.S. market.

Rob Munro Hall, president of Bauer's Publishing said: "Today's announcement emphasises our focus on markets where we can scale to compete effectively. Publishing is in our DNA and remains at the heart of our company. While they represent two strong publications, we have concluded that these U.S. titles will be able to more effectively compete as part of an ownership structure that has the scale and capacity to drive the business successfully in the long term."

A360 Media, part of Accelerate360, LLC, owns and operates the leading celebrity and health & fitness media brands in the country. Prior to the acquisition of the Bauer U.S. titles, its brand portfolio has a combined total circulation of 5.3+ million and reach 32.6+ million men and women each month. The company's digital properties reach 50+ million unique visitors and 652+ million page views monthly, and its social media channels reach 56+ million visitors. The addition of Woman's World and First for Women further bolster its scale and reach across all platforms.

About Accelerate360

Accelerate360 is an omnichannel distribution, data and media company that provides customized solutions for consumer product brands and retailers. They deliver consumer products to over 60,000 retail locations weekly and have a 100-year track record of growing brands through logistics, sales, media, sourcing, marketing, and media. Accelerate360 specializes in the General Merchandise, Health, Beauty, and Wellness categories and develops and curates programs to cater to clients' objectives. As a data driven organization, Accelerate360 leverages first party and third-party data to customize impactful and efficient solutions for our clients. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the company has offices and fulfillment centers strategically positioned around the United States and is proud to employ over 1,100 employees.

About Bauer Media Group

Bauer Media Group has become an enduringly successful media corporation by focusing on creating content that matters most to millions of people around the world: from print and online publishing to radio and money-saving services for consumers, as well as sales and marketing services for SMB. Family-owned in the 5th generation, Bauer focuses on the long term, with a consumer-first mindset that guides us across our increasingly diverse portfolio. Our workforce of 15,000 shares a passion  to deliver content and services that are popular with, and helpful to, our customers and partners. www.bauermedia.com

SOURCE Accelerate360
Thanks to the skillful use of the latest technologies, the Zabka Group has become the fastest growing food chain in Europe with 1100 traditional stores opened in 2021 and over 7,900 traditional modern convenient stores today in general. At the same time, it participates in the technological revolution with the development of autonomous shopping experiences to improve customer convenience and store operations. In partnership with AiFi, Zabka Group created the Zabka Nano autonomous concept and opened the first store in June 2021 in Poznan, then quickly expanded to 25 locations across Poland within six months. Through an integration with the Zappka mobile application, which is already used by over 8 million users, it co-created an ecosystem of digital services for enhanced customer convenience.

 Zabka is the European leader in creating modern convenience solutions that meet the needs of modern customers. We focus on providing unique and highly personalized shopping experiences, connecting the digital world with the environment. We want to redefine the shopping speed. In 2021, we opened 25 autonomous Zabka Nano stores. However, we do not stop there  we will launch about a dozen in the first quarter of this year  says Tomasz Suchanski, CEO of Zabka Group.

Zabka Nano stores are already tested by customers in 25 locations in 6 cities in the country. They can be used by customers in Gdansk, Krakow, Piaseczno, Poznan, Sopot and Warsaw. They operate in a wide variety of locations, among others: in city centers, railway stations, underground stations, universities or large-format stores.

 We are constantly working to develop and improve the unique concept of Zabka Nano. We focus on its flexibility  we are able to open more autonomous outlets both in highly trafficked locations, such as strict city centers or underground stations, as well as in large-format stores. We are also one of the first in the world to develop a concept that allows you to enter the store using a payment card  says Tomasz Blicharski, Managing Director of Zabka Future.

Since the launch of the first Zabka Nano store, the interest in the concept has been growing. Several thousand people have already experienced the convenience of shopping in the autonomous Zabka Nano stores. And the high level of NPS  above 80  confirms that the experience exceeds consumer expectations.

Zabka Nano uses innovative methods of authorization and payment for shopping. The first stores were connected to the chain's mobile app, which allowed both entry and payment for purchases. Currently, the store-within-a-store model allows customers to access the store using any payment card. The shopping itself takes only a moment  the journey invites customers to seamlessly grab products from the shelf and exit the store when ready, no checkout needed. The innovative platform by AiFi used in all stores is a camera based solution leveraging computer vision and advanced machine learning to recognize products removed from shelves, and automatically finalize the payment when customers exit the store. The system does not use biometrics or facial recognition to identify customers to guarantee full privacy and security.

 The deployment of 25 stores in six months with Zabka demonstrates the customer centric values of AiFi to understand customer needs and build flexible solutions that scale. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with Zabka and revolutionize the shopping experience with the rollout of more Zabka Nano stores powered by AiFi  says Steve Gu, CEO and Co-Founder at AiFi.

The product mix in Zabka Nano stores is tailored to the specifics of the location and customer profile. Depending on the format, it covers from 450 to up to 1500 products. In each Zabka Nano store are products of Zabka private label products, including among others nutritious and healthy snacks, juices and smoothies, ready meals and freshly ground coffee from a coffee machine.

Autonomous Zabka stores are launched under Zabka Future Business Incubator, which combines three elements: managing and searching for innovations, transforming them into new products and services and commercializing them. The project also fits perfectly with the strategy of Zabka Group, which assumes the implementation of actions aimed at maintaining climate neutrality  the Zabka Nano uses only the equivalent of green energy for its activities.

Zabka Polska Sp. z o.o. is the owner of the largest convenience store chain in Poland, with over 7,900 stores run by 6,500 franchisees under the Zabka brand. During twenty years of operation on the Polish market, the Company gained the position of the leader in the convenience sales segment. Aapproximately 15.5 million Polish customers live less than 500 metres from the nearest Zabka store. As part of its responsibility strategy, Zabka has made commitments in the areas of good nutrition, services that facilitate sustainable life, the development of entrepreneurship, diversity and an inclusive organizational culture, corporate governance and decarbonization, and circular economy. More information about Zabka Polska at: www.zabka.pl. Link to the 2020 Responsibility Report: https://raportodpowiedzialnosci.zabka.pl/en/.

Zabka Future - is one of the organizational units that comprise the new management structure of Zabka. Zabka Future teams are responsible for the search, creation and development of technological and system tools for the future. This area reports to Tomasz Blicharski, EVP, Managing Director of Zabka Future.

AiFi - enables reliable, cost-effective, and entirely contactless autonomous shopping with AI-powered computer vision technology that provides an unrivaled experience for retailers and consumers. AiFi works with top retailers worldwide such as Zabka, Carrefour, Morrisons and Compass Group. AiFi currently has the second-highest number of store deployments. AiFi has raised a total of $31 million from investors including Qualcomm Ventures, Cervin Ventures, TransLink Capital, and Plum Alley. For more information on AiFi, please visit www.aifi.com.

SOURCE AiFi
CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ACRES Capital Corp. (together with its subsidiaries, "ACRES"), a leading commercial real estate middle-market lender, has originated a $30.5 million loan to fund the acquisition and pre-development of 1200 Fulton Street (the "Property") in Chicago.

Located in the heart of the Fulton Market District, the Property, consisting of 19 adjacent parcels of land totaling 92,944 square feet of land area, is projected to be developed into two (2) office/retail buildings totaling 749,250 square feet as well as a 380-unit residential tower that will also contain 5,000 net rental square feet for retail.

The Property is located in the West Loop submarket of Chicago, which is just one block directly west of the Fulton Market neighborhood and is conveniently served by the Chicago Transit Authority's Green and Pink Lines at the Morgan 'L' station, as well as several bus routes.

"Being home to companies like Google, Glassdoor and TikTok, the Fulton Market District has become one of the largest and most successful tech hubs in the country," said ACRES Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Fogel. "The area is complete with a world-class restaurant district and high-end shopping corridor, all catering to the strongest renter demographic in Chicago."

Since 2017, the Fulton Market District has been widely considered one of the hottest submarkets for commercial real estate in the Chicago area. Much like New York's Meatpacking District, the area has transitioned from its manufacturing and industrial roots into a thriving and fashionable neighborhood lined with art galleries, street murals, restaurants and experiential destinations lining cobblestone streets.

The loan was provided to sponsor Fulton Street Companies, a Chicago-based real estate development company specializing in the Fulton Market District, and was arranged by Steve Skok of Berkadia. Justin Seitenbach of ACRES' New York office originated the loan.

About ACRES

ACRES is a nationwide direct lender and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides construction, bridge and permanent debt capital solutions for the commercial real estate industry. ACRES partners on targeted opportunities in the $10 million to $100 million range, including multifamily, student housing, retail, office, hospitality, and industrial. Contact us at www.acrescap.com or at (516) 535-0015.

Media Contacts:

Doug Allen / Maya Hanowitz

Dukas Linden Public Relations

(646) 722-6530

[email protected]

SOURCE ACRES Capital Corp.
TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Adventus Mining Corporation ("Adventus Mining") (TSXV: ADZN) (OTCQX: ADVZF) and Salazar Resources Limited ("Salazar") (TSXV: SRL) (OTCQX: SRLZF) (collectively the "Participants") are pleased to announce that Alliance Metals International ("AMI"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Participants' joint venture company Salazar Holdings Ltd., has, together with Adventus Mining, entered into a definitive Precious Metals Purchase Agreement (the "PMPA") with Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. ( "Wheaton") in respect of the Curipamba copper project in central Ecuador (the "Curipamba Project"). Additionally, Adventus Mining has entered into a binding engagement for an Offtake Financing Agreement (the "OFA") with Trafigura Pte Ltd ("Trafigura") in respect of the Curipamba Project. A detailed feasibility study on the Curipamba Project, which focuses on the development of the shallow and high-grade El Domo deposit, was completed in late 2021 (the "Feasibility Study"). This significant financial commitment validates the Feasibility Study and economic potential of the Curipamba Project for all stakeholders and allows Adventus Mining and Salazar to firmly advance towards potential production.

Highlights

Adventus Mining and Salazar have secured a total of US$235.5 million to advance and, following a construction decision, build the Curipamba Project, US$23.5 million of which will be available for pre-construction activities

to advance and, following a construction decision, build the Curipamba Project, of which will be available for pre-construction activities Financial arrangement compares to an estimated capital cost of US$248 million outlined in the Feasibility Study

outlined in the Feasibility Study US$180.5 million financial commitment from Wheaton

financial commitment from Wheaton US$175.5 million upfront cash consideration, with US$13 million early deposit for pre-construction activities, and US$500,000 for local community development initiatives as part of the Curipamba Project prior to production

upfront cash consideration, with early deposit for pre-construction activities, and for local community development initiatives as part of the Curipamba Project prior to production



Remainder to be available in four (4) staged installments during future construction, subject to certain customary conditions precedent being satisfied





PMPA provides certain gold and silver streaming rights to Wheaton over life-of-mine, but limited to volcanic massive sulphide deposits that can be milled within the proposed Feasibility Study process plant





Wheaton also intends to provide up to US$5M in equity to Adventus Mining, subject to a maximum Wheaton ownership level below 10%

in equity to Adventus Mining, subject to a maximum Wheaton ownership level below 10% US$55 million financial commitment from Trafigura

financial commitment from Trafigura US$45 million senior debt facility, including US$5 million early deposit for pre-construction activities (the "Facility")

senior debt facility, including early deposit for pre-construction activities (the "Facility")



Remainder to be available in two (2) staged installments during future construction, subject to certain customary condition precedents being satisfied





OFA includes an offtake agreement that provides certain concentrate offtake rights to Trafigura for future production from the El Domo deposit over the life-of-mine, based on the offtake terms utilized in the Feasibility Study





Trafigura intends to provide US$10 million in equity to Adventus Mining, subject to certain conditions precedent being satisfied

President & CEO of Adventus Mining Christian Kargl-Simard stated:

"This financial commitment is a major milestone for the Adventus Mining and Salazar and secures our ability to further optimize and begin construction of the Curipamba Project. Furthermore, the competitive structures of the financial arrangements serve to protect and benefit the interests of our investors and commercial partners. Based on the projected revenues payable to Wheaton, the potential read-through value of Curipamba is significantly higher than US$1 billion. We want to thank both the Wheaton and Trafigura teams who worked closely with us in conjunction with the completions of the Curipamba feasibility study and ESIA report in 2021. Special appreciation to the Wheaton team who have consistently showed their confidence and support for Adventus Mining since their equity investment in 2018.

To our partners and many stakeholders in Ecuador, Adventus Mining and Salazar are pleased to secure these significant long-term commitments from two of the largest and most respected metals and mining groups globally, which highlight both the confidence in the Curipamba Project becoming one of the next modern copper mines and in the growing responsible mining sector of Ecuador."

Streaming Arrangement with Wheaton  US$180.5 million

Pursuant to the PMPA, Wheaton will pay AMI a total upfront cash consideration of US$175.5 million, US$13 million of which can be paid on an early deposit basis to be used for pre-construction activities at the Curipamba Project and US$500,000 of which will be used to support certain local development initiatives in the Curipamba Project communities in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas. The remainder of the upfront cash consideration is payable in four staged installments during future construction of the Curipamba Project, subject to certain customary conditions precedent being satisfied.

Additional PMPA Transaction Details

Under the PMPA, Wheaton will purchase 50% of the payable gold production until 150 thousand ounces have been delivered, thereafter dropping to 33% of payable gold production for the life of mine; and 75% of the payable silver production until 4.6 million ounces have been delivered, thereafter dropping to 50% for the life of mine

Wheaton will make ongoing payments for the gold and silver ounces delivered equal to 18% of the spot prices ("Production Payment") until the value of gold and silver delivered less the Production Payment is equal to the upfront consideration of US$175.5 million , at which point the Production Payment will increase to 22% of the spot prices

, at which point the Production Payment will increase to 22% of the spot prices Prior to the official start of construction, AMI has a one-time option to repurchase 33% of the stream (gold and silver) on a change of control event for Adventus Mining, for an amount ensuring a fixed internal rate of return to Wheaton

As is customary for Wheaton streaming arrangements, additional ESG support will be available from Wheaton while Curipamba is in production

Adventus Mining and certain subsidiaries, which are the majority owners of the Curipamba Project, will provide Wheaton with corporate guarantees, pledges, and other security over their assets

PMPA transaction is fully committed, with initial early deposit drawdown available at Adventus Mining's discretion subject to certain customary conditions precedent being satisfied

Offtake Financing Arrangement with Trafigura  US$55 million

Pursuant to the OFA, Trafigura will provide Adventus Mining with a Facility of US$45 million, US$5 million of which can be paid on an early deposit basis to be used for pre-construction activities at the Curipamba Project. The remainder of the cash consideration is payable in two (2) staged installments during future construction of the Curipamba Project, subject to certain customary conditions precedent being satisfied.

Additional OFA Transaction Details

Facility has a 5-year term, with an 8% interest margin, subject to a 0.5% SOFR floor

OFA includes an offtake agreement that provides certain concentrate offtake rights to Trafigura for future production from the El Domo deposit over the life of mine, based on the terms in the Feasibility Study

OFA transaction is binding subject to completion of definitive documentation and an inter-creditor agreement with Wheaton, which are expected to be completed in Q2 2022

Upon closing of the OFA, 13.5 million common share purchase warrants of Adventus Mining will be issued to Trafigura, priced on the basis of a 25% premium to the 10-day VWAP at the closing date ("Lender's Warrants"), subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Lender's Warrants will have a 3-year term, with 5.5 million of them subject to accelerator provisions based on Adventus Mining's share price

Trafigura intends to provide US$10 million in equity to Adventus Mining, subject to certain customary conditions precedent being satisfied

For Adventus Mining, Bennett Jones is acting as legal advisor for the PMPA and DLA Piper (Canada) is acting as legal advisor for the OFA.

Curipamba Project

The Curipamba Project is located in central Ecuador approximately 150 km northeast of the major port city of Guayaquil and comprises of seven mineral concessions representing approximately 21,500 hectares (215 km2) in a setting of low-lying hills and plains between 300 to 900 metres above sea level. Curipamba contains the high-grade copper-gold dominant El Domo VMS deposit.

The Feasibility Study included the first estimate of mineral reserves (open pit) and updated the total estimate of mineral resources (open pit and underground). Please refer to Adventus Mining's October 26, 2021 news release for the summary of Feasibility Study results  link. The complete Feasibility Study NI 43-101 Technical Report is available on SEDAR  dated December 10, 2021. Also in 2021, Adventus Mining and Salazar completed and submitted a detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") report as part of the formal stakeholder consultation and environmental licensing process with the Government of Ecuador for future construction and operation of the Curipamba Project. Please refer to Adventus Mining's November 18, 2021 news release for additional details  link.

Adventus Mining is 75%-owner of the Curipamba Project and leads its continuing development in the detailed engineering and early site works phase. Adventus Mining will fund capital costs to production and will receive 95% of future free cashflows until its investments since 2017 are repaid, after which the project cashflows will be shared 75% to Adventus Mining and 25% to its partner Salazar Resources Ltd. over the life of mine.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed, verified, and approved by Mr. Dustin Small, P.Eng., Vice President of Projects for Adventus Mining, and a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Adventus Mining

Adventus Mining Corporation is an Ecuador-focused copper-gold exploration and development company. Adventus Mining is 75%-owner of the 215 km2 Curipamba copper project, which has a completed feasibility study on the shallow and high-grade El Domo deposit. In addition, Adventus Mining is engaged in a country-wide exploration alliance with its partner in Ecuador, which has incorporated the Pijili and Santiago copper-gold porphyry projects to date. Outside of Ecuador, Adventus Mining owns an exploration project portfolio in Ireland with South32 Limited as funding partner. Its strategic shareholders include Altius Minerals Corporation, Greenstone Resources LP, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., and the Nobis Group of Ecuador. Adventus Mining is based in Toronto, Canada, and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ADZN and trades on the OTCQX under the symbol ADVZF.

About Salazar

Salazar Resources Limited is focused on creating value and positive change through discovery, exploration, and development in Ecuador. The team has an unrivalled understanding of the geology in-country and has played an integral role in the discovery of many of the major projects in Ecuador, including the two newest operating gold and copper mines. Salazar Resources has a wholly owned pipeline of copper-gold exploration projects across Ecuador with a strategy to make another commercial discovery and farm-out non-core assets. The Company actively engages with Ecuadorian communities and together with the Salazar family it co-founded The Salazar Foundation, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable progress through economic development. The Company already has carried interests in three projects. At its maiden discovery, Curipamba, Salazar Resources has a 25% stake fully carried through to production. At two copper-gold porphyry projects, Pijili and Santiago, the Company has a 20% stake fully carried through to a construction decision.

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 press release contains "forward -looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations, and opinions of the management of the Participants as of the date the statement is published, and the Participants assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. In certain cases, forwardlooking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "outlook", "guidance", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology.

Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events, or developments that Participants expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including statements regarding the Participants having secured sufficient funds to advance and construct the Curipamba Project, projections regarding future production at the Curipamba Project, satisfaction of conditions precedent, including the completion and execution of definitive documentation with respect to the OFA transaction, and completion and funding under the PMPA and the OFA transaction. Although the Participants have 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, including risks associated with the ability of Alliance Metals International and/or Adventus Mining to satisfy the conditions precedent to receive funding under the PMPA and the OFA transaction; the volatility of metal prices; risks and dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; risks of not achieving construction and development timelines and estimates; uncertainty of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; risks related to environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; risks related to the availability of adequate infrastructure, fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for construction development and ultimately mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory risks; climate change risks; volatility of global financial conditions; risks related to reliance upon contractors and third parties; challenges to title or surface rights; dependence on key personnel; risks associated with conflicts of interest among the Company's directors and officers; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; litigation risk; taxation, including changes in tax laws and interpretation of tax laws; community support for operations including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations, from time to time; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in Adventus Mining's most recent Annual Information Form and the Participants' other filings with Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed at www.sedar.com. The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Participants' forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such 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, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities the Participants will derive therefrom. The Participants' forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and except as required by applicable securities laws, the Participants do 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 law. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Adventus Mining Corporation
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Bloem LLC, Dolphin Plastics, Dutch Plantin BV, FibreDust LLC, JIFFY GROUP, Laizhou Guoliang Packing Products Co. Ltd., Rain Science Grow Bags, The Green Yard, Van der Knaap Group, and WHS Australia are some of the major market participants.

The use of double-layered agricultural grow bags, increased adoption of fabric agricultural grow bags for high yield will offer immense growth opportunities. However, concerns over the environmental pollution caused by plastic agricultural grow bags will challenge the growth of the market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. This study identifies improvements in precision irrigation systems as one of the prime reasons driving the agricultural grow bags market growth during the next few years.

Agricultural Grow Bags Market 2021-2025: Segmentation

Agricultural Grow Bags Market is segmented as below:

Material

Polythene



Fabric

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



MEA



South America

By material, the market witnessed maximum demand for agricultural grow bags made of polythene. These bags are non-biodegradable but are recyclable. They retain moisture and gas effectively compared to grow bags made of fabric. These bags also require lesser irrigation as there is no leakage. These benefits are driving the growth of the polythene segment.

By geography, North America is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for market players during the forecast period. The growing popularity of greenhouse horticulture and the legalization of marijuana harvesting are driving the growth of the agricultural grow bags market in North America. Also, the increasing adoption of hydroponics technologies by local farmers is contributing to the regional market growth.

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Agricultural Grow Bags Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis

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Agricultural Grow Bags Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist agricultural grow bags market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the agricultural grow bags market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the agricultural grow bags market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of agricultural grow bags market vendors

Related Reports:

Connected Agriculture Market by Component and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Drip Irrigation Systems Market by End-user, Dripper Type, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Agricultural Grow Bags Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 190.00 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.05 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 29% Key consumer countries US, China, France, Brazil, and India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Bloem LLC, Dolphin Plastics, Dutch Plantin BV, FibreDust LLC, JIFFY GROUP, Laizhou Guoliang Packing Products Co. Ltd., Rain Science Grow Bags, The Green Yard, Van der Knaap Group, and WHS Australia Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus 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.

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SOURCE Technavio
The company was founded with the mission to regenerate our planet's healthAigen is building an autonomous, solar-powered robotics platform that manages plants without the chemical inputs that undermine soil's carbon storage potential. By bringing affordable alternatives to conventional practices, the platform will regenerate soil health and help farmers deal with the global agriculture manual labor shortage. Closed-loop data collection, analysis, and action without diesel or pesticides.

Aigen means "farmer's right to own" in old Germanfitting for a company that respects farmers' right to their land, their data, and their product. Studies show that 60-75% of soil carbon has been lost in lands used for agriculture (IPCC), and Aigen has developed novel plant and soil management methods to reverse that. Healthy soil means healthy food, healthy people, and higher farmer profitability.

"Few industries have the potential to go carbon negative. Agriculture is one of them, with soils that currently store three times more carbon than the entire atmosphere," said Rich Wurden, co-founder of Aigen. Rich, whose relatives are farmers at Wurden Farms in Minnesota, is an engineer who spent 12 years designing and launching multiple electric vehicle platformsfrom electric boats to Tesla Model S, X, and 3. In 2020, he decided to leave his career in the transportation industry to start Aigen.

Aigen has assembled a diverse team of agriculture professionals and technical experts from Tesla, Boeing, Google, SpaceX, and Siemens. "As a father of two young kids, this is so rewarding because we're building a better future for them," says Kenny Lee, a co-founder and MIT graduate who successfully exited a software startup. Rich and Kenny met in a quickly growing Slack community called Work on Climate .

"Rich and Kenny offer a unique combination of hardware, software, and agriculture expertise. In a very short period of time, they developed a novel solution that is easy to deploy, convenient to manage, and most of all, helpful to farmers," said Henry Magun, Associate, NEA.

With top-tier investors committed, the team is opening the doors of a new lab space in Kirkland Washington. Aigen aims to ramp up in 2022 and launch their platform to regenerate soil at a planetary scale.

SOURCE Aigen
Nuclear Power in the Philippines

(Updated March 2022)

In response to the 1973 oil crisis, the Philippines began construction of a nuclear power plant. The 621 MWe Westinghouse unit at Bataan was completed in 1984 but never commissioned.

With electricity demand expected to more than triple by 2040, energy security is a stated priority for the government.

The country is exploring the feasibility of a nuclear power programme, including the possible revival of the Bataan project or constructing a small modular reactor.

Electricity sector

Total generation (in 2019): 106 TWh

Generation mix: coal 57.9 TWh (55%); natural gas 22.4 TWh (21%); geothermal 10.7 TWh (10%); hydro 8.0 TWh (8%); oil 3.8 TWh (4%); solar 1.2 TWh; wind 1.0 TWh; biofuels & waste 1.0 TWh

Import/export balance: no imports or exports

Total consumption: 87.1 TWh

Per capita consumption: c. 800 kWh in 2019

Source: International Energy Agency and The World Bank. Data for year 2019.

The Philippines comprises 7641 separate islands. Its population of about 110 million is growing and is served by just 25.5 GWe of electrical generation capacity as of 2019, and power shortages and outages remain common. The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) expects peak electricity demand to more than triple by 2040.

A key priority for the government is energy security, as emphasized in the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP). Self-sufficiency is becoming more challenging as demand for oil from the transport sector increases, and demand for coal for power generation grows as the countrys main gas field, Malampaya, is progressively depleted.

As of June 2020, 93.5% of households had access to electricity. PEP 2017-2040 set out a target for universal access to electricity by 2022. In its 2021 Annual Report, the DOE said it was on track to meet this target.

Nuclear power industry

Bataan nuclear power plant

In response to the 1973 oil crisis, the Ferdinand Marcos administration decided to build a nuclear plant comprising two 600 MWe units. By the time the contract was signed in February 1976, it was for a single 621 MWe Westinghouse unit at Napot Point in Bataan. Construction work began in July 1976 and was completed in 1984 at a cost of $1.9 billion. However, due to financial issues and safety concerns related to earthquakes, the plant was never loaded with fuel or operated. Following the April 1986 Chernobyl accident, recently-elected President Corazon Aquino decided to mothball the plant.

The Bataan project was beset by allegations of corruption. In 1988 the Philippines government brought charges of bribery against Westinghouse and engineering firm Burns & Roe Associates; however, investigations by the US Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission found no evidence of bribery  as did an International Chamber of Commerce tribunal. In May 1993 Westinghouse and Burns & Roe were cleared of civil bribery charges by a District Court for New Jersey jury. Charges were also brought before the Philippines' Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in 1987 against Herminio Disini, who brokered the Bataan contract, and former President Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos. In April 2012 the court absolved the Marcoses due to lack of evidence, but ruled that Disini had received $50 million in commissions from Westinghouse and had exerted undue influence in the awarding of the Bataan contract.

In April 2007, the Philippine government made the final payment for the plant. The government was considering converting it into a natural gas-fired power plant, but this seemed impractical, and it has simply been maintained at a cost of some $800,000 per year.

In 2008 an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission commissioned by the government advised that Bataan could be refurbished and economically operated for 30 years. Refurbishment, with upgrade of safety and instrumentation & control systems, was estimated to cost $800 million to $1 billion. The IAEA was also to recommend a policy framework for nuclear power development in the country. In December 2008 the National Power Corporation (Napocor) commissioned Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco, parent company of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power) to conduct an 18-month feasibility study on commissioning Bataan. One factor in choosing Kepco for this was its experience with Kori 2, a very similar unit in Korea. Its preliminary recommendation in December 2009 was that Bataan should be refurbished. Meanwhile, Toshiba expressed interest in rehabilitating the plant. In May 2013 Napocor urged the government to refurbish and commission the plant to address power shortages. It estimated the $1 billion cost as being one-third of building equivalent coal-fired capacity. Following sharp rises in electricity prices over 2014 to 2016 the DOE was reported to be studying the prospect of reviving the project with South Korean help.

The possible revival of the Bataan plant remains under consideration, but the DOE is also looking into building a new nuclear plant using small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

Nuclear energy plans

In 2007 the Philippines DOE set up a project to study the development of nuclear energy, in the context of an overall energy plan for the country. Nuclear energy would be considered in order to reduce the country's dependency on imported oil and coal. In its 2008 update of the national energy plan, 600 MWe nuclear was projected online in 2025, with further 600 MWe increments in 2027, 2030 and 2034 to give 2400 MWe.

Apart from Bataan, the government was considering two further 1000 MWe Korean Standard Nuclear Plant units, using equipment from the aborted North Korean KEDO project. Kepco was reported to be offering this equipment for $1.1 billion, but it has since been redeployed elsewhere.

The government established a working group with a view to proceeding along the same lines as Thailand, retaining engineering consultants to guide progress. At the end of 2012 the DOE confirmed that nuclear remained a live option of the grounds of costs and clean air.

Early in 2016, and again in November, the DOE reiterated that nuclear power was a live option, possibly to take over some of coals base-load role.

In October 2016 the DOE created a nuclear energy programme implementing organization (NEPIO) to assess the feasibility of nuclear power as a long-term energy option in accordance with the IAEA 'milestones' approach. In the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2018-2040, the DOE presented its Nuclear Power Program Roadmap, which envisages the country's first nuclear plant being commissioned from 2027 at the earliest. The first of the roadmap's three phases consisted of a number of pre-feasibility studies to identify critical infrastructure areas to be addressed before launching a nuclear power programme.

In March 2017 the DOE said it was exploring the potential of a small reactor in Sulu province, Mindanao, and would produce an overall nuclear programme for the country, including Bataan. In May 2017 a nuclear cooperation agreement was signed with Rosatom, followed by another in November 2017 setting out a five-year programme of discussions. The DOE signed a further agreement with Rosatom in October 2019, to assess the feasibility of a small nuclear power plant, floating or on land, and probably using RITM-200 reactors.

In February 2018, the country's energy secretary reported: "The possible inclusion of nuclear power in the current energy mix is consistent with the national policy of a technology-neutral energy sector." In December 2018 the IAEA concluded an integrated nuclear infrastructure review (INIR) at the request of the government and under the auspices of the NEPIO. The INIR team noted that draft legislation on nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as the establishment of an independent regulatory body, was being considered by Congress. The team also noted that the country recognized the importance of open and transparent public communication, and recommended including a broader range of stakeholders in preparations for the introduction of nuclear power. The report on phase 1 of its INIR was delivered to the DOE in October 2019.

In June 2018 the DOE announced that KHNP would carry out a study on building a 100 MWe SMART small modular reactor (SMR) in Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) in Santa Ana, Cagayan, on the northeasternmost point of Luzon, as well as a review of the Bataan plant. In October 2019 the DOE signed a memorandum of intent with Rusatom Overseas to carry out a pre-feasibility study on building SMRs in the Philippines.

In July 2020 the President signed Executive Order 116, which established the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) to conduct a study on a national position on a nuclear energy programme. The President stated: There is an imperative need to revisit the country's policy on nuclear energy and to determine its feasibility as a long-term option for power generation.

In July 2021 the DOE announced that it had identified 15 possible locations that could host a nuclear power plant.

In February 2022 the President signed Executive Order 164, which mandates the DOE to develop and implement a nuclear programme. The order requires the NEP-IAC to "make recommendations on the use and viability of the Bataan nuclear power plant and the establishment of other facilities for the utilization of nuclear energy."

Fuel cycle

Waste

In 1998 the Philippines signed the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste Management.

Public opinion

According to the DOE, negative perception of nuclear energy is prevalent. In PEP 2020-2040 it acknowledges the need to improve public awareness and acceptance to allow for a nuclear energy programme to move forward.

Regulation, safety and non-proliferation

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), formerly the Philippines Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), acts as both the nuclear regulatory authority and the entity responsible for research and development of nuclear sciences and technology.

In July 2017 a bill was introduced to Congress to create an independent nuclear safety regulator  the Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission (PNRC)  that would decide on issues affecting public health and safety, protection of the environment, and nuclear security and safeguards. Currently the PNRI carries out promotional and regulatory functions under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The fiscal provisions required for the passage of the bill were approved in August 2021.

Non-proliferation

The Philippines' safeguards agreement with the IAEA under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entered into force in 1974 and the Additional Protocol in February 2010.

Notes & references

Republic of the Philippines Department of Energy, Philippine Energy Plan 2020-2040 (October 2021)

The President of the Philippines, Executive Order No. 164 (February 2022)
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Andalou Naturals, the leading facial skincare brand in the natural channel, is proud to partner with Vital Voices, an international non-profit organization investing in women leaders who are solving the world's greatest challenges  from gender-based violence to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more.. Guided by the belief that women are essential to progress and prosperity, Vital Voices identifies extraordinary women with a daring vision for change and partners with them to make that vision a reality. Since 1997, Vital Voices has built a network of 20,000 change makers across 186 countries, each of whom are daring to reimagine a more equitable world for all.

The origin of the word 'Andalou' is 'Path of Light' and best reflects the brand's vision to foster good in the world and to empower consumers to feel good, look good and think good.

Andalou Natural's initial partnership with Vital Voices began in 2014 and revolved around the brand's Path of Light initiative which donated 100% of the net proceeds from A Path of Light Hand Creams to support education, equality and empowerment by providing young women leaders with grants to Vital Voices.

This long-standing partnership has led to ongoing initiatives, such as the formation of the Andalouminary Scholarship, the establishment of the Beauty Is You Grant, and annual event sponsorships, such as Now This Next , featuring Oprah Winfrey, Hilary Clinton, and Amanda Gorman, as well as events celebrating Vital Voices' efforts around promoting women's economic empowerment.

Founded in 2020, the Andalouminary Scholarship provides one woman leader the opportunity to participate in the Vital Voices GROW Fellowship, a year-long business accelerator program. The first recipient of the Andalouminary scholarship was Nora Jeanne Joseph who started a company to help when Haiti erupted in crisis. Founded in 2016, RADIKAL produces locally-made organic cosmetic and food products and helps create micro-franchise businesses. Thanks to the scholarship, she was able to become a member of the esteemed Vital Voices family. Nora said that the VV GROW fellowship gave her a wider range of resources, including finance workshops and connecting her to different collaborators. Even with the financial stress caused by COVID-19, the company pivoted their strategy to focus on combating food insecurity. For the last year, RADIKAL has grown a network of women-operated food franchisees, known as the Saradi , who offer affordable, healthy meals to the most vulnerable in Haiti. Equipped with food carts, local ingredients and water filters, these women are tackling food insecurity head-on.

"Women's participation in every sector is vital for progress and prosperity and change makers in Vital Voices' network are charting a new course for women's leadership. We are grateful for Andalou's partnership as they invest in women with strong roots in community, bold ideas that bridge divides and an unwavering commitment to paying it forward", says Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership.

With another productive year of investing in women and promoting economic justice behind them, Andalou Naturals is looking to build on its partnership with Vital Voices by continuing to support flagship initiatives and creating new collaborations in 2022.

ABOUT ANDALOU

Born and raised in America, Andalou Naturals leverages the power of Nature's Intelligence, through revolutionary Plant Stem Cell Science. It enhances skin's natural radiance, harnessing the power of plants to fortify and nourish the body's essential building blocks while supercharging natural defense systems to create a luminous, energized appearance from head to toe. Andalou Naturals' commitment to beauty through pure ingredients, innovative formulas, eco-friendly practices, and cruelty-free standards guides the brand's formulation while its dedication to the empowerment of women lays a beautiful foundation for generations to come.

For more information about Andalou, visit www.andalou.com

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/andalounaturals/

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/andalounaturals/

Twitter at https://twitter.com/andalounaturals

ABOUT BWX

BWX is a global, natural beauty company with a portfolio of leading natural brands in Australia, USA, Canada, UK, China, and select other international markets. Founded and headquartered in Australia, BWX's expertise is in innovation, product development, manufacturing, and marketing natural products. BWX's family of natural brands provides consumers with a natural choice for personal care without compromising on performance. BWX inspires the advancement of plant and mineral-based science without causing unnecessary harm to the planet. It also says NO to testing its products on animals and believes in giving. The company is actively involved in giving back to causes relating to the environment, social responsibility, and empowering women.

ABOUT VITAL VOICES

Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in women leaders who are solving the world's greatest challenges  from gender-based violence to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more. We are "venture catalysts," identifying those with a daring vision for change and partnering with them to make that vision a reality. We scale and accelerate impact through long term investments to expand skills, connections, capacity and visibility. Over the last 25 years, we have built a network of 20,000 change makers across 186 countries, each of whom are daring to reimagine a more equitable world for all.

Visit www.vitalvoices.org to learn more.

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT TRACTENBERG & CO:

EMILY LANZILLO | [email protected]

STEPHANIE SALIMBENE | [email protected]

SOURCE Andalou Naturals
ROANOKE, Va., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Appalachian Power today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind and/or 100 MW of solar generation resources with optional battery energy-storage systems. The proposals will help the company meet the renewable energy requirements established by Virginia's Clean Economy Act (VCEA). Under the VCEA, Appalachian Power must meet annual targets as it works toward 100% carbon-free energy in its Virginia service territory by 2050.

The company seeks to acquire the completed wind and/or solar projects through one or more purchase and sale agreements. Facilities must be at least 50 MW in size and achieve a commercial operation date of no later than Dec. 15, 2025. Bidders of solar projects may also include proposals with an option for a battery-energy storage system. To qualify for consideration, solar projects must be located within Virginia; wind projects may be located outside of the commonwealth.

All projects must be interconnected to PJM, the independent regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid in 13 states, including Virginia. Under the RFP, Appalachian Power may acquire a single or multiple wind and/or solar facilities from winning bidders who meet certain economic and operational criteria.

"We've made significant progress in establishing our renewables portfolio over the past two years," said Chris Beam, Appalachian Power president and chief operating officer. "This is the largest RFP we've issued for wind to date, and we intend to issue additional requests for proposals this year as we work to provide more clean energy options for our customers."

The RFP's issued later this year will be for energy storage and solar power purchase agreements.

Businesses seeking to submit a proposal can access criteria, required forms, and other specifics online at www.appalachianpower.com/rfp. Proposals must be submitted by March 8, 2022. Any project selected by Appalachian Power through the RFP process is conditional upon and subject to approval by the required regulatory authorities.

Appalachian Power is a leader in renewable energy, producing nearly 2,000 gigawatt- hours of energy annually from wind, solar and hydropower.

Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is part of American Electric Power, which is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions. AEP's approximately 16,700 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.5 million customers in 11 states. AEP is also one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 5,900 megawatts of renewable energy.

SOURCE American Electric Power
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ara Partners ("Ara"), a private equity firm that specializes in industrial decarbonization investments, today announced the promotion of James Wang to Managing Director and Mary Kathryn Nommensen to Senior Associate.

"We are proud of the strength of the team that we have built at Ara and delighted to announce the promotions of James and Mary Kathryn," said Troy Thacker, a Managing Partner at Ara. "Both investment professionals exemplify our firm's commitment to its investors. We look forward to their continuing contributions as we strive to create value while making a significant decarbonization impact in essential industries."

Mr. Wang joined Ara as a Principal in July 2018 and has been instrumental in transaction execution, sourcing, portfolio management, and investment realization. He has played a critical role in the firm's investments in Centric Infrastructure Group, Priority Power, Path Environmental Technology, Anesco and Fluitron. Mr. Wang has more than thirteen years of experience as a private equity investor. Prior to joining Ara, he worked at First Reserve, a global private equity investment firm. He began his career in the Global Natural Resources Group, Investment Banking Division, at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Wang holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a MPA from the University of Texas, Austin.

Ms. Nommensen joined Ara as an Associate in October 2020 and has played a key role in transaction execution and portfolio management, covering Repeats Group, Circulus, Anesco and Utility Global. Prior to joining Ara, she worked in the Lower Middle Market investment division of Main Street Capital Corporation. Ms. Nommensen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, with honors, from the University of Texas, Austin.

"It is a pleasure to announce these well-earned promotions and celebrate their commitment to excellence and the values of our firm. The professional achievements of these individuals are indicative of the breadth and depth of our team," said Tuan Tran, a Partner at Ara. "Since joining the firm, James and Mary Kathryn have led significant initiatives on several transactions and portfolio companies. They have been instrumental in driving firm best practices and Ara's team-oriented culture, and we look forward to their continued contributions to Ara's success."

About Ara Partners

Ara Partners is a private equity firm specializing in industrial decarbonization investments. Ara Partners invests in the industrial & manufacturing, chemicals & materials, energy efficiency & green fuels and food & agriculture sectors, seeking to build businesses that provide significant decarbonization impact. It operates from offices in Houston, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland. Ara Partners closed its second fund with approximately $1.1 billion in capital commitments in September 2021. For more information on Ara Partners, please visit www.arapartners.com.

Contacts

Mark Semer / Alex Jeffrey

Gasthalter & Co. LP.

[email protected]

(212) 257-4170

SOURCE Ara Partners
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weekly COVID hospitalizations in Louisiana have more than doubled as the Omicron variant surges in the state, and public health experts, including those from W. Montague Cobb/National Medical Association (NMA) Health Institute, believe infections will continue to spread as residents participate in Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations.

ASPA NOLA FLyer ASPA NOLA Graphic for Social

As a direct response, W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute today announced that it is hosting a drive-thru Stay Well New Orleans Community Health Fair and Vaccine Event on January 29, 2022. This drive-thru event will have a new sense of urgency due to the undeniable impact of Omicron.

The W. Montague Cobb/ NMA Health Institute functions as a national consortium of scholars who engage in innovative research and knowledge dissemination for the reduction and elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities and racism in medicine.

The Stay Well New Orleans Community Health Fair is free and open to the public.

The event will take place on Saturday, January 29, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 200 L.B. Landry Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114. The event will offer:

Free drive-thru vaccinations

Health resources

Access to panel discussion with local trusted Black healthcare professionals

Giveaways

"This new surge has greatly impacted our community, but we have the power to help stop it. The Stay Well New Orleans event is important for each and every member of the community to attend," explained Dr. Kimiyo Williams, local Cobb Institute pediatrician.

The New Orleans Cluster of The Links, Inc. will serve as local organizers.

"This vaccine clinic is a partnership between the Cobb Institute, state and local health organizations and the New Orleans community to increase vaccine access, stated Tracey Flemings-Davillier, event coordinator."

For more information, please visit https://staywellcommunityhealthfairs.org, and stay updated via Facebook and Instagram .

About Stay Well Community Health Fairs

The Stay Well Health Fair and Vaccine events are designed to bring health-related resources to Black communities across the country. The W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute has partnered with local health agencies and community-based organizations in select cities to continue to educate Black communities while working to make vaccine resources more accessible. These fairs feature local trusted Black healthcare professionals in panel discussions on the continued impact of COVID-19, the vaccines, and the emerging variants. For more information, please visit https://staywellcommunityhealthfairs.org/ , or stay updated via Facebook and Instagram .

Media Contact:

Josephine Reid

[email protected]

414-260-8745

SOURCE W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute
PHOENIX, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid a pandemic that has gone on for almost two years, seniors continue to face loneliness and social isolation that can impact their well-being. Assisted Living Locators, a nationwide senior placement and referral service, is encouraging engaging with older adults to combat those issues and is sharing inspirational stories of how its franchisees are supporting the most vulnerable in our communities during these difficult times.

"Advocating for the senior community is the heart of Assisted Living Locators business," said Angela Olea, RN, Assisted Living Locators CEO. "As an essential service, our franchisees have been on the frontlines during the pandemic and have worked tirelessly to find innovative ways to help improve the quality of life of seniors. We hope to educate our communities about aging issues of social isolation and loneliness, and we want to share some of the meaningful ways we are helping."

Seeing the emotional toll COVID-19 has had on senior living residents, Assisted Living Locators Palm Harbor, Fl Owner/Senior Care Advisor Jim Bullock collaborated with KidsAlfresco, an environmental stewardship youth and adult volunteer organization to form the "Birds of Pray" project to help seniors cope with social isolation and depression. Their partnership builds and provides whimsical wild bird feeding stations to Florida assisted living and memory care communities.

"With this bird-watching encounter, we hope to enhance cognition and reduce senior depression during the on-going pandemic," explained Bullock. "Research reveals that assisted living and memory care residents can spend 75 percent of their waking hours indoors and isolated, so connecting with nature is one of the most rewarding things we can do for our seniors to enhance their daily lives."

Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, seniors have no resources or families to help them find a senior living community. When Assisted Living Locators Long Island, NY Owner/Senior Care Advisor Mike McClernon sees this situation, he steps in to help the senior make a smooth transition, going well outside his more typical role in matching the senior to the right community.

"I began working with Frank mid-December, when he told me that he needed to move immediately and had no family to help," he explained. "He was living in various mid-range hotels, charges were adding up, and he wanted a permanent, moderately-priced independent living community. I contacted all the area independent living communities and found a single, final discounted unit available. We toured the community together on the 29th and he agreed on the spot to the placement. We then spent a full day going to banks, arranging his finances, and retrieving his long-separated possessions from his storage space. I also bought him apartment basics. On New Year's Eve, he was able to get dinner in his new community, while I moved in his personal items."

McClernon added, "We need to become almost surrogate children for seniors who find themselves without family or hired support. During these difficult times, these seniors need our help."

Assisted Living Locators Southwest Houston, TX Owner/Senior Care Advisor Robert Wolter has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for three years and looks forward to seeing his seniors, having a chat and listening to their life stories on his weekly route. He and his wife, Julie, are also passionate about feeding seniors in their community participating for more than 20 years in a 'Share Your Holidays Food Drive' that collects and distributes frozen turkeys and more than 1,000 bags of food to those in need.

"Local meal delivery and food donation programs are vitally important to supporting our senior neighbors to meet their nutritional needs and combat social isolation," said Wolter. "During this on-going pandemic, there is no more critical time to get involved."

"At Assisted Living Locators taking care of others is who we are," said Olea. "We are committed to making a difference in the communities we serve and inspiring others to make a positive impact on a senior's well-being."

For more information on Assisted Living Locators free senior placement and referral service, call 877-266-7788 or visit www.assistedlivinglocators.com.

SOURCE Assisted Living Locators
CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, experiential engagement agency August Jackson announces the addition of Megan McAndrews as an Engagement Lead specializing in higher education and philanthropy. In this role, McAndrews will work primarily with development professionals at premier colleges, universities, and other organizations to develop effective donor engagement strategies and capital campaigns.

Former Syracuse University executive Megan McAndrews brings Higher Education and Philanthropy Expertise to Enhance Agency's Fundraising Campaign Offering

McAndrews's career spans 15 years in higher education donor engagement and special events, with the last three focused specifically on comprehensive campaign management. Prior to joining August Jackson, McAndrews held positions at Indiana State University, the University of Vermont, and most recently as the Executive Director of Development at Syracuse University. McAndrews holds a Master of Arts degree in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University, served on the board of directors for the Association of Donor Relations Professionals for five years and is a frequent national presenter in donor stewardship.

"After working with Megan as a client, we are thrilled to bring her higher education experience and knowledge to our team," said Laura Shuler, CEO of August Jackson. "Megan's years of experience in donor engagement and project management will help us further elevate the quality of our work and the depth of our relationships."

August Jackson is a leading provider of comprehensive capital campaign support to top-tier institutions through case development, branding, messaging, content and media creation, and direct donor engagement via virtual and face-to-face events.

"Reaching donors in this age of constant communication is a challenge. As a client, I saw firsthand the genius of the August Jackson creative approach," McAndrews said. "AJ is a phenomenal partner for higher education institutions looking to enhance their engagement and communication strategies. I'm thrilled to join this team and help other organizations exceed their goals like I have experienced working with August Jackson."

Megan joins the agency as a member of its Engagement Lead Team, reporting to EVP, Regina Farrington.

To learn more about Megan, please visit our website or reach out to her at [email protected] .

ABOUT AUGUST JACKSON

For organizations that require highly-engaged people to realize their mission, August Jackson is the brand engagement agency that puts purpose into practice. Our work for corporate brands, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions includes branding, campaign development and multi-channel activation, with an emphasis on live events and technology-enabled engagement. Recognized as a top agency by Chief Marketer and Event Marketer and a Crain's Chicago Best Places to Work award winner, August Jackson works with clients throughout the US and has a presence in Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Learn more about August Jackson at www.augustjackson.com .

Media Contact:

Regina Farrington

(301) 641-3084

[email protected]

SOURCE AUGUST JACKSON
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Autism Speaks , the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting solutions across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan for people with autism and their families, today launches the " Autism Employment Connector Challenge " with HeroX , the leading platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions. The goal of the Challenge is to increase accessibility to employment networking and career development opportunities with a solution that supports autistic job seekers with navigating the employment search and application process while effectively communicating skills and abilities to prospective employers.

Challenge seeks solutions for navigating employment search and application process with potential employers. Photo courtesy of Spectrum Designs Foundation

For the one in 45 adults on the autism spectrum, finding a job can have unique challenges. While many people with autism have great talents and skills that employers desire, some autistic jobseekers have difficulty navigating certain interfaces, understanding abstract language and communicating their abilities using traditional text and talk. With the 70,000  100,000 teens with autism transitioning from school to employment each year, it is critical that current and future job seekers are supported when searching for gainful employment.

"At Autism Speaks, we've witnessed the communication mismatch that is causing a structural problem in the hiring process and creating a barrier to employment for hundreds of thousands of adults with autism," said David Kearon, Director of Adult Services and Support at Autism Speaks. "With the power of a big idea, we hope to find an accessible, inclusive job-sourcing solution that will connect job seekers to open roles and employers to candidates outside of traditional talent pools."

"Current employment platforms operate under cultural rules that might not be inclusive to everyone," said Kal K. Sahota, CEO of HeroX. "The HeroX community is filled with disruptive thinkers who can re-envision how applicants with autism find jobs, making sure we can all benefit from the skills they bring to the table."

The Challenge: Autism Speaks is searching for a solution to help increase accessibility for autistic job seekers to search employment opportunities and navigate the application process with the end goal to connect with potential employers.

This requires identifying and removing structural biases that currently exist in the hiring process. Entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, students, existing employment platform services, staffing experts, and anyone eager to include cognitive, sensory, and intellectual differences into the diversity and inclusion movement is invited to take on this challenge and create a solution.

The Prize: The top three winning solutions will receive $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 USD, respectively.

Eligibility to Compete and Win Prize(s): The challenge is open to individuals age 18 (eighteen) years or older who are U.S. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States, organizations that are incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and, private teams, public teams, and collegiate teams comprised of otherwise eligible individuals or organizations and are led by an otherwise eligible individual or organization, All Innovators must be able to participate without violation of any third-party rights or obligations, including without limitation an employer's policies or procedures.

To accept the challenge, visit herox.com/autismemploymentconnectorchallenge

About Autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges. A combination of genetic and environmental factors influences the development of autism, and autism often is accompanied by medical issues such as GI disorders, seizures and sleep disturbances. Autism affects an estimated 1 in 44 children.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. To find resources, join an event or make a donation, go to www.autismspeaks.org . Learn more by following @autismspeaks on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn .

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a platform and open marketplace for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com

Media Contact:

Mackenzie Dougherty

[email protected]

215.808.8659

Press

[email protected]

SOURCE Autism Speaks; HeroX
FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ), a global provider of galvanizing and metal coating solutions, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services for maintaining and building critical infrastructure, announced today that Philip Schlom, Chief Financial Officer and David Nark, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, will present at the Sidoti Winter Virtual Investor Conference at 10:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, January 20, 2022.

A webcast of the presentation will be available on the Company's Investor Relations page at www.azz.com/investor-relations. A replay of the presentation will be available following the event.

Management is scheduled to host virtual one-on-one meetings throughout the event. Investors interested in arranging one-on-one meetings should contact your conference representative. Conversely, you may also call or email Lytham Partners at 602-889-9700, or [email protected].

About Sidoti & Company, LLC

For over two decades, Sidoti has been a premier provider of independent securities research focused specifically on Small Cap and Micro Cap companies and the institutions that invest their securities, with most of our coverage in the $50 million to $3 billion market cap range. Our approach affords companies and institutional clients a combination of high-quality research, a Small Cap and Micro Cap focused nationwide sales effort, and broad access to corporate management teams. We serve 500+ institutional clients in the U.S. and Canada, including many leading managers with portfolios with $200 million to $2 billion of AUM. Sidoti promotes meaningful interaction between issuers and investors in the Small Cap and Micro Cap space through a series of investor conferences (www.sidoti.com/events) we host each year.

About AZZ Inc.

AZZ Inc. is a global provider of galvanizing and a variety of metal coating solutions, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services to a broad range of markets, including but not limited to, the power generation, transmission, distribution, refining and industrial markets. AZZ's Metal Coatings segment is a leading provider of metal finishing solutions for corrosion protection, including hot-dip galvanizing, spin galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing and plating, to the North American steel fabrication and other industries. AZZ's Infrastructure Solutions segment is dedicated to delivering safe and reliable transmission of power from generation sources to end customers, and automated weld overlay solutions for corrosion and erosion mitigation to critical infrastructure in the energy and waste management markets worldwide.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements herein about our expectations of future events or results constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and management's views and assumptions regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Certain factors could affect the outcome of the matters described herein. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in customer demand for our products and services, including demand by the power generation markets, electrical transmission and distribution markets, the industrial markets, and the metal coatings markets. In addition, within each of the markets we serve, our customers and our operations could potentially continue to be adversely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including governmental issued mandates regarding the same. We could also experience additional increases in labor costs, components and raw materials, including zinc and natural gas which are used in our hot dip galvanizing process; supply-chain vendor delays; customer requested delays of our products or services; delays in additional acquisition or disposition opportunities; currency exchange rates; availability of experienced management and employees to implement AZZ's growth strategy; a downturn in market conditions in any industry relating to the products we inventory or sell or the services that we provide; economic volatility or changes in the political stability in the United States and other foreign markets in which we operate; acts of war or terrorism inside the United States or abroad; and other changes in economic and financial conditions. AZZ has provided additional information regarding risks associated with the business in AZZ's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), available for viewing on AZZ's website at www.azz.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are based on information as of the date hereof and AZZ assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE AZZ Inc.
LITTLE FALLS, N.J., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bantec, Inc. (OTC-PINK: BANT) ("Bantec" or the "Company"), Bantec, Inc., a product and services company, announces that its subsidiary Drone USA received a purchase order to supply a New Jersey Police Department with thermal imaging drone.

Michael Bannon, Bantec's Chairman and CEO stated: "We envision drones becoming an integral law enforcement tool. This drone, tailored specifically for police departments, is equipped with a loudspeaker, beacon and spotlight. It has a five-mile range and an 8X zoom thermal camara. It takes a police officer less than a minute to launch this drone. The thermal camera allows police to track fleeing suspects at night, monitor large crowds, and with the appropriate software, reconstruct accidents." We expect this sale to be the first of many to police departments in New Jersey and across the country.

About Drone USA

Drone USA offers full-service drone consulting, from helping you purchase the right UAVs and accessories, to getting you trained, practiced, and licensed. Whether you're a private security team, police force, or government department, our huge selection of drone technology and training programs will ensure that your team flies smarter, safer, and with the precision of seasoned drone pilots.

Drone USA: www.droneusainc.com

About Bantec

Bantec, Inc, a product and services company, through its subsidiaries and divisions sells to facility managers, engineers, maintenance managers, purchasing managers and contract officers who work for hospitals, universities, manufacturers, commercial businesses, local and state governments and the US government. Our difference that matters consists of establishing lifelong customer and supplier friendships, responding immediately to our customers' needs, and providing products and services through a highly technically trained, motivated, and incentivized workforce.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include projections of matters that affect revenue, operating expenses, or net earnings; projections of growth; and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Such forward-looking statements are generally qualified by terms such as: "plans, "anticipates," "expects," "believes" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or qualified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. These factors are discussed in greater detail in our Form 10 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts:

Michael Bannon

Chairman & CEO

[email protected]

+1 (203) 410-8924

Source: Bantec, Inc.

SOURCE Bantec, Inc.
BBG CEO Chris Roach, MAI, CCIM, commented on Mr. Wood's appointment: "We are extremely fortunate to have Matt join our team, as he will be a tremendous asset in growing our independent due diligence services in this key strategic market. His deep industry experience and expertise in the thriving real estate market in Boston and other parts of New England will serve us well in achieving our goals locally and further enhance our national industry leadership position."

A career spanning more than two decades, Mr. Wood has experience across a broad base of commercial property types. He has worked with a wide client base including banks and other financial institutions, investors, law firms, special servicers, government agencies, as well as providing expert witness testimony in front of the Appellate Tax Board and dispute resolution work.

Mr. Wood's appraisal career covers North America, Australia, the Middle East and North Africa. He has specialized in appraisal and valuation services for hospitality, retail, industrial, educational, specialized asset types, self-storage, and multifamily sectors. Mr. Wood also has expertise in the acquisition and divestment of real estate assets, fund and asset management, property development and corporate finance and governance.

Prior to joining BBG, Mr. Wood served as Executive Vice President on CBRE's valuation and advisory services team in Boston for nearly a decade, where he was consistently ranked as one of the firm's top U.S. producers. He also has held senior-level positions with Colliers International and other real estate firms.

Mr. Wood is a certified general appraiser in all New England states, a designated member of the Appraisal Institute, a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and an associate of the Australian Property Institute. He has received academic degrees in business majoring in property and an MBA specializing in property management from RMIT University and the University of South Australia, respectively.

Paul Fomenky, Ph.D., a highly respected data scientist, will also join the Boston office as Managing Director of Data. Dr. Fomenky has deep expertise in leading data-driven strategies for some of the world's largest real estate companies.

BBG Chief Technology Officer Frank Deutschmann commented on Dr. Fomenky's appointment: "We are thrilled that someone of Paul's caliber has joined BBG. His important contributions to developing some of the real estate industry's most advanced technologies will play a pivotal role in furthering BBG's goal of optimizing the appraisal process for our clients and our team of professionals."

Before joining the BBG team, Dr. Fomenky was Head of Data Science at JLL Valuation in Boston, where he led a global team that developed an artificial intelligence data platform.

Earlier, Dr. Fomenky was the Head of Data Products Developer at CBRE in Boston, where he oversaw the development of new data products. He also held other technical roles at CBRE and served as a Programmer/Analyst at La Delta Community College in Monroe, LA. He is the author of articles in academic and technology publications.

Dr. Fomenky holds academic degrees in computer science from the University of Massachusetts and Grambling State University.

Mr. Wood and Dr. Fomenky will be joining Managing Director Douglas Olson and the current Boston office's team.

About BBG

BBG offers comprehensive due diligence services including valuation, advisory, assessment, desktop evaluation, energy services, cost segregation, zoning, and ALTA surveys. Headquartered in Dallas, the firm has 48 offices in key US markets and more than 2,800 clients. As one of the Big Five national commercial real estate valuation firms, BBG has achieved a reputation for personal attention, on-time delivery and deep expertise in multi-family, office, retail and industrial sectors. For more information about BBG, please visit www.bbgres.com.

Media Contact

Marc Weinstein

Ascent Communications

(908) 967-9958

SOURCE BBG
Chinese Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao (R) and Beninese Health Minister Benjamin Hounkpatin sign the handover document for the donation of the second batch of Sinovac vaccines and units of syringes offered by Chinese government, in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 12, 2022. Benin on Wednesday received a second batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines as well as syringe units donated by the Chinese government. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

COTONOU, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Benin on Wednesday received a second batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines as well as syringe units donated by the Chinese government.

The handover document was signed Wednesday afternoon in Cotonou, between the Chinese Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao and the Beninese Health Minister Benjamin Hounkpatin.

Hounkpatin said that this donation followed a first batch made on March 21, 2021, which had made it possible to support the launch of vaccination in his country. According to him, China was very early on by Benin's side since the outbreak of the pandemic and has always shown its support at all stages of Benin's fight against the pandemic.

For his part, Peng said he saw in this donation a new gesture of solidarity from China to help the people of Benin to find a normal life. He stressed that China always remains a loyal partner, friend and brother of Benin.

According to data from the World Health Organization, 1,815,764 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered as of January 3 in Benin, with 1,421,442 people fully vaccinated, or 11.7 percent of the population. 

Chinese Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao (R) and Beninese Health Minister Benjamin Hounkpatin exchange documents for the donation of the second batch of Sinovac vaccines and units of syringes offered by Chinese government, in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 12, 2022. Benin on Wednesday received a second batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines as well as syringe units donated by the Chinese government. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC:PTBS)  BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, today announced its new relationship with KlariVis , a fast-growing enterprise dashboard and analytics tool for the financial services industry, as a key solution for the bank's future.

KlariVis compiles and aggregates high-value, actionable data into an intuitive, user-friendly enterprise dashboard. The KlariVis platform provides financial institutions with timely insights that drive growth, give better transparency into the results of sales and marketing efforts, increase profitable cross-selling opportunities, and reveal levels of customer engagement. As a solution developed for bankers by bankers, KlariVis continues to see rapid growth as financial organizations seek a simpler way to transform their data for executive and frontline decision-making.

BCT is a full-service community bank with a total asset size of approximately $701 million as of September 20, 2021. Founded in 1871, BCT has expanded its offices throughout West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. The bank has a deep-rooted history of authentic community banking and serving local businesses and individuals with an emphasis of exceeding customer experience expectations.

When searching for an enterprise dashboard and analytics solution, Alice Frazier, President and Chief Executive Officer of BCT, says KlariVis was the right fit "because the team comes from a banking background. They understand banking and how banks work." Frazier views data as a "power source," and finding the right solution will enable BCT to improve decision-making and discover opportunities for both customers and employees. Through this partnership, Frazier says, "We will become more innovative in shaping our customer experience. We'll have facts on hand and we'll know our customers more thoroughly."

Kim Snyder, CEO of KlariVis, sees partnerships like this new relationship with BCT as another example of the opportunities that exist across banking today. "Alice and the BCT team understand what it means to be relationship-driven. With the help of our solution, they'll further enhance the incredible personal service they provide day in and day out."

With the help of KlariVis, BCT will become a more data-empowered bank. These organizations are working together to create an enhanced customer experience for all BCT customers as well as a more efficient and innovative future.

About BCT-Bank of Charles Town

Founded in 1871 and celebrating its 150th anniversary year, BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $701 million in assets as of September 20, 2021, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkely Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 60 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided financial management, investment, trust, and estate services to its clients. For the third consecutive year, in 2021, the Bank was named a "Best Bank to Work For" by American Banker. In 2018, Forbes named BCT a "Best in State Bank" for Maryland.

The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank .

About KlariVis

Created by veteran community bank executives, KlariVis was developed to enable institutions of all sizes to see their institution clearly and access transformative data in an efficient way, interpret it, and act decisively on it. The KlariVis team aims to provide financial institutions with an enterprise dashboard and analytics solution designed to solve the data conundrum that is prevalent in the industry today. For more information visit www.KlariVis.com or follow KlariVis on LinkedIn .

SOURCE BCT - Bank of Charles Town
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Better Place Forests , the first company in the United States to offer forests as an alternative to cemeteries for families who choose cremation, today announced the appointment of John Collins as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Collins began his retail career with Patagonia in 1996. For the past eight years, Collins served as Patagonia's head of global revenue, responsible for domestic and international sales, including the company's wholesale, retail and e-commerce operations in Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America.

At Better Place Forests, Collins will lead the company's expansion into new locations across the U.S., providing green end-of-life choices to families nationwide. He takes the helm at a pivotal time in the company's growth:

In 2021, Better Place Forests more than doubled the number of memorial forests available and is now protecting more than 1,000 acres of forestland.

The customer base increased year-over-year by 130 percent.

Gross sales increased 2.5X year-over-year

There are 10 locations across the West, Midwest, and Northeast.

"John offers an incredibly unique perspective," said Jon Callaghan, partner and co-founder of True Ventures. "For 25 years, he helped mission-driven Patagonia grow into the brand that it is today. His expertise will be invaluable to Better Place Forests and to all the families who are trusting the company to provide better choices for end-of-life planning and ways to memorialize their loved ones."

"My time at Patagonia taught me that mission-based businesses can be successful in traditional ways while using their platform to have a positive impact on the planet and people," said Collins. "Better Place Forests is uniquely positioned to do both, from protecting forests for future generations, to being a trusted end-of-life partner to our customers and their families as they write the final chapter of their life story. Our beautiful forest locations, coupled with exceptional customer service, will provide tremendous value to customers looking for ecologically sound memorial options."

With the addition of Collins, Better Place Forests continues to demonstrate its ability to attract investors, a team, and an ecosystem with a focus on impact and sustainability. "BPF is at important inflection point where the next chapter requires not only the successful sales and marketing experience that has defined John's career, but also the leadership and mission-orientation that underscore his character and approach," said Ira Ehrenpreis, founder and managing partner of DBL Partners, "John's passionate commitment to both protecting forests and providing an aspirational experience for people at such an important time in their lives makes him uniquely right for this role."

As CEO, Collins succeeds co-founder Sandy Gibson, who will remain on the executive team and assume the role of Chief Innovation Officer.

"We are extremely fortunate to have John's strategic vision for a business that champions social and environmental progress," said Gibson. "We all want to remember the people we love surrounded by nature and life, knowing that they helped protect a beautiful part of our earth. That's why I'm excited to devote more time to develop new offerings that continue to give our customers high-quality end-of-life options."

About Better Place Forests

Better Place Forests is the first company in the United States to establish forests as an alternative to cemeteries for those who choose cremation. Founded in 2015, the company has grown from a single location in California to 10 forests nationwide, including properties in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. Within these forests, people select a memorial tree as a final resting place for cremated ashes, often for multiple family members. For more information, visit betterplaceforests.com

Media Contact

Eleanor Hooker

530-208-9428

[email protected]

SOURCE Better Place Forests
Global contest invites patients and their caregivers to submit ideas for research based on personal experience

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Two global patient organizations launched a worldwide "Big Ideas Challenge" contest today that invites patients and families impacted by eczema to share their insights with the research community. The goal is to improve the understanding of eczema and accelerate the development of new and better treatments.

"We believe patients and caregivers have unique insights that could lead to better strategies for treating, managing and preventing eczema," said Korey Capozza, Executive Director of Global Parents for Eczema Research , one of the non-profit organizations hosting the contest. "The Big Ideas Challenge creates a platform for them to share these ideas and rewards patients and caregivers who submit the best ones," she said.

Eczema is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin condition that is increasing in prevalence in many countries worldwide. It impacts approximately 15% to 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults globally, resulting in a significant patient burden and high demand on health care systems.

Patients and families impacted by eczema frequently face challenges finding acceptable treatments. As a result, they often experiment with a wide range of approaches to address the signs and symptoms of their condition. Such experimentation could lead to new treatment insights or avenues for research. However, currently there are few channels through which patients and families can share the results of their personal experiences and experimentation with different treatment approaches.

"We're excited to partner on this global Challenge to leverage the wisdom of patients and caregivers," said Jennifer Austin, Chief Executive Officer of the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (also known as "GlobalSkin), a global not-for-profit organization supporting dermatology patient organizations in over 60 countries. . "By championing patient perspectives, we can get closer to better solutions for eczema."

Submissions will be reviewed by an international panel of ten judges consisting of physicians, researchers, patients and caregivers. The most promising submissions will be awarded cash prizes totaling $7500. Visit the Big Ideas Challenge website for details: https://www.bigideasforeczema.com/

The global initiative, supported with funding from Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron, Boehringer Ingelheim and individual donors to Global Parents for Eczema Research, opens today. Submissions will be accepted until February 28th, 2022.

About Global Parents for Eczema Research (GPER)

GPER is a global, grassroots, non-profit organization based in California whose mission is to improve quality of life and reduce suffering for children with moderate to severe eczema and their families. GPER is a leader in patient-centered research. For more information: www.parentsforeczemaresearch.com

About International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations

The International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (GlobalSkin) is a global alliance of patient organizations committed to improving the lives of skin patients worldwide through its 187 patient association members  located in 62 countries representing more than 54 disease. For more information: www.globalskin.org

SOURCE Global Parents for Eczema Research
The foundations call on world leaders to support the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to help end the COVID-19 crisis, prepare for future pandemics, and address epidemic threats.

SEATTLE and LONDON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome each pledged US$150 million for a total of US$300 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global partnership launched five years ago this week by the governments of Norway and India, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the World Economic Forum. The pledges come ahead of a global replenishment conference in March to support CEPI's visionary five-year plan to better prepare for, prevent, and equitably respond to future epidemics and pandemics.

"As the world responds to the challenge of a rapidly evolving virus, the need to deliver new, lifesaving tools has never been more urgent," said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. "Our work over the past 20 years has taught us that early investment in research and development can save lives and prevent worst-case scenarios. Five years ago, following the Ebola and Zika epidemics, our foundation helped launch CEPI. Today, we're increasing our commitment and pledging an additional $150 million to help CEPI accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines against emerging variants of the coronavirus and to prepare for, and possibly even prevent, the next pandemic."

Since its inception, CEPI has played a central scientific role in curbing epidemics around the world, overseeing a number of scientific breakthroughs and putting pandemic preparedness at the center of the global health R&D agenda. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, CEPI responded immediately, building one of the world's largest and most diverse portfolios of COVID-19 vaccine candidates14 in all, including six of which continue to receive funding, and three of which have been granted emergency use listing by the World Health Organization (WHO).

CEPI made early investments in the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which is now saving lives around the world. Last month, Novavax's protein-based COVID-19 vaccinefunded largely by CEPIreceived WHO emergency use listing and is poised to help efforts to control the pandemic globally. More than 1 billion doses of the Novavax vaccine are now available to COVAX, the global initiative co-led by CEPI that aims to deliver equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. CEPI also continues to work on next-generation COVID-19 vaccines, including "variant-proof" COVID-19 vaccines and shots that could protect against all coronaviruses, potentially removing the threat of future coronavirus pandemics.

"The overriding lesson from this pandemic is the need for effective organizations and systems to be in place and ready before a crisis, as well as acting rapidly based on well-established science when such crises inevitably occur," said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome. "Wellcome proudly founded CEPI in 2017 along with partners from Norway, India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Economic Forum following the devastating 201416 Ebola epidemic. We learned the importance of conducting high-quality research during a crisis. Since then, CEPI has worked tirelessly, and by fostering global collaboration, it has played a truly integral role in the global pandemic response from early January 2020 onwards."

"Our new commitment of $150 million recognizes the enormous potential CEPI has to protect lives against emerging infectious diseases," Dr. Farrar continued. "The effects of COVID-19 have been sobering. We urge leaders to provide their support and ensure that CEPI reaches its funding target. It is in the world's collective interest to avoid repeating mistakes and to help future generations prevent epidemics."

Beyond COVID-19, CEPI has filled a vital gap in supporting vaccine equity alongside R&D. CEPI is currently supporting the research and development of accessible vaccines against other infectious diseases, including the first-ever vaccines to reach clinical trials against the deadly Nipah and Lassa viruses. The organization has also played a critical role in efforts to end Ebola, including supporting the development of a second Ebola vaccine by Janssen. In addition to advancing the science underlying vaccine development and new vaccine platforms, CEPI is focused on dramatically reducing the time it takes to develop lifesaving vaccines against any new viral threat (referred to as "Disease X")to within 100 days of a pathogen being sequenced. This represents a combination of scale and speed that could save millions of lives and trillions of dollars.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how inequitable access to vaccines can put the entire planet at risk and disrupt decades of global health progress," said Awa Marie Coll Seck, minister of state to the president of the Republic of Senegal. "Innovative global partnerships like CEPI play a critical role in advancing the R&D needed to prevent future pandemics. Importantly, those investments in vaccine technology, particularly in Africa, can also help accelerate progress against other diseaseslike HIV, TB, and malariathat still affect the world's most vulnerable populations."

The pandemic has rebounded in waves around the world, highlighting the important role of international organizations like CEPI that put equitable access at the core of their mission. Recent data from Northeastern University show that had the availability of vaccines in lower-income countries like Kenya been akin to that in high-income countries like the UK or the U.S., 70 percent of COVID-19 deaths to date would have been averted.

"The world must do better at protecting everyone, everywhere against the greatest health threatsfrom COVID-19 and beyond," said Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. "CEPI's investments in groundbreaking R&D, commitments to equitable access, and cooperation across the public and private sectors are vital in this effort. We call on global leaders to help CEPI reach its funding target of $3.5 billion."

The United Kingdom will host CEPI's replenishment conference on March 8, 2022, in London. The fundraising event will convene governments, philanthropists, and other donors to support CEPI's five-year plan to tackle the risk of pandemics and epidemics, potentially preventing millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all peopleespecially those with the fewest resourceshave access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates.

Media contact: [email protected]

About Wellcome

Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and well being, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, global heating and infectious diseases.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Learn about the additional factors impacting the future of the market by Downloading a Free Sample Report

As per Technavio, the demand for organic products will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2021-2025.

Biopesticides Market: Demand for organic products

Synthetic pesticides used in agricultural practices can make their way into the human body and can cause various health issues. Also, human consumption of inorganic food products contributes to the degradation of the environment. However, with growing health consciousness coupled with increased disposable incomes, the demand for organic food products is gaining prominence across the world. In addition, many government authorities across the world are encouraging organic farming practices through funding, which is attracting new players into the market. This trend is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the global biopesticides market during the forecast period.

"The advancements in biological pest control measures will further accelerate the growth of the market. However, the lack of profits and risks involved in organic farming might reduce the growth potential in the market," says an analyst at Technavio.

Biopesticides Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the biopesticides market by type (bioherbicides, biofungicdes, bioinsecticides, bionematicides, and others), product (natural products, microbials, macrobials, and semiochemicals), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).

By type, the market observed maximum demand for bioherbicides. Similarly, by product, the natural products segment accounts for a major share in the market.

North America led the biopesticides market in 2021, followed by Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, the North American region is expected to register the highest incremental growth and offer several growth opportunities for vendors. The growth of the market in North America is driven by improvements in biological pest control methods. The US is the key market for biopesticides in North America.

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Request a free sample report

Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

Related Reports:

Agricultural Pesticides Market by Type and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Crop Oil Concentrates Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Biopesticides Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 17% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 4.46 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 14.58 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 30% Key consumer countries US, Germany, China, UK, and India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled BASF SE, Bayer AG, FMC Corp., Isagro Spa, Marrone Bio Innovations Inc., Novozymes AS, Nufarm Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Syngenta AG, and UPL Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus 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. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TME Group, Inc. has announced the launch of getLouiean innovative business text messaging platform designed for small businesses.

Chief Operating Officer Michael Eldridge says, "The needs of entrepreneurs drove our development. The question was: how can we leverage both SMS and A.I. to increase their chances of success?"

getLouie highlights A.I.-driven, two-way automated conversational texting. The platform's "Hot Key" system uses artificial intelligence to interact with customers, helping business owners respond to and cultivate a client base even without a large marketing budget.

"Today's consumers want to connect emotionally with the companies they do business with," says Eldridge, "and SMS marketing reaches them where we all liveon our phones. The Catch-22 for small business owners is that they don't have the marketing money of the big companies. That connection can be too time-consuming and expensive to create. getLouie is an inexpensive and tech-forward solution."

The SMS platform also features a built-in calendar that allows customers to make appointments and receive RSVPs. Eldridge says this additional benefit will create a "virtual assistant" for small business owners who often have little to no support staff. getLouie also seeks to assist entrepreneurs by offering Net 30 billing to almost all customers, potentially helping new businesses increase their credit scores.

TME Group is betting that getLouie's technology, coupled with its low subscription price (from $39/month), will make the platform a breakthrough success.

"We're not seeking to 'go big' with enterprise clients," concludes Eldridge. "We believe that our success will come by delivering the most innovative product at the best price to small business owners. We know what they need because we're one of them."

ABOUT:

getLouie is a division of TME Group, Inc., a SaaS and creative firm geared toward helping small business owners achieve their goals. Headquartered in Hawaii with mainland offices in Boston and New York City.

Media Contact:

TME Group, Inc.

https://getLouie.ai/

Michael Eldridge

[email protected]

808.475.5000

SOURCE TME Group, INC.
BOSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Burns & Levinson today announced that it represented New Hampshire-based Yogibo LLC in the company's sale to Web Shark Co., Ltd., which is based in Osaka, Japan. The acquisition of Yogibo, which is known for its innovative bean bag furniture that molds to the user's body, was completed on December 30, 2021 and was announced by Web Shark on January 12, 2022.

The Yogibo brand was founded in 2009 by Eyal Levy, who will remain as CEO of the company. In 2014, Web Shark became Yogibo's sales agent in Japan. Today, Yogibo has approximately 130 stores worldwide in the U.S., Japan, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

The Burns & Levinson deal team was led by partner Gil Breiman with significant contributions from partner Alex Khalarian and attorneys Michael Andreasen, Lauren Barrett, and Rodney Bedow, along with support from other specialists at the firm.

"We have been Yogibo's outside general corporate counsel since the beginning, handling everything from the company's formation and financing to commercial agreements and celebrity endorsements. It has been an honor to represent them throughout their incredible journey from startup to sale," said Breiman. "We look forward to their continued success as they embark on this exciting next chapter."

"Burns & Levinson has been with us every step of the way, and their professional and personal client service and business advice has played a significant role in helping us get to this important juncture," said Eyal Levy, CEO of Yogibo. "We are especially grateful for Gil and his team's wisdom and expertise in guiding us through this transformative M&A deal for our company."

About Burns & Levinson LLP

At Burns & Levinson, we provide high-level, client-centric and results-oriented legal services to our regional, national and international clients. We are a full-service law firm with 125 lawyers in Boston, Providence and London. Our areas of expertise include: business/finance, business litigation, divorce/family law, venture capital/emerging companies, employment, estate planning, government investigations, intellectual property, M&A/private equity, probate/trust litigation, and real estate. We partner with our clients to solve their business and personal legal issues in a collaborative, creative and cost-effective way. For more information, visit Burns & Levinson at www.burnslev.com .

Contact:



Amy Blumenthal or Kristen Weller Blumenthal & Associates

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer (617) 879-1511

(617) 345-3555 [email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Burns & Levinson
CDPQ increases its interest in Trencap L.P. alongside the Fonds de solidarite FTQ

MONTREAL, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), a global investment group, today announced a significant increase in its majority stake in limited partnership Trencap L.P., alongside the Fonds de solidarite FTQ. Through Noverco, Trencap is the sole owner of Energir.

Following this transaction, CDPQ holds 80.9% of Trencap shares, while the Fonds de solidarite FTQ maintains its 19.1% stake in the company, making Energir a company that is now wholly owned by Quebec investors. Today's announcement follows an initial transaction of $1.14 billion made public in June 2021, through which Trencap became the sole owner of Noverco, which owns 100% of Energir shares.

With assets of over $9 billion and 535,000 customers across Quebec and the northeastern United States, Energir is a diversified energy business, with half of its assets now involved in the production and distribution of electricity and renewable energies and in providing energy services. The main distributor of natural gas in Quebec, Energir also produces electricity in the province from wind power through joint-venture companies. Through subsidiaries and other investments, Energir is present in the United States, where it produces electricity from hydro, wind and solar sources, as well as being the sole distributor of natural gas in Vermont.

"Investing in the growth of Quebec companies is at the heart of CDPQ's strategy, and our support of Energir since a first investment in 2004 is a perfect example of this," said Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure at CDPQ. "With the Fonds de solidarite FTQ, we are delighted to continue as a long-term shareholder in this innovative company as it works to diversify and decarbonize its activities, contributing to a greener North American economy."

"Energir is firmly focused on the energy transition, notably through renewable gas initiatives," added Gilles Poulin, Vice-President, Investments, Aerospace, Infrastructure and Transportation at the Fonds de solidarite FTQ. "This transaction brings the ownership of Energir entirely back to Quebec while fostering the success of the company's plan to reduce greenhouse gas through renewable energy and energy efficiency."

ABOUT CDPQ

At Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public retirement and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at June 30, 2021, CDPQ's net assets totalled CAD 390 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

ABOUT THE FONDS DE SOLIDARITE FTQ

The Fonds de solidarite FTQ invests to build a better society by channelling the savings of its 734,580 shareholders into development and risk capital investments to help Quebec transition to a green economy, to a human-centred world of work, and to a healthier society. The Fonds offers businesses unsecured financing and strategic support. With $18.3 billion in net assets as at November 30, 2021, the Fonds has supported more than 3,400 partner companies and over 247,000 jobs.

SOURCE Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec
CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cision is pleased to announce that it is expanding its suite of services for brands seeking to tell their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) story. This new suite of services continues to build on Cision's drive to empower communications professionals to reach and engage their audiences.

Nicole Guillot, Chief Operating Officer Liam Power, Head of Distribution

The demand for ESG disclosure continues to grow. According to Cision's 2021 State of the Press Release report, brands are sharing more of their ESG strategies and initiatives via press releases than ever before. Additionally, Brandwatch reports that online mentions of ESG-related issues are also increasing. Employees agree that their company should be implementing ESG policies. Further, customers are looking at a company's ESG practices when considering doing business with brands.

It is critical for brands to share their ESG story with relevant audiences. Cision PR Newswire's new offering allows companies to send their ESG news to a curated network of journalists, media outlets, financial institutions who covert ESG-related news.

Cision's suite of ESG solutions also includes a customized website that will serve as a resource hub for a company's ESG news and initiatives. Cision's expert design team will create and maintain a branded, personalized website that will allow organizations to showcase their ESG media coverage, annual sustainability reports and other ESG highlights. This solution will give investors and stakeholders easy access to the information they need to make informed purchasing and investment decisions.

"The growing awareness and commitment to ESG issues by both consumers and employees has been an important driver in building out these new products," said Nicole Guillot, Chief Operating Officer for Cision. "Sometimes, the challenge for companies in building out their ESG strategy is that they don't always have the right tools in place to make them successful. We believe these new offerings will be the key to success for many organizations in creating an impactful brand narrative that drives brand growth and credibility."

"It is critical that an organization's ESG-related news is easily accessible to investors," said Liam Power, SVP of Global Distribution for Cision. "By building a customized ESG website for our clients, we will provide them with a centralized location to share all of their ESG news."

PR Newswire customers can begin taking advantage of ESG distribution for their press releases today.

About Cision

As a global leader in PR, marketing and social media management technology and intelligence, Cision helps brands and organizations to identify, connect and engage with customers and stakeholders to drive business results. PR Newswire, a network of approximately 1.1 billion influencers, in-depth monitoring, analytics and its Brandwatch and Falcon.io social media platforms headline a premier suite of solutions. Cision has offices in 24 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA and APAC. For more information about Cision's award-winning solutions, including its next-gen Cision Communications Cloud, visit www.cision.com and follow @Cision on Twitter.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Cision Ltd.
 Combined group to enable better public health outcomes through innovation in diagnostics and laboratory informatics technology

TUCSON, Arizona, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CliniSys is announcing the recent acquisition of HORIZON Lab Systems and the combination with Sunquest Information Systems, as CliniSys. This acquisition and Sunquest combination creates one of the world's largest organizations dedicated to diagnostic and laboratory informatics.

CliniSys' vision is to go beyond the walls of the clinical laboratory to embrace a new wave of digital diagnostics and laboratories across the continuum of care and community to improve public health. HORIZON Lab Systems is critical to this vision with its advanced cloud-based laboratory solutions and unsurpassed knowledge and expertise in Environmental, Water Quality Testing, Public Health, Toxicology and Agriculture laboratory solutions.

Together, CliniSys, Sunquest and HORIZON Lab Systems are over 1,300 employees living in 12 different countries, representing 19 diverse cultures, speaking 21 different languages with unsurpassed global knowledge of the complex laboratory and diagnostics sector.

CliniSys is positioned to deliver the benefits of cloud transformation and apply new technologies such as advanced analytics, AI, and machine learning, to empower laboratory professionals with better diagnostic capabilities and tools to work more effectively and improve public health worldwide.

Laboratories around the globe monitor and safeguard health across multiple determinants of health from medical care, genetics, environmental to physical influences and CliniSys has the proven ability to deliver 100s of millions of medical results a month to enable pandemic-scale population disease surveillance across the globe.

Michael Simpson, CliniSys CEO, commented, "Public health is a major concern for all governments and citizens. With HORIZON's advanced cloud-based solutions and unsurpassed knowledge and expertise in Environmental, Water Quality Testing, Public Health, Toxicology and Agriculture, CliniSys can now provide organizations and governments at all levels, and across different sectors of the public health ecosystem, solutions to improve health at population scale."

About CliniSys

CliniSys, headquartered in Chertsey, England and Tucson, Arizona, is one of the largest providers of laboratory information systems, order entry and result consultation, and public health solutions in disease surveillance and outbreak management across the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. For 40 years, successfully specializing in complex and the wide scale delivery of comprehensive laboratory and public health solutions in over 3,000 laboratories across 34 countries using CliniSys solutions.

Our combined cross-discipline expertise provides customers with solutions to support laboratory workflow across clinical, histology, molecular, genetics, including order management, reporting and results delivery. Additionally, we serve laboratories in environmental testing, water quality, agriculture, and toxicology.

www.clinisys.com (UK & Europe)

www.sunquestinfo.com (North America)

www.horizonlims.com (HORIZON)

CliniSys Media Contact:

Linden Gregory

Metia Group

+44 (0) 7525 926 435

[email protected]

SOURCE CliniSys
LHASA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- As high-altitude winds make for a brisk morning, people in Tibet board trains to return home, carrying heavy luggage and high anticipation. Their palpable delight marks the start of this year's Spring Festival travel rush in the plateau region.

At 8 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. on Monday, two advanced Fuxing bullet trains running in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region departed from the region's capital city of Lhasa for the cities of Xigaze and Nyingchi, respectively carrying 680 and 219 passengers.

"I've been working in Lhasa for three years. This is the first time I have taken a bullet train back to my hometown," said Dondrup, who is from Nyingchi's Mirig Township.

"For the past few years, I had to take bus home, a very long and strenuous journey. Now, the train takes three and a half hours, which not only saves time but is also safer," Dondrup said.

The opening of the railway from Lhasa to Nyingchi in June 2021 provided southeastern Tibet with access to rail services for the first time in the region's history. With a designed speed of 160 kilometers per hour, the 435-kilometer railway is the first electrified railroad operating in Tibet.

Pumo Anyi, a 23-year-old from Nyingchi's Puchu Township, became a security inspector at the Nyingchi railway station after graduating from college.

She said that the opening of the railway brought many jobs to her village.

"More than 40 people in our village work at the Nyingchi and Shannan railway stations, with monthly salaries ranging from 2,500 yuan (about 393 U.S. dollars) to 3,200 yuan," Anyi said.

Since the railway opened six months ago, three trains, two of which are bullet trains, have linked Lhasa, Nyingchi, Shannan and Xigaze. A train leaving Lhasa can arrive in Shannan after 70 minutes, and in Nyingchi after 3 hours and 29 minutes.

The Lhasa-Nyingchi railway had handled 621,000 passenger trips and carried over 7,900 tonnes of cargo by the end of 2021, according to the China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group Co., Ltd.

Staff at the Lhasa railway station are strengthening their COVID-19 prevention and control work, and the station and trains are operating smoothly with nearly 500 cameras monitoring the whole railway line.

Station head Wang Fu said that the station is expected to handle 200,000 passenger trips during China's largest annual travel rush this year, with an average daily passenger trip volume of approximately 5,000. 
DALLAS, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CLS by BARBRI is excited to introduce an all-new Online Flex format for our cornerstone program, the Paralegal Certificate Course. The Online Flex format allows students to complete the course at their own pace, within a 6-month time frame. Guided by recorded video lectures, formative assessments and interactive quizzes, this format takes all the best aspects of the traditional 14-week, instructor-led course, and provides flexibility to students looking to complete their coursework at a faster or slower pace based on their learning preferences.

CLS by BARBRI

CLS will continue to offer the Paralegal Certificate Course in all previously offered formats. The traditional Online course will still be offered 6 times per year as two, consecutive 7-week sessions. The Live Lecture course, for those interested in a format with more live interaction, is offered three times per year through select partner schools. Finally, the Text Only format is available for those looking for a traditional distance learning course format. Tuition for every format of the course is currently $1,895, plus books and materials and payment options are available.

Enrolling in the Online Flex format is simple and works just like enrolling in any CLS course on LegalStudies.com. On the Paralegal course product page, simply select "Online Flex" from the dropdown menu option of formats. Every one of our 150+ accredited college and university partners that offer the traditional Online format also offer the Online Flex format, so students are sure to find a preferred school to issue their certificate.

Once enrolled in Online Flex, students will receive an email within 24 to 48 hours with their course access information. Based on the student's personal schedule and learning style, they can complete the class as quickly or as slowly as they'd like, within 6 months of enrollment. Even though the course is self-paced, all students will still have access to an instructor should they have questions or need more support. Upon successful completion of the course, students will earn a Certificate of Completion and a Digital Badge to verify and market their job-ready skills.

The Online Flex Paralegal Certificate Course is available now and students who enroll before February 10, 2022 can get $100 off with promo code: FLEX100 at checkout enroll today!

Click here to learn more about every course offered by CLS by BARBRI. Founded in 1980, CLS has trained paralegal and legal support professionals through online and live legal studies courses delivered in partnership with nearly 200 colleges and universities. The new CLS by BARBRI is backed by BARBRI's extensive legal learning data science and course methodology developed by its team of legal experts. Its 7- to 14-week courses offer students 24/7 access, allowing students to work the courses into their busy schedules. It's the most flexible, job-ready legal education on the market.

About BARBRI Global

BARBRI Global is a global learning company dedicated to meeting the legal education and specialized training needs of law students, attorneys, and other professionals throughout their careers. BARBRI's success is built upon its unmatched technology and innovative pedagogy, combined with the ability to harness data analytics, behavioral economics, learning science, and more to develop solutions for learners and institutions. Building on the success of its core bar courses, which have helped more than 1.3 million lawyers around the world pass a U.S. bar exam, BARBRI offers a comprehensive suite of learning solutions for higher education institutions and law-related businesses. These include U.S. bar prep, curriculum, assessment, global license preparation, online program management, and professional development. BARBRI Global, founded in 1967, is a Francisco Partners portfolio company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices throughout the United States and around the world.



Media Contact:

Emily Chatrand

[email protected]

913-638-3848

SOURCE BARBRI
Jack Stark, the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer, has announced his intention to retire by late Spring 2022. Upon retirement, Jack will transition into a part-time consulting role as a senior advisor to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Bill Berry, who will become the President and CEO. Jack joined the company in 1992 to lead the Company's exploration efforts and has served in various leadership roles over the last 30 years.

Bill Berry, CEO, stated, "Continental would not be the company it is today without Jack Stark. Jack has not only been instrumental in discovering and building the Company's world class assets; he has built a world class team and put the Company in a position for even greater success in the future. He has been an invaluable leader in the Company and advisor to me and will be deeply missed."

Harold Hamm, Continental's founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, added, "Jack has been the best geologist I have had the pleasure of working with in my 55 years in this business. In addition, combined with his skill and leadership in this field, he has created a lasting legacy in the exploration team that he assembled and grew here at Continental. I am grateful for the many years we had during his career.

Additionally, Doug Lawler has been named Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, effective February 1, 2022. Doug has spent over three decades in the oil and gas industry. He began his career with Kerr-McGee in 1988 and joined Anadarko Petroleum following its acquisition of Kerr-McGee in 2006. During his tenure at Anadarko, he served in numerous senior operational leadership positions. Most recently, Doug was President & CEO of Chesapeake Energy from 2013 to 2021. Doug earned his bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1988 and his MBA from Rice University in 2002.

Berry added, "I am excited to have Doug join the team. Doug gives us a tremendous opportunity to expand our leadership team. He is an accomplished leader in the industry, and his enthusiasm and 'can-do' approach to building a company through exploration and industry leading operations will serve the Company well. I am confident his extensive operational experience and leadership abilities will fit Continental's culture perfectly."

Jack Stark added, "What a tremendous honor it has been to work alongside Harold, one of the industry's icons, and so many other extremely talented individuals over the last 30 years. Together we built a great company that led the way to energy security for America and changed the global energy landscape forever. It has been a remarkable journey, and I will greatly miss working with the entire Continental team. Today, I am pleased to say that Continental is stronger than ever, and the true value of the Company's outstanding assets has only begun to be realized. The Company is in great hands with Bill at the helm, and I cannot say enough about the quality of our leadership team and our employees. They are second to none and united by Continental's unique culture that will continue to drive success, innovation and value for our shareholders for years to come. I look forward to working with Doug as he assumes this leadership role in the Company."

Doug Lawler stated, "I am thrilled for the opportunity to join the Continental team. Continental has a 55-year track record of industry leadership, innovation, and success, and I am immensely grateful to be a part of the Company's bright future. I look forward to collaborating with Jack Stark, whose expertise in exploration and outstanding contributions are well known throughout the energy industry."

About Continental Resources

Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR) is a top 10 independent oil producer in the U.S. and a leader in America's energy renaissance. Based in Oklahoma City, Continental is the largest leaseholder and the largest producer in the nation's premier oil field, the Bakken play of North Dakota and Montana. The Company also has significant positions in the SCOOP and STACK plays of the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma and newly acquired positions in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Permian Basin of Texas. With a focus on the exploration and production of oil, Continental has unlocked the technology and resources vital to American energy independence and our nation's leadership in the new world oil market. In 2022, the Company will celebrate 55 years of operations. For more information, please visit www.CLR.com.







Investor Contact:

Media Contact: Rory Sabino

Kristin Thomas Vice President, Investor Relations

Senior Vice President, Public Relations 405-234-9620

405-234-9480 [email protected]

[email protected]



Lucy Spaay

Investor Relations Analyst

405-774-5878

[email protected]



SOURCE Continental Resources
SAN DIEGO, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, England, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CS Genetics, a privately held genomics-technology company, today announced the appointment of Jeremy Preston, PhD, as Chief Commercial Officer. Jeremy will lead global sales, marketing, and customer-support activities as the company launches its single cell genomics technology, which employs a simple, single-day cells-to-sequencer workflow and leverages instrument-free, solution-phase chemical biology that plugs directly into existing laboratory infrastructure.

Jeremy joins CS Genetics from Illumina where he held a variety of senior leadership roles across sales, marketing, and product management, most recently serving as Vice President of Regional and Segment Marketing where he led a global team of ~200 across the Americas, EMEA, Asia-Pacific and Japan, and Greater China. His earlier roles at Illumina include Vice President of Specialty Sales and Marketing, as well as Senior Director of Product Marketing, during which time Jeremy led product management for the complete series of HiSeq sequencers, NextSeq 500/550, MiSeq/MiSeqDx, foundational stages of the NovaSeq, MiniSeq, and iSeq programs, and other systems/consumables and library prep families, which collectively account for over $2B in annual sales. Prior to Illumina, Jeremy was Associate Director of Product Marketing at Affymetrix, where he managed the firm's gene expression portfolio. Jeremy completed his postdoctoral research in Molecular Biology at RIKEN in Yokohama, Japan, and his PhD in Molecular Biology at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.

"It's an incredible privilege to partner with Jeremy to launch and drive commercial adoption of our new single cell genomics platform," said Luke Edelman, PhD, Chief Executive Officer at CS Genetics. "Jeremy is one of the most experienced and strategic commercial operators in genomics and has played a major role in commercializing some of the most rapidly-adopted and widely-used products in life science. He's also an exceptionally collaborative, team-based leader who naturally inspires a positive, supportive culture, and has a clear personal belief in the power of genomic technology to accelerate scientific discovery and advance patient care. We're thrilled to welcome him aboard."

CS Genetics has developed a disruptive platform for single cell genomics which leverages instrument-free, solution-phase chemical biology instead of solid-phase hardware or complex, multi-step/multi-tube indexing schemes. CS Genetics' platform offers a simple, single-day cells-to-sequencer workflow that requires only standard laboratory plasticware, the ability to rapidly deploy on existing high-throughput lab-automation infrastructure, a unique fixation-free workflow pause-point at cell collection to enable asynchronous sample collection/storage, and a cost profile that is structurally inaccessible to leading on-market single-cell platforms.

"The single cell market has grown explosively in the past 5 years as scientists seek to understand biology at the cellular level. CS Genetics' technology is poised for widespread, high-impact uptake because it offers labs a simple and elegant solution that is affordable, easily adoptable and scalable, allowing access to more samples for basic, translational, and clinical research. I'm enormously excited to partner with Luke and the talented CS Genetics team to deliver their products to researchers around the world," said Jeremy Preston, Chief Commercial Officer at CS Genetics.

About CS Genetics

CS Genetics is a privately held genomics-technology company based in San Diego, California and Cambridge, UK. The company's product portfolio leverages instrument-free, solution-phase chemical biology that is categorically different to other single cell technologies, providing a clear commercial path globally without the extensive, multi-prong litigation risks borne by other platforms within the single cell market. The company holds a large global intellectual property estate covering its single cell platform and related reagent, workflow, manufacturing and application technologies. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728928/CS_Genetics_Logo.jpg

Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE CS Genetics
MONTREAL, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - The CSL Group's ("CSL") commitment to provide a dynamic, diverse and rewarding workplace for young people has been recognized by the organizers of Canada's Top Employers, who have selected CSL as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2022.

"Our philosophy has always been, invest in CSL, and CSL will invest in you," says Stephanie Aubourg, Chief Human Resources Officer. "We offer young people the opportunity to make a big impact in our organization, by working on exciting, innovative projects that have global reach."

CSL is particularly honoured to receive this award after two years of challenging operations delivering essential cargos during the global pandemic.

Mindful of the difficulties students and recent graduates have encountered in launching their careers during COVID-19, CSL continued to offer interesting opportunities and flexible work arrangements for those who sought internships or took advantage of on-going training opportunities.

"We make sure the young people we welcome into our fast-paced, challenging ship and shore environments undergo stringent training and are supported by mentors, so they always feel safe and part of the team," says Aubourg. "We not only challenge them, we also reward their hard work and creativity," she adds. "We give them exciting opportunities to grow, develop, and work around the world, while staying connected to our entire team."

CSL offers paid internships, summer jobs and co-op opportunities on shore, as well as a cadet and sponsorship program at sea for aspiring mariners.

Once hired, CSL is committed to lifelong learning. Each office employee can participate in an individual development plan, has access to online learning, training and development, tuition reimbursement, and paid learning hours. The shore-based Rising Leaders program challenges young employees to solve current business scenarios, and a development program has been designed to move young people more quickly into leadership positions.

"The young people we hire and promote every year are vital for CSL's continued growth," says Louis Martel, CSL's President and CEO. "We value them and are proud of their contributions, so we're thrilled that this award recognizes our efforts to make CSL a company young people want to join."

Canada's Top Employers for Young People recognizes employers that offer the nation's best workplaces and programs for young people. Evaluation criteria include attraction and retention programs, mentorship and training programs and career management programs.

The CSL Group is the largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships in the world. Headquartered in Montreal with divisions operating throughout the Americas, Australia, Europe and Asia, CSL delivers millions of tonnes of cargo annually for customers in the construction, steel, energy and agri-food sectors.

SOURCE The CSL Group Inc.
"Curbio is taking an outdated, broken process and dramatically improving it to benefit realtors, home sellers, and subcontractors. We're thrilled to have Revolution Growth lead an amazing group of investors with expertise in PropTech, marketplaces, and scaling disruptive startups. They will be invaluable to Curbio as we shake-up an $85 billion industry which has not seen any real innovation in decades," said Rick Rudman, CEO of Curbio.

Curbio is using proprietary technology to dramatically improve the customer experience in home improvement. Curbio's platform and app makes it easy to get proposals, line up labor and materials, track project schedules, get visual updates, and communicate in real-time from any location on any device. Despite current labor and supply shortages, the company's growth and ability to deliver has not slowed down. Curbio's projects average a 20% increase in selling prices, 50% reduction in project time, and 50% reduction in days on market.

Selling a home is one of the most complicated lifetime financial transactions, and remodeling to appeal to modern home buyers adds a layer of logistical complexities, guesswork, and stress. Curbio unlocks the ability for any agent or brokerage to offer fix now, pay later services  a turnkey experience with no project minimums or credit checks. As the preeminent one-stop solution for pay-at-closing residential home improvement, Curbio is seizing on an enormous, previously untapped opportunity.

"The home renovation market is massive and a large portion of that spend happens in Curbio's wheelhouse with pre-sale upgrades," said Patrick Conroy, a Partner at Revolution Growth who is joining the board of the company. "Curbio's technology-enabled solution addresses a major mismatch in the U.S. housing marketmore than 80% of homes are over 15 years old and more than half of new buyers are millennials seeking modern layouts and finishes in their new homes. Curbio bridges this gap for home buyers and ensures that sellers get the most value out of their home quickly and reliably. We're looking forward to helping Curbio become a household name in PropTech."

About Curbio

Curbio is the nation's leading pay-at-closing home improvement solution for real estate agents and their clients. Founded in 2017, the company has set out to transform the process of getting homes move-in ready with its streamlined approach to home improvement. Powered by technology, Curbio has created a one-stop solution for pre-listing home improvements, handling the entire process from start to finish. Curbio is a completely turnkey solution, taking care of all sourcing, project management and communication, and acting as the licensed, insured general contractor on all projects. Curbio makes home improvement accessible and stress-free so that every real estate agent and contractor can grow their business, and every seller can unlock the value in their home. From simple repairs to whole home makeovers, Curbio gets every listing on the market faster and sold for top dollar.

About Revolution Growth

Revolution Growth is a venture capital fund investing in growth stage companies around the country that are leading disruption within their industry. Led by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis, and Steve Murray, Revolution Growth has a proven strategy of partnering with entrepreneurs to build and scale category-defining companies. Revolution Growth is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and part of Revolution's family of funds, including Revolution Ventures and the Rise of the Rest Seed Funds. Visit us online at revolution.com/growth or @Revolution.

About Camber Creek

Founded in 2011, Camber Creek (www.cambercreek.com) is an institutional venture capital firm investing in and scaling companies that are transforming the real estate industry. Over the past 11 years, the firm established itself as the premier real estate technology venture firm by consistently delivering industry-leading returns to investors, driving value for its portfolio of start-ups, and generating successful company exits. Today, Camber Creek has more than $500 million in assets under management with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

About Kayne Partners

Kayne Partners, the Los Angeles-based dedicated growth private equity group of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., leverages its large firm resources to partner and invest in lower middle market, privately held, high growth, enterprise software and tech-enabled service businesses across North America. The team has developed a durable and repeatable investment strategy and process for applying its stage expertise through sourcing and investing in companies at an early inflection point, adding value and scaling through organic growth and M&A, and exiting these must-have assets to strategics & financial sponsors. The team has experience investing across media & telecommunications, supply chain & logistics, financial technology, healthcare IT, security & compliance, and business process outsourcing and automation. For more information, please visit www.kaynepartners.com

About Comcast Ventures

Comcast Ventures is the venture capital arm of Comcast Corporation, with a 20+ year history of partnering with entrepreneurs to accelerate growth for their businesses. We support founders in creating significant businesses by providing capital as well as by leveraging the unique resources of Comcast's operating businesses. Comcast Ventures invests in early to growth stage companies across a select set of themes. For more details, visit https://comcastventures.com.

About Brick & Mortar Ventures

Brick & Mortar Ventures is an early-stage venture fund focused on the Built World. Founded by Darren Bechtel, the firm invests in emerging companies developing innovative software and hardware solutions for the industries of architecture, engineering, construction, and facilities management.

About Masco Ventures

Masco Ventures is a $50 million venture capital initiative of Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS, www.masco.com), a Fortune 500 company focused on the design, manufacture and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. Masco's portfolio of industry-leading brands includes Behr and Kilz paint and primers; Delta and Hansgrohe faucets, bath and shower fixtures; and Hot Spring spas. Masco Ventures is focused on partnering with startups that will advance Masco's commitment to innovation. The fund targets investments in products and services that augment water management, create a connected in-home experience, enhance Masco's customer service, and provide different ways for Masco to reach new and existing customers.

About Second Century Ventures

Second Century Ventures (SCV) is the most active global real estate technology fund and serves as the strategic investment arm of the National Association of REALTORS. SCV helps scale its portfolio companies across the world's largest industries including real estate, financial services, banking, home services, and insurance. SCV operates the award-winning global REACH technology scale-up program.

SOURCE Curbio
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Daily Harvest announced today a multi-year partnership with American Farmland Trust (AFT) and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) to support historically underserved farming communities in California. Together they will work to improve farm viability in the region and expand the acreage of farmland, adopting organic and regenerative farming practices.

The partnership will enable the organizations to continue to advance organic agriculture, promote environmentally sound farming practices, and increase access to organically grown fruits and vegetables, all while centering on equity in the farming community. This commitment toward supporting historically underserved farmers and addressing service gaps will further improve human and planetary health.

"Since the beginning, Daily Harvest has been committed to transforming the food system from the ground up," said Rachel Drori, Founder + CEO of Daily Harvest. "Today, less than 1% of U.S. farmland is organic. This partnership is another step forward to helping drive regenerative farming practices as we aim to increase the amount of organic farmland. By assisting California farmers that have been historically underserved, giving them technical and financial assistance, and developing market opportunities, we're making it easier for everyone to eat more real, unrefined fruits and vegetables every day."

Together, Daily Harvest, CCOF and AFT will develop a suite of services, including tailored technical and financial resources for farmers who have lacked access, and support as many farmers as possible in the transition to organic production. By providing educational programming and offering financial assistance, the three organizations will help to address service gaps and meet farmers' needs. The shared goal to scale up regenerative agriculture within the U.S. farming community can lead to more profitable and sustainable farm operations that are better for humans and the planet.

"We're thrilled to join forces to help push forward and support the growth of organic agriculture," said Jessica Beckett Parr, Chief Program Officer at CCOF. "As people become more and more aware of the benefits, demand for organic food continues to grow. But in order to expand the acres of organic farmland available, it's critical that we equip farmers with the appropriate tools to help them in their transition."

"The average California farmer is a 59-year-old white male and about 40% of farmland is going to change hands in the next 15 years," explained Teresa O'Connor, AFT California Communications and Outreach Manager. "This partnership will support the economic viability and climate resilience of socially disadvantaged and marginalized farmers, who are poised to help fill the void in this generational shift."

Together the organizations will equip farmers with the tools needed to be successful in their transition, leading to more organic and regenerative food in the fields and on our plates. Over the course of the partnership, Daily Harvest will consider participants as future supply chain partners.

About Daily Harvest

Daily Harvest is reimagining how food can nourish both humanity and the planet by making it easy to eat more whole, organic, fruits and vegetables every day. Through a combination of data science and a future-focused supply chain, Daily Harvest co-creates food with its community and brings it to market in a rapid and highly personalized way. Launched in 2016 by Founder and CEO Rachel Drori, Daily Harvest works with farmers to support biodiversity and organic farming practices for a more regenerative future.

We take care of food, so food can take care of you. For more information, visit dailyharvest.com.

Daily Harvest, the Daily Harvest logo, and "We take care of food, so food can take care of you" are trademarks of Daily Harvest, Inc.

About CCOF

CCOF advances organic agriculture for a healthy world. We advocate on behalf of our members for organic policies, support the growth of organic through education and grants, and provide organic certification that is personal and accessible.

CCOF is a nonprofit organization governed by the people who grow and make our food. Founded in California more than 40 years ago, today our roots span the breadth of North America and our presence is internationally recognized. We are supported by an organic family of farmers, ranchers, processors, retailers, consumers, and policymakers. Together, we work to realize a future where organic is the norm.

The CCOF Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization working to increase the supply of organic in the United States through education and hardship grants, technical assistance to organic and prospective organic producers, and consumer education.

For more information about CCOF, visit www.ccof.org .

About AFT

American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families. Learn more at www.farmland.org .

SOURCE Daily Harvest
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dandelion Energy , the nation's leading home geothermal installation company, announced today the acquisition of Glacier Drilling , an experienced drilling team based in Connecticut. Led by Mark Schock, Glacier Drilling brings 26 years of drilling and related services to homeowners and commercial organizations. Offering a full range of environmental and geotechnical drilling solutions, Glacier Drilling's central Connecticut location facilitates mobilization throughout the New England and New York region.

The acquisition of Glacier Drilling furthers Dandelion's ability to provide homeowners across New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont with geothermal heating and cooling, the cleanest and most efficient HVAC system available. As people look to geothermal heating and cooling solutions to enhance their homes' environmental sustainability and economic efficiency, the Glacier Drilling team supports Dandelion's ability to serve more homes, more quickly, throughout the Northeast.

"We are excited to offer a growing number of homeowners the opportunity to have a geothermal system, the most sustainable heating and cooling solution you can buy," said Michael Sachse, CEO of Dandelion. "Glacier Drilling is an exceptional company and their work throughout the Northeast will help Dandelion mobilize more crews for more frequent installations. We've been impressed with the quality of their work and demonstrated focus on safety, and are thrilled to have them supporting our expansion."

Mark Schock, owner and president of Glacier Drilling, said "Our experience with Dandelion has been incredibly positive so far. The customers we've spoken to are so excited about their new Dandelion system and have experienced the improved air quality in their homes. We're proud to be part of the movement towards cleaner energy and cleaner environments for our teams to work and our neighbors to live." He then spoke to his own experience. "I put geothermal in my home 5 years ago. I was tired of spending $4,000 per year on fuel oil and getting oil deliveries every 10 days. I did the drilling but hired contractors to install the ground source heat pump and other system elements. I love it - it works great and I'm not on fossil fuel anymore. My one challenge was that I had to be the general contractor for the job. Dandelion provides a one-stop shop for homeowners to get and maintain a geothermal system in their homes. I could have used that!"

About Dandelion Energy

As the nation's leading home geothermal company, the mission of Dandelion Energy is to mitigate climate change by making renewable technologies more accessible and decarbonizing homes. Today, Dandelion's heating and cooling solutions for the 21st century allow homeowners to save up to 50 percent on their heating and cooling bills and help the environment by moving away from conventional systems to reduce homes' carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 percent. The state-of-the-art geothermal heat pump system offers wifi-enabled monitoring, creating a smarter, more responsive, and more innovative approach than any other HVAC system on the market. To learn more, visit www.dandelionenergy.com .

Press Inquiries:

Kathy Berardi

JMG Public Relations

[email protected]

678-644-4122

SOURCE Dandelion Energy
CAMBRIDGE, England, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security AI, today announced that one of the world's largest airlines has signed a major renewal with Darktrace as it continues to use Self-Learning AI technology to defend against cyber-attacks.

The global aviation company, which operates close to a thousand flights every day to over 100 destinations, has deployed Darktrace Enterprise Immune System and Antigena Network to protect the business from sophisticated threat actors  from the cloud to the corporate network. It relies on Darktrace's AI to autonomously take machine-speed action against fast-moving, in-progress attacks without disrupting business operations.

The aviation sector has long been targeted by cyber adversaries due to the high volume of sensitive data airline companies hold  whether it be Passenger Manifest data of value to the world's Intelligence Agencies, or data relating to high value transactions which can be exploited by criminals. With unprecedented levels of travel disruption caused by the pandemic, the risk of fraud and abuse has never been higher. The acceleration of contact-free boarding and other digital services has introduced another level of risk as attackers seek new entry points to one of the most safety-critical sectors in the world.

"Darktrace is delighted to be working with this major airline to ensure it stays protected in today's complex threat environment," said Poppy Gustafsson OBE, CEO of Darktrace. "As the aviation industry battles new threats targeting the technologies which are so critical to its business operations, the role of AI in containing and fighting back against these attacks has never been more important."

About Darktrace

Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security AI, delivers world-class technology that protects over 6,500 customers worldwide from advanced threats, including ransomware and cloud and SaaS attacks. Darktrace's fundamentally different approach applies Self-Learning AI to enable machines to understand the business in order to autonomously defend it. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the company has over 1,700 employees and over 30 offices worldwide. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' for 2021.

SOURCE Darktrace
TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Dynamics, the Unified Unstructured Data Management platform leader, announced today that one of its products, ControlX, has been named as a finalist in TechTarget's Enterprise Data Storage 2021 Products of the Year. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Storage Magazine and SearchStorage Products of the Year contest, 39 finalists were selected for their products in backup, cloud, disk, hyper-converged, and management.

In our fast-paced digital world, individuals, governments, and businesses alike share, re-share, grant, or are granted access to data. Intentionally or not, data sharing sometimes bypasses security and governance protocols, exposing data breaches to rogue employees or agents. ControlX allows data governance and security teams to take actions on their files in existing data lakes and unstructured data stores.

Helen Johnson, CTO at Data Dynamics states, "Blockchain technology at the core of ControlX creates a digital chain of custody for files with critical business information by recording every time the file is accessed or modified. ControlX is the industry's first and only mechanism for creating immutable audit and compliance logs, which will lead to data democratization and secure sharing of file data outside the organization. ControlX's file control operations can be integrated into enterprises' existing environment service management, data management, and governance workflow automation via RESTful APIs."

Piyush Mehta, Founder, and CEO, Data Dynamics, said, "ControlX provides a mechanism for security and data management personnel to proactively manage data security." Piyush further adds, "Competitive products manage data at a file system level, requiring coordination between different enterprise systems and organizations without clarity about the business context and decision-making. These issues mean that the competition still leaves data security as a time, labor, and project-intensive activity. That's not the case with ControlX, which provides APIs that integrate as part of existing workflows to help organizations proactively mitigate risk, provide scalable security remediation, and generate immutable reports for validation."

About Data Dynamics

Data Dynamics is the leader in data democratization by providing data Analytics, Mobility, Security, and Compliance solutions to navigate the data landscape of the digital future. The insight, intelligence, and automation leveraging the platform drive risk mitigation, enhanced data security, secure sharing of sensitive data, and storage optimization all from a single platform.

Visit: www.datadynamicsinc.com . Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, & Twitter.

SOURCE Data Dynamics
DENVER, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Inc. today announced its acquisition of transplant software company MedSleuth. Working with transplant centers across the U.S., MedSleuth aims to create greater connectivity among transplant candidates, transplant centers, physicians and care teams to help improve the experience and outcomes for kidney and liver transplant patients.

With this acquisition, DaVita deepens its efforts to fuel transplant innovation, underscoring its commitment to improve care at every stage and setting along a patient's kidney care journey.

"Kidney transplantation is a life-changing option for most people with kidney failure, one that's limited today by supply and complexity," said Javier Rodriguez, CEO for DaVita. "MedSleuth has built a powerful platform that can help increase patients' access to transplantation. We're looking forward to supporting the team to accelerate innovation and help streamline the transplant process for transplant candidates, transplant centers, physicians and care teams."

From lack of supply to meet the demand to understanding and staying on top of the complex process from workup to wait list to transplant, the U.S. transplant system can be complicated to navigate.

MedSleuth's innovative software can help not only streamline the process of evaluating candidates and keep them active on the waitlist but may also help increase the rate of transplantation through living donation. The software can also make it easier for transplant candidates' doctors and care teams to help support them along the transplant journey.

BREEZE, MedSleuth's flagship product, helps remove certain barriers for potential kidney and liver donors and recipients by remotely gathering relevant clinical and demographic information and sharing it with participating transplant centerseffectively streamlining the transplant process, from candidate evaluation through donor and recipient follow-up.

MATCHGRID, MedSleuth's paired exchange platform, uses optimization algorithms to find chains for paired donation. This helps transplant center clinicians rapidly match living organ donors with recipients who have willing, healthy but incompatible donors.

"We knew DaVita was the best long-term home for MedSleuth because we share a common vision to increase access to transplantation," said James Kalamas, CEO and founder of MedSleuth. "Together, we'll continue reimagining the transplant experience to help improve the lives of transplant patients."

Increasing access to transplantation is core to DaVita's focus on health equity and go-forward strategy in value-based care arrangements with the government and private health insurance plans.

As a comprehensive kidney care provider, DaVita is helping break down silos along the kidney care continuumfrom chronic kidney disease to end stage kidney disease through transplantationto improve the lives of kidney patients.

Kalamas will continue to lead the business, which will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaVita Inc.

To learn more about MedSleuth, visit MedSleuth.com. To learn more about DaVita, visit DaVita.com/About.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. The company is one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years. DaVita cares for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journeyfrom slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As of September 30, 2021, DaVita served 203,000 patients at 2,822 outpatient dialysis centers in the United States. The company also operated 333 outpatient dialysis centers in ten countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality, and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care industry to adopt an equitable and high-quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. Various important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, including the risks identified in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. DaVita disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release, except as may be otherwise required by law.

Contact Information

Media:

Ashley Henson

[email protected]

(303) 876-6626

SOURCE DaVita Inc.
Staff members arrange swab samples in Anyang City of central China's Henan Province, Jan. 12, 2022. (Photo by Ma Xiaoran/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 127 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Tuesday.

Of the new local cases, 102 were reported in Henan, 18 in Tianjin, five in Guangdong, and one each in Beijing and Shaanxi, the commission said.

Also reported were 44 new imported cases in nine provincial-level regions, according to the commission.

Three new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day, it added.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 105,258 by Monday, including 3,530 patients still receiving treatment, of whom 14 were in severe condition.

A total of 97,092 patients had been discharged from hospitals on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

A total of 33 asymptomatic cases were newly reported Monday, of whom 32 arrived from outside the mainland. 
Championed by Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, Founder of Dirshu, the largest Torah organization in the world, Members of the US House of Representatives met to support the Caucus launch, and discuss ongoing issues of concern to Jews in the United States, Canada and around the world.

In his address to the Congressmen/Congresswomen, Rabbi Hofstedter who is based in Toronto, Canada, outlined the issues on which the Caucus will focus:

"The rise of anti- Israel bigotry that has led to an increase of antisemitism incidents on college campuses and elsewhere;

bigotry that has led to an increase of antisemitism incidents on college campuses and elsewhere; The rise of hate crimes against Jews in New York city and elsewhere, where Jews easily identifiable by their garb are targeted;

city and elsewhere, where Jews easily identifiable by their garb are targeted; The uneven-handed lockdown of Synagogues and Yeshivas in New York that was and inconsistent with city and state policy."

Dirshu, is an Orthodox Jewish International organization founded in 1997 in Toronto by Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, the son of Holocaust survivors. It includes 200,000+ supporters dedicated to the study of Jewish texts, sponsoring Torah lectures and offering financial incentives to individuals and groups to learn and master Talmud, Halakha and Mussar texts. Dirshu operates in 26 countries on five continents with its US headquarters in New Jersey.

Congressman and Co-Chair Bacon said, "The purpose of this Caucus is to pledge our friendship to our Jewish friends, our brothers and sisters. We are 100% standing with you against antisemitism in any form. I don't care where it comes from  left or right."

Congressman and Co-Chair Cuellar said, "This Caucus is going to be so important in a bipartisan way. We have to be able to have the strength so we know what's good, what's bad, what's moral and what's not moral."

Speaking in Washington to the Members in attendance, Rabbi Hofstedter said, "Torah values have been under attack for many years  basic values such as the deep respect for religion, for human dignity, honesty, integrity, self-sacrifice, charity, compassion and empathy. These values are the foundation of the USA. As Members of Congress, your attendance and participation here demonstrates your personal commitment to supporting Jewish values and to promoting unity. I feel a deep sense of encouragement about what lies ahead and I intend on conveying your messages of encouragement to all members of our organization in your respective districts. We at Dirshu look forward to working together in the months and years to come, to ensure that freedom of religion is never abridged, and that never again, in fact, remains just that  Never Again."

The attending Members of Congress were asked "to continue to be more clear and forceful in their condemnation of antisemitic acts especially in light of the increased number of hate crimes against Jews." Congressional districts represented included Florida, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas and Wisconsin.

Rabbi Hofstedter added, "We appreciate and continue to rely on the support of the United States and the benevolence of its government to protect Jewish people when we have been the subject of persecution and under attack. Let us celebrate the inauguration of this Caucus as we embrace its principles and strive energetically and bravely to ensure freedom of religion and religious education, even in the most challenging of times. Let us battle, together, against antisemitism. Let us fight to restore human dignity and advanced Torah values in America and throughout the world. Doing so, we should always be mindful of the Torah values as embodied in the Declaration of Independence with the firm reliance of the protection of divine providence."

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

David Eisenstadt

tcgpr

[email protected]

(C) 1-416-561-5751

SOURCE Dirshu
HELSINKI, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Finnish life science experts  Abacus Diagnostica, a frontrunner in molecular testing and rapid PCR test systems, Kaivogen, a specialist in immunoassays and antibody tests, and Labrox, an innovator of high technology laboratory instruments and diagnostic readers  announced in September 2021 that they are joining forces to form a global diagnostics pioneer. The share swap agreement between the companies has entered into force and the transaction has now been completed. The name of the new company is Uniogen Oy. The company is targeting the global market with a total solution under development for point-of-care testing for infectious diseases and cancers, among others.

Although Uniogen is new as a company, the underlying companies, Abacus Diagnostica, Kaivogen and Labrox, have years of experience in international clinical diagnostics and life science markets. In 2021, the combined annual net sales of the three companies forming Uniogen was approximately EUR 15 million. The company is profitable and cash flow positive. Uniogen's products are sold in about 100 countries around the world. Around 80% of sales comes from international markets outside of Finland. The company is headquartered in Turku, Finland and employs close to 100 professionals.

Ilari Antila (55), MSc (Tech), has been appointed CEO of Uniogen Oy as of 17 January 2022. Antila has extensive international management experience from the diagnostics, medical devices and healthcare industries. He joins Uniogen from Injeq Oy, where he worked as CEO. The members of the company's Board of Directors are Tomi Numminen (Chairman), Timo Lovgren and Johan Kronberg. The composition of the Board of Directors will be completed during 2022.

The transaction was implemented through a share swap agreement, in which the owners of the three companies became shareholders in the new company. About 98% of the company shares are held by Finnish shareholders. A significant part of Uniogen is owned by employees and the founders of Abacus Diagnostica, Kaivogen and Labrox.

Enabling the right diagnosis at the first appointment

Uniogen is a globally operating pioneer in diagnostic solutions and point-of-care testing offering diagnostic tests, test systems and laboratory instruments. Uniogen's mission is to quickly identify pathogens and prevent their spread through advanced diagnostics. The company provides healthcare and patients with faster, easier and more cost-effective disease identification with the ultimate goal of enabling the right diagnosis and treatment at first patient appointment.

Uniogen is developing a unique total solution for point-of-care testing of infectious diseases and cancers, among others, for the global market in the upcoming years. In this new solution, antibody and PCR tests as well as diagnostics of several diseases can be performed with one versatile and easy-to-use device - virtually in any healthcare setting and without special expertise. Samples are taken and analyzed near the patient in the first treatment unit without the need to send them to external laboratories for analysis. With one single device, it will be possible to identify more than ten bacteria or viruses from one single sample with PCR, and determine, for example, whether a patient's symptoms are caused by a coronavirus, flu, or a common cold. Cancer or prolonged infection can be detected using immunoassay tests.

"It's great to have the opportunity to lead a company that brings together a long line of highly experienced diagnostics professionals from three companies as well as world's leading instrumentation and biochemical knowhow. Together, we will develop novel products and expand our customer base. The new point-of-care testing solution under development will open great growth opportunities for us in the global diagnostics markets. There is currently no other point-of-care testing system on the market that combines both antibody and PCR testing. The size of our target market is several billion euros globally. Our growth is supported by, among other things, the growing need for decentralized diagnostics as mobility of people and the spread of new epidemics increase, and populations are aging. As healthcare costs keep rising, improving healthcare outcomes, cost efficiencies and accessibility through decentralized testing has become even more critical. Rapid diagnostics is expected to have a major positive impact on health economics", said Ilari Antila, CEO of Uniogen.

"We are excited to work together to serve our customers more comprehensively and to better meet their needs. Going forward, our customers will get our vast range of products and solutions for clinical diagnostics and life science research from one company. As one Uniogen, we are able to combine our expertise and resources and provide solutions that none of us could even dream of providing alone. The importance of diagnostics has been acknowledged especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and diagnostics will be essential also in the future", commented Erno Sundberg and Leena Kokko, CEOs of Abacus Diagnostica and Kaivogen, and Ida Erling, Head of R&D of Labrox.

Strategy focuses on strong growth internationally

In its strategy, Uniogen is seeking strong growth internationally while Finland remains an important home market for the company.

In addition to its current offering of products and services, the company has three future growth pillars: diagnostics for infectious diseases, cancer diagnostics and technology licensing. The development of the new total solution for point-of-care testing is at the core of the company's product development. Uniogen is also constantly developing new, innovative solutions, which can transform for instance diagnostics for cancer. The company is developing more sensitive and more accurate tests that will provide a novel and highly effective way of conducting cancer testing by focusing on the early diagnosis of cancer from blood samples. The test currently at the most advanced stage of development will improve monitoring of ovarian cancer. In addition, Uniogen has patents for testing for pancreatic, breast and bowel cancer, among other things.

For more information, please contact:

Ilari Antila

CEO, Uniogen Oy

+358 45 174 1474

[email protected]

Erno Sundberg

CEO, Abacus Diagnostica

+358 40 727 8690

[email protected]

Leena Kokko

CEO, Kaivogen

+358 50 590 0853

[email protected]

Ida Erling

Head of R&D, Labrox

+358 50 372 3080

[email protected]

Uniogen in brief

Uniogen is a global pioneer in clinical diagnostics, point-of-care testing and instruments for life sciences. Our goal is to enable the right diagnosis and care at the first patient appointment. With point-of-care testing for infectious diseases and cancer diagnostics, among others, we provide patients and healthcare with faster, easier and more cost-effective diagnosis.

Our GenomEra rapid PCR tests for Covid are currently a significant part of our business. Through contract development and manufacturing, we also provide laboratory instruments and tests for e.g. heart diseases and detection of coronavirus antibodies. Our Upcon system, consisting of brightly luminescent upconverting nanoparticles, instruments and software, brings great benefits to point-of-care testing. We are also developing the first total solution for point-of-care testing on the market that allows both antibody and PCR testing and thereby diagnostics for several diseases to be performed simultaneously with a single, versatile and easy-to-use device - virtually in any healthcare setting and without special expertise.

Uniogen was established when Abacus Diagnostica, a frontrunner in molecular testing and rapid PCR tests, Kaivogen, a specialist in immunoassays and antibody testing, and Labrox, an innovator of high technology laboratory instruments and diagnostic readers, joined forces in the beginning of 2022. The company is headquartered in Turku, Finland and employs close to 100 life science professionals. Uniogen's products are sold in about 100 countries around the world. In 2021, the combined annual net sales of the three companies forming Uniogen was approximately EUR 15 million. www.uniogen.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/uniogen-oy/r/diagnostics-pioneers-abacus-diagnostica--kaivogen-and-labrox-are-now-together-uniogen,c3487766

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/21271/3487766/1521570.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE Uniogen Oy
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "DNA Vaccine Market by Product Type (Oncept, West Nile-Innovator, and Apex-IHN), Type (Therapeutic Vaccine, and Prophylactic Vaccines), and End User (Veterinary Clinics and Veterinary Hospitals): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030." According to the report, the global DNA vaccine industry generated $422.77 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $774.43 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.3% from 2021 to 2030.

For Right Perspective and Competitive Insights, Download Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/671

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Rise in prevalence of cancer and infectious diseases in humans and animals and surge in the number of antibiotic-resistant pathogens drive the growth of the global DNA vaccine market. However, lack of immunogenicity associated with DNA vaccines and limited knowledge about the effects of DNA vaccines on humans hinder the market growth. On the other hand, development of novel vaccines using DNA technology creates new opportunities in the coming years.

Covid-19 Scenario

Owing to decline in number of visits and nationwide lockdowns, there has been an impact on the DNA vaccine market revenue. Moreover, there have been disruptions in development of DNA vaccines.

Changing the animal healthcare approach to provide care to emergency cases and critically ill animals also impacted the overall revenue.

The Oncept segment to continue its dominance during the forecast period

Based on product type, the Oncept segment contributed to the highest share in 2020, accounting for nearly half of the global DNA vaccine market, and is estimated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. This is due to rise in prevalence of canine melanoma cancer in animals, especially in dogs, which in turn, increased the demand for Oncept vaccine. However, the West Nile-Innovator segment is expected to witness the largest CAGR of 6.7% from 2021 to 2030.

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry Expert: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/671

The veterinary hospitals segment to continue its leadership status during the forecast period

Based on end user, the veterinary hospitals segment accounted for the largest share in 2020, holding nearly three-fourths of the global DNA vaccine market, and is expected to continue its leadership status during the forecast period. This is due to increase in incidences of animal diseases, rise in hospital admissions of animals for vaccine dose, and availability of trained veterinarians in the hospitals. However, the veterinary clinics segment is estimated to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.6% from 2021 to 2030, owing to rise in the number of veterinary clinics due to growth in ownership of companion animals as well as the availability of trained and licensed veterinarians in clinics.

The U.S. to continue its lead position in terms of revenue by 2030

Based on region, the U.S. held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for nearly 88% of the global DNA vaccine market, and is expected to continue its lead position in terms of revenue by 2030. This is due to presence of major key players, well-established healthcare infrastructure, high purchasing power, and higher healthcare expenditure levels. However, Canada is expected to portray the fastest CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period, owing to product approvals in the country and presence of well-established healthcare infrastructure.

Leading Market Players

Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH

Eli-Lilly (Novartis Animal Health)

GeneOne Life Science

Geovax Labs, Inc.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals (VGX Animal Health)

Genexine, Inc.

Viatris Inc. (Rottapharm Biotech)

Takara Holdings ( Takara Bio )

) Zoetis Inc. (Fort dodge Animal Health)

Zydus Cadila

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

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#205, Portland, OR 97220

United States

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Dodge is keeping the pedal down on the brand's two-year "Never Lift" roadmap to its performance future, announcing official "open for business" dates for the new Direct Connection and Dodge Power Brokers programs, the kick off of the Chief Donut Maker Dodge brand ambassador "job search" and the date winners of the eight-week, 25-car Operation 25//8 giveaway will be revealed.

In addition, the sixth "garage door" of the Dodge Never Lift campaign was revealed last week with the announcement that Dodge will team up with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) and serve as primary sponsor for Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett and three-time Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan in TSR's inaugural 2022 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series campaign.

The Dodge 24 Months of Muscle calendar can be viewed at Dodgegarage.com/never-lift.



"It's a new year, and Dodge isn't letting up one bit," said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer  Stellantis. "The Direct Connection Tech Line has been blowing up with questions on Stage Kit compatibility and timing, so we have attached a grid to help answer many of those questions. There is much more to come from the Never Lift plan  keep following along at DodgeGarage.com."

Dodge Power Brokers

The new Dodge Power Brokers dealer network, the exclusive source for all new Direct Connection performance parts, will officially open on March 9, 2022. Dodge Power Brokers dealers will be equipped with staff trained to deliver a performance-focused customer service experience. Certified Dodge Power Brokers dealership staff will meet set standards of comprehensive knowledge and expertise in areas including Dodge vehicle features and high-performance parts and installation. Dodge Power Brokers dealer training is currently under way, with a full list of certified Dodge Power Brokers dealers scheduled to be announced March 9.

Direct Connection

Direct Connection factory-backed performance products will also be available for online purchase starting on March 9, 2022, via a new Direct Connection eStore. Enthusiasts will also be able to purchase a print version of the new Direct Connection performance parts catalog. The Direct Connection portfolio will encompass 200-plus parts, including new stage kits and performance products for the Dodge Challenger and new race-ready kits for the Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak.

Chief Donut Maker

It's time for passionate Dodge fans to freshen up their resumes. Dodge will announce on January 20, 2022, complete details on how enthusiasts can "apply" for the role of Dodge "Chief Donut Maker." Perks of the one-of-a-kind brand ambassador position include a $150,000 salary, Dodge wardrobe, Chief Donut Maker business cards and the choice of a high-performance Dodge vehicle for use as a "company car."

Operation 25//8

Dodge will announce by January 31 the 25 lucky winners of Operation 25//8  a massive eight-week, 25-car giveaway. The giveaway enlisted a team of 25 ambassadors from automotive, music, sports, fashion, media entities and companies to each give away a new Dodge dream car during the last eight weeks of 2021. Ambassadors included Amazon, Jay Leno, Travis Barker, Imaray Ulloa, Richard Rawlings, SuperCar Blondie and Bill Goldberg.

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.



Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America's fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.



In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.



Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Douglas Elliman Realty, one of the largest independent residential real estate brokerages in the United States, is pleased to announce that Deva Roberts, a seasoned attorney, has been named the firm's new Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel. In this role, she will be engaged in all legal aspects of the firm's real estate sales and development work. Ms. Roberts will work from Douglas Elliman's corporate headquarters at 575 Madison Avenue.

"We are thrilled to welcome Deva to Douglas Elliman," said Scott Durkin, CEO of Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. "She has the right experience to help our firm, our agents, our clients and customers navigate the complexities of the law including those associated with real estate transactions and the intricacies of independent contractor agreements. We look forward to a bright future together."

Prior to joining Elliman, Roberts was a litigator at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP for over a decade. She has represented corporations, partnerships, financial institutions, real estate companies and individuals in compliance and investigations, as well as disputes involving contracts, intellectual property and fraud in federal and state courts. She has represented clients across a wide range of industries, including technology, media, real estate, manufacturing and finance. Roberts is experienced at developing litigation strategy, including defense, prosecution and avoidance.

"As a corporate attorney with experience advising private real estate and tech companies, Deva brings a great depth of knowledge to Elliman's legal team," said Kenneth Haber, Executive Vice President & General Counsel at Douglas Elliman. "I am looking forward to having her on board at Elliman as we continue to provide our important constituents sound legal counsel."

"I am looking forward to joining Douglas Elliman as it embarks on its next chapter as a stand-alone, publicly traded company, lending my talents and legal acumen to such a dynamic and innovative brokerage," said Ms. Roberts.

Roberts holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and a JD from New York Law School where she served as an editor of the New York Law School Law Review and is a contributing legal commentator on cable news networks including CNN and Fox Business.

About Douglas Elliman Inc.

Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE: DOUG) is one of the largest residential brokerage companies in the New York metropolitan area, which includes New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey and the Hamptons, and the sixth largest in the U.S., with substantial businesses in California, Colorado, Texas, Florida and Massachusetts. In addition, Douglas Elliman sources, uses and invests in early-stage, disruptive property technology ("PropTech") solutions and companies and provides other real estate services, including development marketing, property management and settlement and escrow services in select markets. Additional information concerning Douglas Elliman is available on its website, www.elliman.com .

Investors and others should note that we may post information about Douglas Elliman on our website at www.elliman.com or, if applicable, on our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube or other social media platforms. It is possible that the postings or releases could include information deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media and others interested in Douglas Elliman to review the information we post on our website at www.elliman.com and on our social media accounts.

SOURCE Douglas Elliman
LONDON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dragonfly Biosciences Limited, the makers of Dragonfly CBD, Europe's largest and leading, seed to shelf range of CBD oils and skincare products, are advancing a strategy to become a global leader in delivering wellness at pace. Building upon its market leadership across the UK, Dragonfly moved to an initial public offering on the Australian Stock Exchange last month (December 2021). Public ownership was just one strategic element establishing an Australian beach-head at the centre of an Indo-Pacific market offensive to capture key growth economies. To deliver robust market penetration throughout the USA, Thought Leaders Inc., have been engaged under a Heads of Agreement, comprehensively geared towards meeting high-performance targets across all US market sectors.

Thought Leaders, a US health, wellness and IP Research & Development and investment company, announced today that they have secured an exclusive US Master license for Dragonfly Biosciences, one of the world's most respected CBD Brands.

Thought Leaders' plans to launch in mid 2022 Dragonfly premium CBD infused wellness products in the US, the world's largest market for CBD infused wellness products. Thought Leaders is planning an extensive, game-changing direct-to-consumer sales programme along with conventional retail distribution in select channels. In parallel, Thought Leaders plans to develop unique products and launch new segments for the US, based on solid research and development protocols under the Dragonfly brand which will be exported to established international markets.

Regan Saveall, Chief Executive Officer of Dragonfly Biosciences Ltd , says: "With an award winning and the Number One CBD brand in the UK, we are delighted to work with Thought Leaders, Inc. in the United States under a Master License Agreement to lead US sales and to support all of our markets with their experience and expertise in the consumer goods industry. Thought Leaders will work with our team on the ground in the US to ensure that our business practices are integrated. Thought Leaders will offer US consumers our proprietary formulations, backed by extensive research and develop new, unique products, supported by our medical practitioners that will lead new categories in all of our markets. Our stringent quality controls through all manufacturing processes to guarantee the highest and most consistent product quality will remain, with all innovation to meet the very latest consumer needs as we strive to become a wellness global leader and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic."

Mark Singleton, Thought Leaders' President and CEO, adds "We are excited about adding the Dragonfly US Master License Agreement to our selective portfolio of premium brands, products, and technologies. Dragonfly's mission to deliver high quality products within a global compliant and regulatory framework aligns with Thought Leader's vision. We believe that Dragonfly's brand strength credibly built on its pioneering and clinically tested consumer products will be warmly embraced by both US consumers and retailers alike."

Notes to editors:

Dragonfly Biosciences Ltd is a UK based company with international reach. Dragonfly has been awarded "Best CBD Product" by one of the world's most respected health and beauty retailer and pharmacy chain in 2020 and voted the number one recommended CBD brand by Boots' customers in 2021. The Dragonfly brand has established distribution in leading retailers and direct to consumer channels, providing consumers with proprietary products, produced from seed to shelf.

Supported by experts in farming, cultivation, extraction, formulation, compliance, and training, consumers can be assured of the highest quality, consistent standards that comply with regulations. These values translate in all of their markets.

About Thought Leaders Inc.

Thought Leaders Inc is a specialised investment company focussed on the CBD and botanical health and wellness sector. Founded by a team of professionals with proven track record in the luxury and lifestyle sectors, who recognise the true potential of this market. Their investment and established network have the capacity to lead category and build equity as the regulatory landscape evolves based on standards, compliance, and ethical practices. Thought Leaders develops and commercialises disruptive health and wellness focused brands and intellectual property that provide a superior consumer experience. They provide leadership to the US CBD market and the adult and medical cannabis sector in existing approved States and to prepare for federal regulation. Thought Leaders is committed to advance public health by introducing their technology under license agreements. Their leadership and advisory teams bring unparalleled experience and skill to capitalise on opportunities in fragmented categories that are compliant. Thought Leaders offer a unique combination of products, global distribution potential and innovation capabilities through their research and development operations in the US and international markets. Thought Leaders is poised to disrupt health and wellness product categories in this sector working with exclusive brands that are authentic, innovative with strong management teams. Through the unique combination of products, global distribution potential and innovation capabilities, Thought Leaders is poised to disrupt health and wellness product categories and deliver outstanding shareholder returns.

SOURCE Dragonfly Biosciences
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DrivenData and HeroX today launched the NASA Air-athon to improve air quality estimates so people can make informed decisions about their exposure to pollutants.

Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental threats to human health. Currently, no single satellite provides ready-to-use, high resolution information on surface-level air pollutants. This gap in information means that millions of people may not be able to take daily action to monitor air quality and manage their exposure to protect their health.

Challenge Seeks Novel Ways to Create Accurate, High-Resolution Air Quality Estimates; Top Ideas to Share $50K Prize Purse

The goal of this challenge is to generate daily estimates of surface-level NO 2 and PM2.5 across 5-kilometer grid spacing across three urban areas: Los Angeles South Coast Air Basin, United States; Delhi, India; and Taipei, Taiwan. NO 2 refers to nitrogen dioxide, which lasts less than a day in the atmosphere, but can lead to respiratory and asthma issues and the formation of other harmful pollutants, such as ozone and particulate matter. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size. It can last days to weeks in the atmosphere and penetrate deep into human lungs, resulting in major health concerns.

Existing ground monitors are expensive and have large gaps in coverage. Models that make use of widely available, low-cost sensor data and satellite imagery have the potential to provide local, daily air quality information to hundreds of thousands of people.

"This is a difficult problem where better data tools can provide timely information to millions of people to help them protect their health," said Greg Lipstein, Principal at DrivenData. "The challenge will test solutions from a global community of experts, with the best approaches automatically rising to the top of the leaderboard."

"This effort prioritizes the health of entire communities," said Kal K. Sahota, CEO, HeroX. "I am eager to see the innovative ways the crowd can improve air quality data collection and enhance public health."

The Challenge: NASA Air-athon requires solvers to use satellite imagery, low-cost sensor data, and meteorological data to develop models for estimating daily levels of PM2.5 and NO 2 with high spatial resolution

The Prize: Top ideas will share a total prize purse of $50,000

Eligibility to Compete and Win Prize(s): The prize is open to anyone aged 18 or older participating as an individual or as a team. Individual competitors and teams may originate from any country, as long as United States federal sanctions do not prohibit participation (some restrictions apply).

To accept the challenge, visit https://airathon.drivendata.org/

ABOUT DRIVENDATA

DrivenData is a social enterprise dedicated to bringing the data tools and methods that are transforming industry to the world's biggest challenges. As part of that work, DrivenData competition platform channels the skills and passion of data scientists, researchers, and other quantitative experts to build solutions for social good. These online machine learning challenges are designed to engage a large expert community, connect participants with real-world data problems, and highlight their best solutions.

See our past competitions and learn more at www.drivendata.org.

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a platform and open marketplace for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

[email protected]

250.858.0656

SOURCE DrivenData; HeroX
RA'ANANA, Israel, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DriveNets, a leader in cloud-native and disaggregated networking solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with ITOCHU Techno-Solutions, a comprehensive services company providing optimum solutions and cloud services to its customers, to help service providers in Japan leverage the cloud architecture to accelerate growth and realize operational efficiencies, by disaggregating their networks and deploying cloud-native solution.

ITOCHU Techno-Solutions is joining DriveNets' Partner Program, and will integrate DriveNets Network Cloud solution at service providers and hyperscalers in Japan, streamlining and accelerating the evolution to cloud-based networking. ITOCHU Techno-Solutions will support the critical steps of network rollouts, including design, testing, validation, production readiness, sourcing and logistics, end-to-end seamless integration, and technical support.

The companies have already secured deployment agreements with key Tier-1 service providers in Japan, and are currently expanding to additional joint projects in the region. ITOCHU Techno-Solutions and DriveNets are building up on this partnership and planning to extend it to other APAC countries.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with ITOCHU Techno-Solutions  a highly respected, leading system integrator in Japan, with extensive experience with key players in the region," said Nir Gasko, head of Global Strategic Alliances at DriveNets. "The company's deep knowledge of networking technologies and operations, along with their strong, longstanding brand and excellent customer relationship, make it an ideal partner for DriveNets. The combined strength of an experienced partner like ITOCHU Techno-Solutions and a groundbreaking solution like DriveNets Network Cloud enable service providers in the region to accelerate service innovation while transforming their networks."

"A growing number of leading service providers have realized that cloud-based network solutions will not only simplify their network and lower their cost, but will also accelerate scaling and innovation," said Yasuhiko Terada, Senior Managing Executive Officer. "With this partnership, ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation will be able to help leading operators in Japan to remain ahead of the market in network excellence and innovation, by accelerating the deployment of innovative cloud-based solutions."

DriveNets Partner Program

The DriveNets Partner Program was established to accelerate the transformation in the telecom field, from a closed, vendor-dependent model to a cloud-like architecture with an open ecosystem, where each partner plays to its strength, leading to a combined solution that is better, more cost effective, and more innovative than each individual element.

The program has been designed to leverage the disaggregated network model and bring together a wide range of worldwide players, including channel partners, solution providers, hardware manufacturers, and application developers. DriveNets' Partner Program combines DriveNets' solution with our partners' value-added expertise to accelerate innovation in the service provider space. Learn more at https://drivenets.com/partners/.

About ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation

ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation is a comprehensive IT services company that partners with its customers. From consulting to design, development and construction, operational and maintenance support, ITOCHU Techno-Solutions combines sophisticated IT solutions and cloud services to solve customers' issues and to contribute to digital transformation. Providing optimum services in all fields including communication, broadcasting, manufacturing, finance, logistics and retail, public services, life sciences, science and engineering.

About DriveNets

DriveNets is a leader in cloud-native networking software and network disaggregation solutions. Founded in 2015 and based in Israel, DriveNets offers communications service providers (CSPs) and cloud providers a radical new way to build networks, substantially growing their profitability by changing their technological and economic models. DriveNets' solution  Network Cloud  adapts the architectural model of cloud to telco-grade networking. Network Cloud is a cloud-native software that runs over a shared physical infrastructure of standard white-boxes, radically simplifying the network's operations, offering telco-scale performance and elasticity at a much lower cost. Learn more at www.drivenets.com

Media contact:

Crystal Monahan

+1-617-290-2882

[email protected]

Sandra Welfeld

+972- 9-774-4726

[email protected]

SOURCE DriveNets
KANSAS CITY, Miss., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Easy Ice, the national leader in the full-service ice machine subscription industry, has announced a new 32,000-square-foot facility housing a branch office, state-of-the-art training center, and refurbishment warehouse in Lenexa, Kansas. The new facility is triple the size of the original location, which was the headquarters of Ice-Masters for many years before the company merged with Easy Ice.

"We outgrew our previous building, both in size and vision. The new training and refurbishment center will support efficiency and consistency across every region, enabling Easy Ice to deliver a seamless, five-star customer experience locally and nationwide," said Easy Ice COO John Mahlmeister. "Easy Ice is poised for meteoric growth in 2022 and beyond. This facility reflects that trajectory."

This flagship facility is the largest and most advanced yet for Easy Ice. The Easy Ice training program for in-house and third-party ice machine service providers will operate out of the 2,000-square-foot training facility, along with a substantial ice machine refurbishment center and the nationwide parts distribution base. The new branch office is home to local Kansas City operations as well as the national inside sales and affiliate program teams, with room to accommodate future growth.

The new facility in Lenexa is the latest in a series of strategic development initiatives within the Easy Ice organization. Over the past several years, the company has expanded into numerous markets across the country, announced a joint initiative with Hoshizaki America, and invested in new executive leadership roles. With tactical plans for continued expansion, Easy Ice has increased its number of ice machines under management, reaching 25,000 units across 47 states.

Easy Ice is currently looking to fill a number of preventive maintenance, sales, warehouse, and dispatch positions in Lenexa. Those interested in applying for a position are encouraged to attend the Easy Ice hiring event January 20th from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the new facility at 9800 Britton St, Lenexa, KS 66219. Interested candidates can also apply directly at easyice.com.

About Easy Ice

Easy Ice, co-headquartered in Phoenix, AZ and Marquette, MI, is the national leader in the full-service ice machine subscription industry with warehouse and distribution facilities in Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, and Orlando. Since its founding in 2009, the company has rapidly grown its ice machines under management to 25,000 units across 47 states. Easy Ice's commercial ice machine subscription programs include installation, cleaning, preventive maintenance, repairs, and backup ice. For more information, please visit www.easyice.com.

SOURCE Easy Ice
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese biologists have cultivated a new variety of crucian carp without intermuscular fishbones, making the popular freshwater fish easier to eat.

The project cultivated this new variety through gene editing, carried out by a research group from the Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS), and was recently approved by experts, the Science and Technology Daily reported on Tuesday.

Belonging to the carp family, the crucian carp is famous for its tender meat and delicious taste. But its intermuscular bones, which are too small to pick out from the flesh, are easily caught in the throat when the fish is eaten and are difficult for industrial processing.

The research group located the key gene that controls the development of intermuscular fishbones from over 1,600 related candidates, and used gene-editing technology to cultivate generations of this new variety.

In 2021, the group cultivated a generation that can pass on the new genetic traits to offspring and develop as normally as the common crucian carp.

The experts from institutions including CAFS and the Chinese Academy of Sciences said they believe that this progress is a major breakthrough in the quality improvement of the carp family. They are hopeful that this will help solve the problem of small bones in edible freshwater fish and have a profound impact on the future consumption of aquatic products. 
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Design Lab, a national nonprofit that designs, implements, and scales new learning models for higher education and the future of work, today announced the release of its Year 1 insights in a new report, along with the second cohort of colleges participating in the nationally recognized Community College Growth Engine Fund (the Fund) initiative that designs micro-pathways, a new class of credentials.

NEW REPORT: We're at a pivotal moment for forging the robust changes needed to better serve new majority learners. As community colleges continue to address inequities amplified by the pandemic, the Lab releases its latest Design Insights Brief , featuring micro-pathway models co-created through its human-centered design process. Insights include:

Learners need practical pathways with a clear return on investment (ROI) as well as flexibility in format and timing.

Employers see the micro-pathway co-design process as transformative to deepening their relationships with community colleges.

For community colleges, the micro-pathway design process can serve as a gateway to institutional transformation.

COHORT 2 ANNOUNCEMENT: Building on the momentum of the first cohort, which included Seattle Colleges (WA), Pima Community College (AZ), Ivy Tech Community College (IN), the City University of New York (NY), Prince George's Community College (MD), and Austin Community College District (TX), the Fund announces four new colleges and systems for Year 2 (and their sector focus areas under consideration):

Colorado Community College System (Energy + healthcare)

Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona (Advanced manufacturing + IT )

in ) Bunker Hill Community College in Boston ( Healthcare + IT )

in ( ) The Community College of Philadelphia (Healthcare; STEAM life sciences + technology; and transportation + logistics)

Dr. Lisa Larson, Head of the Community College Growth Engine Fund: "Learner attitudes about school and work are shifting, employers are at the table looking for new solutions, and community colleges are on the brink of change. There has never been a more pressing moment to figure out what the next generation of community colleges are and, importantly, how to get there. So far, we've seen firsthand how the Fund's Micro-pathway model and design process can serve as a gateway to community college transformation."

"We are thrilled to partner with the Education Design Lab and roll out this exciting approach to program design at our colleges," said Joe Garcia, Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System. "This collaboration keeps us at the forefront of work-based learning innovation and will help us meet the needs of our growing adult learner population."

Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of Maricopa Community College District: "This generous support and investment from the Community College Growth Engine Fund will enable our East Valley colleges to strengthen community partnerships to support new pathways to employment in high-demand fields."

Dr. Pam Eddinger, President, Bunker Hill Community College: "With the average community college student around 27, it is a necessity to have career tracks in the workforce for the adult learner."

Dr. Donald Guy Generals, President, Community College of Philadelphia: "Now, more than ever, it's important for students to have access to intentional, industry-recognized training that will help them obtain family-sustaining jobs."

NATIONAL CONVENING: College leaders, employers + funders will discuss the transformative micro-pathway initiative during a National Convening on Wednesday, Jan. 19. The virtual event is from noon to 3 p.m. EST. Register: https://eddesignlab.org/ccgefconvening/

What are micro-pathways? Co-designed with learners and employers, micro-pathways are defined as two or more stackable credentials, including a 21st century skill micro-credential, that are flexibly delivered to be achieved within less than a year and result in a job at or above the local median wage.

About Education Design Lab: The Lab is a national nonprofit that co-designs, prototypes, and tests education-to-workforce models through a human-centered design process focused on understanding learners' experiences, addressing equity gaps in higher education, and connecting new majority learners to economic mobility. The Community College Growth Engine Fund, led by Dr. Lisa Larson , is a design accelerator set up just before the pandemic to help community colleges lean into a future role as regional talent agents. We want to thank the Charles Koch Foundation, Walmart.org, and the Walton Family Foundation for their early investment as well as the Arizona Community Foundation, Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, The Beacon Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Citizens Bank, deLaski Family Foundation, Garcia Foundation, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and the ZOMA Foundation. This brief does not reflect the position or opinions of investor partners. Learn more: www.eddesignlab.org .

Join the Lab's Innovator Network: Twitter + LinkedIn + email newsletter

SOURCE Education Design Lab
ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Elizabethtown College Board of Trustees announced Betty Rider as Transitional President of the institution. Rider, who most recently served as the College's Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs (SVPAA), will assume responsibilities and duties of moving the institution forward through the end of the 2022-23 academic year, effective immediately.

"President Betty Rider is an experienced leader in higher education and well respected by the Elizabethtown College faculty, staff, students, alumni, and surrounding community," Elizabethtown College Board of Trustees Chairman Ed Lovelidge '82 said. "We are confident in her tenured success and abilities to continue to advance the institution's exceptional academic model, implement the College's new five-year Strategic Plan, and expand the institution's commitment to Educate for Service. We chose the term "Transitional" President to communicate President Rider's role over the next 18-months as furthering the momentum and outstanding accomplishments we've already achieved at Etown over the last three years. The Board of Trustees is confident President Rider and her strong Senior Leadership Team will provide the stability and leadership needed to continue these successes."

"I look forward to leading Elizabethtown College as its president through this unique transitional period," Elizabethtown College President Rider said. "I am excited to work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the Board, the faculty, students, and staff to continue to elevate the mission of the College and its academic excellence. We are reaching a pivotal moment at the institution as we celebrate tremendous growth and success and launch our new five-year Strategic Plan with its focus on dynamic and relevant education for all learners, inclusive excellence, and sustainable growth."

President Rider is a graduate of Gettysburg College, has masters and doctoral degrees in psychology from Vanderbilt University, and completed Harvard's Institute for Educational Management. She has spent the majority of her career at Elizabethtown College teaching Psychology and serving in various administrative roles including and most recently, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.

For the past two years, President Rider and the institution's Senior Leadership Team (SLT) have achieved record enrollment for two consecutive years, successfully offered in-person class instruction for students during the global pandemic since fall 2020, exceeded fundraising goals and reached a record endowment of more than $100 million, transformed the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS) with a wide variety of academic offerings and online platforms, launched the region's first public Human Performance Laboratory, and most recently, finalized a new five-year community Strategic Plan that prioritizes dynamic academic programming as well as diversity, equity, and belonging, and strategic partnerships to continue to elevate the College.

As Provost and SVPAA, President Rider specifically restructured academic programs, formed the creation of Schools at the institution, established new five-year programs in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies, Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN), and expanded the College's renowned Occupational Therapy (OT) program.

In addition, the Board of Trustees named Gerald Silberman as Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance. Silberman has served as Vice President of Finance and Strategy at Etown since 2019 vastly improving the College's overall budget and financial management sustainability. A veteran in higher education, Silberman previously worked at Kutztown University since 1991, and has brought his extensive background and knowledge in the areas of finance, information technology, human resources, operations, public safety and security to the institution.

Over the past nine-months, Silberman has led the College's strategic planning efforts working closely with faculty and staff leadership to develop a dynamic and innovative five-year plan. Silberman holds a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science from Kutztown University, a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Muhlenberg College and completed Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management. He is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certified Public Account (CPA), a Board of Director for the Shared Services Health Plan, and serves as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Silberman's new role is effective immediately.

Elizabethtown College's spring semester begins today, Tuesday, Jan 18 with in-person class instruction. Learn more about President Rider and the institution at etown.edu.

About Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown College, located in southcentral Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than 50 health, science, engineering, political science business, communications, fine art and music, humanities, and education degrees. Discover more: etown.edu.

Contact:

Keri Straub

Executive Director of Marketing and Communications

Elizabethtown College

(717) 725-6907

[email protected]

SOURCE Elizabethtown College
The endomina system is comprised of a universal triangulation platform and an instrument for tissue piercing and approximation (TAPES). It can be affixed to various tested standard endoscopes, providing a bendable therapeutic channel that can move independently. This degree of freedom enables the gastroenterologist to perform endoscopic suturing similar to laparoscopy interventions but using only natural orifice (mouth), providing an incisionless procedure.

"This technology is a very meaningful addition to our armamentarium for performing procedures requiring suturing," said Dr Ivo Boskoski from Policlinico Gemelli, Rome, Italy. "The endomina system represents a significant advancement in interventional gastroenterology which could expand treatment options for patients."

The endomina system is CE marked and commercially available outside the United States. In addition, the system is in European clinical studies for a wide range of procedures in the digestive tract such as bariatric interventions, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or Endoscopic Full Thickness Resection (EFTR).

"We are delighted to bring this innovative and disruptive technology to the U.S. market," said Alexandre Chau, chief executive office, Endo Tools Therapeutics. "Developed with physician needs in mind, the endomina system was designed to enable physicians to perform endoscopic suturing similar to laparoscopic procedures, but without an incision."

The company plans to have a limited market release of the endomina system in the U.S. in the first half of 2022, followed by a larger market release later in the year. "We are very excited to soon have the endomina system as part of our portfolio so we can continue to offer less invasive, cutting-edge technologies to treat our patients," said Dr. Shelby Sullivan, University of Colorado Medicine in Denver, Colorado.

About Endo Tools Therapeutics

Located in Gosselies, Belgium, Endo Tools Therapeutics S.A. (ETT) mission is to develop advanced, incisionless, minimally invasive medical devices for gastroenterologists to use with standard endoscopes. The company targets indications that cannot be performed with standard gastroscopes, such as endoscopic suturing and tissue apposition. ETT closed $9.5 million in series D funding in January 2021. More than 500 procedures have already been performed with the company's devices globally.

For more information, please visit www.endotools.be

SOURCE Endo Tools Therapeutics (ETT)
LOS ANGELE, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Engineering consulting firm Psomas announced today it has expanded its service capabilities and geographic footprint to serve the Pacific Northwest through the acquisition of Seattle-based KPG. KPG, known for its focus on interdisciplinary design, planning and surveying, is now KPG-Psomas.

Engineering Firm Psomas Acquires Seattle-based KPG

"We've become deeply familiar with KPG's caliber of projects, vision and broad range of planning, design and construction services," said Psomas CEO Steve Margaroni. "Plus, over the last several years, we've developed a trusting relationship with KPG, based on mentorship and our similar cultures. It's the ideal time to move forward together."

KPG's 100+ employees will join forces with Psomas' employee base of 600+ in 13 offices throughout Arizona, California and Utah. KPG's talented staff adds new strengths that will complement the Psomas brand, including landscape architecture and urban design presence.

"KPG is eager to join Psomas because it will allow us to grow and identify new opportunities in surveying, construction management, environmental and engineering," said KPG CEO Sessyle Asato, PE. "KPG will continue to deliver a high level of services with additional technologies and support."

With a strong project pipeline and a bright outlook for 2022 and beyond, this acquisition signals the strength, resilience and growth in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. With the expanded team Psomas seeks to foster environments where team members can thrive while making a lasting impact in the communities collectively served.

About Psomas

Psomas is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm that serves the Western U.S. with unmatched professionalism, a broad offering of services and a first-class team of professionals. With a rich 75-year history and an eye on the future, you'll find the team mastering sustainable solutions for growing communities with projects in construction management, engineering, environmental and surveying and geospatial services. Psomas embraces a people-first culture that prioritizes work-life balance, social responsibility and a focus on growth and development. Psomas.com

About KPG-Psomas

KPG-Psomas is an interdisciplinary design firm with offices in Seattle, Tacoma and Wenatchee. In 32 years, KPG grew from an eight person firm to more than 100 professional design staff and became known throughout Washington as a firm that creates innovative public spaces that benefit the social fabric of the surrounding communities. Representative work includes multiple award-winning, transformative projects for the City of Redmond, design of a 20-acre park in the City of Sammamish featuring ADA-accessible pathways, and re-imagining the downtown street systems in the City of Renton.

Our work places an emphasis on technically advanced projects that integrate engineering, landscape and performance building design, often with an emphasis on LEED and sustainable principles. Kpg.com

Media Contact:

Name: Allyson Wyles

Number: 916.206.1891

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Psomas
Exploration activity in the first half of 2021 focused on Miradani North (drill results were reported in news releases dated February 25, 2021 and May 20, 2021). Exploration activity in the second half of the year focused on expanding existing resources and testing near-mine targets at three properties: Dynamite Hill , Kaniago West and Midras South . A summary of each of these properties along with detailed drilling results are shown below.

Dynamite Hill Highlights

30 holes have been drilled at Dynamite Hill in 2021, totalling 6,110m (3,897m diamond core ("DC") and 2,213m reverse circulation ("RC")), including the following highlighted intercepts:

Hole DYPC21-124 intersected 5.1m at 10.5 g/t Au (from 232.9m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-125 intersected 23.8m at 1.9 g/t Au (from 201.2m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-139 intersected 40.1m at 2.4 g/t Au (from 146m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-140 intersected 33.2m at 2.6 g/t Au (from 140m )

Kaniago West Highlights

27 holes have been drilled at Kaniago West in 2021, totalling 4,508m (1,600m DC and 2,908m RC), including the following highlighted intercepts:

Hole KNPC21-008 intersected 25m at 1.2 g/t Au (from 243m )

(from ) Hole KNPC21-009 intersected 11.6m at 3.6 g/t Au (from 196.4m ), 14.4m at 1.5 g/t Au , (from 215.6m ), and 11.0m at 1.2 g/t Au (from 260m )

(from ), , (from ), and (from ) Hole KNRC21-017 intersected 24m at 1.8 g/t Au (from 33m )

Midras South Highlights

19 holes have been drilled at Midras South in 2021, totalling 3,724m (1,163m DC and 2,561m RC), including the following highlighted intercepts:

Hole MSPC21-088 intersected 6m at 8.6 g/t Au (from 65m )

(from ) Hole MSPC21-096 intersected 8m at 5.3 g/t Au (from 275m )

(from ) Hole MSPC21-098 intersected 6m at 2.8 g/t Au (from 103m ), and 19.2m at 9.1 g/t Au (from 184m )

"The results from the drilling at Dynamite Hill, Kaniago West and Midras South demonstrate the long term exploration potential at the AGM," said Matt Badylak President and Chief Executive Officer. "We will publish an updated Mineral Reserve and Resource statement later in Q1, 2021 which will include a maiden Mineral Resource for Miradani and a Mineral Reserve and Resource for Dynamite Hill, a previously operating pit. Both Kaniago West and Midras South are located within a 10km radius of the processing plant and have shown promising intercepts. We expect to continue to drill out these properties in 2022. In addition to these targets our 2022 drilling will also focus on exploring the underground potential at both Nkran and Miradani. Deep drilling at both projects is planned to commence in early 2022."

Dynamite Hill Overview (see Table 1 for full drilling results)

The Dynamite Hill deposit is located on the Adubea Mining Lease, approximately 7km northeast of the AGM's processing plant (shown in Figure 1). The AGM mined the previous Reserve base at the deposit, with mining being completed in late 2019. However, indicated mineralization remained open at depth at cessation of mining. Recent drilling has confirmed that indicated mineralization continues to 100m+ beneath the existing pit bottom. As pictured in Figures 3 and 4, this indicated mineralization appears to be supported at depth with indicated geological continuity. Select intercepts from Dynamite Hill include:

Hole DYPC21-123 intersected 33.4m at 1.5 g/t Au (from 189.7m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-124 intersected 5.1m at 10.5 g/t Au (from 232.9m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-125 intersected 23.8m at 1.9 g/t Au (from 201.2m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-126 intersected 4.8m at 3.0 g/t Au (from 147.2m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-127 intersected 14m at 1.9 g/t Au (from 149m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-128 intersected 9m at 1.9 g/t Au (from 39m ), 7m at 1.5 g/t Au (from 190m ), and 13.5m at 1.6 g/t Au (from 213.5m )

(from ), (from ), and (from ) Hole DYPC21-129 intersected 14m at 1.0 g/t Au (from 23m ), and 45m at 0.9 g/t ( from 202m ) Hole DYPC21-130 also returned 23m @ 0.7 g/t Au , (from 180m )

(from ), and from ) Hole DYPC21-130 also returned , (from ) Hole DYPC21-132 returned 11.04m @ 1.8 g/t Au , (from 135.8m )

, (from ) Hole DYPC12-134 intersected 54m at 1.2 g/t Au (from 156m )

(from ) Hole DYPC12-139 intersected 40.1m at 2.4 g/t Au (from 146m )

(from ) Hole DYPC21-140 intersected 12m at 0.8 g/t Au (from 25m ), and 33.2m at 2.6 g/t Au (from 140m )

The Dynamite Hill deposit is situated along the Nkran shear zone, a laterally extensive structure recognized from airborne VTEM and magnetic surveys and extensively mapped on the ground. The Nkran shear zone plays host to the Nkran, Akwasiso and Asuadai deposits, part of the prominent northeast striking Asankrangwa gold belt.

Indicated mineralization at Dynamite Hill is spatially associated with two en echelon, steeply west dipping tonalite intrusives that have preferentially intruded along a northeast trending corridor. Of note, a second, much smaller vertical to steeply east dipping mineralised structure was discovered during this campaign. Indicated mineralization occurs in the intrusives and in the surrounding deformed sandstone, siltstone and phyllite rock package in a similar fashion to the nearby Nkran deposit. These intrusives are believed to act as excellent hosts to mineralising fluids. Stratigraphy and structure are both steeply dipping to the northwest as they do for most of the Asankrangwa Belt gold deposits. Indicated gold mineralization at Dynamite Hill occurs in quartz veins and in association with silica flooding, pyrite, arsenopyrite, and traces of base metal sulfides, within a broader envelope of quartz-sericite-pyrite and carbonate alteration.

Kaniago West Overview (See Table 1 for full drilling results)

The Kaniago West prospect, acquired as part of the Midlands Mineral Corporation property transaction in 2015 (see news release dated March 25, 2015) is conveniently located just 5km NW of the AGM's processing plant (shown in Figure 1). Recent drilling has intersected broad zones of quartz breccia and veining with associated visible gold mineralization beneath and along strike from narrow, near surface zones discovered by Midlands. Indicated mineralization remains open at depth and along strike. Select intercepts from Kaniago West include:

Hole KNPC21-008 intersected 25m at 1.2 g/ t Au (from 243m )

t (from ) Hole KNPC21-007 intersected 10m at 1.4 g/t Au (from 91m )

(from ) Hole KNPC21-009 intersected 11.6m at 3.6 g/t Au (from 196.4m ), 14.4m at 1.5 g/t Au , (from 215.6m ), and 11.0m at 1.2 g/t Au (from 260m )

(from ), , (from ), and (from ) Hole KNPC21-012 intersected 7m at 12.6 g/t Au (from 51m ), and 14m @ 1.7 g/t Au (from 63m )

(from ), and (from ) Hole KNRC21-017 intersected 24m at 1.8 g/t Au (from 33m )

The Kaniago West prospect lies along the Esaase - Abore shear zone, a laterally extensive structure recognized from airborne VTEM and magnetic surveys and extensively mapped on the ground. The structure plays host to the Esaase and Abore deposits, part of the prominent northeast striking Asankrangwa gold belt. Anomalous gold-in-soils can be traced for several kilometres NE of the current Kaniago West drilling and as yet untested alluvial gold workings can be seen to the SW.

Indicated mineralization at Kaniago West is developed within a package of deformed sandstone, siltstone and phyllite. Stratigraphy and structure are both steeply dipping to the northwest as they do for most of the Asankrangwa Belt gold deposits. Indicated gold mineralization at Kaniago West occurs in association with silica flooding [and] distinctive stylolitic quartz veining (similar to that noted at Esaase) with patchy visible gold and pyrite, within a broader envelope of quartz-sericite-pyrite and carbonate alteration.

Midras South Overview (See Table 1 for full drilling results)

Midras South is located on the Datano Mining Lease, 5km south of the AGM's processing plant (shown in Figure 1). The drill program at Midras South was designed to expand on the known mineralized systems in the area, and although only partially completed due to access issues, did provide some of the better high grade intercepts this year to date. Select intercepts from Midras South include:

Hole MSPC21-088 intersected 6m at 8.6 g/t Au (from 65m )

(from ) Hole MSPC21-089 intersected 9.7m at 2.4 g/t Au (from 187m )

(from ) Hole MSPC21-096 intersected 8m at 5.3 g/t Au (from 275m )

(from ) Hole MSPC21-098 intersected 6m at 2.8 g/t Au (from 103m ), and 19.2m at 9.1 g/t Au (from 184m )

(from ), and (from ) Hole MSRC21-106 intersected 6m at 2.9 g/t Au (from 5m ), and 8m at 2.1 g/t Au (from 58m )

The Midras South prospect lies along the Takorase - Afraso shear zone, a laterally extensive structure recognized from airborne VTEM and magnetic surveys and extensively mapped on the ground. Midras South consists of 3 distinct zones of indicated mineralization, inferred to be fault offsets of the one ore zone.

Similar in character to Esaase and Kaniago West, indicated mineralization at Midras South is developed within a package of deformed sandstone, siltstone and phyllite. Stratigraphy and structure are both steeply dipping to the northwest as they do for most of the Asankrangwa Belt gold deposits. Indicated gold mineralization at Midras South occurs in association with quartz veining, arsenopyrite and pyrite, within a broader envelope of quartz-sericite-pyrite and carbonate alteration.

Figure 1. Site Map

Figure 2. Base map of the Dynamite Hill deposit, showing recent intersections, illustrating the en echelon relationship between the two granitoid bodies

Figure 3. Section 706997 through the dynamite Hill deposit, illustrating that high grade indicated mineralisation is open at depth

Figure 4. Section 706927 through the Dynamite Hill deposit

Figure 5. Plan view of the Kaniago West prospect, with intersections and preliminary indicated mineralised domain

Figure 6. Section 703987 through the Kaniago West prospect, illustrating the narrow near surface profile to indicated gold mineralization, and openness at depth of indicated mineralization

Figure 7. Section 704092 through the Kaniago West prospect, illustrating the indicated gold mineralization and openness at depth

Figure 8. Plan view of the Midras South prospect, with intersections and preliminary indicated mineralised domain

Figure 9. Section line 696120, illustrating the location of the outstanding high grade 19.2m at 9.1 g/t intercept in hole MSPC21-098.

Table 1. Intercepts for, Kaniago West (KNRC) and Midras South (MSTR) and Dynamite Hill (DYPC), drilling1,2, 3

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval

Width (m) Grade

(g/t Au) Intercept

Description KNRC21-001 3.0 15.0 12.0 1.5 12.00m @ 1.5 g/t KNRC21-001 27.0 33.0 6.0 0.5 6.00m @ 0.5 g/t KNRC21-001 45.0 57.0 12.0 0.7 12.00m @ 0.7 g/t KNRC21-002 11.0 14.0 3.0 1.8 3.00m @ 1.8 g/t KNRC21-002 65.0 68.0 3.0 2.1 3.00m @ 2.1 g/t KNRC21-002 72.0 76.0 4.0 2.2 4.00m @ 2.2 g/t KNPC21-003 74.0 84.0 10.0 1.1 10.00m @ 1.1 g/t KNPC21-003 88.0 94.0 6.0 1.2 6.00m @ 1.2 g/t KNPC21-004 2.0 15.0 13.0 0.9 13.00m @ 0.9 g/t KNPC21-004 37.0 43.0 6.0 1.8 6.00m @ 1.8 g/t KNRC21-005 3.0 11.0 8.0 1.5 8.00m @ 1.5 g/t KNRC21-005 30.0 34.0 4.0 0.7 4.00m @ 0.7 g/t KNPC21-006 10.0 12.0 2.0 1.8 2.00m @ 1.8 g/t KNPC21-006 71.0 74.0 3.0 1.3 3.00m @ 1.3 g/t KNPC21-007 91.0 101.0 10.0 1.4 10.00m @ 1.4 g/t KNPC21-007 120.9 126.0 5.1 1.6 5.08m @ 1.6 g/t KNPC21-007 137.0 142.5 5.5 1.3 5.50m @ 1.3 g/t KNPC21-007 154.0 156.6 2.6 3.6 2.62m @ 3.6 g/t KNPC21-007 195.8 208.2 12.4 0.6 12.39m @ 0.6 g/t KNPC21-007 216.0 227.0 11.0 0.9 11.00m @ 0.9 g/t KNPC21-008 156.1 160.5 4.4 2.3 4.36m @ 2.3 g/t KNPC21-008 164.0 168.5 4.5 0.9 4.49m @ 0.9 g/t KNPC21-008 181.1 183.6 2.5 1.4 2.54m @ 1.4 g/t KNPC21-008 194.4 198.7 4.3 0.9 4.30m @ 0.9 g/t KNPC21-008 243.0 268.0 25.0 1.19 25.00m @ 1.19 g/t KNPC21-009 80.0 82.0 2.0 0.6 2.00m @ 0.6 g/t KNPC21-009 155.7 175.0 19.3 0.7 19.30m @ 0.7 g/t KNPC21-009 182.0 185.3 3.3 1.0 3.30m @ 1.0 g/t KNPC21-009 196.4 208.0 11.6 3.6 11.60m @ 3.6 g/t KNPC21-009 215.6 230.0 14.4 1.5 14.40m @ 1.5 g/t KNPC21-009 260.0 271.0 11.0 1.2 11.00m @ 1.2 g/t KNPC21-009 274.5 280.0 5.5 0.7 5.50m @ 0.7 g/t KNPC21-012 23.0 25.0 2.0 1.1 2.00m @ 1.1 g/t KNPC21-012 51.0 58.0 7.0 12.6 7.00m @ 12.6 g/t MSTR21-012 54.0 56.0 2.0 0.8 2.00m @ 0.8 g/t KNPC21-012 63.0 77.0 14.0 1.7 14.00m @ 1.7 g/t KNPC21-012 88.0 92.0 4.0 1.0 4.00m @ 1.0 g/t KNPC21-012 133.5 136.3 2.9 1.0 2.88m @ 1.0 g/t MSTR21-015 33.0 35.0 2.0 0.5 2.00m @ 0.5 g/t MSTR21-015 46.0 48.0 2.0 0.7 2.00m @ 0.7 g/t KNRC21-017 33.0 57.0 24.0 1.84 24.00m @ 1.84 g/t MSTR21-017 95.0 97.0 2.0 11.3 2.00m @ 11.3 g/t MSRC21-085 14.0 19.0 5.0 1.0 5.00m @ 1.0 g/t MSRC21-085 46.0 50.0 4.0 1.2 4.00m @ 1.2 g/t MSRC21-085 56.0 58.0 2.0 1.2 2.00m @ 1.2 g/t MSPC21-086 21.0 31.0 10.0 0.8 10.00m @ 0.8 g/t MSPC21-086 41.0 48.0 7.0 1.2 7.00m @ 1.2 g/t MSPC21-086 68.0 73.0 5.0 1.6 5.00m @ 1.6 g/t MSRC21-087 17.0 20.0 3.0 1.3 3.00m @ 1.3 g/t MSRC21-087 50.0 58.0 8.0 0.7 8.00m @ 0.7 g/t MSRC21-087 114.0 118.0 4.0 0.5 4.00m @ 0.5 g/t MSRC21-087 124.0 126.0 2.0 1.9 2.00m @ 1.9 g/t MSRC21-088 54.0 57.0 3.0 0.8 3.00m @ 0.8 g/t MSRC21-088 65.0 71.0 6.0 8.6 6.00m @ 8.6 g/t MSPC21-089 34.0 36.0 2.0 0.6 2.00m @ 0.6 g/t MSPC21-089 106.5 116.0 9.5 1.6 9.50m @ 1.6 g/t MSPC21-089 120.2 128.7 8.5 1.5 8.54m @ 1.5 g/t MSPC21-089 143.0 145.3 2.3 1.3 2.30m @ 1.3 g/t MSPC21-089 187.3 197.0 9.7 2.4 9.70m @ 2.4 g/t MSPC21-089 201.5 207.0 5.5 0.6 5.54m @ 0.6 g/t MSPC21-090 31.0 33.0 2.0 0.7 2.00m @ 0.7 g/t MSPC21-090 197.0 201.7 4.7 1.1 4.70m @ 1.1 g/t MSRC21-092 5.0 9.0 4.0 0.7 4.00m @ 0.7 g/t MSRC21-094 8.0 13.0 5.0 0.6 5.00m @ 0.6 g/t MSRC21-094 44.0 46.0 2.0 0.7 2.00m @ 0.7 g/t MSPC21-096 114.0 120.0 6.0 1.6 6.00m @ 1.6 g/t MSPC21-096 275.0 283.0 8.0 5.3 8.00m @ 5.3 g/t MSPC21-097 230.0 232.0 2.0 1.3 2.00m @ 1.3 g/t MSPC21-098 103.0 109.0 6.0 2.8 6.00m @ 2.8 g/t MSPC21-098 158.0 171.0 13.0 0.8 13.00m @ 0.8 g/t MSPC21-098 184.0 203.2 19.2 9.1 19.20m @ 9.1 g/t MSPC21-101 162.0 165.1 3.1 1.8 3.10m @ 1.8 g/t MSPC21-102 178.2 186.9 8.7 1.4 8.74m @ 1.4 g/t MSPC21-103 198.0 200.0 2.0 1.1 2.00m @ 1.1 g/t MSPC21-103 228.0 230.3 2.3 1.1 2.26m @ 1.1 g/t MSPC21-103 243.7 249.0 5.3 0.8 5.30m @ 0.8 g/t MSRC21-104 43.0 47.0 4.0 0.5 4.00m @ 0.5 g/t MSRC21-104 63.0 66.0 3.0 2.3 3.00m @ 2.3 g/t MSRC21-105 4.0 19.0 15.0 0.5 15.00m @ 0.5 g/t MSRC21-105 34.0 37.0 3.0 1.1 3.00m @ 1.1 g/t MSRC21-105 58.0 66.0 8.0 2.1 8.00m @ 2.1 g/t MSRC21-106 5.0 11.0 6.0 2.9 6.00m @ 2.9 g/t MSRC21-106 23.0 32.0 9.0 0.7 9.00m @ 0.7 g/t MSRC21-106 63.0 65.0 2.0 1.0 2.00m @ 1.0 g/t DYRC21-120 117.0 120.0 3.0 1.7 3.00m @ 1.7 g/t DYPC21-123 66.0 68.0 2.0 0.6 2.00m @ 0.6 g/t DYPC21-123 189.7 223.1 33.4 1.5 33.40m @ 1.5 g/t DYPC21-124 207.6 210.0 2.4 0.9 2.40m @ 0.9 g/t DYPC21-124 222.0 226.6 4.6 0.6 4.60m @ 0.6 g/t DYPC21-124 232.9 238.0 5.1 10.5 5.10m @ 10.5 g/t DYPC21-125 201.2.0 225.0 23.8 1.9 23.80m @ 1.9 g/t DYPC21-126 6.0 8.0 2.0 1.3 2.00m @ 1.3 g/t DYPC21-126 13.0 15.0 2.0 1.2 2.00m @ 1.2 g/t DYPC21-126 137.0 141.5 4.5 0.7 4.50m @ 0.7 g/t DYPC21-126 147.2 152.0 4.8 3.0 4.80m @ 3.0 g/t DYPC21-127 149.0 163.0 14.0 2.0 14.00m @ 2.0 g/t DYPC21-127 179.0 181.0 2.0 2.0 2.00m @ 2.0 g/t DYPC21-128 5.0 11.0 6.0 0.4 6.00m @ 0.4 g/t DYPC21-128 39.0 48.0 9.0 1.9 9.00m @ 1.9 g/t DYPC21-128 190.0 197.0 7.0 1.5 7.00m @ 1.5 g/t DYPC21-128 213.5 227.0 13.5 1.6 13.50m @ 1.6 g/t DYPC21-129 4.0 19.0 15.0 0.6 15.00m @ 0.6 g/t DYPC21-129 23.0 37.0 14.0 1.0 14.00m @ 1.0 g/t DYPC21-129 58.0 64.0 6.0 0.5 6.00m @ 0.5 g/t DYPC21-129 184.3 199.0 14.7 0.8 14.70m @ 0.8 g/t DYPC21-129 203.0 222.0 19.0 1.1 19.00m @ 1.1 g/t DYPC21-129 228.0 235.0 7.0 1.1 7.00m @ 1.1 g/t DYPC21-129 238.2 247.0 8.8 1.2 8.80m @ 1.2 g/t DYPC21-129 273.0 275.0 2.0 1.1 2.00m @ 1.1 g/t DYPC21-130 18.0 20.0 2.0 0.6 2.00m @ 0.6 g/t DYPC21-130 37.0 45.0 8.0 0.5 8.00m @ 0.5 g/t DYPC21-130 180.0 203.0 23.0 0.7 23.00m @ 0.7 g/t DYPC21-130 209.0 213.0 4.0 0.5 4.00m @ 0.5 g/t DYPC21-130 222.0 226.0 4.0 2.9 4.00m @ 2.9 g/t DYPC21-130 229.5 233.0 3.5 1.8 3.50m @ 1.8 g/t DYPC21-130 239.0 241.0 2.0 2.3 2.00m @ 2.3 g/t DYPC21-132 4.0 12.0 8.0 1.8 8.00m @ 1.8 g/t DYPC21-132 135.8 146.8 11.0 1.8 11.04m @ 1.8 g/t DYPC21-132 151.6 155.3 3.7 0.6 3.70m @ 0.6 g/t DYPC21-132 169.9 177.0 7.2 0.6 7.15m @ 0.6 g/t DYPC21-132 182.0 184.7 2.7 0.9 2.65m @ 0.9 g/t DYPC21-132 192.9 195.4 2.6 1.1 2.55m @ 1.1 g/t DYPC21-132 213.7 218.0 4.3 1.4 4.30m @ 1.4 g/t DYPC21-133 3.0 5.0 2.0 1.8 2.00m @ 1.8 g/t DYPC21-133 38.0 41.0 3.0 1.7 3.00m @ 1.7 g/t DYPC21-133 224.0 233.9 9.9 1.9 9.90m @ 1.9 g/t DYPC21-134 140.0 144.0 4.0 1.4 4.00m @ 1.4 g/t DYPC21-134 156.0 184.0 28.0 1.3 28.00m @ 1.3 g/t DYPC21-134 188.0 210.0 22.0 1.6 22.00m @ 1.6 g/t DYPC21-139 16.0 18.0 2.0 2.0 2.00m @ 2.0 g/t DYPC21-139 22.0 28.0 6.0 0.5 6.00m @ 0.5 g/t DYPC21-139 32.0 42.0 10.0 0.7 10.00m @ 0.7 g/t DYPC21-139 146.0 156.0 10.0 4.7 10.00m @ 4.7 g/t DYPC21-139 161.0 186.1 25.1 2.0 25.10m @ 2.0 g/t DYPC21-140 25.0 31.0 6.0 0.9 6.00m @ 0.9 g/t DYPC21-140 35.0 41.0 6.0 0.6 6.00m @ 0.6 g/t DYPC21-140 140.0 155.0 15.0 5.0 15.00m @ 5.0 g/t DYPC21-140 159.0 173.2 14.2 0.8 14.20m @ 0.8 g/t DYRC21-141 85.0 87.0 2.0 1.0 2.00m @ 1.0 g/t DYRC21-144 122.0 125.0 3.0 1.4 3.00m @ 1.4 g/t DYRC21-145 81.0 88.0 7.0 0.7 7.00m @ 0.7 g/t DYRC21-148 134.0 137.0 3.0 0.4 3.00m @ 0.4 g/t





Notes:

1. Intervals indicated are not true widths as there is insufficient information to calculate true widths. However, drill holes have been drilled to cross interpreted mineralized zones as close to perpendicular as possible. 2. Intervals are calculated with the assumptions of >0.4 g/t and <4m of internal waste and displayed as weighted averages. 3. Includes results from RC and DC drilling

Qualified Person and QA/QC

Greg Collins, MAusIMM CP (Geo) and SEG Fellow, Vice President Exploration of Galiano Gold Inc., is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Collins is responsible for all aspects of the work including the Data Verification and Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs and has verified the data disclosed. Mr. Collins is not independent of Galiano Gold Inc.

Certified Reference Materials and Blanks are inserted by Galiano Gold into the sample stream at the rate of 1:14 samples. Field duplicates are collected at the rate of 1:30 samples. All samples have been analysed by Intertek Minerals Ltd. in Tarkwa, Ghana with standard preparation methods and 50g fire assay with atomic absorption finish. Intertek Minerals Ltd. does their own introduction of QA/QC samples into the sample stream and reports them to Galiano for double checking. Higher grade samples are re-analysed from pulp or reject material or both. Intertek is an international company operating in 100 countries and is independent of Galiano. It provides testing for a wide range of industries including the mining, metals, and oil sectors.

About Galiano Gold Inc.

Galiano is focused on creating a sustainable business capable of long-term value creation for its stakeholders through exploration and disciplined deployment of its financial resources. The company currently operates and manages the Asanko Gold Mine, located in Ghana, West Africa which is jointly owned with Gold Fields Ltd. The Company is strongly committed to the highest standards for environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighbouring communities. For more information, please visit www.galianogold.com.

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", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "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 regarding future mining at Dynamite Hill, Kaniago and Midras South, including with respect to the nature and extent of possible pit designs and the commencement of mining or further mining; the declaration of a maiden Mineral Resource for Miradani and a Mineral Reserve and Resource for Dynamite hill, and the timing thereof; the expected results of the exploration program (including its ability to provide the confidence for undertaking a resource estimate and further engineering studies) and the nature and timing of future exploration programs; the ability of future exploration programs to provide the basis for future mineral resources, including the timing for the declaration of such mineral resources; and information regarding planned future exploration, drilling and mining. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the exploration program proceeding as anticipated; the exploration program achieving the targets and milestones included therein in the manner and on the timelines anticipated therein; the nature of drilling and exploration targets conforming to current expectations; the Company's updated mineral resource estimate and life of mine plan proceeding as currently anticipated; mining proceeding as currently anticipated; the Company proceeding with further exploration programs as currently anticipated; that future exploration programs will provide the basis for future mineral resources; that the Joint Venture approves the Company's exploration budget; the ability of the AGM to continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic; that gold production and other activities will not be curtailed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; that the AGM will be able to continue to ship dore from the AGM site to be refined; that the dore produced by the AGM will continue to be able to be refined at similar rates and costs to the AGM, or at all; that the Company's and the AGM's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic will be effective in continuing its operations in the ordinary course; the accuracy of the estimates and assumptions underlying Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates and prior exploration results, including future gold prices, cut-off grades and production and processing estimates; the successful completion of development and exploration projects, planned expansions or other projects within the timelines anticipated and at anticipated production levels; that mineral resources can be developed as planned; that the Company's relationship with joint venture partners will continue to be positive and beneficial to the Company; that required financing and permits will be obtained; general economic conditions; that labour disputes or disruptions, flooding, ground instability, geotechnical failure, fire, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate are as anticipated and other risks of the mining industry will not be encountered; that contracted parties provide goods or services in a timely manner; that there is no material adverse change in the price of gold or other metals; title to mineral properties; costs; the retention of the Company's key personnel; and changes in laws, rules and regulations applicable to Galiano.

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: that the results of the Company's exploration programs will not conform with the Company's expectations, and will not be sufficient to support mineral resources or mineral reserves at the AGM or be sufficient to include in the Company's updated life of mine plan; the Company's expectations; that the Company may not undertake planned future mining or exploration, or that such future mining or exploration will not be sufficient to support mineral resources or mineral reserves at the AGM; that the JV will approve the Company's proposed exploration and mining programs; the Company's and/or the AGM's operations may be curtailed or halted entirely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether as a result of governmental or regulatory law or pronouncement, or otherwise; that the dore produced at the AGM may not be able to be refined at expected levels, on expected terms or at all; that the Company and/or the AGM will experience increased operating costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; that the AGM may not be able to source necessary inputs on commercially reasonable terms, or at all; the Company's and the AGM's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic may not be successful in continuing its operations in the ordinary course; 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; 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; 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 operations may encounter delays in or losses of production due to equipment delays or the availability of equipment; 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; 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 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; the Company's properties may be subject to claims by various community stakeholders; risks related to limited access to infrastructure and water; the Company's exploration programs may not successfully expand its current mineral reserves or replace them with new reserves; 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; and the Company's primary asset is held through a joint venture, which exposes the Company to risks inherent to joint ventures, including disagreements with joint venture partners and similar risks.

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.

Cautionary Note to US Investors Regarding Mineral Reporting Standards:

As a British Columbia corporation and a "reporting issuer" under Canadian securities laws, the Company is required to provide disclosure regarding its mineral properties, including the AGM, in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. In accordance with NI 43-101, the Company uses the terms mineral reserves and resources as they are defined in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards on mineral reserves and resources (the "CIM Definition Standards") adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. In particular, the terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve", "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used in this press release are Canadian mining terms defined in accordance with CIM Definition Standards. These definitions differ from the definitions in the disclosure requirements promulgated by the SEC. Accordingly, information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies reporting pursuant to SEC disclosure requirements.

United States investors are also cautioned that while the SEC will now recognize "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources", investors should not assume that any part or all of the mineralization in these categories will ever be converted into a higher category of mineral resources or into mineral reserves. Mineralization described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been characterized as reserves. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources", or "inferred mineral resources" that the Company reports are or will be economically or legally mineable.

Further, "inferred resources" have a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore, United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the inferred resources exist. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101.

Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Galiano Gold Inc.
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Highlights

Energy projects drive GCC construction activity

Saudi Arabia contributed 43% of new project announcements in the GCC in 2021

Kuwait led announcement in Q4 with a 28% share

The GCC construction market is estimated at USD 1.6 trillion, with over 21,000 active projects at the end of 2021, as per the 30th edition of the BNC Projects Journal, titled, "2022 - The Green Year" which is based on BNC intelligence, the largest project intelligence database in the Middle East and Africa.

As per BNC Projects Journal, Kuwait construction activity skyrocketed in Q4 as new plans worth USD 9.9 billion were revealed, making it the best quarter in the last two years. The country also saw project awards worth USD 1.8 billion, and delivered projects worth USD 12 billion in the quarter. Backed by the activities in Q4, project announcements expanded around six-fold YoY to USD 11.3 billion and annual project awards crossed the USD 4 billion mark, which is the equivalent of 17% YoY growth.

The BNC GCC Energy Projects Index grew by 5% YoY with USD 62.1 billion worth of new schemes announced in 2021. Energy project awards also registered 37% YoY growth and recorded three-quarter of a billion awards during the year. The growth in the energy sector has offset the decline in the urban sector which has been contracting as per the BNC Urban Index.

"The energy revolution doesn't just cover energy generation, it also covers energy transportation and energy utilization, making it a movement that permeates almost every domain. Green energy leaders will be tomorrow's leaders across more than just the energy domain," stated Mr. Avin Gidwani, CEO of Industry Networks.

Also as per the latest Project Journal, Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to lead project development. The kingdom topped the project announcement chart with a 43% share in 2021, followed by the UAE with a 22% contribution. However, in terms of on-the-ground activity, as measured by project awards and completions the UAE led with close to a 40% share on both parameters, followed by Saudi Arabia.

"We're calling 2022, 'The Green Year' due to the leadership that the region and particularly the UAE is demonstrating towards achieving a net zero carbon economy. These green initiatives are going to be the primary driver of major projects and development in the decades ahead," added Mr. Gidwani.

About BNC

BNC is the flagship construction intelligence and business automation service created by Industry Networks FZC.

BNC was launched in 2003 to create a digital network that connects businesses within the construction industry in creative new ways to increase transparency and efficiency. BNC offers a state-of-the-art project-sales CRM system pre-integrated with the largest and most frequently updated project database in the Middle East & Africa. BNC's services are used by thousands of construction professionals across the world everyday.

With over 29,000 live construction projects estimated at US$ 11.1 trillion, BNC's coverage spans 72 countries and 5 sectors including urban construction, oil & gas, transportation, utilities, and industrial. BNC publishes a quarterly construction report called the BNC Projects Journal and the BNC Bulletin, a daily construction newsletter received by over 50,000 professionals.

Website: www.bncnetwork.net

SOURCE BNC
ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Transparency Market Research: The demand for glass fiber is rising in various industries, including automotive and construction sectors, and end users. This unprecedented demand from numerous sectors is expected to offer considerable growth opportunities to the glass fiber market during the forecast period of 2019-2027.

Glass fibers are materials created from fine fiber of glass, which is a non-crystalline material with a short-range network structure. The exceptional properties of glass fiber are expected to lead to substantial growth of the glass fiber market.

Transparency Market Research (TMR) has conducted research on various aspects related to the glass fiber market. The analysts at TMR expect the global market for glass fiber to expand at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period. The glass fiber market was valued at US$ 11.35 Bn in 2018 and anticipated to reach US$ 22.32 Bn by 2027.

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The building & construction sector will prove to be significant growth generator for the glass fiber market. Rising urbanization across various regions and emergence of smart cities are projected to serve as profitable growth prospects for the glass fiber market. The booming population is also the reason for the overall growth of the glass fiber market. Growing investments in R&D activities are likely to drive the glass fiber market.

Key Findings of Report

Rising Demand for E-glass Fiber to Drive Glass Fiber Market

The demand for e-glass fiber has increased extensively over the years. The high tensile strength of materials has attracted exponential demand. It is also used as the reinforcing phase in the material commonly known as fiberglass. Thus, the increasing demand for glass fiber among a considerable share of the populace will prove to be a significant growth generator.

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Building & Construction Segment to Observe Growth Due to Rapid Urbanization

Emergence of smart cities and rapid urbanization in various regions have led to an increase in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Based on these factors, the building and construction application segment is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period.

Rising Popularity of Wind Turbines to Invite Profitable Growth

The popularity of wind turbines is expanding at a rapid rate. Wind turbines are used for generating electricity through wind. Government bodies of numerous countries are encouraging the use of renewable energy to generate electricity. The generation of electricity through wind turbines is one of the prominent methods of renewable energy. Thus, these factors prove to be profitable for the glass fiber market. Among the application segments, the wind turbine segment is prognosticated to prosper at a rapid rate during the forecast period.

Request a Sample  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4049

Asia Pacific to Emerge as Major Glass Fiber Market

The ever-increasing building &construction sector in developing economies such as India and China coupled with growing urbanization will have a profound impact on the growth of the glass fiber market in Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific held a share of 48% of the glass fiber market in 2018. The region is expected to follow a similar trend during this forecast period as well.

Some well-entrenched players in the glass fiber market are Jiangsu Jiuding New Material Co. Ltd, PPG Industries, Inc., CHONGQING POLYCOMP INTERNATIONAL CORP, Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd, Saint-Gobain Vetrotex, and PPG Industries, Inc.

Buy an Exclusive Research Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=4049<ype=S

The Global Glass Fibers Market has been segmented as presented below:

Glass Fibers Market: Product

E-Class Glass Fiber

Performance Glass Fiber

Glass Fibers Market: Application

Building & Construction

Transportation

Industrial

Consumer Goods

Wind Turbine

Others (Including Oil & Gas, etc.)

Glass Fibers Market: Regional Analysis

North America

U.S.



Rest of North America

Europe

U.K.



France



Germany



Italy



Spain



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



Japan



ASEAN



Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

GCC



South Africa



Rest of Middle East & Africa

& Latin America

Brazil



Rest of Latin America

Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Market:

Polyimide Fibers Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polyimide-fibers-market.html

Spandex Fibers Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/spandex-fibers-market.html

Natural Fiber Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/natural-fiber-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

Contact

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Transparency Market Research

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Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/glass-fibers-market.htm

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
DUBLIN, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Calibration Services Markets. Strategies and Trends with Forecasts by Type of Calibration, by Industry and by Country. Includes Custom Analysis and World Metropolitan Area Market Sizes. 2021 to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The future of the calibration services industry is explored with detailed market forecasts and strategic analysis.

Worldwide Metropolitan Market sizes are included with every report. This edition of the industry-standard report provides valuable information and insight. The report doesn't just look at market size.

It examines key operational principles and industry best practices provided by industry veterans. Look at acquisition and divestiture opportunities. Revise pricing and service terms. Develop new service packaging and offerings. Consider integrated marketing programs.

All the important facts are here. Industry growth rates. Geographic, instrumentation and industry breakdowns of market size. Explore the potential of the industry and gain an appreciation of the big picture for a relatively new industry that is expanding onto a global stage.

Recent Market Activity

Autel US Expands ADAS Calibration Coverage

New Chairman of the Board at Transcat, Inc

Transcat, Inc. Acquires Calibration Software Company

Vision Engineering's Cal Lab Attains ISO 17025:2017

NMI Metrology is Expanding Calibration Services across Nigeria

Mitutoyo America Corporation Introduces New Processor

Package with Profile Projector

Transcat Acquires TTE Laboratories, Inc

Michigan State Police launch investigation of breathalyzer calibration

State Police launch investigation of breathalyzer calibration Endress+Hauser builds new Calibration Laboratory

Transcat acquires Infinite Integral Solutions Inc.

Keysight opens new calibration facility

Transcat Acquires Gauge Repair Service

Trescal Announces 3 Aquisitions

Newbow Aerospace Expands Calibration Laboratory

Instron's Calibration Laboratory goes global

Trescal Acquires QTI and QTI Validaciones

Trescal Announces 2 Acquisitions

Cross Company Acquires J. A. King

Trescal Acquires Diamond Technical and Acteam

Boonton Electronics and Noisecom Receive ISO 17025:

Accreditation

Transcat Acquires Angel's Instrumentation Inc.

Trescal and Stahlwille UK sign partnership agreement

Laboratory Testing Inc. Acquires TAC Technical Instrument

Trescal Acquires Metriccontrol

Keysight Technologies Acquires Thales Calibration Services

Transcat Acquires NBS Calibrations

Market Trends

Factors Driving Growth

Impact of Climate Change

Factors Inhibiting Growth

Recalibrate Versus Replace

The Changing Role of the Manufacturer

The Position of Trust

Customers Have an Equipment Management Need

Effect on Repair Demand

Manufacturer's Rethink Service and Support

Services Packaging

Services Packaging Today and Tomorrow

Reduced Services Play a Role

Basic Calibration Changes

The Role of On Line Value Added Services

Change in Demand for Accreditation

Pricing for On Site to Change

Contract Agreements to Change

Technology Development

Three Important Technology Developments

Calibration Services Look to Installed Base

Calibration Intervals Change

Impact of Self Calibration

Industry Segmentation Analysis

Aerospace/Defense

Agriculture and Food Production

Automotive

Biomedical/Pharmaceutical

Communication

General Manufacturing

High Technology

Material Production

Other

Market Overview

Manufacturer Practices

Difference Between Manufacturer and other Vendors

Difference Between Electronic and Mechanical Segments

Accreditation

Accreditation Recognition

Two Tiered Accreditation Standard

Segments and Capability

An Overview of Segmentation Practice

Segmentation by Company Size

On-site Service as a Segment

Industry Structure and Participants

The International System of Measurement - A Primer

Current Industry Participants

Industry Structure

Geographic Influences

Geographic Preference

Implications for Laboratory Management

Growing Demand for On Site Service

Pricing and Business Development

Calibration Service Pricing and Plans

Variable Factors in a Calibration Service

Fee Based Pricing

Approaches to Pricing

Pricing and Geography

Surcharges

Limited Calibration

Volume Discounts

Mobile Pricing

Service Plans

Asset Management

Customer Commitment

Personnel Rental

Promotion

Sales Promotion Practice

A Calibration Services Marketing System

Services Marketing Program Tools

Company Website and Marketing Strategy

Customer Service

Customer Service Measurement

Teamwork in Customer Service

The Role of Leadership

Merger and Acquisition

Economies of Scale

Caveats and Factors Unfavourable to Merger Activity

Competition

Key Players

ABB

Ametek

Beamex

Bruel & Kjaer

Consumers Energy

e2b calibration

Emerson

Endress & Hauser

ESSCO Calibration Laboratory

Fluke

GE Kaye

Innocal ( Cole Parmer )

) Instron

J. A. King

Keysight Technologies

Lockheed Martin

Mettler-Toledo/Troemner

Micro Precision Calibration

Optical Test and Calibration

Rhode & Schwarz

SGS

Siemens

Simco

Technical Maintenance Inc.

Tektronix

Teseq

Tradinco Instruments

Transcat

Trescal

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7s8mxm

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NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The newly published report titled "Global COVID-19 Therapeutics Market By Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Clinical Trial/Pipeline Analysis, Revenue (US$ Billions) and Forecast Till 2030." of InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. features in-depth analysis and an extensive study on the market, exploring its significant factors.

According to the latest market intelligence research report by InsightAce Analytic, the global COVID-19 Therapeutics market size was valued at US$ 10.2 Billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach US$ 25.6 Billion in 2030, record a promising CAGR of 10.7% from 2021 to 2030.

Request Sample Report: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/1184

COVID-19 is a contagious disease triggered by the most recently discovered coronavirus, which has affected millions of individuals worldwide. The coronavirus can be treated with various drugs, including corticosteroids, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and kinase inhibitors. In August 2021, The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report that represents Artesunate, imatinib, and infliximab are three new potential medications being investigated in the latest phase of the global Solidarity clinical trials to find effective COVID-19 therapies. Additional medicines approved for emergency use include Eli Lilly and Company's monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab with etesevimab; Regeneron's casirivimab and imdevimab; GlaxoSmithKline/Vir Biotechology's Xevudy (sotrovimab); Roche's Actemra; Celltrion's Regkirona; and convalescent plasma. The growth of the COVID-19 Therapeutics Market is primarily attributed the increased prevalence of COVID-19 across the globe. In the first week of January 2022, Covid-19 cases have now been recorded in over 300 million people worldwide. The United States had over 50 million confirmed cases and over 800,000 deaths, making it the Country with the highest death toll. Pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in product research due to the rising pandemic effect, and they are focusing on the production of enhanced therapeutics that can cure the covid-19. The market is further supported by rising awareness about coronavirus and collective efforts by the pharmaceutical companies and government in the development of covid-19 therapeutic drugs.

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The prominent players in the COVID-19 Therapeutics industry include:

Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Fulcrum Therapeutics, CytoDyn, Eli Lilly and Company, Celltrion, Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd., NRX Pharmaceuticals, Veru Inc., Catalent, Inc., Humanigen, Inc., Molecular Partners AG, Cipla Limited, Merck, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis International AG, Vir Biotechnology, Brii Biosciences Limited, Revive Therapeutics Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline plc, APEIRON Biologics AG, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Trevena Inc, Constant Therapeutics LLC, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Amarin Corporation plc, NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd., Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc., Bellerophon Therapeutics, Sorrento Therapeutics, PhaseBio, BioAegis Therapeutics, Pfizer, Takeda, Roivant Sciences, Celltex Therapeutics, Blade Therapeutics, A.I. Therapeutics, Inc., Marinomed Biotech AG, Synairgen, Romark Laboratories, SAb Biotherapeutics, Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, UNION therapeutics A/S, and Other Prominent Players.

Key Industry Developments from Leading Players:

In Dec 2021 , The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus illness (COVID-19) in adults and children.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus illness (COVID-19) in adults and children. In Nov 2021 , Pfizer Inc. publicized its investigational novel COVID-19 oral antiviral candidate, PAXLOVID, significantly reduced death and hospitalization according to an interim analysis of the Phase 2/3 EPIC-HR (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for COVID-19 in High-Risk Patients) randomized, double-blind study of non-hospitalized adult high-risk patients

Pfizer Inc. publicized its investigational novel COVID-19 oral antiviral candidate, PAXLOVID, significantly reduced death and hospitalization according to an interim analysis of the Phase 2/3 EPIC-HR (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for COVID-19 in High-Risk Patients) randomized, double-blind study of non-hospitalized adult high-risk patients In Nov 2021 , Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced that the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had granted authorization in the United Kingdom (U.K.) for molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801), the first oral antiviral medicine authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced that the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had granted authorization in the (U.K.) for molnupiravir (MK-4482, EIDD-2801), the first oral antiviral medicine authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test In Oct 2021 , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received for priority review a Biologics License Application (BLA) for REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab) to treat COVID-19 in non-hospitalized patients and as prophylaxis in certain individuals.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received for priority review a Biologics License Application (BLA) for REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab) to treat COVID-19 in non-hospitalized patients and as prophylaxis in certain individuals. In June 2021 , Roche announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for intravenous Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients

COVID-19 Therapeutics Market Regional Analysis:

In 2021, North America is expected to have the largest share of R&D in the global covid-19 therapeutics market, owing to increased government spending on drug development, growing government initiatives for covid-19 vaccine R&D, an increasing number of market players, and the implementation of favorable government initiatives in the U.S. and Canada. However, due to increased government initiatives to increase medication production and the number of research and development activities, the Asia Pacific area is predicted to grow rapidly in the target market. In June 2021, India's pharma regulator approved the emergency use of Eli Lilly and Company India's antibody medication combination, which is used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 patients. The monoclonal antibody medications bamlanivimab 700 mg, and etesevimab 1400 mg have been approved by the company. Both of these medicines are utilized to treat COVID-19 patients who have mild to moderate symptoms.

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The Global COVID-19 therapeutic Market Segments

The Global COVID-19 Therapeutic Market Estimates (Value US$ Million) & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2019 to 2030 based on Drug Class

Antiviral

Monoclonal Antibodies

Glucocorticoid

Anticoagulant

Nitric oxide

Other Drug Class

The Global COVID-19 Therapeutic Market Estimates (Value US$ Million) & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2019 to 2030 based on Product

Remdesivir

Casirivimab/imdevimab

Bamlanivimab and etesevimab

Sotrovimab

Molnupiravir

Other

The Global COVID-19 Therapeutic Market Estimates (Value US$ Million) & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2019 to 2030 based on Region

Europe

North America

Latin America

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

North America COVID-19 Therapeutics Market Estimates Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2019 to 2030

U.S.

Canada

Europe COVID-19 Therapeutics Market Estimates Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2019 to 2030

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Russia

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific COVID-19 Therapeutics Market Estimates Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2019 to 2030

India

China

Japan

South Korea

Australia & New Zealand

Latin America COVID-19 Therapeutics Market Estimates Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2019 to 2030

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

The Middle East & Africa COVID-19 Therapeutics Market Estimates Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2019 to 2030

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of the Middle East & Africa

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Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic:

Global mRNA Synthesis and Manufacturing Services Market

Global Vaccine Cold Chain Logistics Market

Global Swab And Viral Transport Medium Market

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FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 5; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 674 Companies: 43 - Players covered include Ciel & Terre International; GCL-SI; Hanwha Group; ITOCHU Corporation; JA SOLAR Technology Co. Ltd.; KYOCERA Corporation; LONGi Solar; Pristine Sun Corp.; Sharp Corporation; Talesun; Trina Solar; Vikram Solar Limited; Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd.; Yellow Tropus Pvt. Ltd.; Yingli Solar and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Type (Stationary, Tracking) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

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ABSTRACT

Global Floating Solar Panels Market to Reach 4.8 Thousand MW by the Year 2026

Floating solar panels or floating photovoltaics (FPV), which are also known as floatovoltaics, are solar panels that are mounted on a structure floating on a water body, typically a lake or a reservoir. FPVs float on water and an embedded solar tracker follows the sun's movement and place the solar panel to increase the time of exposure to sunlight and enhance the complete efficiency of the FPV system. Moreover, floatovoltaics allow low maintenance and management costs and remove the requirement for costly land areas, which considerably decreases the cost of generating solar power and frees up the land. The water-based PV systems are beneficial in several aspects such as reduced algae growth and evaporation. Floatovoltaics additionally reduce PV's operating temperature and costs of generating solar energy. As the water bodies are generally government-owned, it is easy to obtain permits for water bodies compared to land. Furthermore, FPVs provide shade assisting the algae to bloom and reducing water evaporation, and although power generation on individual sites is not equal to ground mounts, the FPVs are suitable for the cities having a limited roof or land space.

Global Floating Solar Panels market is projected to register significant growth over the near-to-long term. The market, estimated at 1.6 Thousand MW in 2021 is projected to reach 4.8 Thousand MW by 2026, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.7% over the analysis period. Asia-Pacific represents the largest regional market for Floating Solar Panels, accounting for an estimated 62.2% share of the global total in 2020. The market, estimated at 771.6 MW in 2021 is projected to reach 2.7 Thousand MW by 2026. China is expected to spearhead growth and emerge as the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 59.4% over the analysis period. The market is expected to progress steadily to evolve as a major regional market for Floating Solar Panels, supported by various factors conducive to healthy growth.

Advantages related to setting up FPV panel plants in comparison with traditional plants are anticipated to boost the FPV panels' market growth. Shifting preference towards renewable energy resources such as solar and wind for power generation, rise in investments for renewable resources of energy, and various government initiatives to encourage solar energy are the prime factors driving the FPV panels' market growth. Generally, 1 MW of FPV plant covers water bodies of nearly 7 to 10 hectares, conserves water of 15 MI, and generates electricity of 1500 MWh. However, the FPV panels' overall cost is much high compared to the stationary solar panels, which is estimated to be the key factor hindering the FPV panels' market growth. Additionally, increased demand for energy, rising solar installers' networks, and decreased prices of FPV technology are estimated to augment the growth of the FPV panels' market.

Demand for FPV panels will also be supported by the fact that FPV panels' installation doesn't require colossal land areas and the FPV projects are cost-efficient. FPV panel projects are possible to set up on unused water bodies, which are anticipated to be the prime driving factor for the FPV panels' market growth. Countries like India, China, Germany, the USA, and Japan emerged as solar powerhouses, and the growing solar energy-based electricity production, in turn, boosted the market growth of FPV panels. The US has over 24,000 water bodies that are manmade which are anticipated to be useful in FPV development, as man-Made water bodies are easy to manage and have infrastructure and roads in place. The untapped regions' exploration such as Russia and Azerbaijan for growth, too, is estimated to benefit the FPV panels' market. The offshore segment based on location dominates the FPV panels' global market and is anticipated to continue dominating in years to come. However, forceful water currents and tides are estimated to cause issues or damage the FPV panels. Furthermore, high construction and maintenance costs of seawater plants are estimated to cause the inland segment to observe increased growth. The Netherlands is the epicenter of inland FPVs and GroenLeven owns a huge FPV farm in Europe promising a steady income for people willing to rent the locations that have the ability to host FPVs. More

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JINAN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua called for efforts to ensure stable vegetable production and supply during the Spring Festival.

Hu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Shouguang city, a major vegetable production base in east China's Shandong Province, from Sunday to Monday.

Noting that the Spring Festival and the Beijing Winter Olympics is approaching, Hu said that work must be done to ensure vegetable production and supply as it concerns people's basic livelihood and price stability.

Hu highlighted measures to ensure stable vegetable production during the winter and spring as well as unimpeded sales and circulation channels in the country.

Efforts should be made to optimize vegetable production structure according to market demand, improve market regulation and guarantee supply for areas hit by the COVID-19 epidemic, the vice premier said. 
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gov. Ricketts has proclaimed Jan. 23-29 as "Nebraska School Choice Week," recognizing the essential role K-12 educational choice plays in the lives of children, parents, and teachers across the state.

Gov. Ricketts' proclamation highlights the importance of Nebraska's dedicated teaching professionals and commitment to continuously improving the quality of K-12 education. The proclamation recognizes the celebration of National School Choice Week, an effort that raises awareness about options and opportunity in K-12 education. Nationwide, hundreds of state, city and county leaders have proclaimed the week.

In the Cornhusker State, this marks the eighth consecutive year that Nebraska School Choice Week has been officially proclaimed. Nebraskans have planned 182 events and activities to celebrate the Week. These range from school pep rallies and open houses to virtual contests. The festivities aim to bring parents actionable information about public, private, virtual, and home learning options.

More than 26,000 events have been independently planned for the week nationwide, raising awareness about opportunity in education.

"During School Choice Week, many Nebraska families and schools are celebrating K-12 learning and the impact school choice has had on them," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We are grateful that Gov. Ricketts has recognized the Week and the importance of every child receiving an education that works for them."

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation.

For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/nebraska .

SOURCE National School Choice Week
PHOENIX, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Planet Group (OTC PINK: GNPG) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Healing the Earth was awarded a contract to provide a food growing system as part of a $25 million high-tech farming project. The growing system contract is valued at $13.2 million. The terms of the sale include a 35% deposit of $4.6 million, a second payment of 50% or $6.6 million, when the system is ready for shipment, and a third payment of 15% or $1.98 million, when the customer accepts delivery of the working system.

The Healing the Earth team is responsible for managing the design, manufacture, and installation of the special purpose building that will enclose the growing system, including the seeding, harvesting, and packaging areas. Not included in the contract are land acquisition, infrastructure costs, site preparation costs, license fees, etc. The building and growing system is expected to be operational within 10 months after construction commences.

This system will be installed in the town of Gibsland, Louisiana, the original home of the funder, Mr. Gerald Walker. Mr. Walker's goal is to create approximately 150 jobs in an area that needs additional job opportunities, and to improve the overall economy in the Bienville Parish. The payrate for new entry level employees is budgeted at $15.00 per hour, which is over double over the minimum state wage of $7.25. Therefore, hiring and training the required personal should not be an issue. Mr. Walker stated, "this growing system will provide enough high-quality fresh food to eliminate hunger in this entire region."

The growing system is based upon the patented Healing the Earth technology that can produce all organic, naturally grown vegetables in large quantities that have high nutritional value which are harvested and distributed daily. These fresh vegetables will include micro-greens, baby leaf and head lettuce, a variety of sprouts, baby and mature kale, baby and mature spinach, etc. All these vegetables are grown in a controlled natural environment that maximizes growth while using 97% less water than field grown products. If this system was dedicated to growing Romain lettuce, it could produce 36,000 of baby heads per day. This technology grows luscious, disease-free vegetables at very competitive prices.

Pat Choate, President/CEO states that "this is just the beginning of our efforts to commercialize our revolutionary food technology. I thank Gerald for selecting Healing the Earth to provide his growing system."

For additional information see: www.healingtheearth.net

About Green Planet Group, Inc.

The Company is comprised of four wholly owned subsidiaries: two operating companies and two development stage companies. The Company's Healing the Earth subsidiary has developed a new Fast Track growing system capable of growing vast amounts of fresh, organic food with extremely low water use. XenTx Lubricants produces lubricants and additives for gasoline and diesel engines which reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. AAQIS is developing a hydrogen generator which greatly reduces hydrocarbon emissions while improving fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines. Green Mining Technologies is developing restorative technology for placer mine tailings.

For more information see: www.greenplanetgroup.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements (as defined  Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Green Planet Group, Inc. cautions that the statements made in this press release constitute forward-looking statements and no guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from projections in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made.

SOURCE Green Planet Group, Inc.
CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GTCR, a leading private equity firm founded in 1980, announced today the opening of offices in New York City and West Palm Beach, Florida, establishing new locations to support its investment capabilities and broaden its talent acquisition initiatives. GTCR's offices in Chicago will continue to serve as the firm's headquarters and center of operations and will continue to account for the majority of the firm's employees.

"The opening of the New York and West Palm Beach locations will help support and expand investing activities, and this growth is critical to our efforts to continue to recruit a talented and diverse group to undertake our investment strategy," said Collin Roche, Managing Director and Co-CEO of GTCR. "This is a natural evolution for the firm as we look to grow and attract new professionals, while staying true to our investment approach and values. Our goal will be to maintain our culture of collaboration, inclusivity and ingenuity in these new locations."

The New York office is currently located at 450 Park Avenue and the West Palm Beach location is 515 N Flagler Drive. GTCR also plans to move to offices at 425 Park Ave in New York following the build out of two floors the firm has leased in that building.

"There is tremendous enthusiasm among our entire team about the access to additional resources afforded to us through these two new offices," said Dean Mihas, Managing Director and Co-CEO of GTCR. "The expansion of the firm's locations will allow for greater connectivity among our talented people and provide all of us with additional efficiencies to accomplish our strategic goals. These workspaces will also create opportunities for collaboration between our teams and our portfolio company leadership in these different geographies."

The opening of these new locations will also further expand GTCR's ability to deploy its pioneering management partnership approach, The Leaders Strategy. The foundation of this strategy is the ability to source and build relationships with exceptional, proven leaders with deep sector experience, who can then build and transform market-leading businesses with the support of GTCR.

About GTCR

Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies in the Growth Business Services, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Healthcare and Financial Services & Technology industries. The Chicago-based firm pioneered The Leaders Strategy  finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and organic growth. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $20 billion in over 250 companies. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com.

GTCR Contact:

Andrew Johnson

(212) 835-7042

[email protected]

SOURCE GTCR
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Henry Smith Acquisition

Heartland Home Services ("Heartland") closed the books on a historic 2021 with the addition of Henry Smith Plumbing, Heating & Cooling on December 18th. Henry Smith is the 24th company to join the Heartland family of brands and extends Heartland's growth in the attractive Northern Indiana market. Heartland has continued to thrive despite the obstacles of the past two years as it has entered new territories, densified its existing geographies, and had the honor of carrying on the proud legacies of its partner brands across the Midwestern United States.

Henry Smith's talented management team and highly skilled technicians will stay on, and the business will continue to operate as normal with additional resources from Heartland. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"People often ask what characteristics we seek in potential partner brands. The answer is the same characteristics we pride ourselves on within our own organization; best-in-class operators that are passionate about doing business the right way. This includes providing customers with truly exceptional service experiences, creating cultures in which diverse teams can thrive, and taking care of the communities where we operate. Henry Smith checks all these boxes in spades. We are thrilled to partner with this impressive team to expand our already-meaningful service capabilities in Northern Indiana," said Heartland CEO Bill Viveen.

Mr. Viveen continued, "We partner with the highest-quality teams in our industry that have proven, long-term track records of success. As a result, we're not looking to change what they are doing. We help our partners build upon their legacies by amplifying their existing initiatives and accelerating their growth plans through access to Heartland's industry-leading technology suite and other considerable resources. The consistent sharing of best practices amongst the strongest operators in the industry is another critical, differentiating advantage for companies that join the Heartland team. We call it 'Shared Strength Delivered Locally'."

Other 2021 Highlights

Heartland meaningfully expanded its reach across the Midwest over the past year, both by strengthening existing operations and entering new states. The Company fortified its Detroit/Ann Arbor metro operation through the additions of Flame Heating & Cooling, Air Conditioning Engineers, Iceberg Heating & Cooling, Indoor Comfort, and Robin Aire. Heartland bolstered its Grand Rapids operation with the acquisition of Schaafsma Heating & Cooling. The Company also welcomed new team members to its operations in Ohio and Indiana. These and other acquisitions helped Heartland expand its dominant presence in existing states while adding branches in key markets among those regions.

Heartland also expanded into new territories. The Company entered the St. Louis market in June with the sizable acquisition of Classic Aire Care. Then, consistent with our 'Platform in a Platform' strategy, additions of Courtney's Heating & Cooling and Weiss Comfort Systems were added to Classic's already-impressive operations. Heartland also gained a meaningful foothold in Chicago's North Shore with the acquisition of American Vintage Home. Next, it entered the Kansas City Market with the acquisition of R-Mech Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, and went on to build presence in Wisconsin via partnerships with Frasier's Plumbing, Heating & Cooling and Action Plumbing.

Continuing the Legacy

Heartland has no intentions of slowing its growth in 2022. The Company will continue reinforcing its presence in existing territories while expanding into new ones: always abiding by the rule of partnering with the strongest teams in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical industries.

Interested in what joining the Heartland family could look like for you? Please contact Heartland's VP of Business Development, Brandon Geyer ([email protected]), if you are ready to plan your exit strategy or advance your business to the next level.

About Heartland Home Services

Heartland is the leading technology-enabled provider of repair, replacement and maintenance services for the HVAC, plumbing and electrical markets in which we operate. The Company operates through 24 brands across 7 states including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Company collectively serves over 700,000 customers annually with 1,300+ team members through a collection of industry-leading brands that date back to 1904. For more information, please visit us at www.heartlandhomeservices.com .

Contact:

Kristin Custar

[email protected]

SOURCE Heartland Home Services
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HeroX, a leading platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions, today launched the crowdsourcing competition, "Waste to Base Materials Challenge: Sustainable Reprocessing in Space". Future human missions to Mars and the journey back to Earth are expected to take two to three years. During this time, significant amounts of waste will be generated. HeroX is seeking innovative approaches to repurpose, recycle, and reprocess the waste generated onboard to enable mission sustainability.

Seeks Novel Ways to Sustainably Deal with Waste on Spaceship for Future Human Missions; Top Ideas to Share $24K Prize Purse

Since the logistics of supply ships to support a Mars mission are very difficult, the spacecraft needs to be as efficient and self-sufficient as possible. This challenge is all about finding ways to convert waste into base materials and other useful things, like propellant or feedstock for 3D printing. The challenge is looking for your ideas for how to convert different waste streams into propellant and into useful materials that can then be made into needed things and cycled through multiple times. While a perfectly efficient cycle is unlikely, ideal solutions will result in little to no waste. NASA could eventually integrate all the different processes into a robust ecosystem that allows a spacecraft to launch from Earth with the lowest possible mass.

"This is exactly what our crowd is poised to do: solve intractable problems with an eye for efficiency and sustainability," said Kal K. Sahota, President & CEO of HeroX. "I am eager to see the submissions."

The Challenge: NASA's Waste to Base Materials Challenge asks the larger community to provide inventive approaches to waste management and conversion in four specific categories:

Trash

Fecal waste

Foam packaging material

Carbon dioxide processing

The Prize: Multiple winners in each category will each be awarded a prize of $1,000. Additionally, judges will recognize four ideas as "best in class," each with a prize of $1,000. A total prize purse of $24,000 will be awarded.

Eligibility to Compete and Win Prize(s): The prize is open to anyone aged 18 or older participating as an individual or as a team. Individual competitors and teams may originate from any country, as long as United States federal sanctions do not prohibit participation (some restrictions apply).

To accept the challenge, visit herox.com/WasteToBase.

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a platform and open marketplace for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

[email protected]

250.858.0656

SOURCE HeroX
FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Higginbotham, one of the largest independent insurance firms in the U.S., and The Underwriters Group, Inc., a U.S. Top 100 Broker in Louisville, KY, have joined forces. Both firms provide full-scale commercial and personal insurance, employee benefits and human resource solutions. The deal adds additional states to Higginbotham's expanding presence across the southeast region of the U.S.

Higginbotham is strategically growing by partnering with independent insurance firms that complement its service model and add scale to its operation, which now spans 13 states. With 75 employees, The Underwriters Group, Inc. services the insurance, risk management and employee benefits needs of customers and brings expertise in construction, architects and engineers, dealerships, finance and insurance, distilleries, captives, manufacturing, employee stock ownership plans, excess workers' compensation and self-funded benefit plans to the Higginbotham platform.

Founded to serve the underground mining industry, today The Underwriters Group, Inc. is a leader in complex and high hazard risk exposures, prioritizing customer service and innovative solutions in risk management and loss prevention. Joining forces with Higginbotham and gaining access to its expanded loss control and employee benefit support services gives The Underwriters Group, Inc. even more horsepower to serve its clients, employees and community.

The Underwriters Group, Inc., insurance agency is one of three subsidiaries included in the transaction. Also joining Higginbotham are Underwriters Services Corporation, a third party administrator for self-funded benefit plans, and Employment Dispute Resolution Systems, LLC, a provider of alternative dispute resolution programs for employment agreements. The privately held firm principals are brothers Stuart and Scott Ferguson and the late Bruce Ferguson Sr, who represent the third generation of management of the 80-year-old firm. The brothers spun off their managed care and workers' compensation TPA subsidiaries in a separate transaction.

In a joint statement, Stuart and Scott Ferguson said, "The similarities in our core values and the commitment to both client services and employees brought us together. We like the 'can-do' attitude and the inclusiveness of all employees being eligible to participate in ownership and be rewarded by the firm's growth. We are pleased to merge our equity with Higginbotham and are excited about the future for our clients, our associates and our combined firm. The Underwriters Group and Higginbotham match up well and the future is bright."

Higginbotham Chairman and CEO Rusty Reid said, "This partnership brings together two insurance brokers listed among the top 100 in the nation, and our combined strength will give us an even greater competitive advantage as we make our foray into Kentucky with such a well-established local firm. But more than size and competency, it's their culture of service that makes us a good match. We put people first, whether it's our customers, employees or communities."

Higginbotham named Stuart Ferguson a managing partner and Scott Ferguson and Bruce Ferguson, Jr managing directors, and they will continue leading their existing offices as The Underwriters Group, Inc., A Higginbotham Partner, while forging growth opportunities in the Southeast region with Higginbotham.

About The Underwriters Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Louisville, KY, The Underwriters Group, Inc. is a privately owned, independent insurance agency founded in 1941. Offering a comprehensive suite of commercial and personal insurance and employee benefit solutions to protect businesses and individuals, the Underwriters Group, Inc. has become a leader by providing innovative solutions and superior customer service. It operates from offices in Louisville, KY and Dayton, OH. Business Insurance ranks The Underwriters Group, Inc. as one of the 2021 Top 100 Brokers of U.S. Business (Business Insurance, July 2021). Visit www.uscky.com for more information.

About Higginbotham

Employee owned and customer inspired, Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services that brokers business and personal insurance, employee benefits, retirement plans, executive benefits and life insurance. It supplements coverage with in-house risk management and benefit plan administration services. The firm was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with more than 60 offices in 13 states serving domestic and international customers. Higginbotham ranks by revenue as the nation's 20th largest independent insurance firm, making it the largest Texas-based broker (Business Insurance, July 2021). Visit www.higginbotham.com for more information.

SOURCE Higginbotham
Huya CEO Dong Rongjie, Huya Senior Vice President Li Meng, Director of TRAFFIC China Xu Ling, and IFAW China Program Manager Ma Chenyue jointly launched this over one-year Campaign at the annual gala "HUYA Boom Night" held in Macao, south China on January 16, 2022. Popular live streamer on Huya Live  Buqiuren was invited to serve as the Campaign ambassador.

In recent years, China has increasingly been paying high attention to ecological civilization, biological diversity, and sustainable development. As an influential enterprise, Huya aims to make greater social impact by launching this Campaign. The Company plans to create digital atmosphere for wildlife conservation, which will ultimately foster the coexistence between human and nature.

"To actively responds to the calling of building a beautiful home and achieving sustainable development, support biodiversity and fight against the illegal wildlife trade, Huya initiated the Campaign in collaboration with CWCA, IFAW and TRAFFIC, making contribution towards the goal of conserving ecological environment and the planet. We sincerely hope to establish an environmentally and socially responsible live streaming platform with the collaborative efforts from live stream hosts, users, volunteers, non-profit organizations and others, so that we can work together to achieve the goal of fostering a positive online space, and living in harmony with nature," said Li Meng, Senior Vice President of Huya.

According to the Campaign, Huya will collaborate with key nature reserves to launch 100 episodes of live streaming series that will cover five main themes, including "Stories of Wildlife Conservationists", "Back to the Sky", and "Knowing Our Endangered Friends". For instance, relevant experts from CWCA and TRAFFIC will join the theme of "Knowing Our Endangered Friends" and share the stories through live stream and engage with audiences to improve their knowledge of endangered species and importance of biological conservation.

Meanwhile, in an effort to foster sustainable development of society by means of art, the Campaign will invite 100 live streamers from Huya platform and create online events that further boost the harmonious relationship between human and the nature. For example, Huya plans to launch an online art festival that features tiger conservation on International Tiger Day (July 29) this year, presenting unique content including ethnic songs and dance shows; and creates another art festival at the beach in Zhuhai, China, focusing on the whale conservation and sustainable development for human livelihoods.

To further support wildlife conservation, Huya is also initiating the "Tiger's Food Guardian Plan" to establish an anti-poaching fund server, where users can make online donations during the live streaming events. Such donations, also known as "Tiger Food", will be converted to the corresponding monetary amount and transferred into the fund to be used to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

In addition, Huya will mobilize its volunteer team with over 100,000 registered members on the platform to publicize the relevant laws and regulations of wildlife protection and knowledge about preventing illegal wildlife trade online, while continuing to develop the AI guarding system to identify wildlife crime information on the platform to achieve high efficiency information classification.

Huya also plans to introduce a brave and clever virtual figure  "Tiger Cub" as the conservation ambassador, who will advocate a sustainable and planet-based lifestyle to the netizens. With Huya's capabilities in AI and VR technologies, the form of VR live streaming will allow the audiences to feel closely on the scene and experience living harmoniously with wildlife.

Xu Ling, Director of TRAFFIC China, noted that biodiversity lays the foundation for the survival of mankind and sustainable development. "In this special time, we realized that corporate social responsibility is more crucial than ever. As a member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, Huya has not only actively pushed forward a positive online environment, but also built the connections with all relevant parties to encourage more of the public to participate in biodiversity governance and conservation," said Xu.

Ma Chenyue, IFAW China Program Manager, said that "this Campaign echoes the theme of 'Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth', at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. As the Year of the Tiger arrives, we hope that this Campaign will turn into a success of joint efforts across sectors to advance biodiversity conservation, and an innovative and open platform to welcome participation from various organizations and people from all walks of life."

As a socially responsible enterprise, Huya pays close attention to issues like biodiversity conservation, habitat protection, and combating illegal wildlife trade; and utilizes innovative ways to encourage platform users and the public to participate in wildlife conservation.

In the future, Huya will continue to promote connections between virtual and reality through more innovative forms of live streaming, fully coordinate the capabilities and resources of all parties, and drive for the smooth execution of this Campaign. The relevant positive content on Huya platform is expected to effectively raise public awareness of wildlife conservation and contribute to the sustainable development with planet-based lifestyle.

About HUYA Inc.

HUYA Inc. is a leading game live streaming platform in China with a large and active game live streaming community. The Company cooperates with e-sports event organizers, as well as major game developers and publishers, and has developed e-sports live streaming as one of the most popular content genres on its platform. The Company has created an engaged, interactive and immersive community for game enthusiasts of China's young generation. Building on its success in game live streaming, Huya has also extended its content to other entertainment content genres. Huya's open platform also functions as a marketplace for broadcasters and talent agencies to congregate and closely collaborate with the Company.

SOURCE HUYA
NEW YORK and TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. ("iAnthus" or the "Company") (CSE: IAN) (OTCPK: ITHUF), which owns, operates and partners with regulated cannabis operations across the United States, announces the resignation of Robert M. Whelan, Jr. from its Board of Directors. Mr. Whelan joined the Company on December 5, 2019 as part of the formation of the Company's independent Board of Directors.

"Speaking on behalf of the entire iAnthus team, we have been very fortunate to have Bob serve on the Board of Directors for the past two years. We greatly benefited from Bob's extensive professional background and the strategic insights that he brought to the board as Lead Independent Director," said Randy Maslow, iAnthus President, Interim Chief Executive Officer and a Director. "We thank Bob for his valuable contributions to the Company and wish him the best in his retirement."

Mr. Whelan added: "It has been a pleasure working with the entire iAnthus team and I wish the Company and its dedicated employees nothing but the best for the future."

About iAnthus

iAnthus owns and operates licensed cannabis cultivation, processing and dispensary facilities throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.iAnthus.com.

COVID-19 Risk Factor

The Company may be impacted by business interruptions resulting from pandemics and public health emergencies, including those related to COVID-19. An outbreak of infectious disease, a pandemic, or a similar public health threat, such as the recent outbreak of COVID-19, or a fear of any of the foregoing could adversely impact the Company by causing operating, manufacturing, supply chain, and project development delays and disruptions, labor shortages, travel, and shipping disruption and shutdowns (including as a result of government regulation and prevention measures). It is unknown whether and how the Company may be affected if such a pandemic persists for an extended period of time, including as a result of the waiver of regulatory requirements or the implementation of emergency regulations to which the Company is subject. Although the Company has been deemed essential and/or has been permitted to continue operating its facilities in the states in which it cultivates, processes, manufactures, and sells cannabis during the pendency of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no assurance that the Company's operations will continue to be deemed essential and/or will continue to be permitted to operate. The Company may incur expenses or delays relating to such events outside of its control, which could have a material adverse impact on its business, operating results, financial condition, and the trading price of the Company's common shares.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management, are not guarantees of performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in Company's reports that it files from time to time with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulators, which you should review including, but not limited to, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. When used in this news release, words such as "will," could," plan," estimate," expect," intend," may," potential," believe, "should" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's financial performance, business development and results of operations.

These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events, and the Company cannot assure you that the events or circumstances discussed or reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur. If such forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by the Company or any other person that it will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified timeframe, or at all. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange or The Securities Exchange Commission have reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

SOURCE iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ID Experts Holdings, Inc. ("IDX"), the leading privacy platform and data breach services provider, released its year-in-review achievements, milestones, and accolades for 2021.

"As another year comes to a close, I'm proud of the IDX team's accomplishments and the accolades we've received this year. We continued to adapt to the ever-changing privacy threat landscape faced by enterprises, and serve our customers with our trusted, highly-secure IDX platform, combined with the highest level of service, through another unprecedented year of the pandemic," said IDX's President and CEO Tom Kelly. "Our company purpose is to support enterprises in reducing their digital privacy risks with our award-winning software platform and breach response services team."

Key 2021 Accomplishments & Results:

Managed nearly 1,000 data breach response efforts for enterprise clients and partners, growing over 25 percent from 2020.

Entered into a definitive business combination agreement with ZeroFox, Inc. (" ZeroFox "), an enterprise software-as-a-service (Saas) leader in external cybersecurity, and L&F Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: LNFA) (" LNFA "), a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of entering into a combination with one or more businesses, that will result in ZeroFox becoming a publicly-traded company (the " Business Combination ").

"), an enterprise software-as-a-service (Saas) leader in external cybersecurity, and L&F Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: LNFA) (" "), a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of entering into a combination with one or more businesses, that will result in ZeroFox becoming a publicly-traded company (the " "). Secured partnership with the high-profile insurance firm Risk Strategies as the preferred privacy and security provider for their customers, among numerous new employee benefit broker relationships.

Expanded capabilities on the IDX Privacy Platform by adding a military-grade password manager integrated with a service for checking passwords for compromise on the dark web.

Awards and Accolades:

Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards distinguished IDX Privacy with Honorable Mention in Apps Category.

IDX recognized as Editor's Choice for Privacy Management Software in Global InfoSec Awards.

IDX Post Breach Care awarded Gold Stevie Award.

IDX Privacy wins at Fortress Cyber Awards.

Looking toward 2022, IDX will continue to serve its commercial and government customers with its award-winning IDX Privacy Platform and data breach response services, helping them manage digital privacy risks in an environment of growing cyber threats.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this communication are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this report, words such as "may," "should," "expect," "intend," "will," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue," or variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: the inability of the parties to complete the transactions contemplated by the definitive agreement relating to the Business Combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against LNFA, the combined company or others following the announcement of the Business Combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of LNFA, to obtain financing to complete the Business Combination or to satisfy other conditions to closing; changes to the proposed structure of the Business Combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the Business Combination; the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the Business Combination; the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of LNFA, ZeroFox, IDX or the combined company as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; costs related to the Business Combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that LNFA, ZeroFox, IDX or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; LNFA's, ZeroFox's or IDX's estimates of expenses and profitability; expectations with respect to future operating and financial performance and growth, including the timing of the completion of the proposed Business Combination; ZeroFox and IDX's ability to execute on their business plans and strategy; the ability to meet the listing standards of the listing exchange on which the combined company will be listed following the consummation of the transactions completed by the Business Combination; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which only speak as of the date made. LNFA, ZeroFox and IDX expressly disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations of LNFA, ZeroFox or IDX with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Additional Information about the Business Combination and Where to Find It

LNFA intends to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as amended, the "Registration Statement"), which will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of LNFA, in connection with the Business Combination and related matters. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, LNFA will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to its shareholders. LNFA's shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and amendments thereto, and definitive proxy statement/prospectus in connection with LNFA's solicitation of proxies for its shareholders' meeting to be held to approve the Business Combination and related matters, because the proxy statement/prospectus will contain important information about LNFA, ZeroFox and IDX and the proposed Business Combination.

The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of LNFA as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Business Combination and related matters. Shareholders may obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, when available, without charge, at the SEC's website at sec.report or by directing a request to: L&F Acquisition Corp., 150 North Riverside Plaza, Suite 5200, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

Participants in Solicitation

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any investor or securityholder. However, LNFA, ZeroFox, IDX, JAR Sponsor, LLC and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from LNFA's stockholders in connection with the Business Combination under the rules of the SEC. Information regarding LNFA directors and executive officers may be found in its registration statement on Form S-1, including amendments thereto, relating to its initial public offering, and other reports which are filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the participants will also be included in the registration statement on Form S-4 that includes the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, when it becomes available. When available, these documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

About IDX

IDX is the only privacy company built for agility in the digital age. Thousands of organizations trust their privacy platform to empower consumers to take back control of their privacy with their identity and privacy protection products. As the nation's largest provider of data breach response services, IDX is trusted by government and enterprise customers, as well as employee benefits and strategic partners, to protect more than 40 million consumers. Visit www.idx.us for more information.

About ZeroFox

ZeroFox, the leader in external cybersecurity, provides enterprises external threat intelligence and protection to disrupt threats to brands, people, assets and data across the public attack surface in one, comprehensive platform. With complete global coverage across the surface, deep and dark web and an artificial intelligence-based analysis engine, the ZeroFox Platform identifies and remediates targeted phishing attacks, credential compromise, data exfiltration, brand hijacking, executive and location threats and more. The patented ZeroFox Platform technology processes and protects millions of posts, messages and accounts daily across the social and digital landscape, spanning LinkedIn, Facebook, Slack, Instagram, Pastebin, YouTube, mobile app stores, domains, cloud-based email and more. Visit www.zerofox.com for more information.

About L&F Acquisition Corp.

L&F Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a combination with one or more businesses, with the intent to concentrate on identifying technology and services businesses in the Governance, Risk, Compliance and Legal ("GRCL") sector. L&F Acquisition Corp. is sponsored by JAR Sponsor, LLC, a newly organized special purpose vehicle under the common control of entities affiliated with Chairman Jeffrey C. Hammes, CEO Adam Gerchen, and Victory Park Capital. Visit www.lfacquisitioncorp.com for more information.

SOURCE IDX
BOSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- How do we communicate with our electronic devices? There are many different 'human-machine interfaces (HMI)' options, ranging from the well-established (keyboard/mouse/mechanical switches) to somewhat more recent developments such as the capacitive touch screens found on smartphones. As greater numbers of devices around us gain 'smart' functionality, the ability to incorporate HMI components elegantly and cost-effectively is increasingly important.

Future (2032) IME market breakdown by application. Source: IDTechEx (PRNewsfoto/IDTechEx)

In-mold electronics (IME) is one solution. It's an emerging manufacturing methodology for producing backlit, touch-sensitive surfaces, removing the need for costly and possibly unsightly mechanical switches. With IME, the conductive traces are printed on a flat substrate, and electronic components such as LEDs may be mounted. This is then thermoformed and infilled with injection molding to produce a smooth, decorative component with capacitive touch functionality. These components are up to 70% lighter, take up less space, use fewer parts, and are simpler to produce than the conventional mechanical switches that they often replace. Automotive interiors are the main potential application (see graphic), but the technology also shows promise for consumer appliances especially given the wipe-clean interface it produces.

Within the IME space, there are multiple players developing related technologies, producing components with similar looks and functionalities but slight differences in the manufacturing method to avoid IP conflicts. Here, IDTechEx explore some of the main players and their differing business models, including the recent emergence of a new player: French company Symbiose.

Technology licensing

Arguably the most prominent developer of IME technology is Tactotek, based in Finland. Since its inception in 2011, the company has raised almost $100m over multiple funding rounds. Its business model is based around technology transfer and licensing. The company has a pilot / small volume production line in Finland but works with multiple suppliers and OEMs to develop products and manufacturing capabilities using its IP. This strategy is highly scalable but requires a significant commitment from licensees.

In-house manufacturing

However, licensing is not the only possible business model. A recent arrival on the IME scene is Symbiose, a French company that spun out of the CEA-LITEN research center. Based in Bordeaux, Symbiose has raised capital to build a factory and is planning to manufacture IME parts in-house. This approach has the benefits of keeping technological know-how under wraps and making quality control more straightforward. Furthermore, Symbiose is will likely be able to serve small volume orders, for companies that do not want to license the technology themselves.

Vertical integration

Another player developing IME is E2IP, based in Canada. This company was formed from GGI, and has collaborated extensively with the National Research Council of Canada. Especially notable is its particle-free molecular ink, which promises less decline in resistance when the conductive traces are stretched during thermoforming. E2IP primarily operates a vertically integrated business model, which spans from its molecular ink via design and product development services to component manufacturing.

Hybrid manufacturing

In-mold electronics can be regarded as an evolution of in-mold decorating (IMD), a well-established manufacturing approach for making curved decorative surfaces, such as the control panel on the front of washing machine or switchgear in cars  the difference being the introduction of electronics. Given the similarities, IME is an obvious opportunity for established IMD companies. One example is Advanced Decorative Systems (ADS), which supplies parts to the automotive sector amongst others. It has adopted a hybrid approach to IME, in which the conductive traces are deposited prior to thermoforming and injection molding, but the SMD components are not. This strategy 'de-risks' the process, since one of the main manufacturing challenges when producing IME parts is maintaining a high yield by ensuring that components such as LEDs are not damaged during the molding process. On the other hand, one of the attractions of IME relative to existing approaches is that integration of electronic and structural functionality reduces the part count, simplifying assembly and reducing weight.

Market overview

Despite its benefits, and substantial interest from material suppliers that have developed IME-specific substrates and inks, IME that incorporates electronic components within the molded part has thus far seen limited commercial adoption. However, there are multiple development projects within both the automotive and consumer appliances space. Furthermore, producers of manufacturing equipment such as Arburg are developing equipment for mass production of IME components. As such, IDTechEx forecasts that IME component sales will accelerate from 2023/2024.

Furthermore, IDTechEx suggest that the emergence of IME component developer and manufacturer Symbiose is a substantial positive for the IME adoption. Having multiple players, even with slightly different manufacturing processes, within the IME space lends credibility and reduces supply chain risk. Ultimately, IME will be regarded as a mature technology when it is as easy to order an IME circuit as it is to currently order a conventional printed circuit board (PCB), rather than requiring a dedicated product design process as at present.

Market research report

This article is based on the recently released IDTechEx report "In-Mold Electronics 2022-2032: Technology, Market Forecasts, Players" which covers both IME and competing technologies for producing decorative capacitive interfaces. It discusses the manufacturing methodologies, material requirements, applications, and challenges in considerable detail. 10-year market forecasts by application sector, expressed as both revenue and IME panel area, are provided, along with the associated material opportunities. Also included are multiple application prototype examples, life cycle analysis of typical IME component, and multiple company profiles based on interviews with early-stage and established companies. Further details and downloadable sample pages can be found at www.IDTechEx.com/IME.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Images download:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8ayhb5ckyjwp5fp/AACbYn4McVUbMD9j81vz9-51a?dl=0

Media Contact:

Natalie Moreton

Digital Marketing Manager

[email protected]

+44(0)1223 812300

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/IDTechEx

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idtechex/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch

SOURCE IDTechEx
ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province reported 94 new locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, local authorities said Tuesday.

Among the newly confirmed cases, 93 are from Tangyin County and one from Wenfeng District, the municipal epidemic prevention and control headquarters told a press conference.

The city has logged 404 confirmed cases since the latest resurgence on Jan. 8, 380 of whom are in Tangyin County.

The source of the resurgence in Anyang City has been traced to a college student who returned to Anyang's Tangyin County from north China's Tianjin Municipality on Dec. 28, 2021. As of Sunday, Tianjin had reported a total of 294 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22 asymptomatic carriers. 
Following years of World Expo histories exhibiting the latest innovation and showcasing 192 country pavilions, the Expo 2020 Dubai is a promising platform for Indonesian startups to engage with international audiences.

Semuel Pangerapan, the Director-General of Informatics Applications of The Ministry of Communications and Informatics of Indonesia said, "As one of the largest and fastest-growing digital economies, we are committed to promote the thriving Indonesian startups to the world. Our participation at the Expo 2020 aims to cultivate the country's digital ecosystem through vast market access and robust capital opportunities catered to multifaceted startup segmentations."

During the Indonesia Startup Market Insight Seminar on January 2, Semuel joined Italo Gani, Venture Partner of East Ventures; Adrian Gilrandy, CEO and Founder of Praktis; and Williem, CTO and Founder of Verihubs, to discuss the future of Indonesia's digital economy, providing participants with practical solutions for decision-making.

Currently, around 73,7% of the Indonesian population has adopted the internet with 21 million new digital consumers at the start of the pandemic, of which 72% came from non-metro areas. This shows a high growth penetration rate across the country.

The prolific situation leads Indonesia to successfully expand its digital economy, making it one of the countries with the highest growth of startups in 2021. Indonesia's digital economy is predicted to surpass US$130 billion by 2025.

Business matchmaking between international VCs and Indonesian startups

The one-on-one virtual matchmaking session on January 3, has facilitated over 30 foreign venture capitals to directly exchange information with 30 curated emerging Indonesian startups. The session was conducted using a platform-based automated matchmaking system.

One of the curated startups is Gajiku, a technology platform that seeks to financially empower the masses. They do this by partnering with employers to provide advance salary options to their employees. This enables employees to cover emergency or one-time expenses that are caused by cashflow issues, thereby avoiding high fees which are typically charged by predatory lenders.

"The opportunity to connect with a global audience at the Expo 2020 has been tremendously impactful for our business. By facilitating a personalized networking session with reputable companies, the program has supported emerging startups to grow and contribute to build a comprehensive digital economy in Indonesia," said Sherman Tanuwidjaja, CEO and Co-Founder of Gajiku.

The Indonesia Startup Market Insight Seminar and Virtual Matchmaking session are the culmination of JEJALA ID's four months-long events, started with pre-event roadshows to Japan, Singapore, East Europe, and USA. This showcases the Government's commitment to empower early-stage startups to the global stage.

More information about the JEJALA ID's series of activities and the curated Indonesian startups at the Expo 2020, visit jejala.id or contact [email protected]

***

About Ministry of Communications and Informatics

The Ministry of Communications and Informatics is the official government agency of Indonesia tasked with formulating and implementing national policies in communication and informatics. It is also responsible for accelerating the distribution of information technology and digital infrastructure so the public can have efficient access to up-to-date telecommunications and internet networks.

For more information, visit www.kominfo.go.id.

SOURCE Ministry of Communications and Informatics Republic of Indonesia
BEIJING, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969) and Keymed Biosciences (HKEX: 02162) jointly announced today that the first patient in China has been dosed in clinical trial of CM355, a CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody developed by a joint venture between the two companies, for the treatment of CD20+ B-cell malignancies.

CM355 binds to CD20 on the tumor cells and CD3 on the T cells, redirects and activates T cells to eradicate tumor cells through T-cell Directed Cellular Cytotoxicity (TDCC) in the treatment of CD20+ B-cell malignancies.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are the main type of CD20+ B-cell malignancies, accounting for 80%-90%, which include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL).

Dr. Jasmine Cui, Co-Founder, Chairwoman and CEO of InnoCare, said: "There is still a big gap in terms of the 5-year survival rate of lymphoma patients between China and Europe & US. As two innovative biotech companies, we are making every effort to develop more innovative drugs to address unmet clinical needs. We are fully confident that the CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody has great potential in the clinical development for B-cell lymphoma."

Dr. Chen Bo, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Keymed Biosciences, said: "We are very pleased that we have taken the first step in evaluating the potential clinical benefits of CM355 for lymphoma patients. Preclinical studies have shown the high-potency and manageable safety of CM355. This means good treatment prospects for lymphoma patients. We look forward to working with InnoCare to conduct this clinical study efficiently, and eventually provide more innovative, effective, safe and economic treatment options for patients to extend their survival and improve their prognosis."

About InnoCare

InnoCare is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class drugs for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. We strategically focus on lymphoma, solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases with high unmet medical needs in China and worldwide. InnoCare has branches in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New Jersey and Boston.

About Keymed Biosciences

Keymed Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on the in-house discovery and development of innovative biological therapies in the autoimmune and oncology therapeutic areas. We have established a fully-integrated platform encompassing all of the key functions in the biologic drug development, which enabled us to rapidly and cost-effectively identify, build, expand and advance our diversified pipeline. Keymed Biosciences has branches in Chengdu, Beijing and Shanghai.

InnoCare Forward-looking Statements

This report contains the disclosure of some forward-looking statements. Except for statements of facts, all other statements can be regarded as forward-looking statements, that is, about our or our management's intentions, plans, beliefs, or expectations that will or may occur in the future. Such statements are assumptions and estimates made by our management based on its experience and knowledge of historical trends, current conditions, expected future development and other related factors. This forward-looking statement does not guarantee future performance, and actual results, development and business decisions may not match the expectations of the forward-looking statement. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to a large number of risks and uncertainties, which may affect our short-term and long-term performance.

Contact :

SOURCE Innocare
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report from Inside Quantum Technology, worldwide expenditures for Quantum Computing will exceed $630 million in 2027 and then go on to around $2.2 Billion by 2030.

More details on the report, Quantum Computing Applications in the Financial Services Industry:

End-User Cases and Market Forecasts can be found at: https://www.insidequantumtechnology.com/product/quantum-computing-applications-in-the-financial-services-industry-end-user-cases-and-market-forecasts/

Chart: Breakout of Worldwide Banking/Financial Services Expenditure: Total Quantum Expenditures

For Sample Requests: Click on "Request Excerpt" in this link.

About the Report:

This report describes the opportunities, challenges and deployment options surrounding the application of quantum computing in the banking and financial services vertical. It discusses in detail the role that quantum computing plays in portfolio management and construction, currency arbitrage, fraud detection, trade settlements, analytics-driven CRM, credit scoring, risk modeling, tax-loss harvesting and derivative pricing. In addition, the report looks at quantum computing's role in accelerating the use of AI and machine learning in the financial services sector.

The report provides a ten-year forecast of what the banking and financial services sector will spend on quantum computing in the next decade, and it discusses the evolution of quantum computing in the financial services sector from the current "proof of concept phase" to widespread usage in a decade or so. The report looks at smaller and less-expensive quantum computers that could, for example, be used in smaller financial institutions and in the role of network computers in transaction networks.

This report concludes with a review of the current plans of what the leading full-stack quantum computer makers are planning for the financial services space. It also provides a focus on sales strategy to sell banks and other financial institutions on using quantum computing.

From the Report:

The mathematics is out there, hardware is the throttle. There are sufficient proofs of concept to establish that quantum code works and brings significant value. Production usage of quantum computing in financial services is currently limited by hardware, based on our interviews. Financial services want their code to be hardware independent. This requires independent software stacks supporting familiar languages like Python, C++, etc.



Financial service enterprises have invested significantly to identify specific use cases that will be most beneficial when quantum computing attains commercial grade scale. Managers in banks and related institutions are seeing machine learning as an early value deliverer since it can fit into a hybrid computing model combining quantum with classical computing. Gradually, more applications for quantum computing will show how they can translate into value streams for the financial sector. In other words, as part of the sales process, potential end users must understand that buying into quantum technology will be useful to them.

About IQT Research:

IQT Research is a division of 3DR Holdings, and the first industry analyst firm dedicated to meeting the strategic information and analysis needs of the emerging quantum technology sector. In addition to publishing reports on critical business opportunities in the quantum technology sector, Inside Quantum Technology produces a daily news website on business-related happenings in the quantum technology field. https://www.insidequantumtechnology.com/.

3DR Holdings organizes the Inside Quantum Technology conferences. The next conference "Inside Quantum Technology - The Hague" will be held February 21-23, 2022 and covers all aspects of quantum technology. It will be a hybrid event based in the Netherlands. https://iqtevent.com/thehague/

For more details on the report, contact:

Lawrence Gasman

[email protected]

Telephone: 434-825-1311

Press contact:

Barry Schwartz

[email protected]

212-677-8700 ext. 118

SOURCE Inside Quantum Technology
DALLAS, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) has been awarded the architecture and engineering phase one design contract by Axiom Space for the Assembly, Integration and Testing facility planned for the 400-acre Houston Spaceport in the heart of Space City at Ellington Airport. This new 100,000 sq ft facility will support Axiom Space's mission to provide access to low Earth orbit and assemble the first commercial international space station.

Axiom Space's vision is that commercial infrastructure and innovation in space can offer unique ways to improve life on Earth while advancing the human exploration of space. Once completed, the private space station will provide a central hub for research, to support microgravity experiments, manufacturing, and commerce in low Earth orbit missions.

"Houston is a city built on innovation and is becoming a next-generation tech hub in the United States," said Jacobs Senior Vice President, People & Places Solutions Ron Williams. "Privately funded infrastructure will drive U.S. leadership in space. Jacobs is committed to providing integrated solutions to accelerate the future of commercial space operations."

"This is an exciting and historic moment for Axiom and the greater Houston area," said Axiom Chief Technology Officer Matt Ondler. "For the first time, spacecraft will be built and outfitted right here in Houston, Texas. This facility will provide us with the infrastructure necessary to scale up operations and bring more aerospace jobs to the area. With this new facility, we are not only building next generation spacecraft, but also solidifying Houston as the U.S. commercial industry's gateway to space."

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery, and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the emergence and spread of variants of COVID-19, the efficacy and availability of vaccines and treatments, and the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.

For press/media inquiries:

Kerrie Sparks

214.583.8433

SOURCE Jacobs
TOPEKA, Kan., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At one of the most-high profile events taking place in Kansas during National School Choice Week, Kansans will celebrate the power of school choice at a press conference on Thursday, January 27th.

This year's event will start at 11:30 a.m. and will bring together representatives from the leading educational choice organizations in the state. Parents, private educators, and community leaders will talk about the importance of school choice from their distinct perspectives at the press conference.

This event is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2022, which will feature more than 26,000 school choice events across all 50 states.

"Families in Kansas need education opportunities now more than ever," said James Franko, president of Kansas Policy Institute. "Right now there are more high school students below grade level than are on track for college and career. Our students deserve a fighting chance. We will continue to advocate for money-follow-the child programs, and more transparency by providing parents an A-F grade for every public school based on the state assessment."

The press conference is a coalition effort consisting of groups from across Kansas. The press conference will be followed by an educational lunch for legislators featuring Kansas Policy Institute's " Giving Kids a Fighting Chance " documentary.

The State Capitol is located at SW 8th & SW Van Buren St.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations  such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded an engineering services contract by Woodside Energy (USA) Inc. for its proposed H2OK liquid hydrogen production facility project in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide a front-end engineering design for Woodside's H2OK liquid hydrogen facility. Cryogenic liquid hydrogen is used in the transportation industry as a fuel for fleets where the combustion of liquid hydrogen produces zero-emissions, with water as the only by-product.

"KBR is pleased to support Woodside on this project as the company advances its portfolio of decarbonization solutions," said Jay Ibrahim, President  Sustainable Technology Solutions. "Our focus on energy transition and carbon footprint reduction is helping our clients meet their sustainability goals around the globe. At KBR, we continually strive to develop new technologies and solutions that benefit our planet."

KBR has nearly 50 years of experience designing, developing, and supporting cryogenic liquified natural gas facilities and has extensive experience in hydrogen both through its work in the space industry and in industrial facilities. This deep domain knowledge makes KBR ideally suited to provide high end engineering and be the integrator for cryogenic liquid hydrogen facilities.

About KBR

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 29,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com

Forward Looking Statement

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the significant adverse impacts on economic and market conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company's ability to respond to the resulting challenges and business disruption; the recent dislocation of the global energy market; the company's ability to manage its liquidity; the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; the possibility of cyber and malware attacks; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company.

The company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE KBR, Inc.
"We are excited to join with BayCare HomeCare in Polk County to expand and strengthen access to post-acute care within our community," says Danielle Drummond, MS, FACHE, President and CEO, Lakeland Regional Health. "Patients will greatly benefit from this arrangement as it will improve and streamline the transition from hospital to home health care. By working with BayCare HomeCare for these services, we believe we can improve care delivery at a much faster pace than by pursuing on our own."

BayCare HomeCare has provided in-home care and support services for decades, including serving many patients in the Lakeland community upon their discharge from the hospital. BayCare HomeCare is one of the largest providers of home care services in Florida, serving 13 counties along the state's west coast. BayCare HomeCare is in the top quartile in the country for quality and safety and has been able to dramatically reduce readmissions through innovative approaches, such as remote monitoring of patients. In addition to Lakeland Regional Health, Community Health Corporation  a related entity to Sarasota Memorial Hospital -- also owns a minority interest in BayCare HomeCare.

The new relationship between Lakeland Regional Health and BayCare HomeCare includes in home services. These services include home health, video supported remote monitoring, respiratory equipment and support, durable medical equipment and home infusion service.

"All the owners of BayCare HomeCare have the same goal," said Kathy McGuire, BayCare's vice president for HomeCare. "We want our patients to have the easiest path for staying out of the hospital yet also transitioning quickly and safely to home when hospitalization is needed. By joining forces, we can offer the finest clinicians, latest technology and the highest quality care to respond to the community's needs."



About Lakeland Regional Health

Not-for-profit Lakeland Regional Health reaches beyond its hospital walls to promote wellness, education and discovery in new places and new ways, providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at its Medical Center, Hollis Cancer Center and ambulatory care locations. Lakeland Regional Health earned Most Wired Advanced and Most Wired status seven times since 2013 and has earned workplace awards from Forbes, Gallup and Becker's Hospital Review. Its 864-bed comprehensive tertiary referral hospital, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, operates the Jack and Tina Harrell Family Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine; a Level II Trauma Center; the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children, which includes a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; and the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine. For more information, visit www.mylrh.org.



About BayCare Health System

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 15 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. BayCare is the nation's only large health system ranked in the top 20 percent by IBM Watson Health Top Health Systems that's also a FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit www.BayCare.org.

SOURCE BayCare Health System
LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexmark, a global imaging technology leader, today announced it has again been named a Leader in Global Print Security by global print and market insight research firm Quocirca.

In its Print Security Landscape 2022 report, Quocirca again identified Lexmark as a Leader based on its strong strategic vision and comprehensive print security product and service offering. Additional leadership criteria included significant investments in hardware, solutions and services portfolios and infrastructure, as well as a strong vision for future strategy.

"To be once again recognized by Quocirca as a print security leader demonstrates Lexmark's commitment to security, and the value of our Secure by Design approach," said Brock Saladin, Lexmark senior vice president and chief commercial officer. "We are pleased Quocirca has validated the trust Lexmark customers have in their Lexmark devices and solutions is deserved."

In naming Lexmark a print security leader, Quocirca highlights Lexmark's:

Secure-by-design approach in which comprehensive security featuresincluding encrypted and digitally signed firmware, secure boot technology, continuous verification and secure by default firmwareare built into Lexmark devices;

Extensive professional services offerings that help customers ensure their entire print infrastructure is secure;

Robust cloud print security offerings that comply with SOC2 Type II, ISO 27001 and SSAE 16 standards;

A wide-ranging security products and services portfolio which includes features like run-time intrusion detection, Lexmark Secure Document Monitor (LSDM), data loss prevention and cloud print security.

Quocirca director Louella Fernandes said, "Lexmark has earned its designation as a Print Security Leader. Its secure-by-design model is well established across its hardware portfolio, and complemented by a broad range of security consulting services and a robust cloud print services offering. Lexmark addresses the print security needs of businesses of all sizes."

Supporting Resources

Read an excerpt of the Quocirca report.

Learn more about the Lexmark's Secure by Design approach.

Subscribe to the Lexmark News Blog.

Follow Lexmark on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Lexmark

Lexmark creates innovative IoT- and cloud-enabled imaging technologies that help customers worldwide achieve their vision of print simplicity, security, savings and sustainability.

About Quocirca

Quocirca is a global market insight and research firm specializing in analyzing the convergence of print and digital technologies in the future workplace.

Lexmark and the Lexmark logo are trademarks of Lexmark International, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Lexmark
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Linq Analytics, LLC, a provider of software and services for adaptive customer data management and analytics, announced today its acquisition of certain assets of Altius, Inc., a privately-held company with US offices in Sugar Land, TX. Altius' Flex suite of planning and Master Data Management (MDM) products give users the ability to augment Microsoft Excel-based financial models with data enrichment and workflows, providing them a more accurate understanding of their information and enabling management tailored to their business.

The addition of the Flex suite to the Linq Analytics portfolio will add capabilities that extend both Linq's Account Hierarchy Management Solution and associated analytics and workflows, helping Clients realize additional value across the Customer data chain through more agility in data integration, extensive analytics insights, and decreased redundancy.

"Our Clients and Partners have expressed a desire to seamlessly connect their customer data from multiple CRM and ERP instances with existing analytics and finance workflows. We believe that adding the Flex capabilities helps us to provide a more complete solution that can drive additional value for our Clients," said Brandon Swalve, Linq Analytics' co-founder and CEO.

As part of this transaction, Linq Analytics will appoint Noel Phillips as Chief Technology Officer. "In addition to the product capabilities, I'm excited to welcome Noel to Linq," continued Swalve. "He adds significant technical knowledge, functional expertise, and strong leadership to our rapidly expanding team, and our Clients will feel his impact quickly."

"I'm very excited to join the superb team at Linq Analytics. I know the combination of Linq's innovative CRM and ERP tools - along with the Flex Planning Platform - will prove incredibly powerful. It tells a compelling story and will benefit current and future clients alike. I can't wait to see what we will achieve together."

The Flex product suite will continue to be available from Linq Analytics. Support services for current Flex clients will be delivered through Altius, with transition for support expected to occur in Q2 2022.

For more information on Altius and the Flex portfolio of products, visit Altius' website . For more information on Linq Analytics and its suite of Customer Data Management and MDM Lite products and services, please visit www.linqanalytics.com .

SOURCE Linq Analytics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. and NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lirio, whose Precision Nudging solution promotes health through AI-powered behavior change, today announced two C-level executive appointments and several other key personnel changes. Amy Bucher, PhD, was named Chief Behavioral Officer and Justin Beaver, PhD, was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. In addition, the company announced that Wade Chandler was named Chief Architect, and Hemangi Apte was promoted to Vice President, Engineering. Joining Lirio as head of analytics is Chad Steed, PhD.

Amy Bucher, Chief Behavioral Officer, Lirio Justin Beaver, Chief Technology Officer

"Amy and Justin have shown transformative leadership in helping scale Lirio's evidence-based behavioral interventions across new clients, use cases and integrations with the digital health ecosystem," said Lirio CEO Marten den Haring. "They embody Lirio's core values and have earned the trust and respect of our entire organization. With these additions to the executive leadership team, Lirio is poised to meet our ambitious growth targets for 2022."

In her new role as Chief Behavioral Officer, Dr. Bucher will be responsible for Lirio's overall behavioral science vision and strategy including the design, delivery and scientific validation of the company's Precision Nudging solutions. Prior to joining Lirio as Vice President, Behavioral Design in 2021, Dr. Bucher held various leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson, CVS Health, and Mad*Pow. She is the author of the recently published book entitled "Engaged: Designing for Behavior Change" and has a PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

As Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Beaver's responsibilities will be expanded to oversee all of Lirio's engineering, analytics, cloud security and cloud operations. Prior to joining Lirio as head of platform in 2020, Dr. Beaver served in various technology leadership positions at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and NASA. He holds a PhD in computer engineering from the University of Central Florida.

With Dr. Beaver's appointment, Wade Chandler will step into the role of Lirio's Chief Architect. Hemangi Apte has been promoted to Vice President, Engineering, reporting to Dr. Beaver.

Lirio also announced the hiring of Dr. Chad Steed as Senior Director, Data Analytics and research fellow at the company's Behavioral Reinforcement Learning Lab (BReLL). Dr. Steed previously held leadership roles at Regions Financial Corporation and ORNL. He holds a PhD in computer science from Mississippi State University.

About Lirio

Lirio's behavior change AI platform combines behavioral science and artificial intelligence with Precision Nudging technology to move as many people as possible along their unique journeys to better health. Like precision medicine's individualized treatment plans, Precision Nudging allows Lirio to apply tailored behavioral interventions to overcome person-specific barriers to action. Interventions are delivered at the right time and place to drive scalable behavior change, effectively engage and activate individuals to make appropriate health decisions and take recommended actions to preserve and improve their health. The company was recently awarded Inc.'s 2021 Best Workplaces and is HITRUST CSF certified and SOC 2 Type II compliant for information security. For more information, visit www.Lirio.com.

CONTACT

Patrick Hunt

865-839-5776

SOURCE Lirio
SHANGHAI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ford Motor Co. opened a new design center in China's business hub Shanghai on Monday, a move considered an important layout for the U.S. automaker to increase investment in the Chinese market.

With world-class facilities such as a full-size clay model workshop, it is the only full-function automotive design center in downtown Shanghai.

The company said it will use the latest technology to create future products that cater to the demands of the Chinese consumers and at the same time lead global trends.

Focusing on the design and development of products for the Chinese market, the center has the whole-process automotive design abilities such as design trend research, interior and exterior modeling design, digital interactive experience design, and full-size clay model production.

At the design center, designers can review the clay models with 8K-resolution high-definition LED large screen and the latest virtual reality equipment, while revising and delivering relevant data through a three-dimensional scanning device.

"Through Ford's global virtual reality real-time review system, design teams in China can effectively communicate and review designs online with their counterparts in other continents at any time," said Chen Liang, an exterior design manager of Ford China.

Last year, Ford sold nearly 625,000 vehicles in China, up 3.7 percent year on year, with its Lincoln brand recording the best annual sales since entering the country.

The opening of this world-class design center is the latest impetus for Ford China to continue its brand transformation, according to Anning Chen, group vice president of Ford Motor Co. and president and CEO of Ford China.

"Through design, Ford's iconic classic elements can be seamlessly integrated with Chinese innovation trends, and this is the most intuitive way for the company to connect with Chinese customers," Chen said.

China's auto sales have topped the world for 13 consecutive years. In 2021, the country sold about 26.3 million vehicles, up 3.8 percent year on year, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

As one of the country's automobile manufacturing bases, Shanghai has become an emerging global art and fashion center, with many international car companies, including Ford, Tesla, Nissan and General Motors, setting up design centers in the city.

Ford's design workforce in China has increased about tenfold in the past two years, and more than three-quarters of its creative design team is currently made up of young local designers aged under 35. 
CHALFONT, Pa., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Local president and physician of Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute (PA Pain and Spine), Robert Kelly, DO (Kelly), receives educational honors including the appointment of his status to Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine - his medical school alma mater.

The University of New England of Osteopathic Medicine is a small, prestigious medical school located on the southern coast of Maine. Kelly previously completed his medical school studies at the university from 2002-2006, and now plans to stay connected to the university as a role model for future physicians in the field.

"I think it is very important as a current physician to actively stay involved in research and educational activities to ensure that myself, and the team I work with, are always up-to-date on new technology and offerings in the field to help better treat patients. Along with this, I truly enjoy spreading knowledge to the next generation of physicians, and am excited for these new opportunities." States Robert Kelly, DO President & Physician of PA Pain and Spine.

In the clinical assistant professor role, Kelly will be responsible for maintaining an active teaching role with medical students, offering guest lectures, mentoring resident physicians in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and will work on ongoing research projects within the pain medicine field. This will be an additional education role for Kelly who already is an appointed adjunct faculty member at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

Kelly plans on utilizing his experiences to enrich the education of residents and student's journeys as well as working with the PA Pain and Spine team to continually update and improve the technologies, techniques and other offerings available to their pain medicine patients.

Those looking for more information on Kelly, PA Pain and Spine, and the Physician's experience can visit www.pennpain.com .

About PA Pain & Spine

Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute was founded in 2013 by Ivy League trained physicians Dr. David Qu, MD and Dr. Robert Kelly, DO. The practice is a pain management and rehabilitation privately-owned clinic with a focus on utilizing minimally invasive techniques and pain generator diagnostics in order to heal patients at the source. The practice currently has two offices located in Chalfont, Pennsylvania and Quakertown, Pennsylvania and treats patients with any type of pain.

Contact:

Kelsey Voelker

2153958888x104

[email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent creative agency Madwell teamed up with The Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to launch PSAs that aim to get marijuana users to think twice before getting behind the wheel and driving while high. The work is part of NHTSA and The Ad Council's Drug-Impaired Driving Prevention campaign, which launched in spring 2019 to address this pressing traffic safety issue, which is growing increasingly important as more states legalize the sale and usage of marijuana.

Research indicates that young men do not believe consuming marijuana has an effect on their driving. Thus, the challenge for this campaign is to create doubt in this long-standing claim, while taking into account that the young male target trusts their experiences over experts, especially when it comes to something as polarizing as marijuana usage, and is highly resistant to being told what to do.

"Our strategy focused on solving a timeless paradox," said Amber Hahn, Madwell's SVP, Head of Integrated Strategy. "We know young men are resistant to messages from enforcers and experts, particularly around topics like marijuana use. The best way to begin to change attitudes and behavior on this issue is to frame it up through the lens of their personal experience, as if it was coming from a peer."

In a 15-second spot titled "I'm in an Ad," the hero, in a smoky house party, breaks character (and the 4th wall) to remind the audience not to drive if they're high. As the lights go up, the smoke-filled room is revealed to actually be a studio set.

In the 30-second "Not Camping Day" spot, four friends smoke marijuana while packing for a camping trip, but realize they can't leave when no one gets behind the wheel to drive because everyone is high. They make the best of the situation by camping on the front lawn instead.

Each ad ends with the tagline, "If you feel different, you drive different," and a reminder that driving while high is illegal everywhere, including in states where marijuana consumption is legal.

"From slowed reaction time and impaired judgment to decreased coordination, driving under the influence of marijuana puts all motorists at risk. This vital campaign educates drivers on the dangers of driving high while reminding them it is always illegal, and does so in a way that speaks candidly  not condescendingly  to our target," said Michelle Hillman, Chief Campaign Development Officer at the Ad Council.

The partners were determined to handle the topic sensitively considering the history of how scare tactics have been used unsuccessfully to address drug use in America. Madwell's work focuses instead on the straightforward traffic safety message: if you're high, just don't drive.

"Our goal was to create something that spoke differently within the category, and to our target," said Madwell's Associate Creative Director, C.J. Thomas. "We didn't want to villainize the act of consuming marijuana or people who choose to do it. We just wanted to show people having fun and enjoying themselves, while also making the right decision not to drive when they're high."

The complete suite of assets is slated to include TV and digital video, radio, OOH, digital banner, and print creative. TV and online video will be available in January 2022, with other media types to follow in Q2 2022. The creative will be distributed nationally via The Ad Council's donated media model.

About Madwell

10+ years in the industry, and they're still independent, founder-led, and on a mission to prove that you don't need to be a 10,000 person holding company to make incredible work that's incredibly effective. Madwell lives by a founding spirit: Madness well-harnessed is genius (otherwise, it's just madness). They believe being different makes a difference. Creativity is most powerful when fueled by diversity of thought, experience, and perspective, and Madwell holds themselves accountable for it. Everyone at Madwell is encouraged to bring their unique experience to the table to make creative magic happen, and the result is a visibly tight-knit team that goes above and beyond for each other and for their clients.

About Ad Council

The Ad Council has a long history of creating life-saving public service communications in times of national crisis, starting in the organization's earliest days during World War II to September 11th and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy and, most recently, leading the industry's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its deep relationships with media outlets, the creative community, issue experts and government leaders make the organization uniquely poised to quickly distribute life-saving impactful information to millions of Americans.

The Ad Council is where creativity and causes converge. The non-profit organization brings together the most creative minds in advertising, media, technology and marketing to address many of the nation's most important causes. The Ad Council has created many of the most iconic campaigns in advertising history. Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. Smokey Bear. Love Has No Labels.

The Ad Council's innovative social good campaigns raise awareness, inspire action and save lives. To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org , follow the Ad Council's communities on Facebook and Twitter , and view the creative on YouTube .

About NHTSA

For more than 50 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has served as the key federal agency charged with improving safety on our nation's roadways. As part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA is working to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries by promoting the use of seat belts and child safety seats; helping states and local communities address the threat of distracted, drunk and drug-impaired drivers; regulating vehicle safety standards and investigating safety defects in motor vehicles; establishing and enforcing fuel economy standards; conducting research on driver behavior and traffic safety; and providing consumer information on issues ranging from child passenger safety to impaired driving. For more information visit www.nhtsa.gov .

SOURCE The Ad Council
TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marco's Pizza, one of the nation's fastest-growing pizza brands, projects to reach $1B in annual systemwide sales in 2022, after closing out 2021 with robust systemwide growth and store-level performance. The 1,000-plus unit brand plans to grow to 1,500 units by 2023 with more than 200 stores in development today. All this as the brand closes out a record-breaking sales year and continues to experience double-digit same-store-sales increases year-over-year. Marco's believes this performance makes it America's fifth largest pizza brand, as it sets its sights on being No. 4.

"The success we've seen is the result of a collective effort of the incredible franchisees and team members at the store level who deliver on our brand promise each and every day, our committed Support Center, our loyal guests and the executive leadership team," said Tony Libardi, Co-CEO & President of Marco's Pizza. "There's never been a more opportune time for both existing and prospective franchisees to grow with Marco's. With plenty of territories available for growth, our development and performance strategy remain centered on finding multi-unit franchisees who align with our business strategy and culture, while continuing to prioritize innovation and maximize unit-level profitability."

Marco's is investing millions of dollars in technology innovations through the next few years as it grows to be the fourth largest brand in pizza. At its 2021 Franchise Convention, CXO Steve Seyferth and CIO Rick Stanbridge discussed how Marco's is navigating this digital world and exploring technologies that create a better customer and employee experience while at the same time helping to improve store-level profitability.

Marco's has been pushing forward several innovation initiatives and pilot programs, including rapid adoption of third-party delivery plus utilizing AI for voice-to-text ordering and generating automated promise times. It pushes to test robotic kitchen innovations, ghost kitchens, new operational equipment, and even simulated a drone delivery.

In addition to innovation, Marco's continues to invest in building its brand through a multi-channel national advertising program while highlighting its quality product and value offerings. The brand's creative platform centers on the tagline, "Pizza Lovers Get it"  as the brand has seen that their customers share an inordinate amount of love toward Marco's compared to customers of their competitors. The brand kicks off 2022 highlighting its signature Pepperoni Magnifico pizza, topped with approximately 75 slices of crispy Old World Pepperoni and classic pepperoni, a generous dash of romesan seasoning along with its signature fresh, three-cheese blend and original sauce.

The brand's impressive performance has earned multiple awards and recognition: ranked as one of America's Favorite Restaurant Chains of 2022 by Newsweek, named in Newsweek's 2022 America's Best Customer Service in the pizza chains category, earned the No. 4 spot on Restaurant Business' 2021 Top 10 Fastest Growing Chains, ranked No. 42 on QSR's Top 50, leaped to No. 99 on the 2021 Franchise Times Top 400 l eading the off-premise pizza category in same-store sales increases, appeared five consecutive years on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious Top 500 ranking, named a Top Global Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine and claimed the No. 2 spot in the pizza category on Entrepreneur's 2022 Franchise 500 ranking.

Marco's consistent performance, coupled with high-tier franchise support from the executive leadership team, many franchise owners themselves, resulted in eager and sophisticated entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators flocking to the franchise opportunity. According to FRANdata, a leading research and advisory firm that analyzes the franchise market, Marco's 2021 FUND Score is in the top 1% of all evaluated franchise systems and is among the top three scores for all QSR brands. The Top 50% of Marco's franchised stores generated $1,059,574 AUV for 2020*.

For more information on Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit www.marcosfranchising.com or call 866-731-8209.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA

Marco's Pizza is America's Most Loved and Most Trusted Pizza Brand, according to the 2019 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience, known for its dough made from scratch and its three fresh signature cheeses. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,000 stores in 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco's Pizza was ranked No. 2 in the Pizza category on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2022 "Franchise 500" ranking, and No. 4 in the Fastest Growing category on Restaurant Business' 2021 "Top 10 Fastest Growing Chains" ranking. Other recent accolades include a first-time presence on Newsweek's 2022 "America's Best Customer Service" in pizza chains list, ranked No. 42 on QSR's Top 50 and has been featured five consecutive years on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 500" ranking.

*Based on the Average Unit Volume of the top 50% of our Franchised Stores for fiscal year 2020. Based on fiscal year 2020, 142 of 369 Franchised Stores in the category (38%) met or exceeded this average. This information appears in Item 19 of our 2021 FDD  please refer to our FDD for complete information on financial performance. Results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well.

SOURCE Marco's Pizza
CHANTILLY, Va., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MEI Rigging & Crating, LLC ("MEI"), a leading provider of rigging, machinery moving, millwrighting, mechanical installation, industrial storage, crating, and export packing services, announced that it has acquired A&A Transfer ("A&A") based in Chantilly, VA from Harren Equity Partners ("Harren").

A&A Transfer is the premier industrial rigging, storage, and hauling company in the Mid-Atlantic region serving Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Founded in 1965, A&A has built a reputation for quality and service by continuously designing innovative, custom solutions using cutting-edge technology and equipment to meet the unique needs of each customer and individual project.

The acquisition announcement was made by Dan Cappello, CEO of MEI: "We are thrilled to welcome A&A's employees and customers to the MEI family. A&A Transfer is the industry standard for data center services, and this partnership further strengthens our position as the nation's leading provider of machinery moving services. This is an enormous accomplishment, and we could not be more excited to bring together these two excellent organizations."

The dynamic partnership expands MEI's footprint into Northern Virginia, the nation's largest data center market. MEI currently serves customers in Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.

"We are proud to combine our company's abilities and experience with MEI and are excited to work alongside the MEI team to deliver our standard of excellence on a national scale. In MEI, A&A has found a long-term partner who is committed to investing in the business to expand resources and capabilities that will ultimately create new opportunities for customers and employees," commented Maroon Ohanian, CEO of A&A Transfer.

Houlihan Lokey served as sell-side advisor and Kirkland & Ellis served as legal counsel to A&A. Jones Day served as legal counsel to MEI.

About MEI Rigging & Crating, LLC

MEI Rigging & Crating, a portfolio company of Dorilton Capital, is one of the largest providers of rigging, machinery moving, millwrighting, mechanical installation, commercial storage, crating, and export packing services in the nation. MEI has a growing team of over 600 employees in thirteen operating locations across ten states. With MEI's comprehensive footprint and expansive portfolio, MEI is able to serve customers with project-specific needs across the country. For more information, visit MEI's website at www.meiriggingcrating.com.

About A&A Transfer

Based in Chantilly, VA, A&A Transfer provides rigging and lift solutions to a diverse client base, complete with logistics management, handling, storage, and transportation services for heavy capital assets. Founded with a focus on commercial and government-related end users, A&A has expanded to provide comprehensive supply chain and lift solutions to data center operators focused in the prolific Northern Virginia data center market. The Company utilizes an asset-light model, supported by over 125 employees in the region. For more information, visit A&A's website at www.aarigging.com.

About Dorilton

Dorilton is a private investment firm that invests in businesses across a range of industry sectors, working in partnership with management to grow value over the long-term. By providing funding and expertise to drive growth, Dorilton helps its companies and its people achieve their full potential. Learn more at www.doriltongroup.com.

About Harren Equity Partners

Harren Equity Partners is a Charlottesville, VA based private equity firm dedicated to the growth and development of industry-leading companies through the creation of strong partnerships. Harren's strategy is to create long-term value by improving operational performance, providing in-depth strategic analysis, and executing a plan in partnership with portfolio company executives. Harren is currently investing its third fund and seeks investment opportunities of companies with enterprise values ranging from $50 million to $300 million operating in the following industries: Manufacturing & Distribution, Healthcare Services, Business & Technology Services and Industrial Services. Learn more at www.harrenequity.com.

For inquiries or relevant opportunities, please contact [email protected]

SOURCE MEI Rigging & Crating, LLC
DALLAS, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that Jason Sipes, P.E., has joined the firm as Office Executive  Dallas. In this role, Mr. Sipes will lead a multidisciplinary team in executing client projects and expanding the firm's business with new clients, markets and capabilities in Dallas, as well as across North Texas and the Southern Region.

"Jason brings more than 25 years of experience in alternative project delivery, including Design-Build and Public-Private Partnerships, tolling and program management in all phases of highway and bridge infrastructure projects," said Tommy Montgomery, Southern Regional Director at Michael Baker International. "I am confident his diverse experience will help drive growth in the Dallas area and beyond as he leads our impressive team of bridge, highway, planning, aviation, water and construction services experts."

Mr. Sipes most recently served as Senior Project Director at Atkins, where he was responsible for providing a variety of consulting services to the firm's public and private sector toll and transportation clients, particularly in the areas of all-electronic tolling (AET), managed lanes, customer service centers and capital/operational expenditures (CAPEX and OPEX) technical analysis. He previously spent 15 years at Cintra US in various roles, including Operations Director, where he managed and provided operational and technical support for all of Cintra's Project Development and Concession Operations in North America and Australia. He also spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Cintra's LBJ Infrastructure Group and three years as a Design and Construction Technical Manager.

Mr. Sipes holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Purdue University.

About Michael Baker International

Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services. The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design, civil engineering, planning, architecture, environmental, construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner, providing comprehensive services and solutions to commercial clients and all branches of the military, as well as federal, state and municipal governments. Embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations  like intelligent transportation and design-build project delivery  Michael Baker is an industry leader that delivers expertise and quality. The firm's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

Contact: Julia Covelli

[email protected]

(866) 293-4609

SOURCE Michael Baker International
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the connected world evolves with increased security, reliability and simplicity, Midea is proud to announce its support of and integration with Matter, the forthcoming protocol for all connected devices and appliances to communicate seamlessly. Matter is the Connectivity Standards Alliance's (CSA) mission to catapult smart home and commercial technology to a new standard of interoperability.

"Midea's core mission is offering home appliances that are reliable and intuitive, enabling users to enjoy their homes' full potential." said Patrick Serrato, Head of Global Ecosystem and Partnerships, Midea America, Inc. "Matter not only supports our mission, but elevates it by enabling secure connections between Midea home appliances and other smart technology in our users' homes."

This collaborative breakthrough is built on proven technologies and guided by the CSA (formerly Zigbee Alliance), whose members come together from across industries to transform the future of connectivity.

"Matter is creating more connections between more objects, simplifying development for manufacturers and increasing compatibility for consumers," said Chris LaPre, Director of Technology, CSA. "We're excited to have Midea as part of our IoT community; a company with prominent sub-brands that homeowners rely on worldwide."

Matter is built on market-proven technologies using Internet Protocol (IP). At launch, Matter will run on Wi-Fi, Thread and Ethernet network layers and use Bluetooth Low Energy for commissioning. With matter, smart devices will be able to communicate regardless of their underlying network protocols or ecosystems.

To learn more about Matter and the value propositions it will deliver for consumers, developers, installers and retailers, please visit BuildWithMatter.com .

For more information on Midea and its full portfolio of appliances, please visit Midea.com .http://www.midea.com/

ABOUT MIDEA AMERICA

Midea America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Midea Group,(SZ:000333), a publicly listed, Fortune 500 company and the world's leading manufacturer of home appliances. With more than 150,000 employees and presence in over 195 countries, including in the United States, Midea's products touch the lives of millions of people and families through air treatment, refrigeration, laundry, small and large kitchen appliances, water appliances, floor care and lighting.

Midea America is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ and has a Research and Development Center in Kentucky, as well as an Emerging Technology Center in California. Midea understands that the home is a special place, and the moments people spend there are precious. The Midea brand's promise to all its U.S. customers is to provide surprisingly friendly solutions to treasure those tiny moments at home. Therefore, the company creates home appliance innovations, that not only perform a function but have a meaningful impact for those who use them. For more information, visit Midea at midea.com.

ABOUT MATTER

Matter is the foundation for connected things. This industry-unifying standard has a promise of reliable, secure connectivity  a seal of approval that devices will work seamlessly together, today, and tomorrow. Matter is creating more connections between more objects, simplifying development for manufacturers, and increasing compatibility for consumers. This collaborative breakthrough is built on proven technologies and guided by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, whose members come together from across industries to transform the future of connectivity.

About the Connectivity Standards Alliance

The Connectivity Standards Alliance, formerly the Zigbee Alliance, is the foundation and future of the Internet of Things (IoT). Established in 2002, its wide-ranging global membership collaborates to cerate and evolve universal open standards for products transforming the way we live, work and play. With its Members' deep and diverse expertise, robust certification programs, and a full suite of open IoT solutions the Alliance is leading the movement toward a more intuitive, imaginative, and useful world. The Connectivity Standards Alliance board of directors is comprised of executives from Amazon, Apple, ASSA ABLOY, Comcast, Google, Huawei, IKEA, Infineon, The Kroger Co., LEEDARSON, Legrand, Lutron Electronics, NXP Semiconductors, OPPO, Resideo, Schneider Electric, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), Silicon Labs, SmartThings, Somfy, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Tuya, and Wulian. Find out more about the Alliance at www.csa-iot.org, and Matter at www.buildwithmatter.com; or follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

SOURCE Midea
"I am super excited to be part of the Radiance Team. Radiance has an unsurpassed reputation for providing outstanding support to critical mission partners here at WPAB and also across the DoD and IC. Radiance's foundation is clear and simplehire great employee-owners, and great things will happen. Radiance is committed to Dayton and will be leading the way for many years to come!"

"I've enjoyed working with Mike over the years. I am very pleased he has chosen to join Radiance. Mike brings tremendous experience, skill, and talent to our outstanding team in Dayton," said Radiance Technologies CEO Bill Bailey.

About Radiance Technologies:

Radiance Technologies is an employee-owned small business prime contractor founded in 1999. Radiance has over 900 employee-owners across the United States serving the Department of Defense, the national intelligence community, and other government agencies. From concepts to capabilities, Radiance leads the way in developing customer-focused solutions in the areas of cyber security, systems engineering, prototyping, and integration, as well as operational and strategic intelligence, including scientific and technical intelligence.

For more information about Radiance Technologies, visit RadianceTech.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kacey Clark

(256) 517-7935

[email protected]

SOURCE Radiance Technologies
NEW BEDFORD, Mass., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Registered nurses at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, will hold an informational picket on Thursday, January 20 as they seek to address longstanding nurse staffing problems that have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic by securing a strong RN union contract.

Nurses are urging hospital owner Southcoast Health to quickly come to an agreement to stem a significant exodus of nurses, which has created unsafe patient care conditions and left nurses exhausted and suffering from moral injury. Even prior to COVID-19 hitting Massachusetts in March of 2020, St. Luke's hospital was losing nurses to lagging wages and unfair working conditions, with approximately 200 nurses leaving in the two years prior to the pandemic. Now, amid another surge driven by the omicron variant, nurses are fleeing the hospital for better pay and conditions at an alarming rate.

"I have been a nurse at St. Luke's for 36 years. I have never seen it this bad," said Deb Falk, ED nurse and Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee. "We struggle to provide exceptional trauma care due to lack of staff, with our nurses often having to leave several other patients for long periods of time, to provide care to trauma patients. As a result, many patients get less care and attention, putting them at risk for a decline in their condition. A contract for St. Luke's nurses will help us both recruit and retain the nurses we need to give better care."

"Our contract will make our wages competitive with area hospitals so we can improve our staffing levels and give the best possible care," said Karen Corbett, FCU nurse and Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee. "Nurses are critical to the delivery of patient care and need to be able to go home at the end of their shift knowing that each patient has received the very best that they have to offer in a supportive environment."

St. Luke's RN Informational Picket

Date: Thursday, January 20

Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Location: In front of the main entrance of St. Luke's Hospital at 101 Page St. New Bedford

Details: Nurses, labor and community supporters, and elected officials will gather for informational picketing to highlight the need for a strong first RN contract at St. Luke's that will improve conditions for patients, nurses, and the community.

Negotiation Background

St. Luke's nurses voted in an NLRB election in November 2018 to join the MNA and began negotiating their contract in May 2019. They were making progress and ramping up a public campaign when the pandemic hit in March 2020. Negotiations were paused for several months while nurses cared for patients on the front lines of the pandemic. Nurses successfully pressured the hospital to make safety improvements during the pandemic, especially around safer personal protective equipment (PPE) and returned to bargaining in summer 2020.

Nurses waged a successful campaign in fall 2020 against a decertification attempt, winning in December 2020. Since that election result was finalized, nurses have built up a strong public campaign around standouts, lawn signs and digital ads, supplementing their strength at the bargaining table.

Throughout this year, nurses have made strong gains at the table and are in the final stretch of negotiating their contract. They continue to pressure Southcoast to agree to a robust wage step scale to help with nurse recruitment and retention, along with other key union protections to ensure nurses can provide safe, high-quality care to every patient at St. Luke's.

Southcoast Health Finances

Southcoast Health was hugely profitable before the pandemic and has bounced back quickly from the initial shutdown in Spring 2020. Between 2014 and 2018, Southcoast made more than $337 million in profits  out-earning each of its competitors, despite serving large populations of Medicare and low-income Medicaid patients. Southcoast has financial benefits that other community hospitals do not, including an $83 million endowment, more than $75 million in investments, and $45.4 million in a Cayman Islands account, according to its FY2018 IRS Form 990. In 2019 alone, the Center for Health Information and Analysis reported that Southcoast made a $76.6 million profit.

After receiving $56.1 million in grants and $132 million in COVID-related loans from the federal government, Southcoast Hospitals ended 2020 with a $66.3 million surplus. In the latest data published by CHIA in June 2021, Southcoast Hospitals showed a profit of just under $93 million. Between March 2021 and June 2021 alone, Southcoast hospitals generated more than $38 million in profits.

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses  Instagram.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcomed the leaders and experts meeting in the UAE to discuss issues related to sustainability and intensify collaborative efforts to find solutions for moving the world towards a more sustainable future.

Highlighting the importance of ADSW, the first global gathering of its kind after COP26, Sheikh Mohammed said, "Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week lays a pathway for COP28 when the UAE will welcome the world in 2023. The continued success of ADSW, which every year sets the sustainability agenda for the year to come, fully reflects our nation's leadership in the field of climate action. This year's convening of ADSW as part of Expo 2020 Dubai provides an opportunity for the convergence of global expertise to stimulate constructive dialogue and push efforts towards implementing innovative solutions."

"The UAE, guided by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was and continues to be one of the pioneering countries in the fields of climate action, energy transformation and the adoption of renewable energy as a solution for addressing environmental issues and their impact on people's lives and the health of the planet. The UAE has continued to express this commitment by developing a group of the world's largest and most innovative clean energy projects. These efforts culminated in the launch of the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, which reflects our commitment to create a future free of emissions," His Highness added.

The opening ceremony, held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai, was also attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and a number of senior officials.

The opening ceremony began with the UAE National Anthem followed by a short film centred on international cooperation to confront global challenges, especially those related to climate change and sustainable development.

Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, thanked the UAE for welcoming him to the country and inviting him to participate in the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. In his keynote speech, he said, "As the first event of its kind since COP26, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a kick start to carbon neutrality this year, offering strength through unity. This event holds great significance with the UAE hosting COP28 in 2023 - a milestone for the country's journey over the next 50 years. The UAE is a powerhouse of sustainable development for the Middle East and beyond, with pathways showing the way for the rest of the world."

He continued, "Last year, the UAE became the first one in the Middle East to commit to carbon neutrality by 2050. Korea too in 2020 declared its commitment to carbon neutrality. And the UAE and Korea both committed to cutting methane by 30 percent by 2030. The UAE and Korea, as special strategic partners, have been working together in the fields of construction, oil field development, national defence, agriculture, health, and much more. This demonstrates the robust relations between our two nations. For our sustainable future, Korea hopes to hold hands together with the UAE even more tightly. Now our two countries are working together to build an economy based on hydrogen - a potential new source of energy in the age of carbon neutrality."

In his keynote address, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and Chairman of Masdar, addressed the challenge of maintaining economic progress, while turning back the clock on emissions.

He said, "Finding the answers to these questions has been the mission of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Zayed Sustainability Prize. A mission that builds on the UAE's position as a pioneer in clean energy. When we began investing in the renewables space more than 15 years ago, our leadership had a theory of the future that has been proven right over time. Today, the UAE is home to the largest and lowest cost solar plants in the world. And globally the future of renewable energy is just as bright."

The objectives of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week are in line with the "Principles of the 50," the 10 principles that represent the UAE's strategic path in a new era and reflect the country's vision and determination to promote development efforts in various economic, political and social fields.

As one of the largest gatherings concerned with discussing sustainability issues, ADSW provides a global platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange, investment and innovation, as it attracts more than 45,000 participants annually representing more than 170 countries and hosts nearly 1,000 international companies.

Key ADSW dates include: January 15-16  IRENA Assembly; January 17  Opening Ceremony and the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony, ADSW Summit; January 17-19  World Future Energy Summit, Innovate, Youth 4 Sustainability Hub; January 18-19 Atlantic Council Forums; January 18 WiSER Forum, Exclusive Panel Session with the President of COP26 and 27 and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber; January 19  Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum.

Photos, Video and Press Release from the Opening Ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week can be found below.

VNR: https://www.apmultimedianewsroom.com/multimedia-newsroom/adsw-2022

Consumer ready video: https://www.apmultimedianewsroom.com/multimedia-newsroom/adsw-2022-opening-day

Images: http://www.apimages.com/Search?query=Abu+Dhabi+Sustainability+Week+Nazih&ss=10&st=kw&entitysearch=&toItem=18&orderBy=Newest&searchMediaType=allmedia

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728921/ADSW_Expo_2020_Dubai.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728920/ADSW_Expo_2020_Dubai.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1723119/Abu_Dhabi_Sustainability_Week_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW)
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready), a 501(c)(3) public-private partnership dedicated to reskilling Virginians for in-demand careers, started off the new year by welcoming Natalie Foster as its new Executive Director.

Prior to joining VA Ready, Foster worked as Executive Director and Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships for MENTOR Virginia, which promotes and provides assistance to various mentorship programs around the state. She has a proven success record in business development, fund development, training and strategic partnerships with corporate partners, community colleges, program partners, foundations, donors and board members throughout Virginia. Her background in education and human resources also lends a unique perspective to helping VA Ready build stronger relationships with current and future partners and Scholars.

"The team at VA Ready has been fantastic," Foster said. "Not only has their welcome been warm, but it's allowed me to get right to work on behalf of the workers and businesses of Virginia, both of whom continue to reel amid the winter COVID-19 surge."

Foster was named Executive Director after the departure of VA Ready CEO Caren Merrick, who left that role to serve as Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade in Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin's incoming administration beginning this month.

"Virginia's workers look to VA Ready to help them provide for themselves and their families," said Loretta Penn, Chairman of VA Ready. "Natalie's past experience and successes in business development and establishing strategic partnerships have more than prepared her to be an effective leader here, and I am sure that under her direction we will see our best year yet."

Since its founding, more than 3,300 Virginians have enrolled with VA Ready, learning vital new skills in healthcare, technology, manufacturing, or a skilled trade. The organization has also developed multiple partnerships with prominent Virginia businesses, the most recent being with the Virginia Trucking Association.

The Virginia Ready Initiative was founded by Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin and his wife, Suzanne, in June 2020 as a response to the economic and employment hardships experienced by Virginians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about the VA Ready Initiative and how to apply for the program, visit www.vaready.org .

About the Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready)

VA Ready is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that launched in June 2020 with a mission to help thousands of Virginians access the short-term training needed to find jobs in today's most in-demand industries. With its Public-Private-Partnership design, VA Ready brings together the Virginia Community College System's (VCCS) 23 colleges, the Commonwealth's FastForward program, and more than 20 business partners who employ millions of Virginians. VA Ready Scholars have access to 34 healthcare, technology and other skilled training programs; learn the skills needed to secure one of today's most in-demand positions; receive $1,000 upon credential completion; and are connected to VA Ready's business partners for employment opportunities. Learn more at www.vaready.org

SOURCE The Virginia Ready Initiative
An Arrow-3 interceptor is launched at a test site in central Israel on Jan. 18, 2022. Israel and the United States have completed a successful flight test of the Arrow-3 ballistic missile interceptor, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday. (Israel Ministry of Defense/Handout via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel and the United States have completed a successful flight test of the Arrow-3 ballistic missile interceptor, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday.

At a test site in central Israel, the ballistic missile interceptor detected and destroyed a target in outer space, the ministry said in a statement.

The completion of the test was "an important milestone" for Israel to defend itself against existing and evolving threats in the region, said the statement.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz praised the test for "equipping the State of Israel with the capabilities to defend itself against developing threats," adding the Arrow-3 system "provides Israel with the freedom to maneuver strategically."

U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Director Jon Hill said in the statement that the test was designed to "challenge every element of the Arrow Weapon System, and it performed beautifully."

Hill added the MDA remains committed to assisting Israel in upgrading its missile defense capability.

The Arrow-3 weapon system is part of Israel's multi-layer defense system, which includes Iron Dome, a system aimed at intercepting short-range rockets from Gaza, David's Sling, a medium to long-range missiles defense system, and the long-range Arrow-3.

In 2021, Israel said it was developing a new ballistic shield system, dubbed Arrow-4, jointly with the United States. 

An Arrow-3 interceptor is launched at a test site in central Israel on Jan. 18, 2022. Israel and the United States have completed a successful flight test of the Arrow-3 ballistic missile interceptor, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday. (Israel Ministry of Defense/Handout via Xinhua)
BUDAPEST, Hungary, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Earth , the Earth's original digital replica, today announced the availability of NXTT, a native token to generate revenue in order to fund the continuing development of the Next Earth ecosystem and transaction infrastructure. Next Earth is commencing a nine-day private financing round beginning on January 18, 2022, during which NXTT will be available for purchase by Next Earth citizens who own at least $100 worth of land.

To kick-off the NXTT launch, Founder and CEO of Next Earth, Gabor Retfalvi, and the company's token architect, David Taylor, will be hosting an AMA at 5pm CET / 11am EST on January 18, 2022. The broadcast will be available to view at the following link: https://nextearth.io/live-stream . Additionally, the company will be launching a global marketing and advertising campaign including social media, display ads, and influencer engagement. Presale of the token will take place from January 22 - 27, 2022.

Next Earth, a blockchain metaverse that enables the creation of communities derived from non-fungible tokens (NFT) of real Earth properties, has rapidly evolved to become the third largest metaverse by community size, in only four months.

With the funds generated from the NXTT tokens, Next Earth will be able to further develop the platform, while continuing to advance and facilitate user's ability to positively impact the environment. As the project continues to evolve, the goal is to be a self-sustaining, not-for-profit ecosystem that will eventually be able to support environmental charity projects through donations from revenue earned on Next Earth.

"With the launch of the NXTT token, we're taking a fundamentally evolutionary step towards achieving our goal of creating a truly self-sustaining digital ecosystem that can deliver real-world results for the environment," said Gabor Retfavi, Founder and CEO of Next Earth. "Climate change is an existential challenge that must be addressed with innovative thinking and new ways of using technology. With this project we have the opportunity not just to capitalize on our efforts, but to start donating to important causes right out of the gate."

After the introduction of NXTT, the company will publish a series of proposals called NEIPs that will serve as a roadmap for the platform. The community will be able to vote on the best and most promising NEIPs, getting a significant say in which direction Next Earth is going.

About Next Earth

Next Earth is the Earth's original digital replica; a blockchain metaverse that enables the creation of communities derived from non-fungible tokens (NFT) of real Earth properties. The Next Earth platform enables citizens to buy and sell lands on a virtual earth while creating value on the real one; a social experiment on how virtual spaces can be managed, governed, and used to back environmental projects. Find out more by downloading the White Paper: https://nextearth.io/NE-whitepaper.pdf

SOURCE Impact Partners
PHOENIX, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NextMart, Inc. (the "Company" or "NXMR" - Pink Sheets Alternative Reporting Pink: NXMR)  NXMR would like to announce that the Company will be entering the crypto market.

William Bouyea (CEO of the Company), states" We are excited to announce that we will be entering the crypto market as one of our initial business segments. We plan to not only acquire the necessary rigs to mine Ethereum, but we will be immediately buying nodes from established mining entities that have actual success in crypto coins such as Gala, Green, and Liberty."

The Company is raising the necessary additional capital to start mining Ethereum. It expects to start this segment of our new business focus during the 2nd quarter of 2022. In the meantime, the Company is finagling the purchase of a significant number of revenue-producing nodes from a large crypto mining company during the 1st quarter of 2022.

Mr. Bouyea (CEO of the Company) stated further" Entering the crypto market will be only one of several market segments we are currently attempting to enter. We are looking for acquisitions of mature, asset heavy operational entities with both large top line revenue and significant bottom line performance. The Company will be making several announcements in the short term as these negotiations come to fruition."

Forward Looking Statement

Certain statements that we make may constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements contained herein may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to NXMR that are based on the beliefs of NXMR's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to NXMR's management. These forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the NXMR's business prospects, future developments, trends and conditions in the industry and geographical markets in which NXMR operates, its strategies, plans, objectives and goals, its ability to control costs, statements relating to prices, volumes, operations, margins, overall market trends, risk management and exchange rates.

ABOUT US

NextMart, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, is a public quoted Pink Sheet issuer under the ticker symbol "NXMR". Currently, NXMR currently is a shell company with a new management team with plans to become a current alternative reporting issuer with OTC Markets. The Company is currently looking for an appropriate business acquisition.

CONTACT:

98 Lower Westfield Rd

Holyoke, MA 01040

Web Site: www.nextmartcorporation.com

Twitter: @CorporationNxmr

SOURCE NextMart, Inc.
NEWARK, Del., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) announced the NIIMBL Faculty Fellows Program, a pilot program that will provide financial support for faculty and instructional staff at universities and community colleges to pursue a sabbatical with NIIMBL industry member organizations or directly with NIIMBL.

"Over the years, NIIMBL has brought together industry and academia in a variety of ways, most notably during our project calls. Bringing together these two groups within our ecosystem has proven to be a formula that helps accelerate innovation and bridge the gap between academic research with the needs of the industry," stated John Balchunas, Director of Workforce Development at NIIMBL.

The NIIMBL Faculty Fellows Program is designed to help create a diverse and engaged community of academics that can work collaboratively and effectively with industry and represent a variety of disciplines, backgrounds, and institutions. NIIMBL Faculty Fellows will gain valuable experience and exposure to state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing, learn about real-world industry challenges, seed new industry-academic partnerships, and strengthen the overall member community. Opportunities will be hosted by NIIMBL industry members for up to 12-months, as well as, directly by NIIMBL at the NIIMBL headquarters in Newark, Delaware.

The NIIMBL Faculty Fellows concept was highly supported by NIIMBL's academic and industry members and received endorsement by the NIIMBL workforce activities committee during program planning. NIIMBL member, Jim DeKloe of Solano College shared, "My faculty sabbatical at Genentech fundamentally changed the trajectory of my career as the industry experience I gained subsequently impacted thousands of students."

A request for applications is available now at NIIMBL.org and applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis as funds permit, starting March 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

Visit NIIMBL.org for more information about the program and to learn more about NIIMBL.

About NIIMBL

The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of standards that enable more efficient and rapid manufacturing capabilities, and educate and train a world-leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce while fundamentally advancing U.S. competitiveness in this industry. NIIMBL is part of Manufacturing USA, a diverse network of federally-sponsored manufacturing innovation institutes, and is funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce with significant additional support from its members.

Contact:

News Media

Maria X. Chacon

Director of Marketing and Communications

302-831-2337

[email protected]

SOURCE National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL)
This new round of financing was closed rapidly to address the burgeoning market demand for NOD beverages. New capital will be used to ramp up production, to fulfil channel expansion, as well as, accelerate go-to-market activities for its two new product lines.

Proterra Investment Partners, which spun out of Cargill, (a global leader in providing food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services), brings deep expertise in both upstream and downstream food and beverage related industries.

"We are proud and pleased to have Proterra invest and grow with us at NOD. They bring an immense network of resources to the table. The new funds will help us expand our channels that are ready and waiting to be deployed, to ramp up growth in the coming months, which will help provide the foundation for our next round of fund raising, slated to occur in the next three months. NOD is a brand born in China with global ambitions, driven by a team with a proven blend of in-depth China and international expertise in the beverage sector. Chinese brands can now compete on the global stage. Long gone is the negative stigma surrounding the label made in China like what happened with Japanese products in the early seventies. Chinese consumer brands now have the necessary quality and innovation to succeed globally. We are already seeing success stories in other sectors. Our goal at NOD is to make healthy drinks taste great again, rather than just another artificial tasting concoction. Consumers will never compromise on taste no matter how healthy the products. Therefore, it is imperative that our products continue to be at the forefront of ingredient technology. Additionally, from the beginning, we committed to be an ESG-compliant company, as this will further widen our market prospects," says Chris Tay, founder of NOD.

Currently, NOD collaborates with the three leading convenience store brands in China: Family Mart, Lawsons and 7-11. The new funding will enable us to increase our production capacity to gain a foothold into more major retailers and to invest more into social media, ecommerce, and trade marketing.

NOD has an ambitious overseas expansion plan, relying on a two-pronged approach starting with Singapore and Germany as the launching pads into South-East Asia and Europe respectively. Its plans are rooted in the extensive combination of resources and working relationships with retailers and partners in these two regions, that the founders have acquired in the past. According to Market Data Forecast (www.marketdataforecast.com), the European beverage market is worth USD 503.55 billion per annum and estimated to reach USD 633.54 billion in 2026 whilst Asia Pacific's is USD 351.08 billion. Both these markets are growing at a CAGR of 4 to 6 percent.

Lobin Tjia, NOD's head of marketing and co-founder believes that NOD will become as ubiquitous as Pepsi, Nestle or Coke. "NOD has aggressive plans to build our brand; one that is born in China but ready for the world stage. Our brand mission, products, communications, are developed in China, but are built on principles designed to have universal appeal with the right customization for local nuances. Our pioneering commitment to Stevia powering the naturally great taste of our sugar-free waters is one such case in point. To cut through the cluttered media environment, we will avoid the pitfalls of just relying on influencers as mobile billboards that have become near ubiquitous. We strive to create brand experiences that are current, memorable, and crucially echo back to our goal of making healthy beverages taste good and fun to drink. We are in the business of creating a brand recipe that is built to last, grounded on fundamentals versus fads," says Tjia.

Founder Chris Tay is a serial entrepreneur and is now preparing NOD's series A fundraise, which has already garnered serious interest from notable Asia Pacific institutional investors. This is not surprising as the healthy beverage market pie is big enough to accommodate a few strong players. Additionally, many countries in South-East Asia and Europe have adopted sugar taxes to improve nutrition levels and reduce obesity further fuelling NOD's flavoured water prospects in these regions.

Proterra Asia's managing partner Tai Lin said, "We are honored and privileged to become partners to the team at NOD. There is enormous untapped potential in China's beverage market. Chinese consumers are demanding better tasting, healthier, and more innovative beverages, and this demand will be met by domestic champions. We believe the NOD team has the ability to succeed in this category. Equally important to us is NOD's mission to grow sustainably and responsibly. We are excited to join Chris and team on this journey and will leverage our relationships in the sector to help the NOD team achieve their goals."

NOD's other notable investors include personal investments from Mr & Mrs Lee Hsien Yang, Mr Koh Boon Hwee and several angel investors from Singapore.

www.drinknod.com

Proterra Investment Partners Asia ("Proterra Asia") is a private equity fund manager focused on investing in the Asian Food Sector. The Proterra Asia team sits in offices in Singapore and Shanghai.

Proterra Asia is an affiliate of Proterra Investment Partners LP (www.proterrapartners.com), an alternative investment manager with USD 3.7 billion of assets under management, focused on investing in natural resource sectors of agriculture & food. Proterra Asia is supported by the broader Proterra Investment Partners platform with offices in Minneapolis, London, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Shanghai and Sydney.

Proterra Investment Partners LP spun out from Black River Asset Management, a wholly-owned, independently-managed subsidiary of Cargill, Inc., a global leader in providing food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services.

SOURCE NOD
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the face of learning disruptions nationwide, Gov. Roy Cooper has joined a growing bipartisan group of state and local leaders in recognizing Jan. 23-Jan. 29 as School Choice Week. His official declaration of "North Carolina School Choice Week" marks the first time since 2016 that a governor of North Carolina has officially proclaimed the Week, which raises awareness about choice in K-12 education.

North Carolinians will celebrate School Choice Week with 838 events and activities across the state. The activities have been independently planned by parents, teachers, and other community members and include school rallies, online contests, at-home celebrations, and more. These events seek to inspire conversation about the educational choices parents want for their children, and encourage families to play an active role in their children's education.

Across the country, more than half ( 52 percent ) of American families say they are considering or have considered choosing a new or different school in the last year. More than 26,000 events have been independently planned for the Week nationwide to share information and support families as they school search. Schools of every type  traditional public, public magnet, public charter, private, online, and homeschool  will join in the celebration.

"We are excited that North Carolina families are speaking up for school choice and we're grateful to Gov. Cooper for issuing this proclamation," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "As parents and educators know well, each child is unique. Having an array of educational options gives parents the freedom to choose what helps their children succeed. We hope the Week is an opportunity for North Carolina parents, and all parents, to learn more about their school options."

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation.

For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/north-carolina .

SOURCE National School Choice Week
We are pleased to welcome patient-focused and well-respected colleagues in Northwest Arkansas to GI Alliance. Tweet this

"We are pleased to welcome patient-focused and well-respected colleagues in Northwest Arkansas to GI Alliance," said Jim Weber, M.D., CEO of GI Alliance. "These physicians will continue to advance our commitment in providing high-quality, cost-effective care to the communities we serve."

"Our partnership with GI Alliance provides significant infrastructure, ancillary resources, and operational support to our growing market," said Dr. Kevin O'Keefe. "Our patients will benefit through our ability to focus our efforts on ensuring the best patient experience possible."

About GI Alliance

GI Alliance is a physician-led and majority physician-owned GI services organization supporting the needs of more than 660 independent gastroenterologists operating in Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Washington. GI Alliance practices focus on providing the highest-quality care to their patients. In addition to providing operational support for practices, GI Alliance is working to unite gastroenterologists nationwide by aligning interests and improving patient care.

Contact: Dee Dee Brooks

GI Alliance 214.998.3434

[email protected]

SOURCE GI Alliance
The lattice boom crane segment share is expected to grow steadily owing to its ability to be installed on fixed and movable platforms in offshore applications. These cranes can deliver enhanced cargo handling performance in tough and corrosive offshore environments. Advanced models of lattice boom cranes provide safe access to all parts of the crane through walkways and ladders with ergonomically located emergency exit points that are easy to access. The compact size of a lattice boom crane allows enhanced outreach without occupying a large area on the floating or fixed platform, augmenting its adoption in offshore industries.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4103

The North America offshore crane market is anticipated to grow by 2027 due to the high demand for electricity across the region. The proliferation of technologically advanced devices and smart homes in the country is creating a robust demand for renewable sources of energy. Increasing government investments in this sustainable source of energy are creating a robust market opportunity for offshore cranes in the construction of wind farms. For instance, in April 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy allocated USD 20 million for the development of the offshore wind energy sector.

Market players are focusing on new product development and adopting several strategies, such as mergers & acquisitions, partnerships & collaborations, to capture a high revenue share. For instance, in September 2019, National Oilwell Varco, Inc. signed a contract with Japan-based, Shimizu Corporation for offshore wind turbine installation vessels. As a part of this contract, the company provided offshore cranes to the project. This move aided the company to increase its market representation in Japan.

Some major findings of the offshore crane market report include:

The growing emphasis on renewable energy owing to increasing urbanization and rising world population will drive the market demand for offshore cranes in renewable energy applications.

Growing domestic exploration activities for natural gas in China have created a demand for the offshore crane market. The exploration is carried out to focus on mid to large discoveries of oil & gas. Advanced technologies are used in the exploration and discovery of oil & gas reserves, which help operators to know the exact location of the underlying natural resources and extract fossils more efficiently.

Telescopic boom cranes offer extended outreach and precise placement & pick-up of heavy objects. These factors contribute to their increasing adoption in the offshore industry. These cranes can be set up in comparatively less time, making them ideal for emergency offshore operations.

Key players operating in the offshore crane market are MacGregor, Heila Group, Palfinger AG, National Oilwell Varco, Liebherr, Kenz Figee, Seatrax, Inc., and Huisman Equipment.

Market players are emphasizing on product and price differentiation strategies to gain a competitive advantage over rivals. They offer advanced equipment integrated with advanced features to enhance the overall reliability and energy efficiency.

Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4103

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Offshore crane industry 360 synopsis, 2016  2027

2.1.1 Business trends

2.1.2 Type trends

2.1.3 Lifting capacity trends

2.1.4 Application trends

2.1.5 Regional trends

Chapter 3 Offshore Crane Market Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Impact of COVID-19 on offshore crane industry landscape

3.2.1 Global Outlook

3.2.2 Regional Impact

3.2.3 Industry Value Chain

3.2.4 Competitive Landscape

3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.4 Technology & innovation landscape

3.5 Regulatory landscape

3.6 Industry impact forces

3.6.1 Growth drivers

3.6.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.7 Growth potential analysis

3.8 Porter's analysis

3.9 PESTEL analysis

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc.
Indu Maheshwari commented: "I am excited to help liquidity providers benefit from access to the over 200 brokers that are in the oneZero distribution network through shared and tailored streams, with sweepable, full amount and bespoke streams supported."

Kevin has extensive expertise in FX and FXPB Product Management. At Bank of America, Kevin headed FXPB Product VP, responsible for FX and FXPB projects including designing the FXPB UI. Prior to that, Kevin served as VP of FXPB Global Client Service Desk Manager at Lehman Brothers starting the multi-product desk from scratch. More recently, Kevin held the role of Director in Relationship Trading (buy-side) at FXall for LSEG/Refinitiv, responsible for FXall's RFQ and RFS venues.

"I am looking forward to progressing oneZero's credit offerings and improving the trading user interface which enables users to organize their liquidity, execute trades, and manage their risk positions," commented Kevin Verardi.

Andrew Ralich, Co-Founder and CEO of oneZero: "We are delighted to welcome Indu and Kevin, whose knowledge will help to establish our products as we continue to break new ground with solutions for institutional clients and liquidity providers."

The news of Indu and Kevin's appointments comes a month after Jim Sullivan was announced as the company's General Counsel. oneZero has invested heavily in its institutional business over the past year in both personnel and product development with the launch of analytics that help clients evaluate the impact of last look, and oneZero's Algorithmic Pricing Module, both of which work alongside oneZero's Institutional Hub.

About oneZero

oneZero Financial Systems has been a leading innovator in multi-asset class trading technology for over a decade. Its powerful software encompasses the Hub, EcoSystem and Data Source - three components that separately solve specific organizational challenges and together provide a complete solution for trading technology, distribution and analytics. Through reliable connectivity, technology, infrastructure and market access, oneZero empowers financial institutions and brokers to compete effectively in the global financial markets through a globally compliant, liquidity-neutral solution.

For more information, please contact:

Talia Geberovich

Head of Marketing and Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE oneZero Financial Systems
GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Onion Global Limited ("Onion Global", the "Group" or the "Company") (NYSE: OG), a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that incubates, markets, and distributes the world's fresh, fashionable, and future brands to young people in China and across Asia, today announced that it reached RMB100 million in GMV during its 2022 New Year's Shopping Festival. The New Year promotion ran under the theme of "New Year, New Shopping" and was designed to specifically cater to the consumption needs for the upcoming Spring Festival. The thirteen-day, one-stop, online promotion started its pre-sale on December 24, 2021, and officially ran between December 29, 2021, and January 6, 2022. During the period, the Company offered consumers a wide range of fun and seasonal products in a centralized and straightforward manner, making the shopping experience highly enjoyable. As one of the most important traditions in China, shopping for the Spring Festival not only presents a golden opportunity to attract more consumers online but also helps create a festive and warm ambiance for users through online shopping as the Spring Festival approaches.

Highlights from the 2022 New Year's shopping festival

The total GMV generated during the festival reached RMB100 million ;

; The total number of orders exceeded 300,000;

More than 7 million views on O'Mall within the first 24 hours after the festival officially started on December 29, 2021 .

Mr. Cong (Kenny) Li, Founder, and CEO of Onion Global commented, "We are pleased with the operating results during our 2022 New Year's Shopping Festival. Chinese New Year is an important festival for Chinese people. Based on the traditional festivities of Chinese New Year, we offered a one-stop, centralized shopping experience for consumers. We continue to distinguish ourselves by offering a superior portfolio of leading global brands to meet the dynamic needs of our consumers, through our innovative business model that integrates 'consumers, products, and channels'. As we grow, we will continue to enhance our precision marketing technologies and strategies to build stronger awareness for our brands, improve users' shopping experience, and attract more consumers to our fast-growing international brand platform."

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, the Company's forecasts, general observation of the industry, and business outlook, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "target," "aim," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "potential," "estimates" "continue," "is/are likely to," or other similar statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Onion Global's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Onion Global does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About Onion Global Limited

Onion Global Limited (NYSE: OG) is a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that incubates, markets, and distributes the world's fresh, fashionable, and future brands, which we refer to as "3F brands," to young people in China and across Asia. The Company's mission is to be the dream factory of lifestyle brands for young people. The Company's platform offers an integrated solution to develop, market, and distribute new and inspiring branded products, thereby reshaping the lifestyle shopping and consumer culture in China. Onion Global Limited has been listed on New York Stock Exchange since May 2021.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.msyc.com/.

Investor Relations Contact

In China:

Onion Global Ltd.

Investor Relations

E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen

Mr. Eric Yuan

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +86-10-5900-1548

In the United States:

Christensen

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +1-480-614-3004

SOURCE Onion Global Limited
LONDON, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ori Biotech Ltd. (Ori), a leader in cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing technology, today announces it has secured over $100 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round. The investment round was led by Novalis LifeSciences with Puhua Capital and Chimera Abu Dhabi coming in as new investors. Existing investors from Ori's $30 million Series A round in 2020, including Amadeus Capital Partners, Delin Ventures, Northpond Ventures and Octopus Ventures, have continued to support the company with additional funding.

Ori will use the funds to further expand key personnel across all functions, in order to rapidly transition through pre-commercialization to the launch of its innovative CGT manufacturing platform. The company is also launching its Lightspeed Early Access Program (LEAP), allowing select partners to gain pre-launch access to the Ori platform in 2022. The Ori platform is a proprietary, full stack manufacturing system that closes, automates, digitizes and standardizes CGT manufacturing. It will enable therapy developers, contract manufacturers and academic researchers to seamlessly transition from pre-clinical process discovery through clinical trials to commercial scale. The promise of the novel Ori platform is to fully automate CGT manufacturing to increase throughput and reproducibility, while improving quality and decreasing costs through the combination proprietary hardware, software, data and analytical tools.

"Our mission as a company is to enable widespread patient access to life saving cell and gene therapies. One of the biggest obstacles to achieving this is cell and gene therapy manufacturing processes that are too expensive, too highly variable and too low throughput. Our team is focused on the urgent need to enhance the ability of cell and gene therapy developers, CDMOs and Academic Medical Centers to deliver these therapies to as many patients as possible as quickly as possible," said Jason C. Foster, CEO, Ori Biotech.

"The significant experience and capital that our investors bring to Ori will help the company rapidly transition through the launch of our early access partnerships in 2022 to full commercialization in 2023 in order to support new and existing partners in all phases of development," added Barry Clare, Chairman of the Board.

"We view Ori Biotech as the best-in-class solution to solve many of the significant challenges now facing CGT researchers and developers. We think Ori is well positioned, and are pleased to partner with their industry leading management team," commented Paul Meister, partner at Novalis LifeSciences, who will be joining the Ori Board of Directors.

Marijn E. Dekkers, chairman of Novalis, added; "Ori Biotech is the first investment out of our new fund, Novalis LifeSciences Investments II. Ori's digital manufacturing platform will play a critical role in improving patient access to cell therapies, and opens new doors to commercial success for therapy developers."

"We look forward to working with Paul, Marijn and the team at Novalis LifeSciences whose vast experience in bio-enterprise scale-up will be invaluable as we enter the next phase of growth at Ori," added Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Farlan Veraitch.

About Ori Biotech

Ori is a London-and New Jersey-based manufacturing technology company pioneering flexible process discovery with seamless translation and scalable commercialization of cell and gene therapies. Ori has developed a proprietary, full stack manufacturing platform that closes, automates and standardizes CGT manufacturing allowing therapeutics developers to develop and bring their products to market at commercial scale. The promise of the innovative Ori platform is to fully automate CGT manufacturing to increase throughput, improve quality and decrease costs by combining proprietary hardware, software, data and analytics.

Ori was founded in 2015 by Dr. Farlan Veraitch (UCL) and has brought together a seasoned Board and management team with over 200 years of combined pharmaceutical, CGT and venture building experience including CEO Jason C. Foster (Indivior), CBO Jason Jones (Miltenyi), CDOO Kevin Gordon (Tmunity), CTO Stuart Milne (Cytiva), VP Tom Heathman (Minaris), VP David Smith (Minaris), VP Lee Unroe (Indivior), Chris Mason (AVROBIO), Paul Meister (ThermoFisher) and Annalisa Jenkins (Dimension Therapeutics) alongside expert advisers like Bruce Levine, Anthony Davies, and Robert Preti. For more information, visit oribiotech.com .

About Novalis LifeSciences

Novalis LifeSciences is a boutique investment and advisory firm for the Life Science industry that was founded in 2017 by Marijn E. Dekkers. With a team of experienced operating executives from the Life Science industry, Novalis funds and advises visionary Life Science entrepreneurs. In addition to making financial investments, Novalis provides strategic and operational advice to portfolio companies that are at a critical growth stage in their development. For more information, visit novalislifesciences.com

Contact Information:

Image Box Communications

Neil Hunter / Michelle Boxall

Tel +44 (0)20 8943 4685

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Ori Biotech
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A public prosecution has been initiated against Xiao Yi, a former senior political advisor in east China's Jiangxi Province, over suspected bribe-taking and abuse of power.

The Hangzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate in Zhejiang Province recently filed a lawsuit with the Intermediate People's Court of Hangzhou, an official statement said Tuesday.

The lawsuit follows the conclusion of an investigation by the National Supervisory Commission into the case involving Xiao, who was formerly vice-chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the leading Party members' group of the committee.

Previously, Xiao had served as head of the office of the Jiangxi provincial government in Beijing, and the secretary of the Fuzhou municipal committee of the Communist Party of China. Fuzhou is a city in Jiangxi Province.

The procuratorate charged Xiao with taking advantage of his positions to seek gains for others in project contracting and development and accepting a huge amount of bribes in money and valuables in return. Xiao also helped certain enterprises in seeking funding support and other benefits in breach of regulations, causing huge losses to the public property.

Public prosecutors said that Xiao should be held criminally responsible for committing the crimes of taking bribes and abusing power. 
Q1 2022 production of 15,921 gold equivalent ounces  a 32% sequential increase

7,022 m of infill and brownfield drilling in Orovalle, Spain

of infill and brownfield drilling in Orovalle, 1,415 m of greenfield drilling in Orovalle, Spain

of greenfield drilling in Orovalle, 20.66 g/t Au over 2.9 meters intercepted in Ortosa-Godan, Orovalle, Spain

Juan Gavidia, CEO of Orvana stated: "We are encouraged by the most recent intercepts in the west zone of Ortosa-Godan, which confirm the presence of a mineralized structure in an area previously undrilled. The Company has made a strong commitment to organic growth in Orovalle through brownfield and greenfield exploration, and results such as the ones released today continue to demonstrate that this investment is paying off with the potential to further grow our mineral resources".

Q1 2022 Production Results

Production of 15,921 gold equivalent ounces, a 32% increase from Q4 2021

11,731 gold ounces produced, on track to meet fiscal year 2022 guidance of 48,000 - 53,000 Oz.

1.5 million copper pounds produced, on track to meet fiscal year 2022 guidance of 5,800  6,500 Oz.





Q1 FY2022 Q4 FY2021 Q1 FY2021 FY 2022 Guidance











Ore milled (tones)

176,288 134,626 180,380

Gold Equivalent (oz)

15,921 12,042 18,398

Gold









Grade (g/t)

2.27 2.18 2.60

Recovery (%)

91.1 91.3 92.6

Production (oz)

11,731 8,621 14,127 48,000 - 53,000 Copper









Grade (%)

0.45 0.52 0.63

Recovery (%)

83.7 80.9 81.6

Production (K lbs)

1,451 1,253 2,044 5,800 - 6,500

Q1 FY2022 Drilling Update

Drilling Summary Infill (m) Brownfield (m) Greenfield (m) TOTAL (m) Ortosa-Godan - - 1,031 1,031 Lidia - - 384 384 El Valle Boinas







Boinas South (SB) 2,484 - - 2,484 Boinas East (BE) 1,486 - - 1,486 Breccia East (BX) 1,117 - - 1,117 A208 East (E2) - 492 - 492 Carles West (CW) 1,444 - - 1,444 TOTAL 6,530 492 1,415 8,437

Table 1. Orovalle Drilling Q1 FY2022

Ortosa-Godan

Ortosa-Godan Project is located close to Carles mine, three kilometers northwest and into the same gold belt. Different exploration works were carried out before 2011 including airborne geophysics, geochemistry, rock sampling and drill holes intersecting skarn mineralization (see Figure 1)

Orovalle started an exploration drilling program at the end of August 2021 in order to define the skarn continuity and check the oxide mineralization related to N40E structures. Six drill holes totaling 2,072 m were completed in this Project up to date. The first four drill holes were focused on defining skarn mineralization at depth and in N-S direction. Calcic skarn with sulfides was intersected in several bands. Intercepts are shown in table below.

The last two drill holes were planned to intersect mineralization related with N40E structures. Drill hole 21ORW05 intercepted 2.9 mts with 20.66 g/t Au in a undrilled area. 21ORW06 was completed to the South from previous one and sample assays are pending (see Figure 2)

The drilling campaign will continue in the second quarter of fiscal year 2022 targeting the establishment of continuity of the mineralization intersected in 21ORW05.

Intercepts

Zone DDH From (m) To (m) Thick (m) Au(gpt)











ORT W 21ORW01 256.75 259.65 2.90 2.15 ORT W 21ORW02 318.40 320.35 1.95 0.52 ORT W 21ORW03 59.20 59.85 0.65 2.60 ORT W 21ORW03 246.55 248.00 1.45 1.59 ORT W 21ORW03 357.00 357.60 0.60 0.87 ORT W 21ORW04 No intercepts Au >0.5 g/t ORT W 21ORW05 256.50 259.40 2.90 20.66 ORT W 21ORW05 266.00 268.00 2.00 0.62 ORT W 21ORW05 324.10 325.10 1.00 0.76 ORT W 21ORW06 Pending results











* Not true widths









Quality Control

21OWR01 and 21ORW02 ddh samples were analyzed by the Orovalle laboratory, which is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Drill holes 21ORW03, 21ORW04, 21ORW05 and 21OWR06 samples were sent to an external laboratory (ALS Laboratory) for analyses.

Sample preparation was carried out at the El Valle facility. All diamond core samples have been prepared using the following procedure, once split:

The core samples are dried at a temperature of 105C and then crushed through a jaw crusher to 95%<6 mm. The coarse-crushed sample is further reduced to 95%<425 microns using an LM5 bowl-and-puck pulverizer. An Essa rotary splitter is used to take a 450 g to 550 g sub-sample of each split for pulverizing. The remaining reject portion is bagged and stored. The sample is reduced to a nominal -200 mesh using an LM2 bowl-and-puck pulverizer. 140 g sub-samples are split using a special vertical-sided scoop to cut channels through the sample which has been spread into a pancake on a sampling mat. Samples are then sent to the laboratory for gold and base metal analysis. Leftover pulp is bagged and stored.

After sample preparation, 30g samples are analyzed for Au by fire assay with an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish and two-gram samples for Ag, As, Bi, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, and Zn by ICP-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after an aqua regia digestion.

In case of the samples sent to an external laboratory, 30 g samples are analyzed for Au by fire assay with an atomic absorption (Au AA-25) and 35 elements by ICP (ME-ICP41) after an agua region digestion. When Au and Ag values are >100 ppm and Cu and As values are >10,000 ppm, specific analysis methods are used to determinate the final grade.

The reported work has been completed using industry standard procedures, including a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") program consisting of the insertion of certified reference material, blanks and duplicates samples into the sample stream.

The exploration update was prepared under the supervision of Guadalupe Collar Menendez, a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and an employee of Orovalle Minerals S.L., a subsidiary of Orvana.

Lidia

Orovalle's Lidia Project is located in Navelgas Gold Belt. The program started in fiscal 2021, with a total 1,017 drilled in the year. Second phase of program started in December 2021, with 384 meters drilled in the month, and will be completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. Information is under evaluation and results will be provided in due course once completed the second phase.

El Valle Boinas

Orovalle's main operation Q1 FY2022 drilling program continued with its focus on upgrading Inferred resources, with a total of 5,086 m of infill drilling. Further 492 m of brownfield drilling were completed to define the continuity of the recently discovered E2 structure to the North. The drilling program for next months will be in line with this quarter.

Carles

1,444 meters were completed during de first quarter of fiscal 2022. It is expected to complete the infill program in the second quarter.

Financial Performance

Q1 FY2022 financials will be released mid-February, 2022.

ABOUT ORVANA - Orvana is a multi-mine gold-copper-silver company. Orvana's assets consist of the producing El Valle and Carles gold-copper-silver mines in northern Spain, the Don Mario gold-silver property in Bolivia, currently in care and maintenance, and the Taguas property located in Argentina. Additional information is available at Orvana's website (www.orvana.com).

Cautionary Statements - Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this presentation constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "believes", "expects", "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "are projected to" be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements herein relate to, among other things, Orvana's ability to achieve improvement in free cash flow; the ability to maintain expected mining rates and expected throughput rates at El Valle Plant; the potential to extend the mine life of El Valle and Don Mario beyond their current life-of-mine estimates including specifically, but not limited to, in the case of Don Mario, the processing of the mineral stockpiles and the reprocessing of the tailings material; Orvana's ability to optimize its assets to deliver shareholder value; the Company's ability to optimize productivity at Don Mario and El Valle; estimates of future production, operating costs and capital expenditures; mineral resource and reserve estimates; statements and information regarding future feasibility studies and their results; future transactions; future metal prices; the ability to achieve additional growth and geographic diversification; future financial performance, including the ability to increase cash flow and profits; future financing requirements; and mine development plans.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, which includes, without limitation, as particularly set out in the notes accompanying the Company's most recently filed financial statements. The estimates and assumptions of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in this information, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the various assumptions set forth herein and in Orvana's most recently filed Management's Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form in respect of the Company's most recently completed fiscal year (the "Company Disclosures") or as otherwise expressly incorporated herein by reference as well as: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at El Valle and Don Mario being consistent with the Company's current expectations; political developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; certain price assumptions for gold, copper and silver; prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Orvana's current expectations; and the availability of necessary funds to execute the Company's plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this presentation also contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the results of the preliminary economic assessment, including but not limited to the mineral resource estimation, conceptual mine plan and operations, internal rate of return, sensitivities, taxes, net present value, potential recoveries, design parameters, operating costs, capital costs, production data and economic potential; the timing and costs for production decisions; permitting timelines and requirements; exploration and planned exploration programs; the potential for discovery of additional mineral resources; timing for completion of a feasibility study; timing for first gold production at Taguas; processing the stockpile at El Valle in connection with the metal production catch-up program; identifying additional resources beyond the replenishment of annual depletion rates at El Valle for the extension of mine life; issuing an expanded resource PEA for Taguas in a timely manner; completion of the infill drilling program at Taguas; making a decision on the oxides stockpile at Don Mario in a timely manner; and the Company's general objectives and strategies.

A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: the potential impact of the COVID-19 on the Company's business and operations, including: our ability to continue operations; our ability to manage challenges presented by COVID-19; the accounting treatment of COVID-19 related matters; Orvana's ability to prevent and/or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases at or near our mines; our ability to support the sustainability of our business including through the development of crisis management plans, increasing stock levels for key supplies, monitoring of guidance from the medical community, and engagement with local communities and authorities; fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and copper; the need to recalculate estimates of resources based on actual production experience; the failure to achieve production estimates; variations in the grade of ore mined; variations in the cost of operations; the availability of qualified personnel; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain all necessary regulatory approvals and licenses; the Company's ability to use cyanide in its mining operations; risks generally associated with mineral exploration and development, including the Company's ability to continue to operate the El Valle and/or ability to resume long-term operations at the Carles Mine; the Company's ability to successfully implement a sulphidization circuit and ancillary facilities to process the current oxides stockpiles at Don Mario; the Company's ability to successfully carry out development plans at Taguas; sufficient funding to carry out development plans at Taguas and to process the oxides stockpiles at Don Mario; the Company's ability to acquire and develop mineral properties and to successfully integrate such acquisitions; the Company's ability to execute on its strategy; the Company's ability to obtain financing when required on terms that are acceptable to the Company; challenges to the Company's interests in its property and mineral rights; current, pending and proposed legislative or regulatory developments or changes in political, social or economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates; general economic conditions worldwide; current and future environmental matters; and the risks identified in the Company's disclosures. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Disclosures for a description of additional risk factors.

Any forward-looking statements made herein with respect to the anticipated development and exploration of the Company's mineral projects are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this information are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future operating activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

SOURCE Orvana Minerals Corp.
As its sixth acquisition over the past 9 months, OSF Digital continues to build its Salesforce capabilities

QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - OSF Digital , an award-winning provider of digital transformation services to companies worldwide, announced today the acquisition of Datarati, a Salesforce partner with expertise in Salesforce Marketing Cloud in Australia and New Zealand, with customers across the APAC region. OSF Digital is acquiring Datarati as part of a global strategy to grow and scale locally and regionally across APAC, as well as to increase its Salesforce Digital 360 capabilities. This is OSF Digital's sixth acquisition in the past nine months, and its second acquisition of a Salesforce-focused services partner based in APAC. The terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

The acquisition of Datarati further establishes OSF Digital as a highly regarded global Salesforce multi-cloud solution provider. OSF Digital continues to focus on increasing its capabilities to deliver digital transformations across Salesforce Marketing, Experience, Sales, Service, and Commerce Clouds. As a well-established marketing and CRM agency with Salesforce expertise in the APAC region, Datarati has helped prominent companies in various industries such as retail & consumer goods, communications & media, financial services, insurance, and health care industries digitally transform their customer experiences.

"As part of the company's mission to be the leading global digital transformation partner to companies worldwide, OSF Digital continues to expand with yet another acquisition of a Salesforce-focused services leader in the APAC region," said Gerard (Gerry) Szatvanyi, CEO of OSF Digital. "With additional Marketing Cloud capability, capacity, and Performance Marketing expertise, we are equipped to continue exponential growth in the fast-growing APAC region and beyond."

OSF Digital, an award-winning Salesforce Partner for over 10 years, is committed to driving digital transformation for its customers. The firm's deep industry expertise enables it to identify a client's unique requirements and launch innovative solutions dedicated to specific markets and industry verticals.

OSF Digital has over 1,500 employees and 40 offices worldwide. Its customers include some of the world's biggest brands: L'Oreal, Burton Snowboards, Ubisoft, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Geox, Kal Tire, Stonewall Kitchen, Lush Handmade Cosmetics, Domaine Chandon, Urban Barn, and many more.

"We're excited to embark on this next phase of our rapid growth of Salesforce Marketing Cloud services and expansion of our Salesforce solutions across Australia, New Zealand, and the wider Asia-Pacific region," said Will Scully-Power, Founder & CEO of Datarati. "By coming together with the wider OSF Digital team, we will now have increased capacity and capability to support the demand from our customers to support their digital transformations."

In the second half of 2021, OSF Digital also acquired Adept Group , Relation1 , Werise , Paladin Group , FitForCommerce and invested in Teia Labs , which complemented its three acquisitions in 2020.

To learn more about OSF Digital visit: osf.digital.

Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, Experience Cloud, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Commerce Cloud and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

About OSF Digital

OSF Digital is a global commerce and digital transformation leader with expertise in connecting technology and strategy to drive business goals. With expert status in B2C and B2B commerce and several Salesforce awards for multi-cloud innovation, OSF Digital seamlessly guides enterprises through their entire digital transformation journey. With customers in various industries around the globe, OSF Digital provides personal attention and the highest level of connection with a local presence throughout North America, Latin America, APAC, and EMEA. For more information about OSF Digital, visit: osf.digital.

All trademarks and trade names mentioned herein are the properties of their respective holders and hereby acknowledged.

SOURCE OSF Digital
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacta Relations Inc. "PACTA," a boutique investor relations firm for small and mid-cap companies, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Ignite Digital Media, a full-service digital marketing agency with presence in Hong Kong and in Mexico.

With this partnership, PACTA will offer its clientele professional and highly creative digital media and content solutions that optimize reach and engagement with a wide range of audiences and potential investors worldwide.

Ignite Digital Media's diverse team of in-house creatives produce high-quality content, including corporate videos, webinars, and virtual site visits, and deliver strategic paid advertising, social media, event planning, and digital marketing services.

"We are excited to work with the team at Ignite Digital Media," says Lisbet Castillo, Co-Founder of PACTA. "Our partnership with Ignite Digital Media will enable us to strengthen our client's presence in today's digital world."

PACTA's core business is building long-lasting relationships between international companies and like-minded individuals worldwide by providing access to a curated group of global investors, exclusive international events, and highly effective marketing strategies.

"Partnering with PACTA presents an incredible opportunity for our team to collaborate with a passionate group of female entrepreneurs who have extensive network and experience in the investor relations and corporate world," Annia M. Dugelby, Managing Director of Ignite Digital Media.

The strategic cross-promotional partnership will be effective immediately.

ABOUT PACTA

PACTA is a boutique investor relations and digital marketing firm for small and mid-cap companies that are publicly trading or ready to take the next step in the capital markets. We build long-lasting relationships between companies and like-minded investors worldwide. With a strong presence in the United States, Canada and Mexico, PACTA connects you with a curated group of global investors, provides first access to exclusive events, and puts a team of experts to work on all your digital marketing needs.

ABOUT IGNITE DIGITAL MEDIA

Ignite Digital Media is a full-service digital marketing agency that provides professional and highly creative digital media solutions that optimize reach and engagement. Ignite Digital Media's diverse team of in-house creatives produce high-quality content that connects brands with a wide range of audiences and potential investors worldwide.

Contact Details:

[email protected]

+1 786 316 5698

+1 305 877 4710

SOURCE Pacta Relations Inc.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "When you say school We say choice!" More than 400 students, parents, and educators will flock to the Florida State Capitol for cheers, student performances, and special guest speakers calling attention to school choice on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

Buses of students from Jacksonville, Orlando, and Kissimmee will gather at the Capitol Courtyard for the event's kick-off at noon. The hour-long rally will be packed with upbeat student performances and keynote remarks from legislators, parents, students, and community leaders.

Among the rally speakers will be parent Juliette Harrell, recipient of the Family Empowerment Scholarship, Florida State Senator Manny Diaz, Jr., and Dr. Corey DeAngelis, national director of research at the American Federation for Children.

This event is free and open to the public, and is planned to coincide with the celebration of National School Choice Week Jan. 23-29, 2022, which will feature more than 26,000 school choice events across all 50 states.

"We are excited to join with families, teachers and students around the state of Florida whose ability to choose an education that best fits their unique needs has and continues to be transformational," said Starla Brown, deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity Foundation. "Celebrating this diverse approach to educational freedom, encourages innovation, opportunity and individual success for every Florida student and family."

The school choice rally and day at the capitol is planned by Americans for Prosperity Foundation, which is dedicated to the belief that every person has a unique set of gifts and the ability to contribute to society in their own way.

The Capitol Courtyard is located at 400 S. Monroe St.

For Spanish-language media inquiries, contact Maria Ferre at [email protected] or (305) 413-8217.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations  such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
OSLO, Norway and NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To achieve greater client connectivity and low and high touch agency trading, Pareto Securities, a leading investment bank in the Nordic capital markets, is now live with Itiviti's multi-asset order management solution (OMS) from Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR).

For Pareto Securities, replacing a 10-year incumbent technology provider at the core of its business, this was a major decision. With high expectations of maintained business continuity, completeness of offering, platform evolution capabilities and service quality they are well positioned to continue the development of their execution services going forward.

"Finding a replacement that could handle our current workflow requirements, but also take us to the next level in trading capabilities and customer support was mission critical for us," said Kristian O. Stenbakk, COO, Pareto Securities. "After a considerate search and evaluation, we selected Broadridge because of its ease-of-use, robust trading functionalities, flexible, modular architecture, and most importantly, the personal attention its team provided to us throughout the selection and onboarding process."

By combining Itiviti's order management, market connectivity and smart order router (SOR) components, the solution delivers the flexibility that Pareto requires for service excellence, innovation and speed to market in this ever-changing market landscape.

"We are excited to have Pareto Security leverage the modularity of our platform and experience the automation, speed and performance that we provide," said Ray Tierney, President of Itiviti, a Broadridge business. "We offer a high level of flexibility for client connectivity, customization and managed services, and we are committed to providing our customers with proven, state-of-the-art trading technology that will keep them ahead of the curve now and into the future."

About Pareto Securities

Pareto Securities is an independent full-service investment bank with a leading position in the Nordic capital markets and a strong international presence and global placing power. Pareto Securities is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with more than 470 employees located in offices in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, USA, Singapore and Australia.

For more information, please visit www.paretosec.com

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with $5 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance, and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions that drive business transformation for banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. Our technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of more than $9 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 13,000 associates in 21 countries. For more information about us, please visit broadridge.com.

About Itiviti, a Broadridge Business

Itiviti provides nearly 2,000 financial institutions worldwide with flexible, cross-asset trading solutions that cover the full trade lifecycle. Through its commitment to technology innovation, relentless pursuit of workflow efficiency and an entrepreneurial culture, Itiviti is disrupting the industry with highly scalable solutions that deliver unprecedented cost savings for clients. Itiviti was acquired by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader and part of the S&P 500 Index, in May 2021.

For more information, please visit www.itiviti.com.

Follow Itiviti on social media on Twitter @Itiviti_AB, on Facebook @ItivitiAB, and on LinkedIn.

Media:

Tina Wadhwa

Corporate Communications, Broadridge

+1 212-973-6164

[email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
CALGARY, AB, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Parkland Corporation ("Parkland", "we", the "Company", or "our") (TSX: PKI), a leading operator and consolidator of convenience retail and fuel marketing businesses, announced today it has entered into an agreement to acquire M&M Food Market ("M&M") ("the Acquisition"). M&M is a premium, restaurant-quality frozen food retailer who brings high-quality, convenient food choices to Canadians. This acquisition represents one of many steps we are taking in our retail diversification strategy to expand our proprietary food offer, customer reach and innovation pipeline.

"This acquisition provides a platform to grow our food offer, expand our proprietary brands, and advance our digital and loyalty strategy," said Ian White, SVP Strategic Marketing & Innovation. "Consistent with our commitment to create convenience destinations, M&M's national store network, and innovative approach to food preparation and menu development positions us to offer high-quality food that complements our growing quick-serve restaurant offerings. We will grow these capabilities in all our operating regions and bolster our digital connection to customers by combining M&M and JOURNIE rewards programs. We look forward to bringing ON the RUN and M&M together to help customers make the most of every stop."

The acquisition includes over 300 well-located standalone franchise and corporate owned stores, over 2,000 M&M Express locations, and a well-established rewards program with approximately two million active members. Led by an experienced management team who have a proven track record of growth and a food-first culture, M&M will create quality food options that our customers can consume fresh-from-frozen, both on site and on the go, and prepared from frozen at home. We will leverage these capabilities throughout our existing network and soon to be launched standalone ON the RUN convenience locations.

"Parkland's ON the RUN brand is a convenience retail leader and we are excited to combine our two offerings," said Andy O'Brien, CEO of M&M. "M&M and its franchise partners share Parkland's customer focus and passion for quality food. The combination of our innovative food capabilities and Parkland's more than 3,000 retail locations in 25 countries creates an immediate runway of growth and expansion opportunities."

This Acquisition enables key elements of our strategy:

Advances our enterprise food strategy : Adds a proprietary brand, experienced team, franchisee network, and a scalable fresh and fresh-from-frozen food growth platform across all our markets. We will leverage M&M's expertise and track record of developing successful menus in its innovation kitchen to evaluate and develop additional fresh and quick-serve food choices across our network.

: Adds a proprietary brand, experienced team, franchisee network, and a scalable fresh and fresh-from-frozen food growth platform across all our markets. We will leverage M&M's expertise and track record of developing successful menus in its innovation kitchen to evaluate and develop additional fresh and quick-serve food choices across our network. Advances our digital strategy and creates a premier Canadian loyalty program : By combining JOURNIE  and M&M's reward programs which has two million active members, we will create extensive cross-promotional opportunities and form one of Canada's premier loyalty programs.

: By combining JOURNIE and M&M's reward programs which has two million active members, we will create extensive cross-promotional opportunities and form one of premier loyalty programs. Enhances our ON the RUN customer value proposition: M&M will be integral to our growing On the Run network, bolstering our in-store, e-commerce and home delivery offers, and supporting our standalone convenience concept.

M&M will be integral to our growing On Run network, bolstering our in-store, e-commerce and home delivery offers, and supporting our standalone convenience concept. Capital -light: M&M leverages a well-established, highly efficient food preparation and distribution network, requiring limited capital investment to efficiently serve its retail locations.

M&M leverages a well-established, highly efficient food preparation and distribution network, requiring limited capital investment to efficiently serve its retail locations. Ratable cash flow with significant growth potential: M&M's royalty fee-based operating model creates a ratable stream of cash flow. We aim to grow M&M's Canadian annual run rate Adjusted EBITDA to approximately $55 million in three years.

The total consideration for this transaction is approximately $322 million, which will be funded out of existing credit facility capacity. This Acquisition represents a valuation metric of less than 8.5x estimated 2021 Adjusted EBITDA. Subject to approval under the Competition Act (Canada) and other customary closing conditions, the Acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

Acquisition Conference Call and Webcast Details

Parkland will host a webcast and conference call on Thursday, January 18, at 4:00pm MDT (6:00pm EDT) to discuss the acquisition. To listen to the live webcast and watch the presentation, please use the following link: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1524874&tp_key=388fcb2af7

Analysts and institutional investors interested in participating in the question-and-answer session of the conference call may do so by calling 1-888-390-0546 (toll-free) (Conference ID: 68511332). International participants can call 1-800-389-0704 (toll) (Conference ID: 68511332).

Please connect and log in approximately 10 minutes before the beginning of the call. The webcast will be available for replay two hours after the conference call ends at the link above. It will remain available for one year and will also be posted to www.parkland.ca.

About Parkland Corporation

Parkland's purpose is to Power Journeys and Energize Communities. We are a leading operator and consolidator of convenience retail and fuel marketing businesses. Through our portfolio of trusted and locally relevant convenience, retail, commercial and wholesale brands, we serve over one million customers per day across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean region and Central and South America. In addition to leveraging our supply and storage capabilities to provide the essential fuels that our diverse customers rely on, we are a leader in manufacturing low carbon fuels and are rapidly building a charging network to serve growing demand for convenient charging from electric vehicle drivers in select markets.

Parkland's proven strategy is centered around growing organically, realizing a supply advantage, acquiring prudently, and integrating successfully. We are positioned to win through the energy transition and are focused on developing our existing business in resilient markets, further diversifying our retail business into convenience, food, and EV charging, and helping our commercial customers decarbonize their operations. Our strategy is enabled and underpinned by our people, as well as our values of safety, integrity, community, and respect, which are deeply embedded across our organization.

About M&M Food Market:

Founded in 1980, M&M Food Market is Canada's leading retailer of frozen foods and has helped Canadians put delicious meals on the table by offering consumers products that were prepared with care using authentic recipes and high-quality ingredients along with personalized customer service, all within a uniquely convenient shopping environment. Following the beginning of a significant rebranding effort in 2016  including the name change from M&M Meat Shops, a new store design, new products and packaging, a new website, and newly trained Meal Advisors  M&M Food Market has been focused on innovation across virtually every aspect of the business. It is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with locations in all ten provinces, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. M&M has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for 11 years in a row. M&M products include delicious and convenient options across virtually every food category including appetizers, prepared meals, seafood, meats and poultry, vegetables, sides, bakery, and desserts and come in formats ranging from individual portions to family-sized options.

Forward Looking Statement

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). When used in this news release the words "expect", "will", "could", "would", "believe", "continue", "pursue" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, the successful completion of the Acquisition and the timing thereof; expected benefits of the acquisition, including: potential organic growth, creating convenience destinations; expanding Parkland's food offerings throughout its existing network; creating a loyalty coalition between the M&M and JOURNIE rewards programs; expected future increase to the run rate Adjusted EBITDA of the M&M business and the timing thereof; and the launch of standalone ON the RUN convenience locations.

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. 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 forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Parkland does not undertake any obligations to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as may be required by securities law. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, failure to complete the Acquisition; failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Acquisition; failure to realize all or any of the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition; general economic, market and business conditions; competitive action by other companies; the ability of suppliers to meet commitments; actions by governmental authorities and other regulators including but not limited to increases in taxes or restricted access to markets; changes and developments in environmental and other regulations; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Parkland. See also the risks and uncertainties described in "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" included in Parkland's Annual Information Form dated March 5, 2021, and "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" included in the Q3 2021 MD&A dated November 2, 2021 and the Q4 2020 MD&A dated March 4, 2021, each filed on SEDAR and available on the Parkland website at www.parkland.ca.

SOURCE Parkland Corporation
RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pavement Partners Holding, LLC ("Pavement Partners") has acquired Turner Asphalt ("Turner") and Chamberlain Contractors ("Chamberlain"). Both companies are leading providers of asphalt and concrete solutions including maintenance, repair, milling, and sealcoating services to commercial and municipal customers. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, Turner is one of the premier pavement service providers primarily in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Headquartered in Laurel, Maryland, Chamberlain is one of the leading pavement service providers in Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. The combination of Turner and Chamberlain further solidifies Pavement Partners as one of the largest pavement repair and maintenance service providers in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Wayne Turner, CEO of Turner, and Harold Green, CEO of Chamberlain, will continue to maintain active leadership roles going forward.

Tom York, CEO of Pavement Partners, said "Wayne, Harold, and their respective teams, have built best-in-class businesses with strong brand recognition in our core footprint. Following the two acquisitions, Pavement Partners is now one of the leading pavement repair and maintenance service providers in our regions. Both Wayne and Harold are perfect additions to our platform due to their strong customer base, focus on service, and extensive expertise in the space. The acquisitions will allow us to further penetrate Maryland and expand into North Carolina and South Carolina as we look to grow nationally."

Wayne Turner, CEO of Turner, said, "From the start, Turner Asphalt has been focused on providing our customers with high-quality service in three states across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. After meeting Tom and the Shoreline team, it became clear to me that they had the same passion for growth and excellence that has made Turner Asphalt what it is today. Becoming part of the Pavement Partners team is an exciting opportunity to meet the challenges of the future while continuing to provide first rate service to our existing customer base. We are looking forward to expanding Turner Asphalt as part of the Pavement Partners platform."

Harold Green, CEO of Chamberlain, said, "After working in the pavement and concrete business for decades and founding the Pavement Network, I have interacted with numerous pavement repair and maintenance service providers. Following our first meeting, I knew that Pavement Partners was building a unique platform that would help Chamberlain maintain its exceptional service while expanding its footprint. I am very excited about the partnership as we look to expand the platform."

About Pavement Partners

Pavement Partners is a leading provider of asphalt and concrete solutions including maintenance, repair, new paving, milling, and sealcoating services. With over 350 employees, Pavement Partners serves a diversified customer base across Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida including HOA properties, regional retailers, commercial customers, and municipalities. Since its formation, Pavement Partners has acquired Finley Asphalt & Concrete, Dominion Paving & Sealing, Turner Asphalt, and Chamberlain Contractors with plans to expand nationally.

About Shoreline

Shoreline is a lower middle market private equity firm focused on actively partnering with leading management teams. Shoreline follows a total stakeholder model, meaning success should be a "win-win" proposition for shareholders, employees, customers, vendors, and the communities within which the Firm's companies operate. Shoreline professionals believe in honesty, incentive alignment, and creating bigger, better businesses without relying on financial engineering or cost cutting to generate returns. Investing out of the Firm's inaugural $300 million fund, Shoreline seeks to lead equity investments of up to $100 million per transaction in support of buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate divestitures. Targeted businesses have enterprise values ranging from $25 million to $250 million and EBITDA of $3 million to $25 million. The Firm strives to partner with management teams of businesses primarily within the specialized manufacturing, value-added distribution, and business and facility services sectors, among others. For more information, please visit www.shorelineequitypartners.com.

Media Contact:

Ian Garland

[email protected]

SOURCE Shoreline Equity Partners
WESTPORT, Ireland, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Payslip , a global payroll control platform for growth efficiency, announced today its new product, the Extended Workforce Module. This built-in automated functionality on the Payslip platform supports payroll processing for all worker types globally. Customers will now be able to automate, manage, streamline invoicing and report on their complete workforce, allowing them to have total workforce visibility in an efficient and compliant manner.

The pandemic has shown that there is a greater need for an extended workforce such as contractors, employer of record (EOR) workers, and employees from outside of the company's native country. Global payroll professionals have been forced to use multiple systems to pay all workers. Payslip's new module provides an alternative, more efficient option, offering multinational companies visibility and control over their global payroll operation. By enabling clients to bring their extended workforce into Payslip, the data falls into its standardized process which ensures security and compliance of the highest levels. It also offers an opportunity for organizations to pivot quickly in all economic environments.

"The ability to set up, manage and report on a broad range of worker types helps the organization understand the true costs of labor," said Mary Holland, CCO of Payslip. "Harmonizing global payroll operations further fuels a company's growth efficiency, and we're excited to extend this offering to our customers."

Benefits of the Extended Workforce Module include the ability to categorize and process payroll for multiple different worker types and monitor data changes and trends. It also grants the capability to compare costs across your global workforce and support strategic business decisions with real-time data. Customers now have access to an array of offerings, including invoice management and reporting.

Invoice Management

Payslip's extended workforce system allows you to streamline your invoicing and billing processes. Payslips can also be produced for employees in specific countries like the UAE. This helps when contractors and other employees in specific countries are paid gross amounts and there is no in-country provider involvement.

Reporting

The reporting solution ensures payroll data is allocated correctly among worker types and facilitates specific reporting on an extended workforce, as well as globally consolidated reporting. Companies can now view their extended workforce across Payslip's Payroll Reports & HR Reports, removing the need to piece together total workforce and global headcount figures from multiple different data sources.

Today, Payslip is used by dozens of multinational organizations throughout various industries. Customers include LogMeIn, Get Your Guide, Cloudera, and Airbus. To learn more, or to enquire about available global positions, please visit www.payslip.com .

About Payslip:

Payslip delivers a scale-up advantage for today's global business leaders, harmonizing global payroll operations to fuel growth efficiency. By standardizing and automating the complexities of global payroll, Payslip's Global Payroll Control Platform empowers multinationals to achieve execution excellence, see a bigger picture, and scale at any dimension.

SOURCE Payslip
BRUSSELS and ATLANTA, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced positive top-line interim analysis results showing that the Phase 3 BE MOBILE 1 study met the primary and all ranked secondary endpoints.1 BE MOBILE 1 is the first study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).

In the BE MOBILE 1 study, bimekizumab demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement over placebo in the proportion of patients who achieved the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society 40 percent (ASAS40) response at week 16, the primary endpoint of the study.1 ASAS40 measures improvements in disease across four different domains  patient global assessment of disease activity, spinal pain, physical function and inflammation.2 The primary endpoint used in this study, ASAS40, set a high threshold for improvement in patient-reported outcomes, i.e., at least a 40 percent improvement relative to baseline.*

The study also met all ranked secondary endpoints. Patients treated with bimekizumab achieved significant improvements over placebo at week 16 in the signs and symptoms of disease as measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI); achievement of ASAS partial remission (PR) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) Major Improvement (MI); and the nocturnal spinal pain score.1

"We're excited to share top-line findings from the second Phase 3 study in our clinical program of bimekizumab in axSpA. These positive results, together with the previously reported top-line data from the BE MOBILE 2 study, support the clinical potential of bimekizumab to improve patient outcomes across the full spectrum of axSpA, including both nr-axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis," said Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President, Immunology Solutions and Head of U.S., UCB.

"Today's positive findings from the Phase 3 BE MOBILE 1 study provide clear evidence supporting bimekizumab in the treatment of nr-axSpA, and suggest that targeting IL-17F in addition to IL-17A may be a promising treatment approach for this painful, chronic rheumatic condition that often starts in young adulthood," said Prof. Atul Deodhar, MD, MRCP, Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, U.S.

In BE MOBILE 1, the safety profile of bimekizumab was consistent with safety data seen in previous studies with no new observed safety signals.1 The safety and efficacy of bimekizumab in nr-axSpA have not been established. Bimekizumab is not approved for use in nr-axSpA or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by any regulatory authority worldwide.

Results from the BE MOBILE 1 study will be presented at upcoming medical conferences and published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

The top-line results from the BE MOBILE 1 study build on the positive top-line results from the BE MOBILE 2 study3 in AS, reported in December 2021. Based on these results, UCB plans to submit regulatory applications for bimekizumab in axSpA in the United States and the European Union in Q3 2022.

* ASAS40 is achieved when there is at least a 40 percent improvement relative to baseline, and an absolute improvement of at least two units on a 0-10 numeric rating scale in at least three of the four domains that make up the ASAS response criteria  patient global assessment of disease activity, spinal pain, physical function and inflammation  with no worsening in the remaining domain.2

About BE MOBILE 1

BE MOBILE 1 is a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, Phase 3 study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in the treatment of adult patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).2 BE MOBILE is the first Phase 3 bimekizumab research program to include patients from China in its study population. The 52-week study is ongoing with top-line interim analysis results presented above. For additional details on the study, visit BE MOBILE 1 on clinicaltrials.gov.

BE MOBILE 1 enrolled participants with active disease.2 Study participants had to have adult-onset axial spondyloarthritis meeting Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria, inflammatory back pain for at least three months and no definitive radiographic sacroiliitis confirmed by central reading.2 Patients needed to demonstrate objective signs of inflammation by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or positive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study participants also had to have either failed to respond to two different nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) given at the maximum tolerated dose for a total of four weeks or have had a history of intolerance to or a contraindication to NSAID therapy.2 Patients who had taken a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) inhibitor had to have experienced an inadequate response or intolerance to treatment.2

About Axial Spondyloarthritis

Non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) falls under the umbrella of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), which also includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS).4 AxSpA is a painful chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and the joints linking the pelvis and lower spine (sacroiliac joints).5 nr-axSpA is defined clinically by the absence of definitive x-ray evidence of structural damage to the sacroiliac joints.4 The leading symptom of axSpA is inflammatory back pain that improves with exercise, but not with rest.4 Fatigue and stiffness are additional key symptoms. Other common clinical features frequently include acute anterior uveitis (eye inflammation), enthesitis (inflammation of the points of insertion of tendons and ligaments into bone), peripheral arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (chronic inflammation of the digestive tract) and dactylitis (inflammation of the fingers or toes).4 The overall prevalence of axSpA is 0.2 percent to 1.4 percent of adults.6,7 Approximately half of all patients with axSpA are patients with nr-axSpA.4 Approximately two-thirds of patients with AS are men,8 while nr-axSpA is more common among women with the disease.8 AxSpA onset usually occurs before the age of 45, often in the 20s.4 10 to 40 percent of patients with nr-axSpA progress to AS over 2 to 10 years.4



About bimekizumab

Bimekizumab is a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody that is designed to selectively and directly inhibit both interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and interleukin 17F (IL-17F), two key cytokines driving inflammatory processes.9

Bimekizumab is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults, and its efficacy and safety have not been established for any indication in the U.S.

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 7,600 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of 5.3 billion in 2020. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCBUSA.

Forward looking statements UCB

This press release may contain forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will", "continue" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of UCB, or industry results, to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: the global spread and impact of COVID-19, changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms or within expected timing, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, competition from other products including biosimilars, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws, and hiring and retention of its employees. There is no guarantee that new product candidates will be discovered or identified in the pipeline, will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Movement from concept to commercial product is uncertain; preclinical results do not guarantee safety and efficacy of product candidates in humans. So far, the complexity of the human body cannot be reproduced in computer models, cell culture systems or animal models. The length of the timing to complete clinical trials and to get regulatory approval for product marketing has varied in the past and UCB expects similar unpredictability going forward. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences disputes between the partners or may prove to be not as safe, effective or commercially successful as UCB may have believed at the start of such partnership. UCB' efforts to acquire other products or companies and to integrate the operations of such acquired companies may not be as successful as UCB may have believed at the moment of acquisition. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products and/or devices after they are marketed. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of UCB's products that implicate an entire class of products may have a material adverse effect on sales of the entire class of affected products. Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment, including pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement activities and outcomes. Finally, a breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UCB's data and systems.

Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any of such forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labelling in any market, or at any particular time, nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be or will continue to be commercially successful in the future.

UCB is providing this information, including forward-looking statements, only as of the date of this press release and it does not reflect any potential impact from the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, unless indicated otherwise. UCB is following the worldwide developments diligently to assess the financial significance of this pandemic to UCB. UCB expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report or reflect any change in its forward-looking statements with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless such statement is required pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.

Additionally, information contained in this document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

For further information, contact UCB:

Corporate Communications Nicole Herga, U.S. Immunology

Communications, UCB T+1.404.226.7591 [email protected] Investor Relations Antje Witte, Investor Relations, UCB T +32.2.559.94.14, [email protected] Brand Communications Eimear O'Brien, Brand Communications, UCB T + 32.2.559.92.71, [email protected]

References









1 Data on file. UCB. January 2022. 2 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Subjects With Active Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (BE MOBILE 1). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03928704. Last accessed: January 2022. 3 Data on file. UCB. December 2021. 4 Deodhar A. Understanding Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Primer for Managed Care. Am J Manag Care. 2019;25:S319-S330. 5 van der Heijde D, Gensler L, Deodhar A, et al. Dual Neutralisation of interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F With Bimekizumab in Patients With Active Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results From a 48-week Phase IIb, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(5):595-604. 6 Reveille J, Witter J, Weisman M. Prevalence of axial spondylarthritis in the United States: estimates from a cross-sectional survey. Arthritis Care Res. 2012;64(6):905-910. 7 Hamilton L, Macgregor A, Toms A, et al. The prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis in the UK: a cross-sectional cohort study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015;21(16):392. 8 Boonen A, Sieper J, van der Heijde D, et al. The burden of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2015;44(5):556-562. 9 Glatt S, Helmer E, Haier B, et al. First-in-human randomized study of bimekizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody and selective dual inhibitor of IL-17A and IL-17F, in mild psoriasis. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(5):991-1001.

SOURCE UCB, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global precision engineering machines market size is estimated to reach USD 19.27 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2021 to 2028, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The increased demand for advanced machining solutions, as well as the focus on reducing downtime to promote production efficiency, improve accuracy, and optimize machining processes, are driving sales growth. Moreover, Industry 4.0 promotes the integration of manufacturing facilities with other processes to create holistic and adaptive automation system architectures using precision engineering machines for production and manufacturing. Hence, the market comprises significant opportunities with the advent of industry 4.0 in the forthcoming years.

Key Insights & Findings from the report:

The automotive segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the rising demand for autonomous vehicles, new mobility solutions, advancements in robotics, design, manufacturing processes, and the advent of EVs in countries, which is expected to drive the demand for precision engineering machines in the automotive industry

In the non-automotive segment, power and energy is anticipated to record the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. The expansion of oil and gas industries and the use of modern machinery for precise manufacturing such as lathes and spinning machines are anticipated to drive the market growth

The growing trend of incorporating advanced technology into products to boost machinery efficiency at drilling sites with greater depths and pressure requirements is projected to benefit the European and MEA markets

APAC is anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing regional market over the forecast period. The market in the Asia Pacific area is being driven by the expanding trend of industrial automation, as well as the rising demand for accurate manufacturing, due to its extensive applications in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics sectors across the region

Read 100 page market research report, "Precision Engineering Machines Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By End-use (Automotive, Non-automotive), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028", by Grand View Research

The increased popularity of precision engineering machines can be attributed to their computerized accuracy, which helps improve the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing processes. The scope of precision engineering is expanding owing to the rising technological possibilities. Precision engineering machines facilitate automated operations and, hence, reduce the time required for machining components. These machines can continue operating without any manual intervention and supervision once the machinist feeds the codes into the computer. Industrial automated machines, often known as robots, have proven to be beneficial for both discrete and continuous manufacturers in numerous ways. Some of these benefits include more efficient production procedures and higher productivity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the market by restraining innovation, reducing profitability, and depleting cash flow and economic imbalance. The COVID-19 pandemic also resulted in the cancellation of many events in 2020, which restricted manufacturers from marketing their new products or technologies. On the other hand, untrained workers may struggle to manage precision engineering machines, resulting in potential machine damage, and putting the manufacturing unit's investments at risk. As a result, a scarcity of experienced operators is posing a significant barrier to market expansion. The shortage of skilled manufacturing workers, such as precision machinists and tool and die makers is affecting industries such as aerospace and steel.

Meanwhile, differentiation strategy and the launch of new products are anticipated to contribute to the market growth. In February 2020, DMG Mori Co., Ltd. acquired GLOphotonics SAS, a manufacturer of femtosecond laser delivery technology. This acquisition is expected to increase the application of the femtosecond to create additional surface quality and process large components. Thus, collaborations, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions are expected to help players in capturing significant market shares and increasing investments in the precision engineering machines market.

Market Segmentation:

Grand View Research has segmented the global precision engineering machines market based on end-use and region:

Precision Engineering Machines End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2028)

Automotive



Non-Automotive



Aerospace & Defense





Engineering & Capital Goods





Power & Energy





Others

Precision Engineering Machines Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2028)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



U.K.





Germany



Asia Pacific



Greater China





Japan





India





South Korea



Latin America



Middle East & Africa

List of Key Players in the Precision Engineering Machines Market

Amada Machine Tools Co., Ltd.

Amera-Seiki

DATRON AG

Dalian Machine Tool Group (DMTG) Corporation

DMG Mori Co., Ltd.

FANUC Corporation

Haas Automation, Inc.

Okuma Corporation

Shenyang Machine Tool Co., Ltd.

Yamazaki Mazak Corporation

Check out more studies from Grand View Research's portfolio on the Global Next Generation Technologies Industry:

Computer Numerical Control Machines Market  The global computer numerical control machines market size was valued at USD 71.46 billion in 2020 and is expected to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the market in terms of new sales and installations.

 The global computer numerical control machines market size was valued at in 2020 and is expected to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the market in terms of new sales and installations. Machine Vision Market  The global machine vision market size was valued at 12.29 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% from 2021 to 2028. The increasing demand for quality inspection and automation in different industrial verticals is likely to drive the market for machine vision.

 The global machine vision market size was valued at 12.29 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% from 2021 to 2028. The increasing demand for quality inspection and automation in different industrial verticals is likely to drive the market for machine vision. Machine Control System Market  The global machine control system market size was valued at USD 4.3 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2% from 2020 to 2027. Machine control systems use technologies such as GNSS, GIS, laser scanning, and robotics to scan the working areas and precisely identify points where heavy earthmoving machinery can be positioned.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

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SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on Jan. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

-- Xi notes several daunting tasks in the battle against corruption.

-- Serious potential dangers in the Party, the country and the military have been rooted out: Xi

-- Xi calls for CPC members' concrete actions to implement the principle of being loyal to the Party and the people.

-- "We should be aware that the fight against corruption is still raging," Xi warns.

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Tuesday stressed rigorous and unswerving efforts in further promoting full and strict Party governance.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, vowed to maintain a zero-tolerance stance on corruption while addressing the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the meeting.

Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CCDI, presided over the meeting.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on Jan. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has improved Party conduct, upheld integrity and combated corruption with unprecedented courage and resolve, Xi said.

"Certain unhealthy tendencies that hadn't been curbed for a long time have been reined in, many problems that had long plagued us have been remedied, and serious potential dangers in the Party, the country and the military have been rooted out," Xi said.

The problem of lax and weak governance over Party organizations has been addressed at the fundamental level, and a successful path to breaking the historical cycle of rise and fall has been blazed through the Party's self-reform, Xi added.

Stressing staying true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission more firmly and consciously, Xi called for CPC members' concrete actions to implement the principle of being loyal to the Party and the people.

The whole Party should act consistently with the CPC Central Committee at every turn and implement the Party Central Committee's decisions and policies with solid efforts, Xi said.

Xi urged continuous efforts to achieve the strategic goal that officials do not dare, are not able, and have no desire to be corrupt.

"We should be aware that the fight against corruption is still raging," Xi stressed.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on Jan. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

He noted several daunting tasks in the battle, including guarding against the unwarranted influence of all sorts of interests groups, preventing officials from falling prey to erosion behaviors, identifying and dealing with furtive forms of corruption that employ upgraded methods, eliminating the breeding grounds for corruption, being free of systemic corruption, and defusing risks and hidden dangers.

The practice of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism are the arch enemies of the cause of the Party and the country, Xi stressed.

He asked officials to make more solid efforts to work for the people's well-being and guard against massively launching flashy programs for appearance's sake.

Education, management and supervision of young officials must be strengthened to ensure they are loyal and reliable to the Party and the people, Xi said.

Xi also demanded that Party committees at all levels strengthen the oversight over the "key few," particularly those in command and the leading bodies, he said.

Presiding over the meeting, Zhao Leji said Xi's speech has made the strategic plans clear to deepen strict Party governance in all aspects and prepare for the opening of the Party's 20th national congress. 
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Princeton Identity (PI), a leading developer of iris and face biometric identity solutions, announced today that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Emphor Trading LLC, Abu Dhabi, a division of ScreenCheck and part of The Centena Group. Emphor Trading, respected as a technology pioneer throughout the Middle East and Africa, delivers end-to-end security solutions in twenty-five countries within the region. Under its agreement with Princeton Identity, the company will offer PI's full line of Biometric Identity Solutions to its clients, including customized integrations to address specific security and operational needs.

Emphor Trading distributes, installs, and supports the world's leading security brands, serving public and private organizations within the Government, Corporate, Education, Manufacturing, Oil& Gas, Retail, and other sectors. Its solutions include ID Cards, Time & Attendance, Access Control, Video Surveillance, and RFID. Its addition of Princeton Identity's iris and facial biometric solutions adds the ability to incorporate highly secure, extremely accurate, and easy-to-use identity management as part of a wide range of physical and logical security applications. In addition to hardening security, biometrics enhance the experience of system users and administrators. A glance at a PI reader provides identify verification and access authorization without the need for cards, fobs, or PIN codes. There is no chance that credentials will be lost, compromised, or forgotten, and user databases remain pristine, free of duplicate entries or inaccurate tracking data.

Centana Group, the parent company of Emphor Trading, is a UAE multinational conglomerate. Since 1980, it has been a leader in the engineering, development, application, and transformation of state-of-the-art technology into innovative products and services that meet the demands of the modern, dynamic business environment. Its world-class solutions support businesses within maritime, industrial processes, diagnostics, life analytical sciences, security and identification, and education verticals. As a recipient of the Dubai SME 100 award, the company has been honored for its outstanding corporate governance and human capital development.

"Princeton Identity is delighted to be partnering with Emphor Trading, a relationship that promises to introduce our best-in-class technology to a sophisticated security marketplace that will value the unique benefits our solutions deliver. Emphor Trading's elite clientele require their security installations to meet the most stringent standards for reliability, accuracy, and convenience, and we're pleased to create technology that exceeds this high threshold," said Bobby Varma, President of Princeton Identity.

"Partnership with Princeton Identity is part of our commitment to our customers for the continuous delivery of enhanced security solutions from our portfolio. We are confident that PI's global track record in implementing high-end biometric security solutions will benefit government and large corporate customers in the UAE," said Shaji Abdul Kadar, COO of ScreenCheck.

For information about Princeton Identity's products, general information, documentation, and other resources, visit www.princetonidentity.com.

About Princeton Identity:

Princeton Identity offers the fastest, simplest, and most secure biometric security system on the market. Leading the revolution toward a more intuitive, efficient, and natural security experience that keeps people and businesses moving, Princeton Identity uses iris recognition, face recognition, and other biometric technology to enable businesses, governments, and global organizations to streamline identity management, resulting in improved safety and protection. Formerly a division of SRI International, Princeton Identity was established as an independent venture in August 2016. For more information, visit www.princetonidentity.com

SOURCE Princeton Identity
One of the NEW RAGU commercials was set in a firehouse and featured a fireman cooking for his station. Real-life firefighter Anthony Margarit and his crew thought it would be a great team-building exercise to work together to film their own version of the ad and post it to Tik Tok. When the RAGU team learned of the fun Tik Tok video, they decided to send one "mother" of a sauce donation to the firehouse: an entire pallet of RAGU! When the firefighters learned of the donation, the station also chose to pay it forward and are planning a fund-raising spaghetti supper for the community in the spring that will benefit Professional Firefighters Local 4099 tragedy fund.

"We are always working to build our teams and provide safety and process training to our employees, but our video emulating the "Cook Like a Mother" commercial was purely intended to boost communication and creativity among our team of firefighters," said Margarit. "When we learned our video caught the eye of the RAGU team and that they would be sending us a pallet of sauce, we were flabbergasted. We are thrilled that an exercise based on fostering camaraderie will ultimately benefit the firefighters community of Tahlequah."

The RAGU "Cook Like a Mother" campaign plays off the brand's rich heritage and the iconic yellow cap on every jar of RAGU. Originally started in the kitchen of an Italian mother, RAGU has been a family favorite since 1937, providing delicious homemade taste that brings the whole family to the table. The attention-getting "Cook Like a Mother" tagline takes aim at everyone, regardless of gender or culinary skillset, reminding them that, with a delicious jar of RAGU sauce in hand, anyone and everyone can "Cook like a Mother."

"We were amazed by the exceptionally creative video from Tahlequah's Fire Department that recreated our firehouse "Cook Like a Mother" commercial, and impressed with the ingenuity and camaraderie that was at heart of it," says Megan Frank, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Mizkan America, Inc., the maker of RAGU. "Their video embodies the spirit of what it means to 'Cook Like a Mother' and its intention to empower everyone to make quick, easy and delicious meals. At RAGU, our hope is that this donation will create the opportunity for more quality homemade meals these hard-working firefighters and others in the community will enjoy."

A wide variety of delicious and versatile RAGU sauces are available in the pasta-sauce aisle at select grocery and mass retailers nationwide as well as select e-commerce platforms. For more information and recipe inspiration, visit RAGU.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

About The RAGU Brand

The RAGU brand was founded in 1937 by Assunta and Giovani Cantisano and their sauce was originally sold from their home in Rochester, New York. Assunta carried her family's recipe from Italy when she immigrated to New York in 1914, and it has now been enjoyed by American families for over 80 years. With a wide selection of sauce varieties ranging from the beloved Old-World Style to the Chunky Line, Cheese Creations and Simply, RAGU sauce can empower anyone to "Cook Like a Mother" regardless of gender or culinary skill. Today, RAGU sauce is the go-to pasta sauce for families coming together to share a quick and delicious meal and an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to "Cook Like a Mother" in the kitchen. For the very latest news, recipes and more from the RAGU brand, please check out the brand at www.RAGU.com. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

About Mizkan America, Inc.

Based in Mount Prospect, IL, Mizkan America, Inc., is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor To Life for more than 215 years. As one of the leading makers of condiments and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 13 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty Asian and food-ingredient trade channels. Since 2005, Mizkan America has seen dramatic growth and their portfolio now includes a wide variety of vinegars, Italian and Asian sauces, cooking wines, wine reductions, sushi seasoning and salad dressings. Mizkan America brands include: RAGU, Bertolli, Holland House, Nakano, Mizkan, Four Monks, Barengo, Nature's Intent, World Harbors and Born Simple. Mizkan America is also the exclusive distributor/sales agent for Angostura Bitters in North America. For more information, go to www.Mizkan.com.

About The Mizkan Group

The Mizkan Group is a privately held, international food manufacturer, headquartered in Handa City, Japan, with a heritage that spans more than 215 years. Always guided by the company's Two Principles (Offer customers only the finest products; and Continually challenge the status quo), the Mizkan Group offers a line-up of well-known international brands under the Mizkan umbrella and is a leader in the liquid-condiment category. The Mizkan Group has operating facilities around the globe in places including Japan, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. More information about the Mizkan Group can be found at: www.mizkanholdings.com/en/.

Contact:

Serena Rathi

630-272-4729

[email protected]

SOURCE Mizkan America, Inc.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ranya Al-Huthaili was born to a wealthy Saudi Arabian family. She emigrated to the United States, went to college, and was headed for great success. Then she found herself in a relationship that would detour her down a path she could have never foreseen, a path filled with unexpected choices, lack of support, and difficult consequences.

Ranya Al-Huthaili

She taught herself to be stronger, both physically and emotionally. She's learned that a submissive life is an unfulfilled life, one that lacks the vibrance of a life lived on one's own terms. She speaks to women about these issues, teaching them to assert themselves, grow stronger, and take charge of their own lives.

"They say experience is the best teacher," Ranya said. "If that's the case, I have my Master's Degree in Life Experiences. I grew up believing that women were frail and submissive. This led me to a place where I found a partner who didn't care about me but used me to get what he wanted. I learned how to be strong, how to be myself, how to be powerful, despite an upbringing that taught me I couldn't make any of these decisions on my own."

Ranya was taught that women were to be submissive, do as they are told, and not "make waves" when the men made decisions or wanted them to do something. In fact, she grew up in a place where women weren't allowed to drive. This submissiveness places women in situations where they make bad decisions for themselves, become depressed and unhappy, to live an unfulfilled life.

Today, Ranya is an aspiring speaker , delivering her story with humor and humility. She uses her experiences, with the extremes of a Muslim upbringing and some unimagined choices, to teach other women to be stronger, more assertive, and intolerant of a world that sees them as less than men.

"We hear from our parents, 'Learn from your mistakes,'" Ranya said. "My mistakes were believing what I was told and making decisions that are contrary to my core being, all because I was told I had no choice.

"You have a choice. I'm telling every woman, you have a choice. Together, we will grow stronger, be more independent, and learn to build powerful, trustworthy support networks to help us make the right decisions."

Ranya Al-Huthaili is an entrepreneur, aspiring speaker, and podcaster. She aspires to hold speaking events and share her story to help women develop a positive attitude and resilience. Her focus is on sharing content discussing the challenges that women face every day. Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, her story is an inspiring example of embracing change. You can hear more of Ranya's story on her new podcast available on Spotify .

Follow on Social Media

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Contact:

Theresa Bradley

3475080434

[email protected]

SOURCE Ranya Al-Huthaili
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National School Choice Week and Missouri's recent creation of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, private school students will team up for a "Rejoice in Choice" rally at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

The event, which runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., will celebrate expanded learning opportunities in Missouri and feature student performances, guest speakers, music, and more.

Teachers, students, and families impacted by school choice will have a presence two days in a row at the Missouri Capitol during School Choice Week. While Wednesday, Jan. 26 will focus on access to private school options, Thursday, Jan. 27 will highlight the value of virtual learning. Both events are planned to coincide with the celebration of National School Choice Week Jan. 23-29, 2022, which will feature more than 26,000 school choice events across all 50 states.

"This year Missouri students have something really big to celebrate and that's what we will be doing at our 2022 National School Choice Week Rally at the Capitol," said Peter Franzen, associate executive director at the Children's Education Alliance of Missouri. "The new Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program gives qualifying families the options they need to ensure their children are learning, growing, and safe."

The Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program allows eligible Missouri families to receive a portion of state funding to use for personalized educational expenses such as tutoring, educational therapies, extracurricular programs, and private school tuition. To learn more about Missouri's new Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, families can visit showmeschooloptions.org.

Children's Education Alliance of Missouri is a nonprofit that supports effective schools of all kinds and believes all Missouri students deserve access to a quality education now. The organization supports measures that will cultivate more quality education options by raising awareness and helping parents and others take action.

The Missouri State Capitol Rotunda is located at 201 W. Capitol Ave.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations  such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week
ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing popularity of thermochromic materials due to their phenomenal properties may influence the growth trajectory of the market between 2019 and 2027. Its extensive usage in paints, coatings, textiles, packaging, and others may lead to steady growth of the thermochromic materials market during the forecast period.

Transparency Market Research (TMR) has conducted extensive analysis on various aspects related to the growth of the thermochromic materials market. Experts at TMR predict the global market for thermochromic materials to expand at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period. The global thermochromic materials market stood at US$ 1.16 Bn in 2018 and is prognosticated to reach US$ 2.33 Bn by 2027.

Various industries are focusing on using thermochromic materials for differentiating their products across the fiercely competitive market. This aspect is likely to offer considerable growth opportunities to the thermochromic materials market players. Furthermore, the specialty of thermochromic materials to change color on heat exposure is expected to drive demand. However, as manufacturing thermochromic materials involves a complex and specialized process, the 'expensiveness' quotient proves to be a great restraint and hinders the overall growth structure of the global market. The players in the thermochromic materials market should focus on making the products more affordable for expanding their consumer base.

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Key Findings of Report

Reversible Type to Witness High Demand as Compared to Irreversible Type

The reversible segment accounted for a growth share of 60% in 2018 in terms of type. A similar trend is expected during the forecast period. While reversible thermochromic materials can turn back to its original color, irreversible thermochromic materials cannot retain their color. This is the reason why the irreversible segmented only constituted 30% of the total market share in 2018. The demand for reversible thermochromic materials is expected to be more than irreversible materials during this forecast period.

Utilization of Thermochromic Material in Switchable Glass to Offer Growth Prospects

The use of thermochromic material coating in switchable glass is likely to serve as a prominent growth-generating factor. Switchable glass or smart glass enables optimal power usage. The awareness about energy conservation has increased rapidly over the years. As thermochromic materials are used as a coating for switchable glass, the demand is expected to increase. These factors are anticipated to fuel the thermochromic materials market growth.

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Regional Landscape of Thermochromic Materials Market

In terms of volume, North America accounted for more than 30% market share in 2018 and is anticipated to witness a similar trend during the forecast period. The U.S. is a major growth-generating country for the region. The rising demand for food and beverage packaging and interior decorations is projected to witness substantial growth prospects in the thermochromic materials market in North America.

Asia Pacific is prognosticated to witness rapid growth during the forecast period. Awareness about the use of thermochromic materials in various end-use industries such as decorative items, textile, footwear, etc. is increasing steadily, thus adding value to the growth structure. Countries including China and Japan are likely to contribute extensively to the growth of the thermochromic materials market in Asia Pacific.

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The market in Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America is expected to witness growth at a slower pace as compared to other regions. In Europe, the market in Germany is extrapolated to observe lucrative growth owing to the presence of key food and beverage manufacturers.

Some well-entrenched players in the thermochromic materials market are New Color Chemical Co., Ltd, CTI (Chromatic Technologies), Matsui International Company, Hali Industrial Co. Ltd. & L'Arca Srl., LCR Hallcrest, and Good Life Innovations Ltd.

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Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Market:

Thermochromic Pigments Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/thermochromic-pigments-market.html

Thermochromic Paints Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/thermochromic-paints-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

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Transparency Market Research

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USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

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Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/thermochromic-materials-market.htm

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
Medium earthmoving equipment prices are up 45% YOY, while aerial equipment prices are up 41%

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Used equipment and truck prices reached unprecedented levels in 2021. With its January Market Trends Report, Ritchie Bros. looks closely at earthmoving and aerial equipment sales last year, with in-depth charts outlining volumes, median pricing, and more by asset category. For example, did you know that Ritchie Bros. sold 3,888 excavators in the United States last year? Or that the median price was approximately $57,500, which is up 15% year over year (for the three months ending December 31, 2022)?

The January 2022 46-page Market Trends Report highlights sales of excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, articulated dump trucks, loader backhoes, multi-terrain and skid steer loaders, as well as telehandlers, boom lifts, scissor lifts, and forklifts. To download the free report, visit rbassetsolutions.com/market-trends-report.

"We attracted a record number of bidders in 2021, resulting in the strongest equipment pricing we have ever seen," said Doug Olive, Senior Vice President (Pricing), Ritchie Bros. "Truck tractor pricing over the past three months is up 65% year over year in the United States, while medium earthmoving, vocational trucks, and aerial equipment prices are up 45%, 44%, and 41% respectively. It's a seller's market and consignors around the world are taking advantage by turning their surplus assets into cash."

Doug Rusch, Managing Director of Rouse Sales, added, "In 2021 retail pricing for earthmoving and aerial equipment reached its highest level in years. Strong pricing coincided with healthy sales volumes, with retail volume down just slightly vs. prior year. Auction prices also reached record high levels, increasing more rapidly than the retail market, as is often typical in high-demand environments."

Used Commercial Assets - Pricing Highlights

Price change (1.5%) year-over-year for the 3 months ending December 31, 2021 Categories USA CANADA Large Earthmoving  Increased ~ 16%  Increased ~ 10% Medium Earthmoving  Increased ~ 45%  Increased ~ 35% Aerial  Increased ~ 41%  Increased ~ 26% Truck Tractors  Increased ~ 65%  Increased ~ 37% Vocational Trucks  Increased ~ 44%  Increased ~ 32%

Source: Ritchie Bros. transactional data

Want to learn more? Register for Ritchie Bros.' Inside Edge panel on February 4 with global industry experts

Ritchie Bros.' Inside Edge industry panels are back on February 4, 2022. Together with leading industry experts Chris Sleight (Managing Director of Off-Highway Research); Carl Gustaf Goransson (Corporate Senior Advisor and former CNH Industrial executive); and Doug Rusch (Managing Director, Sales, Rouse Services), Ritchie Bros. will look back at 2021 and ahead to 2022, digging deep into the data and big industry trends around the world. Click the following link and register for the free informative panel today: https://bit.ly/3fy28ME

About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offering live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with weekly featured auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Ritchie List, a self-serve listing service for North America; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales; and sector-specific solutions GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system; SmartEquip, an innovative technology platform that supports customers' management of the equipment lifecycle and integrates parts procurement with both OEMs and dealers; plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros.
ORONDO, Wash., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rocky Pond Estate Winery, the Washington producer crafting wines from their spectacular sustainably farmed riverside and lakeside vineyards in the Columbia River Valley, is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Keyser has been hired as their new winemaker. The timing of this appointment comes at a defining moment, with Rocky Pond perfectly poised to take their portfolio of premium Washington wines to new heights.

Elizabeth Keyser

"We are beyond thrilled to have Elizabeth join our team," stated owners David & Michelle Dufenhorst. "Her remarkable talent and enthusiasm will help propel Rocky Pond and the region onto the national stage. We believe in the potential of this special region and Elizabeth shares in our vision."

Keyser most recently held the title of Assistant Winemaker at HALL Family Wines, where she crafted wines for the famed California producer's three-brand portfolio (HALL, Walt, and Baca). But this talented winemaker is no stranger to the intricacies of making wine in an emerging AVA  she is inspired by the community spirit and forward thinking that is often found in up-and-coming wine regions. "David and Michelle have this pioneering vision and the team that they've pulled together is such a rockstar cast of characters that I couldn't pass up the opportunity."

Notably among this vanguard team is Keyser's good friend and mentor Steve Leveque, who has consulted for the Dufenhorsts since 2020. Leveque's winemaking resume is impressive, resplendent with Napa icons such as Chalk Hill, Opus One, Mondavi, and HALL, where he and Keyser first crossed paths. Now reunited with Keyser, the two will continue Rocky Pond's mission to create world-class award-winning wines from their estate vineyards.

Keyser joins the team officially on February 1st, 2022. Also effective on that date, Rocky Pond's former winemaker Shane Collins will take on a new role as Director of Viticulture for Rocky Pond Holdings, which owns and operates Rocky Pond Winery's three estate vineyards. Shane will also spearhead a new venture called Cascade Valley Custom Crush. The Dufenhorsts are grateful to Shane for his significant contributions over the last five years and look forward to working closely with him in his new role.

About Rocky Pond Estate Winery:

Rocky Pond Estate Winery was established in 2013 by David and Michelle Dufenhorst. The winery itself takes its name from the tumbled granite stones found on their estate vineyards located in one of the most awe-inspiring regions of the Columbia River Valley. Rocky Pond operates two popular tasting rooms in Chelan and Woodinville, catering to wine enthusiasts, foodies and members looking to experience their high-quality wines paired with amazing food and impeccable service. Reserve a table today at rockypondwinery.com.

Interviews and high-resolution photography are available upon request.

Full details can be viewed here: rockypondwinery.com/awards-and-press .

Media Contact:

Matthew Thompson

[email protected]

214-289-6425

SOURCE Rocky Pond Estate Winery
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Chegg, Inc. (NYSE: CHGG) between May 5, 2020 and November 1, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the February 22, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Chegg securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Chegg class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2232.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 22, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Chegg's increase in subscribers, growth, and revenue had been a temporary effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in remote education for the vast majority of United States students and once the pandemic-related restrictions eased and students returned to campuses nationwide, Chegg's extraordinary growth trends would end; (2) Chegg's subscriber and revenue growth were largely due to the facilitation of remote education cheating  an unstable business proposition  rather than the strength of its business model or the acumen of its senior executives and directors; and (3) as a result, Chegg's current business metrics and financial prospects were not as strong as it had led the market to believe during the Class Period. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Chegg class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2232.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
The global satellite launch vehicle market was negatively impacted by the end of 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To curb virus transmission, various governments imposed strict lockdown in 2020. Lockdowns led to the temporary suspension of manufacturing facilities and R&D centers. Additionally, component import & export for rockets were disturbed attributed to restrictions on international travel and logistics services. Owing to this, SLV manufacturers experienced a significant decline in market demand. However, the post-pandemic market is poised to witness steady growth credited to government initiatives on boosting innovations in the space sector.

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Increasing remote detecting application development and interplanetary missions are driving the Europe satellite launch vehicle market value. European countries are investing in R&D to improve the capability of their SLVs to reduce their dependency on other regions. For instance, in July 2021, the Government of France announced to develop reusable rockets in collaboration with Ariane Group to assist ESA in various space missions. Ariane Group will develop the small-lift reusable rocket, Maia by 2026.

Key players operating in the market include Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Boeing Company, Arianespace SA, Arca Space Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.(SpaceX), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Kelly Space and Technology Inc., Virgin Galactica, ISIS - Innovative Solutions In Space B.V., GeoOptics, Inc., and ArianeGroup SAS. Industry leaders are adopting various marketing and business strategies to stay competitive in this consolidated market.

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Some major findings in the satellite launch vehicle market report include:

The availability of established companies and their significant investments in R&D activities are fostering the industry growth in North America . Government initiatives on strengthening space exploration capabilities and the new lunar mission planning will further fuel the industry expansion.

. Government initiatives on strengthening space exploration capabilities and the new lunar mission planning will further fuel the industry expansion. Rising satellite dispatch vehicle startups and frequent launches of satellites to the Earth's orbit to strengthen communications are propelling SLV sales in APAC. Additionally, market participants are adopting various business strategies to attract government-backed space organizations to secure high-value contracts that will contribute to industry progression.

Increasing satellite launches for Earth and space observation activities are creating market value opportunities in Europe . Market leaders focus on innovating new SLVs with a high payload capacity and low fuel consumption will improve the industry statistics.

. Market leaders focus on innovating new SLVs with a high payload capacity and low fuel consumption will improve the industry statistics. Several governments such as India , Russia , China , and the U.S. are focusing on launching separate space stations in the coming years.

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3 Satellite Launch Vehicle Market Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Impact of COVID-19 onindustry landscape

3.2.1 Global outlook

3.2.2 Regional impact

3.2.2.1 North America

3.2.2.2 Europe

3.2.2.3 Asia Pacific

3.2.2.4 Rest of the World

3.2.3 Industry value chain

3.2.3.1 Research & development

3.2.3.2 Manufacturing

3.2.3.3 Marketing

3.2.3.4 Supply

3.2.4 Competitive landscape

3.2.4.1 Strategy

3.2.4.2 Distribution network

3.2.4.3 Business growth

Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @

https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/satellite-launch-vehicle-slv-market

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Olivier Laureau, President of Servier : "In 2020/21, the Servier Group continued to grow despite a difficult environment. We have significantly strengthened our position in oncology with the acquisition of the Agios Pharmaceuticals' oncology business. The oncology strategy that we initiated in 2017 is now bringing results with new medicines and future indications for patients with hard-to-treat cancers. Our position in cardiometabolism remains very significant and our growth in venous diseases has been important. The Group has also initiated a deep digital transformation to accelerate its development and performance . We also strengthened our presence in key markets, particularly in Japan and the United States, while consolidating our production, bioproduction and R&D activities in France. Servier thus confirms its choice to maintain strong research and production capabilities in France, even though 96% of the Group brand-name medicines are distributed outside France. This choice contributes to the French and European health independence."

Growth driven by an increase in sales volume

The Servier Group revenue for the 2020/21 financial year increased by 4.3% compared to 2019/20 at constant exchange rates (+0.8% at current rates) to reach 4.725 billion.

Revenue evolution is the result of a volume growth of 5.3%; i.e., 246 million. Oncology contributed 153 million to this growth, 69 million of which was generated by the acquisition of the Agios Pharmaceuticals' oncology business. The growth in volume of the other segments was negatively impacted, due to new government measures in China.

Exchange rate variations had a negative impact of -156 million on the 2020/21 revenue. The pressure on prices negatively impacted the revenue by -54 million.

The revenue of brand-name medicines amounts to 3.306 billion for the 2020/21 financial year, i.e., a growth of 4.8% at constant rates (+0.6% at current rates) compared to 2019/20.

The revenue of generic medicines is up by 2.9% at constant rates (+1.1% at current rates), compared to the previous year, reaching 1.419 billion. Today, the Group has over 1,500 generic drugs covering most pathologies which are distributed worldwide by four subsidiaries: Biogaran, the leader in the generics market in France1 for the third consecutive year, EGIS in Eastern Europe, Pharlab in Brazil and Swipha in Nigeria.

The 2020/21 EBITDA remains stable compared to the previous financial year at 625 million, representing 13.2% of Group revenue, as well as the operating income which amounts to 278 million, i.e. 5.9% of Group revenue.

Pascal Lemaire, Executive Vice President Finance at Servier: "The 2020/21 financial year was marked by an important milestone in our oncology strategy with the successful acquisition and integration of the Agios Pharmaceuticals' oncology business. The revenue increase was driven by sales of our brand-name medicines in oncology (+34.9%) with a particularly strong performance for Tibsovo in the United States and Onivyde in Japan. Despite the negative impact of exchange rates and pressure on sales in China related to government reforms, the Group's revenue increased by +4.3% at constant rates (+0.8% at current rates) compared to the previous year. The 2020/21 results demonstrate the strength of the Group and confirm its ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions. We are confident that we will achieve our 2025 goals and continue to serve patient needs across the world."

Key figures (as of September 30, 2021)

(in millions of ) 2020/21 2019/20 Variation

constant rates Variation

current

rates Group revenue 4 725 4 688 +4.3% +0.8% Brand-name medicines revenue 3 306 3 285 +4.8% +0.6% Generics revenue 1 419 1 403 +2.9% +1.1% Operating income 278 280 - -0.7% EBITDA 625 626 - -0.2%

Accelerated growth in oncology

The acquisition of Agios Pharmaceuticals' oncology business demonstrates how the Group's strategy in oncology is accelerating. Since the beginning of the 2020/21 financial year, Servier has allocated more than half of its R&D budget to the discovery and development of cancer treatments. The Group's major investment in oncology is now reflected in the seven medicines now available to patients.

The Group's brand-name medicine revenue in oncology amounted to 604 million compared to 448 million in 2019/20, representing a 34.9% increase. This strong increase is explained by the inclusion of Tibsovo2 into the portfolio, a medicine approved in the United States for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), resulting from the acquisition of Agios oncology (+69 million), and sales of Onivyde, for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, which doubled compared to the previous financial year. This performance is supported by Japan, where Nihon Servier initiated the marketing of Onivyde in June 2020. Accordingly, the Japanese subsidiary recorded an 87.5% increase in revenue at current rates, reaching 90 million in 2020/21 compared to 48 million in 2019/20.

In August 2021, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) authorized Tibsovo for the treatment of adult patients with previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with an IDH1 mutation detected by an FDA-approved test. This is an important step for Servier in oncology and solid tumors, as well as a significant advance for patients with this rare, aggressive cancer of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver.

Sustained activity in cardiometabolism and significant growth in venous diseases

Sales of brand-name medicines in cardiometabolism amounted to 2.067 billion (i.e., 44% of Group revenue), down 3.2% at constant rates (-6.9% at current rates) compared to 2019/20 (2.221 billion) due in particular to a slowdown in sales in China.

Daflon, a recognized treatment for venous insufficiency, is an important part of the Group's growth. In 2020/21, sales increased by 13,6% at constant rates (+7.5% at current rates), up 473 million compared to 440 million in 2019/20, propelling Daflon to the forefront of the Group's brand-name medicines in terms of revenue. The Group has announced an investment of 100 million for its Oril Industrie site (Normandy, France) to double the production capacity of the active ingredient of Daflon by 2023 in order to meet the global growing demand. With the new production unit, innovative manufacturing processes will be implemented as well as the introduction of a new synthesis route to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of the production of the active ingredient.

Group driven by international sales of brand-name medicines

The share of Group revenue generated outside the European Union remains stable compared to the previous financial year and represents more than half of the consolidated revenue, i.e., 51%. The Group has distributed over a billion boxes of medicines worldwide.

China remains the Group's leading brand-name subsidiary, despite a 22.8% drop, which was due to government reforms, with a revenue of 353 million compared to 457 million in 2019/20.

The U.S. subsidiary is now the Group's second-largest subsidiary, ahead of Russia (247 million), with a revenue of 255 million, up 31.4% (194 million in 2019/20). This performance is due, in particular, to the inclusion in the portfolio of Tibsovo that is marketed in the United States and a result of the acquisition of the oncology business coming from Agios Pharmaceuticals.

An agile and cross-functional R&D model

Claude Bertrand, Executive Vice President Research & Development at Servier: "Servier is pursuing the transformation of its R&D activity to deliver a new molecular entity every 3 years, with an increased effort in oncology, as well as focused investments in neuroscience and autoimmune diseases, in line with the Group's strategy. Our goal is to develop new medicines for patients with high unmet medical needs and for smaller populations. The recent acquisitions have significantly strengthened our pipeline as well as our innovation capabilities in oncology. We now have a biotechnology center of expertise in Denmark, enhanced by our investment in bioproduction in France, as well as a new R&D center in Boston in the United States which will open in the spring of 2022. The Servier Research and Development Institute in Paris-Saclay, which is expected to open in 2023, will be the heart of the Group's global R&D organization."

A strengthened and balanced pipeline

With 40 projects in clinical development, including 19 new molecular entities, and 36 research projects3, resulting from significant and ongoing investment in R&D (more than 20% of brand-name revenue), Servier focuses its research and development efforts in therapeutic areas with high unmet medical need: oncology, neuroscience and immuno-inflammation. In cardiometabolism, Servier's strategy is to pursue incremental innovation in order to continue to address patient needs. We focus on optimizing our existing medicines through, in particular, Single Pill Combinations (SPCs), medicines combined in a single tablet, which promote both a simpler treatment and better compliance.

Servier has placed oncology among its priorities and allocates more than 50% of its R&D budget to fighting cancer and addressing critical unmet patient needs. The Group focuses on cancers in specific populations that are difficult to treat, such as gastrointestinal, hematologic, pancreatic and pediatric cancers, and conducts its R&D programs using several approaches: apoptosis (or programmed cell death), immuno-oncology, with many research programs developed following the acquisition of Symphogen in 2020, and the metabolism of the cancer cell, an approach developed by teams from the oncology business of Agios Pharmaceuticals.

The acquisition of Agios Pharmaceuticals' oncology business has significantly strengthened the oncology pipeline, with projects at all stages of research and development. Among the studies in phase 3, one on Tibsovo (ivosidenib tablets), with the AGILE study4, was conducted in record time in two years, with positive results presented at the 63rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Data from the AGILE study show that Tibsovo (ivosidenib tablets), in combination with chemotherapy with azacitidine, significantly improved event-free and overall survival, compared to the combination of azacitidine plus placebo, in adults with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and carriers of an IDH1 mutation. Additionally, vorasidenib, a dual inhibitor of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations that penetrates the brain, that is tested in the INDIGO phase 3 study in patients with IDH mutant low-grade glioma (brain tumor).

During this financial year, Servier has doubled the number of R&D programs in neuroscience and immuno-inflammation.

In neuroscience, Servier targets proteinopathies, characterized by the abnormal accumulation of specific proteins, as in Parkinson's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The neuroscience pipeline includes two clinical development projects. The first is in partnership with Ose Immunotherapeutics on a potential treatment for Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease characterized by lymphoid infiltration of the salivary and tear glands causing dry mouth and eyes. The second should start in 2022 and is in partnership with Oncodesign in Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the destruction of a specific group of neurons, dopamine neurons in the black substance of the brain. More than 6.3 million people worldwide are affected by Parkinson's disease5.

An open and collaborative innovation dynamic

Servier is committed to open and collaborative innovation. The Group collaborates with a network of partners including pharmaceutical and biotech companies as well as academic institutions.

During the 2020/21 financial year, Servier entered new partnerships and reached significant milestones in collaborative studies with partners.

In oncology, Servier has signed two new partnerships, one with the American biotech company Celsius Therapeutics to pursue new therapeutic targets for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), and the other with the Japanese biotechnology company PRISM BioLab in the field of immuno-oncology.

For instance, two important milestones have been achieved for the discovery of new therapeutic targets in oncology in research and in the preclinical phase as part of the partnership with the British laboratory Vernalis. Overall, Servier has 18 oncology partnerships6.

In neuroscience, Servier has established three new partnerships. The first is a research collaboration with Mina Therapeutics, a pioneering company in RNA activation therapies, in order to identify and develop therapies using small activating RNAs (saRNA). The second is a strategic collaboration with Nymirum, in order to identify and develop RNA-modulating drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases. Servier has also entered into a partnership with the company X-Chem to identify and develop new small molecules for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Additionally, Servier and Oncodesign, a French biotech specializing in precision medicine, announced in June 2021 the selection of a preclinical candidate from their collaboration in Parkinson's disease. Working together since March 2019, the Group and the French biotech are leading the discovery of LRRK2 kinase inhibitors and their action as potential therapeutic agents against Parkinson's disease.

In immuno-inflammation, a first patient was enrolled in August 2021 in the phase 2 clinical trial, conducted with the French biotechnology company Ose Immunotherapeutics, which evaluates the efficacy and safety of an antibody blocking the interleukin 7 receptor in Sjogren's syndrome.

Finally, Servier has also partnered with BioLabs, an internationally recognized American incubator company, to manage the start-up incubator dedicated to new innovative companies in the health sector and located at the future Servier R&D Institute in Paris-Saclay.

The opening of the Research and Development Institute in Paris-Saclay is a major step in the transformation of Servier R&D demonstrating its ambition to facilitate a more open, more dynamic and more productive research for the benefit of patients. The Servier R&D Institute will work directly with the Group's R&D centers, based in Denmark (Ballerup), the United States (Boston) and Hungary (Budapest), as well as the 15 international therapeutic research centers responsible for conducting clinical studies, and with its international network in charge of external innovation.

As of 2023, 1,500 R&D employees of the Group will be together at this new center, which will enable Servier to address the main challenges of the pharmaceutical industry today: discovering new therapeutic solutions for patients.

About Servier

Servier is a global pharmaceutical group governed by a Foundation. With a strong international presence in 150 countries and a total revenue of 4.7 billion euros in 2021, Servier employs 21,800 people worldwide. Servier is an independent group that invests over 20% of its brand-name revenue in Research and Development every year. To accelerate therapeutic innovation for the benefit of patients, the Group is committed to open and collaborative innovation with academic partners, pharmaceutical groups, and biotech companies. It also integrates the patient's voice at the heart of its activities.

A leader in cardiology, the ambition of the Servier Group is to become a renowned and innovative player in oncology. Its growth is based on a sustained commitment to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, oncology, neuroscience and immuno-inflammatory diseases. To promote access to healthcare for all, the Servier Group also offers a range of quality generic drugs covering most pathologies. More information: servier.com

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Servier press contact:

Sonia Marques: [email protected]  Tel. +33 (0)1 55 72 40 21

References:

1 Source GERS, September 2021.

2 Tibsovo is currently approved in the United States as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with IDH1 mutation and adults  75 years of age with newly diagnosed IDH1 mutation AML, or who have comorbidities preventing the use of intensive induction therapy.

3 Data as of December 2021

4 The AGILE trial is an international phase 3 clinical study, multicentric, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of the use of Tibsovo in combination with azacitidine and comparing it to a placebo in combination with azacitidine, in adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are carriers of an IDH1 gene mutation and not eligible for intensive chemotherapy ( 75 years old or with comorbidities excluding intensive induction therapy).

5 Source: European Brain Council: http://www.braincouncil.eu/library/disease-fact-sheets/parkinsons-disease/

6 As of the end of December 2021.

Revenue variations compared with 2019/20 financial year are presented at current exchange rate unless stated otherwise.

Brands: medicines promoted and distributed by Servier; Generics: medicines promoted and distributed by Biogaran, EGIS, Pharlab and Swipha, subsidiaries of the Servier Group.

SOURCE Servier Pharmaceuticals
ANKARA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Monday condemned the drone attack in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which killed at least three people.

"We condemn the attacks perpetrated with drones on Jan. 17 against Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We extend our condolences to the families of the victims, the people, and the government of the United Arab Emirates," said the ministry.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack.

The UAE is an active member of the Saudi-led coalition which has been fighting a war against the Houthi rebel militia in Yemen.

Turkey and the UAE recently have stepped up to restore bilateral ties after years of tension. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has paid an official visit to the Turkish capital Ankara in November 2021.

In 2013, Ankara and Abu Dhabi fell on rival sides after the latter lent support to the overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, who was backed by Turkey.

The relations between Turkey and the Gulf country had further derailed over their conflict of interests in Libya, the Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean. 
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Volkswagen AG ("Volkswagen" or the "Company") (OTCMKTS: VWAGY) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, and docketed under 22-cv-00045, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Volkswagen American depositary receipts ("ADRs") between March 29, 2021 and March 30, 2021, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violation of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired ADRs of Volkswagen during the Class Period, you have until March 15, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Volkswagen AG (known internationally as the Volkswagen Group) is one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group comprises twelve brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, SEAT, SKODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Scania, and MAN. Each brand has its own character and operates as an independent entity on the market. The product spectrum ranges from motorcycles to small cars and luxury vehicles. Defendant Volkswagen AG operates 118 production plants in 20 European countries and 10 countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Volkswagen AG sells its vehicles in 153 countries.

Volkswagen AG is a German corporation with its principal executive offices in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Volkswagen's ADRs trade over-the-counter under the ticker symbol "VWAGY." Defendant Volkswagen AG is the parent corporation and sole owner of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Volkswagen AG directly controls and directs the actions of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., which acts as its agent in the United States.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. It operates a manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee and houses the U.S. operations of Volkswagen's brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the company has approximately 8,000 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through a 1,000-strong dealer network.

On March 29, 2021, Volkswagen published a "draft" of a press release on its website for a short time with the incorrect date of "April 29," announcing its purported name change from "Volkswagen" to "Voltswagen."

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Volkswagen's business and operations. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the name "Voltswagen" was never going to be used by the Company's U.S. subsidiary; (ii) the Company and its spokespeople purposefully misled reporters, even after the reporters' inquiries about whether the name change was an April Fool's joke; and (iii) as a result, Defendants' public statements and statements to journalists were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, still two days before April Fool's Day on April 1, The Wall Street Journal ("WSJ") reported that a spokesman for the Company in Wolfsburg, Germany stated that "[t]he whole thing was just a marketing action to get people talking about the ID.4." The WSJ also quoted a Company's official back in Germany: "[t]here will be no name change."

On March 31, 2021, Agence France-Presse ("AFP") quoted Volkswagen AG's spokesman, Deputy Head of Corporate Communication, Christoph Ludewig: "Volkswagen of America developed . . . a national US marketing campaign, with a wink, to draw attention to Volkswagen's e-offensive. From the start, the goal was to generate attention for an important corporate and industry topic in the USA. The large amount of positive feedback on social media shows we achieved this goal. At the same time, we regret if in the eyes of some, we overshot the mark of the campaign." AFP also reported that "[r]eporters reacted angrily to the stunt, with some pointing out that it was tone-deaf coming from a company still recovering from the 2015 'dieselgate' scandal, when Volkswagen was forced to admit it had for years used cheating software in cars to dupe emissions tests." Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director of AFP, wrote to the Company to protest against the deception, stating: "We understand when a spokesperson is not in a position to confirm or comment on a piece of information. But we never expect them to make false statements. We strongly think serious journalists and news outlets should not be used by companies like Volkswagen for marketing and advertising purposes. For us it is a very grave breach of trust which must not be repeated."

The price of Volkswagen ADRs plummeted on this news, falling 3.84%, or $1.45 per share, to close at $36.3 per share on March 31, 2021 (from a closing price of $37.75 per share on March 30, 2021), damaging investors.

On April 1, 2021, Forbes published an article, entitled "Volkswagen's April Fools' Stunt Misses the Markand an Opportunity to Earn Back Trust," which similarly criticized Volkswagen AG's purported name change.

The price of Volkswagen ADRs continued to fall as the market continued to process the news about the purported name change. The Company's ADR price fell 1.98%, or $0.72 per share, to close at $35.58 per share on April 1, 2021 (from a closing price of $36.3 per share on March 31, 2021), damaging investors.

In total, Volkswagen's ADR price fell by $2.17 per share, or 5.75%, over the course of two trading days from March 31, 2021 through April 1, 2021, damaging investors.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, 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.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Cloopen Group Holding Limited ("Cloopen" or the "Company") (NYSE: RAAS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Cloopen 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 or around February 9, 2021, Cloopen conducted an initial public offering ("IPO") in the United States, selling 23 million American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") priced at $16.00 per ADS. Then, on March 26, 2021, just over six weeks after its IPO, Cloopen published its 4Q 2020 and FY 2020 financial results. Cloopen reported 4Q 2020 revenues of just $39.6 million, $2 million short of analysts' consensus, net losses of $46.8 million, representing a staggering 466.9% increase year-over-year, and operating expenses of $27.6 million, representing a 30% increase over 4Q 2019. Cloopen blamed a "change in fair value of warrant liabilities of . . . US$34.4 million" for Cloopen's remarkable net loss and "an increase in the provision for doubtful accounts resulting from increased in accounts receivables" for the 59.2% increase in general and administrative expenses.

On this news, Cloopen's ADS price fell $2.67 per ADS, or 18.52%, to close at $11.75 per ADS on March 26, 2021.

Then, on May 10, 2021, after the market closed, Cloopen filed its Annual Report on SEC Form 20-F, revealing for the first time that its dollar-based net customer retention rate for recurring solutions had hemorrhaged from 102.7% in 2019 to 86.8% by year end 2020.

On this news, Cloopen's ADS price fell $0.62 per ADS, or 6.47%, to close at $8.97 per ADS on May 12, 2021.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, 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

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Renren Inc. ("Renren" or the "Company") (NYSE: RENN).

The investigation concerns whether Renren and certain of its officers and/or directors have breached fiduciary duties owed to the company and its investors.

If you are a shareholder who acquired Renren common stock or American depositary shares ("ADS") and held shares on April 29, 2018, just before Renren announced a transaction involving the transfer of major company assets, and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, you are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, 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.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of WeWork Inc. ("WeWork" or the "Company") (NYSE: WE). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether WeWork 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 December 1, 2021, WeWork disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing that "[i]n connection with the preparation of the financial statements as of September 30, 2021, WeWork Inc. (the 'Company') reevaluated its application of Accounting Standards Codification ('ASC') 480-10-S99, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, to its accounting classification of the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption (the 'Public Shares') issued as part of the units sold in the initial public offering by the Company's predecessor, BowX Acquisition Corp. ('BowX'). The Company had previously classified a portion of the Public Shares in permanent equity. Upon further evaluation, the Company determined that the Public Shares include certain redemption features not solely within the Company's control that, under ASC 480-10-S99, require such shares to be classified as temporary equity in their entirety." Accordingly, WeWork advised that certain of its previously issued financial statements should not be relied upon and would be restated. In addition, WeWork disclosed that its management has concluded that, that in light of the classification error described above, there was a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting relating to the interpretation and accounting for certain complex features of the Public Shares."

On this news, WeWork's stock price fell sharply, damaging investors.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris 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, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm 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.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Instadose Pharma Corp. f/k/a Mikrocoze, Inc. ("Instadose", "Mikrocoze", or the "Company") (OTCMKTS: INSD; MZKR) and one of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virgina, Norfolk Division, and docketed under 21-cv-00675, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Instadose securities between December 8, 2020 and November 24, 2021, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and one of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Instadose securities during the class period, you have until February 28, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Instadose does not have significant operations and was at all relevant times classified as a "shell" company. Instadose was formerly known as "Mikrocoze, Inc.", which was organized to sell micro-furniture for small spaces via the Internet. The Company has since pivoted its business to focus on growth and acquisition of pharmaceutical grade agricultural products.

On December 7, 2020, Instadose (then still known as Mikrocoze) entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Instadose Pharma Corp., a Canadian-based cannabis producer ("Instadose Canada"), and holders of a majority of its outstanding shares for a transaction to acquire 100% of the outstanding common shares of Instadose Canada in exchange for approximately 80% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company following such exchange (the "Business Combination").

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Instadose had performed inadequate due diligence into the Business Combination and/or ignored significant red flags associated with Instadose Canada; (ii) Instadose's internal controls and policies were inadequate to detect and/or prevent impermissible trading activity by control persons of the Company; (iii) the foregoing subjected Instadose to a heightened risk of regulatory scrutiny and enforcement action; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On July 9, 2021, the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") announced that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of Instadose Canada, Grant Ferdinand Sanders ("Sanders"), was charged quasi-criminally with one count of fraud in relation to his role as Chairman and CEO of Instadose Canada, which, since July 2017, had raised more than $9.4 million from investors. The OSC alleged that investor funds were diverted to the benefit of Sanders, his family, and associates, and that Instadose Canada materially misrepresented the nature of its business.

Then, on October 15, 2021, Instadose Canada announced that an overwhelming majority of its shareholders voted in favor of the Business Combination, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by a Canadian court. Following completion of the Business Combination, Instadose expected that its Board of Directors would consist of, among others, Sanders.

Then, on November 24, 2021, in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), Instadose disclosed that "[o]n November 23, 2021, the Company was notified by the SEC that it had ordered, pursuant to Section 12(k) of the [Exchange Act], that trading in the securities of [Instadose] is suspended for the period from 9:30 a.m. EDT on November 24, 2021, through 11:59 p.m. EDT on December 8, 2021." Instadose advised investors that the SEC's order specifically stated that "it appears to the [SEC] that the public interest and the protection of investors require a suspension in the trading of [Instadose] securities . . . because of questions and concerns regarding the adequacy and accuracy of information about Instadose . . . in the marketplace, including: (1) significant increases in the stock price and share volume unsupported by the company's assets and financial information; (2) trading that may be associated with individuals related to a control person of Instadose . . .; and (3) the operations of Instadose[]'s Canadian affiliate."

On this news, and after Instadose's common stock began publicly trading again on December 9, 2021, the Company's stock price fell $22.61 per share, or 91.87%, to close at $2.00 per share on December 9, 2021.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, 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.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
Vendor Landscape

The shipbuilding market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. - In February 2021 , the company announced the launch of smartris, a drive solution for AGVs (automatic guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) that consists of three key components, namely gear, servo motor, and driver

In , the company announced the launch of smartris, a drive solution for AGVs (automatic guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) that consists of three key components, namely gear, servo motor, and driver Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. - In March 2021 , the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in hydrogen and ammonia-related businesses with Saudi Aramco

In , the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in hydrogen and ammonia-related businesses with Saudi Aramco Damen Shipyards Group NV - In July 2021 , the company concluded a license agreement with US-based Conrad Industries. Conrad Shipyard LLC will construct two Damen Multi Cats 3013 for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corporation.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Application:

Commercial:



The shipbuilding market share growth by the commercial segment will be significant during the forecast period. The increase in international trade through maritime logistics is driving the growth of the commercial shipbuilding segment. This is owing to the increase in container handling operations at marine ports, which are driving the demand for commercial ships and vessels. In addition, the emergence of new seaports in emerging economies in APAC is also driving the demand for new container vessels, thereby contributing to the growth of the segment under focus.



Defense

Request a FREE Sample of this report for more highlights into the market segments.

Regional Market Outlook

92% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. China, South Korea (Republic of Korea), The Philippines, and Japan are the key markets for shipbuilding in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in regions.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

The Shipbuilding Market Covers the Following Areas:

Shipbuilding Market Sizing

Shipbuilding Market Forecast

Shipbuilding Market Analysis

Latest Trends, Driving the Global Shipbuilding Market

Market Driver:

Increasing seaborne trading:

One of the key factors driving growth in the shipbuilding market is the increasing seaborne trading. Throughout the last couple of decades, the shipping industry has recorded an increase in the total trade volume. The prominent factors propelling trade volumes include rapid industrialization and the liberalization of economies that are increasing the trade volume between two countries. The increasing economic activities, such as foreign direct investments, have heightened consumer purchasing power. This has augmented the demand for consumer products. The improved fuel efficiency and multi-fuel engine have made shipping an efficient method of transportation. The demand for goods and raw materials is increasing from emerging economies owing to the increasing population of these countries. This is further bolstering the rising seaborne trading.

Market Trend:

Increase in demand for eco-friendly ships:

The increase in demand for eco-friendly ships is another major factor supporting the shipbuilding market share growth. The environmental impact of shipping includes greenhouse gas emissions as well as oil pollution. Therefore, governments and international organizations are introducing many regulations related to reducing the negative effects of ships and vessels on the environment. The rising environmental regulations should increase the demand for eco-friendly ships that adhere to the latest emission norms. The trend is expected to continue during the forecast period.

Find additional information about various other market drivers & trends mentioned in our FREE sample report .

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Shipbuilding Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 2.73% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 13.24 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.12 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, South America, North America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 92% Key consumer countries China, South Korea (Republic of Korea), Japan, The Philippines, and Poland Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled BAE Systems Plc, Damen Shipyards Group NV, Fincantieri Spa, General Dynamics Corp., Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Technavio
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus today announced abstract findings of independent clinical studies that show the treatment of kidney stones with the SOLTIVE Premium SuperPulsed Laser System (SOLTIVE Laser System) may offer the potential for shorter procedure times, better patient outcomes and lower procedures costs than those performed with Holmium: YAG.

Two new independent abstracts suggest the SOLTIVE(TM) SuperPulsed Laser System shortens kidney stone procedure time on average by 20% and offers the potential for greater patient outcomes

The two abstracts noting these findings were published in the September edition of The Journal of Urology. They compared performing ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy with Holmium: YAG versus Thulium Fiber Laser (TFL) and treatment of kidney stones in the upper urinary tract using Holmium: YAG versus TFL in dusting mode.

Launched in 2020, the SOLTIVE Laser System offers a new application of thulium fiber laser technology designed for stone lithotripsy, benign prostatic hyperplasia and other soft tissue applications. The SOLTIVE Laser's primary benefit is next-generation lithotripsy performance, dusting stones in half the time it takes the advanced post-modulation Holmium: YAG technology, creating a fine dust that is more easily passed through urine.1

As with non-laser surgery, the possibility of complications and adverse events, such as chills, fever, edema, hemorrhage, inflammation, tissue necrosis, or infection may occur following treatment. In extreme cases, death may occur due to procedural complications, concurrent illness, or laser application. As with any conventional surgery, acute pain may occur immediately following laser therapy and may persist for as long as 48 hours.

In the first abstract from the University of Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, physicians treated 51 patients each with Holmium: YAG and TFL.2 The operative time, measured from scope in to scope out, was on average nearly 13 minutes shorter per procedure with TFL compared to Holmium: YAG. Further analysis showed that cases with a cumulative stone diameter less than 15mm resulted in a procedure difference of nearly 14 minutes and the mean difference was more than 17 minutes for cases with a stone of less than 10mm.

The study concluded that TFL is a "substantially faster means of laser lithotripsy" than Holmium: YAG with average procedure time reduced by 20%.

"As the number of URS laser lithotripsy procedures being performed in the United States continues to increase, reducing procedure times has the potential to improve patient outcomes and decrease costs," according to the study.

The second abstract from the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y., compared the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the SOLTIVE Laser System versus Holmium: YAG operating in the fixed dusting setting.3 The abstract included 62 patients divided evenly between the two procedures. There were no significant differences among the patients or kidney stones that measured between 10 and 30mm.

The abstract showed that procedures to remove kidney stones in the upper urinary tract performed with SOLTIVE were on average 2.6 minutes shorter than with Holmium: YAG. Procedures for kidney stones measuring less than 15mm were 3.4 minutes shorter and procedures with stones larger than 15mm were nearly 2 minutes shorter.

Researchers estimate a projected savings of $69 per procedure utilizing SOLTIVE, which was also superior in terms of stone-free rate, retropulsion, visibility and controlling bleeding, according to the study.

"Preliminary clinical data demonstrated the effectiveness of TLF in dusting kidney stones compared to 100W Ho:YAG laser (EMPOWER) at fixed laser settings," said Dr. Ahmed Ghazi, one of the researchers and an associate professor of urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. "This new data based on patient procedures demonstrates the efficiency and cost effectiveness of TFL."

The efficiency of the SOLTIVE Laser System's laser fibers in breaking apart the stones is due to absorption in water. Its compact footprint is one-eighth of the size of other Holmium: YAG systems and runs more efficiently, requiring only a standard 110-volt power outlet.

"When Olympus launched the SOLTIVE Laser System, we were excited to offer an innovative laser technology that would provide urologists a tool to improve efficiencies and patient outcomes," said Patrick MacCarthy, Vice President of the Urology Business Unit for Olympus Corporation. "Now, we're excited to see the results of independent studies that show how SOLTIVE is lowering the times and costs of kidney stone procedures."

For more information about the SOLTIVE Laser System, visit: RockUroWorld.com.

About Olympus

Olympus is passionate about the solutions it creates for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries.

Olympus' Medical business uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients. Olympus' Medical portfolio includes endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as surgical energy devices, system integration solutions, medical services, and a wide range of EndoTherapy instruments. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com.

Disclaimer: These abstract study findings are early analysis and may change with further, more complete analysis. Generalizability of economic impact to other institutions is not specific and is limited.

1 Benchmark study. Comparison of dusting and fragmenting using the new Super Pulse Thulium Fiber Laser to a 120W Holmium: YAG laser. AUA 2019. Dr. Ben Chew

2 Ryan, JR; Nguyen, MH; Linscott, JA; Nowicki, SW; Jumper, BM; Ingimarsson, JP; "PD54-07: Thulium Fiber Laser Results in Shorter Operating Times During Ureteroscopy and Laser Lithotripsy;" The Journal of Urology, September 2021; accessed Nov. 2, 2021.

3 Ghazi, A; Khalil, M; Feng, C; Quarrier, S; Jain, R. "PD54-08: Holmium: Yag (HO:YAG) Versus Thulium Fiber Laser (TFL) For Treatment Of Upper Urinary Tract Calculi In Dusting Mode: A Clinical Comparison Of Efficiency, Efficacy And Costs Effectiveness;" The Journal of Urology, September 2021; accessed Nov. 2, 2021.

SOURCE Olympus
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the December 31st, 2021 retirement of Partner, Charlie Sislen, Research Director, Inc. is implementing several significant staff changes and promotions to take place during the first quarter of 2022.

Kathryn Boxill and Nicole Somerville Anne Doyle,Nakia Smith and Hayden Waugh

Kathryn Boxill (top left), will be creating and leading the new Quality Control Team as the Quality Control Team Manager. Kathryn has previously served as a Senior Consultant. Nicole Somerville (top right) will be transitioning into the Production Team Manager position from previously serving as a Sales Research Consultant. Anne Doyle (bottom left), will move into the Information Systems Administrator position from Operations Management. Nakia Smith and Hayden Waugh (bottom center and bottom right, respectively) will be moving from their Sales Research Consultant positions to join the Client Service Department as Client Service Consultants.

Research Director, Inc. looks forward to welcoming in 2022 with renewed focus on strengthening client relationships and improving overall quality excellence.

"The team we have assembled are all customer focused, experienced and extremely excited to take on new challenges as we grow. I am happy to see these long-time RDI stalwarts bring their skills to providing clients with unparalleled service and support," said CEO and Founder Marc Greenspan.

Research Director, Inc. is based in Annapolis, Maryland. Coined "The Ratings Experts" by their clients, the company helps radio stations' programming and sales departments maximize the value of their research. For more information about Research Director, Inc., visit www.ResearchDirectorInc.com, call 4102956619, or email [email protected].

Contact Information:

Marc Greenspan

Research Director, Inc.

4102956619 x11

[email protected]

SOURCE Research Director Inc.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Startpage , a search engine that lets anyone search online without personal data collection, tracking, or targeting, today unveiled the Startpage Privacy Protection browser extension. Available now for free download on Chrome and Firefox, the extension lets people browse the Internet more securely, automatically blocking first- and third-party trackers, while giving them more control over their browsing and searching experience.

According to research, 87 percent of the world's most popular web domains engage in digital tracking. In fact, according to Startpage's analysis of the top 15 websites in the United States, leading news outlets CNN and Fox News had upwards of 40 trackers or cookies on their homepages. The Startpage Privacy Protection browser extension blocks these trackers and shields users from invasive targeted advertising with easy-to-use features that provide anyone with more control over their online privacy, including:

Send s "Global Privacy Control" Signals: The extension sends Global Privacy Control (Do-Not-Track) signals to visited sites with your privacy preferences.

The extension sends Global Privacy Control (Do-Not-Track) signals to visited sites with your privacy preferences. Blocks "Data Collection": The extension prohibits third-party sites from using special scripts to collect information about you.

The extension prohibits third-party sites from using special scripts to collect information about you. Provides Control Over Cookies : The extension stops trackers from being placed on search activities by advertisers and third parties entirely; or, unique compared to any other extensions on the market, enables users to enable cookies from certain domains as preferred or necessary.

: The extension stops trackers from being placed on search activities by advertisers and third parties entirely; or, unique compared to any other extensions on the market, enables users to enable cookies from certain domains as preferred or necessary. Replaces Invasive Social Defaults: The extension replaces social media, video, and music site tracking defaults with "click-to-activate" options, encouraging safer social media practices and delivering greater transparency.

The extension replaces social media, video, and music site tracking defaults with "click-to-activate" options, encouraging safer social media practices and delivering greater transparency. "True Score" Privacy Ranking: The extension evaluates and displays a 1-5 privacy rating based on each site's privacy practices. While other extensions on the market boast their own scoring methods, Startpage is the only one that ranks sites before blockers are applied to expose the site's true privacy reputation.

The extension evaluates and displays a 1-5 privacy rating based on each site's privacy practices. While other extensions on the market boast their own scoring methods, Startpage is the only one that ranks sites blockers are applied to expose the site's true privacy reputation. Startpage Default: The extension sets the user's default search engine to Startpage, ensuring searches are private, not saved, sold, or used for profiling but maintain the best results.

"From sensitive search queries like 'how to get out of debt' to social posts featuring your child's face to e-commerce sites that stalk your holiday shopping habits, bits of personal data are saved and sold every second," said Robert E.G. Beens, founder of Startpage. "Tech companies, search engines, social platforms, data brokers and advertisers have been profiting off this data collection at the expense of consumers for too long. With the Startpage Privacy Protection browser extension, we are proud to deliver the Startpage promise beyond just search, giving users an unmatched layer of protection against all the tracking and tagging with more control and transparency than ever."

Startpage has shielded people's personal data via the most private search engine for 15 years, helping millions of users daily search the web safely without sacrificing results. Today's announcement is the most significant and extensive feature launch Startpage has released since Anonymous View private browsing in 2018 and now, in addition to blocking trackers and cookies, sending privacy signals, and disabling fingerprinting, the Startpage Privacy Protection extension is the only solution on the market that combines this level of privacy and control with best-in-class search results (via private Google search results).

The Startpage Privacy Protection extension is available now and free for anyone to install on Chrome and Firefox . For more details about the extension, visit add.Startpage.com/protecton .

About Startpage

Startpage is a leading privacy technology company. Founded in the Netherlands in 2006, the company created the world's first and most private search engine that has grown to become the preferred choice of anyone who cares about accurate search results as much as they care about their privacy. Startpage search doesn't track, log, share or sell user data or search history.

Since then, the company has launched private search features like "Anonymous View," which allows users to browse other websites without being tracked, as well as "Startpage Privacy Protection," a desktop browser extension that protects people's personal data across the internet.

Startpage partners with Google for best-in-class search results and applies their proprietary anonymizing process to protect users' online privacy. The company delivers completely un-profiled search results and protects consumers from annoying ads and price trackers. Startpage protects their world-wide users by adhering to the stringent Dutch and EU privacy laws, including GDPR. To find out more about how to change to the world's most private search engine, read installing the Startpage browser extension or setting Startpage as your default homepage. Follow the company on Twitter @startpage.

SOURCE Startpage
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Strada Education Network announced today the winners in the initial phase of a $10 million grant challenge aimed at helping higher education institutions identify and expand new solutions that will improve career and life opportunities for more students of color, first-generation students, those who struggle to afford education, and adult students and workers.

Strada is partnering with the Taskforce on Higher Education and Opportunity for the Beyond Completion Challenge to reimagine higher education to better serve students' needs. Strada launched the grant challenge with the understanding that students need an educational experience that connects learning with employment so that all students can secure a good job, do meaningful work, and lead a fulfilling life.

Each participating institution will develop an initiative on their campus or in collaboration with other organizations, including industry partners, to foster a more effective higher education experience.

The 15 institutions selected to receive innovation grants of up to $250,000 are:

Arizona State University City University of New York Georgia State University Georgia Institute of Technology New York University North Carolina A&T State University Northern Virginia Community College Southern New Hampshire University University of Arizona University of Minnesota Rochester University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Oregon University of Pittsburgh University of Texas System Virginia Tech

The grants announced today will support new projects and initiatives that focus on equitable outcomes through and beyond college completion. Strada will provide more than $6 million in additional support later this year to expand upon these grants and will engage in a year-long community of practice with grant recipients and other members of the Taskforce working to improve outcomes beyond completion.

"As we recover from a worldwide pandemic, we understand that our economy and our education system are changing dramatically," said Strada's Ruth Watkins. "The good news is that institutions of higher learning are rising to the challenge, and are shifting their focus beyond completion of credentials and degrees. The Beyond Completion Challenge was designed not just to come up with new ideas for how to achieve that goal, but to put resources behind them so that more students can benefit. We were delighted with the quality of the proposals and are thrilled to support this terrific work."

Today's Phase One grants were awarded to the 15 institutions to support curricular, career guidance and support, work-based learning, capacity building, and technology innovations. Funded initiatives fall into four categories:

Infusing career relevance into the curriculum.

Developing strategies to expand career support.

Strengthening connections between education and career.

Building institutional capacity to improve career outcomes.

Learn more about the innovation grant recipients and their projects here.

James Milliken, chancellor of The University of Texas System, said: "The University of Texas System is honored to be recognized in the Beyond Completion Challenge. This grant will help undergraduate students across the UT System transition into high-value careers by expanding access to micro-credentials that arm students with the skills most valued by Texas employers. Pairing a bachelor's degree with an industry-recognized credential will give students a competitive edge in the labor market while also enhancing their undergraduate experience."

At the University of Arizona, Abra McAndrew, assistant vice president for Access, Engagement & Opportunity, said: "Strada's Beyond Completion Challenge puts resources and support behind one of the issues University of Arizona is most focused on: ensuring that every student gains career-related experience while earning their degree. We know that internships make a difference in the outcomes of first-generation students and we're grateful for this opportunity to enhance our efforts and commitment to equitable outcomes for these students."

"We've seen firsthand how the nature and quality of student engagement has a measurable impact on success and well-being long after graduation," said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. "The innovation grant will help us further develop a student experience strategy that is more effective and equitable, and can be shared with other institutions pursuing similar goals."

In the coming months, all members of the Taskforce will be invited to join the innovation grant recipients in a community of practice to share information and learn what's working to help students succeed beyond completion.

Later this year, the institutions that are awarded support in Phase One, as well as other Taskforce members, will be invited to compete for additional funding to expand their work. The emphasis in Phase Two will be to reach larger numbers of students or to partner with other institutions or industries to significantly share and expand effective practices.

Learn more about the Taskforce's work and Strada's Beyond Completion Challenge here.

Strada will share more information on early insights from initiatives and related projects already in progress during a Public Viewpoint webinar on Jan. 19.

About Strada Education Network

Strada Education Network is a nonprofit dedicated to helping people take advantage of education and training after high school that helps them secure a good job, do meaningful work, contribute to their communities, and lead a fulfilling life. We believe education and training after high school have the potential to be the most powerful and equitable ways to help all people thrive in their careers and lives. To help students succeed beyond completion of a certificate or degree, we conduct research, make charitable grants and social impact investments, and support Strada Collaborative, which directly serves students and workers. Learn more at stradaeducation.org.

About the Taskforce on Higher Education and Opportunity

The Taskforce on Higher Education and Opportunity is a collective of 37 institutions, including 35 higher education presidents and chancellors, representing 2.4 million students across public, private, two-and four-year institutions. To address the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising income inequality, and the changing nature of work, the Taskforce aims to expand higher education's contribution to society by supporting students entering the workforce, partnering with communities, and delivering accessible, applicable, and high-quality education. The Taskforce provides new opportunities to collaborate, share insights, and scale impact across the higher education ecosystem. Learn more at TaskforceOnHigherEd.org.

SOURCE Strada Education Network
WUHAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A high-end river-cruise ship set out on its maiden voyage in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, on Tuesday, providing a new option for tourism along the Yangtze River.

The ship named "Changjiang No.3" will travel from Wuhan to southwest China's Chongqing, a journey that will last nine days.

Designed and funded by China Yangtze Shipping Group, Changjiang No.3 is about 150 meters long, 23 meters wide, and has a design speed of 25 kilometers per hour. The ship has a maximum passenger capacity of 600 people.

It is equipped with an intelligent energy-efficiency management system, a panoramic image and video collision-avoidance system and a hotel management system.

"It represents the highest level of smart technology in cruise ships along the Yangtze River," said Zhang Rui, chairman of the group.

It is also the first cruise ship along the Yangtze River to be built in China following the outbreak of COVID-19. 
"Employers continue to express interest in employee vaccine and testing, and are seeking out solutions that make their lives easier in maintaining a safe workplace," said Sheila Sokolski, assistant vice president, Sun Life Product Management. "We are pleased to refer employers to ThrivePass, which can help them ensure the wellbeing of their employees."

ThrivePass offers a "self-serve" format for employees to report their vaccination or test results, which are then verified by ThrivePass. Vaccine exemptions can be customized, and testing verification provides employees with personalized profiles that track their results history. Employers can access an administrative dashboard that tracks real-time employee data.

"We are thrilled to have the support of Sun Life," said Dave George, sales executive, ThrivePass. "As we broaden our market reach with this important solution that so many employers need right now, working with Sun Life provides us with an opportunity to help more employers navigate this uncertain time."

Join Sun Life and ThrivePass for a webinar on January 20 at 2 pm ET. Click here to register, or watch the recording on www.sunlife.com/insights.

ThrivePass operates its solution independent of Sun Life insurance coverage. For more information, visit www.thrivepass.com/sunlife.

About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2021, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.39 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

In the United States, Sun Life is one of the largest group benefits providers, serving more than 55,000 employers in small, medium and large workplaces across the country. Sun Life's broad portfolio of insurance products and services in the U.S. includes disability, absence management, life, dental, vision, voluntary and medical stop-loss. Sun Life and its affiliates in asset management businesses in the U.S. employ approximately 5,500 people. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com/us .

About ThrivePass

ThrivePass is an innovative technology company dedicated to improving the world of employee benefits. Founded in 2014, they work with clients worldwide to provide a holistic benefits suite that supports employee well-being throughout the employment lifecycle. Other ThrivePass offerings include lifestyle accounts, tuition reimbursement, COBRA, HAS, FSA, HRA and commuter benefits.

Media contact:

Devon Fernald

Sun Life U.S.

781-800-3609

[email protected]

Katie Harlin

ThrivePass

[email protected]

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ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR) expect the global direct reduced iron market to register growth at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period of 2021 to 2031.

Direct reduced iron find application in a wide range of end-use industries, such as automotive, construction, electrical & electronics, and mechanical industries. This factor is projected to help the market reach the valuation of US$ 50.64 Bn by 2031.

Major companies engaged in the steel production are inclining toward the use of direct reduced iron as raw materials in order to minimize emissions caused due to the use of steel scraps. Moreover, direct reduced iron is being increasingly adopted in the steel production industry, owing to its ability to develop cost-efficient carbon steel, which is one of the prominent elements used in high-quality steel products manufacturing. Hence, surge in the demand for steel products is projected to help in creating promising business prospects the global direct reduced iron market in the forecast period.

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Asia Pacific is anticipated to maintain its leading position in the direct reduced iron market and expand at a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period, owing to rise in the product use in regional construction and automotive industries. Moreover, China is prominent country in Asia Pacific, owing to increase in construction activities in the nation with rise in industrialization.

Europe is one of the important regions in the market that offers substantial growth prospects on the back of expansion of automotive and construction industries in Germany.

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Direct Reduced Iron Market: Key Findings

Steel manufacturers use blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF/BOF) process in which gas reduction is achieved using natural gas or coal, which result into high amount of CO2 emissions. Hence, players in the direct reduced iron market are boosting their R&D projects for the hydrogen-based DRI manufacturing. In this technology, companies are producing steel with the help of electric arc furnace (EAF).

With rise in awareness on global warming and other environmental concerns, companies in the direct reduced iron market are growing focus on shifting from present fossil-based economy to environment-friendly economies. Hence, several companies are researching on green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron production.

The lump form of direct reduced iron is gaining traction and is being utilized across varied end-use industries such as automotive and construction owing to its higher percentage of iron and lower percentage of other minerals

Direct Reduced Iron Market: Growth Boosters

Increase in use of direct reduced iron in the automotive industry is leading to revenue-generation prospects in the market

Rising utilization of steel in developing aircraft hangers, metro stations, and commercial buildings is boosting the sales growth of the global direct reduced iron market

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Direct Reduced Iron Market: Competition Landscape

Major companies in the market are using strategies such as joint ventures, collaborations, and mergers in order to expand their businesses

Several players are focused on R&D projects so as to offer innovative products

Prior to investment in advanced technologies and expand businesses in newer regions during the COVID-19 pandemic, companies in the direct reduced iron market are taking help of technologically advanced tools such as data-driven decision-makings

Direct Reduced Iron Market: Key Players

Some of the key players profiled in the report are:

JSW Ispat Special Products Limited

Qatar Steel

ArcelorMittal

Kobe Steel Ltd

Midrex Technologies Inc.

NUCOR

Gallantt Group of Industries

Khouzestan Steel Company

Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel LLC

& Steel LLC Welspun Group

Tosyali Algeria A.S.

AM/NS India

Tuwairqi Steel Mills Limited

Direct Reduced Iron Market Segmentation

Form

Pellets

Lumps

Production Process

Gas-based

Coal-based

Grade

Grade  A (FeM  81% Min)

Grade  B (FeM  78 To 80 %)

Grade  C (FeM  < 78%)

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

& Latin America

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Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Market:

Iron & Steel Smelting Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/iron-steel-smelting-market.html

Iron and Steel Casting Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/iron-steel-casting-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

ABB Ltd., ChargePoint Inc., ENGIE SA, EV Safe Charge Inc., EVgo Services LLC, Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Tesla Inc., Webasto SE among others are of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

Various players in the market are engaging in strategic partnerships and joint ventures coupled with launching differentiated products to up their game in the high-end bicycle industry. For instance, in January 2021, the company launched a new public fast charger Sicharge D for the IEC markets with a voltage range up to 1,000 V.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Type:

AC:



Low set-up, installation, and maintenance costs are typical of AC charging stations, which is one of the main reasons for their growing popularity. AC charging stations are a simple and convenient way to charge electric vehicles. They can deliver up to 22kW of electricity. For AC charging, an onboard charger is necessary, which is found in practically all-electric vehicles on the market today. These days, AC charging stations interface with an EV's control system to enable optimal charging. The lengthy charging time of an AC charging station is a key disadvantage, which can be ascribed to the tiny size of the onboard charger in electric vehicles.

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Regional Market Outlook

APAC will contribute 46% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region can be attributed to the availability of a large number of vendors and the growing disposable income of a major share of the population.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, China, US, France, Germany, UK, and Switzerland will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Global High-End Bicycle Market

Market Driver:

An increasing number of M&A and strategic partnerships:

Advances in electric vehicle technology, improvements in charging infrastructure, and increasing socioeconomic conditions all contribute to increased demand for BEVs and PHEVs, which drives up the use of EV charging stations. Government authorities are supporting the usage of electric vehicles in response to growing worries about pollution and the depletion of conventional energy sources. Reduced taxes, funding, or the easier and faster installation of EV charging stations at various public stations, residential, and business sectors are all examples of government support. Governments in several markets are giving subsidies and incentives for the use of EV charging options, which is helping to improve BEV and PHEV sales. During the projection period, the growth of the EV charging station market would be influenced by the increase in sales of BEVs and PHEVs.

Market Trend:

An increasing number of launches in the field of EV charging solutions:



One of the most important electric vehicle charging station market trends in the development of smart grids for EV charging, which will help to expand the use of variable generation technologies. It encompasses grid applications such as smart energy meters, supervisory control, and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, IT, and other communication systems. Globally, EV charging solutions are improving significantly. Prominent vendors operating in the market have showcased and launched advanced EV chargers in the last couple of years. Growth in the number of EV charging solutions is expected to act as a market enabler during the forecast period.

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Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 31% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 22.02 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 24.28 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 46% Key consumer countries China, US, France, Germany, UK, and Switzerland Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled ABB Ltd., ChargePoint Inc., ENGIE SA, EV Safe Charge Inc., EVgo Services LLC, Tesla Inc., Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, and Webasto SE Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

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
Vendor Landscape

The household appliance market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

AB Electrolux, Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., LG Electronics Inc. MIDEA GROUP, Panasonic Corp., Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Transform SR Brands LLC, Whirlpool Corp. among others are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the household appliance market.

Various players in the household appliance market are engaging in strategic partnerships and joint ventures coupled with launching differentiated products to up their game in the furniture industry. For instance, In February 2020, the company launched V60 THINQ 5G with LG dual screen.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Product:

Major Household Appliances:



Refrigeration and cooling appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, fridge freezers, and beverage coolers, are common household appliances. Refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines saw the largest sales in APAC, owing to rising disposable income and changing lifestyles among the population, as well as rising urbanization. These variables increased people's knowledge of these products and enabled them to spend money on them. Furthermore, the increasing middle class in APAC allowed them to acquire high-end goods.





Furthermore, because the Western European markets are established, manufacturers are focusing their efforts on Eastern European consumers. As a result, during the projected period, positive sales growth in the major household appliance market in Europe is expected.

Segmentation by Distribution Channel:

Offline :

:

Specialty stores, department stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and clubhouse stores are all part of the offline distribution channel. Because of the shift in consumer preference for online shopping, sales through the offline distribution channel have been gradually falling over time. To fuel the sales through offline channels, vendors are managing their sales through local retail entities. They also have strategic partnerships with a professional chain of home appliance shops.

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Regional Market Outlook

APAC will contribute to 53% of the market growth during the forecast period. China and Japan are the key markets for household appliances in APAC. The growth of this region can be attributed to the growing middle-class population and their rising income, which empowered their spending power on household needs and appliances.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the China, US, Japan, Germany, and France will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Household Appliance Market

Market Driver:

Product innovation and advancement leading to portfolio extension and product premiumization:

Product innovation and advancement, which leads to portfolio extension and product premiumization, is one of the primary factors driving growth in the home appliance industry. The fierce rivalry in the global home appliance industry has prompted vendors to invest heavily in R&D and innovation to stay afloat in such a competitive market.

Customers are gradually increasing their expenditure on household appliances as their purchasing power and disposable income rise. Value sales in the worldwide household appliance market will be driven by increased demand for premium domestic appliances, product premiumization, and product line extension, as well as rising consumer expenditure on household appliances.

Market Trend:

Increased adoption of multi-functional and advanced products:

Another element driving the home appliance market share rise is the rising use of multi-functional and innovative products. Multi-functional products on the market can serve multiple household applications, resulting in excellent value for money. Customers believe that multi-functional products save them time and money. They also eliminate the requirement for multiple items for different applications.

Vendors are always innovating to stay competitive, maintain high customer attention, extend their customer base, and generate demand for their products to meet the growing demand for multi-functional household appliances. The worldwide home appliance market is seeing an increase in the number of multifunctional solutions, which is driving the acceptance of these devices.

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Household Appliance Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 4% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 89.50 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 21.36 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 53% Key consumer countries China, the US, Japan, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled AB Electrolux, Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., MIDEA GROUP, Panasonic Corp., Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Transform SR Brands LLC, and Whirlpool Corp. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

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
Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

CogniFit Ltd., Educational Testing Service, Edutech, Instructure Inc., MeritTrac Services Pvt Ltd., NIIT Ltd., Pearson Plc, Providence Equity Partners LLC, Scantron Corp., and Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd. among others are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

Various players in the market are engaging in strategic partnerships and joint ventures coupled with launching differentiated products to up their game in the K-12 testing and assessment industry. For instance, in July 2021, Educational Testing Service launched the 2021 JD-Next Program with the University of Arizona for the latest commitment to diversity in law school.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Product:

Curriculum-based testing:



Curriculum-based tests and assignments dominate the global K-12 testing and assessment industry. The pen-and-paper-based assessments have traditionally dominated the curriculum-based testing business. This underscores the fact that education technology solutions are not well known in emerging and developing nations. With the advent of technology, however, many teachers and educational institutions are opting for online and mixed assessment methods. As a result, they're forming partnerships with a variety of vendors who offer digital testing and assessment solutions for the K-12 market. As a result, vendors have a great possibility to profit from this market sector.

Segmentation by Method:

Blended Method :

:

In terms of distribution channels, the offline segment generated maximum revenue in the market in 2020.





Owing to the method's growing popularity and benefits, such as cost reduction, and its increased efficiency in the evaluation, many schools are opting for blended learning solutions.

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Regional Market Outlook

North America will contribute to 46% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region can be attributed to the increasing number of government initiatives to improve the quality of education and the overall development of students.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the US, China, UK, Germany, and Canada will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the K-12 Testing and Assessment Market

Market Driver:

Increasing use of analytics:

Many schools throughout the world are using assessment software that incorporates learning analytics. Because of technology advancements and the growing usage of Big Data in the educational industry, the notion of learning analytics is gaining popularity in the global K-12 testing and assessment market. Learning analytics and adaptive learning are included in the testing module, allowing schools to give a personalized learning experience. The learning analytics strategy focuses on obtaining usable data for use in classrooms to anticipate individual student growth and outcomes. Teachers and educators use the data collected to assess kids' learning needs.

Market Trend:

Increasing emphasis on formative learning tools:



Formative assessment is the process of evaluating pupils as they advance through their studies. Formative learning allows teachers to take on the role of facilitator rather than a teacher. This method of learning is utilized to identify learners' weak areas and provide feedback. This strategy also aids teachers in their efforts to improve their instruction. With the growing popularity of online learning and the adoption of digital content, many educators are investing in various formative assessment tools to better their teaching methods and provide students with experiential learning.

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K-12 Testing and Assessment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 10.19% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 8.24 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 9.75 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 46% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled CogniFit Ltd., Educational Testing Service, Edutech, Instructure Inc., MeritTrac Services Pvt Ltd., NIIT Ltd., Pearson Plc, Providence Equity Partners LLC, Scantron Corp., and Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

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
Vendor Landscape

The pharma e-commerce market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

apo-rot BV, Dirk Rossmann GmbH, Euro Apotheke K Talu eK, Mail.Ru Group Ltd., McKesson Corp., myCARE e.k, SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE NV, UK MEDS Direct Ltd., Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., Zur Rose Group AG, among others are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the pharma e-commerce market.

Various players in the pharma e-commerce market are engaging in strategic partnerships and joint ventures coupled with launching differentiated products to up their game in the retailing industry. For instance, apo-rot BV is a company that offers pharmaceutical products through an online portal.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Product:

Rx:



Rx is an abbreviation for "prescribes medications." During the projection period, the Rx pharma e-commerce industry in Europe will experience considerable expansion. The increased life expectancy of humans, which has increased the senior population, is one of the key causes for market expansion.

will experience considerable expansion. The increased life expectancy of humans, which has increased the senior population, is one of the key causes for market expansion.



In 2019, the geriatric population (those aged 65 and up) in the 28 EU countries accounted for over one-fifth of the total population. As a result, the number of people with chronic conditions is rising, as is the demand for prescription drugs. E-commerce is popular among the elderly since it allows them to order medications from the comfort of their own homes. Hence, the sales of Rx medicine through the online platform are expected to increase during the forecasted period.

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Regional Market Outlook

The rest of Europe will contribute to 45% of the market growth during the forecast period. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in Europe and the UK. The growth of this region can be attributed to the high awareness among consumers and the high penetration of vendors.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the China, US, Japan, Germany, and France will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Pharma E-commerce Market

Market Driver:

The availability of the internet providing convenience to consumers:

Consumers in Europe have access to a secure Internet service that allows them to place online orders for medicines. Consumers can order medicines through an online platform that allows them to quickly locate the pharmaceuticals they need and place orders from a single source.

Consumers can get information such as side effects, low-cost prescription replacements, medicine reminders, and drug interactions by using the online platform. Over 350 million people use the internet in Europe, and there are more than 7,000 licensed pharmaceutical e-commerce sites. Consumers can make better online purchases thanks to the large number of products offered.

Market Trend:

The growing acceptance in newly regulated European states:

Another aspect helping the pharma e-commerce market share rise in Europe is the growing acceptance in newly regulated European states. As people become more aware of the availability of pharmaceuticals through e-commerce platforms, newly regulated European countries like Austria, France, and Spain are entering the market. In the rural sector, pharmacists are in low supply.

Advanced drugs are only available in developed urban areas, and rural communities have limited access to quality healthcare. As a result, regions must leverage and utilize existing technology to provide sophisticated medical services, such as online prescription ordering, at an optimal level to meet the region's healthcare needs.

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Online Grocery Delivery Services Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

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Pharma E-commerce Market Scope in Europe Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 14% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 12.81 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 13.00 Regional analysis Europe Performing market contribution Rest of Europe at 45% Key consumer countries UK, Germany, and Rest of Europe Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled apo-rot BV, Dirk Rossmann GmbH, Euro Apotheke K Talu eK, Mail.Ru Group Ltd., McKesson Corp., myCARE e.k, SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE NV, UK MEDS Direct Ltd., Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., and Zur Rose Group AG Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

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 report also covers the following areas:

Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies such as omnichannel marketing to compete in the market.

8 Hours LLC, AISleep.com, Casper Sleep Inc., Comfy Quilts Ltd., Czech Feather and Down Co., H.I.G. Capital LLC, Headleveler, Hollander Sleep Products LLC, SpaceFoam.com, and Throwboy, among others, are some of the key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

Various players in the market are engaging in strategic partnerships and launching differentiated products to up their game in the furniture industry. For instance, in August 2020, Casper Sleep Inc. announced partnerships with four furniture and mattress retailers in North America, namely Sam's Club, Ashley HomeStore, Denver Mattress, and Mathis Brothers.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Application:

Cotton pillows :



The cotton pillows segment will have significant market share growth during the forecast period.





The rising adoption of cotton pillows, especially from the decorative pillows segment, is one of the major drivers of the market. Cotton pillows offer various health and functional benefits, which will also drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period.



Memory foam pillows



Down and feather pillows



Other pillows

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Regional Market Outlook

North America will contribute to 36% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region can be attributed to the increasing number of vendors and their diversified range of innovative product offerings.

If we look at the country-wise market growth, the US will be a key country in the regional market. Market growth in North America will be faster than the growth of the market in South America.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share

Latest Trends and Drivers in the Pillows Market

Market Driver:

Rising demand for cervical pillows:

Cervical pillows have pain-relieving properties and health benefits, which is increasing their popularity among consumers. These pillows are specially designed orthopedic pillows and help in relaxing muscles by maintaining the cervical curve. The demand for cervical pillows is high among people who have cervical injuries related to the head, neck, shoulder, and spine. The rising demand for cervical pillows has encouraged vendors to offer innovative products such as customizable cervical pillows.

Market Trend:

Increasing sales of pillows online:

The growing adoption of smartphones and the increasing internet penetration have boosted the sales of pillows through online channels. Online shopping has been made hassle-free, with the advent of technologically advanced gadgets and internet-enabled advanced transaction platforms. Consumers have the convenience to select products based on price, quality, and other factors. High discounts offered by various online retailers are further driving the popularity of online shopping. The growing awareness about the ease and convenience of online shopping will encourage vendors to distribute their products through online channels.

Find additional information about various other market drivers & trends mentioned in our FREE sample report .

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Pillows Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.96% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 11.58 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.44 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 8 Hours LLC, AISleep.com, Casper Sleep Inc., Comfy Quilts Ltd., Czech Feather and Down Co., FXI Inc., H.I.G. Capital LLC, Headleveler, Hollander Sleep Products LLC, Latexco NV, Leggett and Platt Inc., My Pillow Inc., Paradise Pillow Inc., Polyflex (India) Pvt. Ltd., Serta Simmons Bedding LLC, Sleepsia India Pvt Ltd, SpaceFoam.com, Standard Textile Co. Inc., The White Willow, and Throwboy Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Onvural succeeds Marty Willis, who is following through on her plan to retire after a career of more than three decades as an award-winning financial-services and marketing leader.

"Micky's passion for creating immersive, digitally savvy brands that reflect a deep understanding of and connection to customers make her a fantastic fit for TIAA and our mission," said Duckett. "Throughout her career she's also demonstrated an unwavering commitment to building strong cultures and supporting her colleagues to drive business success  traits that closely align with our values."

In her new role, Onvural will lead a global marketing and communications team charged with expanding knowledge of TIAA and its dedication to providing lifetime income and also seek to improve clients' experience through digital-first experiences, education and service.

"I'm excited to join a company that has been helping improve lives and peace of mind for more than 100 years and thrilled for the opportunity to add to that rich heritage by connecting TIAA with more retirement savers and employers," said Onvural. "I'm also honored to be working with a world-class team whose passion for positive change and commitment to collaboration match my own."

Over two decades Onvural has created stand-out brands and marketing strategies that drive growth.

She joined Bonobos in 2016 and served as CMO and Co-President prior to becoming CEO in 2018, when she helped redefine the company's brand, mission and vision. She also re-engineered the retailer's technology, product and data organization to become a revenue driver and created a unified customer-service team. Before Bonobos, Micky was Vice President of Consumer Marketing at online real estate marketplace Trulia, which became a household name during her tenure, and Head of Global Brand Development at eBay. She also held sales, marketing and brand roles at multinational food manufacturer Kellogg's and cosmetics giant L'Oreal.

Onvural holds a bachelor's degree in modern and medieval languages from the University of Cambridge. She is also a mentor with Student Sponsor Partners, a non-profit that provides private high school education opportunities to at-risk students in New York City, where she resides with her family.

About TIAA

TIAA is a leading provider of secure retirements and outcome-focused investment solutions to millions of people and thousands of institutions. It is the #1 not-for-profit retirement market provider1, paid more than $3.6 billion to retired clients in 2020 and has $1.3 trillion in assets under management (as of 9/30/20212).

 2022 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund, 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

1 As of Dec. 31, 2020. Based on data in PLANSPONSOR's 403(b) Market Survey, which published in August 2021.

2 Based on approximately $1.3 trillion of assets under management across Nuveen affiliates and TIAA investment management teams as of 9/30/2021.

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SOURCE TIAA
"Kamran brings an excellent blend of incident response, compliance, and litigation expertise to our national cybersecurity team," said John West, chair of the firm's Business Litigation department. "His litigation background enables him to provide sophisticated guidance around data privacy and cybersecurity to help clients avoid litigation pitfalls."

"We are excited to welcome Kamran to the firm and our growing team in Orange County," added Peter Villar, managing partner of Troutman Pepper's Orange County office, which has been recognized year after year as a "Best Place to Work" by the Orange County Business Journal. "Kamran is a great addition for our clients who will benefit from his proactive approach to data security and years of experience."

Salour dedicates his practice to helping clients respond to all types of data security incidents, including those involving unauthorized network intrusions, inadvertent disclosures, and ransomware. His experience as a litigator allows him to counsel clients in a way that not only minimizes disruptions in their businesses but reduces the likelihood and consequences of litigation and regulatory investigations.

"I am excited to join Troutman Pepper's sophisticated Cybersecurity, Information Governance, and Privacy team and to build upon its national incident response offerings for clients," Salour said. "Many times, clients come to me amid a crisis, and it is usually their first time experiencing an incident, so they have many questions, such as how to respond to an incident, who to tell, what to say about it, and when. In my role as incident response counsel, I therefore strive to understand my clients' individual situations and provide them with practical advice to guide them successfully through the incident."

Salour earned his JD with honors from Emory University School of Law and his bachelor's degree from University of California, Los Angeles.

Troutman Pepper's Cybersecurity, Information Governance, and Privacy team applies a deep understanding of technology, the law, and its practical implications to help clients protect and manage the privacy and security of their data. Attorneys assist clients in the full range of cybersecurity, information governance, and privacy matters, from the creation of data privacy and cybersecurity policies through major investigations and litigation.

About Troutman Pepper

Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm's litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients' most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including construction, energy, finance, health sciences, insurance, private equity, real estate, and technology, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.

SOURCE Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
Connected branded products will be available later this year exclusively at Trulieve's 111 Florida dispensaries. Trulieve already partners with Connected in Arizona.

"Trulieve is excited about expanding our partnership with Connected as we continue seeking ways to benefit our patients," said Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve. "Connected maintains a portfolio of proprietary top-shelf strains that our customers and patients desire in other markets and we anticipate a similar response in Florida."

Connected has been building a proprietary genetics portfolio of premium strains and meticulously cultivating cannabis at scale since 2009. With more than a decade of industry experience, they are known as a leading brand in the cannabis space and a pioneer in the industry.

"We're proud to expand our successful partnership with Trulieve to bring our award-winning Connected and Alien Labs products to the East Coast," said Caleb Counts, co-founder of Connected.

Sam Ghods, CEO of Connected, added, "We value their leadership as the top operator in the state and share their commitment to providing customers with the best products possible."

As Florida's first, largest and leading medical cannabis provider, Trulieve offers Florida's largest selection of THC and CBD products in a variety of delivery methods, including edibles, smokable flower, concentrates, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup.

For more information, please visit www.connectedcannabisco.com and www.Trulieve.com.

About Connected Cannabis Co.

Connected Cannabis Co. has been breeding, growing and selling the best cannabis in the world since 2009 through its Connected and Alien Labs brands. Co-founded by Caleb Counts, a master grower, with the mission of providing high-quality products paired with excellent customer service, the company has created a cult-like following and some of the most celebrated strains on the market. Today, Connected operates multiple state-of-the-art grow facilities in both California and Arizona.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S. operating in 11 states, with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.

Facebook: @Trulieve

Instagram: @Trulieve

Twitter: @Trulieve

Investor Contact

Christine Hersey, Director of Investor Relations

+1 (424) 202-0210

[email protected]

Media Contact

Rob Kremer, Executive Director of Corporate Communications

+1 (404) 218-3077

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SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.
Medical workers deliver medicine for the elderly in quarantine at a community under close-off management where a locally transmitted COVID-19 case was found in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2022. Beijing reported two confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and one other person testing positive for COVID-19 from Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities. The two confirmed cases were found in the Haidian District, while the person testing positive for COVID-19 was detected in Chaoyang District, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal center for disease control and prevention. The community where the newly-comfirmed case lives is under close-off management. Many frontline workers and volunteers have been devoted to ensuring sufficient food and medicine supplies for residents in the community. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Beijing reported two confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and one other person testing positive for COVID-19 from Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities.

The two confirmed cases were found in the Haidian District, while the person testing positive for COVID-19 was detected in Chaoyang District, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal center for disease control and prevention.

The new confirmed cases are close contacts of a previous case reported on Jan. 15.

The person testing positive was found Tuesday morning and the result was verified by the municipal center for disease prevention and control in the afternoon. The sample collected showed evidence of the Delta variant.

Beijing has conducted epidemiological investigations and traced close contacts of the cases. 

Staff members deliver daily necessities ordered by residents in quarantine at a community under close-off management where a locally transmitted COVID-19 case was found in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2022. Beijing reported two confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and one other person testing positive for COVID-19 from Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities. The two confirmed cases were found in the Haidian District, while the person testing positive for COVID-19 was detected in Chaoyang District, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal center for disease control and prevention. The community where the newly-comfirmed case lives is under close-off management. Many frontline workers and volunteers have been devoted to ensuring sufficient food and medicine supplies for residents in the community. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A staff member delivers daily necessities ordered by residents in quarantine at a community under close-off management where a locally transmitted COVID-19 case was found in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2022. Beijing reported two confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and one other person testing positive for COVID-19 from Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities. The two confirmed cases were found in the Haidian District, while the person testing positive for COVID-19 was detected in Chaoyang District, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal center for disease control and prevention. The community where the newly-comfirmed case lives is under close-off management. Many frontline workers and volunteers have been devoted to ensuring sufficient food and medicine supplies for residents in the community. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2022 shows a community under close-off management where a locally transmitted COVID-19 case was found in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China. Beijing reported two confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and one other person testing positive for COVID-19 from Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities. The two confirmed cases were found in the Haidian District, while the person testing positive for COVID-19 was detected in Chaoyang District, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal center for disease control and prevention. The community where the newly-comfirmed case lives is under close-off management. Many frontline workers and volunteers have been devoted to ensuring sufficient food and medicine supplies for residents in the community. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A staff member disinfects parcels at a community under close-off management where a locally transmitted COVID-19 case was found in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2022. Beijing reported two confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and one other person testing positive for COVID-19 from Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities. The two confirmed cases were found in the Haidian District, while the person testing positive for COVID-19 was detected in Chaoyang District, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal center for disease control and prevention. The community where the newly-comfirmed case lives is under close-off management. Many frontline workers and volunteers have been devoted to ensuring sufficient food and medicine supplies for residents in the community. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
2021 started strong with growth in the first four months, including the strongest YOY growth for the months of February, March and April on record. May and June saw flat activity, followed by a decline in July. August through November experienced growth or flat activity, while December ended the year at a decline. Note, YOY declines in July and December can be attributed to record breaking high activity during those months in 2020.

Activity for all ages showed annual YOY growth for 2021, with the most growth coming from the 31-50 and 71+ age bands. Full year activity for ages 0-30 was up +2.2%, ages 31-50 up +4.5%, ages 51-60 up +3.1%, ages 61-70 up +2.3% and for ages 71+ up by +4.1%. This growth pattern is in contrast to 2020 where age 31-50 lead in YOY growth, but the 71+ age group experienced declines. Throughout the year we saw several shifts in trends by age band. However, as of April the 71+ age band began to outpace the younger set and, with the exception of September, showed the highest YOY gain across all age bands for the remainder of the year.

Growth in 2021 was driven by increases in activity across face amounts up to and including $250K and over $500K. In a continuing trend that started last year, we saw the most growth in larger face amounts. When examining age bands, annual YOY activity for ages 0-30 showed growth for face amounts up to and including $5M, in the double digits for policies over $1M up to and including $2.5M. Ages 31-50 saw annual YOY growth for amounts up to and including $250K and over $500K, in the double digits for policies over $5M. Ages 51-60 saw annual YOY growth for all amounts, in the double digits for amounts over $5M. Age 61-70 saw annual YOY growth for face amounts up to and including $250K and over $1M, in the double digits for amounts over $2.5M. Ages 71+ saw annual YOY growth for amounts up to and including $250K and over $500K up to and including $5M, in the double digits for amounts over $2.5M up to and including $5M, but double-digit declining activity for face amounts over $5M.

When examining product types, 2021 saw annual YOY growth in Universal and Whole Life of +3.0% and +8.3% respectively. Term Life annual YOY application activity was relatively flat at -0.1%. Growth patterns were consistent across age groups with growth percentages highest for Whole Life, followed by Universal Life and flat or declining for Term Life.

We also examined activity by gender and observed that annual YOY growth in application activity for males slightly outpaced that for females. When looking at trends in face amounts by gender, we saw a significant difference in activity for females vs males for policies over $1M. Females saw YOY growth in the double digits for all face amounts over $1M, with growth for amounts over $5M in excess of +35%. Males in contrast saw flat activity for policies over $5M and single digit growth for policies over $1M up to and including $5M.

For more detailed insights, read the full 2021 MIB Life Index Annual Report, available on www.mibgroup.com.

Monthly Percent Change Composite Index (year over year) Dec-21 -5.9% Nov-21 2.9% Oct-21 -1.5% Sep-21 3.7% Aug-21 5.5% July-21 -5.8% June-21 0.5% May-21 1.9% April-21 10.7% March-21 18.5% Feb-21 7.3% Jan-21 3.9%



YTD-2021 3.4% YTD-2020 3.9%



Q4-2021 -1.5% Q3-2021 1.0% Q2-2021 4.3% Q1-2021 10.1%

Monthly % Change

Age Groups (year over year)

0-30 31-50 51-60 61-70 71+ Dec-21 -4.6% -5.5% -7.6% -9.2% -0.4% Nov-21 2.5% 3.2% 1.7% 0.8% 12.0% Oct-21 -1.6% -0.5% -3.2% -5.1% 4.8% Sep-21 1.0% 7.5% 1.8% -1.8% 6.3% Aug-21 0.6% 8.5% 6.0% 3.0% 9.0% July-21 -8.5% -5.1% -4.8% -5.2% -3.3% June-21 -3.3% 1.1% 0.8% 3.6% 4.3% May-21 -1.3% 2.6% 1.9% 4.1% 5.2% April-21 15.4% 6.1% 10.4% 15.0% 20.4% March-21 18.5% 17.8% 20.4% 20.6% 13.2% Feb-21 5.1% 11.0% 8.4% 4.3% -6.2% Jan-21 3.7% 8.5% 2.9% -1.8% -10.9%











YTD 2021 2.2% 4.5% 3.1% 2.3% 4.1%

US Monthly Percent Change vs Prior Month December -11.7%

Methodology Change for 2021:

MIB has changed the way we report trends in application activity. Effective with our January report, variations with industry activity reflect a straight period over period percent changes (YTD, YOY, MOM, and QOQ) based on calendar days vs. the prior methodology based on a 2011 baseline index on a business day calculation.

About the MIB Life Index

The MIB Life Index is the life insurance industry's timeliest measure of application activity in the United States. Released each month, the report is based on the number of searches MIB member company life underwriters perform on the MIB Checking ServiceSM database. Since over 95% of life insurance applications in North America include an MIB search, as a routine underwriting requirement, the MIB Life Index provides a reasonable means to estimate new business activity. For past releases, methodology or to subscribe visit www.mibgroup.com.

About MIB

MIB Group Holdings, Inc. is the insurance industry's most trusted and secure partner for data, insights and digital solutions that support underwriting and actuarial decision making and improve industry efficiencies. With deep connections to the life insurance companies who are its members, and a sole focus on improving the insurance industry, MIB is uniquely positioned to provide data-driven solutions that address common industry challenges and enable clients to gain efficiencies, manage their risks, and grow profitably. MIB Group Holdings, Inc. provides services through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, MIB, LLC, MIB Services, LLC and MIB Solutions, LLC. For more information, visit www.mibgroup.com

Media Inquiries:

Betty-Jean Lane

MIB Group, Inc.

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SOURCE MIB Group Holdings, Inc.
The luxury perfume market is driven by the increase in demand from the millennial population. The millennial population is extremely brand conscious and they tend to spend more on products with better quality. Also, the population segment is more tech-savvy and is likely to purchase specific grooming items such as perfumes online based on brand loyalty. Also, the higher disposable incomes are enabling the millennials to spend more on aspirational items like expensive fragrances. This is encouraging vendors to introduce a variety of luxury perfumes and increase sales. All these factors are driving the growth of the global luxury perfume market.

In addition, replenishing personal grooming and influential endorsements from celebrities and social media will further accelerate the growth of the global luxury perfume market.

Some of key Luxury Perfume Players:

Amorepacific Group Inc.: The company offers luxury perfumes through its brands like Fradore, Mamonde, and more.

Burberry Group Plc: The company offers a wide range of luxury perfumes with the finest craftsmanship and design.

Clive Christian Perfume Ltd.: The company offers a wide range of luxury perfumes such as X Feminine, Matsukita, and others.

Coty Inc.: The company offers luxury perfumes under the brand name Tiffany and Co.

L and L LUXURY CO. LTD.: The company offers a wide range of luxury perfumes through its royal collection.

Luxury Perfume Market End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020-2025)

Women - size and forecast 2020-2025

Men - size and forecast 2020-2025

Unisex - size and forecast 2020-2025

Luxury Perfume Market Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020-2025)

Offline - size and forecast 2020-2025

Online - size and forecast 2020-2025

Luxury Perfume Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD Bn, 2020-2025)

Europe - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - size and forecast 2020-2025

- size and forecast 2020-2025 APAC - size and forecast 2020-2025

MEA - size and forecast 2020-2025

South America - size and forecast 2020-2025

By end-user, the market witnessed maximum demand from the women segment. Similarly, in terms of distribution channels, the offline segment accounted for maximum sales of luxury perfume.

By geography, Europe is identified as the largest market for the luxury market. The region accounts for 37% of the global market share. Factors such as high living standards, the increased introduction of innovative products, the strong brand value of the products offered in the market, growing urbanization, and rising household expenditure are driving the growth of the luxury perfume market in Europe.

Download a Free Sample for additional highlights on major-performing segments and regions in the market.

Related Reports:

Perfume Market in the US by End-user and Distribution Channel - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Perfume Market in India by Distribution Channel and Type - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Luxury Perfume Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.09% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 4.20 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.95 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 37% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Amorepacific Group Inc., Burberry Group Plc, Clive Christian Perfume Ltd., Coty Inc., L and L LUXURY CO. LTD., LOreal SA, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, PVH Corp., Shiseido Co. Ltd., and The Estee Lauder Co. Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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.

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SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueBlue , a leading and innovative provider of SaaS solutions in the digital transformation market, today announced it has secured $11 million in Series B funding, led by Octopus Ventures and Newion. The funds will support ValueBlue's US, UK, and EMEA expansion, hiring top talent, and further developing the existing software platform supporting enterprise architecture (EA) use cases. ABN AMRO also participated in the round by providing additional growth funding.

The funds will support ValueBlue's US, UK, and EMEA expansion, hiring top talent, and further developing the existing software platform supporting enterprise architecture (EA) use cases "We're beyond thrilled with the closing of our successful Series B round and the deep relationships we've forged with our investors," said Wilko Visser, CEO at ValueBlue

With authority and proven success in the field of EA, ValueBlue has not only earned a renewed commitment from previous investment partner Newion, but has also attracted UK-based Octopus Ventures, one of Europe's largest and most active venture capital firms.

Paul Davidson at Octopus Ventures commented: "Organisations now recognize the benefits of more closely aligning business strategy with IT strategy as a key enabler of driving commercial value. Digital transformation is one activity borne out of this understanding. The pandemic has further exacerbated this perspective and we don't see that changing. ValueBlue's ability to coordinate the complexities of digital architecture and collaboration across departments has never been more important as business leaders look for a solution to manage and refresh outdated infrastructure and technology stacks."

ValueBlue's collaborative EA platform provides unprecedented business insights that are crucial for planning and structuring as enterprises go digital. The cloud-native platform unlocks impactful and effective collaboration across all departments, not just CIOs and enterprise architects so that teams can stay aligned throughout the entire transformation process at every step.

"We're beyond thrilled with the closing of our successful Series B round and the deep relationships we've forged with our investors," said Wilko Visser, CEO at ValueBlue. "The new investment signifies that we're on the right track and it will also strengthen our dedication to our customers. Businesses already face a multitude of challenges and agile transformation can be a daunting feat, but ValueBlue is here to simplify enterprise architecture and make the transition to digital feel exciting and seamless."

ValueBlue has been addressing the growing need for agile business transformation since 2011 and the latest capital injection comes at a critical time. In a recent 2021 executive study from Deloitte , digitally mature companies perform better than their less digital counterparts: they are about twice as likely to generate net profit margins and annual revenue growth significantly above their industry average. With the coronavirus pandemic expediting the urgency for businesses to shift to the digital economy, it's now more important than ever for companies to implement digital transformation strategies in order to survive and flourish.

"With this Series B round together with Octopus Ventures, we have a solid foundation to further accelerate ValueBlue's growth to market leadership for the next years", said Patrick Polak, Managing Partner of Newion and Board Member of ValueBlue.

The company is currently hiring sales executives and a number of other roles based in the New York office. Job listings can be found at careers.valueblue.com .

To learn more about ValueBlue and its SaaS platform, visit https://www.valueblue.com .

About ValueBlue

ValueBlue is the leading company behind the Enterprise SaaS tool that helps CIOs and Enterprise Architects plan, collaborate, and manage business transformation.

The collaboration platform speeds up Agile Business Transformation for CIOs and Enterprise Architects across the globe. With BlueDolphin, 165+ customers like AS Watson, Randstad, and Wyndham Hotel Group plan and manage transformation based on data insights and business impact with offices in EMEA, the USA, and APAC. For more information, please visit: https://valueblue.com/

About Octopus Ventures

Octopus Ventures, part of the Octopus Group, is built to specialize in the four areas we believe will change the world for the better: health, money, deep tech, and consumer. The portfolio companies backed by Octopus Ventures have gone on to join forces with the world's largest businesses including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Twitter. Octopus Ventures is one of the largest and most active venture investors in Europe and is based in London and New York with a network that spans from San Francisco to China. For more information, please visit: https://octopusventures.com/

About Newion

Newion is a leading Amsterdam-based Venture Capital Firm, focused on earlystage European B2B SaaS companies with global ambitions. The company has invested in 70+ companies among which Collibra, Reasult, Nallian, Foleon, CustomerGauge, L1nda, Swipeguide, Deliverect, Passendo, MediaTool, Filestage Apicbase, Salonkee, and Objective Platform. Newion III is supported by InnovFin Equity, with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), set up under the Investment Plan for Europe. The purpose of EFSI is to support financing and implementing productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to finance. Please visit www.newion.com for more information.



Media Contact

Amy Flores

Firecracker PR

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(888) 317-4687, ext. 706

SOURCE ValueBlue
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ABSTRACT-



Global Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Market to Reach US$4.7 Billion by the Year 2026

An Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is used to provide ground power, air to start the engines, hydraulics, and air conditioning when an aircraft remains on the ground. APUs are autonomous gas turbines that use centrifugal compressors to generate power. Jet fuel expenditure and maintenance costs are reduced as these secondary engines are used instead of main engines while waiting for passengers to board. This saves expensive jet fuel and reduces emissions. Growth in the global market is attributed to increasing air travel coupled with adoption of electric aircrafts and improvements in fuel economy. Enhancing capabilities of silent enemy monitoring and reducing operating costs for airlines are also playing significant roles to contribute to adoption of the APU systems across defense and aerospace industries. While austerity measures might lead to defense budget cuts in Europe and the US for a while, resulting in relatively slower growth of APUs in these regions' defense industries, there are indications of impressive growth of the APU market in terms of aviation in Europe and the US due to expected increase in the delivery of rotary copters and aircrafts. Emerging countries such as China, India, Japan, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia represent potential future markets for the APU systems. Rapidly improving industry infrastructure, enhanced product commercialization, and increasing demands are expected to make the aerospace and military auxiliary power unit industry's foothold more impactful and contribute significantly to international revenue generation.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) estimated at US$3.8 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$4.7 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% over the analysis period. Commercial Aircraft, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 3.3% CAGR to reach US$3.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Military Aircraft segment is readjusted to a revised 4.1% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 12.6% share of the global Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) market. Commercial aircraft APUs are anticipated to witness robust demand as a result of increasing air travel, proliferation of flight density, consumer affordability. The demand for military APUs is likely to be also propelled by rising defense budgets and increasing use of these units among aircrafts. The market is expected to also benefit from increasing installation of APUs that reduce operation cost, mechanic training and inventory requirement along with their adoption in applications ranging from 50 to 1700 equivalent shaft horsepower (SHP).

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.4 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $398.2 Million by 2026

The Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.4 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 36.2% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$398.2 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 4.7% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 2.5% and 3.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$474.8 Million by the end of the analysis period. Growth in North America region is attributed to the well-established airline network and surging numbers of air passengers. Industry growth is mainly driven by escalating demand for military aircraft used for stealth operations. Market dominance of this region is attributed to the presence of large aircraft manufacturers such as the US-based Boeing Company and the Bombardier Inc. in Canada. Industry growth in Asia Pacific is driven by growing population as well as high profitability achieved by the aviation industry of the region. Further, favorable government policies in the countries of the region are expected to encourage investment in both civil and military aviation sectors would further enhance the market share of aerospace APU.

Military Land Vehicle Segment to Reach $477.2 Million by 2026

Ongoing concrete efforts to modernize the military ground forces by countries around the world potentially enhance the demand for military land vehicles. Several countries around the world are undertaking measures to modernize their armed forces particularly to adapt to the transition towards digital battlefield. The modernization efforts are leading to adoption of information, intelligence, and communication systems through the entire battlefield. In the global Military Land Vehicle segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 3% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$334.4 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$431 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$29.8 Million by the year 2026. More

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At this year's NRF event, Veea's TROLLEE smart shopping cart experience with AdEdge advertising solution will be highlighted at the Qualcomm Technologies retail booth experience at NRF. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. is bringing to life the future of retail by showcasing next-generation shopping experiences with the latest ecosystem design wins. Qualcomm Technologies will host 12 digitized retail demonstrations, highlighting over 16 global ecosystem partners.

Veea, in collaboration with iFREE Group, created the Smart Retail application, TROLLEE smart shopping cart. TROLLEE smart shopping cart, as supported on Veea's VeeaHub platform, is one of the several smart vertical solutions coming to market resulting from this collaboration.

The TROLLEE smart shopping cart experience, enabled by Qualcomm APQ8053 and Qualcomm IPQ7153 IoT solutions, is a highly advanced smart shopping cart platform, developed by iFREE Group, that offers one of the most advanced smart retail solutions, leveraging hybrid edge-cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), indoor positioning systems, contextual digital advertising and other technologies powered by Veea's VeeaHub platform that will revolutionize big box and supermarket retail by bridging the online-to-offline (O2O) customer journey and experiences. TROLLEE represents another example of Smart City applications that further benefits from VeeaHub platform's AdEdge advertising solution. The AdEdge application that runs on VeeaHub's Linux server delivers the content to TROLLEE's display.

Veea's AdEdge is a full-featured end-to-end advertising platform offering both cloud-based and local management of the in-store advertisements.

Its contextual digital advertising solution is a highly sophisticated advertising platform that intelligently and proximally micro-targets shoppers, or visitors at any venue, in the real world with interactive and immersive advertising from a global network of advertisers. It processes real-time data from multiple sources to provide holistic insights and deeper intelligence about ad performance, viewer attentiveness, demographics and shoppers' preferences. Retailers can for the first time set a full range of advertising campaign goals and constraints that are delivered locally through VeeaHub platform's Content Delivery Network (CDN) with the ability to cache the ad content for targeted, personalized advertising supported by its highly accurate indoor positioning solution.

VeeaHub powers the TROLLEE platform for delivery of ads and promotions in real-time, linked to location beacons in-store, so retailers and brands can engage customers at the perfect moment to influence their buying decisions. It leverages its on-board AI and activity monitoring data collection software to carry out simple automated decisions that enhance customers' overall retail experience and satisfaction, thus improving customer loyalty and profitability. The solution is ideal for supermarkets and "big box" retailers.

The platform may optionally be integrated with the retailer's loyalty program and/or POS to tie together all the above with customer purchase history to deliver the most satisfying shopping experience while substantially increasing the value of the in-store advertising by reporting the ad conversions. TROLLEE trials now underway in Southeast Asia, China, and Japan are garnering positive feedback from major retailers. One of the region's largest supermarket chains has been collaborating closely in the development of TROLLEE.

VeeaHub is a groundbreaking Smart Computing Hub product platform, with a unique software architecture and a comprehensive range of wired and wireless connectivity, supported by extensive cloud-based network management, monitoring and maintenance services. VeeaHub software platform's powerful Linux server runs user applications in complete isolation in secure Docker containers and supports multiple applications concurrently on one or several VeeaHub units across the mesh network installed at the retail location in a manner similar to the way last generation of Wi-Fi Access Points are installed.

VeeaHub's highly integrated platform provides enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6, IoT and cellular connectivity solutions, including 4G and 5G SD-WAN services, as either a primary or a failover WAN connection, with a Cloud-based full security stack for TROLLEE and other applications within the store. It incorporates IoT connectivity including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Classic, Zigbee and LoRaWAN. VeeaHub nodes installed on the local network instantaneously create a self-organizing Connectivity Mesh, called vMesh, that simultaneously provides for a Computing Mesh, a microservice-based Service Mesh, an Application Mesh and an Edge Intelligence Mesh that also supports a highly accurate indoor positioning solution.

Retailers can optionally implement other VeeaHub AdEdge-supported solutions such as smart digital signage, Augmented Reality (AR) throughout the store further supported by an SDK for the retailer's smartphone or smart glasses, smart unattended "store within the store", and several others alongside TROLLEE or just independently. TROLLEE and VeeaHub platform's combined AdEdge digital advertising solution rewrite the rules of digital marketing. Retailers will benefit from increased sales and a new source of highly-coveted advertising revenue. The companies are now making the solution available for Proof-of-Concept trials with major retailers globally.

Advertising content, special offers and/or coupons for products in the store are cached on VeeaHub units and are delivered instantaneously when a shopper is in proximity of the advertised products for unparalleled shopping experiences. Real-time downloading of this content from the Cloud wouldn't result in satisfactory user experiences due to latency and lack of tight integration with indoor positioning systems.

Shoppers can find what they need more efficiently while checkout is streamlined, reducing staffing requirements. Based on shoppers' journeys through the store, retailer's planograms can be highly optimized for most shoppers through machine learning and AI. Customers will use this virtual, personal shopping device as a concierge to seek recommendations, discounts, and product reviews to make their in-store experiences unique, memorable, immersive, fun, and, most importantly - easy.

"Retailers win when they consistently deliver exciting experiences to customers, while driving sales of products in their physical stores, supporting brands in disruptive new ways," said Allen Salmasi, Founder and CEO, Veea, Inc. "We are delighted to be part of Qualcomm Technologies retail technology ecosystem and to demonstrate our Trollee smart shopping cart and AdEdge solutions at the NRF event. After launching these collaborative retail innovations at last year's Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerate event, together and other retail ecosystem members we are rolling out extraordinary shopping at the intelligent edge with entertaining, engaging digital services that make the shopper's journey better, while generating valuable data and insights to retailers and brands."

An introductory video of the TROLLEE Smart Retail Solution is available here.

TROLLEE demonstrations will be provided in the Qualcomm Technologies exhibition space at Booth 1411 today, Sunday, January 16, Monday, January 17, and Tuesday, January 18.

Learn more about the NRF 2022 event here .

Download the TROLLEE brochure here

Learn more about Qualcomm Technologies and the ecosystem and solutions driving retail devices that make up the connected intelligent edge here .

Veea solutions are available directly from Veea and the Microsoft Azure Certified for IoT marketplace.

About Veea

Veea is redefining and simplifying secure edge computing that improves application responsiveness, reduces bandwidth costs, and eliminates central cloud dependency. VeeaHub Smart Computing Hubs integrate a full range of connectivity options, application processing power, and a full security stack to form an elastic edge computing platform with a dynamic connectivity and application mesh that can easily be deployed and centrally managed from the cloud. Veea Edge Services run across this application mesh to deliver secure remote access, IoT/IIoT/AIoT, and a wide range of smart applications. These elements along with a range groundbreaking vertical-specific applications comprise the Veea Edge Platform, serving the needs of organizations across Smart Buildings, Smart Energy, Smart Cities, Smart Construction, Smart Farming, Smart Retail, and other industry verticals. Veea's Virtual Trusted Private Networking (vTPN) solution, based on a unique and highly secure VPN technology and cloud-managed full stack security services, makes it simple and affordable to securely connect for most smart vertical market applications including the remote and work-from-home workforce and branch offices. Veea was formed in 2014 and is headquartered in New York, NY, with its development activities primarily located in its engineering offices in Bath, UK, and Iselin, New Jersey, USA, along with sales and support offices located at multiple locations throughout the US, France, South Korea, and Brazil. Veea was named by Gartner as a 2021 Cool Vendor in Edge Computing. For more information, visit veea.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About iFree Group

iFREE GROUP is a global, diversified smart technologies company with a mission to improve the future of humanity by delivering cutting-edge IoT & connectivity solutions, ground-breaking product innovations, revolutionary experiences and technology enhanced services. iFREE GROUP's business units encompass Travelution, Investment Banking, Property Development, Product Research & Development, Intelligent Education, Connected Homes, Augmented Theme Parks, Smart City Solutions, Smart Security Management, Smart Social & Community Enhancement, and Oncology and Cancer Research & Development. With worldwide operations in 34 countries, 24 regional offices and 6 dedicated in-house R&D teams located in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, United Kingdom, and the United States, iFREE GROUP's vision is to build a connected future for a smarter and better world.

Related Links

www.veea.com

Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

Qualcomm APQ8053 and Qualcomm IPQ7153 are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

SOURCE Veea Inc.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films announces the limited theatrical and VOD release of the Adah Obekpa's The American King on January 28, 2022. A day and date limited theatrical run begins at The Sun Valley 14 in Charlotte, NC, The Laemmle in Glendale, CA, Studio Movie Grill in Philadelphia, and Emagine Theaters Chatham and Riviera 12 in Chicago and Detroit, respectively. The DVD release follows on March 1.

The American King Trailer: https://youtu.be/QXwAL-OrRhM

The American King Film Starring AKON

Shot on location in Los Angeles and Nigeria, The American King is a fish-out-of-water comedy that features Senegalese-American mega talent, rap artist, and producer Akon as a troublemaking American anointed by a mysterious High Priestess to fulfill a 400-year-old prophecy to become the new King of Africa. While he and his foolishly sophomoric buddies find themselves trying to adapt to the realities of being royalty, the US Government, including the President, takes a keen interest in exploiting the situation for their own benefit. Amidst the hijinks and lessons learned about the responsibilities that comes with being a leader, the story reveals its roots from the history and lessons of the 1619 Project. Racial and gender stereotypes, American politics, and more are addressed, lampooned, and satirized with no holds barred, and with the beauty and diversity of Africa as a backdrop. The story is loosely based on the firsthand experience of writer and director Obekpa, a prince and former heir to his father's throne when King of the Idoma nation, Benue State, Nigeria.

The film also stars Andrew Howard (Limitless), Nick Moran (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Massi Furlan (Jumanji: The Next Level), Eyninna Nwigwe (Black November), Nse Ikpe-Etim (Fifty), Nathin Butler (Westworld), Miguel Nunez Jr. (Juwanna Mann, Tour of Duty). Producers are Joan McCarthy and Adah Obekpa.

Lise Romanoff, CEO and Managing Director of Vision Films says, "The American King is a cross between Coming to America and Black Panther, and while this movie is delivered with comedy it depicts a very powerful commentary about the divisiveness and double standards in today's society. We know audiences will have a good laugh and enjoy the very talented cast."

About Vision Films

Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. visionfilms.net

Media Contact:

Andrea McKinnon

(818) 415-9442

[email protected]

SOURCE Vision Films, Inc.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to research report published by Astute Analytica, the global wastewater treatment market is expected to reach US$ 462.49 Billion by 2030 from USD 250.38 Billion in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.41% during forecast period.

As increased environmental initiatives by government bodies for low waste generation attributes to the growth of global wastewater treatment market. Nations across the globe have enforced strict norms for illegal discharge of against wastewater and stricter norms to prevent naturally polluting water bodies. As per the US EPA (United States Environmental Agency), no discharge zone and clean water act were created to measure and control untreated sewage discharge. In China, Water Pollution prevention and Control law (WPPCL). Also, Action Plan by MEP (Ministry of Environment Protection) for prevention of water pollution with Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard. These initiatives emphasis on water quality and public health drives demand for regulating untreated wastewater.

Request a Sample Report of Wastewater Treatment Market: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/wastewater-treatment-market

Irrespective of several growth factors, wastewater treatment market faces challenges such as high installation, equipment and operations costs and aging infrastructure in developed countries. As per the recent report of UN-INWEH (United Nation-Institute for Water, Environment and Health), China has the largest water storage Infrastructure (around 23,841 dams that makes 40% of world's total) and around 55% of world's total are found in around just four Asian countries - China, Japan, India, and Republic of Korea majority of which will reach 50 years threshold soon. This reflects a blend towards ageing Infrastructure system that prose direct risk to stability of various systems

Global Wastewater Treatment Market by Offerings

Due to rising urbanization, there has been a corresponding increase in the demand for consumption of water, as one of life's most necessities. Technologies account for more over half of the market share in the offering segment of the wastewater treatment market in the year 2021, while services and treatment chemicals together account for ~35% of share. Innovation in wastewater treatment technologies such as membrane filtration systems, automatic variable filtration (AVF), advanced oxidation processes (AOP), and UV irradiation have been designed, evaluated, and implemented to satisfy both current and future treatment needs. However, services segment is projected to expand at a faster growth rate of 8.3% when compared to technologies and chemicals.

Global Wastewater Treatment Market by Region

Geographically, North America holds the highest share in global wastewater treatment market in 2021, by 38.50%. As the region has developed industrial sector and the market is growing more due to adoption of stringent regulations towards environment. Furthermore, the APAC region includes around 61% of the world's population and the region's manufacturing and processing industries are quickly expanding. In addition, the region has the largest wastewater treatment market, with China being the key market with tremendous growth potential. Thus, Asia Pacific is predicted to be the fastest-growing region by 8.62% in wastewater treatment market throughout the forecast period.

Impact of Covid  19 on Global Wastewater Treatment Market

The breakout of COVID-19 has enhanced the necessity of operational reliability. Many significant water users have scaled back or decreased their operations, resulting in lower industrial demand. Water utilities are projected to lose a considerable amount of money due to a drop in demand from large industrial and commercial customers because of lockdowns and travel restrictions. According to a survey conducted by the Global Water Leaders Group, COVID-19 will reduce industrial water usage by an average of 27%.

However, numerous Government bodies and non-profit organizations are taking initiatives to develop awareness regarding hygiene during the pandemic.

Request Customized Copy of Report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-customization/wastewater-treatment-market

Key Players in Global Wastewater Treatment Market

As the huge investment is involved to start a new wastewater treatment system, threat of new key players is low in the market. Various business strategies and product differentiation are used by many large players. The players are also gaining scale to compete more effectively and partnering with competitors to expand the market size. For instance:

In 2020, SUEZ announced that it signed an agreement to purchase the Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane portfolio from a specialty chemical company, LANXESS. The technology will increase its ability to help customers address water treatment challenges. This will ensure wastewater treatment to become more efficiently.

In 2019, VA TECH WABAG LIMITED signed agreement with governments across Asian countries to build sustainable wastewater infrastructure.

As per the analysis, global wastewater treatment market is observed to be oligopolistic and is projected to stay in the same concentration area for the long term. Major 15 to 18 in the market hold around 81.86% market share. Rest is captured by other local players. Major companies such as BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, 3M Corp, DuPont de Nemours Inc. hold a cumulative ratio of 62.71%.

Global Wastewater Treatment Segmental Overview

Based on application segment, municipal holds the highest market share in the wastewater treatment market of around 62% and expected to witness a growth rate of 7.72%. The EPA or a state acting as the Pre-treatment Approval Authority must approve these programs. A Pre-treatment Program has been designed and approved by over 1,500 municipal treatment plants

The report includes analysis based on the following segments Offerings, Application, and Region.

By Offerings

Services

Designing & Engineering Consult



Building & Installation Services



Operation & Process Control



Maintenance Service



Others

Technologies

Membrane Separation



Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) Membranes



Ultrafiltration (U.F.) Membranes



Micro-Filtration (M.F.) Membrane



Nano-Filtration (N.F.) Membrane



Others

Activated Sludge

Clarification

Sludge Thickening and Dewatering

Chlorination

Industrial Demineralization

Sludge Drying

Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)

Sludge Digestion

Electrochemical Water Treatment (EEC/ EEO)

Others

Treatment Chemicals

Coagulants & Flocculants



Disinfectants and General Biocidal Products



Scale and Corrosion Inhibitors



Antifoam Chemicals



Ph Conditioners



Others

By Application

Municipal

Industrial

Manufacturing



Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals



Power



Energy



Pulp and Paper



Mining



Petrochemical



Semiconductors



Others

By Region

North America

The U.S.



Canada



Mexico

Europe

The UK



Germany



France



Italy



Spain



Poland



Russia



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



South Korea



Australia & New Zealand

&

ASEAN



Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

& (MEA) UAE



Saudi Arabia



South Africa



Rest of MEA

South America

Brazil



Argentina



Rest of South America

Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/wastewater-treatment-market

For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail Us At: [email protected]

About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost effective, value added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

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TSX | NYSE | LSE: WPM

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. ("Wheaton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd. ("Wheaton International") has entered into a definitive Precious Metal Purchase Agreement (the "PMPA") with Alliance Metals International, a subsidiary of Adventus Mining Corporation (collectively "Adventus") (TSX: ADZN) in respect to the Curipamba Project ("Curipamba" or the "Project") located in Ecuador. Curipamba is forecast to be a high-margin mine in the lowest half of the copper cost curve with a 10-year open-pit mine life and the potential to transition into an underground mine subsequent to the open pit1.

"Wheaton has had a successful long-term partnership with Adventus and welcomes the opportunity to support the development of a project the caliber of Curipamba. Forecasted to be a high quality, low-cost mine with significant exploration potential, Curipamba's profile aligns well with Wheaton's accretive growth strategy" said Randy Smallwood, Wheaton's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Adventus has a strong entrepreneurial reputation and shares Wheaton's vision that responsible mining should benefit all stakeholders, including support for the communities around the mines. We look forward to our continued partnership with Adventus and shared success in Curipamba."

TRANSACTION DETAILS

(All values in US$ unless otherwise noted)

Upfront Consideration: Wheaton International will pay Adventus total upfront cash consideration of $175.5 million (the "Deposit"), $13 million of which is available pre-construction (the "Early Deposit") and $500,000 of which will be paid to support certain local community development initiatives around Curipamba. The remainder will be payable in four staged installments during construction, subject to various customary conditions being satisfied.

Wheaton International will pay Adventus total upfront cash consideration of (the "Deposit"), of which is available pre-construction (the "Early Deposit") and of which will be paid to support certain local community development initiatives around Curipamba. The remainder will be payable in four staged installments during construction, subject to various customary conditions being satisfied. Streamed Metal: Under the PMPA, Wheaton International will purchase: (i) 50% of the payable gold production referenced from Curipamba, dropping to 33% for the life of mine once 150,000 ounces of refined gold have been delivered; and (ii) 75% of the payable silver production referenced from Curipamba, dropping to 50% for the life of mine once 4.6 million ounces of refined silver have been delivered.

Under the PMPA, Wheaton International will purchase: (i) 50% of the payable gold production referenced from Curipamba, dropping to 33% for the life of mine once 150,000 ounces of refined gold have been delivered; and (ii) 75% of the payable silver production referenced from Curipamba, dropping to 50% for the life of mine once 4.6 million ounces of refined silver have been delivered. Production Profile 1 : Attributable production is forecast to average 17,000 oz of gold and 551,000 oz of silver per year for the first five years of production. Adventus anticipates construction activities to begin as early as late 2022, with commissioning and commencement of mine operations as early as 2024.

Attributable production is forecast to average 17,000 oz of gold and 551,000 oz of silver per year for the first five years of production. Adventus anticipates construction activities to begin as early as late 2022, with commissioning and commencement of mine operations as early as 2024. Production Payments: Wheaton International will make ongoing payments for the gold and silver ounces delivered equal to 18% of the spot prices ("Production Payment") until the value of gold and silver delivered less the Production Payment is equal to the Deposit, at which point the Production Payment will increase to 22% of the spot prices.

Wheaton International will make ongoing payments for the gold and silver ounces delivered equal to 18% of the spot prices ("Production Payment") until the value of gold and silver delivered less the Production Payment is equal to the Deposit, at which point the Production Payment will increase to 22% of the spot prices. Incremental Reserves and Resources 2 : The addition of Curipamba will increase Wheaton's estimated Proven and Probable gold reserves by 0.26 Moz and silver reserves by 7.1 Moz, Measured and Indicated gold resources by 0.06 Moz and silver resources by 2.2 Moz, and Inferred gold resources by 0.02 Moz and silver resources by 0.7 Moz. In addition, Wheaton believes significant exploration potential exists within the large Curipamba property demonstrated by the recent discovery of the Agua Santa prospect which is approximately 4.5 km southwest of El Domo.

The addition of Curipamba will increase Wheaton's estimated Proven and Probable gold reserves by 0.26 Moz and silver reserves by 7.1 Moz, Measured and Indicated gold resources by 0.06 Moz and silver resources by 2.2 Moz, and Inferred gold resources by 0.02 Moz and silver resources by 0.7 Moz. In addition, Wheaton believes significant exploration potential exists within the large Curipamba property demonstrated by the recent discovery of the Agua Santa prospect which is approximately 4.5 km southwest of El Domo. Community Investment Support: As part of the Deposit, Wheaton International has agreed to provide $500,000 to support local community development initiatives around Curipamba being advanced by Adventus . In addition, by entering into the PMPA, Adventus is eligible for additional community support through Wheaton's Partner CSR Program which provides financial support for its mining partners' economic, environmental and social initiatives within the communities that are directly influenced by the mines.

As part of the Deposit, Wheaton International has agreed to provide to support local community development initiatives around Curipamba being advanced by Adventus In addition, by entering into the PMPA, Adventus is eligible for additional community support through Wheaton's Partner CSR Program which provides financial support for its mining partners' economic, environmental and social initiatives within the communities that are directly influenced by the mines. Other Considerations:

Curipamba will be subject to a 90-day completion test based on a set mine throughput level and designed production forecast.



Until the first drawdown of the Deposit after the Early Deposit, Adventus would have a one-time option to repurchase 33% of the stream (gold and silver) on a change of control of Adventus for an amount ensuring a fixed internal rate of return to Wheaton International.



Adventus and certain of its subsidiaries will provide Wheaton International with corporate guarantees and certain other security over their assets.



Wheaton also intends to provide up to US$5M in equity to Adventus, subject to a maximum ownership level below 10%.

FINANCING THE TRANSACTIONS

As at September 30, 2021, the Company had approximately $372 million of cash on hand, which when combined with the liquidity provided by the available credit under the $2 billion revolving term loan and ongoing operating cash flows, positions the Company well to fund all outstanding commitments and known contingencies and provides flexibility to acquire additional accretive mineral stream interests.

ABOUT ADVENTUS MINING AND THE CURIPAMBA PROJECT

Adventus is a unique public company focused on copper-gold exploration and development in Ecuador. Outside of Ecuador, Adventus also owns a portfolio of exploration projects in Ireland that are funded by commercial partners and equity investments.

Curipamba comprises seven mineral concessions representing approximately 21,500 hectares and includes the advanced high-grade copper-gold El Domo deposit. Curipamba is located in central Ecuador approximately 150 km northeast of the major port city of Guayaquil. El Domo is a flat-lying tabular shaped VMS deposit, with mineralization beginning at 30 metres from surface and dimensions of approximately 800 x 400 metres. Three well-maintained gravel roads provide direct access to El Domo and most of the Curipamba project area. Over 75,000 metres of diamond drilling has been completed on El Domo to date. In 2021, Adventus completed a feasibility study NI 43-101 Technical Report as well as completed and submitted a detailed environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) report to the Government of Ecuador.

Attributable Gold Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources  CURIPAMBA

Category Tonnage Mt Grade Au g/t Contained Au Moz







Proven 1.6 2.83 0.14



Probable 1.7 2.23 0.12



P&P 3.2 2.52 0.26



Measured 0.0 0.00 0.00



Indicated 1.1 1.63 0.06



M&I 1.1 1.63 0.06



Inferred 0.4 1.62 0.02





Attributable Silver Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources  CURIPAMBA

Category Tonnage Mt Grade Ag g/t Contained Ag Moz







Proven 2.4 41.4 3.1



Probable 2.5 49.7 4.0



P&P 4.9 45.7 7.1



Measured 0.0 0.0 0.0



Indicated 1.8 38.4 2.2



M&I 1.8 38.4 2.2



Inferred 0.7 31.6 0.7





Notes on Mineral Reserves & Mineral Resources:

All Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources have been estimated in accordance with the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and National Instrument 43-101  Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are reported above in millions of metric tonnes ("Mt"), grams per metric tonne ("g/t") and millions of ounces ("Moz"). Qualified persons ("QPs"), as defined by the NI 43-101, for the technical information contained in this document (including the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates) are: Neil Burns , M.Sc., P.Geo. (Vice President, Technical Services); and Ryan Ulansky , M.A.Sc., P.Eng. (Vice President, Engineering

both employees of the Company (the "Company's QPs"). The Mineral Resources reported in the above tables are exclusive of Mineral Reserves. Adventus report Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral Reserves. The Company's QPs have made the exclusive Mineral Resource estimates for the mine based on average mine recoveries and dilution. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. Curipamba Project Mineral Reserves are reported as of October 22 , 2021and Mineral Resources as of October 26, 2021 . Curipamba Project Mineral Reserves are reported above an NSR cut-off of $32.99 assuming $1,630 per ounce gold, $21 per ounce silver, $3.31 per pound copper, $0.92 per pound lead and $1.16 per pound zinc. Curipamba Project Mineral Resources are reported above an NSR cut-off of $29.00 per tonne for the open pit and $105 per tonne for the underground assuming $1,800 per ounce gold, $24 per ounce silver, $4.00 per pound copper, $1.05 per pound lead and $1.30 per pound zinc. The Curipamba PMPA provides that Adventus will deliver 75% of the silver production until 4.6 million ounces are delivered and 50% thereafter for the life of the mine and 50% of the gold production until 150 thousand ounces are delivered and 33% thereafter for the life of the mine. Attributable reserves and resources have been calculated on the 75% / 50% basis for silver and 50% / 33% basis for gold.

Neil Burns, P.Geo., Vice President, Technical Services for Wheaton Precious Metals and Ryan Ulansky, P.Eng., Vice President, Engineering, are a "qualified person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, and have reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release (specifically Mr. Burns has reviewed mineral resource estimates and Mr. Ulansky has reviewed the mineral reserve estimates).

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance of Wheaton and, in some instances, the business, mining operations and performance of Wheaton's precious metals purchase agreement ("PMPA") counterparties. Forward-looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical fact, include, but are not limited to, payment by Wheaton International of $175.5 million to Adventus and the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the Curipamba PMPA, the receipt by Wheaton of silver and gold production in respect of Curipamba, the future price of commodities, the estimation of future production from mineral stream interests owned by Wheaton (the "Mining Operations") (including in the estimation of production, mill throughput, grades, recoveries and exploration potential), the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources (including the estimation of reserve conversion rates) and the realization of such estimations and the commencement, timing and achievement of construction, expansion or improvement projects by Wheaton's PMPA counterparties at Mining Operations. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", "potential", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Wheaton to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to risks associated with any specific risks relating to the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the terms of the Curipamba PMPA, fluctuations in the price of commodities (including Wheaton's ability to sell its precious metals or cobalt production at acceptable prices or at all), the Mining Operations (including fluctuations in the price of the primary or other commodities mined at such operations, regulatory, political and other risks of the jurisdictions in which the Mining Operations are located, actual results of mining, risks associated with the exploration, development, operating, expansion and improvement of the Mining Operations, environmental and economic risks of the Mining Operations, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined), and other risks discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business  Risk Factors" in Wheaton's Annual Information Form available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and in Wheaton's Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 and Form 6-K filed March 11, 2021 both available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, as well as the risks set out in Wheaton's management's discussions and analysis for the period ended December 31, 2020 available on SEDAR and EDGAR (together, the "Disclosure"). Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management currently believes to be reasonable, including (without limitation): the payment of $175.5 million to Adventus and the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the terms of the Curipamba PMPA, that there will be no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, that the Mining Operations will continue to operate and the mining projects will be completed in accordance with public statements and achieve their stated production estimates, that the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates from Mining Operations (including reserve conversion rates) are accurate, and such other assumptions and factors as set out in the Disclosure. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Wheaton. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary. The forward-looking statements included herein are for the purpose of providing readers with information to assist them in understanding Wheaton's expected financial and operational performance and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, reflects Wheaton's management's current beliefs based on current information and will not be updated except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Although Wheaton has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forwardlooking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Cautionary Language Regarding Reserves And Resources

For further information on Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and on Wheaton more generally, readers should refer to Wheaton's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by Wheaton since January 1, 2021, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Wheaton's Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are subject to the qualifications and notes set forth therein. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources: The information contained herein has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM")  CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Standards"). In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations. The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These amendments became effective February 25, 2019 (the "SEC Modernization Rules") with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. Under the SEC Modernization Rules, the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants included in SEC Industry Guide 7 will be rescinded and replaced with disclosure requirements in subpart 1300 of SEC Regulation S-K. Following the transition period, as a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system, the Company is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will recognize estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources." In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" to be "substantially similar" to the corresponding definitions under the CIM Definition Standards that are required under NI 43-101. However, while the above terms are "substantially similar" to CIM Definition Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that the Company may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Accordingly, information contained herein that describes Wheaton's mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. United States investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in Wheaton's Form 40-F, a copy of which may be obtained from Wheaton or from https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

_________________________ 1) Please see "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking-Statements" at the end of this news release for material risks, assumptions, and important disclosure associated with this information. Based on report entitled "National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report: Feasibility Study for the Curipamba El Domo Project, Central Ecuador" with an effective date of October 26, 2021. Production forecasts contain forward looking information and readers are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary. S&P data set for 2025 projected global cost curves. 2) Please refer to the Attributable Mineral Reserves & Mineral Resources table in this news release for full disclosure of reserves and resources associated with Curipamba including accompanying footnotes.

SOURCE Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.
FN Media Group Presents USA News Group News Commentary

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group - The market for plant-based protein supplies is set to grow at a near-double-digit pace over the next 6-7 years, according to a new report from Meticulous Research. Accelerated by a CAGR of 9.7%, the plant-based protein market is expected to hit $23.4 billion by 2028. Another report from Market Research Future goes even further, predicting the market will grow by 10.2% CAGR through to close to $38 billion by 2027. While much of the media attention has focused on product launches, such as new vegan-friendly menu items from popular chains such as McDonald's, KFC, and Chipotle, the biggest upcoming food trends predicted for 2022 and beyond is that of 'mindfulness', which means more stellar sales to come for wholesale companies producing the ingredients used in a lot of these products, including Nepra Foods (CSE:NPRA) (OTC:NPRFF), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM), Conagra Brands, Inc., Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) and DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:DD).

Led by a team of many of the same people who grew the popular gluten-free Udi's line of products, Nepra Foods (CSE:NPRA) (OTC:NPRFF) exited 2021 on a few high-notes, including through an oversubscribed IPO, and 150% year-on-year growth going into 2022.

Now the plant-based, allergen-free food manufacturers have had a chance to reflect on Nepra's latest successful year, and its 5th year in a row marking revenue growth.

"Our underlying wholesale ingredient business continues to show aggressive year-over-year growth in 2022," wrote Nepra CEO David Wood. "While the industry, in general, has been plagued by logistical challenges and heightened costs, Nepra Foods' supply chains have proven to be resilient and largely unimpacted."

Key to Nepra's strategy is differentiating itself with its proprietary Textured Hemp Protein (or THPTM). Marketed as a game changer for the plant-based food industry, THP deviates from most other textured vegetable proteins that are derived from peas, soybeans, wheat, and other plant sources. According to the company, it's been noted that many of these can trigger food allergies, or have an "off" flavor and texture.

To keep up with demand, Nepra invested in specialized equipment for the commercial production of THP, which will be housed in their new 31,000 square foot manufacturing facility and test kitchen in Centennial, Colorado.

"Building from last year's success, we will be adding two new revenue streams which are synergistic with our underlying wholesale ingredient business," added Wood. "The first of which will be our consumer-packaged plant-based high-protein frozen meals into both traditional and natural retail channels with our PROPASTATM line. The second will be to market our semi-finished meal components such as textured plant proteins, plant-based cheeses, high protein pastas, and blended dry mixes into the institutional foodservice market including restaurant chains, schools, and hospitals."

Not shying away from soy, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) chose to invest more heavily into plant-based protein production in late November 2021, by acquiring European non-GMO soybean ingredients producer, Sojaproteinwhich achieved more than $100 million in sales in 2020.

Based out of Serbia, Sojaprotein exports into 65 countries, and offers a range of non-GMO vegetable protein ingredients for European and global customers in the meat alternative, confectionary, protein bar, pharmaceutical, pet food, and animal feed segments.

"Thirty years ago, ADM invented the soy vegetable burger, giving rise to the plant-based protein segment," said Leticia Goncalves, ADM's president of Global Foods. "The addition of Sojaprotein  the largest producer of plant-based protein in southern Europe  adds production capacity in addition to an impressive network of customers who are leading the way in meeting consumer needs for nutritious and responsible plant-based foods and beverages."

The acquisition continued to build upon ADM's other recent investments in alternative proteins, including a soy protein complex in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; a new pea protein plant in Enderlin, North Dakota; a PlantPlus Foods joint venture; and partnerships with innovative startups like Air Protein.

Through its Gardein product line, Conagra Brands, Inc. has seen success through producing products made from a blend of ancient grains, veggies, and non-GMO soy, wheat, and canola. The company boasts that Gardein delivers real-meat taste, texture, and nutrition with no cholesterol, less saturated fat, and fewer calories than traditional proteins.

As Gardein largely supports the Food Service sector, Conagra notably benefitted from the sector's recovery towards the end of 2021 and into this year. According to Zack's research, in Q1 2022, Foodservice segment sales moved up 20.9% year on year to $239.8 million, owing to a rise in organic sales.

Conagra's acquired the Gardein brand (along with the previously mentioned Udi's) when it bought Pinnacle Foods in 2018 for nearly $11 billion. Since then, Conagra management has boosted some of Pinnacle Foods' business banners, especially the Gardein brand, which holds a solid position in the plant-based meat-alternatives food space.

Global ingredients solutions company Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR) has been steadily assisting in the creation and production of several new plant-based protein products on the market. In 2022, the company's expected fiscal year revenue to be $7.32 billion, representing a 6.8% year-over-year growth.

Ingredion has been quite busy with its involvement in the animal-free protein space, including its partnership in a quinoa flour with NorQuin, animal-free egg proteins with EVERY Company, microalgae-based dairy-free cheese with Sophie's BioNutrients.

Back in 2019, DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:DD) launched six new plant protein nuggets from its SUPRO and TRUPRO product range, under its DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences segment.

Since then, DuPont has grown its meatless protein offerings to include its RESPONSE Textured Soy Protein Concentrates for ground-style applications such as burgers, nuggets, sausages, and patties; SUPRO MAX Structured Vegetable Proteins for whole muscle-style applications such as meat-like chunks, shreds, and strips; SUPRO Isolated Soy Proteins for high-protein powdered products that improve the eating experience of meat-free applications; and ALPHA Functional Soy Protein Concentrates, which are emulsified, for applications such as deli meats and slices.

For more information go to: https://usanewsgroup.com/2021/09/05/the-plant-based-food-revolution-is-here/

Article Source:

USA News Group

http://USAnewsgroup.com

[email protected]

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This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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SOURCE USA News Group
JEFFERSON, Wis., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- City officials in Jefferson, WI are expressing their excitement about the new Meadow Estates home development by HomeWire Realty. Mayor Dale Opperman and Chris Nash, a local realtor and member of the Jefferson City Plan Commission, have both toured the new home site which will include 5 modular homes being built for essential workers and their families.

"We're really excited about what you see happening behind us here," said Opperman. "This was a planned development that the city laid out. We worked with a local landowner and we made lots available for a variety of housing, but mostly for not entry level, but certainly workforce housing and people that are essential workers."

Located north of Racine St, and just west of Jackson Ave in downtown Jefferson, HomeWire has partnered with Heckaman Homes of Nappanee, IN to build the new modular homes in 2022.

"We really wanted to bring affordable new housing to people that were our essential workers, our firefighters, policemen, teachers, nurses, everyone who got us through the past couple years," said Melissa "Missy" Buttrum, who established HomeWire in 2013. "We're going to be coming right under the $400,000 mark for beautiful ranch-style, three bedroom, two bathroom homes with a main floor laundry, two-car garages and full basements!"

"We have a high quality of life here in Jefferson," added Nash. "We have a lot of recreational activities, we have good retail base, but we have a very strong industrial base as well."

Heckaman Homes is a modular build company and their homes are all stick built, dry walled, regular homes, but they're built in a factory setting. This eliminates the problem of moisture getting the homes, especially in places like Wisconsin where the snow and other weather elements hamper the building process.

Four of the homes will arrive this spring of 2022 coming from Heckaman and being placed on their foundations. The fifth home will be completed in the fall.

For more information about Meadow Estates please contact HomeWire Realty at (262) 227-7064 or visit homewire.com.

About HomeWire Realty

HomeWire was established by Missy Buttrum in 2013, wanting to help others that share their entrepreneurial spirit and passion for real estate. Our mission is to offer integral real estate solutions to not only buyers and sellers, but to companies, investors, and developers, building long term relationships and respecting our values to adapt our services to the demands of each client and adapt to the dynamism of the market in order to offer the best results. By 2021, HomeWire has grown to 25 agents. Missy is actively involved in supporting not only the brokerage, but several investment companies and rehab projects.

Contact:

Tom Andrews

Media Specialist

(414) 732-7371

SOURCE HomeWire Realty
Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2022 shows a COVID-19 testing site in Seoul, capital of South Korea. South Korea reported 4,072 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 700,102. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korea reported 4,072 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 700,102.

The daily caseload was up from 3,858 in the previous day amid the spread of the Omicron variant, which the health authorities expected to become a dominant strain here in the near future.

The recent resurgence was attributable to small cluster infections in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Of the new cases, 684 were Seoul residents. The number of newly infected people living in Gyeonggi province and the western port city of Incheon was 1,470 and 177 respectively.

The virus spread also raged in the non-metropolitan region. The number of new infections in the non-capital areas was 1,432, or 38.1 percent of the total local transmission.

Among the new cases, 309 were imported, lifting the total to 21,932.

The number of infected people who were in a serious condition stood at 543, down 36 from the previous day.

Forty-five more deaths were confirmed, leaving the death toll at 6,378. The total fatality rate was 0.91 percent.

The country has administered COVID-19 vaccines to 44,505,276 people, or 86.7 percent of the total population, and the number of fully inoculated people was 43,582,128, or 84.9 percent of the population.

The number of those who received booster jabs was 23,741,205, or 46.3 percent of the population. 

People wearing face masks wait for buses at a bus station in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Jan. 18, 2022. South Korea reported 4,072 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 700,102. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)

People walk on the street in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Jan. 18, 2022. South Korea reported 4,072 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 700,102. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will host the sixth annual National Day of Racial Healing, a virtual celebration of truth-telling, community and racial healing and a timely call to action for positive, sustainable change, featuring performances and conversations with community leaders, advocates and artists standing in solidarity for racial equity.

"Today we hold important and much-needed conversations to lay the groundwork for racial healing, but we can't stop there," said La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. "The increased awareness of racial inequities that permeate our systems and structures have been compounded by the pandemic and require our urgent action to transform our communities for children and future generations."

Premiering at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST, the National Day of Racial Healing serves as a stage for building multi-racial solidarity in order to combat the effects of hate and build greater appreciation for our shared humanity. In-depth discussions and panels will explore how racial healing is a necessary element of achieving racial equity and will examine how we can build a better future by pursuing real solutions and prioritizing positive action to catalyze the process of healing.

The 75-minute virtual event will be hosted by Soledad O'Brien, broadcast journalist & founder of Soledad O'Brien Productions. The program will feature panels and conversations with actress Julissa Calderon, author & activist Heather McGhee, Detroit's Director of Arts and Culture Rochelle Riley, and more. W.K. Kellogg Foundation President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron will talk with Standing Rock Sioux Nation Indigenous scholar Connie Brownotter to kick off the event, which will also include performances by Grammy Award-winning artist John Legend, poet Reyes, Supaman, and the Ndlovu Youth Choir. Closed captions will be available in English, Haitian Creole and Spanish.

To join the event, please visit: www.dayofracialhealing.org, where you will also find helpful resources including Conversation Guides, Action Kits and the Business Case for Racial Equity.

The virtual event opens with a focus on celebrating the next generation of leaders and the importance of including their voices, their ideas and their energy into the racial healing journey.

"It is not the responsibility of one person, one group, or even one organization to drive racial healing. The responsibility belongs to all of us to participate in these honest, powerful and moving experiences, and actively pursue this journey together," said Tabron. "It's important that we entrust and empower our young people to engage with us, and that we make space for youth at the table to invest in racial equity and healing for generations."

This year's event will also recognize work done by grantees in Flint, Michigan, implementing the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) process that is underway in communities across the U.S.

Visit www.dayofracialhealing.org for a view of the more than 70 events taking place around the country including Los Angeles, Calif.; Chicago, Ill.; Columbus, Ohio; Selma, Ala.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Battle Creek, Mich.; Flint, Mich.; Dallas, Texas; Richmond, Va., and more.

To watch the recording, please visit [https://youtu.be/xk7BqnetLMs].

About National Day of Racial Healing

The annual observance of the "National Day of Racial Healing" was created with and builds on the work and learnings of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) community partners. TRHT was established in 2017 to promote racial healing as a critical path for ending racial bias and creating a society in which all children can thrive. It is a national and community-based process designed to bring transformational and sustainable change to communities, while addressing the historic and contemporary effects of racism.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, the Kellogg Foundation works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

Based in Battle Creek, Michigan, the Kellogg Foundation works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti.

SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading workforce analytics and productivity software company Workpuls has today announced the recipient of its inaugural scholarship program.

Northern Illinois University computer science student Milena Zlaticanin was selected as the inaugural scholarship recipient, and will receive $2,500.

Workpuls launched the scholarship program earlier in 2021 to support college students who have ambitions to work in the technology sector. The program is inspired by Workpuls CEO Ivan Petrovic's experience building software while in college.

The scholarship program reached the campuses of hundreds of universities and colleges across the world. Ms Zlaticanin was chosen as the inaugural scholarship recipient for her academic performance, noteworthy application essay and vision for the technology sector.

"We're thrilled to award our inaugural scholarship to Milena," Mr Petrovic said.

"Through our scholarship program and the people we hire, we aim to provide support and opportunities for the next generation of technology leaders.

"Milena's application demonstrated a real passion for the technology sector and deep insights into what the future holds for the industry. I hope this scholarship will help support Milena's ongoing studies and future path into the technology industry."

Ms Zlaticanin is currently completing a Bachelor's of Computer Science at Northern Illinois University. She said she viewed the Workpuls scholarship program as a way to express her views on technology and support her studies.

"I heard about Workpuls from a friend, and I thought that it would be a great opportunity to share my opinion and views about technology and its impact in today's world," Ms Zlaticanin said.

"I plan to use the funds to cover some of my tuition for my last semester at Northern Illinois University"

Once she graduates, Ms Zlaticanin will begin a full-time role as a Software Engineer lined up and she also has aspirations to manage her own team of engineers someday.

The Workpuls scholarship program is open to students who are currently enrolled in technical, IT, or non-technical (e.g. marketing or business) programs with a minimum GPA of 3.5.

The scholarship program runs year round and is awarded twice yearly. For more information, visit www.workpuls.com/scholarship

About Workpuls

Workpuls is a privacy-first monitoring software for employees and an employee tracking app that helps organizations understand how their teams do their best work and build better work environments.

Workpuls' workforce analytics and productivity software is used by 1,300+ global companies and 100,000+ users daily. Through immediate visibility and valuable insights, major companies like Office Depot, Grammarly and Allstate depend on Workpuls to drive productivity, benchmark performance, and improve efficiency.

PRESS CONTACT:

Sebastian Kipman

+1 (415) 704 3737

https://www.workpuls.com/

SOURCE Workpuls
WuXi Biologics completes the first GMP inspection in 2022, demonstrating the company's premier quality system is in full compliance with global regulatory requirements.

WUXI, China, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi Biologics ("WuXi Bio") (2269.HK), a global company with leading open-access biologics technology platforms, announced that it has completed a remote GMP inspection by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its drug substance facility (MFG2) in Wuxi city. So far, WuXi Biologics has successfully completed 23 regulatory inspections conducted by multiple regulatory agencies including U.S. FDA, EMA and China NMPA.

The comprehensive inspection was conducted by two inspectors and covered the facility's quality processes and entire production system. MFG2 facility implements the pioneering approach of combining multiple 2,000L bioreactor harvests to enable production runs up to 12,000L (i.e. "scale-out" instead of "scale-up"), a strategy that accelerated construction timeline with significantly lower CAPEX investment and higher Return on Investment (ROI), and eliminated challenges brought by traditional scale-up method. All WuXi Biologics' sites across the U.S., Europe and China follow the consistent quality system to ensure high-quality products manufactured for the partners worldwide.

Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics, commented, "We are excited that we start off the year 2022 by completing the first regulatory inspection successfully. Our world-class quality system certified by major regulatory agencies is a strong testament of the highest global quality standards we adhere to. We are very motivated by the fact that the products manufactured by WuXi Biologics have helped treat patients in multiple countries and regions. WuXi Biologics will continue enabling global partners to deliver life-saving treatments quickly and effectively to the markets, with the aim of benefiting patients worldwide."

About WuXi Biologics

WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, is a leading global open-access biologics technology platform offering end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop, and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. The company's history and achievements demonstrate its commitment to providing a truly ONE-stop service offering and strong value proposition to its global clients.

The company is currently conducting on behalf of its clients and partners (as of December 31, 2021) a total of 480 integrated projects, including 268 in pre-clinical development stage, 171 in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development, 32 in late-phase (phase III) development and 9 in commercial manufacturing. With a total estimated capacity of exceeding 430,000 liters for biopharmaceutical production planned after 2024 in China, Ireland, the U.S., Germany, and Singapore, WuXi Biologics will continue to provide its biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global supply chain network.

WuXi Biologics views Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities as an integral component of its ethos and business strategy and aims to become a global ESG leader in biologics manufacturing. We use next-generation clean biomanufacturing technologies and utilize cleaner energy sources. We have also established an ESG committee led by the CEO to increase efficiency while advancing our commitment to sustainability. For more information about WuXi Biologics, please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com.

Contacts

Media

[email protected]

Investors

[email protected]

SOURCE WuXi Biologics
SEED Innovations Ltd noted the update by its portfolio company Yooma Wellness Inc that Boots will be stocking its MYO Plant Nutrition brand in over 800 stores. SEED has a holding of approximately 4.4% in Yooma.

Ed McDermott, SEEDs chief executive, said: Boots is a major market leader in the UK health and beauty industry and we hope that this new relationship will create further shareholder value."

Shares in NQ Minerals PLC (AQSE:NQMI, OTCQB:NQMLF) were withdrawn from the Aquis Exchange today. A detailed update on the administration process is expected in March

BiVictriX Therapeutics PLC (AIM:BVX, OTC:BVTXF) said it has appointed Dr Michael Kauffman to its board of directors as an independent non-executive director with immediate effect. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry, including expertise in preclinical research, clinical development, and regulatory strategy - currently serving on the boards of Karyopharm Therapeutics, which he founded, along with Verastem Oncology, Kezar Life Sciences and Adicet Bio. Chairman Iain Ross said Kauffman "brings a wealth of expertise in oncology drug development, having been instrumental in the approval of several oncology therapeutics".

BATM Advanced Communications Ltd (LSE:BVC, OTC:BTAVF) released statement on its ongoing discussions with FTSE Russell concerning its index nationality review, saying it remains committed to maintaining its membership of the FTSE UK Index series and continues to investigate the available options for achieving this objective. BATM anticipates that this process will require a further 15 months.

Chesnara PLC said that non-executive director Veronica Oak is retiring today having completed nine years in the job.

Plant Health Care PLC announced that its chief executive officer Dr Christopher Richards and chief operating officer Jeffrey Tweedy will provide a live presentation to update investors via the Investor Meet Company platform on the afternoon of 1 February, the day the company intends to release a trading statement platform.

Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd said that CEO Dr Markku Jalkanen will participate in the Redeye Fight Cancer - Outlook 2022 Seminar on January 20. Jalkanen will provide a presentation on Faron and participate in a panel discussion focused on the future of immuno-oncology.
Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC (LSE:SSIT) (Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC (LSE:SSIT)) Mark Boggett joins Proactive London to talk about the record year of private capital invested in space, with a 60% increase to US$12.4nm, amid a year of long-awaited breakthroughs from the industry.

The first of their seven space predictions for 2022 is that the industry is likely to see continued momentum in investment and public interest in the area of space tech.

His other predictions include, the growing relevance for space companies tackling climate change/ESG, the pipeline for Space SPAC remaining robust for communications and climate. Cloud transforming Space with tech giants validating space with disruptive technologies. And a massive increase in satcom capacity which will drive further consolidation.

Then they're forecasting an explosion of EO data, leveraging of fusion of multi-data and multi-sensor to deliver insights and lastly the need for global leadership becoming clear amidst congestion and rising tension between the US and China.
Kromek Group PLC (AIM:KMK) (Kromek Group PLC (AIM:KMK)) CEO Arnab Basu talks to Proactive London about the company's interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2021.

He says the company continued to deliver on existing contracts as well as win new and repeat orders in both our advanced imaging and CBRN detection segments.

He notes, growth and margin during the period were impacted by challenges related to the supply chain for components, which he says is being recovered in the second half and they remain on track to deliver a significant increase in revenue for full year 2022.
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to an infection damages its own tissues.

Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF) has revealed further positive data from its phase I intravenous (IV) clinical trial of RECCE 327 (R327), demonstrating safety and tolerability, among seven healthy male subjects in Cohort Two.

Based upon these clinical data readouts, an independent safety committee has approved a tenfold increase on the initial dosing of Cohort one (50mg) or threefold increase (from 150mg to 500mg) among 7-10 healthy subjects (Cohort Three).

Subjects are expected to be recruited this week and dosed immediately thereafter at Adelaides CMAX clinical trial facility.

Successfully cleared two dosing levels

R327 is one of the first new classes of antibiotics in over 30 years with a universal mechanism of action that allows its compounds to continuously kill bacteria and multi-drug resistant superbugs.

Recce Pharmaceuticals chief executive officer James Graham said: We are pleased to see R327 (150mg) successfully tolerated as an intravenous infusion in Cohort Two subjects.

Having successfully cleared two dosing levels (50mg and 150mg) we look forward to embarking upon this next significant milestone.

Safety and tolerability demonstrated

R327 was shown to be safe and well-tolerated at the 150mg dose with no clinically significant changes in vital signs, clinical, adverse events, or laboratory parameters associated with R327.

The phase I trial is an ascending dose, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel, double-blind, single-dose study being conducted at Adelaide's CMAX clinical trial facility.

The study is evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of R327 in 7-10 healthy subjects per dose, across eight sequential dosing cohorts of 50-16,000mg.

The study is on track to have all phase I dosing complete by Q2 2022.
Chariot Ltd (AIM:CHAR, OTC:OIGLF) said it completed drilling operations at the Anchois field offshore Morocco after making a significant new discovery  with over 100 metres of net pay suspended in the Anchois-2 well for future production.

The company also coupled the rig to the Anchois-1 well  drilled originally in 2009  to confirm its viability as a future producer, a statement said.

Extensive data has been captured through the programme and twelve gas samples taken for further analysis in the lab.

Our ambition is to bring the Anchois gas development online as quickly as possible, to fuel Morocco's economic growth, but also to deliver near-term cash flows to the company, said chief executive Adonis Pouroulis.

We will now look to conduct further analysis on our findings, to optimise our development plan for the field, with both wells earmarked to become potential production wells, as part of an accelerated field development plan for the benefit of all stakeholders.

"We are very excited about these positive results and the commercial potential of the expanded Anchois field along with the material upsides in the wider Lixus licence area and we will look to update the market in more detail on the findings of our further analysis in due course."

On January 10, Chariot confirmed a 'significant' gas discovery at the Anchois-2 well offshore Morocco which materially exceeded expectations.

Broker Finncap said it already doubled its risked-NAV following the success of Anchois-2 but believe there is more to come from both further de-risking and resource upgrades as well data is analysed and the project matures.

This drilling result is a key step to unlocking Chariots Moroccan gas ambitions, setting it firmly on a path to becoming a strategically important transitional gas producer."

** Adds broker comment **
Ondine Biomedical is working with a team at the University of Navarra in Spain on a clinical trial using the companys Steriwave technology to stop the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk viral carriers.

This technology uses photodisinfection to kill germs, including Covid. So far, the Lab-based evaluations showed Steriwave to be effective, and now they look to gather clinical data in people with Covid.
888 Holdings PLC (LSE:888) expects to post record full-year revenue for last year on double-digit growth and said it continues to enjoy strong cash generation.

The online betting and gaming company saw revenue grow 14% to US$972mln in the year ended 31 December 2021, thanks in part to continued expansion in regulated markets.

However, Q4 revenue was US$214mln, down 16% year-on-year, in line with the boards expectations.

This largely reflected a strong comparative period and the previously disclosed impact of regulatory and compliance changes, including the exit from the Netherlands, a statement said.

The company reiterated the transformational 2.2bln acquisition of William Hill International is due to complete in Q2 2022.

I am pleased to report another year of record revenues alongside these important strategic milestones, delivering double-digit revenue growth despite a very tough comparative period, said chief executive Itai Pazner.

"2021 was a year of outstanding strategic progress for 888 as we announced the transformational acquisition of William Hill International, and reached an agreement to sell our bingo business to increase our focus on our B2C and US growth plans, as we continue to execute our plan to build a global online betting and gaming leader, he added.

The company ended the year with strong cash generation and a robust balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents, net of customer balances, of US$147mln.

Regulated markets contributed 74% of revenue, with strong performances in the UK, Italy, Romania, and Portugal, although regulatory changes led to the Netherlands exit from all non-Dutch gambling sites.

Its business-to-consumer (B2C) sales rose 15% to US$934mln  led by 24% casino growth.

The company reiterated its commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.

Results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2021 will be published in March.

Its shares slipped 2.3% in Tuesday mornings early dealings.
A China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow departs from Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

FUZHOU, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A new cargo train, loaded with 445 tonnes of goods, departed from Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province and headed for Moscow Tuesday morning.

This is the first China-Europe freight train route from Quanzhou, which is an important starting point on the Maritime Silk Road.

The train is scheduled to reach Moscow, Russia, via the border station of Manzhouli in about 20 days, saving 25 days compared with maritime shipping.

"The new train service will significantly lower our transport costs," said Chen Hanhe, chairman of Mega Soft (China) Co., Ltd, a hygienic product manufacturer.

As an export-oriented city, Quanzhou's export volume exceeded 200 billion yuan (about 31.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, according to Zhang Xiaohong, director of Quanzhou's bureau of commerce.

Quanzhou's trade volume with countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road surpassed 100 billion yuan last year, said Zhang, adding that the new cargo train service will add new momentum to the city's export. 

A China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow leaves Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 18, 2022. A new cargo train, loaded with 445 tonnes of goods, departed from Quanzhou and headed for Moscow Tuesday morning. This is the first China-Europe freight train route from Quanzhou, which is an important starting point on the Maritime Silk Road. The train is scheduled to reach Moscow, Russia, via the border station of Manzhouli in about 20 days, saving 25 days compared with maritime shipping. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow departs from Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 18, 2022. A new cargo train, loaded with 445 tonnes of goods, departed from Quanzhou and headed for Moscow Tuesday morning. This is the first China-Europe freight train route from Quanzhou, which is an important starting point on the Maritime Silk Road. The train is scheduled to reach Moscow, Russia, via the border station of Manzhouli in about 20 days, saving 25 days compared with maritime shipping. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow gets ready to depart from Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 18, 2022. A new cargo train, loaded with 445 tonnes of goods, departed from Quanzhou and headed for Moscow Tuesday morning. This is the first China-Europe freight train route from Quanzhou, which is an important starting point on the Maritime Silk Road. The train is scheduled to reach Moscow, Russia, via the border station of Manzhouli in about 20 days, saving 25 days compared with maritime shipping. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A China-Europe freight train heading for Moscow gets ready to depart from Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 18, 2022. A new cargo train, loaded with 445 tonnes of goods, departed from Quanzhou and headed for Moscow Tuesday morning. This is the first China-Europe freight train route from Quanzhou, which is an important starting point on the Maritime Silk Road. The train is scheduled to reach Moscow, Russia, via the border station of Manzhouli in about 20 days, saving 25 days compared with maritime shipping. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Poor households in Britain may have to spend over half of their income to pay their energy bills unless the government introduces measures to help the most vulnerable.

The poverty charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) warned that some low-income households would face a heat or eat decision or even risk death from the cold.

According to the charity, energy bills could amount to 25% of income for lone parents and couples without children, while single-adult households on low incomes could be forced to spend 54% of their income on gas and electricity when the new energy price cap comes into effect on 1 April.

The current price cap on energy bills of 1,277 per year is predicted to rise to over 1,900 from April as a result of soaring wholesale gas prices.

Rising energy prices will affect us all but our analysis shows they have the potential to devastate the budgets of families on the lowest incomes. The government cannot stand by and allow the rising cost of living to knock people off their feet, said Katie Schmuecker, the deputy director of policy and partnerships at the JRF.

JRF said the impact of energy costs would be especially harsh on families that have been trapped in deep poverty in recent years. About one in five children were in families classed as being on low incomes for three of the four years between 2016 and 2019, meaning for many, poverty was all they have ever known, the charity said.

Martin Lewis, the founder of the consumer advice website MoneySavingExpert, called on the government to support poorer households.

We absolutely know we need a substantial increase in the billions of pounds funding to vulnerable people, and people on low incomes, or it is not an exaggeration to say some will have to choose between heating or eating, and that is not appropriate in one of the worlds richest economies and a civilised nation, Lewis told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

A government spokesperson said: We recognise the pressures people are facing on their household bills, which is why we have taken decisive steps to support them. The energy price cap has been protecting around 15 million households from high global gas prices. We are also supporting vulnerable and low-income households with the cost of fuel bills through schemes such as the warm home discount and our 500mln household support fund.

Meanwhile, energy companies are promoting a proposal whereby the government make payments to energy suppliers when wholesale gas prices reach an agreed threshold to shield consumers from high bills, the Financial Times reported.

Government insiders described the initiative as plausible and logical, the paper said, although it could be costly for taxpayers.

Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the trade body Energy UK, confirmed that suppliers were discussing with the Treasury a mechanism to smooth out spikes in wholesale prices for consumers.

The Treasury has asked industry to look at options for spreading the cost of the gas itself over a longer period of time, she told BBC Breakfast.

She added that under such a mechanism, in a year where the [wholesale gas] price is lower, the industry pays back government and in a year where its higher, the government helps the industry to spread the costs.
Samarkand Group PLC (AQSE:SMK) (Samarkand Group PLC (AQSE:SMK)) David Hampstead Chief Executive Officer talks to Proactive London after announcing a three-year extension to its contract with skincare company TEMPLESPA, one of its key brand partners.

Under the deal, the e-commerce technology company said it will provide its Nomad Distribution services software and an expansion of its Nomad Storefront offering for Chinese e-commerce platforms, including a Tmall Global flagship store planned for the second quarter this year.

And last week the firm agreed to become the exclusive distributor in China for Venture Life PLC mouthwash brands, Dentyl Dual Action and Ultradex.
WTI $83.82 +$1.70, Brent $86.48 +42c, Diff -$2.66 +42c, NG $4.26 u/c, UKNG 190.0p -20.0p

Oil price

Oil continues to behave as expected, I cant write the same reasons every day why I believe in the bull case, as I have done effectively ever since the industry started over investing and when Opec realised that they were in charge again. For people who have had to listen well before COP 26 I have been saying that the vibes I have been getting from my contacts close to Opec say that they are as bullish as they have been for a long time. When they start warning the traders to take them on at their own risk you know who is in the driving seat. IRMC

The latest push for the oil price was yesterday when Yemeni terrorists launched an attack on operations in the UAE which will undoubtedly receive some sort of reaction. Oil is up another dollar today accordingly.

Genel Energy

Genel has issued the following trading and operations update in advance of the Companys full-year 2021 results, which are scheduled for release on 15 March 2022. The information contained herein has not been audited and may be subject to further review.

2022 OUTLOOK AND GUIDANCE

Production in 2022 is expected to be around the same level as 2021

Genel expects to generate free cash flow of up to $200 million in 2022, pre dividend payments, at a Brent oil price of $75/bbl

An increase or decrease in Brent of $10/bbl impacts annual cash by $50 million

Under the terms of the Receivable Settlement Agreement signed in August 2017, the last override payment will be made relating to Tawke PSC production in July 2022. Given payments are received three months in arrears from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), 10 override payments are expected in 2022

2022 capital expenditure is expected to be between $140 million and $180 million, with key asset spending including:

c.$75 million expenditure forecast at the Tawke PSC, an increase of c.$25 million compared to 2021 as drilling increases at the Tawke field

c.$45-80 million expenditure forecast at Sarta, with higher spend the result of appraisal success

c.$10-20 million expenditure forecast at Taq Taq

Work is underway on planning a well in Somaliland, with expenditure in 2022 expected to be under $5 million

Operating costs expected to be c.$50 million (2021: $44 million), equating to under $5/bbl, retaining our advantageous low operating cost position

Following the termination of the Bina Bawi and Miran PSCs by Genel on 10 December 2021, Genel will be claiming substantial compensation from the KRG. Genels claims will be brought in a private London seated international arbitration

Genel remains committed to paying a material and progressive dividend, as we look to offer a compelling mix of value-accretive growth and shareholder returns

Genel continues to invest in the host communities in which we operate. 2022 represents twenty years of operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which we will commemorate through the Genel20 programme, launching significant new social activities throughout the year, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals

2021 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

$281 million of cash proceeds were received from the KRG in 2021 (2020: $173 million)

Capital expenditure of $165 million (2020: $109 million), with c.$45 million spent at the Tawke PSC and c.$110 million at Sarta and Qara Dagh

Free cash flow of $86 million in 2021, pre dividend payments (2020: $5 million free cash outflow), comparison impacted by:

Higher oil price of $71/bbl in 2021, compared to $42/bbl in 2020

10 entitlement payments received in 2021, compared to 12 in 2020, following industry-wide reversion to payments three months in arrears by the KRG

Receivable recovery payments of $35 million received in 2021, with the resumption of Tawke override payments contributing a further $72 million ($23 million in override payments received in 2020)

Dividends paid in 2021 of 16 per share (2020: 15 per share), a total distribution of c.$45 million

Cash of $314 million at 31 December 2021, net cash of $44 million ($10 million at 31 December 2020)

Bill Higgs, Chief Executive of Genel, said:

In 2021 we generated significant free cash flow of $86 million, and in 2022 we are set to build on this as the strength of the oil price and our positive outlook means that free cash flow is expected to more than double. Our focus in 2022 is on growing the business and supporting our progressive dividend long-term. We aim to increase cash flow through the progression of our asset development plans and the addition of income streams. Our priority is the derisking and commercialisation of Sarta, while the successful farm-out on our Somaliland licence opens the way to drill an exploration well on this exciting opportunity.

Things are clearly going very well at Genel as the company is generating a material amount of cash and in the absence of any physical growth it is in a strong position to progress the business and support that progressive dividend long-term.

Without the likely upside of the Bina Bawi and Miran PSCs and what seems like a 12 month delay at Qara Dagh, depending on collaboration from Chevron, Genel still has a number of areas of organic growth. Work on Sarta continues with a decent spend in the area and appraisal on S-5 completed and the rig moving to Sarta 6 with an imminent spud date. There are also the beginnings of talk of Somaliland work and of course potential non-organic growth options.

So, plenty going on at Genel and importantly solid work on the key domestic operational work that continues to deliver significant progress that can only get better, as they say, show me the money and shareholders can expect generous rewards. I expect them to see both income and capital gains that continues to make Genel a must have stock in the sector.

Sound Energy

The board of directors of Sound Energy, the energy transition company, notes the recent announcement by Angus Energy PLC (AIM:ANGS) of the commencement of a strategic review and formal sale process pursuant to the relevant requirements of the Code and announces that it is evaluating a possible all-share offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Angus. Sound Energy confirms that it has previously made indicative proposals to Angus regarding a potential all-share combination. The board of directors of Angus unequivocally rejected the indicative proposals.

Indicative proposals

Sound Energy has submitted three non-binding indicative proposals of 1.00 pence per Angus share, 1.30 pence per Angus share and 1.40 pence per Angus share to Anguss Chairman and Managing Director on 18 December 2021, 30 December 2021 and 5 January 2022 respectively, such possible consideration to be satisfied by the issuance of Sound Energy shares to Angus shareholders. These proposals represent premiums of approximately 54%, 100% and 115% respectively to the closing share price of 0.65 pence per Angus share on 17 December 2021, being the last business day immediately prior to Sound Energys initial proposal. Each of these proposals was unequivocally rejected by the Angus Board. On 14 January 2022, Gneiss Energy Limited, in its capacity as financial adviser to Sound Energy, made a further formal approach orally to the Managing Director of Angus and Beaumont Cornish Limited, financial adviser to Angus, confirming the terms of the Possible Offer (which are described below) and noted Sound Energys desire to proceed with the Possible Offer on the basis of a recommendation from the Angus Board.

Transaction rationale

The Company has evaluated this Potential Combination for some time and believes that the Potential Combination would be a strategically compelling proposition.

Sound Energy believes the Potential Combination would represent the combination of two complementary businesses, with attractive onshore gas developments in high gas price jurisdictions.

The board of directors of Sound Energy consider that the Potential Combination would create a more effective operating entity and an enlarged business with substantial capabilities that would be greater than the sum of the two parts.

The Potential Combination would allow both the Companys and Anguss shareholders to participate in any future value generated by the Combined Group and its more diversified portfolio.

Specifically, the Sound Energy Directors believe that a combination with Angus would provide the Combined Group with the following key benefits:

1. An enlarged platform for investment and growth;

2. A larger portfolio with diversification across sectors and maturity of assets;

3. The potential to deliver multiple projects for the Combined Groups shareholders; and

4. An experienced team with complementary industry backgrounds.

The strategy of Sound Energy has been to actively further the energy transition. The focus of the Sound Energy Board has been on the development of gas assets in jurisdictions where high gas pricing, attractive fiscal terms and a beneficial regulatory environment are supportive to project development.

The Possible Offer

The terms of the Possible Offer would comprise the issue of 0.680 Sound Energy ordinary shares for each Angus ordinary share. By way of example, the Exchange Ratio represents a value of approximately 1.50 pence per Angus share based on a closing price of 2.20 pence per Sound Energy share on 17 January 2022, being the last business day immediately prior to the date of this announcement.

At the value of 1.50 pence per Angus share implied by the Exchange Ratio, the Possible Offer, if made, would represent a premium of approximately:

 93 per cent. to the Angus closing price of 0.775 pence per share on 5 January 2022, being the last business day immediately prior to the announcement by Angus of the commencement of a strategic review and formal sale process;

 111 per cent. to the volume weighted average price for Angus shares over the two-month period ended on and including 5 January 2022, being 0.709 pence per share; and

 32 per cent. to the Angus closing price of 1.13 pence per share on 17 January 2022, being the last business day immediately prior to the date of this announcement.

The Exchange Ratio would give an implied value for the entire existing issued and to be issued share capital of Angus of approximately 21.6 million (based on a closing price of 2.20 pence per Sound Energy share on 17 January 2022, being the last business day immediately prior to the date of this announcement).

Under the terms of the Possible Offer, it is expected that Angus shareholders would own approximately 38 per cent. of the Combined Group, and Sound Energy shareholders would own approximately 62 per cent. of the Combined Group.

Given the Possible Offer is proposed to be structured as an all-share offer, Sound Energy is currently only minded to proceed with the Possible Offer on the pre-condition that a recommendation from the Angus Board is ultimately forthcoming. This pre-condition can be waived by Sound Energy, and further pre-conditions are set out below.

Sound Energy has received support for the Possible Offer from Angus shareholders in respect of a total of 152,203,626 Angus shares, representing, in aggregate, 13.92 per cent. of Anguss issued share capital as at 17 January 2022 (being the last business day immediately prior to the date of this announcement). Further details of the irrevocable undertaking and letters of intent are set out in Schedule 1.

The Sound Energy Directors look forward to constructive engagement with Angus regarding the Possible Offer.

At this stage, there can be no certainty that an offer will be made.

There is little to add with all the regulations in force but there are a few things that might be worth bearing in mind.

There is nothing to disagree with in putting these two businesses together, both sides have good quality assets and combining them would provide a platform despite being on different continents. A rough 60:40 split would give both existing shareholders a realistic stake and dependent on management a platform for growth.

Im sure that this bid battle will go the distance and as is often the case will probably be decided on price even though 14% have gone with Sound already. Having said that there are five other companies in the ring so competition will be fierce.

Notwithstanding any other offer I have to say that Graham Lyon is an excellent oil and gas executive and Im sure that if Sounds offer is the best he will do very well with the combined business. E&OE

Chariot

Chariot has announced the completion of the successful gas drilling operations, on the Anchois gas project within the Lixus licence, offshore Morocco. Chariot has a 75% interest and operatorship of Lixus in partnership with the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) which holds a 25% interest.

 Anchois-1, the original discovery well drilled in 2009, was efficiently located and the wellhead was inspected, prepared and successfully coupled with the Stena Don rig confirming its potential viability as a future producer well.

 To maintain efficiency a decision was taken to not take a Sand A gas sample in the Anchois-1 well as gas samples were successfully obtained in the previously drilled Anchois-2 well.

 Anchois-1 operations will now complete with the well in a condition to allow for potential utilisation in the future development of the field.

 Anchois-2 well, drilled just prior to the Anchois-1 well operation and successful in its appraisal and exploration objectives with over 100m of net pay, has already been safely and efficiently suspended for potential completion as a production well in the future development of the field.

 Extensive data recovered from the multiple gas discoveries in the Anchois-2 well, including from a comprehensive sub-surface formation testing programme, which recovered twelve gas samples across seven gas bearing reservoirs, which are currently enroute to the laboratory for detailed analysis.

 Stena Don rig will begin demobilisation from the well sites imminently.

Mrs Amina Benkhadra, General Director Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines, commented:

My congratulations to Chariot and ONHYM teams for the successful Anchois drilling operations. I also would like to thank the Moroccan authorities for their support and help in achieving the drilling operations efficiently despite the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. We look forward to working with Chariot in order to quickly progress the gas development.

Adonis Pouroulis, Acting CEO of Chariot, commented:

I am pleased to announce the completion of our very successful Anchois gas appraisal and exploration campaign, offshore Morocco. In addition to having now two confirmed gas discovery wells, we have directly de-risked a material portfolio of prospects on the Lixus licence area.

Our ambition is to bring the Anchois gas development online as quickly as possible, to fuel Moroccos economic growth, but also to deliver near-term cash flows to the Company. We will now look to conduct further analysis on our findings, to optimise our development plan for the field, with both wells earmarked to become potential production wells, as part of an accelerated field development plan for the benefit of all stakeholders.

I would again like to thank ONHYM, our partners on the licence and all the Moroccan authorities involved, for their invaluable support, as well as the Chariot drilling team, Stena, Halliburton and other contractors who have enabled us to conduct these drilling operations safely, efficiently and successfully.

As a team, we are very excited about these positive results and the commercial potential of the expanded Anchois field along with the material upsides in the wider Lixus licence area and we will look to update the market in more detail on the findings of our further analysis in due course.

Make no mistake this is a tremendous result and takes Chariot a number of steps all in one giant leap and I am not exaggerating by saying that this is a momentous step for Morocco as well. This result is relatively straightforward in that the 2nd leg and completion of the successful gas drilling operations, on the Anchois gas project has been swift.

The operation needed to find the Anchois 1 discovery, confirm the integrity of the well, latch it on to the drilling rig, confirm that it would be able to be a producer and even cleaned up the BOP. This was so efficiently done that there was no need to take any sample of A sands in particular as from the last announcement 2 A samples have been sent to the lab.

This was another piece of good news and also enhances the well economics, by not perforating the well money was saved, the well looks ready now and Chariot has two fully workable first steps to development. The rig leaves site tomorrow making it an efficient and successful, not to mention cheaper than expected well.

Support for the Anchois development is lining up outside Chariot as banks jostle to lead the consortium of financiers and Im absolutely sure that not only will other major companies be involved in the development but Chariot could easily take a wedge of that investment themselves.

Finally as I indicated earlier this is a success that is being shouted from the rooftops in Morocco. Partner ONHYM, whom I know well, are clearly delighted as is the Government who have power plants in a number of areas which could take any amount of gas at any time.

The market has not yet got the hang of this, to repeat I think that the shares could and should rise by a multiple and its going to be quicker than many imagine, not often a five or even ten bagger sits in front of investors.
Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) has completed a scoping study assessing the construction and operation economics of a high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) plant that highlights a robust set of financial metrics over a 20-year project life.

While the company warns the scoping study is based on insufficiently vigorous technical and economic assessments, the project would be strongly leveraged to service the emerging electric vehicle market, especially lithium-ion batteries.

HPMSM is used in the energy storage industry for battery cathode materials, a vitally important component of any ion-based battery.

HPMSM processing facility

Element 25 is assessing the viability of moving into downstream processing for its large resource of manganese ore available at its Butcherbird Project in WA.

The scoping study was undertaken to assess the potential of developing an HPMSM facility within Southeast Asia.

This proposed facility will consist of up to three processing trains each capable of producing a total of 66,650 tonnes per annum of manganese sulphate with 75% or 50,000 tonnes per annum at a battery-grade (HPMSM) and 25% or 16,650 tonnes per annum at a fertiliser grade (FGMSM).

Scoping study highlights

According to E25, the scoping study returned robust net present value (NPV) with a healthy base case internal rate of return (IRR).

The study used a life of project average HPMSM price of US $1,950 (A$2,600) per tonne free on board (FOB) and an FGMSM price of US$900 (A$1,200) per tonne FOB.

The development model investigated a stepped three-stage construction schedule, with a modest start-up capital cost of about US$150 million (A$200 million) when employing E25s proprietary leaching and sulphate purification solution developed in-house.

Test-work indicates manganese recovery may be as high as 85%  the base case assumption for the study  with life of project operating costs estimated at US$552 per tonne of HPMSM.

The study is based on manganese ore supplied from the companys existing Butcherbird Manganese Project, which is based on a JORC proved and probable mineral reserve of 55 million tonnes at 10.8% manganese.

Element 25 says the study results confirm the companys view that an HPMSM Project represents a long life, low operating cost opportunity to expand into the downstream processing of ore from Butcherbird to produce HPMSM.

The study indicated the facility would require modest capital in a stable jurisdiction with simple logistics and a growing market.

Finance and ESG

E25 says it has sufficient funding  supported by forecast revenues from existing production operations  to progress through to an HPMSM feasibility study and, subject to the outcome of the studies, finance and develop the project as soon as possible.

Production cost reduction opportunities, including use of hybrid energy systems and alternative export ports, will be investigated further during more detailed studies.

The company envisages a traditional debt-equity funding solution to be completed in 2023 post offtake finalisation.

Equity will be sourced via cash reserves, future revenues from operation and/or the issue of new shares to raise further equity.

The plant will be designed with a focus on ESG principles including carbon minimisation, social engagement and good corporate stewardship.

Energy will be sourced from renewable sources where available, in-line with the E25s net-zero carbon strategy.

As a final cautionary note, Element 25 warns that there is no certainty the funding will be raised, and the company may still pursue other options such as sale or partial sale of the project.

Given the uncertainties involved, investors should not make any investment decisions based solely on the results of the scoping study, the board wrote in the companys ASX announcement.

About Element 25

Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) is developing a world-class manganese resource at the 100%-owned Butcherbird Project in Western Australia to produce high-quality manganese concentrate for export markets.

The Butcherbird Manganese Deposit is Australias largest onshore manganese resource comprising large tonnages of near-surface manganese oxide ore in seven deposits.

The project also has some excellent infrastructure advantages with a gas pipeline and main bitumen highway passing directly adjacent to and through the mineralised envelope.
ErdeneDrillings water drilling operations in the Gobi region of Mongolia.

Elixir Energy Ltd (ASX:EXR) has achieved progress on multiple fronts for its Mongolian-based green hydrogen project  Gobi H2  including the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support project finance.

The company has executed an MoU with the Mongolia Green Finance Corporate, a joint-public-private sector body, and procured expert water advisory services, with potential water sources for the project identified.

It has also submitted a detailed analysis of the legal issues surrounding a potential green hydrogen project in Mongolia to the Ministry of Energy, which states that no new major legislation is needed for the development of green hydrogen projects in the country.

Elixir Energy is also in the process of confirming the bankability of the renewable power inputs.

First mover advantage

Elixir managing director Neil Young said: All the work we are doing on our Gobi H2 project serves to reinforce our original starting concept: the country is a potential tier-one location for large-scale hydrogen exports.

Elixirs first-mover advantages are being progressively locked in and it is fantastic to see the rapidly growing interest in this future-facing industry from multiple local and international stakeholders.

Shares have been as much as 19% higher this morning to $0.19.

Gobi H2 trademark

Elixir Energy has named the green hydrogen project the Gobi H2 project and is applying for a Mongolian trademark for the name.

Project finance

Under the MoU executed, the parties will cooperate on the following:

 Identify Mongolian carbon offset opportunities at the household level. Elixirs aim is to reduce its current exploration/appraisal stage scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by such means;

 Develop larger-scale forestry/nature-related offsets in Mongolia. These are increasingly sought by international oil and gas companies to offset emissions in the production stage of operations; and

 Work with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) over the project financing of Elixirs proposed green hydrogen pilot production plant. A number of IFIs are present in Ulaanbaatar and Elixir has developed relationships with them.

The MGFC was established to facilitate the financing of Mongolian projects that will assist the global energy transition to a net-zero carbon future.

'No new major legislation needed'

As part of the MoU with Mongolias Ministry of Energy on the cooperation over various hydrogen-related matters, a key initial deliverable - a detailed analysis of the legal issues surrounding a potential green hydrogen project in Mongolia  has been delivered to the ministry.

Elixir had procured a baseline analysis of the green hydrogen legal environment in the mature jurisdiction of Western Australia from global experts PriceWaterhouse (PwC).

The comparative position in Mongolia was then evaluated by leading Ulaanbaatar-based law firm MahoneyLiotta (ML).

A key conclusion of MLs analysis is: It is our view that in general, the existing Mongolian legal regime supports the development of green hydrogen projects in Mongolia without the need for any major new legislation.

Copies of the legal reports have also been provided to:

Various Ulaanbaatar-based IFIs who have expressed interest in hydrogen projects in the country; and

The Future Energy  Mongolian Hydrogen Council. Elixirs Neil Young serves as the deputy chairman of this recently established body.

Expert water advisory services

Elixir has worked with Mongolian drilling company ErdeneDrilling LLC for a number of years on the CBM drilling front.

Although water is not a large part of the cost structures of producing green hydrogen, it is a vital input and the social issues surrounding it are a key priority.

Elixirs CBM business, where producing water is a necessary part of gas production from coal seams, provides complementary areas of expertise and even potential H2O feedstock for the Gobi H2 project.

Elixir and Erdene have recently formalised their relationship over procuring water for hydrogen through an agreement for the provision of water advisory services.

The parties are planning field-based water exploration and appraisal activities for later in the year.

Renewable resources

Other than water, the other key input for a green hydrogen project is a high-quality renewable power source, which desktop analysis indicates are of globally very high quality in the Gobi region.

On this front, Elixir is currently:

 Measuring wind and solar resources to a bankable standard through its Australian sourced SODAR unit imported to the country last year and deployed in the South Gobi region; and

 Importing a solar-focused measurement tool (from the same Australian firm who supplied the SODAR  Fulcrum3D) to be deployed at its recently acquired Solar Ilch solar farm.

Elixirs SODAR deployed in the Gobi close to the main transmission line from China.
Carnavale Resources Ltd (ASX:CAV)'s initial reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at McTavish East prospect of the Kookynie Gold Project in the Western Australian Goldfields is yielding bonanza-grade results.

RC drilling of the steeply dipping mineralised structure has intersected high-grade gold in fresh rock that appears to have a southerly plunge. This zone has been defined over 150 metres down dip on the mineralised structure.

Highlight results are 16 metres at 20.92 g/t gold from 161 metres in hole MERC005, including 10 metres at 31.88 g/t, and 4 metres at 17.82 g/t from 78 metres, including 2 metres at 33.55 g/t in MERC001.

Exciting find

We are delighted that the RC drilling program has discovered a new high-grade gold lode at Kookynie," CEO Humphrey Hale said.

This initial RC program followed up strong shallow oxide gold intercepts identified in earlier aircore programs.

The McTavish East discovery shows similarities to the previously mined high-grade deposits like the Cosmopolitan Mine where over 295,120 ounces were historically mined at an average grade of 15.57 g/t and the Altona mine where over 95,000 ounces were mined at an average grade of 30.01 g/t.

Shares have been as much as 25% higher intraday to $0.01.

Assay results

The initial program of RC drilling consisted of 21 holes for 2,987 metres. Partial results have been received for 10 holes with results from the remaining assays expected before the end of the month.

Initial RC drilling has focused on the McTavish East prospect, which hosts the highest gold grades in the project area at present.

Other strong new RC results include:

3 metres at 3.27 g/t gold from 109 metres in MERC003; and

1-metre at 4.39 g/t from 89 metres in MERC005.

The mineralisation correlates well with the previously reported shallow oxide high-grade aircore drilling results (4 metres at 31.1 g/t and 2 metres at 16.25 g/t) and remains open along strike and at depth.

Whats next?

CAV will return to Kookynie to expand this new high-grade McTavish East discovery and to test other previously defined aircore anomalies at McTavish North in the coming months.

Further exploration will be aimed at understanding and targeting the thickest zones within the main structure that appear to have a south-easterly plunge. RC drilling has shown that the main structure remains open and very prospective 1 kilometres northeast to Champion South.

CAV is delighted with the outcome of its systematic exploration program at Kookynie. It plans to mobilise an RC rig to chase the bonanza gold grades down dip and along strike at McTavish East. It will also explore the high-grade gold discovered at McTavish North once all assay results have been received and interpreted.

The systematic exploration approach undertaken by CAV at Kookynie has delivered a significant outcome with further results pending," Hale said. Follow up RC drilling is planned to grow this bonanza-grade gold discovery as soon as a suitable RC rig can be secured.
AuTECO Minerals Ltd has intersected high-grade gold in extensional and explorational drilling targeting gold outside the measured resource of the Pickle Crow Gold Project in Canada, underlining the potential to add material increases to the 1.7-million-ounce JORC resource.

Drilling targeting high-grade veins outside the measured resource in the Shaft 1 and Shaft 3 areas continue to return notable results, including:

7.3 metres at 33.3 g/t gold from 9.4 metres;

1.5 metres at 35.2 g/t from 541.5 metres;

4.0 metres at 11.0 g/t from 205.8 metres;

4.0 metres at 6.5 g/t from 333.0 metres;

3.2 metres at 3.4 g/t from 103.2 metres; and

0.8 metres at 13.9 g/t from 529.7 metres.

World-class quality

AuTECO executive chair Ray Shorrocks said: The more we drill, the more gold we find. This outstanding success rate reflects the world-class quality of the Pickle Crow mineralised system.

These latest results contain mineralisation well outside the current 1.7-million-ounce resource, which shows the size of the geological system.

In addition, the promising results in the alteration-hosted mineralisation continue to validate our concept of establishing higher and lower-grade areas which can be mined using different methods but would take advantage of the same access infrastructure.

AuTECO remains fully funded to continue the exploration and growth campaign.

Exploration drilling is ongoing, targeting Banded Iron Formation (BIF) hosted mineralisation near Shaft 1, and so far returning up to 6.0 metres at 5.8 g/t gold from 423 metres.

Some 500 metres to the southwest of the same area, the F Zone target has demonstrated strike potential, with the first holes returning intersections of:

25.2 metres at 1.3 g/t gold from 166 metres; and

11.8 metres at 1.6 g/t from 130.3 metres.

All reported intersections have been returned from outside the current inferred resource of 1.7 million ounces at 8.1 g/t and will contribute to an updated resource estimate on track for release in February this year.

Five diamond drill rigs are already drilling at Pickle Crow, having commenced targeting of regional areas outside the main historic mine.

First results are expected early in the June quarter.

About AuTECO Minerals

AuTECO Minerals is an emerging mineral exploration company focused on advancing high-grade gold resources at the Pickle Crow Gold Project in the world-class Uchi sub province of Ontario, Canada.

The Pickle Crow Gold Project hosts a JORC 2012 mineral resource of 1.7 million ounces at 8.1 g/t gold, with a 50,000-metre drilling program underway to expedite resource growth.

Pickle Crow is one of Canadas highest-grade gold mines  historically producing 1.5 million ounces at 16 g/t gold.

The company also has a joint venture on the Limestone Well Vanadium-Titanium Project in Western Australia.
Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR) shares traded as much as 31.9% higher intra-day to 12 cents after acquiring the Graphic Lake Lithium Project in Ontario, Canada.

The project is about 180 kilometres from the companys recently acquired Mavis Lake project and is considered as prospective for both lithium and rare earth elements (REE).

There are natural synergies between Mavis Lake and Graphic Lake that demonstrate the companys intent to cement its position in the Canadian lithium sector.

Excellent early-stage exploration opportunity

Critical Resources managing director Alex Biggs said: The Graphic Lake lithium project in Ontario Canada represents an excellent early-stage exploration opportunity that is synergistic with our newly acquired Mavis Lake project.

The company is committed to making quality acquisitions and expanding its access to lithium raw materials to provide the companys shareholders with exposure across a range of battery and critical minerals.

An early-stage project such as Graphic Lake allows us to add significant value from the ground floor, in a commodity that we anticipate will be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

Key transaction terms

The company has acquired the project by paying A$80,000 in cash, issuing A$120,000 worth of shares in Critical Resources and a 1.5% net smelter royalty (NSR) capped at C$500,000 with the option to purchase at any time for C$500,000.

Graphic Lake Lithium Project is dissected by the Trans Canadian Highway, providing key links to larger cities such as Thunder Bay, Ontario to the southwest and Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the west. The region is a well-established lithium province with multiple projects across the region.

Previous works

The majority of previous works completed at Graphic Lake has been conducted by government bodies including the Ontario Department of Mines and the Ontario Geological Survey.

There is evidence that the area was staked and explored in 1980 but there is no information available. 2003 represents the first documented prospecting program on the property.

Ten samples were gathered, of which seven returned anomalous values of elements including beryllium, caesium, lithium, rubidium, tin and tantalum.

Further grassroots prospecting was completed in 2021. From this campaign, there are currently thirteen samples at the lab awaiting assays.

Forward work program

The company plans an aggressive approach to exploration at Graphic Lake with a view to delineating a JORC compliant resource. Planned activities are as outlined below.

Surface mapping and sampling - Surface mapping and sampling of outcrops will assist in identifying drill targets in conjunction with the planned airborne survey data. Further surface mapping of the lease may find new pegmatites not previously documented.

Airborne survey - An airborne survey is to be completed as soon as possible to help identify targets for a drill program.

Channel sampling - Channel sampling is to be conducted on areas of interest previously identified by outcrop mapping and sampling. This sampling may require the stripping of outcrops, as a precaution. The permitting for this has already begun.

Drill program

Based on the activities outlined above, it is expected a preliminary drill program of 2,500 metres or greater will be designed with drilling permits ready to be submitted.

A secondary drill program of 5,000 metres will be designed based on the preliminary results and data interpretation from previously outlined exploration activities.

Lithium industry in Ontario

Tesla recently announced the opening of a battery gear manufacturing plant in Markham, Ontario demonstrating the significant opportunity for Ontario to become one of the worlds leading lithium provinces.

The facility will be the first branded Tesla manufacturing facility in Canada.

A significant amount of activity in the lithium exploration sector is currently occurring in Ontario.

Due to the quality of lithium assets in the region, the fundamental drivers behind the lithium market and the intent of North American manufacturers to source lithium for battery manufacturing from localised supply chains, it is an excellent time to be gaining a foothold in Ontario.
Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) has demonstrated its confidence in the Leonora district of Western Australia, expanding its interests in the area with a farm-in deal for tenure adjacent to its flagship Cardinia Gold Project (CGP).

The exploration earn-in and joint venture agreement secured with Golden Mile Resources Ltd (ASX:G88) covers more than 120 square kilometres of contiguous tenure adjacent to the 1.28-million-ounce CGP.

This agreement allows Kin to consolidate significant parcels of exploration ground around the highly prospective, Tier-1 Leonora mining province.

Logical and strategic addition

Kin Mining managing director Andrew Munckton said: The earn-in and joint venture agreement with G88 represents a logical and strategic addition to our regional gold exploration footprint, with the ability for our team to apply the systematic exploration methodology and regional knowledge we have successfully employed at the Cardinia Gold Project to test this under-explored package of ground.

Earning-in to this tenure is consistent with our strategy of acquiring and consolidating prospective ground and assets in the Leonora district that will help us to grow our resource base and establish the foundations for Kin to build a long-term gold business.

The contiguous nature of these tenement packages and the fact that they lie on geological structures that were already exploring at the CGP make this ground a very attractive addition to our exploration footprint.

Kin intends to leverage successful exploration techniques and detailed geological knowledge from previous efforts across this additional tenure, which includes historic results of:

Monarch:

WRC039 (Wildcat) 2 metres at 2.86 g/t gold from 96 metres; and

WRC036 (Wildcat) 2 metres at 1.62 g/t from 68 metres.

Ironstone Well:

IRC002 (Natasha) 7 metres at 4.16 g/t from 17 metres.

Kin will include this ground in its future exploration plans, alongside the other exciting areas that will be followed-up in the next phase of work planned for 2022, including ongoing exploration programs at Rangoon and Pegasus at Cardinia, as well as Mt Flora and Randwick, Munckton said.

About Kin Mining

Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) is a gold development and exploration company, whose key focus is the 100%-owned Cardinia Gold Project (CGP) in the highly prospective North-Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.

The CGP has a 1,280,000-ounce gold mineral resource defined in oxide and deeper primary mineralisation with considerable potential to grow this resource with further drilling.
'We are confident that our strategic decisions and the investments in our platform have put us in a strong position to establish MedX as a vital tool in the battle against skin cancer,' said Paul Ziemer, the VP of North American sales at MedX

MedX Health Corp, a leader in teledermatology, has revealed that its flagship DermSecure Screening Platform services are being offered in Empower's The Medi-Collective (TMC) locations across Ontario, Canada.

"As we enter the New Year, we remain optimistic about the opportunity that lies before us," Paul Ziemer, the VP of North American sales at MedX, said in a statement. "The pandemic has put incredible pressure on health care systems worldwide, further increasing wait times for those who may need it most. The early detection of skin cancer and timely access to care is critical to a successful patient outcome.

The Mississauga, Ontario-based medical device and software company, which is focused on skin health, said that demand for Dermsecure continues to grow.

We are confident that our strategic decisions and the investments in our platform have put us in a strong position to establish MedX as a vital tool in the battle against skin cancer," added Ziemer.

READ: MedX Health Corp and London Medical Laboratory announce commercialization pilot

TMC is establishing itself as a medical service provider in Canada's most populous province. In addition to its extensive roster of existing patients, it plans to offer MedX's screening service to walk-in patients shortly.

MedX's strategic model to date has focused on multiple market verticals, such as pharmacy networks, medical clinic and building hubs, medical scanning clinics, mobile and remote medical practices, esthetics and skincare clinics.

The partnership with TMC is the first launch of the MedX DermSecure Screening Platform within Canada's primary physician clinic network, said the company.

MedX's physician-based model allows family practices with thousands of patients to enhance their healthcare offerings. Providing skin cancer screenings quickly and efficiently addresses patients' concerns over the current long wait times. Family practitioners have enthusiastically welcomed the MedX telemedicine platform, said the company.

In addition, the service is non-invasive, secure, quick, and easy to use in doctors offices and doesnt require specialized staff to perform scans.

Meanwhile, Mike Druhan, president of Dermatology Services at MedX, said: "With skin cancer rates continuing to rise since the 1990s, our partnership with Empower and The Medi-Collective provides an enormous opportunity to address the need for early and rapid detection of melanoma, improve patient outcomes, and potentially prevent lesions from unnecessarily becoming fatal.

We are excited for what 2022 holds for MedX, as we anticipate more partnerships to grow our national and global presence and realize our purpose of saving lives," he added.

MedXs novel DermSecure Screening Platform features high-resolution image capture technology for moles, lesions and other skin conditions; providing a complete, virtual dermatological assessment by a certified dermatologist within 72 hours. The Canadian company has developed the SIAscope  the only image-capture technology on the market that provides clinical, dermoscopic, and spectrophotometric views of moles and lesions up to 2 millimeters (mm) below the skin's surface.

In addition, the companys secure, cloud-based DermSecure patient management system transmits and stores patient data throughout the assessment process to provide a complete end-to-end solution for dermatologists.

The new Medi-Collective locations offering MedX Health DermSecure Screening Services are:

London, Ontario: The 94 Fanshawe Park Road East, London location has 5 family physicians on staff. The inhouse pharmacy for walk-in patients to be serviced shortly

The 94 Fanshawe Park Road East, London location has 5 family physicians on staff. The inhouse pharmacy for walk-in patients to be serviced shortly Kitchener, Ontario: The 537 Frederick Street, Kitchener location has three family physicians on staff

The 537 Frederick Street, Kitchener location has three family physicians on staff Etobicoke, Ontario: The 440 Brown's Line, Etobicoke location has six family physicians on staff. In addition, the 3590 Lake Shore Boulevard, Etobicoke location is opening in mid-February with two family physicians on staff

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- In an effort to consolidate its poverty elimination achievements, China will strive to ensure that at least 30 million people who have been lifted out of poverty are employed this year, a senior official said on Tuesday.

In 2021, some 31.45 million people lifted out of poverty found jobs, Liu Huanxin, deputy chief of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group and head of the National Rural Revitalization Administration, told a video conference.

That number is 1.26 million higher than the 2020 level, Liu said, pledging efforts to achieve even better results this year.

To that end, Liu said work will be done to boost labor service cooperation between provinces, cities and counties, develop characteristic industries, provide public welfare jobs in rural areas, and support entrepreneurship and flexible employment.

As a result of the country's efforts to consolidate its poverty alleviation achievements and push for rural vitalization, the average net income of people who have shaken off poverty is likely to have reached 12,500 yuan (about 1,968 U.S. dollars) last year, up over 16.5 percent year on year, official data shows. 
"Very few silver deposits contain a drill section of +200-meters with anomalous silver and gold from surface and hole CC21-06 is an exceptional result," CEO Gary Lewis told investors

Nevada Silver Corporation (TSX-V:NSC) has reported more drill assays from its maiden program at the Corcoran silver-gold project in Nevada, which included an 'exceptional' result in one hole of over 200 metres (m) starting from surface at a grade of 43 grams per ton (g/t) silver-equivalent.

The latest assays come from two holes from the recently completed 3,040m diamond drill program at the deposit.

The hole, noted above, cut 204.67m from surface at a grade of 43g/t silver-equivalent, with 21g/t silver and 0.29 g/t gold. This included an intercept of 0.8m starting from 140.82m at a grade of 747g/t silver-equivalent.

"Very few silver deposits contain a drill section of +200-meters with anomalous silver and gold from surface and hole CC21-06 is an exceptional result," CEO Gary Lewis told investors in a statement.

"Importantly, this wide zone includes high-grade, narrow intervals which may be important for future development scenarios. These narrow-brecciated structures may be the near-surface extensions of deeper feeder zones' some of which were intersected by drilling last century but have not been explored or sampled by recent exploration. NSC is planning to drill test along-trend and deeper targets during 2022 and this work may add considerable size to the deposit," he added.

Both historic and the firm's drilling to date has concentrated on the Silver Reef Zone, a northeast-trending mineralized zone 500m wide and 600m long, on Silver Reef Hill, added the company.

Silver Reef Hill is around 1km long, running north-northeast and stands about 100 meters above to the valley floor. It sits in the center of the company's claim block.

Nevada Silver Corp is a multi-commodity resource company with two exploration projects in the USA. The main asset is the Corcoran Silver-Gold project in Nevada. It also has management and ownership rights over the Emily Manganese project in Minnesota, which has been the subject of considerable technical studies, with US$24 million invested to date. Both Corcoran and Emily boast NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimates.

Contact the writer at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
Safe-T has established a global partnership network for ZoneZero in the US, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, addressing the needs of customers across many enterprise verticals

Safe-T Group Ltd said it has entered into an agreement with TerraZone Ltd for the development and sales of ZoneZero - its Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) product technology.

TerraZone, based in Israel, is a specialist focused on providing customers in enterprise and government markets with an array of advanced information technology and cyber security services.

Under the terms of the agreement, TerraZone will co-locate staff in Safe-Ts headquarters and will be responsible for all sales, marketing, product development, and support of ZoneZero. TerraZone will also be responsible for maintaining and expanding all global customer and partner programs.

As a result of the agreement, Safe-T said it expects to reduce operating expenses at its Enterprise Cybersecurity business unit starting by the end of the first quarter of 2022. Safe-T also will maintain all rights and IP for its technology and products.

TerraZone is led by an accomplished group of cybersecurity veterans, a team which we believe can help us accelerate ZoneZeros further penetration into the global enterprise market," said Eitan Bremler, vice president of product strategy at Safe-T, in a statement.

"Furthermore, through this agreement, Safe-T will be able to leverage TerraZones expertise, reduce our ongoing sales, marketing, and development investments into ZoneZero, while still maintaining the benefit from the vast potential of ZTNA."

Safe-T has established a global partnership network for ZoneZero in the US, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, addressing the needs of customers across many enterprise verticals. Safe-T said TerraZone intends to leverage those connections, working closely with the Safe-T team and partners to support current clients and further advance the penetration of ZoneZero with new customers.

We are excited by the sizable potential we see for ZoneZero as the enterprise security market moves to embrace the many benefits of ZTNA," said Ofir Zvik, chief technology officer for TerraZone

"In the short time since ZoneZero was introduced, it has quickly gained recognition by many of the industrys leading analysts including Gartner, Forrester, Frost & Sullivan, and Quadrant, and established a global network of channel partners such as Fujitsu and DataGroup. It is our intent to fully leverage the impressive foundation that Safe-T has created for ZoneZero, working with the team to drive deeper into the enterprise security market."

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
"Effective and reliable testing is critical to keeping schools safe and operational," said Andrew Morton, CEO of Bloom Health

Bloom Health Partners Inc (CSE:BLMH, OTCQB:BLMHF) said it has been awarded a statewide contract for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for K-12 schools in Texas for the remainder of the 2022 school year.

Bloom's program includes both rapid and lab testing to make up a complete program that covers the needs of schools as they navigate the pandemic. RT-PCR testing will be conducted in Bloom's Dallas-based laboratory. Rapid tests are being supplied by Bloom to schools, with results being managed on Bloom's cloud data platform.

"Effective and reliable testing is critical to keeping schools safe and operational," said Andrew Morton, CEO of Bloom in a statement. "As an occupational health-tech provider, our team is well equipped to work with schools in Texas on a successful program. With operations and a team based in the Dallas area, we're excited to do our part for the state of Texas."

Similar to Bloom's testing program at schools in the state of Alabama, families in Texas have the opportunity for their children to be tested on a voluntary basis. Bloom's Dallas facility is equipped to handle high volume RT-PCR based testing producing results within 24 hours.

Rapid test supply chain is provided by the company with fulfillment supported by Bloom's Dallas facilities and team. Management of test data and results are supported by Bloom as part of the program. With both lab testing and rapid testing, Bloom will handle the high volume needs of schools that choose to work with the company in the program.

Bloom Health is a global platform for healthcare security, diagnostic testing and occupational health-tech. its mission is to ensure that "unstoppable is possible" for businesses and their employees through innovative, customized healthcare models.

The company offers a system for businesses and organizations that helps engage employees and creates strategies to manage health and safety. Its stable, scalable system is an integrated health-tech platform that securely manages data while delivering comprehensive workplace health and safety outcomes.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
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Budapest, Jan 18 : About 30 people, including a 102-year-old man, have received the fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose in Hungary following the government's green light for people aged 60 and above a few days earlier, the president of the Clinical Center of the University of Pecs has said.

Andor Sebestyen said that his center had received numerous phone calls and messages from people interested in taking the fourth vaccine dose even before the government's January 13 announcement, Xinhua news agency reported.

He said it was particularly important for older people who suffer from one or more chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes or cancer) to get vaccinated.

The decision on the introduction of the fourth jab in Hungary follows a sudden surge in infections, largely attributed to the Omicron variant.

In the last three days (the authorities in Hungary provide daily figures on weekdays only), 21,219 new coronavirus cases were recorded, taking the national tally to 1,348,233, the government's coronavirus information website said.

During this period, the country's death toll rose by 270 to 40,507. Currently, 2,630 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, including 228 on ventilators, while 1,169,775 people have recovered.

To date, 6,319,434 people in Hungary have received at least one vaccine shot, 6,059,382 people have had both, and 3,417,089 people have received their booster shot, according to the website.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Jerusalem, Jan 18 : Israel has shortened quarantine for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to ease the pressure on the economy, government officials has said.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horwitz decided to cut the mandatory isolation period for asymptomatic patients from seven to five days, the PM's office and health ministry said in separate statements, Xinhua news agency reported.

The decision will take effect starting from Wednesday, said the statements.

"Israel is now facing the highest morbidity of the Omicron wave," Bennett said, warning the pandemic is "placing heavy pressure on the economy." The Prime Minister added that the shortened isolation will "enable us to continue safeguarding public health and to keep the economy going at the same time." It is the second time the Israeli government decided to reduce the quarantine time, which had been cut from 10 days to seven last week.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : In Punjab, the BJP for the first time would be seen in the role of 'elder brother' in an alliance and it is certain that the Amarinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa's party will contest the assembly elections in alliance with the BJP.

However the parties haven't yet reached to any final conclusion on the seat-sharing. If sources are to be believed, there are still some differences between the three parties over many seats.

On Monday, the political situation in Punjab and the names of probable candidates were discussed in detail at the BJP National Headquarters in Delhi under the chairmanship of party's National President J.P. Nadda, in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah.

In the meeting discussions on alliance and seats were held with election in-charge and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, election co-in-charge and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, BJP National General Secretary and Punjab in-charge Dushyant Gautam, Punjab State President and other leaders of Punjab BJP Core Committee.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Dushyant Gautam said that all the seats were discussed in the meeting. "We will fight on some seats and our allies will fight on some." Responding to a question about seat-sharing among the allies, he said nothing has been finalised yet and discussions are still underway. He added that with the extension of elections' dates, date for finalising the seats has also been extended.

Similarly, Meenakshi Lekhi while answering the question about the alliance and the candidates said that there is a due process in the BJP and all information will be given to the media after it is decided.

On January 11, a veteran BJP leader associated with the Punjab elections had claimed that the BJP is preparing to contest on 80 out of the 117 seats in the state and the remaining seats will be contested by both of its allies -- the Punjab Lok Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (United).

However, it is now being learnt that some differences have erupted among the coalition parties over a few seats. In such a situation, the exercise of finding a middle way is still going on.

A BJP leader told IANS that the alliance will contest the elections in Punjab "very strongly" and if needed, "it may give some its seats to the allies".

The Election Commission has extended the date of elections in the state on the request of parties across the political spectrum. Parties had cited that many voters will be travelling to Varanasi on account of Guru Ravidas Jayanti which falls on February 16. Now instead of February 14, elections will be held in Punjab on February 20.
Aligarh, Jan 18 : After the Haridwar controversy, the Aligarh district administration has denied permission for the proposed Dharam Sansad, planned in the city on January 22 and 23.

Several eminent citizens, minority organisations and former union law minister Kapil Sibal, had also written a letter to the district administration demanding denial of permission for the event that could "spark tension" in the "communally sensitive" city.

ADM (city) R.K. Patel said that since Model Code of Conduct and Covid guidelines are in force in the state, the permission will not be given to the organiser.

"Neither the permission was granted nor will be given," he said.

Several senior citizens, retired officials, professors and social workers had also written a letter to district magistrate Selva Kumari saying that, "Dharam Sansad in Aligarh is being organised on the pattern of Haridwar. Since Aligarh is a sensitive city, the event could disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the entire nation, could create tension and fear among the society amid assembly elections. Therefore, such an event should not be allowed in public interest." Besides, the petitioner in the PIL seeking criminal action with respect to the Dharm Sansad conclave held at Haridwar and Delhi had also written to the Aligarh district magistrate seeking to take preventive action to ensure that no speeches of such nature are allowed at the proposed events.

Members of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had also urged the district magistrate to deny permission for the proposed 'Dharam Sansad'.

District president of the party Gufran Noor, said that communal harmony was disrupted after the alleged hate speech delivered during 'Dharam Sansad' held in Haridwar and now the same people were organising it in Aligarh.
Qala-e-naw, Jan 18 : At least 12 people were killed and many others injured after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Afghanistan's western province of Badghis on Monday, a local official has said.

"The worst-hit areas were Badruk, Darband-e-Safed and Khak Polak localities in Qadis district, east of the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw," Xinhua news agency quoted district chief Mohammad Saleh Purdil.

Multiple houses were affected by the quake which occurred at 4:10 p.m., and the number of casualties may rise, the source said.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 jolted 40 km east of Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital of Badghis which borders Turkmenistan.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 34.9479 degrees north latitude and 63.5686 degrees east longitude, it said.

Several aftershocks were also felt in the region.
Moscow, Jan 18 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has addressed the situation concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

The Iranian nuclear agreement was discussed in light of the eighth round of negotiations on the revival of the JCPOA that resumed in Vienna on December 27, 2021, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

In addition, both ministers covered bilateral ties and regional issues.

Since April last year, Iran and the major parties to the 2015 nuclear pact, namely Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, have held seven rounds of talks in Vienna on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal. The US has been taking part in the talks indirectly.

The eighth round of negotiations began in Vienna on December 27, and resumed on January 3 this year.

Following talks in January, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said they "had gained momentum," adding that all parties demonstrated readiness to find solutions to the remaining problems.
TIANJIN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Braving the fierce cold, Kwon O Sub, from the Republic of Korea, swings to action early in the morning, checking body temperature and health code of people entering Nankai University premises in north China's Tianjin municipality.

This is the first winter holiday that the 30-year-old assistant professor at the university is spending on campus.

On Jan. 8, a sudden resurgence of COVID-19 infections was reported in Tianjin -- a city of 14 million people -- which has disrupted the daily life of locals as well as expats. Gene sequencing found the first two locally transmitted confirmed cases were infected with the VOC/Omicron variant.

Kwon is among the foreign faculty members of the university who has volunteered to join hands with Chinese teachers and students to help guard against the virus in Haihe education park located in the city's Jinnan District, the worst-hit area in the latest resurgence.

As of Sunday, Tianjin reported a total of 294 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22 asymptomatic carriers.

Kwon, who is proficient in Chinese, has a deep bonding with China, having studied here since primary school when his father came to work in Guangzhou, capital of the southern province of Guandong.

Kwon graduated from Guanghua School of Management of Peking University and later Ohio State University in the United States. He came to work in Nankai University last year.

"When the COVID-19 cases were reported, there were more than 5,000 teachers and students on campus," said Kwon, adding that the school immediately adopted precautionary measures and initiated closed-off management for the campus.

Kwon has complied with the city's quarantine measures and undergone three citywide nucleic acid testings over the past few days.

He noted that the arrangements were not very smooth initially, and it took some twists and turns for him to register for the test using his passport.

"From the second round of the testing, however, the process became increasingly standardized. All people were arranged in the school stadium first, then they filled in their personal details and finally, went to the campus yard to undergo testing in groups," Kwon said, adding that he completed his test in the second round in just about 10 minutes.

The third round of testing was even more efficient, he noted. "People scanned their ID cards to input personal information while I could input information using my passport, without manually filling up the form. In just a few days, the efficiency of the COVID-19 prevention work had been greatly improved owing to the wisdom and strength of the local governance," Kwon said.

Impressed by the city's foolproof COVID-19 prevention and control efforts, Kwon signed up as a volunteer in the university.

He said the school management prepares the schedules to make sure each volunteer has enough time to rest, and that he is on duty every alternative day.

Kwon is stationed at the entrance of the school's east building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. "Students come to the building to do experiments during the winter holiday. Although my work is negligible, I'm happy that I'm doing my bit to help ensure their safety and study," he said.

Kwon said he feels safe and relaxed living on campus, as the supermarket and school canteen had resumed normal operations in just a few days.

"I can feel that China attaches great importance to the safety of everybody's life. The authorities' rapid deployment and active response to emergencies have created countless miracles," said Kwon. 
Poland: An elderly woman wearing a face mask is seen at the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland, April 8, 2021. (Str/Xinhua/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Warsaw, Jan 18 : Poland's Health Minister Adam Niedzielski has said that the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has come to the country, warning that infections could soon hit record levels.

"We already have the fifth wave of the pandemic ... We predict that infections will peak in mid-February and that peak will be at about 60,000 cases a day," Xinhua news agency quoted Niedzielski as saying.

Poland on Monday reported 10,445 new infections and four more deaths related to Covid-19, bringing the country's total number of cases to 4,323,482 and fatalities to 102,309.

Last week, 13 of the 17 members of the government's medical council that gives advice on Covid-19 policies resigned, citing inaction of the government.

Niedzielski said that a new advisory body will be established and operate in a different form.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Sydney, Jan 18 : Ongoing volcanic upheavals are expected to follow the massive January 15 eruption off the coast of Tonga, according to a leading Australian geologist.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano caused a tsunami to send water flooding into the nation's capital of Nuku'alofa, while large waves and tidal surges rolled across the Pacific region including the east coast of Australia, Japan and Hawaii.

Monash University's Associate Professor of Geochemistry Oliver Nebel told Xinhua news agency on Monday that the disaster was caused by the volcano sitting near the edge of one of the Earth's tectonic plates.

Over time, a plate can "clash" with another, in this case causing an eruption along what is known as the "Ring of Fire" volcanoes, which are already explosive.

"The last eruption of this volcano was about 1,000 years ago, so it was due for a large eruption, and this is likely what happened now," Nebel said.

Nebel said volcanic activity off the Tongan coast had been detected over the Christmas period which was a sign that pressure was building up along the vulnerable plate edges.

He said hot magma was constantly accumulating within volcanoes, and it is expected that they will create lots of ash and can have "a fair bit of a violent eruption".

Volcanoes build up those underground reservoirs and "every now and then this reservoir is emptied, and this causes an eruption".

"Once the magma is evacuated from underneath the volcano, it's likely that eruptions will go on and on. But once you have a violent eruption it's unlikely the next ones will be as disruptive because there's a good chance that a huge amount of the magma has already erupted." But it is still "not a very predictable" process as to when it would explode, especially given the lack of data currently.

"At the moment, we actually do not have a lot of data. Most of the stations on the volcano would have been destroyed during the day. We have satellite data, but any sort of other measurement needs to be taken on site, which at the moment is not easy, basically impossible to travel there. Without data, it's really difficult to assess what sort of explosivity index can be assigned to the volcano or how much mess was in place." Nebel said tsunamis were the biggest hazards of such underwater eruptions.

He said the January 15 disaster had been caused by the "displacement of water mass through injection of material from the deep Earth's interior into the ocean and the possible sinking of the volcano due to lava evacuation from underneath".

He also added that during the eruption, "lava burst into tiny particles that formed volcanic ash, and the interaction of lava with cold seawater likely intensified the plumes of ash".

"This ash is also causing a fair bit of air traffic disruption," he said. "The ash is actually tiny particles of rock, it's not like the ash out of a wood fire." Nebel said the priority for authorities must now be to help those who have been hardest hit by the eruption.

One such priority will be restoring Tonga's undersea communications cable that was severed during the eruption.

It is believed the repairs could take more time, which means the inhabitants of the island country are essentially cut off from communication with the outside world.
Tehran, Jan 18 : Iran is ready to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Addressing reporters here on Monday, the spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said the decision still depends on the Saudi side and the practical measures it takes, Xinhua news agency reported.

Khatibzadeh added that Iran is now focusing on the resumption of activities by its mission to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian had said earlier that Iran has held four rounds of positive and constructive talks with Saudi officials in Iraq.

"What we have stated as our official position is that relations between the two countries would return to normal whenever the Saudi side wishes. Iran is ready and welcomes the reopening of the embassies and consulates," Abdollahian said.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in protest against the attacks on diplomatic missions in Tehran following the execution of a Shia cleric by Riyadh.
Dubai, Jan 18 : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was and continues to be one of the pioneering countries in the fields of climate action, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, during the opening ceremony of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) -- the global platform for accelerating sustainability hosted by Masdar.

The ADSW summit is being convened amidst presence of more than 80 global leaders, including heads of state, policy makers, and international business leaders, as the United Arab Emirates aims to take the agenda global sustainability forward and accelerate pathways to net zero.

The opening event was also attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

The Prime Minister on Monday welcomed the leaders and experts meeting in the UAE to discuss issues related to sustainability and intensify collaborative efforts to find solutions for moving the world towards a more sustainable future.

Highlighting the importance of ADSW, the first global gathering of its kind after COP26, Sheikh Mohammed said: "Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week lays a pathway for COP28 when the UAE will welcome the world in 2023. The continued success of ADSW, which every year sets the sustainability agenda for the year to come, fully reflects our nation's leadership in the field of climate action.

"This year's convening of ADSW as part of Expo 2020 Dubai provides an opportunity for the convergence of global expertise to stimulate constructive dialogue and push efforts towards implementing innovative solutions.

"The UAE, guided by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was and continues to be one of the pioneering countries in the fields of climate action, energy transformation and the adoption of renewable energy as a solution for addressing environmental issues and their impact on people's lives and the health of the planet. The UAE has continued to express this commitment by developing a group of the world's largest and most innovative clean energy projects.

"These efforts culminated in the launch of the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, which reflects our commitment to create a future free of emissions." The opening ceremony, held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai, was also attended by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and a number of senior officials.

The opening ceremony began with the UAE national anthem followed by a short film centred on international cooperation to confront global challenges, especially those related to climate change and sustainable development.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in thanked the UAE for welcoming him to the country and inviting him to participate in the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

In his keynote speech, he said: "As the first event of its kind since COP26, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a kick start to carbon neutrality this year, offering strength through unity. This event holds great significance with the UAE hosting COP28 in 2023 -- a milestone for the country's journey over the next 50 years.

"The UAE is a powerhouse of sustainable development for the Middle East and beyond, with pathways showing the way for the rest of the world." The objectives of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week are in line with the 'Principles of the 50', the 10 principles that represent the UAE's strategic path in a new era and reflect the country's vision and determination to promote development efforts in various economic, political and social fields.

As one of the largest gatherings concerned with discussing sustainability issues, ADSW provides a global platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange, investment and innovation, as it attracts more than 45,000 participants annually representing more than 170 countries and hosts nearly 1,000 international companies.
Bengaluru, Jan 18 : The ambitious 'Grama One' programme that seeks to provide services of various departments at the doors of the citizens in the rural areas of 12 districts would be a reality from the Republic Day in Karnataka.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a virtual meeting on Monday to review the preparations for the launch of the programme. It would be implemented in 12 districts of the state from January 26. About 3000 'Grama One' service centers would be opened for the purpose.

Speaking at the virtual meeting Bommai said, for now it would be launched in 12 districts and it would cover all the districts in the coming days. He instructed the officials to ensure that the services of prominent departments should be made easily available to the people in the rural areas.

It would be launched in Bidar, Koppal, Ballari, Belagavi, Haveri, Vijayapura, Davangere, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi and Kodagu districts of the state on January 26.

About 100 services related to Revenue, Food, Health, labour departments would be available through 'Grama One' service centers. They would be provided with uninterrupted power and Internet connectivity, the officials said.
Jakarta, Jan 18 : Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the construction site of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway (HSR) No. 2 Tunnel to inspect the construction progress.

Widodo said the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR is generally progressing smoothly regardless of difficulties such as the complex geological conditions and the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is hoped that the whole project will be put into operation in June 2023, reports Xinhua news agency.

He hopes that all construction parties would jointly promote the construction with high quality, and show the achievements and cooperation between Indonesia and China to the world during the G20 summit later this year.

This is the second time that President Widodo has inspected the Jakarta-Bandung HSR.

The No. 2 Tunnel is a single-hole and double-track tunnel with a total length of 1,052 metres, of which about 70 per cent have been excavated.

The construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR started in June 2018, and 91.2 per cent of the civil works have been completed.

The station building and track laying are progressing steadily, with 30 of the 38 continuous beams in the whole alignment having been closed and 10 of the 13 tunnels completed.

With a design speed of 350 km per hour, the railway will cut the journey between Jakarta and Bandung, capital of West Java province, from more than three hours to around 40 minutes.
Wellington, Jan 18 : New Zealand is ready to assist Tonga in its recovery from the massive undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami that occurred on January 15, senior government officials said on Tuesday.

"Following the successful surveillance and reconnaissance flight of a New Zealand P-3K2 Orion on Monday, imagery and details have been sent to relevant authorities in Tonga, to aid in decisions about what support is most needed," Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement.

"However, images show ashfall on the Nuku'alofa airport runway that must be cleared before a C-130 Hercules flight with humanitarian assistance can land," Xinhua news agency quoted Mahuta as saying.

In the meantime, two Royal New Zealand Navy ships will depart New Zealand on Tuesday, she said, adding that communication issues caused by the eruption have made this disaster response particularly challenging.

New Zealand has taken the decision for both navy vessels HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa to sail so they can respond quickly if called upon by the Tongan government, she said.

"HMNZS Wellington will be carrying hydrographic survey and diving teams, as well as an SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopter. HMNZS Aotearoa will carry bulk water supplies and humanitarian and disaster relief stores," said Defence Minister Peeni Henare.

"Water is among the highest priorities for Tonga at this stage and HMNZS Aotearoa can carry 250,000 litres, and produce 70,000 litres per day through a desalination plant," Henare said.

The survey and diving teams are able to show changes to the seabed in the shipping channels and ports. They will also assess wharf infrastructure to assure the future delivery of aid and support from the sea, he said, adding that the journey for both ships will take three days and they will return to New Zealand if not required.

A C-130 Hercules aircraft is on standby to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief stores including collapsible water containers, generators and hygiene kits for families once the airport runway is cleared, according to the New Zealand Defense Force.

Other deployments are possible in the next few days, subject to Tongan government requests and permissions, and Covid-19 border rules, Mahuta said.

Tonga is currently free of Covid-19 and operates strict border controls to keep the virus out.

All current support is being delivered in a contactless way. Officials are in discussions around long-term options for support, she added.

The New Zealand government has also allocated a further NZ$500,000 in humanitarian assistance, taking its initial funding total to NZ$1 million.

Tsunami waves hit Tonga on January 15. The tsunami followed a series of violent eruptions from underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, 65 km north of the country's main island Tongatapu.

New Zealand has pledged to provide support for Tonga following the volcanic eruption that sent tsunami waves crashing onto the Pacific island.
Chennai, Jan 18 : Actor-turned politician and President of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), Seeman has slammed the Centre for rejecting the tableau presented by Tamil Nadu for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

The NTK leader said that the BJP, which has no history of participation in the freedom movement, was trying to undermine the role played by nationalist Tamils in the Indian Independence movement.

Seeman said that the freedom fighters depicted in the tableau presented by the Tamil Nadu government included V.O. Chidambaranar, Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi, Maruthar brothers who were executed by the English East India Company, Rani Velu Nachiyar, the first Indian queen who fought against the East India company.

In a statement on Monday, the NTK leader said that all the freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, who were included in the tableau by the Tamil Nadu government to be presented at the Republic Day parade, had suffered immense torture at the hands of the British.

He said that if these freedom fighters were rejected on the basis of lack of national acceptance, no one can be featured in the parade tableaux except Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

The NTK leader while speaking to IANS said, "The decision of the central government is highly deplorable and this has inflicted pain on the people of Tamil Nadu. The government should understand that these leaders had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country and that they had suffered immensely at the hands of the British. Even the home nation not recognising them cannot be accepted." Seeman also flayed the Centre for not including the West Bengal and Kerala tableaux.
Jaipur, Jan 18 : Two youths have been arrested for killing an elderly woman in Sanchore area of Rajasthan' Jalore district, police officials said on Tuesday morning.

The accused had crushed the woman with a pick-up trolley when she refused to hand over a girl to them for immoral acts.

On being informed, police started an investigation and took the accused into custody within six hours of the incident, Jalore SP Harsh Aggarwal said.

According to him, the incident took place on January 15 night when both the accused reached the house of the elderly woman Raji Devi, resident of Karola Phata, and asked for the girl.

On being refused, they reversed their pick-up trolley crushing the woman's legs and severely injuring her head.

The family rushed her to a hospital while the victim's grandson Mukesh filed a police complaint.

On being informed, a police team immediately reached the hospital.

Owing to her critical condition, the old lady was referred to AIIMS Jodhpur but succumbed to her injuries on the way. The case was then converted into murder, said the SP.

Soon physical and technical evidence was collected by a forensic mobile team at the spot.

The pick-up trolley used in the incident has also been confiscated, said Jalore SP.

The police started the search for both and on the basis of mobile tracking caught them within six hours by raiding their house in Daval in Chitalwana police station area. The last rites of the woman were performed on Sunday afternoon.

Both the accused -- Dinesh Vishnoi and Sukhram Vishnoi -- were interrogated and arrested as they confessed to the crime.
Los Angeles, Jan 18 : Hollywood star Bradley Cooper confessed that it was "pretty heavy" filming full-frontal nude scenes in his new movie 'Nightmare Alley' by acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

The 47-year-old actor stars in the film as an ambitious carnival worker and explained how he had to get his kit off on camera in an intimate scene with Toni Collette's character in a bathtub, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Cooper told 'The Business': "I remember reading in the script and thinking, he's a pickled punk in that bathtub and it's to story. You have to do it. I can still remember that day just to be naked in front of the crew for six hours, and it was Toni Collette's first day. It was just like, 'Whoa'. It was pretty heavy." The Hollywood star had no qualms about appearing in the nude during the making of the movie as he felt it was "demanded" to make the project a success.

The 'A Star Is Born' actor said: "The content of what the movie is, what we were exploring, in order to do it in a real way, it demanded that we'd be naked emotionally and soulfully." Bradley also explained the process of delving deep to give the best possible performance in the flick.

He said: "It really is akin to putting on a miner's kit, hat and flashlight, and looking at each other and then going down in the tunnel, knowing that you may be excavating a route that won't ever get you to the end that day but you come back up and go down again the next day." The 'Hangover' star earlier explained that it was a "unique experience" making the film amid the coronavirus crisis.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 cases at U.S. nursing homes are rising to another peak amid the Omicron surge across the country, according to latest data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nursing homes reported a near-record of over 32,000 COVID-19 cases among residents in the week ending Jan. 9, an almost sevenfold increase from a month earlier, according to CDC data.

The new weekly increase of nursing home COVID-19 cases marks the highest since the week ending in Dec. 20, 2020 when over 32,000 cases were reported.

A total of 645 COVID-19-related deaths among nursing home residents were reported during the same week, over 30 percent increase from the week before. Health experts are concerned that deaths may continue to rise as the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly across the country.

Nursing home officials are responding to the surge by limiting visitors, reinstituting social distancing, and pushing more residents and staff members to get vaccinated and boosted.

Nursing home residents were hit the hardest since the onset of the pandemic in the country. In December 2020, nursing home deaths per week topped out at about 6,200.

Experts said high vaccination rates among nursing home residents have offered strong protection to this age group.

As of Jan. 13, 95 percent of people ages 65 years or older in the country have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 87.9 percent are fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

The recent COVID-19 surge in the United States driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant is leading to record high cases, hospitalizations, and critical shortages of healthcare staffs.

The country is now averaging nearly 800,000 new COVID-19 cases each day and nearly 1,800 new deaths each day, up significantly week by week, according to latest CDC data.

Some colleges across the country went remote again as students return to school after winter breaks, in order to avoid increasing infections on campus.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Sunday the next few weeks will be tough.

"The challenge is that the entire country is not moving at the same pace," Murthy said in an interview with CNN. "The Omicron wave started later in other parts of the country. We shouldn't expect a national peak in the coming days." 
London, Jan 18 : 'Harry Potter' star Rupert Grint has spoken about the relationship he shares with author JK Rowling, who wrote the stories that helped propel him to fame.

Chatting with The Sunday Times, the 33-year-old actor said: "I liken JK Rowling to an auntie. I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie. It's a tricky one." Grint is likely referring to some of the tweets that Rowling has put out, as well as others she has retweeted and liked, that trans rights activists say hurt their cause and in turn, the lives of those who are trans, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The author had previously tweeted: "If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives." Grint had spoken out in support of the trans community back in 2020, issuing a statement to Us Weekly that said: "I firmly stand with the trans community. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment." He added, during a 2021 interview with Esquire: "I felt like I had to (speak) because I think it was important to," nothing that the trans community are "a valuable group that I think needs standing up for".

Rowling has been in the news for what some would describe as all the wrong reasons, as of late. She didn't take part in any new filming for the 'Return to Hogwarts' anniversary special, leading to many jumping to the conclusion that it was her stance on trans rights that led to that decision.

Despite this, Rowling did indeed feature on the show in footage that was filmed a few years prior, lending commentary to some of the magic that went on behind-the-scenes of the Potter franchise.
Seoul, Jan 18 : The South Korean instant meals market jumped more than 145 per cent in 2020 from four years earlier on the increased number of convenience stores and the coronavirus pandemic, data showed on Tuesday.

Shipments of ready-to-eat items, known as home meal replacement (HMR) products in South Korea, came to 2.01 trillion won ($1.7 billion) in 2020, up a whopping 145.3 per cent from 2016, according to the data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp.

The 2020 tally was also up 18.7 per cent from the previous year, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Ministry and the corporation attributed the HMR market's exponential growth to more convenience stores, the Covid-19 pandemic and the greater use of air fryers among local households.

In particular, the prolonged coronavirus pandemic has resulted in greater demand for ready-to-eat products in Asia's fourth-largest economy, they added.

The data also showed exports of HMR items spiking 323.1 per cent to $34.93 million over the cited period.

The 2020 figure was up 35.1 per cent from a year earlier.

The surge was attributed to greater overseas exposure of South Korea's food culture via online images and the popularity of made-for-television "mukbang", a Korean term which refers to an online broadcast featuring its host binging on any type of food.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Lucknow, Jan 18 : Two former employees of a courier firm have been arrested and gold and diamond valuables, which were stolen from the delivery van of a private courier company on December 30, have been recovered from them in Uttar Pradesh's Hazratganj.

The accused, Raju Tiwari and Shubham Tiwari of Sitapur, have been arrested by Hazratganj police.

Police sources said that Raju used to work as a loader in the courier firm, from where he got information about the packet in which gold and diamond valuables were kept. He and his brother Shubham stole the valuables.

Raju left his job in December before the heist. He knew that the items were being shipped through his courier company to a prominent jewellery shop in Hazratganj.

Raju confessed to police that on December 30, when the delivery van was parked outside a shopping mall in Hazratganj, he and Shubham had gone to the spot. The two delivery men had gone inside while the driver of the van was alone.

"My brother Shubham engaged the driver in a conversation to distract him and in the meantime, I entered the van and stole the parcel," said Raju.

Station house officer (SHO) Hazratganj Shyam Babu Shukla said that with the help of surveillance and an informer's tip-off, the accused were arrested.

"We have recovered diamond and gold jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh from their possession," the SHO said.
San Francisco, Jan 18 : A full-page advertisement in The New York Times by advocacy group The Dawn Project has slammed Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' (FSD) beta software, calling it "the worst software ever sold by a Fortune 500 company".

The ad was published as part of a campaign to remove Tesla's FSD beta software from public roads until it has "1,000 times fewer critical malfunctions".

"We did not sign up for our families to be crash test dummies for thousands of Tesla cars being driven on the public roads," the ad read.

Priced at $12,000, the FSD software enables Tesla vehicles to virtually drive themselves both on highways and city streets by simply entering a location in the navigation system.

However, the software does not make Tesla vehicles fully autonomous.

The NYT ad came just days after the California Department of Motor Vehicles told Elon Musk-run electric car maker that it would be "revisiting" its opinion that the company's test programme doesn't fall under the department's autonomous vehicle regulations, reports TechCrunch.

US regulators have also begun to take some action against Tesla and its Autopilot and FSD beta software systems.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also investigating a report from the owner of a Tesla Model Y, who reported his vehicle went into the wrong lane while making a left turn in FSD mode, resulting in the vehicle being struck by another driver.

Tesla's Autopilot has already been involved in around a dozen crashes the world over.

The EV maker in October last year temporarily pulled back the latest version of its FSD beta software, less than a day after its release owing to false crash warnings and other issues.

It has now brought new driver assistance features in its FSD beta, where the electric car will "not exit passing lanes" and "may perform rolling stops" at traffic lights.

It is still not entirely clear whether cars will come to a full stop at stop signs or not.

Performing a rolling stop instead of a complete stop at traffic lights is illegal in several countries.
Geneva, Jan 18 : Cities contribute 80 per cent to global GDP -- but they also account for 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating nature-positive solutions can help protect cities from growing risks associated with extreme weather while driving sustainable economic growth.

In collaboration with the Alexander von Humboldt Institute and the government of Colombia, the World Economic Forum's BiodiverCities by 2030 Initiative published a report addressing the urgency of cities' untenable relationship with nature.

The initiative's goal is to reverse this existential global threat and move forward with a plan that will result in cities and nature co-existing in harmony by the end of the decade.

The report is a call for multi stakeholder action to integrate nature as infrastructure into the built environment. In making the economic case for BiodiverCities, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for infrastructure and land-sparing are found to be cost-effective ways for cities to innovate and meet current challenges.

Spending $583 billion on NbS for infrastructure and on interventions that release land to nature could create more than 59 million jobs by 2030, including 21 million livelihood-enhancing jobs dedicated to restoring and protecting natural ecosystems.

"In the conventional paradigm, urban development and environmental health are like oil and water," said Akanksha Khatri, Head of Nature and Biodiversity, World Economic Forum.

"This report shows that this does not have to be the case. Nature can be the backbone of urban development. By recognizing cities as living systems, we can support conditions for the health of people, planet and economy in urban areas." The report finds that by incentivizing investments in natural capital, cities can unlock the benefits of nature. Nature-based solutions are on average 50 per cent more cost-effective than man-made alternatives and deliver 28 per cent more added value.

This capitalisation, in turn, instils and nurtures nature-positive values and fosters bio-inspired innovations that will ultimately optimize economic competitiveness and prosperity.

"As cities think about building for the post-pandemic future, they have a priority to provide their citizens with a more equitable and prosperous quality of life by protecting their natural resources," said Mauricio Rodas, Co-Chair of the Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030 and former mayor of Quito, Ecuador.

"In this report, we offer actionable solutions to heal the relationship between cities and nature. We need all stakeholders to invest in urban nature." "Cities don't need to be concrete jungles in conflict with nature in and outside their boundaries," said Jo da Silva, Arup Global Sustainable Development Leader.

"They should be places where all people and nature co-exist and thrive together. Nature-based solutions offer wider benefits than traditional engineered agrey' solutions -- such as improving resilience, increasing citizens' health and wellbeing and moving cities to net zero.

"Using powerful new digital mapping tools to help us understand cities as complex systems, we are increasingly adopting nature-based solutions in our projects -- this needs to be accelerated on a global scale."
New Delhi, Jan 18 : A notorious arms supplier of the Nandu and Sisodia gang was arrested after an encounter with Special Staff of Outer North district in the national capital, an official said here on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Shakil alias Sherni, a resident of Jahangir Puri, was previously involved in 17 other cases and was currently supplying arms to Nandu and Sisodia Gang.

Furnishing details about the operation, DCP Brijendra Kumar Yadav said a tip-off was received regarding the presence of arms supplier Shakil in the area of outer north district after which the police laid a trap near Sector 35, Rohini where he was intercepted once his presence was confirmed.

"On noticing the police's presence, the accused opened fire on the police party and fired five rounds," the DCP said, adding in order to restrain the activity of the accused and to stop him from fleeing from the spot, the police party also fired seven rounds.

Soon after this the accused was overpowered by the cops and apprehended from the spot.

The Delhi police said that the accused was found carrying a backpack containing 13 sophisticated pistols and 38 live cartridges separately.

"The arms and ammunition was possibly meant for a gang war," informed the official.

The motorcycle on which the accused came was also found stolen. "Further probe is on," the police added.
San Francisco, Jan 18 (IANS Amazon has reversed its earlier decision to ban Visa credit cards over fee issues from January 19.

The e-commerce giant told customers in an email that it was "working closely on a potential solution that will enable customers to continue using their Visa credit cards on Amazon.co.uk." The company added that "should we make any changes related to Visa credit cards, we will give you advance notice." According to The Verge, the original decision to ban Visa credit cards on Amazon.co.uk arose from a dispute over payment fees levied by card issuers.

"The European Union sets limits on these particular fees, but when the UK left the EU it gave issuers free rein to increase them. Visa raised its interchange fees from 0.3 percent to 1.5 percent, which evidently annoyed Amazon," the report said late on Monday.

Visa said in a statement that "Amazon customers can continue to use Visa cards on Amazon.co.uk after 19 January while we work closely together to reach an agreement." In November last year, Amazon had said to stop accepting payments from Visa credit cards issued in the UK from January 19th, 2022.

Amazon aimed to block UK credit cards from Visa as part of an ongoing battle over "interchange" fees.
Kolkata, Jan 18 : Famous Bengali cartoonist Narayan Debnath passed away at a South Kolkata nursing home on Tuesday morning. He was admitted to hospital several times last year and was suffering from age related ailments including kidney and heart problems. The state government took the responsibility of his medical treatment.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was personally monitoring Debanath's health since he was admitted to the hospital in the first week of January said in her message, "I am deeply saddened by the demise of eminent children's writer and cartoonist Narayan Debnath. He breathed his last in Calcutta today. He was 96 years old".

"Narayan Debnath, the creator of characters like Bantul the Great, Handa Bhonda, Nante Fonte, Bahadur Beral, etc, gained a permanent place in the minds of readers of all ages," she said.

Extending her sincere condolences to the family of Debanth, the chief minister said, "The West Bengal government awarded him the 'Banga Bibhushan' in 2013. In addition to the President's Award, Padma Shri Award, Sahitya Akademi Award, he received his D.Litt degree from Rabindranath Tagore university. His death is an irreparable loss in the world of Bengali literature."
Dhaka, Jan 18 : Bangladeshi actress Raima Islam Shimu, who was reported missing a few days ago, was found dead in the outskirts of Dhaka, police said.

Her body was found inside a sack near the Hazratpur Bridge in Keraniganj on Monday.

Shimu's relatives had filed a complaint at the Kalabagan Police Station on Sunday after she went missing.

After being informed by locals, a team of police from the Keraniganj Model Station recovered the body.

A top police official said the body has been sent to the Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (SSMCH) for autopsy, adding that an investigation is underway.

The 45-year-old actress made her debut with the film 'Bartaman' in 1998. She has since worked in as many as 25 films.

She was an associate member of the Bangladesh Film Artistes Association.

In addition to films, she also worked in TV dramas and produced as well.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, Jan 18 : Actress Keerthy Suresh, who was in isolation after having tested positive for Covid-19, on Tuesday announced that she had recovered.

Taking to social media, Keerthy said, "'Negative' can mean a positive thing these days. Grateful for all your love and prayers, hope you had a lovely Pongal and Sankaranthi!" The actress, who had tested positive for Covid on January 11, had shown mild symptoms despite taking all necessary precautions and safety measures.

Soon after testing positive, the actress had urged all her followers to follow all Covid safety norms and stay safe. In particular, she had asked those who hadn't been vaccinated, to take vaccines at the earliest to avoid severe symptoms.

On the work front, Keerthy has a number of important films waiting to hit screens including 'Bholaa Shankar', featuring Chiranjeevi in the lead, and 'Sarkaaru Vaari Paata' with Mahesh Babu.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
HONG KONG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two former Cathay Pacific flight attendants were arrested and charged with violating local anti-pandemic rules on Monday, Hong Kong police said.

Investigations revealed that the two persons arrived in Hong Kong from the United States on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, 2021 respectively. During medical quarantine, they had conducted unnecessary activities on Dec. 25 and Dec. 27, respectively, breaching Hong Kong's Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation.

They were both subsequently tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and have been discharged from the hospital upon completion of treatment.

The duo had reportedly visited friends and dined in restaurants in violation of the rules, causing community transmissions.

The two people, who have been released on bail, will stand trial at different courts on Feb. 9.

According to the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation, anyone who breaches certain rules will be found guilty, with a six-month imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 640 U.S. dollars). 
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Congress MP from Punjab's Anandpur Sahib, Manish Tewari has flagged the profits of the pharma industry and urged the parliamentary committee to look into it.

On Monday, Tewari said, "Indian Pharmaceutical Industry has reaped Mega bucks from COVID-19 Sample this "The pharma industry grew 37 per cent year-on-year and 15 per cent sequentially in Q1FY22.The growth was driven by sales of COVID treatment drugs and other drugs." Tewari quoted reports that the growth in the pharma exports in FY 2021 was $ 24 billion which increased to 18.4 per cent and is the highest in nine years in the country.

He said the pharma companies are not giving anything back to the society.

"Have they given back anything to the Community.There should be a full discussion on Profitability of Pharmaceutical Industry during COVID- 19.I urge Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health should investigate this issue in detail " As per the latest report in the ministry website,"The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the world's 3rd largest by volume and 14th largest in terms of value. Total annual turnover of Pharmaceuticals was Rs 2,89,998 crore for the year 2019-2020. Total pharmaceutical exports and imports were to the tune of Rs 1,46,260 crore and Rs 42,943 crore respectively in the year 2019-20." The Department of pharmaceuticals on its website says without mentioning any time frame that India exported drugs worth US$ 15 billion to more than 200 countries, including highly regulated markets in the US, Europe, Japan and Australia. Large Indian pharma companies have emerged as among the most competitive in the evolving generic space in North America and have created an unmatched platform in this space. Indian companies are also making their presence felt in the emerging markets around the world, particularly with a strong portfolio in anti-infective and antiretrovirals.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Srinagar, Jan 18 : Fourteen civilians stranded on road blocked by snow avalanches were rescued on Tuesday by the army despite highly hostile weather in the area.

A defence statement said avalanches triggered by snow on Tuesday morning blocked the Tangdhar-Chowkibal road in Kashmir's Kupwara district and 14 civilians, including a child were stranded along with their vehicles.

"Army's avalanche rescue team from Neelum Company Operating Base under Captain Kuljot Singh along with GREF team immediately swung into action after receiving information about the stranded vehicles with passengers including women, children and elderly people.

"14 stranded civilians were rescued in this operation after the avalanche debris was cleared", a defence spokesman said.
Mumbai, Jan 18 : Actress Lin Laishram, who impressed audiences with her performance in the movie 'Axone', has praised Priyanka Chopra Jonas for acknowledging lack of diverse casting in her 2014 film 'Mary Kom'.

In response to a question, Priyanka completely agreed and commented that someone from the northeast should have played Mary Kom: "I look nothing like her," she had said.

This acknowledgement was received as a welcome gesture from Priyanka which was then openly appreciated by Lin who had the same point of view on it.

We got an opportunity to speak with Lin on it where she said: "It's really gracious and brave of Priyanka to finally accept this and put it out there. My admiration for her has only grown immensely. Inclusivity I feel is very hard to understand unless you are excluded." With OTT gaining prominence, it seems that merit and authenticity are slowly getting the due importance that they deserve. I'm very thankful for this welcome change and looking forward to good work coming our way." Lin is an international model and actress who hails from Manipur.

'Mary Kom' that was helmed by Omung Kumar, is based on the life of the eponymous boxer from Manipur who won several honours for the country.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Lucknow, Jan 18 : A piquant situation has emerged in Lucknow's Sarojini Nagar Assembly seat where husband and wife are together staking their claim to the ticket in the BJP.

The couple in question is Swati Singh, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, and her husband Daya Shankar Singh, vice president in the BJP's state unit.

Swati Singh is the sitting MLA from Sarojini Nagar and is keen to get the ticket for a second term.

Swati's entry into politics was 'accidental' in a way.

Her husband Daya Shankar Singh was in the eye of a storm in July 2016 when he made some disparaging remarks against BSP president Mayawati.

The BSP launched a major agitation against Singh and the BJP went on the defensive. Singh was arrested and the BJP expelled him.

However, weeks later, the BJP brought in Daya Shankar's wife Swati Singh, as the chief of its women's wing.

Swati Singh, till then, was a homemaker and a complete novice in politics.

However, she learnt the ropes and won the 2017 election from Sarojini Nagar. She went on to become a minister of state in the Yogi Adityanath government.

Her tenure as minister has been mired in controversy -- one of them being her inaugurating a beer bar soon after becoming minister.

Daya Shankar Singh's expulsion, meanwhile, was quietly revoked and he was appointed vice president of the state unit in February 2018.

When asked to comment, Daya Shankar Singh said, "I did not get the ticket last time due to the controversy but my team worked hard to ensure Swati's victory. This time I would like to contest the elections but it is up to the party to take a call." Swati Singh, on the other hand, refused to comment.

Sources said that both, husband and wife, are lobbying for their ticket through different leaders in the party.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, Jan 18 : Rich tributes were paid to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao on his 26th death anniversary on Tuesday.

Rama Rao's son and popular actor N. Balakrishna and other family members and leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) paid floral tributes at NTR Ghat on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad.

Talking to reporters, Balakrishna said NTR will always live in the hearts of people. He said it was NTR who fought for self-respect of Telugu people and brought recognition to them globally.

Balakrishna, who is also TDP leader and legislator in Andhra Pradesh, said NTR's contributions in both films and politics will always be remembered.

The actor said NTR had dedicated himself to serve people, especially the poor and downtrodden.

TDP national president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu could not participate in NTR's birth anniversary as he was under home quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19.

Naidu, who is also son-in-law of NTR, paid tributes to the late leader through his tweets. The TDP chief said NTR will always live in the hearts of people.

He said the TDP founder symbolised Telugu self-respect and people's rule. Naidu said TDP would continue to follow on the path of NTR.

NTR's grandson and leading actor Junior NTR also tweeted to pay tributes to the legendary actor turned politician.

TDP's Andhra Pradesh unit president K. Atchan Naidu offered tributes at party state headquarters. He and other party leaders offered floral tributes to NTR's portrait.

The late leader's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi and other family members also paid tributes.

Legendary actor NTR had launched TDP in 1982 on the slogan of Telugu self-respect and created record of sorts by coming to power within nine months, ending the single party rule of Congress in the undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He died on January 18, 1996, a few months after Chandrababu Naidu led a revolt in the party and became the chief minister.
United Nations, Jan 18 : The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Lebanon said that has allocated $6 million for supporting the most vulnerable people affected by the ongoing crisis in the country.

The funds were allocated through the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) to 14 non-governmental organisation projects aimed at providing child protection, gender-based violence, and education assistance in the country, as part of the Lebanon Emergency Response Plan (ERP), Xinhua news agency quoted the OCHA as saying.

Syrian and Palestinian refugees and migrants are among the targeted populations, the statement said.

"In this allocation, the support will be for children out of education or at risk of dropout, children with disabilities and child survivors of gender-based violence, as well as survivors of gender-based violence and individuals at high risk of exploitation and abuse including those people with disabilities and special needs," said Najat Rochdi, UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon and custodian of the LHF.

It is worth noting that the ERP only received $36.2 million out of its total request of $383 million for 2021, leaving considerable lifesaving activities unmet.

Lebanon is grappling with an economic and financial meltdown, Covid-19 pandemic, and the disastrous human impact of the 2020 Beirut Port explosions, as well as the impact of the Syrian crisis.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The police in the national capital dismissed the claims made by Mujahideen Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), an al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, regarding the planting of an Improvised Explosive Device at Ghazipur flower market in the city, sources said here on Tuesday.

A Telegram message was found by the intelligence gathering agencies during social media monitoring in which the MGH claimed responsibility of planting the IED that was recovered and timely defused by the bomb disposal squad of the National Security Guard on January 14.

"The police are yet to find any authentic source behind that message," sources said.

In the message by the terror outfit, it was also claimed that the said IED did not explode due to technical glitches.

On Monday, top National Security Guard (NSG) sources confirmed to IANS that a timer device was also fitted with the recovered IED.

"A timer device was fitted with the explosives," the source confirmed as per the 'confidential report' submitted by the NSG to the Delhi Police. The source further denied all reports claiming that a certain time was fixed for the bomb to explode.

Earlier, on the day of bomb's recovery on January 14, National Security Guards Director General M.A. Ganapathy told IANS that the explosives-laden bag contained a mixture of RDX and Ammonium Nitrate.

"It looked like an RDX & Ammonium Nitrate mixture weighing around 3 kgs," Ganapathy had informed.

He further said that they have shared all the details of the chemical composition of the explosive material with the Delhi Police.

Sources confirmed that the bomb also contained sharpnel which may have been used to inflict more damage or casualties.

The suspicious explosives-laden bag was first sighted by a person who had come to buy flowers from the Ghazipur flower market. He, however, did not pay any heed to it and left. When he returned after sometime, the bag was still there after which he informed a civil defence volunteer in the area who then ultimately made a PCR call around 10.16 a.m. and the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) department was also informed at the same time.

With things looking very serious, the Delhi Police alerted premier anti-terror force -- NSG -- about the suspicious object around 11 a.m. which sent the bomb disposal squad.

The police then cordoned off the entire area for the safety and security of the people. Then the NSG bomb disposal squad with the help of police personnel dug an approximately 8 feet ditch in an open ground where the bag carrying the IED was disposed off.

The NSG conducted a controlled explosion of the recovered IED in that ditch, saving several lives that could have been snuffed out if the bomb had not been found and defused in time.

Notably, on the same day -- January 14, a special task force (STF) of Punjab Police recovered a 5-kg improvised explosive device and Rs 1 lakh in cash near the India-Pakistan border.

It was learnt that the IED found in Delhi could possibly be part of the same consignment which was recovered in Punjab.

"The investigation is still going on and all possible links are being probed to connect the missing dots in the case," sources said.
Tel Aviv, Jan 18 : The number of unemployed people in Israel declined to about 262,100 at the end of 2021, registering an unemployment rate of 6 per cent, the lowest since March 2020, according to figures issued by the country's Central Bureau of Statistics.

In March 2020, the figure had jumped to 25 per cent within one month, with more than 1 million people becoming unemployed after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

The first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Israel on February 21, 2020.

On March 1, the unemployment rate of the country was as low as 4 per cent.

The unemployment rate in Israel was 8 per cent in August 2021 and decreased to 7.9 per cent in September, 7 per cent in October, and 6.5 per cent in November.

Among the currently unemployed people, totalling about 84,200, or 32.1 per cent, were laid off or put on unpaid leave due to the pandemic.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to six accused persons in connection with a case related to the death of 20-year-old Dilbar Singh Negi, whose charred body was found during the violence in the city's North-East area in February 2020.

Justice Subramonium Prasad granted bail to the accused -- Mohd. Tahir, Shahrukh, Mohd. Faizal, Mohd. Shoaib, Rashid, and Parvez in the order which was reserved earlier this month.

The case relates to the death of Dilbar Negi, who used to work at Anil Sweets shop and on the fateful day had gone to the godown for lunch and rest. He could not be located till late at night on February 25.

In the afternoon of February 26, 2020, the local police of Police Station Gokulpuri came to know about the dead body of a male person at the godown of Anil Sweets. The body was found in a charred condition and later identified as Dilbar Negi. He had come from Uttarakhand to the capital city six months prior to his death.

According to police, the rioting mob targeted the properties of Hindus, including the said shop, a book shop, DRP School, and godown of Anil Sweets and others by torching them and the mob of the same rioters remained active till late night.

The FIR stated that the accused were charged under Section 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (Unlawful assembly), 302 (Murder), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence), 436 (Mischief by fire) and 427 (Mischief causing damage) of IPC at Gokulpuri police station.

Initially, 12 accused persons were charge-sheeted in the case in 2020.
Brussels, Jan 18 : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she had cancelled her appointments at the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg this week after her driver tested positive for Covid-19.

"My driver has tested positive for Covid-19. Regretfully, I must therefore cancel my participation in the European Parliament plenary. I am returning to Brussels," she said on Twitter.

According to her calendar, publicly available on the European Commission website, Von der Leyen was meant to be in Strasbourg until Wednesday.

On Wednesday, von der Leyen was to preside over a meeting of the College of Commissioners and then participate in the EP plenary debate on the presentation of the program of activities of the French Presidency.
A newly opened factory of a Chinese sportswear brand in Yutian County, in China's Xinjiang has provided jobs to over 500 locals, most of them being ethnic Uygurs.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Frankfurt, Jan 18 : Passenger numbers at Frankfurt airport picked up in 2021 after the easing of some Covid-19 restrictions, it announced in a statement.

As one of the busiest airports in Europe, Frankfurt received some 24.8 million passengers in 2021, up by 32.2 per cent from 2020, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

However, these figures were still well below pre-pandemic levels, it said.

There was a noticeable upswing in demand for air travel from April to December in 2021, with passenger numbers tripling compared to the same period in 2020.

But the pace of this rebound slowed at the end of 2021, when the Omicron variant began to spread globally.

"Throughout 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic continued to have a massive impact on Frankfurt Airport," said Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport, the company which operates the airport.

While the airport's passenger traffic saw a gradual and fragile recovery, cargo traffic grew considerably in 2021.

"Airfreight volumes in Frankfurt even reached a new annual record, despite the ongoing shortage of hold capacity on passenger flights, and other challenges," Schulte said.

The airport registered in 2021 the highest annual volume of cargo throughput of 2.32 million metric tonnes, an 18.7 per cent increase year on year.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 18 : With reports of Covid-19 clusters being formed at the Kerala state secretariat, the state run road transport corporations, the police stations, the state is turning into a hotspot and though Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is under treatment in the US, he will take part in an online meeting on Thursday. On the cards are fresh restrictions in the state.

State Health Minister Veena George said while the daily cases in the state on December 26 were just 1,824, on Monday it crossed 22,000, witnessing a huge spike.

On Monday, the total number of active cases jumped to 1,21,458 and so was the daily test positivity rate which reached a recent record high of 33 per cent.

And on Tuesday the news is that the office of Vijayan is partly closed and quite a few of the staff including his political secretary has turned Covid positive. Besides on Tuesday, state Education Minister V. Sivankutty also turned positive and is now admitted to a private hospital. Sivankutty took active part in the Thiruvananthapuram district CPI-M party conference which ended a few days back.

The offices of many Ministers in the State Secretariat have reported positive cases and the latest news on Tuesday is there were 72 positive cases, forcing the employees writing to Vijayan to see that something is done.

The police department also has begun reporting numerous positive cases. A police station in the state capital city, on Tuesday reported a huge number of cases and reports coming in from the temple town at Sabarimala that with the peak season just finishing, several police officials who were on duty have turned Covid-19 positive.

Around 25 employees attached to the World's richest temple- Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, here have also now turned positive.

So is the case at the state Transport Corporation, where numerous employees have turned positive leading to cancellations of some of its services. But quick in denial was State Transport Minister Antony Raju who blamed some of its employees for spreading canards.

"As such the Corporation is excess staffed and even if some staff turn positive, there is nothing going to happen. A misinformation campaign is going on in the social media and the truth is, yes there are staff who have turned positive, which is natural, but at the moment things are well under control," said Raju.

Another feature this time as Covid is spreading, many medical professionals in the state despite taking both the doses have turned positive. On Tuesday, 10 doctors at the state run General Hospital in the heart of the capital city also turned positive.

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the Kerala health department is sitting idle even as Covid is raging in the state.

"The present figures that come out are just only a small percentage of the real situation. Only one fourth of the daily positive cases are being reported. It's strange that the decision was taken last week that schools will be closed only from January 21. We are passing through the worst Covid times and the health department is idling as no precautionary measures are taken to handle the present raging spread," said Satheesan and added that the need of the hour is to have sensible handling of things and a total lockdown is not the answer.

The ruling CPI-M has come under fire in the way they have been holding their district party meetings which is the curtain raiser to their state party conference to be held at Ernakulum next month which will end up at Kannur with the Party Congress in April.

And when asked CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, if they are planning to postpone their party meetings, pat came the reply, "we have just inaugurated the office of the party Congress. Why can't you think positively and asking of postponing," said Balakrishnan.

"It seems there are two sets of rules in Covid, one for the people and the other one for the CPI-M. Just see how many people have turned positive after attending the Thiruvananthapuram district CPI-M meetings. For weddings and funerals, only 50 are allowed and see the dance, musical performance and the numbers at their party meetings. They have become the 'merchants of death' by spreading Covid," added Satheesan.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, Jan 18 : Though Covid-19 infections are registering a fall in Bengaluru, the pandemic is rapidly spreading in other districts across the state as lakhs of people from Bengaluru have returned to their villages fearing lockdown.

The district places are recording 20 to 30 times more infection rate. The infection is spreading faster in four districts of south Karnataka and 15 districts of north Karnataka which were registering cases in single digits have started recording 10 times more.

Though the government has not imposed a complete lockdown, lakhs of workers especially from north Karnataka have gone back to their villages as lockdown period horrors of first and second waves are still haunting them. Since, people have gone back to their villages on a large scale, the infection is spreading rapidly, according to experts.

Several north Karnataka districts that were recording zero cases or cases in single digits just before two weeks have seen a sudden spurt since last week. This has caused fears of spreading of infection in rural areas where health infrastructure is not up to the mark and awareness among people is also very less.

Between January 8 to 15, the state has recorded as many as 1.45 lakh new Covid cases. Among these, Bengaluru alone has recorded more than one lakh cases. In Bengaluru, when compared to last week the infection has risen 10 times. However, it has increased by 39 times in Raichur district, Haveri district has recorded an increase of 31 times.

Raichur recorded zero cases even as the third wave was reaching its peak in Bengaluru and other districts. Last week, the district recorded 14 cases and this week it has reached 555. In Haveri also the number of cases have reached 95 this week. Last week there were only three.

The cases have increased by 29 times in Koppal, 23 times in Chamarajanagar and 16 times in Tumakuru districts. Chitradurga has recorded 15 times and Yadgir 14 times. Davanagere, Chikkaballapura and Uttara Kannada (13 times), Ramanagar, Dharawad, Bidar and Hassan districts are recording 10 times more Covid cases than they recorded a week ago.

Bengaluru is seeing decreasing trends in new Covid cases since three days. The total percentage of Bengaluru in Covid cases has been reduced from 80 per cent to 60 per cent. The share of Covid cases from other parts of the state barring Bengaluru has increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, according to experts.

The districts of Mysuru, Tumakuru, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are recording more number of Covid cases in the state. The state recorded 1,933 new Covid cases in the third week of December, and in the last week the numbers grew to 3,955 cases. By January first week, the number of positive cases swelled to 30,644. By the January second week 1.45 lakh cases are reported in the state, as per the statistics released by the health department.

The experts have opined that the pandemic will reach its peak by January 24 and later, the cases would see downward trends. The government also hinted that it would take decision accordingly if such is the case hinting at relaxation of weekend and night curfews that are presently in place. However, the health department is worried that by that time, rural Karnataka might put up a serious situation.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Ahmad Waqass Goraya, an exiled Pakistani activist who was the ISIs target for a hit job, said that all known stooges of the spy agency have become active to have his Twitter account blocked as part of a fake campaign on harassing women journalists of Pakistan.

"All known stooges of ISI have become active. Is it a coincidence that this campaign started right at the start of trial. The purpose is clear to divert attention from trial coverage. This is 21st century and fake campaigns lead by known fraudsters don't work," Goraya, who's based in the Netherlands and is also a blogger, said in a series of tweets.

"Just tell me why Notorious 'colonel' Shafiq of ISPR is calling press clubs and journalists to tweet and write about it. What is interest of ISPR? Why Pakistan Army's media wing is coordinating the campaign? Why is there no independent journalist backing this campaign?.

"Why all fake news peddlers and ISI/ISPR propagandists are tweeting. The known Fake Websites and twitter accounts of ISPR are amplifying this. The fraudsters got their accounts verified as journalists with zero journalistic work on their credentials.

"Social media does not work like Pakistani media where tycoons can be blackmail or pressurised into firing the staff.

"And don't forget to send me any evidence of these stooges being journalists. Their any published work as journalist can be sent. Not fake columns written by researchers of ISI," Goraya added.

On day three of the trial of Muhammad Gohir Khan, the man charged with conspiracy to murder Goraya, the jury was once again told details of how this alleged plot was hatched and funds transferred to finalise the deal, Dawn news reported.

A middleman identified as Muzammil, who used the nicknames Mudz, Zed and Papa on Whatsapp, was in contact with Khan over several months in 2021 when the two discussed the hit as well as payment for the job.

Muzamil paid nearly 5,000 pounds into an Allied Bank account belonging to a Muhammad Amin Asif in Chiniot. This money, the Crown Prosecution Service said, was part of the deal between Khan and the middleman to kill Goraya, the report said.

Khan later received 4,888 pounds in the UK via Hundi transfer, which he then used to purchase tickets, arrange for tests and book his stay in the Netherlands.

A UK court heard that 31-year-old Khan was hired as a "hitman" by figures said to be based in Pakistan, the BBC reported.

Lawyers said Goraya had set up a blog on Facebook making fun of the Pakistani military and detailing alleged human rights violations.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
Mumbai, Jan 18 : 'Kashibai Bajirao Ballal' actor Venkatesh Pande overcame his fear of heights for the show. He opens up about learning and doing countless stunts for his role of Bajirao Ballal, who was the seventh Peshwa of the Maratha empire.

The actor has had a fear of heights for a long time but when he was told about the sequence, he was more worried about performing it well because of his fear.

Venkatesh says: "For a fight sequence, I recently jumped from a height. It was at such a height that I could see the whole ND studios and even the roads outside of it. Though I am scared of heights, I wanted to give my best and hence, I overcame my fear and just jumped. I have started performing more and more stunts, and I feel that I have started to improve my technique over time and the amount of takes to do a particular action sequence have also reduced." The 18-year-old actor is seen playing a historical character. So, it involves performing a lot of action scenes and thus requires specific preparation and skills.

Venkatesh adds: "I like doing such sequences and generally I do them by myself. I am really happy that my whole team including my director and action choreographer have helped me improve my skills. Playing a warrior is not easy, especially when the role is of a mythological character, but I believe that one should move out of their comfort zone and push themselves to do more." The historical drama 'Kashibai Bajirao Ballal' shows the life of young Kashibai, played by Aarohi Patel and her husband, Bajirao Ballal, depicted by Venkatesh Pande. It airs on Zee TV.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Since April 1, 2020, 1,47,492 children have lost their parents due to Covid-19 or other reason, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) data showed.

After including 10,094 orphans in need of care and protection, a total of 1,36,910 children lost their parents, 488 were abandoned, pushing the total to 1,47,492, the Commission informed Supreme Court on the basis of data uploaded by states and union territories on its 'Baal Swaraj Portal-COVID care' up to January 11.

The commission further said that out of 1,47,492 children, there are 76,508 boys, 70,980 girls and four transgender. It said that the maximum number of children are between the age group of eight to 13 years (59,010), followed by children in the age group of 14 to 15 years (22,763) and age group of 16 to 18 years (22,626) and four to seven years (26,080).

"Maximum of the children are with their single parent -1,25,205, while 11,272 children are with family members, followed by 8,450 with guardians," it said.

In the backdrop of the pandemic, the Supreme Court on Monday directed all district magistrates (DMs) to engage with District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), and voluntary organizations to rehabilitate children in street situations. A bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.V. Nagarathna said: "we direct all DMs to involve DLSA and voluntary organisations in the identification of children on streets without any further delay".

The bench added that immediate steps are required to provide shelter to children in street situations by the central government and state governments.

It emphasized that children should be shifted to shelter homes and also directed the DMs to upload the information at all stages on the web portal of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The bench further added that state governments and union territories (UTs) should engage with authorities concerned to identify and rehabilitate children, without any further delay.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Melbourne, Jan 18 : Former Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza of Spain made a winning return to the Rod Laver Arena, defeating France's Clara Burel 6-3, 6-4, before Poland's Iga Swiatek followed suit, beating British qualifier Harriet Dart 6-3, 6-0 on Day 2 at the Melbourne Park on Tuesday.

A 2020 finalist, Muguruza's last two matches at the Rod Laver Arena had ended in defeats, but the Spaniard got off to a winning start on the Australian Open's main court, advancing to the second round in 88 minutes.

No.3 seed Muguruza was pushed over the course of the gripping contest by the 20-year-old world No.77 Burel, but what differentiated the winner from the loser was the quality of serve -- Burel hit 12 double faults and landed just 41 per cent of her first serves, giving Muguruza ample opportunities on return. Muguruza broke five times, and won seven of eight games from 3-3 in the first set to take a commanding lead at 6-3, 4-1.

After the match, Muguruza said that she needed to overcome both her opponent and herself to remain perfect in first-round matches at the Australian Open.

"I didn't know really who I was facing. We've never played before. Very tricky," she said. "You're always nervous going out there on Rod Laver, which I love, and starting a Grand Slam campaign. I've always gone through the first round. (I'm) very happy the way I played and, of course, controlling the nerves." Muguruza will next face Frenchwoman Alize Cornet. Cornet opened her 60th consecutive Grand Slam main draw appearance with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova. Cornet and Muguruza have faced off four times before with the pair sharing the spoils.

With a spot in the third round at stake, No. 7 Swiatek will face Sweden's Rebecca Peterson, who was a 6-2, 6-3 winner against wildcard Daria Saville. The two will play at a major for the second time in the span of a year, with Siwatek winning 6-1, 6-1 in the same round at Roland Garros last summer.

"First rounds are always tricky ... I told myself just to be patient. I'm playing really good in practices, so I had this faith in myself that I was going to find the rhythm somehow," said Swiatek after beating Dart.

Adelaide finalist and No.12 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan had a tough time against compatriot Zarina Diyas in their first career meeting before winning 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-1 win.

Samantha Stosur of Australia rallied for a first win in the final singles tournament of her career, moving on to face No.10 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia. She defeated American Robin Anderson 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 in her first-round match.
New York, Jan 18 : A winter storm hit the mid-Atlantic and northeast US, causing widespread travel disruption and knocking out power for more than 200,000 homes and businesses.

"From Georgia to parts of Canada, the effects of the storm, known as Winter Storm Izzy, were felt," Xinhua news agency quoted The Wall Street Journal as saying.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said that up to 20 inches of snow had fallen in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and South Carolina on Monday, with icy roads creating dangerous driving conditions.

Heavy rain and strong winds lashed other areas, with some coastal communities at risk of flooding as well as falling trees and power lines, it added.

Snow fell at a rate of more than 4 inches an hour in Buffalo, New York.

The impact on New York City was expected to be limited to severe thunderstorms, with gusts of up to 55 miles an hour.

More than 200,000 power customers were without power, with North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia hardest hit, according to poweroutage.us.

The governors of several states, including North Carolina and South Carolina, declared states of emergency, activating state resources to respond to the storm.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Tuesday announced a ban on the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms in the national capital for the period of 27 days from January 20 in view of Republic Day celebrations.

"....I hereby prohibit flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or para jumping from aircraft etc. over the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory of Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day Function-2022," read an order by the Delhi Police chief.

He further said the decision was taken as per report that certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations by the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms.

"This order shall come into force with effect from 20-01-2022 and shall remain in force for a period of 27 days i.e. up to 15-02-2022 (both days inclusive) unless withdrawn earlier," Asthana added.

The Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements in the national capital keeping in view the upcoming Republic Day on January 26. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Deepak Yadav told IANS that adequate arrangements have been made in and around the RajPath on Republic day.

"Around 300 cameras with face-recognition facilities have been installed around the Rajpath to thwart any threat beforehand," Yadav said. Notably, just 4 days ago, the National Security Guard and the Special Cell of Delhi Police on January 14 averted a major terror attack in the city by timely defusing a 3-Kg IED which was placed at a crowded market by unidentified anti-national elements.

The NSG conducted a controlled explosion of the recovered IED, saving several lives that could have been snuffed out if the bomb had not been found and defused in time.

Meanwhile, the Intelligence agencies have also sounded an alert that the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has activated its terror outfits to execute more terror activities in India.
Seoul, Jan 18 : South Korea's Defence Minister Suh Wook on Tuesday called for a "firm" readiness posture following a series of North Korean missile launches.

Suh made the call when he met with troops at the Army's 2nd Operations Command in Daegu, 302 km south of Seoul, and a radar operation unit of the command's 32nd Infantry Division in a central region, Yonhap News Agency quoted the Defence Ministry as saying.

His trip followed four rounds of weapons tests by North Korea, including Monday's launch of what it calls tactical guided missiles, and a North Korean defector's flight to the North across the inter-Korean border earlier this month.

Suh "called on the military to maintain a firm readiness posture and pay full attention to security operations led by field commanders", the Ministry said in a statement.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual session has shed new light on addressing challenges of the times, boosted confidence in global anti-pandemic cooperation, and gathered strength in building a better post-pandemic world, experts worldwide said.

"Facts have shown once again that amidst the raging torrents of a global crisis, countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather all in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges," Xi said on Monday.

"Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm," he said.

Xi's remarks constituted an "important milestone" in promoting global cooperation following the COVID-19 pandemic, said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF.

Dialogue and cooperation leading to joint solutions is "the only key" for humanity living in peace and prosperity, he stressed, echoing Xi's remarks in 2017 on building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Schwab also wished China "great success for the forthcoming Olympic Games."

Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, noted that Xi in his address stated China's position to stand against all forms of unilateralism, protectionism, hegemony or power politics, which is an aspect of multilateralism that all can subscribe to.

He called on nations to work collectively on matters such as health, climate control and many others.

Former Prime Minister of Croatia Jadranka Kosor said Xi's speech shows the path of win-win cooperation for the benefit of people around the world, and that China has conducted good cooperation with other countries.

In the context of the unprecedented pandemic, all parties should realize the importance of international cooperation, Kosor said, adding that multilateralism is crucial in such areas as economic and trade cooperation, and without such cooperation, the world economy will face disastrous consequences.

Following the pandemic, humanity should reject the ideas of protectionism and hegemony, and move towards true multilateralism, said Sergei Lukonin, head of the Department of Economics and Politics of China at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

China's cooperation with its partners is "effective and positive," reflecting the interests of all parties, and it will continue improving, Lukonin said.

Herman Tiu Laurel, founder of Philippine BRICS Strategic Studies, noted that China has made COVID-19 vaccines a global public good and thereupon donated and delivered billions of doses to countries in need.

In the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, China sets the example of how a major country can lead in the building of a better world for all mankind, Laurel said.

During the session, Xi called on the international community to embrace cooperation and jointly defeat the pandemic, resolve various risks and promote steady recovery of the world economy, bridge the development divide and revitalize global development, and discard a Cold War mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes.

Efem Ubi, a researcher with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, said Xi's call is in line with China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

With a looming global recession, the future of Africa further portends gloom if it fails to respond to the crisis, and therefore it is highly expected that developed countries and major countries in the world will play the role of an economic engine and make more concerted efforts and cooperation to pull the world out of the mire of the pandemic, he said. 
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with BJP workers from his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and urged them to make farmers aware of the use of chemical-free fertilisers.

In an audio interaction with BJP booth level workers, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the BJP's commitment towards development. While interacting with party workers, he discussed several topics including, restoration of Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, women empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare development and other issues.

Interacting with one of the BJP workers, Prime Minister Modi asked him to expand the reach of the government's welfare schemes to farmers. The Prime Minister said, "They (workers) should make farmers aware of the use of chemical-free fertilisers." The Prime Minister, also, talked about the several central schemes which are benefiting the people of Kashi at large.Prime Minister Modi urged people to contribute to a section, Kamal Pushp, in his NaMo app that features some inspiring party members.

"The NaMo App has a very interesting section known as 'Kamal Pushp' that gives you the opportunity to share and know about inspiring party workers," he said.

The Prime Minister further talked about the BJP's special micro-donation campaign, seeking to raise funds through small contributions from its members and others.

It is learnt that about 10,000 BJP workers participated in the interaction. It will be the first interaction of the Prime Minister with the party workers after the announcement of Assembly poll dates in five states.

It will also be the first virtual address with the party workers after the Election Commission of India (ECI) banned physical rallies and road shows till January 15 while announcing the poll dates. On January 15, the ECI extended the ban on the physical rallies and road shows till January 22.

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Srinagar, Jan 18 : Amid fresh snowfall and two avalanches, the Indian Army and General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) have rescued 30 civilians stuck on the Chowkibal-Tangdhar road in Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.

"As soon as the information of civilians getting stuck closer to Khooni Nala and SM Hill on NH 701 reached the troops at NC pass, two rescue teams comprising avalanche rescue teams from Indian Army and a team of GREF were mobilised for rescuing the civilians who were stuck in their vehicles," army said.

"Despite adverse weather conditions compounded by twin avalanches, 14 civilians were rescued and brought to Neelam and 16 civilians to NC pass, which is also commonly known as Sadhna pass. All the rescued civilians were provided food, medical care and shelter for the night." Army said 12 vehicles were later retrieved during the day on Tuesday post avalanche and snow slides clearance from the road.

"GREF played a difficult but stellar role in snow clearance amidst dangerous conditions. The entire effort took about five to six hours," the army said.

Pertinently last year also civilians were rescued by the troops near Khooni Nala, closer to NC pass, as the area is prone to avalanches and snow slides.
Imphal, Jan 18 : The All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to reschedule the first phase of Assembly polls on February 27 as the day being a Sunday is the prayer day of the community.

Expressing its resentment, the AMCO requested the Election Commission to conduct the polling of the first phase on any day of the week other than Sundays."We earnestly appeal to the Election Commission to reschedule the first phase polling date to show solidarity and respect to the religious sentiment of the Christians," it said in a statement.

The elections to the 60-member Manipur Assembly would be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

The AMCO said if the first phase of polling was held on Sunday (February 27) it would hurt the religious sentiment of the Christians.

"Sunday is a sacred day, the Lord's Day, a day set aside to worship and revere God. But fixing a polling date on Sunday has led the Christian community in Manipur to question if the Government is deliberately attempting to desacralize its religious significance.

"Furthermore, the AMCO is apprehensive that a large number of voters may refrain themselves from exercising their franchise as the polling day falls on Sunday thus, purposely robbing off the people their right to universal franchise," the statement said.

Christian population constitute 41.29 per cent of Manipur's three million people, of which 41.39 per cent are Hindu and 8.40 per cent people belong to Muslim community.
Canberra, Jan 18 : Australia recorded its highest ever number of Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday, as the latest resurgence continued to push up the hospitalisation rates to record levels.

A total of 74 Covid-19 related deaths were reported in the country's three worst-hit states, including 36 from New South Wales (NSW), a record high number in a single day, reports Xinhua news agency.

This increased the country's overall death toll to 2,776.

"Today is a very difficult day for our state," said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, who asked people to continue to follow coronavirus restrictions, including isolation for close contacts and registering positive rapid antigen tests results to the authorities.

Amid rising hospitalisations, the neighbouring state Victoria on Tuesday declared a "code brown" in hospitals, typically reserved for shorter-term emergencies, which would give hospitals the power to defer non-urgent health services and cancel the leave of healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, the country's overall Covid-19 caseload increased to 1,876,035.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hyderabad, Jan 18 : Four Maoists were killed in a gunfight with police in Telangana's Mulugu district, close to Chhattisgarh border on Tuesday.

The exchange of fire occurred in Karragatta forest in Venkatapuram (Nuguru) mandal in the early hours of the day.

A constable of Greyhounds, the elite anti-Maoist force of Telangana, was also injured in the operation. He was airlifted to Hanamkonda, where he was admitted to a hospital.

The incident occurred when the police personnel engaged in combing operation came face to face with a group of Maoists belonging to the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).

According to police sources, the Maoists refused to surrender and opened fire forcing the police to retaliate.

Four Maoists were killed in the exchange of fire. Divisional level leaders of CPI (Maoist) were suspected to be among those killed. An INSAS assault rifle was reportedly recovered from the encounter site.

The joint combing operations by the police of both the states continued in the forest area amid reports about the presence of top Maoist leaders in the region.

Meanwhile, the injured constable of Greyhounds was brought to Hanamkonda town by a helicopter. He was given first aid in an ambulance on Hanamkonda Arts College grounds and was later shifted to a hospital.
Hyderabad, Jan 18 : The Telangana government has urged the Centre to reduce the interval between the second and the precautionary dose from the current nine months to six months.

It also suggested that for healthcare workers, the interval between the second dose and the precautionary dose be reduced further to three months only.

Telangana Health Minister T. Harish Rao on Tuesday wrote a letter to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in this regard.

Rao urged the Central minister to consider the requests which he said were based on the experience of booster dose policies of countries like the US and the UK.

The state minister also urged Mandaviya to administer precautionary dose to all citizens above 60 years of age irrespective of co-morbidities. Currently, senior citizens with co-morbidities are being given the precautionary dose.

The Central minister was also urged to consider booster dose to all the citizens above 18 years of age.

"This will enable us to protect the population from the severe morbidity and mortality associated with Covid-19 infection," Harish Rao wrote.

The state minister mentioned that the vaccination has aided in reducing the overall infections and severity of infection. The state has initiated precautionary dose to the risk groups as per the guidelines of the Union government.

The state on January 10 started administering precautionary dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and citizens above 60 years of age with co-morbidities.

As on January 17, the state administered precautionary doses to 1,46,075 people. According to director of public health, there are more than 12.70 lakh beneficiaries in these categories who are yet to take precautionary doses.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Imagine Marketing -- the parent company of earwear brand boAt and electronics manufacturing firm Dixon Technologies -- on Tuesday announced a 50:50 joint venture to manufacture wireless audio products.

Both the companies will come together to co-invest in the evolving Indian mobile accessory market, thereby paving the way towards 'Make in India' in this category.

"Ramping up domestic production will significantly help in enhancing India's share in the global markets contributing to the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It will also give an impetus to build in- house design capabilities and to develop lifestyle-oriented products to delight our 'boAtheads'," Sameer Mehta, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Imagine Marketing Pvt. Ltd, said in a statement.

The joint venture is an important milestone in boAt's journey to establish a manufacturing base in India.

The association will enable the companies to meet the evolving needs of customers by delivering high-quality and aspirational lifestyle-focused hearable solutions, backed by quality manufacturing and robust R&D.

"Through our partnership, we aim to provide boAt with a faster ability to scale up manufacturing in India with our low-cost structure, high quality and superior execution track record. We strive to develop innovative products with boAt for not only the discerning Indian consumers but also for global markets," Atul B. Lall, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Dixon Technologies Limited, added.
Hyderabad, Jan 18 : The makers of 'Bangarraju' have invited Andhra Pradesh Cinematography Minister Perni Nani to celebrate the success of the movie.

The success event of the Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya-starrer is to take place in Rajahmundry on Tuesday.

Grand arrangements have been made at the venue - Marganni Estate Grounds, at VL Puram, Rajahmundry, to celebrate the blockbuster success of the movie. It is reported that Nagarjuna has invited the AP minister to attend the event as the chief guest.

While the movie ticket price issue in Andhra Pradesh has stirred much controversy, Nagarjuna openly spoke out on the issue. He also mentioned that 'Bangarraju' would not see any impact with regard to the ongoing issue.

Now that the 'Bangarraju' success event is to be attended by the controversial minister, folks from the Telugu movie industry aren't quite happy with this.

AP Cinematography Minister Perni Nani has been in the news ever since the movie ticket prices were slashed in the state. Though many movie celebrities met him to discuss the same, there was not much the minister did for the film industry.

So it will be very interesting to see what Perni Nani would say at the 'Bangarraju' success meet.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Centre, asking why only 19 women candidates will be admitted in the National Defence Academy (NDA) out of 400 seats in 2023.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, that the government needs to clarify why 19 women candidates have been fixed for the year 2023, according to the notification issued by UPSC. The bench asked the Central government to bring on record the total number of women candidates, along with the over tally, who took the NDA examination in 2021.

During the hearing, the bench told Centre's counsel: "Last year, you said it was due to infrastructure problems (the intake of women will be less)...Now, again for the year 2022, you have proposed to take the same number of women candidates..." The candidates who will take the NDA exam in 2022, will be admitted in 2023. The Centre's counsel contended before the bench that intake of women candidates in NDA is based on requirement of the force.

The petitioner Kush Kalra, in an additional affidavit, said, "To continue to keep the number of intake of female candidates at only 19 even for the next year, i.e., 2023 and only allowing male candidates in naval entry as per the examination Notice dated December 22, 2021 is arbitrary and violative of Article 14, 15, 16 and 19 of Constitution." Senior advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma, representing the petitioner, argued that the current stand of the Centre is contrary to its stand reflected in the top court orders passed on August 18 and September 22 last year.

The bench further pressed its query to the Centre's counsel saying why the Central government has fixed the intake of women candidates to 19. The bench emphasised, "You have to explain this. 19 seats cannot be for all times to come..." The Centre agreed to file a detailed affidavit, explaining why it has taken this stand, within three weeks.

The petitioner's affidavit said according to the advertisement issued by the UPSC and by the government, NDA will take in 400 cadets in the current NDA-II 2021 intake. "Of these, 208 candidates, including 10 women, will go to the Army. The Navy will take in 42 candidates, including 3 women, while the IAF will admit 120 candidates, of which 6 will be women. Thus, the total number of women to be inducted into the NDA in June 2022 is 19", it added.

The top court also sought response from the Central government on the intake of women in Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Rashtriya Military School (RMS), and Sainik Schools in 2022.

The top court gave three weeks to the Centre to file an affidavit and also asked the parties to file their rejoinder in two weeks. The matter has been posted for further hearing on March 6.

In September, last year, the apex court had allowed female candidates to take the entrance exam to the NDA scheduled November last year.
Mumbai, Jan 18 : The Bombay High Court on Tuesday commuted the death sentences on two prime accused - both step-sisters - to life term till death in jail, in the sensational case of the kidnapping of 13 minor children and murdering at least 5 of them, that rocked the state in the early 1990s.

The accused, Seema Mohan Gavit, 39, and Renuka Kiran Shinde, 45, were arrested by Maharashtra Police in 1996 and have so far spent around 25 years under the shadow of the hangman's noose, at the Yerawada Central Jail, Pune.

Another prime accused and their mother, Anjana, who was also arrested and charged in the case, passed away in 1998 during the pendency of the trial.

A division bench of Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Sarang Kotwal commuted the death penalty, rapping the delays by the government authorities in taking a decision on the mercy pleas of the two.

In 2001, the half-sisters were convicted and awarded the death penalty by the Kolhapur Sessions Court for the stunning kidnappings of 13 children and killing 5 of them brutally.

The death sentence was confirmed by the Bombay High Court in 2004 and then the Supreme Court in 2006.

The sisters had earlier filed mercy pleas before the Governor in 2008 that were declined in August 2013, and later to the President, which was rejected in July 2014, even as people from the USA Japan, Canada, and India appealed to the President for commuting the death verdict, saying that execution of women is extremely rare.

After the rejection of their appeals from both the Governor and the President, they moved the Bombay High Court.

The matter was taken up urgently on August 19, 2014, as the two sisters awaited the gallows that day.

The Public Prosecutor issued telephonic instructions to the YCJ Jail Superintendent Yogesh Desai to stop the hangings till their pleas were heard and the matter came up on the board the following day.

The petitioners contended that the government machinery did not adhere to the rules that required utmost expediency and resorted to a "most casual approach" resulting in a delay of nearly 8 years, which the division bench upheld.

The sisters contended, through their lawyer Aniket Vagal, that the delay was attributable to the executive including the Governor and the Maharashtra Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the President, which was denied by the Centre's lawyer Sandesh Patil.

The judges noted that from the date of the sisters submitting their mercy plea on September 1, 2006 till it was finally disposed of on July 30, 2014, it took 7 years, 10 months and 15 days.

Justice Jamdar and Justice Kotwal also observed how the chronology showed that there was "nothing but the movement of files, delay, and casual approach demonstrated at each stage" and the state government moved "as if it was a routine file, perhaps even slower than that", at each stage "officers exhibited utter casualness".

The court also frowned at how, in the period between 2006-2014, modern electronic communication facilities, email, courier, transportation were easily available to all government officers, and termed as "abhorrent" the movement of files/papers in such a crucial matter within the state or the city after gaps of 15 days, month, six months or up to one year.

It also commented on how the matter was circulated before the court only by the petitioner-sisters in 2021 and not by the government since 2016, and the manner in which the two convicts were kept isolated in the 'Death Convict Yard' which has an ominous connotation, and was described as "brooding horror of hanging, daunting the prisoner in the condemned cell" by the late Justice Krishna Iyer.

However, the evidence on record shows the kids were brutally murdered, showing the "depravity" of the two convict-sisters which was "heinous and beyond words to condemn", the bench said, ordering "life imprisonment is till the life of the convict" unless the competent authority decides otherwise, though the (convicts) were beyond reform for society.

The court also cancelled the unexecuted death warrants against the two sisters and disposed of the petition.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special address at the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual session on Monday has demonstrated China's sense of responsibility, and forged consensus on tackling COVID-19 and spurring recovery, experts from different countries have said.

"The right way forward for humanity is peaceful development and win-win cooperation. Different countries and civilizations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other, and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences," Xi said in his speech.

Xi's speech has injected confidence into the current global economic recovery, said Volker Tschapke, honorary president of Germany's Prussian Society, stressing that peace and development are still the themes of the future of the world.

China's Belt and Road Initiative has set an example for different countries and civilizations to develop together through mutual respect and achieve win-win cooperation through seeking common ground while preserving differences, said Tschapke.

Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said Xi's remarks showed China's efforts to promote multilateralism, international solidarity and cooperation to address global challenges for common interest and peaceful co-existence.

"President Xi's speech truly reflects China's unwavering commitment to upholding true multilateralism and free trade, which are the key to global peace, economic recovery and common development in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era," he said.

"Cold War mentality, unilateralism, protectionism, hegemonism, and zero-sum games can only harm others," Matthews said. "Countries should coexist peacefully, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."

Alvaro Echeverria, vice president of the Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce in Chile, said Xi's speech highlighted the spirit of cooperation and boosted confidence for the world to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic.

Echeverria was impressed by Xi's remarks on achieving common prosperity and letting development gains benefit all people in a more substantial and equitable way, saying Xi's view is holistic and forward-looking.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the world economy, said Ismael Buchanan, a senior lecturer at Department of Political Science at the University of Rwanda, stressing that "there is an urgent need to accelerate vaccination rates in the developing world most especially in Africa."

"I appreciate the fact that President Xi Jinping is drawing the attention of the world to the significance of equal access to vaccines," said Buchanan, noting that it is a "wake-up call to global leaders and policy makers" to ensure equality in accessing vaccines. 
Mumbai, Jan 18 : 'Bachchan Pandey' starring Akshay Kumar and Kriti Sanon has a new release date as it is set to arrive in cinemas on the occasion of Holi on March 18 this year.

The film, which is the first big festival release of 2022, has been helmed by writer-director Farhad Samji, who has films like 'Housefull 3', 'Housefull 4', 'Singham' (screenwriter) under his belt.

Akshay took to his Instagram to share a set of the film's posters as he wrote in the caption, "Action, Comedy, Romance, Drama. L-O-A-D-I-N-G this Holi! #SajidNadiadwala's #BachchanPandey in cinemas on 18th March, 2022 Directed by @farhadsamji" The posters have a grungy feel with earthy colours and tones dominating the frame, they show Akshay's character as a desi gangster. While one poster features Akshay seated on a truck pointing gun at the sky along with a group of people, the other one sees the superstar in a rugged avatar, sporting chains around his neck and a bag loaded with guns and weapons.

In addition, the film also stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi and Pankaj Tripathi and has been produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Warda Khan Nadiadwala.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, Jan 18 : Clamor against weekend and night curfew in Karnataka appears to be rising with BJP senior leaders opposing the restrictions publically.

On Tuesday, BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi and Minister for Forest Umesh Katti have stated that they are in opposition to weekend curfews and lockdowns in the state.

C.T. Ravi, who is also BJP MLA from Chikmagalur, stated that he is against weekend curfews and lockdowns. The Covid cases are not increasing, only in Karnataka, Delhi and Mumbai are also seeing a surge in Covid cases. Though cases are on rise in Karnataka, the fatality rate is very low.

The number of patients being admitted to ICU is also very low. Though it spreads fast, it has not caused loss of lives. There is no need for getting panicked. However, one has to be careful about the infection. Instead of imposing lockdowns and curfews, the government should frame guidelines and rule, he added.

By these rules the people could be monitored and the spread of Covid could be contained. Since there is no loss of life in the third wave, there is no need for worrying. "Why should people be put at ease by imposing lockdowns? If the records are verified, the percentage of fatalities are very less. Why should anyone be worried much about it? It has caused no harm to those who are fully vaccinated'" he said.

People are trying to build their lives after passing through difficult phases of two lockdowns. Why should they be troubled at all? The situation should be closely monitored and a wait and watch policy must be adopted. This is my opinion. Doctors' opinions are also the same as mine. Curfew and lockdowns will only make the life of those who are trying to build their lives after two years of suffering miserable, he reiterated.

Forest Minister Umesh Katti stated that he welcomes the decision, if the government decides not to impose lockdown. People should follow Covid guidelines and preventive measures. If people follow preventive measures, there is no need to impose a lockdown. People should also shun gatherings and celebrations, he maintained.

Opposition Congress is vehemently demanding lifting of weekend curfew and night curfew in Karnataka. The opposition party has dubbed the ruling BJP government as inhuman. Revenue Minister R. Ashok has announced that a decision would be taken on relaxing weekend and night curfews as experts have opined that the Covid pandemic would reach its peak by January 24.

Asked about lifting of curfew orders during weekends and nights, Minister Ashok remarked that they can't take decisions to the comfort of one section of the society. If the situation goes out of control the government is accountable hence decisions are made as per the suggestions of the experts committee, he maintained.

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Patna, Jan 18 : Facing criticism, the JD-U has threatened its alliance partners in Bihar to avoid giving statements to the media over liquor ban or pull out of the government.

Dr Sanjiv Kumar, a JD-U MLA, on Tuesday said that leaders of alliance partners should interact with the Chief Minister on any issue especially on the liquor ban before going to the media.

"We have an alliance of four parties in Bihar. It is obvious that the ideology and agendas of all the parties would not be the same. If we have any differences, we should sit together and discuss with the Chief Minister before going to the media," Kumar said.

"The decision of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is final. He always looks for the development of Bihar. If any party has a different opinion from the Chief Minister, they are free to take decisions. No one will stop you if you want to separate from the alliance. Staying in the government and also criticizing its decisions will not be tolerated anymore," Kumar said.

Following the liquor tragedy in Nalanda on Saturday that claimed 13 lives so far, BJP and HAM in particular are criticizing the Nitish Kumar government for the poor implementation of the liquor ban in Bihar. BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal has opened a front against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He said that the nexus of senior officers, police and mafias are responsible for poor implementation of the law.

Jitan Ram Manjhi, former chief minister of Bihar and president of HAM has already said: "If PM Narendra Modi would withdraw three farms law, why CM Nitish Kumar has made liquor ban a prestige issue. He can withdraw this law as well."
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Centre should create a buffer stock of mustard seeds of at least 2.5 million tonnes, like pulses, to enhance domestic production and reduce imports of cooking oils, the Central Organization for Oil Industry and Trade (COOIT) said on Tuesday as part of its wish list ahead of the budget.

"The procurement for the proposed creation of buffer stock should be made at market price at the very beginning of crop season, which will ensure oil processing units would operate throughout the year," the COOIT, an apex body for the vegetable oils sector, said in a statement.

It also wants the government to widen the gap between import duties of crude edible oils and refined edible oils.

India imported edible oils worth Rs 1.17 lakh crore, an all-time high, in the 2020-21 oil marketing year ended October, mainly due to a sharp rise in global prices. COOIT feels that its high time the central and state governments focus on increasing domestic production of oilseeds.

"We urge the government to launch a dedicated scheme in the upcoming budget with a significant allocation to encourage farmers for cultivation of various oilseeds crops like mustard, soyabean and sunflower," COOIT chairperson Suresh Nagpal said.

The government had in August 2021 launched the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) with a financial outlay of Rs 11,040 crore to boost domestic production of palm oil. "A similar initiative should be undertaken to increase the cultivation of mustard," he said.

"Like wheat and rice, a small quantity of mustard oil can be supplied every month to over 80 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act at a subsidised rate. This will prompt farmers to cultivate mustard," the COOIT chairperson said.

The government has offered an increased MSP for mustard this year and the results have started showing with the area under mustard cultivation likely to increase by 25 per cent and mustard production estimated to be at 110 lakh tonnes.

"If the government creates a buffer stock of 25 lakh tones of mustard, it will further encourage mustard cultivation and also act as a price stabilization mechanism in case of sharp fluctuations in mustard prices as it was witnessed during 2021," Nagpal said.

The association also strongly said that the difference between import duty on crude edible oils and refined edible oils should be larger to protect the interest of domestic processors. Earlier the difference was 11 per cent, which is now at 5.5 per cent.

"This is adversely impacting crude palm oil (CPO) refining industry in India and hence, duty differential needs to be increased,a the statement said.

Established in 1952, COOIT is the national apex body representing the interests of the entire vegetable oil sector in the country and its members include state-level associations, prominent manufacturing/business, trade, and export house.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : BJP Lok Sabha member from Allahabad Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Tuesday offered to resign from parliament if the party is ready to give ticket to her son Mayank Joshi in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

It is learnt that Joshi has written to BJP chief J.P. Nadda offering her resignation from Lok Sabha membership if the party is ready to give ticket to her son. She also met Uttar Pradesh BJP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan.

For ticket distribution this time, the BJP has decided to not field any sitting member of Parliament and a policy of 'one ticket one family'.

Joshi said that she had sent a proposal in this regard to party chief Nadda and it's up to the party leadership to decide on it. "It is up to the party to decide on my offer. I had already announced that I will not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," she said.

Joshi mentioned that her son is working in BJP since 2009 and like others seeking ticket from Lucknow Cantt. "It the party has decided a policy of one ticket per family then I am ready to resign from Lok Sabha to make way for my son, if he gets the ticket to contest assembly polls," she said.

Joshi's offer came a day before the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on January 19 to finalise candidates for Goa, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

In its first meeting last week, the BJP CEC finalised candidates for 172 Assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh where polling will be held in the first three phases. The BJP, however, released the first list of 107 candidates for Uttar Pradesh.

On Wednesday BJP CEC is meeting once again to finalise more names of party candidates for Uttar Pradesh along with Goa and Uttarakhand.

The Uttar Pradesh assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.
Srinagar, Jan 18 : The Kashmiri Pandit community worldwide will observe 'Holocaust Remembrance Day on Wednesday in memory of the victims of the over three-decade long violence in Kashmir and to reaffirm the community's resolve to fight violence, racism and other forms of intolerance.

Satish Mahaldar, Chairman of Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation of Migrants (RRRM), an organisation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, said in a statement on Tuesday, "Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed each year on January 19 by Kashmiri Pandits to pay tribute to the victims and to reaffirm commitment to counter violence, racism, and other forms of intolerance.

"The Holocaust Day matters to the Kashmiri Pandits because it is one of the most extensively documented instances of atrocity, hatred, dehumanisation and apathy in the present-day world history. It matters because when ethnic cleansing of minorities was happening, the world just watched silently." Mahaldar added that today, Kashmiri Pandits remember that as the citizens and original aborigines of Kashmir and the community can and must do better.

"The Holocaust Day should make all in and outside India ponder and investigate what went wrong so horrifically in a place of high culture, high modernity and supposedly 'civilised' Kashmiri way of life. The day is particularly important as we realise that, unfortunately, it was not an isolated event.

"The 20th century saw acts of horrific violence ranging from the murder of over a lakh of innocent Kashmiris to ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pandits. Ethnic cleansing of the minorities in Kashmir demonstrated the dangers of prejudice, discrimination and dehumanisation and other forms of racism and intolerance," Mahaldar said in the statement.

He added that the Holocaust Day teaches all about the possibilities in extreme actions of perpetrators. This developed an awareness not only of how hate and violence take hold, but also of the power of resistance, resilience and solidarity in local, national and in global contexts, he said.

"Ethnic cleansing of minorities in Kashmir highlights the efforts of the national community to respond to modern genocide. Unfortunately, till date the government of India has not established the convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide.

"The former J&K governments forced the original aborigines in an involuntary process of cultural assimilation due to which the ethnic minority is left with no choice but to adopt the language, identity, norms, customs, traditions, perceptions, way of life and often religion and ideology of the established and generally larger community belonging to the dominant culture.

"Besides the ethnic and cultural genocide, the mainstream political parties, both national and regional, are equally responsible for the 'Policide' of the Kashmiri Pandits. Since 1965, political empowerment has been intentionally denied to the original aborigines and the ethnic minority of the state," the statement said.

Mahaldar further said in the statement that since 1990, more than four lakh people are unable to cast their votes, which is the basic foundation of democracy.

"In the light of all this, it is important for the J&K government and the Union of India to rise up to the responsibility towards the Constitution of India. The safeguarding of the aborigines is enshrined in the Constitution of our country. Hence, the government must protect the Kashmiri Pandit community by allocating a certain budget towards them.

"The government must recognise that reconciliation, return and rehabilitation of five lakh Kashmiri Pandits should be part and parcel of the annual J&K Budget.

"Return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits should be treated as a matter of priority. While exercising the delimitation process, the Kashmir Pandits' names must be incorporated to restore their denied democratic rights," Mahaldar said in the statement.
Jaipur, Jan 18 : Believe it or not but a Class 10 dropout from Rajasthan would be rubbing shoulders with scientists and academicians to design organic farming curriculum for agricultural universities in India.

The man with a mission is Hukumchand Patidar, a farmer from Manpura village in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district. He has been assigned the task of designing the curriculum on organic farming for India's agricultural universities.

Interestingly, he is least worried about the fact that he holds no degree. "Our ancient texts and manuscripts taught me facts on organic farming and I shall share the same with my colleagues in the panel," he said.

"The module I am working on, natural and cow dung-related agriculture, shall be introduced in schools, colleges and universities," Patidar said.

He advocates using 'panchgavya' or the five elements derived from cows to nourish the soil and make crops healthier and has been a consultant to Rajasthan's four agricultural universities on the subject of organic farming.

Patidar decided to foray into organic farming in 2005 even as his family and friends opposed the idea of experimentation fearing losses.

Unaffected by the lack of encouragement, he started organic farming on a small patch of 25-hectare farm.

Today, Patidar, besides earning in millions, also exports the produce to Japan, Germany and Switzerland.

In fact, his organic produce fetches him 40 per cent higher rate than crops grown through the conventional method of farming.

Patidar, hence, has been felicitated with the Padma Shri in 2018 for his efforts towards promoting organic farming at his farm -- Swami Vivekananda Jaivik Krishi Anusandhan Kendra.

He has decided to get into organic farming after realising that "conventional farming was proving dangerous and its harmful effects were visible on the health of people and the environment".

"I realised that land productivity was falling with conventional agriculture that uses chemicals and the soil was being harmed and crops were becoming poisonous," he said.

Therefore, he started organic farming and helped turn his native village of Manpura into a fully chemical free farm patch.

Looking at his achievements, he has been included in the national curriculum committee set up by the Indian Council for Agriculture Research as he has expertise in growing organic oranges, pulses, onion, coriander and fennel, the bulk of which is exported to Europe.

"After introducing several measures to enhance my farmland's carbon cycle, I have received a positive impact as the land conditions have become more conducive to the growth of microorganisms and insects which are making the soil fertile," Patidar said.

He endorses nature more than technology, and on the Facebook post of Swami Vivekanand Jaivik Krishi Anusandhan Kendra Manpura, he mentions: "Our elders were far ahead of us, scientifically."
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Delhi High Court has granted bail to two accused persons, arrested by the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing for allegedly cheating investors to the tune of nearly Rs 250 crore through a Ponzi scheme of mobility app 'Hello Taxi'.

Justice Subramonium Prasad granted bail to Sunder Singh Bhati and Rajesh Mahto on a personal bond of Rs 1,50,000 with two sureties of the like amount. One of them should be a relative of the petitioner, as per the order issued on Monday.

"Charge sheet, as well as supplementary charge sheet, have been filed and all the evidence available is documentary in nature and in the custody of the investigating agency. Whether or not the cheated money was entrusted to the petitioners is a matter of trial and cannot be taken into consideration at this juncture," the court noted.

Advocate Kumar Piyush Pushkar, appearing for Mahto, submitted that there is no evidence to indicate that his client had induced the investors and concocted lies about RBI authorisation.

He submitted that the accused company was incorporated in 2015 and was named Ayurvedic India and that the petitioner only joined tit on June 26, 2018, after the ownership and name were changed and handed over to the promoters of SMP Impex Pvt. Ltd. (Hello Taxi).

Claiming that his client is merely a non-executive director, counsel said he only received Rs 11 lakh, which was his remuneration, out of the alleged cheated amount of Rs 250 crore.

Advocate Pradeep Singh Rana, who appeared for Bhati, submitted that his client has been languishing in jail since December 9, 2020.

As per a complaint, SMP Impex Pvt Ltd (Hello Taxi) offered a 200 per cent return within a year. However, they neither paid the interest nor returned the principal amount. There were more than 900 investors so far and the amount involved is around Rs 250 crore, according to police.
Chandigarh, Jan 18 : The politician whose resolve to give up drinking was applauded by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal is now the party's chief ministerial face for the Congress-ruled 117-member legislative Assembly of Punjab that will go to the polls on February 20.

Two-time Sangrur Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann, 48, his name was cleared by Kejriwal after receiving over 21 lakh responses from the people, with 93 per cent of them favouring his name.

Who is AAP's Punjab CM candidate Mann? Mann, who joined AAP in 2014 and won the Sangrur parliamentary seat by 211,721 votes, took over the reins of the party unit in 2019. This is Mann's second stint as president of the state unit.

Mann had resigned from the same post in March 2018 after AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tendered an unconditional apology to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia without consulting the AAP Punjab unit leaders.

Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, in the run-up to the February 2017 assembly elections in Punjab had been alleging that Majithia was a "drug lord" and was patronising the rampant drug trade in the state.

Formerly a popular comedian-actor, Mann, known for his trademark 'basanti' turban, a colour associated with Shaheed Bhagat Singh, has had his fair share of controversies in recent years, especially linked to his drinking habit.

Mann, who retained his parliamentary seat in 2019 by 111,111 votes, had in the presence of Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia publicly announced at a rally in 2019 that he had given up drinking completely.

Mann, otherwise, is a popular celebrity in Punjab, especially in the rural areas. He had contested against Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal from the Jalalabad assembly seat in 2017 assembly polls but lost.

Currently, AAP has won only one of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. In its maiden foray in the 2014 Lok Sabha battle, it won four seats in the state.

Barring Mann, all other candidates of the party forfeited their security deposits in 2019. Its vote share in the state nosedived from 23.9 to 7.4 per cent.

In last assembly polls in 2017, AAP won 20 of 117 Assembly seats and became the main opposition in the state, relegating the Akali Dal to the third place in the Assembly.

Of the 20 AAP legislators in the outgoing Assembly, 10 have defected till date.

The reason: most of its prominent leaders had been either suspended for anti-party activities or have joined other political parties, mainly the Congress.

"Now on the basis of public opinion, we have arrived on a decision to nominate Bhagwant Mann as our chief ministerial candidate. The aim of the exercise to get the feedback was to make state unit more accountable and transparent," a senior AAP leader told IANS regarding Mann's appointment.

"Bhagwant Mann in his capacity would now be responsible to lead the party to the grassroots and to victory too," he said, adding he would launch a fresh offensive against the Congress government on its false promises in the fag-end of its tenure.

Also, the leader admitted in the 2017 Punjab assembly elections the party committed a blunder by going into the polls without declaring a chief ministerial candidate.

Thanking everyone for nominating him as the chief ministerial candidate, Mann said now he has a dual responsibility on his shoulders as he has been named not only by the party but also by the people.

Mann, who often says he is born at a place called Sunam in Sangrur and those born there are called 'sunami'. "So, If Modi is a wave, I am a (t)sunami," he remarked in his inimitable style in the Lok Sabha in 2019 with members thumping their desks in appreciation.

In his parliamentary speeches, Mann is often heard saying, "Please don't ring the bell, Sir, I get disturbed", with peels of laughter by the lawmakers.

With the clearance of Mann's name for the chief ministerial post, AAP is trying to save its sinking ship in the state that managed 23.9 per cent of the votes, while the SAD-BJP alliance had garnered more votes at 30.5 per cent.
Chennai, Jan 18 : Child rights activists in Tamil Nadu have warned of the possibility of children being sexually harassed following the closure of schools till January 31 owing to the surge in the number of Covid cases in the state.

It may be noted that during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) had reported an increase in criminal activities against children, including sexual harassment cases, by 4.8 per cent.

According to reports, child marriages also increased in Tamil Nadu in 2020 and 2021 when schools were closed and classes were held online.

K. Karuppanan, child rights activist and member of Madurai-based Centre for Studies on Child Development, told IANS, "The studies during the previous two waves of the pandemic gave a clear picture of increase in sexual abuse cases against children as also an increase in child marriages. This is very much possible during this period as well as schools are shut. The government's social welfare department has to be on the vigil as well as the teachers." The only solution according to the activists and teachers is that the vigilance on children has to be increased. Vulnerable children from rural areas and poor backgrounds should be under focus and the state school education department and the social welfare department must increase their vigil to prevent such happenings.

Teachers can play a major role by speaking to the children on a daily basis after their classes end. At least one teacher must speak to the children every day to ensure that they are safe and are not being exploited.

Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch convenor Andrew Sesuraj told IANS, "The school education department can use the 'Illam Thedi Kalvi' scheme to monitor absenteeism among children and the scheme's volunteers can upload the details of absent children on the Educational Management Information System. Teachers can check on these figures and follow up on the children." While the Tamil Nadu government has announced closure of schools till January 31, the possibility of extending the deadline is on the higher side with Covid cases continuing to mount in the state.

This will lead to children becoming more vulnerable and the social workers and health workers of each area must keep an eye on the children who are at home.

While the Tamil Nadu government has already set up a system to lodge complaints against sexual abuse in schools, online classes pose more danger as many parents are away for work leaving their children alone at home.

R. Mukunda Kannan, a child rights activist based out of Tiruvallur, told IANS, "Children have to be monitored properly by the parents, teachers and local volunteers. If there are some discrepancies in their behaviour, they have to be consulted by a local councillor."
NEW YORK, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A wave of Omicron cases may be cresting in the northeastern United States, but the number of COVID-19 patients is at a record high and climbing, overwhelming hospitals whose staffs have been hollowed out by the coronavirus, major U.S. news portals have reported.

Public health leaders warn that while the number of Americans getting infected every day remains dangerously high, "there is no guarantee that the population is building enough natural immunity to hasten the day the virus becomes a manageable part of daily life," said The New York Times on Tuesday.

Anthony Fauci, U.S. top infectious disease expert, was asked on Monday at the online World Economic Forum whether this might be the year when that happens. "I would hope that that's the case," he said, "but that would only be the case if we don't get another variant that eludes the immune response."

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy expressed a similar note of caution Sunday on CNN, saying that despite apparent Omicron peaks in pockets of the Northeast, much of the country isn't there yet. "We shouldn't expect a national peak in the next coming days," he said. "The next few weeks will be tough."

Meanwhile, Pfizer chief executive officer Albert Bourla predicted that "we will soon be able to resume a normal life," given pandemic mitigation measures including tests and vaccines. But he also said that doesn't mean an end to the coronavirus. "We've had so many surprises since the start of the pandemic," he said.

MIXED SCENARIO

New York's battle against the Omicron COVID-19 variant continues to head in the right direction following the dramatic surge in the midst of the holiday season, with numbers seemingly leveling off of late and officials seeing a possible light at the end of the tunnel, reported NBC on Monday.

Hospitalizations held steady on Sunday, staying under 12,000 for the second consecutive day, the first time that has happened in more than a week; the number of ICU patients went down, and there were 1,000 more discharges than on Saturday, according to state data.

As for cases overall, there were just over 204,000 tests conducted statewide on Sunday, with a positivity rate of 13.12 percent, slightly up from the day before (12.9 percent), but still lower than any other day since Christmas.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, U.S. Los Angeles County on Monday reported 31,576 new COVID-19 cases, nearly 10 times the 3,360 new daily cases reported on Dec. 17, 2021, said the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The department also reported 27 additional deaths from COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the county's accumulative caseload and death toll to 2,289,045 and 28,086, respectively.

TEST OBTUSENESS

The promise of at-home tests to tell people whether they are infectious has been undercut by preliminary data that suggests some of the rapid tests may be less sensitive to the now-dominant Omicron variant, reported The Washington Post on Tuesday.

Studies suggest they detect infections most reliably two to five days after exposure in people with high viral loads who are experiencing symptoms, which is why people are urged to take the tests serially. But even then, they are not foolproof.

"And for those who have taken pains to find out whether their sniffle and sore throat might be harbingers of COVID-19 to protect others, contradictory test results are often dismaying," said the report.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledged the issue on Dec. 28, noting that "early data suggests that antigen tests do detect the Omicron variant but may have reduced sensitivity."

A week later, a small preprint study that has not yet been peer-reviewed found that the rapid tests failed to detect the virus on day zero and day one after infection for 30 individuals in New York and San Francisco, according to the report. 
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Congress has expressed unhappiness over ED raids on close relative of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. The party on Tuesday slammed the BJP for misusing the government agency while the party says it is ready to take the battle in Punjab and will tell the people how the BJP is trying to harass country's only Dalit Chief Minister.

The Congress will address press conferences in the entire state beginning Wednesday in Chandigarh where Navjot Singh Sidhu, Randeep Surjewala and Harish Chaudhary will jointly address a press conference followed by others in the state.

The Congress alleged that ED means 'Election Department' of the BJP. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Randeep Surjewala said, "The BJP is working with prejudice and taking revenge against only Dalit Chief Minister in the country Sardar Charanjit Singh Channi." The party wants to take on the BJP politically as it is linking the whole episode to Dalit and issue of Punjab's pride as Dalit's population in Punjab is significant to which AAP is also targeting.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday morning, just weeks before assembly elections, carried out raids at ten different locations belonging to Punjab CM's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey, in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal sand mining in Punjab.

The ED team conducted first raid at the residence of Honey which is at Homeland Heights early Tuesday morning. No one was allowed to leave the house. The ED was scanning various documents and computers.
Kochi, Jan 18 : The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the State Police Chief to enquire into the allegations raised by actor Dileep that the media was flouting the trial court's order restricting the publication of matters related to the 2017 actor assault case till the conclusion of the trial.

Dileep is an accused in the actress abduction case and after being in jail for several weeks he got bail and when the trial in the case was in the last lap, early this month a film director Balachandra Kumar, also a friend of the actor made fresh statements related to the case by giving an interview to a TV channel here, landing the actor in deep trouble.

Hearing the actor's plea the Court said that the allegations if found to be true, should be handled with prompt action as prescribed by law.

The State challenged the maintainability of the petition and further argued that there was an alternate remedy available to the petitioner before the trial court.

To this, the actor's counsel said that due to the lack of a Prosecutor at the trial court for this case, the matter was not making any progress and that it is merely getting adjourned.

Dileep's grouse was that as soon as trial commenced in the case, media houses started publishing parts of witness depositions, which according to him, was a misrepresentation of facts deposed by the witnesses.

According to the actor, such publication was made at the instance of the investigating officer.

The Court also issued notice to the TV channel which had aired the interview and posted the matter after three weeks.

Kumar's revelation was that Dileep soon after being released on bail saw the visuals which showed the beleaguered actress who was kidnapped being physically attacked by her tormentors, while she was abducted.

Until this time it was only the trial court which had seen this. and by now Kumar who made this and more disclosures has testified before the police and also a magistrate.

And based on these disclosures, the police probe team registered a fresh case and Dileep sensing that he might be arrested sought anticipatory bail and on that petition on Tuesday for the third time was shifted and it will now be heard on Friday.
Pune, Jan 18 : India's Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan have received a direct entry into the doubles main draw at the fourth edition of Tata Open Maharashtra, scheduled at the Balewadi Stadium here from January 31 to February 6.

The Indian pair, who won the Adelaide International ATP-250 event earlier this month by stunning the top seeds, have earned a spot in the main draw with a combined ranking of 156. The direct acceptance list consists of 14 pairs with a cut off being 250.

In 2019, the Asian Games champion star doubles player Bopanna lifted the title of this tournament with Divij Sharan while Ramkumar had a semi-final finish in the last edition with Purav Raja. Now Playing together, Bopanna and Ramkumar will look to carry forward their brilliant start to the year when they return to Pune.

The 2020 Australian Open finalists Max Purcell and Luke Saville have also been included in the doubles main draw. The 23-year-old Australian Purcell has paired up with compatriot Matthew Ebden, who will be returning to Pune after being featured in the last edition with Indian great Leander Paes. Saville will play alongside John-Patrick Smith.

"It's always a great feeling to see Indians getting a direct entry at the Tata Open Maharashtra as our aim is to give Indian players that much-needed platform. This tournament has always witnessed Indians performing well in doubles and I hope it continues this year too. But not to forget, they will be up against a strong challenge for the title as we have got a strong field this year too," said Tournament Director Prashant Sutar.

Among the players, who have secured direct entries in both singles as well as doubles main draws are: teenage sensation Lorenzo Musetti, 2018 US Open semi-finallist Radu Albot, Ricardas Berankis and Stefano Travaglia.

South Asia's only ATP Tour tournament is returning after a two-year break, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, considering the current situation and Omicron scare, the tournament will be held in a bubble without spectators.

"With a less than two weeks to go, we are trying hard to get everything done on time. From obtaining the visas of the players as well as multiple clearances that are required from the State Government as well as the Central Government as part of staging a tournament of this stature during these tough pandemic times," said Sanjay Khandare, Treasurer of Tata Open Maharashtra, who has been looking into all government permissions.

"We wanted fans to support their favourite stars from the stands but unfortunately the current scenario doesn't allow it. Safety of players as well as other stakeholders involved is of prime importance to us and we have to follow strict bubble protocols. We will also be conducting covid tests as per the rules," said Pravin Darade, Organising Secretary of Tata Open Maharashtra as they are getting all these herculean tasks completed in a short time.

The former World No. 49 Illya Marchenko will be among the 11 direct acceptance entries into the singles qualifiers as they will fight for four main draw spots. The Ukrainian star Marchenko had beaten two-time Olympics champion and the former World No. 1 Andy Murray last year to clinch the ATP Challenger Tour title in Biella, Italy.

With cut-off at 173, Aleksander Vukic, who registered his career's first Grand Slam main draw win at Australian Open on Monday, and Christopher O'Connell are among the other players to feature in the singles qualifying rounds, which will be played on January 30 and 31.
Mumbai, Jan 18 : Sam Bhattacharjee has been in the news for his directorial debut 'Barun Rai and the House On The Cliff'. The crossover British film was released in the UK a few months ago and now it is all set to release in India.

'Barun Rai And The House on the Cliff' is shot in the UK at different locations like Southampton, Camden, Cheshunt, North Weald, Stapleford Tawney, The film stars actor Priyanshu Chatterjee playing the character of 'Barun Rai', a parapsychologist detective. His look in this film will be similar to a classic '70s era sleuth who investigates crimes.

It also features Nyra Banerjee and Sid Makar. The film also stars international actors George Dawson, Tony Richardson and Emma Galliano. This paranormal psychological horror film is directed by Sam Bhattacharjee and produced by Unicorn Motion Pictures.

On talking about the movie, Sam says: "'Barun Rai and the House On The Cliff' is an experimental genre where we have tried as a studio to work on the visionary life of Barun Rai who is a parapsychologist. He investigates unexplained incidents with the help of clairvoyant vision. The idea with this was to introduce the character of Barun Rai to the audience." While sharing about his experience of shooting the film in the UK and his experience of working with international actors and Priyanshu Chatterjee, he says: "The experience of putting the film has been very interesting. We have to wait and see how the audience reacts to the mix of talents." Sam is quite excited to release the film in India.

"I am extremely proud that we have finally been able to release it in India," he concludes. 'Barun Rai and the House On The Cliff' officially releases in India on January 28 on Eros Now.
Mumbai, Jan 18 : Actress Aindrita Ray, who mainly works in Kannada films, is shooting for her next film 'Cold' with director Vikram Bhatt. Akshay Oberoi will be seen alongside Aindrita in this paranormal thriller.

Aindrita says she has a great learning experience from Vikram Bhatt.

She says: "Learning from Vikram sir was the biggest takeaway for me. I have grown watching his films and I am a huge fan. We shot this film in a theatre mode where everything was staged like we do in the theatre. It's high drama and high performance and I was stoked by the genre since a paranormal flick is absolutely new for me." The actress who was also seen in the web series 'Sanak - Ek Junoon' calls 'Cold' a spinechilling paranormal project and one that would be remembered for long.

"Vikram sir is a master and this is a home run for him. It has been very challenging to shoot this since a subject like this needs a lot of teamwork and especially during the Covid times and I can't wait for the audience to watch this movie and enjoy it," she adds.

Written by Mahesh Bhatt and directed by Vikram Bhatt, 'Cold' is scheduled for release in 2023.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : As India renews its thrust on local manufacturing of electronics under the production-linked incentive scheme (PLI) with Union Budget 2022-23 around the corner, Apple and Samsung alone are expected to manufacture/assemble smartphones worth around $5 billion (nearly Rs 37,000 crore) in the financial year 2021-22.

The two giants are set to surpass the PLI targets set by the government by over 50 per cent, according to industry experts.

"The leading global value chains (GVC) firms have got off to a blazing start. Besides Pegatron and Bharat FIH which are now gearing up, the big three -- Wistron, Pegatron and Samsung -- will achieve significant production of $5 billion in 2022," Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), told IANS.

Apple's contract manufacturers in India -- Foxconn and Wistron -- will avail the PLI incentives for the first time this year.

The iPhone maker's second biggest global manufacturer Pegatron is likely to commence operations in India this year.

Samsung, which has the world's largest mobile handset manufacturing factory in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, will avail the incentives under the scheme for the second year.

According to Mohindroo, Indian players like Lava, Padget Electronics (Dixon) and UTL also appear to be cracking the thresholds while "Opteimus and Bhagwati are gearing up".

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last year extended the PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing with a focus on mobile phones by a year until 2025-26, though the base year of the scheme 2019-20 remains the same.

The PLI scheme provides an incentive of 4 per cent to 6 per cent on incremental sales of goods under target segments that are manufactured in India, for five years.

Apple and Samsung are also exporting locally-produced smartphones to the world like never before.

In 2021, the top countries that 'Make in India' iPhones were exported to include the UK (27 per cent), Japan (24 per cent), the Netherlands (23 per cent), Germany (7 per cent), Italy (4 per cent), Turkey (4 per cent) and the UAE (2 per cent), according to data by market research firm CMR.

The top countries that Samsung exported to from India in 2021 include the UAE (47 per cent), Russia (12 per cent), South Africa (7 per cent), Germany (5 per cent), Morocco (4 per cent) and the UK (3 per cent).

The introduction of the PLI scheme has given a positive thrust to India's participation and rise in the global value chains.

"With all the green shoots, the country expects exports from India to grow further in the coming years. Samsung and Apple's manufacturing partners have invested under the PLI scheme and both dominate mobile phone exports from India," said Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, CMR.

For instance, Apple's share of iPhone exports from India stands at more than 4.6 million units in 2021, with exports to Europe, Japan and the Middle East, among others.

"Over the past four years, Apple's share of make-in-India iPhones has grown 15 times to reach 75 per cent in 2021," Ram told IANS.

Apple has now started assembling its new flagship iPhone 13 in India. iPhone 13 is being assembled on trial basis at the Foxconn plant in Chennai, and will be available in the domestic market, as well as for exports from the country by early next year.

It is reportedly ramping up production of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices in India and Vietnam to end its dependence on China.

The tech giant is already assembling its highest-selling models iPhone 12, iPhone 11 and XR in India, along with iPhone SE, 7 and 6S.

Apple started manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 with iPhone SE.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Centre on Tuesday asked the States and Union Territories to enhance Covid-19 testing in a strategic manner to track spread of the pandemic.

"Testing remains a key and crucial component of the framework," Union Health Ministry said in a letter to the states and UTs, adding that "It is seen from available data on the ICMR portal that testing has declined in many states and Union Territories." The ministry has clarified about the recent ICMR guidelines on Covid testing which said that the contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19 unless identified as high risk based on age and co-morbidities do not need to be tested.

The basic objective of all guidelines remain an early detection of case for quick isolation and care. In addition, testing remains a key strategy for the pandemic management on two counts - identification of new clusters and new hotspots of infection which can in turn facilitate immediate action for containment such as setting up containment zones, contact tracing and others and ensuring reduction in mortality and morbidity, the letter read.

Delineating on ICMR testing advisory issued on January 10, Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health, said in the letter, "All those who are symptomatic must be tested in community settings. All at risk contacts of laboratory confirmed cases must also be tested".

"In order to ensure that an effective track of the spread of the pandemic is kept and also immediate citizen centric action is initiated, it is incumbent upon all states and UTs to enhance the testing", the letter further said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
London/New Delhi, Jan 18 : The UK government on Tuesday joined a slew of nations in cracking down on misleading cryptocurrency ads to protect consumers.

The country has joined Spain, Singapore and India in an effort to reign in cryptocurrency advertisements that promise wild returns.

The UK Treasury published a consultation response, saying that proposed legislation will also provide the UK financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), powers to regulate the crypto market more effectively.

"Around 2.3 million people in the UK are now thought to own a crypto-asset with their popularity rising - but research suggests that understanding of what crypto actually is is declining, suggesting that some users may not fully understand what they are buying. This poses a risk that these products could be mis-sold," the Treasury said in a statement.

The UK authority plans to bring crypto-assets within the scope of financial promotions legislation.

It means the "promotion of qualifying crypto-assets will be subject to FCA rules in line with the same high standards that other financial promotions such as stocks, shares, and insurance products are held to," said the UK Exchequer.

"Cryptoassets can provide exciting new opportunities, offering people new ways to transact and invest - but it's important that consumers are not being sold products with misleading claims," said Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"We are ensuring consumers are protected, while also supporting innovation of the crypto-asset market".

The decision to bring these types of advertisements into the scope of regulation will mitigate the risks of consumer harm, ensuring people have the appropriate information to make informed investment decisions.

Spain earlier Singapore and India, stressing that the advertising of crypto-assets must be clear, balanced, fair and explain risks to the public.

Spain's National Securities Market Commission issued new guidelines, to come into force from February 17, that mandates the following warning to be placed on all crypto ads: "Investments in crypto-assets are not regulated. They may not be appropriate for retail investors and the full amount invested may be lost".

The aim, said the Spanish watchdog, is to ensure that the advertising of the products offers true, understandable and non-misleading content, and includes a prominent warning of the associated risks.

Earlier, Singapore warned cryptocurrency and digital token providers not to promote or advertise their digital tokens via various media platforms to the general public.

In new guidelines, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said that digital payment token (DPT or more commonly known as cryptocurrency) service providers should not promote their DPT services to the general public in Singapore.

The Indian government in November last year raised concerns over crypto ads promising wild returns.

Indian crypto players bombarded the public with advertisements across platforms -- doubling down on their marketing spend when the cryptocurrencies are yet to be accepted as legal tender and lack legal framework and regulatory norms in the country.

The much-awaited 'Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021', did not make it to the table during the Winter Session of Parliament amid growing concerns over the misuse of digital coins on the Dark Web for terror acts and drugs trafficking by militant organisations, and for money laundering and hawala-based transactions.
Mumbai, Jan 18 : In the last 10 years, Indias key equity indices have mostly been range-bound during pre-Budget days, only to bloom after the tabling of the Bill in the Parliament.

In fact, the Union Budget remains the most important trigger for market movement.

Traditionally, until 2016, the Budget was announced on the final working day of February. Now it is presented in the Parliament on the first working day of February.

Accordingly, the periods just before and after assume much significance for market movement.

This time around, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the upcoming state elections have heightened the stakes of the Budget day.

In terms of pre-Budget session, the last 10 years' data showed lower volatility as indices moved in the range of (-) 6 to 3 per cent only.

As per the data, since 2011, the market has fallen five times, while gaining six times in the month ahead of the Union Budget.

Over 2011-21, the market gave negative returns in the one-month period ahead of the Budget in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2021.

Notably, in the last three years, the market started to correct between January 15 and 20, before witnessing a post-Budget rally.

The trend is expected to play out this time as well.

"If we look at the current market conditions, we can see that it rallied around 10 per cent since December 20 till now, but in the next two weeks, the market may trade in sideways," said Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research.

Besides, healthy Q3FY22 earnings results along with fresh foreign fund flows are expected to buoy the markets further.

"The market sentiment is currently positive, mainly on account of better operating performance from top IT companies and HDFC Bank," said Rajnath Yadav, Research Analyst at Choice Broking.

According to Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst, HDFC Securities: "As per the past behaviour of Nifty since 2012 onwards, a continuation of present uptrend in Nifty is likely till the end of January. As happened in the most occasions in past, the odds of the formation of an important top reversal in Nifty around 18,500-18,700 levels is high.

"One may expect decent downward correction from the highs after the event unless the Budget is favourable for capital markets beyond expectations." Among sectors, the data showed that IT is one of the best performers during this period whereas pharma is an under-performer.

"In terms of volatility, PSU banks and realty stocks witnessed wild swings in either direction," said Sunil Nyati, Managing Director at Swastika Investmart.

"One of the consensus trades that always works is fertiliser stocks because they witnessed positive returns for the last five years and this month itself, they have already witnessed a stellar rally," Nyati added.

On FY23 Budget, Sandeep Bhardwaj, CEO, Retail, IIFL Securities, said: "Most likely, the government will continue its growth-oriented agenda through this year's Budget, which should get thumbs-up from the market.

"Divestment agenda, capital expenditure plans, support for SMEs and startups plus infrastructure and agricultural reforms are likely to dominate the reforms agenda, and if all falls into place, the markets are likely to continue a medium-term rally." -IANS

team-biz/arm
Chennai, Jan 18 : Two Hindu Munnani workers who were arrested and lodged in prison since January 11 for defacing the statue of social reformer and founder of the Dravidian movement, Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy or Thanthai Periyar were charged under Goondas Act. The detention orders were served on the duo on Tuesday.

The duo, Arun Karthik (26) and V. Mohanraj (28) of Vellalore were arrested on January 11 after the face of a statute of Periyar at Vellalore in Coimbatore was found smeared with saffron powder and garlanded with slippers.

The incident took place on January 9 and there were widespread protests across the state with the Dravidar Kazhakam (DK) and Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) leading the charge.

There were demands from across the state to give befitting punishment to the perpetrators of the crime and the police arrested the duo on January 11 and were remanded in judicial custody at the Coimbatore central prison.

It may be noted that there were similar incidents of vandalizing the statues of Periyar across Tamil Nadu with the Hindu Munnani workers in most cases getting arrested for the act.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for an end to violence in Sudan to allow mediation efforts.

"First and foremost, we want to see an end to the violence. We condemn very clearly the use of live ammunition and lethal force against demonstrators yesterday," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, when asked for the UN chief's comment on the unrest in Sudan.

"We continue to call on the authorities to allow people to express themselves peacefully. And demonstrators have to act in a peaceful manner. But security forces should be there to protect people's rights to demonstrate peacefully," he said.

The United Nations also wants a positive and conducive atmosphere for the mediation efforts of Volker Perthes, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Sudan, said Dujarric.

In addition to Perthes' work, the world body is working closely with the League of Arab States, the African Union, and a number of countries that have particular interest in Sudan, he said.

Seven protesters were killed in clashes with security forces during Monday's demonstrations in the capital city of Khartoum. Fifty police officers and 22 citizens were wounded, the police said Tuesday.

Mass protests took place on Monday in Khartoum and other cities to demand civilian rule in the country.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government. 
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The BJP on Tuesday said there is a competition going on in Uttar Pradesh between Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress over who can spread more hatred against Hindus.

Citing support of Islamic cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and his meeting with Priyanka Gandhi, BJP spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra said that there is a competition going on in Uttar Pradesh between Samajwadi Party and the Congress over who can spread more hatred against Hindus and who would promote more hatred against Hindus.

Patra claimed that Congress and Samajwadi Aprty either taking support or giving tickets to Muslims who spew venom against Hindus. He pointed out that the Samajwadi Party has given tickets to several Muslims who were allegedly accused of involvement in riots and making communal remarks against Hindus.

Patra also mentioned that in the past too the Congress had joined hands with forces who spoke against Hindus. "Congress had joined hands with parties which spoke against Hindus in Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal," Patra said.

He mentioned that the Samajwadi Party has given tickets to people like Nahid Hasan, currently in jail, and Muharram Ali, accused of inciting riots.

Referring to Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole's comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Patra said, "The comment shows that Prime Minister Modi's security breach in Punjab was not a coincidence but an experiment at the behest of top leaders in the Congress party.

"To a question on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declaring its Lok Sabha member Bhagwant Mann as its chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, he said, "While announcing Mann as chief ministerial candidate, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal behaving like a governor and Mann also acted as if he was taking oath for the office."
Mumbai, Jan 18 : Model and actor Paras Chhabra is known for winning 'Splitsvilla 5' and his stint in 'Bigg Boss 13'. The actor recently shared a poster of his upcoming song 'Jiye Jaun' which will be released on January 20.

Paras Chhabra will be seen portraying an army officer in the music video.

The actor expresses his feelings about him getting to live his dream through this music video.

He says: "I have always had a dream of playing an army officer on screen and that dream has finally come true. Besides becoming an actor I was very much inclined towards joining the Indian army. I feel highly about them because they are completely nonchalant about their families or their social life and completely dedicated their lives to the country, which is commendable." Furthermore, he adds: "As an actor, it was a very big responsibility to showcase, their pain, their sacrifices, their dedication in such a short span because it's not a movie it's a music video. It was a very big challenge and I wanted to leave no stone unturned in justifying their part on screen." When asked about whether it is a love song and how it will end?

Paras replies: "Yes, this song is a love story, and to know how it is going to be, you'll have to wait and watch. Love stories are of two tangents, one has a happy ending and one has a tragic ending but sometimes what we forget is to enjoy the essence of the journey of a love story. This music video has the essence of a love story. We tend to forget that army officers are emotional too, they barely get to spend time with their loved ones and this music video will take you through the journey of an army officer's love story." Lastly, he shared the USP of the upcoming music video and also spoke about what makes the song stand out from the crowd.

He shares: "The essence of love that we fail to enjoy is the USP of the song. I hope that my fans who have been eagerly waiting for me to deliver something will definitely love the essence of the song. I hope they'll be able to relate to the song." 'Jiye Jaun' features Aamrapali Mahajan and Paras Chhabra. It is sung by Aamrapali Mahajan, lyrics by Maninder Kailey and directed by Dilsher Singh and Khushpal Singh.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief and offered their condolences over the demise of noted Bengali cartoonist Narayan Debnath.

Debnath (96), the creator of popular comic characters like 'Bantul the Great', 'Handa Bhonda', 'Nante Fonte', 'Bahadur Beral' etc., passed away at a hospital in Kolkata after prolonged illness on Tuesday morning.

President Kovind said, "Sad to learn about the demise of Shri Narayan Debnath, a noted cartoonist, who created immortal fictional characters that entertained children and adults alike. His passing is a big loss to the world of Bengali literature. Condolences to his family and admirers." The Prime Minister also expressed grief over the demise of Debnath.

In a tweet, Modi said, "Shri Narayan Debnath Ji brightened several lives through his works, cartoons and illustrations. His works reflected his intellectual prowess. The characters he created will remain eternally popular. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti." Debnath was suffering from age-related ailments, including kidney and heart problems. The West Bengal government took the responsibility of his medical treatment.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The BJP on Tuesday announced two more candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. The party has fielded Chhatrapal Singh from Baheri assembly seat and Bahoranlal Maurya from Bhojipura assembly seat.

In a statement, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said that the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) has approved names for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

The BJP has announced 109 candidates for 403 members of Uttar Pradesh assembly. The BJP on Saturday released its first list of 107 candidates. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will contest from Gorakhpur (Urban) assembly constituency and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu assembly seat in Prayagraj district.

The BJP has denied tickets to 20 sitting MLAs in its first list.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the BJP core committee on Uttar Pradesh was held on Tuesday to discuss candidates' names and seat sharing with the alliance partners. BJP chief J.P. Nadda, home minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior leaders from state were present in the meeting held at party headquarters here.

It is learnt that names of probable candidates for remaining phases were discussed and seat sharing with alliance partners Apna Dal and Nishad Party was also discussed.

A similar meeting of the BJP core committee on Uttar Pradesh was held on Monday evening. Apart from candidates, campaign plans were also discussed.

Uttar Pradesh assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10. The BJP's CEC is meeting on January 19 to finalise candidates for Goa, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Blackburn terrorist shot dead after having laid siege to a Texas synagogue had spent the week before the attack at a Christian homeless shelter and bought his gun 'off the street' nearby, the Daily Mail reported.

Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Lancashire, UK, staged a 10-hour attack near Dallas on Saturday and held a Rabbi and three others hostage while demanding the release of a convicted terrorist known as 'Lady Al Qaeda' so they could die together.

Akram is understood to have landed in New York on January 2, most likely on a flight from Manchester, and was granted legal entry into the US, despite having a criminal record.

The address he gave on his arrival papers appears to be the same as the Queens Hotel in New York City, which offers basic accommodation for $80-a-night, the report said.

Although Akram said in the entry documents that he would be staying there, it is unclear if he actually did, with a receptionist at the hotel unable to say whether this was the case, the New York Times reported. The receptionist said that FBI agents had reviewed the hotel's CCTV footage, but found nothing useful.

The British Muslim crossed the country, likely by internal flight, next appearing at a Texan Christian charity asking for a bed for the night.

He stayed at the Union Gospel Mission in Dallas in the week before the terror attack, and was able to purchase a handgun 'off the street', according to US President Joe Biden.
Colombo, Jan 18 : Battered by mounting debt and dollar crises with no cash to buy fuel and all stocks have run dry, India on Tuesday came to rescue Sri Lanka with a new Line of Credit (LOC) of $500 million for purchase of petroleum products.

The new LOC follows Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's virtual talks on Saturday (January 15) with Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa wherein Sri Lanka reviewed an urgent credit facility of $1.5 billion to import food, medicines, and fuel.

The discussion between the two ministers took place following India extending a $400 million under the SAARC currency swap arrangement and deferred a settlement of $515.2 million to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) by two months, on Thursday, January 13.

"External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar extended this critical support in his letter addressed to the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Prof GL Peiris," Indian High Commission in Colombo stated on Tuesday.

"It would be recalled that in a landmark development, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister of Finance, Basil Rajapaksa held a detailed virtual meeting on January 15, 2022 and discussed various aspects of robust economic partnership between India and Sri Lanka. Early operationalization of the LOC will help realize one of the four pillars of economic cooperation identified during the visit of Basil Rajapaksa to India in December 2021," India HC statement noted.

Recently, India had extended foreign exchange support of over $900 million to Sri Lanka. These measures are in line with India's commitment to stand with Sri Lanka, contribute to Sri Lanka's economic growth and impart greater momentum to bilateral economic and commercial partnership, the High Commission noted.

Sri Lanka faces one of its worst economic crisis with credit crunch with country's credit has been downgraded to 'CCC' and 'CC' by Standard and Poor's and Fitch over risks of default. However, on Tuesday the country paid $500 million sovereign bond that fell due on January 2021, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabaal stated.

Besides, Sri Lanka is facing a major crisis with regard import of fuel and connecting to it a power crisis as country's power generation is mainly depends on fuel.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Companies of para-military forces have started arriving in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the first phase of the Assembly election on February 10, security sources said on Tuesday.

According to the Union Home Ministry order issued on January 6, a total of 150 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) has been allocated to the UP administration for 'area domination' in the state for conducting safe and peaceful Assembly polls.

A total of 50 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, 30 each from the Border Security Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal, and 20 each from the Central Industrial Security Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, have been allocated to UP as of now, the officials in the Ministry said, adding that rest will be dispatched soon. More companies of para-military forces will be sent to UP as the election process is spread across seven phases.

The state government has started the induction of these companies to various districts to assist the local administration in 75 districts for law and order and area domination.

State government officials have informed that over 100 companies have arrived in the state while the rest will shortly follow in a phased manner. The state administration has allocated four companies of the CRPF to the Prayagraj district while three CISF companies have been deployed in Agra district, three CRPF companies for Aligarh, and so on. It has not deployed mixed companies of CAPFs but deputed only one force in a district.

The Union Home Ministry, in consultation with the Election Commission, and the governments of all five poll-bound states, decided to provide around 650 companies of para-military forces, Ministry sources isaid, adding that apart from 650 companies, additional personnel will be kept on standby in the neighbouring states, if needed.

Taking the rapid increase in the number of Covid cases in the third wave into consideration, CAPF officials said that additional troopers have been kept ready and in case, personnel of a company get infected, the entire unit will be isolated and withdrawn from the electioneering process.

The state government has also been asked to arrange spacious premises for central security personnel during the poll duty and also set polling booths in larger premises so that Covid protocols could be followed properly, the officials added.

All eligible troopers in the entire para-military forces getting deputed for election duty in five states, have been administered booster doses and the security personnel have also been asked to wear masks, use sanitisers, and maintain social distance while performing their duties, the CAPF officials said.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Most of India will see a peak in Omicron cases by mid February, health experts said on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, Dr Shashank Joshi, member of Covid-19 Maharashtra State Task Force noted that Omicron has followed the South African pattern in the case of both Mumbai and Delhi.

"It's a very rapidly progressive and explosive wave, which will come very fast and hopefully go very fast.

"Mumbai has already passed the peak, Maharashtra will peak by the first week of February.

"Most parts of India might peak between the first and 15th of February. Somewhere in March, Omicron will be much less and hopefully we should have a disruption free India April onwards," said Joshi, who is also an endocrinologist at the Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.

Recent projections by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Statistical Institute (IISc-ISI) claim that the country is likely to witness over 10 lakh Covid cases a day at January-end/beginning of February when the third wave meets its peak.

The Omicron 'Projections January-March 2022 IISc-ISI Model' by Professor Siva Athreya, Professor Rajesh Sundaresan and team from the Centre for Networked Intelligence at IISc-ISI in Bengaluru predicts that the third Covid wave may peak in January-end and early-February, with daily cases touching 10 lakh.

The peak of the third wave will vary for different states and the Covid-19 curve for India could start flattening by March-beginning.

Joshi also noted that the reduction in Omicron cases will also result in the end of the third wave in India. However, the presence of Delta, in "small pockets" may cause some trouble, he said.

"If there is no new variant of concern, then probably we are looking for disruption free Covid life," he noted.

However, Dr Vikas Maurya, HoD and Director, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, said that it could be too early to predict the end of Covid.

"Gradually it may result in endemicity of virus with continuous presence of few cases in next few months or with recurrent spurts of infection within marginal cases," Maurya told IANS.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Tuesday said that India has witnessed a substantial decrease in fresh Covid cases, reporting 2,38,018 new infections in the last 24 hours, and a total of 310 deaths.

On Monday, the country had reported 2,58,089 new cases and 385 deaths.

But, the Omicron infection tally has risen to 8,891 across the nation, an increase of 8.31 per cent from Monday.

According to Joshi, the key statistics to look for in Omicron is that 80 per cent of people are asymptomatic, and the need for hospitalisations, oxygen, and ventilators are much less compared to previous waves.

Further, "greater vaccine coverage will definitely result in asymptomatic or milder cases rather than severe cases and in complete eradication of this virus in near future", Maurya said.

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Belagavi : , Jan 18 (IANS) The Karnataka Congress which has organised Mekedatu padayatra (foot march) despite curfew orders is all set to launch another foot march demanding implementation of the Mahadayi project.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Executive President Sathish Jarakiholi has made an announcement in this regard on Tuesday in the state's Belagavi district.

The neighbouring state of Goa is objecting to the implementation of the project.

"We are discussing the implementation of the Mahadayi project in the platforms of the party. Once the Covid pandemic subsides, a foot march demanding implementation of Mahadayi project would be taken up," he said.

The padayatra would be taken up from the Nargund in Gadag district to the birth place of Mahadayi River near Kankumbi in Belagavi district.

The blueprint for the padayatra would be ready soon. Padayatra's demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project was a success. The foot march has successfully got the attention of the government on the issue, he said.

The sharing of the waters of the river Mahadayi is a cause of disputes between the states of Karnataka and Goa. The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) is a tribunal which adjudicates the dispute over River Mahadayi water allocation.

The Karnataka government proposes to divert some water from the Mahadayi River to the Malaprabha River basin as part of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.

In August 2018, Mahadayi Water Tribunal verdict permitted Goa to use 24 tmcft (excluding the 9.395 tmcft prevailing uses), Karnataka to use 5.4 tmcft (including 3.9 tmcft for export outside the basin) and Maharashtra to use 1.33 tmcft for consumptive purposes.

Karnataka approached the Supreme Court alleging injustice is done in allocation of water to the state. Central government issued a gazette notification on February 27, 2020, permitting the Karnataka state to draw 13.42 tmcft of water from the Mahadayi River out of which 8 tmcft is for power generation.

The Kalasa-Banduri Nala is a project undertaken by the government of Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the districts of Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Gadag.

It involves building across Kalasa and Banduri, two tributaries of the Mahadayi river to divert 7.56 TMC of water to the Malaprabha river, which supplies the drinking water needs of the said 4 districts, i.e., Dharwad, Belagavi Bagalkot and Gadag.

This project had been on paper for decades and the Karnataka government decided to implement it during then Congress Chief Minister SM Krishna's regime.

Clearance for the project was received from the Centre in 2002. The project, however, soon ran into trouble when the then BJP government of Goa headed by Manohar Parrikar raised objections to the project claiming that the project would harm Goa's flora and fauna.

Following this, then National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government which was in power at the Centre put on hold its approval and funding of the project.

Karnataka and Goa have since then been at loggerheads over the project. The project which had been put in abeyance for four years was revived after H.D. Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister.

In September 2006, the coalition government in Karnataka headed by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy decided to go ahead with the construction work.

It was inaugurated on September 22 at Kanakumbi in Khanapur Taluk of Belagavi district. The Goa government, however, soon moved the courts and brought a stay on the construction work. The matter is now before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.

The Congress state unit which has gained momentum after organising a foot march on the controversial Mekedatu project in south Karnataka is all set to launch another movement in north Karnataka region.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 18 : The daily Covid positive cases in Kerala continue to rise as 28,481 people turned positive from 80,740 samples tested, taking the positivity rate (TPR) to 35.27 per cent on Tuesday, state Health Minister Veena George said in a statement.

She said that Thiruvananthapuram district saw 6,911 positive cases, the highest-ever daily number.

According to the statement, there are 1,42,512 active cases in the state of which 3.4 per cent of the patients are in hospitals, while 39 fresh deaths were reported, taking the total death toll in the state to 51,026.

On the vaccination front, 99.8 per cent (2.67 crore) have had one dose, of which 83 per cent (2.21 crore) have taken both doses.

Likewise in the 15-18-year group, 55 per cent (8.31 lakh) have been given one dose and starting Wednesday, over 900 schools in the state will function as vaccination centres to vaccinate the remaining students.

Thiruvananthapuram district saw one of the highest TPR of 48 per cent, which implies almost one in two people who underwent the test turned positive, forcing authorities to clamp strict adherence to Covid protocols.

The offices of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and three other ministers have reported many of the staff members turning positive, forcing their partial closure.

"Things are serious so all should strictly adhere to Covid protocols and violations will be strictly proceeded against. The numbers prescribed for weddings and funerals should be followed," said state Transport Minister Antony Raju, after a meeting of authorities.

Howver, the ruling CPI-M is continuing with its district party meetings and that has come under heavy attack as there are dance programmes and musical programmes besides crowding of leaders and party members.

"It seems there are two sets of rules in Covid, one for the people and the other one for the CPI-M. Just see how many people have turned positive after attending the Thiruvananthapuram district CPI-M meetings. For weddings and funerals, only 50 are allowed and see the dance, and musical troupe performances and the numbers at their party meetings. They have become the 'merchants of death' by spreading Covid," said Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan.

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JUBA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's government has reached a peace deal in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, with the break-away faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under Simon Gatwech Dual.

The deal negotiated by the Sudan Transitional Government on Sunday includes recommitting to the cessation of hostilities signed on Aug. 8 2018 in Khartoum that paved way the eventual inking of the revitalized peace deal.

President Salva Kiir's security advisor Tut Gatluak Manime signed on behalf of the SPLM-In-Government (SPLM-IG) and Dual signed on behalf of his SPLM/A-IO that splintered in August 2021 from the mainstream party led by First Vice President Riek Machar.

The deal offers amnesty to the leadership and forces of SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang that has been fighting Machar's faction in the oil-rich Upper Nile state.

The clashes between the two opposition factions since August 2021 have left hundreds of soldiers killed on both sides following Dual's decision to denounce Machar's chairmanship of the former rebel movement.

Dual accused Machar of weakening the party (SPLM/A-IO) in the coalition government formed in February 2020.

He blamed Machar for practicing nepotism and not doing enough to push President Kiir to implement the security arrangements to pave way for reintegration of former rebel fighters.

SPLA-IO shall establish coordination offices in Juba, Malakal and Bor towns to assist the process of assembling and reintegration.

The parties also agreed to operationalize the transitional security arrangements and allow voluntary repatriation, resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of the refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs).


Washington, Jan 18 : US drugmaker Moderna is working on a combined Covid-19 and flu booster shot, which could be available in some countries by fall 2023 at the earliest, CEO Stephane Bancel has said.

In his speech at the Davos Agenda, a virtual event being held this week by the World Economic Forum, Bancel said this date was a "best case scenario", but that he believed it was possible for some countries next year, CNN reported.

He explained it was a goal for the company to have a single annual booster shot available to avoid "compliance issues" where people are wary about getting multiple shots every winter.

Meanwhile, Bancel also said that the company will have data available on its Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine in March "It should be in the clinic in the coming weeks. And we're hoping in the March timeframe, we should be able to have data to share with regulators to figure out the next step forward," he was quoted as saying in a panel conversation at Davos.

"That's always been a great partnership between public health experts, the regulators and vaccine makers to figure out what's the best path," he said.

Scientists at Pfizer are also using the mRNA technology that helped Covid-19 vaccines succeed in exploring ways to inoculate the masses from the flu.

According to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, its Omicron specific vaccine will be ready by March, while AstraZeneca is also looking at a variant specific jab.

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New Delhi, Jan 18: Fearing a possible conflict with China over Taiwan, the US and Japan are holding talks to stockpile munitions including missiles in each other's military facilities in Japan and close to Taiwan. The idea is to deploy missiles quickly in case of conflagration in the Taiwan Strait.

Washington and Tokyo discussed the storage of munitions during the US-Japan Security Consultative Committee two-plus-two meeting. The two allies also decided to increase sharing and joint use of US and Japanese military facilities, says a report in Taiwan News.

The plan is to also share their runways in case of an armed conflict with China.

China's military assertion in the Indo-Pacific region has unsettled many countries including Japan, Taiwan and almost all nations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc. Beijing has also laid claim to the territories of Japan, all of Taiwan and the waters of the South China Sea including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam and Malaysia.

Nikkei Asia reported that the stockpiles would be spread across Japan's southwestern islands--the Nansei Islands, which span from Kyushu to northern Taiwan. The stockpiles would be placed in such a manner that these can be quickly deployed in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas.

One of the Japanese islands is the Yonaguni Island, part of the Nansei Islands, located just 108 km east of Taiwan.

The plan is to ensure that a possible Chinese strategy of denying access to American and Japanese forces to the East and South China seas is prevented by spreading the munitions across Japan and Taiwan. President Joe Biden recently increased US defence spending in view of competition with China.

It will also ensure that they do not lack the weaponry during a regional conflict. The missiles likely to be deployed include Air-to-Surface Strike Missile, Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, and Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile.

With China often publicly threatening to take over Taiwan even by force, Japan has raised the alarm several times about the possibility of a Chinese attack. Tokyo has upped its defence budget and fears that if China attacks Taiwan, Beijing will attack Japanese administered islands as well.

The Japanese defence ministry's white paper in mid 2021 had said that the rise of China has led to regional tensions. Japan has also been seeking support from European powers to balance China in the Indo-Pacific.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection from arrest to Bollywood actress Poonam Pandey in the porn films racket case, where Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty is one of the main accused.

A bench of Justices Vineet Saran and B.V. Nagarathna issued notice to the Maharashtra government on an appeal filed by Pandey challenging a Bombay High Court order, which junked her anticipatory bail plea. "Issue notice.. In the meanwhile, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner," said the top court in its order.

In November last year, the Bombay High Court declined to grant relief to Pandey. She moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court order. Pandey has been made an accused in the FIR along with actor Sherlyn Chopra.

On December 15, the Supreme Court granted Kundra 4 weeks protection from arrest in one of the cases related to porn film racket.

In November, the Bombay High Court had declined to entertain the anticipatory bail application filed by Kundra in connection with an FIR registered against him by the Mumbai Police in the porn film racket case. Kundra approached the top court after the high court refused relief.

Kundra, first sought anticipatory bail from the session court, which refused to grant him any relief. Thereafter, he moved the Bombay High Court claiming that he was allegedly framed.

The cyber cell of the Mumbai Police filed a case against Kundra under sections of the Indian Penal Code, Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, and Information Technology Act for allegedly distributing sexually explicit videos.

Kundra claimed he was not connected to content creation, publication or transmission of alleged illegal videos. He was arrested by Mumbai Police, in July last year, in another case where he was accused of distributing porn films through an app. In September, Kundra was granted bail.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Two Indian nationals killed in an oil tanker blast in Abu Dhabi on Monday have been identified, officials said on Tuesday, adding the Indian embassy in UAE has started the process for early repatriation of their mortal remains.

The embassy officials are also in touch with the immediate family members of the deceased Indians. The embassy, however, has not revealed their identity.

Among the six injured in the blast on Monday, two are Indian nationals, who were treated at an Abu Dhabi hospital and later discharged.

"@IndembAbuDhabi officials are in touch with their family members. The Mission is working closely with UAE authorities, including ADNOC, for early repatriation of mortal remains," it tweeted.

"We thank the UAE Government @MoFAICUAE & @AdnocGroup for their support," the embassy tweeted.

On Monday, two fire incidents happened in Abu Dhabi -- a blast in three oil tankers belonging to the ADNOC, and another in an extension building of the new airport.

Later, the ADNOC Group, the leading energy producer of UAE, released a statement confirming the death of its three employees, including two Indians.

"Following the recent incident at Mussafah fuel depot, ADNOC has activated the necessary business continuity plans to ensure the reliable, uninterrupted supply of products to its local and international customers, while ensuring the safety of its employees," said a statement.
Lahore, Jan 18 : Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain has been sent for a test on his bowling action after it was reported by umpires in the Big Bash League.

The 21-year-old, who has just finished a five-game stint with Sydney Thunder, will now undergo the test at the ICC-accredited biomechanics laboratory in Lahore, an EspnCricinfo report said.

Hasnain made a strong impact in his debut season at the BBL. He came in as a replacement for English quick Saqib Mahmood, and took 4 for 22 in Thunder's 53-run win over Brisbane Heat, his debut.

In his last game against Sydney Sixers, Moises Henriques was heard on the stump mic saying "nice throw mate" to Hasnain, after he bowled him a bouncer. Hasnain didn't pick up a wicket in that game though he was economical (4-0-22-0), as the Sixers won the match by 60 runs.

In the five games he played, Hasnain conceded runs at just 6.00 per over while taking seven wickets at an average of 15.71.

The pacer was due to undergo a test on his action on January 19 in Australia, but because he was due to return to Pakistan at the end of his stint and because there is an ICC-accredited testing facility in Lahore, it was decided he would get tested there.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday continued to grill the Maharashtra government on the resolution passed by the state Assembly on July 5, 2021 to suspend 12 BJP MLAs for a period of one year for their alleged misconduct and misbehaviour in the House.

A bench, headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar, shot a volley of questions at senior advocate C.A. Sundaram, on the rationality of suspending the MLAs beyond the session of the House, as he argued regarding the limited scope for judicial review over the business within the Assembly.

Justice Khanwilkar told Sundaram that the suspension of the MLAs should not be greater than the session of the House, and anything other than this would be irrational. "Your decision of 1 year is irrational because of the deprivation of the constituency being unrepresented for more than 6 months...," noted the bench.

Justice Ravikumar said: "Another is danger to democracy.....Suppose there is a slender lead of the ruling party (in the Assembly), and 15 or 20 people are suspended, what will be the fate of democracy?" The bench queried Sundaram: "suspension up to what period and for what purpose?"

Justice Maheshwari said the House meets in sessions and the rationale is, when a new session begins, new business begins. "A particular session, he may be suspended but beyond that time, the rationality question comes".

The bench remarked that with a change of session, there is a completely new session and even if the action is punitive, it is for the whole session and not beyond the session. It emphasised that the constituency of the elected representative cannot be left unrepresented for a long time.

The top court made these observations while hearing the petition filed by MLAs challenging their suspension.

It will continue to hear the arguments on Wednesday.

On January 11, the court observed that suspension of 12 BJP MLAs from Maharashtra Assembly in July, for a year, for misbehaving with the presiding officer in chair, both inside and outside the Assembly, was "worse than expulsion".

A battery of senior advocates -- Mahesh Jethmalani, Mukul Rohatgi, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, and Siddharth Bhatnagar -- argued for the suspended legislators, and were assisted by advocates Siddharth Dharmadhikari and Abhikalp Pratap Singh.

"The impugned resolution has been passed in abject violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India in as much as no opportunity of hearing or at least furnishing their written explanation was given to the petitioners. Further, a perusal of the impugned resolution shows that there has been utter non-application of mind in as much there was no material available for identifying the 12 MLAs from a large crowd of people," said the plea, filed through Singh.

It urged the top court to pass direction to quash the resolution for their suspension.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : A private company in 2005 came up with an offer to start a bouquet of multimedia and telecom services and got into an agreement with Antrix Corporation, the commercial wing of state space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and made a deal of leasing out two of ISRO's satellites, GSLV-6 & GSLA-6A, for private services at a throw-away price.

It took six years for the then Congress-led UPA government to sense this fraud and later the agreement was cancelled, but then the arbitration started as the private company claimed millions of dollars from the government of India, which was a brazen act of corruption, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday on the apex court verdict on the Antrix-Devas deal.

The Antrix-Devas agreement was signed in 2005, and after years of controversies, it was cancelled in 2011. Serious objections were raised by various state agencies and departments on this agreement, as it authorised Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd to use S-band, a very rare bandwidth, mostly used by the arm forces for their communications, and thus it was directly related to national security, said Sitharaman, as she accused the Congress of putting national security on stake for its 'crony capitalism'.

But the brazenness of corruption didn't stop there only, as an arbitrator was not even appointed by the then UPA government to put forward the government's side, even after repeated requests, she said.

It shows the half-hearty participation of the UPA government, which indirectly supported Devas Multimedia's strategy to come to India on the pretext of investment, she added.

The company siphoned off as much as Rs 488 crore in the name of starting a US-based subsidiary, IT support services and contesting off-shore legal battles in international courts.

Interestingly, the company claimed to provide the said services through Devas Device, Devas Services and Devas Technologies, which were not existing then, said Sitharaman quoting the SC ruling on the Antrix-Devas agreement, upholding the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLAT) order, which earlier had upheld the earlier order of the Bengaluru bench of NCLT that last year directed winding up of Devas Multimedia and appointed a provisional liquidator for the purpose.

Later the company went to international courts and legal fora to claim $1.13 billion as compensation for its losses. Devas then moved the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the basis of India- Mauritius bilateral investment protection agreement, which later directed the Indian government to pay $111 million with interest and legal cost.

Devas Multimedia also won before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to get an award of $1.3 billion against Antrix. On the other side, the CBI and the ED also started investigating the Antrix- Devas deal and filed FIRs. Even the Ministry of Corporate Affairs had initiated an investigation.
Jerusalem, Jan 18 : More than 90 per cent of Covid patients treated with Pfizer's antiviral drug Paxlovid showed significant improvement within three days, according to a report.

The report by Israel's Maccabi Healthcare Services showed that of the individuals who received Paxlovid, 60 per cent started to feel better within the first day, Jerusalem Post reported.

"We recommend to anyone who has fallen sick with Covid and is found suitable for the treatment with this drug to take it and get protected against a serious illness that can lead to hospitalisation and even death," Maccabi division head Dr. Miri Mizrahi Reuveni was quoted as saying.

"The results of the survey indicate the quality of the treatment, its effectiveness and importance during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and especially in the midst of the current wave," she said.

Israel started administering Paxlovid on January 3.

The treatment involves taking three pills twice a day for five days, starting as soon as possible and no later than five days after the patient shows the first symptoms.

It is intended for individuals in mild to moderate condition who are considered at high risk of developing serious illness.

Data from Pfizer's clinical trial showed that when the treatment was started within three days of the first symptoms, hospitalisations and deaths dropped by 89 per cent compared with a placebo.

In the survey, about 62 per cent participants said they suffered from side effects. Of these one-third experienced a bitter metallic taste, 18 per cent had diarrhoea, 11 per cent reported a loss in taste or smell, 7 per cent had muscle aches, and 4 per cent experienced a headache. So far, no patient who has received Paxlovid has died, the report said.

As per data by the Israeli Health Ministry as of last week, almost a third of patients did not accept the treatment - 753 refusals compared with 1,623 who accepted the drug.

A significant number of those who refused the treatment might also be unvaccinated, which is also considered a high-risk factor, suggest data from Meuhedet Health Maintenance Organization.

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Mumbai, Jan 18 : The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday erupted in protests over certain remarks by state Congress President Nana Patole allegedly making 'derogatory and threatening' utterances against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Patole and the Congress have clarified that the remarks were directed at a local goon by the name of 'Modi' in Bhandara district.

Unconvinced by the argument, the BJP staged sit-ins, marches, beat and trampled Patole's photos with shoes, shouted slogans and lodged police complaints against him in different parts of the state, including Nagpur.

In a viral video, Patole is purportedly heard talking to a group of people how he "can abuse and hit Modi, which is why he comes to campaign against me" in his constituency, triggering outrage in the state BJP.

State BJP President Chandrakant Patil said why Patole should not be treated on the same lines as Union Minister Narayan Rane, who was booked and arrested by Sindhudurg Police five months ago for his 'slap-slur' against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress of "spreading terror" while other leaders demanded the arrest of Patole, an apology and withdrawal of his remarks.

The Congress stood firm behind the party chief, claiming the statements had nothing to do with the Prime Minister but merely referred to a local goon by the surname of Modi who was harassing the people in the district who had come to complain against him.

Patole has hit back by accusing BJP leaders like Patil and Fadnavis of "mischievously and deliberately" trying to connect his statement with PM Modi and by doing so, "they are the ones who are disrespecting the PM".
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Even as India has successfully handed over the BRICS Chair to China from January 2022, it will be hosting five international events through the year, it was decided at the 15th meeting of the BRICS Science Technology Innovation (STI) Steering Committee.

BRICS STI is a forum for the scientific community from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to discuss and deliberate on topics of common interest in the field of science and technology.

The calendar of BRICS STI activities and expected deliverables were discussed at the meeting organised virtually on Monday, a release from the Ministry of Science & Technology said on Tuesday.

The five high-level events that India will host are: BRICS Startups Forum's Working Groups meeting on Energy; Biotechnology & Biomedicine; ICT & High-Performance Computing and the STIEP (Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Partnership) Working Group Meeting, which will also witness the launch of BRICS innovation launchpad as a microsite (Knowledge Hub).

The BRICS STI Steering Committee meeting was attended by representatives from BRICS scientific ministries and foreign missions. The Indian delegation was led by Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Advisor and Head, International Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology, the release said.

The Chinese side presented a broad outline of activities to be carried out during the entire year, which would mainly include thematic meetings, BRICS Young Scientist Conclave, senior official and ministerial-level meetings.

A total of 25 events have been planned, of which India will host five. The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is the main executing agency for the BRICS Startups Forum and creation of innovation Knowledge Hub.

The BRICS Young Scientist Conclave will be held in September 2022 in a virtual format, and thematic focus areas will possibly be carbon peak neutralisation, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, material science and modern agriculture.

China has proposed to host the 10th BRICS S&T ministerial-level meeting and the Senior Official Meeting in September 2022. On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, an exhibition will be organised to showcase the outcomes of successful projects supported under the BRICS Framework Programme (2015-2022).
TUNIS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied on Tuesday extended the state of emergency across the country for another month.

"President Saied decided to extend the state of emergency in the entire territory of the republic for a period of one month, starting from Jan. 20, 2022 to Feb. 18, 2022," said the official Journal of the Republic of Tunisia.

The state of emergency in Tunisia was first declared on Nov. 24, 2015 following a bomb attack on a bus carrying presidential guards, killing 12 people. 
Hyderabad, Jan 18 : Bharat Biotech has urged healthcare workers to ensure that only Covaxin is administered to individuals in the 15-18 years age group.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker on Tuesday said that it "received several additional reports of individuals in the 15-18 year age group being administered unapproved Covid-19 vaccines".

"We humbly request healthcare workers to be highly vigilant and ensure that only Covaxin is administered to individuals in the 15-18 year age group," it said.

The company pointed out that Covaxin received approval based on thorough clinical trials evaluation for safety and immunogenicity in the 2-18 years age group. Currently, it is the only Covid-19 vaccine in India approved for children.

Bharat Biotech also thanked healthcare workers for their great service to the nation during the pandemic.

Nationwide vaccination for children in the age group of 15-18 years was rolled out on January 3. Over 3.71 crore children in the age group have so far received the jab.
Bengaluru, Jan 18 : As many as 29 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh have tested positive in Madikeri city of Kodagu district which borders Kerala, officials said on Tuesday.

The authorities have isolated the workers who tested positive.

Officials said that the construction site where they worked has been sealed off.

The workers had arrived in the district recently and were working at a construction site near St Michael School.

Few workers had developed symptoms of fever and tested for Covid-19 at the District Government Hospital.

After they tested positive, all the 150 workers who worked at the site were tested. As of now, 29 have tested positive and results are yet to come for many of the workers.

A team from the department of health has screened all the workers. Only two workers have developed symptoms and all others are asymptomatic.

The contractors and building owners were instructed to provide necessary facilities and ensure that before commencement of work everyone should get negative report. District Health Officer Venkatesh visited the spot and inspected the arrangements.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Delhi Police has registered an FIR against unidentified people for making derogatory and obscene remarks against Muslim women on an audio chat application, Clubhouse.

The FIR was registered under sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 354A (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code at the Special Cell police station, DCP (IFSO) KPS Malhotra told IANS.

On Monday, a video of a Clubhouse conversation on the topic 'Muslim gals are more beautiful than hindu gals' went viral on social media.

In the conversation, the participants were allegedly heard making obscene, vulgar and derogatory remarks targeting Muslim women and girls.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police demanding a punitive action against the alleged persons.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal further stated that she feels outraged over such incidents.

"First Sulli bai, then Bulli bai and now indecent sexual remarks against Muslim girls on the Clubhouse app! How long will this thing go on?" the DCW chief asked through social media, demanding urgent and strict action against the persons involved.

"Strongest action needs to be taken against the culprits and that's why I have issued a notice to Delhi Police seeking immediate FIR and arrests in the matter," the DCW chief added.
Bengaluru, Jan 18 : Karnataka police on Tuesday arrested a religious seer who gave a call to demolish a mosque in Srirangapatna town in Mandya district on the lines of Babri Masjid.

Rishikumar Swamiji of Kaali Mutt has made a video in front of the mosque in Srirangapatna, and made a public appeal that the mosque should be demolished as it is built over a temple.

He had also claimed in the video that the pillars, walls and kalyani (water body) inside the premises of mosque symbolise Hindu architecture.

He said that Hindus should demolish it immediately.

The video was put out on his social media account and it drew sharp reactions.

Srirangapatna police have gone to the mutt located in Chikkamagalur district and took Rishikumar Swamiji into their custody and presented him before the local court.

The counsel for Swamiji argued that the statements made by his client are not controversial.

"He had put out his pain after seeing the traces of temples in the mosque," the advocate stated.

However, the counsel for the government argued that his bail petition should not be considered in view of his release leading to communal disharmony and destruction of evidences.

The court has reserved the judgment for Wednesday.
Mumbai, Jan 18 : The 160-year-old Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Zoo has got two new star attractions - Royal Bengal tiger cub 'Veera' and Humboldt penguin chick, aOscar', officials said here on Tuesday.

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar performed the naming ceremony of the two new additions to the VJB Zoo family in presence of zoo Director Dr Sanjay Tripathi and other officials.

The male cub was born to the Royal Bengal Tiger pair Shakti and Karishma on November 14, while the penguin chick was born on August 19.

Being cared for by their respective parents, the two new-borns remained out of public glare since their birth and were revealed for the first time during their official christening ceremonies on Tuesday.

The Royal Bengal Tiger pair was acquired from Aurangabad Zoo in February 2020, while the colony of 8 penguins - the first of its kind in India - was brought here from Seoul in 2016.

'Oscar', born to the pair Mr. Molt and Flipper, became the third penguin chick to be born in the VJB Zoo in the past six years.

The other penguins living here in an ice-cold enclave are Donald, Daisy, Popeye, Olive, and Bubble. Dory, who could not survive and died on October 23, 2016 owing to a bacterial infection.

A penguin chick born to Mr. Molt and Flipper in August 2018 had died a week after birth, but their second offspring 'Oscar' is now doing well, while a male chick was born to Donald and Daisy in May 2021.

Spread over lush green 50-acres in south Mumbai's Byculla, the VJB Zoo is among the oldest in the country, run by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, and has plans to introduce other exotic animals like jaguars, giraffes, etc.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the "disturbing tendency" of trial courts deciding cases involving rape and murder charges in haste as it commuted the death sentence of a man, convicted for raping and killing a 11-year-old girl, to 30 years imprisonment.

A bench, headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and B.V. Nagarathna, said: "It is travesty of justice as the appellant was not given a fair opportunity to defend himself. This is a classic case indicating the disturbing tendency of trial courts adjudicating criminal cases involving rape and murder in haste. It is trite law that an accused is entitled for a fair trial which is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution." Noting that the trial court passed the order of conviction and sentence on the same day, Justice Rao, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said: "The object and purpose of Section 235 (2) CrPC is that the accused must be given an opportunity to make a representation against the sentence to be imposed on him. A bifurcated hearing for convicting and sentencing is necessary to provide an effective opportunity to the accused." The bench added that adequate opportunity to produce relevant material on the question of death sentence should be provided to the accused by the trial court.

The judgment came on an appeal filed by Bhagwani, whose appeal challenging the death sentence awarded by the trial court was dismissed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The top court noted that the accused was 25 years old on the date of commission of the offence and belongs to a Scheduled Tribes community, eking his livelihood by doing manual labour. It added that no evidence has been placed by the prosecution on record to show that there is no probability of rehabilitation and reformation of the accused and the question of an alternative option to death sentence is foreclosed.

"The appellant had no criminal antecedents before the commission of crime for which he has been convicted. There is nothing adverse that has been reported against his conduct in jail. Therefore, the death sentence requires to be commuted to life imprisonment," noted the bench, sentencing him to 30 years imprisonment for committing rape and murder of a hapless girl.

The incident occurred in April 2017 and the other accused Satish died during the pendency of his appeal.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Multiple stakeholders have raised objections to import of pork from the US, as part of the recent trade agreement, on various grounds, the most important being the clandestine entry of GM food into the country and livelihood of hundreds of pig farmers in the unorganised sector, especially in India's northeastern states.

As part of the revised India-US trade deal signed last week, India has agreed to import pork and Alfalfa hay from the US in lieu export of Indian mangoes and pomegranate. India has not yet officially allowed genetically modified (GM) food (that doesn't have life) or GMO, i.e. genetically modified organisms (for example, seeds that have life).

Calling it as an effort to bring in almost clandestinely the GM into the food chain, Kavitha Kuruganti of the 'Coalition for a GM-Free India' said: "This looks like an attempt to push GM food and GMO after the companies realised that GM mustard and BT Brinjal was stopped." Stating that all animal feed, including Alfalfa hay, in the US is GM, she said, "Last year, between September to November, we had imported soya meal. All soy, all corn and all cotton in the US is GM." The activist also pointed out a procedural issue where the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) said when applications came, it would consult the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

"No one is checking the impact of entry of these into our food chain. By law it is very clear that both the substance and products are to be looked at by the GEAC. There is already a case going on about this," Kuruganti said.

GM or not GM is just one aspect. Import of pork can threaten the livelihood of hundreds of small-time pig farmers in the country, especially in the northeast.

Asserting that India does not have shortage of pork meat, President of the North-East Progressive Pig Farmers' Association, Manoj Kumar Basumatary, said, the US pork is far better in quality compared to Indian pork. "Moreover, the US farmers or industry have the best of breeds, which are genetically modified. They also feed them GMO crops." A 140 kg pig can be raised in the US in just six months compared to a 100-kg in India in 7-8 months. "It is done on an industrial scale there. We just cannot compete with them. The US can flood our market with cheaper products and that can cost the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of pig farmers in India," he said.

The executive body of North-East Progressive Pig Farmers' Association on Monday took a decision to write to the government on the issue and also reach out to other such associations to form a pan-India Association so that they can collectively fight the menace, he said adding, "Bihu delayed our action, but now it will happen soon." Yet another stakeholder raised the concern about the impact of health by pork and pork products. In a letter shot off to the Prime Minister on Sunday, Jeeva Bhavana, an NGO that promotes plant-based food, said it is "profoundly alarmed" that the government has consented to this trade agreement.

"Exporting mangoes and pomegranates and importing pork and pork products is no more than exporting nectar and importing poison," it said in the letter that elaborated their consternation on the issue.

"Importing these products is akin to promoting increased consumption of the same, a decision that flies in the face of the recommendations of the most respected health professionals around the world. Just a few years back, the WHO stated unequivocally that processed meat (such as bacon, ham, sausage) are carcinogenic, and should be avoided," it said.

It also said that the consumption of even aunprocessed' pork is detrimental to human health due to high level of saturated fat and cholesterol (which are directly linked to heart disease, cancer, obesity, and other chronic diseases), anti-biotics (which are directly linked to anti-biotic resistance in humans), a slew of parasites and viruses a and the list goes on. "No matter how you look at it, pork and pork products are dangerous to human health and should be avoided completely," the letter said.

Incidentally, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had on November 15 put out the draft regulations on GM foods, which too has been termed by the civil society groups as a ploy to bring in GM foods through the backdoor.

Since April 2016, the issue of GM foods had been left virtually unregulated between the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the FSSAI under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW).

Repeated attempts to reach Commissioner (Trade) in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and even his deputies on phone and e-mail failed to evoke any response.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Six months after the collapse of the Afghan government led by the former President Ashraf Ghani, an ex-female minister of his time unveiled several cases of 'sexual assault and 'corruption in the Presidential palace, Khaama Press reported.

Nargis Nehan, a former female Afghan cabinet member, claimed she noticed several cases of corruption and sexual assault while working for the government of Afghanistan since 2008.

Nehan, former Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum who was speaking in a Twitter space on Sunday, said she has noticed multiple cases of corruption and sexual assault at the very top levels within the Afghan cabinet members and the Presidential Palace, the report said.

According to Nehan, Ashraf Ghani was aware of what was happening around him.

Nehan named Shaad Mohammad Sargand, Humayoun Qayomi, Mohammad Hanif Atmar and Elham Omar Hotaki as the corrupt officials she knew about.

"Shaad Mohammad Sargand, an advisor to Ghani who was very close to the President, also used to be his class fellow in the past. He was forcing a young Shia girl to enter into a concubine's marriage with him," Nehan said.

Shaad Mohammad Sargand had falsely reported to Ghani about the girl blaming him for being Iran's secret agent in the Afghanistan government after she had refused his proposal, Nehan added.

"After her dismissal proposal was signed by the President, the girl came to my office seeking help as she needed the job and also didn't want to be sacked with bad employment history," Nehan said, as per the report.

"I reported the case to the First Lady with the help of whom we could stop the girl's dismissal and transferred her to another department in order to keep her away from the eyes of Shaad Mohamamd Sargand," Nehan said.

Nehan spoke about another scenario when she along with 45 other high ranking female government officials, including cabinet members and deputy ministers, had gone to see Ghani about the 'sexual assaults' in the Presidential palace, but Ghani had ignored to investigate the matter or take any action after he heard from the group, Khaama Press reported.

Nehan also revealed about the corruption cases by the National Procurement Authority, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and the senior advisor to President, Humayoon Qayoumi.

She claimed that the international community, including the World Bank and different UN agencies in Afghanistan, were deeply involved in corruption.

This comes as Fazl Mahmood Fazly, the head of the Administrative Office of the President (AOP), despite being widely accused of hiring girls for sexual pleasure in the government, was never investigated, the report said.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : There will be a key change in New Delhi's diplomatic circle, as Russian career diplomat Denis Alipov has been appointed as the new Ambassador to India.

He will succeed Nikolay Kudashev, who will be the new Russian Ambassador to Singapore.

Alipov is known as an India expert. He was Deputy Director on the Asia desk in the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry and served in the Russian embassy here earlier as deputy head.

According to a Russian Embassy statement, Denis Alipov, a career diplomat and dedicated India specialist with decades-long experience in this country, has been appointed the new Ambassador to India and will succeed Kudashev shortly.

His appointment comes soon after the summit between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, in which both the countries agreed to work together on a range of subjects.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : After a massive spike in Covid infections, Delhi has started seeing a declining trajectory of cases with a downward trend reported for the fifth day in a row on Tuesday. However, the hospitalisation rate in the city has not declined in proportion with the falling daily cases.

The national capital had, on January 13, reported a massive spike in daily Covid cases at 28,867, the highest single-day rise since the start of the pandemic, with a 29.21 per cent positivity rate. However, the daily tally has fallen by over 50 per cent in these five days since then to 11,684 cases on January 18. The death rate has also fallen in these days.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate fluctuates more or less on the same curved path as the city recorded a 29.21 per cent positivity rate when the single-day Covid rise was highest and the positivity remains 22.47 per cent even as the cases have halved.

However, despite the significant fall in daily Covid caseload, the hospital admission rate has not declined and remains the same or stable for the last four to five days. Experts attribute this to the high positivity rate.

The Delhi government-run first Omicron-dedicated Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital has seen two more admissions in the intensive care unit on Tuesday. LNJP had 41 occupied and 459 vacant beds in the ICU on January 16 which has now risen to 43 occupied in the ICU. Out of the total Covid beds, the hospital had 150 occupied on Monday, but 9 patients have been discharged and only 141 are occupied by Tuesday evening.

CMO Dr Ritu Saxena said that the cases have come down in the city but the hospital admission rate remain more or less the same in the last one week. She added the reason can be attributed that most patients are getting treatment in home isolation.

Meanwhile, the daily testing in the city has gone down to over 50 per cent from 1,05,102 Covid tests on January 12 to only 52,002 tests in the last 24 hours on Tuesday. On being asked about fewer Covid tests in the city, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday told media that the ICMR guidelines on Covid testing are being followed in Delhi.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korea reported 4,072 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 700,102.

The daily caseload was up from 3,858 in the previous day amid the spread of the Omicron variant, which the health authorities expected to become a dominant strain here in the near future.

The recent resurgence was attributable to small cluster infections in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Of the new cases, 684 were Seoul residents. The number of newly infected people living in Gyeonggi province and the western port city of Incheon was 1,470 and 177 respectively.

The virus spread also raged in the non-metropolitan region. The number of new infections in the non-capital areas was 1,432, or 38.1 percent of the total local transmission.

Among the new cases, 309 were imported, lifting the total to 21,932.

The number of infected people who were in a serious condition stood at 543, down 36 from the previous day.

Forty-five more deaths were confirmed, leaving the death toll at 6,378. The total fatality rate was 0.91 percent.

The country has administered COVID-19 vaccines to 44,505,276 people, or 86.7 percent of the total population, and the number of fully inoculated people was 43,582,128, or 84.9 percent of the population.

The number of those who received booster jabs was 23,741,205, or 46.3 percent of the population. 
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Delhi Police have strengthened the security arrangements in the national capital after they received intelligence inputs of a possible terror attack in the city ahead of the Republic Day.

Top Delhi Police sources told IANS that strict security arrangements have been put in place across the national capital.

"On such occasions [Republic Day], Delhi Police always raise the alert. We increase our visibility, presence and checking to counter any threat," a senior police officer said.

Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said in an order that as per reports, certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations.

In view of this, Asthana also put a ban on the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), micro-light aircraft, remotely-piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small-size powered aircraft, quadcopters or even para-jumping from aircraft etc.

"The safety of the people is our topmost priority. The police personnel have been deployed on roads to intensify patrolling and checking at pickets for area dominance," the officer said.

Moreover, recovery of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on January 14 from the Ghazipur flower market area has already raised the concerns of the Delhi Police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district), Deepak Yadav, told IANS that adequate arrangements have been made in and around the Rajpath ahead of the Republic Day.

"Around 300 cameras with face-recognition facility have been installed around the Rajpath to thwart any threat beforehand," Yadav said.

The hotels in New Delhi district area are also being checked by the cops.

In view of the existing threat, Yadav said that specially-trained commandos of Delhi Police and paramilitary forces would be deployed to counter any threat.

"Apart from the police commandos, assault teams of SWAT, Special Cell and hit squads of NSG would also be deployed," Yadav said.

As the usage of drones to carry out terror attacks has risen in the recent past, the DCP said any flying object that breaches the security cordons in and around the area of Rajpath will be taken care of.

"An anti-drone team will be deployed to take care of that," he said.

Meanwhile, around 1,000 drones, 75 military aircraft and tableaux of 12 states and Union Territories and nine ministries will be part of the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath.

The government has introduced two important changes -- Republic Day celebration week will be held from January 23 to January 30, and the main function will begin 30 minutes later on January 26.

It will begin at 10.30 a.m. in place of 10 a.m. to let visibility improve by the time the flypast takes place.

The celebrations will begin from January 23 to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It will end on January 30 to commemorate Martyrs' Day.

Further, the number of visitors at the Republic Day parade has been curtailed significantly owing to the prevailing Covid situation. Last year, around 25,000 visitors were allowed. This year, the number has been significantly curtailed between 5,000 and 8,000.

(Ujwal Jalali can be reached at ujwal.j@ians.in)
Guwahati, Jan 18 : The percentage of water birds at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP & TR) in Assam declined by 28.61 per cent in one year, officials said on Tuesday.

KNP & TR Director Karmashree P. Sivakumar told IANS that the decrease in the number of water birds was due to accumulation of water hyacinth in Rowmari wetland under the Laokhowa wildlife sanctuary.

According to the fourth wetland bird estimation in KNP & TR, results of which were announced late on Tuesday evening, the number of water birds reduced to 66,776 in 2021-22 from 93,543 in 2020-21.

According to the officials of the park, as per the previous studies, the number of water birds was 34,284 in 2019-20 and 10,412 in 2018-19.

The officials said that 66,776 water birds of 126 species were enumerated in the latest study using the point count method.

Out of this, 42,205 birds were counted in Eastern Assam WildLife Division and Biswanath Wildlife Division areas, while 24,571 birds were counted in Laokhowa and Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The birds were counted at 211 different points in 157 water bodies involving 35 enumeration teams, including volunteers from local educational institutes, NGOs along with officials and frontline staff of forest department.

Among the birds, Bar-headed Goose topped the list with 16,552, followed by Northern Pintail at 9,493 and Common Teal at 5,631.

Ferruginous Duck, an important species with 2,236 numbers may be regarded as a highlight of the latest bird estimation, an official said.

According to Sivakumar, the KNP & TR, one of India's seven UNESCO world heritage sites, is not just about one-horned rhinos, Royal Bengal tigers and Asian elephants, it is also home to thousands of birds of over 125 species.

The national park is situated in Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath and Karbi Anglong districts, mostly in central Assam.

The KNP & TR, which is also home to wild buffalos and many more animal species, is a popular tourist hotspot for visitors from around the world.

Last year, the Assam government had extended the area of the national park besides taking a series of measures for the protection of environment, flora and fauna and animals from poachers and annual floods.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
Patna, Jan 18 : Janata Dal-United (JD-U) lawmakers and workers are backing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's liquor ban decision, but a former party MLA on Tuesday announced "Piyakkar Sammelan" (Drunkards convention) in the state's Siwan soon.

Liquor is currently banned in Bihar and Nitish Kumar is facing the huge criticism on this issue due to its implementation on the ground, and major loss of life due to people drinking spurious liquor The organiser, former JD-U lawmaker Shyam Bahadur Singh, is said to be very close to Nitish Kumar, and had won several assembly elections from Siwan but he lost in 2020.

"We have decided to organise a drunkards' convention in the Gandhi Maidan of Siwan where we will invite every person of the state. We will serve drinks (liquor) according to their choice. We will arrange every brand of liquor from beer to country made and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) which is popularly known as 'Laal Pani' or 'English' in Bihar," Singh said.

Not giving the exact date, he said that the event will be held after the winter.

"The idea is to find the number of people who are in favour of liquor to be allowed in the state and those who are in favour of the liquor ban," Singh said.

He pleaded that there should be relaxation in the liquor ban.

"Liquor is available everywhere in the state. Liquor is not banned here. Nitish Kumar should allow beer and English (IMFL) to be available easily. For poor people, the state government should also allow country-made liquor. Poor people cannot afford English (IMFL) liquor," he said.

When reporters noted that the Chief Minister was firm on his decision to continue the liquor ban, Singh said that Nitish Kumar is not above the judiciary. "All judges use to drink liquor. If Nitish Kumar does not listen to our suggestion, we will settle the matter in the next election," Singh said.

A popular face of JD-U in Siwan district, Singh appears in several videos showing him dancing to stage to orchestras. Elected for the first time from Siwan's Barharia assembly constituency in 2005, he was re-elected in 2010, defeating RJD candidate Mohamad Mobin, and in 2015, by defeating LJP candidate Baccha Pandey. Singh,however, lost the 2020 Assembly election to Pandey, now the RJD candidate, by a narrow margin of 3,559 votes.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that due to "comprehensive policies and steps" taken by both Central and state governments, there have been no starvation deaths in recent times, even during the Covid pandemic, but the court remained unconvinced.

The apex court pressed Attorney General K.K. Venugopal to be crystal clear, if he is making a statement that there are no starvation deaths in the country now, and also sought data to establish this claim.

In an affidavit, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution said: "Indeed, thanks to the progress made by the nation since independence and the comprehensive policies and steps taken by both state and Central governments, there have been no starvation deaths in the country in recent times, even during adverse situations like the pandemic." During the hearing, a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, after the AG submitted that that no state has reported starvation deaths, queried: "Are you making a statement that there are no starvation deaths in the country now?" The bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli, further pressed: "Can we afford to say that there are no starvation deaths?" At this, Venugopal reiterated states have not reported starvation deaths, and the states have to respond on this and added the fact about malnutrition cannot be denied.

The bench then said: "Government of India should give us data on starvation deaths, latest information. Ask your officer to give us information." Asking the Centre to develop a model to implement the community kitchen scheme across the country, the court also emphasised that Centre should provide additional food grains to states to run it, and said the issue of "hunger has to be taken care of".

"Hunger has to be taken care of to be satisfied and the poor people who are on the street and who are suffering because of that." The top court was hearing a PIL, filed by social activists Anun Dhawan, Ishann Dhawan, and Kunjana Singh, seeking direction to the Centre for creating a national food grid, for people who do not fall under the public distribution scheme. The petitioners had argued that it is high time states takes steps to set up community kitchens.

During the hearing, the bench said logistics will not be an issue for state governments, as community kitchens is a popular scheme. It added that "popularity-wise", every government will want to run this.

The Chief Justice said: "I don't want to comment because this is election time... the governments are giving so many other welfare schemes." He added that the governments can give something to the deprived to survive.

The bench, citing state governments' response, said some of them have already established community kitchens and now they seek funds, and some are ready to start but they need funds.

Citing the Centre's affidavit, the bench said it does not indicate anywhere that government is considering framing a scheme. "It does not say what fund you have collected and what you are doing etc. We wanted a uniform model from the Centre," it said.

Concluding the hearing, the top court asked the Centre to file its response on providing additional food grains to states and scheduled the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

The top court also gave liberty to states to file affidavits on issues of malnutrition and starvation deaths.
Bengaluru, Jan 18 : Karnataka Minister for Higher Education, C.N. Ashwath Narayan, said on Tuesday that the protest plan of former minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna demanding permission to start a post-graduate course for Holenarasipura is not justified.

The government is committed to providing quality education in all its first-grade colleges across the state, Narayan said.

Revanna had announced that he would stage a dharna in front of the CM's office, alleging that the Higher Education Minister had denied permission to commence M.Sc. course in psychology and food and nutrition at the Government Home Science College for Women in Holenarsipura, which is his home town and constituency.

Responding to a media query on Revanna's plan to protest, Narayan said, "There are 430 government first-grade colleges across the state and there is not even a single college in 8-10 Assembly constituencies. A sum of Rs 3,000 crore is required to facilitate infrastructure and quality labs.

"Along with this, the existing PG centres need to be improved at the earliest. Taking all this into consideration, permission is not being given to start new PG courses in the first-grade colleges for the next two years. Having served as a minister for several terms, is Revanna unaware of this? "There are eight first-grade colleges, six PG, one engineering, five ITI and three polytechnic colleges in Holenarasipura constituency alone, and Rs 65.40 crore has been allocated for the first-grade colleges in the constituency. In addition to this, Rs 93.26 lakh has been given to procure equipment and tools. When such is the case, how can Revanna allege discrimination," Narayan asked.

He added that PG courses should exist at the university level only. Various studies have shown that academic progress suffers whenever there are same teachers both at degree and PG levels, he said.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said it has arrested Avasarala Venkateswara Rao, Promoter and MD of Servomax India Private Limited (SIPL), in connection with a money laundering case of Rs 402 crore.

A senior ED official said Rao has been accused of indulging in the offence of money laundering and causing a loss of around Rs 402 crore to a consortium of public sector banks.

He had allegedly indulged in various fraudulent practices and cheated the banks.

Earlier, a case against him was lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under sections 120-BA 406, 468 and 471 of IPC against SIPL.

The ED initiated the money laundering probe on the basis of the FIR of the CBI.

The ED's investigation has revealed that SIPL had taken loans from a consortium of Banks and Avasarala Venkateswara Rao was the promoter cum key managerial person who was responsible for the entire business operations.

But Rao indulged in fraudulent transactions and the loan amounts were not repaid intentionally.

"SIPL had circulated loan amounts to various related entities to inflate its books of accounts to become eligible for higher loans and had issued LCs to related entities without any real purchase of goods and which ultimately devolved causing losses of Rs 267 crore to the banks," said the ED official.

The ED's investigation established that Avasarala Venkateswara Rao was continuously indulging in benami transactions and had diverted loan funds for personal benefit.

Rao has used a web of more than 50 entities to route proceeds of crime and layer the same. He was non-cooperative during the investigation and was not supplying documents of his own business entities on one pretext or the other.

"Once the loan accounts became NPA, he was using his own shell entity (with his employee as controlling Director) to initiate the CIRP (Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process) process by fraudulently declaring it to be a creditor by passing bogus journal entries. He even managed to get his own person appointed as IRP for some time. He has also managed to retain the brand name of 'Servomax' illegally and even during the CIRP process, he controlled the website of the company and diverted work orders to his related entities," the ED official said.

Based on the investigation done till date and the material evidence available on record, we arrested Rao under the provisions of PML Act for the offence of money laundering. Rao was produced before the PMLA Special Court Hyderabad which has remanded him to 14 days judicial custody.

Further investigation is going on.
Bengaluru, Jan 18 : Hinting at easing curbs imposed due to surge in Covid-19 cases, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta on Tuesday said that the expert committee is of the opinion that Covid-19 restrictions would suffice for another week.

"The opinion was given by the experts in the high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday. Until then, the restrictions would continue. About 23,000 Covid cases are coming to light in Bengaluru. The numbers are very high in the city," he said.

During the wave, 20,000 to 22,000 cases are being reported every day But, this time there is no severity, and hospitalisation requirements are not found among patients. "The situation is monitored closely in ICU wards, ventilated beds in private as well as government hospitals. There are no issues among hospitalisations. There are 1,600 admissions and 600 patients are referred to private hospitals," he said.

The preventive measures with regards to Covid-19 are being discussed in consecutive meetings.There is no shortage of medicines and there is no extreme situation existing in the state. One lakh tests have been done freely and those who are with symptoms of fever and cough should get tested, Gupta said.

People should know that antibiotic tablets are mandatory for Covid patients, and should be taken in consultation with doctors. Ivermectin has been taken off from the treatment of Covid. Home isolation is decreased from 10 days to 7 days. There is no requirement for testing again, he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, Jan 18 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to the Foreign Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, over phone and discussed the terror attack in Abu Dhabi on Monday that killed two Indian nationals, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Three persons, including two Indians and a Pakistani national, were killed while six others were injured in a series of blasts at a storage facility of an oil firm in the Muzaffar Industrial Area in the UAE on Monday. Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack.

The UAE Foreign Minister shared the details of the attack with Jaishankar, and conveyed the deepest condolence of the UAE government over the death of two Indian nationals. He assured that the UAE government would extend full support to the families of the deceased, saying the authorities are in continuous touch with the Indian Embassy in this regard.

On his part, Jaishankar condemned the terror attack in the strongest terms and emphasised that in this day and age, such an attack on innocent civilians is completely unacceptable and against all civilised norms.

He also appreciated the immediate assistance provided by the UAE authorities to the Indian Embassy in responding to the tragic situation.

Jaishankar conveyed India's strong solidarity with the UAE in the face of such an attack. Given its principled position against terrorism, India will stand with the UAE in international fora on this issue as India did when recently the UAE raised the issue of its vessel 'Rawabee' in UN and demanded action against the Yemen-based Houthi rebels.
Chennai, Jan 18 : AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday called for the restoration of Chennai international airport in the list of airports for Haj pilgrimage.

In a statement, he asked Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to directly get in touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to restore Chennai among the list of airports for Haj services.

Panneerselvam had made a similar demand in November 2021 and wanted the Chief Minister to take this up in full throttle with the Prime Minister so that Chennai is included in the list of airports for Haj pilgrims.

Regarding the exclusion of Tableaus of Tamil Nadu in the Republic Day parade, he asked Stalin to inform the Centre about the role played by freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu in the independence movement.

In a related development, the AIADMK's former interim General Secretary, V.K. Sasikala called upon the state government to convince the Central government to include the tableaus of the state in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi There is stiff opposition in Tamil Nadu over the exclusion of tableaus from the state in the Republic Day parade.
Itanagar, Jan 18 : The Arunachal Pradesh government would impart Japanese language as a new skill for the youth and the matter along with other possible mutual cooperation were discussed between the Ambassador of Japan in India, Satoshi Suzuki and Chief Minister and Governor of the state on Tuesday.

Officials here said that Governor Brig (Dr) B.D. Mishra (Retd) and Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday discussed various matters with the Japanese Ambassador through virtual mode.

Highlighting the tourism potential, especially the religious tourism, the Governor suggested mutual cooperation on the tourism sector. "The two countries can share the scientific know-how to mitigate natural calamities, as Arunachal Pradesh lies in the high risk seismic zone," Brig Mishra said, and also suggested exploring for collaboration in hydropower and non-conventional energy sources.

"A great opportunity today to have attended a virtual meeting with His Excellency, the Ambassador of Japan Satoshi Suzuki along with Hon'ble Governor Brig (Dr) BD Mishra Ji (Retd). Emphasised on Japanese language to be imparted as a new skill for youths of Arunachal. Khandu highlighted the vast scope of interface between Arunachal Pradesh and Japan for the people-to-people contact and to undertake various joint ventures," Khandu tweeted.

The Governor and Chief Minister invited Suzuki to visit Arunachal Pradesh, where the world famous Tawang Monastery, and the monastery in Namsai situated.

Located at a height of 3,400 metres, Tawang Monastery is the second biggest and oldest in Asia and a popular tourist attraction.
LJUBLJANA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- From Wednesday, Slovenia will relax the rules on mandatory self-isolation after being in contact with a positive case of COVID-19, Health Minister Janez Poklukar said on Monday. The government's aim is to keep the country's overburdened hospitals functioning, he said.

Healthcare, social and educational workers who have been in contact with an infected person will no longer have to spend seven days in isolation but will instead have to take a COVID-19 test every day for seven consecutive days after the risky contact and wear an FFP2 mask at work, Poklukar told a news conference.

"From Wednesday, students will also not be obliged to go into self-isolation ... but will have to take a COVID-19 test every day for seven days (after a risky contact at school)," Poklukar said.

He said the whole class will have to go into quarantine only if 30 percent of pupils become infected over a period of 14 days. Under the rules currently in force, all students (from kindergarten to university) must quarantine even if only a single case of COVID-19 was reported in their class.

"We adopted these changes based on new professional discoveries about the Omicron variant," Poklukar said. "Our aim is to ensure that the most important and most vulnerable members of our society continue to operate with as few interruptions as possible."

"With these changes we also help other segments the society, including businesses, to operate normally," he added.

People who have received a booster shot, have overcome COVID-19 and have also been fully vaccinated, as well as those who have overcome COVID-19 over the past 45 days will continue to be exempt from mandatory self-isolation even after a risky contact, Poklukar added.

On Friday, Slovenia recorded a new all-time high of 7,580 new daily COVID-19 cases. On Sunday, there were 4,967 new cases, down from 6,012 on Saturday, the National Institute of Public Health said on Monday.

Although Slovenia has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, to date only 57.1 percent of its 2.1 million population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday called for cooperation between Central and state governments for infrastructure development in the country.

"Cooperation and communication needs to be enhanced between State and Centre," he said while inaugurating a Conference on "PM-Gati Shakti" for the South Zone, organised by his Ministry.

The day-long event witnessed panel discussions on various aspects of the programme, involving Central and state officials and stakeholders. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana were the states and Union Territories that participated in the event.

Gadkari said that infrastructure development will play an important role in fulfilling the vision of India becoming a $5 trillion economy and welcomed suggestions from the States for making the programme a success.

Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, in her address, said that the multi modal connectivity will facilitate connectivity for movement of people and goods while Chief Minister N. Rangasamy spoke about the importance of the elevated corridor project to minimise traffic congestion, helipad services and airport facilities for people visiting Puducherry.

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Bommai said that the time has come to cooperate and coordinate in major mega projects of the Centre and the states. he urged the Centre to fasten clearances and relax rules in the finance sector to maximise investments.

The states and UTs gave their presentation during the conference regarding the achievements so far, action plan for implementation and improvement of logistics and infrastructure development in the respective states and UTs.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : India has signed an agreement with the International Co-Operative Alliance Asia And Pacific (ICAAP) intending to assimilate and develop further on the core strengths, experience, and institutional objectives in the interest of advancement of research, study, documentation, and training for development of the cooperative sector.

Lt Col Dr Baljit Singh who is the Chief Director, of the Laxmanrao Inamdar National Academy for Cooperative Research and Development (LINAC), Gurugram under the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) signed the pact while Regional Director, ICAAP, Balasubramanian Iyer represented the other party, a release from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying said on Tuesday.

India has more than eight lakh registered cooperative societies, especially in the agricultural and agri-allied sector, banking, and housing sectors. The cooperative movement in the country has regained focus after the Central Government recently created the Ministry of Cooperation to provide a separate administrative legal and policy framework for streamlining the cooperatives.

ICAAP president Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) president Dileep Sanghani jointly released a policy recommendation handbook 'Sahakar Pragya: Good Practices for Cooperatives' based on a 'Brain Storming Session on International Good Practices Platform for Cooperatives' conducted earlier by LINAC, NCDC.

A compendium of guidelines, resources, methodologies, key learning, case studies of the best performing cooperatives in India and abroad and the outcome and impact, the handbook would serve as an action plan that can help these entities to achieve the goal of self-reliance.

"This handbook is expected to help cooperatives in India and abroad to innovate and adopt best models not only to stay competitive, but also distinguish themselves as successful commercial entities," the release said.

Some of the best practices are from milk, credit, and banking co-operatives in the handbook.

Yadav said, "The cooperatives have inherent advantages in tackling the problems of poverty alleviation, food security, and employment generation -- a path to self-reliance. This has also been reflected during the Covid-19 times." Dileep Sanghani said: "It is heartening to note that, taking a cue from Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, NCDC-LINAC and International Co-Operative Alliance Asia And Pacific (ICAAP) have come together to set up a platform to share their wide experience and ideas for transmitting Indian good practices of cooperatives abroad and vice versa." The consultation process for the Handbook was initiated in November 2021. International experts and other participants from across the country had deliberated on the difficulties in operating cooperatives and possible solutions to those challenges.

MD NCDC Sundeep Nayak and national president, Sahakar Bharati DN Thakur were also present at the function held at NCDC headquarters, the release added.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : After the raids at the premises of a relative of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday, the Congress slammed the BJP with its leader Rahul Gandhi saying that the party is not afraid of such raids.

Rahul tweeted, "Conducting an ED raid is BJP's favourite weapon because they themselves have things to hide." Stating that Congress and its leaders are not afraid of such raids, he tweeted: "Not everyone is like you. We have #NoFear. #BJPFakeRaid." The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Tuesday that it recovered Rs 6 crore in cash during the raids carried out in Punjab in connection with an illegal sand mining case.

A source said Rs 4 crore in cash was recovered from the house of Bhupinder Singh Honey, the nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Another Rs 2 crore was recovered from the house of one Sandeep Kumar.

The raids were conducted by the ED at more than 10 locations, including the house of Bhupinder Singh Honey.

Meanwhile, the Congress slammed the BJP for 'misusing' the government agency, stating that it is ready for the poll battle in Punjab and will tell the people how the BJP is trying to harass the country's only Dalit Chief Minister (Channi).

The Congress alleged that ED means 'Election Department' for the BJP.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The BJP is working with prejudice and taking revenge against the only Dalit Chief Minister in the country, Charanjit Singh Channi." The party wants to take on the BJP politically as it is linking the whole episode to Dalits who are Punjab's pride as they form a significant portion of the state's population, he said.
Patna, Jan 19 : The RJD on Tuesday threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against the Nitish Kumar government in the upcoming Budget session of the Bihar Assembly if the liquor prohibition law is not amended.

RJD chief spokesperson Bhai Virendra said that his party preparing for a no-confidence motion amid a buzz that Nitish Kumar is likely to amend the liquor ban law.

"We will first take a look at the amendment bill. If it is not in favour of the common people of the state, the RJD will bring a no-confidence motion in the Budget session.

"Our leader Lalu Prasad had already said that liquor prohibition law should not affect the common people of Bihar. It should not turn into a headache for people, still Nitish Kumar implemented the law without realising its consequences and side effects," Virendra said.

"Poor people are becoming victims of the liquor prohibition act. A large number of poor people were sent to jail under this law. The rich people are drinking liquor at home while poors are getting arrested. The liquor prohibition act is not in favour of people of Bihar," he added.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Tar Kishore Prasad said: "We are part of the government and we are backing the decision of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The current liquor prohibition law will remain implemented in the state. We are not discussing the point of amendment of liquor prohibition act as of now."
New Delhi, Jan 19 : The Indian Youth Congress on Tuesday submitted a representation to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, accusing the Delhi government of reducing the number of Covid tests in the national capital.

The President of the Youth Congress, B.V. Srinivas, urged the Lieutenant Governor to ensure that a minimum of 1 lakh tests are conducted daily for the next 15 days, and ensure that adequate number of oxygen beds are made available in proportion to the number of positive cases.

"The test positivity rate in the national capital has remained around 30 per cent, but the number of tests has gone down from around 1 lakh on January 12 to about 40,000 on January 17," the delegation said.

The Youth Congress also accused the Delhi government of trying to 'cover up' its 'failure' in handling the ongoing third wave of the pandemic by reducing the number of tests and thus suppressing the actual number of Covid cases.

"The course adopted by the Delhi government is contrary to the statements made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself, as he had talked about focusing on '5 Ts' -- testing, tracing, treatment, teamwork and tracking -- and monitoring the virus for preventing its spread," the Youth Congress said.

The Delhi government led by Kejriwal has not learnt its lessons from the deadly second wave, which is clear from the fact that the Chief Minister is busy campaigning for the upcoming Assembly elections in other states while the people of Delhi have been left to fend for their lives, it added.
Baimuru Airport, Baimuru, Papua New Guinea [ VMU / ]

If you are planning to travel to Baimuru or any other city in Papua New Guinea, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Baimuru Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Baimuru Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Papua New Guinea. Baimuru Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided.

Baimuru Airport Info:

Baimuru Airport IATA Code: VMU Baimuru Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : -7.49744 Longitude : 144.821 City : Baimuru Country : Papua New Guinea World Area Code : 804 Airport Type : Medium Baimuru Airport Address / Contact Details :

Baimuru Airport (VMU), Baimuru, Papua New Guinea Airport Type : Public Timezone : Pacific/Port_Moresby Baimuru Airport Timezone : GMT +10:00 hours Current time and date at Baimuru Airport is 09:11:54 AM (+10) on Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Looking for information on Baimuru Airport, Baimuru, Papua New Guinea? Know about Baimuru Airport in detail. Find out the location of Baimuru Airport on Papua New Guinea map and also find out airports near to Baimuru. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Baimuru Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Baimuru Airport, airlines operating to Baimuru Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Papua New Guinea. Scroll down to know more about Baimuru Airport or Baimuru Airport, Papua New Guinea.

Baimuru Airport Map - Location of Baimuru Airport Load Map Papua New Guinea - General Information Country Formal Name Independent State of Papua New Guinea Country Code PG Capital Port Moresby Currency Kina (PGK)

 1 PGK = 0.283 USD

 1 USD = 3.536 PGK

 1 PGK = 0.269 EUR

 1 EUR = 3.72 PGK

 More PGK convertion rates Tel Code +675 Top Level Domain .pg

This page provides all the information you need to know about Baimuru Airport, Papua New Guinea. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Papua New Guinea or traveling to Baimuru Airport. Details about Baimuru Airport given here include Baimuru Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes)

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VMU - Baimuru Airport IATA Code
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Joey Wargachuk With his Teaching Assistant Snaps the Tabby Cat I am now entering my seventh year of teaching. So far I have taught more than 40,000 students, both in person and online. Its very exciting that I get to help my students develop their innate spiritual talents through my Tarot, Reiki, and Crystal Healer courses, Wargachuk said.

Joey Wargachuk, an Instructor with the Happy Soul Academy in Toronto, Ontario, and an Executive Member of the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine, is pleased to announce the launch of his Winter 2022 courses:

I am now entering my seventh year of teaching. So far I have taught more than 40,000 students, both in person and online. Its very exciting that I get to help my students develop their innate spiritual talents through my Tarot, Reiki, and Crystal Healer courses, Wargachuk said.

Registration is now open for students interested in becoming proficient in Tarot Reading, Reiki, or becoming a Crystal Healer Practitioner. All courses will be taught live over Zoom.

The 12 Week Tarot Master Certification will begin Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 at 8:30 PM EST. Participants will learn about the Major and Minor Arcana of Tarot, as well as how to build their own brand as a practicing Tarot Reader. Students who complete the course will receive a Tarot Master Certificate.

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The third course, a 12 Week Crystal Healer Practitioner Certification beginning Thursday, February 24th, 2022 at 8:30 PM EST, is geared toward students who want to receive their Crystal Healer Practitioner Certificate. Topics covered will include direct and distance healing with crystals, and forgiveness & trauma release with crystals.

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The International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM) was created to maintain standards and support holistic practitioners and natural wellbeing / beauty therapists. IPHMs main goal is to maintain recognized standards of qualification and practice in the industry. Joey Wargachuk is an accredited IPHM Training Provider, in addition to being a Digital Marketing specialist.

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For Press Inquiries please contact:

Joey Wargachuk

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C: 647-239-6330

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For additional information online you can visit:

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Greek Boston Logo "We at GreekBoston.com are are excited to share our expertise about all the destinations in Greece, from the common ones like Athens and Santorini..."

GreekBoston.com creates major changes to travel section, over 4,000 thousand articles and sections for every major area in Greece for people to discover Greece. Links to the main travel, Athens, Santorini and Mykonos sections can be found at the following page: https://www.greekboston.com/category/travel/

Greek Boston.com (http://www.greekboston.com/), GreekBoston.com, one of the biggest Greek websites in the English language, has launched a section that displays the cooking and medicinal information for Greek spices and herbs.

The mission of GreekBoston.com is to promote Hellenism not only to the existing Greek diaspora, but also to those who are interested in learning about Greece and Greek culture. The website features Greek travel articles, recipes, and other cultural information.

Sharing information about the many destinations in Greece that you can visit is part of that mission.

Here is a look at some of the popular destinations that are part of the travel section:

 Athens  The capital city of Greece, Athens is a must-see in the country with plenty to do.

 Crete  The largest island in Greece, Crete has great beaches, historical sites, and so many sites to see you wont want to leave.

 Mykonos  Known as an island with a great nightlife, there is so much more to Mykonos than that. Its a great destination to visit.

 Santorini  This island is unique and charming, and is also a great place to visit in Greece.

Nick Stamoulis of GreekBoston.com said, "We at GreekBoston.com are are excited to share our expertise about all the destinations in Greece, from the common ones like Athens and Santorini, to places that are a bit off the beaten track. We have recently made some additions to our travel content, giving you even more great information about Greek travel destinations.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Tel - 617-752-2547

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The Rett Syndrome Global Registry will take a new approach to understanding Rett syndrome by unifying patient data captured from a variety of sources into a single, clinical trial-grade registry. The Rett Syndrome Global Registry will consolidate untapped resources to facilitate development of a Rett syndrome cure.

The innovative Rett Syndrome Global Registry presented to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was met with enthusiasm by agency leadership and begins a collaborative relationship aimed to maximize the registrys use in the development of novel therapeutics. The non-regulatory meeting allowed the agency to provide high-level feedback on the registrys clinical trial-grade design.

Meeting with FDA to discuss our vision for the Rett Syndrome Global Registry, outline how this database meets the high standards needed for clinical trial datasets, and how we plan to support companies was an opportunity to receive guidance from the agency, said Jana von Hehn, PhD, Senior Director of Research and Clinical Strategy and the Trusts Registry Director. The FDA guidance will help to ensure our database can support clinical development and approval of novel therapeutics as we intend.

The Rett Syndrome Global Registry will take a new approach to understanding Rett syndrome by unifying patient data captured from a variety of sources into a single, clinical trial-grade registry. Data sources will include information reported by caregivers, data extracted from patient medical records, input from patient cell lines, clinical trials, and, eventually, wearable and non-wearable biosensor readouts. The comprehensive data sets that emerge will provide caregivers, researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, and regulators with the most unified picture of Rett syndrome to date.

The Rett Syndrome Global Registry is a key component of RSRTs plan to cure Rett syndrome by incubating and expediting curative treatment development programs for biopharmaceutical companies, and facilitating the drug approval process.

In November 2021 the FDA released its draft guidance for registries, including guidance on how registries may be used to inform the design and support clinical trials, to which the Rett Syndrome Global Registry strongly adheres. One of the key goals of the Global Registry is to eventually have the data serve as a concurrent placebo control arm in clinical trials, said Dr. von Hehn. Leveraging trial-matched registry participants in treatment trials would lead to reduced enrollment numbers, shortened trial timelines, reduced trial costs, and accelerated completion of development programs. We believe these domino effects would lead to earlier patient access to therapeutics.

The Global Registry is built as a flexible database, and it is easy to modify and expand the dataset to support clinical research studies in compliance with FDA guidelines. In addition to informing clinical trial controls, RSRT plans to utilize the registry to drive the development of novel outcome measures, including the validation of new parent-reported questionnaires and objective biosensor development, and to provide standing clinical research infrastructure at the highest quality to the Rett community. By nimbly gathering additional data and linking registry and medical record datasets to RSRTs biorepository, biosensor data, and external studies, we will generate integrated datasets that will more powerfully accelerate therapeutic development, said Randall Carpenter, MD, Chief Medical Officer at RSRT.

To create the Global Registry RSRT partnered with DSG, Inc, a clinical trial database provider that services the global biopharmaceutical community. By building the database on the CDASH model, and using MedDRA and WHODrug coding, data validation checks, the ability to issue queries to ensure data integrity, and other standard clinical trial data management practices, the registry design is in full compliance with FDAs recent guidance document on Assessing Registries for Regulatory Decision Making, said Tony Varano, DSGs CEO. The registry meets international data security requirements and is 21 CFR part 11 compliant.

The impetus for this new registry approach was to utilize untapped resources to facilitate therapeutic development, said Monica Coenraads, CEO of RSRT. Two invaluable but essentially unused sources of information about Rett syndrome are the childs medical records, which, for the most part, sit inaccessible and unaggregated in hospitals and doctors offices, and Rett caregivers, who manage their childs symptoms every day. By combining these untapped resources in the Rett Syndrome Global Registry, RSRT will augment and leverage existing knowledge about Rett syndrome while removing many barriers faced by families in contributing to research, and academic and biopharmaceutical companies trying to access such data.

The clinical component of the registry, which includes the digitization, aggregation and summary of medical records on behalf of participants, will be handled by Ciitizen, which was acquired by Invitae in 2021. Once medical record information is consolidated at Ciitizen, companies can access de-identified raw and aggregate data. Importantly, records are obtained from all medical facilities where patients receive care, providing a comprehensive assessment of medical care for an individual. The data from patient medical records will soon provide the most comprehensive digital natural history study available on Rett syndrome.

The caregiver-driven component of the registry allows parents to regularly enter information about their loved ones symptoms, skills, and treatments online, eliminating transportation, geographic, and other barriers of attending a Rett specialty clinic. To ensure continued participation in the fully remote registry, caregivers will have access to unique tools to help manage day-to-day care, including customizable symptom tracking, data summaries and reports, and the ability to connect with other families, ask questions, and learn about other care strategies. By providing regular data summaries back to parents, we hope to give parents transparency into how powerful their collective information can be, not only for themselves, but for everyone, said Ms. Coenraads.

RSRT convened three advisory committees to assist in the development of the registry to ensure that the needs of the three key stakeholders could be met. Committees composed of parents, clinicians, and biopharmaceutical representatives informed the Global Registrys contents, analytical capabilities, and user experience. Aggregate, filterable, real-time data summaries that meet the needs of parents, clinicians, and biopharmaceutical companies will be generated as registry enrollment grows. Data summaries will also be available for researchers and additional functionality for parents will roll out in stages once the registry launches.

Currently in beta testing, the Rett Syndrome Global Registry will be available to the Rett syndrome community in early 2022. To learn more about the Global Registry, visit https://reverserett.org/rett-syndrome-global-registry/.

ABOUT RETT SYNDROME

Rett syndrome is a rare, devastating neurological disorder characterized by loss of language, hand skills, and motor function that predominantly affects females. As the disorder progresses it brings breathing difficulties, seizures, anxiety, tremors, and gastrointestinal and muscular skeletal problems. Most people with Rett syndrome live into adulthood, requiring round-the-clock care. Rett syndrome results from a mutation in the MECP2 gene on the X chromosome.

ABOUT THE RETT SYNDROME RESEARCH TRUST

The Rett Syndrome Research Trust is a nonprofit organization with a highly personal and urgent mission: achieving a cure for Rett syndrome and related disorders caused by defects in the MECP2 gene. Since its founding in 2008, RSRT has awarded $64 million, more than any other Rett organization in the world, to leading scientists pursuing targeted research on Rett. RSRT funds and spearheads global scientific and clinical activities advancing the most promising curative approaches. To date, every biopharmaceutical company pursuing a cure for Rett syndrome is doing so because they leveraged discoveries and resources incubated with RSRT funding. A highly efficient nonprofit, RSRT has spent an average of 95% of every dollar on its research program. To learn more, visit http://www.reverserett.org.
RIGA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Latvia was hit by one of the most devastating storms of this century on Monday, with one person killed by a falling tree branch, authorities announced.

The Latvian meteorological center had issued a red-level storm warning, meaning that the gale-force winds were expected to cause extensive damage and endanger people's lives.

In the early afternoon, the capital city of Riga, seaside resort Jurmala and other cities in central Latvia were lashed by winds of up to 32 meters per second.

The storm brought down trees, ripped rooves from several buildings, and disrupted public transport in Riga, the State Fire and Rescue Service said.

In Jurmala, a falling tree branch killed an elderly woman, the ambulance service said.

According to grid operator Sadales Tikls, Monday's storm left around 20,000 households across Latvia without power.

Meanwhile, a number of flights from Riga Airport were diverted to airports in Lithuania due to the weather conditions. 
The 2019 NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles Jazz Ensemble performed under the direction of Todd Stoll with guest soloist Camille Thurman in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Bob OLary. The ANHE performers represent collaboration and creativity in its highest musical form. The ensembles consist of a jazz ensemble, mixed choir, guitar ensemble (in its fourth year), modern band (in its third year), symphony orchestra, and concert band.

During the 202021 school year, talented music students across the United States and overseas in military base schools practiced diligently to gain a chair or part in their local, district, and state music honor ensembles. And of those high school musicians who were accepted to their district or All-State music ensembles, 533 of themthe best of the bestwere selected for the National Association for Music Educations (NAfME) 2021 All-National Honor Ensembles.

These best of the best high school music students will take part in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) 2021 All-National Honor Ensembles (ANHE) Virtual Event, January 2224, 2022. This second All-National Honor Ensembles virtual event will include several rehearsals with the 2021 ANHE Conductors and workshops with renowned clinicians. Each ensemble will create a final, recorded performance that will be premiered online during the 37th NAfME Music In Our Schools Month in March 2022.

Ensembles include the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Mixed Choir, Guitar Ensemble, and Modern Band. All are welcome to tune in to these incredible performances.

The ANHE performers represent collaboration and creativity in its highest musical form. The ensembles consist of a jazz ensemble, mixed choir, guitar ensemble (in its fourth year), modern band (in its third year), symphony orchestra, and concert band. Students were chosen through an audition process. The jazz ensemble will have 20 instrumentalists, the mixed choir 240 vocalists, the guitar ensemble 21 guitarists, the symphony orchestra 122 instrumentalists, the concert band 121 instrumentalists, and the modern band will have 9 musicians. Many ANHE members are also Tri-M Music Honor Society members. Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program (not applicable to guitar or modern band students) and competed against top students for a spot in these national honor ensembles.

Selected students will be rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the direction of six of the most prominent conductors in the United States: Geoffrey Paul Boers (Mixed Choir); LaSaundra Booth (Symphony Orchestra); Travis J. Cross (Concert Band); Todd Stoll with Cecile McLorin Salvant (Jazz Ensemble); Olga Amelkina-Vera (Guitar Ensemble); and Spencer Hale (Modern Band). All conductors have received top honors in their field and will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert.

Names, schools and states, as well as music directors, of the 533 2021 All-National Honor Ensemble students are available on the ANHE website: nafme.org/ANHE. Learn about past ensembles.

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National Association for Music Education, among the worlds largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century. With tens of thousands of members teaching millions of students nationwide, the organization is the national voice of music education in the United States.

Jazz at Lincoln Center The mission of Jazz at Lincoln Center is to entertain, enrich and expand a global community for Jazz through performance, education and advocacy. We believe Jazz is a metaphor for Democracy. Because jazz is improvisational, it celebrates personal freedom and encourages individual expression. Because jazz is swinging, it dedicates that freedom to finding and maintaining common ground with others. Because jazz is rooted in the blues, it inspires us to face adversity with persistent optimism.

Little Kids Rock transforms lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. Our network of thousands of K12 teachers across 45 states leads a national movement that brings innovative and inclusive music education to students. Using genres including rock, pop, Latin, and rap, the Little Kids Rock program empowers teachers to build music programs as diverse as the kids they serve. Students see themselves reflected in their classes, which strengthens their connection to their school, their peers, and their community. Little Kids Rock also donates necessary instruments and curriculum, meeting a key need of many school music programs. The world of music expands through innovation. Little Kids Rock ensures that music education does as well. More than 500,000 kids currently participate in Little Kids Rock programs nationwide. Since 2002, the organization has reached more than 1,000,000 students with highly inclusive and culturally relevant music education.

Follow NAfME on Twitter (twitter.com/nafme) and on Facebook (facebook.com/nafme).
The latest in a series of reports from the University of Arkansas Department of Education unconvincingly attempts to show that charter schools are inequitably funded compared to public district schools. The report, Charter School Funding: Dispelling Myths about EMOs, Expenditure Patterns, & Nonpublic Dollars, runs into several major problems according to Dr. Mark Weber of Rutgers University and the New Jersey Policy Perspective in the latest NEPC review.

First, it relies on a proprietary (not publicly available) dataset to make its claims, but the data conflict with publicly reported figures, and the methods used to create the dataset are not documented.

The reports analysis also ignores several basics of school finance. Differences in student characteristics and school programming are not accounted for, categorical spending is conflated with potential profit taking from charter management organizations, and philanthropic giving is inadequately evaluated.

Dr. Weber concludes that the reports sparse documentation of its methods, combined with basic flaws in its analysis frameworks, render it useless in guiding charter school funding policy.

Find the review, by Mark Weber, at:

https://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/charter-myths

Find Charter School Funding: Dispelling Myths about EMOs, Expenditure Patterns, & Nonpublic Dollars, written by Angela K. Dills, Patrick J. Wolf, Corey A. DeAngelis, Jay F. May, Larry D. Maloney, and Cassidy Syftestad and published by University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, at:

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/wordpressua.uark.edu/dist/9/544/files/2018/10/21-1018-charter-school-funding-dispelling-myths-002.pdf

NEPC Reviews (http://thinktankreview.org) provide the public, policymakers, and the press with timely, academically sound reviews of selected publications. NEPC Reviews are made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu
I am beyond excited to have Erica join the FFL team. She will have an immediate impact on the organization and the services we provide to the navigation community,said Lisa Hartman, MS, MA, BSEd, BSN, RN, Director of Certification for AONN+ FFL.

The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) Foundation for Learning (AONN+ FFL) is pleased to announce that Erica Williams, BSN, RN, OCN, CBCN, has joined its team as Senior Manager of Certification.

Erica comes with a diverse oncology background. As an oncology nurse, she has practiced as an inpatient nurse, a chemo-infusion nurse, a radiation oncology nurse, navigator, and an oncology administrator, leading teams that support cancer patients and their family members. Prior to joining AONN+ FFL, Erica worked as senior manager of navigation for the Sarah Cannon corporate office, where she had the opportunity to help lead, support and mentor navigators across the country.

Im excited to be joining this team! I have thoroughly enjoyed my past experiences working with navigators and navigation programs across the country, said Erica. In this new role, I will have the opportunity to expand my network further to connect with thousands of navigators across the US and in other countries. I am excited to work with you and for you as we continue to expand FFL and navigation certification.

In her new role, Erica is responsible for assisting in the growth of certification in a variety of ways, including the standardization of operational processes and reenergizing FFL committees by exploring new opportunities and further development.

Oncology Nurse Navigator-Certified Generalist (ONN-CG) and Oncology Patient Navigator-Certified Generalist (OPN-CG), the 2 AONN+ FFL certifications, were created to ensure that clinical nurse and patient navigators have the knowledge to competently demonstrate effective navigation services across the cancer care continuum within their scope of practice. In 2021, the certifications received the prestigious Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

I am beyond excited to have Erica join the FFL team. She will have an immediate impact on the organization and the services we provide to the navigation community,said Lisa Hartman, MS, MA, BSEd, BSN, RN, Director of Certification for AONN+ FFL.

Erica lives in middle Tennessee and enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering in her local community, traveling, and cheering on the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators.

About AONN+ Foundation for Learning, Inc.

AONN+ Foundation for Learning, Inc. (AONN+ FFL) is a specialty organization created in 2010 through affiliation with The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+). AONN+ FFL is a separate legal entity that oversees the ONN-CG and OPN-CG certification exams and manages all activities related to ANAB accreditation and oncology navigator certification. http://www.aonnffl.org

About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc.

The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc (AONN+), is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 8900 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process. http://www.aonnonline.org

About The Lynx Group

The Lynx Group (TLG) is a premier medical communications and education company acutely focused on oncology and rare disease states. TLG specializes in market access to and with advanced practice providers, patients, and their caregivers. With more than 100 years of combined senior leadership experience, TLG continually creates award-winning medical education and cultivates strong relationships within proprietary brands serving patients and their caregivers, physicians, payers, nurses, pharmacists, navigators, and practice managers. Currently, TLG partners with more than 50 of the top pharma and biotech companies globally. http://www.thelynxgroup.com.
Apple Self Storage is thrilled to be opening its first Manitoba location in the city of Winnipeg.

Apple Self Storage  Winnipeg is a converted building that now provides a wide selection of storage units, and is conveniently located at 1340 Notre Dame Ave. Close to local neighbourhoods the facility offers residents over 40,000 sq. ft of personal and business storage space. Self storage units are all located on the ground floor, heated and indoors so your belongings will be easy to move and well-maintained. Plus, never worry about the weather when loading or unloading as all loading bays are covered and indoors. Tenants can access their clean units 7 days a week.

The new Apple Self Storage facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba keeps your belongings safe and provides peace of mind with 24-hr surveillance and keypad access unique to each tenant. It's more than just storage units at this location. Outdoor parking and delivery acceptance is available. Customers can also take advantage of packing supplies, such as boxes and furniture covers, that are sold on site and complimentary carts for moving their items. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are excited to help the residents of Winnipeg find the perfect storage solution to meet their needs.

We couldnt be more excited to be expanding into Manitoba, and to have our first location in the province opening in Winnipeg. We see how our current facilities in Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are providing much needed storage solutions in those areas and cannot wait to offer the same services to Winnipeg residents. It is an honour to be a part of a great city and we look forward to becoming an involved member of the community.

Apple Self Storage - Winnipeg facility is ready to help with your unique storage needs. Customers can reserve their own secure space by visiting http://www.applestorage.com, calling 204-515-5777, or emailing notredame@applestorage.com. Restrictions and protocols continue to be in place for the safety of staff and customers.

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MORE ABOUT APPLE SELF STORAGE

Known for having the best managed self storage facilities in Canada, Apple Self Storage strives to deliver a genuine and authentically great experience across every one of its 36+ facilities. The family-owned company has established close bonds with the communities in which it operates through regular pursuit of opportunities to assist organizations that enrich them. It has done so since their very first facility opened in 1975. Apple Self Storage is actively looking to expand their third party management platform as well as expanding through acquisitions and new developments.

For more information about Storage Units, please visit http://www.applestorage.com
"... healthcare payers anticipate quite a bit of confusion around COVID-19 at-home testing and the irregularities, complexities, and potential fraud that could result from reimbursement requests.

Codoxo, a trusted provider of healthcare artificial intelligence solutions, today reacted to the new federal mandate requiring healthcare insurers to cover a maximum of eight at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per covered individual, per month. The new mandate, effective as of January 15, 2022, potentially exposes the healthcare industry to billions of dollars in new reimbursements and with that, the potential for errors, duplicate reimbursements, and even new fraud, waste, and abuse schemes.

Codoxo is urging health payers and agencies to act quickly by aligning with health technologies on the forefront of sophisticated artificial intelligence. Codoxos Forensic AI Platform can look across all claim types and across disparate claim systems to analyze claims at the member level, regardless of codes. Codoxos patented Forensic AI platform allows for real-time identification and detection of new and emerging fraud and payment integrity schemes and complex claims irregularities to meet the new challenges presented by COVID-19 and the government actions and regulations that result.

Because there is currently no procedure code for at-home tests, no requirement for a prescription, or any specific direction for benefits billing, healthcare payers anticipate quite a bit of confusion around COVID-19 at-home testing and the irregularities, complexities, and potential fraud that could result from reimbursement requests, stated Musheer Ahmed, Codoxos Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Codoxo has developed a sophisticated AI solution that quickly and easily helps healthcare payers pivot to analyze the types of claims challenges that could arise under this mandate, including duplicate claims, overlapping claims, and other patterns that might raise a red flag.

Codoxos Fraud Scope allows payers to detect overutilization and abuse of this benefit by a provider or member compared to their peers and detects patterns regardless of who submitted a claim, including pharmacies, DME providers, PCP, outpatient settings, and more.

For additional information about how Codoxos healthcare AI solutions solutions can help healthcare payers quickly react to and manage claims arising from the new COVID-19 at-home testing coverage mandate, please visit https://www.codoxo.com/fraud-scope-fraud-waste-abuse-fwa-ai-detection-siu-solution.

About Codoxo

Codoxos mission is to make healthcare more affordable and effective for everyone and serves as the premier provider of artificial intelligence-driven solutions and services that help healthcare companies and agencies proactively detect and reduce risks from fraud, waste, and abuse. The Codoxo Healthcare Integrity Suite helps clients manage costs and improve collaboration across payment integrity, special investigation units, provider coding and billing, network management and clinical care teams. Our software-as-a-service applications are built on our proven Forensic AI Platform, which uses a patented AI-based technology to identify problems and suspicious behavior faster and earlier than other AI and rules-based techniques. Our solutions are HIPAA- compliant and operate in a HITRUST-certified environment. For additional information, visit http://www.codoxo.com.
Beekeeper, the mobile-first collaboration platform for frontline workers, today announced the release of their 2022 Frontline Trends Report. The report explores trends for frontline industries and details several ways frontline businesses can improve the employee experience amid the ongoing labor crisis.

Retail, hospitality, and manufacturing industries faced some of the highest levels of resignation. The global worker shortage caused businesses to take a closer look at their employees needs while implementing changes to attract and retain qualified talent.

Historys largest labor shortage has put a spotlight on the frontline workers who are essential to business and our lives, says Flavio Pfaffhauser, Beekeepers Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer. To make these workers lives easier, we must empower them with better tools. The shift toward technology-enabled workplaces should be a top priority for businesses this year. By revolutionizing the way workforces collaborate, we can ensure employee well-being and retention, improve operations, and drive business growth and profitability.

1,864 frontline workers and their managers responded to Beekeepers first survey of the companys 1M global users. The survey asked what motivates them, what they struggle with, and what stresses them out at work. The 2022 Frontline Trends Report combines their responses with industry research to share what frontline employees need to be more happy and productive at work.

Five major trends are highlighted in this years report:

1. Higher Wages and Faster Access to Them

In a challenging time for the global workforce, the report found higher pay to be a common trend. Companies have taken notice, driving wages up across many sectors. The study also found that expedited pay is surging in popularity, leading many organizations to partner with on-demand pay apps that offer same-day or next-day pay to cash-strapped hourly workers.

2. Creative Recruitment Strategies and Candidate Sourcing

As the worldwide labor crisis continues, businesses must find alternative ways to recruit qualified talent  especially with the rise of tech-savvy Gen Z applicants. This trend has driven employers to utilize social media platforms to seek out this new generation of workers. Many companies outside of the U.S. are also welcoming migrant employees to fill the talent gap. Others have implemented incentive-driven referral programs to leverage their existing employee base as an additional avenue for recruitment.

3. More Context and Fully Staffed Teams

The report presented a clear disconnect between the needs of frontline workers and what their managers think they need. According to the survey, 80% of frontline workers rated context about why and when things change as a key factor in their workplace happiness. Only 13% of managers rated context as a top management tool. Furthermore, one in three workers rate understaffed teams as their top stressor, underscoring the importance of maintaining adequate staffing to avoid burnout.

4. A Simplified Frontline Tech Landscape

The study found employees use multiple digital tools for work-related tasks. Frontline workers experience app fatigue because they have to go to too many places to get the information they need to complete their work. Its paramount for employers to adopt mobile solutions that give workers one streamlined interface to access shift schedules, pay stubs, PTO requests, SOPs, health and safety procedures, task lists, formseverything they need for a job well done.

5. Empowering Frontline Managers

This report confirmed that frontline managers and team leads have a massive impact on the employee experience. They are responsible for creating a positive work environment, and they play a pivotal role in employee retention and productivity. Employers must empower these individuals with the tools and skills necessary to keep their essential workers satisfied and motivated.

The report also includes actionable steps companies can adopt to improve the use of technology in the workplace, streamline operational procedures and improve the overall workday experience for frontline employees and managers. These action items will help frontline employers navigate the challenges posed by the trends surfaced in this years report, including the ongoing labor crisis. Taken directly from frontline workers, these insights will equip employers to meet their employees needs, and be vital to employee recruitment and retention in 2022.

Beekeepers 2022 Frontline Trends Report is available now in both English and German.

About Beekeeper

Beekeepers mobile platform is the single point of contact for your frontline workforce. With all communications and tools in one place, Beekeeper empowers frontline employees to be more agile, more productive, and create a safer workplace. Deskless workers can check resources and share best practices in real time. Managers can resolve issues quickly, handle non-routine work efficiently, and track team performance. Executives can increase business resilience and agility in uncertain times. Our secure platform offers a consumer-grade employee experience at the scale you need. Integrate seamlessly with your existing systems to create the future, now.

Website: http://www.beekeeper.io, Blog: http://www.beekeeper.io/blog, http://www.linkedin.com/company/beekeeper
A Dabble of Faith: an encouraging arrangement of poetic verse. A Dabble of Faith is the creation of published author Carolyn Hall, a native of Detroit, Michigan, a loving wife, and a dedicated mother of two who obtained a medical assistant certificate after graduating with honors from the Detroit Public School System.

Hall shares, This Christian-based book has touched my heart and will touch yours too. The title itself was beautifully selected as it must have been a Dabble of Faith that helped in this writing process. With poems that quote the bible and some from everyday life, these words have been amazingly written. This book is the best spiritual poetry Ive read in a while. It breaks down the words of the Bible and puts them in this very pretty bouquet display of words that will uplift your spirits and allow you to be taken away by the sweet aroma of God words. This Poetry helps you to see that God is in everything and is all around us, in each and every day. So take this journey with me as we explore more of Gods Food for Your Soul, Light to my Path, and his Forever Covering love.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Carolyn Halls new book will delight and encourage believers to reflect on their faith.

Hall pairs relevant scripture with inspired creative writing within the pages of this hopeful collection.

Consumers can purchase A Dabble of Faith at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about A Dabble of Faith, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
By focusing on the areas that are crucial for fast progression to, and through, Phase 1 trials, Xpress Pharmaceutics can potentially halve the time to complete studies

Catalent, the global leader in enabling biopharma, cell, gene, and consumer health partners to optimize development, launch, and supply of better patient treatments across multiple modalities, today announced the launch of its new Xpress Pharmaceutics service, designed to accelerate the development of oral drugs through Phase 1 clinical studies. By integrating formulation development, on-demand clinical manufacturing, regulatory support and clinical testing, the approach can reduce both the cost and time taken to complete first-in-human trials.

Xpress Pharmaceutics allows Catalent to work alongside innovator and clinical research organizations, and provide formulated clinical trial material with the necessary stability data that can be prepared for dosing patients at the clinical site, in line with adaptive study protocols. This approach provides a faster alternative to the traditional clinical development model, and offers the advantage of flexible dose and/or formulation composition adjustment during a clinical trial, guided by real-time clinical data.

Achieving early clinical success milestones as fast as possible is crucial in modern drug development, especially for emerging innovators, and this new service combines Catalents core expertise in drug formulation with manufacturing, analytics, and regulatory expertise, to design better drugs for use in adaptive trials, said Jonathan Arnold, President, Oral and Specialty Delivery at Catalent. By focusing on the areas that are crucial for fast progression to, and through, Phase 1 trials, Xpress Pharmaceutics can potentially halve the time to complete studies.

The service will be delivered by formulation development experts at Catalents facilities in Nottingham, U.K., and Beinheim, France, and supported by the companys global Regulatory Affairs team. To further support accelerated timelines, Catalent has a pre-qualified clinical research organization partner, allowing seamless transition from manufacturing into clinical testing.

About Catalent

Catalent is the global leader in enabling pharma, biotech, and consumer health partners to optimize product development, launch, and full life-cycle supply for patients around the world.

With broad and deep scale and expertise in development sciences, delivery technologies, and multi-modality manufacturing, Catalent is a preferred industry partner for personalized medicines, consumer health brand extensions, and blockbuster drugs. Catalent helps accelerate over 1,000 partner programs and launch over 150 new products every year. Its flexible manufacturing platforms at over 50 global sites supply over 70 billion doses of more than 7,000 products to over 1,000 customers annually.

Catalents expert workforce exceeds 18,000, including more than 2,500 scientists and technicians. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, the company generated $4 billion in revenue in its 2021 fiscal year. For more information, visit http://www.catalent.com.

More products. Better treatments. Reliably supplied.
City of Rome joins the Georgia Purchasing Group by bidnet direct The City of Rome invites all potential vendors to register online.

The City of Rome has officially joined the Georgia Purchasing Group, one of bidnet directs regional e-procurement solutions, providing vendors throughout Georgia easy online access to its upcoming solicitations. The City of Rome invites all vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/cityofrome.

The regional purchasing group connects local governments with vendors looking to do business with public agencies. On the Georgia Purchasing Group, vendors seeking business with 20 participating agencies can register online to gain access to a single point of entry for opportunities throughout Georgia. By posting upcoming bids and RFPs on the Georgia Purchasing Group, the City of Rome ensures an entire community of vendors can view their solicitation, download documents, and receive notification of addenda. The vendors self-register and ensure their contact information is up to date.

Because we arent the only agency posting and distributing bids, the Georgia Purchasing Group provides the City of Rome more vendor competition, which we hope will help cut costs, said Becky Smyth, Purchasing Director of the City of Rome when asked why their department decided to join the Georgia Purchasing Group. We also like that it can help our current vendors expand their business opportunities.

The City of Rome invites all local vendors to visit http://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/cityofrome and register to receive access to its upcoming solicitations as well as the upcoming bids and RFPs from 19 other public agencies participating on the Georgia Purchasing Group. Registered vendors have the option to upgrade their service to receive customized bid alerts, notification of term contract expiration, and notification of a real-time addendum.

About the City of Rome:

Rome is the largest city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, it is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Floyd County. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 37,713. It is the largest city in Northwest Georgia and the 22nd-largest city in the state.

About bidnet direct:

bidnet direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. bidnet direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Georgia Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
Cybereason, the XDR company, today announced it has launched a Pay as you Grow program (PAYG) for Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs), which provides the companys most trusted partners and solution providers with financial flexibility to increase their margins and profitability.

The PAYG program is available for Elite and Premier Cybereason MSSP partners and offers several tiers designed to help them grow their business, depending on the goals of their business today and where it is going tomorrow. The program is designed to increase partner flexibility through a monthly billing model based on the number of endpoint sensors in use as opposed to annual subscriptions.

Participating partners in Cybereasons Pay as you Grow program benefit from a billing process that allows them to buy like they sell, in a monthly fee based on usage, enabling them to increase profits as they grow their business, said Stephan Tallent, Vice President, MSSP, North America, Cybereason. Additional advantages include a seamless tracking and billing model that creates an opportunity for MSSPs to support and secure customers of all sizes, without high contractual obligations to Cybereason.

The PAYG program also creates a competitive advantage for MSSP partners, including:



Reduced barriers to entry for MSSPs looking to sell Cybereason solutions

A viable migration option for partners using competitor PAYG programs

A simplified licensing model and incentives for partners to accelerate the growth of their Cybereason business

Access to dedicated support resources

Ascend Technologies is always looking for partners that are dedicated to innovation and continued growth. From their cutting-edge technology to the operational process improvements over the last few years, Cybereason has shown their commitment to their partner program. As a long-standing Cybereason partner, we are excited about the future roadmap, these alignments and the opportunities they will bring for both companies, said Heather Lantz, Senior Vice President - Cybersecurity Services, Ascend Technologies.

Elite and Premier partners will benefit from the new PAYG program, and joining Cybereason in the collective effort to end cyberattacks against our joint customers will force adversaries to move on in search of easier targets, added Tallent.

About Cybereason

Cybereason is the XDR company, partnering with Defenders to end attacks at the endpoint, in the cloud and across the entire enterprise ecosystem. Only the AI-driven Cybereason XDR Platform provides planetary scale data ingestion, operation-centric detection and predictive response that is undefeated against modern ransomware and advanced attack techniques. The Cybereason MalOp engine instantly delivers context-rich attack intelligence across every affected device, user and system with unparalleled speed and accuracy. Cybereason is a privately held international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 40 countries.

Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/

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Media Contacts:

Bill Keeler

Senior Director, Global Public Relations

Cybereason

bill.keeler@cybereason.com

(929) 259-3261
LJUBLJANA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia recorded 8,681 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, which was a new all-time high, the National Institute of Public Health said on Tuesday.

The previous high was reached on Friday with 7,592 cases. The government called upon citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as only 57.3 percent of the country's 2.1 million population has been fully vaccinated.

The government had decided that from Wednesday people who work in healthcare, social services and education will no longer have to start mandatory seven-day self-isolation after a risky contact with a COVID-19 patient.

Instead, they will have to take a COVID-19 test every day for seven consecutive days after the risky contact as well as to wear an FFP2 mask at work.

From Wednesday, school classes will only start schooling from home if 30 percent of its members would contract COVID-19 over a period of 14 days. So far most classes started home-schooling after only one of its members tested positive.

The government claims such changes are possible because the Omicron variant has a shorter incubation period than the previous ones and is less lethal.

In spite of the hike in new cases, the number of people who need hospital treatment is lower than it was in November and December last year when the Delta variant prevailed.

People who have received a booster COVID-19 vaccination shot, have overcome COVID-19 and have also been fully vaccinated, as well as those who have overcome COVID-19 over the past 45 days will continue to be exempt from mandatory self-isolation even after a risky contact. 
As we look to deliver high quality care throughout New England and further develop our access network, Rhode Island is a critical market for us to serve. Were excited to expand our high-quality care and experience to Rhode Islands patients, and invest in a better model of musculoskeletal health.

Through the Companys Bay State Physical Therapy affiliate, CHP will be investing significant resources into new partnerships, new clinic openings, clinic infrastructure upgrades, and a significant expansion of its clinical team.

As we look to deliver high quality care throughout Greater New England and further develop our access network, Rhode Island is a critical market for us to serve. Were excited to expand our high-quality care and experience to Rhode Islands patients and invest in a better model of musculoskeletal health. Rhode Island has been thoughtful in its embrace of value-based initiatives, and were excited to align with innovative payors and providers to improve healthcare, stated Braden Hill, CHPs SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development.

With CHPs planned expansion in Rhode Island, the Company will have locations providing convenient access to care to nearly seven million residents of ME, NH, MA, and RI. CHP is committed to building a better model for musculoskeletal health, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes with a Net Promoter Score of 90+.

To learn more about Cypress Health Partners vision, click here https://cypresshealthpartners.com/.

About Cypress Health Partners

Cypress Health Partners (CHP), headquartered in Boston, MA is the largest network of physical therapy and chiropractic clinics in New England. Our scale allows us to offer our clinics the resources and support they need to thrive and deliver the best possible patient experience. As we grow, we are guided by a vision that physical therapy and chiropractic treatments should be at the core of musculoskeletal health, and that we have the responsibility help our communities live healthier and more fulfilling lives, while reducing healthcare costs and reliance on opioids to treat pain. To learn more about partnering with Cypress Health Partners, please visit http://www.cypresshealthpartners.com or contact Brady Hill, SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development, bhill@cypresshp.com.
For the Good of All: a gripping Christian fiction that does not disappoint. For the Good of All is the creation of published author David Sielschott, a loving husband, father, and grandfather who received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Ohio Northern University in 1979.

Sielschott shares, Jay Sampson is the best young detective in the Armor, Ohio Police Department. As a small-town detective, he is called upon to investigate all kinds of crime, from robbery to cyber theft from a local banks computer system. Jay loved his job, his wife, Tiffany, and his four-year-old daughter, Olivia, yet his life was missing something. Was it because of his difficult childhood where his father had abandoned him and his mother had invited man after man into the house? Was it a spiritual vacuum that was left empty as he grew up wondering who he was? Jays life takes a radical turn when his childhood mentor, John Alexander, is accused of molesting a child and mysterious FBI agents come to Armor to take charge of the case. Jay remembered John as a kind man who had encouraged him and emphasized that he was important to God and to him. It was primarily because of Johns influence that Jay had become a success. Although the evidence seemed airtight, something was not right. Jays detective instincts lead him into his own investigation of the case where he encounters Christ and receives a call to a dangerous mission that could lead him to martyrdom or the revelation of dangerous truth. Jays adventure challenges the reader to answer the question What is right and what is wrong when striving for the good of all?

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, David Sielschotts new book will grab readers attention from the start as they race to see if Jay Sampson will survive a wild turn of events.

With affable characters and a mysterious plot, Sielschotts flagship novel is an action-packed whodunit with a twist of faith.

Consumers can purchase For the Good of All at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about For the Good of All, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Prison building behind a fence . Photo: Morgane Oger Using a prohibited ground of discrimination to justify discriminatory measures against a person is not only wrong, but courts have ruled it is also prohibited.

(Pour la version francaise, clicker ici)

In their December 2020 letter to Correctional Service Canada, the Morgane Oger Foundation and the Womens Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), supported by Egale Canada and the Community-Based Research Centre, provided comments to Correctional Service Canada (CSC) on the CSCs draft Commissioners Directive CD-100, Management of Offenders with Gender Identity or Expression Considerations. In their letter, the organizations strongly urged CSC not to implement the Directive as drafted, because it is rooted in transphobic views of sex and gender that have caused significant harm to Transgender, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals, both in penal contexts and in Canadian society more broadly.

Rather than implement the Directive, the Morgane Oger Foundation and LEAF recommended that CSC draft a new directive in consultation with Transgender, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals, as well as with gender-equity seeking organizations. Today, the organizations remind CSC that any policies it develops must respect human rights law.

In 2017, Parliament passed legislation stating that federally-regulated government bodies are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of gender identity or expression . CSC is now required to uphold this protection for everyone in Canada. The Morgane Oger Foundation and LEAF agree with CSC that there is not yet sufficient clarity within CSC as to how to address incarcerated individuals accommodation requests on the basis of gender identity or expression. The organizations welcome CSCs work to update its policies to improve conditions for everyone who requires accommodation on the basis of gender identity or expression while fulfilling the CSC core mission within the constraints of Canadian law. This update is an overdue initiative that advocates had asked for for years.

Unfortunately, the draft Directive that CSC proposed represented a serious step backwards for Transgender, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and gender-diverse persons under CSC supervision.

LEAF and the Morgane Oger Foundation sincerely hope that any new directive officially adopted by CSC responds to the concerns that the organizations expressed in our letter, and in particular:

1. Biological attributes should not be privileged in the initial classification of persons with gender identity or expression considerations. Doing so is inconsistent with Correctional Service Canadas human rights obligations.

2. No one should be subject to the fear of sanctions for choosing if, when, or to whom they disclose any attribute of their biology or anatomy.

3. Correctional Service Canada must not impose an additional and more onerous safety review for Transgender, Two-Spirit, and non-binary persons than it does on others.

Supporting trans womens rights is a key component of ensuring that all women are protected against discrimination, says Pam Hrick, Executive Director & General Counsel of LEAF. The right to live according to ones gender identity must be recognized in correctional institutions, which are bound by the same human rights laws as other government bodies.

Using a prohibited ground of discrimination to justify discriminatory measures against a person is not only wrong, but courts have ruled it is also prohibited, says Morgane Oger, Director & Lead Human Rights Tribunal Advocate of Morgane Oger Foundation. A prohibited ground of discrimination must not be used to justify a refusal to accommodate a personal characteristic protected under Canadian human rights law.
Im thrilled to share the latest resources with attendees and help them leverage technology to achieve their greatest goals.

As K12 education leaders from across the nation converge on the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), January 25-28, 2022, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. they will have opportunity to attend two vital sessions on hosted by education technology strategist John Randall Dennis. Both sessions are designed to help educators harness the power of technology.

Educators have been so isolated and are eager for opportunities like this to collaborate again. Its exciting to be working with some of the greatest edtech futurists and solutions, Dennis said. The success and impact of FETC is phenomenal and promises an exciting opportunity to work with some of the greatest edtech experts and share the best resources and practices with school leaders.

During the four-day conference, featuring an array of informative sessions, Dennis will host topics specifically for superintendents and administrators: Leveraging Technology for Strategic Priorities and Surf the Blockchain Wave Without Fear of Drowning.

Surf the Blockchain Wave will offer a panel featuring educator and author Wendy Oliver, EdD Chief Academic Officer for Nashville-based Galileo Preparatory Academy, and edtech innovator Kiran Athota, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of FocalPoint Education in Atlanta. The panel will focus on the implications of blockchain for public education and how blockchain represents a new generation of student data privacy. This session is provided on January 27th at 2:00 PM: https://bit.ly/3r8wF99

Leveraging Technology for Strategic Priorities focuses on methodologies and technology available to help education leaders overcome obstacles to achieve their strategic goals.

Many of these leaders best laid plans were wiped out by challenges brought on by the pandemic, says Dennis, the session host. The Leveraging Technology session will offer practical, affordable methods and tools to regain progress despite the tyranny of uncontrollable circumstances. The session is scheduled for January 27th at 10:00 AM: https://bit.ly/3fdowe1

ABOUT FOCALPOINT EDUCATION

FocalPoint Education is a metro-Atlanta based firm with extensive experience in educational technology development. FocalPoint has successfully deployed bespoke enterprise statewide solutions for Georgia, Rhode Island, Maine and North Dakota, as well as school districts in 14 states. Their innovative platform measures and manages teaching and learning and includes LearningTree (an Adaptive Learning Platform leveraging next-gen xAPI and AI technology), LENS (learning analytics with a recommendations engine and data warehousing), AssessCloud (a solution allowing educators to develop and manage assessments), and Backpack (a blockchain-enabled credentialing platform building learner credential portfolios for life). FocalPoint utilizes xAPI, Learning Record Store (LRS) technology and relevancy algorithms to deliver advanced learning analytics to drive student engagement, match digital resources with targeted student needs and support data-driven, personalized learning. All FocalPoint solutions seamlessly integrate with countless third-party edtech solutions. For more information visit http://www.focalpoint.education. Video: https://vimeo.com/479411515
John Wollberg, Side's managing broker of New York Im thrilled to be a part of this mission supporting agent-centered, agent-owned businesses across the state. This is the future of residential brokerage.

Side, the only real estate brokerage platform that partners exclusively with the industrys top agents, teams, and independent brokerages to transform them into market-leading boutique brands, today announced that John Wollberg has joined the company as managing broker of New York. Wollberg will support and guide Side agent partners as the company expands its unique brokerage-as-a-service model into New York.

Side is the only option out there that empowers agents to control their own destinies, said Wollberg. For the first time, New Yorks leading agents will be able to offload back-office management while building and owning their own brand, rather than enriching the companies they work for. Im thrilled to be a part of this mission supporting agent-centered, agent-owned businesses across the state. This is the future of residential brokerage.

Wollberg brings to the role over 35 years of experience in residential real estate and expansive knowledge of the Manhattan market, where he has represented everyone from developers, to brokers themselves, to top attorneys, to celebrities in the sale and rental of over 6,500 apartment units throughout his career. A recipient of the 2008 Henry Forster Memorial lifetime achievement award from the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), where he served on the ethics committee, Wollberg is also a founder and co-chair of REBNYs Residential Listing System (RLS) and was instrumental in developing the universal co-brokerage agreement.

Wollbergs appointment comes on the heels of a momentous year for Side, during which the company raised $250 million from three of the country's leading tech IPO underwriters for a $2.5 billion valuation while operating in California, Texas and Florida. Earlier this January, Side massively expanded its footprint, announcing its entrance into Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Oregon and Washington state.

"We're thrilled to have John join our team as managing broker of New York," said Sides co-founder and chief executive officer, Guy Gal. He brings sophisticated local market and industry expertise that will be invaluable as we continue to expand on the East Coast and partner with even more of the industrys top agents to help them create and grow their own companies.

Unlike a traditional brokerage brand, Side is an invisible brokerage platform that makes it possible for experienced real estate professionals to launch their own boutique company without having to operate a brokerage. Through its end-to-end technology platform and premier support team, Side empowers its agent partners to grow their business and spend more time serving clients. Since its launch in 2017, Side has grown to power over 400 boutique companies, and the companies that have been partnered with Side for more than two years have experienced over 80% year-over-year growth in production volume on average.

About Side

Side transforms high-performing agents, teams and independent brokerages into successful businesses and boutique brands that are agent-owned. Side exclusively partners with the best agents, empowering them with proprietary technology and a premier support team so they can be more productive, grow their business and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://www.sideinc.com.
In 2021, the InterLinc Family Foundation gave over $160,000 and worked with 12 employee-nominated organizations to strengthen nine communities and help change lives.

Since 2012, the InterLinc Family Foundation has assisted countless not-for-profit organizations in achieving their goals in communities where InterLinc Mortgage, residential mortgage bank based out of Houston, TX, conducts business. Employees of InterLinc can nominate non-profit organizations theyre involved with for monetary grants and company volunteer opportunities. Funds for these initiatives are raised at the companys annual Foundation Gala, employee paycheck contributions and one-time donations from employees and partner organizations. In 2021, the Foundation gave over $160,000 and worked with 12 employee-nominated organizations to strengthen nine communities and help change lives.

After many years of partnering together, the Foundation worked with Houston Area Women's Center again in 2021 to fund emergency hotel stays for families fleeing domestic violence. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many shelters were operating at lower capacity even when the need was still great. With the Foundation grant, Houston Area Women's shelter was able to provide a space for them that was safe, supportive and welcoming.

Backpack Buddies in the greater Birmingham, AL area and Kids Meals in Houston, TX, both received Foundation grants to support their mission of ending childhood hunger. Backpack Buddies supports hungry children by providing food bags each week of the school year. They serve approximately 213 children weekly, for a total of 7,525 bags of food each school year. Kids Meals serve approximately 4,000 kids in the greater Houston area each day and donated 1,720,238 meals and 515,000 pounds of groceries in 2021.

Employees of InterLinc were able to participate in multiple volunteer opportunities this year with Houston-based organization, Mission Greenspoint, including a school supply pick-up event, Thanksgiving meal kit distribution and Christmas toy drive. In total, 10+ volunteer hours and over 30 toys were donated by InterLinc team members.

In Dallas, TX, Operation Care International is working to end homelessness locally and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. Through their Christmas Gift event, they provide vital resources to Dallas homeless population and provide them with opportunities to find jobs and advance their situations. Through a Foundation donation and InterLinc volunteers, the InterLinc Family Foundation proudly supported the mission of Operation Care in 2021.

To assist those with special needs and accommodations, Bradys Bridge is working to bridge gaps by developing an after-school program for children with a wide range of abilities. The Foundation provided a grant in 2021, allowing Bradys Bridge to replace their entire HVAC system and ductwork on their facility project.

Inspiration Ranch, a horse ranch located in Magnolia, TX, was another organization the Foundation partnered with in 2021. Through their therapeutic riding and equine-assisted therapy activities, children, youth and adults can overcome physical, emotional and social disabilities. The Foundation was pleased to donate to their cause and looks forward to being involved through volunteer opportunities in the future.

Through their employee champions, organizations doing good are being seen and supported through the InterLinc Family Foundation. InterLinc looks forward to a 2022 full of service and support for these organizations and many others.

About InterLinc

InterLinc Mortgage Services, LLC is a Houston-based full-service mortgage banking firm with approvals from the three largest issuers of mortgage-backed securities: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae. The Company affords clients access to enhanced mortgage product offerings, pricing competitiveness, loan efficiency, and servicing. InterLinc is licensed in 25 states throughout the Midwest and Southeast. More information is available online at https://interlincmortgage.com.
Italian Wine Podcast new host Polly Hammond

News from the Italian Wine Podcast, the award-winning project recognized as one of the most frequently listened-to wine podcasts on the market. During lockdown, in 2020, the podcast became the only daily wine podcast in the world. To date, the Italian Wine Podcast has generated nearly 2 million listens across 747 episodes, and it is now going to launch a new show: Polly Hammond Uncorked. The first episode will air on 23 January 2022 with special guest, the renowned wine writer Jane Anson, sharing her experience as one of the worlds most accomplished experts on the wines of Bordeaux. The weekly series will explore storytelling, communication, marketing, and visual communications across the global wine industry.

Polly Hammond is a digital wine-communication professional and self-described black sheep marketer. She is the founder and Managing Director of 5forests, a globally recognized, award-winning digital marketing agency that helps wineries transition to digital, from strategy to social to sales. She divides her time between New Zealand, Napa, and Spain, consulting, writing, and speaking about the trends that impact todays wine businesses.

Jane Anson built her career over two decades at Decanter. In October 2021 she made the bold decision to launch Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, a subscription based digital platform featuring tasting notes, comprehensive reports, on-the-ground insights, podcasts and a searchable database.

We are delighted to welcome Polly to the team, as we strive to provide the most entertaining and informative content for wine industry professionals and enthusiasts alike, said Joy Livingston, producer of Italian Wine Podcast. Polly is a well-known voice in the world of wine marketing, and she brings with her not just a wealth of expertise on the subject, but also a tremendous sense of fun that our listeners will love.

Hammond said: Podcasts have become an increasingly important way for the wine community to interact. Weve got some fantastic guests and amazing conversations lined-up, and Im really looking forward to sharing some incredible stories and insights into the world of digital branding and beyond.

The Italian Wine Podcast began in March 2017 as a communication and storytelling project dedicated to the Italian wine world. Since then, it has become an award-winning show, recognized as one of the most frequently listened-to wine podcasts on the airwaves. Airing seven days a week, the Italian Wine Podcast has generated nearly two million listens across 747 episodes, on themes ranging from business, food, wine, travel, diversity, and communication.

About: the Italian Wine Podcast: Cin Cin with Italian Wine People! is a podcast project dedicated to the Italian wine world and beyond. Daily shows uncover the unique world of wine in conversation with some of its key protagonists from all over the globe. Italian Wine Podcast aims to inform, educate, and entertain listeners with content for wine professionals and casual listeners alike. Content includes interviews by the likes of Marc Millon, food and wine writer; Cynthia Chaplin IWA, wine educator; Steve Raye, businessman and writer; Dr. Attilio Scienza, Scientist, Professor and expert in the field of native grapes and geology, and Stevie Kim, Founder of Italian Wine Podcast and Mamma Jumbo Shrimp. All shows are extremely varied, including interviews with producers, wine experts, tradespeople and influencers. Italian Wine Podcast is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iheartradio, XimalayaFM (for China), YouTube (go to: Mamma Jumbo Shrimp) and on the official website. It now boasts more than 700 recorded episodes with a growing online following. Listeners interested in providing feedback about the show are encouraged to access a demographic survey on the podcast website. Donations to the show are welcomed and help fund a portion of the shows equipment, production, and publication costs. To advertise on the show, please request a prospectus and/or customized advertising plan from info@italianwinepodcast.com. Cin Cin!
The Greatest Lie Jesus Never Told: a potent discussion of biblical truths. The Greatest Lie Jesus Never Told is the creation of published author James H. Orion, a native of Bergen County, New Jersey, who attended Berkeley College of Business and graduated in paralegal law.

Orion shares, For years the author considered himself a pretribulationist. It was the only theory he was exposed to. However, after several thousands of hours of independent research, he believes the church will undergo persecution and see the Antichrist. One thing that people do not realize is, it is very easy to read any book or Bible and decimate its contents and assume outcomes with no regard for hermeneutics and chronology.

The author truly believes The Greatest Lie Jesus Never Told will be an incredible reference and promises that the contents will be 100 percent biblical, pertinent, and chronological. Some people shy away from prophecy because the subject matter is difficult, therefore eliminated. But I believe the entire Bible is the breathed Word of God, and prophecy is just as important or even more important and relevant as any other part of the Holy Bible. Revelation 22:19 states, And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life. Any reading, regardless of the subject matter, if it is written on a level that is difficult to understand, is not worth the paper it is printed on. May you be blessed from the moment you open this book, and may the Holy Spirit fall upon you and enlighten you to Gods holy word that we will recognize his signs and prepare for what lies ahead as the Greatest Lie Jesus Never Told enlightens your spirit.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, James H. Orions new book is a thought-provoking examination of prophetic writings.

Orions extensive research and passionate faith are apparent within the pages of this compelling work.

Consumers can purchase The Greatest Lie Jesus Never Told at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The Greatest Lie Jesus Never Told, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
"We believe strongly in empowering our employees to make decisions and creating space for creative and innovative thinking so they are able to do their best work and contribute to the overall success of the organization."

KUBRA, a leading provider of customer experience management solutions for some of the largest utility, insurance, and government entities, is privileged to be named one of the 100 Best Arizona Companies by BestCompaniesAZ as part of their 20th anniversary serving Arizonas business community. KUBRA is recognized within the category of Best of Wings," which honors Arizonas top organizations whose innovation, empowerment, freedom, creativity, (and maybe disruption) truly shine.

We believe strongly in empowering our employees to make decisions and creating space for creative and innovative thinking so they are able to do their best work and contribute to the overall success of the organization, said President and CEO, Rick Watkin. Our place on this list is a result of our continued efforts to promote a culture that offers a wide range of programs and benefits that support employees, inside and outside the workplace.

BestCompaniesAZ has been at the forefront of recognizing sought-after employer brands and creating prestigious workplace awards programs in Arizona since 2002. As we celebrate 20 years, we are proud to recognize companies across our state who are making a positive difference in the lives of their employees and our communities, said Denise Gredler, Founder and CEO of BestCompaniesAZ.

About KUBRA

KUBRA provides customer experience management solutions to some of the largest utility, government, and insurance entities across North America. Our extensive portfolio includes billing and payments, mapping, mobile apps, proactive communications, and artificial intelligence solutions for customers. With more than 1.5 billion customer interactions annually, KUBRA services reach over 40% of households in the U.S. and Canada. KUBRA is an operating subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation. Visit https://www.kubra.com for more information.

BestCompaniesAZ

Arizonas Employer Branding Partner, BestCompaniesAZ, specializes in helping corporate clients develop, strengthen, and market their unique employer brands through a variety of digital marketing, events, communication, and award programs. Founded in 2002, BestCompaniesAZ pioneered the intersection of recruiting, human resources, marketing, and public relations and has evolved into an exclusive, niche PR, marketing, and employer branding firm that specializes in building and promoting strong employer brands. For more information, visit BestCompaniesAZ.com.


Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against United Health Care Staffing, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against United Health Care Staffing, Inc., alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against United Health Care Staffing, Inc. is currently pending in the San Francisco County Superior Court, Case No. CGC-21-597339. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, United Health Care Staffing, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, and (f) failure to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections  201, 202, 203, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

The lawsuit alleges United Health Care Staffing, Inc. failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code  2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones to respond to managers while off the clock.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against United Health Care Staffing, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
ANKARA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Serbia have agreed to bring together leaders of Bosnians, Croats and Serbs in a bid to solve the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday.

"Let's bring together three leaders of Bosnians, Croats and Serbs and accomplish this. We have come to this decision. This meeting may be in Belgrade, maybe in Istanbul," Erdogan said after a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in the capital Ankara.

"After the elections in Serbia, we want to bring the leaders of this tripartite group together and hold a meeting where we can take steps to ensure the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the Turkish president said in a joint press conference with Vucic at the Turkish presidency.

We "strongly and decisively" confirmed the importance they attach to the peace and stability of the Balkans, Erdogan noted, adding "Serbia's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very important for the peace and stability of out region."

Elaborating on bilateral relations between Turkey and Serbia, Erdogan said the two countries increased their trade to 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2021 with an increase of 34 percent, noting their goal is to reach 5 billion dollars.

According to Erdogan, more than 1,300 Turkish companies operate in Serbia and employ about 8,000 people, and Turkey's total investments in Serbia have increased from 1 million dollars to 250 million dollars in the last decade.

For his part, Vucic stressed stability and security in the region and underlined the importance of the Dayton Accords signed on Dec. 14, 1995, in Paris that put an end to the three-and-a-half-year-long Bosnian war.

"I told President Erdogan that we are extremely respectful of the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Vucic said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been de facto divided into the Serb Republic and a Muslim federation dominated by Bosnians and Croats since 1995.

The Balkan country has seen a separatist push since Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the country's tripartite presidency, stepped up moves to weaken the country's central government. 
LandAir, the single largest privately held LTL carrier in New England, utilizes Carrier Logistics Inc. software for its freight management needs We are pleased that the premier LTL carrier in the northeast has chosen to renew their agreement with us, and to continue using and upgrading our software to support their employees and bring a higher level of quality service to their customers and the transportation and logistics marketplace.

Carrier Logistics Inc. (CLI), veteran providers of freight management software for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) fleets, today announced that LandAir, the single largest privately held LTL carrier in New England, is furthering its long standing investment in CLI technology by upgrading and renewing its Service Level Agreement and implementing new software modules and integrated solutions.

LandAir, one of our oldest and most loyal customers, has been a Carrier Logistics partner for more than 20 years, said Ben Wiesen, president of CLI. We are pleased that the premier LTL carrier in the northeast has chosen to renew their agreement with us, and to continue using and upgrading our software to support their employees and bring a higher level of quality service to their customers and the transportation and logistics marketplace.

New capabilities offered by CLI that LandAir is adopting include a FACTS software hosted system. The world class service delivers a robust, private and secure cloud option that is fully managed and monitored. The hosted system option reduces the capital investment for hardware and infrastructure, makes upgrades easier and includes 24/7/365 support.

LandAir is also deploying CLIs FACTSmap digital dispatch and planning module, a highly sophisticated easy-to-use map-based tool designed to optimize P&D planning and dispatching. Additionally, CLI will upgrade LandAirs EDI and API capabilities, providing their customers with real time data connectivity

LandAir is the single largest privately held LTL carrier in New England. The company offers a variety of comprehensive services to provide logistical solutions for transportation needs, including Direct Next Day LTL service throughout New England and New York State.

Carrier Logistics FACTS is the premier solution for meeting the unique transportation and freight management needs of asset-based LTL carriers and the last mile industry. FACTS includes online customer shipping tools, dispatch and driver management, a superior rate engine, cross dock management, and a full back-office suite that give transportation professionals the tools they need to operate cost-effectively while providing improved freight visibility to their customers.

About Carrier Logistics Inc.

Carrier Logistics Inc., Elmsford, N.Y., is the pioneer in LTL freight management systems with 50 years of experience providing software that processes and manages the complexities of all aspects needed in a freight management solution. CLI is the premier transportation software provider to LTL, combined LTL and truckload, asset light and non-asset and package delivery in the U.S. and Canada. http://www.carrierlogistics.com.

Media Contact:

Susan Fall

LaunchIt Public Relations

858-490-1050

susan@launchitpr.com
Vanessa was a natural choice to serve in this role with her extensive GC experience, her exceptional leadership capabilities and her stellar reputation within the legal and regulatory communities. She is a terrific addition to Phillips 66 and will play a pivotal role in their success, said Pete.

Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the worlds leading legal search firm, today announced the placement of Vanessa Allen Sutherland as executive vice president, legal, government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary at Phillips 66 in Houston. The search was conducted by Pete Boerner, Heather Fine and Melba Hughes, all partners with MLAs In-House Counsel Recruiting group.

Phillips 66 (NYSE: PAX), a fortune 50 company, is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,100 employees committed to safety and operating excellence.

Vanessa will lead and manage the legal department, global compliance, government affairs and act as corporate secretary. She will serve as chief advisor to the CEO and board of directors on all legal and corporate governance issues, contributing to the execution of the long-term strategic objectives while building, maintaining and protecting the companys brand through legal, compliance and government affairs work.

After a very competitive national search, Vanessa was a natural choice to serve in this role with her extensive general counsel experience, her exceptional leadership capabilities and her stellar reputation within the legal and regulatory communities. She is a terrific addition to the Phillips 66 team and we have no doubt she will play a pivotal role in the companys success, said Pete Boerner. My partners Heather Fine, Melba Hughes and I appreciate the excellent partnership with Phillips 66 leadership on this search and we look forward to seeing the many great things Vanessa accomplishes in her new role and in the Houston community.

Vanessa is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of corporate and government experience, holding CEO, general counsel and director roles in start-up, Fortune 300, Fortune 15 companies and the federal government. Prior to joining Phillips 66, Vanessa spent the last several years as executive vice president, government relations and chief legal officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation, one of the nations premier transportation companies. Before Norfolk Southern, she had two federal government appointments  first as the chief counsel of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation and later as President Barack Obamas confirmed nominee to lead the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board as chairperson and CEO. Before her public service, Vanessa held counsel roles with Altria Client Services, Phillip Morris USA and Digex, a subsidiary of MCI Telecommunications Corp. She is the recipient of multiple legal and non-legal awards, most recently recognized by the National Diversity Council on the Power 50 List and by Corporate Counsel magazine in their Best of Law Departments in 2020. She was a member of the board of directors of Eastman Chemical Corporation and is currently a board director of Southern Gas Company. Vanessa earned her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, her M.B.A. from American University Kogod School of Business and her B.A. from Drew University.

About Major, Lindsey & Africa

Major, Lindsey & Africa is the worlds leading legal search firm. The firm, founded in 1982, offers a range of specialized legal recruiting and advisory services to meet the ever-changing needs of law firms and legal departments and to support the career aspirations of talented lawyers and legal and compliance professionals. With more than 25 offices and 200-plus search consultants around the world, Major, Lindsey & Africa uses its market knowledge and experience to partner with organizations to fulfill their legal talent needs and provide solutions to increase team efficiency and effectiveness. Major, Lindsey & Africa is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in talent solutions. To learn more about Major, Lindsey & Africa, visit http://www.mlaglobal.com and follow MLA on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
We are again calling on our fellow distributors, and all companies, to join us in bringing awareness and support on the local and national level. Our efforts are making a statistical difference, and more importantly, a difference in childrens lives right now.

Markstein Sales Company, the largest woman-owned and operated wholesale beverage distributor in Northern California, announced today that it is further expanding its ongoing efforts to help fight human trafficking throughout the country. Markstein has been a long-time supporter and sponsor of the New Day for Children organization that provides funding to help American children who have been recovered from sex trafficking, and in 2021 joined a national campaign with the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) to help identify and report suspicious trafficking activity often unseen by the typical public. These efforts will expand in 2022, with signage displayed on all 75 Markstein vehicles and training for existing and new team members, and will also include Markstein drivers providing posters with the human trafficking phone and text hotline for customers to display in bathrooms, windows and other visible locations. In addition, Markstein will be releasing a series of videos featuring a rescued survivor of human trafficking and a new corporate video and infographics highlighting the magnitude of the problem, the real lives it impacts and what companies can do to help.

January is International Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month and according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCEMC), they received more than 17,000 reports of possible child sex trafficking in 2020. These reports came from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico and included incidents occurring in every type of community: suburban, rural, urban, and tribal lands. Human trafficking disproportionately targets vulnerable populations such as children with the National Human Trafficking Hotline saying as many as 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery is a child and the average age of a girl in the U.S. being sexually exploited is 13.

The statistics around human trafficking are shocking, not only in our home state of California, but also nationwide, said Laura Markstein, President of Markstein Sales Company. However, as we have learned first-hand, these children are more than just statistics. They are real people that weve had the privilege to meet and hear their stories of how they have persevered and gone on to have fulfilling lives that include high school, college, careers, and families. At Markstein, we are fighting for every one of these children to have the same opportunity as Gabbi from our video series and we are committed to this cause for the long-term. We are again calling on our fellow distributors, and all companies, to join us in bringing awareness and support on the local and national level. Our efforts are making a statistical difference, and more importantly, a difference in childrens lives right now. 

In 2020, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 26.3% of hotline callers were victims of trafficking and 24.6% of callers were community members. This highlights the important role distributors, companies, and individuals can play in spreading awareness.

The child sex trafficking industry in the U.S. is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in our country, and one that employs sophisticated business practices and is highly lucrative. In fighting human trafficking, a large part of the battle is making people aware so that they can recognize suspicious activity and take action to report it before its too late, said Sharon Wood, Executive Director at New Day for Children. Whether its a sign on a truck or at a convenience store, or an extra set of eyes walking into a restaurant or bar, the efforts by companies such as Markstein are invaluable to help save lives.

Call to Action



If you are a beer distributor, join the campaign being spearheaded by the NBWA to build awareness and provide training to educate employees on recognizing and reporting the warning signs of human trafficking. It is simple, short, and empowering for all of your team members.

If you are any other type of company that has vehicles, products or buildings that are constantly in the public eye, leverage your visibility to do your own campaign and encourage others in your industry to follow suit.

Support and sponsor New Day for Children. This nationally recognized charity provides support and assistance to American children, ages 10-18, who have been recovered from the despair of sex trafficking. Your financial support can provide safe housing, school, medical, mental health care, equine therapy, and much more.

Take off the blinders. If you think this is not happening in your community, you are wrong. As noted above, the Human Trafficking Hotline as recorded sex trafficking in every U.S. state. Every county, city, and town needs to help combat this nationwide crisis. This Markstein video, as well as this dedicated page on the Markstein website, outlines the problem and the ways companies and individuals can make a difference.

With beer distributors in the U.S. visiting more than 600,000 retail establishments across the country, all of our member companies can play a vital role in identifying and reporting suspicious activity often unseen by the typical public, said Craig Purser, NBWA President and CEO. As we enter 2022, we are committed to continuing our nationwide campaign to end human trafficking and we are inspired and motivated by seeing the difference companies such as Markstein can make in this fight.

About

Markstein Sales Company is a fourth-generation, woman-owned and operated wholesale beverage distributor based in Antioch, Calif. Founded in 1919 with just a horse, a wagon and six cases of beer, Markstein is now in its 102nd year and distributing over four million cases annually to 2000 retailers in the Bay Area. The companys portfolio is composed of multiple world-class beers including the Anheuser-Busch InBev and Constellation Brands family of beers, several high-quality craft beers and many others, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Markstein is known for outstanding customer service, dedication to their employees and commitment to the community and was voted a 2021 Bay Area Top Workplace. The company continues to rank as best in class by retailers and is one of the top ten largest Woman Owned Businesses in the Bay Area. More information can be found at https://www.marksteinsalescompany.com.
The Fibromyalgia Care Society of America Inc. is airing Season 4 of their podcast on January 14, 2022. The Fibro Friends season premiers will lead with a conversation on Covid and the overlap of symptoms with fibromyalgia.

Fibro Friends podcast is hosted by Caraline Shedd, Mesha Allen & Skye Allen. All three of the hosts are people living with fibromyalgia. The platform is used to share their views on traveling with fibromyalgia, what to do when in a fibromyalgia flare, toxic positivity and other topics that relate directly to life with chronic illness.

Fibro Friends have shared their own personal stories and interviewed Mily Velez, FCSA's Executive Director and Dr. Michael Lenz, Fibro Friendly Doctor and Author of Conquering your Fibromyalgia.

Season 4 episodes will be bi-weekly and will be available on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts. With less than a year since its first episode, listeners from 40 Countries have accessed the weekly podcast.

More information on FCSA can be found at:

https://linktr.ee/fibrocares

About The Fibromyalgia Care Society of America Inc.

Mildred Milly Velez, the founder of the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America. Milly was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2007 and struggled with her search for answers for years. After years of enduring misguided and prejudiced medical care, she founded the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America in 2015. The Fibromyalgia Care Society of America is the only entity that provides specialized programs such as fresh food delivery and virtual assistance to the fibromyalgia community. FibroCares is an innovative approach to caring for the community which offers a host of services such as: The Fresh Food delivery program, emergency financial support, employment assistance, and individualized support through a hotline. The FCSA has launched a revolutionary approach to Empowerment Groups utilizing the principles of cognitive behavior therapy and group therapy sessions to offer attendees a concrete response to the emotions and challenges they are facing as a result of living with fibromyalgia.

You can find The Fibromyalgia Care Society of America on Instagram @fibrocares

Media Contact:

Jessica Henderson

Jessica@buzzbrightpr.com

916.690.5923
NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides property and casualty (P&C), corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions, today announced Kate Henry and Mike Walsh have become co-presidents of its Northeast region. As part of this leadership realignment, Henry and Walsh succeed Bill Austin, who is transitioning to a managing director role focused on scaling NFPs business in South Florida.

NFP is always working to evolve in ways that align with our values and the needs of our employees, clients and communities, said Doug Hammond, NFPs chairman and CEO. New challenges bring out the best in leaders, and Im looking forward to great results in our Northeast region from Kate and Mike. The foundation NFP has built and refined in our Northeast region, and Kate and Mikes expertise and collaborative approach put us in a great position to enhance value for clients and earn new business.

Henry and Walsh are accomplished leaders who will continue the strong momentum in the region, drive growth and deliver value to clients. They will also remain active in NFPs M&A and recruiting activities, utilizing their expertise and relationships to help NFP attract new firms and integrate them into the region.

Henry joined NFP in 2012 as the corporate benefits sales leader in the Northeast, leading benefits, retirement and HR consulting practices before becoming the regional managing director for benefits in 2017. Walsh joined in 2015 and has served as managing director for P&C in New England and managing director of sales in the Northeast before becoming regional managing director for P&C in the Northeast at the start of 2020.

This is a great opportunity that reflects NFPs focus on recognizing performance and challenging leaders to deliver exceptional results in new roles, said Henry. Mike and I will work together with our amazing teams to deliver the integrated solutions that businesses and individuals need to achieve their objectives. There are no limits to where we can take the region.

Henry and Walshs expertise and ability in leading Corporate Benefits and P&C, respectively, have produced excellent results in the region. They are highly motivated to integrate business lines further to add breadth and depth to current and future client relationships. As NFPs largest region  more than 850 employees and over $350 million in revenue  the team serves a diverse client base with complex challenges and aligns well with a shared, collaborative leadership structure.

Im excited to continue working with Kate to take the Northeast region to new heights, said Walsh. We are on a great path, and by staying focused supporting the diverse needs of our clients, we will produce more great outcomes for organizations and individuals across our business.

About NFP

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 6,600 global employees, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue, 7th largest US-based privately owned broker, 9th best place to work in insurance and 13th largest broker of U.S. business (Business Insurance); 10th largest commercial lines agency by P&C commercial lines revenue and 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal); and 13th largest global insurance broker (Bests Review).

Visit NFP.com to discover how NFP empowers clients to meet their goals.
NMI believes in creating solutions that enable our partners far beyond the boundaries of traditional payments and focuses on the full commerce experience that they provide, said Vijay Sondhi, CEO of NMI.

NMI, a leading full commerce enablement technology company, today announced it has acquired IRIS CRM, a premier merchant services CRM and comprehensive merchant management platform servicing clients in the payments industry. Together, the duo will provide added value for partners by bringing together easy sign-up and onboarding for merchants with the ability to quickly monetize payments.

With the addition of IRIS CRMs payments-centric customer relationship management system (CRM), NMI is uniquely positioned to create an even stronger commerce enablement strategy for its channel partners and merchants. Their joint offerings and capabilities will drive additional value by expanding NMIs solution outside of gateway services and adding another layer to their full commerce offering through the addition of merchant prospecting and management and effortless onboarding capabilities.

NMI believes in creating solutions that enable our partners far beyond the boundaries of traditional payments and focuses on the full commerce experience that they provide, said Vijay Sondhi, CEO of NMI. We define full commerce as providing a seamless solution from sign up to payout. By bringing these two companies together, it accelerates the former part of that vision by delivering a more seamless, swift onboarding experience and additional touchpoints through all stages of the commerce lifecycle through a merchant-centric CRM built specifically for the payments industry.

Through this acquisition, IRIS CRM will expand NMIs capabilities through sophisticated lead management, electronic signature capabilities, TurboApp direct-to-processor onboarding, integrated portfolio reporting across a growing list of acquirers and residuals income calculations  all of which are not possible with other CRMs. Dimitri Akhrin, president of IRIS CRM, will continue on in his role in the combined organization and remain a key stakeholder.

"We are excited to join forces with NMI and enter this next chapter by combining our expertise and teams to provide mutual clients with greater value amid the evolving payment processing technology landscape," said Dimitri Akhrin, president of IRIS CRM. We worked hard to build a payments-centric CRM, and that expertise, combined with NMIs depth and breadth of partners and solutions, will be incredibly powerful for our clients and their direct-merchant customers to scale.

IRIS CRM is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. NMI will retain the Brooklyn office and welcome the IRIS CRM employees into the NMI family. Wellesley Hills Financial acted as the financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as legal advisor to IRIS CRM. Terms of the acquisition are undisclosed. For more information about NMIs expanded offerings, please visit http://www.nmi.com.

About NMI

NMI is a leading global payment enablement platform, processing more than $165 billion in payments annually. We enable payments for over 3,000 partners and over 255,000 merchants around the world and across the entire commerce ecosystem: online, in-app, mobile, in-store, unattended and whatevers next. Were constantly innovating in order to power the next era of payments, building in the latest technology so ISVs, ISOs, banks and fintech innovators can focus on what they do best. NMI has offices in the US and UK and serves global customers.

About IRIS CRM

IRIS CRM is a leading merchant services CRM designed specifically for the unique needs and challenges of independent sales organizations (ISOs), payment facilitators, and their merchants. IRIS CRM provides reporting on more than 355,000 active merchants each month and offers payment processing organizations the ability to handle all of their merchant acquisition, onboarding, support, and residual income calculations through a single platform. By automating and streamlining the most repetitive and time-consuming tasks performed by payment processing organizations, IRIS CRM enables agents, support staff, and management to spend less time on manual processes and more time on generating new revenue.
"The PATRIOT P400 M.2 is designed to be an ideal solution for budget-minded users looking to achieve a cost-efficient storage solution with PCI Express gen4x4 performance. P400 is using a slim graphene heatshield which can avoid any physical interference...

PATRIOT, a global leader in performance memory, SSDs, gaming peripherals, and flash storage solutions, is pleased to announce the PATRIOT P400 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe m.2 SSD with capacities of 512GB and 1TB. The PATRIOT P400 was built using the latest PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe controller and best-in-class components to deliver faster data access, multi-application processing, and quick transfer speeds up to 5000MB/s in sequential. The PATRIOT P400 can offer double the transfer speeds compared to standard PCIe 3x4 solutions with lower power consumption making it the best solution for laptop battery efficiency. In addition, the exclusive thin graphene heatshield provides outstanding heat dissipation, especially in systems with limited space.

"The PATRIOT P400 M.2 is designed to be an ideal solution for budget-minded users looking to achieve a cost-efficient storage solution with PCI Express gen4x4 performance. Our design team has created an excellent thermal solution using a slim graphene heatshield which can avoid any physical interference when using this drive-in system with limited space, such as a thin laptop." Said Roger Shinmoto, the vice president of PATRIOT MEMORY.

The Patriot P400 is built from a single-sided M.2 designed to save space and ensure maximum compatibility with the thinnest laptops and small form factor desktops. Stability and reliability are critical issues when creating outstanding storage products, and each P400 comes with advanced firmware to provide end-to-end data path protection and a Smart ECC technology to ensure data integrity and avoid data corruption during intensive processing. These ensure that peak performance will be sustained while preserving high-performance data transfers across a wide variety of workloads, from video editing, gaming battles to visual and audio creative projects.

The PATRIOT P400 is designed to strengthen the system's overall performance and is backed by PATRIOT's 3-year warranty. The P400 delivers one of the most reliable price-to-performance SSD's on the market.

Availability

The PATRIOT P400 is now available at major retailers:

Amazon:



Newegg:



Patriot official webstore: https://bit.ly/3qACEEU

For more product information:



PATRIOT P400 Marketing Assets Download: click here

About PATRIOT

PATRIOT is the leading manufacturer of high performance, enthusiast memory modules, SSDs, flash storage, gaming peripherals, and mobile accessories. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Fremont, CA, USA, PATRIOT is committed to technology innovation, customer satisfaction, and providing the best price-to-performance on the market. PATRIOT products have become world renown for their extreme performance, reliability, and innovation. PATRIOT sells its products through original equipment manufacturers, retailers, e-tailers, and distributors throughout the world with operations in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.

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Michael Cashel, Equities, ION Markets, said, We are delighted that Peel Hunt has chosen the Fidessa Trading Platform to grow its business further.

ION Markets, a global provider of trading, analytics, and risk management solutions for capital markets, today announces that leading broker and market maker Peel Hunt has selected ION as a long-term partner to grow its equity market making business further in European markets, using IONs Fidessa Trading Platform.

As a provider of execution services across global markets Peel Hunt began using the Fidessa Trading Platform nearly 20 years ago to access European markets and RSP market making networks. Since then, equities trading has become more complex. The Fidessa Trading Platform offers market makers an option to build customized workflows quickly and safely, and integrate their own business intelligence using IONs real-time APIs.

Iain Morgan, Head of Execution and Trading at Peel Hunt commented: Effective business growth requires technology that can simplify workflows, and boost efficiency. For Peel Hunt, ION has been a trusted partner in this area for nearly two decades. The Fidessa Trading Platform is the benchmark in the equities space and the top choice for sell-side institutions. As we enter our next phase of growth, ION remains our preferred partner.

Michael Cashel, Equities, ION Markets, added: Peel Hunt is an increasingly important provider of trade execution services to UK retail platforms and brokers. We are delighted that Peel Hunt has chosen the Fidessa Trading Platform to grow its business further.

IONs award-winning Fidessa Trading Platform offers comprehensive market making tools, access to the RSP network, trading, and risk tools in one solution. Automation, simplicity, and reliability are fundamental features.

About ION Group

ION Group provides mission-critical trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics and insights, and strategic consulting to financial institutions, central banks, governments, and corporates. Our solutions and services simplify complex processes, boost efficiency, and enable better decision-making. We build long-term partnerships with our clients, helping transform their business for sustained success through continuous innovation. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/.

About ION Markets

ION Markets provides transformative technology and solutions to financial institutions dealing in equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, cleared derivatives and secured funding. Our award-winning end-to-end solutions simplify clients operations by automating the full trade lifecycle, providing tools to manage risk, and maximizing access to liquidity, while giving real-time access to critical information required for timely operational decisions and execution on a global scale. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/markets/.

About Peel Hunt

Peel Hunt is a leading specialist in UK Investment Banking, ranked number one broker for UK mid and smallcap companies in Institutional Investors latest Europe Survey. Our purpose is to nurture and guide people through the evolution of business. We achieve this through a proven, joined-up approach that consistently delivers value to UK corporates, global institutions and trading counterparties alike.

We have 162 corporate clients (including 32 in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250), with an average market capitalisation of approximately 775m. Our award-winning research is distributed to over 1,200 institutions across the UK, Europe and the US and has ranked No. 1 for UK Small & Mid-cap Research for the last five years in Institutional Investors Europe Survey. Our trading platform makes markets in over 10,000 instruments in 38 markets and is an increasingly important provider of trade execution services to the UK retail platforms and brokers.
"Clients arent just looking for service providers, theyre looking for partners who understand their business and can help manage complexity and support strategic initiatives, said Kevin J. Keane, Executive Chairman at PKF OConnor Davies.

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, one of the nations largest accounting, tax and advisory firms, announced today it has been named to Forbes America's Best Tax and Accounting Firms 2022 list. The Firm was awarded for its tax and accounting services, reflecting its expertise in core practice areas and its unwavering focus on providing value and strategic guidance for clients in every engagement.

Weve seen a powerful evolution take place in the accounting space over the last several years. Clients arent just looking for service providers, theyre looking for partners who understand their business and can help manage complexity and support strategic initiatives, said Kevin J. Keane, Executive Chairman at PKF OConnor Davies. Our team has always sought to provide that deeper level of service and support, and this award is a meaningful validation of all their efforts.

DGC, a Boston-based accounting and advisory firm that recently joined PKF OConnor Davies, also earned a repeated placement on the Forbes list, recognized for both tax and accounting expertise. The recognition underscores the promise and potential of the partnership between the two groups as PKF OConnor Davies expands its footprint in the New England region.

To develop the list, Forbes and market research company Statista surveyed CPAs, enrolled agents, tax lawyers, accountants and CFOs, asking them to provide the names of accounting and tax firms that they would recommend. Of the thousands of names considered, PKF OConnor Davies and DGC were among the 177 firms recommended for both accounting and tax services.

PKF OConnor Davies continues to expand through organic growth and acquisitions on the East Coast. It has supported this growth with a strategic combination of promoting from within coupled with an ongoing focus on top-tier external hires.

About PKF OConnor Davies, LLP

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP is a full-service certified public accounting and advisory firm with a long history of serving clients both domestically and internationally. With roots tracing to 1891, the Firm has 16 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida and Rhode Island and more than 1,200 professionals providing a complete range of accounting, auditing, tax and management advisory services. PKF OConnor Davies is led by over 135 partners who are closely involved in the day-to-day management of engagements, ensuring a high degree of client service and cost effectiveness.

The Firm is a top-ranked firm, according to Accounting Todays 2021 Top 100 Firms list and was recently recognized as one of Americas Best Tax and Accounting Firms by Forbes. PKF O'Connor Davies was named one of Vault's 2022 Accounting 50, a ranking of the 50 best accounting employers to work for in North America and ranked among the top 50 most prestigious accounting firms in America in a complementary Vault survey.

PKF OConnor Davies is the lead North American representative of the international association of PKF member firms. PKF International is a network of legally independent member firms providing accounting, tax and business advisory services in over 400 locations in 150 countries around the world. With its tradition, experience and focus on the future, PKF OConnor Davies is ready to help clients meet todays ever-changing economic conditions and manage the growing complexities of the regulatory environment. For more information, visit http://www.PKFOD.com.
Chief Marketing Officer Tim Tyrell Smith for Planet DDS Innovative technology continues to transform the dental industry, driving positive outcomes for an increasing number of practices and their patients said Tyrell-Smith. Im excited to join this company to increase opportunity for growth and operational efficiency on behalf of our customers.

Planet DDS, the leading provider of cloud-based dental practice management and imaging solutions, is pleased to welcome Tim Tyrell-Smith as its first Chief Marketing Officer. In this new role at Planet DDS, Tyrell-Smith joins the companys senior leadership team and will lead the marketing team.

Tim is a highly experienced and talented business leader with an impressive track record of growing SaaS companies through strategic marketing. With his extensive background in building brands and inspiring teams, were confident that he will continue to drive our companys rapid growth as the leader in cloud-enabled dental solutions, said Eric Giesecke, Chief Executive Officer of Planet DDS.

Innovative technology continues to transform the dental industry, driving positive outcomes for an increasing number of practices and their patients said Tyrell-Smith. Im excited to join this company with a clear mission to increase opportunity for growth and operational efficiency on behalf of our customers.

Tyrell-Smith was most recently the CMO at Help Lightning, a provider of augmented reality-based software. He also previously led marketing teams and drove growth for software and data companies, including Digital Map Products, LightBox, and Kareo.

Tyrell-Smith brings a wealth of knowledge to Planet DDS as a dynamic marketing executive with over 30 years of experience in building brands and growing businesses across multiple industries. He has also successfully led marketing teams in six private equity-owned or VC-funded operating companies, improving margin and EBITDA through high-impact initiatives. Tyrell-Smith will report directly to Planet DDS CEO Giesecke and will focus on developing marketing strategies to align with company objectives.

Tyrell-Smith is a graduate of San Diego State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in English. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Saint Marys College of California, where he specialized in marketing and finance. He resides in Southern California with his wife and three children. Connect with Tyrell-Smith on LinkedIn.

About Planet DDS

Planet DDS is a provider of software solutions for dental practices. The companys cloud-enabled practice management solution, Denticon, offers a rich set of capabilities, including analytics, patient communications, online patient portal, reporting, revenue cycle management, and scheduling. Planet DDS continues to lead in the dental software space following the acquisition of Apteryx Imaging, with its cloud-enabled imaging software XVWeb that delivers state-of-the-art clinical image capture, visualization, analysis, backup, and secure data sharing. Planet DDS is committed to creating value for its clients and solving dentistrys most urgent challenges through a suite of solutions. To learn more about Planet DDS, visit http://www.planetdds.com/
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Tuesday urged the United States to offer apologies and compensation to victims of secret experiments.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a Danish Radio documentary which exposed the secret human body experiments practiced on 311 Danish children in the 1960s, allegedly funded by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The CIA's human rights violations around the world are no news, but it is still shocking to learn that they even preyed on children, said Zhao.

Zhao also mentioned a CIA mind control project carried out around the world between the 1950s and 1970s, also exposed in the documentary. He added the human subjects suffered lifelong sequelae, including psychological disorders and amnesia, or withered away in a vegetative state.

The U.S. government keeps talking about "human rights" and "democracy," but it doesn't practice what it preaches. Zhao added the U.S. government should offer apologies and compensation to the victims and shoulder its due responsibility. 
Experiencing food as medicine in proactive ways profoundly changed our lives forever and we became compelled to share our experiences. Good Pharma harnesses natures powerful ingredients from centuries of global wisdom.

Created by legendary tea entrepreneurs, Jill Portman and Gary Shiner, Good Pharma continues to dominate the craft beverage industry with their revolutionary product line that packs a powerful wellness punch into each cup through natural ingredients and a one-of-a-kind sensory experience. The Good Pharma line recently expanded to include a No Worries herb and Jujube seed infusion tea.

Throughout our Mighty Leaf years of travel through China, India and Europe, we discovered local rituals utilizing natures powerful ingredients contributing to optimal living. Experiencing food as medicine in proactive ways profoundly changed our lives forever and we became compelled to share our experiences. Good Pharma harnesses natures powerful ingredients from centuries of global wisdom, says Portman.

After a recent struggle with her own health, Portman  frustrated with big pharmas conventional solutions  took the initiative to dive deeper into natural ingredients and age-old herbal remedies found worldwide that would help jump start a tea and coffee lovers day in a healthful and thoughtful way.

Recently featured in Marin Living, The [Good Pharma] product line includes four blends that are uniquely designed to aid with common afflictions. Two utilize the restorative power of mushrooms: a coffee and mushroom infusion to give you focus and get you going, and a tea to boost immunity. The other two are teas that incorporate a herb and jujube seed infusion  one to chill you out and another to help you sleep.

Marin Living Article Link: https://marinlivingmagazine.com/this-new-beverage-company-puts-love-in-each-cup/

Good Pharma's current product line includes:

Brain Gain - Coffee & Mushroom Infusion: This fresh brewed coffee infusion, enhanced with Lions Mane Mushroom and Rhodiola extracts support cognitive health with focus and clarity. A sustained, jitter free journey is enjoyed by introducing L-theanine; a well research amino acid found in green tea. Each Good Pharma Pour-Over Infuser contains roasted Arabica coffee blended with our proprietary Rxtract blend. These alchemized granules infuse concentrated extracts of bioavailable botanicals as they dissolve into your cup. ($24.50)

Resilience - Tea & Mushroom Infusion: This rich, fresh brewed blend of Chaga Mushroom extract, green tea and supportive botanicals are powerful in antioxidant activity. Each Good Pharma Pour-Over Infuser also contains our immune boosting Rxtract blend. These alchemized granules infuse concentrated extracts of bioavailable botanicals as they dissolve into your cup. Not your average, thin cup of tea. Instead, this infusion treats you to a delightful mouthfeel and texture derived from the key ingredients. ($22.75)

No Worries - Herb & Jujube Seed Infusion: Usher your body and mind into a blanketed state of calm. Savor a plant based infusion of Ayurvedic herbs of Holy Basil & Ashwagandha + Rooibos and more. Each Good Pharma Pour-Over Infuser also contains our restorative/anxiety reducing Rxtract blend. These alchemized granules of Jujube Seed, Poria Mushroom and more infuse concentrated extracts of bioavailable botanicals as they dissolve into your cup . ($22.75)

Rest Assured - Herb & Jujube Seed Infusion: This tasty herbal infusion supports the restorative sleep you thrive on. Think Passionflower, Lemon balm, Ashwagandha, Holy Basil + more. Each Good Pharma Pour-Over Infuser also contains our REM inducing Rxtract blend. These alchemized granules of Jujube Seed, Licorice Root + Poria Mushroom infuse concentrated extracts of bioavailable botanicals as they dissolve into your cup. ($22.75)

You can purchase the full line of Good Pharma products online at https://drinkgoodpharma.com/.

About Good Pharma:

Founded by husband and wife team Gary Shinner and Jill Portman (originators of Mighty Leaf Tea), the couple have once again pleasantly disrupted the industry with a new pour-over tea concept that prides itself of its functionality and power to become a tea and coffee lover's brand new "ultimate self care ritual." Using their proprietary blend (Rxtract)  a precisely potent serving of supportive mushroom extracts, adaptogenic plant extracts, and amino acids  Good Pharma is revolutionizing the way consumers are mindfully enhancing their health (and their mornings). You may find Good Pharma on Instagram (@drinkgoodpharrma) and Facebook.

Media Contact:

Banning Ramirez, BuzzBright PR

banning@buzzbrightpr.com

(808) 895-0513
Execuvue graphically displays our finance and operations data in minutes, and it helps us all make smarter business decisions based on actionable insights.

A year ago, 19 properties in the Raines Co. portfolio went LIVE with PVNG, a browser-based enterprise accounting tool from Aptech. Extremely pleased with the finance software and the companys customer service, the hospitality management, development, and investment group operating the worlds leading hotel brands and boutique properties recently added Aptechs newest version business intelligence tool, Execuvue. The entire corporate accounting team is thrilled to have new, automated financial management tools at their fingertips, but no one is more elated than Ron Glancy, Raines Senior Vice President of Operations.

Since 2008, Glancy had been manually preparing a daily report of occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) for the companys founder Mark Raines. With only two hotels at that time in the portfolio representing 279 rooms, the report was manageable; but at 20 hotels and 1,927 rooms today, the task had become daunting, especially with the demand for more data growing daily. Each morning without fail, Glancy spent considerable time manually preparing a spreadsheet for the companys owners, shareholders, and general managers, whether he was in the office, at home, on vacation, or travelling out of the country. When Aptech Vice President Cam Troutman learned of Glancys ordeal, he presented a solution  a custom operations report driven by Execuvue to mirror Raines needs.

Execuvue is Aptechs IBM Cognos-based ASP business intelligence application. The solution makes custom reporting and data gathering intuitive. It helps operators make smarter business decisions and answer questions on the fly using AI-powered analytics. Execuvues Dashboard delivers stunning images of financial and operational data to deliver actionable insights, and the drag-and-drop environment with predictive analytics creates visualizations based on data entered.

When Cam told me that Execuvue could automate our Executive Report and tie it to founder Mark Raines legacy  it was Mark who initiated the report in hopes of achieving 100% occupancy daily  I jumped at the chance, Glancy said. What used to be a chore now takes just 10 minutes to compile, and thats only because I take the time to manually double-check the numbers. As soon as I log in, I have immediate access to the prior days information. Execuvue graphically displays our finance and operations data in minutes, and it helps us all make smarter business decisions based on actionable insights. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving day after day.

Glancy said the new Executive Report shows the number of rooms rented, average daily rate, revenue per available room, the percent of occupancy, how many rooms are out of order, and more. The system also configures the data to deliver a report by region, giving Raines a performance snapshot for the entire portfolio, as well as by region, by brand, and by property.

The best thing about Execuvue is that it saves time and takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders, Glancy said. 2021 was the very first Christmas morning that I didnt have to stress about compiling the report before my day could start. Being able to provide quick views to owners and managers enables us to better react to the market and adjust as needed. It gives us information in real time about occupancy and ADR. I often think how happy Mark Raines would be if he could see how quickly we can put this critical data into the hands of 65 executives and counting each day. The efficiency is remarkable.

Troutman said its opportunities like this  being able to positively impact the day-to-day operations of Aptech customers  that has made Aptech the industry standard for hospitality financial management.

We knew PVNG was the right fit for Raines, but from the moment I heard Rons story, I knew that Execuvue would rock his world  and it did in a BIG way, Troutman said. I learned how passionate Mark was about scrutinizing the numbers, and he vowed to continue delivering the data and expanding on the report long after Marks passing to all who need it. It was truly rewarding to customize Execuvue to meet Rons reporting needs and honor company standards. Like Aptech, Raines is a family-owned business with a family-oriented culture. Also like us, they believe in building relationships, whether its with their valued employees, vendor partners, shareholders, and community members. Its expanding on relationships with companies like Raines that makes my job so rewarding. I wish them continued success in 2022 and look forward to growing our partnership in the future.

For more information on Execuvue by Aptech, visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.

# # #

About Raines

Raines is one of the Southeasts premier hospitality management, development, and investment groups, offering a comprehensive approach to its impressive property portfolio and client base. Led by Managing Partners Grey Raines and David Tart, the award-winning company is known for its operational experience, success with historic properties, and expertise with the worlds leading brands such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and Choice. Featuring a variety of properties, including notable boutique hotels The Foundry Hotel in Asheville, NC and Hotel Florence in Florence, SC, Raines currently has 20 hotels and 1,927 keys throughout the Southeast. Within the Raines organization, a variety of specialty divisions offer curated and strategic programming, including Woven, a boutique hotel sector, and Array, which specializes in commercial real estate and office properties. Raines is headquartered in Florence, SC, with a secondary regional office in Charleston, SC. For more information, please visit the Raines website.

About Aptech Computer Systems Inc.

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties  including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information, please visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.
Revive 365 CBD Product Collection CBD Reviews And Scams  3 Tips To Spot CBD Scams

There's a new CBD company named Revive 365 CBD that is helping consumers spot CBD scams, fake CBD products, and phony CBD review sites.

They are on a mission to provide consumers and every day Americans with the best CBD products.

Revive 365 CBD wants to help consumers to spot CBD scams that are all over the Internet, to help consumers identify fake CBD products, and know about the CBD products they buy.

It's important to know that there are many CBD scams all over the Internet

From CBD companies that are selling sprayed on CBD gummies or even miss-labeling their CBD products all together. A recent investigation by a famous TV doctor revealed that a whopping 92% of CBD products tested were either miss-labeled, contain no CBD at all, or even downright dangerous.

Revive 365 CBD says Its very important to know what you're putting into your body.

These three tips will help Americans spot CBD scams

Avoid CBD Scams Tip #1:

Be leery of CBD free trial scams. As the old adage says, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is Watch out for free trials, free samples, and other advertised as free products.

Read the fine print, look for customer support phone and email information, and if it says that it's free but the cost is only $4.95 pay for shipping only be very, very cautious or do not order at all.

Many CBD scam companies advertise products as free, but then later bill your credit card for $60, $70 or even as much is $100 for the product you thought you were getting for free.

Avoid CBD Scams Tip #2:

Look out for CBD gummies and edibles that are only sprayed with CBD. Many of these CBD products that are spray lose most of the CBD in the bottle. That means that you, the consumer, lose the CBD benefits even though the price is often the same as a high quality product.

A good CBD company will sell infused CBD gummies or edibles so that the CBD is not lost in the bottle.

Another thing to watch out for our low milligram CBD products. Some scammy CBD companies will advertise all the benefits in the world and then only offer a product with 100, 300, or even 500mg of CBD.

Many people believe the optimal serving of CBD is 25mg (or more) per serving. So look for a CBD product that delivers at least 25mg of CBD per serving.

Avoid CBD Scams Tip #3:

Be sure to ask for a COA or certificate of authenticity with any CBD product that you're buying.

If the CBD company does not provide a COA on their website, customer service information, then you should be suspicious.

In addition to viewing the COA information, you should also be on the lookout for products that are only hemp products. Hemp products do not necessarily contain any CBD whatsoever.

For example, hemp seed oil does not have a high concentration of CBD at all.

The largest retailer in the world, whose name cannot be shared here for legal reasons, sells only hemp products that do not contain any CBD or such small amounts that there is very little or no benefits.

And thats why the label does not say CBD it is only hemp.

CBD can offer many amazing benefits the key is finding a trusted brand like Revive 365 CBD to find the products you like best.

Today Americans can try all Revive 365 CBD products for 365 days

Then decide later if they would like to keep the products.

Heres how it works:

Go to https://www.revive365cbd.com/ and place your order (be sure to enter your email for an additional discount).

If you are not sure which CBD products are right for you, use the Revive 365 CBD Finder tool on their website.

Enjoy a free mystery gift on your qualifying order! Plus your order today is backed by the strongest guarantee in CBD, a full 365 days.

Please try all Revive 365 CBD products and find your favorites. If you are unhappy for any reason or no reason at all get a full refund within 365 days  even if the bottles are empty! (return shipping is at the cost of the consumer)
Were excited about our future in Tallahassee, said Chris Bethea, regional vice president. Its accessible location and growing business community is the ideal place for us to call home. We are looking forward to continue serving Tallahassee-area businesses with all their technology needs.

RJ Young, an industry-leading business technology solutions provider in the Southeast, recently opened a new office and distribution center in Tallahassee, Florida to accommodate growth in the area.

The move will combine two of RJ Youngs Florida offices into one, as well as a new distribution center that will serve coastal Alabama and the Florida panhandle. The new location will house 15 team members and spans 12,500 square feet. This is the companys fourth warehouse distribution center in the Southeast.

Were excited about our future in Tallahassee, said Chris Bethea, regional vice president. Its accessible location and growing business community is the ideal place for us to call home. I am humbled to be leading the southern region during such an exciting time of growth at RJ Young. We are looking forward to continue serving Tallahassee-area businesses with all their technology needs.

RJ Young will celebrate the new office and distribution center with a grand opening event on Thursday, January 20th from 3:30  6:00 PM. Guests will enjoy bites from McCormicks Deli, beer and wine, as well as giveaways, and a property tour.

As the official technology solutions provider of the Noles, RJ Young provides the below solutions to customers across Florida, helping them achieve the Modern Office.



Digital Whiteboards and Audio-Visual Solutions  Communication is something every business or organization should prioritize, especially now. Digital whiteboards, audiovisual and video conferencing systems can be tailored toward specific business needs to ensure communication - no matter your location.

Backfile Scanning  All documents can be seamlessly digitized onto the cloud with backfile scanning  an essential to ensure remote workers have the tools and files they need to succeed.

Cloud-Based Business Phone Systems  This system seamlessly integrates all communication tools  desktop phones, mobile phones, and computers  into one manageable solution oriented around employees needs and workstyles.

At present, RJ Young has 31 sales and service branch locations, as well as four distribution warehouses located in Nashville, Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, Jackson, Mississippi, and Tallahassee, Florida.

ABOUT RJ YOUNG

RJ Young is an industry leader that provides technology solutions that power businesses. RJ Young helps small to enterprise-level organizations transition into modern workplaces and increase productivity with comprehensive managed IT solutions, office equipment and technology, business process outsourcing and digital communications. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, RJ Young has been partnering with businesses since 1955 and has more than 600 team members in more than 30 sales and service locations across nine states. To learn more about how RJ Young can help power your organization with technology solutions, visit RJYoung.com or reach out to info@rjyoung.com.
Royal Media, a leading global information provider, and GVF, the global non-profit association of the satellite industry, have formed a content partnership that will deliver crucial analysis and insight on satellite industry trends. The partnership will include the participation of Royal Medias industry-leading brands in a series of webinars hosted by GVF.

While the partnership primarily focuses on Royal Medias Connectivity Business brand, the webinar series will also leverage Royal Medias brands in financial services, energy and transportation to cover the influence of satellites in these sectors. Royal Media and GVF will kick off their alliance with Connectivity Business participation in the upcoming webinar on Spectrum Regulation and Business, taking place January 27th. The partnership will also provide additional benefits to GVF members with enhanced access to Connectivity Business news content.

Royal Medias Connectivity Business is a leading industry publication upon which many of GVFs global members rely and the content partnership with Royal Media will increase awareness of the many ways satellite communications are providing fast, affordable, and reliable connectivity around the world to governments, businesses and consumers, said David Meltzer, Secretary General of GVF.

Connectivity Business provides senior corporate executives, investors, and strategic advisors with forward-looking market intelligence on the news and trends of investment in the connectivity sector. Through this partnership with GVF, both brands will continue to be positioned as leaders in the global space and satellite community.

We are thrilled to be partnering with GVF for this 2022 webinar series and beyond, said Molly Stewart, Chief Operating Officer, Royal Media. GVF is a highly respected organization in the satellite industry, and we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate on high quality content that speaks to this sector and our larger Royal Media audiences.

The 2022 Webinar Series content will be available to registered participants through the GVF website. Additionally, webinar recordings will be published for viewing after the sessions. To learn more about upcoming webinars and register, visit http://www.GVF.org/webinars.

ABOUT ROYAL MEDIA

Royal Media is a leading specialized information company formed in 1995 to deliver deep market knowledge and news through online information portals, digital magazines, electronic newsletters, conferences and custom media and research products. The company focuses its efforts on several industries, including air cargo, energy, financial services, telecom and vehicle finance. Royals air cargo news brands are among the most established in all of trade media. Royal Media, which is headquartered in New York, has won several awards for its journalism. For more details, visit http://www.RoyalMedia.com.

ABOUT CONNECTIVITY BUSINESS

Connectivity Business is keenly focused on reporting the news and trends of investment in the connectivity sector. What makes Connectivity Business unique is its concentration on connectivity investment, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and developments in capital markets that have implications for companies in space services, telecom and investment. It is not just the technology and strategies that matter, but the funding that makes them possible. For more information, visit http://www.ConnectivityBusiness.com.

ABOUT GVF

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022 as the sole global non-profit association of the satellite industry with members from the entire ecosystem, GVF has throughout its history brought together organizations from around the world representing operators, manufacturers, service providers, innovators and other parts of the satellite ecosystem that are engaged in the development and delivery of satellite technologies and services for consumers, commercial and government organizations worldwide. GVF facilitates expanded access to satellite-based connectivity solutions, through regulatory, policy, and spectrum advocacy; training and certification; product quality assurance; and collaboration with user groups and other satellite stakeholders. For more information, visit http://www.gvf.org or contact us at info@gvf.org.
We are excited to partner with the first company to be TCIA accredited in Montana, says SavATree CEO, Carmine Schiavone.

SavATree, a leading provider of professional tree, shrub and lawn care, has announced a merger with Montana-based tree care company, Bozeman Tree, Lawn & Pest. This merger introduces SavATrees presence in the Montana market, serving customers throughout Gallatin County and the surrounding areas.

Since 2000, Bozeman Tree, Pest & Lawn has been delivering outstanding personalized care to its customers in Southwest Montana. Owner of Bozeman Tree, Lawn & Pest, Jeff Pfeil, along with his dedicated team, will stay on with SavATree to ensure a seamless transition for their loyal customer base.

For me, the timing was finally right and the partnership with SavATree is a powerful transition for customers and team members. SavATrees eco-friendly approach and commitment to safety really aligns with the values and standards weve set at Bozeman Tree, Lawn & Pest. I know that my team will be taken care of and will have more opportunity for accelerated growth with SavATrees systems and support, said Jeff Pfeil.

We are excited to partner with the first company to be TCIA accredited in Montana! Joining forces with Bozeman Tree, Lawn & Pest builds a stronger presence in the West, as this merger marks our first location in Montana. Their alliance with Yellowstone National Park is something that were thrilled to be involved with, says SavATree CEO, Carmine Schiavone.

About SavATree

SavATree provides environmentally sensible stewardship of valued residential and commercial properties helping our clients care for what they love. Their nationwide team of industry certified arborists and highly trained field specialists delivers professional tree, shrub, and lawn care to their loyal clients, making the intersection between trees and people work. With their innovative science-based programs, SavATree protects and enhances client landscapes. Learn more at http://www.savatree.com
New Sberbank HQ: Located in the Moscow financial district, the Sberbank City office complex comprises five separate buildings, with two high-rise towers, and extensive below-grade structures. The Penetron System has the added benefit of providing comprehensive protection against concrete deterioration caused by chemical attack, freeze-thaw cycles and corrosion. This increases the lifespan of concrete structures and reduces the amount of maintenance required in the future.

After a lengthy construction process that included a change of owners, the Sberbank City complex in Moscow, Russia opened in November 2021. The Penetron System of crystalline waterproofing products was specified for the below-grade concrete structures.

Located on Kutuzovsky Prospect in the financial district of downtown Moscow, the Sberbank City office complex comprises five separate buildings, including two high-rise towers (41 and 47 floors tall), with a gross floor area of 207,700 m2 (2.3 million ft2).

Sberbank is Russias largest bank and this monumental project brings together the companys 40 offices, which were previously spread all over the city, into a single, modern headquarters, explains Igor Chernogolov, President of Penetron Russia. Ultimately, around 30,000 employees will work here.

The complex was originally designed as a multi-use residential/commercial project in 2006 when construction first began under a different name. In 2016, Sberbank took the project over and the interior was completely redesigned to a modern office complex by Evolution Design, a Swiss architectural and design practice, and T+T Architects.

Repairs Needed After Project Interruption

The new company headquarters features flexible workspaces, a multi-function conference venue, meeting rooms, co-working areas, and a restaurant with seating for 400 guests. The Sberbank City buildings are all interconnected by a network of pedestrian tunnels, some of them reaching five floors below-grade, to the underground parking garage (capacity: 2,950 cars).

During the projects initial construction phase, the Penetron System was used to treat the below-grade structures. However, because construction work was interrupted for many years, untreated concrete structures suffered significant damage and needed to be repaired. Once work resumed, the Penetron System was specified to repair and restore all damaged concrete.

Protecting Concrete Against Deterioration

Once applied to a prepared concrete surface, the proprietary chemicals in Penetrons crystalline products react in a catalytic reaction with moisture to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. The resulting formation seals pores and micro-cracks, and becomes an integral part of the matrix, making the concrete impermeable.

The Penetron System has the added benefit of providing comprehensive protection against concrete deterioration caused by chemical attack, freeze-thaw cycles and corrosion, adds Igor Chernogolov. This increases the lifespan of concrete structures and reduces the amount of maintenance required in the future.

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels.

For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com, or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
We are excited to offer this self-service password management solution for our SecureData customers.

SecureData has expanded its data security offerings and unveiled an easy-to-use self-service password management solution (MyPasswords*) accessed with users own email addresses. Now all SecureData award-winning FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated data storage devices come with a free three-year MyPasswords license. The purchase of any SecureDrive or SecureUSB portable external data storage device is required.

MyPasswords is a cloud-based service that users can set up easily using only an email address. Once users log into their email dashboards, they can create, store, and manage their PINs/Passwords for SecureDrive or SecureUSB devices, helping their users avoid forgetting their PINs/Passwords in the future. Any secure credentials that users need for their daily lives can be stored and managed by MyPasswords. As an extra security measure, users can enable two-step verification via SMS to their mobile phones.

We are excited to offer this self-service password management solution for our SecureData customers. This innovative solution is licensed from our proven technology partner, ClevX, LLC, and enables users to securely store, restore, and manage their various passwords, PINs, and other secure access credentials, said Ken Higgins, Vice President of Business Development at SecureData. Users do not need to create an account and master password. Their active email address is the only thing they need. Its that easy.

For more information, please visit: https://www.securedrive.com/product/mypasswords

*SecureDatas MyPasswords uses MyPasswords technology licensed from ClevX, LLC.

About SECUREDATA, Inc.

SecureData is a privately held company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. We provide ultra-secure and innovative data security solutions to our partners and customers worldwide through specialized services, software, and products. Our offerings include professional data recovery services, digital forensics, FIPS-validated, and hardware-encrypted portable data storage, data backup solutions, and file repair software. SecureData has built a reputation as a trusted security solutions provider with the highest number of industry-specific certifications proving that our process, facilities, and products exceed industry standards.

For more information, please visit: https://www.securedata.com/

About ClevX, LLC

ClevX is a Seattle-based information security technology company  Your Innovation Partner. It is focused on the Security/Mobility markets where ClevX pioneered its award-winning DATALOCK KP/BT Secured USB and drives (OS-agnostic, hardware encrypted, PIN- or Phone-activated, bootable) and easy-to-use portable software applications and services for secure drives for personal and business use. ClevX differentiates itself by creating solutions that are simple, clever, and elegant.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clevx.com/

SECUREDATA Media Inquiries:

pr@securedata.com

SecureDrive Product Sales Inquiries:

sales@securedrive.com or call 1-424-363-8535

Request a Free Evaluation: https://www.securedrive.com/support/request-evaluation
I look forward to discussing our solutions during Wednesdays session and invite everyone to visit the SemaConnect booth this week.

SemaConnect announces its participation in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Internationals annual Government/Industry Meeting (GIM) this week at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. As a leading provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure to the commercial, residential, and fleet world, SemaConnect brings over a decade of EV charging insights and expertise to attendees seeking information on the latest automotive technology and regulatory developments. Joseph Inglisa, industry veteran and SemaConnects vice president of business development, will speak alongside leaders from the Colorado Department of Transportation and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection about electric vehicle charging during the Driving Toward a Zero Emissions Future: State Strategies for Electrifying Vehicles session on Wednesday, January 19. SemaConnect EV charging experts will also display the Series 6 commercial charging station at Booth 7.

Co-located with the Washington Auto Show, GIM brings government, regulatory, policy, and automakers together in the nations capital to discuss the newest automotive designs. This year, the SAE Government/Industry Meeting sessions will be held in-person and on-demand on January 18-20.

Demand for electric vehicles and EV charging infrastructure has truly taken off in recent years, said Joseph Inglisa, vice president of business development at SemaConnect. Especially with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and continued discussion of the Build Back Better bill, industry and government alike are concerned about ensuring access and seamless integration of smart, easy-to-use electric vehicle charging stations nationwide. I look forward to discussing our solutions during Wednesdays session and invite everyone to visit the SemaConnect booth this week.

For more information, or to register for the SAE Government/Industry Meeting, visit https://www.sae.org/attend/government-industry.

About SemaConnect:

SemaConnect is a leading provider and pioneer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure solutions to the North American commercial, residential and fleet market. A complete EV support partner, SemaConnect is making transportation electrification possible in this decade through innovative, elegantly designed charging stations, a robust and open network platform, and an unparalleled charging experience for drivers and station owners. Since our founding in 2008, SemaConnect has installed thousands of smart charging stations at top companies like CBRE, JLL, Hines, Greystar, Nike, Electrify America, and SP Plus.

SemaConnect remains the preferred charging solutions partner to municipal, parking, multifamily, hotel, office, retail and commercial fleet customers across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.semaconnect.com.
I am encouraged when I see the enthusiasm and the detailed work presented by the teams at all stages of the Competition. They represent the future of the financial services industry who will carry on the mission of influencing the financial futures of clients...US Chap. Pres, Rick Stanzione, RFC

The International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC) announces the 6 teams/individual who will move on to the Semi-Finals of the National Financial Plan Competition. These undergraduate teams/individual were selected from submissions representing universities nationwide with financial service programs.

Selected to continue are:



Davonta Martin, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC - Dr. Patrick Payne, Assistant Professor

Andrew Mathis, Sarah Chamberlain, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT - Dr. Luke Dean, Associate Professor

Jacob Jackson, Schafer Heiner, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT - Dr. Luke Dean, Associate Professor

Sam Jensen, Jakob Wagner, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT - Dr. Luke Dean, Associate Professor

Brooke Gibson, Max Gledhill, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT - Dr. Luke Dean, Associate Professor

Luke Payne, Madalynn Berkey, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO - Charles Boughton, Instructor

The IARFC National Financial Plan Competition is open to undergraduate university students who are enrolled in a financial services curriculum. From a fictional case narrative, the students are requested to craft a financial plan for judging progressing through various stages.

In this Semi-Finals stage, the students attend a preliminary technical meeting for an equipment check and subsequently a plan presentation time. On those days, the teams give their recommendations with accompanying PowerPoints for videotaping. These sessions will be sent to the IARFC Board of Trustees for voting for 3 Finalists.

These chosen top 3 teams will present their plans in person to the US Chapter Board during its Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, OH this April. Its a great honor to be judging the students submissions, relates IARFC US Chapter Board President, Rick Stanzione, RFC. Personally, I am encouraged when I see the enthusiasm and the detailed work presented by the teams at all stages of the Competition. They represent the future of the financial services industry who will carry on the mission of influencing the financial futures of their clients.

Detailed information on the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and the National Financial Plan Competition can be found at http://www.iarfc.org. Corporate sponsors and individual donators are welcomed to support this next generation of financial professionals by contacting Susan Cappa at susan@iarfc.org.
NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States is bracing for "tough weeks" ahead in many parts of the country as the Omicron surge has not yet peaked, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has warned.

In an interview with CNN, Murthy spoke of the good news of the plateaus and drops in known cases in the Northeast, especially in New York City and New Jersey, while noting that challenges remain ahead, The New York Times reported on Sunday.

"The challenge is that the entire country is not moving at the same pace," he said, adding "we shouldn't expect a national peak in the coming days," the report said.

"We have seen incredible challenges in our health care network," Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told CBS in an interview as the Omicron variant had overwhelmed hospitals in his city. "It is a substantial concern." 
The Online Telescope for Teachers is a cost-effective and scalable solution that eliminates the geographic, financial, and technological barriers associated with space exploration in schools.

Slooh, the only organization offering live online telescope feeds to students, is now offering an affordable way for teachers to bring the power of its network of online telescopes to all students with The Online Telescope for Teachers. This solution can change how teachers teach astronomy by providing opportunities for students to explore and analyze more than 1,000 real-world space objects and events.

Sloohs innovation is that an unlimited number of teachers and students can share online telescopes in a manner that includes an exchange of ideas and opportunities to learn from each other, said Michael Paolucci, founder of Slooh. Just as kids learn to play video games by watching other people play, the sharing inherent in the platform enables students to learn from the amazing things other teachers and students do with our online telescopes.

In addition to online telescope access, this new solution provides elementary through college-level teachers integrated curriculum-based lesson plans that can be used with students and ongoing professional development to help educators easily use the technology.

Most schools have microscopes, yet do not have access to telescopes. We are changing that, continued Paolucci. The Online Telescope for Teachers is a cost-effective and scalable solution that eliminates the geographic, financial, and technological barriers associated with space exploration in schools. Now, teachers across the world can help their students study space and view space phenomena in real-time just like professional astronomers, via computer interface to online telescopes.

Available for $199 per teacher/per year, along with a free seven-day trial, The Online Telescope for Teachers gives teachers and students control of a network of professional-grade online telescopes located in the Canary Islands and Chile. They can book time on a telescope to view a specific space object or event or join other classrooms that have already reserved time to view an event. Teachers can then share the recorded event with students to foster group discussion and collaboration.

I have been teaching astronomy at the high school and college level for 13 years. While I love the observational aspect, it can be very limited by schedules, weather, and proximity, said Christine Hirst Bernhardt, Astronomical Society of the Pacifics 2021 Thomas J. Brennan Award recipient for excellence in teaching astronomy at the high school level, as well as the head of Sloohs newly-created teacher advisory board. When we shifted to remote learning, Slooh was the solution I had long sought after  it allowed my students to observe incredible and inspiring imagery on a far greater scale than they could while sharing an eyepiece in a parking lot. The best part is students actively design the process and truly author their learning experience.

The power of Sloohs telescopes brings professional astronomy to classrooms in any learning environment in an unprecedented way. Slooh has allowed my astronomy classes to finally catch up to the field of professional astronomy, added Hirst Bernhardt. I am so grateful to have found Slooh, and cannot imagine ever teaching astronomy without it. It has truly transformed my courses and empowered my students with invaluable skills.

Sloohs product was recently named a finalist in the 2022 Bett Awards, as well as a winner of the Educators Pick Best of STEMTM 2021 awards by Catapult X, the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), and MCH Strategic Data. Slooh was also named an Elite 200 startup by the 2022 ASU-GSV Summit.

Only the wealthiest schools, and only those that happen to be situated away from light pollution, have observatories for their students. Slooh is making access to observatories equitable in education, which levels the playing field for future vocational opportunities in the growing space industry, said Paolucci.

In addition to The Online Telescope for Teachers, Slooh also recently launched The Slooh Space Exploration Grant through its non-profit Slooh.org. The grant provides an equitable opportunity for up to one million students from Title I schools across the United States to experience the wonders of space.

To learn more about The Online Telescope for Teachers and to sign up for a free seven-day trial, visit http://www.OnlineTelescope.com.
"We recognized the need to make a larger investment in our dining program. Now, we'll have something to be excited about and be proud of, working with CSG."  Dana Gravitt, Administrator, The Altenheim

The Altenheim, a continuing care community for seniors located in the heart of the Highlands in Louisville, has contracted food service provider Culinary Services Group (CSG) to provide an enhanced dining program for their residents. The community believes the new restaurant-style service will also attract new residents to their historic campus. The partnership will begin in mid-January.

"We recognized the need to make a larger investment in our dining program. Now, we'll have something to be excited about and be proud of, working with CSG."  Dana Gravitt, Administrator, The Altenheim

Administrator Dana Gravitt admits that the senior housing market has become more competitive, especially following COVID. We recognized the need to make a larger investment in our dining program she stated, Were not a very large community, 46 residents, but we believe they deserve nothing but the best. But finding the right partner who was a good cultural fit and someone they could trust was challenging. The new operation run by CSG will include restaurant style service in the formal dining room with food stations set up throughout the space. Residents will be able to choose from a variety of freshly prepared seasonal favorites. CSG will be working closely with the residents to develop custom menus tailored to their preferences. A variety of deli-style sandwiches, fresh fruit, and salads will also be available to residents daily.

Culinary Services Group is pleased to partner with an outstanding community like The Altenheim. Weve found true alignment in quality of service and culture fit.  Scott Alme, Vice President of Business Development

For Culinary Services Group the partnership with The Altenheim begins a new chapter in the companys story of rapid growth. This is their first location in Kentucky, although they have a strong presence in neighboring Ohio. Kentucky marks their 14th state of operation. The company has seen a renewed interest in enhancing food service programs post-COVID among senior care communities. Its a great way for communities to distinguish themselves, says Scott Alme, VP of Business Development for Culinary Services Group, we always recommend that communities can use a dining program as a marketing tool. CSG recognizes that a quality food service program like theirs can be a significant investment, but believes it contributes greatly to a communitys longevity, safety, and overall resident satisfaction. To learn more about partnering with Culinary Services Group in Kentucky please contact their sales team.
Artist and social activist Domenic Esposito, who just launched a successful solo exhibition Vox Clamantis at Piano Craft Gallery in Boston, which runs Jan. 7-30, 2022, will also host a series of events this month in connection to his art and activism and the foundation he created, The Opioid Spoon Project. The events will take place at the gallery, and are free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $20.00 at the door for the foundation. All proceeds benefit the Memorial Doors Project, an upcoming public memorial sculptural program honoring those who are casualties of addiction. Attendee registration information can be found at Eventbrite, and all events are in full compliance with Boston's COVID health and safety mandates.

During the month-long art exhibition, featured events include the following:



Friday, Jan. 21, the Opioid Spoon Project fundraiser with Board members, volunteers and special guests (5-9pm)

Saturday, Jan. 22, noted journalist and author Sam Quinones will join for a virtual discussion of his latest book, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth (2-3pm)

Saturday, Jan. 22, 20-year nonprofit leader and gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen will be on site for a fireside chat to discuss the topic of harm reduction and its impact on individuals, communities and cities (3-4pm)

Sunday, Jan. 23, Domenic will conduct a 2D Art with 3D Sculpture Workshop, co-sponsored by New England Sculptors Association (NESA) (2-3pm)

Thursday, Jan. 27, Exploring Art Therapy, to discuss the healing power of art, featuring Antonella Pirone, PHD, Director of Translational Pharmacology at Caesura Tx, SLP fellow and Alicia Ventura, Director of Special Projects & Research, Office-Based Addiction Treatment Program(OBAT) at Boston Medical Center. Sponsored by Professionisti Italiani a Boston(PIB), (6-8pm).

Saturday, Jan. 29, Artist Talk with Domenic and Vox Clamantis Curator Diana Lada LHenaff (6-7pm)

For more information and to register to attend, please visit The Opioid Spoon Project and Eventbrite.

About Domenic Esposito Fine Art

A Massachusetts based artist and social activist, art has been an integral part of Domenics Iife since childhood. A graduate of Northeastern University, he was also trained in art from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Stonybrook Fine Arts, Artist Asylum and Prospect Hill Forge, where he developed his metalwork skills. Considered a sculptor first, he continues to refine his craft with deliberate vocabulary borrowed from the Italian Renaissance period, as well as his own personal cultivation of Asian culture and principles. In 2018, he achieved national attention through the massive opioid spoon sculptures he placed on the doorsteps of the FDA and major pharmaceutical giants, and founded the Opioid Spoon Project, a 501(c)(3) to serve as a solution-based platform that seeks legal justice and brings voice to the devastation of opioid addiction.

Domenics work includes sculptures, paintings, commissions and public art installations, and has been privately collected and exhibited in a range of galleries and art fairs across the U.S., including Canvas Fine Arts, Boston; Piano Craft Gallery, Boston; Insight Artspace, NY; Scope, NYC; Art Palm Beach; and SOFA Chicago Art Fair, among others. In 2019, his work Accountability won Best in Show at the Arts Benicia Juried Show in California. He also completed a prestigious artist residency at Mana Contemporary, which led to his print work with legendary Gary Lichtenstein. To learn more follow on Facebook

@domenic.esposito.metalart and Instagram @domenic_esposito_metal.

Media Contact

Roberta Tsang, RTPR

roberta@rtprcomm.com
Digital locks are definitely becoming the go-to option for homeowners in Miami who want more convenience and advanced security

Keys will always have a purpose, but imagine not having to worry about losing physical keys or fumbling around in your purse to find them  what a pleasure. A large percentage of homeowners are choosing to make the switch to digital locks for these exact reasons and more.

All you need to operate your smart lock is an app on your phone thats connected to your specific front door lock.

You can now lock and unlock your front door from anywhere. Whether you need to let someone in when youre not at home or have your Amazon delivery placed inside your house instead of leaving it outside, digital locks make this possible. This is a prime example of technology advancement at its best.

How to Choose a Digital Lock for Your Front Door:

There are a few key things to consider when selecting a digital lock.



Lock Interaction:

The first thing you should consider is how you want to interact with the lock. Not all digital locks are the same, they differ in terms of technology, installation, and integration with third-party products. For example, where one digital lock might operate with Bluetooth, another will have a touchpad. Many digital locks offer both these options. This way, if you cant launch your app, you can still use a code to get into your home.

Having the option of a code also makes it easier to give others access to your home while you are away. Just make sure that the codes have an expiry date and are kept private to avoid security risks.

And if you are worried about power outages or your phones battery dying just when you want to get inside your home, know that you will still have a key as a backup. Whats more, most of todays digital locks have jumpstart nodes on the bottom, allowing you to connect a 9V battery to get it up and running again when the battery is low.

Once you start exploring digital lock interaction, youll be impressed by how creative some brands have gotten. For example, the Sesame Lock allows you to knock on your smartphone to unlock your door  no pins or codes are needed. Small features like this will also help you better determine which lock is right for you.

The Protocol:

Next, you want to decide which communication protocol you would prefer in a digital lock. This protocol is what helps the lock communicate with your phone and any other smart devices in your home.

There are three different protocols that you can choose from:

1. Bluetooth.

One of the biggest benefits of Bluetooth locks is that the battery life is a little better and you wont need an additional device for it to connect to your smartphone. Unfortunately, your range wont be as good as with a Wi-Fi lock. You also wont be able to control your lock from another location or provide passcodes to others. Popular Bluetooth locks include the August Smart Lock, Kwikset Kevo, and Friday Lock.

2. Wi-Fi.

While Wi-Fi digital lock batteries dont last as long (less than a year), you do have the option to control your locks from anywhere, provided you have a Wi-Fi connection, and your connection is on at home. Wi-Fi-powered digital locks will also integrate with third-party devices such as Google Assistant or Alexa.

Want to be able to assign codes or pins to people visiting your home while you are away? Wi-Fi locks have this capability.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock and Kwikset Kevo Plus are two examples of popular digital locks.

3. Z-Wave.

The final digital lock protocol is Z-Wave, which requires a Z-Wave compatible hub to connect the lock to your smartphone. Basically, this hub helps translate the Z-Wave signals that are sent between your phone and the lock. Samsungs SmartThings is one of the more popular hubs for this specific protocol.

Z-Wave is also limited in terms of range, so the hub cant be placed too far from the lock. On the plus side, Z-Wave is slightly more advanced than a Bluetooth lock in the sense that you can connect to some third-party devices.

Popular Z-Wave digital lock options include the Yale Real Living Touchscreen Deadbolt and the Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt.

Your Preferred Third-Party Apps:

The final major consideration when choosing a digital lock is the apps you want to use. Are there other devices and third-party apps that you want to use to lock and unlock your front door such as a smart lock or watch, or your smart home assistant? If so, check which third-party apps your preferred digital lock brands are compatible with.

Naturally, the only other aspect you will want to factor into this equation is your budget. As you can imagine, the more advanced a digital lock is, the more expensive it will be. You should also keep in mind that you will probably need professionals such as Quickly Locksmith to install the system for you and show you how it works.

What About Your Existing Deadbolts?

Its highly recommended that you keep your existing deadbolt in place as an extra layer of security. The good news is that many of todays digital locks will clamp over an existing deadbolt, so theres no need to worry about removal.

If you plan to keep your existing deadbolt, just make sure the digital lock you are considering will clamp over it.

You dont need to keep your existing deadbolt though. Some brands such as the Yale Touchscreen Deadbolt will replace any existing locking system you have in place.

In Closing:

Digital locks are definitely becoming the go-to option for homeowners in Miami who want more convenience and advanced security. Making a major change to your homes security doesnt need to be overwhelming either, especially when you have experts such as Quickly Locksmith Miami to assist you.

There are no right or wrong options when it comes to digital locks. Simply keep the above considerations in mind to find locks that are right for your home
Police officers, firefighters, and EMTs must constantly rise to the challenge of keeping Americans safe. Our new partnership with AWARE helps protect and save them by minimizing or eliminating hazards entirely, said Barry Alexander, Founder and CEO of Aquiline Drones.

In the chaos of a crisis, time is the enemy! The longer it takes to assess a dangerous situation and deploy the appropriate action, the greater the chance of the incident escalating. Thats why Aquiline Drones (AD), an American drone manufacturer and cloud technology company and AWARE, a secure, cloud-based suite of technologies designed for first responders, today announced a strategic partnership that will enhance the ability to comprehensively respond to any emergency incident.

Specifically, the new collaboration creates a unique end-to-end SaaS platform that extends AWAREs Smart Response Software to ADs Spartacus line of autonomous, AI-enabled, US-made drones and its cloud based cognitive AI services with real-time control and dynamic on-field decision making capabilities, which will help firefighters, police officers and EMTs assess the situation, deploy necessary resources and determine their life-saving course of action in real time before, during, and after an emergency event.

Merging live AI-processed drone video streams with the patented AI-enhanced audio streams offered by AWARE significantly enhances situational awareness for first responders and the value they provide in service to their community, said Dalton Pont, Chief Innovation Officer at Aquiline Drones. Additionally, Aquiline Drones maintenance repair overhaul (MRO) model guarantees fully functional operational UAVs, which eliminates worry and ensures high quality use when it matters most.

At its core, AWARE is a technical platform of communication and visualization tools that facilitate quick decision-making for any type of incident or event response, said Roger Mann, CEO of AWARE. Whats more, the system is compatible with any existing hardware and software for seamless integration into a responders daily workflow, whether it be on a tablet, a vehicles mobile data terminal, a large screen computer or even a smart phone. It is as useful to a small department as it is to a major urban disaster response agency, providing critical decision support before, during, and after an event.

There are three main components to the AWARE platform:



ActionMap- provides a unified ArcGIS based mapping platform that allows dispatchers, commanders and first responders to view exactly the same information as an incident develops in real time. It incorporates data layers including critical infrastructure, hospitals, and schools, while displaying live video, near real time audio transcription, pictures, GPS locations, known hazards or other location factors that can impact response and rescue efforts. In addition, ActionMap is able to generate, upload, and store pre-plans and Action Plans.

Multi-Modal Communications (MMC)- is a patented, secure communications platform that integrates live voice-to-text transcription with text messaging, voice playback, and customizable keyword highlight into an intuitive user interface that improves comprehension and situational awareness of 911 operators, field responders and those in the command center. By spatially separating radio traffic into the listeners ear, MMC enables incident teams to monitor and track multiple talk groups and channels simultaneously and understand information coming across multiple radios more quickly.

AwareMobile- is a smart phone application that allows the user to stay updated with an event or incident while in the field. Team members can rapidly and easily send and receive secure messages, pictures, and video while also following along with MMC transcription. This greatly reduces the need for repeated radio transmissions and provides responders with accurate locations and turn-by-turn navigation details.

Pont notes several missions that AWARE-armed Spartacus drones can fulfill for first responders including:

Delivery of Emergency Supplies- When seconds count, drones can be sent ahead of first responders to assess the situation on the ground, give responders a critical heads-up and also be used to deliver lifesaving supplies and equipment to victims that are not readily reachable by a human person in time.

Search and Rescue - Drones can perform search and rescue missions, helping police officers and firefighters locate missing persons, survivors of an explosion or building collapse or accident victims thrown from cars.

Disaster Management- A drones aerial imagery provides enhanced situational awareness to improve visibility in difficult conditions, while locating subjects in darkness or heavy vegetation, thus reducing the time, cost, and risk associated with on-foot operations.

Law enforcement  Drones can be deployed in advance of police intervention to provide first-person viewing and real time situational awareness, thus capturing crimes in action, providing first responders with live footage of the scene, and even recording footage/images of an assailant.

Site Assessment- Drones can see through smoke by providing real-time video and overlaid area topography and maps to offer important insight needed to enhance missions. They can even pinpoint hidden fires in roofs and walls to better protect a firefighting team.

From raging wildfires out West to devastating building collapses on the East, police officers, firefighters, and EMTs must constantly rise to the challenge of keeping Americans safe, said Barry Alexander, Founder and CEO of Aquiline Drones. Our new partnership with AWARE helps protect and save them by minimizing or eliminating hazards entirely.

About GlobalFlyte

GlobalFlyte, Inc. was established in 2015 in Dayton, OH. GlobalFlyte, Inc. licensed a patented technology from the U.S. Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to create AWARE, a unique cloud-hosted, Software as a Service (SaaS) to enhance Comprehension, Communication, and Collaboration. Visit http://www.GlobalFlyte.com for more information.

About Aquiline Drones

Aquiline Drones Corporation (AD) is a progressive American drone manufacturer and cloud solutions company located in the financial district of Hartford, Connecticut. Through Aquiline Drones Indemnity Corporation, the company insures its continuum of products and services, as well as those of its partners and affiliates. Founded by CEO Barry Alexander, AD's core management comprises highly experienced aviators, systems engineers, IT gurus, military personnel (including veterans), and business strategists. AD delivers a vertically integrated blend of products and services. These include an aviation cloud for commercial drones, U.S.-based drone manufacturing, drone "maintenance-repair-overhaul" (MRO) services, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) solutions for large enterprises and governments, a superior line of Spartacus drone products, a robust UAS training academy, and the country's first 'drone-on-demand' service enabling customers to order drone services through a proprietary mobile app. AD's full spectrum of technological solutions is widely applicable across countless industries and environments for superior, real-time data processing and insights. Visit http://www.AquilineDrones.com for more information.
The first bank in the country primarily women-owned and led, Agility Bank (in organization) is being established under a special Minority Depository Institution charter of the Office of the Comptrolle With Numerated, our lending and account team will use a single, flexible platform to originate our full suite of business banking products with the client-centric, digital-first experience that todays business owners deserve and want. - Lauren Sparks, CEO of Agility Bank (in organization)

Numerated, the Inc. 5000s fastest-growing fintech SaaS company, has been selected by Agility Bank (in organization), a primarily women-owned and women-led commercial community bank. Agility Bank (in organization) will offer seamless digital lending experiences to clients using Numerated as its primary origination platform for its full suite of business banking products.

The first bank in the country primarily women-owned and led, Agility Bank (in organization) is being established under a special Minority Depository Institution charter of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Agility Bank (in organization) is committed to bringing the community bank of the future to small- and medium-sized businesses with a focus on those owned by women and minorities. Based in Houston, the institution will use Numerated to power all its business and commercial lending with a client-first and digital-first approach, from application, to underwriting, to closing.

We looked for providers with a proven and nimble tech stack that would allow us to hit the ground running on day one and be agile in using data in innovative ways, said Lauren Sparks, founder, chairwoman, and CEO of Agility Bank (in organization). With Numerated, our lending and account team will use a single, flexible platform to originate our full suite of business banking products with the client-centric, digital-first experience that todays business owners deserve and want.

Numerated is a SaaS digital loan origination system for business banking that dramatically reduces work for financial institutions and their customers by using data. The platform pulls in data at each stage of origination to save lenders and their business customers time, including by pre-filling applications, automating spreading, aggregating data and scoring applications, and fully automating the time-consuming preparation of document packages.

Were thrilled to be working with someone as accomplished and visionary as Lauren and her entire team at Agility Bank (in organization), said Dan OMalley, co-founder and CEO of Numerated. Rather than taking the historical back-office first approach to business lending, they are focusing on the client experience first. Were humbled to be their primary origination platform to deliver on their vision for launching the community business bank of the future.

More than 140 community and regional financial institutions have used Numerateds award-winning platform to process more than $50 billion in lending for over 400,000 businesses. Learn more at http://www.numerated.com.

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About Agility Bank (in organization)

Agility Bank (in organization) is the first primarily women-owned and led bank created for this purpose in the U.S. under a special national charter of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. With a focus on community business banking, the bank will serve all small and mid- size business owners. Houston-based Agility will provide a flexible digital-based platform that is as close to a fintech banking experience as business owners need or want. Coupled with the knowledge of savvy bankers, clients will have access to personal service powered by robust technology. For more information: http://www.agilitybanking.com.

About Numerated

Numerated is a SaaS digital loan origination system for business banking that dramatically reduces work for financial institutions and their customers by using data. Banks and credit unions use Numerated to meet businesses' expectations for digital convenience, and to bring efficiency gains to internal teams. The platform's unique use of data streamlines originations for any business banking product, from application to decision to close. More than 500,000 businesses and 30,000 financial institution associates have leveraged the platform to process over $50 billion in lending, making Numerated the fastest-growing fintech SaaS company on the 2021 Inc. 5,000.

Media Contacts:

Sal Trifilio

(781) 473-0690

sal@numerated.com

Sarah Peterson

(713) 702-4470

sarah@agilitybanking.com
The efforts to rebuild Working Wardrobes over the last two years has been nothing short of heroic," said CEO Bonni Pomush. "With the support of our community, we are steadfast in our efforts to help individuals overcome barriers with dignity, and experience the Power of a Paycheck."

Working Wardrobes, Orange County's foremost career development nonprofit, announced today that it will hold a press conference on 2/2/22 at its Career Success Center in Santa Ana to outline its goals and commitment to the local community, two years to the day since a devastating multi-million dollar fire destroyed the Working Wardrobes headquarters. The event also marks the first press conference for new CEO Bonni Pomush.

Event Details:

What: Working Wardrobes commemorates the two-year anniversary of the devastating fire, and new CEO Bonni Pomush provides 2022 outlook

Where: 2000 E McFadden Avenue, Suite 100 Santa Ana, CA 92705

When: Wednesday, February 2, 10:00 AM

Who: Working Wardrobes leaders, elected public officials, local leaders, community volunteers, and donors

Pomush, who took over as CEO on January 1, 2022, will address the media, local leaders, community, donors, and volunteers on the future initiatives of the nonprofit and will also discuss the remarkable rebirth of Working Wardrobes in the wake of a destructive four-alarm fire at its Irvine headquarters on February 2nd, 2020.

The efforts to rebuild Working Wardrobes over the last two years has been nothing short of heroic, and echoes the driving spirit that Founder Jerri Rosen possessed each day of her 31-year tenure leading this nonprofit, said CEO Bonni Pomush. The community helped us rebuild two facilities, fill them with goods to support our programs, and provide invaluable training resources to the out-of-work community. Working Wardrobes supporters have a resilient mindset and are dedicated to making the organizations 2nd 31 years truly extraordinary.

Despite losing nearly all of its physical possessions in the early morning fire on Super Bowl Sunday two years ago, Working Wardrobes, with the help of countless community members, began implementing online career workshops that started with attendees from Southern California but quickly expanded across the country, with local business leaders providing critical professional skills training to thousands.

The pandemic crippled our workforce, and as we embark on this next chapter of Working Wardrobes, there are lives to help change through empowerment, said Pomush.We are steadfast in our efforts to help individuals overcome barriers with dignity, and experience the Power of a Paycheck.

About Working Wardrobes:

Working Wardrobes is Orange Countys foremost workforce readiness nonprofit, providing the tools to at-risk men, women, young adults, and veterans so they can achieve the dignity of work. Founded in 1990 by Jerri Rosen, Working Wardrobes has been serving Southern California for over 30 years by providing assessments, job training, career placement, and wardrobe services to more than 115,000 clients to overcome barriers to employment and achieve the Power of a Paycheck. For more information, please visit http://www.workingwardrobes.org.
The new court is intended to resolve cases on an expedited schedule, assisted by File & ServeXpresss easy-to-use interface and efficient, time-saving functionality.

The Wyoming Chancery Court officially opened on December 1, 2021 and will receive all of their filings electronically through File & ServeXpress.

The Wyoming Chancery Court is a new state court which aims to provide a forum for streamlined resolution of commercial, business, and trust cases. The new court is intended to resolve cases on an expedited schedule, assisted by File & ServeXpresss easy-to-use interface and efficient, time-saving functionality.

The Law Firm, Hathaway & Kunz, LLP, was the first eFiler in the Wyoming Chancery Court, using File & ServeXpress. Candace Hough, a Legal Assistant at Hathaway & Kunz, says of the experience eFiling with FSX:

Were excited to start filing into the Chancery Court and having a platform like File & ServeXpress makes our jobs a lot easier. So far, weve had a great experience and the Chancery Court Clerk has been extremely helpful. We are hopeful that all Wyoming District Courts will utilize File & ServeXpress for electronic filing in the near future. The app is efficient and easy to use for everyone in our organization, so we can spend less time on paperwork and more time on what matters. Theres a lot of work to be done now that the Chancery Court is open, and Im sure File & ServeXpress will play a big part in getting a lot of cases efficiently moving through the Chancery Court system.

Tammy Carter, CEO of File & ServeXpress, says of the development:

We are so excited to be an integral part of this new court system. Our goal at FSX has always been to simplify the litigation process and help legal professionals work more efficiently, and we are confident that our role in the Wyoming Chancery Court will do just that.

File & ServeXpress has provided more information on how to register for FSX and pass the eFiling proficiency test for Wyoming on their website at http://www.fileandservexpress.com/Wyoming-resources.

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About File & ServeXpress, LLC.

With 30 years of experience, File & ServeXpress is the longest-tenured provider of eFiling and eService technology and services, focused exclusively on the needs of law firms and courts. File & ServeXpress provides law firms and courts with solutions that enable them to interact and simplify the judicial workflow for the entire lifecycle of their cases. The File & ServeXpress solutions support all roles in the firm from managing partners to paralegals as well as government agencies and self-represented litigants. The company also maintains over 80 million documents, files and serves into 1,400 courts, and supports a user base of 200,000 users across 30 states and the District of Columbia.


In a January 14 filing, the Maryland Attorney General defended the states new library e-book law, rejecting the Association of American Publishers contention that the measure runs afoul of federal copyright law.

This case is not about copyright protectionit is about the unfair and discriminatory trade practices of publishers at the expense of public libraries, reads the first line of the states brief. [When] a publisher elevates its own reward to the detriment of the public, the state has a legitimate interest in remedying the situation, the brief later states. Maryland decided to remedy such a situation, and chose a remedy that is fully consistent with the purpose of copyright.

The Maryland e-book law went into effect on January 1. It requires that publishers offering e-books to consumers in the state must also offer to license the works to public libraries on reasonable terms.

The filing comes after the AAP on December 9 sued Maryland state officials in federal court, arguing that the law is preempted by the federal Copyright Act. The AAP also claims the law violates interstate commerce laws, and is unconstitutionally vague. The heart of the case, however, is that the Maryland law allegedly functions as a compulsory license that infringes on the exclusive rights granted to publishers and authors under copyright. The AAP is seeking an order declaring the Maryland law is preempted, as well a preliminary and permanent injunction against enforcement of the act.

In their 42-page legal memorandum, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and his team counter that the state's library e-book law is constitutional, does not touch upon the exclusive rights granted under copyright, and is in fact a "modest" consumer protection statute enacted to prevent some publishers from capitalizing on the digital revolution at libraries expense.

The brief argues that the AAP has fallen far short of meeting its burden for a preliminary injunction, which it urges the court to deny. And state attorneys argue that the AAP's preemption claim is based on an "erroneous" premise and should be dismissed for failure to state a claim. Notably, the state opted not to challenge the AAP's standing at this time, citing the need for fact discovery, but in a footnote preserved the issue for litigation should the case progress.

Maryland's answer now sets up what will be a closely watched legal battle that observers say will likely hinge on the AAPs claims of federal preemption.

In its December 9 complaint, the AAP argued that the Maryland law impinges upon the exclusive grant of rights under the federal Copyright Act because it allegedly "compels publishers to distribute e-books, audiobooks, and other digital literary works on terms set by the State of Maryland, and takes away publishers rights to decide when, how, to whom, and in what formats they will distribute their works, and whether to decline to distribute their works altogether." Furthermore, the AAP argues there is no extra element that "changes the nature of the state law action so that it is qualitatively different from a copyright infringement claim," the key legal test for preemption.

 This case is not about copyright protectionit is about the unfair and discriminatory trade practices of publishers at the expense of public libraries. 

Maryland attorneys, however, say there is an extra element, which is the states authority to regulate market practices.

Maryland has a legitimate interest in protecting its citizens, including libraries and their patrons, against unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices, the state argues, asserting that nothing in the Copyright Act prevents Maryland from addressing biased pricing practices that place a significant burden of added cost on county library systems and deny residents equal access" to literature and information. A copyright does not make a product invulnerable to regulation of the manner in which it is marketed, Maryland state attorneys point out.

Furthermore, Maryland attorneys say the AAP is mischaracterizing the Maryland e-book law.

The Maryland Act does not give public libraries the right to dictate the terms of a license agreement with a publisher; all it requires is that publishers offer to license these products to Maryland public libraries on reasonable terms, the brief states. "Nor does the Maryland Act even require that an agreement be reached between the publisher and the public library. It seeks to ensure that the terms upon which publishers offer to license electronic literary products are fair and not abusive when compared to the terms offered to the public generally." AAP members continue to enjoy complete control over the rights granted by the Copyright Act, the brief goes on to argue, adding that a "contextual reading" of the law shows that no publisher will be "forced to enter into involuntary and uneconomic" licensing agreements.

Because the AAP's case "rests on the mistaken assumption that the Maryland Act is a copyright law and not a regulation of unfair trade practices," the state says the case should be dismissed and its bid for a preliminary injunction denied.

There is no clear and readily apparent inconsistency between the Copyright Act and the Maryland Act that either makes compliance with both laws impossible or renders the Maryland Act an obstacle to the purposes of the Copyright Act," the brief states. In fact, far from frustrating the intent of Congress, the Maryland law seeks to restore some of the balance that publishers have eliminated through their license agreements, Maryland attorneys argue. By ensuring that publishers and libraries work together toward mutually acceptable licenses, the Maryland Act follows the congressional intent for the Copyright Act."

The AAP now has until January 28 to reply in court. But in an unusual move for an active litigant, AAP president and CEO Maria Pallante issued a statement to the press on January 17.

The Maryland Attorney Generals arguments are unresponsive and unpersuasive as to the legal problems presented in our lawsuit," Pallante said. "By interfering with the exclusive rights that are the basis of copyright transactions in online markets, including library markets, the Maryland Act creates confusion in a vibrant digital economy, undermines publishing contracts, and preposterously threatens copyright owners with penalties for following the uniform authority of the U.S. Copyright Act. The state has also badly misunderstood the premise and operation of the copyright framework and its constitutional origins, in which public access to original works of authorship is not achieved by government fiat or manipulation of terms, but rather through a system of economic incentives that foster investment, rewards, and continuous market innovations during a statutory term of protection."

First introduced in January 2021, the Maryland law (SB432/HB518) passed the Maryland General Assembly unanimously on March 10, a direct response to Macmillan's (since abandoned) 2019 embargo on frontlist e-book titles, which prompted numerous appeals to both federal and state legislators. The law further comes after a decade of tension in the digital library market, with libraries long complaining of unsustainable, non-negotiated high prices and restrictions.

A hearing is set for February 7 on the AAP's motion for a preliminary injunction, and on Maryland's motion to dismiss the case.

Update, January 21, 2022: Alan Inouye, ALAs Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations, issued the following statement this week regarding Maryland's filing: The Attorney General of Maryland provides a thorough and convincing argument that soundly refutes each claim by the Association of American Publishers. The American Library Association agrees with the Attorney Generals assessment that "publishers capitalize on the digital revolution at libraries expense." Accordingly, the Maryland law needs to remain in place as a modest step towards positive progress in the public interest.

In addition, the University System of Maryland & Affiliated Institutions (USMAI), a consortium of 17 academic libraries in the State of Maryland, also issued a statement in support of the Maryland Attorney General, which reads in part:

"USMAI member libraries are deeply grateful for the vigorous defense of the Maryland eBook law by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh against the complaint filed by the Association of American Publishers, Inc. (AAP). In its Friday, January 14, 2022, opposition to the AAP's motion for preliminary injunction and motion to dismiss the AAP complaint, the Maryland Attorney General's office cuts through the AAP's rhetoric and stresses that the law is narrowly tailored to address compelling state interests: to rectify unfair trade practices, to advance the purpose of public libraries, and to promote equitable access to information by individuals who do not have easy access to the physical premises of public libraries, including people living in rural areas, people with disabilities, children, and the elderly."
Im writing about your coverage of the "Polaris Trilogy" part of the Lunar Codex project. I was mentioned in the piece as the Butler Universit
NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. administration has inconsistent messaging on its COVID-19 response, creating a "real problem," Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, has said.

"We have different agencies that have not been on the same page," Jha said during an appearance on Fox News' "Fox News Sunday."

"And I think that part has been a real problem," Jha said.

The former Donald Trump administration "cared little about accuracy and often spread misinformation," he said, adding the "Biden team needs to work on consistency."

The White House, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health have sometimes had different messaging during the Biden administration, said Jha.

"I think the White House needs to get its messaging discipline together, needs to make sure that people are speaking from the same page," he said.

"My sense is that that has not been happening consistently. And it would be enormously helpful to the American people if that messaging was more consistent," Jha said. 
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The AH-64 Apache helicopters flew low over the Potomac. Everything was working as planned. After the bridges were secure, a contingent of loyal Army officers and soldiers gathered at Fort Belvoir would stream over the river in armored personnel carriers, carrying troops wearing red hats. During the previous few days, over 100 current and ex-military men loyal to Donald Trump had checked into the Harrington, the Riggs and Kimpton hotels with the sole purpose of taking out the 7th floor of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice at 955 Pennsylvania Avenue. These skilled military men had managed to secure several rooftops around the Justice Department and were highly efficient in the use of RPG-7 shoulder-fired missiles. All over Washington similar teams were put in place with specific duties to take over the physical headquarters and communications of several government agencies.

Although Mike Pompeo was no longer CIA Director, many CIA officers and personnel were loyal to the cause and at the given signal the takeover of all operations commenced. Pompeo made sure that special forces were not only deployed throughout Langleys 583 acres, but that such forces were highly visible. Orders were given to kill any dissenters.

A similar process was occurring at the Pentagon, though with 7 floors and 6.6 million square feet, the planning was much more elaborate. The plan called for a fake lockdown due to a terrorist bomb threat. During this time loyal supporters of the regime under the direction of General Flynn were to rush in and secure each floor. Once again, once the signal was given, General Flynn would announce to worldwide US armed forces that the junta was in control.

At the National Security Administration in Fort Mead, Maryland, agents of the coup had cut communications cables and redirected them to security officers under the direction of the junta. Thus, the insurrectionists were in touch with foreign governments assuring sympathetic allies abroad that the government would remain stable, and that worldwide diplomatic recognition would soon be announced. A different plan was in place in Foggy Bottom. Designated career state department officials would be arrested and sent to holding facilities. Official recognition of the Trump junta would be announced by Brazil, Poland, Israel and other countries.

All that was necessary for the rest of the plan to swing into action were the pre-scripted code words in Donald Trumps speech on the Mall: I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. The crafty leaders of the coup knew there would be a million easily pliable blue-collar rubes with concealed weapons ready to storm the Capitol. They wanted to make it appear that this was a spontaneous uprising of the people to take over the Peoples House. However, within their ranks were several hundred specially chosen commandos equipped with automatic weapons and plastic explosives who had been training for the past four weeks. Each had studied detailed architectural plans of the Capitol. Should doors and entranceways be locked, they knew which ones to blow up to get to the Congressmen and Senators inside their chambers. Once Congress was captured by this peoples revolt, Donald Trump would declare martial law and a military counsel would be appointed to oversee the various provinces of the United States. Democracy would be dead.

The combat leader of the Insurrection was a 6 8 Amazon woman by the name of Ashley Babbitt. She personally led one of the Commando teams. Babbitt lived in a militia compound in Idaho and was known to bench press 650 lbs. There was horrific bloodshed as the armed insurrectionists stormed the building savagely shooting and indiscreetly bayonetting anyone in their path. A dozen 70-ish schoolmarm docents perished in this manner. The Capitol hallways ran 2 inches deep in blood. Then a hero stepped forward. As the blood thirsty giant Babbitt approached the Senate doors firing her AK 47 with a grenade gripped between her teeth, Capitol Police Officer Mike Bryd courageously shot her dead. With their de facto leader dead, the Red Hat army retreated like King Darius at the 333 BC Battle of Issus. The Insurrection was squelched, and the Republic saved.

This is the January 6 narrative that Washington Democrats and shrill MSM idiots want you to believe. Theres just one problem. Its not true. None of the so-called insurrectionists were armed. Remember when the Delta boys conducted their panty raid on the Chi-O house at Faber College? Thats pretty much what this was. The only people killed during the incident were two unarmed women, one of whom was Ashley Babbitt. She weighed 98 lbs.

Protesters were there to protest irregularities with the 2020 election. Hillary Clinton to this day insists the Russians stole the 2016 election from her. Throughout the summer of 2020, national politicians enabled and supported armed insurgents who actually were insurrectionists. These terrorists openly and publicly expressed their desire to overthrow the United States government. Their websites proudly proclaimed their radical manifestos. Municipal authorities in blue cities actively encouraged the burning and destruction of their own cities by these Marxist radicals. These groups, Antifa, BLM and others were supported by dark money groups that paid people to riot and commit terrorist acts. One has to be a moron not to understand that if there is a concerted effort among far left groups aligned with the Democratic Party to commit terrorist acts in open and self-proclaimed efforts to overthrow the United States government, then DUH, these same groups are capable of exercising raw power to achieve all sorts of nefarious acts.

The Biden Administration in power now can can succeed in fomenting chaos and nationalizing election processes if voters are distracted. To keep the hounds off its trail, it must create extreme fear and anxiety. It must deflect. It must create an enemy. Throughout history despots have created fake crises for the same reason. If everyone is hiding under their beds due to Covid, and being told that the United States is being attacked by pickup driving good ole boys, no one will focus on the Biden Administrations ultra-radical efforts to federalize all local and state elections.

In a recent article I wrote about the inability of nearly 50% of the American public to recognize objective reality, I touched on elements of Mass Formation thought process. What we are witnessing with ludicrous coronavirus policy and preposterous claims that the January 6 protests were an insurrection is the Government purposefully spreading fear for political purposes. As explained byDr. Mattias Desmet, the governments constant fear campaigns create mass anxiety. Some people are wired such that they want to believe in ANYTHING that assuages their anxiety, even if the leader or cause lacks any sort of cognitive connection to reality. This creates a social bond among those hopping on the band wagon. The fix for the anxiety is so alluring that followers effectively become hypnotized. Their focus on their savior is so intense that there is no cognitive room for any other thoughts to occupy their brains. All of this leads to blindly following the leader or the cause no matter how absurd their positions become. Thinking that the protest on January 6 was an insurrection is utterly ridiculous. Thinking that forcing an entire population, including young children, to be vaccinated with an experimental drug that clearly does not work and is thought by some to have dangerous side effects is even more absurd. Desmet further explains that this hypnotic trance is a clinical psychosis. Pass the Jim Jones punch!

If you have someone in your family under this hypnotic trance and wish to rescue them from the grasp of lunacy, I am working with Big Pharma to fabricate a solution. After thousands of hours of study and reading hundreds of white papers on this subject, I can now announce a special serum that can make these people well. Unlike the monoclonal antibodies that the Biden Administration is withholding from the sick and dying, I am willing to make this medicine free and plentifully available! However, it must be administered in a particular manner or it wont work. So follow these directions. Take your right hand and open it up with palm facing upwards, swing your arm above and behind you a la Nolan Ryan, then with great velocity strike the open part of your hand on the patients face. This loosens up receptor cells and stimulates methylomic activity in the frontal lobe, thus making it more likely these cells will accept the serum. Then administer the serum by telling the patient what an absolute group think f-ing idiot he is and to quit drinking the Kool-Aid.

The serum is TRUTH. No problem in the history of mankind has ever been resolved without its acknowledgment.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/17/2022



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CALEB AND ALINA

KIM AND USMAN

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MEMPHIS AND HAMZA

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GINO AND JASMINE

RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)

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BEN AND MAHOGANY

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MIKE and XIMENA

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

: Before the 90 Days featured the introduction of Ben and Mahogany, Jasmine "exploding" and having an emotional breakdown over Gino defending his ex-wife, Mike forgiving Ximena for lying, Caleb and Alina dishing on their first sexual encounter, and Memphis feeling "betrayed" by Hamza during the fifth-season episode Sunday night on TLC.: Before the 90 Days' new season stars Usman "SojaBoy" Umar , a 32-year-old from Sokoto, Nigeria, and Kim, a 50-year-old from San Diego, CA; Caleb, a 28-year-old from Chandler, AZ, and Alina, a 27-year-old from Saint Petersburg, Russia; and Gino, a 51-year-old from Canton, MI, and Jasmine, a 34-year-old from Panama City, Panama.The series also stars Memphis, a 34-year-old from Muskegon, MI, and Hamza, a 28-year-old from Kairouan, Tunisia; Mike, a 34-year-old from Thiells, NY, and Ximena, a 24-year-old from Pereira, Colombia; Ella, a 29-year-old from Idaho Falls, ID, and Johnny, a 34-year-old from Jinan, China; Ben, a 52-year-old from Fraser, MI, and Mahogany, a 24-year-old from San Bartolo, Peru.Usman was previously married to Lisa Hamme , 54, whom he had met on Facebook two years before filming : Before the 90 Days' fourth season.Lisa struggled to trust Usman during their relationship and they split in May 2020. Usman later served Lisa with divorce papers in December 2020 and Lisa has since remarried with a childhood friend.: Before the 90 Days will follow long-distance relationships and document how each couple found each other as well as their first in-person meeting in a foreign country "and the countless surprises, drama and culture clashes along the way."In most : Before the 90 Days cases, lovebirds are hoping to get engaged and begin the K-1 Visa process.After traveling across the world, the couples will determine if love can conquer all as they experience challenges such as language barriers, interfering families, cultural differences, age gaps, ex partners, and "shady pasts," according to TLC.Below is what happened on the sixth episode of : Before the 90 Days' fifth season:Caleb said being intimate with Alina for the first time was "so nice," and she asked for his general thoughts about their first sexual encounter considering she was the first little person he ever slept with."I think it was a lot of fun. You can do a lot of stuff for your size," Caleb told Alina.Alina admitted there were some awkward moments and it wasn't what she imagined due to the positioning not being great. But she confirmed, "It was still nice."Caleb didn't know what to expect in the beginning, and so the pair acknowledged they needed to keep trying and figuring things out in that department."The chemistry is there, and I'm very happy about it. But it still bothers me that he won't talk about our future, and we don't have a lot of time together. So I need some certainty from him," Alina explained.Alina, Caleb and Elijah then went sightseeing in Istanbul, where they visited a local bazaar. She just hoped the two men in her life would get along well.When Alina and Elijah got a minute alone, Alina joked about taking a ride on Caleb's disco stick, and she said the night was "spicy," like Tabasco sauce. She had gotten attached to Caleb and wished he would say something to indicate their relationship is serious.Caleb said they'd talk about their future later, but she wondered when that "later" would be. She also still had to tell Caleb that she briefly lived with her ex-boyfriend while she and Caleb were dating."He is a guy who always tries to tell the truth, so I don't know how he's going to react to me lying to him. I hope it's not going to screw things up," Alina shared.Usman brought Kimberly with him to his music video for the song "Zara," but Kim had no idea that the song was actually about his ex-girlfriend, who is also from America."I had strong feelings for her, but she could not handle my female fans and so she broke up with me," Usman revealed.Usman brought Kim to the music video shoot as a bit of a test. He wanted to know if she would get upset and jealous when seeing all of the young, beautiful models on the set, and he needed to know that she could truly handle his career and the fans that come with it.Kim snapped at Usman's management team for not having their stuff together. Usman's co-workers had trouble finding things, and when the power went out, all chaos broke loose.Usman had told Kim that "Zara" represents all the women named Zara around the world.Kim was very supportive that day and didn't get jealous, but she accused Usman's team of neglecting him and not doing a great job. Usman defended Kim whenever she needed backup, and her behavior at the photo shoot made his feelings for Kim grow.Things between Memphis and Hamza's mother had been rocky, especially when Memphis' past came into question, but Memphis felt his mother was finally trying to be nice to her and accept her.Hamza wondered about Memphis' past as well, thinking he didn't know her very well after all, but Memphis said she has a hard time opening up.Memphis then revealed to Hamza how her mother and father both struggled with drug addiction. While her mother is recovering and sober, apparently, her father had been sent to prison for a long time for his drug use -- until Memphis was 30 years old."So abandonment, like you leaving me, is a hard thing," Memphis admitted.Memphis felt a lot more vulnerable after opening up, but seeing how emotional Hamza got about her situation really touched her heart. She hoped he would be just as vulnerable going forward.Memphis later learned Hamza is only 26 years old when he had told her that he's 28 years old. Feeling extremely upset, Memphis said she felt "betrayed" and lied to.Hamza said he lied because he wanted Memphis to think he's mature, and his mother and sister didn't think the lie was serious or a big deal.However, the lie made Memphis question whether she even wanted to go through with marriage, and she wondered what else her fiance could be lying about.Memphis shared with the cameras how she had very rough relationships in the past and didn't want this one to turn out the same way. She was tired of being betrayed, hurt and taken advantage of, but all Hamza could do is apologize -- repeatedly.Memphis wondered if Hamza had a career and truly received a college degree in heating and cooling energy. She asked to see the certificate as proof, but it was written in Arabic.Hamza worried lying about his age had really hurt his relationship, but he promised Memphis he wouldn't lie about anything again.Gino had been in Panama for a few days, and Jasmine was still a little upset about the fact Gino had given her nothing but a power toothbrush for Christmas when she had purchased him sweet and thoughtful items.The uneventful Christmas put a little damper on Gino's trip and so he decided to watch her work out in order to be supportive. Jasmine, however, said the only way Gino would make up for his mistakes is by paying for a four-day trip for them to go to an island in Panama.The trip was going to cost $2500, but Jasmine didn't care it was so expensive because she said this was her way of picking out her own Christmas gift.Gino wished they had talked about the cost beforehand, but Jasmine threw in his face how he had taken more expensive trips with ex-girlfriends or wives in the past. Gino therefore agreed to go and faked a smile."I think it's a bit unreasonable for her to book this expensive trip to the island because it cost me a lot of money just to travel to Panama... but when I think about it, Jasmine means more to me than how much I'm going to spend on this trip," Gino explained."I'm your queen," Jasmine noted. "I deserve this."Jasmine also asked Gino to set items and decorations on fire than reminded her of his ex-wife. She bashed the red and baby blue colors in the living room, for example.Gino said he and his ex had picked out those colors together and he thought they looked good."I deserve to pick out the godd-amn f-cking colors because in a few days, I have sucked for d-ck more than she did in seven f-cking years," Jasmine shouted."You don't need to say bad things," Gino replied, adding, "You don't have to say nasty stuff like that... I'm not defending her, but I'm saying there's no reason to talk bad of her."Gino insisted he was no longer hooking up with his ex-wife, and then Jasmine broke down into tears about how he always made her look crazy and was allegedly comparing her to his ex all the time. Jasmine screamed at Gino and stormed out of the gym.Gino admitted Jasmine's meltdown was a little scary and her "emotional instability" gave him a little concern about their future together.Jasmine cried about how Gino had defended his ex-wife's color choices in his house, which she claimed was a "painful" moment that made her furious.Jasmine said she had been hurt in the past and didn't want to get her heart broken again.Gino complained about how Jasmine is the most sensitive woman he's ever dated, but he still wanted to work things out with her. Jasmine therefore set rules, like Gino would not be allowed to say anything positive about any of his exes or his ex-wife."The only thing that matters to me is us. I want to be with you. I want marriage and having a baby, like we talked about," Gino said.Jasmine then revealed to Gino how she had been taking birth control pills because they were "not ready -- not even close" -- to having a baby together, which shocked Gino. Gino thought Jasmine getting pregnant during this trip would have been a good thing.The couple talked through their issues, but Gino didn't want to ever see that explosive side of Jasmine again.Ben, 52, said he would describe himself as optimistic, hardworking and health-conscious. He recently got into fitness modeling, which he admitted is a weird career for him considering he had grown up viewing the human body as "sinful and almost evil."Ben grew up in a mainstream Baptist denomination that was "very much like a cult," Ben shared.Ben said the church controlled his family and he wasn't allowed to watch television or movies. He also wasn't allowed to have friends outside the church and so he faced life with fear.However, Ben explained how he wants to go to heaven and so he decided to be a pastor and marry his church's children ministry partner. The couple welcomed four children together but went through problems."But in our belief system, it was either stay together or go to an eternal lake of fire forever. So about seven years ago, we left that religious cult in an attempt to save the marriage, and we did seek counseling," Ben explained."But by the time we did that, it was too late. It was 24 years of neglect, and so I filed for divorce."After Ben left his wife and the church, he confessed that he felt completely lost and had to do some soul searching. He was also very lonely and so he explored a few dating websites.Ben acknowledged he was inexperienced in the dating world because of his past and so after several failed relationships, he took a year-and-a-half off of dating.But then Ben stumbled across "the most remarkable woman" he's ever met in his life.A woman apparently followed Ben on social media due to his attractive modeling photos and Ben, noticing she's beautiful, waved at her -- which resulted in DMing back and forth for 115 days.Mahogany from Peru is Ben's 24-year-old girlfriend, and he gushed about how her extraordinary beauty is matched by her wisdom and maturity."Despite our 28-year age difference, it honestly feels like Mahogany is my soul mate," Ben shared.Ben said women are usually turned off when he says, "Jesus is my Savior," and he wants to wait until marriage to have sex again, but Mahogany apparently agreed with him and has a love for Lord.Even thought Mahogany's English isn't perfect, Ben said their communication was great and Mahogany made him feel like he deserves love, which hit a nerve with him no one else was able to do.Ben therefore planned to fly to Peru in one week to meet Mahogany for the first time in-person. He called Mahogany his "world" but had apparently kept his romance a secret from his faith-filled friends.When Ben told his friends about Mahogany, they were immediately concerned about her young age and lack of emotional maturity, and one pal said Ben was so desperate for a deep and meaningful connection that he'd probably believe anything.Ben said the pair had talked on the phone twice but never videochatted because Mahogany said she's very shy. Ben therefore requested one video and Mahogany sent him a brief one saying her name.But Ben's friends became even more skeptical of his girlfriend once Ben announced Mahogany had asked him for a thousand-dollar loan before, which he gave her. Ben's pals thought he was being scammed, especially because he had been catfished before by a man who had been texting him from Africa."It really hurt me actually, but I know that's not the case with Mahogany because we just keep connecting every single day, deeper and deeper, and you can't fake that," Ben said.Ben insisted that he was in love with Mahogany after three months of talking and it would be worth $1,000 to have confirmation she's real. Ben believed God had led them to be together.Ben hoped his children would be okay with his new relationship and support him, especially since the divorce was very hard on all of them. Ben broke the news to his kids with his ex-wife present, and he claimed she still harbored anger and resentment against him.Ben explained to his kids how he was planning a future with Mahogany, and his children clearly weren't happy or pleased. In fact, one of Ben's daughters looked downright pissed off."I think this is God's plan for me. I mean, do you think I would want to have this reputation of falling in love with someone that young?" Ben asked his family."But it's not the first time," Ben's ex-wife griped.One year after Ben's divorce, he began dating a woman who was 18 years younger. The couple got engaged, but the woman allegedly didn't want Ben to spend a lot of time with his children when they needed him the most.Ben therefore said his engagement ended badly and he promised his kids that he wouldn't make that same mistake again. Ben said while Mahogany seemed like history was repeating itself, he didn't think that was the case at all.Ben's children worried Ben would become disconnected from them again, and his kids also thought Mahogany's pictures looked fake and "not genuine." Ben assured his kids that Mahogany would move to the United States and he wouldn't leave them, but he had broken their trust before."I hope I can show them that the love Mahogany and I have is real," Ben noted.Mike was still processing the idea Ximena couldn't have more children and that if he stayed with her, he'd never be able to have a child at his own. Mike was also upset Ximena had kept that secret from him.Ximena explained how she had suffered a lot of pain with the contractions and got really scared. She didn't think she'd have a partner again since she was repeatedly disappointed by men. She said she had gotten involved with men she shouldn't have."I didn't think that I'd meet you. It's not my fault," Ximena said.Ximena told the cameras having a baby with Mike would make a perfect family, and so she was clearly upset about her past decisions.Mike asked if Ximena could undo the surgery, but she said "no" because she had cut and burned her tubes instead of just tying them. It was the most definitive way to ensure she'd never be able to have another baby.Mike asked Ximena why she thought their relationship would work when he's always wanted a child, and she didn't know how to respond."Do you regret having come to Colombia?" Ximena asked Mike."I don't know," Mike replied.Ximena told Mike that Juan and Harold never had a father before and he could be their dad. She suggested how Mike leaving them would devastate her family.Mike acknowledged that he loved Harold and Juan like his own children and they're amazing."I wouldn't want to hurt them," Mike told Ximena."Forgive me for not being able to give you a child," Ximena requested."It's okay," Mike responded. "We can raise Harold and Juan together."Ximena cried with happiness and said she would like that. Mike, however, still had to grasp the idea of giving up on a biological family of his own. Mike also made Ximena swear that she wouldn't keep any more secrets from him.The pair hugged and expressed love to one another, and Mike said his gut was telling him that they're meant to be together. However, Mike noted how Ximena had to win back his trust.After choosing to stay together, Mike booked a romantic getaway so he could get to know Ximena better and they could have some privacy as well as deep conversation.When the couple sat in a hot tub together outside of their villa, Ximena opened up about her past "crazy" relationships with "aggressive partners" -- and she once lived with a hitman who claimed to be a tattoo artist!"He ordered to have me killed. Well, he had me locked up," Ximena revealed.Ximena said the man threatened to kill her after he found out he was a hitman and attempted to end the relationship. She said after they parted ways, she never heard from him again.Mike therefore became worried for his life, but Ximena said this happened two years ago and she believed her family would be okay.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/17/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Anna Campisi and Mursel Mistanoglu have announced they are expecting their first child together!Anna -- who married Mursel on Season 7 of , which aired in 2019, and is currently living in Nebraska with her husband -- already has three sons from a previous relationship.But after undergoing IVF and egg retrieval and fertilization, a surrogate is now carrying Anna and Mursel's baby."Mursel and I are super excited to announce that we are expecting a little boy this May," Anna, 40, captioned a slideshow of photos Sunday on Instagram."We are currently 22 weeks! #futurebeekeeper #murselandanna #90dayfiance #murselmistanoglu007."Anna posted a sonogram image, a selfie with her 40-year-old husband from Antalya, Turkey, and a picture of a yellow onesie that reads, "Future beekeeper May 2022."In July 2021, Anna revealed she was feeling "so emotional" because her three fertilized embryos were "being carried to Ukraine.""We are signing with our surrogate today," Anna gushed in an Instagram post. "Keep us in your prayers!"One month earlier, Anna shared how Mursel had been living with her in the United States for two years. She called their time together in America "crazy" and "busy" in a loving June 2021 Instagram tribute.Anna and Mursel, who own and operate a store that sells their homemade honey products, documented part of their journey to have a baby together on Season 2 of 90 Day Diaries, which was released last year on discovery+.During Episode 2 of the series' second season, Anna explained that since she had an ablation five years ago, her uterus was "ruined" and she can't carry a baby on her own.But since Mursel longed to be a father, she and her husband had been exploring other options.Anna therefore broke the news that she and Mursel were thinking about having another baby to two of her sons -- Gino, 16, and Leo, 8 -- but her eldest son, Joey, 17, was not present for the filmed conversation.Gino clearly wasn't happy about the news, but Anna decided to go through with IVF injections anyway to prepare her body for egg retrieval."I want a child from me and Anna's marriage because the baby is going to be ours," Mursel explained in a confessional."Also, it will be from my DNA. If we have a baby, it will learn Turkey's culture through trips back and forth. I mean, it will feel like a Turk. That's why I want a child."After days of IVF injections, Anna and Mursel drove 17 hours to a fertility clinic in Syracuse, New York -- on very short notice -- for egg retrieval and fertilization."If this doesn't work, we're out of money. And if this doesn't work, Mursel's heart is going to be crushed. I think just being hopeful is what's going to help make this work," Anna said.After a three-hour surgery at the fertility clinic, Anna was understandably feeling anxious.However, the doctor informed the couple he was able to retrieve seven eggs, and Anna shared how she was very happy with the results. Anna and Mursel only needed one good embryo to make a healthy baby."We're hoping to have a baby in our arms in 10 to 11 months," Anna gushed."I'm excited, our baby is coming!" Mursel added.Following the procedure, three of Anna's eggs were successfully fertilized into embryos. As a result, they began the process of choosing a surrogate.Anna and Mursel tied the knot in Nebraska on September 8, 2019, according to court records obtained by Starcasm.Anna confirmed on Instagram in November 2019 that she and Mursel got engaged on September 8, 2018.After Mursel's K-1 visa was approved and he moved to the United States, he met Anna's three sons.However, it took time for Anna's sons to warm up to Mursel, and Anna and Mursel initially lied about Anna's children to Mursel's parents, who were initially shocked to find out the truth but eventually came around to the idea.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
Across the University of Georgia campus, dogs with yellow vests can be seen walking with handlers or sitting in on classes. They are being taught by students to become guide animals for people with visual impairments around the United States.
People gathered in Harmony Parking lot in Brattleboro on Friday, April 22nd for a street festival and parade in celebration of Earth Day. According to Nancy Braus of 350 Brattleboro, the goal was to celebrate the ways in which the community is working towards climate justice and to empower 
Skiers and snowboarders arrive at Mount Snow on Jan. 17 in Dover. A marketing plan will continue to be deployed to bring more visitors to Dover and Wilmington.
BURLINGTON  A lawsuit filed by former employees of Vermont Bread Company and Koffee Kup Bakery will continue to go forward, for now.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 47F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 47F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
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Addie Lentzner is a student at Arlington Memorial High School writing on behalf of the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Work to dismantle the Grant Street Bridge in Bluefield is now in full throttle as Norfolk Southern recently cleared some tracks to make way for removal of spans. Photo courtesy Bluefield Daily Telegraph
HARTFORD  Sport and Medical Sciences Academy will reopen Wednesday for the first time since a seventh-grader fatally overdosed last week, officials said.

The school remained closed Tuesday after officials said it was found to still be contaminated with suspected fentanyl that caused last weeks overdose.

Police said a 13-year-old boy died Saturday after he was taken to the hospital in grave condition Thursday when he overdosed on the suspected fentanyl inside the school. The boys identity has not been released.

Testing of the school conducted Monday resulted in one sample showing a low detectable level of fentanyl, in one room of the building, the district said in a statement to parents. As a result, the school was closed Tuesday.

School officials said the room was decontaminated again and re-tested Monday night. Results from a second sampling and test determined the building can be reopened on Wednesday, officials said.

During a news conference Tuesday, state and local leaders said they are working to increase students access to mental health care in the wake of the overdose.

We are gathering in the wake of a tragedy, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said during the press conference held outside the State Capitol. A seventh-grader  a 13-year-old boy  died from an overdose because of exposure to fentanyl in our schools. This drug is enormously powerful. It is poisonous. And its showing up more and more often, not just here, but in communities across the state and communities across the country in higher concentrations, with greater potency, and that means greater toxicity and danger.

Bronin urged parents and families to have those difficult, but incredibly important conversations. As a father, Ive had a number of those conversations with my kids over the last few days.

During the press conference, Gov. Ned Lamont stressed the age of the victim when pointing to the dangers of the drug.

The supply is rampant out there and its dangerous, and its a poison, he added. I think we as a state, we as a society, have to go after those that are poisoning our kids in the most severe way possible.

Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said her department conducted a survey of school nurses to see how many had naloxone, an anti-overdose medication, and are preparing to send out another survey.

The passing, the death of a student affects the entire statewide school ecosystem, Russell-Tucker said, and we are mourning this unnecessary and untimely death collectively with heavy hearts.

Two other seventh-grade students were also hospitalized after police said they came in contact with the substance on Thursday. Those students have since recovered, according to police.

It is a really sad moment, we are talking about a 13-year-old, Hartford Superintendent of Schools Leslie Torres-Rodriguez said last week. We care deeply about each and every one of our students.

She described feelings of fear and sadness and said schools are trying to support staff throughout the process.

I am a mom, I have a 14-year-old at home ... and so theres a variety of emotions, she said, adding that she was feeling deep concern for school staff.

Theyre a tight-knit community and when something like this happens, while it is at a school, were all impacted by this, Torres-Rodriguez added.

Officials have said the student was in a gym class when the overdose occurred. A teacher noticed the overdose, and police said paramedics and fire personnel were already giving the child CPR when officers arrived.

One expert said the episode highlights the importance of making naloxone, the opioid overdose-reversal drug carried by first responders, available at schools.

Its important to have naloxone in the schools and have education on signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, said Dr. J. Craig Allen, vice president of addiction services for Hartford HealthCares behavioral health network.

He said the medication should be available not just in schools, but at YMCAs, community groups and everywhere that people congregate.

Naloxone is safer than aspirin and can save lives so people can get the help they need, Allen said.

The reversal medication is also prescribed and better known under the brand name Narcan. John Fergus, a spokesperson for Hartford schools, said the district did not have the drug supplied or staff trained in its use prior to last weeks overdose. He said the district is now exploring the use of naloxone in schools.

Last Friday, Hartford police issued a warning about fentanyl packaged for sale on the street that had been recovered.

This particular recovered fentanyl was forensically tested and found to be approximately 50 times more potent than what has regularly been found and tested in New England regions, police said in a statement.

Joseph Soto, program director of paramedicine at the University of New Haven, said after the overdose in Hartford, an alert was sent out,warning paramedics to be aware of a possible increase in overdoses.

He said schools should have a policy in place for naloxone to be available in the nurse's office.

"Narcan can be easily given and doesn't harm you in the essence that it's an antagonist against the drug," he said.

Paramedics have used the drug for years. With the new packaging that utilizes a nasal spray, those who administer it don't have to be trained to give an injection or set up an intravenous line, Soto said.

"I've seen it within less than 30 seconds reverse the effects," said Soto, who's worked as a paramedic for nearly 30 years.

Signs of an overdose include a loss of consciousness and a decline in breathing. "Their breathing will start to slow down to the point where it will eventually stop," he said. Another a sign is the victims' pupils will become very narrow.

In cases of a suspected overdose, immediately call 911, Soto said. Rescue breathing and CPR may be necessary as well.
HARTFORD  City and federal law enforcement have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting 36-year-old Desmond Ray in the citys north side last July.

Gregory Hopkins was charged on a warrant with murder and criminal possession of a firearm, Hartford police said Monday.

The 34-year-old was taken into custody in Manchester, Conn. last Friday by members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force and Hartford police with the departments Violent Crime Unit, the department said through a press release. Police said the arrest was made without incident.

The charges stem from Wrays fatal shooting on July, 29, 2021. Hartford police said just after 11:30 a.m. that morning, they were notified of gunfire near the intersection of Greenfield and Enfield streets by the citys ShotSpotter system.

Patrol officers responded and located a crime scene at 20 Greenfield Street, the release said. Minutes later a car accident was reported in the area of Greenfield Street and Oakland Terrace.

Behind the wheel was Wray, with apparent gunshot wounds, police said.

Wray was taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment where he later died from his injuries, police said.

Hartford police took over the investigation into his death and through the investigate efforts of detectives, obtained a warrant for Hopkins arrest. It was not immediately clear what led police to identify him as a suspect in the fatal shooting.

Police said Hopkins remains in custody on $2.5 million bond.
Bjoern Wylezich / TNS

A Woodstock man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison, after prosecutors say he was among a group of street level dealers of heroin and crack cocaine in southeastern Connecticut.

Andre Dre Smith, 42, has been sentenced to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. attorneys office said. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base on Oct. 12 of last year.
TORRINGTON  The words of Martin Luther King Jr.s August 1963 speech, I have a dream were heard and repeated on Monday by Our Culture Is Beautiful, a culture and awareness group in Torrington during a celebration on Zoom Monday.

One hundred years later, after the Emancipation Proclamation, the Negro is still not free ... He is held by the chains of discrimination .... the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty ... (But) I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up ... , they quoted King.

OCIB founders Angaza and Effie Mwando asked their guests to consider how to become more connected with diversity and nonviolence. The speakers were DeLois Lindsey, a retired professor from the University of Hartford; Reggie Chavis Jr., manager of security officer operations at Yale University; Sheek Lorael, a social worker who is pursing a degree in nursing; and Carolyn Burton, a close friend of the Mwandos. Each speaker responded to a question, leaving time for them to answer questions from the audience.

Lindsey was asked how she initiated discussions about Black history and race with groups of people.

I find listening is better than talking, she said. The first thing I found that helps is creating a safe space to talk about it, and make sure people know its a safe and trustworthy environment, even on Zoom.

Be mindful of your body language, because its not what you say, its what you convey, Lindsey said, adding that she encourages people to ask the question youve always wanted to ask.

Chavis was asked how he navigated working in an administrative role. He said he is the first Black person to hold the job at Yale University in the history of the department. Its difficult when all eyes are on you, and some are watching for you to fail, he said. How you articulate yourself is going to be part of your success.

Lorael was asked how she stays nonjudgmental and helps others to do the same. She said she is person of mixed heritage, and growing up in the 1980s, felt she didnt fit in anywhere.

Back then, it wasnt as common for women to be open about mixed race, she said. So I learned what it meant to come from a mixed background ... I was too light-skinned for the Black people, I wasnt Puerto Rican. I didnt fit in anywhere.

Today, shes pursuing a nursing degree and has worked on many levels of health care, including nursing homes, hospitals, prisons and university hospital systems. No matter what, what people share in common is what theyre experiencing at the time, she said.

Going from judgmental to accepting and nonjudgmental comes from understanding, she said.

Burton was asked about ending domestic and physical violence, which occurs most commonly against women and children. The best solution, she said, is to get it out in the open.

We need to start to feel free to talk about this, she said. Its an unkind topic (and) ending silence is not an easy task, because of the risks involved in it. But it has a critical impact on families and childrens mental health ... It should be should be exposed and dealt with immediately in a private, safe manner.

Dr. King lost his life at a young age, fighting to end violence, and its sad that so many of us still dont do anything about it, she said.

The Angazas encouraged their guests to continue to celebrate diversity and keep fighting for change.

I am a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother, and I love telling stories about history and about life, and encouraging people to move forward with the challenges of life and talking about change, Effie Mwando said.

As I continue to work to bring programs in the communities and the schools, bringing teams of people around social issues, I say how important it is to know our history, so were better able to know who we are, and what we are, Angaza Mwando said.

As a younger man, Mwnado worked with Stokely Charmichael, an activist in the Black Panther Movement, which was not always peaceful. Im here today and grateful to understand that we need to work in peace and harmony with each other, he said. But in 1964, when Dr. King spoke in Washington, D.C., even though there were different leaders there who were controversial, they were able to work together.

We have to do that too, he said. We have to say Yes, teamwork makes the dream work. We have to keep working together.

Learn more about Our Culture Is Beautiful and upcoming Black History Month programs at https://ocib.net/ or on Facebook.
Brian Gioiele / Hearst Connecticut Media

WINCHESTER  Public school officials said the entire district will dismiss early at 11 a.m. Tuesday after a heating system issue at one of the elementary schools.

In a message to the community around 7:23 a.m., district officials said they were working on the heating system at Batcheller School, but if the system could not be made to run effectively, all the district schools would dismiss early.
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Pottsville, PA (17901)

Today

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Rain becoming heavy at times overnight. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Saifuddin Abdullah says Beijing now speaks less of the nine-dash line and more often of the Four Sha.

China appears to be shifting from the so-called nine-dash line toward a new legal theory to support its expansive claims in the South China Sea, although analysts say its alternative is also problematic under international law.

In comments to reporters last week, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Beijing now speaks less of the nine-dash line and more often of the Four Sha. He said the shift toward has been witnessed by member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is even more serious than the old claim.

Four Sha, or Four Sands Archipelagos, are the four island groups in the South China Sea that Beijing claims to hold historical rights to. China calls them Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao, and Nansha Qundao. Internationally, they are known as Pratas Islands, Paracel Islands, the Macclesfield Bank area and Spratly Islands.

The concept they may be eclipsing, the nine-dash line, is a U-shaped line encircling most of the South China Sea that China has been using to demarcate its sovereignty over the sea.

An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated the line saying China has no legal basis for it. Although Beijing rejected the ruling, other nations have endorsed it.

The nine-dash line has proven to be a really easy target for critics of Chinas South China Sea claims, Julian Ku, a professor at the Hofstra University School of Law in Long Island, New York State, said.

It was also directly considered and rejected by the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal in 2016.

Chinas Four Sha theory was not directly considered by the tribunal ruling, although it would also be difficult to support, Ku said, adding: Still, it is a less dramatic claim and it is also not based solely on historical claims.

Illustrative map of the apparent geographic extents of Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao, and Nansha Qundao, from which the PRC claims its maritime zones. Credit: U.S. State Department's report 'Limits in the Seas' Slowly emerging

Bill Hayton, a journalist-turned-scholar who wrote an acclaimed book on the South China Sea, said the Four Sha theory has been emerging slowly, with a boost after the arbitration tribunal ruling.

The Four-Sha is an attempt to develop an UNCLOS-like justification for control over the South China Sea with some sort of legal basis, he said. UNCLOS is the acronym for the UN Convention of the Law on the Sea.

But everyone else is still rejecting it, Hayton added.

Each of the archipelagos in the Four Sha consists of a large number of scattered outlying features, most of which are submerged under water. Beijing insists that they are to be treated as whole units for purposes of sovereignty and maritime entitlements.

The Zhongsha Qundao, or Macclesfield Bank area, is actually entirely underwater, and not an archipelago, experts say.

Ku from the Hofstra University said although the first-known attempt by Chinese officials to advance Four Sha as a new legal theory was recorded at a closed-door meeting with U.S. State Department officials in 2017, the Four Sha are not new to Chinas claims in the South China Sea.

The Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone of the People's Republic of China, adopted by China in 1992, declared the four island groups. They were also mentioned in a 2016 white paper issued by China disputing the Philippines claims in the South China Sea arbitral process.

These new Chinese legal justifications are no more lawful than Chinas nine-dash line claim but it is more confusing and less simple to criticize, Ku said.

A U.S. State Department report on Chinas South China Sea claims that was published this month, Limits in the Seas, does not mention Four Sha concept. But it does analyze the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) sovereignty claim over Dongsha, Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha. It concludes that Chinas assertions of sovereignty are unlawful.

Change of approach?

The apparent shift from nine-dash line to Four Sha has caused concern among South China Sea claimants.

Malaysia is among the ASEAN nations whose territorial claims overlap with Chinas in the South China Sea. The others are Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam. While Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing does claim historic rights to areas overlapping Indonesia's exclusive economic zone.

In a response to a question posed by a reporter from BenarNews, a sister agency of RFA, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin told reporters last Thursday that they (China) have changed from using mostly the nine-dash line narrative to the Four Sha. I can see some policy change in the way they approach the South China Sea.

It is yet to be seen whether the Four Sha (approach) is more aggressive or the nine-dash line (is) more aggressive, Saifuddin said.

Ku said he did not think the Four Sha claim would necessarily lead to more aggressive actions by China, but it provides another justification for aggressive actions that it might want to take.

Hayton, meanwhile, saw potential for escalation in the South China Sea as Four Sha concept has given Chinese actors some new confidence that they can make a plausible case. We've seen a lot more assertive actions recently, like Chinas harassing oil and gas off Malaysia and Indonesia, he said.

In a related development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reiterated that his country will not use its strength to "bully its smaller neighbors. He also highlighted the importance of settling disputes in the South China Sea peacefully.

"Stressing only one side's claims and imposing one's own will on the other is not a proper way for neighbours to treat each other and it goes against the oriental philosophy of how people should get along with each other," Wang told a virtual forum organized by the Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Monday.

Muzliza Mustafa of RFA-affiliated BenarNews in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
Carrie Lam says the public needs to know 'exactly what happened,' as officials order a cull of small pets.

People stand under a banner for a Hong Kong pet shop where a customer and employee tested positive for COVID-19 after handling hamsters, Jan. 18, 2022.

Police in Hong Kong have arrested two former flight attendants with the city's flag-carrier Cathay Pacific for violating quarantine rules, as the city's leader said the government is continuing to investigate a party attended by several high-ranking officials that has been linked to a cluster of COVID-19 cases.

The arrests came after Cathay fired two members of its aircrew for breaching its COVID-19 protocols with "unnecessary activities" during their quarantine period. The two men subsequently tested positive for the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters on Tuesday that investigations are continuing into dozens of pro-establishment politicians, high-ranking government officials and Cathay Pacific staff who attended a birthday party at the center of a large cluster of COVID-19 cases.

Beijing has asked Hong Kongs leader to take swift action against 13 officials embroiled in the scandal around the Jan. 3 birthday party of National People's Congress (NPC) delegate Witman Hung, after which two party guests tested positive for COVID-19.

Photos of the party showed Hung and many of his guests warbling into karaoke microphones into the early hours with no masks on at a bash that was attended by dozens of high-ranking establishment figures.

Beijing has warned that any delay could hurt Lam's government's credibility, with local media reporting that suspension, demotion, pay cuts or even dismissal are all possibilities.

"I can assure everyone that the investigation of Cathay Pacific and [Hong Kong government] officials attending the banquet isn't over," Lam said on Tuesday. "The public need to know the facts, and I also want to be fair to the company and to my colleagues."

"What exactly happened? This has to be explained to the public," she said.

Meanwhile, the city's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it was "shocked" at a government order calling on people to hand over more than 2,000 hamsters and other small animals to be destroyed after staff and hamsters at a Causeway Bay pet shop tested positive for COVID-19.

"[The announcement] did not take animal welfare and the human-animal bond into consideration," the organization said via its Facebook page. "The SPCA sincerely hopes the [government] will not take any further drastic action before reviewing its approach."

It said pet owners shouldn't "abandon" their pets, but maintain strict personal hygiene.

Anyone who has bought a hamster in the city since Dec. 22, 2021 is now being "strongly advised" to hand it over so it can be tested for COVID, government broadcaster RTHK reported.

But the animals will be euthanized regardless of the results of the test, it said, adding that the infected hamsters were recently imported from the Netherlands, and that all of the pets at the shop would be destroyed.

Dozens of other pet shops selling hamsters have been told to close, and give the animals to the authorities to be put down, the report said, quoting Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) official,Thomas Sit as saying that the decision had been taken "out of caution."

Around 150 of the pet shop's customers are now in quarantine, RTHK said.

Lam told a news briefing on Tuesday that the animals were found to be infected with the delta strain of COVID-19, rather than omicron.

"What we are worried about now is that the hotel case [reported] earlier was infected with omicron, but the salesperson in the pet store was infected with delta, so we are very worried that there may be two mutated virus strains circulating in Hong Kong at the same time," Lam told reporters.

Lam said 60-70 percent of confirmed cases in Hong Kong are currently omicron, with the rest delta.

A spokesperson for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) called on Hong Kong residents to avoid all non-essential travel outside the city, particularly to places deemed high risk under government guidelines.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The government is using a system linked to rapid testing to dictate who may travel, and who may return .

A passenger looks on at Hankou railway station on the first day of peak travel ahead of the Lunar New Year in central China's Hubei province, Jan. 17, 2022.

Authorities in Beijing are imposing curbs on schools and restricting people's travel through mass persuasion, mandatory testing and financial incentives in a bid to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 cases ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Beijing resident Yao Ping said her child's international school has closed early ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday period to limit the spread of the omicron variant in the city.

Public schools are operating under a "closed" system, while others have gone online, she said.

"Closed management means that when your child goes to school, only the children are allowed inside, along with the teachers and other staff," Yao said. "For the past three days in Haidian and Xicheng districts, students have been taking online classes at home and not going to class."

"The official holiday doesn't begin until Jan. 23, next Monday," she said.

Meanwhile, state-owned corporations and government agencies are putting pressure on their employees to stay in Beijing throughout the vacation.

"It's mostly central government and state-owned companies that are requiring their employees to stay here for Spring Festival," Yao said. "Private sector employees are allowed to go home, but then there's the fear they won't be able to return afterwards."

China's National Health Commission on Tuesday confirmed 171 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, 102 of which were recorded in the central province of Henan, with 44 cases imported from international passengers.

Yao, whose business in involved with the Winter Olympics, said there are also restrictions on the movement of foreign athletes and training staff.

"All of this is about the safety of people at the Winter Olympics, and right now everyone is worrying about the athletes," she said.

"There's a large mall in the Olympic Village this year, so there's no need to go out at all," she said.

Late January is typically a time of mass travel in China, as hundreds of millions pile onto trains, planes, buses and highways to make it home in time for the traditional Lunar New Year's Eve meal, which falls on Jan. 31 this year, ushering in the Year of the Tiger.

But with nationwide COVID-19 curbs in place requiring a green "health code" on a tracking and testing app, the annual rush appeared to have dwindled to a trickle in Beijing on Tuesday, with no large crowds visible at the city's railway stations.

However, long lines had formed at PCR testing booths, while passengers also lined up to have their temperature checked before travel.

Many haven't been home in years

A migrant worker surnamed Ma from the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, who currently lives in Beijing, said many like her haven't been home in two or three years, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Some people are going to have New Year in situ, that's true, but more are likely to travel back home," she said. "Some haven't been home in two or three years, so they definitely want to go."

But many are stymied by the need to invest in a ticket, then provide a negative COVID test on the morning before travel.

"If you have a train ticket for noon tomorrow, you will have to do a COVID test at 7.00-8.00 a.m. this morning," Ma said. "The results could come back the same day, or maybe not until the next morning."

The government is also working hard to persuade people not to bother, she said.

"The government isn't recommending that people return to high-risk areas, and if you do go back and wind up with a red health code [on the COVID tracker app], the it won't be easy to travel back to Beijing again," Ma said. "If there is an outbreak in your hometown, it will show up [on the app], and you won't be able to go."

Tough curbs are also in place for anyone traveling to the area where the Olympics is being held, near Zhangjiakou, Xuanhua and Chongli.

COVID-19 tests are being offered free with some tickets for passengers who have transited through medium- or high-risk areas, with a 24-hour turnaround, while large numbers of factories have been shutting down in and around the southern province of Guangdong, a Guangzhou resident surnamed Huang told RFA.

"A lot of factories closed on Jan. 10, because workers wanted to go home early, so ... a lot of them have already left," Huang said. "Now, there are PCR testing services at the exits of the expressways in all counties and cities."



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Attacks force more than 20,000 refugees to flee to nearby mountains for safety.

Six civilians were killed this week by military airstrikes in eastern Myanmars Kayah state that sent thousands fleeing the affected areas for safety, with one local rights group calling the attacks a crime against humanity.

Two children were among the dead following the assault by military jets on Nang Mae Khon in Demawso township on Sunday and strike against a Karenni displaced persons camp in Hpruso township late Monday, sources told RFA.

The two attacks forced around 200 residents of Hprusos Rakheebu Camp and 20,000 refugees from Nang Mae Khon to escape to nearby mountains, sources said.

We are planning to flee to the mountain pass, too, as we are not sure when the military may attack again, said one local woman now sheltering in the western part of Hpruso after escaping from her home.

We will escape death if our fate allows. If not, well be killed.

There are 90-year-old men and women among us in our group, and it is very difficult for us to move safely when these elderly people are relying on us to help them escape the attacks, the woman added, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Residents of the Rakheebu Camp were mostly villagers who had already fled an earlier army massacre in Moso village on Dec. 24, sources said.

They were all very frightened, said an aid worker in western Hpruso, where refugees were gathering. They did not dare to sleep in their homes at night. They were all hiding in the forests. The whole village of Rakheebu has fled, and theres no one left.

The attack by Myanmars military on civilian targets was a clear violation of the Geneva Convention provisions against war crimes, said Aung Myo Min, minister of human rights for the National Unity Government set up to oppose Myanmars military rulers, who overthrew the countrys elected civilian government on Feb. 1, 2021.

There was no need for airstrikes in these areas, as there were no major battles, he said. And even if they have to call in airstrikes, they must issue warnings ahead of time so that civilians arent harmed. But that is not what happened here.

Myanmars ruling State Administration Council said on Sunday that it had launched airstrikes in the area after receiving reports that Peoples Defense Force militias had gathered in Nang Mae Khon to attack government positions in the state capital Loikaw.

Junta spokesman Maj. Gen Zaw Min Tun said that PDF fighters had struck against Myanmar troops in Loikaw by gathering outside the town and attacking from two or three different places at once. So our forces needed aerial assistance to hit them back, he said.

We used aircraft and helicopters, though, and we didnt drop any bombs. Only rockets and other appropriate weapons were used, he said.

The camps identified as refugee camps were actually PDF camps, he said.

The junta attacks on the refugee camps at Hpruso were a deliberate move to stop refugees from living there, said Ko Bayna, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group.

This was not an accidental shooting. It is a crime against humanity to intentionally kill people and cause fear and panic. This was aimed at stopping people from living in this area, he said.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Richard Finney.
WASHINGTON -- Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine at any point, the White House warned, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to Kyiv and Berlin for urgent talks aimed at heading off a possible new war in Ukraine.

With Russia massing an estimated 100,000 troops along Ukraines borders and a sizable new force being deployed for snap exercises in Belarus, alarms are sounding throughout Western capitals about the danger of a new, major conflict.

Last week, Russian diplomats met with top officials from the United States, NATO, and European nations, to discuss the sweeping demands Moscow has made, demands that amount to a major restructuring of Europes security architecture.

The talks yielded no breakthroughs, and that, plus belligerent rhetoric from Moscow, has alarmed Western officials.

"This is an extremely dangerous situation. We're now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters on January 18. "I would say that's more stark than we have been."

Earlier, a senior State Department official told reporters that Russian forces in Belarus were neither an exercise, nor normal troop movement. It is a show of strength designed to cause or give false pretext for a crisis as Russian plans for a possible invasion."

After visiting Kyiv on January 19 and Berlin on January 20, Blinken is set to travel to Geneva for meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The two diplomats spoke by phone on January 18.

Describing Blinkens meeting with Lavrov, the official told reporters that it "suggests that perhaps diplomacy is not dead."

"We want to test whether there's an opportunity for a diplomatic off-ramp here, but we continue to prepare for a different outcome, said the State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"I think it is still too early to tell if the Russian government is genuinely interested in diplomacy...if it is prepared to negotiate seriously in good faith, or whether it will use discussions as a pretext to claim that diplomacy didn't address Moscow's interest," the official said.

While in Kyiv, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other top Ukrainian officials in a show of support.

In Berlin, Blinken will meet with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and also hold talks with officials from Britain and France.

The meetings will focus on "joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine" including the allies' "readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia, according to State Department spokesman Ned Price.

Blinken's "travel and consultations are part of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russia's military buildup and continued aggression against Ukraine," Price said.

Russias deployment of forces along Ukraines border, and in the annexed region of Crimea, is one of the largest, unscheduled massing of forces since 2014, when Moscow first seized Crimea and sparked a war in eastern Ukraine.

The war has claimed more than 13,200 lives since April 2014.

The United States and its Western allies have warned of severe consequences for Moscow if Russia launches a new offensive in Ukraine.

There is growing concern in Washington that a possible Russian attack could come via Belarus, where strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka is clinging to power with the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin following large-scale, popular protests against his brutal 27-year rule.

A second senior U.S. official told reporters that Lukashenka could seek to end Belaruss stated neutrality and host Russian troops and weapons -- including conventional and nuclear missiles -- in order to remain in power.

We know that Putin doesn't give that support for free. It's clear Russia is preying on Lukashenka's vulnerability and calling in some of those IOUs, the official said.

Moscow has denied any plans to attack Ukraine, and accused NATO of planning to admit Ukraine as a member of the alliance and to deploy offensive weaponry there.

In Moscow on January 18, Baerbock met Lavrov for talks on the same subject.

Lavrov said separately said that Russia would welcome U.S. diplomatic efforts and reiterated Russian accusations that Ukraine was "sabotaging" agreements aimed at ending the conflict.

The West has already imposed sanctions on Russia over Moscow's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014 and its support for separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine in a war that that has claimed more than 13,200 lives since April 2014.

After the talks, Baerbock said Germany was ready to defend fundamental values in the conflict with Russia over Ukraine, even if this means paying a high economic price.

During her visit to Kyiv the previous day, the German minister warned that "any further escalation would carry a high price for the Russian regime  economic, political and strategic."

Amid growing domestic and international pressure on Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on January 18 that Germany was ready to discuss halting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project intended to bring more Russian gas to Western Europe should Russia attack Ukraine.

The undersea pipeline, which is 95 percent complete, will bring more Russian gas to Western Europe. Opponents, including Washington, say it will make Berlin more dependent on Moscow.

"It is clear that there will be a high price to pay and that everything will have to be discussed should there be a military intervention in Ukraine," Scholz told reporters, responding to a question after meeting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg said he had invited Russia and NATO allies to a series of meetings at the NATO-Russia Council to discuss ways to improve the security situation.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AFP, and AP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Serbian counterpart that Belgrade's support for Bosnia's territorial integrity is very important and its role is critical for the peace and stability of the region.

Speaking in Ankara after talks with President Aleksandar Vucic, Erdogan also called on the leaders of Bosnia's three entities to refrain from moves that could endanger the Balkan country's territorial integrity and urged them to act "with a sense of responsibility."

He said Bosnia's Serb, Croat, and Bosniak leaders would be invited for crisis talks after Serbia's elections in April.

The crisis broke out after nationalist lawmakers in Republika Srpska, Bosnia's Serb entity, voted for a nonbinding measure last year to begin withdrawing from Bosnia's central armed forces, tax system, and judiciary.

The measure has long been backed by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who earlier this month was sanctioned by Washington for "destabilizing and corrupt activities and attempts to dismantle" the U.S.-brokered Dayton peace accords that ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.

"After these (Serbian) elections, we want to bring together the leaders of these three groups and to have a meeting with them. With this meeting, let us take steps to ensure Bosnia's territorial integrity," Erdogan told a joint news conference with Vucic. "We agreed on this."

He said the meeting could take place in Istanbul or Belgrade.

Vucic told the news conference that Belgrade was committed to Bosnia's integrity and that the preservation of peace and stability in the Balkans was paramount, along "with respect for differences."

The 1995 Dayton accords created two autonomous entities -- Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation -- that share some central institutions under a weak and often dysfunctional central government.

Dodik has described Bosnia as an experiment by the international community and an impossible, imposed country.

He also has said that the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in which some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were slaughtered by Bosnian Serb forces did not take place. The massacre was ruled a genocide by the international war crimes court.

Turkey, which has longtime historical ties with the Balkans, has criticized the Bosnian Serb legislators' move as "wrong, dangerous" and has offered to mediate in the crisis, which has raised fears of a relapse into ethnic strife in Bosnia.

Erdogan, who visited Tirana on January 17, was quoted by local media as saying Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Dodik and other regional officials had voiced support for his mediation offer.

With reporting by Reuters
A Tehran court has kicked off the trial of an Iranian-Swedish dissident accused by Iran of being behind a string of attacks for an Arab separatist group, local media report.

The first hearing in Habib Chaab's trial was held on January 18 at Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, the semiofficial ISNA news agency said.

According to the judiciary's Mizan Online agency, the defendant is accused of "managing and leading a terrorist group," as well as of "planning and carrying out numerous bombings and terrorist operations" in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Prosecutions in Iran's so-called Revolutionary Courts are frequently kept secret from defendants' families and even lawyers. Torture, mistreatment, and forced confessions are also common, according to rights groups.

Chaab, a founder and former leader of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA) separatist group, lived in Sweden for 14 years until he was apparently "lured" to Turkey by Iranian intelligence agents.

He went missing during a visit to Turkey in October 2020 and a month later appeared on Iranian state television.

In December 2020, Turkish authorities announced the arrest of 11 people suspected of spying and involvement in the alleged kidnapping of Chaab on behalf of Iran.

ASMLA, which has an armed branch and seeks a separate state for ethnic Arabs in oil-producing Khuzestan, is considered a terrorist group by Tehran.

The group has been blamed by Iran for a series attacks on government institutions, oil facilities, and other infrastructure over the years.

In the indictment, Chaab, also known as Habib Asyud, is accused of being behind a deadly 2018 terror attack on a military parade in Khuzestan's capital, Ahvaz, that left at least 25 dead, including civilians.

ASMLA is primarily based in the Netherlands and Denmark.

In April 2021, three of its leaders went on trial in Denmark on charges of financing and promoting terrorism in Iran with Saudi Arabia's backing.

In late October 2018, the Danish intelligence service accused the Iranian intelligence service of plotting to assassinate at least one of the three leaders of the group's Danish branch, which Tehran denied.

A Danish court in 2020 sentenced a Norwegian-Iranian to seven years for his role in the assassination plot.

In November 2017, a leader of ASMLA was shot dead in The Hague in an attack the Dutch government said was linked to Iran.

With reporting by AFP and ISNA
Charred tents, a burned-out motorcycle, and a damaged white SUV vehicle. This was the aftermath of a reported drone strike carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in southeastern Iran.

The December 28 strike in Rigan county in Kerman Province appears to mark the first time the IRGC, Irans elite military force, has used drones to target security threats inside the country.

The IRGC said the precise operation killed a prominent bandit and two of his accomplices who had been fomenting unrest in the area, including killing two IRGC members days earlier.

Rigan county neighbors Sistan-Baluchistan, a volatile province near the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan where drug smugglers, separatists, and militant groups operate. The province's population is mainly ethnic Baluch.

Baluch sources reported that the drone killed at least four Baluch fighters while they were asleep.

The attack has served to highlight Iran's expanding drone capabilities, which Tehran is also increasingly deploying beyond its borders.

Iran has supplied unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to its proxies in the Middle East and employed them during reconnaissance, sabotage, and attack missions in the region, analysts said.

Cheap But Effective

Analysts said that, even though Irans drone program lacked sophistication, it still posed a significant threat in the region, where there has been a surge in drone attacks carried out by nonstate actors with ties to Tehran.

Think of it as the Toyota Corolla of drones, said Aaron Stein, the research director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a U.S.-based think tank, referring to the dependable Japanese-made passenger car.

They are ubiquitous and good enough to get you there, but not fancy and flashy, Stein told RFE/RL, adding that many Iranian drones are believed to be pieced together from commercial parts.

He added that Iranian drones pose a threat to U.S. forces stationed in the region, including in neighboring Iraq, where American military installations have been targeted by pro-Iranian militias.

Irans proliferation of UAVs across the region threatens international peace and stability, Deputy U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said in October while announcing sanctions against two IRGC officials, two other individuals, and two companies, which Washington said provide critical support to the IRGCs drone program.

Iran and its proxy militants have used UAVs to attack U.S. forces, our partners, and international shipping, Adeyemo added.

Jeremy Binnie, a defense analyst at Janes, a Britain-based open-source intelligence company, said Iranian drones have made pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen unpredictable.

The long-range UAVs can be programmed with nondirect flightpaths so they can attack targets from unexpected directions, Binnie told RFE/RL.

Such weapons have proven difficult to stop, partly because air defense radar systems were typically developed to detect far faster threats with larger radar and/or heat signatures and also because the air defense systems designed to intercept such low-flying threats only have a short-range, he added.

Binnie said the relatively unsophisticated drones have allowed pro-Iranian proxies to carry out low-level attacks that maintain pressure on their adversaries, as we see regularly in Iraq and Yemen, where they have been used by Huthi rebels.

Difficult To Stop

Analysts said drones have also allowed Tehran to maintain plausible deniability even as it carries out covert operations in the region.

In 2019, a drone attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities halted more than half of the nations daily output. The Iran-aligned Huthis claimed responsibility for the attack, while U.S. officials blamed Iran.

In November 2020, a drone exploded near the front door of the Baghdad residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, injuring his bodyguards. Some officials blamed the attack on Iran-backed militias, although some reports suggested that Tehran had not ordered the strike.

In recent months, reports have emerged of Iranian-made Mohajer-6 drones being spotted in Ethiopia amid a raging civil war in the East African nation.

In August, the United States, Britain, and Israel accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack on an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea that killed two people on board.

In September, the IRGC said it had used drones to target Kurdish armed groups based in Iraqs northern Kurdistan region.

On January 17, the Huthis claimed responsibility for an attack targeting a key oil facility in the United Arab Emirates, saying it used missiles and drones. The attack killed three people and caused a fire near the airport of the capital, Abu Dhabi. Iran has been widely accused of supplying arms to the Huthis.

"As for who's responsible for it, I think that we should take the Huthis at their word, tweeted Dave Des Roches, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Gulf International Forum (IGF) and an associate professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies. The only question is how much of it is Huthi/Huthis, how much of it is Iran/Huthis."

Binnie said Iran, reeling from years of crippling U.S. sanctions over its nuclear program, had developed drones as a low-cost way to compensate for its lack of a modern air force.

The Iranian military, especially the IRGC, has invested heavily in developing a wide range of UAVs, he said.

They include long-endurance surveillance and attack platforms like the Shahed-129, so-called suicide drones that are effectively slow cruise missiles, and stealth drones for penetrating well-defended airspace, said Binnie.

Boosting Its Arsenal

Tehrans drone program dates back to the devastating 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, when Iranian forces started to use drones for reconnaissance purposes.

In 2012, Iran claimed it had reverse engineered an advanced U.S. drone it had captured the year before. State media claimed that the move led to the development of a newer range of combat drones.

IRGC aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said last year that the decision to boost the country's arsenal of drones came after a meeting held three or four years ago with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Hajizadeh said Khamenei praised the drone program while stating that the countrys stockpile was too low.

After that we all mobilized to increase the number of UAVs, Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the hard-line Fars news agency.

In recent years, Iran has become a prolific drone producer and showcases its surveillance, attack, and weaponized drones during military parades.
As China and Russia have grown closer in recent years through a deepening political partnership, the two countries' sometimes competing interests in Central Asia were viewed as a factor that could derail their warming ties.

While Moscow was seen as the main military provider in the region, Beijing's slow venture into Central Asian security in recent years with unofficial outposts and increased training -- combined with rising influence through its multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project -- created a cocktail for increased friction and potential rivalry.

But analysts say China's and Russia's handling of violent unrest in their mutual neighbor, Kazakhstan, has pushed the two countries even closer together. It has also highlighted the lengths the two powers are willing to accommodate each other during a fast-moving and high-stakes crisis.

"The crisis in Kazakhstan proved that the relationship between China and Russia in Central Asia is very stable," Jakub Jakobowski, senior fellow at the Center for Eastern Studies in Warsaw, told RFE/RL. "There are many difficult issues and potential problems for them to navigate and the fact that they have managed to do so demonstrates how durable ties between Beijing and Moscow are becoming."

Events in Kazakhstan began with protests over rising fuel prices on January 2 and quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations calling for improved socioeconomic conditions and a more inclusive political system. Violence also spread to the streets and unrest evolved into several different crises.

Armed clashes against Kazakh security forces and looting led to President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev requesting help from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military alliance and the arrival of a few thousand troops, predominantly from Russia.

Infighting among the country's elites also sparked a purge within Kazakhstan's corridors of power, with influential former President Nursultan Nazarbaev removed from a powerful position and his loyalist, Karim Masimov, ousted as head of the National Security Committee -- Kazakhstan's domestic intelligence agency -- while being accused of treason and attempting a coup d'etat.

The unprecedented crisis as well as its aftermath will have far-reaching consequences for Kazakhstan and are likely to further shake up Beijing's and Moscow's relationship, analysts say.

By intervening militarily and throwing its support behind the embattled Toqaev, the Kremlin signaled that it is still the leading security provider in a region that it views as its strategic backyard. At the same time, it also boosted its already sizable political influence.

The elite reshuffling under way in Kazakhstan could also undercut some of China's sway in the country, with Nazarbaev and Masimov -- two well-known interlocutors with Beijing -- being sidelined.

Despite such shifts and potential points of tension, Beijing and Moscow have used the crisis in Kazakhstan to increase their support for each other.

"They both share an overarching goal of keeping Central Asia stable," Jakobowski said. "China isn't trying to unseat Russia. Beijing thinks it has more important issues globally on its radar than to be the exclusive actor in Central Asia and there is a respect for Moscow's ambitions."

Finding Common Ground

China has invested tens of billions of dollars in Kazakhstan and Chinese President Xi Jinping even launched the precursor to the BRI during a visit to the country in 2013.

But as Kazakhstan erupted into chaos in early January, China remained muted about the unrest next door.

It wasn't until the CSTO deployment, which was officially dubbed a peacekeeping mission, was announced that Beijing shifted gears diplomatically and offered full-throated support for Toqaev, with Xi offering his support for efforts to put down what China deemed a "color revolution" in Kazakhstan.

After that, both the Chinese government and the increasingly nationalist state-run media pledged support for the Russian-led mission while calling for deeper coordination with Moscow in Central Asia and globally, as tensions between the Kremlin and Washington continue to grow.

During a January 10 phone call between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Wang said China welcomed the CSTO mission in Kazakhstan as having played "a positive role in restoring stability in Kazakhstan."

"The fact that the CSTO mission was requested by the Kazakh government and that it is labeled a peacekeeping mission makes it much less problematic for Beijing," Giulia Sciorati, a fellow at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, told RFE/RL. "Peacekeeping is the one type of foreign intervention that official Chinese rhetoric tends to support."

Beijing has also echoed Toqaev's official narrative that the unrest was the result of a coup attempt with the aid of unspecified international terrorists, including Islamist militants, and used that to call for greater cooperation on counterterrorism in the region.

The China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional security and economic bloc of which Kazakhstan and Russia are also members, said the violence in Kazakhstan was evidence that more needs to be done in the fight against the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism, and at the same time offering to increase SCO involvement in the region.

Similar calls came from Zhang Xiao, China's ambassador to Kazakhstan, who told the state-run Global Times on January 12 that China planned to enhance law enforcement and security cooperation with Kazakhstan and its neighbors in order to oppose "external interference," whether it be Islamic extremism or "color revolutions" plotted by the West, a reference to the wave of popular protests that removed leaders from Georgia in 2003 and Ukraine in 2005 that Beijing and Moscow see as Western-backed and -funded.

"China loves to have this kind of continued rhetoric," Haiyun Ma, a professor at Frostburg State University who studies Beijing's relations with countries in Central and South Asia, told RFE/RL. "This narrative fits both Chinese and Russian needs as a warning about foreign threats and is a great opportunity to increase cooperation and marginalize the West."

A Wider Relationship

While China has adapted quickly to the events in Kazakhstan and moved to position itself closer to Russia in the region, Ma cautions that the unrest in Central Asia made Beijing "very nervous" and that the new state of affairs in Kazakhstan is still a "mixed bag for China."

The CSTO mission in Kazakhstan was the first time the organization had intervened on a member's territory and the alliance's added relevance could come at the expense of the SCO, China's preferred means for engaging with the region.

Moscow's decision to prop up Toqaev could lead to future Kremlin-friendly concessions from Nur-Sultan. Ma adds that the arrest of Masimov, a longtime China-hand within the Kazakh elite who spearheaded China's BRI plans in Kazakhstan, could also derail some of China's networks of influence in the country.

Still, Ma says this is unlikely to damage the wider Russia-China relationship and that when it comes to Kazakhstan, Beijing and Moscow are "not quite cooperating, but definitely not competing."

Ben Godwin, head of analysis at Prism Political Risk Management in London, says that China and Russia's positioning around the crisis in Kazakhstan also reflects shifting views within the Kremlin toward Beijing and about Russian foreign policy as a whole.

"Russia no longer views the engagement of other powers in its backyard as the zero-sum game that it did 10 or more years ago," Godwin told RFE/RL, referring to Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia and 2014 occupation and annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

While the events in Kazakhstan will lead to a period of readjustment for Beijing and Moscow in Central Asia that could create some friction, they are unlikely to derail the broader dynamic between the two powers, who find themselves increasingly aligned against the United States.

"Russia doesn't want to occupy Kazakhstan. The purpose of the intervention was to demonstrate that Russia is the guarantor of authoritarian regimes around the world," Godwin said. "And China is perfectly happy for Russia to play that role."
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- The wife of noted Kazakh journalist Makhambet Abzhan says he disappeared a week ago amid the unprecedented political turmoil in the Central Asian country.

Gulzira Duisembaeva told RFE/RL on January 18 that she had received no information about her husband's whereabouts since he left home in Almaty on January 6, amid the deadly anti-government protests in Kazakhstan's largest city and elsewhere.

Earlier that day, police officers visited the couple's home and tried to forcibly take Abzhan with them before he managed to force them out of the apartment, according to Duisembaeva.

She said that the police had officially informed the family's lawyer they had not detained the journalist.

Human rights activists say scores of people have gone missing during the wave of protests that rocked the oil-rich former Soviet republic early this month.

Officials have said that at least 225 people, including 19 law enforcement officers, have been killed during the unrest, which lasted for several days.

Without giving any details, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev said that "20,000 foreign terrorists" attacked Almaty, using that claim to justify his decision to invite troops to Kazakhstan from the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The troops started leaving Kazakhstan last week after spending less than a week there.
There are a multitude of questions about what exactly happened in Kazakhstan in the tumultuous early days of 2022.

While the days-long nationwide anti-government protests by tens of thousands discontented people were obvious to all, it was unclear what was happening within the upper echelons of government.

It does seem clear that as the demonstrations swept across the country there was a clash between the supporters of first Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev and his successor, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, and that Toqaev emerged the victor.

There is still much speculation about who within the government was on which side, though the rapidly waning fortunes of many members of the Nazarbaev family makes it appear they are no longer being trusted or tolerated by Toqaev and his supporters.

One place where the situation seems a bit clearer is in the Committee for National Security (KNB).

On January 5, when some unidentified groups seemingly hijacked protests in areas of eastern and southern Kazakhstan and violence broke out in several cities and towns, Toqaev dismissed powerful Nazarbaev loyalist and KNB Chairman Karim Masimov, who was later arrested.

Toqaev would later clarify that in many cases the KNB seemed to disappear just as chaos from the protests was breaking out, something particularly noticeable in Almaty, where the KNBs headquarters were ransacked and weapons and documents stolen.

Just One Of Many

Facing charges of plotting the violent overthrow of the government and abuse of office, Masimov was a longtime Kazakh official who served twice as Nazarbaev's prime minister, as transport and communications minister, economy and budget planning minister, state secretary, and the head of Nazarbaevs presidential administration before becoming KNB chief in 2016.

But Masimov was just one of many in the KNB who was sacked.

News broke on January 17 of Nazarbaevs nephew, Samat Abish, being officially fired from his position as first deputy KNB chairman.

Abish was reportedly sent packing at the same time as Masimov, but the KNB first denied that, then said Abish was still in his post, and later that he was merely on vacation.

But three other KNB deputy chairmen -- Marat Osipov, Daulet Yergozhin, and Anuar Sadykulov -- were also summarily dismissed on January 9, with two of them having since been arrested.

Osipov was a career security service officer who started work with the KGB in Kazakhstan in 1986.

He has worked in the KNB in Kazakhstan ever since, with the exception of 1999-2001 and from 2013 to 2016, when he headed the KNB in Almaty, leaving that post to become a KNB deputy chairman in January 2016.

Osipov has so far not been detained.

Interesting Backgrounds

Yergozhin and Sadykukov were both arrested on January 13, and they have interesting backgrounds.

Yergozhin had no experience in security or law enforcement before being named KNB deputy chairman in November 2016, just two months after Masimov was named KNB head.

Yergozhin had worked in the energy sector and in state financial agencies. From 1998 to 2007 he was at KazTransOil, KazMunaiGaz's North Caspian project, and KazMunaiTenghiz. After that, Yergozhin was in the Finance Ministry, serving as deputy finance minister from 2007 to 2008 and holding a couple of other lofty positions there before being named KNB deputy chairman.

Sadykulov was the commander of the KNBs elite commando unit, Arystan, and had split most of his career between the KNB and another government security body but returned as a KNB deputy chairman in January 2020.

Sadykulov was also a member of Kazakhstans Security Council, which was headed by Nazarbaev until Toqaev dismissed him from that post the same day he sacked Masimov.

Nazarbaevs spokesman later claimed the 81-year-old Nazarbaev had stepped down voluntarily, though no one in the government has confirmed that.

Sadykulov spent of much of his career in the presidential security service, where he started working in 1992 and was named its chief in 2013 before leaving to become KNB deputy chairman, the first time in 2014.

From June 2019 to January 2020, he was again head of the presidential security service, until he left to be KNB deputy chairman and commander of Arystan.

Osipov was also in the presidential security service in 1999-2001, the only years he was not in the KNB.

Kazakhstan's new KNB chief is Yermek Sagimbaev, who left his position as head of the presidential security service to take up his new duties.

Osipov and Sadykulovs histories show officials from the KNB and presidential security service move back and forth from one service to the other, and Sagimbaev himself had been in the KNB from 1994 to 2006, when he moved to the presidential security service.

Sagimbaev surely had close contacts within the KNB and may have been one of the people who first learned of the possibility that elements of the KNB were acting against Toqaev. His appointment as KNB chief is obviously seen as a sign of Toqaevs trust in him.

Just two months after Nazarbaev stepped down as president on March 19, 2019, and named Toqaev as acting president, Sagimbaev was appointed deputy chief of the presidential security service and, on August 25, 2021, became head of the service.

There are two KNB first deputy chairmen and seven deputy chairmen, of which one first deputy chairman, Abish, was sacked while three of the seven deputy chairmen lost their jobs.

That is a major turnover at the top of the country's most important security service and shows how little faith Toqaev had in the KNB after the days of upheaval.

Toqaev appointed two new deputy chairmen -- Bakytbek Koszhanov and Askar Amerkhanov -- on the same day that Osipov, Yergozhin, and Sadykulov were dismissed.

Koszhanov is a career KNB employee who started working there in 1994. There is information that in 2012 Koszhanov was one of 24 officials named to a commission overseeing the use of financial resources in the redistribution of raw materials and infrastructure for industrial projects.

Radical Reorganization

Such knowledge could be quite useful in tracking down money that any current or former officials -- or members of the notoriously wealthy Nazarbaev family -- may have siphoned off from the state.

The chairman of that commission was Kayrat Kelimbetov, who has served as economic development and trade minister, economy and budget planning minister, and National Bank of Kazakhstan chairman. He currently heads the Astana International Financial Center.

Amerkhanov is also a career KNB employee who started work there in 1995. In 2004, he was named deputy chief at the KNB anti-terrorism center.

On May 6, 2020, Amerkhanov was one of two dozen officials that Toqaev presented with special awards, giving him the rank of major general along with Segimbaev. Masimov received the rank of lieutenant general at that ceremony.

Toqaev accepted the Kazakh government's resignation on January 5 and, when it was reformed on January 11, Interior Minister Erlan Turgumbaev and Defense Minister Murat Bektanov were both reappointed, which indicates that neither is suspected of being disloyal to Toqaev.

But based on the large number of people fired, there does seem to be suspicion among Toqaev and his supporters that the KNB took action against his government in the tumultuous days of the protests.

That would also explain Toqaevs January 11 announcement that there would be a radical reorganization of the entire national security system. He also ordered the National Guard to be strengthened quantitatively and qualitatively" and for new units be formed within the National Guard and the Interior Ministry.
A civil activist and niece of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is being held in solitary confinement in Tehran's Evin prison following her detention last week after she took part in a celebration praising the widow of the ousted shah, her brother has told RFE/RL.

Farideh Moradkhani, a daughter of Khamenei's sister known for her activism against the death penalty, was detained on January 14 at her home in the Iranian capital.

Her brother, Mahmud, who lives in France, said in a telephone interview late on January 17 that the charges against her remained unclear.

The authorities "didn't say why they arrested her when they took her away," he said.

"But from what we have heard, she has a thick file and I believe that it is to a great extent related to the comments she made in an online event" marking the 83 birthday of Farah Pahlavi, the widow of the last shah, he added.

Moradkhani's arrest came after a video posted online showed her reciting a poem in praise of the former empress. The activist addressed Farah as "dear mother of my homeland," and said that after she left Iran "the nation's art and culture were left without refuge and blackness enveloped this house."

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his spouse ruled Iran until the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Farah is now based in France.

According to Mahmud Moradkhani, his sister's involvement in human rights activism has contributed to her arrest.

"Human rights activities and helping the families of political prisoners and victims of protest movements is considered a crime for this regime," he said.

Moradkhani is the daughter of Khamenei's sister Badri, who fled to Iraq in the 1980s at the peak of the war with Iran to join her husband, dissident cleric Ali Tehrani.

With reporting by AFP
Amnesty International says Russian authorities have arbitrarily removed four lawyers representing jailed activist Lilia Chanysheva in the "politically motivated" case against her, leaving her without a legal counsel of her choice in violation of her right to a fair trial.

The London-based human rights watchdog on January 18 urged Russian Prosecutor-General Igor Krasnov to take steps to ensure that Chanysheva is released immediately and that all the "absurd" terrorism charges she is facing are dropped.

Pending that, the activist must be allowed to be represented by a lawyer of her choice, it said.

Chanysheva, the former head of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's office in the city of Ufa, in the Bashkortostan region, was arrested more than two months ago as part of a criminal case against Navalny and his associates.

She has since been remanded in pretrial detention. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison.

On January 17, which marked the first anniversary of Navalny's arrest, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell deplored the persecution of members of Navalny's network, and urged Russia to immediately and unconditionally release Chanysheva.

In late November, Chanysheva was transferred from Ufa to Moscow, nearly 1,500 kilometers away from her hometown.

Since December 10, officers of the Investigative Committee and the Federal Penitentiary Service have barred, under "false pretext," four lawyers from representing and visiting Chanysheva in detention, according to Amnesty International.

The accusations against Chanysheva stem from her peaceful civic and political activities as a regional coordinator of "Navalny's headquarters," which have been falsely considered "extremist," the group said.

Chanysheva "is just another victim" of the Russian authorities' crackdown on Navalny's associates and supporters, according to Amnesty, which said her prosecution was "unfounded" and violated her rights to freedom of expression and association.

In June 2021, a Moscow court banned as "extremist" civil-society organizations linked to Navalny, and the authorities announced in September a new criminal investigation against the vocal Kremlin critic and his associates on charges of "establishment of an extremist association."

This probe was joined with four other criminal cases against Navalny as well as his colleagues and supporters. Chanysheva is the first Navalny associate who has been arrested under this case.

Navalny was detained in a Moscow airport a year ago upon his arrival from Berlin, where he had been recovering after being poisoned in Siberia in August 2020.

A Moscow court later ruled that, while in Germany, he had violated the terms of parole imposed from a 2014 embezzlement case that is widely considered as being politically motivated.

Navalny's 3 1/2-year suspended sentence from the case was converted to a jail term, though the court said he will serve 2 1/2 years in prison given time he had been held in detention.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service
Kazakh ex-President Nursultan Nazarbaev has denied any conflict with his successor after deadly anti-government protests in the oil-rich Central Asian state earlier this month triggered allegations of a power struggle.

"I handed all presidential powers to Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev in 2019 and since then have been a pensioner," the 81-year-old Nazarbaev said in a heavily edited video statement released on January 18.

"I am now a retired person in the capital and never left the country," he said in his first public statement since unprecedented protests in early January that erupted into violence.

The first president of independent Kazakhstan called on his fellow citizens to support Toqaev, insisting that there is "no conflict or confrontation between elites."

It is unclear where and when the video was recorded.

Protests in the remote town of Zhanaozen in early January over a sudden fuel-price hike quickly spread across Kazakhstan and led to violent clashes in the country's largest city, Almaty, and elsewhere.

Much of the protesters' anger appeared directed at Nazarbaev, who had ruled Kazakhstan since 1989 before handing over power. However, he was widely believed to remain in control behind the scenes.

Without providing any details, Nazarbaev called the unrest "an attempt by extremist groups to violate our nation's unity."

He also said that Toqaev will very soon be elected chairman of the ruling Nur-Otan party.

The Kazakh president has claimed that "20,000 foreign terrorists" attacked Almaty, using that claim to justify his decision to invite troops to Kazakhstan from the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The troops started leaving Kazakhstan last week after spending less than a week there.

Last week, Toqaev for the first time publicly criticized Nazarbaev, saying that under his leadership many lucrative businesses and extremely rich people appeared in Kazakhstan, adding that the time had come for the people to receive what they deserved.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Nazarbaev's close relatives have lost their official posts, suggesting that the government was moving to purge or squeeze members of the ex-president's extended family.

Nazarbaev's eldest daughter, Darigha, who is a lawmaker, has skipped all sessions of parliament for two weeks, with her spokeswoman saying she would be on sick leave until the end of the month.

Kazakh authorities say that 225 people were killed during the unrest, including 19 law enforcement officers, and 12,000 others were detained.

Human rights groups say the number may be much higher, and that scores of people remain missing.

In an interview to RFE/RL on January 17, Hugh Williamson, Human Rights Watchs (HRW) Europe and Central Asia director, expressed deep concerns about the situation in Kazakhstan, including regarding Toqaevs order to shoot to kill announced in the wake of violence in Almaty.

"We have not heard that the shoot-to-kill-without-warning policy has been lifted, so we continue to call for that policy to be formally cancelled, Williamson said.

He also called on the authorities to uphold the rights of those in detention.

Toqaev's "anti-civil-society and anti-free-media rhetoric" creates "a climate in which it is more likely that, unfortunately, there may be more torture in prison or there may be trials which are not fair," he said.

Human rights groups have criticized Kazakh authorities for years for stifling dissent and persecuting independent journalists.

With reporting by AFP
More than 100 people who were evacuated from a steel plant in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol have arrived in Zaporizhzhya, the Mariupol city council said, as Russian forces resumed their assault on the complex.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

The council said in a statement that the people who arrived in Zaporizhzhya -- a city about 230 kilometers northwest of Mariupol -- were receiving assistance after emerging from weeks in the bunkers of the sprawling Azovstal plant.



Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 156 people were evacuated. She said several hundred more people remained inside the plant and tens of thousands of women, children, and elderly remain in Mariupol.



"There is no medicine, water, or communication services," she said at a briefing on May 3, adding that the authorities needed to rescue everyone who wants to escape.



The United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross coordinated the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly from the steel works.

"We would have hoped that many more people would have been able to join the convoy and get out of hell. That is why we have mixed feelings," Pascal Hundt of the ICRC told journalists on a video conference call.



Osnat Lubrani, UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, said that 101 women, men, children, and older people could finally leave the plant, and several dozen more joined the convoy in a town on the outskirts of Mariupol. Some evacuees decided not to stay with the convoy and headed to destinations other than Zaporizhzhya, Lubrani said.



A few women who arrived in Zaporizhzhya held up handmade signs calling on the Ukrainian authorities to evacuate soldiers still holed up in the plant and their relatives and loved ones who are trapped.



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped the continued coordination with Kyiv and Moscow will lead to more humanitarian pauses that will allow civilians safe passage from the fighting.

WATCH: Current Time reporter Borys Sachalko comes under fire as he accompanies a Red Cross team attempting to evacuate a village that lies between Russian-occupied Kherson and Ukrainian-held Mikolayiv in southern Ukraine.

Despite the calls for additional evacuations, Russian troops began to storm the plant soon after the latest group of people got out, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications under the National Security and Defense Council said in a statement on May 3.



According to the Vereshchuk, Russia purposely resumed the assault after some civilians got out.



"This was their plan: to allow some civilians to leave and then continue bombing. However, civilians remain there, there are people who did not have time to get out from under the rubble because the blockages were so heavy that in two days they simply could not lift them physically. We need to continue the humanitarian operation, including Azovstal," Vereshchuk said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also urged that evacuations from the steel plant be allowed to continue.



Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on May 3, calling on Russia to rise to the level of its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council by ending its devastating aggression, an Elysee statement said.



The storming of the plant comes days after Putin said he had called off plans for such an operation. Putin instead said he wanted Russian forces to blockade the sprawling plant "so a fly can't get through."

Later on May 3, Russian strikes began targeting the western city of Lviv. The strikes happened just before 8:30 p.m. local time. It wasnt immediately clear what was targeted.



Mayor Andriy Sadoviy wrote on social media that people in the city should take shelter. Train service out of Lviv was suspended.



Sadoviy acknowledged in another message that the attacks had damaged power stations, cutting off electricity in some districts.



The governor of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said Russian troops shelled a coke plant in the city of Avdiyivka, killing at least 10 people and wounding 15 more.



"The Russians knew exactly where to aim -- the workers just finished their shift and were waiting for a bus at a bus stop to take them home," Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. "Another cynical crime by Russians on our land."

Kyrylenko said 11 more people were killed in the shelling of four towns in the region. The number includes five killed in the town of Lyman and four in Vuhledar.



Kyrylenko said the death toll on May 3 was the highest on a single day since a Russian strike on a train station in the city of Kramatorsk killed 57 people on April 8 and injured 109 others.

WATCH: Ukrainian troops southeast of Kharkiv survey heavy damage to a community cultural center, reflecting on the impact on locals, now all but gone.

Ukrainian officials say the Russian military also struck railroad infrastructure across the country on May 3.



Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of the state-run Ukrainian railways, said the Russian strikes hit six railway stations in the countrys central and western regions, inflicting heavy damage.



The governor of the Dnipro region, Valentyn Reznichenko, said Russian missiles struck railway infrastructure in the area, leaving one person wounded and disrupting train service.

Earlier on May 3, in a video address to the parliament in Kyiv, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced 300 million pounds ($376 million) worth of extra military aid for Ukraine.

Britain has already sent military equipment, including missiles and missile launchers, to Ukraine. The new aid will consist of electronic warfare equipment, a battery radar system, GPS jamming equipment, and thousands of night vision devices.



In his speech, Johnson referred to a 1940 address by World War II leader Winston Churchill as Britain faced Nazi Germany's aggression.

"The British people showed such unity and resolve that we remember our time of greatest peril as our finest hour," Johnson told the Verkhovna Rada. "This is Ukraine's finest hour, an epic chapter in your national story that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come."

"We will carry on supplying Ukraine...with weapons, funding, and humanitarian aid, until we have achieved our long-term goal, which must be so to fortify Ukraine that no one will ever dare to attack you again," Johnson said.

In Brussels, the EU's executive indicated it was prepared to propose another sanctions package to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. But Slovakia and Hungary will not support sanctions against Russian energy, including on oil imports.



The two countries say they are too reliant on Russian oil and there are no immediate alternatives.

The sanctions will also target the Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, which will be excluded from the global banking communications system SWIFT, unnamed diplomats said.

Fighting also raged in the strategic port city of Odesa and across Ukraine's east. A 15-year-old boy was killed in a fresh Russian strike on Odesa, the city council said.

Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv, was under shelling, the military said on May 3, while the General Staff said Ukrainian forces were defending the approach to Kharkiv from Izyum, some 120 kilometers to the southeast.



Since Russia launched its unprovoked war on February 24, its troops have failed to completely take over any major Ukrainian city.

On the diplomatic front, Germany's conservative opposition leader traveled to Kyiv on May 3 for meetings with Ukrainian officials, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz made clear that he wouldn't be visiting Ukraine any time soon.

Friedrich Merz, who heads former Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc, visited the town of Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, which has been heavily bombarded by Russian forces.

Scholz refused to go to Ukraine because of Kyiv's refusal to invite Germany's head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whom Ukrainians accuse of cozying up to Russia during his time as foreign minister.

"It can't work that a country that provides so much military aid, so much financial aid...you then say that the president can't come," Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF late on May 2.

The United States warned that Moscow was planning to formally take over regions in Ukraine's east.



Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the OSCE, said Russia is planning to imminently annex the territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, using referendums after failing to overthrow the government in Kyiv.



Russia encountered surprisingly staunch resistance in the north around the regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv, which forced it to redeploy its troops in the south and east, where fighting has intensified in recent days.



Ukraine's east and south are seen as key strategic goals for Russia, allowing it a land link to Crimea.

Separately, Russia's state news agency TASS quoted the Defense Ministry on May 3 as saying that more than 1 million people, including nearly 200,000 children, had been taken from Ukraine to Russia in the past two months.



Defense Ministry official Mikhail Mizintsev said those civilians "were evacuated to the territory of the Russian Federation from the dangerous regions" of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and from other parts that came under Russian control.

No details were provided on the location or circumstances of the moves.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC, and dpa
Nearly six years ago, a 25-year-old American studying in Irkutsk went missing in the dead of night in the wintry countryside about four hours drive west of the Siberian city. His body was found eight days later.

Russian investigators ultimately concluded the man, Colin Madsen, had died of hypothermia. They suggested illegal drug use may have been a contributing factor. A criminal investigation was opened shortly after his body was found, as a standard procedural matter, but later was closed without finding any crime.

Newly obtained internal and confidential records and correspondence from the State Department, provided to RFE/RL, show that U.S. officials suspected foul play and that the circumstances of Madsen's death "were not properly or fully investigated."

Madsen's mother, Dana, strongly believed that was the case and that her son was murdered, and waged a years-long battle to try to force the Russian government to reopen the case.

U.S. officials, however, said they were unable to do more, due to the restrictions of diplomatic convention, domestic Russian law, and even the refusal of the FBI to get involved.

The internal documents show the U.S. government pressed Russian officials on the investigation -- and also fended off the Madsen family, which was insistent that Madsen's death was covered up by local authorities and that the United States should push Russia to reopen its investigation.

On May 23, 2016, about two months after Madsen was found dead, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a legal document called a Consular Report Of Death Abroad. The cause of death was "not specified."

"I do not accept that the U.S. government cannot do more," Dana Madsen Calcutt told RFE/RL recently. "It is certain they could do more, if they wished to do so."

Cause Of Death: Hypothermia

In 2013, Madsen traveled from the U.S. state of Missouri to study at the state linguistics university in Irkutsk, a major industrial city on the edge of the world's largest and deepest freshwater body, Lake Baikal.

Madsen was an avid and experienced hiker who fell in love with the region's physical beauty. He volunteered for local environmental organizations and helped build nature trails. According to accounts from his classmates, friends, and his mother, he was gregarious, friendly, and an avid student of the Russian language.

On the day Madsen disappeared, March 27, 2016, he and his three hiking companions -- two Russians and another American -- were set to head out on a 3.5-kilometer hike they had mapped out, setting off from Arshan, a tourist town 200 kilometers southwest of Irkutsk.

At 2 a.m., according to testimony provided by Madsen's companions, they turned the lights out in the cabin where they were staying, planning to wake three hours later and set off at 7 a.m. But when the others awoke at 5 a.m., Madsen was gone. His backpack and other items had been left behind, according to the police record of the investigation.

Eight days later, a search party found his body in a wooded, mountainous area, about 1.5 kilometers from the cabin.

To this day, it remains unclear precisely how Madsen ended up dead beneath a large tree, his body resting on its back on wilted spring vegetation with an extended left arm and clenched fists. The body had visible cuts and abrasions, many of which appeared relatively new, according to autopsy photos.

Investigators in Buryatia, the Siberian region where Madsen's body was discovered, opened a murder investigation, a standard procedure in missing-persons cases.

Investigators found Madsen's wallet at the scene. It contained cash and his U.S. passport, suggesting he was not the victim of a robbery.

They eventually concluded he'd been taking drugs -- an illegal cannabinoid -- with his friends shortly before he vanished sometime between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. and that he "froze to death" after wandering out of the cabin dressed only in light clothing.

The final cause of death was listed as hypothermia.

Dana Madsen Calcutt, a retired obstetrician-gynecologist, was present for the autopsy, conducted in a nearby town, the day after his body was found. Three months later, she returned to the Irkutsk region to meet with one of the police investigators, to retrieve some of her son's belongings, among other things.

Much later, she obtained her son's laptop computer and cell phone, but was unable to access them without knowing his password. She said she obtained a U.S. court order to force Google to unlock the account for her, but Google refused, citing federal privacy laws.

After Madsen's body was returned to the United States, she hired a U.S.-based private laboratory to review the initial Russian autopsy and provide a second opinion.

The laboratory cast doubt on the official Russian explanation, concluding that foul play was likely involved.

A July 2016 memo from the newly obtained files cites Madsen Calcutt as speculating that her son could have been targeted for his environmental volunteer work or "rumors about his sexual orientation."

Madsen Calcutt told RFE/RL that a local police investigator she and a translator spoke with after arriving in Arshan yelled at her "about the fact Colin and his friends were staying without women or alcohol and kept trying to get me to say that Colin liked boys and his friends liked boys."

"It was surreal: no questions pertaining to his health, hiking experience, etc., that one would expect to be asked in a situation where someone is missing," she said.

'A Homicide Theory'

Internal documents show that U.S. government officials had doubts about many aspects of the official Russian probe.

One e-mail indicated that a Russian employee from the U.S. Embassy traveled from Moscow to observe the search for Madsen and found it suspicious, due to the fact that the body was later found just outside the original search perimeter and was within sight of a small outbuilding "that conceivably could have provided shelter from the cold."

In another memo, dated July 28, 2016, there were doubts about the accidental death conclusion, based on wound marks found on Madsen's torso.

The embassy "believes that the circumstantial evidence could support a homicide theory because the circular wounds on Madsen's remains suggest that death was caused by some external actor," the memo says. "Neither hypothermia nor drug abuse would have produced them."

The memo also shows U.S. officials considering the notion that Madsen might have been killed by police officials. It's not clear how or from where that idea originated. However, police in Buryatia have been under official scrutiny for years now for abuses committed against detainees and criminal suspects.

If law enforcement officials had, in fact, killed Madsen, the memo states, they would not have provided evidence files to Madsen's mother, who traveled to the Siberian region days after Madsen's disappearance and later obtained investigative files including autopsy photographs.

"It is plausible that the murder was committed by a criminal group that has protection from the authorities," the memo says. "However, there is no evidence to implicate any Russian police, only conjecture."

Over the course of 2019, the Madsen family continued to push U.S. government officials to pressure the Russian government -- to essentially force the local authorities to reopen the investigation.

The family also enlisted the help of their congressional delegation and the House Foreign Relations Committee.

In September 2019, Madsen Calcutt sought a meeting with the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, a division of the State Department that helps U.S. citizens who have legal or similar problems abroad. She was rebuffed.

"We do not have investigative authority, nor do we have leverage with Russian authorities to insist they reopen an investigation into your son's death. Therefore, barring some unforeseen new circumstance, there are no more avenues of assistance that we can provide," an e-mail from the office said, which was repeated in other correspondence.

In October 2019, a top U.S. Embassy official traveled to Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, to meet with Foreign Ministry officials. An embassy memo said the officials pledged to work with the U.S. Embassy if a decision was made to reopen the case -- suggesting that, at least as of October 2019, Russian law enforcement had refused to reopen the case.

The Buryatia regional unit of the Investigative Committee -- a national agency roughly equivalent to the FBI -- did not answer multiple e-mails from RFE/RL.

A request for comment sent to the regional Interior Ministry via its web portal was not responded to and no one answered the phone at the Interior Ministry's press service.

Madsen's family also lobbied for the FBI to get involved, but ultimately the bureau did not, according to State Department e-mail correspondence.

"The FBI only has the authority to investigate specific violent crimes committed against Americans overseas and those investigations are worked collaboratively with the host governments," the State Department e-mail, from May 3, 2019, said. "The authority includes the crime of kidnapping where there is a ransom demand. The authority does not extend to homicides or accidental deaths."

An internal State Department "talking point" dated November 14, 2019, states: "We are concerned that events that led to Mr. Madsen's death, as well as the cause of his death, were not properly or fully investigated."

One of the embassy's legal attaches, the memo states, was "also of the opinion that the Russian coroner's stated cause of death is questionable."

In an e-mail to RFE/RL, a State Department spokesperson said that the U.S. Embassy had provided consular assistance to Madsen's family "from the beginning of the case."

"This included closely monitoring local authorities' investigation into the cause of his death. However, it is the host government's responsibility to lead such investigations," the official said.

"The [State] Department and our embassies abroad take very seriously all deaths of U.S. citizens, and follow such investigations closely. We regularly discuss investigations with appropriate authorities in the host government and also provide family members with updates and information on resources available to them, such as local attorneys," the official said.

"We refer you to Russian authorities for more information on their investigation in this case."
A court in southwestern Russia has handed a two-year prison term to a Jehovah's Witness amid an ongoing crackdown on the religious group, which has been banned in the country since 2017.

The Pavlov district court in the Krasnodar region sentenced Maksim Beltikov on January 17 after finding him guilty of taking part in the activities of "extremist organization."

Prosecutors sought a three-year prison term for the 41-year-old father of three.

Since the faith was outlawed, many Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned in Russia.

According to the group, dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses have either been convicted of extremism or have been held in pretrial detention.

The United States has condemned Russia's ongoing crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses and other peaceful religious minorities.

For decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have been viewed with suspicion in Russia, where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin.

The Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching, close Bible study, rejection of military service, and refusal to mark national and religious holidays or birthdays.
Fears for a legendary art collection in the desert town of Nukus led to activists and volunteers preserving the treasures with photographs on a new website.

Nine hundred pieces from Uzbekistans Nukus Museum of Art are now online after volunteers armed with cameras and cell phones created an open catalog of the works in the hope it will prevent theft from one of Asias most unique and valuable art collections.

The Nukus Museum, in Uzbekistans desolate Karakalpakstan region, was established in 1966 after Russian artist and archaeologist Igor Savitsky convinced the local authorities that the area needed a facility to house mostly local cultural artifacts. The facility gradually grew into a trove of forbidden art thanks to Savitskys collecting trips, including to Moscow, where he met with the relatives and widows of artists whom the Soviet authorities had banished to obscurity or the gulag, or had executed.

Thanks to personal connections and his far-flung base in Nukus, Savitsky was able to quietly amass tens of thousands of works by blacklisted artists hidden in private homes. The collector in some cases used state funds to purchase the work of avant-garde creatives whose work was condemned as degenerate by the Soviet authorities. Savitskys daring acquisitions have been compared to someone using Taliban funds to collect a vast stash of Buddhist sculptures. Savitsky focused especially on artists with links to Central Asia, or who painted Uzbek scenes.

After Savitskys death in 1984, the museum was run by his handpicked successor Marinika Babanazarova. When the highly-respected Babanazarova was fired by the Uzbek authorities in 2015, many feared the artwork she had overseen would become vulnerable to theft in the notoriously corrupt country. Some of the paintings in the Nukus museum are worth millions of dollars each, and there are more than 82,000 artworks in total in the museums collection.

Following Babanazarova's controversial dismissal in 2015, a project to digitize the Nukus art and publish it in an online public catalog online began. Svetlana Gorshenina, a Paris-based historian, and Montreal-based curator Boris Chukhovich founded the Alerte Heritage Observatory website. Gorshenina told RFE/RL that the push to create a public record of the Nukus art became urgent after at least one work by Aleksandr Volkov from the collection of the Ferghana Museum appeared at an auction in London, replaced, we believe, by a copy on the walls of the museum.

Gorshenina says having photos of the most valuable of the museums artworks on a publicly accessible website will serve as a reference point if there is suspicion of a forgery replacing the original. The fact is, its impossible to make an exact copy of any painting, so if the image [of the original] is known then it serves as a safety mechanism for museum collections."

Savitsky had deliberately sourced little-known artists for the museum, meaning that the Nukus collection is now the only repository for many of the artists' work, potentially making fraud especially difficult to detect.

According to Gorshenina the digitization project was entirely a grassroots effort, with volunteers taking snapshots on cameras, or even cell phones in some cases, of the art on display. Researchers then made short biographies wherever possible of 124 artists whose work is held in the Nukus Museum. Many of those artists would today be forgotten if not for the museum and its founder.
A Russian artist has been arrested for creating a large snow sculpture that depicts feces near a burial site in St. Petersburg.



Police and local media on January 17 said that Ivan Volkov was criminally charged for desecrating the burial place of the dead when he created the 5-meter-long sculpture.



The sculpture was in St. Petersburg's Field of Mars, where those who died in the 1917 Russian Revolution are buried.



Volkov, 29, posted pictures of the poop on Facebook and Instagram, commenting that he did not put "any particular meaning into the work."

The posts have since been removed.



If convicted, the artist faces a fine or up to five years in jail.



Volkov has created some 30 snow paintings or sculptures in recent years, including one honoring doctors treating coronavirus cases.
Richmond, KY (40475)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low around 55F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low around 55F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
(yahoo.com) - (Bloomberg) -- In the moon-like landscape of northern Sudan, informal gold miners toil with spades and pickaxes to extract their prize from shallow pits that pockmark the terrain. Mining ore in the sweltering heat of the Nubian desert is the first stage of an illicit network that has exploded in the past 18 months following a pandemic-induced spike in the gold price. African governments desperate to recoup lost revenue are looking to Dubai to help stop the trade. Interviews with government officials across Africa reveal smuggling operations that span at least nine countries and involve tons of gold spirited over borders. Thats a cause for international concern because the funds from contraband minerals dealing in Africa fuel conflict, finance criminal and terrorist networks, undermine democracy and facilitate money laundering, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. Scattered thunderstorms this evening. Low around 65F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Mostly cloudy skies. Scattered thunderstorms this evening. Low around 65F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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editor's pick

Holiday snowstorm causes outages

Photo by Jon Olender Wayne Wallace shovels the walkway in the Center Street Alley for MKF Properties on a snowy Monday afternoon in Rutland City.

While Green Mountain Power said it was responding to outages throughout the day Monday, there were no sign of more serious problems during the first big snowstorm of 2022.

There was not a lot going on. Town and state offices, along with schools, courts and many businesses, were closed because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Eric Evenson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Burlington, said, for the most part, this is a good old winter storm.

Several inches of snow. Some places are getting a little more than others, which makes it a little bit on the interesting side simply for the fact that were seeing some areas getting heavy snow, others just getting a little bit of snow  and part of that is we had some stronger southeast, down-sloping winds which helped to limit the precipitation, he said.

In the Northeast Kingdom, for instance, Evenson said reports were coming in of one to two inches of snow, but elsewhere in Vermont there were many reports of two to six inches. In south central Vermont, some reports were made of six to 10 inches of snow.

The National Weather Service had predicted some freezing rain and sleet. Evenson said there had been some reports of sleet in New York and across to Vermont, but most of the reports coming in on Monday were for snow.

By afternoon, he added that the temperatures had gone up a little in Southern Vermont, leading to reports of rain in Bennington and Windham counties.

There was plenty of snow, but not much else to report in central Vermont.

Green Mountain Power showed no outages involving its customers in the region.

The Washington Electric Coop reported crews were responding to outages in Corinth, Bradford and Hardwick as of 11:30 a.m. The utility reported the major outage in the Corinth/Bradford area was restored as of 1 p.m., though there were scattered outages in Corinth and Topsham due to downed lines.

WEC said 17 customers in Cabot lost power Monday morning, and power was restored there by 10:15 a.m.

Kristin Kelly, a spokeswoman for Green Mountain Power, said by about 1:30 p.m. on Monday, power had been restored to about 5,000 customers whose electricity was disrupted by the storm.

About that time, GMPs online outage center was reporting about 650 customers were still out from 33 active incidents affecting 22 towns. However, Kelly added that the storm was continuing on Monday afternoon, which could cause other outages before it moved out of Vermont.

Strong, gusty winds with this storm were really what was causing outages especially (Monday) morning. Crews were out overnight working.  There were some really tough conditions. The snow made travel really difficult (Monday) morning especially, she said.

Kelly said utilities work with meteorologists who partner specifically with power companies so they can plan their response quickly and safely to a storm like the one that started Sunday night into Monday.

The outages were a statewide event, but Kelly said on Monday many of the outages had been reported in Southern Vermont and up toward Rutland County.

By mid-afternoon, there had been no news releases relative to accidents in Rutland or Washington counties from the Vermont State Police.

Around 12:30 p.m., a release was sent that stated routes 11/30 in Manchester in Bennington County, near New Ireland Road, was closed because of a vehicle over the bank with crews working to get it out.

Kelly said during storms like the one on Monday and others that will affect Vermont this winter, GMP officials wanted to remind the public that if they see downed power lines, they should assume those lines are energized and call GMP at 888-835-4672.

Evenson said upcoming weather events Vermonters may want to follow include unseasonably cold temperatures that are expected to be affecting the state Tuesday and again going into the weekend.

Staff Writer Eric Blaisdell contributed to this report.

patrick.mcardle

@rutlandherald.com
Danvers, MA (01923)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Danvers, MA (01923)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
The promise of lower electricity bills wasnt the only reason Paul and Kathi OLeary shelled out roughly $30,000 to put solar panels on their San Francisco home. But it sweetened the deal.

First and foremost, they wanted to lower their carbon footprint. Then they learned they could partly recoup the steep upfront costs of installing the panels by getting credit for sending their excess electricity back to the grid. Since installing solar at their Alamo Square home four years ago, they estimate theyve saved just under $3,000 a year, much of it from the credits.

But this month the California Public Utilities Commission is poised to dramatically scale back the state-established credits for surplus solar power. The proposal is spurring a fierce debate among utilities, the solar industry, environmentalists and homeowners over whether cutting a program credited with driving Californias leading embrace of residential rooftop solar would stall the states headlong push toward clean energy.

The selling point was that it pays for itself over time, said Paul OLeary, who works as a data scientist. If they change the rules, it significantly reduces incentives for homeowners to pay for rooftop solar. If the financial aspect was our only incentive, we wouldnt have done it.

California energy regulators say changes to the program  called net energy metering  are needed to more accurately reflect the value of solar power and help prevent electricity rates from soaring for non-solar customers, who inevitably pay more when solar credits are higher.

The changes are also meant to address a shortfall with solar energy: Most rooftop systems dont produce electricity on hot summer evenings, when demand for electricity is at its peak. The states investor-owned utilities are shifting to a system with peak and off-peak rates, and those with solar would not get as much money for selling power back to the grid when the sun is out.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Additionally, the proposed changes include incentives for solar customers to add battery storage systems by imposing tariffs for power they use from the grid during peak hours. Rooftop solar generates excess electricity that often goes to waste because of the lack of storage.

The PUC is responsible for regulating how PG&E and other utilities charge customers, and net energy metering was first established nearly two decades ago to spur growth in rooftop solar energy.

Former PUC commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves, who authored the new proposal but left the agency before commissioners are scheduled to vote on the issue Jan. 27, said the changes still serve to encourage solar, and lessen the states dependence on fossil fuels, but create create a fairer system so that all electricity customers share basic operating costs.

Theres an obligation (for all customers) to contribute to the benefits that this grid provides, Guzman Aceves told The Chronicle in December.

The net energy metering program costs Californians an estimated $3 billion a year, according to the PUC. Exported rooftop solar energy is about 10 times more expensive than other sources of renewable energy, and utilities pass those costs onto ratepayers.

Solar industry representatives dispute these figures, contending the estimates dont include broader savings shared by customers when utilities dont have to build more transmission lines and power plants for fossil fuels, activities that can drive up rates.

The PUCs proposal offers less reimbursement for rooftop solar customers who share with the grid, adds premiums for electricity used during high-demand hours and levies new solar customers with a grid participation charge for each kilowatt they take from the electric system.

Solar industry professionals warn the grid participation charge alone would saddle the average solar customer with an extra $684 expenditure each year while diminishing credits for putting energy back into the grid by 80%.

The PUC is also proposing the creation of a $600 million fund to facilitate the development of solar and other clean energy projects in disadvantaged communities. Low-income and tribal residents using solar power could be exempt from some monthly charges.

Regulators have tried to lessen the blow for people like the OLearys who installed solar panels thinking they would have years or decades of credits lowering their electric bills. The changes, if adopted by the PUC as proposed, wouldnt change for existing rooftop solar power users until theyve had their systems for 15 years.

The PUC said the proposed credit structure for solar customers still reduces power bills but increases the time it takes customers to make back the money they spent installing solar from an estimated five to 10 years.

Even a decade ago, solar power was a fraction of what it is today. There were about 91,000 rooftop and other small solar projects in the state in 2011, a number that has increased to 1.3 million rooftop solar projects today, according to solar industry estimates.

Solar power makes up about 15% of the energy generated in California, according to the latest figures, from 2020. Its the top source of renewable energy, followed by wind at 7%, the PUC reports. Natural gas still produces the bulk of Californias energy, generating nearly 47% of the states power.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Slashing incentives could halt solar powers growth amid a climate crisis, said Dave Rosenfeld, executive director of the industry group Solar Rights Alliance. He estimated that low-income households with rooftop solar would pay between $24 and $50 more each month because the proposal reduces the credits for sending power back to the grid.

No middle or working class person in California will be able to afford putting solar panels on their roof, Rosenfeld said.

The proposed changes, published in December, have triggered a flurry of lobbying on behalf of the industry as well as the utilities. Hundreds of people opposed to the proposed changes held simultaneous protests Thursday in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled he is not satisfied with the PUCs proposal to revamp the program, saying the plan needs work.

Do I think that changes need to be made? Yes, I do, Newsom said during a news briefing last week, though he did not offer details on what hed like to see. The governor has vowed to protect the PUCs independence.

The solar subsidy has always been meant to eventually end, but some question the PUCs timing.

Kathryn Phillips, who retired in April after 10 years directing the Sierra Club of California, said she hopes the PUC considers whether the changes, if enacted amid a pandemic with the cost of solar installation still high, will help the state meet the urgent need to adopt clean energy or stall progress.

We need to move entirely away from fossil fuels, and if theres a sense that this current rule will slow it down in some way, we need to rethink it, Phillips said. Were dealing with an existential threat.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer J.D. Morris contributed to this report.

Julie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: julie.johnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @juliejohnson
Average daily coronavirus cases have dipped week over week across the Bay Area for the first time in a month, indicating that much of the region may be near the peak of the winter omicron surge. The White House website for free COVID tests launches Wednesday: Heres what you need to know.

Latest updates:

Latino residents in Sonoma County see highest rates of cases: Communities of color, essential workers and residents with little access to health care resources are seeing the highest coronavirus case rates in Sonoma County, said Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma Countys public health officer. Latinx residents are currently experiencing the highest rate of cases with 272 new cases per 100,000 residents per day, according to data Mase presented during a virtual webinar in collaboration with the Sonoma County Office of Education on Tuesday afternoon. Pacific Islander residents are seeing the second-most highest case rates, with 215 new cases per 100,000 residents per day.

Risk of transmission has never been higher: Sonoma Countys risk of coronavirus transmission has never been higher, said Dr. Sundari Mase, the county public health officer, on Tusday. The advent of the highly transmissable omicron variant has boosted case rates to 230 cases per 100,000 residents per day, Mase said during a virtual webinar in collaboration with the Sonoma County Office of Education. County public health officials cautioned that those rates should be considered to be an underestimate as these figures do not count antigen positives  meaning the home tests that people take using self-administered kits.

Hospital pandemic of unvaccinated in Sonoma County: Dr. Gary Green, an infectious disease specialist with Sutter Health, said Tuesday that the vast majority of patients admitted to his hospital are unvaccinated. This continues to be a hospital pandemic of unvaccinated people, Green said in a virtual webinar, adding that this is a dangerous time to not be vaccinated. Hospitalizations include unvaccinated people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, he noted, adding that hospitals are being filled with unvaccinated folks.

Transmission among kids 5-17 is up in Sonoma County: In the past 60 days, children aged 5 to 17 were the single largest group of coronavirus cases in Sonoma County, according to Dr. Sundari Mase, the countys health officer. Unvaccinated children in that age range are being infected at five times the rate of fully vaccinated children, according to statistics presented by Mase on Tuesday during a virtual webinar in collaboration with the Sonoma County Office of Education.

Staffing shortages disrupt more MUNI service: Citing ongoing issues with system wide staffing levels due to the COVID-19 surge, San Franciscos MTA announced on Tuesday that transit passengers should expect extended wait times and disruptions on several service routes, including the L Bus, 5R, 5, 7, 8, 9R, 19, 24, 28, 29, 38, 38R, 43, and 49.

White House to distribute 400 million free N95 masks: The Biden administration on Tuesday announced plans to give away 400 million non-surgical N95 masks through pharmacies and community centers, according to multiple media reports. The CDC last week updated its guidance to say cloth masks provide the least amount of protection against the omicron variant of the coronavirus and that high quality KN95 and N95 respirators are the most effective. The free masks will come from the governments Strategic National Stockpile.

Unvaccinated are hospitalized in vastly higher numbers: COVID hospitalization rates among unvaccinated adults, those over 18, were 13 times higher than among people who were fully vaccinated, the CDC found. The pattern observed in November data was seen across all age groups: Among those 12-17, hospitalization was 10 times higher among the unvaccinated; for those 18-49, it was 17 times higher; for those 50-64, it was 16 times higher, and for the unvaccinated who were 65 and older, it was 12 times higher, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky posted on Twitter.

Snags reported on free COVID test kits website: Some people trying to order free COVID tests Tuesday on the new federal website complained on social media that they hit roadblocks when the portal did not recognize their addresses as residential. Others living in apartment units that shared one building address also said they were unable to complete orders. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday the program is in its testing phase and will officially launch Wednesday morning. Every website launch, in our view, comes with risk, Psaki said. We cant guarantee there wont be a bug or two. But the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.

Bay Area health officials not yet ready to celebrate: The Bay Areas post-holiday omicron surge may be tapering off but health officials remain on high alert as hospitalizations continue upward  with San Francisco on the cusp of its COVID patient record  and Californias average rate of positive tests hovering near the all-time high. Even as some positive indicators  including the latest virus-testing samples from a number of Bay Area sewage plants  seem to show coronavirus infections slowing in some places, public health officials are warily eyeing a continued rise in hospital cases. Read the full story here.

Nearly 1 million child COVID cases reported last week: There were 981,488 child COVID-19 cases reported in the U.S. from Jan. 6 to 13. Children representing 21.4% of the weekly reported cases nationwide, according to data published Tuesday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association. Among states reporting, children ranged from 1.7%-4.4% of total cumulated hospitalizations. Last weeks cases mark a near five-fold jump from the 198,551 two weeks earlier.

Backlash over CDC advice to cancel school football, band: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is facing fresh backlash over its months-old guidance recommending that in COVID high-transmission areas, schools should cancel or hold high-risk sports and extracurricular activities virtually to avoid disruptions with in-person learning. Dr. William Schaffner, an adviser to the CDC, on Monday called the recommendation unlikely, unreasonable, and unrealistic. The Monday comment on CNN set off a wave of attention from CDC critics. Agency director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told CNN the guidance prioritized academics over athletics because of the increased risks involved in some extracurricular sports. When followed, our school guidance has been incredibly effective. In the fall, 99 percent of schools were able to remain open during the intense delta wave of COVID.

Sewage shows drop in virus: A wastewater measurement tool created by researchers at UC Berkeley is showing a sharp drop in COVID-19 genetic material in effluent from parts of San Francisco, Marin and Contra Costa counties. Despite the dramatic decline, the level is six times higher than at the beginning of December, the researchers said. And Alameda Countys sewage samples show cases still going up fast, as does sewage coming specifically from Richmond and El Sobrante, and from Novato and San Rafael.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Surgeon general says peak yet to come: The United States has not yet reached a national peak of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned Sunday. He urged caution amid an apparent plateau or even downturn of cases in some areas. We shouldnt expect a national peak in the next coming days  the next few weeks will be tough, Murthy said in a CNN interview. Some regions, particularly on the East Coast, that saw early omicron surges have started to level off or slow.

Omicron accounts for virtually all new cases in US: The highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus accounts for 99.5% of new infections in the United States, according to data published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant, which in early December accounted for about 0.6% of new cases nationwide, has crowded out the delta variant, which makes up the remaining 0.5% of new cases in the latest report.

You can now order your free COVID test kit: The governments website offering free coronavirus at-home test kits  which was slated to launch on Wednesday  went live Tuesday morning. Americans can now order free tests through the special federal website or the United States Postal Service. The new program follows a federal requirement that took effect Saturday under which private insurers must reimburse people for up to eight rapid home tests per month. Free kits can be ordered at: covidtests.gov or https://special.usps.com/testkits. Read the full story here.

U.S. faces fresh wave of COVID deaths: The rapidly spreading coronavirus could lead to 58,000 to 305,000 more American deaths by the time the current omicron surge subsides in mid-March, the Associated Press reports, citing research models. The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. has been trending upward since mid-November, reaching nearly 1,700 on Jan. 17. Thats still below the peak of 3,300 in January 2021. But the unprecedented scale of infections is certain to push that number up even though patients with omicron generally have lower risk of hospitalization and death. Overall, youre going to see more sick people even if you as an individual have a lower chance of being sick, said Katriona Shea of Pennsylvania State University, who co-leads a team that pulls together several pandemic models and shares the combined projections with the White House. The models project 1.5 million Americans will be hospitalized from mid-December through mid-March.

California tops 7 million cases in all: More than 7 million Californians now have been infected by the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, analysis of state data by The San Francisco Chronicle shows. As of Tuesday morning, the cumulative cases stood at just over 7.1 million. The Bay Area is nearing 1 million infections  956,561.

Moderna plans to sell dual COVID-flu booster shot by next year: Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the drugmaker hopes to begin selling a booster shot by fall 2023 intended to protect against both COVID-19 and the flu. During a discussion at the World Economic Forum Monday, Bancel said the dual dose could help ensure people remain inoculated against both viruses, without having to return multiple times a year for both shots.

Oakland students say theyll walk out Tuesday unless COVID safety demands are met: More than 1,200 Oakland students have signed a petition pledging to skip classes this week starting Tuesday, organizers said, in protest of what they say are inadequate safety measures on campuses in the face of a nationwide surge of COVID-19 cases. Read the full story here.

Too soon to know if omicron will end pandemic, Fauci says: Asked Monday at the online World Economic Forum if the coronavirus could become endemic this year  meaning its circulating but not disruptive  Dr. Anthony Fauci said it is an open question. The top White House medical adviser said the high volume of cases from the highly contagious omicron variant could boost collective immunity, but new variants could escape the immune response, the New York Times reported. He described what he saw as five pandemic phases, with the world still in the first truly pandemic phase, where the whole world is really very negatively impacted, followed by deceleration, control, elimination and eradication.

Israeli data shows fourth vaccine dose probably not enough against omicron: A fourth dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna coronavirus vaccine can boost antibody to levels above a third dose  but possibly not high enough to protect against breakthrough infections from the omicron variant, early data from Israel indicates. In a study that started in December, 154 health workers were given a fourth Pfizer dose, 120 were given a Moderna fourth dose and a control group was not given a fourth dose, CNN reported. The Pfizer dose yielded an enhancement or increase in the number of antibodies and neutralizing antibodies, Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit at Sheba Medical Center, said Monday. She added that results were similar for Moderna. Yet, this is probably not enough for the omicron, she said.
More than 1,200 Oakland students have signed a petition pledging to skip classes this week starting Tuesday, organizers said, in protest of what they say are inadequate safety measures on campuses in the face of a nationwide surge of COVID-19 cases.

The threat of a student walkout follows teacher sickouts at the district of 34,000 students that forced multiple Oakland Unified School District campuses to cancel instruction. Organizers said participating students would use hashtags on social media to post about what they are doing instead of going to class.

This kind of shows that a lot of kids have been wanting to say something, wanting to do something about the safety measures, but they didnt feel they were supported enough to use their voices, said Ayleen Serrano, a sophomore at OUSDs MetWest High School who helped organize the student petition. The district should listen to our voices to see what we have to say.

Serrano said insufficient testing is the students biggest concern amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. Serrano said the district is responding to student demands for N95 and KN95 masks and more outdoor dining space.

Even though the masks and the outdoor dining is important, we definitely do feel that the testing is the most important part. That hasnt been happening, Serrano said.

The petition, whose signees are mostly middle and high school students, also asks that the district shift from in-person learning to remote instruction. But if that does not happen, administrators should space desks farther apart and hire more substitute teachers to fill in for absent teachers, the petition states.

In a statement, OUSD spokesperson John Sasaki said the district was aware of the student petition and that administrators, too, are concerned about the surge in COVID-19 cases.

All staff have received N95 or KN95 masks, and the district is in the process of distributing 200,000 KN95 masks to students, Sasaki said. Supplies for covered outdoor eating spaces at dozens of schools have been ordered  in some cases months ago  but supply chain snags have caused delays in their delivery, he said.

OUSD offers COVID-19 testing at 10 locations throughout the district. Elementary schools are doing weekly pool testing and secondary schools are offering drop-in testing twice a week. Pop-up vaccination events that the district held in November and December are slated to happen again this month at multiple locations, Sasaki said.

We are already meeting, or in the process of meeting, most of the demands noted in this petition. And we will continue to work towards fulfilling the rest in the coming weeks, Sasaki said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

We thank our students for staying in front of these issues, and bringing up their concerns to District leadership, he said. We will continue to follow the guidance from local, state, and federal COVID safety guidelines.

Students are prepared to skip classes through the end of the week, Serrano said. The protest could end early if administrators show proof that remaining student demands  particularly the ask for more testing  will be met next week.

It all depends on the district, Serrano said.

Staff writer Ryce Stoughtenborough contributed to this report.

Andy Picon is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: andy.picon@hearst.com Twitter: @andpicon
Humberto Navarros mind races when he thinks about life after the April deadline hes been given to leave his home in the Mission.

Since the eviction papers first arrived in a manila envelope, the 57-year-old San Francisco native has been calling lawyers, tenants unions and friends who might have a spare couch. Even converted closets seem out of reach on his monthly disability check and limited relocation funds. He worries hell end up in one of the tents that line the sidewalk just outside his door.

Navarro is willing to go to short-term extremes to stay close to family members, including his 92-year-old father, who he said lives in a tiny place nearby and has prostate cancer. But ultimately, he plans to leave his city  and country  to move in with family in Guadalajara.

I have nothing permanent, Navarro said. Im gonna just cut my losses and go.

While many evictions were halted as the pandemic raged last year, cases like Navarros moved forward under a 1985 state law called the Ellis Act. The law, long criticized by housing activists, allows landlords to evict tenants if they take their homes off the rental market.

In a proposal that advocates say could blunt some of the pandemics impact on struggling renters, those rules could soon change in some of Californias most expensive cities.

A bill advanced last week by a state committee, AB854, would require landlords in cities with rent control to own properties for five years before invoking the Ellis Act. Supporters say the goal is to curb investors ability to buy buildings, including rent-controlled ones, and quickly evict tenants to sell units off at a profit. One report by advocacy group Tenants Together found that 3,610 homes were removed from San Franciscos rental market under the Ellis Act between 1997 and 2013, the majority within three years of purchase.

Its a way to preserve affordable housing and stop the pipeline to homelessness, said Raquel Fox, a tenant attorney with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic. Because our clients that are being evicted cannot afford to rent now.

While the Ellis Act applies statewide, the measure to reform it was recently amended to apply only to Californias 21 cities with rent control, including San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and San Jose. The bill faces an uncertain path forward after similar attempts have stalled in recent years due to opposition, primarily from landlord and Realtor groups. The revived version of the bill has garnered initial support from a mix of tenant, labor and pro-housing development groups, and lawmakers are expected to vote by Jan. 31 on whether to advance the bill.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The political clash over the Ellis Act is one example of a broader housing reckoning playing out in Sacramento and many city halls. In the nine-county Bay Area, some 122,000 households owed nearly $550 million in rent as of last October, according to estimates by the National Equity Atlas, adding financial pressure to an already acute affordability crisis.

The state offered up an unprecedented $5.2 billion in federally funded COVID-19 rent relief last year, but both tenants and landlords say the process has been confusing and the money slow to materialize. In the meantime, attorneys say a wave of evictions has resumed, though statewide numbers are hard to come by since most eviction cases are sealed in California and many others are done informally.

In San Francisco, evictions remained about 40% below pre-pandemic levels through November 2021, with nuisance, breach of lease and non-payment of rent accounting for the vast majority of the citys 799 evictions last year, according to public data analyzed by The Chronicle. The Ellis Act was the citys fourth-most-common cause of eviction, with 69 cases impacting an unknown number of tenants through November 2021.

Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-Milpitas, first tried to pass a statewide law limiting Ellis Act evictions last year. Now, he argues that his amended bill, which would take effect in 2023, is even more crucial to foster short-term stability as lawmakers debate longer-term zoning reforms, building incentives and multibillion-dollar plans to address homelessness.

The system right now and our laws are kind of stacked against tenants, Lee said. Were trying as much as possible  frustratingly  to go one step at a time.

Though the measure would not apply to buildings purchased before 2018, landlord advocates contend that changing the Ellis Act would hurt small landlords trying to cash out and leave behind the stress of the rental business. During a Jan. 12 state hearing, Assembly Member Kelly Seyarto, R-Murietta, argued that residents would be better served by focusing on more widespread challenges.

Were trying to pick sides instead of working on what the real problem is, he said, and thats the cost.

Navarro supports the new bill, but in his case, he knows that its too little, too late.

His building has been owned for much longer than five years by landlord Robert Imhoff and his companies, which the activist Anti-Eviction Mapping Project has criticized for repeatedly using the Ellis Act to evict tenants and convert their homes to Airbnb rentals. An attorney for Imhoff declined to respond to questions about the use of the Ellis Act and displacement concerns, but its a dynamic that landlords say the Bay Areas scarcity-driven housing economics encourage, and that in some cases allows more people to buy homes after renters are evicted if units are put up for sale.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Navarro moved to the $923-a-month, three-bedroom Victorian flat because the master tenant since 1978, Maria Carvajal, was the mother of a childhood friend. The pair and another roommate were served a flurry of eviction papers starting in 2019, according to records from a court case that officially began in August 2020, stating that their home was no longer being rented out and that tenants were eligible for $6,985 in relocation funds each.

The tenants were referred to Fox at the housing clinic, touching off a legal battle that stretched through last October, when the case was settled and the roommates were given the April 2022 move-out date. Though some tenants have recently negotiated unusually high six-figure buyouts, San Francisco eviction settlements tend to average around $35,000 per household, according to an analysis by The Chronicle.

The settlement in Navarros case is not public, but state law entitles residents who are disabled, elderly or low-income to up to several thousand dollars in additional compensation. His bigger challenge since the settlement is a lack of ongoing income to qualify for an apartment in a market where landlords often require income three times the monthly rent. Navarro said he was forced onto disability in mid-2020 after an incident at a job working security at a pharmacy.

In this city on (disability), its impossible to get a place, he said. And then with this Ellis Act thing, you have an eviction hanging over your head.

While Navarro and his roommates pack up, one headed to live with family in Las Vegas, Fox rattles off seven other buildings shes represented where she said the proposed changes to the Ellis Act could have taken that reason for eviction off the table.

The new bill would mark an important change, she said, but its just one challenge as bigger landlords and LLCs buy up homes. Even with settlements or financial penalties, landlords can still end up making more money after a long eviction battle. And nonprofits like hers are often pitted against bigger, better-funded legal teams.

Theyre paper tigers, Fox said. Its just so draining on everyone.

San Francisco Chronicle data reporter Susie Neilson contributed to this report.

Lauren Hepler is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hepler@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LAHepler
San Francisco opened a linkage center at U.N. Plaza on Tuesday to connect people in the Tenderloin to housing, drug treatment and other services, a major component of Mayor London Breeds initiative to address conditions and overdose deaths in the neighborhood.

The city said anyone can come in off the street to 1170 Market St. to get food or clothing or to bathe or use the bathroom. They can then get referrals for mental health care, substance use treatment, shelter and other resources.

On Tuesday morning, fences encircling the outdoor area of the linkage center had signs advertising it: Come as you are. Help starts here.

Outreach workers will hand out flyers advertising the linkage center and help transport people there. Up to 50 people, plus staff, can stay inside at a time because of the current COVID-19 surge, but that will increase to 100. Mary Ellen Carroll, director of the emergency department leading the crisis response, said Tuesday morning she was super hopeful the center could provide people with resources and happy some had already come in to rest or get connected to detox.

The centers launch was hastened by Breeds declaration of a state of emergency last month related to overdose deaths in the Tenderloin. The declaration allowed the city to forgo a lengthy process to open the site. The center is the most noticeable change under the mayors initiative and key to its success. Advocates and officials broadly support the idea  unique among existing city resources because it brings together multiple services into an easily accessible one-stop shop  but some are wary the police will be involved in getting people there.

Last month, Breed said twice that people using drugs on the street would either have the option of going to the linkage center or to jail. However, on Tuesday outside the center, police Captain Chris Canning and Carroll said that police wouldnt force people into treatment or automatically arrest them if they didnt go to the center right now.

When asked what police would do if someone didnt want to go, Canning said it depended on the reason for contact.

People that break the laws face arrest anyways, he said. There is no plan and there is no direction for police officers to compel people to get treatment instead of taking an enforcement approach. ... They can tell people there are these resources. There is a collaborative approach, but not one of compulsion.

Carroll said she asked police to focus on violent and serious crimes, while public health and social workers lead outreach to serve people with substance use disorders.

We are absolutely trying to send a message that open-air drug use is not something that is going to be acceptable in the Tenderloin moving forward and we are trying to offer people services, she said. At this point, its voluntary and were not throwing people in jail or doing anything like that.

So far, the number of police in the Tenderloin hasnt increased because of budget and staffing shortages, but the mayor last week held her ground on her approach. Carroll didnt rule out the possibility police would be more involved if staffing and budget increase.

This is our strategy we are going to start with, and well see how it goes, Carroll said.

Just before the center opened at 8 a.m., three police cars were parked on U.N. Plaza, and a couple of officers approached a man sitting on the opposite site of the plaza from the center. The man, Claire Rummel, got up after he said officers told him what they tell him nearly every day  that he cant hang out.

That day he hoped would be different, as he waited to enter the linkage center. The first thing he wanted? A haircut, he said. (City staff said haircuts werent available on site, but he could get a referral).

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Workers set up at Tenderloin Linkage Center at United Nations Plaza ahead of its opening in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The center, part of the Citys Tenderloin emergency declaration, plans to provide people on the streets with treatment, housing and resources. (Stephen Lam / The Chronicle) Workers set up at Tenderloin Linkage Center at United Nations Plaza ahead of its opening in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The center, part of the Citys Tenderloin emergency declaration, plans to provide people on the streets with treatment, housing and resources. (Stephen Lam / The Chronicle)

Rummel said he couldnt remember the last time he had a haircut, or a shower or bed, for that matter. The 60-year-old has been homeless for 30-odd years and got on a housing list a year ago, but nothing happened. He hoped the linkage center would help him, although after he went off in the direction of City Hall, The Chronicle didnt observe him coming in over the next few hours.

When asked whether it was common practice to ask people on the plaza to move, Canning didnt directly answer, but said, Anytime we engage with people, we try to see if they need help as well as deal with people breaking the law.

After the center opened at 8 a.m., people began to trickle in and out.

Max Parkinson, wheeling a friend in a wheelchair out of the center around 11 a.m., said it was a nice, clean building with friendly staff. He showed off a bag of popcorn, hamburger, water and pack of socks, and said he was put on a list for housing  the first time in eight months hes been living in the city after he left a friends house in Clearlake (Lake County).

Parkinson plans to return to the center Wednesday and tell other people to come and get help. He recently started methadone for his drug use and got an ID that he hopes will help him secure a job. Once he stabilizes, he wants to reunite with his two sons, ages 6 and 8, either in Las Vegas where they live or here. He doesnt want to meet the same fate as his dad and brother-in-law, who both died of overdoses.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Reporters are not allowed inside the center for now, but city staff said once someone goes inside, the client is greeted by a community ambassador who asks a few questions, such as their name and what they need. Staff from the health department, the homelessness department, the human services agency, probation and nonprofits are onsite.

One of them is drug treatment provider HealthRight360, which has a small team to monitor safety in the bathrooms and help people. Last month, the organization hosted a news conference with the district attorney and public defender denouncing the mayors call to arrest drug users who dont accept help and pushing for more services.

We had concerns, Vitka Eisen, president and CEO, said on Tuesday, but at the end of the day, people are dying from drug overdoses, and our job is to stop that.

Also outside the center Tuesday, Supervisor Matt Haney said even though people had concerns about the broader emergency initiative, everyone should be for this.

The idea of a drop-in center is similar to what was outlined in MentalHealthSF legislation, which Haney co-authored, meant to overhaul the citys behavioral health care system. The sweeping reforms have been slow to roll out. The Tenderloin emergency initiative is now fulfilling some promises of that legislation by creating a center, better coordinating and filling service gaps, and more quickly hiring 200 vacant positions in behavioral health.

Much of the Tenderloin on Tuesday morning looked as it normally does. The blocks watched by community ambassadors were mostly clean and clear, and the strips without ambassadors were as crowded as last week, with people sleeping in tents or sitting on the sidewalk, using drugs or selling goods they admitted were stolen.

Terrance King, sitting along U.N. Plaza, said that more police were out, but they hadnt done anything other than tell him that he cant hang around as they usually do. He also had an outreach worker offer him housing in the morning. He had an 8:30 a.m. appointment, but just before 10 a.m. was surprised to learn that he had missed it. He said he had not heard about the linkage center and what it was offering although he was sitting across the plaza from it.

When Captain Canning and another police officer standing between King and the fountain walked away, King lit up.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
Two new restaurants are coming to San Franciscos Presidio.

The Presidio Trust just announced that it has signed leases with the Presmex Group by Eduardo Rallo, whose other company Resmex Group operates several Latin American restaurants in the Bay Area. Presmex will take over the space inside the historic Presidio Officers Club, previously home to Traci Des Jardins Arguello, as well as a spot at the Presidio Transit Center, part of the upcoming Presidio Tunnel Tops development.

Rallo is expected to announce more specifics on the two restaurants later. His current businesses include three restaurants at San Joses Santana Row: the lively open-air El Jardin, upscale Zazil Cocina Mexicana and casual rotisserie chicken-focused Chika. He was also behind Colibri Mexican Bistro, a San Francisco restaurant near Union Square that closed during the pandemic, and co-founded World Wrapps, a fast-casual chain credited with pioneering the fast-casual model, in 1994.

The new restaurants also mark a turning point for the Presidio Trust: The government agency used to own all of the parks restaurants and contract out with companies such as Bon Appetit Management Co., which was Des Jardins partner at shuttered Presidio restaurants Arguello and the Commissary. Now, the Presidio is giving up more control by leasing out the spaces; the two Presmex restaurants have 15-year leases.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle 2020

Arguello and the Commissary stopped serving food at the start of the pandemic in 2020 and officially shut down about a year ago, when the Presidio Trust and Des Jardins couldnt come to terms on a lease. Signing a long lease during such an unstable time for the restaurant industry seemed unwise, Des Jardins previously told The Chronicle.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

That former Commissary space, which occupies 4,600 square feet and a prominent location on the Main Post, is still empty. The Presidio Trust is looking for a tenant there and also for a massive, 6,000-square-foot restaurant space at the Presidio Tunnel Tops, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
For the first time in a month, average daily coronavirus cases have dipped week over week across the Bay Area, suggesting that much of the region may be near  or possibly past  the peak of the winter omicron surge.

Mondays case reports from the California Department of Public Health  including total cases from Friday to Sunday  drove the seven-day average down about 4% for the Bay Area compared with Jan. 9. Statewide, average daily cases were up 6% week over week, but that was a far less striking uptick than the doubling or tripling reported in previous weeks.

Case numbers are an imprecise marker of the pandemic, but health experts said Monday that they are encouraged by what appears to be a leveling off and even slight decline across parts of California, including the Bay Area. The states positive test rate also fell slightly late last week, from 23.1% on Wednesday to 21.5% on Friday, after climbing consistently since mid-December.

The encouraging case and positive test data follow reports last week that the amount of virus detected in sewage wastewater was dropping in Silicon Valley and some other regions. Cases tend to lag behind wastewater reports by about a week.

Its awfully early to call this the peak. I think things will be a little more pronounced as the week goes on, said Dr. George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease expert. But were definitely seeing a slowing of the growth in the Bay Area, like someones taken their foot off the accelerator. And this week well start to see a decline in case numbers, I think.

Stephen Shortell, former dean of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, was similarly cautiously optimistic. He said hed like to see three consecutive days of lower case counts in the coming week, and then were probably safe to say its peaked here in the Bay Area.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Still, health experts warned that even if the Bay Area is at or near the top of the omicron surge, the region still faces several weeks of very high transmission levels before bottoming out. And hospitalizations probably will keep climbing for another week or two.

When we hit the peak, that means were still maybe only halfway though the surge, so that means there are a lot of infections still to come as we head down the backside, said Joshua Salomon, an infectious disease expert at Stanford. It doesnt mean its time to let down our guard. There are a few weeks left in the surge, so its a good time to keep taking all the precautions that we were taking on the way up.

Nationwide, the picture is a bit murkier. Cases are dropping, in some places precipitously, in much of the Northeast that was hit first by the omicron surge. But theyre still climbing at an astonishing pace in parts of the South and Midwest.

In countries hit first by the highly infectious omicron variant, surges have already peaked  generally, three to four weeks from when cases began shooting up. South Africa, where the variant was first identified in late November, hit its peak in mid-December. The United Kingdom peaked in early January.

Cases began surging in California around Dec. 20. As of Sunday, California was reporting about 110,000 cases a day on average, a more than 15-fold increase since mid-December. The nine Bay Area counties are collectively reporting about 18,000 cases a day, a 20-fold increase from mid-December.

But both statewide and regionally, the day-to-day uptick has been slowing down. Last week, the shape of the upward trajectory looked like a gentle slope compared with the omicron vertical wall described by many epidemiologists.

The trends vary from county to county in the Bay Area. Cases are still climbing week over week in Napa and Sonoma counties and are essentially flat in Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Solano counties. San Francisco and Marin counties, which were the first to report spikes in cases in early December, showed the biggest drops this week: 14% and 20%, respectively. Alameda and San Mateo counties were down about 4% and 10%, respectively.

I think by this Friday, well see clearly we crested in the Bay Area. But hospitalizations are going to take another 10 days or so to come down after we reach the zenith, and the deaths are going to take three to four weeks to peak, said Dr. John Swartzberg, a infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley. That means were going to not be happy campers through the rest of this month.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Hospitalizations are still climbing in the Bay Area and statewide, though also at a somewhat slower pace than previous weeks. As of Sunday, 1,815 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in the Bay Area, a 31% increase over Jan. 9, and 14,211 were hospitalized statewide, a 29% bump.

At the peak of last winters surge, 22,000 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in California, including 2,200 in the Bay Area.

Deaths have remained relatively low in the Bay Area through this surge, which no signs yet of an increase. The region is currently reporting about six deaths a day on average. But deaths are spiking in other parts of the state, including Los Angeles County, which recently reported its highest daily death count since last March, according to state data.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, said hes encouraged by signs that this surge is slowing down, and that if the peak is soon to arrive its come earlier than he anticipated. But several Bay Area factors may have improved outcomes here, he said.

Overall high vaccination rates probably kept cases down somewhat, even with omicron creating a lot of breakthrough infections, Chin-Hong said. The weather probably helped too, as its generally warmer in the Bay Area than the northeast United States or the United Kingdom, so people could spend more time outdoors here.

And you have people who are COVID street smart, Chin-Hong said, noting general community support of indoor masking and other prevention measures. All of that paints the picture for us to have a more forgiving curve than other parts of the country.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
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SACRAMENTO  David Campos has been here before  locked in a fiercely competitive race to represent San Francisco in the state Assembly while battling a chief rival whose supporters have deeper pockets.

The last time, nearly eight years ago, Campos lost. After a negative and expensive fight, David Chiu defeated him by two percentage points.

But Campos, a former supervisor, has vowed the do-over will be different.

You always learn more from your failures than you do from your victories, Campos said of his sequel campaign. Were fighting for every vote.

The Assembly District 17 seat, representing the citys eastern side, is vacant after Chiu resigned last fall to become city attorney.

Campos, an attorney, is one of four candidates on the ballot for the Feb. 15 primary, along with Supervisor Matt Haney; Thea Selby, a City College of San Francisco trustee; and Bilal Mahmood, a scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

If no candidate wins a majority in the primary, a runoff election will be held April 19. Whoever wins the special election for Chius former seat will have little time for a victory lap. If the victor hopes to stay in the Assembly, they will have to run again in the June 7 regular statewide primary election, followed by the Nov. 8 general election.

Political observers widely predict a two-person runoff between Campos and Haney. Both men are vying for the support of San Franciscos ultraprogressive voters.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Why hes running: Campos believes his unabashedly progressive message is well suited for the moment.

Candidate profiles The Chronicle is running profiles this week of the candidates for state Assembly District 17, representing the eastern side of San Francisco. Voters will get vote-by-mail ballots this week or can vote in person for the Feb. 15 election. See More Collapse

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has further laid bare San Franciscos vast wealth disparities, and he argues he has the strongest track record of pushing bold pieces to fight inequity.

Campos, who is vice chair of the California Democratic Party, said hes heard from many party members across the city and state who feel like Sacramento was out of touch with them.

It really is about giving a voice to people who feel disconnected from power, who have been left out for so long, Campos said.

He has dubbed himself the corporate-free candidate, vowing to not take contributions from business interest groups, which often become the roadblock to progressive aims at the state Capitol. Campos campaign said he has raised over $400,000, including large donations from labor unions, tribal communities and many sitting Democratic legislators.

But Haney has the financial upper hand. His campaign said he has raked in more than $675,000 so far, and he is poised to benefit from outside spending by groups representing the medical industry and building trades unions.

Background: As he speaks to voters, Campos, 51, has emphasized both his personal story, as a gay man and former undocumented immigrant, and his long career in public service.

He immigrated to the United States at age 14, carrying his younger sister on his back while he, his mother and another sister crossed the border as they fled political upheaval in Guatemala. Campos said they joined his dad in South Central Los Angeles, where they lived in a rat-infested one-room apartment.

For me, protecting people from eviction is not just theoretical, its very personal, he said. People see in me someone who represents the experiences of so many whove come to San Francisco.

Campos said his mother worked as a janitor at night. He learned to speak English in public schools and worked many jobs. As a dreamer, he attended Stanford University, and later Harvard Law School.

At law school, Campos met his future husband, Phil Hwang, and the couple later relocated to San Francisco. Campos gained citizenship and became a deputy city attorney, a position he held for about five years.

In 2008, Campos was elected to the Board of Supervisors in deeply progressive District 9, representing the neighborhoods of Bernal Heights (where he lives), Portola and the Mission.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Campos championed measures to cement the citys sanctuary status for undocumented immigrants; create CleanPowerSF, the citys clean energy alternative; and establish cultural districts, starting with the Latino Cultural District in the Mission.

He was termed out in 2016 after eight years as a supervisor. Following his unsuccessful campaign for the Assembly in 2014, he worked as a deputy Santa Clara County executive.

Campos, however, quickly found his way back to the center of progressive politics. He was elected chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party in 2017, and vice chair of the state party last year.

He is also the chief of staff to District Attorney Chesa Boudin, but has been on leave from that role since November while he focuses on his campaign.

Policy proposals: Campos campaign has focused on many of the progressive goals he touted as a supervisor. He hasnt released a detailed policy platform, but he outlines several of his priorities in mailers and on his website:

 Medicare for all: Campos said the state needs a government-funded health care system that provides coverage for all Californians regardless of income.

 A Green New Deal: He said the state must invest more aggressively in infrastructure and job programs that reduce planet-warming emissions.

 Ending hunger: Campos said the state should use a chunk of its existing budget surplus to provide enough funding for food banks and other community organizations to erase food insecurity.

 Free college: Taking a page from progressive standard-bearer Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Campos wants California to provide free public college to all residents.

What critics say: Much of the intra-progresssive jousting has been between Campos and Haney, who are in many ways competing for the same pool of voters and endorsements.

One key dividing line in the race has been the Board of Supervisors controversial decision last fall to reject a 495-unit apartment complex for a site on Stevenson Street that is currently a Nordstrom parking lot. Haney supports the project, which would be in his district. Campos said he opposes the project, though not housing on the site, because it would displace nearby residents through gentrification.

I dont think we should build projects that leave out the working class and the middle class, he said.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development is investigating whether the supervisors violated state law by rejecting the project. Legislators expanded a law in 2017 that limits the ability of cities to reject housing that complies with local zoning  an effort to compel localities to help address the housing crisis.

This isnt the first time that Campos has taken a controversial stance on housing issues. In 2015, he unsuccessfully pushed a measure to try to temporarily halt construction of market-rate housing in the Mission.

His fellow supervisors rejected the idea, and city voters rejected a similar ballot measure later the same year. But Campos said his views have evolved.

If I had to do it over again, I wouldnt do it again today, he said. I think we need all kinds of housing, including market-rate housing.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
ELECTION UPDATE: San Franciscans overwhelmingly voted to recall three school board members, supervisor Matt Haney will head to the April runoff to become S.F.'s next state assemblymember and Joaquin Torres will remain S.F.'s assessor-recorder.

Track live election results on the San Francisco school board recall and Assembly District 17 race.

The Feb. 15 special election in San Francisco is around the corner. Voters received their sample ballots, information pamphlets and mail-in ballots over the past week. The election includes two races  the result of shuffling at City Hall  and a recall.

Here are answers to questions about the upcoming election.

What will San Franciscans be voting on?

1. The recall of three San Francisco Unified School District board members: President Gabriela Lopez, Vice President Faauuga Moliga and Commissioner Alison Collins. (Read: The school board recall vote explained; Alison Collins, Gabriela Lopez and Faauuga Moliga answer questions about their records.)

2. San Francisco assessor-recorder.

3. State Assembly member for District 17 representing the eastern side of San Francisco, if they live in the district.

The runoff for the Assembly will be held on April 19, unless one candidate gets a majority of the votes in February, but that appears unlikely given close polling among three candidates so far.

Why is there a Feb. 15 special election?

The election is the result of multiple political shake-ups in San Francisco.

 The recall: Fed-up public school parents got enough signatures to put a recall of three board members on the ballot, the result of frustration over the lack of in-person learning and the boards focus on renaming 44 schools and changing the admission process for the elite Lowell High School. Collins was specifically targeted over tweets she posted in 2016 about Asian Americans and an $87 million lawsuit against fellow board members and the district that alleged they violated her free speech. Read more about the SFUSD recall here.

Read the Chronicle Editorial Board endorsement on the school board recall here.

 The Assembly race: The seat is open after former Assembly Member David Chiu stepped down to become city attorney last year. That job was open when former City Attorney Dennis Herrera took over as head of the city department that runs water, sewer and power after its former director Harlan Kelly was charged with corruption.

 Assessor-recorder: This election is also the indirect result of City Hall corruption. The position became vacant after former Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu became city administrator, the citys highest-ranking nonelected official overseeing departments and agencies. The person who previously held that role, Naomi Kelly, stepped down after her husband, Harlan Kelly, faced charges.

How does the school recall voting process work?

The ballot will include a yes or no vote to recall each board member separately.

Who will appoint replacements if any of the school board members are recalled?

The mayor will make appointments if one or more of the three are recalled, who would serve out the remaining term and be subject to reelection in November.

Why arent all the board members up for a recall?

Of the seven board members, those three were the only ones who had served long enough in their term  at least a year  to be subject to recall. The four others had not yet served a year on their current term at the time.

What does the assessor-recorder do?

The position is responsible for identifying and assessing all taxable property in San Francisco  the single largest revenue source for the city that funnels billions of dollars into the budget every year. The office also records and maintains official city records.

Whos running for assessor-recorder?

Joaquin Torres, who was appointed by Mayor London Breed to fill the vacant position a year ago. To keep the position, Torres needs to run.

The San Francisco Department of Elections also certified Michael Petrelis as a write-in candidate, meaning he is eligible to receive votes but his name doesnt appear on the ballot. Petrelis, an LGBTQ advocate, in the past ran unsuccessfully for seats on the BART board and board of supervisors.

Whos running in the Assembly race?

The four candidates are: Matt Haney, District Six Supervisor; David Campos, former District Nine Supervisor who is taking a break from his job as chief of staff to District Attorney Chesa Boudin; Thea Selby, City College trustee, transit advocate and business owner; and Bilal Mahmood, scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Read up on the candidates:

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

What are the top issues in the race?

Housing has emerged as arguably the hottest issue in a race. Key debates include how far to go to change Californias zoning laws to produce more housing and whether building more market-rate developments contributes to alleviating the states affordability crisis.

Another major issue is the biggest and best proposals to tackle climate change.

Candidates are also focused on how to help people suffering from mental illness and substance use disorder and address public safety issues, especially since Breed controversially promised to crack down on crime and declared a state of emergency over the opioid epidemic in the Tenderloin, which is in the district.

What areas are included in the district?

The district covers the eastern half of San Francisco and follows a line that zigzags roughly through the middle of the city  everything east of Van Ness Avenue until turning west just south of Lafayette Park, and then hooking further west along the top of Alamo Square. The district then runs down the edge of Golden Gate Park, bends around Twin Peaks and back east, picking up the Excelsior and running along the citys southern border to the bay.

How and where can I vote?

To cast ballots, voters can go to their local polling place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day, or stop by the voting center at City Hall, which will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and during the two weekends before the election from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Election Day, Tuesday, Feb. 15, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots are expected to be mailed on Jan. 18 to all residents.

As the pandemic persists, voting by mail remains the safest option to participate in the upcoming election, Department of Elections Director John Arntz said in a statement. Although in-person voting opportunities will be available in the City Hall Voting Center and at the polls on Election Day, we encourage all voters to cast their mailed ballot.

Editors note: This article has been updated to show that the Assessor-Recorder election in February is the only vote for the position for this term.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
US government

The federal government launched a website Tuesday to sign up for free at-home COVID-19 test kits, allowing people to order a maximum of four tests per residential address.

The site is managed by the United States Postal Service and the URL is www.covidtests.gov, or you can go directly to the USPS order form at special.usps.com.
A woman born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area was pushed to her death in front of a subway train at the Times Square station Saturday, police said.

Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, was waiting for a southbound R train around 9:40 a.m. when she was apparently shoved, according to police.

The man believed responsible fled the scene but turned himself in to transit police a short time later, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a news conference at the station with Mayor Eric Adams.

This incident was unprovoked, and the victim does not appear to have had any interaction with the subject, Sewell said.

A second woman told police the man had approached her minutes earlier and she feared he would push her onto the tracks.

He approaches her and he gets in her space. She gets very, very alarmed, Assistant Chief Jason Wilcox said, describing the earlier encounter. She tries to move away from him and he gets close to her, and she feels that he was about to physically push her onto the train. As shes walking away she witnesses the crime where he pushes our other victim in front of the train.

Police on Saturday night identified the suspect as 61-year-old Simon Martial. Martial, who police said is homeless, was charged with second-degree murder. It was not immediately known whether he had an attorney who could comment.

Wilcox said Martial has a criminal history and has been on parole.

He does have, in the past, three emotionally disturbed encounters with us that we have documented, he said.

Go was a resident of New York, but she was born in Berkeley and raised in Fremont, multiple media outlets reported. She attended UCLA as an undergraduate, earned an MBA from New York Universitys Stern School of Business and worked at Deloitte Consulting as a senior manager of mergers and acquisitions, her LinkedIn page said.

Gos family issued a statement to KRON 4: We hope Michelle will be remembered for how she lived and not just how she died. She was a beautiful, brilliant, kind, and intelligent woman who loved her family and friends, loved to travel the world and to help others. Her life was taken too soon in a senseless act of violence, and we pray that she gets the justice she deserves.

A childhood friend of Go wrote on Twitter, "She was my HS classmate & always a source of light. Just 40 years old."

Go attended American High School in Fremont, KRON 4 said.

In recent months, there have been several instances of people being stabbed, assaulted or shoved onto the tracks at stations in the Bronx, Brooklyn and at Times Square.

Saturday's attack against Go, who was of Asian descent, also raised concerns amid a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in New York and around the country. Police officials said the killing, including whether it was a hate crime, was under investigation, but noted that the first woman Martial allegedly approached was not Asian.

This latest attack causing the death of an Asian American woman in the Times Square subway station is particularly horrifying for our community," Margaret Fung, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said. She said the community was still mourning the Dec. 31 death of Yao Pan Ma, a Chinese immigrant who was attacked in April while collecting cans in East Harlem.

"These attacks have left Asian Americans across the city and across the country feeling vulnerable and they must stop, Fung said in a statement.

The nonprofit group Asians Fighting Injustice is holding a candlelight vigil for Go at 6 p.m. Tuesday in San Francisco's Portsmouth Square, known as the heart of Chinatown, at Clay and Kearny streets. The group is also hosting a vigil in New York City with Mayor Eric Adams at 6 p.m. tonight on the red steps at Father Duffy Square in Times Square.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Police in Pleasant Hill, Calif., is calling on the public to help find a 15-year old boy who was reported missing Monday morning.

Brandon Abbett is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 107 pounds, the Pleasant Hill Police Department said. Abbett has brown hair and blue eyes.
Verizon and AT&T said Tuesday that they would delay the debut of new 5G cellular service near some airports, an attempt to address concerns that their equipment would interfere with airplane equipment when the service started Wednesday.

AT&T said in a statement that it had voluntarily agreed to temporarily defer turning on a limited number of towers around certain airport runways while it continued to work with aviation regulators. Verizon said it would also go ahead with its Wednesday launch but would add some additional measures to address concerns around airports.

Neither company said where they would apply the new measures and it was not immediately clear whether the changes went far enough to satisfy airlines and aviation safety regulators and avoid mass flight cancellations.

The announcements came just after the executives of 10 airlines sent a letter to the transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, saying that they feared chaos at airports and cargo hubs because of restrictions put in place by aviation regulators to avoid interference between the new wireless service and plane equipment used during takeoffs and landings.

Every one of the passenger and cargo carriers will be struggling to get people, shipments, planes and crews where they need to be, the executives said. To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt.

On a day like this past Sunday, more than 1,100 flights would have been canceled because of Federal Aviation Administration restrictions put in place for the 5G rollout, affecting about 100,000 passengers, the group said.

The new 5G service uses so-called C-band frequencies, which are close to the portion of airwaves used by radio altimeters, devices that determine the distance between planes and the ground. That measurement is particularly important to pilots when visibility is limited.

Several major companies and Airlines for America, the industrys trade organization that organized the letter, did not immediately provide estimates for how many flights would be canceled Wednesday if the 5G rollout happens as planned. In a separate statement Monday, United Airlines estimated that the disruptions would affect 1.25 million United passengers and at least 15,000 flights annually.

The airline group offered a solution in the letter: Allow 5G to be put in place nationwide starting Wednesday, except for within 2 miles of affected airport runways. On Tuesday, the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group that represents businesses across the sector, urged a delay in 5G implementation near airports of concern.

At least two international airlines said Tuesday that they would cancel or suspend flights to the U.S. on Wednesday because of the start of 5G service. One of them, Air India, said it would cancel flights from New Delhi to New York, San Francisco and Chicago and another from Mumbai to Newark. And Emirates, which is based in Dubai, said it planned to suspend service to several U.S. airports.

In a letter to staff Tuesday, Americans chief operating officer, David Seymour, warned of major operational disruptions caused by the 5G rollout because the potential for interference is not fully understood.

To be very clear, were incredibly disappointed that we are at this point, that the entire U.S. airline industry is facing major disruption as new wireless technology is activated, he said. The two should be able to coexist, but that only comes with better understanding of potential impacts.

The industry and the aviation regulators had raised concerns about 5G interference over the past several years. In November 2020, for example, the International Air Transport Association, a global trade group, warned that such interference could trigger automated systems forcing planes to pull up to avoid phantom objects, or could prevent planes from warning pilots of real obstacles.

Airlines and the FAA began escalating warnings in recent months, leading Verizon and AT&T to delay their limited 5G rollout from December to early January and again to this Wednesday. The latest delay came after the FAA, which is part of Buttigiegs department, reached an agreement at the start of January, buying more time to prepare safety precautions.

The FAA said at the time that it would no longer ask for further delays after Verizon and AT&T agreed to the most recent postponement. At the time, Airlines for America said in a statement that it would continue to work with all stakeholders to help ensure that new 5G service can coexist with aviation safely.

The telecommunications industry has pushed back against the concerns raised by the airlines and the FAA, noting that the implementation of 5G has been years in the making and that the service has already been introduced in Britain, France and other countries without incident.

In our opinion, the technical information that is being used to generate concern shows improbable worst-case scenarios, GSMA, a global wireless industry group, said Monday.

The FAA has noted, however, that there are technical differences in how 5G is being carried out in other countries. In the United States, planes would be protected from 5G interference only in the last 20 seconds of flight, compared with 96 seconds in France, for example. The temporary power limits that U.S. wireless companies agreed to are still about 2.5 times higher than the permanent limits used in France, according to information the agency posted online.

Last week, the FAA started issuing hundreds of notices to airlines providing updated guidance on how to land planes safely in low-visibility conditions where 5G service is of concern. On Sunday, the agency said it had cleared an estimated 45% of the U.S. commercial plane fleet to perform such landings safely, opening up runways at as many as 48 of the 88 airports most directly affected by potential 5G interference. The agency did not identify which airports had yet to be cleared.

The planes approved include some Boeing 737, 747, 757 and 767 models, as well as some Airbus A310, A319, A320, A321, A330 and A350 models, the FAA said. Not on the list were the Boeing 777 and 787, which are used for longer, international flights. American and United have dozens of 777s in service.

Lawmakers and safety experts have criticized the aviation regulator in recent years for failing to anticipate and prevent the problems that caused two fatal crashes of the Boeing 737 Max plane, killing 346 people and leading global aviation regulators to ban the plane for nearly two years.

The Federal Communications Commission, which distributes wireless spectrum, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
William Cronnon had just finished his lunch at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Tennessee in April 2014 when his waitress asked him if she could refill his water glass one more time. When she returned, the Alabama native took two or three big swigs.

But when Cronnon felt a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus and struggled to breathe, he realized he wasn't drinking water at all. Instead, Cronnon was served the chemical Eco-San, a cleaning agent used in the kitchen, that has since caused him years of gastrointestinal issues, according to court documents.

Now, almost eight years later, Cracker Barrel has been ordered by a jury to pay Cronnon more than $9.3 million for serving him a glass filled with a cleaning chemical. A jury for the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Marion County, Tenn., ruled Jan. 6 that the company must award Cronnon more than $4.3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages for the 2014 incident.

The size of Cronnon's award could be capped because of a Tennessee law that limits economic damages to $750,000, despite his extensive health problems.

"Cracker Barrel treated this guy like a dog," Thomas Greer, Cronnon's attorney, told The Washington Post. "The people in that store knew exactly what they served him. There is a sense of relief knowing that the jury believed him."

Cronnon, 68, declined an interview request, Greer said.

Cracker Barrel told The Post in a statement that the company was "disappointed" in the Tennessee jury's decision.

"While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jury's award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago," the company's media relations office said. "Although we are considering our options with respect to this verdict, we are glad this matter is behind us so we can better focus on caring for our guests and employees around the country."

Greer, who said he expects Cracker Barrel to appeal the ruling, described the company's statement to the media as "hypocrisy."

"It would be laughable to me if it was not such a serious issue," Greer said.

It all started on April 25, 2014, when Cronnon made a short trip over the Tennessee border from his work in Bridgeport, Ala., to the Cracker Barrel about 30 miles west of Chattanooga, Greer said. Cronnon said he felt something was wrong after a couple sips of what he assumed was ice water, according to the complaint. The chemical was poured into his glass from an unmarked container, Greer said.

In addition to the burning sensation he felt after drinking the chemical, Cronnon struggled to breathe and could not stop coughing, his attorney said.

Eco-San is a "food contact surface sanitizer and destainer for use in low-temperature warewashing machines," according to its website. Ecolab, the company that makes Eco-San, specifies that the product contains "a high concentration of chlorinating agent."

In the years that followed the incident, Greer said Cronnon suffered "severe permanent injuries," such as "regular cramping, bloating diarrhea, and reflux pain after meals." Cronnon, a factory worker for about 50 years, was also forced to stop working at his job because of the Cracker Barrel incident, saying he "lost wages and future earning capacity," according to court records.

Even though the initial lawsuit was filed in 2015, delays in the legal system, and those forced by the coronavirus pandemic, impeded the case until this month, Greer said. The attorney took over the case from his father, Cronnon's original lawyer, who died in 2019.

While Cracker Barrel had "good and written policies saying don't put unmarked chemicals in unmarked containers," the Marion County location was not training its employees consistent with those rules, Greer said. At this month's trial, the attorney said three former employees testified how Cracker Barrel's training was not up to par with its companywide policies.

"This was an ongoing, unsafe practice," Greer said.

Cracker Barrel disputed that the 2014 incident was part of a larger, systemic issue at the chain restaurant.

"Our policy has been, and continues to be, to never put chemicals in any unmarked containers," the company told The Post. "Again, this is an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago."

Yet it took just 2  days for the jury to side with Cronnon over Cracker Barrel.

"We the jury find [the] plaintiff is entitled to punitive damages in the amount of $5 million," the presiding juror wrote in the jury verdict form.

But the millions awarded to Cronnon could be reduced significantly. As part of the Tennessee Civil Justice Act in 2011, the state limited noneconomic damages in a personal injury action to $750,000. The Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the state cap in 2020.

Court records show that $3.6 million of the $4.3 million awarded to Cronnon in compensatory damages are classified as noneconomic damages.

While Greer said he's disappointed in the cap from the state law, he emphasized how the $5 million awarded in punitive damages to Cronnon was "very rare," noting a figure that high is "reserved for the most egregious conduct." The attorney said he and Cronnon hope that the jury's ruling against Cracker Barrel will be a wake-up call for other restaurants that might not clearly label their chemicals in the kitchen.

"We hope people see this and realize that they need to change their ways," he said.
In his famous address at the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. drew a direct line between the struggle for racial equality and the nation's efforts to realize democracy. "When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir," King declared. However, King emphasized, the nation had betrayed that promise to Black people: "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned." King warned that this failure meant the nation's promise that "all men are created equal" remained a "dream" that was yet to be realized.

Nearly 60 years later, the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted continuing racial disparities in policing, education, employment, health care and voting rights, again underscoring the yawning gap between the nation's democratic ideals and its lived reality. Even so, our research shows that Americans remain divided over whether racial inequality is a problem. Although a majority of Americans recognize that white people enjoy racial advantages and are angry about racism in U.S. society, a substantial fraction disagrees.

These disagreements animate the very real, and very perilous, struggle over the survival of U.S. democracy today. People who deny white racial advantages and the prevalence of racial inequities also doubt the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, express more positive attitudes toward the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and absolve former president Donald Trump of blame for the riot.

These patterns suggest that the desire to maintain white advantages - the impulse that King identified as largely responsible for the nation's democratic failures - continues to threaten the well-being of U.S. democracy.

- - -

How we did our research

Since Trump's election to office in 2016, scholars have carefully documented the relationship between racial attitudes and support for the former president. They have provided strong evidence that negative attitudes toward people of color and hostility toward immigrants are closely associated with support for Trump.

Given that Trump's false allegations that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him relied heavily on racist claims about voter fraud and election manipulation, we suspected that racial attitudes would shape perceptions of the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

In a survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 American adults fielded Dec. 14 to 20, we asked respondents about their views on racism in American society - specifically, whether they agreed that white people enjoy advantages based on skin color or that racial problems were isolated situations, and whether they were angry that racism exists (items from the FIRE scale, which stands for fear, institutionalized racism, and empathy). We also asked about their perceptions of the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and their views on the events of Jan. 6.

- - -

What we found

The patterns we found were revealing. For example, although 58% of Americans agree that White people have advantages, 15% said they were neutral, and 26% disagreed. (Among white people, 55% acknowledge white advantages and 30% disagree.) Twenty-five percent of Americans believe racial problems are just rare, isolated situations, while another 15% express a neutral view of this matter, compared with 60% who say that racial problems are more common. We highlight the neutrals as well as those who explicitly downplay racial inequities because King famously warned against "lukewarm" or moderate responses to racial injustice.

These divisions over racial equality were closely related to perceptions of the 2020 presidential election and the Capitol attack. For example, among those who agreed that white people in the United States have advantages based on the color of their skin, 87% believed that Joe Biden's victory was legitimate; among neutrals, 44% believed it was legitimate; and among those who disagreed, only 21% believed it was legitimate. Seventy percent of people who agreed that white people enjoy advantages considered the events of Jan. 6 to be an insurrection; 26% of neutrals described it that way; and only 10% who disagreed did so, while 80% of this last group called it a protest. And while 70% of those who agreed that white people enjoy advantages blamed Trump for the events of Jan. 6, only 34% of neutrals did, and a mere 9% of those who disagreed did.

Similarly, 81% of people who recognized that racial problems were more than just rare, isolated situations believed that Biden's election was legitimate, compared with 39% of neutrals and 32% of those who thought that racial problems were rare. And 66% of those who agreed that racial problems were more than rare situations blamed Trump for the events of Jan. 6, compared with just 35% of neutrals and 13% of those who thought racial problems were rare.

Racial attitudes matter among both Democrats and Republicans. For example, among Republicans who agree that white people enjoy advantages, 37% believe Biden's election was legitimate, but among those who don't, only 14% do. Meanwhile, among Democrats who agree that white people enjoy advantages, 96% believe Biden was legitimately elected, but among Democrats who disagree, only 76% do. For independents, 89% of those who believe white people have advantages think Biden's election was legitimate, but only 20% of independents who don't think white people have advantages do.

- - -

Divisions over racial equality and the struggle for democracy

These patterns reveal that the wounds that King identified exist still. A majority of Americans acknowledge the reality of racial inequality in U.S. society today. However, as King would have predicted, those who deny the existence of racial inequality are also those who are most willing to reject the legitimacy of a democratic election and condone serious violations of democratic norms. For this reason, and as King argued, advancing racial equality and renewing U.S. democracy go hand in hand.

---

Jesse H. Rhodes is professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, associate director of the UMass Poll, and co-author (with Brian F. Schaffner and Raymond J. La Raja) of "Hometown Inequality: Race, Class, and Representation in America's Local Politics" (Cambridge University Press, 2020).

Raymond J. La Raja (@raylaraja) is professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, associate director of the UMass Poll, and co-author (with Brian F. Schaffner) of "Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail" (University of Michigan Press, 2015)

Tatishe M. Nteta (@TatisheNteta) is associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and director of the UMass Poll.

Alexander Theodoridis (@AGTheodoridis) is an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and associate director of the UMass Poll.
SYDNEY - The Pacific nation of Tonga, scrambling to recover from a devastating volcanic eruption on Saturday that sent tsunami waves halfway around the world, faces a new threat: a potential "tsunami" of coronavirus infections.

Aid groups and defense officials from Australia and New Zealand are working on contactless ways to deliver water and other vital supplies to the remote archipelago kingdom, which is one of the few places in the world to remain essentially free of the virus. (Residents went into a brief lockdown in November when a single case, Tonga's first, was detected in a person at a quarantine hotel.)

"As much as we are going to send assistance, we will still need to follow the covid-19 protocols to keep the people in the population safe, rather than . . . [have] a tsunami of covid hitting Tonga," a senior Tongan diplomat in Canberra, Curtis Tuihalangingie, told Australian public radio Tuesday.

On Tuesday, in its first official statement on the crisis, Tongan authorities said the "unprecedented disaster" had generated tsunami waves of up to 49 feet and caused extensive damage. At least three deaths were confirmed - a British national, a 65-year-old woman from Mango island and a 49-year-old man from Nomuka island - and all of the houses on Mango, which reportedly has more than 30 inhabitants, were destroyed.

"Water supplies have been seriously affected by the volcanic ash," the statement added.

The first clear images of the destruction wrought by the eruption and subsequent tsunami emerged Tuesday after a New Zealand military surveillance flight returned from the area. The aerial photos show land and trees blanketed in ash on Nomuka, a small island near the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano.

Tonga has been largely cut off from the world since the twin disasters, which damaged an undersea communications link. Some local calls were restored over the weekend, but contact with islands near the volcano has been severely limited.

Officials have declared a state of emergency and were meeting with representatives from Australia and New Zealand, the region's two wealthiest countries, to discuss ways they could assist.

United Nations officials said a distress signal had been detected from the low-lying Ha'apai group of islands, raising "particular concern" for the residents there. A satellite image circulating on social media, apparently taken during the New Zealand surveillance mission, rated the damage on Mango island as "catastrophic."

The breakdown of Tonga's phone and internet communications has led to an anxious wait for families, especially those living abroad.

Sela Fonua, a 35-year-old in Auckland, New Zealand, spoke with her family Sunday morning via a satellite phone at a Tongan government office where her brother worked.

The biggest problem on Tongatapu, the largest island in the archipelago where her family and much of the country's population live, was volcanic ash in the eruption's aftermath and concerns about the water supply, Fonua said.

"They have been advised not to drink the tank or town water," she said. "To say [my parents] were pretty scared would be an understatement. They said they have never heard such a frightening 'boom' sound before in their life."

Fonua's husband, an American pilot, died in August. She was to return to Tonga this week on a repatriation flight with her five children, to be with family while they grieved. Now, that plan is in doubt.

"I have been longing to go since I lost my husband five months ago - just for a hug from Dad and, you know, my mother knows best," she said. "But now I have to think twice."

Siu Siola'a, 30, lives in Sydney and has not been able to communicate with friends or family. She runs a freight business and is organizing a shipment of food and water to charities in her homeland that will take about a month to arrive. "We're all dying to hear from family members," she said.

Some aid agencies have local staff members on the ground. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies had 10 staff members and 70 volunteers in Tonga, but it hasn't heard from them since Saturday.

The organization had previously placed disaster supplies, including tarpaulins and water, for 1,200 families in 10 locations outside the capital, Nuku'alofa, said Sainiana Rokovucago, programs coordinator for the IFRC in Fiji, adding that she hoped the staff members were spreading those supplies to harder-hit outer islands.

The U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, normally has several employees in Tonga, but they were outside the country when the volcano erupted, complicating the group's response, said Jonathan Veitch, a senior UNICEF Pacific official.

"Running this thing remotely is really, really challenging, especially with no comms," he said, adding that the U.N. had only 23 people in Tonga at the moment.

UNICEF has had informal discussions about the possibility of sending aid workers, but so far the Pacific country has signaled it wants to maintain tight border controls. "They have no covid," Veitch said. "The way they have played it over the past two years has been successful for them."

About 60% of Tonga's roughly 105,000 residents had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as of last week, according to Our World in Data. Fiji and Australia are battling outbreaks of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, a factor that could weigh into officials' reluctance to let foreign aid workers in.

With Tongan airplane runways still closed by volcanic ash, UNICEF is loading supplies onto Australian and New Zealand naval ships that should get to the archipelago in the coming days. It is unclear whether military personnel from those countries will be allowed on shore.

The IFRC plans to send supplies for an additional 2,900 families when air routes reopen, although much of the aid might not be immediately distributed.

"We have been informed that any of the relief supplies that are sent to the islands need to be quarantined," Rokovucago said. "If that's what the government wants, we'll have to adhere to that."

The biggest concern at the moment is drinkable water, Veitch said. UNICEF was sending water, water-testing kits and desalination devices, and the ships will be equipped with larger desalination plants. (Rokovucago said she hoped the government would not quarantine water supplies.)

According to World Health Organization officials, the government has advised the Tongan public to remain indoors, use masks if going out, and drink bottled water to avoid contamination from ash.

- - -

Miller and Vinall reported from Melbourne, Australia. The Washington Post's Helier Cheung contributed to this report.
One week after many Bay Area school districts struggled to fill classrooms with healthy students and teachers amid a COVID-19 spike, Oakland Unified is hoping to avoid a student boycott on Tuesday over access to safety measures such as KN95 masks, COVID tests and outdoor accommodations for meals.

Oakland Unified school officials said Monday in a letter to the school community that they spent last week and the weekend working to meet most of the students' requests, including:
By Leslie Katz

Bay City News Foundation

A San Jose State University lecturer is cautiously optimistic about a program she was instrumental in starting after the fall of Kabul that will bring Afghan scholars to the U.S.

"We've raised close to $400,000 to help evacuate and bring scholars over and have them here at our universities," said Halima Kazem-Stojanovic, a journalism instructor and member of San Jose State's Human Rights Institute, which, with the University of California, Berkeley's Human Rights Center, established Afghan Scholars at Risk.

So far, about 150 scholars are vetted, and about a dozen universities are ready to offer jobs to qualified Afghan instructors. But because of delays with getting visas at U.S. embassies, only two scholars, both referred from San Jose State, have arrived -- one at UC Berkeley, the other at the University of Texas at El Paso.

About ten individuals are in other countries, including Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany and Albania, awaiting interviews toward obtaining a J-1, or foreign scholar, visa for the United States.

Kazem-Stojanovic hopes that the program's "at risk" designation will speed up the process of getting the educators out of Afghanistan, where they're in danger for their lives, targeted by the Taliban for the reporting and public-facing work they have done.

"It's not just that they're coming to share their knowledge. They have to leave, otherwise they're going to get killed," she said.

The project also includes a program under which the scholars will "create considerable journalistic and research content on the lives and experiences of the Afghan diaspora during and following the (American) war," according to William Armaline, director of San Jose State's Human Rights Institute. Plans are to build an Afghan immigrant narratives archive combining work by the visiting scholars with contributions from the Afghan community in Santa Clara County.

The Afghan Scholars at Risk project's seeds were planted hours after the Taliban took over on Aug. 15 last year, when Kazem-Stojanovic, who taught journalism in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014, was inundated with messages from former colleagues and activists there.

Heartbroken, she contacted colleagues in San Jose State's journalism school and Department of Justice Studies asking for help. Within two weeks, a team of about 12 was working nonstop, starting to compile a database with information about individuals in need and universities interested in hiring Afghan scholars. A crowdfunding website also was established.

"I sent out the email because of my concern for the Afghan scholars I'd worked with for almost two decades in Afghanistan," said Kazem-Stojanovic, who was born in Kabul six months after the communist coup in 1978 and came to the U.S. with her family in 1980.

Noting that the program's organizers are volunteers, and that all money raised goes directly to the scholars, Kazem-Stojanovic added, "We're making progress. There were a lot of ups and downs. But the fact that a couple of our J-1 applicants have arrived and interviews are starting to be scheduled at embassies, there is hope. More hope than there was maybe two months ago. We thought that scholars would arrive a lot sooner, but now we are preparing. It will likely be next academic year that they'll arrive. Things are moving, but just very, very slowly. And what makes it difficult is that in the meantime, these individuals are in limbo."

Kazem-Stojanovic, who wrote curriculum for journalism departments while teaching in Afghanistan, said some scholars in the program are professors she trained and worked with; others she met recently. Some already have been to the U.S.; San Jose State had a partnership with public schools in Afghanistan -- Herat University in the west and Balkh University in north -- in which academics studied here for six weeks.

All of the scholars must pass an English test, a requirement of the J-1 visa. Most are under 35, she said, pointing to the generation that learned English and took advantage of the last 20 years, in which, despite problems with the U.S. and Afghan governments, there were still "a lot of opportunities opening up" in the country.

As for prospects now, Kazem-Stojanovic said, "It's more of a wait and see of what this Taliban regime -- I'm not even calling it a government yet -- will do there. ... There's been, already, a lot of regression. We've lost a lot that was gained in the last 20 years, as far as media freedom, as far as the government system, just civil society. We are now waiting to see how it resettles, how it adjusts, and how far back things are put. We don't know at this point. It looks pretty grim, especially if you're going to compare it to the last 20 years. Maybe the progress was too fast. ... As someone who studies Afghan history, I can see the waves and cycles of similar kinds of events. But now we're just watching and seeing what kinds of losses we're going to have to deal with."

An ongoing major concern is the need for more U.S. resources to bring Afghans here. While the Scholars at Risk program has established a relationship with the White House, the coalition working to resettle Afghans needs a boost from the State Department, Kazem Stojanovic said, "in looking at how they're going to come in, and on which visas, and how fast they can process. ... We have scholars ready to go. We have positions in many places for them. They just can't get here."

She also points to differences between Afghan immigration and long-term difficulties associated with the southern U.S. border. Unlike Mexico, she said, "The thing with Afghanistan is that we were at war there. This is what the consequences of our direct action in that country have caused."

On the local level, efforts will go toward assisting those who come here to find a suitable place to live in the expensive Bay Area real estate market.

"When our scholars arrive, it would be amazing to have community help in finding housing for them. Many are coming in traumatized, with families, with children, and dorms are not the best places for them. In order to keep their appointments, so they can stay employed with us, we're trying to use our funding for that," Kazem-Stojanovic said, adding the UC Berkeley visiting scholar was pleased to receive home furnishings via a registry set up for her.

Donations of money, housing, household items or language support and other contributions are being accepted; those interested in giving may visit the Human Rights Institute website at https://www.sjsu.edu/hri/afghan-scholars/index.php.

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With San Francisco Bay Area sea levels expected to rise two to five feet by the end of the century, it's predicted that most of state Route 37 will likely become permanently inundated by the mid-century or as soon as 2040, according to the California Department of Transportation, thus cutting off a major regional transportation route.

Route 37 follows the northern shore of San Pablo Bay, and a large portion of the 21-mile roadway is lower than the surrounding levees, causing it to be frequently flooded and closed during particularly rainy winter months.

Caltrans is seeking public comment on its efforts to find solutions to this corridor's challenges while protecting and enhancing sensitive marshland habitats along the northern shore of San Pablo Bay.

A candlelight vigil for Berkeley-born, Fremont-raised Michelle Go will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in San Francisco's Portsmouth Square, known as the heart of Chinatown, at Clay and Kearny streets, according to social media posts.

Go was pushed onto the tracks of a New York City subway and killed Saturday morning. The vigil is being organized in cooperation with the New York nonprofit Asians Fighting Injustice, an group dedicated to fighting against the rise in hate crimes in New York City. In an Instagram post, interested volunteers are asked to message @_dearcommunity to offer their support.

"We are mourning and we will heal with our East Coast brothers and sisters," the tribute post reads.

Nearly 4,000 Kaiser patients may have received slightly less than the recommended dose of their COVID-19 vaccination last fall at Kaiser Permanente's Walnut Creek Medical Center, officials with the health care provider said Monday.

Kaiser is now contacting roughly 3,900 people who received a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose between Oct. 25 and Dec. 10.

Kaiser and medical experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that the difference between the administered dose and the recommended dose is negligible and was unlikely to result in reduced protection against COVID.

However, Kaiser said it is offering an additional Pfizer vaccine dose to the affected patients if they request one.

Oakland Unified is hoping to avoid a student boycott today over access to safety measures such as KN95 masks, COVID tests and outdoor accommodations for meals.

School officials said Monday that they spent last week and the weekend working to meet most of the students' requests, including:

--Arranging to distribute 200,000 KN95 masks to students at all school sites this week.

--Opening onsite testing hubs on Friday and Monday, with some schools conducting onsite testing twice a week and some offering onsite testing once a week.

The district said it has installed more covered outdoor eating spaces since last fall at numerous campuses but said there is a backlog of orders for the equipment needed to finish the work.

As of last week, about 1,200 Oakland Unified students had signed the walkout petition, saying they would take a stand at the district headquarters.

Union City Police are seeking two suspects who they said are engaging in a bait-and-switch scheme in which they place costume jewelry on their victims and then steal the person's real valuables.

Police said three similar incidents were reported Thursday and Friday. The suspects engaged the victims in conversation and placed costume jewelry onto their necks and wrists.

In all three incidents, the victims rejected the jewelry, but the suspects removed the victim's own jewelry and watches while leaving them with the costume pieces.

Two victims were 79, and the other was 59 years old.

The suspects were described as a Middle Eastern man, 30 to 35 years old with a beard, and a Middle Eastern woman, about the same age.

The owner of a French bulldog named Dezzie that was stolen at gunpoint on Park View Terrace and Montecito Avenue Thursday night posted on social media that her pet is safe at home.

She did not provide details on how she got the dog back but said that she is "beyond overjoyed" and thanked all who joined the search for Dezzie, who she said is "OK and recuperating."

The purebred toy breed, which sells for around $3,000, appears to be a popular target among thieves lately, with a theft reported on Saturday night in Castro Valley and one in San Francisco earlier this month.

An Oakland man was killed when the Ford Explorer he was driving struck a parked trailer early Monday morning in West Oakland, police said.

The Alameda County coroner identified the man as Joseph Bennett III, 50, of Oakland.

The crash occurred just before 2 a.m. in the 800 block of Frontage Road near Seventh Street.

Oakland Police said Monday that a man reported missing since December has been found safe. Jabari Anderson, 46, was last seen Dec. 22 in the 3600 block of Park Ridge Drive in Richmond, according to police.

San Francisco officers from the Tenderloin station witnessed an armed robbery in progress Sunday afternoon and chased the two suspects on foot, before apprehending them and seizing an assault-style handgun in their possession, police said.

In a 10:09 p.m. tweet, police posted a photograph of the weapon -- considered a ghost gun because it lacks a serial number -- which also had a high-capacity drum magazine.

Police provided no additional information about the suspects.

The National Weather Service forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area calls for mostly sunny skies Tuesday, following morning fog in the East and South Bay. Daytime highs are expected in the high 50s to low 60s with overnight lows in the low to mid 40s. Look for dry and mild conditions to continue this week.

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Sachin Chopra sits in a makeshift dining tent in the parking lot of his once Michelin-starred restaurant, All Spice.

Its Friday. Its drizzling. And hes about to burst into tears.

Chopra and his co-owner/wife Shoshana Wolff just signed a new two-year lease on the charming, 116-year-old Victorian that houses All Spice. And both of them know this is likely the last lease theyll ever sign for this building. A real estate developer bought the San Mateo land that All Spice sits on (along with five parcels next to it) for $7.1 million in 2018, and in 2019 announced plans to demolish every existing structure in favor of a slew of market-rate condos, townhomes and 82 underground parking spaces.

Since then, All Spices owners have been strung along on very short leases as the pandemic has helped keep the project at bay, but Chopra and Wolff both know theres a day in the not-too-distant future when theyll watch a bulldozer tear through what has been a figurative home to the couple for more than a decade.

Chopra, a 47-year-old self-proclaimed optimist, tells me it wont be a big deal.

Ill internalize it, he says, before a pause that lasts an eternity. ... You cannot really do anything  you can't. Only in the event that you won the Powerball or something and write a check, or you get an angel investor that helps you buy the property  all those things are in realms of fantasy, though.

You just deal with it. You really have to walk forward.

Sachin is very good at having these kinds of things not affect his day-to-day life, Wolff assures me, while looking at Chopra as if she knows whats about to happen next.

No sulking really required, he says. I've been through that 

And then he starts to cry.

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Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Sachin Chopra may be the unluckiest man in the unluckiest industry.

Born and raised in India, he immigrated to the United States in the 1990s, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York in 1998 and went straight into one of only a small handful of restaurants ever awarded four stars by the New York Times: Daniel.

He worked the line, then quickly turned that into sous and executive chef roles elsewhere, eventually culminating in the opening of his own Manhattan restaurant, Tapasserie, in July of 2001.

Two months before 9/11.

After the Twin Towers fell in the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil in American history, streets were blocked off all around Chopras new restaurant on 27th between 3rd and Lexington as the nearby 69th Regiment Armory became a counseling center for the victims and families.

Chopra lost his savings, his restaurant and his credit score.

2002 was a year of heavy personal financial losses. I had to use a lot of credit cards, the economy was not really back, he says. ... I couldnt really see the sun in any way, couldnt see anything becoming better, and then I got the opportunity to come here.

He moved to the Bay Area a year later and bounced around various chef posts at high-end Indian restaurants, including at Amber India in Santana Row. Thats where he met Shoshana Wolff. She was working as a server at Amber India while finishing up her pre-requisites for a grad school program at UC Davis in viticulture and enology.

Wine science, she thankfully explains with a smile.

The pair got married in 2005 and five years later, started looking for their own restaurant space.

My New Years resolution several years ago was to never have to write a resume again, Wolff says. And thus far, she still hasnt.

---

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Delivery trucks roar between the satellite dining room were sitting in and All Spices historic home.

We actually found it listed on Craigslist, Wolff, 45, says of the building.

The 1906 Victorian that sits at 1602 South El Camino Real is actually tucked down an alley west of El Camino and located in the middle of a large circular parking lot  a maroon-accented island in a sea of asphalt. The first time you dine there, you absolutely will get lost trying to find it, and when you finally find it, you absolutely will be awestruck by it.

How did this get here?

Turns out, the building was originally the gatehouse for what was once the Borel Estate  a 300-acre, tree-studded country property on the Peninsula owned by a man named Antoine Borel. Borel served as Switzerlands vice-consul in San Francisco in the mid-1800s, was the director of the Bank of California, bought the California Street Railway and lived in a 23-room, vine-covered residence on the San Mateo property when he wasnt at his mansion in San Francisco. The gatehouse is one of the few remaining vestiges of the estate after the land was subdivided in the 1950s, and now sits a block away from aptly named Borel Avenue.

We found it at the beginning of our search and kind of discounted it to begin with  its such an off-the-beaten-path spot. Theres no walk-in traffic possible. Really, its a destination, Wolff says. But we ultimately decided to come back to this one, and Im really glad that we did.

The pair spent three months investing sweat equity (painting, doing repairs, furnishing), before landing on the transformative, delightfully colorful space inside, which manages to squeeze an entire restaurant into whats very clearly the first floor of a very old home.

They opened in 2010 with three people in the kitchen and two in the front of house, with Wolff spending her days working as a chemist and nights moonlighting at All Spice.

The restaurant was an almost immediate success  a glowing review in the San Francisco Chronicle provided a lift in visibility in 2011, and things really started to pick up after a story from Esquire that called Chopra a "new chef to watch." And then in 2012 came a needle-moving feature from KQEDs Check, Please! Bay Area.

From there, All Spice became a rare-ish mid-Peninsula award magnet. It held a Michelin star starting in 2013 for three straight years thanks to Chopras Indian-inspired French Californian cuisine (which is still one of the best meals on the entire Peninsula) and Wolffs flawless front-of-house operation.

And then came 2015.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

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Chopra and Wolff opened Game in San Franciscos Union Square in January 2015.

The wild meat-centric concept was deemed "not worth a review" at all by San Francisco Chronicle critic Michael Bauer, and just two months after opening, the pair scrapped the entire concept (the menu, the interior and the name) and reopened in March as All Spice San Francisco.

Perhaps it was the ghost of Masa's lingering in the dining room, or simply that a game-meat-driven restaurant was not scratching any itches for San Francisco diners; either way, Chopra told Inside Scoop that We decided it would be best for the restaurant and our sanity to try to do what we know the best, Eaters Ellen Fort wrote of the closure.

In spite of the abrupt shift (and, more impressively, Bauer), All Spice San Francisco still managed to earn its own Michelin Star in just six months' time. And then, just like that, the restaurant closed in 2016 after a little more than a year in business.

We projected our numbers based on a hit restaurant. But we didn't think about what it would mean to try and keep the restaurant afloat in a time where we were not a hit. That's just not how we think, Wolff says.

The pair lost their savings, their restaurant and their Michelin star at both locations.

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Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Six years later, theyve finally paid off debt accrued from their San Francisco misadventure (they paid it down in full a few months ago).

But now we have accrued new debts, Wolff says.

Enter: the pandemic (because no story about the unluckiest man in the unluckiest industry would be complete without a global health emergency).

With the future razing of their restaurant looming, Chopra and Wolffs 2020 made them question everything.

They let their entire staff go. Twice. They had to ask relatives for money during the first months of the pandemic to pay their own personal rent. And they employed Wolffs parents (for free) to help run a to-go operation that made their son-in-law doubt even the worth of his Michelin star.

What is there to show for it? he asks. We were making $100 to $200 a day, Im like, what does that mean?

Still, they persisted.

We were hopeful in the sense that, you know, we figured if we just kept at it, as long as we physically could, that this was not forever, Wolff says. And, you know, we would do everything we could to get through it.

They applied for every loan and grant youve ever heard of: Paycheck Protection Program loans, Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

And even after being granted multiple, theres some long-term kind of damage to the business unfortunately, says Wolff.

And then, just when things were looking up at the end of 2021, when dining rooms were starting to refill and debts were finally being paid down, the omicron variant emerged.

For a little while, it felt like we had done better than wed ever done into the beginning of December, Wolff says. But then the cancellations started to roll in.

Both know that even when the pandemic is finally in the rearview mirror, theres still the looming development on the horizon heading toward their windshield at 100 mph.

Its a little bit heartbreaking, and its been heartbreaking over a very long period. Its been kind of an emotional roller coaster, its happening, its not happening, its in six months, its in two years, Wolff says.

She says longtime patrons have adorably taken things into their own hands. Theyve tried to find the couple a new location, theyve tried to fight the development and, well, there was also a suggestion we could move the entire house, but the estimate is close to a $500,000 to $600,000 project to move it, Chopra says.

It feels unrealistic, Wolff says with a smile.

What feels more realistic is their actual backup plan, which came into view two years ago. Knowing All Spice had an end date in San Mateo, the pair started to pursue a stop-gap restaurant that could keep them afloat while they tried to find a new home for All Spice (which is still their tentative plan)  but also hopefully serve as an eventual retirement option, if not a way to finally buy their own house. Even in their mid- to late 40s, theyre still renters.

That stop-gap now has a name, concept and brand new interior: Pilot Light, a casual breakfast and lunch spot at the Half Moon Bay Airport thats poised to finally open this year after two years of construction (they updated a 1940s building with no floor drain or hand sink).

And, as theyre quick to point out, theyve learned their lesson. In the new lease, theres a clause that if the terminal is ever demolished in order to build a new more modern one (which it sounds like there are eventual plans for), Chopra and Wolff will have first right of refusal on a new location in the new building.

Because Wolff isnt even sure shell be able to cope with losing her first restaurant, let alone a second.

I really try not to think about the end, she says. Even before the end of service, even before the bulldozing, even before the moment when we have to turn off the lights and not welcome people in these doors anymore. It's just, it's too painful to let myself think too deeply about it.
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Education Secretary Miguel Cardona testifies Sept. 30 on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Biden administration is moving to relax the rules for a student loan forgiveness program that has been criticized for its notoriously complex requirements.
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Purplle, beauty and personal care e-commerce platform has acquired cosmetics and skincare brand, Faces Canada. Both the companies are backed by Sequoia Capital.

The acquisition comes after Purplle raised $60 million last month from Premji Invest, the Manish Taneja, Co-founder, and CEO of Purplle family office of Wipro founder-chairman Azim Premji, valuing the direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand at $630 million. Weeks prior to that, the company had mopped up $75 million from Kedaara Capital

Manish Taneja, Co-founder, and Chief Executive of Purplle.com, says, "With a strong existing portfolio, this acquisition will elevate our makeup portfolio with international high-quality innovative products. We will jointly scale to the next level tapping a diverse set of consumers.

In March, the company raised $45 million (about 330 crore) from investors led by Sequoia Capital India and existing backers including Verlinvest, Blume Ventures, and JSW Ventures.

It had raised $30 million in Series C funding, led by Goldman Sachs, at the end of 2019. The company is looking at multiple other tuck-in acquisitions to scale up its presence in the beauty space. Founded in 2012 by Taneja and Rahul Dash, Purplle's own beauty brands include Good Vibes, NY Bae, and Purplle. It has seven million monthly active users.

Kunal Gupta, Chief Executive of Faces Canada say, "Through this partnership, we aim to amplify our shared values, resources and reach untapped pockets of the country. The synergy will further our agenda of building the most comfortable international quality cosmetics accessible for Indian consumers."

Faces will continue to operate independently and extend its existing portfolio under Purplle.com. Purplle has a catalog of more than 1,000 brands and 50,000 offerings across categories including makeup, skincare, haircare, personal care, fragrances, and grooming appliances.

The platform expects to end the ongoing financial year with an annualized Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) run rate of Rs 1,400 crore.
USIBC held the West Coast Digital Summit, a flagship event where we connected Indian leaders in various technology sectors to their counterparts on the American West Coast, which boasts the worlds crown innovation and technology hub in Silicon Valley. Issues discussed ranged from green data centers, start-up ecosystems, fintech and cryptocurrencies, and the future of smart cars. And most importantly, the pre-eminence of the U.S.-India digital leadership as a driver of global creativity, innovation, investment, and job growth

The Summit hosted high profile speakers, including Doreen Bogdan Martin, Director of the Telecommunications Bureau of the International Telecommunications Union. She offered an opening keynote address where she lauded the West Coast Summit as a great initiative between the worlds two leading technology powerhouses and touted the tremendous potential to further accelerate Indias innovation growth through expanding collaboration with U.S. counterparts. During her keynote address, Ms. Bogdan-Martin also announced that the ITU will be opening a brand-new office in New Delhi, the first new regional ITU center addition in fifteen years.

Other major highlights include the inaugural comments from Dr. Ajai Kumar Garg Director of MeitY and Jeet V, CEO of MeitY Start Up Hub. Both expressed the importance of Silicon Valleys contribution to Indias start-up ecosystem, and emphasized the need for Indias tech sector to strengthen its ties with the U.S. technology hub. MeitY Start Up Hub CEO Jeet V announced plans to work with the United States industry in a more coordinated way  including plans for an in-person start-up visit to Silicon Valley next year.

Among the other major speakers was our own president, Nisha Biswal; K. Rajaraman, DoT Secretary; Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho; Desh Deshpande, President of Sparta Group LLC; Dharmendra Jhamb, Vice President of Paytm; Suresh Surana, Founder of RSM India; and Dr. P.D. Vaghela, Chairman of TRAI, who announced plans for a data economy consultation paper that will include policies for data centers.

Moving forward, USIBC looks forward to working with our membership, MeiTY, and the entirety of both the U.S. and Indian governments to promote a pro-innovation agenda across the economic corridor that will necessarily draw the worlds two largest democracies and global leaders in technology into greater alliance.
She has overseen numerous state-wide initiatives to support child and family health and mental well-being.

FREMONT, CA: First-generation Indian-American immigrant Dr. Aditi Srivastava Bussells creates history as she becomes the first Indian-American Columbia City Council member of South Carolina. Bussells won the 7-member councils seat in November 2021 to be elected to the municipal office of the state. Two other council members, Joe Taylor and Tina Herbert, also were sworn in the office, along with the new Mayor of Columbia, Daniel Rickenmann.

The inauguration took place in the 1700-block Main Street in Columbia, where the families of each new council member came to show their support. First taking the oath, Aditi Bussells highlighted that Columbia was moving into a new chapter and encouraged the young generation to engage in local issues and be involved with communities. She also promised to make informed decisions that will be based on root issues that Columbias residents are currently facing.

Dr. Aditi Srivastava Bussells is a public health researcher with the Childrens Trust. She has overseen numerous state-wide initiatives to support child and family health and mental well-being. Bussells received her Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of South Carolina. Her husband, Louis Bussells, is a frontline worker and Army Veteran. Bussells led among the seven-person field in the November election and ultimately defeated attorney Tyler Bailey. Over 10,000 people voted for her and elected her to the council. Bussell's motto throughout her campaign was to provide equal opportunities for everyone to thrive, regardless of their zip code. In the sworn-in ceremony, she also highlighted that her goals have always been to ensure that the Columbian community had access to expert guidance on public health, resources, and knowledge they need to make their voices heard.
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Small business owners say they will not be able to absorb the cost of providing rapid antigen tests (RATs) to potentially COVID-exposed employees and are calling on the federal government to subsidise the tests.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions on Monday said once supply issues for RATs are ironed out, it should be the responsibility of employers to provide free tests to employees who cannot work from home. The peak union body warned union members would cease work on sites where employers were not fulfilling these obligations.

Owner of Tar Barrel Brewery, Matt Bebe with employees Nia Evans and Ben Maclean. Credit:Joe Armao

Small businesses and industry bodies have hit back at this claim, saying that smaller employers do not have the capacity to deal with the costs and administration of supplying RATs to their staff.

Matt Bebe, the owner of Tar Barrel Brewery in the Melbourne suburb of Mornington, said while he had been trying to the best of my abilities to locate RATs for staff, they had been impossible to find.
In 32 years helming the Bangarra Dance Company, Stephen Page admits to being more nervous than he has ever been ahead of an opening night.

Its not only that the pandemic has played havoc with rehearsals. Its that Wudjang: Not The Past, is Pages last production as Bangarras creative force and his most ambitious to date - akin in scale to an opera, no less - featuring 17 dancers, four musicians and five actors.

Bangarras artistic director Stephen Page with performers of Wudjang. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The landmark collaboration between Bangarra and the Sydney Theatre Company comes from a deeply personal place for Page.

The Mibinyah language from Pages fathers home on Yugambeh Country features alongside poetry, and prerecorded music written by his late brother David. The music laments the sons lost opportunities to share in the stories and cultural practices of their father before his death in 2010. We could have all learned from my father, Page says.
Frank Magree had a lot weighing on his mind when a hand pulled back the chair next to him at a busy Canggu cafe. The AK-47s hadnt arrived and he still needed to cast one of the main characters in his film, a wet-behind-the-ears GI. Hed exhausted local modelling agencies. In desperation, he was about to start dropping flyers at local hostels.

Close enough.

Oleg Dovsky is a photographer living in Bali with his model girlfriend, and has done a bit of modelling and TV commercials himself. Id gone to grab a coffee, Dovsky recalls of the chance meeting. There was one free seat, next to a very questionable-looking fella wearing dirty clothes with mud in his hair. Well, this is Bali, I thought to myself.

Run South, filmed on a budget in Indonesia.

In a matter of days, Dovsky would be chest-deep in filthy water on the nearby set built on farmland ($800 plus $100 to a local official), running from the Viet Cong (local shop workers and plasterers, paid $150 a day) before bleeding to death in a bamboo cage (built by Magree). He also found himself in an unscripted scene with an island pit viper. I knew they were dangerous because Id read those articles about What might kill you when you travel to Bali, he says.

The resulting 29-minute film, Run South, showcased at the 2021 LA Shorts International Festival and will make its Australian premiere at Flickerfest on January 26. The Melbourne-based team of Magree (whose previous short, Sengatan, also shot in Indonesia, was nominated at Flickerfest in 2017 for Best Australian Short Film), co-director David Cleeve and co-producer/actor Paul Henri made it for $40,000 over three weeks. As you might imagine, that budget requires hustling and imagination in equal parts.
Sydneysiders hoping for relief from humid days are set to be disappointed, with the city smashing monthly humidity levels and reaching dew points equivalent to Darwin and other tropical cities.

The January mean humidity for Sydney in the mornings is 85 per cent, well above the mean for the past 56 years of 71 per cent. The mean humidity in the afternoons is 73 per cent, eclipsing the historical mean of 62 per cent.

Lake Cargelligo in the states west was battered by violent thunderstorms earlier this week. Credit:Nick Moir

The dew point for Sydney on Tuesday was 20.2 degrees, which Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jackson Browne said was on par with Darwin.

Mr Browne said the La Nina pattern off the east coast was creating warmer sea surface temperatures and driving more moisture into the atmosphere and making it more humid.
While NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT have moved ahead of the federal governments timetable to cut the interval between second COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses from four months to three months, authorities say GPs and pharmacies dont have to follow suit.

From today, the required interval for adults between second doses and booster doses has been cut to three months in Victoria, South Australia and the ACT. NSW also announced the change today, and it will take effect on Friday.

The change applies to state and territory-run vaccination hubs. GPs and pharmacies can follow the federal governments existing timetable, under which the interval was scheduled to be cut from four months to three months on January 31.

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Speaking on ABC Melbourne radio on Wednesday, Department of Health COVID-19 deputy secretary Naomi Bromley said whether doctors and pharmacists took on the new interval depended on their supply and capacity.

They will at the end of this month, theyll make that transition [in line with the national vaccine program], and some GPs and pharmacies might start to move to three months if they have supply, if they have capacity, she said.

But to be really certain if you are in that three-month category, the best thing to do in the short term is probably come through the state system until that change essentially washes through into primary care.

Ms Bromley said authorities were waiting on advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation as to whether people would require three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated.

As we reported earlier, Premier Daniel Andrews flagged that change could be imminent.

If that moves to three doses, then that opens up, I guess, opportunities to think about how that interplays with things like [the] vaccinated economy, Ms Bromley said.

Some immunocompromised adults have already received, or are eligible to receive, a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary vaccination course. They are then eligible for a fourth dose as a booster shot at the same interval after their third dose as the general population receives their booster shot.
The Morrison government will no doubt be hoping the collective buzz generated from booting out the worlds No. 1 tennis player lasts until Australia Day. If not, theyll have to manufacture another means of funnelling nationalist sentiment because around January 26 weve come to expect such things, even if subconsciously, like we do with flies in summer.

Last year the Prime Minister used his Australia Day address to reiterate Australia has moved past its brutal beginnings. He said there was no escaping or cancelling the way Australias colonial history began on January 26, 1788.

Scott Morrison on Australia Day, 2021. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But Id forgotten this and had to look it up. That same day Australia recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19. Locked-down Victorians were free at last. The lingering trauma was profound but I suspect most people were focused on the future with a degree of optimism.

The year before  2020  is one Scott Morrison would want to forget, coming in the aftermath of the fires and the perception hed abandoned the country in a time of crisis.
New restrictions have been announced for visitors to Queensland hospitals, as emergency departments buckle under a flood of patients.

Two people per patient were now allowed in hospital wards, Health Minister Yvette DAth announced on Tuesday, to limit the COVID spread through wards and emergency departments, as the Omicron wave of coronavirus surged throughout the state.

Health Minister Yvette DAth said Queensland Health would reduce the number of visitors to hospitals, short of a total ban. Credit:Matt Dennien

In emergency departments, each patient would be allowed just one visitor, and there would be exceptions for palliative care and end-of-life situations.

Hospitals had reported large groups of family members coming into emergency departments, Ms DAth said.
We are in a crisis and we need a crisis intervention, he said. This is one clear source of additional support that we cannot be lacking. Mr Gilbert said military-trained nurses and doctors could hit the ground running and be used to help treat the wave of Victorians expected to arrive at emergency departments in coming weeks. What is a code brown? Code brown is a measure to relieve pressure on hospitals.

It is typically reserved for sudden, short-term emergencies, such as a train crash or bushfire (for example, a code brown was called during the 2016 thunderstorm asthma event).

During a code brown, hospitals can cancel their staffs leave to ensure an adequate workforce is on hand.

They can also defer less urgent services.

This code brown starts at noon on Wednesday. Its expected to last between four and six weeks.

It will apply to all metropolitan public hospitals. In regional Victoria, Geelongs Barwon Health and the Grampians, Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Albury-Wodonga and Latrobe Regional health groups are also included. Private hospitals have the option of calling their own code brown. He said this would allow healthcare workers who have been redeployed to emergency departments to go back and work in their usual wards. The Victorian government has forecast a peak in hospitalisations next month that could mean more than 2500 coronavirus patients are admitted to hospital, amid projections that 100 new COVID patients could be admitted every day.

The code brown announcement came on Tuesday as overwhelmed hospitals pleaded with local councils for maternal child healthcare workers to return to hospitals to plug shortages in maternity units, which are being challenged by soaring numbers of pregnant women being admitted with coronavirus. Senior nurses and doctors warned days ago conditions in Melbournes hospitals were the worst they have seen and standards of care were slipping as nurse-to-patient ratios are abandoned. Defence Force medics were sent to Victoria during the bushfires in 2020. Credit:Justin McManus Mr Gilbert said maternity units at Western Health and Monash Health were being absolutely pummeled by soaring numbers of pregnant women infected with coronavirus being admitted, along with staffing shortages. Emails seen by The Age are also calling on maternal child health workers in the western and eastern suburbs who are trained midwives and have worked in hospitals in the past five years to return for a secondment or pick up shifts on their days off.

Asked at a press conference on Tuesday about the need for military support, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there was still enormous capacity not being utilised from the private sector. He said the government had activated its private hospitals agreement, which was struck in early 2020, to ensure private hospitals could ease the pressure on public hospitals, which were caring for most of the states coronavirus patients. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen I think certainly the skill set of a nurse coming from a major private hospital, whether its an emergency ward, whether its a front-line triage role ... is exactly the set of skills that one would want in a COVID-19 ward or in a public hospital, he said. Australian Medical Association national president Omar Khorshid said the code brown response in Victoria was evidence of the national policy failure of letting the virus rip in the first place.

Why they let this happen is beyond us, he said. This was absolutely predictable. Dr Khorshid said while healthcare workers always prioritised the sickest patients first, Victorian doctors now faced tougher calls on who to admit to hospitals. Having to turn people away when they are there for a legitimate reason is really not good enough for our system, he said. The associations Victorian president, Roderick McRae, said it was possible category one surgeries would need to be delayed as hospitals come under increasing pressure, a scenario that would have been almost unheard of in Victoria before the pandemic.

The procedures are meant to be performed within 30 days and cover conditions that have the potential to deteriorate quickly and become life-threatening. A cancerous lesion or cardiac surgery fall into this category. Dr McRae also backed the call for military support, saying: Ideally, we could have the military on standby over the next few weeks. The code brown will be in place for four to six weeks, instead of a day or two, as it would be for emergencies such as train crashes or natural disasters like bushfires. The measure is aimed to discourage people from turning up to the emergency department when they could recover at home, amid mounting reports of Victorians coming to hospitals with mild COVID-19 symptoms or seeking a COVID-19 test.

An official state government document released last year warned Victorian hospitals would be forced to ration care in emergency departments to a minimum level and turn away all but the sickest COVID patients if hospitalisations exceeded more than 2500 such patients. At some hospitals, tents have already been put up outside emergency departments, where staff examine patients and determine whether they need to go inside. Code brown - what it means on the ground What are hospitals doing to cope? Statewide ban on less urgent category two and three elective surgeries.

Healthcare workers required to perform different roles from normal duties.

Tents set up outside emergency departments to examine people before they enter.

Cases not deemed emergency will be sent home.

Quarantine hotels will be used for COVID-19 patients to free up hospital beds.

The private hospitals agreement has been enacted, which will make more resources available to the public sector.

Healthcare workers may be asked to cancel their leave. Options if the situation gets worse Services used to detect life-threatening conditions, such as cancer screenings, could be halted.

Category one elective surgery may need to be delayed.

Asymptomatic COVID-infected staff may be allowed to keep working. Those who do not need emergency care, such as patients with mild coronavirus symptoms, are examined and given medical advice on how to recover at home with the support of their general practitioner. Life-threatening emergency cases and those requiring urgent care  such as a patient with a broken bone  will still be admitted to hospital.

But doctors warn the decisions will get harder, particularly when there is diagnostic uncertainty, and difficult calls will have to be made. Rockbank resident Feda Hassan said it had been heartbreaking to witness her fathers health and quality of life decline while he waited for surgery after being diagnosed with stenosis. Deputy Premier and acting Health Minister James Merlino announces the code brown. Credit:Jason South The category two surgery was originally scheduled for September last year but was cancelled with two days notice. After Tuesdays code brown announcement, Ms Hassan and her father feared the operation would never get done. You pretty much have to be on your deathbed to be able to actually see someone, Ms Hassan said.

Loading In a statement, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine said the code brown would enable hospitals to access a range of critical levers for meeting the unprecedented challenges of the next month. The college stressed that people experiencing medical emergencies would be prioritised and would still receive care. The announcement came on the day Australia recorded 77 deaths from COVID, the largest number since the pandemic began. Half of Victorias 22 deaths occurred in the previous two days. The official number of daily cases reported in Victoria on Tuesday was 20,180, almost 60 per cent of them coming from positive self-reported rapid antigen tests.
Good plan, but it needed a fair bit to go right. Loading In the week leading up to our departure I had been informally straw-polling various contacts in government, the public service and industry. How confident out of 10 are you that Mark McGowan will stick to the plan to open on February 5? The consensus was 7ish, though no one I spoke to went higher than 8.

Im not that much of a risk-taker, and those odds of being excluded from your home indefinitely arent awesome. Worse still would be if NSW and Victoria got cold feet on their open borders to the rest of the world, which might leave us stuck in the US. I was reassured at the 11th hour that NSW did not intend to turn back on international arrivals. Pensacola has a regional population of about 500,000 people in the north-west panhandle of Florida. Its economic engine is traditionally the Naval Aviation base, home of the Blue Angels demonstration flying squad, but in the past decade has become home to thriving healthcare and property sectors too.

And tourism, which in ordinary times drew visitors to its sugar sandy beaches and warm Gulf of Mexico waters. Loading It is a politically conservative part of a traditionally swing state whose Republican Governor Ron De Santis has stridently rejected COVID lockdowns, vaccination and mask mandates. From what I could tell, its citizens are mostly delighted about that, relishing the freedom to make their own decisions about their own health. Ive been visiting the US near enough to annually for 15 years and this is the first time I have been the object of pity from Americans.

It started as I walked into an elevator at an airport hotel in Los Angeles on our en route stopover, small talk and my accent led to a polite inquiry about where I was from, from my fellow (masked) occupant. Australia? How did you get out of there? Its like a prison! We busted out, I joked as my companion asked with concern whether the toddler in my arms would be the subject of mandatory vaccination. Masks are mandated on planes, at airports, and at public buildings in California (a waiter asked to see our vaccination ID cards when we sat down for dinner at the airport hotel) but were cast aside on arrival in Florida. No one gives a shit here anymore, one extended family member remarked as we stepped out of the airport.

Indeed day-to-day life largely looked like I remembered it from all those previous visits: restaurants out on the beach were full, retail appeared buzzing, as families enjoyed their unseasonably warm Christmas vacations. Loading Not everyone went maskless and behaviour was different in different settings. Across several trips to supermarkets and Target I observed that every staff member was masked (in what appeared to be employer policy) and perhaps one in five customers wore masks, the proportion tending to be higher among older folks. Certainly no one seemed able to tell me  or even care  what daily case numbers in Florida were and there was no notion of exposure sites, or a daily press update from the governor or any other public health official.

In fact that was a line of political attack from Democrat opponents, that De Santis had gone missing as Omicron numbers surged, though no one I spoke to seemed to care or even be aware of his absence. Its not that COVID was ignored exactly, but it was not a first, second or even third order issue. Florida Governor Ron De Santis has opposed mask and vaccination mandates in his state. Credit:Getty Images There were no government pronouncements, rather people using their own judgment, manners and common sense to get by based on their own perceptions of their individual risk. Friends of my parents-in-law, a couple we love dearly who threw us an engagement party at their home years ago, drove by the house the day after we arrived but they didnt get out of the car.

Real estate agents, they had attended a settlement the day before and subsequently learned the lawyer doing the paperwork was a positive case, so out of prudence and good manners (not because of any health department edict) they kept their distance. Another dear friend, the mother of one of my wifes childhood besties, came by the house to visit one morning. Immunocompromised with a health condition, she wore a mask for our entire visit, explaining that in her judgment it was how she felt most comfortable outside her own home. I feel like I am in the luckiest place in the world, she offered, because we are able to make our own decisions about whats best for our health. This in a state that has recorded more than 64,000 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began.

My favourite encounter was with an uncles mother-in-law, age 91, who was getting a plane to go to Miami, on her own, to catch up with her old girlfriends. What is life for if not living? was her attitude. Loading As our visit progressed we heard about more and more friends and family people who had tested positive over the holidays, in a sort of unison with the reports I was getting from friends from Sydney and Melbourne and reading online. On New Years Eve my wife and I decided out of prudence to eschew any of the public gatherings in a restaurant or bar downtown and instead had dinner with five other couples at the home of her best friend. On January 2, I saw this friend again at her brothers house and gave her a big hug as we chatted.

On January 3, she and her husband tested positive after feeling crummy; on January 5 another woman at the New Years Party tested positive. Double-vaccinated and fortunate to be in pretty good health, going into the trip I decided I was not personally concerned about the health consequences of catching the virus. I was deeply concerned, however, about being able to return the required negative PCR test within 72 hours of my departure, without which I could not fly back to work and Sydney. As it transpired I never had symptoms and recorded the negative PCR on January 10 before flying to Sydney on January 13. Within an hour and a half of my arrival at Mascot on January 15, I was in my Airbnb in Pyrmont with a negative RAT (that I brought with me after reading the news) and at liberty to wander Sydney.

Given 48,000 cases were recorded in NSW that day, I didnt feel like I was any particular health risk to anyone, and so in compliance with NSW Healths rules, I caught the ferry to Manly for lunch and a swim. Loading At home in WA we have told ourselves for the past two years that we live a lifestyle freer than anywhere in the world, yet my lived experience was that this isnt quite true. There has been safety of a sort and a freedom from COVID that has meant the state government has not imposed restrictions on life and the economy like other Australian governments have. But after two years of being thinking and talking (professionally) about COVID every day - and a family situation that has meant the hardship of forced separation  the freedom to ignore it came as an enormous psychological relief.

Freedom, of course, comes with significant risks and potential perils, the responsibility to look after your own affairs. What I found personally freeing, in our own individual circumstances, was the right to exercise that judgment. I believe Mark McGowan will stick to his plan for a controlled border reopening on February 5, but if he does not and we get stuck, be clear that it was our decision to leave, made on our best judgment at the time. The time with family after so long has been priceless. I am trying hard not to make a value judgment about which is better or worse, knowing that such comparisons are dependent entirely on ones own circumstances and values. If I was elderly and in poor health I know I would feel differently.

But as I have watched the intensity of the anxiety rise in my home state from afar ahead of the scheduled reopening of borders on February, there is a sense that there is only one way to get through a pandemic, and thats to get through it. Loading WA arguably starts from as good a position as anywhere. There will be problems but they should be dealt with on their merits and not catastrophised. As I write, Australia has recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic, 75 deaths, despite our world-leading rates of vaccination and Omicrons lower virulence but higher transmissibility. That number is set to rise in coming weeks as deaths lag cases, though there is hope the wave may have already peaked in NSW and Victoria.
Australian planes and a naval supply ship are being loaded with medical and engineering equipment for the battered Pacific island nation of Tonga, but it may take until Thursday to clear the airport for landing after a volcano blanketed the ground in thick ash.

There are three reported deaths, with two locals and a UK national losing their lives in the tsunami that inundated the Tongan capital Nukualofa after the undersea Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai volcano erupted on Saturday.

HMAS Adelaide on its way to Brisbane to be loaded with emergency supplies to take to Tonga. Credit:Defence media

Communications are still largely cut off due to the damaged undersea cable, which is expected to take weeks to repair.

Reconnaissance flights and satellite images have revealed significant damage to coastal infrastructure from a tsunami following the volcano blast and a two centimetre layer of ash.
Employees are unlikely to strike over coronavirus health concerns despite demands from unions and business groups for the federal government to provide free rapid tests as one million Australians isolate.

After an emergency meeting of 30 unions on Monday, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Sally McManus has denied there are any plans for workers to walk off the job in protest as the Omicron outbreak surges and supply chain issues leave businesses struggling.

Ensuring workers can be tested is a growing headache for employers. Credit:Bianca De Marchi

Instead, she said the vast majority of businesses were doing the right thing and were aligned with their staff on the need for more testing and a review of workplace safety. Legal experts warn widespread strike action could be considered unlawful.

Were not wanting [strikes]. Were just telling people what their rights are, Ms McManus said. Its simply the fact that workers have a right to cease work if theres imminent danger to their health.
Russia has already started moving troops for the war games in Belarus. Fomin said it would take until February 9 to fully deploy weapons and personnel for the Allied Resolve 2022 drills, which are expected to take place from February 10-20. Fomin didnt say how many troops would be involved in the drills, but mentioned that Russia would deploy a dozen Su-35 fighter jets and several air defence units to Belarus. The deployment would bolster an estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and other heavy weapons already amassed near Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude to an invasion. Russia has denied an intention to attack its neighbour but demanded guarantees from the West that NATO will not expand to Ukraine or other ex-Soviet nations or place its troops and weapons there. Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscows demands during Russia-US negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels last week.

Fomin said the drills in Belarus, which involve an unspecified number of troops from Russias Eastern Military District, reflect the need to practice concentrating the countrys entire military potential in the west. A situation may arise when forces and means of the regional group of forces will be insufficient to ensure reliable security of the union state, and we must be ready to strengthen it, Fomin said at a meeting with foreign military attaches. We have reached an understanding with Belarus that its necessary to engage the entire military potential for joint defence. Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly near Kiev, Ukraine. Credit:AP Belarus authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, said the joint manoeuvres would be conducted on Belarus western border and also in the countrys south, where it borders Ukraine. Amid the tensions, Ukraines Defence Ministry said it was speeding up efforts to form reserve battalions that would allow for the rapid deployment of 130,000 recruits to expand the countrys 246,000-strong military. The battalions from the newly formed Territorial Defence Forces could include reservists aged 18 to 60.

The United States and its allies have urged Russia to de-escalate the situation by calling back the troops amassed near Ukraine. Germany may consider halting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia attacks Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz signalled on Wednesday, as pressure grew on his government to take a more hawkish stance on the Kremlin. A Ukrainian soldier, uses a small hand-held periscope to view the positions of Russian-backed troops from a small bunker. Credit:Getty Scholz met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Berlin to discuss the next steps. Responding to a question on Nord Stream 2, Scholz told reporters it was clear that there will be a high price to pay and that everything will have to be discussed should there be a military intervention in Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said earlier, during a visit to see Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, that it was difficult not to assess Russias military build-up near Ukraines borders as a threat. Lavrov restated Moscows argument that it is free to deploy its forces wherever it considers it necessary on its territory. We cant accept demands about our armed forces on our own territory, Lavrov said, adding that troops training is something that every country does. We arent threatening anyone, but we are hearing threats to us, he added. We will decide how to react depending on what specific steps our partners will take. Speaking during a visit on Tuesday to Ukraine, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly denounced the Russian troop buildup as unacceptable.

Loading She noted Canadas efforts to help train Ukraines military. Asked about the prospect of sending military hardware to Ukraine, she said: Weve heard loud and clear the demands on the part of the Ukrainian government. Many of the officials here have reiterated this demand. We know that it is important to play our part in the context, and therefore we are looking at options and will take a decision in a timely manner. Canada, with a sizeable and politically influential population of Ukrainian descent, has taken a strong line with Russia since its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. We are united in our support to Ukraine. Of course, any incursion into Ukraine will result in serious consequences, including very severe, co-ordinated sanctions on the part of allies.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a public meeting on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

The Public meeting is scheduled for 10.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is:

Examination of credentials and admission of deputy Member of Parliament for Member of Parliament C.A. Buncamper in accordance with article 50, paragraph 3, Constitution (IS/450/2021-2022 dated January 13, 2022)

Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and www.pearlfmradio.sx
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, January 17th, 2022, the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson toured the agencies of the Ministry accompanied by the newly instated Course Coordinator, Ms. Miralda Martina, and support staff. Since taking office, Minister Richardson took note of the grievances of many frustrated staff members who expressed that they lacked the completion of courses relevant to their function. Moreover, Hurricane Irma destroyed the Ministrys Justice Academy, where the personnel of the Ministry of Justice underwent certification courses.

During the month of June in 2021, with the assistance of S.O.A.B, a vacancy ad for a Course Coordinator was published on various media platforms to spark the interest of potential candidates. At least eight (8) persons between Sint Maarten and Curacao gave a reaction to this vacancy. A selection committee was established in August 2021, and an interview process was underway. In October of 2021, Ms. Martina emerged as the strongest and most suitable candidate to take on the role and responsibility of the Course Coordinator for the Ministry of Justice in Sint Maarten.

The Course Coordinator falls directly under the Minister of Justice and is accountable to the Minister. She is responsible for the overall educational programs for the law enforcement personnel; takes care of both the organization and content of the training courses in consultation with the Minister and department heads and is also responsible for internal and external communication.

More specifically, the Course Coordinator coordinates the development, planning, and implementation of educational programs for all law enforcement personnel. She has a role in shaping the training and development policy and the implementation of this policy. Ms. Martina has the task of organizing and setting up the training program and ensuring that the training program meets the needs and requirements of the Ministry of Justice as well as the needs of the law enforcement personnel. Quality assurance is of great importance to further encourage employees of the Ministry of Justice to commit themselves to their own development.

With such a profile outlined, Ms. Martina has more than thirty years of experience in the educational field and more than 15 years as an educational specialist and support. She specialized in the vocational sector and has created curriculums for educational institutions such as VSBO and SBO in Curacao, VMBO and ROC in the Netherlands and for course institutions such as Opleidingsinstituut Rechtshandhaving & Veiligheidszorg of Curacao, ORV (including all Justice organizations). Additionally, Ms. Martina also has knowledge and experience in developing competencies for short and long-term courses from SBO level 1 until 4, Associate Degree 5 and Bachelors Degree 6.

Minister Richardson stated, The establishment of the Law Enforcement Institute of St. Maarten is one of my priorities for our Justice chain. As such, it is one that remains on my vision board so that we will see it through step by step. With the introduction of our dynamic Course Coordinator Miralda Martina to the Ministry, I look forward to the development of the much-needed courses as well as the working relationships that will be forged in order to take into account the needs and requirements of the Ministry.

The Law Enforcement Institute of St. Maarten will be part of the Ministry of Justice and situated where the former Soremar car dealership once stood and operated. The Ministry of Justice stands for a justice system that exemplifies fairness, integrity, law, and order and enables a safe and more progressive St. Maarten. The Ministry of Justice seeks to have professional personnel at all levels of the ministry and strives to invest in their professional and personal development. In order to realize this goal, the Law Enforcement Institute will coordinate the development, planning, and implementation of educational programs for all law enforcement personnel and provide (accredited) training programs, training curriculum as well as training materials.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Low 57F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Low 57F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Enterprise, AL (36331)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 66F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 66F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Nearly two years after his death, the estate of Fotis Dulos has been declared insolvent, meaning most creditors, including his mother-in-law, will not get paid and there will be no money left for his five children, court documents show.

He was a fellow who had lots of debts and no assets, said attorney Richard Weinstein, who represented Gloria Farber in two lawsuits she won against her son-in-law. I feel very badly we were unable to recover more for the family.

Farber has been caring for the five children since her daughter vanished on May 24, 2019. Jennifer Dulos has never been found, but police said she is presumed dead based on evidence they found in the garage of her New Canaan home, according to arrest warrants.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after he was charged with his estranged wifes murder. His ex-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and his former attorney, Kent Mawhinney, have each pleaded not guilty to charges in the case.

While Fotis Dulos estate has $395,687 in assets, it owes $548,280.75 in expenses, according to Farmington Probate Court records.

Attorney Christopher Hug will be paid $189,525 for settling the estate and attorney Paul Knierim, who represented Hug, will receive $98,326, court documents show.

It is unlikely that any creditors will be paid beyond the two attorneys, nearly a dozen professionals who provided services to Hug to deal with the estate, and state and federal taxes owed by Fotis Dulos, court documents show.

According to court documents, Hug stated that in addition to the $367,000 needed to pay those who worked to settle the estate, there were $64,962 in expenses for Fotis Dulos last sickness, $17,707 in unpaid state taxes and $98,343 in unpaid federal taxes.

Hug and Knierim, who declined to comment when reached last week, have agreed to cut their fee by nearly $100,000 to help settle the estate, court documents said.

But dozens of other professionals and entities who were notified that the estate was insolvent are not on the list to be paid, including attorney William Murray, who represented Fotis Dulos in the Farber lawsuits.

Others on the list who will not be paid, according to court documents, include electricians and other home building contractors, several attorneys who represented Farber and the children, and a number of health care providers, including the University of Connecticut Health Center, where Fotis Dulos was taken after being found unconscious at his home on Jan. 28, 2020.

Assets of the estate include an individual retirement account worth $194,791 and $137,500 returned by criminal defense attorneys Norm Pattis and Kevin Smith, who received a $250,000 retainer from Fotis Dulos to represent him in the murder charge weeks before his death, according to court documents.

The return of a portion of the retainer was the subject of a lawsuit Hug filed against Pattis and Smith in 2021. The settlement requires all parties involved in the lawsuit to not discuss the Jennifer Dulos case for 40 years.

A mediator used to settle the retainer claim cost the estate $5,650, court documents show.

The estates assets also include two motorcycles determined to be worth $8,050; furniture and equipment worth $39,205; a BMW and a trailer worth $12,630; the contents of a safe deposit box worth $8,330; and two personal checking accounts that had $92.70 and $179.65, court documents show.

The accounting of the estates assets and debts states that a friend of Fotis Dulos gave his sister, Rena Dulos Kyrimi, $7,000 to bury him in Greece. Fotis Dulos had given the friend the money to hold before his death, according to court documents, which do not reveal the persons name.

Nearly all of the properties Fotis Dulos was in the process of developing when his wife vanished went into foreclosure before his death, court documents show. Several banks foreclosed on those properties with none of the proceeds from the sale of the parcels going to his children, according to court documents.

After her daughter vanished, Farber filed for foreclosure on the home at 4 Jefferson Crossing in Farmington, where Fotis Dulos was living when he was arrested. Farber was granted ownership of the home and sold the property last year for nearly $1.9 million.

But Weinstein said Farber will not see the $1.9 million a judge awarded his client six months after Fotis Dulos death. Farber was awarded the judgment after filing two lawsuits against her son-in-law for unpaid business loans her family provided to help support his real estate development company, Fore Group.

The ownership of a property at 545 Deercliff Road in Avon is still being contested, with Harry Masiello, a long-time friend of Fotis Dulos contending in a lawsuit that he loaned the Fore Group money to develop the property. Farber has also filed a claim in that foreclosure case, which is still pending.

Farmington Regional Probate Judge Evelyn Daly declared the estate insolvent in November at Hugs request. Daly will need to approve Hugs final accounting before anyone is paid, according to court documents.

Hug is expected to submit the paperwork by March, probate court officials said.
Finding a location will likely be a challenge for those interested in starting one of Connecticuts first recreational-use cannabis businesses, experts say.

Nationwide, federal law makes it harder for cannabis businesses to obtain loans to buy a property, and many landlords who have outstanding debt with large lending institutions are unable to rent to these types of businesses, industry experts said.

Several Connecticut municipalities have already banned recreational-use cannabis sales, while zoning regulations in communities that will allow the sale of the substance limit the possibilities to open a business.

And specific needs for cannabis businesses such as space, security features or heightened electricity and water requirements for cultivators complicate matters further, experts said.

Operating in the cannabis space is still a little taboo, so when looking to interact with individuals or looking to buy something or looking to rent, its become a little difficult, said Luis Vega, chief executive officer and founder of Wepa! Farms.

Vegas farm cultivates hemp products and sells them in North Haven. Vega is looking to expand and open a recreational-use cannabis business in Bridgeport. Earlier this month, the state announced it will begin accepting applications in February for recreational-use licenses.

Vega said hes already hit roadblocks in finding a location for his upcoming business. Its difficult to find a space big enough for cultivation at a reasonable price, he said.

It took him six months to find his first location, and another year to identify the North Haven location when he wanted to transition to a new spot, Vega said.

One advice I always tell everybody is be as upfront as possible, Vega said.   We understand that the rent is usually a little bit higher than normal because of the more taboo nature of it.

Matte Namer, founder and chief executive officer of Cannabeta Realty, said their company, which focuses on cannabis real estate, tries to be very upfront when reaching out to commercial landlords about a business. There are some complicated workarounds for landlords who have mortgages from large, federally insured lenders, but those can be difficult and costly, Namer said.

Because cannabis sales are illegal federally, banks could face penalties if they accept money garnered from sales of the substance.

The SAFE Banking Act, which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, would prohibit federal regulators from imposing penalties on banks that accept money from legitimate cannabis businesses.

You've got businesses that are operating all cash  thats just an untenable and dangerous situation, said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Smith said the bill, which has not been taken up by the Senate, would resolve an issue that disproportionately impacts small businesses and everybody downstream, meaning landlords or other ancillary companies that touch the cannabis industry.

Anthony Coniglio, president of NewLake Capital Partners, said much of the cannabis real estate markets success will be depend on what zoning regulations or bans localities pass regarding recreational-use sales.

I think No. 1, understanding the opt-out and how many towns and municipalities have opted out will really be important for understanding real estate, Coniglio said.

Coniglio said he thinks many local leaders may wait to see how the recreational cannabis industry takes off in other municipalities before allowing sales in their community.

NewLake Capital provides funding for cannabis businesses that are getting started. In some cases, the group buys the property or provides money for upgrades.

Common upgrades include increased water or electricity capabilities for growing, as well as security enhancements, Coniglio said.

Many require significant security apparatus, so we provide capital for all of those improvement activities, he said.

Despite the challenges, investors said they expect the market  both through sales of cannabis products and real estate profits  to soar once it gets off the ground.

Its exciting that Connecticut and New Jersey and New York all legalized within a very short period of time within one another, Namer said. And I think collectively those states account for what will probably become the largest cannabis market in the world.

I think that's really exciting and will change the industry as a whole.

Coniglio said if Connecticut can establish cannabis businesses more quickly than its neighbors it could reap the benefits from inter-state sales.

If somebody has buying behavior because they happen to work in Connecticut, but live in Westchester, and theres a dispensary they like to stop at on the way home, are they really going to change that behavior? Coniglio said.
STAMFORD  The base salary for Stamfords superintendent of schools will increase by $35,000 a year under a recently approved new contract, but the leader of the school district stands to gain much more in employer contributions and fringe benefits  to the tune of a total of more than $400,000.

Under the new contract, which will run until June 2024, Superintendent Tamu Luceros base salary will increase from $260,000 a year to roughly $295,000 annually .

But after June of this year, unless a new base salary is negotiated, Luceros salary will increase by 2 percent, a provision that was not in her previous contract, which stated that her base salary would remain the same in such an instance, according to the contract.

Lucero will also receive $26,000 yearly in contributions to her tax-sheltered annuity plan, and another $26,000 contribution to her deferred compensation plan. Both of those are increases from the $19,000 she got for each, respectively, in her previous contract.

After adding up the salary, contributions, and fringe benefits, Luceros total yearly earnings will be roughly $406,000.

It is an honor to live and work in such a wonderful community, Lucero said in a written statement. I am looking forward to continuing the work of strengthening our teaching and learning practices, expanding opportunities for our students and improving our school campuses to best meet the needs of our students, staff, and families.

According to an investigation by Hearst Connecticut in June of last year, the average salary for full-time superintendents in Connecticut was $209,000, with tax sheltered annuities and bonuses for doctorate degrees included. At the time that report was published, Lucero was the third highest paid superintendent in the state, behind Alan Addley in Darien and Bryan Luizzi in New Canaan.

Luceros new contract was released Tuesday morning, a week after the Board of Education voted 5-4 in favor of giving chairwoman Jackie Heftman the authority to sign and execute the document.

Typically, a new contract would have been signed and posted online by mid-July, but the board was unable to reach the five votes necessary to move forward. The recent school board election shifted the balance of the vote, as two members who said they opposed the increases  Jackie Pioli and Mike Altamura  were replaced by Ben Lee and Josh Esses, who were split on the vote.

For months, members of the board met in non-public executive sessions to discuss Luceros contract. One issue that seemed to be a reason for the impasse, according to public discussions, was related to Luceros mandatory contribution to the state Teachers Retirement Board, which provides pension benefits for educators.

Law firm Shipman and Goodwin advised the city to pay a gross-up to cover the additional taxes due on the reimbursement to Lucero. But recently, the same law firm said that guidance was ill-advised and the gross-up was unnecessary.

The end result was Lucero earned more money than what was stipulated in her contract; Shipman and Goodwin offered to reimburse the board for the expense and said Lucero was not at fault.

Under Luceros new contract, the board will also continue to reimburse her for her contribution to the Teachers Retirement Board, not to exceed 8.25 percent of her salary. At that maximum rate, Lucero would receive a reimbursement of almost $24,000.

Additionally, Lucero will receive a $25,000 retention stipend, which was not included in her previous contract. That section of the newly signed contract reads, The (board) desires to promote and encourage the (superintendent) to remain on a long-term basis.

Another new element to the contract, that was not in the previous one, is that Lucero and her husband will have the option of receiving the same health care coverage as Stamford teachers at no cost.

Finally, Lucero will get an additional $3,000 stipend in recognition of her doctoral degree and a $600 monthly stipend for her personal car expenses.

Lucero was first hired in the Stamford school district in 2013 as an assistant superintendent for elementary education. In 2018, she took on the role of deputy superintendent under previous Superintendent Earl Kim. Once Kim left the school system in 2019, Lucero took over the top job.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
STAMFORD  The ongoing global pandemic didnt keep people in Stamford from joining together to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.

In years past, the Stamford MLK Committee organized a rally and march through the city for MLK Day, but that march was replaced by a motorcade Monday morning due to health concerns related to COVID-19.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Periods of rain, heavy at times early. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain, heavy at times early. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Despite a recent surge in the omicron variant of COVID-19, area fitness centers are busy as many people made New Years resolutions to get in shape and get their health back on track.

Daniel Cronauer, co-owner of 10X Fitness in Fairview Twp. and Taylor, sees many gym goers who make being healthy and losing weight a priority especially since studies show obese people experience greater health issues when they contract COVID-19.

They are being proactive, Cronauer said. They go to the gym to work and do everything they can to be as healthy as they can.

Still, Cronauer said some people are still afraid to go to the gym because of COVID-19 fears.

Id like to tell those people we are open 24 hours and people can spread out in the gym if they are nervous, Cronauer said.

He said business is better than last year when Gov. Tom Wolf ordered gyms to close Dec. 12 through Jan. 4. When they reopened in last January, they were initially only permitted to operate at 50% capacity.

Cronauer said he doesnt believe that closing fitness centers was justified since many people rely on them for their physical and mental health. He said gyms were mislabeled as being superspreaders although studies show COVID-19 rarely spreads on surfaces.

Sanitizing and cleaning stations are set up throughout the fitness centers and staff cleans every night, Cronauer said. Gym goers can decide for themselves whether or not they want to wear masks, he said.

Some members are in their 80s and they enjoy exercising, coming out to talk to other members and being healthy after feeling drained by quarantine and isolation, he said.

You have a better chance of surviving COVID if you are healthy, he said. People can control working out and being healthy. People are coming in saying, Enough is enough. I need to get back to the gym.

Usage at Planet Fitness locations throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna counties is on par with pre-pandemic levels and there has been a strong number of new members, said Stephen Kindler Jr., president and CEO of Planet Fitness franchisee National Fitness Partners.

Planet Fitness, which has locations at Laurel Mall and in Edwardsville, Pittston, Scranton and Peckville, opened a new location next to Kohls in Wilkes-Barre Twp. last year.

As we kick off 2022, were heartened to see that people in and around Wilkes-Barre are committed to prioritizing their physical and mental wellbeing, Kindler said. Were eager to continue providing the safe, clean and affordable access to fitness that our community needs.

Planet Fitness is known for its low membership fees starting at just $10 a month. All Planet Fitness locations recently received the WELL Health Safety rating, which Kindler said is a first in the fitness industry and ensures that members can exercise with peace of mind.

At NEPA Fit Club in Blakely, owner Mike Marcinek said he has seen an uptick in people coming out in January for the new year.

With the surge in COVID-19 cases, however, Marcinek said attendance has been all over the place. Business still isnt up to where it was pre-pandemic but its better than last year at this time, he said.

Masks are optional at NEPA Fit Club and people typically schedule appointments to work out. Marcinek said fitness centers like NEPA Fit Club give people a chance to look at how being healthy can have a great overall effect on their safety and health.

I think there is a certain sense of fatigue and a certain sense of people wanting to be more proactive with their health and valuing it more after having opportunities taken away for the last two years, Marcinek said. I think being proactive is the right move right now.

Keystone Fitness in Factoryville has been bustling with activity in January as many people pledged to change themselves for the better.

Jason Gay, general manager of Keystone Fitness and a certified personal trainer, said hes glad to see more people concerned about their health but many people push themselves too hard too quickly, which pushes them away from exercising.

Someone who is just starting out needs to find a routine they are comfortable with, Gay said. Working out as much as two or three days a week can provide substantial benefits for someone. Dont look at someone who has been working out forever. Move at your own pace.

For someone who is just starting to work out and wants to develop a routine, Gay said they need to find exercises they are comfortable doing, which can be something as simple as walking every day.

You just need to get yourself moving, Gay said. Something as simple as getting out to walk every day can be one of the best things one can do for themselves. We might not think of walking as a great exercise, but its one of the most effective ways to get yourself moving.

Although the weight equipment is an attraction for Keystone Fitness, Gay said the great thing about the gym is there are plenty of things for people who dont have the goal of becoming big and muscular.

We have lots of older people who come in to just walk on the treadmill and ride the stationary bike, which is awesome, he said. I think its a very cool thing to see when people want to take care of themselves.

Kevin McConlogue of the Wyoming County Examiner contributed to this report.
Ashtabula, OH (44004)

Today

Variable clouds with showers at times, and perhaps a rumble or two of thunder, especially this evening. Low 47F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers at times, and perhaps a rumble or two of thunder, especially this evening. Low 47F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Press Release

January 18, 2022 De Lima urges gov't to swiftly investigate escape of 3 inmates from Bilibid Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima urged the government to swiftly investigate the reported escape of three (3) Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), two (2) of whom are now dead following manhunt operations by authorities, from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) last Jan. 17. De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, underscored the need to probe possible neglect of duty on the side of Bureau of Correction (BuCor) officials or connivance between PDLs and authorities. "Ano ba naman itong sunod-sunod na gulo at kababalaghan na nangyayari sa mga bilangguan? Wala pang isang buwan ang nakalipas magmula nang may maiulat na insidente ng karahasan na ikinamatay ng ilang PDLs sa Bilibid at Caloocan City Jail, heto at may panibagong kontrobersiya na naman sa NBP," she said. "Authorities must look at all angles that led to the escape of three PDLs, and eventually the demise of two of them. May kapabayaan ba o sabwatan? Bakit nagkaroon sila ng armas, na naglagay din ng malubhang peligro sa publiko?" she added. According to reports, the three (3) "armed and dangerous" PDLs escaped at around 1:20 a.m. from the NBP's Maximum Security Compound by "sawing the grilled bars of their window." Hours after their daring escape, two (2) of the PDLs, identified as Pacifico Adlawan and Arwin Bio, were shot dead by authorities during the ensuing manhunt operations. Adlawan was serving a sentence for frustrated homicide and drug use, while Bio was serving a sentence for murder and attempted murder. As of this writing, authorities are still looking for the remaining escapee, Drakilou Falcon, who was convicted for robbery with homicide. De Lima, a former justice secretary, said the recent incident should serve as another "wake-up call" for the government to tighten security and finally make needed reforms in the country's prison and correctional systems. "I cannot anymore count the times that I called on the government to finally address the problems that have long been plaguing the country's prison system, which includes severe congestion - the root cause of the pressing problems in Philippine penitentiary," she said. "I hope that the Senate will finally act on the bills that I filed, logged as Senate Bills No. 180 and 181, that both aim to implement comprehensive reforms in the country's prison and correctional systems. Hindi matitigil ang ganitong insidente kung patuloy na magpapabaya ang gobyerno sa mga tunay na suliranin sa loob ng bilangguan," she added. SB No. 180 seeks to institutionalize prison reform and restorative justice in the country's correctional system to ensure the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates while according full respect of their rights. SB No. 181, meanwhile, seeks to unify corrections and management system by centralizing the management of all prisons and jails under a single government authority to be called National Commission on Corrections and Jail Management (NCCJM). EDITOR'S NOTE: Dear All, The Press Release released by the Office of Sen. Leila M. de Lima, "De Lima urges govt to swiftly investigate escape of 3 inmates from Bilibid" was drafted yesterday, Jan. 17, when initial reports about the prison break reported only three escapees. The recent BuCor report that a fourth inmate has escaped Bilibid was not available at that time. Nevertheless, the sentiment of Senator De Lima, a former Justice Secretary, about the issue is clear: "Authorities must look at all angles that led to the escape of PDLs, and eventually the demise of two of them. May kapabayaan ba o sabwatan? Bakit nagkaroon sila ng armas, na naglagay din ng malubhang peligro sa publiko? Thank you.
As many as 16,680 vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson&Johnson were administered in the last 24 hours, including 4,557 which represent the first dose, 2,858 - the second dose and 9,265 with the third dose, Romania's National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) informed on Tuesday.

According to CNCAV, since the beginning of the vaccination campaign, on December 27, 2020, there have been 16,233,190 vaccine doses administered to 8,032,764 persons, 7,928,427 receiving the full scheme and 2,246,766 immunized with the third dose.

There have been 10 adverse reactions registered in the last 24 hours, all general type.

In total, since the beginning of the vaccination campaign there have been 19,821 adverse reactions recorded in anti-COVID vaccines, 2,165 local type and 17,656 general type.
As many as 617 COVID-19 Omicron cases were reported in Romania as of January 16, the National Public Health Institute (INSP) informed on Tuesday.

According to INSP, in the week January 10-16, 322 Omicron cases were confirmed.As of January 16, as many as 8,845 sequencing investigations had been reported to the INSP - CNSCBT, of which 431 in the last week. The 431 sequencing investigations were reported by the Cantacuzino Institute (265) and the Matei Bals Institute (166).There are 8,238 cases of concern involving SARS-CoV-2 variants, including 5,865 involving the Delta variant and 617 the Omicron variant.As of January 16, the confirmation rate of worrying variants was 93%.Of the 5,865 Delta cases, 108 were confirmed last week.
Electricity and gas producers, importers, as well as the Romanian state, through taxes, are the ones who stand to benefit from the increase in bills, while suppliers have no additional benefits, said the General Director of E.ON Romania, Volker Raffel, in an interview for AGERPRES.

He says E.ON cannot find anywhere to buy energy from at a reasonable price, and called the price at which producers currently sell their energy "crazy."

At the same time, E.ON did not violate the bill offsetting law, as announced by the National Consumer Protection Authority (ANPC), but on the contrary, it was the first company to apply the reductions since November, Raffel claims.

"The fine we have received was for the odd mistakes we made in the past few months and they have nothing to do with the application of this law. As I said, the control over the application of this law took place last week and we have not received any fine, only confirmation [that we implemented the law properly - ed.n.]."

Volker Raffel said that 60 percent of consumers of electricity and 50 percent of gas consumers qualified to receive the offset scheme decided by the authorities. Raffel added that "it is clear that the bills need to be reduced in some way. These prices that we see on the wholesale market, which are demanded by producers and importers, are not sustainable, they cannot remain that way."

Raffel further affirmed that he has been working in the industry for more than 20 years and "I haven't seen anything like it. And I can tell you that it has nothing to do with liberalization. The same thing is happening on regulated markets, because there is this energy deficit everywhere. The real problem behind this is the lack of investment in the past."

Finally, the General Director of E.ON Romania said "We advise our customers to take care of their consumption because, according to the law, if you are part of a certain category of consumers, if you do not consume too much, you can benefit from certain reductions, so this is the only advice I can give.The law is as it is and if a customer consumes too much energy then he/she is suddenly no longer eligible, so this is the advice we can give our customers."
The Minister of Finance, Adrian Caciu, has met, on Tuesday, in Brussels, the European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, to whom he presented the budget measures taken by the Government in the context of ensuring the sustainability of public finances and the proposals for the modernizing the tax policy.

According to a release of the Finance Ministry, sent to AGERPRES, the meeting between the two officials took place on the sidelines of the ECOFIN Council in Brussels.

The Finance Minister has emphasized respecting the commitment regarding the adoption in due time of the budget for 2022, its form managing to avoid the premature withdrawal of budget support for managing the effects of the pandemic crisis and to create, at the same time, fiscal space.

Adrian Caciu pleaded to reach a balance between maintaining the commitment of Romania to return to the limits of the Stability and Growth Pact in 2024 and the gradual accomplishment of fiscal consolidation, taking into account the increased needs for public investments.

Regarding measures to support investments, the Finance head mentioned that "even in the conditions of a total adjustment of costs, investment spending had a major increase ensured, of over 1 percentage point, up to the level of 6.7% of the GDP, especially through the use of non-returnable external funds made available by the European Union."

According to the quoted source, the two officials also discussed policies in the realm of taxation.

The Finance Minister reiterated the priority of the Government in regards to reducing the VAT deficit through combating tax evasion by means made available both by the national legislation, as well as by the European one.

"The Government's priority is to reduce the fiscal deficit in VAT and to reduce tax evasion. We maintain our commitment to return to the limits of the Stability and Growth Pact in 2024," Adrian Caciu told the EU Commissioner for Economy.

On the other hand, the Finance Minister also presented to the European Commission representative the mechanism for the B2B electronic bill for products with a raised fiscal risk, as well as the E-Transport system established by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 130/2021.
Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu met on Tuesday with Canadian ambassador to Romania Annick Goulet at the diplomat's request, with the two discussing the modernization of the current bilateral legal framework governing the two states' judicial cooperation, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.

The two officials examined the optimal solutions to improve bilateral judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, with emphasis on the signing of a new extradition treaty.

Specifically, JusMin Catalin Predoiu proposed the Canadian side the start of talks for the conclusion of a new and modern extradition treaty, in line with recent developments in Romania's criminal law, as well as with the expected amendments to the Criminal Codes, the more so as the previous treaty dates from 1895.

Following the meeting, the sides decided for bilateral dialogue to continue at the level of experts in the field of criminal judicial cooperation and for the identification of the best ways to resolve issues of common interest, the Justice Ministry said.

Simona Franguloiu, deputy director of the Justice Ministry's International Law and Judicial Cooperation Department attended on behalf of the Ministry, while political counselor Ian Trites participated on behalf of the Canadian Embassy
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) will provide assistance to the National Bank of Moldova under a five-component, highly technical twinning project, BNR governor Mugur Isarescu told an online event on Tuesday.

"The twinning project we are launching today has a wide scope that covers not just the banking sector, but the Republic of Moldova's entire financial market. It aims to benefit both the National Bank of Moldova and the country's National Financial Markets Commission, by strengthening institutional capacities and governance, as well as through the development of the regulatory, supervisory and operational framework for enhanced functionality. From my perspective, after 1990 the National Bank of Romania has gained a solid experience and expertise, with the support of its EU partners - including the Central Bank of the Netherlands I'd like to make a special mention of. It's our turn and duty now, as a senior partner, to pass it on to the Republic of Moldova through this project, and we are able to do this efficiently, having the advantage of the shared Romanian language. There is a remarkable team involved in this complex project that spans two years. The activity will cover five components with a high degree of technicality, in the sphere of financial macrostability, prudential supervision, the non-banking financial sector, the internal regulatory supervision framework and the regulatory framework for payment infrastructure and its operation at European standards," said Mugur Isarescu.

The BNR governor mentioned that through this new twinning program, the financial-banking system of the Republic of Moldova will strengthen its convergence with international prudential financial requirements and will continue to align with EU standards in pursuit of macro-financial stability and strengthened prudential supervisory framework, of the development of prudential insurance supervision, the extension of the legal framework for the supervision of non-bank lenders and the improvement of the payment framework in line with the requirements of the Single Euro-Payments Area.

Under the two-year EU-financed project titled "Strengthening supervision, corporate governance and risk management in the Republic of Moldova's financial sector", the National Bank of Moldova and the Moldovan National Financial Markets Commission will benefit from assistance from EU partner institutions gathered in a consortium consisting of the National Bank of Romania as project leader, the Central Bank of the Netherlands and the Central Bank of Lithuania, in cooperation with the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority and the National Consumer Protection Authority. This project will help the National Bank of Moldova and the Moldovan National Financial Markets Commission to further develop their capabilities, following EU best practices to ensure a high level of financial sector stability for the benefit of citizens and businesses.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuc asks for the analysis of his PhD thesis, which he presented in 2003, entitled "The Dimension of the Romanian Army's Engagement in Multinational Joint Operations," by the ethics committee of the National Defence University (UNAp), an institution organizing doctoral thesis.

According to the Prime Minister, the choice of the topic of his PhD dissertation was predominantly based on his personal experience gained in international missions in which he participated directly, individually or together with the 26th Infantry Battalion: UN peacekeeping mission in Angola (1996-1997), NATO mission within SACEUR Strategic Reserve for the Western Balkans (2000-2001) and the Afghanistan Coalition Mission (2002)."Therefore, my thesis includes, in addition to scientific research and theoretical study, the experience I gained in the actual missions and exercises in which I participated, which is obviously the original contribution of a properly developed doctoral thesis," he added.The head of the Executive underscored that, as a soldier, regardless of the position in which he was assigned, he has always fulfilled his duties, "observing the principles, laws and military regulations that govern the activity of the Romanian Army.""The public accusations I received refer to the fact that some of the references in the footnotes do not appear in the bibliographic list, which only shows that the thesis is a honest one, since the source was mentioned at least once. Those public accusations cannot be justified, in any way, scientifically speaking, which can be proved by any report on similarity, correctly and professionally carried out. Syntagms and standardized formulations specific to the field of the PhD thesis (such as "stability pillar" etc.) should not be avoided when dealing with a sensitive subject - such as geopolitics - where semantics must be precise, which is why certain phrases/formulations must be standardized," said Ciuca.He also mentions that, since 2003, after he presented it, his PhD became public and can be consulted at the Library of the National Defence University and at the National Library."I believe that I worked on my thesis according to the legal requirements existing at that time and, consequently, I initiated the request for its verification by the ethics committee of the UNAp - the institution organizing doctoral theses, according to the legal provisions in force, in the spirit of OMEC No. 5229/2020 of August 17, 2020. To the extent that there are still questions, UNAp will be entitled to request a verification by CNATDCU - Commission 26 - Political Science, Security Studies, Military Science, Information and Public Order," says Ciuca.An investigation published by pressone.ro claims that Nicolae Ciuca's thesis, based on which he became a doctor of military sciences in 2003, includes plagiarized content in at least 42 pages out of a total of 138.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca welcomed on Tuesday, at Victoria Palace of Government, the Ambassador of the French Republic in Bucharest, Laurence Auer, in the context of France holding for six months the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, reiterating during discussions Romania's commitment to advancing, in a consensual spirit, the European agenda.

According to a Government press release, the topics of the meeting focused on the close and dynamic cooperation between the two sides in the context of advancing the European agenda and on the solid partnership and priorities at the level of the bilateral relationship. The security situation in the Eastern Neighborhood was also assessed.

"Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca reiterated Romania's commitment to advancing, in a consensual spirit, the European agenda and gave assurances regarding the active support of our country in fulfilling the ambitious objectives included in the work programme and the priorities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. He reiterated Romania's interest in a pragmatic outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe, aimed at action and concrete recommendations," the release said.

At the same time, the head of Government underlined the substantial character and the amplified potential of the bilateral cooperation on multiple levels, in line with the Romania-France Strategic Partnership and the Roadmap.

"He noted the rising and particularly encouraging level of Romanian-French trade. The Prime Minister noted the importance of a favorable decision to start talks on Romania's accession to the OECD and called for France's support in this regard," the release further shows.
President Klaus Iohannis believes the decision made by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca to request the analysis of his doctoral thesis by the Ethics Committee of the National Defence University (UNAp) is correct and necessary, according to the Presidential Administration.

The Presidential Administration shows, in a response for AGERPRES, that the head of state maintains his position, reiterated in countless public statements, regarding the fight against the phenomenon of plagiarism and the importance of academic integrity.

"The President of Romania believes the decision made by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca to request the analysis of his doctoral thesis by the Ethics Committee of UNAp to be correct and necessary, any demarche meant to clarify suspicions raised in the public space being welcome. Until a final decision of the relevant institutions, President Klaus Iohannis will make no other comments on the matter," shows the cited source.
The Minister of Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Constantin-Daniel Cadariu, had a work meeting on Tuesday with Tanczos Barna, the Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests, in order to discuss about the Romanian seaside beaches situation and the ski areas development, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

"At the base of this meeting were the debates minister Cadariu organized at Vatra Dornei, Brasov, Constanta and at the Ministry's headquarters, through monthly consultations with representatives in tourism," the press release mentions.

Thus, specialists from the two ministries and from the National Administration of Romanian Waters will work together to reach the goal expected both by tourists and by HoReCa (hospitality industry) representatives, namely of having all beaches to comply.

According to the quoted source, on both medium- and long-term, the two ministries will coordinate their efforts in order to develop the ski area which needs to be a priority area for Romania, with the observance of the principles related to sustainability of investments and care for the environment.
The explosion of prices in energy is caused by the lack of energy, after the state closed tens of coal facilities from 2008 to this year, without replacing them, informs a release sent on Tuesday by the National Federation of Trade Unions in Energy "UNIVERS" and the National Mines-Energy Federation.

"The explosion of energy prices is explained by politicians and analysts in all sorts of ways, almost all tying it to the increase of prices at the European level. (...) Nobody is however addressing the elephant in the room, nobody's saying the real cause that made these bills possible: the lack of energy. Between 2008-2022 tens of production facilities were shut down without anything being put in place. Or, if something was put in place, other types of energy were used. Coal energy, which works on the basis of the load curve was shut down, and instead we have renewable energy, which you either have or don't have, depending on wind and sun," the release mentions.

According to the source, unlike EU states, Romania did not replace the decommissioned capacities, even though it is one of the smallest polluters in Europe.

"Politicians, with the President at the helm, put in their programs combating climate change. So has all of Europe. Only unlike the EU, we took no measures to replace the capacities that were decommissioned. (...) Romania is one of the smallest European polluters. In 2017 it had already reduced its GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by around 50 pct, far exceeding the 20 pct by 2020 target launched in the EU. Romania's contribution to CO2 pollution is around 2 pct, at around 100 thousand tonnes a year. (...) Only Finland and Estonia fare better than us. We are ten times less polluting than Germany, 7.4 times than France, 4.5 times than Poland, at the state level," show the two trade unions.

The UNIVERS National Federation of Trade Unions in Energy and the Mines-Energy National Federation emphasize that energy from renewable resources will have to be complementary to that from coal and nuclear resources, not a replacement.

The two unions request the immediate involvement of the Government and the Supreme Council for the Country's Defence and the investigation of those responsible for the situation that shows Romanians paying the most expensive energy and gas in Europe.

The two trade unions are representative trade unions at the level of their sector of activity - Energy, Oil, Gas and Energy Mining -, representing over 80 pct of the employees that work in electric and thermal energy production units.
A plane went off the runway at Cluj Airport as it was engaging in a return maneuver, and a tree fell on a car, due to strong winds on Monday evening; no fatalities were reported.

"As far as the Wizz Air flight from Bologna is concerned, due to the strong wind and winter conditions, it was not recommended for the plane to return to the runway, but the plane did return despite the bad weather, and taxied slightly to the side of the runway. The plane was not damaged at all, and the passengers were not harmed. The Wizz Air flights from Valencia and Lufthansa from Munich were delayed by between 30 minutes and one hour," director of the Avram Iancu International Airport at Cluj-Napoca David Ciceo told the media on Tuesday.Also Monday night, a tree fell on a car on E60."A Ro-Alert code red warning was issued for the area. Only one tree fell on the E60 between Huedin and Morlaca on a car; traffic resumed shortly after. I am not aware of any other events," Cluj Prefect Tasnadi Szilard said on Tuesday.The mountainous area of Cluj County was under a code red warning of wind gusts of up to 135 km/h on Monday evening.
WASHINGTON  The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers on Monday warned of an impending catastrophic aviation crisis when AT&T and Verizon deploy new 5G service this week.

The airlines warned the new C-Band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas and cause chaos for U.S. flights.

Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded, wrote the chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others in a letter first reported by Reuters.

The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that potential interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations.

This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays, the letter cautioned.

Airlines late on Monday were considering whether to begin canceling some international flights that are scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday.

With the proposed restrictions at selected airports, the transportation industry is preparing for some service disruption. We are optimistic that we can work across industries and with government to finalize solutions that safely mitigate as many schedule impacts as possible, plane maker Boeing said on Monday.

Action is urgent, the airlines added in the letter also signed by UPS Airlines, Alaska Air, Atlas Ai, JetBlue Airways and FedEx Express. To be blunt, the nations commerce will grind to a halt.

The letter went to White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Airlines for America, the group that organized the letter, declined to comment. The government agencies did not immediately comment.

Intervention is needed

AT&T and Verizon, which won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum in an $80 billion auction last year, on Jan. 3 agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports to reduce interference risks and take other steps to cut potential interference for six months. They also agreed to delay deployment for two weeks until Wednesday, temporarily averting an aviation safety standoff, after previously delaying service by 30 days.

Verizon and AT&T declined comment on Monday.

The CEOs of major airlines and Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun held a lengthy call with Buttigieg and Dickson on Sunday to warn of the looming crisis, officials told Reuters.

The airlines ask that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways at some key airports.

Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies, they said.

The airlines added that flight restrictions will not be limited to poor weather operations.

Multiple modern safety systems on aircraft will be deemed unusable causing a much larger problem than what we knew, the airlines said. ... Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded.

One area of concern is whether some Boeing 777s, as well as some Boeing cargo planes, will be unable to land at some key U.S. airports after 5G service starts, airline officials told Reuters. The airlines urged action to ensure 5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.

The FAA said on Sunday it had cleared an estimated 45% of the U.S. commercial airplane fleet to perform low-visibility landings at many airports where 5G C-band will be deployed and they expect to issue more approvals before Wednesday. The airlines noted on Monday that the list did not include many large airports.
The most familiar indicator of COVID-19s inexorable nationwide spread  daily state and local case counts  may be on the way out.

Instead, public health officials are considering a shift from increasingly inaccurate case data to numbers they say better represent the effect of the disease on the community and the health care system: COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.

Omicron case counts are shattering all previous COVID-19 records. But the numbers dont carry the same weight they used to. State and local health departments are preparing to explain that to the public and start reporting more meaningful data on the virus.

The goal of public health data is to provide information to people so they can take actions to keep themselves safer and healthier, said Meredith Allen, vice president for health security at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Were getting to a point where a daily case count isnt giving people that information.

So far, Tennessee is the only state to scale back its COVID-19 case reporting since omicron hit. But experts expect other states to follow once the omicron surge subsides.

In addition, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has asked hospitals to start providing more meaningful COVID-19 data by specifying whether patients were admitted because of COVID-19 or entered the hospital for unrelated reasons and incidentally tested positive for the virus.

For now, daily case counts remain the primary gauge of omicrons nationwide spread. But epidemiologists caution that the numbers should be relied on only as broad indicators of the velocity and direction of the diseases transmission.

Because of testing shortages, unreported home tests and a high percentage of asymptomatic infections going undetected, daily case counts are vastly underreported, said Janet Hamilton, executive director at the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The true number of infections is some multiple of the reported cases, she said.

This week, the average daily reported case count was 781,000, more than three times the daily count of 250,000 at the peak of the delta surge a year ago. On Jan. 3, more than a million omicron cases were recorded.

But that doesnt mean hospitalizations and deaths, which lag new cases by several weeks, will rise in equal proportion. Early data indicates that omicron infections are producing milder symptoms and fewer deaths than previous COVID-19 variants.

We dont want to keep telling people theres X number of new infections out there without giving them an idea of how many of those cases will have serious outcomes, Hamilton said.

Despite its lower hospitalization and death rate, omicrons soaring infections are resulting in a surge in hospital visits, almost entirely among unvaccinated people, straining health care systems nationwide. And even though its proving less virulent than previous COVID-19 strains, omicron is expected to result in more deaths because of the sheer number of people infected.

Better barometers

Months into the pandemic, epidemiologists said COVID-19 ultimately would become endemic, infecting nearly everyone and remaining in the population indefinitely.

That endemic era may have started. As a result, many state health officials say theyre preparing to scale back the frequency of case count updates, possibly as soon as the current surge subsides, Allen said.

That would allow public health agencies to focus on prevention efforts in high-risk populations such as long-term care facilities and work more closely with schools and vaccination clinics, she said, rather than put the time and energy into producing that daily number.

Tennessee shifted from daily to weekly reporting of new COVID-19 cases Jan. 1, citing a need to focus on other public health priorities, including the expanding opioid overdose crisis.

Florida, Iowa and Nebraska moved to weekly counts last summer, as COVID-19 cases waned nationwide. Alaska, Kansas and Michigan publish case data three times a week.

For now, though, state and local COVID-19 policies, including school and business closures, travel restrictions, mask requirements and quarantine rules, largely hinge on daily numbers.

Since the pandemic began, the rise and fall of case counts has proven a reliable indicator of whether the virus is gaining ground, leveling out or retreating, said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and adviser to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We all know that the data is less precise than it was, he said. But we do get a good sense of the trends over time and geographically, particularly in a state that is long and thin like Tennessee. It allows us to look at whats happening in Nashville versus Chattanooga, for example.

The CDC official guidelines continue to recommend that state and local health departments publish daily COVID-19 case counts, he said. But in discussions with health officials, the agency is giving states leeway to put more emphasis on hospitalizations and other data.

Schaffner and other experts say the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 may be a better indicator of the severity of the disease and its impact on communities and the health care system. Others argue that the number of patients in intensive care units would be a more meaningful measure.

Gray areas

As cases of omicron mushroom, its becoming increasingly likely that hospital patients will test positive for the virus upon admission or become infected while in the hospital, said Eili Klein, an epidemiologist and associate professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Even before omicron became dominant, studies showed that roughly half of patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 were there for other reasons. Still, their COVID-19 infections likely affected their health outcomes and the length of time they stayed in the hospital, Klein said, and it certainly meant the hospital had to expend additional resources to treat them.

Its not easy to unspool COVID-19 hospitalization data, he said. Theres a large gray area thats difficult to determine in real time.

Klein and other experts argue that use of intensive care is a better measure of the virus health burden.

In Maryland, for example, hospitalizations are at an all-time high right now, Klein said, but use of intensive care is not. Last year during the delta surge, hospitalizations in the state were much lower than they are now, but almost every patient was very sick.

As we move forward, there needs to be some decisions about how we adjust our reporting, Klein said. Do we go to weekly reports, separate people admitted for COVID as opposed to those with COVID? It depends on how we plan to treat people who test positive but arent sick.

Do we quarantine them? Maybe we stop doing that. We dont quarantine people who have the flu.

Testing shortages

From the beginning, testing shortages, inaccuracies and delays have plagued the nations response to COVID-19. As a result, many county and city health departments have never been able to publish daily case counts, said Adriane Casalotti, chief of public and government affairs at the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

In this omicron surge, she said, long lines at testing centers continue to stress city and county health departments, particularly as they field an avalanche of questions from the public about the CDCs recent about-face on COVID-19 quarantines.

In December, the CDC announced that it was reducing its quarantine recommendations from 10 to five days. The American Medical Association and other experts called the weaker recommendations risky, suggesting that people get tested before ending quarantine.

With home tests still in short supply and people waiting hours to get tested at a public site, its a hard call for local health departments to suggest people get tested before they end quarantine, Casalotti said.

On top of that, local health departments typically experience major public backlash when they try to implement stiffer COVID-19 restrictions than the CDC.

2022 The Pew Charitable Trusts. Visit at stateline.org.
Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Last summer, the Missouri Supreme Court pulled the rug out from under the Missouri Sheriffs Retirement System. A unanimous court found that the $3 fee that was being charged in Missouri court cases to pad the retirement of sheriffs was unconstitutional.

The fee, and others like it, was added to court costs by the Missouri Legislature, seeking funding sources other than general revenue. As a result, the people who come in contact with the courts  most of them poor  pay a back-door tax. This is a problem all across the country, with poor people often being threatened with jail time, or actually incarcerated, over their inability to pay the rising fines and fees that often have no connection to their original offense.

The ruling, which found that the fee was an unconstitutional sale of justice was a long-time coming. The fees existence had been contested almost since its inception in 1983. By October, 2021, the retirement system was preparing for Plan B. It hired four lobbyists, including Andy Blunt, son of U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, to help it find a new funding source.

This month, Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, revealed the retirement systems plans for future funding: Poor people. Bernskoetter has filed Senate Bill 1054, which repeals the unconstitutional $3 fee and replaces it with a $50 fee sheriffs offices will collect during eviction proceedings. The fee will presumably be collected from landlords to begin with, but they will in some way pass those costs on to the people they are trying to evict. Bernskoetter did not return a call seeking comment.

The bill, were it to become law, would be a gold mine for the Sheriffs Retirement System, especially with evictions in the states two biggest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City, having been on hold during much of the pandemic.

Frank Vatterott, a St. Louis lawyer and former municipal judge who has spent years battling the $3 fee, sees the bill as more of the same: rural sheriffs seeking to pad their retirements on the backs of poor people in Missouris cities.

The crime is the same as with the court fee, Vatterott says. People who are seeking to evict tenants are not all bad people. But to get a nonpaying tenant evicted, they have to contribute to a retirement fund for the elected sheriff. One cant kick out a delinquent renter without a court order authorizing an eviction.

Its early in the legislative session, so its hard to say whether Bernskoetters bill will gain traction. But theres no doubt the Sheriffs Retirement System will need an infusion of cash. The loss of the $3 fee will erase future revenue, but the underlying court case has also received a preliminary class action certification in an attempt to recover past payments of the $3 fee.

That could end up costing the retirement fund a significant amount of money.

Vatterott doesnt oppose the sheriffs intent to increase their retirement. He just doesnt like the courts, and specifically the poor people who cant afford to pay such fees, identified as the target for funding. Therein lies the difficulty with attempts to reform rising fines and fees, not just in Missouri, but across the country. The reason the sheriffs turned to the courts for fees to begin with is that in a low-tax state like Missouri, there is rarely enough general revenue to go around. Sheriffs are a powerful political lobby, but they dont want to have to stand in line with schoolchildren, and teachers, and road contractors, and hospitals and other special interests fighting for a piece of the states limited budget pie.

The legislators should pass laws to pay pensions out of general revenue, Vatterott suggests, not take advantage of those who must use the sheriffs to evict. Its disgusting.

From City Hall to the Capitol, metro columnist Tony Messenger shines light on what public officials are doing, tells stories of the disaffected, and brings voice to the issues that matter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Kansas City man released from prison after serving more than 40 years for a wrongful conviction is suing the company that provides medical care for Missouri prison inmates.

Kevin Strickland alleges in his lawsuit that medical care provided by Corizon LLC officials left him dependent on a wheelchair and able to stand for only brief periods, KMBC-TV reported.

Strickland, of Kansas City, was released from prison in November after a judge ruled he was wrongfully convicted of committing a triple murder in Kansas City in 1979.

In his lawsuit, Strickland said Corizon employees at Crossroads Correctional Center and Western Missouri Correctional Center repeatedly denied, delayed and deferred his requests for treatment for spinal stenosis and neurologic problems.

According to the lawsuit, Strickland began asking for medical help on Feb. 14, 2017. In several subsequent medical appointments, doctors recommended exercise and prescribed anti-depressants and told him to return if his condition worsened.

He also alleges Corizon staff werent able to provide all necessary medical treatment on site but referrals for off-site specialists were denied.

Strickland is seeking a jury trial and damages related to his treatment.

Corizon Health officials did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
MADISON COUNTY  Officers from two Metro East municipal departments fatally shot a homeless man who pointed a BB pistol at them outside a gas station Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Tyler M. Marler was shot about 2 a.m. Tuesday outside VP Racing Fuels gas station at 851 North Wood River Avenue.

Marler, 31, of East St. Louis, died at a hospital. Wood River police Chief Brad Wells said it appears Marler was homeless.

No officers were hurt.

Wells said officers from Wood River and East Alton saw Marler pull a gun from his pocket as they approached him on the lot. Only later did police learn the weapon was a BB gun.

The confrontation with police started after a woman who works at the gas station ran to a fast-food restaurant next door. She had been closing the gas station when she saw a man with a gun. She went to the Jack in the Box next door about 1:40 a.m. to tell police.

Police searched the area but couldnt find the man.

Shortly after 2 a.m., someone called police to say that a man was on her porch near the gas station. The man fit the description of the person the gas station worker had seen 20 minutes earlier, Wells said.

Police returned to the gas station parking lot and found Marler sitting on the west side of the gas station next to a space heater and backpack.

As the officers made contact with him, he started to pull a firearm on them and thats when the officers fired back, Wells said.

Wells added, He started making the motion that he was pulling the firearm.

Officers from both departments fired several rounds at the man.

Trooper Josh Korando with the Illinois State Police confirmed later that Marler had been holding a black metal BB pistol.

While Wells didnt specifically say that Marler was pointing the weapon at officers, Korando with the Illinois State Police later used those words in his statement. Korando said the man pointed a black, metal BB pistol at officers and then officers shot him.

Hours after the shooting, as police searched the lot for bullets and ballistics evidence in the daylight, they were picking through bags of ice from a freezer outside the gas station. The freezer had at least five bullet holes in it. Blood was on the ground near the gas pumps.

Once police cleared the crime-scene tape from the parking lot, the gas station, known as Moes Corner, was back open for business. The owner could not be reached. The business is on the northern edge of Wood River, near the border with the village of East Alton.

Neither Wells nor Korando provided any information about the officers who fired shots. East Alton police Chief Scott Golike said his officer is in his late 20s and has been in law enforcement for three years. The officer is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is protocol, Golike said.

Wells asked the Illinois State Police to take over the shooting investigation and evidence collection. The Illinois State Police Major Crimes Unit is handling the case.

This is the second time in two weeks that a police officer in the Metro East has shot someone. On Jan. 4, police in South Roxana shot and wounded a Godfrey man who threw steak knives at officers. The man has been charged with assault.

South Roxana is about 3 miles southeast of Wood River.

Family, friends of man killed by police in Wood River suspect suicide by cop Tyler Marler's friend said he had tried to overdose before police fatally shot him. "Everyone knows if you pull a gun on police what happens to you."

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ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis County man received a 14-year prison term Tuesday after admitting to fatally slashing a co-worker's throat in 2019 in the city's Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Alipasha Ibragimov, 28, of unincorporated south St. Louis County, reached a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to charges of armed criminal action and a reduced charge of second-degree murder. Circuit Judge Theresa Burke accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Ibragimov.

Ibragimov admitted fatally stabbing his co-worker Steven Tyrell Hill, 20, of St. Louis about 4:20 p.m. Sept. 28, 2019, while working for the Two Men and a Truck moving company. Hill died at the scene.

The men were moving an equipment company out of a warehouse in the 400 block of Eichelberger Street at the time, authorities said. Surveillance video showed Ibragimov and Hill outside the warehouse, then Hill getting into the cab of the moving truck. The video then showed Ibragimov getting into the cab of the vehicle too, and Ibragimov running into the warehouse, covered in blood.

A motive is still unclear and the murder weapon was never found, said Steven Waterkotte, Ibragimov's lawyer. Ibragimov's trial had been set for Jan. 31.

"I think it was a fair resolution," Waterkotte said.

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JEFFERSON CITY  A St. Louis lawmaker wants to create the crime of malicious prosecution of a journalist, a class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, said he was inspired to file the legislation last week after Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, in October announced a criminal investigation into the St. Louis Post-Dispatch when one of the newspapers journalists alerted the state to a significant data vulnerability that exposed educators Social Security numbers to public disclosure.

The attacks by certain folks on journalists doing their job frighten me, Merideth said. Theyve been rising and that one went to a new level of actually pursuing prosecution for something that he (Parson) had specific knowledge wasnt a crime.

After alerting the state about the data issue contained on a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website, the Post-Dispatch didnt publish its report until after the officials moved to protect the vulnerable information. The newspaper did not disclose any personal information.

A web application that allowed the public to look up teacher certifications and credentials contained the vulnerability, the newspaper reported.

While no private information was clearly visible, the Social Security numbers for school teachers, administrators and counselors were present and accessible in the HTML source code of the publicly available pages involved.

The newspaper later reported, after obtaining records from Parsons office using the Sunshine Law, that the FBI had informed a state cybersecurity specialist that the incident is not an actual network intrusion, and said the states website was misconfigured, which allowed open source tools to be used to query data that should not be public.

Instead of thanking the reporter for alerting the state to the problem, as state officials initially had planned, Parson accused the journalist of criminal hacking and announced a probe by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

We will not let this crime against Missouri teachers go unpunished, Parson said at the news conference. Not only are we going to hold this individual accountable, but we will also be holding accountable all those who aided this individual and the media corporation that employs them.

The Highway Patrol has since completed its investigation, turning the results over to Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson, who has not announced a charging decision.

The investigative report has not been released.

Merideths proposal says any elected public official, assistant attorney general or assistant prosecutor would be guilty of the offense if they begin a prosecution of a journalist without probable cause, continue the investigation, act with malice against the journalist, act with knowledge that no offense was committed by the journalist and cause damages to the journalist.

The legislation also says a person who violates the law would be liable for reputational damages.

I wont go so far as to say he (Parson) is a fascist but Ill go so far as to say these are fascist moves and we need to make sure that we are protected from an overreaching government, Merideth said.

Fascism refers to an authoritarian, nationalist political ideology characterized by, among other things, the suppression of opposition and freedom of speech.

Kelli Jones, spokeswoman for Parson, did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Merideth, who has tangled with the Parson administration repeatedly over the years, acknowledged it was highly unlikely that his legislation would gain traction.

But he said House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, may opt to support the measure given his sometimes-adversarial relationship with Parson along with the fact that Republicans did not in any way defend him over this.

They could use something like this as a way to poke back at him for something that they know he was in the wrong on, Merideth said.

The legislation is House Bill 2420.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  The Republican contest for governor now has five candidates.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, 51, announced his candidacy Monday in a news release and video sent to reporters.

His running mate is Rep. Avery Bourne, 29, a Republican legislator from the central Illinois town of Morrisonville. The youngest lawmaker in Illinois history when appointed in 2015, she has risen to assistant Republican leader in the House and bolsters the tickets bona fides with voters south of Interstate 80.

An Army veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and former prosecutor, Irvin said as Aurora mayor, he cut spending, spurred economic growth and eased property taxes. He was elected the first Black mayor of Illinois second-largest city in 2017.

Where J.B. Pritzker has failed in Illinois, I have succeeded in Aurora..., Irvin said. As the next governor of Illinois, I will be tough on criminals, put our state on a sound fiscal path that doesnt rely on tax hikes and fight the corrupt politicians who have run our state for decades.

If elected, Irvin would be the first Black governor of Illinois. But hes certain to face bruising attacks during the primary campaign because he has pulled Democratic ballots in recent elections. And Monday morning, the Democratic Governors Association released a video showing Irvin praising Pritzkers professionalism and compassion in shepherding the state through the COVID-19 pandemic, a record which establishment Republicans have roundly criticized.

The partisan primary, typically scheduled for March, is June 28 because pandemic-related 2020 Census delays stalled the Legislatures once-a-decade redrawing of legislative and congressional district maps.

The crowded GOP field already features state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, Bull Valley businessman Gary Rabine, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf of Waterloo and equity investor Jesse Sullivan of Petersburg.

The Democratic Party of Illinois wasted no time in landing shots, tying the latest hopeful to a statewide conservative lineup it says has been organized by associates of former GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner, whom Pritzker beat in 2018, and funded by conservative billionaire donor Ken Griffin.

Voters will not tolerate a slate of candidates whose only goal is to return us to the Rauner years of budget impasses, credit downgrades, draconian service cuts, and governmental crisis, Democratic Party Executive Director Abby Witt said.

With Rauner absent from the political scene for three years, Democrats have been unfettered in tagging him with blame for a disastrous two-year budget stalemate between the ex-governor and the former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Irvin didnt mention Rauner or Griffin. Griffin, CEO of Citadel, a multinational hedge fund, has not commented on speculation about his plans.

But the states richest man, with an estimated worth of $26 billion, according to Forbes, has promised hes all in to beat Pritzker and issued a statement praising Irvins honesty and progress in improving public safety, education and the economy.

Richard Irvins life embodies the American Dream and a real commitment to making communities stronger, Griffin said. From humble beginnings, he put himself through college with the help of the GI bill and chose to enter public service to make a difference in the lives of others.

Expect billionaire philanthropist and equity investor Pritzker to match his opponent dollar for dollar. With $24 million in the bank on Dec. 31, the heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, worth $3.6 billion according to Forbes, last week dropped another $90 million into his account.

At $210 million, the Pritzker-Rauner race four years ago was the second-costliest gubernatorial campaign in history, with nearly 90% of the total put up by just three people: Pritzker, Rauner and Griffin.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Republican-led Missouri House on Tuesday emphatically rejected a gerrymander to eliminate a Democratic congressional seat, giving first-round approval to a plan that would likely maintain the status quo in Missouris U.S. House delegation.

The proposal earned 84 yes votes, enough for preliminary approval, with Democrats and some Republicans withholding support. Democrats had pushed for a map that wouldve increased their odds in Ballwin Republican Rep. Ann Wagners 2nd Congressional District, while hard-line Republicans sought to eliminate one of Missouris two safe Democratic districts.

In the end, consensus emerged around a plan that would likely result in six Republicans and two Democrats from Missouri in the U.S. House. The plan, proposed by Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, shores up Wagners district for the GOP.

The proposal still needs one more vote in the House to advance to the Senate.

Mapmakers will also need to persuade some lawmakers who voted against the plan on Tuesday to support an emergency clause for the map to take effect before the Aug. 2 primaries. An emergency clause requires 109 votes.

The 6-2 map was approved over the objections of more than a dozen Republicans who voted against the plan.

Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, introduced an amendment designed to eliminate Kansas City U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleavers safe Democratic district. But the proposal only garnered 23 votes in support.

Shaul, the chairman of the House Redistricting Committee, said he struggled with the prospect of pairing liberal Kansas City voters with conservative Branson voters.

What I have a hard time with is the communities of interest, Shaul said. I dont understand how Jackson and Branson really mix.

Rep. Nick Schroer, R-St. Charles County, also tried to push through a 7-1 map.

But House GOP leadership shot down Schroers amendment due to impermissible population variation among the proposed districts.

Schroer, who is running for state Senate, said Missouri needed to maximize its GOP representation in Congress.

We are trying to ensure that the representatives that we are putting forth with these boundaries are representing the core values of the people here in the state of Missouri, Schroer said.

But not all Republicans were on board. By pursuing a 7-1 map, Schroer had to split Democratic-leaning Jackson County among the 4th, 5th and 6th districts. Democratic Boone County, in mid-Missouri, was split three ways.

Rep. Ann Kelley, R-Lamar, said she didnt want her rural constituents paired with voters from Kansas City.

I cannot sit at my desk and allow this to go on without saying something, she said. The amendment puts small rural areas with Kansas City, Jackson County. Were not the same. We have different views. So I will be a no on this amendment just because of that.

Democrats opposed the move, too.

It intentionally splits up communities that the amendment sponsor doesnt agree with into multiple districts to intentionally weaken their representation and power, said Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis.

Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, D-St. Louis, proposed moving Webster Groves-area precincts from the Democratic 1st Congressional District to the 2nd.

It will increase the minority population, she said, referring to the 1sts majority-minority status under the Voting Rights Act.

The GOP voted down the amendment.

Missouri was one of the last states to begin the redistricting process, which occurs once every decade following the U.S. Census. Boundaries for U.S. House districts must be redrawn to account for population changes.

Republicans who have pushed for a 7-1 map in Missouri point to Democratic-led Illinois, which eliminated two of the states five safe Republican districts in the latest round of redistricting.

At the same time, Republicans elsewhere have pushed to eliminate Democratic districts.

In neighboring Tennessee, the GOP appears poised to adopt an 8-1 map  carving up Democratic Nashville into multiple congressional districts and leaving Democrats confined to one district in Memphis.

In Ohio, the state Supreme Court recently tossed that states GOP-drawn congressional map, saying in a 4-3 decision the map violated state rules on partisan fairness.

Other states have placed redistricting duties in the hands of independent commissions.

In Colorado, a commission adopted a map that creates three GOP-leaning districts, four Democratic-leaning districts, and one highly competitive district in a state President Joe Biden won in 2020.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri lawmakers opened debate Tuesday on a proposal that could benefit a company building a $130 million music production facility in Chesterfield.

Under a package of legislation sponsored by Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, facilities like the Gateway Studios project on the western edge of St. Louis County could qualify for up to $8 million in state tax credits as a way to lure more entertainment jobs to the state.

The so-called Entertainment Industry Jobs Act would allow a tax credit for rehearsal expenses and tour expenses equal to 30% of the cost. It would include the cost of concert tour equipment, stages, sets, sound equipment, lighting and scenery.

Hoskins also is sponsoring a tax incentive program for filmmakers to replace an incentive program that expired eight years ago.

The idea of music and film being produced in the State of Missouri is absolutely appealing to me, said Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, during a meeting of the Senate Economic Development Committee.

Gateway Studios in November outlined a plan to build a 32-acre rehearsal, studio and hotel complex on Spirit Commerce Drive. Officials said the project could boost the St. Louis regions visibility among concert promoters and attract top production talent to the region.

The project immediately drew political attention. Attendees at the groundbreaking included Gov. Mike Parson, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and House Speaker-elect Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres.

The project is already in line for state and local subsidies. The Missouri Department of Economic Development has committed $2.9 million, while St. Louis County has approved up to $130 million in bonds and reductions in property and sales taxes.

Gateway Studios CEO Trey Kerr, who spent nearly 20 years working for major touring band Phish and remains their video director, said the facility is modeled after Rock Lititz in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Kerr told senators the proposal could bring jobs to the state.

Much like many other Missourians, Ive had to leave the state to pursue my career, Kerr said. This is all about jobs.

David Haskell, president of business development at Gateway, said hes received a lengthy list of inquiries from top touring artists about the facility.

A lot of people are in support of what were doing, Haskell said.

If approved, the program would go into effect in 2023 and expire in 2029 unless extended by the Legislature.

The debate over tax credits for the music industry comes as the Missouri Legislature has failed in recent years to renew tax credits for filmmakers.

Until 2013, Missouri issued transferable tax credits to cover up to 35% of production costs if a studio spent more than $100,000 in the state for films longer than a half-hour.

But, since the credit ended, shows with settings in Missouri, like Ozark, Sharp Objects and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, have been filmed in other states.

Hoskins and Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, want to revive the film tax credit, despite a 2010 recommendation by a panel of lawmakers and business leaders that the tax credits were a waste of money.

Michelle Davidson, president of the Missouri Motion Media Association, told committee members she has filmed Missouri-based stories in North Carolina and other states because they offer incentives.

I hope we can build our workforce, Davidson said.

No vote was taken on either bill presented to the panel.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Jeff Roorda, a St. Louis police union leader whose statements have stoked controversy, announced Tuesday hes running for a seat in the Missouri Senate representing Jefferson County.

Roorda, of Barnhart, enters what could be a crowded Republican primary field seeking to take over for term-limited Republican Sen. Paul Wieland of Imperial.

The exact boundaries of the district remain in flux as part of the once-per-decade redrawing of the states legislative districts to adjust for population changes.

After serving in the Missouri House as a Democrat from 2005 to 2010 and again from 2013 to 2015, Roorda is now running as a Republican, potentially against GOP Reps. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold and Dan Shaul of Imperial.

He said his support of labor unions will help him in the race.

I just think I match up with the district better, Roorda said. Ive had a lifetime of public service. It just seemed like a natural progression to seek the Senate seat.

Jefferson County had been a Democratic stronghold since the 1950s. That changed in 2004, when several Republicans were swept into office with President George W. Bush.

Roorda, 56, was a police officer for 17 years, most of them in Arnold. He currently serves as business manager for the St. Louis Police Officers Association.

He said he hasnt decided whether to leave that post if he wins.

Well think about that later, Roorda said. I dont think there is a senator who doesnt have a second job.

After his service in the House, he ran for a seat in the Missouri Senate in 2014 but lost. A bid for Jefferson County Council in 2016 and Jefferson County executive in 2018 also failed.

As head of the St. Louis police union, Roorda has had a tense relationship with city leaders.

In December, he said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones role in the citys search for a police chief had been a disaster.

On Tuesday, he said he supports legislative efforts to return control of the St. Louis Police Department to a state-controlled board of police commissioners.

Hopefully it passes this year. I would wholeheartedly support taking the department out the hands of Tishaura Jones, Roorda said.

In 2017, he called Jones a race-baiter and cop-hater. Roorda is white and Jones is Black. His 2017 comments about Jones elicited a sharp response from her mayoral opponent at the time, former Alderman Lyda Krewson, who called on the union leadership to fire Roorda for his vile and disgusting statements. When I am mayor, he will not be welcome in my office, Krewson, who was elected, added.

Following the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson by a police officer  he wrote a book titled, Ferghanistan: The War on Police and suggested in 2016 that then-President Barack Obama was responsible for the shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas.

Missouri Ethics Commission records show Roorda has not yet formed a campaign committee to raise and spend money.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY  Residents and community leaders gathered  and marched  Monday in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. and his lifes work advancing basic rights of African Americans.

Many said that Mondays federal holiday in his honor not only provided a chance to commemorate King but also to reflect on wide-ranging examples of unfinished business amid the ongoing push for racial equality in American society. They cited inequalities spanning educational and economic opportunities, law enforcement and criminal justice, housing, health care and voting.

Weve made progress, but theres a lot of unfinished business, said FeliceSkye Hutchinson, president of the Wellston Community Coalition, before starting the days march.

Its so relevant today, added Terry Wilson, a Jennings City Council member, describing the enduring significance of Kings work. He laid the blueprint. ... Theres still a lot of work to do.

Starting just beyond the St. Louis city limits, marchers traveled more than a mile from Wellston to Pine Lawn, in north St. Louis County, for the annual Mid-County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. In speeches that capped the event and in conversations during the march, many participants said modern racial inequalities illustrate a continued need for activism and progress.

Some said that, as someone who had been jailed, King would likely take an interest today in matters tied to unequal policing and sentencing in the criminal justice system. Others pointed out that Kings message powerfully resonates in other aspects of todays society, where radically different opportunities and outcomes are found from ZIP code to ZIP code  often characterized by race.

Some marchers said the differences are perhaps most starkly reflected in housing and economic development policies in Black communities.

The fact that every Martin Luther King Boulevard looks the way it does, thats a problem, said Aniya Betts, an ambassador for Young Voices With Action, the local organization that arranged Mondays event.

A host of local and state elected officials attended the days march and ceremony, as well as U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis. During a speech following the march, Bush said Kings ideals stand in stark contrast with widespread Republican efforts to limit voting rights and influence elections  including 440 voting-related bills in 49 states, by her tally.

Its a reminder of how much work we still have to do, she said.

She said Kings push for civil rights also faced an obstacle thats at the heart of national politics today: the filibuster, which is currently holding Democrats back from advancing legislation with sweeping safeguards for voting rights.

Its an arbitrary Senate rule  a rule that is a relic of Jim Crow, said Bush. She said that, in the past, the same procedural rule was used to delay passage of the Civil Rights Act and to stop lynching from being designated as a federal hate crime.

Amid the continued struggle for changes, reforms and greater equality, some said its important to keep Kings approach in mind. He showed its OK to be angry but that harnessing frustration in a constructive and peaceful way was an effective means of countering injustices.

And no matter the odds or difficulties in bringing about change, its most important to try, Wellston Councilman Samuel Shannon said ahead of the march.

The only thing thats out of reach are the things that we wont reach for, he said.

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A cold case team that combed through evidence for five years in a bid to unravel one of World War II's enduring mysteries has reached what it calls the "most likely scenario" of who betrayed Jewish teenage diarist Anne Frank and her family.

Their answer, outlined in a new book called "The Betrayal of Anne Frank A Cold Case Investigation," by Canadian academic and author Rosemary Sullivan, is that it could have been a prominent Jewish notary called Arnold van den Bergh, who disclosed the secret annex hiding place of the Frank family to German occupiers to save his own family from deportation and murder in Nazi concentration camps.

"We have investigated over 30 suspects in 20 different scenarios, leaving one scenario we like to refer to as the most likely scenario," said film maker Thijs Bayens, who had the idea to put together the cold case team, that was led by retired FBI agent Vincent Pankoke, to forensically examine the evidence.

Bayens was quick to add that, "we don't have 100% certainty."

"There is no smoking gun because betrayal is circumstantial," Bayens told The Associated Press on Monday.

The Franks and four other Jews hid in the annex, reached by a secret staircase hidden behind a bookcase, from July 1942 until they were discovered in August 1944 and deported to concentration camps.

Only Anne's father, Otto Frank, survived the war. Anne and her sister died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Anne was 15.

The diary Anne wrote while in hiding was published after the war and became a symbol of hope and resilience that has been translated into dozens of languages and read by millions.

But the identity of the person who gave away the location of their hiding place has always remained a mystery, despite previous investigations.

The team's findings suggest that Otto Frank was one of the first to hear about the possible involvement of Van den Bergh, a prominent member of the Jewish community in Amsterdam.

A brief note, a typed copy of an anonymous tip delivered to Otto Frank after the war, names Van den Bergh, who died in 1950, as the person who informed German authorities in Amsterdam where to find the Frank family, the researchers say.

The note was an overlooked part of a decades-old Amsterdam police investigation that was reviewed by the team, which used artificial intelligence to analyze and draw links between archives around the world.

The Anne Frank House museum in the canal-side Amsterdam building that includes the secret annex welcomed the new research, but said it also leaves questions unanswered. The museum gave the researchers access to its archives for the cold case project.

"No, I don't think we can say that a mystery has been solved now. I think it's an interesting theory that the team came up with," said museum director Ronald Leopold. "I think they come up with a lot of interesting information, but I also think there are still many missing pieces of the puzzle. And those pieces need to be further investigated in order to see how we can value this new theory."

Bayens said the hunt for the betrayer was also a way of looking for an explanation of how the horror of the Nazi occupation forced some members of a once close-knit Amsterdam community to turn on one another.

How did facism bring people "to the desperate point of betraying each other, which is an awful, really awful situation?" he said.

"We went looking for a perpetrator and we found a victim," Bayens said.
Counting votes in presidential elections will never be precise. Getting millions of people to vote on the same question will always involve some amount of human error and probably even some fraudulent misconduct. Election laws will, moreover, always require drawing lines that give an advantage to one side or the other. And courts will always have to resolve post-election disputes.

These are traits of human behavior, and theyre not going to change.

There have, indeed, been fundamental electoral deficiencies throughout American history. Slave owning states got an additional three-fifths of a vote for each slave in their population. Women gained the franchise merely 100 years ago. John F. Kennedy may have won the 1960 presidential election because of shenanigans by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. (No one knows for sure.) And George W. Bush beat Al Gore in 2000 by a few votes in Florida based on a highly controversial opinion from conservative Supreme Court justices.

The good faith and sound judgment of candidates and election officials is what has sustained public confidence in the franchise despite elections inherent imperfections. State officials have typically counted votes with integrity. And losing candidates have recognized that conceding defeat is necessary to keep American democracy moving forward.

Indeed, Gore no doubt genuinely thought he won the 2000 presidential election. The former vice president nonetheless conceded defeat after the Supreme Court spoke. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the courts decision, I accept it, Gore said in his concession speech. I accept the finality of this outcome, which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.

Thats how it has always worked: Losing candidates have conceded  for the sake of American democracy  even if they strongly believed they actually won.

Until now.

Now, Donald Trump is the loser. And neither good faith nor sound judgment can be found.

Trump is continuing on with the big lie, the delusion that he (not Joe Biden) was the real winner of the 2020 presidential election. In an Oct. 27 letter to the editors of The Wall Street Journal, for example, Trump made the following false allegations (among others) about the presidential election in Pennsylvania:

 305,874 voters were removed from the rolls after the election on Nov. 3rd.

 There were 57,000 duplicate registrations.

 There were 39,911 people who were added to voter rolls while under 17 years of age.

 17,000 mail-in ballots [were] sent to addresses outside of Pennsylvania.

The Wall Street Journals editors appropriately called Trumps letter bananas.

The Republican Party, however, is still embracing Trump. The leading Republican in the House, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, is a Trump ally. In a Politico and Morning Consult poll released in October, 60% of Republicans said the 2020 presidential election results should definitely or probably be overturned.

And, worst of all, Trump is supporting pro-Trump ideologues campaigns to be in charge of states presidential-election operations in 2024. As Rick Hasen, co-director of the Fair Elections and Free Speech Center at the University of California, Irvine, told CNN: It is incredibly dangerous to support people for office who do not accept the legitimacy of the 2020 election. It suggests that they might be willing to bend or break the rules when it comes to running elections and counting votes in the future.

Trump is targeting the most critical election vulnerability of all: the people who count the votes. It has been the good faith and sound judgment of these people  like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who rejected Trumps pressure to reverse Georgias 2020 election results  that has sustained Americas election integrity and, therefore, its democratic legitimacy.

Trump is maneuvering the pieces to checkmate American democracy. In broad daylight. He has captured the hearts and minds of tens of millions of Americans. If he also captures the pens of those who tally the votes, an essential pillar of American democracy  free and fair elections  will be in jeopardy.

William Cooper is an attorney and columnist.

Editor's note: This op-ed has been updated to correct a reference to the Constitution's three-fifths clause regard the Census count of slaves.
Gov. Mike Parson delivers another State of the State speech Wednesday amid pandemic-crisis conditions that appear oddly similar to the ones a year ago that forced him to deliver his speech from the state Senate chamber rather than the House. The state is relaxing precautions, millions of Missourians continue to resist wearing masks or getting vaccinated and, as a result, hospitals continue to overflow with infected patients. The state of the state is chaotic. Still.

Last year, fresh from election to a full term, Parson promised that for the next four years, you can expect the same determination to confront every challenge, propose bold solutions, and make this state a better place for generations to come. Instead, he hid from challenges, evaded accountability, cast blame on others for the states failings and apparently confused bold solutions with reckless disregard.

To his credit, Missouris economy is humming. Employment is strong. Business investment appears to be growing. And although there were some initial hiccups in the early coronavirus vaccine rollout statewide, all Missourians who wanted vaccines were able to get them, including boosters. Only 54.7% have exercised that option.

Parson pledged to keep Missourians as safe as possible during the pandemic. With that, he shirked responsibility for imposing basic pandemic precautions and instead delegated authority to large metropolitan areas to set their own safety standards. Then he remained silent while Attorney General Eric Schmitt challenged the exact same authority Parson had delegated. Instead of keeping Missourians as safe as possible, his hesitant leadership has helped keep Missouri morgues and hospitals full.

Parson cheered those who try to lead but who stumble along the way. The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, whose faces are marred by dust and sweat and blood;  who errs, who come short again and again. Parson did try, and he did fail. He endeavored, and he erred. But when it came to acknowledging his own errors and failures, Parsons ego was his worst enemy.

His ego problems were underscored when a Post-Dispatch reporter alerted the state to a serious flaw in an online database that left teachers Social Security numbers potentially exposed. Parson lashed out at the reporter even though, as an FBI review noted, the states own misconfigured website was the source of the flaw. To this day, Parson refuses to admit that he got it wrong.

Parson called for steps to hold government more accountable. But in reality, he continues working behind the scenes to enrich his business cronies and donors while urging the Legislature to weaken the Sunshine Law  ensuring less rather than more accountability.

We dont fault Parson for trying to do better, nor are we so naive as to expect Parson to live up to our higher standards on accountability and clean government. All we ask is that he live up to his own.
Regarding the letter Incarceration has a traumatic impact on entire family (Jan. 12): I agree with the letter writer about the adverse effects on children when a parent is incarcerated. It opened my eyes to their possible future trauma that I never had thought about. However, I dont agree with his conclusion.

I personally believe that the choices a parent (or anyone) makes directly affects his or her future, as well as that of the persons children. Society is not to blame when a parent commits a crime. Many more parents in identical social and economic situations choose a crime-free path than those who dont.

If African American children are disproportionately affected by incarcerated parents, as the letter writer claims, I believe that the parents are to blame, not the criminal justice system. It seems to me that we have already reformed the criminal justice system. For example, no cash bail and no prosecution for thefts up to a certain amount. When we eliminate consequences for poor choices and illegal actions in the name of racial justice, I believe we as society go astray.

I believe that the article referenced in the letter, The Adverse Childhood Experience, should be read by every parent, but I know that this will never happen. What will happen, sadly, is a continuation of the adverse effects on their children.

Tom McCrackin  Wildwood
In many ways, travel in 2021 was more challenging than it was in 2020. While demand for travel returned, sufficient hospitality staffing often did not, leading to long waits at airports, hotel check-in desks and restaurants.

The eye-catching travel deals seen in 2020 mostly faded away, making way for price increases, like soaring rental car prices. Despite social distancing recommendations, travelers often found themselves in bigger crowds than ever. Mobs clamoring around airline customer service counters to rebook canceled flights left people barely six inches apart  let alone six feet.

This year might bring similar challenges for travelers, but heres a good way to skirt most of them: Travel during shoulder season.

The definition of shoulder season varies by destination, but it typically means the period of time between a regions peak season and offseason. This timespan can last months or just weeks. For instance, if a places peak season is summer and its offseason is winter, then the shoulder season would be spring and fall. Alternatively, a place may experience peak travel during a holiday weekend, but demand will drop off the weekend before or after  these times can also be considered shoulder season.

Here are five reasons why shoulder season is the best time to travel, especially during the pandemic.

1. Expect to pay lower prices than for peak season travel

Airfares averaged 23% cheaper when booked for shoulder season versus peak season travel. Thats according to a NerdWallet analysis conducted in December 2021 of more than 100 airfares taken from the most popular routes in the U.S. across eight major airlines.

The same routes were compared for flights booked for peak versus shoulder season days, where peak season flights were those booked for the Monday before or after a major holiday. In contrast, the shoulder season flights were those taken two weeks before or after that date.

The difference was starkest around Christmas: Flights averaged 50% cheaper when booked for Monday, Jan. 10, versus Monday, Dec. 27.

2. You won't compete as much for coveted reservations

Those higher flight prices typically stem from supply and demand  which means demand is higher during peak season.

Increased interest leads to more competition across the board, whether for a hotel room at the price point you want or the chance to nab tickets to that concert. And thats only scratching the surface. Restaurants are more likely to get filled, airplanes to fly with fewer empty seats and wait times to get longer, and the likelihood of a complimentary upgrade diminishes.

Book during shoulder season and youll vie with fewer folks for your top experiences.

3. You won't see as many offseason closures

While demand is high during peak season, sometimes demand drops so low during offseason that the places you want to visit arent even open. Boat tour operators might board up for the winter, and charming ski town cafes could close for the summer.

For example, January in Utahs Zion National Park averages about 16% of the number of visitors that come during peak season in July, and most tourists will have a rough go. Ice forces certain trails to close, some roads become inaccessible to drivers, and the museum and services like shuttle buses arent available.

Instead, consider a trip during the September shoulder season, when crowds are at only about 85% of the parks peak but most amenities are available. Plus, youll benefit from mild weather and the emergence of fall colors.

Around the world, hotels often take the offseason to do renovations, so the pool might become off-limits. Airlines typically cut back routes, so youll have less flexibility on what day or time you can fly.

But the shoulder season is less likely to entail such challenges. Travel before summer crowds arrive and you might be pleasantly surprised with a newly renovated hotel room. Head to the mountains just after the winter holidays to take advantage of still-snowy slopes without as many skiers on them.

4. Weather is generally pretty good

The shoulder season likely wont bring the sweltering heat or storms that come with a regions offseason. And in some cases, the weather during shoulder season is actually better than peak season.

Summer at Floridas theme parks is often humid and muggy  and thats before you add in the crowds of out-of-school kids. During shoulder season, you might forgo sunny summer days on the beach, but youll typically get temperate weather, not to mention a less sweaty smile in that photo with your favorite character.

Shoulder season in the Rocky Mountains might not entail the romanticism of white powder snow surrounding a cozy cabin. But, you can pack light and leave the parka at home.

5. You could more likely experience unique, local events

Tourist hot spots typically want year-round crowds, so they often host events, concerts and other festivities that dont occur at times when crowds would be large anyway.

Theme park food festivals are among the most common shoulder season delights. Southern California theme park Knotts Berry Farm typically hosts its annual boysenberry festival from March to April. Hawaii comes alive in the fall with festivals spanning multiple islands, including the annual Waikiki Hoolaulea, which is a giant block party on Oahu, and the Kauai Mokihana Festival, a weeklong celebration of Hawaiian culture.

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.

Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia.

The article 5 Reasons Why Shoulder Season Is the Best Time to Travel originally appeared on NerdWallet.
LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Looming US interest rate hike sees cautious close

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 - 17:17

It was a mixed start to a shorter week for stocks in London on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 creeping into the green after the bank holiday weekend as traders pondered a bounce-back for stocks in New York overnight and sharp losses in Europe on Monday.

The mood was cautious heading into Wednesday's US Federal Reserve decision.

We currently expect 50 bp rate hikes at both the May and June FOMC meetings, before returning to a 25 bp rate hike per meeting pace of normalization...Altogether, the odds of adding more 50 bp rate hikes than we currently expect have risen in favor of extending the string of 50 bp hikes from a couple to three, or perhaps more, said economists at UBS.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 16.78 points, or 0.2%, at 7,561.33 on Tuesday. The FTSE 250 ended down 187.95 points, or 0.9%, at 20,520.76, and the AIM All-Share closed down 8.74 points, or 0.9%, at 1,013.52.

The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 751.59, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.7% at 18,145.74, and the Cboe Small Companies ended down 0.1% at 15,127.37.

Stocks in London finished Tuesday's session mixed with traders squarely focused on Wednesday's US interest rate decision.

Markets have a 50 basis point hike 99% priced in.

The Federal Reserve is scrambling to tighten policy amid soaring US inflation. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed consumer prices soared 8.5% in March on an annual basis, stepping up from the 7.9% increase seen in February.

Expectations of a chunky 50 basis point hike firmed up after Fed Chair Jerome Powell last month said such a move was on the table for May.

It is appropriate, in my view, to be moving a little more quickly. And I also think there's something in the idea of front-end loading whatever accommodation one thinks is appropriate, Powell said during a debate on the global economy hosted by the International Monetary Fund on the sidelines of its spring meetings.

The dollar was firm heading into Wednesday's decision. The pound was quoted at $1.2511 at the London equities close Tuesday, down compared to $1.2568 at the close on Friday.

The euro stood at $1.0535 at the European equities close Tuesday, down against $1.0547 at the same time on Friday. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JP129.97, up compared to JP129.68 late Friday.

Gold was quoted at $1,873.30 an ounce at the London equities close Tuesday, down against $1,906.75 at the close on Friday.

Stocks in New York were higher at the London equities close, with the DJIA up 0.6%, the S&P 500 index up 0.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.5%.

In European equities on Tuesday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended up 0.6%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt ended up 0.7%.

Keeping the large-cap index in the green was oil major BP, which closed up 5.8% after reporting a surge in underlying profit and launching a $2.5 billion share buyback.

For the three months that ended March 31, BP swung to an attributable loss of $20.38 billion from a $4.67 billion profit in the first quarter last year. BP said the reported result included pretax adjusted items of $30.8 billion.

The London-based firm attributed the loss to its decision to exit its 19.75% shareholding in state-owned Russian oil firm Rosneft. BP said that, in the first quarter, the total post-tax charge for this was $25.5 billion.

However, on an underlying replacement cost basis, BP reported a profit of $6.25 billion, up 54% from $4.07 billion in the fourth quarter of last year and more than doubled from $2.63 billion a year ago.

Brent oil was quoted at $106.12 a barrel at the London equities close Tuesday, down from $110.30 late Friday. However, the price of the North Sea benchmark remains 36% higher in the year-to-date.

Turning to shareholder returns, BP raised its first-quarter dividend by 4.0% to 5.46 cents from 5.25 cents the year before. It also announced a further share buyback. BP said it plans to execute a $2.5 billion share buyback before announcing its second-quarter results.

Peer Shell, which reports its own first quarter results on Thursday, advanced 2.0%.

This was helping to offset Segro's drag at the bottom of the FTSE 100 index, the stock shedding 10% after Kepler Cheuvreux downgraded the warehouse property investor to 'hold' from 'reduce'.

Avast tumbled 5.7% after posting lower revenue for the quarter that ended March 31, due to the sale of its Family Safety business a year ago and ahead of its proposed takeover by US peer NortonLifeLock.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell by 4.3% to $127.9 million from $133.7 million. The adjusted Ebitda margin was 54.5%, Avast said.

Avast guided that its adjusted Ebitda margin for the full year will narrow to slightly below 50%. This reflects 10 months with zero sales in Russia, the firm explained.

In the FTSE 250, Auction Technology rose 8.0% after JPMorgan raised the online auction operator to 'overweight' from 'neutral'.

Energean was the second-best mid-cap performer, closing up 7.6%. Subsidiary Energean Israel signed a gas sales agreement with the East Hagit Power Plant Ltd Partnership.

Under the agreement, Energean will supply gas to East Hagit for a term of 15 years, with a total contract quantity of up to 12 billion cubic feet. Energean said the agreement has the potential to generate revenue of up to $2 billion over the offtake period.

Wednesday's UK corporate calendar has full-year results from online clothing retail boohoo and trading statements from pub chain operator JD Wetherspoon and lender OSB Group. First quarter results are due from luxury car maker Aston Martin and Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment.

Headlining Wednesday's economic calendar is the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision at 1900 BST. Also in focus will be a raft of PMIs, due from Germany at 0855 BST, the eurozone at 0900 BST and the US at 1445 BST. The German trade balance is out at 0700 BST.

Financial markets in Japan and mainland China will remain shut on Wednesday.

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The new IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) government is broke but is investing $128 million to buy twelve new air traffic control radars. These are to be installed all over the country and more accurately track commercial air traffic and reassure foreign airlines that it is safe to overfly Afghanistan. This will be an improvement over what the previous IRA (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) government left behind when the IEA took control in August 2021. The departure of the United States and the final months of fighting left Afghanistan with an inadequate air traffic control system.

The new and improved air traffic control system will take at least a year to become fully operational but the expense of the new radars will be quickly recovered in the form of overflight fees. Before the IEA took power, Afghanistan was getting a $500 fee for every commercial aircraft that passed through Afghan air space and in a normal month there were over 400 such flights a day. Thats over $7 million a month. The IEA is raising that cost to $700 per aircraft after calculating that it was cheaper to pay the higher fee than to avoid Afghan air space. This means at least $10 million a month for the IEA.

A lot of the worlds commercial air traffic flies over Afghanistan because a major air traffic route is between Europe/the Middle East and India and destinations east of India. Without being able to fly over Afghanistan, it is much more expensive to airline passengers and cargo to travel this route. It takes longer and that means the cost of more fuel and other operating expenses.

The first three new radars should be operational by March.
In Austria the negotiations with Iran to revive the 2015 treaty that ended sanctions (if Iran halted work on nukes) are not going well. There have been eight rounds of talks since the new, hardline Iranian government took power in August 2021. This was the result of the 2020 national elections which were rigged, as they traditionally are, so the new president would be Ibrahim Raisi, an infamous mass-murderer and recognized war-criminal. Putting Raisi into such a public position is another example of how desperate Iran is to make clear to opponents in Iran, Yemen, Iraq and elsewhere what they are up against. Raisi insisted that Iran would not negotiate with the West until the 2018 sanctions were first lifted. Nations seeking to negotiate a new peace deal with Iran discovered that Raisi had the support of the religious dictatorship in Iran as well as the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) for this desperate, all or nothing negotiating strategy.

The Americans and some other negotiators believe the Iranians are simply not serious or interested in reaching an agreement. This interpretation is that Iran wants the negotiations to continue so they can put maximum (face-to-face) pressure on the Western members (United States, Britain, Germany and France) of the sanctions group. Inside Iran the economic situation is getting worse, even though the new American government has, over the last year, eased up on tracking and disrupting Iranian oil smuggling efforts. This has provided Iran with more cash but not enough incentive to change their negotiating demands. Iran refuses to discuss their weapons programs until all the economic sanctions imposed since 2017 are ended. No matter how the negotiations go, Israel is monitoring Iranian progress towards building a functional nuclear weapon and is prepared to take action, including airstrikes, if Iran gets close to having a nuke.

Ibrahim Raisi succeeded Hassan Rouhani, who had been president since 2013. Rouhani was allowed by the Guardian Council to run for president because he presented himself as an Islamic conservative who could reform and improve the economy. He briefly did that by scamming the West into signing the 2015 treaty that lifted sanctions while Iran essentially changed nothing. In 2016 a new American president was elected, in part because so many American voters saw the 2015 treaty for what it was and that Rouhani was just another lethal tool of the ruling clerics. During the dozen years Rouhani was president over 4,000 Iranian civilians were murdered by the IRGC for the crime of protesting the religious dictatorship that has made their lives so miserable.

Rouhani was not as bloody-minded as some other members of the clerical elite but this record of failure and growing popular protest and the threat of civil war has caused problems within the senior leadership. Rouhani was also criticized for violence against Iranian protesters and expensive foreign wars. There have always been feuding factions in the Guardian Council and among the hundred or so senior clerics who are eligible to seek a seat on the Council. A major problem has always been the radical faction, which is a major supporter of the IRGC and a believer in the it is better to be feared than loved. This approach is especially useful if most Iranians hate you. If the IRGC dominated the council Iran would escalate the use of Islamic terrorism against their enemies and essentially drop any pretense of peacefully pursuing the basic Guardian Council goal of world domination by Shia Islam. For thousands of years Iran has been preeminent in the region by favoring shrewd diplomacy, espionage and intimidation rather than outright warfare. Thats why the IRGC fans are the minority among the senior clerics. But the IRGC has the guns and willingness to use them against anyone, including Iranians, who oppose the will of the Guardian Council. A growing number of senior clerics see the IRGC as part of the problem, not the solution to anything. This attitude has been around since the 1980s when senior clerics with long memories counseled restraint in what the IRGC was allowed to do. That advice was not followed, at least not often enough, and now the solution is the problem.

The IRGC does not want to discuss the thousands of Iranian demonstrators they have killed recently, but they do like to publicize efforts to kill Americans, especially soldiers in the Middle East and civilians back in the United States. Not much success with killing Americans but the IRGC insists they will get it done, if only to avenge the death of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani two years ago via an American UAV missile attack near the Baghdad (Iraq) airport. Iran also discovered that Soleimani was far more valuable to Quds operations than realized and his successor has so far failed to exact a suitable revenge attack on the Americans in Iraq, Syria or anywhere else.

The 2015 treaty was achieved because Rouhani acted like a traditional Iranian leader. He was shrewd, practical and ruthless in his efforts to improve the economy. Domestically he supported the big spending by the IRGC on their foreign wars and nuclear weapons/ballistic missile development. Rouhani negotiated the treaty with JCPOA, an economic alliance consisting of China, France, Russia, Britain, the U.S., and Germany, which signed the 2015 treaty with Iran despite all of the Western nations dealing with varying degrees of internal dissent over the reliability of the Iranians. The Americans were the first to call out Rouhani for his deceptions and efforts to restore the 2015 treaty are complicated by an even more fanatic Iranian president and Western nations where the skeptic have more clout when it comes scrutinizing any Iranian promises. A majority of Iranians agree with the Western skeptics and fear that their religious dictatorship is willing to risk a major war with Israel and its allies rather than appear weak and surrender any power.

January 14, 2022: American diplomats declared that Iran has less than a month left to either come up with a realistic approach to negotiations. If the Iranians persist with their unrealistic negotiating tactics, Western efforts to restore the 2015 treaty will evaporate and the Western nations will back, or tolerate the Israeli solution. This was expressed by American diplomats saying that if Iran persists the American would employ other measures. This apparently includes returning to the 2020 level of oil smuggling enforcement and applying more sanctions, as well as letting Israel defend itself.

January 11, 2022: Israel declared that it would attack Iranian nuclear weapons facilities alone if the U.S. and key European countries agreed to lift the economic sanctions on Iran in return of Iranian assurances that it will halt its nuclear weapons program. Israel does not believe Iran will abide by these terms, just as it has never halted work on nukes in the past. Iran work has slowed down in the past, largely because of economic sanctions. When Iran has more money, some of it goes to nukes and most of it goes to overseas military operations in places like Syria, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. Most nations feel no immediate threat from Iranian nuclear weapons, especially early models, which will be crude and less effective. Iran believes nukes will make neighbors more likely to agree to Iranian demands. The one country that is always mentioned as the first target for Iranian nukes is Israel. The Islamic radicals in Iran continue to openly proclaim their desire to nuke Israel. No other nation has been threatened with nuclear attack and Israel considers lifting economic sanctions on Iran as an opportunity for Iran to finally build a nuclear weapon and use it against the Little Satan (Israel). The Great Satan is the United States, which is too far away and too powerful to be the first foe to feel the nuclear wrath of Iran.

Israel is gaining more Arab allies against Iran. A growing number of Moslem states are establishing diplomatic and trade relations with Israel. After more than a century of increasing anti-Semitism, most of Israels Arab neighbors realized that Israel would be a valuable economic, diplomatic and military ally against common enemies like Shia Iran and Islamic terrorism in general. Israel is also the only nation in the region with nukes and reliable ballistic missiles, which are also used to put Israeli spy satellites into orbit. These missiles can also reach any target in Iran, using nuclear or non-nuclear warheads.

Many Iranians are willing to change but their corrupt leaders are not and use their war on Israel as an excuse to violently suppress any Iranian opposition to the current suicidal strategy. Iranians born after the 1980s are now the majority and want an end to corruption, theocracy and expensive foreign misadventures. The decade-long operation in Syria was seen as particularly wasteful and expensive, especially with Israel threatening to use whatever it takes, including their nukes, to prevent Iran from creating a military presence on their northern border. These young Iranians also know that until the 1980s Israel and Iran were allies and trading partners and that may well be a case of the Good Old Days being more reality than misleading nostalgia.

January 17, 2022: Iran-backed Shia rebels in Yemen took credit for three explosions in a UAE (United Arab Emirates) fuel storage area outside Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital. There were three dead and six wounded, all of them foreign workers. Hours later the Shia rebels took credit but it is unclear if Iranian UAVs launched from Shia rebel territory in Yemen because that is an air-distance of 1,400 kilometers while Iran is about 300 kilometers away across the Persian Gulf. This appears similar to a September 2019 attack on a Saudi oil facility that Iran attributed to the Shia rebels in Yemen but was later traced back to Iran. The same disparity in distances was present in the 2019 attack and examination of the debris from the explosive-laden UAVs identified them as Iranian and incapable of travelling from Yemen to northeast Saudi Arabia. Later in the day UAE and Saudi warplanes carried out airstrikes in Yemen against rebel targets. Even if there is proof that the attack was launched from Iran, as happened in 2019, Iran is not implicated immediately and is not the target for retaliatory attacks. Although there are no immediate consequences for Iran, the long-term impact is that Iran is considered untrustworthy and unlikely to comply with any treaties. This is why the 2015 treaty lifting sanctions on Iran began to fall apart in 2018 when the U.S. renewed economic sanctions and Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia in 2019 and the UAE today make it less likely that Iranian demands for the restoration of the 2015 treaty are unlikely and Israeli preparations for air and missile attacks on Iranian nuclear research facilities are more likely if Iran does manage to build a nuclear weapon, or get close. With the latest attack on the UAE, which is now a less desirable tourist destination and fearful of more attacks, more nations are agreeing with the Israeli assessment of Iran as a hostile nation that only fears retribution for its misdeeds. The Americans did that in 2018 with the renewed sanctions but Iran managed to portray itself as the victim. The 2018 American efforts also led to most Arab Gulf states agreeing in 2020 to recognize Israel diplomatically and establish trade links. The Arabs are buying defense systems designed to detect and defeat the kind of attacks Iran uses. While Iran won some short-term victories, the long-term situation is less favorable.

January 8, 2022: In Lebanon, the national electrical grid in neighboring Lebanon was out of service for several hours. The cause was protestors against continued scheduled blackouts, getting into a key facility of the national network and damaging equipment. The scheduled blackouts are due to fuel shortages and a government deadlocked by corruption and politics, especially the presence of Iran-backed Hezbollah. Iran tried to mend relations with the Lebanese by smuggling in free oil. That backfired as Iran-backed Hezbollah mismanaged the distribution of the oil, selling much of it on the black market rather than to keep the national electrical grid going.

January 6, 2022: South of Tehran, in Shahrekord city, a statue honoring Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani was destroyed by an anti-government group. This came a day after the statue was unveiled in a ceremony praised by president Raisi and attended by senior government officials and IRGC generals. This was the second anniversary of the American airstrike outside Baghdad airport killed the most successful Quds force commander, Qassem Soleimani along with the commander of the Iraqi Katab Hezbollah and several other key Iran-backed Iraqi militia leaders. Since then, Iran has been seeking revenge for the loss of Soleimani and have only found failure and, as the statute incident revealed, growing hostility inside Iran towards the government and Soleimani. These negative sentiments are shared throughout the region. For several years before the death of Soleimani Iranian protests were defacing or destroying billboards praising the foreign wars Quds Force managed, and disrupting official celebrations of these expensive (in cash and lives) government operations as well as the failure of the religious dictatorship to improve the Iranian economy. Currently more than half the population is visibly living below the poverty line, even though the official poverty rate is about 40 percent. Ever since the death of Soleimani a growing number of senior officials expressed fear failure to address the poverty in Iran and aggressive behavior of the Iranian government at home and throughout the region will spark another round of violent anti-government protests calling for an end to the religious dictatorship that has misruled Iran since the 1980s. The large-scale protests declined after 2019 because of covid19, which hit Iran hardest of all because the Iranian religious dictatorship mismanaged it badly, initially insisting that Iranians were immune and would only harm Irans enemies. The government also continues to mismanage a major drought. When Israel offered to help with their world-class water management technology, the Iranian government refused while many Iranians scrawled pro-Israel graffiti on walls or pro-government posters.

January 5, 2022: In Syria the ruling Assad clan has been making visible, and some less public, moves to demonstrate their efforts to curb Iranian activity in Syria. There is a lot of that in Syria and not all of it has anything to do with the Assads. Despite being a recipient of Iranian military and financial support since the 1980s, the Assads have come to see Iran as an occupying military forces. Since Iran does not, and never did, share details of all its operations in Syria with the Assad government, the 1980s alliance has come undone because the Iranians always did as they pleased in Syria and the Assads were expected to accept that. The Assads are now attempting the difficult, and often fatal, act of leaving a partnership with Iran.

One of the problems the Assads have to deal with is that many parts of Syria now controlled by the Syrian government are not obeying the Assads. In these cases, local security is handled by Iran-backed militias, who answer to Iran first and the Assads second, if at all. Israeli forces help with local security on the Syrian side of the Israeli border. Russian backed militias help with some areas in eastern Syria and Turkish backed militias do the same in the northwest. In the northeast most local security is provided by the Kurdish led (and American supported) SDF. In practical terms the Assads preside over most of pre-war Syria but local security is often not Assad controlled. The Assads do provide local security in the most densely populated areas, including Damascus and the Mediterranean provinces. As a result, the Assads do control most of the remaining pre-war population.

January 4, 2022: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) the U.S. led coalition carried out several airstrikes against suspected rocket launching sites near the American Green Village base. This base east of the Euphrates River keeps Russian and Syrian forces away from the Omar Oilfield, which is controlled by the Kurd-led SDF forces. Pro-Iran militias are a threat as well because Iran is still seeking revenge for a growing list of setbacks blamed on the Americans, Israel or both. Israelis are even harder to reach but there are plenty of Americans around.

December 30, 2021: Iran conducted another test of its 87-ton, three-stage solid fuel Simorgh SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle). The test failed with none of the three satellites entering orbit. The last stage did appear to reach the altitude required for satellite deployment. There have been five, or six, test launches of Simorgh and none were able to achieve orbit. The first test was declared a success because it was only meant to see if Simorgh could successfully reach a lower (sub orbital) altitude. Early versions of Simorgh used liquid-fuel rockets but over the years more and more solid fuel stages were added until it was completely solid fuel and similar to the American Minuteman ICBM of the 1960s. A solid fuel Simorgh is seen as a solid fuel ICBM that could reach the United States. In 2009 Iran successfully tested its first ballistic missile with a solid fuel rocket motor that could reach Israel. Up until then Iran's missiles that could reach Israel all used liquid fuel, which meant it took hours to get the missiles ready for use. Solid fuel missiles can be ready for action in minutes. This is a big deal, as Israeli satellites and spies can detect liquid fuel rockets being readied for action. No so for solid fuel missiles. Israel has anti-missile missile systems, which work better if they have some advance warning of an enemy launch.

December 28, 2021: In coastal Syria an Israeli airstrike hit a target very close to Russian forces. The target was a storage area in the port of Latakia. Israeli airstrikes in this area used to be rare because Russia uses the port for bringing in cargo. This is the second Israeli airstrike here in December and Israel said that it would attack Iranian weapons shipments wherever they were found. Two Syrian soldiers were killed and there was a fire and secondary explosions in a cargo container storage area. It was later revealed that Israel had alerted Russia shortly before the attack to confirm that no Russian in the target area. Russian air defenses did not act against the Israeli strike, which annoyed the Syrians and Iranians for different reasons. Iran was angry because the target was ballistic missiles for Hezbollah. Syria was annoyed because Syrian port storage facilities were damaged. Russia reminded the Syrians that the Israelis were going after any Iranian target seen as a threat to Israel. This was the 27th Israeli airstrike against targets in Syria in the last year. Most of those targets involved Iranian personnel or bases.

These attacks are another example of how Israeli, Russian and American airstrikes in Syria appear to be coordinated. The Americans are even more secretive about their airstrikes in Syria than Israel but each month there are three or four airstrikes by unidentified aircraft or UAVs in eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) against Iranian weapons storage sites outside Al Bukamal City, which is on the Euphrates River and as well as the Bukamal border crossing into Iraq. Israel and the U.S. use the same type of aircraft (F-15s) for these attacks and the attacks involving UAVs are not Israeli because the Israelis dont use armed UAVs, which is an American specialty. In the rest of Syria similar strikes on Iranian targets are Israeli. The U.S. and Israel have a strong military, economic, and diplomatic relationship and often quietly cooperate in areas of mutual interest. The Russians are apparently part of the airstrike coordination in Deir Ezzor province where most of the airstrikes against ISIL targets are Russian, but some are not and are often claimed by the United States.

December 25, 2021: In Israel the Knesset (parliament) approved an additional $2.4 billion for the 2022 defense budget, increasing 2022 defense spending to $22 billion. The additional spending was for classified projects. These are believed to be related to preparations for an attack on Iranian nuclear weapons sites. This threat, and a general upgrade of the IDF (Israel Defense Force) has kept the annual defense budget over $20 billion since 2017. Because the Israeli economy continued to grow during the covis19 years, the military spending as a percentage of GDP also kept falling towards five percent. In contrast, Iranian defense spending was 2.3 percent of GDP in 2021 while the United States was 3.7 percent, Britain was 2.2 percent, France 2.1 percent, Russia 4.3 percent, Saudi Arabia 8.4 percent, Israel 5.6 percent, India 2.9 percent, South Korea 2.8 percent, Australia 2.1 percent and China somewhere between two and three percent. Global defense spending is about two trillion dollars and 2.4 percent of global GDP. The Iranian defense spending is much closer to Israels if you take into account the money spent on Iranian military operations in places like Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. This is what angers most Iranians, along most other nations in the region and around the world.

Covid19 and sanctions have Iran losing ground in its efforts to keep up with increased defense spending everywhere else. Some major spenders spent less in 2020, including Saudi Arabia (-10 percent), Turkey (-5), Iran (-3) and Pakistan (-2.8). These declines were caused by severe economic problems. Saudi Arabia has to devote more money to maintaining living standards since world oil prices fell sharply after 2013 and have not recovered to 2013 levels. Saudi Arabia is still the biggest spender in the region, spending $57.5 billion. Turkey spent $17.7 billion, Iran $15.8 billion and Pakistan $10.4 billion. Global defense spending in 2020 increased 2.6 percent, to $1.96 trillion. This occurred despite the covid19 global recession. Israel handled covid19 much more effectively than Iran, meaning the GDP grew more slowly but still grew, in contrast to many other countries in the region.

December 24, 2021: In southern Iraq (Najaf province) the provincial governor was forced to resign because of failure to deal with corruption. The provincial capital is the Shia shrine city of Najaf. The Shia population of the province, and especially in the capital, have long demonstrated their dislike of Sunnis, especially Iraq Sunnis and Iranians, even though Iran is the largest Shia majority nation in the world. The militant Najaf Shia have managed to drive most Iraqi Sunnis out of the province. In 2019 Najaf protestors seized and burned down the Iranian consulate. The anti-Iran Shia protestors called the consulate a center for terrorism and Iranian efforts to dominate Iraq. That was no secret in Najaf and the surprising thing is Iran was not able to muster enough pro-Iran Iraqis to defend the consulate. That is apparently no longer the case as Iranian influence has declined further.

Najaf is one of the areas powerful Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr regards as threatened by Iran as well government corruption. Sadr demands that all militias be disarmed and disbanded. This demand was aimed at Iran, which has used the militias to create a legal Iran-backed armed force in Iraq. Calls for disbanding these militias have been gaining a lot more support since 2017. The recent elections mean an even more anti-Iran government and sensing what that would mean for militias in general, most militias have announced plans to disband. Disarming is another matter. Despite that, Sadr efforts to clean up some of the corruption in Najaf province have succeeded,

December 21, 2021: In southern Iraq (Babel province) a roadside bomb was used to attack an American supply convoy from Kuwait. There was another such bombing in the south, near Basra, in which one truck was damaged but there were no casualties. These attacks are attributed to pro-Iran groups trying to inflict some damage on the Americans as well as get all American troops out of the country. Most Iraqis want some Americans to stick around, if only because it frightens and annoys the Iranians and ISIL

December 18, 2021: The Iranian ambassador to Yemen was flown back to Iran, where he died within a week from covid19. The Shia rebels had to get permission from the Arab coalition for this and managed to do so by revealing that the ambassador had caused many rebel faction leaders to criticize Iran for sending an experienced military man to Yemen, where he demanded that the rebels continue offensive operations despite the high casualties incurred and lack of progress to justify the losses. The Saudis agreed, after the rebels promised to not accept another Iranian diplomat. In response Iran appointed the senior military advisor in Yemen to become the new ambassador.

In late 2020 the recently deceased Iranian ambassador in Yemen arrived and made clear that, as a former Quds Force general, he was in Yemen more as a Quds Force commander than a diplomat. This ambassador didnt make many requests, but he did issue a lot of orders and this caused growing opposition to Iran among the leaders of many rebel factions. After this ambassador returned to Iran, offensive operations in Yemen became less persistent and some Shia forces retreated.

December 15, 2021: Commercial satellite photos revealed that ten days ago an Iranian frigate, the Talayieh, rolled over in a partially flooded drydock while under construction in the Persian Gulf Bandar Abbas ship yard. It is unclear what the cause of this mishap was or how much damage was done. The Talayieh is the fifth of seven planned Moudge (Mowj) class frigates to be built and appears, from the shape of its superstructure and earlier comments by Iranians, that it is an improved version of the Moudge with electronic intelligence collection capabilities.

Five months earlier the fourth Moudge, the Dena, entered service. Dena is described by Iran as a Light Frigate. By international standards these ships are heavily armed and haphazardly equipped corvettes. Iran plans to put seven into service and three more are under construction with uncertain service dates because of the difficulty in finding the needed warship components. Talayieh, before the recent mishap, was supposed to enter service in 2022. Now that will probably be delayed until 2023, or later, depending on what repairs or modifications must be made.
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) ("Company" or "Kraig Labs"), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces it has completed production of the first Dragon Silk yarn produced entirely in Vietnam. The finished recombinant spider silk yarn was spun from raw spider silk produced at Prodigy Textiles, the Company's subsidiary located in Quang Nam province, Vietnam.

Today's announcement marks a significant milestone for Kraig Labs, Prodigy Textiles, and the large-scale production of recombinant spider silk. This production run of Dragon Silk exhibits Prodigy Textiles' full integration into Vietnam's substantial silk textile industry. Vietnam produced nearly 1,000 metric tons of mundane silk in 2020.1 This same supply chain was used, from start to finish, to create the first Dragon Silk made entirely in Vietnam.

While Prodigy Textiles remains focused on ramping up the output of recombinant spider silk cocoons, these supporting vendors will play an essential role in processing that silk into finished goods for a wide range of consumer markets.

The Company plans to ship this Dragon Silk yarn to SpydaSilk Enterprises, in Singapore, a joint venture partially owned by the Company, for weaving into fabrics and finished garments.

Over the coming months, Prodigy will continue to leverage this expanded silk production success to address the material needs of SpydaSilk and make additional materials available for purchase to fill the numerous and backlogged material requests it has received.

"The successful completing of this Dragon Silk yarn produced entirely utilizing the Vietnamese supply chain is a substantial achievement for the Kraig Labs and our vision for eco-responsible and cost-effective spider silk," said COO Jon Rice. "I am extremely proud of the team at Prodigy for achieving this major milestone, while overcoming several obstacles to get this done as quickly as they did. 2022 is positioned to be a breakout year for the commercial sales of Dragon Silk and our broader recombinant spider silk technologies."

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news.

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a fully reporting biotechnology company, is a developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company's future and expectations other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These statements are made on the basis of management's current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management's expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "estimated," "hopes," "if," "develops," "researching," "research," "pilot," "potential," "could" or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC(720) 288-8495[email protected]

1 https://inserco.org/en/statistics

Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories
The solution includes a native Android app with automated smart image capture and a robust web portal to help motor carriers harmonize their entire freight operation

EVERGREEN, Colo., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DDC FPO, a global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions for the transportation and logistics industries, has announced the launch of DDC Sync, a new enterprise application consisting of an intuitive mobile application and powerful web portal designed to bring the people, processes, and data of freight operations into harmony.

Initial results show that LTL carriers gain a near six-hour advantage in visibility to freight data with DDC Sync.

Building upon DDC's strong foundation in data capture and processing, DDC Sync begins in the cab of the truck with smart image capture technology. From there, the solution expands across the entire operation as an intelligent enterprise technology that contains a native Android app for drivers and a powerful web-based portal for terminal administrators and management.

"By empowering drivers to capture bills of lading (BOLs) faster and with greater accuracy, streamlining cross-team communication, and enabling system interoperability, DDC Sync enables carriers to access critical data quicker," described Richard Greening, DDC FPO's Global Technical Director who spearheaded development. "Our partners can make real-time logistics planning decisions and optimize their workforce."

Behind the scenes over the last twelve months, DDC has tested the proof of concept with different carrier partners.

"One of the greatest advantages within this new process we've created with DDC Sync is untethered access to the strength that data provides," said Joseph Klikas, Chief Experience Officer of The Custom Companies, a carrier partner of DDC FPO who has reported profound efficiencies in service delivery for its customers.

According to Art Zipkin, Chief Commercial Officer and President of DDC FPO, initial results show that LTL carriers will experience a nearly six-hour gain in visibility to their freight data with DDC Sync.

"Access to this data earlier in the shipment lifecycle gives our customers a competitive advantage in load planning and scheduling," said Zipkin. "The flattening of the curve will provide an ideal operational workforce planning tool."

Klikas explained, "Prior to DDC Sync, our operations team would create a load optimization plan based only on destination zip code and tonnage from the driver at time of pickup. Now we can make more efficient and profitable routing decisions based on the consignee, in many cases loading direct into a third-party warehouse or retailer."

Leveraging smart capture technology and GPS tagging, the product quickly and accurately captures data while simultaneously increasing end-to-end visibility with automated alerts, driver-terminal chat functionality, and real-time reporting.

"The data DDC Sync provides allows for other improvements, most notably the chance to audit all information prior to freight arriving to the service center. Validating destination and contact information in advance avoids many possible delays or routing issues," said Klikas.

The solution also integrates with transportation management systems (TMS).

Ben Wiesen, President of Carrier Logistics, Inc. (CLI), a TMS provider that has successfully integrated with DDC Sync, stated, "The difference between a dock worker being told a zip code, which is what they would get if data wasn't entered, and instead being shown all the details of the consignee, all the markings, and everything else, is huge."

"Because we have our hands on the data earlier," said Wiesen, "The ability for the labor force to execute and execute flawlessly is directly impacted."

DDC Sync features include:

Smart OCR image capture that auto-enhances, crops, and submits BOL data for processing

BOL inventory management

Driver tracking and GPS tagging for more efficient routing and forecasting

Streamlined, documented driver-terminal communication

Real-time reporting and automated alerts for increased visibility into shipments, drivers, and assets

Driver incident log with support for geo-targeted documents, photos, and videos

Secure, permissions-based terminal administrative access

White label capabilities for easy branding and customized data collection

A collaborative, connected driver community with news feeds and interest groups

Customizable reporting modules and dashboards with drag-and-drop functionality

Engaging gamification to achieve user adoption and enhance the driver experience

Next week, The Custom Companies' Joseph Klikas and CLI's Benjamin Wiesen will join DDC's Richard Greening on stage to share their insights and experience of implementing DDC Sync to optimize LTL operations from beginning to end. As part of the SMC3 JumpStart 2022 Conference in Atlanta, the session will be held from 3:15-4:00pm at the Loews Hotel Midtown on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.

To learn more about DDC Sync, visit ddcfpo.com/ddc-sync.

About DDC Freight Process Outsourcing ("DDC FPO")

DDC FPO is a strategic business process outsourcing (BPO) partner for today's leading transportation and logistics providers that enables clients to focus on core competencies and achieve their goals. As the freight-focused member company of The DDC Group  a worldwide network of BPO companies  DDC FPO is able to serve clients in over 30 languages across North America, the UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Solutions include data-based, goal-driven front and back office programs such as DDC Sync, Freight Billing, and Multilingual Customs Brokerage Processing, among others. To learn more, visit: ddcfpo.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ddc-fpo-announces-ddc-sync-a-new-intelligent-enterprise-application-with-in-cab-mobile-data-capture-301462455.html

SOURCE DDC FPO LLC
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueBlue, a leading and innovative provider of SaaS solutions in the digital transformation market, today announced it has secured $11 million in Series B funding, led by Octopus Ventures and Newion. The funds will support ValueBlue's US, UK, and EMEA expansion, hiring top talent, and further developing the existing software platform supporting enterprise architecture (EA) use cases. ABN AMRO also participated in the round by providing additional growth funding.

With authority and proven success in the field of EA, ValueBlue has not only earned a renewed commitment from previous investment partner Newion, but has also attracted UK-based Octopus Ventures, one of Europe's largest and most active venture capital firms.

Paul Davidson at Octopus Ventures commented: "Organisations now recognize the benefits of more closely aligning business strategy with IT strategy as a key enabler of driving commercial value. Digital transformation is one activity borne out of this understanding. The pandemic has further exacerbated this perspective and we don't see that changing. ValueBlue's ability to coordinate the complexities of digital architecture and collaboration across departments has never been more important as business leaders look for a solution to manage and refresh outdated infrastructure and technology stacks."

ValueBlue's collaborative EA platform provides unprecedented business insights that are crucial for planning and structuring as enterprises go digital. The cloud-native platform unlocks impactful and effective collaboration across all departments, not just CIOs and enterprise architects so that teams can stay aligned throughout the entire transformation process at every step.

"We're beyond thrilled with the closing of our successful Series B round and the deep relationships we've forged with our investors," said Wilko Visser, CEO at ValueBlue. "The new investment signifies that we're on the right track and it will also strengthen our dedication to our customers. Businesses already face a multitude of challenges and agile transformation can be a daunting feat, but ValueBlue is here to simplify enterprise architecture and make the transition to digital feel exciting and seamless."

ValueBlue has been addressing the growing need for agile business transformation since 2011 and the latest capital injection comes at a critical time. In a recent 2021 executive study from Deloitte, digitally mature companies perform better than their less digital counterparts: they are about twice as likely to generate net profit margins and annual revenue growth significantly above their industry average. With the coronavirus pandemic expediting the urgency for businesses to shift to the digital economy, it's now more important than ever for companies to implement digital transformation strategies in order to survive and flourish.

"With this Series B round together with Octopus Ventures, we have a solid foundation to further accelerate ValueBlue's growth to market leadership for the next years", said Patrick Polak, Managing Partner of Newion and Board Member of ValueBlue.

The company is currently hiring sales executives and a number of other roles based in the New York office. Job listings can be found at careers.valueblue.com.

To learn more about ValueBlue and its SaaS platform, visit https://www.valueblue.com.

About ValueBlue

ValueBlue is the leading company behind the Enterprise SaaS tool that helps CIOs and Enterprise Architects plan, collaborate, and manage business transformation.

The collaboration platform speeds up Agile Business Transformation for CIOs and Enterprise Architects across the globe. With BlueDolphin, 165+ customers like AS Watson, Randstad, and Wyndham Hotel Group plan and manage transformation based on data insights and business impact with offices in EMEA, the USA, and APAC. For more information, please visit: https://valueblue.com/

About Octopus VenturesOctopus Ventures, part of the Octopus Group, is built to specialize in the four areas we believe will change the world for the better: health, money, deep tech, and consumer. The portfolio companies backed by Octopus Ventures have gone on to join forces with the world's largest businesses including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Twitter. Octopus Ventures is one of the largest and most active venture investors in Europe and is based in London and New York with a network that spans from San Francisco to China. For more information, please visit: https://octopusventures.com/

About Newion Newion is a leading Amsterdam-based Venture Capital Firm, focused on earlystage European B2B SaaS companies with global ambitions. The company has invested in 70+ companies among which Collibra, Reasult, Nallian, Foleon, CustomerGauge, L1nda, Swipeguide, Deliverect, Passendo, MediaTool, Filestage Apicbase, Salonkee, and Objective Platform. Newion III is supported by InnovFin Equity, with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), set up under the Investment Plan for Europe. The purpose of EFSI is to support financing and implementing productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to finance. Please visit www.newion.com for more information.

Media ContactAmy FloresFirecracker PR[email protected] (888) 317-4687, ext. 706

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/valueblue-raises-11-million-to-fuel-agile-business-transformation-worldwide-301463216.html

SOURCE ValueBlue
BOISE, Idaho (Tribune News Service)  The U.S. Air Force soon may bring 170 members of Qatar's air force to Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. They would be coming to learn to fly the newest model of the F-15 fighter jet specially modified for the Persian Gulf state.

The Qatar trainees may be in for a culture shock should they find themselves in the city of Mountain Home. More than 90% of Qataris live in the capital of Doha, which is full of skyscrapers, luxury hotels and attractions, museums and world-class food.

The country is also incredibly flat and dry, with the majority of its land being desert. Qatar is one of just four areas in the world without a single forest. Not to mention the differing temperatures between Qatar and Idaho: Qatar averages 107 degrees in July and rarely gets below 50 degrees even in winter.

Surrounded on three sides by the Arabian Gulf, Qatar has skyrocketed to power in recent decades through its discovery of oil and natural gas. Holding 13% of the world's oil reserve, it has become the richest country per capita in the world. Qatar's 2.9 million residents are ruled by an absolute monarchy and live under a constitution based on Shariah law.

Just how the Qataris would fare in the quiet town with a population of 14,000 remains to be seen. But it wouldn't be the first time the Mountain Home base trained foreign military aviators. Since 2009, Singapore military members have lived and trained there as part of an agreement with the United States.

"With Singapore, their ability to integrate with our local community has been phenomenal," Lt. Col. Peter Yule, director of the Mountain Home Base Wing Integration Office, told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview. "I would expect the same thing out of the Qatar program."

The Qatar project dates to 2017 when the United States inked a $12 billion deal that gave Qatar "36 aircraft, their associated weapons systems, U.S.-based training, maintenance support equipment and logistics support," according to The Air Force Times.

"The sale as a whole is obviously a big strategic advantage," Yule said. "(It will) continue to increase capability of partner nations within the Middle East, a region of huge influence for the United States. So the more we can increase capability with our appropriations there, the less reliant we have to be on a large footprint by the United States military."

Boeing, which manufactures the F-15, began delivering the jets to Qatar in October. The company specially designed the F-15QA fighter aircraft for the deal. Prat Kumar, Boeing's vice president of the F-15 program, described the crafts in an August news release as having "more speed, range and payload than any fighter in the world," with "fly-by-wire flight controls, an all-glass digital cockpit and contemporary sensors, radar and electronic warfare capabilities."

Now Qatar is ready to begin plans for the U.S.-based training.

"The (Qatari air force) will send pilots and weapon system operators to the U.S., where the air crews will learn how to independently operate the F-15QA ahead of receiving their new aircraft," Boeing's predelivery training contract says, according to aviation news site FlightGlobal.

When deciding which U.S. base these Qatari air force members should be sent to for that training, officials narrowed their focus to Mountain Home.

Yule said Qatar military leaders wanted to train somewhere that had F-15E aircraft, which are similar to the ones Qatar will receive. Only two U.S. bases have them: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina and Mountain Home Air Force Base. The Idaho base became the top choice, partly because it has more room to expand.

The project would include 300 total personnel, including the 170 Qatari trainees and 130 U.S. Air Force active-duty personnel and contractors.

New housing units and a dormitory would be built on the base for the Qatari forces. Yule says the buildings would likely include a two-story dormitory and 90 single-family units. Some Qatari trainees would be able to bring their families to live on base.

The training program would last 10 years with the possibility of Qatar extending it, according to the contract. And it wouldn't be cheap: The costs have not been set yet, but Yule said officials are "currently talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars."

"It's a large project, between all the different projects that have to happen: building them a new operations facility, a new hangar and maintenance facility, obviously the housing, and then just to expand the footprint," Yule said. "There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes for taking care of those airplanes and just about every manner of that  between metals work, an engine shop, you name it  all of those have to expand. So we're kind of still in the process of getting a monetary value."

Mountain Home Air Force Base would also extend its land contract with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management if the Qatar program moves forward. In 1998, Congress passed a law allowing the Department of Defense to appropriate public land for up to 25 years if it is needed for high-hazard training by the military. Under that law, the Mountain Home base reserved 11,816 acres of nearby BLM land.

The contract is set to expire in 2023, at which time the land would be given back to the Bureau of Land Management. However, if Qatar air force trainees come, the land contract would be extended.

An environmental analysis is underway to study what effects the project would have on the Mountain Home area. The analysis is expected to be completed at the end of February. The secretary of the Air Force will then decide whether Mountain Home would be a good fit for the project. The decision will likely come two or three months later.

According to Yule, Qatar is hoping to begin sending personnel by the end of 2023 or early 2024 if the Mountain Home location is approved.

The study looks at the project's potential impact on airspace use and management, noise, land use and visual resources, air quality, geology and soils, water resources, biological resources, cultural resources, hazardous materials and wastes, safety, socioeconomics and environmental justice.

Preliminary findings from a draft of the report written in October found that the program would have no significant impacts. It found the program would have minor short-term adverse impacts on water quality, minor long-term impacts on surface water, and a minor short-term increase in soil erosion and deterioration of vegetation and wildlife habitats. It would also have minor long-term benefits on land use and visual resources and short-term beneficial effects on local socioeconomics.

The full draft of the analysis can be found online at mountainhome.af.mil/Home/Environmental-News/.

2022 Idaho Statesman.

Visit at idahostatesman.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Tribune News Service)  Space University Lobos?

The University of New Mexico was one of a handful of universities tapped to be part of a new Air Force effort to increase academic perspectives in the development of technology for space.

The Air Force Research Laboratory last month announced the winning teams for the Space University Research Initiative, or SURI program. UNM will have a presence on a team formed to tackle space logistics and mobility issues.

Howard Choset, of Carnegie Mellon University, was the principal investigator on the three- to five-year research project, along with partners from CMU, UNM, Texas A&M and Northrop Grumman Corp. Another team headed by a professor from the University of Buffalo got into the program to work on space domain awareness.

Professor Rafael Fierro in UNM's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will be the school's principal investigator. He said a post-doctoral researcher and doctoral candidates will do much of the research alongside him.

Much of that work will be done at the UNM-AFRL Agile Manufacturing Center at UNM's science and technology park south of the main campus, which has cutting-edge computers and robotics systems and 3D printing technology.

"Space is becoming an important frontier," Fierro said. "In terms of the success of sending people to orbit, reporting on weather and climate change, volcanoes, communications and the discovery of possible life on other planets  it's going to be with us for a long, long time. And it's important for UNM to be a part of it because our mission is to train the next generation of engineers and scientists."

Fierro said UNM was included in the project, in part, because it already has partnered with AFRL, which has directorates based at Kirtland Air Force Base, to create the agile manufacturing center, which is backed by a five-year, $6.7 million Air Force grant.

"We didn't have to start from zero," he said.

In announcing the winning SURI teams, military officials said the program is one way the military is trying to create more incentives to improve and speed up Department of Defense-related research.

"Our way of warfare depends on space superiority and AFRL has a long history of research and development in support of this domain," Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, AFRL commander, said in a statement. "With the recent standup of the (Space Force), along with the emergence of U.S. Space Command and new energy in the commercial space sector, we have exciting opportunities to modernize the way we lead and manage science and technology."

The teams will have access to up to $1 million per year for the next three to five years. Much of the proposal by the space logistics team centers around creating technology so satellites can be upgraded, refueled or repaired once they are already on orbit, according to a summary of the research project.

"Space is completely different than a terrestrial facility. Everything is going to be more challenging and difficult," Fierro said. "If there is a problem, you can't send a crew of operators and engineers to take a look."

(c)2022 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.)

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(Tribune News Service) A Jacksonville nonprofit has bought 157 acres of Putnam County woodlands for conservation, using money from agencies trying to prevent development around Camp Blanding in neighboring Clay County.

The North Florida Land Trust bought the property adjoining Etoniah Creek State Forest from timber giant Weyerhaeuser Corp. as part of a long-term effort to protect a vast corridor for wildlife movement called the O2O Corridor, between the Ocala and Osceola national forests. The corridor is expected to be important long-term to wildlife including Florida black bears, gopher tortoises, indigo snakes and red-cockaded woodpeckers.

The $472,600 purchase also has immediate benefits around Camp Blanding, however.

"This acquisition accomplishes many things. It provides a critical linkage between the Etoniah Creek State Forest and Camp Blanding, provides for wildlife migration, and protects Camp Blanding from encroachment," land trust President Jim McCarthy said in an announcement about the deal.

The property, southeast of the Florida National Guard's camp, is north of Florida 100 inside an area that defense officials consider a "compatible use buffer" where the military wants to avoid development that might interfere with Guard training and other base operations.

The Florida Defense Support Task Force, a board created by the Florida Legislature, provided funds for the purchase through the Clay County Development Authority, with money also coming from U.S. Department of Defense's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.

The land trust described the property, which includes wetlands for creeks that feed Etoniah Creek, as "a critical linkage for wildlife habitat and fire management."

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CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  North Korea claims that a pair of guided missiles launched from Pyongyang on Monday precisely hit their island target off the countrys eastern coast.

The missiles  the fourth and fifth test-fired by the communist regime so far this month  were launched to evaluate the accuracy of the Norths weapons system, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said in a statement Tuesday. The missiles accuracy, security and efficiency were verified, the statement added.

The missiles were fired at 8:50 a.m. and 8:54 a.m. Monday, according to a statement from South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Souths military said both were launched from Sunan Airfield in the capital city.

The Joint Chiefs told reporters Monday it was "paying attention to a possibility that North Korea might have tested the continuous shooting capabilities of a super-large multiple rocket launcher."

The missiles flew 174 miles with a peak altitude of 26 miles before hitting the island, a South Korean military official speaking on the customary condition of anonymity told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

South Korean Ministry of Defense spokesman Boo Seung-chan described the missiles as "direct and serious military threats, during a press conference Tuesday.

The projectiles appear to be North Koreas KN-24 short-range ballistic missile, which was first tested in 2019, according to Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"North Korea described it as a tactical guided weapon, implying it's potentially not nuclearized just yet, but I think they would be able to convert this for a tactical nuclear weapons use if they decided to do that down the road," Panda told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

The North fired KN-24s during a launch on March 21, 2020. Those missiles also landed on a small island off the eastern coast.

Its small enough that they can confirm guidance and accuracy with a relative degree, Panda said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday issued a statement through his office saying that he ordered the government to make sure the situation of the Korean Peninsula is stably managed.

North Korea has test-fired five missiles so far this month. The last launch happened Friday when the regime fired a pair of railway-based missiles.

Prior to that launch, Pyongyang on Jan. 11 fired what South Korean military officials described as a more advanced missile that reached 10 times the speed of sound.

Mondays launch comes amid U.S. pressure to curb North Koreas missile tests. The United States on Wednesday slapped sanctions against six North Koreans, a Russian and a Russian company that are suspected of providing material aid to the regimes weapons program.

Todays actions, part of the United States ongoing efforts to counter [North Koreas] weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, target its continued use of overseas representatives to illegally procure goods for weapons, said Brian Nelson, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a statement Jan. 12.

In addition to the sanctions, the U.S. joined Japan, Albania, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom in condemning North Koreas Jan. 5 launch, which Pyongyang claimed was a hypersonic missile. South Korea did not join the countries in the joint statement.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.
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TOKYO The sixth wave of COVID-19 in Japan gained strength Tuesday, rising to a daily total of 32,197 new cases and exceeding the previous peak reached six months ago, according to Japanese media.

A government panel could recommend a modified state of emergency, or quasi-emergency, in 11 prefectures, including Tokyo, on Wednesday due to the spike in cases nationwide, Japanese media reported Tuesday.

Three other prefectures, including Okinawa, are already under a quasi-emergency. The new emergency may last three weeks, according to reports. The government would ask bars and restaurants to close early and refrain from selling alcohol, among other measures.

The U.S. military in Japan as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday had not reported its total COVID-19 infections from the holiday weekend around Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It last confirmed 715 new infections across 17 military installations on Friday.

Yokota Air Base, the headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo, reported 138 new cases between Jan. 12 and Tuesday, for a 273 active cases, according to the base website. Most new infections, 130, were acquired locally and eight tested positive after recently arriving in Japan.

The U.S. military population throughout Japan remains under a two-week order to stay on their bases or in their off-base homes until Monday.

A USFJ spokesman could not be reached by phone or email Tuesday for comment on how a quasi-emergency in Japan would affect the stay-at-home order.

U.S. personnel under the status of forces agreement must abide by the order for another week except for trips to grocery stores, medical appointments and other essential services. SOFA outlines the rights and responsibilities of those in Japan with the U.S. military.

Japans total case numbers increased from 17,940 on Friday to 22,707 on Sunday before reaching a new pandemic high on Monday of 26,801, according to the World Health Organization.

The nations second-largest metro area, Osaka prefecture, was expected to confirm more than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, a one-day pandemic record there, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Since March 2020, Japan has recorded 1.9 million cases and 18,429 deaths related to COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. In the past week, 30 people have died, far below the record 797 deaths recorded during a week in May.

Tokyo added another 5,185 newly infected people, public broadcaster NHK reported Tuesday, to the 11,452 cases of COVID-19 the metropolitan government reported Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Tuesdays figure is more than five times the number one week prior and 723 individuals short of a pandemic record, according to metro government data.

New infections in the capital city declined from 4,561 on Saturday to 3,719 on Monday, according to metro data. The seven-day running average on Monday was 3,255.3, an increase of about 407 new cases on average over the previous day.

Nearly 1,500 people were hospitalized in Tokyo, five of them with severe symptoms, as of Monday, according to metro data. About 3,730 beds remain available.

About one in five beds designated for coronavirus patients is now occupied, a benchmark set by Tokyo Mayor Koike Yuriko for seeking further measures to curb the virus spread, NHK reported Monday

At Yokosuka Naval Base south of Tokyo, the base suspended preschool programs at two child development centers, Duncan and Gridley, due to COVID-19 infections in staff and children, according to an announcement Saturday on the official Yokosuka Facebook page.

Also, the base Chief Petty Officers Club suspended its operations until infected staff are recovered, and others may return to work following quarantine, according to the same post.

The base, homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet, reported 239 new cases Friday for 328 total, and no hospitalizations for COVID-19, according to a base news release.

Farther south, Sasebo Naval Base on Kyushu Island reported 44 people tested positive for COVID-19 since Thursday, for 132 active cases, according to the installations official Facebook page. Of the new cases, 38 fell ill, the post said.

At Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, 25 miles south of Hiroshima, the daily case count dropped to eight newly infected individuals on Monday, according to a base news release. If that trend holds, the air stations record coronavirus surge may be ending.

MCAS Iwakuni has reported 915 individuals infected with the coronavirus since Christmas weekend. Most of those, 769, surfaced in January. By comparison, the base reported 294 cases through all of 2021.

However, hospitalizations for COVID-19 totaled only two on Friday, according to the most recent update by U.S. Forces Japan. It reported no severely ill patients.
STUTTGART, Germany  British C-17 cargo planes carrying anti-tank missile systems have been dispatched to Ukraine, bypassing German airspace in the process in an apparent effort to expedite the delivery of the hardware.

We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light, anti-armor, defensive weapon systems, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement Sunday in British parliament.

The move came in response to increasingly threatening behavior by Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 troops, tanks, rocket artillery and short-range ballistic missiles on Ukraines border. The emergency delivery of weaponry comes with British troops who will provide Ukrainian forces with immediate training on how to use the gear. After the training is finished, British forces will return home, Wallace said.

The U.S. also has given more than $2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2014. The support has included anti-tank Javelin rockets and radars to bolster air defenses.

The United Kingdoms military flights to Ukraine over the weekend, tracked by commercial radar, showed the C-17s bypassing German airspace, opting instead for a longer route over Denmark and Poland as it approached Ukraine. The unusual flight route prompted questions by some security analysts if Berlin had blocked the flights in connection with longstanding German opposition to providing the Ukrainian military with arms.

On Monday, Berlin denied that it blocked the flights, telling the German Bild newspaper that an application for a military flight had not been filed by the British side. Still, the situation highlighted the kind of bureaucratic logjams allies can run into when weaponry needs to be quickly shuttled across borders.

For NATO, one challenge in trying to deter a possible new Russian invasion of Ukraine has been getting all allies to agree on what approach to take. And Germany, the economic powerhouse of Europe, finds itself at odds with some member states because it opposes moves that may be viewed as provocative by Moscow.

In addition to Berlins opposition to arming the Ukraine military, Germany has proceeded with its Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project with Russia, a decision that has infuriated NATO members in the east, as well as Ukraine. The United States also opposes the Russian-German pipeline project.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to Berlin for talks that are likely to involve a push to get Berlin to take a tougher stance on Russia.

Meanwhile, Moscow has continued to mass forces near Ukraine despite talks last week between the U.S. and Russia that were aimed at reducing tensions. The Defense Department on Friday warned that Russia also has deployed operatives in Ukraine to foment a pretext for an invasion. Russia has denied that accusation.

Russia has indicated that if it does not receive security guarantees  chief among them that NATO stop an eastward expansion  that it could be forced to take military action in Ukraine. Wallace, however, said NATO, as a defensive alliance, remains committed to an open-door policy.

Countries choose NATO; NATO does not choose them, Wallace said. If Russia has concerns about the enlargement, it should perhaps ask itself why? When people were free to choose, they chose NATO.
SKIEN, Norway  Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian far-right fanatic who killed 77 people in bomb-and-gun massacres in 2011, argued Tuesday for an early release from prison, telling a parole judge he had renounced violence even as he professed white supremacist views and flashed Nazi salutes.

Breivik, 42, is serving Norway's maximum 21-year sentence for setting off a bomb in Oslo's government district and carrying out a shooting massacre at a summer camp for left-wing youth activists. Under Norwegian law, he is eligible for his first parole hearing after 10 years in prison.

Though experts agree Breivik is highly unlikely to be released, authorities have insisted he has the same rights as any other prisoner, arguing that treating him differently would undermine the principles that underpin Norwegian society, including the rule of law and freedom of speech.

At the three-day hearing, which is taking place in the high-security prison in Skien, south of Oslo, where he is being held in isolation with three cells at his disposal, Breivik made full use of his rights.

Sporting a stubble beard and a two-piece suit, he entered the makeshift courtroom in a prison gymnasium by raising his right hand in a Nazi salute and holding up homemade signs with white supremacist messages. One sign was pinned to his suit.

Asked by the prosecutor who the messages were aimed at, he said they were directed at millions of people "who support white power."

The Associated Press resists being used as a conduit for speech or images that espouse hate or spread propaganda and is not publishing images showing Breivik's Nazi salutes and other white supremacist propaganda.

Breivik has used previous court hearings to disseminate conspiracy theories of an ongoing genocide against white people in the West. Some worry he could inspire like-minded people to carry out similar attacks. But since his criminal trial in 2012, many Norwegians have insisted that the best way to defy his world view is to stand up for a tolerant, open society and show that the system he claims is oppressing him in fact is giving him every chance to have his day in court.

Kristin Bergtora Sandvik, a law professor at Oslo University, said Breivik was pushing the boundaries in Tuesday's hearing.

"At the same time, it's fairly clear that the prosecutor has a very clear strategy here," she said. "By letting him speak ... he gets his very incoherent message out in the open."

In a rambling monologue to the court, Breivik argued there is a distinction between militant and nonmilitant white nationalists and said he had been brainwashed by the former when he carried out his attacks in Oslo and at the summer retreat on Utoya island.

"Today, I strongly dissociate myself from violence and terror," he said. "I hereby give you my word of honor that this is behind me forever."

Reminding the court of the scale of the attacks, prosecutor Hulda Karlsdottir read the names of each of Breivik's victims, many of them teenagers on the annual retreat. Many were shot multiple times and some drowned as they tried to swim from the island in panic. During the criminal trial, Breivik said he considered the victims traitors for embracing multiculturalism and that he regretted not having killed even more.

Karlsdottir stressed the parole hearing was not about re-examining guilt, saying, "The main topic here is the danger associated with release."

Breivik didn't express any remorse, saying only that he cries for victims on "both sides" in what he described as a culture war.

The court is set to sit until Thursday and a ruling is expected later this month.

During a break in the proceedings, Breivik's lawyer ystein Storrvik was asked whether his client was using the hearing to spread his propaganda.

"That is a right he has under Norwegian law," he was quoted as saying by national broadcaster NRK. "Whether what he chooses to say is wise or not is another matter."

Groups representing survivors and families of victims have said they won't comment during the hearing. Before the session, Lisbeth Kristine Ryneland, who heads a support group, said she was afraid Breivik would use the opportunity "to talk freely and convey his extreme views to people who have the same mindset."

Breivik was declared criminally sane in his trial, even though the prosecution argued that he was psychotic. He didn't appeal his sentence but unsuccessfully sued the government for human rights violations for denying him the right to communicate with sympathizers.

Although Norway's maximum sentence is 21 years, Breivik could be held longer under a provision that allows authorities to keep criminals in prison for as long as they're considered a menace to society.

Breivik has been trying to start a fascist party in prison and reached out by mail to likeminded extremists in Europe and the United States. Prison officials seized many of those letters, fearing he would inspire other violent attacks. Ahead of the parole hearing, Randi Rosenqvist, the psychiatrist who has followed Breivik since 2012, said she could "not detect great changes in Breivik's functioning."

Ritter reported from Stockholm. Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed.
WASHINGTON  A State Department official said Tuesday that an invasion of Ukraine could now come from its northern border with Belarus after Russian troops were moved into that country for military drills.

The news comes as Russia has spent weeks moving troops to its western border with Ukraine. President Joe Bidens administration has been holding talks with Russian officials, who want a guarantee that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the NATO alliance. U.S. officials say diplomatic attempts to end the hostilities have not been productive.

The reports of Russian troop movements towards Belarus  are concerning, the State Department official told reporters Tuesday on condition of anonymity. The timing is notable and of course raises concerns that Russia could intend to station troops in Belarus  in order potentially to attack Ukraine from the north.

Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that the Defense Department is still hopeful for a diplomatic resolution, but defense officials have gone over various permutations on how to get involved should Russia invade Ukraine.

If there's another incursion [into Ukraine] and if our NATO allies request capabilities and support and resources for their reassurance, as part of NATO, we will be positively disposed to consider those requests, Kirby said.

The State Department official did not say how many Russian troops and equipment were moving into Belarus, but said they are being conducted supposedly under the auspices of regularly scheduled joint military exercises.

[Belarus President Alexander] Lukashenko has relied more and more on Russia for all kinds of support, and we know that Putin doesn't give them support for free, the official said.

Last week, the U.S. was willing to discuss changing the scale and scope of U.S. exercises in the region if and only if there was going to be reciprocity on the Russian side, Kirby said Tuesday. However, the U.S. has not seen any signs of Russian scaling back.

The U.S. has not sent troops to Ukraine to assist against a possible Russian attack, Kirby said, though more than 100 Florida National Guard troops are now in the country on an advise-and-assist deployment to help train Ukrainian troops.

They remain at work alongside their Ukrainian counterparts  and we expect that that mission will continue, he said. We're going to continue to watch the situation on the ground and if we need to make decisions for force-protection purposes, we'll do that.

For now, Kirby said there are no planned changes to the National Guards mission or number of U.S. troops in Ukraine.

The State Department official said the movement of Russian troops is especially concerning given that a Belarus constitutional referendum coming in February includes language that could be interpreted as paving the way for Russia to garrison forces in Belarusian territory.

These draft constitutional changes may indicate Belarus plans to allow both Russian conventional and nuclear forces to be stationed on this territory, the official said. This would be a significant change for Belarus and such a step would present the challenge to European security that may require a response.
U.S. military officials knew months before the fall of the Afghan capital of Kabul that the countrys air force could collapse if contractors and aid were withdrawn, according to a recently declassified government report released Tuesday.

The report offers new insight into Defense Department officials awareness of serious problems well before President Joe Biden set an Aug. 31 deadline for a full withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.

Afghanistan is currently unable to support and sustain its equipment and capabilities, and DOD officials acknowledge that the U.S. needs to continue to support the Afghan air forces and help them build the capacity to do so, said the report by John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction.

The 2021 time frame for withdrawal of U.S. forces and support personnel was several years before the Pentagons own estimates of when the Afghan air force would be able to survive on its own, the report said.

Classification of a SIGAR report is rare, an official in the inspector generals office told The Associated Press on Monday. When it does happen, though, a declassified version is issued within two months.

But in this case, the military did not allow the January 2021 report to be declassified until a year after it was issued.

The report shows that U.S. military advisers did not think the Afghan air forces had the ability to sustain themselves without foreign help.

The U.S. spent $8.5 billion between 2010 and 2019 to support and develop the Afghan air force and its elite unit, the Special Mission Wing, it stated.

Although the countrys pilots were able to attack Taliban positions, the air force did not have the ability to maintain its aircraft without expensive foreign contractors., the report said.

The Taliban entered Kabul on Aug. 15 after U.S.-backed President Ashraf Ghani fled the capital. Many of the warnings in the report were borne out during the final days of the Ghani government.

Over the preceding months, Afghan officials had warned that the air force was not able to stand on its own.

Ata Mohammed Noor, a powerful warlord in northern Afghanistan who was a key U.S. ally in the 2001 defeat of the Taliban, said the fleet was overused and under-maintained.

"Most of the planes are back on the ground. They cannot fly and most of them are out of ammunition," he said, according to the AP.

The SIGAR report substantiated those observations and said the U.S. prioritized building combat power over maintenance and support position.

In contrast to air crews and maintenance crews, support staffers had no guidelines for their training, though 86% of the Afghan air force consisted of support personnel, DOD officials said.

Neither the U.S. nor Afghanistan prioritized training for engineering, human resources and financial management, the report said. At times, those positions were filled with grounded pilots.

Fixing and maintaining Afghan aircraft became increasingly difficult as the number of U.S. advisers in Afghanistan dropped by approximately 90%, from 498 to 59 personnel, in the wake of the withdrawal agreement.

Fewer advisers meant less oversight over training and contracting, leading to the use of teleconferencing in an effort to help maintain Afghan aircraft. Some planes needed to be taken out of the country to be fixed.

As the Taliban swept across the country, the Afghan air force ran out of key ammunition like guided smart bombs, Reuters reported in December.

Dozens of Afghan pilots and their families fled to neighboring countries with their U.S.-provided aircraft in the days before the Taliban took control of Kabul.
The number of people with military backgrounds identified in a database of domestic extremists has quadrupled in the past decade, a University of Maryland study found.

From 1990 through November 2021, at least 458 people affiliated with the military committed criminal acts that were motivated by political, economic, social, or religious goals, according to the study Extremism in the Ranks and After.

The report, which came out in December, preceded the news last week that the Defense Department Inspector General will review the militarys performance in vetting recruits for extremism.

Until 2010, an average of just less than seven current or former service members were added each year to a database the researchers used, the Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States, or PIRUS.

Since 2010, though, the average has ballooned to 28.5 such additions a year.

To be included in PIRUS, a subject must have been radicalized in the United States; adhered to or espoused views that justify the use of illegal means to achieve their goals; and committed a criminal offense that was clearly motivated by their ideological views, the report stated.

The attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is significantly reflected in the spike.

But even without figuring in the numbers from the Capitol riot, an average of 17.7 people a year with military backgrounds have been added to the PIRUS database since 2010, the study said.

"It is important to note that the recent increase in subjects with military backgrounds in PIRUS is largely due to three years in the data  2017, 2020, and 2021," according to the study. "Each of these years were marked by issues that mobilized comparatively large numbers of U.S. extremists."

Those mass mobilizations included the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017; demonstrations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic; racial justice protests; activities based on the 2020 presidential election; and the Capitol breach.

Since 1990, about 60% of the offenders in PIRUS with military backgrounds plotted acts of violence, according to the study. However, just 35.1% of them successfully carried out those plans.

Another 3.8% engaged in spontaneous violent crimes, such as starting fights at protests.

Nearly half of the crimes committed targeted U.S. government entities, the U.S. military or law enforcement, the study found. More than 30% espoused views of white supremacy, white nationalism, xenophobia or a combination of the three.

"These individuals were affiliated with no fewer than 50 extremist groups, including local skinhead gangs and several national white supremacist organizations," according to the study.

Rachel VanLandingham, a law professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and a former Air Force prosecutor, suggested on the military law website CAAFLOG that aspects of military culture may make some service members more susceptible to extremist group messaging.

"While military service teaches generic fidelity to the Constitution, our armed forces training, laws, customs, and operations emphasize to a far, far greater extent the notion of obedience to orders  of fidelity to command," she wrote.

"Buttressing the dynamic of fidelity to command is the unifying and highly motivating concept of patriotism, of pride in country  and the sense of belonging and working toward something greater than oneself."

Many veterans strive to recapture those feelings after theyve left the ranks, she wrote, and can be misled by groups like the Oath Keepers.

Oath Keepers espouses a core belief that the oath they took to defend the Constitution lasts forever. The group focuses on recruiting former and current military, law enforcement and first-responder personnel, a Justice Department statement said Thursday.

Eleven members of the group were charged last week with seditious conspiracy in connection with the 2021 Capitol attack, including its founder, Stewart Rhodes.

Members of the group moved toward the Capitol in stack formations, while Oath Keeper quick reaction force teams were prepared to rapidly transport firearms and other weapons into Washington, D.C., in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power, the Justice Department statement said.

Of the 458 total people in the PIRUS database who have a military background, 118 were involved in the Capitol attack. Almost 84% were no longer serving, and all but nine are men, the study found.
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (Tribune News Service)  As Dr. Kathleen Braico watched Afghan families evacuate Afghanistan as the Taliban took over in August, she knew she needed to find a way to help.

At least 55,000 are currently living on U.S. Army bases, unable to find housing, their relocation delayed by a housing shortage and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"The government has been helping these people find homes, but it's just the numbers are so huge and the housing situation's so difficult in the United States that it's been a very slow process," Braico said. "And many people are still stuck waiting, hoping to start their new lives and not being able to do so."

Through research, she found an organization called Sponsor Circles, a nongovernmental group that helps Afghan refugees find homes on a one-family-at-a-time basis.

Braico reached out to local friends, including Dr. Richard Leach, and formed a group called Adirondack Welcome Circle to find a way to bring one Afghan family of four to settle in the Glens Falls area.

The refugees will arrive with Social Security numbers and green cards so they are able to work. But they will need help finding rental housing, applying for benefits, job training, health services and possibly English lessons. Children will need to be enrolled in school.

"They need to be oriented to this culture," Braico said. "Perhaps they've never shopped at a grocery store before. Perhaps they are unfamiliar with how to ride a bus and buy the tickets to get on the bus ... so all of that is what we're going to be helping them with in the first three months."

Sponsor Circles requires Adirondack Welcome Circle to raise $2,275 per family member, which is $9,100 for a family of four. That money needs to cover all these expenses and more.

"We will need in-kind donations as well. I presume that we will not find a furnished apartment," Braico pointed out. "I presume that we're going to have to find furniture, linens, towels, dishes, toilet bowl cleaners, everything that a new family needs to start."

The family may need clothing as well.

Adirondack Welcome Circle is currently raising money to help fund this project. There is an account open at Glens Falls National Bank. They also plan to start a GoFundMe page.

More information can be found on the group's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/354576082782939. The group will soon have a website that will also accept donations.

The group also needs more people to assist the effort, including someone who can handle the financial end of the project and legal services, because the in-coming family will have temporary visas and will have to apply for asylum. They also need people who know about the system of help that's available.

"It takes a village to raise a child," Braico said. "Well, it's going to take a whole community to make these people welcome here."

The relocation and transition may be difficult for the refugee family, since there are few Afghan families in the Glens Falls area and the closest mosque is in Latham, Braico said.

It may also be difficult for locals who may not fully accept the new family into the area.

"I'm very concerned about that actually," said Leach, "to the point where we've actually asked a sheriff into our organization with that specific thing in mind. And we are already reaching out to the Jewish community, too, of course, who has a historical problem with Arabs. So we're kind of anticipating that that's going to happen."

But both Leach and Braico are optimistic, however, that the community will welcome the new neighbors.

Leach said a lot has changed about the demographics of the area since he moved here in 1977 to set up his medical practice.

"There was very, very little diversity here," Leach said. "I don't remember anyone Black or even Brown on the streets in those days."

That is not the case now, he said.

Braico said she is confident the Glens Falls community is willing and able to be welcoming to this Afghan family. She hopes locals will value the need for diversity in the community.

She moved here in 1978 and said she couldn't imagine a better place to raise her family.

"I think that we need immigrants," she said. "Like most white Americans, I'm here because my grandparents immigrated. If it wasn't for a grandmother at the age of 16 was willing to leave her family in Czechoslovakia and never to ever see them again and come to this country ... I wouldn't be here. Most of us are the descendants of immigrants. And it's a way to pay it forward.

"They were willing to take big risks and come here," Braico continued, "and I think that we can help other people who are willing to take big risks and come here. And they will enrich our community."

ghochsprung@poststar.com

(c)2022 The Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.)

Visit The Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.) at www.poststar.com

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(Tribune News Service)  U.S. Senate candidate and Army veteran of Black Hawk Down fame, Mike Durant, who has been CEO of his own company, Pinnacle Solutions Inc., since 2008, said he has turned over control of the company to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

We just closed that transaction on Dec. 30, Durant told AL.com. That essentially transfers ownership to the employees so theres no turmoil, no change in leadership. The people that helped you become a success actually inherit ownership of the company.

He did not disclose financial terms of the deal, such as the companys valuation or how much he will receive.

Durant had worked in military contracting in Huntsville, Ala., for several years before starting his own company.

In February, well be 14 years old, he said. Weve got over 500 employees. Were in 14 locations around the world.

The company has contracts with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, NASA and other government agencies.

We are an aerospace company, Durant said. We do everything in the industry except build the actual aircraft. We fly, maintain, provide engineering, logistics, training.

Durant said turning over control of the company to his employees was his best way to move from business into politics.

Im all teed up to make the transition, he said. It feels great because theyve been rewarded. Its a great exit strategy for me.

Durant is a former Army aviator who flew a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the 1993 battle depicted in the book and the 2001 movie Black Hawk Down.

In the movie, Durant was portrayed by actor Ron Eldard.

It affected all of us, Durant said. The movie isnt about me. Its about the mission. I was a pilot in one of the Black Hawks that was shot down. I was the only person who was captured. It changed our lives. They did a good job telling the story. I think for the average person watching that film, they get a good appreciation for what it was like to fight on the ground and in the air, as I was.

On Oct. 3, 1993, Durant and his crew were shot down and attacked by a mob in Mogadishu during Operation Gothic Serpent, a mission to capture top commanders of a Somali warlord. Eighteen Americans died, including Durants crew  Ray Frank, Bill Cleveland and Tommy Field  and 73 were injured. Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 1st Class Randall Shughart, who died that day, were awarded the Medal of Honor for their efforts to rescue Durant and his crew. Durant was held captive for 11 days.

After Durant retired from a 22-year Army career, he and his family moved to Alabama.

Durants military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with Valor device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, one with Valor device, the POW/MIA ribbon, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and others, according to his campaign.

Durant is a Republican candidate for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who is retiring. Durant is running against candidates including U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and Katie Britt, a former Shelby chief of staff. The primary election is May 24.

2022 Advance Local Media LLC.

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(Tribune News Service)  World War II veteran Dorothy Hess reflected on her daring life full of service work as she approaches her 100th birthday on Jan. 19.

To celebrate, Hess and her friends and family will enjoy cake and hot prime rib at her retirement community as they recount stories  something she has an abundance of which to tell.

Susan Hess Logeais said her mother taught her to be courageous at a young age.

"She laid the groundwork for me to have an adventurous life at a very young age because she did that," said Hess Logeais.

Hess, who was born and raised in Seattle by Latvian immigrants, approaches life with an inextinguishable sense of bravery and adventure. She grew up during the Great Depression in an ambitious and strong family. Her mother made closet gin during the Prohibition to support the household. Hess graduated from high school at 16 years old and studied nursing shortly after.

However, her capacity for adventure still needed to be filled, which led her to taking a great leap by joining the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II.

Joining the war

When Hess and her friends heard Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold urge nurses to serve in World War II, they jumped at the opportunity to support their country and servicemen.

"I always wanted to help, even when I was a kid," she said. "I think it's a good experience for people to do something like I did."

Hess, who was a nurse at Western State Hospital near Tacoma, Wash., left her job for the opportunity in 1943 and immediately reported to Bowman Field in Louisville, Ky., for training.

The nurses studied academics and fieldwork, and they learned survival skills ranging from map-reading to camouflaging in their environment. The program also required nurses to participate in physical conditioning and simulated enemy conflict. Hess became a member of the 804th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron in the U.S. Fifth Air Force and would play an integral role in the war.

Each medical air evacuation squadron was led by a flight surgeon and chief nurse, which was further divided into six teams of flight nurses and surgical technicians. More than 31 of these medical transport squadrons were created and saved more than 1 million patients during the war.

Soon after, Hess and her squadron  which was composed of 25 nurses with a head and assistant nurse  crossed the Pacific Ocean to Brisbane, Australia. From there, they proceeded to Port Moresby in New Guinea and were later stationed in the Philippines.

As Hess left safe shores toward the raging conflict, she said, there was a moment that she thought she might not come back.

"It gave me a different acceptance of things in life," Hess said.

The Southwest Pacific theater, where the 804th squadron was operating, was a major area of the war between the Allies  France, Great Britain, the U.S., the Soviet Union and China  and Axis powers, which included Germany, Italy and Japan.

They flew aboard C-47 transport planes where the nurses and surgical technicians would tend to soldiers' injuries just as any physician would. Sometimes patients would have to be retrieved from active conflict zones where nurses operated with fighter cover.

There were close calls, Hess said, but she never felt scared.

"We didn't have time to be worrying about anything  that's for sure," she said. "Actually, I can't imagine why I didn't have any fears."

Together, Hess and her squadron evacuated more than 95,000 casualties, and most of them received the Air Medal from Maj. Gen. Warren Carter for serving for more than 250 hours of combat flying.

Hess' squadron was in active duty until 1945, when members were returned to the U.S. to be discharged.

The years after

Hess met her future husband, Andrew Hess, a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, while they were studying at the University of Washington at the end of World War II. They married in 1946 and had three children together. Her husband became involved in politics, eventually bringing him to the forefront as a state representative and senator. She worked in public health and then as a school nurse.

She continued to travel long after her service abroad, which brought her to countries such as India and Russia. There was no limit to what Hess was willing to experience or learn more about  sometimes bringing her to learn about meditation or shamanic journey work with her daughter.

"She's such a remarkable woman," Hess Logeais said. "She was ahead of her time (and) was such a pioneer and such a brave person. I'm very grateful for that."

(c)2022 The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.)

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Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
One of Whakatane District Council administrators Janie Storeys promises to herself on her retirement is to remember with fondness all the people she has had contact with over the past 44 years.

Having started at Murupara Borough Council as a teenager, straight out of the towns Rangitahi College, she has been with the council through its amalgamation with Whakatane, seen 10 chief executives come and go, 12 mayors, 82 councillors and says she has lost count of how many community board members.

Her official leaving day was on Thursday last week, a 65th birthday present to herself after her many years of administering to countless council meetings, committees and events.

Janie started her job on June 25, 1973, and at the age of 18 held the lofty title of assistant town clerk.

Her most recent roles have been governance support advisor and deputy electoral officer.

The town clerk was the former title for what is now called the chief executive so it was no small responsibility.

She held that position until she left to have children but was back again four years later. When the borough council amalgamated with Whakatane District Council in 1989 she ran the Murupara service centre for many years before moving to the Whakatane office 25 years ago.

Highlights of the job have included being in charge of Anzac Day civic ceremonies, the Over 80s Morning Tea which have been held since 1999, citizenship ceremonies and Young Achievers Awards, and elections.

Ive been the key deputy electoral councillor at the council for the past few elections.

She says there's only one local government election she has not been involved with since 1974 and that was when she left to have her children.

It was a great job. Ive been doing all those things for 25 years.

Other highlights have been her involvement with the Sister Cities partnership with Kamagaya. She said she enjoyed three trips to Japan as part of the partnership, in 2000, 2003 and again at the 20th anniversary of the friendship in 2017.

She has also enjoyed administrating the community boards, and the committees that allocated grants such as the Whakatane District Council Annual Grants Scheme, sporting grants, Creative Communities and Community Board grants.

That was always interesting, because we made it so that the people who wanted money would come and talk to the board in person, so it made it real for them. It wasnt just some anonymous person. It was a really good way for the community boards to meet people in their communities.

Creative Communities was the same, they introduced a thing where the applicant has a choice to talk to the committee before it decides. It just makes so much difference to both parties. Some people can fill out a form and some cant, but it doesnt mean to say that the needs of the person who cant fill it out isnt greater than the person who can. That was one of the real enjoyment parts of the job.

Janie was also closely involved with the distribution of the community fund in the wake of the flooding in July 2004.

Because people gave the council lots of money and the Government said they would double what we got ... we ended up with over $4 million. I was the secretary in charge of putting everything together for the allocation.

An advisory panel was put together to guide the trustees in allocating funding, which included iwi members from each area, the Red Cross and people working alongside affected people in the community.

At least one if not two or three people on that panel would have worked alongside and knew these peoples situations because they were on the ground working with them. So that was a really amazing thing to do. I put a programme together of how that worked. We did that with Matata and Edgecumbe as well. So thats really humbling to be able to help these people in some small way.

Working closely with mayors and councillors had its own challenges and rewards.

You get to work quite closely with the elected members and you get to respect them.

However, she says she has to train herself not to form any opinions on anything.

I learned to not really form opinions on anything because it didnt really matter what I thought. The council made the decision and you have to go with that decision. Thats your job. Therefore, I trained myself to not have any particular opinion on all of the bigger questions of council. Theres been some times when Ive just had to physically force herself to not say something.

With elections, I didnt tell anyone how I voted, including my family. Because I never wanted people to say, Oh, Janies voting for this person.

This didnt stop her from occasionally giving overly long council meetings a bit of a poke.

Ive got kind of a warped sense of humour. Wed be at a meeting and all of a sudden I would start sighing if Id had enough of people talking around in a circle to come to a decision. I would poke the chairperson and say, Ive already got it written down and Id just pop down what the conclusion of what the decision would be.

One of the things we never ever did was say, Oh it will be a short meeting. If you said it out loud, low and behold, youd still be going two or three hours later, what should have been done in half an hour.

Citizenship ceremonies provided Mrs Storey with some of her more hilarious blooper moments. One was when we introduced the mayor, when we brought them into the council chamber for the citizenship ceremony. This time it was Colin Holmes, and I said please rise for his worship the mayor Colin Hammond.

At another citizenship ceremony, I used to say the opening speech, but we did a prayer first. I brought them in and then I started on my speech and when Id finished, Colin Holmes goes, Well thats very nice, but now well have the opening prayer shall we. It was one of those moments when you just think, s**t.

While she got on well with all the mayors she has worked with, her strongest friendships were with some of the mayoresses. Colin Hammonds wife, Karla, and Cheri Niederer, Colin Holmes partner were very good friends, and there are a couple of the female councillors that I still have lunch with a couple of times a year.

Janie says she doesnt have any immediate plans for her retirement. With four grandchildren and living opposite Ohiwa Harbour, there's always plenty to keep busy with.

She has been a Justice of the Peace for about six years and is also a marriage celebrant and would like to become more involved with this in the future, helping people through crucial moments in their lives, such as weddings and funerals.

Just helping them, including them in the ceremony and making the ceremony about the person. Thats something Id like to do. Coming from that small town background and a big farming family, its just something that comes naturally. You just relate to people.

Mostly, she is content to get through the summer, occasionally reflecting on all those who she has shared the past 44 years with.

"Those that have helped shape me, laughed with me, cried with me, taught me to be patient and just enjoyed my company and warped sense of humour.
The chief executive of Water Safety New Zealand has labelled the countrys drowning statistics a national disgrace after the announcement of the WSNZ Drowning Report for 2021.

Daniel Gerrards comment comes after a spate of recent water deaths across New Zealand, with the report showing 74 people died in preventable drownings throughout 2021, including eight in the Bay of Plenty.

Drowning is now the leading cause of recreational death in New Zealand and the third highest cause of accidental death.

The figure of 74 in 2021 was the same as 2020 and down on the 2015-19 five-year average of 80. However, considering Auckland and other parts of the nation spent large periods of time under lockdown, the figure is still considered high.

Every preventable death is devastating to a family/whanau and the community, says Daniel.

Despite much of the country being in lockdown for a lengthy period again last year, drowning contributed to 74 fatalities. These tragedies could and should not happen and are a tragic reminder of the importance of being cautious around water.

New Zealands recent spell of tragedies on the water is highlighted by the drowning toll for December 2021. Last month saw 20 deaths recorded. This is the highest monthly amount for December since 1996. Prior to those fatalities, 2021 was on track to see lower-than-average drowning statistics.

Our drowning toll is something every New Zealander should see as a national disgrace and one we all have a responsibility to address, says Daniel.

We all need to make better decisions around water.

Remember the water safety code. Be prepared, watch out for yourself and each other, be aware of the dangers and know your limits.

In the Bay of Plenty, eight people died in 2021 from preventable drownings. A preventable fatality relates to those including recreational and non-recreational drownings and not those classified as other, resultant of road traffic events or homicides, for example.

Of the eight deaths in our region, three occurred whilst swimming with another two occurring during powered boating activities. The other three deaths involved one fatality in an immersion incident, another underwater and the other during water sport activities. The youngest death was a child under four-years-old.

The location of the Bay of Plenty drownings varied. Two each occurred offshore, in rivers and in tidal waters. One death was recorded at a beach and the eighth at inland still water.

Like the rest of the nation, the figures are particularly bad for men. Seven of the eight Bay of Plenty fatalities were male. Across New Zealand, 84 per cent of the 74 total drownings occurred in men.

Maori are also disproportionately represented, with 31 per cent of fatalities despite Maori comprising just 16.5 per cent of the total population.

Significantly, 96 per cent of Maori drowning deaths and 100 per cent of the Pacifica deaths were men. People of Asian ethnicity accounted for 16 per cent of deaths.

Auckland, Waikato and Wellington each had 12 drowning deaths in 2021. Whilst Auckland fatalities are down 20 per cent from 2020 and on the five-year average Wellingtons total of 12 deaths is up 140 per cent on the prior year and 100 per cent of the five-year average  the highest number of fatalities for Wellington since 1998.

Waikatos total of 12 is also up, 50 per cent on 2020 and 20 per cent on the five-year average.

Swimming resulted in the most drowning fatalities in 2021 accounting for 31 per cent. Most of these occurred at rivers (8) or beaches (6).

The 18 Boating deaths accounted for 24 per cent of the year's drowning toll, up 80 per cent from the prior years 10 deaths but similar to the five-year average. The majority of boating incidents occurred in tidal waters. Boating drowning fatalities were more likely to involve people 45+ years.

Underwater activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling and free diving accounted for 11 per cent of the drowning deaths, down 33 per cent on the 2020 total and equal to the five-year average.
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Motorists are advised to plan for an overnight lane closure as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency contractors undertake work at Takitimu Drive Toll Road.

One lane of SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road will be closed from 8pm tonight until 6am tomorrow.

A detour will be in place via Cambridge/Moffat Road between SH29 and SH2, for people heading towards the Tauranga CBD and Port, says a spokesperson for the roading agency.

"We plan to complete the works in one night, although will use Thursday as contingency.

"The work to install site accesses and barriers is part of enabling works underway for the Takitimu North Link project.

"There is a large volume of work underway close by, including at the Tauranga end of SH2 north, where a 500m section of Takitimu Drive under the Waihi Road overbridge is undergoing repairs and a drainage upgrade."

Road rehabilitation works have also re-commenced on SH29 and SH24 on the Waikato-side of the Kaimai Range this week.

NZTA says there will be alternating one-way closures today and tomorrow.

"During the alternating closures, westbound (Waikato bound) traffic may travel across the Kaimai Range between 9pm and 12.30am, and eastbound (Bay of Plenty bound) traffic between 1am and 4.30am. Full road closures will be in place on Sunday, January 23, and Monday, January 24."

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:
Cabinet ministers will meet this afternoon to assess the traffic light settings across the country, most crucially, whether Northland will drop to orange.

The outcome will be announced on Thursday as Labour MPs gather in New Plymouth for a new year caucus get-together.

The Cabinet meeting - the first this year - is set down for 4pm today and will canvass an array of matters relating to Covid-19.

As well as the regional restrictions, ministers are likely to also discuss the traffic light system's broader parameters, the planned border reopening, and testing requirements.

Northland is the only region to remain under red restrictions with the remainder of the country at Orange.

Just 86 per cent of those aged 12 and over in Te Tai Tokerau have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, compared to the national average of 93 per cent.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this week encouraged New Zealanders to get boosted, warning that an eventual Omicron outbreak was "a case of when, not if".

Regions would shift to the toughest red light setting if the new variant was found to be spreading through the community, she said.

"What I expect is, over the coming weeks, to be able to share with you some of the additional preparation that has been done, over and above the work that we did on Delta, for the specific issue of Omicron," Ardern says.

"We have the ability to learn from other nations and see ... the way that Omicron is behaving and prepare ourselves."

Ardern signalled there will be changes to the processes and requirements surrounding testing, isolation and contact tracing.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield yesterday told Morning Report officials are developing advice on whether the traffic light system needed to be strengthened in the face of Omicron.

"It's quite clear that Omicron does escape vaccination," Bloomfield says.

A group of public health experts this week warned that the traffic light regime would not be sufficient to contain the spread of Omicron.

University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker recommends an urgent tightening at the border and a delay of its phased reopening.

-RNZ/Craig McCulloch.
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Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of Arkansas and Oklahoma, including the following counties, in Arkansas, Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Madison, Sebastian and Washington AR. In Oklahoma, Adair, Cherokee, Choctaw, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington OK. * WHEN...From Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff will likely result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, especially in areas that have already received heavy rainfall over the past few days. Several main-stem rivers could go into flood. A few locations could see significant flash flooding. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - A slowly moving upper low will move across the area Wednesday into early Thursday. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are likely with the potential for very heavy rainfall. Widespread 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected with locally higher amounts of 5 to 6 inches. The heavier rain will begin to shift east of far southeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas early Thursday afternoon. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
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Re: Safarnama | An unforgettable road-trip to Ladakh.

Falcon resting at Hora La Falcon resting at Hora La

Soon after Yaye Tso I reached one more high mountain pass Hora La. I also discovered a road from the base of the pass that leads towards the edge of Yaye Tso Lake. It looked like a very nice place for camping.

















After Hora La the road was in good shape till Mahe. I reached a Y junction and stopped there to confirm the route ahead. Then again started towards Nyoma. The surface between Mahe and Nyoma was very good. The route passes by many Army Establishments. By the time we reached Nyoma all of us were feeling hungry and the sign of AMS had reduced considerably. We had some very tasty Rajma Chawal at a local dhaba. Till that time our stay at Hanle was not confirmed as we couldnt contact any homestay at Hanle. I was only aware about Padma Homestay and Milky way Homestay at Hanle but none of them could be contacted over phone for advance booking. I was asking the owner of the dhaba about a homestay at Hanle and she instantly gave me the reference of Sonam Homestay. She gave me the contact number and asked me to give her reference to the owner. I promptly called up the owner and he denied me about chance of getting accommodation there as they had closed the homestay for the season. Then I gave him the reference of the dhaba owner and let him have some words with her and he then agreed to let us stay there for one night.





We left Nyoma around 4 P.M and Hanle was still 75 Kilometers away. Our next destination was Loma. The good road continued till 4-5 Kilometers before Loma. We say BRO working rapidly on blacktopping the surface. The last 4-5 Kilometers before Loma was in bad shape but the way BRO was working that section wouldve been black topped within very short time.













Our online permits were checked at the ITBP check post before the bridge on Indus River at Loma. A new bridge is under construction beside the one that is being used now. While approaching the Loma bend, I discovered the route that comes from Tsaga La.







The journey from Nyoma to Loma and up to Hanle was extremely nice with beautiful vistas all around, and in fact, it was one of those beautiful drives which I would love to do ever and ever again. I had never been to such a beautiful place ever. Roads were freshly laid but that could be misleading as there were inverted bumps left on the roads so that the water passes through them. Hats off to BRO, that they have created such smooth roads in the cold desert at such high altitude and harsh conditions. As I moved closer to Hanle, the size of the mountains started to decrease, and we started witnessing series of small mountains clustered together, giving a feeling of a different world altogether. Hanle is very scenic and feels out of the world. However, in actual reality, the place is extremely harsh and difficult to survive, especially in winters. There were only a few accommodations available in the village. When we reached the bridge at the outskirts of the village it was already dark and it took me some time to locate our homestay. The homestay had very good facilities in terms to amenities to keep us warm during the night. Expecting facilities like electricity, hot running water, western toilets, etc. were luxury in itself but we were lucky to have some of them. The source of electricity is solar panels and we were informed that it stays only for few hours and after 10 P.M there wont be any electricity. So again, we put all our gadgets to charge. Hanle is known for its clear skies and opportunities for sky-gazing and this was one of the reasons for me to come to Hanle. I was so mesmerised seeing numerous photos of the milky way at Hanle, I had decided to shoot them once I visit this place. Although I had no experience in night photography and not very confident about the outcome, the level of excitement was high. We finished off dinner quickly and went to bed. It was decided that well get up around 3 A.M and watch the sky. Likewise, the alarm clocks were set. As decided, we all woke up in time and came out of our rooms. It was damn cold outside but the view of the sky was enough to keep us glued to our place. The experience cant be replicated in words. As expected, my inexperience in night photography caused a major hindrance for taking photos. I tried many times but couldnt manage to get a single clear shot of the milky way. Finally, I left trying and instead kept enjoying the views all around. We managed to stay under the open sky for another half an hour and then decided to move back into the rooms as the weather was really harsh and becoming unbearable. I was feeling very low as not being able to take a single photo of the night sky. Theres always a next time and that gives me a good reason to visit Hanle again.



Day 15 (16.10.2021) Bye Bye Hanle. Change in Plan.



I woke up in the morning with slight uneasiness. I was not feeling very fresh like other days. The reason was headache but it was not the kind of headache that I experience. The feeling was strange. That time I realised that this might be the effect of staying over 14000 ft. constantly and it was AMS. Today the plan was to explore Hanle before moving to Tso-Moriri.



Some moments later I discovered that my better half was severely affected by AMS. She was even unable to get up from the bed. Severe headache coupled with fatigue and dizziness had made her uncomfortable. Now this was time when I decided to reconsider the plan of visiting Tso Moriri. It being situated at a higher altitude than Hanle and the weather being harsher then Hanle surely would have made her condition more difficult. So, I was contemplating either to stay at Hanle for one more night or to descend to Karu, which was at a lower altitude. It was 8.30 and we were still not sure about our next course of action. After waiting for half an hour, I decided to head back to karu. The situation was totally unexpected and beyond our control but being safe and healthy was our primary concern at that point of time so plan for Tso Moriri was dropped and we prepared ourselves for return journey towards Karu. So, the return journey which was suppose to start from Tso Moriri started a day earlier. I was feeling a bit disappointed that the trip to Hanle didnt go as per the plans. Nevertheless, theres always a next time. After finishing our breakfast, we left for karu at 10.30 A.M. By the time Sharmila was feeling much better and we decided to visit the Hanle Observatory at least before leaving this beautiful place. I had plans for the Hanle Monastery also but that didnt materialise. The road to the observatory was well laid. It took us 15 mins to reach the top of Saraswati Hill.





Review of Sonam Homestay



Location  4/5

Cleanliness  4/5

Staff behaviour  4.5/5

Food  3/5

Comfort  3.5/5

Value for Money  4/5









A must-visit when you are in Hanle. The Observatory stands on Mt.Saraswati, Digpa-ratsa Ri in Hanle in south-eastern Ladakh and is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. It holds the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters (14,764 ft). We came to know that the observatory was closed for visitors and it has just opened up couple of days before. The wind was blowing at high speed and the sound of the wind hitting the observatory could be heard from a distance. It was even more intense from inside the observatory. The staff inside the Observatory briefed us in details how it works & about his duty as well. He also displayed lot of information on computer to understand the process.





Amazing to see that people sitting in Bangalore operates this from there. Great! Amazing to see that people sitting in Bangalore operates this from there. Great!



This quirky place is managed by the Indian Institute Of Astrophysics in Bangalore and has some interesting kinds of telescopes.





The views from the top of the observatory are just breath-taking.







A must-visit when you are in Hanle. The Observatory stands on Mt.Saraswati, Digpa-ratsa Ri in Hanle in south-eastern Ladakh and is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. It holds the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters (14,764 ft). We came to know that the observatory was closed for visitors and it has just opened up couple of days before. The wind was blowing at high speed and the sound of the wind hitting the observatory could be heard from a distance. It was even more intense from inside the observatory. The staff inside the Observatory briefed us in details how it works & about his duty as well. He also displayed lot of information on computer to understand the process.This quirky place is managed by the Indian Institute Of Astrophysics in Bangalore and has some interesting kinds of telescopes.The views from the top of the observatory are just breath-taking.

Hanle Monastery is a 17th-century gompa of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, situated on an old branch of the ancient Ladakh-Tibet trade route. The valley is home to about a thousand people, with about 300 people living in Hanle village. The monastery is home to about ten monks while another 33 or so come regularly for prayers. It is roughly 19 kilometres from the disputed frontier between India and Chinese-controlled Tibet.





The bridge on River Indus at Loma.



The bridge on River Indus at Loma.





This place is Strategically closer to the Indo-China border. IA makes it's presence felt at regular interval. Our security is in able hands.





"Hum chalte hain jab aise to Dil dushman ke hilte hain."



This place is Strategically closer to the Indo-China border. IA makes it's presence felt at regular interval. Our security is in able hands."Hum chalte hain jab aise to Dil dushman ke hilte hain."



It was a normal drive through the same route till the Y Junction at Mahe. The road till Mahe was very smooth with occasional bad patches. The village of Nyoma is breathtakingly beautiful as it offers a panoramic view of the hills and valleys with majestic mountains in the background. The beauty of the desert landscape is irresistibly splendid. The Nyoma Monastery, also known as Nyoma Gompa standing on top of a mountain was looking beautiful from the road. The picturesque location of the village and the serenity of the atmosphere was simply breath taking. We passed by the advanced landing ground, which remains operational even during cold weather conditions. From the Y junction I took left towards Mahe bridge where the road for Tso Moriri bifurcates. The road after this point deteriorated drastically. From Mahe the road runs alongside Indus River.













Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahi milta, Kahin zameen to kahin aasman nahin milta Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahi milta, Kahin zameen to kahin aasman nahin milta

The road till chumathang was all dirt track. At some places it was in real bad shape and I was driving behind an Army Convoy that was carrying heavy machineries. Driving behind the convoy through the bad road was testing my patience. We reached Chumathang and stopped for lunch. By that time, we had descended to a lower altitude and gradually the feel-good factor had started to creep in. The sign of AMS had reduced and that game me a sense of relief. We were feeling very hungry. So, after parking the car I started looking out for a restaurant. Although Chumathang has many options for food and stay but most of the restaurants were not operating due to the COVID situation. We found a restaurant which had only noodles left to offer. So, we finished our lunch with noodles and tea while enjoying the views of hot springs. I enquired about the condition of the road ahead and got to know that till Kiari the road was bad and after that Ill get good black topped road till karu. After driving few Kilometers from Chumathang, the road improved drastically and now I started driving on the smooth surface. As I started moving closer to Leh the view also gradually started changing with brown barren mountains now started looking green again.









While crossing the Kiari village, I came across the most mesmerizing scenes of the towering mountain peaks half-covered with snow, the enchanting Indus River and, beautiful deep valleys. I kept driving through this scenic beauty till the road joined Leh Manali Highway at Upshi. Witnessed sundown just before Upshi and then drove towards our destination for the day, Karu. There was no specific reason behind deciding to spend the night at Karu, we couldve stayed at Upshi too as the next day my plan was to travel towards Manali. I was of the belief that karu had more options of accommodation than Upshi. After reaching Karu we found a Hotel named The Buddha Hotel on the road and decided to have our night stay there. It was just a meet of few hours before we start out return journey towards Manali, so didnt look out for any other property and settled there for the night. Now all of us were feeling better and the sign of AMS were gone completely. We went out for dinner around 8. All of us were in the mood for some good non-veg stuff but there was not a single restaurant serving non-veg food. We were even surprised to find that most of the restaurants were already closing their business for the day. We hurried up and found a Punjabi dhaba serving some good veg items. So, ultimately our quest for non-veg food gave way to hot tawa roti and sumptuous dal fry. The foods were really tasty. After finished dinner we strolled around the roads for some time as the night was going to be our last night in Leh, so we wanted to enjoy the moments as much as we can. The road was quiet with occasional sounds from the moving cars, bikes and heavy vehicles. So officially my Leh trip has come to its conclusion. Beyond this where ever I visit or stay that would be part of my return journey. I was really feeling very low at that time and wished if I could hold onto those awesome moments for some more days.



We came back to our hotel rooms at 9.30 and then rearranged our luggage. Next day my plan was to leave for Manali as early as possible so I can cross Baralacha La in time and then stay at Darcha or Jispa. The time being mid of October and possibility snowfall at Baralacha La anytime was playing on my mind and then the condition of road between pang and Sarchu was also giving me a bit of headache. My plan was to cross Baralacha La anyhow so that the need for spending the night at Sarchu doesnt arise. Chances of getting a good accommodation was very less as most pf the camp sites were closed by the time. So one more say went off nicely.



Day 16(17.10.2021) Return Journey. Kahani mein twist.



We woke up early today as all of us were ready for our onward journey towards Manali. Our hotel was situated just at the bank of Indus and the sound of the flowing river was creating beautiful music during the early hours. I witnessed sunrise from my balcony and for one last time rejuvenated my soul with the astounding beauty of this place. We left our hotel at 7.30 A.M and planned to have breakfast at Upshi. We were carrying enough snacks and water with us keeping in mind the route condition till Sarchu.



Review of The Buddha Hotel



Location  4/5

Cleanliness  3.5/5

Staff behaviour  3/5

Food  Food was not available

Comfort  3.5/5

Value for Money 3.5/5





Morning view from my Balcony. Morning view from my Balcony.

The distance between karu and Upshi is hardly 15 Kilometers and we reached Upshi within 10 minutes. I notice many vehicles queuing up Infront of the police station and within couple of minutes got the shock. I asked a person passing by and got to know that Leh Manali highway has been closed for the day due to heavy snowfall at Baralacha La. Soon after Yaye Tso I reached one more high mountain pass. I also discovered a road from the base of the pass that leads towards the edge of Yaye Tso Lake. It looked like a very nice place for camping.After doing some photography I started onward journey as the destination was still far off.After Hora La the road was in good shape till Mahe. I reached a Y junction and stopped there to confirm the route ahead. Then again started towards Nyoma. The surface between Mahe and Nyoma was very good. The route passes by many Army Establishments. By the time we reached Nyoma all of us were feeling hungry and the sign of AMS had reduced considerably. We had some very tasty Rajma Chawal at a local dhaba. Till that time our stay at Hanle was not confirmed as we couldnt contact any homestay at Hanle. I was only aware about Padma Homestay and Milky way Homestay at Hanle but none of them could be contacted over phone for advance booking. I was asking the owner of the dhaba about a homestay at Hanle and she instantly gave me the reference of Sonam Homestay. She gave me the contact number and asked me to give her reference to the owner. I promptly called up the owner and he denied me about chance of getting accommodation there as they had closed the homestay for the season. Then I gave him the reference of the dhaba owner and let him have some words with her and he then agreed to let us stay there for one night.We left Nyoma around 4 P.M and Hanle was still 75 Kilometers away. Our next destination was Loma. The good road continued till 4-5 Kilometers before Loma. We say BRO working rapidly on blacktopping the surface. The last 4-5 Kilometers before Loma was in bad shape but the way BRO was working that section wouldve been black topped within very short time.Our online permits were checked at the ITBP check post before the bridge on Indus River at Loma. A new bridge is under construction beside the one that is being used now. While approaching the Loma bend, I discovered the route that comes from Tsaga La.After crossing the Loma bridge next landmark was Rongho Village and Hanle was another 45 Kilometers from Rongho. Just after crossing the bridge at Loma, the main road leads towards Rongho and one more road diverts towards left. This road leads towards Koyul then Demchok and finally meets the road to Umling La.The journey from Nyoma to Loma and up to Hanle was extremely nice with beautiful vistas all around, and in fact, it was one of those beautiful drives which I would love to do ever and ever again. I had never been to such a beautiful place ever. Roads were freshly laid but that could be misleading as there were inverted bumps left on the roads so that the water passes through them. Hats off to BRO, that they have created such smooth roads in the cold desert at such high altitude and harsh conditions. As I moved closer to Hanle, the size of the mountains started to decrease, and we started witnessing series of small mountains clustered together, giving a feeling of a different world altogether. Hanle is very scenic and feels out of the world. However, in actual reality, the place is extremely harsh and difficult to survive, especially in winters. There were only a few accommodations available in the village. When we reached the bridge at the outskirts of the village it was already dark and it took me some time to locate our homestay. The homestay had very good facilities in terms to amenities to keep us warm during the night. Expecting facilities like electricity, hot running water, western toilets, etc. were luxury in itself but we were lucky to have some of them. The source of electricity is solar panels and we were informed that it stays only for few hours and after 10 P.M there wont be any electricity. So again, we put all our gadgets to charge. Hanle is known for its clear skies and opportunities for sky-gazing and this was one of the reasons for me to come to Hanle. I was so mesmerised seeing numerous photos of the milky way at Hanle, I had decided to shoot them once I visit this place. Although I had no experience in night photography and not very confident about the outcome, the level of excitement was high. We finished off dinner quickly and went to bed. It was decided that well get up around 3 A.M and watch the sky. Likewise, the alarm clocks were set. As decided, we all woke up in time and came out of our rooms. It was damn cold outside but the view of the sky was enough to keep us glued to our place. The experience cant be replicated in words. As expected, my inexperience in night photography caused a major hindrance for taking photos. I tried many times but couldnt manage to get a single clear shot of the milky way. Finally, I left trying and instead kept enjoying the views all around. We managed to stay under the open sky for another half an hour and then decided to move back into the rooms as the weather was really harsh and becoming unbearable. I was feeling very low as not being able to take a single photo of the night sky. Theres always a next time and that gives me a good reason to visit Hanle again.I woke up in the morning with slight uneasiness. I was not feeling very fresh like other days. The reason was headache but it was not the kind of headache that I experience. The feeling was strange. That time I realised that this might be the effect of staying over 14000 ft. constantly and it was AMS. Today the plan was to explore Hanle before moving to Tso-Moriri.Some moments later I discovered that my better half was severely affected by AMS. She was even unable to get up from the bed. Severe headache coupled with fatigue and dizziness had made her uncomfortable. Now this was time when I decided to reconsider the plan of visiting Tso Moriri. It being situated at a higher altitude than Hanle and the weather being harsher then Hanle surely would have made her condition more difficult. So, I was contemplating either to stay at Hanle for one more night or to descend to Karu, which was at a lower altitude. It was 8.30 and we were still not sure about our next course of action. After waiting for half an hour, I decided to head back to karu. The situation was totally unexpected and beyond our control but being safe and healthy was our primary concern at that point of time so plan for Tso Moriri was dropped and we prepared ourselves for return journey towards Karu. So, the return journey which was suppose to start from Tso Moriri started a day earlier. I was feeling a bit disappointed that the trip to Hanle didnt go as per the plans. Nevertheless, theres always a next time. After finishing our breakfast, we left for karu at 10.30 A.M. By the time Sharmila was feeling much better and we decided to visit the Hanle Observatory at least before leaving this beautiful place. I had plans for the Hanle Monastery also but that didnt materialise. The road to the observatory was well laid. It took us 15 mins to reach the top of Saraswati Hill.Location  4/5Cleanliness  4/5Staff behaviour  4.5/5Food  3/5Comfort  3.5/5Value for Money  4/5is a 17th-century gompa of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, situated on an old branch of the ancient Ladakh-Tibet trade route. The valley is home to about a thousand people, with about 300 people living in Hanle village. The monastery is home to about ten monks while another 33 or so come regularly for prayers. It is roughly 19 kilometres from the disputed frontier between India and Chinese-controlled Tibet.The place is very scenic and feels out of the world. However, in actual reality, the place is extremely harsh and difficult to survive, especially in winters.The journey to Nyoma from Hanle is extremely nice with beautiful vistas all around, and in fact, it is one of those journeys which one would love to undertake ever and ever again.It was a normal drive through the same route till the Y Junction at Mahe. The road till Mahe was very smooth with occasional bad patches. The village of Nyoma is breathtakingly beautiful as it offers a panoramic view of the hills and valleys with majestic mountains in the background. The beauty of the desert landscape is irresistibly splendid. The Nyoma Monastery, also known as Nyoma Gompa standing on top of a mountain was looking beautiful from the road. The picturesque location of the village and the serenity of the atmosphere was simply breath taking. We passed by the advanced landing ground, which remains operational even during cold weather conditions. From the Y junction I took left towards Mahe bridge where the road for Tso Moriri bifurcates. The road after this point deteriorated drastically. From Mahe the road runs alongside Indus River.The road till chumathang was all dirt track. At some places it was in real bad shape and I was driving behind an Army Convoy that was carrying heavy machineries. Driving behind the convoy through the bad road was testing my patience. We reached Chumathang and stopped for lunch. By that time, we had descended to a lower altitude and gradually the feel-good factor had started to creep in. The sign of AMS had reduced and that game me a sense of relief. We were feeling very hungry. So, after parking the car I started looking out for a restaurant. Although Chumathang has many options for food and stay but most of the restaurants were not operating due to the COVID situation. We found a restaurant which had only noodles left to offer. So, we finished our lunch with noodles and tea while enjoying the views of hot springs. I enquired about the condition of the road ahead and got to know that till Kiari the road was bad and after that Ill get good black topped road till karu. After driving few Kilometers from Chumathang, the road improved drastically and now I started driving on the smooth surface. As I started moving closer to Leh the view also gradually started changing with brown barren mountains now started looking green again.While crossing the Kiari village, I came across the most mesmerizing scenes of the towering mountain peaks half-covered with snow, the enchanting Indus River and, beautiful deep valleys. I kept driving through this scenic beauty till the road joined Leh Manali Highway at Upshi. Witnessed sundown just before Upshi and then drove towards our destination for the day, Karu. There was no specific reason behind deciding to spend the night at Karu, we couldve stayed at Upshi too as the next day my plan was to travel towards Manali. I was of the belief that karu had more options of accommodation than Upshi. After reaching Karu we found a Hotel named The Buddha Hotel on the road and decided to have our night stay there. It was just a meet of few hours before we start out return journey towards Manali, so didnt look out for any other property and settled there for the night. Now all of us were feeling better and the sign of AMS were gone completely. We went out for dinner around 8. All of us were in the mood for some good non-veg stuff but there was not a single restaurant serving non-veg food. We were even surprised to find that most of the restaurants were already closing their business for the day. We hurried up and found a Punjabi dhaba serving some good veg items. So, ultimately our quest for non-veg food gave way to hot tawa roti and sumptuous dal fry. The foods were really tasty. After finished dinner we strolled around the roads for some time as the night was going to be our last night in Leh, so we wanted to enjoy the moments as much as we can. The road was quiet with occasional sounds from the moving cars, bikes and heavy vehicles. So officially my Leh trip has come to its conclusion. Beyond this where ever I visit or stay that would be part of my return journey. I was really feeling very low at that time and wished if I could hold onto those awesome moments for some more days.We came back to our hotel rooms at 9.30 and then rearranged our luggage. Next day my plan was to leave for Manali as early as possible so I can cross Baralacha La in time and then stay at Darcha or Jispa. The time being mid of October and possibility snowfall at Baralacha La anytime was playing on my mind and then the condition of road between pang and Sarchu was also giving me a bit of headache. My plan was to cross Baralacha La anyhow so that the need for spending the night at Sarchu doesnt arise. Chances of getting a good accommodation was very less as most pf the camp sites were closed by the time. So one more say went off nicely.We woke up early today as all of us were ready for our onward journey towards Manali. Our hotel was situated just at the bank of Indus and the sound of the flowing river was creating beautiful music during the early hours. I witnessed sunrise from my balcony and for one last time rejuvenated my soul with the astounding beauty of this place. We left our hotel at 7.30 A.M and planned to have breakfast at Upshi. We were carrying enough snacks and water with us keeping in mind the route condition till Sarchu.Location  4/5Cleanliness  3.5/5Staff behaviour  3/5Food  Food was not availableComfort  3.5/5Value for Money 3.5/5The distance between karu and Upshi is hardly 15 Kilometers and we reached Upshi within 10 minutes. I notice many vehicles queuing up Infront of the police station and within couple of minutes got the shock. I asked a person passing by and got to know that Leh Manali highway has been closed for the day due to heavy snowfall at Baralacha La. Last edited by Sujoy76 : 17th January 2022 at 14:28 .
In brief: The CEOs of major passenger and cargo airlines have warned of catastrophic disruption to flights when the new 5G spectrum is deployed tomorrow (January 19). The chief executives fear that "tens of thousands of Americans" could even be stranded abroad as a result of AT&T and Verizon switching on their new C-Band 5G networks.

Reuters reports that a letter signed by the CEOs was sent to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, and White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese.

"Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded," wrote the chief executives.

The concerns stem from the C-band airwaves interfering with sensitive equipment on some aircraft. This includes the altimeter, which is essential when landing in low visibility.

"Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded" because of the new 5G deployments, the airlines warn in the letter. "Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies."

AT&T and Verizon already delayed the rollout of their C-Band 5G from December to this week over aircraft interference concerns.

United says it faces "significant restrictions on 787s, 777s, 737s and regional aircraft in major cities like Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago."

The airlines aren't asking for the rollout to be abandoned; they just don't want 5G implemented within 2 miles of runways at some key airports. This distance could be reduced following further analysis by the FAA.

On January 3, AT&T and Verizon agreed to place buffer zones around 50 airports for six months to reduce interference risks, but these zones are apparently smaller than the 2 miles the airlines are requesting. The carriers argue that C-Band 5G has already been deployed in about 40 other countries without aviation interference issues.
What just happened? Microsoft this week released a series of emergency updates to fix problems caused by last week's Patch Tuesday update. These optional updates are available under Windows Update and the Microsoft Update Catalog. They concern VPNs, Windows Server Domain, virtual machines, and certain reformatted external media.

Microsoft acknowledged several known issues with the January 11 update for Windows 10 and 11 while issuing the fixes. One flaw caused Windows Servers to reboot unexpectedly. BornCity reported that Windows domain controllers would enter a reboot loop--a problem that affected all Windows server domain controllers. Another prevented virtual machines in Hyper-V from starting.

One issue caused IPSEC connections to fail, affecting VPN connections that use Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) or IP security Internet Key Exchange (IPSEC IKE). Additionally, media formatted with ReFS would fail to mount or mount raw.

Users can find all the updates on the Microsoft Update Catalog, but only two are available there:

Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2: KB5010794

Windows Server 2012: KB5010797

All the other fixes are available through Windows Update under optional updates:
In brief: Microsoft issued a warning over the weekend of malware targeting government and other organizations in Ukraine, which wipes the data on affected systems. This news comes right as cyberattacks were reported against Ukraine amidst rising tensions with neighboring Russia.

Last week it was reported that Ukraine government servers were hit by a significant cyberattack that took down government websites. Some of the affected systems, including the Foreign Ministry's website, displayed an ominous message written in Russian, Ukranian, and Polish.

"Ukrainians! All data on the computer is being destroyed, it is impossible to recover it," the message said. "All information about you has become public, be afraid and expect the worst."

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but Russia currently has 100,000 troops positioned along its border with Ukraine, stoking fears of an impending invasion.

Right after the cyberattack, The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) said it had identified malware targeting Ukrainian organizations designed to destroy data. It works similar to ransomware but has several key differences. Most importantly, it doesn't provide a way to pay a ransom or restore affected data. Instead, it wipes it permanently.

According to MSTIC's report, ransomware typically doesn't target the Master Boot Record, which tells the computer how to load the operating system, but this malware does, overwriting it. Another difference is that this same malware was found on multiple systems, whereas each piece of ransomware is usually tailored per victim.

Microsoft is still analyzing the malware, but it has already deployed protections through Microsoft Defender under the name WhisperGate (e.g., DoS:Win32/WhisperGate.A!dha).
Using social media management tools for business allows you to manage everything from one place. But the best social media management tools you should be looking for must enable you to engage with your audience through systemized tools and an organized interface.

Why a Social Media Management Tool Is Important

For small businesses, the best social media management tools lay the foundations of their success, especially when establishing themselves in their industry online.

On top of that, scheduling social media posts, responding to comments, tracking social strategy success, and much more can be handled with ease. By using social media management software, you can also save a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money.

In addition, the best social media management tool streamlines processes and fosters better collaboration among online workgroups. But most importantly, they're also helpful for small businesses that must first wear many hats before reaching their goals.

What Are the Four Main Types of Social Media Tools?

To know how your social media engagement tools should function, it must possess the four main types of social media tools, namely:

1. Scheduling tools. A social media scheduler can provide all the components your social media accounts need to facilitate future arrangements or scheduled activities and the likes. This tool should work with social media posting down to everything you want to pencil in so you won't have to race against the clock.

2. Social media engagement tools. They allow you to track and reply to comments, messages, and reviews from different social profiles and platforms in a consolidated inbox. With a social media engagement tool, you can engage and support your customers and significantly reduce your team's workload.

3. Content curation tools. You can find relevant, valuable content through content curation tools by searching for topics or focal person/s related to your business. With a content curation tool, you can boost your market reach through partnerships.

4. Social media analytics tools. But what's the use of your social media manager, like the tools mentioned above, if you have no way to observe and analyze your performance in social media? The social media analytics tool lets you see your improvement, setbacks, and other data essential for your new strategies.

Consolidating all these tools leads to one way -- the best social media management tools for small businesses. To know which to use, check out our top 5 here:

#1 NapoleonCat

NapoleonCat is your best choice if you rely on social media for lead generation and sales. This social media management tool features a powerful suite for engaging and supporting customers on social networks, automating the moderation process, scheduling posts, analyzing results, and tracking competitors.

In Social Inbox, you can track and reply to messages, reviews, and comments from multiple profiles and platforms, including your Facebook and Instagram ads comments.

The Auto-moderation feature lets you set up automatic replies to simple questions in comments, ads comments, and private messages and automatically delete spam or inappropriate comments. As a result, you will boost the effectiveness of your campaigns and sell more.

You can also schedule social media posts for automatic publication and analyze the results of your social media campaigns.

NapoleonCat supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google My Business, and YouTube.

With NapoleonCat, you're not just giving yourself room to raise the standard for brand campaigns but also to boost workplace efficiency and generate sales.

Features

Social Inbox. You can manage all comments, messages, and reviews with one tool: a multi-user engagement tool that makes it easy to view and reply to them all from a centralized location.

Automation. With NapoleonCat's automation features you can scale sales in less time. The Auto-moderation feature allows you to handle high volumes of inquiries hands-free and shield your posts and ads from any kind of spam and inappropriate comments.

Publishing. An all-in-one social media scheduler and an easy-to-use calendar make it easy for you to publish content across multiple social media profiles and networks. Thanks to multiple collaboration features, you'll improve the approval process.

Analytics. It's hard to define success, but it begins by assessing your brand's performance. Design a data-driven social media strategy and get ahead of your competitors with an in-depth analytics section from NapoleonCat.

Reporting. Using comprehensive reports, you can monitor and showcase your social media marketing performance. But the manual report preparation is time-consuming. With NapoleonCat, you can set up automatic reports that get sent to your boss or client every week, month, or quarter.

Pros

Offers affordable, customizable plans starting at $21/month

Makes it possible to automatically handle generic questions in comments, ads comments, and private messages

Allows you to automatically delete or hide spam and inappropriate content from comments and ads comments, shielding your brand image

Allows to analyze your social media accounts as well as your competitors' profiles

If you cater to an international audience, you can take advantage of in-tool translations available for incoming communications and moderator replies

NapoleonCat earned its title as one of the best social media management tools out there. Thanks to a handful of its nifty features, you can easily put up your business on the top of your niche.

Are you ready to bring your team to the fortune 500? Take this as a sign to try out NapoleonCat for 14 days, completely free, with no credit card required.

#2 Buffer

Next is Buffer, an intuitively effective social media management tool that helps businesses achieve their goals and envision outcomes on their online accounts. With this tool, small businesses and individuals can easily manage their social media in a way that fosters engagement and results.

With its suite of products, Buffer helps social media marketers and teams work more efficiently and effectively. They provide tools for publishing, engagement, analytics, simple landing pages, and team collaboration.

The social media management tool also provides outstanding customer service to support their intuitive, friendly, and timely platform. Another valuable feature instructs you on how to get started and to connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts, generally helping you get up and start running.

Once you commit your business account to Buffer, you're guaranteed a boost in your social metrics. Afterward, you'll find an influx of new followers and engagement within a short time; your account will be more active and engaged.

With a blank queue, you're immediately prompted to write your social media posts with Buffer's simple interface.

Features & Benefits

Schedule posts and view them on a calendar

Online campaign organization

Simple and intuitive landing pages

Engagement and collaboration tools

Analytics and reporting

Has an Instagram special

#3 Hootsuite

With over 15 million users and over 800 Fortune 1000 companies using it, Facebook, Twitter, and Hootsuite are among the most prominent social media management tools. With this all-in-one platform, you can curate and schedule content, track your social ROI, run social media ads, and more.

As a comprehensive platform, Hootsuite has several features people love, such as monitoring multiple accounts and keywords, scheduling posts across over 35 social media channels, and integrating with over 35 social networks.

Another reason why it's one of the best social media management tools is that HootSuite provides a very simple solution to a very basic problem: It allows users to log in to each social media channel, schedule posts, and manage their reader engagement.

You can do all this without logging into or managing each of these functions with each social platform separately. Since Hootsuite is a web-based application, you won't have the difficulties associated with a native app on a mobile phone.

However, although it gives you the power to browse posts, it doesn't have a specific tool to let you connect with your potential business partners.

But once you find that in other software, you can oversee the activity generated by the collaboration across platforms all at once.

Features & Benefits

Easy login and social media management

Simple and quick interface

Reviews all your social media account in one place

Provides simple analysis and plain reports

#4 Sendible

Now, if your business relies on clients, Sendible has it all stored just for you. With this social media management tool, you can build a dashboard according to your branding to attract new clients using all the features of social media management tools.

On top of the features that traditional social media management tools provide, Sendible lets you create your dashboard tailored to your branding to attract new clients.

Additionally, it provides nifty integrations to make your workload more manageable. Currently, it integrates with Canva, royalty-free image search, and YouTube for content curation and creation.

Sendible also has automation tools if you want to get things done quickly. All major networks are covered by Sendible, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and even Google My Business.

If you're a business owner looking for a social media dashboard that meets your specific needs and offers brand-friendly features, you can add and remove services with ease using a handy menu button. Plus, Sendible is easy to set up and has a few neat features.

Features & Benefits

All-in-one dashboard for your social media accounts

Has a social inbox and engagement tools

Monitors the social activity of your business

Schedules and publishes posts

Team features with external integrations

#5 Social Pilot

With many social media management tools, Social Pilot comes with a simple dashboard and offers them in a few clicks. Its features are a great addition for your business to work with many clients and provide the best social media management tools for better teamwork.

Social Pilot is designed for startups, small businesses, and marketing agencies that require access to several social networks to manage marketing campaigns more effectively without spending a large amount of money on high-end tools like competitor analysis.

A valuable feature of Social Pilot is its white label reports, which are especially useful for agencies. It also curates and suggests content from multiple industries, letting you find relevant content quickly.

Moreover, using the navigation bar present on the platform makes jumping across different features effortless, and the minimalist design leaves users focused on their social media tasks.

Although it lacks advanced features, teams that need to create new content daily can benefit from its simple offerings that will automate every process you plan for better productivity.

Features & Benefits

Scheduled and automated social media posting

Recommends content for your business accounts

Analyzes and reports social media performance

Active customer support

Connects with newer social media sites

The Best Social Media Management Tools for Small Businesses

Among the best social media management tools above, we recommend NapoleonCat for fostering everything you need to increase your audience engagement. Besides that, it also adds features that you didn't know you needed until you used it, which is better than services that are limited to an extent.

As a small business, NapoleonCat assures you to connect with your targeted audience and proliferate your brand campaigns across popular sites.

Social networking has become a crucial part of almost all businesses in our increasingly digitized world, so that you can take advantage of these platforms inhabited by potential customers/clients in many ways. Investing in the best social media management tools is one way to do it.

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Astronaut's space flights have been causing "Space Anemia" for some of them once they have returned to Earth.

A recent study looked into the reason why some of the returning astronauts are experiencing messed-up blood after they have traveled outside of Earth.

Astronauts' Space Flights Likely to Cause 'Space Anemia'

As per the report Local12, a study from the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital examined a total of 14 astronauts who have recently been to space.

A recent study showed that leaving Earth and going to space could wreak havoc to the body of humans by destroying their red blood cells more than their normal rate.

According to the news story by CNN, it has been common knowledge for some by now that traveling to space could damage the human body in various ways.

However, this time around, the recent study specifically realized that flying to space is ruining the red blood cells count of a person.

To be more precise, the new study explained that human bodies on Earth normally kill about 2 million red blood cells in just a second.

On the other hand, our bodies are destroying more of these cells when in space, which is at about 3 million red blood cells killed for each second.

In turn, the study showed that astronauts on space missions are losing an alarming 54% more red blood cells than the folks here on Earth.

As such, when astronauts have already returned from their space missions, there have been numerous cases of "space anemia."

The recent study also revealed that the rapid rate of red blood cell destruction continues throughout the space mission. It comes as human bodies attempt to compensate for the lack of liquid in their blood vessels while in space.

Read Also: SpaceX's Falcon 9 to Launch Human Muscle Cells into Space to Uncover the Secrets of Aging

Space Anemia Study

The author of the study, Dr. Guy Trudel, said that "space anemia has consistently been reported when astronauts returned to Earth since the first space mission."

However, the study author, who is also a rehabilitation physician, pointed out that "we didn't know why."

That said, the researchers decided to study the reason behind the phenomenon of "space anemia" among astronauts returning to their home planet.

The study further took multiple blood samples from a total of 14 astronauts before and after their space mission in the International Space Station.

The researchers got blood samples from the participating astronauts before their six-month mission in the space station. On top of that, they also took samples while they were outside of Earth.

Aside from that, the researchers also collected samples from the blood of astronauts a year after their mission from the ISS.

Related Article: SpaceX Falcon 9 First 2022 Launch Sends Starlink Internet Satellites to Orbit

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Amid the release of several coronavirus vaccines, the US Army is preparing to launch its very own COVID-19 vax.

Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said that the White House is investing in this universal jab that will be effective against the current and future virus variants.

Fauci Said SpFN Vaccine Can Combat All COVID Variants

In an interview with NBC News last week, Fauci said that the government is exerting effort to develop a universal coronavirus vaccine that will protect people from different COVID-19 variants.

While the efficiency of the vaccine depends on the variant, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) under the US Army has been developing the spike ferritin nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine since last year.

Last month, the researchers noted that the said vaccine showed promising results after finishing Phase 1 of clinical trials.

WRAIR director of infectious diseases Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad said that they are working with a vaccine that could fight all variants including omicron.

Related Article: COVID Vaccine Mandate for Workplaces Blocked by Supreme Court, Deemed Not an Occupational Hazard

What to Know About SpFN Vaccine

So far, the US allows the distribution of certain vaccines in the country such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson.

While many pharmaceutical firms are progressively developing a COVID-19 jab, the US is likely leaning on the new SpFN vaccine that the military scientists are working on at the moment.

According to CNET, the SpFN vaccine has "less restrictive storage" requirements compared to Pfizer and Moderna jabs. It can last for a month at room temperature and six months at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

The vaccine's stability can go for up to 31 days if it will be stored in a refrigerator during the shipment process.

The shot interval for Army's vaccine (1st and 2nd dose) is 28 days apart. The scientists said that the third shot can be injected after six months.

How Effective is Army's Vaccine?

The Army scientists said that the SpFN vaccine will be the "pan-coronavirus" jab which means that it can be effective to prevent spikes of multiple COVID strains.

"Our strategy has been to develop a 'pan-coronavirus' vaccine technology that could potentially offer safe, effective, and durable protection against multiple coronavirus strains and species," Modjarrad said.

Availability of US Army COVID Vaccine

At the time of writing, the vaccine is still not available for public use since it needs to complete Phase 2 and 3 to evaluate if it is safe and efficient for human use.

The usual duration of the combined phases can go for up to five years, according to scientists. However, since the pandemic continues to thrive, the US Army is urgently speeding up the phase completion.

Meanwhile, weekly COVID-19 tests will now be required by Google for its employees before they go to the office, per Tech Times.

Read Also: COVID Misinformation: YouTube Slaps Dan Bongino With One-Week Suspension After Calling Masks 'Useless' Against Coronavirus



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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Transferring apps from an Android device to an iPhone is essential to complete a user's transition to the Apple ecosystem.

Thankfully, Apple has an app that Android users could use to transfer most of their data from their previous phone to make the transition much more seamless and somehow less tedious.

The app that goes by the name Move to iOS could be downloaded on the Google Play Store on your Android device.

How to Transfer Apps from Android to iPhone

As per CNET, before beginning the transfer process make sure that both the Android device and the iPhone are connected to the Wi-Fi and have been adequately charged.

Turn on your new iPhone until you reach the Apps & Data part of the setup.

Then, select the "Move Data from Android" option.

On your Android device, install the Move to iOS app from the Play Store.

After which, open the newly installed app.

Then, switch to your iPhone and select Continue.

Your iPhone screen should show the code.

Enter the code from your iPhone to your Android device.

Back to your Android device, tap Continue and Agree.

The step-up will then automatically install the free apps from your Android device that has a matching counterpart on the App Store.

Read Also: How to Transfer Data to New iPhone 13 from an Old iPhone or Android Device

How to Transfer All Apps from Android to iPhone

Although Apple's Android app, Move to iOS, transfers most data from your other device, such as contacts, photos, videos, and calendars, it does not include all of your previous apps, as per the report by iMore.

It comes as not all apps from the Google Play Store are not compatible with the apps on iOS. On top of that, some apps on Android are not even available on the iPhone or vice versa.

That said, if ever you are trying to transition from a Pixel, Samsung, or OnePlus smartphone to an iPhone, you'll need to follow the steps below to download other apps that have not been automatically installed.

Open Google Play Store from your Android device.

Then, go to the "Installed" section.

It should show a complete list of all of the installed apps on your smartphone.

Manually check the apps from your Android device.

Then, download the apps on the Apple App Store of your iPhone.

That's it. After doing so, all of your apps from your previous Android device should now be installed on your iPhone.

However, it is worth noting that there could be limitations that would make transferring all apps impossible. For instance, the app on your Android may not be available on your Apple device.

Related Article: WhatsApp iPhone to Android Transfer: Pixel Phones Can Now Use This, Here's How

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Having a good gaming mouse is a must for gamers who want to amp their experience in playing games. However, some players are still not content with purchasing a simple mouse.

Others want to obtain a 12-button gaming mouse that comes in different sizes and shapes.

For MOBA or MMO fans, this kind of computer peripheral is what will improve their experience especially since it has keys for multi-clicking of skills, items, and more.

If you want to get started in choosing a good 12-button mouse, here are the best choices that you can choose for gaming.

Gamers often go to EVGA in search of the best gaming mice that have multiple buttons. If you are on a tight budget and want to grab a 12-button mouse right away, EVGA's X15 can be a good option.

You can grab it for just $30 on Amazon. Aside from its 8K polling rate, it has multi-optical switches. It is said to last for up to 70 million clicks.

Moreover, EVGA incorporates its UNLEASH software on X15 to enable its lighting. Sporting its RGB branding, this gaming mouse can allow you to store up to five profiles on top of adding eight more buttons than the usual mouse of its kind.

Tech Times has shared some tips on how to buy a mouse depending on your needs.

Related Article: Best Gaming Mice So Far in 2021: Price, Pros, Cons, and MORE

Gaming enthusiasts prefer Elite and Pro gaming mice from Scimitar which features a 12-button thumb panel. There's a key slider macro button control system aside from precision buttons which are all refined and precise to touch.

This MMO mouse is reportedly boasting a 16,000 DPI optical sensor and you can also save a profile for this one. Despite having the same price, the Elite has more DPI than the Pro. It has 18,000 DPi and could last for up to 50 million clicks.

Logitech is a known brand when it comes to gaming mice. Although its products are not appealing as Razer, its specs are what makes it a beast in the gadget industry.

Logitech G600 is a must-check if you are looking for a multi-button mouse. This monster gadget contains 20 buttons that are all programmable. To add, its optical sensor can track at 8,2000 DPi.

For a consumer-friendly MMO mouse, this Logitech product can be your best option out there.

Wireless mice are always on the go, but other players still go with the traditional wired mice. For another thrifty search for an ideal gaming mouse, Redragon presents its M901 product which is not as expensive as Razer and Corsair.

Although it's not as popular with the more famous brands, this wired gaming mouse has a reputation for having good reviews because of its 18 programmable buttons. Each of them has 12,400 DPI.

You can also opt for its eight small weights that you can freely remove or add if you want. You can also access its software and tweak its lighting and its colors. Don't forget to test different color effects through this mouse.

During CES 2022, ADATA teased the XPG gaming mouse which can reportedly store up to 1TB of games through its SSD.

Read Also: Gaming Mouse Buying Guide: Important Mice Specs Explained



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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
OnePlus budget mobile phone lineup is reportedly featuring high-powered flagship chips once again.

As per the news story by Android Authority, the Chinese phone maker rose to fame outside of its home country for offering a bang for buck deal for its flagship performance smartphones.

However, the pricing range of the mobile devices of OnePlus gradually increased over time, matching the prices of other flagship phone makers. It also comes as the Chinese tech giant has eventually become a more popular brand even in the Western market.

OnePlus Budget Phone 'Flagship Killer'

This time around, a leaker claims that OnePlus is working on getting back to its early days. It is rumored to be developing a phone series that would prioritize performance without being too expensive.

The leaker from Weibo that goes by the name Digital Chat Station further predicted that the price range of the upcoming "flagship killer" smartphone series is about $315 up to $473, at least for its Chinese pricing.

However, Android Authority said in the same report that the pricing of smartphone devices in the Asian nation typically goes lower than its price tags elsewhere. That said, expect it to be a little more expensive once it reaches other parts of the world.

OnePlus 'Flagship Killer' Performance

On top of that, the Weibo leaker further reveals that the upcoming smartphone lineup would be carrying a flagship processor. Digital Chat Station also predicted that the budget series is getting a flat-screen design, unlike the curved display of the latest Android flagships out there.

According to the report by PhoneArena, the leaker failed to disclose any specific details about the chipset of the upcoming smartphone, aside from his claim that it is a flagship-level processor.

On the other hand, Android Authority suggested that this does not necessarily mean that the next-gen low-cost phones of OnePlus will sport the latest flagship chipset out there, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

Instead, it could mean that the Chinese phone maker will be using older flagship chips, including the Snapdragon 888 or the Mediatek Dimensity 1200.

Read Also: OnePlus 10 Pro as Perfect All-Screen Smartphone? New Renders Show Honor P50-Inspired Design, Under-Display Camera Sensors

OnePlus and 'Flagship Killer' History

Phone Arena noted in the same news story that OnePlus previously promoted their smartphones as the next "flagship killer." It was back when they were still a new name in the smartphone market.

Although the "flagship killer" devices of the China-based tech giant boast impressive performance for their price point, they still came with some drawbacks that mattered to some consumers.

For instance, the cameras of these budget smartphones are far from what an actual flagship device could produce.

Not to mention that some of the modern necessities in mobile phones today have also been ditched, such as the waterproof and wireless charging features.

Related Article: OnePlus 10 Pro Receives TENAAA Certification! Better Than Google Pixel 6 Pro? Here are Leaked Specs

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
FAA's approval of the 5G C-Band spectrum caused a massive protest from the US airlines that believe its services will suffer from the interference this new wireless service would cause on Wednesday. Prominent US airlines have already sent a letter to the White House, FAA, and other regulatory bodies regarding their concerns of the possible "destruction" to the industry.

FAA 5G C-Band Spectrum: US Airlines Sent Letter to Authorities

According to an obtained letter by Reuters, FAA's approval of the 5G C-Band spectrum is going to do more harm than good, and it would particularly affect the US' aviation industry. While it may benefit 5G users for better and faster connections, aircraft and other systems will suffer its interference leading to "catastrophic events" and "destruction" in the airports.

The letter addressed its concerns to the White House, the FAA, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as it wants to limit or remove 5G near airports. There was once a suggestion made by airlines to place these new spectrums several miles away from airports as it would lead to grounding and chaos in the area.

Delta, United, and Southwest are among those that signed the letter, going against the FAA decision.

Read Also: AT&T and Dish Spent $12 Billion on 5G Auction | T-Mobile Also Wins

FAA: 5G C-Band Spectrum Still Launching on Jan. 19?

AT&T and Verizon's 5G C-Band Spectrum is still launching on January 19, but a lot can change in less than a day, especially with the letter that these airlines sent to different bodies. The FAA already released buffer zones for 5G in specific airlines and it would provide the necessary signal loss for 5G and avoid interference for the industry.

However, that may not be enough for the airlines.

FAA's Approval of the 5G C-Band; AT&T, Verizon

Verizon and AT&T already delayed their 5G C-Band rollout in the past year and once earlier this year, with the companies intent on launching the service by January 19. The telecommunications company intends to expand the service for different customers and enhance their use of 5G with faster connections and speed.

However, the cost of a high-speed internet connection on wireless devices comes at a cost, and one of that includes the interference it would bring to aircraft, including planes, jets, helicopters, and more. Additionally, it does not only affect aircraft but other aspects and parts in the aviation industry that are essential to everyday functions.

The protest of US airlines may seem exaggerated, but they are only concerned for the safety and continuity of its operations for both the travel, business, and cargo aspects of its companies. 5G will indeed affect its different features, including the altimeter, but the telco companies argue that it works fine with other countries that have already implemented the connection.

Nevertheless, this is something that worries the airlines and its soon operations by Wednesday.

Related Article: FAA: AT&T and Verizon's 5G C-Band May Ground Medevac Helicopters; Wireless Service Starts Jan. 19

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A machine learning software system watched government officials and showed which of them were actually paying attention. To top it off, the software showed the percentage of how distracted the politicians were.

Dries Depoorter Used Machine Learning to Observe Government Officials

It is often easy to tell in person whether a person is distracted or not. When it comes to videos of multiple people, however, it can be rather difficult to pay attention to each person on video. However, this is something that a newly built software system was actually able to do.

According to the story by Hackaday, Dries Depoorter is known for having a knack at highly technical projects with a solid artistic touch to them. The newest piece is no exception as it uses machine learning and takes it to the next level.

Software System Watched Live Streaming Sessions through Python and Machine LEarning

Dries Depoorter created the Flemish Scrollers, which is a software system that watches live streaming sessions of the Flemish government. Through its use of Python and machine learning, the software is capable of identifying and highlighting politicians who are pulling out their phones and scrolling.

The results were shared live on Instagram and Twitter for the whole world to see.

The project actually initially started back in July 2021 and has been dutifully running ever since then.

Other Important Contributions of the Technology

The project also has another contribution aside from showing the percentage of how distracted the subjects in the video are. According to the article by Hackaday, the project can also be considered a good example as to how confidence in results can be properly handled depending on the particular application.

In this particular case, false negatives, such as instances such as a politician using a phone but the software was not able to pick it up properly, are actually much more acceptable compared to false positives. False positives include instances where a member is incorrectly identified or even wrongly called-out for using a mobile device even if he or she is not using any device.

Read Also: Can Students Still Learn From Speed-Watching Video Lectures? UCLA Study Says It's Possible

Facial Recognition and Object Detection with Keras

For those interested in not just the project but also the concept behind the project, there are open-sourced facial recognition resources already available online. One of which is Keras, which is known as an open-source software library that is being used for object detection as well as facial recognition.

Interested individuals can learn more about Keras via its GitHub repository. In addition the article by Hackaday notes that they have seen it used in a number of different things like bat detection as well as automatic trash sourcing.

The article by Hackaday notes that, for those interested in machine learning applications, Keras could be a good place to start.

Every meeting of the flemish government in Belgium is live streamed on a YouTube channel.

Software is searching for phones and tries to identify a distracted politician. This with the help of AI. The results are then posted to social with the politician tagged. By @driesdepoorter pic.twitter.com/QUQHiYx2HI  The Flemish Scrollers (@FlemishScroller) July 5, 2021

Related Article: Most Detailed 3D Map of the Universe To Arrive, Thanks to DESI-7.5 Million Galaxies Already Charted

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ahead of launching spacecraft to the moon in the next few years and traveling to the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has expressed concerns about the lack of astronauts needed to fulfill the missions.

Astronaut Shortage?

NASA's Office of Inspector General recently released a report titled NASA's Management of its Astronaut Corps which stated that its astronaut corps currently stands at 44, down from nearly 150 astronauts in 2000.

As noted in the report, NASA's planning for astronaut training and assignments is currently driven by the International Space Station, but it reiterated that exploring the moon and potentially Mars will require it to reevaluate how it prepares for such missions.

In a NASA analysis completed several years ago, NASA determined that the number of astronauts would dive down below the minimum manifest requirement in fiscal years 2022 and 2023

True to their analysis, NASA's Management of its Astronaut Corps saw a decrease in the number of astronauts, referring to it as "one of the smallest cadres of astronauts in the past 20 years."

Tech Times reported that this situation prompted NASA to choose 10 new astronaut candidates at the end of 2021.

As of the moment, the two-year training program has begun for the new recruits.

However, another alarming situation surfaced in the report. There is a possibility that NASA may not be able to recruit enough extra astronauts to compensate for "unanticipated attrition and crew reassignments."

This also means a lack of people needed for ground roles such as leadership and liaison positions and spokespeople for the space agency.

Now, with the expanding opportunities in space forecasted for Artemis missions, it could be possible that the corps would be misaligned in the future. This would result in disruptive reorganizations of crews or mission delays.

Moreover, NASA disclosed their concern that at this time, it may not be ready to adjust astronaut training programs for lunar missions that will differ greatly from ISS missions.

The first crewed moon mission, Artemis II, could possibly be delayed beyond its current target date of 2024 due to this situation.

Also Read: NASA Announces 10 New Astronaut Candidates For Potential Long-Term Moon, Space Station Presence

How NASA Can Address the Issue

According to NASA's Management of its Astronaut Corps, the space agency needs to improve mission training and planning, coordinate with various bodies, and promote more collaboration among them.

Furthermore, NASA needs to determine whether the minimum size of the astronaut corps for missions over the next five years needs to be increased from its currently used safety margin of 15%. This is to prepare them for upcoming space missions lining up their tabs.

In the last round of NASA astronaut recruitment, over 12,000 people applied, suggesting there is still a lot of interest in space exploration as a career. This suggests that NASA has a good shot at fixing matters over time.

Read Article: NASA Artemis Moon Mission's First Launch DELAYED Due To Glitch--What Is The Problem?

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a deal that will most assuredly shake the foundations of the gaming industry, Microsoft has closed in its viceroy grip, taking hold of the shamed and defamed publisher Activision Blizzard on Tuesday morning. Known for its massive hit franchises, from Call of Duty to World of Warcraft, ActiBlizzard will be acquired by Microsoft in an all-cash deal of $68.7 billion.

This now gives Microsoft one of the largest pulls in the industry, showcasing both strategy and might of the Xbox-owned conglomerate. It's now the most expensive buyout in video game business history and levies Microsoft the keys to an extensive list of potential Xbox exclusive titles.

Despite the whirlwind, this will undoubtedly cause, Activision Blizzard has long been mired in its own flurry of immense controversy. The most poignant of these concerns is the lawsuit filed against the company by the state of California, which posited ActiBlizzard's workplace culture as "a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women."

The SEC likewise got involved, and the swirling negativity has led many in the gaming industry to call out Activision's CEO, Bobby Kotick, as the foremost culprit. Still, after several months and various employee walkouts, Kotick has yet to step down from his position.

However, this new deal with Microsoft may well aim to amend these complaints. The terms of the deal will see Kotick reporting to Xbox boss Phil Spencer (for now). Activision Blizzard's own internal investigation has led to the firing of nearly 37 employees due to harassment and disgusting workplace behavior.

Akin to Take-Two Interactive's most recent purchase of mobile ad tech platform Zynga, ActiBliz's acquisition under Microsoft could point to the latter delving somewhat more into the mobile realm. Activision has a number of valued mobile-based experiences, the main among them being Call of Duty Mobile and Candy Crush.

This will likewise add to Microsoft's expansion of Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service that makes games more accessible and affordable. Activision Blizzard could well see a plentitude of its games on the service. It will only amplify its household necessity, as it accrued 18 million users by January of last year alone.

The announcement saw Microsoft's shares drop by a little over 2%, while Activision's skyrocketed to a healthy 37% amid pre-market trading Tuesday morning.

Read Also: Activision Blizzard's Anti-Harassment Committee Not Functional? Here's Why Critics Claim It's Only for Symbolism

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Press Release

January 18, 2022 De Lima files bill to protect teachers vs attacks and false accusations in matters of student discipline and classroom management Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima proposed a measure seeking to protect teachers and other school personnel against false and malicious accusations, which could destroy their reputation. De Lima filed proposed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2477 institutionalizing support mechanisms for public school teachers and school personnel in matters of student discipline and mechanisms for classroom management. "With the advent of technology and social media, teachers, along with other school personnel, have become vulnerable to attacks and malicious and false accusations," she said. "While the protection of children must always be upheld, the scales of justice also dictate that teachers and school personnel must be clothed with the same mantle of protection," she added. In 2019, it may be recalled that a teacher was pressured to quit her job and give up her license on national television for millions of people to witness. The video eventually became viral, and made her an easy target for internet trolling and bashing. De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said incidents similar to the aforementioned, where teachers are punished, forced to lose their job and standing in the community without the benefit of due process, are what SB No. 2477 intends to prevent. "We can no longer allow our teachers to be subjected to similar attacks that threaten their role in raising the youth of this nation," she said. "They cannot be expected to help bring up and look after students with the risk of being humiliated for merely doing their job. We have to acknowledge that in discharging their functions, they cannot be intimidated by the possibility of being subjected to false and malicious accusations," she added. Under SB No. 2477, or the "Classroom Management Support and Protection for Teachers Act," the Department of Education (DepEd) is mandated to formulate guidelines for classroom management for teachers and school personnel. The said guidelines should include rules and regulations to be observed and the rights and responsibilities of teaching and non-teaching personnel, as well as permissible, appropriate, and effective responses and interventions that will address violations of school rules and regulations to be administered by teachers and other school staff. Likewise, a clear description of the disciplinary procedure and clear designation of the authorities competent to investigate, propose, and apply the responses and interventions should be included in the guidelines. As teachers and school personnel exercise their mandate, De Lima maintained that "they must be afforded with enough power to discipline the students within the bounds of law without the fear of becoming prey to the wrath of trial by publicity." Under the proposed measure, DepEd is also mandated to provide teachers the appropriate pre-service and in-service training on child behavior and psychology, classroom management techniques, positive discipline, and other related fields. Highlighting the importance of SB No. 2477, De Lima stressed that in case of demonstrably false and malicious imputations or assertions especially, teachers and school personnel suffer the wrath even years after the words are uttered and made public. "For even when they would eventually be exonerated, their career will already have been permanently blighted by these allegations which will remain within the records, and may even be shared over and over again despite already proving their innocence," she said. "Gaya ng ibayong dedikasyon na ipinapamalas nila sa pag-aruga at paghubog sa kaalaman ng ating mga anak, suklian din sana ng Estado ng karampatang proteksyon at kalinga ang ating mga guro at kawani ng paaralan upang mas masigasig pa nilang magampanan ang kanilang tungkulin para sa kabataan at sa bayan," De Lima said.
A new Microsoft Edge browsing mode will ensure the privacy and security of its users. This additional protection from the software giant is essential, especially since new security threats involving browsers appear.

What makes this new feature of the popular browser is it offers Windows exploit mitigation technologies specifically created to prevent zero-day attacks on the web.

"A browsing mode in Microsoft Edge where the security of your browser takes priority, giving you an extra layer of protection when browsing the web," explained Microsoft via its official Edge Beta Channel blog post.

Microsoft Edge's New Browsing Mode

According to ZDNet's latest report, the new Edge browsing mode is a part of the browser's beta version. Microsoft explained that the new feature could allow administrators to have more options against web-based attacks.

Also Read: Microsoft Edge: Price Tracking Feature, Password Leak Assistance to Soon Debut for Browser

They can use this to mitigate unforeseen active zero-days lurking on the users' desktop browsers. On the other hand, the tech firm also clarified that the new Edge browsing mode could be configured, allowing essential line-of-business applications and websites to work without getting interrupted. Aside from this, the new security feature also includes some advanced exploit mitigation technologies.

These include Control Flow Guard, Hardware-Enforced Stack Protection, and Arbitrary Code Guard.

Windows Exploit Mitigation's Details

Microsoft Edge browsing mode's new Windows mitigation features are unique from each other. For example, ACG allows admins to ensure only properly signed code can be mapped into the memory of the computer or laptop.

This will prevent web attacks from launching malicious codes. On the other hand, CFG is one of Microsoft's key motivations to launch the recent Edge Super Duper Secure Mode.

Right now, the software giant is still enhancing its popular Edge browser. Although it still has a long way to go to become the most secured browsing tool, you can expect more enhancements from Microsoft.

In other news, Microsoft warns about a new malware that can delete user files. Meanwhile, Microsoft consumers are also at risk of fake ransomware, spreading data-wiping malware.

For more news updates about Microsoft Edge and other popular browsing tools, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Microsoft Edge Users Beware! This Fake Update Installs Ransomware

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
My2022, the mandatory app for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, was discovered to have a security flaw, cybersecurity experts said.

According to the analysts, attendees, athletes, and media will mandatorily use this application as part of China's COVID-19 monitoring requirement.

Chinese Olympics App is Flawed

According to a report by 9to5Mac, cybersecurity firm Citizen Lab recently discovered that the Olympics app could reportedly leak important details of a user. These include personal information such as email address, password, and medical data.

The team concluded that MY2022 failed to validate the SSL certificate. This could mean that a remote attacker could potentially spoof the app servers to transmit a malicious file to the host.

Despite many warnings about this app, China remained silent regarding its security concerns.

Ahead of the upcoming Beijing Olympics on Feb. 4, all audiences will be required to have their email accounts. They should also bring burner phones for privacy reasons, per Internet 2.0 on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Because of this alarming concern, many countries suggested that their athletes should refrain from carrying their main devices in China.

Related Article: China Unveils e-CNY Digital Yuan App on its Pilot Version | Can it be Used For the Upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics?

Censored Keywords in MY2022

Another story from BBC pointed out Citizen Lab's report about the app's censorship concern. According to the cybersecurity company, MY2022 has a feature that lets people flag words that are "politically sensitive" in nature.

The censored keywords include the names of the Chinese government agencies and political figures. It was also mentioned that the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest and the Falun Gong group were on the list.

Commonly, this feature exists in almost all Chinese apps. However, the security analysts said that it still carries a huge risk to a user. In addition, the file containing "illegal words" in the app was now deemed to be inactive, but the experts did not know the reason why it went dormant.

14 days before the Beijing Winter Olympics kicks off, all foreign and local visitors will be required to download the MY2022 app. This will be used to keep track of their COVID status.

Global Times dismissed the news about the app's data concerns. It said that it would guarantee that "all personal information will be encrypted."

Why Burner Phones Pose Risk to Users

Earlier, Internet 2.0 mentioned that users were mandated to use burner phones only during the Olympics. However, it added that security risks could appear upon using them.

According to the report, one of the alarming parts of using Chinese apps is the possibility of having your data leaked.

For instance, Qi-Anxin VPN was reportedly collecting users' information without their permission. These details can be easily accessed by the authorities upon request.

If you want to check more stories about cybersecurity, don't forget to read our November report about the most influential ransomware attacks in 2021.

In the field of business, Microsoft completed the acquisition of Activision Blizzard in a $68.7 billion deal.

Read Also: Amazon Ditches 'Original' Plan of Blocking Visa Credit Cards in the UK on January 19

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Employees at Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville stand next to the Happy Wheels cart the hospital has thanks to a partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley and the local McDonalds franchise. The cart will house drinks and snack for patients and their families along with games, toys and puzzle books. The employees are from left VP of Nursing Christy Littrell, Philanthropy Coordinator Katye Dame, Director of Philanthropy Austin Elliott, Executive Assistant Ursula Dugger, VP of HR and Education Lorie Oglesby, hospital President Robert Ramey, local McDonalds owner Christ McEnaney, Executive Director Wade Williams, Executive Director of RMH Charities of the Ohio Valley Theresa Floyd and Development Manager with RMH Charities of the Ohio Valley Barb Abell.
Ada, OK (74820)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
James Finn writes for The Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email him at JFinn@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter @RJamesFinn.

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Less than half of Louisiana public school students in kindergarten, first, second and third grades are reading on grade level, according to new figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Education.

The latest snapshot highlights a long-standing literacy problem that plays a major role in the state trailing most of the nation in education achievement.

"We are in the 21st Century in the United States of America and 49% of students are reading on grade level," said Ronnie Morris, a member of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

"To me it is unfathomable," said Morris, who lives in Baton Rouge.

+2 Reading woes a legislative priority but financing left undone Without a dissenting vote, the Louisiana Legislature approved a push to trim the staggering number of young students who cannot read and named

Experts say the importance of reading skills cannot be overstated, and that students who struggle to read not only have constant problems in the classroom but are more likely to quit school. The issue surfaced during an update for BESE on state efforts to improve reading in public schools.

Jena Chiasson, assistant superintendent for the office of teaching and learning, said three laws enacted by the 2021 Legislature are helping to drive the latest push for improvements.

One of the measures  Senate Bill 216  requires early literacy training for K-3 teachers of reading, math, science and or social studies.

The same training applies to principals and assistant principals in schools with K-3 students.

Another measure  Senate Bill 222  requires early literacy instruction for K-3 students, annual literacy assessments for some children and professional development and teaching training around the science of reading.

A third step approved by lawmakers last year established the Louisiana Early Literacy Commission, which makes recommendations on effective reading instruction from early childhood through third grade.

Chiasson said local educators are eager to embrace the changes and the state has set lofty goals to improve literacy.

"My point today was to really send a message of hope," she said later.

"I am hoping to inspire school systems to see this comprehensive statewide plan, this really powerful legislation passed last spring, because it is really driving a lot of the actions now around literacy improvements."

Louisiana will allocate $40 million in stimulus money to tackle state's dismal reading problem While well below what friends of the late Steve Carter are aiming for, state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said he plans to use $40

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The latest figures show 49.2% of K-3 students are reading on grade level  where students should be at their age  compared to 51.5% in 2019 and 45.1% in 2020.

The bleakest picture is for kindergarten students, where only 41.5% of children are demonstrating expected reading skills. Among first-graders 49.6% are meeting the benchmarks, second grade 52.5% and third grade 53.2%.

The state is modeling its efforts in part after Mississippi, which has jumped from near the bottom nationally on student reading skills to a ranking in the 20s.

Chiasson told BESE state education officials have held 10 meetings with their counterparts in Mississippi and other states.

She said Louisiana's goal is to show a 10-point improvement for fourth-graders on the National Assessment of Educational Progress  known as the nation's report card  by 2027.

Doing so, Chiasson said, would translate into a ranking in the high 20s for reading skills. She said Mississippi officials launched their efforts in 2013 and showed major gains in 2019.

Doris Voitier, a BESE member who is also superintendent of the St. Bernard Parish School District, said her K-3 teachers are undergoing the roughly 54 hours of required training in how to teach reading.

That work is being financed with $7.8 million of the state's $4 billion in federal funds for coronavirus relief.

+2 Bid to improve dismal elementary reading scores delayed after bitter debate Despite fervent pleas from state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, Louisiana's top school board voted 6-4 to delay action on a bid to 

Voiter, an educator for 50 years, questioned whether future teachers will enter the workforce with the same skills in teaching reading as those undergoing training now.

"That is in the works," Chiasson replied.

Under current rules, how students are screened for reading skills varies among the state's 69 school districts.

Department officials are in the process of settling on a single screener who will use metrics to see if students are boosting their reading ability.

One of the pillars around the latest effort is for schools to provide families with literacy data periodically so they can track their child's development.

"It is too late for families to find out at the end of the year that their child is struggling in literacy," Chiasson told BESE.
The brutal murder of two young children, 7 and 12, in Orleans Parish is heartbreaking, to say the least. However, what is really sad and outri
One of the worlds most powerful investors is again urging that chief executives rapidly and boldly embrace the green economy or be swept aside by a wave of faster, smarter competitors.

Or in Larry Finks more colourful language, chief executives today cannot avoid the global transition now unfolding, but they can choose whether to recast themselves as unicorns, phoenixes or dodos.

Larry Fink, chief executive officer of BlackRock on the opening day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2020. Credit:Bloomberg

With US$10 trillion of other peoples money in its stewardship BlackRock is the worlds largest asset manager. Each year Mr Fink writes a letter to chief executives who might be hoping for a taste of that sea of cash, outlining BlackRocks perspective on the business outlook.

Two years ago Mr Fink shocked many observers by telling the leaders that BlackRock would be placing climate change and sustainability at the centre of its investment approach. This would include dumping stocks in companies heavily invested in thermal coal and by demanding that companies it invests in outline their exposure to climate change risks, their contribution to emissions and their plans to reduce them.
Omicron is playing havoc with some of Australias largest freight logistics providers which have been forced to introduce levies to cover the rising cost of pandemic-related staff shortages.

ASX-listed logistics giant Qube started charging its customers a levy of $28.50 per container this week citing the rising labour costs. In a letter to its customers, Qube said its operations were being severely affected by the recent Omicron outbreak due to pandemic-related absenteeism.

Qube has started charging customers a COVID surcharge.

This impact is driving significant additional costs into our business as we attempt to provide ongoing services. Absenteeism within the national logistics industry continues to put undue pressure on all elements of the supply chain, the company said.

The need for the levy will be reviewed as markets return to normal when COVID eases, hopefully in the months ahead, a company spokesman told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Australias second busiest gateway, Melbourne Airport, wants COVID-19 testing requirements for inbound international travellers relaxed, arguing they do little to protect public health at a time Australia is recording tens of thousands of new cases a day.

Melbourne Airports chief of aviation Lorie Argus said Australians were reluctant to travel overseas in case they could not return due to a positive pre-flight PCR test, which the federal government requires to be taken within three days of an inbound journey.

Australians are reluctant to travel overseas for fear of being stranded there due to a positive COVID-19 result. Credit:Paul Jeffers

What were calling on is the removal of that requirement because they [vaccinated inbound travellers] are no higher risk to the community, given we have so many cases within the community already, Ms Argus said.

We want to remove that pre-departure test, so that Australian residents or the skilled workers that are also able to enter, can arrive into Australia and if testing positive on arrival, can go into seven days isolation as anyone would here in the community.
It was a chance encounter in June 2020, during a semester in London for the final classes of his medical degree, that gave Sydney doctor Daniel Nour the idea for the project that has come to fill most of his time since.

The 26-year-old, who is the 2022 Young Australian of the Year, came to the aid of a man having a seizure outside a train station.

Dr Daniel Nour was named the 2022 NSW Young Australian of the Year for his work with Sydneys homeless. On Tuesday night, he was also named Young Australian of the Year. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Speaking with the mans friends, many of whom were homeless, as they waited for paramedics, Dr Nour was struck by their disdain for doctors.

It was a real slap in the face for someone who had just spent six years of their life studying medicine, he said. People would rather avoid treatment because they didnt trust we cared, or they were worried about judgment.
That latter 2 per cent are most likely to have their cases reported in the media, and Mr Gill highlights that a judges sentence will rarely please everyone. Michael, he says, is likely to focus on how the sentence supports his rehabilitation and deters him from reoffending, his victim will give more attention to the punishment element and the media will prioritise community protection. At 24, Michael is a drug user. He committed the hold-up four days after he left prison, and his guilty plea followed six past convictions for armed robbery, all which brought jail. He is homeless, has no family support and is intellectually impaired through a low IQ and possible brain injury. What is your view now? The judges have options: a straight jail term, a community correction order (CCO) or a combination sentence. Most CCOs involve drug and alcohol treatment or unpaid work.

Based on what we know, were again polled on whether Michael should get jail. By now the no camp has jumped to 55 per cent, and theres just 27 per cent wanting to jail him. The rest are unsure. What is your view? The impact on a victim must also be considered. In Michaels case, the manager was 62 years old, wasnt physically injured and chose not to make a victim impact statement, though we can accept there would be some emotional toll. After calling the police, the victim resumed working. The judges are polled again. Seventy per cent dont want to jail Michael, and one is undecided.

Mr Gill gives the fence-sitter a gentle reminder that decision time is close. What do you think? Michael couldnt access his methadone program over the holiday period so needed money for heroin. His disadvantaged background and time in foster care, youth detention and adult prison mean he is institutionalised. Now two thirds of the judges say he shouldnt be jailed, one third says he should. What do you think?

Michael offended because prison provided stable accommodation and access to methadone. He is remorseful and hopes to learn a trade and get a job. Polled again, 73 per cent of the judges dont want him jailed and 27 per cent do. What do you think? We dont have to look Michael in the eye, but the mood is nervy when crunch time arrives. Although most of us think Michael shouldnt be jailed, he must still be sentenced. Mr Gill gives us five options, ranging from a CCO of up to two years and no jail, up to a prison term of more than five years.

On current sentencing practises, 81 per cent of convicted armed robbers are jailed. What do you think? Six of the judges buck that trend and nominate a CCO of between two and five years. They dont get to nominate the conditions, but drug treatment would be a given. One participant wants Michael on a shorter CCO and four favour a combination sentence of jail plus a CCO. The responses show we all think Michaels rehabilitation is important, as no one supports a straight jail term. Spoiler alert: the best way to learn the real outcome is to take part yourself. The next session of You be the Judge is on January 31. If you really want to know now check out the graphics below.

But in Mr Gills final poll, 73 per cent of the faux judges say the real-life sentence Michael received was about right, and the remainder think it was too harsh. Thats a decent contrast from our collective view an hour ago, that courts are too soft on criminals. While victims of crime regularly feel their perpetrators are treated leniently, Victorias courts say research shows that people often support a judges sentence when informed of the law and the reasons. Professor Arie Freiberg, the Sentencing Advisory Council chair, first devised You be the Judge for his university students to address misconceptions. He has now run sessions with everyone from judges to Rotary clubs. He often sees a softening in participants views as sessions progress, as more information makes decisions tougher.
Staffing shortages caused by this summers Omicron surge have led to the relaxation of COVID restrictions by federal and state governments.

As a result, Australian workers are being exposed to health risks at work on a scale like never before.

Since coronavirus cases began to increase rapidly, several steps have been taken to get people back to work. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Since coronavirus cases began multiplying exponentially a few weeks ago, and supply chains ground to a halt from chronic staff shortages, several steps have been taken to get people back to work.

The definition of who constitutes a close contact was narrowed, and the isolation period for close contacts was reduced from 14 to seven days.
A clear majority of Australians want authorities to subsidise rapid antigen tests or make them free for everyone, with 65 per cent of voters also saying the federal government is most responsible for ensuring coronavirus test supplies.

With testing centres under pressure and pharmacies unable to meet demand, 33 per cent of Australians believe the rapid tests should be free for all and another 16 per cent think they should be free for vulnerable people or those on low incomes.

Most voters believe rapid antigen tests should be free or subsidised in some way. Credit:Adobe

Another 22 per cent believe the rapid antigen tests, or RATs, should be subsidised for all while 15 per cent want the kits to be subsidised for those in need.

As a political fight escalates over test shortages and price gouging, the exclusive findings show 86 per cent of Australians believe the rapid tests should be free or subsidised in some way.
He said the code brown would allow hospitals to deploy staff where they were most needed, including offloading ambulance patients to get paramedics quickly back on the road. It might also mean healthcare workers are required to perform different roles than usual and asked to cancel their leave. A nurse or doctor who normally works in elective surgery, which has been scaled back significantly, may now the redeployed, for example, to the emergency department where the caseload is much higher, Mr Merlino said. The states first system-wide code brown is intended to alert Victorians that they should avoid going to hospital if they can manage their care at home or with their GP.

Australian Medical Association Victorian president Roderick McRae said the doctors lobby group pushed for the declaration of the code brown in recent weeks as the hospital crisis escalated. Deputy Premier and acting Health Minister James Merlino announces the code brown. Credit:Jason South This is an accurate reflection and an appropriate response in these extraordinary circumstances because the health system is in much greater stress than has been publicised, Dr McRae said. It is important that the community understands just how serious it is. In coming weeks, private hospitals will also have the option of calling a code brown. The six regional hospitals covered by Tuesdays announcement were Geelongs Barwon Health, the Grampians, Bendigo, Goulburn Valley and Albury Wodonga health groups and Latrobe Regional Hospital. On Sunday senior nurses and doctors told The Age conditions in Melbournes hospitals were the worst theyd seen, with standards of care slipping as understaffed hospitals struggled to cope with record COVID-19 admissions.

Loading With hospitalisations expected to continue surging in coming weeks, more drastic measures that might be considered include a pause on category one elective surgery and allowing asymptomatic coronavirus-infected healthcare staff to keep working. The head of Victorias peak body for public hospitals, Tom Symondson, it was the first time a statewide code brown had been declared and reflected how parlous the state of the health system was at present. The next month could be the most challenging period our healthcare workers will ever face, he said. The Victorian government has called this code brown at the right time.

Our ambulance service and hospitals are already struggling to meet demand from people with COVID-19 while delivering other necessary healthcare, and this is predicted to get worse over the next month. This extreme demand can impact on every Victorian needing healthcare at any time. Victorias opposition health spokeswoman, Georgie Crozier, said the government had two years to respond to the pandemic but hadnt planned properly. Code brown just demonstrates the extent of the health crisis, Ms Crozier said. It could have been avoided if the planning and preparation had been put in place.

Loading Reason Party leader Fiona Patten said she hoped the state was close to reaching its peak of Omicron cases so that hospitalisations would start to decline. My heart goes out to the healthcare workers. They have already been doing it tough but what code brown means is, theyre going to do it tougher, Ms Patten said. Theyre going to be denied leave. They could be put onto extra shifts, extra overtime. Greens health spokesman Tim Read said the code brown was an appropriate response to the crisis.

Its the right call. If were going to have emergency procedures, we might as well use them for emergencies, Dr Read said. In Victoria, code browns have been called at hospitals dealing with major transport accidents, chemical spills and natural emergencies, such as fire or flood. More recently, a code brown was used to prioritise patient care during the 2016 thunderstorm asthma event. The decision to declare the code brown was discussed with hospitals and unions. Dr McRae said it was possible category one surgeries would need to be delayed when hospitals come under increasing pressure and are forced to prioritise emergency cases.

Category one procedures are meant to be performed within 30 days. They cover conditions that have the potential to deteriorate quickly and become life-threatening. Procedures to remove a breast lump or a cancerous skin lesion and types of cardiac surgery fall into category one. At the moment, there is a statewide ban on less urgent category two and three elective surgeries. The senior and junior medical staff have been reallocated and the general practitioner workforce is being pummeled and under-resourced, Dr McRae said. It couldnt go on like this. There had to be a circuit breaker. Australias COVID-19 death tally hit a solemn record on Tuesday, with 22 deaths in Victoria, 36 in NSW and 16 in Queensland.

Loading The official number of daily cases reported in Victoria on Tuesday was 20,180, almost 60 per cent of them coming from positive self-reported rapid antigen tests. Victorias deputy COVID response commander Adam Horsburgh said coronavirus-related hospital admissions had doubled in the past fortnight and would increase further in coming weeks. Its this trend we are responding to [with the code brown] here today, he said. Mr Horsburgh said emergency departments, intensive care units and COVID-19 wards were the departments most under pressure.
A state Liberal Party candidate could have his preselection overturned on Thursday after the party discovered it allowed some ineligible members to vote.

A meeting of the partys administration committee this week could take the rare step of reversing the preselection of Asher Judah for the new Melbourne eastern suburbs seat of Ashwood.

Asher Judah, seen here campaigning with his wife Mary and daughter Rachel, was the Liberal candidate for Bentleigh at the 2018 election. Credit:Paul Sakkal

Concerns were raised in December when party members spotted strange people in the room during the preselection. Mr Judah, who owns building products business Discount Doors and had been a perennial preselection hopeful, won the vote 71-48.

A party investigation found some attendees were ineligible to vote and other eligible party members were not invited.
Collingwood will not make a call on Jordan De Goeys future until his case is finalised after the 25-year-olds New York court case was adjourned again until the end of the month.

However, De Goeys position to return to the club after his next hearing in New York on January 28 appeared strengthened after the prosecutor and De Goeys defence team looked certain to agree to a plea deal that would see the midfielders charge downgraded from assault to harassment as long as he found an appropriate program to complete in Australia.

Jordan De Goey arrives back in Australia late last year. Credit:Nine News

Until that process is finalised, however, the Magpie will remain stood down as he has been since the alleged incident in New York, where De Goey was taking a break from an intensive training program, came to light on October 31.

Collingwood have privately conceded this week that the alleged incident was not reason enough on its own to stand a player down, but the determination was made because of De Goeys repeated disciplinary issues.
Hong Kong: Two former Cathay Pacific flight attendants were arrested for violating pandemic rules, Hong Kong police said, after they were identified as the source of the citys Omicron outbreak.

The pair allegedly left their homes when they should have been in isolation for possible coronavirus infections, which were later confirmed.

People receive COVID-19 PCR tests at a testing facility in the Tuen Mun area of Hong Kong. Credit:Bloomberg

The two arrived from the US on December 24 and 25. While under medical surveillance, they had conducted unnecessary activities, according to a government statement. They allegedly dined at bars and restaurants across the city before testing positive for Omicron.

They were charged under Hong Kongs Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation and are due to appear in court February 9. If convicted, the pair face a fine of $HK5000 ($890) and six months in jail.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, beginning production on its third season in Los Angeles today, has announced the musical that will take center stage for the next installment on Disney Plus.

In an ironically unseasonal choice, Frozen has been selected as the East High students' summer musical. In addition to the Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez-scored show, Disney has announced that the HSMTMTS cast will also be performing music from the Disney Channel property Camp Rock and the High School Musical franchise. As previously announced, season three will be set at sleepaway camp, "complete with campfires, summer romances, and curfew-less nights."

HSMTMTS stars Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Julia Lester, Dara Renee, Frankie Rodriguez, Kate Reinders, Olivia Rose Keegan, and Olivia Rodrigo will all return for the show's third season, and will be welcoming some new cast members as well. Joining as series regulars will be newcomer Adrian Lyles and Saylor Bell (I Didn't Do It), along with guest stars Meg Donnelly (Disney's ZOMBIES franchise), Jason Earles (Hannah Montana), and Corbin Bleu, who was last seen on Broadway in the 2019 revival of Kiss Me, Kate and rose to fame as Chad Danforth in Disney's original High School Musical franchise.

HSMTMTS is created for Disney+ by Tim Federle (Tuck Everlasting) and is inspired by the High School Musical film series. Seasons one and two of the mockumentary-style musical show featured the East High students mounting productions of High School Musical and Beauty and the Beast, respectively.
GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 17, 2022 -- WeRide, a global leading L4 autonomous driving technology company, announces the breakthrough of reaching 10 million kilometers of autonomous driving on public roads, among which 2.5 million kilometers are in fully driverless mode.

WeRide has accumulated a massive number of high-quality scenarios through 10 million kilometers, combining testing and operations with more than 300 AD vehicles over the past four years. WeRide's fleets comprise Robotaxi, Robobus, and Robovan, running in cities such as Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Anqing in China and San Jose in the US. They are tested and operated day and night, traveling from CBDs to urban villages, tunnels to highways, under the sun, rain and snow, all contributing to generate an abundance of valuable AD data.

The accumulated valuable AD data are collected and fed into WeRide's self-developed simulation platform. Through recreating multiple variations of real driving scenarios on the platform, WeRide has attained over 8 billion kilometers in simulations, a number equivalent to the mileage of 300 AD vehicles driving on the public road for 50 years.

The achievement of the 10 million kilometers of autonomous driving on public road and the 8 billion kilometers in simulations means that WeRide is fully capable in raising efficiency on the test and enabling its AD system to operate under complex traffic conditions in a more stable and reliable way. WeRide will continue to develop through optimizing the data models and algorithms.

Real-world road tests pose great challenges on the perception ability and stability of the AD hardware. WeRide's sensor suite is now completed with an even more integrated, efficient, and stable hardware solutions throughout the 5 times upgrade based on the massive tests results and data received. Released in November 2021, the latest WeRide Sensor Suite 4.0 is the first small and lightweight suite for the L4 AD. A major step towards mass production of autonomous vehicles, the Suite 4.0 can be widely used in different passenger vehicles.

Since November 2019, WeRide has launched Robotaxi service to the public in China. The mileage accumulated through the operations since then plays an important role in WeRide's 10 million kilometers achievement. In addition to the safety and stability in autonomous driving, ride experience and transport efficiency are especially important, serving as the indicator to examine WeRide's AD system for operation. The abundant AD data from the 10 million kilometers has given the engineering team a great deal of samples to examine and improve the performance of Robotaxi, paving the way for large-scale operation and commercialization in the future.

The achievement of 10 million kilometers autonomous driving mileage is a new climax, yet another starting point for WeRide. With the upcoming commercialization of fully driverless operation, WeRide will keep going and ensure that every kilometer ahead will be safe and sound as always.

About WeRide

WeRide is a global leading company that develops Level 4 autonomous driving technologies, bringing smart cities with new products, new business models and new experiences.

WeRide has received strategic investments from top-tier global automakers including Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Yutong Group and GAC Group. It is the first startup in the world to hold driverless test permits in both China and the US.

Through strategic alliances with car makers, mobility and logistics service platforms, WeRide offers an all-rounded product mix of Robotaxi, Mini Robobus and Robovan to provide multiple services including online ride-hailing, on-demand transport and urban logistics.

WeRide launched China's first Robotaxi service, completely open to public, in November 2019, in Guangzhou, China, covering an area of 144 square kilometers. WeRide has also conducted fully driverless testing for Mini Robobus and Robovan. In January 2022, WeRide launched its fully driverless Robobus service to the public on the Guangzhou International Bio Island in China's Guangzhou.

Established in 2017, WeRide is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, and maintains R&D and operation centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Wuhan, Zhengzhou and Anqing, as well as San Jose in the US. It employs a highly skilled team of over 800 employees around the globe and has extensive domestic and international experience in R&D, business development and operations.

For more information, please visit:

Website: www.weride.ai ; Medium: https://werideai.medium.com/ ; twitter/LinkedIn/YouTube: WeRide.ai.

SOURCE WeRide
Associate Editor

Brent Addleman is an Associate Editor and a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania and Texas, and has also worked at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Kentucky.
Staff Reporter

Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times.
John Hendrickson serves as policy director for Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation and Jonathan Williams serves as executive vice president for policy and chief economist at the American Legislative Exchange Council.
Wisconsin lawmakers to try again to make Colby Wisconsins official state cheese
Cheyenne, WY (82001)

Today

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low near 35F. SE winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low near 35F. SE winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Clarion, PA (16214)

Today

Periods of rain, heavy at times early. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain, heavy at times early. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
DuBois, PA (15801)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Towanda, PA (18848)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
UNION SPRINGS - Leonard L. Beers, 90, formerly of Norwich and Otego, passed away Jan. 18, 2022. A memorial graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 6, in Evergreen Cemetery in Otego. Arrangements are with Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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Jose Angel Mayoral III is a man who lost his country. Born and raised in Venezuela, he grew up in a family of entrepreneurial business owners in Caracas. His Puerto Rican grandfather went to Venezuela as a salesman for Goodyear Rubber and Tire and decided to stay. His grandfather and father worked hard and created a GM car dealership, among many other ventures. One of them was the Fiesta Candy Company, which specialized in chocolates.

Jose became a part-owner and the Director of Production, and after his father opened a division of Fiesta in Spain, Jose was appointed as the overseas production director as well. He traveled back and forth between the two countries until 1993 when he and his wife decided to immigrate to the United States.

Venezuela was swirling with turbulence in 1993. President Carlos Andres Perez had just been impeached for corruption, and Hugo Chavez had initiated two coup attempts the year before. Doing business in Venezuela was hampered by graft and the constant greasing of palms to get anything done.

In Joses experience, Spain in 1993 was also a terrible place to do business. Felipe Gonzalez Marquez was the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General of the dominant Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE). The environment was decidedly unfriendly toward business. Business owners were seen as the oppressors, and local legislators, officials, and unions were frequently in opposition.

There were three unions, run by the socialists, the communists, and the anarchists. Jose recalls:

We had a constant barrage of strikes, sabotage, all sorts of problems. They would sue us constantly. The judges were always siding with the unions because they were afraid. The police would not enforce the laws and break down the pickets. On any particular day, you would arrive at the parking lot to get your car and find that everybodys tires had been slashed. It was very negative. The anarchists were the only ones that you could negotiate with because all they cared about was, Hey, are you going to pay me more money? The others wanted all sorts of concessions. Whatever dictum came from Moscow; thats what they wanted.

In that hostile environment, Jose and his American wife Laurie decided to move to the United States. Jose was fortunate to find a position as the Sales Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for Lamb Weston, which at the time was part of ConAgra Foods. They moved to Boca Raton, Florida, since Jose had to travel south so frequently. He was deeply impressed with the people who ran Lamb Weston and said:

They were fantastic people. I was so surprised to see the level of professionalism and the human quality that these people had. The way they ran the company was absolutely in a Christian way. They treated people like souls. They were incredible people, and the company was fantastically successful.

In 1997, the same year that Hugo Chavez founded a democratic socialist party called the Fifth Republic Movement, Jose and Laurie moved to York, Maine, and established a branch of the Fiesta Candy Company across the border in Rochester, New Hampshire. Its now called Great Bay Chocolates1 and employs six people.

As Venezuela was collapsing under the Chavez regime, and as Joses family businesses in Venezuela with their many employees were going under, Jose and Laurie were building a new business in an environment that was proof positive that the American system of free enterprise worked better than totalitarian socialism.

Jose was astonished and grateful at the friendly attitudes and substantial help that the citizens and town officials in Rochester extended to them. The town helped with loans and did everything they could to get the candy company off the ground. The differences between his experiences in America, Spain, and Venezuela were enormous.

He reflected about the standard of ethics in Venezuela and America, and the refusal of local officials in America to take bribes, and their genuine desire to help others.

Every time the fire alarm goes off in the building and the cops come over, and you try to give them a bag of candy, they refuse it. These people do their jobs and try to help you. The health inspectors are here to help. The mayor wants the business to thrive. I havent seen any corruption whatsoever. Dont make me look like a hero because Im not. Its the country of America that is the hero. Its the town of Rochester and the local officials that basically run the day-to-day and the people that make it easy to get businesses going.

Joses father sent them $50,000 worth of equipment from their factories in Venezuela and Spain under a long-term loan. The Fiesta Candy Company in Venezuela was taken over by the government, and the companys branch in Spain eventually went bankrupt. But the company lives on in a small town in New Hampshire. Jose and Laurie have two sons, and one son works at the company, continuing the family tradition.

When Jose talks with his relatives in Venezuela, hes deeply saddened by the increasingly grim news about the tragedy of socialism. His two cousins, Diana and Federico, are still there, taking care of the GM car business that has no cars. Now, it only does repairs. Theyve informed Jose that the people who are left in Venezuela have become resigned to their fate. The political opposition to President Nicolas Maduro is ineffectual. Millions of citizens have fled: to Columbia, to the United States, and other locales.

Jose Angel Mayoral did indeed lose his beloved country of Venezuela, once the wealthiest country in Latin America. His solace is that he has been blessed with a new one. His gratitude toward America is profound, and his experiences send a clear message to his adopted country: Dont become like Venezuela.
A file image of a family clearing rubble from their house after it was damaged by an earthquake in the Behsud district of Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar Province on Oct. 28, 2015. (Noorullah Shirzada/AFP via Getty Images)

5.3M Earthquake Kills at Least 26 in Afghanistan, Officials Say

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan on Monday, killing at least 26 people, officials said.

Baz Mohammad Sarwary, a spokesperson for the Qadis district in the western province of Badghis, told AFP that the victims were killed when the quake caused residential roofs to collapse. Four others were injured, he said.

Five women and four children are among the 26 people killed in the earthquake, Sarwary told the newswire.

He added that Taliban fighters have been able to reach some of the affected areas.

But Badghis is a mountainous province, the number of casualties might go up, he said, adding that heavy rain was also lashing the area.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was magnitude 5.3.

Mullah Janan Saeqe, head of the Emergency Operations Centre of the Ministry of State for Emergency Affairs, said more than 700 houses had been damaged.

Sanullah Sabit, the head of the nursing unit at the main hospital in Badghis capital said they had received five patients injured in the quake, mostly with broken bones and fractures.

The quake was at a depth of 30 km (18.64 miles), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

It comes as the poverty-stricken nation faces a mounting humanitarian crisis. President Joe Biden in August last year withdrew all remaining U.S. troops from the country.

After the Taliban terrorist group seized control of the nation in August, Afghanistans economic crisis accelerated after international funding was suspended and billions of dollars of assets overseas were frozen.

The United Nations says nearly 23 million peopleabout 55 percent of the populationare facing extreme levels of hunger, with nearly 9 million at risk of famine as winter takes hold

The White House said on Jan. 11 the the Biden administration plans to donate an extra $308 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, bringing the total U.S. aid to the country and Afghan refugees in the region to nearly $782 million since October.

Funds will used by independent humanitarian organizations to provide shelter, health care, winterization assistance, emergency food aid, water, sanitation and hygiene services, White House officials said.

The humanitarian assistance from the United States is in response to the growing humanitarian needs exacerbated by COVID-19 and healthcare shortages, drought, malnutrition, and the winter season, National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement at the time.

The United States is committed to supporting the Afghan people and we continue to consider all options available to us. We stand with the people of Afghanistan, Horne said.

An additional one million COVID-19 doses all also be donated to Afghanistan, the White House said, bringing the total to 4.3 million doses provided to the country.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Art exploration for the young and young at heart

The New Year offers an apt opportunity to reflect upon life and work.

Life is full of refreshing cycles. Marked by a process of gradual growth and change, the movements of life can be beautiful.

They are also purposeful. Whether you have celebrated many or few New Years, there is much to learn by persevering in hard work and thoughtful examination.

Its easy to take the daily cycles of life for granted. People perform them so many times. We eat, drink, sleep, and wake. Yet ordinary rituals are meaningful. They point to the necessity for mankind to rest, refresh, and reflect.

Take dinnertime, for example. Sharing a meal with gratitude during the ebbing hours can be rejuvenating to all aspects of personhood.

By the dinner table in my home, there is a large window that overlooks a breezy bayou. Its moving to watch the changes of days, nights, and seasons as we gaze through it. There are also several paintings hung on the walls: portraits, still lifes, and landscapes, thought-provoking to look into. We rotate them periodically because fine art is a fine aid to reflection and appreciation for life.

The Foot of Romsdalshorn to the Right, 1894, by Hans Gude. National Gallery of Denmark. (Public domain)

Hans Fredrik Gude was a Norwegian fine artist particularly skilled at painting reflections. Born in Christiania (now Oslo, Norway) on March 13, 1825, and deeply influenced by his homeland, Gude became a master of seascapes. He used his gifts to study water, nature, and light, in order to pay tribute to the beauty of life. His work never underwent a drastic change in style. Rather, it grew like a good man, steadily maturing until his paintings became a worthy contribution to humanitys view.

A Norwegian Seaport, 1892, by Hans Gude. National Gallery of Denmark. (Public domain)

In early student life, after studying with the artist Johannes Flintoe, Gude was encouraged to attend the Academy of Art in Dusseldorf, Germany. Upon application in 1841, however, he was rejected. Not only was he turned away, but he was also advised by artist and professor Johann Wilhelm Schirmer to give up. Instead, Gude attended private lessons. In 1842, he was finally accepted into the academy, entering Schirmers relatively new landscape painting class. At first, Gude was considered a fairly average student. Gradually, he progressed to being described as very talented, though he often struggled to see eye to eye with Schirmer.

Slowly, Gude developed into an accomplished landscape painter, though he was unable to render realistic figures. Perhaps because viewers are prone to scrutinize their own forms more distinctly, and perhaps because the human form is so wonderfully complex in its creation, figurative art tends to be more challenging to master than landscape or any other painted subject. Early into his career, Gude struggled to capture human likenesses to the point where he needed to collaborate with another artist, Adolph Tidemand, to paint the people in his compositions. He came up with a solution to complete his work, and he kept practicing. Gude studied and worked until he was able to master not just landscapes, but also figurative scenes.

In 1854, at the age of 29, Gude was hired as a professor of landscape painting at the academy in Dusseldorf. Several more prominent artists turned the position down on account of its lower pay, but Gude was grateful for the steady income and became the youngest professor there. He also replaced his former teacher, Schirmer.

By the Mill Pond, 1850, by Hans Gude. (Public domain)

During the first part of his career, Gude tended to work from short sketches of landscape subjects that, once begun, were rendered and finished almost entirely in the studio. This was different from prevailing trends in Britain, where plein air painting (art created outside while observing the natural subject) began to be more celebrated. Thus, when Gude exhibited his work in the prominent art circles of London in 1863 and 1864, it received poor reviews. He was not bitter about the hard reception. Once again, he chose to learn from his lack of success, saying, My English stay was of great benefit to me in that I freed myself from many of the prevailing studio maxims by being alone and in a landscape so new to me that it forced me to observe more keenly.

Later, when he went to accept additional professorships, he was noted for encouraging budding artists to work more directly from life. Paintings created en plein air tend to be more stirring and authentic. Gude learned to appreciate the splendor of creation firsthand. It seems his vision grew stronger as he learned to view the world with humble wonder.

Overcoming rejection, inability, and even mediocrity, Gude became a professor at three different German universities over a span of 45 years. Gude produced many of his great works while also working eight-hour days as a professor. Because Gude was strongly affiliated with German academia, critics and competitors sometimes suggested he wasnt truly a Norwegian artist. Gude was offended by the suggestion. He was in fact passionate about his heritage and became a notable mentor to many Norwegian students. The effects of Gudes Norwegian upbringing remain profoundly evidentespecially in his seascapes. He was also criticized for being an academic painter at a time when tides were turning away from such modes.

Gude didnt apologize for being a traditionalist. He was often slow to change and thoughtful in consideration. Once the tenacious artist came to understand a good way forward, his paintings would become more prodigious than the works of others who simply followed trends. Gude remained faithful to observations about life, choosing neither to idealize nor to distort. He faced the regular struggles of work and life with determination. He accepted the slow pace of positive growth, season by season, task by task. In this way, he left a record of humble perseverance that embraced the truth and yielded fruit.

Gude became the recipient of medals and honors including the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav. Today, he is remembered as one of Norways greatest landscape painters. His majestic scenes remind all viewers that between dawn and dusk, mountain and sea, youth and old age, the cycles of life arent simply circular. We are, in fact, on a linear journey. There is an alpha and an omega. No man nor woman can see all the way to the beginning, nor to the end, but what we can do is reflect on life, and grow, effort by effort. In diligence and humility, fathomless beauty might be found.
The main port facilities after the main eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on Jan. 18, 2022. (Satellite Image 2022 Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters)

All Homes on One of Tongas Islands Destroyed, Three Dead

SYDNEY/WELLINGTONAll the homes on one of Tongas small outer islands were destroyed in the massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, with three people so far confirmed dead, the government said on Tuesday in its first update since the disaster hit.

With communications severely hampered by an undersea cable being severed, information on the scale of the devastation after Saturdays eruption, causing waves up to 15 metres high, has so far mostly come from reconnaissance aircraft.

But the office of Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said in a statement that every home on Mango island, where around 50 people live, had been destroyed, only two houses remained on Fonoifua, and Namuka island had suffered extensive damage.

Tongas deputy head of mission in Australia, Curtis Tuihalangingie, earlier said pictures taken by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) showed alarming scenes of a village destroyed on Mango and buildings missing on Atata island, which is closest to the volcano.

People panic, people run and get injuries. Possibly there will be more deaths and we just pray that is not the case, Tuihalangingie told Reuters.

Sovalenis office said a 65-year-old woman on Mango Island and a 49-year-old man on Nomuka Island had been killed, in addition to a British national whose death was confirmed on Monday. A number of injuries were also reported.

The United Nations said on Monday a distress signal was detected in the outlying Haapai islands, where Mango is located.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano after its main eruption, in Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai, Tonga, on Jan. 18, 2022. (Satellite Image 2022 Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters)

Tsunami

Tsunami waves reaching up to 15 metres had hit the Haapia island group and the west coast of Tongas main island, Tongatapu, the prime ministers office said. On the western coast of the main island, 56 houses were completely or seriously damaged and residents moved to evacuation centres.

Mango is about 70 km (43 miles) from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano, which sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean when it erupted with a blast heard 2,300 km (1,430 miles) away in New Zealand.

A search and rescue operation began on Sunday for Atata island, which has a population of about 100 people.

Challenges to sea and air transportation remain due to damage sustained by the wharves and the ash that is covering the runways, it said.

The office said some limited communications had been made with satellite phones, but some areas remained cut off.

The Tongan navy had deployed with health teams and water, food and tents to the Haapai islands, with more aid, sent on Tuesday due to the severity of the damage observed on Mango, Fonoifua and Namuka islands, it said.

The NZDF images, which were posted on a Facebook site and confirmed by Tuihalangingie, showed tarpaulins being used as shelter on Mango island.

Tonga is expected to issue formal requests for aid soon but in the meantime, New Zealand said two ships, HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa, had set off with water supplies, survey teams and a helicopter.

By Kirsty Needham and Praveen Menon
Australia Steps Towards Its Biggest, Billion-Dollar Renewable Energy Hub

Australia will see its portfolio of solar, wind, and battery resources grow dramatically upon the completion of a new billion-dollar energy hub in South Australia (SA)slated to be the biggest in the nationstarting initially with its wind farm component.

Two hours north of Adelaide, the states capital, the Goyder Renewables Zone, has commenced early works of the hubs first stage: a 412 MW (megawatt) wind farm which will become the biggest in SA and the second-largest across Australia once operational in 2024.

It lifts the renewable energy portfolio of France-based developer and owner, Neoen to more than 2,500 MW in Australia, a figure that is more than one-eighth of Australias current solar, wind, and battery capacity combined.

The array will include 75 wind turbines supplied by GE Renewable Energy, a division of General Electric also based in France.

A turbine under construction at a General Electric factory in Montoir-de-Bretagne, France on Nov. 21, 2017. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

The wind farm forms the first chapter in a larger energy hub yet to be finalised, with Neoen already receiving approval for the zone to hold a total of 1200 MW of wind, 600 MW of solar, and 900 MW of battery storage capacitywith an estimated capital cost of $3 billion.

We are delighted to start building the first stage of our Goyder Renewables Zone, Neoens most competitive giga-project, Neoen Australias Managing Director Louis de Sambucy said (pdf).

We look forward to building on this strong foundation, adding solar and batteries into the future to deliver firm 24/7 renewable energy.

Funding for the initial portion of the project was supported by a power purchase agreement (PPA) made between Neoen and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government, which has paid a sum up front to reserve 100 MW of its power output over 14 years.

ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury said the decision underpinned the territorys climate change ambitions, which currently includes sustaining 100 percent of its electricity demand through renewable energy.

Canberra prides itself as a leader on climate action, with our 100 percent renewable electricity-powered economy creating a healthier and more sustainable future. Our work with renewable energy generators, like Neoen, has been critical to achieving Canberras renewable electricity target, Rattenbury said.

The Royalla Solar Farm in Canberra, Australia on Jun. 28, 2016. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

With the influx of renewable and gas generation, most of Australias states and territories are forecast to see electricity prices drop for consumers. However, due to ACTs decision to maintain its emissions targets through PPAs, it is the only jurisdiction that will instead see electricity prices go up.

The deal has also only been made possible following the announcement of a $100 million energy grid interconnector between SA and New South Wales (NSW), which will help supply SA with gas and coal-based power from NSW when renewable levels drop, and vice-versa when levels are high.

The SA government, the nations most ambitious developer of renewable energy sources, has placed the estimate of the projects overall capital cost at $3 billion.

I congratulate Neoen on this key milestone for the Goyder South Project, which is an important moment in South Australias clean energy transition, SA Minister for Energy and Mining Dan Van Holst Pellekaan said.

SA has been at the forefront of new solar, wind, and battery projects in Australia, including becoming host to the Tesla big batterythe largest in the world at the time of construction.

The state has continued to build bigger batteries, and on some occasions, has exceeded 100 percent of its energy demand through renewable energy alone.
Travelers receive tests COVID-19 at a pre-departure testing facility, as countries react to the new Omicron variant, outside the international terminal at Sydney Airport in Australia, on Nov. 29, 2021. (Loren Elliott/Reuters)

Australian Government Mobilises 150,000 Private Health Workers to Deal With Omicron Outbreak

The Australian federal government will mobilise 57,000 nurses and 100,000 health workers from the private sector in its fight against the Omicron strain of COVID-19.

The government activated an agreement made in April 2020, which makes available private health workers to deal with the pandemic.

Its a workforce which is skilled, planned, appropriate and available, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters on Jan. 18.

The states and territories will where necessary work directly with the staff and with the hospitals themselves, whether its the large part of the private hospital networks and it will be up to the states and territories to activate those, but we have activated them at the Commonwealth end, he said.

Hunt said the national medical stockpile, which includes PPE, will also be made available.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the health sector had been planning for workforce pressure since the beginning of the pandemic.

This is the first time that the health system has come under pressure to the extent that were seeing in the last week or two, he said. I said on the weekend, and I stand by those statements, that we are either at or close to the peak of this in certain states.

Australian Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly addresses the media during a press conference in Canberra, Australia, on Dec. 17, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Kelly reiterated that Omicron was a little bit less severe than other strains.

Its been seen in the rest of the world, and we are making the same plans as many other parts of the world have done in response to hospital admissions, he said.

Australias public health systems have been struggling to deal with a gradual increase in hospitalisations amid an outbreak of Omicron, reaching over 4,400 as of Jan. 16.

Victoria, on the same day as the health ministers announcement, declared a code brown, which will give authorities the power to cancel non-urgent health services and staff leave in order to free up capacity.

Meanwhile, New South Wales has had to reduce isolation rules to allow health workers to return to work earlier.

The states health systems were already struggling to maintain peak performance prior to COVID-19, with issues such as ambulance ramping and delays prevalent.

Michelle Atchison, president of the South Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association told a COVID-19 Response Committee that she was unsure how the health system would cope with the Omicron strain going forward.

We had a health system that everyone knew had significant cracks in it and COVID-19 has steamrolled and crushed that system, she said.

What will the health system look like then? How will it manage in the weeks and months beyond? she added.

How will the health system manage the backlog of cases of non-essential surgeries and other treatments that have been put on hold while this Omicron wave swamps us?
Biden Administration Launches Website for Free COVID-19 Tests

President Joe Bidens administration on Tuesday rolled out a website where people can order free COVID-19 tests.

The site enables Americans to order a set of four tests per residential address.

However, the tests wont be shipped until late January.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington that the site is in beta phase right now.

Every website launch comes with risk. We cant guarantee there wont be a bug or two. But the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working to make this a success, she added.

The site, covidtest.gov, is scheduled to officially launch on Wednesday morning.

People who visit and click order free at-home tests are taken to a portal hosted by the U.S. Postal Service, which is being utilized because the service already had a site that sold items to consumers.

Tests will not ship quickly; according to the Biden administration, theyll go out between seven and 12 days after somebody orders them. All orders will be sent through the Postal Services First Class Package Service, with shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territories and APO/FPO/DPO addresses sent through Priority Mail.

The tests are being purchased using taxpayer money.

Administration officials have stepped up efforts in recent weeks to deliver more tests to Americans. Another aspect of the effort was requiring private insurance companies to cover eight at-home COVID-19 tests per person every month.

Tests have been hard to come by in some parts of the United States following the emergence of the Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.

Omicron has sickened the vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, stoking fresh concerns about transmission of the virus and leading to lengthy lines for tests in various areas before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Psaki on Tuesday confirmed that the Biden administration opted against sending tests to Americans in October after meeting with independent experts because the market had not expanded enough to at that moment in time.

She declined to say whether the president had been briefed on the meeting, which reportedly involved experts from Harvard University and the Rockefeller Foundation suggesting a mass distribution of tests before Christmas. Psaki also wouldnt say whether Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bidens chief medical adviser, or Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were on the call.

Nick Ciolino contributed to this report.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a meeting in New York City on Aug. 3, 2021. (Richard Drew/AP Photo)

Bill de Blasio Not Joining Race for New York Governor

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday hes not joining the New York gubernatorial race, ending months of speculation.

I am not going to be running for governor of New York state, the Democrat said in a brief video announcement, but I am going to devote every fiber of my being to fighting inequality in the state of New York.

De Blasio served two terms as mayor and was prevented from running for another by city rules. He was succeeded on Jan. 1 by Eric Adams.

While in office, de Blasio, who unsuccessfully sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination before bowing out after failing to gain traction, had frequently declined to shoot down rumors he wanted to try to win the gubernatorial race.

I am going to stay in public service, and Ill have a lot more to say in the next few weeks, lets put it that way, he said on MSNBC last month.

The 2022 gubernatorial race is wide open after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned following an investigation that substantiated claims of sexual harassment and abuse lodged against him by 11 women, including a state trooper.

Kathy Hochul, the lieutenant governor, succeeded Cuomo and is running for a full term.

Also seeking to win the Democratic primary are Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Jumaane Williams, the public advocate for New York City and a former City Council member.

Republicans who have announced bids include former Trump administration official Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), and former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

A slew of other high-profile officials have said they wont run or have launched a campaign only to withdraw. Among them: New York Attorney General Letitia James and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state.

De Blasio would have changed the dynamics of the race. He did not give a reason why he chose not to join it and he did not say what he plans to do in the future, promising to share more updates soon.

In the video, the former mayor promoted his accomplishments in office, including helping enable free pre-kindergarten for every child in the city and upping the number of affordable housing units.

We proved, together, we can make a big change, he said.
Canadian soldiers attend the NATO military exercises ''Namejs 2021'' at a training ground in Kadaga, Latvia, on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021. (AP/Roman Koksarov)

Canada Deploys Small Contingent of Special Forces Operators to Ukraine

Canada has deployed a small contingent of special forces operators to Ukraine, Canadas Global News reported on Monday, after security talks last week ended without a breakthrough in resolving tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.

Russia has stationed more than 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine, and the United States said on Friday it was concerned that Russia was preparing a pretext to invade if diplomacy failed to meet its objectives.

The Canadian special operations presence is part of an attempt by NATO allies to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine, and to identify ways to assist the Ukrainian government, Global News reported, citing unspecified sources.

The unit has also been tasked with helping to develop evacuation plans for Canadian diplomatic personnel in the event of a full-scale invasion, Global News said.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command said it could not confirm the report, but said it has supported the Ukrainian security forces on a periodic basis since autumn of 2020.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was in Kyiv to discuss efforts to deter aggressive actions by Russia and met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal on Monday.

Canada, which has the worlds third-largest Ukrainian population after Ukraine and Russia, has maintained a 200-strong training mission in western Ukraine since 2015.

On Sunday, it urged Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine, in a new advisory citing Russian aggression.
As I entered the third video call of the day, I was greeted by the teacher and 14 little faces, with adults sitting at each students side. As the principal, I would periodically visit these virtual classrooms to experience the chaos that had now become education. As I prepared to read the class a story, nothing in my 30 years of experience had prepared me for a virtual Kindergarten class. Just imagine 14 little 5-year-olds on a virtual calland yes, it is as energetic as you can imagine and as educationally humorous as it sounds.

Parents, lets face it. It has been a hard year. Many of you have been thrust into the role of educator, child sitter, and parent, all at the same time. Daily, you joined one Zoom call after another, desperately trying to do your job remotely as you sat beside your child, trying to bring order to chaos, ensuring Johnny was paying attention (which is no small accomplishment for the parent of a young student). Daily, you multitasked between saying the alphabet and leading a conference for your officepraying that something did not happen in the background that would be broadcast to your childs class or embarrass you with your coworkers.

Nothing could prepare any of us for the experience of virtual learning, and in most cases, we had no choice. As teachers worked to reinvent and relearn their trade, parents became more than spectators; and truly, day in and day out, they became partners and co-teachers in their childs daily educationboth groups working desperately to ensure that no matter what, each child, each student, continued to learn and grow.

Yet with every change, and every new path, there are hiccups. Each time something new is tried, some things work, while others do not. This year was trial and error as we all worked to keep our children learning and growing. Impacting these results were technological issues, political battles, student attention (or lack thereof), learning curves, and the unique new world and form education had taken.

For some, this change was easy and ideal; for some, it was hard; for others, it became impossible. No matter the response though, research is showing that learning gaps occurred. In studies, news reports, and even anecdotal stories, we see more and more students struggling to meet the learning goals needed to continue to grow and advance in schoolall due to this learning loss.

This is not an indictment of educators or parents or students. In most cases, each one worked very hard to ensure that learning continued. Each poured in everything possible to help these children on their educational journeys, and each should be praised for these efforts to so quickly change absolutely everything about the educational process. This gap is merely a byproduct of being forced to try to do new thingssome of which worked, and some of which did not.

This gap is also the byproduct of different resources being available to different groups. In some areas, technological and other resources abounded; yet in other areas, these were in short supply. How do you remotely teach a student who has neither a computer nor wireless access? How do you remotely teach a student who does not have a parent to assist him or her? How do you remotely teach a student when you, as a teacher, have never been trained for this? How do you remotely teach a student who does not even have the resources for basic necessities? These are the very real struggles that parents and teachers faced, and worked to overcome, each day during this pandemic.

As we finished last year and began this new school year, educational gaps became more evident. As high school and graduating students attended recovery classes to reclaim credits previously failed, as students received grade reports showing these deficiencies, and as teachers and parents saw student progress stalled, these gaps became more pronounced.

The point of education involves facing new challenges and learning new ways, not only to educate, but to overcome these challenges. This new challenge in education is not hopeless, but it is yet a new opportunity to help our children succeed and grow. Every generation has faced challenges in education, and this happens to be ours.

At the start, these opportunities can seem overwhelming, but they are not insurmountable. If we all work together, we canto borrow a popular termcancel this learning gap and help our children succeed. By taking some basic steps, we can mitigate this challenge and begin to erase these deficiencies. Here are 10 goals:

Strengthen the partnership. Remember, we are a team, working together for these children. The more we can strengthen and make this a partnership, the better it will be for our kids. Remember, it is not us against them. Research current expectations. Take time to know what your child needs to know. First, check with your childs school for a list of skills he or she should have. Next, you can find many online resources to help with this, such as Verywell Family, GreatSchools, BabyCenter, Time4Learning, and many other sites. In this case, Google can be your best friend. Honestly evaluate where your child is educationally. This can be scary for parents but admitting there is a deficiency is not the end of the world. Ask your childs teachers what they are seeing, and/or evaluate this yourself. You cannot begin to fix the problem until you know and understand what the problem is. List key educational needs. Believe it or not, not everything children learn is as important as everything else. Work with the teachers and schools to develop a list of what is most critical and focus on that. If you try to tackle everything at once, it will only overwhelm you, the teacher, and most importantly, your child. Together, develop a plan to address and strengthen learning. This is not the time for a Lone Ranger approach. Only together can this be accomplished. Parents and teachers absolutely must develop a plan that accomplishes the goals in the most logical and beneficial way possible. Dont be afraid to also draw on extra help and services. Implement strategies and activities to close the gaps. Begin, step by step, to implement the plan needed for success. Dont get overwhelmed: simply take it one day, one step, at a time. If needed, again, bring in extra help and servicesmaybe a tutor or family friendto help the learning process along. If you do this, little by little, your goals will be accomplished. Make it fun, not punitive or stressful. If you are stressed, your child will be too. Find fun ways to accomplish these goals (there are literally hundreds of sites and apps that will help reinforce these skills). Dont make your child feel like he or she is being punished. Make it something everyone can enjoy. Give your child an incentive and something to work toward. No, this is not bribing. It is simply helping him or her work toward a goal. Dont we all like to be rewarded or have a benefit for the work we do? Why should it be any different for your child? Have your child work toward a reward, incentive, or even payment (just like a paycheck), and reward him or her for hard work. In reality, your child will be the one working for it. Become an active partner and advocate for your child. Parents, you cannot sit on the sidelines and expect your child and teacher to do it all. Education is our responsibility as parents, and we cannot afford not to be involved. Constructively advocate and be involvedthese are not bad words and should be the norm. Regularly reassess and adjust learning goals, plans, and needs as necessary. Regularly, with the teacher, assess progress, and if necessary, redevelop and rework the plan. Do this to ensure that the most pressing needs continue to be met.

Remember, it took us over a year to get to this point; and it will not be, and does not need to be, corrected overnight. Patiently and diligently work together with your child and his or her teacher, as a team, to accomplish these goals. If you do, before you know it, these goals will be accomplished, and this learning gap can be canceled. If nothing else, this can be a new model for how we, as parents, can better work with and support our children, their teachers, and their schoolsand once again be on the same side of this battle. When we do, it will no longer be us against them, and the true winners will be our children.

This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
Capitol Report (Jan. 17): Winter Storm Cancels Thousands of Flights

In the nations capital, activists held a peace walk to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Many tell us theyre encouraged by Dr. Kings legacy of unity and peace.

A powerful winter storm ripped through the East Coast over the weekend, leaving over 200,000 homes and businesses without power. Thousand of flights were canceled or delayed.

Last week, the Supreme Court handed a major victory to businesses that were set to start enforcing President Joe Bidens vaccine mandate on employees. But how many Americans are still feeling the effects of the mandate culture that has been created?

Biden is calling the Texas synagogue attack that happened over the weekend an act of terror. The FBI has identified the man.

A bipartisan group of seven U.S. senators traveled to Ukraine on Monday. They said they are sending a message to both the Ukraine people and Russian President Vladamir Putin.

Virginia now has its first Republican governor in over a decade. Hours after his inauguration, Glenn Youngkin removed mask mandates and banned critical race theory from all Virginia public schools.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping drives in a car after inspecting the troops during a parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

CCPs Behavior Runs Counter to Rules-Based International Order: Japan Ambassador

Ongoing tensions between China and the greater international order require different solutions than were used during the Cold War, according to an ambassador from Japan. That means decoupling, the proposed process of wholly detaching from China economically, is unlikely.

China is a different country than the Soviet Union in the Cold War, said Koji Tomita, the ambassador from Japan to the United States.

China is the second-largest economy in the world, it is deeply integrated into the global economy, and as a great nation, China shares a very important responsibility to address global challenges like climate change.

Tomita made the comments during a Jan. 18 discussion hosted by the Brookings Institution, which covered topics as wide-ranging as economics, COVID-19, and Indo-Pacific security.

During the conversation, Tomita focused on Japan and the United States shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and rules-based international order, as well as the role that China may yet play in it.

We would very much like China to be part of this vision, Tomita said. But, unfortunately, certain aspects of Chinas behavior seem to run counter to this vision.

Allies Seek Security and Transparency, Not Decoupling

The comments come amid increasing talk of decoupling in certain American political circles, and raise important issues regarding how realistic such ideas are.

Likewise, a senior U.S. diplomat in Japan said that the Biden administration was not seeking to decouple from China, but confirmed that it is looking to prevent key technologies vital to its security from being transferred to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) without consent.

I dont think either the United States or Japan seeks decoupling from China, said Raymond Greene, charge daffaires ad interim for the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, during the discussion.

Both Japans efforts in economic security and our own efforts in areas like supply chain resilience, are meant more to ensure that our trade and investments and relationship with China is fair and transparent.

Security experts have long called for a ban on so-called technology transfers of artificial intelligence and other critical technologies to China, whether those transfers be through espionage or legal trade agreements. Increasingly, there is an anxiety in the American policy-making community that U.S. technologies could be co-opted by Chinas military and used against it.

House Republicans warned in October, for instance, that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was leveraging stolen U.S. tech to create new weapons, including hypersonic missiles.

Likewise, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center recently began a campaign to advise American business about the risks of counterintelligence operations, saying that the CCP had stolen U.S. technologies on multiple occasions.

The Former chief software officer for the Space Force additionally warned that insider threat was the foremost challenge facing American tech companies and universities, and that there was a concerted effort by the CCP to steal critical and emerging technologies.

To that end, Greene said that the Biden administration was seeking real change in securing vital technologies, but one that did not require the complete economic and diplomatic breakdown that would be required by decoupling with China.

We want a small fence, Greene said. A small but very high fence that protects our core competitive technologies in areas of economic strength while allowing normal trade and investment in those non-sensitive areas.

Greene said that the rules-based international order was vital to Chinas rise as a global power, and that the CCPs aggression against the United States and Japan was both unwarranted and unproductive.

I dont think theres any two countries in the world that have done more to help China grow economically, and also integrate into the international system, Greene said of the United States and Japan.

Both of us feel a sense of disappointment that the PRC has used its position, both in terms of its economic and military power, but also its role in the international system, in ways that undercut the international order that has helped it so much over the last four decades, Greene said.

Fighting Authoritarianism, Not China

Tomita and Greene agreed that a balance needed to be struck between strengthening the Indo-Pacific and the myriad nations present there against CCP coercion, while also making efforts to reintegrate the PRC into the meaningful participation in the rules-based international order.

Japan has been an advocate for a free and open Indo-China for many years, Tomita said. This is a vision for business in the region based on a free, open, and rules-based order.

We need a certain sense of diplomatic principles, Tomita said. These frameworks and principles have served us well in the past half century.

To that end, Tomita said the there was no need to overwrite the very principles that the current state of affairs was built on, but that some adjustments to policy were needed in order to fix imbalances in security, which Japan would seek to work on with the United States.

The first thing, of course, is upgrading responsive and deterrent capabilities in the context of our alliance cooperation, Tomita said.

Tomita also added that joint U.S.-Japan efforts would seek to build synergy between the two nations to create better resiliency. Such efforts will include investments in science and technology, he said, as well as efforts to secure supply chains and promote democratic values through forums such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).

Green said that the Indo-Pacific was central to the Biden administrations platform and overarching global strategy. He called Japan absolutely critical to the continued flourishing of liberal democracies in the region.

The two agreed that the enemy, if there was to be one, was not China, but the anti-democratic and techno-authoritarian measures currently being pursued by the CCP, including the repression of peoples in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet.

Greene said that intense diplomacy was necessary to ensure that no diplomatic or military miscalculations might lead to unfortunate consequences for all nations involved. He stressed that issues of global importance, such as climate change and arms control, could serve as a catalyst for cooperation between China and the international community.

We are very much eager to engage with China on multilateral arms control efforts, just as we have with Russia, Greene said.

The Centerpiece of US International Policy

Tomita and Greenes conversation comes as Japan and the United States increase economic, diplomatic, and military ties to thwart increasingly hostile actions by the CCP, though each nation has its own reasons for concern.

The United States is seeking to maintain an international order and freedom of movement in the region that is vital to its economy and alliance structure. Japan, meanwhile, is increasingly concerned about the continued self-rule of Taiwan, which if invaded by China could be used to launch an attack on Japan, as well as the security implications of growing Sino-Russian military exercises.

In January alone, the two nations agreed on a deal to upgrade Japans fighter jets and conducted Two-Plus-Two meetings between American and Japanese foreign and defense leaders.

Those efforts will culminate further on Friday, Jan. 21, with a virtual meeting between President Joe Biden and Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

An associated statement by the White House announcing the meeting called the Japan-U.S. alliance the cornerstone of peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.

With such rhetoric in mind, however, Tomita cautioned that strongly-worded messages and agreements were all well and good, but that peace with China would only be maintained if those words were backed up with concrete action.

Of course, we can be tough in our public messaging, Tomita said. But being tough in the messaging is one thing. Being ready is a completely different matter.
CEOs From Major US Airlines Warn 5G Technology Could Ground Planes

CEOs of some of the major U.S. airlines on Monday warned that the nations commerce will essentially grind to a halt and there will be significant operation disruptions to air passengers if 5G C-band technology is not deployed in a safe manner around airports.

It comes as Verizon and AT&T are set to roll out their next-generation 5G wireless technology after numerous delays over concerns as to how the technology could affect flights.

In a letter sent to White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, CEOs said that unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and the shipping public will essentially be grounded.

The letter was signed by the chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and others.

Despite the recent collaboration and data sharing between the telecommunications industry, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation industry, commercial aviation in the United States is facing major disruption of the traveling and shipping public based on our evaluation of the data and discussions that have been ongoing to resolve the issue of how best to deploy 5G C-band in a safe manner around U.S. airports, the CEOs wrote.

Airline bosses requested that that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 2 miles of airport runways at affected airports as defined by the FAA on January 19, 2022.

This will allow 5G to be deployed while avoiding harmful impacts on the aviation industry, the traveling public, supply chain, vaccine distribution, our workforce, and the broader economy, the CEOs said. We further ask that the FAA immediately identify those base stations closest to key airport runways that need to be addressed to ensure safety and avoid disruption in a manner that is narrowly focused and consistent with the agreement established on January 3, 2022.

Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies. The harm that will result from deployment on January 19 is substantially worse than we originally anticipated, the airline bosses said.

They warned that the 5G wireless technology could effectively leave thousands of passengers grounded and leave tens of thousands more stranded overseas.

The FAA told The Epoch Times: We recognize the economic importance of expanding 5G, and we appreciate the wireless companies working with us to protect the flying public and the countrys supply chain. The complex U.S. airspace leads the world in safety because of our high standards for aviation, and we will maintain this commitment as wireless companies deploy 5G.

The Epoch Times has contacted Airlines for America, the group that organized the letter, for comment.

FAA and other aviation officials fear that the use of the C-band spectrum for 5G wireless services could interfere with sensitive aircraft electronics, disrupt flights, and result in some diversions.

Earlier this month, Verizon and AT&T rejected a request by Buttigieg and Dickson to delay rolling out the technology, citing safety concerns.

However, the companies reversed that decision just days later when they voluntarily agreed to delay the rollout, and offered to expand so-called exclusion zonesaround certain airports for six months, noting that similar precautionary measures were already in place in France.

The CEOs say the six-month expansion will give the FAA and aviation officials more time to study the potential for interference with aircraft operations and remediate any altimeters that might not meet current standards.

Specifically, for six months, until July 5, 2022, we will adopt the same C-band radio exclusion zones that are already in use in France, with slight adaptation to reflect the modest technical differences in how C-band is being deployed in the two countries, they said in response to the request from officials.

That approachwhich is one of the most conservative in the worldwould include extensive exclusion zones around the runways at certain airports. The effect would be to further reduce C-band signal levels by at least 10 times on the runway or during the last mile of final approach and the first mile after takeoff, the companies said.

The FAA said Sunday that it had cleared an estimated 45 percent of the U.S. commercial airplane fleet to perform low-visibility landings at many airports where 5G C-band will be deployed on Jan. 19.
People line up to get their children vaccinated at a clinic in Montreal on Nov. 25, 2021, after Quebec launched an ad campaign to vaccinate children aged 5 to 11. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)

Childhood COVID Vaccination Causing Contention in Canadian Families

The issue of COVID-19 vaccinations, which polls show has become a divisive issue in society, has also caused rifts in some families.

A Saskatchewan father recently went into hiding with his young daughter to keep her from receiving the COVID vaccine, just one case of many across Canada where vaccination status is becoming a point of contention between parents.

Michael Jackson, a divorced father from the town of Carievale, Saskatchewan, was opposed to his 7-year-old daughter receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. After his ex-wife said the child would get the vaccine, he refused to return her, even though his ex-wife had primary residence and medical authority in the joint custody arrangement.

Jackson went into hiding with their daughter in early December 2021, shortly before his legal options to change the situation ran out. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Nadine Ness, who founded the Saskatchewan organization Unified Grassroots in part to heal the divisions in families and society that came about as a result of pandemic policies, said she knows of 15 cases where parents who were already volatile in their relationship are further divided over vaccination of their children.

Especially if one of the parents is really against it, theyre using it, threatening it to get more visits or more child support or more their way. Ive had two stories where theyre saying, Well, Im going to take the kids and get them vaccinated if you dont back down on child support, Ness said in an interview.

They have something thats ammunition they can use, and now its become the new thing, the COVID stuff, to try to get at the other parent through the child.  A lot of parents are afraid of speaking out too, because they dont want it used against them in custody battles.

Shortly before Christmas, Quebec Superior Court Justice Sebastien Vaillancourt denied an unvaccinated father visitation rights to his double-vaccinated 12-year-old child. Vaillancourt called the father a conspiracy theorist based on his Facebook posts, and said the Court has strong reasons to doubt that he respects health measures as he claims to do in his written statement.

Ness said the decision really bothers her, especially since she and her young children suffered very little when the Omicron variant recently went through her home.

Do they not know the risk for children is like non-existent? Im shocked that thats even something thats being considered, she said of the court decision.

Potential for Conflict Magnified

Paul Adams, professor emeritus of social work at the University of Hawaii, says families and couples often differ on personal preferences or political persuasions. However, the significance of the pandemic magnifies the potential for emotional conflict, especially for couples.

Lets say he is against vaccination. He doesnt take COVID seriously and just dismisses her concerns. And then she on the other hand is quite nervous, partly because it has been a serious disease and theres alarmist reports that show infection rates, death rates, and so on, Adams told The Epoch Times.

One side feels not respected, not heard. If you go back a step and say, how good is this couple at sorting out differences, and if the answer is not terribly good, usually it doesnt matter. But then suddenly something comes along that does seem to matter.  Is this a deal breaker? Thats why I would not be surprised if there was some spike in divorce.

Married parents can also disagree on the vaccine. In October 2021, Quebec Superior Court Justice Chantal Lamarche ruled in favour of a 13-year-old boy who wanted the shots so he could eat in restaurants, go to movies, and play sports. Concerns about vaccination risks left the father opposed, so his wife took to the courts. Lamarche ruled, The fears of the gentleman are no match for the recommendations of public health in Quebec.

Youve had parents that co-parented really well until this came about, and now youre seeing it cause issues, says Ness.

Division, Stereotyping

An online Leger survey of 1,549 Canadians conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies in September 2021 showed that more than three in four respondents held negative views about those who are unvaccinated. Another poll, by Maru Public Opinion, also conducted in September 2021, showed that 77 percent of Canadians believed the country was more divided than before the fall federal election.

Adams, who is 79, believes the pandemic has caused divisions between generations as well, where some elderly want younger people to take more precautions. Others cant see their grandchildren, or refuse to, because adult children or teen grandchildren have not been vaccinated.

In addition, he says, false stereotyping propagated by mainstream media has magnified contempt.

It all assumes that the people who are critical or skeptical about vaccination are crazyno sane argument on their side, Adams said.

Then you get masses of [reader] comments that say, Well, theyre all idiots. People who are Republicans are extreme rights, and all this sort of thing. So I think theres been a real breakdown in civil discourse.  And if you think half the population is racist, antisemitic, crazy, etc., etc., that doesnt make for great family relations either.

Adams, who writes commentaries for The Epoch Times, said he even received pushback for a column that suggested people should be more open to contrary perspectives.

Everybody involved in this is claiming to know more than they do, he said.

Its actually uncertain, it would seem to me, all of these things, but everybody you meet has a definite, unconditional opinion on the matter. I was arguing we should be admitting we dont really know and be more humble. People dont like to hear that. They like to get angry and take sides.
Policemen secure a side entrance following the arrival of police vehicles at the Dandong Intermediate People's Court in China's northeast Liaoning province on March 19, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Rights Lawyer Faces Disciplinary Action Over Defending Client Persecuted by Beijing

A Chinese human rights lawyer was summoned to a disciplinary hearing for his speech in defense of a client. The lawyers peers warned that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is eroding the legal profession in the country.

Beijing-based lawyer Song Yusheng was summoned to a hearing with the Disciplinary Board of the CCP-linked Beijing Lawyers Association (BLA) on Jan. 11. The Board charged him with malpractice during a trial, accusing Song of speaking in a politically sensitive manner.

Another rights lawyer, speaking to The Epoch Times on the condition of anonymity, said that the BLA contradicted itself in its accusation, since malpractice can only apply to a lawyers conduct and not what he says in a courtroom, according to their own rules.

An attorneys court speech clearly falls under the category of speech rather than conduct, said the rights lawyer. Arbitrary confusion of the two things would mean overstepping the associations authority.

He said Songs case as well as recent cancellations of rights lawyers licenses affirm that Chinas judicial ecosystem has rapidly been deteriorating since regime leader Xi came to power.

On the surface, [they] are punishing lawyers, the lawyer said. But they are silencing all voices from citizens.

Its a signal [they are] moving further toward brutality and degeneration.

The Complaint

Song said that one year ago, he received a complaint accusing him of malpractice from the Daqing High-tech Industry Development Zone Court, where he represented his client Song Liqin, a 70-year-old Falun Gong practitioner in Heilongjiang Province.

Song Yusheng prepared a defense for the elderly woman who was arrested on Sept. 11, 2019, around the Daqing Peoples Hospital. Security agent Feng Haibo took her keys away and led a team to raid her home without her being present. They seized her Falun Gong books; an image of Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong; used cellphones; and 6,000 yuan ($901) in cash.

Falun Gong is a spiritual practice composed of meditative exercises and a set of moral teachings centered on the principles, truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Since 1999, the CCP has persecuted Falun Gong practitioners, imprisoning and killing them for maintaining their beliefs.

On Dec. 30, 2021, Song received a call from the BLA notifying him to appear at a hearing and respond to the complaint from a court session in which he previously defended a client.

Song told The Epoch Times on Jan. 11 that the biggest issue at his hearing was that the investigators refused to present the letter of complaint as well as evidence against him.

The lawyers association of Chaoyang District, Beijing, and the local judicial bureau found the Daqing courts accusations groundless after their investigation.

A Dangerous Precedent

The complaint was about what Song said during a defense case. Rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, one of Songs defenders, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 11, that unjustly seeking lawyers accountability for their discourse in court, in whatever way, is a dangerous precedent.

Wang noted the wording of the complaint used terms such as publicly promoted, repeatedly, and as law clearly stipulates. He said these terms provided a biased description of the relevant facts.

Previously, he said, the Chinese authorities targeted rights lawyers with charges of disrupting justice by commenting on cases in interviews with media outlets or on their social media channels.

But now we see public power has switched to unjustly hold lawyers responsible for their speech in court, said Wang. This is a de facto withdrawal of protection legally provided for their speech in court.

Once such a precedent is set, Chinas whole body of lawyers would be endangered, Wang warned.

Hong Ning and Gao Miao contributed to this report.
Chinese Property Giant Said Its Employee of The Year Was Not a Human, But an AI Program

AI-powered virtual humans are proliferating in China, replacing humans in many fields

From news anchors to company employees, AI-powered virtual humans have quickly taken over human posts in China.

In December 2021, Chinas property giant Vanke said its employee of the year was not a human.

According to The Paper, a Chinese state-owned media, the company declared an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered debt collector named Cui Xiaopan as its employee of the year. The virtual employee was created by Vankes in-house team using the Xiaoice Framework, an AI system developed by Microsoft Asia.

At first glance, Cui is depicted as a beautiful young professional in her 20s who joined Vankes accounting department in February 2021 and is the recipient of the companys Best Newcomer Award.

Supported by systematic algorithms, [Cui] quickly learned the human methods in discovering problems in data and work procedures. The skills she displayed has proven to be hundreds of thousands of times more efficient than humans, Yu Liang, chairman of the board of directors of Vanke, wrote in a social media post on Dec. 20, 2021, adding that Cui has a 91.44 percent success rate in collecting overdue payments.

AI-powered virtual humans have become a trending application in recent years, especially in the Chinese financial sector. Since 2019, at least three banks in China have unveiled their virtual employees.

In December 2021, Baixin Bank launched its first virtual employee named AIYA, and Jiangnan Rural Commercial Bank launched its VTM digital employees. Earlier in April 2019, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank introduced its first AI-powered digital employee named Xiaopu, capable of serving its bank users at different posts.

AI-Powered Virtual Influencers

The market for virtual influencers is rapidly expanding in China. It is driven by the accelerated development of AI and rendering technologies. More and more influencers are becoming virtual to fit specific needs.

On Oct. 31, 2021, Halloween, an AI-powered beauty blogger named Liu Yexi released her first video, according to Sohu, a Chinese state-owned media.

In the 2-minute video, Liu was putting on makeup in front of a mirror while dressed in a traditional Chinese outfit. The short film with a combination of suspense, plot, and post-production special effects became an instant hit on Douyinthe Chinese version of TikTokattracting 2.3 million followers in just three days.

Since then, Lius Douyin account has uploaded over six videos, with more than 8.3 million fans and over 20 million likes.

Many companies look to leverage their artificial intelligence capabilities in the fast-growing metaverse field.

Notably, Chinas first meta-human AYAYI made its debut on Chinese e-commerce platform Xiaohongshuin in May 2021. The hyper-realistic digital human garnered three million views on its first post and 40,000 followers overnight, according to Dao Insights, a Chinese digital news publication.

Different from past virtual idols in China, AYAYIs appearance is much closer to an actual human in terms of look and feel. Reportedly many Xiaohongshu users were torn over whether it was real or another AI-created human. The company later came out with a statement introducing her as the countrys first meta-human, according to Thats Beijing magazine.

As a fashion influencer, AYAYI has entered marketing partnerships with many brands including Porsche, who is also an investor in the technology. AYAYI has also reportedly become Alibabas digital ambassador. The company said it would jointly build the future of the Metaverse with AYAYI and create a new world of marketing.

In addition to virtual employees and influencers, Beijings Tsinghua University had also unveiled its first AI-powered virtual student named Hua Zhibing in June 2021, according to the Chinese state-run Global Times.

AI and rendering technologies have become so sophisticated in recent years that some AIs are almost indistinguishable from real humans.

Mr. Wang, a 20-year IT industry expert in Japan, told The Epoch Times that artificial intelligence has far surpassed humans in terms of calculation methods, performance, and learning ability. But the biggest problem is that it has no ethics, morals, or personal values.

AI Risks and Social Issues

A director of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Song Zhan, told the Chinese state-run Xinhua News that developing virtual humans might bring new ethical and social issues.

Song called on the public to be vigilant about fake avatars and online characters created by AI. He warned that people might be overly immersed in the virtual world and become reliant or even seek emotional support from fake characters, leading to widespread social issues.

An IT professional, Zhang Jian, told The Epoch Times that AI technologies appeared to be advancing in an unstoppable trend. Web 3.0 (internet of the future), virtual reality (VR), and the Metaverseif these three elements were to combine, the future world would be completely unimaginable for us, Zhang said. The way we are heading, no one knows if there will be a place for humans in the future.

The boundaries between real and virtual have become increasingly blurred, and many experts are concerned. Technology has indeed changed our lives, but human beings will gradually lose themselves in the technologies they create, Zhang added.

Controlling the Future

AI was initially an idea to mimic and augment human intelligence. However, AI technologies today are rapidly proliferating around the world. They are replacing humans in manufacturing, service delivery, recruitment, communications, the military, the financial industry, and other sectors, generating enormous financial interests, according to the Harvard Business Review.

According to a 2019 report compiled by Deloitte, a global professional services network, experts predict that using AI at a larger scale will add as much as $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

At the same time, AI developments have also created geopolitical contests. In a meeting with students in 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the one who becomes the leader in this sphere will be the ruler of the world, according to an Associated Press report.

When one partys drones are destroyed by drones of another, it will have no other choice but to surrender, Putin added, predicting that future wars will be fought by drones.

That same year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) incorporated the AI developments into its national strategy and set goals to become the global leader by 2030.

Deloittes report shows that from 2015 to 2020, the average annual compound growth rate of the global artificial intelligence market was 26.2 percent, while the growth rate of the Chinese AI market during the same period was 44.5 percent. Another report by Deloitte suggests that in 2025 the scale of Chinas artificial intelligence industry will exceed $85 billion.

US Remains a Major Investor in Chinas AI Development

Chinas great leap forward in artificial intelligence is driven by large-scale capital. However, despite the emerging threat, Wall Street remains the largest investor in the Chinese AI industry, according to Hong Kong finance and economics columnist Alexander Liao.

Almost all large tech companies in mainland China are supported by American capital. For example, Chinese tech giants Baidu, Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDancethe parent company of TikTokhave been publicly listed and heavily invested in by Wall Street over the years. In turn, these Chinese tech giants invest heavily in Chinas domestic tech companies, including Chinese AI startups.

Wall Streets direct investment and venture capital have brought its high-tech business incubation mechanism to Mainland China, helping China create high-tech industries that compete with the United States. And yet, it is the CCP that controls these industries.

The Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), a U.S. think tank, estimated the CCPs total R&D investment in artificial intelligence in 2018 was between $2 billion and $8.4 billion.

Presently, there are about 2,600 artificial intelligence companies in China. Most located in Beijings Haidian District technology hub, working closely with Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

CCPs Strategic Priority

The CCP has prioritized AI development in recent years, making it a key national development strategy. It has mandated AI into many aspects of ordinary life, not only to surveil and control its people but also to use its massive population to spur development.

To bolster the rapid development of AI, the CCP has issued a number of supporting policies and regulations, including its Made in China 2025 and 13th Five-Year Plan.

In 2017, Chinas State Council issued the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, emphasizing the significance of AI in helping the government understand and control society.

Artificial intelligence technology can accurately perceive, predict, and early-warn the major trends of society. [It can] grasp peoples cognition and psychological changes and proactively decide the responses. [This technology] will significantly improve the ability and level of social governance. It is irreplaceable for effectively maintaining social stability, according to the plan.

It will have a profound impact on government management, economic security, social stability, and global governance.

Liao said the CCP believes the emerging technology revolutionartificial intelligencecan bring new life to the authoritarian system, which was on the verge of collapse.

Joyce Liang contributed to this report.
A Chinese spy and a British premier minister were seen together at whispering distance. Photos are now driving backlash over just how much the Chinese Communist Partys influence is cozying up to the West.

The infamous phrase Made in China has been found on medical masks distributed by Congress in Washington. This find is sparking concerns among U.S. lawmakersspecifically on risks linked to supply chains.

China says its economy saw the best growth in a decade last year. But is the figure reliable? And whats in store for the coming months?

The Beijing Olympics boycott grows. Two more countries announce theyll skip the event, citing various reasons.

The abuse methods used on Uyghur Muslims were perfected through the persecution of a Chinese spiritual practice, says an award-winning movie director. His new film aims to expose the realities of Chinas human rights violations.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
An ICU nurse takes a moment to write some notes during her shift at St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver on Dec. 4, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward)

COVID Exposed the Sorry State of Canadas Health System, but Dont Expect Reform

Commentary

Apparently the COVID pandemic has revealed the manifest deficiencies of our socialized medicine. Weve endured massive lockdowns, including among the worst suspensions of in-person schooling anywhere, because of the shrivelled fragility of world-famous-in-Canada medicare, which must now be reformed provided nothing changes.

My National Post colleague Kelly McParland just loosed what passes here for a broadside: A memo must have circulated within the Ottawa pundit club, as suddenly theres a rash of articles noticing that things arent as they should be in the venerated Canadian health-care system After quoting various statements, he added, There arent enough nurses or other health-care staff, there arent enough beds, theres not enough room in intensive care, were not equipped for surges or mass outbreaks, and years of budget pressures have left us vulnerable to unexpected events. But Its not like we dont spend the money. Health care spending tops provincial budget outlays.  Were near the top in international tables of spenders

McParland then took the political pulse of the nation and found nothing. Theres been years of talk about raising taxes, cutting costs, switching priorities, rethinking orthodoxies or embracing innovation, to little effect. Nor are voters likely to respond positively to proposals for experiments with private medicine.  There might be a great theoretical case for it, but nows not the time to launch it.

Well, no. In Canada it never is. When our equivalent of a political giant, William Lyon Mackenzie King, died in 1950, frustrated social democratic poet F.R. Scott wrote, He blunted us. We had no shape/ Because he never took sides,/ And no sides/ Because he never allowed them to take shape.

Scotts irritated masterpiece W.L.M.K. concluded, Let us raise up a temple/ To the cult of mediocrity,/ Do nothing by halves/ Which can be done by quarters. Its all very clever, including The height of his ambition/ Was to pile a Parliamentary Committee on a Royal Commission. But it gives King too much credit.

Given Joseph de Maistres Toute nation a le gouvernement quelle merite, Canadians must take a brickbat here because, as McParland said, it has long been clear that our public health care isnt working. Indeed, its long been orthodox to say so provided you then insist that nothing be changed while reforming it.

Why, Paul Martin included a fix for a generation among his myriad top priorities back in 2004. But the fix was in on his fix; the feds would give provincial governments more money and pretend it didnt all come from the same taxpayer, provided the provinces spent it on the same approach and pretended it wasnt the failed same-old-same-old.

Scott also wrote of King, He seemed to be in the centre/ Because we had no centre. And Canadian public policy generally, and health care in particular, is hampered by this odd conviction that, being moderate as a kind of birthright, we can impose more radical restrictions on private health care than anyone other than Kim Jong-un and still claim the middle ground. (While chanting your body your choice.)

Formless, we cannot take sides. There isnt a pro-market health-care camp and a pro-socialist one, no matter how often some of us cite Thomas Jefferson, wise in print though foolish and wretched in conduct, that Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

It sometimes feels as though Ive been doing so since Mackenzie King died 17 years before the Medical Care Act was passed over half a century ago. Even the updated Canada Health Act straitjacket is now nearly four decades old and badly worn. Its approach would produce shortages in any area they were applied, and if abuse and inertia prevented debate they would persist for generations, and deep down we know it; nobody wants government supermarkets. Yet the CHA has bizarrely become sacred writ above even the charter, since its Five Pillars of Waiting Lists cannot be limited if demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society, unlike mere free speech.

Must I really explain again that health care is no more zero-sum than bread-making, that encouraging effort and ingenuity brings plenty and suppressing them brings want in either, or anywhere? Perhaps, since we still tolerate milk marketing boards. And medicares dreary defenders still claim that if a doctor starts working outside the system, it means one less within.

Bosh. If a doctor stops collecting public fees, it frees up that money for a new graduate or new immigrant. Likewise, if we let someone jump the queue for private care, an expression we would not use if they switched grocery stores to avoid lousy service, it clears a space for the next person. But in Canada we cry Reform if necessary, but not necessarily reform, have no shape, no sides, and do nothing even by quarters.

Again.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Deadly Crime Spree Suspect Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole

LOS ANGELESAn ex-con was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for taking part in a violent crime spree that included a motorist being fatally shot in Panorama City and a wrong-way freeway crash in which a woman and her three children were injured in Sun Valley.

Artyom Gasparyan, 38, was convicted in August of more than 30 counts, including a first-degree murder charge stemming from the Dec. 30, 2015, killing of Adan Corea, a 32-year-old father of two who lost control of his vehicle after being shot.

The Los Angeles

Police Department Robbery Homicide Division is requesting the

publics assistance in locating Artyom Gasparyan on January 4, 2016. (Courtesy of Los Angeles Police Department)

Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegation of an intentional shooting from a vehicle, along with an allegation that Gasparyan was not armed but knew that the gunman was armed.

Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy had earlier rejected a motion made at the behest of District Attorney George Gascon to dismiss the special circumstance allegation, which opened Gasparyan to the sentence of life without parole, according to Deputy District Attorney John McKinney.

Gasparyan was also convicted of crimes carried out between Aug. 5, 2015, and Jan. 4, 2016, including attempted murder, robbery, carjacking, shooting at an unoccupied vehicle, fleeing a pursuing peace officers motor vehicle while driving recklessly, hit-and-run driving, assault with a firearm on a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a felon.

In his opening statement, McKinney told jurors that Gasparyan was tied to the crimes through GPS evidence from a silver, four-door 2011 Volkswagen Jetta that the prosecutor said was registered to Gasparyans mother and was regularly driven by the defendant.

All of the crimes in this case were committed with this vehicle being on scene  , McKinney said, noting that an analysis of a Garmin GPS device that was plugged into the vehicles dashboard allowed jurors to literally see the movement of the car at each crime scene.

Gasparyans attorney, Felipe de la Torre, noted that his client had testified in his own defense that other people had access to the vehicle.

Giving access to someone else doesnt make you guilty of the crimes they committed, the defense attorney said in his closing argument.

He told jurors the case was based on inaccurate and unreliable eyewitness identifications.

Gasparyans lawyer said his client is Armenian, not Hispanic as some of the witnesses had described the assailant.

He also questioned the account of two police officers whom he alleged made up this story that Gasparyan reached for a gun while he was being chased following the wrong-way freeway crash.

The defense lawyer urged the panel to acquit his client of all but two countsfelon in possession of a firearm and hit-and-run driving.

He is not a murderer  [he] does not go around shooting people, de la Torre said.

McKinney, the prosecutor, urged jurors to hold Mr. Gasparyan accountable for all the crimes he committed and all the people he hurt.

He also said the crime spree involved a cross-section of people, including the shootings of two strangers crossing the street, a parking valet who was shot after money was demanded, a woman who survived being stabbed six times, and the owners of vehicles that were shot at while parked on a street in Glendalethe latter of which occurred on the defendants birthday.

A twist happened after Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) issued a crime alert upon determining that the crimes were linked, McKinney said, telling jurors that Gasparyan started to work with an accomplice named Daniel Ramirez.

The two were involved in the shooting of a food delivery driver who suffered devastating injuries when he was shot six times after trying to flee on foot in late December 2015; a road-rage incident the following day in which two people were shot just before two shots were fired at Corea, who died soon afterward at a hospital; and the robberies of two gas station convenience stores and two men walking home in the Silver Lake area from a Trader Joes store, the prosecutor said.

Ramirez shot and killed himself after barricading himself inside a home in Long Beach following the carjackings of two vehicles on New Years Day 2016, as tactical surveillance units from the LAPD continued to search for Gasparyan, who drove against traffic on the 5 Freeway three days later and fled on foot after the wrong-way crash, according to the deputy district attorney.

As police chased Gasparyan, two officers saw him reach into his pocket and come up with the gun, and they shot him as he held a .357-caliber revolver in one of his hands, McKinney told jurors.

In a document released in January 2019, Los Angeles County prosecutors concluded that the force used by Los Angeles police detectives Marcelo Raffi and Peter Miranda was reasonable under the circumstances in order to defend their lives and the lives of others, and to capture a dangerous, fleeing felon.

Then-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, who had called Gasparyan a very, very dangerous individual, said police had been actively searching for him in connection with the alleged crime spree.
The eruption of an underwater volcano off Tonga, which triggered a tsunami warning for several South Pacific island nations, is seen in an image from the NOAA GOES-West satellite taken at 05:00 GMT on Jan. 15, 2022. (CIRA/NOAA/Handout via Reuters)

Distress Beacon Detected From Smaller Tonga Island, Death Toll Rises to 2

The United Nations reported Monday that a distress beacon had been detected from a low-lying Tongan island following Saturdays massive volcanic eruption, which triggered a tsunami that has killed at least two people.

An active distress beacon had been detected from Mango, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, adding that the Tongan Maritime Force had been deployed to the island on Sunday.

Tonga police have told the New Zealand High Commission that the confirmed death toll stands at two, but with communications in the South Pacific island nation cut, the true extent of casualties is still unclear.

It is too early to fully assess the impact on remote coastal areas of Tongatapu or further afield, including the outer islands, but concern remains about damage in Northern Tongatapu and contamination of drinking water sources and crops, and the resulting need for safe water supplies, OCHA said in a statement.

The identities of the two deaths have not been revealed. According to initial reports, Angela Glover, a 50-year-old British woman, died from the tsunami after attempting to rescue her dogs from the waves, according to her brother.

OCHA expressed concern about Mango and another low-lying island, Fonoi, with populations of 36 and 69 people respectively, as there has been no contact with the residents so far. Surveillance has revealed that an entire village on Mango was destroyed.

Damage has also been reported from Tongas smaller islands of Fonoifua, Niniva, and Nomuka.

According to OCHA, Tongas only means of communication with the outside world are satellite phones, which are not always reliable. Some local phone systems have been restored on the main island of Tongatapu, as has electric power in some areas, but internet services remain down.

The OCHA claimed that surveillance flights conducted by the Australian and New Zealand governments confirmed substantial property damage from the eruption, with extensive damage being reported on the western beaches of Tongatapu.

Several resorts and houses in Tongatapu were destroyed or badly damaged from the eruption and subsequent ashfall, it said.

Fortunately, there was no significant damage reported at Tongatapus main Fuaamotu Airport, OCHA said, describing the situation on the main island as calm and stable.

The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcanic eruption on Saturday caused tsunami waves to hit and flooded parts of Tongas capital, Nukualofa. The impact of the massive eruption was felt as far away as Peru, the United States, and Japan. Tsunami warnings and evacuation orders were issued in many Pacific countries.

Two people drowned off a beach in Northern Peru due to high waves caused by the tsunami.

Reuters contributed to this report.
In the spring of 2014, while returning from a whirlwind RV road trip to his sisters wedding, Josh and Neysa Grzywa and their two children learned that two more of Joshs military brothers had committed suicide. Both of these suicides happened within a week. Eight of his military friends had died this way. All eight died within a six-week span. As a result of these significant tragedies, Deep Sea Valkyries, or DSV, was born.

Josh and Neysa began to consider why Josh, who had served 15 years in the Army and had been deployed multiple times in support of the global war on terror, had been able to readjust successfully after his back surgeries and his return from the military. In 2014, he was medically retired because of severe spinal injuries that he sustained in a mortar attack in Iraq. He received the Purple Heart.

I could no longer do skydiving or rock climbing, Josh remembered, so diving became essential to my recovery. This awareness led to the couples founding Deep Sea Valkyries (DeepSeaValkyries.com), a veterans trauma-counseling retreat program.

We chose scuba diving as the primary activity because of its unique benefit for people with physical trauma, Josh explained. Amputees, people with partial paralysis, and those with neurological conditions can all participate.

DSV is open to vets of all eras, and its tailored specifically toward combating post-traumatic stress disorder. DSV has served vets from the present time all the way back to those from the Vietnam War, according to Neysa, who is the director of business operations.

Diving was the activity that Josh took up as a new hobby, because regardless of ones disability or injury, she or he is weightless in the water and can participate fully, she said.

DSVs first retreat was held in July of 2016. Josh, who is president, emphasized the importance of meaningful counseling, in which the veteran can be fully invested. Vets often begin counseling with the Veterans Administration for an hour each week. But around that, Josh said, they are bombarded with all of the issues that we all deal with day to day, which can be overwhelming for them.

DSVs retreat program takes vets out of the home setting. They dont have Wi-Fi or cell phones. Being separated, they are free of concern about what family members or friends might think of their counseling sessions, he explained. They only need to focus on themselves and how to shift the trajectory of their lives.

Treating trauma effectively doesnt happen in a week, Josh observed. Theres no quick fitting of a cast and prescribing medication for pain, as one would receive with a broken bone. Trauma counseling takes time.

We tell people right up front, were not going to fix you in a week, Josh continued. They need to shift the trajectory of their lives. We try to arm them with tools so that after they return home, they will seek out treatment in long-term care programs, so that theyll be in a better place with friends or whatever the case may be.

He said that when many of the vets return home, they dont have large vet groups in their communities. One of our members has participated with his daughter. After the vets initial retreat, they can include family members.

People with soft-tissue injuries are freed by being under water, Josh explained. The only sound is the sound of their own breathing. Very tranquil. Its well known that breathing exercises help to bring people who have suffered trauma back to the present moment and remove them from painful memories.

In February of 2022, DSV will hold a reunion event in the same place where the alums first retreat took place, Josh said. They will be engaged in physical activities together, and they open up to share the beginning of the changed trajectory that flowed from the first retreat. This helps family members to connect in deeper, more meaningful ways.

The essential goal of their week at sea is to shift the trajectory of their lives, according to Josh. The vets who join us are not happy with the status quo of their lives. Theyre looking for a change. Many have participated in VA programs in which they havent really had needs met, he explained.

He indicated that the objective is to get them on a path of greater hope and for them to have a brighter outlook. Josh and Neysa said they know firsthand that there are challenges that vets face with some of the organizations that serve them.

We try to be very careful not to over-promise or to guarantee that we can do something that we cant, Josh emphasized.

Primary retreats are held each summer, and the window for applying to participate usually runs through the entire month of December. Each retreat departs out of Nassau, Bahamas, for a week. Participants will be at sea the entire time, according to Neysa.

She reflected that each day begins and ends with a devotional, led by DSVs military chaplain, who focuses on the moral injuries of war. DSV is open to vets from all religions and to those without religious affiliation, but it was founded on Christian principles. This is a prominent foundation of the program, she said.

All participants are expected to participate in all aspects of counseling. There are morning and evening group-counseling sessions, facilitated by a licensed counselor who focuses on combat PTSD. Travis, the current counselor, who served in the Marines, also works as a counselor for the VA.

A former Navy fighter pilot and current counselor helped to create the DSV program, she said. Jeff Hensley still serves as DSVs director of clinical services and oversees the content of the counseling materials. He retired from the Navy after 21 years and went through the VA counseling system himself. He experienced all of the shortfalls of that system, and this prompted him to go back to school to become licensed so that he could help other vets.

According to Neysa, the program has added two additional counselors. Both are vets.

Participants must be dive-certified before their first event, she explained. DSV works with local dive shops to arrange training for applicants who arent certified, so that they can become dive-certified and open-water scuba-certified prior to the retreat.

DSV provides all gear needed by participants, so there is no cost to vets to participate. Patriots for Disabled Divers, an affiliate organization, provides dive training on a year-round basis, if the vet lives in an area with one of their affiliate shops. Vets need to apply separately for this service, she indicated.

During retreats, participants typically dive three to four times, depending on the day. Opportunities for deep-sea fishing and exploration of remote, uninhabited islands also are provided. A lot of vets who join us heard about DSV from word-of-mouth referrals from other vets.

These activities reinvigorate participants, allowing them to experience again, service-related camaraderie, while equipping them with tools for dealing with issues that many vets face when transitioning from service, she explained.

Former participants often return in various staff roles, as a way to pay it forward to other vets. The present primary counselor, Travis, was a participant in 2018, and he has returned for the last three retreats as a counselor.

A current dive master, Matt, was a participant in 2017. He has returned in three subsequent years in staff roles, she said.

A 2019 participant, Felipe, had never dived prior to applying to the program, and he has now worked his way up to the highest level of instructor, through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, PADI, and is working in the dive shop that trained him, according to Neysa. He now trains other vets. He returned as a dive-master in the recent retreat, which had to be rescheduled because of the pandemic.

Previous participants have gone on to either start school, return to school, or open their own businesses and give back in various volunteer roles to other nonprofits serving vets, as well as programs that serve communities.

It has been such an honor to be a part of their healing process, as they write their next chapter, post-service, Neysa said.

Up Armor, a new project that was created by Project Healing Heroes founder and CEO Lieutenant Colonel David Tharp, will partner with DSV in January 2022 to provide continuing care via Zoom counseling sessions, Josh and Neysa said. He has graciously partnered with us to be an extension of our program. Meetings will take place once or twice a week, led by a psychologist. Up Armor will focus on some of the same issues that the primary retreat dealt with.

Up Armor will serve vets from around the world, Josh said. Those from Japan and Australia, for example, and from across this country, will meet in real time for these Zoom meetings. This will allow them to maintain their connection within the vet community, and it will encourage their continuation of care.

Both of Neysas brothers served in the military. Aaron Fulsome served in the Marines, while Owen served in the Army and was stationed in Iraq, along with Josh. Owen was wounded in Samarra, Iraq. Neysa explained that when she traveled to visit Owen, she met Josh. Owen, like Josh, received the Purple Heart. Josh and Neysas two children are Sydney, 10, and Killian, 8.

Sydney just completed her junior open-water scuba certification through PADI and is a natural at diving, Neysa reported. Killian cant wait to turn 10, so he can get certified as well.
Press Release

January 18, 2022 Gordon bats for lump sum death benefits for families of assassinated prosecutors Re-electionist Senator Richard J. Gordon said today that he will pursue to amend Republic Act (RA) 11643, which will benefit families of assassinated prosecutors killed in the line of duty. Gordon, the chairman of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, mentioned that he will seek to grant lump sum death benefits to the families of prosecutors who have been murdered. "I appeal to the chamber, that we amend RA 11643, to grant lump sum death benefits to the families of assassinated prosecutors," remarked Gordon during his privilege speech. Gordon made the call on the aftermath of the murder of Assistant City Prosecutor Edilberto Mendoza while he was exercising outside his home in Trece Martires City, Cavite, last Dec. 31, 2021. The senator showed before the chamber surveillance footage of Mendoza's assassination, and the grisly aftermath of his son tugging his father, pleading for his survival, which went to no avail. According to reports, the suspect, who was captured weeks later, admitted to shooting Mendoza due to the prosecutor's involvement in illegal drugs cases in exchange for a measly sum of Php 25,000. Gordon added that the continued non-implementation of RA 11235, or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, contributed greatly to the continued commission of crimes involving motorcycle-bound riders. "Wala na po bang halaga ang buhay ng tao? Andito tayo, ginagawa ang lahat ng makakaya at nagtutulungan para makaligtas sa pandemya. Iwas ka ng iwas sa COVID, sa riding-in-tandem ka lang pala mamamatay," lamented Gordon. "Dahil hindi ginawa ng LTO ang kanilang tungkulin, dumami pa ang riding-in-tandem at hindi pa naibibigay ang mga plaka na dapat makita kaagad," the senator pointed out. Gordon, a lawyer by profession, rued the continued culture of impunity in the country, as 110 lawyers, judges, and prosecutors have been killed since 1977, 66 of which occurred since the current administration's start in 2016. Out of the 110 cases, 14 suspects have only been arrests, nine charges were filed, and one was dismissed. "Let us refuse to reduce these killings into mere statistics. Hindi natin puwedeng tanggapin na ito ay mga istatistika lamang at hindi naman tayo dapat na pumapayag na walang kalaban-laban in the face of these challenges," he said. To help securing the lives of judicial workers and reinforce the administration of justice in the country, Gordon filed Senate Bill 1947, a proposed measure seeking to establish the Office of the Judiciary Marshals. It aims to ensure the security, safety, and protection of the members, officials, personnel, and property of the Judiciary, including the integrity of the courts and their proceedings.
The exterior of the Houston Methodist Hospital is seen in Houston, Texas on June 9, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Doctor Suspended From Houston Methodist for Backing Ivermectin and Opposing Vaccine Mandates Sues Hospital

A Texas doctor who had her privileges revoked by Houston Methodist hospital last year due to her support of ivermectin and opposition to vaccine mandates sued the hospital on Jan. 17.

Dr. Mary Bowden filed the lawsuit (pdf) on Monday in Harris County District Court seeking financial reports and data on adverse reactions from the hospital.

Two months ago in November Houston Methodist launched me into the public spotlight by telling the world that they were suspending my privileges for supposedly spreading dangerous misinformation about COVID. The Houston Chronicle joined in in that effort. Since then Ive had a lot of people comment publicly that I should lose my license, Bowden said outside her clinic in Houston on Monday.

Houston Methodist declined a request for comment.

According to the lawsuit, Bowden embarked on a quest to obtain the records from Houston Methodist after the hospital accused her of spreading dangerous misinformation which is not based in science in a series of tweets in November last year.

Dr. Mary Bowden, who recently joined the medical staff at Houston Methodist Hospital, is using her social media accounts to express her personal and political opinions about the COVID-19 vaccine and treatments, one of the tweets said.

One day prior to the hospitals tweets, Bowden shared a link to a meta-analysis of studies on the effectiveness of ivermectin as a treatment and prophylaxis for COVID-19.

Ivermectin might not be as deadly as everyone said it was. Speak up! Bowden wrote.

Two days earlier, she wrote in another tweet that vaccine mandates are wrong.

After the hospital provided unconvincing explanations for why it targeted Bowden, she decided to follow the money, the lawsuit states. Under Texas law, non-profit corporations like the one which controls Houston Methodist must make their records available upon request from the public.

Flanked by staff from her clinic on Monday, Bowden spoke of her arduous journey to obtain a medical license and how it has taught her to not blindly trust pharmaceutical companies and to view new treatments and vaccines through a critical lens.

Bowden highlighted that her clinic has no financial ties to the government, hospitals, pharmaceutical corporations, or insurance companies.

I do not contract with insurance companies. I dont contract with the government. I dont take Medicare. I have no financial ties with hospitals, Bowden said. The only people I work for are my patients and I treat them the way I would want to be treated.

Bowdens attorney, Steven Mitby, said the doctor is not pursuing the lawsuit for financial gain.

She is not seeking a penny for any of this, Mitby said. Shes simply asking for transparency and following the law.

Bowden sought the information from the hospital prior to filing the lawsuit but did not receive a response, Mitby said.

In a letter dated November 30, 2021, Bowden requested a series of records from Houston Methodist, including how much money the hospital made from its COVID-19 vaccination program and from treating COVID-19 patients. The doctor also requested financial records pertaining to any financial payments from pharmaceutical companies, non-profit tax returns, and the bonuses the hospital paid to employees.
Drone Attack in Abu Dhabi Claimed by Yemens Rebels Kills 3

DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesA drone attack claimed by Yemens Houthi rebels targeting a key oil facility in Abu Dhabi killed three people on Monday and sparked a fire at Abu Dhabis international airport.

Emirati police identified the dead as two Indian nationals and one Pakistani. Six people were also wounded at an industrial area where Abu Dhabis state-owned energy company runs a pipeline network and an oil tanker storage facility.

Senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash blamed the Houthis for the attack, saying on Twitter that Emirati authorities were handling the rebel groups vicious attack on some civilian facilities in the United Arab Emirates capital with transparency and responsibility.

The tampering of the regions security by terrorist militias is too weak to affect the stability and safety in which we live, he said.

Three transport tankers caught fire at the oil facility, while another fire was sparked at an extension of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Police said preliminary findings indicate there were small flying objects, possibly belonging to drones, that fell in the two areas and may have caused the explosion and fire. They said there was no significant damage from the incidents, without offering further details.

Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed they were behind an attack targeting sensitive Emirati facilities. In a press conference late Monday, military spokesman Yehia Sarea said, without offering evidence, that the Houthis targeted the airports of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as an oil refinery and other sites in the UAE with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones.

Although the UAE has largely withdrawn its own forces from Yemen, it is still actively engaged in the conflict and supports Yemeni militias fighting the Houthis.

The incident comes as the Houthis face pressure and are suffering heavy losses. Yemeni government forces, allied and backed by the UAE, have pushed back the rebels in key provinces. Aided by the Emirati-backed Giants Brigades, the government forces took back the province of Shabwa earlier this month in a blow to Houthi efforts to complete their control of the entire northern half of Yemen.

Condemnations of the attack on the UAE poured in from across the world.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States would work with the UAE and international partners to hold the Houthis accountable, saying we stand beside our Emirati partners against all threats to their territory.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the assault as prohibited by international law and urged all sides to prevent any escalation amid heightened tensions in the region, said spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The U.N. special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg was headed to Riyadh for meetings with Saudi and Yemeni officials on the recent military uptick in Yemen, Dujarric added.

Saudi Arabia and a host of other Arab states decried the assault as a cowardly terrorist attack. The kingdom, as well as the United States, U.N. experts and others have accused Iran of supplying arms to the Houthis.

The UAE was a key member of the Saudi-led coalition that has waged war against the Houthis since 2015, trying to restore to power the internationally backed government, ousted by the rebels the previous year.

While Emirati troops have been killed over the course of the conflict, now in its eight year, the war has not directly affected daily life in the wider UAE, a country with a vast foreign workforce that is also home to Dubai, a glitzy city of skyscrapers and five-star hotels.

The airport fire in Abu Dhabi was described by police as minor and took place at an extension of the international airport that is still under construction. For years, the airport home to Etihad Airways has been building its new Midfield Terminal, but it was not clear if that was where the fire took place.

Etihad Airways said precautionary measures resulted in a short disruption for a small number of flights and that airport operations have returned to normal. Abu Dhabi Airports did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The other blast struck three petroleum transport tankers near a complex for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. in the Musaffah industrial area. The company describes it as a pipeline and terminal facility located some 22 kilometers (13 miles) from the center of the city of Abu Dhabi, where 36 storage tanks also supply transport trucks carrying fuel.

It is also a short distance from Al-Dhafra Air Base, a military installation that hosts U.S. and French forces. U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Andrew Clark, the Al-Dhafra Air Base commander for American forces, said in a statement to The Associated Press that no incidents affected the base amid the attack.

U.S. forces are ready and available to assist and support their Emirati partners if requested, he said.

The location of the ADNOC facility where the tankers caught fire is approximately 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) northeast of Saada, the Houthis stronghold in Yemen.

The incident comes as South Koreas President Moon Jae-in is visiting the UAE. The two countries reportedly reached a preliminary deal valued at some $3.5 billion sell mid-range South Korean surface-to-air missiles to the UAE during his trip.

At an event attended by the South Korean president earlier in the day, Emirati Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei declined to comment on the attack but told the AP that investigations were ongoing.

The Houthis have used bomb-laden drones to launch crude and imprecise attacks aimed at Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The group has also launched missiles at Saudi airports, oil facilities and pipelines, and used booby-trapped boats for attacks in key shipping routes.

Earlier this month, the Houthis seized an Emirati-flagged ship in the Red Sea, a crucial route for international trade and energy shipments.

Though there have been civilian deaths in Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks, there had been no deaths previously reported in the UAE.

The overwhelming number of civilian deaths in the conflict have been in Yemen. The war has killed 130,000 people in Yemenboth civilians and fightersand has exacerbated hunger and famine across the impoverished country.

Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst at the risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, noted that while the Houthis have claimed responsibility for an attack on the UAE, Iraqi-based militias have also threatened the UAE in response to alleged Emirati interference in Iraqi politics.

He said the attack highlights the missile and drone threat faced by the UAE and the regions other main oil producers. Without a solution to diffuse wider regional tensions, Gulf Arab states will remain vulnerable to attacks, he added.

By Aya Batrawy
Education Union Slams Australian Federal Government for Underfunding Public Schools

The Australian Education Union (AEU) has criticised the federal government for failing to provide education funding, alleging that students graduating from Australias public schools in 2029 will never have the education funded at the level that the Commonwealth and states say they should.

The AEU said in a statement on Jan. 17 that if the Morrison government is re-elected, it will impact education outcomes for the next seven years.

The Morrison Government has failed to understand that their decisions on funding are not just about numbers. They have a real impact on students, their families and communities, says AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe.

We have looming teacher shortages. We have crippling workloads. We have infrastructure issues that mean in many instances, our students are denied the state-of-the-art facilities they need and deserve.

The AEU stated that schools have been let down by the federal government during the COVID-19 crisis.

Online learning due to the pandemic has only widened the gap of inequality due to the disadvantaged students and their families lacking the IT equipment and adequate internet to access online learning effectively.

The AEU also called for a national school recovery plan to be developed by federal, state and territory governments in consultation with the union.

The proposed plan will involve capital investment into school infrastructure to provide ventilation audits, air-quality testing, air purifiers, masks and sanitation, as well as endorsing recurrent funding for intensive learning and support programs that are much needed.

Australia currently operates under the Gonski methodology for school funding. The reform was introduced by the Gillard Labor Government in 2010 and finalised and implemented by the current Liberal Coalition since 2013.

The methodology determines funding per school based on the number of students and then additional loadings for students with additional needs and schools with certain characteristics such as operating in the rural areas and or working with a small cohort.

The Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) is an estimate of funding a school needs to meet its students educational needs and is based on recommendations made from a review into funding for schooling.

The SRS will need to be met to ensure at least 80 percent of students achieve standard results in the annual National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) examination that assesses all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9.

Currently, the Commonwealth is the minority funder of public schools, with the minimum requirement for governments schools set at 20 percent of the total SRS required whilst private and catholic schools are expected to receive at least 80 percent of the total SRS required.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that in 2020, the majority of Aussie kids65.6 percentwere enrolled in government or public schools. A further 19.4 percent of Australian kids were enrolled in Catholic schools and 15 percent in non-denomination private schools.

However, a report released by Putting Our Kids First (pdf) showed that the majority of the states and territories have been failing to meet these requirements for public schools, save the Australian Capital Territory, the only jurisdiction that managed to go above the requirements for both its public schools and non-government schools.

All other states and territories are also underfunding their public schools with Victoria and Northern Territory doing the worse as respective states and territories.

Non-government schools are also underfunded in Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania from 2018-2021 with funding requirements expected to be met for Victoria, SA and Tasmania after 2021. Meanwhile, NT is projected to continue underfunding for all schools till 2023.

Queensland and Western Australia did relatively well for their non-government schools until the pandemic hit; QLDs private schools were underfunded in 2020 and WA in 2020 and 2021.

The SA Education Department told The Epoch Times in an email that under the Liberal state government the National School Funding Reforms, a joint agreement in 2018 between the Commonwealth, the states and territories, saw the Commonwealth required to increase funding to all South Australian schools from $1.3 billion in 2018 to over $2 billion in 2029.

The agreement also required the SA government to increase funding to public schools by more than $700 million over the period from 2026-27.

Under the Australian Labor Party, the Victorian Education Department told The Epoch Times in an email that the Andrews Government had delivered $21.6 billion into education in the past six years. Although the state did not meet the SRS funding requirements for both government and non-government schools, the government had promised a $3.5 billion investment in the 2021/22 period.

To protect students and staff during as the new school term starts, the Victorian Labor government has also promised 51,000 air purifiers at government and low-fee non-government schools by the start of Term 1 to remove potentially infectious particleslike coronavirus from high-risk areas in schools including staff rooms, sick bays, music rooms and other high-traffic areas.

The Queensland government stated in an email to the Epoch Times that all Queensland schools receive core resources to deliver the highest quality education. Funding provided to individual schools reflects a range of factors including location (rural, remote and small schools) and additional learning supports required such as for students with disability, or disadvantaged students.
The reflection of a worker is seen at the production line of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) at a factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, on Aug. 28, 2018. (Stringer/Reuters)

Eroded American Industrial Base Must Be Restored to Defeat China

Commentary

In the event of war with China, the weakness of Americas defense industrial base will ensure that the Chinese would prevail. As things stand, U.S. manufacturers lack the adequate ability to meet basic defense needs for the contemporary age of great-power competition.

Innovations essential to military preparednesslike highly specialized lithium-ion batteriesrequire an ecosystem of innovation, skills, and production facilities that the United States currently lacks, a White House report (pdf) on national supply chains from June 2021 stated.

The Biden administration needs to incentivize young Americans to study the trades, along with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)similar to what the Navy provides for those entering nuclear fields, which provides significant bonuses. Discounted college educations or trade school training could be provided. It would cost trillions and decades to undo the damage, but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely larger. Rebuilding the nations industrial base is a critical national defense and national security issue.

[We need to do] a better job telling those coming into the workforce (and those that influence and advise them) that skilled careers are not second-class jobs but pay well, come with no or little student debt, provide a stable income, and are a noble way to make a contribution. A four-year degree is not the sole path to success, Wes Hallman, vice president of the National Defense Industrial Association, said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

India has pursued a similar policy of working to domesticate its military supply chain to free it from disruption amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Popular past policies that created this situation need reassessment.

During the Clinton years, outsourcing critical defense and intelligence functions to the private sector was a way to cut costs after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but more than two decades later, the long-term negative effect on national security is apparent.

The policy had bipartisan support. Congress formalized (pdf) the policy with the 1998 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

[The] Commission on Roles and Missions (CORM) and the Defense Science Board (DSB) have identified similar problems with DODs support structure and processes, but have made outsourcing and privatization the centerpiece of their reforms to reduce infrastructure and support costs, a 1997 General Accounting Office report (pdf) stated.

China became the net beneficiary.

The United States prevailed in the two world wars and in the Cold War because of its superior manufacturing base. Americas skilled labor force has atrophied in the same period: As the United States shifted from in-house development to outsourcing, companies have shifted their operations to China due to lower labor costs. As a result, cybersecurity risks have risen, a 2018 Defense Department report (pdf) stated.

Outsourcing has coincided with Chinas rise both economically and militarily. In the same time period, the number of U.S. defense contractors shrank from at least 20 in 1990 to at least five today. When former Navy Secretary John Lehman was appointed in 1981, he had the luxury of encouraging competition to build missiles, ships, and planes, and to use competition to drive down prices. Lehman noted at a recent Heritage Foundation dinner that competition drove down costs during his tenure.

The U.S. Armys 2016 Cyber Defense Review reported: Technology transfer between the [sic] Chinas civilian sector and the military has long been a considerable concern for the American military, as the supply chain becomes increasingly outsourced and out of American control. One prime example is through the direct transfer of hardware components defense contractors produce for the US military using Chinese facilities. Many American aerospace ventures with dedicated US military contracts have their facilities located next to, or even in Chinese military aerospace factories.

This raises concern that China can place untraceable hardware trojans that can be used to either spy on the United States using its own military equipment or render them useless at Chinas discretion. Chinese manufacturers have supplied suspected counterfeit electronic equipment for American aircraft, including the L-3 Communications C-27J, the Lockheed Martin C-130J, and the Boeing P-8A, a Senate Armed Services Committee report (pdf) found.

We have to remember that the defense supply chain is now global and should focus on driving supply chain risk away from politically troublesome and unstable sources to, where possible, domestic sourcing and where not from friends, allies, and partners, Hallman said. We very much support eliminating our dependence on China for [rare earth metals].

The resurrection of the U.S. semiconductor industry on U.S. soil is a key national security priority due to the threat posed by hardware trojans and Chinas ability to disrupt the supply in case of war.

As the White House report pointed out: The Department of Commerce notes that large-scale public investment in semiconductor fabrication has allowed Korean and Taiwanese firms to outpace U.S.-based firms. As the Department of Commerce warns, ultimately, volume drives both innovation and operational learning; in the absence of the commercial volume, the United States will not be able to keep up  with the technology, in terms of quality, cost, or workforce.

U.S. industrial policy should deter further consolidations of the defense industry and encourage the creation of defense startups to bring back competition and drive down costs.

The very idea of a government-directed industrial policy is anathema to conservatives and many Republicans, but not having a clear industrial policy aimed at rebuilding the defense industry and supply chain at home ensures that the United States will lose the next war.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Floods came through before the eggs of the butt-breathing turtle species were hatched. (Chris Van Wyk/Supplied)

Floods Hit Habitat of Bottom-Breathing Turtles

Renowned biologist and turtle conservationist Colin Limpus has said he fears that Queenslands torrential rain in recent days has wreaked havoc on the habitat of the iconic bottom-breathing turtle.

The flooding from former cyclone Seth dumped a torrential amount of rain over the catchment of Mary River, where the turtle calls home, peaking just short of ten meters.

Limpus said that the flood has most likely drowned the nests of the eggs of the Mary River turtle, which grows shocks of algae hair and survives by breathing out of its bottom.

We have had an egg loss. The flooding, its a very elevated level, and any eggs that havent hatched will have either been washed away or drowned, chief scientist for wildlife and threatened species in Queenslands environment department Limpus said.

There is, however, a much greater problem, he added.

(Chris Van Wyk/Supplied)

As the state assesses the full extent of the flood damage, the future of the turtles habitat sits on shaky ground.

If we take the bubsthe young turtlesthey feed primarily on snails and insects and things like that in the shallows, Limpus said.

When you have a major flood, all of your gravel and sand and everything is being rattled around. As a result, surfaces are sandblasted with sediment, and we lose the food resource that should be there normally.

He blamed changing weather patterns for creating additional challenges.

The early season flooding was so atypical. We werent anticipating it. Normally the eggs are all hatched and gone before you get your big floods coming through, Limpus said.

An aerial view of floodwaters impacting the CBD of Maryborough, north of Brisbane, Australia, in the wake of former tropical cyclone Seth. (AAP Image/Supplied by Jade Wellings)

Remnants of cyclone Seth have ravaged Queenslands southeast since the turn of the year, damaging property, roads, and businesses and taking the lives of two men. The search for a missing 14-year-old girl continues.

The government scientist said that volunteers are needed to help the turtles.

We really need local communities to want to look after their area, Limpus said. Its an impossible task for the government to look after every kilometre of the river.

The Mary River turtle is not only highly distinctive with its mohawk and interesting breathing habits but also has fleshy spikes under its chin, hence it has another nicknamethe punk turtle.
Gordon Chang: Omicrons Threat to Athletes in Beijing; UK Chinese Agent Buying Influence

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are nearing. Governments are concerned about the safety of their athletes. Journalists are told to leave phones behind. Can athletes compete without being watched by China? I spoke with Gordon Chang, a prominent China expert, on this matter.

British intelligence warns of Chinese influence operations in Parliament and that Chinese soft power is at work within the government in Britain. Lets explore how this issue is finally coming to light. Is this a single case or a massive operation?
Police officers goose step as they take part in a flag raising ceremony to mark China's National Day in Hong Kong on Oct. 1, 2021. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

Hong Kong Police Force Adopts Chinese-Style Foot Drills, Identifying With CCP Military

Hong Kongs disciplined forces will be removing its previous British-style training, with the Fire Services Department and the Police Force switching to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) military-style foot drills on Jan. 24 and July 1 respectively.

A Jan. 12 publication released by the Hong Kong Police Force said the senior management of the police force has decided to switch to the Chinese armys foot drill from July 1, except for various ceremonial rituals and closing ceremonies, and officers of all ranks must also observe the military salute used by the Chinese army on a daily basis.

Hong Kong Fire Services Department also announced on Jan. 13, it will wholly follow the CCPs military-style foot drills from Jan. 24 in daily ceremonies and occasions. Switching to adopt CCP military foot drills can raise service members sense of identification with and pride in the country. The department said in its 2021 year-end review.

According to Wen Wei Po, a pro-Beijing Hong Kong-based media, on Jan. 13, the Hong Kong Police College launched an e-learning course on Chinese-style foot drills on Dec. 30, 2021. Hong Kong Tsuen Wan Police District held a training session on Dec. 16, 2021, at the districts elementary school, where 36 principals and teachers from the districts primary and secondary schools were briefed on the process of the Chinese-style flag-raising ceremony.

Police forces in Hong Kong had been using the British style training since it was initially established in 1844.

However, according to Hong Kong local media, on March 11, 2021, the CCP army visited the Hong Kong Police Force to teach Chinese-style foot drills, and all five major disciplined forces were present to receive training. One month later on April 15, during Hong Kong National Security Education Day, several disciplined forces performed the Chinese-style drill in public.

Hong Kong disciplinary forces have been trained by the CCP since 1997 saw the transfer of sovereignty from the British to China. The Chinese ruling Party has been arranging for Hong Kong disciplined forces to go north to learn for many years. Multiple senior police officers, including incumbent Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, Deputy Secretary Au Chi-kwong, Commissioner of Police Siu Chak-yee, and other deputy commissioners, have accepted CCPs training in Chinese Academy of Governance, which was merged into Central Party School in March 2018.

Tang also finished CCPs systematical training in Shanghai-based China Executive Leadership Academy, and Beijing-based Peoples Public Security University before he was appointed as the highest officer in the Hong Kong security department.

In late 2018, Deputy Secretary Au Chi-kwong led members of the Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit, which Established in April 2018, to visit Xinjiang for five days.

These training exchanges have not only changed the thinking logic and ideology of Hong Kong police officers but also changed their specific methods and comprehensive of law enforcement, making them converge with the Chinese communist police.

A man is detained by riot police during a demonstration in a shopping mall at Sheung Shui district in Hong Kong on Dec. 28, 2019. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

Chinas anti-terrorism campaign in Xinjiang has placed millions of ethnic Uyghurs and other minorities in political re-education camps. According to The New York Times, in 2017 and 2018, Xinjiang local courts sentenced 230,000 people to prison or other punishments.

In 2019, when Hongkongers protested the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill, Hong Kong police arrested more than 10,200 people for rioting, illegal assembly, and other charges, as of April 9, 2021.

Hong Kong police used unprecedented violence during this time, differing from the past. Some reporters also filmed riot police speaking Mandarin at the protest, while Hong Kong police have always spoken Cantonese.

As the CCP tactics infiltrate Hong Kongs disciplined forces more and more, there is little difference between the two.

Chinas leader Xi Jinping mentioned Hong Kong in his speech at the 100th anniversary of CCPs founding on July 1, 2021, calling for the implementation of comprehensive governance and a national security system over Hong Kong.
Pumpjacks and wells in an oil field on the Monterey Shale formation with gas and oil extraction using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on the verge of a boom, near McKittrick, Calif., on March 23, 2014. (David McNew/Getty Images)

How the Shale Revolution Saved Europe From a Great Blackout

Commentary

In October, the governments of Austria and The Netherlands warned of the risk of a great blackout. Soaring natural gas prices, lack of security of supply, and a challenging outlook for pipeline deliveries from Russia made the governments exceedingly nervous about the chances of providing cheap and reliable energy for homes in winter.

However, an unexpected ally prevented an energy crisis in Europe and, ironically, its an ally that was banned in most European nations: shale gas.

Reuters reports that about half of the record U.S. liquefied natural gas volumes shipped in December 2021 went to Europe, up from 37 percent earlier in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

While most European nations banned the exploration and development of domestic natural gas resources many years ago, the United States has plenty and competitive supplies thanks to the shale oil and gas revolution, which has made the country almost energy independent. Domestic natural gas production has exceeded U.S. demand by about 10 percent, according to Reuters.

Theres a lesson for the United States here. Many European energy policies have been ideologically directed, and massive energy subsidies and political intervention havent strengthened the competitiveness of the economy, secured energy supply, or even significantly reduced carbon emissions.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck recently told Zeit, We will probably miss our [CO2 emissions] targets also for 2022, even for 2023 it will be difficult enough.

Germany will miss its climate targets for 2021 as the use of coal increased dramatically while the use of renewable energies remained almost stagnant, according to Politico. After hundreds of billions in renewable subsidies, household bills are 65 percent higher than in 2006, according to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) and the Energy Ministry.

What has the European policy mistake been? To eliminate or ban cheap and reliable baseload energy (nuclear and development of domestic natural gas) and offset it with intermittent and volatile sources of energywind and solartoo early into a technology transition. This, when demand rises or solar and wind output declines, puts security of supply and competitiveness at risk because prices rise to all-time highs.

European power prices have risen to record-highs also because the cost of CO2 emissionsa hidden taxhas soared from 20 euros per metric ton to more than 80. Due to this hidden tax, European governments are collecting tens of billions of euros in tax receipts, and the burden falls on businesses and families.

Residential electricity prices in the European Union between 2010 and 2014 averaged near $240 per megawatt-hour, while the United States averaged nearly $120 per MWh, or less than half of EU prices, according to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce report (pdf). Gasoline and diesel prices were also twice as expensive in the European Union on average compared with the United States. This trend hasnt improved at all. In 2021, wholesale electricity prices in Europe reached a record high.

Europe must understand that technology and competition achieve more in terms of reducing carbon emissions while improving competitiveness than implementing rigid and expensive political mandates.

The energy sector is key in decarbonization but wont achieve it through constant intervention. To decarbonize, the best technological tool is a combination of natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and renewable energy. But renewables are intermittent, while consumption is continuous. While technology develops, Europe must ensure security of supply and affordable energy by making the most of all the possible options, incentivizing green energy and reducing costs for consumers.

Now that renewable technologies are competitive, the solution cant come from central planning, restricted markets, subsidies, and regulatory patches. It must come, as in the United States, from tax credits that are gradually phased out, and competition in an open market, with transparent bilateral contracts.

Europe can develop its domestic resources and accelerate clean energy investment with rapid technology innovation. The word to achieve it is competition. It was a mistake to ban the development of natural gas resources, but an even bigger mistake to blame global gas producers for not selling cheaply a product that some governments have rejected. European nations cant say to global oil and gas producers that they wont use their products in 10 years, but meanwhile, producers must invest billions in development and export cheap and abundant energy.

Europe can promote competitiveness, lower bills, and advances in clean energy. All it must do is allow industries to find realistic and durable solutions and let markets work.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
How to Make Sure Your Small Business Doesnt Have a Data Breach

Security is arguably the top concern for customers. And, for good reason. In 2015 there were an estimated half a billion data breaches. A data breach can damage your reputation, decrease sales, and even cost you a ton of money in settling lawsuits.

Make Sure Your Small Business Doesnt Have a Data Breach

To prevent any of those from happening, you have to take the following steps in ensuring that your small business wont experience a data breach.

Provide Your Employees With Training

According to a report released by the Association of Corporate Counsel, employee error is the leading cause of data breaches, such as sending an email containing sensitive information to unauthorized individuals outside the company.

Because of that, its important that you properly train your employees in security basics and raising their awareness of common scams. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is through social engineering.

Social engineering involves manipulating workers to voluntarily give up information or access, says Terry Evans, president of Cybersecurity Biz in Rochester, NY, in The Hartford.

Social engineering works like this: Someone posing as a social engineer with someone in your office claiming that they are testing the system to trick that employee into handing over their password. According to Evans, social engineers rely on the fact that employees arent aware of the value of the information they possess, so theyre lax in guarding it.

Social engineering awareness training, in conjunction with written policies and procedures, can be achieved through;

Instructing employees never to click on unsolicited e-mail attachments or links that are embedded in emails.

Training employees to never share sensitive information with anyone without first verifying their identity.

Refraining from using USB drives that are left out in the open. Hackers often leave these devices, and once used, the company becomes infected with malicious software, which gives the hacker access to your system.

Failing to address the threat posed by social engineering is somewhat like buying a high-tech security system and then leaving your front door unlocked, says Evans.

Another way to avoid employee error is by restricting access to secure data, like customers payment information or administrative access to things like bookkeeping software and social media accounts.

Limit the Amount of Personal Data You Have Stored

As the Federal Trade Commission recommends, you need to go lean and mean in your data collection, retention, and use policies.

For starters, only collect the information that you need from your customers. For example, theres absolutely no need to gather their email passwords when collecting their email addresses when registering for an account. Furthermore, never use their personal information, such as using real peoples personal information in employee training sessions.

Also, limit the amount of time that you store your customers information. Once a transaction is completed, theres no longer a need to hold onto the credit and debit card information used to complete the transaction.

Having too much personal information, and holding onto it, doesnt just add unnecessary risk; it could also land you in hot water with organizations like the FTC.

Encrypt Your Data

As Andra Zaharia explains in the Heimdal Security blog, Encryption tools are very useful in keeping valuable information hidden from cybercriminals because it renders the data inaccessible to prying eyes.

Zaharia explains that Encryption is a process that transforms accessible data or information into an unintelligible code that cannot be read or understood by normal means. Thankfully, encryption tools are included in most operating systems. For Windows-based PCs, its BitLocker and on Macs, its FileVault.

There are also free encryption tools like VeraCrypt, 7Zip, and AxCrypt.

Make Sure Your Payment Processing Network Is Secure

Before you start accepting payments online, ensure that your network has an adequate firewall and updated virus protection. Also, make sure that the platform youre using is PCI compliant.

Create Secure Passwords and Comprehensive Authorization

I completely understand creating and remembering complex passwords is annoying. However, its essential if you want to prevent data breaches. When considering possible passwords, make sure that theyre strong, contain at least 13 characters, symbols, letters, and numbers. Its also suggested that you change your passwords frequently and lock users out after a certain number of incorrect password attempts.

To make your life easier, there are many password managers, such as LastPass, Dashlane, and KeePassX, that will protect your online accounts without having you memorize those lengthy and complicated passwords.

You should also consider two-factor authentication. This simply uses a password and another factor, like a pin code sent to a mobile device or a fingerprint, whenever you or your team logs into an account.

Stock photo of a mobile devices lock screen. (Yura Fresh/Unsplash)

Two-factor authentication is useful when you or your employees access data from more than one device, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or when youre working remotely since it requires a second-level of authentication, instead of just a password that can easily be discovered.

Monitor Threats

Why wait for a data breach to happen in the first place? With monitoring tools like Stealthbits, you have real-time threat detection that locates and disables any suspicious activity before databases are attacked.

Dont Forget the Physical Information

We get so focused on online and cloud-based data protection that we neglect physical property like paperwork, hard drives, laptops, flash drives, and disks. Make sure that these physical items are stored securely and not carelessly left out for anyone to grab, like in your garage or passenger seat of your car.

Like not storing personal data that you no longer need, you should also dispose of information you no longer need securely. For example, if youre a local pharmacy, you would want to shred customers outdated prescriptions.

How to Recover From a Data Breach

Despite taking the precautions listed above, you cant completely avoid a data breach 100 percent. If thats the case, here are some of the steps that you should take following the breach;

Even after a breach has been squashed, theres still a possibility that your customers will have to deal with issues like identity theft. And, youre going to receive a fair share of questions and complaints from your customers. Guide them through the post-process by being transparent, responding to their concerns, and offering them one year of identity theft prevention.

Work with law enforcement and consumer protection agencies by providing them the information that they need.

Launch a PR campaign to win back customers.

Rethink and update your current security strategy and software.

By Chalmers Brown
Data reveals strength in numbers as communities create hybrid models based on traditional and family values

A combination of at-home and at-school learning is a hot trend in America today. Recent data from the Census Bureau reveals that 11.1 percent of K12 students are now independent homeschoolers. Families choosing to homeschool have been fortunate enough to have alternative learning options available. One such educational model lls in most, if not all, of the gaps in a hybrid arrangement that combines the best of all educational worlds.

Step inside a hybrid homeschool academy and, from a physical appearance, it resembles a traditional brick-and-mortar educational institution. Parents drop their uniformed students at the beginning of the day where well-trained teachers are ready to instruct eager students in academic subjects deemed educationally appropriate, inuenced by the schools ideological mission.

At closer look, this is the future educational model trending all over the country lately. In hybrid academies, children learn half of the time at home and the other half at an institution. This combination provides parents and students the exibility of receiving instruction two or three days each week but continuing studies in their homes on non-instructional days.

Not to be confused with casual homeschool cooperatives which meet one or two days per week with parents volunteering at all levels, hybrid schools are more formal. Children wear uniforms ranging from logo-inspired shirts to full ties and blazers. The pedagogy leans liberal arts with a classical approach. The teaching staff are often experts in their eld of study, helping students explore critical thought from the great minds of the past. Likewise, students follow pre-planned lessons with access to grading and transcript servicescommon necessities homeschool parents need and appreciate. Even though parents still remain the main inuencers in the lives of their children, parents support administrators who, in turn, promise to uphold common traditional family values and ideologies.

Permissionless Innovation

In a commitment to academic and societal excellence, the hybrid homeschooling option solves many problems parents have about public and private education. In fact, it is often parents who bring solutions to the expanding market.

The idea of these schools are great examples of permissionless innovation, says Dr. Eric Wearne, author of Dening Hybrid Homeschools in America: Little Platoons.

Civil society comes together to solve very local problems.

Wearne believes small hybrid homeschools offer exibility, freedom, and unity in a focused mission. They attract families because of the mission clarity in identity and because they seek to serve their community members desires faithfully, unlike comprehensive traditional institutions which often push conformity to cultural movements which may or may not align with family values and traditions.

Homeschool families essentially lay the groundwork for community learning in their own communities and nd the support necessary to help the hybrid model come to fruition.

According to Wearne: Families are not waiting around for state or local school district permission, and theyre not hoping for a $10 million benefactor either. Everything is just lining up to help this [hybrid] model grow even more because these families are nding solutions and just doing it.

This is true for the tight-knit community of parents involved in Sacred Heart Academys educational model overhaul. Todays robust enrollment registrations and a long waiting list are the fruits of Rev. Robert A. Siricos leadership. The diocesan academy, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, completely reenvisioned its future in 2015.

At the time, this was considered a nancially risky move. And its support came from mostly homeschooling parents who actively participated and supported this new hybrid academy. Charitable donations kept Sacred Heart Academy aoat, allowing middle-class families access to a quality education without culture wars. And the results continue to attract families who never considered homeschooling, which has helped bolster enrollment gures, especially over the last couple of years.

An Extension of the Home

Our culture is very enticing to families, said school advisory board member Angela VanHaitsma. As a homeschool mother of 6, VanHaitsma originally homeschooled full-time prior to trying out the academys 2-day enrichment program for her eldest child. Her children have attended the diocesan academy in both full-time and part-time capacities over the years.

She says that families are drawn to its traditional Catholic environment where classrooms are extensions of the home.

The hybrids philosophies are rooted in a strong Christian mission, and the exibility of full-time or part-time options truly accommodate the needs of our homeschool families.

And according to the schools philosophy, the hybrid exists as an independent institution eschewing secular inuences while utilizing the best of pedagogical methods. This means very little to no technology usage for enrolled students. And this also means the hybrid operates independently of state and federal funding, relying instead on private foundations and donations every year to serve the big homeschool community of three Catholic parishes in the Michigan diocese.

Parents today are empowered by the innovation of hybrid homeschooling. It isnt taboo to homeschool now, unlike 20 to 30 years ago. In fact, the pandemic encouraged families to think more deeply about alternatives to public and private schools.

The community was aligning to what we believed as a family, VanHaitsma said. Theres no question that my children will not be exposed to ideas contrary to our faith. They meet like-minded friends, receive instruction in robust courses, and still spend most of their time at home.

Findings from Dr. Wearnes research reveal why the hybrid schooling model appeals to Americans across the country: more family time, exible schedules, and greater control over the educational environment and curriculum. The outcome is clear. Homeschooling strengthens American family values, even for families who choose to learn in small community-oriented hybrid models.

Many parents are anxious about taking on the responsibility of full-time homeschooling, he said. Hybrid schools allow parents to nd an environment that is more amenable to them, culturally and academically, but also provides some level of structure and support for their homeschooling efforts.

The author says hybrids may have to sacrice some of the benets that larger public and private institutions offer. But operating in smaller facilities doesnt compromise learning well.

Large public and private schools have tended to try and be all things to all families, he said. Ten years or so ago, probably the bulk of hybrid homeschool families had previously been full-time homeschoolers. Now there seems to be more of a mix, with people coming to hybrids from homeschooling and full-time public and private schools.

Its important to remember that these hybrid homeschool parents are also still buying into an institution and allowing it to have some inuence on their kidsits just a different sort of institution than they may have used in the past. But many hybrid homeschools explicitly state that one of their main reasons for existence is to support familiesthe schools themselves often argue that families are supposed to be childrens primary sphere of inuence, with some community support from the school.

A Different Type of Institution

In Thompsons Station, Tennessee, the very essence of hybrid homeschooling is based on the collegiate education model at Ironwood Academy. Executive Director Terry Morris says the students successfully learn to navigate academic coursework through time management through synchronous and asynchronous learning. On non-instruction days, students work through assignmentsextensions of concepts taught in class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from professional teachers who are experts in their eld.

Think of our hybrid like a 2 1/2 day private school. Students receive stellar instruction from highly qualied teachers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays, we open our campus to students to complete assignments, receive tutoring, and participate in special elective courses, she said.

Housed in a professional ofce building, the hybrid academy welcomes students to light, airy, and uncluttered spaces. And although only 70 are enrolled in grades 1 through 12, the projected growth of Ironwood Academy will max out at 180 students. Students are taught core subjects of math, science, history, and Englishplus electives. This years emphasis is servant leadership with mastery in critical thinking with Dr. David A. Tretler. The former dean of Faculty and Academic Programs at the National War College in Washington, D.C., presents an examination of global current events. Such electives provide students with a broad exposure to topics from inspiring instructors.

Partnerships with organizations help enrolled students but are also open to the greater homeschool community. Students thrive in electives ranging from personal nance, woodworking, health and wellness, to photography, theater, and robotics.

She believes Ironwood Academy has gured out the best of both worlds. Their hybrid, which costs an average of $8,000 per year, is equipped with highly qualied teachers who are well paid and small class sizes that never exceed 12 students. There are no worksheets, and they dont teach to the test. When children arrive at class, limited technology is the rule. There are no laptops. Students literally place their phones in a hanging shoe bag at the beginning of the day.

Her take on todays educational model is that institutions base success solely on academics. We know that happy people nd balance with work [or study] and hobbies. We teach our students to look for the breadcrumbs that God gives us about our uniqueness.

Finding and developing and pursuing interests will help them nd their God-given profession or vocation, she said. But God created us to be relational. We have to have time to wonder about God, to be bored, to meditate, to be exposed to a smorgasbord of electivestry one and nd your gift! she said. We teach these children to explore, to think critically, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

What also sets this hybrid apart from others is its emphasis on emotional intelligence. Developed by Dr. Joshua Straub, the EQ Curriculum is the rst of its kind in the nation to be incorporated in a school-type setting. The program guides students through self-awareness techniques to increase empathy for others in order to create and sustain an emotionally safe learning environment.

We have students who come to our hybrid to get away from the anxiety and rat race of traditional public and private schools, but you still nd rigorous academics here without the added pressure, Morris said.

This is not a shame-based environment, she said. Our kids are not afraid to ask questions. We teach from the Socratic Method, which is dialogue-based learning. Its true, we have noisy classrooms for a reason.

Options like Ironwood Academy and Sacred Heart Academy are offering parents the ability to make better choices against failing public school institutions. Whether community-based and/or ideology-based, families seek to educate their children in a way that honors the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. This sentimentality seems to be at the heart of the hybrid homeschooling movement sweeping the nation.

Dr. Wearnes ndings point to growth that occurred prior to the pandemic.

When every school shut down, people became more interested in a variety of different school models, he stated. Hybrids were already around, and really weathered the past year relatively well. Just the fact that they mostly stayed open, like many private schools did, is noticeable. Parents see that success  [they] see that tuition is comparatively low (usually in the ballpark of $5,000), and become interested. Combine the fact that this model provides a lot of support and community, and the fact that more and more people are able to work from homeeverything is just lining up to help this model grow even more.

Every family is different and that is the beauty of having more options available, he said. With the growing acceptance of hybrids, families are further empowered to try out hybrids which offer clearly-dened and amenable world views.

What Makes a Hybrid Homeschool Unique?

A split learning model combines a traditional brick-and-mortar location with supplemental learning in the home

Parents can take on a more active role according to the needs and development of the program

Offers flexibility and freedom along with the structure, scheduling, and testing typical of a traditional school

Because it is set up by the community and parents, the program becomes an extension of the home

The ability to more easily enrich students with a variety of elective programs

Krista Thomas is an independent writer, public speaker, and business marketing communications consultant. She serves TAN Academy as an academic homeschool coach. Contact her at krista@tanbooks.com
I Never Got a Call From the White House: Sen. Romney on Election Legislation

In an appearance on NBC, swing-voting Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said that despite his and other Republicans willingness to make some changes to federal election laws with Democrats, President Joe Biden did not reach out to him about reaching a compromise.

Instead, Democrats went full-steam ahead on a more partisan scheme. Upon returning from their winter recess, many Democrats made a concerted push to weaken or abolish the filibuster and pass election legislation with no Republican support.

Democrats have claimed since summer 2021 that America is facing a Jim Crow-level crisis as Republican-led states have moved to strengthen their election laws in response to fraud in the 2020 election. Most of the laws being passed across the nation carry provisions to require voter ID or put in place stricter guidelines for absentee balloting, which many considered as a focal point of fraud in 2020.

These new rules, Democrats have alleged, disproportionately affect minorities and thereby violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA).

In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, the Supreme Court ruled that Democrats were mistaken in this claim and allowed an Arizonan elections bill to stand.

But Democrats have continued to insist, the Supreme Courts ruling notwithstanding, that America is facing an electoral crisis of epic proportions which, they say, requires immediate and wide-ranging congressional action.

To meet the so-called crisis, Democrats have put forward a slew of different election bills since summer 2021, ranging from bills that would wholly remake the U.S. election system to more limited compromise bills designed to try and win GOP support.

The most radical of the bills that Democrats have put forward is the For the People Act, a bill that would require states to allow convicted felons and those actively on parole or probation to vote and which critics say would effectively legalize voting by illegal aliens.

After Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) said that he would not vote for such a divisive bill, Democrats scrapped the legislation in exchange for a bill with a more limited scope: the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4.

The main feature of this bill would be to reinstate provisions of the VRA that required that states get federal preclearance, or federal approval, before changing their election laws.

This provision was a major part of U.S. election law until 2013, when the Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional, noting that minority voting rates had increased so much since 1965 that the extraordinary measure of federal preclearance could no longer be justified.

H.R. 4 would reinstate the policy in accordance with the Supreme Courts 2013 ruling. However, this bill has faced near-insurmountable challenges in the Senate, where Republicans, including Sen. Romney, have utilized the filibuster to kill the measure on several occasions.

To overcome the objections of one-half of the United States Senate, Democrats proposed that the filibuster be scrapped to allow the bill to bypass the GOP altogether.

However, this scheme also fell apart last week after Sens. Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) refused to aid their party in the endeavor.

Democrats do, nonetheless, have one option available according to Mitt Romney: A limited expansion of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 (ECA). That bill, passed to address issues still lingering from the electoral crisis of 1876, laid out the guidelines for electoral voting that have continued to the modern day.

Though this would leave Democrats with far fewer options, and is thus not an especially exciting prospect for Democrats, some left-of-center commentators have suggested that the more limited route of reforming this bill could prove harder for Republicans to oppose.

And during a Jan. 16 appearance on Meet the Press with Chuck Todd, Romney indicated that he and a handful of other Republicans may be open to just such a bill.

If the president calls you up tomorrow and says, Senator Romney, Id like to figure out something on voting rights. Can we sit down and have a conversation?  would you participate in that? Chuck Todd asked the one-time presidential nominee.

Yeah, and Chuck, I already am, Romney explained. The group, about 12 Senators, Republicans, and Democrats, that are working on the Electoral Count Act, well continue to work together. Sadly, this election reform bill that the president has been pushing, I never got a call on that from the White House.

Romney also criticized the majority for their all-or-nothing attitude toward electoral reform.

There was no negotiation, bringing in Republicans and Democrats together to try and come up with something that would meet bipartisan interests, Romney said. But, he continued, [Democrats] want a real dramatic change, which is they feel that instead of elections being run at the state level, they should really be managed and run at the federal level.

The founders didnt have that vision in mind, Romney ruled. They didnt want an autocrat to be able to pull a lever in one place and change all the election laws. Instead, they spread that out over 50 states, I think, in part to keep autocracy from finding its root here in this country.

If Democrats would soften this attitude, Romney said, we can work together.

To pass a reform of the ECA, Democrats would need to win the support of at least 10 Republicans to overcome the filibuster threshold. But so far, despite Romneys openness to compromise, there is little evidence showing that such GOP support will be offered.

While a few other Republicans could be open to such a course, only Romney and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) have overtly said that they would be likely to support it.

There has been some speculation that Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) would also support an ECA revision, but this would still leave Democrats six votes short of the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

Questions remain as to whether Democrats could close the gap to reach 60 votes, and where additional GOP support would come from to meet this goal. And as Romneys statement indicates, this route is not one that President Biden has shown any particular interest in, making it all the more unlikely that an ECA revision will not come to fruition.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivers a speech after taking his oath during his presidential inauguration for the second term, at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Oct. 20, 2019. (Adi Weda/Pool via Reuters)

Indonesian President Names New Capital Nusantara as Parliament Approves Relocation

Indonesias new capital city will be named Nusantara, which translates as archipelago, with Parliaments approval of a bill to relocate the capital from Jakarta to a remote site on Borneo island, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Indonesias House of Representatives approved a bill on Tuesday to relocate the countrys capital to a remote region of Kalimantan, where the government already owns approximately 180,000 hectares of land.

The new capital has a central function and is a symbol of the identity of the nation, as well as a new center of economic gravity, National Development Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa told Parliament after the bill was passed into law.

President Joko Widodo has confirmed that the new capital will be named Nusantara, as it is iconic internationally and describes the archipelago nation, Monoarfa said on Monday, Channel News Asia reported.

According to Monoarfa, Widodo chose the name Nusantara from among 80 names submitted to him, which was also reviewed by linguists and historians, though it remains unclear whether the new capital will be a province or a city.

Widodo first announced the relocation of the capital city to Borneo in 2019, citing the fact that Jakarta, with a population of 10 million people, is prone to flooding, gridlock, and earthquakes. The project was then delayed due to the pandemic.

The president claimed that the cost of moving the administrative center would cost under $33 billion, of which the state would fund 19 percent, with the rest coming from public-private partnerships and private investment. The cost includes new government offices and homes for about 1.5 million civil servants.

The site of the new capital, 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) northeast of Jakarta, is one of the regions least prone to the natural disasters that regularly hit the archipelago of 17,000 islands.

There are also economic and political reasons for relocating the capital from Jakarta, which, according to Widodo, is home to 54 percent of Indonesias 260 million population and generates 58 percent of the countrys gross domestic product.

But environmentalists fear the move will hasten the destruction of forests that are home to orangutans, sun bears, and long-nosed monkeys, as well as increasing pollution that is already on the rise as a result of coal mining and palm oil production.

The move will have an environmental impact, Greenpeace senior forest campaigner Jasmine Puteri said. Jakarta has suffered so many failures from pollution, water crisis, and flooding. We dont want these problems in the new capital.

Reuters contributed to this report.
News of a North Korean missile test seen on TV at a railway station in Seoul on Jan. 17, 2022. (JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

Japan, South Korea, US Hold Talks as North Korea Confirms Tactical Guided Missiles Test

Japan, South Korea, and the United States held trilateral talks on Monday to discuss countermeasures to North Koreas series of ballistic missile launchesthe fourth already this month.

During the call, U.S. special envoy for North Korea Sung Kim expressed Americas concern over the latest in a series of ballistic missile launches by the DPRK this month, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Kim reiterated that North Koreas actions were in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting the country from engaging in ballistic missile activities, and called on North Korea to cease its unlawful and destabilizing activities and reopen dialogue, Price added.

In a return to old diplomatic approaches, the United States said its offer for open dialogue was without preconditions.

Representatives of the three allied nations agreed to continue close coordination in responding to Pyongyangs destabilizing actions.

South Korea and Japan reported Monday that North Korea launched two suspected ballistic missiles into the East Sea from Sunan Airfield, the fourth such launch this month.

North Korea on Tuesday made its first comments on the tests, saying that it tested firing two tactical guided missiles to ensure the accuracy of its weapons system, which is under production, according to Pyongyangs state-controlled media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The two tactical guided missiles launched in the western area of [Pyongyang] precisely hit an island target in the East Sea of Korea, the regimes media mouthpiece claimed.

According to The Japan Times, Japans Defense Ministry added on Tuesday that it believes the suspected short-range ballistic missiles were a solid-fuel type known as the KN-24, which Pyongyang also tested in March 2020.

North Koreas KN-24 resembles the U.S. MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and is designed to evade missile defences and carry out precision strikes, he said.

Earlier, Pyongyang claimed that another two other missile tests it performed on Jan. 5 and Jan. 11 were hypersonic missiles. Those tests prompted the Biden administration to impose its first sanctions against Pyongyang on Jan. 12, and to call on the U.N. Security Council to blacklist several North Korean individuals and entities.

That was followed by another test by North Korea on Jan. 14, when the regime fired another two tactical guided missiles from a train. North Koreas Foreign Affairs Ministry had issued a statement ahead of the missile launch berating the United States for imposing sanctions on Pyongyang and warning of a stronger reaction if Washington maintains its confrontational stance.

Meanwhile, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the Norths tests on Monday increasingly concerning during a briefing, calling for all parties to return to talks to defuse tension and promote a very verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

Melanie Sun and Reuters contributed to this report.
Kristin Crowley will be the Los Angeles Fire Department's 19th fire chief. (Courtesy of the Los Angeles Fire Department/Public Domain)

LA Mayor Nominates First Woman Fire Chief

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Jan. 18 the nomination of the first woman to lead the LA Fire Department (LAFD) in the citys history.

If confirmed by the city council, Kristin Crowley will become the citys 19th fire chief.

A 22-year veteran of the department, Crowley now serves as LAFDs acting chief deputy and first female fire marshal.

Crowley is also the program director for the departments youth development program and has helped 1,000 high school students continue their education, according to a written statement by the mayor.

I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to be the next fire chief of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and to lead the department into the future, Crowley said during the announcement outside the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center.

We will focus our efforts on increasing our operational effectiveness, enhancing firefighter safety and well-being, and fully commit to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture within the LAFD.

Garcetti commended the newly nominated fire chief.

I look for whos best, not just who makes history, because the protection of the city, first and foremost, has to go to the human being who is best prepared to lead, Garcetti said.

The mayor was joined during the announcement by City Council President Nury Martinez, who said she was proud to be there on the momentous occasion.

For the first time in its almost 136 years, the citys fire department will be led by a woman, Martinez said.

Martinez said Crowley is known as someone who works hard and goes above and beyond what shes expected to do. She looks at a challenge and says Im going to do that. Im going to do that and more. Just watch me.

LA Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas announced his retirement after 38 years of service to the LAFD. His last day is set for March 26.

Terrazas said on Jan. 18 that Crowley is an exemplary leader and has a broad base of experience that will serve the department well.

Chief Crowley has been successful at every position, and I expect her success to continue as the next fire chief.

Crowley took the firefighters exam in 1998 and placed among the top 50 scores out of 16,000 applicants, according to the department. During her 22 years at the department, she rose through the ranks as firefighter, firefighter paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain I, captain II, battalion chief, assistant chief, fire marshal, and deputy chief.

As deputy chief, Crowley helped develop a five-year strategic plan aimed at fostering a culture within the department that is more open to change, according to the mayors office. She will build on this effort, if confirmed as chief, to deepen existing efforts and create new ways to foster equity and inclusion within the department, the mayors office said in a statement.

If confirmed as your new fire chief, I will be fully committed to leading and inspiring our tremendous department into an exciting future that is filled with new opportunities to grow, to innovate, and to empower, Crowley said.

City News Service contributed to this report.
A young woman receives a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 in Mexico City, on Aug. 10, 2021. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP via Getty Images)

Latin America Has Disjointed Response to Omicron Variant

SANTA CRUZ, BoliviaLatin American response efforts to the Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus have been erratic since the diagnosis of the first case in Sao Paulo on Nov. 23, 2021.

Countermeasures by governments range from tightening border and entry requirements, to vaccine mandates and talk of lockdowns, to completely nonchalant efforts and the dropping of entry restrictions entirely.

The virus that causes COVID-19 has reportedly killed 1.57 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Case numbers and the newest variant aside, El Salvador became the first country in the world to drop all its virus-related entry requirements, on Nov. 17, 2021. On Jan. 3, the administration of President Nayib Bukele announced preparations for any rebound in CCP virus cases while asserting that the nations robust public health system had plenty of medical supplies and hospital beds.

Officials also said they had enough vaccine doses to immunize the entire population.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele waves to the audience beside his pregnant wife, Gabriela de Bukele, after receiving the presidential sash during his swearing-in ceremony in San Salvador, on June 1, 2019. (Reuters/Jose Cabezas)

Health minister Francisco Alabi said the country is prepared to react in the best way with patient care and virus control.

Following a similar response track, Mexico announced the removal of all CCP virus-related entry requirements as of Jan. 1. Prior to the new year, travelers had to fill out an online health questionnaire before proceeding through immigration.

Meanwhile, the nation struggles to control a spike in virus cases, which peaked on Jan. 3.

Mexico, which became the second country to remove all CCP virus entry requirements, uses a four-color system that alerts residents to restrictions, with red designated as the highest level of control and only essential activities allowed. As of Jan. 17, none of the countrys 32 states were operating under red level restrictions.

Paraguayan Deputy Minister of Health Hernan Martinez said lockdown measures wont return to the country, despite the arrival of Omicron within its borders on Dec. 28, 2021. Martinez says he doesnt expect the new wave of infection to be as intense as previous ones, including fewer hospitalizations and deaths.

In no sense are we going to return to restrictions or anything like that. The time has passed, he said.

However, requirements for foreigners wanting to enter Paraguay changed on Jan. 10.

A negative PCR test no older than 72 hours now is required unless travelers are coming from a Mercosur trade bloc nation.

Proof of vaccination also is required from everyone who enters, unless arriving from a border city.

A woman prepares to give a blood sample at a medical facility before receiving a dose of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine or placebo at a clinical trial in Santiago, Chile, on Nov. 20, 2020. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou declared on Jan. 10 that his administration had no intention of closing the nations borders again, despite a record number of CCP virus cases posted that day by the World Health Organization.

Lacalle maintains that the great defense of Uruguay lies in its high rate of vaccination against the virus; over 77 percent are fully vaccinated.

Uruguays public health minister, Daniel Salinas, said its important to get the third dose to prevent severe cases of the disease and added that almost 43 percent of the population has already received the first booster inoculation.

Theres a decoupling between the number of cases and hospitalizations, Salinas said. The concept that must be managed is functional control of the pandemic.

At the other end of the response spectrum are countries such as Brazil, which not only made proof of vaccination against the virus mandatory to enter the country, its also required for admission to indoor venues in 19 states.

Brazilian officials canceled Carnival festivities in 18 of 27 state capitals, including Rio de Janeiro, which Mayor Eduardo Paes announced on Jan. 4.

Additionally, a negative PCR test is required to enter Brazil.

A supreme court decision on Dec. 20 to enforce a vaccine mandate stands in sharp contrast to President Jair Bolsonaros ardent support of medical freedom.

In Bolivia, the government of socialist President Luis Arce attempted to enforce proof of vaccination on all residents and arriving visitors beginning on Jan. 1.

The mandate demanded proof of vaccination to enter any public area or place of commerce, which promptly triggered nationwide protests and lawsuits filed against the government in the nations constitutional court.

Arces government suspended the measure until the end of January, pending review, amid considerable social unrest and legal pressure.

Meanwhile, Chile suspended the relaxation of its strict border entry requirements on Nov. 29 because of the Omicron variant.

The nation, which has the highest vaccination rates in Latin America, also began administering a second booster dose this month.

Those looking to enter Chile must have proof of their vaccination registered by the nations government and obtain a mobility pass.

After obtaining the pass, travelers must also present a negative PCR test before arrival and then undergo a second PCR test after arrival and be quarantined until the results of the test are available.

Additionally, Chile is allowing people to enter only via airports in the cities of Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, and Punta Arenas.
The International Space Station (ISS) photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking, on Oct. 4, 2018. (NASA/Roscosmos)

NATOs Space Policy Outlines Readiness to Jointly Respond to Attacks in Space

NATO on Monday made public its official overarching Space Policy that outlines how it would protect its members from space attacks, citing threats from potential adversaries.

The U.S.-led alliance said its collective defense principles will be extended to outer space in response to developments made at last years Brussels Summit.

At the 2021 Brussels Summit, Allies agreed that attacks to, from, or within space present a clear challenge to the security of the Alliance, the impact of which could threaten national and Euro-Atlantic prosperity, security, and stability, and could be as harmful to modern societies as a conventional attack. Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5. A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis, the document states.

Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty states that an attack on any one of the 30 allies will be considered an attack on them all. Until now, it has only applied to more traditional military attacks on land, sea, or in the air, and more recently in cyberspace.

Considering that members have recognized that space is essential to NATOs deterrence and defense, NATO will consider a range of potential options, for council approval, across the conflict spectrum to deter and defend against threats to or attacks on allies space systems, it said.

Around 2,000 satellites orbit the earth, over half operated by NATO countries, ensuring everything from cellphone and banking services to weather forecasts. Military commanders rely on some of them to navigate, communicate, share intelligence, and detect missile launches.

In December 2019, NATO leaders declared space to be the alliances fifth domain of operations. Many member countries are concerned about what they say is increasingly aggressive behavior in space by China and Russia.

Space has become increasingly important for the security and prosperity of NATO members, the alliance added.

Space is an inherently global environment and any conflict that extends into space has the potential to affect all users of space. Even in cases where NATO is not involved in conflict, Allies space systems could be affected, the document reads.

NATO noted that a number of nations are developing counter-space and anti-satellite systems.

Potential adversaries in particular are pursuing the development of a wide range of capabilities from non-kinetic (such as dazzling, blinding, and jamming of space assets) to kinetic destructive systems (such as direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles, on orbit anti-satellite systems, and laser and electromagnetic capabilities), it said.

Such space destruction, disruption, degradation, and denial capabilities are further exacerbated by the susceptibility of space to hybrid approaches and the associated difficulty of attributing harmful effects to space systems. Some threats, such as signal jamming and cyber attacks, can potentially be caused also by non-state actors, including terrorist organizations.

The document says, Many threats to Allies space systems originate in the cyber domain and are likely to increase.

NATO said it would carry out its activities in outer space in accordance with international law, including the U.N. Charter, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation and understanding.

Baiba Braze, NATO assistant secretary general for public diplomacy, said in a statement on Twitter on Monday that it is no surprise that space is essential to NATOs deterrence and defense.

Space has fascinated our imagination for centuries, said Braze.

The UK Space Command expressed support for the policy, saying on Twitter, Space is a congested & competitive domain which is increasingly important for civilian and military activities.

We rely on #space systems for everything from weather forecasts & navigation to intelligence & missile detection. But potential adversaries could threaten our freedom to operate, including with anti-satellite systems. #NATOs new space policy sets out our approach, said NATO Press Officer Dylan P. White.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Federal Ethics Commissioner Mario Dions office says it is not planning to investigate the appointment of former ambassador to China Dominic Barton as the incoming chair of mining giant Rio Tinto, after two NDP MPs had asked the commissioner to look into the matter.

I can confirm Commissioner Dion is not launching an examination into Dominic Barton as he did not have direct and significant dealings with Rio Tinto while he was Canadas Ambassador in China, Melanie Rushworth, the communications director at the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (OCIEC), said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

Barton met with Rio Tinto officials in October 2021 when he was still Canadas ambassador to China. He subsequently announced his resignation from that post early the following December and Rio Tinto appointed him as the future chair of their board shortly afterward.

Rushworth said that Barton communicated with them in October to seek specific guidance in respect of post-employment pursuits, namely whether a virtual meeting on October 8, 2021, with representatives of Rio Tinto as well as two other Canadian officials, would be considered significant for the purpose of subsection 35(1) of the Conflict of Interest Act.

This subsection stipulates that a former office holder cannot take up employment with an entity with which he or she had direct and significant official dealings for a one-year cooling-off period.

The OCIEC says that based on the information provided, Dion determined that the meeting was not significant and therefore the act would not apply.

The two NDP MPsEdmonton Strathcona MP Heather McPherson and Hamilton Centre MP Matthew Greencontacted Dion earlier this month to ask him to look into the matter.

Given that Mr. Barton held a position within public office at a high level of responsibility and influence and, given that Mr. Barton met with Rio Tinto executives as recently as October 2021, it should be of concern to all Canadians that less than three months after meeting with the gold mining company, he announced his intention to become Chair of Rio Tintos Board of Directors, wrote McPherson and Green, according to The Globe and Mail.

Barton will join Rio Tintos board this coming April and will take the helm as chair the following May. Before serving as Canadas ambassador to China, Barton had extensive experience working in China, including with Chinese state-run companies, as global managing director for the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. China accounts for 60 percent of Rio Tintos total sales according to the companys latest results.
School students return back to school after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, at Glebe Public School in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 18, 2021. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

NSW Govt Committed to Getting Students Back to School on Day 1

New South Wales (NSW) Premier Dominic Perrottet said the millions of rapid antigen tests (RATs) arriving over the week will be crucial to ensuring schools open the first day of the term.

It is incredibly important to get schools back on day one, Perrottet told reporters on Tuesday. That is the commitment of this government and well be doing so in a way that is safe for students, for parents, and for teachers.

As the World Health Organisation says, schools should be the first to open and the last to close.

He said it was incredibly important for childrens education, social, and mental health outcomes to return to school as soon as possible.

The NSW government has been working closely with the Victorian government on back-to-school plans, which will be presented to the National Cabinet on Thursday and announced to the public afterwards.

While the two state governments have been working to ensure schools open on the first day possible, Queensland and South Australia made the decision to keep their schools closed for a further two weeks, allowing time for more children and teachers to receive vaccination and booster shots.

That is not an acceptable outcome in my perspective, Perrottet said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet speaks during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 17, 2022. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

Perrottet acknowledged that there would be challenges with reopening schools, such as the isolation of COVID-19-positive teachers and kids, that will disrupt the learning in classrooms.

But that is a better issue to be dealing with than having our schools closed, he said. Weve seen over this period of time certain students lose a quarter of their schooling because of lockdowns and because of not being able to access education. That is not a tenable position going forward.

The government has also been asking for the return of retired teachers and fast-tracking accreditation for final year university students to fill workplace gaps.

However, the Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) has criticised these calls and said they were angry that the premier made the announcement without consultation of school staff through their representative unions.

IEUA NSW Branch President Christine Wilkinson said many retired teachers were immunocompromised and at high-risk of severe illness if exposed to COVID-19 from children.

It is especially concerning in the case of primary schools as countless young children have not yet received their vaccinations, she said.

IEUA NSW Branch Acting Secretary Michael Wright said there was a clear risk of undermining the teacher profession in the decision to fast-track accreditation for final year students.

New teachers would be thrown in the deep end without support, he said.

As part of measures to ensure schools stay open, education staff is one of the groups required to receive a booster shot for COVID-19. The vaccination rollout for children aged 5 to 11 also began on Jan. 10.
Jason Miyares is sworn in as Virginias 48th Attorney General, in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 15, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Office of Virginias New AG Jason Miyares Denies Firing Civil Rights Division Within Hours of Being Sworn In

A spokeswoman for Virginias new Attorney General Jason Miyares has denied reports that Miyares fired all staff members of the civil rights division within hours of taking office last week.

Miyares was sworn in on Jan. 15, and quickly announced a string of investigations into the Virginia Parole Board and Loudoun County Public Schools, stating that Virginians deserve answers, transparency, and accountability in the wake of what he described as scandals and their horrific aftermath.

Reports also emerged that Miyares had notified roughly 30 staff members that they would no longer be employed by the Office of the Attorney General.

Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas wrote on Twitter that Miyares fired the entire civil rights division, which she said was total hypocrisy.

During the campaign, it was made clear that now-Attorney General-elect Miyares and Attorney General Herring have very different visions for the office, Miyaress spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita told Richmond.com. We are restructuring the office, as every incoming AG has done in the past.

A spokesperson for Miyaress office told The Epoch Times: Thirty personnel changes were made in the entire Office of the Attorney General, which employs 523 in the office and 643 statewide.

The claim that the entire Office of a Civil Rights was disbanded is incorrect. Only two personnel changes were made out of 12 who work in the office.

Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears (C) waves during the Inauguration address for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on the steps of the State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia, on Jan. 15, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Miyares was sworn in on Saturday alongside Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome Sears, marking a historic moment. Miyares is the first Latino to serve in the position, while Sears is the first black woman to serve in a statewide office.

The Republican quickly announced that he would be investigating scandals at the Virginia Parole Board and Loudoun County Schools.

The Virginia Parole Board allegedly acted illegally in March 2020 when it released early a number of individuals responsible for a range of crimes, including murder, amid a push to get eligible inmates out of crowded prisons as COVID-19 cases surged throughout the United States.

One of the cases pertained to the freeing of parolee Vincent Martin, who was sentenced to life behind bars for the 1979 murder of police officer Michael Connors during a traffic stop.

One of the reasons Virginians get so fed up with government is the lack of transparencyand thats a big issue here, Miyares wrote. The Virginia Parole Board broke the law when they let out murders, rapists, and cop killers early on their sentences without notifying the victims. Loudoun Country Public Schools covered up a sexual assault on school grounds for political gain, leading to an additional assault of a young girl.

In 2020, Virginias Office of the State Inspector General issued a report (pdf) finding that the parole board violated the Code of Virginia and VPB policies and procedures in freeing Martin.

The report noted, among other findings, that the Virginia Parole Board had failed to hear from several people who had raised concerns about releasing Martin and that the board did not endeavor diligently to contact the family of the victim, as is required by law, prior to making the decision to release him.

Miyaress second investigation pertains to Loudoun County Public Schools, which has come under fire in recent months over its lack of transparency and failure to take appropriate actions after an alleged sexual assault.

The incident involves a student who allegedly sexually assaulted another student before being transferred to another high school. The same student allegedly then proceeded to sexually assault a second student at the other school.

According to the victims family, the assault happened in a girls bathroom by a young boy who was allegedly wearing a skirt. That boy was later arrested in the case and charged in juvenile court with two counts of forcible sodomy, according to authorities.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Virginia Parole Board and the Loudoun County Public Schools for comment.

Newly sworn-in Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, paved the way for the investigations to begin on Friday via the signing of two executive orders.
What began as a routine pullover of a suspicious vehicle by police in Jerusalem turned into an archaeological discovery harking back over 1,900 years agoinside the trunk of the vehicle, Lev HaBira detectives found a box containing ancient battle spoils captured from Roman soldiers by Jewish rebels during the Second Jewish Revolt.

Inspectors from the Israel Antiquities Authority Robbery Prevention Unit were called after officers in early December made the startling discovery inside the vehicle, stopped for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in the Musrara neighborhood. Suspecting something was afoot, the detectives initiated a search and uncovered a wealth of ancient artifacts dating back to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, (fought around A.D. 132 to 136).

The trove of remarkably well-preserved ancient items included two 2,000-year-old ornamental bronze incense burners, a bronze wine server, an ornate stone tripod bowl, Roman ceramic lamps, and hundreds of coins dating from the Middle Roman period (second to third centuries).

It was determined that the artifacts were illegally excavated from an ancient rebel tunnel complex once used as a hideout in the Judean foothills, which had been under surveillance in recent months; and that the suspects made their way into Jerusalem with items, intending to sell them, before being apprehended.

Such bronze artifacts are relatively rare finds in Israel, the Authority stated, as metal was (and still is) an expensive commodity that was usually melted down for reuse. Such finds are generally recovered from archaeological sites where they were deliberately concealed, or in tunnel complexes left after being taken in battle during the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the statement said.

Its hypothesized that the objects were spoils seized by Bar Kochba rebels from Roman soldiers during the said Jewish revolt, after the second temples destruction. But they would not have been used by the rebels themselves, because the Roman artifacts were decorated with pagan symbols and figures that would violate their prohibition of idolatry. If the Jewish fighters wanted to use such artifacts, they would deface the figures to prevent idolatry, the Authority stated.

The ancient bronze censers, used for burning ritual incense, probably belonged to affluent Roman houses or temples, researchers added; depicted on the bronze wine vessel is a Roman banqueting scene with a reclining figure holding a jug of wine.

As for the suspects, the Authority has launched an investigation that they said has reinforced suspicions that the items were brought to Jerusalem to be sold to an antiquities dealer.

Meanwhile, director of the Authoritys Robbery Prevention Unit Amir Ganor credits the actions taken by Lev HaBira detectives, stating that their vigilance led to the finds recovery and the success of the investigation, thus thwarting the attempted sale of unique antiquities.

Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority Eli Eskozido said they are working day and night to combat illicit excavations at antiquities sites around the country in cooperation with Israeli law enforcement agencies.

These ancient finds embody the countrys history, but for robbers and dealers they are merely a commodity, sold to the highest bidder for pure greed, Eskozido added. It is tremendously important to prevent any attempts to deal in illegal antiquities, to recover valuable finds and to return them to the public and the State. When legal proceedings against the suspects are complete, the Israel Antiquities Authority will ask the court to confiscate the finds and hand them to us for conservation and further research.

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Penn State Employee: Medical Privacy Has Taken a Back Seat During the Pandemic

Penn State University Reference and Instruction Librarian Sarah Hartman-Caverly holds privacy in high regard. That is why she has not disclosed her vaccination status to her employer. She says vaccination mandates should stimulate a public conversation about medical and digital privacy.

She works at the Berks County campus of Penn State University. Penn State required employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4. Employees who did not get vaccinated face disciplinary actions including termination for some, depending on their job classification.

Im actually now involved in kind of two noncompliance procedures, Hartman-Caverly, a privacy scholar, told The Epoch Times. The first is related to the vaccination mandate which is somewhat on pause due to the nationwide injunction, and the second noncompliance procedure is related to mandatory surveillance testing for employees who have not disclosed their vaccine status.

Penn State University Reference and Instruction Librarian Sarah Hartman-Caverly (Office of Strategic Communications, Penn State Berks.)

Because she will not disclose her status, the university assumes she is unvaccinated. Hartman-Caverly must test weekly to show she does not have COVID-19. But instead of working with her doctor as she would like, she says Penn State requires her to test through Vault Health, the company the university contracted with to handle COVID-19 tests.

The test is done by video conference.

You request the test kits by mail. You have to sit on Zoom with a monitor from Vault Healththey have to watch you take the test. You mail it in. You get your results, and then your results are also communicated to the university through the cloud on Salesforce, Hartman-Caverly said. One of my concerns about this protocol is that Im being asked to work with a third-party health care provider whom I dont recognize as a health care provider of my personal choice, and then theyre transmitting my health-related data through another third party data cloud provider and then to my employer. So, there is no room in the conversation for concerns about medical autonomy and medical privacy. Your only choice is to opt-in and consent to these processes, and youve got no room to work with your own health care provider of choice and to ensure the confidentiality of your health care data.

When she first received a digital notification to test, she clicked through to read the terms and conditions.

I found I was consenting to allow Penn State to release my testing results to any third party, without limitation, and so that was my initial contact with human resources. I asked what is my recourse if I dont consent to these terms? Back in 2020, I had the option of continuing to work 100 percent remotely. She then went on maternity leave.

Fast forward to fall 2021, theyve removed that option but I was on maternity leave so everything with me is on pause. And now were in 2022, and the university is saying if Im not willing to disclose my vaccine status, and Im not willing to participate in the mandatory testing, then Im deemed unable to perform my work duties.

In addition to testing requirements, she has had meetings with supervisors asking about her vaccination status and asking what is your plan?

She tells them her plan is to continue performing her job duties in a manner that significantly exceeds expectations, since that is how her performance evaluations describe her work.

She notes that none of her supervisors, or anyone at work who has talked to her about vaccination, is a doctor.

I think is in the public interest to consider under what conditions any employer, be they public or private, can compel medical decisions and act as a health care provider on behalf of the employee, and ask any personal medical question, Hartman-Caverly said. There is a discussion to be had about public interest, during a pandemic yes, but medical privacy and medical autonomy cannot be removed from that conversation. Theyre integral to personal and public health, not in conflict with it.

This so-called systemic coercion of digital participation could impact her future employment opportunities. Refusal to disclose vaccination status is written in her record. Will it mean she will be passed over for a future promotion? Will the university decide not to award tenure in a few years on the basis of her noncompliance with the COVID mitigation protocols?

My record may be used to negate any merit based increase I would otherwise receive.

Theres a lot of research and discussion around what happens with this data once its in these systems. Theres no way to prevent whats called downstream use or redisclosure or secondary use, Hartman-Caverly said. We dont know what kind of inferences might be made on this data. We dont know what kind of decisions or opportunities may be made based on this data down the line and what I find most interesting is, even with my decision to keep my health data personal, the system has already decided that means essentially that Im not vaccinated, regardless of my status in real life, and so Im being put through these noncompliance protocols for employees who are not vaccinated regardless of my actual status.

In response to this story, Penn State Assistant Director of Strategic Communications Wyatt DuBois provided this statement: All COVID-19 testing and vaccination data are stored in software/databases that are approved for this level of information, in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws and per Penn States Information Assurance and IT Security Policy and Privacy Policy. Testing data are only shared to inform individuals of their status, and as necessary to accomplish legitimate business purposes/needs, including, but not limited to, diagnostics, treatment, contact tracing, and public health and safety activities. Vaccination status is only available to university personnel directly involved in the COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts, and to public health officials. University personnel with access to vaccination records or status are prohibited by university policy from disclosing that information except as described above.
A plane drops off immigrant children at Scranton International Airport on Christmas night, Dec. 25. 2021, while three buses stand ready for their next leg of their journey. (Courtesy Jim Gallagher, Aviation Technologies)

Pennsylvania State Senator Calls for Relocating Illegal Immigrants to Delaware

An airplane full of immigrant children and chaperones landed at the Wilkes Barre-Scranton International Airport in Pennsylvania on Christmas day. The children were then loaded onto buses and sent somewhere into Pennsylvania or neighboring New York or New Jersey. They were sent by the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services.

It was not the first planeload of unaccompanied children sent by the federal government, and it wasnt the last, but it was among the first to get widely noticed.

Local municipalities receiving large numbers of illegal immigrants are not being informed before they arrive. Its the legal responsibility of HHS to safely care for unaccompanied children until they can be unified with a parent or a vetted sponsor, the department said in an email to The Epoch Times in December.

As part of the unification process, our Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilitates travel for the children in its custody to their family or sponsors across the country, an HHS spokesperson said.

Pennsylvania State Sen. Mario Scavello. (Courtesy Mario Scavello)

Pennsylvania State Sen. Mario Scavello is introducing legislation that would implement a transportation program to move illegal immigrants, brought to Pennsylvania by an unauthorized relocation program, from Pennsylvania to Delaware.

The legislation would also ban the issuance of state contract work with any federal contractors working with the federal government to transport illegal immigrants into Pennsylvania.

The federal government has relocated an unknown number of illegal immigrants to states across the nation, including Pennsylvania, and at the same time they have failed to provide information that ensures the safety of Pennsylvania citizens, Scavello wrote in a memo promoting the bill. He says President Joe Bidens open-border policy has created a health and financial crisis, and states across the nation are being forced to pay for the reckless abandonment of the rule of law.

Scavello said Governor Tom Wolf has jeopardized the safety and security of Pennsylvania residents by enabling this practice and by not acting on it, he is aligning himself with such policies.

The latest mass spread of COVID-19 is further exacerbated with the influx of illegal immigrants, who are not being tested and apparently not vaccinated, Scavello said.

If the federal government is not willing to provide extra dollars to communities that have experienced increased strain on their healthcare systems, increased number of students in school districts and education costs and other services within our communities, then they shouldnt be forced to take on more illegal immigrants and the additional financial responsibility, the memo says.

Scavello is also promoting a resolution telling Congress to enforce its immigration laws because, he says, thats not happing.

What bothers me is, with the amount of homeless folks on our streets, with the number of homeless veterans, why dont we take care of them first. If you want to be Santa Claus to the world, go ahead. But first, take care of the people in our country, Scavello, a longtime advocate for the homeless told The Epoch Times. Look at our cities. There are people living on the streets all over the place. Why arent we helping these folks? Why not find their families and find the tools they need?

Many have asked how the federal government is going to pay for the many illegal immigrants who have been allowed across the border and spread across the country. The answer may be, it isnt going to pay at all.

When you put these kids into the schools, it becomes a local expense, Scavello said. Our districts average (spending) about $20,000 a child. But when you bring in these kids who dont speak the language and may have other problems, youre talking $35,000 per child. And that is borne by the local taxpayersproperty ownersand nobody is talking about that. Its on the back of the local taxpayer. People are struggling now and we keep putting more and more on their shoulders.

How many illegal immigrants has the president relocated to his own home state of Delaware? If it is good enough for Pennsylvania, then why not redirect the relocation to Delaware?
Pentagon Misses Deadline to Produce Report on Billions in Weapons Left Behind in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense (DOD) has missed a deadline to produce a report on the estimated $85 billion in U.S. weaponry left in Afghanistan, prompting a letter from 27 House Republicans demanding answers.

Congress approved legislation in September that required DOD officials to report on the property, equipment, and supplies that were destroyed, taken out of Afghanistan, or that remain in Afghanistan in connection with the August U.S. military withdrawal from the country.

The DOD had 90 days to submit that report to Congress. After the Dec. 29, 2021, deadline came and went with no word from the Pentagon, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and 26 other Republicans demanded answers from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

The DOD is over [two weeks] late on its reporting deadline, totally disregarding Congressional accounting of taxpayer funded equipment abandoned by this Administration and left in possession of the Taliban, the Jan. 14 letter reads. This lack of information prevents Congress from being able to accurately and effectively conduct oversight over the tens of billions of dollars of equipment invested in Afghanistan over the past 20 years and creates vulnerabilities in our national security.

The lawmakers cited concerns from Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who told Congress on Sept. 29, 2021, that the conditions in Afghanistan could yield the reemergence of al-Qaeda or ISIS in the region in 36 months or less. The lawmakers said its of the gravest concern that they dont have a full account of the weapons available in a potential hotbed for terrorism.

According to a Jan. 13 report from Radio Liberty affiliate Radio Mashaal in Pakistan, at least some of the arms are winding up in the hands of the Pakistani Taliban, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Citing an unnamed source with knowledge of TTP affairs, Radio Mashaal said Pakistani Taliban fighters have obtained U.S.-made M16 machine guns and M4 assault rifles fitted with night vision.

According to the report, the influx of arms has coincided with an increase in attacks by the TTP on Pakistani government forces.

Observers say the weapons are likely from the stockpiles amassed by the Afghan Taliban, which seized millions of dollars in American-made weapons and equipment from Afghan security forces, the report stated.

Along with posing a risk to U.S. national security and regional stability in Central Asia, the abandoned U.S. military equipment in Afghanistan may also threaten the safety of Americas Afghan allies. Thats because the equipment left behind included U.S. surveillance tools that observers say could be used to track down those who worked with the United States during its 20-year occupation of the country.

New York-based group Human Rights First announced on Aug. 16 that Taliban fighters had captured devices known as Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment, which were used by soldiers to scan the biometrics of Afghans to match fingerprints on improvised explosive devices, as well as for other such forensic investigations.

We understand that the Taliban is now likely to have access to various biometric databases and equipment in Afghanistan, including some left behind by coalition military forces, the human rights group said in a statement. This technology is likely to include access to a database with fingerprints and iris scans, and include facial recognition technology.

Former U.S. Army prosecutor John Maher told The Epoch Times in August that the Taliban probably doesnt have the technical skills to utilize those devices, but said they could be aided by more sophisticated governments, such as China or Iran.

The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed into law in December 2021, also calls for Pentagon audits on the equipment and weapons left in Afghanistan, including abandoned or destroyed biometric equipment or tools. The NDAA also calls for an assessment of whether the Taliban breached the DODs Automatic Biometric Identification System (ABIS)the central database that stores the biometrics that soldiers capture in the fieldas well as an explanation of the current efforts to ensure the security of all of DOD biometric databases.

The DOD has until March to complete these reports, but the Republican lawmakers said in their letter that they shouldnt have to wait until then.

That is why Congress required your Department to comply by December 29, 2021, they wrote to Austin. We urge that you work with your Service Secretaries and General [Frank] McKenzie to produce the required information for Congress immediately.

The Pentagon didnt respond to email queries about the matter by press time.
Perspectives on the Pandemic With Dr. Peter McCullough

Dr. Peter McCullough has an impressive list of credentials  hes an internist, cardiologist, epidemiologist and a full professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine in Dallas and is the editor of two medical journals and published hundreds of studies in the literature. Hes also among those brave and courageous persons speaking out about the dangers of COVID-19 jabs, and putting his medical license and future livelihood at risk by so doing.

Theres a hunting thats going on here thats very disturbing, McCullough said in an episode of Perspectives on the Pandemic. He was referring to state medical boards hunting down doctors and their and threatening revocation of their licenses based on the spreading of unidentified misinformation.

This is absolutely astonishing that this is happening over a fair exchange of ideas, he said. What is Dr. McCullough sharing that the powers that be dont want you to hear? Its about COVID-19 injections and, to sum it up in a sentence, Its not working and its causing tremendous damage.

COVID Jab Efficacy and Safety Overstated From the Start

In the U.S., Operation Warp Speed is the federal effort that fast-tracked COVID-19 jab candidates to market. Gene transfer technology platforms emerged as the frontrunners, including adenoviral DNA platforms or messenger RNA (mRNA) platforms designed to deliver genetic material to the human body.

Once the mRNA is injected, the body then takes up the genetic material and changes in some way. These technologies have been under study for years, in most cases being designed to replace a defective gene, which could potentially be used for cancer treatment, for example. Except historically, all failed, McCullough said.

In November 2020, however, Pfizer, in a joint venture with Germany-based BioNTech, announced that their mRNA-based injection was more than 90% effective in a Phase 3 trial. This does not mean that 90% of people who get injected will be protected from COVID-19, though, as its based on relative risk reduction (RRR).

The absolute risk reduction (ARR) for the jab is less than 1%. Although the RRR considers only participants who could benefit from the jab, the absolute risk reduction (ARR), which is the difference between attack rates with and without a jab, considers the whole population. ARRs tend to be ignored because they give a much less impressive effect size than RRRs, researchers wrote in The Lancet Microbe in April 2021.

Nonetheless, the jabs received emergency use authorization. By giving the emergency authorization, not approval, the jab administration constituted a research trial, with the sponsors being the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. According to McCullough:

Weve never had two government bodies together be a sponsor of a major research program. Shockingly, they did not have, and to this day theyve never put together, an external critical event committee, an external data safety monitoring board or a human ethics committee. They had these committees in the registrational trials  and these are standard. Every large clinical investigation has these three committees  I chair many of these committees for pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health. Americans should have had at least weekly, if not monthly, reviews of safety to ensure Americans that the jabs are safe.

By March 2021, McCullough Was Worried

Initially, McCullough said, it seemed like the experimental jabs might be safe, and about 70% of his patients had received one by December 2020. But by March 2021, he was uncomfortable with what he was seeing. From December 14, 2020, through March 8, 2021, more than 92 million doses of COVID-19 jabs were administered in the U.S.

He cited data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database, which showed that during that time, there were 1,637 reports of death in people who had received a COVID-19 jab. The CDC and FDA said none of them was related to the jab but, according to McCullough, by January 22, 2021, 186 deaths had been reported  more than enough to reach the mortality signal of concern to stop the program.

With a program this size, anything over 150 deaths would be an alarm signal, he said. The U.S. hit 186 deaths with only 27 million Americans jabbed. McCullough believes if the proper safety boards had been in place, the COVID-19 jab program would have been shut down in February based on safety and risk of death.

Such was the case in 1976, when a fast-tracked injection program against swine flu was halted after an estimated 25 to 32 deaths. Yet, despite a much larger death toll, COVID-19 jabs continues. As of August 6, 2021, VAERS COVID-19 data showed 12,791 deaths related to the jabs, according to McCullough, and tens of thousands of hospital and clinic visits.

In an analysis of COVID-19 vaccine death reports from VAERS, researchers found that 86% of the time, nothing else could have caused the death, and it appears the vaccine was the cause.

The researchers noted, The sample contains only people jabbed early in the program, and hence is made up primarily of those who are elderly or with significant health conditions. Despite this, there were only 14% of the cases for which a COVID injection reaction could be ruled out as a contributing factor in their death.

Further research shows, McCullough stated, and this is a very important point that I want you to understand and remember: that 50% of the deaths occurred within 48 hours of getting the shot, while 80% occurred within a week. An informal survey on Twitter, to which 10,000 people responded, also asked whether respondents knew someone who died after a COVID-19 jab.

Twelve percent said they did. When people see others in their circle dying, you cant stop that type of organic COVID jab hesitancy, McCullough said. Other confirmed adverse effects of the COVID jabs include myocarditis and blood clots.

An Incredible Violation of Human Ethics

Your body recognizes the spike protein in COVID-19 jabs as foreign, so it begins to manufacture antibodies to protect you against COVID-19, or so the theory goes. But theres a problem. The spike protein itself is dangerous and known to circulate in your body at least for weeks and more likely months  perhaps much longer  after the COVID jab.

In your cells, the spike protein damages blood vessels and can lead to the development of blood clots. It can go into your brain, adrenal glands, ovaries, heart, skeletal muscles and nerves, causing inflammation, scarring and damage in organs over time.

In his practice, McCullough is seeing an array of neurologic syndromes in people whove been injected, with symptoms including blindness, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, headaches, ringing in the ears, myocarditis and more. Other research suggests that the heart, brain, immunologic system and hematologic system may be most at risk from the jabs.

Children, who are at extremely low risk from COVID-19, receive no benefit from the jab, nor do those who have already had COVID and have immunity, McCullough said, calling the situation a catastrophe in real time thats violating human ethics:

Weve seen an incredible violation of human ethics. No one, for an investigational product, under any circumstances, should receive any pressure, coercion or threat of reprisal for not participating in the research.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 jab received FDA approval on August 23, 2021, but prior to this, million-dollar raffles, free tuition, bonuses and other bribes like free beer and doughnuts were offered to entice people to get injected. When that didnt work, mandates increased, including for many health care workers, and hundreds of U.S. colleges are also requiring students to get jabbed in order to attend.

Vaccinated People Are Getting COVID Anyway

Media reports keep referring to the pandemic as a crisis of the unvaccinated, which is simply inaccurate, since COVID-19 continues to affect and spread among those who have been vaccinated. July 30, 2021, the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) posted online details of an outbreak of COVID-19 that occurred in Barnstable County, Massachusetts  74% of the cases occurred in fully vaccinated people.

So-called breakthrough infections, which used to be known as vaccine failures, were reported by the CDC far earlier, though, including in their May 28, 2021, MMWR, which documented 10,262 breakthrough infections reported January 1 to April 23, 2021, across 46 states.

This, they believed, was likely a substantial undercount, but rather than continuing to assess the situation, they stopped monitoring most COVID-9 infections among vaccinated people:

Beginning May 1, 2021, CDC transitioned from monitoring all reported COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections to investigating only those among patients who are hospitalized or die, thereby focusing on the cases of highest clinical and public health significance.

McCullough also mentions antigenic, or immune, escape. If you put a living organism like bacteria or viruses under pressure, via antibiotics, antibodies or chemotherapeutics, for example, but dont kill them off completely, you can inadvertently encourage their mutation into more virulent strains. Those that escape your immune system end up surviving and selecting mutations to ensure their further survival.

COVID-19 has a high capacity for mutation but, if the virus isnt under pressure, it wont necessarily see a need to select mutations to, for instance, become more infectious. But if you put it under pressure, as is occurring during the mass vaccination campaign, this may change. McCullough stated:

If we keep this up with the injections, there is going to be one variant after another  Were playing with fire here with this mass vaccination  My interpretation as an internist and cardiologist  Im a trained epidemiologist, Ive literally done a year of intense COVID research and training  Im going to tell you, I think this Delta outbreak that we have right now is the product of mass vaccination. If we didnt have the jab, we would have been better off. We had already treated this down to a very acceptable level.

How to Break Through the Trance

McCullough believes many health care providers and the U.S. public are in a vaccination trance. It defies logic and commonsense how public officials and hospital executives can see the vaccines failing to work, can see the rising cases of adverse effects and deaths, and yet increasingly issue vaccine mandates or recommend the vaccine to groups for which it clearly shouldnt be, like pregnant women. McCullough likens it to a form of psychosis or a group neurosis.

The U.S. public, however, has seen so much fear, hospitalization and death during the pandemic that they may have been prepared to accept casualties associated with the vaccines. Still, a sizable number of Americans arent being fooled.

Were at this pressure point, and I think right now, in talking to American people in my circles, theyre ready to take a time out, McCullough said. If it means taking a sabbatical from work or delaying school for a year, many Americans are willing to do it to avoid getting vaccinated. The only way to stay healthy right now is to stay away from this vaccine. If you get COVID-19, get to one of these treatment networks and get immunity on the other side.

McCullough is a proponent of early treatment of COVID-19 and believes treatment options have been suppressed to allow for mass vaccination:

I think weve completely suppressed any form of treatment or help to people in order to promote the vaccine. Now the vaccine doesnt work completely and its, frankly, dangerous. Were down to almost one message: Take the jab or else  Its the scariest time to be an American, and thank goodness half of Americans didnt take it. Were going to have to see what this is going to look like. I think the next month or so is going to be incredibly interesting and its going to be ominous.

McCullough believes that eventually people will break out of the jab trance and realize that the answer isnt these injections, while the handling of the pandemic, including mass jabs, will become a course in violation of human ethics and the Nuremberg code. With fear, isolation, hospitalizations and deaths still occurring, however, it may take years before the fog is lifted.

Resources

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Project Veritas Urges Court to Make US Government Pay for All Costs of Special Master Review

Project Veritas is urging a federal court to make the U.S. government pay for all the costs associated with a review of materials government agents seized from the journalism groups founder and two former employees.

Special master Barbara Jones, a retired lawyer appointed last month as a special master in the case, proposed Project Veritas and the government split the costs.

But government lawyers pushed U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres, an Obama nominee overseeing the case, to force Project Veritas to pay everything. They cited how the government opposed the appointment of a special master.

In light of the circumstances presented, the Petitioners should bear the full cost of the Special Masters compensation and expenses, principally because they are responsible  for the reference to a master,' U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, a Biden nominee, told Torres in a recent letter.

Project Veritas lawyers criticized the move in a letter sent to Torres on Jan. 17.

Not satisfied with defiling the First Amendment and attacking a news organization, its journalists, and a free press through its diary investigation, and unhappy with this Courts recognition of the important First Amendment issues implicated by the governments actions, the government now objects to the Special Masters recommendation that the government bear half of the cost of her fees and expenses. Instead, the government seeks to tax Project Veritas for the procedural safeguards necessitated by its attack. The governments position is its latest attempt to punish and restrain a news organization critical of the current administration, they wrote.

The case stems from an investigation into the diary of Ashley Biden, the daughter of President Joe Biden.

Project Veritas says it received materials that purportedly were penned by the younger Biden last year but ended up not publishing them because the group could not verify the veracity of the materials.

The group says it handed over the documents to local law enforcement in Florida.

FBI officials claim the diary was stolen and raided the homes of Project Veritas founder and CEO James OKeefe and two men who used to work for the group.

The Department of Justice had claimed that it would use a filter team to sift through the materials and separate out any subject to attorney-client privilege or other rules but Torres sided with Project Veritas and agreed to appoint a special master to do the sifting, finding the appointment would ensure the perception of fairness.'

Project Veritas lawyers pointed out that the government cited no case authority in its attempt to make the group pay for the special master costs and said the appointment was only necessary because the government improperly executed search warrants on journalists in violation of the law and Department of Justice (DOJ) regulations that safeguard First Amendment principles.

The government argues that an upstart journalism organization with a current annual budget that recently hovers around $22 million is better suited to fund Special Master proceedings than a goliath arm of the U.S. government featuring a long-standing bloated budget, currently at $31.1 billion, they added later.

Torres is expected to rule on the matter in the coming weeks.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases testifies, during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 11, 2022 (Shawn Thew/Getty Images)

Public Health Establishments COVID Flip-Flops Should Immunize Against Its Politicization

Commentary

What does it tell us that the medical establishment is now daily taking positions on significant matters relating to the Chinese coronavirus that its allies in Big Tech used to censor people overmany of which we have known the truth of since early in the pandemic?

It tells us that while The Science has in large part remained the same, the politics have shifted to such an extent in the face of the Omicron variant that the authorities feel compelled to recognize reality.

That is, it shows us that the Trust The Science crowd isas should have been clear from the jumppolitical, and that it has invoked its favored line to end debate; to ensure the public submit to its edicts based on a Science that brooks no dissent.

Presenting select data, and without nuance, context, or balance, that distorted the publics view of the threatat bare minimum as reflected in Americans gross over-estimation of the Chinese coronaviruss fatality across age cohorts under 65and justified its draconian responses to it, suppressing countervailing evidence, and smearing and silencing those who present it is, of course, the height of anti-Scientific behavior.

Seen in this light, the Omicron variant is proving doubly beneficial: To the extent it remains as mild as all evidence to date suggests, its conferring some level of widespread immunity; at the same time, its exposing public healths hyper-politicization by causing it to contradict that which it previously held sacrosanct, hopefully immunizing the public to such politicization.

Yet the unwillingness of the public health establishment to reverse its support for the most coercive, immoral, and arguably illegal policies, like vaccine mandates, at the very time the stated primary public health rationalestopping the spreadhas been rendered moot by the authorities own admission, indicates how dug in they may be. This only further exposes that politics and power, not public health, are paramount.

When total control over society is rooted in The Science, The Science collapses, but the control persists, its clear control was the point. Its clear Science is a political faith.

The public health establishment is presently being exposedin fact exposing itself in its rhetorical about-faceas being as corrupted at its top ranks as the Deep State did in pursuing President Donald Trump, and now his tens of millions of supporters. This corruption has implicated, been exploited by, and/or corrupted a slew of actors, as Russiagate did, including among them politicians, the media, the courts, Big Pharma, and the Woke-Industrial Complexto devastating effect for American life, limb, and liberty.

As with the Deep State, Trumps mere existence drew out the public health establishments politicization. Its hostility toward him was evident during the throes of a pandemic used above all else against him in an election year.

That hostility manifested itself in a number of ways, but perhaps most notably in (i) the dismissal of the Wuhan lab leak theorythe sordid backstory of which continues to be revealed to this day; and (ii) the dismissal of over-the-counter, early treatment remediespotentially at the cost of thousands of lives based upon the successes of doctors in America and around the world with generic drug cocktails. The cost of subordinating all to the vaccines has only been exacerbated as their efficacy has proven to wane, and arguably as we see shortages in the less-emphasized areas of testing devices and alternative treatments.

In recent weeks, the reality that Science is often a stand-in for Politics has further revealed itself.

We have seen definitive proof that there was a concerted effort by NIAID Director Anthony Fauci and NIH Director Francis Collins to run a smear campaign against the Great Barrington Declaration, and its eminent drafters, Harvards Martin Kulldorf, Oxfords Sunetra Gupta, and Stanfords Jay Bhattacharya. Those doctors had the gall in the eyes of the public health establishment to challenge mass lockdowns in favor of protecting those most at-risk and allowing others to resume normal lives as of fall 2020.

Our authorities of course did the opposite: They endangered the at-risk in nursing homes, while locking down everyone else but the privileged social justice warriors, causing untold calamities for Americans health, well-being, prosperity, liberty, and justice.

We have also seen further definitive proof (pdf) in recent days that Drs. Fauci and Collins were aware of the merits of the Wuhan lab leak theory soon after the onset of the pandemic, but for evidently political reasons, chose not to pursue it. We already knew about the reflexive dismissal of a lab leak by not just the medical establishment, but virtually every other establishment once Trump and senior administration officials embraced it. We now know public health officials had another rationale for rejecting the thesis: To appease the most culpable party in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). That is the very CCP of course that under NIHs direction, America had effectively collaborated with on potentially dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology of the kind that could have led to this pandemicthough the NIH is adamant it did not.

Now, consider some of the things weve seen public health authorities and their mouthpieces flip-flop onagain, to positions that used to get people banned on Facebook and Twitter.

They now admit as weve long known that cloth masks do little if anything but serve to virtue-signal.

They now admit that substantial percentages of the very small number of children hospitalized are hospitalized with rather than from COVID-19a distinction previously verboten in public discourseand that likewise substantial percentages of the hospitalized generally are hospitalized with rather than from COVID-19.

They also admit they dont have an accurate count of how many deaths during the pandemic were with versus from COVID-19both an acknowledgment again of a crucial distinction of which we previously could not speak, and an inadvertent admission of an unwillingness or inability borne of either politics, or incompetence, to accurately record COVID deaths.

They now tell us openlyas the CDC more quietly acknowledged months agothat the vaccines neither prevent infection nor transmission, and particularly so with Omicron, which again has rendered the vaccines even less efficacious than authorities implicitly admitted when they started endorsing boosters.

Theyve changed the definitions of vaccine and vaccinated as its been clear that the vaccines dont immunize people, a move smacking of politics. Remember, they had initially argued vaccines would prevent infection and transmission. We were all in this together. Today, claims are far humbler: Vaccines will prevent severe sickness and death, which of course is not wholly true since some vaccinated individuals do get hospitalized, and some do die, though disproportionately those suffering from four-plus comorbidities. That the vast majority of people who have died with COVID in general have suffered from comorbidities, and on average four additional conditions or causes, is something that has also been clear for much of the pandemic, yet rarely if ever noted by authorities.

They have also signaled theyre going to change the definition of fully vaccinatedat least by defaultonce again, an indicator of their failure, and the ever-shifting goal posts.

They have changed the quarantine length subsequent to infection in a move seemingly driven by economics over Science.

Theyve flipped on schools, now acknowledging how devastating closures have been, when weve known from almost the very beginning that kids are exceedingly safer from COVID-19 than other age cohorts, and that locking them out would be crippling for children and their families.

Why the flurry of flip-flops?

Occams Razor suggests Omicron has exposed to all the inefficacy of the lockdowns, the mandates, and the vaccines authorities promised would serve as a panacea. Even the sophisticated, vaccinated crowd wasnt spared from this latest variant.

So, in part, this may be an act of face-saving: Better to acknowledge undeniable facts over wholly continuing a COVID charade that would only do further harm to the authorities credibility.

But theres something deeper at play as well.

Candidate Joe Biden said, during the 2020 campaign, while America had suffered 220,000 deaths ascribed to COVID that anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America. Hes now responsible for a multiple of that.

There were surprise Republican wins or near-wins in COVID control-crushed blue states during the 2021 elections, and Democrats are poised to face a shellacking in the midterm elections as of this writing.

The likes of radically progressive Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot even went after the Chicago Teachers Union over its putatively COVID-related walkout.

Its evident millions are sick and tired of policies that have self-evidently not worked, while breeding poverty and misery, and that a revolt may be brewing.

Hence, now the effort to downplay the high-level numbers once hockedeven terminating death figure reporting altogether; the shift to an endemic stage; and an effort to get off of hysteria footingat least rhetorically.

The authorities are caught between a rock and a hard place as the actual science doesnt comport with their controland renders it farcicalbut the imperative to control remains.

It should be clear now that when you hear Trust the Science, you should run. And then vote out the people who have ceded our life and liberty to public health technocrats and their adjuncts, and for those who will restore our, liberty, justice, and sanity.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Queensland Cancels Plans for Kids Watchhouse on Sunshine Coast

The Queensland government has cancelled plans to repurpose the Caloundra watchhouse into a remand centre for young offenders aged 10 to 15 after community backlash.

This comes after the government invited community consultation in July last year.

The building on the Sunshine Coast is an operational watchhouse that can currently hold adults and young people who have been arrested by the police.

The governments intention was to use the building solely as a short-term watchhouse for young people.

But after residents and business had their say, the plans have now been scrapped.

That process found that Caloundra wasnt the right place for this temporary centrewe welcome the feedback, we listened to the communitys concerns, and we have acted on those concerns,  Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said in a release.

Instead, the watchhouse will continue to be used by police, and the government will seek to pursue alternatives to increase youth detention capacity in Queensland.

The Queensland government introduced new youth justice reforms last year targeting repeated reoffenders.

We remain committed to community safety and ensuring that young people who need to be detained are kept in safe and secure custody, Linard said.

Detaining Kids Creates Cycle of Recidivism: Amnesty International

Amnesty International Australia has previously advocated for the state to focus on reducing youth offending and address the underlying cause of crimes, rather than funnelling young people into watchhouses and detention.

Maggie Munn, Amnesty International Australias Indigenous rights campaigner, said evidence shows that putting kids into prison creates a cycle of recidivism.

If the Queensland government was serious about dealing with youth crime in an effective way, then it would allow children and young people to access the diversion programs it has invested in, Munn said in March last year.

The government wants to reduce recidivism, but it has made a fundamentally flawed assumption: that prison reduces recidivism. The government is wrong. By flipping the presumption of bail, the government will be funnelling children into the prison system, which produces recidivists and away from prevention and diversion programs that address the underlying causes of crime.

Munn has previously called for the Queensland government to pursue non-custodial interventions and advocated for community-led diversion programs that keep children and young people out of prison.
Ray Epps seen on Jan. 5, 2021, trying to recruit men to attack the Capitol. They accuse him of being a federal agent. (CapitolPunishmentTheMovie.com/Bark at the Hole Productions)

Ray Epps to Speak Under Oath With Jan. 6 House Committee: Lawyer

An Arizona man who was in Washington on Jan. 6 during the U.S. Capitol breach but has not been charged with any crimes will speak to the House of Representatives panel investigating the incident, the mans lawyer says.

Ray Epps will meet with the panel on Friday at the law offices of John Blischak, a former FBI agent who is representing Epps, Blischak told The Epoch Times.

Epps will be speaking under oath.

A spokesman for the House panel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a member of the committee, said last week that Epps has cooperated with the committee and we thank him.

Epps has already spoken with the panel, his lawyer told The Epoch Times.

They were satisfied with these answers, but due to all the recentwhats the word I want to say? Frivolous accusationstheyre placing him under oath and hell stand by his comments, Blischak said.

Epps was captured on video urging people to storm the Capitol before the breach and some have speculated that, due to his disappearance from the FBIs wanted list and his not being charged in relation to Jan. 6, he is a government agent or informant.

The resident of Queen Creek, Arizona, was seen the night before the breach telling supporters of then-President Donald Trump that we need to go into the Capitol. His exhortations triggered chants of fed!

Epps was in Washington on Jan. 6, urging people to join him. He was spotted whispering in the ear of a man wearing a Make America Great Again hat shortly before the man helped push over a barricade outside the Capitol.

Epps was also captured on video running up a set of stairs toward the building.

Epps attorney told The Epoch Times last week that his client is not an FBI informant after Epps declined to answer questions, referring a reporter to the lawyer.

Ive been advised not to talk to anyone at this time, Epps said.

The House panel investigating the Capitol breach is partisan, containing mostly Democrats and just two RepublicansKinzinger and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), both appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and fervently anti-Trump.

The panel has been interviewing or seeking to speak to dozens of people who they say have information germane to the investigation, including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Ross Worthington, a former White House official who helped draft the speech Trump delivered to supporters on The Ellipse, about two miles from the Capitol, on the fateful day.

A number of Republicans have denounced the panels efforts and all members asked to convey information to the committee have refused to cooperate, setting up potential subpoenas.

Joseph Hanneman and Ken Silva contributed to this report.
Relative Arrested in Connection with Stabbing Death

SAN DIEGOA man was behind bars Jan. 17 in connection with the weekend stabbing death of a 22-year-old female cousin in the Sabre Springs community.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, 22-year-old Uriel Cedillo was located at 12500 Oak Knoll Road and arrested on suspicion of murder, said Lt. Andra Brown of the San Diego Police Department.

The victim, identified as Poway resident Fatima Marin Cedillo, the suspects cousin, was fatally stabbed around 2:30 a.m. Sunday at a park in the 11500 block of Meadow Grass Lane, according to Brown.

Officers responding to calls about the attack found the woman suffering from at least one apparent stab wound to the upper body, Brown said. Paramedics took her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 3:45 a.m.

Detectives have learned the female arrived at the park with friends and walked over to a group already there, Brown said. After a brief encounter, she walked away from them and told her friends she had been stabbed.

The suspect drove away from the area in a dark vehicle. According to the county Sheriffs Department website, Cedillo was booked into the Central Jail and was being held without bail.

San Diego police urged anyone with information to call them at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
On New Years Day, mostly to amuse some restless grandchildren, I carried a drawer from the filing cabinet in the basement up the steps and into the kitchen.

The three younger kids and I gathered around the table and pulled some treasures from the drawer: the little bonnet their toddler great-great-great grandfather had worn on the ship from Ireland to America well over a century ago, the coins collected as a child by my deceased wife, including several silver dollars from the 1920s, and a few other odds and ends.

The kids delighted particularly in the coins, but II was stunned by the letters, birthday and Christmas cards, and notes Id saved for over 60 years. Here were several hundred documents from my past: letters my mom had sent me when I was away at school in the early 1960s, more letters from family and friends in my college days, holiday cards with long, handwritten notes or family newsletters, and wedding announcements. Some of these were in packets, like the ones saved by my mother, but most of them I had haphazardly jammed and ignored into the drawer over many years.

As I flipped through some of these messages from my past, pausing now and again to read a few lines, a thought struck me. In my hands were not only memoranda from my personal history. Nothese were also relics from an era that is rapidly disappearing. Years ago, the telegraph and telephone had undoubtedly eroded the art and practice of letter writing, but our more recent technologyemails, texts, and chatshave completely changed the way our written communications operate. The days of receiving letters in an envelope via a mailbox are at an end. And just as storing pictures on our phones has replaced the albums where we once kept our treasured photos, so have our machines become the repository of our letters, if we keep them at all.

Heres the question that occurred to me: Once we preserved our letters on paper and print like the ones in my hands. Will our electronic letters survive as documents of our lives, as records of our dreams, victories, and defeats?

Faster and Faster

Human beings have long sought ways to speed the delivery of their letters and documents.

To send mail and proclamations from one end of their vast empire to the other as swiftly as possible, the ancient Persians developed a system of highways, expert riders, and relays of fast horses that prefigured Americas Pony Express. Other ancient peoples also learned to use pigeons to carry messages, a practice that continued through World War I.

Pigeon Post, 1843, by Miklos Barabas. The carrier pigeon was used for correspondence as late as World War I. (Public Domain)

In the United States, the development of a national post office, the telegraph, and the railroads made for an efficient and ever speedier system of communication. Until 1950, for example, mail carriers had for years delivered packages and letters to homes in most cities twice daily and to businesses as many as four times a day.

A mailman circa 1950. Until 1950, mail carriers delivered letters to homes in most cities twice daily. (Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Now, however, with the tap of a key on our laptop or phone, we can send messages across the country or around the world in a matter of seconds. No fuss, no muss, no stamps, no wait: Out that email goes, traveling faster than the speed of sound.

But what does this huge advance in technology mean for our recorded history? Are there cultural ramifications that we may be missing?

The Golden Age of Correspondence

From Americas colonial days up until the recent past, people communicated over distances by means of words written by pen or pencil on paper. As a result, we have treasures like the correspondence between Abigail Adams and her husband, John, and the letters exchanged with Thomas Jefferson by both of them. Abigail wrote hundreds of letters that remain extant, a correspondence that included many key figures of the American Revolution. Without these letters, our knowledge of these people, and of Abigail herself, would be much diminished.

Abigail Smith Adams, 18101815, by Gilbert Stuart. Abigail Adams corresponded with many key figures of the American Revolution. Without these letters, our knowledge of this time and people would be much diminished. (Public Domain)

And like Abigail, those who once sat down to compose such letters to loved ones and friends often approached their correspondence as an art form. Some few of these letter writers were trained in the classics and many more were versed in the Bible, and these influences appear in their words, but nearly all those who had received an education were trained in the skills needed to write comprehensible, clear, and entertaining accounts of their lives and their feelings. They believed that their words and the way they expressed themselves mattered.

As a result, the surviving correspondence of even ordinary people offers lessons in history and culture. From the American Revolution to the Vietnam War, for example, common soldiers have left us their impressions of their ordeals through the letters they sent home. Google letters from American soldiers in Vietnam War, for instance, and dozens of sites will pop up.

In short, the letters that have survived the ravages of time have added much to our understanding of our past.

Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at Fire Support Base Russell, Vietnam, in 1969. Letter reading and writing not only provided the men with a break but also provided history a firsthand account of events of the time. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Collected Letters

In my medium-sized public library, we see evidence of this influence. Here we find dozens of books devoted to letters, some of them collections of correspondence by a single writer or a famous author or political figure, while others appear in compilations of different writers united by some sort of common theme.

On those shelves, for example, is Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children (Doubleday, 2004, 316 pages), wherein Dorie McCullough Lawson has compiled messages sent from almost 100 famous parents to their offspring. Thomas Jefferson writes to his daughter Patsy: I do not like your saying that you are unable to read the antient print of your Livy, but with the aid of your master. Writer John OHara sends off a letter to his daughter, giving her advice on her entrance into a parochial high school. He ends by telling her: You have come through childhood as a fine person, with wonderful prospects for a wonderful future.  And I was born loving you. These few words give us an entirely new look at a writer often regarded as a crusty curmudgeon.

Also in my public library is Letters of a Nation: A Collection of Extraordinary American Letters (Broadway Books, 1997, 446 pages). Here are more than 200 letters written by Americans over 350 years of their history. Some of these correspondentsAbraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Frederick Douglassare familiar to us while others, like Hannah Johnson writing to Lincoln about the condition of black troops during the Civil War or Aline Bernstein writing to her former lover, the young novelist Thomas Wolfe, mean little to most people these days.

This volume contains more than 200 letters written by Americans over 350 years.

Yet every one of these voices from the past tell us a story, however brief, of their lives, and blended together, all these stories become ours. They belong to us. In a real sense, they define us as Americans.

Missing Pieces

The young Wylie, OHaras daughter, held his letter in her fingers as she read it. Now the rest of us can read his words in a book. Someone regarded this letter as worthy of preservation.

But I wonder: Will the same hold true in our digital age, when the delete button erases in a stroke some long email and when so much communication occurs by texting on a phone? How might our descendants change their view of history if denied the personal views of their ancestors?

The pandemic of the last two years serves as the perfect example here. Someday our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will read of the scourge in a history book. Depending on the opinions of its authors, that book will tell a certain story. Those children may learn the barebones details of what transpired, but they may well miss the information that we might have imparted to them: our horrible sickness from the virus itself, our business closed forever by the lockdowns, our anger at the misinformation we were fed, and above all, the fierce hope that kept us moving forward.

With Deliberate Intent

If we wish to pass on some of our thoughts and the events in our lives, whether we are famous or a simple papa writing to his children, we must make the effort to preserve our correspondence. We must save and store those documents worthy of such a heritage, our letters and those to us, to keep them safe for posterity. And then, of course, if we choose to do so, we must find a way to share this correspondence with those who come after us.

The subheading for the Inspired section of The Epoch Times is Stories of hope that celebrate kindness, traditions, and triumph of the human spirit. By safeguarding and eventually sharing our pertinent emails, we can impart our own stories of hope to the next generation.
A plume rises over Tonga when the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupted in this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite operated by Japan Meteorological Agency, and released by National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), on Jan. 15, 2022. (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)/Handout via Reuters)

Scientists Struggle to Monitor Tonga Volcano After Massive Eruption

SINGAPOREScientists are struggling to monitor an active volcano that erupted off the South Pacific island of Tonga at the weekend, after the explosion destroyed its sea-level crater and drowned its mass, obscuring it from satellites.

The eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean, and was heard some 1,430 miles (2,300 kms) away in New Zealand.

The concern at the moment is how little information we have and thats scary, said Janine Krippner, a New Zealand-based volcanologist with the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.

When the vent is below water, nothing can tell us what will happen next.

Krippner said on-site instruments were likely destroyed in the eruption and the volcanology community was pooling together the best available data and expertise to review the explosion, and predict anticipated future activity.

Saturdays eruption was so powerful that space satellites captured not only huge clouds of ash but also an atmospheric shockwave that radiated out from the volcano at close to the speed of sound.

Photographs and videos showed grey ash clouds billowing over the South Pacific and meter-high waves surging onto the coast of Tonga.

Internet and telephone communications are extremely limited, and outlying coastal areas remain cut off.

Experts said the volcano, which last erupted in 2014, had been puffing away for about a month before rising magma, superheated to around 1,000 degrees Celsius, met with 20-degree seawater on Saturday, causing an instantaneous, and massive explosion.

The unusual astounding speed and force of the eruption indicated a greater force at play than simply magma meeting water, scientists said.

As the superheated magma rose quickly and met the cool seawater, so did a huge volume of volcanic gases, intensifying the explosion, said Raymond Cas, a professor of volcanology at Australias Monash University.

Some volcanologists are likening the eruption to the 1991 Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines, the second-largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, which killed around 800 people.

The Tonga Geological Services agency, which was monitoring the volcano, was unreachable on Monday. Most communications to Tonga have been cut after the main undersea communications cable lost power.

Lightning Strikes

American meteorologist, Chris Vagasky, studied lightning around the volcano and found it increasing to about 30,000 strikes in the days leading up to the eruption. On the day of the eruption, he detected 400,000 lightning events in just three hours, which comes down to 100 lightning events per second.

That compared with 8,000 strikes per hour during the Anak Krakatau eruption in 2018, caused part of the crater to collapse into the Sunda Strait and send a tsunami crashing into western Java, which killed hundreds of people.

Cas said it is difficult to predict follow-up activity and that the volcanos vents could continue to release gases, and other material for weeks or months.

It wouldnt be unusual to get a few more eruptions, though maybe not as big as Saturday, he said. Once the volcano is de-gassed, it will settle down.

By Kanupriya Kapoor
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon delivering a COVID-19 update statement in the main chamber at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, on Jan. 18, 2022. (PA)

Scotland to Lift Omicron Restrictions as COVID-19 Cases Dwindle

Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant will be lifted next week.

Addressing the Scottish Parliament on Jan. 18, Sturgeon said that recent data showing a fall in infections gives us confidence that we have turned the corner on the Omicron wave.

A combination of booster vaccinations, the willingness of the public to adapt their behaviour to help stem transmission, and the temporary protective measures introduced in December, has helped blunt the impact of the Omicron wave, she said.

Sturgeon said over the last week the number of people testing positive with a PCR test had fallen from an average of almost 13,000 a day to just over 4,600a drop of 64 percent, with cases declining in all age groups.

She said she could say with some confidence that the rise in cases driven by Omicron peaked in the first week of January and that we are now on the downward slope of this wave of cases.

As a result, from Jan. 24, the government will lift a series of measures adopted last month to slow the spread of the virus, including limiting the number of people allowed to attend indoor events, restricting hospitality venues to table service only, and closing nightclubs.

Guidance limiting gatherings to a maximum of three households will also end on the same date, Sturgeon added, along with restrictions preventing adults from taking part in indoor contact sports.

Scotlands controversial vaccine passport scheme for nightclubs and large venues will remain in place, but Sturgeon said it will not be expanded to other hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants at this stage.

Given that cases are now falling quite rapidly, and the current wave is receding, we decided that we will not at this stage extend the COVID certification scheme to other premises, she said.

The announcement comes a day after the Scottish authorities lifted a cap on the number of people allowed at outdoor events.

But Sturgeon stressed there were still some uncertainties ahead and throwing all caution to the wind would be a mistake. As a result, she said it makes sense for remaining restrictions to be lifted on a phased basis.

The Scottish Conservatives said the government did not go far enough on relieving restrictions and called for an end to home working and the vaccine passport scheme.

The Scottish Labour Party urged the government to speed up support for businesses that have been affected by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus measures, saying too many businesses are teetering on the brink.

More than 100 staff at two Glasgow theatres have not been paid in more than a month, said Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

PA Media contributed to this report.
DETROIT, Mich.At the Jan. 16 matinee of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Detroit Opera House, audiences said the performance left them feeling uplifted and renewed.

Psychologist Howard Berlin was glad to see people come together to experience a sense of community. People now are feeling depressed because they feel more isolated and alone, he said. And when you come to something like this, you see people coming together and the beauty of community.

New York-based Shen Yun is a global classical Chinese dance and music phenomenon that has been sharing a message of hope with the world on its global tour since 2006. It performs in over 150 cities each year with a brand-new program. Bringing to life traditional Chinese culture with colorful costumes, original music performed by a live orchestra, and breathtaking dance numbers, audience members often remark how Shen Yun is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Shen Yun Performing Arts World Companys curtain call at the Detroit Opera House, on Jan. 16, 2022. (Sam Wang/The Epoch Times)

Berlin himself got a boost from seeing the show. I feel lighter, mentally. I just feel lifted, like Im seeing something beautiful and bigger than me and bigger than everything going on in the world, he said.

Shen Yuns overarching message is one of faith, hope, and renewal. Its mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese culture as it was before communism. In its program, Shen Yun shows the contrast between the glory of Chinas heritage versus present-day life under the communist regime.

The basic takeaway is the beauty of the storytelling and of the power of individuals, Berlin said. A lot of times, theyre dancing and its individuals coming together against something thats bigger than them. And its just the beauty and the power of individual expression.

Immerse Yourself in Love and Compassion

Taiya Himebauch at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 16, 2022. (Nancy Ma/The Epoch Times)

Taiya Himebauch, a color and sound therapist, remarked on the effect Shen Yuns music had on her body and mood.

I can feel the physical changes of music in your heart, she explained. So during the sopranos piece, I closed my eyes so I wasnt feeling the color, and I just felt her music. And I felt muscles loosen in my chest and throat that have needed to loosen for a while, and I felt openness. I felt breathing [was] easier and I just felt beautiful  I felt the beauty of her voice.

Himebauch said the performance made her feel beautiful again.

I feel elevated, I feel like Im in a better mood  The music made me feel beautiful again on a soul level, she said.

If theres something I would say to other people who are considering coming, I would say: If theres something in you or you are having a hard time feeling compassion for others right now, that love for someone who you disagree with, or a situation you dont understand, you can be immersed in love and compassion here, so come see it.

You want to be bright, you want to be light. So whatever it takes to bring that light in, do it. And this is an easy way: the price of a ticket.  Taiya Himebauch

Himebauch pointed to studies by Japanese researchers that indicate how the music you listen to influences the structure of molecules in your body.

Im a chemist, and if you listen to hate and distrust and youre angry, the water in your body also changes, and you dont want that. You want to be bright, you want to be light. So whatever it takes to bring that light in, do it. And this is an easy way: the price of a ticket.

Reporting by Teng Dongyu and Nancy Ma.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
PARISMany audience members were touched by what they saw at Shen Yun Performing Arts first performances in France for 2022 on Friday and Saturday, among them many medical professionals.

Joelle Dubois, a physician specializing in public health and social medicine, related to how New York-based Shen Yun was reviving traditional Chinese culture and how it gave full scope to the spiritual traditions that created much of Chinas history.

It is an evocation of otherworldly superior powers, the relationship between earth and heaven, Dr. Dubois said.

Shen Yun leads to a reflection on tradition and on bequeathing something through time, she said.

Especially in the context that we know, it is good to think that there are sure values, that there are things which are perpetuated, she said. Its important for each of us not to lose contact with reality on a deeper profound level.

Dr. Dominique Clavier at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Paris, France, on Jan.14, 2022. (NTD)

Dominique Clavier, a clinical psychologist, said he experienced lots of spirit, lots of emotions during the performance.

This is something important especially at this time when we are more confined, he said in reference to the pandemic.

Dr. Clavier added that in order to be part of the world, it is necessary to realize that each culture is important and that we must value them and continue to feed them.

Dr. Isabelle Lecardonnel at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Paris, France, on Jan.14, 2022. (NTD)

Isabelle Lecardonnel, a cardiologist, was impressed by such magnificent performances that featured Chinese traditions and artforms such as dance.

It really makes you want to go and discover these regions and cultures, Dr. Lecardonnel said.

We are asked to [by Shen Yun] to get closer to our roots and to find the simple and beautiful things in life, she said.

The search for purity is emphasized in the performances.

Gilles Maroteaux at Palais des Congres de Paris , France, on Jan. 14, 2022. (NTD)

Teacher-translator Gilles Maroteaux waited four years to see Shen Yun.

Its absolutely wonderful  There are no words to describe what we saw. Its really something beautiful, Maroteaux said with his voice broken by emotion.

It means a lot to me because its  ancient Chinese mythology. And that comes out a lot in everything that is done on stage. Its really beautiful art. Its beauty, Maroteaux said.

The music is sublime. The dancers have worked very hard to achieve this level of beauty, he said.

They manage to exalt the music. And the dance! Its absolutely wonderful. Its a really, really beautiful experience.

Shen Yun Performing Arts curtain call at Palais des Congres de Paris, France, on Jan. 16, 2022. (Jian Ping/Epoch Times)

Maroteaux said he was touched by Shen Yuns different performances that depicted Chinese ethnic groups, folk tales, and myths.

If we humans could become like that again, it would do a lot of people good  and probably all of mankind, he said.

Its an experience that is an absolute must! Especially nowadays when we live too fastits really something that is good for the heart and soul.

Lucie with her grandfather Professor Francois Bricaire at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Paris, France, on Jan. 15, 2022. (NTD)

The former head of the infectious and tropical diseases department of the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital, Professor Francois Bricaire, attended the Shen Yun performance on Saturday.

Very active in the management of the COVID-19 crisis in France, the professor considers that it is good that life does not stop and that the French can access art.

It is very important to go out, to see shows despite this pandemic that comes from China.  Professor Francois Bricaire

We need it, he said. It is very important to go out, to see shows despite this pandemic that comes from China. This situation forces us to try to do something else, and shows are part of it.

His ballet-loving granddaughter, Lucie, received the Shen Yun tickets as a Christmas present.

It was very moving, said Lucie. Beautiful, beautiful!

I chose very well, frankly I love it, its great, she said, happy to have selected to watch Shen Yun.

Her grandfather agreed.

Yes, it is absolutely beautiful, very moving, Professor Bricaire said. I find it so beautiful because the show highlights the true Chinese culture and it is a great pleasure to admire the remarkable movements and coordination of the dancers.

Reporting by NTD in France.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 21, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Boston Flew Communist Chinese Flag, But Refused Christian FlagCase Now Before Supreme Court

Allowing national flags and flags about historic events, causes, and organizations while refusing to raise a Christian flag outside a city hall is an unconstitutional example of government censorship, a seemingly sympathetic Supreme Court was told on Jan. 18.

The hearing came as the high court has been becoming increasingly protective of religious freedoms since conservatives gained a 63 majority on the bench in October 2020, when Justice Amy Coney Barrett replaced the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The case, Shurtleff v. Boston, court file 20-1800, comes from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit.

Petitioner Harold Shurtleff runs Camp Constitution, which offers classes and workshops on U.S. history and the Constitution. Camp Constitution, also a petitioner, was formed to enhance understanding of the countrys Judeo-Christian heritage, the American heritage of courage and ingenuity, the genius of the United States Constitution, and free enterprise, according to the petition filed with the court.

Three flagpoles adorn Boston City Halls entrance. Atop one flies the U.S. flag, and below it is a flag honoring missing soldiers and prisoners of war. The Massachusetts flag is on a second flagpole. A third flagpole usually flies Bostons flag, but sometimes flags are hoisted to honor or commemorate causes, individuals, historic events, and foreign countries such as China or Turkey. Sometimes, the tertiary staff hosts flags about military battles, victims of crime, or the LGBTQ community.\

But in 2017, Boston refused to let Camp Constitution display a flag containing a Christian cross, claiming it would be a constitutionally impermissible endorsement of Christianity by the city.

The petition states that Boston official Gregory Rooney told the group the city maintains a policy and practice of respectfully refraining from flying non-secular flags.

Rooney said the policy was created out of concern for the so-called separation of church and state or the Constitutions establishment clause. He worried that the Camp Constitution flag was promoting a specific religion and didnt think that it was in the citys best interest to necessarily have that flag flying above City Hall.

His concern was not with the flag itself, but that on the application, it was called a Christian flag. Rooney wouldnt have been concerned if the same flag was called the Camp Constitution flag because then it would have been the flag of the organization and not a religious symbol, the petition states.

During oral arguments, Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the public interest law firm Liberty Counsel, spoke for the petitioners.

After 12 years with 284 flag-raising approvals, no denials, and usually no review, one word caught the attention of a Boston official: the word Christian on the application, Staver told the justices.

The flag itself was not the problem. Had it been called anything but Christian, the same flag would have flown for an hour without incident.  All applicants are welcome, except religious viewpoints. Bostons policy places religion in the same category as speech deemed inappropriate, offensive, supporting prejudice or discrimination.

Boston has been talking out of both sides of its mouth, Staver argued.

On the one hand, the city, in an unbroken history and practice and policy, has expressly declared that the flagpoles are one of its public forums open to all applicants. On the other hand, Boston claims its flagpole, a public forum open for all applicants, is really government speech, he said.

The citys application form alone cannot transform private speech into government speech, Staver said. The lower courts decision upholding viewpoint discrimination under the guise of government speech is dangerous and should be reversed.

Chief Justice John Roberts asked Staver that if the flagpole is a government forum and this is government speech, they can certainly discriminate on the basis of viewpoint, right?

Staver said that would be correct if its government speech  but this is not government speech.

The city exercised no control. For 12 years, the city ministerially approved all of these applications with virtually no review.

Staver told Justice Amy Coney Barrett that Boston simply wanted to use government speech as a guise for censorship.

Justice Elena Kagan asked Staver whether, if someone asked Boston to display a swastika on the flagpole, the city would have to go along with the request.

Staver replied, If its a designated public forum, I think the answer is yes.

Justice Stephen Breyer said that anybody in his right mind who saw a flag flying outside City Hall would think it does have something to do with the city.

Along the same lines, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, To an ordinary observer walking past City Hall, if you see a flag on the pole, you think its City Hall speaking.

The Biden administration sided with the petitioners.

In a colloquy with Justice Neil Gorsuch, Department of Justice lawyer Sopan Joshi suggested fashioning a policy that would restrict the third flagpole to national flags alone.

Obviously, government property can be used both for government speech and to create a forum, even if its a limited or a non-public forum, Joshi said.

Boston could employ a two-track approach like that, the attorney said.

Most of the time, it does use the flagpole for its own flags. But, if it wanted to preserve this kind of flag-raising program in which third parties could raise their flags, they could limit it, as we suggest and as Mr. Staver pointed out, to flags of countries.

Gorsuch asked if Boston could limit the use of the flagpole with the purpose of discriminating against religious viewpoints?

Joshi said the city couldnt do so because the Supreme Court has ruled that even in a non-public forum, viewpoint discrimination is impermissible.

The lawyer for Boston, Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, told justices the city could do what it wanted.

Private parties are free to wave their flags on City Hall Plaza or even raise a temporary flagpole there, but they cannot commandeer the citys flagpole to send a message the city does not endorse, he said.

Justice Samuel Alito grilled the citys lawyer for several minutes, saying his summary of Bostons policy, which Alito said was [We] will put up  the national flag of any group in the community that has roots in that country, doesnt appear in the flagpole-use application.

Alito said Hallward-Driemeier reverse-engineered a rationale for refusing the Christian flag. When Boston rejected the Christian flag, all that Mr. Rooney said was, we will put up non-secular flags, the justice said.
Supreme Court Rejects Attempt to Block Mask Mandate on Airplanes

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a renewed bid to block the Biden administrations requirement to wear masks on airplanes.

The application to stay the mask mandate was denied by the court after a referral by Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump nominee.

Michael Seklecki and his son, an autistic 4-year-old, have been seeking to get courts to block the mask mandate, which was imposed in January 2021 by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) head David Pekoske under the direction of President Joe Biden.

Seklecki of Florida, along with Lucas Wall of Washington, said they and the boy are medically unable to wear masks.

Being denied the right to fly because we cant wear masks jeopardizes my sons life as its not practical for us to make the lengthy drive to and from Boston every time he has a medical appointment. Should TSA be allowed to continue to mandate masks, my son could miss critical medical care, which could be fatal. My family and I would suffer enormous irreparable harm, Seklecki said in a sworn declaration.

Wall has said he suffers from generalized anxiety disorder, and that when he wore masks he had to remove them after about five minutes because he started hyperventilating.

The pair submitted the amended application for a stay to Gorsuch several weeks after Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush nominee, rejected an earlier application.

Neither rejection was explained by the nations top court, which last week blocked a COVID-19 vaccine mandate imposed by the Biden administration against businesses with 100 or more workers that included requirements for unvaccinated workers to wear masks and get tested weekly, ruling the mandate exceeded the authority conferred by Congress upon the Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Given that the Supreme Court just last week blocked OSHAs mandate that all companies with 100-plus workers must ensure their employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 or endure forced masking in the workplace, its bewildering why the justices have declined to take similar action to stop a transportation security agency from overstepping its legal authority by regulating health matters, Wall told The Epoch Times in an email.

Its terribly frustrating the justices have refused to block TSAs illegal mask mandate given the negative impact it has on millions of Americans with medical conditions who cant wear face masks including the 4-year-old autistic boy who is my co-petitioner. The courts decision today does not align with its holding last week that federal agencies may not order pandemic mandates that Congress has not authorized, he added.

The TSA recently extended the mandate, which also applies to some buses and railroads, through March 18, 2022.

The administration said when first announcing the requirements that they would help prevent further spread of COVID-19 and encourage a unified government response.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The Supreme Court, in the order list (pdf) released Tuesday that included its rejection of the application, did not grant any requests for review, but justices did ask for the view of Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar regarding claims that a hospice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania paid doctors to refer patients to the facility.

The court also rejected writs of certiorari in dozens of cases, including a case against American Airlines, a suit against Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, and a case against Google.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 02, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Tax Comes to the Frontline of Australias Election Race

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has returned from sick leave after being diagnosed with COVID-19 to promote the Coalition governments record on tax cuts, highlighting the difference with Labors policies as the federal election is approaching.

However, Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said that Frydenbergs push for the Liberal Party was a scare campaign, saying the federal governments tax rate on Australians was higher than what the Labor Party ever did.

Frydenberg told Sky News that since the Liberal-National coalition government had assumed power in 2013, taxpayers have received $1.5 billion worth of tax relief every month, with the federal government providing 11.7 million Australians with $15 billion in tax relief in the last six months alone. That is the highest half-year period set of reductions in more than two decades.

The federal treasure also noted that he considered the tax cuts a clear divisive line differentiating the Coalition from the other parties at the upcoming election.

Anthony Albanese has spent his whole career arguing for higher taxes, Frydenberg said of the opposition leader. Whether it was the retirees tax, or the housing tax, superannuation tax, and he was a big supporter of the carbon tax and the mining tax. He has even talked about a congestion tax and other taxes. So he cant walk away from that.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese addresses media during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 1, 2021. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

Frydenberg said Labor took $397 billion worth of taxes to the last election, but the figure was calculated by the Treasurers personal office, not the Treasury Department.

Shadow Treasurer Chalmers alleged Frydenberg was launching a scare campaign about Labor and said that taxes have been higher under the coalition government every year, as shown in Frydenbergs mid-year budget review released last December.

He said the average personal income tax under Labor was 20.85 percent between 2008 and 2013. Meanwhile, the figure rose to 22.5 percent under the Coalition between 2014 and 2021.

Despite increased taxes, this government has delivered more consecutive deficits than any other government since the 1920s and racked up record debt with not enough to show for it, Chalmers said.

Treasury, in an email to The Epoch Times, reiterated Frydenbergs comments that Australians are paying less tax today than under Labor, saying that a teacher earning $60,000 (US$43,000) is paying $2,160 (US$1,558) less in tax every year than what they paid in 2013-2014 under the then Labor government.

Frydenberg also hinted that the countrys economy is doing better, and Australian people are making more money under the Coalitions policies.

Today, the Australian economy is more than half a trillion dollars larger (in nominal terms), there are 1.7 million more people in work, and the average income earner is $17,000 a year better off compared with when Labor left office, Frydenberg said.
Bill and Sue Burtness with students from Pristina University, Kosovo, in November 2008. (Courtesy of Bill Burtness)

Teaching Principles of Liberty to Muslim Students in Socialist Kosovo Through The Bible

Some volunteers of America wont quit, even when theyre dyingor supposed to be as good as dead.

Such was the case with veteran American volunteers Bill and Susan Burtness of Illinois.

Now in their 70s, they advise fellow volunteers who may be weary from well-doing, Dont quit. the best is yet to come.

If you persevere, the volunteering life just keeps getting better and better, Burtness said from his home on Jan. 10, 2022.

Not that hard and trying times are absent in volunteering.

There was the time Bill was lying in a hospital in a cage, strapped to a concrete slab in a foreign nation, with buckets of water being thrown on him to wash the blood off.

To make matters worse, he was in a terminally ill ward in a Dutch hospital, not expected to live.

Bill and Susan Burtness lived on a canal boat called Dilaram House in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1974. (Courtesy of Bill and Susan Burtness)

Yes, that was pretty hard, Bill said. That happened while Susan and I were volunteering in Amsterdam, Holland, back in 1974, helping young hippie drug addicts get their lives back.

The Burtnesses had already moved to Switzerland where they got basic volunteer training for three months.

They were recruited by one of the speakers to go to Amsterdams Dilaram House staffed by volunteers.

We lived on two 50-foot boats lashed together at Steiger (pier) 14, in a community of about 50 people, said Susan Burtness, and we were in volunteer heaven there.

People could come visit and talk out their life concepts or problems. Some could move right on to the boats with the staff for a few months for longer term help. Thats how most of the addicts kicked heroin.

Life was simple, she said.

Wed all eat together, talk in groups, and help each other out.

It was so wonderful, that we didnt mind that we didnt have much in the way of extras. It really didnt matter.

It was great seeing these young people come back to life and see a brand new light in their eyes. They looked motley and unkempt sometimes, but we got to know them, and they were like brand new creations to us. Theres nothing that compares to that. Nothing.

At Pristina University the students were eager to learn about liberty in Bill Burtness lectures. (Courtesy of Bill and Susan Burtness)

There was one night, however, when their heaven turned into a kind of hell.

It was winter and I got a cold, he said. I became sick with spinal meningitis. I was having seizures and biting my lips clean through. I was covered in my own blood.

They threw buckets of water on me just to get me clean. Its a good thing I was out of it and dont remember much.

But Susan Burtness remembers, only too well.

Bills face was so disfigured because hed bit his lips so much that I didnt recognize him, she said.

He was lying in a strait jacket on a concrete slab because they were injecting last-ditch medicines directly into his brain.

They were trying to save him and couldnt do it. All we could do was pray. Now, we were the ones needing help.

Doctors tried anything they could think of to drain and heal two abscesses in his brain, but nothing helped. They finally moved him to a terminally ill ward and told Susan Burtness to prepare herself for the worst.

To make it all the more desperate, she discovered she was pregnant with their first child just days before he became ill.

Here I was, expecting my husband to die and I would be alone with our child, and I was thousands of miles from home. I was desperate.

Bill Burtness with students after class on the Pristina University campus in 2009. (Courtesy of Bill and Susan Burtness)

To make matters darker, if that were possible, was her shocking memory of the night two weeks earlier when he was taken to the hospital.

The night they rushed Bill to the hospital, there was a violent storm with the wind just howling, she said. It was pitch black outside. The two boats were being rammed into the pier, over and over again.

Suddenly the electricity went out and all the windows flew open on the decks where we lived and smashed to pieces.

The boats broke loose from their moorings and we were drifting out to sea.

At the same time Bill was screaming, My head! My head! Everyone that could, was out on the dock, trying to get the boats back before they floated out into the harbor. No one could help us.

After the staff and guests wrestled the boats back to the pier, Bill Burtness was hurried to the hospital.

I was just trying to grasp the situation and hang on, Susan Burtness said.

I imploded. It was a very fearsome moment. It was literally like the cords of death were entangling me, like torrents of destruction were all around me. All I could do was pray.

BIll Burtness taking questions from his students after class. (Courtesy of Bill and Susan Burtness)

The relationships they had formed in Switzerland now gave them friends from all over the world.

Those were praying for us too, Susan Burtness said. They sent notes and called me, and were so encouraging. I would not have made it without that kind of support from other volunteers who understood us.

Meanwhile, Bill Burtness was expected to die with the rest of the desperately ill in his ward.

I remember hearing late at night, people in our ward cursing and crying, he said. Somehow, I got up and went to their beds and prayed for those poor people. I dont remember much after that at all.

Bill Burtness walked out of the terminally Ill ward shortly afterwards. He was the only patient to come out of the room alive.

The doctors verdict to Susan Burtness was, We didnt do this. We know a miracle when we see one.

The Mind of a Child

But Bill Burtness was different now.

He was alive and walking, but he had the mind of a child, said Susan Burtness. We flew home to Illinois. Bill would sleep 18 hours a day, recovering.

When he woke from his sleeping, he was different again.

Now he started reading, reading, reading, Susan Burtness said. He read books hed never read before; deep conceptual books on philosophy, leadership, theology, and government.

He started writing lessons on what he was learning. Hed never been like that before. He wasnt a teacher. He was an electrical engineer and his strength was math, not philosophy.

Bill Burtness began compiling home-school curriculums for his own children, now three in number, and years later, for their children and their friends.

Soon, he was distributing his curriculum to interested people throughout America. Some private schools even began using them. He self published his research notes and began handing them out.

It wasnt clear where all this would lead, Bill Burtness said, but the study was so fascinating and people seemed so glad to have the curriculum and notes, we didnt stop. There was little money that came to us from it, but that didnt matter.

Then on a volunteer trip to Kosovo in 2000 to build fresh water wells their lives changed forever. They didnt know it, but years of preparation were about to pay off.

A doctor also volunteering in Kosovo got ahold of my self published notes and passed it on to a Regent at the University of Pristina, Bill Burtness said.

This doctor set up a lunch meeting. The Regent said he was impressed with the notes and the doctor blurted out,And Bill wants to teach this as a course at the university. I was shocked. I had never said or even thought of such a thing. I looked at the doctor and said, I do? and he said, Yes! You do!

The Regent was in agreement, and said we can arrange that. When are you available?

The offer was beyond what they could think or imagine.

That was the only time Id even been talked to about teaching a university level class. They were going to pay us, give us an apartment, and a travel allowance. We took the job.

12 Students to Change the Nation

The class, Foundations of American Political Thought was not a big splash.

We only had 12 students our first semester, said Susan Burtness, but we thought you can make big changes with 12 people so we dove into it.

We candidly told our students that the original source of American political thought was The Bible, Bill Burtness said.

I said outright that wed be studying The Bible to understand what it said about self-governance, avoiding tyranny, and anarchy, and sustaining personal and national liberty throughout generations.

I wasnt talking about religion, I was talking the philosophy of government. I told them, if you dont want to study The Bible, this class isnt for you.

Those 12 students stayed on and made big changes to the class.

They brought in their friends and the next semester there were 25 students, Bill Burtness said.

Word of mouth brought in 60 students the next semester. Then 110. Then 300 students. Soon, my wife was standing at the doors, holding them shut, while people banged on them, demanding to be let in. The biblical foundations of American Political Thought class was a great success.

But the promise of payment went unfulfilled, along with the apartment to live in and the travel allowance.

The university was strapped for cash and they just didnt have the money, Bill Burtness said.

But since our Amsterdam days, so long ago, we were used to going forward with less to do more.

Volunteering has always been in our hearts and here was an opportunity to help shape a nation with its future leaders, to sustain liberty and freedom where they had known precious little.

Susan Burtness agreed.

These young students looked to us for direction. They were so eager to learn. They were sweet people, wanting to know how they should then live. We just couldnt say No to them. 
A pro-life campaigner displays a plastic doll representing a 12-week-old fetus as she stands outside the Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 7, 2016. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Texas Abortion Ban Remains in Effect as Appeals Court Sends Case to States Supreme Court

An abortion ban that went into effect in Texas last September will remain as such for the foreseeable future, after a federal appeals court sent a case challenging the ban to the states Supreme Court, dealing the abortion clinics challenging the law a small defeat.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which is perceived as a conservative appellate court, in a 2-to-1 decision, sent the case to the Texas Supreme Court.

The unresolved questions of state law must be certified to the Texas Supreme Court, wrote Judge Edith Jones, joined by Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan. Jones was nominated by President Ronald Reagan, and Duncan was nominated by President Donald Trump.

The decision effectively delays a legal challenge by abortion clinics against the Texas Heartbeat Act, also known as Senate Bill 8 (SB 8). The abortion ban, which applies after a heartbeat is detectedusually around six weeks after conceptionunless a medical emergency exists, will for now remain in place.

Jones stated that the case is a matter of judicial procedure and not about the merits of the abortion ban itself.

[T]he issues before this court are not about abortion, nor about whether S.B. 8 is consistent with the federal Constitution, nor about the wisdom of S.B. 8, but about the constitutional authority of federal courts to entertain this pre-enforcement suit against a state law, she wrote.

Circuit Judge Stephen Higginson, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said sending the case to the Texas Supreme Court would contravene the U.S. Supreme Courts mandate, adding, Justice delayed is justice denied.

Currently, there is no timetable for when the state supreme court might take up the case.

In December, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to stay the Texas abortion ban, and in a. 8-1 ruling, kept it in place and allowed only a narrow challenge against it to proceed. The case was then sent to the 5th Circuit Appeals court at the request of Texas officials.

Abortion providers wanted their lawsuit sent back to a federal district court in Austin that so far had been receptive in general to the challenge to the Texas abortion ban and had previously blocked it for a few days.

But the case is now in the hands of the Texas Supreme Court, which has nine justices, all of whom are Republicans.

The appeals court is asking the states Supreme Courts opinion on the role of Texas medical licensing officials to enforce the abortion ban, and whether the lawsuit can proceed against them.

Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court is due to rule by the end of June on the constitutionality of a law in Mississippi that bans abortion after 15 weeks of gestation.

Mississippi asked the Supreme Court to take up the case, which it agreed to in May 2021. The case is Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization 19-1392.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch asked the court in a filing to overturn Roe v. Wade so the state can uphold its law.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling prohibited states from banning abortions prior to when the fetus is deemed viablethat is, potentially able to live outside its mothers wombdeemed at the time usually around the second trimester of pregnancy at 24 weeks.
The Apes That Conquered Wall Street

Commentary

A new shorthand has developed in the financial world.

WGMI. NGMI. Vibing. Ape in. Mint. Burn. Airdrop. Gas fees. WenMoon? Whitelist. Degen.

Got it?

If not, I highly recommend you do because this is the language of what I expect will be one of the hottest alternative markets for 2022.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs for short).

Maybe youve come across that acronym somewhere. NFTs have been around for a number of years, but only recently have they started to get the exposure they really deserve.

Thats because, while theyre very closely connected to the cryptocurrency market, theyre actually a whole lot more.

Let me get you up to speed real quick.

A Million Bucks for a Digital Ape?

So what is an NFT?

NFTs are cryptographic digital assets that reside on a blockchain and have identifiers that make them unique.

And as these things go, the first applications of this technology were, well, a bit silly.

The niche took off by trading original digital art. The Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks were two of the first tokens to gain popularity. As popularity of NFT art grew among early adopters, exchange sites like OpenSea, Rarible, and Mintable sprung up enabling the buying and selling of them.

Now you might be wondering, if I wanted a JPG of a bored ape, why would I buy it? Why not just right-click and save it to my computer?

Because the key behind NFTs is their non-fungibility. Their technology implies unique ownership, something that has been impossible in the digital world since the dawn of computing.

Back in the filesharing days of Napster, if I downloaded a music file from a server, I didnt actually download it. I copied it. So I wound up with a copy while the server still had a copy. Suddenly copies of songs were multiplying like rabbits (and causing a nuclear meltdown in the recording industry).

Non-fungible tokens use blockchain technology to establish ownership. So if, for example, I sent you my copy of Dark Side of the Moon, ownership would actually transfer. Youd have the digital album and I wouldnt.

This was a major breakthrough in the digital world.

And that uniqueness factor led to some incredible prices early on in trading. NFT images sold for $1,000, $100,000, $1,000,000 and more. And its only possible because of NFT technology.

And while the market has cooled somewhat, many NFTs still hold incredible value because of their ability to brand and create loyal, almost cult-like communities. Some brands have grown so dramatically theyve attracted more traditional corporations to get involved. Adidas has entered the space partnering with both the Bored Ape Yacht Club and Cryptopunks.

Non-fungible tokens have proved themselves to be more than just a Beanie Babies fad.

The Next Wave

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the NFT world is the speed at which it evolves and innovates. For every hundred projects that rhyme with an existing one, there is a new outlier, an evolution of what a project can offer.

Some may think NFTs peaked in 2021. I believe they are just getting started, and 2022 will experience a significant evolution in application and acceptance.

As we move into 2022, the market will shift away from JPEGs of cute and cuddly animals into more of a digital economy usage of NFTs.

The likelihood is many of the avatar projects we see out there today will fade as we give rise to projects that tie IRL (in real life) aspects to their projects. Thats the big picture for 2022 and its coming.

NFTs arent going to go away. They are going to evolve into a securities function, a hedge fund and private placement competitor, and the new wave for even small investors to get involved in diverse projects that offer exposure to real-life assets and decision-making.

Over the years, Wall Street has been slow to get on board in the crypto sphere. And acknowledging that fact means acknowledging that it has likely cost hundreds of millions in missed opportunities.

They wont be making that mistake again.

That means in 2022, its time to expand your horizons and start considering more alternative vehicles related to the crypto space.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
People receive boxes of KN95 protective mask during a back to school event offering school supplies, COVID-19 vaccinations, masks, and other resources for children and their families at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 7, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

The Big Business of COVID-19 and Protective Masks

Commentary

Indeed, most issues are symbolic, and people want to be on the right side of symbols. If you are wearing a type N-95 protective mask right now, theres a good chance its counterfeit and ineffective against COVID-19 and its derivatives.

In other words, the mask you have is likely just a symbol. Furthermore, if youre wearing anything other than an authentic type N-95, its likely doing virtually nothing to guard you against COVID and other pathogens.

But masks are big business nowadays. A quick internet search indicates the counterfeit mask business is somewhere between $500 million and $1 billion annually. Fortune Business Insights projects the mask business to be worth $3.5 billion by 2027.

Put another way, wearing masks other than authentic type N-95 is simply virtue signaling, ignorance, or begrudged adherence to rules and regulations imposed by local, state, and federal bureaucrats posing as authorities on COVID transmission. These posers provide little proof the incoherent and draconian mask mandates that target public spaces and recommended for private gatherings are effective.

So, one asks, who is benefiting from this if the general public isnt? The answer is simplethe mask industry.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) determines the best masks that mitigate COVID transmission. Indeed, there are only a few approved N and P types that fall under the general vernacular of N-95. The CDC attempts to track counterfeit N-95 masks. Listed on the CDC website are ways to identify counterfeits, including the lack of CDCs National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) markings, NIOSH spelled incorrectly, the presence of decorative fabric, etc.

The CDC site notes NIOSH does not approve any type of face protection for children. Nowhere does it say that masks other than an authentic N-95 maskthe kind you pick up at the corner store check-out line and the kind nearly everyone wears for compliancedoes little to prevent transmission of any pathogen. Such masks make you feel good or keeps you in compliance. Thats about it.

Counterfeitersprimarily in China but elsewhere as wellhave successfully passed off low-quality N-95 masks that dont protect against the coronavirus. Likely even more than counterfeit N-95 is the manufacturing and sale of the general-purpose masks. These masks are little more than symbols, making people feel good and forcing them to be non-compliant to identify themselves by the lack of face covering. From mom-and-pop stands near the highway in Leesburg, Virginia to a stocking making factory in China repurposed for counterfeit N-95 masks, the boom in the demand for masks is a boon for businesses that provide little more than symbolsa type of wearable logo.

Who created the demand for low-grade products? State, local, and federal government bureaucrats, most of whom are entirely ignorant of science, let alone the details of COVID-19. Typically, bureaucrats cite other bureaucrats such as Anthony Fauci as sources of their knowledge, effectively admitting they are drinking their own bureaucratic bathwater. If you are well acquainted with the types of people who fill the ranks of the bureaucracy at the federal, state, and local governments, then this makes sense. Indeed, you understand the bureaucracies are incestuous and serve themselves first and the constituents only second; self-preservation is paramountthe mission to serve the public is secondary, if relevant at all. Theres no better case study for this than the farce of masks.

So who benefited financially from the rules and regulations imposed by the bureaucrats? Surely, not the American people who have suffered horribly from the ineptness, financial calamity, and lack of transparency inflicted onto them by bureaucrats. Ironically, its China, the source of the virus, the primary source of counterfeit N-95 masks, and the manufacturers of the general-purpose masknow a nearly ubiquitous symbol of fear, ignorance, and government ineptitude.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In this file photo, a full-scale mock-up of a high-speed train is displayed at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on Feb. 26, 2015. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo)

The Choo-Choo Boondoggle That Wouldnt Die

Commentary

Its alive. The California High-Speed Rail boondoggle, that is.

In explaining parts of his new budget proposal, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement on Jan. 13: The California Blueprint includes a proposed $9.1 billion package to advance clean transit initiatives that support the states climate and public health goals, promote equity and bolster the green economy, including a $4.2 billion investment in Californias High-Speed Rail project, which will eventually share the electrified Caltrain corridor.

What a change from three years ago, when he announced in his Feb. 12 State of the State address, Next, lets level about High-Speed Rail. I have nothing but respect for Governor Browns and Governor Schwarzeneggers ambitious vision. I share it. And theres no doubt that our states economy and quality of life depend on improving transportation.

But lets be real. The project, as currently planned, would cost too much and take too long. Theres been too little oversight and not enough transparency.

Right now, there simply isnt a path to get from Sacramento to San Diego, let alone from San Francisco to LA. I wish there were.

However, he did concede, We do have the capacity to complete a high-speed rail link between Merced and Bakersfield.

Whats changed, of course, is the tight budget days of 2019 have been replaced with the cornucopia of surpluses the past two years. Like one of those people who wins $436 million in the lottery and blows it all in a year, hes eager to spend and spend and spend.

Yet Reason magazine reported in October, Last month, the California State Legislature adjourned without acting on Gov. Gavin Newsoms recommendation to issue the remaining $4 billion of high-speed rail bonds approved by the states voters back in 2008. Without the bond proceeds, the California High-Speed Rail Authority will not be able to meet its intermediate objective of establishing service along 171 miles of electrified track between Merced and Bakersfield.

Despite the surpluses, the Legislature so far has remained skeptical of continuing funding for the project. Maybe thats because the California High-Speed Rail Authority itself reports, The current cost estimate to deliver the 500-mile system linking San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim via the Central Valley ranges from $69.01 to $99.9 billion.

While the full system would have benefitted most of the state, especially the large population centers of the Bay Area and Los Angeles, the shrunken system would only help the more sparsely populated area between Merced, population 82,662, and Bakersfield, 377,917.

As Reason noted, if the Legislature wants to fund mass transit, it better could spend the funds improving the fixed-route bus service in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Buses are a transportation service that California residents and workers actually use.

Remembering Prop. 1A

Few remember the promises from the official voter pamphlet (pdf) for Prop. 1A: Of the total amount, $9 billion would be used, together with any available federal monies, private monies, and funds from other sources, to develop and construct a high-speed train system that connects San Francisco Transbay Terminal to Los Angeles Union Station and Anaheim, and links the states major population centers, including Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County, and San Diego. 

Phase I of the train project is the corridor between San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Los Angeles Union Station and Anaheim.

In their argument (pdf) in the ballot pamphlet, proponents promised, Proposition 1A will save time and money. Travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in about 2 hours for about $50 a person. A big supporter was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Misled voters passed it on Nov. 4, 2008, by 52.6 percent to 47.4 percent.

But consider the timeline. The Lehman Bros. bankruptcy hit on Sept. 15, too soon to process for the election seven weeks later. The next January, Schwarzenegger submitted a new budget warning of massive deficits unless the legislature passed a $13 billion tax hike. It did so. Unemployment soared in California to 12.4 percent in Nov. 2009. In that climate a year after the vote, Prop. 1A would have failed.

At the time it passed, I predicted two things: First, the whole project never could be built. Second, the $9.95 billion in the bond all would be spent anyway, plus whatever extra money could be grabbed, on portions of the project to benefit favored contractors and other interests.

Thats exactly how things have turned out.

The reality is California already has a high-speed rail system connecting the major cities with cheap trips of an hour or less, sometimes for fares as low as $39 one way. The trains even sport wings. Theyre called airplanes.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Looming Threat of Chinese Spyware

Commentary

One of the great lessons of the past two years has been that the events poised to change our lives often percolate far from public consciousness.

Gain-of-function research on coronaviruses interested almost no part of the general public until it was far too late.

Critical race theory took over our classrooms long before parents began to notice, complain, and find themselves playing a late defense.

Street riots had been part of the American terrain since 2014, but most people other than those directly involved more or less shrugged them off until a massive wave engulfed urban America.

Few other than activists or election scholars thought much about the role of propaganda, or about balancing ballot access and election integrity, until the credibility of Americas elections came under attack.

Which is why it might be worthwhile to set these now-front-burner issues aside for a moment and consider another critical threat arising in a place that few Americans care to look: Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spyware worming its way into our defenses, infrastructure, communities, schools, and homes courtesy of procurement policy and purchasing decisions.

Like the issues that dominate todays front pages, this one is already visibleat least at the federal levelto those who are willing to look:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains a National Vulnerability Database (NVD). Relying in part on the NVD, a 2019 inspector general report (pdf) singled out the Department of Defenses procurement of Lenovo computers, Lexmark printers, and GoPro cameras as potential threats to national securitya threat that we have yet to address.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), in a February 2021 report (pdf) raising awareness about Chinas economic long war against the United States, argued that Chinese firms presence in Silicon Valley should not be treated as aboveboard commercial ventures but as spying outposts for the CCP.

And just last week, a letter from Reps. John Katko (R-N.Y.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) (ranking Republican members of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, respectively) to Secretaries Alejandro Mayorkas (Homeland Security) and Gina Raimondo (Commerce), called for an inquiry into whether civilian agency procurement of commercial off-the-shelf information technology items may pose cybersecurity risks for telecommunications infrastructure, comparable to the national security vulnerabilities discussed in the IG report.

In a sign of the glacial pace that the federal government has set in addressing these critical issues, last weeks letter was essentially a follow-up of their inquiry dated April 13, 2021 (pdf).

Still, the federal government deserves at least some credit for basic awareness of the issue. Thats more than can be said for the states. Lenovo, Lexmark, and other brands with CCP ties are used widely in state government offices around the country. Robert Chernin, my colleague at the American Center for Education and Knowledge (ACEK), recently called out the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) for its master contracts with Lenovo.

That contract is hardly the only problem at the state level. The procurement contracts that landed these Chinese products in government offices position the CCP to track critical information on American infrastructure, energy, security, emergency awareness, and personnel. Perhaps hitting a bit closer to home, they also give the Chinese regime a far better window into Americas classrooms than most American parents can claim.

It seems likely that most of these potential incursions are happening not because of corruption or maliciousness, but rather because of laziness, inattention, and the insularity of procurement decisions. If Lenovo or Lexmark makes your school district a compelling offer, why not take it?

Weve all been there. Though we all know today that our devices and software spy on us, most of us can remember when we first learned that if youre not the customer, youre the product. Millions of us have simply accommodated ourselves to a world in which a few tech titansand the various companies to whom theyve sold their collected dataknow the most intimate details of our lives.

Perhaps its time to consider that these giant and intrusive U.S. corporations may be the least of our problems. According to a recent report in The Washington Post, China has been so pleased with its domestic surveillance network and social credit scores that its now expanding its reach across the globe. Americas wide-open procurement policies and love of low prices are welcoming that expansion with open arms.

Taken together, the dissemination of Chinese technology products at all levels threatens the privacy and security of every American. Its long past time to think about the implications of our purchasing and procurement decisions. As we learned the hard way with the issues that have dominated the past two years, the time to act is before things hit the front page.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A recording of a speech by Martin Luther King (seen in this 1966 photograph) turned up at a college in Kansas. (AFP/Getty Images)

The Spirit of Volunteering: Orange County Officials Celebrate MLK Day

As Monday, Jan. 17, marks the federal holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, many Orange County residents enjoying their day off of work and school often forget that Congress declared the holiday as a day of service in 1994.

Today, we honor the life, the courage, & the sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His unwavering commitment to justice & civil rights has inspired so many & his moral leadership continues to serve as a beacon for us today, Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do wrote on Twitter.

We must continue to honor his legacy. #MLKDay.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley also encouraged residents to volunteer for the holiday.

Today we reflect on & honor the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He valued public service, she wrote on Twitter.

Now more than ever we need citizens willing to stand up and serve.

President Bill Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act, sponsored by then-Sen. Harris Wofford and then-Rep. John Lewis, with the idea of bringing people of different races and backgrounds together through community service acts.

Volunteers at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian work with San Clemente based Family Assistance Minitries in handing out to food donations to a line of cars in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on Dec. 23, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Venice Beach community members pass out items to the homeless community in Venice Beach, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

King, a leader in the United States civil rights movement, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929.

In 1955, King successfully led the bus boycott of 1955 which would eventually end bus segregations throughout the country.

In 1963, King would give his famous I Had a Dream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. A year later, Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to end racial segregation in the United States. King would eventually go on to win the Nobel Peace Prize during the same year.

In 1968, King would be assassinated in a sniper-style shooting in the city of Memphis, Tenn., by James Earl Ray.

The countrys federal agency leading the Martin Luther King Day of Service, AmeriCorps noted that the day is the only federal holiday that encourages people to volunteer and serve in their community.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life; longevity has its place. But Im not concerned about that now. I just want to do Gods will. And Hes allowed me to go up to the mountain. And Ive looked over. And Ive seen the Promised Land, King said in his final speech known as the Ive Been to the Mountaintop speech.

 I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So, Im happy, tonight. Im not worried about anything. Im not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Prior to becoming a day of volunteering and service, Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a holiday in 1986.

Volunteering opportunities can be found at https://americorps.gov/join/find-volunteer-opportunity#/

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King (19291968) addresses crowds during the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial, where he gave his I have a dream speech, in Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. (Central Press/Getty Images)
Twitter Expands Feature to Flag Misinformation

Twitter said on Monday that it will be expanding a test feature allowing users to report posts for misinformation, which will now be available for users in Brazil, Spain, and the Philippines.

Today were expanding this test feature to folks tweeting from Brazil, Spain, or the Philippines, the company announced in a post. Till now weve received around 3M reports from you all, calling out Tweets that violate our policies & helping us understand new misinformation trends.

The feature, which has been available as a pilot program in the United States, Australia, and South Korea since its debut last August, allows users to flag content that they perceive as spreading misinformation. Twitters official policy states that [c]ontent that is demonstrably false or misleading and may lead to significant risk of harm (such as increased exposure to the virus, or adverse effects on public health systems) may not be shared on Twitter, but the exact parameters of this policy are left for moderators and automated filters to decide.

The expansion is particularly noteworthy for the fact that two of the three countries affected are scheduled for elections later this year: the Philippines on May 9 and Brazil on Oct. 2. In both cases, the highly politicized conflict over misinformation may have an asymmetric impact on opposing political factions.

In the Philippines, the announcement arrived serendipitously on the same day as a court ruling, which held that presidential front-runner Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. will be able to run after his eligibility was disputed over a 1995 tax evasion conviction. Bongbong, who is the son of two-decade president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., has advanced his presidential ambitions by winning several endorsements from family members of the outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte, a self-proclaimed socialist whose aggressive escalation of a war on drugs and diplomatic affinity for Communist China have drawn criticism from Western media. The young Marcos has often found himself on both sides of the increasingly ubiquitous misinformation canard, both accusing his critics of fomenting misinformation about him while being attacked for allegedly doing the same.

Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro reacts after being stabbed during a rally in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, on Sept. 6, 2018. (Reuters/Raysa Campos Leite)

The expansion into Brazil is similarly contentious, as the battle over misinformation has taken on a distinctly politicized character. Last year, O Globo, which holds the title of Brazils largest media outlet, published an op-ed encouraging tech platforms to ban President Jair Bolsonaro, as several did with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2020. The Brazilian media class has accused the incumbent president of fomenting misinformation concerning the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus and the integrity of the Brazilian electoral process. After a first term beset by challenges with the CCP virus pandemic and public conflict between the president and regional governors, Bolsonaro trails in the polls behind former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

While there is no indication that Twitter has considered the impact of its new feature on the upcoming elections, the arrival of the misinformation flagging system in the Philippines and Brazil at such a pivotal moment for both growing nations will certainly have some bearing upon the media landscape in each country.
Two House Democrats Announce They Wont Seek Reelection, Joining Over Two Dozen Others

Two House Democrats on Tuesday said they will not seek reelection, joining 27 other Democrats in Congress ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

Reps. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), who has been in Congress for over 20 years, and Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), who has represented parts of California since 2007, within minutes announced they would be retiring at the end of their current terms.

Langevin, 57, said in a video that he wanted to spend more time with his family and friends. He said he wasnt sure what hell do after he leaves Washington. The quadriplegic has represented Rhode Islands 2nd Congressional District since 2001 after serving as the states secretary of state for six years and spending several terms in Rhode Islands House of Representatives.

McNerney, 70, didnt give a reason for retiring, though he noted that redistricting would have forced him to run in a reshaped district.

I will keep working for the people of my district throughout the remainder of my term and look forward to new opportunities to continue to serve, he said in a statement.

The pair are the 28th and 29th Democrats in Congress to announce they will not seek reelection, including 21 who are retiring. All but Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) are members of the House of Representatives.

The remainder along with seven House Republicans are seeking other offices, such as seats in the U.S. Senate.

Republicans, who hope to flip both chambers in the upcoming elections, quickly reacted to the latest announcements.

Nobody wants to run as a House Democrat because their majority is doomed, Mike Berg, spokesman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

McNerneys decision shook up races in California, with Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) changing his bid for reelection from the altered 13th Congressional District to the one McNerney now represents.

That leaves the 13th district with only one candidate, educator and Democrat Angelina Campaign.

Democrats hold a 221212 advantage in the House at present after former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) left office to head former President Donald Trumps new company.

The other seat that isnt filled was left vacant due to the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.). Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, recently won the special election to fill the vacancy but has not yet been sworn into office.
Alan Miller (2nd R), who launched anti-restriction campaign Together, speaks outside Downing Street, in London on Jan. 17, 2022. (Earl Rhodes/NTD)

UK Government Urged to End COVID Passes, Vaccine Mandates

The UK government has been urged to scrap its measures against COVID-19 including vaccine mandates for frontline health care workers and COVID Passes for nightclubs and large events.

Campaigners delivered two petitions with a total of around 360,000 signatures to Number 10 on Monday afternoona Together Declaration opposing vaccine passports and any similar form of medical certification, and a separate petition demanding a reversal of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccine mandate for frontline health care workers.

Alan Miller, who launched anti-restriction campaign Together, delivers petitions to Downing Street staff in London on Jan. 17, 2022. (Earl Rhodes/NTD)

Writing on Twitter on Tuesday, campaign group Together called on Health Secretary Sajid Javid to end all CCP virus restrictions by Jan. 26, when ministers are due to review the rules.

MPs, NHS workers, and broadcasters were among the group outside Prime Minister Boris Johnsons office on Monday afternoon in support of the campaign.

Vaccine Mandate Breaks the Cornerstone of Medical Ethics

CCP virus vaccination has been made a condition of employment in care homes in England since November 2021. The same rule will come into effect on April 1 for NHS and other health care workers, meaning unvaccinated frontline health care workers will face redeployment or dismissal.

Ahmad Malik, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at BMI Healthcare, speaks to NTD outside Downing Street, in London on Jan. 17, 2022. (Earl Rhodes/NTD)

Ahmad Malik, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at BMI Healthcare, said hes aghast with the mandate.

The vaccine mandate breaks the cornerstone of medical ethics which is informed consent [and] bodily autonomy, Malik told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times. And as a doctor whos been consenting for decades, Im actually aghast that theyre contemplating such a move.

Malik lambasted the mandate as the kind of behavior that he would expect from a totalitarian and authoritarian state, rather than from the beacon in the West that is the United Kingdom.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid (R) talks to consultant Steve James during a visit to Kings College Hospital in London on Jan. 7, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Steve James, a consultant anesthetist at Kings College Hospital who confronted Javid with his scepticism about the mandate on Jan. 7, told NTD that he had seen the benefit of the CCP virus vaccines from the number of intensive care unit patients, but personal choices matter.

Weve worked through the pandemic. Ive seen COVID. Ive seen the damage it can do to people. But for their own personal reasons [some health care workers] have chosen not to have the vaccine. And theyve weighed up the risks with the benefit, he said.

James previously implied during an interview with Unherd that he would prefer to wait for a few years for more safety data on the vaccines, which currently dont offer any potential reward of anything [hes] interested in, citing a previous COVID-19 infection and his lack of co-morbidity, and added that to him, the risk [of taking the vaccines] is very small of a serious event. He said he knew of three young, relatively healthy patients at his hospital who died post-vaccination and two people in his professional and social circle who had myocarditis and pericarditis.

Under the UKs Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, only those who suffer severe disablement (60 percent or more) or death are eligible for compensation.

According to data from NHS England, by Jan. 9, around 5.5 percent (81,626) of NHS Trust health care workers and 18.5 percent (198,282) of social care staff had not received any vaccine doses.

Steve James, consultant anesthetist at Kings College Hospital, speaks to NTD outside Downing Street, in London on Jan. 17, 2022. (Earl Rhodes/NTD)

James told NTD that hes worried about a huge hole in the ability of the NHS to deliver care if the mandate goes ahead.

Broadcaster Richard Taylor said he believes the mandate is completely wrong and disproportionate especially at a time when the government has proposed a tax increase to fund the NHS, which Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said was facing an unprecedented level of backlogs due to the pandemic.

In an email to The Epoch Times, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: NHS and care staff do amazing work and we are thankful to those who have chosen to get the vaccine.

Health and social care workers are responsible for looking after some of the most vulnerable people in society, many of whom are more likely to suffer serious health consequences if exposed to the virus.

This is all about patient safety, and ensuring people in hospital or care have as much protection as possible.

The DHSC didnt answer The Epoch Times query regarding how many injury claims have been made and settled.

Tory MPs Overwhelmingly Want to End Restrictions

More than 201,000 people signed the petition calling for an end to vaccine passports and similar schemes.

The UK government previously shelved the plan to mandate vaccine passports in England. But since December last year, NHS COVID Passes were introduced as a condition for entry in Englands nightclubs and large events in a bid to control the Omicron variant.

The pass can be used to prove full vaccination status and negative test results, but not natural immunity from previous infections.

Steve Baker MP, deputy chair of the COVID Recovery Group, speaks to NTD outside Downing Street, in London on Jan. 17, 2022. (Earl Rhodes/NTD)

Steve Baker, one of the Conservative MPs who led the opposition to the governments restrictions, said he believes Parliament will no longer back such policies.

There is a time to get on and live our lives and get back to the joy of relationships with our families, which incredibly was taken away, the deputy chair of the COVID Recovery Group told NTD.

I think Conservative MPs overwhelmingly would like these measures to end. We saw the size of the rebellion on COVID status certification. And I think that that was really the last time theyll be able to ask for a measure like that, he said, adding that many MPs had voted with the government with great misgivings.

A record number of Tory MPs voted against the government in the introduction of COVID Passes, which passed in Parliament with the help of Labour.

Other campaigners outside Downing Street included actor, former London mayoral candidate, and prominent lockdown sceptic Laurence Fox and TV presenter Tonia Buxton.

Fox told NTD that there hasnt been a conversation about natural immunity, and the focus has been all about vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, rather than exploring treatment or anything like that.

Buxton accused media outlets of wiping [part of the truth] under the carpet as she expressed her disappointment over the lack of coverage on the unintended consequences of lockdowns, such as children who were so lost during these lockdowns that they killed themselves.

On Tuesday, Javid defended the governments policy and said hes cautiously optimistic that the government can substantially reduce restrictions.

The action that this government has taken in response to Omicron and the collective efforts of the British people have seen us become the most boosted country in Europe, the most tested country in Europe, and [have] the most antivirals per head in Europe, the health secretary told MPs.

That is why we are the most open country in Europe, he said, adding that the restrictions shouldnt stay in place a day longer than absolutely necessary.

Due to these pharmaceutical defences and the likelihood that we have already reached the peak of the case numbers of hospitalisations, I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to substantially reduce restrictions next week, he said.

NTD reporter Jane Werrell contributed to this report.
A group of people who crossed the channel from France are brought in to Dover, England, on Sept. 7, 2021. (Gareth Fuller/PA)

UK Military Given Crucial Role in Operation Against Illegal Immigration in English Channel

The British government has given the armed forces a crucial role in the operation against illegal immigration in the English Channel, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has said.

Answering questions in the House of Commons on Jan. 17, Patel said that she had commissioned the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as a crucial operational partner to protect our Channel against illegal migration.

She said the British public will support the governments resolve to do everything possible to protect our borders and that a blended approach is absolutely vital.

Home Secretary Priti Patel speaking in the House of Commons, London, on March 15, 2021. (House of Commons/PA)

Last year, at least 28,000 illegal immigrants arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats, more than tripling the number of arrivals of the previous year. The trend has continued this year, with more than 770 people having successfully landed in the UK so far.

The crossings can be dangerous. A Sudanese man in his 20s died while trying to reach the UK last week, less than two months after at least 27 people died when their boat sank off the coast of France in November.

Downing Street has refused to confirm UK media reports that the armed forces will take charge of operations against illegal crossings in the English Channel.

The prime ministers official spokesman said on Jan. 17: We remain determined to prevent further loss of life in the Channel and break the business model of dangerous criminal people smugglers. Its right that we pursue all options to prevent illegal crossings, to protect life at sea.

He added: The UK armed forces already work closely with Border Force in these operations, given their expertise and experience in maritime operations. But beyond that Im not going to get into speculation about further discussions we may or may not have on how we improve our response.

A spokesman for the MoD said: Unacceptable numbers of people continue to make the dangerous Channel crossings and last Novembers tragic deaths serve as the strongest reminder of the need to stop them.

The government is exploring every avenue to prevent further crossings and details of how that can be achieved will be made known in due course, he said.

The main opposition Labour Party said it would support any sensible measures to save lives in the Channel but expressed doubts about the sincerity behind the plans.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: This looks like Boris Johnson is using the situation to chase headlines to distract from the total mess he is in as a result of rule-breaking parties in Number 10.

Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP who chairs the Defence Committee in the House of Commons, told Sky News that the plans were rushed and warned they could be a massive distraction for the navy.

PA Media contributed to this report.
UK Peers Reject Governments Proposed Measures Targeting Disruptive Protests

The UK government on Monday suffered 14 defeats as the House of Lords voted against a raft of proposed measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill.

The controversial measures were inserted into the bill to target eco-activist groups such as Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Insulate Britain, whose members use tactics such as blocking traffic on busy roads and motorways, and gluing or locking themselves on roads and other infrastructures.

But peers from the opposition parties criticised the proposals that they said are draconian and would give the police sweeping, significant, and further controversial powers that are a wider assault on our democracy.

L: A police officer talks to a protester, who claims she has been arrested 14 times whilst protesting, during an Insulate Britain protest in central London on Oct. 25, 2021. R: Public Order Instructors from the Metropolitan Police work to release a woman who has glued herself to the floor at an Insulate Britain protest in central London on Oct. 25, 2021. (Sophie Corcoran/PA)

New powers turned down by the peers included allowing police officers to stop and search anyone at a protest without suspicion for locking-on devices that can prevent the police from removing traffic-disrupting protesters.

A move that would allow individuals with a history of causing serious disruption to be banned by the courts from attending certain protests was also dismissed, along with a proposal to make it an offence for a person to disrupt the operation of key national infrastructure, including airports and newspaper printers.

In a separate defeat, peers backed restricting the imposition of tougher sentences for blocking a highway to major routes and motorways rather than all roads.

The peers earlier had also defeated other contentious curbs on demonstrations proposed in the legislation, including powers to impose conditions on protests judged to be too noisya proposal inserted in response to disruptive protests by XR and Black Lives Matter activists.

Protesters tear down a statue of Edward Colston in Bristol, Britain, on June 7, 2020. (Mohiudin Malik/via Reuters)

Arguing for the necessity of the proposed measures, Home Office minister Baroness Susan Williams argued they were vitally important in protecting the country from the highly disruptive tactics employed by a small number of people.

Williams told the peers that the government will not shrink from defending the rights to freedom of speech and assembly, but must also defend the rights and freedom of the law-abiding majority, whose rights cannot and must not be trampled on by a small minority of protesters, who believe they should not be answerable to the law and should be given carte blanche to cause any amount of disruption at any cost.

However, Crossbench peer Lord David Philip Pannick GC argued that the measures could be counterproductive.

The ability to demonstrate, and the ability to demonstrate while making a noise, is a very valuable safety valve in our civil society, the Barrister said. If you close off that safety valve, you are going to cause a far greater mischief than is currently the case.

Green Party peer Baroness Jenny Jones called the measures draconian laws that are a wider assault on our democracy, while Crossbench peer Lord Alex Carlile said the dilution of without-suspicion stop and search powers is a menacing and dangerous measure.

Other peers hit out at the way the measures were inserted.

If the government is determined to bring in these draconian, anti-democratic laws, reminiscent of Cold War eastern bloc police states, they should withdraw them now and introduce them as a separate Bill to allow the democratically elected House time to properly consider them, said Liberal Democrat Lord Brian Paddick, who was a deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police.

Labour frontbencher Lord Richard Rosser said the sweeping, significant and further controversial powers had not been considered by the elected House of Commons and branded it an outrageous way to legislate.

We cannot support any of these last-minute, rushed, and ill-thought-through broad powers  with the exception of approving the increased sentences for wilfully obstructing motorways and major roads, he said.

Demonstrators smash windows of a police station during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol, Britain, on March 21, 2021. (Peter Cziborra/Reuters)

Responding to the peers criticisms, William argued that passing the measures would send a signal to the militants who believe that their right to protest trumps all other rights and there should be no limit on the amount of disruption they cause whatever the cost to the wider public.

The peers mauling of the Tory governments plans sets the stage for a protracted parliamentary tussle known as ping-pong, where legislation passes between the Lords and the Commons until an agreement can be reached. But its customary for the ping-pong process to stop after three rounds.

PA contributed to this report.
Voting booths are kept socially distant at the Chesterfield polling site during the New Hampshire state primaries on Sept. 8, 2020. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)

US Appoints New Intelligence Official to Counter Foreign Election Threats

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has appointed Jeffrey Winchman, a former CIA official, as the new election threats executive responsible for overseeing foreign interference to U.S. elections, according to a spokesperson from ODNI.

ODNI spokesperson Nicole de Haay told The New York Times on Jan. 14 that ODNI Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines had selected Winchman to fill the role.

On top of having served in the CIA for more than 30 years, Winchman is currently director of analysis for the CIAs counterintelligence mission center. He has also previously held roles in cyber analytics, counterterrorism, and positions focusing on the Middle East.

Once appointed, Winchman will be responsible for establishing what constitutes malign election influence.

The Foreign Malign Influence Response Center law specifically listed Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China as countries to be monitored. The center will be looking for any hostile effort by these countries to influence U.S. political, military, economic policies and activities, as well as public opinion.

While the ODNI had previously proposed to establish the Foreign Malign Influence Center, intelligence agencies and Congress remain divided over the centers mission, budget, and size even two years after the initial proposal.

While we work with Congress to get funding for the center, the intelligence community remains focused on addressing foreign malign influence, de Haay said.

If established, the center will work towards coordinating and integrating intelligence pertaining to malign influence, drawing together relevant and diverse expertise to better understand and monitor the challenge, an ODNI spokesman told CBS News in an April 2021 statement.

David Salvo, deputy director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy and a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, in a Jan. 11 statement likened delayed plans of the center as a gift to Russia and China and others who clearly have their sights set, not only on the midterm elections, but on ongoing campaigns to destabilize American society.

De Haay also told The Associated Press on Jan. 11 that the directors office is focused on creating a center to facilitate and integrate the Intelligence Communitys efforts to address foreign malign influence.
Glenn Youngkin, Virginia's governor-elect, is seen on election night in Chantilly, Va., on Nov. 2, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Virginia Governor Begins Withdrawing State From 10-State Cap-and-Trade Scheme

Virginias new Republican governor is moving to withdraw his state from a regional carbon emissions-trading exchange to which 10 coastal and New England states currently belong, a move that promises to be a major setback for the left-wing environmentalist agenda.

On Jan. 15, the day he took office, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed Executive Order 9, which directs state officials to re-evaluate Virginias participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and immediately begin regulatory processes to end it.

Youngkin said last month he would take Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, as The Epoch Times previously reported.

The RGGIsome pronounce the acronym as Reggiedescribes itself as a cooperative, market-based effort among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.

Such systems aim to reduce the quantity of carbon dioxide, the gas expelled from our lungs when we exhale, that is released into the atmosphere, on the controversial theory that it contributes to global warming. The system imposes limits on how much CO2 is emitted by each state, and when industry actors exceed their limits, they can purchase the right to produce that excess gas for a fee. These emission coupons, or credits, have a value and can be traded, and the companies involved pass on the extra costs to their customers.

Virginias participation in RGGI risks contributing to the increased cost of electricity for our citizens, Youngkins order states. Dominion Energy stated that RGGI will cost ratepayers between $1 billion and $1.2 billion over the next four years.

The benefits promised by RGGI have not materialized, while the costs have skyrocketed.

RGGI is deeply flawed, experts say.

The Institute for Energy Research faulted RGGI in 2015, saying its loopholes and structural problems conceal the true economic costs and circumvent actual emissions reductions. In 2017, Vox reported that while RGGI raises money to fund good programs, the quantity of carbon emissions covered by RGGI is relatively small.

In 2018, the Cato Institute denounced RGGI, the countrys first mandatory cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. A Cato report found RGGI shifted jobs to other states and resulted in no added emissions reductions or associated health benefits, and that the revenue spent on energy efficiency, wind, solar power, and low-income fuel assistance had minimal impact.

RGGI allowance costs added to already high regional electric bills and led to a 12 percent drop in goods production and a 34 percent drop in the production of energy-intensive goods.

But left-wing activists claim RGGI is a success and denounce Youngkins order.

Nate Benforado, senior attorney at the Charlottesville-based Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement that the RGGI puts Virginia on the frontlines of tackling climate change and that Youngkins order asks state officials to develop an illegal repeal.

This is a shocking and troubling first action out of step with what Virginia communities need.

Benforado was echoing U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) who previously said a governor cant pull the state out of RGGI without legislative approval.

Republican state lawmakers in Richmond, who wrested control of the House of Delegates from Democrats in the November 2021 elections, say they will undo costly environmental legislation passed by the Democrats.
NORWALK  The school districts superintendent topped the list of highest-earning Norwalk employees for 2021, with a salary of more than $300,000, according to salary information shared by the city.

Dr. Alexandra Estrella earned $301,475 in 2021. In 2020, Estrella earned $156,154 as she began the role midyear following the retirement of Steven J. Adamowski.

Estrella is the sixth-highest paid superintendent in the county, behind the superintendents of New Canaan, Darien, Stamford, Weston and Westport, according to a Hearst Connecticut Media review.

The average salary for full-time superintendents in Fairfield County was $253,312, as of June.

Norwalk is among the top three largest school districts, along with Hartford and Stamford, with the superintendents overseeing more than 10,000 students, according to the review.

Aside from Estrella, the top 10 highest earners were all Norwalk Police Department employees, according to the city. Estrella and school officials did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Eight of the nine highest-earning officers were also in the top 10 earners for 2020.

Officer Russell Ouellette, who was the highest-earning city employee in 2020, was the third-highest earning employee last year, behind Estrella and police officer George Daley.

In 2021, Daley and Ouellette earned $291,238 and $288,649, respectively, according to the city. Both officers rank in the top 10 for seniority among Norwalk police officers, according to the department.

Daley, who joined the force in 1992, was honored in February 2020 as one of two officers who talked a distressed individual considering suicide down off the Interstate 95 overpass. Ouellette joined the force in 1991.

For extra shifts assigned by the city, such as conducting traffic flow at the Veterans Park COVID-19 testing site, officers receive time and a half pay, Sgt. Sofia Gulino said.

Police salary range is $73,581 to $106,704, depending on salary grade, Gulino said. There are six levels. The top earners include all salary benefits.

The departments ranks, from lowest to highest, are patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and inspector, according to the police department.

More Information Top salary earners for 2021: 1. Schools Superintendent Alexandra Estrella: $301,475 2. Officer George Daley: $291,238 3. Officer Russell Ouellette: $288,649 4. Officer Mark Suda: $285,011 5. Sgt. Gregg Scully: $272,608 6. Officer David Nieves: $272,380 7. Officer Javier Mogollon: $267,490 8. Lt. Thomas Mattera: $267,184 9. Officer Hector Delgado: $248,677 10. Lt. William Lowe: $235,248 See More Collapse

Norwalk police officers routinely rank among the citys top earners, largely due to overtime shifts and extra traffic jobs, police spokesperson Lt. Joe Dinho has said.

Alongside regularly scheduled shifts, any officer, aside from the two deputy police chiefs and the chief of police, can pick up an unlimited number of extra shifts, Dinho said.

Following Estrella and 17 police officers, the school districts Chief Financial Officer Thomas Hamilton was the next highest paid city employee, with annual earnings of $212,237, according to city documents.

All the top 10 highest paid employees for 2021 earned more than $235,000. Earnings for 2021 were up, as the top 10 earners for 2020 were all above $210,000.

However, Mayor Harry Rillings earnings went down over the last year. Rilling earned $159,071 last year compared to $161,025 in 2020, the documents showed.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
EDWARDSVILLE  A Collinsville woman was charged Thursday with kidnapping in a custodial case involving 2- and 4-year-old boys.

Myeisha L. Cook, 27, of Collinsville, was charged Jan. 13 with kidnapping, a Class 2 felony, and child abduction, a Class 4 felony.

The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on Jan. 11 Cook allegedly took the boys without the consent of their legal guardian and violated the terms of a Sept. 20 court order.

Bail was set at $50,000.

Other felony charges filed Jan. 13 include:

 Edward D. Burnett, 41, of Alton, was charged with unlawful failure to register as a sex offender (second subsequent offense), a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 5 Burnett allegedly failed to register with Alton Police. The Illinois State Police Sex Offender database lists Burnett as a noncompliant sexual predator. He has prior convictions for failure to report a change of address/employment and criminal sexual assault out of Madison County. According to the database, the victim was 9 at the time and Burnett was 22. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Shaun A. Milleson, 49, of Highland, was charged with threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Highland Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 10 Milleson allegedly threatened a Highland police officer. Bail was set at $30,000.

 John C. Riddlespriger, 54, of the 2100 block of Hickory Street, Alton, was charged with domestic battery (three prior convictions), a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Jan. 11 Riddlespriger allegedly spit in the face of a household or family member. He has prior Madison County convictions for domestic battery in 2005, 2010 and 2019. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Dmarcus M. Williams, 29, of Granite City, was charged with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Dec. 19 Williams allegedly struck a household or family member in the face with his hand. He has a 2017 Madison County conviction for aggravated domestic battery. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Thomas C. Pinkerton Jr., 26, of Granite City was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan. 12 Pinkerton allegedly was driving a 1997 Dodge Ram when he attempted to flee from a Granite City police officer, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles per hour above the posted speed limit. Bail was set at $15,000.
According to the latest survey by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of School, released Tuesday, school officials across Illinois say a shortage of teachers and substitutes is forcing them to cancel course offerings, move them online or fill open positions with underqualified candidates.

"Illinois' teacher shortage is immense, complex  and in some troubling ways, growing," the survey finds.

The latest study details feedback from more than 660 school districts (78% of all districts in the state) in fall 2021. It found that 88% of schools said they have a teacher shortage problem and 77% report the shortage is getting worse. An additional 93% of school districts in Illinois said they expect an ongoing teacher shortage problem in the 2023 and 2024 academic years.

The survey was conducted by Goshen Education Consulting, based in Edwardsville. Overall, 88% of the districts said they had a shortage of full-time teachers while 96% said they had a shortage of substitute teachers, and 55% reported the lack of substitutes as a "serious problem." Districts reported a total of 412 classes were canceled and 385 converted to online instruction because of shortage issues.

More than 2,000 positions in the state are either not filled or filled by someone not qualified to teach there, more than double the number reported in 2020. Additionally, 90% of schools say substitute teacher availability is worse than five years ago. This has led to the increased use of paraprofessionals or people who are not fully licensed as teachers but who are credentialed to work under the direction of a licensed teacher.

The teacher shortage is worst in the central portion of Illinois, both east and west. More than 90% of districts in the middle of the state said they had a teacher shortage problem, with 95% of west-central Illinois reporting a shortage. Even in the districts reporting the least amount of shortage  Chicago and the collar counties  are reporting the vast majority of districts experiencing shortages, with 67% of CPS and 79% of Northeast counties reporting shortages.

The extent of the shortage is largely universal, as rural districts are reporting shortages in 89% of schools, suburban in 88% and urban in 85%. An additional 82% of rural districts report the issue is getting worse, compared to 76% of suburban and 72% of urban. Schools are also reporting close amounts of fewer qualified candidates, as 80% of urban districts are reporting issues, 87% of suburban and 90% of rural.

Between all regions, 98% of districts say the substitute shortage will continue in 2023 and 2024.

The biggest shortage areas were in special education and English as a second language, while science and math teachers were also in short supply. Schools have additionally reported challenges in hiring physical education teachers.

Districts are also reporting issues with hiring administrators, as 35% of districts reported minor-to-serious problems with hiring administrators and 95% said they are receiving fewer applications for open administrator positions.

The Illinois School Board of Education recently released its state report card for 2020-21, which shows that in addition to an 86% graduation rate, the teacher workforce has been growing, due in part to the additional funding districts have received from both state and federal sources.

However, the 2020-21 findings from the ISBE may have been skewed by the pandemic, with most districts operating entirely remotely.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the teacher shortage, the IARSS survey found. More than 70% of the districts responding said the pandemic has created budget or logistical challenges that have increased the need for more hiring, with 60% reporting increased hiring of teachers and paraprofessionals. Illinois has relaxed some licensing requirements during the pandemic and given districts more flexibility in assigning teachers to different grade levels.

"Our schools need help, now more than ever," Mark Klaisner, IARSS president, told Capitol News Illinois. "For five years of our study, we have shown how schools are struggling to find qualified teachers and are under tremendous stress to provide the best education possible while understaffed and overwhelmed. COVID-19 has only made those challenges worse."

However, superintendents in 42% of school districts said economic instability and educator burnout caused by the pandemic has increased teacher turnover in districts, although the number one reason schools report for vacancies is teacher retirement, as the Illinois educator workforce is aging.

Schools reported geographic location as the biggest reason for recruitment struggles, followed by salary and benefits and pension.

Illinois lawmakers have taken several steps to address the teacher shortage, including passing a 2019 law that raises the minimum starting salary for a teacher to $40,000 in 2023, although a lack of funding has meant the law has not had the desired effect, especially in poorly funded districts.

Regional superintendents proposed several measures to the General Assembly they say can help alleviate the shortage, including increased funding of the Evidence-Based Funding formula with an additional $500 million in the upcoming fiscal year, as they argue, currently, more than 50% of districts are currently funded at less than 70% of adequacy.

Additionally, superintendents are proposing funding the Illinois Teachers Retirement System at 100% of the actuarially required level to increase confidence. The state currently contributes less than the required amount, as the contribution rate gradually increases each year until 2045, when the plan is projected to be 90% funded.

Last year, ISBE opened grant applications to develop teacher residency programs in which colleges and universities will partner with local school districts or regional offices of education in rural areas to develop training programs in special education and bilingual education. A teacher candidate in the program would embed in a school for a year, shadowing a veteran teacher while taking classes.

Illinois state Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, told Capitol News he hopes lawmakers can at least pass short-term measures to address the teacher shortage, such as allowing retired teachers to work more than 120 days without being penalized on their pension payments.

The long-term solution, Belt said, is to lift the role of teaching to a more respected position and for it to be more valued by society.

"I think we have to do a better job  and not just Illinois, but the country  of really owning and telling the narrative of what the profession of teaching is," Belt said. "As it is right now, you don't hear much about teaching in the public arena unless it's salacious or something bad or a teacher did this, and then you hear it. And you even have teachers telling their kids, Don't get in this profession. And so we really have to understand that this is one of the most noble professions that there is. No matter what you are in life, a teacher helped get you to that point.

Peter Hancock of Capitol News Illinois contributed to this story.
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Sevierville, TN (37876)

Today

Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. Low 63F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. Low 63F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
In response to your quest to contest Nigerias Presidency in 2023, the Yoruba Referendum Committee is, by this Letter, asking all of you to take a categorical stand on the Yoruba Referendum as the solution to the National Question in Nigeria.

There is no contradiction between your quest and the Yoruba Referendum; they are not mutually exclusive; indeed, your quest will have meaning only within the context of the Yoruba Referendum, otherwise, it becomes seeking power for its own sake.

Our reasons are as follows:

(1) The fundamental issue confronting the Peoples of Africa is the resolution of the National Question on a continental level as well as within each country. This truth is borne by the reality on the Continent where Rwanda is often cited as the exemplar of African renaissance based on her human and material development.

(2) What is not debatable about Rwanda is that whatever it has become today, or in the process of becoming, cannot be divorced from the extremely violent resolution of her National Question, otherwise known as the Rwanda Genocide, a repetition of which we believe no one would wish on any of the Peoples of Africa.

(3) Furthermore, Rwanda is entrenched on a dictatorship centered around the person of the President such that economic transformation as a necessity, by itself, has been substituted for the person and power of the President, occasioned by the suppression of dissent such that continuity of such transformation is dependent on Presidential Benevolence and which may not necessarily continue once the present benefactor is off the scene, one way or the other, as has happened in other African countries flaunting their development credentials wrapped around the benevolence of the leader exemplified by Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Julius Nyerere, Thomas Sankara et al.

(4) The only exception is Obafemi Awolowo of the Western Region of Nigeria, where, despite his travails and the twists and turns of our existential reality, the social, cultural, political, and economic philosophy embedded within the People and pursued within the short time frame of our Regional existence, ensured its continuity, even after his demise, where political relevance is generally measured in terms of fidelity to, derives from, and is driven by the historical and categorical necessity his government and leadership ensured.

(5) What is playing out in Nigeria is the resolution of the National Question within the context of a contest between the forces of Unitarism, anchored by the North, politically as the NPC and the East, politically as the NCNC, both of which represented the Unitarist realities of their societies; already being practiced in the North; but an expectation in the East, fueled by the projection of her political leadership aimed at neutralizing the West, through subversion of Western political leadership since the dawn of anti-colonial agitations. This became the basis for their political alliance in their quest to dominate and control the Nigerian geo-political space until the breakdown in their military relations.

(6) Unlike the Western Region, the bastion of Federalism, taking her cue from her historical trajectory, anchored on a Federalist relationship between the various Kingdoms, which prevented the emergence of an overall kingdom for the entire land; and despite the attempt to neutralize, under the valid reason of waging a war against foreign occupation, resulting in the famous Kiriji War, pitting Yoruba Unitarist forces against the Federalists; an inconclusive war because of colonial intervention, despite which the tendency towards Federalism remained fundamental within the Yoruba political psyche.

(7) The Nigerian State was, and still is, the result of this contest between Unitarism and Federalism, with the 1960 Independence Act only an interregnum: the battle resuming immediately afterwards, where the North and the East, through their alliance, formalized Unitarism with the 1963 Constitution, resulting in its entrenchment as the defining characteristic of the Nigerian State politically, economically, and internationally.

(8) Politically, manifesting in various ways, among which are: (i) the manipulation of the 1962 Census, riding on the shoulder of the 1952 Census which had already given the North a Parliamentary majority and which the alliance later used against the Western Region, culminating in the 1965 Western Regional crisis and later the January 15, 1966 Military coup which temporarily ended the alliance and subsequent coups thereafter, further cementing Unitarism, this time with the North in almost absolute control (ii) despite this, the East yielded to the North, and remain committed to the alliance, always willing and ready to throw its weight behind the North against the West; (iii) Centralization of power through the atomization of the Peoples into different states dependent on the Center;(iv) the calibration of electoral votes in favor of the North, thereby enabling them to call the shots at any election;(v) centralized control over Party Affairs (vi) determination of party priorities outside the purview of their social and cultural environments (vii) denunciation of the Nationalities, reducing them to tribes, just as the colonial power did; (viii) attempting the detribalization of the Nationalities which can only end up in a Rwanda and (ix) Legitimization of all these(and more) by the current Constitution, reaffirming the Unitarist nature of the Nigerian Post-Colonial State.

(9) Economically, presenting itself, in Yorubaland, among others, through (i) the neutralization of the foundational economic philosophy which defined Yorubaland between 1951 and 1959, established on the foundations of a political economy of social development, with development banking an integral part, exemplified by the Yoruba version of the too big to fail economic necessity via the buy out of the Agbonmagbe Bank, preceding the famous US experience under President Obama by 50 years. (ii) massive central investment in commercial agriculture and irrigation, controlled especially by Military Officers thereby making the rest of the country dependent on the North (iii) the gradual neutralization of a development paradigm through the negation of human capacity development experienced through the de-education of the people and the subsequent integration of the countrys economy into the vortex of underdevelopment as dictated by the IMF, which eventually culminated in the enforcement of the Structural Adjustment Program, thereby de-industrializing Yorubaland (as well as the entire country).

(10) Internationally, especially within the West African sub-region, and mainly in favor of the North (i) the trans-humance protocol allowing cross-border movement of pastoral Fulani without inhibition; (ii) the gradual entrenchment of Ethno-National Fulani control of several countries in West Africa as can be seen in the Gambia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger;(iii) the anti-Terrorism war in the Sahel, incorporating some of these countries and Nigeria.

(11) Despite all these, efforts of the Lagos state government under Governor Tinubu to engage the Central government, on various issues pertaining to the Federalist cause whilst also trying to address economic underdevelopment, especially through the deployment of technocrats as the antidote to underdevelopment, disregarded Nigerias experience with technocrats from the IMF, World Bank, and other international agencies, not making a dent on Nigerias underdevelopment. Such efforts eventually failed to advance beyond his tenure, when successive central Governments embarked on policies reinforcing the Unitarist forces in Nigeria.

(12) The infrastructural development touted by the current administration is anchored on a negation of human capital development, resulting in the superimposition of a colonial economic paradigm characterized by provision of access to raw materials for export and which has now been extended to exportation of human materials evidenced by continuous migrations out of the country.

(13) Yet, the Western Region cured this deficiency, by the introduction of a political economy anchored on an all-round education policy as the precondition for human capital development, and by extension, the overall development of the society and which eventually enabled the growth of aspirations and expectations that was experienced, providing the basis for the hope binding the Yoruba People today.

(14) The current administrations much-touted infrastructural development lacks this essential component, to wit: human capacity development, more so when technological, scientific, and social education production are severely lacking, and with public and private education at all levels in shambles, with no roadmap for resuscitation, resulting in a steady decline of human capital, engendering a heavy reliance on foreign human capital as the operators of the economy.

(15) All of which begs the question as to what is to be done. The Yoruba Referendum Committee posits that the answer is in resolving the National Question in such a manner that will avoid the Rwanda Experience as well as the on-going war in Ethiopia between Unitarist and Federalist forces and provide a beacon for the rest of Africa.

(16) This starts from the recognition of the Peoples/Nations in themselves, and for themselves, restoring their ability to define their aspirations and expectations, and which is possible only if they are recognized as the Federating Units in a Federal System replacing the current Unitarist experience.

(17) Efforts of the Lagos State government earlier alluded to, testifies to this. It took less than eight years for succeeding central governments to create roadblocks against the successes achieved. This shows that whatever was achieved could be neutralized in short order unless the Unitarist forces are decisively and permanently defeated.

(18) It is recognized that such an expectation, by itself, will not lead to a manifestation, unless it is taken from the realm of reasoning and brought into the arena of practical politics.

(19) Hence the resolution proposed by the Yoruba Referendum Committee is as follows: (i) Referendums by the various Nationalities as Federating Units. (ii) For the Yoruba, this will be the Yoruba Referendum to be conducted by the Houses of Assembly in Yorubaland, aimed at recreating Nigeria as a Multi-National State, defined as a  Federal Nigeria, through a valid Federal Constitution, to be known as The Union of Nigerian Constituent Nationalities , with a Federal Presidential Council, whose members will be selected or elected from each of the Nationalities as Federating Units and from whom a Head of State will be selected or elected as the primus-inter-pares with an agreed term.

(20) A Bill on the Yoruba Referendum, to be passed into Law and pave the way for conducting the Referendum has been submitted, twice, to the Governors and Speakers of the Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti State Houses of Assembly.

We humbly ask that you all, individually or collectively, take a Categorical Stand on this Yoruba Categorical Imperative.

Editorial Board, Yoruba Referendum Committee


Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has sought for wider participation of relevant stakeholders in the blue economy project to deepen participation and benefits of Nigerians from the countrys marine resources.

Osinbajo made the call at the inaugural meeting of an Expanded Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

The Vice President said a viable blue economy project will offer vista of opportunities not only for littoral states where there are bodies of waters but for the entire country.

He identified areas to be exploited including ports, terminals, fishing, training, environment, tourism, power, oil and gas.

While identifying possible challenges of sustainability, he urged all the ministries, departments and agencies to strengthen their collaborations in an atmosphere of inter ministerial working groups and advised all members to attend the meetings faithfully for maximum results.

Osinbajo identified the need for a legal framework that will be more robust than other international maritime conventions on blue economy which Nigeria has been signatory to.

He said the scope and participation of the committee will be further improved upon to accommodate more members from government agencies and relevant private sector stakeholders

There is no doubt that the blue economy is a new frontier for economic development and a means of diversifying the economy through the use of resources from oceans,seas, rivers and lakes for the well being of the people.

It also provides positive contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) 2052 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (2052AIM) and the UN 2030 agenda

This concept for economic diversification is promoted by the international community and provides friendly means of livelihood in line with this administrations agenda on job creation

The ocean economy as an emerging economic frontier applies to ocean based industry activities and the assets, goods and services of marine ecosystems.

Countries have to define the scope of their blue economy based on their priorities. For example, in Bangladesh, the ocean economy consists of the following broad and growing economic sectors; living resources, minerals, energy, transport trade, tourism and recreation, carbon sequestration and coastal protection. These industries and ecosystem services do not develop in isolation, but rather interact as an economic ecosystem, Osinbajo said.

In his opening remark, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the blue economy is capable of improving government revenue, create employments and grow the gross domestic product of Nigeria.

Amaechi who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani, also expressed optimism in the copious benefits derivable from a well-exploited marine environment.

Aside maritime agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, the expanded committee also comprised of ten governors of coastal states including Rivers, Lagos, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Ogun, Ondo, Cross River, Bayelsa and Edo.

Other members are the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Power, Finance, Environment, Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Water Resources, Chief of Naval Staff, Comptroller General of Customs, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Nigeria Economic Summit Group and others.
Lagos, Tuesday, January 18, 2022: The Federal Government has said that it is processing a request by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) for it to establish a specialized team of prosecutors to facilitate effective investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against journalists and other media workers.

In a letter addressed to MRAs Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said: Your letter requesting the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a specialized team of prosecutors to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of crimes against journalists and other media workers through the office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been received and is being processed.

Dr. Gwandu, who wrote on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), promised that You will be communicated if there is any development thereof.

Mr. Ojo wrote to the Federal Government on behalf of MRA on October 26, 2021, ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) on November 2, calling on the Government to establish the team of specialized prosecutors. He said this would, among other things, position Nigeria to fulfil its international treaty obligations under a number of regional and international instruments, most notably Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, adopted in November 2019 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights pursuant to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, to which Nigeria is a State Party.

Acknowledging that the Government received MRAs letter on the issue with great appreciation, Dr. Gwandu said it was gratifying that professional bodies, pundits, youth and non-partisan organizations are objectively and dispassionately taking into account of the outstanding professional acumen and wealth of experience brought to bear in the transformation of the Federal Ministry of Justice by Mr. Malami.

In its October 26, 2021 letter to the Government, MRA expressed grave concern that despite the numerous cases of attacks against journalists in Nigeria in the last few decades, including many of them killed, no one has ever been charged with any crime for such attacks and nobody has ever been punished.

The organization said the situation was reflecting negatively on the Government and signals a wrong message to perpetrators that they can attack or even kill journalists and that there will be no adverse consequences for the perpetrators.

It noted that as a regional power and leader, it was critical for Nigeria to demonstrate moral leadership by living up to the commitments it had made, particularly in the African context, by respecting and abiding by such regional standards and instruments.

MRA cited Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, titled Safety of journalists and other media practitioners, saying it imposes an obligation on State Parties to the African Charter, including Nigeria, to guarantee the safety of journalists and other media practitioners, and provides, among other things, that:

States shall take measures to prevent attacks on journalists and other media practitioners, including murder, extra-judicial killing, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, kidnapping, intimidation, threats and unlawful surveillance undertaken by State and non-State actors;

States shall take measures to raise the awareness and build the capacities of journalists and other media practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders on laws and standards for ensuring the safety of journalists and other media practitioners;

States shall take effective legal and other measures to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of attacks against journalists and other media practitioners, and ensure that victims have access to effective remedies;

States shall be liable for the conduct of law enforcement, security, intelligence, military and other personnel which threatens, undermines or violates the safety of journalists and other media practitioners; and

States shall take specific measures to ensure the safety of female journalists and media practitioners by addressing gender-specific safety concerns, including sexual and gender-based violence, intimidation and harassment.

For further information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale

Communications Officer

Media Rights Agenda

Email: [email protected]


Evidently, Oke Ogun of Oyo State, my mother's region, is one of the materially richest part of Nigeria, one that has a lot to contribute to the development of Oyo State and Nigeria. The resources of the region, according to experts, shows that the area is richer than some African countries, including Botswana which is rich in diamond and is one of the most prosperous African countries. In solid minerals, Oke Ogun has no equal in Nigeria. In almost all sectors of agriculture, the region is beyond comparison. There are large deposit of Marble, dolomite and others in Igbetti, Olorunsogo Local Government and in Oriire. Tourmaline is in Komu, Itesiwaju, Tantalite in Sepeteri, Quartz in Itesiwaju, Columbite, talc and several other minerals in all parts of the region. Intriguingly, there's also a major tourism boost for the Oke Ogun people which people hardly talk about. Oke Ogun is blessed with overwhelming historical writings which could be dubbed as tourism. In tourism, the same region is blessed with the Ado Awaye suspended lake, of which there are two in the world, Igbo Oba in Kisi, Ebedi Hill in Iseyin, Asabari Hill in Saki, Akomare Hill in Igangan and many other natural tourist attractions waiting to be developed.

As Akin Aderibigbe, a foremost research icon once described, that Oke Ogun is a destination with a vibrant culture that illuminates travel intenerates and pristine paradise of naturl environment. Therein, the historic living sites or buildings showcase the material culture, In effect, art features prominently in all aspects of the people's and indeed indigenous Yoruba life because of its aesthetic, social, political and religious functions. It's ravishing that this historical values gives credence to the established fact that most Yoruba artistic works are cultural, technical and spiritual. Hence, for the sake of publicity, this piece shall take a dive into some of these less talked about tourism centers in Oke Ogun. It is therefore plausible to begin the inventory of the state's with the general discourse of the location of mysterious river Basaori at Saki.

According to well fed research, Basaori River is located at in Saki, is under the command and control of High Chief Apeeki of Saki land. Records has it that in the ancient times; people who lacked material wealth could go to Basaori to lend any materials from the River goddess, which must be returned, yet at a point people started to renege on their pledges and the goddess stopped giving out the items. She has now changed from giving out material wealth and instead offers spiritual support to those in various needs such as childlessness, success in business, good luck etc. History has it that It is a taboo for the members of the Apeeki family to drink the water from the River or bring it home. Basaori has a two room apartment located at the belly of the rock and a water channel where water flows continuously all year round.

Another one is the royal forest at lgboho in Oorelope Local Government which is one of the hictoric legacies of the Old Oyo Empire. Igboho was the second settlement of Alaafin after the destruction of Oyo Ajaka by the Fulani Jihadist. Igbo Oba was carved out as a sacred grove where human activities were forbidden. The migration to Igboho meant that the royal fathers could no longer be buried in Bara which was the traditional burial ground for the Alaafins and hence they have to settle in Igboho. The forest is home to the tombs of Alaafin Ofinran who was brought to lgboho to be buried by his successor Alaafin Egunoju. The second, Alaafin Egunoju the according to Samuel Johnson (1897) died at Aafin quarters in Saki where he sought for refuge and was also brought to lgboho for State burial. The other as two Alaafins that were buried at the grove were Orompoto and Ajiboyede.The Royal Forest which has a natural ambience of an historic monument with the rows of the symbolic Iroko, Ose and Akoko trees has been preserved as a sacred grove.

The ancient walls of Koso, the capital city of the old Oyo Empire is also situated in Oke Ogun. Aremu (1999) in his research posited the preservation of the walls is instructive in that they can provide information not only about the settlement that is enclosed, but also about why, when, and how the wall was built. One of the unique walls in the old Oyo Empire was the ancient Koso wall. The fortification of enclosing walls around cities in the pre-historic era is common features in large African political centres. Koso wall is a multiple wall system built of mud and consisting of both outer and inner walls. The innermost wall which Akin Aderibigbe investigated varies in length from 3 km to 4.5 km in different location at the site. Aremu, in his writing also highlighted that the innermost wall consists of three categories; standing mud walls, mud walls from ground level and heap or raised ground. Koso wall enclosure, like other West African walls, was built for different purposes.The construction of city walls was to counter aggressions and protect communities from invaders.

Oke Agbele is another site with historical background in Igbeti, According to historians, the structure came into existence in the early 19th century when a powerful and popular woman in the town with a baby on her back went to a rocky side of the town to steal yam flour where the Igbeti people usually dry their yam flour by sunlight. However, on discovering that she has been sighted by the night guards, she instantly turned into a rock in order to avoid shame and embarrassment.

Ogidigbo ile which means a spectacular thick forest is the name of three distinct quarters in Saki land. The first Ogidigbo is located outside Saki metropolis and is between Ajaku and Enu Ojiyo. The second is the Ogidigbo Ololekan now called Ogidigbo lle near llua while the third is the symbolic market located at the centre of the town. Ogidigbo lle is an ancient quarter in Saki whose sprawling landscape of rocky ranges juxtaposed with Savanna grassland is a beauty to behold. Located between llua and Oge

Ogidigbo lle is the cradle of Saki Township, which has been long neglected despite its cultural and its historical significance. The landscape provides the evidence of where the Okere dynasty began. It is the location of the first Koyal palace built in the 16th century and where the first Monarchy in Saki; Okere Akinbekun and his two sons Okere Osooru and Okiribiti ruled over the town. Consequently it home to the tombs of the Akinbekun dynasty, inciuding other great but unnamed men and women have contributed to the greatness of Saki.

History has it that it was immensely to the greatness of Saki land, sometimes in 1712 AD that Okere Otiti (AD 1675-1745) moved the palace from Ogidigbo lle due to lack of adequate space to a more convenient place near Oke lboji. Ogidigbo lle was from the ancient times famous for it market called Apata Oja, which served as the main commercial hub of the elephant tusks. The ancient palace which is currently being restored and preserved as the first tourist centre by this author received the greatest support from His Royal Majesty Late Oba Kelani Olatoyese Olarinre Il and few well-meaning sons and daughters of Saki.

One cannot exhaust some of the least known tourism ground in Oke Ogun, each town has it specifics which are least known by outsiders. Least, some of the famous once are still existing such as the Ado Awaye suspended lake, the only suspended lake and the second in the world, Ikere gorge dam of Iseyin, Old Oyo National park, and a host of others which are situated in this enriching region. Howbeit, it saddens me that most of these tourism sites needs attention and should be used for recreation and economy enhancement. The Federal and State Government should pump funds into this tourism industry in Oke Ogun to make the people identified with the world.
LAGOS.18.01.2022. Agric-focused lender, Unity Bank Plc has partnered Nigerian rice farmers under the aegis of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN to unveil a mega rice pyramid on the occasion of the National Rice Festival held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Tuesday.

The event, which coincided with the flag-off of the dry season farming, was used to showcase the gains produced by rice farmers in driving self-sufficiency in rice production through the Central Bank of Nigerias Anchor Borrowers Programme, ABP.

Speaking to newsmen at the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, while going down memory lane on the support of the rice farmers by the Bank since the inception of the Anchor Borrowers Programme, ABP commended the rice farmers for their unwavering belief and collaboration in the implementation of the intervention programme, adding that as the PFI (Preferred Financial Institution) for the ABP transactions, the Bank will continue to support the farmers and ensure that more smallholder farmers get the requisite financial support to boost rice production.

She said: Our strategic partnership with RIFAN started in 2018 when we financed about 273,000 smallholder farmers. This was the largest single-ticket transaction in that year. This financing cut across 33 states of the Federation including the FCT.

In 2019, the Bank increased the tally by financing another 146,810 smallholder farmers for the wet and dry season farming. This funding cut across 35 States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Additional funding was granted to finance additional 221,450 smallholder farmers of the Association across the 32 states of the Federation including FCT for the wet season and additional 300,000 hectares was financed in sixteen states for the 2020 dry season cropping season.

As of March 2021, the Bank has financed no fewer than 190,000 smallholder rice farmers across 35 states including the FCT, Abuja.

Speaking further, she said: The rice pyramids we see here today is an example of the resilience of the farmers and should be replicated in all states with a focus on the crop they have a competitive advantage.

As we gear the programme towards deepening its penetration to reach more farmers, we encourage all beneficiaries of the Intervention Programme to always utilize the inputs judiciously in order to key into Federal Governments goal of attaining food sufficiency, diversification of the economy from oil, job creation for the teeming youth and poverty reduction.

We remain optimistic that RIFAN under the able leadership of the National President, Aminu Goronyo, will continue to engage its members to drive higher performance under the ABP.

Through the strategic initiative of the ABP, Nigeria has made incredible gains in rice production over the past six years raising production to significant levels.

Official reports show that from an average yield of 1.8 metric tonnes per hectare in the pre-ABP era, the initiative has increased the countrys average yield per hectare for rice paddy and maize to about five metric tonnes per hectare.

Similarly, the average capacity utilisation per annum of domestic integrated rice mills has jumped to 90 per cent, from the 30 per cent that was the case in the era preceding the advent of the ABP.

Statistics show that there has been a significant reduction in the countrys rice import bill, from a monstrous $1.05 billion prior to November 2015, to the current figure of $18.50 million, annually. The programme has also created an estimated 12.3 million direct and indirect jobs across the different value chains and food belts of the country.
Former senate President, senator Anyim Pius Anyim said he will engage the services of economic experts, as well as the world-class cabinet members to revive the countrys economy to become self-sufficient and debt-free if given the mandate as president come 2023.

The former Secretary to the Government of the federation also said he has all it takes to reposition the nation's economy, create wealth and ensure massive employment for the teaming population.

Anyim made this known in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by his media aide, Daniel Okorie, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital.

He assured Nigerians of solving myriad of problems facing the country like debt and economic challenges if given the mandate as president come 2023.

The statement read in part: For me, the drivers of the economy will now be on industrialisation and manufacturing, talents and innovation, science and technology.

This certainly is going to be the key driver of the economy of the second half of the 21st century and I will develop this, build on this and prepare Nigeria to fit into the fourth industrial revolution.

That obviously will expand the economy; that will make the economy more competitive and more dynamic. I will also focus on the enablers of development. the factors, the circumstances and the situations that promote prosperity and development.

Anyim further noted that while he understood the countrys debt burden among other economic challenges being faced by Nigeria, he was prepared for the job and would take no time in turning the nations economic fortune around.

I understand that last year, the nation earned about N5.5 trillion as revenue and out of the N5.5t trillion, N4.2 trillion went into debt servicing and debt repayment, leaving just N1.3 trillion to run the country.

"I also want to believe as a matter of rule that you are not allowed to borrow more than 40 percent of your GDP and our borrowing rate now is at 36.9 per cent.

I think that will make it more frightening for anybody coming in. But I can tell you that even at that, that does not scare me. The challenges are temporary and the challenges are that of leadership.

" If I am to focus on the economy as I did say before, I will focus the economy on the contemporary world direction- manufacturing, talent and innovation, science and technology. it stated.
The management of BUA Foods Plc. was on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 hosted to a closing gong ceremony on the main floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited. This was after addressing market stakeholders with a fact behind the listing presentation in a webinar held earlier in the day.

BUA Foods was listed on the Nigerian Exchange on Jan 5, 2022 and has since received significant acceptance going by the volume of demand for the shares which has boosted the market capitalization of the Nigerian Exchange Limited by over N1trillion.

Kabiru Rabiu, Non-Executive Director, BUA Foods Plc (8th Right)) beating the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) closing gong to commemorate the listing of BUA Foods Plc on the NGX. He was flanked by Temi Popoola, CEO, Nigerian Exchange (7th Left) and Ayodele Abioye, Ag. Managing Director, BUA Foods Plc (8th Left), partners to the listing and other Executive members of BUA Foods Plc and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

The company has maintained an unbroken record of year-on-year growth and has eight ultra-modern manufacturing facilities across the country. BUA Foods currently has a refining capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes of sugar yearly from two ultra-modern sugar refineries in Lagos and Port Harcourt. As part of its expansion strategy in 2022, BUA Foods plans to double its flour milling capacity from about 500,000 metric tonnes per annum to over a million metric tonnes per annum. Similarly, that of pasta will grow from 5 lines to 11 lines.

The companys rice mill, one of the largest in the country, has a capacity to produce 200,000 tonnes of rice per annum with work currently in progress on a rice plantation that will change the face of rice production in Nigeria.

Kabiru Rabiu, Group Executive Director speaking on behalf of the Chairman of BUA Foods Plc. stated that the company is determined to explore the huge opportunities available in the agribusiness to promote food security and growth for Nigerians and Africans.

According to Rabiu, Today for us is very historic and we are excited to begin the year with the listing. The population of Nigeria is over 200million and our food production capacity is still not enough to meet current demands. However, with the listing of our food business on the NGX, there is high hope for Nigeria in terms of building capacity for food sufficiency.

As a country we have agricultural resources coupled with human capital to harness needed raw materials to produce what we need for our consumption, and develop our nation. We are positioning our brand to take advantage of export opportunities through our strategically located plants from which foreign exchange can be generated both for the company and economy, Rabiu added.

The Acting Managing Director, BUA Foods, Engr. Ayodele Abioye, also stated, our fast paced and strategic investments in the food industry positions us to capture growth opportunities within the sector, create headroom ahead of demand, generate sustainable employment while promoting national food security.

Additionally, as a business we will continue to create sustainable value for our consumers and stakeholders.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, NGX, Mr. Temi Popoola, stated, This listing marks a new beginning for BUA Foods Plc who plays a critical role in the FMCG industry as the company can leverage services the Exchange offers to achieve its strategic objectives. BUA Foods has experienced an upward trend in share price, market capitalization, and trading activity since its listing on the Exchange. At NGX, this milestone transaction is in line with our strategic objectives to improve listings and enhance investors participation in our market. As a multi-asset Exchange, NGX is strategically positioned to be the preferred listing and investment destination connecting Nigeria, Africa, and the world. I must, therefore, encourage capital market players and enthusiasts at home and abroad to pay closer attention to the plethora of opportunities available in our market both to list securities and make the most of their investments. NGX will continue to provide innovative solutions that meet the ever-evolving needs of our stakeholders.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, on Tuesday expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill before the end of the week.

Lawan , who disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the National Assembly would re-present the Electoral Act Amendment Bill for deliberations on Wednesday.

He said the parliament would pass the contentious bill the same day, adding that what was forwarded to Buhari last year was not the final document.

The lawmakers returned from Christmas break on Tuesday.

The President had in December last year withheld assent to the electoral bill over the direct primary clause in the document

Lawan said: Well, by the grace of God tomorrow, both chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives will pass the bill. And I hope that before the end of the week, the bill could be brought back to Mr. President for his assent.

But one thing Im sure by the grace of God is we are passing the bill, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2010, tomorrow Wednesday, the 19th January in both chambers, and we are happy that at the end of the day, we have been able to narrow down our differences and arrive at the very patriotic resolution that our country must have a new electoral law that will guide the 2023 general elections in the country, and Nigeria would have everything to benefit from this law.

For us in the Ninth Assembly, the Electoral Act amendment bill is one of our major legislative agendas that we wanted to deal with, and to the glory of God Almighty, by tomorrow, we will be able to pass that bill to Mr. President to assent to it. I hope that the cleaning process will not take more than a day. But if it does, then it has to be early next week. But Im very optimistic that there is not much to clean up because normally, when we pass a bill like this, it goes to the legislative drafting unit of the National Assembly.

So what you have in the National Assembly, as passed, is not the final document that comes to the President. And I know that many people were saying there were so many flaws in the bill that was brought to Mr. President, maybe what they had was the bill passed in the Senate or in the House, not the one that was cleaned up, the final document that was cleaned up, because even us we didnt have that document, we sign it up but I appreciate the efforts of all Nigerians in taking interest in what we do, and even participating by way of looking for what is right and what is not when we pass our bills, or in terms of legislative activities, generally.

On the whole, I think its a worthwhile exercise that weve worked so hard in a very bipartisan manner to pass the electoral amendment bill before and Mr. President to raise the observations he did, and for the National Assembly, having consulted widely with Nigerians, with our constituents, and we came to the conclusion, in both chambers, across party lines, in a very patriotic way to say, oh, what we need to do is not waste time, time is of essence in this respect.

We should just look at the possibility of opening up the mode of primaries. So that you can have direct, you can have indirect and even consensus, and its up to political parties to decide which option is okay for them, and at what time, but Im sure that all the options will be used, all the options will be used by political parties, in different occasions or whatever.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide joins the world to celebrate Chief Emeka Anyaoku as he clocks 89. It is heart-warming to recall that Anyaoku has scored many firsts and continues to shine forth as a Star, not to the Igbo nation alone, nor Nigeria, but to the entire Africa, the Commonwealth nations and the world.

Anyaoku, one of Igbo's greatest exports to the global diplomatic community is a quintessence of the Igbo resourcefulness, resilience, wisdom, honesty and integrity.

Through a dint of hardwork, dedication to duty rather than any form of favouritism and discipline rather than quota considerations, Chief Anyaoku has set enviable records in his chosen career and remains a model for excellence and patriotism to this, and the upcoming generations.

His records remain untainted and referenced for his dutiful service to the world and his unrelenting selfless services to Nigeria without forgetting his roots.

We recall with pride his numerous interventions for the birth of democratic governance and it's sustenance across Nigeria, especially, in Ala Igbo. Anyaoku remains a strong voice that rings out in the darkest hours to usher in the light of truth.

May I convey the kindest felicitations and the sincere prayers for good health and fulfillment from the President-General, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor, the NEC and all the organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, to this great Iroko as he clocks 89 inspiring years on this journey.

Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia

National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Phuket woman scammed out of B500k by gang posing as police, bank officials

PHUKET: A Phuket woman has filed a complaint with police after being scammed of her life savings by what she claimed was a gang posing as police officers and bank officials.

crimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 18 January 2022, 05:34PM

The 49-year-old resident of Karon, using the alias Miss Phi, holds up her complaint filed with the Karon Police. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The 49-year-old resident of Karon, using the alias Miss Phi, filed a formal complaint with police in Phuket, reporting that the criminals claimed to be officers from Chon Buri Police and officials from Bangkok Bank and conned her out of her B500,000 savings.

Miss Phi said that she received a call around 6:30pm last Saturday (Jan 15) from someone claiming to be an employee of Bangkok Banks Chon Buri branch. The caller stated that Miss Phi had an outstanding credit card debt of B26,000 that needed to be settled immediately or else she would be liable to face prosecution.

When Miss Phi disputed the accusation, claiming she had never even owned a credit card, never taken out a loan nor borrowed any money from the bank, she was transferred to what the bank employee claimed was an officer from the Chon Buri Police who could provide further information on the matter.

According to Miss Phi, the bogus police officer stated that her Bangkok Bank account was being used for money laundering and had been used to deposit illegal funds generated from a drug-related operation, the leader of which had since been apprehended.

The officer then shared with Miss Phi actual photos of a random drug bust, claiming they were from the incident in which she had become embroiled.

Miss Phi then said that the officer instructed her to transfer the illicitly received amount of B504,432.04 which would be checked, he said, then returned to her account within two hours. Miss Phi then made eight different transactions to a Kasikornbank account under the name of Mr Aekpanya Kongmun.

Once Miss Phi had completed the transfers she was told by another person posing as a Chon Buri Police officer over the phone that she would receive a call back within five minutes. Less than three minutes after that call had ended, Miss Phi called the number she had been given, but there was no answer.

Convinced she had been duped by the gang, Miss Phi went to the Karon Police around 4:30pm yesterday (Jan 17), taking with her all her bank account details and relevant transaction receipts.

She stated that the amount had been in her account for around seven years and was being kept to buy her father a house. Miss Phi added that she wanted to pursue legal proceedings against the criminals even though the details of which were unknown by her or the police.
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Salem, MO (65560)

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Mostly cloudy skies. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

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Rain likely. Low 19C. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Rain likely. Low 11C. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.

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Ede ethnic minority girl wins Miss Eco Vietnam 2022 crown

H Cuc EBan, a local girl from the Ede ethnic minority group, has successfully beat off competition from a number of strong local contestants to be crowned Miss Eco Vietnam 2022.









Ede ethnic minority girl H Cuc EBan wins Miss Eco Vietnam 2022 crown





Born in 2002, H Cuc EBan stands at 1.7 metres tall, with the beauty impressing judges and fans with her simplicity and love of nature.



Moving forward, the Vietnamese girl will represent the country at Miss Eco International 2022, which is scheduled to take place in Egypt in March.



H Cuc EBans perfect catwalk skills are expected to mean she will shine whilst representing the nation during the global pageant.



The girl from the ethnic minority group states her eagerness to showcase Vietnamese beauty and talent during the course of the Miss Eco International 2022 pageant.



The first runner up title of Miss Eco Vietnam 2022 went to Kieu Thuy Hang, and the second runner up was named as Quynh Umee. Elsewhere, the third and fourth places belonged to Tran Hoai Phuong and Phan Diem Trinh, respectively.


Press Release

January 18, 2022 Gordon remembers his father's love for PH Re-electionist Senator Richard J. Gordon today fondly remembered the patriotism and heroism of his father, the late James Leonard Tagle Gordon, on his 105th birth anniversary. The elder Gordon's birthday is commemorated as a special non-working holiday in the City of Olongapo and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone every January 17 by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 11217, which was signed in 2019. "Words cannot wholly describe the admiration I have for my father, who was selfless in a sense that he gave his all, even his life, just to be able to serve his constituents with dignity, compassion, and cleanliness," he said. "Dahil dito ay maagang kinuha mula sa mundong ibabaw ang aking ama, dahil sa mga masasamang tao na ayaw makakita ng pagpapaunlad na malinis at tapat sa taumbayan," he added. Born to an American Marine father and Filipina mother, the elder Gordon ultimately took Filipino citizenship and pushed for the independence of Olongapo City from the jurisdiction of the US Navy, earning the rightful moniker of "Father of Olongapo City." Fondly called as Mayor Jimmy after his 1963 election, he stood up for the people of Olongapo, and battled head on the City's corrupt officials who had been pulling its development back. Earning the ire of his political opponents, Gordon's life was attempted on two separate occasions before he was assassinated by an escaped convict on Feb. 20, 1967. His funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands of people. Gordon, who pursued law after his father's assassination, said he is empowered by the legacy of his father in continuing his service to the Filipino people. "It's almost been 55 years since my father left us, but his zeal and fervor remain in my heart in order to serve the Filipino people, especially in these trying times," he said. "Just like my father, ipinapangako ko sa ating mga kababayan na hindi ko sila pababayaan mula sa sakuna, sa katiwalian, at mula sa maling pagpapalakad ng ating bayan," he added. After his father's death, the younger Gordon set forth on a public service career that would span for over 50 years, which started as the youngest delegate in the 1971 Constitutional Convention. He continued his father's legacy as a Mayor of Olongapo from 1980-86 and 1988-93, transforming what was called "Sin City" into a highly-urbanized city recognized throughout the country.
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I love murder mysteries both books and movies. Even though I have seen the Murder she Wrote shows hundreds of times, I still check in to the Hallmark channel every night at 10 p.m. to see what Angela Lansbury is up to.

And I enjoy the Hallmark Murders and Mystery channel when they show the murder mysteries instead of the sappy love stories that all have the same storyline: boy or girl comes home, falls in love again with their high school sweetheart, save someones family business, have hot chocolate, and live happily ever after.

Brazen is clearly not a Hallmark flick.

After a book tour to sell her new book, mystery novelist Grace Miller (Alyssa Milano) receives an urgent message from her estranged sister, Kathleen, who's entangled in a custody battle with her wealthy ex. Arriving in D.C. Kathleen is living in their childhood home next door to a gorgeous homicide detective, Ed, (Sam Page).

Hoping to afford a decent lawyer, Kathleen supplements her teacher's salary by moonlighting as a webcam dominatrix. Fantasy, Inc., guarantees its employees anonymity. When Kathleen is murdered, Grace inserts herself as a consultant to help solve the crime.

Milano and Page have great chemistry.

Sam Page is a hunk. The women in the audience will love this piece of eye candy. Someone needs to do something about Milanos hair; it looks like a dog chewed on it. The interactions between Milano and Ullerup was a bit confusing. I think it was the dialogue rather than the acting.

Malachi Weir plays Eds partner, homicide detective Ben. Emilie Ullerup is Graces sister Kathleen. Matthew Finlan is Jerald and Alison Araya is Captain Rivera.

Brazen is a little more risque than the typical Hallmark Murders and Mysteries, but it felt similar probably because most of the actors have been seen in dozens of Hallmark movies.

I had Brazen figured out fairly quickly because the writers didnt throw enough red herrings in to make me keep guessing. The screenplay was written by Edithe Swensen, Donald Martin and Suzette Couture, based on the novel Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts.

But Brazen wasnt boring it moved rather fast. The director, Monika Mitchell, was smart to keep the film at 1-1/2 hours.

I enjoyed the movie and would like to see more murder mysteries that arent too dark with a little more romance.

Brazen is a new movie on Netflix. I give it 3  stars.
EDWARDSVILLE  Action on one of six zoning issues considered by the Madison County Boards Building and Zoning Committee was delayed so opposing sides could work out a solution, while five others were OKd and will be considered by the full board at the Jan. 19 meeting.

Postponed was a request by Ryan Lybarger, owner of property along Troy Road in an agriculturally-zoned district in Jarvis Township, for a special use permit to operate a landscaping business and a variance to allow construction of a building within 35 feet of the property line, rather than the required 150 feet.

Several nearby property owners objected, specifically to the location of the building, which would be used for the business. Several objectors said they wanted to see the building moved away from the property line, and that there was enough available space to do so.

After some discussion the committee approved postponing a decision, telling the two sides to get together and work out a solution.

Requests approved included:

 A request by Extreme Rush Blends LLC on behalf of Moniger Excavating Co. Inc., requesting rezoning of one acre at 5955 Illinois 140, Moro, to B-3 Highway Business District from PD Planned Development District to operate a health services center at the site. The committee assured the audience it was not for a business selling cannabis, which is illegal in unincorporated Madison County.

 A request by owners Ryan and Amy Luckett to rezone a dual-zoned lot from A Agricultural District and B-2 general Business District to R-1 Single Family Residential District at 6432 Karr Lane, Edwardsville. A separate request, by Ronald and Kenna Ellinger to rezone a 2.78-acre dual-zoned lot from B-2 General Business District to R-1 Single Family. Both requests were made to allow for a new subdivision plat.

 A request by Rachel Crow to rezone .37-acre tract of land at 12385 State Road to R-2 Single Family Residential from B-1 Limited Business District.

 Kim Pamatot, owner of Madison County Sand LLC, requested a special use permit to operate a sand dredging operation along Keller Lane, Collinsville. The area is zoned A Agricultural.

Also approved was a resolution to allow demolition of unsafe buildings at 424 N. Cottage Avenue, Cottage Hills; 3633 Edwardsville Road, Edwardsville; and 2450 13th Street, Cottage Hills.

All the approved requests and resolutions will face final approval at the Madison County Board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19.
CARLINVILLE  Officials in Carlinville on Tuesday announced it is more than doubling the money available for the 2022-23 Facade Grant Program.

Carlinville has secured the funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The expanded program will provide partial reimbursement for facade improvements for selected businesses.

Typically, the city appropriates $10,000 for this annual program to benefit our business community," said said Kim Harber, Finance Chairman for the City of Carlinville. "This year the city has decided to increase that amount and at least double the funding available due to this unique opportunity provided by receiving federal funds through the American Rescue Plan.

"Community and economic develop initiatives should always begin with business retention efforts. Our business community continues to support our efforts to overcome the effects of the pandemic," Harber said. "Applying for this matching grant program can assist them in needed repairs and upgrades.

The Facade Grant Program is available to help commercial properties with improvements such as paint, lighting, window repair and other exterior work, subject to the city zoning regulations. Brian Zilm, Economic Development/Zoning/Grant Administrator for the city, can guide businesses through the application packet.

We at city hall hope that by expanding this program we can help alleviate some of the strain the pandemic has caused for our business owners while also improving the aesthetic charm of Carlinvilles historic business community, said Carlinville Mayor Sarah Oswald. Its a win-win for all parties.

Oswald said the city is confident it can showcase Carlinville in 2026 for the 100th anniversary of Route 66.

Carlinville Chamber of Commerce President Tim Rhodus said the additional funding provides "a fantastic opportunity" for local businesses to give their buildings a facelift.

"It may seem like a long way off right now, but the Chamber of Commerce and the city are already preparing for what will be a busy year in 2026 due to it being the 100th anniversary of Route 66, Rhodus said.

The Facade Grant Program filing period is March 1 through April 1; applications will be available at Carlinville City Hall and on the city's website and Facebook page starting Feb. 1.
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WOOD RIVER  Illinois State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting early Tuesday morning in Wood River.

At about 2:07 a.m. Tuesday police from Wood River and East Alton responded to a report of a man with a gun at Moe's Corner/VP Racing Fuels at 851 N. Wood River Ave. in Wood River.

According to state police, when officers arrived the suspect, Tyler M. Marler, 31, of East St. Louis, pointed a black metal BB pistol at them. Officers fired at and struck the suspect.

The man was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. No officers were injured in the incident.

The Wood River Police Department has requested the Illinois State Police Zone 6 Major Crimes Unit to investigate the incident.

No further information was available Tuesday.
On Friday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a federal court issued a decision in favor of Raoul and a group of six states and the Federal Trade Commission, finding that former Vyera Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli violated state and federal laws by engaging in illegal anticompetitive conduct to maintain inflated monopoly prices it charged for the lifesaving drug Daraprim (pyrimethamine).

The court's decision bans Shkreli from participating in the pharmaceutical industry for life and requires him to pay $65 million in remedy.

"This decision should send a message to pharmaceutical companies that illegal anticompetitive practices will not be tolerated," Raoul said in a statement. "If anything, the current pandemic has demonstrated the critical need for equitable access to health care, and I will continue to hold companies accountable for stifling competition and forcing residents to choose between lifesaving medications and other necessities."

Raoul and the coalition filed a lawsuit in 2020 against Vyera, its parent Phoenixus AG, and two of its former CEOs  Shkreli and Kevin Mulleady  alleging the defendants executed an elaborate scheme for stifling competition to protect the monopolistic pricing of the drug Daraprim, which is used to treat the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis in at-risk patients.

Raoul alleged that Shkreli and Vyera raised the price of the drug overnight, from $17.50 to $750 per pill, after they purchased the rights to Daraprim in August 2015, and then engaged in illegal conduct to continue selling Daraprim at that inflated price.

Daraprim, until recently, was the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that may pose serious and often life-threatening consequences for those with compromised immune systems, including babies born to women infected with the disease, cancer patients and individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Daraprim is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the HIV Medicine Association and the Infectious Diseases Society of America as the initial therapy of choice for acute toxoplasmosis. Nevertheless, and despite being unpatented, a generic version of Daraprim was not permitted to be sold in the U.S. until March 2020  after the lawsuit was filed.

Daraprim was cheap and accessible for decades, Raoul said. However, in August 2015, Vyera purchased the drug and increased its price by over 4,000%. Vyera, under Shkrelis control, then altered its distribution and engaged in other conduct to delay and impede generic competition. The high price and distribution changes limited access to the drug, forcing many patients and physicians to make difficult and risky decisions for the treatment of life-threatening diseases.

The illegal scheme developed and perpetrated by Shkreli involved restrictive distribution and supply agreements, as well as data secrecy, with the intent and effect of delaying entry by lower-cost generic competitors, the coalition said.

During a seven-day trial last month in a Manhattan federal court, current and former Vyera employees, generic drug manufacturers and experts provided testimony concerning the purpose and effects of Vyeras and Shkrelis anticompetitive scheme.

The courts decision and order issued largely agree with the states and FTC, and provided relief sought  finding Shkreli liable on each of the claims presented. Shkreli has been banned for life from participating in the pharmaceutical industry in any capacity, and is ordered to pay the plaintiff states $64.6 million in disgorgement. In addition, Martin Shkreli was sentenced in 2018 to seven years in prison based on securities fraud charges, and he is currently imprisoned in a federal facility.



Joining Raoul in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as the Federal Trade Commission.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Madison County grand jury has issued indictments against seven people.

Corrionte A. Cotton, 26, of Alton, was indicted Jan. 13 on two counts of aggravated domestic battery, and aggravated battery, all Class 2 felonies.

The case was originally presented by the Alton Police Department.

According to court documents, on Jan. 2 Cotton allegedly strangled a household or family member, then allegedly strangled the same victim again Jan. 4. On that day Cotton allegedly also kicked an Alton police officer in the face, chest and legs.

In a separate incident, Michael A. Proffer, 23, of Bethalto, was indicted for aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony; aggravated assault to a police officer, a Class 4 felony; and animal cruelty, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was originally presented by the Bethalto Police Department.

According to court documents and statements by the police department, on Dec. 21 a 911 call was made regarding a domestic incident at Proffers home. Proffer allegedly strangled a family or household member and cruelly treated a 7-week-old Parsons Russell Terrier by kicking the dogs carrier and swinging it around with the animal inside.

When police arrived, Proffer allegedly approached officers with a police style expandable baton. At that time officers disengaged and called for additional units.

Proffer was ultimately taken into custody. Officers from the Madison County Sheriffs Department; and the East Alton, South Roxana, Hartford and Wood River police departments assisted in the investigation.

Other indictments include:

 Shannon L. Musgraves, 44, of Wood River, was indicted for aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and two counts of domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was originally presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents, on Dec. 15 allegedly struck a six-month-old boy, described in filings as a family or household member, causing bruising and abrasions to the infants head and torso. Musgraves allegedly struck the infant in the head with a ball. Musgraves has a felony conviction for first degree murder out of Madison County in 1994 and domestic battery out of Morgan County in 2013. Musgraves pleaded guilty in 1993 to first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of his father, Hollis Musgraves, an Alton city employee, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In 1993, when the shooting occurred, Illinois law allowed a day off the sentence for each good day served.

 Kristopher A. Blassingame Sr., 22, of Edwardsville, was indicted for aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was originally presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on April 16 Blassingame allegedly struck a household or family member with his fists and feet, causing her to suffer a fractured wrist.

 Federico V. Ramirez, 61, of Bensenville, was indicted for aggravated driving under the influence, a Class X felony, and driving while license revoked, a Class 4 felony. The case was originally presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Dec. 23 Ramirez allegedly was driving 2009 Honda Accord on North Bluff Road, Collinsville, while under the influence of alcohol with a concentration of greater than .16. His drivers license had been revoked due to a prior conviction for DUI. He has prior convictions for DUI from 1982, 1987, 1996, 1998 and 2017, as well as convictions for driving while license revoked from 1995, 1998, and 2017.

 James R. Smith, 52, of East Alton, and Stacey M. Baldwin, 46, of Wood River, were both indicted as a result of an April 9 police raid at Baldwins home. Smith was indicted for with aggravated unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class 1 felony; Baldwin for unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was originally presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents and Wood River Police Department Facebook posts, on April 9 a raid was conducted on the house after an investigation by the departments drug unit. Smith allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Baldwin and another person not named in the indictment were found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine.
SPRINGFIELD  Republicans in the Illinois Senate have again introduced a package of proposed constitutional amendments that they argue would give voters more of a direct say in the legislative process.

We're reintroducing these constitutional amendments in order to really put the people back in charge again, Senate GOP Leader Dan McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods, said during a virtual news conference Tuesday.

The package includes a renewed call for an independent redistricting commission. Other amendments would give voters greater power to amend the Illinois Constitution, as well as the power to repeal legislation and the power to recall elected officials at all levels of government.

Specifically, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 13 would remove the current requirement that each Senate district be divided into two House districts and would incorporate provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 into the constitution while requiring that districts be compact and contiguous.

It would also establish a 17-member Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw legislative and congressional district lines starting in 2023. The commission members would be drawn from each of the states 17 congressional districts and would be made up of seven Democrats, seven Republicans and three unaffiliated voters.

SJRCA 14 would expand the ability of voters to amend the constitution by initiative, by deleting current language that limits such amendments to structural and procedural subjects while adding language that would prohibit initiative amendments from altering the Bill of Rights.

In 2016, a sharply-divided Illinois Supreme Court blocked a proposed amendment calling for independent redistricting from going on the ballot, ruling that it changed some of the duties of constitutional officers and therefore went beyond structural and procedural subjects.

SJRCA 15 would give voters authority to repeal legislation by referendum. Voters could call for a referendum on any public act, except appropriations measures, by gathering a number of petition signatures equal to 5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election. Today, that threshold would be 227,383 signatures.

And SJRCA 16 would expand the authority to recall elected officials, which is currently limited to the governor. It would allow for the recall of all constitutional officers, state lawmakers, the auditor general and local elected officials. It would also allow voters statewide to remove a speaker of the House or president of the Senate from those posts.

Over the past year, we've seen the majority party use its supermajorities in the General Assembly, not only to push through controversial and extremely partisan legislation, but sometimes do it with little or no notice, and sometimes to do it in the middle of the night when nobody, including the members that are voting on it on the floor, have any idea what's actually in the legislation, McConchie said.

Many other states allow for initiatives, referenda and recall petitions. They were especially popular during the Progressive Era of the early 20th Century as a way to combat political corruption. But in more modern times, and with the advent of professional signature gathering firms, they have been criticized for giving special interest groups too much ability to bypass the legislative process to push their own agendas.

McConchie, however, said the GOPs proposals for Illinois do not go as far as some other states.

We've tried to model this on the way other states have done it successfully, he said. For example, in the ability to amend the state constitution, we didn't go as far as California has, which certainly you could argue has special interests dominate the putting of constitutional amendments on the ballot. We didn't go that far. We didn't make it quite as open as that.

McConchie also noted that many Democrats, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, have supported an independent redistricting commission, although they did not consider one in the most recent redistricting cycle. And it remained unclear Tuesday whether Democrats would consider any of the GOPs proposals this year.

Im sure they will get the appropriate, thorough review, John Patterson, a spokesman for Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said in an email.
I called the bank last week to inquire about a check I had written.

When I asked the person on the phone if he could look it up on his system, he read back the correct amount of the check. But I had several checks written for similar amounts, so I double checked by asking him who the check was made out to.

The young man said he had never been taught to read cursive. So, he couldn't tell me.

I was completely flummoxed.

Ive been writing and reading cursive since I was 8. I thought perhaps this twenty-something is just an outlier. Then I inquired of friends and was told that no this is a common predicament.

A friend who teaches high school in LaSalle County said she often has to read aloud her comments written on students papers because they cant read cursive.

My cousin, Steve, took a test at work and had it handed back to him because the millennial administering the test only knew how to read block letters.

In a world increasingly consisting of typed electronic communication, it seems young professionals are seeing fewer loops and curly cues on their letters.

My three daughters ages 11 to 16 were taught cursive and can read it well. But a school secretary said sometimes other students will bring her lists of spelling words written by a parent and ask for her to translate them into block letters.

I understand language evolves.

But there is something sad about a youngster being unable to read a birthday card from Grandma or the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jeffersons hand.

What kind of school system doesn't teach basic penmanship?

Well, back in 2017, an Illinois state representative by the name of Chris Welch, D-Hillside, successfully sponsored legislation to require Illinois schools to teach cursive. Today, Welch is speaker of the House and even his webpage has his name in script.

There is something evocative about seeing someones handwriting. After all, every signature is distinctive and says a little bit about the person who penned it.

I was thinking about this awhile back when I was opening up a road atlas in my truck and two loose sheets of paper fell out with my fathers handwriting scrawled across them. Dad has been gone seven years now, but seeing his handwriting brought tears to my eyes.

The sheets of paper were just directions he had written on how to get from one place to another. But to me they were a roadmap back in time.

There was nothing pretty or neat about my Dads script. It scrawled across the page without any uniformity. It reflected his personality. Always thinking big, leaving the details to figure out later. (My mother insisted that my father and I had nearly identical handwriting.)

On the other hand, I came across an envelope in my desk drawer with my name written in my mothers hand. The script is precise, flawless. I imagined when she was a nurse, doctors enjoyed reading her charts in her ever-perfect handwriting.

Stuck in the envelope was a $2 bill issued in 1976 on the day the U.S. government allowed the note to first be circulated. I was 11 at the time. I remember my mom getting the $2 bill at the bank and then sticking it in an envelope for safekeeping until I was older and could appreciate it.

Today, I treasure the envelope with my name in her hand, far more than the unique greenback inside.

Some see cursive as an obsolete form of communication. I see it as a language linking the present with the past.

My college professors wrote in cursive on blackboards. I can still picture some of the wisdom they shared in their distinctive handwriting.

I love to thumb through the family Bibles I inherited from my parents and grandparents and see their distinctive handwriting in the margins. Theyre like inadvertent messages to future generations of what deep thoughts they pondered as they read scripture.

So, is there a future for cursive? I really cant tell you. But it seems to be viewed as an anachronism by younger generations.

If nothing else, someday in the distant future in nursing homes well be able to pass notes among ourselves without worrying about the staff having any idea what we are saying. It will be like reading hieroglyphics from another era.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 48F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 48F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Few parents would be suspicious of a text message from their son or daughter saying they had broken their phone and was using a temporary number. Especially, perhaps, if it was signed with their name, kisses and even a love heart emoji.

But many families have found the seemingly innocent message is, in fact, the start of a cynical scam that can leave them thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Known as the 'mum and dad' or 'friend in need' con, fraudsters impersonate their victims' loved ones via the text messaging service WhatsApp.

Ex-headmistress Elizabeth Baker - who lives with retired church minister Hugh (pictured) - came close to losing more than 500 after a scammer pretended to be her daughter

They claim to be in distress and in urgent need of cash in the hope worried relatives will hand over money without thinking twice.

Santander reported a 532 per cent surge in the new scam between August and November last year.

Nearly two-thirds of the crooks were impersonating someone's son, while 33 per cent pretended to be their daughter.

Data from Action Fraud reveals victims lost nearly 50,000 between August and October last year; some victims are out of pocket by up to 3,000 each, says the fraud reporting body.

One family, which wishes to remain anonymous, was tricked out of 1,500.

Scammers contacted the father posing as his daughter, claiming she had visited a private clinic for emergency medical treatment and that a doctor was pestering her to settle the bill.

Over the course of two days, the fraudsters sent a total of 56 messages asking for help, until her worried father asked her grandparents to send the money.

It was only when the family finally reached her on the phone the following day that they realised he had been duped.

A conman tricked Cally Beaton's father out of 1,800

The grandfather, 75, says: 'My granddaughter has a very unusual spelling of her name. So when the text came up, we didn't think for a second it could be anybody else.

'My son rang me in a panic saying she desperately needed the money, so we said we'd make the transfer.

'Once you realise it's a scam, you feel like a fool. It's horrible.'

His bank has since refunded the money.

Elizabeth Baker, 70, came close to losing more than 500 after a scammer pretended to be her daughter Katrina.

The grandmother-of-three was on holiday in Eastbourne when she received a WhatsApp message.

'Hi Mum, I dropped my phone down the toilet, so I can't use it anymore,' it read.

At first the retired prep school head advised her to pop her phone into a box of rice to dry it out, but then the scammer began asking her for cash.

Elizabeth says: 'The message said it was for an urgent bill which needed to be paid by tomorrow and sent me the bank details to transfer the money.'

She became suspicious and rang Katrina's partner, who confirmed that her daughter's phone was fine.

Elizabeth, who lives with retired church minister Hugh, in Tamworth, Staffordshire, says: 'Those messages could easily have come from my daughter. It just shows how all of us are vulnerable to these scams.'

That vulnerability, heightened by the pandemic, almost caught out Cally Beaton's father: he nearly lost 1,800 to a WhatsApp scammer pretending to be one of his children.

The retired teacher, who did not want to be named, received a message addressing him as 'Dad' last week. The sender claimed they were contacting him from a new number after breaking their old phone.

Cally, 52, says: 'They signed the message off with an 'x' and my father assumed it was my brother. It was so sad, because he was really pleased to hear from my brother and was asking how he was.'

The scammer then told her dad they had not checked their email for a while and needed to borrow 1,800 to pay a bill.

However, when Cally's father tried to transfer the money through his online account, the bank halted the payment and requested a call to authorise it.

Luckily, the pensioner went on to call Cally before he did anything else, and she told her father it was a scam. Cally, a comedian from Camden, North London, says: 'I was furious to think that people would exploit parents who just wanted to talk to their children during the pandemic.'

Money Mail also spoke to a woman, 66, who paid 814 to a scammer posing as her son. She says he had been struggling financially due to the pandemic  which made the requests for money all the more believable.

In text messages, the scammer begged: 'I need to pay the bills now otherwise the amount will be increased,' and 'Oh no I can't wait.'

Known as the 'friend in need' con, fraudsters impersonate their victims' loved ones via the text messaging service WhatsApp

When she later queried with her bank where the payment had gone, she was told it had been paid into an account with Prepaid Financial Services (owned by Australian fintech firm EML Payments).

The firm's Trustpilot review webpage is littered with complaints that the service is linked to sort codes given out by WhatsApp scammers.

One reads: 'I was scammed by a WhatsApp message starting 'hi mum' as the other reviews. I was at work at the time and unfortunately fell for it, losing 945 into two accounts with this bank's sort code.'

In September 2019, the firm was fined 1 million by the French banking regulator for lapses in its anti-money laundering controls, including failures to report suspicious card activity to the authorities.

And in May last year, the Central Bank of Ireland launched an investigation into compliance issues at the firm that has now

been rebranded as EML Cardholder Portal. Although the firm itself was not being accused of fraud, as the conduit company, it was accused of not making sufficient checks on where the money was going.

The Central Bank of Ireland has since given EML's Irish subsidiary the green light to sign up new customers and launch new programmes.'

Fraud reports have rocketed over the past two years, with crooks exploiting the pandemic to prey on vulnerable households.

Victims lost 4 million a day in the first six months of 2021, a 30 pc increase in losses compared to the same period in 2020. Many were targeted by criminals impersonating trusted organisations such as Royal Mail and HMRC.

And this latest trick reveals just how sophisticated fraudsters have become.

Nearly two-thirds of the crooks were impersonating someone's son, while 33% pretended to be their daughter

Fraud experts at Individual Protection Solutions (IPS) believe victims' personal details are sold and bought by scammers online.

The firm estimates that 71 per cent of Britons have had details from at least one of their online accounts leaked on the dark web.

Charlie Shakeshaft, founder of IPS, advises: 'This scam is becoming more and more widespread because it works.

If you feel rushed by a sender, this is a tell-tale sign it is a scam. Take your time, and make sure you hear from the family member or friend directly using another channel. A phone call is ideal as you can recognise their voice.'

WhatsApp is now working with National Trading Standards on its Friends Against Scams campaign to stamp out the con.

Kathryn Harnett, policy manager at WhatsApp, says: 'If you receive a suspicious message, calling or requiring a voice note is the fastest and simplest way to check someone is who they say they are.'

An EML spokesman says: 'As a company providing financial services in the UK, we comply with all relevant regulatory requirements, including our obligations regarding customer due diligence and transaction monitoring.

'As a business, we invest heavily in best-in-class fraud monitoring technology.'

A Financial Conduct Authority spokesman says: 'If people suspect, or fall victim to, payment fraud, we urge them to report this to their bank and Action Fraud.

We will assess the intelligence we receive and take action if we're concerned firms are not effectively guarding against financial crime.'
As households brace for a huge rise in energy bills, many will be counting on their supplier to give them some breathing space.

But Money Mail has found that, instead, power firms are unleashing debt collectors over bills which have often been issued in error.

Customers of one firm have had unexpected demands after the supplier sold debts to a third party.

The debt-purchasing company is represented by a law firm which two watchdogs have received complaints about.

Shock tactics: Power firms are instead unleashing heavy-handed debt collectors over bills that have often been issued in error

Some debt collectors offer large discounts if households agree to pay up quickly.

But experts say this could lead to customers handing over cash without first ensuring the demands are correct, for fear any delay could result in a bigger bill  and complaints about inaccurate bills are at a record high.

Last month, energy watchdog Ofgem was forced to intervene after bailiffs acting for Scottish Power were filmed breaking into a woman's flat to collect cash she did not even owe.

Most suppliers paused debt collection at the height of the pandemic in 2020  but that reprieve has ended.

Experts fear incorrect demands will pile anxiety on to customers already worried about soaring energy costs  the average annual bill is set to hit 2,000 in April.

They say firms facing cash-flow problems may ramp up debt collection.

Jules James, 56, is being hounded for 6,306 by EDF Energy  despite never being a customer. She has had three letters from debt collector LCS.

It claims the eye-watering sum covers two-weeks in August for a two-bed flat she rents out but never occupied.

She sent proof he did not live at the property at the time and was with another supplier. But this was dismissed as 'not relevant'.

One letter threatened legal action, saying this could 'hinder your ability to obtain future credit or a mortgage' if successful, and added 'litigation costs are usually paid by the debtor'.

LCS later sent an 'offer of settlement', and a 25 per cent discount if the debt was paid in ten days.

Jules, who runs a branding agency, says: 'It is bullying and it is harassment.'

The average annual bill now expected to hit 2,000 in April with many concerned about costs

Retired local government officer Neil Hayward was also chased by LCS for 463. He sent proof he did not live at the property at the time and was with another supplier. But this was dismissed as 'not relevant'.

LCS also asked Neil, 57, for details of the people who sold him the home, but he refused. The matter was resolved when Neil complained to EDF and LCS. He was offered 300 as a goodwill gesture.

He says: 'How many people just pay to get these firms off their backs?'

Last month, specialist debt collection law firm BW Legal sent out letters claiming households had outstanding debts with Eon dating back years.

Yet comments posted on review website Trustpilot suggest many had settled their balance or were never with Eon.

Watchdogs the Information Commissioner's Office and Solicitors Regulation Authority are making enquiries after receiving complaints about the firm' .

One reader says he opened an envelope with three letters from Eon, debt collection agency PRAC Financial and BW Legal claiming that he owed 109.45.

Addressed to 'the occupier' it referred to a debt accrued between July 2017 and January 2018. He was offered 65 per cent off, reducing the debt to 38.31, if paid within a month.

Experts are concerned that incorrect demands will be particularly upsetting for households already anxious about the soaring cost of energy

But the telecoms engineer, 35, says he had settled his balance after switching supplier almost six months ago.

In some cases, debt collectors are doorstepping customers without warning.

Last summer, Eon representatives turned up twice at a 93-year-old widow's house claiming she owed 1,120, plus 55 for the collection.

Despite proving she had paid her bills she was threatened with legal action leaving her panicked and distressed. Eon eventually admitted the bill was an error.

Martyn James, of complaints site Resolver, says: 'Energy firms are deeply concerned about rising prices. In the absence of any meaningful solution from the Government, it's likely some of them will look at other ways they can recoup their losses.'

Jane Tully, of Money Advice Trust, says: 'Poor debt collection practices can harm people's financial and mental wellbeing. There is no place for intimidating and threatening language.'

An Ofgem spokesman says: 'We are reviewing how suppliers provide assistance to customers in debt or payment difficulty.'

Eon says that it legitimately gave property details to BW Legal.

BW Legal says its clients identify the persons responsible for debts it has bought. It says its letters explain that if recipients believe they are not responsible 'they simply need to contact us and we will resolve this'.

BW Legal questions the credibility of the Trustpilot reviews and says it works proactively with customers who raise concerns.

A spokesman adds that the letters are 'not intimidating'.

EDF Energy says it contacted Jules as the leaseholder and is trying to discover who was responsible for the bills.

It admits Neil was contacted by mistake by LCS after it passed on the address.

Scottish Power says it paid compensation after the bailiff broke into the female customer's home.

a.murray@dailymail.co.uk
The boss of the world's largest money manager has insisted it is not 'woke' to go green and to care about more than just profit.

In his annual letter to the chief executives of companies he invests in, Blackrock founder Larry Fink defended a focus on the environment, sustainability and other issues.

Urging them to embrace a green agenda, he said: 'Stakeholder capitalism is not about politics.

Winds of change: Larry Fink is the founder of Blackrock, which manages 7.5trillion of asset

'It is not a social or ideological agenda. It is not woke. It is capitalism, driven by mutually beneficial relationships between you and the employees, customers, suppliers, and communities your company relies on to prosper. This is the power of capitalism.'

Insisting the 'fair pursuit of profit' and 'long-term profitability' was key to success, he said firms must also 'create value for and be valued by' society as well as shareholders.

'We focus on sustainability not because we're environmentalists, but because we are capitalists,' added Fink, whose own fortune is valued at 800million.

His annual 'Dear CEO' missive regularly causes a stir and his comments come just a week after fund manager Terry Smith attacked Unilever, saying it had 'lost the plot' and was 'obsessed with publicly displaying sustainability credentials at the expense of focusing on the fundamentals of the business'.

Fink also used this year's letter  entitled The Power of Capitalism  to warn that firms rolling back flexible working 'do so at their peril'.

'Companies expected workers to come to the office five days a week. Mental health was rarely discussed in the workplace. And wages for those on low and middle incomes barely grew.

'That world is gone,' he said of life before the pandemic. 'Companies not adjusting to this new reality and responding to their workers do so at their own peril.'

Blackrock manages 7.5trillion of savers' cash in a host of funds and has huge influence over the companies in which it holds stakes.

Rather than selling out from carbon-intensive firms, Blackrock prefers to remain an investor and persuade them to change their ways.

Green future: Rather than selling out from carbon intensive companies, Blackrock instead prefers to remain an investor and persuade companies to change their ways

But the money manager has come up against stiff opposition for its agenda which focuses on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

Critics have accused Blackrock and Fink himself of 'woke posturing' and behaving like an 'activist' investor.

Neil Wilson, an analyst at Markets in the City, said: 'Chief executives privately complain of the pious brigade that ignore the messy realities of life and doing business.'

The US state of West Virginia this week said it would no longer use a Blackrock fund because of the damage it was doing to the economy.

The fund was pushing companies in West Virginia to embrace net zero investment strategies that would have harmed the state's industry.

West Virginia is known for its heavy industry, in particular its chemical and coal firms. It is the second largest coal producer in the US and ranks fifth in total energy production.

West Virginia state treasurer Riley Moore said: 'I have a duty to ensure that taxpayer dollars are managed in a responsible, financially sound fashion which reflects the best interests of our state and country, and I believe doing business with Blackrock runs contrary to that duty.

'Blackrock has urged companies to embrace net zero investment strategies that would harm the coal, oil and natural gas industries, while increasing investments in Chinese companies that subvert national interests and damage West Virginia's manufacturing base and job market.'
Oil majors Shell and BP hit fresh post-pandemic records as crude prices reached their highest levels in just over seven years.

Shell was up 1.5 per cent, or 28.4p, at 1873.8p while BP rose 0.5 per cent, or 2p, to 395.75p  their highest levels since February 2020.

The gains came as prices of Brent Crude passed $88 a barrel, for the first time since October 2014.

Price boost: Shell was up 1.5 per cent, or 28.4p, at 1873.8p while BP rose 0.5 per cent, or 2p, to 395.75p  their highest levels since February 2020.

Another oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, was also trading at around a seven-year high close to $86 a barrel.

The latest surge followed an attack by rebels in Yemen against the United Arab Emirates, which raised fears of supply disruption.

Tensions were increased further when neighbouring Saudi Arabia launched air raids in Yemen in retaliation.

Stock Watch - Sanderson Design Interior design group Sanderson surged to a three-month high as demand for its UK-made fabrics and wallpaper rose following Brexit and disruption to supply chains. It expects profits for the year to the end of January to be at least 12m, significantly ahead of expectations and up from 7.1m last year. The group also highlighted foreign success, with sales in North America up 40pc year-on-year, where it is enjoying very strong orders. Shares rose 21.9pc, or 33.5p, to 187p.

Brents rally means it has risen around 60 per cent in the last 12 months and over 350 per cent since April 2020, when its value plunged to just under $20 a barrel.

Some analysts, including Goldman Sachs, have predicted that the prices of oil could climb back to $100 a barrel this year as the perceived threat of Omicron diminishes, allowing the global economy to reopen and kick-start demand for fuel.

The worlds oil market is also facing a supply squeeze unless the OPEC+ group of oil-producing countries, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, decide to open the taps to meet demand at the risk of prices falling back again.

Political instability is adding upward pressure to oil prices, with the Yemen conflict and rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine worrying energy markets.

The FTSE 100 dropped 0.6 per cent, or 47.68 points, to 7563.55 while the FTSE 250 fell 1 per cent, or 218.93 points, to 22,652.71.

Markets in London were under pressure after rising to a two-year high on Monday, with some traders looking to take profits following the rally.

Miners also weighed on the index amid weaker commodity prices, with Russian group Evraz, which is part-owned by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, dropping 2.8 per cent, or 15.8p, to 557.2p while precious metals group Polymetal fell 1.9 per cent, or 21.5p, to 1132.5p.

GlaxoSmithKline shares fell 0.4 per cent, or 6.6p, to 1701.2p, as it emerged that it is in talks with the sovereign wealth funds of Qatar and Singapore to fend off Unilevers takeover efforts.

Cybersecurity group Darktrace inked a multi-million dollar deal to provide its artificial intelligence technology to one of the worlds largest airlines.

The airline, which operates around a thousand flights each day to over 100 destinations, will use Darktrace tech to protect the business from sophisticated threats. Darktrace rose 5 per cent, or 20.6p, to 433.8p.

Mid-cap oil and gas firm Energean jumped by 3.7 per cent, or 33.5p, to 949.5p after a record performance in 2021.

The firm noted that record gas prices in Italy, one of its key markets, and better than expected production helped lift its revenues to 364million, up from 247million in 2020.

Telecoms giant BT was up 3.1 per cent, or 5.55p, to 186.6p after analysts at Goldman Sachs added it to their conviction buy list and raised their target price on the stock to 270p from 180p.

Stock trading platform Plus 500 bounced up 2.3 per cent, or 32.5p, to 1470p after it was granted a tax cut by the Israeli government.

Its status as a preferred technological enterprise has been extended and as a result, its annual corporation tax rate will be lowered to 12 per cent from 23 per cent.

Retirement income and pension specialist Just Group surged 8.2 per cent, or 7.1p, to 93.3p after its sales jumped 25 per cent to 2.7billion during 2021.
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FILE - Respiratory therapist Frans Oudenaar, left, and registered nurse Bryan Hofilena cover a body of a COVID-19 patient with a sheet at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 2021. The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March.
Obstacles are Opportunities  When Garry plateaued as a CEO he didnt pout, he pivoted. When COVID hit 45 days after the doors opened to his new passion project, he didnt close the Kissaki, he brought Kissaki to everyone who wanted it.

Do it Yourself  As a president during the pandemic, Garry had to sadly let go of employees like many companies. With many contacts but lesser staff, Garry dug deep to figure out the to-go model, sourcing materials and even designing the packaging.

Do it for Others  While one can go at it alone, no one can do it alone. Quickly, Garry realized his 'why' was to see his family flourish, his company grow, and his customers enjoy Kissaki from home. Individual drive can only go the distance when the destination is for others to thrive.

***

Garry Kanfer is not afraid to hustle.

After arriving in America as an immigrant at the tender age of seven, Garry went from having enough to get by in the USSR to having nothing in the States.

Through a relentless drive, Garry grew Big Drop Inc, an award-winning web design firm that works with numerous Fortune 500 companies. Serving as president and a self-made marketing guy, Garry has helped steer clients ranging from Samsung to Citibank.

For years, all was well for Garry as Big Drop was booming, providing his family with a life he could have only dreamed of as a kid. Then suddenly, the momentum slowed, and the passion began to pivot.

At one point, I kind of plateaued as a CEO of the agency, recalls Garry. I was looking for a challenge in my life and I got into the hospitality industry.

First considering a coffee shop, Garry and his team relentlessly researched the market. In short order, Garry grew to favor his passion for Omakase, opening Kissaki in the Lower East Side.

It was a success from the start, shares Garry. Then COVID happened.

With no online ordering or to-go model, Garry went from re-impassioned to repositioning.

In a world full of full-time restaurateurs having to figure out the pandemic, how could a newbie to the space possibly survive?

I consider myself a pro at user experience online, Garry smiles.

Having little to no experience in the restaurant space but a wealth of knowledge in the digital realm, Garry quickly came to figure out that the only way to survive during the pandemic was to provide the same level of love, hospitality and product with Kissaki online as he had offered in person in the Lower East Side.

Swiftly, Garry began ordering boxes online to perfect packaging his Omakase, offering the same sentiment as the decor of his physical space. He sourced fish from Japan and made an online ordering experience that was easy to navigate and fulfilling.

You need to think about the person that's actually your target audience, notes Garry. The people that you're trying to deliver the product to. How are they looking at it? What are they supposed to feel? What's the competitive analysis?

By thinking holistically about customer experience, margins, market research and doing the hard work of figuring it all out, Garry was able to thrive through the pandemic even while operating in an industry he was completely new to.

This is an opportunity, says Garry on pivoting during the pandemic. We're delivering the restaurant; how can we give that same experience to someone at home? It takes a lot of hustle. I went to Alibaba and found packaging companies. I did all the logistics myself. I had no experience on how to get products from China or through customs. I figured out all the logistics and I designed the box.

In the end, it was the same hustle that sparked him to build an empire in marketing that inspired him to think on his feet and thrive in the food space.

The first day we opened to go, we had a line out the door, admits Garry.

From humble beginnings to plateaus to pivots, Garry is living proof that if you do the work and have the ambition any obstacle is an opportunity.

It's my drive, states Garry. Just thinking about the growth of the company, doing something good for this industry and seeing the growth of my family.

***

WHAT DID YOU LEARN from this interview? Let us know in the comments! https://restaurantinfluencers.media

EPISODE LINKS:

Big Drop Inc - https://www.bigdropinc.com/

Kissaki - https://explorekissaki.com/

Video: Preparing Takeout Omakase - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzhkSeA5qPw

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ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul's economic development budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars of funding for the state's 10 regional economic development councils.

The number allocated to the all-volunteer councils in Hochul's proposed budget is $225 million, which will be given to the councils for "high-value" regional economic development projects. The breakdown is $150 million for state grants and $75 million in tax breaks.

That $225 million is the same sum that was proposed a year ago by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who created the economic development councils a decade ago.

However, Hochul will also set aside $350 million for workforce development and $450 million for downtown revitalization in a budget plan designed to help New York state crawl out of the economic malaise caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

And the regional councils (also known as the REDCs) will start moving away from what's been criticized as a "Hunger Games"-style competition for additional millions by impressing the governor  as was done under Cuomo  and share more in state funding distributed by the state's economic development arm, Empire State Development.

"We are excited about Gov. Hochuls focus for improving and reinvigorating the REDC process as we continue to move away from the region-versus-region competition of the past," ESD spokeswoman Kristin Devoe told the Times Union. "As mentioned in the governors State of the State (address), focusing on workforce development and downtown and community development initiatives are a big priority and this new focus, as well as the continued effort to fund shovel-ready, regionally significant projects, will encourage more holistic involvement and collaboration among councils as well as a strong project pipeline.

Hochul's brief budget address Tuesday was designed to lay out how she will pay for many of the initiatives outlined in her State of the State address two weeks ago.

One of the most important parts of Hochul's State of the State was a pledge to fund infrastructure improvements such as business parks across upstate that are designed to host computer chip factories. Such sites need millions of gallons of water a day, and ample supplies of natural gas and electricity.

Hochul's budget address did not outline how much she intended to put toward chip manufacturing sites, such as the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County, where GlobalFoundries has its headquarters and Fab 8 computer chip plant.

The industry has been seeking to build new factories across the U.S. as Congress seeks to pass a $52 billion incentive package  the CHIPS Act  designed to help the U.S. regain chip manufacturing market share from China and Taiwan.

New York has already lost out on two chip "fabs" that have been proposed by Samsung and Intel, although officials at Empire State Development believe there are more opportunities to win.

GlobalFoundries has plans to build a second chip fab at Luther Forest. Although the project's design has yet to be submitted to officials in the towns of Malta and Stillwater, the company has been bullish about moving forward.

The state is also focused on attracting a $2 billion federal chip manufacturing research lab that would be located at Albany Nanotech, across the street from the state University at Albany.

Will Waldron/Times Union

The U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, is expected to come to Albany Nanotech soon to tour the facility to see if it would be an ideal location for the lab, which would be called the National Semiconductor Technology Center.
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ALBANY  I worry about cynicism. I worry that it and its closely related cousin, distrust, are consuming our minds and destroying our politics.

I worry about the role of people like me in deepening cynicism. I worry that the news media presents an overly negative view of the world. I worry that we're heading toward a quasi-nihilism marked by a complete lack of faith in, well, everything.

But then come the days when some revelation or another makes it obvious that much of our cynicism is entirely justified; when it becomes clear that the people who supposedly govern us believe they live above the rules; when it becomes clear that we're being played for suckers.

Here's one small example: On Friday night, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand went strolling into the Innovo Kitchen, a restaurant in Latham, without bothering to wear a mask.

That, obviously, was a violation of the pandemic rules put in place by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Yes, the rules for restaurants defy logic, resulting in a senseless blend of masked-while-standing customers alongside unmasked-while-seated diners, but they are the rules nevertheless, and we're all living under them as we wait and pray for this wave of the pandemic to subside.

But Gillibrand either was unaware of the masking requirement and missed the signs announcing it, both of which seem unlikely, or she thought the rule applied only to the plebes, exempting a VERY IMPORTANT PERSON such as herself.

Whatever the reason, the restaurant's owner, John LaPosta, was understandably and justifiably upset, given the hardship faced by restaurants and the people who work in them.

"Im angry for my staff, who are in masks eight or nine hours a day," LaPosta told my colleague Wendy Liberatore, after he posted an Instagram video of Gillibrand flouting the requirement. "Shes part of the system that puts the rules in place. Do you not lead by example?"

Nope! And Gillibrand is hardly alone. Hardly a day goes by without some politician or another exposed for violating pandemic rules and restrictions. Some have expressed subsequent contrition  "I will do better going forward," Gillibrand said in a statement  while others have come up with cockamamie justifications.

Either way, a result has been more cynicism  toward, among other things, pandemic rules and their motivations, the politicians themselves and the fundamental fairness of our democracy. It breeds the sense that an entitled and arrogant political class is living in a privileged world of its own making.

If only this were just a coronavirus phenomenon. It isn't.

Here's an example of significantly more importance: Last week we learned that outgoing SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras is set to receive $450,000 for a year of paid leave, followed by lifetime employment in the form of a tenured faculty position with a starting salary of $245,000.

That would be an insane golden parachute even if Malatras' resignation hadn't followed allegations that he abused employees while working in other SUNY positions and for Andrew Cuomo. "You're a misery," he said to a subordinate when he was head of SUNY's Rockefeller Institute. "You have a f__ing bad attitude on everything, lady."

The largesse would likewise be outrageous even if Malatras had not been spectacularly unqualified for the job from the get-go, with his most significant experience being his relationship with the former governor. Malatras, you'll remember, was installed in the job without a national search for a more suitable candidate.

How could the SUNY Board of Trustees have signed off on such gluttony? How is a parent or student struggling with college costs supposed to feel about that contract? How can its details not breed a seething cynicism?

Consider that 63 percent of SUNY's four-year students leave school with a debt burden that averages $27,000. Meanwhile, a politically connected chancellor who served for just over a year is primed to receive millions upon millions from New York taxpayers.

That is the very definition of a broken system, and it's made more bitterly ironic because Malatras and Cuomo were headliners in a Democratic Party that claims to care about the poor. Too many of its members lecture about equity as they fatten themselves at the trough.

Republicans in leadership positions offer their own manipulations and distortions, of course, and so our gloomy view of government darkens. We distrust and dislike the people in power because they have so often shown us that they live under different rules.

Is that too cynical? Maybe. But it's also reality.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
COEYMANS  Town Supervisor George D. McHugh wrote a letter to a federal judge seeking leniency for William Tryon, a local farmer who pleaded guilty to taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.

In a Dec. 14 letter to Senior U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington, D.C., McHugh touted Tryons respect for the rule of law and asked for a non-jail sentence. McHugh wrote it on his law firm stationery.

"I respectfully request that your Honor please take all of this into consideration when sentencing my friend Bill Tryon, and I hope you find it in your judgment to sentence him to a punishment that is commensurate with his actions of that fateful day, absent a period of incarceration," McHugh, a retired Army colonel and former military judge, wrote the judge.

McHugh referenced his position as Coeymans supervisor, telling the judge he has worked closely with Tryon on various issues and community projects.

It was among 78 letters from friends, relatives and supporters  including Lewis County Sheriff Michael Carpinelli that was written to the judge attesting to the good character of Tryon, who pleaded guilty in October to entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a federal misdemeanor.

Among the others writing letters on behalf of Tryon were Tryon's son-in-law, Adalberto Gonzalez, a member of the town planning board; former town board member Kenneth A. Burns Sr.; Lisa DeGroff, chairwoman of the Westerlo Republican Committee and Westerlo town council member Amie Burnside.

"I would lay down my own life for him or anyone in his family ... they are the most loving of others, our country and god," Burnside stated. "Please consider he is not a danger to anyone. Bill is simply just as frustrated just as the rest of the country."

The judge sentenced Tryon, 71, to 50 days in jail at the defendants virtual appearance Friday. He imposed a $1,000 fine and ordered $500 in restitution. His attorney, Joel Abelove, the former Rensselaer County district attorney, sought a non-jail term.

Tryon is one of more than 700 people arrested in the riots, which took place as hardcore backers of then-President Donald Trump railed against the congressional certification of Trump's election defeat to now-President Joe Biden. More than 140 police officers were assaulted in the riots. McHugh praised Tryon as a person who "has always treated our first responders, law enforcement, and our military service members with the utmost respect and held them in the highest regard."

Tryon, who created of a group he dubbed the "Liberty Bell Alliance 76, called for "modern day minutemen and women to defend America from ungodly socialist forces that would destroy it from within, and enslave our posterity!"

Tryon's presence in the Capitol was on video. McHugh, an attorney since 1998, was aware that he was writing a letter for a person who pleaded guilty. Still, he appeared to downplay his awareness of Tryon's admitted criminal conduct. For instance, McHugh told the judge he was "aware of the accusations and charges levied against Bill" and was "completely taken back by what has been stated he did." He also referred to Tryon's admitted conduct as "allegations."

Tryon pleaded guilty two months before McHugh wrote his letter to the judge.

I would not write a character letter for someone involved in these incidents unless I was very confident that I knew that person well, McHugh told the judge. In this case, I have no doubt about the character of Bill Tryon. Bill's attitude and behavior towards his fellow citizens has always been respectful, professional and kind, and Bill has always shown the deepest respect for the rule of law."

McHugh continued: Having known Bill for over 10 years, I find the accusations against him difficult to believe. However, assuming the allegations have merit, I trust this was an isolated lapse in judgment, and that he got caught up in the moment. I further believe that Bill sincerely and deeply regrets his role in the events of that terrible day.

Several months earlier, in August 2020, Tryon was a guest on the Long Island-based March for Life New York Radio, a pro-life show on YouTube. On the show, Tryon said he has held "freedom fests" at his farm and at Camp Pinnacle in Voorheesville over the years. And he said he called for people to stand up against "tyrants."

"If you want to see your children inherit a free and prosperous nation, you are out of options," Tryon told the hosts. "The hour is very, very late and the tyrants in their ivory towers have unleashed their minions upon the streets of America. Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country."

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Tryon said: "Who are the modern day minutemen? Who are the counterparts that would have played that part back in 1776? Somebody's got to do it."

On Jan. 6, 2021, federal prosecutors told the judge, Tryon disregarded law enforcement officers at the Capitol, illegally gained entry and encouraged other rioters. They said, who was pepper-sprayed at one point, Tryon stood atop a vehicle with a microphone and chanting the lyrics of Were Not Gonna Take It by the metal band, Twisted Sister.

This is our Capitol Building. All we want to do is enter and tell our representatives that we want our country back. Were not going to

take this," Tryon said on the video. This was nothing so far. This is our freedom.

In a memo to the judge, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Eve said it was not until Tryon was interviewed by a probation officer conducting a pre-sentencing report that he expressed remorse.

"It is only when the consequences of his actions have caught up to him that he is showing any regret," she stated, "But, there have to be consequences, rather than a mere slap on the wrist."

McHugh did not return an email and call for comment.
SCHENECTADY  One year, three months and 18 days.

Thats how long Agnes John has been waiting to evict her tenant for failing to pay back rent during the pandemic.

John went to Schenectady City Court on Tuesday, days after New York's eviction moratorium lifted over the weekend.

Dozens showed up well before the 9 a.m. start time.

But instead of receiving a firm timeline for when the court would commence eviction proceedings, a vaguely-worded letter generated more confusion: Responders were instructed by bailiffs to go to another window for a new court date.

Angry landlords buzzed in the hallways.

Its a [mess], said Matt Lyman, owner of a Schenectady-based firm specializing in tenant-landlord mitigation issues. Lyman used a more colorful phrase to describe the situation

City Court officials said 289 cases awaited scheduling as of mid-morning Tuesday. New "control dates," or when both parties are required to appear in court, will be booked starting in March and extending into April.

Traffic moved steadily between the windows as bailiffs explained over and over again that the letter was informing them to simply to show up and that there would not be an actual proceeding. Most people on line declined to say if they were renters and few would talk on the record. A half-dozen people who told court bailiffs they were tenants declined to speak with a reporter.

For landlords, relief has been elusive.

Ive had landlords who came into my office contemplating suicide, said Lyman, who owns Ideal Legal Support Services. "And Ive talked them out of it.

Lyman said landlords arent seeing funds trickle back into their coffers from the states emergency rental assistance program (ERAP) fast enough to stave off financial ruin.

Another landlord, who declined to give her name, said she was unable to access the states Landlord Rental Assistance Program, which was created to help landlords whose tenants left instead of paying back rent, as well those who refused to participate in ERAP.

There was no help given to small-time landlords and it broke us," said the landlord, who said she's owed $1,300 from a dispute stretching back before the pandemic.

New York has spent about half of its $2.4 billion federal funding allocation for emergency rent relief, according to the Associated Press. Much of the remainder has yet to reach landlords because, according to the state, it's having trouble contacting landlords and tenants, the AP reported.

Gov. Kathy Hochul last week said New York would join other states in requesting additional federal aid to help clear the $1 billion backlog sought by tenants and landlords.

The state received just $27 million in federal hunds after a State Supreme Court issued a preliminary injunction ordering the state to reopen its application portal for rent relief.

Twenty-seven million will be gone in a minute, Lyman said, who cycled through a list of grievances commonly vocalized by landlords since the state issued its initial 90-day moratorium in March 2020:

Tenants are refusing to settle debts, Lyman said. Theyre allegedly damaging property and declined to use stimulus funds and other government incentives to chip away at overdue rent.

John, the landlord, said she couldnt be happier that the moratorium ended on Saturday.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

I met everyone in the system and they really cant help, John said. Theyre damaging my property night and day, day and night.

The moratorium staved off all evictions  not just those pandemic-related.

For four years, Patricia Powell never missed a rent payment for her home on Elmer Avenue in the citys Central State Street neighborhood, which she shared with her growing family.

But she got bounced when her landlord asked her to move out to make way for her ex-love interest, Powell said.

With a family of six  and a baby boy on the way  money was tight. Powell could not afford the rents at several of the citys new affordable housing complexes.

So Powell opted to withhold her rent and use it to find a new place to live.

Shes still taking me to court for $1,000, Powell said.

The number of evictions filed in Schenectady County have dramatically dropped amid the pandemic, from 2,226 in 2019, 904 the following year to 648 in 2021.

With court appearances delayed until at least March, tenants have another six-week window before the court machinery starts grinding. And since only judges can authorize eviction proceedings, tenants will not immediately be forced out of their homes.

The Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority told the Times Union last week theyre working with a local community action program that has made additional funds available to residents to prevent eviction.

Residents would likely not be removed from their homes before the end of June, said Executive Director Richard Homenick.
Jacom Stephens / Getty Image

ROME  A 72-year-old Schenectady woman driving the wrong way on an exit ramp Sunday collided with an oncoming car, leaving the other driver injured and a passenger dead, State Police said.

Marjorie E. Larrivey, an 88-year-old riding in the front seat of the car that was struck was was taken to Rome Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead, troopers said. The 55-year-old driver of the car was flown to upstate University Hospital in Syracuse where she was being treated for injuries troopers described Tuesday as non-life-threatening.
The debate over whether to grant farmworkers some of the basic rights most other American workers have long had  a 40-hour work week and overtime  usually turns into a rhetorical tapestry  pull one thread, and the whole food distribution system threatens to come undone.

Now along comes an idea from Gov. Kathy Hochul that could possibly address one of the most enduring concerns in this debate: Farmers say they simply cant afford it.

But what if they could?

Ms. Hochul in her State of the State proposals suggested a new tax credit for the overtime farms pay employees. She didnt explicitly say she favored a 40-hour work week for farmworkers, but the state has been considering it, and a tax credit could address concerns that farms would be hard pressed to pay for it.

Although the 40-hour week became the law of the land in 1940, farm workers have long been exempt under federal and most state laws. The exemption is widely regarded as racist, since farm labor is heavily minority  nearly 70 percent of the nonmanagerial, nonsupervisory labor force, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Most are Hispanic, mainly from Mexico.

A few states have standardized work days and weeks and overtime requirements for farm workers. Californias eight-hour day, 40-hour week for farms took effect this year except for farms with fewer than 25 workers. Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington have work weeks between 48 and 60 hours for some or all agricultural workers.

New York in 2020 put a 60-hour week in place. The states Farm Laborers Wage Board is weighing whether to lower it to 40 hours.

As usual, this has become about more than worker equity and farm profits. Farmers say that many of them, especially on smaller farms, are struggling to survive, and that its the relatively few big processors and distributors that control the market and reap most of the profits.

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Indeed, its hard to see how something doesnt have to give if labor costs rise. If farms hire more workers to avoid overtime costs  if they can even find them, that is  individual workers will earn less. In a tight labor market, farmers could lose money  and possibly fail  or their prices would need to rise. To complicate things a bit more, its also worth noting that most farm labor in the U.S. is family labor  more than 2 million family workers compared with about 1.1 million hired hands.

And a tax credit is not a panacea. The Farm Bureau fears that it would be vulnerable to annual budget negotiations, and that farmers would have to front money they dont have. Farmworker advocates worry a subsidy would remove any incentive for farms to reduce long work weeks.

Such issues certainly need to be addressed. New York might force that discussion by phasing in the 40-hour week on a clear timetable as California did, or implementing the credit with a sunset date, allowing farms, and the market, time to adjust.

But this doesnt change the fundamental problem here: an enduring inequity between farmworkers and nearly everyone else in the U.S. workforce. It needs to end, and a properly structured tax credit could do just that in New York.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
While even some Conservative MPs regard the electoral fraud measures as misconceived, the Elections Bill does include measures to restrict foreign campaign funding. However, several opposition MPs suggested these did not go far enough.

Patel told MPs that such alerts would be more common in future, and "we are developing new national security legislation to make it even harder for states to conduct malign activity. We are also taking further steps to protect the integrity of our democracy by tackling electoral fraud and preventing foreign interference in elections through the Elections Bill."

Following last week's MI5 alert about an alleged Chinese interference operation at Westminster, Home Secretary Priti Patel made a statement to the Commons on Monday on foreign interference in British politics.

Responding for Labour, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said there had not been 'a proper response to the recommendations from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is chaired by the former MI5 head.'

When will there be a response to the Committees crucial recommendation on the funding of digital campaigns and to its important recommendation that more needs to be done on identifying the source of donations and the role of shell companies? Labour has tabled a common-sense amendment to the Elections Bill this very afternoon: new clause 9, which would close the loophole allowing foreign donors to hide behind shell companies. Will the Home Secretary now support that important amendment to ensure that donors to UK political parties have a connection to the UK?

The SNP's Stuart McDonald made a similar point:

the Home Secretary talked about making the rules around foreign money tougher. What about the millions of pounds of donations received by political parties, particularly the Conservative party, from unincorporated associationsa type of body that the Committee on Standards in Public Life warned was a route for foreign money to influence UK elections? Will that be stopped?

Given that last week's Chinese allegations focused on links to predominantly Labour MPs, it was striking that opposition MPs sounded rather more bullish than Patel. McDonald's comments suggest a perception that the Conservatives have their own vulnerabilities in relation to Russian money.

That is certainly the thrust of a Guardian opinion piece today by Labour MP Liam Byrne, citing a warning from think-tank Chatham House that 'Westminster  and the Conservative parliamentary party in particular  may be open to influence from wealthy donors who originate from post-Soviet kleptocracies, and who may retain fealty to these regimes.'

Byrne is one of a cross-party group of MPs calling for amendments to strengthen the regime on party funding, including new powers for the Electoral Commission to call in donations on national security grounds.

The government's response to such calls may be one index of the seriousness underlying the hardening rhetoric on Russia exemplified by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in his article on the MOD website today.
Violence continues to spike in our second favorite exurb . . .



To be fair, Raytown has had crime problems for decades but CUTTING 3 MILLION BUCKS from the police budget in 2017 hasn't helped.



Check the latest gunfire postscript . . .



"Police were called to the 8900 block of East 83rd Terrace on reports of shots fired at about 3:43 p.m. When they arrived on scene, they found a juvenile who had been shot. No additional victim information was immediately available."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Juvenile with non-life threatening injuries in weekend Raytown shooting RAYTOWN, Mo. - According to Raytown police, a juvenile is in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries following a shooting Sunday afternoon. Police were called to the 8900 block of East 83rd Terrace on reports of shots fired at about 3:43 p.m. When they arrived on scene, they found a juvenile who had been shot.

Minor injured in shooting in Raytown over the weekend RAYTOWN, MO (KCTV) -- A minor was injured in a shooting that happened in Raytown over the weekend. According to the police, it happened on Sunday around 3:45 p.m. Officers went to a residence in the 8900 block of E. 83rd Terrace after receiving a call about shots being fired in the area.

One Injured in Afternoon Shooting in Raytown By Capt. D. Harper Raytown, MO - On Sunday, 01-16-2022, at approximately 3:43 p.m., Raytown police officers were called to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 8900 block of East 83 Terrace. Officers arrived at that location and found a juvenile who had been shot.

Developing . . .
Because red states across the nation are confronting a massive wave of VERY PISSED OFF Republican voters . . . Kansas Dems are searching desperately to find some legislative chill.



The VERY POPULAR ROAD TO WEED DECRIMINALIZATION is actually a pretty good strategy.



Here's a peek at their power move from a weed friendly source . . .



"House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer (D) and Assistant Minority Leader Jason Probst (D) said this month that they will be introducing proposals to let voters decide on legalizing medical and adult-use marijuana in the state. At the time, Sawyer said he was hopeful that the legislature might separately advance the House-passed legalization measure."

Still there are set backs and traditional opposition to a cash crop that has sparked a surprising revival for small biz across the nation . . . Before, inevitably, weed goes corporate . . .



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
What might be the most important news today was a minor victory for mask opponents during this "dark winter" of worsening COVID stats.



Legislator Ron Finely likely isn't going to get much blame or support for missing the vote and word is that he's not running again . . . So, while it might be hard for many people to imagine, the politics of pandemic mask slap fighting don't dominate the lives of everybody.



Here's a quick run down . . .



Only eight legislators attended the meeting. Consistent mask supporter Ron Finley was absent, and that may have had something to do with the decision not to vote on bringing back the mask mandate.



During the meeting, Jackson County Executive Frank White said he supported a mask mandate because of the number of COVID cases in the county.



"I want to make sure that we understand the seriousness of, of kids, and what's happening with our kids in our schools," White said.



The Jackson County Health Department also supported a mask mandate for schools due to the number of new cases and hospitalizations.



"The COVID-19 case rate for unvaccinated individuals was 2.45 times higher than that of vaccinated individuals overall," Ray Dlugolecki, Jackson County Assistant Health Director, said. "Recently, we've seen the most cases that we've ever seen in children under the age of five."

Even better . . .

CHECK LEGISLATOR CRYSTAL WILLIAMS AND HER ANGRY RANT AGAINST HER COLLEAGUES AFTER THE FACT!!!





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Jackson County Legislature withdraws proposed mask ordinance KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Jackson County Legislature withdrew a proposed mask ordinance that could have reinstated masking requirements in schools and on school buses Tuesday morning. The measure, which would have required all students, staff and visitors to wear masks in school buildings in Jackson County, didn't have the votes to pass on Tuesday.

Jackson County Legislature withdraws proposed mask mandate KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Jackson County Legislature considered a proposed ordinance Tuesday that would have required masks in public schools. The measure was withdrawn after debate. The Jackson County Health Department did recommend a mask mandate for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, due to increased transmission of COVID-19 with the omicron variant.

Jackson County, Missouri measure requiring masks for K-12 students withdrawn A measure that would have required students under the jurisdiction of the Jackson County Health Department to mask up in class was withdrawn Tuesday after debate. Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. said last week that he would recommend a public health order requiring universal masking for K-12 public schools in the county, and that he was sending an order to the county legislature for consideration.

Missouri AG Eric Schmitt: Lawsuits against school districts with mask mandates coming this week by: Juan Cisneros Posted: / Updated: JEFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt doubled down on his efforts to bring Missouri school districts to court for continuing to enforce mask mandates. "Last month, I informed a number of school districts that their decision to continue to enforce mask mandates is illegal and must be stopped immediately," Schmitt said.

Developing . . .


We could rant about some of these news notes but some of the reports are worthwhile . . . Instead, we leave it up to readers to decide and share these apropos news items for MLK day.



Here's the TKC collection . . .



Library plans service opportunity for MLK Day 2022 Kansas City residents have the chance to step up and serve as volunteers on the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday by helping the Kansas City Public Library (KCPL) collect donations for hygiene kits. For the third year in a row, KCPL's AmeriCorps VISTA Project is collecting donations of travel-sized personal care items for a Hygiene Kit Drive.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Johnson County! We'll be back tomorrow The Shawnee Mission Post will not publish any new content today, Monday, Jan. 17. We are setting aside some time to rest and reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. We will be back with new content on your community in northeast Johnson County on Tuesday.

Q&A: KU Professor Randal Jelks on the New Book, 'Letters to Martin' In the new book "Letters to Martin" by Randal Jelks, who is a professor of African American and American studies at the University of Kansas, the reader gets the sense they're observing an intimate conversation between two scholars.

Emanuel Cleaver: Martin Luther King Jr. demanded peace - never political violence OPINION AND COMMENTARY Today, most Americans celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., founding president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the distinguished nonviolent direct action civil rights organization. I came to adulthood under the tutelage of the giants of the SCLC, icons from the civil rights movement such as Dr. King, Fred Shuttlesworth, Ralph Abernathy, Dorothy Heights and Joseph Lowery.

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a vision for Kansas City and beyond. Are we ready for it? OPINION AND COMMENTARY As Kansas City embarks upon another year of celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., our nation is embroiled and agitated by the aftermath of an insurrection at the nation's capitol a year ago, legal proceedings implicating the former president in that insurrection, the deadliest and most wide-ranging global health emergency in decades, and a political party that continues to block and resist laws to secure and guarantee voting rights to citizens of the most established democracy in the world.

'A lot of fighting to do': Kansas City mayor speaks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day In a speech on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas pointed to the racial inequities the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to overcome. And he pointed to inequities that still exist in the Kansas City metro today.

KU professors can discuss Martin Luther King Jr. Day LAWRENCE - As the 36 th annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day nears on Jan. 17, two University of Kansas professors are available to comment on its significance - always, but particularly in the wake of challenges to American democracy.

You decide . . .
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Rain, heavy at times early. Low 59F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Rain, heavy at times early. Low 59F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch.
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza

Welcome: Ryan Orman, right on lift, helps attach the new "Welcome to Historic 12 Points" sign to posts on Lafayette Avenue during the installation of the sign on Monday.
TRUMBULL  Rina Bakalar and J.J. Oshins were just trying to discuss business over a cup of coffee. Then someone fired up a gas-powered leaf blower and conversation became impossible.

The two had been talking about bringing Jeff Works, a coworking space, to Trumbull. It was a moment, Bakalar said, that illustrated the need for quiet, private spaces where people can work without distractions  such as children, pets or landscapers.

It could have been an ad for co-working spaces, Bakalar said of the incident.

Oshins is the chief investment officer with NRDC Equity Partners. His business venture, Jeff Works, is a membership-based coworking space, where people pay $10 a month for a space that allows them the technology and amenities of working in an office and the flexibility of working at home.

Weve seen this big shift to remote work, Oshins said. Working at home sounds good but (in reality) it can be difficult.

Jeff Works, which currently has an outpost in South Plainfield, N. J., is set to open a branch in the Hawley Lane Mall in Trumbull. Right now, Oshins said, the plan is to have a soft opening in February and a grand opening in March.

Oshins said, in this COVID-19-influenced climate, when many people are working from home, for themselves or both, coworking spaces can be an asset.

The plan is for the Trumbull Jeff Works to offer the perks of an office  such as high speed internet, ergonomic furniture and more privacy than a home space would provide  in a safe, socially distanced environment. The space is roughly 6,000 square feet, which Oshins said allows people to spread out.

The New Jersey site opened in November and has been well-received, Oshins said. People work on their own schedule, with some only coming in a few days a week.

Bakalar said there is one other coworking space in town, CoLab at Trumbull Corporate Park, but that is geared more toward businesses that need extra space, whereas Jeff Works is geared more toward self-employed people or remote workers.

Jeff Works also has a lower price point (CoLab membership starts at $65 a month, and be up to more than $400 a month depending on the type of space being rented), making it more accessible.

Bakalar said Jeff Works is a good fit for Trumbull, where about 13 percent of residents are self-employed.

I do think people are choosing to be self-employed quite a bit, she said. Those folks that are self-employed at times need a more official space to meet a client.

Co-working spaces arent intended to be a replacement for working from home or working from a traditional office, said Bakalar and Oshins.

This just provides another option for them, Bakalar said.
The University of Arkansas welcomed its first students on January 22, 1872 150 years ago. That winter day, eight students met in a clapboard building on the former McIlroy Farm that would come to be known as the Hill. Old Main construction would start a year later, and Senior Walk began at the dawn of the next century.

Today, campus is home to more than 29,000 students and Senior Walk stretches for more than six miles. Our buildings and greenspaces extend beyond the Hill, from the historic center of campus to cutting-edge structures like Adohi Hall, the Collaborative in Bentonville and facilities at the Tech and Research Park. And together these tell the story of a university that has grown throughout the last 150 years to better pursue the promise of our land-grant mission to teach, discover and serve. Campus has changed a lot over the years, but one thing stays the same  we are dedicated to the success of our students and to helping them launch fulfilling lives.

Thats why, when a Student Success Center was envisioned, it was a one-of-a-kind concept that melded a sense of place with the mission of holistic student support both in and out of the classroom, a place where students could gather and where advisors and mentors, tutors and job placement specialists could help students achieve their goals for the future.
Experts from Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) thwarted more than 2,000 cyberattacks on government websites and strategically important critical infrastructure in 2021, the SBU's press center has said.

"According to SBU materials, 80 culprits have been brought to justice, and 26 of them have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment," the intelligence service said.

In addition, the SBU said that it exposed dozens of networks of the Internet agents of the Russian special services, who on the instructions of their "curators" carried out information acts of sabotage.

In particular, it was established that the culprits, through specially created Web platforms and groups on social media, spread public calls to seize power and violate the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

More than 30 criminals have been declared suspects for crimes against Ukraine's state security, and courts have handed down convictions for nearly 40 offenses.

In addition, in 2021, SBU staff blocked a powerful cyberattack on Ukrainian government websites. The participants in the illegal activities have been identified as representatives of Armageddon, a hacker group controlled by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Eight criminals have been declared suspects on charges of treason.

The SBU also said that during a multi-stage special operation it neutralized a multinational hacker group that infected more than 150 computer networks of domestic and foreign companies with the Egregor virus. The damage from the attackers' actions totaled more than $80 million.

In addition, a special Russian military intelligence operation to disseminate fake information about the alleged "conscription and mobilization of minors" in Ukraine was blocked last year. More than 20 enemy bot farms with almost 150,000 accounts, used to spread destructive content to destabilize the political situation in Ukraine, were liquidated. The documented facts of subversive activities include the spread of disinformation about the situation with COVID-19.

On the night of January 13-14, hackers launched a massive cyberattack against Ukrainian government websites, including the websites of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the Ministry of Veterans, the Ministry of Environment, the State Emergency Service, the State Treasury Service, etc. A supply chain attack was carried out. The attackers hacked the infrastructure of a commercial company that had administrator access to the websites affected by the cyberattack.

The SBU is investigating the involvement of Russian special services in this cyberattack.

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In the past 24 hours, on January 17, Ukraines Command reported one ceasefire violation by the Russian occupation forces.

This is stated in the morning update by the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters, Ukrinform reports.

Toward Pisky, the enemy opened fire using grenade launchers.

There are no casualties among Joint Forces as a result of the enemy attack.

Ukrainian units have held their ground along the line of contact, the report stressed.

As of 7:00 Kyiv time on January 18, no new ceasefire breaches were reported.

Joint Forces are monitoring the situation in the zone of hostilities, remaining ready to deter and repel Russias armed aggression.

im
On January 13, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, took part in a meeting of the NATO Military Committee, the Alliance's highest military body uniting the Chiefs of Staff responsible for ensuring NATOs readiness to address the arising security challenges.

The very fact that the Ukrainian commander-in-chief was invited to take part in the meeting is significant  neither the Alliance nor any of the allies is indifferent to whats happening now as a result of Russian military build-up around Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied territories.

Lieutenant General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi on the sidelines of a meeting of the NATO Military Committee told Ukrinform about the readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to respond to the Kremlin's insane scenarios.

REMEMBER  THE WAR IN UKRAINE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2014

- Perhaps your colleagues in the NATO Military Committee were interested in the situation around Ukraine and readiness of the Armed Forces to respond. It is clear that not all such information is open, but if possible, could you tell us, what you told NATO Chiefs of Staff?

I was concerned only once  in 2014, when I got my rifle and went to war. Since then, its been simply about doing my job

- They are well informed of the current situation around Ukraine, no worse than me, everyone understands everything perfectly. Our NATO partners had one question  whether I share their concerns. I replied that I was concerned only once, in 2014, when I first got my rifle, bulletproof vest, and went to war. Then I was concerned, but ever since, its been simply about doing my job.

I reminded the Allies that our war has been going on since 2014, and we have been doing our job ever since. We are at war with a serious enemy. He is not insignificant. There are two army corps standing in the first echelon against us, and the whole power of the Russian army is in the second echelon. This is a large-scale force. Therefore, we must be ready for defense, including in the territories of other regions, if necessary.

NATO CAN KEEP RUSSIA FROM THE USE OF FORCE THROUGH POLITICAL MEANS

- It is clear that Ukraine is not a member of the Alliance so it cannot expect direct military assistance from NATO in the event of a large-scale Russian offensive. Will NATO be able to help us at all if the Russian leadership dares to pursue such a mad scenario?

- In this context, it is worth recalling that NATO is not only a military but also a political alliance. I understand that it is impossible to get military aid or involve their troops in operations on the territory of Ukraine. Everyone here understands this, not only servicemen.

It is NATO's political influence that we really hope to see. As of the rest, we rely on our own forces

All we hope for and want is for the Allies to make appropriate moves in the political dimension in order to deprive the Russian Federation of the opportunity to deploy more forces and launch a new offensive against Ukraine. NATO Allies have the appropriate leverage and capabilities to this end.

Importantly, and our NATO partners have confirmed this today, they are well aware of the price to pay if nothing is done. They remember what such inaction led to in 1938 and 1939. Probably more should have been done in 2008, to really use the political levers when the war against Georgia began. More could probably be done in 2014, when Russia launched its aggression against Ukraine, occupied Crimea and part of Donbas. It is this political influence of the Alliance that we really hope to see. As for the rest, we rely on our own forces.

UKRAINE IS THREATENED BY THE ENTIRE RUSSIAN ARMY

- Do NATO allies realize that Ukraine is currently taking on at least a 100,000-strong group of Russian troops that could otherwise be redeployed closer to the Alliance's borders?

- As a military man, I dont like this 100,000 assessment. Believe me, in a few days, this number could reach 210,000, and in a week  it could be 780,000  the Russian Federation has every opportunity to do so. Let's talk about this directly and openly: we are now dealing with the Russian army, which today accounts for almost a million servicemen.

Today, I have told our NATO partners that this is not an illusion, its a real threat. It should be borne in mind that we are faced with the aggressor power with almost a million-strong army.

By the way, I have a lasting impression from this communication with my colleagues in the NATO Military Committee  they understand everything clearly and perfectly from a military perspective. In general, for a military person, its easier to look at things, which allows them to come up with absolutely accurate assessments of the situation.

UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES TAKE A HUGE STEP FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP

- Probably, that's why the troops understand each other faster From NATO politicians we have heard that Ukraine will be able to get the MAP and the prospect of NATO membership only if it is able to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security. In your opinion, is Ukraine already doing enough for European security to get such a perspective?

The Ukrainian Army has mastered more than 300 NATO standards  more than some allied armies

- I can't speak for the whole country because only the relevant politicians can speak for the whole nation. I will talk about the Armed Forces of Ukraine as Commander-in-Chief. Today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have taken a huge step towards getting closer not only to the MAP, but also to full NATO membership. At the paperwork and formal levels alone, we have mastered more than 300 NATO standards. I dont want to criticize anyone, but as far as I know, not all armed forces of European nations that are already members of the Alliance have mastered so many standards.

But this is not the point. It is important that the Armed Forces of Ukraine move towards NATO, and today, when we met with our colleagues at the Alliance's headquarters, I confirmed that we will continue to move in this direction.

For me, as Commander-in-Chief, the main thing is that we are becoming de facto alike NATO. Because NATO is not only a military and political alliance, it is also a coalition of armies, modern and advanced in all dimensions. This is a coalition of armies of civilized nations.

For me, the main thing is for us to reach a certain level, to be a civilized army, to streamline certain procedures, to get rid of everything Soviet that keeps our hands and feet bound, to start thinking NATO, to look at things as Europeans, to organize training in compliance with NATO standards, which we have already seen is very effective and efficient.

So for me, the main thing is to fulfill this task. And whether we join NATO or get the MAP is a matter to be dealt with by politicians. When will this happen? Of course, I'm concerned about it and I wish it happened faster. But we have to do our part to bring this moment closer.

NATO SEES RUSSIA'S ULTIMATUM AS THAT OF AS ILL MANS DELUSIONS

- In your observation, how did the allied defense chiefs perceive the Russian ultimatum on "security guarantees" for Russia from the United States and NATO, in particular, in terms of NATO non-expansion and withdrawal of troops from its eastern flanks?

- The issue is quite political. It is probably up to the NATO allies to assess the movement of their forces, and it is certainly not for me to suggest how the Allies will deal with collective defense and defend each other.

At the same time, both I and my colleagues from the Alliance are looking at these things more mundanely, on a practical level. It seems that, from a purely practical perspective, NATO colleagues see these Russian ultimatums as ill mans delusions. The allies gave these Russian proposals an unequivocal assessment, including in the part that directly concerns us. The Alliance is based on completely different principles, which are very clear: each European nation should decide for itself whether to join any blocs. NATO allies share a consolidated and firm stance in this regard, which is inspiring to us, so to speak.

THE WEST OFFERS A RESOLUTE RESPONSE TO RUSSIA'S THREATS

- This week was quite active in terms of diplomatic efforts, including in response to tensions around Ukraine. Contacts have taken place between the United States and Russia, the NATO-Russia Council, and other events. In your opinion, have they managed to reduce military tensions around Ukraine?

- I am not ready to say now whether the tension has decreased or not. Intelligence says no movement has been observed there so weve seen no decrease in Russia's military presence at our borders.

At the same time, as Commander-in-Chief, I was pleased with this resolute response on the part of NATO that Russia heard yesterday during these talks. It is really important to see that the West has rallied around this threat and has already taken the first step in responding to it. This is very good, and I thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces for this principled position. I will definitely convey this wonderful position to our commanders.

WHATEVER RUSSIA PLANS ARE, UKRAINE'S ARMED FORCES KEEP PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES

- According to purely arithmetic indicators of military power, Ukraine is far behind Russia in the number of aircraft, tanks, and manpower. How should Ukraine act to curb the appetites of the aggressor?

- We have been curbing their appetites since 2014. It was personally us, or young men and women, the Ukrainians who did not receive any military assistance at that time. We have been doing this for eight years already, and it doesn't matter what the Russian Federation's plans are. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will do their job and fulfill their duty.

Over the years, in this war against Russian aggression, we have already paid a terrible price. More than 4,000 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine sacrificed their lives to make Ukraine what it is today.

We will continue to do this work, without alternatives. Its only us and each of us personally.

LET THE ENEMY KNOW  UKRAINE HAS ENOUGH ANTI-TANK WEAPONS

- The recent field tests involving the Javelins were quite revealing, but, unfortunately, these weapons alone are unlikely to deter a massive tank offensive by Russia. How are the Armed Forces of Ukraine currently equipped with anti-tank systems of domestic production?

For Russian tanks, there is no protection today that Javelin cant beat

- As for the Javelin testing, we were interested to see how it goes, especially after a wide promo campaign by Russia boasting a turret protection against these missiles. So we designed the same type of defense gear and fired off. As you can see, the results were great, although rather sad for Russian tank crews. For Russian tanks today, there is no protection, no obstacle that Javelin couldnt tackle.

Seven tanks destroyed in 36 seconds  this is the result of the anti-tank weapons used in our exercises

Id like to say that previously, we recently conducted our exercises and did so quite openly - we didnt shut anyone out and invited a fairly wide audience. In front of reporters, a group of servicemen approached the training site in a regular truck and destroyed a convoy of tanks in 36 seconds. Seven tanks in 36 seconds. Those attending the drill didnt even immediately understand what happened, and how.

The enemy must also be well aware that we have a sufficient number of anti-tank weapons, including domestically made, which perform very well. Earlier, we received sufficient material and technical assistance, including Javelins. So Id say yes, theres enough of them.

UKRAINIANS WILL DEFEND THEIR DISTRICTS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES UP IN ARMS

- On January 1, Law of Ukraine "On the Fundamentals of National Resistance" came into force. How did this affect the formation of territorial defense units and their interaction with the Armed Forces?

- The main thing is that this law appeared and started working.

Earlier, we in the Armed Forces performed an analysis and concluded that the existing system of territorial defense needs to be radically changed. And so we came to the Law on National Resistance.

Previously, territorial defense was seen as a type of strategic action force that was assigned tasks not directly related to engaging in hostilities. Today we are transforming territorial defense into a system of national resistance  this is what this Law is about.

- What does it mean?

- We want to have a large number of patriotically motivated citizens who at a short notice can take up arms and inflict such losses on the enemy that will force them to abandon further hostilities. Adopting the Law is only the first step. Were currently making all the appropriate appointments. The President of Ukraine, our Supreme Commander-in-Chief, has approved the Doctrine for the Use of Territorial Defense Forces. We are also working to form volunteer units that will be able to protect their own homes, their districts, their families, and their children. I think that such a system of national resistance will be created very soon.

At the same time, the system of territorial defense in Sumy region will be radically different from the territorial defense in Ternopil region, as they will face different tasks, respectively  different units will be formed, whose training routine will differ, too. This is a whole set of measures aimed at creating a completely new system of national resistance.

THE MAIN ENEMY OF UKRAINE NOW IS THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

- Over the past weeks, many maps and schemes of Russia's invasion of Ukraine have emerged in the media. Its clear that this may be an element of psychological pressure to intimidate the West and force Ukraine to stretch out its forces. In your opinion, which areas are the most threatening to Ukraine's security?

- Unfortunately, Ukraine is in such a situation that almost all 6,993 kilometers of the state border, except for the area in the West, can be potentially threatening.

At the same time, we see whats happening now, and we clearly understand that our main enemy today is, of course, the Russian Federation. It was they who temporarily occupied Crimea, a large area of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, continuing to fight against Ukraine and threatening to expand occupation.

Its clear that we are studying this situation, conducting intelligence, analyzing the situation, and drawing certain conclusions in the interests of defending our state.

We are also looking at what is circulating in the media  now life is about what we have to do. But such information is not the basis for planning. Often such information is aimed at the domestic audience. This is, of course, interesting, but for us its not the main thing.

UKRAINE'S VICTORY WILL COME AFTER THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES ARE FULLY LIBERATED

- It is clear that this war will end sooner or later, and it will end with our Victory. What does this word mean to you personally? When will be able to say that Ukraine has won?

- As a military man who has dedicated his whole life to and studied it, I know that in any war there are political goals that are achieved, including by military means. In this war, as we clearly understand, the political condition for our victory is the liberation of the occupied territories.

For us, the military, Victory will be the day when the last occupier leaves our territory, when the state border of Ukraine is restored, when my soldiers stop dying on their land. Only then will peace and victory come for me.

Dmytro Shkurko, Brussels

Photo by Ukraines Mission to NATO, General Staff of the Armed Forces

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Britain will supply anti-tank weapons to Ukraine to help it defend itself from Russias potential invasion.

"We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light anti-armour defensive weapon systems," British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament on January 17, Reuters reports.

"They [these systems] are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia. They are to use in self-defence," the British official noted.

Wallace noted he had invited Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to visit London in the next few weeks to discuss the crisis around Ukraines borders.

As reported, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently held telephone talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, reaffirming his resolve to "to respond swiftly and strongly to any further Russian invasion into Ukraine."

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Germany is ready to become a co-leader in one area of work within the Crimea Platform, which will be aimed at strengthening the policy of non-recognition of Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv on Monday, January 17, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Kuleba thanked Germany for participating in the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform and recalled that earlier Ukraine had invited some international partners to lead one of the five areas of its work.

"Today I was pleased to learn that Germany is ready to become a co-leader in the Crimea Platform in the area related to the policy of non-recognition [of Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea]. This is a confirmation of the true leadership approach by German diplomacy. I hope that it will remain the same in the future," Kuleba said.

Earlier reports said that the Crimea Platform will continue its work in five main areas, including strengthening the international policy of non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea, restrictive measures (sanctions), combating human rights violations, guaranteeing security and freedom of navigation and overcoming economic and environmental consequences of the occupation.

Baerbock is on her first visit to Ukraine since her appointment as Germany's federal foreign minister.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the security situation around Ukraine with Germanys Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock.

This was reported by the presidential press service on January 17, according to Ukrinform.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Head of State stressed the importance of this visit, in particular, against the background of the tense situation around Ukraine's borders.

The press service of the Presidents Office noted that the security situation around Ukraine, the course of the peace process were discussed in detail. It was also stressed that restrictive measures, including preventive sanctions, could prevent further escalation of aggression.

Noting the unity of approaches to the peace process, in particular the cluster approach to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the parties expressed hope that the next summit in the Normandy format will be held soon.

"Without achieving peace in Ukraine, there can be no discussion of European security," Volodymyr Zelensky said.

It is noted that during the meeting, considerable attention was paid to strengthening Ukraine's energy security. The President stressed that Nord Stream 2 is a geopolitical project and a weapon aimed both against our state and against the whole of Europe. It was jointly stated that the use of the project as a weapon will lead to tough response measures.

The interlocutors noted the common approaches of Ukraine and Germany to building cooperation in the energy sector, in particular on "green" transformation and renewable energy sources. It was noted that the practical implementation of common priorities will be facilitated by Germany's opening of an office in Kyiv for the implementation of Ukrainian-German projects in hydrogen energy.

The parties also stressed the need to jointly take concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine's energy security, including ensuring long-term gas transit through our country.

Special attention was paid to the issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. The importance of consolidating the European perspective of our state was emphasized and the hope for appropriate support from Germany in this issue was expressed.

Read also: Germany plans to open hydrogen diplomacy bureau in Ukraine

During the meeting, the parties also noted the symbolism of the fact that Annalena Baerbock's visit to Ukraine takes place on the day of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Germany.

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for her full solidarity with Ukraine.

"Monday. International meetings and strong support from our partners. I thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock for full solidarity with Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on Instagram.

As Ukrinform reported, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was in Kyiv on January 17 ahead of her visit to Moscow on January 18.

Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office

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Western governments must make it clear to Russian President Putin that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will not be put into operation if Russia invades Ukraine.

This was stated to NBC News by U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, Ukrinform reports.

"The clearest thing we could do is to make sure he (Putin  ed.) doesnt have the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. () The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is not going to operate, hes not going to have that wealth if he does any action to will not have this wealth if he takes any action to overthrow the government in Ukraine," the senator said.

Russia will face collective sanctions from the collective West, not just the United States, should Moscow resort to another round of aggression against Kyiv.

Romney believes the Russian president is trying to re-establish the type of the Soviet Union: "That cant be allowed to happen."

The politician also added that the Kremlin leader is trying to take NATO apart and weaken it.

We need a strong NATO, Romney underscored.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the fate of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline depended on any potential conflict Russia could unleash with Ukraine.

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The Pechersky District Court of Kyiv postponed the announcement of pretrial restraint for the 5th president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko until January 19.

"They decided to announce a judgment on Epiphany, January 19. Tried to arrest me but something went wrong," Poroshenko told his supporters after leaving the court on January 17, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The court ruling was being waited for more than five hours since the judge went to the deliberations room.

During the hearing, a prosecutor asked the court to take Poroshenko into custody with the possibility to post a UAH 1 billion bail.

The prosecutor also asked the court to oblige Poroshenko to hand over his passports to an investigator, not to leave his place of residence, and to come to the investigator at the first call if the bail is paid.

Commenting on the amount of bail, the prosecutor noted that a sum of UAH 3 billion was mentioned in the case files and Poroshenko was able to post the requested bail as he had declared USD 50 million and UAH 420 million in income for 2021.

At the same time, the lawyers argued that Poroshenko did not acquire the status of a suspect because the notice of charges was served improperly. The lawyers also asked the court to return the pretrial restraint request to the prosecutor as it was void in their opinion.

As reported, Acting Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko signed a notice of charges for Poroshenko over coal supplies from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on December 20, 2021.

Subsequently, the Prosecutor Generals Office approved the request to impose a pretrial restraint in the form of custody with the possibility of posting a UAH 1 billion bail. The officers of the State Bureau of Investigation and the Security Service of Ukraine investigate a criminal case on organizing a criminal scheme of coal supplies from the temporarily occupied territories and financing the terrorist organizations "LPR" and "DPR" totaling about UAH 1.5 billion by a group of Ukrainian citizens. Proceedings are carried out under Part 1 and Part 3 of Art. 258-5 (financing terrorism), Part 1 of Art. 111 (treason) and Part 1 of Art. 258-3 (aiding terrorist organization) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

In September-November 2021, MP Viktor Medvedchuk, former energy minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn, and businessman Serhiy Kuziara were served notices of charges within the case. The prosecutor's office requested the court to take Medvedchuk in custody with the possibility of posting UAH 1 billion bail.

The court put Medvedchuk on round-the-clock house arrest. Kuziara was taken into custody. He stayed in a pre-trial detention center until January this year, when the court changed his pretrial restraint to round-the-clock house arrest. Former minister Demchyshyn is currently on the international wanted list.

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During an unannounced visit to Kyiv last week, CIA Director Bill Burns met with Ukraine's leadership to discuss the situation related to the latest military escalation by Russia.

Thats according to a number of the American media outlets citing sources in the U.S. administration, Ukrinform reports.

"The CIA has a long-standing policy of not commenting on or publicly announcing the director's travel," CNN wrote, explaining why the report on the visit was not released immediately.

According to sources, Burns in Kyiv "had consultations with intelligence colleagues" about Russia's possible invasion of Ukraine. In addition, according to American media, the CIA chief held meetings with the leadership of Ukraine.

Burns had the opportunity to discuss the current situation with President Zelensky and efforts to de-escalate tensions," the report reads.

CNN correspondent Natasha Bertrand, who covers issues related to U.S. national security in the White House, also commented on the CIA chief's visit to Ukraine.

"Burns has served as a key intermediary between the US, Russia and Ukraine for months as Russia has continued to build up its forces near Ukraine. He even held a rare conversation with Putin in Moscow in early November to convey serious US concerns about Russia's activities," Bertrand wrote on Twitter.

The New York Times also shared information about the alleged visit by the head of the CIA, which was first reported by CNN. The newspaper notes Burns visited Kyiv last Wednesday to discuss de-escalation efforts.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, a delegation of the U.S. Congress had arrived in Kyiv on Monday, where they met with the nations leadership, including the President. One of the main goals of the visit of American lawmakers was to reaffirm bipartisan support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic reforms.

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Members of the U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Ukraine to send a clear warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin about accountability in the event of Russia's further aggression against Ukraine.

The senators stated this at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday, January 17, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We want to send a message to Vladimir Putin that he should understand that we stand with Ukraine as you think about the future and we will hold him accountable should he threaten the sovereignty of Ukraine," said U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

She said that Ukrainians should know that the U.S. Congress is on their side and it believes that the Ukrainian people should determine their own future and the future of their country.

According to Senator Roger Wicker, the U.S. delegation is bipartisan and unanimous.

"We are sending a message not only of support to the Ukrainian people, but also we are sending a message to Vladimir Putin. The illegal actions of Vladimir Putin against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and of other sovereign countries are known and condemned around the world," he said.

According to Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut, U.S. officials are in Ukraine to send a bipartisan and unconditional message that "the United States, Europe and Ukraine will make sure that Russia is dealt a set of consequential blows to their economy and to their security forces if they were to choose to mount a conventional invasion of Ukraine."

"There is no division on that question in the United States now," he said.

Earlier reports said that the U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Ukraine on January 17 to reaffirm the United States' bipartisan support for the sovereignty and territory integrity of Ukraine and democratic reforms in the country.

Photo credit: Pavlo Bagmut, Ukrinform

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Against the background of military escalation by Russia, Canadian special forces operators have been deployed in Ukraine.

This contingent is part of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, Global News reports citing its own sources in the Canadian government, according to Ukrinform.

"A Canadian Special Forces has been deployed in Ukraine amid rising tensions between the NATO-Russia military alliance," the statement said.

Sources told Global News that the Canadian special operations presence is part of an attempt by NATO allies to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine, and to identify ways to assist the Ukrainian government.

Read also: Britain to assist Ukraine in training Joint Forces command

"The unit has also been tasked with helping to develop evacuation plans for Canadian diplomatic personnel in the event of a full-scale invasion, sources said," Global News reported.

It should be noted that Canadian special forces have been training the Ukrainian military for several years as part of the UNIFIER mission.

"[A]lthough sources told Global News the latest special forces contingent, which left for Ukraine around Jan. 9, is not conducting training," the outlet concludes.

It should be recalled that within the UNIFIER mission in Ukraine nearly 200 Canadian military train Ukrainian troops. The mandate of the current mission expires in a few months. If it is not prolonged, the Canadian military will leave the Ukrainian territory.

Photo: special-ops.org

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine received no information from the Russian side about the evacuation of employees of Russian diplomatic missions from Ukraine and it does not plan to evacuate Ukrainian diplomats from Russia, the ministry's spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko, has told Ukrinform.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received no information from the Russian side about the evacuation of Russian diplomatic staff from Ukraine. The embassies of other countries in Ukraine also did not announce their intention to evacuate their staff," he said.

Nikolenko added that the ministry does not currently plan to evacuate Ukrainian diplomats from Russia.

"The [Ukrainian] Embassy in Moscow, the consulates general in St. Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don and the consulates in Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk are operating as normal in Russia," he said.

According to Nikolenko, despite the difficult conditions, Ukrainian diplomats and consuls continue to successfully perform their tasks, primarily to protect the interests of Ukrainian citizens in Russia.

The New York Times reported earlier, citing its own sources, that Russia had begun evacuating its diplomats and their families from Ukraine.

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Russia and Belarus are now considering a situation where they will need to use the entire military potential of the two nations for the sake of security of the Union State.

This was stated by the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Alexander Fomin, who spoke to the foreign military attaches, Ukrinform reports citing MK.ru.

According to the senior defense official, Moscow and Minsk periodically work out options for applying a regional grouping of troops.

Fomin has warned that a situation could arise when "forces and means of the Regional Grouping will not be sufficient to ensure the security of the Union State."

As a result, it was decided that for the common defense needs, it is necessary to involve the entire military potential.

In addition, the joint exercises of the Russian and Belarusian armed forces, "Allied Resolve 2022," will be held February 10-20. At the drill, Russian and Belarusian troops will work out the tasks of suppressing external aggression and combating terrorism. In particular, this will involve the strengthening of border sections in areas most likely to be penetrated by militants and used to smuggle arms and ammunition into Belarus.

As noted by the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, the actions of the rapid response forces of the Union State will be tested in two phases in February 2022. The first one will last until February 9. The joint exercises will be the second stage, the statement adds.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with a delegation of the U.S. Congress to discuss steps to deter Russian aggression.

According to Ukrinform, Zelensky announced this on Instagram.

"During a meeting with a delegation of U.S. senators, we discussed possible steps to deter Russian aggression," the head of state wrote.

During the conversation, Zelensky thanked the United States for its military aid to Ukraine.

According to the president's website, the U.S. congressional delegation included senators Robert Portman, Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen, Amy Klobuchar, Richard Blumenthal and Roger Wicker.

Zelensky thanked the United States Congress for its solidarity with the people of Ukraine against the backdrop of current security challenges.

"It is very important for Ukraine, for our people, that you are with us today. This testifies to the constant bicameral, bipartisan support for our state, as well as its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Zelensky informed the U.S. senators about the security situation around Ukraine and steps that would contribute to de-escalation and prevent further Russian aggression. He also noted the important role of the Congress in supporting Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and deepening cooperation between the two countries.

"We feel and receive effective assistance in the field of security in such a difficult time, a time of aggression by the Russian Federation," Zelensky said.

During the conversation, a unanimous position was expressed that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is a challenge to the energy security of Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

Zelensky stated the need to prepare a preventive package of sanctions against Russia to counter aggression.

Separately, the president noted that Russia continues to conduct an active campaign to issue Russian passports to the population living in the temporarily occupied territories, seeking to create a pretext for escalation under the guise of "protecting Russian citizens."

Topical issues of political life in Ukraine were also raised at the meeting.

The U.S. senators expressed their unanimous support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, stressing the full and indisputable right of Ukraine to independently choose paths to ensure its own security.

Earlier reports said that the U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Ukraine on January 17 to reaffirm the United States' bipartisan support for the sovereignty and territory integrity of Ukraine and democratic reforms in the country.

Photo: President's Office

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda will meet on January 20-21 at the residence of the Polish president in the resort town of Wisla in southern Poland.

Jakub Kumoch, head of the Bureau of International Policy under the President of Poland, said this to the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Ukrinform reports, referring to the news site Wnp.pl.

According to Kumoch, the security situation in the region will be the subject of consultations between the two countries' presidents.

On January 17, Pawel Soloch, head of Poland's National Security Bureau (BBN), also spoke about Zelensky's visit to Poland.

The presidents of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania met at the Syniohora residence in the village of Huta, Ivano-Frankivsk region, on December 20, to participate in a summit of the Lublin Triangle. A joint declaration, emphasizing clear support for Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO and the fight against Russian aggression, was signed at the meeting.

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has congratulated Roberta Metsola on her election as President of the European Parliament and expressed hope for further productive cooperation between Ukraine and this institution.

According to Ukrinform, the head of government said this in a post on Twitter.

"My congratulations to Roberto Metsola on her election as President of the European Parliament. We believe that cooperation between Ukraine and the European Parliament will be further developing and be equally fruitful," Shmyhal said.

He wished Metsola success in her work for the benefit of the whole of Europe.

Former European Parliament President David Sassoli died in hospital on January 11.

The European Parliament on January 18 elected its new head to replace Sassoli. Some 458 MEPs supported Malta's Roberta Metsola in the first round of voting.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Kyiv and Berlin from January 18-20, 2022, as part of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russias military build-up and continued aggression against Ukraine.

Thats according to the State Department press service, Ukrinform reports.

Secretary Blinken will begin his trip in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on January 19 to reinforce the United States commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Department of States Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

The trip follows extensive diplomacy with Americas European Allies and partners about a united approach to address the threat Russia poses to Ukraine and our joint efforts to encourage it to choose diplomacy and de-escalation in the interests of security and stability.

Antony Blinken will also meet with the employees and families of the U.S. Embassy to communicate the State Departments efforts to plan for contingencies, should Russia choose to escalate further.

On January 20, Secretary Blinken will travel to Berlin, Germany to discuss recent diplomatic engagements with Russia and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including Allies and partners readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia.

The Secretary of State will meet with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, followed by a meeting with the Transatlantic Quad.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was in Kyiv on Monday, January 17, before flying to Moscow the next day. While in Kyiv, she met with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and the countrys president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The revival of the Normandy process would be a major step toward improving the security situation in Europe, despite maintaining different views.

This was stated by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbok at a joint press conference with Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on January 18, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

It is important to revive the Normandy process and move forward with the implementation of the Minsk agreements as "it would be a big step toward greater security for Europe, for all of us," Baerbock said.

She noted that during the talks in Kyiv the day before and in Moscow today she was discussing possible steps on how to launch negotiations "at all levels," including at that of foreign ministers. Baerbock welcomed the fact that all parties agree on the need to continue negotiations on the implementation of the Minsk agreements within the Normandy Four platform.

However, Germanys top diplomat noted that Berlin and Moscow "still have different views on the facts on the ground and the implementation of the Minsk agreements." It is all the more important, she added, to continue the talks and return to the negotiating table in the Normandy format.

Baerbock noted the amassing "for no apparent reason" of more than 100,000 Russian troops and hardware along Ukraine's border, noting that it was "difficult not to understand this as a threat." The federal government, along with allies and partners in the EU, NATO, and the G7, will have to respond to the situation, as it cannot be left to its own devices.

The German Foreign Minister reiterated that, if energy is weaponized, which has been emphasized at various levels, including in the Government's Coalition Agreement, it will have corresponding consequences in view of the Nord Stream 2 project. Regarding the project certification process, she noted that all infrastructure energy projects, including this one, are subject to European rules.

Baerbock mentioned that Russia demanded security guarantees from the West. "We are ready for a serious dialogue and discussion of steps that will bring better security to everyone on the continent," she said.

Annalena Baerbock made her first visits to Ukraine on January 17 before traveling to Russia on January 18, also for the first time.

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Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna and Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly discussed strengthening military assistance to Ukraine.

The parties discussed the issues of deterring Russia's armed aggression, supporting Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and cooperation between Ukraine and Canada in the security and defense sectors, the Government portal informs.

As noted, Stefanishyna thanked for Canada's unwavering support, which is especially important amidst Russian aggression escalation.

"The Kremlin's whims will only grow as soon as Putin feels that Western democracies are making concessions. Russia first delivered an ultimatum that Ukraine should not become a NATO member, then conditions changed, and the Kremlin began to demand guarantees of non-expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance in Eastern Europe, and later - NATO's return to its 1997 borders. Russia also demands the cessation of joint military exercises on the territory of Ukraine, so the appetite to dictate unacceptable conditions will only grow. Its impossible that the aggressor dictates conditions unless they start de-escalation, ensure compliance with the ceasefire and unless Russian troops leave our territory," Ukraines Deputy PM stressed.

Stefanishyna stressed that the next steps and precautionary measures need to be clearly formulated to curb further escalation. Continuing existing and imposing new tougher sanctions among the necessary tools to prevent a military threat from the Kremlin.

"We seek to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom in the military and defense sectors. It suits the interests of all democracies that Ukraine's defense capabilities be strengthened and we can repel the threat from the eastern neighbor," she said.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly reaffirmed the unity of NATO member states in support of Ukraine and assured of the fruitful cooperation being prolonged between Canada and Ukraine.

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Ukraine's medical system is preparing for a surge in COVID-19 cases as the new coronavirus variant Omicron is spreading around the world, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine has said on Facebook.

"Trends with the spread of Omicron in the world indicate that Ukraine will not avoid a new outbreak of the coronavirus disease. At the same time, the medical system is constantly being improved before another workload," the statement said.

Doctors again emphasized the importance of everyone complying with anti-epidemic rules, because the incidence rate is gradually increasing.

As before, simple rules remain effective in the fight against the pandemic, among them the proper use of protective masks, social distancing, regular handwashing, and vaccination against COVID-19.

Unvaccinated people have a ten times higher risk of death from COVID-19 and a 4.5 times higher risk of hospitalization than those double jabbed.

Photo: wmr.gov.ua

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Published Jan. 18, 2022

Examining soil core samples at Poverty Point World Heritage Site are, from left, Thurman Allen, a soil scientist retired from the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Mark Brink, Poverty Point WHS manager; Rinita Dalan, Ph.D., of Minnesota State University Moorhead; and Diana Greenlee, Ph.D., Poverty Point WHS station archaeologist, and ULM adjunct professor.

Photo courtesy of Rinita Dalan

These earthworks, together with a buried, mound-like feature with unique soil properties unlike any of the known earthworks at the site, demonstrate that the Plaza at Poverty Point has a more elaborate construction history than we knew. Diana Greenlee, Ph.D.

Poverty Point World Heritage Site is slowly revealing her secrets.

Diana Greenlee, Ph.D., station archaeologist at the ancient monumental earthworks and adjunct professor at the University of Louisiana Monroe School of Sciences, said recent archaeological research shows the site is much more complex than previously realized.

The joint project by ULM and Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM ) was funded with a 2019 Preservation Technology and Training Grant from the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service.

Greenlee, Rinita Dalan, Ph.D., of MSUM, and their colleagues focused on Poverty Points central Plaza. This 43-acre area was created thousands of years ago by removing the original topsoil and then adding fill dirt to build a raised, near-level surface. To look at the Plaza today, one would not suspect what is hidden below.

Parts of the Plaza were surveyed using a sophisticated ground penetrating radar developed in Norway and used extensively by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Arne Anderson Stamnes, Ph.D., of the universitys Terrestrial, Marine, and Aerial Remote sensing for archaeology research group, operated the GPR.

Nearly 2,000 reflectors, which are objects or soil disturbances that reflect the radar signals, were identified. These results were compared to other geophysical surveys.

Then, several targets were tested using a combination of soil coring, analyses of soil samples, and sieving for artifacts, and by lowering a geophysical sensor down the cored holes.

Although more work remains to be done, the results show that the Plaza contains a number of distinct earthworks. A subtle high spot in the Plaza, the West Plaza Rise, was not a natural rise, but a purposely elevated feature within the Plaza fill, Greenlee said.

Diana Greenlee, Ph.D., ULM adjunct professor and station archaeologist at Poverty Point World Heritage Site (driving), with passenger Arne Anderson Stamnes, Ph.D., of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, conduct a multi-channel ground penetrating radar survey at Poverty Point World Heritage Site.

Photo courtesy of Rinita Dalan

An underground ridge, formed by removing more of the original soil from both sides, stretches across the Plaza from the West Plaza Rise to Mound C.

These earthworks, together with a buried, mound-like feature with unique soil properties unlike any of the known earthworks at the site, demonstrate that the Plaza at Poverty Point has a more elaborate construction history than we knew, Greenlee said.

Participating in the research with Greenlee, Dalan, and Stamnes were Thurman Allen, a soil scientist retired from the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Rachel Stout Evans, a soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Michael Hargrave, Ph.D., an archaeologist retired from the Engineer Research and Development Center; and Berle Clay, Ph.D., an archaeologist retired from Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.

Poverty Point WHS, located in West Carroll Parish in northeast Louisiana, is a complex of earthen mounds and C-shaped earthen ridges built some 3,700 to 3,100 years ago. It is one of only four archaeological sites in the United States that has earned the WHS designation.
Winter has taken hold in Lebanons Bekaa Valley, bringing heavy rains and pushing nighttime temperatures close to freezing. Syrian single mother Majida faces testing months ahead living in her makeshift shelter, its leaky tarpaulin roof weighed down with discarded car tyres to prevent it blowing off in strong winds.

She and her four children spent much of last winter sleeping on damp mattresses, which they tried in vain to dry out in the weak sunshine after every downpour. This year threatens far worse hardship as Lebanon grapples with an economic crisis that has sunk almost all the countrys refugee population into extreme poverty.

Last year, we had some access to fuel. But this year, with fuel shortages and high prices, I cannot even afford wood, Majida, 36, said.

I am worried about how I will be able to keep my children warm and buy food and clothes for them. Everything is so expensive.

Compounded by increasing COVID-19 cases and the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Lebanons economic meltdown has caused the countrys currency to collapse and sent the price of food, fuel and other basics soaring.

"Everything is so expensive."

The crisis has caused widespread hardship in the country, while 9 in every 10 Syrian refugees now live in extreme poverty and half of the refugee population is food insecure. The deteriorating situation has taken a toll throughout the country, forcing both Lebanese and refugee families to make unbearable choices.

A few months ago, all my children were sick, but I was only able to afford to buy medicine for one of them, the one who was the most sick, Majida said.

After fleeing Syrias decade-long conflict in 2014 following the loss of her husband, Majida and her children moved to one of the many informal settlements dotted across the Bekaa Valley, Lebanons agricultural heartland.

Majida's daughters Sara (right) and Aya (left) do their homework in the family's shelter.  UNHCR/Haidar Darwish

Majida prepares a meal for her children after they return home from school.  UNHCR/Haidar Darwish

Majida and her daughters share a lunch of bread and vegetables.  UNHCR/Haidar Darwish

When I first arrived in Lebanon, I had to adjust to my new reality. I had never lived in a tent before, but I could not afford to rent an apartment. As a single mother, over the years, I had to learn how to manage life on my own and provide for my family, she said.

Sometimes she finds low-paid daily work stringing beans or peeling garlic cloves, while her two eldest sons aged 15 and 16 both dropped out of school to work on nearby farms. But despite sacrificing their education, rising prices mean their modest earnings are not enough to cover the familys basic needs.

Before the crisis, the situation was difficult, but I was able to put food on the table. Now, I cant provide a full meal for my children who are eating mostly vegetables and dry food, Majida explained. They are suffering because they are not eating enough.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has increased its support to vulnerable Lebanese and refugee families across the country, but the needs continue to outstrip aid and the crisis has turned an already hard situation into a daily struggle for survival.

"It is difficult for everyone, Lebanese and refugees."

Over the past few months, UNHCR has provided shelter rehabilitation support to the most vulnerable Lebanese and refugee families, as well as solar lamps and basic household items and materials to weatherproof structures during winter. UNHCR has also provided water trucks, generators, solar panels and water pumps to municipalities throughout the country to ensure Lebanese and refugees have better access to water and electricity.

Despite her fear of facing another harsh winter, Majida is grateful to Lebanon for providing a safe haven to her family, and hopes that both Lebanese and Syrians in the country will see better days.

My wish for Lebanon, a country that has been kind to me, is that the situation improves because it is difficult for everyone, Lebanese and refugees.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee delivers his 2022 State of the State address Tuesday at the Capitol in Olympia.
Press Release

January 18, 2022 Senate passes bills converting, establishing SUC campuses; converting state colleges to state universities The Senate has approved on third and final reading several local bills that seek to convert and establish state universities and college campuses in the Philippines. At the resumption of the plenary sessions Monday, January 17, senators, voting 22-0-0, passed nine bills from the House of Representatives, sponsored in the Senate by Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education chairman Sen. Joel Villanueva. Approved were: House Bill (HB) No. 4959 converting the Dulag Satellite Campus of the Eastern Visayas State University in Dulag, Leyte into a regular campus; HB No. 7687 converting the extension campuses of the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Pampanga into regular campuses; HB No. 6877 establishing campuses of the Cebu Technological University in the municipalities of Liloan and Borbon; HB No. 6969, establishing a regular campus of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija; HB No. 7692 establishing another campus of the NEUST in the municipality of the Nampicuan; HB No. 7537 calling for the establishment of campuses for the Davao del Norte State College in the municipalities of Carmen and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte province; and HB No. 7693 establishing a campus of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. "The establishment of satellite and regular campuses improves the education in the provinces. This is timely legislation as we emerge from the pandemic with quality education for more Filipinos, creating better job opportunities for the graduates," Villanueva said. Senators also passed the measures which would convert the Bulacan Agricultural State College in Ildefonso, Bulacan (HB No. 8111) and the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur (HB No. 8188) into state universities. Villanueva thanked his colleagues for supporting and approving the bills. "This is just to thank our dear colleagues for supporting these nine measures that we passed on third and final reading. I would just put on record my sincerest thanks and gratitude to all the members our colleagues," Villanueva said in his manifestation on Monday.
FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2016, file photo, Justin Ross Harris listens during his trial at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga. The Georgia man found guilty of murder in the 2014 death of his toddler son, who died after he was left in a hot car for hours, is asking the states highest court to overturn his conviction. Justin Ross Harris was convicted in November 2016 on eight counts, including malice murder, in the June 2014 death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool, File)
Jennifer Ann Hancock was born Nov. 20, 1956, in Atlanta, to William Roy and Martha Jones Hancock. She went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Gray. She was preceded in death by her father, William Roy Hancock, and her brother, Timothy Roy Hancock, as well as grandparents
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Melbourne, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2022 ) :Casper Ruud of Norway, the men's eighth seed, pulled out of the Australian Open with an ankle injury Tuesday before playing a shot.

The in-form 23-year-old, who won five ATP Tour titles in 2021 to race into the top 10, had been due to face Slovakian Alex Molcan.

But he withdrew after rolling his ankle in practice two days ago.

"I hoped that I would be able to recover and be able to step on court today with the two days that I had, but rolling an ankle usually maybe needs some more time," he said.

Ruud, the first Norwegian to win an ATP Tour title, said it was hugely disappointing after reaching the fourth round in Melbourne last year, his best Grand Slam result.

"I was hoping I could try to do the same this year obviously, maybe a step further," he said.

"This year the Grand Slams will be a big goal for me because last year, except for this one, I felt like I didn't do as well as I had hoped in a Grand Slam."Ruud was replaced in the draw by "lucky loser" Roman Safiullin of Russia.
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The Army Medical Corps (AMC)'s Major General Waseem Alamgir has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2022 ) :The Army Medical Corps (AMC)'s Major General Waseem Alamgir has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

The newly promoted senior AMC official would be assuming charge as Rector National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) media release on Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday underscored the need to continue diplomatic efforts to deescalate tensions following three rounds of security talks last week, the State Department said

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2022) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday underscored the need to continue diplomatic efforts to deescalate tensions following three rounds of security talks last week, the State Department said.

"They discussed the January 10 Strategic Stability Dialogue, January 12 NATO-Russia Council, and January 13 OSCE Permanent Council meetings," spokesman Ned price said in a readout. "The Secretary stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military build-up in and near Ukraine."
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KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2022) The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received any requests from embassies of other countries concerning an evacuation of their employees, spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko told Ukrainian Glavcom newspaper on Tuesday.

The New York Times reported on Monday, citing a senior Ukrainian security official, that Russia was going to evacuate diplomats from Ukraine. According to the official, Russia began "thinning out" its embassy in Kiev on January 5. The report says 18 individuals, mostly children and spouses of Russian diplomats, boarded buses heading to Russia followed by about 30 more people from Russian embassy in Kiev and consulate in Lviv.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the Russian embassy in Kiev was operating as usual.

"Embassies of other states in Ukraine have not reported on intentions to evacuate their employees. On its part, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not yet planning the evacuation of Ukrainian diplomats from Russia," Nikolenko said.

According to the spokesman, the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow, consulates general in St. Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don, as well as consulates in Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk are working as usual.
Lebanon on Tuesday confirmed Prime Minister Najib Mikati's visit to Turkiye early next month

BEIRUT , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2022 ) :Lebanon on Tuesday confirmed Prime Minister Najib Mikati's visit to Turkiye early next month.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Buhabib and Energy and Water Minister Walid Feyyad held a joint press conference after a meeting with Mikati in the capital Beirut to "determine the delegation" for the visit.

Buhabib spoke on the important issues that would be covered during the visit, saying: "We talked with our Turkish friends the details of issues such as tourism, energy, health, agriculture and education that will be discussed." When asked what the highlights of the bilateral meeting would be, Buhabib responded: "Solar energy, investment in the oil sector, exports of Lebanese products, and tourism cooperation between the two countries are on top of the agenda." Feyyad stressed that it was decided to hold talks with Turkiye on issues that benefit both sides, such as energy and electricity supply.

Regarding Turkiye's prospective energy investments in Lebanon, Feyyad said: "Taking advantage of Turkiye's experience, we will focus on the investment potential of Turks in the energy sector, such as solar and wind energy and natural gas electricity generation.""The investment in solar energy is not very big, it ranges from $50 million to $350 million. It is something that can pave the way for investment cooperation in Turkiye's energy sector," he asserted.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's message to Mikati, inviting him to Turkiye to explore bilateral cooperation during his visit to Beirut on Nov. 16, last year.Mikati will visit Turkiye for the first time since taking office on Sept. 10, 2021.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday he had invited all members of the NATO-Russia Council to a series of meetings to address the bloc's relations with Moscow and to discuss potential threats

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2022) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday he had invited all members of the NATO-Russia Council to a series of meetings to address the bloc's relations with Moscow and to discuss potential threats.

"I have today invited all the members of NATO-Russia Council to a series of meetings. To address NATO-Russia relations, NATO allies are prepared to look at how we can straighten military and civilian lines of the military activities and how to reduce space- and cyberthreats," he said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
ALMATY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2022) Since the beginning of the unrest in Kazakhstan, Kazakh security services have detained more than 2,700 people in Almaty for participation in illegal actions, looting and other crimes, the city's commandant's office said in a statement.

On Monday, the commandant's office reported 2,601 detainees.

"A total of 2,748 participants in illegal actions, looting and other crimes have been detained since the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation. Overall, 131 firearms and 4,179 rounds of ammunition have been seized," it said.
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Russia, Iran and China will hold joint naval drills, the press office of Russia's Pacific Fleet said on Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2022) Russia, Iran and China will hold joint naval drills, the press office of Russia's Pacific Fleet said on Tuesday.

The Russian embassy in Tehran has said that three countries will conduct drills in the Persian Gulf in early 2022.

Several ships of the Pacific Fleet have anchored in Iran's Chabahar port.

"In the port, the official delegation of the Russian Navy will take part in a panned conference to hold a joint naval exercise of warships of Russia, Iran and China," the fleet said.
Valdosta, GA (31601)

Today

Heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Lincoln, RI (02865)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 46F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 46F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is taking place from 18 to 25 January. The Archdiocese of Toamasina in Madagascar has planned joint ecumenical events with other Christian denominations.

Stanislas Kambashi,SJ - Vatican City

Madagascars Father Paques Adore Lebamisaina is the Administrator of the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Joseph in the city of Toamasina. It is situated on the eastern coast of Madagascar and is about 360 Kilometres from the capital Antananarivo. Apart from leading the ecumenical ministry in the diocese, Father Paques Adore also doubles as Director of the Diocesan Radio.



During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Archdiocese of Toamasina leads and participates in ecumenical events in the eastern Indian ocean city.



What is the Week of Prayer for Christian unity?



The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an ecumenical Christian observance in the Christian calendar celebrated internationally. Essentially the week focuses on prayer for Christian Unity. Christians around the world are invited to pray for the unity of all Christians, reflect on scripture together, participate in jointly-organised ecumenical services, and share fellowship.

Pope Francis will close the worldwide celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 25 January with Evening Prayer at Romes Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.



Prayers and shared hospitality in Toamasina



According to Father Paques Adore, the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches in Toamasina have cultivated and forged significant collaboration over the past four years, particularly at the level of its leaders.

For 2022, shared prayers and symbolic events have been jointly organised by Catholics and Churches of the Ecumenical Council of Christian Churches of Madagascar, based in Toamasina and surrounding areas. Some of these Churches include the Anglican and Lutheran churches. After every prayer service, the host invites visitors to light refreshments and fellowship.



Local government authorities have also been invited to the ecumenical events. In the weeks leading to the Week of Prayer, various churches have been raising awareness through the media and inviting Christians to attend the prayers.



Ecumenism, a path illuminated by the light of God



We have seen his star in the East, and we have come to adore him is the theme chosen for this years Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. For Father Paques Adore, this theme is particularly significant for ecumenism in Madagascar because almost 30% of Malagasy people practise traditional religions and many Christians live in a situation of syncretism. Therefore, the star is for the people of Toamasina a sign of hope that leads to the light who is Christ, he explained.



Answering the question regarding some Catholic priests and parishioners who shun ecumenical events, Father Paques Adores reminds them that ecumenical prayer is constitutive of the Christian life. For us Catholics, ecumenism is not an option but an obligation, said the Malagasy priest.



He added that the Archbishop of Toamasina, Desire Cardinal Tsarahazana, has been at the forefront, encouraging the Catholic faithful to participate in Week of Prayer for Christian Unity events. It is the right thing to do, emphasised Father Paques Adores.
Many children in Central African Republic are malnourished as a result of ciil war that has displaced almost 5 million people sparking a major humanitarian crisis (AFP or licensors)

A statement released by the Catholic Bishops of the Central African Republic lambasts a protracted culture of corruption in the country that together with the abuse of foreign parties creates the conditions for the continuing exploitation of natural resources and international marginalization.

By Linda Bordoni

The Catholic Bishops of the Central African Republic are calling for greater transparency in the agreements between their country and foreign partners and nations.

In a forceful statement released at the conclusion of the Bishops First Plenary Assembly of 2022, the prelates denounce what they describe as "media outbursts and disinformation campaigns aimed at tarnishing the image and reputation" of the country in order to maintain conflicting tensions in defiance of the sovereignty of the Central African State.

"This situation aims to marginalize and isolate our country diplomatically and internationally and causes great economic damage in the partnership with international financial institutions that support the fragile economy of the Central African Republic," the statement continues.

The Bishops go on to note that CARs remarkable natural resources are being exploited and abused by foreigners in complicity with corrupt compatriots.

The former French colony is one of the poorest nations in the world despite its significant mineral deposits and other resources such as diamonds, gold, uranium and graphite as well as vast areas of arable land and lumber.

The degradation and destruction of our environment are frightening," the bishops say: We hope and pray that transparency will be established around the agreements between the Central African Republic and foreign partners and countries.

The Republican Dialogue

The bishops also give their views regarding the Republican Dialogue initiated by President Faustin Toudera, in the hope of bringing the nation's driving forces together around the same table.

They note with concern that several opposition party representatives have withdrawn from the process and wonder "about the real impact of such a political exercise in the search for a return to peace, harmony and national reconciliation.

While expressing the fervent wish that this dialogue be inclusive, they warn that these consultations must not "become a license for impunity: There is no question of sacrificing the demands of justice on the altar of politics," the bishops insist.

Crisis of moral values

Another core concern highlighted by the Central African Bishops regards the crisis of moral values.

"Corruption, illicit enrichment, mismanagement, incompetence and lack of professional ethics in some state services, abuse of authority and injustice are all symptoms that reflect and expose the crisis of fundamental moral values," they say, a crisis that goes hand in hand with the behaviour of "dishonest adults [who], strong of their stature and social position, take advantage" of the naivety of children and "exploit them for sexual purposes, thus mortgaging their youth and their future.

The statement also provided the opportunity for the Central African Episcopal Conference to decry the absence of civic and moral education courses that used to be taught in the country's schools.

Synod and synodality

The hard-hitting statement, dated 14 January, does not neglect to highlight the fact that during the assembly, participants had the opportunity of sharing moments of prayer and exchange.

One issue they focussed on at length is on the upcoming Synod and on synodality.

Following Christ, the Church has made synodality her habitual way of living and exercising her mission in the world," they write, noting that ecumenical councils were an eloquent example of this ecclesial expression when contrary ideas threatened the Church's faith and unity.

Explaining the purpose of the ongoing synodal process, the bishops say, the Pope wants to listen to each baptized person as an active subject of evangelization.
Six religious sisters of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent and an Ursuline nun were released by Ethiopian security forces on 15 January after over 40 days of detention.

By Lisa Zengarini

Seven Catholic ethnic Tigrayan nuns arrested by Ethiopian security forces in November last year have been freed and are reportedly in good health conditions.

The Vatican's Fides News Agency reported that Sisters Letemaryam Sibhat, Tiblets Teum, Abeba Tesfay, Zaid Moss, Abeba Hagos, and Abeba Fitwi of the Congregation of Sisters of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, and Ursuline Sister Abrehet Teserma, were released on 15 January.



Two deacons and two nuns still detained

The nuns had been abducted on 30 November, in the context of the 14-month war over the Tigray region. The two Deacons arrested with them and two other nuns from Kobo are still detained along with thousands of ethnic Tigrayans, and even Eritrean refugees, suspected of supporting the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).

Crackdown on suspects

In the crackdown against suspected rebels, a number of Catholic religious and lay people have also been arrested.

On 5 November, a Salesian education center in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa was raided by military forces, and 17 religious and lay people were taken away in a van. They were released on 13 November after been interrogated.

Civil war in Ethiopia

War erupted in Ethiopia on 4 November 2020, after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched an offensive against the separatist Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) following an attack against federal military bases.

Ahmed promised a swift victory, but the fighting has escalated into a widespread conflict involving ethnic-based militias as well as Eritrean armed forces, with reports of serious human rights violations on both sides.

Read also 08/01/2022 Cardinal Souraphiel calls for peace and forgiveness in Ethiopia In his Christmas message issued on January 6, the head of the Ethiopian Bishops' Conference asks the faithfull to ask God for the gift of forgiveness and peace in the country, ...

Humanitarian crisis

The conflict eased slightly during the Christmas period, after TPLF declared a unilateral ceasefire and its withdrawal from the Amhara and Afar regions in what the group called a gesture of willingness to start negotiations.

The situation, however, still remains tense, while the humanitarian crisis in Tigray continues to grow, with seven million people with no food, healthcare, medicines and electricity.

Meanwhile, the Nobel Committee has urged Prime Minister Abiy, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, to commit to end the war.

Over 2 million people have been displaced as a result of the conflict and famine has been officially declared in the region.
After a massive underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga on 15 Jan. and a subsequent tsunami, Caritas Australia is collecting funds to reach out to affected communities in the Polynesian kingdom.

By Robin Gomes

Tonga is coated in a thick blanket of ash after the eruption of undersea volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai on January 15, which triggered tsunamis across the region, destroyed telecommunications and contaminated water supplies in the small Pacific Island nation, Caritas Australia said on Tuesday.

The blast from the volcano could be heard from as far as Alaska. Caritas Australia noted that coastal communities in Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu have been impacted by tsunami waves, along with communities as far afield as Australia, Japan and the Americas.

With its sole undersea communications cable badly damaged, it is feared Tonga could spend days, or even weeks, cut off from the rest of the world because of difficulties in repairing it.

Tonga is home to more than 104,000 people, 70 per cent of whom live on the main island, Tongatapu. Its small outer islands suffered extensive damage from the volcanic eruption. The Tongan government has said that "immediate assistance" is needed to deal with the fallout of the volcanic eruption.

Caritas response

According to Caritas Australia, Volcanic ash and saltwater inundation from the tsunami waves have contaminated water supplies, so many communities will be left without clean water. Tonga already struggles with clean water supplies because it relies on groundwater, so this will put communities in a really difficult position, said Damaris Pfendt, Caritas Australias Pacific Humanitarian Coordinator.

Caritas Australia is trying to establish communications with its Tongan counterpart, to assess the situation on the ground and determine the most urgent needs. From the few updates that have come through, Caritas Australia has come to know that the devastation is significant, especially in the outlying islands. There is an urgent need for fresh water and shelter, especially for the communities on the coastline whose homes were damaged by the tsunami waves. Roads and bridges have also been damaged, it said.

Pfendt pointed out that Caritas Tonga has already emergency supplies in place in the capital Nuku'alofa and Haapai, so they will be able to respond quickly to immediate needs. However, its crucial that we step up and support our neighbours in Tonga, as they recover from this devastating volcanic eruption, she said. Caritas Australia is thus currently raising funds to support communities impacted by the eruption and tsunami in the Polynesian country.

In a Twitter post, Caritas Australia appreciated the Australian government's intent on "supporting the people of Tonga in this time of crisis".

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has also offered an immediate Solidarity Grant to Caritas Tonga and is also receiving donations, through its Pacific Relief Fund, to help with the aftermath of the volcanic eruption there. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Tonga and especially with our partners and the communities with which we have been working for many years," Caritas New Zealand said.



First images of disaster

The first images that began to emerge on Tuesday provided a vague picture of the extent of the destruction, especially in the outer islands. A Tongan diplomat said images taken by New Zealand Defence Force planes showed "alarming" scenes of an entire village destroyed on Mango island and buildings missing on nearby Atata island. Possibly there will be more deaths and we just pray that is not the case," Tongas deputy head of mission in Australia, Curtis Tuihalangingie, told Reuters.

In its first update since the disaster, Tonga's government on Tuesday confirmed 3 deaths. In a statement, the prime ministers office said that in addition to a British national, a 65-year old woman on Mango Island and a 49-year old man on Nomuka Island were killed.

The government said that the Tongan navy was sending health teams and water, food and tents to the low-lying Ha'apai islands.

United Nations

The United Nations had earlier reported a distress signal was detected in Ha'apai, where Mango is located. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the Tongan navy reported the area was hit by waves estimated to be 5-10 metres.

Atata and Mango are between about 50 and 70 km from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, which sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean. Atata has a population of about 100 people and Mango around 50 people.

Airport under thick ash

Aerial images provided to Tonga by New Zealand and Australia showed a thick layer of ash blanketed the islands. The archipelago's main airport, Fuaamotu International Airport, was not damaged but the ash prevented full operations, hampering international relief efforts. The U.N. humanitarian office said Tongan officials had said that clearing the runway would take days, as it was being done manually, with the earliest opening Wednesday.

While we do not have a clear picture of the humanitarian needs due to communication challenges, OCHA said, Tongan authorities have called for immediate assistance, in particular for fresh water and food, as assessments continue.

Governments and aid agencies on alert

The governments of New Zealand and Australia have announced emergency funding for the immediate aid response. Australia is also preparing a vessel to sail to Tonga with relief supplies.

The Red Cross has offered assistance and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community [an international development organization comprising 22 Pacific island countries and territories]  is providing technical support on the impact of the volcano and its ashfall. The Pacific Humanitarian Team members are working with partners on the ground and national counterparts.

UN agencies working in Tonga are providing support, and the logistics cluster, led by WFP, is working to bring in relief supplies and possibly surge staff  in close coordination with relevant authorities in Tonga, humanitarian partners and donor countries.

OCHA is providing communication support to Tongas National Emergency Management Office, which is leading the assessments and the government response  in close cooperation with the Tonga Red Cross Society.
Victoria, TX (77901)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 74F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 74F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
In 2017, Xie Yang was arrested by authorities in China, shackled to a metal chair and ordered to explain why he had joined an illegal anti-Communist Party network.

On the second day, he was moved to a secret government facility and told, Your only right is to obey.

Finally, on day three, the violence began.

Im going to torment you until you go insane, one captor allegedly said during a torture session designed to get him to confess to crimes he denied committing. Dont even imagine that youll be able to walk out of here and continue being a lawyer. Youre going to be a cripple.

The claims, though impossible to verify, are consistent with previously documented forms of abuse against human rights attorneys and other activists in the country. In a detailed account released by Swedish attorney Peter Dahlin in 2017, he describes the harrowing accounts of torture and abuse a group of lawyers and himself were subjected to during a 23-day detention in an underground jail in Beijing.

RELATED:

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Renowned Chinese Lawyer Tang Jitian Disappears After Years of Standing Up for Falun Gong, Other Persecuted Groups

Missing since Jan. 11

Xie, 44, has been reported missing since Jan. 11. According to an insider, sources in China believe he was arrested by state security in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province.

On Jan. 13, his wife Chen Guiqiu told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that she found out about Xies arrest by State Security staff on the 11th. The last time I talked to Xie Yang was on the morning of the 10th, Beijing time. I would normally call him and pray for him in the mornings. On the 11th, the phone couldnt get through.

She tried reaching him again on Jan. 13, but the call went straight to voicemail. Chen believed state security had confiscated his phone.

Xies last tweet was on Jan. 7, when he spoke out in support of economics professor Yang Shaozheng, commenting, This is inhumane!

Yang was a professor at the University of Guizhou who was suspended in November 2017 and fired the next year for writing politically sensitive writings not in keeping with Party rhetoric. He was then arrested by the Partys Procuratorate in October 2021 under unknown charges. Prior to the arrest, Yang was placed under residential surveillance for 18 months in an undisclosed facility.

Xie was first arrested in the central city of Hongjiang on July 11, 2015, on the third day of what campaigners describe as an unprecedented assault on civil rights attorneys in the country.

The event, known as the 709 Crackdown, saw the arrests of more than 300 lawyers and human rights defenders who were detained, interrogated and imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

More than 18 months after that sweep began, at least four of its key targets, including Xie, remained behind bars facing trial for crimes including subversion and disruption of public order.

After standing trial in late 2017, Xie revealed that he pled guilty to charges of subversion in exchange for an early release and was told his release was contingent upon him retracting statements saying he had been tortured while in detention.

Disbarred in 2020

In August 2020, the Justice Department of Hunan Province announced that Xie would lose his license after multiple occasions of disrupting court order  referencing his work defending marginalized groups in China. It added that he had posted multiple comments on social media that were defamatory and endangered national security.

Xie first landed on the CCPs radar after defending a number of politically sensitive cases. One of his clients included a group of people involved in the New Citizens Movement  a civil rights movement that started a decade ago to encourage Chinas transition into a civil, democratic society.

After his disbarment, Xie said he tried multiple times to overturn the governments decision but was unsuccessful. There is very little chance of success but I have to exercise my right of defense, Xie said in 2017.

He said that under Chinese law, administrative penalties could not be applied if the alleged offenses took place more than two years ago.

The reasons [the department] cited happened in 2015, and this was already beyond the legal period, he said. They could not punish me with these charges.

According to the departments notice, Xie could lodge an appeal or suit against the department within 60 days if he wanted to try and overturn the ruling.

Champion of human rights

Despite the repeated arrests and attempts on his life, Xie never stopped advocating for oppressed voices in China.

Most recently, Xie offered assistance to Li Tiantian, a 27-year-old pregnant elementary teacher who was forcefully committed to a mental institution after criticizing government authorities in the firing of university lecturer Song Gengyi on Dec. 17, 2021.

(R) Lawyer Xie Yang holds a sign saying Let Li Tiantian and her child go home (L) Schoolteacher Li Tiantian pictured in a social media post. (Images: Chen Guiqiu via The Epoch Times/social media via RFA)

Find a way to save me! Li wrote in a final text to another internet user after expressing concern for her unborn child as police detained and threatened to use injections to cure her. Li was incommunicado until Dec. 26, when social media users reported she had returned home.

An insider told The Epoch Times that Xies arrest may have been connected to Lis case after he traveled to rural Hunan Province late last year in hopes of helping the young school teacher. The source added that his arrest was done quietly because there wasnt enough evidence to officially charge him with.

They think Xie has caused troubles for the regime, its embarrassing to them, the source added.
China is now roughly back to the trade status that it was before its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2001, as the United States has de facto removed China from the most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment.

From December 1, 32 countries, including the European Union, the UK, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, and Liechtenstein, ceased to apply MFN status to China. Compared with the pre-WTO period, China has lost an important foreign trade hub after the U.S. cancelled the special tariff zone treatment for Hong Kong last year. The MFN treatment granted by Norway, New Zealand and Australia was retained.

Some commentators believe that China has been knocked back to its pre-WTO accession position and thus is in serious trouble; but this is a misjudgment. The circumstances are different now.

China is not the China of 20 years ago, and the U.S. and Europe are no longer in the same glory. Furthermore, considering what U.S. National Security Advisor Sullivan said about China in a CNN interview on Nov. 6  that the Biden administration is not seeking to change China  this is not such a big blow to China.

Chinas national power accumulated over its 20 years of WTO membership

Chinas relatively calm stance toward the 32 countries comes from Xi Jinpings conclusion that the East is rising, and the West is declining, and that China finally has more equal footing on the world stage. When Beijing presented Chinas emission reduction plan at the UN Climate Summit in late August last year, it learned that the EU was ready to put China on the list of medium developed countries. Indeed, with the worlds second largest GDP and a GDP per capita of more than $10,000, it is too embarrassing for China to continue to be taken care of as a developing country.

More importantly, China has basically obtained the benefits it had wanted by joining the WTO. Under the strong advocacy of President Clinton, China officially joined the WTO in December 2001, and the Chinese economy has been taking off rapidly ever since. As the data shows, in 2001, Chinas GDP totaled $1.34 trillion, or 4.0065% of the worlds GDP. Then, 18 years later, in 2019 (in 2020 the pandemic occurred in China and then spread throughout the world), Chinas GDP totaled $14.28 trillion, or 16.2763% of the worlds GDP. The data shows that the growth of Chinas economic power is owing to its accession to the WTO.

In Globalization v1.0, China has indeed become the center. Its the largest developing country to introduce foreign investments, with the total number of established foreign enterprises exceeding one million. Its the worlds largest exporter and the second largest importer and is the biggest buyer from resource-rich countries. Especially after the U.S. shale oil production changed the global oil supply, Russia, the Middle East, and other oil-producing countries are scrambling to enlist China.

After the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, oil prices plummeted, and Chinas oil orders had therefore made China the king. By the end of 2020, Chinas total outward foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $2.3 trillion, second only to the U.S. and the Netherlands. Over 28,000 domestic Chinese investors set up 44,000 outward FDI enterprises in 189 countries and regions around the world, with total assets reaching $7.9 trillion. In the UN, China has successfully turned the UN Commission on Human Rights, WHO, etc. into a tool to serve its own interests. Under these circumstances, the removal of Chinas MFN status by the U.S. and EU is indeed an option to gain leverage.

China thinks that it has the power to bargain with the U.S. and EU over tariffs.

According to statistics released by China Customs on Nov. 7, in the first 10 months of 2021, the total value of Chinas imports and exports was 31.67 trillion RMB, up 22.2 percent year-on-year, of which exports were 17.49 trillion RMB, up 22.5 percent year-on-year; imports were 14.18 trillion RMB, up 21.8 percent year-on-year, and up 21.4 percent over the same period in 2019.

The trade surplus was 3.31 trillion RMB, up 25.5 percent year-on-year. ASEAN, the European Union, the United States, and Japan, are the first, second, third and fourth largest trading partners, respectively. China has a trade surplus with the top three trading partners; 448.51 billion RMB with ASEAN, an increase of 6.6 percent, and 1.04 trillion RMB with EU, an increase of 38 percent.

The total value of trade between China and the U.S. was 3.95 trillion RMB, an increase of 23.4 percent. Chinas trade surplus with the U.S. was 2.08 trillion RMB, an increase of 18.9 percent. The trade deficit with Japan was 182.25 billion RMB, an increase of 47.8 percent. In addition, Chinas foreign exchange reserves grew in October for the first time since July of last year. China has the worlds largest foreign exchange reserves, reaching $3.218 trillion at the end of October, which was up 0.53 percent from September and slightly lower than the $3.232 trillion at the end of August.

It is difficult for the U.S. and EU to break interdependent foreign trade relations with China. China will likely negotiate future tariffs with the U.S. and EU unilaterally in a reciprocal manner. Meaning if exemptions for you then exemptions for me, and if, increases for you then increases for me.

The U.S. and EU will continue to treat China in the same way as they have in the past 20 years, cooperation on one hand, confrontation on the other. From the experiences of the past 40 years, China is confident that it will obtain preferential tariff treatment from all countries.

Companies with trade ties to China will automatically become lobbyists

Lets recall Chinas experiences since it opened to the world 40 years ago.

Since the end of the last century, China has conducted a test run in its lobbying operations in the United States. According to the U.S. Center for Public Integrity, lobbying fees from China totaled $4,225,300 from 1998 to 2004. Lobbying was more indirect in later years. On the homepage of the Open Secrets website, the table Lobbying Data Summary records the total lobbying fees from 1998 to 2021.

There are two types of such lobbying, one is lobbying agencies hired by the Chinese government. The Trump administration started to require these agencies to register as foreign agents. Although the policy was not strictly enforced, it has somewhat stifled these agencies.

Over the years, multinational corporations have lobbied Congress heavily to protect their investments in China. They have dedicated lobbyists in Washington D.C. and have also formed alliances. Prior to Chinas accession to the WTO, they fervently called on the U.S. government to unconditionally extend MFN status to China. In the face of Chinas dire human rights situation and authoritarian politics, their main arguments for lobbying Congress were: China is on a path for improvement to get closer to Western democracy, Economic development will promote political reform in China, and, Popularization of the Internet will bring freedom of the press to China, etc.

Back on April 29, 1997, the New York Times published an article claiming that Boeing and other interested companies were lobbying the U.S. Congress for China. The April 2015 issue of the Atlantic Monthly also ran an article titled How Corporate Lobbyists Conquering American Democracy. These articles expose the fact that American conglomerates, such as General Electric, Microsoft, Boeing, Coca-Cola, Citi Bank, etc., and almost every major corporation that enters the mainland Chinese market automatically disguises themselves as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill.

In addition, they are more eloquent and influential than professional lobbyists. They have a far better understanding of and the ability to act on U.S. lobbying politics than Chinese. In 2007, the U.S. introduced the Revision and Clarification of Export and Reexport Controls for the Peoples Republic of China (PRC)and New Authorization Validated End-User, which added 47 controlled export products. What finally prompted the U.S. to reduce the number of controlled products was not the protest by the Chinese government, but rather the lobbying of U.S. multinational conglomerates such as Boeing and United Technologies.

My view is that the removal of Chinas WTO treatment by many countries should not be seen as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under siege, as many commentators believe. These Western countries just think that China has become rich and has entered the ranks of medium developed countries, so they canceled all kinds of assistance. They also want to end preferential tariff treatment which categorizes China as a developing country. They will return to unilateral or multilateral trade negotiations on tariffs in the future. Coincidentally, as I finished writing this article, I came across an article published on November 8 on on.cc, entitled Another crisis in global supply chain: US, UK and others want China to delay new import regulations. Diplomats from seven economic systems, including the US, UK, Japan, along with Australia, Canada, EU, and Switzerland, sent a letter on Oct. 27 to Yuefeng Ni, the head of Chinas General Administration of Customs (GAC), expressing their concerns about Chinese Customs Decrees 248 and 249, issued in April.

The two orders ask food importers to meet the new requirements for comprehensive registration, inspection and labeling by Jan. 1, 2022. These countries argued that the decrees would disrupt the global food supply chain and delay food supplies to China. They suggested GAC delay the food import measures for at least 18 months. Up until Nov. 8 2021, neither the GAC nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reported to have responded to these requests.

There are neither permanent friends nor permanent enemies in the world, and Chinas accession to the WTO is the best footnote to this famous saying. Before China joined the WTO, many countries were very glad to accept it, where the United States envisaged the bright prospect of democratizing China through the WTO. After Chinas entry to the WTO, the countries then learned how much China, the new member, can stir up trouble. But in the end, there was nothing they could do about it.

Today, 20 years later, they finally feel that China should no longer be allowed to enjoy the favored nation treatment as a developing country, and they want to return to the unilateral trade negotiation relationship that existed before 2001. The real problem for the West in the future is that China is not the same trading partner (or adversary) it was then, and it is far more difficult to deal with now.

This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia on Nov. 9, 2021.
Ever since the National Security Law was passed in Hong Kong in 2020, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) has been implementing policies that align itself more with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Recently, the HKPF has decided to adopt Chinese goose-stepping drills, replacing the UK military step it has been using in its marches until now.

The goose-stepping marching style, where uniformed officers kick straight-legged in a robotic manner, was first used by Prussian soldiers and has become a hallmark of authoritarian regimes including Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and the Peoples Republic of China, the HKFP stated.

The staff from the PLAs army barracks in Hong Kong have been instructing the citys officers on the stepping technique since Feb. 2021. On April 15 during the National Security Education Day, the Chinese goose-stepping technique was demonstrated for the first time in public by Hong Kongs police officers. The new stepping technique will officially become a part of the daily routine of officers beginning July 1, a day which marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kongs transfer to communist China by Britain.

In the second quarter, the Hong Kong Police College will conduct workshops that will educate frontline officers on the goose-stepping technique. The immigration, excise, and customs departments have also demonstrated the stepping technique during some of their ceremonies. In an annual report, the citys firefighters had mentioned that they will switch to Chinese goose-stepping by the end of January.

The force has actively planned for the full rollout of Chinese-style foot drills in order to show patriotism and foster love for our motherland and Hong Kong, police told the AFP in a statement.

It isnt clear whether the Hong Kong police were directly instructed by Beijing to adopt the Chinese goose-stepping technique. It would be considered to be in breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration that was signed in 1984.

According to the declaration, China only has control over Hong Kongs defense and foreign affairs. However, Beijing passed the National Security Law and has intensified its crackdown against the democratic values and freedom of expression of Hong Kong. The instruction to use goose-stepping would be a comparatively small change.

The Hong Kong police have used their newfound powers to disrupt and the crackdown on any protest or media outlet that has a pro-democracy stance. In late December, Stand News was forced to shut down operations after the police raided its offices, arresting several senior staff employees. Chief Secretary of police John Lee justified the raid saying that there will be zero tolerance for any behavior that threatens national security. In a statement on Dec. 29, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the arrests.

Freedom of expression, including media freedom, and access to information provided by an independent media are critical to prosperous and secure societies. These freedoms enabled Hong Kong to flourish as a global center for finance, trade, education, and culture. By silencing independent media, PRC and local authorities undermine Hong Kongs credibility and viability. A confident government that is unafraid of the truth embraces a free press, Blinken stated.

After the National Security Law was passed, Hong Kong police were given the authority to raid premises without any warrant from the court under exceptional circumstances. The rule also allows officers to search electronic devices and vehicles.

Police were empowered to remove online content that is likely to result in an offense endangering national security. If a person is believed to be a threat to national security, the citys security chief can issue an order to freeze all assets linked to the person.
The fast-spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus in Australia has led to its highest single-day death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The health ministry posted 74 COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, with the fatalities spread across Australias three most populous states: 36 deaths in New South Wales, 22 deaths in Victoria and 16 in Queensland.

The new fatality record coincides with record numbers of new COVID-19 patients that are pushing Australian hospitals to the brink of collapse. Authorities in Victoria state imposed a code brown emergency for hospitals in Melbourne, its capital city, and several regional hospitals. The decree calls on hospitals to postpone non-urgent procedures and bring back staffers who are on leave or ask them to postpone scheduled leaves.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters Tuesday the government is activating an emergency plan to send more than 50,000 nurses and 100,000 medical staffers from private hospitals to areas across Australia most affected by the pandemic. The plan also calls for the government to tap into the national medical stockpile and make personal protective equipment available for states and territories in the event of any shortages.

Meanwhile, authorities in Japan are reportedly finalizing a plan to impose a new set of restrictions in Tokyo and several other prefectures as the country posted more than 20,000 new COVID-19 cases for Monday, with Kyodo news agency reporting that the western prefecture of Osaka will post a record 6,000 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday. The new restrictions, which could be unveiled later this week, include shorter opening hours for bars and restaurants and limiting attendance at public venues.

On the vaccine front, an Israeli hospital says results of preliminary study shows a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine offers limited immunity against the omicron variant. Doctors at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv inoculated 150 staffers last month with a fourth shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The results showed the level of antibodies from the fourth shot was higher than the third dose  the initial booster shot of the vaccines two-dose regimen  but was not enough to prevent a possible omicron infection.

These are very preliminary results. This is before any publication, but were giving it out since we understand the urgency of the public to get any information possible about the fourth dose, Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the hospital's infection prevention and control unit, told reporters at a virtual news conference Monday.

The study was launched shortly after a special health advisory board recommended that people 60 years old and older, as well as those with compromised immune systems and medical workers, receive a fourth dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Dr. Nahman Ash, the director of Israels Health Ministry, said Israelis in that category should continue to receive the extra dose.

Meanwhile, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said Monday during a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum that the drugmaker is almost finished developing a new version of its COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the omicron variant. Bancel said Moderna will submit the revised vaccine to regulatory approval as soon as March.

He also said the company is planning to introduce a new combination COVID-19 and influenza vaccine by late 2023 in time for the cold weather season. Bancel said the new vaccine will also be designed to provide protection against a common respiratory virus called RSV that typically causes cold-like symptoms.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will urge Russia to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions along its border with Ukraine in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva Friday.



Blinken is heading to Ukraine this week for talks with the countrys president amid continued fears that Russia is planning to invade its neighbor.



We are now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine, said a senior State Department official, adding that the U.S. continues to prepare for a different outcome if Moscow does decide to pursue further military aggression against Ukraine.



Russia has continued its troop buildup and its harsh rhetoric against Ukraine, moving Russian forces into Belarus over the weekend.



Diplomacy is not dead, the senior State Department official told reporters during a call briefing on Tuesday, adding that the U.S. side believes the only way to solve this conflict successfully is through diplomacy.

Blinken spoke with Lavrov on Tuesday to stress the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military buildup in and near Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement about the conversation.

The secretary reiterated the unshakable U.S. commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and underscored that any discussion of European security must include NATO Allies and European partners, including Ukraine, the statement added.

The State Department said earlier Tuesday the quickly arranged trip has Blinken scheduled to meet Wednesday in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Blinken will then travel on to Berlin to with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to discuss recent diplomatic engagements with Russia and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the State Department said.

Watch related video by Henry Ridgwell:



The buildup of an estimated 100,000 Russian troops along Ukraines eastern border has raised fears Moscow is planning military action against its neighbor, which was once part of the Russian-led Soviet Union. Russia seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

Blinkens trip follows talks in Geneva last week between Russian and U.S. officials aimed at settling differences over Ukraine and other security issues. No progress was reported.

Russia has demanded guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO.

Last week the Biden administration accused Moscow of preparing a "false flag operation" for use as a ploy for intervention in Ukraine, a charge Russia has angrily denied.

Watch related video by Cindy Saine:

A U.S. delegation visited Kyiv on Monday to show support for Ukraine amid the standoff with Russia.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, told VOAs Ukrainian Service, We have Democrats and Republicans of very different political views here to say we stand with Ukraine, and if Vladimir Putin chooses to take this treacherous anti-democratic path of invading this country, there will be severe and swift sanctions.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican, told VOA, The United States wont just sit idly by and be a bystander if something happens. What we would like to do is prevent it from happening. We want to be a deterrent. We want to be part of the solution before fighting commences.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press.
Chinas construction of villages and settlements along its Himalayan borders has extended to disputed territories in Bhutan, a small country wedged between India and China, according to satellite images.

Like the India-China border, Chinas 477 kilometers long frontier with Bhutan is also unsettled and the latest construction is seen as Beijings bid to consolidate its claims along a strategic plateau that would give it leverage in its territorial disputes with India, according to analysts.

The construction of these settlements started sometime during the second half of 2020 and accelerated through 2021. They all appear to be designed in a uniform chalet-type configuration, Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher with Israel-based Intel Labs told VOA.

This zone where the Chinese are currently developing land is riddled with harsh terrain, Symon said. It is in disputed areas or areas within Bhutans own territory, currently unoccupied and remote from the Bhutanese side.

The settlements have been built about 30 kilometers from Doklam Plateau, where India and China had a tense stand-off in 2017 when Indian soldiers blocked the construction of a road by China. It was resolved when Beijing agreed to maintain the status quo in the area.

However, analysts say the new settlements indicate China simply changed its strategy by reinforcing its presence in the vicinity.

The plateau lies at the junction of the borders of India, Bhutan and China close to a narrow strip of Indian territory called Chickens Neck, a vital corridor that connects India to states in its northeast. For decades, the area to the north of this corridor was largely uninhabited.

What stands out is that Chinas expansionism has not spared its smallest neighbor Bhutan. That speaks for itself. It is attempting to grab strategic areas that provide some vantage to its army, says Brahma Chellaney, an author on geo-strategic affairs and Professor at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi. The settlements effectively open up a new military axis against India.

Although of serious concern to India, New Delhi, which has been preoccupied with an ongoing standoff with China for the last 20 months in a different part of its Himalayan border with China, has not commented.

Bhutan, a country of 800,000 people and without the capacity to police its borders, has also not responded to reports of the Chinese settlements along its border. It is Bhutans policy not to talk about boundary issues in the public, Bhutans foreign ministry said in response to a Reuters inquiry.

Beijing and its relatively small neighbor reached an agreement in October to expedite the settlement of their boundary dispute that had made virtually no progress over three and a half decades. The roadmap, the Bhutanese foreign ministry had said, will provide fresh impetus to the boundary talks.

Following its signing, Chinas state media said that India is not happy with the agreement. New Delhi in a cautious response had said that it had noted the signing of the agreement.

By building these border settlements they are pressuring Bhutan to accede to Chinese demands. What they encroach upon becomes Chinese territory, that is classic Chinese strategy, Chellaney said. India faces a serious dilemma because what is happening impinges on its security. But when Bhutan is silent, how can India speak up? And that too on behalf of Bhutan?

China last year also raised new claims to a huge swath of land in Bhutan encompassing a wildlife sanctuary that adjoins the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as South Tibet.

New Delhi is wary over a Bhutan-China border deal that would undermine its interests. But for Bhutan settling its borders with China is emerging as a priority as it worries about being caught in the ongoing India-China military tensions which are at their highest in decades. And while there is much at stake for both India and Bhutan, neither has much leverage, analysts say.

Bhutan is anxious for a resolution but unfortunately the resolution would come at their expense. As they have done in other cases, what China has done is create new realities on the ground and now wants to negotiate based on what they have already done, said Harsh Pant, the director of research at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

For India, already worried over the influence that China has built in neighboring South Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal, the situation presents a new challenge. Bhutan has for years closely coordinated its foreign policy with India, which accounts for 80% of its trade.

What they are doing is to put pressure on a small country on Indias periphery to cede sovereignty to China and to signal to other countries also in Indias vicinity that it is China that is dictating the terms of engagement, Pant said.

Since 2017, China has built about 600 villages along its border with India to fortify its Himalayan frontier  analysts say these are dual use villages that can also be used by its military. Satellite images last year showed one of these villages lies in an area that is disputed with India.

The construction activity by Beijing in the Bhutanese borderlands is not over, according to the latest satellite data. Recent images show work is ongoing, even though heavy snowfall and inclement weather. We have also seen more earth being cleared and the presence of heavy machinery which indicates more developments are yet to come, Symon said.
China said Tuesday that Afghanistans Taliban will have to live up to international expectations at an early date to earn legitimacy for their interim government in Kabul.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the statement in response to reports the Islamist group was seeking Chinas help in getting the new Afghan administration recognized by the global community.

Zhao noted while addressing a news conference in Beijing that Taliban interim authorities have actively engaged in international exchanges and held dialogue with quite a few countries since taking control of the war-torn country.

At the same time, we hope the Afghan side will respond further to the expectation of the international community, establish an open and inclusive political architecture, adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, firmly combat all sorts of terrorist forces, he said.

Zhao urged the Taliban to combat terrorist forces in Afghanistan, establish friendly terms with other countries, especially neighbors, and integrate into the international family at an early date.

The Chinese foreign ministry posted the transcript of Tuesdays news conference on its website.

The Taliban seized power from the Western-backed Afghan government in August as the United States-led foreign military forces withdrew from the country after 20 years.

No country has yet recognized the new government, citing a lack of political inclusivity, exclusion of most Afghan women from public life and girls from education, and the groups alleged ongoing links to transnational terrorists.

Taliban leaders dismiss criticism of their government, saying it represents all Afghans and pledge they will allow all women to study and work in line with Sharia or Islamic law. They insist the new political setup in Kabul has met all the conditions required to be recognized by the world.

The Taliban takeover led to an immediate suspension of non-humanitarian international funding for aid-dependent Afghanistan and the freezing of roughly $9.5 billion in Afghan foreign cash reserves, mostly held in the United States.

The financial restrictions have pushed the countrys fragile economy to the brink of collapse and worsened an already bad humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The United Nations estimates that about 24 million Afghans are facing acute hunger.

Neighboring China, Pakistan, and Iran, as well as Russia, all have been urging the U.S. to unfreeze Afghan assets to help contain economic upheavals.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a telephone conversation Monday discussed the Afghan humanitarian conditions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The prime minister also underscored the importance of release of Afghanistans financial assets for addressing the dire needs of the Afghan people, Khans office quoted him as telling Putin.

The U.N. asked donors earlier this month for a record $4.4 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan in 2022. Washington announced it would provide an additional $308 million in relief assistance.

The U.S. and other countries are exploring ways to scale up humanitarian assistance by injecting cash directly into the Afghan economy so they can bypass Taliban-led ministries and make sure the funds do not support activities of the Islamist group.

Some cabinet ministers in the new dispensation remain under U.S. and United Nations terrorism-related sanctions, which makes it difficult for foreign diplomats to directly engage with the government.

Last week, the Taliban proposed creating a joint body of their officials and international representatives to help coordinate the aid plan.

We ask the international communities that they should use the government capacities for their aid goals, Acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi told reporters.
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is due back in a Kyiv court Wednesday as a judge considers whether to grant him bail or order his arrest in a treason case he says is politically motivated.

Poroshenko, who led Ukraine from 2014-19, returned to the country Monday to face the charges, and told supporters at the airport that he had come back to help Ukraine face the growing threat of Russian invasion.

He added to that message in a series of tweets Tuesday, saying with the help of its international partners, Ukraine will stand our ground.



My sincere gratitude go for the extraordinary attention paid today to the support of Ukraine, especially of our fight against the ongoing aggression of the Kremlin, by our allies in Washington and London, in Berlin and Paris, in Brussels and Ottawa, in the entire European Union, NATO, Poroshenko posted.

Prosecutors accuse Poroshenko of treason for allegedly using illegal coal sales to finance Russian-backed separatists from 2014-15. If convicted, he could face 15 years in prison.

He was in court Monday for a hearing that ran nearly 12 hours, with the court deferring until Wednesday the decision whether to grant Poroshenko bail or order his arrest. Prosecutors have requested bail be set at $35 million.

Poroshenkos return comes as Ukraine faces a tense standoff with neighboring Russia. Tens of thousands of Russian troops have amassed near the border with Ukraine, prompting the United States to express concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be planning an invasion.

A U.S. delegation visited Kyiv on Monday to show support for Ukraine amid the standoff.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, told VOAs Ukrainian Service, We have Democrats and Republicans of very different political views here to say we stand with Ukraine, and if Vladimir Putin chooses to take this treacherous anti-democratic path of invading this country, there will be severe and swift sanctions.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican, told VOA, The United States wont just sit idly by and be a bystander if something happens. What we would like to do is prevent it from happening. We want to be a deterrent. We want to be part of the solution before fighting commences.

Poroshenko came to power in 2014 after street protests ousted then-President Viktor Yanukovych. He is credited with strengthening Ukraines army after Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine. Poroshenko, however, lost elections in 2019 following a corruption scandal and charges that he had not done enough to implement political reforms.

Poroshenko owns a confectionery empire and is often called Ukraines chocolate king. Forbes magazine estimates his fortune at $1.6 billion.

VOAs Ukrainian Service contributed to the report. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Regional governments and international aid agencies are reporting significant damage to Tongas main island following last Saturdays undersea volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami.

Officials with the United Nations humanitarian agency say several resorts and houses along the western beaches of Tongatapu have been destroyed or badly damaged, with the capital of Nukualofa covered in ash.

Preliminary reports of the aftermath of the disaster began coming in Monday after Australia and New Zealand sent military surveillance flights over the isolated Pacific island nation. Reports of damage have also come from Tongans using satellite phone service, which has been sporadic due to the ash that continues to hover over the islands.

The surveillance flights also detected significant damage on the small islands of Mango and Fonoi, home to a combined 105 people. The U.N. humanitarian agency says an active distress beacon has been detected from Mango.

Saturdays eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano, located about 64 kilometers north of Nukualofa, severely damaged the single undersea fiber-optic cable that provides phone and internet service to the island. Operators say repairs to the cable could take anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on the extent of the damage.

Tongan authorities are urging residents to wear masks and drink bottled water as the volcanic ash has turned the air toxic and contaminated the islands fresh drinking water.

Australian and New Zealand military officials say their cargo planes are unable to deliver critically needed relief supplies until the runway at Tongas airport is cleared of ash.

Plans for the relief efforts are also complicated by concerns from Tongan authorities about relief workers bringing COVID-19 into the island, which has so far avoided the disease.

The family of 50-year-old British national Angela Glover, who was swept out to sea by the tsunami, said Monday her body had been recovered.

The eruption triggered tsunami warnings along much of the western U.S. coastline. Elsewhere, two people in Peru drowned due to high waves triggered by the tsunami.

Tonga lies along the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire" region, which is lined with seismic fault lines and active volcanoes.
Germany has said it is prepared to pay "a high economic price" to defend its values, as NATO members engage in another week of intense diplomacy amid a Russian troop buildup close to the Ukrainian border.

Western nations have threatened Russia with crippling sanctions if it invades Ukraine.

Russian troops

Over 100,000 troops have been deployed in western Russia, along with tanks and other heavy weapons, some within tens of kilometers of the Ukrainian frontier. Kyiv and its Western allies fear another invasion is imminent, while the Kremlin claims the deployment is to guard against NATO's expansion.

Against that tense backdrop, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow Tuesday and said Germany would defend Europe's fundamental values.

"Those common rules are the foundation of our common European house. For Germany, they are our basis of existence. Therefore, we have no other option but to defend those common rules, even if this means paying a high economic price," Baerbock said.

German coalition

Baerbock is from Germany's Green Party, which is part of the coalition government that took over from Chancellor Angela Merkel in early December. She is faced with an escalating crisis on Europe's eastern flank.

"More than 100,000 Russian soldiers with tanks and guns have gathered near Ukraine in recent weeks for no understandable reason. And it's hard not to see this as a threat," Baerbock said.

Lavrov dismissed those concerns.

"We don't threaten anybody with anything, but we do hear the threats addressed to us," Lavrov told reporters following the meeting. "We will act in accordance with concrete steps, concrete actions. And our reaction will be obviously predicated on what concrete steps our partners take," he added.

NATO

In talks with the U.S. earlier this month, Moscow demanded that NATO pull back its deployments in Eastern Europe and promise never to admit Ukraine as a member.

The United States and its allies dismissed those demands, and Russia refused to pull back its troops from the border.

"We explained that we cannot accept any demands regarding the actions of our armed forces on our own land," Foreign Minister Lavrov said.

Bilateral negotiations with the United States can resume only if Washington responds to Moscow's proposals on de-escalating the crisis, Lavrov added. The U.S. has already dismissed Russia's demands, and the negotiations appear deadlocked.

Diplomatic flurry

The German-Russian talks come amid another week of intense diplomacy.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit Kyiv and Berlin, as the West aims to present a united front. NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Tuesday in Berlin and reiterated the alliance position.

"The risk of a conflict is real. NATO allies call on Russia to de-escalate, and any further aggression will come with a high cost for Moscow," Stoltenberg told reporters.

Nord Stream 2

Germany said that cost could include the continued suspension of Nord Stream 2, the recently completed pipeline that could send Russian gas directly to Germany. Moscow is eager for the gas  and the money  to start flowing, says Filip Medunic, an expert on Russian energy at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

"If Ukraine is really going to go into a full-scale invasion, it will be difficult to argue for putting Nord Stream 2 in operation. What is sometimes forgotten is that the current status, if played well, does also give Europe some leverage," Medunic told VOA.

Meanwhile, Britain this week began delivering what it described as "light anti-armor weapons" to Ukraine. The United States has already supplied anti-tank weapons to Kyiv and has said the supply of military hardware would be stepped up if Russia invades.
A Mexican photojournalist died after being shot in the head outside his home in the northern border city of Tijuana, officials said on Monday.

Margarito Martinez, 49, worked for more than a decade in Tijuana for several national and international news outlets covering the gang crime and violence that has scarred the city, which sits on U.S.-Mexico border opposite San Diego.

The Attorney General's office in the Tijuana's home state of Baja California said officials who responded to a 911 call around midday found Martinez's body outside his home with a head injury caused by firearm.

A fellow journalist from Baja California said Martinez had been included in a state program aimed at safeguarding the lives of journalists.

"He recently entered the protection program because he received threats," said the reporter, who requested anonymity.

Tijuana has become one of Mexico's most violent cities due to conflicts among drug gangs caught in turf wars over trafficking routes.



Baja California's Human Rights Commission condemned Martinez's killing, saying "any attack on journalists constitutes an attack on freedom of expression and the right of society to be informed."

Martinez was the second journalist to be killed this year in Mexico, after the death of Jose Gamboa last week in the southeastern state of Veracruz.

From 2000 to 2021, human rights group Article 19 has registered 145 murders of journalists in Mexico, with seven deaths recorded last year.
When The Emancipator was first published in 1820, it was created with an intention that was radical at the time: to abolish slavery in the United States.

More than 200 years later, Boston University's Center for Antiracist Research and The Boston Globe are planning a project by the same name. Their objective is just as bold.

"Our goal is to end racism now," Amber Payne, The Emancipator co-editor-in-chief, told VOA. "It may feel very pie in the sky and very idealistic, but it really shouldn't feel that way, and it shouldn't be that way."

Deborah D. Douglas, fellow co-editor in chief, said that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed inequalities in the U.S., especially for those historically marginalized.

Additionally, widespread protests following police killings of Black Americans, including George Floyd in May 2020, have sparked conversations about race and inequality.

The Emancipator seeks to provide context for those issues and more, Douglas said.

The official launch is tentatively planned for June 2022. But they hope to begin releasing a weekly newsletter, Reframe, as early as February.

The Boston-based team plans to reach audiences in the U.S. and worldwide with reporting on issues such as voter suppression and inequality in health care or the criminal justice system, and features on art, television and movies.

The Emancipator will be about "meeting the moment" and unpacking systemic issues related to current events, Douglas said.

"We're really at a tipping point right now," Douglas told VOA. "And there's not just one place that talks about antiracism. There's nothing that really unpacks structure, and how that impacts all of us, and how it implicates all of us in the negative impacts of white supremacy. The Emancipator can do that."

Solutions-oriented journalism

Their approach reflects a change in how people think about journalism, media ethics experts say.

Traditionally, news outlets provide objective, neutral coverage, but journalists do not need to maintain neutrality on every issue, said Kelly McBride, chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at the Poynter Institute.

"I think it's an easy decision for a news organization to say we are not going to be neutral on those issues  we are for equality, we are against racism, and we are in favor of creating a news product that helps our community understand these issues better and recognize, as a news consumer, what your role is in in making the community better," McBride told VOA.

Both Douglas and Payne stress that The Emancipator will not only address issues related to racism, but also offer solutions.

"We're really thinking very, very deeply about knowledge and solutions, and helping people to take on real life issues," said Payne. "That could be arming people to be better voters or be better equipped to have that uncomfortable conversation with a neighbor, or raise their hand at the school board meeting and present an idea very confidently and feel self-assured and researched about it."

The Emancipator will help people "go beyond hashtag activism and black-square activism and create the pathway to change their life, their world and their community," Payne said, referring to social media campaigns where users post a black square to show solidarity with groups calling for racial justice.

To that end, The Emancipator will be based in what is known as "solutions journalism"  reporting that explains events and offers information about how communities are successfully responding to those issues.

The 'whole story'

"We call it the whole story," said David Bornstein, co-founder and chief executive of the Solutions Journalism Network. "It's rounding out the narrative so that you have all the information you need in order to respond to the problems and hopefully build a better community and a better society."

When the media focus solely on challenges faced by certain communities, it influences public perception of people who live in those areas, Bornstein said.

Perception in turn shapes policies and also influences everyday "micro decisions" such as checking a person's purse in a department store or whether to stop for someone at a taxi stand, he added.

In other words, focusing exclusively on challenges creates more exclusion, more stereotyping and more division.

"Narrative determines identity, it determines our behavior, it determines our beliefs," Bornstein told VOA. "If you take the metro daily newspaper of any large city in the United States, and you look at the communities that have been historically excluded, whether it's poverty or communities of color, you will find that the majority of stories about those communities are about problems and challenges."

Asset framing

Key to changing that is a technique called asset framing  a concept coined by Trabian Shorters, board member of the Solutions Journalism Network and founder of BMe, an organization that leads training on ending racial stigma.

Shorters explained the concept to VOA, saying, "If we first define people by their aspirations and their contributions before we talk about the challenges, that's a fuller narrative and a more accurate depiction of who we are."

Both Bornstein and Shorters are careful to note that solutions journalism and asset framing do not mean focusing only on the positive. They are about leading with humanity, what motivates people to get out of bed in the morning, Shorters said.

"If we're going to end racism, news media absolutely has to lean in and journalists have to learn how to tell stories in ways that don't stigmatize people. They have to learn how to tell stories that actually lead to solutions and solutions-oriented thinking," Shorters added.

McBride at Poynter said that "solutions-oriented journalism gives people a pathway to make the news relevant" because it not only informs readers about issues, it provides steps for those who seek change.

Even though the terms solutions journalism and asset framing were not around when the original Emancipator was published, Shorters said the paper was still based on these principles.

"When The Emancipator was created originally, I promise you it was to fulfill Black people's aspirations to live free," Shorters said. "It was not focused on just what's broken and what's damaged and what's wrong."

Although the new version will be taking on weighty issues, The Emancipator's editors, Payne and Douglas, plan to do so in a way that is encouraging and engaging.

"We're hoping that with the power of journalism, of stories, of perspective, of solutions journalism, that's how you shift culture. That's how you shift narrative. And that's how you make community change," Payne said.


Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is unveiling a massive pyramid of rice harvested by farmers to pay back bank loans they borrowed to expand their production. Nigerian officials say the low-interest loans helped more than double the average yield of rice and maize, ending the country's dependence on rice imports. The Central Bank of Nigeria plans to sell the rice at below market rates to reduce the high prices that consumers have been paying for the staples.

The massive pyramid of rice bags stacked one on top of the other was unveiled Tuesday at the chapter office of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce in Abuja.



Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the ceremony, with top government officials, including from the Central Bank and various state governors, in attendance.

President Buhari praised the farmers and urged more of them to participate in the loan program.



"It is my desired hope and expectation that other agricultural produce commodities will emulate the rice farmers association of Nigeria in supporting our administration drive for food self-sufficiency," he said.



The Anchor Borrowers Program was launched in 2015 by Nigerias Central Bank. The plan provides rice farmers with loans and technical advice so they can expand production and increase yields while limiting the nations dependence on imports.



Authorities say more than five years later, the program has yielded the desired result, reducing rice imports significantly, and boosting local production from about 4.5 tons a year to nine.



Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, says the resilience of farmers has paid off.



"Permit me to commend all our holder farmers and the leadership of their various associations for their diligence, bravery, patriotism and [adaptability]," he said. "The past few years your Excellency has been quite challenging for these people as they have battled with insurgency, banditry, lockdowns and other related setbacks. Indeed, we lost some of our farmers to insurgency attacks nationwide, while some could not access their farms for several months."



Nigeria banned rice imports in 2015 with the aim of producing the staple locally.



At Tuesdays launch, authorities expressed confidence that adequate quantities of rice could be produced locally, saying the trend could affect the domestic price of rice.



Meanwhile, the Rice Farmers Association urged Nigeria to leverage this opportunity and export the commodity to other West African nations.


North Korea said Tuesday it test-fired two tactical guided missiles a day earlier to verify the accuracy of that weapon system.

Monday's firing  South Korea called them short range ballistic missiles  marked North Korea's fourth weapons test this month as Pyongyang flexes its military muscle while ignoring offers of talks from the United States.

Despite international sanctions, Pyongyang has conducted a string of weapons tests this year, including of hypersonic missiles, as leader Kim Jong Un pursues his avowed goal of further strengthening the military.

Reeling economically from a self-imposed coronavirus blockade, impoverished North Korea has not responded to Washington's offers of talks, while doubling down on weapons tests and vowing a "stronger and certain" response to any attempts to rein it in.

The launches come at a delicate time in the region, with North Korea's sole major ally China set to host the Winter Olympics next month and South Korea gearing up for a presidential election in March.

The state news agency KCNA said Tuesday, "The two tactical guided missiles launched in the western area of the DPRK precisely hit an island target in the East Sea of Korea." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The Academy of Defence Science confirmed the accuracy, security and efficiency of the operation of the weapon system under production," KCNA said.

This latest test was first reported by the South Korean military's Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as by Japan.

In response, the United States called on North Korea Monday to "cease its unlawful and destabilizing activities."

In a call with South Korean and Japanese officials, the U.S. special representative on North Korea, Sung Kim, "expressed concern" about the missile launches and urged Pyongyang to return to dialogue "without preconditions," the State Department said.
As winter bites, Europe is facing a gas shortage. A cold snap has coincided with lower volumes of gas exports from Russia, forcing a big spike in prices. Consumers and businesses across the continent are facing a steep increase in their bills, with governments scrambling to cushion the impact. And analysts warn it could soon get worse.



Moscow plans to build a new pipeline to China, which could give Russia the power to sell gas to the highest bidder, pitting Chinese and European consumers against one another.



Chinese economy



From the frozen expanses of Siberia, Russia already is sending some natural gas to China. The "Power of Siberia 1" pipeline opened in 2019, tapping the gas fields in Russia's far east to help fuel the Chinese economy.



Europe remains Russia's largest customer by far, importing about 200 billion cubic meters of gas every year  about 30% of the continent's supply. By comparison, China purchases about 38 billion cubic meters annually.





"Power of Siberia 1 uses gas that is not connected to the fields that can supply the European market. So, it's not a question, at the moment at least, of gas from Russia going to China, being the loss of gas that could go to Europe," explains Tom Marzec-Manser, head of gas analytics at the energy data firm Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS).



'Power of Siberia 2'



That could soon change. Moscow and Beijing are close to agreeing on a second pipeline  the "Power of Siberia 2"  which would double gas exports from Russia to China, crossing through Mongolia and into the power-hungry industrial regions near Beijing.



Crucially, it also would join up Russia's internal gas network, connecting China with the same gas fields in Russia's Yamal peninsula that supply Europe.



"It does give Gazprom  as that major exporter  the optionality to direct gas to one market over another," Marzec-Manser told VOA.



That could give Russia considerable leverage, says Filip Medunic, who leads the Task Force for Strengthening Europe Against Economic Coercion at the European Council on Foreign Relations.



"Technically, it is hard to tell whether the pricing system will be designed in a way that there is going to be the possibility to sell to the highest bidder, but I think that Russia intent is definitely eyeing in this direction, to be able to use it as a leverage  at least rhetorically  in the coming decade," Medunic told VOA.



Construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which connects Russia directly with Germany, was completed last year. Certification of the pipeline is currently suspended amid tensions between the West and Moscow.





"Will it make a difference? Probably not," said Marzec-Manser. "The reality is that when Nord Stream 2 starts running commercially  and it's not running at the moment, it is ready, it's operable, but not operational  it will just reroute gas that is already flowing through other routes."



Sanctions



In recent months, Russia has amassed upwards of 100,000 troops on the border with Ukraine. The West has threatened crippling sanctions if Russia invades, including targeting its energy sector.



There are other incentives for Moscow to find new customers for its gas, says Marzec-Manser. "The trajectory of the European Union in particular in terms of decarbonization is that gas will have a diminishing role over the medium to long term," he said.



Olympics



But navigating a new Chinese market won't be easy for Moscow, says Medunic.

"China is well known for using its political, economic, also military posture and weight, and to be a tough negotiating partner. And [it] also is allegedly considering itself rather as the big hegemon here, and Russia as the junior partner," Medunic said.



There is speculation the deal for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline could be signed during next month's Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, offering a diplomatic victory for both sides. Neither Moscow nor Beijing have yet confirmed, however, that the deal will be signed.


Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently addressed 15,000 ardent supporters in Arizona, making his first major public appearance since the one-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that sought to keep him in office despite having lost the 2020 presidential election.



In 93 minutes of remarks late Saturday, Trump repeated the false claim that the election had been stolen from him and predicted a Republican victory in the 2024 presidential contest, hinting at what political observers already assume: that he is planning a bid to return to the White House.



Trump is expected to hold more rallies in the months leading up to midterm elections in November that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of President Joe Bidens term in office. In state after state, Trump aims to boost the fortunes of Republicans seeking office who are loyal to him and repeat his claims.



Voters are taking notice.



Hes going to remain a factor in American politics for the next several presidential terms, Robert Ellis, a New Orleans-based lawyer who voted for Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections, told VOA. And he should remain a factor. He got results while president, and the more we see Bidens failures, the more we see Donald Trump was correct.



By contrast, many moderate Republicans and independent voters  who are often pivotal in close elections  arent sure the former presidents continued politicking is good for the country or the Republican Party.



Chelsea Jaramillo, an entrepreneur in Denver, is one such independent voter.



Honestly, I believe his presence hurts the Republican party, she said. Even many Republicans seem tired of his bull---- all the hate and blame that dont benefit anyone but him.



Trumps supporters

In his remarks Saturday, the former president attacked his Democratic successors handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. economy and international affairs. He also took gleeful aim at the handful of Republican lawmakers who voted with Democrats to impeach him after the Capitol riot and have either announced they will not seek reelection or face a bumpy road to remain in office.



Theyre falling fast and furious. The ones that voted to impeach, were getting rid of them fast, Trump said.



Robert Collins, professor of Urban Studies and Public Policy at Dillard University in New Orleans, said there wasnt much in the speech he found surprising.



It was a lot of the same stuff from him, he said. But where it got interesting to me, is you could hear the crowd get excited when they perceived Trump was talking about running for president again in 2024.



A recent Marquette Law School Poll found that 60% of Republican voters believe he should run for president again in 2024.



Thats more than enough voters to win the Republican nomination, Collins said, so its a real possibility should he decide to run.



Brandon Legnion, a New Orleans-based nurse, is open to the idea. His priorities, he said, include the issue of abortion and how America handles the pandemic.

I dont believe vaccines and masking are anti-freedom like a lot of other conservatives seem to believe, he told VOA, but I do think Republican voters are more likely to listen to Trump instead of Biden when it comes to unifying around fighting COVID-19. Id probably vote for him if he ran in 2024.



Turning the page

While the large majority of Republican voters say they would vote for Donald Trump if he secured the partys presidential nomination, some say they hope a different candidate emerges to lead the party.



Trumps independent, patriotic attitude, and his work on border control, jobs and our economy, have all earned him a leading voice in our party, said Republican voter Jerry Bell of Indiana, but I do feel there should be a new presidential torchbearer in 2024. New blood to repatriate our conservative vision of governance so we can Make America Great!



A University of Massachusetts at Amherst poll conducted December 14-20 showed that 71% of Republicans falsely believe Joe Bidens election was illegitimate  a contention Trumps critics often refer to as The Big Lie.



Trump addressed the label head-on in Arizona on Saturday, opening the rally by declaring, The Big Lie is a lot of bull----, to wild applause from raucous crowd.



Legnion sees the focus on the past as counterproductive.



Its time to move on, he said. To continue to beat past elections to death is not at all unifying for America.



Helping or hurting?

Whether the former president and his obsession with the 2020 election helps the Republican Party in the midterms and in the next presidential election is a matter of ongoing debate among experts, politicians and voters.



The sitting presidents political party almost always loses the House of Representatives in the midterm elections during their first term, explained Robert Collins of Dillard University. So regardless of Trumps involvement, you can pretty much bet everything youve got that that will happen this year.



The Senate is less of a certainty, he said.



While every seat in the House is up for election every two years, only one third of the Senate is, Collins said. And among those, probably only five to eight of those seats will be competitive elections. Trumps impact is more likely to be felt there.



The prevailing thought among experts such as Collins is that while Trump can generate excitement and voter turnout for Republican candidates who are loyal to him, some of those candidates  including several he lauded at the rally in Arizona  could struggle to win in swing states and districts with a more moderate electorate.



Im not opposed to Donald Trump supporting midterm candidates, said Ronald Robichaux of Tampa, Florida, who said he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, but I am fearful hell bring up voting irregularities that have thus far been unfounded and that that might turn some voters off. He cant seem to bury the hatchet.



Collins suggested less bombast from Trump would be helpful for his political fortunes and those of Republicans more broadly.



People seem to forget that when Trumps involved, elections tend to be an up or down vote on Trump, he explained. If I was working on his campaign, Id spend time trying to rehabilitate his image and reign him in. But based on Saturdays speech, that doesnt seem to be their strategy, he said.



Collins added, So if youre a candidate running for office in the midterms, all that can be done now is decide if you want to keep your distance from Trump, or if you want to embrace him.
Russia is a sending an unspecified number of troops from the country's far east to Belarus for major war games, officials said Tuesday, a deployment that will further beef up Russian military assets near Ukraine amid Western fears of a planned invasion.

Amid the soaring tensions, the White House warned that Russia could attack its neighbor at "any point," while the United Kingdom delivered a batch of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the joint drills with Belarus would involve practicing a joint response to external threats.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine from several directions, including from its ally Belarus.

The United States again stressed its concern Tuesday, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki describing the Russian forces' move into Belarus as part of an "extremely dangerous situation."

"We're now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine," she said.

A series of talks last week between Russia, the U.S. and NATO failed to quell the tensions over Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Friday in another attempt to defuse the crisis.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it has received a shipment of anti-tank weapons from the U.K., noting that they will help "strengthen our defense capability."

Russia already has started moving troops for the war games in Belarus. Fomin said it would take through February 9 to fully deploy weapons and personnel for the Allied Resolve 2022 drills, which are expected to take place February 10-20.

Fomin didn't say how many troops will be involved but mentioned that Russia will deploy a dozen Su-35 fighter jets and several air defense units to Belarus. The deployment would bolster an estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and other heavy weapons who are already amassed near Ukraine.

WATCH: Why Did Russian Troops Go to Kazakhstan?



Russia has denied an intention to attack its neighbor but demanded guarantees from the West that NATO will not expand to Ukraine or other ex-Soviet nations or place its troops and weapons there. Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow's demands during Russia-U.S. negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels last week.

Fomin said the drills in Belarus, which involve an unspecified number of troops from Russia's Eastern Military District, reflect the need to practice concentrating the country's entire military potential in the west.

"A situation may arise when forces and means of the regional group of forces will be insufficient to ensure reliable security of the union state, and we must be ready to strengthen it," Fomin said at a meeting with foreign military attaches. "We have reached an understanding with Belarus that it's necessary to engage the entire military potential for joint defense."



Belarus' authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, said the joint maneuvers will be conducted on Belarus' western border and also in the country's south, where it borders Ukraine. Lukashenko, who has edged increasingly close to Russia amid Western sanctions over his government's crackdown on domestic protests, has recently offered to host Russian nuclear weapons.

A senior Biden administration official said the Russian troop deployment to Belarus raises concerns that Moscow may be planning to stage troops there in order to stretch thin Ukraine's defenses with an attack from the north. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues, noted that the movement may also indicate Belarus' willingness "to allow both Russian conventional and nuclear forces to be stationed on its territory."

Amid the tensions, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it was speeding up efforts to form reserve battalions that would allow for the rapid deployment of 130,000 recruits to expand the country's 246,000-strong military.

The United States and its allies have urged Russia to de-escalate the situation by calling back the troops amassed near Ukraine.

"In recent weeks, more than 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and guns have gathered near Ukraine without an understandable reason, and it's hard not to understand that as a threat," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters Tuesday after talks in Moscow with her Russian counterpart, Lavrov.

Lavrov responded by restating Moscow's argument that it's free to deploy its forces wherever it considers necessary on its territory.

"We can't accept demands about our armed forces on our own territory," Lavrov said. "We aren't threatening anyone, but we are hearing threats to us."

Baerbock emphasized that the West was ready "for a serious dialogue on mutual agreements and steps to bring everyone in Europe more security."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday. He said "the main task now is to make progress on the political way forward" to prevent a military attack against Ukraine.

"NATO allies are ready to meet with Russia again, and today I have invited Russia and all the NATO allies to attend a series of meetings in the NATO-Russia Council in the near future to address our concerns but also listen to Russia's concerns," Stoltenberg said.

He added that NATO "in the near future" will deliver its written proposals in response to Russian demands and "hopefully we can begin meeting after that."

"We need to see what Russia says, and that will be a kind of pivotal moment," the NATO chief said.

Lavrov, meanwhile, reaffirmed that Russia wants a quick Western answer to its demand for security guarantees that would preclude NATO's expansion to Ukraine and limit its presence in Eastern Europe. He repeated that in a phone conversation with Blinken, who will visit Ukraine on Wednesday and meet with Lavrov on Friday.

Speaking on a visit Tuesday to Ukraine, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly denounced the Russian troop buildup as unacceptable. She noted Canada's efforts to help train Ukraine's military, adding that it's currently considering Ukraine's demand to provide it with military equipment and will make "a decision in a timely manner."

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 after the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly leader and also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency that took over large sections in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting there.


Somalias worst drought in decades has millions of people dependent on food aid and thousands flocking to cities to escape hunger. At makeshift shelters on the outskirts of the capital, displaced people face cramped conditions and poor sanitation in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Somali villagers escaping drought are arriving every day in camps for internally displaced people on the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu.

At the Najah camp, 45-year-old mother of four Muhubo Adam is cooking what food she has for her family. They arrived last week after fleeing her village in Lower Shabelle, some 90 kilometers away.

She said they had to leave because they had no rain for two seasons and the drought devastated livestock and farms. Adam said they spent a whole day trekking to get to the camp.

But conditions in the crowded camp are also difficult. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, nobody is wearing a mask, there is no room to socially distance, and sanitation is poor.

Fifty-six-year-old Nur Hassan Ali looks much older than his age and appears weak as he slowly moves past the camps makeshift tents.

He and his family of six also fled hunger in their village last week but are not doing much better near the city.

Ali said his livestock began to die because of the long drought, so he had to run away with his children and finally reached the camp. But now here, he said, they dont have anything, and his children are hungry and dont have any food. Ali said that he is also sick.

District authorities put Faisa Omar in charge of keeping track of new arrivals to the camp.

She said the Najah camp is home to 370 families who have recently been displaced by drought and whose livestock was wiped out. Omar said they are not receiving any assistance, either from the government or from aid agencies. She said they lack shelter from the sun, the cold, and the rain.

But its a lack of rain back home that forced the influx of villagers to Mogadishu.

Its putting a strain on the citys health care system, which was struggling even before the pandemic, said Martino Hospital Director Dr. Abdirizaq Yusuf.

He said the drought comes at a time when they are grappling with the burden of a recurrence of COVID-19.

Yusuf said the drought has only added a further burden on the already existing COVID-19 problem, which has caused sickness and death. He said the drought is causing its own pain and plight as it also spreads disease.

The government and U.N. aid agencies have warned that millions of people in Somalia are in urgent need of food assistance.

Officials say thousands of refugees living in camps near Mogadishu are also vulnerable to diseases from poor sanitation, congestion, and dirty water.
The outlawed Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility Tuesday for a rare overnight attack in Islamabad that killed a police officer and wounded two others.

Police officials said two gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on a security checkpoint near one of the citys busy markets late on Monday. They say the ensuing shootout killed both the assailants.

The gunfire by terrorists martyred a police officer while two others were wounded, said a police statement.

Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed condemned the gun attack as an act of terrorism.

We have received a kind of signal that terrorist incidents have started happening in Islamabad, local media quoted Ahmed as telling reporters after attending the funeral prayers of the slain police officer.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Twitter and confirmed the killing of its two gunmen involved in it.

The TTP has increased attacks in Pakistan, particularly since early December when a 30-day ceasefire between the militants and the government expired.

Afghanistans ruling Taliban had brokered the truce to try to pave the way for substantive peace talks between the two adversaries. But the Pakistani Taliban refused to extend the ceasefire deal, citing a lack of progress in the talks.

Over the years, the TTP has claimed responsibility for carrying out hundreds of suicide bombings and other attacks in Pakistan that killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and security forces.

Pakistan says TTP leaders and fighters have taken refuge in neighboring Afghanistan from where they are organizing cross-border terrorist attacks.

Last week the TTP confirmed the killing of one of its top commanders in the eastern Afghan border province of Nangarhar. The dead man was identified as senior leader Khalid Balti but it was not clear who killed him.

The United Nations and the United States have also designated the Pakistani Taliban as a global terrorist organization.

The Pakistani Taliban is the largest militant outfit fighting the Pakistani government. TTP and the Afghan Taliban are close allies and jointly fought the United States-led international forces that backed the Western-supported government in Afghanistan until their pullout last year.
The rabbi of a Texas synagogue where a gunman took hostages during live-streamed services said Monday that he threw a chair at his captor before escaping with two others after an hours-long standoff, crediting past security training for getting himself and his congregants out safely.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told "CBS Mornings" that he let the gunman inside the suburban Fort Worth synagogue Saturday because he appeared to need shelter. He said the man was not threatening or suspicious at first. Later, he heard a gun click as he was praying.

Another man held hostage, Jeffrey R. Cohen, described the ordeal on Facebook on Monday.

"First of all, we escaped. We weren't released or freed," said Cohen, who was one of four people in the synagogue for services that many other Congregation Beth Israel members were watching online.

Cohen said the men worked to keep the gunman engaged. They talked to the gunman, he lectured them. At one point as the situation devolved, Cohen said the gunman told them to get on their knees. Cohen recalled rearing up in his chair and slowly moving his head and mouthing "no." As the gunman moved to sit back down, Cohen said Cytron-Walker yelled to run.

"The exit wasn't too far away," Cytron-Walker said. "I told them to go. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door. And all three of us were able to get out without even a shot being fired."

Authorities identified the hostage-taker as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram, who was killed Saturday night after the last three hostages ran out of the synagogue in Colleyville around 9 p.m. The first hostage was released shortly after 5 p.m.

The FBI on Sunday night issued a statement calling the ordeal "a terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted" and said the Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating. The agency noted that Akram spoke repeatedly during negotiations about a prisoner who is serving an 86-year sentence in the U.S. The statement followed comments Saturday from the agent in charge of the FBI's Dallas field office that the hostage-taker was focused on an issue "not specifically related to the Jewish community."

Akram could be heard ranting on a Facebook livestream of the services and demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan.

"The last hour or so of the standoff, he wasn't getting what he wanted. It didn't look good. It didn't sound good. We were terrified," Cytron-Walker told "CBS Mornings."

Video of the standoff's end from Dallas TV station WFAA showed people running out a door of the synagogue, and then a man holding a gun opening the same door just seconds later before he turned around and closed it. Moments later, several shots and then an explosion could be heard.

Authorities have declined to say who shot Akram, saying it was still under investigation.

The investigation stretched to England, where late Sunday police in Manchester announced that two teenagers were in custody in connection with the standoff. Greater Manchester Police tweeted that counterterrorism officers had made the arrests but did not say whether the pair faced any charges.

President Joe Biden called the episode an act of terror. Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia on Sunday, Biden said Akram allegedly purchased a weapon on the streets.

Federal investigators believe Akram purchased the handgun used in the hostage-taking in a private sale, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Akram arrived in the U.S. at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York about two weeks ago, a law enforcement official said.

Akram traveled to the U.S. on a tourist visa from Great Britain, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not intended to be public. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement that its counterterrorism police were liaising with U.S. authorities about the incident.

U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel told the House of Commons on Monday that she had spoken to her U.S. counterpart, Alejandro Mayorkas, and offered "the full support" of the police and security services in Britain in the investigation.

Akram used his phone during the course of negotiations to communicate with people other than law enforcement, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

It wasn't clear why Akram chose the synagogue, though the prison where Siddiqui is serving her sentence is in Fort Worth.

An attorney in Texas who represents Siddiqui said Monday that Siddiqui had no connection to Akram.

"She said from the beginning when she was sentenced that she does not want any violence done in her name and she doesn't condone any type of violence being done," said attorney Marwa Elbially.

Akram, who was called Faisal by his family, was from Blackburn, an industrial city in northwest England. His family said he'd been "suffering from mental health issues."

"We would also like to add that any attack on any human being, be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim, etc. is wrong and should always be condemned," his brother, Gulbar Akram, wrote.

Community organizer Asif Mahmud, who has known the family for 30 years and attends the same mosque, said the family was devastated by what happened in Texas.

He "had mental health issues for a number of years," Mahmud said. "The family obviously were aware of that  but nobody envisaged he would potentially go and do something like this."

Mohammed Khan, leader of the local government council in Blackburn, said the community promotes peace across all faiths.

"Ours is a town where people from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths are welcomed, and it is a place where people get along and support one another, Khan said in a statement.
A Turkish court on Monday acquitted German journalist Mesale Tolu of terrorism charges, she said on Twitter, in a case that lasted nearly five years and added to strains between Ankara and Berlin at the time of her detention.

Tolu was detained in April 2017 as part of a crackdown following a coup attempt in July 2016 and was held in jail for eight months before being released. She had been accused of publishing terrorist propaganda and membership of a terrorist organization.

"After four years, eight months and 20 days: acquitted on both charges!" she tweeted.

"In a state of law, such a trial would not have taken place in the first place. The verdict cannot make up for the repression and the time in prison," Tolu added.

Relations between the NATO partners soured after Germany condemned Turkey's arrests following the failed coup of some 50,000 people, and the suspension or firing of 150,000 others, including teachers, judges and soldiers.

Around a dozen people who hold German citizenship were also jailed in Turkey under the crackdown. Germany is home to some 3 million people of Turkish heritage.

Ties improved again after Turkey released German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel in 2018 and lifted a travel ban against Tolu months after her release.


Ugandans were struggling Monday with a fuel shortage that has sent prices skyrocketing, as hundreds of trucks remain stuck in huge tailbacks at the border with Kenya.

Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa said the border delays were caused by a faulty scanner used by custom officials to check vehicles, and "issues regarding COVID-19."

Truck drivers have been complaining of massive queues at Uganda's eastern border as officials carry out mandatory coronavirus testing.

In the western district of Hoima, ironically the area where Uganda discovered large oil deposits earlier this century, a liter of fuel was selling at $3.40 (12,000 Ugandan shillings)  up from $1.13 (4,000 Ugandan shillings) previously.

The pumps had run dry at other petrol stations in the north and west of the landlocked East African country, according to checks by Agence France-Presse.

"I call on the dealers not to use this chance to cheat Ugandans," Nankabirwa said.

"I know we are following a liberalized economy where goods follow market demand to determine prices, but you can't put fuel (up) from 4,000 to 12,000 Ugandan shillings. That is cheating."

Ugandans were also reporting hikes in taxi and bus fares in many parts of the country, which is a net oil importer.

One truck driver, Mohammed Abubaker Kayima, told AFP there were queues of goods vehicles stranded at the Malaba border crossing between Uganda and Kenya.

"There are hundreds of trucks clogged at the border waiting for clearance from customs and COVID-19 task forces," the 57-year-old said. "Some have been there for days."


Major U.S. air carriers are warning that the countrys commerce will grind to a halt" if Verizon and AT&T go ahead with plans to deploy their new 5G mobile internet technology on Wednesday.

The airlines say the new technology will interfere with safe flight operations.

The dispute between two major segments of the U.S. economy has been waged for months in Washington regulatory agencies, with the airline industry contending that the mobile carriers technology upgrade could disrupt global passenger service and cargo shipping, while the mobile carriers claim the airlines failed to upgrade equipment on their aircraft to prevent flight problems.

The new high-speed 5G mobile service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by altimeters  devices in cockpits that measure the height of aircraft above the ground.

AT&T and Verizon argue that their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries.

In a letter Monday to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, chief executives at Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and seven other passenger and cargo carriers protested the mobile carriers plan to roll out their upgraded service on Wednesday.

While the Federal Aviation Administration previously said it would not object to deployment of the 5G technology because the mobile carriers said they would address safety concerns, the airline executives said aircraft manufacturers have subsequently warned them that the Verizon and AT&T measures were not sufficient to allay safety concerns.

The mobile companies said they would reduce power at 5G transmitters near airports, but the airlines have asked that the 5G technology not be activated within 3.2 kilometers of 50 major airports.

The airline executives contended that if the 5G technology is used, Multiple modern safety systems on aircraft will be deemed unusable. Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded.

The airline industry executives argued that immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies.

After the airlines latest protests, AT&T said Tuesday it would postpone its new wireless service near some airports but did not say at how many or where. Verizon had no immediate comment.

In a statement Monday, the FAA said it will continue to keep the traveling public safe as wireless companies deploy 5G and continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to try and limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations.

The White House said Tuesday that the Biden administration is continuing discussions with the airline and telecommunications companies about the dispute.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press.
Australian Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos' bid to raise his country's profile in Washington has gotten a boost: Several prominent analysts are arguing that Canberra deserves more appreciation from Americans for its role on the front line of the West's growing strategic and economic rivalry with China.

Australia is "prepared to stand up for" the values it shares with America and its allies in "a whole series of ways," Sinodinos said during a virtual forum last week to mark the launch of an Australian Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"While we look to the U.S., we don't leave it to the U.S.," he said. "As allies, we're prepared to pull our weight in all of this and do what's required in the interesting times ahead."

Several American participants in the event agreed with Sinodinos and said his country deserves more credit than it gets.

Australia is "the frontline state" in countering Chinese economic and political aggression, said Kori Schake, a former U.S. foreign policy and defense official who is now a senior fellow and director at the American Enterprise Institute, another Washington think tank.

"They have taken the lead on making a number of difficult decisions, even when they had to do it alone," Schake said, adding that Australia was the first country to identify the dangers of permitting Chinese state-backed tech giant Huawei to become an essential component of communications networks in free societies.

In as early as April 2020, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent international probe into the origins of the coronavirus, a call he repeated months later while addressing the U.N. General Assembly.

Beijing interpreted these statements as attacks and launched a series of punitive measures against Canberra, along with "wave after wave" of cyberattacks, according to Bloomberg.

An 'underappreciated' ally

Americans need to be more aware of "just how exposed our close ally Australia is, and what more we can be doing together to set an example on how to strengthen countries that stand up for their values, stand up for their interests, as well as the rules of the international order," Schake said.

CSIS President John Hamre sounded a similar note, describing Australia as "probably the most underappreciated important ally in our orbit."

"Australia has consistently been with the United States in anything that ever mattered, but Americans don't know enough about the country," he said. "We tend to think about Australia as a distant land with alligator wrestling and strange-looking animals. Australia is a far more sophisticated country than that, and we should spend more time listening to what our friends in Australia can tell us."

James Carouso, a former deputy chief of mission and charge d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Canberra, thinks Americans have some distance to go before their appreciation for Australia matches Aussies' appreciation for Americans.

"Australia remembers World War II, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the United States coming to help Australia defend against Japanese invasion. They still remember it and commemorate it," Carouso said.

"That's not done here," he continued, suggesting that most Americans have a vague sense of Australia as a "good friend, far away."

Basking in the wave of unaccustomed appreciation, Sinodinos modestly suggested that his country is acting in its own interests as much as America's, even if those interests are often the same.

"We're pragmatists," he said. "The decisions we've taken, whether it's on Huawei, on the origin of COVID, countering foreign interference in political and administrative systems, those issues have been dictated by our circumstances. But they've been underpinned by our values and interests, and our view that our sovereignty should not be compromised."

"If that's been an example to others, that's terrific, that's important," the envoy said.

Importance of AUKUS

The nuclear submarines featured in AUKUS  the recently announced defense agreement among Australia, the United States and Britain  are "very glamorous" and "have attracted a lot of attention," Sinodinos said. But, he added, "AUKUS is more than just the subs.'"

"This trilateral cooperation is not just about specific capabilities but how we work together," including not just government-to-government relations but also making full use of each other's industrial and technological bases, Sinodinos said.

"The trilateral cooperation coming out of it is, I think, going to be its great legacy," he said.

The future importance of the relationship between the United States and Australia was stressed by Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the National Security Council, who said the alliance "has ascended to the very, very top, highest level."

"Everything we'll do with consequence, we'll do with Australia," said Campbell, a former assistant secretary of state in the Obama administration. He credited Canberra for its leadership role in the Indo-Pacific region and said Washington could do a better job of "deputy sheriff" when it comes to a number of initiatives in the region.

Charles Edel, holder of the new Australia Chair at CSIS, said the rapid increase in American attention to Australia owes much to its role as a "bellwether" in dealings with Beijing. "They're the first to experience a range of coercive measures from China, and in many areas they're the first to respond," he said.

In a written exchange of questions and answers with VOA, Edel echoed Campbell and Sinodinos in calling for closer economic and trade collaboration between the two allies. "Any serious strategy for the Indo-Pacific region must pay as much attention to economic engagement as it does to security concerns," he wrote.

He called for progress in ensuring that U.S. defense export control measures facilitate, not hinder, research and development collaboration among the U.S., Canada, Australia and Britain.

"For AUKUS and other things to happen, this will be key," Edel told VOA.
Yemen's Houthi rebels warned that they might target more facilities in the United Arab Emirates after carrying out drone and missile attacks Monday that killed three people.

Police in the capital, Abu Dhabi, said the attacks targeted three oil tanker trucks at an oil facility and an extension of the Abu Dhabi International Airport. They identified the dead as two Indian nationals and one Pakistani and said six people were wounded.

There was no significant damage to the airport or oil facility, police said.

A spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi rebels said the group had carried out the attacks on the UAE's economic hub of Abu Dhabi in retaliation for the UAE's role in a military offensive in Yemen last week.

Houthi sources in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, told Arab media that they fired eight drones and 10 missiles.

Arab media showed video of smoke rising over the Abu Dhabi skyline, and photos of fires at Abu Dhabi airport and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company refinery.

In response, Saudi coalition forces fired on Houthi militia fighters in Yemens Marib province and Houthi positions in Sanaa. The coalition also said Monday it intercepted eight drones launched toward Saudi Arabia.

The UAE's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on its facilities and said it would "not go unpunished."

"The UAE reserves the right to respond to these terrorist attacks and criminal escalation."

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels. While it has largely withdrawn its forces from Yemen, it helps arm and train Yemeni forces against the rebels.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States would work with the UAE and international partners to hold Houthi rebels accountable.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and urged "all parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any escalation," according to his spokesperson.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the attack threatened regional stability.

Fahmy Al-Yousifi, deputy information minister of the Houthi government administration that controls Sanaa, told Arab media that the Houthi forces would "continue to retaliate against the United Arab Emirates so long as it remains involved in supporting combatants inside Yemen."

Middle East analyst Paul Sullivan of the Atlantic Council told VOA that the Monday attacks on Abu Dhabi were a bad sign for regional security and stability.

"This sort of escalation will come back to bite the Houthis badly. One has to wonder how the drones, if that is what happened, got through (UAE air defenses). This is worrisome for the UAE and the region," he said.

Washington-based Gulf analyst Theodore Karasik told VOA that the Houthi attacks came at a bad time, given "the desire to lower tensions in the Gulf at this key juncture."

"Drone attacks are a revolution in military affairs," he said, as they are being used to make political points.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.


Yemens Houthi rebels warned they might target more facilities in the United Arab Emirates after carrying out drone and missile attacks Monday that killed three people.

Police in the capital, Abu Dhabi, said the attacks targeted three oil tanker trucks at an oil facility and an extension of the Abu Dhabi International Airport. They identified the dead as two Indian nationals and one Pakistani and said six people were wounded.

There was no significant damage to the airport or oil facility, police said.

A spokesperson for Yemens Houthi rebels said the group had carried out the attacks on the UAEs economic hub of Abu Dhabi in retaliation for the UAEs role in a military offensive in Yemen last week.

Houthi sources in Yemens capital, Sanaa, told Arab media that they fired eight drones and 10 missiles.

Arab media showed video of smoke rising over the Abu Dhabi skyline, and photos of fires at Abu Dhabi airport and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company refinery.

In response, Saudi coalition forces fired on Houthi militia fighters in Yemens Marib province and Houthi positions in Sanaa. The coalition also said Monday it intercepted eight drones launched toward Saudi Arabia.

The UAEs Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on its facilities and said it would not go unpunished.

The UAE reserves the right to respond to these terrorist attacks and criminal escalation.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels. While it has largely withdrawn its forces from Yemen, it helps arm and train Yemeni forces against the rebels.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States would work with the UAE and international partners to hold Houthi rebels accountable.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any escalation, according to his spokesperson.

The UAE, which joined the UN Security Council on January 1, for a two-year term, has called for a meeting to discuss the escalation. No date has yet been announced.

The United Arab Emirates calls on the Security Council to speak with one voice and join in firmly and unequivocally condemning these terrorist attacks, which were launched in complete disregard of international law, Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh wrote in a letter to the council president.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the attack threatened regional stability.

Fahmy Al-Yousifi, deputy information minister of the Houthi government administration that controls Sanaa, told Arab media that the Houthi forces would continue to retaliate against the United Arab Emirates so long as it remains involved in supporting combatants inside Yemen.

Middle East analyst Paul Sullivan of the Atlantic Council told VOA that the Monday attacks on Abu Dhabi were a bad sign for regional security and stability.

This sort of escalation will come back to bite the Houthis badly. One has to wonder how the drones, if that is what happened, got through (UAE air defenses). This is worrisome for the UAE and the region, he said.

Washington-based Gulf analyst Theodore Karasik told VOA that the Houthi attacks came at a bad time, given the desire to lower tensions in the Gulf at this key juncture.

Drone attacks are a revolution in military affairs, he said, as they are being used to make political points.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
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The Western press fails to follow the relationships between the Big Three (China, the United States and Russia) because it segments them. It considers each issue separately and ignores the links between them. Above all, it ignores the difference between Anglo-Saxon and UN law, which leads to many misinterpretations.

The United States and Russia met three times this week to discuss peace guarantees:

 in Geneva at the level of deputy foreign ministers ;

 in Brussels in the NATO-Russia Commission ;

 and finally in Vienna, at the OSCE.

The United States reiterated its warning against the stationing of 100,000 Russian troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border, while Russia expressed indignation at the US refusal to discuss its peace proposal.

At the same time, the US Congress debated sanctions against Russia, while the State Department extended its attitude towards Russia to China, and the Department of Defense is considering increasing its nuclear arsenal.

In the background, Washington has been conducting a destabilization operation in Kazakhstan and the European Union has set up a total economic blockade of Transnistria.

If the United States refuses further to take into account the reproaches addressed to it and to respond to Russian arguments, Moscow is now threatening to deploy troops in the Caribbean basin.

The only positive step forward is a possible relaunch of U.S.-Russian negotiations on the control of intermediate-range nuclear missiles, a treaty rejected by President Donald Trump.

The content of the negotiations

When the U.S. delegation arrived in Geneva, it first had a friendly dinner with its Russian counterparts and then, the next morning at the start of the talks, informed them that its mandate was limited to discussing the deployment of U.S. and Russian troops in Ukraine.

"Other priorities are more important for us: non-expansion of Nato, elimination of the infrastructure created, refusal of certain measures, and not on a reciprocal basis, but on a unilateral basis on the part of the West", Sergey Riabkov had already declared on arriving in Geneva [1].

So the Russians responded that the mandate of the US delegation was only incidental to the official purpose of the meeting: guarantees for world peace. Then Wendy Sherman and Sergey Riabkov reviewed the topics they could discuss later and found only one: a new Intermediate Nuclear Missile Reduction Treaty; the INF Treaty having been denounced by President Donald Trump.

The next day Wendy Sherman attended the NATO-Russia Commission meeting in Brussels. Allied ambassadors were having difficulty assessing Washingtons intentions after its abandonment of Afghanistan to the Taliban and its betrayal of France with the AUKUS agreement. Ms. Sherman let them speak first, and then she told the Russian delegation: "Of course, there are thirty of us here facing you, but we are only one on our positions". Then she drew a picture of what Europe would become if Washington gave in to Moscow: once again a continent divided into two zones of influence, one Atlanticist, the other Russian, as during the Cold War.

This presentation awakened terrible memories so that the Allied ambassadors heard nothing else. The Russian delegations denials that it was not Soviet and did not want to share the continent were just background noise. Perhaps the Russians again presented their demands to respect the UN Charter and their word, nobody remembers.

The US press commented on this meeting by saying that it had given Nato, decried by Presidents Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, a new reason to exist: to fight Russia.

Under these conditions, the third meeting, that of the OSCE in Vienna, was only - in the words of Sergey Lavrov - "dilatory". The OSCE has no decision-making power, it is just a forum created during the Cold War to evaluate positions. The Swedish chairmanship of its Permanent Council reflected the image of this country, officially neutral, but internally debating its next membership in NATO. The allies were on the defensive, while the United States itself sought to gain time. The meeting did not even produce a final communique.

Moscow was expecting a wholesale rejection of its proposals by Washington, but it was astonished by the way US diplomats managed to manipulate the members of NATO and the OSCE. This is the second time that Vladimir Putin has come up against the irrational behavior of the European Union. Remember, in 2007, he thought he could distance Western Europeans from their American overlord by going to the Munich Security Conference and asking them to ask themselves what their interests were [2]. He mistakenly believed that he would get their attention, especially that of the Germans. The same thing is happening today.

It is clear that most European leaders, with the notable exception of the Russians, do not want to be independent. They renounce their own responsibility and prefer to grovel before an illegitimate and cruel world order.

Hysteria in Washington

In Washington, the White House is aware that it can no longer afford its global policy, but the ruling class is not. Congress has been the scene of grandiloquent pronouncements denouncing Russian impudence and particularly that of its president, Vladimir Putin. Parliamentarians have gone so far as to discuss sanctioning him in name, which would mean breaking off diplomatic relations with his country. None of them seem to be aware that the United States is no longer the worlds leading military power and that Russia and China have replaced it.

Less stupid than sanctions against President Putin, Congress has mostly been squabbling over the possible reinstatement of sanctions against the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Republican Senator Marco Rubio defended the idea that the Germans should be punished for making a pact with "the devil", including the former Social Democrat Chancellor Gerhard Schroder who piloted the construction of the pipeline, so that they would have no choice [3]. Instead, the Democrats, on the advice of the White House, argued that it would be better to get the Germans to choose the right side themselves, rather than forcing them to do so. The Ukrainian government supported this common sense approach by pointing out that the Germans had negotiated guarantees with Russia that it would not use its gas supplies as a weapon [4].

This ludicrous debate was only possible because everyone has forgotten the reason that led President Joe Biden to lift the sanctions against Nord Stream 2 just before the Russian-US summit in Geneva [5]: it was a way to pass on to the Europeans the bill for the war damage in Syria. They would pay for cheap Russian gas, but a little less cheap than expected. Nobody even remembers that the United States lost this war.

Everything continues as if nothing had happened

Far from giving in on the substance, the State Department has extended its Russian narrative in the face of China, which supports Russia. Not only would Russia like to invade Ukraine and extend its rule to all of Eastern and Central Europe, but China would like to conquer the entire China Sea.

While the dispute with Russia post-dates the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the dispute with China goes back much further, to the tragic colonial period.

The State Department relies on a 2016 Hague Court of Arbitration decision, condemning China in a territorial dispute with the Philippines, to dismiss Beijings arguments [6]. However, an arbitration court is not a tribunal, and since China does not recognize this court, it did not arbitrate anything, but only endorsed the Philippine version of the dispute. Far from establishing anything, this episode attests to the way the United States interprets international law in general and the UN Charter in particular.

China rightfully claims the islands it ruled in the 18th century and abandoned when it collapsed under the onslaught of colonization. Most of them remained uninhabited until about 30 years ago, that is, until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The United States, in claiming them for its allies in this area, is demonstrating the same conquering imperialism as in placing Central and Eastern Europe under the command of Nato.

Moreover, during this week, Washington has continued its operation of destabilization of Kazakhstan and support to the calls for the overthrow of the regime proclaimed by Mukhtar Ablyazov from Paris. Finally, it encouraged the European Union to organize a blockade of Transnistria, the unrecognized state wedged between Ukraine and Moldova [7]. If it seems to have lost in Kazakhstan, it is already preparing the next episode in Transnistria.

The United States is cloistered in its denial and is sending emissaries to each of its vassals to warn them of an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine following a false flag provocation.

Tentative conclusion

This week has predictably shown that the United States does not intend to respect either the UN Charter or its word. It will not back down anywhere on its own. Its proposals are at best aimed at preserving the status quo.

The US strategy seems to be based on the idea that the Russians and the Chinese will not dare to confront. It is the "madman theory" once used by President Richard Nixon against the Soviet Union: yes, I am wrong and I may not be the strongest, but I am crazy and my reactions are irrational and unpredictable. I dont care if I win, I can break everything. This attitude is like a gamble. It did not allow the USA to win the Vietnam war.

Russia had obviously foreseen the next move when it published its draft treaty guaranteeing peace. However, it will have to adapt it because Washington has succeeded in rallying all its frightened vassals. If there is to be a confrontation, it will be nuclear and will surely result in hundreds of millions of victims.

If Washington is planning the next skirmish in Transnistria, Moscow is preparing to play the next move, probably in the Caribbean basin, on the model of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. It would be a matter of provoking a shock that would make the American ruling class realize that it no longer has the superiority that it has been using and abusing so much.
On 15 January 2022, Israels Channel 12 News reported that a secret agreement to supply natural gas to energy-starved Lebanon had been signed between the Israeli and Lebanese governments. This may enable Lebanon to come out, at least partially, of its critical electricity crisis.

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon relating to hydrocarbon reserves in the Mediterranean are being conducted by US Special Envoy for Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein.

The Channel 12 allegations were promptly denied by the Lebanese Energy Ministry, but the question still remains. A prior agreement, signed on 9 September 2021, contemplates the delivery of Egyptian gas via the Arab gas pipeline through Jordan and Syria (photo). The United States, which prohibits all trade with Syria under its Cesar law, has nevertheless agreed to this route. What if the Egyptian gas were actually Israeli?

Israel and Lebanon are still at war, despite the 2006 ceasefire.
Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy committee of the Iranian parliament, said in a tweet on 15 January 2022:

"#Important_Relations between #Iran and #Saudi Arabia are being revived and #Embassies are preparing to reopen. This will have an important impact on easing regional tensions and boosting the unity of the #Islamic world. Stupidity of #Extremists.

Tehran and Riyadh have been holding talks for four months through the heads of their secret services while Iran is entering the Vienna negotiations on its nuclear programs. All this against a backdrop of war in Yemen and clashes in Iraq and Lebanon.
Weather Alert

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN MADISON AND SOUTH CENTRAL LINCOLN COUNTIES... At 559 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hazel Green, or 10 miles north of Meridianville, moving east at 35 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Hazel Green, Lincoln, Elkwood, Belleview, Fisk, Taft and Crystal Springs. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. && HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE...
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State Farm looks to hire more than 3,400 employees across the country
Mussolini never officially recognised Elena Curti as his daughter.

Elena Curti, the last 'secret daughter' of Italian Fascist dictator Mussolini, died aged 99 at her home north of Rome on Monday.

Her funeral is due to take place on Tuesday in Acquapendente, near Lake Bolsena, where she lived for the last two decades, according to Italian media.

Born on 19 October 1922, days before swept Mussolini to power after the March on Rome, Curti would have turned 100 later this year, newspaper Corriere della Sera reports.

Never recognised officially by ll Duce as his daughter, Elena was born from an affair between Mussolini and Angela Cucciati, the wife of a jailed Fascist militia squad leader in Milan, Bruno Curti.

Angela, a 21-year-old seamstress, had requested Mussolini to solicit the release of her husband from prison.

Mussolini obliged but not before the pair became lovers and Angela became pregnant. Eight months after her husband was freed from jail, Elena was born "prematurely".

At the time of the affair in 1921 Mussolini was the 38-year-old editor of the newspaper Il Popolo d'Italia, however by Elena's birth he had been appointed prime minister by King Victor Emmanuel III, ushering in Italy's Fascist regime.

Angela - who died in 1978 - did not reveal the truth to her daughter until she was 20 years old, reports Corriere della Sera.

"My mother confessed it to me outright one evening after dinner" - Elena is quoted as saying - "I asked her if Mussolini knew. 'Yes, of course, but he prefers that you don't know for now', she replied. From that day on I spent whole days questioning myself in front of the mirror with photos of Il Duce and my papa."

Elena first saw Mussolini as a child, in 1929, at an inauguration ceremony in Milan, reports news agency Adnkronos.

"Mussolini passed between two sections of a cheering crowd" - she recalled in an interview - "he stopped abruptly, looked at my mother for a moment, then bowed his head towards me, smiled and stroked my hair. I had the feeling of being chosen."

The first official meeting between Mussolini and Elena took place on 13 April 1941 at his offices in Palazzo Venezia. She said he gave her books for her studies, often with banknotes slipped inside.

Mussolini with Elena Curti, inset

When Mussolini retreated to Salo at Lake Garda in 1943, Elena followed him and was employed as a secretary in one of the Nazi puppet states ministries headed by Fascist minister Alessandro Pavolini.

Elena recounted the story in her memoir Il Chiodo a Tre Punti (The Thee-Pronged Nail), published in 2003, and subtitled Fragments of Memory of Il Duce's Secret Daughter.

Mussolini's last mistress, Clara Petacci, allegedly "threw a jealous fit" over Il Duce's interest in Elena, fearing that she was a rival.

In an interview with The Times in 2003, Elena said that somebody, presumably Il Duce, "revealed to Petacci that I was Mussolini's daughter, to shut her up."

When Mussolini was arrested in Dongo on 27 April 1945, along with Petacci and senior Italian Fascist leaders, Elena was among the entourage fleeing towards the Swiss border.

She was the "blonde girl" found in the armoured vehicle with Il Duce, according to news agency ANSA, with Petacci travelling in another car.

Arrested by the partisans, Elena was transferred to Como and remained in prison for five months, reports Adnkronos, before emigrating to Spain to build a new life.

"When Mussolini was shot and I was imprisoned along with others in his entourage, my mother told the tribunal that I was Il Duce's daughter and so spared me a 20-year sentence for collaboration", Elena told The Times.

After resuming her studies in postwar Rome, Elena married Colonel Enrico Miranda, a pilot decorated by Mussolini for his role in the Battle of Pantelleria.

The couple moved to Barcelona and lived there for more than 40 years.

In a 1992 interview with La Repubblica newspaper Elena said: "I have no proof that I am Benito's daughter, and I don't care to prove it, I only have my mother's word."

She recalled that her mother had asked Il Duce for his help in introducing Elena into the world of cinema, a prospect that did not appeal to Mussolini.

"I like Elena - said Mussolini, who always reserved a special affection for her - she has a square jaw like mine ... but no cinema, she is a flower that should not be spoiled", she told La Repubblica.

In 2000 Elena returned to Italy, settling in the hometown of her husband, who died in 2008, giving numerous interviews recounting her past and the dramatic events of Dongo.
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There is no shortage of candidates for the title of the most dangerous business idea of the moment. Management-by-algorithm may remove what humanity there is left in the corporate world. The office-less future may dissolve workers into angst-ridden atoms. I want to suggest a less obvious contender for the title: social purpose.

The idea of social purpose can be heard wherever high-minded people gather to talk about business. In America, BlackRock Inc.s CEO Larry Fink argues that companies should have a social purpose beyond financial performance, and that this purpose should involve a positive contribution to society. In France, the 2019 PACTE Act gives companies more freedom to pursue social as well as profit-maximizing purposes. Globally, almost every management consultancy or accountancy worthy of the name has a practice devoted to the promotion of the p-word.

Yet the clamor for social purpose may be heard today most loudly in Britain, the country that invented the limited liability company. The British Academy, a club of prominent academics, recently concluded a four-year project on the future of the corporation with a tortuously alliterative definition of the purpose of business: creating profitable solutions for problems of people and planet, and not profiting from creating problems. More than 900 British businesses, from local firms to high-street brands, have jumped on the purpose bandwagon.

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Its tempting to dismiss the academys work as yet more well-meaning guff, up there with mission statements and we are the world advertisements. What does it mean for a corporation, as opposed to an individual, to have a social purpose? And what is the distinction between a business purpose and a social purpose? The French defense and technology company Thales SA spent six months working on a statement of its corporate purpose, consulting more than half its 86,000 workforce, only to come up with building a future we can all trust. Terry Smith, the boss of the 29 billion Fundsmith Equity Fund, is so sick of Unilever Plcs habit of dolloping the term on everything that it produces that he exclaimed, in a recent letter to investors, that a company which feels it has to define the purpose of Hellmanns mayonnaise has, in our view, clearly lost the plot.

There is undoubtedly lots of verbiage and virtue signaling going on here. But so is something much more dangerous: The people at the heart of the social-purpose movement want to reprogram corporations to solve social problems that governments and voluntary organizations have proved incapable of solving. Corporate activists have drafted a Better Business Act to update the 2006 Companies Act and put social purpose at the heart of British law. The British Academy has provided a blueprint for a new corporate regime.

Directors will be held to account for reaching social purposes rather than financial goals. Shareholders will have a duty to advance corporate purpose as well as their right to derive financial benefit from ownership. Auditing committees, consisting of both insiders and outsiders, will hold companies to account for their impact on people and planet equipped with new measurement systems and the ability to deprive the business of its corporate charter. Colin Mayer, the founding director of Oxfords Said Business School and the leading guru of the movement, lists as examples of social purpose tackling inequality, social exclusion, climate change, biodiversity loss and the future of work.

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To realize just how radical this is you need to grasp two things. The first is that the purpose movement doesnt want to broaden the range of options available to business. There is nothing in current corporate law to prevent companies from pursuing social purpose if they so wish. Managers can emphasize the rights of stakeholders rather than shareholders, as Unilever does with so much preening; or they can turn their companies into B or benefit corporations that make an explicit commitment to put social and environmental concerns on an equal footing with financial ones; or they can straddle the divide: household names such as Waitrose, Ocado and Boots have created online B corps aisles so that consumers can add ethics to their weekly online shop. There is no shortage of fund managers who emphasize ESG (environmental, social and governance considerations). This change must apply to all businesses by default, say the supporters of the Better Business Act. It must no longer be optional to benefit wider stakeholders beyond shareholders.

The second is that the purpose movement is much more than stakeholder capitalism in new clothes. The advocates of stakeholder capitalism only want to undo the Chicago School revolution of the 1970s that put shareholder value at the heart of the corporation. The advocates of social purpose want to go much further and undo the liberal revolution of the 1850s. Before the liberal revolution, businesses had to demonstrate that they were pursuing a social purpose in order to earn the privilege of limited liability. This might mean anything from building a bridge or colonizing the New World, but it inevitably involved going cap in hand to the government to plead your case, a process that could take months and cost serious money.

The liberal revolution made incorporation both quick and easy  a right rather than a privilege, argued Robert Lowe, the author of the 1856 Joint Stock Companies Act and, more than anyone else, the father of the limited liability company. All that was needed was for a group of people to sign a memorandum of association for the company to be registered. This led to such a frenzy of company-making that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote an opera lampooning the innovation, Utopia, Limited; or, The Flowers of Progress.

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Purpose-driven capitalism would put politics back at the heart of the corporation: Deciding what the worlds problems are, let alone how to solve them, is an inherently political task, and not one for which CEOs are particularly well trained, given their lavish incomes and insulated lifestyles. The British Academy lists inequality as an example of an obvious problem to be solved. But people have argued about the virtues and vices of inequality since the birth of civilization. Is inequality necessarily a scourge as the academy assumes? Or is it the price we pay for freedom or innovation  or, indeed, for the prosperity that is a precondition for the welfare state?

At best, the purpose-driven formula is a recipe for paralysis as companies debate world-betterment ad infinitum (the academy recommends that all stakeholders should play a role in such discussions). At worst, it will lead to the rule of the purpose police, a self-selecting group of politicians, regulators and managers who take it upon themselves to define what social purpose means in practice and then harass companies who fail to meet their prescribed goals.

And for what? Putting social purpose at the heart of business would not have saved the world from the biggest economic disaster of recent years  the global financial crisis. The underlying problem was not that predatory lenders lent so much money to people who had poor credit scores. It was that the lenders had so much money to lend to high-risk people in the first place. Politicians from both parties in the U.S. not only had an explicit policy of extending the American dream of home ownership to more Americans, including those with non-traditional financial profiles. They had at their disposal two government-sponsored enterprises  Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae  which had a social purpose written into their corporate charters: to increase the number of poorer Americans who owned their own homes.

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Nor will it calm the anti-business storm that is reshaping the politics of the West. Social purpose will make it harder for companies to do their basic job  competing with each other to produce the best products and services at the lowest prices. The historic sustained growth that followed the liberal legislation of the mid-19th century can hardly be an accident. The enshrinement of social purpose will provoke accusations of hypocrisy, as CEOs make grand statements from the slopes of Davos, or else adopt one set of standards for America and another for China. Above all, it will stoke cultural resentment. The populist movement that has given us Brexit and President Donald Trump is driven by a sense that the sort of people who talk loftily about social purpose  our high-minded credentialed elite  have taken over an ever wider range of institutions from universities to the media. Add companies to their list of trophies and you will feed the forces of revolt.

Im not counseling complacency about the state of the world. Climate change is a giant comet heading for the planet, to borrow the labored metaphor at the heart of the new (and dismal) Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle, Dont Look Up. There is ample evidence that, once inequality exceeds a certain point, it can produce social instability. But there is nothing to be gained by mixing politics and business even more than they are already mixed. Problems such as inequality and, yes, climate change, are political problems best solved with democratic input. Subcontract them to members of the Davos class and you hollow out democracy while kindling popular fury. And revolutionary entrepreneurs do their productivity-raising wonders not because they listen to well-credentialed people talking about social purpose, but because they are monomaniacs in the grip of world-changing ideas.

The genius of the mid-19th century reforms was that they let business be business. We reverse that singular innovation at our peril.

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More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Unilever Should Know That Purpose Isnt Strategy: Chris Hughes

 Not Everyone Likes ESG: Matt Levine

 How the S in ESG Can Become More Relevant: Karen Petrou

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Adrian Wooldridge is the global business columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously a writer at the Economist. His latest book is The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Prospective buyers at an open house in Star, Idaho, in June 2021. (Kyle Green for The Post)

As the Fed raises interest rates, experts say there are some signs the market is responding. But theres a long way to go.
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From ovens to refrigerators, automobiles to surgeons tools, more and more items are connected wirelessly to the internet. As use of such devices soars, so does the demand for airwaves to carry all that data. The need for more space -- more spectrum -- to carry mobile signals is causing friction in a once-placid policy arena. One fight that erupted in the closing days of 2021 pitted mobile phones against the U.S. aviation sector.

1. What are airwaves, exactly?

The term refers to the invisible electromagnetic waves that carry information through the atmosphere to our smartphones -- and to TVs, radios, iPads, ships at sea, aircraft, garage-door openers and any other gadgets that send or take in signals wirelessly. The so-called electromagnetic spectrum encompasses the full range of airwaves, from tiny, high-frequency waves like those used in radiation therapy to longer, low-frequency waves such as those that deliver radio programming. High-frequency waves can carry a lot of information but dont go far and can be stopped by walls or even rain. Low-frequency waves go far and penetrate obstacles but dont carry a lot of information. Of particular value in this wireless age are mid-band airwaves that can carry ample data for significant distances. One of those is the C-band.

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2. Whats the fight over C-band?

This part of the spectrum offers an ideal mix of coverage and capacity to carry the emerging 5G wireless technology that promises data speeds 100 times faster than those of recent years. The C-band had been used by satellite providers to beam programs down to TV and radio stations around the country. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission wanted to open some of the C-band to 5G uses, a shift that dramatically increased demand for those frequencies.

3. Who owns the airwaves?

Thats a tricky question. By law, U.S. airwaves belong to the public; the federal government grants rights, expressed as licenses, to companies to use certain frequencies. These rights are rarely revoked, and when companies with licenses are sold, the airwaves rights typically transfer -- commanding a hefty premium from the buyer. In recent years, the FCC has arranged payment for TV broadcasters to leave frequencies that are needed for mobile uses. A swath of C-band airwaves was auctioned off in early 2021.

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4. Who used to hold the C-band licenses?

Four satellite companies dominated activity in the C-band in the U.S. The two biggest were Intelsat SA and SES SA, both based in Luxembourg, which between them controlled about 90% of commercial traffic. Along with Telesat Canada of Ottawa, which also owned some C-band rights in the U.S., these companies made up the C-Band Alliance (CBA), which was formed in 2018 to push their ideas on how best to sell rights to their portion of the spectrum.

5. How did mobile phones get pitted against air traffic control?

The fight that burst into public view in the final days of 2021 was over whether a new service for mobile phones would interfere with the electronics airline pilots need to land their planes. Frequencies within the C-band are near airwaves used by aircraft radar altimeters -- sensitive devices that track altitude, allowing landings in foul weather and that also feed multiple critical safety systems. Some of the nations most powerful corporations and industries found themselves at odds. AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. in January agreed to temporarily delay switching on hundreds of 5G cell towers near U.S. airports in last-minute talks with U.S. officials.

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6. How are other countries handling this issue?

Some moved faster to free mid-band airwaves for use by mobile communications. South Korea, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Austria and China all held auctions or allocated the frequencies before the U.S. That put the U.S. behind in some aspects of what the wireless industry calls The Race to 5G. The term refers to efforts to establish a 5G network before other countries do, in order to foster the same type of tech leadership that helped boost world-leading brands such as Qualcomm Inc., Intel Corp. and Silicon Valley companies such as Google and Facebook Inc.

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When people debate whether to forgive some or all of the $1.75 trillion in student debt weighing on millions of American families, opponents often argue that it would be wasteful and unfair: Too many relatively well-off, well-educated people would benefit at the expense of all taxpayers, many of whom never had the desire or opportunity to attend college.

Reasonable as this might sound, its the wrong way to think about a policy that could actually do a lot of good, for both individuals and the broader economy. It relies on a misleading concept of who counts as rich, and ignores the extent to which the debt itself is a manifestation of unfairness.

True, if one looks at the U.S. population by income, most student debt is owed by the highest-earning half of households. By one estimate, this group would receive about three quarters of the forgiven dollars (in present-value terms) if all the debt were canceled. This has led economists and politicians to label the policy regressive.

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But this analysis is flawed on many levels. For one, its an inappropriate way to assess the policys regressivity: Social Security, the countrys largest safety net program, can look regressive, too  until one recognizes that low-income participants receive larger benefits compared with what they contribute in taxes. In the case of student debt cancellation, income-based evaluation ignores peoples starting positions  the household resources that determine so much in life, including whether they can attend college debt-free. In the U.S., those starting positions differ radically, in large part due to a long and ignominious history of racism that has, generation after generation, prevented Black families from building wealth.

Consider the investments the government has made in education over the past century. After World War II, the G.I. Bill paid for the college educations of millions of returning solders  with the exception of Black veterans, whose access to benefits was severely limited. Before the Civil Rights Act ended legal segregation in 1964, many public colleges and universities were largely tuition-free. But the political will to subsidize higher education waned as Black, Latino and Asian enrollment rates rose. Together with policies such as redlining, this fostered extreme disparities, in which White middle-class families accumulated the wealth to pay for a higher education, while Black families had to rely much more heavily on student loans to gain the college credentials that increasingly became a prerequisite for upward mobility.

As a result of such federally engineered inequality, otherwise similarly qualified and dedicated students graduate with very different debt loads, defined to a troubling extent by their race and family circumstances. A 2016 study found that four years after earning a bachelors degree, the average Black graduate had about $53,000 in debt, nearly twice the level of the average White graduate. Some 91% of Black medical-school students emerge with debt, with a median amount of $230,000; the comparable figures for White students are 71% and $200,000. Even if income-based plans keep payments low, these debts stay on personal balance sheets for decades, preventing borrowers from starting businesses, investing in homes and engaging in other activities  such as nonprofit work or public service  that would augment their own and the nations prosperity.

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Regressive tax policies aggravate the problem. Over the decade from 2021 through 2030, for example, federal and state governments are expected to spend more than $55 billion on programs such as 529 plans, which provide tax advantages to the most affluent households that can afford to save for college and have the resources to navigate the rules. By contrast, the government is forecast to spend less than half that amount on income-tax deductions for student-loan interest, which are capped at $2,500 a year  not so helpful for those Black medical-school graduates, whose interest payments might amount to more than $10,000 a year.

Efforts to address the student-loan burden have so far proven woefully inadequate. The Department of Education has rejected about 98% of applications to its Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Participation in income-based repayment plans is stunted by confounding complexity, bad management, and predatory practices on the part of loan servicers. Ultimately, it doesnt address the overwhelming balances. The Biden administration has moved to cancel the debt of students preyed upon by unscrupulous for-profit colleges, but the amounts are tiny compared with the overall burden. Even outright default provides little relief, because student debt remains nearly impossible to discharge in bankruptcy.

Blanket debt cancellation, by contrast, could take immediate effect and would be well-targeted at those who have the least wealth and have suffered the most discrimination. Researchers at the Roosevelt Institute estimate that if federal loans were canceled completely, about 70% of the relief dollars would go to the poorest half of Americans, as measured by household assets. Heres a breakdown by asset quantile, for cancellation capped at $50,000 (as proposed by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer) and for full cancellation:

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Using different data sources, both we and the Roosevelt study find that forgiveness would also have an outsized effect on the wealth of Black households. By their estimate, full cancellation would increase the net worth of the median Black household by about 50%, from $16,700 to $25,000. Our estimates find even stronger effects for lower wealth households.

To be sure, forgiveness wouldnt address the underlying inequities that created the debt in the first place  which is why it should be accompanied by reforms to make a quality public higher education free. While some relatively high income people may benefit from relief, in many cases these are lower wealth households that managed to join the middle class against the odds, and such leakage is an inadequate rationale to reject a policy that could help so many so quickly. Instead of perpetuating the myth that student debt cancellation is for the rich, politicians and the Biden administration should recognize how regressive the status quo is, and do whats best for the nation and its people.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Carl Romer is a data analyst at the California Policy Lab. He previously was a research assistant at Brookings Metro.

Andre Perry is a senior fellow at Brookings Metro. He is the author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in Americas Black Cities.

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is considering forcing large private companies to routinely disclose more financial information to the public. To some, this may sound like a shocking imposition on private enterprise. But its really not if you consider how such financial reporting works elsewhere. Europe  and especially Britain  shows theres an alternative to the extraordinary opacity of Americas private markets.

To recap briefly, U.S. companies with publicly traded securities have for decades been required by the SEC to disclose reams of information. In contrast, private companies arent obliged to publish even basic financial accounts. What little corporate data they disclose is submitted at the state rather than federal level. Accessing this information can be difficult, too. A race to the bottom has encouraged corporate secrecy.

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Some folks at the SEC think such leniency should no longer apply to the largest private firms, particularly unicorns, or startups worth $1 billion or more. Notwithstanding last years boom in IPOs and SPAC listings, the number of public companies has shrunk dramatically in the past two decades. Meanwhile, private equity-owned firms employ millions of people while startups often remain private for more than a decade before finally selling shares to the public. These businesses are transforming society while facing comparatively little financial scrutiny. In short, huge chunks of the U.S. economy have gone dark.(3)

Fortunately, theres another way: Private European businesses have to file audited annual accounts with their national government registries. The aim is to give the public easy access to these financial records online, along with other vital corporate information, such as the identity of directors and large shareholders (though regrettably some countries have dragged their feet on implementing the blocs stringent corporate transparency rules).

The reporting requirements are based on size rather than ownership structure. So the more revenue, assets and employees a business has, the more information it must disclose.(1)This is a far more straightforward approach than that in the U.S., where companies with more than 2,000 individual investors must register with the SEC. In practice that threshold is rarely triggered, in part because employee-owners of start-ups arent counted.

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Compared with the U.S., Europe  and the U.K. in particular  is miles ahead, says Chris Taggart, the founder of OpenCorporates, an open database of global corporate information. Finding financial information on American private companies can feel more like detective work, its really hard.

At this point, Im sure some American readers are thinking: Sophisticated private market investors dont need nannying by the SEC, and these regulatory burdens on private enterprise explain why Europe has become an economic backwater.

But thats wrongheaded, Taggart argues. Ive never heard of markets becoming more efficient by having less information. A lack of visibility undermines competition and harms communities.

Indeed, corporate transparency doesnt just help law enforcement, journalists and civil society groups probe possible wrongdoing. It can reveal whether private capital is being allocated efficiently and responsibly.

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Financial transparency would give us greater insight into pensions and university endowments, which are increasingly being invested in private markets. More information would also help businesses conduct due diligence on their suppliers and identify potential investment opportunities. And it would allow employees to better understand their employment prospects or what their startup equity might be worth.

This is also a matter of fairness. In return for the limited liability and tax advantages entrepreneurs enjoy, its reasonable to require them to reveal key information, says anti-money laundering expert and Dark Money podcast host Graham Barrow.

The focus shouldnt just be on balance sheet items. To help tackle the climate crisis and guard against dirty assets being shifted to opaque private markets, large private companies should reveal much more about their environmental footprint, too. The U.K. is already requiring this from 2022.(5)

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Indeed, in many respects, the U.K. has set a gold standard for private company financial transparency. (Im talking, of course, about the U.K. mainland, rather than its more financially opaque crown dependencies and overseas territories.) It scores an impressive 90/100 on an Open Company Data Index that measures the depth and accessibility of company information. The U.S. was awarded 34 points, only slightly better than China.

British companies, whether public or private, file accounts with Companies House, a government agency, which then publishes them on its easily searchable website for anyone to read for free. This holds records on more than 4.5 million businesses and the data is accessed an astonishing 10 billion times annually  clearly a lot of people find this service useful. The reporting goes well beyond a simple profit and loss statement: Since 2019, large private firms have been obliged to explain their corporate governance arrangements.

The U.K. was also one of the first to require private companies to publish the identities of their main shareholders or controlling entities. In an attempt to curb illicit activity, the U.S. will also soon start requiring shell companies to report on their beneficial ownership; however, this information will be held by the U.S. Treasury Department and wont be accessible by the public.

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The British system isnt perfect: Companies House is a registry, not a regulator like the SEC, and thus isnt responsible for investigating inaccurate filings, which are quite common. But reforms currently making their way through parliament could give Companies House more powers to query information and insist that financial data are filed in a digital format thats easier to analyze.

Still, if the SEC wants to shed more light on private companies, it would learn a lot from studying what the Brits and Europeans do.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 The SECs Concern About Unicorns Misses the Point: Jared Dillian

 Private Markets Are The New Public Markets: Matt Levine

 The SEC Is Going Too Easy on Insider Trading: Michelle Leder

(1) See also this recent paper on The Breakdown of the PublicPrivate Divide in Securities Law, by George S. Georgiev, thisby Jennifer S. Fan on Regulating Unicorns. AlsoThe Case for Mandatory Stakeholder Disclosure by Ann M Lipton.

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(2) The thresholds are explained here. The very smallest companies are exempt from the audit requirement.

(3) The EU is also expanding sustainability reporting rules to capture more private companies

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Chris Bryant is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies. He previously worked for the Financial Times.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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This is one of a series of interviews by Bloomberg Opinion columnists on how to solve the worlds most pressing policy challenges. It has been edited for length and clarity. Clara Ferreira Marques: Youre a veteran advocate for global health, vaccines and tropical-disease control, and served as a U.S. science envoy during the Obama administration. Youve now developed a low-cost Covid-19 vaccine, Corbevax, using a tried-and-tested method. Its a recombinant protein vaccine, which means it should be easy to scale. The technology will be available for anyone to reproduce. How do you expect it to contribute to global vaccination efforts?

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, and author of Preventing the Next Pandemic: This is a traditional technology vaccine. Its similar technology to what is used to make the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine that weve used for decades and even give to infants. Its got a tremendous safety profile and its actually a vegan vaccine. The technology has been around for years and is in place in many low and middle income countries  they can make their own hepatitis B vaccine, and therefore can make our Covid-19 vaccine.

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The Texas Childrens Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, based at Baylor College of Medicine, is co-headed by myself and my science partner for the last 20 years, Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi. Weve been making parasitic disease vaccines for diseases such as Chagas disease and schistosomiasis. About 10 years ago we started developing coronavirus vaccines, using those same low-cost approaches and methods. Because all we know how to do is make low-cost, straightforward technologies for people who live in poverty and resource-poor settings, we did it for the Covid-19 vaccine. And now weve developed it and licensed it.

Were helping the co-development in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Botswana. All have differing capacities for developing recombinant protein vaccines. The most advanced is Biological E based in Hyderabad, which has been making vaccines for global use for many years. They have 150 million doses ready to go and have the capacity to produce a billion doses this year. No patents, no strings attached  [the goal] is simply to get people vaccinated as quickly and as efficiently as possible, with a high-quality vaccine that looks like it could protect about as well as mRNA vaccines at a cost of around $2 a dose, with simple refrigeration [requirements]. When you go down the checklist, this looks like a pretty good vaccine for global health. We hope this will make a fundamental contribution to vaccinating the world.

CFM: Can this technology work effectively against new variants of Covid-19, like omicron?

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PH: In the lab, it works as well as any vaccine against delta and beta, which are two variants of concern. Were not on a priority list for getting the omicron pseudovirus and the virus isolate  but thats coming and well hopefully have that data soon. Based on how its performing against delta and beta, we have some reasonable expectation that it should hold up pretty well against omicron as well.

CFM: That would be good news, given most of the world is still not getting access to sufficient doses, in part because of the failures of vaccine diplomacy. Why, decades after Albert Sabin managed to work on the oral polio vaccine with Soviet scientists at the height of the Cold War, have 21st century efforts fallen short?

PH: Weve seen two very ominous trends. The first one is the exclusive reliance on the multinational pharma companies. Not that the multinational pharma companies are bad; when you look at the Gavi Alliance pre-pandemic, the big pharma companies supplied quite a number of those vaccines. The problem was the way the incentivizing structure worked for Covid-19, through Operation Warp Speed in the U.S. and the G7 countries. It was all about speed, innovation and rapid immunization of smaller populations.

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They wound up making interesting vaccines. I got the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and Im grateful that it may have saved my life, but it should have been expected that those vaccines were not going to filter to low- and middle-income countries. You cant scale them at the level you need. A billion people in Africa, a billion people in Latin America and the Caribbean, a billion people in the smaller, low income countries of Southeast Asia  multiply that by three and thats nine billion doses. With a new technology, as any engineer will tell you, you cant go from zero to nine billion. So I think that was a terrible policy failure.

Then you had the fact that countries like China and Russia were making vaccines that are not holding up well against the variants, certainly in the case of the whole inactivated virus vaccines out of China. They conducted their business in a very transactional way that initially bypassed the World Health Organization.

CFM: In your latest book, Preventing the Next Pandemic, you also talk about the need for new vaccine technologies and surveillance in vaccine diplomacy. Could that be the next phase? Can we right the wrongs of the first two years of the pandemic?

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PH: I think so. In our case, not only are we transferring the technology, but we help to build vaccine development capacity. I think theres a lot of misunderstanding about the vaccine ecosystem. Its not as simple as building a factory. I mean, you could build an mRNA factory tomorrow, but its the human capital  knowing how to make vaccines at scale. It takes years to build the human capital, to do this with quality assurance, quality control, to work with national regulatory authorities. Thats one of the things we do. You cant walk into Merck or GlaxoSmithKline and say, Show me how to make a vaccine. But you can walk into our facility and well teach you. We do a lot of capacity building and weve been doing so for years.

CFM: What more can we do when it comes to surveillance? That will be crucial to ending the pandemic, and to managing whatever comes next.

PH: Were not even ready for the next variant. Theres all this happy talk that somehow omicron represents some kind of attenuated vaccine, that its going to give everyone immunity and this is how its going to end, which is utter nonsense. The omicron variant will probably behave more like upper respiratory coronaviruses in terms of immune response. It will not provide very durable protection. Were going to be vulnerable again, and because weve refused as a society to vaccinate the worlds low- and middle-income countries, we know whats coming. We will have another terrible variant of concern that will, like the last two summers, sweep across the southern United States and cause a lot of devastation.

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Mother Nature is not being coy  shes told us what shes going to do. She gave us delta out of an unvaccinated population in India, and omicron out of an unvaccinated population in southern Africa towards the end of last year. Shes going to do it again. I just cant tell you whether its gonna be from Africa or Laos, or somewhere else in Southeast Asia or Paraguay. And thats going to continue to happen until we resolve that we are going to vaccinate the world. Hopefully our vaccine will make a difference.

CFM: One of the issues you touch on in the book is the anti-science movement, a great impediment when it comes to preparing for the next variant, never mind the next pandemic. Youve been very involved personally in combatting that. How can public-health authorities deal with disinformation and inoculate people against it?

PH: At least in the U.S., weve not been willing to take on the anti-vaccine movement in a big way. Its taken a political spin in aligning itself to political extremism on the right, and now its a full-on component of the far right. Youre hearing it from members of the U.S. Congress.

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The consequences are devastating. When you add up the numbers, since the middle of last year, 250,000 unvaccinated Americans have lost their lives to Covid-19, despite the widespread availability of vaccines. I dont even know what words to use: its not even misinformation or disinformation, its a form of self-immolation out of allegiance to political extremism on the right. Anti-science is a killing force and now its starting to globalize, its in Canada, and were seeing in Western Europe. Im very concerned that we are not taking this seriously enough.

CFM: What concrete actions can be taken? Is this about policing the internet, or can we help people talk through their questions and doubts?

PH: Well, the problem is that the health sector has more or less abdicated any interest in doing something about it. They cant deal with the fact that its taken on a political dimension  its impolite to talk about it, so theyd rather let people die. I hate to say that in such blunt terms, but that is the reality. On the U.S. side, we need to bring in the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice. Weve got [President Vladimir] Putin and his Russia propaganda machine using this as a wedge issue, filling our internet with anti-vaccine messages. We have to bring in the State Department and people who know how to combat these global forces. And we need to do this the international level too, to bring in all the UN agencies.

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CFM: Covid-19 has also caused significant economic hardship and impeded regular healthcare, causing the resurgence of diseases that we had thought eradicated or contained. Can the world deal with both Covid-19 and these long-standing problems?

PH: Most of my 40-year career has been devoted to neglected tropical diseases. These are poverty-promoting diseases because of the social stigma they cause, especially among girls and women. For example, female genital schistosomiasis, a disease of 40 million girls and women that no one has heard of, is one of the major causes of gynecological problems on the African continent, affecting worker productivity, child development, pregnancy outcomes. These diseases trap in poverty.

CFM: And were now seeing some of these diseases in areas they have never been before.

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PH: So much of the dialogue around global health is about poor versus wealthy countries. Well, the worlds not quite that way anymore. At least pre-pandemic, most economies were growing, but leaving behind a bottom segment of society. When you add up where most of the worlds poverty-related diseases are, sure, theyre in fragile states in Africa and elsewhere, but overwhelmingly theyre found among the poor living in G20 countries as well as Nigeria, which is not a G20 country but has an economy bigger than those at the bottom end of that group. For instance, weve identified around 12 million Americans living with a poverty-related neglected disease.

CFM: And on top of that, there are the illnesses triggered by a changing climate, including zoonotic diseases that spread from animals.

PH: For the first time, as of a few years ago, more people live in an urban than rural environment. These are often mega cities that outstrip their public infrastructure  things like sewers, high quality water and food safety. Thats become a problem. Climate change doesnt act on its own, it interacts with other social forces like urbanization or conflict.

In the Middle East, weve seen the return of measles, polio and cutaneous leishmaniasis, accelerating in areas [of conflict]. But at the same time, you have unprecedented temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius, forcing people to abandon agricultural lands and pour into cities, and that itself is a destabilizing factor. Whether zoonotic or non-zoonotic, infectious diseases are being buffeted by new forces.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Its easy to lose count of the number of times someone has declared the death of Polish democracy; usually reports are exaggerated. Poland is large enough, diverse enough, noisy enough and liberty-minded enough to resist being dragged under a dark authoritarian blanket again. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight That doesnt mean we shouldnt be worried by recent developments. The erosion of democracy may be a gradual process  like frog boiling. But the countrys hard-line coalition government, led by the populist, nativist Law & Justice Party (PiS), has been turning the heat up fast enough to grab the worlds attention. If theres a silver lining, its that an inflection point may also be an opportunity for Polands long disjointed opposition.

The list of PiS-led offenses against democratic norms and the founding values of the European Union ranges from undermining the independence of the judiciary to restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights. Two new bills in the same mould have led to further tensions with the EU but have also put Poland on a collision course with its most important NATO ally.

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One makes it more difficult for Holocaust survivors to reclaim property that was seized by Nazis in Poland, leaving many Jews whose families perished in Poland and had their properties confiscated with no recourse to restitution but also a sense that their history is being denied. The other, passed by the lower house of parliament last week changes the rules on foreign ownership of Polish media assets, requiring New York-based Discovery, Inc. to sell its majority stake TVN Group, which runs TVN24, Polands last remaining independent television news station.

The ruling party promised us Budapest and it is delivering, tweeted former Polish Foreign Minister and current member of the European Parliament, Radek Sikorski last week. The reference to Hungary  a wholly owned subsidiary of Viktor Orban, Inc.  is telling. So far, there has been a clear hierarchy in the EUs eastern members who flout democratic norms; all meaningful opposition has been snuffed out in Hungary.

Is Poland now heading that way? Like Orban, the PiS has used the urgency of the pandemic to strengthen its control, including rushing through changes to the electoral code last year that helped keep President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, in power. The ruling partys brash bid to buy parliamentary votes and other tactics is certainly redolent of Hungary.

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Of course, Poland has had free elections and the kind of large-scale protests that attest to democracy remaining in place. As for media ownership laws, they exist in other EU countries too, as well as the U.S. Polands law set the limit for non-EU ownership in broadcasting to a minority stake of 49%, similar to Austrias restrictions for radio and TV. Spain limits the total amount of shares that can be held by non-EU citizens and companies in radio and TV to below 50%. Polands government argues that the change is to prevent Russian or Chinese owners coming in  no offense to Americans.

Still, Austria and Spain and others with similar laws have varied, media landscapes as well as real public service broadcasting. Polands state television network (TVP) is no such thing. Polands media landscape without TVN24 will be anemic. The takeover of regional newspaper group Polska Press by state energy company PKN Orlen last year is a pretty good sign of the direction of travel.

The draft law isnt a done deal yet. It needs to go through the opposition-controlled Senate, where it could be watered down. Discovery has vowed to take legal action, citing a 1994 bilateral investment treaty. Polands pro-business deputy prime minister Jaroslow Gowin was sacked by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki last week for opposing the law (along with tax-raising in a new economic program), leaving the coalition without a governing majority and dependent on the far-right for support.

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If theres a glimmer of hope in all this, it is that PiS has finally overstepped but also that Polands opposition, so often a disappointment, has serious leadership in the return of Donald Tusk, a former prime minister and European Council president. Tusk is again leading the center-right Civic Platform, which he helped found two decades ago and which once dominated Polish politics, though complacency, sloppy messaging and scandal led it to lose power in 2015.

Overturning the PiSs grip on power wont be easy. The party has combined astute social spending  a child-benefit program, more money for pensioners and a higher minimum wage  with populist policies to appeal to a sense of national pride and also the conservative social values dear to its rural voter base. Second quarter GDP, at 10.9% is the countrys fastest ever annual growth rate, which may make it harder to dislodge the governing party. New elections arent due until 2023, unless opposition parties can force a snap vote.

Outside powers cant return Poland to a rule-of-law based democratic trajectory, but they can make their voices heard. As the biggest recipient of EU funds  some $152 billion since it became a member in 2004  youd think the EU has leverage. But the bloc has not been able to use that influence to date and Warsaw usually does just enough to avoid major confrontation.

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The U.S. has historic, filial (according to some estimates, around 9 million in the U.S. identify as Polish American) and defense ties with Poland that run deep. But Biden has been notably cooler toward Warsaw than Donald Trump, who flattered PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and allowed him to play Washington off Brussels.

Both the EU and the U.S. need to work to encourage Poland to avoid going the way of Hungary. But the real heavy lifting will have to be internal.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Therese Raphael is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. She was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday in an effort to resolve the standoff over Ukraine, with U.S. officials warning that a Russian invasion could be imminent. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The meeting will follow a week of intense diplomacy as the top U.S. diplomat heads to Ukraine and Germany for discussions on the crisis, the State Department said. Adding urgency to Blinkens talks is Russias fresh deployment of troops to Belarus to conduct major military exercises that will further strengthen the number of Russian forces along Ukraines border.

The troop movements, coupled with statements from Moscow that it was unsatisfied with meetings held with U.S., European and NATO officials last week to address its security concerns, have had some officials in Washington fearing the worst.

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Since early December, U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that Russia was planning a massive military invasion of Ukraine. Heres why Moscow would do that. (Video: Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

Were now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a briefing with reporters Tuesday. The Biden administration has accused Moscow of sending operatives into Ukraine to prepare a false flag operation to use as a pretext for an invasion. Russia has denied the charge.

Despite the troubling developments, a senior State Department official said the meeting between Blinken and Lavrov in the Swiss city indicated that diplomacy is not dead.

We are prepared to continue to engage with Russia on security issues in a meaningful, reciprocal dialogue, said the official, who spoke to reporters in a phone briefing on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the department. We will see this Friday if Russia is prepared to do the same.

The official declined to say if the United States or Russia first proposed the meeting.

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Russia has placed some 100,000 troops along the border with Ukraine alongside tanks and heavy weaponry. Russia has denied that it is preparing a military invasion but has said the West must take into account its security demands, which include the provision of legally binding assurances that Ukraine and Georgia will not become members of the NATO military alliance.

The Biden administration has refused to consider that demand, calling NATOs open door policy sacrosanct despite widespread doubts that Ukraine will ever meet the military alliances criteria for membership.

U.S. officials are now left guessing if their decision to reject what Russia describes as its core demands will precede what some military analysts say could be the largest ground war in Europe in decades. Despite Washingtons vast spying apparatus, bolstered by satellites and surveillance planes, Russian President Vladimir Putins appetite for an invasion remains unknown.

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Thats a question only the Russians can answer for you, but their actions show to us that they are making moves that would suggest that they have plans to invade Ukraine, said the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, at a Washington Post Live event.

Blinken left Tuesday for Ukraine, where he will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials and discuss where we think there are opportunities to have meaningful conversations with the Russians, said the State Department official.

From Kyiv, Blinken will fly to Berlin to meet his French, German and British counterparts to discuss a response to a possible Russian military incursion.

In Germany, Blinken is expected to address the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will pump billions of cubic meters of gas from Russia to Europe each year  once its switched on.

Despite U.S. pressure, Germanys newly formed coalition government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has offered mixed and contradictory messaging on whether the future of the project should be linked to any potential Russian aggression.

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But when pressed on the matter during a news conference Tuesday, Scholz indicated that the pipeline could be used as leverage against Russia if it was to invade Ukraine.

It is crystal clear that Russia will have to pay a high price should there be a military intervention against Ukraine or in Ukraine, Scholz said.

From Berlin, Blinken will fly to Geneva to discuss with Lavrov if there is a possible diplomatic off-ramp to this crisis, said the State Department official.

It is unclear if the United States will provide a written response to Russia on its key demands from last week, something Moscow continues to insist on to resolve the standoff.

[We] are expecting their answers to our proposals, as we have been promised, in order to continue the talks, Lavrov said during a joint news conference in Moscow with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

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The State Department official dodged a question on whether Washington will provide a written response, saying only that the United States remains prepared to engage Russia on security issues.

On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reinforced messages from the White House that Russian military action could be imminent.

The risk of conflict is real, he said.

He also reiterated the U.S. insistence that some of Russias demands are nonstarters. NATO allies are ready to engage and listen to concerns Russia may have, he said, citing issues including arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation. But we will not compromise on core principles.



Russian troops and military hardware began arriving in Belarus on Monday for military drills called Allies Resolve conducted near Belaruss western border.

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Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the drills were to refine how Russia and Belarus would respond to external threats and would involve a dozen Su-35 fighter jets and several air-defense units. He said the exercises are expected to take place Feb. 10-20.

Ukraine has said Russia could stage an attack from any direction, including Belarus, a longtime ally that the Kremlin recently reinforced following a wave of demonstrations against the government of President Alexander Lukashenko following elections widely criticized as fraudulent.

The State Department is also warning of an incursion from Belarus.

The timing is notable and, of course, raises concerns that Russia could intend to station troops in Belarus under the guise of joint military exercises in order, potentially, to attack Ukraine from the north, said a second State Department official. Belaruss complicity in such an attack would be completely unacceptable.

Isabelle Khurshudyan in Moscow contributed to this report.

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PENSACOLA, Fla.  Down on his luck in New York City, Herman Masu Phillips decided last fall to move to northwest Florida, a place hed always thought of as quiet, affordable. But three months after arriving in Pensacola with $3,000 in his pocket, Phillips and his children  ages 10, 8 and 6  still havent found a place to live. They spend their days cuddled in a small tent, waiting for a homeless shelter to open at sunset.

I got the money to pay for a place. I got money to pay for my electric. But I just cant find a place, Phillips, 53, said earlier this month, as his children nibbled on sandwiches in an encampment near downtown Pensacola.

Amid a surge of demand from out-of-state buyers, limited inventory and booming neighborhood redevelopment, the Sunshine State is quickly becoming one of the least affordable places to live in the United States, a trend that is straining new home buyers and renters even as longtime homeowners reap a windfall of equity.

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Over the past six months, Floridas home prices have risen faster than those of any other state, according to a Washington Post analysis of Zillow data. As housing markets elsewhere have cooled, home prices in Florida have heated up, overtaking Minnesota, Maine and Connecticut in the national ranking. Floridas prices are quickly catching up to higher-cost states such as New York and Virginia.

Floridas wages, meanwhile, have grown at a slower rate than the national average. In the six months ending in November, when home prices in the state rose 16 percent, average hourly earnings in Florida were up 2.1 percent, compared with the national rate of 2.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The lack of affordable housing presents an emerging political challenge for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who frequently argues that his hands-off approach to the coronavirus pandemic is bringing as many as 800 new residents per day to the state.

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Florida has become the escape path for that chafing under the authoritarian, arbitrary, and seemingly never-ending mandates and restrictions, DeSantis said during his State of the State address on Jan. 11. Florida is a free state.

'Everything is just blowing up'

But the surge in demand for housing in Florida  including a doubling in the number of houses that sold for $1 million or more last year, compared with 2020  has some economists warning that the state could be headed for a housing affordability crisis similar to the one gripping California and other Western states.

The trajectory right now doesnt look great, said Brad OConnor, chief economist for Florida Realtors. We are building more and more homes each year than the last, but its not at the pace we need to see.

Phillips said he assumed his monthly $1,500 in disability payments would cover a rental in one of Floridas cheapest housing markets. But he and his three children became homeless after Phillips could no longer afford the $89-a-night stay in a budget motel.

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Now, when they are not in school, Phillipss children play video games from their tent. To keep up morale, Phillips has been telling his kids he will one day take them to Disney World.

I am from New York, and New York is like one of the most expensive places, said Phillips, a former mechanic. Ive been to California, and that is expensive, and I knew I couldnt make it, so I didnt go. But Pensacola?

Although Florida has long been associated with pockets of extreme wealth, local leaders say they are most unsettled by how quickly home prices are rising at the bottom of the market. Those trends now threaten to drive away scores of working-class residents, who remain the backbone of the states tourism-driven economy.

In December 2020, for example, 36,000 houses were worth less than $100,000 in Tampa. By November 2021, there were 14,000 houses worth that amount, a 60 percent decline, according to the national real estate brokerage Redfin.

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There was also a 41 percent year-over-year decline in the number of properties worth between $100,000 and $250,000, a trend that also played out in Orlando, Cape Coral and in suburban Sarasota, according to Redfin.

In Pensacola, the jump in home values has been especially stark in several historically African American neighborhoods. In Brownsville, west of downtown, home values have risen by 33 percent in the past six months, according to a Post analysis of Zillow data. The neighborhood has seen the second-fastest price growth in the state over that time.

The price spike comes as wealthy retirees and young professionals are flocking to the city, crowding locals out of the rental and housing market. Pensacola is also attracting growing numbers of real estate investors, and downtown streets that were once known for rowdy punk rock bars are now lined with wine bars, cheese shops and Pilates studios.

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In Tanyard, a historically Black neighborhood where the citys segregated beach was once located, developers are quickly buying up one-story shotgun-style houses and replacing them with three-story homes in vibrant Caribbean hues.

Kevin Fox, a local Realtor overseeing some of the redevelopment, said the new homes can sell for $250 to $500 per square foot, and 80 percent of those properties are being sold even before construction is completed.

Sometimes, before we even lay the slab, its sold, said Fox, adding transplants from California, Texas and the Midwest see it as no-brainer to invest in Pensacola because of the regions milky-white beaches and the growing vibrancy of downtown.

The surge in home values in Pensacola has been good for many homeowners, including residents of color who in some cases are sitting on mortgage-free houses that have been passed down through their family for generations.

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As he sipped his beer at Emerald Republic Brewing, one of a dozen new breweries to open in Pensacola in recent years, Antonio Rodriquez said that 14 years ago he bought his 1,500-square-foot house for $85,000, just before the 2008 financial crisis. If he sold it today, the 34-year-old auto mechanic estimates he could list it for $240,000.

Everything is just blowing up right now, and with the way the market is, people are just going crazy for houses, Rodriquez said.

But the price spike is also making it difficult for scores of Pensacola residents to secure affordable housing. Sherri Myers, a member of the Pensacola City Council, said the city is now facing a dire crisis, with a growing homeless population and limited availability of rental housing.

If I did not have my house, I could not rent right now in Pensacola on my income, said Myers, 79, who earns about $40,000 in annual salary from her council job and Social Security. I would be living in my car.

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Michael Kimberl, director of the Alfred-Washburn Center in Pensacola, said hundreds of Escambia County residents are sleeping in their vehicles each night.

Even many Pensacola residents who consider themselves middle class can no longer afford the cheapest rent in town, Kimberl said. He pointed to an ad for a two-bedroom trailer on the outskirts of town that was on the market last week for $875 a month.

To live comfortably in that, you would want to have an income of at least $1,600 a month, Kimberl said as he scrolled through the listing on his phone. But a lot of people here, if they are on Social Security, are only making $675 to $700 a month.

Thomas Myles, 65, has been living in his tent since October, when he became homeless after he moved to Pensacola from Rhode Island about a year ago to take care of his late mother. A former jewelry salesman, Myles receives $713 a month in Social Security.

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I could go as high as $500 a month [in rent], and that would leave me with $213 to pay bills, Myles said. But Ive been looking all around these neighborhoods and cant even find a room in a house. People are just buying up all of these houses and rebuilding them.

'Nothing is affordable'

Pensacola Housing Director Marcie Whitaker said 62 percent of people are now able to find housing even with a Section 8 voucher because of a tighter rental market, which she blames on the great migration of Northerners to Florida.

People are moving here, embracing working remotely and living at the beach, Whitaker said.

After Hurricane Sally damaged her apartment in 2020, 29-year-old Natasha Fields spent most of last year couch bouncing until just before Christmas, when she moved into a homeless shelter with her husband and two children.

Fields is a cashier at a grocery store who earns $11 an hour, and her husband works as a truck driver. The couple relied on federal housing assistance and local charities to move into a two-bedroom earlier this month. The $1,350 rent is nearly double what the family used to pay.

This has been mentally brutal, and its draining on the adults, and its draining on the kids, Fields said. They can put all of this new shiny stuff in [Pensacola], but it doesnt help anything if nothing is affordable.

This year, 1,257 students in Escambia County public schools are considered to be homeless, according to school records. Melissa Johnson, a Pensacola social worker who works in homeless encampments, estimates the real number is much higher.

In the tree lines, there are a lot, but everybody is too scared to come forward, said Johnson, referring to encampments in remote parts of Escambia County. They are scared they are going to lose their kids, and that is how devastating our affordable-housing crisis is now.

In Tampa, another traditionally affordable locale, City Council Chairman Orlando Gudes predicts more residents are going to be homeless soon. Gudes said that he has been receiving calls from constituents who say their landlord is upping their rent by $500, $600 or $700 a month.

Gudes blames Republican state lawmakers for the crisis, noting that market-rate rent control laws are prohibited here. In 2019, the GOP-controlled Florida legislature voted to allow local governments to require developers to build affordable units in new projects. But counties and municipalities must provide incentives to fully offset the cost to developers, which has tempered such agreements, Gudes said.

We have been a Republican state for a long time, and legislators now need to get off their high horse and figure out what they can do to help people, said Gudes, who is exploring whether Tampa can get around some of the state regulations by declaring an emergency housing situation to temporarily cap rent increases.

Since 1992, Florida has also had a robust funding mechanism to pay for affordable housing, the Sadowski Trust Fund, which is funded through real estate transfer taxes. But Florida legislators have consistently diverted the money to other things, including a decision last year to shift $200 million to fight sea level rise.

Jaimie Ross, chief executive of the Florida Housing Coalition, a Tallahassee-based group, said advocates are relieved that DeSantis has proposed spending all of the projected Sadowski Trust Funds receipts for the upcoming year  about $355 million  on affordable housing.

But Ross said state legislators need to spend even more to avoid an even broader crisis.

I think people look at places like San Francisco and think, Oh, that will never be us,  Ross said. I think they are making a mistake, because I think that will be us, and there is additional reckoning coming to state of Florida.

Real estate boom or bust?

The question that now dominates discussions among homeowners, real estate professionals and economists is whether the recent surge in home values is sustainable, especially considering the states history of boom-bust real estate cycles.

One model created by real estate economist Ken H. Johnson, a business professor at Florida Atlantic University, and two other professors concludes that home prices in Orlando, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Tampa, Melbourne and Lakeland are currently overvalued by at least 30 percent.

Although Johnson expects the market to eventually cool, he does not expect the drop to be as steep as it was during the 2008 mortgage crisis, when home values in some parts of the state plunged by more than 50 percent.

People are moving in at a more rapid rate than they were 15 years ago, so all the ingredients are not there for another crash in Florida, Johnson said.

So at least for now, residents in neighborhoods such as Tampas Seminole Heights are divided between the haves and the have-nots.

A racially diverse neighborhood about 10 minutes north of downtown, Seminole Heights has seen an influx of home buyers and commercial investment over the past decade, including new organic pet food stores and hipster breweries.

Rick Silva and his wife, Katherine, bought their bungalow-style house for $60,000 a decade ago, after retiring from their jobs in Detroit. The couple made about $50,000 in upgrades to the house over the years but estimate the property is now worth $350,000.

When I first came here, I was like, what did I get myself into? because there were still a lot of robberies and break-ins, said Rick Silva, 70. But now I see it definitely worked out well for us.

Yet for many residents who are renting in the neighborhood, Tampas surging home values have left them feeling pushed out of the middle class.

Reginald McClendon, 61, spent 23 years working for the Hillsborough County Department of Public Works. He now lives off his $692-a-month pension and $1,360 a month in disability payments, and his wife earns about $2,400 a month.

Four years ago, McClendon and his wife, were abruptly forced to move from his $1,000-a-month rental property after his landlord sold the property.

Now, McClendon pays about $1,560 each month in rent. He said he dreads phone calls from his landlord, worried that hes either going to raise the rent or tell him hes selling the property.

The rent is due on the first of the month, McClendon said in late December, as he opened the online banking app on his phone and saw he had $3.97 in his account. My greatest fear is being uprooted and looking for a place to go.

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Last week, my husband and I flew home from Germany, where we were visiting our son who supports our U.S. military forces there. It is illegal to display a swastika in Germany, and the evil of the Nazi regime is publicly and clearly communicated in schools, museums and memorials. To equate lifesaving vaccines with a movement to exterminate humans is preposterous. Such remarks mirror the incendiary rhetoric used by Hitler and all dictators to inflame emotions and create fear.
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Gary Chambers, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate from Louisiana, unveiled a new ad Tuesday in which he is shown smoking marijuana. In the highly unusual spot, Chambers, who is seeking to unseat Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.), is shown seated in an open field, lighting up a rolled blunt of marijuana and taking multiple puffs. In a voice-over, he rattles off statistics about the drug, including that Black people are four times as likely as White people to be arrested for its use.

For too long, candidates have used the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters, Chambers said in a statement accompanying the release of the ad. I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.

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Chambers supports federal legislation that would incentivize state and local governments to expunge the criminal records of those who have been convicted of marijuana offenses and that would expand the marijuana industrys access to financial institutions.

His campaign said the ad was filmed in New Orleans, where the City Council recently passed an ordinance intended to remove penalties for simple possession of marijuana.

Chambers describes himself as a social justice advocate and community organizer in Baton Rouge. He ran unsuccessfully last year in a special U.S. House election for Louisianas 2nd District.

Eighteen states, two territories and the District of Columbia had enacted legislation as of Nov. 29 to allow the regulation of marijuana for nonmedical use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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The nations most restrictive abortion law remains in effect in Texas after a federal appeals court on Monday rejected a request from abortion providers to immediately return their legal challenge to a trial court judge who had previously blocked the measure. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight In a 2-to-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit temporarily transferred the case to the Texas Supreme Court, a step requested by state officials that could leave the dispute in limbo for months.

The courts majority said its decision was consistent with the Supreme Courts ruling last month and necessary to avoid creating needless friction with the state court over interpretation of the Texas law.

Abortion providers had warned the 5th Circuit that any diversion from the district court in Austin would continue to restrict access to the procedure after about six weeks into pregnancy, when many women do not yet realize they are pregnant.

An abortion doctor from Kansas City, Mo., travels across state lines every month to provide care at clinics in the Midwest. (Video: Whitney Leaming, Alice Li/The Washington Post)

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The latest development follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision that left the ban in place while allowing providers to challenge the laws unusual enforcement structure. The high court has twice refused to block the Texas law, which makes no exception for rape or incest and is at odds with the landmark Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a right to abortion before viability, usually around 23 weeks.

In effect since Sept. 1, the law has forced Texans to cross state lines to terminate their pregnancies after the six-week mark.

The dissenting judge, Stephen A. Higginson, said Monday that his colleagues were second-guessing the Supreme Court and allowing Texas officials to re-litigate an issue they had already lost.

This further, second-guessing redundancy, without time limit, deepens my concern that justice delayed is justice denied, here impeding relief ordered by the Supreme Court, wrote Higginson, a nominee of President Barack Obama.

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The Supreme Court is separately considering a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks. The courts conservative justices signaled at oral argument that they were open to overturning Roe, the nearly 50-year old decision.

Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in the Texas case, sent the case back to the 5th Circuit as requested by Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). Texas officials then asked the 5th Circuit to transfer the case temporarily to the Texas Supreme Court to interpret a provision of state law before the case is sent to the district court.

The Texas law was designed to avoid judicial scrutiny by empowering private citizens, instead of state officials, to enforce the ban. Any member of the public can sue any person who performs an abortion or helps someone get an illegal abortion.

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In its Dec. 10 opinion, the Supreme Court said the legal challenge could continue only against Texas licensing officials who oversee nurses, physicians and pharmacists.

Texas officials said the states high court must first determine whether those licensing officials in fact have the enforcement power the U.S. Supreme Court suggested to discipline medical professionals who violate the six-week abortion ban. Paxton told the 5th Circuit that state officials believe the law prevents licensing officials from enforcing the ban either directly or indirectly, and that the justices did not definitively resolve whether abortion providers have legal grounds to sue.

The 5th Circuit agreed, saying it must defer to the state courts definition.

This court reasonably seeks the Texas Supreme Courts final word on the matter, wrote Judge Edith H. Jones, a nominee of President Ronald Reagan, who was joined by Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, a nominee of President Donald Trump.

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Abortion providers say the move to state court is just a delay tactic to leave the case in limbo and out of the hands of U.S. District Judge Robert L. Pitman in Austin.

In a statement Monday, Julie Murray, an attorney with Planned Parenthood Federation of America said, People in Texas have been stripped of their constitutional right to abortion for more than four months now  and pregnant Texans are needlessly suffering with no end in sight. We call on the U.S. Supreme Court to enforce its order and send this case back to the district court where it belongs.

In October, Pitman blocked enforcement of the law, which he characterized as an unprecedented and aggressive scheme to deprive its citizens of a significant and well-established constitutional right. Less than 48 hours later, the 5th Circuit reinstated the ban.

At oral argument this month, Jones suggested that the Texas case may not be resolved before the Supreme Court rules in the Mississippi matter and asked whether the 5th Circuit should just wait to rule until then.

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What happens, she asked the lawyer for abortion providers, if the Supreme Court as many expect says something about Roe v. Wade that implies that [the laws] prohibition on abortions after heartbeat may be enforceable?

Maybe we ought to just sit on this until the end of June, she said referring to the traditional end of the Supreme Courts term.

Marc Hearron, the lawyer for the Center for Reproductive Rights, said waiting until then would be completely inconsistent with the Supreme Courts expedited order.

He referred to the dissent from Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who said, Given the ongoing chilling effect of the state law, the district court should resolve this litigation and enter appropriate relief without delay.

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Two House Democrats said Tuesday that they will not seek reelection, bringing the number of Democratic retirements to 28. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) announced his retirement in an op-ed in the Providence Journal. Langevin, 57, is the first quadriplegic elected to Congress and is serving his 11th term. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight I have not come to this decision lightly, but it is time for me to chart a new course, which will allow me to stay closer to home and spend more time with my family and friends, Langevin said in the op-ed. And while I dont know whats next for me just yet, whatever I do will always be in service of Rhode Island.

Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) said in a tweet that he, too, is retiring.

The increasing number of House Democratic retirements is adding to concerns the party may not be able to keep its majority in the House. (Video: Mahlia Posey/The Washington Post)

Today I am announcing that I will not seek reelection in Californias newly created 9th Congressional District, the 70-year-old lawmaker said. I am honored that the citizens of Californias 9th Congressional District chose me as their representative in the past five elections, and that those in Californias previous 11th Congressional District gave me the privilege of representing them for three terms.

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The eight-term lawmaker added that he looks forward to new opportunities to continue to serve.

Shortly after McNerneys announcement, Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.), who represents the states 10th District, said he will run for reelection in the newly redrawn 9th District.

Rep. Jerry McNerney has made our entire state proud throughout his career, Harder said in a tweet. Im grateful to call him a mentor and a friend.

In a statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called McNerney a devoted champion for his Northern California community and our nation.

Driven by a sense of patriotic duty and inspired by his sons military service, Congressman McNerney has brought to the House a strong commitment to our veterans, she said.

Democrats currently hold a slim majority in the House, and the mounting retirements could put their control of the chamber in peril. Republicans pointed to the latest announcements Tuesday as a sign that even Democrats in safe districts believe their partys majority is at risk.

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Nobody wants to run as a House Democrat because their majority is doomed, Mike Berg, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

With Langevins retirement, the House is losing a leader who has spearheaded efforts to promote the rights of people with disabilities. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, hailed Langevins historic tenure in Congress.

His belief that everyone deserves a fair opportunity to make the most of their talents has been an example not just to me and my colleagues, but our country, Maloney said in a statement. His work in passing the Affordable Care Act, embracing medical research, and ensuring job training programs are funded underscore what we who work with Jim every day know  when he fights, he delivers.

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Pelosi hailed Langevins extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of adversity and praised him as an unrelenting voice on issues of national security.

In his Providence Journal op-ed, Langevin noted that after an accident left him paralyzed nearly 40 years ago, my dreams of becoming a police officer were crushed, and I was forced to dream new dreams, and relearn how to perform almost every daily task.

Yet during my hour of need, Rhode Islanders rallied behind me, and I was inspired to give back to the community that gave me so much by pursuing a career in public service, Langevin said.

He added that he will always cherish the moment that I became the first Congressman in a wheelchair to preside over the House of Representatives as Speaker Pro Tempore, as we marked the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

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Kye Parsons is the editor of WBOC.com. He came to WBOC with several years experience as an award-winning journalist on Delmarva. Prior to entering the world of multimedia, he worked as a newspaper editor and reporter. E-mail him at kparsons@wboc.com .

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Students in Virginia are no longer required to wear face coverings in school. Thats because Virginias new Governor, Glenn Youngkin, lifted the state's school mask mandate. Mask-wearing in schools will be optional in Virginia beginning January 24.
Wilmington, DE (19810)

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LMPD: UPS workers took part in 'criminal syndicate' that stole more than $11K in jewelry
The owner of Ben & Jerry's wants to buy Aquafresh and Advil
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Quincy, IL (62301)

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Senior Adviser (Learning Hub), Helsinki, Finland

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Finland

City: Helsinki

Office: UNICEF in Helsinki, Finland

Grade: P-5

Closing date: Thursday, 27 January 2022

Senior Adviser (Learning Innovation Hub), P-5, Office of Innovation (OOI), Helsinki, Finland, #118938

Job no: 547664

Position type: Fixed Term Appointment

Location: Division/Equivalent: Field Results Group

School/Unit: Office of Global Innovation

Department/Office: Learning Innovation Hub-OOI, O/P Finland

Categories: Innovation

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope...

The Office of Innovation (OoI) works to catalyse UNICEFs and all its partners expertise and resources against key children-outcomes bottlenecks by continuously exploring new ways of accelerating results for children, investing across a range of early stage solutions, and harnessing internal and external expertise towards continuously iterating and finetuning the most promising solutions for children through a systematic portfolio management approach, and leveraging all stakeholders innovation energy, knowhow and resources from intergovernmental, multilateral, private sector and non-governmental fora (think tank, academia).

For every child,

learning...

The UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub will be the home for the architects of the future of learning. It will be established in Helsinki and supported by Government of Finland, a global leader in education and technology.

The UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub will support the Reimagine Education initiative through accelerating equitable access to world class digital learning solutions by testing and scaling frontier technologies & innovations hand in hand with UNICEF Country Offices. It will create a safe playground for disruption, inviting UNICEF and the learning community to look for solutions outside the traditional sphere and join tech entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, data ninjas, fiction writers, designers, business leaders & others to explore new learning journeys, pedagogical approaches, spaces and artifacts that help unleash each childs full potential.

The UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub will bring to the front the voice of young people about the skills they want to acquire to become entrepreneurs of their own life and become forward-thinking powerhouse that re-imagines and builds bright alternative futures that turns learning into a fascinating adventure for all children.

How can you make a difference?

The Senior Adviser will work under the general direction of Director of Innovation. You will be a visionary and strategic thinker that can build bridges among a diverse range of stakeholders, knowledge areas and resources, helping to connect the dots in creative new ways that bring new game changing solutions and possibilities for all children.

You will be responsible for establishing UNICEFs first Learning Innovation Hub in Helsinki, tasked with identifying, piloting, accelerating and scaling innovative digital learning solutions that will positively impact learning outcomes for millions of children around the world and that will empower them to acquire the skills they need for the future of work, unleash their full potential and become architects of their own future.

Tasks will include...

As the first role to be recruited to the Learning Innovation Hub, undertake a range of different areas of strategic support to the Office of Innovation as the Hub is operationalized.

Work with key internal and external stakeholders to develop and deliver the strategic vision for innovation in learning in service of UNICEFs Strategic Plan and SDG4 goals.

Establish UNICEFs first Learning Innovation Hub as a leading global player in learning innovation, contributing to the future success of Reimagine Education and become a think + do platform for innovation in learning, strategic planning, strategic communication and positioning, budgeting, HR, office set up, etc.

Build partnerships for success through innovative approaches with key Finnish partners, key partners from the global south, global private sector, and others to attract world-class expertise and resources.

Develop and oversee a portfolio of game changing world-class digital learning solutions to address identified problem statements and that will accelerate delivery of Reimagine Education by leveraging the power of frontier technologies to improve learning outcomes for children.

Develop and oversee a think + imagine tank focused on developing thought-provoking research and experiences that bring new insights to the learning community on transdisciplinary approaches, disruptive technologies and frugal solutions from the field. Coordinate and oversee the development of a Country Office Learning Pioneers Network to ensure solutions are ground-truthed, tested and scaled in partnership with the end user ecosystems.

Build and manage the team in Helsinki that will deliver results, working with the guidance and support of colleagues from the Office of Innovation Core Team in Sweden

Hub Set Up

Support Operations colleagues in strategic decision making relating to the establishment of the physical presence and infrastructure for the Learning Innovation hub.

Prioritize and oversee recruitment of staff into the Hub and the outsourcing of activities to external vendors.

Build and manage the team recruited to the Hub in line with guidance from the Office of Innovation Core Team, Sweden.

Build Hub branding and identity in collaboration with P5 Senior Advisor (Partnership & Comms), Stockholm.Learning Innovation Portfolio

Learning Innovation Hub

Oversee the review and development of the learning innovation portfolio ensuring the right scaffolding and support is in place to attract, select and grow game changing digital learning solutions with high potential for impact and scale.

Ensure appropriate sourcing tactics are in place, including building structured pathways between Venture Fund investments and the Learning Innovation Portfolio.

Provide thought leadership on innovative ways to scale up digital learning solutions through business model design, technology transfer, and other alternative pathways to ensure equitable access to the best digital learning tools for all children.

Advise on human-centred design and state of the art user experience for developing engaging and impactful digital learning solutions for different contexts and settings in the global south.

Learning Innovation Design Lab

Oversee the co-creation of new solutions by bringing together UNICEF expertise in the field and provide advice on best innovation practices for co-creation with multiple stakeholders and agile methodologies to successfully design, pilot and test new solutions from scratch. c4aoIzD Dh7qKS

Oversee the design and development of an EdTech Tools repository through supervision of the Learning Cabinet Product Lead.

Field & Country Office Network

Oversee the development of the Learning Innovation Pioneers Network across UNICEF to ensure digital solutions are ground-truthed, tested and scaled in partnership with the end user ecosystems.

Oversee the development and implementation of strategies to support Country Offices in their process to support their local ecosystem to adapt, absorb and scale innovative digital learning solutions.

Design and implement strategies to engage Country Offices and other stakeholders, including young people, ensuring close ties to UNICEF programming and the global south and to gather insights on main needs, challenges, barriers that can inform all the Hub activities.

Hub Global Network & Thought Leadership

Build a network of thought leaders + strategic key partners in the education, frontier technology & impact investment Oversee the development of thought-provoking research at the crossroad of learning, technology and other transversal disciplines.

Participate in relevant learning, technology and entrepreneurship events globally, both from public and private sector.

Partnerships & Communications

Build and maintain a strong relationship with key government stakeholders in Finland in partnership with PPD.

Based on the agreed vision for the Learning Innovation Hub, work with P5 Senior Advisor (Partnership & Comms), Stockholm on a partnership and communications strategy for the Learning Innovation Hub.

Within the Finnish ecosystem, represent UNICEF Innovation and the Learning Innovation hub as thought leaders in learning innovation and innovation for children, including participating in relevant events and media opportunities in Finland and globally.

Support the hub in building partnerships with key ecosystems for learning innovation in the global south, and the prospecting and stewardship of major partners for the Learning Innovation Hub.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

An advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in relevant field, e.g. Innovation, Technology, Business, Education, or related degree is required. **A first degree plus an additional 2 years experience may be accepted in lieu of a Masters degree.

A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional at the national and international levels in innovation and/or innovation in learning, within the private and public sector experience is required.

Entrepreneurial capacity, demonstrated through experience of starting a new venture, initiative or team and building it from scratch Experience of working with technology, ideally frontier technologies such as AI, ML, robotics, in low resource settings.

Experience of human centered design and design thinking applied to technology and innovation projects.

Experience of working in the private sector and building partnerships with the private sector.

Experience in working with UNICEF Programme Countries is considered an asset.

Experience of working within the UN system is desirable.

Experience of working with and managing diverse stakeholders, including government, private sector, NGOs and UN partners. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

Innovates and embraces change (Level 3) Drive to achieve results for impact (Level 3) Builds and maintains partnerships (Level 3) Thinks and acts strategically (Level 3) Nurtures leads and manages people (Level 2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEFs values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1642103786717
PhD Traineeships in Directorate General Economics, Frankfurt

Organization: European Central Bank (ECB)

Country: World

City: Frankfurt

Office: ECB Frankfurt

Closing date: Friday, 4 February 2022

General Information

Type of contract PhD traineeship

Who can apply? EU nationals eligible for our traineeship programme (see further information section)

Grant The trainee grant is 1,970 per month plus an accommodation allowance (see further information section)

Working time Full time

Place of work Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date 04.02.2022

Your team

You will be part of the Fiscal Policies Division in the Directorate General Economics. Our team of around 25 staff is responsible for assessing the national fiscal policies of Member States of the European Union (EU), analysing the euro areas aggregate fiscal stance, providing fiscal forecasts and exploring a range of other topics (such as the fiscal response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and its legacy, the dynamics of public debt, the use of fiscal policy to address climate change, and the interplay between monetary policy and fiscal policy). It is also responsible for analysing issues relating to the reform of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) architecture, particularly as regards the EUs fiscal framework.

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Your role

As a PhD trainee, you will:

conduct empirical analysis using state-of-the-art economic and econometric models;

contribute to the enhancement of analytical, econometric and forecasting tools under the supervision of ECB experts (potentially resulting in papers being submitted for publication in the ECBs Working Paper Series and academic journals).

More specifically, you will work on one of the following six projects:

Explore the impact that fiscal policies have on the macroeconomy (e.g. through fiscal policy multipliers) on the basis of both empirical and theoretical models (including heterogeneous agent New Keynesian (HANK) models), looking specifically at the effective lower bound and different phases of the business cycle.

Analyse the role of national and aggregate fiscal policies in the COVID-19 crisis, including the composition and possible impact of the Next Generation EU programme; assess the euro areas aggregate fiscal stance, particularly in view of the trade-off between sustainability and stabilisation; study the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the sustainability of public finances; and evaluate debt sustainability risks.

Develop models/tools to assess the interplay between monetary policy, fiscal policy and the financial sector, analysing the effect that fiscal policies have on prices and exploring the interaction between fiscal policies and household/corporate balance sheets.

Develop models with a view to analysing the role that fiscal policies can play in the mitigation of climate change.

Assess proposals for the deepening of EMU, including (i) the reform of EU fiscal rules, (ii) options in terms of a fiscal capacity for the euro area, (iii) risk-sharing mechanisms, (iv) the interplay between fiscal rules and market discipline, and (v) the implications of introducing a "safe asset" for the euro area. c4reduE Dh7qKS

Develop models for forecasting fiscal variables, including models that combine data sampled at different frequencies; evaluate the impact of revisions to fiscal data and differences between real-time and revised data; and assess the determinants of forecasting errors made by international institutions.

Trainees will be expected to complete tasks using their own initiative and will work largely autonomously, under the supervision of an expert. They will have access to the ECBs library, as well as computing and statistical resources.

This traineeship will offer excellent opportunities to build on your existing skills and competencies as an economist. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills

Essential:

a masters degree and at least two years of PhD studies in economics, finance, statistics, data science, engineering or a related field;

a sound theoretical understanding of macroeconomics and the economic/institutional context in which the ECB fulfils its mandate, including as regards the role of fiscal policies in the euro area;

programming skills in respect of quantitative software such as Stata, MATLAB, GAUSS, Python, R, Hadoop or Spark;

a good knowledge of the MS Office package;

an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Desired:

experience of applying structural vector autoregressions (VARs), panel VARs, global VARs, Bayesian VARs, non-linear VARs (time-varying parameters; Markov switching) and co integration analysis;

experience of factor models and state space/unobserved component models;

experience of applying macroeconomic models (dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models, backward-looking or agent-based models, overlapping generation models, etc.), either using Dynare or coding your own procedures;

a publication record that covers issues falling within the divisions areas of responsibility.

You are curious and eager to learn, and want to further develop your ability to analyse complex information. You are keen to collaborate with others, pursue team goals and learn from other peoples diverse perspectives. You strive to know and anticipate stakeholder needs, and will signal any need for change and propose alternative solutions.

You are motivated to contribute to the ECBs mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe. You are keen to be part of our team and to use your skills and competencies to achieve the objectives of this position.

Further information

PhD traineeship of between 3 and 12 months in total.

For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to Jacopo Cimadomo on +49 (0)69 1344 5392.

Application and selection process

Further information on how to join us is available on our website.

The recruitment process for this position will include an online interview via Webex.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list for 12 months from the closing date for applications, from which you might be considered for similar positions within the ECB.

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1642352681564
HR Business Associate, Berlin, Germany

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

Country: World

City: Berlin

Office: WHO Berlin, Germany

Grade: G-6

Closing date: Monday, 7 February 2022

HR Business Associate

( 2107277 )

Grade : G6

Contractual Arrangement : Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 2 years

Job Posting: Jan 17, 2022, 10:57:28 AM

The Department of Human Resources and Talent Management (HRT) is responsible for providing a sound, well managed, responsive and efficient organization-wide Human Resources Management strategy and global HR advisory services which support the work of WHO and its member states, encompassing, but not limited to: HR Policy Coordination and Development, Talent Acquisition and Management,Organizational Design and Job Classification, HR Business Partnering, applicationof the UN Common systems Compensation and Benefits, Administration of Internal Justice, Global Staff/Management relations, representation of WHO in inter-agency UN Common System HR initiatives.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The position contributes to the integrity of HR processes across the Division by ensuring that a comprehensive array of HR services and activities are carried out in all the departments on a timely basis, fully compliant with rules and regulations of the Organization, and in adherence to the policies and procedures. The assigned list of duties -not necessarily limited to the ones listed below cover a range of responsibilities required at the Division level and may vary depending on individual Division needs.

As the divisional focal point for HR matters, the incumbent will have the following assigned duties: Contract and entitlements management: Acts as the primary focal point and provides briefings and advice to staff and non-staff (consultants and interns) at all levels on WHO rules and regulations,employment conditions, entitlements, and standard operating procedures. Briefs new and departing staff on on-boarding and separation processes and related entitlements to ensure smooth and timely implementation of associated actions.

Acts as a focal point for staff and liaises closely with colleagues in the Global Service Center (GSC) on contractual and payroll matters. Acts as the primary focal point for queries from staff and managers regarding employee and management self-service functions in the Global Management System (GSM).

Acts as the primary focal point for queries from leave administrators within the divisionon all matters related to leave and absence recording and management.

HR monitoring, compliance, reporting and initiation: Monitors to ensure timely initiation of actions and compliance with WHO rules and regulations, of contract extensions, probationary periods, conversion of appointments,retirements, acting arrangements, WIGIs and maximum duration of contracts. Initiates and drafts correspondence related to various HR actions (waivers, acting arrangements, exceptions, lateral transfers, etc.) and initiates GSM transactions following consultation with the manager and HRBP.

Monitors performance management compliance and liaise with managers to ensure timely completion of reports.

Monitors leave and absence in close consultation with the designated leave administrators within the division.

Conducts first level analysis and review of requests for hiring of consultants and interns to ensure completeness and compliance of submissions with HR policies and escalate as needed.

Prepares regular HR reports and statistics as needed.

HR planning: In close consultation with the HRBP, provides support to the divisional HR planning exercise by providing updated reports of the workforce and status of vacant positions and maintains these reports regularly updated.

Ensures compliance with the usage of standardized post descriptions by entering the appropriate post descriptions in GSM and escalating to the HRBP any deviations.

Monitors the implementation of the divisional HR plans and initiates requests for advertisement and hiring,ensuring also that the associated actions in GSM are initiated. In close collaboration with the Budget and Finance Associate manages the establishment (adding of positions) and maintenance (updating position parameters) of the HR Plan in GSM ensuring GSM reflects theapproved HR plans for the division.

Supports restructuring/re-profiling and other review exercises by providing analysis, reports, data and organigrams as needed.

Selection and Recruitment processes: When required supports the timely organization of selection and recruitment processes to ensure the efficiency of the selection and recruitment processes.

Emergency response operations:Initiate HR Actions under emergency procedures, and liaise with HRT, Regional and Country Offices to ensure quick action in emergency response activities,including timely submission of Travel Requests, Evacuations, and deployment of staff. Perform all other related duties as assigned and backstop the respective HR Business Partner and other Division HR Business Associates when absent to ensure continued services.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Completion of secondary school or its equivalent.

Desirable: Training in the specialized areas of HR.

Experience

Essential: Aminimum of 8 years of relevant experience in human resources and or administrative positions, with progressive responsibility, of which a minimum of 3 years experience in support of at least two human resources functions (c ontract administration, recruitment, classification, staff development etc.). Proven experience in the use of WHOs Global Management System (GSM) or another oracle-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, SAP or other similar systems.

Desirable: Experience working in WHO or another UN Agency, preferably in the area of Human Resources Management.

Skills

Demonstrated skills and knowledge in two or more specialized areas of Human Resources with the ability to produce and analyze data and recommend appropriate actions.Sound knowledge in HR policy related to the administration of entitlements and benefits and employment conditions. Ability to detect shortcomings and anomalies and recommend remedial actions in line with WHOs Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and the eManual. Sound judgment, integrity, respectful and exemplary behavior and service orientation. Adherence to confidentiality, tact and diplomacy in dealing with others. Good communication (written and oral) and excellent interpersonal skills. Proven knowledge of the WHO or UN administrative rules, regulations and policies.Proficiency in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications, with advanced level of Excel. Demonstrated IT skills and its application using HR software, in particular an Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP) based on Oracle, SAP or similar platforms, E-recruitment systems (such as Stellis-Taleo and or other HR related databases).

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Moving forward in a changing environment

Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of German. Intermediate knowledge of UN Official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian).

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at EUR 41,629 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. c4xexJh Dh7qKS

Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

For information on WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1642441414195
Willmar, MN (56201)

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Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 36F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 36F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
[January 18, 2022] StrikeForce Technologies Provides a Business Update for 2022 EDISON, N.J., Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StrikeForce Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: SFOR), a cyber security company that provides next-gen cyber, privacy & data protection solutions for consumers, corporations & government agencies, issues an update for 2022 on its current business activities and future growth potential.

To say that StrikeForce is undergoing a business transformation that will reshape our future and propel sales and increase shareholder value is an understatement, says Mark L. Kay, CEO of StrikeForce. We have a killer strategy for 2022, we have products, exploding market opportunity, and the monies to promote our products & services to achieve our revenue projections and then some. This coming year is going to be epic for StrikeForce, says Kay, please see key updates below: Strategy: StrikeForce takes the lead in establishing SafeVchat as the new privacy and security standardization in the video conferencing and collaboration industry. StrikeForce recognizes the need for an objective, foundational structure back in November 2020 as StrikeForce commissioned Aite-Novarica to conduct a study before shedding light on crucial standardization considerations. The study included discussions with financial service technology professionals, video conferencing vendors and user attendance at virtual industry events, and the authors own experience as a former chief information security officer and cybersecurity consultant. Aite-Novarica Study Conclusion: Confirms there is the need for an Immediate 4-Level Classification Foundation and StrikeForce is the only company on the market that can meet that need at this time. As a result of this Aite-Novarica and StrikeForce whitepaper, we are urging the industry to come together, consider, and adopt a 4-Level schema as the first step to standardization. Establishing SafeVchat as an industry standard would almost ensure a path forward for compliance & regulatory guideline writers, which would include SafeVchats security features in regulatory & compliance guidelines. Products: When StrikeForce decided to start building SafeVchat & PrivacyLok (about 18 months ago), we had two huge advantages over all the other video conferencing vendors, which are: 1. we would be the only cyber security company in this space, 2. We would be utilizing three of our existing (& patented) cyber security solutions as core differentiators over all competitors. Two weeks ago, we finished adding a new recording feature, an upgraded performance platform and just this week we added facial recognition for quick and super-secure access control. From what we can tell by all the competitors websites, that we have built more cyber security into our SafeVchat than all the competitors combined. In addition to the unique features of SafeVchat, our PrivacyLok Endpoint Security solution also positions us in a very distinctive spot, says Kay. PrivacyLok is the only cyber security solution in the market that protects your camera, microphone, speakers, keyboard, clipboard and prevents screen scraping malware from stealing screen shots. It therefore protects YOU. With PrivacyLoks unrivalled features it enables us to market it to anyone that uses Zoom, MS Teams, Webex, or, any other video conferencing solution to make their solution more secure than it is natively. Thats right, says Kay, we believe we make Zoom & Teams users more secure than Zoom or Microsoft does. Therefore, every video conferencing user is a potential user of PrivacyLok. Market Opportunity: The growth opportunities in video conferencing over the next 5-years is staggering, and we plan on grabbing as much of it as possible, says Kay, check-out some of the below statistics: According to Global Market Insights Inc., the video conferencing marketplace is expected to reach at least $50 Billion by 2026. By 2025, 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely, that represents an 87% increase from pre-pandemic levels (Upwork 2020). Of businesses, 31% travelers plan to reduce business travel post-pandemic because teleconferencing and remote working arrangements are as effective as being in the office and traveling (Olver Wyman). Plus 97% of remote workers would like to work remotely at least some of the time for the rest of their careers (Buffer 2021). Marketing: Having a sound and proven marketing strategy is absolutely crucial, says Kay. As they say, it takes a village. I am very pleased to say that we are continuing to align world-class marketers that can help StrikeForce reach our fullest potential, and because money is not an issue, we will reach the top of that mountain. In late September we launched the beginning of our marketing efforts and we started with a new website, then worked with keyword and SEO specialists to optimize our webpages and achieve the highest search results. We then added TV commercials, digital billboards, and just three weeks ago we started airing morning drive-time radio commercials in the fifth largest radio market throughout Arizona. This coming week we start shooting new TV commercials specific to SafeVchat & PrivacyLok, which will air on National TV channels i.e. CNN, CNBC, FOX & FOX Business, Bloomberg TV, Headlines News & the weather channel. We will also piggyback and add the new commercials to the 156 digital billboards throughout NYC, says Kay. We are also looking to hire a world-class Advertising Agency. In addition to the above marketing, we have just launched a major campaign with our Public Relations Firm (Fusion PR) to market our new Aite whitepaper & Guidelines throughout all business & tech reporters, media channels, industry vertical reporters, social media, social media influencers, key congressional House & Senate Members, Government & Private Industry Regulators and others, says Kay. Resellers / Channel Partners: As most of you are aware, having a strong channel partner program will be an important factor that differentiates companies in the next decade. Our Director of Channel Development, Will Lynch has been busy assembling the key components required of a world-class channel program. Our Zinfi UCM platform provides channel partners with full self-service, including recruitment, onboarding, marketing collateral & digital assets, leads, market development funds (MDF), deal registrations, and more. Will recently ran marketing campaigns with CRN 360, (The Channel Company) the industrys leading IT thought leadership & partner recruitment resource with over 700,000 solution providers that subscribe to their services. Two recent campaigns have generated 140 channel partner leads that will take us some time to interview those that are interested. CRS: As most of you are aware StrikeForce purchased CRS last year, adding CRSs Cyber Wellness and Breach Defense programs dovetail with StrikeForces products & strategy perfectly. Both CRS and StrikeForce offer products and services for home users and businesses. This coming week CRS will be launching an incredible dark web monitoring tool. Individuals can search to see if their personal account details have been leaked or stolen in a data breach by putting your email in the data breach checker. Companies and SMBs can also search their businesses domain to see if their corporate data has been exposed in a data breach. Our team of intelligence experts are constantly monitoring the dark web for stolen data. When we discover information from a breach, we take a copy of it and add it to our expansive database of over 20 billion records. By identifying whether your information has been leaked, you are better able to protect yourself by changing your passwords, enabling stronger security features, and remaining vigilant during the growing number of cyber threats. Businesses can use the information to help mitigate the risk of a cyber-attack, often resulting in financial losses and damaged reputations. We will also offer Insurance carriers and underwriters our huge 250 million record Hacker Chatter dataset, including a cache of 120,000 stolen Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) accounts to their clients to see if policyholders are at risk. Hackers often use these to deploy ransomware to targets which as you know are triggering huge claims for carriers. Sales: Sales is the lifeblood of every business, and believe me, I do understand that, says Kay, and now that we finally have put together the resources, we are filling all those sales positions that we were never able to fill earlier. We have contracted an executive search firm to help us hire an assistant marketing director, and two new sales reps. Just this week we hired a seasoned sales pro for CRS, and he starts in two weeks. Additionally, says Kay, we just signed a contract with our SDR partner PipelineZen to add another sales rep for making calls and setting up appointments with potential customers for us. That relationship is going strong and in the last six weeks since they started, they have perfected their pitch and have already setup appointments for us that have resulted in six new pilots for SafeVchat with hospitals & law firms. Having them adds another sales rep to increase new pilots substantially. Projections: Its always hard to make projections in sales, especially when you dont have salespeople, monies, marketing and youre in a crowded marketplace, says Kay. All of that has changed for us, we are hiring the salespeople, we have monies in the bank, we are now marketing with major companies, we have a unique product differentiator, we have a growing market opportunity and we have new customers signing on that is growing. Based on the above, I feel we should easily hit $1.3 Million in sales this year. I know my number is conservative, but I have been wrong before and I dont want to be wrong again, even though it is only a projection I take it seriously. I am sure most of you want me to project $5 million, or, $7 million or even $10 million, however, I feel comfortable with my current projection. Who knows, I may actually surprise all of us, at least I hope to. I want to thank all of you that have hung in-there with us throughout the years, says Kay. The team at StrikeForce thanks each and every one of you and look forward to bring you exciting news throughout the coming year. Stay safe! About StrikeForce Technologies Inc.

StrikeForce Technologies helps to prevent Cyber theft and data security breaches for consumers, corporations, and government agencies. It provides powerful two-factor, Out-of-Band authentication, keystroke encryption along with mobile solutions. StrikeForce Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: SFOR) is headquartered in Edison, N.J., and can be reached at www.strikeforcetech.com or by phone at (732) 661-9641 or toll-free at (866) 787-4542. Safe Harbor Statement:

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, may, intend, "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the sales of the company's identity protection software products into various channels and market sectors, the issuance of the Company's pending patent applications, COVID-19, and the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the company. StrikeForce contact:

Mark Kay, CEO

Marklkay@strikeforcetech.com

(732) 661-9641



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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska, and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion.

In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, volcanic ash covers roof tops and vegetation in an area of Tonga, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Thick ash on an airport runway was delaying aid deliveries to the Pacific island nation of Tonga, where significant damage was being reported days after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. (CPL Vanessa Parker/NZDF via AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The blast from the volcano could be heard in Alaska, and the waves crossed the ocean to cause an oil spill and two drownings in Peru. The startling satellite images resembled a massive nuclear explosion.

And yet, despite sitting almost on top of the volcano that erupted so violently on Saturday, the Pacific nation of Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread devastation that many initially feared.

In its first update since the eruption, the government said Tuesday it has confirmed three deaths  two local residents and a British woman. Concerns remain over the fate of people on some of the hard-hit smaller islands, where many houses were destroyed. Communications have been down everywhere, making assessments more difficult.

But on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, perhaps the biggest problem is the ash that has transformed it into a gray moonscape, contaminating the rainwater that people rely on to drink. New Zealands military is sending fresh water and other much-needed supplies, but said Tuesday the ash covering Tongas main runway will delay the flight at least another day.

On Tongatapu, at least, life is slowly returning to normal. The tsunami that swept over coastal areas after the eruption was frightening for many but rose only about 80 centimeters (2.7 feet), allowing most to escape.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the main port facilities in Nukualofa, Tonga Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, after a huge undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami. (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP)

We did hold grave fears, given the magnitude of what we saw in that unprecedented blast, said Katie Greenwood, the head of delegation in the Pacific for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Fortunately, in those major population centers we are not seeing the catastrophic effect we thought might happen, and thats very good news.

Greenwood, who is based in Fiji and has been talking with people in Tonga by satellite phone, said an estimated 50 homes were destroyed on Tongatapu but that nobody needed to use emergency shelters. She said about 90 people on the nearby island of 'Eua were using shelters.

U.N. humanitarian officials and Tongas government reported significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu and concerns about the lack of contact from some of the low-lying islands. The Geneva-based U.N World Health Organization reported that many people remained unaccounted for.

New Zealands High Commission in Tonga also reported significant damage along the western coast of Tongatapu, including to resorts and the waterfront area.

Tonga's government said all the homes on Mango island  where about 36 people live  were destroyed and only two houses remained standing on Fonoifua island, home to about 69 people.

The government described the event as an unprecedented disaster and said tsunami waves had risen as high as 15 meters (49 feet) in places.

This combination of the satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows homes and buildings in Tonga on Dec. 29, 2021, above, and on Jan. 18, 2022. (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP)

Like other island nations in the Pacific, Tonga is regularly exposed to the extremes of nature, whether it be cyclones or earthquakes, making people more resilient to the challenges they bring.

Indeed, Greenwood said Tonga does not want an influx of aid workers following the eruption. Tonga is one of the few remaining places in the world that has managed to avoid any outbreaks of the coronavirus, and officials fear that if outsiders bring in the virus it could create a much bigger disaster than the one they're already facing.

Another worry, said Greenwood, is that the volcano could erupt again. She said there is currently no working equipment around it which could help predict such an event.

Satellite images captured the spectacular eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai volcano on Saturday, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a giant mushroom above the South Pacific. The volcano is located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Tonga's capital, Nukualofa.

Two people drowned in Peru, which also reported the oil spill after waves moved a ship that was transferring oil at a refinery.

In Tonga, British woman Angela Glover, 50, was one of those who died after being swept away by a wave, her family said.

This combination of this satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on April 10, 2021, top, on Jan. 6, 2022, middle, and Jan. 18, 2022,, showing whats left after the Jan. 15 eruption. (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP)

Nick Eleini said his sisters body had been found and that her husband survived. I understand that this terrible accident came about as they tried to rescue their dogs, Eleini told Sky News. He said it had been his sisters life dream to live in the South Pacific and she loved her life there.

Tonga's government said a 65-year-old woman on Mango island and a 49-year-old man from Nomuka island had also died, while a number of other people had suffered injuries.

New Zealands military said it hoped the airfield in Tonga would be opened either Wednesday or Thursday. The military said it had considered an airdrop but that was not the preference of the Tongan authorities.

Jonathan Veitch, the U.N.s Fiji-based acting resident coordinator for the Pacific islands, said he was hopeful the runway would be operational very soon. And despite damage on the coastline and at the port in Tongatapu, he said, ships should be able to dock.

New Zealand also sent two navy ships to Tonga on Tuesday and pledged an initial 1 million New Zealand dollars ($680,000) toward recovery efforts.

Australia sent a navy ship from Sydney to Brisbane to prepare for a support mission if needed.

Theyre a faithful community and theyre a beautiful community and Im sure theyll be supporting each other but they need us now and theyre getting our help, said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Tuesday said China is preparing to send drinking water, food, personal protective equipment and other supplies to Tonga as soon as flights resume.

The U.N. World Food Program is exploring how to bring in relief supplies and more staff and has received a request to restore communication lines in Tonga, which is home to about 105,000 people, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

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Communications with the island nation are limited because the single underwater fiber-optic cable that connects Tonga to the rest of the world was likely severed in the eruption. The company that owns the cable said the repairs could take weeks.

Samiuela Fonua, who chairs the board at Tonga Cable Ltd., said the cable appeared to have been severed soon after the eruption. He said the cable lies atop and within coral reef, which can be sharp.

Fonua said a ship would need to pull up the cable to assess the damage and then crews would need to fix it. A single break might take a week to repair, he said, while multiple breaks could take up to three weeks. He added that it was unclear when it would be safe for a ship to venture near the undersea volcano to undertake the work.

A second undersea cable that connects the islands within Tonga also appeared to have been severed, Fonua said. However, a local phone network was working, allowing Tongans to call each other. But he said the lingering ash cloud was continuing to make even satellite phone calls abroad difficult.

___

Associated Press journalist Jill Lawless in London and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
OTTAWA - A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada was dismissed Monday as being ludicrous and comical.

The Canada Post logo is seen on the outside the company's Pacific Processing Centre, in Richmond, B.C., on June 1, 2017. A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada is being dismissed as ludicrous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

OTTAWA - A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada was dismissed Monday as being ludicrous and comical.

A Chinese state-controlled news outlet first reported that the Jan. 7 infection of a Beijing resident was the result of receiving a letter or parcel from Canada that passed through Hong Kong.

The Chinese report attributed that scenario to the deputy director of the Beijing Centre for Disease Control in a briefing, even though organizations such as the World Health Organization and Canada Post say the risk of contracting coronavirus from a piece of mail is low.

Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a China expert at the University of Ottawa who spent more than three decades in the federal public service working on China issues, said Chinese officials need to familiarize themselves with the latest scientific material on the spread of COVID-19.

"Unlike the early days, scientists have clarified that it does not stay on surfaces. To suggest that it would be on mail that came over days from Canada is ludicrous," she said.

Canada Post says that the World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada have said the risks associated with handling mail, including international mail is low.

"According to the PHAC, there is no known risk of coronaviruses entering Canada on parcels or packages. In general, because of poor survivability of coronaviruses on surfaces, there is a low risk of spread from products or packaging shipped over a period of days or weeks," says a statement by Canada Post.

"Currently, there is no evidence of COVID-19 being transmitted by imported goods or packages."

McCuaig-Johnston said the Chinese allegation shows that its leadership is still angry at Canada after its long-running dispute over the arrest of high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018, an extradition case that was dropped last year, which allowed her to return to China.

Meng was arrested in Vancouver in December 2018 on an American extradition warrant for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. Nine days later, China arrested two Canadian men, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and accused them of being spies  allegations Canada and dozens of Western allies dismissed as baseless retaliation.

The matter plunged Canada-China relations to an all-time low. The U.S. dropped its extradition case against Meng in September, and she was allowed to go free and return to China. Kovrig and Spavor were repatriated to Canada simultaneously.

It is not clear whether Canada-China relations have begun any kind of meaningful rebound since that major issue between them was resolved.

McCuaig-Johnston said Chinese President Xi Jinping was personally angered by Meng's arrest and is likely choosing to target Canada whenever it suits him. She said that could explain this latest innuendo around the Canadian postal system.

"Canada is the country that is targeted, suggesting that we're still in Beijing's crosshairs," she said.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos appeared not to be aware of the controversy when asked about it at a press conference Monday.

He said that while he may have his own opinion of why China was making that claim, he deferred to experts on how COVID-19 can be spread.

"We'll check with officials and our partners around the world," Duclos said.

"I think this is something not only new, but intriguing and certainly not in accordance with what we have done both internationally and domestically."

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole called the Chinese claim "comical" and said it was a reminder that news reports emanating from China can't be trusted.

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O'Toole reiterated his party's criticism of the government for not conducting a comprehensive national security review of the proposed purchase of a lithium mining development company by a Chinese firm. O'Toole said Canada needs to protect its access to lithium because it is a key ingredient in the batteries for electric vehicles.

"Canada must safeguard our supply and access to critical minerals like lithium to protect our economy and our competitive advantage," said O'Toole.

A statement from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said all potential acquisitions involving critical minerals are subject to a review by the Canadian security and intelligence community before deciding whether a full-scale national security review is warranted.

The department said it was bound by commercial confidentiality and could not comment on the current case. But in general, it said it can assess individual cases based on the "nature of the mineral deposits" and whether a company has full-scale operations in Canada or is "principally domiciled here for regulatory or other reasons with few local staff or assets."

The company is question operates a mine that is under exploration in Argentina and is registered in Toronto.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.
JERUSALEM (AP)  An Israeli hospital on Monday said preliminary research indicates a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine provides only limited defense against the omicron variant that is raging around the world.

Siblings wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Clalit Health Services in Mevaseret Zion, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

JERUSALEM (AP)  An Israeli hospital on Monday said preliminary research indicates a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine provides only limited defense against the omicron variant that is raging around the world.

Sheba Hospital last month began administering a fourth vaccine to more than 270 medical workers  154 who received a Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine and 120 others who received Moderna's. All had previously been vaccinated three times with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine.

The clinical trial found that both groups showed increases in antibodies "slightly higher" than following the third vaccine last year. But it said the increased antibodies did not prevent the spread of omicron.

"Despite increased antibody levels, the fourth vaccine only offers a partial defense against the virus," said Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the hospital's infection disease unit. "The vaccines, which were more effective against previous variants, offer less protection versus omicron."

The preliminary results raised questions about Israel's decision to offer a second booster shot  and fourth overall  to its over-60 population. The government says over 500,000 people have received the second booster in recent weeks.

Dr. Nahman Ash, director of Israel's Health Ministry, said the research did not mean the fourth vaccine effort was a mistake. "It returns the level of antibodies to what it was at the beginning of the third booster. That has great importance, especially among the older population," he told Channel 13 TV.

But he said the research would be taken into account as authorities debate whether to expand the additional booster campaign to the broader population.

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Israel was one of the first countries last year to widely vaccinate its population and last summer became the first to offer a booster shot. The latest booster campaign for older Israelis also is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.

Israel's aggressive vaccination efforts have not been able to stop an omicron outbreak in recent weeks. The variant has caused record-setting infection levels and sent a growing number of people to the hospital, though the numbers of seriously ill remain below previous waves.

It has also forced large numbers of Israelis into quarantine, straining schools and businesses.

Omicron is already dominant in many countries and can also infect those who have been vaccinated or had previously been infected by prior versions of the virus. Early studies, however, show it is less likely to cause severe illness than the previous delta variant. Vaccination and a booster still offer strong protection from serious illness, hospitalization and death.

On Tuesday, the Israeli government said it was shortening the mandatory quarantine period from seven days to five days in order to help keep the economy running.

"This decision will enable us to continue safeguarding public health on the one hand and to keep the economy going at this time on the other, even though it is difficult, so that we can get through this wave safely," said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
GENEVA (AP)  The head of emergencies at the World Health Organization said Tuesday that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic  deaths, hospitalizations and lockdowns  could be over this year if huge inequities in vaccinations and medicines are addressed quickly.

Screens show John Nkengasong, left, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and Moderator Julia Chatterley, right, during a remotely panel titled "The Challenge of Vaccine Equity", at the Davos Agenda 2022, in Cologny near Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The Davos Agenda, from 17 to 21 January 2022, is an online edition due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak gather global leaders to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in this challenging context. (Salvatore Di Nolfi)/Keystone via AP)

GENEVA (AP)  The head of emergencies at the World Health Organization said Tuesday that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic  deaths, hospitalizations and lockdowns  could be over this year if huge inequities in vaccinations and medicines are addressed quickly.

Dr. Michael Ryan, speaking during a panel discussion on vaccine equity hosted by the World Economic Forum, said we may never end the virus because such pandemic viruses end up becoming part of the ecosystem.

But we have a chance to end the public health emergency this year if we do the things that weve been talking about, he said.

WHO has slammed the imbalance in COVID-19 vaccination between rich and poor countries as a catastrophic moral failure. Fewer than 10% of people in lower-income countries have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Ryan told the virtual gathering of world and business leaders that if vaccines and other tools aren't shared fairly, the tragedy of the virus, which has so far killed more than 5.5 million people worldwide, would continue.

What we need to do is get to low levels of disease incidence with maximum vaccination of our populations, so nobody has to die, Ryan said. The issue is: Its the death. Its the hospitalizations. Its the disruption of our social, economic, political systems thats caused the tragedy  not the virus."

Ryan also waded into the growing debate about whether COVID-19 should be considered endemic, a label some countries like Spain have called for to help better live with the virus, or still a pandemic  involving intensified measures that many countries have taken to fight the spread.

Endemic malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people; endemic HIV; endemic violence in our inner cities. Endemic in itself does not mean good. Endemic just means its here forever," he said.

Public health officials have warned it is highly unlikely COVID-19 will be eliminated and say it will continue to kill people, though at much lower levels, even after it becomes endemic.

Fellow panelist Gabriela Bucher, executive director of the anti-poverty organization Oxfam International, cited the enormous urgency of fairer distribution of vaccines and the need for large-scale production. She said resources to fight the pandemic were being hoarded by a few companies and a few shareholders.

John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, decried the total collapse of global cooperation and solidarity over the last two years, saying it was totally unacceptable that only 7% of Africas population was fully vaccinated.

He also sought to douse the belief among some that vaccine hesitancy is widespread in Africa, citing studies that say 80% of the continent's populations were ready to get shots if the vaccines were available.

The comments came on the second day of the online alternative to the annual World Economic Forum gathering, which was postponed over pandemic health concerns.

In speeches at the event, world leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett discussed approaches to the pandemic. He said his country, which quickly rolled out a widespread vaccination campaign, has a strategy of being at the forefront of the medicines and the vaccines against COVID-19.

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Citing advanced research in Israel, Bennett said, We want to be first in the world to know how vaccines and the new variants respond to one another.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said separately that his country had high levels of vaccination because society values protecting the elderly and vulnerable. He plans to keep stringent border controls in place until the end of February.

He said he was trying to balance restrictions with keeping the economy open but that so-called zero COVID policy against the omicron variant is not possible nor appropriate.

In a separate press briefing Tuesday, WHOs director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to sweep the world and said there were 18 million new COVID-19 cases reported last week.

___

Associated Press reporters Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The environment ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic said Tuesday they have made progress but still need to consult on some points in solving a stalemate over a Polish lignite mine the Czech government says is harmful to its citizens who live near the countries' border.

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The environment ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic said Tuesday they have made progress but still need to consult on some points in solving a stalemate over a Polish lignite mine the Czech government says is harmful to its citizens who live near the countries' border.

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Czech Environment Minister Anna Hubackova and her Polish counterpart, Anna Moskwa, made the comments following a round of talks in Warsaw on solving the dispute over the Turow mine, in Poland's southwestern tip.

The meeting, which Moskwa described as constructive, did not bring the hoped-for agreement, Hubackova said, adding that some points still need to be discussed.

It was not immediately clear when or where the next talks would be held.

In September, a top European Union court fined Poland 500,000 euros for each day the mine continues to operate. Poland is refusing to pay the fine and says it cannot close the mine, which supplies a power plant that generates over 7% of the nations energy.

The Czech government brought the case to the European Court of Justice, arguing that Poland has ignored its protests and the mine is draining water from Czech villages and causing other environmental harm.

Warsaw hopes an agreement with Prague will end the court case and the fine.
TORONTO - The "meme stock" phenomenon of early 2021, which saw social media-based investors push back against Wall Street by piling into stocks such as GameStop and BlackBerry, gave Marius Zoican an idea.

Marius Zoican poses for a photo in Toronto on June 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Manuela Stefan **MANDATORY CREDIT**

TORONTO - The "meme stock" phenomenon of early 2021, which saw social media-based investors push back against Wall Street by piling into stocks such as GameStop and BlackBerry, gave Marius Zoican an idea.

As the mobile trading app Robinhood was the platform of choice for the meme stock movement, the assistant professor of finance at the University of Toronto wondered how much of a role "gamified" apps played in risky behaviour among retail traders.

So Zoican, along with fellow researchers Philipp Chapkovski and Mariana Khapko, conducted a study comparing how investors behaved on gamified apps, which feature game design elements, versus standard trading apps.

Participants were assigned to either a simple trading app, or a gamified app that mimicked features found on existing platforms, such as bursts of confetti after a trade, animations and other prompts, Zoican said.

Participants, on average, were 31 or 32 years old, in line with the demographic who typically use commission-free trading apps, he added.

The study, published in December, discovered that investors using gamified trading apps took on more risk, especially when trading high-volatility assets.

Theyre more likely to gamble their money away and this effect is even stronger if we give them more risky securities to trade, Zoican said.

While Robinhood is not available in Canada, elements of gamification are finding their way into Canadian apps, Zoican said.

For example, Wealthsimple offers free stock bonuses of anywhere from $5 to $4,500 to onboard new investors, Zoican said.

In my view, thats not the mindset that you want to push on younger traders. Its like this is a casino and if youre lucky, you can get Amazon (shares). It really sort of reinforces the idea that youre entering into a universe where its OK to gamble.

Syd Morgan, a 24-year-old communications officer in Sudbury, Ont., said the free stock bonus, in addition to the fact that Wealthsimple Trade doesnt require a minimum to invest, is what motivated her to sign up for the platform.

She received two free stocks valued at $8.23 and $6.21, respectively. One was gained using a referral code and the other was an unexpected surprise.

The free stocks gave me the incentive to use the app because of the element of surprise. Like, which stock will I get and how much will it be worth? she said.

It somewhat felt like winning when I got the first stock because I wasnt expecting it.

However, she doesnt think it prompted her to take on more risk while investing.

Wealthsimple did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The free stock lottery is a milder form of gamification because it only applies to new traders rather than day-to-day activity, Zoican said.

He added that due to tighter regulations, trading apps in Canada dont have the incentive to nudge investors into making frequent trades.

Apps offered on a mobile-only basis can also affect investor behaviour, Zoican said.

When people are making decisions on their phone, theyre likely to think about it in a much more casual manner. Theyre not really thinking, 'Im doing serious business here' (compared to using their desktop).

Zoican said he was happy to see Wealthsimple, which started as a mobile-only platform, eventually create a desktop version.

However, not all apps plan to offer both versions.

Toronto-Dominion Bank launched a new stock trading app on Monday called TD Easy Trade that will only be available on mobile.

Tony Ierullo, vice president of New to Investing and Emerging Investor Solutions at TD Direct Investing, said he doesnt have any concerns that it might encourage a more casual attitude among investors.

We developed TD Easy Trade based on client feedback to appeal to an emerging and fast-paced growing client base who want to invest through mobile, he said.

Many of these clients are younger and grew up in a digital world with a digital mindset, and when it comes to investing, they are looking for a solution that is easy-to-use, streamlined and in plain language  and something they can do from the palm of their hand.

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In terms of countering the negative effects of gamification, improved financial literacy appears to be the answer.

In Zoicans study, participants were asked to complete a financial literacy quiz after the experiment took place. The results showed that the more financial literacy someone had, the less they were swayed by gamification.

When people are more financially literate and know something about the world of investing, gamification actually doesnt nudge them very much. The effect is dropped by more than half, Zoican said.

Zoican advises new traders to start with low cost, low risk asset classes, such as ETFs  or to use a robo-adviser  and then gradually take on greater risk once they're more familiar and comfortable with investing and complex assets.

Some traders might decide that index funds and robo-adviser products are the right fit for them and thats perfectly fine too, he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2022.
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong authorities said Tuesday that they will kill about 2,000 small animals, including hamsters, after several tested positive for the coronavirus at a pet store where an employee was also infected.

People wearing face masks, walk past decorations on a bridge to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Hong Kong police arrested two former flight attendants for allegedly leaving their homes when they should have been in isolation for possible coronavirus infections, which were later confirmed. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong authorities said Tuesday that they will kill about 2,000 small animals, including hamsters, after several tested positive for the coronavirus at a pet store where an employee was also infected.

The city will also stop the sale of hamsters and the import of small mammals, according to officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. The pet shop employee tested positive for the delta variant on Monday, and several hamsters imported from the Netherlands at the store tested positive as well.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, animals do not appear to play a significant role in spreading the coronavirus. But Hong Kong authorities said they are not ruling out transmission between animals and humans.

A pet shop is closed after some pet hamsters were, authorities said, tested positive for the coronavirus, in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Hong Kong authorities said Tuesday that they will cull some 2,000 hamsters after several of the rodents tested positive for delta variant at the pet store where an infected employee was working. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

We cannot exclude the possibility that the shopkeeper was in fact actually infected from the hamsters, said Edwin Tsui, a controller at the Centre for Health Protection.

While this coronavirus most likely jumped from animals to humans in the first place, the outbreak became a pandemic because the virus spreads so easily between people. Minks are the only known animals to have caught the virus from people and spread it back, according to Dr. Scott Weese at Ontario Veterinary College.

Leung Siu-fai, director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said during a news conference that owners should keep hamsters at home, and not take them out. All pet owners should observe good personal hygiene, and after you have been in contact with animals and their food, you should wash your hands," he said.

Do not kiss your pets, he added.

A pet shop is closed after some pet hamsters were, authorities said, tested positive for the coronavirus, in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Hong Kong authorities said Tuesday that they will cull some 2,000 hamsters after several of the rodents tested positive for delta variant at the pet store where an infected employee was working. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Customers who purchased hamsters from the store after Jan. 7 will be traced and be subject to mandatory quarantine and must hand over their hamsters to authorities to be put down, officials said.

They said all pet stores in Hong Kong must stop selling hamsters and that about 2,000 small mammals, including hamsters and chinchillas, will be killed in a humane manner.

Customers who bought hamsters in Hong Kong from Dec. 22 will be subject to mandatory testing and are urged not contact others until their tests have returned negative. If their hamsters test positive, they will be subject to quarantine.

Hong Kong's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was shocked and concerned by the decision to kill the animals, and urged the government not to take any drastic action before reviewing its approach."

Hong Kong has been grappling with a local omicron outbreak traced to several Cathay Pacific crew members who dined at bars and restaurants across the city before testing positive for the omicron variant.

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The government announced late Monday that two former flight attendants have been arrested for leaving their homes during quarantine and later being confirmed to have coronavirus infections. It did not identify their employer, but said the two arrived from the U.S. on Dec. 24 and 25 and conducted unnecessary activities while under medical surveillance.

The arrests came after Cathay Pacific said it had fired two crew members for breaching coronavirus protocols. It previously apologized and called their actions extremely disappointing. The company had to cut back on flights  both passenger and cargo  in January because of tightened virus curbs.

The two have been released on bail and will have their case heard in court on Feb. 9. If convicted of violating anti-epidemic regulations, they could face up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of up to 5,000 Hong Kong dollars ($642).

Previously in Hong Kong, some air and sea crew members could isolate at home under quarantine exemptions. Regulations were tightened on Dec. 31 to require crew members to isolate in a designated quarantine hotel for about a week.

___

This story has been corrected to say 2,000 small animals will be killed, including hamsters. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that 2,000 hamsters will be killed.
KEMMERER, Wyoming (AP)  In this sleepy Wyoming town that has relied on coal for over a century, a company founded by the man who revolutionized personal computing is launching an ambitious project to counter climate change: A nationwide reboot of nuclear energy technology.

In this photo taken with a slow shutter speed, taillights trace the path of a motor vehicle at the Naughton Power Plant, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 in Kemmerer, Wyo. While the power plant will be closed in 2025, Bill Gates' company TerraPower announced it had chosen Kemmerer for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon. (AP Photo/Natalie Behring)

KEMMERER, Wyoming (AP)  In this sleepy Wyoming town that has relied on coal for over a century, a company founded by the man who revolutionized personal computing is launching an ambitious project to counter climate change: A nationwide reboot of nuclear energy technology.

Until recently, Kemmerer was little-known for anything except J.C. Penney's first store and some 55-million-year-old fish fossils in quarries down the road.

Then in November, a company started by Bill Gates, TerraPower, announced it had chosen Kemmerer for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon.

The demonstration project comes as many U.S. states see nuclear emerging as an answer to fill the gap as a transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Many residents in Kemmerer, where the population of 2,700 is little-changed since the 1990s, see the TerraPower project as a much-needed economic boost because Rocky Mountain Power's Naughton power plant will close 2025. The plant employs about 230 and a mine that supplies coal exclusively to the plant  and is also at risk of closing if it can't find another customer  almost 300.

Kemmerer needs something or itll become a dust bowl, said Ken Spears, a 69-year-old retired coal mine worker whose family has depended on the mine and power plant for generations.

Spears was among a group of men who gathered recently in a downtown bar, Grumpies, near a park with statue of James Cash Penney and his first store. They played pool near an antique piano and signs reading Lets go Brandon and Trump 2020 No More Bull..."

Kemmerer is a quaint town of old-time storefronts and rolling hills, off the beaten path other than for occasional tourists who pass through on a slower, more scenic route to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Residents speak proudly of the coal heritage, quiet lifestyle and easy access to open lands where they can fish, hunt and hike. A river that is iced over in the winter runs through town nearby a railroad track that is down the hill from neighborhoods of older houses where families of deer roam at sunset.

Wyoming has the biggest coal industry in the U.S. by far. Trump won the state with some of his highest margins, almost 70%, in 2016 and 2020 on promises to shore up coal mining.

Yet concerns about TerraPower's unusual, coal-replacing nuclear plant seem few and far between in this town.

This isnt a Chernobyl-type thing, said Spears, wearing a camouflaged jacket and University of Wyoming cap with the bucking-horse-and-rider logo. Kemmerer needs something.

The U.S. nuclear industry has been at a standstill, providing a steady 20% of the nations power for decade amid the costly and time-consuming process of building huge conventional nuclear plants.

Only one new commercial nuclear project, the Tennessee Valley Authoritys Watts Bar No. 2, has come online in the U.S. in the past 25 years.

Steam billows from a stack at PacifiCorp's coal-fired Naughton Power Plant, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Kemmerer, Wyo. (AP Photo/Natalie Behring)

By cooling the planned Kemmerer reactor with liquid sodium, a metal that boils at a temperature much higher than water and solidifies at well above room temperature, TerraPower says its relatively small, 345-megawatt plant, able to power about 345,000 homes, will be safe and less expensive than conventional, water-cooled nuclear plants. The company's Natrium plant will use a simpler and less expensive system of unpressurized coolant and vents not dependent on electricity to halt fission during an emergency.

The approach isnt new. Russia has had a commercial sodium-cooled reactor in use at full capacity since 2016 and such designs have been tested in the U.S.

TerraPower plans to make its plant useful for today's energy grid of growing renewable power. A salt heat battery will allow the plant to ramp up electricity production on demand, offsetting dips in electricity when the wind isnt blowing and sun isnt shining.

It should provide a more useful reactor, really, for operating on a grid that has a much greater amount of wind and solar than in the past," said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque.

At peak capacity, the plant could generate 500 megawatts, enough for 500,000 homes, he said.

The project will cost up to $4 billion, half of it from the U.S. Department of Energy, but costs should come down as demand for carbon-free energy grows and more are built, said Levesque.

If we can show that the plant can be built affordably and on time, well have orders for additional Natrium reactors even before the first one starts up. In the 2030s, there will be massive demand for this kind of power," Levesque said.

One downside: The plant's fuel, at least at first, would need to come from Russia. The plant will require uranium fuel enriched to 20%, four times higher than in conventional nuclear plants. The U.S. doesn't currently enrich fuel to that level for commercial power.

For that matter, Levesque pointed out, about one-fifth of conventional nuclear fuel also is imported.

So far, concerns in Wyoming about the project have been few. The Wyoming Outdoor Council, noting the declining cost of solar and wind power, points out that nuclear remains costly and sodium-cooled in other countries have had leaks leading to fires and shutdowns.

In between games of pool at Grumpies bar, Colt Quintard, a 30-year-old coal mine worker, said he isnt as convinced as others the nuclear plant will be as big a boon to the community.

He fears many of the plant's full-time workers will come from out of town due to the training needed and others will live in larger cities and commute. Hes open to getting training to work at the nuclear plant, but said more likely hell have go back to working around the county as a diesel mechanic, keeping him from being able to see his 2-year-old daughter each night.

I dont think this community is going to benefit from it the way a lot people think its going to, said Quintard. Change is going to happen, regardless. There is nothing we can do.

Rocky Mountain Power employee Crystal Bowen has no such misgivings, saying the plant should allow her and others with Rocky Mountain Power to shift to jobs at the new plant. Bowen said her online research about the nuclear technology eased any concerns.

It was pretty shocking, back in 2019, when we heard that the fate of the plant wasnt as long-lived as we thought, said Bowen, who works in payroll and is a lifelong resident of the community. I did not want to have to leave. I have children here. I have parents here and the idea of having to move to another location was pretty scary.

She added: I dont know if Kemmerer would have survived if we lost the power plant and the coal mine. It may have just turned into a ghost town.

TerraPower has pledged to train workers so anyone interested can transition to working at the nuclear plant when it opens, said Rodger Holt, manager of the Naughton coal plant.

Kemmerer beat out three other Wyoming cities for the nuclear plant: nearby Rock Springs, Gillette in a coal-rich northeastern part of the state and Glenrock in east-central Wyoming. The Naughton plant employees, with experience on equipment such as generators that are used in both coal and nuclear plants, were a major reason for putting the plant in Kemmerer, according to TerraPower.

The plant remains years off  2028 is the current estimate  but already has triggered interest in real estate and breathes new life into the town, Mayor Bill Thek said.

Gates reputation as a global supporter of developing and distributing vaccines  against COVID-19, malaria and other diseases that have killed millions worldwide  also have earned him skepticism in Wyoming, a deeply conservative state among the least vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Gates, the famous co-founder Microsoft, started Bellevue, Washington-based TerraPower in 2008 and is chairman of its board. When asked about the billionaire, most in town held their tongues.

Thek laughed when asked and said he didnt want to pick apart Bill Gates and said everyone knows who Bill Gates is, while reminding that the U.S. government will pay for half of the project.

Hes put his money into this and thats it, period, Thek said.

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One thing Gates and Thek agree on: TerraPowers planned Natrium plant could be key to cleaner energy not just for Kemmerer and Wyoming, but the world.

Im not really on that bandwagon that everything is going to be green, said Thek, who describes himself as a conservative. But Im absolutely for saving our environment. If we get in on the ground floor of being part of saving and making our environment better, Im all for that.

____

Gruver reported from Cheyenne.

____

To read APs coverage of global climate change issues: https://apnews.com/hub/climate
BRUSSELS (AP)  Roberta Metsola, a Christian Democrat from Malta, was elected president of the European Unions parliament Tuesday, putting women in three of the four biggest jobs in the 27-nation bloc.

BRUSSELS (AP)  Roberta Metsola, a Christian Democrat from Malta, was elected president of the European Unions parliament Tuesday, putting women in three of the four biggest jobs in the 27-nation bloc.

Metsola succeeds Italian Socialist David Sassoli, who died last week. She is only the third woman elected to the post. Her birthday was Tuesday, and at age 43, she is the European Parliaments youngest president.

Christian Democrat Roberta Metsola of Malta delivers a speech at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022. Metsola was elected president of the European Union's parliament Tuesday, taking over for a 2 -year term following the death of Socialist David Sassoli last week. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Metsola was the candidate of the parliaments biggest group, and she received 458 of the 616 votes cast Tuesday. She had already been acting president since Sassolis Jan. 11 death.

I know that having the first female president of this house since 1999 matters both inside and outside these rooms, but it must go further, Metsola told the plenary. Our institution commits to having more diversity, gender equality, guaranteeing womens rights, all our rights must be reaffirmed.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could not attend the parliamentary session since she is in a COVID-19 quarantine. Another woman, Christine Lagarde, runs the powerful European Central Bank, which has vast sway over the EU economy.

The European Council, which represents the governments of the 27 member states, is lead by a man, Charles Michel, who as council president hosts the summits of the bloc's leaders.

The presidential election for the second half of the legislature had long been planned, but it became more poignant after the death of Sassoli, who had been sick for several months and decided not to seek another 2 1/2-year term.

Metsola will lead an EU institution which has become more powerful over the years and been instrumental in charting the course of the 27-nation bloc on issues such as the digital economy, climate change and Brexit.

Known as a committed bridge-builder between parties, Metsola said she would stick to Sassoli's style of work.

David fought hard to bring people around the same table. It is that commitment to holding the constructive forces in Europe together that I will build on, she said.

She referred to giants of European post-war politics like German Christian Democrat Helmut Kohl and French Socialist Francois Mitterrand to overcome party divisions and give her guidance.

My appeal is to rediscover the purpose of Kohl and Mitterrand and leave behind the entrenchment of the past as we look to the future, she said.

And reflecting on the European Parliament's last female president, Frances Nicole Fontaine, who presided from 1999 to 2002, Metsola vowed that it will not be another two decades until the next woman is standing here.

The European Parliament represents the EUs 450 million citizens and refers to itself as the heart of European democracy. The parliament has long been the lesser EU institution compared to the executive European Commission and the European Council.

For many years, the parliament, which sits in Strasbourg, France, and Brussels was seen as a money-guzzling talking shop where politicians who had served their national purpose often were sent.

As it gained decision-making powers, though, the legislature it has become a more forceful player on the European scene. Metsola wants to continue that trend.

We need to strengthen it. We cannot be afraid of reform, she said. The next part of the mandate will see a window of opportunity to make our parliament more modern, more effective and more efficient. We must seize the opportunity.

Metsola is the first politician from Malta, a Mediterranean archipelago in the central Mediterranean with a population of just over half a million, to hold such a high position in the EU.

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She has been an outspoken defender of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese investigative journalist who was killed in Malta in a 2017 car bombing.

As a member of the EU Parliament, Metsola has been a leader on migration issues. She is very progressive on women's rights and LGBT issues, but the mother of four boys has taken a conservative stance on abortion, reflecting her country's national politics.

She said Tuesday that she would staunchly defend the overall pro-abortion rights position of the legislature.

I am a woman from a small island in the middle of Europes southern sea. I know what it means to be the underdog. I know what it means to be pigeonholed, Metsola said. I know what this means for every girl watching today. I know what it means for everyone who dares and whoever dared to dream.

____

Lorne Cook contributed reporting.
WASHINGTON - Enbridge Inc. and the state of Michigan are renewing their legal hostilities over the future of the controversial Line 5 pipeline  and their latest court battle looks an awful lot like the last one.

An aboveground section of Enbridge's Line 5 at the Mackinaw City, Mich., pump station is photographed in October 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/John Flesher

WASHINGTON - Enbridge Inc. and the state of Michigan are renewing their legal hostilities over the future of the controversial Line 5 pipeline  and their latest court battle looks an awful lot like the last one.

Attorney General Dana Nessel and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were dealt a setback last November when District Court Judge Janet Neff granted Enbridge's request that the case be removed to federal court, a decision that prompted Michigan to abandon that particular challenge.

Instead, the state is focusing its efforts on a separate but similar circuit court action filed in 2019 that spent last year in a state of suspended animation, and which Enbridge is once again arguing should be heard by a federal judge because it comprises an important foreign policy question.

Too late, Nessel argues in her latest tract of court documents, filed Friday with the very same judge who heard the original arguments.

"The present action was pending in state court for nearly two and a half years before (Enbridge) removed it to this court," she says. Federal law makes it clear that cases can only be removed to federal jurisdiction within 30 days of a complaint being filed, the documents note.

"It is more than two years too late, and federal courts do not condone this type of gamesmanship and abuse of the removal statutes."

By Nessel's logic, Enbridge knew perfectly well it could have petitioned to have the case removed when it was originally filed but opted not to do so until now  a "remarkably dilatory" act based on an argument that "defies the facts, the law and basic common sense."

Enbridge has yet to file a response to Nessel's latest brief. However, the company has repeatedly indicated it has no plans to shut down Line 5 voluntarily and will continue to fight in court to keep it running.

The overarching question  whether a dispute over the lawful operation of an international, cross-border pipeline should be heard by a federal judge or at the state court level  is a carbon copy of the battle the two sides fought in front of Neff for the better part of last year.

The clash first erupted in November 2020, when Whitmer abruptly revoked the 68-year-old easement that had long allowed Calgary-based Enbridge to operate the line. She cited the risk of environmental catastrophe in the Straits of Mackinac, where Line 5 crosses the Great Lakes.

The pipeline ferries upwards of 540,000 barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids across the Canada-U.S. border and the Great Lakes by way of a twin line that runs along the lake bed beneath the straits linking Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

Proponents call Line 5 a vital and indispensable source of energy, especially propane, for several Midwestern states, including Michigan and Ohio. It is also a key source of feedstock for critical refineries on the northern side of the border, including those that supply jet fuel to some of Canada's busiest airports.

Enbridge and its allies, including the federal Liberal government, insist that the pipeline is too vital an energy artery to both countries for it to be suddenly shut down, and the question of its continued safe operation is one to be settled between Ottawa and the White House.

Central to that argument is a 1977 bilateral treaty that was conceived to avoid disruptions to the cross-border flow of energy, one that proved to be a key element in Enbridge's strategy to convince Neff that the controversy should be adjucated by a federal judge.

Canada said late last year that planning was "well underway" for bilateral treaty talks between Canada and the United States in the dispute over the pipeline, although the timeline for formal negotiations has never been publicly disclosed.

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Last year, lawyers for the federal government also filed a statement in court expressing support for Enbridge's argument, known in legal parlance as an amicus brief. It was not immediately clear Tuesday whether Ottawa expects to do so again.

The White House has acknowledged that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting an environmental assessment on Enbridge's plans to encase the underwater portion of the twin pipeline in a deep, fortified underground tunnel. But they have so far resisted pressure to get involved in the dispute itself.

Critics want the line shut down, arguing it's only a matter of time before an anchor strike or technical failure triggers a catastrophic environmental disaster in one of the area's most important watersheds. Michigan has every right to take whatever steps are necessary to protect it, the National Wildlife Federation said in a statement.

"This motion is critical because if successful, it will allow the state courts to consider for the first time whether the risks of a rupture of Line 5 in the Great Lakes justify the continued operation of the pipeline," said federation attorney Andy Buchsbaum.

"If Enbridge's gamesmanship is successful, it would allow Enbridge to circumvent Michigan's ability to protect the Great Lakes and to tie the case up in federal court by months, if not years, leaving the Great Lakes in great danger."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18,2022.
ROME (AP)  A villa in Rome containing the only known ceiling painted by Caravaggio went on a court-ordered auction block Tuesday, thanks to an inheritance dispute pitting the heirs of one of Romes aristocratic families against their stepmother, a Texas-born princess.

FILE - Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi stands beneath a fresco by Italian Baroque painter Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Guercino, inside The Casino dell'Aurora, also known as Villa Ludovisi, in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. The villa containing the only known ceiling painted by Caravaggio goes on the court-ordered auction block Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 with an estimated value of nearly a half-billion euros (dollars), thanks to an inheritance dispute pitting the heirs of one of Romes aristocratic families against their step-mother, a Texas-born princess. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

ROME (AP)  A villa in Rome containing the only known ceiling painted by Caravaggio went on a court-ordered auction block Tuesday, thanks to an inheritance dispute pitting the heirs of one of Romes aristocratic families against their stepmother, a Texas-born princess.

Princess Rita Jenrett Boncompagni Ludovisi, formerly known as Rita Carpenter, woke up Tuesday in the Casino dellAurora surrounded by her dogs on what might have been the last day that her home of nearly two decades was actually hers.

An online auction organized by the Rome tribunal began at 3 p.m. and closed a short time later without a winner. The starting bid had been set at 353 million euros ($400 million), and the villa just off the famous Via Veneto was assigned a court-appraised value of 471 million euros ($533 million).

With no winning bids in the first round, the villa will go up for auction two more times at lower prices, and the Italian Culture Ministry can try to match the highest bid at any stage. The next round is scheduled for April 7.

Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi is interviewed by the Associated Press inside the Casino dell'Aurora, also known as Villa Ludovisi, in Rome, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The villa containing the only known ceiling painted by Caravaggio goes on the court-ordered auction block Tuesday with an estimated value of nearly a half-billion euros (dollars), thanks to an inheritance dispute pitting the heirs of one of Romes aristocratic families against their step-mother, a Texas-born princess. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Its been emotional since I received the notice from the judge on Sept. 2. Ive rarely slept, Boncompagni Ludovisi told The Associated Press before the auction began. Its like going through the stages of death and dying. ... Youre angry at first, and then you cant believe it, and then you finally go into a point of accepting it.

The house, built in 1570, has been in the Ludovisi family since the early 1600s. After Prince Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisi died in 2018, the villa became the subject of an inheritance dispute between the children from his first marriage and his third wife, the San Antonio, Texas-born Princess Rita.

The villa, also known as Villa Ludovisi, was one of 42 lots up for court-ordered auction Tuesday but was by far the most prestigious and expensive, thanks to the Caravaggio that graces a tiny room off a spiral staircase on the second floor.

It was commissioned in 1597 by a diplomat and patron of the arts who asked the then-young painter to decorate the ceiling of the small room being used as an alchemy workshop. The 2.75-meter (9-foot) wide mural, which depicts Jupiter, Pluto and Neptune, is unusual: Its not a fresco, but rather oil on plaster, and represents the only ceiling mural that Caravaggio is known to have made.

Its probably the first work of Caravaggios that we know of, so historically, its a really a milestone, said Claudio Strinati, an art historian and Caravaggio expert. Its a beautiful piece about a mythological theme, which is rare in Caravaggios art because he mostly dealt with sacred themes.

So its a painting of real artistic and historic importance, and of great beauty, he said.

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The listing on the Rome tribunals auction site highlights the Caravaggio among the homes other attributes, but notes the villa will need an estimated 11 million euros ($12.5 million) in renovations to comply with current building standards.

I had always wanted to turn it into a museum, actually, but thats not going to happen, Boncompagni Ludovisi said Tuesday as she took visitors on a tour. So my hope is that whomever buys it will treat it with the care and love that my husband and I did.

The American princess, who previously was married to former U.S. Rep. John Jenrette Jr. of South Carolina, married Boncompagni Ludovisi in 2009. At the time, the villa had fallen into disrepair, and her husband only used it as an office.

Together, they tried to renovate it as best they could. They opened the house up to visiting students and tour groups and hosted dinners to bring in revenue, and thanks to funding from Rutgers University helped to digitize the family archives.

Boncompagni Ludovisi doesnt know what will come next. With no immediate buyer, she has more time in the villa but assumes eventually shell have to move out. She would like to meet the new owners, give them a tour and teach them some of the history in hopes that theyll keep the home open for the public to enjoy.

It was really such a privilege to live here. Such a great responsibility, but such a privilege and a journey of love to be here, she said. Even when all the pipes would burst.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources might not be enough to keep the lights on.

FILE - Peter Galbraith displays his opposition to a proposal to waive an environmental review of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power plant before renewing the plant's license, Tuesday, June 28, 2016, in Sacramento, Calif. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources might not be enough to keep the lights on.

Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. The renewed interest in nuclear comes as companies, including one started by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, are developing smaller, cheaper reactors that could supplement the power grid in communities across the U.S.

Nuclear power comes with its own set of potential problems, especially radioactive waste that can remain dangerous for thousands of years. But supporters say the risks can be minimized and that the energy source will be essential to stabilize power supplies as the world tries to move away from carbon dioxide-emitting fossil fuels.

Tennessee Valley Authority President and CEO Jeff Lyash puts it simply: You cant significantly reduce carbon emissions without nuclear power.

At this point in time, I dont see a path that gets us there without preserving the existing fleet and building new nuclear, Lyash said. And thats after having maximized the amount of solar we can build in the system.

The TVA is a federally owned utility that provides electricity to seven states as the nations third largest electricity generator. It's adding about 10,000 megawatts of solar capacity by 2035  enough to power nearly 1 million homes annually  but also operates three nuclear plants and plans to test a small reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. By 2050, it hopes to hit its goal of becoming net zero, which means the amount of greenhouse gases produced is no more than the amount removed from the atmosphere.

An Associated Press survey of the energy policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that a strong majority about two-thirds say nuclear, in one fashion or another, will help take the place of fossil fuels. The momentum building behind nuclear power could lead to the first expansion of nuclear reactor construction in the U.S. in more than three decades.

Roughly one-third of the states and the District of Columbia responded to the AP's survey by saying they have no plans to incorporate nuclear power in their green energy goals, instead leaning heavily on renewables. Energy officials in those states said their goals are achievable because of advances in energy storage using batteries, investments in the grid for high-voltage interstate transmission, energy efficiency efforts to reduce demand and power provided by hydroelectric dams.

FILE - Three of Deepwater Wind's five turbines stand in the water off Block Island, R.I, the nation's first offshore wind farm on Aug. 15, 2016. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

The split over nuclear power in U.S. states mirrors a similar debate unfolding in Europe, where countries including Germany are phasing out their reactors while others, such as France, are sticking with the technology or planning to build more plants.

The Biden administration, which has tried to take aggressive steps to reduce greenhouse gases, views nuclear as necessary to help compensate for the decline of carbon-based fuels in the nation's energy grid.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told the AP that the administration wants to get to zero-carbon electricity, and that means nuclear, that means hydropower, that means geothermal, that means obviously wind on and offshore, that means solar.

We want it all, Granholm said during a visit in December to Providence, Rhode Island, to promote an offshore wind project.

The $1 trillion infrastructure package championed by Biden and signed into law last year will allocate about $2.5 billion for advanced reactor demonstration projects. The Energy Department said studies by Princeton University and the Decarb America Research Initiative show that nuclear is necessary for a carbon-free future.

Granholm also touted new technologies involving hydrogen and capturing and storing carbon dioxide before it is released into the atmosphere.

Nuclear reactors have operated reliably and carbon-free for many decades, and the current climate change conversation brings the benefits of nuclear to the forefront, said Maria Korsnick, president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the industrys trade association.

The scale of this electric grid thats across the United States, it needs something thats always there, something that can help really be the backbone, if you will, for this grid, she said. Thats why its a partnership with wind and solar and nuclear.

Nuclear technology still comes with significant risks that other low-carbon energy sources dont, said Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists. While the new, smaller reactors might cost less than traditional reactors to build, theyll also produce more expensive electricity, he said. He's also concerned the industry might cut corners on safety and security to save money and compete in the market. The group does not oppose the use of nuclear power, but wants to make sure it's safe.

FILE - One of Pacific Gas and Electric's Diablo Canyon Power Plant's nuclear reactors is photographed on Nov. 3, 2008, in Avila Beach, Calif. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant, File)

Im not optimistic wed see the kind of safety and security requirements in place that would make me feel comfortable with the adoption or deployment of these so-called small modular reactors around the country, Lyman said.

The U.S. also has no long-term plan for managing or disposing the hazardous waste that can persist in the environment for hundreds of thousands of years, and theres the danger of accidents or targeted attacks for both the waste and the reactors, Lyman said. Nuclear disasters at Pennsylvanias Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and more recently, Fukushima, Japan, in 2011 provide an enduring warning about the dangers.

Nuclear power already provides about 20% of electricity in the U.S., accounting for about half the nations carbon-free energy. Most of the 93 reactors operating in the country are east of the Mississippi River.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved just one of the new, small modular reactor designs  from a company called NuScale Power, in August 2020. Three other companies have told the commission theyre planning to apply for their designs. All of these use water to cool the core.

The NRC is expecting about a half dozen designs to be submitted for advanced reactors, which use something other than water to cool the core, such as gas, liquid metal or molten salt. That includes a project by Gates' company, TerraPower, in Wyoming, the nation's largest coal-producing state. It has long depended on coal for power and jobs, and ships coal to more than half the states.

As utilities quit coal, Wyoming is tapping into wind and installed the third-largest amount of wind power generating capacity of any state in 2020, after Texas and Iowa. But Glen Murrell, executive director of the Wyoming Energy Authority, said it's unrealistic to expect all the nations energy to be provided exclusively through wind and solar. Renewable energy should work in tandem with other technologies such as nuclear and hydrogen, he said.

TerraPower plans to build its advanced reactor demonstration plant in Kemmerer, a town of 2,700 in western Wyoming where a coal plant is closing. The reactor uses Natrium technology, which is a sodium-cooled fast reactor paired with an energy-storage system.

In another coal-dependent state, West Virginia, some lawmakers are trying to repeal the states moratorium on the construction of new nuclear facilities.

A second reactor design by TerraPower will be built at the Idaho National Laboratory. The Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment will have a core thats as small as a refrigerator and molten salt to cool it instead of water.

FILE - Steel and concrete containers used for dry storage of spent fuel at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Sequoyah nuclear plant near Chattanooga, Tenn., are shown to the media during a Friday Jan. 13, 2012 tour. As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources won't be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet. (AP Photo/ Bill Poovey, File)

Among the other states that support nuclear power, Georgia maintains that its nuclear reactor expansion will provide Georgia with ample clean energy for 60 to 80 years. Georgia has the only nuclear project under construction in the U.S.  the expansion of Plant Vogtle from two of the traditional large reactors to four. The total cost is now more than double the original projection of $14 billion, and the project is years behind schedule.

New Hampshire said that without nuclear, the regions environmental goals would be impossible to meet as affordably. And the Alaska Energy Authority has been working since 2007 to plan for the use of small modular nuclear reactors, possibly at remote mine sites and military bases first.

The Maryland Energy Administration said that while the goal of all renewable energy is laudable and costs are declining, for the foreseeable future we need a variety of fuels, including nuclear and cleaner natural gas-powered systems to ensure reliability and resiliency. Maryland has one nuclear plant, and the energy administration is talking with manufacturers of small modular reactors.

Other officials, mostly in Democratic-led states, said they're moving beyond nuclear power. Some said they never relied heavily on it to begin with and dont see a need for it in the future.

They said the cost of new reactors compared to installing wind turbines or solar panels, the safety concerns and the unresolved question of how to store hazardous nuclear waste are deal-breakers. Some environmentalists also oppose small modular reactors because of the safety concerns and hazardous waste questions. The Sierra Club has described them as high-risk, highcost and highly questionable.

In New York, which has some of the nation's most ambitious goals to combat climate change, the future energy grid will be dominated by wind, solar and hydropower, said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen Harris.

Harris said she sees a future beyond nuclear, dropping from nearly 30% of the states energy mix currently to around 5%, but the state will need advanced, long-duration battery storage and perhaps cleaner-burning fuels such as hydrogen.

Nevada is especially sensitive to nuclear energy because of the failed plan to store the nations commercial spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain. Officials there don't consider nuclear power a viable option. Instead, they see potential for battery technology for energy storage and geothermal energy.

Nevada understands better than most other states that nuclear technology has significant lifecycle problems, David Bobzien, director of the Nevada Governors Office of Energy, said in a statement. A focus on short-term gains cant alleviate the long-term issues with nuclear energy.

California is slated to close its last remaining nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, in 2025, as it turns to cheaper renewables to power its grid by 2045.

Officials think they can meet that goal if California sustains its expansion of clean electricity generation at a record-breaking rate for the next 25 years, building on average of 6 gigawatts of new solar, wind and battery storage sources annually, according to state planning documents. California also imports power produced in other states as part of a Western U.S. grid system.

Skeptics have questioned whether California's all-in renewable plan can work in a state of nearly 40 million people.

Research from scientists at Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that delaying Diablo Canyon's retirement to 2035 would save California $2.6 billion in power system costs, reduce the chances of brownouts and lower carbon emissions. When the research was presented in November, former U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the nation is not positioned in the near-term to go to 100% renewable energy.

Theyll be times when the wind doesnt blow and the sun doesnt shine, he said. And we will need some power that we can actually turn on and dispatch at will. That leaves two choices: either fossil fuel or nuclear.

But the California Public Utilities Commission says it would likely take seismic upgrades and changes to the cooling systems, which could cost more than $1 billion, to continue operations at Diablo Canyon beyond 2025. Commission spokesperson Terrie Prosper said 11,500 megawatts of new clean energy resources will be online by 2026 to meet the state's long-term needs.

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Jason Bordoff, co-founding dean of the Columbia Climate School, said that while California's plans are technically possible, he's skeptical because it's challenging to build that much renewable capacity quickly. Bordoff said there is good reason to think about extending the life of Diablo Canyon to keep energy costs down and reduce emissions as quickly as possible.

We have to incorporate nuclear energy in a way that acknowledges its not risk-free," he said. "But the risks of falling short of our climate goals exceed the risks of including nuclear energy as part of the zero carbon energy mix.

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Daly in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

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To read APs coverage of global climate change issues: https://apnews.com/hub/climate
MONTREAL - MTY Food Group Inc. is raising its quarterly dividend.

The Groupe MTY offices are seen in Montreal on January 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

MONTREAL - MTY Food Group Inc. is raising its quarterly dividend.

The franchisor and operator of restaurants says it will now pay a quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share on Feb. 15 to shareholders of record on Feb. 3.

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The payment is up from its previous quarterly dividend of 18.5 cents per share.

The stock will have an annual yield of 1.5 per cent based on the new dividend rate and the company's share price on Monday.

MTY chief executive Eric Lefebvre says the company's free cash flow generation abilities are robust and it is confident in the future despite the challenges COVID-19 restrictions still pose.

MTY has more than 80 restaurant brands including Thai Express, Tiki-Ming and Tutti Frutti.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:MTY)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday appear to show the aftermath of a fatal attack on an oil facility in the capital of the United Arab Emirates claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

In this satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC, white fire suppressing foam is seen after an attack on an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. fuel depot in the Mussafah neighborhood of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. A drone attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting a key oil facility in Abu Dhabi killed three people on Monday and sparked a fire at Abu Dhabi's international airport. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday appear to show the aftermath of a fatal attack on an oil facility in the capital of the United Arab Emirates claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The attack brought the long-running Yemen war into Emirati territory on Monday. That conflict raged on overnight with Saudi-led airstrikes pounding Yemen's capital, Sanaa, killing and wounding civilians.

Meanwhile, fears over new disruptions to global energy supplies after the Abu Dhabi attack pushed benchmark Brent crude to its highest price in years.

The images by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by the AP show smoke rising over an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. fuel depot in the Mussafah neighborhood of Abu Dhabi after the attack. Another image taken shortly after appears to show scorch marks and white fire-suppressing foam deployed on the grounds of the depot.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., known by the acronym ADNOC, is the state-owned energy firm that provides much of the wealth of the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and also home to Dubai.

ADNOC did not respond to questions from the AP asking about the site and damage estimates from the attack. The company had said the attack happened around 10 a.m. Monday.

We are working closely with the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause and a detailed investigation has commenced, ADNOC said in an earlier statement.

In this satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC, an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. fuel depot in the Mussafah neighborhood of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is seen Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, before being targeted in an attack days later. A drone attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting a key oil facility in Abu Dhabi killed three people on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, and sparked a fire at Abu Dhabi's international airport. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

The attack killed two Indian nationals and one Pakistani as three tankers at the site exploded, police said. Six people were also wounded at the facility, which is near Al-Dhafra Air Base, a massive Emirati installation that is also home to American and French forces.

Another fire also struck Abu Dhabi International Airport, though damage in that attack could not be seen. Journalists have not been able to view the sites attacked and state-run media have not published photographs of the areas.

Police described the assault as a suspected drone attack. The Houthis claimed they used cruise and ballistic missiles in the attack, without offering evidence.

Meanwhile Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen announced it had started a bombing campaign targeting Houthi sites in the capital of Sanaa. It said it also struck a drone-operating base in Nabi Shuaib Mountain near Sanaa.

Overnight videos released by the Houthis showed damage, with the rebels saying the airstrikes killed at least 14 people. Sanaa resident Hassan al-Ahdal said one airstrike hit the house of Brig. Gen. Abdalla Kassem al-Junaid, who heads the Air Academy. He said at least three families were living in the house. Another adjunct house with a four-member family was damaged.

The Saudi-led coalition has faced international criticism for airstrikes hitting civilian targets during the war.

For hours Monday, Emirati officials did not acknowledge the Houthi claims over the Abu Dhabi attack, even as other countries condemned the assault. Senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash broke the silence on Twitter, saying that Emirati authorities were handling the rebel groups vicious attack on some civilian facilities with transparency and responsibility.

The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who had been in the Emirates on a state visit, said he spoke to Abu Dhabi's powerful Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, immediately after the attack.

The statement quoted Sheikh Mohammed as saying the attack had been anticipated. The two had been scheduled to meet during Moon's visit but the event had been cancelled prior to the attack over an unforeseen and urgent matter of state, according to Moon's office.

The Emirati Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment over Moon's statement.

Fears over future attacks reaching the UAE, a major oil producer and OPEC member, helped push Brent crude oil prices to their highest level in seven years. On Tuesday, a barrel of Brent crude traded at over $87.50 a barrel, a price unseen since October 2014.

Although the UAE has largely withdrawn its own forces from Yemen, it is still actively engaged in the conflict and supports Yemeni militias fighting the Houthis.

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The incident comes as the Houthis face pressure and are suffering heavy losses on the battlefields. Yemeni government forces, allied and backed by the UAE, have pushed back the rebels in key provinces. Aided by the Emirati-backed Giants Brigades, the government forces took back the province of Shabwa earlier this month in a blow to Houthi efforts to complete their control of the entire northern half of Yemen.

While Emirati troops have been killed over the course of the conflict, now in its eight year, the war has not directly affected daily life in the wider UAE, a country with a vast foreign workforce.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Dubai, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
CALGARY - The chief executive of Suncor Energy Inc. says the company must do more to improve workplace safety after a truck crash earlier this month resulted in the death of a contractor at the company's Base Mine site near Fort McMurray, Alta.

A Suncor logo is shown at the company's annual meeting in Calgary, Thursday, May 2, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - The chief executive of Suncor Energy Inc. says the company must do more to improve workplace safety after a truck crash earlier this month resulted in the death of a contractor at the company's Base Mine site near Fort McMurray, Alta.

Mark Little, CEO of the Calgary-based company, called the fatality  along with two other operational incidents in December that negatively affected Suncor's production volumes  "unacceptable."

"I am deeply disappointed by these events and I am committed to implementing corrective actions, continuing to strengthen our processes and accountability, and to improving Suncors performance, Little said in a news release.

Suncor released more details Tuesday about the workplace death, which occurred on Jan. 6 and was publicly disclosed by the company that day.

The company says one heavy haul truck rear-ended a second heavy haul truck while they were both driving up a mine haul ramp.

The two workers in the truck that was hit from behind sustained minor injuries while the driver of the other truck died. The worker who died was a contract worker employed by North American Construction Group Ltd.

The Jan. 6 event marks the fourth workplace death at a Suncor facility since late 2020, said Scotiabank analyst Jason Bouvier in a note.

Also on Tuesday, Suncor reported two other operational incidents that it says resulted in a production loss of about 195,000 barrels per day in the last half of December.

One of the incidents involved equipment failure at the Syncrude Mildred Lake mine site. The necessary repair work took three weeks instead of an estimated one week because of extreme cold weather, the company says.

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The second incident involved furnace failures at the company's Firebag in situ operation, which resulted in the temporary shutdown of approximately 170 wells. Suncor attributed this incident to extreme cold as well, and said Tuesday it is now conducting an investigation to ensure its winterization program is "sufficiently robust to withstand extended periods of cold weather."

Both the Syncrude and Firebag assets have since returned to normal production levels, Suncor said. But due to reduced production during the last half of December, the company's 2021 annual production was 732,000 barrels per day, or approximately 1 per cent below its guidance range of 740,000 barrels per day.

Richard Masson, executive fellow with the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy, said it's clear from Little's comments that he is unhappy with recent events involving the company and wants it communicated both internally and externally that things must change.

"The message and tone that comes from the top is very important in making sure the team knows the priorities they need to focus on," Masson said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:SU)
MONTREAL - Canada's two biggest airlines have cut thousands more flights as COVID-19 continues to surge, miring the sector in uncertainty nearly two years after the pandemic began.

A WestJet Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft taxis to a gate after arriving at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, January 21, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

MONTREAL - Canada's two biggest airlines have cut thousands more flights as COVID-19 continues to surge, miring the sector in uncertainty nearly two years after the pandemic began.

WestJet Airlines Inc. said Tuesday it will cancel 20 per cent of its February flights, less than three weeks after announcing flight reductions of 15 per cent for January.

The move marks a response to "government barriers" amid the Omicron variant, which has also affected staffing levels, the Calgary-based airline said.

"We continue to advocate for the elimination of cumbersome travel rules that are unnecessarily impacting Canadians and prolonging the recovery of the travel and tourism sector, chief executive Harry Taylor said in a release.

While Air Canada has not announced major flight consolidations, it cancelled 15 per cent of its flights in March and 11 per cent in February  6,805 flights in total  within the last two weeks alone, according to figures from airline data company Cirium.

"We continue to monitor and adjust our schedule in response to government regulations and other factors, as we have done since the pandemic began. However we have no update on schedule changes that we previously enacted," Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.

The Montreal-based company said in an advisory earlier this month it was suspending flights to at least 14 Caribbean destinations "in light of the current pandemic context," effective Jan. 24 through April 30.

The Public Health Agency of Canada advised against non-essential trips abroad in mid-December. A requirement that international travellers quarantine until on-arrival molecular tests come back negative has further dissuaded visitors, the two carriers said in a statement along with Toronto's Pearson airport Monday.

WestJet says it will notify affected travellers in the next few days. For any WestJet-initiated cancellation or schedule change, where the change is greater than 90 minutes or one or more stops are added, guests are eligible for a refund.

The cuts come after Transat A.T. cancelled nearly 30 per cent of its flights for January and February.

There were 1,946 cancellations for flights within, into or out of the United States on Monday and Tuesday, according to data from flight-tracking website FlightAware, though the timeframe overlapped with a snowstorm in the northeast.

Both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have said the nationwide spike in cases over the past few weeks has affected flight crews and left carriers short-staffed.

Staffing issues are also plaguing at least one airport north of the border, though a labour dispute rather than an infectious disease is the direct cause.

St. John's International Airport will "not have adequate fire hall staffing levels to continue normal operations" as of Tuesday at 8 p.m., airport authority spokeswoman Lisa Bragg said in a release.

Flights at the airport  between 80 and 100 planes took off or landed there on most days in January 2020, according to FlightAware  will now be limited to cargo, medical evacuation and planes with fewer than 20 seats "until staffing levels change," she said.

The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees claims that a "campaign of harassment and discrimination" against firefighters has stifled their concerns around safety and regulatory compliance and ultimately thinned their ranks.

"The situation at the airport has been deteriorating for years and it is making air travel less safe and airport firefighters sick, union regional vice-president Chris Bussey said in a release Monday.

"Managements decision to make cost-cutting a priority over the safety of the travelling public has resulted in them being unable to provide any type of emergency response and has had a direct impact on operations."

Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan, whose represents a St. John's riding, said the situation is "unsustainable" and that senior officials from his department are now "involved."

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"Immediate goal: minimize disruption and get the airport completely and safely up and running. Long-term goal: resolution of this dispute," O'Regan said in a Twitter post Tuesday afternoon.

Jacques Roy, a professor of transport management at HEC Montreal business school, said the Canadian government's guidance against travel abroad as well as general "uncertainty" around the pandemic are suppressing demand.

"Reservations are being cancelled," he said in a phone interview. "People who want to fly may be concerned about not being able to come back or facing all kinds of difficulties abroad."

Canadian air travellers who wish to return home must present a negative molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure in order to board.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC, TSX:TRZ)
EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has relieved Justice Minister Kaycee Madu of his duties after it came to light that Madu called Edmontons police chief about a traffic ticket.

Alberta premier Jason Kenney shakes hands with Kaycee Madu, Minister of Municipal Affairs, after being sworn into office in Edmonton on Tuesday April 30, 2019. Madu, who is currently the province's justice minister, is being called on to resign for phoning Edmontons police chief with concerns about a traffic ticket. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has relieved Justice Minister Kaycee Madu of his duties after it came to light that Madu called Edmontons police chief about a traffic ticket.

Kenney says while all parties agree Madu never asked Chief Dale McFee to cancel the ticket last March, theres a bigger issue at play.

It's essential the independent administration of justice is maintained, Kenney said in an announcement on Twitter late Monday.

That's why I will appoint a respected independent investigator to review the relevant facts and to determine whether there was interference in the administration of justice in this case."

In the interim period, I have asked Minister Madu to step back from his ministerial duties."

Kenney said Energy Minster Sonya Savage will handle Madus justice portfolio in the meantime.

The premier said he spoke with Madu earlier in the day after the traffic ticket and phone call were reported by CBC. The CBC story said Madu was given a $300 ticket for distracted driving while using a cellphone in a school zone in March of last year, and that he called McFee soon after.

Kenney said he conveyed to Madu his "profound disappointment" in his decision to call the police chief after getting the ticket.

About 90 minutes prior to Kenneys announcement, Madu issued a statement of his own.

Madu, who is Black, said he phoned McFee after he received the ticket but only to seek assurances that he was not being racially profiled or singled out for surveillance given his political position.

At no point did I request that the ticket be rescinded. I would never do that. However, in that particular call, I regret raising the issue at all with Chief McFee, Madu said.

I paid the ticket fully and promptly. I have the utmost respect for our men and women in uniform, and for the invaluable, often thankless role they perform."

Madu recalled being pulled over by the Edmonton officer.

"The officer indicated that he had observed me driving while distracted, alleging that I was on my phone. I disagreed, stating that I was not on my phone, as it was in an inside pocket, said Madu.

"Later, I spoke to Chief Dale McFee.

Due to the timing of the incident, I wanted to ensure that I was not being unlawfully surveilled following the controversy surrounding the Lethbridge Police Service. I also raised concerns around profiling of racial minorities that was in the media at the time.

"Chief McFee assured me that that was most definitely not the case, and I accepted him at his word.

Madu was referring to Lethbridge officers who were found to have conducted unauthorized surveillance on NDP legislature member Shannon Phillips in 2017, when Phillips was environment minister and there were concerns over potential government changes to restrict off-road vehicle access in environmentally sensitive areas.

McFee, through the police media relations office, declined an interview. But the service issued a short statement.

Chief McFee did receive a phone call from Minister Madu in relation to a distracted driving ticket he was issued on March 10, 2021, it said.

Minister Madu had concerns about the context of the traffic stop. To be clear, he did not ask the chief to rescind the ticket. The ticket remains valid and was issued correctly.

Earlier Monday, Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir called for Madu to be fired.

Regular Alberta drivers do not have the ability to call their local police chief and discuss traffic tickets, said Sabir.

Madu used his position as minister to initiate this conversation, and regardless of whether he asked the chief to cancel the ticket, it is political interference for him to have discussed it all.

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Political scientist Duane Bratt said Kenney made the right decision.

He had no choice, said Bratt with Mount Royal University in Calgary. You cant have the justice minister calling the police chief about a ticket, about an active case, especially one involving you.

Theres no wiggle room here.

Madu represents the constituency of Edmonton-South West for the United Conservative government and was named justice minister in August 2020.

He is the lone UCP member in Edmonton. The rest of the city's constituencies are held by the NDP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.
OTTAWA - Health Canada approved Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19 Monday which could help cut pressure on the health-care system by preventing high-risk patients from ending up in the hospital.

The Pfizer logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York, on Feb. 5, 2021. Health Canada has approved Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mark Lennihan,

OTTAWA - Health Canada approved Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19 Monday which could help cut pressure on the health-care system by preventing high-risk patients from ending up in the hospital.

But limited supplies of Paxlovid mean the Public Health Agency of Canada is asking provinces and territories to prioritize the treatment for people most at risk of serious illness, including severely immune-compromised patients and some unvaccinated people over the age of 60.

"Canadians should be very happy today to hear that the oral antivirals are beginning to become available in Canada," chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said at a virtual briefing Monday.

Health Canada's authorization means Paxlovid can be prescribed for adults who test positive for COVID-19 on a molecular or a rapid test, who have mild or moderate symptoms and are at high risk of becoming severely ill.

Clinical trials showed the treatment, which helps prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from reproducing in an infected patient, was almost 90 per cent effective at reducing hospitalization and death in high-risk patients if given within three days of infection, and 85 per cent if given within five days.

The medication requires three pills at a time, twice a day, for five days. It is the first oral COVID-19 treatment that can be taken at home to be approved in Canada but Tam admitted there may be some logistical challenges getting the drug to the right people quickly enough.

"It is challenging, there is no doubt it," Tam said. "First of all, spotting that you may have symptoms and then getting medical attention quickly."

McMaster University infectious disease specialist Dr. Zain Chagla said supply constraints mean the impact of Paxlovid may be slow, but overall, it should start to help reduce the number of people who are becoming severely ill.

"There is certainly a lot of hope here," he said.

Canada has a contract to get one million courses of the treatment this year but supply issues are limiting use everywhere it has been approved so far.

Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi said more than 30,000 courses of the treatment are already in Canada and will be distributed to provinces on a per-capita basis this week.

She said another 120,000 courses of the treatment will be shipped before the end of March. She did not say when the remainder of the one million doses Canada bought will come, nor would she disclose the cost, citing contract confidentiality.

Neither would Pfizer Canada, though Pfizer said in the fall the United States is paying about US$530 per treatment course.

Chagla said it's difficult to know how many courses would be enough, but he said every one helps, particularly if there are enough available for immune-compromised people for whom vaccines don't work very well.

Tam said because of supply constraints the Public Health Agency of Canada is asking provincial and territorial governments to prioritize the highest-risk patients for the medications.

Severely immune-compromised patients, such as transplant recipients, top the priority list. They are followed by unvaccinated people over the age of 80, and then unvaccinated people over 60 who live in long-term care, remote or rural locations or First Nations.

Tam said prioritizing unvaccinated people is scientific and rational because they are at higher risk of severe outcomes.

"I think that as health-care providers, you don't pick and choose which patients you have coming into the hospital getting treated," she said.

Chagla said keeping unvaccinated patients out of hospital is a big help to everyone from a health-care resources perspective, and noted for most patients, being vaccinated means they aren't at high risk for serious illness.

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"Getting two or three doses of vaccine probably are like having Paxlovid in your system all the time (in terms of) preventing people from getting seriously ill," he said.

The United States Food and Drug Administration authorized Paxlovid for patients as young as 12 years old but Health Canada said the company did not submit any safety or efficacy data for that age group so it can't be authorized for people younger than 18 at this time.

Health Canada also says the treatment isn't to be used on patients already in hospital with severe or critical COVID-19 or as a prevention treatment before or after someone is exposed to the virus. It is also not to be given to a patient for more than five days.

It warns there are some potentially severe drug interactions between Paxlovid and other medications prescribed for ailments including prostate cancer and heart problems and narcotics including fentanyl.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said two tablets were taken twice a day for five days.
IQALUIT, NUNAVUT - The City of Iqaluit has set up a water-filling station after traces of fuel were found in the Nunavut capital's drinking water last week for the second time in recent months.

Residents of Iqaluit collect river water through holes carved into the ice near the Nunavut capital on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dustin Patar

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT - The City of Iqaluit has set up a water-filling station after traces of fuel were found in the Nunavut capital's drinking water last week for the second time in recent months.

Iqaluit residents reported smelling fuel in their tap water and the city confirmed trace amounts had entered the distribution network.

The city said a filling station with river water was to open Monday and continue until Friday, but the water would need to be boiled before drinking.

It said Iqaluit's drinking water continued to test within Canada's drinking water standards and a do-not-consume order was not issued.

Iqaluit's 8,000 residents could not drink tap water for 60 days late last year after it was found to be contaminated with fuel.

Last fall, the city dug up an old underground fuel tank, thought to be the source of contamination, next to the water treatment plant.

The city said it was continuing to flush out any remaining hydrocarbons.

"While a do-not-consume order has not been issued, and the drinking water in the distribution system continues to test well below the screening values for health, the City is opening a water depot for residents to fill their own jugs with river water as an alternative option," the city said in a news release.

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The city also said it would not be distributing bottled water.

In a statement, Nunavut's Health Department said there is "no evidence that a do-not-consume order is necessary."

"Sampling found trace amounts of fuel at the water treatment plant that were below The Canadian guidelines for drinking water quality and considered safe for consumption," the statement said.

Followup sampling did not detect any fuel in the water, it said.

The department said it is working with the city to monitor the water and is taking "additional steps to reduce the risks of contamination."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.
OTTAWA - New figures show the Canadian Armed Forces are struggling with a growing shortage of personnel even as the military faces more and more demands at home and abroad.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces take part in a training session before deploying to senior's residences Wednesday April 29, 2020 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

OTTAWA - New figures show the Canadian Armed Forces are struggling with a growing shortage of personnel even as the military faces more and more demands at home and abroad.

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While the military is supposed to have just over 100,000 troops at full strength, new Defence Department figures show it was short about 12,000 regular force troops and reservists at the end of November.

The shortfall is worse than at the end of 2020, when military was short about 7,000 troops as the onset of the pandemic forced recruiting centres and training schools to close for months.

The latest figures also show another 10,000 troops were unavailable for duty at the end of November because they were either untrained, sick or injured.

Revelations about the growing shortfall come as the military faces a rising number of demands internationally and in Canada, including requests from some provinces for help with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Military commanders are also struggling with what to do with hundreds of soldiers who have refused to get vaccinated despite an order to that effect from chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2022.
TORONTO - An organization representing First Nations in northwestern Ontario is calling on the federal and provincial governments to provide better fire prevention and protection funding in Indigenous communities after three children died in a house fire.

TORONTO - An organization representing First Nations in northwestern Ontario is calling on the federal and provincial governments to provide better fire prevention and protection funding in Indigenous communities after three children died in a house fire.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Bobby Narcisse said the tragedy in Sandy Lake First Nation on Friday is a result of inadequate resources, housing and fire protection infrastructure in First Nations communities.

A Lenexa, Kan. firefighter is silhouetted against a full moon as he watches a fire from a ladder truck Monday, May 16, 2011 in Overland Park, Kansas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Ottawa and Ontario should help First Nations to implement fire safety action plans and ensure that all homes and infrastructure on reserve meet national fire codes, he said.

"We're basically asking for equity in terms of being resourced to do this very important work that is required in our First Nations communities." Narcisse said in an interview.

"No more needless loss of life should happen. And our children and our families deserve to have adequate housing, safe housing, and safe (fire) prevention infrastructure."

Sandy Lake First Nation Chief Delores Kakegamic said community firefighters rushed to the home that caught fire Friday, but fire hydrants in the area were not working due to the very cold weather, and the there was only one water truck that was running back and forth to bring water as fast as possible.

Many of First Nations' communities are relying on volunteers with substandard equipment in their local fire departments because they don't have the needed funds to hire a dedicated fire chief and maintain fire prevention services, Narcisse said.

Indigenous Services Canada says on its website that it provides annual core capital funding to First Nations that can be used for fire protection services and fire insurance.

The funding amount is determined by a formula that's based on the number of buildings on a reserve, remoteness and population.

The department says an average of $33.7 million was spent annually on fire protection services programs in First Nations between the 2015-16 and 2019-20 fiscal years, in addition to the core capital funding.

A spokesman of the department said a new fire hall in Sandy Lake First Nation was substantially completed in last summer with $1.2 million in construction funding from the department.

"ISC provides $20,414 annually for the operation and maintenance of the fire truck and related equipment," Matthew Gutsch said.

He said the department also provides $118,360 annually to the community to support fire protection training and education such as community fire safety awareness programs and community training programs including trainings on the proper use of fire extinguishers, installation of smoke alarms, and conduct of fire drills, and training for community fire fighting and prevention staff.

Aman Kainth, a manager at the office of the fire marshal and emergency management in Ontario, says it supports working with First Nations communities to address fire safety issues.

"We will continue to speak to the federal Indigenous Office of the Fire Marshal about public education and fire prevention to look for ways that we can collaborate on the issues facing indigenous communities," Kainth said in a statement.

Blaine Wiggins, the executive director of the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada, said one of biggest challenges to First Nations' efforts to fight deadly fires is that provincial and territorial fire protection standards and occupational health and safety standards that impact fire services don't apply to on First Nations' reserves.

"The core issue is around those enforceable standards that don't exist within First Nations communities," he said.

"For each province and territory, there is a fire protection act. For First Nations, there's no fire protection act."

Wiggins said some First Nations have developed bylaws and regulations and enforced them to bridge this gap including Rama First Nation north of Toronto, which has had no fatalities since it introduced a fire protection bylaw in 2015.

Other issues contribute to the higher fire fatality rates in First Nations, including the conditions of housing, lack of maintenance and overcrowding, he said.

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Wiggins' organization has developed home safety assessment standards and its teams have visited 2,000 homes in First Nations communities since last year to ensure standards are followed.

"They can go in and address deficiencies, everything from smoke alarms that aren't working, electrical issues that we've identified, even find addresses: to make sure that the house has an address.," he said.

The organization also has a First Nations fire department assessment program, in which they evaluate the department's capacity relative to the service level that they are offering, and then provide training and recommendations on equipment issues, personnel issues, firefighting issues, and public safety issues.

A Statistics Canada study found last year that Indigenous people are at least five times more likely to die in a fire in Canada than the rest of the population.

The study that was commissioned by the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council found that First Nations people living on reserves are 10 times more likely to die in a fire and Inuit are over 17 times more likely to die in a fire than non-Indigenous people.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2022.
Manitobans had best put their shovels by the door  another heavy snowfall is expected to roll in, thanks to a low pressure system en route from the mountains in Alberta.

Manitobans had best put their shovels by the door  another heavy snowfall is expected to roll in, thanks to a low pressure system en route from the mountains in Alberta.

However, the same weather that causes traffic snarls and sore backs in Winnipeg could be good news to farmers with parched fields the last few years.

Environment Canada had issued snowfall warnings for most of southern Manitoba overnight Monday, with the southwest corner of the province, from Morden to Virden, getting a special weather statement for gusty winds and potential blizzard conditions.

David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada, said a so-called "Prairie clipper" is expected to roll through the the province, with the hardest-hit area in the Parklands, through the Red River Valley and Winnipeg, and all the way to Lake of the Woods, Ont.

"Unlike most clippers, this one is packing a little bit more moisture than most," Phillips said Monday.

"Winds could be stronger, 90 km per hour, over smooth terrain such as frozen lakes. This snow should taper off overnight in west Manitoba and by early afternoon in the Winnipeg area."

Phillips said so far this year, Winnipeg has had 78.6 centimetres of snow dumped on it, compared to 55.2 cm at this time last year and 101.1 cm up until this time during the winter of 2019-20.

The average snowfall at this point is 59.9 cm.

Environment Canada was predicting Winnipeg will get 10-15 cm of snow beginning sometime late Monday through Tuesday morning.

The heaviest was expected to be in the Parklands region, where more than 20 cm was forecast.

Many farmers in Manitoba have been battling drought conditions in recent years, with reduced yields and the need to find water to help thirsty livestock.

John Heard, a soil fertility expert with Manitoba Agriculture, said he expects the coming snow, and the moisture that has already dropped this winter, will help those producers.

"The only thing more important than fertilizer is water," said Heard.

"They are delighted with what they have received. Few fields are bare this year. The farmers left the stubble standing so the snow wouldnt blow off into the ditches. Most of the snow is staying put where they need it."

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg has had 78.6 centimetres of snow dumped on it, compared to 55.2 cm at this time last year and 101.1 cm up until this time during the winter of 2019-20.

Heard said, usually, the soil underneath would have frozen solid, leading to much of the springs melting snow running off the fields. But not this year.

"The soil was dry when they froze up, so there should be voids to allow (water) percolation in," he said. "But its not just storing water in the soil. We need a lot of water in dugouts and ponds for cattle."

Graham Schellenberg, a spokesman for Keystone Agricultural Producers, said farmers will also need more help from Mother Nature than just snow.

"We need a slow thaw," he said. "We need this moisture to melt and to soak in.

"The snow we have and which is coming is good to see, but it is the long-term game were looking at."

At Morden, where there are still voluntary water restrictions for residents, Mayor Brandon Burley said the snow will help get more water into the lake on the west side of the community, which is its main source of water.

"I cant imagine it would hurt," Burley said. "It would be a bad situation if there wasnt snow on the ice."

Burley said the community of roughly 9,000 has been hard at work finding and connecting into other sources of water, including Pembina Valley Water Co-operative, as well as looking for ways to conserve water.

"It is cheaper for us to replace every toilet and water fixture in the city than to build excess capacity in water and waste," the mayor said, adding it is already building in water retention systems for indoor ice rinks and outdoor splash pads and rinks.

In Winnipeg, an army of heavy equipment, including plows for streets and smaller ones for sidewalks, is ready and prepared to roll out.

Michael Cantor, manager of streets maintenance, said about 200 to 300 pieces of snow-clearing equipment are ready to go shortly after the expected snow begins falling Monday.

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"We will wait for some snow to come down first  well be ready for that," said Cantor. "We dont want to plow when there is no snow on the street."

Cantor said truck plows will go out first on to the major streets, to quickly clear the way, with large plows coming once even more snow has fallen.

"It will be an interesting few days," he said. "It will be at least two to three days dealing with priority streets and sidewalks.

"This year, we havent got a lot of snow but what we get is coming all the time. We just finished one and now comes another."

Meanwhile, both the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Southern Health issued statements warning the weather could see delays and cancellations of home care appointments in the next few days.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Expect hazardous winter conditions throughout the day as high winds whip up the snow that blanketed southern Manitoba overnight and continues to fall.

Expect hazardous winter conditions throughout the day as high winds whip up the snow that blanketed southern Manitoba overnight and continues to fall.

A winter storm warning is in effect in Winnipeg and other areas in southern Manitoba.

Gusty northerly winds and freshly fallen snow will reduce visibility in the Red River Valley this afternoon and evening, Environment Canada said in an alert.

The low-pressure system responsible for the snow will also produce significant winds in the afternoon.

The combination of 10 to 15 cm of fresh snow overnight along with winds gusting up to 80 km/h at times will produce blowing snow that will severely hamper visibility on highways, the weather agency said.

Even within Winnipeg, visibility will likely be reduced by blowing snow, especially downwind of open areas, the alert stated.

Gusts will begin to slow late this evening, leading to improved visibility by Wednesday morning. Forecasters dont currently expect blizzard conditions, but that could change by later this afternoon.

Environment Canada expects temperatures to drop following the storm system.

An arctic ridge of high pressure will clear skies and drop temperatures into the -20s starting this evening. Wind chill values will approach the -40 C mark once again before temperatures moderate somewhat near the end of the week, the weather agency said.

Meantime, numerous southern Manitoba school divisions outside of the city either cancelled classes or buses. Some daycares and preschools outside of the city closed, as well.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A winter storm warning is in effect in Winnipeg and other areas in southern Manitoba.

The City of Winnipegs street maintenance manager, Michael Cantor, said city plows began clearing priority regional streets, sidewalks and active transport paths at 7 a.m.

With the drifting snow, with the winds (tonight), we are probably going to clear them again, and maybe again, he said just before noon.

Were concentrating on our priority ones, (so) emergency vehicles, public transit can drive those streets.

That means major routes, such as Pembina Highway, Lagimodiere Boulevard, Bishop Grandin Boulevard and Portage Avenue, for example.

Second-priority streets will see plows later this afternoon, Cantor said.

The city will monitor the accumulation of snow and make further snow-clearing operational decisions as the weather system passes through Winnipeg, a city spokeswoman said in an email.

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On Monday, senior climatologist with Environment Canada David Phillips said a so-called Prairie clipper was expected to roll through the the province, with the hardest hit area in the Parklands, through the Red River Valley and Winnipeg, and all the way to Lake of the Woods in Ontario.

Unlike most clippers, this one is packing a little bit more moisture than most, Phillips said.

Continued heavy snowfall is good news for southern Manitoba farmers whove faced parched fields amid drought conditions in recent years.

So far this year, Winnipeg has had 78.6 centimetres of snow dumped on it, compared to 55.2 cm at this time last year and 101.1 cm up until this time during the winter of 2019-20, Phillips said.

The average snowfall at this point is 59.9 cm.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Inmates at Manitobas largest jail have been likened to sitting ducks, as a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases fuels concerns about a staffing shortage and crowding.

Inmates at Manitobas largest jail have been likened to "sitting ducks," as a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases fuels concerns about a staffing shortage and crowding.

Headingley Correctional Centre has the highest number of active cases of any provincial jail, with infections jumping to 100 from 55 in less than a week.

An inmate told the Free Press several units have been closed or locked down as the novel coronavirus spreads rapidly.

Dorms have become crowded as inmates are moved in from shuttered units, said the man, who fears its only a matter of time before he catches COVID.

"Theyre shoving everybody closer together amid this outbreak. Theyre double-bunking us," said the inmate, who asked not to be named because he feared reprisals. "They shouldnt be moving people around. They should social distance everybody and not pack everybody (in)."

One dorm normally occupied by 14 people now has 28, he said, while another has 26.

Officers have told inmates a shortage of staff has forced the jail, west of Winnipeg, to close some units, he said.

Cases at Headingley have soared amid a fourth wave fuelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant, which has overwhelmed hospitals and public services.

The jail had 100 active cases, as of Monday, up from 85 on Jan. 14 and 55 on Jan. 12, according to the provinces online dashboard. The Free Press reported a total of 34 on Jan. 7.

An outbreak was also reported at Milner Ridge Correctional Centre, southwest of Lac du Bonnet. It had 85 active cases Monday, an increase of eight since Jan. 14.

Headingleys inmate population was 520 on Friday. The mens jail, which has minimum, medium and maximum security areas, has an official capacity of 549.

Its not the first time cases have spiked. The province declared outbreaks at Headingley in October 2020 and January 2021.

Amid the latest increase, the inmate said his unit was put on "COVID lockdown," after a man with symptoms was transferred from a unit affected by the virus.

"Everybody is coming down with symptoms," he said. "People in here have underlying health conditions. COVID could take them out, and thats a big fear for them. This is going to get worse."

COVID-positive inmates are now in general population, the man said, because solitary confinement became full with infected inmates.

He alleged the kitchen and trades units were locked down, and one of two units occupied by the Winding River Therapeutic Community, which offers help for addictions, was closed.

Visits have been put on hold, said the mans partner, who described inmates as "sitting ducks."

"I am worried about him," she said of her partner. "Hes at risk and has no control over what is going on. Its a very negative environment there. The inmates are frustrated."

"Everybodys morale is in the dumps," the inmate said. "Nobody wants to play card games or board games because theyre scared of COVID."

A spokesperson for the province said Headingley jail is able to safely isolate infected inmates.

"Staff have identified units in the facility for COVID isolation to ensure a safe environment for staff and inmates," the spokesperson said Monday. "All correctional facilities have a number of safety protocols in place to address the spread, including regular cleaning and a supply of PPE to staff and inmates."

The spokesperson declined to reveal how many workers are on COVID-related sick leave.

"It would not be appropriate to comment in any detail about current staffing issues, but in general, like in the community and at health-care facilities, correctional facilities are experiencing staffing challenges due to sick calls. The department is making adjustments to ensure that facilities can be safely managed."

Manitoba announced last week it will offer rapid antigen tests to corrections employees and sheriffs.

Under Manitobas vaccine mandate, provincial corrections workers must be fully vaccinated or undergo regular testing to remain on the job.

The provincial spokesperson said 99.84 per cent of Manitoba justice staff affected by the mandate are fully vaccinated or undergoing testing, but refused to say if any corrections officers have chosen not to comply.

Kyle Ross, president of Manitoba Government and General Employees Union, said the latest COVID-19 wave has further disrupted the daily operation of provincial jails.

Many staff and inmates have caught the virus or been forced to isolate due to being close contacts, he said.

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"It has to be pointed out that understaffing has been a problem before COVID existed and has now only gotten far worse during the pandemic," said Ross. "We need the government to invest in the recruitment and retention of highly trained correctional officers and we need that to happen now."

Chris Gamby, a Winnipeg-based lawyer and spokesman for the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba, said COVID in jails has disrupted trials and court appearances.

Hes aware of at least one trial being cancelled. "Its created some challenges."

Some hearings can be held virtually, and lawyers can hold video calls with clients on remand at Headingley, said Gamby.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
A controversial pastor in southeastern Manitoba says he has been hit with more than $17,000 in fines for allegedly violating Canadas mandatory COVID-19 travel quarantine.

A controversial pastor in southeastern Manitoba says he has been hit with more than $17,000 in fines for allegedly violating Canadas mandatory COVID-19 travel quarantine.

Tobias Tissen, a pastor at the Church of God (Restoration) in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, was required to self-isolate for at least 14 days after he travelled to Mexico and returned last month.

A video shared on Facebook by the anti-mask, anti-restriction protester showed the RCMP giving him two tickets for allegedly breaching the Quarantine Act  once on Christmas Eve and again Christmas Day.

Tissen, who is out on bail after he was accused of violating Manitobas public health orders last year, has vowed to fight the latest fines in court.

Posted Jan. 13, the two-minute, 16-second video showed an unmasked Tissen, in the drivers seat of a vehicle, speaking to two masked RCMP officers in front of the police detachment in Steinbach.

Tissen, 27, declined to enter the building before a female officer explained the breaches to him. As she outlined the alleged Christmas Day offence, he replied: "Sorry, I do not understand this."

"You didnt quarantine then when you came in," the officer told him.

After the second ticket was read to him, Tissen asked: "It doesnt matter if what I did was essential to me?"

"You can talk about that in court," the officer responded.

"Does this all make sense to you?" Tissen asked her moments later.

"Were doing our jobs, and if you have questions, theres information on the back," the officer replied.

The provincial government did not confirm Tissen was fined under the Quarantine Act when it was asked to comment. The RCMP deferred comment to the province.

Tissen and his lawyer, Alex Steigerwald, did not respond to requests for comment. Tissen did, however, defend himself in the Facebook post.

"I was fined more then ($17,000) for doing what is essential to a pastor and that is attend church to preach, and be there for the people. Sadly, the principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world do not acknowledge that this is essential to a pastor and cant be touched by their mandate," he wrote in a caption.

"All of them will see one day how badly mistaken they were and will regret not having taken a stand for whats right and what conscience demands. Needless to say is that we will challenge these ridiculous fines and demand answers in court."

Unvaccinated travellers who do not have COVID-19 symptoms are required to quarantine for at least 14 days upon their arrival in Canada.

The quarantine period ends after the 14th day if they do not have symptoms and have not had a positive test result.

Tissen was photographed wearing a face mask inside Winnipeg Richardson International Airport before he boarded a flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Dec. 11.

His bail conditions did not prohibit him from travelling.

He returned to Winnipeg eight days later. Unvaccinated travellers arriving in Canada that day would have been required to quarantine until at least Jan. 3.

A live stream posted on the churchs Facebook page on Christmas Eve showed Tissen at a carol singing service. He was also seen in a live stream of a Sunday service posted Dec. 26.

To board a plane in Canada, federal rules require passengers aged 12 and over to show proof they are fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. There are some exemptions, however.

After his Mexico trip, Tissen told the Steinbach Carillon he was granted a religious exemption. Federal rules allow airlines to grant exemptions for sincere religious beliefs.

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To obtain a religious exemption, travellers must submit a request three weeks before their flight, and they are required to show a negative COVID test before boarding.

Tissen told the Carillon he and other members of his church, located just south of Steinbach, flew to Mexico to attend a pastors conference.

Tissen was arrested on a warrant in Steinbach on Oct. 18 for allegedly violating provincial public health orders May 15, 2021, when an anti-mask rally was held in Winnipeg. He is due to appear in court Feb. 10.

The Church of God (Restoration) has also been fined for holding services that violated rules on public gatherings.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
The heroic medical professionals are demanding a day of reckoning for Premier Heather Stefanson and her Progressive Conservative government. If past practice is any indication, those demands will fall on deaf ears.

The heroic medical professionals are demanding a day of reckoning for Premier Heather Stefanson and her Progressive Conservative government. If past practice is any indication, those demands will fall on deaf ears.

The term "reckoning" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. In a political context, it generally means a process by which government is held accountable for its performance or policies. It is also used as political shorthand for "punishment," the day at which opposition critics or voters hold government accountable.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson and her ministers like to tell Manitobans there is no playbook to guide pandemic management.

In the context of the pandemic, however, it can also mean an independent review of how, why and when key decisions were made, to learn from past mistakes. And lets not mince words here: a review is essential for a province that has seen some of the worst outbreaks on this continent.

Manitoba has the second-highest deaths per capita of all provinces. You can juggle the numbers as much as you want, but that one metric confirms that Manitoba has been among the worst provinces in terms of overall pandemic response.

Manitoba has the secondhighest deaths per capita of all provinces.

An independent review gives government an opportunity to demonstrate it can own and learn from the mistakes that have contributed to this sorry record. Would Stefanson support such a review?

Last November, after the NDP publicly called for a commission of inquiry into the pandemic response, Stefanson could only say that with a fourth wave now upon us, she didnt really have the time to dwell on past performance.

That could turn out to be a rather fateful perspective. The premier must know that even if she continues to refuse to undertake an independent review, there is a possibility that one may be foisted upon her.

Manitoba auditor general Tyson Shtykalo is currently performing audits of the vaccine rollout and management of the K-12 public education system during the pandemic. We dont know yet how deep these audits will drill, or when they will be completed.

But if Shtykalo wants to perform the deep dive, he will be in good company; auditors general in other parts of the country are stepping up to measure government performance and accountability.

Ontario has been the most active, with auditor general Bonnie Lysyk having already produced six special audit reports on management of expenditures, long-term care, overall preparedness, emergency management and outbreak planning.

FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Bonnie Lysyk, Auditor General of Ontario, has already produced six special audit reports including management of expenditures, long-term care, and overall preparedness.

The Alberta auditor general has promised a broad review, while the New Brunswick auditor has already released an audit of government economic supports.

What would an audit look at here? The voices calling for an independent review are united in their concern the Tory government has ignored the advice they are getting from in-house medical and scientific experts.

The PC government has been incorrigible when it comes to its pandemic strategy. Nothing  not demands from front-line health-care professionals, condemnation from experts outside government or even hundreds of largely preventable deaths  has convinced the Tories to budge from their "least-restrictive means" strategy.

That stubborn refusal to change tack would seem to be fertile ground for Manitobas auditor general to start digging. If government allows him to dig.

That stubborn refusal to change tack would seem to be fertile ground for Manitobas auditor general to start digging. If government allows him to dig.

Last week, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitobas chief provincial public health officer, claimed any advice he or other medical or scientific experts provide is "privileged," which is to say, confidential.

In general, all "advice" to cabinet (executive council) provided by any member of the bureaucracy can be labelled privileged and kept from the prying eyes of the news media and public. That is not to say that it must be held back; government always has the prerogative to release any advice or information it receives.

And that is where we circle back to accountability. Stefanson and her ministers like to tell Manitobans there is no "playbook" to guide pandemic management. Her suggestion is that because weve never experienced this kind of crisis, there is no right and wrong.

That is a colossal cop-out. Yes, COVID-19 is the greatest public-health crisis in more than 100 years. However, near misses with influenza and SARS, plus a growing body of knowledge around killer viruses, has given us quite a lot of information about what we should have been doing to prepare for a pandemic, and how we should have responded after it arrived.

The fact is we didnt prepare and we seem to have ignored best practices in our response.

JAE C HONG / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE The fact is we didnt prepare (for a pandemic) and we seem to have ignored best practices in our response.

Even worse, Manitoba got caught with its health-care funding pants down when the pandemic hit. Five years of Pallister-inducted austerity left the health-care system unable to deal with a crisis. That is also something that needs to be within the scope of any future review or audit.

If Stefanson performs a risk-reward analysis, she will see that she has as much or more to gain by throwing open the curtains on the pandemic response than she does to lose. Voters often respond positively to political leaders who demonstrate a genuine commitment to accountability.

If Stefanson performs a riskreward analysis, she will see that she has as much or more to gain by throwing open the curtains on the pandemic response than she does to lose.

Stefanson should also know that if she doesnt trigger a review, the NDP will if  big if here  it should form government following the election in 2023.

The public has largely lost confidence in the PC governments pandemic response. If Stefanson takes the time to study the political tea leaves, she will see that a full and independent review isnt a threat. It might be her only lifeline.

dan.lett@winnipegfreepress.com

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Amid plummeting popularity and a COVID-19 crisis hammering the province, Premier Heather Stefanson is expected to put her own stamp on the cabinet she inherited from Brian Pallister as early as Tuesday.

Amid plummeting popularity and a COVID-19 crisis hammering the province, Premier Heather Stefanson is expected to put her own stamp on the cabinet she inherited from Brian Pallister as early as Tuesday.

Stefanson has to keep her rural and small-town base happy and away from fringe candidates, while picking up more urban support in vote-rich Winnipeg and hanging on to suburban swing ridings that, for the last 20 years, have determined which party forms government in the province, experts say.

Swearing-in ceremony Tuesday afternoon Click to Expand Manitoba's premier will swear in her new cabinet Tuesday afternoon. Premier Heather Stefanson will preside over the swearing-in ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Legislative Building.

"Its like being a CEO and coming into the job and looking around at all your team and seeing where things need to be shifted," said University of Manitoba political studies professor Christopher Adams.

An Angus Reid online survey places Stefanson  who was sworn in as premier just 11 weeks ago  as the least-popular premier in the country, with 21 per cent approval.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Insiders and analysts expect the next shuffle will see Cliff Cullen moved out of education.

Of the 482 Manitoba respondents, just one in five said shes done a good job of handling the pandemic, which is lower than any assessment Pallister received, the pollster said.

"It doesnt look very good for a new premier," Adams said Monday. After winning the Progressive Conservative leadership on Oct. 30  and a court challenge by losing rival Shelly Glover  Adams said he expected Stefanson would get a bump in the polls.

"The post-convention bloom is off the rose."

Seventy per cent of the Manitobans surveyed Jan. 7-12 said the province has done a bad job getting the rapid tests to where they are needed, while 75 per cent said its done a good job with the vaccine rollout.

Two-in-five Manitobans said they want more public-health restrictions but Stefanson has held back on imposing them, saying on Jan. 12 that "its up to Manitobans to look after themselves." On Monday, a record 601 COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Audrey Gordon is expected to stay put as health minister.

The last cabinet shuffle occurred under Pallister on Jan. 5, 2021.

Insiders and analysts expect the next shuffle will see Cliff Cullen moved out of education and Audrey Gordon staying put as health minister. Cullen will be remembered as the cheerleader for unpopular Bill 64 that wouldve eliminated elected school boards if the PC government hadnt bowed to public pressure and killed it.

Gordon, however, has shown "authenticity and empathy," said Paul Thomas, University of Manitoba political studies professor emeritus.

"The problems in the health field reflect long-standing issues (and) deficiencies" exacerbated by the pandemic, Thomas said Monday, adding he doubts any health minister could come away from such a situation unscathed.

Stefanson also has to consider the ambitions of her MLAs, he said.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Cameron Friesen has taken some flack for a perceived lack of enforcement of public-health orders in his Morden-Winkler constituency.

"We dont know what members of her cabinet have said to her about their plans going forward," he said. "Some might be seeking some type of less less work or, maybe, even more."

He pointed to the example of government house leader Kelvin Goertzen, who wanted to lighten his load after a long stint of heavy lifting as health minister in charge of reorganizing and consolidating health care.

Theres speculation Goertzen will move to the justice portfolio, a cabinet post the lawyer may be more suited to than the current minister, Cameron Friesen, whose background is in education. Friesen has taken some flack for a perceived lack of enforcement of public-health orders in his Morden-Winkler constituency  even though, as a minister, such decisions likely wouldnt end up on his desk, Thomas said.

As health minister, Friesen accused doctors of "causing chaos" when they raised concerns in November 2020 about the provinces pandemic response  a rare misstep for the MLA elected in 2011. He has a good rapport with the premier, Thomas said, and is expected to remain in cabinet  likely in the advanced education portfolio, one source said.

The other thing the premier has to consider is positioning her party for the next election that must be held by Oct. 3, 2023, Adams said, adding cabinet ministers are much more likely to win re-election.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Stefansons cabinet may welcome the return of Eileen Clarke.

More than half of the seats in the Manitoba assembly are from Winnipeg, with swing ridings holding the balance of power. Pallister and the PCs took over from the NDP by winning back swing seats in southern Winnipeg, Adams said.

"Heather Stefansons got to struggle to hold that," he said. At the same time, she cant take the PC base in rural and small-town Manitoba for granted.

"Shes just come out of a leadership battle in which the party, in many ways, was split on rural-urban lines," he said.

Glover had a strong showing outside urban areas  support that could be lost if a new provincial party forms.

"Its a balancing act," Adams said.

Stefansons cabinet may welcome the return of former Indigenous and northern relations minister Eileen Clarke, who quit last summer over Pallisters statements defending colonial settlers, a source said. A return to cabinet for the MLA for Agassiz, whose LinkedIn page says she "semi-retired" from the PC party, would make the point that the new premier "is a more empathetic and kinder leader than Pallister," said Thomas.

"If the cabinet shifts from a rural to an urban majority, having a credible, moderate voice like Clarke in the lineup would help to bridge the gap between the conservative and progressive wings of the party," he said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Kelly Ernby was no doubt a good person, a friend to her friends, a companion to her husband, a crime-fighting prosecutor. She presumably had all the decent qualities we usually celebrate after a person dies, when we generally say only the kindest things we can think of.

Opinion

Kelly Ernby was no doubt a good person, a friend to her friends, a companion to her husband, a crime-fighting prosecutor. She presumably had all the decent qualities we usually celebrate after a person dies, when we generally say only the kindest things we can think of.

But she was also a vocal critic of vaccine mandates whose posts on social media endangered lives, denied science and confused Americans. She was an activist with a mini-megaphone  an Orange County deputy district attorney, a local Republican Party official and a 2019 GOP candidate for state assembly  spreading the message of a dangerous populist movement.

So when Ernby died of COVID-19 recently at age 46 (unvaccinated, of course), her death set off an ugly public debate, reflecting all the bitterness, polarization and frustration in American pandemic society. She suddenly became a symbol rather than a person, a blank slate onto which we could all project our harshest gut reactions.

Social media blew up. Supporters praised her as a hero and bemoaned the leftist ghouls they said were reveling in her death. People on the left either held out her death as a cautionary lesson or crowed nastily with a sort of macabre, I-told-you-so pleasure.

She did this to herself.

Congratulations on winning your very own Darwin Award.

Freedumb!

Another Trump MENSA member hits the dirt.

I feel worse for all the innocents that believed her BS.

Mocking anti-vaxxers when they get sick has become a bit of a sport. Sorryantivaxxer.com, for instance, is a website that runs names, photos, social media posts and commentaries about people who have preached anti-vax messages and then died of COVID. (Suicide by COVID, as some have called it.)

On the sites page on Ernby (which already has more than 60,000 page views and nearly 4,000 comments), shes described as another bullheaded conservative who made the wrong choice.

Of course, theres a measure of truth to some of the callous comments. Ernby wasnt vaccinated, even though vaccinations have been widely available for many months and the data are clear: people who are vaxxed and boosted are far, far less likely to be infected, to be hospitalized or to die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others. So, yeah, maybe she did do this to herself.

And not just to herself. When she became sick, she may have infected others. Furthermore, as an outspoken anti-vaxxer, her misinformation may have persuaded still others vaccines were not necessary  or, worse yet, dangerous  leading more people to become infected.

The vaccine is not the cure to COVID, she wrote on her Facebook page, and mandates wont work. So, yes, we should certainly be concerned for the innocents who believed her.

Ernbys behavior was certainly irresponsible. But Im not feeling vindicated by her death or indulging in schadenfreude, either. I object to the glib, nasty comments on the web. I dont understand how crowing over the death of others furthers useful debate  or increases vaccination rates.

Not that Im claiming any particular moral superiority. In fact, Ernbys death has brought back to me some feelings Ive had in the last two years that Im not proud of: I admit to wishing some peoples COVID-19 cases had been a bit more serious than they were.

It didnt seem fair that politicians who pooh-poohed the virus or downplayed mask-wearing or objected to vaccine mandates could come down with a mild case and recover as if nothing had happened  and then start spouting the same old nonsense.

It sent the wrong message.

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But when Ernby died, I felt no desire to gloat. And when I saw cruel comments on social media, I merely felt tired, exhausted, depressed.

I wondered wearily: why do we live in a world where people let their politics make their decisions for them rather than relying on science or data or expertise? How have people become so untethered from reality that they believe in QAnon or that President Biden stole the 2020 election  or that vaccines are a liberal scam?

How have we lost our common shared belief in facts and reality? And what will we do to repair our society now that people have grown so vicious toward one another?

Kelly Ernby is being mourned by those close to her. Our political differences  her dog was named Nixon, for goodness sake  have no bearing on this: I am sorry she died. I feel sad for her husband, and I take no amusement from the snide black humor on the web.

Instead, I worry for the country.

 Los Angeles Times
Premier Heather Stefanson, who took office Nov. 2, already ranks as Canadas least popular provincial premier, according to the Angus Reid Institute survey published Monday. This result should warn Manitobas ruling Progressive Conservative Party that it is on the wrong track and heading for disaster.

Premier Heather Stefanson, who took office Nov. 2, already ranks as Canadas least popular provincial premier, according to the Angus Reid Institute survey published Monday. This result should warn Manitobas ruling Progressive Conservative Party that it is on the wrong track and heading for disaster.

Former premier Brian Pallister saw the writing on the wall after approval of his policy dropped to 35 per cent. He quit and made room for Ms. Stefanson to take his place.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Former Premier Brian Pallister saw the writing on the wall after approval of his policy dropped to 35 per cent and quit.

The mythical moving finger has written once again. Eleven weeks of Ms. Stefansons administration have taken her approval score down to 21 per cent, well behind Albertas Jason Kenney at 26 per cent and Ontarios Doug Ford at 30 per cent.

Ms. Stefanson arrived in office promising a kinder, gentler style of PC government. Unlike Mr. Pallister, she was going to consult stakeholders and that was going to make all the difference.

Unlike Mr. Pallister, she (Premier Heather Stefanson) was going to consult stakeholders and that was going to make all the difference.

Instead she has quit trying to measure the spread of COVID-19, cut back contact tracing and told Manitobans they have to find their own ways to protect themselves and their families from the virus. To a province eager for leadership through a period of worldwide health emergency, she has declared her governments helplessness and told the public to take responsibility for their own health  as though they were not doing that already.

Since she is out-Pallistering former premier Pallister in misreading the public mood and keeping restrictions to a minimum as long as possible, it is not surprising that the public is reacting negatively. It is all very well to recognize the limits of governmental power to combat the pandemic, but a premier should at least seem to be trying.

Since she (Premier Heather Stefanson) is outPallistering former premier Pallister in misreading the public mood and keeping restrictions to a minimum as long as possible, it is not surprising that the public is reacting negatively.

Should the PCs decide that they have to change leaders again quickly before the damage gets worse, Shelly Glover may still be available. She sought the leadership when the party had to fill Mr. Pallisters vacancy. Ms. Stefanson beat her by 363 votes in a race that survived Ms. Glovers court challenge of the result.

The party has, however, no opportunity for leisurely reflection about keeping Ms. Stefanson or replacing her. The province is due for an election 18 months hence. The time to pick a new leader would whittle that margin down to about a year, which is scarcely time enough to lead the party across the wilderness in which it is now wandering.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson has quit trying to measure the spread of COVID-19, cut back contract tracing and told Manitobans they have to find their own ways to protect themselves and their families from the virus.

The more promising course is to keep the current leader, with all her evident deficiencies, and help her form a fuller understanding of the requirements of the job. Manitobans expect their government to provide efficient health care in well-staffed hospitals and clinics. They expect their political leaders to set achievable goals and rally support for reaching those goals.

Manitobans do not expect to be lectured by their premier about their need to take responsibility for their own health. They do not expect to watch their government turn its back while seriously ill patients are told to wait longer for surgery because the hospitals cannot handle the surge of COVID-19 patients.

Ms. Stefanson has seen the writing on the wall. The party that chose her for leader is seeing the same solemn warning. She knows the process that elevated her to office can operate once again to remove her. It is no longer enough for her to show that she is not Brian Pallister. She has to show a sound grasp of leadership and a recognition of Manitobans need for a way forward into a better time.
A controversial pastor in southeastern Manitoba says he has been hit with more than $17,000 in fines for allegedly violating Canadas mandatory COVID-19 travel quarantine.

A controversial pastor in southeastern Manitoba says he has been hit with more than $17,000 in fines for allegedly violating Canadas mandatory COVID-19 travel quarantine.

Tobias Tissen, a pastor at the Church of God (Restoration) in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, was required to self-isolate for at least 14 days after he travelled to Mexico and returned last month.

A video shared on Facebook by the anti-mask, anti-restriction protester showed the RCMP giving him two tickets for allegedly breaching the Quarantine Act  once on Christmas Eve and again Christmas Day.

Tissen, who is out on bail after he was accused of violating Manitobas public health orders last year, has vowed to fight the latest fines in court.

Posted Jan. 13, the two-minute, 16-second video showed an unmasked Tissen, in the drivers seat of a vehicle, speaking to two masked RCMP officers in front of the police detachment in Steinbach.

Tissen, 27, declined to enter the building before a female officer explained the breaches to him. As she outlined the alleged Christmas Day offence, he replied: "Sorry, I do not understand this."

"You didnt quarantine then when you came in," the officer told him.

After the second ticket was read to him, Tissen asked: "It doesnt matter if what I did was essential to me?"

"You can talk about that in court," the officer responded.

"Does this all make sense to you?" Tissen asked her moments later.

"Were doing our jobs, and if you have questions, theres information on the back," the officer replied.

The provincial government did not confirm Tissen was fined under the Quarantine Act when it was asked to comment. The RCMP deferred comment to the province.

Tissen and his lawyer, Alex Steigerwald, did not respond to requests for comment. Tissen did, however, defend himself in the Facebook post.

"I was fined more then ($17,000) for doing what is essential to a pastor and that is attend church to preach, and be there for the people. Sadly, the principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world do not acknowledge that this is essential to a pastor and cant be touched by their mandate," he wrote in a caption.

"All of them will see one day how badly mistaken they were and will regret not having taken a stand for whats right and what conscience demands. Needless to say is that we will challenge these ridiculous fines and demand answers in court."

Unvaccinated travellers who do not have COVID-19 symptoms are required to quarantine for at least 14 days upon their arrival in Canada.

The quarantine period ends after the 14th day if they do not have symptoms and have not had a positive test result.

Tissen was photographed wearing a face mask inside Winnipeg Richardson International Airport before he boarded a flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Dec. 11.

His bail conditions did not prohibit him from travelling.

He returned to Winnipeg eight days later. Unvaccinated travellers arriving in Canada that day would have been required to quarantine until at least Jan. 3.

A live stream posted on the churchs Facebook page on Christmas Eve showed Tissen at a carol singing service. He was also seen in a live stream of a Sunday service posted Dec. 26.

To board a plane in Canada, federal rules require passengers aged 12 and over to show proof they are fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. There are some exemptions, however.

After his Mexico trip, Tissen told the Steinbach Carillon he was granted a religious exemption. Federal rules allow airlines to grant exemptions for sincere religious beliefs.

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To obtain a religious exemption, travellers must submit a request three weeks before their flight, and they are required to show a negative COVID test before boarding.

Tissen told the Carillon he and other members of his church, located just south of Steinbach, flew to Mexico to attend a pastors conference.

Tissen was arrested on a warrant in Steinbach on Oct. 18 for allegedly violating provincial public health orders May 15, 2021, when an anti-mask rally was held in Winnipeg. He is due to appear in court Feb. 10.

The Church of God (Restoration) has also been fined for holding services that violated rules on public gatherings.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
The Progressive Conservative government is being accused of downplaying the impact of COVID-19, as doctors question Manitobas reporting of coronavirus hospitalizations compared with patients facing separate issues who end up testing positive.

The Progressive Conservative government is being accused of downplaying the impact of COVID-19, as doctors question Manitobas reporting of coronavirus hospitalizations compared with patients facing separate issues who end up testing positive.

Their concern stems from comments made last Wednesday by Health Minister Audrey Gordon.

"Only one-third of Manitobas COVID-positive hospitalizations are being hospitalized because of COVID. The other two-thirds are being hospitalized for another medical reason, but happen to be COVID-positive," she said on Jan. 12.

Gordon said that number stemmed from experts reviewing patients files.

"We are doing chart-by-chart reviews, to ensure that when we report  and when I come out here and share that information  that it is indeed accurate."

Front-line physicians argue its anything but.

They were surprised that evening, when Dr. Jazz Atwal, Manitobas deputy chief public health officer, told a Doctors Manitoba webinar that the two-thirds figure pertained to a single hospital, as well as to children admitted to various hospitals.

The next day, Atwals superior, Dr. Brent Roussin, explained that math at a news conference. He said that 46 kids aged 0 to 18 with COVID-19 ended up in hospital between Dec. 1, 2021 and Jan. 10, of which "31 or two-thirds were admitted to hospital for other reasons."

Children tend to have less-severe symptoms of COVID-19, and so the virus is statistically less likely to send them to hospital than adults.

It is a crisis, and the fact that the word crisis is not being used by our current elected leadership is very troublesome to me." Dr. Renate Singh

According to the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program, a long-standing federal project where hospitals report data on admissions, "pediatric patients were less frequently admitted due to COVID-19 compared to adults" in all four waves of the pandemic.

In the ongoing fourth wave, 70.8 per cent of COVID-positive adult patients across Canada were admitted to hospitals specifically due to the virus instead of another reason, compared with 41.7 of pediatric patients.

In a Public Health Agency of Canada summary of provinces latest data published last Friday, Manitoba is far offside its peers in its ratio of primary hospitalizations (caused by COVID-19) to incidental ones (hospitalized for a different reason, but the patient has COVID-19).

In the past month, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick all reported 50 to 64 per cent of COVID-positive hospital patients being primary cases, compared to just 33 per cent in Manitoba, the only other reporting jurisdiction.

Gordons office did not respond to interview requests Friday and Monday.

Dr. Doug Eyolfson, who works on the ICU ward at Grace Hospital, said he found her statement deceptive.

"I find it astonishing that shed give a figure like that, and not tell us that this was for children," said Eyolfson, a former Liberal MP.

"I wont actually call her a liar, because why would she lie to us?"

In a statement, Shared Health said that beyond the childrens data, a separate chart review started Jan. 3 involving 193 patients with COVID-19 at the Health Sciences Centre, which the agency warned does not have a COVID-19 ward.

"Because of the type and acuity of services provided at HSC, it is likely the proportion of patients with incidental COVID will be higher than in facilities with dedicated COVID medicine units and/or lower-acuity facilities," an unnamed spokesperson wrote.

"Thats like saying youre on the Titanic, it hits an iceberg and then youre in the water, drowning, and your last thought is, Was it really the iceberg? Or was it the structural defect in the hull?" Dr. Dan Roberts

The agency also cautioned that 90 per cent of HSC Winnipegs critical-care patients are there for COVID-19.

Shared Health would not share any of the instructions or forms used to parse out incidental versus primary cases of COVID-19 hospitalization, but says it plans to review charts at other hospitals.

Front-line doctors argue the public is being misled.

"Its a bit of a false flag," said Dr. Renate Singh, an anesthesiologist who works at Grace Hospital and HSC Winnipeg.

She noted that patients with COVID-19 require isolated rooms, whether they are admitted to hospital "for" or "with" the coronavirus.

"Any way you slice it, it requires the closure of beds and the limitation of space," said Singh.

That proportion will likely get more attention as COVID-19 hospitalizations mount. Manitoba reported Monday 82 new COVID in-patients since Friday, compared with an average of 49 patients per day in the prior week.

"It is a crisis, and the fact that the word crisis is not being used by our current elected leadership is very troublesome to me," Singh said.

Dr. Dan Roberts, a Winnipeg critical-care physician, said the terminology is a distraction.

"Thats like saying youre on the Titanic, it hits an iceberg and then youre in the water, drowning, and your last thought is, Was it really the iceberg? Or was it the structural defect in the hull?

"If someone needs their hip fixed and comes into hospital and then catches COVID and dies, they (still) died of COVID; this is not incidental." Dr. Doug Eyolfson

"I mean, thats nonsense. Its just deflection. To try to say that most of these admissions are not due to COVID is completely absurd."

NDP Opposition Leader Wab Kinew expressed suspicions that the province is publishing the numbers only at a time of intense scrutiny around hospital capacity.

"Its cherry-picking statistics, at a time that the government is trying to take political advantage of the crisis that Manitobans are very concerned about," he claimed.

Kinew noted that the debate over whether people are hospitalized with or for COVID-19 is prevalent in online groups that claim the pandemic is a hoax.

"Its very concerning to me that two years into the pandemic, the PC government is starting to parrot the talking points that we see in anti-vaxxer circles on social media," he said.

Yet Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, said provinces can measure the prevalence of incidental and primary infections to anticipate critical-care use.

The numbers can also help them get a sense of how long patients will need hospital beds, as well as how widespread COVID-19 might be in the community, she said.

"It does help with local-level planning, but its much more important for provincial levels," Tam said last week, adding that Ottawa is trying to help provinces report data constituently.

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"We are sharing the methodologies on how that is done some of it is also disaggregating the (infections) acquired inside the hospital."

Thats the part that annoys Eyolfson about the debate over incidental versus primary COVID-19.

"If someone needs their hip fixed and comes into hospital and then catches COVID and dies, they (still) died of COVID; this is not incidental," he said, even though thats exactly how many provinces would record it.

"That terminology around incidental COVID is minimizing the actual scope of this, and its very wrong."

 With files from Katie May

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Police negotiated with a man armed with a crossbow for over five hours before the man was stunned with an electronic device and taken into custody.

Gerzon Sanchez, 59, Wisconsin Dells, has been charged with first degree recklessly endangering safety, a class F felony, false imprisonment, a class H felony and fail/comply with officer/person into custody, a class I felony. Two of the felony counts include repeater and use of a deadly weapon.

Sanchez remains in custody at Columbia County Jail on $50,000 cash bond set which was set by Columbia County Judge Troy Cross at Sanchezs initial appearance on Jan. 4. Cross set standard felony conditions and may not leave the state of Wisconsin without written approval and may not possess any weapon that fires a projectile.

According to the criminal complaint, Wisconsin Dells Police were dispatched Dec. 28 to an apartment building on Vine Street after two separate calls came from a residence where dispatch could hear yelling in the background.

Police knocked on the door and identified themselves. At that moment the shouting from inside stopped but they could still hear a woman, identified as Victim 1, crying from inside.

Officers then forced entry into the residence because they believed the woman was in danger. One officer could hear the victim crying from inside a bedroom and she was allegedly saying no please dont.

The complaint states Sanchez allegedly yelled at the officers to get out or he would shoot the victim. The victim was pleading with officers to leave and said Sanchez had a crossbow pointed at her head.

Sanchez allegedly told police he would kill the victim if they did not leave.

The officers left the residence and verbally communicated with Sanchez from outside. A negotiator from the Columbia County Sheriffs Office made contact with Sanchez with a telephone and negotiations lasted over five hours.

During negotiations Sanchez was told he was under arrest and needed to come outside. Sanchez allegedly responded he wanted officers to come inside and shoot him.

A member of the Sauk County Emergency Response Team was also on the scene and entered the residence wearing a heavy vest. Officers fired bean bag rounds into the bedroom.

When officers entered the room they saw Sanchez sitting on a bed with the crossbow. The complaint alleges Sanchez pointed the crossbow and one of the officers and fired at them. That was when an officer deployed a stun gun which caused Sanchez to fall backward on the bed. An officer spoke with Sanchez following the incident and he said Sanchez and the victim had an argument. He also said during the interview that he had grabbed his crossbow because he did not know who was coming into his apartment.

Sanchez is scheduled to be back in Columbia County Court in February.

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Portage has declared a state of emergency and will hold public meetings virtually until March 1 unless the city council rescinds that order at a future meeting.

In-person Portage Common Council meetings have been suspended due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the area. Similar orders were issues in March 2020 and March 2021.

Mayor Rick Dodd signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in the city. The document, which is posted on the city website, states Columbia County Public Health issued a warning that COVID-19 infection rates are critically high and that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services issues a sever health advisory to protect the public from the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Last week Columbia County reported 651 new cases of COVID-19. All 72 Wisconsin counties have critically high infection rates.

On Monday morning Portage City Clerk Marie Moe said city hall and other municipal buildings remain open for business so people can still register to vote and take care of other transactions.

We are still open to the public and people can take care of normal transactions during business hours, Moe said.

Department meetings and common council meetings will be held virtually. On Thursday night the council discussed declaring a state of emergency and going virtual.

The declaration was brought up by Alderperson Allan Radant, who suggested suspending in-person meetings.

Dodd asked Alderpersons what they thought about going back to holding meetings virtually.

Im more than happy to go virtual, Alderperson Jeff Monfort said.

A number of Alderpersons spoke in favor of switching to virtual meetings. Moe said the meetings will either be held on Zoom or possibly with telephone conference calls.

I support going virtual for a short period, Alderperson Dennis Nachreiner said.

Alderpersons Chris Crawley and Eric Shimpach spoke against switching to virtual meetings. They both said they wanted to keep meetings in person.

Are we going to put an end date on that, Crawley said about the declaration. Dodd said they could put an end date on it for March 1.

The council did not vote on the matter because it was not listed on the agenda, but Dodd has acted on emergency orders during the COVID-19 pandemic several other times. .

The declaration does state it will be in place until March 1, 2022. It allows the common council to extend it or rescind the state of emergency if needed.

Moe said that the declaration will be up for vote by the common council meeting Jan. 28.

The first meeting this will affect is the Plan Commission meeting on Monday night. That meeting will be held on Zoom.

However, on Wednesday night there is public informational meeting at Portage High School regarding a proposed egress road at Woodridge and John Muir Schools.

There are signs up at Portage City Hall strongly advising people to wear masks inside municipal building. Most alderpersons wore masks at last weeks meeting.

City Administrator Shawn Murphy said the city is required all city employees to wear masks due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Murphy said that city employees have had COVID-19 in the last two months. He added the requirement of masks has been well received by employees.

Library extending hours

Portage Public Library Director Debbie Bird told the common council the library is adding hours. In 2020 the Library closed, then slowly went to curbside delivery, then appointment only visits and eventually fully opened to the public with shorter hours.

We are adding hours and will be open more to the public now, Bird said.

The library will still open at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday. But will now be open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 6 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday.

This is our way of getting closer to normal, Bird said.

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Navient, once one of the countrys largest student loan servicing companies, reached a $1.85 billion deal with dozens of states, including Wisconsin, to settle claims that it steered students toward high-interest loans they were highly unlikely to repay.

The deal announced last week requires Navient to cancel the debt of some 66,000 private loan borrowers nationwide and pay $95 million in restitution to some federal loan borrowers, including more than 4,100 in Wisconsin.

Attorney General Josh Kaul was among a coalition of 39 attorneys general who claimed Navient since 2009 has engaged in widespread and unfair practices directing borrowers to a costly repayment option known as forbearance, which allows borrowers to pause or reduce their debt payments for a short time period while still accruing interest, instead of informing them about more affordable income-driven repayment plans or loan forgiveness programs. As a result, some borrowers fell deeper into debt as interest accrued on their principal balances.

A student loan servicer cannot be permitted to engage in deceptive and predatory practices that add to the burdens that families face because of student loan debt, Kaul said in a statement. This resolution provides meaningful relief to many people who were impacted by Navients actions.

Wisconsin will receive nearly $24 million for two different groups of borrowers: $1.1 million in restitution payments for more than 4,165 federal loan borrowers and $22.8 million for nearly 1,000 borrowers whose private loan debt will be canceled, according to Kauls office.

Many who will see their loans forgiven attended for-profit schools, which often have low graduation rates and shoddy job-placement records. Navient knew, Kaul and others argue, that many of those borrowers would be unable to pay off their loans.

The deal requires Navient to change its practices. Some examples include explaining to borrowers the benefits of income-based repayment plans, offering to estimate what payments under those plans would look like before putting borrowers into forbearance and telling public service workers about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and other programs.

Navient did not admit any fault in the settlement and said it did not act illegally.

The companys decision to resolve these matters, which were based on unfounded claims, allows us to avoid the additional burden, expense, time and distraction to prevail in court, said Mark Heleen, Navients chief legal officer.

The settlement still requires court approval.

If approved, Navient will notify borrowers receiving private loan cancellation by July.

Federal loan borrowers who qualify for a restitution payment  about $260 each  dont need to take any action beyond updating or creating their account at studentaid.gov to make sure their address is up to date. A postcard from the settlement administrator will be mailed in the spring.

More details are available at NavientAGsettlement.com.
If the Republicans who signed official-looking documents in late 2020 seeking to hand Wisconsins Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump wanted to challenge the results, there was a different process for doing so.

Instead, while the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden, the Republicans chose an unorthodox method, also meeting in the building to sign documents purporting that Trump had won the state.

The meeting occurred an hour after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Biden had won the election and a month after Wisconsin county clerks canvassed the presidential election results.

More than a year later, multiple agencies have yet to rule on complaints alleging the Republicans committed fraud.

The U.S. Constitution assigns the process for selecting electors to state law. Under Wisconsin statute, the slate of electors chosen by the candidate who wins the popular vote are seated and ultimately deliver those votes to Congress.

In the event of a genuine dispute regarding electors, or who actually won the popular vote, the Electoral Count Act allows for one member of the U.S. Senate and one with the U.S. House to call for additional debate, said David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University. U.S. Code also allows Congress to intervene if there is a serious dispute over electors.

Schultz said its likely Wisconsin statutes do not specifically contemplate a group of individuals falsely claiming to be electors, but he added the matter likely constitutes a fraudulent act.

Its probably some type of fraud, probably some type of criminal forgery, said Schultz, who also teaches election law at the University of Minnesota Schools of Law.

Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow in a statement Monday said the Republicans who signed the documents were advised to do so by attorneys and the actions were done in accordance with precedent.

That Democrats are now trying to fabricate a story from a simple procedure is nothing more than a desperate attempt to divert attention from their record as they face the electorate in 2022, Farrow said. Its a frivolous complaint that doesnt deserve the time of day.

Jeffrey Mandell, president of the liberal law firm Law Forward, which filed the complaints, said the precedent noted by Republicans  in which Hawaii electors from both parties convened in public regarding a genuine dispute over the 1960 presidential election  is a far cry from what happened in the state in late 2020.

"That is radically different from these 10 fraudulent electors skulking in the shadows and submitting false paperwork to create the ground on which the Jan. 6 insurrection was built," Mandell said.

Liberal watchdog group American Oversight last March obtained official-looking certificates submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in seven states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. New Mexico and Pennsylvania Republicans added a caveat saying it was done in case they were later recognized as duly elected, qualified electors.

It seems farfetched to think that each of these sets of alternative electors had genuine fact-based grievances, even though the grievances were different in every state, said Barry Burden, a political science professor and director of the Elections Research Center at UW-Madison. It looks more like a national orchestration to try to challenge the elections results.

I think theres a direct line between the suspicions that have been raised about the election results and the violent insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol on (Jan. 6, 2021), Burden added.

Whose jurisdiction?

The Associated Press reported Friday that Michigans attorney general has asked federal prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into 16 Republicans who submitted false certificates stating they were the states presidential electors despite Joe Bidens victory in 2020.

Under state law, I think clearly you have forgery of a public record, which is a 14-year offense, and election law forgery, which is a five-year offense, Dana Nessel, Michigans Democratic attorney general, told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. But the Justice Department, she said, is best suited to probe and potentially prosecute.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said in an email Friday he also believes the federal government is best suited to investigate the 10 Republican electors who submitted similar paperwork seeking to certify Trump in late 2020.

I believe its critical that the federal government fully investigates and prosecutes any unlawful actions in furtherance of any seditious conspiracy, Kaul said.

Politico reported earlier this month the U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, also is investigating documents submitted by Republican electors in several states.

In addition, the Democratic-led House Administration Committee last week issued a staff report exploring updates to the Electoral Count Act, which took effect in 1887. In a sign that reforms could receive bipartisan support, Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, have expressed interest in strengthening the act, NPR reported Sunday.

Everyone agrees that the Electoral Count Act is unclear, not internally consistent, there are a whole range of interpretations about what it even says and its never been tested in 150 years, Burden said. So its waiting there sort of like a time bomb to create potentially a constitutional crisis.

In Wisconsin

Former chair of the state Republican Party Andrew Hitt signed the paperwork in Wisconsin. At the time, Hitt, an attorney with Michael Best and Friedrich, said the decision was based on then-ongoing legal battles being pursued by Trumps campaign seeking to overturn the elections results in several states including Wisconsin.

The Trump campaign thought that it was very important, Robert Spindell, a Republican who sits on the bipartisan elections commission who also signed the documents, said Sunday. I dont know how many (documents) we signed, we probably signed a lot of them, and it was basically  it was trying to do what I guess the attorneys thought was best in order to protect the interest of Trump should some of these lawsuits go in his favor.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Spindell said he could not comment on the nearly one-year-old complaint filed with the commission, which has not announced any action on the matter.

I still have to think they were trying to do something to create a dispute over which delegation from Wisconsin was legitimate, said Schultz, the Hamline professor.

Hitt did not respond to a request for comment.

Others to sign the document include 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Convention.

The Service Employees International Union Wisconsin Council, represented by Law Forward, last February filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission accusing the Republicans who signed the filing of committing fraud.

Another complaint against Hitt has been filed with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers.

Law Forward has also filed a complaint against the GOP fraudulent electors with Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm seeking an investigation into the matter to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

In short, upon information and belief, the fraudulent electors took every possible action to pantomime the procedures prescribed in (U.S. Code) and thereby to create the illusion that they were acting under color of law as Wisconsins true presidential electors, even as they cast votes contrary to the will of the voters and the designated votes required by law to reflect the election results, Mandell wrote in the Feb. 15 letter to Chisholm.

Law Forward alleges the GOP electors committed multiple felonies for forgery, falsely assuming to act as a public officer and misconduct in a public office. Mandell suggested the false electors could be charged with both federal and state crimes.

Mandell told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week Chisholm is still reviewing the complaint.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Zach Bates achieves his goal

Courtesy John Hendrix Inspiring others who are autistic, on Jan. 16 Zach Bates achieved his goal of running a 100 mile race before his March 2 birthday. Tired, and holding on to his proud parents Rana and Brian Bates, Zach ran the Coldwater Rumble in Goodyear in 28 hours. Courtesy John Hendrix Totally focused on his end goal, Zach Bates, 19, began the 100 mile Coldwater Rumble at 7 a.m. on Jan. 15 and completed it at 11:11 a.m. on Jan. 16. Barbara Bruce / Courtesy John Hendrix Running the 100 mile Coldwater Rumble, Zach Bates was not only supported by friends and family and others who knew his story, but his Mentor John Hendrix, paced Zach through miles 60  80, watching him persevere with pain  but never once complaining. Barbara Bruce / Barbara Bruce/The Independent On Thursday, Jan. 14, prior to Zachs departure for his 100 mile race, Culvers owners Steve and Cathy Chlupsa presented Zach, a Culvers employee, running gear and a check for $500. (From L) The Chlupsas, Zach and his parents Rana and Brian Bates.

Following his graduation from Show Low High School last year, Zachary Zach Bates announced to his family that he was going to run a 100-mile race before his March 2, 2022 birthday. On Jan. 16, he crossed the 100-mile finish line at 11:11 a.m.

Not only did Zach finish the Coldwater Rumble, but he was the 37th to finish the race and did it in a reported time of 28:06:36.619.

Aravaipa Running, which hosted the Coldwater Rumble, posted on their Facebook page that Zach is the youngest to finish the 2022 race.

The Coldwater Rumble is a 100-mile footrace through the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountain Range in Goodyear.

The race began at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15 and Zachs mentor, John Hendrix, a marathon runner himself from Pinetop-Lakeside, was also there.

Hendrix, who sent along photos of the race to the Independent on Jan. 16, wrote, This weekend was history in the making. I paced Zach through miles 60  80 and although he was hurting and often the struggle was almost overwhelming, he never once complained or spoke of maybe quitting. He persevered through the day and through the night, one foot in front of the other, and at 11:11 this morning crossed the finish line of the Coldwater Rumble 100-mile to more celebration and fanfare than the winner of the race received. Zach was truly a hero this weekend, surrounded by a news crew, documentary crew, friends and family.

Hendrix also said that Zach had a smile on his face as he crossed the finish line which soon turned to tears as he was overwhelmed with emotion as the crowd surrounded him and offered a deafening roar of congratulations.

It was truly a milestone for Zach and the Bates family and many others  especially Zachs mother, Rana Bates, who had pointed out to her son when he made his big announcement about running a 100 mile race that the biggest race he had ever run was a 5K. She told him he might not be conditioned to do such a race by then. She said he got kind of mad and replied, You cant keep me from doing this.

Rana did not try to stop Zach. In fact, knowing her son, who is autistic, and being his only friend, she began helping him to train to get in condition.

Zach, who first exhibited hyper-focusing when he was very young, had already proved to his family that he was focused on running. He loved to run and in the fifth grade he could quote statistics of world runners as well as those of his favorites runners on his school team.

Rana started out with baby steps registering him in one race after another. She began with the High Mountain Half Marathon in Pinetop. When he exhibited his potential in that race, she entered him in others, each one building on the other, proving to her that he had consistency and it was highly likely that he could attain his goal.

In order to be able to document Zachs progress, Rana opened a TikTok account and began posting videos. That action not only gained Zach many followers and provided them with some good advice, but it attracted Aravaipa which began following Zach. They reached out to him for an interview which was featured on Instagram last November  attracting more followers.

As part of their pathway to Zachs goal, Rana found and signed up Zach for the Coldwater Rumble which would take place before his March 2 birthday. As they continued to train and build stamina with the different races he entered, Rana reached the point where she felt Zach needed more than she could offer.

She reached out and was referred to Niodemus Hollon, a 31-year-old world-class runner who ran the Badwater 135 in Death Valley at 19, and was the youngest to compete in the famous 100-mile Barkley Marathon in Wartburg, Tennessee. He completed it at age 22 at 57:41, one of only 15 who, in 35 years, have completed it.

Hollon agreed to take on Zach and with his coaching Zachs performance reached a new level. Rana also gleaned many things through Hollon including the understanding of the nutritional requirements Zach needed in order to be able to keep up his strength for such a run.

Seeing her sons ability and focus, Ranas hope was to use Zachs focus and love of running to inspire others with autism to believe if Zach could achieve his dream, they could too.

Since Zach began, his story has spread and he has amassed a number of followers along the way.

AzFamily 3TV/CBS 5 Sportscaster/Anchor Nick King had learned of Zachs story and came to the Bates home in December to interview and film Zach and his family. Footage from the race will be added and Zachs story will be shared in a video clip.

Following the Independents first article on Zach in the Nov. 26 edition, Producer and Director Travis Holt Hamilton of Travis Holt Hamilton Films out of Flagstaff, read the article and said he was inspired to do a documentary on Zach.

Zach is employed at Culvers in Show Low and Hamilton arranged with Culvers to come and begin filming the documentary mid-December.

Culvers currently employs five autistic students. They trained them and work with their school schedules to accommodate their school activities. Totally supportive of Zachs running goal, they held an unsolicited fundraiser to help raise funds for the documentary on Zach.

Prior to Zach and his family heading down to Goodyear for the race, Culvers owners, Steve and Cathy Chlupsa, presented Zach special running gear and $500 from the fundraiser they did. They also committed up to $5,000 over the next year, as long as Zach is employed with them, to support his running career.

Though a number of people showed up for the Coldwater Rumble in person, Zach had many followers who watched the event which was live at https://live.aravaiparunning.com.

Posting photos of she and Zach on her Facebook page late Sunday, Rana wrote, He spent the last 40 miles in pretty bad pain. Something happened in his right hip and he could hardly walk. He pushed through and got it done anyway. He is amazing. Everybody that was there including my family, friends, and all the strangers that we didnt know came to the finish line and made a tunnel of love for him to run through. Everybody was cheering him on. There was so much love and support there. It was very overwhelming. We were all in tears.

A tired Zach also received the coveted Coldwater Rumble Belt Buckle which only finishers of the 100-mile race receive.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in the briefing room of the State Department on Jan. 7, 2022.
North Wales Police recruits wellbeing dog to help officers deal with traumatic incidents

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jan 18th, 2022

A new four-legged recruit has joined North Wales Police to support officers through traumatic experiences.

Nansi, an 11-week-old cockapoo puppy, will be putting her best paw forward as part of a pilot scheme being run in the western area of the region.

The force said she had joined the team via the national Oskar Kilo 9 Wellbeing Programme, which aims to make dogs available to all police forces.

Wellbeing dogs have already been introduced by several police and fire services in the UK to help staff who have been involved with stressful incidents.

Sergeant Non Edwards, who is leading on the scheme for North Wales Police, said: Police officers and staff do a demanding and sometimes dangerous job, and in many roles are frequently exposed to trauma.

There is plenty of evidence proving the physical benefits of having a dog, however emerging research clearly shows the many ways in which dogs can provide support with mental health by creating a sense of calm, improving daily emotional and psychological stresses and helping people to deal with the impact of a traumatic event.

A lot of work and training has been done with the Oskar Kilo 9 Wellbeing National Team to ensure we have the correct provisions in place to introduce a welfare dog in the workplace.

We are extremely fortunate to have wonderful sponsors who have given their time, service and funding who will assist us with training and supporting Nansi throughout her career.

Wed like to extend our thanks to Pets at Home in Bangor, Idris Morris in Llanddeiniolen, Caernarfon, trainer  Mr Geraint Strello and Cibyn Vets in Caernarfon. There will be no cost to the taxpayer.

Nansi has already received a very warm welcome at some of our police stations and Im very much looking forward to seeing her develop and having her as part of our neighbourhood policing team in Caernarfon and Bangor where she will regularly come out on patrols with us and form part of our community engagement events.

The scheme has the support of Chief Constable Carl Foulkes.

He said: We all know that policing has both a physical but also psychological impact when we are seeing and dealing with harm and trauma on a regular basis.

Over recent years police forces around the country have recognised the value of dogs in helping officers and staff with their wellbeing.

It is hoped by introducing Nansi to the team will result in better support for officers and staff resulting in less sickness through to early intervention and support being given.

Mark Jones, general secretary and treasurer of the North Wales Police Federation, said: It is incredibly important that people feel they can talk about their mental health, particularly in a job that presents people with challenging and traumatic situations such as policing.

Nansi will be able to offer some light relief from the often difficult job officers do, and anything that makes people feel positive and gets them talking should be encouraged.

A review will be held at the end of the 12-month pilot, but the force said Nansi will be a permanent part if the team.
Police release CCTV of two males being sought in connection with shoplifting offences in Wrexham

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jan 18th, 2022

Police have released CCTV footage of two males who they say are being sought in connection with shoplifting offences.

The images of the individuals were captured at the Boots store at Eagles Meadow on December 16 2021.

Anyone who has any information on the men or who can help identify them is being urged to contact North Wales Police on 101 quoting incident ref. 21000869032.

Throughout the week NWP Wrexham Town will be sharing CCTV stills of individuals wanted in connection with offences within Wrexham.

Details relating to each incident and relevant reporting information will be supplied with each of these appeals.

Inspector Luke Hughes said: Previously when we have asked for assistance in identifying suspects we have seen a few comments about helping the police and the word Grass being used.

Its not being a Grass, its preventing offenders taking advantage of local businesses, and even a church in one instance.

Be proud of what we have in Wrexham and stop criminals like these ruining it for us all. Help us and work with us. 
Scrutiny to assess if lessons learnt from Storm Christoph have been actioned by council

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jan 18th, 2022

How Wrexham Council will respond to future adverse weather events and communicate with local councillors is set to scrutinised this week.

The local authority was asked to improve its work after it was agreed that communication problems were partly to blame for a slow recognition to the seriousness of Storm Christoph in January 2021.

A day of torrential rain on January 20 across Wrexham caused flash flooding and widespread disruption throughout the county borough.

Several areas were badly impacted the torrential rain, with homes evacuated in New Broughton, Bangor-on-Dee and Almere Farm, near Holt. Parts of Rossett and the Ceiriog Valley were also hit by flooding  with the heavy rainfall also causing a landslide in Newbridge.

A meeting in July 2021 revealed what was happening on the ground as councillors in the most affected areas highlighted a lack of communication with the local authority and how the late arrival of sandbags was like sending a lifeboat to the Titanic after its already sunk.

Cllr Nigel Williams, Gwenfro ward, called on Wrexham Council to identify mistakes made and to learn from them and try to improve for any future flooding incidents.

Committee members agreed to a series of actions for the council to take on board and to ensure were in place, including:

ii) Review and improve communications with the Delta out of hours service

iii) Ask Welsh Government (WG) to fund the required works to the B5605 (Newbridge) from flooding relief support monies

iv) NRW and related parties to review existing community flood plans

v) Provide information on planned maintenance of highway gullies

vi) Clean and clear watercourse wherever possible

vii) Improve means of communication with flood wardens in the event of an emergency

viii) Hold a workshop on the role of local Members during an emergency

ix) That a progress report be considered by the Committee in January 2022

x) Explore the use of social media as an information resource in the event of emergencies

Tomorrow (Wednesday 19 January) members of the homes and and environment scrutiny committee will be asked to consider and comment on the councils approach to responding to and recovering from such flooding incidents and on the actions being taken to mitigate or prevent such severe flooding in the future.

The report due before councillors (which can be viewed here) provides an update on the work that has taken place over the last six months to address the actions to improve the local authoritys response to adverse weather events.

One area that came under fire over the summer was the lack of communication, particularly over the Delta service provider who run call response systems for the council.

During Julys meeting it was accepted that improvements needed to be made going forward, with Lawrence Isted, chief officer planning and regulatory, stating: I think its perfectly adequate for what its designed for, which is social care. But for this event, we might need to invent something of our own or do something different.

In a bid to improve communication going forward, the report states: The Chief Officer Social Care, whose department holds the contract with Delta, and the Chief Officer Environment & Technical have reviewed the specification of the current out of hours service provided by Delta.

Officers have met with representatives of Delta to ensure existing service specification and performance indicators are managed robustly.

A revised specification has also been developed and officers have commenced discussions with Delta to transition the service in accordance with this revised specification.

In addition to the above, as part of our internal emergency response planning we have introduced a Bad Weather Response team. In the

event of a bad weather forecast or a period of prolonged adverse weather, an internal response team is stood up.

This team consists primarily of volunteers from Environment & Technical Services with the local knowledge, expertise and experience to provide intelligent control.

This provides dedicated telephone handlers allowing our operational supervisors to manage deployment of workforce and resources. In

addition, this will provide for regular information updates and communications on priority work areas, as well as updated and real-time weather warnings. The Bad Weather Response team was called in advance of the recent Storm Barra (7 December 2021).

Officers staffed a local operations room in Abbey Road Depot between the hours of 09:00 and 19:00 providing dedicated telephone support to manage and respond to issues and reports of damage.

The exercise proved extremely useful and provided support to our officers on the ground with the intelligence they needed.

It was also proposed the councils social media was used as a way to keep people informed in the event of emergencies.

The press and communications team are described as making very extensive use of social media in its daily work and during emergencies.

Local councillors who had been the main source of contact with their constituents during the storm had also called on lead members and senior officers to hold a workshop with them on their role during emergency responses.

After listening to comments from local members over the summer, Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment and transport, said: I think we do need to prepare, we do need to learn the lessons with potentially how we communicate with elected members and how we communicate with members of the public in emergencies of this scale.

As a result the report notes that planning procedures are underway supported by the regional Emergency planning team (NWCREPS) and that an exercise to provide reassurance and engagement with elected members will be arranged in the next month or so, when the above

arrangements have been reviewed and updated (so as to give members information on the most up to date procedures).

Concerns over communication issues with local flood wardens have also been addressed, with the report explaining that contact information and local details shared and recorded and summary action cards devised to ensure all responders have ready access to critical emergency information.

The clearing of gullies and drainage also faced criticism from councillors last year, with chief environment officer Darren Williams accepting that whilst there had been a lapse in maintenance in recent years, this is something that has been improved over the last 18 months.

He also explained that during periods of torrential rain and bad weather, all the debris that it brings with it almost nullifies the gullies.

Details of the planned maintenance of highway gullies and ordinary watercourses in Wednesdays report, which explains that officers in environment and technical are entering the second full year of the new planned drainage cyclic programme of works.

The report states: The council currently has 35,614 gullies installed on the public highway network and manages a significant number of smaller ordinary watercourses.

The planned cyclic programme targets each gulley to be visited, and importantly, treated within a 12 month period.

In addition as part of our planned programme of improvements to drainage infrastructure, over 40 individual schemes were identified following the major flooding event earlier this year.

The majority of these have been actioned and completed with remainder programmed for completion during the remainder of the year.

Over the past two years a significant amount of resource has been put into populating and plotting road gullies from paper completion sheets that teams bring back to the office, with recent years weather conditions worsening the need to have more accurate data on the state of our assets is crucial.

Officers are in the process of digitising our cyclic work on gulley cleansing and this will enable us to further increase productivity in areas of need and at the right times of the year.

Our package combines mobile technology with Ordinance Survey Data to create a software product that will enable our teams to automate assets and risk as well as location. This be used to reduce risk of flooding to properties while being flexible to develop remedial works programmes.

This is a mobile application that will allow users to add or download highway asset data whilst completing works onsite, in effect this will be similar to a remote desktop which will reduce on paper moving forward.

The report will be debated by members of the homes and environment scrutiny committee at 2:30pm tomorrow, Wednesday 19 January.

As is now usual, members of the Committee will formulate their conclusions and recommendations based on the information in the report and the discussions at the meeting.

The meeting will also be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.
Those found carrying knives will be dealt with in the strictest terms, say North Wales Police

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jan 18th, 2022

Knives have no place in our communities and those found to be carrying them will be dealt with in the strictest terms.

That is the message from North Wales Police, who have issued a warning to those who put themselves and other people at risk by carrying a knife.

The above weapons were seized by an officer on patrol in the town centre last year, following a search of two males.

In court, both males pleaded guilty to being in possession of bladed weapons.

Last summer a ban on a wide range of weapons including cyclone knives, spiral knives and rapid-fire rifles, is now in force.

It means that all weapons banned in public by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, including zombie knives, shuriken or death stars and knuckledusters, will now also be banned in private, meaning people can no longer keep them at home.

The introduction of the new measures aim to provide police with further means to help deter young people from becoming involved in knife possession and knife crime.

Inspector Luke Hughes said: Offences such as this are rare in Wrexham, thankfully. But knife crime can affect anyone and the consequences can be catastrophic.

Occasionally the excuse of protection will be used  but in fact you are much more likely to become a victim of knife crime yourself. Situations involving weapons can quickly get out of control.

If you are found with a knife  you will be arrested and are very likely to be charged with a crime for a first-time offence.

We must challenge the assumption that its normal to carry a knife. It isnt. You are putting yourself, other people and your future at risk.
Volunteers sought in Wrexham for new COVID-19 vaccine booster study

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jan 18th, 2022

Volunteers are being sought to take part in a new COVID-19 vaccine booster study in Wrexham.

Researchers are looking at whether a part dosage of an approved third dose (booster) is effective and safe in young adults.

The study (COV-Boost) is being run by Public Health Wales at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and is sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Young adults have a stronger immune response to vaccines than older adults, and results from COVID-19 vaccine studies have suggested lower doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may give as good an immune response in young adults as higher doses.

Lower doses may also be linked with fewer side effects or lower rates of already rare adverse events.

Volunteers will be randomised in the study to receive either full or part doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and they will then be asked to keep a diary of symptoms over the next seven days.

There will also be several follow up appointments to monitor immune response and to check on volunteers health.

To be eligible to take part, volunteers need to:

Be 18-30 years old

Have received 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna and are at least 3 months (84 days) since their second dose

Have not yet received a booster

The study team will provide participants with reimbursement of up to 225 for time, inconvenience and travel.

Dr Orod Osanlou, Consultant Physician and Principal Investigator for Public Health Wales and the COV-Boost study said: We know young adults have a stronger immune response to vaccines than older adults, and results from previous COVID-19 vaccine research suggests lower doses may give just as effective as higher doses.

This could also mean fewer side effects for young adults and it could allow existing stocks of vaccines to be given to more people.

Dr Chris Johnson, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme (VPDP) at Public Health Wales, said: Taking part in the study could make a real difference during this public health emergency. All the information we gather through research helps inform the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Wales.

Further data will help us to understand how best to protect people now and in the future.

Dr Nicola Williams, Director of Support and Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, said: Its important we continue to find out as much as possible about the effective use of COVID-19 vaccines through research studies like COV-Boost.

Were incredibly grateful to the volunteers who have already contributed to our vaccine research and hope others will now step forward to help.

Anyone interested in finding out more and signing up can visit the study website.
Argentina is experiencing its largest outbreak of COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began, driven by the spread of the new Omicron variant. On Friday, January 14, the country set a record of 139,853 infections in a single day. This number is more than three times higher than the previous waves record of 41,080 cases, registered in May 2020.

Until December, the average number of daily cases in Argentina was less than 2,000. In the period between January 6 and 12, the country recorded a total of 749,022 new infections, more than double the previous week with 359,456 infections. A week ago, the test positivity rate was 66 percent, indicating a high level of underreporting.

In the province of Buenos Aires, which has accounted for 40 percent of the countrys total daily cases, hospitals are admitting an unprecedented number of new patients. The health care system is on the verge of collapse, with 20 to 25 percent of hospital staff sent home during the past week with coronavirus infections.

In response to the ominous situation, the Peronist government of President Alberto Fernandez is relaxing measures to control the pandemic. Health minister Carla Vizzotti and the media are promoting the narrative that the new variant is mild, following the campaign of the ruling classes around the world to justify keeping the economy open during the global COVID-19 outbreak.

Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez (Wikimedia Commons)

This nefarious campaign is being promoted in unity with the Argentine right wing that Fernandez feigns to oppose. Last Thursday, the former health minister in Mauricio Macris reactionary administration, Adolfo Rubinstein, was invited by La Nacion to advocate for the same idea of a mild Omicron. On the same day, 128,402 new cases were registered in Argentina, part of the unprecedented escalation of infections in the country.

Expressing the indifference of the ruling class to the infection and death of millions of people, Rubinstein pointed out that three out of every four [COVID-19] hospitalizations are of non-vaccinated people, or people with incomplete vaccination schemes. He concluded, Eventually, all people will be vaccinated, or they will be infected. This statement summarizes the policies being adopted by the Peronist government.

At the end of last year, when the country was already facing a vertical growth of the infection curve, Fernandez declared to the press that he would not make any change in coronavirus restrictions. He stated: We have extended the health emergency, but we will not implement new measures. Following the measures implemented by the American CDC, Argentina immediately announced the revision of the quarantine time for people infected with COVID-19, which was reduced from ten to seven days.

On January 10, Vizzotti stated in an interview that the increase in the number of infections is not being accompanied by an increase in hospitalizations, given the widespread vaccination of the population. This irresponsible statement, with the objective of disorienting and breaking the populations awareness, clashes with reality. The explosion of ICU admissions taking place in Europe and the United States today is a picture of what the coming weeks will be like in Argentina and Latin America as a whole.

Vizzotti also declared that she would meet with experts during the week to decide on the withdrawal of the quarantine requirement for people who have come into direct contact with infected people, and that one of the criteria for the decision will be its economic impact. The minister explained the central importance of maintaining economic activities for the Fernandez administration, referring to the industrial region of Cordoba where employers are advocating that they only perform tests at the factory doors, excluding any kind of quarantine.

Serving the murderous capitalist interests, the Peronist government announced the end of quarantine for vaccinated people who entered in direct contact with infected individuals, limiting testing to the ones with incomplete vaccination scheme (a single dose). Currently, 74.1 percent of the population is vaccinated with two doses, or nearly 90 percent of adults, and only 17.3 percent have received a booster shoot. With Omicron highly transmittable among vaccinated people, this means that millions of workers will be forced to frequent workplaces where people have tested positive, ensuring that warehouses, factories, shopping malls, schools, and other places become centers for the spread of the super infectious variant.

The new measure adopted by Fernandezs government is not based on any scientific analysis of Omicron. Many experts have already warned about the promotion of the fraudulent idea of a mild Omicron, and even with the low number of tests, the government itself is forced to admit the mass infection in the face of record cases. The massive number of infections taking place will be enough to cause an unprecedented increase in hospitalizations in the coming weeks and push the health care system over the edge.

The policy of herd immunity being adopted in practice by the Argentine government aims to ensure that workers continue to provide profits for large corporations, regardless of the massive deaths that it will cause. Similar policies are being implemented by governments throughout Latin America, which is experiencing the worst outbreak of infections since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to AFP, between January 7 and 13 the region had a record average of 300,000 daily cases, more than double the number reported during the previous wave.

Line for COVID testing in Buenos Aires (Credit: Gustavo Amarelle-Telam).

Peru, the country with the highest per capita death rate in the world, set a record of daily cases on Saturday, with 49,745 new infectionsalmost four times higher than the previous record of April 2021. The government of Pedro Castillo, proclaimed, alongside Fernandez in Argentina as representative of a new wave of the Pink Tide in Latin America, responded to the situation with indifference. Health Minister Hernando Cevallos pointed out that the increase in deaths, from 30 to 60 compared to the previous day, showed that lethality has not been substantially modified with the Omicron variant, and announced that he would decrease the isolation time for asymptomatic people.

Bolivia is also experiencing an overwhelming explosion of COVID-19 infections. The country began December with an average of about 1,000 cases a day and has already surpassed the average of 11,000, with 14,461 cases reported last Saturday. Jeyson Auza, the health minister of the administration of Luis Arce of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), limited himself to pointing out that people being hospitalized or dying are those who did not get vaccinated.

Whether in the governments openly promoting the herd immunity strategy, like that of fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, or in countries ruled by the bourgeois parties fraudulently posing as left, the policies in response to the pandemic put the interests of the capitalist oligarchy above saving the lives of the working class.

In opposition to the policies of capitalist governments, it is necessary to implement all available public health measures to eliminate the coronavirus across the globe, including temporary lockdowns, testing and contact tracing, vaccination, distribution of high-quality masks, and travel control. Implementing this policy requires the development in Argentina and throughout Latin America of a truly socialist leadership in the working class, sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI).
Former President Donald Trump held his first rally of the 2022 election year in Arizona Saturday night, devoting the bulk of his interminable 90-minute speech to bemoaning the result of the 2020 presidential election and complaining that it had been stolen from him, despite the fact the Republicans were in control of the election machinery in nearly all the closely contested battleground states.

Both the content of his remarks, their vitriolic and ignorant character, and the lack of any logic or coherence are familiar to the point of staleness, or nausea. Some two-dozen more such events are planned throughout the 2022 election campaign, with the next in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston on January 29.

Donald Trump at a rally on Saturday, January 15, 2022, in Florence, Arizona. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Trump boasted about the size of the crowd, claiming that the number of people coming to see him at the rally in rural Arizona on January 16, 2022, proved that he could not have lost a national election on November 3, 2020. He presented himself as the victim of alleged crimes committed by Democrats and Republicans who would not acknowledge his great achievements.

He denounced the fake news media and its description of his claims of a stolen election as the big lie, concluding, with typical crudeness, The big lie is a lot of bullshit. Thats what it is.

If an election were held today, we would trounce them so badly in a landslide in every way, just as we really did on November 3, Trump said. We trounced them. If we had an honest press, the election would have been much different.

Trump actually lost the election by a near-landslide, more than seven million votes, and Biden won as many votes in the Electoral College in 2020 as Trump won in 2016. Five states, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, swung from the Republicans to the Democrats.

There were a handful of new pieces of political poison in the overall dosage. Trump claimed that the Democrats were distributing vaccines and antiviral medicines for treating COVID-19 on a racially discriminatory basis, favoring minorities over whites.

The left is now rationing lifesaving therapeutics based on race, discriminating against and denigrating, just denigrating, white people to determine who lives and who dies, he said. If youre white, you dont get the vaccine, or if youre white, you dont get therapeutics.

This is an open appeal to the racist views of fascists and white supremacists. It seizes on an aspect of a policy, limited to New York state, which includes race as one of a number of risk factors in prioritizing distribution of therapies for particularly endangered COVID patients. Neither Democrats nor Republicans support the mobilization of the social resources necessary to abolish any form of medical rationing.

Significantly, Trump made no significant mention of vaccines, which were actually developed under his administration, after it provided huge financial incentives for the pharmaceutical companies to accelerate their research and production. The last time Trump addressed an audience and touted the efficacy of vaccineshe has had three shots himselfsome of the rabid anti-vaxxers and COVID deniers in the crowd began booing. He evidently wanted to avoid a repetition of that incident.

He denounced White House coronavirus adviser Anthony Fauci as a king, prompting the crowd to begin the lock him up chant that is usual at Trump rallies. He denounced mask mandates, claiming that the Democrats were just running roughshod all over this country.

As he began to do at the end of last year, Trump more openly embraced those arrested for crimes committed in the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress, portraying them as political prisoners. Partisan Democrats have celebrated their indefinite detention without trial, he claimed.

He forecast a sweeping Republican victory in the 2022 congressional and gubernatorial elections, endorsing a number of the Republican politicians who had preceded him to the rally stage.

These included State Senator Wendy Rogers, a close associate of white supremacist Nick Fuentes, who has proposed more than 50 bills to change Arizonas election laws to ensure Republican predominance. She called for the state government to rescind its certification of Bidens 2020 victory. Biden carried the state by 10,500 ballots, winning its 11 electoral votes.

Three US representatives from Arizona addressed the rally, Debbie Lesko, Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar. Biggs and Gosar have been identified as active participants in the preparation of the January 6 attack. Another speaker was Kari Lake, a former local news anchor who is among a half-dozen candidates seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination. At the rally, Trump delivered his personal endorsement of her campaign.

Of the six states that have been the focus of the bogus stop the steal campaign, which was the pretext for the fascist attack on the US Capitol, Republicans controlled the entire state government in two, Arizona and Georgia, the office of chief election administrator and secretary of state, in Nevada, and the state legislatures and most county-level vote counting in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Trump did not produce a shred of evidence of either voter fraud or manipulation of the vote counting by election officials, or convince mainly Republican-appointed judges in some 60 lawsuits that anything untoward had occurred. He has been reduced to denouncing the Republican election officials, no matter how right wing, as RINOs (Republicans in name only).

It was evident from the Arizona rally that Trump aims to make the stolen election of 2020 the central focus of his intervention in the 2022 congressional and gubernatorial elections, as well as of his preparations for entering the 2024 presidential election. If the Republicans win control of Congress in November, which in bourgeois political circles is considered likely, Trump is laying the basis to push for the impeachment of Biden on the grounds that his election victory was fraudulent.

Even more provocative is his open embrace of those who attacked Capitol Hill on January 6 in a last-ditch effort to prevent congressional certification of Trumps election defeat by blocking the official tabulation of Electoral College votes. This occasiona purely ceremonial one for more than 200 yearsbecame the focal point of a fascist coup attempt.

This political reality was underscored by the indictment last week of 11 members of the fascist Oath Keepers militia group, including its leader Stewart Rhodes, on charges of seditious conspiracy. The Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors charged that the 11 men conspired among themselves and with others to overthrow the American government by blocking the peaceful transfer of power from Trump to Biden.

The indictment and arrest of Rhodes were particularly significant because he was the first person charged in connection with the events of January 6 who never entered the Capitol and therefore took no immediate part in the violence there. His was a purely directing role, communicating through encrypted messaging with Oath Keepers who acted as assault teams overrunning police lines and breaching the Capitols defenses.

Rhodes is the logical next step up the ladder from the more than 700 on-site participants to those behind the scenes who gave the orders and provided the resources. It remains to be seen how far up the chain of command the DOJ is willing to go, given that the Democratic Party and the Biden administration are committed to protecting the Republican Party as an institution from the consequences of any full investigation into January 6.

Meanwhile efforts by Republican state and local officials to mount pro-Trump investigations in the battleground states continue, mainly in the courts. A Wisconsin judge kept alive, at least temporarily, an effort to compel the top state election official, Meagan Wolfe, to give closed-door testimony to Michael Gableman, a Republican-appointed investigator.

Gableman is a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice named by the Republican-controlled state legislature as a special counsel to review the 2020 election, even though several previous audits and reports have confirmed Bidens victory by a margin of 20,000 votes, giving him the states 10 votes in the Electoral College.

Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, has said she is willing to testify about the election, but only in public, not in secret. Her office is challenging the validity of the subpoena issued by Gableman.

Similar subpoenas have gone out to election officials in the states five largest citiesa clear indication of the political nature of the investigation, since Biden rolled up large majorities in these heavily Democratic areas. Gableman has demanded that the mayors of Madison and Green Bay be jailed if they refuse to submit to his authority.

In Pennsylvania, inspection of voting machines in heavily Republican Fulton County was temporarily blocked Friday by an appeal to the state Supreme Court by attorneys for Democratic Governor Tom Wolf. The inspection is based on the bizarre claims of one-time Trump lawyer Sidney Powell that machine software was manipulated by Venezuela and/or China to switch votes from Trump to Biden.

The Wolf administration was not opposed to the inspection, but sought disclosure of the identity of the inspectors and to have a state-designated voting machine expert present to record and document the results.

In Michigan, the states attorney general, Democrat Dana Nessel, said she has asked federal prosecutors to investigate a group of Republicans, including state co-chair Meshawn Maddock and national committeewoman Kathy Berden, who submitted a certificate falsely claiming they were the states presidential electors. Biden won the state by a margin of 150,000 votes, but the fake document sought to award Michigans 16 votes in the Electoral College to Trump.
Anger is building in Canton, Ohio more than two weeks after police officer Robert Huber of the Canton Police Department shot and killed 46-year-old James Williams in his fenced-in backyard as Williams was ringing in the New Year with celebratory gunfire with his family.

Canton Police Department body camera video still from Saturday, January 1, 2022, in Canton, Ohio. James Williams, 46, of Canton, was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. (Canton Police Department)

Williams was shot multiple times by Huber roughly six minutes into the New Year. In police body camera footage released last week, it is obvious that James posed no threat to the officer, and that Huber did nothing to make his presence known prior to shooting and killing James.

While police and local media have refused to name the killer cop, this reporter was able to cross-reference publicly available police reports and body camera footage released by the police to confirm the killer cops identity using his vehicle tag, K9-60.

Left: Screen capture of police bodycam footage shows vehicle tag K9-60; Right: Canton Police incident report showing Robert Huber in Unit K960

In discovering the officers identity, it has also come to light that this latest tragic and criminal incident is not the first time Huber has been accused of excessive force. Huber was one of seven officers named in a 2018 lawsuit filed by Stephen Richburg II. While the lawsuit was dismissed, in it, Richburg claimed that despite following officers orders he was met by a barrage of overreacting officers, among them Huber, sending him to the hospital.

Such brutality is common across police departments in the US and internationally. In addition to fostering racist and other backwards attitudes, police are trained to view the working class as the enemy and are given enormous leeway by the judicial system to enforce bourgeois class rule in the most violent ways with virtually no fear of repercussions.

While the police have refused to name the killer cop, Ohio state attorney general David Yost has sought to blame the latest victim of wanton police murder as stupid for doing something, according to Williams family lawyer, Joseph M. Gourrier, that was a perfectly legal activity in his own backyard.

As part of the ongoing attempted cover-up, a so-called independent investigation into James killing has been launched by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Exemplifying the futility of workers appealing to the state for redress or reform, the BCI reports to attorney general Yost, the same person that slandered Williams as stupid less than five days after he was murdered.

Williams, a devoted husband to Marquetta Williams for the last 14 years, was set to turn 47 on January 13. Instead, the stay-at-home father to four daughters and two stepdaughters was laid to rest that day in Detroit, Michigan. In a recent conversation with the World Socialist Web Site, Marquetta described James as a wonderful, husband, father, friend and brother.

He didnt have to know you to help you, said Williams. While a disability prevented James from working, Marquetta knew their children were well taken care of while she was at work. He loved to cook, loved taking care of the kids.

Williams, in a typical New Years tradition, recounted Marquetta, would go outside and shoot his rifle into the air. It was tradition; about three of our neighbors were out shooting as well.

It was at about 8 oclock that night it started in our neighborhood. None of our neighbors had a problem, no one came up to us.

The routine nature of celebratory gunfire on holidays such as New Years and the Fourth of July was even noted by Canton Police Chief Jack Angelo, who admitted after the shooting to local press that emergency calls reporting celebratory gunfire are most frequent during New Years Eve and the Fourth of July.

In fact, this reporter was able to find a Canton police incident report for firing/discharging a weapon within city limits the same day Williams was shot and killed by Huber. Despite the reporting party stating that the suspect did repeatedly discharge a shotgun within city limits as celebratory fire for New Years, that person was not killed, nor was a citation issued.

Questioning why the police never made their presence known before shooting James, Marquetta confirmed that Huber drove up to their house without his sirens or lights flashing. In fact, Marquetta said, he didnt even have his headlights turned on.

Reviewing the body camera footage, it is clear that Huber had multiple chances to make himself known to James, prior to shooting him. There were three different instances where the cop could have deescalated the situation or made himself known, said Marquetta.

First he didnt flash his lights or use his siren. Then he was on our porch and admitted on camera to seeing James put down the gun, yet he never knocked on our door. Finally, before he shot James, he never said a word, only announcing himself afterwards.

While local media, such as the Canton Repository, have attempted to blame James for his own death, citing the alleged criminality of shooting a legally owned firearm into the air within city limits, Gourrier, the Williams family lawyer, speaking to the WSWS, pointed out that under the Ohio Revised Code 2923.162(B), Williams was not violating any laws.

We feel like the Canton Repository, they are telling the citys side of the story, in order to escape liability, Gourrier explained to the WSWS. He explained that in the last two decades, laws have been passed on the state level which undercut local governments ability to regulate the use of firearms. According to Gourrier, this means that under the current codes, Williams, who was on his own property, was not violating any laws.

In any case, Gourrier correctly observed, the officer used excessive force; even if Williams was violating a city ordinance, it is a misdemeanor, not a death sentence.

Marquetta recounted the plethora of indignities the Williams family has suffered at the indifferent hands of the Canton Police Department since the beginning of the year.

Immediately after Huber shot James, Marquetta recounted how police did nothing to ensure his survival, refusing to offer medical aid.

No, they did not offer aid, they did not try and help James after they shot him. Instead, James waited for some ten minutes for an ambulance to arrive while Marquetta was told she could not ride with him to the hospital because she had to answer questions from the police.

I was not allowed to get in the ambulance and go with James to the hospital. They had me stand for over an hour, closer to two... finally I went to hospital, by that time James was already dead.

At 5:30 a.m. I was still speaking with investigators, recounted Marquetta.

The family has devised a ten-point plan of action. Among the items, they are calling for the release of all the body camera, audio and telephone recordings; that the police officer responsible for killing James to be fired; and that he be charged with murder. Since the killing of Williams, his family, friends and community members have held rallies every Saturday outside the Canton Police Department headquarters, with plans for further demonstrations.

Marquetta drew attention to the racist attitudes that permeate police departments throughout the US: Police officers tend to view African-Americans as criminals, tend to approach them, that they are all dangerous, I fear for my life. These cops are always afraid. If you are afraid of every person you meet, every black person you meet, you need to get a different job.

Speaking on the global character of police violence, including worldwide protests following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery in 2020, Marquetta agreed that a mass movement is necessary and that there should be solidarity for all victims of police violence.

This is a bigger problem than just racist cops; black cops can be racist as well, noted Marquetta.

All those who wish to support the Williams family GoFundMe are encouraged to do so here. Those who want to fight to build a mass movement of workers, students and youth against the capitalist system, the source of unending police violence, should join the Socialist Equality Party.
A report from an educator in Canada on how government isolation guidelines are allowing infectious people to return to school and pass the virus onto others prompted widespread outrage and has been widely shared online. Ken, a teacher in Ontario, posted to Twitter about how a student who tested positive for COVID-19 would be permitted to return to the classroom January 18, just five days after their positive test.

If this is any indication of how things are going to go, we are in big trouble, wrote the teacher on Twitter last Friday. I got informed this morning that a student in my class just got COVID. I was given a heads up that they will be back in class Tuesday. When I raised the concern that the kid is contagious for 10 days, I was told that the guidelines state he can come back after five days. So, I will be in class teaching with a student who I know has COVID and is contagious in a room with 27 other kids.

To make things worse, I cant tell any of the kids around him that he has COVID. I will be forced to watch in fear every time his mask slips off his face and he breathes that he is not infecting everyone in the classroom. I will have to just accept that he will infect others.

Kens thread has been retweeted over 130 times and liked by hundreds more educators. Workers responded by sharing their own horror stories. Work just quotes the guidelines as well, and lets people go maskless at desks etc. even though, well science says COVID moves through air. Really is just part of the bigger plan to get everyone exposed and ill, wrote one worker.

In comments to the World Socialist Web Site, Ken said, Ive had a hard time sleeping the past couple of nights. Ive been thinking about taking sick days because this individual will be sick in my class. On the other hand, I cant let my students down. A supply teacher would come in who wouldnt know that the student is infected.

Kens story is just one among many illustrating the criminal disregard for the health and very lives of educators, support staff, and students shown by governments at all levels across Canada. Schools reopened in four provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, Monday, with virtually no protections to prevent transmission of the potentially deadly virus.

Provincial government guidelines effectively direct schools to create superspreader events by combining classes in groups of up to 50 or 60 to compensate for teacher shortages caused by COVID absences. They also allow untrained parents to be brought in to help keep an eye on students, giving the lie to the incessantly repeated claim that reopening schools to in-person learning is about protecting the kids right to a quality education.

In fact, the reopening policy is driven by the principle of profits before human life. The political establishment views schools as warehouses where children can be detained so their parents are free to go to work and churn out profits for corporate Canada.

Ken addressed this fact in his post, noting that the reduction of the isolation period to five days had no basis in science and was adopted under pressure from big business. Im so conflicted that as a teacher I have the duty to protect my students, he wrote in his Twitter thread. But Im supposed to keep silent and just accept that we all are going to get infected with omicron because of some rule change in isolation times that the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] made at the behest of a corporation. That decision made in the United States because Delta Airlines needed to keep sick workers on the job has been adopted like gospel by every government in the west to keep workers on the job. In Ontario my school board, and my useless union are following these crazy guidelines that will result in every classroom becoming a superspreader event. The government, public health officials, school boards, and unions are to be congratulated on keeping the pandemic going and serving the interests of the ruling classes. Shame on you all.

Studies have shown that people infected with COVID-19 can remain contagious for up to 14 days. Even with evidence suggesting that Omicron may have a shorter infection period, scientists have noted that people can remain infectious nine or 10 days after testing positive.

Asked by the WSWS how he feels about being forced back into in-person classes, Ken explained, Not very good. Up until now, I havent felt like I was in danger. But ever since the new variant emerged and we started getting reports about how contagious it was, I got worried. Me and my colleagues watched Omicron rip through South Africa and Europe. We knew it was coming here. Throughout the winter break, all we saw was the numbers going up. There was a lot of stress the week prior to schools opening up, and you can see the stress building as the week went on.

Ken spoke about the main factors causing concern among his colleagues. The numbers have not gone down, they have actually gotten far worse, he commented. Hospitals are strained. What is increasing stress on everybody is that they will stop counting infections among kids in schools, and stop counting deaths. My feeling is that we are not ready to open schools. They have not put in the measures they promised, such as providing N95 masks and installing HEPA filters. They have not fulfilled their obligations. Schools are not going to be safe when we open for in-person learning.

Asked what he thought teachers and their supporters should do, Ken replied, There is nothing normal about what is going to happen this week. The governments want everybody to get infected to keep the economy going. Our unions have left us high and dry, and the government is willfully pursuing criminal policies.

We need to join forces, push back, and walk out and refuse to work in unsafe conditions.

Everybody feels the same way I do. It reflects the sentiments of teachers out there. Teachers are feeling tremendous pressure, we all feel the same. That is why what the CERSC is doing is so important.

The Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (CERSC) is organizing a public meeting on Sunday, January 23, at 1 p.m. Eastern to discuss the building of a mass movement to force a halt to in-person learning as part of a global strategy to eliminate COVID-19. We encourage everyone interested in learning more about the committee and its program to register today to attend.

We also appeal to educators and other workers to contact us to share your experiences from your workplace during the pandemic. Click here to register and here to contact us.
Students in Greece have occupied more than 250 schools in protest against the unsafe reopening of schools following the winter holidays, most of them in the capital Athens, in the second largest city, Thessaloniki, and on the island of Crete.

Local protest rallies by teachers also took place during the first week of school. On Friday, students protested in front of the Ministry of Education in Athens, and on the same day the number of school occupations rose to over 350, according to the education website esos.gr.

In the first year of the pandemic, Greek students had already forced the closure of their schools with 700 occupations. Last autumn, school occupations broke out again, as well as a nationwide teachers strike.

Now, an international wave of protests is unfolding against the deliberate mass infection policies of capitalist governments. Students and teachers are protesting in several US cities, in France teachers went on strike on Thursday, and in Germany, the courageous protest of a student in Hagen triggered many solidarity messages across social media.

Although the infection figures in Greece are at record levels, in-person teaching began in schools a week ago. On the Skai television channel, Nikos Tzanakis, a professor of pneumology (pulmonology), estimated that there were currently up to 80,000 active cases in schools.

School occupation at the 5th Lyceum in Thessaloniki. The banner reads, Health takes its last breathOpen the schoolsNo participation in this mockery. (Credit: Facebook group Menoume Energoi)

The reopening took place under the worst conditions, both in terms of hygiene and education, Fani Christani, a student representative from the northern region of Eastern Thrace, told the press in a video interview. Even before the holidays, 20 to 30 percent of all COVID cases were students, she said.

It is now clear that the hygiene measures are ridiculous, Christani said. The survival of the economy is apparently more important than our health and safety. The fact that the students demands were not implemented was a political decision, she said, adding that the government had instead been cutting health and education spending for years. Almost 2 billion had been cut in education alone over the last 10 years.

The Coordinating Committee of Athens Students, which called for the protest in front of the Education Ministry, is demanding, among other things, a reduction in class sizes, the immediate hiring of more teaching staff, free and more frequent rapid tests under the professional guidance of the Health Ministry, free masks and more cleaning staff. We will not allow you to play with our health and lives as if they dont matter! their statement reads.

Updated guidelines are in effect from this week, with the government under the right-wing Nea Dimokratia (ND-New Democracy) reiterating that full in-person classes should take place in all schools. Apart from basic face coverings and two rapid tests per week, there are no protective measures. The hated 50+1 rule remains in place, i.e., a class does not have to be quarantined until more than half of the pupils test positive. As in other countries, the isolation and quarantine period in Greece has been reduced to five days.

In addition, teachers who are sick with COVID or in quarantine are being asked to provide distance learning from home on a voluntary basis and if they are able to do so. The announced recruitment of 2,500 substitute teachers to fill the gaps is seen by teachers as a drop in the ocean. Chronic staff shortages in schools are leading to overcrowded classrooms, exacerbated by classes being merged in the middle of the pandemic.

In an interview with the online newspaper The PressProject, Theodora, a primary school teacher in Athens, said her school already had three teachers with symptoms and about 40 percent of all students were absent because they were either infected or their parents are afraid to send them to school under these conditions. The reality, she said, was grim: The conditions and rules we have opened with can only be seen as regulations for the mass transmission of coronavirus. Infections in schools and then at home, in children and the school staff and so on...

In a video interview with striking pupils on the island of Lesbos by local newspaper stonisi.gr, student Kalliroi stresses that her teachers fully support the demands of the occupation and are themselves distressed by the increase in cases of infection at school. Their banner on the school gate reads in red letters, Get COVID out of schools! They are demanding immediate distance learning to contain the pandemic.

Students at a lyceum in the Cretan port city of Iraklion described their dire situation in a protest letter dated January 11: The new, more contagious variant, the increasing number of cases and personal negligence pose a threat to the health and development of the student community. They point to the record number of 50,000 new infections nationwide just days before school started.

Their hometown of Iraklion was at risk level 5 and in our residential area, family members, relatives, friends and neighbours of classmates and ourselves have fallen ill, with some in dire straits. While the Minister of Education claims face-to-face teaching is crucial for childrens development, there was a climate of insecurity in classrooms where students cannot flourish.

In the small town of Kilkis in Macedonia, in northern Greece, all secondary schools are participating in the occupations. According to a regional union representative, 16 teachers had already contracted COVID-19 before school started and afterwards another three teachers became infected; some had to be hospitalised.

The students of the 2nd Lyceum in Kilkis, who are continuing classes online, accuse the Ministry of Education of having decided to open schools amid the worst wave since the beginning of the pandemic, disregarding the recommendations of experts and with complete indifference to the health of students and teachers. Despite complaints from all sides, the schools remain open, causing the virus to spread further and many of our fellow students to be absent from class with no opportunity to catch up on material online. With their occupation of the school building, they are demanding the cessation of face-to-face classes and their replacement with online teaching.

Resistance is also growing at universities. At a general assembly last week, students at the Athens University of Economics and Business (OPA), voted to occupy their university, which then began on Friday. Their demands include the resignation of the rector, free and multiple rapid tests for all students and no campus police and surveillance on campus.

Students at Thessalonikis Aristotle University are also protesting against the herd immunity policy. Our universities will become hotbeds of infection in the near future with the governments decision, says Paraskevi Tsekoura, a member of the Agricultural Science Student Council, according to the voria.gr website. Exams are to be implemented without any protective measures.

Responding to the combative pupils and students, who take scientific knowledge seriously and want to prevent further victims, Education Minister Niki Kerameos (ND) displayed her unscrupulous arrogance. The first week of school had gone smoothly, she claimed. Children could now return to school to acquire valuable knowledge and skills and develop socially and psycho-emotionally.

It remains Kerameos secret how a child can develop socially and psycho-emotionally when he or she has to sit anxiously crammed into a classroom with 25 classmates, infects himself or herself and, in the worst case scenario, even becomes seriously ill or witnesses the death of a relative. The life of a 14-year-old teenager in the Lamia region came to a tragic end last week. Just three days after being admitted to the emergency room with his parents, who were also infected, the boy died of coronavirus in intensive care.

With almost 22,000 victims, Greece has one of the highest death rates in the European Union. In a video posted on social media at the beginning of January, a Greek nurse described how catastrophic the situation was in hospitals On the COVID ward where she works, she said, only two nurses are responsible for 46 patients. Its like we are in a war zone. We are fighting without soldiers, without ammunition, without anything, she said. People are dying and will continue to die.

This is the reality that holds a mirror up to the official lie of child welfare in the reopened schools. The government needs face-to-face education at all costs so that children are looked after so adults can go to work and produce profits for the corporations. The policy of deliberate mass infection affects all spheres of lifefrom workplaces to educational institutions.

The government is therefore cracking down on school occupations with harsh repressive measures. Teachers are being urged to switch to distance learning during occupations, but to exclude students involved in the strike and to book them for absenteeism.

Many teachers are refusing to implement this order. The secondary teachers union OLME is also calling for opposition to the measures and is calling for a demonstration in front of the school management centre in Athens today. OLME criticises the lack of protective measures in schools and had demanded the reopening of schools be postponed for one week. It called for a two-hour protest strike on the first day of school.

The unions and their pseudo-left supporters are desperately trying to control the growing opposition, and to suppress a broad movement of students, teachers and other sections of the working class against the governments profits before lives policy. They have consistently supported opening schools and workplaces during the pandemic and diverted opposition into harmless channels.

When teachers went on strike across the country in October last year to fight the attacks on the public education system and for better coronavirus protections, OLME ensured that the strike ended quickly before it could spread. Although most union members voted to continue the industrial action in local general assemblies, the OLME union leadership voted against it.

Students and teachers need new organisations of struggle that are independent of the trade unions and pro-capitalist parties. The Rank-and-File Committees for Safe Education, already established in several countries, are fighting as part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees for a globally coordinated lockdown with full wage compensation and a strategy to eliminate COVID-19.
Our literal lives are at stake!: Students, teachers and parents back striking students in Oakland, California

More than 1,200 students in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in Northern California, are engaged in an indefinite strike against unsafe in-person learning amid the present Omicron surge. Striking Oakland students are joining a growing wave of opposition among students and teachers across the US and internationally to a policy of mass infection.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with teachers and students in the district and throughout the West Coast region who expressed their support for the Oakland students.

Im out here today to stand with students and teachers because right now its not safe, explained Jose, a sixth grade math and science teacher at United for Success Academy (UFSA) in Oakland who was striking in sympathy with students on Tuesday. Of roughly one dozen teachers at UFSA, five were quarantining yesterday due to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 exposure or infection. All non-quarantining teachers participated in the strike and the picket line, alongside several additional staff.

Noting the rampant spread of COVID-19 and the preventive measures taken by parents to keep their children safe, Jose continued, Only about a third of the students in some of my classes have been in this week. That makes it really hard to teach and hard to learn.

Teachers protest for stronger COVID-19 safety protocols outside Oakland Unified School District headquarters on Jan. 7, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Jose continued, Its not sustainable. For the first week, we didnt even do any academic work. It was all like, How are you feeling? How are you doing? What would you like to see things looking like moving forward, to feel good and nourished?

It sometimes feels like were almost subbing. We cant really dive into the lessons that were supposed to be diving into because there arent enough students.

There is a small percentage of students trying to do online, but its been very difficult, and its hard for everyone to access.

Jose highlighted students central need for a safe environment as an essential part of the learning process. Once you feel supported, the rest comes into place. If you dont have that, its almost impossible to get to that level.

He agreed with the World Socialist Web Sites call for an elimination strategy, to end community transmission of COVID-19. Yeah, I think anybody considering a holistic approach would agree with that. We should definitely come together and figure out how to do that.

According to the districts COVID-19 dashboard, there has been an ongoing surge of cases since schools reopened from winter break. Over 1,700 cases among students and 260 cases among staff have been reported since January 3. Due to the lack of testing and contact tracing in OUSD as well as loosened COVID-19 safety guidelines for quarantining and isolation of infected staff and students, these numbers are undoubtedly far higher.

Into school, it's the safest place for kids

The surge taking place in the Oakland public schools mirrors the mass infection taking place among children across the country as schools have been forced to open in recent weeks. According to the latest report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), nearly 1 million US children were infected with COVID-19 just last week.

Jazmine, a teacher at UFSA who struck Tuesday in support of the Oakland students, spoke of the level of infection at her school site. A lot of my students are not in class now because they are either sick with COVID, their parents are sick with COVID, or they are scared to go in-person.

When asked her thoughts on the mental health impact on children and efforts by the Democrats and unions to keep students in school even if they get COVID-19, Jazmine said, Kids are already experiencing mental health problems right here on the ground, when they see half of their peers out of class. Its like an apocalyptic experience looking around and being like, Where are all my peers? and Am I going to get sick next?

The district has continued to implement policies that will result in further infections in schools and community spread. On Tuesday, OUSD announced that it will enforce recently updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) testing, quarantine and isolation protocols for students and staff in K-12 schools.

According to the district, vaccinated children may remain on campus if exposed to COVID-19, unvaccinated children who have been exposed may return to campus after only five days quarantine and a negative rapid test, and at-home tests will be allowed to clear students early from isolation and quarantine. Additionally, for students below fifth grade, the district will implement a test-to-stay program, which knowingly allows unvaccinated students who have been exposed to stay on campus for a modified quarantine.

These guidelines, fully endorsed by the Biden administration, follow an open policy of mass infection and are designed to keep schools open, regardless of infection or exposure.

Timothy, a high school student from the East Bay, opposed the policies being used to keep open the schools and sent his support to striking Oakland students. Schools across the country are opening amidst the governments disastrous decision to abandon all pandemic protections. Millions have been diagnosed in the past few days. Amidst these atrocious circumstances, it is incredibly inspiring to see grassroots protests of students standing in solidarity with their teachers in defiance of the capitalist agenda.

Doug, a retired truck driver in the Seattle area, said, There is no excuse for the germ warfare being waged on the working class by the financial elites. Thank you, Oakland students, for taking a stand and showing us the way out of this horrible pandemic.

Alison, a parent of a Los Angeles Unified student, tweeted a statement of support Wednesday, urging students elsewhere to take up a fight as well. As a parent of young children, I fully support these Oakland students opposition to unsafe schools and unscientific policies of mass infection across the US. Getting Long COVID is not inevitable. I encourage kids locally at Los Angeles Unified School District to do the same.

Chris, a worker in Napa County, said, I wholeheartedly support the actions and intentions of the students of the Oakland Unified Student Strike. These students represent the best and most sensible among us and are giving this crisis the urgency it deserves. I not only support them and their actions but call upon those with authority to enact the necessary measures to ensure the public safety to do so. Our literal lives are at stake!

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They are focused on keeping students in school no matter how dangerous it is: Students in Chicago speak on struggle for remote learning to save lives

This week schools throughout Chicago are in disarray as they have opened for in-person instruction amid the continuing surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officially reopened last Wednesday after the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) rammed through an agreement with Mayor Lori Lightfoot that contained no real improvements to safety and ignored teachers main demand for remote learning until cases are brought under control.

The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke with two studentsone enrolled at Northwestern University (NU) and the other an 8th grader in CPSas well as a parent with children in the school district on conditions in schools and how the pandemic has impacted them.

Corbin, the Northwestern student, participated in a walkout this week by students at the university who are refusing to attend in-person classes while the school is reporting record numbers of positive cases.

Were walking out from in-person classes until the university provides virtual classes as an option to all students and takes seriously the health and well-being on immunocompromised and vulnerable students, Corbin said.

The last two weeks have seen our highest campus COVID numbers yet, and last week university admin announced that we will be returning to in-person classes this week. Students and other community members started a petition demanding virtual classes and KN95 masksthat the school recommended but did not providebe provided to anyone expected to be on campus, students, staff and faculty. The petition reached 1,500-plus signatures and has been sent by many to NU admin with no acknowledgement or response.

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Maryland students and teachers oppose school reopenings as state officials seek to force in-person classes at all costs

Amid a surge of infection driven by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Marylands Republican Governor Larry Hogan and the Democratic Party-controlled state government are resorting to ever more manipulative measures to keep businesses and schools operating in-person.

The surge had caused Baltimore City Public Schools to close 60 of its 155 schools at the beginning of the year, but by the end of the week the district had quickly reopened them. Outbreaks in Baltimore City schools have been covered up by the school board, leading to deaths. We are being forced into school environments that are unsafedue to overcrowding, limited access to testing, lack of school nurses, lack of proper maskingand are being gaslighted by leadership with promises of safety, a Baltimore City schoolteacher told the World Socialist Web Site.

Educators are at a breaking point and cannot keep this normal school year pace in an environment that is anything but normal. We are more than capable of delivering high-quality instruction virtually, she insisted.

A petition started by high school students on Change.org calling for remote learning has garnered 18,200 signatures in a little over a week. A month ago, [Montgomery County Public Schools] announced that if a school reached a student infection rate of 5 percent, the school would be reviewed by MCPS and the Department of Health and Human Services to go virtual for two weeks, it reads.

One day after winter break, 11 schools were above the 5% rate, and two days later, 126 schools were. The petition charges county officials with jeopardizing students safety, saying, Not expecting this extreme upsurge, the county is scrambling now, trying to force us to stay in school, even though they know it is unsafe. A similar petition in neighboring Howard County has gotten 15,000 signatures.

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Toronto caretaker speaks out against school reopenings: Schools are not safe for in-person learning as long as COVID is not eliminated

Ontario schools resumed in-class learning this week in spite of record levels of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Canadas most populous province. Premier Doug Ford and his hard-right Progressive Conservative government have pressed for the reopening of schools under regulations that virtually guarantee Omicron will run rampant among school staff and students, as have provincial governments from coast-to-coast.

Teachers at Westmount High School in Montreal demonstrated against the Quebec government's reckless decision to reopen schools in the midst of the pandemic's second wave (Photo: Robert Green)

Opposition among education workers and students to this reckless policy is growing. On Monday, students in Winnipeg and other parts of Manitoba walked out of school to protest unsafe conditions. On Wednesday, several teachers in Ontarios Peel Region launched work refusals over concerns about dangerous working conditions. In a letter to the World Socialist Web Site, Sterling, a Toronto school caretaker, denounced the precipitous reopening of schools and called for a mass, worker-led movement to fight for the implementation of a Zero COVID policy.

Lets begin by debunking a major lie emanating from the politicians, unethical public health officials and their lackeys in the corporate press. The lie is that Schools are safe. Fact: COVID is an airborne pathogen transmitted through aerosols, which are small particles that float in the air like cigarette smoke. These aerosol particles can stay in the air for hours and move around easily in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, like school buildings. Thus, the conclusion from this scientific fact is clear: schools are not safe for in-person learning as long as COVID is not eliminated. As a caretaker for a school board in Toronto, I do not feel safe going to work knowing I am forced to be exposed to COVID everyday. The reason is clear: the criminal capitalist ruling elite and their political representatives want kids in school to allow their parents to be exploited at work to generate profits for the Bay Street sociopaths. In the evenings when students and teachers have gone home, I know COVID is still in the air because schools are not adequately ventilated, despite the HEPA filters. I wear a KN95 mask during my shiftsfrom a box I bought myself. The KN95 masks are better than no mask but they are still inadequate protection from COVID aerosols. The school board refuses to provide adequate masks such as the N95, which offer the best protection from inhaling COVID aerosol particles. The school board is ordering caretakers to do more disinfection of surfaces in schools, which is a complete waste of time because COVID is transmitted through the air. Over the winter break, caretakers did the extra cleaning that normally we dont have time to do, such as cleaning walls, windows, and general maintenance. During the first two weeks after the Christmas break, caretakers were still forced to go to work in a clean, empty school essentially to baby sit the building. Supply caretakers were kept home without pay. Our feckless unionCUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees)refuses to fight for the health and safety of its 700,000-plus membership, while it continues to steal workers money via union dues. CUPE has left us to fend for ourselves. The school boards, the unions and the governmentthe troika of mass infection and deathhave left us education workers no choice but to organize into rank-and-file committees in every school independently and in opposition to the troika. By organizing and joining the committees, education workers will be in a powerful position to force school closures and a shift to online learning as part of a broader Zero COVID strategy until COVID is eliminated. The independent rank-and-file school committees should also join the Cross Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (CERSC), whose mission is to connect the struggle of education workers across Canada and internationally against the criminal policies of the capitalist elite. By appealing to our colleagues across Canada and around the world, we will be able to impose rational, science-based policies through a Zero COVID strategy to protect the lives of children, school staff and members of our communities from preventable disease and death. All power to the workers, Sterling

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Students in Austria strike against governments herd immunity policies

In more than 100 schools across the country, pupils went on strike Tuesday against the homicidal herd immunity policies of the conservative Austrian Peoples Party (OVP) and Green Party coalition government. In view of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and daily new record infection figures, the government has openly acknowledged its policy of deliberate mass infection. With the return to face-to-face teaching and compulsory oral final examinations in high schools, this inhumane course is being pushed even further.

In the capital, Vienna, many students gathered in protests at several schools. In the Ottakring district, about 150 pupils protested on Schuhmeierplatz. With posters and chants, they demanded a safe pandemic policy and the suspension of the oral exam. Under the hashtags #WirStreiken (#WeAreStriking), #NichtMitUns (#NotWithUs) and #DurchseuchungOhneUns (#MassInfectionNotWithUs), the students documented their activities and spread their demands.

Around 100 students also demonstrated against the oral examination in front of the Bundesrealgymnasium in Linz. Participants from the graduating classes were supported by pupils from the 6th and 7th grades, as well as pupils from other schools. In Bregenz, about 100 students from the upper school protested.

During protests in Salzburg, student representatives announced that they would go on strike again next week if the government did not respond to the students demands. In Klagenfurt, pupils also took part in the strike, although both the Federal Pupils Representation and the Carinthia Regional Pupils Representation had spoken out against the strike.

In addition to the Aktion kritischer SchulerInnen (AKS, Critical Pupils Action), which is close to the Austrian Social Democratic Party, SPO), numerous school representatives supported and called for protests. Some limited their protest to the fact that the oral exam was not compulsory for graduation, which is absolutely justified in view of the pandemic, as well as because of inadequate preparation.

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One million children in the US have COVID-19

Nearly one million US children are now reported to have COVID-19, according to statistics released by the Association of American Pediatricians (AAP) today. The 981,488 afflicted children is four times last years winter peak, a tripling of case counts from two weeks prior, and a 69 percent increase over the week ending January 6, when cases leapt by 580,000.



The exponential leap in pediatric cases has been accompanied by nearly 2,000 new hospitalizations. This is double the number of children fighting for their lives in hospital beds during the past two weeks than ever before.

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Statements of support pour in for striking Oakland, California students

Statement of support have begun coming in for striking students in Oakland, California. Over 1,200 students have begun a strike over unsafe conditions as the virus rapidly infects the district. Teachers at three school sites are also walking out in support of their students.

The WSWS spoke to Sarah, an Oakland teacher, on the picket line in Oakland.

Jazmine, a seventh grade Oakland teacher, said: Its starting to look in my classroom like the end times, an apocalyptic type thing because so many of my students are [out with Covid].

Michael, a parent from San Luis Obispo, California tweeted:

Janet, a teacher from San Diego, sent a photo and statement.

She stated:

I'm a teacher here in San Diego California, and I support the students in Oakland because the lives of students and teachers are at risk! If these students feel so unsafe that they are going to go through the trouble to take action in defense of their good health, then they need the support of adults who will have their back. A person's health is the single most important thing they have. Without it no learning can take place. It must be safeguarded at all costs! Oakland students who are looking out for themselves and their teachers are supported by me and other San Diego teachers!

A nurse in southern California posted the following statement of support:

Renae, another teacher in California shared why she support striking students.

Megan, a mother in Oregon, wrote in a message of her support to students:

Earlier Dorothy, the grandmother of an OUSD middle school student, told the WSWS:

I want to thank the brave students who are taking action today. You are helping not only to keep our students and teachers safe, but also their vulnerable family members who could be hospitalized or worse if students bring Covid home.

West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Committees call emergency meeting to stop in-person learning

West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees Meeting

The West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Committees have called an emergency meeting for Sunday, January 23 at 12:00 pm PST. The meeting will discuss the organization of a movement of teachers, students, and the entire working class to stop in-person learning as part of a broader strategy aimed at eliminating COVID-19.

To register for the meeting, click here.

High School students across Broward County, Florida announce a walkout on Monday morning against in-person learning

More than one hundred students at various K-12 schools across Broward County, Florida announced today that they will walk out of class on Monday morning to protest the county school boards reckless COVID-19 policies. They are demanding an increase in safety measures to stop transmission of the disease through schools.

The students issued an open letter on social media to the Broward County School Board demanding officials put in place policies that will curb the spread of the pandemic.

The open letter notes a number of grim statistics showing the explosive growth of COVID-19 infections in Broward. An average of 7,179 cases have been recorded each day, while the countys positivity rate remains at a staggering 37.8 percent. More than 8,000 students and teachers have tested positive for the virus this school year, with 40 percent of these cases occurring since winter break.

The letter explains that the school administrators should prioritize the health and safety of its workers and students and ensure a more disruptive period of school does not happen later. The students demands include: return to remote learning for at least two weeks to stop Covid spread on campuses, the provision of N95 masks to all students to effectively curb the spread of the virus, and weekly PCR tests for staff to isolate and contain COVID outbreaks.

St. Paul, Minnesota students walkout to protest unsafe school conditions

Students from all eight St. Paul, Minnesota high schools and some middle schools are walking out of classrooms today to protest the Saint Paul Public School (SPPS) districts unsafe return to in-person learning amidst the deadliest wave of the COVID-19 to date. The walkout began at 1 p.m. CT.

At least two Minnesota students and eight educators died last year from COVID-19 complications. Cases are surging in Minnesota, and the seven-day average stands at nearly 9,000 a day.

Earlier today, St. Paul students held a press conference at Highland Park Senior High School.

Jerome Treadwell, a Highland Park Senior High School senior and executive director of Minnesota Teen Activists, a group organizing the walkouts, said: District and administration are not in the school building regularly. They are not spending seven hours a day surrounded by unmasked kids, overwhelmed teachers, understaffed nurses and an abundance of other things. This is an equity issue. This is life or death.

A survey circulating among students asking about concerns over in-person learning has received over 200 responses. Speaking on the survey, Treadwell said, Some students even expressed their worries about getting their high-risk family members sick from exposure at school. A student said, and I quote, Im concerned about my grandparents and my dad, who are high-risk, and going to school every day makes me feel guilty and scared for them which makes it pretty hard for me to focus on my assignments.

An online petition listing the studentss demands has received over 1,400 signatures as of this writing. The petition states, Students feel uncomfortable in schools because of SPPSs failure to follow health guidelines and keep SPPS students & their families safe. SPPS currently has almost 2,000 positive Covid cases, meaning this district alone has gained 1,000 cases in the last week.

Over one thousand Oakland, California students walk out to demand online instruction

Over 1,200 Oakland, California students have begun an indefinite strike today, demanding online instruction until schools are made safe. The students join thousands of other educators and young people throughout the country fighting for the emergency closure of schools to stop the spread of COVID-19.

A World Socialist Web Site reporting team is on the ground in Oakland speaking to teachers who are staging their own walkout to support the striking students.

Teachers at United for Success Academy Middle School walk out in support of Oakland, California students. (WSWS Media, January 18, 2021)

Teachers and staff at United for Success Academy Middle School, Bridges Elementary School and Woodland Elementary School are all taking action today. At United for Success, five out of the twelve teachers that run the school are currently quarantining due to Covid. The rest walked out of classes today.

Jazmine, a seventh grade humanities teacher at the protest told the WSWS, We are out here to support the students The way things are currently, with the Omicron surge, it sort of makes things particularly difficult because things have been spreading so fast. At this time I think the best and safest choice would be to go to distance learning.

Jazmine explained the vast chasm that exists between the Oakland Unified School Board and the teachers and students: People on the Board make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Being a new teacher after taxes I clear barely $40,000. With rent that is like $1,000 a month, it is really hard to not be struggling. And people on the board are not even working in their offices. They are working from home because it is safer to do that, but they expect us to be in person with students, basically putting lives at risk. I think that is really unjust and really gross and disgusting.

Statements of support for striking Oakland students are beginning to come in from parents, teachers, and others.

Dorothy, the grandmother of an OUSD middle school student, told the WSWS, I want to thank the brave students who are taking action today. You are helping not only to keep our students and teachers safe, but also their vulnerable family members who could be hospitalized or worse if students bring Covid home.



We urge readers to send in their own statements of support for the striking students.

Record surge in COVID-19 child deaths as opposition grows among US educators and students

By Emma Arceneaux

The first two weeks of the spring semester for K-12 schools have been a colossal disaster across the United States. At the federal, state and local levels, both the Democratic and Republican parties insist that all schools must continue fully in-person instruction during the worst surge in the pandemic. This homicidal policy is fueling the spread of COVID-19 and has produced a record surge of cases, hospitalizations and now deaths among children.

Into school, it's the safest place for kids

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, since December 31, only two and a half weeks ago, 87 children under age 18 have died from COVID-19. Of those, 28 occurred between January 14-17, a staggering rate of nine children per day. This rate is roughly three times the peak of the Delta surge, over the course of which more than 500 children died. The latest American Academy of Pediatrics report will be published later today and will almost certainly show another record increase in cases above last weeks record 580,247.

The working class and youth have responded to the unfolding catastrophe with a resounding demand to stop in-person instruction as a necessary measure to end viral transmission and save lives. Inspired by teachers in Chicago, thousands of students across the US, from New York City to Chicago to Boston, staged walkouts last week to demand remote learning. Over 1,200 students in Oakland will walk out today, as the district has failed to meet their list of safety demands.

A high school student who attends Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) highlighted the crisis operations of the publicly funded charter school founded by former California governor Jerry Brown.

At OSA, we went online this week because so many teachers went into quarantine. We didnt have enough adults on campus to legally keep the school open. They had all the substitutes in and had administrators in classrooms. They still didnt have enough.

We still have not closed for COVID. Theyre opening in-person this week. It is not a COVID-safe building. Its an old building with small hallways, and some entirely closed classrooms.

I know OUSD agreed to give out N95 masks. I dont think OSA will get those. They are offering testing, but its not enough for all the students and its not very often. Its not safe. I think most of the students and teachers agree that we shouldnt be in-person right now.

Making the connection between these unsafe policies and the Democratic Party-controlled California and Oakland governments, she continued, Of course California is not letting us [go remote] either. The individual schools themselves, like OSA, dont get enough funding to be able to take the safety of students into its own hands. The school doesnt get funded enough to be able to close because theyll lose funding. Oakland could do something, but they arent.

She added, Politicians care about the money more than they care about the people. The Democrats are not even holding up the facade very well about caring about people.

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The way forward for high school students in the fight against the pandemic and the reopening of schools

Full Statement from the International Youth and Students for Social Equality

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the youth and student movement of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), welcomes and supports the courageous stand taken by students.

The IYSSE is a socialist youth group, fighting to link up the struggle of students and youth with teachers, parents and other workers in a common fight against the reckless herd immunity policy of the entire political establishment, which encourages the virus to run rampant, regardless of the carnage.

Left to right: Brehami, Allan, Mitchum, and John (WSWS Media)

The disastrous impact of the pandemic is the result of decisions made by capitalist governmentsfirst and foremost, in the United States to deliberately prioritize profits over lives, to reject the implementation of public health measures required to eliminate the virus and, instead, to adopt policies that allow the virus to spread widely throughout the global population.

The reopening of schools has always been at the center of the ruling class pandemic strategy. In order for workers to return to work and continue to pump out profits for the rich, their kids must be back in school.

Full Statement

We call on all students to join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality.
The Michigan Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (MERFSC) held a joint meeting with the International Youth and Students for Social Equality at the University of Michigan and the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee on January 12. Following the meeting, which was attended by educators, parents and students in Michigan and Illinois, the MERFSC adopted the following statement.

The Michigan Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee calls on teachers, students and parents throughout the state to demand an immediate halt to all in-person learning to protect the health and safety of educators, our students and communities.

Like other states, the spread of the Omicron variant in Michigan is completely out of control. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, another 251 state residents died on Thursday and Friday and 37,114 more were infected. Hospitals are filling to capacity, with 84 percent of ICU beds filled. A federal emergency medical team has been sent to Henry Ford Hospital in Wyandotte to assist understaffed and exhausted medical workers.

Teachers protest with signs calling for increased COVID-19 testing, outside P.S. 64 Earth School Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman)

The supposedly mild variant has put at least 140 children in the hospital with confirmed or suspected infections.

Tragically, we lost Omeka Bradford, a 17-year-old Kalamazoo Central High School student, on January 11 after a nearly two-month battle with COVID. The committee sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Omeka for your terrible loss. We pledge to redouble our efforts to mobilize educators, parents and students to prevent these unnecessary deaths and protect other children from long-term disabilities associated with this horrific virus.

We have not seen the worst, I fear, Michigans chief medical officer Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said last week, pointing to research predicting we will peak by the end of January, maybe early February. Even if this is the case, it would not be the end of the pandemic. There will be variants after Omicron, Bagdasarian said. The more the virus spreads, the more it makes mistakes and mutations, and we dont know what those mutations will look like and how it will affect how the virus behaves.

Data from Michigan, the US and the world demonstrates that schools are one of the chief vectors for the airborne transmission of this deadly disease. Last week, there were 203 ongoing outbreaks at schools across Michigan, compared to 162 at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

The number of infections in Michigan are almost double what they were in November 2020, when schools were closed. It is utter madness to keep them open now! But that is exactly what Governor Whitmer and state and local officials from both big business parties are doing.

Kalamazoo and most other districts in the state have kept children in overcrowded and poorly ventilated classrooms. On January 18, Lansing and Grand Rapids schools will fully reopen, along with most Ann Arbor schools.

Some 50,000 students in Detroit will return to in-person classes as early as January 24, after the states largest district was forced to go remote because of a test positivity rate of 40 percent and sickness affecting one out of five school employees. Flint schools are also set to reopen on January 24.

Despite the demands of thousands of students and faculty members, the University of Michigan is continuing in-person classes, while students at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University remain online for another one or two weeks.

The decision to open schools is driven not by science but the economic interests of powerful corporations, including the auto industry. This was spelled out on the state governments own website, which declared, Without schools, our economy cant function at full capacity. Parents rely on schools to provide safe places for children to learn and thrive so that they may go to work. But neither the schools nor the factorieswhere thousands of workers are off sickare safe.

The Biden administration has abandoned any pretense of fighting to stop the pandemic. Instead, it has fully embraced herd immunity, the anti-scientific theory that the pandemic will simply burn itself out after it runs out of people to infect. The outcome of such a horrific experiment, however, would be the infection of the entire population, millions of more deaths worldwide and the potential for life-long debilities for an entire generation of children.

While the political establishment is implementing a policy of mass infection, across the country and internationally, educators, parents and students are demanding the closure of schools. In Chicago, 25,000 teachers carried out a four-day job action to demand virtual learning in the nations third-largest district. Their struggle was sabotaged by the Chicago Teachers Union, which accepted a deal with Mayor Lori Lightfoot that would only close individual schools if 30-40 percent of the staff or students were out sick!

The Michigan Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee insists that life must take precedence over profit! We denounce the deal of death signed by the CTU and encourage Chicago educators to join our sister committee, the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee.

No sooner had the CTU signed this miserable deal when thousands of Chicago students walked out to demand remote-only instruction. They joined a nationwide wave of student walkouts to protect lives, including in New York City, Boston, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Okemos, Michigan. Underscoring the global character of this struggle, three-quarters of all French teachers conducted a nationwide strike for COVID safety last week.

This is the real voice of working people and youth, that the news media, big business politicians and corrupt unions will not be able to silence. But we need fighting organizations to unite educators and all sections of workers who want to temporarily close all schools and non-essential businesses, as part of a public health policy aimed at eliminating COVID-19 once and for all.

Our committee demands:

Close all schools and nonessential businesses until the transmission of the virus is stopped and rank-and-file educator committees, working with principled scientists and public health experts, determine that the schools are safe enough to reopen. During the temporary closureswhich scientists say would last no more than two or three monthsfull income protection must be provided to all workers and small-business owners. Pour billions of dollars into remote learning. Guarantee free, high-quality computers and internet connections and the resources for families to ensure children have a quiet, comfortable place to study and to provide for the nutritional and medical needs of every child. Hire thousands of public health workers to conduct universal testing, contact tracing, quarantining and education on vaccines and the use of masks to protect against airborne transmissions. The resources for these life-saving measures are available. Reverse the billions of dollars in tax cuts to the auto companies, healthcare giants and other big businesses, and sharply increase the taxes on the billionaires and mega-billionaires whose fortunes have skyrocketed during the pandemic.

It is necessary for educators, students, parents and all workers to take matters into our own hands and fight to protect life, not profit. If you agree with this, we urge you to join the Michigan Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee today.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indirectly acknowledged the class issues involved in the push to open schools across Australia as scheduled later this month and in early February, despite record COVID-19 infection rates.

Speaking last Thursday, Morrison provided a semi-honest rationale for the demand for a resumption of face-to-face teaching. If schools dont open, then that can add an additional five percent to the absenteeism in the workforce, he declared. So it is absolutely essential for schools to go back safely and to remain safely open if we are not to see any further exacerbation of the workforce challenges were currently facing. So schools open means shops open Thats what schools open means, and its very important they go back.

Students sitting the HSC in 2019 (Credit: ABC News)

Children, teachers, and school workers are being told to accept the risk of infection and serious health consequences in the interests of big business and finance capital.

To ensure the continued flow of profits, workers need to be tied to their workplaces. Therefore, workers children must not be permitted to remain safely at home, engaged in online learning, because there would then be a need for parental supervision. Teachers and school workers are to effectively function as babysitters, with their health and safety put at risk for the interests of the ultra-wealthy.

Under the national plan drawn up by state and federal governments, Labor and Liberal, there are to be no more lockdown restrictions or other emergency public health measures that impinge on corporate profit making. A let it rip policy is being enforcedregardless of how high the rate of infection, hospitalisation, and deathbased on declarations that the population must live with the virus and accept mass illness and death in the foreseeable future. This program, previously associated with the most extreme right-wing administrations, such as those of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is now being advanced by the entire political establishment in Australia.

Morrisons remarks on the urgency of reopening the schools did not include a single reference to childrens learning, mental health, or wellbeing. As far as the ruling elite has been concerned, these matters have never been anything other than propaganda points, cynically invoked to justify its pro-business agenda.

The prime ministers talk about opening schools safely is nothing but hot air. In every country, when schools have opened amid COVID community transmission, they have served as vectors of infection spread.

Australian state governments have failed to put in place even the most basic mitigation measures. Teachers will not be provided with proper N95 or KN95 masks, the overwhelming majority of classrooms will lack an air filtration system, and only a minority of children will be vaccinated.

Approximately three-quarters of 1215-year-olds have been double vaccinated, while 512-year-olds have only become eligible to be vaccinated earlier this month. Supply shortages have resulted in parents enduring multiple vaccination booking cancellations. Only a small minority within this age group will have received any vaccination when the schools open, and none will be double jabbed and have had the necessary time to allow the vaccine to take full effect.

The impact will be felt most heavily within working class public schools. Within Australias deeply divided education system, nearly 40 percent of students attend private schools that receive enormous annual public subsidies. The wealthiest of these will have used the summer holiday break sourcing supplies of masks, air filtration systems for every classroom, and making preparations to provide remote learning options for their students. Many private schools have already hired medical professionals to deliver vaccination doses on their campuses, allowing priority access for their students.

Many working-class public schools, on the other hand, feature overcrowded classrooms with little or no ventilation whatsoever. Under-staffed and under-resourced, they are ill equipped to deal with the complex issues that are going to emerge when mass outbreaks occur.

State governments, again both Labor and Liberal, are no longer making much effort to conceal the inevitability of such outbreaks if the schools reopen as planned.

Anticipating widespread COVID infection among teachers, the New South Wales state Liberal government of Premier Dominic Perrottet and Victorian Labor government of Premier Daniel Andrews have closely collaborated on a plan involving allowing parents to supervise children in classrooms in the event of mass staff illness, and drafting final year university student teachers and retired educators into the workforce.

These are all grossly irresponsible measures. Parents and university students are not qualified and vetted educators. Retired teachers, being elderly, are at high risk of serious COVID health consequences, and ought to be protected from the virus, not placed within petri dishes of infection.

Currently serving teachers will meanwhile be exposed to the virus on a near daily basis. These include vulnerable educators, such as those with compromised immune systems, significant comorbidities, those pregnant and elderly. Talk of providing large quantities of rapid antigen tests (RATs) amounts to nothing more than a token window dressing measure that will do nothing to prevent the spread of infection.

Morrisons statement on the workforce rationale for opening the schools was met with widespread anger.

One NSW high school teacher, Kristen Angela, defied Department of Education gag orders to speak out and issue an open letter to the prime minister that was widely shared on social media. Mr Morrison, sadly what these two years have taught me is that because I am a teacher in a public schoola government employee, I am expendable, she wrote. Somehow because I chose to educate the future generations of this country, my health, wellbeing and that of my family, friends and colleagues is irrelevant so long as the countrys economy isnt suffering. [] Mr Morrison, let me make something perfectly clear, the staff working in schools are not glorified babysitters despite the overwhelming evidence from our leaders that this is what we are seen to be.

In opposition to the class policy on behalf of big business being advanced by state and federal governments, teachers and educators need to advance a class policy defending the health and safety of the entire working class, based on the struggle for scientifically based pandemic policies.

These must include the suspension of regular schooling and the resumption of online teaching and learning, as part of a wider suspension of non-essential production and other activities amid dangerously high levels of COVID transmission. Enormous resources must be allocated to this program, including 100 percent income support for affected workers and small business owners, and the provision of related social services and support measures, including for children adversely affected by remote learning.

This perspective can only be fought for by teachers and school workers independently of the teacher unions, which are collaborating with the schools reopening drive and are working to suppress and dissipate educators anger and opposition. The Committee for Public Education and the Socialist Equality Party are alone in advancing this program and we urge all teachers, school workers, parents, students, and workers to attend our public meeting, No to Australian school reopenings amid record COVID infections! Educators, students, parentsjoin the fight for rank-and-file safety committees! being held Sunday, January 23, at 11 a.m. (AEDT).

Register today!
A report issued by the British-based international aid agency Oxfam last week has highlighted the rapid escalation of economic and social inequality in the Asia-Pacific region during the COVID-19 pandemic, documenting how a handful of the ultra-wealthy have directly benefited from the suffering of millions.

The investigation found that 20 new pandemic billionaires had been created over the past two years with their fortunes coming from the manufacture of equipment, pharmaceuticals and services needed in response to COVID.

Pakistani brick factory workers at a kiln in Mandra, near Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, December 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

They were part of a broader trend. The number of billionaires in the Asia-Pacific, the report said, has expanded significantly since the pandemic began reaching 1,087 in November 2021, an increase of almost one-third on pre-crisis figures.

Even more striking, the report continued, is the extreme and increased concentration of wealth at the top during this prolonged health and economic crisis. At the end of last year, the richest 1 percent owned more wealth than the poorest 90 percent in the region, with the billionaires increasing their wealth since the start of the pandemic.

The additional wealth they have accrued in this time, $1.88 trillion, is more than double the total wealth of the poorest 20 percent of the population.

The rise in the number of billionaires went across the board. For example, in Australia there were 31 billionaires in March 2020, holding wealth of $95 billion. By November last year this had risen to 47, holding $204 billion.

In China, the increase was from 387, holding $1.177.5 trillion, to 556, holding $2.31 trillion. In India, one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, the number of billionaires went from 102 to 142 with their combined wealth rising from $312.6 billion to $719 billion. Indonesia saw an increase in the number of billionaires from 15 to 21 with their combined wealth rising from $53.7 billion to $91 billion. Data from other countries in the region told the same story.

The bulk of the increase in wealth occurred in the first phase of the pandemic. Between March and December 2020, when the equivalent of 147 million full-time jobs were lost in the region, the billionaires saw their wealth rise by $1.46 trillionenough to provide a salary of almost $10,000 for each worker who had lost their job.

The wealth of Mukesh Ambani, Indias richest man, increased so quickly between March and October 2020 that he made enough money to cover the annual wages of all 195,000 employees of his company, Reliance Industries, every four days, the report noted.

This rapid concentration of wealth into the hands of a tiny elite is the continuation of a trend going back more than three decades. It is a product of a social counter-revolution which was initiated following the liquidation of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the abandonment by governments around the world of social reformist policies, above all in the sphere of health.

As the report stated: Since the 1990s, neoliberal policy, a failing global tax system and unequal pay and reward, have channelled income and wealth into the hands of an elite few. Between 1987 and 2019, the number of billionaires in Asia skyrocketed from 40 to 768.

This massive diversion of wealth left a health system unable to deal with the impact of the pandemic.

Longstanding underinvestment and poor government oversight of the public health system has led to an inadequate and unequal public health response to the pandemic of many countries with the high levels of out of pocket (OOP) expenses on healthcare in the region creating great health inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.

In 2017, the report noted, OOP payments accounted for more than 60 percent of health spending in Pakistan, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, with 13 percent of Asian households already experiencing catastrophic spending on health care before the pandemic hit.

India is a particular case in point. Its health system suffers from chronic underinvestment and great inequality which played a significant role in facilitating the spread of the virus having the fourth-lowest health budget in the world and a large private for-profit healthcare sector with more than 70 percent of healthcare spending having to be met by individuals.

The crisis of the regions public healthcare systems, exacerbated by COVID, is severely affecting other areas. The report said that in regions most affected by HIV, TB and malaria, such as South Asia, the knock-on effects of COVID-19 on these three diseases in terms of deaths could outweigh the direct impact of the virus itself.

Vaccine nationalism, pursued by the major capitalist countries, is also having a devastating impact. As of November 2021, only 47 percent of the regions population had received two shots with more than one third having received no vaccine at all. In Bangladesh and Myanmar, two thirds of the population were entirely unvaccinated.

In October 2021, 74 percent of Pfizers vaccines were going to high-income countries with the figures for Moderna at 82 percent. Just 1.5 percent and 3.4 percent were due to be distributed to the COVAX program for the delivery of supplies to developing countries.

It noted that Pfizer and Moderna expect to make a pre-tax profit of $34 billion in 20212022, equivalent to $1,000 a second. But attempts to secure the right for poorer countries to manufacture the vaccines through a patent waiver look unlikely to succeed with such initiatives having been blocked at the WTO [World Trade Organisation] and the Ministerial [Conference] planned for November 2021 has been indefinitely postponed.

Like other similar reports, the Oxfam analysis is marked by the stark contrast between the devastating facts and figures it presents and the completely empty policy prescriptions it advances based on appeals to the ruling elites to change course.

In its conclusion it begins by making the correct point that crises shape history.

But it goes on to maintain that 2022 could be the year that Asia chooses to break forever with a neoliberal agenda that has undermined its tax revenues and hollowed out public spending on crucial sectors. It could be the turning point that sees the region adopt a truly progressive agenda that puts the needs of many before the profit and extreme wealth of the few.

Reading such lines, one wonders whether the authors actually believe them because the facts they present demonstrate conclusively there will be no policy reversal within the framework of the existing socio-economic order of capitalism based on the accumulation of profit.

But tied by a thousand stringspolitical, social, ideological and not least materialto the existing order, the authors continue to advance the poisonous fiction that a change in mindset can bring reform.

This is because they fear, above all else, that masses of workers, in both the advanced and poorer countries alike, will draw the conclusion, from their own lived experience, that the only way to shape history out of the current crisis is their own independent struggle, leading to the overturn of the capitalist order by means of social revolution.
As COVID-19 infections, hospitalisations and deaths across Australia continue to soar, healthcare workers confront impossible conditions, chronic understaffing, increasing workloads and inadequate PPE (personal protective equipment).

More than 6,600 doctors, nurses and other health staff in Victoria alone are currently furloughed due to COVID-19 infections or being close contacts of coronavirus cases. Today, the Victorian government declared a code brown across the states hospitals, signalling that demand is exceeding capacity and some medical treatments will be cancelled or indefinitely delayed.

COVID-19 testing site in the Melbourne suburb of Fawkner (Photo: @JoanWil85024201, Twitter)

A complete breakdown in the testing and contact tracing system has meant that the real number of daily COVID-19 cases is unknown. On Saturday, it was reported that around 90,000 PCR tests from private pathology labs in Victoria had been discarded, due to testing labs being under pressure and unable to process results in time. In late December, SydPath, St Vincents Hospital pathology group, sent out false negative PCR results to around 900 of its patients.

The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke to Tim, a blood sample collector at a private pathology company in Victoria, about his experiences.

WSWS: How has COVID affected your workplace in relation to safety, staffing and PPE?

Tim: Theres been mixed messages. When the pandemic started, all we had to do was wear a mask and it wasnt until Omicron came that we were given full personal protective equipmenta gown, shield and N95 mask. But now, with restrictions being lifted by the government, full PPE is no longer required, even though we are more at risk and more collectors are getting COVID.

We are short staffed but have to see 30 patients a day each, which means that the chance of being exposed to COVID is very high. Workers are getting infected, in the workplace and outside, and we constantly dont have enough staff to cover shifts, yet we are no longer required to wear full PPE, just a face mask, which can be either a surgical mask or an N95. Its not mandated to wear N95s.

WSWS: What has been the effect on workloads?

Tim: We have more and more work and if other collection centres are closed, we get patients from other areas coming to us. And because the medical centres need the results fast, theres pressure to turn patients around quickly. Every time you come out and look in the collection centre waiting room, its full.

The pressure is on to try to move as many patients as you can because you dont want them to be at risk and you dont want them to be in the waiting room for too long. And theres just the general stress of it. You dont know which patient is going to be walking in with COVID.

Were constantly having to remind patients to pull their masks up, even though they are sitting in a full room, theyll have their masks down and be talking. Its not pleasant having to remind patients to do that. A lot of the collection centres are only manned by one person, and anything could happen in an emergency. Its not a safe situation.

WSWS: Do any of your collectors have to work with confirmed COVID positive patients?

Tim: Up until a few months ago, collectors were having to work in COVID wards, and then later work in the general population, which obviously increased the risk of infection. The only reason this was stopped was because it could have spread COVID to the general population.

WSWS: What do you think about National Cabinet reducing the isolation period of workers in essential services so they can come back to work while possibly still infectious?

Tim: That decision is unscientific because it creates the potential for further infections and it adds to the pressure on staff, who might be sick, and are afraid that they will pass it on to someone else. The policy doesnt correspond to the health and wellbeing of the workers.

Potentially, you have a collector who might see 30 patients a day, and if they were infectedwere so close up to patients to do the procedurethere is the potential for a massive increase in the infection rate.

The bottom line is that its a business decision. Governments are taking steps to keep the economy running at the expense of the health and safety of the population and especially health care workers.

I was speaking to a friend who was off work with COVID. She told me she was in a terrible state. We all agree that in this job, its only a matter of time before a patient comes in positive and thatll be it. A collector will get COVID and pass it on. The discussion at our workplace is that were going to get it sooner or later.

WSWS: What has been the role of the union, the Health Workers Union in relation to these dangers?

Tim: It is deafeningly quiet. One of the things were trying to do is to get the company to provide us with rapid antigen tests at every collection centre. This is a very basic health and safety issue, but its not happening at the moment because its not the policy of the company to provide these tests.

Those workers who were previously tested, were tested by our manager from her own batch of rapid antigen tests. She bought some and had to give them to the staff. Were the frontline workers and yet were not even given the most basic equipment to protect ourselves. The union has said nothing about this.

WSWS: Have you had booster shots?

Tim: Ive had a booster but at our company getting vaccines and boosters is left up to the individual. The company made no attempt to provide boosters, and that was its policy right from the start.

Now, with the dropping of the PPE precautions, I hardly see the collectors wearing PPE because its no longer required. PPE is cumbersome but its there to maintain protection.

Its a breakdown. Youve got private companies trying to accumulate as much profit as they can from the pandemic. Even the question of testing and protecting their workforce is not done on the basis of a scientific understanding of what were confronting. Its based on the government policy of business as normal.

I think rank-and-file safety committees are completely necessary. Governments are producing policies that are contrary to our safety, and the safety of patients. Then you have the trade unions, who are completely silent and havent even raised the question of how many workers are infected already. Workers have been isolated.

Theres also the question of the casual workforce. There was a worker today who was isolated for five days and didnt know how he was going to get paid. But if hes isolated for medical reasons then he should be paid. If youre a casual worker youre pretty much on the baseline anyway and if you dont get shifts you dont get paid. Our work is not highly paid and its difficult to survive.

In the workplace theres unease and people seem to have come to the conclusion that sooner or later were going to get infected as collectors.

WSWS: Thats the government policy but its not inevitable.

Tim: Yes, thats right. It was shown earlier in the pandemic that with lockdowns the numbers could be controlled. China is a place where public health policy is still working and so these policies can work. If this was done internationally, it would get rid of the virus.
As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads throughout the United States, it is leading to a surge in cases, deaths and hospitalizations.

Today, the official death toll in the United States from the pandemic will hit 875,000, and a staggering 45,000 have died in the past month alone. The true death toll, according to excess death statistics from The Economist, stands at over 1 million.

A registered nurse pulls on a new N95 mask as indentations remain from another she had just removed after leaving a COVID-19 patient room in the acute care unit of Harborview Medical Center, Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, in Seattle. Washington Gov. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Every day, an average of 2,000 Americans are dying from this preventable disease, with the daily death toll spiking as high as 2,700 on some days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects the death toll will grow to an average of 3,000 per day in the coming weeks as hospitals are increasingly overwhelmed by the flood of patients.

The Omicron wave has been far more dangerous to children than any previous surge of the pandemic. In the past six days alone, 42 children have died from COVID-19, a rate of 7 per day. This is roughly double the rate that children died during the peak of the Delta surge last fall, which killed over 500 children in the US. In total, 1,127 US children have now succumbed to the virus, according to CDC figures. Countless others, whose cases are classified as mild, suffer from the impact of Long COVID.

Since the first US case of the Omicron variant was detected in early December, infant COVID-19 hospitalizations have surged four-fold, according to CDC figures referenced by The Economist. In New York, the worst hit state, child hospitalizations increased seven-fold from the week of December 5-11 to the week of January 2-8.

Overall, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 nationwide has reached 154,208, nearly 25,000 higher than any previous surge.

The massive surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths is the outcome of the Biden administrations decision to abandon all measures to stop the spread of the disease. Last month, the government shortened isolation requirements for infected workers to five days, forcing contagious workers back on the job to infect others.

In hospitals, some of which are urging infected workers to work without any isolation period at all, in-hospital COVID-19 transmission has surged four-fold.

On every social media platform, on-the-ground reports of horrific experiences and conditions facing health care workers, educators and workers across industries are documented daily.

Teachers and educators, forced back into classrooms with the claim that schools and higher education facilities are safe, are seeing their students fall ill and spread COVID-19 to their family members. One educator in New Jersey tweeted, In the last two weeks, Ive had two students get covid in school, bring it home, and now their caregivers (mom and grandma) are dead.

Those hospitalized are being treated by a workforce stretched to the limit. In a narrative that went viral on Twitter, emergency medicine doctor Regina Royan posted a selfie of herself, nearly 9 months pregnant, in a hospital bathroom wearing an elastomeric mask with the caption, last shift treating an ER full of covid at 39 1/2 weeks!

Italian doctor Irine Tosetti commented, terrible to see what the USA does to their workers.

But even so, the countrys hospital system cannot keep up. The Boston Globe wrote, in an article posted last week, The states largest health care system, Mass General Brigham, starting Monday, will be slashing thousands of surgeries it performs each week as it strains to stay ahead of the tsunami of patients pouring into its hospitals.

Across the country, the medical system is breaking down. Literally have docs posting on medical Facebook groups desperately looking for hospitals to transfer their critically ill patients to and theyre coming up empty, wrote physician Jeremy Faust on Twitter.

But as hospitals are overwhelmed in the crush of cases, as vital services are delayed, as doctors face post-traumatic stress disorder for dealing with a surge of death, another narrative dominates the national media: The crisis is over; Omicron is mild; and mass infection should simply be accepted.

Is Omicron Peaking? asks New York Times columnist David Leonhardt, repeating a false claim he has made throughout the pandemic

Worse, some news outlets are actively promoting mass infection. For some who recently contracted Covid, an unexpected emotion: Relief, writes NBC News. NBCs story, overwhelmingly condemned by doctors and public health experts, stated, Some with recent Covid diagnoses are finding that contracting the illness they worked so hard to dodge for so long has brought them an unexpected reprieve from anxietyinstead of compounding it further.

Slow the Spread? Speeding It May Be Safer, an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal declared.

More and more, reporting of the actual state of the pandemic is relegated to the fourth or fifth slot in the evening news. Inevitably, the good news is highlighted amidst the catastrophe. Yesterday, it was the assertion that cases are peaking in some cities due to the sheer mass of infections. Meanwhile, the virus is inundating broad sections of the country, including rural areas.

As thousands die each day, the effort is being made to condition the public to simply accept mass infection and death as inevitable. The stories of doctors, educators and health care workers are being ignored.

But the total indifference to human life on the part of the ruling class is breeding a groundswell of opposition among workers and young people. Last week, thousands of students in dozens of high schools in Chicago staged walkouts in solidarity with their teachers, who, despite a vote to continue remote instruction, were forced back into classrooms by the Chicago Teachers Union.

Throughout the country, workers at pharmacies, grocery stores, railways and other workplaces are entering into struggle to demand decent wages and safe working conditions.

There is growing outrage at the Biden administration, which, after pledging to follow the science, has entirely embraced the Trump administrations let it rip policies of mass infection.

On Monday, Oxfam reported that, as income fell for 99 percent of the population, 10 of the worlds richest men doubled their wealth during the pandemic. It is increasingly clear to workers, in the United States and throughout the world, that all of this death and misery has only one aim: the enrichment of a parasitic financial oligarchy.

The inevitable outcome of the horrible experience that the American and international working class is passing through is an upsurge of the class struggle, combined with the growth of socialist sentiment.

This disaster can and must be ended. As they enter into struggle against the ruling class response to the pandemic, workers must fight for a strategy of global elimination and the rejection of capitalisms demand that human lives be sacrificed for private profit.
Anger and loathing toward the Liberal-National Coalition government and the political establishment as a whole is continuing to mount. This is threatening to further destabilise the ruling order, which has not had a full-term majority government since the landslide defeat of the Howard Coalition government in 2007.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (AP/Kiyoshi Ota)

The underlying disgust has been deepened by outrage over the rising toll of working-class COVID infections, hospitalisations and deathsdirectly produced by the profit-driven let it rip program adopted by the bipartisan National Cabinet of federal, state and territory government leaders.

The long-developing political crisis is all the more acute because it has thrown into doubt the governments plans to call an election. Prime Minister Scott Morrison had considered announcing a snap election for March, based on trumpeting hopes for a post-pandemic economic recovery. But that plan has been derailed by the disaster fuelled by letting loose the highly-transmissible Omicron mutation.

According to the Constitution, an election must be held by May, but the very scale of infection, already exceeding a million people this year and still rising, may make voting problematic. Voters will not want to join polling booth queues of potentially infectious people.

The latest corporate media poll, a Resolve survey published in Nine Media outlets today, gives another pale and distorted insight into the political disaffection.

It shows that primary vote support for Morrisons government plunged from 39 to 34 percent from November to January, pulling it below support for the opposition Labor Party for the first time in recent years.

Nonetheless, Labors rating rose only from 32 to 35 percent, barely above the near-record low of 33 percent it secured in losing the last federal election in 2019. That is because Labor, working closely with the trade unions, has been just as intent as the Coalition on reopening the economy and pushing workers into potentially dangerous workplaces, and teachers and students into unsafe schools.

Both Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese registered negative approval ratings. Morrison scored minus 9, just ahead of Albanese on minus 7, pointing to wide detestation with both the parties that have ruled the country for a century.

Most ominously for the parliamentary elite, support for other parties and independents rose to 20 percent. The Greens remained stuck on 11 percent, with their own pro-capitalist policies failing to appeal to the discontent.

Counting the Greens, 31 percent of voters favoured a choice outside the Coalition and Labor, a much larger result than at the last election, when the figure was 25 percent. In another indication of political turmoil, many voters said their support could change, with 27 percent describing themselves as uncommitted.

Significantly, when asked who would perform best on healthcare and aged care, only 28 percent of voters nominated the Coalition, and 34 percent Labor, leaving 38 percent opting for someone else or undecided. There was a similar result on education.

The poll was taken amid soaring COVID infectionsfar surpassing any levels previously suffered in Australialeading to the overwhelming of hospitals and aged care facilities, as well as the collapse of tracing, vast queues at testing centres, and acute shortages of rapid antigen tests (RATs). In addition, there are ongoing delays in the provision of booster vaccines and inoculation of school-age children.

This all is the result of the federal, state and territory governments, both Coalition and Labor, dismantling essential COVID-19 safety measures and trying to force workers back into workplaces, even when actually or possibly contagious.

There is widespread shock at the brutal shift by governments to demand that people live with the virus after largely keeping infections contained for 18 months by adopting safety measures, including limited shutdowns, under the pressure of working people insisting on the protection of health and lives.

Despite the frantic efforts of governments and the mass media to pump illusions in a corporate-led recovery, the vast majority of people have voted with their feet. They are staying away from shops, hospitality venues and travel destinations, resulting in a new downturn and business complaints of a shadow lockdown.

Nine Media publications said the grim mood in the community was confirmed in the Resolve polls national outlook index, which fell to 88 points in January from 102 points in November and 110 points in October. This means that more voters think the national outlook will get worse.

Nine Media chief political correspondent David Crowe commented: Scott Morrison needed a summer of love. He got a summer of loathing instead.

This opposition to the homicidal back to work drive will only grow as governments seek to herd students and teachers back into crowded classrooms within the next few weeks. A recent survey of families found that just one-fifth believed it was safe for schools to return.

For all the government and media lies that Omicron is mild, the COVID death toll is rising exponentially. Today, the most populous state, New South Wales, recorded 36 lives losta new record. Victoria announced 22 fatalities and Queensland a record 16, taking the national toll to a new daily record of 74, with some jurisdictions still to report.

Moreover, the medical evidence has exposed official claims that Omicron would be a Christmas present, providing immunity from further infection. It is now clear that Omicron infections, even with booster vaccinations, are no protection against re-infections, either by Omicron or Delta variants, after a few months, let alone any guarantee of immunity from future mutations.

Even before the Omicron wave exploded, the Morrison government was on its knees, beset by internal rifts and unable to pass key bills through parliament in December unless it had Labors backing.

Labor and the unions are doing everything they can to hold back a social explosion, suppressing strikes as they have for decades. Albanese gave an interview to the Nine Media outlets today, again pitching for business backing for a Labor government to more reliably deliver the corporate agenda, acting in concert with the unions.

A day after Oxfam reported that the super-rich doubled their fortunes in the first two years of the pandemic, Albanese said he would offer voters an election platform to help create personal wealth for millions of aspirational people. Speaking of the labour movements historic mission, he said: Im very concerned about creating wealth.

Albanese also again aligned himself behind the increasingly aggressive US confrontation with China, saying he was open to boosting military spending if required.

With many workers demanding action against exposure to infection, the unions are trying to head off stoppages by pleading for collaboration with employers. The Australian Council of Trade Unions convened a meeting of union leaders yesterday. They resolved to write to all employers reminding them of their obligation to do all that is reasonable and practical to keep workers safe.

Far from threatening strikes, as corporate media platforms claim, the meeting urged employers to provide free RATs, upgraded masks and improved ventilation so that production could continue despite the raging pandemic, which is now striking down up to half the workforce in some industries.

These union bureaucrats know that any eruption of working-class struggle would shatter not just the Morrison government but the capacity of a Labor government to impose the requirements of the corporate boardrooms. To break out of the Labor-union straitjacket, the anger and resistance among workers needs to be guided by a socialist perspective, based on the protection of health and lives, not private profit.

As the Socialist Equality Party explained in its recent open letter to workers in Australia: These sentiments must be transformed into a political movement of the working class, directed against the entire capitalist political establishment, including Labor and the unions, which have unfurled as their banner the mass illness and death of working people. Urgent action must be prepared, including strikes and shutdowns to close non-essential workplaces and to prevent children and teachers being forced into schools that will function as incubators of mass illness and death.
Warning Russian President Vladimir Putin of what could be a very, very bloody war, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced yesterday evening that Britain would be sending anti-tank weapons and military training personnel to Ukraine.

He prepared the move with an opinion piece in the Times published that morning accusing the Kremlin of planning at best, the subjugation of Ukraine and, at worst, the forced unification of that sovereign country.

Wallaces actions followed a series of anti-Russian statements by leading Conservative MPs. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss claimed last week, Russia is waging a disinformation campaign intended to destabilise and justify an invasion of its sovereign neighbour Ukraine.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood arrives at the Houses of Parliament in London, Friday March 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative chair of the House of Commons defence select committee, told the i newspaper on Sunday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is inevitable and imminent and we have allowed this to happen.

Saying the UK and NATO had the opportunity to place sufficient military hardware and personnel in Ukraine, he complained, we failed to do so.

Claiming the US under President Joe Biden was distracted from international events other than China, the former Royal Green Jacket captain argued, theres an opportunity for Britain to step forward and provide greater influence on the international stage.

He welcomed Wallaces deployment of UK troops and weapons on Monday, repeating his allegation that Russia is trying to redraw the map of Eastern Europe and that Putin is all ready to go.

The truth is that the US and NATO are intent on forcing a military confrontation with Russia and the UK is jostling for a leading role in this war drive. Wallace and Ellwoods comments are the most pronounced expression of the sharp lurch to the right taking place in the British ruling class while the media is fixated on the Tory partygate scandal over drinking sessions in Whitehall during national lockdowns. Plans for military aggression abroad are being rolled out alongside an authoritarian offensive at home to impose the governments policy of letting the pandemic rip.

Johnson is preparing a slew of policies. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries already announced Sunday that the government would be freezing immediately, then in 2027 scrapping the BBC license fee, the source of funding for the state broadcaster. Undermining the BBC has been a long-term goal of the Tory party, who want to shift the UK media landscape even more rapidly and openly to the right.

The government is also committed to removing on January 26 the minimal Plan B public health measures currently in placea red line for a growing number of Tory backbenchers demanding the end to restrictions on profits. Johnson reportedly intends to scrap all remaining legal requirements relating to the pandemic, including the requirement to self-isolate after a positive test, as early as March.

In addition, plans are being drawn up to deploy the military to the English Channel to prevent migrant crossings, and, longer term, for migrants and asylum seekers to be sent to other countries for processing, with Ghana and Rwanda cited as possibilities.

These policies are described in the media as Johnsons personal effort to salvage his political career through a dog-whistle appeal to the Tory electoral base. They followed the Timess original report that the prime minister was launching a string of red meat policies to save his tottering premiership. In the Guardians words, Boris Johnson prepares a populist offensive to save his skin.

General view of the entrance gate of Downing Street, in London, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

But whatever Johnsons political calculations, his right-wing agenda is popular with the entire Tory Party and would have been implemented even if the Downing Street parties had remained a closely guarded secret. A frequent critic of Johnson, far from his inner circle, Ellwoods call for stepped-up aggression towards Russia is the rarest of red meat policies on offer.

The trigger for this reactionary onslaught is only in the narrowest sense the scandal swirling around Johnson. The Tories political agenda is driven by a raging crisis of British and world imperialism that has been deepened immeasurably by the pandemic.

After utilising COVID-19 to pump billions into the coffers of the major corporations and banks, the ruling class is driving the working class back to work and forcing children into unsafe classrooms so that the necessary profits can be generated to pay for this ram-raid on the economy.

The sole concern of the government is for British imperialism to be able to compete effectively in a cut-throat fight for global market share. This means the working class must learn to live with COVID-19. As Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi explained last November, Ultimately our plan, we will, I hope be the first major economy to transition from pandemic to endemic.

By aggressively driving through an end to public health measures and shutting down discussion of the pandemic, the Tory government hopes to steal an economic and geopolitical march on its competitors. Health Secretary Sajid Javid gloated in the Daily Mail on January 1, we have welcomed in 2022 with some of the least restrictive measures in Europe.

The same imperative drives the militarist agenda being pursued by all the major imperialist powers, targeting resource-rich Russia and China, their major strategic competitors.

Divisions among the Tories are subordinated to this agenda and confined to disagreements over the most important tasks and the best people to see them through. It is worth noting that Ellwood criticised Johnsons reported plans to deploy the Royal Navy against migrants as a massive distraction and not what our navy should be doing at a time of such high tensions with Russia and China. He tweeted earlier this month, Why the Defence Committee argues we need a BIGGER Navy, in reference to Admiral Sir Tony Radakins warning of a Russian threat at sea.

Johnson may go because he is not considered up to the task at hand, and something of an electoral liability. But the Tories will continue and deepen their Thatcherite offensive under whoever replaces him.

After Britains chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost resigned last month citing his desire for a more lightly regulated, low-tax economy and differences with the governments coercive COVID measures, Ellwood told Times Radio, I think this is what perhaps unites more and more of the wider party We need an, almost like, a wartime leader, we need a strong No 10.

The war Ellwood and the Tories expect to have on their hands is a class war. Their sabre-rattling against Russia, threatening catastrophic consequences, has no popular support whatsoever. And their assault on democratic and social rights takes place in conditions of a devastating crisis driven by the pandemic and the sharp upturn in the cost-of-living, fuelling broad popular hatred of the government. Having witnessed a rash of strikes in the second of half of last year, only temporarily restrained by the trade unions, the Tories know they face an explosion of working-class struggle.

The task of pacifying this resistance falls to the Labour Party and its police force, the Trades Union Congress. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has directed all his fire at Johnsons moral character, rather than the Tory government which has overseen the COVID deaths of more than 176,000 people in less than two years.

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell spelled out the purpose of this approach last week, with the call to his Conservative colleagues to remove Johnson in favour of a prime minister who people have confidence in, because, Once they lose trust in a prime minister, they start losing trust in the whole political process as well.

Former left leader Jeremy Corbyn also refuses to advocate any action outside of that political process, in which the Tories have a commanding majority, giving them carte blanche to do as they please in parliament.

However, the class struggle will not be held back for long by the efforts of these tired and discredited forces. The crisis in the Johnson government is exposing the Labour Party as much as it is rattling the Tories, with Starmer and Co. seeking to advance their own right-wing pitch to big business in response, unequivocally endorsing the end of public health measures. Mass opposition will develop in the working-class and will do so through its own independent organisations, the rank-and-file committees fought for by the Socialist Equality Party.
Late Saturday night, the University of Michigan Board of Regents fired President Mark Schlissel for inappropriate conduct. Following an internal investigation, Schlissel was removed for using his university email account to send messages to a subordinate with whom he had apparently been having a consensual relationship for several years.

University of Michigan President Mark S. Schlissel on Monday, December 4, 2017 (Source: Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy)

The media has posted 118 pages of emails from Schlissel to a female university employee. The publication of the messages is a serious invasion of privacy. Schlissel has been transformed into a major criminal overnight. On what basis?

By and large, the emails are innocuous, to say the least. According to MLive, these were several of the key messages:

On September 3, 2019, the individual appeared to invite Schlissel to an event for the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Schlissel told the woman that he was free and that we should think of something to do thereafter, according to the documents.

On September 14, 2019, Schlissel sent the woman an itinerary for a flight to India and said, What if we miss our connection and get stuck in Paris ... The woman said, I know a bistro, to which Schlissel replied, Im so there.

In October 2019, Schlissel emailed the woman to tell her that he got a box of knishes as a gift. When the woman says she is familiar with knishes, Schlissel wrote, I can lure you to visit with the promise of a knish?

The emails also included New Yorker magazine articles, travel itineraries and tips, restaurant menus, credit card bills and one of Shakespeares sonnets. (Sonnet 73, That time of year thou mayst in me behold.)

The business is at the same time vile and absurd. This portion of the academic world, associated with the Humanities, has become saturated with subjectivism, vindictiveness and identity politics mania.

The Schlissel dismissal comes as over 1,900 university instructors and students continue to refuse to return to in-person instruction amid surging COVID-19 infections. Those involved are honoring an e-pivot pledge to continue remote learning for at least two weeks.

According to the Board of Regents, however, Schlissels inappropriate conduct did not involve putting the lives and public health of tens of thousands of students, instructors and staff recklessly in danger by reopening classrooms and sporting events amid record Delta and Omicron variant COVID-19 surges. For that, the eight-person board in fact gave him a 3 percent raise as recently as September 23, bringing his annual salary up to $927,000.

Nor was Schlissel removed for the now record number of COVID-19 infections taking place on campus, with over 1,600 positive cases officially listed on the universitys COVID-19 dashboard on January 8. This includes over 500 Michigan Medicine (formerly the University of Michigan Health System) health care workers, who were out with positive cases as of last week.

In fact, Schlissel gave an extensive interview on January 10 to the Michigan Daily in which he declared his support for a let it rip COVID-19 policy. Rejecting the demands of the e-pivot signers, he stated, We expected to see large numbers of cases.  Instead of counting the number of cases, I think what were really paying attention to is whos really sick, who has to go to the hospital and how severe the illness is. I think its quite likely that most of us are going to get Omicron at some point.  But the idea of preventing people from getting infected with COVID-19, I think the ship has sailed.

In response to this essentially criminal declarationin which he made clear that the risk of potential death or long-term illness was no reason to cancel classes or sporting eventsno protest emerged from the Board of Regents.

Nor did the Board attempt to remove Schlissel when he threatened over 1,200 graduate student instructors with a legal injunctionwhich could possibly have led to jail timein order to break their September 2020 strike for the right to a universal option for remote learning and other public health protections.

Nor were the Board members concerned with Schlissels refusal to protect the academic freedom and democratic rights of instructors, as in the case of Professor Bright Sheng this past semester. Sheng was denounced as a racist and pressured to step down from teaching his music composition course for screening the 1965 film adaptation of Othello that featured Shakespearean actor Laurence Olivier in dark makeup.

Rather, Schlissel was removed in a sordid, petty sex scandal. An investigation was opened into his relationship with a subordinate after an anonymous December 8 complaint. It is not clear yet whether the anonymous complaint was submitted by the subordinate to whom he was sending his messages, leaving open the possibility that a third party made the complaint for reasons yet to be determined.

Schlissel made no declarations in defense of democratic rights during the Sheng affair, nor in other incidents such as the ouster of English Professor John Rubadeau in 2018. If he had taken a stand in defense of due process and opposition to the new McCarthyism, he would be in a stronger position today. There is a sense in which he has been hoisted with his own petard.

The official letter sent to Schlissel by the eight-person boardcomposed of Democratic and Republican Party functionaries, two of whom are connected to the wealthiest families in the statedeclared that his use of the email account was inconsistent with the dignity and reputation of the university.

Within hours of the firing, messages were being sent out to the campus community by the institutional leadership about combating sexual misconduct and the need for a respectful, inclusive and equitable working environment. Apparently, such an environment will not tolerate private flirting but will accept the mass infection and possible deaths of thousands of women and men on campus!

Sex scandals have been utilized by the US political establishment to settle political and personal scores for decades. This has reached a fever pitch in recent years, driven by the Democratic Party-led #MeToo movement. Just last August the Democrats led a campaign to remove New York Governor Andrew Cuomo from officenot for deliberately covering up the deaths and infections of thousands in the state, including the deaths of a large section of 15,000 nursing home residentsbut because of murky and unsubstantiated claims of sexual wrongdoing.

The Board of Regents that has ousted Schlissel is itself a nexus of individuals tied to Wall Street, the Democratic and Republican parties, the CIA, the Pentagon, the healthcare industry and various other corporate sectors generally associated with the pandemic profiteers.

Take Ron Weiser, for example, head of the Republican Party in the state of Michigan. Weiser is a billionaire who made his fortune as head of McKinley Properties, an apartment real estate company in Michigan and Florida, with annual revenue of over $500 million. In the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area alone, he owns at least 18 different apartment complexes, rented out overwhelmingly by students, instructors and university staff. He has played a major role in keeping UM and nearby Eastern Michigan University open for in-person classes, ensuring students and instructors remain in his apartments.

Whatever the actual motives behind Schlissels removal, the official reasoning cannot be taken at face value. Early reports suggest that there is in-fighting between the wealthiest board members and school donors over who gets the biggest share of the spoils accruing from a real estate development project in Detroit, the $300 million Detroit Center for Innovation.

But more critical to his removal is the growing opposition of students, instructors and staff on campus to the reckless in-person policies. A campus-wide meeting was called by several groups on campus for Monday night to discuss extending the e-pivot pledge not to continue remote learning, in defiance of Schlissel and Provost Susan Collins orders to teach all classes in-person.

There is undoubtedly a growing nervousness within the Board of Regents and the ruling elite more broadly over the growth of opposition to its policy of mass infection. It is very possible that Schlissel was fired, using the sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior rationale, to divert anger away from the life-and-death crisis. It is critical that students, instructors and staff not be led into this political dead-end.

With Schlissel gone, the university administration intends to continue the same policy that he oversaw.

The ruling class live with the virus policy, overseen by the Biden administration and the Democratic Party, and supported by the Republicans and the far right, is drawing greater and greater opposition from students and instructors. Just last week, there were dozens of high school walkouts, teacher wildcat strikes, and similar e-pivot instructor refusals to return to in-person learning across the country, involving tens of thousands of workers and youth.

Also last week a joint meeting of the IYSSE at UM, with the Michigan and Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees, was held to begin organizing a concerted fight to broaden and connect the initiatives undertaken by both the UM students and instructors and the struggles of K-12 teachers, parents and students in Chicago and Michigan.

The next such meeting will be held this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST, and we encourage all students, parent, staff, instructors and other workers to take part. Click here for registration and contact information.
The first two weeks of the spring semester for K-12 schools have been a colossal disaster across the United States. At the federal, state and local levels, both the Democratic and Republican parties insist that all schools must continue fully in-person instruction during the worst surge in the pandemic. This homicidal policy is fueling the spread of COVID-19 and has produced a record surge of cases, hospitalizations and now deaths among children.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, since December 31, only two and a half weeks ago, 87 children under age 18 have died from COVID-19. Of those, 28 deaths occurred between January 14-17, a staggering rate of nine children per day. This rate is roughly three times the peak of the Delta surge, over the course of which more than 500 children died. The latest American Academy of Pediatrics report will be published later today and will almost certainly show another record increase in cases above last weeks record 580,247.

No other news outlet outside the World Socialist Web Site has reported on the devastating surge in pediatric deaths taking place in tandem with record cases and hospitalizations. This is in line with the broader efforts to conceal and downplay the pandemic, which is being orchestrated by the corporate media and the teachers unions. A Google search yields brief local reports on only two childrens deaths over the past seven days: an infant in Riverside County, California and an infant in Pennington County, South Dakota.

However, this reporters Tweet announcing the 28 deaths over the past three days has garnered immediate outrage.

One person commented, The media said the child cases are mild, and hasnt looked back.

Another wrote, And for each dead child or adult, there will be dozens with some level of disability. Even a possible epidemic of neurological problems 20-30 years down the line. But on the bright side the economy is doing great!!* *for the elites only.

The working class and youth have responded to the unfolding catastrophe with a resounding demand to stop in-person instruction as a necessary measure to end viral transmission and save lives. Inspired by teachers in Chicago, thousands of students across the US, from New York City to Chicago to Boston, staged walkouts last week to demand remote learning. Over 1,200 students in Oakland will walk out today, as the district has failed to meet their list of safety demands.

A masked student waits before the bell at Enrique S. Camarena Elementary School, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Chula Vista, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

The WSWS spoke to educators, parents and students across the US who have been involved in these struggles, some of whom are members of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees in their areas. They were asked about conditions in their schools and their thoughts on the most recent developments.

Oakland, California

A high school student who attends Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) highlighted the crisis operations of the publicly funded charter school founded by former California governor Jerry Brown.

At OSA, we went online this week because so many teachers went into quarantine. We didnt have enough adults on campus to legally keep the school open. They had all the substitutes in and had administrators in classrooms. They still didnt have enough.

We still have not closed for COVID. Theyre opening in-person this week. It is not a COVID-safe building. Its an old building with small hallways, and some entirely closed classrooms.

I know OUSD agreed to give out N95 masks. I dont think OSA will get those. They are offering testing, but its not enough for all the students and its not very often. Its not safe. I think most of the students and teachers agree that we shouldnt be in-person right now.

Making the connection between these unsafe policies and the Democratic Party-controlled California and Oakland governments, she continued, Of course California is not letting us [go remote] either. The individual schools themselves, like OSA, dont get enough funding to be able to take the safety of students into its own hands. The school doesnt get funded enough to be able to close because theyll lose funding. Oakland could do something, but they arent.

She added, Politicians care about the money more than they care about the people. The Democrats are not even holding up the facade very well about caring about people.

Referring to todays walkout, she said, We are going to try to get as many of our friends to not go as we can.

Arkansas

Exposing the lie that forcing children into infected schools benefits their mental health, a high school student in Arkansas shared his story on Facebook, writing, Im a student that did not feel safe going back to school. Everyone started testing positive. I have been exposed over 10 times. That is ridiculous! After 2 weeks of back in school I am home sick. Im home sick with COVID.

Its so stupid that these schools have nothing in place. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I have had my booster and everything but still I have it. So lemme just tell you omicron gets you even if you have your booster. Wear a freaking mask and stay home if sick. Thats all.

Brooklyn, New York

Disproving another lie, that the demand for schools to be open in-person is about providing a quality education and preventing learning loss, a middle-school teacher in Brooklyn spoke on the fact that it is nearly impossible to teach when so many faculty and students are out sick.

Some classes only have like two kids. Other classes have the full amount and so they started blending classes together, she said. How does this make any sense? Just keep the kids home and we could teach the whole class. There are so many coverages that the kids arent being taught anything. They are just being warehoused. Some kids are visibly sick. A lot of kids are out, and I dont know if thats because they are sick or because their parents were afraid to send them back. Its just a nightmare.

She described the abysmal testing levels, which undercounts the actual spread of the virus in schools. Last week, they came to test and they called the kids down, but most of the kids that had signed up for testing were not there.

The union chapter leader announced for interested staff to come to the testing area. Almost every teacher that was available came down, she said. Then they told us, oh theyre only testing five people because there are only 50 teachers present and they only test 10 percent. One teacher said, What is this, The Hunger Games? Whoever gets here first gets tested?

I thought OK, last time their excuse was that we didnt have our consent forms and now its that theyre only testing 10 percent of teachers that are in the building today? Why cant we be tested? Everybody was really angry. Why are they limiting the amount? Well we know why. Theyre trying to keep the numbers down.

Detroit, Michigan

Ronda, a grandparent in Detroit, wrote in support of the student walkouts.

I say to the students in Chicago: good job. For so long theyve been saying that children couldnt get COVID. So them walking out shows that these kids are smart enough to figure things out. They have their own mind.

I also think they figure to protect the teachers. They think, If we walk out they cant blame the teachers. They are not telling the children in the schools if someone is sick, or if they do find out someone is sick and immediately that kid comes back to school, the children realize Im not gonna deal with this. Im not gonna come back and sit next to someone who is sick.

Speaking to the real motives behind the campaign to keep schools open despite the dangers, she said, The employers dont care about their employees children. They just care about their companies and their parents coming into work. Its all about the money!

Seattle, Washington

Last week, students at Franklin High School in Seattle walked out over the dangerous conditions in schools. The campaign to keep schools in-person has been supported by a blanket refusal to invest in high-quality remote learning and technological resources.

A high school student at Kamiak High School in the Seattle area told the WSWS, Many students who have COVID still go to school because the remote option is so bad and unsupported. Teachers are tired because their classes are half empty. Students are packed in a crowded building.

Montgomery, Alabama

A teacher in Montgomery reported that faculty are required to buy their own PPE. Children are handed a surgical mask when they arrive each day, but if the school runs out, they ask their teachers for a mask, which the teachers pay for.

She said that at a recent board meeting, a board member responded to a parents concerns about the safety of the schools by saying, Any parent who doesnt like how things are going should home school their kids. And any teacher who doesnt like it should resign. This recalls the callous response of the school board when two educators in the district died from COVID-19 in a single day last year. In the last week, K-12 cases across Alabama jumped from 2,940 to 16,035.

Los Angeles, California

Juanita, a retired teacher with grandchildren, spoke to the obfuscation and intimidation from the school district, telling the WSWS: A number of parents have been trying to find out about the number of COVID cases at school, and we cant get any answers. People are threatening me because I have the courage to speak up. Its unbelievable. Parents are being denounced for asking. How can they hide that kind of information? It started before the Christmas break. They just dont want us to know.

Then the children who have symptoms are all put in one room. They dont even call the parents to come pick up their children. The children are all put in one room and then released out the back of the school.

The other thing Im upset about is we got news that the district is delivering COVID test kits to our homes. The problem is they are charging us for them. They should be free for everyone. The district has a budget of $20 billion! What are they doing with it to help us?

The developing movement of students and educators is emerging as the spearhead of a global class struggle against the capitalist system and its refusal to implement the necessary measures to end the pandemic. The trade unions, including the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, have colluded to keep all schools and workplaces open, dutifully marching their members into death traps.

The WSWS urges our readers to oppose the social crime being committed against the population, including millions of children, and to take a stand today by building the network of independent rank-and-file committees in your school or workplace.
Following the German media over the last few days, one would be forgiven for thinking that its commentators have lost their minds. They seem hell-bent on waging war against Russia or the Soviet Union for the third time in just over a century, as if World War I and World War II had not brought enough suffering and destruction to Europe.

Der Spiegel appeared at the weekend with the editorial Treat Putin as an adversarynot as a partner. The news magazine calls on NATO to finally deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine. Americans and Europeans have long tried to contain the Russian president through dialogue, it says. To no avail. It is time for a radical change of strategy: the West must raise the price of an invasion of Ukraine so high that it is too high even for Putin. And that is only possible by seeking confrontationdiplomatically, economically and indirectly also militarily.

SSO fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during training [Credit: Wikipedia/ArmyInform]

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung accused Russia of seeking hegemony over all of Europe. The newspaper compared Moscows claim to power with the policies of Hitler, who supported the 1936 fascist putsch in Spain and then smashed Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

The answer of the FAZ is nuclear deterrence. The president of the nuclear power France, Emmanuel Macron, already offered the partners in the EU talks about a nuclear strategy in 2020, the newspaper notes. This offer is still on the table. It is associated with serious risks: In the end, a conflict on Latvias eastern border could then lead to a strike against Paris.

Therefore, according to the FAZ, First of all, the conditions must be created so that all participants are willing to take this risk. For this to happen, the unification of Europe must progress quickly. In this spirit, the Berlin traffic light coalition speaks of the goal of a European federal state and Macron of sovereign Europe.

Die Zeit published a guest article by Ulrike Franke headlined, The hardships of the world are not for softies. The 34-year-old employee of the European Council on Foreign Relations, who wrote her doctoral thesis on the use of drones in Western armies, complains bitterly that members of her generation who are now becoming politically active in Germany struggle with power politics.

A skepticism about geopolitics, an unwillingness to think in terms of power and interests, and a rejection of the military as an element that determines geopolitical influence dominates, Franke laments. My generation developed an almost romantic idea of international relations.

To ensure that our interests are heard, she concludes, we need to think more about Europes and Germanys power and influence. We need to relearn geopolitics. It is also about the question of how the Bundeswehr must be equipped and managed in order to be taken seriously again as a deterrent.

There is hardly a newspaper or news program that does not advocate something similar. The rumours spread by the CIA and the US government of an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine dominate all news as if they were established facts. They are about as credible as the false reports about weapons of mass destruction with which the US justified the war against Iraq in 2003.

The German foreign minister also sharpened her tone towards Russia after the change of government in December. Yesterday, Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock again threatened in Kiev that Moscow would pay a high price in the event of aggression. It is not to be expected that she will adopt a different tone on her inaugural visit to Moscow today.

Baerbock also said that she was striving for a diplomatic defusing of the highly dangerous situation and rejected the Ukrainian demand for German arms deliveries. But this task is currently being taken on by the US, which is massively arming Ukraine and openly threatening to unleash a bloody guerrilla war in Ukraine, as they have done in Syria and numerous other countries.

According to a report by the New York Times, both Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley have warned their Russian counterparts over the phone that the CIA and Pentagon would support a bloody insurgency against a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Former NATO commander-in-chief James Stavridis also warned, If Putin invades Ukraine with a major military force, US and NATO military assistanceintelligence, cyber, anti-armor and anti-air weapons, offensive naval missileswould ratchet up significantly.

The war against Russia that the governments in Washington and Berlin and the servile media are preparing is sheer madness. It is unlikely that any of the writers who now preach confrontation, power politics and nuclear deterrence have given even a second thought to the catastrophic consequences of the course they are pursuing.

In their eagerness to demonize Russian President Vladimir Putin, they completely overlook the fact that no Russian government, whoever was the leader, would be willing or able to tolerate NATOs steady advance. In the successor state of the Soviet Union, which played a decisive role in defeating Nazi barbarism in World War II and lost 25 million people, the memory of this horrible experience lives on.

It has not escaped the notice of the Russian public that in NATO and EU member Latvia, every year on March 16, the day of Legionnaires Day, SS veterans who committed unspeakable crimes on the side of the Nazis are celebrated, and statues of Nazi collaborators like Stepan Bandera, who was involved in mass murders, are erected in the supposedly democratic Ukraine.

The myth of Russian hegemonic aspirations also turns reality on its head. Ever since Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putins political mentor, dissolved the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union 30 years ago, NATO has increasingly encircled Russia, despite promises to the contrary. It is now directly on the Russian border.

It has dismembered Yugoslavia, grossly disregarding existing borders, which it now declares inviolable in the case of Crimea. It even waged an illegal war to separate Kosovo from Serbia, collaborating with elements who have since been accused or convicted of crimes against humanity and organized crime.

The US and its NATO allies have also waged wars against Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria in order to defend their geostrategic hegemony. But each of these wars ended in disaster. Tens of millions had to flee, millions died, and entire societies were destroyed. The US and its allies could not even defeat the Afghan Taliban, despite investing trillions in weapons and bombs. A war over Ukraine would result in an even greater disaster, destroying much of Europe.

In Eastern Europe, the expansion of the EU and NATO has not led to prosperity and democracy. Instead, low wages and poverty prevail, while a corrupt elite enriches itself immeasurably. The governments in Poland and Hungary are now so openly disregarding elementary democratic rights that even the European Union felt compelled to take action.

The regime in Kiev was brought to power in 2014 in a US-German-backed coup that relied on fascist militias.

On the very day that German Foreign Minister Baerbock visited Kiev, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also returned to the country to face trial. The billionaire oligarch came to power as a result of the 2014 coup and remained the countrys president for five years. Now his successor Volodymyr Zelensky is pursuing him for high treason. He is said to have made lucrative deals with pro-Russian separatists during his presidency while supporting right-wing nationalists, which Poroshenko denies.

The bitter power struggle between the various cliques of Ukrainian oligarchs is another factor increasing the risk of war. Preparations for war against Russia are like playing with fire in an ammunition depot. Only a ruling class that has completely lost its head can pursue such adventurous policies.

Ultimately, the drive to war is the result of the bankruptcy of a capitalist system torn by insoluble contradictions. The pandemic has taken social contradictions to the extreme. While at least 15 million people worldwide have died from the virus and 163 million have been plunged into poverty because of the pandemic, the worlds top 10 billionaires have doubled their wealth to $1.5 trillion, according to the latest Oxfam report. On the other hand, there is growing resistance from the working class.

The ruling class reacts to thisas in 1914 and 1939with its insane war policy. Only a united movement of the international working class, fighting against social inequality, war and capitalism, and for a socialist society, can halt this madness.
Weather Alert

...The National Weather Service in Indianapolis IN has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Indiana... White River at Elliston and Edwardsport. Wabash River at Montezuma. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days including today will lead to minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions on the Wabash River. Additional rainfall later this week should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through Saturday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT TO SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...From late tonight to Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:45 AM EDT Tuesday the stage was 9.1 feet. - Forecast...The river will oscillate around flood stage with a maximum value of 16.4 feet early Saturday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
[January 18, 2022] IDC Launches Coverage of High-Performance Computing (HPC) Market Under the Auspices of Performance Intensive Computing Solutions International Data Corporation (IDC) today announced that it is initiating coverage of the High-Performance Computing (HPC) market by launching two new continuous intelligence services - one covering High-Performance Computing Trends and Strategies and the other on the rapidly growing High-Performance Computing as a Service market. In a recent published blog post, Peter Rutten, research vice president and global research lead on Performance Intensive Computing Solutions, discusses the reasons why IDC decided to reinitiate its HPC coverage in 2022, just as companies worldwide focus on the next chapter of business transformation after their post-pandemic recovery. Rutten makes a case for how the coverage of HPC is born out of an unmet need in the market for reliable and actionable market data and insights on HPC-related trends, and crucially the convergence of HPC with emerging domains like Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing and Accelerated Computing. The industrialization of HPC - sometimes referred to as the democratization of HPC - is a trend around HPC-related technologies becoming commonplace. Its adoption is no longer limited to well-funded national laboratories and large universities. It is gaining wider adoption in public and private research institutions, cloud, digital and communications service providers, and - crucially - in many enterprises. The growing availability of stupendous amounts of compute at manageable costs and with measurable returns, whether they are capital expenses for on-premises HPC systems or operational expenses for HPC as a service, have tremendous enabling power for scientists, engineers, and technical staff. Coupled with rich data sets, access to vast amounts of compute capacity has ushered in a new R&D culture among scientists. The ability to increase iterative runs without penalty allows them to tweak a model or run a simulation as often as necessary within acceptable timeframes. IDC plans to cover research HPC under the auspices of Performance Intensive Computing (PIC) solutions. IDC coined the term Performance Intensive Computing to describe solutions for mathematically intensive workloads, as are commonly deployed in artificial intelligence, big data and analytics, engineering and technical, and modeling and simulation (aka HPC) use cases. It is used for processing large volumes of data or executing complex instruction sets in the fastest way possible. "In the institutional and mainstream HPC segments, IDC is seeing very strong client demand for research to support their inbound planning and outbound marketing activities," noted Rutten, "IDC aims to deliver a comprehensive service with these two new programs to support our clients with HPC data and insights that are grounded in, and fully integrated with, all of IDC's worldwide data and insights offerings." "We are very excited to launch these HPC programs to complete IDC's infrastructure research," said Ashish Nadkarni, group vice president, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms and Technologies Group at IDC. "HPC is being democratized to the point where any organization can execute some of their most important technical and scientific computations on-premises or in the cloud, and our clients are looking to gain an in-depth understanding of these markets." In the coming years, as part of its HPC research, IDC plans to develop and publish market taxonomies, deployment models and scenarios, vendor profiles, sentiment analysis reports, use case reports, market sizes and forecasts, and various other research and data products. Furthermore, IDC will include HPC-related engagements in as part of its custom solutions practice. For more information about IDC's High-Performance Computing and Performance Intensive Computing research, please contact Peter Rutten at prutten@idc.com. About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,200 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005142/en/

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Call of Duty: Warzone 'Operation Monarch' Brings Godzilla and King Kong to Caldera Island This May
A 15-year-old male was booked into San Joaquin County Juvenile Hall for vehicular manslaughter after a fatal crash Sunday morning, Stockton Police Department reported.

The police department said about 10:20 a.m. Sunday, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office deputies attempted to catch up to a suspect vehicle that was wanted for a felony out of Contra Costa County.

A Stockton police officer assisted after noticing high speed and erratically driving east on Charter Way, police said.

The vehicle then collided with another vehicle at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Lincoln Street, police reported. The 37-year-old male driver of the other vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

The 15-year-old driver of the suspect vehicle was taken to the hospital before being booked into juvenile hall. It is unknown what felony the teen was wanted for or if the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Stockton and Concord police departments said they were unable to respond to media inquiries because of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

This remains an active investigation by the San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office, the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner, and the California Highway Patrol.

The Stockton Police Department encourages anyone with any information to call the non-emergency line at (209) 937-8377.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers breaking news. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: 15-year-old arrested after fatal crash in Stockton
Jan 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws the ball while brought down by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Troy Reeder during the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game. The ball was intercepted for a touchdown. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic

It didn't take long for the tide to turn on Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

It wasn't even halftime of the NFL Wildcard game between the Cardinals and the L.A. Rams and some on social media were calling for the firing of Kingsbury, who is in his third season with the team.

More: Could Arizona Cardinals fire Kliff Kingsbury? NFL writers speculate about coach's future

Im not sure Kliff Kingsbury survives this collapse.  ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 18, 2022

And the Cardinals have given up before halftime. Welcome to Hawaii, Kliff Kingsbury  RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 18, 2022

Not trying to be the coach reaper here but is it time to talk about whether the Cardinals would fire Kliff Kingsbury after this game? 7-0 start to season, 4-6 rest of the way and a possible playoff blowout loss. At least a possibility?  TheSchlegdaddy (@TheJeffSchlegel) January 18, 2022

Cardinals are going to be so good once they fire Kliff Kingsbury.  Cody (@illegalgambler) March 17, 2021

Friendly reminder: Kliff Kingsbury went 13-19 with Patrick Mahomes pic.twitter.com/NkYkhrOyKn  KyleCovers.com (@itskylecovers) January 18, 2022

Even those not calling for the end of the Kingsbury era weren't happy about the Cardinals' performance.

Story continues

Another Kliff Kingsbury regular season in the books!



Lets update how hes ended every season as head coach



'14: lost 4 of 5

'15: lost 4 of 6

'16: lost 6 of 8

'17: lost 6 of 8

'18: lost 5 of 5

'19: lost 7 of 9

'20: lost 6 of 9 (1 win by Hail Mary)

21: lost 4 of 5  Matt Mitchell (@olboyunclemitch) January 10, 2022

Kliff Kingsbury makes me not want to watch football  Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) January 18, 2022

Kliff Kingsbury talking to Kyler Murray: pic.twitter.com/IBXWLvrSPl   (@DCSportStan) January 18, 2022

Well, we know Kliff Kingsburys plans for next weekend. pic.twitter.com/JOZ3p3vDcE  Ross Read (@RossRead) January 18, 2022

Kilff Kingsbury said Kyler Murray will play the game of his life



Also Kyler Murray: pic.twitter.com/nut11pvaKr  x-Cardinals Nation (@CardinalsNatio3) January 18, 2022

Booker has 41 with a quarter to go...Cardinals fans, stop torturing yourselves and just tune in  Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) January 18, 2022

Fans weren't easy on Kyler Murray either.

More: Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray slammed for NFL playoff performance vs. Los Angeles Rams

OBJ has more passing yards than Kyler Murray  @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/ELJMQnQAp9  Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 18, 2022

Kyler Murray next year pic.twitter.com/4zk4fRZ73u  Grant (@bronkema_grant) January 18, 2022

Kyler Murray is a baseball guy at heart. Not surprising he shuts down after October.  Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) January 18, 2022

Now batting for the As, center fielder, number 1, Kyler Murray.  Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) January 18, 2022

Kyler Murray fits in the As organization because he also likes to play just one round in the playoffs.  OLIVIA witherite (@Oliviawitherite) January 18, 2022

Perhaps the Cardinals knew what they were talking about with this tweet before the game.

Things are about to get wild. pic.twitter.com/TbZYNIlTEp  Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 17, 2022

Reach the reporter at emily.horos@azcentral.com or 602-444-2426. Follow her on Twitter @ejhoros.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals fans sound off on social media
Donald Trump is catching flak for deploying a modified version of an official government seal in an announcement about a new golf course. Beyond questions of taste, the announcement  sent out on Martin Luther King Jr. Day  was met with questions about whether Mr Trump is using taxpayers money officially granted to him as a former president to promote his private business interests.

As speculation about a rift between Mr Trump and Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues to grow, aides to the former president have blamed the story not just on the media but on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Their rationale, as issued via anonymous quotes, is that Mr DeSantis fuelled the latest stories by criticizing Mr Trumps lockdown policies on a podcast run by a former McConnell adviser.

Mr McConnells office has so far declined to comment on the story, though it is commonly agreed that he and the former president have been at daggers drawn since the 6 January insurrection last year.

Follow live updates below

Key points

Trump holds first 2022 rally in Arizona

Trump attacks Democrats, disloyal Republicans at rally in Arizona

First sedition charges handed down in Capitol riot cases

Trump wholeheartedly embraces Fedsurrection conspiracy theory for January 6

Trump adviser says to expect more campaigning in months ahead

18:00 , John Bowden

An adviser to former President Donald Trump told CNN this week that the ex-president is eager to show his relevance to the GOP this midterm season.

In that regard, hes likely to step up his campaigning efforts in the months ahead, even as he has yet to say whether he will run again in 2024.

[W]e will see more engagement from him in the coming months, Bryan Lanza told the network.

Raskin: Jan 6 committee will have Watergate-style hearings

17:23 , John Bowden

Rep Jamie Raskin, a member of the January 6 panel, said on Monday that he and his fellow lawmakers would be in for daily hearings throughout 2022 as the committee sought to educate the American people about what led up to the attack on the Capitol.

Story continues

He made the comments to Medhi Hasan on MSNBC.

[W]e're going to have hearings for the American people, which I hope will seem somewhat like the Watergate hearings did, in that they will be a daily occurrence so people can follow the unfolding narrative, said the congressman.

Roger Stones view on Ron DeSantis

17:01 , Andrew Naughtie

Daily Beast reporter Zachary Petrizzo writes that longtime Trump ally and hardcore right-wing agitator Roger Stone has taken to railing against the Florida governor in private  including in the most personal of terms.

In light of the news that Trump is calling Ron DeSantis dull, Republican operative Roger Stone continues to attack the Florida governor labeling him fat slow and dumb. The Yale Harvard governor will never be president, he added. DeSantis opposes constitutional open carry.  Zachary Petrizzo (@ZTPetrizzo) January 17, 2022

Report: DeSantis-Trump tensions still on the rise

16:40 , Andrew Naughtie

The New York Timess Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman write that Donald Trumps irritation about Ron DeSantis goes back months  and that the dispute is about more than a former presidents easily bruised ego:

At its core, the dispute amounts to a stand-in for the broader challenge confronting Republicans at the outset of midterm elections. They are led by a defeated former president who demands total fealty, brooks no criticism and is determined to sniff out, and then snuff out, any threat to his control of the party. That includes the 43-year-old DeSantis, who has told friends he believes Mr. Trumps expectation that he bend the knee is asking too much. That refusal has set up a generational clash and a test of loyalty in the de facto capital of todays G.O.P., one watched by Republicans elsewhere whove ridden to power on Mr. Trumps coattails.

Read the full report here.

Trumpist Texas governor posts stunning fundraising numbers

16:20 , Andrew Naughtie

Popular ex-Congressman Beto ORourke is the Democrats leading contender to take on Republican Greg Abbott in this years Texas gubernatorial contest  but based on newly released fundraising data, it looks like Mr Abbotts ability to rake in money will make him a formidable opponent indeed.

Shot: Beto ORourke raised $7.2 million in his first few weeks on the TX GOV campaign trail.



Chaser: TX Gov. Greg Abbott raised $18.9 million, has $65 million in the bank.  Reid Wilson (@PoliticsReid) January 18, 2022

Mr ORourke ran a strong campaign against Texas Senator Ted Cruz in 2018, a race that catapulted him to national fame despite the fact he lost. However, his subsequent presidential campaign failed to take off despite attracting top-tier staff and millions of dollars in donations.

Top Republican on why he isnt running for winnable Senate seat

15:58 , Andrew Naughtie

Chris Sununu, the sitting Republican governor of New Hampshire, was long talked about as one of the strongest possible contenders for the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Maggie Hassan, who is up for re-election this year. Yet despite his ample popularity, Mr Sununu has declined to run, depriving of the party of their best chance to take a crucial spot in the Senate in a year where every race counts.

Explaining his reasoning for not running, Mr Sununu pointed a finger at the Senate Republicans whose ranks he would have joined had he run and won, describing how they explicitly told him that their strategy between now and 2024 is essentially to do little besides obstruct Joe Biden.

The fracas over Trumps presidential seal"

15:35 , Andrew Naughtie

Tom Fenton explains why Donald Trumps use of what looks like an official presidential seal for his golf club announcement really matters  and why its been met with such consternation.

Trump under fire for using presidential seal and office to promote golf course

Trumps next stop: Conroe, Texas

15:13 , Andrew Naughtie

Having met with a warm reception in Arizona this weekend, Donald Trump has another rally on his schedule for 29 January. His destination this time will be Conroe, Texas, which sits just north of Houston.

The state, which at one point in 2020 was thought to be within Joe Bidens reach, is home to some of Mr Trumps loudest and proudest supporters, among them Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbott  both of whom are thought to be likely presidentical contenders if the ex-president does not or cannot run in 2024.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Mr Trump has already doled out endorsements in 20 of Texass various primary races, with more expected as the electoral clock counts down towards November.

Australians mock Trump fans dismayed at Novak Djokovic standoff

14:52 , Andrew Naughtie

After Australian authorities finally forced tennis star Novak Djokovic to leave the country because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19, many MAGA supporters took to social media to tweet their dismay  some of them declaring that #AustraliaHasFallen and calling the country a prison.

Many Australians, angry that Djokovic sought an exemption after they endured some of the worlds most punishing Covid-19 restrictions, have responded with mirth.

Gino Spocchia has the story.

MAGA fans mocked for Australia Has Fallen hashtag

An Oath Keeper appears with Trump

14:32 , Andrew Naughtie

Among the many wilder audience members and guests at Trumps Arizona rally was, it seems, a self-declared member of the Oath Keepers  the militia group that has seen its founder and several members indicted on sedition charges over the US Capitol attack. On MSNBC, Mehdi Hasan unpacked the details.

Watch the full segment here: https://t.co/tsapDRoSpe  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) January 18, 2022

Kinzinger rips pro-Trump candidate over Arizona rant

14:10 , Andrew Naughtie

Adam Kinzinger, the retiring GOP Congressman who stands as one of Mr Trumps few consistent critics in the House of Representatives, has lately been calling out more and more of his fellow Republicans over their support for the ex-president and the belligerent rhetoric they direct at his dissenters.

His latest target is Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers, a hardcore Trump fan who has previously appeared at QAnon-linked events and spoken in support of various fringe ideas.

A few years ago, in Wendy Rogers multiple failed races for congress, she asked for support from me and promised that she was not a crazy, and would never join the crazy freedom caucus. But applause is a powerful drug. Sad to see. https://t.co/qxOCGLzg31  Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) January 18, 2022

Fox Newss Ingraham celebrates Mark Milleys Covid-19 diagnosis

13:40 , Andrew Naughtie

The news that Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has tested positive for Covid-19 (albeit with mild symptoms) has been met with concern in some quarters  and delight in others. Watch Laura Ingraham announcing the news below:

Pro-life and respect the troops, you say? https://t.co/7oKAITA4lD  Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) January 18, 2022

Trump fans incensed by chaotic aftermath of Arizona rally

13:14 , Andrew Naughtie

While Donald Trumps appearance in Arizona on Saturday offered an abundance of red-meat rhetoric for his adoring base, the event came with a sting in the tail as audience members waited as long as several hours to be released from the venue.

As one fan put it on TikTok: This is bull****. Ive never had my freedom restricted like this in my life. And of all places for it happen, my first Trump rally.

Im an attorney. This is false imprisonment, she added. Theyre treating us like commoners. Let all the VIPs go first and who cares about the little people.

Read more:

Attendees waited hours to leave Trump rally as fans lash out on social media

Texas synagogue hostage-taker was known to MI5  report

12:51 , Andrew Naughtie

It has emerged that British citizen Faisal Akram, who was killed after taking hostages at a Texas synagogue on Saturday, was investigated by British intelligence services as recently as 2020.

He's known to police, got a criminal record, said the attakers brother, Gulbar Akram. How was he allowed to get a visa and acquire a gun?

Read more:

Texas synagogue hostage-taker was known to MI5 security service

Whos really behind the Trump-DeSantis feud story?

12:25 , Andrew Naughtie

It is increasingly clear that there genuinely is some level of animosity between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, who was once considered a loyalist rather than a potential rival. But how and why the story has emerged (and now become a political media fixation) remains unclear.

Now, Trump aides are reportedly trying to muddy the water by claiming that some of Mr DeSantiss more critical statements about the former president may have been egged on by Trump enemy Mitch McConnell and his allies. However, not everybody on the Trump beat is convinced...

I heard some of the complaining about McConnell as a hidden hand in this. But DeSantis's whole brand is tell-it-like-it-is, it's not like someone is getting him to do something he didn't want to https://t.co/RvruDOS5yt  Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 18, 2022

Trump Organization in trouble over hotel bills

12:04 , Andrew Naughtie

The saga of the Trump Organizations billing and spending around the 2017 inauguration has been rumbling for years, with both Ivanka and Eric Trump deposed by investigators. While other lines of inquiry include allegations that Trump hotels over-billed the Presidential Inauguration Committee for rooms and facilities, the latest turn in the story is the focus on bills the organization allegedly refused to pay itself.

Nathan Place has more:

Unpaid hotel bill could drag Trump Organization back into DC lawsuit, report says

Michigan fake elector was working with Trump lawyer, report claims

07:30 , Shweta Sharma

Supporters of former president Donald Trump allegedly received orders to march into the Michigan Capitol in Lansing from the Republican leaders campaign.

A group of supporters contemplated working with a Republican lawmaker who had a Capitol office to get the 16 Trump electors inside the elector room where the official count was taking place, The Detroit News reported.

The Independents Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has more details.

Michigan fake elector was working with Trump lawyer, report claims

Good chance of Hillary-Trump rematch in 2024 presidential elections, ex-Clinton advisor

07:10 , Shweta Sharma

Dick Morris, a former top adviser to former president Bill Clinton, has said that there is a good chance of a rematch between Hillary Clinton and one-time president Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential elections.

Appearing on John Catsimatidiss radio show, Cats Roundtable, Morris said if Democrats lose control of the Congress in the 2022 midterm elections, Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris would struggle to maintain support.

This will pave the way for Ms Clintons second presidential bid with her husband Mr Clinton supporting her as an architect to her strategy.

Theres a good chance of it, said Mr Morris, about a potential Hillary-Trump rematch.

Hillary has set up a brilliant strategy that nobody else is able to do, Mr Morris added. Knowing the people around her, I believe there is only one person capable of that level of thinking  and thats her husband, Bill.

The second the election is over  every Democrat is going to take a shot at Biden and Harris. They will be DOA, he added.

DeSantis says Trumps 'expectation that he bend the knee is asking too much

06:45 , Shweta Sharma

As feud between Donald Trump and the Florida governor widens, Ron DeSantis has reportedly refused to bend a knee to the former president and said backing him in the 2024 presidential election is is too much to ask for.

DeSantis has privately revealed to his inner circle that Trumps expectation that he bend the knee is asking too much, reported the New York Times.

Trump said that DeSantis has no realistic chance of beating him in the 2024 GOP primary on account of his dull personality, according to Axios sources close to the former president.

The governor criticised Trump at his latest comments about him and accused him of being uncharacteristically out of step with the hard-line elements of his partys base.

Martin Luther Kings son and Democrats hit out at senators blocking voting rights bill

06:30 , Shweta Sharma

Top democrats and the eldest son of Martin Luther King marked the national holiday that would have celebrated his fathers 93rd birthday by railing against the de facto Senate supermajority requirement.

They called out two Democrats for enabling Republican attacks on voting rights by refusing to change Senate rules so Democrats can enact voting rights legislation.

Andrew Feinberg has more.

MLKs family link remembrance of his legacy with voting rights bill

Mike Lindell claims two banks cutting ties with him over reputation risk

05:31 , Shweta Sharma

The founder and CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell has said that two banks asked him to leave their bank after January 6 investigating committee subpoenaed him, reported Insider.

Minnesota Bank & Trust and Heartland Financial USA allegedly told Lindell that they do not want to continue business with them due to reputation risk.

He called the banks attempt disgusting and said: Im not closing my accounts. Theyre going to have to throw me out.

Lindell earlier said he sued the 6 January committee investigating the Capitol riots in an attempt to block its bid to subpoena his phone records.

It was after lawmakers on the committee had requested a wide range of communications from White House officials and several others in a bid to get a complete view of the actions and discussions members of the White House, federal government and Trump campaign were involved in prior to the attack on the Capitol building.

QAnon followers claim Donald Trump used body double at Arizona rally

04:50 , Shweta Sharma

QAnon followers are peddling a new conspiracy theory, claiming that Donald Trump was not present at his rally in Arizona on Saturday and rather used his body double, according to Newsweek.

Several social media accounts across platforms, including Telegram and Twitter, continued to push baseless claims about Trumps appearance at the rally.

Some also believed that it was late John F Kennedy in disguise and not Trump himself as the former president once again pushed his baseless claims of voters fraud during 2020 elections.

"When he came outI instantly felt it was not him. I kept trying to convince myself that it was. He was not talking with his hands like he normally does, a user on a Telegram channel dedicated to conspiracy theory said.

The unfound claims were peddled on the Telegram channel with 58,940 subscribers.

"Body double for sure. Personally, I think hes insulated, another said.

A QAnon follower Twitter user said Kennedy was at the rally even as he was actually shot from nearly 60 years ago and would have been 104 years old if alive.

"Trump rally watchers: It appears President JFK will be President Trump tonight. Im just sayingEnjoy the show, the user said.

TRUMP RALLY WATCHERS:



IT APPEARS PRESIDENT JFK WILL BE PRESIDENT TRUMP TONIGHT.



I'M JUST SAYING...ENJOY THE SHOW.  Trilby Smith - Lyran Warrior - Thrower of Oranges (@TrilbySmith3) January 16, 2022

Ann Coulter says Trump is done and tells the New York Times to stop obsessing over him

04:30 , Bevan Hurley

Ann Coulter has claimed that Donald Trump is done and has told the New York Times to stop obsessing over the former president.

The conservative commentator - a one-time Mr Trump ally turned fierce critic - told the paper that she thinks his dominance in the Republican party is over.

You guys should stop obsessing over him.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Ann Coulter says Trump is done, tells New York Times to stop obsessing over him

Fox News host Laura Ingraham not saying yet if shed support Trumps 2024 presidential run

04:19 , Shweta Sharma

Fox New opinion host Laura Ingraham, who was a vocal supporter of presidential candidate Donald Trump in his 2016 run, said she is not committing if she would support his reelection bid in 2024.

Im not saying Im there for him yet, Ingraham told Northern Virginia Magazine after she was asked if she would support Trump if he decides to re-run.

But I think whether he runs or not  I mean, his policies worked. Trumps blueprint for policy  a forward-looking, optimistic set of pro-America policies  that blueprint, without a doubt, is winning.

The article in the magazine was titled: Laura Ingraham Might Not Vote For Trump If He RunsBut Shes Not Going To Stop Talking To His Base.

Ingraham, who came under increased scrutiny after Jan 6 committee found she texted Mark Meadows urging to get Trump to stop his supporters, is the highest-rated solo female host on the channel.

Her show The Ingraham Angle garners 3 million viewers per weeknight, according to the latest Nielsen figures.

Interview: Mary Trump - From 2024 predictions to Donalds psychological deterioration

03:30 , Bevan Hurley

Mary Trump, Donald Trumps niece, spoke to The Independents Andrew Feinberg about her uncles mental deterioration and possible 2024 run for president.

Mary Trump interview: From 2024 predictions to Donalds psychological deterioration

Pro-Trump propaganda channel One America News Network to lose its biggest TV distributor

02:30 , Bevan Hurley

Americas biggest satellite television provider has said it will cut the pro-Trump news channel One America News Network from its service, dealing a severe blow to one of the former presidents most stalwart cheerleaders.

DirecTV, a distributor with about 15 million subscribers that is 70 per cent owned by the US telecoms giant AT&T, announced on Friday that it would not renew its contract with OANN when the current one expires. following a routine internal review.

Io Dodds reports.

Pro-Trump propaganda outlet One America News Network to lose biggest distributor

Attendees waited hours to leave Trump rally as fans lash out on social media

01:30 , Bevan Hurley

Donald Trumps Arizona rally on Saturday left many of his supporters frustrated after some were left waiting around for hours before they could leave.

The vast majority of the attendees appeared to enjoy Mr Trumps first rally of 2022, as was evidenced by the crowds enthusiastic responce to his speech. As ever, it featured his greatest hits of falsehoods and lies about the supposedly stolen 2020 Presidential election, allegations which have been repeatedly disproven.

And yet, for all that those statements went down well with his fans, what transpired after Mr Trump left the stage certainly did not. Soon after he finished his speech, a number of people took to social media to complain that they were not allowed to leave the site of the rally for several hours.

Tom Fenton has the full story.

Attendees waited hours to leave Trump rally as fans lash out on social media

Trump cant say what Republicans should do if they retake Congress

00:45 , Bevan Hurley

Speaking to far-right network Newsmax, Donald Trump didnt offer an answer when asked what Republicans first move should be if they retake the Congress in the 2022 midterms.

Instead, he attacked his Democratic rival Joe Bidens record on Afghanistan and immigration.

Trump was asked by Newsmax what Republicans should do first if they retake Congress. He didn't offer an answer. pic.twitter.com/LaRcUoutgb  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 17, 2022

Ann Coulter says Trump is done and tells the New York Times to stop obsessing over him

00:00 , Bevan Hurley

Ann Coulter has claimed that Donald Trump is done and has told the New York Times to stop obsessing over the former president.

The conservative commentator - a one-time Mr Trump ally turned fierce critic - told the paper that she thinks his dominance in the Republican party is over.

You guys should stop obsessing over him.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Ann Coulter says Trump is done, tells New York Times to stop obsessing over him

Trump is briefing insiders that DeSantis is too dull to be President

Monday 17 January 2022 23:30 , Bevan Hurley

Florida governor Ron DeSantis has been touted as Donald Trumps chief rival for the GOP Presidential nomination in 2024.

However, the former President has been briefing associates that Mr DeSantis has no realistic chance of beating him in the 2024 GOP primary due to his dull personality.

Tom Fenton has the story.

Trump is briefing insiders that DeSantis is too dull to be president

Analysis: Five takeaways from Donald Trumps rally in Arizona

Monday 17 January 2022 22:35 , Bevan Hurley

Donald Trump raged against his enemies in the Republican Party, as well as President Joe Biden and the media during his first campaign rally of 2022 in Arizona on Saturday.

The Independents Eric Garcia and John Bowden analyse Mr Trumps conspiracy-laden speech and report on some of the chilling messages being spread by candidates he has endorsed.

Five takeaways from Donald Trumps rally in Arizona

Attendees waited hours to leave Trump rally as fans lash out on social media

Monday 17 January 2022 21:34 , Bevan Hurley

Donald Trumps Arizona rally on Saturday left many of his supporters frustrated after some were left waiting around for hours before they could leave.

The vast majority of the attendees appeared to enjoy Mr Trumps first rally of 2022, as was evidenced by the crowds enthusiastic responce to his speech. As ever, it featured his greatest hits of falsehoods and lies about the supposedly stolen 2020 Presidential election, allegations which have been repeatedly disproven.

And yet, for all that those statements went down well with his fans, what transpired after Mr Trump left the stage certainly did not. Soon after he finished his speech, a number of people took to social media to complain that they were not allowed to leave the site of the rally for several hours.

Tom Fenton has the full story.

Attendees waited hours to leave Trump rally as fans lash out on social media

Trump cant say what Republicans should do if they retake Congress

Monday 17 January 2022 20:45 , Bevan Hurley

Speaking to far-right network Newsmax, Donald Trump didnt offer an answer when asked what Republicans first move should be if they retake the Congress in the 2022 midterms.

Instead, he attacked his Democratic rival Joe Bidens record on Afghanistan and immigration.

Trump was asked by Newsmax what Republicans should do first if they retake Congress. He didn't offer an answer. pic.twitter.com/LaRcUoutgb  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 17, 2022

Trump is briefing insiders that DeSantis is too dull to be President

Monday 17 January 2022 20:00 , Bevan Hurley

Florida governor Ron DeSantis has been touted as Donald Trumps chief rival for the GOP Presidential nomination in 2024.

However, the former President has been briefing associates that Mr DeSantis has no realistic chance of beating him in the 2024 GOP primary due to his dull personality.

Tom Fenton has the story.

Trump is briefing insiders that DeSantis is too dull to be president

Analysis: Five takeaways from Donald Trumps rally in Arizona

Monday 17 January 2022 19:15 , Bevan Hurley

Donald Trump raged against his enemies in the Republican Party, as well as President Joe Biden and the media during his first campaign rally of 2022.

The Independents Eric Garcia and John Bowden analyse Mr Trumps conspiracy-laden speech and some chilling messages from his endorsed candidates.

Five takeaways from Donald Trumps rally in Arizona

Antisemitic terror in the US

Monday 17 January 2022 18:37 , Andrew Naughtie

This weekends deadly hostage incident at a Texas synagogue came at a time when racial, religious and antisemitic hate crimes are at an all-time high in the US. Rabbi Charlie Cytron Walker has described how he was able to deal with the situation in his synagogue thanks to training he had received on handling violent situations:

Rabbi Charlie Cytron Walker credits training for giving him the guidance on how to deal with the crisis - he waited for an opportune time to throw a chair at the gunman and escape as a group. Unbelievable courage. https://t.co/B20tRWzKRz  Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) January 17, 2022

And as Masada Siegel writes for The Independent, many American Jews are being reminded year after year that they still have to be vigilant in the face of lethal threats.

My Jewish father taught me to use a gun. I didnt think Id have to teach my own son

Of all the places for it to happen, my first Trump rally

Monday 17 January 2022 18:15 , Bevan Hurley

MAGA supporters who were blocked from leaving Donald Trumps rally in Arizona on Saturday until the event had finished have taken to social media to complain.

A woman who claimed to be attending her first Trump rally said she was considering filing a lawsuit after she was barred blocked from exiting the carpark by the Secret Service.

I have never had my freedom restricted like this in my life and of all the places for it to happen, my first Trump rally.

Others claimed they had been held hostage, and that there were no restrooms available to stranded rallygoers.

It seems people who tried to leave the trump rally early weren't allowed to exit the parking lot until the show was over. pic.twitter.com/NEeHCIQk6j  _Imposter_ (@Imposter_Edits) January 17, 2022

The content of shameless characters'

Monday 17 January 2022 17:42 , Bevan Hurley

Financial Times associate editor Edward Luce says he finds it jarring how Martin Luther Kings legacy is co-opted by people who bitterly oppose everything the late civil rights leader stood for.

As a non-American, what's always startled me about MLK day is how people who bitterly oppose everything King stood for wrap themselves in his name. The content of shameless characters.  Edward Luce (@EdwardGLuce) January 17, 2022

Calling the FBI out on Martin Luther King

Monday 17 January 2022 17:12 , Andrew Naughtie

Jezebel editor-in-chief Laura Bassett picks up on another tin-eared tribute to Dr King today:

You blackmailed and wiretapped him. Have some self-awareness https://t.co/DXZPEz2ErY  Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) January 17, 2022

What happened at Trumps Arizona rally?

Monday 17 January 2022 16:35 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trumps rally in Arizona this weekend saw him repeating many of his usual falsehoods about the supposed theft of the 2022 election, as well as pondering 6 January conspiracy theories that have gained a new foothold on the right.

It was the sort of performance that has some mainstream Republicans worried that the former president could wreck their messaging for this years midterm elections by focusing on his own grievances. John Bowden and Eric Garcia have this rundown:

Five takeaways from Donald Trumps rally in Arizona

Son of Martin Luther King Jr: I will not accept empty promises in pursuit of my fathers dream"

Monday 17 January 2022 16:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Martin Luther King III, the son of the civil rights hero whose life is celebrated today, has issued a call for action rather than just remembrance of his fathers work.

This #MLKDay, I will not accept empty promises in pursuit of my father's dream.



I do not want to see photo ops of elected officials if they are not willing to put voting rights over the filibuster.



Today is a day of service and action.



Congress must #DeliverForVotingRights.  Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) January 17, 2022

MLK Day: Mitch McConnell in hot water for tribute

Monday 17 January 2022 15:49 , Andrew Naughtie

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier posted a sombre tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., writing: Nearly 60 years since the March on Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s message echoes as powerfully as it did that day. His legacy inspires us to celebrate and keep building upon the remarkable progress our great nation has made toward becoming a more perfect union.

Given the senators position on assorted civil rights issues, and in particular proposals to shore up the Voting Rights Act against right-wing assaults, much of the reaction has seen him accused of hypocrisy  one user writing that it was guys like you he was protesting against.

Read more:

McConnell bombarded over voting rights stance after posting MLK Day tribute

A new Republican rift: Trump vs DeSantis

Monday 17 January 2022 15:28 , Andrew Naughtie

Reports are spreading that Donald Trump has a new bee in his bonnet: the ascent of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Increasingly popular among Republican voters, Mr DeSantis routinely tops polls of non-Trump GOP 2024 presidential candidates  and now, Mr Trump appears to be angry that he is getting too much attention.

Axios reports that while Mr Trump isnt especially worried that his sometime protege could beat him in a future primary, he is angry that the governor isnt giving him the deference he thinks he deserves ahead of the next election. Mr Trump has also taken veiled digs at him for not declaring publicly whether he has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Trump is briefing insiders that DeSantis is too dull to be president

Other reports, however, say that Mr Trump is genuinely perturbed that another Republican could rise to the heights of popularity Mr DeSantis enjoys, and that he may indeed have something to fear. The New York Times reports a telling exchange with longtime conservative provocateur Ann Coulter:

Trump is demanding to know Ron DeSantiss booster status, and I can now reveal it, Ms. Coulter wrote on Twitter. He was a loyal booster when Trump ran in 2016, but then he learned our president was a liar and con man whose grift was permanent. In an email, Ms. Coulter, herself a part-time Florida resident, put a finer point on what makes Mr. DeSantiss rise unsettling for the former president. Trump is done, she wrote. You guys should stop obsessing over him.

Trumps false claim about racism and Covid-19 treatment

Monday 17 January 2022 15:05 , Andrew Naughtie

Here is the section of Trumps Arizona rally in which the former president falsely claimed that healthcare providers in New York are deliberately sending white people to the back of the line for Covid-19 treatment.

Trump says white people are being discriminated against on covid treatment: If youre white, you dont get the vaccine or if youre white you dont get therapeutics .. In NY state, if youre white, you go to the back of the line if you want help. pic.twitter.com/QLgkC3VESk  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 16, 2022

Virginias new Republican governor signed 11 executive orders on his first day in office

Saturday 15 January 2022 22:30 , Alex Woodward

Virginias incoming Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin signed 11 executive orders after he was sworn into office on Saturday, including a repeal of a mask mandate and revoking a Covid-19 vaccine requirement for state workers.

He also banned critical race theory in schools and pledge to investigate wrongdoing in Loudon County, which has been ground zero for right-wing culture wars over the teaching of racism in public schools.

He also is withdrawing the state from an 11-state agreement to curb emissions.

BREAKING: @GlennYoungkin is signing 11 executive actions on his first day in office. They include banning critical race theory, ending the statewide school mask mandate & rescinding the vax mandate for state employees @8NEWS pic.twitter.com/ToQGjUDxbB  Jackie DeFusco (@Jackie8News) January 15, 2022

Hillary Clinton invokes MLKs criticism of white moderates after Manchin and Sinema reject filibuster reform

Saturday 15 January 2022 22:10 , Alex Woodward

Hillary Clinton has invoked Martin Luther King Jrs criticisms of the white moderate  in what appeared to be a thinly veiled rebuke of Democrats Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema after they rejected President Joe Bidens urgent demands to change Senate filibuster rules that block passage of federal voting rights legislation.

She added: This is a subtweet.

Her tweet comes as voting rights advocates rally over the weekend in advance of the federal holiday recognising the late civil rights leaders birthday.

Pro-Trump propaganda channel One America News Network to lose its biggest TV distributor

Saturday 15 January 2022 21:45 , Alex Woodward

America's biggest satellite television provider has said it will cut the pro-Trump news channel One America News Network from its service, dealing a severe blow to one of the former president's most stalwart cheerleaders.

DirecTV, a distributor with about 15 million subscribers that is 70 per cent owned by the US telecoms giant AT&T, announced on Friday that it would not renew its contract with OANN when the current one expires. following a routine internal review.

Io Dodds reports:

Pro-Trump propaganda outlet One America News Network to lose biggest distributor

Photos from Trumps first rally of 2022

Saturday 15 January 2022 21:33 , Alex Woodward

The former president will hold his first rally of 2022 in Florence, Arizona, a state that has become a hotbed of election fraud conspiracy theories with a host of candidates for several public offices vying for his endorsement, as midterm campaigns are well underway.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

QAnon leaders join Trump rally crowd

Saturday 15 January 2022 21:04 , Alex Woodward

8chan administrator Jim Watkins and QAnon influencer Michael Protzman  who has amplified the conspiracy theory that the resurrection of JFK Jr is instrumental to Trumps return to office  are attending Trumps rally in Arizona on Saturday night, where a crowd started lining up overnight.

Jim Watkins with Michael Protzmans aka -48 group at the Trump rally. pic.twitter.com/6WjNkUZjmn  2022 Karma (@2022_Karma) January 15, 2022

Other familiar Trump rally faces are documenting their visit, which is being broadcast by far-right media networks like One America News Network and Right Side Broadcasting Network.

#TrumpRally at 1:25pm in Florence AZ. Can't wait to see President Trump and @KariLake tonight! Rally time approaches! pic.twitter.com/lzlCmDgNBX  Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) January 15, 2022

Arizona is READY for President Trump to give his first #SaveAmericaRally of 2022! pic.twitter.com/vHMqgCxPaE  RSBN  (@RSBNetwork) January 15, 2022

Biden invokes voting rights protections in MLK Day proclamation

Saturday 15 January 2022 19:30 , Alex Woodward

In his proclamation recognising 2022s Martin Luther King Jr Day, the president told Americans to reflect on the achievements of the civil rights movement and continue his unfinished struggle.

That is why the Congress must pass federal legislation to protect the right to vote  a right that is under attack by a sinister combination of voter suppression and election subversion, the president wrote, echoing his remarks against the wave of restrictive legislation passed by GOP state legislators in 2021.

Just as in Dr Kings time, there are those who now say that change would be too disruptive and that these urgent needs can wait, Mr Biden wrote. But we must resist complacency, summon new resolve to advance the cause of freedom and opportunity, and do our part to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice. This is the cause of our time. ... We all must find the courage to keep pushing forward in our struggle to realize Dr Kings dream for a freer, fairer, and more just society.

Voting rights advocates rally in Phoenix to pressure Sinema on filibuster

Saturday 15 January 2022 19:24 , Alex Woodward

As a host of election deniers and conspiracy theorists prepare to take the stage in rural Florence, Arizona, voting rights advocates are rallying about 70 miles away in Phoenix to push the states Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema to adopt filibuster reform to pass federal legislation to protect the right to vote.

Activists also led a march and heard from Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the late civil rights leader.

The march demands Arizona residents call on Senator Sinema to urgently pass federal voting rights legislation and ensure that the Jim Crow filibuster does not stand in the way, Mr King said in a statement.

The US recognises Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday.

Trump takes shot at Arizona governor

Saturday 15 January 2022 18:47 , Alex Woodward

The day before his appearance in the state, Trump hit out at Arizona Governor Doug Doucey, a frequent target of the former president after he signed off on the results of the 2020 presidential election, while Trump allies continue to baselessly insist the results were fraudulent.

Rumors are that Doug Ducey, the weak RINO Governor from Arizona, is being pushed by Old Crow Mitch McConnell to run for the U.S. Senate, Trump said in a statement. He will never have my endorsement or the support of MAGA Nation!

Doucey has not indicated whether he plans to run for a Senate seat. He has no plans to attend Trumps event.

NEW!



President Donald J. Trump:



"Rumors are that Doug Ducey, the weak RINO Governor from Arizona, is being pushed by Old Crow Mitch McConnell to run for the U.S. Senate. He will never have my endorsement or the support of MAGA Nation!" pic.twitter.com/sYtkpRK6Mr  Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) January 14, 2022

Pence equates federal voting rights legislation with Capitol attack

Saturday 15 January 2022 17:28 , Alex Woodward

In an op-ed in The Washington Post, former VP Mike Pence condemned the mob that ransacked the Capitol, largely to try to get Congress and me, as the president of the Senate, to use federal authority to overturn results of the presidential election that had been certified by all 50 states.

He then characterised Republican attempts to restrict ballot access and consolidate electoral oversight into the hands of GOP-dominated legislatures as measures to try to restore confidence in the integrity of our elections in the wake of the attack.

He then accused Biden and congressional Democrats of leading another power grab with federal voting rights legislation, by using the memory of Jan 6 to defend breaking up the filibuster.

That federal legislation would create national framework for voter registration, mail-in ballots, early voting and voter ID laws. It would also make Election Day a holiday, combat attempts to strip oversight from nonpartisan election authorities, and protect election workers from harassment and violence.

He compared such efforts to an attack on the Capitol that sought to stop the certification of votes representing millions of Americans, as a mob chanted that they were there to hang him.

He also falsely claimed that the notion that Congress would break the filibuster rule to pass a law equaling a wholesale takeover of elections by the federal government is inconsistent with our nations history and an affront to our constitutions structure.

The US constitution gives Congress the ability to set rules for federal elections.

2020 election deniers take centre stage at Trumps Arizona rally

Saturday 15 January 2022 16:39 , Alex Woodward

Trump is heading to Arizona, a hotbed of GOP-led conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, where a figure central to the QAnon movement is running for Congress, election deniers are vying for major government posts that play critical roles in electoral oversight, and a far-right congressman accused of fantasizing about murdering Democrats has not faced any repurcussions in office.

The former president has made clear that fealty to his baseless narrative that the election was rigged against him is critical to earning his endorsement.

On the guest list at his rally on Saturday night: Kari Lake, a candidate for Arizona governor; US Reps Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and Debbie Lesko; and Mike Lindell, among the most notorious election fraud conspiracy theorists who spent millions on a spurious campaign to overturn the results.

NEW!



President Donald J. Trump:



"Look forward to seeing everyone in Arizona tomorrow! Many topics will be discussed including the Rigged Presidential Election of 2020, the fake Big Lie, the corrupt LameStream Media, the Afghanistan disaster, Inflation, the sudden lack of... pic.twitter.com/ETeaLDva5e  Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) January 14, 2022

What is seditious conspiracy?

Saturday 15 January 2022 08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The US Justice Departments efforts to hold those responsible for the 6 January insurrection shifted into a higher gear this week with the unsealing of a 48-page indictment against Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes and 10 other members of his right-wing militia group.

All but Mr Rhodes and another defendant  Edward Vallejo of Phoenix  had previously been charged with crimes for their roles in the worst attack on the Capitol since British troops commanded by Major General Robert Ross set it ablaze in 1814.

Prosecutors have filed criminal charges against more than 730 people over the year that has passed since the attack, but the indictment of Mr Rhodes and his alleged co-conspirators stands out because it charges them under a rarely used provision of law that can be found in the chapter of the US criminal code titled Treason, Sedition, and Subversive Activities.

What is seditious conspiracy and why is it a big deal?
We are now less than a month away from the first pitch of the 2022 Alabama softball season.

Expectations are high for Patrick Murphy and the talented ladies of the diamond. Alabama will return star pitcher Montana Fouts who finished the 2021 season with the most strikeouts in the NCAA with 349.

The Tide will also return several other talented players such as Bailey Dowling, Kaylee Tow, Savannah Woodard, and Lexi Kilfoyl just to name a few.

Alabama will get the 2022 season started on Feb. 11 against Southern Utah. As the anticipation builds, the Alabama softball official Twitter account released a preseason hype video to ensure the Crimson Tide faithful are ready.

As you can see there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to the 2022 Alabama softball team.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Alabama softball team!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.
Wheel the World is already known for making global travel more accessible for people with disabilities and seniors  and now the travel booking platform is making group travel easier with its launch of nine fully accessible tours, announced last week.

Each of the packages includes accessible accommodations, bathroom stops, locally trained guides, and other logistical offerings that ensure nothing stands in the way of experiencing the world. With eight to 10 people on each tour, the trips will also have different numbers of spots for manual and power wheelchair users.

A man in a wheelchair zip lining in Costa Rica with Wheel the World

Courtesy of Wheel the World

On a bridge in Costa Rica with Wheel the World

Courtesy of Wheel the World

The initial offerings include Wonders of Athens (10 days, from $3,850 per person); Discover Switzerland (seven nights, from $3,720 per person); Jungle Adventure in Costa Rica (six nights, from $2,400 per person); Highlights of Morocco (seven nights, $2,570 per person); and History, Culture, and Community in New York (four nights, from $2,590 per person). Also on the roster are a seniors trip to Israel (nine days, from $5,600 per person) and a women-only Morocco tour (seven nights, from $2,680 per person). Departure dates for 2022 trips start in April and run through November.

A man in a wheelchair in Morocco with Wheel the World

Courtesy of Wheel the World

"My group trip experiences are among my favorite travels, as they combine the joy of experiencing a new place with community and camaraderie, elements that are much needed following the isolation of the pandemic," Wheel the World co-founder and CEO Alvaro Silberstein said in a statement sent to Travel + Leisure. "We will continue to collaborate with our colleagues in the travel industry to seek out and expand access to the best accessible travel opportunities around the globe."

On a boat with Wheel the World

Courtesy of Wheel the World

On the beach in Costa Rica with Wheel the World

Courtesy of Wheel the World

In addition to the group tours, Wheel the World offers accommodations, activities, and private trips to travelers with disabilities to more than 80 destinations. "We know that all of us have different needs when it comes to accessibility and planning a trip can be a big effort," the company, whose purpose is to "make the world accessible," says on its site. "We believe that we, people with disabilities, should experience the world like anyone else."
Russias latest troop deployment to Belarus represents a hostile development in the ongoing dispute over the future of Ukraine, senior State Department officials said Tuesday, as U.S. and European officials ramped up diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and the two agreed to meet later this week in Geneva, after Blinken visits Ukraine and Germany. Blinken stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military build-up in and near Ukraine, according to a State Department readout of the call.

Meanwhile, Germanys new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, indicated that his government would consider halting the controversial Russia-Germany Nord Stream 2 energy pipeline if Russia once again invades Ukraine, as Western observers fear.

The overall picture for Ukraine appears grim, as diplomatic appeals and threats of sanctions have yet to convince Russian leader Vladimir Putin to take an invasion off the table. U.S. officials say they do not know whether Putin has made up his mind about another incursion into Ukraine  which he first invaded in 2014  but the signs are not reassuring.

Our view is this is an extremely dangerous situation, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a news briefing Tuesday. Were now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine.

Russia, which has already amassed tens of thousands of troops near various parts of its border with Ukraine, has been sending troops to Belarus in recent days, supposedly to conduct military exercises. Belarus dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, is an ally of Putin. U.S. officials are not buying the Russian explanation, noting that it gives Putin another staging ground from which to attack Ukraine.

This is neither an exercise nor normal troop movement, the senior State Department official said on a call with reporters. It is a show of strength designed to cause or give false pretext for a crisis as Russia plans for a possible invasion. And lets be clear: Its extremely dangerous.

Story continues

Belarus and Russia often conduct military drills together, and announced plans late last year for more in the first months of 2022.

But a second senior State Department official said in a separate briefing that Putin appeared to be looking for payback from Lukashenko for supporting the Belarusian leader as hes faced an opposition movement and increasing isolation from the West. The positioning of Russian forces in Belarus gives Putin greater capacity to attack Ukraine, and it could turn into a long-term deployment, the second official warned.

The second official noted that proposed changes to Belarus constitution could pave the way for Russia to garrison troops and perhaps even nuclear-related forces in Belarus. Lukashenko may acquiesce to Russian demands, believing he needs Putins backing to stay in power.

He knows that he doesnt get that support for free, the second official said of the Belarusian leader.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, speaking at a Washington Post Live event, said the Belarus deployment shows Russia is making moves that would suggest that they have plans to invade.

Thomas-Greenfield also addressed reports that Russia has begun emptying out its embassy in Kyiv, warning: Any actions we have seen that the Russians have taken that may indicate that theyre moving forward will cause us to ramp up our efforts, as well.

A State Department spokesperson said that the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is currently not under any authorized or ordered departure and Foreign Service officers may bring accompanying family members. That could change if tensions escalate; U.S. embassies routinely practice evacuation runs and are supposed to constantly evaluate risk factors. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has, for a variety of reasons, been whittled down to a skeletal staff in recent years.

The senior State Department official stressed that the U.S. and its allies are determined to push ahead with diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and pressure Putin to pull back his forces. The Kremlin has made its own demands, including that NATO pull back its presence in the Baltics and Eastern Europe, and that Ukraine and Georgia be permanently barred from joining the military alliance.

Among the U.S. officials who visited the region in recent days was CIA Director William Burns, who went to Kyiv to consult with intelligence counterparts and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last Wednesday, a U.S. official familiar with the issue said, confirming earlier reports.

Intense diplomatic discussions among the various parties over the past week have had limited effect, with the Russians writing the effort off as a dead end. The fact that Lavrov will meet with Blinken, likely on Friday, suggests that perhaps diplomacy is not dead, the senior official said. The same official added, however, that its still too early to tell if the Russian government is genuinely interested in diplomacy.

U.S. officials have stressed that they are coordinating their moves with European allies, as well as with Ukraines government. But it is not entirely clear whether all of Americas allies are entirely in lockstep with Washington on ways to punish Putin if the conflict is not resolved.

While European Union leaders have promised that Putin will face massive consequences if he invades Ukraine, analysts say much could come down to what tactics Putin intends to deploy. Already, there have been cyberattacks against Ukraine which Kyiv has blamed on Russia. U.S. officials also repeatedly have said they suspect Putin will try to stage an event that he will use as a justification to invade.

For some European countries, a move against Russia could be economically costly. Among those nations is Germany; its Nord Stream 2 pipeline with Russia has long faced bipartisan criticism in the United States, and the Russian threat against Ukraine has once again shone a spotlight on the project.

Scholz, the German chancellor, was pressed about the issue during a news conference Tuesday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. In what gave some Russia critics hope that Germany will reconsider the pipeline, Scholz said its future may have to be discussed  though he framed his remarks in the context of a Russian military invasion.

It is clear that there will be a high cost and that all this will have to be discussed if there is a military intervention against Ukraine, Scholz said.

Hans Von Der Burchard contributed to this report.
Side view of The Light The World Giving Machine in front of Bridgestone Arena

The Light the World Giving machines sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are taking-up donations for new Afghan refugees in Nashville.

"A lot of folks from Afghanistan who evacuated came with nothing but clothes, the clothes on their back so having winter coats is important right now," the organizations Associate Director of Development Max Rykov said.

Shoppers can donate winter attire, car seats, school supplies, and citizenship study books for prospective immigrants with only a credit or debit card swipe. The Nashville International Center for Empowerment is one of the organizations helping provide for the refugees and is participating in the giving machine program.

Donations made through the Giving Machine to NICE help welcome refugees to their new community here in Nashville with the tools and resources they need to prosper, now and for generations to come, Rykov said.

Volunteers of the Light the World Giving machines gathered at outside Bridgestone Arena this week to encourage bystanders passing to stop and swipe their card to contribute to families in need.

The organizations Associate Director of Development Max Rykov and Giving Machines volunteers standing in front of machines.

"This is a great opportunity to swipe your credit card and buy a coat for someone in the Nashville area who needs a coat, or buy food for someone in the world who needs food for their family," volunteer Laura Harris said. "This is a great opportunity for the community of Nashville to give back to different communities throughout the world."

The giving machines allow donors to spend $2 to $500 on items ranging from a box of macaroni to bunk beds. There are five local charities and two global charities that donors can contribute to.

The Nashville International Center for Empowerment, a nonprofit known as NICE, has resettled more than 100 Afghan refugees and is likely to greet over 200 Afghan allies by February 2022.

In 2005, the organization was founded by Gatluak Ter Thach, a Sudanese refugee. He began teaching his wife and members of the Sudanese community English. His generosity helped grow the nonprofit organization to what it is today.

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The organization serves refugees by providing numerous programs such as resettlement, education, employment, health, and immigration.

"The wrap-around services we have right now to serve refugees that are coming through our agents help get them on the path toward being economically self-sufficient," Rykov said. "We also get them connected to the community. There is nothing more important than having a network."

New refugees will receive the items as they settle into their new homes.

KURD WELCOMES AFGHANS: Afghan refugees welcomed to Nashville by a Kurd who knows what's it's like to flee his homeland

LONG-TERM NEEDS: Resettlement agencies eye long-term needs as they welcome Afghan refugees to Nashville

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers the machine and maintenance costs, credit, and any administrative fees. All donations made to the machines go directly to charities including NICE. Visitors can visit Light the World Giving Machines until Jan. 3.

For more information about the event schedule or items inside the machines, please visit GivingMachinesNashville.org.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: World Giving machines set to help new Nashville refugees
Photo credit: CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images



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NCIS and NCIS: Hawaii fans, get excited  upcoming future episodes are going to bring together a lot of your favorite crime-solving characters.

Earlier this month, it was announced that actress Katrina Law, who plays Special Agent Knight, and her costar Wilmer Valderrama, who plays Special Agent Torres in the CBS drama, would be heading to The Aloha State for a new NCIS episode. I am headed off to Hawai'i to shoot a crossover event, Wilmer said in an Instagram clip from January 3. Ive also got something to tell you: Im coming to Hawai'i, too, Katrina added. Its going to be good being back on the island solving crimes.

According to her Instagram, it looks like Katrina has landed in Hawai'i and is already making the most of her time there. On Instagram, she posted a collection of photos, including one of herself throwing a shaka sign (a well-known positive greeting). The rest of the snaps show Katrina soaking in the last moments of sun rays in and out of the ocean.

So good for the soul , she captioned the collection.

After seeing Katrina in what we can only presume is Hawaii, fans immediately began flooding the Instagram comments section with heart-eye emojis, heart emojis and shaka signs. Aloha , one person wrote. Shaka Aloha  @katrinalaw to you too , another added. Beautiful! Fantastic photos! a different fan said.

Whats more, fellow NCIS: Hawaii actor Alex Tarrant wrote, She back , referencing Katrina's old Hawaii Five-0 role as former staff sergeant Quinn Liu. She appeared in a total of 27 episodes, including the series finale episode, which aired in April 2020. Katrinas character was later featured in an episode of Magnum P.I. season 3. Both CBS dramas are set in Hawaii.

Katrinas former costar Beulah Koale will also be starring in an upcoming episode of NCIS: Hawaii, airing on January 24. During the last three seasons of Hawaii Five-0, Beulah portrayed a former Navy SEAL named Junior Reigns. Now, the actor will come back to the small screen to play David Sola, a New Zealand intelligence officer. Hell work with Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) to solve a mysterious death. According to TVLine, it will be a multi-episode gig.

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Photo: Water McBride/Corbis (Getty Images)

Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee has died at age 102 on Sunday, according to AP News. McGee was a decorated veteran who helped shine light on the racism Black pilots were facing at home while trying to fight for that same home in battle.

AP reported McGee began his flying career after World War II by entering an experimental program for Black pilot candidates seeking positions in the Army Air Corps. After passing his examination, he was sent to the Tuskegee Army Field in Alabama. According to his biography in the National Aviation Hall of Fame, he joined the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group, 12th Air Force nicknamed the Red Tails.



Read more

You could say that one of the things we were fighting for was equality. Equality of opportunity. We knew we had the same skills, or better, he told AP News in 1995.

By the time he came back home, he had flown 136 missions over Europe. AP reported that out of the 900s men who trained at Tuskegee while McGee was in attendance, only 450 were deployed overseas and 150 lost their lives.

From AP:



In recent years the Tuskegee Airmen have been the subject of books, movies and documentaries highlighting their courage in the air and the doubts they faced on the ground because of their race. In 2007 a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award from Congress, was issued to recognize their unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces. McGee remained in the Army Air Corps, later the U.S. Air Force, and served for 30 years. He flew low-level bombing and strafing missions during the Korean War and returned to combat again during the Vietnam War. The National Aviation Hall of Fame says his 409 aerial fighter combat missions in three wars remains a record. He retired as a colonel in the Air Force in 1973, then earned a college degree in business administration and worked as a business executive. He was accorded an honorary commission promoting him to the one-star rank of brigadier general as he turned 100. Another event marked his centennial year: He flew a private jet between Frederick, Maryland, and Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

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McGee also received a standing ovation from Congress upon being introduced in President Trumps State of the Union address in 2020.



Air Force Magazine reported McGee not only helped grow the Tuskegee Airmen Association but also stayed in touch with the Air Force to continue motivating the Airmen who came after him. McGee received the Air Force Associations Lifetime Achievement Award, a Congressional Gold Medal and was inducted as a National Aeronautics Association Elder Statesman of Aviation, according to Air Force magazine.



Many took to social media to honor the national hero. A life well lived is an understatement as applied to Brig. Gen. Charles McGee. As a #TuskegeeAirman & combat aviator with 409 missions, his years in uniform were nothing shy of heroic, and his example of integrity, service & excellence endures, read a tweet from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.
All eyes in Italy today were on the auction of a 16th-century villa thats home to a Caravaggio mural. But despite the fanfare that preceded the sale, it ended up being rather anticlimactic. When the villa received no bids, the auction concluded early and was postponed to a later date.

The storied home, which is known as the Villa Aurora, is located in Rome, and houses what is believed to be Caravaggios only ceiling mural. Painted in 1597, the mural is an image of the Roman gods Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto seen from below. The villa is also the site of a massive Guercino mural depicting the Roman goddess Aurora.

More from Robb Report

The Villa Aurora was initially built as a hunting lodge for a Roman cardinal, and had come to market amid an inheritance dispute. Its previous owner, Prince Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisi, died in 2018. The dispute arose when his third wife, Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, claimed that she should be able to live in the villa for the rest of her life; Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisis three sons from his first marriage disagreed with that assessment. When the two parties came to blows, a court ordered the sale of the Villa Aurora. Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi has said she hopes that the Italian state will eventually take over the villa.

The villa came to auction for 471 million ($533.7 million). The Caravaggio painting itself was valued at 310 million ($351.3 million). According to a Guardian report, restorations expected to cost 11 million ($12.5 million) were also needed for the villas upkeep.

The court-facilitated sale was essentially a flop. The auction had been expected to last 24 hours, and many had expected a flurry of bids, even in spite of the costs associated with restoring the villa. But no such bids came about, and the sale was rescheduled for April 7. The Milan-based daily newspaper Corriere reported that the price for the villa would be lowered by 20 percent.

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Sat., Jan. 8, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; A protester holds a sign against vaccine mandates during the "Maximum Freedom" Rally at the Ohio Statehouse. Several groups rallied at the Statehouse against vaccine mandates as a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Last's week's U.S. Supreme Court split decision on two of President Biden's vaccine mandates  one halting the government's mandate for large employers and a second allowing the mandate for healthcare workers to move forward  have far from settled the inoculation issue.

Two more of the Biden administration's federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates blocked by Louisiana judges remain in the pipeline and are likely destined for the Supreme Court.

Louisiana Western District Judge Terry Doughty, who has become a familiar figure in the vaccine mandate debate, on New Year's Day blocked a Biden requirement for Head Start teachers, contractors and volunteers to be vaccinated by Jan. 31. It affects 24 states.

The federal government has not yet filed a notice of appeal in the Head Start case.

Louisiana Western District Judge Dee D. Drell blocked a Biden Administration vaccine mandate for federal contractors affecting Louisiana, Indiana and Mississippi on Dec. 16, 2021.

More: Supreme Court splits rulings on President Biden's COVID vaccine mandates

The federal government filed a notice of appeal on Jan. 11 on the contractor case.

Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry took the lead in both cases with his Solicitor General Liz Murrill arguing the lawsuits before the courts.

Landry and Murrill told USA Today Network they expect the government to appeal both cases, sending them to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

"I'm optimistic that like the Supreme Court ruled in our case against the vaccine mandate in the employer vaccine mandate, the justices will find that these mandates are also an overreach by the executive branch," Landry said in an interview with USA Today Network.

Murrill said she viewed last week's split ruling by the Supreme Court on the employers and healthcare workers "as a political compromise on the court."

More: Louisiana at forefront of COVID vaccine mandate debate at Supreme Court

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Murrill argued against the healthcare workers' mandate before the Supreme Court, where the justices ruled 5-4 to allow the requirement to move forward with two conservative justices joining the three liberal judges.

Doughty, who was the judge that issued injunctions to block both the healthcare and Head Start mandates, acknowledged in his rulings that all of the shot mandate cases are destined for the Supreme Court.

Doughty's ruling said the Biden Administration doesn't have the power to issue the mandate without Congress, that it violates the administrative procedures act without proper notice and public comment and that it violates the 10th Amendment by infringing on states' powers.

In his ruling Doughty acknowledges the ultimate decision will be made by a higher court, but contends: "This issue is important. The separation of powers has never been so thin."

Head Start programs provide children ages 3 to 5 and their families at or below the federal poverty level with early childhood education and resources.

States in the Head Start lawsuit include: Alabama; Alaska; Arkansas; Arizona; Florida; Georgia; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisaina; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Utah; Wyoming; and West Virginia.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Vaccine mandates halted by Louisiana judges destined for Supreme Court
CHICAGO  A lawsuit against Amazon was filed Monday by the family of a delivery driver who was killed in December after a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse downstate, according to the familys attorneys.

Six people who had been working at an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville died following the Dec. 10 storm, which left dozens dead across multiple states. Among them was independent contractor Austin McEwen, 26, who, like other workers, was allegedly required to work under conditions management knew to be unsafe, according to a news release from the law firm retained by the family. The facility had inadequate emergency plans and no basement shelter, the lawsuit contends, and McEwen and others who died were told to shelter in a bathroom during the storm.

The suit was e-filed Monday morning in Madison Circuit Court, though the courthouse was closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, an attorney for the family said.

A spokeswoman for Amazon disputed those claims in a statement, saying members of a local team worked to move people to safety as quickly as possible.

The lawsuit was expected to be the first filed against Amazon in connection with the deaths, according to Clifford Law Offices, the Chicago-based firm representing McEwens family.

It appears that holiday profits took precedence over safety, said the familys attorney, Jack Casciato, according to the news release.

In a statement, Kelly Nantel, a spokeswoman for Amazon, said the lawsuit misunderstands key facts. The building was new and up to code, Nantel said, and local teams were following weather conditions at the time of the storm.

Severe weather watches are common in this part of the country and, while precautions are taken, are not cause for most businesses to close down, Nantel said. We believe our team did the right thing as soon as a warning was issued, and they worked to move people to safety as quickly as possible.

Amazon representatives previously have said its emergency response, including in the event of severe weather, is part of training for warehouse employees. Amazon directs employees to shelter during tornadoes, representatives said last month, but the company declined to specifically state when employees at the Edwardsville facility were warned about the threat.

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Amazon recently opened warehouses across the south suburbs, in Markham, Matteson and University Park.

According to law enforcement officials in December, the other victims at the Amazon warehouse were Deandre Morrow, 28, and Etheria Hebb, 34, both of St. Louis; and Illinois residents Kevin Dickey, 62, of Carlyle; Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, of Alton; and Larry Virden, 46, of Collinsville.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration last month opened an investigation into the facilitys collapse, and has six months to complete it, OSHA officials said at the time.


Perth Tolle

Perth Tolle is the founder of Life + Liberty Indexes and creator of the Freedom 100 EM Index, the worlds first freedom-weighted emerging markets equity index strategy.



The

Freedom 100 Emerging Market ETF (FRDM), which tracks the index, saw success in 2021, crossing the $100 million milestone after Chinas government cracked down on various sectors including tech and education. In this conversation with ETF.com, Tolle shares her insights on the rationale for using personal and economic freedom metrics as a basis for investment.



The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

ETF.com: Lets start with the big picture. Why is freedom weighting important, particularly when it comes to emerging markets?

Perth Tolle: The reason we started with emerging markets with the freedom weighting methodology is because in emerging markets, theres a huge discrepancy in freedom levels between countries.

Half of the countries in most emerging market funds are some of the worlds worst autocracies, committing some of the worst human rights atrocities in the world today. Without these personal and economic freedoms as a foundation for growth, their markets are constrained from growing as quickly or recovering as fast as some of these other markets that are freer.

Thats why we created the Freedom 100 Strategy, because in the emerging markets, there wasnt any other strategy out there that addressed this heavy autocracy concentration problem. Were addressing an autocracy risk I think investors are becoming more aware of, especially after last year.



Freer countries grow more sustainably. Instead of having debt-driven or state-mandated growth, they recover faster from drawdowns. They use their personal and economic capital and labor more efficiently, and have less capital flight and capital destruction. We believe thats a recipe for growth in the long run.

ETF.com: Do you think last year was a wake-up call for some investors, in considering their emerging market allocations?

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Tolle: I think it was a wake-up call for a lot of investors. Weve been around since 2019, but last year, our assets tripled. They went from $30 million to over $100 million, mostly in the second half of the year when China carpet-bombed its biggest companies. They were the biggest holdings in a lot of emerging market funds.

Once it hit their holdings, investors realized they may have miscalculated the autocracy risk. And these are risks that break the discount model, because you can't really factor in a risk of the government coming in overnight and saying you have to be nonprofits now.

Its a worst-case scenario for investors. Look at DiDi for examplenow they have to delist. There's no way for investors to recover from that. That's a risk that really breaks the model.



I think Wall Street is going to continue to propagate the China investing story. And they have, for a long time. It's very clear which ones are applying for licenses to operate in China. These are the same ones that are telling investors, You should triple your China exposureat a time when the regulatory crackdown is the worst.



This China narrative hasn't ever really played out. It's always been Wall Street selling it to investors.

If you look at the [index underlying the iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI)], that includes both onshore and offshore shares, and it's been around since 1992. Since then, the average annual return is about 2.2%. Its worse than Treasuries.

Thats because they don't have the rule of law and the investor protections and private property rights in place to allow investors to capture value in that market, even when there was a lot of value to be captured over the last 30-40 years. And now that value is going away. It's a growth story of the past.

ETF.com: Have there been any events or changes over the past year that you think might shift a country's weighting or inclusion in the portfolio in the next rebalance?

Tolle: China's events over the past year definitely were the biggest story in the emerging markets last year. But that's not going to shift the portfolio, because they're not included. I would expect this rebalance to be a light one.

In the first rebalance we had [in 2020], there were no country changes. In the second rebalance, there were four country changestwo drops and two adds.

ETF.com: Can you share a little bit of detail about those?

Tolle: Last year, the most notable drop was India. That was because of three things. They had some repression of press freedom. They had coerced some journalists more so than the previous years, with jailing or other kinds of government coercion of the media. They had continued their repression of the Kashmir people. And then they blacked out the internet in places that had protests or that were going to have protests.

These things led to a drop in their score. They were a borderline country within our index and were dropped as a result of that decrease in their score. Because they dropped, Brazil got added in.

Our indexing methodology [doesnt] draw a line in the sand. We run all of the scores through the methodology, and the algorithm will assign negative weights to countries that are to be dropped. The algorithm chooses the line based on the relative freedom score to other countries. You just have to be freer than your peers to be included.

If one of your peers' score decreases and your score doesn't change, you get added. That's what happened with Brazil. The Brazil score did not change, but it was added as a result of India's score decreasing.



The same thing happened with Thailand and Malaysia. Thailand was dropped last year. Malaysia was added. Malaysia is on a good trajectory, and I expect it to be included again this year.

ETF.com: Which countries included in the index right now do you think have the strongest outlook going forward?

Tolle: Ironically, Taiwan is the one most people are concerned about because of all the threats constantly coming from China. Most people don't realize thats nothing new, that people in Taiwan have lived with these threats for years. They actually have invasion drills on the island. This is part of the way of life in Taiwan.

But if you look at their growth trajectory, in both their freedom trajectory and their stock market growth trajectory, you can see that one justifies the other. We look at freedom as a leading indicator. The way that Taiwan has come out of its military dictatorship and become this full-fledged democracy, it's really stunning to see that change in their freedom level and also the tremendous outperformance of their stock market over that time.

Investors should realize that were in a position to direct assets, whether that be our own assets or our clients' assets. Thats a position of power, and we can use that power for good.

If you're concerned about something that might happen to a freer market like Taiwan as a result of threats from a more autocratic market like China, you can take part in changing those outcomes. Don't fund the autocracies; support the freer countries instead.



Contact Jessica Ferringer at jferringer@etf.com and follow her on Twitter

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SWANSEA  Babies born the last two years have come to be affectionately known as pandemic babies.

Swansea resident Christopher Carreiro and his girlfriend had one too. But their little one, Owen Christopher, could also be considered an ice baby.

Last spring, the couple was hosting a gender reveal party. Carreiro at that time was also celebrating his re-election as a Swansea selectman. He was looking for a place where he could buy a large quantity of ice for the party.

His search brought him to an ice vending business in Fall River. Less than a half year later, Carreiro opened an ice vending business of his own  all thanks to the gender reveal party.

Ice Rt 103 Swansea

Carreiro jokes that his girlfriend always states, If it werent for the baby, you wouldnt have a vending machine business.

I was fascinated by the (ice vending) concept and that's what piqued my interest, he added.

Carreiros fascination brought him to Kooler Ice in Georgia, where he began to learn about the business.

Got soup?: Warm your soul this winter at these Fall River area soup spots

Carreiro discovered that these types of businesses help eliminate costs for the consumer. The consumer is not paying anyone to make, bag, or deliver the ice. The product freshness allows for the ice to be produced in neat cubes, rather than clumps that need to be broken apart.

Carreiros said his ice is offered at half the price of traditional bagged ice.

Carreiro researched the two manufacturers in this country and now owns a Kooler Ice vending machine business on Wilbur Avenue. He opened the business around Christmas and people are bustling in and out. People are using it every day, he said recently.

Winter warmup: Longing for a cozy dinner by the fire? Try these SouthCoast spots

He said some people have questioned the logic of opening this type of business during the winter months. But his research has led him to conclude that winter is the best time to open such a business  giving it exposure before the busy months when people are searching for bags of ice for spring and summer gatherings.

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The only Kooler Ice from New York to Maine

There are 2,000 of these machines in the United States and the Caribbean islands, he said. He shared a map of these Kooler Ice machines in the United States, showing that his is the only Kooler Ice business in the northeast from New York to Maine

Despite all the positives, Carreiro and Kooler Ice have encountered some roadblocks.

Carreiro also is looking to expand and sell purified water. However, Massachusetts has a different regulatory process.

He said Kooler Ice has applied with the Environmental Protection Agency and has completed all requisite paperwork.

Great resignation: SouthCoast businesses, staffing agencies on the hunt for workers

Carreiro said he has learned new information on the drinking water industry, such as how it takes three or four gallons to make one.

Once he establishes that part of the business, the water will be purer than traditional bottle water, according to Carreiro.

Carreiro says he is also using his ice to help local businesses. He is in contact with food trucks and selling them more affordable, bulk pricing ice.

He is also donating excess ice to non-profits.

To try out the ice vending machine yourself, stop by 495 Wilbur Ave.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: New Swansea business Kooler Ice sells bagged ice near town beach
Tuscaloosa city officials said 2022 will bring a renewed effort to lure commercial passenger service to the Tuscaloosa National Airport. [Staff file photo]

With a new year comes a renewed effort to lure commercial air service to the Tuscaloosa National Airport.

The City Council is expected Tuesday to sign off on another contract with Indiana-based Volaire Aviation Consulting, which will continue its attempts to identify and recruit a passenger-based flight provider to Tuscaloosa.

This new, 12-month contract is priced at $47,000 with a performance bonus of up to $20,000 and, if approved, will be at least the third such contract with Volaire to achieve the commercial air service goal.

Were actually committing to getting air service, said Selvyn Greene, director of infrastructure for the citys Infrastructure and Public Services department, under which the airport falls. Were not stopping until we get it.

More: 'Realizing the dream:' Larger, better runway to aid industry, commercial air efforts

The contract with Volaire was part of a multi-prong update to the airports strategic operating plan  the first since 2019  as adopted by the Airport Advisory Committee.

This plan contains a number of goals, from securing federal funding to aid with runway expansion and improvements to the airports terminal to, ultimately, finding federal dollars to assist with the recruitment and retention of a passenger airline.

It also includes increases for fuel, landing and special event fees that will be tied to the weight of aircraft.

Increasing these fees is meant to help keep as much as the airports annual $800,000 to $1 million in operating costs off the shoulders of local taxpayers while ensuring larger and heavier aircraft pay their fair share.

Were not trying to go after any of your smaller aircraft, said Airport Manager Jeff Powell, noting that many of these fees will not apply to planes weighing less than 6,000 pounds.

David Pass, chair of the Tuscaloosa National Airport Committee and member of the citys Airport Advisory Committee, said the strategic operating plan has three primary focal points: maintaining financial sustainability for the airport, positioning the airport for economic development and growth across Tuscaloosa region, and recruiting commercial air service.

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On behalf of the committee, the recommendations you have today are unanimous, Pass said.

Now known as the Tuscaloosa National Airport, this facility was acquired by the city at the end of World War II.

The 724-acre property includes two runways, two fixed-base operators, a flight school and a car rental facility.

The airport was home to commercial airline service for about 50 years before American Eagle, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, ceased operations in 1997. Other airlines through the years offered daily flights to regional hubs like Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; and Memphis, Tennessee.

In 2006, the city paid the Boyd Group consulting firm $8,500 to help lure air service here. After three years, the group was unable to find an interested provider, with easy access to the Birmingham airport via interstate as one of main drawbacks.

Efforts were renewed in earnest in 2016, when the City Council contracted with Sixel Consultants Group to help lure a passenger airline while advising on upgrades to the airports existing facilities in order to accommodate the service.

The city paid Sixel Consultants $5,500 to meet with various airlines in an effort to entice one to operate in Tuscaloosa and another $7,500 to consult on what upgrades the airport will need.

That gave way to contracts with Volaire, which was hired in May 2019 to help recruit commercial airlines to the regions airport and retained again later that year for $22,500. Volaire conducted a community survey to determine what level of support that commercial air service would get from local residents. The survey also sought to find out how many residents from the Tuscaloosa area are now flying out of other locations, such as Birmingham or Columbus, Mississippi.

This move included a joint funding agreement with the University of Alabama, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority not to exceed $40,000.

While efforts were moving ahead to recruit a commercial air provider to the airport, the global coronavirus pandemic reset those efforts multiple times, officials said.

As the airline industry was returning to normal after the initial wave of COVID-19 hit, the Delta variant slowed it again.

Another resurgence in the market was then slowed by the lingering Omicron variant.

Now, airport officials are planning to be ready when the aviation industry is, again, ready to expand into new areas.

There are still opportunities, Powell said, noting that as one airline provider backs away, another sees an opportunity to seize market share.

Were going to get air service, Greene said. Its just a matter of when.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Commercial air service remains a goal for Tuscaloosa National Airport
Head coach Wayne Pivac believes that Dan Biggars wealth of experience will be a key ingredient when he captains Wales in this seasons Guinness Six Nations Championship.

The Wales boss has appointed Northampton fly-half Biggar to lead his countrys title defence, taking over from an injured Alun Wyn Jones.

Jones, the most-capped Test player in rugby union history, is among a number of high-profile absentees from Pivacs 36-man squad for the tournament.

Dan Biggar, Wales captain  Our  is set to lead @WelshRugbyUnions Six Nations title defence   Northampton Saints  (@SaintsRugby) January 18, 2022

Jones fellow British and Irish Lions George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau also miss out due to injuries.

And Pivac has turned to Biggar, who has won 95 caps during a 13-year international career and started all three Lions Tests against South Africa last summer.

We have lost 680 caps (to injury), and that is a lot of experience gone, Pivac said. Dan brings a wealth of experience, a wealth of experience in this competition.

Also, we are looking at form, at players who are competing in different positions, and the captain has to have a guaranteed position in the team bolted on.

Dan, at the moment, is the form 10, and there is a lot of competition in the other positions. Weve gone with Dan. He brings that experience.

I think it (captaincy) will add to Dans game.

It is well-documented that Dan is a highly-motivated player, he is very competitive and he speaks his mind. We dont want to change him as a competitive player.

We want him to take on the role as a captain and the duties that go with that with referees.

Wales and Dragons flanker Ross Moriarty (Adam Davy/PA)

The squad includes three uncapped players in hooker Dewi Lake, his Ospreys colleague Jac Morgan and Cardiff number eight James Ratti.

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Flanker Ross Moriarty, who has not played since the autumn due to a shoulder problem, makes the group and is on course to feature for his regional team the Dragons a week before Wales February 5 Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

Pivac added: We are in close contact with the clubs and their medical teams. Ross is on track to play, not this weekend as the Dragons dont play, but the following weekend.

He will be released from camp to get a game under his belt, and if he comes through that then obviously he will be available for selection for Ireland.

Wales have announced their 2022 squad for the #GuinnessSixNations  pic.twitter.com/93BEcgw5R8  Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 18, 2022

Jones, meanwhile, has undergone two shoulder operations since being hurt during Wales Autumn Nations Series opener against New Zealand in October.

Hooker Owens has a back problem, Tipuric and Navidi have shoulder issues, North and Halfpenny are recovering from knee injuries and Faletau has not played this season because of ankle trouble.

When injuries are added to a number of coronavirus-related cancellations and postponements  the four Welsh regions have only played 17 games between them in eight weeks  it has been far from a straightforward Six Nations build-up.

Preparing this squad is going to be the most challenging for us to date. Just selecting the squad was an interesting exercise, Pivac said.

Wayne Pivac's thoughts on his squad selection ahead of the 2022 @sixnationsrugby. It's a very exciting competition, and we're very privileged that we were able to win it last year pic.twitter.com/c8myMkB8qA  Welsh Rugby Union  (@WelshRugbyUnion) January 18, 2022

It is well-documented with the Covid cases in clubs and being stuck in South Africa (as Cardiff and the Scarlets were), it hasnt been ideal for a lot of players.

I know theyve been doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes, and we will be doing our best over the first few weeks to put as much volume into them as we can without breaking them.

Its a fine balance. We have got to get them up to playing Test rugby, and we know that takes a bit of work.

Those players, through no fault of their own, have been put in that situation. So it is working together with the clubs, making sure weve got the right information about them in terms of the selection we have made, and we will see where we go from there.
The Central Washington Agricultural Museum in Union Gap has received a grant to fund restoration and relocation of a Young's cabin. The prefabricated one-room wooden structures were manufactured from the 1930s into the 1950s by Young's Lumber Co. of Yakima.
Young's Cabins stories sought from the public

The Central Washington Agricultural Museum will be collecting stories and photographs from the public of Youngs Cabins that may be used in the final exhibit.

If you have information you would like to have considered, contact Jeff Phelps, general manager of the ag museum, at 509-432-9147 or e-mail centralwaagmuseum@gmail.com.
Some of the most alarming government actions since the COVID-19 pandemic began have weakened state authority to safeguard public health. At least 26 states have removed traditional powers from local health departments, the institutions tasked with protecting us.

New state laws, for example, take away or limit health officials abilities to require masks, promote vaccinations, close restaurants and schools or even impose quarantines.

These limitations on local authority might seem inevitable in a country where voters often fear government overreach. But in fact these changes run counter to the historical trend in the U.S., which has overwhelmingly been to increase public health powers during epidemics.

At the beginning of European settlement in America, there were no government health departments. But, faced with devastating, terrifying and frequent outbreaks of deadly diseases, colonists established temporary boards of health to set public policy intended to save lives.

These temporary boards quarantined ships in the harbor, required sick residents to isolate at home and disbanded when the epidemics passed. But, over time, these boards became permanent. They increasingly expanded local and state authority to regulate community behavior in the name of public health. The public cooperated throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as Americans developed a sense of civic obligation and responsibility.

Because of this growing public commitment, the powers of cities and states to control disease increased with new epidemics. Repeated occurrences of yellow fever, cholera, smallpox and scarlet fever led to the establishment of public health departments that we recognize today.

Paid commissioners and health boards, and their staffs of inspectors and regulators, isolated the sick in contagious disease hospitals, vaccinated residents and created a sanitary environment. Health departments, often in conjunction with other city and state agencies, built clean water and sewer systems, regulated garbage collection and disposal, inspected restaurants, monitored school environments and set safety standards to ensure safe milk and food supplies. During epidemics, officials often forbade public gatherings, closed schools and bars and insisted on social distancing in churches.

Throughout our history, Americans learned that their individual liberty to oppose a health order during a time of community danger must be subsumed to the public good. The right of health officials to try to control infectious diseases was confirmed with the 1905 U.S. Supreme Court decision Jacobson v. Massachusetts, which empowered local and state health authorities to order vaccinations during epidemic outbreaks when public health was threatened. If some individuals did not comply, they could be fined or jailed.

Although COVID-19 has ignited controversy over local and state health agencies, public acceptance of their power and authority was widespread throughout the 20th century. In 1947, when smallpox threatened New York City, 6 million New Yorkers voluntarily lined up in the streets awaiting their inoculations to comply with the health departments vaccination ruling. This public cooperation took less than a month and resulted in a very low number of infected people.

In addition, since the 1950s, the federal government has played an increasingly prominent role in public health. State governments sought federal help when disease crises crossed state lines and when implementation of effective action required interstate cooperation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as in earlier health crises, state health departments have had to depend on federal support and national coordination to contain the disease. They have not had the capacity themselves to produce an effective vaccine, and since vaccines were developed, states have needed help with procurement and distribution. They still need help with maintaining equipment and personnel in hospitals to care for rapid increases in the number of sick people. And they need national leaders to promote the importance of vaccination and continued mask use.

Yet such coordination in local, state and federal efforts is weakened by the new state laws that limit health officials powers, which will leave us unable to deal with future pandemics effectively.

In earlier periods of American history, increased authority and funding for disease control would have been routine. Now the politicization of masking, testing and vaccination has made efforts to curb COVID-19 even more difficult.

Historically the public response to community health danger was ruled by the need to care about others. This tradition has served the country well over the last 300 years. But it is no longer standard in America. The freedom to not wear a face mask has become more important to many people than any obligation to others. Choosing narrow personal liberties over community cooperation and protection does not bode well for our ability to withstand future crises.
Unleashed's look at the best movies of 2021
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Today

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low around 65F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Remembrance is a part of our shared future, Andras Heisler, the president of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), said on Monday at a commemoration of the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Jewish ghetto in Budapest.

The survivors of the Holocaust would soon all be gone and well be left to ourselves with the duty and curse of remembrance, he said, adding that the descendants of Holocaust survivors had a duty to keep the memories of their ancestors alive, because otherwise they would be disowning the suffering their parents and grandparents had endured.



Jozsef Sebes, head of the Raoul Wallenberg Association, said his organisation wanted to honour the actions of its namesake Swedish diplomat, who rescued tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust in Hungary, by contributing to a way of thinking that people should be judged by their personalities and not based on their belonging to a certain group. Sebes named the fight against racial, religious and political discrimination as a key goal of the association.



Dag Hartelius, Swedens ambassador to Hungary, said everyone had a duty to remember the Holocaust and had a role to play in the fight against anti-Semitism, adding that Wallenbergs legacy served as a guiding principle in this.



Zoltan Istvan Horvath, parish priest of the Cathedral of St. Theresa of Avila, said young people needed to be told about those who helped save Jews during the Holocaust, so that they could serve as role models whose faith, conviction, love and humanity defeats all forms of fear and who were willing to risk their lives to save those facing persecution.



Mondays commemoration was organised by the Raoul Wallenberg Association and the Embassy of Sweden in Budapest. The event ended with participants laying flowers on the memorial dedicated to Wallenberg.



The decree marking the boundaries of Budapests large ghetto was published on November 29, 1944, and the area containing Dohany Street, Nagyatadi Szabo (today Kertesz) Street, Kiraly Street, Csanyi Street, Rumbach Sebestyen Street, Madach Imre Street, Madach Imre Square and Karoly Boulevard was sealed on December 10.



Initially 40,000 people forced to wear the yellow star were relocated to the ghettos 4,513 apartments, but numbers grew rapidly, reaching 70-80,000 by the start of the following year. In spite of the efforts of the Red Cross, most received only 700-800 calories a day, and at the end of December, the situation deteriorated further during the Soviet siege.



People died in large numbers, with 80-120 dead taken away each day. When the ghetto was liberated on January 18, 1945, more than 3,000 dead bodies were found on Klauzal Square alone.



The United Hungarian Jewish Community (EMIH) also held a commemoration at The Shoes on the Danube Bank Holocaust memorial on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Budapest ghetto.



Slomo Koves, EMIHs chief rabbi, said they were commemorating the hundreds of thousands of Hungarian victims who died during the Holocaust for what they were, not for what they did. He said remembrance must be turned into action. Jewish teaching, he added, held that accepting love without rationalising it was the surest way to vanquish meaningless, unreasonable hatred.



Oberlander Baruch, head of the Orthodox Rabbinate of Budapest, recalled that his father  who had survived the period of deportations in Budapest thanks to hiding and fake papers  was then forced to watch as Jewish children, women and men were shot into the Danube. Though he had escaped, this terrible memory stayed with him for the rest of his life, he said.



At the www.emlekezes77.hu website, videos of interviews with Holocaust survivors and their rescuers can be watched every hour for 77 hours - only available in Hungarian.





MTI Photo: Zoltan Mathe
A suspected people smuggler broke through the Hungary-Austria border in his van on Monday, after which gunshots were fired by the suspect at Austrian border authorities, according to Austrian press reports on Monday.

Nobody was injured in the shooting incident which happened at the Szentpeterfa-Eberau crossing station, Austrian authorities confirmed.



Local Hungarian police told MTI that Hungarian police have mounted a search for the suspect with the involvement of counterterrorism police.



A spokesperson said that earlier on Monday the police had stopped a van driven by a Moldovan people smuggler with 14 Syrian migrants but there was no direct link between the two cases.





Photo: Police.hu
Marki-Zay spoke about measures to fight the pandemic, the oppositions referendum initiative, and the governments new price freeze policy on certain consumer food products. He also proposed a prime ministerial debate with Viktor Orban.

The opposition is mourning coronavirus deaths while Fidesz is just enjoying itself, Peter Marki-Zay (pictured, right) said in his regular Sunday video talk streamed live on Facebook.



The united oppositions candidate for prime minister did not speak alone this time but was joined by Andras Simon (pictured, left), a former ATV television host already on his communications staff.



Szijjarto and Pinter are most to blame for pandemic failures

On Marki-Zays statement about Fidesz enjoying itself while the opposition mourns, Simon clarified that the opposition prime minister-designate was referring to the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, a day after it had been announced that the number of coronavirus deaths in Hungary had reached 40,000.



Marki-Zay criticized the Orban governments management of the pandemic, claiming that 193 out of 197 nations had dealt with the epidemic better than Hungary has.



He put blame squarely on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto for the governments failure in this area, saying that he was essentially the person in charge of stealing. But Interior Minister Sandor Pinter also bears blame by viewing health care as a business, Marki-Zay said, noting that Pinter has forced health care workers to stay at their jobs without being adequately compensated for it.



Signature drive for referendum going well

The oppositions signature drive for a two-question national referendum is going extremely well, and they may get the required number of signatures within a few days, Peter Marki-Zay said of the initiative organized by the United for Hungary opposition and the Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party on the Fudan University issue and the extension of unemployment benefits.



Although nominally only 200,000 signatures are needed to get the referendum approved, the opposition is aiming to get 230,000 just to be sure.



The mayor of Hodmezovasarhely also talked about the fact that Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Minister Gergely Gulyas are obviously trying to make it impossible for the opposition to hold its referendum at the same time as the governments own child protection referendum and the parliamentary elections.



Despite this, the opposition coalition is asking the government to certify the petition signatures in a timely manner.



Price freeze policy brings Hungary back to its days under socialism

The oppositions prime ministerial nominee also addressed the governments new policy to roll back prices on several food products to their levels in October last year.



According to Marki-Zay: It is pathetic that, thirty years after the end of the socialist system, Hungary is returning to the policy of setting official prices. The governments so-called price stop policy will result in a shortage of goods and a decline in quality, he believes, as was the case before the end of the socialist regime in 1989.



Orban wont resist the challenge of a debate

Towards the end of the livestream, the topic of a prime ministerial debate also came up. Peter Marki-Zay said that he was confident Viktor Orban would agree to debate him, because he did not think the Prime Minister could bear to keep his distance from voters or his colleagues in Fidesz. He could even regard it as a challenge.



Shortly after the live broadcast, Marki-Zay put up a post on Facebook challenging Prime Minister Viktor Orban to a debate.



Lets debate how we envision the future of the economy, health care, and migration, so people can learn who has actually done what, and what they think of our common home, Hungary! - wrote Peter Marki-Zay in his post.
Far-right party Our Homeland Movement held a demonstration Sunday afternoon in downtown Budapest against the covid dictatorship, as they phrase it. The party held a similar event in November, with both demonstrations attracting a few thousand protesters.

The party protested mandatory vaccinations in Hungary, despite the fact that such mandates are already quite uncommon in Hungary, as well as policies requiring children to be vaccinated.



They also expressed their opposition to the governments announcement on Thursday that the official protection card will become a vaccination card on February 15, meaning that it will only be valid for those who have received three vaccine shots, or gotten the second shot within the past six months.



Party chairman Laszlo Toroczkai, who portrays himself as Hungarys only unvaccinated candidate for prime minister, said that the party intends to increase its street resistance against vaccine terror until the April 3 elections.
After more than a decade out of use, a 17-mile rail line between Fremont and Hooper will see new life as a bike trail.

The Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad (FEVR) Rail to Trail Foundation received the land in a transfer from Fremont Northern LLC on Dec. 31.

The foundation aims to construct a bike and walking trail that would connect Fremonts bike trail system to Nickerson and Hooper, President Stan Darling said.

Both communities could benefit from the potential of hundreds of folks, bike enthusiasts, being able to ride that trail, make stops in both communities and enjoy what those communities have to offer, as well as see Dodge County, he said.

In June 2020, representatives from the City of Fremont, Dodge County Board of Supervisors, Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, Dodge County Visitors Bureau and Greater Fremont Development Council met regarding the sale offer.

Darling, who is also a vice president at Pinnacle Bank, said Fremont Northern reached out in early November to donate the real estate to a nonprofit before the end of 2021 for tax purposes.

We scrambled and put our heads together on how we could organize a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so quickly, he said.

Along with Pinnacle Vice President Amber Barton, David Mitchell of Yost Law Firm and Steve Pribnow of Erickson and Brooks, Darling and others in the community were able to get the deed filed in less than 60 days.

Because the FEVR Rails to Trails Foundation doesnt have its 501(c)(3) status yet, Darling said, it had to go through the Nebraska Trails Foundation, which is an interim owner of the real estate.

They are going to help us in our grant applications, seeking other forms of either state or federal dollars, he said. So thanks to the Nebraska Trails Foundation for coming in at the last minute and being willing to help us with this process.

The Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad was originally built in 1869, making it one of Nebraskas oldest tracks. Until the mid-1980s, it served as a gateway route from the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad to northern Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

After a decline, the railroad began offering excursion train rides in 1986. In the mid-2000s, train traffic stopped and the track became overrun with weeds, becoming an eyesore to nearby residents.

The original idea of the dinner train and the excursion train years ago was to link our communities and have people enjoy that route, Darling said. And now that were shifting gears, I think folks will still be able to enjoy it and have different events and those kinds of things that we can all enjoy.

Although theres no projected date for construction, Darling said hes reaching out to contractors to begin the bidding process for removing the railroad ties, cleaning up the land and constructing the trail.

Its going to be a rock trail, and so we have to get that number first before we can apply for any grants and really get organized in fundraising, he said.

The project is estimated to cost several million dollars, with the vast majority of funding expected to come from organizations like the National Rails to Trails Conservancy and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The foundation will also launch a capital campaign to raise funding from local businesses and individuals, with Pinnacle Bank making the initial donation.

Those interested in donating to the trail can send a check designated to the Fremont Rail to Trail Fund to the Fremont Area Community Foundation at 1005 E. 23rd St., Suite #2, Fremont, NE 68025.

Were going to move quickly and try to gather as much in grant funds and special funds that we can get toward this project and hopefully see some progress just as soon as the weather gets warmer and go as quickly as we can, Darling said.

Mayor Joey Spellerberg said in the release that the project is an exciting tourism and recreation opportunity for Fremont.

This railroad has history in tourism with the Pathfinder and Fremont Dinner Train, and it is fitting it will now transform into one of the premier trails in eastern Nebraska, he said. As mayor, I couldnt be more excited about the FEVR Rail to Trail project.
Royal Enfield is the longest running motorcycle brand globally. In the past decade or so, the Indian neo-classic bike-maker has made a huge name for itself, with a cult following, to say the least. Royal Enfield had a blast in 2021 launching Meteor and all-new Classic motorcycles in the country. In 2022, Royal Enfield plans to keep the momentum going with multiple products in the pipeline. Here's all the motorcycles Royal Enfield plans to launch in 2022 -

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is derived from the Meteor 350 that was launched in India in late 2020. It is expected to have smaller 17-inch alloy wheels and will likely be more affordable. In order to keep costs low, the company may also choose not to include the triple pod cluster found in Meteor. It is likely to use the same 349cc engine found in the RE Meteor.

Royal Enfield Scram 411

This upcoming Royal Enfield Scram 411 has been spotted countless times over the past year, and now it appears that the Chennai-based company is going to launch it soon. The Scram 411 will undoubtedly be one of Royal Enfield's first launches for 2022. Expected to be a slightly more affordable version of the Himalayan ADV, its focus will be more geared towards normal road travel.

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

At the recent EICMA, Royal Enfield displayed the SG 650 concept and the production-spec version may be launched in India by the end of 2022. Several times in India, the motorcycle has been spotted getting tested as it is already in the development stages.

Also read: Tata Safari Dark Edition SUV launched in India at Rs 19.05 lakh

Updates in existing RE

According to sources, the company will bring many updates to its product line this year. In addition, the company has also been spotted testing a new exhaust configuration on the Interceptor 650, as well as an updated Bullet 350.

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India's HS Prannoy entered the second round of the men's singles competition at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament after registering a straight-game win over Ukraine's Danylo Bosniuk on Tuesday (January 18).

On a comeback trail, fifth-seeded Indian took just 36 minutes to get the better of Bosniuk 21-14 21-18 in his opening clash.

A former top-10 player, Prannoy, who gave a good account of himself before being stopped by 20-year-old Lakshya Sen in the quarterfinals of the India Open last week, will next meet compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat, who got a first-round walkover from Rahul Yadav Chittaboina. However, the tournament was over for fourth seed Sameer Verma after he retired hurt against Ireland's Nhat Nguyen.

Its a desire of Urge,

A crave to go through,

A unique passion,

That none is aware of

Except YOU. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/kJjGByd8TA  PRANNOY HS (@PRANNOYHSPRI) January 17, 2022

Sameer was training 2-7 in the first game before he decided to concede the match due to a calf muscle injury, which he had sustained in October last year. Subhankar Dey also conceded his match against compatriot Kartikey Gulshan Kumar due to an injury when he was trailing 2-9 in the opening game.

Among women, Ashmita Chaliha gave a first-round walkover to Malvika Bansod, while Aakarshi Kashyap defeated Mugdha Agrey 21-13 21-14 and Anupama Upadhyaya eased past Rituparna Das. Two-time Olympic medallist and top seed PV Sindhu will open her campaign against compatriot Tanya Hemanth on Wednesday.
New Delhi: Abacus.AI on Tuesday said the company will invest USD 50 million in its R&D (research and development) division in Mumbai over the next three years.

The company plans to initially hire 20 engineers and scientists, and this number will grow to 200 in the next three years, the company said in a statement said.

Located in Mumbai, the R&D division will cater to the AI (artificial intelligence) adoption by small and large firms, it added.

Founded by Bindu Reddy, Siddartha Naidu and Arvind Sundararajan, Abacus.AI offers a cloud AI platform that handles all aspects of machine and deep learning at enterprise scale. For repeatable use-cases such as churn prediction, time-series forecasting and deep-learning-based personalisation, the company offers customisable end-to-end autonomous AI services.

Launched in 2019, Abacus.AI has already raised USD 90 million in four rounds and are backed by Silicon Valley legends such as Eric Schmidt, Mike Volpi, and Ram Shriram. The company is looking to raise further funding for global expansion.

"Enterprises in India and all over the world are embracing cloud computing, AI, machine and deep learning to reduce costs and increase efficiency. AI is an incredibly powerful tool for rapid innovation which is crucial in meeting increasing consumer demands from billions of customers and skilled labour," Abacus.AI CEO and co-founder Bindu Reddy said.

India, with its large talent pool of software engineers and the growing number of start-ups, is the perfect location for the company's expansion, Reddy added.

"Establishing a division within India is critical as it becomes an integral asset of rapidly growing businesses and a talent hub for engineers who are passionate about AI," Reddy said.

Manish Vora, India Head of Abacus.AI, said that by having a unique AI platform within India, the company is providing customers and companies with the flexibility and opportunity for businesses to expand their AI infrastructure.

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Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad has strengthened its medical infrastructure by adding a pediatric ICU and establishing a VSA oxygen plant, all of which were inaugurated today in the presence of Senior Dignitaries by Jitender Yadav, District Commissioner for Faridabad.

The hospital has erected a VSA oxygen production unit with a 500 LPM capacity to assure a constant supply of oxygen. The new VSA oxygen generation facility is the most advanced technology available, and it is the first of its kind in Faridabad.

In addition, as part of Goodyear's CSR programme, the hospital's paediatric ward has been upgraded to a paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Fully motorised patient beds, ventilators, multipara monitors with central monitoring station, video laryngoscope, portable colour doppler, ultrasound, ECG equipment, and HFNC are all available in the new PICU (used for COVID patients).

Jitender Yadav, District Commissioner, Faridabad said I congratulate Fortis Faridabad for strengthening the medical infrastructure by adding in the latest technology for Oxygen generation and opening up of the new PICU. Fortis Faridabad is one of the oldest private healthcare providers in Faridabad and ever since its presence has stood up to its commitment of providing the best of healthcare facilities and saving lives. The country is witnessing the third covid wave, the new PICU with deployment of technologically advanced medical equipment will be the much-required strength in the armor.

Dr. Ajay Dogra, Facility Director, Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad said, We were the first corporate hospital in Faridabad, and have been serving the people of Faridabad for the last 40 years, we have always provided reliable & quality healthcare services. The setting up of the oxygen plant and state of the art new Pediatric ICU will help in serving our patients.

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New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the Government of India will use the Supreme Court`s verdict to fight against Devas in Antrix deal "fraud" internationally.

Addressing a press conference a day after the Supreme Court of India`s ordered winding up of Devas Multimedia, Sitharaman said the government would soon appoint an arbitrator in Antrix-Devas case and fight it in every court internationally to save Indian taxpayers` money.

She said the satellite deal between ISRO`s commercial arm Antrix and Bengaluru-based startup Devas Multimedia signed in 2005 under the Congress-party led government was a fraud on the people of India and has caused huge damage to the exchequer.

Referring to the international arbitration tribunals orders to Antrix to pay to Devas shareholders Rs 1.2 billion as penalty, Sitharaman said Prime Minister Narendra Modi government would fight against all such orders internationally to save the taxpayers money.

Under an agreement signed in 2005, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) commercial arm Antrix was required to build, launch and operate two satellites and leash out 90 per cent of the satellite transponder capacity to Devas Multimedia Private Limited, which planned to use it to offer hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication services in India.

The deal was cancelled in 2011 on the ground that the auction of the broadband spectrum was mired in fraud and that the government needed the S-band satellite spectrum for national security and other social purposes.

Sitharaman accused Congress-party led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for allowing the fraudulent deal and letting it linger for so many years.

"It`s a fraud of the Congress, for the Congress and by the Congress," she said.The Finance Minister noted, "In 2011, when the whole thing was cancelled, Devas went to international arbitration, the Government of India never appointed an arbitrator, was reminded to appoint arbitrator within 21 days, but the Government didn`t appoint."

"The Supreme Court order shows how the UPA government indulged in wrong practices. Antrix-Devas deal was against national security. It should be Congress party`s turn to tell how this kind of fraud was perpetrated on people of India," she added.

The Supreme Court of India on Monday ordered winding up of Devas Multimedia Private Limited dismissing the company`s appeal against an order of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLAT).

"We do not know if the action of Antrix in seeking the winding up of Devas may send a wrong message to the community of investors. But allowing Devas and its shareholders to reap the benefits of their fraudulent action, may nevertheless send another wrong message namely that by adopting fraudulent means and by bringing into India investment in a sum of Rs 579 crores, the investors can hope to get tens of thousands of crores rupees, even after siphoning off Rs 488 crores," a Supreme Court of India Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice V Ramasubramanian said in its 134-page judgement.

Sitharaman said the Supreme Court`s order clearly prove that the Antrix-Devas deal was a fraud and scandalous. "We are fighting to save taxpayers` money which otherwise would have gone to pay for the scandalous Antrix-Devas deal."

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New Delhi: The Energy sector is pinning a lot of hopes that the upcoming budget shall offer the much-needed push to the revive consumer confidence in renewable energy sources.Energy sector believes that the Union Budget 2022-23 will set a path to recovery beginning this year.

"As per recent speculations, it is also expected that the upcoming budget will provide more clarity on tenure of Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on import of Solar PV cells and module. Expansion of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic manufacturing significantly. Additionally, we expect the government to provide financial incentives for the rapid growth of producing Green Hydrogen and making India as a Global manufacturing hub for Electrolyser to generate green hydrogen, Manoj Gupta, Vice President, Solar and Waste to Energy Business, Fortum India said.

"With India committed to reduction in carbon footprint, reiterated by honorable Prime Minister in opening address at the WEF, Davos this year; a further impetus to manufacturing of electric vehicles and establishment of charging infrastructure is expected. This maybe supported with a policy announcement on generation and distribution of renewable energy across India overcoming state-wise barriers. We are optimistic about the Union Budget 2022-23, which we believe will support a consistent GDP growth of over 8%, despite the challenge of pandemic," Dinesh Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, Panasonic Life Solutions India said.

Amit Kapur, Joint Managing Partner, J Sagar Associates (JSA) said, "Nudge energy transition through climate change by establishing carbon markets, ancillary services markets which would fund climate transition by pricing the positive externalities of eVs, battery storage and grid stability."

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the border dispute with Meghalaya is being worked out as per the recommendation of a special panel.

"A roadmap for amicable settlement has been prepared based on recommendations of 3 Regional Committees with representatives from both states,": Sarma told this to representatives of all political parties.

"The areas of differences taken up for final settlement are - Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillingkata & Ratacherra," he added.

Assam ministers Ranoj Pegu and Ashok Singhal, and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Debabrata Saikia were among those present in the meeting.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister briefed representatives of all political parties on the progress made so far on the issue. According to Assam Chief Minister`s Office, to resolve the Assam-Meghalaya border row, 6 of the 12 areas of difference have been identified for resolution in the first phase.

The areas of differences taken up for final settlement include Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillingkata and Ratacherra.

A roadmap for amicable settlement has been prepared based on recommendations of three Regional Committees with representatives from both States.

In their long-standing inter-state boundary disputes between Assam and Meghalaya, the Chief Ministers of both States on December 23 last year held a meeting and decided to resolve the issues over six areas, out of 12.

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New Delhi: Canadian Sikh Ripudaman Singh Malik, whose name had cropped up in the Kanishka bombing in 1985, has heaped praise upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commendable gesture towards the Sikh community. However, at the same time, Malik has expressed his concerns over a few Sikhs for allegedly unleashing a coordinated campaign against Modi.

While offering to work with Modi-led government for the redressal of other Sikh issues, Malik who is also president of Satnam Education Society of B.C., Canada, has appealed to Sikhs "who are allegedly indulged in a nefarious campaign" against Modi to end their activities.

In a letter sent to Modi, Malik has mentioned various initiatives of the government for Sikhs. This includes reopening 1984 anti-Sikh riots closed cases, opening of Kartarpur Corridor; appointing a Sikh, Iqbal Singh Lalpura as Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities; grant of FCRA license for Golden Temple; year-long celebrations of 350th birth anniversary of Sikhs first master Guru Nanak Dev; 450th birth anniversary of Hind ki Chadar Guru Teg Bahadur and recognizing the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's younger sons Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh by declaring December 26 as 'Veer Bal Divas'.

Notably, Malik had fought a long battle before he was acquitted by the Canadian judiciary in 2005 of the charges of blowing Air Indias Flight 182 in Kanishka.

While expressing concern at some Sikhs who were allegedly working against the Modi government, Malik writes I am concerned at an orchestrated campaign by some misguided members of my community against you in person and India at large.

He said, I have separately appealed them to desist from a vicious and motivated campaign launched ostensibly on their own but actually at the behest of some foreign powers interested in destabilizing India and challenging Indias national integrity and instead they should be appreciative of the unprecedented positive gestures made by your government."

Malik has also offered the Modi government to work along with them in redressing the pending issues of concern to Sikhs in a democratic way adding that he had also made an appeal to Sikhs to engage in the process.

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A 29-year-old married man was stabbed to death by three persons for his alleged frequent interactions with the sister of one of them despite repeated objections, police said on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Salman. He married four years ago and has two children and a mother.

Police said two women had been apprehended in connection with the incident on Monday night, and efforts are to catch the three absconding men. According to the police, the victim's mother, a resident of Trilokpuri, approached Mayur Vihar police station with a complaint stating that her son Salman used to speak to a girl residing near their house before his marriage. Both the families always objected to their friendship.

On Monday, at about 10 pm, the girl called Salman near her house and talked to him. Meanwhile, her sister spotted them talking to each other and alerted her family. She immediately called her brother Fardeen, alias Addu, who came to the spot along with two-three persons and started abusing and beating Salman. The girl's sister and mother instigated Fardeen and his associates to teach a lesson to Salman, the victim's mother alleged in her complaint.

According to the complaint, Fardeen stabbed Salman with a knife, and when the victim's mother called out for help, Fardeen and his associates ran away from the spot.

Salman was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, the police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Priyanka Kashyap said a case was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of the offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) at Mayur Vihar on the complaint of mother of the deceased.

With inputs from PTI

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New Delhi: For the second year in a row, Republic Day will have no foreign chief guest due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis across the world, especially with the increase in the number of cases of the Omicron variant.

Five Central Asian leaders were invited as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade on January 26, though no public announcements were made by either side.

India on Tuesday (January 18) continued to report over two lakh daily new coronavirus cases. According to the health ministry, there were 2,38,018 new infections in the last 24 hours and the country has so far reported 8,891 Omicron cases.

Earlier in 2021, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson was invited as the chief guest but he could not take part amid the Covid-19 crisis in his country.

In the past, years 1952, 1953 and 1966 saw no chief guest on the Republic Day. 1966, had, notably, seen the demise of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent and new PM Indira Gandhi was sworn in on January 24, 1966, just two days before Republic day.

ALSO READ | In a FIRST in 75 years, Republic Day parade to start 30 minutes late - here's why

As per the diplomatic calendar, January was expected to be a heavy month with the visit of PM Narendra Modi to UAE, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Vietnam and mega vibrant Gujarat investors meet. However, all such visits were postponed or cancelled due to the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases.

Focus now is on virtual meetings and telephonic converations.

Next week is likely to see a virtual summit involving PM Modi and all the five Central Asian leaders to celebrate the 30 years of establishment of ties. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also already held telephonic talks with over 15 of his counterparts since the new year dawned.

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Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur authorities on Tuesday (January 18) Imposed restrictions on movement within the campus, except for those on emergency services, in a bid to break the chain of COVID-19 spread.

Registrar Tamal Nath told PTI barring maintenance and emergency services, all other physical activities on the academic campus area of the institute, including laboratory works, have been stopped from January 18 to 23.

"As fresh Covid cases are being reported every day on the campus, pushing the total number of affected people since the first week of January, we felt the need to break the chain of transmission immediately not for one or two days but a couple of days. The six-day breather will serve the purpose."

"We want to stop students going from one hostel to another, and curb the movement of people on the campus during the period, " Nath said. Nath said so far 200 persons, mostly staff and their family members, have been infected by the contagion on the campus.

"We will review the situation on January 23 and decide on our next course of action. If the situation improves, we will go for fewer restrictions," he said.

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New Delhi: Indian Army personnel on Tuesday (January 18, 2022) rescued 14 civilians who were stranded due to twin avalanches at the Tangdar- Chowkibal highway in Jammu and Kashmir.

The avalanches, triggered by snow on Tuesday morning, had blocked the Tangdhar-Chowkibal road and 14 civilians including a child were stranded.

A critically ill heart patient was also among the civilians rescued.

They were then taken to a nearby army camp and were provided food and heat.

"Army's avalanche rescue team from Neelum Company Operating Base under Captain Kuljot Singh along with GREF immediately swung into action after information about the stranded vehicles full of passengers, including women, children and elderly was received," the Army said in a statement.

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Chandigarh: For Punjab Congress, Monday remained an eventful day with Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Navjot Singh Sidhu stating that the partys election manifesto will be an indicator of Congress partys Punjab Chief Minister (CM) face as well as the day marked the return of a dissident who was reinducted in the party by a powerful lobby of ministers from Majha region of Punjab sans Sidhu.

With a long debate and speculations going on in political circles over Congress partys CM face and the choice tossing between Sidhu and sitting CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Sidhu, who was in Amritsar on Monday told media that the partys election manifesto, which is likely to be released in a few days, will be an indicator of Congress partys CM face.

Praising the political acumen of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, PPCC president said they have been commendably running the party besides taking all the decisions sagaciously.

On Monday, former Amritsar District Congress Committee (DCC), Rural, president Bhagwantpal Singh Sachar rejoined the Congress in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, both Punjab cabinet ministers.

Sachar, three times DCC, Rural, had on Sunday joined the BJP in presence of BJPs national general secretary Tarun Chugh. Sachar said all the three ministers, popularly known as Majha Brigade, came to his house to persuade him to change his decision.

Sachar had been sulking ever since Congress announced Jagwinderpal Singh alias Jagga Majithia as party candidate from Majitha assembly constituency and in protest he resigned from Congress to join BJP.

He said, My main grievance was ignoring my service to the party and denying me a ticket from Majitha assembly constituency, now I have been assured to fulfil my demand during a meeting with In Charge Punjab affairs Harish Chaudhary in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Notably, Jagga Majithia is the younger brother of former Congress leader Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli Majithia who, in the recent past, had left Congress to join AAP.

The coming days, however, could be more challenging for the Punjab Congress after the forces that played their role in denying ticket to Sachar were exposed and the possible rebellion by Jagga from Majitha.

Notably, Bhagwantpal Singh Sachar is learned to have been asked to come to Delhi to meet the party high command in the evening today.
Varanasi: Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (January 18) held an audio interaction with BJP workers of his parliamentary constituency, and reaffirmed the BJP's commitment towards development. Restoration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, women empowerment, infrastructure and healthcare development were among the topics that came up for discussion during the interaction.

Modi asked party workers to inform people about the importance of voting and emphasised that every vote is important. "Each vote is important, we must tell people the importance of voting," said PM Modi

Interacting with one of the 'karyakartas' (party workers), Prime Minister Modi asked him to expand the reach of the government's welfare schemes to farmers, and said that they "should make farmers aware of the use of chemical-free fertilisers." Modi also talked about several central schemes which are benefitting the people of Varanasi at large.

He urged people to contribute to a section - 'Kamal Pushp' - on his app that features some "inspiring" party members. "The NaMo app has a very interesting section known as 'Kamal Pushp' that gives you the opportunity to share and know about inspiring party 'karyakartas'," he said. The prime minister also talked about the BJP's micro-donation campaign, seeking to raise funds through small contributions from its members and others.

Also read: A comedian to a politician - 5 facts about Bhagwant Mann, AAP's CM candidate for Punjab

This was PM Modi's first political interaction involving party workers since the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the Assembly polls to five states, including Uttar Pradesh. In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases, the EC, in its order, had forbidden the political parties to hold roadshows, rallies, padayatras till January 22. Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (January 18) sought a response from the Centre regarding the intake of only 19 women candidates in the National Defence Academy (NDA) and other military-run schools and colleges for the year 2022.A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kaul and MM Sundresh issued notice to the Centre after it was informed that 19 women candidates would be admitted in NDA out of a total of 370 seats.

The apex court asked the Centre to make its stand clear on restricting the intake of women candidates in NDA to 19, the figure that is the same as last year. It asked the Central government to place the figures on record about the total number of candidates including women who have appeared in the NDA examination 2021, for entrance tests for Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and for Rashtriya Military School (RMS).

Counsel appearing for petitioner Kush Kalra told the Bench that even for the 2021 examination, the intake of women candidates was limited to 19 for the Army, Navy and Airforce. Though the Centre had undertaken before the top court to put in place the infrastructural requirements for women candidates by May 2022, it has limited the number of intake to 19 candidates for this year also, the apex court was told.

The Bench said, "The figure is the same as for the 2021 test. Last year, you said that it was due to infrastructure problems that the intake of women will be less. Now, again for the year 2022, you have proposed to take the same number of women candidates. Why have you fixed this figure? You have to explain this. 19 seats cannot be for all times to come. It was only an ad hoc measure."

The Central government told the Bench that the intake of women candidates in NDA depends on the requirement of force and agreed to file a detailed affidavit within three weeks explaining its stand.

The top court gave three weeks to the Centre to file an affidavit and asked the parties to file their rejoinder in two weeks thereafter and listed the matter for further hearing on March 6. Last year, the apex court had directed that female aspirants be allowed to appear in the NDA entrance examination.

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After receiving intel from the Security agencies, Delhi-NCR has been put under very high security. The security alert came prior to Republic Day. Considering the security threat, all aerial platforms will be prohibited in Delhi from January 20. This includes paragliders, UAV's and hot air balloons as well.

The order shall come into force from January 20 and remain in effect till February 15. Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana has issued the order in the wake of reports of the possibility of certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists posing a threat to the general public's safety, dignitaries, and vital installations said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Deepak Yadav said given Republic Day; the security has been tightened with the entire area where the celebration would be placed under multiple CCTVs fitted with facial recognition software.

"All units of the Delhi Police, including local police, Special Cell, Special Branch, Traffic, SWAT (all-woman Special Weapons and Tactics) and teams from the National Security Guard will also be part of deployment besides the paramilitary forces," he said. Adding to it, he said, "Anti-drone arrangement systems have been put up at two different locations. Police personnel will also be deployed on high rise buildings for the extra vigil. There's also an air defence gun to keep a watch and tackle any hostile aircraft."

"Only those completely vaccinated will be allowed to attend the event. No children are allowed. Around 14,000 invitees have been allowed this year, out of which about 4,000 tickets have been issued for the public," the officer added.

He said that patrolling teams and PRAKHAR vans with attached cameras would also be part of the security wing. According to Delhi Police, there is a three-layered security system in place. The force is always alert and undertakes anti-terror measures significantly ahead of any event of national importance.

"We are focusing on anti-terror and sabotage activities. Although it is a usual protocol, we do it especially ahead of any event of national importance. With the upcoming Republic Day event, we have intensified our activities and deployed an extra workforce," another senior police officer said.

Citing the recent security breach of Prime Minister Modi's convoy in Punjab, the Delhi Police officers said that the force is extra vigilant to ensure no such incident happens in the national capital.

"As the prime minister's security is of paramount importance, we have intensified our vigil and deployed extra workforce to ensure no such (Punjab) incident is repeated. We have also received intelligence inputs that there are chances of a possible terror or drone attack," the officer said.

In the wake of the recent drone attack in Abu Dhabi in which two Indians and a Pakistani national were killed as well as the recovery of IEDs in Punjab and Ghazipur, the possibility of a threat to the prime minister cannot be ruled out, the officer added.

Meanwhile, the personnel have been asked to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour and follow all guidelines while ensuring no compromise on the security aspect, police said.

The Republic Day celebrations will begin every year from January 23 instead of January 24 to include the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Subash Chandra Bose, government sources said on Saturday.

This is in line with the Modi government's focus on commemorating important aspects of India's history and culture, noting it had earlier started celebrating Bose's birth anniversary as 'Parakram Divas'.

With inputs from PTI

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New Delhi: The wealth of India's ten richest is enough to fund school and higher education of children in the country for 25 years, a new study has shown.

In its annual inequality survey released on the first day of the World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda summit on Monday (January 17, 2022), Oxfam India said that the Indian billionaires witnessed their combined fortunes more than double during the Covid-19 pandemic and their count shot up by 39 per cent to 142.

It also stated that an additional one per cent tax on India's richest 10 per cent can provide the country with nearly 17.7 lakh extra oxygen cylinders, while a similar wealth tax on the 98 richest billionaire families would finance Ayushman Bharat, the world's largest health insurance scheme, for more than seven years.

The study also showed that the pandemic saw a huge rush for oxygen cylinders and insurance claims during the second wave of Covid-19 in 2021.

142 Indian billionaires collectively own wealth of over Rs 53 lakh crore

On wealth inequality, Oxfam report stated that 142 Indian billionaires collectively own a wealth of USD 719 billion (over Rs 53 lakh crore). It also said that the top 98 of the 142 Indian billionaires now have the same wealth as the poorest 55.5 crore people in the bottom 40 per cent (USD 657 billion or nearly Rs 49 lakh crore).

The study showed that if each of the 10 richest Indian billionaires were to spend USD one million daily, it would take them 84 years to exhaust their current wealth.

It also said that an annual wealth tax applied to multi-millionaires and billionaires would raise USD 78.3 billion a year that would be enough to increase the government health budget by 271 per cent or eliminate households' out-of-pocket health budget and leave some USD 30.5 billion.

Wealthiest 10% amassed 45% of national wealth

The study noted that Covid-19 may have begun as a health crisis but has become an economic one now. Oxfam said that the wealthiest 10 per cent have amassed 45 per cent of the national wealth while the share of the bottom 50 per cent of the population is a mere 6 per cent.

It further said that the inadequate governmental expenditure on health, education and social security has gone hand-in-hand with a rise in the privatisation of health and education, thus making a full and secure Covid-19 recovery out of reach for the common citizen.

The study urged the government to revisit its primary sources of revenue generation, adopting more progressive methods of taxation and assessing its structural issues that permit such wealth accumulation by the rich.

"Additionally, the government should also redirect revenue towards health, education and social security, treating them as universal rights and as a means of reducing inequality, thereby avoiding the privatisation model for these sectors," Oxfam said.

"We call upon the government to redistribute India's wealth from the super-rich to generate resources for the majority by reintroducing the wealth tax and to generate revenue to invest in the education and health of future generations by imposing a temporary one per cent surcharge on the rich for health and education," it said.

Women accounted for 28% of all job losses

On gender inequality, Oxfam India said that women accounted for 28 per cent of all job losses and lost two-thirds of their income during the pandemic.

It further said that India's 2021 budget allocation for the Ministry of Women and Child Development is less than half of the total accumulated wealth of the bottom ten of India's billionaire list and just a 2 per cent tax on individuals with an income of over 10 crores could increase the ministry's budget by an astounding 121 per cent.

It also said that if the wealth of the first 100 billionaires is accumulated, they could fund the National Rural Livelihood Mission scheme, responsible for creating Self Help Groups for women, for the next 365 years.

4% wealth tax on 98 richest families would finance Health Ministry for over 2 years

On health inequality, the report said a 4 per cent wealth tax on the 98 richest families in India would finance the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for more than 2 years and noted that their combined wealth is 41 per cent more than the Union Budget of India.

On education inequality, the study said a 1 per cent of tax on wealth of the 98 billionaires in India can fund the total annual expenditure of the department of school education and literacy under the Ministry of Education, while 4 per cent of tax on their wealth can take care of Mid-Day-Meal programme of the country for 17 years or Samagra Sikshya Abhiyan for 6 years.

Similarly, a 4 per cent tax on the wealth of the 98 billionaires would be enough to fund the Mission POSHAN 2.0, which includes Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, and National Creche Scheme, for 10 years.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: On Tuesday, actor Aayush Sharma shared a throwback video of the times when he was shooting for his film Antim: The Final Truth.

Sharing a BTS video from the sets of Antim, the actor pretended to be choreographer Mudassar Khan and started pranking a saleswoman who tried to sell him a loan of Rs 35 lakh.

In the video, he continued to talk to the lady and asked her various questions about the types of loans and also asked her to increase the amount of the loan.

He shared the video on his Instagram account and said, @beingmudassarkhan Bhai ka loan reject ho gaya .. Sorry bhai tried my best #throwback #antim..

In reply to his post, Mudassar jokingly replied, @aaysharma Aapne mera loan nahi paas karwaya, mere ko mira road west mein kholi lene ka tha. Mera sapna tod diya tumne. Lol.

Throughout the audio conversation, Aayush was accompanied by his Antim co-star Mahima Makwana and other crew members who were completely amazed by his conversation.

In the beginning of the video, Aayush was seen talking to the woman on speaker and asking her for a loan of Rs 15 crore. She informed him that the maximum amount they could offer was Rs 35 lakh for a period of 10 years.

Rs 35 lakh mein kya kya milta hai aaj kal market mein? he asked her. He told her that he would like a personal loan. Later, he admitted that he was doing timepass, and the video ended.

On the personal front, Aayush Sharma is married to Arpita Khan who is Salman Khan's sister. The duo is proud parents of two kids  son Ahil Sharma and daughter Ayat Sharma.
New Delhi: Producer Boney Kapoor never misses any chance to express his love for his late wife and legendary actress Sridevi.

On Tuesday, Boney shared an unseen picture of his wife on his social media handle and wrote, In Lucknow celebrating one of the festivities of Durga Puja at Sahara Sahar in year 2012.

The above picture is clicked in Lucknow at one of the Durga Puja pandals where Sridevi can be seen seeking blessings of the Goddess while posing for the shutterbugs.

The picture seems to be from Sindoor Khela ceremony which takes place during Durga Puja festival before bidding the idol farewell. The festival is celebrated annually in the country and by diaspora population settled abroad.

In the throwback photo, Sridevi seems to be enjoying the Sindoor Khela ceremony which is played by married women who apply vermillion to Goddess Durga and then to each other praying for husband and family's long life.

In the picture, Sridevi can be seen in a traditional attire. What caught everyones attention was Boney's name written with vermillion on her back.

While some fans went gaga over the picture, others missed the legendary actress.

For the unversed, Boney and Sridevi got married in 1996 and were blessed with two daughters - Janhvi and Khushi.

Unfortunately, on February 24, 2018, Sridevi died in Dubai after attending a family function there.

Boney is also a doting father to Arjun and Anshula, who are his children from his first marriage to Mona Shourie.
Washington: Hollywood actor Jason Momoa was recently seen out for the first time since announcing his split from wife Lisa Bonet. According to People magazine, the 'Aquaman' star was photographed in Los Angeles wearing a black T-shirt and jeans while covering up in a black face mask and hat on Sunday. He was seen without his wedding ring as Momoa carried a cardboard box outside of a grocery store.

Momoa revealed he and Bonet had split after nearly 17 years together and five years of marriage in a now-deleted Instagram post he shared last Wednesday. The joint statement read, "We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times... A revolution is unfolding and our family is of no exception... feeling and growing from the seismic shifts occurring. And so we share our Family news that we are parting ways in marriage."

"We share this not because we think it's newsworthy but so that as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty. The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived. We free each other to be who we are learning to become..." it continued.

The statement concluded, "Our devotion unwavering to this sacred life our children. Teaching our children what`s possible. Living the Prayer. May Love Prevail J & L."

Along with the announcement, Momoa shared several photos in his post, including one of a sunset sky, one of a person holding a baby bird and wearing a shirt that reads "May my soul shout love", and another close-up of the hands holding the young bird.

The couple had started dating in 2005 after being introduced by mutual friends at a jazz club.

During an appearance on 'The Late Late Show' with James Corden, Momoa spoke about his first date with Bonet, saying, "We just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

"I actually had dreaded my hair for her. I had dreadlocks, she had dreadlocks. I literally turned around and I see her and she goes, 'I'm Lisa.'` I turned around to my friend and I [pretended to scream]. I had f--ing fireworks going off inside, man," he said at the time.

"I convinced her to take me home, because I was living in a hotel."

The two ended up sharing a meal at Cafe 101, where Momoa said they hit it off. He added, "We sat down, she ordered a Guinness, and that was it. I beyond love Guinness. We had Guinness and grits, and the rest is history."

The former couple shares two children, daughter Lola and son Nakoa-Wolf. Bonet is also mom to Zoe Kravitz, 33, whom she shares with ex-husband Lenny Kravitz, as per People magazine.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday granted protection from arrest to actress Poonam Pandey in porn films racket case.

A bench of Justices Vineet Saran and B V Nagarathna issued notice to the Maharashtra government on an appeal filed by Pandey against a Bombay High Court order rejecting her anticipatory bail.

"Issue notice... In the meanwhile, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner," the bench said.

Pandey has been arrayed as an accused in the FIR along with actor Sherlyn Chopra.

The high court had rejected her anticipatory bail application on November 25, 2021. In December, the apex court had granted protection from arrest to Raj Kundra in connection with an FIR registered against him for allegedly distributing pornographic videos.

Kundra had been booked under certain Sections of the Indian Penal Code, Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act and Information Technology Act, for allegedly distributing/ transmitting sexually explicit videos.

Fearing arrest, Kundra first sought anticipatory bail from the sessions court, but it was refused, He then moved the high court, claiming that he had been framed.
Bhopal: Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan, who is currently shooting for a new film in Indore, recently took out time from her busy schedule to explore the city.

On Monday, Sara along with her mother and veteran actor Amrita Singh paid a visit to Indore's famous Khajrana Ganesh temple. The two visited the temple around 6:00 pm yesterday and stayed there for a while.

After offering prayers to the Lord, Sara took to Instagram and shared a few pictures.

In one of the images, Sara can be seen posing with her mother inside the temple premises. A few days ago, the mother-daughter duo visited the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple in Ujjain.

Such visits prove Sara's inclination towards religious beliefs.
New Delhi: Varun Dhawan is extremely shattered as the actors driver Manoj passed away due to heart attack on Tuesday.

As per the latest reports, Manoj drove Varun to Mehboob studio in Bandra for an ad shoot and later, he suddenly complained of chest pain.

He was rushed by the actors team to Lilavati hospital where he was pronounced dead. He reportedly suffered a heart attack.

According to ETimes, Dr Ajay Panday from Lilavati hospital confirmed the news to said, Yes unfortunately. My condolence to family.

Reportedly, Manoj was extremely close to the actor, as soon as Varun got the news of his sudden demise he rushed to the Lilavati hospital in order to express his condolences to the family. The picture was shared by celebrity paparazzo Viral Bhayani on his social media handle.

According to fresh reports, Varun has said that hell take care of the family in the coming future. Manoj has been reportedly working for the family for more than a decade and now was working as a personal driver to Varun from quite sometime.
Kolkata: Cartoonist Narayan Debnath, the creator of Bengali comic characters 'Bantul The Great', 'Handa Bhonda' and 'Nonte Phonte', died in Kolkata on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness, said the hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

He was 97 and survived by two sons, a daughter and a granddaughter.

Debnath, who was handed the Padma Shri award while undergoing treatment at the hospital, died at 10.15 am, his family said.

He was put on ventilator support as his condition deteriorated after being admitted to the hospital on December 24.

In his career spanning over six decades, Debnath created comic characters such as 'Bantul The Great', 'Handa Bhonda' and 'Nonte Phonte' -- all of which are household names in Bengal.

Condoling the death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Debnath brightened several lives through his works, cartoons and illustrations.

"His works reflected his intellectual prowess. The characters he created will remain eternally popular. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.

Shri Narayan Debnath Ji brightened several lives through his works, cartoons and illustrations. His works reflected his intellectual prowess. The characters he created will remain eternally popular. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 18, 2022

The first comic strip of 'Handa Bhonda' was published in 1962 in Bengali children's magazine 'Suktara', brought out by Deb Sahitya Kutir. It was followed by 'Bantul The Great' (1965) and 'Nonte Phonte' (1969).

Debnath continued working till the age of 93 when the last comic strip of 'Nonte Phonte' was published in the 2017 Durga Puja issue of Suktara.

Earlier, he created 'Rabi Chobi' -- a comic strip that was published in May 1961 in children's magazine Anandamela to mark the birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore.

Debnath was born in a family of jewellers in Shibpur in Howrah. His enthusiasm for sketching jewellery designs from a very early age prompted his family to admit him to the Government Art College in Kolkata after he completed schooling.

He dropped out of college to take care of his family business but soon went back to the drawing board.

Debnath started freelancing for a few advertising agencies, creating movie slides and logos, before getting in touch with Deb Sahitya Kutir.

"Bantul was not much popular during the initial two-three publications, but became a cult as the average Bengalis identified with his traits and exploits," said Rupa Majumder, the publisher of Deb Sahitya Kutir.

Debnath was conferred with Padma Shri in 2021 but could not visit New Delhi to collect the award. State Home Secretary BP Gopalika and Cooperative Minister Arup Roy handed him the medal and certificate on his hospital bed on Thursday.

He was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi award in 2013 and the West Bengal government also honoured him with Banga Bibhushan the same year.

The Rabindra Bharati University gave him an honorary D.Litt in 2015.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who visited Debnath at his home last month, said his death was a huge loss to the world of literary creativity and comics.

Getting nostalgic- On Jan 31, 2021 when Smt. sudesh Dhankhar & myself went to enquire about health #NarayanDebnath at Belle Vue Clinic, the legend blessed us and instantly drew this masterpiece to be ever cherished by us. Pray Almighty to bestow eternal peace to the noble soul. https://t.co/ieOf4Y9Qzx pic.twitter.com/sc9YKS5rHH  Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 18, 2022

"Sad at demise of Padma Shri #NarayanDebnath legendary cartoonist and creator of immortal characters Bantul the Great, Handa-Bhonda, Nonte-Fonte for children's world. Huge loss to the world of literary creativity and comics. My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans," he tweeted.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Debnath's passing away is an immeasurable loss.

"Extremely sad that the noted litterateur, illustrator, cartoonist, and creator of some immortal characters for children's world, Narayan Debnath is no more. He had created Bantul the Great, Handa-Bhonda, Nonte-Fonte, figures that have been etched in our hearts for decades," she said.

Extremely sad that the noted litterateur, illustrator, cartoonist, and creator of some immortal characters for children's world, Narayan Debnath is no more. He had created Bantul the Great, Handa- Bhonda, Nonte- Fonte, figures that have been etched in our hearts for decades.  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 18, 2022

"We were proud to bestow upon him Bengal's highest award Banga Bibhusan in 2013. His passing away is certainly an immeasurable loss to the world of literary creativity and comics. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, readers and countless fans and followers," Banerjee added.

The cartoonist's younger son Tapas Debnath told PTI that he would urge the government to help preserve his works.

"We would like to urge the government to help preserve my father's works, a treasure trove, for the future generations," he said.

Debnath is credited to have first introduced the concept of comic-strip in Bengali literature, said actor-MLA Chiranjit Chakraborty, who is the son of noted cartoonist Saila Chakraborty.

"Debnath is the inventor of storyboard in true sense in a comic series," he said.

Publishers' and Booksellers' Guild president Tridib Chatterjee told PTI that Debnath created 'Bantul The Great' during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, and 'Bantul' was often seen pulverising the Pakistani Army in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in the comic strips.

"It was astounding how he could produce so many comic strips with such unfailing regularity. Each of them was unique and unparallel in their strokes, imagination and quotient of humor. He had a razor-sharp mind," Chatterjee said.

The guild will commemorate him at the upcoming Kolkata International Book Fair, he added.

Debnath was confined to his Shibpur home for the last five years as his health condition deteriorated with age. He was also having financial difficulties.

The cost of his treatment at the hospital was borne by the state government. His earlier medical expenses were also borne by the state government, said, minister Arup Roy.

Kolkata's mayor Firhad Hakim visited the hospital on receiving the news of Debnath's death and paid tributes to him.

His body was taken to his home in Shibpur before being consigned to flames at a nearby crematorium.
New Delhi: Before visiting your bank branch in the remaining of the month of January 2022, you must take a note of the important days during which several bank branches will remain closed in the country.

The banks will be closed for 6 days in the remaining of this month, although online banking activities will continue to work. However, you must note that the banks will NOT be closed for the said 6 days in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays. For example bank branches might be closed for Thai Poosam in Chennai but not closed for the same festival in Assam.

Here are the list of bank holidays for the rest of January 2022. Check out the list.

18 January: Tuesday Thai Poosam (Chennai)

22nd January: Saturday fourth saturday of the month

23rd January: Sunday Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti, week off across the country

25 January: Tuesday State Foundation Day Himachal Pradesh

26 January: Wednesday Republic Day will be a holiday across the country

31st January: Monday will be a holiday in Assam

Reserve Bank of India places its Holidays under three brackets --Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act; Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday; and Banks Closing of Accounts. However, it must be noted that the bank holidays vary in various states as well not observed by all the banking companies. Banking holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in specific states or notification of specific occasions in those states.

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New Delhi: Banks have made a case for lowering fixed deposit (FD) tenure to three years for availing tax benefits, in line with mutual fund products like equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS).

Currently, the tax break is available on 5-year tax-saving FD schemes. One can claim an income tax deduction by investing money in a five-year FD scheme under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Section 80C is a wide bracket with a ceiling of Rs 1.50 lakh.

"As compared to other financial products (such as ELSS) available in the market, the tax-saver fixed deposit (FD) has become less attractive and if the lock-in period is reduced, this would make the product more attractive and provide more funds to the banks," IBA said in a pre-Budget proposal submitted to the government.

The lock-in period should be reduced to three years from the existing five years, the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) said in its proposal.

Banks have also sought special rebates or additional depreciation for expenditure made on financial inclusion activities and promoting digital banking, among other activities.

IBA further said banks do a lot of activities for promoting the weaker sector, promoting digital banking and for implementing various schemes of the government under financial inclusion.

"By making expenditure of IT, banks give benefits to masses i.E. Ease of doing business, digital banking, etc. Therefore, some special incentives in the form of the special tax rebate or deduction or additional depreciation (say 125 per cent) over and above the actual capital expenditure made on such activities may be provided," it said.

Banks also want a special dispute resolution mechanism for faster disposal of cases related to taxation.

Banks' appeals involve substantial amounts but these are treated on a parity with appeals involving small amounts, it said.

It added that huge amounts are involved entailing loss of interest to either party, both of whom are largely two arms of the government.

"Appeals between banks and the government department require to be heard faster.

"Special dispute resolution mechanism, similar to the Committee on Disputes, set up with strict timelines for completion of the appeal process is required to reduce litigations between the tax department and the banks," it said.

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New Delhi: Influenza has returned to Europe at a faster-than-expected rate this winter after almost disappearing last year, raising concerns about a prolonged "twindemic" with COVID-19 amid some doubts about the effectiveness of flu vaccines.

Lockdowns, mask-wearing and social distancing that have become the norm in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic knocked out flu last winter, temporarily eradicating a virus that globally kills about 650,000 a year, according to EU figures. But that has now changed as countries adopt less strict measures to fight COVID-19 due to widespread vaccination.

What is twindemic?

Twindemic is referred to the possibility of a severe flu season happening alongside an increase in COVID-19 cases and its consequence can be a mixture of two different infections in the same person at the same time.

Since mid-December, flu viruses have been circulating in Europe at a higher-than-expected rate, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported this month.

In December, the number of flu cases in European intensive care units (ICU) rose steadily to peak at 43 in the last week of the year, ECDC and World Health Organization data show.

That is well below pre-pandemic levels - with weekly flu cases in ICUs peaking at over 400 at the same stage in 2018, for example. But it is a big increase on last year, when there was only one flu case in an ICU in the whole of December, data show.

ALSO READ | Is the world ready to follow Europe's footsteps and treat Covid like flu?

The return of the virus could be the start of an unusually long flu season that could stretch well into the summer, the ECDC`s top expert on influenza Pasi Penttinen told Reuters.

"If we start to lift all measures, the big concern I have for influenza is that, because we have had such a long time of almost no circulation in the European population, maybe we will shift away from normal seasonal patterns," he said.

He said dismantling restrictive measures in the spring could prolong the circulation of flu far beyond the normal end of the European season in May.

A "twindemic" could put excessive pressure on already overstretched health systems, the ECDC said in its report.

In France, three regions - including the Paris region - are facing a flu epidemic, according to data published by the French health ministry last week. Others are in a pre-epidemic phase.

This season, France has so far recorded 72 serious cases of flu, with six deaths.

Dominant strain

Further complicating matters, the dominant flu strain circulating this year appears so far to be the H3 of the A virus, which usually causes the most severe cases among the elderly.

Penttinen said it was too early to make a final assessment of flu vaccines because a larger number of ill patients was needed for real-world analyses. But lab tests show the vaccines available this year "are not going to be optimal" against H3.

That is largely because there was very little or no virus circulating when the vaccines` composition was decided last year, making it harder for vaccine makers to predict which strain would be dominant in the coming flu season.

Vaccines Europe, which represents top vaccine makers in the region, acknowledged the strain selection was made more difficult by very low flu circulation last year, but added there was not enough data yet to assess the effectiveness of this season`s shots.

Flu vaccines are adapted every year to make them as effective as possible against ever-changing flu viruses. Their composition is decided six months before the flu season kicks in, based on the circulation of viruses in the opposite hemisphere. That gives time for drugmakers to develop and make the shots.

ALSO READ | With Omicron variant, will Covid-19 pandemic become endemic like the 1918 Spanish flu?

Europe-wide data on flu vaccine uptake is not yet available. But national figures for France show coverage is not as broad as authorities hoped for.

The authorities there extended by one month the vaccination period to the end of February to boost inoculations. According to figures released last week, 12 million people have so far been vaccinated, about 45% of the targeted population.

"There is still a large room for improvement to limit the impact of the flu epidemic," the health ministry said in a statement on Jan. 11. This year`s target is to vaccinate 75% of people at risk.

Vaccines Europe said the industry had supplied large numbers of flu shots, despite the strain on production facilities posed by the pandemic.

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Dubai: Yemen`s Iran-aligned Houthi group attacked the United Arab Emirates in what it said was an operation using missiles and drones, setting off explosions in fuel trucks that killed three people and causing a fire near the airport of Abu Dhabi, capital of the region`s commercial and tourism hub.

The strike on a leading Gulf Arab ally of the United States takes the war between the Houthi group and a Saudi-led coalition to a new level, and may hinder efforts to contain regional tensions as Washington and Tehran work to rescue a nuclear deal.

"The UAE condemns this terrorist attack by the Houthi militia on areas and civilian facilities on Emirati soil...(It) will not go unpunished," its foreign ministry said. "The UAE reserves the right to respond to these terrorist attacks and criminal escalation."

The UAE, a member of the coalition, has armed and trained local Yemeni forces that recently joined fighting against the Houthis in Yemen`s energy-producing Shabwa and Marib regions. "With (nuclear) negotiators running out of time, the risk of a deterioration in the region`s security climate is rising," said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal MENA analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, condemned the attack, the UAE state news agency reported. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington would work to hold the Houthis accountable.

The Houthis have frequently launched cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, but have claimed few such attacks on the UAE, mostly denied by Emirati authorities. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group fired five ballistic missiles and "a large number" of drones at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, an oil refinery in Musaffah and several "sensitive" sites in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi police said three people were killed and six wounded when three fuel tanker trucks exploded in the industrial Musaffah area near storage facilities of oil firm ADNOC. State media said those killed were two Indians and a Pakistani.

Police said initial investigations found parts of small planes that could possibly be drones at the sites in Musaffah and Abu Dhabi airport, but they made no mention of missiles.

ADNOC said an incident at its Mussafah Fuel Depot at 10 a.m. resulted in a fire. Police closed the road leading to the area, where unverified footage on social media had shown thick smoke. "ADNOC is deeply saddened to confirm that three colleagues have died. A further six colleagues were injured and received immediate specialist medical care," it said.

ADNOC added that it had activated business continuity plans to ensure an uninterrupted supply of products to local and international customers.

An Etihad Airways spokesperson said a small number of flights were briefly disrupted at Abu Dhabi airport due to "precautionary measures", but normal operations quickly resumed.

PROXY FIGHT

The Saudi-led alliance carried out air strikes on Yemen`s Houthi-held capital Sanaa, Reuters witnesses said, following the strike on the UAE and after the coalition intercepted eight drones launched toward Saudi Arabia on Monday.

One of the air strikes hit the home of a former military official, killing him and his 25-year-old son, a medical source and two neighbours told Reuters.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack on the UAE and urged "all parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any escalation", his spokesperson said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the attack threatened regional stability. There was no immediate comment from Iranian officials, but Iran`s Tasnim news agency reported it as an "important operation".

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi had moved to engage directly with Iran in recent months to avoid any wider conflict that could hurt regional economic ambitions. The Yemen war is widely seen as a proxy war between Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi`ite Iran.

The Houthi strike could derail UAE and wider Gulf dialogue with Iran, said UAE political analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdulla. "The UAE is not going to take this very lightly," he said.

The attack coincided with a visit to the UAE by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. A Blue House official said a summit between Moon and Abu Dhabi`s crown prince was cancelled.

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The Women and Media Collective in collaboration with INFORM and the Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka commemorated Womens Rights and Human Rights Defender, Sunila Abeysekera in Colombo on International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013. This also marked the third month since her demise. The event was attended by around 400 people, friends, colleagues and loved ones from across the country.

This video clip includes Sunilas cinema performances and her performances on stage. Mr. Dharmasiri Bandaranayake talked about Sunilas life in film and music in the event followed by above video.
USAID supports Vietnams small and growing businesses

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) on Tuesday launched a new project that will focus on building the competitiveness of Vietnams small and growing businesses.









Participants at the launching event in Hanoi on January 18

The five-year, up to $36 million project was first announced during US Vice President Kamala Harris visit to Vietnam in August 2021. The project will be implemented in cooperation with MPIs Agency for Enterprise Development.

Small and growing businesses are key contributors to Vietnams economic growth, accounting for 40% of GDP and 60% of total employment in 2018. However, these businesses face barriers and constraints impeding their continued and sustained growth, including new technologies, networking, market linkages, and lack of access to management training and skills building opportunities.



USAIDs new Improving Private Sector Competitiveness project will encourage broad-based, inclusive economic growth through improved business practices, innovation and technology adoption, policy reform, and increased market access. This project will foster locally-led, locally-owned solutions that leverage the strength of the Vietnamese talent pool, including the promotion of Made by Vietnam products, services, and technologies, as well as solutions that contribute to improving the business enabling environment.





This new project is USAIDs flagship effort to help Vietnam harness its entrepreneurial spirit in facilitating a dynamic, Vietnam-led transformation of the private sector into one that can compete globally, and provide more equal opportunity for all, said USAID Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock at the launch event.



Mission Director Yastishock lauded MPI for its long-running partnership with USAID. She called on key stakeholders, from policymakers to the private sector, to work hand-in-hand with USAID and MPI to achieve the projects ambitious targets.



Over the life of the project, the Improving Private Sector Competitiveness project aims to support 5,000 small and growing businesses, with 240 businesses successfully participating in domestic, regional and international markets, and 60 pioneering these businesses successfully creating value-added products and positioning their Made by Vietnam brands in regional and global markets.


By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva has met with a delegation led by the chairman of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Mujahit Demirtas.

Welcoming the guests, Gunay Afandiyeva stressed the importance of close ties with member states, including Turkey for the organization.

She stressed that the transfer of the chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States to Turkey will greatly contribute to the development of mutual partnership between the Turkish states.

In her speech, Gunay Afandiyeva noted that the foundation has been cooperating with the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects since its foundation, recalling the international video conference "Karabakh's past, present and future" held last year.

Gunay Afandiyeva also spoke about the foundation's multifaceted activities to restore, preserve and promote the culture of the Turkic world and stressed the importance of implementing new projects with the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects

TMMOB chairman Mujahit Demirtas spoke about the restoration of the monuments destroyed as a result of the Armenian vandalism in the Turkic world, including Karabakh, an integral part of Azerbaijan.

Afterwards, the chairman of the association Mujahit Demirtas praised the role of Gunay Afandiyeva in preserving the cultural heritage of the Turkic world and presented a diploma to the President of the Foundation stating that she was elected an honorary member of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects.

Initiated in 2012, Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on preservation of Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third countries.

The Foundation provides assistance in the protection, study and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects and programs. It carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy.

Cooperation Council of the Turkic Speaking States (CCTSS) is an intergovernmental organization, which aims at promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic Speaking States.

The organization was established by the Nakhchivan Agreement, which was signed at the Turkic Summit in 2009.

In order to fulfill the objectives and tasks of the CCTSS, the organization has been divided into the following structures: Council of Heads of States; Council of Foreign Ministers, Senior Officials Committee, Council of Elders, Secretariat, Coordination Committee, Representation Office of the Turkic Council in Budapest.
By Trend

Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with Chairman of the Parliament of Montenegro Aleksa Be?i? on Jan. 17, 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the statement, the meeting noted the successful development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and ?Montenegro in various directions, expressed confidence that Be?i?'s visit will contribute to the expansion of bilateral cooperation.

The prospects for expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Montenegro in trade and economic, humanitarian, cultural, tourism and other spheres have also been discussed.




Peru's participation in this travel and tourism-trade show aims to position the country as a safe and ready destination for international travelers.





According to Carbajal, Spain has always been and will be a key market for Peru. In addition, it serves as a connecting hub for travelers from other European countries to the South American nation.





Recovery strategy





The PromPeru official stated that Peru's participation at FITUR is part of the promotion and recovery strategy adopted by the Peruvian Government to restore the flow of travelers to pre-pandemic levels.





For this reason, Peru will be promoted as a destination with a wide-ranging appeal in segments of nature, adventure and culture, according to current travel trends and prioritizing outdoor and sustainable activities in regions such as: Amazonas, Ancash, Arequipa, Cusco, Puno, Ica, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Lima, Madre de Dios, Loreto, among others.





It is worth noting that Spain is the main source market for European tourists to Peru, followed by France and Germany.





"Spanish travelers show a high repeatability rate, which allows us to provide alternatives to the traditional circuit and diversify the country's tourist attractions," she added.





(END) NDP/SDD/RMB/MVB

Once again, Peru will participate in one of the largest tourism events around the world (FITUR 2022), Peru's Exports and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) reported on Tuesday.Published: 1/18/2022
Canciller Oscar Maurtua exhorta a los consulados a redoblar esfuerzos y a renovar su compromiso con el servicio publico para la atencion de nuestros connacionales con una verdadera vision solidaria e inclusiva.

?? https://t.co/y7Aht4w5oE pic.twitter.com/pCZnB0BaUZ
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met today with Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri on the sidelines of his working visit in the UAE, the Armenian Presidents Office said.

The UAE Minister thanked President Sarkissian for participating in the conferences dedicated to sustainable development and climate change within the frames of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. She informed that the UN 2023 Climate Change Conference will be held in the United Arab Emirates and presented her countrys actions to be taken for resisting the climate change.

The sides also discussed issues aimed at expanding the Armenian-UAE cooperation in a number of areas that would ensure sustainable development, as well as implementing joint mutually beneficial projects.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament is debating today the election of a deputy governor of the Central Bank of Armenia.

The parliamentary standing committee on financial-credit and budgetary affairs has proposed Hovhannes Khachatryans candidacy, who has been nominated by the ruling Civil Contract faction, for the position.

In his remarks at the parliaments session Hovhannes Khachatryan thanked the Civil Contract faction for nominating his candidacy and dedicated his speech to the developments that have taken place in the financial system in the past two years, the adequate actions of the Central Bank and the role he assumed.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Bulgaria, Pashinyans Office said.

The message reads:

Your Excellency

I extend my warmest congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Bulgaria. The Protocol signed in 1992 officially recorded the centuries-old historical and cultural interactions between our two peoples.

Over the past three decades, our bilateral interstate relations have been marked by the continuous development of sincere and effective cooperation based on mutual respect, trust. Today we have a rich bilateral agenda, which covers many areas, including partnership in international organizations, political dialogue, inter-parliamentary cooperation, as well as active cooperation in the fields of education, culture, trade and economy.

I am convinced that the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, in its turn, will best contribute to the further strengthening and deepening of the wide range of our bilateral cooperation.

Once again congratulating you on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani intelligence agencies have intensified attempts to contact residents of Artsakh via the internet, attempting to spread panic or gather information.

The National Security Service of Artsakh said theyve revealed a case when the Azeri intelligence agencies contacted a citizen through Telegram, using a fake account of a woman and sending intimate photographs in exchange of similar photographs. Then, threatening to leak the intimate photos online, the Azeri intelligence agencies told their victim to provide various information, photographs of various locations, and even offered money by way of transferring to a bank account.

The Artsakh NSS said it is investigating the case. The NSS called on citizens to refrain from contacting strangers or suspicious individuals or accounts on social media or contact the authorities in the event of receiving such requests.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Industry Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, the Presidential Office reports.

Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri is also the Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and the Emirates Scientists Council.

The opportunities of cooperation in science, technology and space science areas, as well as implementation of joint programs were discussed during the meeting. The minister presented the actions being taken by the United Arab Emirates in fundamental science, space science sectors.

President Sarkissian invited the UAE Minister to take part in the STARMUS 6th festival on science and art in Armenia this year in September, which also aims at guiding youth to science, new technologies and future.

Armen Sarkissian said that Armenia also pays a great importance to science and technology fields, considering them as priority areas for the countrys future. In this context he talked about the presidential initiative ATOM (Advanced Tomorrow) on science and technology development and the possible partnership on the sidelines of this program.

The meeting also touched upon the possibilities of exchange programs of young scientists and joint research.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ambassador to Japan met on January 18 with Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Takako Suzuki, the Embassy of Armenia told Armenpress.

A number of issues relating to the bilateral and multilateral cooperation were discussed.

The sides discussed holding joint events on the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Japan. They attached importance to raising mutual recognition through culture, intensifying human contacts and engaging Japanese companies into Armenias infrastructure programs (road, water reservoir construction, etc), as well as renewable energy sector.

The necessity of expanding the bilateral legal contractual field was also emphasized at the meeting.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Former Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote has announced in a statement on social media that a French Institute will open in Yerevan as the French government has officially approved the initiative.

During his mission in Armenia the former Ambassador has made a lot of efforts together with the Aznavour Foundation for the implementation of this project.

The Institute will be located near the Aznavour Center on Yerevans Cascade.

This Institute will unite the projects of all those who contribute to cultural ties of the two countries. The creation of this Institute 30 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations will justify the sincere expectations of the Armenian society, Jonathan Lacote said on Facebook.

The new French Institute will be engaged in implementing educational, cultural and humanitarian programs.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijans Defence Ministry has conducted training and methodological sessions for the military staff on human resources, the ministry has said.

Under the approved plan for 2022, training and methodological sessions were organized for the Army Corps, formations, military units, and special educational institutions staff of the personnel bodies, the report added.

Addressing the event, personnel department chief Maj-Gen Elchin Khalilov mentioned the activities carried out over the past year to improve the staff of personnel bodies, as well as, briefed about the upcoming tasks for 2022.

He stressed that the reforms in the military are being continuously carried out under the leadership of the supreme command.

Describing 2021 as a successful year in terms of military achievements, Khalilov underlined that the organizational and staffing structure of the Azerbaijani army has been improved to move to a new stage of development in line with the model of modern armies.

He added that the army should be staffed with skilled personnel who can think strategically in order to retain a high degree of combat capabilities.

The department chief emphasized that the formation, development, and effective use of professional military personnel is one of the key objectives of management bodies at all levels, including personnel bodies' workers. He added that considerable achievements had been gained in this regard and the personnel management system had been improved.

Furthermore, Khalilov underlined the main tasks for the army in 2022.

The officers responsible for personnel affairs in the military also reported on the activities carried out in the field of personnel training for boosting the military personnels combat readiness.
YEREAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. During their recent first meeting in Moscow, the special envoys of Armenia and Turkey for the dialogue between the countries exchanged views on how they see the process both from technical and also from content terms, Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan, who is Armenias special envoy, told reporters today.

He reminded that the foreign ministries of Armenia and Turkey have issued statements about the results of that meeting. It is also fixed in the statement of the Turkish foreign ministry that the sides agreed to continue negotiations without preconditions. In general, that meeting was held in a constructive environment, but how the process will move on depends on the readiness of the sides and the continuation of constructiveness. Armenia has always stated that it is ready to normalize the relations with Turkey without preconditions, reach the opening of borders and establish diplomatic relations, Rubinyan said.

Therefore, the sides agreed to hold negotiations and continue them without preconditions. As for how the process will move on, Rubinyan stated once again that it will depend on Turkeys level of constructiveness, honesty and readiness.

The desire of the Armenian side is to get involved in substantive talks as soon as possible because we are interested in the solution of the real problems. And this is, firstly, the opening of the border. We have stated and state the following: Armenia is ready to achieve the normalization of the relations without preconditions, Rubinyan said.

He also reminded that no leadership of Armenia has put the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition of the Armenian side for the normalization of the relations.

When we say that Armenia is ready to normalize the relations without preconditions, it means that the same is expected from the other side. What is the entire meaning of negotiations? There is situation which is not beneficial to us. I think that it is not beneficial to Turkey too. We want for the border to open. And we are ready to negotiate around it, the main essence of the negotiation is that there is a problem between the two countries, and it must be solved, he said.

Commenting on his first meeting in Moscow with Turkeys special envoy Serdar Kilic, Rubinyan said that they have tried to discuss the positive issues. What will happen then depends on Turkeys level of constructiveness, readiness to get involved in substantive talks. I can state that I assess what has taken place as of this moment normal, I assess the first meeting as constructive. But how the process will move on, it depends also on Turkeys readiness, honesty and constructiveness, Ruben Rubinyan said.

He informed that no agreement has been reached about the date and venue of the next meeting. But, of course, one day that agreement will be reached, and I will inform, he added.
YEREVAN, 18 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 18 January, USD exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 481.52 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.27 drams to 548.74 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 6.28 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.61 drams to 656.02 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 77.19 drams to 28142.55 drams. Silver price down by 1.29 drams to 356.3 drams. Platinum price down by 60.98 drams to 15094.2 drams.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a consultation, during which issues related to the implementation and possible improvements of Armenia's Transformation Strategy until 2050 were discussed, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

At the beginning of the consultation the Prime Minister said, Today we have gathered to discuss and to review Armenia's Transformation Strategy until 2050, and finally to understand the correlation of that strategy with the current situation, to evaluate its correlation with the Governments Action Plan and program of activities. Accordingly, we must see what adjustments are needed, whether they are really needed or not, how we continue to implement the strategy, of course, first of all, assessing its applicability.

My observations during this period and the works with the strategy show that not only it has not lost its relevance at all, but on the contrary, it is as relevant as at the time of its adoption or publication. In this regard, we must now decide what to do next."

Afterwards, a number of issues related to the programs, goals, improvement of approaches, transformation, harmonization, evaluation of the relevance of the measures envisaged by the document, development of new content were discussed. Various suggestions and observations were presented.

Summing up the consultation, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that the strategy should be considered as a guideline. After its improved, it should become a practical tool for the Government. The Prime Minister instructed the officials to continue the work on improving the strategy.
North Koreas Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that tactical guided missiles were fired during a test by its Academy of Defense Science on Monday, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday, Tass informs.

January 18, 2022, 09:49 North Korea confirms tactical guided missile test on Monday

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: According to Yonhap, KCNA informed that the missiles hit an island target near the countrys eastern coast. The test was aimed at evaluating their accuracy, security and efficiency.

According to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea presumably launched two short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Monday. The missiles were launched from the area of the Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang.

It was North Koreas fourth missile launch since the start of the year.
Over 2,000 troops of the Western Military District are engaged in live-fire drills in the Leningrad Region in Russias northwest, the Districts press office reported on Tuesday, Tass informs.

January 18, 2022, 12:46 Over 2,000 troops engaged in live-fire drills in Russias northwest

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Practical measures are underway at the Kirillovsky and Luzhsky combined arms training grounds. The personnel of motorized infantry, tank and reconnaissance units are sharpening the skills of driving T-72B3 tanks and firing their guns," the press office said in a statement.

As part of the drills, the troops will also live-fire AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, RPG-7V hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, AK-74M assault rifles and SVD-M sniper rifles, the statement says.

During the drills, the troops will pay special attention to moving stealthily and striking targets using observation instruments and sights, determining the distance to the target, adjusting fire and employing the present-day experience of local military conflicts, the press office said.
GUANGZHOU, ChinaJan. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of January 14th, Mr. Sylvain FOURRIERE, Consul General of France in Guangzhou, and officers from consulates general of 9 countries including Britain, Canada and Switzerland visited China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and Singapore-based Biosyngen Pte. Ltd. ("Biosyngen"). Government representatives from Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, Huangpu District, Guangzhou Development District, China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Development and Construction Office and other officials accompanied the visit.

The delegation visited the Planning Office of China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and Biosyngen's immune cell production base successively. During the visit to the Planning Office of China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, the consuls said that through field visits, they had a better understanding of the background of national bilateral cooperation projects between China and Singapore, and were impressed by the achievements of the knowledge city in industrial development, scientific and technological innovation, China-Singapore cooperation, urban construction and other aspects under the leadership of China and Singapore. They were willing to drive China, France, and other countries to continuously tap the cooperation potential in more fields, expand cooperation and exchange platforms, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

In recent years, China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City has been benchmarking international standards, focusing on model innovation, and highlighting value creation. Many Fortune 500 leading enterprises have settled in and initially formed an industrial structure dominated by six major industries, such as biomedicine, intelligent manufacturing, new materials and new energy, with obvious industrial agglomeration effect. It gives full play to the special role of "going first, leading and demonstrating" in the innovation-driven development strategy, and becomes a new model of China-Singapore cooperation and high-quality development.

Story continues

Subsequently, the delegation visited Biosyngen Company, located in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Nano Innovation Industrial Park, China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. Biosyngen is one of the first scientific research enterprises to settle in the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. It has the largest industrialized production base of immune cell drugs in South China, mature and perfect production and quality system and cell industrialization platform. At the same time, Biosyngen Bio-project is also a representative project of cooperation between China and Singapore in the field of biomedicine in the Knowledge City, and a benchmark project for the development of biomedical industry in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

When visiting Biosyngen's Immune Cell Production Base, the delegation was deeply impressed by the diversified facilities, standardized management and automated production process of the base. It is reported that the base is designed, built and managed according to GMP standard, and has the most advanced production automatic control equipment in the industry, which realizes automation, complete closure and personalization, and can rapidly industrialize the cutting-edge technologies and achievements of biological research, and provide safe, high-quality and affordable innovative immune cell drugs for the majority of patients.

At the subsequent symposium, many consuls, representatives of Huangpu District Government and representatives of Biosyngen discussed the contents of intellectual property, bio-health, talent service, etc. The staff of Intellectual Property Office introduced the assistance and protection measures of China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and Biosyngen to intellectual property to the visiting delegation in detail. The visiting delegation also expressed the hope to further deepen the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in the field of commercialization of intellectual property rights.

Sylvain FOURRIERE, Consul General of France in Guangzhou, fully affirmed the efforts made by Knowledge City in promoting international exchanges and cooperation. He said that the China-Singapore Knowledge City, a national-level bilateral cooperation project, is favored by French enterprises. He hoped that with the strong support of China and France, the Knowledge City would continue to give full play to its advantages as well as the international cooperation platform, and promote enterprises in China, New Zealand, France and other countries to create a win-win situation.

Consuls of various countries have also indicated that under the influence of epidemic situation and economic situation, international exchanges and cooperation will promote closer contact and understanding between countries, deepen mutual trust, mutual assistance and reciprocity, and vigorously promote the rapid recovery of various undertakings. Consuls of various countries in Guangzhou will actively promote mutual assistance and exchanges between their countries and China, match up in various fields, strengthen economic and cultural exchanges between the Knowledge City and other countries, and jointly build a new platform for international cooperation.

Finally, on the occasion of the Spring Festival of 2022, consuls and business officials from France Consulate General in Guangzhou and other countries sent their best wishes to China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and Biosyngen. They wish China and Singapore greater success and everlasting friendship among countries.

SOURCE Biosyngen
Hazardous ash from Tongas volcano eruption is significant enough to impact the health of residents in the coming days, experts warn.

With radio communications largely cut between the tiny Pacific nation and the rest of the world, the situation on the ground remains uncertain.

Preliminary estimates suggest 2cm of volcanic ash has fallen across the island of Tongatapu, following the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano, 65km north of the capital Nukualofa.

Satellite images show Tonga's capital before and after the volcano erupted. Source: 2022 Maxar Technologies via Storyful

Associate Professor Carol Stewart is an environmental health expert at New Zealands Massey University, with extensive experience in island disaster recovery.

Looking to explain what it's like living under the cloud of a volcano eruption, she said it is vastly different to the bushfire smoke that Australians and New Zealanders may be familiar with.

On Tonga, much of the thick cloud of ash has now settled on the ground, compared with smoke which can linger in the air for an extended period.

Tonga's popuation face new health risks from a volcano eruption. Source: Getty - File / Reuters

The ash-fall consists of coarse little stones and finer volcanic ash, and while its on the ground its not a breathing hazard in the same way that smoke is, Assoc Prof Stewart told Yahoo News Australia.

It's only when it gets stirred up into the air, which is often by traffic, or when people start cleaning up the ash that it really becomes a breathing hazard.

Concern volcano ash could inflame respiratory conditions

Across Tonga, rainfall is believed to have helped clear the air and dampen down the ash.

Remaining finer ash particles can inflame respiratory issues like asthma and chronic bronchitis, while larger ones will irritate the nose and throat, causing coughing.

Life in Tonga could return to normal quite quickly in the absence of future eruptions. Source: Getty - File

"Fresh ash particles typically have an acidic surface coating, and if they get in the eyes they can sting and cause scratching damage and can irritate skin, Assoc Prof Stewart said.

She recommends people in the area wear face-masks, particularly if they are undertaking cleanup activities.

Why Covid-19 will complicate aid support on Tonga

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Covid can make providing aid in disaster situations more complicated for health workers.

In April 2021, while responding to the St Vincent volcano in the Caribbean, Assoc Prof Stewart said it was initially difficult to distinguish between patients suffering the effects of the virus and those impacted by the ash.

When it came to moving people around the islands, vaccination status also had to be considered to avoid spreading disease.

Unlike St Vincent, Tonga is Covid-free and the nation has not been keen on outside aid workers visiting its shores.

Assoc Prof Stewart foresees that much of the aid assistance will be undertaken remotely to help protect locals from illness.

It's really important that they stay Covid-free, she said.

Just look at what weve seen in places like Fiji, where the virus has caused huge damage and stressed their systems terribly.

Biggest health concern on Tonga revealed

Based on the limited information at hand, Assoc Prof Stewarts major concern is the contamination of water supplies in the region.

Outside of urban areas, communities which are reliant on rainwater tanks could be impacted in several ways.

Advice has been sent to the island, advising locals to cover their tanks and disconnect them from their roofs to avoid ash impacting water supply.

The impact of bushfire smoke (left) is very different to that of volcanic ash (right). Source: Tonga Geological Services / Getty

Contaminated water will make the water cloudy and taste nasty, making the water unpalatable and potentially unsafe to drink without boiling or treatment.

Long term, Assoc Prof Stewarts concern is that gutters will have snapped under the weight of the ash fall, meaning repairs will be needed to collect rain in future.

They need to have enough water for drinking, hygiene, hand cleaning, washing dishes, cooking, all those sorts of things, she said.

If you don't have enough water the health risks start to accelerate quite rapidly.

Tonga could quickly bounce back from volcano impact

Despite the concern, nations like Tonga  which have evolved around the threat of volcanoes  are often fast to bounce back.

Associate Professor Stewart has firsthand experience in disaster relief after volcano eruptions. Source: Supplied

Looking at the island of Ambae in Vanuatu, all sources of livelihood were affected by volcano activity in 2017 and 2018.

Traditional buildings collapsed, crops were lost, and locals had to temporarily leave the island until conditions improved. That surprisingly happened quite quickly.

"Tropical systems do recover quite quickly," Assoc Prof Stewart said.

"We visited about a month after one of the ash falls, and were actually amazed at all the new growth.

"Some types of vegetation are more susceptible to damage than others, but there were quite a few crops that had actually regrown.

"It is likely that the plantation side of Tonga's economy will get recover pretty quickly in the absence of further activity."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
ZURICH (Reuters) - The World Economic Forum (WEF) will hold its postponed 2022 annual meeting in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos, WEF founder Klaus Schwab said in a newspaper interview, quashing speculation it could again seek a different venue than its traditional home.

"It will take place in Davos," Schwab told the Blick tabloid in the interview published on Wednesday when asked whether the WEF might again consider Singapore as a venue for the event that attracts the business and political elite.

Organisers had shifted the planned 2021 venue to a mountaintop conference centre in central Switzerland and then to Singapore before abandoning it altogether amid the pandemic.

The WEF on Monday postponed the next annual meeting until mid-2022 due to the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

(Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Michael Perry)
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov left for a working visit to Austria on January 18, the Foreign Ministry has reported.

As part of the visit, the minister will attend the opening meeting of the OSCE Security Cooperation Forum chaired by Azerbaijan.

Bayramov will also attend bilateral meetings with OSCE and Austrian officials of OSCE and Austria during the visit.

Azerbaijan has become a member of the Council for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) since January 30, 1992. The CSCE was the first European organization to include Azerbaijan. It was renamed the OSCE on January 1, 1995.

For the first time, Azerbaijan participated in the CSCE summit in Helsinki from July 8 to 10, 1992, and signed its documents.

After becoming a full member in 1992, Azerbaijan participated in the organization's summits in Helsinki in 1992, in Budapest in 1994, in Lisbon in 1996, in Istanbul in 1999, and in Astana (now Nursultan) in 2010. Azerbaijan actively participates in the annual meetings of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers and discussions of draft resolutions and documents.

The OSCE Security Cooperation Forum works to increase military security and stability in Europe and covers some of the most fundamental politico-military agreements of the OSCE participating states. It helps implement landmark confidence and security-building measures to regulate the exchange of military information and mutual verification between states, as well as the Code of Conduct, a key document ensuring the democratic control of security forces.
AUBURN  The Auburn school board has been hearing from parents upset about the presence of a nonfiction young adult book in the high school library, bringing a debate that's been taking place in multiple states to the city school district.

The book is "All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto," by George M. Johnson. Published in April 2020, it recounts the experiences of Johnson, a journalist and activist, growing up as a queer Black person.

Those calling for the book's removal from high school libraries say it has passages that are too sexually explicit for students, with some claiming it's akin to child pornography. Others, including many libraries and intellectual freedom advocates, have said removing the book would be censorship and countered that Johnson's work, including the passages in question and its overall context, speaks to issues young people may be dealing with.

Johnson has been outspoken in defense of the book. In November, they sent a video to a Florida school board that was played during a meeting in which its removal was being discussed, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

"There is no reason for us to pretend that the world is not going to expose our youth and our teens to these very heavy subjects and heavy topics in my book," Johnson said, adding that the material some have labeled as obscene appears in two chapters and provides teenagers guidance on agency and consent. "Realistically, they are already experiencing these things and my book is teaching them how to deal with these things."

Board meeting comments

At an Auburn Enlarged School City School District Board of Education meeting Dec. 14 at the Auburn High School Library, resident Barb Stotler said during the public comment portion of the meeting that she had arrived to the board's Nov. 16 meeting early to see if the library had "All Boys Aren't Blue," adding that she heard about the book on social media and about "other schools having a fit about this book." She said it did not take her long to find it at the library.

"This is a book on homosexuality. You could open the book into various places within and it was just pornography, nothing more," she said.

Stotler said the book contains themes of death, homophobia, transphobia, incest and sexual assault, and mentioned that other LGBTQ-themed books at the library feature sexual assault, rape, depression, internalized homophobia and more.

"My question is why are these books here? What possible educational value can be derived from these books, OK? Are we supporting our LGBTQ children or are we promoting it?" she said.

At the public comments portion of the board's Jan. 11 meeting, more people took to the microphone to question the book's presence at the school. Isabelle Wellauer, who ran for a school board seat in May, said the book contains "graphic homosexual sex" while noting she would be just as alarmed if the book depicted "such graphic sex between a man and a woman."

"The fact is, I am against child pornography, and I am totally opposed to any adult providing pornography to any minor. This author gives great detail in describing sexual acts between minors and adolescents, which in the state of New York is a crime," she said.

Wellauer read off some passages from the book describing an anal sex experience.

"Who's ultimately responsible and held accountable for these books? Where is the line and who decides where it's crossed, because that book crosses my line and I'd like to know how many of you it crosses the line (for) as well," she said, with some crowd members clapping as she finished.

Stotler came up to speak at the Jan. 11 meeting, as well. She said LGBTQ-themed books are "not the only category of book that has material that's not age-appropriate. It simply happens to be the category of this book." She noted "All Boys Aren't Blue" has been removed from some school libraries in several states as of mid-November, and said she feels the book isn't "age-appropriate."

"I purchased the book and I'm in the process of reading it. There is value in it, with the exception of a section that Isabelle read that's very sexually explicit and would likely be considered pornography," Stotler said, questioning whether this portion of the book "should be considered sexual grooming."

"Are we encouraging minors to engage in sexual activity when their emotional brains are not yet developed? Is encouraging pornography encouraging sexual activity? Is allowing this book to remain in the library encouraging pornography? Those are the issues here," Stotler said. "It isn't the message that it's OK to be gay, that's wrong, it's the message that it's OK to engage in sexual activity at too young of an age."

She also compared it to letting a child watch pornography or read "Playboy" or "Hustler."

Elizabeth A. Cuddy also spoke, saying that people against the sexual context of the book are unfairly being called homophobic.

"It just seems that if you or somebody expresses an opinion or a concern that aligns with conservative, traditional or, dare I even say the "R" word, Republican values, you're personally attacked," she said.

Book challenge policy

Auburn has a formal policy, required by state law, regarding requests to have books removed from schools. Auburn Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo said in an interview with The Citizen that a person verbally voiced concern about "All Boys Aren't Blue" in December, which prompted the district's policy committee to review board policies regarding book challenges. School administrators have also reviewed the book, which is not a part of any curriculum at the school but students can access it at the high school library.

According to the district's "Objection to Instructional Materials" policy, last updated in January 2004, any criticism of instructional materials in the schools need to be submitted in writing to the superintendent. A committee that includes the building principal and librarian must then be designated by the superintendent to investigate and judge the material in question by the principles and qualitative standards in the district's "Selection of Library and Audiovisual Materials" policy.

Despite the comments made at school board meetings, Pirozzolo said he has not received a written challenge regarding "All Boys Aren't Blue." He also said he hadn't heard of the book until the concerns came up and that to his knowledge, no student at the high school had actually checked out the book as of last Wednesday. The verbal complaint from December did not mention the book's LGBTQ aspects, Pirozzolo added, but concerned the material deemed sexually explicit.

Pirozzolo said the district cannot simply ban books; it must follow its policies that are based off of state law. "Whenever you look at board policies, they are not arbitrarily made up by a school district," he said.

Pirozzolo said he wishes library systems across the country would have a ratings scale similar to movies, with a system indicating the age a book is recommended for. That said, he acknowledged it would be difficult to classify all of the books that already exist.

"If there was more guidance from a state level (on) what is age appropriate in high school libraries, junior high libraries, elementary libraries, it would make it a little bit easier for us but then again, it may be a system that could never be put into place because of all the books that are already out there already," he said.

Ian Phillips, Auburn's school board president, said he believes there is a movement "by certain elements in society" to ban books in libraries, saying that "All Boys Aren't Blue" is one of those works.

"It's very common, you can find other people in other parts of the country that are reading passages from a 300-page book to try to incite discomfort in people to try to get a book banned," Phillips said.

He also noted that the district has a policy reviewing these book challenges and that what one parent may find objectionable may not be seen that way by another, pointing out that "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare centers on a relationship involving a teenager and "then glamorizes suicide" and that the popular teen "Twilight" series depicts sexuality.

Philips said he feels it is important to consider the wider context of "All Boys Aren't Blue." He mentioned that the book has received recognition from librarians, such as the Young Adult Library Services Association division of the American Library Association naming it one of the 2021 Teens Top Ten winners.

"This is something that's been read by professionals and they think it's appropriate," Phillips said.

Another parental perspective

Christopher Patch, a parent to an LGBTQ youth, said he has read the book and supports it. Patch, who runs Pride House, a program at Westminster Presbyterian Church welcoming 13-18 year old LGBTQ+ youth and allies, said the book is meant for ages 14-18, the age of most high school students.

"What's the point of removing a book from the library that speaks to real-world circumstances, experiences, emotions, especially from a Black and LGBTQ+ perspective?" he said. "I think it's extremely dangerous once we start going down that road, and damaging."

Patch said it's important to note that the author, George M. Johnson, not only explores their coming out experience in the book but that the book acknowledges sexual abuse. He said the passages of the book that are being called sexually explicit evoke emotions and experiences that happen to young people.

"What this book does, in my opinion, is it speaks a language. I'm not talking about grammar, I'm talking about the language of who you are while you're going through this journey. And that book, in a sense, says, 'Listen, this is very real and these are the real emotions, these are real thoughts, and it's OK to have these,'" Patch said. "I just think that it does get very tricky once we start looking at these (and saying), 'We're not going to support these emotions, we're going to invalidate these emotions, we're going to try and hinder these emotions and these words.'"

Book challenges increase



Library and intellectual freedom groups say efforts to remove books from library shelves have grown considerably in recent years.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, told The Citizen that the office has seen "an unprecedented number" of challenges, referring to reports that either individuals or groups have asked for the removal of a book or other library resource to be remove from a school or public library and is then reported to the office.

"I have worked here for two decades, (I) started in the year 2000. I cannot recall a time when we saw this volume of challenges being reported to our office," she said.

While the office encourages library professionals, school librarians, public libraries and library workers to report to them, Caldwell-Stone said the office doesn't hear of every challenge that happens within the country.

Caldwell-Stone said a lot of the book censorship that takes place, particularly in schools, is silent censorship, with "an administrator making a decision on their own to remove a book from a library or classroom or the kind of activity that doesn't get reported either in local press or to our office."

The office did a rough tally of the number of challenges reported to their office over the three-month span of September to December 2021, amounting to 330 unique reports, often including multiple book titles. In contrast, in 2019  which Caldwell-Stone said was the last year the office had statistics for a year where schools and libraries weren't closed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic  there were 356 challenges for that 12-month period.

Challenges ramped up as school board meetings began to be held in-person again, Caldwell-Stone said, with an effort by different groups to remove books and materials, mainly those with LGBTQIA themes and characters or dealing with racism and race, from libraries and schools.

She said she believes parents, individuals and advocacy organizations spurred by different groups have been coming to school board and library meetings nationwide demanding the censorship of books, "some of which they've never even read."

Caldwell-Stone said these situations have been particular stressful for librarians.

"It has created this false narrative around librarians, who are professionals who have spent years gaining the education and experience so that they can serve the students in their schools. They don't collect books arbitrarily and when they do, it's because they understand that there's an information need among the students," she said. "And we've heard from young people in high school that books like "All Boys Aren't Blue" serve a special role, particularly for young adults who are queer or transgender, as a way of understanding the experiences they're going through, as a way of understanding themselves and a way of affirming them as individuals, as human beings."

She said that the book is not "reading that people are being assigned or required to read, but it's a resource available to a diverse community of students."

Some of the framing around these books that deal with LGBTQ experiences is that "they're somehow pornographic or illegal, but they are not," she said.

"These are all books that are being published by mainstream publishers, being sold publicly in bookstores" Caldwell-Stone said. "They don't begin to meet the standards for illegal pornography or obscenity in any way."

That said, she noted the office believes it is important for policies to be put in place that allow people to raise concerns, saying "People have a right to petition the government." Caldwell-Stone said the office also recommends that schools have "opt-out" policies that allow parents to opt their children out of assignments or to request that the school library work with them on their child's access to certain materials.

"We respect the fact that a parent wants to guide their child's reading, and in fact, they have that right. But we also believe that parent's decisions about what books their student can access shouldn't dictate what every other student can access at (a) school library or what the community can access at the public library," she said.

Caldwell-Stone said young people have told the office that "All Boys Aren't Blue" has had "enormous value for them."

"The audience for the book is for not 5-year-olds, it's adolescents. To argue that adolescents are innocent about sex, about the fact that sex exists or that gender or sexual identity issues exist, I think is a little disingenuous, or that young adults might not want or need access to these kinds of stories for a multiplicity of reasons," she said. "Whether to understand another's experience, to understand issues related to the debate over civil liberties for gay people or the experiences of gay people or to simply find themselves reflected and their life experience reflected in the books at the library."

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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From the inaugural platform, President Joe Biden saw American sickness on two fronts  a disease of the national spirit and the one from the rampaging coronavirus  and he saw hope, because leaders always must see that.

End this uncivil war, he implored Americans on Jan. 20, 2021. Of the pathogen, he said: We can overcome this deadly virus."

Neither malady has abated.

For Biden, it's been a year of lofty ambitions grounded by the unrelenting pandemic, a tough hand in Congress, a harrowing end to a foreign war and rising fears for the future of democracy itself. Biden did score a public-works achievement for the ages. But Americas cracks go deeper than pavement.

In this midterm election year, Biden confronts seething divisions and a Republican Party that propagates the delusion that the 2020 election, validated as fair many times over, was stolen from Donald Trump. That central, mass lie of a rigged vote has become a pretext in state after state for changing election rules and fueling even further disunity and grievance.

Her husband campaigned to help unite the country, but Jill Biden says healing a nation wounded by a deadly pandemic, natural and other disasters and deep political polarization is among her chief roles as first lady, too.

Wrapping up a year in which she saw herself as a key member of President Joe Biden's team, the first lady told The Associated Press that she found herself taking on a role that "I didn't kind of expect, which was like a healing role, because weve faced so much as a nation.

Biden took office at a particularly polarized time in American history, so it's not surprising that citizens are divided on his performance at the one-year mark.

Here's what a cross-section of Americans have to say about the job Biden has done so far.

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The new Tank 100 by Great Wall Motors has been introduced in both three-door and five-door iterations.Save for the front main grille and lights, the entire Tank 100 SUV appears to have been copied from the Suzuki Jimny.

While there is no sign that Maruti Suzuki may launch the new Jimny in the Indian market anytime soon, Great Wall Motors, a reputed automaker from China has introduced its own copied version of the Jimny in its home market. Called the Tank 100, the SUV is a blatant rip-off of the highly popular Suzuki Jimny.

The new Tank 100 has been introduced in both three-door and five-door iterations, although the Jimny is currently only available in a three-door version internationally, while the five-door is still rumoured under development.

(Also Read: Great Wall Motors speeds up India plans, launches website with Haval SUV brand)

Save for the front main grille and lights, the entire Tank 100 SUV appears to have been copied from the Jimny. It uses the same boxy silhouette and glass panels. As seen on the Jimny, the Tank 100 also uses the familiar muscular utilitarian bumpers that lend it a very rugged and muscular look. These bumpers come painted in all black and feature two circular fog lamps.

While Great Wall Motors is yet to roll out the specifications of the car, expect the model to carry forward the powertrain from some of its other siblings. Under the hood of the Tank 100 could sit a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that delivers 224 bhp of maximum power and 387 Nm of peak torque. Reports from the international media houses also suggest a 4WD system with three differential locks in higher-spec variants.

On the inside, the Tank 100 could feature a touchscreen infotainment display and a digital instrument console.

Meanwhile, GWM was previously expected to begin selling its India-made Haval brand of SUVs in the country in 2021 , however, it has now reportedly re-allocated a portion of its $1-billion investment earmarked for India, to Brazil. Full details here.

First Published Date:
Chinese automakers are able to drop prices of electric vehicles and the figures cannot be matched by Japanese rivals.

China is the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) market and is home to some of the biggest automotive brands which have to compete against a slew of local manufacturers as well. And while these local manufacturers are always looking at gaining a larger chunk of the local demand pie, there is potential for the taking from foreign markets as well. Take Japan, for instance.

The demand for EVs from Chinese companies in Japan has seen a spurt in recent times owing to several factors. Logistics' companies in particular are lapping up the products owing to better pricing and lower running cost of a battery-powered model. According to a Bloomberg report, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought an increased focus among delivery companies to cut costs while also meeting with higher demand owing to e-commerce.

SSB Holdings Inc., for instance, has placed an order for 2,000 light electric trucks over five years. These will be manufactured by a unit of China's Dongfeng Motor Group Co., among other Chinese players. Similarly, Sagawa Express Co. is learnt to have placed an order for a little over 7,000 electric minivans which will be manufactured by Guangxi Automobile Group Co.

But why not rely on Japanese automakers?

The Bloomberg report quotes officials from the logistics' company as saying that Japanese automotive brands are unable to bring down costs of their respective electric products and Chinese EVs, therefore, become more cost-effective. We cant ask our customers to accept increased fares just because we have more expensive trucks," says SBS Holdings President Masahiko Kamata.

At a time when there is cut-throat competition in the last-mile delivery space, cost has become more important than perhaps ever before. And while EVs make good sense in this space in particular, the strategy then is amply clear when it comes to investing in EVs.

First Published Date:
Beijing (Gasgoo)- VOYAH, the premium EV brand of Dongfeng Motor, was reportedly seeing the body in white of its second model, the VOYAH Dreamer MPV, rolling off the production line, according to local media outlets.

Photo credit: VOYAH



The Dreamer is said to enter into the mass production phase soon, with presale and more information to be released at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show in April.

The VOYAH Dreamer is the second production model of the young brand and the first MPV model. The company took pride in the vehicle, branding it as the worlds first large-size battery-electric luxury MPV model.

Photo credit: VOYAH



The vehicle comes in two trims, an extended range version, and a battery-electric version. The pure-electric trim is powered by Dongfeng Motors electric platform ESSA, with a performance approach. According to the company, the MPV can run from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds, claimed as the fastest MPV on the market so far.

Photo credit: VOYAH

The Dreamer features a double wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link suspension in the back, as the worlds first among MPVs.

Moreover, the interior of the Dreamer is where it shines. The center control consists of an adjustable integrated three-screen display. The furnish adopts genuine leather and rose gold trimmings. Aside from the typical seven-seater version, the Dreamer also comes with a four-seat customized version, with ventilation, heating, massage functions on seats, and a bar to enjoy the ride.

In addition, the starting price of the Dreamer is not yet disclosed. However, VOYAH did say that the model is set to rival the Buick GL8 Avenir and the Toyota Alphard.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

NIO responds to US car-selling rumor



NIOs recent US office move was said to be a sign for it to enter the US auto market. The company responded to a local media outlet that the move does not contain any sub-context but a simple location change. After entering the Norwegian market, NIO said the company plans to try out several other countries, including Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Holland.

ET5; photo credit: NIO



CATL establish battery-swapping joint venture



Yibin Sanjiang Lvcheng Energy Technology Co., Ltd. was established on January 17th, with a registered capital of RMB80 million. The business scopes of the company include R&D of new energy technologies, sales of new energy vehicles and battery swapping facilities. The company's shareholders are Chinas major battery player, CATL, and Yibin Sanjiang Investment and Construction Group Co., Ltd.

FAW Group updates company logo

Chinas major automaker, FAW Group, changed its signature logo. The double Es of the new logo is interpreted as Environment and Enjoy, symbolizing the companys dedication to providing green, low carbon, and joyous mobility experience to consumers.

FAW Group invests RMB22.2 billion in R&D in 2021



FAW Group disclosed that it has been striving to transform in electrification, automotive intelligence and connection, safe and healthy, and green areas. In order to achieve the targets, FAW invested RMB22.2 billion in R&D in 2021, by estimation. With RMB10.2 billion invested in its wholly-owned brands and RMB5.98 billion in the Hongqi brand.

BYD, FAW Group build battery joint venture

BYD Company Limited and FAW Group recently founded a joint venture dedicated to power battery-related business.

Ford launches China Design Center in Shanghai, introducing new Mondeo

Ford Motor started the operation of its China Design Center located in Shanghai, also the automaker's sixth design center worldwide. In the meantime, the company also introduced its new Ford Mondeo as a symbol of its design language in China.

Baidus JiDU unveils pixel-inspired logo for Robocar

JiDU, the jointly owned brand of Chinas major automaker Geely and tech giant Baidu, unveiled the pixel-inspired logo of its automotive robot (Robocar) on January 18th.

VW Chinese partner DU-POWER introduces Gangfeng Lithium as new investor

DU-POWER (SuZhou) New Energy Technical Co., Ltd. (called "DU-POWER" for short), a Chinese flexible charging solution provider, recently introduced several new investors, including Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co.,Ltd., (called "Ganfeng Lithium" for short), one of the worlds top producers of battery-grade lithium.

XPengs supercharging network covers all 337 cities in Chinese mainland

Chinese EV startup XPeng announced on Tuesday the comprehensive coverage of its supercharging facilities in all 337 cities across Chinese mainland, including 333 prefecture-level cities and 4 direct-administrated municipalities, the first automaker in China achieving this milestone.

CATL launches battery swap service brand 'EVOGO'

Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology Ltd. (CAES), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese power battery giant CATL, officially launched on Tuesday its battery swap service brand dubbed "EVOGO".

BlackBerry QNX, Chinas Black Sesame Technologies to build autonomous driving platform

China's chip supplier Black Sesame Technologies announced that it had joined hands with BlackBerry QNX to build an open autonomous driving platform.

VOYAH Dreamer's body in white said to roll off production line

VOYAH, the premium EV brand of Dongfeng Motor, was reportedly seeing the body in white of its second model, the VOYAH Dreamer MPV, rolling off the production line, according to local media outlets.

HiPhis parent company Human Horizons to set China headquarters in Qingdao

Human Horizons, the Chinese EV startup owning the luxury EV brand, HiPhi, has struck a cooperation agreement with the municipal government of Qingdao to establish its China headquarters in the city.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- JiDU, the jointly owned brand of Chinas major automaker Geely and tech giant Baidu, unveiled the pixel-inspired logo of its automotive robot (Robocar) on January 18th.

JiDU believes that pixels are the simplest and most direct symbol of the digital world, acting as the bridge between humans and machines, reality and the digital realm. The company combined the pixel concept with the letter J from its name and created the worlds first logo for the Robocar brand.

Additionally, the company set the brands signature color as JIDU AI-PURPLE. According to JiDU, purple represents the primary color of Artificial Intelligence, for it is the same hue that helium shows under ionization state.

Moreover, JiDU also forged a set of exclusive fonts for its Robocar brand, the ROBO FONT. The font is JiDUs way of demonstrating Robocars view of the world, through pixels. The company thinks that the Robocar sees the world in pixels, and presents itself to the world through pixels, too.

Notably, as the company previously announced, its first Robocar model will be showcased at the Beijing Auto Show in April, and its mass production and delivery will start in 2023. The production model will be powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin SoC, with L4 autonomous driving capability.
The rabbi of a Texas synagogue said Monday that he threw a chair at the gunman and then escaped with two other hostages after a 10-hour standoff, crediting past security training for getting himself and his congregation out safely.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told CBS Mornings that he let the gunman in Saturday because he appeared to need shelter. He said the man was not threatening or suspicious at first. Later, he heard a gun click as he was praying.

Another man held hostage, Jeffrey R. Cohen, described the ordeal on Facebook.

First of all, we escaped. We werent released or freed, Cohen said.

Cohen said the men worked to keep the gunman engaged. They talked to the gunman, he lectured them. At one point as the situation devolved, Cohen said the gunman told them to get on their knees. Cohen recalled rearing up in his chair and slowly moving his head and mouthing no. As the gunman moved to sit back down, Cohen said Cytron-Walker yelled to run.

The exit wasnt too far away, Cytron-Walker said. I told them to go. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door. And all three of us were able to get out with even a shot being fired.

Authorities identified the hostage-taker as 44-year-old British national, Malik Faisal Akram, who was killed Saturday night after the last hostages ran out of Congregation Beth Israel around 9 p.m.

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Geologist Becky Beers waited two years for the 2021 monsoon.

Her wait began in summer 2019 when the Museum Fire burned 1,961 acres of steep ponderosa forest above Flagstaff. That year, Beers was working alongside a team of scientists that turned their research to the fire scar. To them, the most interesting part of wildfire was the power it gave to water.

After a fire, theres no vegetation to stop water from slicking across a landscape, gathering speed and debris as it erodes the scorched earth. When the Museum Fire burned a significant chunk of the Spruce Wash Watershed  a major drainage that flows directly into Flagstaff neighborhoods and businesses  Beers and her team knew that increased erosion in this area would give way to trouble.

The fire was really concerning because there was a lot of people at risk of being impacted by floods and debris flow, Beers said.

The Museum Fire scar also encompassed an area of critical infrastructure: Elden Lookout Road, the only route to a communications tower used by local emergency dispatch, was vulnerable to erosion. It snaked through the burn scar over steep hills and drainages.

Flooding could potentially knock out this road, especially in areas where the road is just plastered onto the side of the mountain, Beers said. If we were to lose the road in this type of location, it would be very difficult to repair.

None of this was news in the summer of 2019. The Flagstaff community was well aware of the flood risks that followed fire. They had learned some lessons about fire scar flooding following the Schultz Fire of 2010.

The Museum Fire hadnt even been extinguished before mitigation efforts were underway. Neighbors stacked sandbags in anticipation of floodwaters. The city erected barriers at the mouths of washes. The impending threats of Museum Fire flooding compelled Beers and her team to get to work.

They prepared seismometers and designated areas where they could study debris flows from the fire scar. When a strong monsoon rain hit the Museum Fire scar, it would give them a chance to observe firsthand the way water and fire mixed on the landscape. If their data was good, they could come away with a better understanding of fire flooding hazards and the effectiveness of mitigation efforts. These measurements, in turn, could be invaluable information in an era of rampant Western wildfires.

That summer, Beers waited among Flagstaff citizens and fellow scientists, braced for the heavy rains. But they never came -- 2019 was Flagstaffs driest monsoon to date. Even so, two small rain events triggered debris flows in the Museum Fire drainages. Beers team successfully measured one. On Aug. 28, somewhere high above town, boulders dislodged and shook the ground with enough force to be captured by one of their seismometers. According to team seismologist Ryan Porter, the rumbling debris measured in at about 1/100th the magnitude of a 1.0 earthquake.

This is a lot of energy, Beers said. If you were standing next to the channel that this occurred in, the ground would be shaking.

After the Aug. 28 event, Beers and her team went up into the hills near Upper Oldham Trail and discovered a few areas where debris had scoured the bark from trees. Even with relatively light rain, the affected areas had been carved away into tumbles of stone and root. This was only the beginning.

After a dry year, Beers team extended their research into the next season, hoping 2020 would provide a more typical monsoon season to base their data on. They took the time to set up trail cameras and other instruments to improve their measurements.

Despite their preparation, the weather let them down, and 2020 was even drier than the previous year. There was only one debris flow event over the whole season, but it managed to betray expectations in its own way.

What was interesting about this event is that it had a low rainfall intensity. It didnt take a lot of rainfall to initiate this debris flow, Beers explained. That was pretty alarming.

The research team waited another year.

When the skies broke open on July 13, 2021, it was the moment Beers had been waiting for. Nearly four and a half inches of rain poured down within the hour.

It was incredible, from a geologists perspective, Beers said.

The seismometers quaked. In the upper Museum Fire scar, multiple debris channels left boulders strewn across Elden Lookout Road. Downstream waters crashed against concrete jersey barriers at the edge of town.

The flood waters overcame the channel at one point and spread out through the neighborhoods, Beers said. In town, flooding was severe.

Rains returned the very next day. Again, the seismometers shuddered.

What was interesting about this event is that it produced similar magnitude debris flows with significantly less rainfall, Beers said.We're thinking that the reason we saw this trend is because the soils were already saturated from the previous day. The glass was empty on July 13, and then on July 14, it was three-quarters full. The soil could only accept so much more water.

Enough water spilled off saturated soils to take Flagstaffs eastside by storm. A viral video from that day showed a Prius being carried away like a toy boat in a river raging through a neighborhood street. Homes were inundated, suffering millions of dollars of damage, and the rains kept coming.

Two days later, back-to-back storms hammered Flagstaff again and produced two separate debris flows that fortunately had little impact in town. After that, things stayed relatively quiet, a month of calm before the storm of Aug. 17.

According to measurements from Beers' team, the Museum Fire scar took on almost five inches of rain in an hour. Flooding and debris flows advanced from the burn scar to the drainages downstream. When they went to survey the impact, Beers team found flows like four-lane highways of beach-ball sized boulders and sediment. The largest flow had a volume of 3,000 cubic meters; about the same as the amount of water that tumbles over Niagara Falls each second.

It buried trees, it buried the trail, Beers said. Just incredible.

On the same day, one of her teams trail cameras managed to capture a channel where water carried boulders five feet across. The footage was partly obscured by splashes of mud that coated the lens. Theyre lucky the camera was not lost.

We thought it was in a safe spot: high tree on a far bank, Beers said. It was not safe. The tree barely made it.

The Aug. 17 storm caused the most significant road damage. It clogged culverts, undercut concrete and covered whole sections of Elden Lookout Road. Flooding in Flagstaff reached as far as Killip Elementary School, where it put hallways under two feet of water. Across the entire east side, roads closed to make way for steady streams of mud and debris. The destruction took weeks to clean up.

Devastating as these 2021 floods were, they provided a long awaited scientific opportunity. Beers and her team now had data from across three very different monsoon seasons with multiple combinations of storm events. With that data, they began to put together some hypotheses that may help geologists across the Southwest better understand fire scar flooding.

One of the first things they found has to do with soil hydrology  measurements of how well the soil absorbs water before it begins to flood.

We saw increases [in soil absorbency] each spring, but decreases each fall, Beers said. The current hypothesis is that winter freezing and thawing breaks up the soil so that its more absorbent in the spring.

The reason were seeing a decrease in the fall is that the fine particles, the ash and silt clay thats laying on the landscape, gets moved around by wind and water in the summer and fills in the little cracks that the snow created during the winter, she said. It seals it off again. A possible consequence of this dynamic is that early season debris flows may be less severe than late season flows, but its a little too early to say with certainty.

Beers data also showed that when it comes to fire scars, rain, despite the flooding it brings, is the best first step to recovery. She said mulching and other mitigation efforts can help stymie erosion, but nothing is as good as natures design.

We want vegetation, Beers said. We finally got that in 2021 because we finally got some rain.

Once vegetation comes back, thats when a fire scar can really start to stabilize. For the Museum Fire scar, there is still a ways to go.

The soils are not yet recovered to an unburned state, Beers said. We can't quite say for sure whether there will be future debris flows or not. It depends on the type of monsoon we get.

In the more immediate future, there is some hope that the work of Beers and her team may help augment flood warning technology. Before the 2022 monsoon season, areas downstream of the Museum Fire scar will be outfitted with emergency sirens. While these sirens will operate on rain gauges, the research of Beers team demonstrates that seismometers may be an effective supplement to early warning systems.

Ultimately, for researchers like Beers, the Museum Fire scar has proven to be both a crisis and an opportunity. The unique multi-year delay of significant rains gave scientists the chance to be one step ahead of the weather.

We had all this monitoring prior to the big flooding events, Beers said. Thats pretty rare. Normally you get there after the flooding has happened. We have continuous data collection.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Armenia has arrested six of its servicemen (including three officers) earlier handed over to Yerevan by Azerbaijan, Trend has reported citing the Armenian media.

A similar case happened in December 2021. A group of Armenian servicemen, who were returned by Azerbaijan, were also arrested in their country.

"Currently, five servicemen have been detained in the framework of a criminal case on the fact of violation of the rules of military service and combat duty, which led to grave consequences," Armenias Investigative Committee spokesperson Vardan Tadevosyan said then.

He added that petitions for the arrest of the military were submitted to the court.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned six servicemen were detained by the Azerbaijani military while Armenia's provocation was foiled on the state border in Kalbajar on November 16, 2021.

On December 4, 2021, as a result of negotiations, Azerbaijan transferred 10 Armenian servicemen to the opposite side guided by the principles of humanism.

Prime Minister Ali Asadov earlier said that Azerbaijan and Armenia exchanged 122 servicemen and detainees with the participation of Russian peacekeepers from December 2020.

Asadov underlined that Azerbaijan fully complies with the paragraphs of the trilateral ceasefire deal signed by Baku, Moscow and Yerevan in November 2020, which also envisaged the transfer of detained servicemen.

"With the participation of Russian peacekeepers, a total of 122 servicemen and detainees have been returned since December 22, 2020. Of these, 105 returned to Armenia and 17 to Azerbaijan," the prime minister said.

Referring to the 62 Armenian servicemen who were detained on the Azerbaijani territory after the signing of a trilateral statement, Asadov stressed that "according to all international laws they are not considered prisoners of war.

"They were detained after the war, entered our territory with a subversive purpose, and the status as prisoners of war does not apply to them. However, Azerbaijan returned 29 of them to the Armenian side. Thirty-three members of this group were convicted by our courts and will be held responsible," he added.

It should be noted that Armenia has failed to provide any information about more than 4,000 Azerbaijani citizens who went missing during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in the early 1990s. At the same time, Armenia does not provide information about the Azerbaijani citizens who were in captivity during the first Karabakh war.

A Moscow-brokered ceasefire deal that Baku and Yerevan signed on November 10, 2020, brought an end to six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s.

The peace agreement stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Armenian-occupied Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions. Before the signing of the deal, the Azerbaijani army had liberated around 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and historic Shusha city.
Thanks to the 3D-scanning application, data of the status quo of architectural works in Hue heritage complex were obtained and stored. These data are used for conservation as well as for virtual reality (VR) tours.

Using modern instruments for digitalization

Restoring with high quality and high solution

Prior to the dismantlement of Thai Hoa Palace for restoration, Hue Monuments Conservation Center had the AGS Technologies 3D-scan the palace for the purposes of restoration, and for services of VR tours.

3D-digitalizing Thai Hoa Palace makes it possible to restore the space truly and sharply. The digital data of Thai Hoa Palace is accessible by stakeholders in the process of conservation, restoration or research. This is a resourceful reference for managers and conversation contractors in terms of color, size and section after the dismantlement. Errors during restoration are easy to be detected and corrected.

The data set has also been integrated in the interactive VR tour website for visitors. Therefore, while Thai Hoa Palace is under restoration, visitors can still visit this unique palace thanks to VR technology. Visitors can explore the palace on their hand phones or other devices with internet access, or they experience their tour with VR lenses.

AGS Technologies is in charge of 3D-scanning digitalization of Thai Hoa Palace

According to Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center, 3D digitalization plays an important role in the restoration of Thai Hoa Palace and in the standardization of data bases. The 3D technology minutely displays sizes, colors and patterns, serving primarily the restoration and work supervision, as well as the reference after dismantlement to avoid errors. Data bases are also for education, research, museum work and tourism.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Binh, AGS Technologies Chief Operations Officer, said that the work has been done via 3D scanners. Simply put, 3D laser scanners do the scanning of the palace three-dimensionally and gather information about different perspectives of the site.

In addition, drones have been used to scan the upper structures where scanners cannot reach. AGS specialists will transform data and images captured on-site into 3D models via computer professional software. This helps Hue Monuments Conservation Center better their research, conservation and restoration of Thai Hoa Palace more effectively and accurately.

Thai Hoa Palace has now been eternal in the VR3D. Tourists can visit the site anywhere anytime at one click

Enabling connectivity among destinations

AGS Technologies is one of the leading companies in Vietnam in digitalization. Apart from Thai Hoa Palace, it digitalizes 3D images of many historical and cultural sites, including An Dinh Palace, Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, Imperial Academy, Khai Dinh Tomb and the Citadel.

AGS Technologies has also contributed to the development of 3D smart city and geospatial data of Thua Thien Hue; the building of VR3D helps communicate and develop digital tourism locally. The 3D scanning technology becomes an instrument to preserve and promote historical values and beauty of the architectural works under the Nguyen Dynasty, promising the development of e-heritage for Hue.

The historical relics are currently in severe degradation due to the impacts of time and environment. There are almost no 2D or 3D blueprints for these constructions. Even there is one, it lacks certain information or has blur images, causing difficulty to retaining the characteristics of each work during restoration and repair.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Binh emphasized that 3D scanning was the worlds most advanced technology that enables true and sharp restoration. This helps save ancient architectural data for a long time to respond to the demand for rapid and accurate restoration.

This is also an effective method to promote a form of tourism to explore a destination without coming to the site, especially in the time of pandemic. All spaces, colors and images are redesigned with accuracy in virtual reality.

With three viewing modes, a 360 rotating multi-dimensional 3D angle, and short, successive and minute movements, users can actively interact directly with unlimited space and move to any site. This brings a vivid and lifelike feeling.

Today, digital technology with its low-cost and time-efficient advantages is an outstanding technology trend. Within 24-48 hours, a site can be scanned and 3D-digitalized. Users could visit and explore any place easily.

Therefore, this technology enables the connectivity, provides communication measures and enhance the competitiveness of tourist destinations. Developing smart tourism digitally not only provides conveniences for visitors but also improves management capacity, catching up with the 4.0 trend, especially in the context of covid-19 impacts. Digitization brings remote experiences for visitors and enhances the value of tourist destinations.

Story: Minh Hien - Photo credit: AGS
The Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the US, December 4, 2019. [Xinhua]



The United States has always regarded itself as an exceptional nation  and an example for others to follow.

Most Americans think of their country as a beacon of goodness admired around the world. Former President Ronald Reagan once described the US as a "shining city on a hill," "teeming with people of all kinds, living in harmony and peace."

But the truth is, most Americans won't see themselves the way others do. Where Americans see "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," others see a nation that has fought for unfair interests and unjustified values.

Americans have forgotten or are unaware of the people who suffered in helping to build the US into a global power.

And they don't realize that their country has almost always been at war.

At any given time, most Americans couldn't identify the countries where US troops are fighting on a map  let alone explain why they are engaged in conflict.

Since 1776, the US has only been at peace for 17 years.

American colonists took up arms against Britain to win independence. European settlers then wiped out North America's indigenous people in order to expand westward.

An estimated 10 million native people were living on the continent when the settlers arrived. By 1900, the estimated indigenous population was less than 300,000.

In an almost unbroken stream of wars and fighting, the US expanded from 13 colonies to 50 states.

The US has also annexed or conquered five territories. It has military bases in about 80 foreign countries and territories. Since 1776, the US has been at peace for just one out of every 20 years.

Why is the US always fighting?

Politicians, over time, have offered various justifications. For example, the original colonists thought God had granted them a new Promised Land.

However, the American Revolution was fueled by commercial interests, and the violent westward expansion was driven by a sense of purpose dubbed "manifest destiny."

Many US wars in the last century were justified as protecting democracy from fascism or communism.

Sometimes the justification was politics and money, or politics, money, and religion.

The justifications have changed over time. But if you look between the lines, the real reasons are always the same.

From the beginning, the US went to war for two things.

First, to defend or expand its territory. Second, to do business without constraint  often shortened to "freedom."

War is good for business, and war is good business, especially for the US of the past century.

Look at the acrimony between the US, Australia and France over a submarine deal.

Some French analysts are saying NATO may never be the same  all because of a $60 billion submarine deal gone bad.

Former President George W. Bush said the Iraq War was about weapons of mass destruction. It turned out to be a big lie. So, why did the US invade?

"Of course, it's about oil. It's very much about oil, and we can't really deny that," John Abizaid, CENTCOM commander from 2003 to 2007, said in an interview.

It's no secret that war has always been about money and the power it represents.

By the 1950s, the ties between industry and the military had become so strong that then-President Eisenhower, a World War II hero, had warned the public.

He warned of an out-of-control war machine that always needs an enemy to stay profitable.

"We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist," he said.

The US loves to talk peace. But all it knows is war.

Can the US change its ways? History suggests not.

But the allies of the United States, new and old, should hope against hope that Washington has learned something from its disasters in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Vietnam and will not drag the world into another costly, pointless and unwinnable fight.

The 78 million Americans born after 2001 have never lived in a United States that has been at peace.

After fighting for 228 of the last 245 years, maybe it's time for US soldiers to put down their guns for at least a few years. (Source: CGTN)


The Beatrice City Council took another step toward downtown revitalization during its Monday meeting.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development awarded a $435,000 Community Development Block Grant to Beatrice toward the end of last year.

On Monday, the Council approved a contract between UNL and the City to get graduate students out to conduct a study and come up with a plan for downtown revitalization.

Last year, if you recall, we applied for a downtown planning grant to look at the streetscape in the downtown area, City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer said. We were not awarded that grant. When talking with Main Street, trying to find some other avenues that were out there, Southeast Nebraska Economic Development District then came forward to us, had this idea. What they partnered with was the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Theyll have some graduate students come down and help put together a plan for the downtown area.

Tempelmeyer said the total cost is $8,000. Though, the economic development district will cover $5,000, leaving $3,000 for the City to cover.

The students in this graduation class in the last semester did plans for David City and for Syracuse, Tempelmeyer said. We read those plans, and theyre very similar to what you got in 2011 and 2016 Theyd be down in end of January to have an open house to get some input from the public. Theyll be down again in March to show some of their preliminary findings  and ask for some public input.

Community Development Director Rob Mierau reported on the Citys adjoining building inspections. He said progress had fallen short of goals due to staffing issues, but theyre close to getting them done.

I can tell you its been more positive than I thought to be honest with you going into it, the number of buildings we looked at, Mierau said. I was kind of expecting to see maybe worse conditions overall I think the buildings themselves are in pretty good shape.

Councilman Ted Fairbanks expressed concern over the slowness of the progress and asked Mierau what the Council could do to support the effort. Mierau said he would make changes to planning, allowing for more staggered inspections.

Templemeyer, during his report, focused on a federal regulation born during the Trump Administration that will affect Beatrice and other cities.

The biggest change in there is it requiring a public inventory of all lead service lines by January 2024, he said. So what that means is that our water department needs to go out and make an inventory of everybodys service lines from the meter into their house for all of the roughly 6,000 water meters in our communities We have to update it annually, and we have to create a plan to address any other lead lines or galvanized lines that are out there.

Tempelmeyer said hes still working through the regulation, and the City will make people more aware of what they need to do later on.

Rick Clabaugh stepped down as Council president and nominated Mike McLain to replace him during the roll call portion of the meeting. The Council approved, and McLain assumed the role of president for the remainder of the meeting.

Following recommendations from the Board of Public Works, the Council approved plans for an agreement between the City and Omaha Public Power District to manage the Citys share of the Cottonwood Wind project. Previously, the City had a contract with Tenaska, but that was up for renewal. Tempelmeyer said OPPD offered a better price.

In this particular case, youll save roughly 80 to 90 thousand dollars, Tempelmeyer said.

The next regular City Council meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the BPS Administration Building Board Room.

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Emery Three Irons office is about three miles south of where he was raised in Crow Agency. He is a lead geographic information systems analyst for the Crow Water Quality Project, working toward ensuring that every member of his community has access to clean and plentiful water.

From that perspective, the map of Three Irons journey seems small. But the path to where he is today is not the one he thought he would take. Growing up, the goal of completing a college degree had been constantly in the back of his mind, something he couldnt shake. It seemed to him the best way to make a difference in the community he cares so much about.

Three Irons received an associate of science degree from Little Big Horn College and completed a year of study at Montana State University in 2003. But after that first year, he wasnt sure his goal of earning a college diploma was meant to be. Struggles with alcohol had gotten in the way of his studies during what he remembers as a dark time. It was a detour on the map he hadnt seen coming.

After that first year, I didnt think I was going to go back, he said. I finally came to the realization that the path I was on was either going to put me in jail or it was going to kill me. That goal of mine, of getting an education, was always there, even though it didnt seem possible at times. It was always there.

It was after eight years and the birth of his first son that Three Irons decided to take a second shot at his degree. With a child to set an example for, he made significant changes to his life. He recently marked 10 years of sobriety. A wildland firefighter for more than 15 of the intervening years since his initial experience at MSU, he had an interest in geography and maps; those interests guided him to the geospatial and environmental analysis program in MSUs Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.

Jan. 1, 2012, we went back to Bozeman, he remembers. First semester back, I got all A's, made the deans list. After that, the goal was back on.

While pursuing his studies, Three Irons was approached by Tracy Sterling, the head of the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, about applying for the national Udall Scholarship. In 2014, Three Irons began working with the Crow Tribe conducting research on the number of fluent Crow speakers remaining on the reservation. Three Irons, whose first language is Crow, used GIS mapping technology to track geographic concentrations of fluent speakers on the reservation and update old data from the tribe. That research earned him the recognition of being the first Montana State Udall recipient in the awards tribal policy category.

Three Irons finished his bachelors degree in the spring of 2015. Hed finally reached the goal that had been his focus for more than a dozen years. Going further had never even been on his mind, but that was before Eggers told him about how his experience and research acumen could help with research being done by the Crow Water Quality Project in collaboration with the Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee.

After a 10-year break, Emery Three Irons returned to MSU where he became an award-winning scientist and scholar.

The Crow Water Quality Project was created nearly 20 years ago after members of the Crow Tribe identified their highest-priority environmental community health concerns. By far, the most pressing were water quality and access. Water contamination with toxins like manganese as well as coliform bacteria was widespread. Many homes, said Three Irons, still dont have running water at all due to plumbing, electrical or well problems. Eggers thought Three Irons and his experience and research acumen could help the project.

Three Irons spent his graduate studies testing water, analyzing water quality and identifying what factors increase risk of fecal contamination of home wells. While a graduate student he received a National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences graduate fellowship and was a Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership Scholar.

Today, more than two years after receiving his masters degree in land resources and environmental sciences, he has helped to test home well water in more than 100 homes from the reservation border near Hardin to Wyola near the Wyoming border and focuses on improving water quality and providing reliable water access to every home.

This is where I grew up; I have a connection here, he said. Not just with people, but with the land and the plants and living organisms, the animals. We have all those connections here and thats whats so special.

As a Crow environmental scientist, Three Irons said he understands great things can happen when bringing traditional ways and western science together.

Three Irons oldest son is now 15. He has watched his father earn three college degrees, but his son wants to go one step further  he plans to pursue a doctorate. Three Irons path hasnt been straight or easy, but he hopes that his own struggles have made his sons experience easier.

One of my goals right now is to provide water for all these homeowners. Thats the main goal, Three Irons said. Another is to see my son, whatever he picks, do something good and positive in the world.

Three Irons also has a son who is 4 and a daughter who is 3, and he hopes to guide all his children onto a good path.

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Montana State University Billings will celebrate the grand opening of its new Center for Teaching and Learning on Jan. 21. The Center was granted final approval by the Montana Board of Regents during its November meeting.

The new Center is led by faculty and will provide support for the full spectrum of faculty professional development, including pedagogical innovation, curriculum design, assessment efforts, instructional design, and onboarding for new faculty. In addition to supporting faculty success, the Center will play a key role in student success initiatives, in particular MSUBs retention and graduation initiative, and will offer programming related to inclusive, equity-minded, and growth mindset pedagogy, faculty early alerts, and data-informed strategies to support student learning.

The Center builds on MSUBs strength in innovative distance education and will integrate the existing office of e-Learning into a more expansive support center for faculty. Tyr Hawkaluk will serve as managing director of the Center. Hawkaluk brings years of instructional design experience to his new position. Incorporating eLearning into the CTL broadens the scope of support for faculty including topics such as technology support and training, workshops on new pedagogical approaches, new instructional modalities such as HyFlex that reach more students, better assessment tools, navigating the complexities of classroom discussions, and more.

The Center for Teaching and Learning will provide services to faculty from two locations: College of Education 328 on the university campus and B001 in the Tech Building at City College. The Jan. 21 celebration will take place at 9 a.m. on the university campus and at 1 p.m. at City College.

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Editor's note: This story is part of the Lee Enterprises series "Grizzlies and Us." The project examines the many issues surrounding the uneasy coexistence of grizzly bears and humans in the Lower 48, which have come more into focus in recent years as the federally-protected animal pushes farther into human-occupied areas. The 10-part series, comprised of more than 20 stories, was produced by reporters and photojournalists across the Rocky Mountain West.

Rancher Brian Quigley doesnt beat around the bush  he believes its time to take a firm hand with grizzlies.

Problem bears, regardless of whether its a sow or a boar or whatever, need to be shot, he said.

He isnt advocating for extirpation of the species, however. And hes willing to fight fur with fur  employing a pack of specially bred guard dogs to defend his cows.

The grizzly bear has as much a right to be here as you, me and anybody else. When they start destroying my property, and theyre killing my livestock, theyre in violation of my constitutional right, he said.

American jurisprudence has found wildlife are a public trust, belonging to all Americans, however. That builds tension between the hundreds of millions of people who want grizzly bears protected and the thousands of ranchers who live with grizzlies in their midst.

Quigley said the big bears have been present on the landscape near Avon throughout his lifetime. Now there are just more of them. He has had at least three on his property this year.

Though he hasnt confirmed cattle losses in 2021, he said grizzlies have been responsible for losses on his property the last two years, and in years before that as well.

Delisting the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems' grizzly populations is long overdue, Quigley believes. He also thinks the official counts underestimate grizzly numbers and supports the slate of new Montana laws allowing livestock owners to kill bears that pose a problem and prevent FWP from taking a problem bear from my neighborhood and dumping it into somebody elses neighborhood.

He also believes in a grizzly bear hunting season.

But since the grizzly is protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, the Montana Legislature lacks authority to give landowners killing rights. And given the growing divide between Montanas anti-predator wildlife policies and the federal governments ESA duties, the chance of grizzlies getting delisted, and therefore becoming huntable, has declined.

Quigley has taken steps to protect his property within the bounds of current laws.

He has used livestock guardian dogs for six years to protect his animals from wolves and other predators, including grizzlies.

Theyre not a cure-all, he said. Theyre kind of a neutralizer. They try to push the predators out.

This year, his game cameras captured video evidence: his dogs going berserk on a grizzly in his stockyard while a bear tried to get into a bear-resistant container holding their feed.

Quigley has been working with Kim Johnson of the nonprofit organization People and Carnivores to reduce grizzly threats. Johnston connected Quigley with a breeder for some additional guardian dogs  Turkish Boz-Kangal crosses.

These dogs seem to be really effective with these apex predators like wolves and bears, Johnston said. They're also good patrolling dogs, which is good for cattle.

Nothing is easy on a ranch.

With roaming guardian dogs, its necessary to have the dogs food secured out on the landscape as well  another potential lure for predators.

Quigley secured the feed in bear-resistant containers, but a grizzly managed to get into two containers stationed in remote locations late this summer.

"You'll never catch me saying bear proof and there's a reason, Johnston explained. When they do the certification testing on the containers, the criteria is that they test it with actual live grizzly bears for 60 minutes of paws-on, full-force contact.

She wasnt out there in the night, but Johnston speculated that the grizzly, motivated by a food reward, put in some serious time and work.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear manager Rory Trimbo dropped off some heavy-duty metal tool boxes early September as replacements. So far, theyve worked as expected.

Johnston knows grizzlies. Before joining People and Carnivores, she was a bear management technician with FWP and worked at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana. She loves collaborating with working landowners.

"When you get on the ground and visit with these people  most ranchers, people in Montana, they appreciate the wildlife we have, Johnson said It's just finding solutions when it's their family or their kids and their property (at stake).

Ranchers often have an excellent understanding of the movement of local wildlife, she added.

Quigley has likewise enjoyed working with Johnston, and said he benefited from her grizzly expertise.

Shes been very helpful to me, he said.

Theyve been hard at work training the new dogs, and are using a phone app and SPOT GPS tracking system Johnston rigged up for dog collars thats more affordable than traditional tracking systems and has a longer battery life.

On Sept. 11, one of Quigleys older livestock guardian dogs was killed by a grizzly, and the depredation was confirmed by U.S. Wildlife Services trapper Bart Smith. The trapper was unable to capture the bear that was responsible.

Theyre important to my business as a livestock producer, Quigley said. Right now I have six dogs left. Ill probably have to replace what I lost.

Confirmation allows the rancher to seek reimbursement from the Montana Livestock Loss Board for the dog that was killed.

Quigley and Johnston continue to work together, and grizzlies were still digging for caraway roots in Quigleys hay fields as of early October, very close to his home.

If you kill one bear, another bear is just going to come in, Johnson said. It might help for the moment, but a lot of times it doesnt help them in the long-term. Ive talked to a lot of ranchers that see that lethal control is not the only solution. We really do think conflict prevention is much more effective than killing bears to help that rancher sleep at night.

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A new 40-space legal camping spot for houseless people will open in Missoula on Tuesday, Jan. 18 on Clark Fork Lane behind the Super Walmart on Mullan Road.

Meant to replace illegal and ad hoc camping areas such as the site beneath the Reserve Street Bridge, the new Authorized Camping Site will feature 24/7 security staff presence, trash removal, outhouses with sanitation and visits by outreach teams.

As (county) Commissioner Josh Slotnick often says, doing nothing is not an option, explained Missoula mayor John Engen. So the Missoula County commissioners and I, along with the city council and our collective staff partners, have agreed that were going to experiment with a number of approaches that we hope temper suffering in our community.

The site is the first option to open through Operation Shelter, which was launched last year by the county and the city to address unauthorized camping in the urban area. The site is on city-owned property and federal American Rescue Plan Act money was used to set up the site and equip it with toilets, hire security and pay for other logistics.

Our goal here continues to be making sure that everyone who wants to live in a home has access to that, Engen said. (The site) is a little bit off the beaten path, particularly with regard to residential neighborhoods, and we believe creates a safe opportunity for folks to live and begin to have the resources they need to be permanently housed.

There will be fire pits for warmth and quiet hours. Pets must always be leashed or caged, and no drugs or alcohol are allowed in public spaces. Other than that, there are no barriers to entry to the site.

The residents will provide their own tents and supplies, but members of the Poverello Centers homeless outreach team often visit all the unhoused people in Missoula to bring them camping gear, food and anything else they need.

Guy Johnson, the lead homeless outreach team member, said theyve been talking with people under the Reserve Street Bridge and other areas for almost a month to give them a heads up that camping in unauthorized spots in Missoula will no longer be allowed to continue. Beginning on Jan. 24, the Montana Department of Transportation will no longer allow camping under Reserve Street. Engen said illegal camping will no longer be allowed anywhere in the city, and law enforcement can be called if necessary. But Johnson said the goal is to avoid that by not blindsiding people.

Weve been really encouraging and letting folks know about the new authorized campsite opening up, Johnson said. Weve had some really good feedback from the folks there. I believe we will have a good turnaround amount of people show up to the new location. Its just a matter of time, but I have high hopes for this.

The Poverello Center homeless shelter has been operating at capacity, meaning they are completely full every night, according to Jill Bonny, the Povs executive director. The Johnson Street winter shelter has had about 100 people sleeping there every night recently, and Bonny said that shelter has a capacity for about 150. The 15-20 people who have been camping at the Reserve Street Bridge site do so even with the knowledge that there is a warm shelter where they can sleep, she added.

Theyre shelter-resistant, so were hoping they come here, Bonny said.

Johnson said some of the people at the Reserve Street Bridge have been there for years, and the recent blizzard didnt seem to bother them too much.

They handled it surprisingly well, he said. This is what they do. They deal with it.

Emily Armstrong, the Reaching Home program manager for the city, said theres a tremendous amount of collaboration among various government agencies and other community partners to reduce the number of houseless people in Missoula.

I pulled numbers recently and I think were around  this is a flexible number  but around 150 people in the Coordinated Entry System that were able to find housing when we have a vacancy rate of .38%, she said. So honestly, thats pretty incredible that that many people are entered now into a housing solution because of only the hard work of our providers.

Engen said that the city and county have met with surrounding business owners, and described it as fairly contentious.

Thats the challenge here, he said. No one wants the homeless camp next to them. So were doing our best, again, to balance those interests. I think the comfort that we hopefully provided was security, a list of resources, somebody you can call.

Engen said the city and county studied what went wrong in authorized homeless camping spots in places like Seattle. He noted that in those places, huge lots were cleared and government officials simply told people they could camp there. The lesson learned, Engen said, was that the site has to have necessary support services and cant be too big.

Commissioner Dave Strohmaier said that he knows the site is not without risks and challenges.

"I resonate with the frustrations that members of the public have had for quite some time," he said. "But a lot has been going on behind the scenes to get to this point where we are today."

He said he's proud of everyone who worked on the plan.

"It's surprising how difficult dealing with some of these intractable issues are, and creating this space here, which is only one prong of a multi-pronged effort to address the challenges of houselessness in our community, was a heavy lift to get to this point," Strohmaier said.

For more information visit engagemissoula.com/safe-shelter.

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Richland County and Sidney law enforcement are asking the public for help in searching for 26-year-old Sidney woman Katelynn Berry, who was last seen Dec. 21.

Berry was reported missing around 6:40 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2021. She had not been seen for 10 days according to the reporting party, Sidney Police said in a statement on their Facebook page. Her last known whereabouts was her rural home south of Sidney near the intersection of county roads 122 and 349R.

Police found Berrys cell phone at her home after launching an investigation. Police described Berry as a white female, slender build, 54, 100 pounds, green eyes. Her hair is currently shoulder length and dark brown. She has been known to walk away from her residence, so there is concern for her well-being due to weather conditions, Police said in a statement on Dec. 31.

On Jan. 17, Sidney Police asked for volunteers to assist with a ground search on Thursday, Jan. 20. Richland County Sheriff John Dynneson told The Gazette the investigation and search have been ongoing, but with a break in the weather and the receding snow the agencies involved wanted to do a more thorough ground search. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the FBI have been assisting Richland County and Sidney police with the investigation. The case is being treated as a missing person case.

"There is no evidence, at this point, to suggest anything of a criminal nature," Dynneson said. "But we continue to investigate thoroughly."

The sheriff said he would encourage anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward. He included any possible criminal activity surrounding Berry's disappearance or the same time period in his request. But he also asked everybody in the area to search around their homes and property for any sign of Berry.

In order to volunteer, the department listed a number of qualifications on their Facebook page including a screening, physical capabilities, clothing requirements, personal health insurance in case of injury and the ability to be available for a period of up to six hours.

This volunteer assignment may cause stress, anxiety, fear, or other strong emotions, the release stated. We ask that if you are a family member, close friend or experience any of these emotions that you refrain from this assignment. We value our volunteers' mental health and want to ensure your service does not cause you any of these emotions that could potentially put your safety at risk.

Berrys father, Hank Berry, told the Sidney Herald on Jan. 7 he was offering a $10,000 reward for his daughters safe return. The father reportedly increased that amount to a $25,000 reward if the information led to Berry's safe return by her birthday on Feb. 1. The family also asked the public to report any suspicious activity or information to law enforcement, the article stated.

Any information about Berry should be reported to local law enforcement or the Richland County Sheriffs Office at 406-433-2919 or the Sidney Police Department at 406-433-2210. For more information about volunteering contact the Sheriffs office or the Sidney Police Department Facebook page.

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North Dakota court officials are hopeful about a nearly year-old effort to collect race data on defendants -- what one community activist calls an encouraging step toward addressing potential bias in the justice system.

A court rule for race data collection took effect in March 2021. When filing criminal complaints, prosecutors include adult defendants' race perceived by law enforcement in officers' reports and citations.

The judiciary's Minority Justice Implementation Committee will look at the data this spring and identify any issues or disparities.

"The ultimate goal remains to be to identify any types of racial prejudice that we may have in our justice system in an effort to make sure that everybody's entitled to equal justice under the law, and so make sure that everybody is obtaining equal justice and that there's no disparities based on race or ethnicity," said Bottineau-based Northeast District Judge Anthony Swain Benson, who chairs the 15-member panel of judges, prosecutors and attorneys.

State Court Administrator Sally Holewa said the initial goal is to form a starting point: "Can we even get enough data to make a useful analysis?"

"We didn't want to look too early because we know any time you implement these kinds of changes there's usually a rocky road as people get used to the change or figure out the process," she said.

The first look will determine how well race data is being collected and what any related issues are, she said.

Other states that log defendants' race data opt for self-reported race, but North Dakota is recording race as perceived by law enforcement, she said.

"We thought it might be more meaningful to get perceived race if youre looking for bias," Holewa said.

"If at some point we're able to do some data analysis, what we would be looking at is there a wide difference between perception and then self-reporting by the defendant," she added. Race data can be corrected in the system.

OneFargo CEO and founder Wess Philome, whose organization advocates for justice and equality, welcomes the race data rule and what it seeks to accomplish.

The son of Haitian migrants said he's been "embroiled in activism going back to my high school days, basically just trying to combat racism and fight for equality."

He began OneFargo following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer in 2020. He said he's worked on proposed hate crime legislation and efforts to establish Fargo's hate crime ordinances and citizen-led police oversight panel.

Philome called the race data rule "a measure of transparency and also a measure of accountability as well" and "something exciting to see and read."

He doesn't see an issue with collecting race based on perception, expecting few instances of the wrong race being perceived to a point it would negatively influence the data. One of the race categories is multiracial.

Philome plans to see how he can help "the conversation move along" around the race data, which he was not aware was being collected.

"Being able to provide this kind of information for people to take that kind of look, I truly believe that that's the step our justice system needs to take to ensure that people of color are not unfairly being burdened and prosecuted and harmed by our justice system as it has done to people of color in the past," Philome said.

Some data already offers a picture of racial disparities in North Dakota's criminal justice system. Of the inmates in North Dakota's prison system on Wednesday, 57.5% were white, 24.3% were Native American and nearly 12% were Black, according to a breakdown the Tribune requested.

Those rates are disproportionate to the state's population.

Whites makes up nearly 87% of North Dakota's residents. American Indians and Alaska Natives are the state's largest minority, at 5.6%, followed by Blacks at 3.4%, according to a 2021 population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spirit Lake Tribe shares geography with Benson County, in his judicial district. He sees a large number of Native Americans and many impoverished defendants.

"Actually, it's quite sad. Folks keep coming back and they can't seem to figure some things out, and we can't seem to figure some things out as to how we can get this cycle to end," said Foughty, who has been involved with judicial racial and ethnic fairness issues for about 15 years.

He noted other states, such as Minnesota and Washington, have developed or changed policy based on courts' race data.

In addition to race data, courts might also look at defendants' poverty status, he said.

Criminal penalties are a potential focus area, Foughty said. Is it good policy to take away a repeat DUI offender's driver's license, or instead work to ensure their success and sobriety? Not having a driver's license can create employment challenges, he noted.

"I think it's looking at things differently. What does society want? What do you want as a community?" Foughty said.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijans War College Chief Lt-Gen Heydar Piriyev and Bulgarias National Defence College Commandant Maj-Gen Grudi Angelov have discussed cooperation in military education, the ministry reported on January 18.

At the meeting, Piriyev said that Azerbaijani-Bulgarian bilateral ties are built on friendship and beneficial collaboration. He briefed the guests about the work done in Azerbaijan in the field of contemporary army development and enhancement of the professional level of troops.

He added that Azerbaijans military education systems benefit from the modern international practice, as well as the experience gained during the 44-day war with Armenia in 2020.

In turn, Angelov stated that competent officer training is a top priority in the Bulgarian armed forces.

The military officials reviewed the opportunities for educational collaboration as well as a number of other topics of mutual interest.

The attendees were given an overview of both countries' military education systems, as well as the history and operations of the Armed Forces War College. The Bulgarian delegation familiarized itself with the Azerbaijani military educational system.

In the end, the visitors were taken on a tour to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Military History Museum.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani First Deputy Defence Minister Col-Gen Karim Valiyev also discussed the opportunities for expanding bilateral collaboration to improve military personnel's (including civilians) knowledge and abilities with a delegation led by Angelov, the ministry reported later.

Valiyev emphasized the importance of such meetings and the establishment of mutual ties for strengthening Azerbaijan-Bulgaria military cooperation.

Angelov expressed satisfaction with his visit to Azerbaijan, noting that the sharing of experience between the two nations in all sectors, including military education, was crucial. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of interest in the military education field.




Until about three years ago, the examination of burial sites or historic human remains was an informal effort between a biological anthropologist from the University of Wyoming, the state archaeologist and volunteers.

Then in 2019, state lawmakers passed Senate File 78, which put into law requirements concerning the discovery of human remains on state or private land. It placed almost all of the responsibility on the state archaeologist, Spencer Pelton.

Since then, the law has several times guided the handling of burial sites and remains. But theres an issue, department officials told the Joint Appropriations Committee last week. The biological anthropologist is retiring and the examination of human remains is taking over Peltons time.

And so the state parks department is seeking nearly $100,000 for a biological anthropologist to help Pelton out. Gov. Mark Gordon did not include this money in his budget recommendations. But state lawmakers will have their say on whether to pay for the position.

In the time since the bill was enacted, Pelton has relied on volunteers  local historians and graduate students at the University of Wyoming  to help him with the work, a process that can take three to four months of continuous work each time a discovery is made.

It quickly monopolized most of my time, Pelton said. Its a big job that has to be dealt with in a pretty sensitive way.

This was not the intention of the sponsors of the 2019 legislation, however.

We werent adding new duties, said Sen. Brian Boner, R-Douglas. We were just defining what they are.

When the bill was originally passed, a monetary allocation was not part of the conversation, Boner added.

An appropriation was never even a discussion, he said.

Not mentioning the money was partly a strategic move at the time the bill was being considered.

The rationale at the time was: we really needed to get something protecting human remains in place and attaching some funding source to that decreased the chances, Pelton said.

This strategy paid off  the bill passed all major votes unanimously.

Since the start of 2020, four discoveries of human remains have required the work of the state archaeologist.

In April 2020, utility workers unearthed the bones of a small child in the backyard of a Cheyenne residence.

With help from local historians, the State Archaeologist determined the bones were associated with Cheyennes Old City Cemetery, a burial place used between 1867 and 1875 by early residents and later built on top of by expansion of the city in the early 20th century, the state parks department said in a press release. The remains are intended for reburial in Cheyennes Lakeview cemetery.

In that same month, dispersed human remains were found in a lot that was being developed in Glenrock. Following extensive excavation, historical research, and intensive laboratory analysis, the remains were found to be a U.S. military cavalryman who died at an Oregon Trail stop called Deer Creek Station in 1865.

Those bones are set for reburial at a location that has yet to be decided.

The state archaeologist consults with coroners, land owners and Native American tribes to determine what happens next. If the remains are determined to be Native American, the tribal historic preservation offices are called to weigh in  and possibly take over the process.

Sara Needles, the state historic preservation officer, told the Joint Appropriations Committee that she was not sure that theyd be able to find someone in Wyoming to contract for the work and may need to look outside of the state. The cost of doing so is still undetermined.

For the state parks department, there may have been a glimmer of hope during Thursdays committee meeting that the money would come through.

Were requiring you to do this, and we need to give you the tools to do it, said Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, a member of the committee.

Even if Pelton and his colleagues are not granted the budgetary amendment, he plans to maintain good work.

Throughout this process, its important to maintain reverence for the deceased and any potential descendants, he said.

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TUESDAY, Jan. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Before getting their first dose of a COVID vaccine, many Americans were nervous about how they would react to the shot, but new research shows that fears of side effects may actually make side effects more likely.

To investigate this so-called "nocebo" effect in people receiving COVID-19 vaccines, researchers analyzed data from 12 clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines and compared rates of side effects in more than 22,000 participants who received the vaccines and more than 22,000 who received a placebo shot.

After the first shot, systemic side effects -- symptoms that affect the entire body, such as fever, headache and fatigue -- were reported by about 46% of vaccine recipients.

But more than 35% of people who got the placebo shot also experienced similar side effects, a team of Boston investigators found.

At least one local side effect -- such as pain at the injection site, redness or swelling -- was reported by 16% of placebo recipients and two-thirds of vaccine recipients.

The nocebo effect accounted for many of the side effects in the group that got the dummy shot and for 76% of all side effects in the vaccine group after the first shot, the researchers calculated.

After the second shot, systemic side effects were reported by 32% of those in the placebo group and 61% of those in the vaccine group, and local side effects were reported by 12% of those in the placebo group and 73% of those in the vaccine group.

The nocebo effect accounted for nearly 52% of the side effects reported after the second dose, according to the authors of the study published Jan. 18 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

"Adverse events after placebo treatment are common in randomized, controlled trials," noted study author Julia Haas, an investigator in the Program in Placebo Studies at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

"Collecting systematic evidence regarding these nocebo responses in vaccine trials is important for COVID-19 vaccination worldwide, especially because concern about side effects is reported to be a reason for vaccine hesitancy," Haas said in a medical center news release.

"Nonspecific symptoms like headache and fatigue -- which we have shown to be particularly nocebo-sensitive -- are listed among the most common adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination in many information leaflets," said study senior author Ted Kaptchuk, director of the Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter.

But giving people that kind of information might backfire, he added, causing them "to misattribute common daily background sensations as arising from the vaccine or cause anxiety and worry that make people hyper alert to bodily feelings about adverse events."

"Medicine is based on trust," Kaptchuk said. Letting the public know that the nocebo effect might play a role in any vaccine side effect "could help reduce worries about COVID-19 vaccination, which might decrease vaccination hesitancy," he believes.

More information

For more on COVID-19 vaccine side effects, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, news release, Jan. 18, 2022

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Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
North Dakota's State Investment Board has filled a position key to implementing new investment requirements of the state's $8.5 billion oil tax savings.

The board has tapped Scott Anderson as chief investment officer for the state Retirement and Investment Office, which oversees about $20 billion of assets. Anderson begins this week. He succeeds former office Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer Dave Hunter, who left last year.

Anderson has more than 20 years of investment management experience, according to a board statement. His previous roles include managing director of asset and risk allocation for the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, and a managing director with American Family Insurance. He also has been a senior manager with Deloitte's global consulting practice.

The chief investment officer will help guide the rollout of the mandates the 2021 Legislature put on the Legacy Fund, which include making highly anticipated investments in companies in the state, according to Retirement and Investment Office Executive Director Jan Murtha.

"We're in a learning curve right now with RIO because this is new to North Dakota, but Mr. Anderson is familiar with these programs in other states, so he will add an additional layer of experience and expertise," she said.

Also crucial to the process is an asset allocation study of the Legacy Fund, a process that will set a plan for achieving investment goals. The study is to unfold early this year.

Some state lawmakers have expressed frustration with the pace of the requirements' rollout, but the state securities commissioner has disagreed and said the mandates need time to work.

Understaffing of the office due to resignations and retirements also has affected the situation. The Legislature in response approved more employees during its special session last fall.

The advisory board that guides the Legacy Fund also has a new leader. Last month, the panel replaced Rep. Keith Kempenich, R-Bowman, as chairman with Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden. One senator viewed the change as "a good faith effort to recognize a new stage that we're in in this committee."

The office also will soon hire a chief risk officer. Murtha said she has "a verbal commitment" from a candidate. The position will help fill out the office's investment team, she said.

Hiring for the six new employees approved by the Legislature will occur as each position becomes ready to go after a human resources/job description process, Murtha said.

One of the positions is for an outreach coordinator to handle queries to the office, including ones about the investment mandates.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Primary and general

North Dakota's primary election is June 14, when voters select nominees for offices. Voters may select candidates only from one party on this ballot. City and school elections will be decided on this date, too.

Absentee ballots for the June election will be available to all North Dakota voters beginning May 5.

Political observers say the Republican primary will be one to watch, given the fissures in the supermajority GOP between ultraconservative and establishment Republicans.

The GOP-led House of Representatives expelled former Rep. Luke Simons, R-Dickinson, in March for workplace and sexual harassment. Afterward, several Republican lawmakers were censured by their district parties, which political observers tied to the expulsion vote.

Last month, eight members of the party's 59-member State Committee walked out of the board's meeting in protest of the party's chairman appointing eight temporary district chairs under a law for reorganizing political parties in legislative districts affected by redistricting.

As head of the state GOP, Schafer said he leads "the whole party, not just parts of the party."

"My goal is to the bring the party together to fight the Democratic, socialist regime that is rearing its head within our state and within our nation," he said.
Several Republicans have announced their plans to run for state legislative seats in a district that encompasses the heart of North Dakota's coal country.

Sen. Jessica Unruh Bell of Beulah will face a challenge from Keith Boehm, a farmer and small business owner who lives northwest of Mandan. They both seek the Republican nomination for District 33's Senate seat.

Unruh Bell has served in the Senate since 2012 and chairs the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. She also holds a leadership position on the 17-member Legislative Management.

Unruh Bell has been a leader on energy and agricultural issues, according to a statement announcing her reelection plans. She works as an environmental manager for the North American Coal Corp.

Boehm recently retired after 42 years with Minnkota Power in Center, including nine years in management. He runs a family farm with his children. He also has over 25 years of experience as a part-owner and financial manager of the Flying J Travel Center west of Mandan.

Boehm said in a statement that he will address issues of "high property taxes and maintaining property rights," and that he "intends to protect the families, livelihoods, and liberties of all North Dakotans."

He also said he sees "how the parents of North Dakota are facing ever-growing challenges with preserving parental rights and providing children with a safe and productive learning environment."

District 33 comprises Mercer and Oliver counties and parts of McLean and Morton counties.

Delzer, Tveit running

Longtime Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, intends to seek the District 33 Republican nomination.

Redistricting, done every 10 years with updated census data, moved him from the old District 8 to 33. Delzer, who is a farmer, chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

In 2020, he lost the Republican primary to two newcomers endorsed by Gov. Doug Burgum, who gave more than $1.8 million to a political group run by former advisers that successfully targeted Delzer's seat. Delzer and Burgum, both Republicans, have sparred over budget issues.

In October 2020, nominee David Andahl died from COVID-19, but his name remained on the ballot after his death, and he won a House seat. Burgum sought to appoint a successor, and a three-way legal fight played out in front of the state Supreme Court.

In the end, District 8 Republicans appointed Delzer to the seat. In response to the fallout, the 2021 Legislature passed a law for filling seats of dead election victors.

Delzer was first elected to the Legislature in 1990.

District 33 Rep. Bill Tveit, R-Hazen, also has announced his reelection plans.

Tveit, a retired farm equipment dealer, was first elected in 2018 and has served on the House Human Services and Agriculture committees the past two legislative sessions. He is now vice chair of the interim Natural Resources Committee and serves on the interim Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Tveit is the former chairman of the Mercer County Commission.

District 33 Republican Chairman Fred Stern said the district's Republicans plan to hold their endorsement meeting on Feb. 16.

Ninety-eight seats in the Legislature are on the ballot this year, more than is usual, due to redistricting.

Republicans control the House of Representatives 80-14 and the Senate 40-7.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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A North Dakota House budget writer is running to be the state's top election official.

Second-term state Rep. Michael Howe, R-Casselton, announced his bid on Tuesday. He is the first candidate to seek to succeed longtime Republican Secretary of State Al Jaeger, who was first elected in 1992. Jaeger is not running.

Howe, 35, is a fifth-generation family farmer who represents rural Cass County in the state House of Representatives. He sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and chairs the interim Government Finance Committee.

In 2016, I ran for the Legislature to fight for farmers, ranchers, small businesses and families, he said in a statement. I believe our true strength comes from our people, not from our government.

His campaign in a statement said Howe "understands the unique challenges we face today and will cut red tape to ensure North Dakota is the easiest place to start and grow a business."

He touted his efforts in the Legislature "to protect North Dakotans from government overreach and cut unnecessary regulations," as well as having "stood up for small businesses and spearheaded legislation to safeguard businesses from frivolous lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Howe also vowed to ensure secure elections.

While North Dakota continues to feed and fuel the world, our biggest challenges often come from politicians in D.C., he said. North Dakotans should always be in charge of North Dakotas elections.

Secretary of state, along with attorney general, will be a high-profile race this year. The longtime incumbents are not running.

North Dakota's secretary of state handles election administration and business registration, among other duties, and sits on the state Board of University and School Lands. The secretary also takes over as acting governor if the governor and lieutenant governor are unable to serve.

Republicans vying for the party's endorsement to run for statewide and congressional offices will need to pay first-time fees -- at least $2,500 for statewide executive officers.

The state GOP convention is April 1-2 in Bismarck; candidates also are visiting legislative district party endorsing conventions throughout early 2022.

Republicans control the Legislature and hold all state offices and congressional seats in North Dakota.

The secretary of state's annual salary is $114,486.

Other candidates who have announced state campaigns are former U.S. Attorney and Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley for attorney general and Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus, both Republicans.

Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers also is seeking another 10-year term. The judiciary is nonpartisan.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is completing the destruction of the old Hong Kong. The last vestiges of free expression and democratic choice are disappearing.

On January 4, the media site Citizen News closed due to the deteriorating legal environment. The organization explained: We all love this place, deeply. Regrettably, what was ahead of us is not just pouring rains or blowing winds, but hurricanes and tsunamis. Citizen News decision came just days after the Hong Kong government raided another independent media organization, Stand News, froze its assets, arrested seven current and former editors, and charged them with sedition.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, now acting overtly as a PRC hireling, declared: Inciting other people  could not be condoned under the guise of news reporting. However, she assured her critics that sending more than 200 police to shut Stand News had nothing to do with journalistic or media work.

Every commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, including artwork and a museum, is being dismantled. On the day Citizen News closed, barrister Chow Hang-tung was sentenced to 15 months in prison for urging Hong Kongers to attend last years annual Tiananmen Square vigil, which had been banned by the local authorities. She already is serving a year-long sentence, having been convicted along with Jimmy Lai and others on similar charges for the 2020 vigil. She told the court: It can be foreseen that the public space to discuss June 4 will disappear entirely. Tyranny is greedy, red lines will keep expanding.

Moreover, the newly elected Legislative Council, which convened on January 3, has been brought under the PRCs complete control. The old LegCo, though dominated by China-friendly members, was raucous and open. After Lams introduction of an unpopular extradition bill that would deliver Hong Kong defendants to China, a popular tsunami in 2019 delivered control of most district councils, which rarely had been seriously contested in the past, to pro-democracy forces.

With democrats expected to win the 2020 LegCo election as well, the Hong Kong government canceled the vote, barred unpatriotic candidates, ousted unpatriotic members, and arrested opposition activists for having arranged an informal primary election. The latter, it turned out, counted as an attempt to overthrow the government, violating the National Security Law imposed by Beijing. Then the PRC revamped the LegCo, changing its composition and mandating that only patriots, i.e., Chinese Communist Party cronies, could run for office.

Hong Kongs legislative elections were held on December 19, 2021, and suffered from a record low turnout of 30%, compared to 71% for the district poll and 57% for the 2016 LegCo contest, which occurred two years before the spike in democracy activism. Lam dismissed the drop as meaningless, likely reflecting Hong Kongers great satisfaction with her government! In a desperate attempt to bolster the vote, her government issued arrest warrants for seven exiled Hong Kong activists who urged residents either to boycott the poll or spoil their ballots. Ten residents were arrested for sharing an exiles social media post. Hong Kong also threatened The Wall Street Journal and The Sunday Times (London) for criticizing the pro-PRC fix.

Only one of the 90 new legislators is not viewed as a Chinese ally. A few claimed to support democracy but were backed by the CCP legislative guardians to fake diversity. Lam also played her assigned role, asserting that members of the LegCo are patriotic, love Hong Kong and act in the interests of the countrys development and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Despite their near unanimous loyalty to Beijing, she declared that such diversity showcases the broad representation and political inclusiveness of the improved electoral system.

Although little more would seem necessary to subjugate the territory, Lamwith a prostrate people, eviscerated opposition, pliant LegCo, and supportive Beijingplans a new legislative assault. Last month she said she intended to revive a measure from 2003, then killed by sizable street demonstrations (though smaller than those which greeted Lams 2018 measure). The proposed law will prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities and treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central Peoples Government, or theft of state secrets. The measure likely will eliminate any remaining pockets of liberty in Hong Kong. After all, said the citys gauleiter-equivalent, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, there may still be gaps that need to be filled.

Beijing and its territorial leadership expect Hong Kongs economic prosperity to survive. However, with the rule of law now subservient to party control, there is little certainty even for the citys commercial sector. Moreover, economic activitiessearching for information, publishing statistics, dealing with proscribed individuals and entitiescould have criminal consequences. And most people value freedom in their personal lives. Many Hong Kongers are emigrating so their children can grow up free from CCP indoctrination. Thus, the territory appears doomed to become just another Chinese city, a moral and political shadow of its former self.

Tragically, this outcome should surprise no one. Hong Kong always was an anomaly, spoils for the United Kingdom in the Opium Wars, making Londons control less than legitimate. Although the people enjoyed British civil liberties, the colonial authority never introduced democracy. The territory was returned to the PRC in 1997 after the famed Iron Lady, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, proved unwilling, probably wisely, to play a game of geopolitical chicken with Beijing over Hong Kong.

China largely lived up to the bargain in the early years, but Xi Jinpings rise doomed the special administrative regions relative liberty. After all, he has been equally ruthless in imposing party and personal control on the mainland. Starting with the Umbrella Revolution in 2014, tougher CCP controls mixed with greater activist demands to accelerate the clash between Hong Kongers and expanding Xi state.

Fearful of the strength of the popular resistance and aided by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 the Xi government acted brutally and coldly, with precise calculation, to break popular resistance and end the territorys relative autonomy. Which in January 2022 left Lam playing cleanup for the PRC, wiping out any final nodes of resistance. Prospects are bright for democracy in Hong Kong, declared a new CCP white paper.

There is little the world can do to force China to reverse course. However, Americans and others of good will can help Hong Kongers, especially those seeking a new life elsewhere. Ultimately, their best hope is for another turn in Chinese politics. When mad Mao Zedong, responsible for the deaths of tens of millions, died, the PRC unexpectedly and dramatically liberalized. May the response be similar when the new Mao mercifully passes from the scene.
Danger! U.S. lawmakers openly support Texas's conditional independence. People: Biden will send troops immediately

According to U.S. media reports, since the second quarter of this year, Texas, from officials to the public, has been increasingly opposed to the Biden administration. When Biden took office, the "Three Fires" announced the 100-day epidemic prevention order, Texas Governor Abbott dared to take off his mask and broadcast the national live broadcast one month after the order was executed. Later, he received the acquiescence of the government. In support, Texas has founded more than one hundred non-governmental anti-epidemic, anti-mask, and anti-election bill modification organizations, and the locals often refuse to implement federal orders. This is already very common.

However, the iconic political event that really put Texas at risk of division was the "Parliamentary Escape" four months ago. At that time, two planes carrying more than 50 senior politicians suddenly landed at Washington Dulles International Airport at midnight. All the people on the planes were Democrats from Texas. They came to Biden for help. It turned out that the top Texas officials believed that last year's election was "unsafe." The Republican-controlled state legislature was amending the election law to shake the foundation of the Confederation and forcing the weaker Democrats to sign and agree. They did not dare to sign but couldn't stop the bill from being passed, so they all fled to Washington to file a complaint. Afterwards, the Texas Republican organization also claimed to go to Washington to arrest people but was interfered by Biden. The incident was regarded as a milestone in the "break" of Texas bipartisan politics.

Yesterday, a number of US newspapers published a piece of dangerous news: Texas Republican Senator Cruz recently publicly announced on the program that as long as the Biden administration achieves a result that "makes the United States hopeless," then Texas will It should immediately separate from the Union and become independent, but is not yet ready to abandon the United States. He also explained several conditions that "make the United States hopeless", including "they monopolized the Supreme Court seats, they turned Washington into a state, and they engaged in voter fraud", etc., and believed that Texas is a complete state. The most sober force in the United States, they can prevent the United States from sinking deeper and deeper.

In addition, Cruz also threatened: "If Texas becomes independent, then we will take away the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the military, and the oil. The high level understands the independent sentiment of every citizen very well." The truth is. In this way, in every anti-federal movement in Texas, officials are inseparable from behind-the-scenes operations; especially after the border situation deteriorated this year, they accelerated the pace of separation from the Biden administration. Now these people still have a chance to turn around, that is, next year's House of Commons elections and presidential elections three years later, which may give Cruz the last hope.

It is also worth mentioning that the public is worried about the US congressman's threats to move Texas towards a path of conditional independence. An anonymous person from a local political organization commented: I am very sure that if there is no other force uniting, as soon as we declare our separation from the United States, we will be attacked by Bidens army immediately, just like in 1860. He believed At present, Texas does not have the ability to "head-to-head" with the federal government, and it is impossible to secede from independence unless it is widely supported.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev phoned President of Russia Vladimir Putin on January 18.

During the phone conversation, they hailed the successful development of Azerbaijan-Russia relations, and discussed prospects for the strategic partnership.

The heads of state praised the recent contacts between Russia and the United States, the stabilization of the situation in Kazakhstan, and discussed the ongoing processes around Ukraine.

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia exchanged views on regional security issues.
Although Deadpool holds the title of being Marvel's most contemporary fourth-wall-breaking character, he's far from the first. Before the merc with a mouth became the comedic flagship at Marvel, She-Hulk preceded him in the 80s with John Byrne's legendary run that's filled to the brim with metatextual comedy. And prior to She-Hulk's time in the limelight, Howard the Duck was Marvel's resident gag character and arguably their most successful.

While most might remember him from the 80s Hollywood bomb Howard the Duck, studious comic fans remember Howard as a fixture of Marvel's 70s scene. Despite getting into several conflicts in the confines of his book, some of Howard's most notable fights happened outside of the comics. For example, as the fowl soared to dizzying heights of popularity, Disney, who now owns Marvel, tried to clip Howard's wings by alleging that he was too similar to Donald Duck in a brief legal dust-up. However, the Disney suit wasn't the only legal battle that Howard faced during his lifespan. At one point, Marvel and Howard's creator Steve Gerber found themselves in a legal dogfight over the character. In the video linked above, the YouTube channel Comic Tropes goes over the battle and its ramifications in full.
In the days following the Capitol Riots of January 7, 2021, some of the idiots who stormed into the building called the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to ask about items like mobile phones or purses they lost or left behind during the chaos. This tidbit is according to Rep. Jamie Raskin who spoke to Insider:

"The officers quickly got on the phone and said, yeah, just give us your name, your address, your social, you know, and we'll tie up those loose ends," Raskin said. "But what's so fascinating to me about that there really were people who felt as if they had been summoned to Washington by the president." []

The seemingly self-incriminating phone calls, Raskin explained, were also an indicator of how central former President Donald Trump was to the thousands of Americans who came to DC for a protest and ended up storming the Capitol.

Raskin added that the "lost and found" episode also demonstrates a challenge facing the House select committee investigating January 6, where Raskin is one of the Democratic members.

"And when they were told that they were trespassing and invading the Capitol, they said the president invited them to be there," he said. "They didn't have any kind of subtle understanding of the separation of powers. They just thought that the number one person in the US government had invited them to be there, and therefore they had a right.
In a new ad, Gary Chambers, a Louisiana Democrat running for the US Senate, is seen smoking marijuana while he cites statistics about how black pot smokers are four times more likely to be arrested than white smokers.

In a statement Chamber said, "For too long, candidates have used the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters. I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology."

From The Washington Post:

Chambers supports federal legislation that would incentivize state and local governments to expunge the criminal records of those who have been convicted of marijuana offenses and that would expand the marijuana industry's access to financial institutions. His campaign said the ad was filmed in New Orleans, where the City Council recently passed an ordinance intended to remove penalties for simple possession of marijuana.

On a related note, an anti-marijuana organization called Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which was founded by Pat Kennedy (son of Ted Kennedy) and two other prominent and privileged white men, sent out a bizarre anti-legalization tweet yesterday with a quote from Martin Luther King. As Chambers discusses in his video black people are disproportionately victimized by marijuana prohibition. But when Pat Kennedy becomes addicted to cocaine and oxycontin, and drunk drives into a barricade, he has powerful connections and piles of Kennedy money to make his problems go away.
After a century of feeding Buffalonians at 370 Seneca St., DiTondos Tavern served its last spaghetti parm on Oct. 16, 2018.

Three years later, DiTondo opened at the same address, with an Italian-from-Italy chef offering regional Italian cuisine, like Calabrian swordfish rolls Scilla style, focaccia Pugliese with tomatoes and olives, and gnocchi with radicchio.

Only to be greeted by complaints on social media that there was no spaghetti parm. While Chefs, the dishs actual birthplace, is right there, two blocks away.

The complaints were short-lived. Once you walk in the door, DiTondo makes clear youre in a refreshingly new restaurant.

Now the airy dining room floods with afternoon sunlight pouring through soaring windows. Order at the counter from a brief list of pastas and vegetables, soups and mains, sandwiches and desserts. Decide if you want espresso or wine. Pay up, and take your number to a table.

Servers will arrive bearing your choices. While you sip and chat, you might meet Rita DiTondo, a great-granddaughter of Sebastino DiTondo, who opened his Buffalo restaurant in 1904. She bought the place with her husband, Fabio Consonni, a veteran chef from Lombardy. They oversaw a two-year rebuild, shoring up the century-old foundation, installing a new kitchen and replacing entire systems, from plumbing to point-of-sale.

The couple, veteran operators who met at a boutique hotel on Lake Garda, have recruited enough capable cooks and servers to open, but dinner will have to wait.

In the meantime, lunch at DiTondo has become a dish-by-dish seminar in the virtues of principled understatement. Ive not been blessed to eat in Italy, yet. Even so, I noted auspicious details in several Consonni offerings that have me hungry to eventually see his menu in full dinnertime bloom.

Exhibit 1: Eggplant parmigiana ($12), a popular Italian-American entree for the sort of customers who value their meal by the weight of their doggie bag.

At DiTondo, eggplant parmigiana is sliced eggplant touched with tomato, roasted to silky sweetness under a thin veil of cheese. Thats it.

No ricotta substrata or mozzarella quilts, not a single speck of soggy breadcrumb, just roasted aubergine rounded out with fruity acid and a touch of milky richness. Parmigiana lite?

Exhibit 2: Cauliflower gratin ($8), the only gratin Ive met not soaked in cream, cheese and the allure of a guaranteed calorie coma sleepytime. Consonni delivers a dish full of carefully caramelized crucifer, beautifully buttered, but nothing like gratins usual lake of butterfat. Instead, its enriched with chopped hardboiled egg, fresh parsley, and the briny kiss of anchovy.

Exhibit 3: Marinated swordfish rolls ($15), a particular specialty of Scilla, a Calabrian fishing village whose workers head the sea for swordfish and tuna to make their daily bread. After enduring dry, chalky swordfish samples over the years, DiTondos swordfish was a revelation.

The fish was buttery-tender, the breadcrumb, herb and garlic stuffing notable for its un-pastiness, and the spark of distinct garlic molecules in the matrix.

Both fish and stuffing shattered preconceptions, making DiTondo a place where you want to try everything, because you just dont know what moves the chef might pull.

Whoever heard of pork shoulder braised to fork-tenderness with grapes ($16)? Its delicious. Bursts of tangy fruit in a bronzed stock redefined another dish at the hands of an Italian chef.

Tasting the Plato Dale Farm squash soup with creme fraiche ($10), it seemed that the goal was tasting the vegetable, so that squash soup should taste like squash, not a pumpkin pie McFlurry.

Theres always a fresh pasta on the menu, like tagliatelle with Flat 12 mushrooms, and mascarpone ($15). Housemade focaccia also becomes a sandwich with fresh sliced mortadella and caciocovallo cheese.

As if my Italian calibration chart hadnt already been wrecked enough by DiTondo, I had dessert.

Tiramisu ($7), layers of enriched mascarpone, espresso-soaked ladyfingers, liqueur and cocoa, is ubiquitous in local Italian-American restaurants.

At DiTondo, the ethereal lightness, balance of flavors and overall sense of freshness made me put down my spoon and take stock of my life. A guest who rated it top three lifetime dishes said that if this tiramisu had knees, and it got down and offered to marry me, I would get married again.

Heres the other DiTondo marvel: The prices are conspicuously low. Nothing on this menu  housemade pastas, fresh seafood, braised pork  has hit $17. In terms of best value snazzy lunch in Buffalo, DiTondo is the one to beat.

On any given weekday, DiTondo can show you that its not a mausoleum for culinary memories, but a greenhouse where new notions of Buffalo Italian cuisine can sprout every week.

DiTondo shares more than a name and an address with its progenitors  here is food from the heart, served with pride. Many of the dishes change week to week, but the care with which theyre made does not waver. Family tradition doesnt have to be cheesy.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

DiTondo, 370 Seneca St.

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday. Closed Saturday, Sunday.

Prices: $6-$16

Parking: lot two doors to east, at Seneca and South Cedar

Atmosphere: quietly convivial

Wheelchair accessible: Yes (side entrance)

Gluten-free: limited choices

Outdoor seating: Not in use

Send restaurant tips to agalarneau@buffnews.com and follow @BuffaloFood on Instagram and Twitter.

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Leftovers after the holiday weekend:

For all the justified criticism the Golden Globes have received in the last year, the awards handed out more than a week ago were pretty much on the money.

Many of the nations TV critics have long considered Globes a joke given undue credibility when NBC decided to carry them in prime time and they became an annual huge ratings hit.

When Ricky Gervais was the 2016 host, he even skewered the awards given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).

A 2021 Los Angeles Times investigation uncovered what a joke they were and led to NBC bouncing the show from its air and some celebrities giving back their awards.

The Times investigation alleged unethical behavior that included allegedly improper payments to HFPA members. The newspaper reported that about a third of its members were treated to two nights at a $1,400-a-night Paris hotel for a set visit to Netflixs Emily in Paris before the show starring Lily Collins surprisingly earned two nominations in 2021. More on Emily later.

That tidbit was consistent with the long-held critics view that voters were unduly influenced by freebies.

The HFPAs lack of diversity was also criticized after it was revealed that none of its 87 members was a person of color.

Having said all that, the award winners revealed last week on Twitter and online werent much different than shows celebrated recently by TV critics.

Apple TV+s Ted Lasso, HBOs Succession and Hacks were just three examples of shows embraced by American TV critics that won Golden Globes.

The actors honored all were worthy, including Jean Smart (Hacks), Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook (Succession), Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso), Michael Keaton (Hulus Dopesick), Kate Winslet (HBO's Mare of Easttown) and Will Smith (King Richard).

And Andrew Garfield was incredible playing the late Rent creator Jonathan Larson in Netflixs Tick, Tick Boom! and deserves every honor he gets this season.

Nicole Kidman was much better playing Lucille Ball in the re-creations of the I Love Lucy scenes than she was playing the Jamestown native in supposed real-life scenes in Amazons Being the Ricardos, but she is always an award show favorite so it isnt a shock she received one from the Globes.

Kenneth Branaghs autobiographical screenplay for the best movie I saw in a theater this year, Belfast, was very deserving. If you havent seen it, it is available to be streamed and I highly suggest you do before the Oscars.

Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose were worthy award winners playing Maria and Anita, respectively in the stunning Steven Spielberg remake of West Side Story.

Speaking of foreign jokes and Emily in Paris, somehow, I managed to get through the entire second season of the Netflix series from Darren Star (Sex and the City) that stars Collins, the daughter of rock star Phil Collins.

To say it is a piffle is to put it mildly.

The entire season of 10 episodes focused on the 20-something Emily feeling badly about behaving badly  having an affair with the handsome boyfriend of her best friend in Paris.

It was so high school  if a girl was able to have the greatest and most colorful fashion ensemble in high school history.

I cant believe I watched the whole thing. My girlfriends love of fashion may have had something to do with that.

We sort of hate watched it.

And we may get to hate it even more now that Netflix has announced Emily will be roaming Paris for not one but two more seasons.

Speaking of renewals, Apple TV+ has renewed the Reese Witherspoon-Jennifer Aniston series The Morning Show for a third season.

Are there two Grand Islands? You had to wonder after a report on the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt put Grand Island on a map about what may have been 100 miles away from where Buffalo was on a later map during its report on a national snowstorm. I suppose we could use a laugh.

I sometimes enjoy watching NFL pregame shows AFTER game ends to see how bad some takes are by so-called experts.

Heres what NBCs Rodney Harrison, a former Patriot, said before the Bills 47-17 domination of the New England Patriots Sunday night led by Josh Allens five touchdown passes: Coach (Bill) Belichick loves this type of weather because he knows it slows down the Bills passing game.

On the CBS pregame show, Phil Simms predicted the Bills-Pats game would be low scoring.

If you missed it on CBS Saturday Morning," you can go online to catch Western New York native Jeff Glors piece on the history of the chicken wing that included an interview with wing king Drew Cerza. It was a great piece, but I did wonder why Glor didnt mention Bar-Bill Tavern when he talked about popular wing places in Western New York.

Recommended on a snow day: If you have Amazon Prime, I highly recommend The Tender Bar, which is based on a memoir by a New York Times reporter and author. It is directed by George Clooney, who gets the best performance Ive seen from Ben Affleck in years as a compassionate uncle who runs a bar and gives his talented nephew some smart advice about life. It is free to Amazon Prime subscribers.

Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said today he will not run for governor despite strong hints at a candidacy over the past several months.

"I am not going to be running for governor of New York State, but I am going to devote every fiber of my being to fighting inequality in the State of New York," he said today in a Twitter video.

De Blasio, who completed his second term as mayor on Dec. 31, had been widely viewed as a potential candidate in this year's Democratic primary for governor following extensive comments on state affairs and launching a statewide campaign for educational initiatives. He has already established a political committee and plans a statewide tour this year to advance ideas for vastly expanded educational opportunities, financed by taxing the super wealthy.

"We proved we could do big things," he said in his Twitter video today. "There will be more news in the days ahead."

The former mayor's withdrawal means the race for the Democratic nomination has boiled down to incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is expected to report a significant campaign fund when reports are submitted to the state Board of Elections later today. Also competing are Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi of Nassau County, who told the New York Post he will report about $5.2 million in his campaign funds today, and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams.

Political observers will also be watching today and Wednesday for campaign finance filings submitted by Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin of Suffolk County, considered his party's leading contender, along with former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a former Trump administration official.

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ALBANY  Facing an election campaign this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday presented a state budget plan that spreads spending hikes for schools and health care programs, adds potentially billions for environmental and transportation infrastructure projects and offers property tax rebate checks to more than 2 million New Yorkers  timed for distribution around the fall general elections.

New Yorkers, this budgets for you," Hochul said in delivering her first state budget proposal since becoming governor in August.

While the state for years sought to control spending increases to 2 percent, the new Hochul plan seeks to spend $216.3 billion, up 3.5 percent from last years enacted budget, and drives increases to public schools and health care workers and their employers.

It all comes as the state is flush with cash, thanks to Covid-19 relief dollars flowing from Washington and higher-than-expected tax revenues and receipts from tax hikes enacted last year.

But it also came with a warning from Hochul, and her budget director, Robert Mujica, that as New York learned well during the first year of the pandemic, anything can happen in the future.

Hochul called her spending plan socially responsible and fiscally prudent.

Its cautious optimism," Mujica said of the plan, which includes a steady driving of more and more state money into reserve accounts.

Hochul created many winners in her financial plan for the fiscal year starting April 1  from middle-class homeowners to gambling companies to frontline health workers to farmers to small business owners.

Not in her plan, as expected, is any appropriation for a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills.

Those talks are ongoing," Mujica said of negotiations among the state, Erie County and the team. That means the real deadline for a stadium deal has to come before the end of March, when Hochul and state lawmakers will put down their pencils in secret talks and cut a final overall budget agreement that will include many new additions.

But spending in the budget includes:

 $1 billion for various health care initiatives, as well as $1.2 billion for bonuses for health care and other frontline workers  up to $3,000  whose ranks have been hit hard during the pandemic.

 Various plans for tax relief, including speeding up the full impact of a previously enacted middle income tax break program and $2.2 billion in property tax relief that Hochul said will benefit 2 million homeowners. For a homeowner making under $75,000 a year, it will mean about $1,050 in savings  to be given to them in the fall. But the amounts will vary, depending on variables that include property tax rates and a persons income.

 An infusion of state funding for road and bridge repairs, as well as a record increase in the states Environmental Protection Fund and a $4 billion environmental bond act to be considered by voters this fall.

 $350 million in direct pandemic relief payments for businesses and entities such as theaters and music venues and an overall pandemic response fund  to be worked out with legislators  totaling $2 billion.

On education matters, Hochul wants to increase state funding for nearly 700 local public school districts by 7.1%, or $2.1 billion, for a total of $31.2 billion.

The Board of Regents, the states education-setting policy panel, in December called on Hochul and lawmakers to pass a budget that would include a $2.1 billion total aid increase, including $1.5 billion for the main funding lines that pay for operational expenses, chiefly salaries and benefits. In a break with other governors, Hochul went even higher with that funding program, called Foundation Aid, proposing a $1.6 billion increase.

She said New York needs to do more to boost reserve funds to account for future events that can dent tax receipts and drive up spending for response efforts. She acknowledged the special federal bailout money will run dry in a couple of years, but said her budget plan will keep future state budgets balanced through the 2027 fiscal year.

She called her plan a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make thoughtful, purpose-driven investments in our state and in our people that will pay dividends for decades.

Hochul's presentation totaled just 16 minutes, a stark break from her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, who routinely spoke for more than an hour.

The Hochul plan will include more than $1.4 billion for subsidies for day care that she says will make 400,000 additional families eligible for the services, and the state will spend $75 million to help boost the salaries of workers in that field.

The state will invest $1.5 billion for the State University of New York and City University of New York in additional operating aid over the next five years, even as enrollment in the SUNY system has been dropping.

The budget proposes to make the Tuition Assistance Program available to part-time students, as well as return tuition aid benefits to incarcerated people taking college courses  a funding stream halted in 1995.

The spending plan comes as Hochul, who took office in August after Cuomo resigned amid mounting scandals, is running for a four-year term this year. One bow to that political reality: She is vowing to spend $1 billion this year to repair potholes around the state.

Gambling companies also are poised to be big winners. Hochul wants to speed up the awarding of three additional commercial casino licenses, and they likely will all go downstate with the biggest prize that gambling companies worldwide have been trying to get into: New York City.

State officials said Tuesday that mobile sports betting, which began earlier this month in the state, saw more than $150 million in wagers made during the first weekend. The state has, therefore, upped its tax receipt projections from that form of gambling to $518 million by 2027.

The first money flow from the states legalization of retail marijuana sales is also expected in the coming fiscal year. Hochuls budget anticipates $58 million in revenues, but $40 million of that is from licensing fees assessed on future distributors, growers and retailers. That means it could be more than a year before sales commence and the state starts seeing taxes flow from those sales.

Localities are also big winners, whether through straight state aid proposals for operating purposes, or an explosion of transportation funding or Hochuls plan to make permanent local county and city sales tax rates  at either their existing levels or 4 percent  which would end their need to lobby governors and lawmakers every two years to keep their tax rates intact.

Groups benefiting loudly applauded the governors budget plan. The National Federal of Independent Business, whose small business members are in line for tax breaks, offered quick praise, but noted that many businesses are being crippled by high unemployment insurance taxes in the state.

The Hochul plan was slammed by Republicans who want to challenge her in the general election. GOP lawmakers, too, joined in; Assemblyman Steve Hawley from Batavia said Hochuls budget exhibits no fiscal constraint nor the imagination needed to help reverse the decline of our state.

And Gerard Kasser, chairman of the state Conservative Party, said Hochuls budget is more than the combined sizes of Texas and Florida, and that 200 nations have smaller budgets than what she wants to spend.

The Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group, praised some Hochul plans, such as a multi-year focus on boosting rainy day accounts. But the state would better served by taking a number of other steps, like rolling back big tax hikes from last year and reliance on an eye-popping $5 billion in receipts in each of the next four years and that budget talks this year in Albany risk a feeding frenzy that could destabilize the states future finances," said Andrew Rein, the groups president.

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Pressed by the federal government to accept more Afghan evacuees, Buffalo's four immigrant and resettlement agencies say they will receive more than they originally agreed to.

The evacuees began arriving in late November with more on the way in the coming weeks and months.

The request from the federal government comes as the Afghan newcomers have become eligible for services and benefits that those who enter the U.S. as refugees receive.

The agencies have increased capacity to serve more Afghans because of the evacuees' access to those benefits, officials from the agencies say.

"Now that theres resources available, weve increased the numbers," said Molly S. Carr, CEO of Jewish Family Services, one of Buffalo's resettlement agencies.

Nearly 50,000 evacuees have received assistance from resettlement agencies across the country, including 1,636 who have resettled in New York State as of Dec. 7.

A total of 456 Afghan evacuees have arrived or are scheduled to arrive at Buffalo's resettlement agencies, according to Rep. Brian Higgins' office.

The figure is up from 350, estimated before the Afghans became eligible for the public services and benefits last September.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo will ultimately receive 76 evacuees; International Institute of Buffalo, 109; Journey's End Refugee Services, 134; and Jewish Family Services, 137.

Tens of thousands of Afghans arrived in the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and the U.S. military ended its 20-year campaign in the war-torn country. The U.S. airlifted Afghan civilians, particularly interpreters and U.S. embassy employees among others, whose work for the U.S. jeopardized their safety.

Because the Afghans fled their country so quickly, they did not immediately qualify for asylum, refugee status or special immigrant visas, which follow a lengthy application process. That meant they were initially not eligible for the kind of public benefits and services that refugees normally get.

But that changed when Congress passed a spending bill last September making the Afghans eligible for federal mainstream benefits, such as cash assistance through the Supplemental Security Income or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, health insurance through Medicaid and food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Afghans, however, do not have refugee status or a clear path to permanent residency or citizenship, said Karen Andolina Scott, an immigration lawyer who serves as executive director of Journey's End Refugee Services.

The federal government has accepted more than 76,000 Afghans through Operation Allies Welcome, including thousands of Afghans who are at overseas transit locations for processing to come to the United States, said a State Department spokesperson.

The Afghans, designated as "humanitarian parolees" by the federal government, stay at U.S. military bases  where they are temporarily housed  until they are resettled in communities across the country.

Office of New Americans plays role

Buffalo's Office of New Americans, created in 2015 to serve the citys growing refugee and immigrant communities and work with resettlement agencies, has been without a director since last month, when Jessica M. Lazarin left the position to join a law firm. Mayor Byron W. Brown said he expects to announce a new director in the coming weeks.

"Our new American community continues to grow, and the need to assist that community in accessing city services and other services is as vital as ever," he said.

The office is not a major part of the resettlement agencies' work, but plays a part, agency leaders say.

If youre looking at refugee resettlement and refugee integration, its really critical that our social institutions like our local government have connection points and access for those populations to feel comfortable at utilizing those social institutions, Carr said. And I really think the Office of New Americans in the city has an important role to play there.

The office helps new residents settle here and acts as liaison to immigrant groups.

Since Lazarin left, the office has had only one other employee working.

"For me, refugee resettlement is something that is vital," said Scott of Journey's End Refugee Services. "Its something thats really important to Buffalo and to Western New York, and I think that having an Office of New Americans as part of city government is certainly important if the city does value its refugee population."

The International Institute of Buffalo has worked with the office to identify needs and address services.

We have since its inception, said Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, the institute's interim executive director. "Its a great office to have here because its an office that we can call  when we have questions, or we have needs.

"It would be great for the office to have another strong leader in it," she added.

Catholic Charities regularly meets with the office, said Maria Eliza "Apple" Domingo, director of the organization's Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program.

"We have this ongoing partnership where every quarter we meet, and we talk about the needs of everybody, including the needs of the ONA if they have any. Weve been doing this for a while... so that they are advised of our capacity, who we're bringing in, what the problems are, and we anticipate the needs, Domingo said. "We talk about the needs and different ways we can assist."

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Erin Parisi, a Clarence native seeking to become the first transgender person to climb the highest mountains on all seven continents, has raised her total to five.

On Dec. 26, Parisi made it to the peak of Vinson Massif, the 16,050-foot mountain that is the highest point in Antarctica.

For Parisi, who was injured last spring while trying to climb Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America, the Vinson conquest was a great Christmas present.

"We climbed and descended it in about six days, which included two weather days," Parisi told The Buffalo News by email. "Christmas was an absolute nightmare with wind  we barely left our tents. 80% success rate in our team  one climber dropped due to what sounds like a possible stomach bug."

Besides Denali, the 20,310-foot peak in Alaska, Parisi still needs to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 29,031 feet, to add Asia to her list of seven summits.

Parisi, 44, who now lives in Denver, scaled the highest peaks in Europe, Africa and Australia in 2018. She added South America to her list in 2019.

After a two-year hiatus caused by fundraising issues and the Covid-19 pandemic, Parisi returned to her Seven Summits quest last May  but her ascent of Denali didn't go well.

"My right hand sustained an injury on Denali that resulted in complete tears in the tendons on my thumb and forefinger," she said in an email.

"I proceeded to climb to 16,500 feet after the injury, and then stopped due to concerns advancing on the more technical sections of the climb, and the weather elements we were managing," Parisi wrote.

"My team was able to advance to 17,000 feet before spending five days at high camp and being turned around due to wind. I dont use the word 'give up,' because I still I havent! But I didnt complete the summit that time around. Ill return back Spring 2022."

She will have surgery on her injured hand this month, Parisi said. "Then back to training," she added.

Parisi was born Aron Parisi and graduated from Clarence High School and the University at Buffalo.

She started a group called TranSending to finance her Seven Summits quest. The group has a GoFundMe page and a goal of $33,500 to pay Parisi's remaining costs for expeditions to Denali and Everest.

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By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

The Washington Post has published an article about impressions of a traveler journalist James Patterson, who is based in Portugal, following his visit to Khinalig village.

In his article, James Patterson speaks about picturesque Guba region.

"Northern Azerbaijan is a part of the world defined by isolation. The Caucasus Mountains are high and terrible, and they are full of caves for gnomic tribes and nomads to hide in. It was an unconquerable land and remains divided into pockets of separate and singular cultures. In an area roughly the size of West Virginia, there are some two dozen languages, most of them unique to villages that spent centuries isolated from the rest of the country and each other. Not only Khinalig but also the settlements of Buduq, Qriz, Cek, Tsakhur and Nij, to name but a few, speak their own language. The world, however, always finds a way in," the author wrote.

The author of the article focuses on the developed transport and tourism infrastructure of these places.

"Now UNESCO World Heritage status looms for Khinalig, and the Azerbaijani tourism sector is rapidly promoting it as one of the countrys many hidden gems. Some worry that the creeping modernism threatens the historical essence of these villages, that they were better off isolated at the end of an impassable road," he wrote.

Notably, Khinalig has a population of about 2,000, who speak the Khinalig language. This language is classified as "severely endangered" by UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.

In 2020, the Khinalig State Cultural-Architectural and Ethnographic Reserve was included in UNESCO's Tentative List.

The document was submitted to the organization by Azerbaijan's National Commission for UNESCO.

According to the rules set by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, State Parties should submit their Tentative Lists, properties which they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List.

They prepare their Tentative Lists with the participation of a wide variety of stakeholders, including site managers, local and regional governments, local communities, NGOs and other interested parties and partners.

In 2020, Khinalig was included in the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites called "medieval mountain village".
What does it mean that a California biotech company is taking over the lease of a state-funded plant in Dunkirk built for Athenex? The announcement ensures that the $200 million manufacturing plant will be put to good use, bringing hundreds of new jobs to the region and a boost to Western New Yorks drug development and manufacturing profile.

Athenex, a Buffalo-based biopharmaceutical firm, hit some rough patches due to a series of regulatory setbacks. Last week, Los Angeles billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong announced that his company, ImmunityBio Inc., will take over the lease agreements. Soon-Shiong owns the Los Angeles Times and is considered the richest man in that city. He told The News that the Dunkirk plant would become ImmunityBios largest manufacturing facility. Also, the company plans to contract with Athenex to share some of the manufacturing space.

Soon-Shiong sees much value in the Dunkirk property.

We have great ambitions to make this plant our star plant, he told The News last week. ImmunityBio wants to build a campus around the plant and actually bring New York as our biological manufacturing hub.

The Dunkirk plant seems assured of a more rewarding outcome than the Tesla plant at RiverBend, also built with state money from the Buffalo Billion initiative. Teslas solar roof business has stalled and the company has not yet fulfilled the promise of the facility on which the state spent $950 million. Tesla was on target to meet its hiring quotas at the end of 2021, but has not become the engine of economic growth and innovation that was envisioned when the state built the plant for the previous owner, Solar City.

ImmunityBio expects to close the Dunkirk deal in the first quarter of this year.

The company will assume the investment and hiring obligations of Athenexs deal with the state. It will have to hire 450 employees in Dunkirk within five years, including at least 300 within the first 30 months of the plant going online.

The deal allows Athenex to shed the financial burdens of its leasehold agreements and hit the reset button, using proceeds of the deal to pay down debt.

ImmunityBio is working on a new Covid vaccine and it develops cancer treatment products. With those manufacturing priorities and ambitions of turning the Dunkirk plant into a manufacturing stronghold, there is no reason to think that it wont meet its hiring requirement and possibly exceed it.

ImmunityBios deal looks like a winner for Athenex, Dunkirk and Western New York.

  

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The University at Buffalo is the largest of the state public four-year colleges and universities, boasting top faculty and increasing enrollment. Now, its position as a top-tier academic institution is being bolstered by Gov. Kathy Hochuls plans to grow and revitalize the SUNY system by making UB one of two flagships, along with Stony Brook on Long Island.

The governor has also pledged $102 million from the state for a new academic building at UBs School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

As part of that, Hochul has challenged/directed each of the universities to raise their sights on research funding, assigning them the goal of bringing in $1 billion each year by 2030. Doing so, she said, would place them among the top 20 public universities in the country for research expenditures.

Hochul calls for UB to double its research funding The largest of the states public four-year colleges and universities, UB will be one of two flagships of the SUNY system. Stony Brook University on Long Island will be the other.

UB President Satish K. Tripathi said the designation underscores the reputations of the two institutions as premier public research universities, demonstrating their steadfast commitment to bring the benefits of our research, clinical care and education to the region, state and world.

SUNY Distinguished Professor Venu Govindaraju is vice president for Research & Economic Development, responsible for managing UBs research enterprise, university/industry relations and economic development. He is appropriately enthusiastic about the governors plans and confident that the university will meet what seems a lofty goal of more than doubling its current research funding.

UB has been preparing for this day for years. Undergraduate enrollment in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has increased 60% over the past decade, and graduate enrollment has more than doubled. The university is not only the largest of SUNYs two dozen four-year colleges and universities, but one of only seven that has expanded enrollment over the past decade. Meanwhile, SUNY as a whole has seen its enrollment decline, from 468,000 a decade ago to 376,000 this school year. UBs success and recognition as a flagship university should raise the profile for the entire system.

As Govindaraju said, flagship status declares a level of comprehensiveness that will be far reaching. The designation is significant in New York State which has so many private schools. Faculty recruits are searching for flagship campuses.

But how does UB get from the $414 million it acquired in research funding in 2019  according to the most recent ranking by National Science Foundation  to $1 billion?

Bill that would create tech hubs could help WNY in other ways The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act is Charles E. Schumer's first major bipartisan victory as Senate majority leader.

One way is by continuing to invest in key areas: climate change, materials and technology are all primed for growth. Moreover, UB is well positioned to compete for grants on a national level. There are proposals in Congress to invest billions of dollars into research and development, as Govindaraju said, such as the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. Faculty submit more than 2,000 proposals each year and win many grants, including an award from NIH for $21.7 million for clinical and translational science and $22.5 million from the National Science Foundation.

Many opportunities are available that mesh with Hochuls push for flagship designation and new research funding. Among them is the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, formerly known as the Endless Frontier Act, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. The new law will create 18 regional tech hubs around the country, with the Buffalo-Rochester area well in the running.

Universities across the nation are becoming engines for workforce development and economic growth. New research funding would have a direct impact, Govindaraju said, attracting more students and driving innovations that will be taken to market.

At the end of the day, this flagship designation and all that it encompasses will improve lives through the education they provide, the opportunities they create and the growth they augur for years to come.

  

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Each year Americans celebrate the life of the US civil rights movements best-known spokesman and leader on Martin Luther King Jr Day.

The movement pioneered by Martin Luther King pressured the American government to end legalised segregation in the United States.

Who was Martin Luther King Jr and why is he so important?

Born in 1929, Martin Luther King Jr was a Baptist minister best known for using the tactics of nonviolence and civil disobedience to combat racial inequality.

Mr King led the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person.

He also helped organise the March on Washington in 1963, where he delivered the I Have a Dream speech he is best known for.

Watch: Martin Luther Kings iconic I Have a Dream speech

In 1964, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his civil rights work.

Towards the end of his life, he expanded his campaigning to include opposition to poverty and the Vietnam War.

Mr King was assassinated by James Earl Ray on 4 April, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while he was planning a national occupation of Washington DC.

News of his death was followed by riots in many US cities.

Who commemorates Martin Luther Kings memory and since when?

Martin Luther King Jr Day is a paid federal holiday in the US, meaning civil servants and many school pupils are given the day off.

The day is observed on the third Monday of January each year, the day closest to his birthday on 15 January. This year, it will be held on Monday 17 January.

In 1968, Congress was presented with a petition signed by more than three million people which called for the Mr Kings birthday to be commemorated.

However, Republicans initially resisted the move, arguing Mr King had ties to communism and an inappropriate sexual past they felt the government should not honour.

But in 1983, Ronald Reagan, the US President, signed Martin Luther King Jr Day into law as an official public holiday and it was first observed three years later.

Story continues

Outside of the US, it is observed in Hiroshima, Japan, with a special banquet at the mayors office, and Toronto, Canada, which officially recognised Martin Luther King Jr Day, though not as a paid holiday.

How is Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrated?

Many Americans use the day as an opportunity to learn about Mr Kings life and achievements.

Others spend the day volunteering for a cause they think Mr King would have supported.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris began commemorations early this year by touring Atlantas historic Ebenezer Baptist Church - where Mr King was a pastor until his death - and laying a wreath at the crypt where he and his wife are buried on 11 January.

The pair were joined by two of the civil rights icons children, Dr Bernice King and Martin Luther King III, and met privately with the family beforehand.

After the meeting, Mr Biden and Ms Harris gave remarks about the importance of passing new federal voting rights legislation.

The family is slated to lead a march demanding action on that legislation on the holiday itself.

Mr King III, chairman of the Drum Major Institute, a nonprofit founded by his father, told the Washington Post: MLK Day has always been a day on, not off. When we call for no celebration without legislation, were not urging Americans not to honor this day  were asking people to honor Dr. King through action to protect the right to vote.

Were directly calling on Congress not to pay lip service to my fathers ideals without doing the very thing that would protect his legacy: pass voting rights legislation.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The country's Transportation chief signed a contract worth 142 billion with a Chinese joint venture for the first phase of the PNR (Philippine National Railways) Bicol.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) described it as the agency's "single largest rail contract."

In a statement, the DOTr said its chief Arthur Tugade inked on Monday the Design-Build contract with the Joint Venture of China Railway Group Ltd., China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group Co., Ltd., and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. (CREC JV).

The deal would entail the design, construction, and electromechanical works for the first 380 kilometers of the project  from Banlic, Calamba to Daraga, Albay.

The DOTr added that the agreement involves the construction of 23 stations, 230 bridges, 10 passenger tunnels, and a 70-hectare depot in San Pablo, Laguna.

The PNR Bicol is a 565-kilometer railway, which is envisioned to connect Metro Manila to the southern Luzon provinces of Sorsogon and Batangas.

Once up and running, travel time between the capital region and Bicol would be reduced to just four hours from the current 12.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Local band Ben&Ben is set to perform their new song "Comets" in Dubai for the first time.

In a social media post, the band announced they will be heading to the United Arab Emirates to perform in front of a live audience at the Jubilee Stage for the Expo 2020 Dubai on Jan. 27, 9 p.m. Dubai time (Jan. 28, 1 a.m. Philippine time). The event will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Ben&Ben also said they are hoping to hold a fan meetup in Dubai.

After being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Expo 2020 Dubai finally pushed through, even allowing people to physically attend the event.

South Korean artists like PSY and Stray Kids also had their live performances at the expo that attracted a large audience.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  Infectious disease experts on Tuesday urged Filipinos to avail of COVID-19 booster shots as soon as they are eligible as the additional dose help prevent severe disease.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of the government's vaccine expert panel, said most of the critically ill patients with COVID-19 are unvaccinated, and there are COVID-19 patients who are fully vaccinated but have not received a booster shot.

Doon talaga makikita mo yung disparity between getting the severe infection and getting the mild infection, he added.

[Translation: This is where you can see the disparity between getting the severe infection and getting the mild infection.]

Solante emphasized the importance of getting a booster shot amid the COVID-19 surge driven by the more transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

He reported that protection against COVID-19 can go up to as high as 93 percent with a third dose of vaccine, while effectiveness against hospitalization can go up to as high as 96 percent.

He also said the vaccine experts panel recommended to shorten the interval between the primary doses and booster shot from six months to three months amid the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

We noticed that all data evaluated by the vaccine expert panel, the third dose of a vaccine, whether heterologous or homologous, added protection from Omicron variant, he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  Biocare Lifesciences Inc., importer of anti-COVID-19 pill Bexovid, is expecting to bring in 20,000 to 30,000 boxes of the drug to the Philippines next month.

It will be priced at least 50% to 60% cheaper than its cost in other countries, Biocare Lifesciences Managing Director Dileep Tiwari told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

Last week, the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration granted a compassionate special permit for Bexovid - the first generic version of Pfizer's Paxlovid.

The drug may be used for COVID-19 patients aged 12 and above with mild to moderate symptoms.

Tiwari said Bexovid is especially recommended for outpatients, and will be made available only in primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals.

A patient can just take a prescription from a doctor and buy it from the facility where it is available, he added.

Meanwhile, Monaliza Salian - president of MedEthix Inc., the company that imports another anti-COVID-19 pill molnupiravir - said they have so far brought in 4,000 treatment courses since November last year.

When it comes to local production, both officials expressed willingness to do so, but Tiwari said this may take 3 or 4 months for their part.

The FDA on Monday said Lloyd Laboratories Inc. has applied for emergency use authorization (EUA) for the local production of molnupiravir.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The Philippine government hopes to fully inoculate all adults against COVID-19 before the national polls takes place in May, Malacanang said Tuesday.

As far as the administration of President Duterte is concerned, ang target natin before election day, kailangan lahat ng ating adult population ay fully vaccinated na, said acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles in a virtual briefing.

[Translation: As far as the administration of President Duterte is concerned, our target is our entire adult population must be fully vaccinated before election day.]

Nograles also noted that over 54 million Filipinos have already completed their COVID-19 inoculation, adding this is already 70% of the countrys target population.

By the end of the first quarter alone, the Cabinet Secretary assessed that full vaccinations must already have reached 77 million.

While this scenario should provide voters additional protection against the disease, Nograles stressed the public must still observe minimum public health standards.

The Commission on Elections is in charge of ensuring its implementation in voting precincts, he further said.

The Philippines will be conducting its national and local elections on May 9.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Azerbaijan will launch regular intercity bus trips in the Baku-Shusha, Baku-Aghdam, Ahmadbayli-Shusha, Fuzuli International Airport-Shusha, Barda-Aghdam directions starting from January 24.

Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummatov made the remarks at a press conference in Baku.

He noted that the Ahmadbayli-Shusha trips will be organized four times a week while the trips to other destinations twice a week.

The head of the Land Transport Agency under the Digital Development and Transport Ministry, Anar Rzayev, added that citizens will be allowed to visit Azerbaijan's liberated regions only once a year.

Rzayev stressed that passengers will be provided with personal accident insurance.

Certain privileged people will have the opportunity to get free tickets to these destinations once a year. This category includes heroes of the Great Patriotic War, national heroes, members of the families of martyrs and veterans of the Karabakh war, he said.

The cost of tickets for trips on the Baku-Shusha-Baku route will be 10.4 AZN ($6.1), Baku-Aghdam-Baku - 9.4 AZN ($5.5), Ahmadbayli-Shusha - 7 AZN ($4.1), Fuzuli International Airport-Shusha  6 AZN ($3.5). The prices are shown for one-way trips.

The buses will depart from Baku at 0630 (GMT +4), and from Ahmadbayli and Barda at 1000.

The tickets will be sold online via the website yolumuzqarabaga.az. To ensure safety, the passengers will be insured, and the movement of buses will be monitored by a GPS system. The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency will ensure security along the bus routes.

At the first stage, only Azerbaijani citizens will be able to visit the Karabakh region, Hummatov said.

Foreign citizens may be allowed to visit the liberated territories in the future. As for our citizens, the priority will be given to those who were fighting during the first and second Karabakh wars, their family members, as well as members of martyr families, citizens older 60, the deputy minister added.

Police cars will accompany passenger buses, which will run through the Azerbaijani lands, liberated from Armenian occupation, Eldaniz Mammadov, deputy head of the Interior Ministry's main public security department, said.

A police officer will be also in each shuttle bus. Throughout the entire trip, passengers will see a video instruction on safety in the liberated territories, he said.

Mammadov added that the citizens without COVID-19 passports will be unable to buy the tickets for the bus trips.

The activity of the Coordination Headquarters, created under the presidential order on November 24, 2020, to resolve issues in Azerbaijan's liberated territories continues in line with the strategic directions and tasks set by President Aliyev to rebuild those lands, Hummatov underlined.

The deputy minister added that one of the main points of purposeful activity to rehabilitate the liberated territories is to ensure the rapid and safe return of Azerbaijani citizens to their native lands.

The issue of launching regular bus trips becomes relevant in connection with the process of organizing the regular trips for people from different social groups to the territories liberated from occupation, huge restoration work and a big number of employees who are sent there on the basis of a corresponding permit, Hummatov added.

He noted that for this purpose, at the first stage, a decision was made to launch regular bus trips to the most popular destinations, taking into account the safety of traffic and passengers.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  The World Health Organization has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is nowhere near over amid the threat of the more infectious Omicron variant and the possible emergence of other variants.

In a recent media briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said infections in some countries may have already peaked, but no country is out of the woods yet as many remain unvaccinated which puts them at higher risk.

Vaccines may be less effective at preventing infection and transmission of Omicron than they were for previous variants, but they still are exceptionally good at preventing serious disease and death, Tedros said, adding that this is also key in preventing hospitals from getting overwhelmed.

Ghebreyesus also noted that Omicron may be less severebut the narrative that it is mild disease is misleading, hurts the overall response and costs more lives.

Make no mistake, Omicron is causing hospitalizations and deaths, and even the less severe cases are inundating health facilities, he added.

In the Philippines, the number of daily COVID-19 cases has reached over 20,000 for days now, even breaching the 39,000-mark on Jan. 15.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is a community transmission of the Omicron variant is in Metro Manila, where most of the infections are being reported.

In a recent Cabinet meeting, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III noted that 90% of samples were positive for the Omicron variant based on the latest genome sequencing. Despite this, the spread of COVID-19 in the country is slowing down as infections start to plateau, he added.
(CNN)  An underwater volcano near Tonga has erupted for the third time in four days, potentially threatening the ability of surveillance flights to assess the damage to the Pacific island nation following Saturday's massive eruption and tsunami.

Australia's meteorological service said a "large eruption" took place at the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano on Monday, but no tsunami warnings have been issued.

Saturday's eruption was likely the biggest recorded anywhere on the planet in more than 30 years, according to experts. Dramatic images from space captured the eruption in real time, as a huge plume of ash, gas and steam was spewed up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) into the atmosphere -- and tsunami waves were sent crashing across the Pacific

On social media, footage showed people fleeing as waves inundated Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa, and the afternoon sky turned pitch black due to the heavy ash cloud. Tsunami waves were also recorded thousands of miles away along the United States' West Coast, in Peru, New Zealand and Japan. In Peru, at least two people died after being swept up by high waves.

No mass casualties have yet been reported, but aid organizations are concerned about contaminated air and access to clean water for people in Tonga's outlying islands.

With communications down, Australia and New Zealand sent flights to survey the damage.

Here's what we know about the eruption and fallout.

Where is Tonga's Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano?

Tonga is a Polynesian country of more than 170 South Pacific islands and home to about 100,000 people. It's a remote archipelago that lies about 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of Fiji and 2,380 kilometers (1,500 miles) from New Zealand.

The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of Tonga's Fonuafo'ou island, sits underwater between two small islands at about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) high from the sea floor, with about 100 meters (328 feet) visible above sea level.

Researchers said it has erupted regularly over the past few decades.

In 2009, an eruption sent plumes of steam and ash into the air and formed new land above the water, and an eruption in January 2015 created a new island about 2 kilometers wide -- effectively joining up Hunga-Tonga and Hunga-Ha'apai islands.

The most recent eruption began in December 2021, with gas, steam, and ash plumes rising about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) into the air. The volcano erupted again on January 14 and a massive eruption on January 15 sent shockwaves around the world and triggered tsunami waves across the Pacific.

Where did the tsunami hit?

The eruption caused a tsunami on Tonga's largest island, Tongatapu, with waves recorded at 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) near Nuku'alofa city flowing onto coastal roads and flooding properties on Saturday.

Tsunami warnings went into effect across Pacific Island nations including Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu. Footage from the ground in Fiji shows people fleeing to higher ground in the capital, Suva, as large waves hit the coast.

Tsunami warnings and advisories were also issued from parts of New Zealand, Japan and Peru, to the United States and Canada's British Columbia.

In Japan, the northeastern prefecture of Iwate saw waves as high as 2.7 meters (9 feet) and multiple smaller tsunamis were reported in numerous other locations, according to public broadcaster NHK. By Sunday afternoon, all tsunami advisories had been lifted in Japan.

The eruption also sent waves to the US West Coast, with some exceeding 3 and 4 feet in height, according to the National Weather Service office in San Diego. Tsunami waves were felt in California, Alaska and Hawaii.

What is happening with the ash cloud?

A giant volcanic ash cloud blanketed Tonga over the weekend, turning the afternoon sky dark and coating Nuku'alofa in a thick foam of volcanic dust on Saturday.

Save the Children said drinking water supplies could be contaminated by the ash and smoke and the immediate concern in Tonga is for air and water safety.

The ash cloud was drifting westwards and was visible over Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia on Sunday. By Monday it had reached Australia's Queensland, according to the state's meteorological service.

"If you noticed a particularly stunning sunrise, it was the sunlight being scattered by #Volcanic ash from the eruption over in #Tonga," Queensland's Bureau of Meteorology said on Twitter.

The ash prevented an Australian reconnaissance flight from departing to assess the damage in the early hours of January 17, though the flight did take off later that morning.

Several flights from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji to Tonga were postponed due to the ash cloud.

Early data suggests the volcanic eruption was the biggest since the 1991 blast at Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, New Zealand-based volcanologist Shane Cronin told Radio New Zealand.

"This is an eruption best witnessed from space," Cronin said, according to Reuters.

"The large and explosive lateral spread of the eruption suggests that it was probably the biggest one since about the 1991 eruption of Pinatubo," Cronin said.

What is the scale of devastation?

There have been no reports so far of mass casualties in Tonga and the extent of the damage remains unknown as communications -- particularly on the outlying islands -- have not yet been reestablished.

Tonga "needs immediate assistance to provide its citizens with fresh drinking water and food," the country's Speaker of the House Lord Fakafanua said in a statement posted to social media.

He said "many areas" had been affected by "substantial volcanic ashfall" but "the full extent of the harm to lives and property is currently unknown."

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on January 16 that tsunami waves had a "significant impact" on Nuku'alofa, with boats and large boulders washed ashore. "Shops along the coast have been damaged and a significant cleanup will be needed," she said.

The main undersea communications cable has also been impacted, likely due to loss of power.

Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, said there was "significant property damage" in Tonga, including to roads and houses. He said there is still "very limited, if any" information coming from the outer islands.

New Zealand's High Commission in Nuku'alofa echoed this, saying in a statement Monday that "significant" damage has been reported along the western coast of Tongatapu.

A family-owned beach resort located on Tongatapu also said the business had been destroyed. "It's with sadness to say that our beautiful home Ha'atafu beach resort has been completely wiped out. The whole western coastline has been completely destroyed along with Kanukupolu village," the Ha'atafu Beach Resort posted on Facebook on Monday.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said its teams are on the ground and have enough supplies in the country to support 1,200 households.

"From what little updates we have, the scale of the devastation could be immense, especially for outer lying islands," said Katie Greenwood, IFRC's Pacific Head of Delegation, according to Reuters.

New Zealand's Defense Force dispatched an Orion aircraft for Tonga on a surveillance mission to assess the damage. Ardern said the country has committed an initial $340,000 in relief supplies, technical support, and supporting local responses.

Australia said it is preparing for additional support, with a plane loaded with humanitarian supplies such as water and sanitation kits, ready to deliver to Tonga once conditions allow.

China and the self-ruled island of Taiwan said in separate statements they are willing to provide assistance at Tonga's request.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Tonga remains cut off after a massive eruption and tsunami. Here's what we know"
Editor's note: A version of this story appeared in CNN's Meanwhile in China newsletter, a three-times-a-week update exploring what you need to know about the country's rise and how it impacts the world. Sign up here.

(CNN)  China's birth rate plummeted for a fifth consecutive year to hit a new record low in 2021, despite government efforts to encourage couples to have more children in the face of a looming demographic crisis.

The world's most populous country recorded 10.62 million births last year, or only 7.5 births per 1,000 people, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics  marking the lowest level since the founding of Communist China in 1949.

The number of births was just enough to outnumber deaths, with the population growing by 480,000 to 1.4126 billion. The natural growth rate fell to 0.034%, the lowest since China's great famine from 1959 to 1961, which killed tens of millions of people and led to a population decline.

New births in 2021 dropped 11.6% from 12.02 million in 2020  a gentler decline than the 18% plunge that year, from 14.65 million in 2019. Chinese demographers have warned that if the downward trend continues, China's population could stark shrinking soon.

Ning Jizhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, told state media Monday the decline in births stemmed from a combination of factors, from "a decrease in the number of women of childbearing age, a continued decline in fertility, changes in attitudes toward childbearing and delays of marriage by young people," including due to the pandemic.

The plunging birth rate comes as the Chinese government ramps up efforts to encourage families to have more children, after realizing its decades-long one-child policy had contributed to a rapidly aging population and shrinking workforce that could severely distress the country's economic and social stability.

To arrest the falling birth rate, the Chinese government announced in 2015 that it would allow married couples to have two children. But after a brief uptick in 2016, the national birth rate has been falling year on year, prompting authorities last year to further loosen the policy to three children.

Ning, the Chinese statistics official, said in 2021, 43% of the children born were the second child in a family. He said the three-child policy is expected to gradually add births, and that "China's total population will remain above 1.4 billion for a period of time to come."

For decades, local governments forced millions of women to abort pregnancies deemed illegal by the state under the one-child policy. Now, they are churning out a flurry of propaganda slogans and policies to encourage more births. The common incentives include cash handouts, real estate subsidies and extension of maternity leave.

Last year, more than 20 provincial or regional governments amended their family planning laws, including extending maternity leave for women. For example, eastern Zhejiang province offers 188 days of maternity leave for the third child; and in northern Shaanxi province, women can enjoy 350 days paid leave for having a third child, according to state media reports.

But the policies have failed to convince many women, who worry they'll be further disadvantaged as companies seek to avoid the extra financial burden.

The high cost of raising children is also deterring parents from having more of them, especially among the country's growing middle class.

China's high property prices and rising education costs, especially in big cities, have frequently been cited in surveys as the top factors preventing couples from having more children.

Both sectors have been thrust into the spotlight this year, with the debt crisis surrounding property giant Evergrande and the Chinese government's sweeping crackdown on the private tutoring industry.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "China's birth rate drops for a fifth straight year to record low."
(CNN)  "Change is going to come. No question."

"We are serious about taking action."

"Here's my message for Mark Zuckerberg: Your time of invading our privacy, promoting toxic content, and preying on children and teens is over. Congress will be taking action."

Facebook, now known as Meta, has faced scrutiny on Capitol Hill for years, with executives  including Zuckerberg  repeatedly grilled in Congressional hearings. But if these and other comments from lawmakers during hearings in recent months are any indication, 2022 could shape up to be a make-or-break year in the long-running effort to regulate Facebook.

Congress is currently considering around a dozen proposed bills targeting Big Tech, some of which could force Meta to change how it handles algorithmic recommendations and collecting user data, as well as its ability to make acquisitions. A bipartisan group of 10 state attorneys general launched an investigation late last year into Meta, focused on the potential harms of its Instagram platform on young users.

And last week, a federal judge said the Federal Trade Commission could move forward with a lawsuit seeking to break up Meta, after the company had argued the complaint should be dismissed. (The case could drag on for years.) The FTC and several state attorneys general are also reportedly investigating Meta's Oculus virtual reality unit over antitrust concerns, according to a Bloomberg report Friday citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Some industry watchers have pointed to recently appointed federal officials such as FTC Chair Lina Khan, a vocal tech industry critic, and the sharper focus of lawmakers as cause for optimism that something may happen on the regulatory front.

"You're seeing a lot less of the politicized commentary and a lot more focus and coordination on these issues, the underlying technology behind them and the business model," said Katie Paul, director at the tech advocacy group Tech Transparency Project. "It's clear that a lot of these members of Congress have done their homework and they understand what they're looking at."

Still, after years of talk and glimmers of progress, it remains unclear if or when US lawmakers and regulators might take successful action  as their EU and UK counterparts have  that would limit Meta's power, as well as that of Big Tech more broadly. And the window of opportunity may be limited as preparations for the US midterm elections could divert attention from advancing new legislation.

Recent revelations from former Facebook employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen and the hundreds of internal documents she leaked have galvanized bipartisan support for new legislation related to protecting children online. But the likelihood of success for the many other Meta-related proposals is murkier, and not just because of the company's immense lobbying power.

Despite their agreement that something should be done to address Big Tech's dominance - and to crack down on Meta in particular  Democrats and Republicans are divided on what the core problem really is. Republicans accuse Facebook of anti-conservative bias, despite a lack of evidence, while Democrats are concerned that the company doesn't do enough to protect against hate speech, misinformation and other problematic content.

The stakes for action, or inaction, are only growing. The "Facebook Papers" revealed a wide range of potential real-world harms and consequences from Meta's platforms. Yet, lawmakers are largely still playing catch up in understanding and regulating the company's older platforms, even as Meta pushes to transition into a "metaverse company" and perhaps shape a whole new generation of user experiences.

"Congress must seize this historic moment  a pivotal turning point for reining in Big Tech," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, told CNN Business. "Having seen Big Tech's harms and abuses, in our hearings and their own lives, Americans are ready for action  and results."

Here are a few of the approaches lawmakers could take.

Section 230

One of the first places lawmakers and experts often look when considering new rules for tech companies like Meta is a piece of federal legislation called Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

The 25-year-old law prevents tech companies from being held liable for the content that users post on their platforms. For years, big tech companies have leaned on the law to avoid being held responsible for some of the most controversial content on their platforms, using it to dismiss lawsuits over messages, videos and other content created by users.

Momentum has grown on Capitol Hill around the idea of scrapping or updating Section 230, which could expose tech platforms to more lawsuits over hate speech and misinformation. Proposed changes include making platforms liable for hosting child abuse content. President Biden has also suggested platforms should be held responsible for hosting misinformation related to vaccines. (Social media companies and industry organizations have lobbied hard against changes to Section 230.)

But there's one big hurdle to this approach, experts say: the First Amendment. Even if lawmakers got rid of Section 230 and, for example, Meta faced lawsuits over misinformation on its platforms, that speech is protected by the First Amendment. That means the company would probably still win out in the end, according to Jeff Kosseff, cybersecurity law professor at the US Naval Academy and author of a book about Section 230 called "The Twenty-Six Words that Created the Internet."

"Where Section 230 really makes a difference is in things like defamation lawsuits," Kosseff said. "But that's not really what's driving the debate around Facebook and other social media sites  it's more of this lawful but awful types of content."

Kosseff also raised the concern that trying to hold tech platforms responsible for certain types of speech  such as health misinformation  could give the government significant leeway in determining what content falls into those categories.

"There have been some countries that have passed fake news laws, and they've misused them just as you would expect that you would," he said.

Algorithms

Haugen, meanwhile, has encouraged reforming Section 230 to hold platforms accountable for how their algorithms promote content. In that scenario, Meta and other tech companies still would not be responsible for user-generated content, but could be held liable for the way their algorithms promote and cause that content to go viral.

Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House in November would take a slightly different tack by forcing large tech companies to allow users to access a version of their platforms where what they see isn't shaped by algorithms at all.

Perhaps anticipating such a law, Meta-owned Instagram has said it will bring back the option for users to access a reverse chronological version of their feed (one not manipulated by its algorithm) later this year. Facebook already offers this option but it can be frustrating to use  rather than being an option in settings, where users might expect, it's toggled using a button in a long menu on the left side of the NewsFeed screen, and it resets every time you close the site.

Privacy

Lawmakers have also used recent hearings about Meta to rail for updated privacy laws.

"We have not done anything to update our privacy laws in this country, our federal privacy laws. Nothing. Zilch," Minnesota Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar said during Haugen's hearing.

Currently, progress on this front is coming more at the state level than the federal level.

California's Consumer Privacy Act, which went into effect last year, gives consumers the right to demand that large companies disclose what data they have collected on them. Under the law, consumers can also ask companies to delete their data and, in some cases, sue companies for data breaches. Meanwhile, Virginia's Consumer Data Protection Act (set to take effect in 2023) also gives consumers more control of their online data, but it includes more exceptions than the California law and doesn't give consumers the option to sue companies. A federal bill could help provide consistent, nationwide standards for how data can be collected and sold online.

Congress is considering the KIDS Act, which aims to protect internet users under 16 in various ways, including by prohibiting the use of age verification data for commercial purposes, as well as the SAFE DATA Act, which would give consumers more choice in how their data is collected and used.

A new tech regulatory body

In his testimony before a Senate subcommittee earlier this month, Instagram head Adam Mosseri proposed the creation of an industry body that would set standards for "how to verify age, how to build age-appropriate experiences, how to build parental controls," and other social media best practices.

But lawmakers didn't seem enthusiastic about the idea of leaving standards-setting and oversight to industry players. "Self-policing depends on trust and the trust is gone," Blumenthal said during Mosseri's hearing.

Instead, lawmakers and advocates are pushing for the creation of a new federal regulatory body responsible for overseeing Big Tech. The group could be tasked with developing the framework and structures needed to regulate the tech industry, similar to the mechanisms within the government that help oversee the banking industry, TTP's Paul said. It could also, as Haugen testified, serve as "a regulatory home where someone like me could do a tour of duty."

Such a group would help supplement the limited existing accountability structures surrounding Meta. The Facebook Oversight Board  which says it acts independently, although its members are appointed and paid by the company  is only responsible for weighing in on content moderation decisions. Even then, the group has recently focused on smaller, one-off flubs, rather than the many broader, structural problems the company faces (although it has made larger calls for transparency).

The role of the FTC

If Congress does pass any Big Tech laws, the FTC will play a key role in enforcing them. And even if we don't see new legislation in the next year, Meta won't necessarily be off the hook.

The judge's Tuesday ruling in the FTC case opens the door to perhaps the most existential threat yet to Meta: the FTC is looking to unwind Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. (Meta previously said it was confident "the evidence will reveal the fundamental weakness of the [FTC's] claims.")

The case will give Khan, the FTC chair, a chance to make her mark in her first turn as a federal regulator  and there is some reason to believe Meta is nervous. Last July, company officials wrote to the FTC asking Khan to recuse herself from all matters related to the social media giant (she has not done so). Meta also argued that the FTC's suit should be dismissed on the grounds that Khan should not have been able to vote to approve the updated complaint; however, the judge sided with the FTC.

In addition to the agency's lawsuit, Khan said last month that the FTC is considering drafting new rules that would more strongly regulate how US businesses can use data and algorithms. The effort could lead to "market-wide requirements" targeting "harms that can result from commercial surveillance and other data practices," Khan said in a letter to Blumenthal. That could deal another potential blow to Meta's business model.

And Friday's report that the FTC is also working with state attorneys general to investigate potential anticompetitive practices by Meta's Oculus  a key unit in its plans for the metaverse  indicate that its future ambitions are risk of regulatory crackdown, too.

 CNN's Brian Fung contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Here's how US lawmakers could finally rein in Facebook."
(CNN)  Unilever is willing to pay big money for the company that makes products like Advil, Tums and Aquafresh toothpaste as it tries to revive its sluggish stock and ramp up its focus on health products.

GlaxoSmithKline said over the weekend that it had received three "unsolicited" proposals from Unilever to acquire its consumer healthcare business, which it runs as a joint venture with Pfizer. The latest had a price tag of 50 billion ($68 billion).

GSK has rejected the offers, which it said were too low. It's planning to spin off the division later this year, under pressure from shareholders including hedge fund Elliott Investment Management.

Unilever confirmed that it had approached GSK about a potential takeover. It said the consumer business "is a leader in the attractive consumer health space and would be a strong strategic fit as Unilever continues to reshape its portfolio."

Shares of Unilever fell 7% in London on Monday, while GSK's stock traded almost 4% higher.

Unilever could still sweeten its bid. The company said Monday that it's pursuing a strategic overhaul that would involve expanding its portfolio of health, beauty and hygiene products. More details will be announced by the end of the month.

"The group says it will pounce on acquisition opportunities within the space, and they don't get much more appealing than this one," Laura Hoy, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, told clients.

Unilever, the company behind brands such as Ben & Jerry's ice cream and Dove soap, has shown it's willing to ditch lower-performing food and drink products. Its stock has stagnated in recent months.

In November, Unilever announced that it was selling its global tea business, which includes names like Lipton and TAZO, to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners.

But analysts at Berenberg said that Unilever should tread carefully. Its food and drink business "actually offers some of Unilever's most attractive categories," such as ice cream and cooking ingredients, they said in a research note.

British fund manager Terry Smith thinks Unilever's biggest problem is that it's focusing too much on sustainability and social justice issues.

In a recent letter to shareholders, he wrote that the company is "laboring under the weight of a management which is obsessed with publicly displaying sustainability credentials at the expense of focusing on the fundamentals of the business."

"A company which feels it has to define the purpose of Hellmann's mayonnaise has in our view clearly lost the plot," Smith said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "The owner of Ben & Jerry's wants to buy Aquafresh and Advil."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  President Rodrigo Duterte has "no objection" to the Department of Education's (DepEd) recommendation to expand the implementation of limited face-to-face classes by February, Malacanang said on Tuesday.

"Walang objection si Pangulo doon, and after the presentation ni (DepEd) Sec. (Leonor) Briones, then tuloy-tuloy po nila 'yung pag-aaral nila," Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing.

[Translation: The President has no objection, and after the presentation of DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones, they will continue studying the proposal.]

Both DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH) are in charge of the assessment, Nograles added.

In a televised meeting with the President and other Cabinet officials on Monday, Briones recommended that the expansion be done by the first week of February. She said this is because they would still have to wait for the DOH's COVID-19 risk assessment for the Jan. 16 to 31 period.

"Ang aming rekomendasyon, Mr. President, progressive expansion. Hindi 'yung lahat sabay-sabay [Our recommendation is progressive expansion. Not all schools will participate at once]," she told Duterte.

Areas placed under Alert Level 3 or higher due to COVID-19 would still not be included as per existing rules, Briones said.

She added that the concurrence of local government units and parents' consent for the conduct of in-person classes will remain a requirement.

Only teachers and non-teaching personnel vaccinated against COVID-19 can participate, while vaccinated students are preferred, she also said. The rest will continue with their distance learning.

The DepEd chief described the pilot run of face-to-face classes, which ran from Nov. 15 to Dec. 22, as "highly successful."

According to Briones, participating learners had a high level of attendance at 83%. Citing surveys conducted by the department, she also said there was no confirmed COVID-19 case in all participating schools, and that students, teachers and parents "reported a high level of feeling of safety."

A total of 287 schools nationwide participated in the pilot implementation.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17)  Three more COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers have applied for an amendment of their existing emergency use authorization to include toddlers and minors, the Food and Drug Administration said.

FDA officer-in-charge Dr. Oscar Gutierrez, in his report to the President on Monday night, said Covaxin, Sinovac, and Sinopharm (Hayat-Vax) are currently undergoing evaluation for the use of their vaccines on the following age groups:

- Covaxin  2 to 18 years old

- Sinovac  3 to 17 years old; 12 to 17 years old

- Sinopharm  3 to 17 years old

The FDA has so far approved the EUA of the US-made Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for minors aged 12 to 17. The rollout of COVID-19 doses for this age group began in November last year.

As for kids 5 to 11 years old, the country is eyeing to begin administering the shots by the first week of February.

Pfizer was given the green light for the use of its smaller, less concentrated COVID-19 vaccine formulation for younger children.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said they are aiming to inoculate a total of 12.74 million minors from the 12 to 17 age group, and 15.56 million from the 5 to 11 bracket this year. These would include not only first and second doses, but also booster shots, he added.

The government has also bared plans to begin the vaccination of infants and toddlers aged 0 to 4 starting in April.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18)  The Food and Drug Administration has received 11 applications for the special certification of self-administered COVID-19 antigen test kits.

In a televised briefing Monday night, FDA officer-in-charge Dr. Oscar Gutierrez said all applications were forwarded to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for a performance evaluation.

He also said monitoring of the at-home COVID-19 test kits will continue even after they are made available in the market.

On Jan. 6, the FDA said it started accepting applications for the special certification of home-testing kits. The DOH was expected to release guidelines on their use on Jan. 17.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Final Word on Monday, Dr. John Wong, a member of DOH Senior Technical Advisory Group, said the public should only purchase at-home COVID-19 test kits from legitimate retailers. There are test kits being sold in pharmacies, but a prescription is required.

Wong explained antigen test performs best when a person has symptoms. If exposed to a COVID-19 patient, antigen test should be done two to three days after exposure even without symptoms. After this, testing may be done every other day up to the 6th day.

Wong also pointed out that antigen test may be less accurate for asymptomatic patients, but this can be counterbalanced with more frequent testing.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) Vice President Leni Robredo has formally asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow her office to continue with its pandemic initiatives even during campaign season.

The campaign period for national candidates kicks off on Feb. 8. Robredo said they already sought an exemption from the poll body.

"So, lalong-lalo na itong Swab Cab, saka 'yung Bayanihan E-Konsulta, ito talaga 'yung - saka siguro Vaccine Express, ito talaga 'yung marami kaming ginagawa ngayon para makatulong sa surge. So, sana mabigay 'yung exemption," Robredo said during her visit to Swab Cab in Makati City on Tuesday.

[Translation: Especially Swab Cab, Bayanihan E-Konsulta, and the Vaccine Express, these are the programs we do to help in the surge of COVID-19 cases. We hope the exemption will be granted.]

The Office of the Vice President's Swab Cab provides free antigen testing in areas where there's a spike in COVID-19 infections. Bayanihan E-Konsulta, meanwhile, connects COVID-19 patients to volunteer doctors. They are also given care kits, including medicines, in this initiative. Vaccine Express, on the other hand, offers doses against the coronavirus.

Section 13 of the Comelec's Resolution 10747 requires candidates to secure a certificate of exception for "projects, activities, and programs pertaining to social welfare projects and services."

OVP ready to partner with LGUs outside Metro Manila

Robredo also said her office is ready to respond to the requests of local officials in the provinces amid increasing cases outside Metro Manila.

"So, sinasabi naman namin sa mga - lalo na 'yung mga LGUs na nakikipag-partner with us, na anytime na kailangan nila ng tulong in whatever form, willing kaming tumulong," Robredo said.

[Translation: We tell LGUs who want to partner with us that we're willing to help anytime in whatever form.]

Robredo said they have been receiving calls to bring the Vaccine Express or Swab Cab to Mindanao. Some even want to replicate Bayanihan E-Konsulta, complete with the COVID-19 care kits, she added.
(CNN)  Early data out of Israel suggests that a fourth dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna coronavirus vaccine can bring an increase in antibodies  more than what's been seen after a third dose  but it still might not be enough to protect against breakthrough infections caused by the Omicron variant.

"These are very preliminary results. This is before any publication, but we're giving it out since we understand the urgency of the public to get any information possible about the fourth dose," Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit at Sheba Medical Center, told reporters during a virtual news conference Monday about the data.

"We have a follow-up of the Pfizer vaccine for two weeks now, and we have a follow-up of the Moderna vaccine just for one week at this time point. And what we see is that the Pfizer vaccine, after two weeks, you see an enhancement or increase in the number of antibodies and neutralizing antibodies -- a pretty nice increase. It's even a little bit higher than what we had after the third dose," Regev-Yochay said. "Yet, this is probably not enough for the Omicron."

In December, Sheba Medical Center started trialing a fourth dose of the vaccines for healthy people ahead of the rollout of the additional booster shot to at-risk people, making it the first study of its kind.

The study included 154 health care workers who were given a fourth dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, 120 who were given a fourth dose of the Moderna vaccine and a control group of workers who were not given fourth doses.

Regev-Yochay said that although the researchers saw an increase in antibodies among those who got fourth doses, the level of antibodies needed to protect against infection from Omicron "is probably too high for the vaccine, even if it's a good vaccine." Still, she said that slightly fewer infections were observed among those who got the vaccine, compared with the control group.

There was no significant difference among those who received the Pfizer/BioNTech dose versus Moderna, Regev-Yochay added.

"I think that the decision to allow the fourth vaccine to vulnerable populations is probably correct," she said. "It may give a little bit of benefit, but probably not enough to support the decision to give it to all of the population, I would say."
Dragon fruit growers face loss due to price fall

Dragon fruit growers in the southern province of Long An are facing great losses due to the sharp price drop.





The production cost of each kilo of dragon fruit is VND10,000, however, at present, each kilo is sold at just VND2,000-3,000.









Le Van Long from Long Hung Village, Chau Thanh District, said that his family expects to harvest around 14 tonnes of dragon fruit per hectare. With the price of VND3,000 per kilo, they would equate to a loss of VND50 million (USD2,155).





Truong Thi Bich Nga from Chau Thanh District said that she had harvested six tonnes of dragon fruit, but one of them was substandard, causing her big losses.











Luong Tung Chau, who grows 1,200 dragon fruit trees, hoped that management agencies would have policies to support dragon fruit growers because of the losses.

Nguyen Quoc Trinh, chairman of Long An Dragon Fruit Association, said that around 26,000 tonnes of dragon fruit in the province needed to be harvested from now until the Lunar New Year with the majority to be exported to China.

He proposed that local authorities need to work with China to ask the country to provide Vietnam with warning of import and export policy changes 15 days in advance.



Thinh also suggested boosting domestic dragon fruit sales, particularly through supermarkets.



Thousands of container trucks transporting Vietnamese farm produce, including fresh fruit, are currently stranded at border gates with China due to the countrys tighter control over goods for Covid-19 prevention.
By Trend

In Azerbaijan, 7,575 foreign citizens have been issued labor permits, Head of the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan Vusal Huseynov told Trend.

According to him, the increase in the number of work permits issued to foreigners in Azerbaijan is related to the reconstruction and restoration work in the liberated territories.

Foreign labor force is also involved in the construction of infrastructure in the liberated lands of Azerbaijan, Huseynov stated.
(CNN)  At least seven protesters were shot dead by Sudanese security forces on Monday during anti-coup rallies in the capital Khartoum, according to the civilian-allied Sudanese Central Doctors Committee (SCDC).

More than 100 people were injured amid the gunfire, SCDC added, which broke out as thousands of protesters marched towards the presidential palace in opposition to last October's military coup.

In videos shared by Sudanese activists on social media, barrages of tear gas were fired towards protesters who were blocking main roads leading to the presidential compound. Sounds believed to be gunfire could also be heard in the videos.

This comes as Sudan's ruling Sovereign Council -- headed by General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan -- said Monday it would establish an anti-terrorism force to counter "multiple potential threats," according to a statement on Facebook.

There have been several mass demonstrations against military rule since the October 25 coup, and at least 71 people been killed by security forces, the SCDC said Monday.

The Forces of Freedom and Change, an alliance of civilian political parties and movements, called for two days of civil disobedience and a general strike in response to Monday's violence. "Resistance committees have called on people to barricade neighborhoods and main streets to stop movement," it wrote on Facebook.

Sudan had been ruled by an uneasy alliance between the military and civilian groups since 2019. But in October, the military effectively took control, dissolving the power-sharing Sovereign Council and transitional government, and temporarily detaining Abdalla Hamdok, the prime minister.

Al-Burhan reinstated Hamdok in November as part of a deal between the military and civilian leadership, but Hamdok resigned earlier this January.

Hamdok's resignation was triggered after the military went back on a "non-interference" agreement struck in November and relaunched the feared national intelligence agency, according to Sudanese political sources speaking to CNN earlier this month.

Previous CNN investigations have implicated the intelligence agency in the deaths of protesters. Its continued influence, sources say, was a "red line" for Hamdok, rendering the relationship with the military untenable.

This week, the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa David Satterfield and Assistant Secretary Molly Phee are due to visit Khartoum. They are currently in Saudi Arabia where they intend to "marshal international support for the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission to Sudan (UNITAMS) in its efforts to facilitate a renewed civilian-led transition to democracy," the State Department wrote in a statement.

Last week, the United Nations began consultations among Sudanese parties and the military to find an end to the crisis.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Sudanese forces kill at least seven during anti-coup protests, medics say"
(CNN)  The Saudi led-coalition fighting in Yemen launched airstrikes on the Yemeni capital on Monday, shortly after Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a deadly drone attack in the United Arab Emirates.

"In response to the threat and military necessity, airstrikes began on Sana'a," Saudi Arabia's state-run Al-Ekhbariya said on Twitter.

"The vicious attack on the UAE is a hostile act. The Houthi targeting of civilians in the kingdom and the UAE are war crimes whose perpetrators must be held accountable," Al-Ekhbariya said in a tweet.

The drone attack near Abu Dhabi's aiport killed at least three people and sparked multiple explosions in the UAE's capital.

One Pakistani and two Indians were killed, the UAE's official news agency WAM said. Eight others were injured, including two airport employees and six people at another explosion site, Abu Dhabi Police said in a statement on Facebook.

The spokesperson for Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, warning the "UAE is an unsafe state as long as its aggressive escalation against Yemen continues."

"Five ballistic missiles and a large number of drones were used in an operation dubbed as 'Operation Hurricane Yemen' targeted Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, the Musaffah oil refinery in Abu Dhabi and a number of important and sensitive Emirate sites and facilities," Houthi spokesperson Brigadier Gen. Yahya Saree said on the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV channel Monday.

Saree warned foreign companies, citizens and residents of the UAE to stay away from vital sites, saying they are renewing their warning to "countries of aggression that they will receive more painful and painful blows."

Minutes after the Houthis claimed responsibility, the Saudi led-coalition airstrikes were launched.

Houthis in Sana'a confirmed the strikes, saying that at least four civilians had been killed, with at least five others injured after airstrikes hit residential neighborhoods there.

Search and rescue teams are looking for survivors under the rubble of destroyed buildings, al-Masirah Houthi TV reported.

Houthi state-run media also reported that more than 24 airstrikes were launched by the Saudi-led coalition in the past 24 hours on various areas in Yemen, causing heavy material damage.

'Right to respond'

In a statement released after the drone attack on Monday, UAE officials said they reserved "the right to respond," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said, according to state-news agency WAM.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed said that the drone attacks, which struck Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) fuel facilities and the airport, will not go unpunished, WAM reported.

"UAE authorities are dealing transparently and responsibly with the heinous Houthi attack on some civilian facilities in Abu Dhabi," said Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE leadership.

Gargash, a former minister of state for foreign affairs, said that the UAE is dealing with the attack and that the "reckless" attempt is too weak to shake the stability of the country.

Deadly attacks are extremely rare in the UAE, long considered an island of stability in a turbulent region. In recent years, Houthi rebels claimed to have launched multiple attacks on the country, but Emirati authorities have denied the allegations. Houthi rebels frequently target neighboring Saudi Arabia, with the kingdom intercepting the vast majority of those missiles.

"Abu Dhabi police confirmed that a fire broke out this morning, which led to the explosion of three petroleum tankers in ICAD 3, Mussafah, near ADNOC's storage tanks," a statement said on WAM. "A minor fire also broke out in the new construction area of Abu Dhabi International Airport."

A CNN journalist heard two explosions with a black plume of smoke rising from the direction of the airport. CNN has also seen a fighter jet -- likely belonging to the UAE -- circling the area.

The Pakistani Embassy is in contact with UAE authorities after the Pakistani national died after in the incident, its foreign ministry said Monday.

The UAE has been part of a Saudi-led military campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015. In 2019, the United Arab Emirates said it reduced its forces in Yemen as part of a "strategic" redeployment.

Last Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said they detected multiple explosive-laden drones launched from the airport in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, which is controlled by Houthis.

On Monday, Houthi spokesperson Mohammad Abdulsalam called the UAE a "statelet" that is "desperate to serve the US and Israel."

"(The UAE) had claimed that it distanced itself from Yemen, but it has recently been exposed, contrary to what it claimed. As a result, if it does not stop meddling in Yemen, by the power of God, we will cut off its hands," said Abdulsalam.

"Operations like this will continue so long as the offensive and blockade continue and it will encompass strategic targets," tweeted Ali al-Qhoom, a member of the Houthi's political bureau. "These operations will happen within the context of a legitimate response to the crimes and attacks of the UAE in Yemen."

CNN has requested comment from the government of the UAE.

Saudi Arabia condemned the attack in a statement. "We condemn in the strongest of words the cowardly terror attack that targeted Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE," the kingdom's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "The kingdom also points out that this terror attack which the Houthi militia is behind reconfirms the danger that this terror group poses and its threat to the security, peace and stability in the region and the world."

France, Israel and the UK are among countries who have condemned the drone attack, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian saying it threatened "regional stability."

An expert told CNN that the Houthi rebels may be trying to deter further UAE intervention in Yemen in one of the major flashpoints in that conflict, Marib. "The intervention of the UAE-supported forces was a game-changer. This angered the Houthis," said Maged al-Madhaji, executive director and co-founder of the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies. "The Houthis are trying to create some sort of balance by striking the the image of stability and security in the Emirates."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Saudi led-coalition launches airstrikes on Yemeni capital after deadly Houthi drone strike in Abu Dhabi"
Today Id like to share three examples of the value that communities who have affiliated with Nebraska Community Foundation can access.

First up, we all know that retaining and attracting youth is key to the success of Greater Nebraska. Further, we know that inviting them into your community-building work is essential to achieve that goal. NCFs youth surveys offer a way for affiliated communities to understand what youth in their hometown seek in a place to call home, what they consider important for their future, and how they can best invite these young residents to use their voice to help shape their own future.

Surveys are distributed with the help of local school districts during February through April. Following the survey, funds will receive:

 A report with final results

 A facilitated round table with participating youth to better understand the data

 Support from NCF staff in sharing results and planning future community discussions

This is the time of year that affiliated funds interested in taking part in NCFs 2022 Youth Surveys reach out to Kara Asmus (kasmus@nebcommfound.org). If you are interested in a survey and youre not sure if your hometown or your school is represented by an NCF affiliate, Kara can answer that question for you as well! We want to continue our past success in garnering survey interest from all across the state.

Related to the first opportunity, NCF affiliated communities also have access to a matching grant that helps fund internships for college students that bring them home for the summer. This is the fourth consecutive summer that these Hometown Internships have brought energetic young Nebraskans home to strengthen their connections to the places that raised them and further the community-building work of local Nebraska Community Foundation affiliated funds. Challenge grants of $1,500$3,000 are matched by local resources to ensure students are compensated for their work.

Again, if youre interested in a community intern but you arent sure about your status with NCF, please contact Kara and she can help.

Finally, NCF affiliates have access to the learning and inspiration that comes from the latest Transfer of Wealth Study that quantifies the estimate of intergenerational transfers of wealth for each Nebraska county. NCF is hosting a three-part virtual learning series to help communities better utilize NCFs latest Transfer of Wealth Study, mobilize a localized 5 to Thrive campaign, and most importantly, harness some of this unprecedented abundance in these hometowns! Contact me or Kara to register, whether you are currently a member of the network or not.

The following one-hour sessions will be held via Zoom:

Jan. 27 | Transferring Abundance

Feb. 10 | Leveraging Planned Giving

Feb. 24 | Marketing the Transfer of Wealth

Nebraska towns are using inspiration and education from resources like these through the NCF network to truly change their future. Just as one local and timely example, the Pure Nebraska television program recently featured Boone Beginnings, the world-class early childhood education center built in Albion. Members of the Boone County Area Foundation Fund Advisory Committee worked with other community members to create better access to high-quality early education and care for Boone County kids. The center was made possible with 250 charitable gifts totaling $4.5 million. Learn more about Boone Beginnings in this fantastic Pure Nebraska feature: https://www.nebcommfound.org/news/boone-county-invests-in-its-future!

If these resources sound interesting, contact any of at NCF to learn more. And whether through the NCF network or not, I cant stress enough that the time is now to invest yourself in your hometown. The opportunity for Greater Nebraska hasnt been this great in more than 100 years!

K.C. Belitz is the chief operating officer of the Nebraska Community Foundation.

K.C. Belitz is the chief operating officer of the Nebraska Community Foundation.

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South Korean Crypto Exchanges Face AML Probes as Regulators Test Compliance

Source: Adobe/Photographee.eu

South Korean regulators are set to probe the nations four biggest crypto exchanges to test their anti-money laundering (AML) capabilities.

The exchanges  Korbit, Upbit, Coinone, and Bithumb  are the only trading platforms that operate fiat KRW markets and received their operating permits from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) late last year. The latter is an agency that answers to the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the top financial regulator.

Per Money Today and GetNews, the FSC and FIU are keen to discover if the trading platforms have successfully integrated AML solutions that allow them to communicate data to one another, as well as the regulators, and effectively flag suspicious-looking transactions.

AML protocols are a new development for most exchanges, who were told to start complying with regulations as of September 2021, after the government passed the nations first piece of crypto-specific legislation in 2020.

The audit does not appear to have been scheduled, but over 100 other digital and electronic financial services providers working in the field of conventional finance will also be checked for their own AML compliance.

The regulators, along with the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), will test common risk factors, as well as assess the adequacy of AML risk evaluation, in addition to factors such as transaction size, frequency, and more.

The probe will also focus on the implementation of customer verification protocols (also known as Know-Your-Customer, or KYC), the establishment of trading platforms internal control systems, and the systems used to notify other parties of potential AML violations.

Interestingly for the sector, perhaps, the bodies will also check to see how effectively the crypto exchanges are preparing for the implementation of the Financial Action Task Forces much-maligned Travel Rule  which is set to be enshrined into South Korean law later this year.

All four of the exchanges have revealed they are working on their Travel Rule solutions. Upbit has developed its own solution, which operates via its operator Dunamus blockchain subsidiary, while the remaining three have co-developed their own Travel Rule compliance platform.

____

Learn more:

- Crypto Exchanges in 2022: More Services, More Compliance, and Competition

- 2022 Crypto Regulation Trends: Focus on DeFi, Stablecoins, NFTs, and More



- Prosecutors Want to Put Bogus Crypto Exchange Chiefs Behind Bars for Life in Legal First

- Upbit Crypto Exchange Traders to Face Fiat Services Disruptions over Lunar New Year Period
There are two things you can expect when you enter B&L Caribbean Cafe.

The first is the spicy aroma that fills the small space.

The second, if owner Bryan Landers is behind the counter, is a friendly greeting befitting a man who considers himself an ambassador for his home of St. Lucia, an island in the Eastern Caribbean.

The cuisine from that island is the centerpiece of B&L Caribbean Cafe, which opened last September at 10 W. Pomfret St., in Carlisle.

The cafe is the latest step in the evolution of Landers business. He and his wife, Latoya, started with a hot dog cart parked at local businesses to catch hungry lunch crowds. He graduated to a food truck that has quickly become a staple at local events like Shippensburgs Corn Festival and the outdoor movies hosted by the Carlisle Regional Performing Arts Center last summer.

Now, people who first came to love Landers cooking out in the community are finding their way to the tiny cafe nestled within a row of shops.

The cafe was empty when I walked in during one lunch hour last week. At first, I was concerned. Obviously, an empty restaurant at lunchtime isnt what you want to see downtown, but I need not have worried. Within minutes, the tables were filled and a take-out order was being prepared.

With each new arrival, Landers called out a greeting and asked if it was the customers first time there. If it was, they were treated to an explanation of the menu from top to bottom. It didnt take long because Landers has kept the menu simple with options like jerk chicken, the spiciest item on the menu that he grills fresh each morning in the courtyard out back, or the pulled pork and macaroni and cheese that he added to the menu thanks to its popularity on the food cart.

Those with more daring tastesat least to Cumberland Valley sensibilitiescan try the ox tail or the curry goat and maybe add a side of sweet plantains.

Menu items are available as singles or as small or large platters. Every platter comes with rice and beans and a choice of additional sides.

I settled on a small curry chicken platter and chose coco bread as my additional side. The chicken was tender with a spicy bite that wasnt overwhelming. It was served alongside a generous side of rice and beans that were less spicy than I would have expected. The serving of coco bread filled a small plate. Served warm, the bread is most easily described as a lighter, fluffier version of Hawaiian rolls.

The taste of the islands doesnt stop with the food itself. Island soft drinks and coconut water are also available. I went with the coconut water, but kicked myself later for not trying the locally-made lemonade or passion fruit drink.

Ill try one the next time I visit B&L Caribbean Cafe. If the friendly, island atmosphere isnt enough to draw you back, the challenge to try other options on the menu certainly will.

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Some Carlisle residents can cross bagging leaves off their fall to-do lists for good. Carlisle Borough Council approved the purchase of a leaf vacuum truck to collect leaves that residents will now rake to the curb.

The council voted unanimously at its meeting Thursday approved the Public Works Departments purchase of an American Road Machinery Co. chassis mounted vacuum leaf collection truck from U.S. Municipal of King of Prussia.

Public Works Director Mark Malarich said the truck is expected to arrive this summer if there arent any supply chain issues.

The cost of the vacuum is approximately $213,000, paid for by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection with a 10% match. This means that the borough will pay 10% of the total grant amount, utilizing funds from the councils Stormwater Management Fund to do so.

Malarich said at the councils biennial organization meeting Jan. 3 that this fund was chosen because if leaves are not removed from the streets they clog area drains, making them a stormwater issue.

The total amount of the grant for the vacuums purchase was $220,000, which means there will be additional grant funds left over.

Malarich said he hasnt yet had any further discussions with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection about those funds, but that he intends to do so soon.

I know that council had asked to see if we could potentially use those funds for the purchase of paper bags, but I havent explored that with them yet, Malarich said.

Malarich said that if the DEP doesnt allow this, the unused portion of the grant will be returned.

The vacuum will initially be used in a limited area in the borough based on street accessibility and the need for on-street parking in certain areas. Borough residents living between D Street and Willow Street and East Street and College Street will still need to bag leaves and leave them at the curb.

Malarich said at the councils Jan. 3 meeting that the Public Works Department would collect data related to the trucks use for the first year or two and then approach the council with potential modifications to the areas where the truck can be used.

Malarich said the truck will enhance borough services.

Right now residents are required to rake and bag the leaves, and thats tedious at best, Malarich said. So, we expect that this will relieve them of that duty and provide a better service and likely will increase the amount of leaves that are collected.

Malarich expressed gratitude to the Department of Environmental Protection for its support and the grant.

Hopefully were able to get the equipment in time for 2022, Malarich said.

Maddie Seiler is a news reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com covering Carlisle and Newville. You can contact her at mseiler@cumberlink.com and follow her on Twitter at: @SeilerMadalyn

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For some people, Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17 means a day off.

However, Rev. Sylvester Brown, Co-Chair of the Carlisle Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee, challenged members of the community to think of it as a day on, a day to remember, celebrate and pursue Kings dream.

The commemoration hosted a virtual civic ceremony that was posted to the Committees Facebook page Monday morning and remains available for the public to view. The ceremony, hosted by Brown, featured members of the community who spoke to different components of Kings I have a dream speech, including racism abolished, integration, equality and justice and unity and freedom.

Brown said each speaker answered the following question based on their own unique experiences: As a participant in our commemoration, we trust that you are aligned with Rev. Dr. Kings ideals. What are you doing to advance these ideals and what are you doing to heal the worsening division in the United States?

Carlisle Mayor Sean Shultz was the first to speak.

Carlisle, like America, has clear inequities and divergent outcomes along racial lines in housing, education, wealth and income, Shultz said. The cold, objective numbers and studies bear this out. We cannot achieve our full potential or the full breadth of liberty while some are still bound by disadvantage.

Shultz outlined ways that the Carlisle borough council has worked to do better, highlighting their creation of the Carlisle Truth and Reconciliation Commission last year.

We cherish the innate value and beauty of each life and we will do the work and keep coming back to it until we can finally sing as one that we are all free at last, Shultz said.

Maj. Gen. David Hill and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Flom of the United States Army War College spoke next.

We are on course to fully recognize Dr. Kings Dream, Flom said. But its a challenging path, sure to include missteps as we try every day to become better versions of ourselves.

Hill said that the mission of the War College is to educate the nations top military leaders and give them academic opportunities to share experiences. He explained that the founder of the U.S. Army War College, Elihu Roots, had a vision to promote peace rather than war and tied that same pursuit of peace to racial equality.

We believe in the power of communities to motivate change and the power of education to enable change for the better, Hill said.

Hill and Flom were followed by Paula Bussard, School Board President of the Carlisle Area School District.

Bussard spoke of the quality education that King envisioned and expressed pride that the Carlisle Area School District partners with organizations including Hope Station, Victory Circle, the YMCA, the YWCA, the Bosler Memorial and Amelia Given libraries, Project SHARE, Community Cares, and more.

These relationships are key to making sure the children in our area dream, grow and develop, Bussard said.

The final speaker featured at the civic ceremony was Daija Berry, a former recipient of the MLK Scholarship award and current junior at West Chester University. Berry is also West Chester Universitys NAACP President and she spoke of the need for political parties to join together.

Both the Republican and Democratic parties must unite to eliminate poverty and ensure that all people are being treated the same, regardless of their race, gender, social background, religious or political beliefs, Berry said.

The conclusion of the civic ceremony wrapped up the Carlisle Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committees 33rd annual celebration, although videos from both the Sunday service and Mondays civic ceremony remain on the committees Facebook for online viewing.

Even though the events are over, Brown said he hopes the community will remember the purpose of these services.

The purpose of the event is to cause the community to reflect on Dr. Kings dream and unite in our commitment to achieve it through unity and love: facilitate equal opportunity for all, relieve the poor in view of our humanity, and be judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin, Brown said, adopting Kings words as a mission statement for what Brown hopes will become a beloved community.

Maddie Seiler is a news reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com covering Carlisle and Newville. You can contact her at mseiler@cumberlink.com and follow her on Twitter at: @SeilerMadalyn

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A batch of warm air spared Cumberland County from some of the heavy snowfall Sunday that hit northern Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

The county ended up seeing 3-5 inches of snow from a storm that started Sunday afternoon, eventually transitioning to freezing rain an rain Sunday night into Monday morning.

With the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, most schools and county offices were closed across the region, allowing time to dig out from the snow. A wind advisory stood for the region between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday, bringing winds up to 50 mph in some parts of the county.

The extended forecast for the county looks dry for the next 10 days, with temperatures rising into the upper 30s and low 40s for Tuesday and Wednesday, before dropping back into the 20s and lowers 30s through the weekend.

Lows overnights are expected to be 15 degrees or lower over the next week.

Sundays storm system dropped a foot or more of snow in parts of New York state, Ohio and Pennsylvania Sunday night through Monday morning after pummeling parts of the Southeast on Sunday.

Weve had a very strong area of low pressure thats kind of moved up the coast, with pretty heavy snowfall accumulations from Tennessee, North Carolina all the way into the northeast, said meteorologist Marc Chenard at the weather services headquarters in College Park, Maryland.

Forecasters in Buffalo, New York, said almost 18 inches of snow fell by 1 p.m. Monday. The city advised people not to travel if they didnt need to on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, while some surrounding towns instituted a travel ban.

WOW! (Latest) snow measurement at 1 AM was 4.6 inches in the last hour at the Buffalo Airport! the National Weather Service in Buffalo tweeted overnight. And tack on another 4 inches in the last hour ending at 2 AM! Total so far since late Sun evening10.2 inches.

Weather service meteorologist Alexa Maines said 15 inches or more of snow were reported in Cleveland, Ohio, and 25 inches in parts of Ashtabula County in the northeast corner of the state.

Power outages affected tens of thousands of customers in the northeast, and hundreds of flights were canceled. Many COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites had to close down.

New York City got less than an inch of snow, which was washed away by rain overnight. The weather service said spotty showers and snow showers might continue through Monday night.

Forecasters said wind gusts in New York City could top out around 45 mph (72 kph), and around 60 mph (97 kph) on Long Island.

Sleet and rain were the main threats for much of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Periods of snowfall transitioned to rain overnight. NWS meteorologists in Boston said wind gusts could reach 70 mph (113 kph).

The howling winds spread a fire that destroyed a motel and two other structures in coastal Salisbury, Massachusetts, early Monday.

The storm brought similar conditions Sunday to the Southeast, where thousands were still without power Monday.

Multiple states reported heavy snowfall, and two people died Sunday in North Carolina when their car drove off the road. The roof of a dormitory partially collapsed in the state at Brevard College, with officials saying it broke under the weight of snow. There were no injuries.

Severe thunderstorms in Florida spun up a tornado with 118 mph (190 kph) winds, destroying 30 mobile homes and majorly damaging 51 more. Three minor injuries were reported.

Wet roadways in the South were expected to refreeze Monday, creating icy conditions for motorists.

Plow trucks were scattered along roads and highways up the East Coast, working to clear the way for travelers. Some crashes were reported in the early morning hours, including an ambulance involved in a wreck on Interstate 279 in Pittsburgh, KDKA-TV reported. It was unclear whether anyone was injured.

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Cumberland County saw increases in its COVID-19 percent positivity and incidence rate per 100,000 people in the state Health Department's weekly update to its Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard this weekend.

The county's percent positivity increased to 35.7% for the week of Jan. 7-13, up from 30.1% the previous week. The incidence rate per 100,000 people increased to 887.2, up from 670.6 the previous week.

Lebanon and Dauphin counties lead the Midstate in both categories and rank in the top 10 in the state.

Lebanon County is tied for the highest positivity rate in the Midstate at 40.7% (sixth highest in the state), an increase from 36.8% the previous week, and the highest incidence rate in the Midstate at 1,571.3 (fifth highest in the state).

Dauphin County is tied for the highest positivity rate in the Midstate at 40.7% (sixth highest in the state).

Lehigh County has the highest positivity rate in the state at 48.9% and highest incidence rate in the state at 2,391.2.

Forest County had the lowest percent positivity in the state at 12.6%. Cameron County had the lowest incidence rate per 100,000 people in the state at 314.8.

Tuesday's data update

Cumberland County reported 354 cases of COVID-19 and no deaths in Tuesday's update from the state Department of Health.

According to department open data, the seven-day average of new cases in the county sits at 460.4, down from Sunday's rate of 484.3, which was the highest seven-day rate for the county during the pandemic.

There were 164 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Cumberland County in Tuesday's report, the same as Monday. The highest total was 183 on Dec. 23, 2020. The 14-day average for hospitalizations in the county sits at 154, the highest rate since Jan. 10, 2021. The county's highest 14-day hospitalization rate was 168.7 on Jan. 2, 2021. The 14-day average for COVID patients on ventilators sits at 21.1.

There are 21 adults in intensive care (a decrease of seven since Sunday) and 23 on ventilators. Nine adult ICU beds remain open of the 109 currently staffed across the county, and 43 of 94 ventilators in the county are in use.

The county reported 56 deaths in October, 33 in November and 54 in December. It has 23 deaths so far in January.

Franklin County reported 121 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday (down 27 from Monday), with seven of 42 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 26 of 34 available ventilators in use. There are 25 adults in intensive care and 19 on ventilators.

Dauphin County reported 248 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday (down four from Monday), with 22 of 196 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 101 of 174 available ventilators in use. There are 51 adults in intensive care and 39 on ventilators.

Penn State Health cases update (Jan. 17)

Penn State Health lists a COVID-19 dashboard on its website tracking cases at each of its acute care hospitals  Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, Hampden Medical Center and Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. The dashboard is updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Monday's update shows 242 total cases (225 adults, 17 pediatrics) in the health systems four hospitals, an increase of 12 cases since Jan. 10 and 72 cases since Dec. 27. Data is incomplete for the vaccinated and unvaccinated totals because Penn State Health said the vaccination status of St. Joseph Medical Center inpatients is currently unavailable.

There are 17 pediatric patients, with 11 unvaccinated (two in an ICU and no one on a ventilator) and one fully vaccinated patient who is an ICU and on a ventilator.

Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill has 51 COVID patients. Twenty-six are fully vaccinated adults (two in the ICU and no one on a ventilator) and 25 are unvaccinated adults (two in the ICU and one on a ventilator).

Hampden Medical Center has eight COVID patients. Seven are unvaccinated (no one in the ICU and no one on a ventilator) and one is fully vaccinated (no one in the ICU and no one on a ventilator).

Vaccine update

In data updated Saturday evening, the CDC says Cumberland County has 66% of its total population fully vaccinated. The CDC also reported that 69.8% of the population 5 and older are vaccinated, while 73.9% of the population 12 and older are fully vaccinated.

The CDC also began reporting another set of numbers that include booster shots, with 33.6% of the county's total population having received a booster vaccine.

School-age children

In its weekly update for the 20th week of the school year, the department reported 417 cases among children aged 5-18 in Cumberland County during the week of Jan. 5-Jan. 11, an increase of 155 cases over the previous week. The total number of cases in Cumberland County for this school year is 3,185.

Statewide, the number of cases among 5- to 18-year-olds saw its largest increase of the school year with 32,381 cases reported during the week of Jan. 5-Jan. 11, compared to 20,456 during the previous week. The state said the total number of cases in that age group for the school year is 188,813.

County numbers in the southcentral region (updated Jan. 18):

Adams County (pop. 103,009): 168 new cases; 22,010 total cases (18,448 confirmed, 3,562 probable); 45,954 negatives; 300 deaths; 52.5% of county population vaccinated

168 new cases; 22,010 total cases (18,448 confirmed, 3,562 probable); 45,954 negatives; 300 deaths; 52.5% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 32 new cases; 9,671 total cases (6,518 confirmed, 3,153 probable); 13,428 negatives; 237 deaths (+1); 37.6% of county population vaccinated

32 new cases; 9,671 total cases (6,518 confirmed, 3,153 probable); 13,428 negatives; 237 deaths (+1); 37.6% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 122 new cases; 25,704 total cases (20,480 confirmed, 5,224 probable); 49,856 negatives; 535 deaths; 50.3% of county population vaccinated

122 new cases; 25,704 total cases (20,480 confirmed, 5,224 probable); 49,856 negatives; 535 deaths; 50.3% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 354 new cases; 44,304 total cases (33,891 confirmed, 10,413 probable); 108,559 negatives; 756 deaths; 66% of county population vaccinated

354 new cases; 44,304 total cases (33,891 confirmed, 10,413 probable); 108,559 negatives; 756 deaths; 66% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 432 new cases; 53,200 total cases (44,653 confirmed, 8,547 probable); 133,344 negatives; 812 deaths (+1); 59.6% of county population vaccinated

432 new cases; 53,200 total cases (44,653 confirmed, 8,547 probable); 133,344 negatives; 812 deaths (+1); 59.6% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 303 new cases; 35,535 total cases (29,442 confirmed, 6,093 probable); 66,351 negatives; 590 deaths (+1); 47% of county population vaccinated

303 new cases; 35,535 total cases (29,442 confirmed, 6,093 probable); 66,351 negatives; 590 deaths (+1); 47% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 19 new cases; 3,575 total cases (1,837 confirmed, 1,738 probable); 5,204 negatives; 55 deaths; 34.3% of county population vaccinated

19 new cases; 3,575 total cases (1,837 confirmed, 1,738 probable); 5,204 negatives; 55 deaths; 34.3% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 53 new cases; 9,653 total cases (7,983 confirmed, 1,670 probable); 22,767 negatives; 212 deaths; 49.2% of county population vaccinated

53 new cases; 9,653 total cases (7,983 confirmed, 1,670 probable); 22,767 negatives; 212 deaths; 49.2% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 23 new cases; 4,182 total cases (3,846 confirmed, 336 probable); 7,047 negatives; 156 deaths; 38.8% of county population vaccinated

23 new cases; 4,182 total cases (3,846 confirmed, 336 probable); 7,047 negatives; 156 deaths; 38.8% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 268 new cases; 33,277 total cases (28,864 confirmed, 4,413 probable); 64,671 negatives; 429 deaths (+2); 52.2% of county population vaccinated

268 new cases; 33,277 total cases (28,864 confirmed, 4,413 probable); 64,671 negatives; 429 deaths (+2); 52.2% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 59 new cases; 10,366 total cases (9,840 confirmed, 526 probable); 18,288 negatives; 249 deaths; 47.8% of county population vaccinated

59 new cases; 10,366 total cases (9,840 confirmed, 526 probable); 18,288 negatives; 249 deaths; 47.8% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 61 new cases; 7,772 total cases (6,120 confirmed, 1,652 probable); 14,289 negatives; 163 deaths; 46.4% of county population vaccinated

61 new cases; 7,772 total cases (6,120 confirmed, 1,652 probable); 14,289 negatives; 163 deaths; 46.4% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 794 new cases; 106,101 total cases (88,349 confirmed; 17,752 probable); 200,338 negatives; 1,287 deaths (+5); 56.1% of county population vaccinated

ZIP code-level counts (updated Jan. 18):

17013: 5,105 positives, 16,638 negatives - +246 since Jan. 14

17015: 3,066 positives, 8,210 negatives - +104 since Jan. 14

17050: 4,979 positives, 17,722 negatives - +229 since Jan. 14

17055: 5,393 positives, 19,207 negatives - +242 since Jan. 14

17011: 4,962 positives, 16,029 negatives - +178 since Jan. 14

17007: 764 positives, 2,155 negatives - +35 since Jan. 14

17065: 570 positives, 1,442 negatives - +24 since Jan. 14

17324: 652 positives, 1,438 negatives - +33 since Jan. 14

17241: 1,426 positives, 3,578 negatives - +77 since Jan. 14

17257: 3,988 positives, 8,163 negatives - +250 since Jan. 14

17240: 387 positives, 750 negatives - +22 since Jan. 14

17025: 2,342 positives, 6,731 negatives - +114 since Jan. 14

17070: 2,187 positives, 6,217 negatives - +70 since Jan. 14

17043: 743 positives, 2,398 negatives - +29 since Jan. 14

17019: 2,578 positives, 6,333 negatives - +102 since Jan. 14

17266: 52 positives, 148 negatives - +5 since Jan. 14

School district and college case counts (updated Jan. 12)

The Sentinel's case counts for Cumberland County school districts and colleges or universities are updated Fridays. The policy for each school districts reporting is noted in the list below.

Big Spring School District (reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 10 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of Jan. 7.

(reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 10 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of Jan. 7. Camp Hill School District (posts chart that includes total case count): 17 student cases and 2 staff cases within a 14-day period. Chart last updated on Jan. 7.

(posts chart that includes total case count): 17 student cases and 2 staff cases within a 14-day period. Chart last updated on Jan. 7. Carlisle Area School District (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 203 cases within the current 14-day rolling count, according to the charts last update on Jan. 13.

(reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 203 cases within the current 14-day rolling count, according to the charts last update on Jan. 13. Cumberland Valley School District (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 80 cases in "current week" beginning Jan. 10, as of the charts last update on Jan. 11.

(reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 80 cases in "current week" beginning Jan. 10, as of the charts last update on Jan. 11. Mechanicsburg Area School District (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 48 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Jan. 11.

(chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 48 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Jan. 11. Shippensburg Area School District (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 128 confirmed cases in the last 14 days, as of charts last update on Jan. 11.

(reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 128 confirmed cases in the last 14 days, as of charts last update on Jan. 11. South Middleton School District (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 17 confirmed cases in the last 14 days, as of the charts last update on Jan. 7.

(posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 17 confirmed cases in the last 14 days, as of the charts last update on Jan. 7. West Shore School District (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 136 student cases and 27 staff cases being monitored as of Jan. 11.

(reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 136 student cases and 27 staff cases being monitored as of Jan. 11. Dickinson College : school is not currently in session; 59 student cases and 34 employee cases in the fall semester (started Aug. 30). Chart last updated on Dec. 17.

: school is not currently in session; 59 student cases and 34 employee cases in the fall semester (started Aug. 30). Chart last updated on Dec. 17. Messiah University : 36 student cases and 5 employee cases in the spring semester (starting Dec. 30); 139 student cases and 56 employee cases in the fall semester (started Aug. 7). Chart last updated Jan. 12.

: 36 student cases and 5 employee cases in the spring semester (starting Dec. 30); 139 student cases and 56 employee cases in the fall semester (started Aug. 7). Chart last updated Jan. 12. Shippensburg University: school is not currently in session; 270 student cases and 31 employee cases the fall semester (started Aug. 1). Chart last updated on Dec. 16.

(Counties with a percent positivity above 5% in a week go on the Department of Health's watch list)

Pennsylvania: Percent Positivity - 35.3% last 7 days (34.2% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 1,236.9 (1,114.6 previous 7 days)

Adams County: Percent Positivity - 35.4% last 7 days (33.2% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 1,303.8 (1,029.0 previous 7 days)

Cumberland County: Percent Positivity - 35.7% last 7 days (30.1% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 887.2 (670.6 previous 7 days)

Dauphin County: Percent Positivity - 40.7% last 7 days (37.9% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 1,192.2 (954.7 previous 7 days)

Franklin County: Percent Positivity - 37.8% last 7 days (33.1% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 1,468.8 (1,028.2 previous 7 days)

Lebanon County: Percent Positivity - 40.7% last 7 days (36.8% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 1,571.3 (1,235.6 previous 7 days)

Perry County: Percent Positivity - 36.6% last 7 days (33.4% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 650.5 (520.8 previous 7 days)

York County:

Percent Positivity - 39.5% last 7 days (38.1% previous 7 days)

last 7 days (38.1% previous 7 days)

Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 1,536.1 (1,276.2 previous 7 days)

Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt.

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South Middleton School District plans to solicit bids to demolish the former residence at 16 Forge Road in Boiling Springs.

School board members Monday authorized staff to advertise the job after an attempt to circumvent the formal bidding process was foiled by quotes that came in higher than the state threshold.

The quote from Weaver & Sons Excavation of Wrightsville, York County, came in at $22,000, above the state bidding threshold of $21,500.

The two other quotes were much higher. John W. Gleim Jr. Excavating Inc. submitted a quote of $27,856, while Matts Junk Removal & Demolitions of Dillsburg submitted a quote of $25,000.

Approving the project by way of a quote would have saved the district the time and expense of preparing and advertising formal bid specifications, Superintendent James Estep said.

A preliminary scope of work outlines the steps each contractor would have to include in their base bid. One challenge facing the district is the need to cap all the utility lines that served the residence, board President Brad Group said. One of the lines is on the other side of Forge Road.

Chances are the demolition project will impact the movement of traffic on Forge Road. Both the sewer and water mains have to be capped 10 feet underground. While the district is responsible for obtaining a demolition permit from South Middleton Township, the contractor approved for the project will be responsible for obtaining a highway occupancy permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

As an initial step, the school district will contact the electric company to have service disconnected. Later, the contractor would need to break up and remove the concrete floor from the garage and basement before importing clean fill and topsoil to the worksite to bring the disturbed areas up to grade.

Last February, board members approved the purchase of the single-family home for $125,000. The property is next to the district office parking lot.

The homeowner had approached the administration in fall 2020, offering to sell the property to the district. The homeowner had wanted to move out and downsize.

We do have plans for the future, said Matthew Strine, superintendent at the time of the purchase. We are landlocked as a main campus. If we want to do an expansion at any of the buildings, more parking will be needed.

Three of the four district buildings are on the Forge Road campus: Boiling Springs High School, Yellow Breeches Middle School and Iron Forge Elementary School. District offices are in the Iron Forge building.

A review and study of the property found no use for the building. In June, board members awarded a $53,000 contract to First Capital Insulation Inc. of York to remove and dispose of asbestos-containing materials not just from 16 Forge Road, but also 12,500 square feet of floor tile adhesive and paper backing from the high school.

Any bids would need to be reviewed by the facilities committee before coming to the full board for a vote. We will work through it, Group said Monday.

We will go through the process, Estep said. We are not under the gun or under pressure to get it done.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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By Trend

The reforms carried out in the judicial and legal system of Azerbaijan have yielded good results, as well as in other areas, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan Republic Chingiz Asgarov told Trend.

Asgarov stated this at the event dedicated to the publication of the "Collection of decisions of the International Council on Protection of Refugees and the European Court of Human Rights relating to refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons".

He noted that 2021 marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of administrative courts in Azerbaijan.

"The reforms carried out in all areas in Azerbaijan have strengthened the national economy. In the future, the number of asylum seekers in Azerbaijan will increase. Therefore, government agencies should be ready for this," Asgarov said.
The new year brought a changing of the guard at the St. Louis regions electricity utility.

Marty Lyons officially took the reins as CEO of Ameren Corp. on Jan. 1. He replaces Warner Baxter, who had served as the monopolys chairman, president and CEO since 2014. Baxter will continue working for Ameren as its executive chairman.

The change in company leadership comes amid a transition period for much of the electric grid itself, as coal and fossil fuels give way to renewable energy  a trend poised to accelerate. Ameren now predominantly relies on coal for power generation, but aims to pour billions of dollars into renewable energy projects over the next two decades, with the goal of carbon emissions reaching net zero by 2050.

The Post-Dispatch recently interviewed Lyons and Baxter about their roles at Ameren, about short- and long-term changes they anticipate for the company, and about the future of energy.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Question  The Rush Island power plant is facing early retirement. Ameren had been resisting that tooth-and-nail for about a decade before saying closure is the best economic and environmental outcome. What changed?

Marty Lyons  Whats really changed in the past several months is in August, the U.S. Court of Appeals required us to install desulfurization equipment, otherwise known as scrubbers, on the plant. As a result of that, we were really faced with the decision, do we make investments in scrubbers? Or do we shut the plant down? Scrubbers cost hundreds of millions or up to a billion dollars on a plant. Ultimately, we determined that it was in the customers best interest that we not make that investment in that coal-fired energy center, and instead, move towards a closure. Now were in the process of determining when exactly that plant will be closed.

Q  Do we have the capacity to take that plant offline without any issues? Or will there be an immediate need for replacement power of some kind?

Lyons  Its an excellent question. We do believe that when Rush Island shuts down, well have adequate generation capacity to serve our customers. Theres a difference between having the energy capacity to serve our customers and having reliability of the transmission system. We need to make sure that we can safely shut down both the Meramec Energy Center (at the end of this year) and Rush Island and preserve reliability for our customers in intense periods. Longer term, well have to determine what change in our resource mix is needed.

Q  As renewables ramp up, at what point does reliability become a legitimate concern?

Lyons  Theoretically, yes, theres a point at which your intermittent resources are so great that they need to be backed up by what we call baseload generation or quickly dispatchable generation. We believe that our plan, which over time has us bringing in 1,200 additional megawatts of renewables by 2025, another 1,200 by 2030, another 2,300 by 2040  that gradual progression allows us to assess the reliability of the system and determine more specifically when we would need additional baseload. The plan we filed in 2019, youll recall, did allow us to rely on the baseload generation provided by our coal fleet as well as the (nuclear-powered) Callaway Energy Center while we transition in the renewables.

Warner Baxter  None of this can be done in a vacuum. We see what we can see, and others have the ability to look upon a much broader footprint and see how the system is holding together. And this is why part of the transition isnt just about generation. Its about the energy grid and transmission. Theres got to be significant levels of transmission investments in the future, to make sure that we can transport those intermittent resources from various parts of the country reliably, safely, and cost effectively.

Q  Do you see that as the biggest challenge facing the company?

Baxter  I think the good news is that we have obviously done these large, regional transmission projects. Is it a challenge? Yes. Is it something we can absolutely address as a company, and as a country? Yes. Must we? Yes. We see it as an important aspect of the clean energy transition, and one that can be addressed.

Lyons  Our goal is to get as clean as we can, as fast as we can. But there are a number of challenges associated with that: The pace at which we can build out the transmission system. The intermittency of renewable resources, such as wind and solar. The speed with which we can get those renewable resources constructed and acquired. So, there are broad challenges, which is why we have advocated for a pace of change we think is prudent.

Q  Weve seen things like the Grain Belt Express saga. Does that create concern about a transmission bottleneck or approval challenges that could hinder this renewable energy expansion? And is a federal push going to ultimately be needed to allow that transmission build-out?

Lyons  Well, today we operate more than 5,000 miles of transmission assets across Illinois and Missouri. And over the past 10 years, weve constructed some major transmission corridors. So, we have a strong track record, we believe, of working to build out the transmission system as needed to serve our customers. Ultimately, we believe well be able to get that done in and around our service territory.

Baxter  You asked, sort of, Do you see the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission playing a bigger role in all this? And I think the simple answer to that is yes. Now how far down they go remains to be seen. I dont think what youll see is the federal government taking over all transmission, because the state has some very specific rights. But you will see the industry  Ameren  playing a role there to try and facilitate the siting and, ultimately, development of transmission. No doubt.

Q  Marty, congrats on your appointment as CEO. Are there some overarching ambitions that youve got your eye on?

Lyons  Were going to continue to work on improving customer satisfaction, and we do think thats going to require even more investment in a smarter, more reliable, more resilient grid. We also know that weve got to continue on this clean energy path. We still have a long way to go, there. And so that will be a big focus of mine, is continuing that clean energy transition, and working with my team to ensure that we preserve reliability and affordability.

Q  How would you guys describe the significance of securitization?

Lyons  What securitization allows you to do is, as youve made a decision to retire a coal asset, is to be able to refinance that investment thats been made, and redeploy that capital into renewables. So, its a great tool that Missouri now has, that will be helpful as we make those decisions over time to pivot away from our coal-fired assets towards more renewables.

Q  Does Ameren see its role more as a localized or regional grid manager, as opposed to just purely an energy provider?

Lyons  Yes, we really do see ourselves broadly as a grid manager. Weve invested a lot over the past few years in our digital technologies and capabilities, to effectively manage the grid going forward. Were going to have to have a more sophisticated digital backbone, if you will. Our customers usage patterns are going to change, too. Theyre going to be using resources in different ways, like charging their cars. As we electrify transportation, they very well may have the ability to then utilize that stored energy for their own needs, or perhaps to put back onto the grid. That kind of a more transactive distribution grid is something that certainly we see in the future, and something that were poised to enable.

Q  Anything else that wasnt touched on yet?

Baxter  Were both excited and honored to take our new roles on, and itll be an exciting time. Fasten your seat belts.

Bryce Gray  314-340-8307 @_BryceGray on Twitter bgray@post-dispatch.com

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Five dollars can buy a variety of things: a burger, a specialty coffee or drink, or even a greeting card. There are plenty of other options, too. That $5 will also buy a special surprise for a nursing home resident.

The Park Hills business Copper Fox Contrived is holding its Roses for Residents project for the second year.

Tiffany Wright is the owner of the business and has a soft spot for seniors and wanted to give back. She put this project together, along with the sponsorship of the community, small business friends, out-of-state friends, family and clients.

Copper Fox Contrived provided 217 hand-painted wood roses and handmade Valentine cards to four local senior living facilities in 2021.

This project took place in the midst of the pandemic, a time when senior living facilities were forced to prohibit visitors due to the imposed health risk to the residents, said Wright. This was devastating to many.

She added that mental health in the senior living community took a deep dive, and loneliness and the feeling of being forgotten were at an all-time high.

I know first-hand how important it is to their health to keep spirits high in senior living facilities, said Wright. In my earlier years, I worked on the floor in an assisted living community.

But she said the senior community has taught her so much.

Mostly, the importance of reminding our senior community that they are loved, said Wright.

In June 2021, Wright expanded her home-based business into a storefront and hired employees.

I am no longer a one-woman show, she said, and we now have a platform of over 5K followers for our small business. We want to take full advantage of that for this years project.

Copper Fox Contrived is a wood-flower florist and gift shop.

Our wood flowers are hypoallergenic, as they dont have pollen to shed, they will never wilt or die, no need to water or preserve them, and they are always in season, said Wright.

Wright said that after the success of the 2021 Roses for Residents project and the communitys generosity, they want to make this year an even bigger success. The goal is to not only donate roses to facilities in St. Francois County, but theyre hoping to expand into the St. Charles and St. Louis areas as well.

In order to do so, we need help, she said. We are seeking sponsors to make this project everything we know it can be!

The cost is $5 to sponsor a single rose for a resident. Donations can be made in person at Copper Fox Contrived or online at https://checkout.square.site/merchant/9H496GTCDHQ99/checkout/DNJYAV3UKLINEEGRIBLFLYIL

There are currently 10 facilities on the list to be sponsored for this year: NHC, Mount Carmel, Ashbrook, Cedarhurst, Presbyterian, Watts Street Manor, Greater Heights, Meadowbrook, Country Meadows and Hillside Living Center.

Sponsors are still needed to purchase roses for residents for Valentines Day.

Your donation of $5 will provide a resident with an everlasting bloom they will be able to enjoy forever, said Wright. We are hoping to receive donations of items to send with our wood roses, like the handmade cards from the 2021 project. If you have a craft that you would like to donate to our Roses for Residents project, shoot us an email or send us a message on our businesss Facebook page.

In addition, a post made on the Park Hills Public Librarys Facebook page asked people to stop by to create a free handmade Valentine card to go with the rose donations.

Wright said shell create as many roses for as many residents as donations allow. Since this is a donation-based community project, she cannot guarantee every facility in the area will be covered. She said individuals or businesses can fundraise to cover an entire facility to ensure other area residents receive a special rose for Valentines Day.

What an awesome community of people and businesses we have supporting Roses for Residents 2022! We thank you all for your kindness, she said. Your sponsorship means more than you could ever know to these residents! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support of this amazing project!

Visit Copper Fox Contrived on Facebook for daily updates on the Roses for Residents project. The business is located at 361 West Main Street in Park Hills. Call 573-327-9582 for more information.

Pam Clifton is a contributing writer for the Daily Journal

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The Farmington Police Department arrested a suspect Friday evening on multiple charges including felony drug possession after an altercation with responding officers.

Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker stated that at about 6:15 p.m. officers responded to a disturbance in progress on the parking lot of OReillys Auto Parts at the corner of Karsch Blvd. and Middle Street.

Dispatch informed the officers that one of the vehicles involved was a blue Nissan passenger vehicle, he said. The officers located a blue Nissan Sentra parked in the employee area of the parking lot with the engine running.

"One of the officers positioned his patrol vehicle behind the Nissan. The two officers approached the driver, a 26-year-old female Farmington resident (Anastasia Bradshaw). One of the officers tried to the get the drivers attention.

"The driver backed the vehicle into the patrol vehicle in an attempt to flee. The driver continued to pull forward and back into the patrol vehicle several times until an officer was able to break the drivers side window, open the door and remove the driver.

The suspect continued to resist arrest and started running on foot from the scene. Baker said that a taser deployed and was ineffective. The department canine was then deployed and apprehended the suspect.

EMS responded to the scene, treated her for injuries and transported her to Parkland Hospital, he said.

A search of the vehicle revealed a felony amount of marijuana, numerous pills, drug paraphernalia and U.S. currency. The vehicle was impounded and towed by Boyds Towing. The suspect was released from Parkland Hospital.

The suspect was taken to St. Francois County Jail. The prosecutor's office charged her with second-degree assault, resisting arrest and property damage.

Mark Marberry is a reporter for the Farmington Press and Daily Journal. He can be reached at 573-518-3629, or at mmarberry@farmingtonpressonline.com

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January is a month I dread. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. My greatest daily accomplishment is refraining from clobbering those I love and each day crawls by in icy-long minutes.

Ive had a lot of time to think about it, and I think I know why January is so hard to endure. There arent enough holidays this month.

November has Thanksgiving and December owns Christmas. Except for New Years Day (which goes by in a sluggish stupor) and Martin Luther King Day, we have little to celebrate in January.

Maybe we should invent a few holidays to stick into these 31 miserable days. Give the world something to look forward to besides eating and sleeping like cranky bears in a drafty den.

Tough times call for tough celebrations. Nothing with frilly decorations and huggy, sappy commercials. Its time to take off the gloves and slap January silly with some REAL holidays.

How about National Nose Blowing Day? We do it all month anyway  there isnt a nostril in Missouri that escapes the drizzly effects of January.

I can see it now. Special tissue boxes with the slogan: Puffs  The Proud Sponsor of NNBD.

Ah. Think of the constant honking of varying harmonic timbre. The shameless dripping and wiping. Thick, nasally voices sharing stories of redness and chapping that is so much a part of our daily lives in the winter.

Next, there could be a day set aside for our fellow drivers; those few clueless motorists who ignore the perils of snowy, slick roads in January.

You know the guy. He whizzes past you, throwing a sheen of wet, brown muck across your windshield. He will undoubtedly make it home safely, while you dodge the ditches and pray for courage.

Lets call it: You Idiot! Day.

When this holiday rolls around and an inconsiderate clod of insufficient sensibility edges your tongue closer to the brink of unseemly verbal slippage, you can roll down your car window (if its not frozen shut) and wish him/her a heartfelt YOU IDIOT! DAY greeting.

Hell feel special. And maybe hell slide into the ditch ahead, making the roads safer for the rest of the day. No injuries, mind you. Only well-deserved, uninsured memories of his IDIOTIC Day. Now thats worth celebrating

Finally, Id really like to see a holiday that commemorates a well-established winter ritual all couple share. You can hear the shrieks from bedrooms all over the nation.

Get Your Cold Feet Off Me Day would be a shoe-in. It would take minimal preparation  a quick, barefooted waddle to the fridge and back by the giver of chills would guarantee the recipient more than ample motivation to blare out a blustery, Get Your Cold Feet Off Me wish.

The couple could take turns surprising one another, all night long, with frozen little piggies pressed against warm pockets of toasty-warm flesh. What a fitting way to cap off a month of WAY TOO MUCH togetherness.

I know Id enjoy Get Your Cold Feet Off Me Day.

See. With a little mean-spirited imagination and a whole lot of cabin fever, we could make January a month to look forward to.

Its a thought.

Robin Garrison Leach is a freelance writer and columnist from Quincy, Illinois."Robin Writes" is published in numerous Missouri and Illinois newspapers. Contact her at robingarrisonleach@gmail.com.

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This year may be the last January March for Life. I've attended many of the annual pro-life gatherings in our nation's capital, and it's a sight to behold. There's always a big showing from North Dakota, thanks to the University of Mary in Bismarck. The day before the march, I almost always encounter students from Louisiana at Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral. Many students spend the night in the basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, some in vigil, others catching some sleep in the side chapels and everywhere else there is space.

The March for Life is on one level a protest of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in all three trimesters of pregnancy. But, more importantly, it's a celebration of life. Roe was decided on January 22, 1973. If it's overturned by the Supreme Court in June, I'm hoping the march will move to that summer month and transition to a gathering of thanksgiving. And there will still be many reasons to take a stand against abortion, as the procedure will likely remain legal in many states.

There are all kinds of caricatures and misconceptions about the pro-life movement. We don't want to put women in jail. We don't want them to suffer or be alone. All too often, the pressures are too great for a woman to consider anything but abortion. But women are capable of amazing things when they find people who want to support them and help them make the right choice both for themselves and their child. We march for life not only to oppose abortion, but to celebrate the women who have made courageous choices to give life -- to mother in challenging circumstances or choose adoption.

But such women and their choices are not supported by our culture -- they have to fight every step of the way in our disposable, life-denying culture.

I recently encountered a woman protesting a pro-life prayer vigil outside a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in New York. Addressed by name, I said good morning to her. She replied: "It is a good morning, because no one is forcing me to give birth." She held a sign in my face about opposing forced birth. But the pro-life people gathered there that morning wanted women not to be pressured in every way to end the lives of their unborn children. We're not about force, but actual freedom.

Abortion is not health care. It's the most intimate violence on a woman and her developing child, who winds up dead in the process. Bills that outlaw abortion if a fetal heartbeat can be detected are instructive because they acknowledge that it is fairly early on in a pregnancy when human life as we think of it develops. As we potentially move toward a post-Roe America, we need to be honest about what we are talking about.

It would seem an impossible plea in these divided times, but could people of good will band together to make sure women know that they have options that are not abortion? It was not all that long ago when a Democratic presidential candidate framed abortion essentially as a necessary evil -- there is room for both sides to come together on some points of this issue.

Now is the time to band together to make abortion implausible. The young people holding "We Are the Post-Roe Generation" signs are confident. And the March for Life veterans with the "We Will Help You" signs will show you the pro-life movement in all its compassion for women who deserve better than abortion.

Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book "A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living." She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan's pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at klopez@nationalreview.com

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How did that little black bean-like piece of sharp spice called black pepper get to be a most important trade item in the 11th century? For 200 years, there was a stream of pilgrims and Crusaders to the Holy Land, where they developed a taste for the foods of the warm climate. Venice and Genoa became the principal supplier of such little-known items such as dates, figs, lemons, oranges, almonds, and Asian spices.

Although pepper, nutmeg, mace and cinnamon were expensive, their use was not restricted to the very wealthy, but became common fare for the middle class. Trade in these items went through many transactions. Prices of spices typically increased on every shipment from Alexandria to Lyons or Nurnberg. When Venice defeated Genoa in 1380, that city-state controlled most of the Far East trade of spices, silks and precious stones.

The first step to break the Far East trade monopoly was to find new routes to the Far East in 1418. Thus, Prince Henry of Portugal sent out expeditions from the west coast of Africa into the Indian Ocean to find the source of spices and jewels. By 1500, another Portuguese fleet sailed west and reached Brazil to find another source of spices. The Venetian monopoly had been broken, and a firm price for pepper was established.

In 1510, after various battles with the Arabs, who had controlled trade in the Indian Ocean, the Portuguese became established on the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). There, they quickly exploited the cinnamon forests, enslaved the workers and built up a very lucrative trade monopoly that lasted well into the 17th century.

The Portuguese moved further east and settled the town of Malacca at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. This was close to the Spice Islands, where cargos of spices and silks were assembled to be shipped to Europe.

The Portuguese were concerned about territorial acquisitions and to spread Catholicism, as well as trade. They also tried to fix the prices of spices. However, the local people were used to exchanging spices for food and clothing, neither of which they produced themselves. They maintained the value of nutmeg and mace by raising the prices sevenfold.

The Portuguese shipped spices to London, but for the first 60 years, it was the Dutch who controlled the shipping and trade in northern Europe. They made a handsome profit from the sale of spices. Then, in 1568, Philip II of Spain moved into the Netherlands, and war broke out. After 15 years, the Dutch managed to dislodge the Spaniards from the northern Calvinist provinces, but not from the Catholic south.

Although the defeat of the Armada in 1588 reduced Spains sea power, Philip II was still able to deny the Dutch access to the spice trade. However, with information gathered from spies in Lisbon, about spices, trading methods and Portuguese fortifications, the Dutch planned their first voyage to the Far East.

Portuguese superiority was based on naval and military strength. The Dutch soon surpassed that. However, local rulers enlisted the help of the Dutch to rid themselves of the Portuguese.

The cost of pursuing the monopoly of the spice trade was so immense that it was questionable whether it was worth it. By the 18th century, spices were an important part of international trade. The man who mastered the growth of the spice trade was a young English bookkeeper who sailed to the Indies in 1607. He rose to become governor-general of the Indies  all within a period of 10 years. Almost singlehandedly, he created the Dutch empire whose wealth was built on cloves, mace, nutmeg and Sumatran pepper.

Is there more to the story? Yes  and well see how pepper became an everyday item. And you can go right on sprinkling pepper on that hamburger. But, what about vanilla, chocolate and tomatoes?
Legislative proposals to curb Virginia utilities political contributions may be gaining new traction in Richmond, and its not only because customers are angry at recent widespread power outages caused by a Jan. 3 snow storm.

More at play are old resentments over a 2015 utility rate freeze law combined with progressive Democrats skepticism of utility influence and Republican anger over Dominion Energys contributions to a shadowy PAC attacking Gov. Glenn Youngkin during the 2021 elections.

Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, said proposals that he, Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Stafford have come up with have a very good chance at clearing the Republican-controlled House of Delegates. Petersen said he expects the support of a portion of Democrats in the Senate they narrowly control.

I cant get them all. I certainly cant get the ones that are more senior in leadership, said Petersen during a news conference Monday with Ware. But I can get a portion of my caucus.

Garren Shipley, a spokesperson for House Republicans, said party members havent discussed [the bills] at length yet as a caucus.

Petersen also called on Youngkin to throw his support behind the proposals. Both he and Ware said they had spoken to the new governor, with Ware indicating Youngkin sees some affinity with their goals, but the administration has taken no public stance on the legislation.

The commonwealth needs the new governor to take a firm stand on this issue, and my hope is that will change the dynamic, said Petersen.

Political contributions by utilities have been a hot-button issue in Virginia in recent years largely due to Dominion, the states largest electric utility and for many years the biggest corporate donor in state politics. Many of the loudest voices for reform have come from an influx of progressive Democrats starting in 2017, who in a lot of ways moved the needle on this issue, said Petersen, an early proponent of restrictions on public service coporation political giving.

In last years race for governor, the company sparked particular outrage among Republicans by bankrolling a mysterious PAC effort meant to depress turnout for Youngkin in rural areas. At the time, Dominion claimed it was unaware of the PACs activities, but post-election financial disclosures show the utility and its executives provided almost half the money the PAC received, according to Cardinal News.

Factions of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed discomfort with what they describe as Dominions outsize influence over the General Assembly, which has passed a series of laws favorable to the utility over the past decade, including a controversial rate freeze in 2015 that remained in place until 2018 and brought in hundreds of millions of dollars in excess profits, according to state regulators.

While utilities such as Dominion are great companies, Ware said Monday, they need to be responsible to the State Corporation Commission and not use massive lobbying monies and a large lobbying corps to get around and get what they want from the assembly.

Petersen described a scenario where you have a state monopoly, a state utility thats not just donating money to campaigns, but also doing so in a way that frankly can be devious, that can be perhaps intended to mislead voters as opposed to inform voters, where again you have a monopolistic company that has a captive audience that is spreading money around the General Assembly and using that to structure the state law.

Asked about its stance on Petersen and Wares legislation and Petersens comments, Dominion spokesperson Rayhan Daudani said in an email that campaign finance laws should apply to all equally.

The anti-Youngkin ads Dominion helped finance have also inspired a push to tighten state laws on when PACs have to report their spending activity. Legislation sponsored by Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, would require PACs to report large pre-election expenditures of $1,000 or more, bringing more immediate transparency while votes are being cast rather than after an election is over.

In a floor speech Monday, Suetterlein said the Dominion-backed ads, which portrayed Youngkin as soft on guns, were most unusual.

There is no excuse for what happened, he said. We need more disclosure in this commonwealth.

Last year, Youngkins campaign responded to the ad controversy by suggesting entrenched interests were rallying behind his opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, because they were afraid of his outsider status. However, after Youngkins victory, Dominion donated $50,000 to his inaugural committee, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Asked Monday where the governor stands on reining in utility donations, Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said: The governor will review all legislation that comes to his desk.

This article was published originally in The Virginia Mercury, an online, non-profit news site that covers Virginia politics and public policy. Read the original article here: www.virginiamercury.com
Public schools in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle and Nelson will continue to require students and staff to wear masks in the wake of Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order seeking to remove the requirement.

Both school districts issued news releases Monday, clarifying that the decision to continue to require masks is based on Virginia state law as well as federal government orders requiring masks on buses. Both school districts cited safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as reasoning for opposing the executive order, which is expected to go into effect on Jan. 24.

Especially at this moment during the omicron-variant surge, we reaffirm our commitment to masking and other mitigation strategies, wrote Royal A. Gurley, Jr. and Lisa Larson-Torres, the Charlottesville superintendent and School Board chairwoman. Following the recommendations of the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health has allowed us to keep in-school transmission to a minimum.

A statement issued by the county schools spoke to the same need for safety, citing a local surge in cases.

According to the latest information from the Blue Ridge Health District, the level of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus in Albemarle County is in the health districts highest risk category, the county schools release reads. The most current data from the [CDC] reports that daily infections in Albemarle County have more than quadrupled in recent weeks, and the percentage of positive test results has increased from less than 4% to nearly 30%.

Nelson County Public Schools also issued a similar statement, affirming a dedication to the safety of its staff and students as basis for continuing to require masks.

The school districts all cite a state law passed by the General Assembly in 2021, which remains in effect until August. With the General Assembly now entering the second week of its 2022 session it remains to be seen whether any legislation seeking to extend or overturn the mask requirement will gain traction.

However, not all of the Central Virginia school districts seek to oppose Youngkins executive order.

In a Sunday letter, Louisa County Public Schools Superintendent Doug Straley wrote that the school will comply with the executive order starting Jan. 24 and will, at that point, allow parents to choose whether their child wears a mask.

As mentioned, this is an Executive Order that all school divisions are mandated to follow, and there are still more specific directions to come from the Virginia Department of Education, Straley wrote. Once we have those specific directions in hand, well update our policies as needed and provide you with an immediate update.

Charlottesville and Albemarle County join a growing number of school districts opposing Youngkins executive order. Arlington County Public Schools were among the first to respond to the executive order, tweeting out a news release Saturday citing a need to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, following the guidance of local and national health professionals.

The new governor took little time to respond and told a WTOP reporter Sunday that he would use state resources to force the school systems to comply.

We wrote the order specifically to give all the school systems, basically, eight days to get ready to listen to parents, Youngkin said. Over the course of this week, I hope they will listen to parents because we will use every resource within the governors authority to explore what we can and will do to ensure parents rights are protected.

Parents rights were a major facet of Youngkins campaign, which saw the Republican lean into the nationwide controversy over critical race theory  a concept which has widely differing definitions, depending on the source, but generally involves highlighting the way the U.S. government has historically oppressed people of color.

Though no legal challenges have yet been filed, University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that it is likely that soon a local school system or a parent is likely to go to court and argue that the state law that says Virginia must follow CDC guidelines to the maximum extent practicable supersedes the new governors executive order.

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Alone in a Birmingham jail cell, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter in 1963 responding to criticism from local, white clergy about his nonviolent demonstrations against segregation in Alabama.

In 2022, the message remains relevant, according to those who read and heard a recitation of the letter at St. James Episcopal Church on Monday, the federal holiday honoring the late civil rights leader, whose birthday was Saturday.

One of those who read a portion of the letter was Mae Helen Shields, of Midlothian, who marched and organized alongside King. About three weeks after King wrote his letter, she marched in the Childrens March in Birmingham, for which she was arrested and jailed.

It was very dangerous, but we met it with our head up. We withstood, Shields said after Mondays event. We didnt ever fear the danger. We faced it.

She read a excerpt from Kings letter were he describes the four steps of his nonviolent campaign, which included self-purification before direct action.

We started having workshops on nonviolence and repeatedly asked ourselves the questions, Are you able to accept the blows without retaliating? Are you able to endure the ordeals of jail?, Shields read from the letter.

Later, the letter reads: An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.

Shields, along with six othersthey were Black, white, Christian, Jewish, women and meneach read a portion of the letter to a predominately white audience. The church, located on Franklin Street at the edge of Virginia Commonwealth Universitys campus, is a stones throw from Stuart Circle, where, until recently, a monument to Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart sat, upon a now empty pedestal. It was the first of long line of monuments that gave that portion of the avenue its name, and one of the flashpoints of the civil unrest in 2020.

He wasnt preaching to the choir, Dr. Lisa Edwards Burrs said afterward, pointing out that Kings letter was for white audiences. He was speaking to those who could turn the tide.

Some of the sentiment is still so real and needed Burrs said, adding that it was particularly impactful to hear Kings words from diverse voices.

A member of St. James parish choir and a professor of music at Longwood University, Burrs also sang renditions of Lift Every Voice and Sing, often referred to as the Black national anthem, and We Shall Overcome, a hymn popularized during the Civil Rights movement.

The Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill said the letter was a poignant choice for the congregation. The oft-quoted letter addresses the white moderate who King describes as someone who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension, to a positive peace which is the presence of justice ... who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another mans freedom.

His words cut across lines of race, religion and denominations, things that divide us, Hill said after the reading. That allows his words to live in this church, this congregation, as it had in others. King has a wonderful way of crossing those boundaries.

Hill is the missioner for Racial Justice & Healing for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, and read the first section of the letter that carries the immortal line: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

The letter was selected by the churchs racial justice committee, according to Mark Whitmire, the parishs director of music, who also read a portion. Whitmire said for 15 years the church had used its Sunday evening service, called Evensong, to honor King, but because of the pandemic, they tried something different this year.

We wanted to be outside to announce to the world: were all in, Whitmire said, but added that the wintry weather sent them inside. Dr. Kings words are undoubtedly and uncompromisingly true, so it wasnt hard to internalize.
Bahrain-based Rain, a leading cryptocurrency company, has raised $110 million in its Series B funding to further expand licensing in other countries and regions.

The round was co-led by Paradigm and Kleiner Perkins with participation from numerous parties including Coinbase Ventures, Global Founders Capital, MEVP, Cadenza Ventures, Jimco and CMT Digital.

This announcement comes after a Series A round of funding, led by MEVP with participation from Coinbase Ventures, during which Rain raised $6 million in January of 2021.

Having done over $1.9 billion worth of transactions and amassed over 185,000 active users this round of Series B funding is a milestone within an already monumental year for the company.

With over 400 employees, Rain will also continue to grow its team across the region hoping to double in size by 2022.

Founded in 2017 by Abdullah Almoaiqel, AJ Nelson, Joseph Dallago, and Yehia Badawy, Rain will enhance its technology with an advanced trading platform and continuing to grow the team as cryptocurrency adoption continues to increase globally.

In a joint statement, the co-founding team said: We are very excited about this funding opportunity as it allows us to continue conversations with regulators across the Mena region, Turkey, and Pakistan about the benefits and potential of cryptocurrency. It will also support our overarching mission of providing education and access to cryptocurrency to all of our supported markets.

They added: At Rain, we strongly believe in the long-term value of cryptocurrency and its Blockchain technology foundation to change finance globally. We are humbled to work with some of the highest quality global investors, like Paradigm, Kleiner Perkins and Coinbase Ventures, who share a unified goal of a more open and inclusive financial system."

We believe Rain is a crucial piece of the puzzle for bringing the Middle East deeper into the new crypto economy, said Casey Caruso, investing partner at Paradigm. Their emphasis on supporting and educating those new to crypto alongside strong banking and regulatory relationships has helped them build a service people trust. This is just the beginning for Rain, and we're honored to support their growth.

Mamoon Hamid, a partner at Kleiner Perkins commented on the partnership: "Rain provides fundamental access and an on-ramp to a new paradigm of the Internet. We're excited to partner with Rain as they grow and expand to serve people in more locations around the world, including Pakistan."

While continuing to focus on regional expansion, Rain seeks to offer a safe and secure space to buy, sell and store cryptocurrencies, as well as providing regular educational opportunities for those interested in learning more about cryptocurrencies.-- TradeArabia News Service
Oregon State University held its 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday morning, Jan. 17. But instead of a celebration filled with the usual performances, this years speakers chose to bring attention to the current filibuster to pass voting rights legislation in Washington D.C.

Members of Kings family requested that people around the country honor him by applying pressure on Congress to pass voting rights legislation. The pending legislation would establish national standards for voting by mail, permissible voter IDs, voter registration and early voting.

Republicans are hesitant to pass this legislation because they fear it will lead to voter fraud, while Democrats say it will protect voting rights in states with a history of discrimination.

This has to be the year of the full court press, Jason J. Dorsette, President of the NAACP-Linn Benton Counties branch, said at the peace march.

LaTosha Brown was selected to be this years keynote speaker at the event, but she was unable to attend because of her involvement with the very legislation discussed. Instead, where she spent Monday in Washington D.C., providing support for the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Her keynote address has been rescheduled for Feb. 17.

The Rho Beta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. would normally have performed at the peace breakfast. This year, members instead held a moment of silence for the injustices that still greatly affect society today.

In addition, Dorsette made an announcement about what his organization is calling the Fred Meyer Anti-discrimination Campaign, in which Corvallis community members are encouraged to take action against the alleged discriminatory practices the shopping chain has engaged in both recently and historically.

These incidents include, but are not limited to, racial profiling, surveillance based on the color of their skin and unwarranted refusal to cash checks, Dorsette alleged. The unlawful treatment of shoppers of color at the Fred Meyer in this town is hurtful to folk and is damaging our community.

There will be a virtual strategy/mobilizing/action planning meeting on Feb. 6 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. for anyone interested in joining this cause. A signup form for the meeting is available on the Linn Benton NAACP Branch Facebook page.

Award recipients

Five members of the Oregon State community were honored with awards at the peace breakfast for carrying on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s message and working forward in the present. The awards are named after prominent figures in the Corvallis community who exemplify great leadership and progress in social justice movements.

The Oscar Humberto Montemayor Award was given to Cazandra Aporbo, a biology student at the OSU-Cascades campus.

The Frances Dancy Hooks Award was given to Tarron Anderson and Mateo Olmos. Tarron Anderson is the Equity Associate in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Olmos is a senior studying Human Development and Family Sciences, and he is also on the OSU wrestling team.

The Phyllis S. Lee Award was given to Samantha Chisholm Hatfield, a tribal liaison and research associate with the College of Agriculture in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alumni Legacy Award was given to Eric Knox, who graduated in 1989. Knox is the founder and executive director of HOLLA  a nonprofit mentoring organization for Black and Brown youth.

After the breakfast, as many as 200 community members peacefully marched a 1-mile route from The LaSells Stewart Center to the Memorial Union. As people marched along with signs in hand, they sang This Little Light of Mine, Victory is MINE and We Shall Overcome Some Day.

Olmos, one of two recipients of the Frances Dancy Hooks Award, spoke once the march was completed.

I still dont think the dream is completely fulfilled, he said to the crowd. There is a lot more work to be done.

Joanna Mann covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_.

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State

Texas abortion law challenge heads to state's Supreme Court, likely adding more delays to case

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday sent the legal challenge to Texas restrictive abortion law to the states Supreme Court, a move that is expected to significantly delay the case and that abortion opponents had hoped would occur.

This decision now keeps the case in limbo  and abortion after 6 weeks in the nations second-largest state  a dead-letter, indefinitely, wrote Steve Vladeck, a University of Texas School of Law professor, on Twitter.

The U.S. Supreme Court has largely declined to intervene in the Texas case three times, most recently in December when justices kept the ban in effect while allowing a legal challenge to move through a lower state court.

The law remains in effect while the challenge proceeds.

The unique central feature of the ban, which allows private individuals to sue abortion providers and anyone who aids an abortion after about six weeks of gestation, has made it difficult to challenge the law in court. State officials are not in charge of enforcing it, and challenges to the law have struggled to name defendants in their efforts to stop it.

Many people are unaware at six weeks that they are pregnant and the law has become one of the most restrictive abortion measures in the country.

A divided Supreme Court found that most challenges against the Texas law should be dismissed, except for one filed against medical licensing officials. That case was sent to the 5th Circuit, one of the most conservative appellate courts in the country, rather than a federal district court as abortion providers and supporters had hoped.

The three-judge federal panel, based in New Orleans, wrote in their 2-1 decision Monday that the Texas Supreme Court must certify the case and decide whether the U.S. Supreme Court was correct in allowing a challenge to proceed against the licensing officials. Circuit Judges Edith H. Jones and Stuart Kyle Duncan, both appointed by Republicans, said the states highest court should determine whether the Texas attorney general, the Texas Medical Board and other licensing officials can enforce the law if it is violated.

Judge Stephen A. Higginson, a Democratic appointee, argued the U.S. Supreme Court had already decided that matter.

This further, second-guessing redundancy, without time limit, deepens my concern that justice delayed is justice denied, here impeding relief ordered by the Supreme Court, he wrote in his dissent.

State supreme courts do not have to take up cases that are sent to them by federal courts, but its likely Texas will this time. Lawyers said its unusual to ask the Texas Supreme Court to make this decision after the U.S. Supreme Court has already weighed in.

Until a decision is made, Texas abortion providers have mostly stopped performing the procedure, even though Supreme Court decisions, including in the landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, establish a constitutional right to abortion.

Lawyers for abortion providers have said that getting the case sent to a federal district court is the best hope to have it struck down  and that sending it to the states Supreme Court instead could delay any decision by months.

Abortion opponents said such an extensive delay is exactly what they wanted.

While all of these complicated legal questions are untangled, we already every day have our victory,John Seago, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, previously told the Texas Tribune. Courts have allowed this law to stay in effect.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide by June whether a Mississippi law that bans abortions at 15 weeks of pregnancy is constitutional.
Colorado Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday sent a letter to state legislators asking for unemployment insurance relief in the face of rates that could spike up to 72% in coming years.

The incredible surge of unemployment claims during the pandemic, starting in March of 2020, completely drained the Colorado Unemployment Trust Fund.

Colorado now owes $1 billion to the federal government. Theres a solvency surcharge that can be billed to employers to replenish the fund, or lawmakers could possibly use some of the federal $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan stimulus money.

Business leaders support Gov. Jared Polis budget proposal, which would dedicate $600 million in relief for the trust fund this legislative session, and urge lawmakers to do the same, according to the letter. It was sent to leading lawmakers, and to members of the Colorado Joint Budget Committee and the House and Senate appropriations committees.

This session, the state legislature has the opportunity to provide real relief to businesses and their employees across Colorado, setting us on the course to recovery for years to come, the chamber wrote. One of the single most effective actions that can be taken to accomplish this goal is replenishing the UITF, which is funded solely on the backs of employers to compensate workers for unemployment claims.

Now is exactly the wrong time to implement a surcharge, or a fee, which effectively attacks employment when that is a key to recovery, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chris Holbert said at a legislative preview event last week.

Rep. Hugh McKean, R-Loveland and House Minority Leader, said last week the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment told him unemployment insurance rates could spike 72% in coming years.

Legislative leaders from both parties agree policymakers need to confront the challenge.

Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, earlier said lawmakers will be looking at ways to ensure that the unemployment trust fund, now shored up with a federal loan, receives substantial investments to avoid sticker shock through big premium hikes to small businesses.

Unless legislators take action now, every business in Colorado will face historically high premium increases in the coming years  especially those that had to lay off workers through no fault of their own, the chamber said. It would be unconscionable to put this burden on the backs of businesses in these already difficult economic times.

The chamber cited a study by the Common Sense Institute indicating that compared to a 2020 baseline, Colorado employers face $5.3 billion in additional state and federal unemployment insurance payroll taxes between 2023 and 2027.
Medical personnel adminster COVID-19 swab tests at a mass testing site in the parking lot of Citadel Mall Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The state has reopened mass testing sites in light of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the country.
Burkina Fasos telecom sector in recent years has made some gains in providing the necessary infrastructure and bandwidth to support telecom services.

An IXP completed in September 2020 increased international bandwidth capacity by a third, while in mid-2021 the government was able to start the second phase of a national fibre backbone project. This will link the capital city to an addition 145 municipalities, and provide additional connectivity to terrestrial cables in neighbouring countries.

This new infrastructure is also making it possible for the government to trial telemedicine, and so address the very poor availability of medical services in almost all parts of the country. However, the government, newly elected in November 2020, is under popular pressure to address security issues. Civil disturbances erupted in November 2021 after the government proved incapable of preventing killings by militants. The activities of the militants in side areas of the country jeopardise overall security, and render it difficult for the telcos to safeguard their networks and equipment.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming years the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Revised Finance Law increases telecom tax to 7% of telco revenue;

Second stage of the national fibre backbone networks gets underway;

Regulator opts to postpone implementation of MNP indefinitely;

Burkina Faso begins developing its first satellite;

Main One increases broadband bandwidth with new PRICAO fibre cable;

Burkina Faso joins G5 Sahel countries to eliminate roaming fees;

Government progresses with XOF23.6 billion project to provide metropolitan fibre infrastructure;

Report update includes the regulator's annual reports and market statistical data to March 2021, telcos' financial and operating data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Get a Full Copy of this Report

Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the worlds largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.

The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report:

Report title: Burkina Faso - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Edition: November 2021

Analysts: Henry Lancaster, Peter Lange

Number of pages: 135

Companies mentioned in the report: Onatel, Telmob, Bharti Airtel (Zain, Celtel), Orange Burkina Faso, Moov (Telecel, Etisalat), FasoNet, ZCP, Delgi, Cenatrin, CFAO Technologies, River Telecom, Net Access, Maroc Telecom, Vivendi.

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Burkina Faso completes the first phase on the national fibre backbone
Benins telecom market continues to be restricted by the poor condition of the countrys fixed-line infrastructure. This has in turn hampered the development of fixed-line voice and internet services, and as a result there is negligible revenue derived from these sectors.

Mobile networks account for almost all internet connections, and also carry most voice traffic. As such, it is this sector which is attracting most investment.

There is promise for considerable change in the mobile sector, which has been a duopoly between Moov and MTN since the closure of services from Glo Mobile and Libercom in 2018.

However, progress is being made in developing competition in the mobile sector. The national infrastructure provider SBIN has been licensed to provide mobile services, and in mid-2021 Sonatel Group was awarded a five-year contract to oversee progress. In May 2021 the government sought foreign companies unaffiliated with MTN Group or Maroc Telecom to bid for a fourth mobile licence.

Improved international internet connectivity has contributed to a reduction in end-user pricing, and provided the potential to transform many areas of the countrys economy, bringing a greater proportion of the population into the orbit of internet commerce and connectivity. A 2,000km fibre project started in 2016 was finally completed in mid-2021, prompting the government to secure a loan to build additional fibre infrastructure connecting four of the countrys 12 departments.

BuddeComm notes that the pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Sonatel granted five-year contract to manage the infrastructure provider SBIN and develop mobile services;

Government initiates process to licence a new MNO, secures $40 million loan to begin a fibre network project covering four departments;

Government launches a national interoperability platform for its smart government (Smart Gouv) program;

MTN Benin extends managed services partnership with Ericsson;

Orange commissions new connection from the ACE submarine cable, connecting Benin with Tenerife;

Report update includes the regulator's market data to June 2021, telcos' operating data to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

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Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the worlds largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.

The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report:

Report title: Benin - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Edition: November 2021

Analysts: Henry Lancaster, Peter Lange

Number of pages: 148

Companies mentioned in the report: MTN, Moov (Telecel), Libercom, BBCom (Bell Benin), Glo Mobile (Globacom), be.Telecoms (Benin Telecoms, formerly OPT), Kanakoo (BeninNet), Isocel, EIT, FirstNet, Arts Bobo, Sobiex Informatique, Global Trading Agency, Afripa Telecom, Thuraya, Nitel, Suburban Telecom, CEB

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Somalias economic difficulties in recent years have made it difficult for telcos and the government to sustain investment in infrastructure. The government has also had to contend with militant groups which continue on occasion to force the closure of internet services in many areas of the country.

In recent years, though, the government has addressed the lack of guidance which had prevailed since 1991, when a dictatorial regime was overthrown. The National Communications Law was passed in October 2017, aimed at setting a legal and regulatory framework for the telecoms sector, while provision was made in the following year to set up a regulatory authority to oversee the telecom sector. More recently, three types of licenses were mandated to provide clarity to operators, and to bring the market closer into line with international standards. All operators were given until August 2020 to secure one of the three licence types.

Despite the many inherent difficulties faced in the country, the telecom market has flourished. Tariffs are among the lowest in Africa, and new cable systems coming on stream in the next few years (providing additional connectivity to Asia and Europe) will lead to downward pressure on retail pricing.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Somtel launches LTE-A services;

DARE 1 cable serving East Africa comes into operation;

Deadline for telcos to secure licenses to operate is passed;

Government sets up an IXP in Mogadishu;

Liquid Telecom builds the country's first fibre broadband link;

SEACOM cable lands in Somalia;

Three mobile operators agree to interconnect their networks;

Report includes Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Get a Full Copy of this Report

Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the worlds largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.

The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report:

Report title: Somalia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Edition: November 2021

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

Number of pages: 84

Companies mentioned in the report: Dalkom, Golis Telecom, Hormuud Telecom, Nationlink, Netco, Somafone, Somtel, Telcom Somalia, Telesom, Thuraya

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Vi (Vodafone Idea) has expanded its Wi-Fi calling facility in the Indian state of Haryana. With this, the Wi-Fi calling service by the telecom company has been expanded to a total of twelve circles in India.

All Vi prepaid and postpaid customers in the state can now use Wi-Fi calling service by Vi and make and receive voice calls over Wi-Fi networks when their cellular network is unreliable. The telecom operator started rolling out Wi-Fi calling in the country in 2020.

"Vi VoWiFi calling service provides seamless and extended indoor coverage on all broadband networks. Initially, it was limited to a few circles. Wiis Wi-Fi calling service is now available in twelve regions," explained the release.

Vi VoWifi calling service is currently available in Delhi & NCR, Gujarat, Mumbai, M&G, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, and West Bengal. Vi is in the process of extending VoWifi to more locations over the coming months.

The Vi WiFi calling service is free for subscribers with unlimited plans. Those with other packs will be charged according to the base tariff plan.

Vi has been the last major telecom provider to offer WiFi calling, with Airtel and Jio already supporting the feature.

Wi-Fi calling lets subscribers counter weak cellular community points and permit them to make and obtain voice calls over Wi-Fi as a substitute. Customers must preserve each VoLTE (voice over LTE) and Wi-Fi calling switched on to make use of the service.
Indonesian mobile telecommunications services operator XL Axiata claims to have made significant changes in the 4G network by using technology from Cisco Ultra Traffic Optimization (CUTO).

Earlier in mid-2021, XL Axiata and Cisco had conducted a series of trials of the CUTO solution.

After being proven successful in increasing the efficiency of radio network capacity, CUTO technology will begin to be implemented at the end of 2021 in a number of areas with high data traffic density. In 2022, XL Axiata will expand the adoption of this technology.

Director and Chief Technology Officer XL Axiata, I Gede Darmayusa, said in a press release that he was pleased to be working with Cisco in implementing CUTO technology, which is the first in Indonesia.

CUTO helps increase the efficiency of network capacity so that our cellular network infrastructure becomes even better. With CUTO, XL Axiata can provide high-quality data services to customers, wherever they are," said Gede Darmayusa.

I Gede Darmayusa added, CUTO technology is one of the right solutions to be implemented on the XL Axiata network, to be able to continue to support customer data traffic growth by providing customers with better throughput and mobile broadband experiences.

This is evident from the latest network measurement report, where the throughput of XL Axiata users has increased by around 17% through the implementation of CUTO, said the release.

UTO is an optimization feature presented by Cisco to increase the efficiency of XL Axiata's network capacity by relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the worlds largest smelter ex-China, recently welcomed a high-level delegation from Spanish-based Aleastur, a specialist in the manufacturing of specialty alloys for the aluminium industry.



The Aleastur delegation comprising Leopoldo Galan - MD Aleastur Aluminium Business Unit & COO, Enrique Sela - Country Manager Aleastur Middle East, Alberto Fernandez - Interim Plant Manager Aleastur Middle East and Meshari Saeed - Production Manager Aleastur Middle East were welcomed by Albas Chief Executive Officer Ali Baqali, Khalid A Latif, Chief Marketing Officer, Waleed Tamimi Chief Supply Officer and other senior officials from Alba.



While Alba and Aleastur have been in a long-standing business partnership spanning more than two decades, Alba will look forward to supplying its metal to Aleasturs state-of-the-art aluminium grain refiners and master alloys production facility in the Kingdom which was recently announced as part of the Kingdoms Aluminium Downstream Park.



Commenting on this visit, Albas Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said: We see massive opportunities when one of our suppliers launch their first overseas facility in Bahrain to cater not only for us but also to major Aluminium producers and casthouses in the region.



What makes this move all the way interesting is that Alba will be the supplier of choice for high-quality Aluminium for their Bahrain facility, thus making Aleastur Albas customer and supplier at the same time. We also look forward to strengthening our ties with Aleastur on different fronts especially in respect to ESG discipline.



Aleasturs CEO Sergio Martinez stated: Today we officially delivered to Alba, a long-term customer and strategic player in the industry, the first material manufactured in our new plant in Bahrain. This milestone is full of meaning for Aleastur GROUP, which represents our upgraded global capabilities and confirms our full commitment to our peers in the region. TradeArabia News Service
Angolas National Asset Recovery Service has seized a 25% holding in mobile provider Unitel from Geni, a private firm controlled by Leopoldino do Nascimento.

Known as General Dino, do Nascimento is a close associate of Angolas former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Following the fall of Angolas former government, CommsUpdate reports that the state is now investigating alleged corruption by key members of the regime, with General Dinos stake targeted as part of this.

In December 2021, General Dino relinquished his position as vice-president of Unitels board so that the operator could avoid incurring sanctions after US authorities brought embezzlement charges against him.

Local news outlet Lusa reported that the seizure was carried out as part of a patrimonial and financial investigation conducted by the National Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Action (DNIAP) and under the authority of the Attorney Generals Office (PGR). The stake has been entrusted to the State Assets & Participations Management Institute (Instituto de Gestao de Activos e Participacoes do Estado, IGAPE) meaning that 100% of Unitels share capital is now controlled by the Angolan government.

In December 2020, a 25% stake in Unitel was seized from Isabel dos Santos, local billionaire and daughter of the former president, as part of the same anti-corruption investigation. The remaining 50% of share capital is held by the state oil firm Sonangol  which, along with Unitel itself, is expected to be privatised in the coming years as part of a broader government initiative.
South African giant Vodacom Groups bid for a controlling stake in Vodafone Egypt is set to proceed after the operator received shareholder backing.

The proposed acquisition of a 55 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt cleared a crucial hurdle when minority shareholders overwhelmingly voted in favour of the transaction.

Vodafone, which currently holds a 60.5 percent stake in Vodacom Group, was precluded from voting on the approval of the transaction at the general meeting. This, it seems, was in order to conform to appropriate governance controls.

We reported in November last year Vodafone Groups announcement that it was transferring its 55 percent majority holding in Vodafone Egypt to its sub-Saharan Africa-focused unit Vodacom Group.

Vodafone Egypt holds a 43 percent revenue market share and has 43 million consumer and enterprise customers.

Subject to the final outstanding regulatory approvals, Vodacom says it will fund the acquisition of Vodafone Groups 55 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt by issuing 242 million new ordinary shares at R135.75 (about $8.76) per share, in addition to around R8.2 billion ($548 million) in cash.

Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub described the approval as an exciting and important milestone for Vodacom, citing diversification and growth opportunities that include enormous potential to leverage the company's financial services platforms; over 80 percent of Egypts 100 million population is unbanked.

The mobile operator says it will work towards closing the transaction before the end of its financial year in March 2022. However, the deal remains conditional upon the receipt of certain South African and Egyptian regulatory approvals.
The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN Alliance), an open forum founded by leading mobile network operators, has announced the establishment of methodologies and KPIs for what it calls a Global Green Networks Benchmark.

The new initiative is part of the NGMN Alliance Green Future Networks Programme and aims to generate a global standard for the industry.

The Alliance explains that, while current mobile network benchmarks mostly concentrate on comparing service quality and user experience, its new Global Green Networks Benchmark will place the focus on green network operations.

The general objectives of this NGMN initiative are: to establish globally applicable KPIs and methodologies; to define a global evaluation methodology; and to define the data sources for the assessment and how such data are obtained.

In the first step, the benchmark will focus on high-level sustainability indicators, followed by more detailed assessments at subsequent stages.

The logic behind this initiative is hard to dispute. As traffic volume grows, keeping the energy curve flat will be a challenge for the telecoms industry. And, of course, as the Alliance points out, more and more end users are looking for sustainable services from their network providers.

Although many operators have committed to net-zero targets, there is a high potential in improving network energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. NGMN hopes to address this with all its Green Future Networks activities and is inviting interested industry players to take part.
A former University of Virginia lacrosse player who fatally beat his girlfriend in 2010 has been ordered by a jury to pay $15 million in a wrongful death lawsuit. George Huguely V is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence in the killing of Yeardley Love after being convicted of second-degree murder in 2012. Huguely and Love both played lacrosse at UVA and had an on-again, off-again relationship before Huguely drunkenly killed her. The lawsuit sought $29.5 million in compensatory damages, plus $1 million in punitive damages. The jury ruled that $7.5 million in compensatory damages should be given to both Love's sister and her mother. Punitive damages weren't awarded.
The Alabama Supreme Court approved a request by a committee of attorneys to raise the maximum bail for a murder charge from $150,000 to $1.5 million.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey has long advocated for raising the amount, and its been a hot topic in Montgomery after several high profile cases where defendants were released on what the public felt were low bail amounts.

Im very satisfied with the change. Its something Ive been pushing for for seven years, Bailey said. I think its ridiculous that you can be caught with drugs and get a $1.5 million bail, but if you murder someone the max is $150,000. Its a public safety issue.

In November, Montgomery police Chief Ramona Harris and Mayor Steven Reed publicly criticized the bail schedule.

We understand the limitations and guidelines that they have to follow as well as us, Harris said. Everyone has a right to a bond, but one of the things were looking at is to increase the bond for violent crimes. Wed like to see them be released less. I dont think $150,000 is enough for murder.

The Alabama bail schedule, as it is known, is a general rule for circuit, district and municipal courts. The rules also say, Courts should exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the scheduled amounts.

The Alabama Criminal Rules Committee, which Bailey is a member of, unanimously voted in November to increase the maximum bail on a murder charge from $150,000 to $1.5 million, setting in motion the rule change for the Supreme Courts review.

Bail is not intended as punishment for defendants. While judges have leeway to raise bail amounts based on the severity of an alleged crime or the danger someone might pose to the community, the primary intent of bail is to ensure defendants make their court appearances, according to the American Bar Association.

While the bail schedule is a recommendation for judges, magistrates, who are often the first to sign and issue bail on an arrest warrant, are bound by the upper limits of the rules. That fact ignited an uproar when 23-year-old Tory Johnson was charged with murder and six count of assault in connection with the Bama Lanes shooting in Montgomery, and was released hours after his arrest on a $270,000 bail.

The magistrate issued bail at what was the maximum amount for each charge, though could have put a cash stipulation on it, District Judge Tiffany McCord pointed out during a hearing for Johnson Thursday.

Bailey filed a motion Monday requesting a $2 million bail for Johnson. After a lengthy court hearing, filled with case law and arguments, McCord found flaws in both the states and defenses arguments.

McCord ultimately did raise Johnsons bail to $860,000 shying far from the $2 million requested by prosecutors.

Bailey said hed like to get rid of cash bail completely, and move to a system that evaluates the defendant on multiple levels before decided to release or hold that person. California first eliminated cash bail and since then many states have reformed their bail system getting rid of it for some offenders.

Its unfair on so many levels, he said. We should be basing it on how much or little money someone has, we should be basing it on if someone is a danger to the community. Its not a fair system, its not fair to the defendant, victims family or the community.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI) has announced that nominations for the second edition of the UAE Innovates Award will close on 24 January.



The awards programme, which includes six categories under the theme of innovation, is part of the nationwide annual UAE Innovates 2022 festival in February, which is one of the worlds largest innovation festivals and this year runs alongside Expo 2020 Dubai.



UAE Innovates is part of the government's ongoing efforts to support a culture of public sector innovation by celebrating achievements and recognizing novel solutions and processes. The initiatives objective is to position the UAE as a global hub for innovation and knowledge and a nurturing environment for developing and implementing projects to enhance the public sector.



The UAE Innovates Award, which is managed by Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, aims to celebrate innovative individuals, entities, and institutions, while motivating talents for the future. It also aims to promote innovation in various sectors and enhance the communitys involvement in creating future initiatives that can improve lives and create more robust government models. By supporting these projects, UAE Innovates Award will help the country to realize its priorities and ambitions for the next 50 years.



Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, said: "The UAE Government aims to create an inclusive community movement that embraces creative ideas and innovations to support the nation's vision and create more resilient government models. The UAE Innovates Award, which celebrates innovations and the individuals behind them, is aligned with the leadership's directives to engage the local community in designing and developing projects that enhance the country's scientific and technological excellence.



The new edition of the award is especially significant this year, as it coincides with Expo 2020 Dubai, which will host numerous events under UAE Innovates 2022. We encourage members of the communities to engage with the UAE Innovates Award, submit nominations, and help shaping the governments of the future.



Judges of the UAE Innovates Award will consider several criteria, including novelty, replicability, impact, agility, proactivity, and resilience. There are six main categories recognizing innovations that enhance the automation of government procedures, achieve digital leadership, support efficient use of resources, simplify procedures, improve social services, and reflect significant changes in government work.



Winners will be honoured at the closing ceremony of UAE Innovates 2022 at Expo 2020 Dubai. The ceremony in February will be attended by various federal and local government entities, alongside private sector entities and academic institutions. The ceremony will be a national event celebrating the culture of innovation in the UAE, which underpins the countrys approach for the next 50 years.



UAE Innovates 2022, which runs throughout the month of February, will witness a consolidated effort by government, the private sector and individuals to enhance a widespread culture of innovation in the UAE.UAE Innovates supports the UAEs objectives for the next 50 years and aims to promote the position of the country as one of the most innovative in the world, through a series of events.  TradeArabia News Service
U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant, who has been CEO of his own company, Pinnacle Solutions Inc., since 2008, said he has turned over control of the company to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

We just closed that transaction on Dec. 30, Durant told AL.com. That essentially transfers ownership to the employees so theres no turmoil, no change in leadership. The people that helped you become a success actually inherit ownership of the company.

He did not disclose financial terms of the deal, such as the companys valuation or how much he will receive.

Durant had worked in military contracting in Huntsville for several years before starting his own company.

In February, well be 14 years old, he said. Weve got over 500 employees. Were in 14 locations around the world.

The company has contracts with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, NASA and other government agencies.

We are an aerospace company, Durant said. We do everything in the industry except build the actual aircraft. We fly, maintain, provide engineering, logistics, training.

Durant said turning over control of the company to his employees was his best way to move from business into politics.

Im all teed up to make the transition, he said. It feels great because theyve been rewarded. Its a great exit strategy for me.

Durant is a former Army aviator who flew a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia during the 1993 battle depicted in the book and the 2001 movie Black Hawk Down.

In the movie, Durant was portrayed by actor Ron Eldard.

It affected all of us, Durant said. The movie isnt about me. Its about the mission. I was a pilot in one of the Black Hawks that was shot down. I was the only person who was captured. It changed our lives. They did a good job telling the story. I think for the average person watching that film, they get a good appreciation for what it was like to fight on the ground and in the air, as I was.

On Oct. 3, 1993, Durant and his crew were shot down and attacked by a mob in Mogadishu during Operation Gothic Serpent, a mission to capture top commanders of a Somali warlord. Eighteen Americans died, including Durants crew  Ray Frank, Bill Cleveland, and Tommy Field  and 73 were injured. Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. 1st Class Randall Shughart, who died that day, were awarded the Medal of Honor for their efforts to rescue Durant and his crew. Durant was held captive for 11 days.

After Durant retired from a 22-year Army career, he and his family moved to Alabama.

Durants military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with Valor device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, one with Valor device, the POW/MIA ribbon, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and others, according to his campaign.

Durant is a Republican candidate for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who is retiring. Durant is running against candidates including U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and Katie Britt, a former Shelby chief of staff. The primary election is May 24.
Do the leg-work, be patient: foreigners on flying back to Vietnam

Foreigners who have managed to return to Vietnam after the partial reopening of commercial flights say they were mentally prepared for the leg-work and waiting it takes.

"I flew from France, transited in Thailand and arrived in HCMC on Jan 5," said a relieved Jerome Ly, a French citizen.

Ly said that he prepared a list of documents and was helped by an agent in HCMC to proceed with the trip. The documents included approval letters from the People's Committee, from Immigration Department, visa/ TRC or approval letter for visa on arrival (VOA), vaccination certificates, PRC test results, hotel and car bookings. He also filled the form on the https://tokhaiyte.vn website for the QR code.

It took less than four weeks for Ly to gather all the documents and he felt the $250 he paid the agent was a reasonable fee.

It was the first time that Ly, a businessman living in Vietnam for three years, had gone out and returned to the country after Covid-19 erupted in early 2020.

"The journey plan was not easy for me," he said. Ly had left the country mid-October, 2021 and kept waiting for a way back before Vietnam announced the partial resumption of commercial flights.

Jerome Ly is on a car coming home in HCMC after landing on January 5, 2022. Photo by Jerome Ly

Ly was supposed to return to Vietnam early December 2021 on a charter flight, but it got canceled several times. Then he read news that Vietnam and Thailand would resume commercial flights on December 15; so he decided to buy a ticket to Bangkok instead.

When he arrived in Thailand, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) announced that the resumption of regular commercial flights to certain destinations would begin January 1, 2022. So he stayed on for another two weeks in Bangkok, emailing the carriers every day for updates.

Before boarding, Ly asked for local authorities' quarantine policy and checked the airline's website to make sure.

On arrival, he quarantined at home for three days under supervision of local wards and had a PCR test on the third day.

"Now I have come back to Vietnam and I am very happy about it."

Passengers get off a plane arriving at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC from Cambodia, January 1, 2022. It was the first regular commercial flight to Vietnam in two years. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines

From Germany, Lars Jankowfsky and his Thai fiancee arrived in HCMC on a January 13 commercial flight after transiting in Singapore.

With the assistance of his staff in Vietnam, Jankowfsky collected papers including approvals from the Peoples Committee and the Department of Immigration, proof of vaccination, PCR test results and health insurance certificate for quarantine at home. The paperwork took around six weeks to complete.

In his previous return trip on a charter flight, Jankowfsky had used an agent to prepare his documents, but not this time.

He had left Vietnam in June 2021 and could not find approval for his fiancee as a skilled worker. Therefore, they celebrated Christmas and New Year with his family in Germany.

He was not sure what would happen after they were tested on arrival in HCMC.

With a negative test result, Jankowfsky and his fiancee were allowed to home quarantine, which he felt was appropriate.

Jankowfsky said he expected Vietnam to loosen regulations in the coming time, allowing foreigners to come in as businesses have a huge need for their services.

Do not lie, follow the rules

Paul Hui, a Canadian, flew from Canada to HCMC on January 9 after transiting in Japan.

For a successful return to Vietnam, foreigners need to make sure they are approved as "essential foreign workers" by the local People's Committee where they are employed, he said.

With this approval, foreigners need to get permission to enter from the immigration agency next. They are then required to call all the major airlines with offices in Vietnam to find flights, and not book flights online via third party sites. He said that he could use approval from the People's Committee that he had obtained for charter flights in 2021.

In addition, Hui said, there has been much confusion about asking for permission to home quarantine "but this is not true." People just need to declare their address on arrival and make sure they stay there as the local medical department contacts them.

"If they cannot find you, well, you are in trouble. The key here is do not lie and follow the rules."

Hui said the home quarantine being reduced to three days was "a big relief". On the third day of quarantine, people can call a private PCR test provider to have the test performed at home and can go out if they result is negative for the virus.

Flying in from the Philippines, Marianne Therese Prado transited in Singapore and arrived at HCMC on January 13th on a commercial flight. She had gone home for Christmas and New Year to see her family after two years of separation.

Marianne Therese Prado on a flight to the Philippines, December 16, 2021. Photo by Marianne Therese Prado

Prado started preparing her documents for travel around a year earlier, even before she was vaccinated. The key part was the re-entry permit to Vietnam arranged by her employer as a foreign expert, she said.

She said people should be prepared for expensive tickets and extra costs that may arise, and keep checking social networks for updated information.

On landing in HCMC, she tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was asked to quarantine at a field hospital.

She said: "I've tried to be mentally prepared for any situation that can happen."
Fireworks go off at the Sword Lake in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District to celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 5, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

It would be best if cities and provinces scrap firework displays on Lunar New Year's Eve to prevent Covid-19, the Ministry of Health has warned.

The pandemic is still developing complicatedly in Vietnam and many localities are still recording a high number of daily infections.

Besides, the fast-moving Omicron strain remains unpredictable globally. The ministry has warned earlier that the risk of the strain spreading in Vietnam is high and once that happens, it could overload the healthcare system as it has been confirmed to be more contagious than Delta.

Ho Chi Minh City had announced on Jan. 13 that it would not have its usual firework displays on New Year's Eve this year, and that other related activities might be suspended depending on the coronavirus situation.

Meanwhile, Hanoi will only light fireworks at one location, Thong Nhat Park in Dong Da District, on this occasion.

The ministry also urged people to strictly follow all protocols and guidance on Covid-19 prevention during the upcoming Lunar New Year, or Tet, which will last for nine days starting Jan. 29.

Local authorities should carefully evaluate the pandemic situation in each area to decide whether or not to allow the organization of festive and religious activities that would normally draw big crowds.

Since the pandemic broke out, Vietnam has recorded more than two million infections, ranking 28th out of 224 countries and territories.

As for the ratio of infections per one million inhabitants, Vietnam stands 143rd, with 20,725 cases in every one million people.

The country has recorded 35,975 Covid-19 deaths, or 1.76 percent of total infections.

It has reported 70 Omicron cases so far and all are foreign arrivals.

No Omicron infection has been detected in the community for now.
Many migrant workers have decided to stay in their hometowns until after the Lunar New Year holiday instead of returning to Ho Chi Minh City for work.

Dang Hoang Tan, 27, returned to his hometown in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long 3.5 months now.

He used to work for a garment factory in HCMCs Hoc Mon District.

When the Covid-19 outbreak was brought under control across the industrial hubs of the city and neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai, all localities hit hardest by the fourth wave, social distancing measures were eased in early October, and tens of thousands of migrant workers decided to return to their hometowns.

In most cases, returnees explained they had run out of money after losing their jobs due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and that home was their safest bet. Besides, they were all afraid of yet another outbreak with restrictions loosened, which means they would remain stuck in their small rented rooms under strict social distancing with zero income and greater fear of the pandemic.

Tan was no exception.

With HCMC the epicenter of the wave, which hit Vietnam in late April, the factory where Tan worked had been shut for three months.

He was not allowed out of his boarding house since it was put under lockdown after cases were detected inside. Later on, the entire city was put under the strictest social distancing measures, and everyone was required to stay where they were.

"I was still haunted by the feeling of being locked in a rented room and constantly learning information about people dying from the pandemic."

When the city announced to reopen on Oct. 1, he did not hesitate to drive his motorbike all the way home to Long Ho District of Vinh Long Province, more than 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Hoc Mon.

Dang Hoang Tan at his house in Vinh Long Province, January 2022. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuong

At first, he intended to stay home for two weeks to recover, but gave up the idea after seeing the outbreak in HCMC and the entire southern region remain complex.

The garment company has more than once called him to return to work since Oct. 1 but Tan refused.

"I'm going to stay home until after the Tet holiday and make plans to return to HCMC later," he said.

Tet is the biggest and most important holiday of Vietnamese people, during which they celebrate a new lunar year and reunite with loved ones. This year, Vietnam allows laborers a nine-day Tet break, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6.

After 10 years of migrating to HCMC for work, Tan has never stayed unemployed for such a long period of time.

However, he is not worried as "there will be plenty of jobs waiting in the city" after the outbreak. The company he used to work for is also willing to take back skillful workers.

"I still have some money left and that's enough for me to spend Tet with my mother. There're various food sources in the countryside and I don't have to pay for rent, so there is no need to rush," he said.

With a scale of more than 2,000 employees, Saigon Food JSC in VinhLoc Industrial Park of HCMC's Binh Chanh District lacks around 400 since the fourth wave hit, and after most laborers went home in early October.

With the holiday season approaching, the company has asked many to return to work and offered them welfare policies but still, has failed to attract any.

"Around half of those that left for their hometown agreed to return to work but said it will not be until after Tet. In most cases, they're still worried about the pandemic situation and wanted it to get more stable to move back to HCMC," said a representative from Saigon Food JSC.

A family return home in the Mekong Delta from HCMC on September 30, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

According to a survey by job search engine Viec Lam Tot (good jobs), waiting until after the Tet break to return to the city and apply for a new job is the trend.

At the end of last year, while businesses increased new hires by more than 160 percent compared to the period before the fourth wave, demand for jobs dropped by 45 percent.

Data from the HCMC Center of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labor Market Information (FALMI) shows companies in the city are in need of at least 45,000 laborers for the first quarter this year. Of them, 70 percent are for the garment, leather and shoes, electromechanics and electronics, processing and commercial industries, which offer salaries of VND7-15 million ($310-660) a month.

However, there are only around 19,600 looking for new jobs in January.

Do Thanh Van, deputy director of Falmi, said apart from laborers who had left after the reopening, HCMC also faced a shortage of additional sources of laborers, which include college and newly-graduated students.

Under Covid-19 impacts, all schools have had to switch to online studies and many students in other provinces have remained in their hometowns for months, having yet to return to school.

However, Van believes the labor market will thrive after Tet when many solutions to support laborers are carried out.

The city is applying social media and online job exchanges to approach and introduce jobs to employees.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is coordinating with localities to support migrants with transportation fees, free testing, and vaccines.

Workers will be helped with minimum living expenses, travel, medicine, during the transition period, according to the ministry.

Tran Minh Ngoc, director of the Viec Lam Tot site, said the labor market will become balanced after Tet.

For now, the group of migrant workers that have returned to their hometowns prefer to freelance or do unofficial jobs. However, this will not be a long-term trend since there are not as many job options in those provinces.

Ngoc recommended laborers take advantage of the year-end period because of high market demand, which means they will have many job and salary options to choose from amid less competition.

On the contrary, if waiting until after Tet, job seekers will have to compete with other candidates, the possibility of being admitted will reduce and it would take more time to acclimatize to a new job environment, she said.
This supplied screenshot of video footage shows a Vietnamese trainee (R) being hit with a broom-like object by a Japanese colleague in September 2020. Photo courtesy of Fukuyama Union Tanpopo

A Vietnamese technical trainee working at a construction firm in Japan has demanded an apology and compensation, saying his colleagues had routinely abused him physically for two years.

Speaking at a press conference in Okayama Prefecture together with a representative of the Fukuyama Union Tampopo, a labor union, the 41-year-old said he had arrived in Japan through a government-to-government program, Kyodo News reported Monday.

He worked as a trainee at a construction firm in western Japan.

Around a month after he started, his Japanese colleagues began to beat him up, causing severe injuries, even broken bones.

A video clip screened at the press conference shows a colleague used a broomstick to hit him in the head as he was working in September 2020.

He was also hit for not being able to "respond well in Japanese," Kyodo News reported.

He said he broke ribs after being kicked by a colleague wearing safety boots, and lost a tooth and required stitches on his lips after a scaffolding part was thrown at him and hit him in the face.

In June last year, he reached out to the local industrial technique cooperative association, which arranged him the job in the first place, for help, The Asahi Shimbun reported, citing the Fukuyama Union Tanpopo.

Under the association's impact, the assaults stopped for a while, but they flared a short time later, it said.

Japan instituted the technical intern training program in 1993 to help transfer skills, technologies and knowledge to developing regions.
Airlines have something to cheer as Vietnam's biggest holiday nears

Flights to tourist destinations are nearly fully booked two weeks before Tet, Vietnam's biggest and most important holiday.

On Monday Vietnam Airlines said its flights from HCMC to Hue, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, and Hoi An are 70 percent full.

Many flights between January 17 and 23 are full, it said.

The Lunar New Year falls on February 1, and is a nine-day holiday this year.

Traditionally, people travel in their millions to their hometown for family reunions during Tet or make long trips.

Flights from Hanoi and HCMC to beach destinations such as Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc and Con Dao are nearly full between February 2 and 4.

Vietnam Airlines said seats are still available on flights from HCMC to Tuy Hoa and Da Lat and from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, Tuy Hoa and Can Tho.

Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways have increased the frequency of flights from Hanoi and HCMC to tourist destinations such as Da Nang, Phu Quoc and Cam Ranh to meet the demand.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), carriers plan to offer around 2.7 million seats from Jan. 16 to Feb. 15.

During the peak period, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the countrys two largest, are expected to receive 1,100 and 600 flights a day, 20 percent more than on normal days.

Currently one-way tickets on the HCMC-Hanoi sector cost VND1.27-2.69 million ($55.75-118.09).
On January 10, a court in Burma sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi, the elected State Counsellor of Burma, to four years in prison for allegedly illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating the telecommunications law, and for violating coronavirus restrictions. This follows a four-year sentence from a trial on December 6, 2021, for allegedly inciting public unrest and breaking COVID-19 protocols. The earlier sentence was later reduced to two years.

Additionally, Aung San Suu Kyi is facing ten or more further charges. If she is convicted, she could be sentenced to up to one hundred years in prison.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that the conviction of the State Counsellor following a sham trial in secretive proceedings before a military-controlled court is nothing but politically motivated, while Deputy Director of Human Rights Watchs Asia Division Phil Robertson noted that the process is all about steadily piling up more convictions against Aung San Suu Kyi so that she will remain in prison indefinitely."

We call on the regime to immediate release Aung San Suu Kyi and all those unjustly detained, including other democratically elected leaders, said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price.

The regimes sham judicial processes to attack its political opponents, the rule of law, as well as its continued use of violence against the Burmese people only underscore the urgency of restoring Burmas path to democracy.

Aung San Suu Ky is leader of the National League for Democracy, or NLD political party. In November 2020, the NLD won the national election by a large margin in both Houses of Burmas Assembly of the Union. On February 1, 2021, the Burmese military, whose proxy party won just 33 of 476 seats in Parliament, staged a coup. Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested along with President Win Myint, numerous ministers, their deputies, and members of Parliament. The spurious charges leveled against her did not diminish her popularity, which today stands at nearly 80 percent.

The people of Burma  continue to show that they do not want to spend another day under a military dictatorship, and well continue to support them and all those working peacefully to restore Burmas path to democracy, said Spokesperson Price.

We continue to call on the regime to engage in constructive dialogue with all parties to seek a peaceful resolution in the interests of the people.
In the face of Russias massive military buildup near its border with Ukraine, and during diplomatic discussions between Russia and members of the transatlantic alliance to try to de-escalate the crisis, one issue of stark disagreement is the possibility of Ukraine - and other Eastern European countries -- joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

It is very important that Ukraine can never join NATO in the future, said Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov after the conclusion of the bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue between the United States and Russia. Neither Ukraine nor Georgia should become members of the North Atlantic Alliance.

For U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who headed the U.S. delegation, that issue is a non-starter: We will not allow anyone to slam closed NATOs Open Door policy, which has always been central to the NATO Alliance, she said after the meeting. We were unequivocal: We do not make decisions for other countries. We will not agree that any country should have a veto over any other country when it comes to being part of the NATO Alliance.

Speaking to reporters prior to last weeks series of diplomatic discussions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russias attempt to limit NATO expansion part of a false narrative.

NATO never promised not to admit new members, he said. It could not and would not -- the open door policy was a core provision of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty that founded NATO . . . . Membership in the Alliance has always been a decision between NATO and countries that aspire to belong -- no one else.

Secretary Blinken added that in the Istanbul Charter for European Security signed in 1999, Russia itself affirmed the right of countries to choose or change the security arrangements that they have, including alliances.

And Secretary Blinken pointed out that Russia is now demanding that both the United States and NATO sign treaties to withdraw NATO forces stationed in the territory of Allies in Central and Eastern Europe and to prohibit Ukraine from ever joining NATO.

During a recent television interview, Secretary Blinken said that one of Russian President Vladimir Putins objectives is to re-exert a sphere of influence over countries that previously were part of the Soviet Union . . . Thats unacceptable, he declared. That was a recipe for instability, a recipe for conflict, a recipe that led to world wars. Were not going back to that.
The Department of State has issued the 2020 Country Reports on Terrorism, or CRT, which provides an overview of successes in the fight against terrorism as well as new and ongoing threats posed by terrorist organizations. The reports Annex of Statistical Information shows that both the number of terrorist attacks and the overall number of fatalities resulting from those attacks increased by more than 10 percent in 2020 compared with 2019.

Over the last year, the terrorist threat has become more geographically dispersed in regions around the world. The United States has responded to the evolving threat, including by expanding the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which now counts 84 members. The Defeat-ISIS Coalition worked to consolidate gains in Iraq and Syria, while broadening efforts to counter the growing ISIS threat in West Africa and the Sahel.

In 2020, nine countries across the Western Hemisphere and Europe took significant steps to designate, ban, or otherwise restrict Hizballah. Reflecting the growing threat from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism, the State Department also designated a white supremacist terrorist organization for the first time in 2020, imposing sanctions against the Russian Imperial Movement and three of its leaders.

The United States and its partners continued to battle Al-Qaida, or AQ, and its affiliates around the world in 2020. AQ further bolstered its presence abroad, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.

Iran continued to support acts of terrorism regionally and globally during 2020. Regionally, Iran supported proxies and partner groups in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, including Hizballah and Hamas. Globally, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force remained the primary Iranian actors involved in supporting terrorist recruitment, financing, and plots across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and both Americas.

The United States continues to play an important role in marshaling international efforts to counter global terrorism. In 2020 the United States led the UN Security Councils 1267 Sanctions Committees efforts to designate ISIS affiliates in West Africa, the Greater Sahara, Libya, Yemen, and Indonesia.

The United States also engaged a host of international partners to prevent and counter violent extremism, both online and offline.

This years CRT report reflects the United States unwavering commitment to protect the lives of the American people and those of its allies from the ongoing threat of terrorism.
The U.S. with our Allies and partners led an intensive diplomatic effort this week to de-escalate tensions that Russia created with its massive build-up of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border. The United States met bilaterally with Russia in an extraordinary session of the Strategic Stability Dialogue, NATO Allies engaged Russia at the NATO-Russia Council, and the United States participated at a Permanent Council meeting at the OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Throughout the week, the United States, along with its NATO Allies and partners, emphasized the path of diplomacy and called on Russia to de-escalate.

Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines borders, said Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, who represented the United States at the Dialogue. Yet Moscow claims it is Ukraine seeking conflict and behaving provocatively, and not Russia. It is important to note that in 2014, Russia invaded, and continues to occupy, Ukraines Crimea Peninsula.

On the two draft treaties put forward in mid-December by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, We were firm  in pushing back on security proposals that are simply non-starters for the United States, said Deputy Secretary Sherman.

We will not allow anyone to slam closed NATOs Open Door policy, which has always been central to the NATO Alliance, she said. We will not forego bilateral cooperation with sovereign states that wish to work with the United States. And we will not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, about Europe without Europe, or about NATO without NATO. As we say to our allies and partners, nothing about you without you.

Nonetheless, We have been clear,  that the United States would welcome genuine progress through diplomacy. We also reiterated that we believe genuine progress can only take place in a climate of de-escalation, not escalation, said Deputy Secretary Sherman.

If Russia stays at the table and takes concrete steps to de-escalate tensions, we believe we can achieve progress, she declared. But if Russia walks away from the diplomatic path, it may well be quite apparent that they were never serious about pursuing diplomacy at all.

Weve made it clear that if Russia further invades Ukraine, there will be significant costs and consequences well beyond what they faced in 2014, said Deputy Secretary Sherman.

Those costs, she noted, will include financial sanctions, and its been reported those sanctions will include key financial institutions, export controls that target key industries, enhancement of NATO force posture on allied territory, and increased security assistance to Ukraine.

Russia, said Deputy Secretary Sherman, has a stark choice to make.
The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah), a standalone not-for-profit research centre based in Saudi Arabia, has embarked on a digital transformation drive to enhance its capabilities, help boost the local farmers output and support the kingdoms agriculture and food security and sustainability ambitions.

Estidamah conducts applied research, adopts and tests innovative technologies that will contribute to sustainable agriculture, with the main aim being to increase crop production per unit area, boost water-use efficiency, in addition to localising modern cultivation technologies.

As part of its digital transformation, the centre has engaged the services of IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation Hilal Computers for its next-generation digital infrastructure and cyber security services and Germany-based software solutions corporation SAP SE for ERP solutions.

As part of the order, Hilal Computers is providing Estidamah with Dell infrastructure comprising Dell VxRail servers for its data centres.

The tech refresh order involves installing new-generation systems and migrating all of the centres data into the new environment.

The company is also providing cyber security services to ensure Estidamahs compliance with the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) regulations.

Spearheading Estimadahs digital transformation drive is Haitham Alghamdi, Head of Information Technology, who has been tackling the challenges head on since he joined the government entity in June 2021.

Estidamah was previously run by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and since 2019 has been transformed into a government entity. The centre is located at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh Techno Valley.

When I joined, we were facing a lot of challenges, because we were in the midst of a transition from being a Sabic-run entity to a government organisation. What we have been doing is evaluating the current systems and changing non-standard systems with a view to following the NCA regulations and enhancing our service and facilitating it, Alghamdi tells TradeArabia.

Alghamdi is aiming to ensure that the IT infrastructure is designed to the highest standards and in compliance with NCA regulations as well as global IT requirements.

At Estidamah, we have had to develop the ideas and strategies to be followed; pick the right vendors to provide consultation services and provide the best solution for the entity  and we done this within six months; I could not have done that alone unless I had a team that was empowering me to do so.

I'm trying to attain the highest level of performance and efficiency with reasonable prices. We have hired more skilled people to help us with the transformation. So we have two major vendors - Al Hilal for the bulk of the IT infrastructure and SAP for ERP solutions.

Al Hilal engineers have the skills to make our vision comes through. They have been very helpful and are providing us consulting services to achieve the best solutions for the centre and make that transformation comes alive, says Alghamdi.

Digital transformation of a research and development centre, which has involved a lot of processes and paper work, has been a challenge; and so has selecting the right solution to house that data - right from cyber security level to Dell VxRail servers - to ensure that Estidamah has a safe environment for its data that is easy and quick to access, he says.

The digital transformation has in fact created additional assistants, who provide alerts, send emails, and if there is risk of a failure, provide a warning quickly to act. This is the beauty of the system which will create an optimised and smooth-operating work environment, he adds.
ELKO  An Elko man wanted on multiple warrants for felony drug charges led police on a 17-minute chase early Friday morning and was arrested later that night at home.

The Elko Police Department reported that an officer on routine patrol observed 24-year-old Armando Sanchez get into a Chevrolet minivan in a south Elko neighborhood at approximately 2:30 a.m., then attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

Sanchez refused to stop for officers, stated police. Due to the time of day, minimal traffic and relatively low speeds, officers pursued Sanchez for approximately 17 minutes.

When Sanchez proceeded north on Mountain City Highway toward Adobe Summit, officers terminated the pursuit since they were aware of the identity of the offender and to avoid potential risk to the public, pursuing officers and to the suspect.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday, EPD officers observed that Sanchez had returned to the Bullion Road residence where he was initially observed earlier that morning.

Officers surrounded the residence and ordered Sanchez to exit with his hands up, stated police. After approximately 40 minutes, Sanchez surrendered to authorities without further incident.

Sanchez was booked into the Elko County Jail on three counts of failure to appear after bail on a felony crime, contempt of court, and failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. His bail was listed at $76,640.

Further charges of felony eluding and reckless driving were expected to be filed.

No one was injured in this incident, stated police.

Elko County Jail records list a dozen previous arrests of Sanchez over the past five years.

In April 2017 he was accused of obtaining money or property under false pretenses. He pleaded guilty in Elko Justice Court and was given a suspended sentence of 122 days in jail and ordered to serve 48 hours in jail, complete 40 hours of community service, and pay $640 in fines and court costs.

He was arrested again in December 2019 for possession of a dangerous drug without a prescription and drug paraphernalia. He later pleaded guilty to the drug paraphernalia charge and was ordered to serve 180 days in jail.

Sanchez was arrested seven times in 2020 on charges including felony drug possession, drug paraphernalia, false statement to obstruct a public officer, and failure to appear in court.

He was arrested three additional times in 2021 on charges of felony drug possession, petty larceny and failure to appear in court.



This weeks felony arrests:

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Headlines:

- IRS boss Charles Rettig: Stimulus check and Child Tax Credit recipients should pay "extra attention" with their tax filing

- States agree to $1.85 Navient settlement to write off student debt for thousands of residents

- Will there be a fourth stimulus check for Social Security recipients?

- A backlog of six million tax returns could mean tax refund delays, says the IRS

- The Consumer Price Index grew 0.5 percent last month, securing a 7 percent increase across 2021

- Average monthly Social Security benefits increases to $1,657

- What is the payment schedule for SNAP food stamp benefits?

- Retriement age alteration could impact your Social Security benefits this year

- Some states are considering introducing a fourth stimulus check

- California has distributed the final major round of Golden State stimulus checks

Useful information & links:

Tax Season 2021

- When will my employer send me a W-2 form?

- What benefits are availabletoparents and guardiansthis tax season?

- What are the dates to submit your tax return?

Child Tax Credit

- Can families expect to claim more from the Child Tax Credit when they file their taxes?

- No January Child Tax Credit payment after Congress failed to extend the programme last month

- Senator Manchin says he is yet to be convinced on President Biden's Build Back Better proposals.

Stimulus checks

- How many stimulus checks were approved during the last 12 months?

- What is the effect of stimulus checks on inflation?

Social Security

- Will Social Security recipients get an additional $200this month?

- What does the 5.9% COLA increase mean for Social Security beneficiaries?

Latest articles:
Last week President Joe Biden announced that his administration would make high-quality face masks available for free for all Americans as the United States battles against a surge in covid-19 cases fuelled by the Omicron variant.

In his remarks from the White House, Biden said: "I know we all wish could finally be done with wearing masks, I get it, but they are a really important tool to stop the spread, especially of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

The legislation will ensure that everyone receives a package with three N95 masks from the federal government, but the administration has not yet confirmed when the distribution will begin.

I know that for some Americans, the mask is not always affordable or convenient to get, Biden said. Next week well announce how were making high-quality masks available to the American people for free.

CDC announces that N95 masks are the most effective

Throughout the pandemic health authorities have largely refrained from advising individuals against using a particular type of mask, preferring to encourage mask-wearing in general. However a recent statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) altered its own guidance to recommend that Americans use "the most protective mask you can to help stop the spread.

Many experts have warned that the cloth masks often used do not provide enough protection to counteract the pervasiveness of the more contagious Omicron variant.

The CDCs website made clear that "loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, while suggesting that people "can choose respirators such as N95s and KN95s... removing concerns related to supply shortages for N95s."

However CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky did reemphasise on Wednesday that "any mask is better than no mask.

Biden introduces other measures to aid the fight against Omicron

As well as sending out free masks, Biden has pledged to increase the nations testing capacity to ensure that covid-19 cases can be identified and the spread stemmed more effectively. He announced that the US was purchasing another 500 million tests, in addition to the 500 million previously announced.

Distribution for these tests will begin before the end of this week, but against the administration is yet to explain exactly when the process will start.

Biden also unveiled plans to send additional medical teams to six states to help hospitals facing staff shortages due to covid-19. Military medical teams will be in operation at Cleveland Clinic (Ohio), Coney Island Hospital (Brooklyn), Rhode Island Hospital (Providence), Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit), University of New Mexico Hospital (Albuquerque) and Newark University Hospital (New Jersey).

"These are just part of the first wave of deployments," the White House said of the developments. "Teams will continue to be mobilized and deployed where they are needed over the coming weeks to confront Omicron."
Vietnamese cashew nuts (Photo: nongnghiep.vn)

According to the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the EU is currently the second largest importer of Vietnamese cashew nuts, accounting for 23 percent of the total volume and 22 percent of the total value.

In 2021, Vietnam shipped about 135,000 tonnes of cashew nuts to the EU, earning 816 million USD, up 16.5 percent in volume and 7.9 percent in value year-on-year.

Vietnamese cashew nuts are available in 23 EU member markets, mainly the Netherlands and Germany.

The two are currently important trading hubs for cashew nuts in the EU, because they not only import for domestic consumption but also re-export to other markets in the bloc.

Wood, furniture exports to US expected to hit 10 billion USD

Export revenue of wood and furniture generated frrom the US market is predicted to reach 10 billion USD in 2022 thanks to the development trend from 2021.

Furniture manufacturing at Thuan An company (Photo: VNA)

VNA cited the data of the General Department of Vietnam Customs that the export of the products to the US surged 22.4 percent in 2021 to 8.8 billion USD, 87.6 percent of which came from wooden furniture.

Experts attributed the results to efforts of businesses in maintaining production and effective support from the Government amid difficulties caused by the COVID-19, holding that this expansion trend will continue in 2022.

However, they pointed out that the sector will still face many challenges, including trade remedies and the shortage of containers as well as high logistics cost. On average, the cost for each container to be transported to the US is 20,000-30,000 USD, four times that in previous years.

Vietnamese Trade Councillor in the US Bui Huy Son advised businesses to continue improving product quality and technology proportion in their products to meet the demand of US consumers, while focusing more on ensuring that their products are environmentally friendly. He also stressed the need to optimise e-commerce and apply measures against unhealthy competition and trade defence measures.

Positive prospects for rubber exports to US in 2022

With high export growth recorded in the United States last year, Vietnamese rubber exports to the demanding market are set to continue to witness positive signs this year.

Statistics from the US International Trade Commission indicate that the US imported 1.79 million tonnes of rubber worth US$3.72 billion during the January  November period last year, representing an annual rise of 22.8% in volume and 46.4% in value, reported VOV.

Vietnam represented the 11th largest rubber supplier to the US market with 39,090 tonnes exported worth US$68.83 million, up 82.7% in volume and 122.5% in value.

Its rubber market share as part of total US rubber imports accounted for 2.2% in the reviewed period, marking a slight rise compared to 1.5% seen in the previous year.

The Southeast Asian nation makes up the fourth largest provider of natural rubber to the US market with 39,020 tonnes, worth US$68.49 million, increasing by 82.5% in volume and 122.7% in value.

Therefore, the share of Vietnamese natural rubber and synthetic rubber as part of total US imports rose by 4.2% and 0.01%, respectively.

As the US economy has gradually recovered following the COVID-19 pandemic, its rubber demand is anticipated to edge up until 2023, which also presents a wealth of opportunities for local firms to accelerate rubber exports to this market.

Digital transformation - way out for agricultural sector amid difficulties

Fast digital transformation is considered the best way for Vietnamese agricultural sector to overcome difficulties to recover and develop in the post-pandemic period, thus affirming its role as a key pillar of the economy, VNA quoted the sayings of experts.

Illustrative image (Source: mic.gov.vn)

Amid challenges from climate change, market fluctuations and changes in consumption trend, the sector is required to increase the proportion of digital agriculture in the economy.

Meanwhile, the data-driven digital transformation in agriculture and agricultural management is expected to help boost the sectors growth through better market forecast and planning.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that facing adverse impacts of COVID-19, businesses and farmers are fully aware of strengthening the application of smart and digital technologies to maintain stability in production and farm produce supply, thus preparing for post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that along with optimising advantages and local resources for the development of the multiple value agriculture and trademark building, Vietnam should build a data system and make its agricultural data and information more transparent to reach more markets and create a new breakthrough for the sector.

Many experts said that together with negative impacts, COVID-19 has also brought about chances for the Vietnamese agricultural sector to speed up stronger digital transformation and write its name in the international agricultural supply chain.

Illustrative image (Source: baodantoc.vn)

David John Whitehead from the Australian Business Association in Vietnam (Auscham) said that Australians are very open to Vietnamese farm produce, which means the chance for Vietnam to export more agricultural products to the market is high.

Currently, Vietnamese agricultural products are exported to many choosy markets, and the Australian market is similar. However, for consumers in Australia, manufacturers in Vietnam need to build their own brand, with quality ensured, so as to win consumers' confidence that Vietnamese products are safe and of high quality, according to Whitehead.

In order to increase exports of key farm produce, closer coordination among ministries, sectors and localities in strengthening digital transformation and trade promotion as well as market connection is crucial.

However, many experts pointed to the need for Vietnam to focus more on preparing high quality human resources.

Associate Prof. Tran Dang Xuan from Japans Hiroshima University said that many Vietnamese farmers have still hesitated to renovate their cultivation practices and approach new farming techniques.

He stressed the need for the Government to focus more on developing digital agriculture, while strengthening communications among farmers to help them understand the benefit of the process, and equipping them with more knowledge and skills in conducting online transactions./.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA)

The 2022 is the year Vietnam and Cambodia celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations (June 24).

Leaders of the two countries have chosen 2022 as the Vietnam-Cambodia and Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year.

Talking about the visit, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang highlighted the significance of the visit from January 19-20 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn.

According to the ambassador, the two sides will discuss activities marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties, along with regional and international issues of shared concern.

The visit will contribute to deepening and improving the efficiency of the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between the two countries, the ambassador believed.

To further promote the good traditional relationship, the Vietnamese Ambassador noted that the two countries will focus on maintaining and fostering their political ties; continuing to strengthening the good cooperative relationship in the fields of security, defense and foreign affairs; promoting and constantly improving the efficiency of cooperation in the economic field, create new driving forces for the development of each country, and become a resource and factor to ensure the sustainable development of the two countries' relations.

The two sides will continue to promote cooperation in culture, education-training, health care and science-technology; and will jointly promote the cooperation and mutual assistance between ministries, branches and localities, especially localities sharing a border; and promote the friendly and mutually supportive relations between the peoples, mass organizations and people's organizations of the two countries, contributing to the deepening and making more effective the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries./.
RoK Ambassador Park Noh-wan presents the special prize to Ngo Quang Trung, who designed the logo. (Photo: VNA)

That is the most excellent work among 775 entries to the contest organised by the two embassies for Vietnamese and Korean nationals in October and November last year. Through selection, Ngo Quang Trung was chosen the author of the most excellent work. The logo features Vietnams Turtle Tower on Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi and the RoKs Gwanghwamun  the main and largest gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. The tower is an icon of Hanoi, while the gate is a symbol of Seoul. These structures are placed along the national flags of the two countries within the number 30 to represent their three-decade friendship.

It is expected to be used in communications publications and events throughout the diplomatic celebration this year.

Ngo Quang Trung, a student from the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, said he is happy and honoured and hoped it will contribute to fostering the bilateral ties in the future.

As planned, in 2022, the two embassies and relevant agencies will carry out diverse activities to mark the 30th anniversary of Vietnam- RoK diplomatic relations./.




Lt. Col. Do Anh passed away at 6am on January 6, 2022 (local time) at the field hospital No. 3 in Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda. (Photo: VNA)

The department said on January 17 that the memorial service will take place at the National Funeral Hall, No.5 Tran Thanh Tong street, Hanoi. He will be laid to rest in the Nhon martyrs' cemetery in the capital city's Bac Tu Liem district on the same day.

Do Anh, born in 1983 in the northern province of Nam Dinh and residing in Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi, was sent to the Central African Republic to work as a military observer in 2021.

Do Anh passed away at 6am on January 6, 2022 (local time) at the field hospital No. 3 in Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda.

On January 8, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) coordinated with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence to hold an online memorial service for Lt. Col. Do Anh.

Later, on January 15, the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations held a ceremony to receive his remains from the UN side.

With his dedication to the revolutionary cause of the Party, people and army and the UN peacekeeping mission, the Prime Minister signed Decision No.41/QD-TTg recognising Do Anh as a martyr and awarding him with a certificate of national merit service.

The Ministry of National Defence also posthumously promoted Do Anh from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel./.
At the meeting (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

At the meeting, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang welcomed and highly appreciated the AVLFs activities over the past time, especially the practical contributions to the homeland in charity activities and support for AO/dioxin victims, and recent support for the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.



On the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year, the Ambassador sent greetings to the members of the association, wished them to stabilize their lives, unite to overcome the difficult times caused by COVID-19 pandemic and prepare to welcome the joyfully and cozy traditional Tet.

AVLF leaders said that over the past time, COVID-19 has greatly affected the association's activities as well as its members lives, but the association has still tried to maintain the cohesion of its members, encourage and support each other to overcome difficulties, and always pay attention to the situation in the homeland.

At the meeting, AVLF presented 5,000 EUR, which was donated by its members in response to the call of the Vietnamese Embassy in France to join hands with other Vietnamese associations in France to support the homeland to fight against the pandemic.

AVLF, established in 1984, is an association of overseas Vietnamese from Laos to settle in France, gathering about 200 members living mainly in Paris and surrounding areas. The purpose of the association is to help each other in life, preserve the national cultural identity, and strengthen relations with French friends./.
Illustrative image (Source: mic.gov.vn)



Amid challenges from climate change, market fluctuations and changes in consumption trend, the sector is required to increase the proportion of digital agriculture in the economy.



Meanwhile, the data-driven digital transformation in agriculture and agricultural management is expected to help boost the sectors growth through better market forecast and planning.



Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that facing adverse impacts of COVID-19, businesses and farmers are fully aware of strengthening the application of smart and digital technologies to maintain stability in production and farm produce supply, thus preparing for post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development.



Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that along with optimising advantages and local resources for the development of the multiple value agriculture and trademark building, Vietnam should build a data system and make its agricultural data and information more transparent to reach more markets and create a new breakthrough for the sector.



Many experts said that together with negative impacts, COVID-19 has also brought about chances for the Vietnamese agricultural sector to speed up stronger digital transformation and write its name in the international agricultural supply chain.

Illustrative image (Source: baodantoc.vn)



David John Whitehead from the Australian Business Association in Vietnam (Auscham) said that Australians are very open to Vietnamese farm produce, which means the chance for Vietnam to export more agricultural products to the market is high.



Currently, Vietnamese agricultural products are exported to many choosy markets, and the Australian market is similar. However, for consumers in Australia, manufacturers in Vietnam need to build their own brand, with quality ensured, so as to win consumers' confidence that Vietnamese products are safe and of high quality, according to Whitehead.



In order to increase exports of key farm produce, closer coordination among ministries, sectors and localities in strengthening digital transformation and trade promotion as well as market connection is crucial.



However, many experts pointed to the need for Vietnam to focus more on preparing high quality human resources.



Associate Prof. Tran Dang Xuan from Japans Hiroshima University said that many Vietnamese farmers have still hesitated to renovate their cultivation practices and approach new farming techniques.



He stressed the need for the Government to focus more on developing digital agriculture, while strengthening communications among farmers to help them understand the benefit of the process, and equipping them with more knowledge and skills in conducting online transactions./.
The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Estidamah), a standalone not-for-profit research centre based in Saudi Arabia, has embarked on a digital transformation drive to enhance its capabilities, help boost the local farmers output and support the kingdoms agriculture and food security and sustainability ambitions.

Estidamah conducts applied research, adopts and tests innovative technologies that will contribute to sustainable agriculture, with the main aim being to increase crop production per unit area, boost water-use efficiency, in addition to localising modern cultivation technologies.

As part of its digital transformation, the centre has engaged the services of IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation Hilal Computers for its next-generation digital infrastructure and cyber security services and Germany-based software solutions corporation SAP SE for ERP solutions.

As part of the order, Hilal Computers is providing Estidamah with Dell infrastructure comprising Dell VxRail servers for its data centres.

The tech refresh order involves installing new-generation systems and migrating all of the centres data into the new environment.

The company is also providing cyber security services to ensure Estidamahs compliance with the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) regulations.

Spearheading Estimadahs digital transformation drive is Haitham Alghamdi, Head of Information Technology, who has been tackling the challenges head on since he joined the government entity in June 2021.
Presenting scholarships to 55 ethnic students in HCM City

(Source: sggp.org.vn)

Each scholarship is worth of 5 million VND (219.97 USD).

On this occasion, businesses, collectives and individuals raised nearly 5 billion VND to provide scholarships for local ethnic minority students who are in difficult circumstances.

Colonel Tran Kim Tham, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People's Public Security Newspaper, said since 2007, the newspapers fund for poor and ethnic minority students has presented 26.6 billion VND to outstanding students in HCM City and other localities.

Earlier, through the fund, donors provided 60 tablets for children of officers and soldiers belonging to the Khmer group in the southern provinces of Soc Trang and Tra Vinh./.
A passenger walks at Xining Railway Station in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Jan. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Just after Lei Yun checked in at the Shenzhen Railway Station for a train leaving at noon, he sent a text message to his family living some 800 km away in the eastern Chinese city of Nanchang informing them that he would be home for dinner.

"With the newly opened Ganzhou-Shenzhen high-speed railway, the journey home only takes a third of the time it did in the past," he said.

Monday marks the beginning of China's Spring Festival travel rush, known as the Chunyun. About 1.18 billion passenger trips are expected to be made during the 40-day travel season, up 35.6 percent year on year,but 20.3 percent lower than in 2020, the Ministry of Transport said.

Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb. 1 this year. Like Lei, hundreds of millions of Chinese will return to their hometowns for family reunions to celebrate China's most important traditional holiday.

Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2022 shows a view of Tianjin Railway Station in north China's Tianjin. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

HIGH-SPEED JOURNEY HOME

For decades, the Spring Festival travel rush was associated with crowded railway stations and hard-to-get tickets.

In recent years, with the completion of high-speed railway lines one after another and the continuous increase in railway capacity, people's Spring Festival travel experiences have greatly improved.

The new railway lines make for faster and more convenient journeys back home for passengers across the country.

Dai Hongmei and her husband, who live in the city of Jishou in central China's Hunan Province, bought tickets for the G687 high-speed train with a view to visiting the city of Wuhan in neighboring Hubei Province for a Spring Festival family reunion.

"With better living conditions, now you can take the high-speed train literally from your doorstep. The trip used to take almost a day, but now it only takes four hours," Dai said.

In 2021, more than 2,000 km of new high-speed railway lines were put into operation in China. The addition brings the total length of the country's high-speed railway lines in operation to over 40,000 km, more than any other country.

The newly opened high-speed railway lines have shortened the "distance" between different regions and made the Spring Festival journey more comfortable and convenient for people along the lines, said Xiao Yongqing, an official with the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corp., Ltd.

With the opening of more high-speed railway lines in 2022, the railway network will become denser, and more people will experience safe and convenient high-speed train travel, Xiao added.

A total of 280 million railway passenger trips are expected during the annual travel rush, up 28.5 percent from the holiday season last year,according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

Staff members check passengers' health QR code at an entrance of Changxing Railway Station in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 17, 2022. (Photo by Wu Zheng/Xinhua)

IMPROVED PROTECTION

Despite the recent local resurgence of coronavirus in some areas, many Chinese people are traveling home to celebrate their most important festival.

Multiple train stations across China have offered self-service ticket verification and nucleic acid testing services, to speed up both health checks and passengers' passage through the gates.

Peng Xiang, an engineer with China Railway Guangzhou Group, said the group has increased the number of self-service ticket verification machines to 1,270 and the technical capabilities have greatly improved.

"It takes an average of only 1.2 seconds for the passengers to pass through the gate, down from 3 seconds previously," Peng said.

At the Guangzhou South Railway Station, a free nucleic acid testing service is offered to passengers in need, while passengers from medium- and high-risk areas for COVID-19 are required to undergo testing.

Beijing South Railway Station has also set up a testing facility that can churn out results in just four hours. The station has also deployed robots that can spray disinfectants in public areas.

Editor: GSY
Medical workers take nasal swab samples for COVID-19 testing in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 13, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

U.S. Nursing homes reported a near-record of over 32,000 COVID-19 cases among residents in the week ending Jan. 9, an almost sevenfold increase from a month earlier. The number also marks the highest since the week ending in Dec. 20, 2020.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 cases at U.S. nursing homes are rising to another peak amid the Omicron surge across the country, according to latest data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nursing homes reported a near-record of over 32,000 COVID-19 cases among residents in the week ending Jan. 9, an almost sevenfold increase from a month earlier, according to CDC data.

The new weekly increase of nursing home COVID-19 cases marks the highest since the week ending in Dec. 20, 2020 when over 32,000 cases were reported.

A total of 645 COVID-19-related deaths among nursing home residents were reported during the same week, over 30 percent increase from the week before. Health experts are concerned that deaths may continue to rise as the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly across the country.

Nursing home officials are responding to the surge by limiting visitors, reinstituting social distancing, and pushing more residents and staff members to get vaccinated and boosted.

Nursing home residents were hit the hardest since the onset of the pandemic in the country. In December 2020, nursing home deaths per week topped out at about 6,200.

Experts said high vaccination rates among nursing home residents have offered strong protection to this age group.

People wearing face masks walk on a street in Sonoma County, California, the United States, Jan. 12, 2022. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

As of Jan. 13, 95 percent of people ages 65 years or older in the country have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 87.9 percent are fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

The recent COVID-19 surge in the United States driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant is leading to record high cases, hospitalizations, and critical shortages of healthcare staffs.

The country is now averaging nearly 800,000 new COVID-19 cases each day and nearly 1,800 new deaths each day, up significantly week by week, according to latest CDC data.

Some colleges across the country went remote again as students return to school after winter breaks, in order to avoid increasing infections on campus.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Sunday the next few weeks will be tough.

"The challenge is that the entire country is not moving at the same pace," Murthy said in an interview with CNN. "The Omicron wave started later in other parts of the country. We shouldn't expect a national peak in the coming days."

Editor: WXY
Passengers buy goods sold by local villagers on train No. 4318 in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Villagers display their goods for sale on train No. 4318 in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Photo taken on Jan. 15, 2022 shows train No. 4318 arriving at Shicheng Station in Fengcheng City, northeast China's Liaoning Province. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Villagers carrying their goods board a "slow train" at Shicheng Station in Fengcheng City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A rooster for sale on a "slow train" is seen at Shicheng Station in Fengcheng City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Photo taken on Jan. 15, 2022 shows passengers waiting for train No. 4318 at Shicheng Station in Fengcheng City, northeast China's Liaoning Province. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A villager weighs a piece of meat on train No. 4318 in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Passengers buy goods on train No. 4318 in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Villagers carrying their goods prepare to board a "slow train" at Shicheng Station in Fengcheng City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Aerial photo shows train No. 4318 arriving at Shicheng Station in Fengcheng City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A villager prepares to sell homemade sugar-coated haws on a "slow train" at Shicheng Station in Fengcheng City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 15, 2022. Trains No. 4317 and 4318 are "slow trains" operating between Tonghua of Jilin Province and Dandong of Liaoning Province in northeast China. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, the local railway authorities have been organizing onboard markets which allow villagers living along the trains' route to sell goods to passengers without leaving the train cars. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Editor: WXY
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has unveiled a plan to specify key tasks for protecting the marine environment in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Monday.

The plan, jointly issued by the MEE and five other departments, outlines five areas for marine-environment protection.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), China saw an overall improvement in its marine environment, said the MEE, but more protection efforts should be made, given that problems such as pollution and ecological degradation remain prominent, and governance systems and capacities still need to be strengthened.

The country will carry out targeted pollution treatment with a focus on nearshore bays and estuaries, while paying more attention to overall protection and systematic restoration.

China will build up its capacity for coping with emergencies and ecological disasters in the ocean, according to the plan.

Efforts will be made to coordinate climate response and marine-environment protection during the period, fully leverage the role of the oceans in carbon sequestration and enhance their resilience to climate change. 

Editor: JYZ
by Xinhua writer Ma Qian

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- With trains rumbling down new tracks, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia has just been unlocked, poised to transform itself into a hub connecting the fast-growing region to markets as far away as in Europe.

Since it was opened to traffic on Dec. 3, the China-Laos Railway has been getting busier. Lao travelers wait in long queues to buy highly sought-after passenger tickets on weekends and holidays, and more than 100 million U.S. dollars' worth of goods were transported across the border via the southeastern Chinese city of Kunming within one month.

To development, connectivity matters, especially in the era of globalization. It is a most urgent need for many developing countries, and a priority for what is widely known as "Xiconomics," Chinese President Xi Jinping's philosophy on promoting both domestic and global economic development.

Guided by Xiconomics, China has been doing its best to help improve global connectivity and promote common growth over recent years, effectively upgrading globalization into what can be referred to as "growbalization" (growth plus globalization).

Now against the backdrop of a raging pandemic, that is making a difference.

ON THE RAILS

Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Laos-China Railway has been completed and put into operation, and the Lao people have finally realized their railway dream, said Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.

The importance of transportation cannot be overemphasized. It is the artery of a nation, and of the globalized world. As a popular Chinese saying goes, "Roads lead to riches."

The World Bank has estimated that the China-Laos Railway could significantly reduce land transport prices by 40 to 50 percent between Vientiane and Kunming, and by 32 percent between Kunming and the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand. As the railway connects Laos to the vast BRI network, including the China-Europe Railway Express, aggregate income in the country could be increased by up to 21 percent over the long term.

Across Eurasia, the China-Europe Railway Express has so far transported goods worth more than 200 billion dollars, greatly contributing to the stability of the international supply chains.

In the past decades, China has both benefited from globalization, and contributed to its development. China's gross domestic product has increased 8.1 percent year on year in 2021, leading the world to recover from the once-in-a-century COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic globalization is the trend of the times, Xi reiterated in a landmark speech on Monday at the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual session, calling for joint efforts to make "economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all" and fully unleash "the vitality of the world economy."

"We need to discard a Cold War mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes," he said, pointing out that "confrontation does not solve problems; it only invites catastrophic consequences."

It is not the first time the Chinese president has expounded his vision on globalization. Five years ago, Xi expressed China's willingness to share its development achievements with the world.

"China's development is an opportunity for the world," Xi said in a keynote speech at the 2017 annual meeting of the WEF. "We will open our arms to the people of other countries and welcome them aboard the express train of China's development."

Across the world, China's development and cooperation with other countries have changed the life trajectory of numerous people. In Africa, China helped Kenya build the country's first railway since its independence, which links its two largest cities -- Nairobi and Mombasa -- and allows people to work in satellite cities and towns and join their families within hours.

Mohammad Nauman, a young Pakistani man, made a career decision seven years ago when China and Pakistan decided to build Pakistan's first metro system. He became a technician at the metro company. In 2020, the line was opened to traffic.

"It was very amazing for me that this whole connectivity was coming to my country," said Nauman.

DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL

Nauman is just one of many who have enjoyed career opportunities from China-proposed initiatives aimed at leveraging its own development to promote the common development of the world.

"The Belt and Road Initiative addresses the crux of the problem of developing countries: effective infrastructure, from rail and ports to power and communications," said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"China has, by far, the most experience in designing and building infrastructure in recent decades and its commitment to work with the developing world is a major step in redressing deep global imbalances," Kuhn said.

By assisting countries to get on its "express train," China is seeking win-win outcomes. Now it serves as a growth globalizer that is well positioned to further boost economic globalization for common prosperity.

Different from what Western countries have done in the past century, China's growbalization drive is based on its openness and sustained readiness to share development opportunities with the rest of the world. So far, the BRI has become the world's broadest and largest platform for international cooperation.

China respects the integrity of nations, upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and "respects the equality of all nations, small or large, developing or developed," Kuhn said.

The call to advance development for all is in line with China's domestic endeavor for common prosperity, which has successfully lifted more than 770 million people out of poverty, a miraculous achievement in human history.

Behind this cause is the country's people-centered principle. Putting people first, the Chinese government has accurately identified the causes of poverty and mobilized vast resources to address them.

Now with global inequality on the rise and COVID-19 exposing social ruptures, the same principle is being increasingly prioritized in China's growbalization drive.

"No matter what difficulties may come our way, we must adhere to a people-centered philosophy of development, place development and livelihoods front and center in global macro-policies," Xi said in his speech on Monday.

From implementing major initiatives in China-Africa cooperation to advancing regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region, China's down-to-earth actions have brought tangible benefits to all people involved.

"I think there is a common understanding that China is a real force for good. It means what it says. And it says to itself what it should do, and applies it too," said Jean-Jacques de Dardel, a former ambassador of Switzerland to China. "I think China is doing a great job."

Just as the Chinese president has said, "only when countries develop together can there be true development, and only when countries prosper together can there be true prosperity." Enditem

(Xinhua writers Zhang Jianhua in Vientiane, Jiang Chao in Islamabad, Chen Junxia and Chen Binjie in Geneva, and Yang Shilong in Washington also contributed to the story.)

Editor: JYZ
Ukraine, in the absence of additional shocks, may pass the second half of 2022 without an urgent conclusion of a new program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Danylo Hetmantsev, the head of the Verkhovna Rada committee on finance, taxation and customs policy, believes.

"If there are no shocks, I would not see any problems with servicing the public debt in 2022 and fulfilling our obligations - such problems that would force us to conclude a new program with the IMF right tomorrow," he said on the Rada TV channel.

"We must discuss the terms of this program and sign an agreement on favorable terms for us," Hetmantsev added.

At the same time, the parliamentarian expressed confidence in receiving the remaining two tranches of $700 million each as part of the current Stand-By Arrangement, which ends this summer.

"If the price of gas remains the same, then I am sure that we will continue to restrain gas prices. We will return to this issue in May-June," he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that after the completion of the joint Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in the summer of 2022, which was opened in the summer of 2020, Ukraine intends to continue cooperation with the fund under the new program.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide a $120 million loan to the Epicenter K group of companies for the development of agricultural infrastructure in Ukraine, the press service of the group reported.

According to its data, the corresponding nine-year loan agreement was signed on December 22, 2021.

The loan funds will be directed to the construction of elevator complexes for the storage of grain and oilseeds, as well as to the development of supporting infrastructure.

"The Epicenter K group of companies continues to develop dynamically and invest a significant amount of funds in the Ukrainian economy. In addition to scaling the retail network, we are expanding our own production and elevator capacities, implementing new logistics and infrastructure projects ... We also hope that this project will become a significant contribution to development of the agricultural sector in Ukraine," CEO of the group Petro Mykhailyshyn commented on the agreement with the EIB.

The attraction of the loan will allow Epicenter K to introduce the most modern technologies and management processes aimed at expanding its activities in agribusiness. The newly built facilities will also provide an opportunity to create new jobs, and this will not only have a positive impact on the development and improvement of social conditions in local communities, but will contribute to the economic growth of Ukraine as a whole.

The agricultural assets of Epicenter K are united under the Epicenter Agro brand. It processes 167,000 hectares of land in six regions of Ukraine, is in the top seven largest latifundists of Ukraine in terms of land bank area and the top five largest private operators in the domestic market of linear elevators.

Over the past five years, since the acquisition of the first elevators, Epicenter Agro's simultaneous storage capacity has increased six-fold, to more than 1.5 million tonnes. In total, the structure of the agricultural holding includes 15 elevator complexes, eight of which are route complexes. The largest grain elevator hubs of the agricultural holding are located in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytsky regions.

The total amount of investments of Epicenter K in the development of the agricultural sector during 2016-2021 exceeded UAH 10 billion.
Number of complaints to business ombudsman up by 26% in 2021  Waschuk

The number of complaints to the Business Ombudsman increased by 26% in 2021, to 2,182, Business Ombudsman Roman Waschuk said.

"Last year, the Business Ombudsman received 2,182 complaints, while in 2020 there were 1,737. This is an increase of 26%," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

As the business ombudsman noted, traditionally, the largest number of complaints last year was received on tax issues  62% of the total. Another 14% of complaints are related to the actions of law enforcement agencies, state regulators  6%, local government  4%, and customs  3%.

"The increase in complaints may partly reflect how market players know us and are ready to contact us," Roman Waschuk said.

As for the complainants themselves, 23% of them are wholesalers. Another 17% of complaints came from enterprises  representatives of agriculture and the mining industry, 11%  manufacturing companies, as well as 9% each  private entrepreneurs and enterprises in the construction and real estate sectors, Waschuk said.

According to him, 74% of complainants are from small enterprises, while large ones accounted for 26% of complaints last year.
The Russian embassy to Ukraine is functioning as usual, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The Russian embassy in Kyiv is operating as usual," the Foreign Ministry said when asked to comment on a report in The New York Times that Russia is evacuating its diplomats from Ukraine.
Swiss Group, a provider of advice to navigate the potential legal and administrative pitfalls in the UAE, has issued a suite of free resources to help businesses and individuals navigate the countrys rapidly evolving legal landscape.



The management and legal consultancy has compiled a selection of guides, covering topics such as UAE labour law, cryptocurrency regulations, visa options, company setup rules, and more. The resources are available free of charge from Swiss Groups website.



Described by many as the largest legislative reform in the countrys 50-year history, 2021 saw UAE leaders introduce changes to more than 40 laws, including rules related to commercial companies, online security, trade, copyright, residency, narcotics and social issues.



Commenting on the latest legislation, Michael Lane, Managing Director at Swiss Group, said: The agenda includes a set of national indicators in education, healthcare, economy, police and security, justice, society, housing, infrastructure and government services. It seems like these indicators have catalysed a raft of new laws, set to herald a new era for the  still young  UAE.



While the exact nature of many of the legal reforms is still emerging, we know that some 540 specialists and experts from 50 federal and local authorities worked together over five months, in consultation with more than 100 private sector organisations, to formulate the changes.



Labour law is one area currently undergoing a comprehensive overhaul in the Emirates. The updated legislation is designed to create a [more] flexible and competitive work environment, with changes applying to part-time and temporary work in the private sector. Rules surrounding maternity and paternity leave, hiring teenagers, discrimination in the workplace and equal pay, are also being revised.



Swiss Group has published a comprehensive review of the key changes affecting UAE labour law, by comparing the new with the old law, which are scheduled to come into effect from 2 February 2022.



UAE officials have also taken measures to bolster the countrys visa system. Last year saw the introduction of a host of new visa options, including a five-year multiple entry visa for employees of multinational corporations; a new green visa that expands self-residency status to investors, entrepreneurs, highly skilled individuals, and top students and graduates; and the federal freelance visa, which is designed to facilitate self-employed professionals working in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and digital currencies.



In a bid to support individuals who are considering relocating to the UAE, and who wish to explore residency options, Swiss Group has released an up-to-date guide entitled: Decoding the UAEs Visa Landscape.



The latest legislative reforms come as part of the UAEs Projects of the 50 concept, a wide-ranging and ambitious scheme launched to mark the nations 50th anniversary.



The new legislation has been drafted to help drive positive change in line with the UAE National Agendas six key pillars: a cohesive society and preserved identity; a safe, public and fair judiciary; a competitive knowledge economy; a first-rate education system; world-class healthcare; and a sustainable environment and infrastructure.



At Swiss Group, weve shared most of the UAEs dramatic journey through the last five decades, and we remain thrilled to be part of such ambitious plans, said Lane.



Our role remains to keep abreast of a sometimes rapidly changing regulatory framework, but we also excel in providing clarity in complexity, ensuring peace of minds for our clients.



Every day, we are proud to play a part in the economic development of the nation, and to help businesses, entrepreneurs and investors understand how they can join in on the UAEs journey to becoming one of the best nations in the world, he concluded.



Swiss Groups Swiss ILC Services DMCC and Swiss International Legal Consultants Ltd., specialise in corporate and management consulting, accounting services (including VAT handling) and legal advisory.  TradeArabia News Service
CIA Director Bill Burns visited Kyiv last week, where he met with colleagues from local intelligence agencies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN said.

"Last Wednesday, Director Burns visited Kyiv on a previously-scheduled trip where he consulted with intelligence counterparts amid concerns of a further invasion of Ukraine by Russia," CNN journalist Natasha Bertrand said on Twitter, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

It is noted that during the visit, the director of the CIA discussed "discussed current assessments of risk to Ukraine."

"He [Burns] also had the opportunity to discuss the current situation with President [Volodymyr] Zelensky and efforts to de-escalate tensions," the official said.

The CNN journalist said that Burns served as a key intermediary between the United States, Russia and Ukraine for several months. In early November, during his visit to Moscow, he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to express "serious" U.S. concern about Russia's actions.
A small contingent of Canadian special forces has been deployed to Ukraine to assist the Ukrainian servicemen in countering threats from Russia, Canadian Global News television channel said without citing sources.

Canadian special forces operators "have been deployed to Ukraine amid rising tensions between the NATO military alliance and Russia," the channel said.

These actions "come as diplomatic talks aimed at staving off an armed conflict in Ukraine have faltered, and an estimated 100,000 Russian troops remain camped on Ukraine's border," the channel said.

It also states that the unit has also been tasked with helping to develop evacuation plans for Canadian diplomatic personnel in "the event of a full-scale invasion."

According to media statements, a spokesperson for special operations command said that it could not confirm this report, but noted that support for the Ukrainian security forces has been periodically provided since the autumn of 2020.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly arrived in Kyiv on a two-day visit the day before.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, "the heads of the Ukrainian and Canadian diplomats will hold talks, the key topics of which will be counteracting Russian aggression, consolidating further steps to contain Russia, and strengthening the security sector of Ukraine."

On Monday, Joly already met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
The Russian side has not informed the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry that it is evacuating personnel of its diplomatic missions from Ukraine, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

"The Foreign Ministry has not received any information from the Russian side about any evacuation of personnel of the Russian Federation's diplomatic missions from Ukraine. The embassies of other countries in Ukraine have not announced any plans to evacuate their personnel either," Nikolenko said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also has no immediate plans to evacuate Ukrainian diplomats from Russia, he said.

"The [Ukrainian] embassy in Moscow, the Consulates General in St. Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don and the consulates in Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk are functioning as usual. Despite the challenging conditions, our diplomats and consuls are continuing to successfully fulfil their tasks, above all protecting the interests of Ukrainian citizens in Russia," Nikolenko said.

The New York Times said earlier, citing a high-ranking official of Ukraine's Security Service, that Russia began evacuating the families of its diplomats from Ukraine in early January.

According to the newspaper, 18 people, mostly the children and wives of Russian diplomats, boarded buses and embarked on a drive home to Moscow on January 5. Another 30 people left Kyiv and Lviv over the next few days. Diplomats at two other Russian consulates have been told to prepare to leave Ukraine, The New York Times said.
Britain will provide Ukraine with light anti-armour defensive weapons systems, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said.

"I can today confirm to the House that, in light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia, and in addition to our current support, the UK is providing a new security assistance package to increase Ukraines defensive capabilities. We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light, anti-armour, defensive weapon systems," Wallace said in a speech in the House of Commons on Monday, January 17.

A small number of UK personnel will also provide early-stage training for a short period of time, within the framework of Operation ORBITAL, before then returning to the United Kingdom, he said.

"This security assistance package complements the training and capabilities that Ukraine already has, and those that are also being provided by the UK and other Allies in Europe and the United States. Ukraine has every right to defend its borders, and this new package of aid further enhances its ability to do so," Wallace said.

The minister said the weapons provided do not pose a threat to Russia.

"Let me be clear: this support is for short-range, and clearly defensive weapons capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia. They are to use in self-defence and the UK personnel providing the early-stage training will return to the United Kingdom after completing it," he said.

Wallace said the British Prime Minister had made it clear that any Russian destabilizing actions in Ukraine would be a strategic mistake with serious consequences.

"That is why there is a package of international sanctions ready to go that will make sure that Russia and its Government are punished if they cross the line. But the cost of an invasion will not just be felt by the west. I have visited Ukraine five times since 2016, and I know that the Ukrainians are a proud people who will stand and fight for their country, for democracy and for freedom. Any invasion will not be viewed as a 'liberation,' but as an occupation and I fear that it could lead to huge loss of life on all sides," the minister said.
The visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ukraine and Germany will take place on January 18 to 20, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of State on Tuesday.

"In Kyiv, Blinken will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reinforce the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

According to the document, on January 20, Blinken will travel to Berlin, where he is scheduled to meet with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

In turn, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that on January 19, Blinken will pay a visit to Ukraine at the invitation of Foreign Minister Kuleba.

"The visit will be a continuation of close coordination between Ukraine and the United States in order to deter Russia from further aggression," the ministry said.

It is noted that Kuleba and Blinken will hold talks on the further implementation of a comprehensive containment package for Russia, practical support for Ukraine by the United States, and active diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict."

The parties will also discuss issues of strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States in the areas of security, trade, investment and others.
The Servant of the People political party, based on data from regional party organizations, has prepared a preliminary list of 61 deputies of local councils, to which the procedure of an imperative mandate may be applied, head of the political force Olena Shuliak said.

"There are already preliminary lists from regional organizations regarding deputies of local councils, to whom the procedure of an imperative mandate may be applied. As of today, there are 61 people on this list, from all over Ukraine. But now we are considering candidates for each specific case, therefore, of course, this figure can be changed both upwards and downwards," Shuliak said in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Tuesday.

"In general, the number of deputies of local councils from the Servant of the People is 6,407, so 61 deputies submitted by regional organizations for an imperative mandate is a very small percentage," the politician added.

At the same time, she noted that the party plans on January 27 to hold a meeting of one of its governing bodies - the National Council of Communities, whose members are the heads of all regional organizations and city organizations of the cities of Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih of Dnipropetrovsk region, at which the candidacies of local deputies will be discussed directly, to which the imperative mandate will apply.

"At the central level, we have already looked at it and worked with lawyers. But since we are going through this procedure for the first time, we would like it to be as transparent as possible, understandable for all participants: why this is applied to this or that deputy of the local council. It is necessary to analyze all the votes, visiting plenary sessions, standing committees," the politician said.

"According to the law, an imperative mandate is applied if the deputy did not join the faction, was expelled from it, or when he does not vote in accordance with the decisions of the faction. At the same time, we will definitely monitor the situation to see if the local deputy works in general, because if he does not attend meetings without a good reason, then he should not represent the interests of voters, because he simply does not fulfill his duties," Shuliak explained.

As reported, the Servant of the People political party intends to make the first decisions in early February 2022 on the application of an imperative mandate to local deputies from a political force.
In late 2021, the Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) of Ukraine, based on the information from the operation units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, initiated a criminal proceeding on manufacturing and illegal trafficking of counterfeit medicines for oncological diseases, hepatitis, HIV etc. According to the prosecution, the criminal group manufacturing and distributing counterfeit medicines was organized by citizens of Ukraine, against whom an indictment has been submitted to the court. The criminal group also included citizens of Russian Federation, Republic of India, Azerbaijan, Republic of Turkey and others. Their identities and role are currently being established during the investigation.

The pretrial investigation found that the annual manufacturing scale of some medicines ranged from 500 to 3,000 packages worth from $250 to $5,000 per package. The main channels for the sale of counterfeit medicines were advertisements on the Internet. Moreover, the medicines were sold directly to patients through doctors, and the role of doctors is now being investigated.

The Ukrainian PGO Information Policy Department told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the investigation was initiated by two pharmaceutical companies  manufacturers of innovative medicines which discovered trafficking of counterfeit as authorized and unauthorized medicines in Ukraine.

According to the information, some of counterfeit medicines were sold through doctors who prescribed unauthorized or expensive medicines and offered patients to purchase them through illegal trafficking channels. However, doctors were not always aware that they were dealing with counterfeits.

Similarly, "grey import" to Ukraine was also conducted without compliance with the regulations on transport of medicines, temperature requirements and outside the official supply lines.

Part of counterfeit medicines was manufactured in small lots in an apartment of one of the elite apartment complexes in Pechersky district of Kyiv. This manufacturing was suppressed in 2019. The defendants are now on bail pending sentencing.

The investigation revealed that the volume of illegal trafficking and shipments of counterfeit medicines in some cases overran the official supply and manufacture of medicines.

Attorney-at-law, Partner at Legal Alliance Company Illya Kostin told Interfax-Ukraine about success and problems in combating counterfeit medicines.

- What did the investigation of the chain that manufactured and sold counterfeit medicines reveal?

The constant cooperation with the Pharmaceutical Security Institute, FBI, law enforcement agencies of India, the detection and the arrest of couriers with large lots of medicines  all that is a reality during the investigation of the counterfeit medicines cases.

In particular, one of the most massive clandestine marketing networks of counterfeit medicines within the territory of CIS, European and Asian countries was detected.

The chain included 164 items of counterfeit medicines; some 45 international pharmaceutical manufacturers whose products had been counterfeited or smuggled into Ukraine. There were 18 countries where counterfeit medicines were sold. The turnover of illegal trafficking of counterfeit medicines is estimated at UAH 150 million.

The pretrial investigation had lasted for about 30 months, during which more than 140 expert examinations appointed by the judicial scrutiny had been conducted and 6 persons had been arrested in Ukraine and abroad within the international investigation.

The mentioned information does only confirm that counterfeit and illegal trafficking of medicines is still cutting issue today. It is being looked into by both public agencies and various organizations, there are roundtable discussions, conferences and other events dedicated to the issue, nevertheless, hardly anyone can succeed in the practical aspects of supporting such operations and achieving the final results.

According to the statistics, the turnover of both the illegal trafficking and the grey import of the pharmaceutical market reaches more than UAH 4 billion per year that only confirms the scale of the problem.

- How are counterfeit medicines defined in Ukraine's legislation?

It is important to start with the definition of counterfeit medicine as it appears to be the first problem because the definition in the current legislation of Ukraine is not sufficient by all means.

Thus, the Law of Ukraine "On Medicines" stipulates the following:

"Counterfeited medicine is a medicine which is purposely marked non-identically (not respectively) to the data (one or more of them) about the medicine with the appropriate name entered in the State register of medicines of Ukraine, as well as a medicinal product intentionally counterfeited, and does not correspond to the data (one or more of them), including the composition, about the medicinal product with the appropriate name, entered in the State register of medicines of Ukraine."

Based on the mentioned above it may be concluded that medicines which are not authorized in Ukraine, but are counterfeited, are not de jure considered to be so. The example of such a situation is when a medicine is authorized in Ukraine at a dosage of 10 mg but the same medicine in a dosage of 5 mg is not submitted to the State register of medicines of Ukraine. Therefore, the counterfeit medicine in a dosage of 5 mg won`t be considered to be counterfeit under the current legislation of Ukraine.

However, pursuant to the legislation, international legal acts ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine have more legal force than the national ones.

Thus, the Council of Europe Convention on the counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health No. 4908-VI was ratified in Ukraine and entered into force on January 1, 2016. The Convention defined the term medicine that doesn't require the authorization of such medicine in Ukraine. In addition, there also is a definition of the counterfeit - a false representation as regards identity and/or source.

Therefore, the use of the Council of Europe Convention on the counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health provisions expands the opportunities of prosecuting persons for counterfeiting medicines.

- Effect of counterfeiting of medicines

Unfortunately, the problem of the imperfect terminology is not the main one in the counterfeit medicines control. The illegal trafficking is harmful for the human life and health as well as for the national budget of Ukraine.

As it was stated above, the turnover of counterfeit medicines amounts to over UAH 4 billion per year, more than UAH 600 mill of which are annually not paid to the national budget of Ukraine.

As for the damage to human life and health, it is impossible to estimate such damage due to the deficiency of the abundance of data. It is partially related to the fact that medicines that are being counterfeited are for the treatment of AIDS, hepatitis, various forms of the oncological diseases, efficacy of which is impossible to study due to the severity of the diseases.

People buy counterfeit medicines for a number of reasons, the main ones being high prices of medicines, higher prices of certain medicines in Ukraine than in other countries, lack of the official sale of specific innovative medicines, the need for medicines in case of their exit from the market.

We can only guess the number of people that ended up getting counterfeit medicines that were, at the very least, non-effective and solely consisted of vitamins or innoxious substances and did not cause serious health consequences.

Nevertheless, the complications do not come to an end since such procedures as investigation and expert examination require further improvement.

- What are the difficulties of conducting expert examination of a counterfeit?

Let us start with the expert examination. This is one of the essential steps in determining whether a medicine has been counterfeited.

The most common ways of counterfeiting are as follows: repackaged cheap substitute (generic) as the original medicine, prepackaged medicines with impurities, in other words a situation when the concentration of the active ingredient of the medicine is drastically downplayed, a complete counterfeit where the unknown substances are displayed as the original medicines.

The expert examination is conducted to determine the way medicines were counterfeited. The proper laboratory is required for the high quality of the expert examination.

- Are there such laboratories in Ukraine?

Such laboratories, surely, do exist in Ukraine but they are not certified according to the Law of Ukraine "On Forensic Examination." Yes, we can lay emphasis on the State-owned enterprise "Central Laboratory for Drugs Quality Analysis and Medical Products" (hereinafter referred to as the Central Laboratory) that is authorized to conduct the testing of medicines for quality control of medicines in case of the suspicion of counterfeiting of such medicines, as well as to represent Ukraine at the General European Official Medicines Control Laboratory Network (GEON). Nevertheless, the Central Laboratory is not authorized to conduct the forensic examination as the result of only such examination is considered to be the proper evidence.

This situation is one of the reasons why such a small number of cases concerning counterfeit medicines reach the court.

- What are the aspects of pretrial investigation?

According to the information received from the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, the average number of the annually recorded criminal offenses on the territory of Ukraine under Article 321-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (counterfeiting of medicines or trafficking in counterfeit medicines) is about 30, while the average number of such cases annually brought to the court is 3.

The problem of counterfeit medicines control is also caused by the lack of the proper coordination between such public agencies as the National Police of Ukraine, the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the State Tax Service of Ukraine and others.

Such cooperation is necessary since counterfeit medicines can be manufactured and distributed in one population center of Ukraine as well as through international channels, the origin of which cannot be traced.

In addition to that, there is a lack of the unified methodology during the pretrial investigation, of the set operating procedures in identifying counterfeit medicines in the current legislation of Ukraine.

Thus, the Criminal Code of Ukraine provides the liability for, particularly, the sale of the scienter counterfeit medicines, therefore such liability is only possible if the intent of a person is established. Hence, it is possible to bring a person to liability only in case if such person was aware of the counterfeiting of medicines. Surely, it is feasible to prove and yet quite difficult as it is necessary to conduct a large number of covert investigative activities (video surveillance, wiretapping of telephone conversations, access to email correspondence, chats and messengers, etc.).

Overall, persons' actions on counterfeiting of medicines are most likely to be classified under Articles 321-1, 305 and 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, meaning that the liability is provided for counterfeiting of medicines, trafficking and smuggling of counterfeit medicines, Illegal use of a trade (or service) mark, registered trade name, qualified indication of origin, or any other intentional violation of the rights to these objects.

- What is the role of pharmaceutical companies in fight against counterfeit?

Opposed to the criminal offenses against life or property, where the "script" for the investigator to follow is defined and intelligible, problems arise at each stage of disclosing illegal trafficking of medicines. For example, the disclosure of counterfeit medicines, withdrawal of such medicines and sending the sample items for the expert examination. It is common for the regular expert institutions not to be able to identify the fact of the forgery and to only provide information about the content of the substance or its volume.

As a result, situations where the sample items of counterfeit medicines are sent for the expert examination to the laboratories of the pharmaceutical companies whose products are being forged are very common in Ukraine. Thus, the averment of the fact of counterfeiting of medicines in Ukraine is excessively formalized while foreign experience is simpler. In similar situations in foreign countries, pharmaceutical companies can independently confirm the fraud.

The involvement of pharmaceutical companies in the pretrial investigation is crucial. Unfortunately, difficulties arise even in such situations. In most cases there are problems of communication with the pharmaceutical companies, whose head offices are not in Ukraine. The Legal Alliance Company's team has a lot of practical experience of the representation of the pharmaceutical companies' interests in minimizing the cases of counterfeiting of medicines.

It is should be noted that the partnership between the pharmaceutical companies and public agencies during the pretrial investigation is highly important, as the pharmaceutical companies are the ones that bear financial losses along with the national budget of Ukraine.

Summing up the information, the real changes in the control of counterfeit medicines require the constant and effective cooperation between the public agencies and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the amendment of Ukraine's current legislation. Only with the efforts of both the private sector and public authorities it can be possible to achieve positive results.

- What should pharmaceuticals do to fight against counterfeiting of medicines?

In our opinion, the action plan development of the pretrial investigation in cases on counterfeiting of medicines for the law enforcement officers should be a number one priority.

Legal Alliance Company in co-authorship with the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine developed the first part of the methodical guidelines entitled "Medicines: Anti-counterfeiting in Ukraine /action plan/" (hereinafter referred to as the Methodical guidelines).

This issue covers the criteria for detecting counterfeit medicines; the widespread illegal trafficking channels of counterfeit medicines; action plan for reporting offences under Articles 321-1, 305 and 229 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine; samples of the necessary documents.

The action plan for the reporting of crimes regarding counterfeit medicines requires a special attention. In particular, there is information about the proper public agencies of the pretrial investigation, necessary evidence and all the important nuances in Methodical guidelines.

Nevertheless, it is important to point out that the first part of the Methodical guidelines is developed solely for the pharmaceutical companies. However, Legal Alliance Company is developing the second part, which will include the algorithm of the investigation, especially in questions regarding the investigative detection actions concerning counterfeit medicines.

The extensive discussion of the action plan for both injured persons and the law enforcement agencies will take place on January 20, 2022 at 10.00 upon the initiative of the European Business Association (EBA) Health Care Committee and Legal Alliance Company.
Naftogaz Teplo LLC, a subsidiary of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, which manages Novoyavorivska and Novorozdilska combined heat and power plants (CHPP, Lviv region) and is awaiting the transfer of six larger state-owned CHPPs to its management, intends to actively cooperate with local businesses on a long-term purchase of bio-raw materials in order to reduce natural gas consumption, head of the company Vitaliy Mykhaile said.

"We are now in the mode of formulating a partnership model: there is, for example, a local small business that will know that a company needs a certain amount of bio-raw materials annually to produce heat and electricity. Let it be wood chips or straw, in the production of which entrepreneurs can invest and build a sustainable business," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Mykhaile added that it could also be specially recycled garbage.

He stressed the company's readiness to enter into long-term contracts, for example, for 10 years, so that partners could invest in the development of their business.

According to the head of Naftogaz Teplo, the company itself does not intend to enter these areas on its own, but will focus on modernizing CHPPs and increasing their efficiency.

He also said that Naftogaz Teplo intends to simplify and make transparent the conditions for connecting to heat and electricity where it provides such services.

Asked about the possibility of joining efforts with another subsidiary of Naftogaz - Naftogaz Ukrainy, which supplies gas to the population, the head of Naftogaz Teplo said that "there are such ideas."

"They have not been developed yet. But I think the potential synergy will be great," he said.
Naftogaz Teplo LLC, a subsidiary of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, which manages Novoyavorivska and Novorozdilska CHPPs (Lviv region) and is awaiting the transfer of six larger state-owned CHPPs from Naftogaz, is preparing a proposal to the parent company for the transfer in the future of these assets to Naftogaz Teplo's balance sheet, head of the company Vitaliy Mykhaile said.

"The plans are to become a full-fledged sub-holding within Naftogaz, which will be able to receive financing directly from foreign markets. And in the future, it may itself enter an IPO or attract a strategic investor," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He noted that Naftogaz Teplo is at the stage of transformation.

"A new organizational structure has already been approved, specialists are being recruited and budgets are being planned to strengthen the team in order to be ready for the full-fledged management of the assets that we will receive. We are even looking for a new office, because the current one has outlived its time. We will be completely ready at the end of spring," he said.
USPA more than triples volume of dredging with its own fleet in 2021

KYIV. Jan 18 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) provided 3.6 million cubic meters of dredging with its own fleet in 2021, while in 2020 the volume of similar work was 1.1 million cubic meters.

"The volume of dredging works during 2021, carried out exclusively by the USPA, amounted to 3.6 million cubic meters  work was carried out in almost all Ukrainian seaports, water areas and canals," Acting Head of the USPA Oleksandr Holodnytsky said during a briefing at a press center of Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

He also said that in the last days of 2021, merchant shipping was restored in Skadovsk port, in which there were no ship calls for about a year and a half.

In addition, according to Holodnytsky, as of the end of 2021, a navigable channel of the Dnipro River corresponded to the passport depths.

As reported, Ukrainian seaports handled 153.076 million tonnes of cargo in 2021, which is 3.8% less than in 2020.
AutoFlight, the Chinese eVTOL pioneer, continues its global expansion and sets up its first location in Europe, with a team led by former Airbus manager Mark R Henning is now ramping up at Augsburg Airport in Germany.

The teams first task is to achieve European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for AutoFlight's airtaxi Prosperity I, an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a range of approximately 250 kilometres.

It can comfortably seat up to three passengers in addition to the pilot. The certification programme for this airtaxi will begin this year, with completion expected by 2025.

A dedicated and growing team will work at the R&D and certification center in Augsburg. AutoFlight plans to establish additional locations for test and demonstration flights across Europe. Prosperity I is the companys first manned aircraft. Previously, the companys focus was on unmanned cargo drones.

I am delighted to share that Mark Henning is joining AutoFlight in Europe to build our Prosperity I airtaxi according to EASA safety standards, said Tian Yu, the companys founder, Chairman and CEO.

Safety is and always will be AutoFlights top commitment. The eVTOL pioneer is dedicated to making its airtaxi Prosperity I as safe as a commercial airliner, and will work closely with European authorities.

In January 2022, Henning took on the position as Managing Director at AutoFlight Europe, which based in Augsburg/Germany. The aeronautical engineer and graduate of Munichs Technical University has worked in the aviation industry for 26 years.

Henning started his career at DASA and held leadership positions at EADS and Eurocopter. Previously, he was Manager for Governmental Business at the helicopter division of Airbus and head of product EC135. He has also held positions in programme management, strategy, production and development and has worked for the Airbus Group in Indonesia, South Korea, Israel, South Africa and the US.

Says Henning: "We are bringing aircraft construction back to Augsburg, creating a high-tech location and jobs as we build drones and create a completely new market segment for airtaxis. What I really like about AutoFlight and Prosperity I is the underlying simple concept. Simplicity translates into safety and efficiency.

The simplicity of AutoFlights design is the socalled lift and cruise  configuration. It combines superior range and safety with low technical complexity, making it affordable.

AutoFlight is one of the earliest tech companies in China to make autonomous eVTOL, including large payload logistics and autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Logistics UAVs were introduced first. AutoFlight completed more than 10,000 takeoffs and landings in adverse weather conditions. The company is now ready to build its people carrier Prosperity I and will show the progress made in its transition tests in a few weeks.-- TradeArabia News Service
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has issued pardons for 986 male and female prison inmates on the occasion of Eid El-Fitr, the Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday.
Al-Azhar condemned Friday terrorist attack on a mosque in Afghanistans capital Kabul that left dozens of worshippers dead and injured.
Egyptian authorities succeeded in releasing 20 Egyptian sailors who were held in Yemen over the past several days reportedly over charges of trespassing into Yemeni territorial waters without a permit.
Germany's top court said Tuesday that it has rejected the appeal of a former member of Syria's secret police who was convicted last year of facilitating the torture of prisoners in his home country.
Two military aircraft took off from East Cairo military base to Tanzania carrying tons of medical aid Thursday, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced.

According to the Egyptian Armed Forces, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population provided the aid within the framework of Egypt's constant support to the African peoples amid crises.

The provision of aid aims to alleviate burdens on the Tanzanian citizens as per President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's directives, the statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces said.

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Russia's top diplomat on Monday angrily rejected the U.S. allegations that it was preparing a pretext to invade Ukraine as Russian troops have remained concentrated near the border.

The White House said Friday that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that Russia had already deployed operatives to rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine to carry out acts of sabotage there and blame them on Ukraine in a ``false-flag operation'' to create a pretext for possible invasion.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the U.S. claim as ``total disinformation.''

He reaffirmed that Russia expects a written response this week from the U.S. and its allies to Moscow's request for binding guarantees that NATO will not embrace Ukraine or any other ex-Soviet nations, or station its forces and weapons there.

Washington and its allies firmly rejected Moscow's demands during last week's Russia-U.S. negotiations in Geneva and a related NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels, which were held as an estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and other heavy weapons are massed near Ukraine in what the West fears might be a prelude to an invasion.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia could launch an attack from various directions, including from the territory of its ally Belarus.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has increasingly relied on the Kremlin's support amid Western sanctions over a brutal crackdown on domestic protests, said that Russia and Belarus will hold massive military drills next month.

Lukashenko said the maneuvers will be conducted on Belarus' western border and also in the country's south where it borders Ukraine.

Russia has denied having plans to attack its neighbor and in turn accused the Ukrainian leadership of hatching plans to use force to reclaim control of rebel-held territories. Ukrainian authorities have denied it.

Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula after the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly leader and in 2014 also threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces in the country's industrial heartland called Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will take unspecified ``military-technical measures'' if the West stonewalls its demands.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who led the Russian delegation at the talks with the U.S. in Geneva, said last week that he would ``neither confirm nor exclude'' the possibility of Russia sending military assets to Cuba and Venezuela if the U.S. and its allies don't curtail their military activities on Russia's doorstep. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan has dismissed the comments as bluster.

Asked Monday about the possibility of Russian missile deployment to Cuba and Venezuela, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that ``Russia is thinking about how to ensure its security in the context of the current situation.''

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NATO on Monday inked a deal to bolster its cyber support for Ukraine, after a sweeping hacking attack against Kyiv heightened tensions amid fears that Russia could be plotting an invasion.

Ukraine said on Sunday that it had evidence Moscow was behind the attack last week that knocked out government websites, but the Kremlin has denied any involvement.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that experts from NATO and its members were already on the ground, working with Ukraine to tackle the latest cyber attack.

He said the new agreement would involve "enhanced cyber cooperation, including Ukrainian access to NATO's malware information sharing platform."

"We have successfully worked with Ukraine for several years, delivering key capabilities and exchanging knowledge," Ludwig Decamps, the head of the NATO Communications and Information Agency, said on Monday.

"Under this renewed agreement, we will deepen our collaboration with Ukraine to support them in modernising their information technology and communications services, while identifying areas where training may be required for their personnel."

Ukraine's ambassador to NATO, Natalia Galibarenko, said "with NATO's support we plan to further introduce modern information technologies and services into the command and control system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine".

The cyberattack on Ukraine last week came as tensions have soared between Moscow and the West over allegations the Kremlin could be plotting a fresh incursion into its neighbour after massing some 100,000 troops at the border.

Western allies have warned that any land invasion could be presaged by a hacking attack designed to knock out key infrastructure in Ukraine.

US software giant Microsoft warned Sunday that the cyberattack last week could prove destructive and affect more organisations than initially feared.

Microsoft said it was continuing to analyse the malware and warned it could render government digital infrastructure inoperable.

Moscow and NATO allies failed to make a breakthrough to ease tensions over Ukraine at high-stakes talks last week.

The Kremlin has laid down a series of demands to NATO and the United States, including ruling out granting Ukraine membership in the alliance.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned Russia against invading Ukraine, calling the former Soviet republic a "powerful" country with international friends.

Turkey's supply of combat drones to Ukraine has drawn the wrath of Russia, which fears they could be used by Kyiv in its years-long conflict in two regions of the Moscow-backed separatist east.

Speaking to Turkish reporters in Albania, Erdogan said he intended to discuss the rising tensions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"You cannot handle these things by saying 'I will invade something, I will take it'," Turkish media quoted Erdogan as saying.

"I don't see Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a realistic option because it is not an ordinary country. Ukraine is a powerful country," said Erdogan, who backs Ukraine's NATO aspirations.

In December, Putin criticised Ukraine for deploying Turkish attack drones, urging Ankara to put pressure on Kyiv not to use the military hardware, which has played a key role in conflicts in Libya and over Azerbaijan's separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Turkey has countered by saying it cannot be held responsible for how the drones are used by countries after they are sold.

Erdogan said he has always opposed Russia's approach to Ukraine, criticising its 2014 annexation of Crimea.

He added that Russia "should review the state of affairs in the world and its own state of affairs before deciding to take this step" to invade.

"We need to rip war out of political history," Erdogan said.

The West accuses Russia of deploying tanks, artillery and about 100,000 soldiers across Ukraine's northern and eastern borders in preparation for a possible invasion.

Moscow says it is responding to what it sees as the growing presence of NATO in its sphere of influence, where it fiercely opposes the expansion of the Atlantic alliance.

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A volcano that exploded in the Pacific island nation of Tonga has almost disappeared from view, new images revealed Tuesday, with swathes of the country smothered in grey dust or damaged by a tsunami.

The volcano erupted 30 kilometres (19 miles) into the air on Saturday and deposited ash, gas and acid rain across a large area of the Pacific.

In the tsunami that followed, waves in Tonga rose up to 15 metres (50 feet), its government said in a statement.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said three people were killed, citing Tonga's government.

Three days after the eruption, the outside world is still struggling to understand the scale of the disaster using patchy satellite phone connections, surveillance flights and satellite images.

While power and local phone systems have been partially restored, international communications remain severed and the internet is down.

Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on Tuesday showed that where most of the volcanic structure stood above sea level a few days ago, there is now just open sea.

Only two relatively small volcanic islands were still visible above sea level after the eruption.

New Zealand released aerial images taken from a surveillance flight the previous day, revealing a tree-lined coast transformed from green to grey by the volcanic fallout.

Wrecked buildings were visible on the foreshore alongside others that appeared intact.

Volcanic ash blanketed island fields, images from an Australian Defence Force P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft showed.

Shipping containers had been knocked over like dominoes at a port on the main island.

The World Health Organization said in a statement Tuesday that its liaison officer in Tonga, Dr Yutaro Setoya, was "channelling communication between UN agencies and the Tongan government".

"With international phone lines and internet connectivity still down, Dr Setoya's satellite phone is one of the few ways to get information," it said.

The officer has "literally been standing outside from dawn until long into the night for the past few days to ensure that the phone can reach the satellite signal", said the WHO's Health Cluster Coordinator for the Pacific, Sean Casey.

The UN health agency said around 100 houses had been damaged, with 50 destroyed on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu.

Between five and 10 centimetres of ash and dust had fallen on Tongatapu, the OCHA said.

The WHO said the ash and dust were "raising concerns of air pollution and potential contamination of food & water supplies".

"The gov't has advised the public to remain indoors, use masks if going out & to drink bottled water due to the ashfall," it tweeted.

Distress beacon

Australia's HMAS Adelaide and New Zealand's HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa were ordered to be ready for a possible aid request from Tonga, which lies three to five days' sailing away.

The Red Cross said it was sending 2,516 water containers.

New Zealand has allocated NZ$1 million ($680,000) in humanitarian assistance and the United States has pledged $100,000.

France, which has territories in the South Pacific, pledged to help the people of Tonga's "most urgent needs".

The OCHA said a signal had been detected from a distress beacon on a low-lying island, Mango.

The UN agency said surveillance flights had confirmed "substantial property damage" on Mango, home to about 30 people, and another island, Fonoi.

Images released by the United Nations Satellite Centre showed the impact of the disaster on the island of Nomuka, one of the closest to the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano.

The satellite centre said that of 104 structures analysed in a cloud-free area, 41 structures were damaged.

Tonga's airport was working to remove volcanic ash from the capital's runway. Australia said the ash must be cleared before it can land a C-130 military plane with aid.

One of the two confirmed dead was Angela Glover, a 50-year-old who ran a stray animals charity and was reported missing by her husband after the tsunami hit.

"Earlier today my family was sadly informed that the body of my sister Angela has been found," her brother Nick Eleini said after being given the news by the husband, James Glover.

"James was able to cling on to a tree for quite a long time, but Angela was unable to do so and was washed away with the dogs," he told The Guardian newspaper.

A 65-year-old woman from Mango and 49-year-old man from Nomuka island were also killed.

- Communications cut -

Even when relief efforts get under way, they may be complicated by Covid-19 entry restrictions.

The eruption -- one of the largest in decades -- was recorded around the world and heard as far away as Alaska, triggering a tsunami that flooded Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States.

In Peru, authorities sealed off three beaches Monday after they were hit by an oil spill blamed on freak waves caused by the eruption.

The blast severed an undersea communications cable between Tonga and Fiji that operators said would take up to two weeks to repair.

"We're getting sketchy information, but it looks like the cable has been cut," Southern Cross Cable Network's networks director Dean Veverka told AFP.

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Moscow on Tuesday rejected fresh talks on Ukraine unless the West responds to its demands, as the US and NATO pushed for more negotiations to avert a possible Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.

With tens of thousands of Russian troops massing on Ukraine's borders, efforts have intensified to prevent a conflict and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was preparing to fly to Kyiv for talks on Wednesday.

Blinken's trip, which will also take him to Berlin for meetings Thursday with European allies, is the latest in a flurry of diplomacy to prevent the tensions over Ukraine from escalating into a new war in Europe.

Talks in Geneva, Brussels and Vienna last week failed to ease fears, with Russia insisting its demands for sweeping security guarantees -- including a permanent ban on Ukraine joining NATO -- be taken seriously.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that there would be no further negotiations until the West gives it proper answers.

"We are now awaiting responses to these proposals -- as we were promised -- in order to continue negotiations," he said at a joint press conference with visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

"Let's hope these talks will continue," Lavrov said.

Washington has outright rejected the demands, which also include limits on allied deployments in former Warsaw Pact allies like Poland and the ex-Soviet Baltic states that joined NATO after the Cold War.

In a call with Lavrov ahead of his trip, Blinken "stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also left the door open to more talks, saying he had invited Russia and NATO allies to a series of discussions in the NATO-Russia Council "in the near future".

The aim is to "address our concerns but also listen to Russia's concerns, and to try to find a way forward to prevent any military attack against Ukraine," Stoltenberg told a news conference in Berlin.

The State Department said Blinken would fly to Ukraine and meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, to "reinforce the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Belarus military drills

Blinken will head to Berlin on Thursday for four-way talks with Britain, France and Germany on the Ukraine crisis.

The four countries will discuss "joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including allies' and partners' readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia," Price said in a statement.

According to respected Russian newspaper Kommersant, Blinken and Lavrov have also agreed to hold talks in Geneva on Friday.

Ukraine, the United States and European countries have all raised deep concerns over the Russian troop build-up, despite repeated denials from Moscow that an invasion is planned.

Kyiv has been at war with pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine after demonstrations ousted a Kremlin-aligned leader.

Adding to the tensions, Russia and Ukraine's neighbour Belarus on Tuesday launched snap military exercises.

The Belarusian defence ministry said it was hosting the combat readiness drills because of the continuing "aggravation" of military tensions "including at the western and southern borders of the Republic of Belarus."

Ukraine borders Belarus to the south and NATO member Poland to the west.

Neither Moscow nor Minsk has disclosed the number of troops involved, but a video published by the Belarusian defence ministry showed columns of military vehicles including tanks being unloaded from trains blanketed in snow.

Warning from Turkey

NATO member Turkey also warned Moscow against invading Ukraine, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying on Tuesday that he intends to discuss rising tensions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I don't see Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a realistic option because it is not an ordinary country. Ukraine is a powerful country," Erdogan told reporters in Albania.

Turkey has supplied combat drones to Ukrainian forces, drawing fierce criticism from Moscow.

Russian negotiators met separately this month with delegations from the United States, NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in meetings that failed to produce any concrete results.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced in parliament on Monday that Britain is sending weapons to Ukraine as part of a package that would help Kyiv secure its borders.

The types of equipment being sent "are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia," he said, describing them as "light, anti-armour, defensive weapon systems".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday described the announcement of the shipments as "extremely dangerous" and "not conducive to reducing tensions".

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The $1.2 billion Dubai Waste-to-Energy project, the worlds largest to be built in a single phase, has been chosen for the Deal of the Year 2021 award for the Middle East & Africa region.

Picked for the award by Project Finance International (PFI), a leading global reference in the field of industrial project finance, this public-private partnership closed its financing in June 2021.

When operational, it will have the capacity to process 1.9 million tonnes of municipal waste per year and generate 200 MW of electricity. The project is developed by a consortium comprising Besix, Hitachi Zosen Inova, Dubai Holding, DUBAL Holding, Itochu Corporation and Tech Group.

Hans Beerlandt, Head of Finance at Besix Group: Our Besix Group teams have worked for 4 years to create this world-class project with our client Dubai Municipality and our partners. Together we conceptualised and designed the project, we set up and participated in the financing, we are now building it, and we will manage its operations and maintenance for 35 years.

We are therefore very proud to see this project winning the Deal of the Year award from such a prestigious institution as PFI. I would also like to thank our co-developers as well as our advisors and debt provider group who made the realisation of this challenging project possible.

Besix has a portfolio of first-class concessions in transport and marine infrastructure, water and waste treatment and sustainable energy production.

In the Middle East, the Dubai Waste-to-Energy project adds to Besix's rapidly growing portfolio of environmental public-private partnerships. This includes infrastructure for wastewater management, treatment and valorisation, notably in Ajman via Ajman Sewerage and in Abu Dhabi with the ISTP2 venture.

In addition to these projects, Besix is actively involved in the region's first Refuse Derived Fuel installation in Umm Al Quwain, a sewage sludge treatment unit for the production of sustainable energy in Ajman and a unit for the transformation of landfill gas into sustainable energy in Dubai.

More recently, Besix is focusing on the development of social infrastructure for the region.

In Western Europe, Besix is actively involved in the long-term operations & maintenance of locks (the Limmel Flood Barrier and the Princess Beatrix Lock in the Netherlands), road infrastructure (A6 and Coen Tunnel in the Netherlands, Leopold II Tunnel in Brussels), and buildings (the new Antwerp Police Station which is now in its last year of construction).-- TradeArabia News Service
Survivors of twin earthquakes in Afghanistan that killed at least 22 people said Tuesday they had to spend the night without shelter in plummeting temperatures, after hundreds of buildings were damaged in the tremor.

Rescuers meanwhile searched for more survivors of Monday afternoon's quakes that jolted Qadis district in the western Badghis province, a rural area not easily accessible by road.

The US Geological Survey said two earthquakes hours apart of magnitude 4.9 and 5.3 rocked the district.

"Yesterday's earthquake was a very horrifying incident. We had never seen such a thing," Ahmad Shah, whose house in Qadis was damaged, told AFP.

"Because of the cracked walls and roofs of our houses we stayed out all night in this cold weather. Nobody came to help and the people had to dig out those who were buried."

Abdul Jabar, another survivor from Qadis, said many residents preferred to stay in the open fearing more tremors.

"We were scared and did not want to stay at home," he said, adding that some Afghan and international rescue teams arrived Tuesday.

"So far there has not been much support from anyone. They are just assessing the situation."

Qadis governor Saleh Purdel said the survivors might have to stay in tents for another week.

Many fear that further rain in the area could make houses even more vulnerable.

Early on Tuesday Badghis provincial spokesman Baz Mohammad Sarwary said in a video message that the quake had caused "massive" damage to houses, with up to 1,000 buildings damaged.

Sarwary and Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 22 people were killed and four were injured.

Call for aid

Afghanistan is already in the grip of a humanitarian disaster, worsened by the Taliban takeover of the country in August when Western countries froze international aid and access to assets held abroad.

Images circulating on social media showed residents, including children, searching through the rubble of collapsed homes.

Government officials said rescue workers were helping search for survivors and transferring the injured to local hospitals.

Mujahid said that all government agencies had been instructed to provide food, medical aid and shelter to those affected.

"We also call on international aid agencies and humanitarian agencies to assist the victims of the disaster," he said in a statement posted on Twitter.

The epicentre of the quake was near the city of Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis, less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Turkmenistan border, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The United Nations has said it needs $5 billion in 2022 to avert the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.

A devastating drought has compounded the crisis, with earthquake-hit Qadis one of the worst affected areas.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

Even weak earthquakes can cause significant damage to poorly built homes and buildings in the impoverished country.

In 2015, more than 380 people were killed in Pakistan and Afghanistan when a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake ripped across the two countries, with the bulk of the deaths in Pakistan.

In that disaster, 12 young Afghan girls were crushed to death in a stampede as they tried to flee their shaking school building.

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Against the backdrop of a floundering economy and deteriorating living standards for the vast majority of Turks, officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) opened the new year with a stream of reassuring messages to the public. The Turkish lira would stabilise, employment figures would rise, and investments and tourists from the Arab Gulf would return.

Indeed, before the end of 2021, gentler breezes had begun to arrive from the Arabian Peninsula following the Gulf Cooperation Councils Al-Ula summit and the reconciliation with Qatar. Abu Dhabi restored relations with Ankara and, more crucially, after some intensive Turkish communications, the Saudi foreign minister issued a statement that his countrys relations with Turkey were good and friendly.

What this meant was that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had given Riyadh assurances that he would stop trying to vie with Saudi Arabias leadership for the Islamic world and that he had to rein in his support for the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups harboured in Turkey. Such ingratiation must have worked because he now pins great hopes on a visit to Saudi Arabia in February removing Riyadhs last reservations over normalising relations with Ankara.

Back in Anatolia, opposition circles watch bemused as the governments foreign policy attempts to backpedal back to the zero problems days of former foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Not surprisingly, on social media the Turkish opposition is full of wry remarks about latest U-turn of their countrys self-styled Islamic leader and his cohorts who, not long ago, brandished photos of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and shouted battle cries contesting the Saudi royal houses eligibility as Guardian of the Holy Places in Mecca and Medina.

Only two years ago, the AKP government organised an international event to commemorate the first anniversary of Khashoggis assassination. Before a gathering of activists - mostly foreigners who had received official invitations - a prominent adviser to the Turkish president suggested putting up a statue of the late Saudi journalist outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul so that the civilised world would not forget how democracy was stabbed in the back.

The event was aired live over most satellite TV stations. Ironically, no matter how the cameras were positioned, they could not conceal how thin the attendance was, or the fact that audience consisted mainly of foreigners. Where were the locals? Where were the representatives of the major opposition parties who had received phone calls pressing them to attend? The answer was simple: they did not want to lend themselves as props in a spectacle staged to promote a regime ranked as one of the worlds foremost jailers of journalists. Today they ask whether the event will be cancelled again in 2022, citing the pretext of the pandemic. More importantly, they wonder whether the government regrets having approved stationing a memorial plaque commemorating Khashoggi in front of the Saudi consulate and if so what it plans to do about it.

Erdogans official spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, told reporters on 4 January that Ankara would accelerate normalisation steps in the Arab region in 2022. He added, We do not ignore the hand of anyone who reaches out to us. Whoever takes a friendly step towards us, we take two steps towards them. This struck opposition circles as odd. After all, who was reaching their hand to whom and why?

Amid an unofficial Saudi boycott of Turkish goods, Turkish exports to the kingdom plunged to a mere $189 million in the first 11 months of 2021, down from $2.5 billion in 2020 and $3.2 billion in 2019, writes Fehim Tastekin in Al Monitor of 7 January. Saudi sales to Turkey, meanwhile, hit a record $3 billion in the first 11 months of 2021, up from $1.7 billion in 2020 and $1.9 billion in 2019.

Turkish exporters had reportedly pressed Erdogan about their concerns over the Saudi boycott on the sidelines of a trade event in Istanbul. In response, he told them about the forthcoming visit in February. Although this was said to be an inadvertent slip, the news had its desired affect.

However, as Tastekin observes, in practical terms, Erdogan will have to make amends with the kingdoms ruler Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman whom Ankara has repeatedly insinuated was personally behind Khashoggis murder. Still, if Erdogans visit to Saudi Arabia goes ahead as planned in February, bin Salman will not have to tell him to drop the Khashoggi affair. For the Turkish president, desperate to stimulate exports and lure investments to salvage Turkeys ailing economy, that is automatically implied.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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At least four people died and nine were others wounded Tuesday when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant near an army barracks in the Somali capital, police officials and witnesses said.

The attacker walked into a Mogadishu tea shop and detonated the explosive vest he was wearing, said Abdirahman Adan, a police officer stationed near the scene.

"We have confirmed four dead, and nine others wounded," he said. "The casualties were taken to hospital."

The militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility, saying it was targeting Somali soldiers undergoing training at a Turkish-run military academy nearby.

Witnesses said the tea shop was popular with soldiers stationed nearby.

"The explosion destroyed the kiosk and the entire area is chaotic," said Mohamed Yare, one of the witnesses.

The attack came just two days after Somalia's government spokesman was injured in a bombing in Mogadishu also claimed by Al-Shabaab.

On January 12, several people died in a suicide car bomb blast in a separate attack targeting a busy part of the capital.

The spate of attacks comes as Somalia limps through a political crisis caused by long-running disagreements over overdue elections.

The president and prime minister have been at loggerheads over the process, which is more than a year late and has been marred by violence.

The latest agreement has earmarked February 25 as the deadline for the completion of long-delayed parliamentary polls, the last step before a vote for a new president can occur.

The impasse has worried Somalia's international backers who fear it distracts from the threat of Al-Shabaab, a violent insurgent group that has been fighting the weak central government for over a decade.

The Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 after an offensive by an African Union force, but still control vast swathes of rural Somalia from where they launch regular attacks in the capital and elsewhere.

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While Israel has achieved remarkable successes over the past three decades, it also faces important challenges in the years to come, writes Tarek Osman

It would be difficult to exaggerate Israels successes over the past three decades. But it would also be a colossal mistake to underestimate the challenges it is now facing.

The key successes are strategic. Israel has managed to live through the past two decades, during which its immediate neighbourhood of the Eastern Mediterranean has witnessed acute troubles, without experiencing any serious disruptions to its political or economic life. On the contrary, it has succeeded in using the situations around it to upgrade its cooperation with important world powers with influence in the region, most notably Russia.

Israel has become a major military power with a formidable reputation in the world of intelligence, and a large number of countries in the wider Middle East and beyond seek its expertise and buy its resources and products. This gives it prestige as well as, more importantly, access and knowledge.

Israel was one of the first countries to understand not just the implications of the rise of China, but also the fast pace of that rise and to act on that understanding. Israel actively sought to cultivate relationships with important nodes in the Chinese power structure, going way beyond the layers of the Chinese Communist Party to major players in the communications, technology, and industrial sectors.

The result is that Israel has highly developed technological and economic cooperation relationships with the rising global power. These will yield valuable dividends in the coming years.

These new relationships have also not lessened Israels special relationship with the US. Despite opposing turns in US policy in and towards the Middle East and major changes within US domestic politics, Israel has navigated its multi-faceted interactions with the US and has managed to remain its most trusted and closest ally in the region.

Israel is also benefitting from the gradual disengagement of the US from the Middle East. Its strategic successes, as well as its advances in the military and intelligence domains, have made it an attractive partner for regional powers in need of new security arrangements, especially in the Gulf. Israels successes in several technological and economic sectors have been registered by the sharp antennas of many merchant families in the Gulf that are deeply entrenched in the regions political-economic fabric.

The new Israeli partnerships with the Gulf have encouraged others. Sudan knocked on the US door through an Israeli route, for example, and Morocco is enhancing and deepening its decades-long cooperation with Israel. The result is that in a vastly changing Middle East, Gulf, and North Africa, Israel has emerged as a political, security, and economic centre with strong connections to almost all the corners of this large region.

However, from within these successes challenges also emerge. Israel has secured a newly prominent place in the wider Middle East while also increasingly becoming a Middle Eastern country.

Politically, religion is now one of the strongest currents in the Israeli parliament and thus in government-formation in Israel. This flies in the face of the secularism that characterised the Zionist movement before and after the creation of the state of Israel and that the countrys founding fathers envisaged as a pillar of the states governing structure and one of its main social features.

Socially, Israel increasingly also looks divided into distinct constituencies. Around a fifth of Israelis are conservatives if not literalists in religion. They live, work, and socialise far from the fifth of Israelis who are highly secular and liberal. And the majority of both of these two-fifths live away from the roughly fifth of the population that are Arab Israelis. This separateness dilutes social cohesion and engenders opposing understandings of Israeli identity.

There is also notable social inequality in Israel, and while this is not different from the inequalities in almost all Western (and of course also Arab) societies, inequality in Israel is another acute diversion from the socialist vision upon which the country was founded and which inspired its growth from the late 1940s to the late 1980s.

Strategically, the most serious challenges confronting Israel also arise from its successes.

As the US gradually dilutes its presence in the Middle East, it will rely more on Israel to secure key Western interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. These include vital infrastructure, including in gas and renewable energy.

On the one hand, this reliance will be an asset on Israels strategic balance sheet. But on the other, it is a new situation because the founding of Israel coincided with the US entrance into the Middle East, inheriting Britains role in the region, and so the country has always operated in its neighbourhood with the US in the background. Now that the US is withdrawing from the region, Israel is undertaking a responsibility it has never experienced before.

This responsibility gives rise to economic challenges. Certain sectors in Israel such as technology, communications, and pharmaceuticals have achieved phenomenal success over the past two decades. This has been anchored on human capital, investment flows, and research and innovation circuits closely enmeshed in international networks.

But it was not a coincidence that these talents and capital coalesced in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and other places that are the most detached from the turmoil of the Eastern Mediterranean. Now that Israel is taking on greater security responsibilities to compensate for the US absence, it will need to return to the mobilisation and militarisation of decades past, disrupting the milieu in which its greatest economic successes have been achieved.

Then there is Iran. As discussed in a previous article in this series, Irans successes have brought it to the Eastern Mediterranean armoured in a conviction that it has established a balance of deterrence with Israel through force of arms and particularly through the arsenal of the Lebanese Shia group Hizbullah.

This Iranian presence presents Israel with an acute dilemma for three reasons. The first is that Israels security doctrine since its foundation has always been anchored on its superior military capabilities relative to any and all the powers it considers to be its enemies. The current situation negates this Israeli doctrine.

The second is that Iran has succeeded in turning its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean into a semi-circle around Israel, with Hizbullah in the north, Syria in the east, and the Palestinian group Hamas in the south. This means that in any serious military confrontation between Iran and Israel, the latter must take into consideration the possibility of engaging in three different theatres of war at the same time, something it has always striven to avoid.

The third is that the Islamic Republic in Iran has become an idea, as elaborated in a previous article in this series, and for many in Israels immediate neighbourhood also an ideal. As a result, unlike in Israels wars with almost all the Arab regimes over the past 70 years, a confrontation with Iran would entail fighting ideologically hardened and devoted groups. Such wars always result in heavy casualties, because the opponent is willing to fight to the death.

This points to another challenge facing Israel. Like all societies that have achieved high levels of economic success, wealth brings with it comfort, a high standard of living, and often self-indulgence. These things are assets in dealing with Silicon Valley billionaires, but self-indulgence could well be a liability in a serious fight.

The Iran-Israel confrontation will likely alternate between cold and hot wars. It has already brought about major changes in the Eastern Mediterranean, and it will certainly further impact the region from the Gulf to North Africa. This confrontation is also now entering a delicate phase as the Arab world emerges from almost four decades of lethargy and from a disorienting decade since the 2011 uprisings.

The choices of the Arab world in the turbulent period to come are the subject of the next article in this series.

* The writer is the author of Islamism: A History of Political Islam (2017) and Egypt on the Brink (2010).

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Few countries are as blessed with gifts as Egypt. It has a unique geographic location linking Africa and Asia and overlooks two seas that are vital for international trade. It has the Nile River. It has a long-standing history that continues to impress and puzzle experts and historians for its contributions to early human civilisation in many fields. It has an affectionate, creative and resilient population. And it has the only spot in the world where the God of the Abrahamic tradition actually revealed himself to one of his prophets, on the way to the top of Mount Sinai.

Considering the significance of that part of south Sinai, also home to the Saint Catherine Monastery, one of the oldest in the world, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in person has been overseeing an ambitious megaproject to preserve and develop the natural and religious heritage of south Sinai and to serve the local community. Entitled The Greatest Transfiguration in the Land of Peace and involving over 1000 workers, the project will be completed by the end of 2022. Its first phase, involving roads, hotels and services, should open in April.

President Al-Sisi said on Sunday that the megaproject would be a gift from Egypt to the whole of humanity for its unique spiritual value that stems from bringing the three religions together. Despite many differences in beliefs, all three religions honour and revere the Prophet Moses. To Muslims, he is known as kaleemu Allah, or the man to whom God spoke directly at the spot where the Burning Bush was to become a pilgrimage site to Christians from all over the world.

Equally important is the fact that the project, supervised by the Ministry of Housing and employing internationally renowned architects, will be integrated into the effort to develop the entire region, maximising the use of its tourist, archaeological, environmental, religious and medical potential. Minister of Housing, Assem Al-Gazzar recently said the first stage of the Great Transfiguration at the Monastery of Saint Catherine was being implemented at an estimated cost of LE 4 billion.

That money has been used to fund 14 major projects: paving roads connecting Saint Catherine to the nearby cities of Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab and Al-Tour, providing vital infrastructure, including water and electricity, building mountain hotels and developing the Saint Catherine Airport to receive direct flights from Cairo and other Egyptian tourist hubs such as Sharm El-Sheikh and Luxor, as well as Europe, namely Greece.

Studies are also being carried out in preparation for holding a Sound and Light show showcasing the history and spiritual significance of the area, as well as extending cable cars to Mount Sinai and other famous mountains. To serve expected population growth, the megaproject includes building housing units, a hospital, a school, a market, a mosque and a church.

Through the joint efforts of the ministries of Tourism, Antiquities and Environment, Saint Catherine will be promoted as a unique spiritual spot for religious tourism. Among the projects under construction is a Peace Square where Christians, Muslims and Jews can pray and meditate together. All development projects are designed to maintain the holy nature of that area, with no construction planned close to the religious sites or natural enclaves. The Monastery of Saint Catherine is already being renovated in cooperation with UNESCO to preserve the invaluable ancient manuscripts that have been in its library over centuries.

Since taking office, undeterred by threat of terrorist groups in Sinai which has all but disappeared, President Al-Sisi has prioritised the development of the entire Sinai Peninsula, which makes up one third of Egypts territory. With a population of one million people, 300,000 in south Sinai and 700,000 in the north, there is tremendous potential to develop and transform Sinai.

Sinai has already been connected to the mainland through several tunnels and first-class roads, overcoming a major obstacle that limited movement. Several megaprojects that have been carried out in northern and southern peninsula over the past seven years, including the Greatest Transfiguration, will help to improve the living conditions of the local community and provide thousands of jobs for young Egyptians from all over the country, enabling many to move out of the overpopulated, noisy, and polluted big cities. The ambitious development plans in Sinai will hopefully increase its population to up to three million people in a few years.

Hopefully soon, tourists from all over the world will have a new spot to visit in Egypt, thanks to the Greatest Transfiguration project, and the unique, long history of this country of many gifts.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised on Tuesday against travel to 22 nations including Egypt, Israel and Australia over the increasing number of coronavirus cases in these countries recently.

The 22 countries were added to the Level 4 COVID-19 very high list which includes over 100 countries, already including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Avoid travel to these destinations, if you must travel to these destinations, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel, The CDC told American citizens.

Egypt has seen a sharp surge in coronavirus cases, especially in the past week, as the country has been struggling with the fourth coronavirus wave since August.

According to presidential adviser for Health affairs Awad Tag El-Din on Monday, the highly infectious coronavirus variant Omicron is responsible for the vast majority of coronavirus cases recorded recently in Egypt.

The Egyptian health ministry has urged people suffering from common cold symptoms to consider that they may have contracted COVID-19 and should therefore self-isolate and avoid sharing personal tools with family members.

Till date, Egypt has recorded 401,308 cases of coronavirus officially since its outbreak in February 2020 including 22,170 fatalities and 334,629 recoveries.

So far, Egypt has secured around 129 million doses of different coronavirus vaccines, Acting Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar told the media on Friday.

Egypt has administered around 36 million first vaccine shots, 24 million second shots, and half a million booster shots, Abdel-Ghaffar added.

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A new system for authenticating gold jewellery will soon be in place, with positive effects for the Egyptian market.

Gold jewellery sold in Egypt will soon be getting new proof of authenticity in the shape of a laser stamp, according to Minister of Supply Ali Moselhi who announced the change early this week.

The new system, which should come into effect within a year, will replace the traditional iron stamp by a laser one, with the new coding acting as a birth certificate for each piece, Mohamed Hanafi, head of the Chamber of Metallurgical Industries at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Together with the laser stamp there will also be a QR code for each piece carrying data such as number of karats, weight, and producer, he explained.

The announcement of the new system had some people worried that gold jewellery already in their possession might not be recognised should they wish to sell it. Does it mean we have to take all our jewellery to be restamped, asked Maha Saleh, a 55-year-old Cairo housewife who worried about the hassle or the fees she might have to pay.

But a Ministry of Supply statement said that gold jewellery already owned by retailers or consumers is considered valid and does not require any action to be taken.

Hanafi said the new system would not affect consumers and they could still sell their old gold jewellery bearing traditional stamps at any time. The new practice was designed to prevent the sale of counterfeit gold and would eliminate theft, he said.

A laser stamp cannot be forged, and a lot of information can be stamped on fine pieces of jewellery, he said. Stamping jewellery, especially very fine pieces, with the conventional iron stamp can damage it, and this can be avoided by the use of lasers.

The laser stamp will be used along with the traditional stamp for the current year. Starting in 2023, the laser stamp will replace the old one.

Hanafi hopes the new system of authentication will enable Egypts gold jewellery to regain the status it held in the early 1990s when the gold market in Egypt was flourishing. Arab visitors to Egypt used to buy large quantities of it during their visits to Egypt, and the country also exported gold jewellery to these markets.

However, instances of forgery together with various fees rendering the jewellery more expensive had dampened the market.

Ihab Wassef, deputy head of the Gold Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the new system would benefit consumers, who would have ample time to adjust to it.

Wassef said Egypts jewellery exports had fallen due to fees imposed on exports that had made gold items more expensive. Customs duties imposed on production inputs such as machines, moulds, and precious, semiprecious, and synthetic stones had also increased costs, causing the industry to lose its competitive edge in Arab markets.

He said that countries such as Italy, China, Dubai, Singapore, India, and Turkey were today exporting gold jewellery at competitive prices. Egypt had an advantage in its trained and inexpensive manpower, but this was not being fully utilised.

We are limited by selling to the local market, which is characterised by seasonality, Wassef said, adding that Egypt also exported raw gold with no value added. If custom duties and other fees were lower, he added, the country could find its way back onto the global map for the production of gold jewellery.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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South Koreas President Moon Jae-ins visit to Egypt this week signals a turning point in relations between the two countries, writes Al-Ahram Weekly

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is due in Cairo from Wednesday to Friday, the first visit to Egypt by a South Korean president in 16 years.

At a press conference on Sunday, South Koreas Ambassador to Cairo Hong Jin-Wook said that President Moons visit to Egypt comes as part of a regional tour that also includes the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

President Moon will meet with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to discuss political, economic, and military relations between the two countries, said Hong. He added that President Moons visit comes within the comprehensive partnership agreement signed between the two countries during President Al-Sisis visit to Seoul in March 2016.

In the five years since the agreement was signed political and economic relations between Egypt and South Korea have reached new heights, covering almost all aspects of cooperation, according to Hong.

Al-Sisi and Moon will review joint projects which the two presidents endorsed in 2016, and discuss a raft of new projects.

Hong said presidents Moon and Al-Sisi have forged close personal relations. In addition to meeting in Seoul in 2016, they met while participating in the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. They speak regularly on the phone to discuss mutual relations.

Hong described President Moons visit this week as a turning point in bilateral relations. Egypt is the first African country President Moon visits during his presidential term. South Korea considers Egypt a centre of gravity for business and politics in the Middle East and Africa. South Koreas economic strategy in recent years has been focused on reinforcing relations with Middle Eastern countries, particularly Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The ambassador revealed that a press conference for the two presidents will be held on Thursday, after which President Al-Sisi has invited President Moon and his delegation to lunch.

On Thursday afternoon the two presidents will attend an Egyptian-South Korean roundtable on renewables and environment-friendly industries.

Presidents Moon and Al-Sisi will also discuss South Koreas participation in the construction of Egypts Dabaa nuclear power plant west of Alexandria. South Korean companies have offered to provide technical support for the project in cooperation with the Russian state company of Rosatom.

South Korea is also expected to announce details of a $1 billion soft loan to Egypt, which Hong said will fund a variety of projects in Egypt, including helping upgrade the railway network, and establishing a local electric vehicles\industry and desalination plants.

The visit will also see the signing of a number of agreements. The South Korean companies Samsung and LG have recently reached a partnership agreement on manufacturing products in Egypt which will be exported with a Made-in-Egypt label.

Ninety per cent of Egypts electronic exports are made in partnership with South Korean companies, said Hong, a figure likely to grow after the auto firm Myoung Shin begins producing electric microbuses in cooperation with Egypts state-owned Engineering Automotive Manufacturing Company.

Hong also revealed that the visit will see the two countries form a joint committee to probe the possibility of drafting a free trade agreement between them that could lead to a boom in Korean investments in Egypt.

A number of cabinet ministers and more than 40 journalists will accompany President Moon during his visit, which will have the spin-off benefit of promoting Egypt as a tourist destination in the South Korean market.

Hong said the new agreements between Egypt and South Korea will help Egypt implement its 2030 vision.

South Korea will contribute to implementing President Al-Sisis Decent Life initiative by establishing a number of environmentally friendly industries and transport networks, and help promote efforts to digitise local government, he said.

Hong also referred to the growth in military and security cooperation between the two countries. Some press reports have suggested Egypt is interested in importing battle tanks from South Korea.

Ambassador Mohamed Hegazi, a former deputy foreign minister for Asian affairs, told the Middle East News Agency (MENA) that commercial exchanges between Egypt and South Korea soared to $2.5 billion in 2021, and if President Moons visit ends with the signing of a free trade agreement between the two countries this figure could easily double.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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As hopes fade for the resumption of tripartite negotiations over GERD there are clear signs that Ethiopia is preparing for the third filling of the dam.

Ethiopia disclosed plans last week to fell 17,000 hectares (40,000 acres) of forest around the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as part of engineering works for the third filling of the dams reservoir, saying it will complete the work within two months. Satellite pictures, however, show no sign that construction work in preparation for the third filling or for generating electricity has started, says Abbas Sharaki, a professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University.

Sharaki points out that for the dam to be ready for another filling the middle passage of GERD must first be partially drained. This can be done either by operating one or two turbines to generate electricity, or by releasing stored water. A concrete wall can then be erected to raise the body of the dam by 20 metres to reach 595 metres, as was planned before last years incomplete second filling.

If the work is completed, Sharaki says Addis Ababa will be able to store 10.5 billion cubic metres of water, contributing to the 18.5 billion cubic metres Ethiopia wants to store by the end of this years rainy season. Ethiopias avowed aim is to add an additional 10 billion cubic metres of water annually until the target of 74 billion cubic metres is reached.

Although generating electricity would mean more water coming to Egypt and Sudan, it also means that Addis Ababa has unilaterally taken the decision to fill the dam for the third time without reaching an agreement, points out Sharaki.

The announcement of deforestation of the area around GERD came during a meeting that included the Ethiopian Minister of Irrigation Aisha Mohamed, and Al-Shazli Hassan, the governor of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, the region where the dam is located. A statement issued after the meeting noted that deforestation will be completed within 60 days of starting work.

Ahead of the second filling in July last year 4,854 hectares of land were cleared.

A diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, stresses that Addis Ababa has repeatedly said that it will start generating electricity even without reaching an agreement with downstream countries, and that these statements, together with this months government meeting at the site of the dam, aim to distract public attention from domestic problems and internal conflicts.

The Ethiopian government, headed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, held its first meeting at the site of the dam earlier this month, ostensibly to evaluate the first 100 days of the governments performance following Ahmeds re-election as prime minister in July.

The Ethiopian press has also carried reports that the dam is ready to start testing its power generation capacity and that Addis Ababa hopes the first two turbines will furnish 20 per cent of the countrys electricity.

Ethiopia, says Sharaki, has repeatedly failed to meet these self-imposed deadlines for power generation. It originally planned for two turbines to start operating in 2014. Since when date after date has been announced, none of which have been met.

Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly rejected Ethiopias unilateral filling of the dam before a binding agreement on GERDs operation is reached, and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli reaffirmed Cairos position this week in an interview with the BBC.

All we are calling for is a legally binding agreement that will provide room for development in all three countries and allow them to benefit from the Nile. It is not in the interest of our peoples to differ or fight for a natural resource that God has granted to all of us, he said.

Tripartite negotiations on GERD stopped in April after Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach an agreement, ahead of the second filling of the dam which Ethiopia implemented in July. Hopes were raised in August when Algeria offered to mediate between the three countries in an attempt to restart the tripartite negotiations. Algerias Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra subsequently visited the three states but no date was set for the resumption of talks.

Lamamra ended another meeting with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri in Cairo this week without any indication that the dam issue had been broached, dashing whatever hopes remained for a successful Algerian mediation.

Although the main aim of Lamamras visit was to prepare for the summit of the Arab League, which will be held in Algeria, there was still some residual hope that the issue would be resolved or even mentioned, said the diplomat.

When the UN Security Council met in July last year to discuss the issue of Tunisia, the only Arab member (non-permanent) of the council submitted a draft resolution calling on Ethiopia to negotiate in good faith and setting a timetable of six months for reaching an agreement, under the umbrella of the AU, on the filling and operation of the dam. Ethiopia slammed the session as an unhelpful distraction to the AU-led negotiating process.

While Egypt and Sudan had expected the UNSC to draw a roadmap for the resumption of talks, the session concluded without a vote on the draft resolution. The UNSC did, however, issue a presidential statement in September urging Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt to resume negotiations, under the auspices of the AU, and finalise the text of a mutually acceptable agreement on filling and operating the dam within a reasonable time frame.

Egypt fears that continued filling of the dam in the absence of any stipulations enshrined in an agreement will reduce the flow of Nile water on which Egypt depends. Sudan is worried Ethiopias unilateral actions will endanger its own dams.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Egyptian authorities arrested Hossam Menoufi, a founder of the Hasm movement which Egypt and other countries have listed as a terrorist organisation. Menoufi was on a Badr Airlines flight from Khartoum to Istanbul on 12 January when it had to make an emergency landing in Luxor, where he was arrested.

It is not the first time members of Hasm, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other terrorist organisations who fled to Sudan or elsewhere in the region have been detained. In February 2019, Mohamed Abdel-Hafez Hussein, wanted in connection with the assassination of Egyptian prosecutor-general Hisham Barakat, was arrested upon arrival at the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul and turned over to the Egyptian authorities. Hussein had arrived on a flight from Mogadishu. Turkish customs authorities suspected his visa had been forged.

Many countries exchange intelligence and cooperate in other ways in counterterrorist efforts regardless of the tenor of their bilateral relations. This sometimes gives rise to conflicting narratives over arrests such as that of Menoufi. The Muslim Brotherhood has insisted that the emergency landing in Luxor was pre-arranged despite repeated statements by Badr Airlines, a privately owned firm based in Khartoum, that the plane was forced to land because a smoke alarm had gone off in the luggage hold.

The Egyptian authorities have remained silent on the matter, evidence that they have little interest in refuting such far-fetched conspiracy theories. What matters to them is that a valuable prize has fallen into their hands. According to Egyptian news reports, Menoufi is implicated in several terrorist attacks, including the assassination of Brigadier General Adel Ragaai, a commander of the Armoured Infantry Division, and the attempted assassinations of the former mufti of Egypt Sheikh Ali Gomaa and former assistant prosecutor-general Zaharia Abdel-Aziz.

The Egyptian authorities have arrested other members of Hasm, a paramilitary affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood. In January 2021, the US designated Harikat Souaid Misr (The Arms of Egypt Movement), commonly known as Hasm, as a foreign terrorist organisation. So-called rights advocacy organisations, backed and funded by Muslim Brotherhood affiliates abroad, held that the detainees had been forcibly disappeared by Egyptian authorities. Menoufi is a case in point. On 28 March 2017, the Egyptian Coordination of Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) announced that Egyptian security had abducted him, whereas, in fact, he had married in Cairo before fleeing to Sudan, as his wife, Rofida Madkour, has acknowledged. It subsequently came to light that the ECRFs forced disappearance claim was based on a communication from Menoufis family. This confirms a pattern of fabrication of stories against Egyptian authorities. Ironically, the same parties that claimed he had been forcefully disappeared in the past now say he left Egypt legitimately and ask why he had not been arrested at the time.

Although Menoufi, according to unofficial reports, resided in Sudan, Muslim Brotherhood leaders in Turkey, two of whom, Yehia Moussa and Alaa Al-Samahi, are implicated in related cases, had invited him to move there. The invitation is a gauge of Menoufis organisational significance. He is likely to have answers to questions such as the nature of the link between the paramilitary wings and the mother organisation.

The invitation to Istanbul coincided with structural upheavals within the Muslim Brotherhood which has been rocked by infighting and mutual accusations of treachery, corruption and betrayal against a backdrop of reports of Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement. Menoufi is probably not going to be the last Brotherhood affiliate to be summoned to Istanbul in this context.

Investigations into Mahmoud Ezzat, former acting supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, are certain to tie in. It is believed that Ezzat has revealed much information related to Hasm and other Muslim Brotherhood offshoots. The invitation to leaders of such organisations to come to Istanbul certainly appear to be connected with arrangements for the Muslim Brotherhoods post-Ezzat phase.

Egyptian authorities have come a long way in their battle with terrorist organisations. Menoufis arrest has broken an important link in the chain of Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated paramilitary wings, just as the arrest of Hisham Ashmawi in Libya removed a linchpin in the chain of Al-Qaeda affiliates in North Africa. Ashmawi had masterminded Al-Qaeda linked terrorist operations in Sinai, the Nile Valley, and the Delta.

The focus of Egyptian security services on key terrorist operatives, and their determination to capture them alive, has resulted in the accumulation of invaluable intelligence, which in turn has led to the crumbling of their organisational structures.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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How China's development drives "growbalization"

Xinhua) 08:04, January 18, 2022

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- With trains rumbling down new tracks, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia has just been unlocked, poised to transform itself into a hub connecting the fast-growing region to markets as far away as in Europe.

Since it was opened to traffic on Dec. 3, the China-Laos Railway has been getting busier. Lao travelers wait in long queues to buy highly sought-after passenger tickets on weekends and holidays, and more than 100 million U.S. dollars' worth of goods were transported across the border via the southeastern Chinese city of Kunming within one month.

To development, connectivity matters, especially in the era of globalization. It is a most urgent need for many developing countries, and a priority for what is widely known as "Xiconomics," Chinese President Xi Jinping's philosophy on promoting both domestic and global economic development.

Guided by Xiconomics, China has been doing its best to help improve global connectivity and promote common growth over recent years, effectively upgrading globalization into what can be referred to as "growbalization" (growth plus globalization).

Now against the backdrop of a raging pandemic, that is making a difference.

ON THE RAILS

Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Laos-China Railway has been completed and put into operation, and the Lao people have finally realized their railway dream, said Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.

The importance of transportation cannot be overemphasized. It is the artery of a nation, and of the globalized world. As a popular Chinese saying goes, "Roads lead to riches."

The World Bank has estimated that the China-Laos Railway could significantly reduce land transport prices by 40 to 50 percent between Vientiane and Kunming, and by 32 percent between Kunming and the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand. As the railway connects Laos to the vast BRI network, including the China-Europe Railway Express, aggregate income in the country could be increased by up to 21 percent over the long term.

Across Eurasia, the China-Europe Railway Express has so far transported goods worth more than 200 billion dollars, greatly contributing to the stability of the international supply chains.

In the past decades, China has both benefited from globalization, and contributed to its development. China's gross domestic product has increased 8.1 percent year on year in 2021, leading the world to recover from the once-in-a-century COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic globalization is the trend of the times, Xi reiterated in a landmark speech on Monday at the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual session, calling for joint efforts to make "economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all" and fully unleash "the vitality of the world economy."

"We need to discard a Cold War mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes," he said, pointing out that "confrontation does not solve problems; it only invites catastrophic consequences."

It is not the first time the Chinese president has expounded his vision on globalization. Five years ago, Xi expressed China's willingness to share its development achievements with the world.

"China's development is an opportunity for the world," Xi said in a keynote speech at the 2017 annual meeting of the WEF. "We will open our arms to the people of other countries and welcome them aboard the express train of China's development."

Across the world, China's development and cooperation with other countries have changed the life trajectory of numerous people. In Africa, China helped Kenya build the country's first railway since its independence, which links its two largest cities -- Nairobi and Mombasa -- and allows people to work in satellite cities and towns and join their families within hours.

Mohammad Nauman, a young Pakistani man, made a career decision seven years ago when China and Pakistan decided to build Pakistan's first metro system. He became a technician at the metro company. In 2020, the line was opened to traffic.

"It was very amazing for me that this whole connectivity was coming to my country," said Nauman.

DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL

Nauman is just one of many who have enjoyed career opportunities from China-proposed initiatives aimed at leveraging its own development to promote the common development of the world.

"The Belt and Road Initiative addresses the crux of the problem of developing countries: effective infrastructure, from rail and ports to power and communications," said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"China has, by far, the most experience in designing and building infrastructure in recent decades and its commitment to work with the developing world is a major step in redressing deep global imbalances," Kuhn said.

By assisting countries to get on its "express train," China is seeking win-win outcomes. Now it serves as a growth globalizer that is well positioned to further boost economic globalization for common prosperity.

Different from what Western countries have done in the past century, China's growbalization drive is based on its openness and sustained readiness to share development opportunities with the rest of the world. So far, the BRI has become the world's broadest and largest platform for international cooperation.

China respects the integrity of nations, upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and "respects the equality of all nations, small or large, developing or developed," Kuhn said.

The call to advance development for all is in line with China's domestic endeavor for common prosperity, which has successfully lifted more than 770 million people out of poverty, a miraculous achievement in human history.

Behind this cause is the country's people-centered principle. Putting people first, the Chinese government has accurately identified the causes of poverty and mobilized vast resources to address them.

Now with global inequality on the rise and COVID-19 exposing social ruptures, the same principle is being increasingly prioritized in China's growbalization drive.

"No matter what difficulties may come our way, we must adhere to a people-centered philosophy of development, place development and livelihoods front and center in global macro-policies," Xi said in his speech on Monday.

From implementing major initiatives in China-Africa cooperation to advancing regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region, China's down-to-earth actions have brought tangible benefits to all people involved.

"I think there is a common understanding that China is a real force for good. It means what it says. And it says to itself what it should do, and applies it too," said Jean-Jacques de Dardel, a former ambassador of Switzerland to China. "I think China is doing a great job."

Just as the Chinese president has said, "only when countries develop together can there be true development, and only when countries prosper together can there be true prosperity."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Messe Frankfurt Middle East, one of the Middle Easts largest event organisers, said that senior management visitor registration to its exhibitions last year increased by 78 percent versus pre-Covid years.



Messe Frankfurt Middle East returned to the live events landscape at Dubai World Trade Centre in September 2021, and has since hosted eight face-to-face exhibitions in the Emirate, welcoming a combined 64,254 trade visitors from 116 countries.



The Dubai-based company lists Beautyworld Middle East, Automechanika Dubai, and Intersec as its three flagship shows. While the total number of visitor attendance is justifiably less than pre-pandemic years, an increasingly positive trend, said Messe Frankfurt Middle Easts CEO Simon Mellor, is the steep rise in visitor registration by the likes of CEOs, Managing Directors, and business owners.



This growth is mirrored by the number of individuals from the procurement or purchasing function which has increased by an average of 14 percent in real terms compared to 2019, said Mellor.



We saw 78 percent more senior management visitor registration to our shows in 2021 compared to 2019, which indicates that, while total attendance may currently be less than the bumper pre-pandemic years, those that do attend our shows are high-level decision makers with a clear intent and purpose.



There is pent-up demand by visitors to network and find new suppliers that has been largely unfulfilled by physical face-to-face event alternatives such as digital or online events, added Mellor. Dubai, and the UAE is a prime destination for international professionals to come and do business safely thanks to the foresight of the countrys leadership.



Mellors comments come as Messe Frankfurt Middle East prepares to host its first major exhibition of 2022 next week from 16-18 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre.



That show is Intersec, the world-leading emergency services, security and safety event, which, in its 23rd edition, is set to feature participants from 120 countries, 6,000-plus brands and products, and six world-class conferences with upwards of 200 expert speakers.



As has been the case with all our shows in cooperation with our partner venues, and following thorough government guidelines, Intersec 2022 will take place with robust safety and hygiene measures to keep all participants safe, added Mellor.



And continuing the trends of our exhibitions in 2021, C-level visitor registration for Intersec 2022 has doubled compared to the shows last edition in 2020.



This is consistent with our own research weve carried out since August 2020. Weve conducted three surveys of over 8,000 stakeholders from more than 100 countries to explore the impact of Covid-19 on the exhibitions industry, delving into key areas such as travel, budgets, and the importance of trade fairs in a post-pandemic world.



Initially, some respondents viewed online, digital events as a viable alternative to physical trade shows, which we anticipated given at the time much of the world was still in some form of lock-down.



That viewpoint has changed over time, as the limitations of online events become more evident, coinciding with the return of physical trade shows, particularly in Dubai, where there is a clear shift towards a back-to-business mentality.



The current event safety measures we have in place, coupled with the governments ongoing efforts to make everyone as safe as possible, has had a really positive impact on participation levels, delivery and upscaling of our traditional trade show portfolios.



Messe Frankfurt Middle Easts first two events of the 2021-2022 exhibition season in Dubai was Light Middle East and Hardware + Tools Middle East, which both took place in September at the Dubai World Trade Centre, soon followed by Beautyworld Middle East in October, also at the same venue.



The debut of Hypermotion Dubai and 11th edition of Materials Handling Middle East both took place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo Dubai in November, before the year ended with Automechanika Dubai, Paperworld Middle East, and Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East in December, again at the Dubai World Trade Centre.



The eight shows hosted a combined 1,900 exhibitors from 52 countries, while exhibitor satisfaction of these events increased by double digits compared to their pre-pandemic editions.



Mellor added: Exhibitors of our 2021 events were extremely satisfied with their overall experience and ROI of participating at our shows with our Exhibitor CCI (Customer Care Index) increasing by an average of 22 percent compared to 2019.



Highlighting the international appeal of our shows, and Dubai as a destination, weve also seen significant visitor growth from a number of countries, but in particular Russia, Qatar, Egypt, Poland, Brazil, Israel, Palestine and Colombia.



Messe Frankfurt Middle East currently organises 16 trade fairs, 11 of which take place in Dubai UAE, and five in Saudi Arabia.  TradeArabia News Service
Egypts Court of Cassation upheld on Tuesday prison terms ranging from seven to 15 years against 34 defendants over violence-related charges from 2013.

The court rejected appeals by 34 defendants sentenced over violence at El-Tebeen police station in Cairo, upholding their prison sentences.

The verdicts are final and cannot be appealed further.

The case dates back to August 2013, when violence and riots broke out in central Cairo and other governorates following the dispersal of sit-ins protesting the ouster of late Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The defendants were found guilty of illegal assembly, thuggery, murder, and attempted murder of policemen at the Cairo district of Helwans El-Tebeen police station.

They were also convicted of possessing weapons, arson, facilitating the escape of prisoners, and being members of an outlawed group.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi offered his condolences on Tuesday to Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander-in-chief of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in a phone call over the terrorist act by the Houthi militia against the Emirates that killed three civilians, the Egyptian presidency said.

El-Sisi expressed Egypts denouncement of this terrorist act, asserting his countrys support and solidarity with the UAE and the steps and measures it takes to defend its territories and citizens, the presidency said in a statement.

The president asserted that the UAEs security and stability is connected to Egypts national security, pointing to the strong brotherly and historical relations between the two countries and their peoples.

Yemen's Houthi group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place near storage facilities of the state oil firm ADNOC, describing it as an attack deep inside the UAE, Reuters reported.

Three people were killed and six others are suffering from mild to medium injuries due to the blasts, Emirati news agency WAM cited Abu Dhabi police as saying. The deaths were two Indians and one Pakistani national.

The fires started in the Musaffah area and at a site near Abu Dhabi International airport, the police said.

Egypts foreign ministry announced also on Tuesday that the Emirati Foreign Ministry informed the Egyptian Embassy in Abu Dhabi that there are two Egyptian citizens among the injured of Mondays attack.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministrys statement, Ambassador Sherif El-Bidewy contacted the two citizens and checked on their health where they told him they were receiving medical care and they were fine. The ambassador is going to visit them on Wednesday, the Ministry added.

Preliminary investigations into the attack reveal that the fires and blasts were caused by small flying objects, probably drones, the police said, noting that the relevant Emirati authorities have launched an investigation.

The Houthi militia has launched thousands of missiles against Saudi Arabia over the past seven years, since a Saudi-led coalition that includes the UAE intervened in the Yemeni civil war to fight the Houthis.

The militia, however, has claimed few attacks on the UAE.

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a directive on Tuesday to the finance ministry to raise the minimum wage for public sector employees from EGP 2,400 to EGP 2,700 in the state budget for the fiscal year 2022/23, the presidency announced.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait and other officials from the finance ministry, El-Sisi discussed a review of the draft state budget for fiscal year 2022/23.

The president also ordered granting employees covered by the civil service law a 7 percent periodical salary bonus, and granting employees not covered by the law a one-time bonus that is 13 percent of their basic salaries.

The president also ordered an increase to the additional incentive for both employees who are covered and those not covered by the civil service law at a total cost of EGP 18 billion.

Last March, President El-Sisi ordered raising the minimum wage to EGP 2,400 from EGP 2,000, as well as raising pensions by 13 percent.

Egypts National Wage Council also announced in December that Egypt would mandate a minimum monthly wage of EGP 2,400 for the private sector with a monthly bonus worth 3 percent of the employees insurance.

During the meeting, El-Sisi also gave a directive to appoint 30,000 teachers annually for five years to meet the needs of the education sector.

In addition, the government is to pay the teachers an additional incentive to develop and improve their skills at a total cost of EGP 3.1 billion, the presidency added.

Egypts national educational system has been suffering from a shortage in qualified teachers, leading the Ministry of Education to hire part-time teachers paid for each class in the school year 2021/22 in all grades.

According to education ministry officials, there are currently 1.187 million teachers to over 24 million students in some 57,000 schools. Currently, the shortage of teachers is estimated at 320,000.

In exclusive statements to Al-Ahram Arabic website on Tuesday following El-Sisis meeting with the prime minister, Education Minister Tarek El-Shawky, who faced huge criticism from the public and from parliament over the decision to hire part-timers, praised the presidents directives.

Shawky revealed that the presidential directive came days after he held a meeting with PM Madbouly where they discussed the teacher shortage.

The president also ordered allocating a total of EGP 1.5 billion to finance an additional 'quality incentive' for faculty members and their assistants in universities and research centers.

President El-Sisi also ordered including dentists, physiotherapists and nurses to a previous decision to raise the monthly bonus for medical interns.

The finance minister presented during the meeting the most important objectives of the draft budget for the fiscal year 2022/23, including reducing the total deficit to about 6.3 percent of GDP, continuing to achieve a primary surplus of 1.5 percent of GDP, and achieve an increase in the wages in the budget to EGP 400 billion.

President El-Sisi was also briefed on the latest updates on upgrading and developing the tax system, where he issued orders to complete the mechanisation of the tax authority and the electronic invoice system before the end of the current fiscal year.

The president also reviewed with the PM and the finance minister the strategy to develop and upgrade the customs system and the most important programs and initiatives taken in this regard.

The president ordered taking into account all the international standards related to the quality of the goods imported to Egypt in this framework as well as to start working on pre-registration system at Egyptian airports.

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Hong Kong will cull hundreds of hamsters after some tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Tuesday, as the city pushes to maintain its strict "zero-Covid" strategy.

The Chinese territory's staunch adherence to the mainland's "zero-Covid" policy has kept the number of cases low, but maintaining it has cut the finance hub off from the rest of the world for the last two years.

The decision to cull about 2,000 hamsters and other small animals comes after health officials recorded Covid cases at a Hong Kong pet shop.

Health secretary Sophia Chan said the move will protect public health after a pet shop employee and a customer handling hamsters tested positive.

The employee was found to be infected with the Delta variant, which has become rare in Hong Kong.

"Internationally, there is no evidence yet to show pets can transmit the coronavirus to humans, but... we will take precautionary measures against any vector of transmission," Chan said during a press conference.

Eleven preliminary positive samples were found on hamsters for sale at the Little Boss pet shop in the bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay.

Officials believe they were imported from the Netherlands and urged anyone who bought a hamster after December 22 to give up their pet for culling.

About 1,000 animals from Little Boss and its warehouse will be seized and put down, while staff and customers have been sent for testing.

Health officials also issued quarantine orders for around 150 people who visited the pet shop as well as more than 20 warehouse employees.

The shop was shuttered Tuesday.

Avoid kissing pets call

Another 1,000 hamsters from dozens of other pet shops across Hong Kong will also be killed and the businesses have been ordered to close temporarily.

Imports of small mammals will be suspended, officials added.

Deputy agriculture chief Thomas Sit defended the cull as a precautionary measure when asked why the decision was made without a clear scientific basis.

"The public should avoid kissing their pets and keep their homes clean," added agriculture director Leung Siu-fai.

"They should not abandon their pets on the streets under any circumstances."

Reaction from hamster lovers in Hong Kong was swift -- and angry.

"Is there anyone who can save the hamsters and other small animals?" said one person in a Facebook group called Hamster Blog HK -- which boasts more than 10,000 members.

Another ridiculed officials over the cull, telling them to "go to Wuhan and help the bats there wear two masks", referring to the Chinese city where Covid-19 first emerged two years ago.

Reverse zoonosis

Asked about the Hong Kong hamsters case, the World Health Organization said experts were studying animal susceptibility to the virus which causes Covid-19 disease.

"There are a number of species that can be infected with SARS-CoV-2 and then of course, there's the possibility -- we call that a reverse zoonosis -- it goes from humans back to animals, and then it's possible for the animals to reinfect humans," said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead on Covid-19.

"That risk remains low but it is something that we are constantly looking at," she told a press conference in Geneva.

Of seven million virus sequences submitted to global platforms, around 1,500 are from animals.

Van Kerkhove said better surveillance was needed to determine not only which animals were susceptible but also to understand the extent of infections in animals and track the virus in animals over time to see what risk it posed.

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New Japanese companies plan to head to the Egyptian market and to inject fresh investments in the country over the coming period, benefitting from its attractive business and investment atmosphere, said Ambassador of Japan to Egypt Oka Hiroshi.

The ambassadors remarks came during a meeting with Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait that was held on Monday between the two sides in the finance ministrys HQ in Cairo.

The ambassador also told Maait that the business community in Japan is satisfied with Egypts advanced cargo information system and its positives impacts on the trade flow between the two countries.

Egypts ACI system came into effect as of 1 October 2021 and was designed to provide public and private trade operators with holistic electronic cargo information prior to the arrival of shipments to the country of importation in order to facilitate processing and clearance procedures.

The system was adopted under Egypts strategy of digital transformation, which is in line with Egypts 2030 Vision and its sustainable development goals agenda.

Egypts economic scene is significantly different from what I had witnessed during my previous visit to the country 40 years ago. Egypt implemented a gross upgrade process over all sectors. The country is also an imperative player regionally and continentally, and Japan is keen on cooperation with Egypt, the ambassador explained to Maait.





For his part, Maait told Hiroshi that Egypt seeks to create an attractive climate for both domestic and foreign investments as well as eliminate any sort of hurdles investors may face in the local market.

He also noted that there are promising opportunities for Japanese companies in Egypt; particularly in electric automotive manufacturing, in light of the states efforts to make its transportation system more eco-friendly.

Furthermore, Maait praised the collaboration between the two countries in the education sector, which is reflected in the Japanese schools and university sponsored by Japan in Egypt.

The minister also hailed Japans support for Egypts Universal Health Insurance System as well.

Additionally, the two sides discussed the possibility of issuing Egyptian bonds in the Japanese market, for the first time ever, under Egypts plan to enter new capital markets by issuing medium- and long-term bonds, including green, sustainability, and gender equality bonds.

Egypt plans to issue its first ever sovereign Islamic bonds (sukuk) during 2022 with a total worth of up to $2 billion and issue a second set of green bonds as well.

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After almost seven years of conflict, the war in Yemen is threatening security and stability in the Red Sea and Arab Gulf zone, two areas of strategic interest to Egypt.

On Monday, Abu Dhabi Airport and the Adnoc oil refinery were the targets of a Houthi missile and drone attack that killed three foreign workers and caused a fire that was quickly extinguished. The Houthis openly claimed responsibility for the attack, which they named Yemen Hurricane, and promised further assaults on the oil-rich emirate.

Yemen Hurricane marked a significant shift in the pattern of hostilities since Decisive Storm, the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen in support of the internationally recognised government, was launched on 25 March 2015.

It is unclear where this weeks attack will take the conflict. Though UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed has promised retaliation, what this might involve, and how it will impact on the wider regional context, remains a matter of speculation.

Cairo is concerned about any escalation of hostilities in Yemen, and the possibility of a spillover in the sensitive Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab zones that could impact navigation through the Suez Canal.

Speaking off record, an Egyptian official said that Cairo hopes neither the UAE nor its allies are considering anything beyond surgical interventions. He added that Cairo had been hoping to see a political deal that could put an end to, or at least start a phase of drawing down, the war in Yemen, rather than a new phase in hostilities that have already taken a serious toll on regional security and plunged Yemen into a humanitarian crisis.

Since 2015 Egypt has confined itself to sharing intelligence, providing technical expertise, and offering a limited maritime presence but did not send troops to Yemen.

Foreign and UN diplomats say the seven-year conflict has already wreaked havoc on the already frail humanitarian situation in Yemen, has fomented political and military tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and intensified the stand-off between Saudi Arabia and Iran. According to one UN diplomatic source, there can be no political compromise in Yemen without Riyadh and Tehran agreeing to it.

A Cairo-based European diplomat casts the net even wider, arguing that there will be no end to the war in Yemen, or to Iranian-instigated friction in Lebanon and Iraq, before a comprehensive deal between Iran and the West over Tehrans nuclear programme is reached. It is almost impossible, he added, not to link the timing of the Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi with the twists and turns of the talks in Vienna between Iran and the West.

Mondays attack came hours after the Emirati Minister of International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimi had told Iranian Minister of Culture Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili that the UAE would welcome a visit by Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi. While the discussion, which took part on the sidelines of Expo 2020 Dubai, was more of a PR exercise than an official invitation, it did come just a few months after the UAE had dispatched its intelligence chief for talks in Tehran.

The UAEs opening up to Iran has been happening in parallel with backchannel talks between the Saudis and the Iranians that have been taking place in Muscat and Baghdad. But informed diplomatic sources say that it is important to remember that despite the backchannel talks, there has been an escalation in Saudi-led attacks on Houthi targets in Shabwa and the city of Marib, led by the so-called Giant Forces and the Guardians of the Republic. Members of both groups trained at a UAE military base in Eritrea.

The same sources also say that, while the UAE pulled its regular troops from Yemen in February 2020, following an earlier July 2019 military drawdown, it has maintained a political and economic presence, largely in the south, through its association with key players, and by maintaining some special forces on the ground. Mondays attack, they argue, could be in retaliation for the UAEs role in the recent military pressure under which the Houthis have been placed in recent weeks.

Karim Ahmed, a Gulf-based expert on Yemen and regional security, says it is significant that this weeks dangerous attack followed indirect threats made on Twitter by Houthi Spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam who, in recent weeks, has twice met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahein.

It is a worrying situation. The bottom line of Mondays attack is that the Houthis are now warning that the UAE is no longer a safe place for foreigners and foreign businesses, Ahmed said, and this is something the Emiratis cannot ignore.

What is at stake for the UAE is not just the security of its territory, but also the huge investments it has made over a decade to establish its presence in ports around the Red Sea.

Like the UAE, Egypt, says one Cairo official, does not want to see any further destabilisation of the Red Sea. Perhaps unlike the UAE, he adds, Egypt opposes the intervention of foreign forces, whether regional or international, in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab zone.

We have been encouraging de-escalation during the past year and we have been inviting representatives of Yemeni political factions for talks in the hope of supporting any possible de-escalation scenario. Now, we are worried the opposite may take place, said the official.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri called his UAE counterpart and, according to a statement from his office, expressed Egypts full support for the UAE and any possible action it may take. But the message, qualifies an Egyptian official, included support for deterrent action, not anything that might expand hostilities.

The UAE received several other calls from regional and world capitals, including Riyadh and Washington.

According to an informed Emirati source, the UAEs foreign minister told his interlocutors that the world needs to shift its approach towards the Houthis and start dealing with them as yet another terror group.

According to Baleegh Mekhalifi, press attache of the Embassy of Yemen in Cairo, which is associated with the Saudi-supported and internationally recognised government of Yemen, it is time for countries of the region and for the world to accept the need for a significant shift in strategy towards the Houthis because all compromise has failed.

According to Cairo and other influential capitals, a change of strategy on Yemen should involve pushing a political compromise that prevents further attacks on the UAE, Saudi Arabia or other countries of the region.

Cairo-based foreign diplomats say that Mondays attack could serve as a reminder of the need to focus more on managing the Yemen crisis which is often qualified by the international humanitarian community as the forgotten war, though more than 100,000 people have been killed, four million people displaced, and 24 million people are in urgent need of food, medicine, and shelter.

The same diplomats warn that managing the war in Yemen depends not only on the fate of the Vienna talks and the Saudi-Iranian standoff, but also concerns the growing power struggles between regional players over the Red Sea, trade lines, maritime facilities, and military bases.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The crisis over Ukraine poses a threat to international peace and security if all sides do not ponder their future steps calmly and avoid warmongering, writes Hussein Haridy

On 14 January, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Russia is laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating a pretext for the invasion [of Ukraine], including through sabotage activities and information operations, by accusing Ukraine of preparing an imminent attack against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

She added that Russias military planned to begin these activities several weeks before a military invasion, which could begin between mid-January and mid-February.

To give more credibility to what Psaki said, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby, in a press briefing on 14 January, called the intelligence about the operation very credible. He pointed out that the word operatives could represent a blend of individuals inside the Russian government, whether it is from their intelligence communities, their security services, or even their military.

Denying the US accusations, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the Russian news agency TASS that so far, all these statements have been unfounded and have not been confirmed by anything.

The above statements by the US and the Russian official denial by the Kremlin came in the wake of the third meeting between the US and Russia in the framework of the strategic stability talks that took place on 9-10 January in Geneva at the deputy foreign minister level.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and her Russian counterpart Sergei Rybakov headed the US and Russian delegations to the talks. As I wrote last week in Al-Ahram Weekly, they were followed in Brussels by a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council on 12 January and a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organisation for European Cooperation and Security in Vienna on 13 January.

The successive meetings aimed at deescalating tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border and at addressing Russian security concerns. May be the three meetings were occasions for each side to air their concerns and to draw up red lines, but their respective positions on these serious security concerns have not changed.

Sherman said after the strategic stability talks on 10 January that the US and Russia now had a better understanding of each others concerns and priorities. She said that if Russia stays at the table and takes concrete steps to deescalate tensions, we believe we can achieve progress.

Talking about possible sanctions against Russia if Russian troops cross the Ukrainian border, she said the costs would include financial sanctions that would target key financial institutions, export controls that would aim at industries, the enhancement of NATO forces near Russias western borders, and increased military assistance to Ukraine.

She said that she had told the Russian delegation that the US was open to discussing the future of certain missile systems in Europe related to the former Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), from which the US withdrew in 2018 because of Russian violations of the treaty, according to the former Trump administration.

In order to exercise more political and psychological pressure on Moscow, both US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and chair of the joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley have recently warned their Russian counterparts in telephone calls that a bloody insurgency would probably follow if Russian forces enter Ukrainian territory reminiscent of the Afghan War against Soviet forces in the late 1980s.

This sad reminder will be more effective than threats of severe sanctions in leading Moscow to weigh and think deeply about the pros and cons of ordering an invasion of Ukraine, if this is the plan, as US and Western statements claim it is.

The Ukrainian crisis poses a threat to international peace and security if all sides do not ponder their future steps calmly and avoid any warmongering. As Sherman said after the strategic stability talks in Geneva last week, we must give diplomacy and dialogue the time and space required to make progress.

Neither side would like to be drawn into a military conflict around Ukraine that would destabilise Europe for years to come. Ukraine or Georgia becoming members of NATO should not be a prize worth risking war with Russia for. Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor any other Russian president would accept NATO forces on the borders of Russia.

* The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Egypt and Greece continue to face serious challenges in the Mediterranean region that need to be effectively addressed in 2022, writes Ioannis E Kotoulas

Historical time has accelerated at a great pace over the last few years, shattering previous illusions of immutable international stability and predictability.

Regional tensions have climaxed on the periphery of the Eurasian landmass from Eastern Europe and Ukraine to the Caucasus and East Asia, while the Mediterranean has gained increased strategic importance.

Egypt and Greece have made great progress in upgrading their national strength and regional influence, while they deal with serious external challenges. But these two focal states and ancient nations of the Mediterranean continue to face serious challenges that need to be effectively addressed in 2022.

Egypts growing strength and influence are evident in the Mediterranean, the Arab world, and Africa. In the Mediterranean, the 2020 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Agreement between Egypt and Greece is a partial demarcation agreement that needs to be completed by a new Egyptian-Greek agreement.

Egypt is now a major energy hub in the Mediterranean for gas production, and it can become a trustworthy provider in addressing European energy concerns. Greece is a self-evident intermediary transit route for transporting Egyptian gas to European markets. Diplomatic and energy initiatives in these issues would signal the decisiveness of both states to move their already close cooperation forward.

In Libya on the other hand, the situation is rapidly deteriorating, requiring Egypts stabilising influence. The Libyan elections have been postponed, and the de facto division of the country aided by the external interference of Turkey has produced a black hole in the North Africa and Mediterranean security framework.

Ethiopia has also not backed down from its provocative stance on the building of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and recent internal conflicts in Ethiopia highlight the deadlock in the oppressive Ethiopian regime. Ethiopia can no longer act unilaterally with regard to the water of the Nile. Concluding a deal with Egypt and Sudan to safeguard effective access to the Niles water is necessary for Ethiopia to prove its commitment to regional stability.

Greece faces Turkish threats in the shape of a casus belli ultimatum that has been present since June 1995 and still has not been revoked, contrary to the principles of international law. Turkey is still not abiding by the 2016 deal between the EU and Turkey to curb migration flows towards the EU, and it is irritated by Greeces strengthening of its air force and navy and its close ties with Egypt and the US.

Turkey remains an agent of instability in the Mediterranean. Turkish overtures towards Egypt are half-hearted and insincere, the result of a seriously worsening internal economy and isolation on a regional level that reached its climax in 2021.

If Turkey hopes to normalise its bilateral relations with both Egypt and Greece, it has to assume meaningful initiatives. These would include, but be not limited to, ceasing its support for the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood group regarding Egypt, withdrawing from Libya, and accepting Greeces right to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles according to international law.

Finally, a new field of tension and external interference surfaced in late December that is closely related to both Egypt and Greece and their respective national interests. The ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is facing disruptive moves by the Russian Orthodox Church, which for the first time has decided to fund schismatic ecclesiastical structures in the continent of Africa by creating an African Exarchate.

The ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria, a venerable Egyptian institution, has worked tirelessly to carry out humanitarian work in Egypt and Africa, and its integrity and unity benefits Egypt, a state which is the natural leader not only of the Arab world but also of Africa as well.

This year will see decisive actions and dedicated cooperation between states shape the geopolitical equilibrium of the region for decades to come. It is a year that will see recurring security challenges and one when firm decisions must be taken on the part of Egypt and Greece, and also on the part of the EU, to safeguard stability in the Mediterranean, Libya, and Africa.

* The writer is a lecturer in geopolitics at the University of Athens in Greece.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The Western media has once again revealed its hostile agenda towards Egypt, this time in reporting the arrest of an Egyptian national in the United States, writes Azza Radwan Sedky

Here we go again: the Western media continues to dump its grime on Egypt. Yet another article published on Egypt by Agence France Press (AFP) has been circulating widely, its headline reading US arrests man for spying on opponents of Egypts Sisi.

The topic is factual, no doubt about it. The chances are that Pierre Girgis, the Egyptian man charged with spying in the US, may have gathered information on persons threatening Egypts security. We will delve into that issue later on. What is really bizarre and worth focusing on here is the wording of the headline and also the content.

Lets start with the headline. The phrase Egypts Sisi is intentional and calculated. It evokes a picture of an authoritarian regime in which a single person hovers over the whole nation. The article does not refer to the president of Egypt because that would come across as benign. Egypts Sisi is more deliberate and vehement.

But Western media, if the intention was to create a malign impression of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, and one in which Egyptians have lost their country to a single person, Im afraid your efforts have fallen on deaf ears.

The malice continues. The article refers to the US authorities having tracked and obtained information regarding political opponents of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. The latter phrase is hyperlinked, sending readers to a BBC article entitled Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah Al-Sisi: Ruler with an Iron Grip.

The issue of the spying charges is in no way directly connected to the president of our nation, and yet the Western media is very inventive in trying to implicate the president in any wrong-doing. This is premeditated but very apparent.

What about the political opponents? Are these only against Egypts president, or are they against Egypt in general? Again, the wording has been chosen to egg on those who are against Egypt and to incite others to follow the same route. Its a pattern that the Western media has been attuned to for so long that it has become almost nondescript.

The article continues by saying that Girgis had sent information about an anti-Sisi activist that he obtained from the Egyptian government to US law-enforcement officers. One might have thought that reporting such information to US law-enforcement officers would be a positive matter, but such officers do not see eye to eye with Egypt. One might also wonder if the anti-Sisi activist is against Egypt itself, since this would give Egypt the right to go after him wherever he is.

The article is careless and inconsequential. In trying to create a mountain out of a molehill, it has failed miserably.

Then we come to the notion of spying. Secret intelligence operations are conducted by almost all countries in an effort to protect themselves, their citizens, their economies, and their borders. However, if the Western media refers to Western spies, they are usually called members of the intelligence services, while in Egypts case, they are nothing but evil-spirited spies.

Spies have also been around for millennia. According to the Bible, the Lord said to Moses, send men to explore Canaan. So, at the Lords command, Moses dispatched men to explore the land of Canaan for 40 days.

While this does not always make spying morally justifiable, it does tell us that it has existed for centuries. Countries around the world even spy on their friends as well as on their embassies and agencies.

A report by the UN special rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression says that changes in technologies have also provided new opportunities for state surveillance and intervention into individuals private lives, for example. According to the US Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a growing number of states are deploying advanced Al surveillance tools to monitor, track, and surveil citizens.

The US itself has the most extensive and sophisticated intelligence network of all nations. In fact, as the BBC says, the US spies on the entire globe. Employing spying as a necessary tool in the fight against terrorism, the US has conducted mass surveillance of individuals and countries, friends and foes, and Americans and non-Americans. All these have been watched and spied upon. French delegates at the UN were under surveillance at one point, as was the mobile phone of former German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Another case in point is US national Edward Snowden, who worked as an IT expert for the American National Security Agency (NSA) before he let the cat out of the bag by releasing thousands of top-secret documents from the NSA indicating the amount of surveillance it conducts. Since 2013 when Snowden exposed the NSA actions, he has been in hiding, seeking asylum, or about to be extradited to the US. For the last few years he has been granted asylum in Russia.

Snowden said that they [the NSA] were not just collecting and intercepting communications from criminals, spies, terrorists, people of intelligence value  they were collecting on everyone, everywhere, all of the time, just in case, because you never know whats going to be interesting. And if you miss it when its passing by, you might not get another chance.

The issue reported by the AFP article is worth examining since the US is charging an Egyptian with dual citizenship with espionage. What isnt acceptable, however, is the intentional and unnecessary insertion of President Al-Sisi into this case, since this is irrelevant and beside the point.

Objectivity and non-partisan criticism are vital for the media to continue to play its fundamental role of informing readers. But if the information it provides is twisted and played with, the media becomes a divisive tool. It is then that readers disregard the media altogether because they consider it not to be worthy of their trust.

* The writer is the author of Cairo Rewind on the First Two Years of Egypts Revolution, 2011-2013.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Due to open in Q1 2022, the landmark JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh hotel will stand as one of the tallest buildings in Riyadh, spanning 66 floors, with 349 rooms and suites.

Situated on King Fahad Road, a peaceful oasis amidst a dynamic city and just a 5-minute drive from King Abdullah Financial District, the hotel resides in one of the most desirable addresses in Riyadh.

The highly anticipated hotel is also expected to offer world-class dining outlets  including the renowned JW Steakhouse, along with exceptional facilities, spanning business, wellness and much more.-- TradeArabia News Service
In an article published by the pro-Zionist, anti-Arab Washington Post, Mairav Zonszein argues that the current Israeli government is not as different from its predecessor led by Benjamin Netanyahu as it would like the world to believe. Naftalis government is in fact following the previous governments same policy albeit with silk gloves on. In an attempt to repair what was ruined by Netanyahus arrogance with the European countries, Yair Lapid, the current Israeli foreign minister, stated last July that Israel would no longer immediately declare that anyone who disagrees with its anti-Semite and Israel-hater, but that is not how you handle a countrys foreign relations. Zonszein clarifies that when one company announced that it wont sell its products in the illegal settlements located in the occupied Palestinian lands, Lapid himself described the decision as anti-Israel and anti-Jewish. At the same time, Bennetts government continues with the expansionist settlement policy adopted by Netanyahu, which is based on forcing Palestinians out of their lands and destroying their homes.

On the other hand, the education minister announced her commitment to suspending Israels award to mathematics professor Oded Goldreich due to his endorsement of boycotting the Israeli Ariel University located inside one of the occupied West Bank settlements. Likewise, the deputy-foreign minister cancelled a meeting scheduled with Belgian officials following Belgiums announcement that it will put a label on the Israeli products manufactured in settlements, not with the aim of boycott, but in the interest of transparency. The Israeli Foreign Ministry quickly issued a statement describing the Belgian decision as anti-Israel, ignoring the current governments alleged policy of improving Palestinian lives and Israeli relations with Europe. What the article demonstrates is that the Israeli government considers the settlements built on occupied Palestinian land an inseparable part of Israel.

Netanyahus government retreated from annexing the occupied West bank to Israel after declaring its intention to do so. But Bennetts government uses the West Bank settlements to behave as if it were already annexed; any boycott of the settlements is a boycott to Israel itself. This makes the present government worse than its predecessor. While Netanyahus government was clear in its policies  whether we agreed or disagreed with it  the present government is characterised by evasion and concealment of its intentions under the false guise of moderation. It also announces its desire to reach a settlement without demonstrating any wish to approach the negotiating table. All this occurs while the situation is worsening in the occupied lands, where a few days ago extremist settlers stormed the Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the security forces. The Palestinians lives are growingly more miserable by the day at the hands of a racist Jewish government that doesnt accept the Gentiles, be they Muslim or Christian.

Indeed Christians in Jerusalem are facing mounting persecution aimed at the reduction of their presence as well as the Judaisation of the holy lands which have been multireligious throughout history. Christian leaders in Jerusalem warned recently that their communities are facing the threat of expulsion from the Holy Lands. Father Francesco Patton, the Catholic Churchs Custos of the Holy Lands and guardian of the Christian holy places in the Holy Land, wrote an article in the Daily Telegraph saying that the presence of Christians in Jerusalem is precarious and their future at risk, adding that their lives have become unbearable due to the radical moves by Israeli groups aimed at making the old city of Jerusalem free of Christian existence, including the Christian quarter itself. Some churches and holy sites were desecrated and vandalised and systematic crimes against priests, monks and worshippers go unpunished. Patton mentioned in his article that Christians used to constitute 20 per cent of Jerusalems inhabitants, and now they dont exceed two per cent.

Patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem issued a joint statement warning about the danger represented by radical groups, which they said aim at diminishing Christian presence in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories. Similar warnings came from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in a joint article published in the Sunday Times with Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, in which they warned of what they called a historical tragedy now unfolding. They said that what drove them to write the article was the joint statement issued by the Jerusalem churches. However, the Israeli government rejected the statement and described it as leading to violence and harming innocent people.

Perhaps there really is no difference between the current government and its predecessor.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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When I landed in Houston on 4 January 2014 the state of my health was not inspiring. Age was beginning to take its toll. Fortunately, January in Houston is better than summer, when the heat and humidity blend with petroleum fumes from the oil wells not far from the city. There was little to do that day but to walk around in search of something interesting. A couple of hours later I spotted some posters advertising an exhibition of Saudi antiquities at the main museum. I headed that way immediately. The antiquities would be a balm for the soul of an Egyptian far from home, at a certain point in his life.

To my surprise, the exhibition featured more than just Saudi antiquities. Several pharaonic statues testified to the intense interaction between Egypt and Saudi Arabia thousands of years ago. My morale rose even more. If those antiquities could last all these years, then the lesson was that the survival of the stories they told was no less important than their physical survival.

That exhibition took place about a year before Riyadh launched its exciting modernisation programme, which unfolded over the next seven years. An important aspect of this programme was how it underscored the role of history in building the Saudi nation state. The collective memory of a nation is one of the chief components of identity. Any clear sense of self needs to be anchored in a unique, special and sometimes glorious history. The discovery of such memory through excavations and ancient manuscripts is essential to the process of shaping identities out of the plethora of historical details that fill the weft and warp of a given civilisation. Globalisation has furnished technologies such as remote sensing and soil science. The chemical processes for conserving manuscripts, and the equipment to rapidly produce and disseminate facsimiles have given humankind vast capacities to unearth the historical memory of every people and preserve it from extinction.

I have continued to follow this process in its modern Saudi framework, through the museums I visited in Riyadh before the pandemic, coverage in the press and other media, and the publications provided by the press office of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Cairo, ably led by ambassador Osama bin Ahmad Abbas Nugali, which keep us abreast of the latest, exciting developments.

On 11 January, the Royal Commission of Al-Ula in collaboration with the University of Western Australia (UWA) revealed a major archaeological finding. The people who inhabited the northwestern Arabian Peninsula had built long-distance funerary avenues linking far flung oases and pastures. The avenues were surrounded on both sides by thousands of tombs shaped like pendants. Dating back to the third millennium BCE, the highway network suggests a high degree of social and economic inter-connectivity between the peoples of that region, the archaeologists said. This was not the first such discovery that speaks of the antiquity of civilisation in the Arabian Peninsula, the roots of which stretch back long before other civilisations.

To Egyptians this phenomenon is not entirely new. The Egyptian historical memory of the pharaonic era had lapsed for centuries until Champollion succeeded in deciphering hieroglyphics, enabling the recovery of 3,300 years of recorded memory. Nor did it stop there. Western scientists helped restore more than 1,600 years of pre-historical memory for Egyptians. The famous Egyptologist Salim Hassan recorded all this in minute detail in his Encyclopaedia on Pharaonic History which was recently republished under the auspices of the Family Library project. The French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan who undertook excavations and research about the stone age in history, takes his place in that work, as does a compatriot of his by the name of Lepere, who focused on the Palaeolithic and Neolithic eras. To their contributions, the German archaeologist Hermann Junker added considerable insights into the arts and crafts in predynastic Egypt. These scientists were followed by a long list of others who have shed light on prehistoric cultures that arose in parts of Egypt that today go by the names Badari, Al-Kom Al-Ahmar, Abu Sweir and Fayoum, the vestiges of which testify to humanitys transition from a branch of the animal kingdom to the kingdom of humankind as defined by the ability to tame nature and manufacture civilisation.

The historical-civilisational continuity we see in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Arab cases forms the roots of the modern Arab nation state. As this continuity implies an ever-evolving process, it is only natural that new discoveries and their celebration - such as the recent inauguration of the Road of the Rams in Luxor and the transfer of the mummies from the Egyptian Museum to the Museum of Civilisation - are an integral part of building the New Republic in Egypt.

An equally robust regenerative process celebrates ancient history in the context of what I have referred to on previous occasions as the second establishment of the Saudi state. The first, as we know, occurred when Saudi Arabia won its independence in its current boundaries in 1932. This was one of the outcomes of World War I and a product of the Saudi renaissance spearheaded by king Abdel-Aziz Al Saud who unified the kingdom and made it a centre of the Islamic world. The unification of Saudi Arabia was a fundamentally political process in that it used military force as an extension of politics by other means. The holy mosques in Mecca and Medina became the essence of the state as epitomised by the Saudi flag: the testimony of faith and the sword, the symbol of resolve and power, on a green background.

The second establishment of the kingdom in 2015 precipitated a boom in bringing far-flung parts of the country closer together. The essential cement consisted of the common cultural, sociological and historical ties plus optimism towards the future and a shared connection with a remote past that is not exclusive to a particular group or class. The archaeological discoveries that have been made throughout the kingdom in the past five years are remarkable. But what is of the essence is that they are being prepared not just to serve as tourist destinations but also as heritage for all citizens, thereby instilling in them the awareness that the history of the kingdom is not just about the great Islamic eras but also a civilisation with roots that stretch back thousands of years.

The modern nation state is an entity whose identity is embodied in a historical continuity that transcends borders and eras, and binds citizens in a harmony aimed at progress.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Real memories can be stranger  more powerful, but also more unbelievable  than anything made up. In 2021 three Arab debuts that expertly mix cinematic imagination into true events, giving them deeper and wider relevance, bear testimony to the fact. Sometimes featuring a stand-in for the auteur, Life Suits Me Well by Moroccan filmmaker Al Hadi Ulad Mohand, Soula by Algerian filmmaker Salah Issaad and Farha by Jordanian filmmaker Darin J. Sallam

In Mohands film the teenage hero, Ismail (Sayed El Alami) doesnt say much, but the effects of the transformation undergone by his quiet family, living in a small coastal town in Morocco in the mid-1990s, can be seen clearly on his face. The family consists of the father Fouad (Samir Guesmi), who gives up his teaching job to work for the post office following the onset of a mysterious illness no one can recognise, the mother (Lubna Azabal), and three children.

Its me at his age, Mohand says of Ismail. I was too young to understand what it meant for someone like my father in his fifties to have Alzheimers. I thought Alzheimers was something that hit very old people before they died. I was completely helpless and probably useless. But this is the cruel phase of my life, and it was never erased. Perhaps I started writing the movie in my head at that age without realising it.

Even before you know that a good part of Life Suits Me Well is autobiographical, you cant help being overwhelmed by what is going on on screen. Yet, more than the severity of the sudden illness, the dramatic transformation in the fathers personality it causes, and its devastating effects on everyone in the family, it is the immense energy of love that overwhelms everyone and flows out of the screen.

Love saved us, Mohand says, and that is exactly what I wanted to say. The more intense the crisis gets the stronger the bonds of love. Love cannot stop the relentless attack of disease but it does allow each member of the family to rediscover themself and their relation to the others, their importance to each other and in the world. This is not a movie about illness and loss, but about how love can save us.

The young director, who studied filmmaking in France, wrote the film over many years, at first unconsciously, making a series of short films before embarking on it. The result is a remarkably subtle script with scenes that come across as whole, vivid memories.

The idea of the film had been in my mind for years, Mohand says, perhaps it was what motivated me to study cinema in the first place. But it wasnt until I saw Breaking the Waves (1996) by the brilliant Danish director Lars von Trier that I knew exactly how to tell the story.

Each in its way, Mohands film and Breaking the Waves, in which the heroine naively gives her life to save the man she loves, both films attempt to answer the question of how to convey the overwhelming energy of love through a movie?

Authenticity makes Life Suits Me Well a unique and immersive piece of poetry. Part of its originality results from the directors ability to transform real-life images into powerful narrative. On Mohands phone there is a picture of him helping his father shave, which becomes a scene in the film.

A Cesar-winning French-Moroccan actor, director and writer, Samir Guesmi told me the question of the directors filmography didnt really come up when he accepted the debut filmmakers offer of the lead role.

The script was great and very subtle, he says. The cast was great. But I never asked myself why say yes, it was like intuition. Everything touched me intelligently and intimately. I dont even know how I played the character. My feelings were leading me, smoothly and spontaneously. Whenever I thought about the true fate of this father who was waiting for the end at every moment, I felt the enormity of it. Fouads character shook me on paper because the real father was always on my mind.

Life Suits Me Well had its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, and its Arab premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2021. It received the prize for the best film in post-production at CineGouna Platform of El Gouna Film Festival 2020.

***

You may be surprised by the credits of this film. This movie is inspired by the life of Soula Bahri is followed by Starring Soula Bahri. A fictional account of a single mothers overnight journey across Algeria, Soula is an account, in the form of a road movie, of the womans rejection by her family and society in the name of honour. Trying to make it through the night with her baby, she is caught up in a spiral of violence and propelled towards her destiny. After he settled on her story for his debut, the young filmmaker Salah Essaad  whom I have known for years  says he auditioned numerous actors for the role, but found no one better than Soula Bahri herself.

I was inspired by her real character, as well as by her story. It was amazing to me the reconciliation with which she deals with the world despite its cruelty. It was hard to imagine anyone else presenting the character with as much understanding and empathy, Essaad says. The film is mostly about what happened to her in reality. But it also includes fragments of tales of other women who went through similar circumstances. It goes beyond the individual story of a young woman in an Algerian town, he explains. Its a movie about prejudice, lack of empathy, and gratuitous cruelty. Maybe when people get closer to Soulas world, and to her suffering, they will reconsider many things. Soula was a great help to me in writing the script and in dealing with the actors, most of whom were facing the camera for the first time.

Bahri, for her part, had a simple answer to why she would want to reenact such painful real-life events. Is reality harsher or its re-enactment? I wanted people to see what happened, and to think about it so that they might understand it. That was my only motive, she said, holding her little baby girl, who came along to the screening.

Soula had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film festival in 2021.

***

At 14 Farah can expect to be married, but she is desperately trying to convince her father to let her leave her small town to go to school in the city with her best friend Farida. Just when she believes she has succeeded the town is bombed and her father leaves, locking her in the cellar for safety. Through a hole in the wall Farida watches her world turn to rubble, witnessing the collapse of her country and the displacement of her people.

Darin J. Sallams Farha is based on an oral-history tale of the 1948 Palestinian Nakba, about the teenage girl who becomes her towns only survivor. But the director, who also wrote the film, merges it with her own interests and imagination.

The real story does not end the way it does as in the movie, she says. For me this story has always been linked to womens relationship to war, their role in society, and the reality that despite changing times still limits and restricts their lives from birth to death. Farhas character in my film has a lot of my personality to it, and coveys my vision of the world, while in the background there are the landmarks of the historical tale passed down through generations.

Sallam has five award-winning shorts to her credit, including Still Alive (2010), The Dark Outside (2012) and The Parrot (2016), but the story that became her debut feature has always been her dream project. It bears testimony to her ability to manage both established actors like Ali Suleiman (Abu Walid) or Ashraf Barhoum (Farhas father) and a first-timer like Karam Taher in the lead role.

It was partly the merging of historical events with contemporary concepts that enabled the young woman to play the role effectively. Karam says the fact that the story was real and about a girl her age facing challenges that are similar one way or another made her more sympathetic to the character.

The film opened my eyes to things I did not know about the suffering of teenagers at that time, Taher says, whether due to the cruelty of war or social restrictions. On the other hand, I am also a teenage girl who is facing a lot of difficulties like my peers nowadays. I loved how the way Darin wrote the story connects history to the present moment, the way Darin wrote it, is able to connect history and the present moment. I felt that it was a movie about me too, even though the distance between me and Farha is decades.

Farha had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, its Arab premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival, where it won a Feature Films competition jurys special mention. It was also nominated for the New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Palm Springs International Film Festival.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The 15th Annual Archaeologists Day took place at the Cairo Opera House this week where many figures were honoured and Egyptian heritage celebrated, reports Nevine El-Aref

After a years hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, archaeologists from across Egypt met at the Cairo Opera House on Monday night for the 15th Annual Archaeologists Day.

The event brought together hundreds of archaeologists, ambassadors of foreign countries in Cairo, representatives of Egyptian and foreign universities, directors of archaeological institutes, ministry leaders, and prominent figures, all of whom attended the main auditorium at the Opera House in Cairo.

The stage became an ancient Egyptian temple for the day, with a twist as it was embellished with an imposing entrance and two statues of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs. A modern stained-glass backdrop was also part of the decoration.

During the events musical and dance performances, the backdrop changed to show tourist destinations such as the Giza Pyramids, Luxor, Alexandria, and Hurghada, as well as photographs of conservators cleaning and restoring temples to reveal their original beauty. Archaeologists were shown uncovering the secrets of ancient Egyptian civilisation.

This year, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the days sponsor, focused on paying homage to pioneering archaeologists and restorers who spent their lives exploring, documenting, and preserving Egypts heritage. A number of specialists were honoured along with workers who helped in excavation works.

A two-minute documentary highlighting the restoration work being carried out at ancient Egyptian temples in Luxor, Esna, and Dendara by Egyptian conservators was screened.

During a speech at the event, Khaled El-Enany, the minister of tourism and antiquities, congratulated Egypts archaeologists and restorers, expressing his appreciation of their efforts to preserve the history and monuments of Egypt, part of the heritage of humanity as a whole.

Despite the fact that two years have passed since the last celebration because of the coronavirus pandemic, archaeological work has kept going, El-Enany said, adding that vigorous efforts had been made to continue with many archaeological projects and museums being opened and discoveries uncovered.

He said that archaeologists have played a major role in promoting Egypt abroad and drawing the worlds attention through various discoveries and the inaugurations of important archaeological projects they have undertaken and are still carrying out.

He emphasised the interest of the state in the tourism and antiquities sector and the unprecedented support from the political leadership.

El-Enany described 2022 as an exceptional year because it marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of the golden boy king Tutankhamen as well as the 200th anniversary of the deciphering of ancient Egyptian writing and the emergence of Egyptology.

He reviewed the ministrys achievements over the last year, including discoveries and the inaugurations of archaeological projects and museums. What had taken place in Saqqara had had the largest share of all the years archaeological discoveries, with the unveiling of secrets about the ancient Egyptian civilisation through the discovery of more than 100 coloured wooden coffins, he said.

In Luxor, a city called the Rise of Aton had been discovered dating back to the reign of Amenhotep lll, one of the top ten discoveries of 2021, El-Enany said.

A number of museums had been opened including the Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, and Royal Carriages Museums as well as two museums at Cairo Airport. The Djoser Pyramid and its southern tomb had been opened in Saqqara, along with the Elyahu Hanby Synagogue in Alexandria. The tomb of Ramses II had reopened after restoration, and three stations on the Path of the Holy Family in Egypt had been set up after development.

A first factory to make replicas had been opened, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) had received the royal mummies, the Al-Jeddawi Wekala had been opened in Esna, and the first phase of the project to restore the Al-Tanbagha Al-Mardani Mosque in Cairo had been completed.

There had also been high-profile projects to restore the Sphinx Avenue in Luxor and the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, he said.

The ministry has also succeeded over the past two years in recovering 5,722 artifacts from foreign countries including the US, Italy, France, Canada, the UK, Belgium, Spain, the UAE, and others.

Underway: The ministry will soon inaugurate the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on the Pyramids Plateau, El-Enany said, which will be a truly exceptional event.

Engineering work is 99 per cent complete, and the GEM has received and restored more than 55,000 artefacts. The heaviest pieces have been fixed in the atrium and on the grand staircase, and over 80 per cent of the Tutankhamen collection has been installed in dedicated galleries.

Work is also underway to open the Mohamed Ali Palace in Shubra and the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, in addition to completed projects that are ready to be opened, such as the Museum of Egypts Capitals in the New Administrative Capital.

El-Enany also spoke about the ministrys approach to holding international celebrations, seeing these as greatly contributing to promoting tourism, especially the Golden Mummies Parade and the Luxor Sphinx Avenue celebrations.

Both celebrations are part of a will to merge the activities of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and cooperate with the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Egyptian

Tourism Promotion Board, he said.

He went on to shed light on the legislation that has been recently enacted to further protect Egyptian antiquities, including the amendment of Antiquities Protection Law 117/1983 by criminalising the smuggling of antiquities and climbing on monuments.

A law has been passed to make the GEM a public authority reporting to the minister in charge of antiquities and another also establishing the NMEC as a public body affiliated to the minister.

Measures have been taken over the past two years to improve conditions for employees of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, with 9,215 employees being promoted to higher levels, the contractual forms of 4,247 contractors modified, and a wage for work clause introduced to put them on permanent financial grades.

A promotional incentive of five per cent of salary was approved for more than 2,600 employees of the supreme council among those not holding managerial or supervisory positions in July last year. An incentive bonus was approved for nearly 3,700 employees at the Supreme Council and the Nuba Archaeology Rescue Fund to the value of five per cent of salary and a raise of seven per cent for about 25,600 workers at the Council and the Nuba Fund.

Some 5,100 training programmes have been completed by employees at the ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Central Agency for Organisation and Administration through the Human Resources Development Unit and the Training and Efficiency Unit, El-Enany said.

The training of 2,400 employees from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in specialised programmes in the field of antiquities and museums through the Central Training Unit has been completed.

Honoured: As part of the day, many distinguished individuals were honoured, among them Atef Moftah, general supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the surrounding area, for his efforts in transferring the First Khufu Boat from the Giza Pyramid area to the Khufu Boat Museum at the Grand Egyptian Museum; Moemen Othman, head of the Museums Sector at the ministry and members of the Museum Scenario Committee for their efforts at museums across the country, especially in opening several museums over the past two years.

The honourees also included restorer Shamaa Abul-Abbas for her efforts in restoring the Esna Temple; archaeologist Ines Gaffar, deputy director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation; Zakia Youssef Medhat Topozada, professor of Egyptian archaeology at Ain Shams University in Cairo, who wrote museum guides for the Kom Oshim and Beni Sweif museums; the late Mahmoud Abdel-Razek Awad, professor of Egyptian archaeology at Suez Canal University. He obtained a Bachelors degree in Egyptian archaeology from the Faculty of Arts at Cairo University in 1958 and then joined the Egyptian Antiquities Department, rising to become head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector in 1981 and then head of the Museums Sector between 1990 and 1994. He participated in excavations at archaeological sites including Luxor, Saqqara, and the Sphinx.

They alao include Gamal Abdel-Rahim Ibrahim Hassan, professor of Islamic archaeology at the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University, a member of the Scientific Publications Committee at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, a member of the board of the Union of Arab Archaeologists, a member of the Permanent Committee of Islamic Antiquities at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and a member of the Supreme Committee for the Museum Scenarios; Mokhtar Al-Kasabani, professor of Islamic archaeology at the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University, who worked as an advisor to the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities from 2004 to 2011. He is a member of the Supreme Committee of Museums and the Screenplay Committee of the NMEC and has supervised many projects for the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Also honoured were Waad Abul-Ela, former head of the Projects Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities; Maha Mohamed Mustafa, former head of the Central Administration of Historical Museums. She held many positions, including director of the Royal Vehicles Museum and director of Covenants and Records at Historical Museums. She has been a member of several committees, such as the Museums Development Committee, the Committee for the Preparation of the Scenario for the Royal Vehicles Museum in the Citadel, the Prince Mohamed Ali Palace in Manial, the Helwan Corner, and the Royal Vehicles Museum in Boulaq; Mahmoud Hassan Mohammed al-Halouaji, former director-general of the Egyptian Museum. He was director of the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities at the Egyptian Academy in Rome and studied the registration and documentation of museum collections in London. He also studied museum sciences in Vienna and the management and organisation of museum collections in the US; Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Central Administration for the Antiquities of Upper Egypt. He began working at the Supreme Council of Antiquities in 1994, first as an inspector of antiquities, then director of the Permanent Committee of Egyptian Antiquities, and then head of the Central Administration of the Antiquities of Upper Egypt. He supervised the work of foreign excavations at archaeological sites in Fayoum, Saqqara, and Luxor and trained and supervised excavation schools in Giza, Saqqara, and Matariya; Abdel-Nasser Abdel-Azim, director of the Restoration of the Antiquities and Museums of Upper Egypt. He participated in many restoration projects, including those of the Avenue of Sphinxes, the Temple of Mut, the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Todd, the Temple of Madamoud, the Temple of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens, the Temple of Merneptah, the tomb of Tutankhamun, the tomb of Seti l in the Valley of the Kings and tombs in Al-Qurna and Deir Al-Medina; Ahmed Mohamed Sheikh, a guard in the Beheira Antiquities area; the late Abdallah Al-Sayed Al-Adl, a guard at Tall Al-Rabe in Daqahliya; and Hisham Samir, assistant to the minister for antiquities projects.

The Zahi Hawass Award for the Best Archaeologist of the Year went to Afifi Rahim, head of team excavations at the Golden City of King Amenhotep III on the west bank in Luxor; and Atef Al-Dabbah, leader of the team working to develop the aqueduct at the Salaheddin Citadel in Cairo, the Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria, and the Mar Mina Monastery in Alexandria.

The Zahi Hawass Award for Best Restorer of the Year went to Ahmed Mohamed Ali Imam and the Egyptian-German team at the Temple of Khanum in Esna, owing to their efforts in restoring the colours and inscriptions of the temple.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The coronavirus' omicron variant starting to barrel across South America is pressuring hospitals whose employees are taking sick leave, leaving facilities understaffed to cope with COVID-19s third wave.

A health worker applies a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a community health center in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. Brasilia started the COVID-19 vaccination of children between ages 5 and 11. [Photo: AP/Eraldo Peres]

A major hospital in Bolivia's largest city stopped admitting new patients due to lack of personnel, and one of Brazil's most populous states canceled scheduled surgeries for a month. Argentinas federation of private healthcare providers told the AP it estimates about 15% of its health workers currently have the virus.

The third wave is affecting the health team a lot, from the cleaning staff to the technicians, with a high percentage of sick people, despite having a complete vaccination schedule, said Jorge Coronel, president of Argentina's medical confederation. While symptoms are mostly mild to moderate, that group needs to be isolated.

It wasn't supposed to be this way: South America's vaccine uptake was eager once shots were available. About two-thirds of its roughly 435 million residents are fully immunized, the highest percentage for any global region, according to Our World in Data. And health workers in Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina have already been receiving booster shots.

But the omicron variant is defying vaccines, sending case numbers surging. Argentina saw an average 112,000 daily confirmed cases in the week through Jan. 16, up from 3,700 a month earlier. Brazil's health ministry is still recovering from a hack that left coronavirus data incomplete; even so, it shows a jump to an average 69,000 daily cases in the same seven-day period, up 1,900% from the month before.

Omicron spreads even easier than other strains, and is already dominant in many countries  among them, Brazil and some parts of Argentina. It also more easily infects those who have already been vaccinated or infected by earlier versions of the virus. Early studies show omicron is less likely to cause serious diseases than the delta variant, and vaccination and booster shots still offer strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death.

Lesser severity leaves South America's residents loath to give up their long-awaited summer that, so they were told, would mark a return to normality after full vaccination. The enduring pandemic often seems an afterthought to people who are out and about, and don't glimpse how omicron has started affecting medical staff. Beaches were packed this weekend in Argentina and Brazil.

Matias Fernandez Norte, a surgeon at the Hospital de Clinicas in Buenos Aires, told the AP that the high number of professionals on leave has generated physical and spiritual fatigue, in addition to the stress of dealing with a patient on the edge.

You feel like you are living a parallel reality. In the street you meet a world that doesnt seem to feel the pandemic," he said. "Sometimes it feels like people have forgotten. Unfortunately, thats what we feel.

Brazils council of state health secretariats estimates that between 10% and 20% of all professionals in the health network  including doctors, nurses, nurse technicians, ambulance drivers and others in direct contact with patients  have taken sick leave since the last week of 2021.

We are having trouble making the schedules, said the council's director, Carlos Lula.

The press office of Rio de Janeiro state's health secretariat told the AP that about 5,500 professionals have left their jobs since December. All elective surgeries scheduled in the state health network have been suspended for four weeks. As for urgent care, relocations and overtime are being used as stopgap measures.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 18, 2022 - 09:55 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan will halt implementation of a government system combining COVID-19 vaccination and testing in a bid to restart economic activities in the wake of breakthrough infections, as the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to spread rapidly, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.

Restrictions for purposes such as dining are eased under the system that checks whether visitors have been vaccinated twice or have proof of having tested negative for the virus. A spectator attendance limit for large-scale events such as concerts is also eased under the scheme.

It would apply even when areas are placed under a full-fledged state of emergency or a quasi-state of emergency, as a way to curbing the spread of the virus and normalize economic activities.

The government is considering placing Tokyo and 10 prefectures under a COVID quasi-state of emergency, and plans to recommend the measure on the package to a government advisory panel on the COVID-19 response as early as Wednesday, according to the sources.

Prefectural governors and health experts have been seeking a review of the policy given the transmissibility of the disease.

While the government is also considering maintaining the program under certain conditions such as people having booster shots, it has decided to put a halt to the program for the time being, the sources added.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 18, 2022 - 18:41 | World, All

Indonesia's House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted a bill that will see the government relocate the nation's capital from congested Jakarta on Java Island to Borneo, the world's third largest island.

The capital, to be named Nusantara meaning archipelago, will be moved possibly in 2024 to a location in East Kalimantan Province in eastern Borneo, over 1,200 kilometers away from Jakarta.

The new capital will sit on about 256,000 hectares of land, according to the legislation. While most central government bodies will move there, Jakarta will remain as the center of business, trade, finance and services.

When announcing the plan to relocate the capital in 2019, President Joko Widodo said the transfer was needed to ease the burden on Jakarta, which suffers chronic pollution, traffic congestion and other woes, and on Java Island as a whole, where more than half of all Indonesians live.

The country has a population of about 270 million.

The shift is also aimed at closing the development gap between Java and other islands as the main island currently accounts for 58 percent of the country's total gross domestic product, the president said.

"The location is very strategic...and has low risks of natural disasters," National Development Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa told a hearing on the Borneo new capital site.

All but the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party approved the bill for the capital city relocation. The party was against the plan, saying the money would be better used in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The building of the new capital is set to cost around 466 trillion rupiah ($33 billion). It will be financed by the state budget, a partnership scheme between the government and private sectors and direct investment.

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KYODO NEWS - Jan 18, 2022 - 12:22 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japanese Emperor Naruhito again expressed his hope for the end of the coronavirus pandemic in a poem recited Tuesday at an annual ceremony.

Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, released her first poem after coming of age last month, though she skipped attending the New Year Poetry Reading Ceremony as she is currently studying at university.

The 61-year-old emperor expressed his hopes of seeing many people once again travelling to and from Japan once the pandemic is contained, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

The ceremony, attended by the imperial couple as well as Crown Prince Fumihito, the emperor's brother, was held with a significantly reduced number of participants to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Participants wore masks and shields, and acrylic partitions were set up in front of speakers as part of anti-virus measures.

The theme of this year's "waka" poems at the reading held at the Imperial Palace was "mado," meaning "window."

The official translation of the poem written by the Emperor and provided by the Imperial Household Agency is as follows:

As our contacts with the world

Remain difficult,

I earnestly hope for a day

When the window opens to the world

The 58-year-old empress wrote about the view from the family's new residence on the grounds of the palace in Tokyo after moving from the nearby Akasaka Imperial Residence last September.

The official translation of the empress' poem is as follows:

Looking through the windows

Of the Fukiage Palace, our new residence,

We enjoy the greenery

Of the great trees around us

Princess Aiko looked back on her feelings of excitement when she went to Eton College on the outskirts of London to attend a summer school program while she was a second-year student at Gakushuin Girls' Senior High School in Tokyo.

The official translation of the princess' poem is as follows:

As I stand before

The House of learning where I shall study in Britain,

I feel the windows to the world

Are opening up to me

The family's poems, as well as works composed by other members of the imperial family and 10 pieces chosen from 13,830 entries submitted by the public, were recited in the traditional style at the reading ceremony.

Waka poetry was developed by the court aristocracy in the sixth century. A "tanka" poem, which is typically synonymous with waka, consists of 31 syllables in a pattern of 5-7-5-7-7.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 18, 2022 - 12:44 | All, Japan, World

The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and France will hold security talks virtually on Thursday, with cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, where China's rise has stoked concern among many countries, expected to top the agenda.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference Tuesday that the two countries share fundamental values and strategic interests and will promote their security collaboration during the online "two-plus-two" meeting, after the French Defense Ministry announced its schedule on Monday.

Hayashi said that he and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi will discuss a variety of topics including recent regional affairs in the first such talks since January 2019 with their respective French counterparts Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly.

The countries had initially planned to hold an in-person two-plus-two meeting in Japan by the end of 2021 but put it off due to the coronavirus pandemic, lately fueled by the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. They have generally taken turns hosting such talks since their first session in 2014.

Japan has been boosting defense cooperation with European countries, including Britain and Germany, as China increasingly flexes its military muscle and steps up its territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region.

France, which has overseas territories in the region such as New Caledonia, released its Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018 to promote a stable and rules-based order.

Regarding Tokyo as one of its most important partners, French troops last year for the first time carried out joint exercises with Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the United States on Japanese soil aimed at defending remote islands.

France is hoping to launch talks with Japan on a defense cooperation agreement to allow the easing of restrictions on the transportation of weapons and supplies for joint training and disaster relief operations.

Japan and Australia signed such a treaty, called the Reciprocal Access Agreement, aimed at strengthening security cooperation and facilitating faster deployment of their defense forces, earlier this month.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 18, 2022 - 12:40 | World, All

North Korean state-run media said Tuesday the country test-fired tactical guided missiles the previous day that accurately hit a marine target, confirming Pyongyang's fourth missile tests since the start of the year.

The report by the official Korean Central News Agency came a day after South Korea and Japan said North Korea launched two suspected short-range ballistic missiles.

The projectiles were fired in an easterly direction from the area where Pyongyang's Sunan airport is located shortly before 9 a.m. on Monday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding they traveled about 380 kilometers and reached an altitude of around 42 km.

KCNA ran photos of the missiles launched Monday, regarded as a similar or updated version of the KN-24 test-fired in March 2020 -- a new type of short-range ballistic missile known to fly on an irregular trajectory.

Japan's Defense Ministry said the missiles used solid rather than liquid fuel, shortening the time required for prelaunch preparations.

North Korea has recently developed hard-to-intercept missiles with state-of-the-art technologies. Japan and South Korea have been wary of the possibility that the North could mount a nuclear warhead on such missiles.

"The two tactical guided missiles launched in the western area of the DPRK precisely hit an island target" in the Sea of Japan, KCNA said, referring to the acronym of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

The purpose of the latest test was to "selectively evaluate tactical guided missiles being produced and deployed and to verify the accuracy of the weapon system," it said.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency on Monday quoted an informed source as saying that the missiles traveled at a top speed of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has often reportedly been present for tests of the country's missile capabilities, was not reported to have attended Monday's test.

Pyongyang test-fired what it says were newly developed hypersonic missiles on Jan. 5 and 11, while conducting a firing drill for a railway-borne missile regiment last Friday.

The Japanese Defense Ministry said North Korea has fired at least 100 projectiles since Kim became supreme leader following the death of his father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011.

During phone talks on Monday, senior officials from the United States, South Korea and Japan in charge of North Korean issues expressed "strong concerns" about Pyongyang's missile and nuclear development programs, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno condemned the missile launches, saying in a press conference Tuesday that they violated U.N. Security Council resolutions banning Pyongyang from employing ballistic missile technology.

Related coverage:

North Korea fires 2 suspected short-range ballistic missiles
Major US airlines have warned of an impending "catastrophic" aviation crisis when AT&T and Verizon deploy new 5G service on Wednesday.

They said the switch-on of 5G mobile phone services will cause "major disruption" to flights.

The airlines warned the new C-Band 5G service could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, "could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas" and cause "chaos" for US flights.

The warning was issued in a letter sent to US aviation authorities, said a Reuters report.

The chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines were joined by others in saying: "Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies", including vaccine distribution.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also warned that potential interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations.

BBC said negotiations are continuing at the highest levels of the US government about what has been described as a "very fluid situation".

The airlines want 5G signals to be excluded from "the approximate two miles of airport runways at affected airports as defined by the FAA on 19 January 2022".

"This will allow 5G to be deployed while avoiding harmful impacts on the aviation industry, travelling public, supply chain, vaccine distribution, our workforce and broader economy.

"We further ask that the FAA immediately identify those base stations closest to key airport runways that need to be addressed to ensure safety and avoid disruption," they added.

These concerns were recently highlighted by the two big planemakers, Airbus and Boeing, in a rare joint warning.

The group of airlines said: "Airplane manufacturers have informed us that there are huge swathes of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded.

"In addition to the chaos caused domestically, this lack of usable wide-body aircraft could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas."

In an update on Sunday, the FAA, which oversees aviation safety across the US, said it had cleared "an estimated 45% of the US commercial fleet to perform low-visibility landings at many of the airports where 5G C-band will be deployed".

The FAA added that it had approved "two radio altimeter models that are installed in a wide variety of Boeing and Airbus planes".

"Even with these new approvals, flights at some airports may still be affected," the regulator said.

Phone companies have spent tens of billions of dollars on upgrading their networks to deploy the 5G technology, which brings much faster internet services and greater connectivity.

US wireless industry group CTIA has previously said 5G is safe and accused the aviation industry of fearmongering and distorting facts, the BBC report said.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 18, 2022 - 21:55 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's confirmed daily coronavirus cases on Tuesday topped 30,000 for the first time, surpassing the previous record of 25,992 registered in August last year, a Kyodo News tally showed, prompting more prefectural governments to seek quasi-emergency measures to stem the spread of the Omicron variant.

The western prefecture of Osaka the same day reported 5,396 new COVID-19 cases, far outstripping its all-time daily high of 3,760 over the weekend, while the Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed 5,185 new infections, topping 5,000 for the first time since Aug. 21 and increasing more than fivefold from a week earlier.

The nationwide count, which came to 32,197 on Tuesday, has quickly risen from just over 500 at the start of the year as the Omicron variant spread rapidly. After topping 10,000 on Jan. 12, it took only two days for the number of daily cases to double.

Due to the surge in new cases, Tokyo and other areas are asking the central government to place them under a quasi-state of emergency by which governors can request that restaurants and bars shorten their business hours and stop serving alcohol, and asking residents to refrain from traveling across prefectural borders.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his government will consult a group of experts Wednesday on placing Tokyo and 12 more prefectures under the quasi-emergency measures from Friday through Feb. 13.

"We will remain on high alert to avert a crisis such as a shortage of hospital beds," Kishida told reporters.

The government will halt, in principle, implementation of a program to check whether people visiting places like dining establishments have been vaccinated twice or have proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 as a way of boosting economic activities, he said.

Prefectural governors can still choose to use the program and ease COVID restrictions at such establishments and events, he added.

Japan's top COVID-19 adviser Shigeru Omi met with Kishida earlier in the day over the virus situation and the necessary response.

"The Omicron variant is clearly different from existing variants. It is crucial to take effective measures that suit its characteristics," Omi told reporters after the meeting.

Japan's top COVID-19 adviser Shigeru Omi (C) speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2022, amid the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The quasi-emergency measures, already in place for Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Okinawa prefectures since earlier this month, is expected to be introduced across a wider area amid what health experts describe as the sixth wave of the pandemic.

Along with the governments of Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa, those of Gifu, Mie, Aichi, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Niigata, Kagawa and Gunma also requested to be placed under quasi-emergency measures due to fears over the rapid spread of the virus and strain on the medical system.

If declared, Japan would see 16 of its 47 prefectures under the antivirus measures.

Related coverage:

Japan to halt vaccine-and-test scheme amid Omicron variant spread

Japan to allow in some foreign students, making exception to ban

Japan looks to expand COVID quasi-emergency to Tokyo, 10 other prefs.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 18, 2022 - 19:29 | World, All, Japan

China has told Japan that it is considering holding a face-to-face ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary in September of the normalization of relations between the two nations, a source familiar with bilateral ties said Tuesday.

The move indicated China, which has been at odds with the United States over security and human rights issues, is eager to stabilize relations with Japan, but the source told Kyodo News that whether an in-person event can be held will hinge on the situation with the novel coronavirus.

It is the first time China's plan for the 50th anniversary has been revealed, as the country's ties with Japan, a close U.S. security ally, have also been worsening over the Communist-led government's security challenges to self-ruled, democratic Taiwan.

As for the anniversary, Chinese President Xi Jinping was quoted by the Foreign Ministry as telling Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their telephone talks last October that he hopes the two nations will "embrace this significant historical juncture."

Following Xi's remarks, an official of the government-backed China-Japan Friendship Association told the Japanese side in early December about what kind of ceremony it can hold in cooperation with it, according to the source.

The official is believed to be a close aide of Cheng Yonghua, executive vice president of the organization, who served as China's Ambassador to Japan for around nine years until 2019.

The source said the official asked Kishida's government to hold an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary and invite "Japanese political and business leaders who have contributed to the development of relations" between the two countries.

But such a ceremony would be held online if the outbreak expands, the source added.

Xi might not attend a face-to-face event on the occasion of the anniversary, given that he has not directly met with political leaders from other nations since the virus began to rage at home in early 2020.

While saying China is "willing" to hold a memorial ceremony with Japan, the source voiced concern that bilateral ties may deteriorate before September over Taiwan, which Beijing views as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Kishida is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden virtually on Friday. If they touch on Taiwan, a core interest of China, Xi's leadership will react sharply to it, foreign affairs experts say.

In September 2012, China canceled events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of normalized ties in retaliation for Japan's nationalization earlier that month of the Senkaku Islands claimed by Beijing.

The group of uninhabited islets controlled by Japan in the East China Sea are called Diaoyu in China. Sino-Japanese relations have often been frayed by the issue.

Japan severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established them with mainland China in 1972. Beijing and Taipei have been separately governed since they split in 1949 as a result of a civil war.

Related coverage:

Japan, China agree to begin operating defense hotline next year

China envoy urges Japan not to join diplomatic boycott of Olympics

China attack on Taiwan could draw economic sanctions: Japan's Kono
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen met in Phnom Penh on Monday with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi on regional issues, a senior official said.

The discussions included the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Myanmar's political situation, said Kao Kim Hourn, a minister attached to the Cambodian prime minister.

The two sides talked about ways to promote the economy, trade, investment and tourism in the post-pandemic era after the RCEP agreement, signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries, entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022, said Kim Hourn.

Lim pledged to work closely with Cambodia, the ASEAN chair for 2022, and other ASEAN member states to implement the RCEP effectively in order to boost development in the ASEAN region, the official said.

The ASEAN secretary-general also vowed to work closely with ASEAN dialogue partners, particularly with China, Japan and South Korea.

On the Myanmar issue, Hun Sen briefed Lim about his recent visit to Myanmar, saying that the trip was aimed at coordinating a ceasefire, delivering humanitarian assistance to the needy Myanmar people, and paving the way for the ASEAN chair's special envoy on Myanmar to have access to all parties concerned, Kim Hourn said.

Lim, who is on an official visit to Cambodia from Saturday to Wednesday, is scheduled to meet with several senior government officials, and will attend the ASEAN Tourism Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday visited the construction site of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway (HSR) No. 2 Tunnel to inspect the construction progress.

Widodo said the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR is generally progressing smoothly regardless of difficulties such as the complex geological conditions and the pandemic, and it is hoped that the whole project will be put into operation in June 2023.

He hopes that all construction parties would jointly promote the construction with high quality, and show the achievements and cooperation between Indonesia and China to the world during the G20 summit later this year.

The inspected No. 2 Tunnel is a single-hole and double-track tunnel with a total length of 1,052 meters, of which about 70 percent have been excavated.

The construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR started in June 2018, and 91.2 percent of the civil works have been completed. The station building and track laying are progressing steadily, with 30 of the 38 continuous beams in the whole alignment having been closed and 10 of the 13 tunnels completed.

The Jakarta-Bandung railway is the link between China's Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy.

With a design speed of 350 km per hour, the railway built with Chinese technology will cut the journey between Jakarta and Bandung, capital of West Java province, from more than three hours to around 40 minutes.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




ISLAMABAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a unique form of cooperation based on friendship between both sides and ensuring economic prosperity, Pakistani President Arif Alvi made the remarks with Chinese media.

All-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries has been strengthened, and the bilateral relations have become a model of friendship and mutual understanding between nations in the world, he said.

The president said that in the past year, the CPEC, as a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, has promoted the economic development of Pakistan, generating a lot of job opportunities for the locals and bolstered Pakistan's poverty alleviation cause through cooperation in fields of health and education.

In the new phase of high-quality development of the CPEC, the two countries should strengthen cooperation in information technology (IT), cybersecurity, agriculture and health, said the president, adding that the Pakistani side is looking forward to training IT talents and promoting the development of the semiconductor industry with China's help.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
ANKARA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish prosecutor on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for 64 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) for activities aimed at financing the group.

Turkey's Financial Crimes Investigation Board uncovered evidence of bank account transactions and social media posts of the suspects detailing financial assistance to IS members, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

The watchdog determined that the suspects collected cash aid through bank accounts to help IS members, who were residing in Turkey and involved in the group's activities in conflict zones in Syria.

Ankara designated the IS a terrorist organization in 2013 and the group has been blamed for a spate of deadly attacks in Turkey since 2015. Turkey's counter-terrorism units in response have been conducting operations against the group's members in the country. 
A snow plow clears snow on the sidewalk of a street during a snowy day in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on Jan. 17, 2022. Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning calling for up to 60 cm of snow in some parts of the Greater Toronto Area by Monday night. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

A man clears his driveway during a snowy day in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on Jan. 17, 2022. Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning calling for up to 60 cm of snow in some parts of the Greater Toronto Area by Monday night. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2022 shows a table and chairs covered with snow in a yard during a snowy day in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning calling for up to 60 cm of snow in some parts of the Greater Toronto Area by Monday night. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

A man takes photos as he walks along a bridge during a snowy day in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on Jan. 17, 2022. Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning calling for up to 60 cm of snow in some parts of the Greater Toronto Area by Monday night. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

A man uses a snow blower to clear snow during a snowy day in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on Jan. 17, 2022. Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning calling for up to 60 cm of snow in some parts of the Greater Toronto Area by Monday night. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia on an airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"The secretary-general condemns today's attacks on Abu Dhabi's International Airport and the nearby industrial area, which reportedly caused several civilian casualties and have been claimed by the Houthis," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for Guterres.

"Attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilians are prohibited by international humanitarian law," the spokesman noted.

Guterres calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any escalation amid heightened tensions in the region. There is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen. The secretary-general urges the parties to engage constructively and without preconditions with his special envoy, Hans Grundberg, and his mediation efforts with the aim to advance the political process to reach a comprehensive negotiated settlement and to end the conflict in Yemen, said the spokesman. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a special address at the 2022 World Economic Forum virtual session, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At the 2022 World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual session, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday championed economic globalization and called for global cooperation to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a historic juncture where countries are struggling with unprecedented challenges, Xi has, in his past addresses at the WEF, expounded on China's stance over upholding economic globalization and multilateralism. The following are some highlights of his remarks.

Jan. 17, 2022

As COVID-19 is resurging with more variants and spreading faster than before, Xi again urged the world to "embrace cooperation and jointly defeat the pandemic" in his special address on Monday.

"Facts have shown once again that amidst the raging torrents of a global crisis, countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather all in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges," Xi said figuratively. "Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm."

Holding each other back or shifting blame would only cause needless delay in response and distract the world from the overall objective, Xi said, urging the world to strengthen international cooperation against COVID-19, carry out active cooperation on research and development of medicines, jointly build multiple lines of defense against the coronavirus, and speed up efforts to build a global community of health for all.

On economic globalization, the Chinese president called it "the trend of the times." Despite the countercurrents and dangerous shoals along the way, he said, economic globalization has never and will not veer off course.

"Countries around the world should uphold true multilateralism. We should remove barriers, not erect walls. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration, not decoupling. This is the way to build an open world economy," Xi said.

In his address, Xi also urged the world to discard Cold War mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes.

"Acts of single-mindedly building 'exclusive yards with high walls' or 'parallel systems,' of enthusiastically putting together exclusive small circles or blocs that polarize the world, of overstretching the concept of national security to hold back economic and technological advances of other countries, and of fanning ideological antagonism and politicizing or weaponizing economic, scientific and technological issues, will gravely undercut international efforts to tackle common challenges," Xi said.

Jan. 25, 2021

Noting that the problems facing the world are intricate and complex, Xi said in his special address at the WEF Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda that the way out of them is "through upholding multilateralism and building a community with a shared future for mankind."

"Multilateralism is about having international affairs addressed through consultation and the future of the world decided by everyone working together," Xi said.

"Decision should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving a big fist," he said, adding that "selective multilateralism should not be our option."

Xi urged abandoning arrogance and isolation mindsets, saying that "we have been shown time and again that to beggar thy neighbor, to go it alone, and to slip into arrogant isolation will always fail."

In his speech, Xi also noted that multilateral institutions provide the platforms for putting multilateralism into action and are the basic architecture underpinning multilateralism, saying that their authority and effectiveness should be safeguarded.

He urged the international community to give full play to the role of the World Health Organization in building a global community of health for all, and to advance reform of the World Trade Organization and the international financial and monetary system in a way that boosts global economic growth and protects the development rights, interests and opportunities of developing countries.

Jan. 17, 2017

Though economic globalization has created new problems, this is no justification to write economic globalization off completely, said Xi at the 2017 WEF at Davos, Switzerland.

"Rather, we should adapt to and guide economic globalization, cushion its negative impact, and deliver its benefits to all countries and all nations," Xi said.

Stressing that "no one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi said that any attempt to cut off the flow of capital, technologies, products, industries and people between economies, and channel the waters in the ocean back into isolated lakes and creeks is simply not possible.

The president called on the international community to face up to the problems caused by globalization instead of dodging them.

"In the face of both opportunities and challenges of economic globalization, the right thing to do is to seize every opportunity, jointly meet challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization," he said. 
This file photo shows South Sudan's President Salva Kiir attends the national transitional assembly in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Dec. 14, 2016. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

South Sudan's government has reached a peace deal in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, with the break-away faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under Simon Gatwech Dual.



JUBA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's government has reached a peace deal in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, with the break-away faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under Simon Gatwech Dual.

The deal negotiated by the Sudan Transitional Government on Sunday includes recommitting to the cessation of hostilities signed on Aug. 8, 2018, in Khartoum that paved way the eventual inking of the revitalized peace deal.

President Salva Kiir's security advisor Tut Gatluak Manime signed on behalf of the SPLM-In-Government (SPLM-IG) and Dual signed on behalf of his SPLM/A-IO that splintered in August 2021 from the mainstream party led by First Vice President Riek Machar.

The deal offers amnesty to the leadership and forces of SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang that has been fighting Machar's faction in the oil-rich Upper Nile state.

The clashes between the two opposition factions since August 2021 have left hundreds of soldiers killed on both sides following Dual's decision to denounce Machar's chairmanship of the former rebel movement.

Dual accused Machar of weakening the party (SPLM/A-IO) in the coalition government formed in February 2020.

He blamed Machar for practicing nepotism and not doing enough to push President Kiir to implement the security arrangements to pave way for reintegration of former rebel fighters.

SPLA-IO shall establish coordination offices in Juba, Malakal and Bor towns to assist the process of assembling and reintegration.

The parties also agreed to operationalize the transitional security arrangements and allow voluntary repatriation, resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of the refugees and internally displaced people.


The report by the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP) Development of Muslims in Uttar Pradeshreleased on January 9, paints a picture of the disempowerment of the Muslim community in the state.

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UTTAR PRADESH  As Uttar Pradesh is going to polls next month, a new report has revealed that Muslims of the most populous state of India lag far behind on many socio-religious categories (SRCs) such as education, economy, employment, housing, landholding, access to credit and other development indicators.

The report by the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP) Development of Muslims in Uttar Pradeshreleased on January 9, paints a picture of the disempowerment of the Muslim community in the state.

Muslims constitute 19.26 per cent of the total population in Uttar Pradesh against 14.23 per cent of the Muslim population in the country.

The CDPP report states that the relative socio-economic conditions of the Muslims are generally known to be inferior to that of Hindus.

They suffer from various kinds of deprivations in the state, the report notes.

This report covers wide areas that affect Muslim public life, livelihoods, educational progress, economic mobilities, and factors that generate and add to further inequalities and it also suggested policy measures to overcome the issues.

Muslims are landless as compared to Hindus

The report notes that the members of the Muslim community are landless as compared to Hindus in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the report findings, 48.05% of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh were landless compared to Hindus who are less than 25.83%. Compared to 59.47% Hindus about 83.4% of Muslims owned land below 1 acre, on the other end, 0.80% of Muslims own 7.5-10 acres of land, whereas over 1.87% Hindus own more than 10 acres of land, the report states.

Muslims are educationally backward

The most critical handicap for Muslims of the state is their educational backwardness, states the report.

According to the report, 71.2% of Muslims above 15 years are illiterate, compared to the 58.3% national average. Moreover, only 16.8 per cent of Muslims have education above the middle level and only 4.4 per cent of Muslims have a university degree, it says.

The report, however, notes that the educational attainment of Muslims is improving over time, but they remain behind other social groups including SCs

Huge gap in unemployment with other communities

The report states that 44.7 per cent of Muslim workers were engaged in agriculture in 1993-94. By 2009-10 the share of Muslim workers in agriculture had declined to 36.5 per cent. The proportion is significantly lower for Muslims as compared to all other social groups. However, the decline was faster in the case of the other social groups, it says.

According to reports, about one-fourth of Muslim workers are engaged in mining and manufacturing as compared to less than one-tenth of workers in the case of other social groups. However, the change has not been marked over time.

Construction workers show a marked increase in their share in employment over the period. The share of Muslim workers in services is significantly higher as compared to SC and OBC workers but lower than that for other workers, the report said.

UP Muslims poorest among others

The report revealed that according to NSS 2009-10 Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure among Muslim households was Rs 752 in Uttar Pradesh as compared to Rs 988 in India as a whole.

The poverty ratio is higher for Muslims than for all social groups in the state, it says.

According to the report, a larger proportion of Muslims in the U.P. is engaged in less regular and low-income occupations as compared to India.

In rural areas of five districts of Western Uttar Pradesh, Muslims ranked bottom in all social groups in the major indicators of socio-economic development, the report notes.

In the composite index of development, Muslims ranked 10th along with Scheduled Castes and below the Other Backward Castes, according to a report, it says

Government attacks Madrasas with schemes

The report states that Madrasa education (among Muslims) is facing unprecedented challenges from within and without. The internal pressures relate to the need to teach subjects such as English, science, and technology, which would enable madrasa graduates to enter the professions while preserving the major fields of study of the traditional Dars-e Nizami curriculum.

The report claims that the discourse of Madrasa modernization allows the BJP government to exercise control over what Madrasas teach and how.

Meanwhile, there are mounting external pressures on madrasas from the Indian state, which sees them as anti-national, antiquated, and irrelevant, the report said.

Apart from allegations of terrorism against some boys Madrasas, administrators have been asked to make video recordings of their celebrations on Independence Day to prove their loyalty to India. Allegations of corruption and misuse of government funds have also been raised.

Government attacks source of income of Muslims

The report states that the government was discouraging Muslim entrepreneurs to do certain businesses like the meat or leather business.

Though the large population of the country is non-vegetarian, the BJP and its parent organization RSS primarily Brahmin (upper Caste), Hindu Vegetarian clan continue attacking Muslims for the beef consumption and business of meat selling and leather, the report comments.

Many BJP ruled states in India have banned the sale of beef.

What needs to be pointed out at the outset is that the conditions of Muslims in UP is worse than in India, the report states.

The current government of the state has failed in providing an equal share of socio-economic development to Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, it says.

Commenting on the report, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the report is empirical proof that Muslims were not appeased under any rule rather they were exploited by the different governments ruling UP. Muslims of UP certainly deserve better than this.

This report is empirical proof that Muslims of UP were not appeased but exploited. UPs Muslims deserve better than this. Compared to forward caste Hindus, the average age of death was 6 years lower for Muslimshttps://t.co/5l5EQulhuW  Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) January 8, 2022

The findings of this paper seek answers from the SP, BSP or BJP who have ruled the state for many years as to why they have deliberately pulled down the growth rate of the Muslims under their rule, Owaisi wrote on Twitter.
SANAA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen announced that it fired five ballistic missiles and several explosive-laden drones in its multiple attacks early on Monday on airports and oil refinery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"The attacks targeted the international airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as the oil refinery in Abu Dhabi," Houthi military Spokesman Yehya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"We vow to hit more vital targets in the UAE if it continues military escalation in Yemen," the spokesman added.

The UAE state media reported earlier in the day that three oil tankers in the industrial area in Abu Dhabi were exploded after being hit by small drones. It also reported fire in the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The UAE said it reserved rights to respond to the Houthi threat.

The attacks was widely condemned by Arab and foreign countries.

This attack came nearly one week after the Houthis hijacked and captured a UAE-flagged commercial ship off the Houthi-held Red Sea city of Hodeidah.

The UN Security Council has called on the Houthi group to release the ship and crew members. The call was rejected by the Houthi group.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led Arab coalition supporting the Yemeni internationally recognized government against the Houthi militia.

Last week, the coalition-backed Yemeni government army recaptured four strategic districts in the oil-rich provinces of Shabwa and Marib from the militia.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. 
Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows the container terminal of Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

China's spectacular economic performance in 2021 goes a long way in stabilizing the world economy, and its commitment to free and open trade bodes well for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies in the post-pandemic landscape, an analyst said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's spectacular economic performance in 2021 goes a long way in stabilizing the world economy, and its commitment to free and open trade bodes well for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies in the post-pandemic landscape, an analyst said Monday.

"China's spectacular economic performance in 2021 is particularly spectacular when viewed together with China's relentless and strict effort in controlling the spread of the pandemic," said Oh Ei Sun, principal adviser for Malaysia's Pacific Research Center, in a written interview with Xinhua.

China's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 8.1 percent year on year to 114.37 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday.

People walk out of the venue of the 18th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

Oh said that China is the largest trading partner of most ASEAN countries, and ASEAN as a whole has also become China's largest trading partner, even during the course of the pandemic.

"China's and ASEAN's insistence upon free trade, even in the face of rising protectionism, is particularly commendable, and this has borne fruitful benefits for all sides, as China is now leading the world in terms of economic recovery rate, followed closely by ASEAN," he said.

China will continue to be a major destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, with the country seeing a 14.9 percent increase year on year in 2021 due to its stable supply chains, and huge domestic markets and productivity are among the most important attractions as well as the tremendous flexibility and customization of goods and services by Chinese businesses, he said.

Leaders attend the signing ceremony of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement after the fourth RCEP Summit, which is held via video link, Nov. 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

As for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which was signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries including China and entered into force on Jan. 1, Oh sees great opportunities for investors.



Oh said that the agreement, the world's largest free trade deal, will enable the free flow of goods, services and people's interactions among all member economies, with reduced or removed tariffs and non-tariff barriers.



RCEP will provide an even greater access to China's domestic markets and population with plenty of disposable income, thus naturally becoming an attractive business expansion destination for participating economies, he said.
ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's internationally-recognized government on Monday condemned the attacks launched by the Houthi militia on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.

"The Yemeni government condemned in the strongest terms the Houthis' terrorist attack using explosive-laden drones against the UAE," Yemen's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The ministry noted "the attack shows the Houthis' frustration" after their recent losses in Shabwa, which was fully recaptured by the pro-government southern Giants Brigades.

It also condemned "the militia's launch of three explosive-laden drones targeting the southern region of Saudi Arabia."

The ministry reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as any actions taken by the two allies to "confront these despicable terrorist acts, preserve the safety of their citizens and residents on their lands, and protect vital facilities."

Earlier in the day, Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for a military operation that struck areas deep inside the UAE, an active member of the Saudi-led military coalition.

The Houthis' claim was just after three petroleum tankers exploded in a fire near the storage facilities of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the UAE capital's Musaffah industrial district, the official WAM news agency reported, citing an announcement of the Abu Dhabi police.

A minor fire also broke out at the new construction site of Abu Dhabi International Airport, according to the WAM.

Initial investigations show the fires and explosions were possibly caused by unidentified drones in the area, WAM said.

During the past two weeks, a large-scale military operation was carried out by the southern Giants Brigades against the Houthis in Shabwa with direct supervision from the UAE.

The UAE-backed military campaign enabled the pro-government forces to fully capture the country's oil-rich province of Shabwa and other strategic areas in the neighboring oil-rich province of Marib.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen since 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthis forced him into exile. 
JERUSALEM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Tuesday condemned Monday's deadly Houthi attack in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and promised to offer security and intelligence assistance to the Arab country.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wrote on Twitter that he "strongly condemn" the drone attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis near Abu Dhabi's airport, which killed at least three people and injured six.

"Israel stands with the UAE. I stand with (Crown Prince) Mohammed bin Zayed. The world should stand against terrorists," Bennett tweeted.

In a letter addressed to bin Zayed, which Bennett posted on Twitter, he said that Israel is "committed to working closely" with the UAE against "extremist forces in the region," and promised to offer "security and intelligence support" to help prevent possible future attacks.

"I have ordered the Israeli security establishment to provide their counterparts in the UAE with any assistance, should you be interested," Bennett said. 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock attend a joint press conference following their talks in Moscow on Jan. 18, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry)

Moscow is currently waiting for a response to its proposal for security guarantees, Lavrov said.



MOSCOW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock met here Tuesday to discuss Moscow's proposal for security guarantees between Russia and the West, and the situation in Ukraine.

"We expressed concern over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s course aimed at containing Russia," Lavrov said during a press conference following the talks.

Moscow is currently waiting for a response to its proposal in order to continue the negotiations, the first round of which ended last week without any breakthrough, Lavrov said.

At the press conference, Baerbock noted that Germany is ready to conduct serious negotiations to reach agreements that would strengthen the European security.

Lavrov told Baerbock that relations between the European Union (EU) and Russia have become hostage to anti-Russian policies pursued by Brussels and some EU member countries.

As for the Ukrainian crisis, Lavrov and Baerbock shared the view that there is no alternative to the 2015 Minsk accords.

Lavrov underlined that it is unacceptable to shift the responsibility for the lack of progress in the implementation of the agreements to Russia.

Lavrov said that Moscow would not accept any kind of Western narratives or demands concerning the presence of Russian troops on its own territory.

In general, the Russian top diplomat called their meeting useful despite a divergence in views, and expressed Moscow's readiness for "comprehensive cooperation" with Germany's new government. 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (L) attend bilateral agreements signing ceremony after their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey, on Jan. 18, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

"Let's bring together three leaders of Bosnians, Croats and Serbs and accomplish this. We have come to this decision. This meeting may be in Belgrade, maybe in Istanbul," Erdogan said after a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in the capital Ankara.



ANKARA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Serbia have agreed to bring together leaders of Bosnians, Croats and Serbs in a bid to solve the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday.

"Let's bring together three leaders of Bosnians, Croats and Serbs and accomplish this. We have come to this decision. This meeting may be in Belgrade, maybe in Istanbul," Erdogan said after a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in the capital Ankara.

"After the elections in Serbia, we want to bring the leaders of this tripartite group together and hold a meeting where we can take steps to ensure the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the Turkish president said in a joint press conference with Vucic at the Turkish presidency.

We "strongly and decisively" confirmed the importance they attach to the peace and stability of the Balkans, Erdogan noted, adding "Serbia's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very important for the peace and stability of out region."

Elaborating on bilateral relations between Turkey and Serbia, Erdogan said the two countries increased their trade to 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2021 with an increase of 34 percent, noting their goal is to reach 5 billion dollars.

According to Erdogan, more than 1,300 Turkish companies operate in Serbia and employ about 8,000 people, and Turkey's total investments in Serbia have increased from 1 million dollars to 250 million dollars in the last decade.

For his part, Vucic stressed stability and security in the region and underlined the importance of the Dayton Accords signed on Dec. 14, 1995, in Paris that put an end to the three-and-a-half-year-long Bosnian war.

"I told President Erdogan that we are extremely respectful of the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Vucic said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been de facto divided into the Serb Republic and a Muslim federation dominated by Bosnians and Croats since 1995.

The Balkan country has seen a separatist push since Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the country's tripartite presidency, stepped up moves to weaken the country's central government. 
TRIPOLI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Buccino on Monday stressed the importance of Libya's stability for the Mediterranean region.

"Libya's stability is crucial for the stability of the Mediterranean region," Buccino was quoted as saying by a statement released by Libya's Foreign Ministry.

The Italian diplomat made the remarks during a meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush here on Monday, according to the statement.

The two officials also discussed recent developments in Libya, bilateral collaboration, and a variety of areas of mutual concern, including illegal migration, according to the statement.

Buccino pledged that his country would assist Libya's National Unity Government in achieving stability and security.

The two officials also discussed an initiative put forward by Mangoush to address illegal migration based on Libyan-international coordination, the statement added.

Since the fall of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the North African country has become a point of departure for illegal migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European ports.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 32,000 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in 2021. 
TUNIS Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia has strongly condemned Monday the attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which killed three people.

According to a statement released by the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Tunisia strongly condemns the attacks which targeted vital civilian sites in UAE's capital Abu Dhabi, causing human and material losses."

Tunisian Foreign Minister Othmen Jerandi expressed "Tunisia's full sympathy and solidarity with the UAE, and its absolute rejection of all attacks targeting the security and sovereignty of this brotherly country, as well as all threats that menace the stability of the whole region and constitute a flagrant violation of international law."

Earlier on Monday, UAE confirmed an explosion of three petroleum tankers near the storage facilities of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the Musaffah industrial district, in addition to a minor fire which broke out in the new construction area of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Yemen's Houthi militia have claimed responsibility for the attacks. 
RABAT, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Morocco on Monday condemned attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The king, government and people of Morocco strongly condemn the attacks perpetrated by the Houthi militia and their supporters against the Musaffah industrial region and the Abu Dhabi International Airport, the statement added.

Morocco expressed its "full solidarity with the brotherly State of the United Arab Emirates in defending the security of its territories and the safety of its citizens," it said.

The Abu Dhabi police announced that the explosion of three oil tankers caused by a fire on Monday morning has killed three people, one Pakistani and two Indians, and injured six others.

Yemen's Houthi militia have claimed responsibility for a military operation that struck areas inside UAE on Monday, while initial investigations also show the fires and explosion were possibly caused by drones in the area. 
CAIRO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1067 publishers from 51 countries will participate in the 53rd edition of Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) later this month, Egypt's Culture Minister Inas Abdel-Dayem said on Monday.

This year's book fair will be held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center from Jan. 26 to Feb. 7, with Greece as the guest of honor, the minister said at a press conference in the capital Cairo.

This edition will witness the launch of a digital-book project by the Egyptian General Book Authority, she said, adding the latest technology and artificial intelligence will be applied for the first time at the fair.

Established in 1969, the CIBF is considered the largest and oldest book fair in the Middle East and the second worldwide after Germany's Frankfurt Book Fair. 
TRIPOLI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned the Houthi rebels' attacks on facilities near Abu Dhabi's international airport and fuel trucks, as well as the recent hijacking of a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-flagged cargo ship.

"Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of National Unity condemns the attacks on Monday that targeted petroleum tankers in the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi, as well as facilities near Abu Dhabi international airport, killing a number of civilians," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, attacking civilians and critical infrastructure is a serious breach of international humanitarian law.

According to UAE's official WMA news agency, the explosion of three petroleum tankers triggered by a fire on Monday morning killed three persons, one Pakistani and two Indians, and injured six others.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a military operation that hit the UAE on Monday, with preliminary investigations indicating that the flames and explosions were likely triggered by drones.

The hijacking of a UAE-flagged cargo ship and its crew off the coast of Yemen's western port city of Hodeidah on January 2 was also condemned by Libya's Foreign Ministry on Monday.

"Such activities are regarded as a dangerous escalation of the conflict and will enhance the suffering of the Yemeni people," it said. 
TRIPOLI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Senior diplomats from Libya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday vowed to boost economic cooperation between the two countries, and collaborate in areas such as renewable energy and investment.

Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and the newly-appointed UAE Ambassador to Libya Mohamed Al Shamsi discussed issues of mutual cooperation during a meeting here on Monday, according to a statement provided by Libya's Foreign Ministry.

"During the meeting, (the two officials) stressed the importance of promoting economic cooperation, renewable energies, investment, activating the joint committee between the two countries, and leveraging UAE's development and rebuilding expertise," reads the statement.

Mohamed Al Shamsi pledged to support the Libyan government's efforts to achieve stability in the country, as well as his country's willingness to expand bilateral collaboration, according to the statement.

The two diplomats agreed to allow Libyan nationals to apply for UAE visas electronically, the statement added.

Most foreign embassies and missions in Libya had to evacuate the country due to years of war and instability.

Libya's Government of National Unity was formed in March of last year, bringing the north African country's years of political turmoil to an end. 
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Several people were injured when an explosion hit a passenger train in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday afternoon, local media and railway officials said.

The incident happened a few minutes after the train left the provincial capital of Quetta, an official with the media cell of the Pakistan Railways told Xinhua on condition of anonymity as they were still gathering details of the blast to compile the initial report.

He said that four compartments and the engine of the train derailed as the result of the explosion.

"A bomb was fixed near the track and it went off as soon as the train passed by it," he added.

According to local media reports, the incident left several people injured who have been shifted to a hospital in Quetta. 
WELLINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand is ready to assist Tonga in its recovery from recent undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami, senior government officials said on Tuesday.

"Following the successful surveillance and reconnaissance flight of a New Zealand P-3K2 Orion on Monday, imagery and details have been sent to relevant authorities in Tonga, to aid in decisions about what support is most needed," New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement.

"However, images show ashfall on the Nuku'alofa airport runway that must be cleared before a C-130 Hercules flight with humanitarian assistance can land," said Mahuta.

In the meantime, two Royal New Zealand Navy ships will depart New Zealand on Tuesday, she said, adding that communication issues caused by the eruption have made this disaster response particularly challenging.

The New Zealand government has taken the decision for both navy vessels HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa to sail so they can respond quickly if called upon by the Tongan government, she said.

"HMNZS Wellington will be carrying hydrographic survey and diving teams, as well as an SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopter. HMNZS Aotearoa will carry bulk water supplies and humanitarian and disaster relief stores," said Defense Minister Peeni Henare.

"Water is among the highest priorities for Tonga at this stage and HMNZS Aotearoa can carry 250,000 liters, and produce 70,000 liters per day through a desalination plant," Henare said.

The survey and diving teams are able to show changes to the seabed in the shipping channels and ports. They will also assess wharf infrastructure to assure the future delivery of aid and support from the sea, he said, adding that the journey for both ships will take three days and they will return to New Zealand if not required.

A C-130 Hercules aircraft is on standby to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief stores including collapsible water containers, generators and hygiene kits for families once the airport runway is cleared, according to the New Zealand Defense Force.

Other deployments are possible in the next few days, subject to Tongan government requests and permissions, and COVID-19 border rules, Mahuta said.

Tonga is currently free of COVID-19 and operates strict border controls to keep the virus out. All current support is being delivered in a contactless way. Officials are in discussions around long-term options for support, she added.

The New Zealand government has also allocated a further 500,000 New Zealand dollars (340,000 U.S. dollars) in humanitarian assistance, taking its initial funding total to 1 million New Zealand dollars.

Tsunami waves hit Tonga on Saturday. The tsunami followed a series of violent eruptions from underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, 65 km north of the country's main island Tongatapu.

New Zealand has pledged to provide support for Tonga following the volcanic eruption that sent tsunami waves crashing onto the Pacific island.

The tsunami had a significant impact on part of the foreshore of Tonga, with boats and large boulders washed ashore and shops along the coast damaged, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a media conference on Sunday.

Meanwhile, an Australian Air Force P8 Poseidon aircraft also reached Tonga on Monday. 
MOSCOW, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the situation concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian Monday.

The Iranian nuclear agreement was discussed in light of the eighth round of negotiations on the revival of the JCPOA that resumed in Vienna on Dec. 27, 2021, the ministry said in a statement.

In addition, both ministers covered bilateral ties and regional issues.

Since April last year, Iran and the major parties to the 2015 nuclear pact, namely Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, have held seven rounds of talks in Vienna on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal. The United States has been taking part in the talks indirectly.

The eighth round of negotiations began in Vienna on Dec. 27, and resumed on Jan. 3 this year.

Following talks in January, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said they "had gained momentum," adding that all parties demonstrated readiness to find solutions to the remaining problems. 
ROME, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Two more regions moved to an upper pandemic risk level in Italy on Monday, as health authorities signaled the wave of COVID-19 infections caused by Omicron variant might reach its peak soon.

Small northwest Aosta Valley turned orange, and the southern region of Campania turned yellow on the base of a specific ordinance signed by Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Friday night following the results of the latest pandemic monitoring survey.

This complied with the four-tiered system of red, orange, yellow, and white zones implemented in Italy since late 2020, which respectively denote a high, medium, lower-intermediate and low risk of virus transmission.

Currently, one region is in orange, 14 regions in yellow, and five in white nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Italian central government said it might consider changing the way new COVID-19 cases are counted in the country, as several regional governors have lately asked.

This request would imply a key change -- excluding people who test positive for COVID-19, but are vaccinated and asymptomatic, to the daily count of new cases.

Speranza told local media on Sunday that technical talks to consider this request would be launched soon, and a working table with governors would be opened in the next two weeks.

"The situation is not easy, and the number of infected people is still high, but hospital bed occupancy is lower (than in previous pandemic waves) thanks to the high vaccination rate," the health minister said.

"As the World Health Organization has also noted, we are nearing the peak ... after that, we will have to adjust our rules and our model to the new pandemic phase we are facing," he said.

According to the epidemiological survey unveiled by the National Health Institute on Friday, the Omicron variant accounted for some 81 percent of COVID-19 cases detected in Italy in early January, while the previous variant, Delta, was detected in 19 percent of cases. 
ROME, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- While the number of intensive-care-unit patients has been inching higher in recent weeks as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads in Italy, it has not approached levels seen during earlier waves yet.

But at least one patient, recently released from Rome's Spallanzani Hospital after more than two weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU), warns there is no reason people should drop their guard.

"I could have died, and at one point I thought I was going to die," Roberto, a 61-year-old government worker, told Xinhua.

"I didn't take the pandemic seriously enough and I paid the price," he said. "My doctors said I was lucky to recover completely."

Roberto, a grandfather of two, was vaccinated in March 2021, around three months after Italy first started vaccinating residents. But as infection rates fell to low levels during the summer of that year, he said he disregarded messages from regional health officials for a second dose.

When a new wave of the pandemic started to push infection rates higher again in September, Roberto said he intended to ask his doctor about a new vaccine dose but never got around to it.

"I was just being stupid," he recalled. "I would hear about people getting sick on the television news and I thought it wouldn't happen to me. I didn't go out much and I usually wore a mask. I only spent time with my daughter and grandsons and sometimes a coffee at the local bar. I thought I was safe. But I wasn't."

Roberto said he started feeling sniffles in early November. When they didn't go away after two or three days, he asked his doctor if he should get vaccinated.

The doctor told him to get a rapid antigen test for the virus first, and Roberto said his fears were realized: he tested positive for COVID-19.

He recalled that symptoms were stable at first -- sniffles and a dry cough. Soon he started to feel dehydrated and got headaches.

The discomfort kept him up at night, and soon it started to become difficult to breathe. A few times he struggled to take in new air.

"The doctor told me to go to the emergency room and I went thinking they'd give me something to feel better, but I ended up staying in Spallanzani for 16 days," Roberto said.

Roberto was hospitalized amid a new wave of the pandemic that has seen the number of ICU patients climb dramatically. According to official data released on Monday, there are more than 1,700 ICU patients in Italy.

That is far higher than the low point of fewer than 350 such patients as recently as late October, and the fewer than 200 in the summer of 2021, when Roberto decided against a second vaccine dose.

But the latest numbers are still less than half of the peaks of more than 4,000 in April 2020, or more than 3,500 per day in both November 2020 and in March and April 2021. Any number above 3,500, medical experts say, puts a major strain on Italy's public health system.

Fortunately, for Roberto, he appears to have recovered well. He floated in and out of consciousness for three of those days, he said, and then started improving quickly.

Later after that, Roberto got a clean bill of health and his daughter took him home. He said he is determined not to repeat the mistakes he made in the past.

"Right now, I have coronavirus antibodies and so I'm protected. But as soon as the doctor tells me it's time to get a vaccine, I'll be first in line," he said. "I have a new lease on life, and I want to make the most of it." 
OTTAWA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Canada reported 23,586 new COVID-19 cases Monday evening, raising its national total to 2,801,446 with 30,946 deaths, CTV reported.

Ontario, the most populous province in the country, reported 8,521 new cases and 22 deaths on Monday while Quebec, the second-most populous province, confirmed 5,400 new cases and 54 fatalities.

Kids and teens are among the rising number of Canadians being hospitalized with COVID-19 as Omicron infections keep surging across the country. Multiple hospitals have seen an uptick in young patients infected with the Omicron variant.

However, amid record-high COVID-19 case counts, millions of Canadian students headed back to school on Monday as four provinces -- Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia in the country -- worked to keep classrooms safe against the threats from the COVID-19 and the Omicron-driven staff shortages.

Deploying rapid antigen tests and upgrading air quality in schools are among the steps that the provincial governments said they've taken ahead of the return to class, with some of the work still underway.

Still, some parents and teachers unions voiced concerns that those efforts won't be enough to keep classrooms safe and ensure the operation of the schools.

On Monday, Canada authorized the use of Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid, the first oral and at-home prescription medication to be cleared for use in this country, which can be given to adults aged 18 and older to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. 
Islamabad :

Pakistan has approved a policy under which 30 per cent of the four- and tri-wheelers in the country would be converted into electric vehicles, a move that would help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and pollution. Federal Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam after a Cabinet meeting shared with media a detailed picture of how the government would implement the national Electric Vehicles (EV) policy, Dawn News reported.

According to the report, Aslam said the government had targeted 30 per cent of total number of vehicles in the country to turn them into electric cars. For this purpose, local car manufacturers had already completed 90 per cent of the work, he said.

I recently visited Karachi and was surprised to see that local car manufacturers are waiting for the Cabinets approval for the EV policy so that they can roll out their electric vehicles into the market, he said.

The minister said the EV policy would help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. In developed countries, the ratio of emissions of greenhouse gases from vehicles in total volume of environmental pollution is 20 per cent but here in Pakistan it is 40 per cent.

With introduction of electric cars, trucks, vans and even tri-wheeler rickshaws, the rate of pollution and smog will drop, he added.

Aslam said another advantage of the policy was affordable transportation as the cost of running electric vehicles was much lower than that of plying vehicles on petrol, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or other fuel.

He expressed the hope that the use of electric vehicles would help the government drastically cut import bill of oil, which was said to be USD 2 billion annually.

Another benefit of the policy is that it will boost local car industry and will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the country, the minister for climate change said.

He said more than 3,000 CNG stations in Pakistan, which had been lying closed due to gas shortage, could be converted into EV charging stations.

The minister said special units of electric car manufacturing would be set up in the under-construction Special Economic Zones being established under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Washington:

As a result of the more restrictive Trump Administration policies, denial rates for H-1B petitions have increased significantly from just six per cent in 2015 to 24 per cent in the third quarter of the current fiscal, a study carried out by an American think-tank has showen. The study by the National Foundation for American Policy, based on data received from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS, also reflects that denial rate for H-1B visas is highest among major Indian IT companies, thus giving credence to charges that Indian companies are being unduly targeted by the current administration.

For instance, the denial rate of H-1B petitions for initial employment for Amazon, Microsoft, Intel and Google in 2015 was just one per cent. In 2019, the same increased respectively to six, eight, seven and three per cent. The denial rate for Apple remained the same at two per cent.

During the same period, the denial rate jumped from four per cent to 41 per cent for Tech Mahindra, from six per cent to 34 per cent for Tata Consultancy Services, from seven per cent to 53 per cent for Wipro and from just two per cent to 45 per cent for Infosys, the study showed.

At least 12 companies that provide professional or IT services to other US companies, including Accenture, Capgemini and others, had denial rates of over 30 per cent through the first three quarters of fiscal 2019. Most of these companies had denial rates between two per cent and seven per cent as recently as in 2015, it said.

The denial rate for H-1B petitions for continuing employment was also high for Indian IT companies. For Tech Mahindra, it increased from two per cent to 16 per cent during the same period, while that of Wipro increased from four per cent to 19 per cent, and Infosys from one per cent to 29 per cent, the study showed.

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On the other hand, the denial rates for H-1B petitions for continuing employment among major American companies were low, Amazon (from one per cent to three per cent), Microsoft (remained at two per cent), Intel (from one per cent to three per cent), Apple (remained at one per cent) and for Google, it increased from 0.4 per cent in 2015 to one per cent in 2019.

Noting that between 2015 and 2019, the denial rate for new H-1B petitions for initial employment quadrupled from six to 24 per cent, the National Foundation for American Policy said to put this in perspective, between 2010 and 2015, the denial rate for initial H-1B petitions never exceeded eight per cent, while today the rate is three times higher.

A key goal of the Trump administration, achieved through memos and policy changes, has been to make it more difficult for well-educated foreign nationals to work in America in science and engineering fields, the foundation said.

In the first three quarters of fiscal 2019, US Citizenship and Immigration Services adjudicators denied 24 per cent of H-1B petitions for initial employment and 12 per cent of H-1B petitions for continuing employment, it said.

The 12 per cent denial rate for continuing employment is also historically high. It was only three per cent in 2015, the think-tank said.

Based on how the agency processes cases, this data suggests the environment has not improved for employers, Lynden Melmed, a partner at Berry Appleman & Leiden and former chief counsel for USCIS, said.

Cream of the crop cases would have been approved during that time period, but cases where the government issued a Request for Evidence would likely not show up in that data set because they would not be decided until much later, he said.

A research by Britta Glennon, assistant professor at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, found that restrictive H-1B policies could not only be exporting more jobs and businesses to countries like Canada, but they also could be making the USs innovative capacity fall behind.

In response to being unable to hire high-skilled foreign nationals, US companies increase their hiring overseas, which causes more innovation by foreign nationals to take place in other countries, benefiting those nations, the think-tank said. H-1B visa restrictions, such as those now being implemented by the administration, push jobs outside the United States and lead to less innovation in America, it said.

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New Delhi:

Even as the stalemate over government formation continues in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Wednesday. He is a senior leader of the state and the country. He is worried about the political situation in Maharashtra today. We had a brief discussion, Raut was quoted as saying after meeting Pawar. This is the second time the two leaders have met. The first meeting was after the Maharashtra Assembly poll results, which sparked rumours of new alliance between the NCP and the Shiv Sena.

Raut had met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence. Raut confirmed after the meeting that the politics in Maharashtra were discussed between the two leaders. "Met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar at his residence today. I had come to wish him on the occasion of Diwali. We also discussed the politics in Maharashtra," the Shiv Sena MP said. Sena has asked the BJP to follow the '50:50 power-sharing formula', claiming that it had been agreed to before the 2019 Lok Sabha election. However, Chief Minister Fadnavis has said that there was no agreement on the 50:50 formula.

While Sena is seeking the chief ministers post, the BJP has said that it would not compromise on the top executive job in the state. The meeting comes hours after Raut described as rumours reports that his party has softened its stand on the issue of sharing power in Maharashtra with ruling alliance partner BJP.

The Wednesday meeting comes ahead of Pawars crucial press conference in Mumbai. The meeting gains significance as earlier in the week, Pawar had met Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. However, Gandhi didnt exactly warm up to the idea of forming government in Maharashtra along with the NCP.

There has been no headway in government formation after results of the state Assembly polls were declared on October 24 in which the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena-56, NCP- 54 and Congress-44. Raut, who is a Rajya Sabha member, earlier said his party was firm on a written assurance from the senior alliance partner over power sharing, including rotation of the chief minister's post for two-and-a-half years.
New Delhi:

The sensational malware attack targeting the master domain of the Kudankulam nuclear plant, which came out in public on October 28, was reportedly carried out by hackers based in North Korea. The proof of the involvement of the North Korean hackers have been posted on social media by an intelligence group working in South Korea. Identifying itself as Issue Makers Lab, the non-profit organisation took to twitter to share the information about the malware attack on the Kudankulam plant. North Korea's Kimsuky Group attempted to steal information on the latest design of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, an Indian design for a next-generation nuclear reactor that burns thorium into the fuel core. They attacked many Indian nuclear physicists, the Issue Makers Lab tweeted.

Explaining the reason behind the cyber-attack, the Issue Makers Lab said that, North Korea has been interested in the thorium based nuclear power, which to replace the uranium nuclear power. India is a leader in thorium nuclear power technology. Since last year, North Korean hackers have continuously attempted to attack to obtain that information.

The South Korean intelligence group has been sharing critical information from its twitter handle. However, India has not officially reacted on the situation. Now, a report by The Indian Express said that not only Kudankulam, the ISRO was also on target. In fact, back in September, the space agency was also alerted about possible hacking.

The reports about hacking of Kudankulam servers surfaced on Twitter in last week of October. After vehement denials, India officially confirmed about the attack on October 30.

Identification of malware in NPCIL system is correct. The matter was conveyed by CERt-In when it was noticed by them on September 4, 2019. The matter was immediately investigated by DAE specialist. the investigation revealed that the infected PC belonged to a user who was connected in the internet connected network used for administrative purposes. This is isolated from the critical internal network. The networks are being continuously monitored. Investigation also confirms that the plant systems are not affected, the NPCIL statement said.

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Bokaro (Jharkhand):

A man was lynched and another was seriously injured when a group of people thrashed them for allegedly stealing the battery of a truck in Bokaro district on Wednesday, a senior police official said in Bokaro. Five people have been arrested in connection with the incident which took place at Govindpur village, Bokaro superintendent of police P Murugan said.

Of the two who were thrashed one died on the spot, while the other was admitted to hospital in a serious condition.

Five persons, including a woman were arrested after an FIR was filed against them for murder, attempt to murder and conspiracy under sections of the Indian Penal Code.

They were produced before a local court later in the day and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

A number of lynchings have been reported from Jharkhand and opposition parties had even said that state had become a lynching factory. Chief Minister Raghubar Das had urged the people to refrain from taking law into their hands.

A meat trader was lynched in June 2017 over the suspicion that he was carrying beef in his car and a Muslim youth Tabrez Ansari, accused of stealing a motorcycle, was beaten up by a mob in Seraikela Kharswan district in June this year year. He died later and a video had showed that he was purportedly made to chant Jai Shri Ram and Jai Hanuman.

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New Delhi:

In an ongoing power tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena over the formation of next Maharashtra government, Senas senior leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday gave a stern warning to the alliance partner BJP and said that they have the numbers to make their own chief minister.

While addressing the media after meeting the governor, Sanjay Raut said that the party will show the numbers on the floor of the house. We have alternatives, we don't speak without options and alternatives, Raut said.

Raut also advised BJP to form the government if they have the numbers. If you don't have the numbers then admit it. Constitution is for the people of this country, it is not BJP's personal property. We know the constitution well. We'll form CM of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra constitutionally Raut added.

Sanjay Raut earlier accused the BJP of delaying the process of government formation in Maharashtra and creating a situation for the imposition of Presidents rule.

Addressing a press conference, he said the BJP should declare that it is unable to form the government and then the Shiv Sena will take further steps. Reiterating the Shiv Senas demand for sharing the chief ministers post, he said the states CM will be from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party only.

You will know on the floor of the House. We have the numbers, he claimed.

Why did the BJP leaders who met the governor today did not stake claim? Why did they return empty-handed? They want to create a situation for the imposition of Presidents rule. The BJP does not have the numbers, he said.

Downplaying the Senas decision to shift all its MLAs to a hotel in suburban Bandra, Raut said, Not all legislators have homes in Mumbai. So, the party has decided to ensure they get facilities under one roof.

After Thackeray chaired a meeting of the Sena MLAs at his residence here, all the legislators were shifted to Rangsharda Hotel in suburban Bandra, amid the political uncertainty and fear of cross over.

Raut also said that there is no change in the Shiv Senas stand on government formation and all the legislators support Uddhav Thackeray.

Raut criticised state minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar for saying that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is like a Shiv Sainik.

If you think you are from the Shiv Sena, behave like one. For the Shiv Sena, the given word is very important. For us it is like pran jaaye par vachan na jaaye (promise has greater value than life), he said.

The BJP should show it has 145 MLAs in its support and form the government, he said.

When you say the mandate is for Mahayuti, the mandate is also for what was agreed upon when the alliance was formalised. The mandate is for having a Shiv Sena chief minister, he said.

Earlier in the morning, Raut said there have been no talks yet between RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uddhav Thackeray on government formation in the state.

He also expressed confidence that MLAs of the Sena, and the opposition Congress and NCP would not cross sides.

The BJP and Shiv Sena are locked in a tussle over the issue of the chief ministers post, resulting in a stalemate in government formation despite results of the October 21 Assembly polls giving the alliance a combined seat strength of 161, way past the 145 majority mark in the 288-member House.

In the polls, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena-56, NCP-54 and the Congress won 44 seats.
New Delhi:

ISIS-Khorasan, which is active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, had tried to carry out a suicide attack in India, Russel Travers, Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of Director of National Intelligence told US lawmakers on Tuesday. In fact, Travers said that of all the branches of the Islamic State, the US is most concerned about ISIS-K.

Responding to question from Indian-origin Senator Maggie Hassan, Travers said, Of all of the branches and networks of ISIS, ISIS-K is certainly one of those of most concern, probably in the neighbourhood of 4,000 individuals or so.

"They have attempted to certainly inspire attacks outside of Afghanistan. They attempted last year to conduct a suicide attack in India. It failed," he said when prodded about the ISIS-Ks ability to launch attacks in the region.

Hassan had travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan last month, during which she said she heard firsthand the concerns of the US military about the growing and very real threat of ISIS-K, the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan. "I heard clearly that ISIS-K threatens not only US forces in Afghanistan, but also has designs on striking the US homeland," she said.

Also Read | Abu Bakr-al Baghdadi's Remains Disposed Of In Accordance With Law Of Armed Conflict: Pentagon

Last week, Travers had said that there were more than 20 ISIS branches globally, some of which are using sophisticated technology such as drones to conduct operations. Despite Americas key victories against the ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the terror outfit remains a deadly threat to the United States, Senator Hassan said.

Recently, the United States had announced that ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed himself by detonating a suicide vest he was wearing during special raid by the US troops in Idlib. A day after the confirmation of Baghdadis death, US President Donald Trump claimed to have eliminated his most-likely successor Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir.

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

Gold Medals are won for many reasons, however, this time the medal is not awarded to a school topper or an Olympic winner but to a proud Mother from Kazakhstan for having more than seven children. Yes, Kazakhstan is one among many countries that encourages its residents to have large families. Nevertheless, this country has moved way too far and has decided to promote child birth by passing a wired law. The law says that any mother who gives birth to more than 7 children will be awarded a gold medal.

The Government of Kazakhstan awards a silver and gold medal for mothers having 6 and 7 or more children, and honors them with the title of Hero Mothers. The story doesnt stop here as these mothers are also eligible to get a months complete expenditure from the government.

One such Hero Mother is Roshan Kozomkulova. She lives in Kazakhstan and has become the mother of 10 children. She has both Silver and Gold medals. She is proud to have eight girls and two boys. Interestingly, it is great sight to see them dine together as well. After the gold medal, she also becomes entitled for government allowances throughout her life.

Another Proud Mother from Kazakhstan is Baktigul Halikbeva who has six children and is bestowed with a silver medal. She is also paid every month by the government. Her eldest son is 18 years old. Meanwhile, mothers who are unable to win the medals can also get financial support from Kazakhstan Government. Every family with 4 children is paid allowances by the government until the child becomes 21 years old.

Aksana Elusezova, Department of Labour and Social Programs of Kazakhstan has said that Kazakhstan Government Policy promotes child birth in the country and encourages every mother to have more children.

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New Delhi:

Ex-Congress chief and current Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi took a sharp wipe at the Narendra Modi government on the occasion of third anniversary of the demonetisation. On November 8 in 2016, Prime Minister Modi announced the note ban to aid Indias fight against black money, corruption and terror funding. Its 3 yrs since the Demonetisation terror attack that devastated the Indian economy, taking many lives, wiping out lakhs of small businesses & leaving millions of Indians unemployed. Those behind this vicious attack have yet to be brought to justice, Gandhi said in a tweet on Friday.

The Congress party also slammed the BJP government terming the note ban as devastating exercise. Three years after #Demonetisation the pain & fear still lingers in people's lives & the devastating effect on the economy reverberates through every sector. Does the BJP govt have the courage to accept their faults?

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also hit out at Prime Minister Modi for the demonetisation move, describing him as "today's Tughlaq". "Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq rendered the country's currency useless in the year 1330. Today's Tughlaq did the same on November 8, 2016," he said in a tweet. "3 years have passed and the country is suffering because- economy collapsed, employment lost. Neither terrorism stopped, nor the business of fake notes," he said, and asked who is responsible.

The demonetisation was hailed as a step that would curb black money, corruption and check counterfeit currency, but the RBI, in its annual report for 2017, had said just 7.1 pieces of Rs 500 note per million in circulation and 19.1 pieces of Rs 1,000 notes per million in circulation were found to be fake in its sample survey

The Bankers' Bank had said that as much as 99 per cent of the junked Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had returned to the banking system, which had prompted the opposition to question the efficacy of the government's unprecedented note ban decision to curb black money and corruption

Following the note ban, old notes were allowed to be deposited in banks, with unusual deposits coming under the Income Tax department's scrutiny

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Mumbai:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the government will soon use its strong electoral mandate to usher in the next wave of reforms, and not to miss the bus this time. Without naming the reform measures unsuccessfully attempted by the Modi government in its first term, and in an apparent hint at land acquisition reform attempts by NDA1, she said government's efforts last time were thwarted by the poor numbers in the Upper House.

It can be noted that many analysts have been calling for urgent reforms in the factor markets, especially regarding land and labour, to get the economy out of the trough, citing the strong political mandate the government enjoys. "...I am sure we will now show the commitment for reforms happens fast. That is where the mandate given to Modi 2.0 will help," Sitharaman said, speaking at The Indian Express' 'Adda'.

"We will push forward with those reforms which have missed the bus last time, but won't miss the bus now," the minister asserted. Her comments come on the heels of the BJP failing to improve its tally in the just concluded Maharashtra and

Haryana elections despite the party playing the nationalism card to the full. Many pollsters have opined that hard economic realities such as the deepening agrarian crisis and rising joblessness have trumped the nationalism card of the ruling BJP in both the states.

When asked whether economics has trumped politics in the recent elections, she it is not possible for any political party, particularly those in power, to delink any subject. "It is not possible for any government, be it at the Centre or in the states, to say give me your vote on nationalism and I do not want to talk about economic issues.

Is the voter going to be indulgent enough to say 'alright, the prime minister doesn't want to talk about economy so we won't talk about the economy'," she said. Hitting out at those who blocked government from carrying out reforms in its first term, she admitted that the numbers were limited (in the Upper House) and the country paid the price for that.

She said the manufacturing sector competitiveness is still pulled down by "extraneous" factors such as high cost for land, electricity and also changes in land use, which are beyond the ambit of individual companies, but which the government now wants to ease them all.

"Everything has a long way to go in terms of becoming actually easy to do business," she said. With dozens of companies leaving China and opening shops in other emerging countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh following the US-China trade wars, Sitharaman said the government has created a list of potential players who will be tapped and added that some conversations are already on in this regard.

She also pointed out Vietnam's weaknesses, including a saturation in its labour market and also low domestic demand due to its low population base and pointed to the huge domestic market that our 1.34 billion population offers.

About companies to committing new investments and using the space created by the corporate tax cut for deleveraging, she said it is fine for a corporate to use the space for the purposes it wishes and exuded confidence that over the long-term, they will invest.

"I would not say deleveraging is wrong, if you want to come out of some stress," she said.

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New Delhi:

In a veiled reference to the massive protest led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), the Pakistan Army on Wednesday said that it was too busy in matters of national security to get involved in any political issue. Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor in an interview to Hum News said that army had nothing to do with the politics of sit-ins.

We are too busy in matters of national security and defence to become involved in things like these and respond to these allegations, he said.

He rejected the impression that army was against the government when Imran Khan staged a similar sit-in in 2014 and said that the military had supported the government.

Ghafoor also rejected Armys meddling in the electoral process.

It neither has any role in the countrys electoral process nor has it any desire to do so, he said.

The protesters led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been demanding Khan's resignation, accusing him of "rigging" the 2018 general elections. The crowd further swelled in Islamabad, as supporters of opposition parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People Party (PPP), joined the anti-government protest rally.

Rehman launched the "Azadi March" along with leaders of other opposition parties on October 27 from the southern Sindh province.

Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have made elaborate security arrangements to control the sea of protesters. Main roads have been completely or partially blocked by placing shipping containers. Barbed wires have been used as hurdles to prevent protesters if they try to move towards the Red Zone that includes key official buildings and diplomatic enclave.

Additional police and paramilitary personnel have also been deployed in Islamabad to prevent any violence. The government deployed army personnel in sensitive places in the capital.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has already denounced the protest, saying that the opposition parties were trying to blackmail him. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party alleged that the protest was promoted by the PML-N and the PPP to force the government to release its top leaders, currently held in jails. Khan and his party has ruled out his resignation but showed readiness to accept any other demand to improve election system or system of governance.

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New Delhi:

Amid ongoing tussle between Shiv Sena and BJP over government formation in Maharashtra, Sanjay Raut on Wednesday dropped a major hint suggesting that the alliance between the two parties might end soon. Raut, while addressing the media this evening said, We met Maharashtra Governor, Republican Party of Indias Ramdas Athawale also met him. And if BJP leaders are meeting Governor tomorrow, to stake claim then they should form government as they are the single largest party, we have been saying it.

Earlier, Raut claimed there was a consensus between the BJP and his party before the Maharashtra Assembly elections on sharing the chief ministers post.

Amid the stalemate continuing over government formation in the state, Raut told reporters here that no fresh proposal has been received from the BJP or sent to it.

He claimed farmers and the working class want a Shiv Sena chief minister and have hopes and expectations from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. To a question on when there would be a consensus on the chief ministers post, the Rajya Sabha member said, There was a consensus on the post before elections.

Ruling out any new proposal for government formation, Raut reiterated that the Shiv Sena expects implementation of what was decided and agreed upon before the elections. Why waste time on new proposals. We want a discussion on what was agreed upon earlier. No new proposal has been received or sent, he said.

On the possibility of imposition of Presidents rule in the state, Raut said, We will not be responsible for it. Those conspiring to do this are insulting the peoples mandate.

He said wherever Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray, who won the state polls from Worli seat in Mumbai, were touring to review crop losses due to unseasonal rains, the farmers and working class were looking at the party with hopes and expectations.

All are eager to have chief minister from the Shiv Sena, he said. Raut refused to respond to a question on whether the NCP has agreed to share the chief ministers post.

We will talk about it, he said. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Tuesday said a political alternative can be worked out in the state if the Shiv Sena declared that it had snapped ties with the BJP.

Sources in the NCP said their party wants Arvind Sawant, the lone Shiv Sena minister in the Union government, to resign before going ahead further with the Sena. There has been no headway in government formation after results of the state polls were declared on October 24.

The BJP, which won 105 seats, and the Shiv Sena, which bagged 56 seats, are locked in a bitter tussle over sharing of the chief ministers post and ministerial portfolios in new government, even 13 days after the Assembly poll verdict handed them enough seats to cobble up a coalition government.

They won 161 seats together in the 288-member House, much above the halfway mark of 145. Besides, the opposition NCP won 54 seats while the Congress got 44 seats.
Washington:

The United States has announced the increase of H-1B work visa application fee by USD 10 as part of its revised selection process. This non-refundable fee will support the new electronic registration system to make the H-1B cap selection process more efficient for both petitioners and the federal agency, said the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday. "This effort will help implement a more efficient and effective H-1B cap selection process," said USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli.

"The electronic registration system is part of an agency-wide initiative to modernise our immigration system while deterring fraud, improving vetting procedures and strengthening program integrity," he said. The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.

Upon implementation of the electronic registration system, petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, will first have to electronically register with the USCIS during a designated registration period, unless the requirement is suspended, the USCIS said. The federal agency is slated to implement the registration process for the fiscal year 2021 H-1B cap selection process, pending completed testing of the system.

It will announce the implementation timeframe and initial registration period in the federal register once a formal decision has been made, and the USCIS will offer ample notice to the public in advance of implementing the registration requirement.

The USCIS published a notice of proposed rulemaking highlighting a registration fee on September 4, 2019, which included a 30-day public comment period.

The USCIS received only 22 comments during that time, and has considered all submissions and offered public responses ahead of announcing the final rule, which is effective on December 9.

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Washington:

More than four decades after beginning its epic journey, NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft has crossed the elusive boundary that marks the edge of the Sun's realm and the start of interstellar space, scientists have announced. According to the researchers at the University of Iowa in the US, Voyager 2 has entered the interstellar medium (ISM), the region of space outside the bubble-shaped boundary produced by wind streaming outward from the Sun. This makes Voyager 2 the second human-made object to journey out of the Sun's influence, following the US space agency's Voyager 1's solar exit in 2012.

The study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, confirmed Voyager 2's passage on November 5, 2018, into the ISM by noting a definitive jump in plasma density detected by a plasma wave instrument on the spacecraft.

The marked increase in plasma density is evidence of Voyager 2 journeying from the hot, lower-density plasma characteristic of the solar wind to the cool, higher-density plasma of interstellar space, the researchers said.

It is also similar to the plasma density jump experienced by Voyager 1 when it crossed into interstellar space, they said.

"In a historical sense, the old idea that the solar wind will just be gradually whittled away as you go further into interstellar space is simply not true," said Professor Don Gurnett from the University of Iowa, and corresponding author on the study.

"We show with Voyager 2 -- and previously with Voyager 1 -- that there's a distinct boundary out there. It's just astonishing how fluids, including plasmas, form boundaries," Gurnett said.

Voyager 2's entry into the ISM occurred at 119.7 astronomical units (AU), or more than 11 billion miles from the Sun. Voyager 1 passed into the ISM at 122.6 AU.

The spacecraft were launched within weeks of each other by NASA in 1977, with different mission goals and trajectories through space. Yet they crossed into the ISM at basically the same distances from the Sun.

That gives valuable clues to the structure of the heliosphere -- the bubble, shaped much like a wind sock, created by the Sun's wind as it extends to the boundary of the solar system, the researchers said.

"It implies that the heliosphere is symmetric, at least at the two points where the Voyager spacecraft crossed," said Bill Kurth, University of Iowa research scientist and a co-author on the study.

"That says that these two points on the surface are almost at the same distance," Kurth said.

"There's almost a spherical front to this. It's like a blunt bullet," Gurnett added.

Data from the instrument on Voyager 2 also gives additional clues to the thickness of the heliosheath, the outer region of the heliosphere and the point where the solar wind piles up against the approaching wind in interstellar space, which Gurnett likens to the effect of a snowplow on a city street.

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New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed an application by the police seeking permission to lodge an FIR against lawyers in the Saket District Court incident.

Police protests were triggered by two attacks on their colleagues, one on Monday outside Saket District Court and another on Saturday at the Tis Hazari Courts Complex after a parking dispute between an on-duty policeman and a lawyer which led to at least 20 security personnel and several advocates being injured.

The Delhi High Court also said there is no need to clarify its November 3 order in the lawyers-police clash at Tis Hazari Courts Complex as it is self-explanatory.

A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar disposed of the Centre's applications seeking clarification and review of the order which said no coercive action be taken against advocates should not be applicable on the subsequent incidents.

The detailed order is awaited.

The hearing was held in a jam-packed courtroom.

The Centre, in its application, had urged the court to clarify that its November 3 order creates no impediment in taking action against any further illegalities.

After the November 3 order, an on-duty policeman and a civilian were allegedly thrashed by advocates outside Saket Court on Monday and on Tuesday, two separate FIRs were lodged by the police in this regard.

Lawyers in all the six district courts here abstained from work for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, protesting against the clash between advocates and the police at the Tis Hazari Courts Complex on November 2, and denied access to litigants in some courts.
New Delhi:

In a setback to Nirav Modi, a UK court on Wednesday rejected a new bail application of the fugitive diamond merchant, who is fighting extradition to India on charges of nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case.

Dressed in a blue sweater and freshly shaved, the 48-year-old was produced before Westminster Magistrates' Court in London to make another attempt at being let out on bail until his trial in May next year.

Judge Emma Arbuthnot rejected his bail application despite Modi's offer to double security from 2 million pounds to 4 million pounds.

Modi was looking distinctly healthier than his previous appearance before the same court earlier this year. He reportedly claimed anxiety and depression in his latest application, with earlier bail applications at the court being rejected by Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot, and then also on appeal at the High Court in London, as he was deemed a flight risk.

His legal team has previously described their client's experience in prison as ?damaging? and offered stringent electronic tag and other conditions akin to house arrest at his posh Centrepoint apartment in the West End of London in an attempt to persuade the judge to grant bail.

In June, Modi's legal team took his appeal against that ruling to the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where a judge was told about the diamond merchant's troubled state of mind in "confidential" documents.

Modi has been behind bars at Wandsworth prison since his arrest on March 19 on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard on charges brought by the Indian government.

During subsequent hearings, Westminster Magistrates' Court was told that Modi was the "principal beneficiary" of the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) as part of a conspiracy to defraud PNB and then laundering the proceeds of crime.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

In a fresh appeal, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police (Crime) Satish Golcha urged protesting policemen to end stir and resume duty, while assuring them a review petition will be filed against the Delhi High Court order in connection with a clash between cops and lawyers at the Tis Hazari Courts Complex.

Addressing the protesting policemen, Golcha said the injured policemen will get an ex-gratia of at least Rs 25,000. He urged policemen to end stir and resume duties.

The Union Home Ministry is also closely monitoring the situation in Delhi. The Centre has received a report from the Delhi Police on Saturday's clash in which at least 20 security personnel and several advocates were injured.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in Delhi. A judicial inquiry has been ordered. Let us wait for the outcome of the inquiry," the official said.

The inquiry was ordered by the Delhi High Court on Sunday and the report has to be submitted within six weeks.

The factual report of Delhi Police was submitted incorporating the details of the Tis Hazari court incident. It is a factual report in which Delhi Police has given details of the circumstances leading to Saturday's incident and the action taken after it, a Home Ministry official said.

However, the report does not cover what happened after Saturday, including an incident on Monday in which a group of lawyers assaulted a policeman outside the Saket court, he said.

Following the incidents, hundreds of police personnel gathered in protest outside the police headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Holding placards that read "We are human in police uniforms" and "Protectors Need Protection", the protesting police personnel gathered outside the police headquarters at ITO and urged their seniors to stand with them to save the honour of the uniform.

Family members of the policemen were also joined the protesting police personnel later in the day.

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik urged protesting police personnel to return to work and said they should behave like a "disciplined force".

"The government and the people expect us to uphold the law, it is our big responsibility. I urge you to resume duty," Patnaik told the police personnel, adding that their concerns will be addressed.
New Delhi:

Putting all speculations at rest, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said that the Nationalist Congress Party will not join Shiv Sena in forming government in Maharashtra. Addressing media in Mumbai, the NCP chief said that the people have mandated his party to sit in the Opposition and he will go by that. He said that its pertinent that the BJP and Shiv Sena form the government at the earliest. He also took a dig at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and said that, even I want to know how he (Raut) will get 170. Pawar also refuted the reports that he was considering the option of taking up the top job in Maharashtra. Been Chief Minister for four times, not keen on taking up this job again, Pawar said.

Earlier in the day, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Wednesday. He is a senior leader of the state and the country. He is worried about the political situation in Maharashtra today. We had a brief discussion, Raut was quoted as saying after meeting Pawar. This is the second time the two leaders have met. The first meeting was after the Maharashtra Assembly poll results, which sparked rumours of new alliance between the NCP and the Shiv Sena.

Raut had met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence. Raut confirmed after the meeting that the politics in Maharashtra were discussed between the two leaders. "Met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar at his residence today. I had come to wish him on the occasion of Diwali. We also discussed the politics in Maharashtra," the Shiv Sena MP said. Sena has asked the BJP to follow the '50:50 power-sharing formula', claiming that it had been agreed to before the 2019 Lok Sabha election. However, Chief Minister Fadnavis has said that there was no agreement on the 50:50 formula.

While Sena is seeking the chief ministers post, the BJP has said that it would not compromise on the top executive job in the state. The meeting comes hours after Raut described as rumours reports that his party has softened its stand on the issue of sharing power in Maharashtra with ruling alliance partner BJP.

The Wednesday meeting comes ahead of Pawars crucial press conference in Mumbai. The meeting gains significance as earlier in the week, Pawar had met Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. However, Gandhi didnt exactly warm up to the idea of forming government in Maharashtra along with the NCP.

There has been no headway in government formation after results of the state Assembly polls were declared on October 24 in which the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena-56, NCP- 54 and Congress-44. Raut, who is a Rajya Sabha member, earlier said his party was firm on a written assurance from the senior alliance partner over power sharing, including rotation of the chief minister's post for two-and-a-half years.
New Delhi:

Petrol Rate, Diesel Rate Today (November 6): Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged on Wednesday, November 6. According to the fuel price data available on the website of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Oil Market Companies (OMC) made no change in the automotive fuel rates today. According to the IOCL website, petrol prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai were Rs 72.60, Rs 78.28, Rs 75.45 and Rs 75.32 per litre respectively. Diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai remained at Rs 65.75, Rs 68.96, Rs 69.50 and Rs 68.16 per litre respectively. In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 74.41 a litre, while diesel price reduced to Rs 66.06 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 72.61 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 65.10 a litre.

City Delhi Mumbai Chennai Kolkata Noida Gurugram Petrol Rate 72.60 78.28 75.45 75.32 74.41 72.61 Diesel Rate 65.75 68.96 69.50 68.16 66.06 65.10

Get Petrol, Diesel Rates Via SMS

You can check the latest rate of petrol and diesel via SMS. IOC customers can send RSP to 9224992249, BPCL users can message RSP at 9223112222 and HPCL customers can send HPPRICE to 9222201122 for the latest prices.

CNG Prices In Delhi, Noida and Gurugram

The price of CNG is Rs 45.20 a kg in Delhi this month. The price of CNG is Rs 51.35 a kg in Noida while CNG is priced at Rs 58.50 per kg in Gurugram. To promote CNG fuelling at night, IGL will also offer a discount of Rs 1 per kg on selling prices of CNG for filling between 12 am to 6 am at select outlets.

Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Change Every Day?

The fuel prices are in India are revised daily. Petrol and diesel prices are revised every day at 06:00 am to sync it with the variation in global oil prices. Oil marketing companies (OMC) review the global fuel prices and decide petrol and diesel daily. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum release the new rates at 6 am every morning. Generally, when international crude oil prices gain, prices in India move higher. Other factors also impact the price of fuel like rupee to US dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil, global cues, demand for fuel, and so on.

Why Fuel Prices Differ In Every City?

Price of fuel includes excise duty, value-added tax (VAT), and dealer commission. As VAT varies from state to state, the price of fuel is different in every city.

(Disclaimer: This information is based on external sources and News Nation is not responsible for any difference in the rates)

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DHAKA; Bangladesh's ruling party, the Awami League (AL), has called for taking the necessary steps to ensure that voters at all levels, including minorities, can vote freely in elections.

On Monday, the party leaders recommended implementing a new law reorganising the Election Commission (EC). They also supported for the strengthening of the EC and the use of technologies such as electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections to ensure that they are free, fair, and credible. The idea was presented during President M. Abdul Hamid's discussion of the EC reconstitution with political parties in Bangabhaban.

Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister and President of the ruling party, led a 10-member AL team to the talks. "Because there is no explicit statute, the President is not bound by any other regulation than the Constitution when appointing the CEC and other EC members under Article 118. However, in order to respect the spirit of the Constitution, a statute defining an individual's eligibility and disqualifications while serving as the CEC and commissioners must be enacted "the proposal stated

According to one of the four ideas presented to the President by AL, a new law may be adopted to appoint the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other commissioners in compliance with Article 118 of the Constitution.

China is not deterring its antics, now created 'artificial moon'

Beijing airports expect 6.58 mln passengers over Spring Festival season

China expects trip surge during Spring Festival travel season
From whether to keep the courthouse open to where to source masks, local governments were scrambling in the initial pandemic upheaval. So officials across Indiana turned to a source they already relied on for unbiased, research-based and timely information.

Purdue Extensions On Local Government is a resource for elected officials and community leaders in large cities and small towns alike. Through its website, webinars and regional programs, the program focuses on legislative and financial issues that impact local government.

On Local Government also quickly became a clearinghouse for materials to help local governments function during the pandemic. We realized pretty early on our local governments were hungry for information on how the pandemic would impact their operations and economics, says Tamara Ogle, Purdue Extension Community Development Regional Educator.

In the beginning stages of the public health emergency, we needed to know how to keep our employees safe while interacting with the public, says Debbie Driskell, Delaware Township Trustee in Hamilton County and executive director of the Indiana Township Association (ITA).

With the help of five organizational partners  Driskells ITA, the Indiana Library Federation, Indiana School Boards Association, Accelerate Indiana Municipalities and Association of Indiana Counties  On Local Government became a hub of educational resources for local governments working to keep their communities healthy, safe and well-informed.

Purdue Extension has the infrastructure to do a whole lot of things that units of government couldnt do on their own, Driskell notes. One of those was to facilitate virtual regional roundtables that brought together local officials  mayors, school superintendents, city council members, county commissioners and others  to share problems and solutions. As many as 30 people from eastern counties accepted invitations to attend discussions co-led by Cheri Brown, Blackford County Extension Director and Area 7 Director Molly Hunt.

Extension is education, number one, and that was a time when our communities desperately wanted to learn, Brown says.

We brought information to each of those conversations from On Local Government; then came the sharing, she adds. Everyone had questions, but some people were finding answers. It took on a life of its own because everyone there was a resource."

We really used the power of community.
Shutterstock.com

Youve saved up some money and youre ready to start a home remodeling project. Whether the updates are to prepare your home for the market or simply for your own pleasure, you want to be smart about this investment.

Get Started: 8 Affordable Ways To Upgrade Your Primary Bedroom

More Rooms: 8 Affordable Ways To Upgrade Your Kitchen

As a savvy homeowner, you know all home upgrades dont offer an equal return, so you want to choose a project that will raise your property value. Heres a look at four expensive remodeling mistakes you dont want to make, along with budget-friendly alternatives truly worth your money.

Niche Updates



Your home is a reflection of you, so you might be tempted to spring for a custom renovation that reflects your interests. However, Isabelle Emond, a real estate broker and the owner of RE/MAX Ocean Surf and Sun, based in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, recommended against excessive improvements specifically tailored to your preferences.

Converting an extra room into a knitting room, converting the garage into a game room or installing wine cellars may make it difficult to find purchasers, because not everyone will share your interests, she said. You should avoid these luxury rooms because most buyers would prefer to have the extra space as a blank slate, rather than [have to] modify it to suit their tastes, if they decide to purchase your property.

Options: How To Maximize Space in a Small Bedroom: 7 Affordable Solutions

For reference, the average cost to build a wine cellar is $40,000, while converting a garage to a living space costs an estimated $14,419, according to HomeAdvisor.

Instead: If you have the funds and youre committed to a major project, consider converting your basement to a living area. This is more universally appealing because many buyers want to use the garage for its intended purpose.

Transforming your basement into a living area costs approximately $46,900 and you can expect to recoup 64% of the costs, according to the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, released by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Association of Realtors.

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If your budget isnt quite that large, but you still want to take on a big project, consider adding a new roof. This will cost an average of $7,500 and youll likely recoup 107% of the costs, according to the Remodeling Impact Report.

See: 5 Affordable Ways To Make Over Every Room in Your House

High-End Kitchen Remodel

A kitchen is the heart of the home, so you might think no dollar value is too high to invest in it, but Emond said that isnt the case.

Avoid redesigning the kitchen with the most recent smart equipment with overly sophisticated features that a buyer would not appreciate, she said. Over-renovating to the point where you cant recoup your initial investment is a bad choice.

While innovative appliances might be fun for you in the short term, Emond said its best to focus on upgrades that appeal to the masses.

Instead of rebuilding a kitchen to be extremely smart, refinish the cabinets, change the backsplash and repaint the walls, because these features are easier and less expensive to change for the buyer.

Youll also save a lot of money by opting against a high-end kitchen remodel, as the average cost for this type of project is $149,079  with 53.9% of costs recouped  according to the 2021 Remodeling magazine Cost vs. Value report.

Instead: Toning your kitchen remodel down to a mid-range price point offers serious savings. If youre looking for a total overhaul, a major mid-range kitchen remodel costs an average of $75,571  with a 57.4% return on investment  while a minor kitchen remodel costs approximately $26,214, with 72.2% of costs recouped, according to Remodeling magazine.

Find: 26 Home Makeover Ideas That Each Cost Less Than $500

Waterfall Countertops

Speaking of kitchen improvements, if youre thinking about hopping on the popular waterfall countertop trend, Martha McNamara, head of design and product curation at Vevano Home, a firm that provides virtual interior design services and specializes in major home renovations, advised against it.

Although they are a beautiful statement piece, it often doubles your countertop price, she said.

Expect to spend $40 to $100-plus per square foot of stone slabs for a waterfall countertop and up to $100 per square foot for installation, according to Caesarstone. While the site notes these costs are comparable to what youd pay with a conventional countertop, its this up to $2,000 fabrication costs and $200 to $1,200 resealing costs  needed up to twice per year with granite  that really bring the price up.

Instead: If youre having second thoughts about that waterfall countertop, McNamara suggested finished cabinet panels that extend the depth of the overhang as a great alternative. She said this option is also more versatile and can work with more traditional styles, whereas the waterfall countertop is hard to pair with anything but a modern look.

Overall, expect to spend an average of $3,068 for countertop installation  including both materials and labor  according to HomeAdvisor.

Start Now: 20 Insider Tips To Save Money on Every Part of Your Home

Home Gyms

At the beginning of the pandemic, home gyms were all the rage, but Ben Fisher, a luxury real estate agent with The Fisher Group in Salt Lake City, Utah, said this trend has gone out of style.

If you really want to do some serious workout in your home, you can just buy a treadmill for running and a few other materials like a dumbbell, skipping rope and others, he said.





The average cost of building a home gym is $2,000, according to HomeAdvisor. Thankfully, theres no shortage of better renovation options for your money.

Instead: Its not the most exciting update, but an insulation upgrade costs approximately $2,400 and youll recoup about 83% of the costs, according to the Remodeling Impact Report.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Expensive Home-Remodeling Mistakes To Avoid
-- US$126 million contract for I-90/SR-18 Interchange Improvements and Widening --

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2022 /CNW/ - Aecon Group Inc. (TSX: ARE) announced today that it has been awarded a US$126 million contract by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to design and build the Interstate-90 (I-90) / State Road-18 (SR-18) to Deep Creek Interchange Improvements and Widening project near Snoqualmie, Washington. The value of the contract will be added to Aecon's Construction segment backlog in the first quarter of 2022.

Aecon Group Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Aecon Group Inc.)

The scope of work includes the design and construction of a four-lane diverging diamond interchange, the widening of SR-18 to four lanes from the interchange to Deep Creek, as well as the design and construction of a four-lane bridge over Deep Creek, and a two-lane bridge over Raging River. Construction is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2022, with anticipated completion in the fourth quarter of 2024.

"Building on our strong presence in Western Canada, expanding our business in the Northwestern US is a natural progression and we are encouraged by the robust infrastructure opportunities in this market," said Jean-Louis Servranckx, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aecon Group Inc. "We look forward to safely and successfully delivering this critical project for our client."

Further information about the project is available on the WSDOT website.

About Aecon

As a Canadian leader in construction and infrastructure development with global expertise, Aecon Group Inc. (TSX: ARE) strives to be the number one Canadian infrastructure company and is proud to be recognized as one of the Best Employers in Canada. Aecon safely, profitably and sustainably delivers integrated solutions to private and public-sector clients through its Construction segment in the Civil, Urban Transportation, Nuclear, Utility and Industrial sectors, and provides project development, financing, investment and management services through its Concessions segment. Join our online community on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram @AeconGroup.

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Statement on Forward-Looking Information

The information in this press release includes certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans but are subject to risks and uncertainties. In addition to events beyond Aecon's control, there are factors which could cause actual or future results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or inferred herein, as discussed in greater detail in Section 13  "Risk Factors" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis filed on February 25, 2021. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Aecon undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Aecon Group Inc.

Cision

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Transformational acquisition adds substantial scale, geographic reach, and additional vertically integrated capabilities, to better serve clients on both sides of the Atlantic

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ASGARD Partners & Co. ("ASGARD"), a New York based private equity firm, announced today that its portfolio company, Angstrom Technology ("Angstrom" or the "Company"), an industry leader in cleanroom design and production, has acquired Connect 2 Cleanrooms Limited ("C2C"). The acquisition will expand the Company's geographic coverage outside of North America and bolster its capabilities and service offering.

(PRNewsfoto/ASGARD Partners & Co.)

Established in 2002, C2C operates internationally from its head office in Lancaster, UK, with additional offices in London and Utrecht in the Netherlands. C2C is a trusted provider of highly engineered and mission critical cleanrooms for Healthcare, Pharma, and Industrial clients. C2C's vertically integrated and comprehensive offering spans engineering, design & build, and testing & validation services. Additionally, C2C offers cleanroom consumables and supplies through its fully integrated e-commerce platform www.cleanroomshop.com. Joe Govier, Founder and CEO of Connect 2 Cleanrooms, will continue to lead the UK-based business alongside the existing management team. For more information, please visit www.connect2cleanrooms.com.

Karan Rai, Managing Partner of ASGARD, said, "The C2C acquisition adds a strong European presence to the already robust North American presence for Angstrom. The acquisition also gives Angstrom a deeper penetration into some of the world's fastest growing end markets such as Pharma, Biotech, and Cell & Gene Therapy. This transaction is just the beginning of a long-term growth strategy focused on consolidating the cleanroom and controlled environment industry. We think the two companies are a great strategic and cultural fit and are excited to welcome the highly talented C2C team into the Angstrom family."

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"This acquisition will accelerate our international expansion and bring our existing and future customers a much higher degree of expertise and service from a larger and more capable platform," said Matt Isard, CEO of Angstrom. "We are focused on building the most competent and customer-focused company in the industry and this is an important step in that direction. I am excited to welcome Joe Govier and the rest of the C2C team to Angstrom and look forward to integrating best practices from C2C into Angstrom and vice-versa."

Robert Beall, Partner of ASGARD, said "Connect 2 Cleanrooms is a recognized leader in the rapidly growing critical environment industry across the UK and Europe and an ideal complement to the Angstrom business. Now with a global platform, we believe the Company is strongly positioned for continued growth as organizations in a variety of sectors seek to protect critical processes and meet regulatory or compliance objectives. We look forward to partnering with the Angstrom/C2C leadership team as it continues to broaden its customer base, pursue strategic acquisitions, and enhance its service offerings and capabilities."

Joe Govier, added, "It was important for us to join forces with a company that holds the same values, integrity, and vision for our business and employees. We are confident that this transaction will enable Angstrom and C2C to build upon the strong technical foundation that exists today and fulfill a joint-mission of creating a global controlled environment solutions platform, and we are excited for the future of the group and teams within."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Plante & Moran PLLC and BDO acted as buyside advisors to ASGARD. McGuireWoods London LLP and Chapman and Cutler LLP served as counsel to ASGARD.

About Angstrom Technology

Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Angstrom Technology is a market leader in cleanroom production across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Since 1989, Angstrom has provided cleanroom build, design, and maintenance services to some of the most respected companies in the world. Angstrom's passion is to provide its customers with the most effective and efficient designs, superior quality, and outstanding service. For more information, please visit www.angstromtechnology.com.

About ASGARD Partners & Co.

ASGARD Partners & Co. is a private equity firm focused on investing in leading manufacturing, distribution, and services businesses in partnership with proven management teams. ASGARD seeks investment opportunities in businesses with defensible value propositions and strong growth prospects that can also benefit from the support of its investing and operating experience, access to capital, and strategic guidance. Sectors of particular focus include defense, government services, aerospace, industrial or business services, and specialty manufacturing. For more information, please visit https://asgardpartners.com.

Angstrom Technology (PRNewsfoto/ASGARD Partners & Co.)

Connect 2 Cleanrooms Ltd.

Cision

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SOURCE ASGARD Partners & Co.
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Santander Mexico, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple, Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico (NYSE:BSMX; BMV:BSMX) ("Santander Mexico"), one of the leading banks in Mexico, announced today that it will release its fiscal fourth quarter 2021 financial results after market close on Thursday, February 3rd, 2022.

A conference call will be held on February 4th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. U.S. ET (9:00 a.m. Mexico City Time). The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-407-4018 (U.S. & Canada) or 1-201-689-8471 (International) and ask for "Banco Santander Mexico's Earnings Call".

A presentation will also be available for download from the company's IR site after market close on February 3rd, 2022. Additionally, a simultaneous web cast of the conference call will be available at https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1524386&tp_key=b9f6ed27f0

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available between 1:00 p.m. U.S. ET on February 4th and 11:59 p.m. U.S. ET on February 11th, 2022. The replay can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. & Canada) or for international & Mexico callers 1-412-317-6671. The access code for the replay is 13726355. The audio of the conference call will be archived on the company's website at www.santander.com.mx

ABOUT BANCO SANTANDER MEXICO, S.A., INSTITUCION DE BANCA MULTIPLE, GRUPO FINANCIERO SANTANDER MEXICO (NYSE:BSMX; BMV:BSMX)

Banco Santander Mexico, S.A., Institucion de Banca Multiple, Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico (Banco Santander Mexico), one of Mexico's leading banking institutions, provides a wide range of financial and related services, including retail and commercial banking, financial advisory and other related investment activities. Banco Santander Mexico offers a multichannel financial services platform focused on mid- to high-income individuals and small- to medium-sized enterprises, while also providing integrated financial services to larger multinational companies in Mexico. As of September 30, 2021, Banco Santander Mexico had total assets of Ps.1,669 billion under Mexican Banking GAAP and more than 19.4 million customers. Headquartered in Mexico City, the Company operates 1,350 branches and offices nationwide and has a total of 24,901 employees.

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Cision

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SOURCE Banco Santander Mexico, S.A.
Endosane explores new compounds for the treatment of PTSD

BERLIN and IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Endosane Pharmaceuticals (www.endosane.com), a Berlin-based pharmaceutical company specializing in the systematic exploration and use of the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of neurological, neuropsychiatric, and psychiatric disorders, and the University of California Irvine (UCI) have agreed to investigate the efficacy of two innovative compounds for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through a series of preclinical studies. These studies will be conducted in the laboratory of the internationally renowned neuropharmacologist and leading endocannabinoid system researcher, Professor Daniele Piomelli, who played a key role in developing the drug class to be investigated. Due to the specific mode of action of the compounds, a significantly more effective treatment of PTSD with fewer side effects could be possible. Results are expected as early as the first half of 2022.

Endosane is taking an important step towards realizing its vision for the future: In addition to the already advanced development of the cannabinoid-based compound for the treatment of schizophrenia, Endosane is vigorously investigating further compounds in its own portfolio for the treatment of other mental disorders. Unlike the potential schizophrenia drug, the development of these compounds is still in the so-called preclinical phase, but existing data on related molecules strongly indicate the potential clinical efficacy. The imminent studies will constitute a solid basis for rapid further development, if successful. Endosane is aiming to start clinical trials within 2022.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorders are a group of mental disorders that are widespread and all characterized by the experience of significant trauma. Those affected are permanently restricted in their way of life. Very often there are considerable impairments of sleep and the re-experiencing of traumatic life situations. According to the current state of research, PTSD is caused by an overload of the brain's processing capacities for dealing with the negative memories created by the trauma, which can resurface in an uncontrolled manner. Currently, available medications are primarily aimed at helping people cope with the symptoms they are experiencing, particularly anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.

Support for processing the trauma

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Like all the other active pharmaceuticals in Endosane's portfolio, the molecules in question act via the body's own endocannabinoid system. However, unlike other active ingredients, these are not cannabinoids but synthetic molecules that alter the concentration of the body's own endocannabinoids by inhibiting certain enzymes. The development of these molecules was based on various basic research studies in the field of memory research, which showed a connection between changes in the balance of the body's endocannabinoid system and the ability to process memories. The results suggest that it is possible to influence the processing of trauma by targeting this system. Therefore, the new compounds would not primarily treat the visible symptoms of PTSD  such as anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia  but the root cause, which is the processing of negative memories. "We see the endocannabinoid system, as with our active substance for the treatment of schizophrenia, as a modulator of the neurophysiological balance that is offering the possibility of addressing not only the visible symptoms, but the cause itself," says Prof. Dr. Leweke, Medical Director of Endosane Pharmaceuticals. Even more importantly, the use of the endocannabinoid system would intervene much more "gently" in the neurophysiological structure of the patient than currently available drugs. The chance of considerably reduced side effects is therefore significant.

Collaboration with UCI

It is no coincidence that the upcoming studies are being carried out at the UCI. Prof. Dr. Daniele Piomelli is responsible for research in this field. Like Prof. Leweke, Prof. Piomelli is a pioneer in the field of research into the endocannabinoid system. In particular, the drug class being researched  so-called FAAH-inhibitors  was co-developed by him. "We are very pleased to be able to explore these compounds together with Prof. Piomelli at UCI," said Max Narr, Managing Director of Endosane Pharmaceuticals. "We are very optimistic that the preclinical studies will provide a clear indication regarding efficacy. If this assumption is confirmed, we will aim to conduct a Phase I clinical trial within the next year."

About Endosane Pharmaceuticals

Endosane Pharmaceuticals GmbH is a pharmaceutical company based in Berlin aiming to develop and commercialize new finished drugs for the treatment of neurological, neuropsychiatric, and psychiatric conditions. Therefore, Endosane is systematically exploring the endocannabinoid system for its potential to modulate neurophysiological balance. The current compound portfolio contains compounds for the treatment of several indications, including schizophrenia, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. More information at www.endosane.com.

About Prof. Dr. Daniele Piomelli

Prof. Dr. Piomelli is a Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the School of Medicine. He holds the Louise Turner Arnold Chair in Neurosciences and joint appointments at the departments of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology. He is also director at the Institute for the Study of Cannabis and Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research".

About Prof. Dr. F. Markus Leweke

Prof. Dr. Leweke is a Professor at the University of Sydney and Head of the Department of Youth Depression Studies at the Brain and Mind Centre. He was head of the Centre of Excellence for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Research at the Central Institute for Mental Health Mannheim at the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg for many years. As a practicing psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Prof. Dr. Leweke has over 25 years of experience in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In the mid-1990s, he was one of the first to focus on research into the endocannabinoid system and its role and potential in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. He is an Associate Editor of the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Cision

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SOURCE Sanity Group
COLOGNE, Germany, January 18, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--eyeo, developer of best-in-class ad-filtering technology found in millions of browsers and products around the world, today announced that it has successfully defended and won a landmark court decision involving whether HTML can be subject to copyright enforcement.

Resolving this copyright case upholds the open standards mission of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and sets an important legal precedent and defines who owns the HTML code underlying websites and how popular browser features and utilities can continue to operate lawfully on the public Internet.

This most recent court action also marks the 16th time that eyeo has prevailed against targeted lawsuits, and successfully defended the legal rights of internet users, code developers, publishers, and other participants to a fair and sustainable internet ecosystem for everyone to enjoy.

Facts of the 2021 Hamburg Copyright Case:

The 2021 copyright lawsuit was brought against eyeo by Axel Springer, a large conglomerate based in Germany, and it sought to dictate that the HTML language used to render a website page should be protected under copyright law -- effectively making it illegal for any technology or any consumer to alter a website page appearance. The copyright claim ignored the core principles and mission of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is the international community that manages open web standards.

This 2021 copyright lawsuit filed in Hamburg was a new challenge to a 2018 Federal Court case, also brought against eyeo by Axel Springer, which was also decided in favor of eyeo.

While the website HTML copyright protections sought by the plaintiff appear innocent on the surface, the technical ramifications are onerous and dangerous. In practice, most of the modern browser features that the Internet ecosystem enjoys today would have become instantly illegal, and copyright sanctions would have become enforceable: all privacy and anti-tracking technologies; all website language translation features; all accessibility utilities for blind and handicapped readers; all ad blockers; and all CSS modifications of any kind. The burden would have fallen upon code developers and ordinary users to seek explicit permission from a website publisher to grant an exception to run their browser features -- before visiting each and every website.

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Rightfully, the Hamburg court rejected the copyright argument from the plaintiffs and once again decided in favor of eyeo.

Legal Precedent (Why It Matters):

Resolving this copyright case was an important legal precedent for defining who owns Internet code and what rights the Internet community has to continue to develop new browser features and extensions that improve user experience.

The final 2021 Hamburg court decision, as successfully defended by eyeo, establishes that there is a limit to copyright after which the website author can no longer assert any right of retention. This limit boundary exists between the code provision level and the code execution level.

In a worst case scenario, had the copyright claim been declared legal and enforceable, any ordinary computer user who uses (even unknowingly) browser extensions or features that modify HTML would have been automatically deemed as infringing on copyright law and subjected to a cease-and-desist letter. More dangerous still, any developer who writes code for an offending browser feature could have been liable to pay damages for any lost revenues claimed by a website owner.

Expert Comments:

Quote from Kai Recke - legal expert:

"This legal argument simply went too far. HTML is a widely adopted open standard that underpins most websites, and shifting the burden of permission to users and developers is clearly unreasonable. We are pleased that the Court agrees, and we feel honored and privileged to be able to take up this legal fight on behalf of the interests of all Internet participants everywhere," said Kai Recke, General Counsel for eyeo.

Quote from Julia Reda - copyrights expert:

"This ruling sends an important signal that frivolous lawsuits will not be accepted. The court has correctly concluded that the copyright protection of software does not extend to the outputs of software. Just as copyright law does not entitle a book publisher to forbid readers from underlining sections of a book or writing in the margins, copyright law does not give digital publishers the power to tell users how to display a website," said Julia Reda, copyrights expert at Gesellschaft fur Freiheitsrechte (Society for Civil Rights) and former member of the European Parliament.

Quote from TIll Faida - eyeo founder:

"People may not realize that many advertisers, publishers and ad-tech companies have partnered with us with a common goal of maintaining a fair and prosperous internet. But we have also defended and won sixteen legal decisions against those who want to corner the public Internet for their own private interests. We believe it is our duty as a net citizen to fight these legal battles on behalf of the interests of all Internet participants everywhere," said Till Faida founder CEO of eyeo.

About HTML Open Standards:

HTML is the standard markup language for anything meant to be displayed in a web browser. It was released to the world in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee as a free, open web standard for all to enjoy. Since 1996, the HTML specifications have been maintained by the international community of the W3C.

About eyeo

eyeo is dedicated to empowering a balanced and sustainable online value exchange for users, browsers, advertisers and publishers. By building, monetizing, and distributing ad-filtering technologies, we create solutions that allow all members of the online ecosystem to prosper. Our ad-filtering technology powers some of the largest ad blockers on the market, like Adblock Plus, Adblock and Adblock Browser, and is distributed through partnerships to millions of devices. We are constantly innovating to meet the expectations of the changing online world, with privacy solutions such as Crumbs, our white label browsers for distribution partners, and the Acceptable Ads Standard, which reaches over 225 million users.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220118005556/en/

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Rocket Science PR

Tel: +1 415 464 8110 x216

Mobile: +1 925 354 7444

Email: rich@rocketscience.com
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new market study published by Global Industry Analysts Inc., (GIA) the premier market research company, today released its report titled "Drug Discovery Technologies - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" . The report presents fresh perspectives on opportunities and challenges in a significantly transformed post COVID-19 marketplace.

Global Drug Discovery Technologies Market

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Edition: 19; Released: January 2022

Executive Pool: 11069

Companies: 129 - Players covered include Albany Molecular Research, Inc.; AstraZeneca plc; Bayer AG; Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH; Covance, Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Evotec AG; GenScript USA, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline PLC; Johnson & Johnson; Pfizer, Inc.; Viva Biotech (Shanghai) Ltd.; WuXi AppTec and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Type (Small Molecule Drugs, Biologics); Technology (High Throughput Screening, Biochips, Bioinformatics, Pharmacogenomics & Pharmacogenetics, Nanotechnology, Other Technologies); End-Use (Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology Companies, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry

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ABSTRACT-



Global Drug Discovery Technologies Market to Reach $80.2 Billion by 2026

Drug discovery assists in discovering new medications by using a broad range of technologies that are used for research and the introduction of new drugs. Extensive usage of therapeutics in different diseases created the requirement in drug discovery. Several techniques like RNA and nanotechnology interference are being utilized for drug discovery, in turn generating opportunities for the manufacturers of drug discovery technology in new segments. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary break in drug discovery clinical trials of many diseases because the researchers, healthcare sector, and academia concentrated on stopping the spread of coronavirus. However, the pandemic's impact led to the invention and adoption of new working ways, which paved a path for future clinical trials. Clinical trial physicians and sponsors are highly flexible in administering virtual study and acquiring the study data remotely utilizing modern medical wearables. The new advancements are simplifying the complicated procedures and overcoming the lack of required onsite professionals. The drug discovery market is anticipated to gain an advantage by adopting technological advancements together with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Drug Discovery Technologies estimated at US$53.3 Billion in the year 2021, is projected to reach a revised size of US$80.2 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.1% over the analysis period. Small Molecule Drugs, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 7.8% CAGR to reach US$60.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Biologics segment is readjusted to a revised 8.8% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 23.9% share of the global Drug Discovery Technologies market.

Growth in the market is majorly driven by the growing geriatric population worldwide and people above 60 years of age are highly susceptible to chronic illnesses. The efficient drug demand from increasing affluent patients is yet another factor propelling the drug discovery global market. Furthermore, the advancements in molecular biology, biotechnology, genomics, and nanotechnology paved a path for increasing investments in drug discovery. Additionally, many blockbuster drugs' patent expiries are anticipated to make a profitable market for the existent players. Healthcare organizations worldwide are seeking drug discovery opportunities, which have been previously done using active ingredient identification from conventional remedies. It is important to discover advanced, efficient, and new drugs to fight illnesses, as there is an increase in many life-threatening illnesses and the inception of various health-related problems. The drug discovery recently has evolved significantly with technologies like NMR, mass spectrometry, chemotherapy, microplate readers, RANi, proteomics, gel electrophoresis, microfluidics, nucleic acid and protein isolation, nanotechnology, and protein and DNA microarrays. Thus, drug discovery process has become highly accurate, more refined, and less time-consuming.

Pharmaceutical organizations that are new, too, have the opportunity to launch into the drug discovery global market through generics. Pharmaceutical companies are primarily focusing on the technologies of drug development because drug discovery has a critical role to play in the cycle of drug development. However, drug development and discovery require a colossal investment and are time taking, which causes low-profit margins for pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical manufacturers generally face an increase in expiring patents of developed drugs, intensifying the negative impact of the research cycle's long duration. HTS or high-throughput screening is an extensively utilized drug discovery technology, using which a huge quantity of possible biological modulators are analyzed against a defined target set. HTS technology allows biologically relevant compounds' rapid portfolio building and HTS technological advancements like multidetector readers, reliable automation, pattern and database recognition software, and imaging software and hardware are anticipated to lead the HTS technology usage. Drug discovery technologies have a huge role to play in the pharmaceutical sector's overall growth, as the technologies immensely contribute to the innovative and blockbuster drugs' easy initiation. Diverse illnesses like CVD, cancer, and CNS disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's generated adequate opportunities in the drug discovery technologies market.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $16.4 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $12.7 Billion by 2026

The Drug Discovery Technologies market in the U.S. is estimated at US$16.4 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 31.12% share in the global market. China, the world second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$12.7 Billion by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 10.1% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 7.3% and 6.8% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 7.9% CAGR.

The rise in late-stage drug failure rates is driving the demand for drug delivery technologies. The average cost of drug development has doubled in recent years to reach over US$2.6 billion. By therapeutic area, oncology and immuno-modulatory drugs are the most expensive to develop. While oncology treatment continues to dominate the existing and future drug pipelines, R&D investments on metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases is gaining strength in recent years. As oncology trials require specific trial design expertise, the likelihood of attrition rates tends to be high. As new drug development is focused on the need to target many smaller subsets of indications, clinical trials are conducted on smaller patient population. A smaller market to recover R&D costs, reimbursement issues, and pushback on high drug costs further increase the average cost of drug development. Despite the scientific, technological, and operational advances in R&D aimed at increasing the efficiency and success of drug development process, a significant number of clinical trials still fail. As the early phase of clinical trials are exploratory, failure at this stage is expected to a certain extent.

Failure represents the highest cost of the overall cost of drug development. Clinical trial failures may also arise when the body of knowledge about a disease or condition is limited, particularly rare diseases. Also, the rollout of more complex and extensive clinical trials is another critical factor increasing the late-stage failure rates. The cost of failed clinical trials is high, and the burden placed on ways to reduce the continuously high failure rate provides impetus for drug discovery technologies market. More

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DUBLIN, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Tokenization - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Research and Markets Logo

Global Tokenization Market to Reach US$4.3 Billion by the Year 2026

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Tokenization estimated at US$1.6 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$4.3 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.4% over the analysis period.

Solutions, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 19.6% CAGR to reach US$3.6 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Services segment is readjusted to a revised 16% CAGR for the next 7-year period.

This segment currently accounts for a 35.4% share of the global Tokenization market. The Solutions segment's growth is favored by increasing deployment of tokenization solutions across SMEs as an effective approach to mitigate the risk of identity theft and payment frauds. Companies operating in the industry are increasingly opting for tokenization solutions to comply with PCI DSS regulations.

Growth in the global market is set to be driven by increasing focus on fraud prevention and payment security measures in the wake on COVID-19-induced accelerated shift towards online and contactless payments. The market is gaining from rising incident of credit card frauds and the pressing need for robust payment security that covers different components like tokenization-as-a-service and contactless payments.

The market growth is also fueled by the need to comply with stringent regulations, improve fraud prevention and deliver enhanced experience to customers. Tokenization is poised to receive a major demand stimulus from increasing uptake of contactless payments as well as rising investments in cloud-based tokenization options.



The U.S. Market is Estimated at $697.9 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $476.3 Million by 2026

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The Tokenization market in the U.S. is estimated at US$697.9 Million in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 38.22% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$476.3 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 23.7% through the analysis period.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 15.4% and 17.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 16.5% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$586.8 Million by the end of the analysis period.

North America dominates market share on account of stringent regulations like CCPA coupled with rising incident of cyber-attacks, mainly related to payment frauds. Factors such as digital first credit cards and increasing uptake of contactless cards are creating strong demand for tokenization services and solutions.

The regional market is also gaining from notable expansion of e-commerce along with extensive use of smartphones to make online payments and access several options like government services, online gaming and digital information. Growth in Asia-Pacific region is attributed to government efforts to deal with financial frauds as well as implementation of stringent regulations to improve cyber-security.



Key Topics Covered:



I. METHODOLOGY



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Looming Global Recession

2020 Marked as a Year of Disruption & Transformation

As the Race between the Virus & Vaccines Intensifies, Where is the World Economy Headed in 2021?

Shift towards Digital Technologies Enhances Prospects for Security Technologies & Solutions

Heightened Threat of Data Breaches During Pandemic Supports Tokenization Market

Pandemic Propels Payment System Ecosystem to Entirely New Levels with Tokenization & Other Approaches

An Introduction to Tokenization

Objective of Tokenization

PCI DSS and Tokenization

Focus on Fraud Prevention & Payment Security Gives Extraordinary Thrust to Global Tokenization Market

Surge in Online Payments & Contactless Payments Accelerate Market Growth

Solution Segment & BFSI Vertical Sweep Tokenization Market with Majority Stake

SMEs Segment to Exhibit Rapid Growth

Developed Regions Lead the Global Tokenization Market

World Brands

Recent Market Activity

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS (Total 190 Featured)

American Express Company

AsiaPay Limited

Bluefin Payment Systems LLC

Cardlink

Fiserv, Inc.

Futurex LP

HelpSystems, LLC

HST Campinas, SP

IntegraPay

Marqeta, Inc.

Mastercard Inc.

MeaWallet AS

Micro Focus International plc

Paragon Payment Solutions

Sequent Software Inc.

Shift4 Payments, LLC

Sygnum Bank AG

Thales TCT

TokenEx, LLC

VeriFone, Inc.

Visa Inc.

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Digital Transformation of Businesses and the Imperative Need to Ensure Security of Sensitive Data to Spur Tokenization Market

Data Tokenization: Unlocking the Potential of Data-Based Economy

Encryption Vs Tokenization: A Comparative Review

Use Cases of Tokenization and Encryption

BFSI: The Major End-Use Vertical for Tokenization Solutions

Surge in Digital Transactions to Boost Need for Tokenization

Rising Customer Inclination towards Contactless Payments Amidst the Pandemic Boosts Market Growth

Is COVID-19 Scenario Making Payment Space to Bid Adieu to Cash Payments?

Steep Rise in Fraud Attacks amid COVID-19 Predicament Marks Opportunity for Tokenization Market

With Mobile Wallets Going Mainstream, Tokenization Comes into Play to Ensure Security of Transactions

Retail and E-Commerce Market to Record High Adoption of Tokenization Solutions

Advantages of Tokenization for the Rising E-commerce Space

Pandemic Fast Forwards eCommerce Growth

Data Tokenization Becomes Important for Government Agencies

Tokenization Becomes Relevant Amidst Digitization of Infrastructure in Energy & Utilities

Compliance with Strict Regulatory Guidelines Drives Enterprises to Adopt Tokenization Solutions

Growing Proliferation of Cloud-based Solutions & Services Presents Market Opportunity

SMEs Witness High Adoption of Tokenization Solutions

Growing Importance of Tokenization in Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Tokenization Emerges a Key Strategy to Improve Customer Experience and Enhance Revenue Generation

Protection of Sensitive Application Data in DevOps Enhances Need for Tokenization

Challenges Facing Tokenization Market

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



III. REGIONAL MARKET ANALYSIS



IV. COMPETITION

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6eb4f0

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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SOURCE Research and Markets
Angel Gonzales

Angel Gonzales, Chief Operating Officer for Hartman Income REIT Management, Inc.

Angel Gonzales, Chief Operating Officer for Hartman Income REIT Management, Inc.

Houston, TX, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hartman Income REITs (Hartman) Director of Property Management, Angel Gonzales has been appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the commercial real estate firm. He succeeds Kimberly Strickland, the firm's former COO who has transitioned into a new role as Chief People Officer.

Mr. Gonzales joined the firm in January 2020 and has more than 27 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Prior to joining Hartman, Mr. Gonzales managed commercial portfolios as large as 242 properties with locations in all 50 states. He previously worked with multiple Fortune 500 companies and other industry leaders such as Johnson Controls, Hewlett Packard, and Kellogg Brown & Root (Formerly MW Kellogg).

Recognizing Mr. Gonzaless appointment, Hartmans President & CEO Al Hartman shared, We are delighted to appoint Angel to the COO role, he brings with him an established career in commercial real estate and will be an excellent steward on the executive leadership team.

Mr. Gonzales added, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the company, our tenants and shareholders. We are on an exciting growth journey towards $2 billion in assets over the next three years and I very much look forward to leading the team toward this goal and beyond.

Attachment

CONTACT: Anthony Trollope Hartman Income REIT 7134672222 press@hi-reit.com




Heather Rae Young Talks 'Prioritizing Quality Time' with Both of Tarek El Moussa's Children

Heather Rae Young/Instagram Heather Rae Young (R) with Tarek El Moussa's daughter, Taylor

Heather Rae Young takes her role as a stepmom seriously.

On Monday, the Selling Sunset star posted a pair of snapshots of herself and husband Tarek El Moussa's 11-year-old daughter Taylor Reese sporting big smiles as they shared a hug.

"Twinning with my favorite girl in our sweaters  ready to have a fun shopping day with daddy ," Young wrote alongside the images on Instagram.

The real estate professional, 34, went on to say that "prioritizing quality time with both" Taylor and her younger brother Brayden James, 6, "is so important to" her and El Moussa, 40.

"As Tay and Bray get older their interests are changing (Bray wants to spend the whole day looking at sharks and Tay's starting to get into girly things like shopping and clothes) so we make sure to set special days where we can do what they like," Young said. "Just getting to see them smile and get excited makes it more than worth it to us ."

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.

RELATED: Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa Celebrate First Thanksgiving as an "Official Family": "Not Much More I Could Ask for"

Young married El Moussa in a stunning seaside wedding in Montecito, California, on Oct. 23. They later celebrated Thanksgiving with the kids at their vacation home in La Quinta, and Christmas at their home in Newport Beach, also surrounded by family.

The pair picked up El Moussa's children  whom he shares with ex-wife Christina Haack  on Christmas morning, and kicked off a full day of family fun. Later, the group planned to be "driving up to our cozy cabin for a few days to play in the snow," the couple told PEOPLE ahead of the holiday. (They recently revealed that they purchased a cabin in the San Bernardino mountains, right beside where Young's parents live, as a vacation home.)

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El Moussa took to Instagram on Christmas Day to share how happy he was to spend a quiet holiday with his immediate family this past year.

"Gifts are great but what I love about Christmas is the family aspect," the HGTV star wrote. "Most of the stores in town are shut down, the city slows down for a second, and we get to spend the day with our loved ones."

RELATED VIDEO: Heather Rae Young Says She'd "Regret It If I Didn't" Try for Baby with Tarek El Moussa

As for whether Young and El Moussa will add to their family, the Netflix star has been candid about the the ups and downs of her fertility journey, recently opening up about the process of freezing her eggs.

Young opened up about her latest doctor visit in a series of honest and raw Instagram Stories earlier this month, starting out by saying, "We just left my fertility doctor and  not the best news" and revealing she had "a total of five" ovarian follicles, "but one of them looks like it's not going to be mature enough to extract. So we have two that are strong, one that is still growing, and another one that is still growing, so I have four that are looking decent."

"Not the best number, so I'm going to talk to my doctor a little later and see if it's even worth extracting to create [embryos] or if we are going to have to do another round, which, obviously it's not the most fun thing to go through, so I'm really hoping for some good news later when I talk to my doctor," Young concluded.

Not long after, she shared in a post, "Planning on doing the retrieval this weekend based on tomorrow's ultrasound. This process isn't easy and isn't ideal but I'm trying to have a positive mindset about it so if any of you guys are going through this or have already gone through this drop your advice/success stories in the comments- I would love to hear them ."
Wellington  A volcano that exploded on the Pacific island nation of Tonga has almost disappeared from view, new images revealed Tuesday, with swathes of the island nation smothered in grey ash and dust or damaged by a tsunami. Tonga has been virtually cut off from the rest of the world since Saturday's volcanic blast  one of the largest recorded in decades. The volcano erupted about 19 miles into the air and deposited ash, gas and acid rain across a large area of the Pacific. Three days after the eruption, the outside world was still scrambling on Tuesday to understand the scale of the disaster, using patchy satellite phone connections, surveillance flights and satellite images. The human toll remained largely unknown on Tuesday, but New Zealand said at least two people had been confirmed killed, citing Tongan police. One of them was Angela Glover, a 50-year-old British woman who ran an animal rescue charity. Her family said her body was found after she was swept away by the tsunami.

An aerial handout photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force shows homes covered in ash on January 17, 2022, in Nomuka, Tonga. / Credit: Handout/New Zealand Defense Force/Getty

Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on Tuesday showed that where most of the volcanic structure stood above sea level a few days ago, there is now just open sea. Only two relatively small volcanic islands were still visible above sea level after the eruption.

"What we saw above the water, that has now been destroyed, was only the tip of a volcano that had grown on the rim of the massive underwater volcano," said Monash University volcanologist Heather Handley. New Zealand released aerial images taken from a surveillance flight the previous day, revealing a tree-lined coast transformed from green to grey by the volcanic fallout. Wrecked buildings were visible on the foreshore alongside others that appeared intact. Volcanic ash blanketed island fields, images from an Australian Defence Force P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft showed. Shipping containers had been knocked over like dominoes at a port on the main island.

In this handout photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, an aerial view from a P-3K2 Orion surveillance flight shows ash covering a coastal area on January 17, 2022, in Nomuka, Tonga. / Credit: Handout/New Zealand Defense Force/Getty

Australia's HMAS Adelaide and New Zealand's HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa were ordered to be ready for a possible aid request from Tonga, which lies three to five days' sailing away. With water sources feared to be poisoned by volcanic fallout, the Red Cross said it was sending 2,516 water containers. France, which has territories in the South Pacific, pledged to help meet the people of Tonga's "most urgent needs." The United Nations said a signal had been detected from a distress beacon on the low-lying island of Mango.

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This satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga on January 15, 2022. / Credit: Japan Meteorology Agency via AP

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said surveillance flights had confirmed "substantial property damage" on Mango, home to some 30 people, and another island, Fonoifua. Later on Tuesday the Reuters news agency quoted Tongan government officials as saying every single home on Mango had been destroyed, and only two remained standing on Fonoifua. The officials said fresh water supplies across Tonga were contaminated with ash. The U.N. agency also reported "extensive damage" on the western beaches of the main island Tongatapu, "with several resorts and/or houses destroyed and/or badly damaged."

Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa was shrouded in almost two inches of volcanic ash and dust, it said. Power had been restored to parts of the capital. Local phone systems had been restored but international communications were still difficult as the blast severed an undersea communications cable between Tonga and Fiji. Operators said it would take up to two weeks to repair the cable.

This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC, shows an overview of Kanokupolu in Tongatapu, Tonga on January 14, 2022, top, and on January 16, 2022, after the January 15 eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano. / Credit: Planet Labs PBC via AP

The capital's waterfront, the U.N. body said, was "seriously damaged with rocks and debris pushed inland from the tsunami."

Satellite images released by the United Nations Satellite Center showed the impact of the eruption and tsunami on the tiny island of Nomuka, one of the closest to the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano. The satellite center said out of 104 structures analyzed in the cloud-free area visible from space, 41 were identified as damaged. Tonga's airport was working to remove volcanic ash from the capital's runway. Australia said the ash must be cleared before it can land a C-130 military plane with aid. Even when relief efforts get under way, they may be complicated by COVID-19 entry restrictions. Saturday's eruption was recorded around the world and heard as far away as Alaska, triggering a tsunami that flooded Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States.

The U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy for Oceans, Peter Thomson, told CBS News' Pamela Falk that the eruption was "a dramatic reminder we live within nature's embrace."

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the people of Tonga and South East Fiji," Thomson, Fiji's former Ambassador to the U.N. who has spent years warning of the threat climate change poses to small island nations like his own, told Falk.

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In 2020, Africa50, an infrastructure financier backed by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Group and a good number of African governments, hosted an innovation challenge that sought affordable and reliable solutions for last-mile internet connectivity across the continent. A proposal by Poa Internet, a Kenyan startup, beat 673 others from across the world as a result of which it was added to Africa50s investment pipeline in addition to winning a cash prize.

Slightly over one year after the win, the internet service provider (ISP) has received $28 million in a Series C funding round led by Africa50, bringing the total amount it has raised to date to $36 million. Also participating in the latest round was Novastar Ventures, one of the firms earliest backers.

Poa plans to use the new funding to grow its reach, first across Kenya, then progressively to other countries in the continent.

We are focused on Kenya at the moment, but the problem we're solving is continent-wide. And for us, it's not just about getting people some connectivity. Our aim is to get a lot of people online and to give them a meaningful internet experience like the ability to stream videos, without worrying about how much data they're consuming, Poa Internets co-founder and CEO, Andy Halsall, told TechCrunch.

Poa Internet currently serves over 12,000 customers (homes and small businesses) in Nairobis low and middle-income neighborhoods, and tens of thousands more through its street Wi-Fi connections. The startup has laid out its fiber network in neighborhoods that are typically not the first target markets for its competitors like Safaricom Home by East Africas biggest telco Safaricom, Faiba by Jamii Telecommunication Limited and Zuku.

Poa Internet founding team from left to right: Mike Puchol (CTO), Andy Halsall (CEO), Chris Rhodes (COO) and DJ Koeman (CBDO). Image Credits: Poa Internet

Poa Internet charges its customers a monthly fee of about $13, which is half the market rate, giving it a competitive edge. Its customers also have unlimited data usage, another aspect that makes their products attractive to internet users in the country, where major ISPs offer monthly subscription bundles with data caps.

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The startup has also set up Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas, where users pay about $0.18 for 1 GB of data, 10 times cheaper than the countrys telcos charge for a similar bundle of non-expiring internet.

Our internet speeds are 4mbps, which is fast enough for video, because everyone wants to stream Netflix, use YouTube, download movies and make video calls. So, we've designed our service to be fast enough to deliver video, but most importantly, our price is a winning factor, said Halsall.

Our primary focus is to get the price as low as possible and to operate in the communities that don't have fiber connectivity or are unlikely to get fiber. Therefore, we're not really going to compete really against anyone because we are going after a market sector that is not well served.

Affordability remains one of the main roadblocks to internet access across the continent and Poa Internet service has been trying to solve this puzzle since it entered Kenya in 2015.

Africa, and more narrowly sub-Saharan Africa, has the most expensive internet prices in the world, and this negatively impacts on the continents ability to grow its digital economies and to adapt to situations like the COVID pandemic. The pandemics containment measures, for instance, required most people to work from home and for students to continue learning online -- but this remained impractical in most countries across the continent due to the lack of necessary gadgets and internet connectivity, partly due to underdeveloped infrastructure and pricing.

Benefits of affordable data and a more connected continent are massive in that as more people get connected, sectors such as e-commerce and e-learning will experience a take-off.

There were 303 million people, which is less than a third of the population, connected to the mobile internet according to the 2021 GSM Association, an industry organization representing mobile operators, mobile economy report. This figure is expected to grow to about 40% of this population by 2025. However, while mobile internet contributes a great deal in getting people online, as Halsall hinted earlier, the experience of limited connectivity is incomparable to freedom that comes with a limitless connection.

Poa Internet currently serves homes and small businesses in Nairobis low and middle-income neighborhoods, and tens of thousands more through its street Wi-Fi connections. Image Credits: Poa Internet (Brian Otieno)

Poa has been instrumental in bridging the needs of last-mile connectivity, and their ultra-low-cost solutions can be used to address the significant connectivity gaps in Kenya and across the continent as a whole. This is particularly important at a time when societies and economic activities are increasingly becoming digitized as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Africa50 managing director and head of infrastructure investments at Africa50, Raza Hasnani.

Africa50 currently has 31 shareholders, including the AfDB, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), Bank Al-Maghrib (the Central Bank of the Kingdom of Morocco and 28 African countries.

Increasing access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity is strongly aligned with the key pillars of Africa50s strategy, and we are excited to be part of this high impact journey and to support Poas growth in Africa, said Hasnani.
Proposed Senate Bill 5660 would legalize the supported adult use of psilocybin by people 21 years of age and older (4.1m) in Washington State





Red Light Holland hires lobbyist recommended by Psychedelic Medicine Alliance Washington, James Paribello





Red Light Holland to start a Social Media campaign and promote online educational events led by PMAW (https://pmaw.org) to help educate Washington residents about the potential benefits of the legalization bill

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTC Pink: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Psychedelic Medicine Alliance Washington ("PMAW") to promote a psilocybin legalization bill in Washington State.

Proposed Senate Bill 5660 would legalize the supported adult use of psilocybin by people 21 years of age and older. Originally sponsored by Senators Jesse Salomon and Liz Lovelett, the bill, known as the Washington Psilocybin Wellness and Opportunity Act, is based on the Oregon model and includes many innovative features including a Social Opportunity Program to help address harms caused by the war on drugs, a provision to support small businesses, and accommodations for people with certain medical conditions to receive psilocybin sessions at home.

To advance the bill, the Health and Long-Term Care Committee must place it on the agenda by Feb 10th, 2022.

To support the bill, Red Light Holland has hired a lobbyist recommended by PMAW, James Paribello. Owner of Paribello Public Affairs, James has worked in and around Olympia for two decades providing government affairs services and lobbying for diverse interests ranging from cannabis regulation to economic development, election reform, health care, tribal sovereignty, and clean energy, while also providing strategic communications and consulting work on the local, state, and federal level.

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Red Light Holland will also be starting a social media campaign to encourage Washington State residents to share how psilocybin has helped them or their loved ones and reach out to the heads of the Health and Long-Term Care Committee and their local government representatives. In addition, Red Light Holland will promote online educational events led by PMAW to help educate Washington residents about the potential benefits of the bill. Red Light Holland hopes to support the government of Washington with polling and market research focused on equity similar to the research and report it has provided to members of the Oregon Advisory Board and Oregon Health Authority.

"Passage of this bill would be a huge step for Washington State, which has been heavily impacted by the overdose crisis and mental health epidemic," Said Tatiana Luz Quintana, Co-Director of PMAW. "Legalizing psilocybin will provide much-needed access to natural alternative medicines that are proven to work. We continue to advocate for the decriminalization of psilocybin to be included in this bill. Both together will have the largest impact on improving public health outcomes by creating the most equitable access to this natural medicine and removing prohibition-based criminalization that solely causes harm and ruins lives."

"Red Light Holland is elated to support PMAW's grassroots movement led by the team behind the decriminalization resolution passed unanimously last year in Seattle," said Todd Shapiro, CEO and Director of Red Light Holland. "Our mission has always been to increase accessibility to naturally occurring psilocybin which is why we are taking on this cause not only for the benefit of our company but for the benefit of everyone in Washington. The respected Washington State Senators Annette Cleveland and David Frockt have a historic opportunity to help residents of their state and be a beacon of positive change for the world. With increasing accessibility to psilocybin in Canada through the Special Access Program and Oregon's recent supported adult-use Measure 109 ballot initiative, we hope that if the Senators learn about the long tradition of using natural psilocybin in different cultures as well as the scientific research showing benefits for the usage of psilocybin both macro and microdosing, they will join the growing trend to increase access responsibly to this life-affirming resource."

"I'm really excited to build upon the great work of PMAW, which has laid the foundation for success at the state Legislature and utilizes the scientific research and vast knowledge Red Light Holland has from selling legal psilocybin products in the Netherlands," said James Paribello. "In recent years, lawmakers have devoted great amounts of funding and resources to addressing the crisis in mental and behavioral health across the state. By dismantling the stigma and the taboos surrounding psychedelics, and enlightening legislators to the benefits of these naturally sourced alternative health treatments, we may be on the cusp of providing new levels of health and wellness to Washington in the safest and most equitable way possible."

Details about the bill can be found here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5660&Initiative=false&Year=2021.

About Psychedelic Medicine Alliance of Washington (PMAW) - PMAW is working to decriminalize and ensure safe and equitable access to psychedelics like psilocybin, mescaline and ayahuasca, for human health and wellness in Washington State. Ensuring personal autonomy, community sovereignty, and robust harm reduction measures related to entheogenic healing are the core to PMAW's mission. PMAW hopes to accomplish this by dismantling outdated and harmful drug war era policies that have disproportionately impacted trauma survivors, those suffering from substance use disorder, those in poverty, and especially BIPOC communities.

For more information on PMAW check out their website: https://pmaw.org/ or contact: tatiana@decriminalizenatureseattle.org

kody@decriminalizenatureseattle.org

1.206.854.6631

About Red Light Holland

Red Light Holland is an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles.

For additional information on the Company:

Todd Shapiro

Chief Executive Officer & Director

Tel: 647-643-TRIP (8747)

Email: todd@redlight.co

Website: www.RedLight.co

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Red Light Holland. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to: statements relating to the Company's planned collaboration with PMAW, including the Company's plan to launch a social media campaign, the Company's plans to promote online education events, and the Company's hopes to support the government of Washington with polling and market research focused on equity.

Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by Red Light Holland, including without limitation: the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Canadian economy and Red Light Holland's business, and the extent and duration of such impact; no change to laws or regulations that negatively affect Red Light Holland's business; there will be a demand for Red Light Holland's products in the future; no unanticipated expenses or costs arise; the ability of the Company to fund its collaboration with PMAW, including the costs relating to James Paribello's lobbying efforts. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what the Company believes to be reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such information.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the effect of regulatory and/or political change and its effect on the legislation and regulations surrounding the psychedelics industry; negative perception of the medical-use and adult-use psilocybin industry; and the inability of the Company to fund its collaboration with PMAW, including the costs relating to James Paribello's lobbying effort.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110629
Platinum Vape branded products

Red White and Bloom will immediately commence operation of its new Warren facility as the hub for production and distribution for its wildly popular Platinum Vape brand vapes, and will soon add gummies and chocolates for Michigans $1.8 billion medical and adult-use markets.

Red White and Bloom will immediately commence operation of its new Warren facility as the hub for production and distribution for its wildly popular Platinum Vape brand vapes, and will soon add gummies and chocolates for Michigans $1.8 billion medical and adult-use markets.

Warren facility to become RWBs central cannabis manufacturing, processing and distribution hub in Michigan, enabling distribution of RWB products to Michigans 400+ dispensaries -- a $1.8 billion market where Platinum Vape was named a Biggest Brand by LeafLink and the #1 brand vape in Michigan by ArcView.

15,000 sq. ft. fully built-out facility, with the latest edibles production equipment already installed, allows RWB to launch chocolates and gummies alongside Platinum Vape via the same distribution channel.

First 1000 lbs. of premium flower already received for re-packaging into pre-packed flower and pre-roll offerings.

Will be adding 30 full-time employees at Warren in the coming weeks, up to 50 in 2022.

TORONTO and WARREN, Mich., Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE: RWB and OTC:RWBYF) (RWB or the Company) a multi-state cannabis operator and house of premium brands, via its RWB Michigan LLC wholly owned subsidiary, has closed on a lease assignment for a 15,000 sq. ft. manufacturing/processing and distribution facility in Warren, Michigan and has been issued both Medical and Adult Use (aka recreational) licenses. Operations at the facility commenced this week. RWB will immediately begin manufacturing medical and adult use cannabis products with all necessary equipment already installed and inspections completed.

This Warren facility allows us to centralize distribution for our house of premium brands in Michigan and finally report all of our Platinum Vape wholesale sales on a much less confusing and straightforward basis, announced RWB CEO and Chairman Brad Rogers. We will be expanding the wildly popular Platinum Vape brand to include gummies and chocolates to capitalize on the existing brand equity we command in Michigan. The facility provides the production capacity to expand sales of our award-winning brands from the 250+ Michigan dispensaries that carry them to the states 400+ dispensaries.

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Hiring 30 full-time employees

RWB Michigan will now begin to hire 30 full-time employees in the coming weeks, with intentions to grow the workforce in Warren to 50 in 2022. A wide variety of positions are available including many higher-paid, skilled positions ranging from frontline employees to PhDs specializing in product formulations. To apply, email inquiries and credentials to careers@redwhitebloom.com. In addition, visit www.RedWhiteBloom.com for more information and the job fair links once they are available.

Platinum Vape Product Expansion

Although most frequently recognized as a leading vape brand, RWBs expanded Platinum Vape portfolio includes gummies, chocolates and premium cannabis flower that have proven to be very popular in California. RWB expects to launch PV gummy and chocolate production immediately and, for the first time, offer these products outside of California. PV is quickly gaining recognition, with ArcView/Greentank's 2021 Q3 Industry Vape Report naming Platinum Vape as the #1 brand vape cartridge in Michigan, LeafLink naming it a Biggest Brand in Michigan, and winning a Thrillist Best of 2020 Edible Award for its Baked Apple Pie Gummies and a Farmers Cup 2nd place for its Raspberry Cheesecake Chocolate Bar. RWB will continue to work on new and exciting formulations and flavors for launch in Michigan and beyond.

About Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.

The Company is positioning itself to be one of the top three multi-state cannabis operators active in the U.S. legal cannabis and hemp sector. RWB is predominantly focusing its investments on the major US markets, including Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Arizona and California with respect to cannabis, and the US and internationally for hemp-based CBD products. Visit website: www.RedWhiteBloom.com, or follow RWB on social media:

Twitter: @rwbbrands;

Facebook: @redwhitebloombrands;

Instagram: @redwhitebloombrands.

CONTACT:

For more information about Red White & Bloom Brands Inc., please contact:

Tyler Troup, Managing Director

Circadian Group IR

IR@RedWhiteBloom.com

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Companys current expectations. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. There is no assurance that these transactions will yield results in line with management expectations. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: risks associated with the implementation of the Companys business plan and matters relating thereto, risks associated with the cannabis industry, competition, regulatory change, the need for additional financing, reliance on key personnel, market size, and the volatility of the Companys common share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based on managements beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

There are a number of important factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the Companys proposed business, such as failure of the business strategy and government regulation; risks related to the Companys operations, such as additional financing requirements and access to capital, reliance on key and qualified personnel, insurance, competition, intellectual property and reliable supply chains; risks related to the Company and its business generally; risks related to regulatory approvals. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Companys forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8563386d-f9d2-4dd3-b0ae-bbc0a518acb2




TAIPEI,Taiwan, January 17, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TaiwanPlus, a new global English-language video streaming platform, launches a 2022 TaiwanPlus Original Series titled "Road to Legacy," which is a 10-episode docuseries detailing the journey to fame of these 10 bands in Taiwan. On January 17, 2022, TaiwanPlus holds the world premiere at Legacy Taipei, with the docuseries launched exclusively and free to stream worldwide via www.TaiwanPlus.com on the same day.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220116005081/en/

The TaiwanPlus Original Series will be released in three installments, kicking off with the episodes on Tizzy Bac, 88BALAZ and Nighteentael on January 17th. (Photo: Business Wire)

Since its inception, "TaiwanPlus strives to provide a platform to showcase the diverse, creative culture that flourished under Taiwans vibrant democracy. Following the positive reception from the TaiwanPlus Film Festival, which was an online curation of 10 iconic Taiwanese films, the platform now seeks to Bring Taiwan to the World through the countrys dynamic indie music scene," indicates TaiwanPlus CEO Joanne Tsai.

Produced by TaiwanPlus, "Road to Legacy" is a co-production with Legacy Taipei, a live house institution in Taiwan that has hosted many renowned international and Taiwanese bands since 2009. Executive Producer Tien Tsung Ma says, "Contemporary Taiwanese music ranges from electronic music, rock, folk to hip-hop, and this docuseries is a timely snapshot of Taiwans music scene." Shot over the course of 2.5 years, the docuseries unveils the truest side of these music artists, sharing their personalities, philosophy, and vision.

Among the ten bands featured, Tizzy Bac, ABAO and Namewee have garnered the most international presence. Tizzy Bac was established in 1999, offering a unique style of indie rock by integrating jazz, alternative rock, and electronic elements into their music. While indigenous Taiwanese R&B artist, ABAO, is hailed as a symbol of culture and heritage throughout Taiwan for her unique music. Malaysian artist and musician, Namewee, is known for pop and hip-hop, having garnered a following in East and South-East Asia as a passionate, outspoken activist for injustice and inequality. His work has been banned in China due to his song "Fragile Heart."

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The docuseries will be released in three installments, kicking off with the episodes on Tizzy Bac, 88BALAZ and Nighteentael on January 17th. The remaining episodes will be made available in February (PA PUN BAND, Dadado Huang and Sweet John) and March (Namewee, ABAO, The Next Big Thing and LINION). The full listing of "Road to Legacy" can be found at: https://tw.plus/Kb7nt.

To coincide with this celebration of music, TaiwanPlus is also hosting an online campaign to crowd-source 12-sec videos with sound that embodies Taiwan on Instagram. Event details can be found here: https://tw.plus/CNV3b.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220116005081/en/

Contacts

Press Contact:

Sara Lin

Sara.lin@taiwanplus.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest gifts novelty and souvenirs market research report by Technavio infers that the growing culture of gifting is driving this market's growth, resulting in market growth of USD 11.88 billion from 2020 to 2025.

Attractive Opportunities in Gifts Novelty and Souvenirs Market by Product, Distribution Channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Read additional information about the market, Get FREE sample report .

Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying growth strategies such as building brand and brand equity to compete in the market.

American Greetings Corp., Archies Ltd., Card Factory Plc, funkypigeon.com Ltd., Hallmark Licensing LLC, PersonalizationMall.com LLC, Redbubble Ltd., Scotts Highland Services Ltd., Spencer Gifts LLC, and The Walt Disney Co., among others, are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

Various players in the market are engaging in strategic partnerships to up their game in the apparel, accessories & luxury goods industry. For instance, in March 2021, American Greetings, in partnership with Actress Marlee Matlin, launched Innovative Sign Language Digital Greeting.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Gifts Novelty And Souvenirs Market: Product Landscape:

Gifts Novelty And Souvenirs Market: Distribution Channel Landscape:

Gifts Novelty And Souvenirs Market: Geographic Landscape

Request a FREE Sample of this report for more highlights into the market segments.

Regional Market Outlook

Europe will contribute to 35% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region can be attributed to the early penetration of the e-commerce market. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in South America.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, France, Germany, and the UK will contribute to the highest market growth.

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Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends and Drivers in the Gifts Novelty and Souvenirs Market

Market Driver:

Consumers are increasingly preferring modern products that suit the interior of their houses. This is encouraging vendors to invest in R&D and introduce advanced products to sustain themselves in the market. The demand for innovative products such as digital and illuminated photo frames as gifts and showpieces is increasing. Customers are gradually increasing their spending on gifts, novelty, and souvenirs. This has driven the demand for premium gift items. With technological advancements leading to product innovation and premiumization, the sales of gifts and souvenirs will rise, driving the growth of the gifts novelty and souvenirs market.

Market Trend:

Personalization of gifts helps small gift and souvenir retailers develop long-term relationships with customers. It also encourages repeat business for the companies. Personalized gifts are used for occasions such as birthdays, New Year, Women's Day, retirement, and promotion. Vendors are introducing gift personalization services to address this growing demand for personalized gifts. This growing trend and demand for personalized gifts are expected to fuel the market during the forecast period

Find additional information about various other market drivers & trends mentioned in our FREE sample report .

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Related Reports:

Gems and Jewelry Market by Distribution Channel and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Luxury Watch Market by End-user, Distribution Channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Gifts Novelty and Souvenirs Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 11.88 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.00 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution Europe at 35% Key consumer countries US, China, France, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Companies profiled American Greetings Corp., American Stationery Co. Inc., Archies Ltd., Card Factory Plc, Cimpress Plc, funkypigeon.com Ltd., Hallmark Licensing LLC, Memorable Gifts, PersonalizationMall.com LLC, Redbubble Ltd., Scotts Highland Services Ltd., Shutterfly Inc., Signature Gifts Inc., Sixty Stores Ltd., Spencer Gifts LLC, The Walt Disney Co., Things Remembered Inc., Zazzle Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus 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.

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SOURCE Technavio
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - Thunderstruck Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AWE) (The "Company") is pleased to announce the following updates on its exploration projects in Fiji:

Preliminary results from Liwa indicate the presence of a large mineralized system interpreted to be the top of a porphyry copper-gold system.

Full assays from the 2021 exploration program are pending. Initial results are encouraging and demonstrate the presence of anomalous gold in the system.

The Company has appointed Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol to Thunderstruck's Board of Directors and as Senior Exploration Manager, in which role he will oversee the Company's exploration programs.

Nicol Appointed to the Board to Oversee Exploration

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol to the Board of Directors and the position of Senior Exploration Manager. Dusty has a B.Sc. degree in Earth Science from M.I.T. and an M.A. degree in geology from Indiana University. Dusty has over 45 years of world-wide experience in gold exploration and mining. He has designed and managed successful gold exploration programs throughout North and South America, Africa, Russia and the Former Soviet Union, and Papua New Guinea. He has also designed and managed generative gold exploration programs in Africa and Europe. At Jerritt Canyon, Nevada, he designed and managed the exploration program which discovered over 1.5 million ounces of gold at a discovery cost of about $18 / ounce over a 5-year period. His exploration program at the Tulkubash oxide deposit, Kyrgyzstan, added over 600,000 ounces of gold to M&I Resource in the first year, at a discovery cost of $11.40 / ounce.

Dusty has held senior corporate positions on several publicly listed companies (TSX, TSX-V, ASX, AIM, and ASE), having served as a CEO / President, VP-Exploration, Technical Director, and Independent Director. Dusty is a QP (NI 43-101) and CP (JORC).

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Bryce Bradley, Thunderstruck's President/CEO states, "With the addition of Dusty to the Board of Directors, and taking on the role of Senior Exploration Manager, we are poised for an aggressive advancement of our Fijian assets. His exploration experience, passion and track record for discoveries will lead the Company to great success, and we're very happy that he believes in the significant upside of our projects."

Dusty added, "I am very pleased to be joining Thunderstruck in this role. I believe the Company's projects are very exciting and have tremendous discovery potential. I look forward to being part of the excellent and professional exploration team that the Company has put together and participating in the discoveries that I feel are going to be made on our projects."

Liwa

Drillhole "Liwa 1" intersected a broad zone (over 15.5 m) of clay-sericite-quartz alteration as well as other significant zones of alteration and mineralization, including over 25.5m of intense silicification, and zones up to 5.6m of visible sulphides. This alteration and mineralization are interpreted as epithermal, consistent with the upper portion of a porphyry copper-gold system. Assays from this drillhole are pending. An interval of 0.24m at 1.65 g/t Au and 5.14 g/t Ag was intersected in this drillhole.





Figure 1: Diagram of a telescoped porphyry-copper system from Sillitoe, 2010 "Porphyry Copper Systems". Edited to show possible relationship between Liwa and Rama.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2901/110631_d3bfb1f8c474bad4_002full.jpg

Results from the drill hole confirm the presence of anomalous gold grades at depth on the property. Further, they indicate that the epithermal system linked to gold grades at surface continues at least 72m below ground, with continued potential at greater depths. Mineral alteration and vein textures at depth suggest that a complex and potentially ore-forming system exists at Liwa. Additionally, these features allude to the existence of a deeper "boiling zone" that is predicted to host higher gold grades at depth (See press release dated October 11, 2019).

Assays of samples collected during the 2021 mapping campaign confirm further extension of the epithermal system along-strike at Liwa, with samples in the new area grading up to 0.4 g/t Au. Additionally, the new outcrop of the Liwa Ridge breccia graded up to 1.010 g/t Au and 22.3 g/t Ag. This outcrop allowed for structural measurements to be taken of the breccia, which will lead to much improved drillhole targeting when the structure is drilled in 2022. The geochemistry and alteration at Liwa support the idea that is the top of a porphyry copper-gold system. Liwa is adjacent to the Company's Rama License, which has been identified as a porphyry copper-gold system. This supports the speculation that Liwa and Rama may be part of one large mineralized porphyry copper-gold system.

In addition, a distinct unit of volcanic rock hosting sulphide mineralization has been identified at Liwa, similar to the volcanic unit hosting massive sulphide mineralization at the Company's volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) projects, Korokayiu and Nakoro. This volcanic unit has been identified in both drill core and outcrop. This adds credence to the notion that the company's properties are all situated within a broad metallogenic region hosting a variety of deposit types. The geological team is excited to develop this idea further as they continue to refine their understanding of the region's geology.

Table 1: Intervals from the Liwa 1 drillhole with the highest precious metal grades. Interval Start Interval End Interval Length Au g/t Ag g/t 30.9 31.14 0.24 1.675 5.14 100.8 101.5 0.7 0.07 1.34 103.9 104.4 0.5 0.01 1.86

Table 2: Rock samples collected during Liwa mapping with significant precious metal grades. Sample Au g/t Ag g/t 21OVP029 1.010 5.19 21OVP030 0.511 22.3 21OVP031 0.539 19.75 21OVP032 0.013 1.65



Nakoro

Mapping on the Nakoro prospect was carried out between 24/11/2021 and 03/12/21. The purpose of this was: to verify the work and results of previous studies; develop a better understanding of the structure in the area; develop a better understanding of the alteration in the area; and to investigate the extension of existing targets along-strike.

Company geologists uncovered a 2km along-strike extension of the Nakoro massive sulphide gossans that can be correlated to targets that were historically drilled by Anglo American. This represents a significant enlargement of the prospect and provides additional targets for drilling in the 2022 season. Additionally, a gabbro intrusion hosting copper minerals such as bornite and chalcopyrite was discovered to the east of Nakoro Village. This is a potentially significant component of the mineralising system at Nakoro, and company geologists are excited to develop it further through upcoming assay results and investigation in the 2022 exploration season. The complexity of the geology in the area confirms that this was a geologically dynamic region of Fiji with great mineral potential.

2022 Exploration Plans

The exploration program for 2022 is being developed and is contemplated to include the following:

Liwa: Drilling at Liwa Ridge, Jensen's, Gunn and Vatuvatulevu.

Nakoro: Drilling Gossan Unit, geological mapping, and geochemical sampling both directions along strike; potentially drilling intrusive unit.

Rama: Investigating Senikura Zone: objective to confirm presence of high-sulphidation epithermal system and define drill targets for late 2022 or early 2023.

Korokayiu: drilling defined targets at Wainaleka. Defining and drilling new targets at Kula 1.

Regional and district-scale geologic mapping and geochemical sampling over Liwa-Rama and Nakoro-Liwa deposits.

About Fiji

Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji, has a long mining history. It is on the prolific Pacific Ring of Fire, a trend that has produced numerous large deposits, including Porgera, Lihir and Grasberg. The island of Viti Levu hosts Namosi, held by a joint venture between Newcrest and Mitsubishi. Newcrest published Proven and Probable Reserves for Namosi of 1.3 billion tonnes at 0.37% Cu and 0.12 g/t Au (5.2M ounces Au and 4.9M tonnes Cu). Namosi is now undergoing environmental assessment as part of the permitting process. Lion One Metals is now developing its Tuvatu Project, with Indicated Resources of 1.00 million tonnes at 8.48 g/t Au (274,600 ounces Au), and Inferred Resources of 1.33 million tonnes at 9.0 g/t Au (384,000 ounces Au) reported at a 3.0 g/t Au lower cutoff. The Vatukoula Gold Mine has been operating for 80 years, producing in excess of 7 million ounces.

About Thunderstruck Resources

Thunderstruck Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company that has assembled extensive and highly prospective properties in Fiji on which recent and previous exploration has confirmed zinc, copper, and precious metals mineralization. The Company provides investors with exposure to a diverse portfolio of exploration stage projects with potential for zinc, copper, gold and silver in a politically safe and stable jurisdiction. Thunderstruck trades on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol "AWE" and United States OTC under the symbol "THURF".

Methodology and QA/QC

The analytical work reported on herein was performed by Australian Laboratory Services Pty. Ltd. (ALS) at Perth, WA. ALS is an ISO-IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited geoanalytical laboratory and is independent of the Thunderstruck Resources and the QP.

Rock and drill core samples were subject to crushing with >85% passing 3.15mm and then pulverised to better than 85% passing minus 75 micron. Samples were then split using a riffle splitter. A 0.25 gram sample pulp was then subject to 4-acid (HF-HNO3-HClO4) digestion and analysis through a combination of ICP-AES & ICP-MS (ME-MS61) for most elements, including silver. A 30 gram fire assay fusion (Au-ICP22) was used for gold determination.

Thunderstruck Resources follows industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Liwa prospect, with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate and standard samples were inserted into the sample sequence sent to the laboratory for analysis. Thunderstruck Resources detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data. Thunderstruck Resources is not aware of any sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.

Qualified Person Statement

Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, FAusIMM, RG, the Company's Director and Senior Exploration Manager, is a Qualified Person for the Company's projects as defined by National Instrument NI 43-101. Mr. Nicol has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

For additional information, please contact:

Rob Christl, VP Business Development and Investor Relations

Email: rob@thunderstruck.ca

P: 778 840-7180

or, visit our website: http://www.thunderstruck.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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 contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Although Thunderstruck believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Thunderstruck's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Thunderstruck undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110631
OXFORD, England, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Volkswagen Group has signed a two-year contract extension with Unipart Logistics to support their UK and Ireland aftermarket supply chain.

Volkswagen Group and Unipart Logistics distribution centre sign

Over 500 Unipart Logistics colleagues work in the Volkswagen Group's 650,000 square feet Tamworth hub, managing the full Aftermarket warehouse operation for Volkswagen Group UK.

The site services more than 900 retailers and trade partners across the UK and Ireland for Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, CUPRA, SKODA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and the Volkswagen Group's Trade Parts Services business.

Unipart Logistics provides logistics services, network service support, and bespoke services for the retailer network. The efficiency and performance of the warehouse operations is being optimised through the use of digital applications and warehouse of the future technology.

Claire Walters, Chief Commercial Officer at Unipart Logistics, said: "We are proud of our strong collaborative partnership with Volkswagen Group UK, which has strengthened as we have navigated the recent challenges of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional customer service, digital innovation, and our joint sustainability goals."

Volkswagen Group UK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world's leading car, truck and mobility company comprising 10 brands from seven European countries.

In 2020, Volkswagen Group UK achieved a market share of 22.1% of the passenger car market, confirming the Volkswagen Group as the leading automotive company in the UK. The Volkswagen Group has continued to outperform the market in 2021 growing its year-to-date market share to 23.2% of the new car market at the end of September.

Contact: Alistair Drummond, alistair.drummond@unipart.com, tel: 01865 383068

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728111/Volkswagen_Group_and_Unipart_Logistics.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1294985/Unipart_Group_Logo.jpg
An Online Marketplace of F&B and Retail Brands Turning Pandemic Crisis into Opportunities

HONG KONG, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Food and beverage (F&B) and retail businesses are dealing with another challenge as social distancing measures and evening dine-in ban span across the Chinese New Year, where holiday business usually peaks. To help companies battle the challenge, Zeek launched an innovative one-stop quick commerce platform  ZeekStore  an online marketplace connecting restaurants and quick commerce businesses with customers. Companies can quickly get their online ordering platforms up and running at a low cost, plus Zeek's territory-wide delivery network, to seize the quick commerce opportunities, while customers can enjoy cuisines and lifestyle service delivery at the comfort of their homes.

Zeek launched an innovative one-stop quick commerce platform  ZeekStore  an online marketplace connecting restaurants and quick commerce businesses with customers.

Turning pandemic crisis into business opportunities

Understanding the unpredictable pandemic challenge facing the F&B and retail industries, Zeek launched an innovative, one-stop quick commerce platform  ZeekStore  an online marketplace housing major F&B and retail brands. Many cuisines and groceries are delivered to customers at their doors, plus exclusive promotions, to make life more comfortable when people's mobility is restrained. In the meantime, ZeekSolutions, one of the proprietary products of Zeek, offers integrated business solutions to F&B and retail businesses, including a quick set-up of an online platform, intelligent logistics services and big data analytics. What's more, companies can leverage their customer data with analytics to curate strategic marketing promotions in a cost-effective manner.

KK Chiu, CEO of Zeek, said: "We believe that we can turn the pandemic challenges into opportunities. Our one-stop quick commerce platform, ZeekStore, enables small and medium companies to quickly transform into quick commerce platforms while citizens benefit from greater convenience. Zeek is standing shoulder to shoulder with Hong Kong people in this pandemic fight."

Story continues

ZeekStore is currently housing dozens of businesses, including Delifrance, Outback, The Night Market, Dan Ryan's and UNY/APITA, who take customer orders via their branded websites. New business clients who successfully open their online platforms at ZeekStore before 31 March 2022 can enjoy a discounted transaction fee as low as 2% for the first two months. Enquiry for branded websites and delivery services: https://bit.ly/ZeekSolutions.

#ZeekHK #ZeekStore #ZeekSolutions #QuickCommerce

SOURCE Zeek
This story has been updated to include information from Caroline and Stafford public schools.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools will continue to require that staff, students and visitors wear masks while inside schools, the division announced Monday morning.

Layered prevention strategies have been successful in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our schools which has allowed us to provide in-person learning that is required by Virginia law, the division noted in a press release.

Other local school divisions, such as King George, will permit masking to become optional once Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order allowing parents to opt their children out mask mandates goes into effect Jan. 24.

The Fredericksburg school system said in a press release Monday that it is following Virginia law by continuing the practice of masking, quoting Senate Bill 1303, which is in effect through Aug. 1 and states that school divisions need to provide in-person instruction in a manner in which it adheres, to the maximum extent practicable, to any currently applicable mitigation strategies for early childhood care and education programs and elementary and secondary schools to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that have been provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC and the Virginia Department of Health continue to recommend masking in schools to reduce transmission of the virus.

Youngkins executive order states that a child whose parent has elected that he or she is not subject to a mask mandate should not be required to wear a mask under any policy implemented by a teacher, school, school district, the Department of Education, or any other state authority.

It also states that the superintendent of public instruction will issue new guidance for the prevention of COVID-19 in schools.

Stafford County Public Schools superintendent Thomas Taylor said in a message sent to the school community Sunday evening that current mitigation strategies, which include masking, will continue until the executive order takes effect.

According to division spokesperson Sandra Osborn, the School Board will meet later this week to discuss masking, "and we are waiting to see what the new K-12 guidance will be from the state."

Taylor said in his email division employees are still required to wear masks under Virginia Administrative Codes occupational safety and health standards, but noted that Youngkin issued another executive order directing that these be reviewed.

Taylor said the divisions goal is to keep our students and staff safe and ensure our doors remain open for in-person instruction and stressed the effectiveness of layered prevention strategies that include face coverings, hand washing, social distancing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine, air purification and daily health screening.

Taylor asked the school community to recognize that constant change and uncertainty are difficult for some to process, and that consistency must be maintained to the greatest extent possible.

Caroline County Public Schools is also awaiting additional guidance before making a decision about masking after the executive order goes into effect, the division communicated in an announcement sent Monday evening.

"The CCPS School Board is awaiting additional information related to [Executive Order 2] implementation and is reviewing requirements/recommendations associated with Senate Bill 1303, CDC/VDH guidelines, [occupational safety and health standards] and VDOE Interim Guidance for COVID-19," according to the announcement.

King George County Public Schools announced Monday that as of Jan. 24, masks will be optional for students in grades six through 12, and for those in preschool through grade five with a signed waiver. Parents submitted waivers in August, and will have the opportunity to submit new waivers or rescind a waiver request this week, the school division said.

The Spotsylvania County School Board will discuss masking at its meeting Tuesday, according to the meeting agenda.

Federal regulation still mandates that masks be worn on public transportation, including school buses.

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Ancestors of a local Native American tribe hope Congress will help them achieve federal recognition.

Our native ancestors were the first people here, Patawomeck Chief Charles Bootsie Bullock said. Its time to be recognized, just as the other ones are today.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs lists 574 federally recognized Native American tribes scattered across the U.S. Seven of them are located in Virginia, including two Chickahominy tribes, along with the Monacan, Nansemond, Pamunkey, Rappahannock and Upper Mattaponi tribes.

The Patawomeck tribe, which first settled in Stafford County near present-day Marlborough Point in the early 1300s, has more than 2,600 descendants and is one of 11 state-recognized tribes. Local tribal members say 70 percent of them reside in southern Staffords White Oak area.

Bullock said federal status could open up opportunities for tribal members to receive education, housing and medical benefits, while Chief Emeritus John Lightner said the Patawomeck tribe would finally achieve its sovereignty.

It gives the tribe the right to self-government without interference from the state [government], Lightner said. [It] was actually guaranteed to the tribe by the English in treaties.

Minnie Lightner, the Patawomeck tribes administrative assistant, said although it took the Pamunkey tribe 33 years to gain federal status by a combination of legislative and administrative efforts through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, it took about half the time for the other Virginia tribes to gain the same federal status working through Congress.

My feeling is, those other six tribes have already gone the congressional route. It should be easier and quicker for us because theyve already gone through the process, Lightner said.

Fredericksburg-area Rep. Rob Wittman, who is assisting the Patawomeck along the long legislative path, said although going through the BIA is tedious, time-consuming and demanding, the route through Congress isnt a cakewalk, either.

Its tremendously difficult to do this legislatively because the bill has to, from the very beginning, make it through committee and it has to have support from folks on both sides of the aisle, Wittman said. Thats the challenge to be able to do this.

Wittman said that, like the Patawomeck, the now federally recognized Pamunkey tribe also attempted the congressional route, but ultimately filed its application through the BIA channel.

All six tribes went through that process that took that number of years, but there was not an active application by the Pamunkey tribe before the BIA for that full 33 years, Wittman said. Some of that 33 years was taken up waiting for legislation to get passed.

Bullock said the Patawomeck may eventually consider applying for federal status through the BIA, which requires tribes to prove they have had no breaks in tribal existence.

Perhaps that option may come, Bullock said. The last six tribes that went in, four of them could not go through the BIA, but weve got documentation showing that yes, we existed back in the 1600s or even further.

Another roadblock that hinders Virginia tribes from gaining federal recognition is the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which served to classify all Virginia residents into either white or colored categories. The act not only classified all Native Americans as colored, but vital tribal records were seized by the government and destroyed. Bullock said those records are essential to satisfy the BIAs tribal continuity requirement.

The act, which was ultimately invalidated in 1967 by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case involving the interracial marriage between Caroline County couple Richard and Mildred Loving, was drafted by physician and public health advocate Walter Plecker, who served as the first registrar of Virginias Bureau of Vital Statistics from 1912 to 1946.

Other than the two native tribes that had reservationsthe Pamunkey and the Mattaponi[Plecker] singlehandedly just about eradicated Native Americans in the state of Virginia, said Bullock. It was tough, and its tough now.

Bullock said Plecker visited Stafford County during his tenure in office after receiving a tip about a large Indian community concentrated near White Oak. Bullock said fortunately that night, White Oak residents were warned in advance of Pleckers approach.

The White Oak area has always been a Native American community, Bullock said. Plecker had made that gap virtually impossible for us to maintain at a consistent basis.

In August 2019, Stafford County officials turned over the 17-acre Little Falls Farm at 638 Kings Highway to the Patawomeck tribe under a 10-year, $1-per-year lease agreement for use as the tribes museum and cultural center. The farm was originally donated to Stafford by Fredericksburg businessman Duff McDuff Green Jr., along with the adjacent park that bears his name.

As a federal tribe, the Patawomeck would be able to gain access to artifacts from a five-year archaeological exploration that took place at the tribes original town site at Marlborough Point from 1935 to 1940.

That dig, conducted by Judge William J. Graham and T. Dale Stewart of what is now the Smithsonian Institute, netted tens of thousands of Patawomeck artifacts, including skeletal remains, pottery, jewelry, tools and hunting weapons. Many of those items still under the care of the Smithsonian could one day be released to the tribe for display at its Little Falls Farm cultural center.

James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 jbaron@freelancestar.com

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Two years ago, in early 2020, when America first braced for the onslaught of the COVID epidemic, a temporarily united Congress reached for a tool that would help cushion the blow.

With widespread job losses looming, Congress voted almost unanimously in late March to expand the nations unemployment insurance system to provide an alternate source of income to Americas workers.

Last year, a record 48 million people found economic refuge through state unemployment insurance programs, up from just 5 million the year before the pandemic. It was a vital lifeline, allowing people who had lost their jobs to feed their families and heat their homes when the worlds economy shut down.

Unknown to all but a few, however, is the name of the person who deserves the credit for creating the program: It was a woman named Frances Perkins, a social reformer from New York, who paved the way for unemployment insurance in America.

Today, Perkins is mostly known as the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, but her role was far greater. She was arguably one of the most important and successful progressive politicians, male or female, in U.S. history.

National unemployment insurance is only one of Perkinss accomplishments. She was also the driving force behind Social Security, a source of support to some 68 million aging Americans; the 40-hour work week; the ban on child labor; the international fire safety code and the National Labor Relations Act, which gave workers the right to organize and form unions.

Perkins was also the mastermind behind the Civilian Conservation Corps, which put 3 million men and women to work during the Great Depression building trails and planting trees across the country. She also championed the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan program, which has provided a route to home ownership for some 50 million families.

Perkinss legacy is everywhere today.

Her personal story is as remarkable as her accomplishments. Deeply religious but socially avant garde, Perkins was a genius who found ways to do things that generations of civic reformers had been unable to achieve.

Born in 1880, Perkins grew up in a middle-class family in Worcester, Mass., but made friends on all levels of the social ladder. Navigating smoothly in political circles that were usually closed to women, she effectively lobbied for legislation that recast the American workplace, first in New York and then in Washington, D.C.

Her public life began in 1911, when she happened to witness one of the worst workplace accidents of the era, the Triangle Shirtwaist fire, where some 146 workers died in an overcrowded factory in Greenwich Village. A veteran settlement-house worker, Perkins was selected by Teddy Roosevelt to head a committee to investigate the causes of the fire and explore ways to reduce similar conflagrations.

While only in her 30s, and before women even had the right to vote, Perkins spearheaded New York state hearings that cast a sharp light on abusive and unsafe conditions in offices and factories and led to the enactment of scores of state and federal laws reducing workplace hazards.

Perkins became a top political advisor to New York governor Al Smith and later to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, serving on the state industrial commission. When Roosevelt was elected president, he asked her to become his secretary of labor, where she worked at his side for 12 years.

She was ambivalent about taking the job but felt she had to do so. A committed Episcopalian, Perkins believed that her faith called her to Washington to seek reforms she believed America needed. Perkinss revolutionary social safety net became known as the New Deal.

Kirstin Downey is a longtime Washington Post journalist and the author of a biography of Frances Perkins called The Woman Behind the New Deal. Downey will share her thoughts, the result of nine years of research into Perkinss life and work, as part of the 19th season of the William B. Crawley Great Lives lecture series at the University of Mary Washington. The lecture will be live-streamed at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20, and can be accessed through the program webpage at umw.edu/greatlives.
Starting Saturday, Jan. 15, you can get certain at-home coronavirus tests for free  or get reimbursed if you pay upfront  so long as you have private health insurance. And next week, regardless of your insurance status, you will be able to order free at-home COVID-19 tests to be delivered directly to your doorstep.

President Joe Biden unveiled the new at-home testing programs in early December as part of his administrations winter COVID-19 agenda, but the White House was tight-lipped about the details for more than a month.

The Biden administration recently filled in some of the blanks. On Monday, Jan. 10, the White House outlined specifics about a new federal program that requires private health insurance companies to cover at-home coronavirus testing kits. And on Thursday, the president shared a timeline for the release of a new government website that you can use to order free tests.

Heres what you need to know about the two new testing programs.

Make sure you have a Health Insurance Plan for you and your loved ones that best meets your wellness needs. Select your state to get started!

How to get free at-home COVID-19 tests through your health insurance

Health insurance companies will be required to pay for certain at-home coronavirus tests, either by covering them upfront at no cost to you or by reimbursing the eligible tests that you paid for out-of-pocket.

Beginning January 15, 2022, individuals covered by a health insurance plan who purchase an FDA-approved, over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test will be able to have those tests covered by their insurance, the White House tweeted.

Testing is critically important to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, as well as to quickly diagnose COVID-19 so that it can be effectively treated. Todays action further removes financial barriers and expands access to COVID-19 tests for millions of people, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a statement Monday.

While this program was developed to make testing easier and more affordable amid the surging winter case counts, not all tests are covered and not everyone is eligible for the program.

Know these five key points to ensure your at-home COVID-19 tests are covered.

You must have private health insurance.

Perhaps the largest qualifier to get your at-home tests for free  or at least get it reimbursed  is private health insurance.

According to the CMS, if you have Medicare or are uninsured, you wont be eligible for this program. Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage for at-home tests, and the CMS recommends reaching out directly to your insurer for details.

State Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members are already eligible for free at-home tests through the American Rescue Plan, but they dont qualify for free (or reimbursed) COVID-19 testing through this new program.

A Health Insurance Plan has never been more important. Sign up for yours today.

Protect yourself and your family with a quality Health Insurance Plan. Get more information now by clicking below.

Up to 8 FDA-approved tests per month are covered.

Your insurance provider is required to cover the costs of up to eight tests per month, per insured individual. You can get eight separate tests per spouse, child or other dependent whos covered on your private insurance plan.

That means a family of four can get 32 tests per month for free, the CMS says.

There are no limits to the number of covered tests if theyre requested by a doctor or other health care provider, or if they are needed due to an underlying medical condition.

The tests must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has compiled a list of 43 approved at-home COVID-19 tests.

The reimbursement max is $12 per test (usually).

The Biden administration aims to incentivize insurers to cover the cost of certain at-home tests upfront, at the point of sale, so that youre not fronting any money whatsoever, according to the HHS. Unfortunately, insurance companies havent yet released details on how upfront coverage will work. (More on this below.)

But insurers are still required to reimburse you up to $12 (or possibly more) per FDA-approved test if you pay out of pocket, even if your insurance provider prefers a certain pharmacy or type of test.

For example, if an individual has a plan that offers direct coverage through their preferred pharmacy but that individual instead purchases tests through an online retailer, the plan is still required to reimburse them up to $12 per individual test, the HHS says.

That also means, for instance, if you get health insurance through Aetna, an insurance provider owned by CVS, the company cant force you to purchase tests offered only through CVS pharmacies.

Additionally, over-the-counter testing kits usually come in packs of two or more. The CMS website clarifies that a two-pack kit would be considered two separately reimbursable tests, for up to $12 apiece.

That said, pay close attention to the price-per-test when youre shopping around. At-home tests are hard to come by in stores and at online retailers. On sites like Amazon, for example, vendors sometimes hike prices up when supply is low. As a result, the per-test cost can easily exceed $12 in certain cases.

Youre still free to buy them if the price exceeds $12 per test, but know that you wont get a full reimbursement.

However, there is an exception: If your insurer does not set up a program that allows you to get tests through preferred pharmacies or retailers at no upfront cost to you, then it will be required to pay the full amount of the test, even if the cost exceeds $12.

For example, if an individual buys a two-pack for $34, and the plan or insurer has not set up a system to cover costs upfront, the CMS says, then the plan or insurer would have to reimburse the $34 instead of $24

Tests purchased before Jan. 15 might not be covered.

The new federal rules require health insurance companies to cover at-home COVID-19 tests purchased only on or after Saturday, Jan. 15.

However, insurers can cover at-home tests purchased before then if they choose to. If you have receipts for at-home COVID-19 tests youve already purchased, you should reach out directly to your insurance provider to see if theyll cover the costs.

Some states may have existing requirements related to coverage of at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, the CMS says.

Insurance companies will create their own reimbursement and coverage rules.

Health insurance companies are currently scrambling to implement the new rules announced by the White House.

The federal rules incentivize insurance companies to offer at-home tests at no upfront costs to you by allowing them to partner with preferred pharmacies and retailers. Theoretically, this means that if you go to your insurers preferred drugstore and find an at-home test thats covered, youll be able to show your insurance card and get the test for no charge. In addition, each insurer will also be required to set up their own reimbursement process for tests that people pay for out of pocket.

Health insurance providers will work as quickly as possible to implement this guidance in ways that limit consumer confusion and challenges, Matt Eyles, president and CEO of Americas Health Insurance Plans, said in a statement. While there will likely be some hiccups in early days, we will work with the Administration to swiftly address issues as they arise.

This approach may result in each insurance company creating its own reimbursement and coverage requirements. Be sure to check in directly with your own health insurance provider for details.

Major health insurance companies have not yet released details publicly. Money reached out to several of the largest providers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare for more information.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and Aetna responded, but they did not share details of how they plan to implement the new program.

We appreciate the administrations efforts to address this challenge, BCBSA president and CEO Kim Keck said in a statement shared with Money on Tuesday. That being said, we are concerned that the policy does not solve for the limited supply of tests in the country and could cause additional consumer friction as insurers stand up a program in just four days time.

How to get free COVID-19 tests shipped directly to you

The second major free at-home testing program will include free shipment directly to your door. However, details are much thinner on this program. Heres what we do know so far.

The White House will distribute 1 billion at-home COVID-19 tests for free.

Initially, President Biden announced that the home-delivery testing program would provide 500 million free tests. At a coronavirus update address Thursday, the president said hes going to double that figure.

In addition to the half-a-billion tests in the process of being acquired, Biden said Thursday morning, today, Im directing my team to procure an additional 500 million more tests for distribution for free. Thats a billion tests in total.

So far, the White House says it has procured approximately 380 million at-home tests.

You will have to order free tests on a government website.

To get free at-home COVID-19 tests from the billion stockpile that the government is amassing, youll need to use a forthcoming website to reserve and order them.

The White House has been hesitant to announce exactly when the new website is going live. Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said over the past weeks that the administration will release the website once the White House has at least a portion of the tests in hand and ready to ship.

On Thursday, the president narrowed down that window to some time during the week of Jan. 16.

Were on track to roll out a website next week where you can order free tests shipped to your home, Biden said.

You wont need health insurance.

While the other free coronavirus testing program requires you to have private health insurance to qualify, you will not need insurance to order free tests through the forthcoming government website.

White House officials have repeatedly said the delivery program will be available to all Americans at no cost.

Other ways to get free COVID-19 tests

Theoretically, once these programs are in full effect, getting free at-home COVID-19 tests should be as easy as popping into a local convenience store to pick them up or ordering a few from the governments website.

But both programs face significant logistics and supply hurdles.

At-home coronavirus tests are already difficult to come by either in store or online. And while the Biden administration is contracting with several manufacturers to produce the one billion tests that it plans to distribute, it wont procure all the tests at once. Shipments will come in waves, officials have said. That may result in stocking issues. If you do order them, its unclear how long delivery  which will be provided by the USPS  will take.

So what if you have symptoms and dont have days to wait for at-home tests to restock or ship? You still have free options. But know that they will require you to go into public.

You can currently get tested for free in person at more than 10,000 pharmacies across the country, according to the CMS.

FEMAs free surge testing sites are popping up in states that are hard-hit by the Omicron variant.

Many libraries and other community centers have also been distributing state stockpiles of at-home COVID-19 tests for free.

In his COVID-19 address, Biden pleaded with Americans to get vaccinated, get tested and wear masks. To help with that last request, he teased another new program that will cover the cost of masks.

Next week, Biden said Thursday, well announce how were making high-quality masks available to the American people for free.

A quality Health Insurance Plan can cover most unexpected incidents. With a Health Insurance Plan that meets your needs while remaining affordable, you'll be good to go. Click below to find out more.

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WAHOO  When Ron Vanderveen was a child growing up in Ontario, Canada, he had fond memories of going to Dairy Queen with his father.

He continued that tradition with his own children, taking them to the American-based ice cream eatery for every special occasion, like Fathers Day and his birthday.

It was Dairy Queen all the time, said Rons son, Rob Vanderveen.

It didnt matter if it was winter, said Nick Vanderveen, Robs other son.

It would be so cold and I say, I do not want any ice cream, Nick remembered.

So when the Omaha man was preparing to turn 60 years old, his family hit upon a great idea  make him a DQ employee for a day and allow him to learn how to make his favorite twist cone on his own.

The only problem was how to convince a DQ franchise to allow an amateur ice cream artist behind the counter?

Thats where having connections to small towns pays off.

Rons son had a good friend who grew up in Wahoo. Paul Wilson contacted a friend, Josh Hutson, who still lives in Wahoo to ask him if he thought the Dairy Queen in his hometown would be willing to play along.

Hutson reminded him that one of their former Wahoo High School classmates happens to run the Wahoo DQ.

Wilson himself had fond memories of the DQ in Wahoo. He contacted Jacob Pokorny, who has been the manager of the Dairy Queen for several years and recently became owner.

Jacob loved the idea.

It sounded fun, he said.

So on his birthday, Dec. 28, Rons family put him in a car and headed west for a surprise. He had no idea what the surprise was going to be.

When they pulled into the Dairy Queen parking lot, they were greeted with a sign that read: Welcome to the DQ Crew Ron!

Still not sure what was going on, Ron walked into the restaurant and was greeted by Jacob, who handed him a T-shirt bearing the Wahoo Dairy Queen logo. He was told to put on the shirt and then get to work behind the counter, where he began taking orders from his family.

Ron stood there in awe, and then said it was a dream come true.

My life is complete, he added.

His family members and friends continued the fun as they ordered ice cream cones and peanut buster parfaits in a complicated manner, mimicking how Ron gets a little flustered when he places an order.

Ron is a very smart, capable man, but he gets very overwhelmed when ordering food, said his daughter-in-law, Chase Vanderveen.

Rob said his dad cant seem to remember what to call his favorite menu item  the chocolate/vanilla ice cream twist cone.

He cant seem to remember twist. Hell say twirl, swirly, or gesture with his finger, Rob said, making a circle in the air with his finger to demonstrate.

I just cant find the words for twist, Ron admitted with a laugh.

I assume everybody knows what it is, he said as he made the hand gesture.

After the orders were placed, Ron went to work at the ice cream machine. With Jacobs assistance and help from other members of the Wahoo DQ staff, he learned how to make a twist cone with the trademark swirl on top.

Some of his cones may not have looked perfect. But they all tasted wonderful, according to his family and friends. His two sons and their spouses, Rons daughter Natalie and her husband David were there, along with Nicks wife Myca. And of course, Rons two grandchildren, Wilder and Shia, were enjoying a bit of ice cream. A handful of friends were also present, including a couple who traveled from Colorado.

Ron said he has loved Dairy Queen all of his life.

Its all about the ice cream, he said.

While the family lovingly mocked Rons difficulties while ordering, their affection for the family patriarch was evident as they smiled and laughed when he presented his lopsided cones.

After taking orders, making cones, Blizzards and other ice cream treats, Ron sat down to enjoy his own cone and reflect upon his experience.

I have more appreciation of what they do, he said of DQ employees.

Not that Ron has ever been unkind to a DQ employee. Nick remembers his dad making conversation with the staff and asking typical dad questions like Are you open all year long? in mid-January.

Rons love of DQ is legendary. He receives gift cards for the fast-food chain frequently from family and friends.

They know I love it and its a great present for me, he said.

But not nearly as great a present as being an DQ employee for a day.

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UN, agencies prepare relief efforts following Tonga volcano eruption

Xinhua) 08:07, January 18, 2022

Tongan geologists aboard a ship watch the eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga, Jan. 15, 2022. (Photo credit: Tonga Geological Services of the Government of Tonga)

The World Food Programme is mapping efforts to deploy relief supplies and staff. The agency is sending its emergency communications cluster to help restore communications lines in Tonga, a UN spokesman said.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and its agencies are readying relief efforts for the remote South Pacific island nation of Tonga following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"Our humanitarian colleagues and the government report significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu (the main island) and no contact from the Ha'apai group of islands," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "We are particularly concerned about two small islands, Mango and Fonoi, following surveillance flights confirming substantial property damage."

Australia and New Zealand carried out the flights over the weekend.

While there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries following Saturday's massive eruption, two people were reported missing, Dujarric said.

He said the World Food Programme is mapping efforts to deploy relief supplies and staff. The agency is sending its emergency communications cluster to help restore communications lines in Tonga.

Photo taken on Jan.14, 2022 shows the eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga. (Photo credit: Tonga Geological Services of the Government of Tonga)

The spokesman said the UN Children's Fund awaits government confirmation before transporting prepositioned emergency supplies from Fiji and Brisbane, Australia, warehouses. Included are essential water, sanitation and hygiene kits, water containers and buckets and water-field test kits, tarps, recreational kits for children and tents.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the tsunami that occurred in the aftermath of the massive eruption has brought extensive damage on the western beaches of Tongatapu, with several resorts and houses destroyed or badly damaged.

Other UN agencies working on relief include the UN Population Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Organization for Migration and the World Health Organization, the office said. The agencies work closely with relevant authorities in Tonga, humanitarian partners and donor countries.

The New Zealand and Australian governments announced emergency funding for the immediate aid response, and Australia is preparing a vessel to sail to Tonga with relief supplies, OCHA said.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft prepares to leave for Tonga from Auckland, New Zealand, Jan. 17, 2022. (New Zealand Ministry of Defense/Handout via Xinhua)

The Red Cross offered assistance and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community is providing technical support on the impact of the eruption and ashfall, the office said. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community is an international development organization comprising 22 Pacific island countries and territories.

Tonga's National Emergency Management Office is leading assessments and government response. The Tonga Red Cross Society and OCHA provide communication support.

The humanitarian office said there was no serious impact on Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands besides limited flooding.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Al-Quds University has the honor of being the largest Arab institution in the occupied city of Jerusalem. More than 13,000 students attend its colleges and centers that are neighboring Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the resurrection in the old town of Jerusalem.

Al-Quds University, Main Campus, Abu Dis, P.O Box 89
A new report says Taliban rule has had a "devastating impact" on Afghan women and girls, who have become "virtual prisoners" in their homes since the hard-line Islamist group took over the war-ravaged country in August.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Human Rights Institute at San Jose State University (SJSU) looked at the conditions for women since the Taliban took control in the southeastern province of Ghazni, and published their findings on January 18.

Since seizing control of the city of Ghazni on August 12, days before capturing Kabul, the Taliban has imposed policies that have created "huge barriers to women's and girls' health and education, curtailed freedom of movement, expression, and association, and deprived many of earned income," the report says.

These abuses have been exacerbated by an escalating humanitarian crisis -- caused by millions of dollars in lost income, spiking prices, aid cutoffs, a liquidity crisis, and cash shortages -- that has deprived much of the Afghan population of access to food, water, shelter, and health care.

"The crisis for women and girls in Afghanistan is escalating with no end in sight," according to Heather Barr, associate women's rights director at HRW.

Barr said that the Taliban policies "have rapidly turned many women and girls into virtual prisoners in their homes, depriving the country of one of its most precious resources, the skills and talents of the female half of the population."

The report comes a day after a group of 36 UN human rights experts raised alarm over an array of restrictive steps that have been introduced since the Talibans takeover, particularly those concerning women and girls.

"We are concerned about the continuous and systematic efforts to exclude women from the social, economic, and political spheres across the country," the experts said in a statement, adding that these concerns are exacerbated in the cases of women from ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities.

To conduct their research, HRW and SJSU said they remotely interviewed 10 women currently or recently in Ghazni Province, who "described spiraling prices for food staples, transportation, and schoolbooks, coupled with an abrupt and often total income loss."

Many of these women "had been the sole or primary wage earner for their family, but most lost their employment due to Taliban policies restricting women's access to work," the organizations said.

Only those working in primary education or health care were still able to work, and most were not being paid due to the financial crisis, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has "banned women and girls from secondary and higher education," report says.

The militant group also dictates "what women must wear, how they should travel, enforcing these rules through intimidation and inspections."

The Taliban-led government has ordered bus and taxi drivers not to carry women in their vehicles unless they are wearing an Islamic veil. According to the same order, drivers also are not allowed to transport unmarried women in their vehicles more than 70 kilometers.
Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani government to ensure that a human rights activist who has been reportedly imprisoned following a secret military trial last year benefits from fair treatment and medical care.

Last month, a military court convicted 58-year-old Idris Khattak of espionage and leaking sensitive information to a foreign intelligence agency, sentencing him to 14 years in prison, according to his family and lawyer. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Khattak, a prominent activist who spent years campaigning against enforced disappearances in Pakistan, became the victim of an enforced disappearance himself in 2019 when Pakistani intelligence agents bundled him into a car in broad daylight and whisked him away to an unknown location.

"Idris' family and lawyer have yet to receive any information on the status of his case," Amnesty said in a statement on January 18, adding that his lawyer has raised serious fair trial concerns.

Rights activists have suggested that Khattak was arrested because of his speaking out against the arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances committed by the military, which has an oversized role in domestic and foreign affairs.

Critics say enforced disappearances are being used by Pakistani authorities to stifle dissent.

"The government should ensure Idris' right to a fair trial and to appropriate health care," Amnesty said in its statement, noting that according to his family, the activist has yet to be vaccinated against the coronavirus while being kept in an overcrowded prison.
Asset management company The O'Neil Group and defense technology contractor Bluestaq announced a partnership Monday, which the Colorado Springs businesses say will help Bluestaq double its workforce and position the firm for national growth beyond the defense and intelligence sectors.

The O'Neil Group has made a "significant investment" in Bluestaq that makes it a part owner of the business, president and CEO Kevin O'Neil said in a joint announcement with Bluestaq officials. He declined to disclose the size of The O'Neil Group's ownership stake.

That investment will help keep Bluestaq's headquarters in the Springs and provide it with resources to accelerate its already rapid growth, O'Neil said. Launched in April 2018 by four founders, Bluestaq now has about 60 employees that are paid an average of $168,000 a year, the company says.

"Were looking to help a very, very solid technical company grow," O'Neil said.

Bluestaq specializes in data management systems, data analytics and software; it builds "highly secure enterprise software solutions for storing, managing and sharing data," according to the company's website.

The firm primarily serves the Department of Defense and the nation's intelligence community, said Seth Harvey, who will remain as Bluestaq's CEO under The O'Neil Group partnership.

The O'Neil Group's investment will help Bluestaq grow to about 120 employees over 18 months, Harvey said, while it potentially adds energy, law enforcement, health care and academic clients to its work for the Defense Department and intelligence community.

"There's many other sectors where data management and data security are vital," he said. "Just at the recent gas line cyberattack (on Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline). So I think this partnership really allows us to explore the potential of our support to other sectors, which were really excited about."

To that end, Bluestaq will look to possibly add offices outside Colorado Springs as it searches for top-flight employees, Harvey said.

"Whether its opening up new offices in other talent markets, whether its continuing to grow organically here, all of that should be considered," he said. "And this partnership (with The O'Neil Group) will help us."

Bluestaq officials had talked over the last year about the company's growth possibilities and what it would take to achieve its goals, Harvey said. They recognized they'd need outside help "if were going to continue on this growth trajectory and reach that potential," he said.

An alliance with O'Neil was a natural fit, Harvey said.

Bluestaq opened its offices in the Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation, a business park developed by The O'Neil Group on downtown Colorado Springs' east edge that's become a hub for space and technology ventures. Bluestaq has since moved into larger digs in the First Bank Building downtown, where it occupies 21,000 square feet.

The two parties have followed each other since Bluestaq began, and company officials literally picked up the phone and called O'Neil to discuss their growth plans, Harvey said.

"We've been in contact with him since we were here at Catalyst," he said. "We regularly see each other and it's something we just started having conversations on."

O'Neil said Bluestaq's technologies and capabilities will allow it to grow nationally and meet the demands of commercial sectors outside the defense and intelligence communities.

Keeping such a company and its headquarters in the Springs, along with the value it brings to its employees, is vital to the community, he said.

Bluestaq was among 429 companies nationwide that made Inc. magazine's 2021 Best Workplaces list. The company also has several partnerships and programs with local groups, such as Pikes Peak Community College, Palmer High School, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

"Its a great company," O'Neil said. "So for us to hang onto it, I think its critical to create the value proposition that Colorado Springs has world-class companies. And Bluestaq is definitely at the top of that pack."

As partners, Bluestaq will tap Kevin O'Neil and his staff's "experience and knowledge of growing other companies and building up other things across our community," Harvey said. "Were going to leverage their knowledge and their expertise and their experience in doing just that."

In addition to developing Catalyst Campus, O'Neil's company owned defense contractor Braxton Science and Technology Group before selling it for $300 million last year to Virginia-based engineering and construction giant Parsons.

O'Neil also owns several downtown office buildings  including one at 6 N. Tejon St. that houses The Gazette  and is an investor in a group that bought the former Union Printers Home east of downtown this year.

He's also proposed development of an 11-story office building downtown and a 25-story apartment tower that, if constructed, would become the city's tallest building.
The president of a COVID-19 testing company said his team is working to catch up with data reporting requirements, days after the Colorado Attorney General's Office sent him a letter ordering him to stop testing here.

The Georgia-based company, Macagain, operated eight locations on the Front Range, including two in Colorado Springs, according to the cease and desist letter sent to the company Friday. In that letter, Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Weaver wrote to Macagain President Khalid Ansari that the company had failed to report the results of its tests and had to stop testing immediately or face additional action.

The notice was announced in a weekend news release, which also described two similar letters sent to the Center for COVID Control, which ran three testing sites in the metro area. According to the letter, that company was not appropriately licensed and had "conditions at (its) testing sites (that) do not comply with applicable regulations and guidance regarding patient safety  including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment."

A representative for the Center for COVID Control directed questions to a separate email address; a message sent to that address seeking comment was not returned Monday. A company with the same name is registered with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, but its official address is not a legitimate Colorado address. The address matches an address in Illinois, with the state name switched out on the business registration from Illinois to Colorado. In an update posted to its website last week, with a dateline in Illinois, the company said it was experiencing high demand for testing.

Ansari, of Macagain, told The Gazette on Monday that he was frustrated his company was "bundled" in the announcement with "all of the other garbage other people are doing," a reference to the Center for COVID Control. Ansari said his company had to individually report the results of more than 45,000 COVID-19 tests and that the surge  plus infections among his staff  had caused significant delays.

He said his team had worked through the weekend and had reported nearly 7,000 of those results to the state Department of Public Health and Environment. Ansari said he was writing an email to the agency Monday morning to describe what happened.

The company was "caught off guard" by the size of the surge and by infections among staff.

"We weren't equipped for that. ... We are a legit medical group, we send our test results to high-complexity labs," he said.

The company is licensed with the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, records show.

A spokesman for the Colorado Attorney General's Office said Monday that if Macagain  or the Center for COVID Control  become compliant with their different deficiencies, they can resume providing testing in the state.

The state health department said in a statement Tuesday it is working with state and federal partners to investigate complaints about both companies that centered on "cleanliness of the sites, a lack of physical distancing, and not getting testing results in a timely manner."

Anyone with symptoms who recently received a test at one of these locations is encouraged to visit a free community testing site to confirm the result, the statement said.

For info on other testing center visit covid19.colorado.gov/testing.

The Gazette's Mary Shinn contributed to this story.
A month after its omicron surge began, Eagle County has decided not to extend its emergency indoor mask order, which expired Monday.

The county's board of health instituted the order, with a Jan. 17 expiration date, three days before Christmas, as the omicron variant surged into the area and sent positivity rates skyrocketing above 30%. But the situation has improved since, the county wrote in a Friday news release.

"The changes come as local circumstances slowly improve; new cases have begun to decline and there is reduced strain on all business sectors, importantly health and medical," the statement read. "Businesses and organizations may institute their own policies requiring vaccines or face coverings which will continue to be supported by the public health department."

The county announced it was extending its mask requirement for pre-K through eighth grade students until Friday. The county government still requires staff and customers to be masked in county-owned facilities, until cases drop below 500 per 100,000.

The county  along with neighbors Pitkin and Summit counties  was one of the first to experience the omicron surge in Colorado. Cases skyrocketed in short order: The county averaged 15.4 new cases per day for the week ending Dec. 12. By Dec. 17, a month ago, it was 39.29. Three days before New Year's, it had shot up to 219.29. The New York Times identified Eagle County  plus its neighbors  as one of the four hottest COVID-19 spots in the country.

The seven-day incidence rate in Eagle County has also improved, although it remains high: According to the county's COVID-19 dashboard, the incidence rate is now 2,066 over the past week; that's down from an average 2,398 from the past month. The average number of new cases reported daily has also dropped. The average positivity rate over the past week is still above 30% but has dipped five percentage points.

Pitkin is still rated as the county with the second-highest, per-100,000 case rate in the country.

Summit County also instituted a mask order amid the surge, which will remain in effect  as the order is written now  until Jan. 31. Pitkin County has had a long-standing order.

Though health officials statewide and nationally have warned that much remains unknown about omicron, they broadly expect surges to fall quickly, given how fast they skyrocketed. Omicron is also understood to cause less severe disease, lessening the threat to intensive care capacity.
Both the Kroger Co. and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 continued to badmouth the other side Monday as the King Soopers strike stretched into a sixth day  but at least they were still talking at the negotiating table.

About 8,400 union workers walked out of 77 metro Denver area King Soopers and City Market stores Wednesday morning, striking over what they say are unfair labor practices on the part of Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., which owns the Colorado stores.

On Friday, union representatives agreed to return to the bargaining table. The two sides met through the weekend and again Monday afternoon, though both sides said little progress has been made.

The company is disappointed that the process is moving slowly but pleased that progress is being made, Kroger officials said in a Sunday evening news release. The King Soopers and City Market team will continue to make themselves available to come to an agreement that puts more money in their associates' paychecks.

Union President Kim Cordova addressed members Sunday evening via Facebook, saying the company has made very little movement.

Its been very disappointing to us, as we spent the first day in negotiations listening to corporate executives scream, yell at members and show utter disdain and disrespect for the workers, Cordova said. The people that made every penny of their profit, and that gave the difference.

Cordovas line seemed to be a riff on King Soopers former motto Our People Make the Difference.

Kroger officials put out a fact sheet Saturday, alleging union officials have not provided new proposals regarding wage, health care or pensions at negotiations and ask UFCW to provide proof of these proposals.

It said temporary workers being hired at $18 per hour, $2 above the starting minimum wage the company has proposed, do not receive our hourly contributions to health care, pension, vacation, tuition assistance, making their total compensation less.

It also alleged that striking union workers were encouraging Coloradans to shop at non-union grocery stores whose wages are less than King Soopers.

Cordova said company officials' offers continue to not address your issues in that they have not agreed to anything in terms of safety or healthcare.

You have tremendous support from our community, elected leaders, faith groups, and our friends and neighbors out there, Cordova said. This fight is not only for us in Colorado. This fight is for working class people and essential workers around this country.
Manitou Springs voters will decide in a special election Tuesday whether to allow a third marijuana shop within city limits, a move supporters say would bolster city revenues and provide competitive pricing and more selection for shoppers.

Currently, Manitou Springs permits no more than two dual-operation medical and retail marijuana businesses within its commercial zone district located north and east of U.S. 24 and south of El Paso Boulevard, to its eastern boundary. If passed, the ballot question would also revise the zone district boundary to require the third establishment to be located within 150 feet south of U.S. 24 in a commercially zoned district. The shop would also have to provide at least 100 parking spaces.

With just two (marijuana) stores in the city, residents dont have a good selection for medical marijuana and theyre having to drive to Colorado Springs, said Renze Waddington, who owns three Epic Remedy stores selling medical marijuana in El Paso County. He wants to open a fourth shop, a dual-operation medical and retail marijuana store, near Higginbotham Flats in Manitou Springs. I want to bring competitive pricing and more selection.

Another marijuana facility would also boost Manitou Springs revenues, said Jason Warf, executive director of the Southern Colorado Cannabis Council, a marijuana advocacy group.

Come back to gazette.com for results.

Right now, the pricing of concentrates (in Manitou Springs) is four to five times the market rate. You can buy concentrates for $10 to $13 in Pueblo, but theyre going for $40 to $50 in Manitou, Warf said. Residents are driving out of town to shop.

Having another marijuana business in the city would keep revenues in Manitou Springs, he said.

I think thats a huge benefit in particular, Warf said.

In September the Manitou Springs City Council considered an initiative petition brought by a group of residents advocating for a third marijuana shop in the city, ultimately choosing to refer the matter to voters at a special election.

Historically, the City Council has not been supportive of movements to allow more than two marijuana facilities within the city. In February 2019 the council rejected a public effort to raise Manitou Springs two-store limit for recreational marijuana sales to four, and earlier this month approved a resolution urging voters to reject Tuesdays ballot question to expand the number of authorized marijuana businesses to three.

The resolution passed Jan. 4 argues proponents of the ballot question did not approach the City Council as a body to address the matter, essentially sidestepping the citys involvement in developing regulations by proceeding with an initiative petition. According to the Manitou Springs Municipal Code, the City Council must pass initiated ordinances as they are written and cannot revise them, or they must set an election to decide the issue.

The resolution further argues voters already decided the question in 2014.

The City Council believes that maintaining the two-establishment limit reflects the will of the voters, and that the existing location limitations in the commercial district of the eastern portion of the city has worked effectively and should be maintained, the resolution states.

But Scott Hunt, owner of cannabis-friendly bed and breakfast INNhale Bed & Brunch in Manitou Springs, said in a Jan. 5 public post on the All About Manitou Springs Colorado Facebook page that residents did approach the City Council about raising the two-store cap when they brought forth the effort the council ultimately rejected in February 2019.

Thus, our only option was to gather enough signatures to place the issue before the voters of Manitou, Hunt wrote.

Warf, who now lives in Cascade but previously lived in Manitou Springs for three years, argued residents minds have likely changed since 2014, evidenced by the fact theyve sought to revisit the issue more than once in the years since.

Populations change, especially in a town like Manitou, and opinion may have changed since then, he said. The City Council needs to keep in mind they represent the voice of the citizens.

Hunt also criticized the councils Jan. 4 decision to increase retail pot sales taxes from 6% to 10%. The increase went into effect Monday. The city will retain all revenues from the special retail tax, which the City Council said was needed for capital improvement funds.

In councils next action they then urged people to vote no on a new store that would increase Manitous (marijuana) revenue, Hunt wrote, in part, in his public post.

Additionally, Colorado law requires cities to report marijuana sales tax information publicly only if they have three or more vendors and any one vendor does not make up more than 80% of the total sales tax number. If voters approve the ballot question Tuesday, Manitou Springs must then disclose that information.

This is part of the outcry for transparency, Warf said. Having a third store triggers this kind of reporting. From a citizens perspective, it sounds like they really would like to see transparency.
A Colorado Springs man accused of gunning down two managers during a workplace meeting at an Elks Lodge pleaded not guilty against his lawyers advice to two counts of first-degree murder Tuesday morning.

Lamar Taylor, 44, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder among several charges related to the Sept. 9 shooting at an Elks Lodge near The Citadel mall. The pleas, defense attorney Christopher Witt said, were against lawyers advice, adding he wanted to delay Tuesdays hearing while investigators continued their research into Taylor's case.

Taylor, however, indicated concerns about his right to a speedy trial, and chose to enter the not guilty pleas after a lengthy discussion with Witt.

Taylor's pleas come after a December preliminary hearing in which Fourth Judicial District Judge Marcus Henson, following prosecutors' presentation of several hours' worth of evidence, ruled they had enough for Taylor to face trial for the murders of 58-year-old James Love and 62-year-old Kevin Patterson.

That evidence included video surveillance footage of the shooting itself, digital image mapping of the crime scene, and reference to testimony identifying Taylor in the footage and images.

Authorities also pointed to the United States Marshals Services recovery of a semi-automatic shotgun, which prosecutors believe Taylor used in a shooting spree following the meeting where the murders took place. The shotgun was found when Taylor was apprehended in Florida in mid-September, along with the vehicle they believe, based on surveillance footage, he used to get away.

Taylor was arrested by United States Marshals Service and booked into a Miami-Dade County jail Sept. 17, according to jail records. Colorado Springs police identified him Sept. 14 in connection to the shooting at the Elks Lodge at 3680 North Citadel Drive, five days after it took place.

What was said during the meeting on Sept. 9 that precipitated the murders is under question, authorities said in December.

In arrest papers filed in September, police said the meeting was generally about a sign for Taylors catering business, which also operated out of the Elks Lodge building, being taken down, but indicated in December there were some variations in descriptions of the meeting and its subject matter.

Taylor, also accused of several counts of attempted first-degree murder in a shooting spree outside the Elks Lodge, was set for trial in June. Hes being held at the El Paso County jail with no bond, and is next due in court in March.
'It is in the regions of ignorance that tyranny reigns' | Guest Column
In this file photo, Colorado Democrat Ed Perlmutter waves at passing motorists in the 7th Congressional District on primary election day in 2006 on his way to his first election to the U.S. House. After eight terms, Perlmutter announced on Jan. 10, 2022, that he plans to retire rather than seek re-election in 2022.
Legislators last week introduced a slate of legislation crafted during the legislative interim to combat wildfires in Colorado.

The five bills, now ready for committee action, stem from the work of the Wildfire Matters Review Committee, a 10-person panel featuring six Democrats and four Republicans charged with studying wildfire prevention and mitigation during the months in which the General Assembly is not in session.

The bills include:

House Bill 1012, introduced by Democratic Reps. Lisa Cutter of Littleton and Don Valdez of La Jara and Sens. Joann Ginal of Fort Collins and Pete Lee of Colorado Springs, seeks to create a grant program to help counties mitigate and recover from wildfires by funding efforts to clear wood and forest debris.





Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Lee, Cutter and Democratic Sen. Tammy Story of Conifer and Rep. Marc Snyder of Colorado Springs, would direct the Forest Service to implement a wildfire mitigation public awareness campaign for 2023 and 2024 for the 53% of the states population that lives in the Wildland-Urban Interface  areas with grasslands, shrublands and forests.





Senate Bill 2, pushed by Ginal, Story, Cutter and Republican Rep. Perry Will of New Castle, seeks to broaden the pots of money that local volunteer firefighters can be reimbursed through.





House Bill 1007, sponsored by Valdez, Lee and Republican Rep. Mike Lynch of Wellington and Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa, would create a grant program for local governments to fund outreach to property owners on wildfire mitigation strategies. The bill also seeks to end the state income tax deduction for wildfire mitigation expenses two years earlier than scheduled and replace it with a tax credit of 25% of the cost incurred for wildfire mitigation.





House Bill 1011, from Cutter, Snyder, Lee and Story, seeks to create a grant program to match funds local governments raise for wildfire mitigation. That's an effort Cutter in October said would encourage stable, long-term funding in an area she said was severely underfunded.

The panel wrapped up its work on the bills in late October, meaning lawmakers' work on the package came before the Marshall fire tore through populated areas in Boulder County in December.
BY THE NUMBERS

A look at Leadville National Fish Hatchery by the numbers:

250,000: Trout that annually leave the hatchery to be stocked in fisheries

50,000: Estimated pellets fed to fish in a year

3,072: Acres the hatchery sits on, with trails traveling the surrounding forest

57: Endangered Wyoming toads kept at the hatchery at last check. The hatchery is part of a national conservation effort to improve the toad's numbers.

36 degrees: Temperature of the hatchery's tank water

30: Masons needed to construct the hatchery, beginning in 1889

2: National fish hatcheries in Colorado, with the other in Hotchkiss
It seems that everyone needs support to get through difficult times in life. That help can sometimes come from support animals.

This is the case for special education students in the Forest City Middle School classroom of Ryan Smith. That is where students are becoming acquainted with one of 'man's best friends,' known as Tracker.

Tracker is interning for a new position at the schools in which his primary job duties are to calm nerves, spur interaction and learning among students, and offer them friendship, fun, and companionship no matter what is happening in the world around them.

About 6 years ago, Smith started to discuss the benefits of getting a therapy dog for his special education classroom with Forest City High School principal Ken Baker. Both of them agreed that the possibilities for a dog in the classroom were exciting, so they actively started the process of searching for a therapy dog to compliment student learning.

"We were referred to an organization that trained service dogs," Smith said. "Almost four years later, the organization had yet to produce a dog. At this point, we decided to move on to a different program that used inmates to train therapy dogs. Everything was proceeding and we were set to visit the facility when COVID shut the program down. Shortly after, my family's dog of 16 years passed away."

So, Tracker was adopted by the Ryan and Abby Smith household, which includes daughters Harper, 8, and Finley, 5. They had all decided that it was time for another dog.

"We are an active family that enjoys taking our dog running, hiking, fishing, and camping," Smith said. "On a professional level, I was frustrated with our lack of progress. Abby and I decided that we would purchase a dog and attempt to train him, so it could become a certified therapy dog that could be used in the school setting."

They honed in on Tracker, who is a male mix breed between an Australian cattle dog and a standard poodle. Currently, he weighs about 50 pounds, is approximately one year old, and continues growing. The Smith family members describe Tracker as both high energy and highly intelligent. He already knows about 30 commands.

Principal Baker informed Forest City school board members of Tracker's progress recently.

Baker noted that Smith has been successful to date in training Tracker for the role, working with his family members and others.

"Ryan has been working with folks," Baker said. "He has invested time and is training Tracker to be a therapy dog. A good therapy dog will sense the anxiety of a person. It is very calming when it interacts with kids."

Baker said Tracker is already creating positive relationships with people and is a very well-behaved animal. He did not provide a timeline for the future therapy dog's progression to a permanent role in the district.

Smith said Tracker has already participated in numerous group obedience classes, as well as some private behavioral sessions. In order to become a certified therapy dog, Tracker will need to pass a certification test. While Tracker has proved to be a quick learner, there are still hurdles that he will need to clear before he can become certified, according to Smith.

"As a high school special education teacher for the past 16 years, I have had the opportunity to teach a variety of students," Smith said. "I have come to believe that building positive relationships with students is the most effective way to promote academic success, and to develop post graduation independence. Having a therapy dog in the classroom creates a different approach to building those positive relationships."

Furthermore, Smith insists that the sky is the limit for Tracker right now. He said the possibilities for Tracker as a therapy dog are numerous and district-wide. Only his level of training, imagination or unseen circumstances might limit him.

"In the future, I see my students giving presentations with Tracker in elementary classrooms," Smith said. "This will help students develop public speaking, leadership, and responsibility."

He continued with more aspirations for Tracker in the future.

"Tracker will be used in the counseling office to help struggling students cope," Smith said. "He can be used to promote exercise and responsibility, and appropriate animal care. Most importantly he will be a good listener, energetic playmate, and a ready friend."

To those admirable traits, the entire Smith family can already attest.

Rob Hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune. He can be reached at 641-421-0534, or by email at rob.hillesland@globegazette.com.

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A few months back, while looking at a construction project, I had a client ask me how everything in government was going. Before I was able to answer him he quickly said, Let me guess, my taxes are too high and I want more services. His response caused me to laugh a little because the statement was a fair summary of what I often hear while talking to folks in the district.

Whether talking income tax or property tax, it is clear reform to lower rates and simplify the code is needed and right now Iowa is in a great financial position to do just that. With nearly a $1 billion ending fund balance, our state is in a position to lower the tax burden on Iowans, while increasing funding to services.

In the governors address this week, she laid out her plan on income tax reform. It is definitely a bold and aggressive plan. Some of the highlights include:

 A phase in flat tax rate of 4% over four years for individual income tax

 Create a mechanism to lower the corporate tax from 9.8% to 5.5% over time. This rate reduction would depend upon income tax receipts exceeding a pre-determined cap.

The governors proposal also exempts retirement income from income tax, increases the value of the Iowa Military Tax Exemption and allows a farmer 55 years or older who materially participated in farming for 10 years to choose between receiving a capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of his/her land or exclude the income stream generated from the rental of the farm land from income tax.

In addition to what has been proposed on income tax reform, I would also like to ensure we do not see a shift in the tax burden property taxes.

Along with the discussions on tax reform, conversations have also started on workforce and many other issues. This session is off to a fast and great start and will prove to be productive in many areas.

I look forward to keeping everyone up to speed on what is going on here in Des Moines, and as always, if you have questions or concerns please feel free to reach out at your convenience.

Proudly serving all of North Iowa,

Senator Waylon Brown

Senator Waylon Brown is the chair of the Transportation Committee and the chair of the Administrative Rules Review Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Commerce, Rules and Administration, State Government, and Ways & Means committees.

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ATLANTA (AP)  A dangerous winter storm combining high winds and ice swept through parts of the U.S. Southeast on Sunday, knocking out power, felling trees and fences and coating roads with a treacherous, frigid glaze.

Tens of thousands of customers were without power in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Highway patrols were reporting hundreds of vehicle accidents, and a tornado ripped through a trailer park in Florida. More than 1,200 Sunday flights at Charlotte Douglas International were cancelled  more than 90% of the airport's Sunday schedule, according to the flight tracking service flightaware.com.

Winter Storm Izzy dumped as much as 10 inches of snow in some areas of western North Carolina as the system moved across the southeastern U.S., said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

First Sgt. Christopher Knox, a spokesman for the North Carolina Highway Patrol, said that by midafternoon, the agency had responded to 300 car crashes and nearly 800 calls for service. Two people died Sunday when their car drove off the road and into trees in a median east of Raleigh. The driver and passenger, both 41-year-old South Carolina residents, were pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle crash. Knox said investigators believe the car was driving too fast for the conditions, described as mixed winter precipitation.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary J. Eric Boyette said many roads in the central and western part of the state were covered with ice. He said the eastern part of the state was being hit with high winds and rain.

Kristen Baker Morrow's 6-year-old son made snow angels after their home in Crouse, North Carolina, got four inches of snow Sunday morning, but she said they couldn't stay outside long because of the uncomfortable wind chill.

"It took 30 to 45 minutes to get everything on for about 10 minutes in the snow, but it was definitely worth it for him, to get our pictures and make some memories," said Morrow, a 35-year-old registered nurse.

More than 260,000 customers were without power by midafternoon Sunday, according to poweroutage.us. Especially hard hit was North Carolina, with 90,000 outages. The remaining outages were in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.

The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado with 118 mph winds (190 kph) struck southwest Florida. The weather service said the tornado was on the ground for almost two miles (3 kilometers) with a maximum path width of 125 yards (115 meters). Thirty mobile homes were destroyed and 51 had major damage. Three minor injuries were reported.

Edward Murray, 81, told the Naples Daily News in southwest Florida that he was inside his mobile home Sunday morning when a tornado picked it up and tossed it on top of his neighbor's home.

"That's my house that's turned upside down," he told the newspaper. "The tornado took me off my feet, blew me toward the east wall and buried me under the sink, refrigerator, kitchen chairs and everything else."

Murray and his daughter, Cokie, escaped unharmed, crawling from the wreckage.

"I was so happy when I saw the sky," Murray told the newspaper. "I said to the devil, 'It's not going to be today'."

Virginia State Police said traffic came to a standstill Sunday afternoon on Interstate 81 in Roanoke County after a tractor-trailer jackknifed and the cab of the truck disconnected from the trailer in the northbound lanes. Two additional accidents occurred in the traffic backup, one with minor injuries. The Virginia Department of Transportation said a detour was being set up. "Please stay off the roads if possible. Begging again! Hazardous conditions," read a tweet from VDOT's Salem office.

From midnight to 12:45 p.m., Virginia state troopers responded to 142 traffic crashes and 162 disabled vehicles. No traffic fatalities were reported.

The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security tweeted photos of snow-covered roads in the southern part of the state and advised residents to "keep calm and hunker down." The agency says the storm is moving north and most areas of the state are expected to have accumulations of at least 4 inches (10 centimeters), with up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) possible in the mountains.

In Tennessee, there were multiple reports of abandoned and wrecked cars on snow-covered roads.

The storm system could cause hazardous driving conditions over a large portion of the eastern U.S. through Monday as the wet roadways refreeze in southern states and the storm turns and moves northward through the Mid-Atlantic states and New England.

While not a record-breaking storm in terms of snowfall, the large system could impact a dozen or more states.

"It's a very expansive storm," Hurley said. "A lot of real estate is going to get four to eight inches of snow and a lot more are also going to get to get some of that ice accumulation."

New York City was expected to be spared from most, if not all, of the snowfall, but Long Island and Connecticut coastal areas were expecting gale conditions. Upstate New York was projected to get hit with up to a foot of snow to go along with high winds.

Six to 13 inches (15 to 33 centimeters) of snow was expected in parts of east-central Ohio and western Pennsylvania from Sunday afternoon.

Frigid temperatures lingered across New England on Sunday, with wind chills in northern Vermont reported at -27 Fahrenheit (-33 Celsius). In Boston, where a cold emergency was declared on Saturday, wind chills remained below zero (-17 C) even as the region started the thaw.

___

Associated Press reporters Dave Porter in New York City; Jeff Martin in Woodstock, Georgia; Rebecca Reynolds in Simpsonville, Kentucky; Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Ron Todt in Philadelphia; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; and Collin Binkley in Killington, Vermont contributed to this report.
The Damascus government is still continuing with the so-called reconciliations  that it worked on in many areas in Syria, and in the recent period it began to play the same chord in the north, east and Syria, but it met with popular rejection from all the people of the region.

Many statements were circulated by the people of the region, the latest of which was a statement by the sheikhs and dignitaries of the Raqqa and Tabqa clans, in which they rejected the "recociliations" that the Damascus government is promoting in the current period.

In this regard, the head of the Future Syria Party, Ibrahim Al-Qaftan, confirmed to our agency that the results of the "settlements" or "reconciliations" are negative and will not solve the Syrian crisis, but will complicate it more than it is, "and the results of the settlements are the planting of terrorist cells in the region."

Settlements to prove that Damascus is still acceptable

Ibrahim Al-Qaftan explained, "Regarding the settlements that the regime is making in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and the rest of the other areas, such as Daraa and others, they are not a gateway to a solution, but rather a relief for pain, and it wants to prove to the international community that it is still acceptable to all parties, although this will turn the region into A new explosion in the next stages."

Al-Qaftan continued, "We advise the Syrian regime that this path will not be successful in resolving the Syrian crisis. The Syrian crisis must be resolved from its roots, not by adopting some reconciliations with some personalities or accepting some parties."

Whoever wants to solve the crisis should have dialogue

Al-Qaftan added, "The regime is unsuccessful in this matter, if it wants to take this path. We see that it has gone bankrupt in the past stages and does not have a project to solve the Syrian crisis, but rather wants the return of the central and authoritarian regime."

Al-Qaftan wondered, "Why are these reconciliations on a narrow level with some personalities while we are in the administrations of north and east Syria, the Syrian Democratic Council, the Future Syria Party, or all parties in this region? We always tell the regime that we are ready for dialogue, so let him come and sit at the dialogue table."

He explained, "If he wants to solve the Syrian crisis, he should sit with the parties that can solve the Syrian crisis, namely the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, the Future Syria Party, the Syrian Democratic Council, or the people of North and East Syria."

Al-Qaftan stated, "We in the Future Syria Party accept all the sons of Syria."

Al-Qaftan continued, "What we really see after 10 years of bombing, destruction, economic collapse and the destruction of the country and infrastructure. Can we reconcile with the regime without anything? Will there be a dialogue without any conditions? This matter will have no results."

Al-Qaftan stressed, "We in the Future Syria Party believe in pluralism of thought provided that there is no sabotage. We do not want there to be reconciliations with the Syrian regime, or for there to be an extension of sabotage and the entry of some cells that want to destroy the region."

He explained, "We believe in ideas, and in any adoption of any Syrian person, but we do not believe in the issue of sabotage, and we know that any reconciliation will result from cells in the region. Therefore, we say that reconciliations are unsuccessful and their results are negative and not positive."

A

ANHA
Two Helena men were charged with deliberate homicide after the body of 39-year-old Michael Anthony Biggs was found near Rimini Road on Friday.

Brandon Michael Beckman, 36, and Robert John Harvel, 32, are both charged with felony deliberate homicide.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff/Coroner Leo Dutton said the unofficial cause of death was a single gunshot wound. However, the official autopsy has not been completed.

"We reported it as suspicious circumstances," Dutton said Tuesday. "I can tell you today it is being investigated as a homicide."

According to Dutton, the body was found by witnesses traveling on Rimini Road about 4.5 miles off US Highway 12 west of Helena. The body was frozen and had a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.

"There was no threat to the public," Dutton said. "This was not a random killing. It was purposeful. These people were in custody in record time."

Court documents say someone called law enforcement shortly after authorities announced that the body had been found Friday. The caller reported helping two males in a blue sedan who were stuck in the snow around 10:30 a.m. Thursday near the area where the body was found.

The caller said the two people in the car were acting nervous and provided descriptions that matched Beckman and Harvel. The vehicle involved was impounded at the time of the call, as Harvel had been arrested by the Montana Highway Patrol in an unrelated matter.

Detectives traveled to Great Falls to meet with people who knew the victim. The people who were interviewed told the officers that the victim had received and cashed a check for a "large amount of money" recently.

Security footage from the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 12, shows the victim with Beckman at Drae's Casino and Montana Lil's in East Helena. In the footage from Montana Lil's, the victim can be seen handing Beckman cash to gamble with.

Harvel told detectives that Beckman had told him to drive the three men to Rimini Road so they could pick up some methamphetamine. Harvel said Biggs was in the front passenger seat and Beckman was behind him at the time. When they turned into a parking area, Harvel said, Beckman asked Biggs to switch seats with him and then shot the victim in the back of the head after they got out of the vehicle.

Harvel said Biggs "slumped over," and then Beckman turned the gun toward him and told him to help move the body. Harvel said Beckman took the money from Biggs' body and then the two of them attempted to leave the area, but they got stuck in the snow.

Both defendants appeared before Justice of the Peace Judge Michael Swingley on Tuesday. Swingley set bail for both men at $75,000.

According to Dutton, this investigation would not have gone as smoothly and quickly without help from the public.

"The community has come forward and helped us substantially," Dutton said.

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Helena College plans to start a program in the fall of 2023 that could put a new face not only on education, but perhaps the entire community -- and Montana -- as well.

Sandra Bauman, dean and chief executive officer, said the college plans to launch a cosmetology program that will train 45 students per year and be available to the public.

It is going to give us a good opportunity to serve our community, not only for the training needs, but also to provide low-cost cosmetology services she said.

She told members of Hometown Helena, a grassroots community group, on Thursday that Helena College selected cosmetology because there are no public training offerings in Helena and the college can provide such training at a lower cost for people looking to enter the field.

She said there is another advantage in that it will provide a stackable credential with transferable credits for anyone who wants to continue their education.

It really does fit our mission to serve our entire community, she said, adding the goal of the two-year college is to serve employers and students in the area.

Bauman said the school is not trying to compete with other academic institutions in the state for a limited number of students.

We do try to focus on programs at the two-year college that are unique, she said, adding it is the only public option for this training in the state.

Bauman said one of the colleges advisory board members works for a corporation that owns several salons.

I have seen how not having a cosmetology school/program has directly affected the Helena salons, the advisory board member said, adding they own 40 salons in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. Helena is the hardest city for us to recruit in for this exact reason.

The board member said the COVID-19 pandemic has not only impacted revenues, but brought staffing shortages as well.

Baumans presentation included a slide that said the Department of Labor and Industry says Montana has a shortage of 640 cosmetologists now, and that is expected to increase to 800 by 2028.

She said it is a great opportunity for the college, from a space perspective. She said they recently moved their fire and emergency services program to the airport campus. That has opened 4,500 square feet of wide open space at the campus at 1115 N. Roberts St.

This will give us a great opportunity to create a beautiful salon and the classroom and additional practice space we need to have a really nice facility, Bauman said, adding the structure would include a storefront.

She said it would minimize construction costs because the fire bay was wide open.

She said the college is working with other public colleges that offer training to come up with a curriculum and seeking approval from the Montana Board of Cosmetology, adding that workers must be licensed by the state. She said the college has formed an advisory council of local industry professionals, is looking for a director for the program, and applied for American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding to help with the program. She said it would move forward with or without ARPA funds.

She said they hope to start construction this summer, and it will take about a year. They will start recruiting for students for fall of 2023.

Eventually there will be about 45 students in the program. The college will then consider expanding the program to include barbering and aesthetician services.

John Cech, president of Carroll College, complimented Bauman for being responsive to community needs, not only in Helena, but all of Montana.

A great job, this is really exciting, he said.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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The Montana Community Foundation has raised $450,000 this year for scholarships, an official with the organization said recently, and encouraged people in need of some financial help with their higher education to contact them.

Mary K. Rutherford, president and chief executive officer, told members of Hometown Helena, a citizens group, about the money on Thursday.

Because of all of your generosity, this year we will be awarding about $450,000 in college and trade school and continuing education scholarships for students from Montana  she said.

And she said scholarship season is open and said students should go to mtcf.org.

Rutherford said scholarships range from $1,000 to multi-year total scholarships of $40,000.

If you know anyone looking for some financial aid as they continue their education ... go to our website and we are happy to help, she said.

Anyone who has completed requirements for a high school degree or certificate and continuing an education at an accredited school can apply, Rutherford said.

Montana Community Foundation, founded in 1988, manages more than $150 million in assets and administers more than 1,400 philanthropic funds and planned gifts. It works with donors, charitable organizations, cities and towns in philanthropic and community development. MCF has reinvested more than $90 million in Montana through scholarships, grants and programs since its founding, officials said.

Foundations are tax-exempt public charities that guide philanthropy and focus on improving the quality of life in the areas they serve, Montana Community Foundation officials say on their website, adding there are more than 750 community foundations in the United States, including 76 in Montana.

Staff Writer Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021 or philip.drake@helenair.com.

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A federal judge in Missoula on Tuesday struck down the states Clean Campaign Act, finding that the 2007 campaign practices law violated a political committees free speech and due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.

The case, filed last September in U.S. District Court in Missoula, was filed by Montana Citizens for Right to Work after the states Commissioner of Political Practices found that it failed to follow the laws Fair Notice provision by giving candidates a heads-up on negative mailers sent out shortly before Election Day in 2020.

The law required any candidate or political committee that distributes or broadcasts negative campaign materials within 10 days of an election to notify the targeted candidates in order to give them a chance to respond.

Montana Citizens had distributed more than 15,000 campaign mailers in 20 legislative districts in the last week before the 2020 general election. The mailers indicated whether candidates in those districts would support so-called right to work legislation, which would exempt non-union employees from union dues in workplaces covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

In his order declaring the law unconstitutional, Judge Donald W. Molloy wrote, Many would agree that while Montanas desire to promote discourse in response to negative campaign advertisements is laudable, the First Amendment cannot be so easily overcome.

Molloy noted that while political speech enjoys broad constitutional protections under the First Amendment, disclosure laws, such as the Clean Campaign Act, have been given more leeway in other federal cases. But the judge wrote that the law was content-based because it differentiated between negative ads and other political communications, such as endorsements.

Because of that distinction, he wrote, he applied the law to strict scrutiny, under which the state must show that a statute is narrowly tailored to further a compelling government interest.

Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan had argued that the law did just that, by deterring corruption or the appearance of corruption, providing more information to voters and protecting candidates right to respond to attack ads.

However, Molloy found that the defendants hadnt demonstrated that the law combats corruption or its appearance, and that the disclosure requirement only required more information to flow to the targeted candidate. He added that the law could end up chilling political speech in the run-up to an election.

Regarding the right to respond, the judge wrote, In a perfect political place that notion makes sense. But last-minute negativity is a reality.

Molloy also dismissed the idea that the law was narrowly tailored toward those interests, noting that it didnt apply to verbal communications and arguably didnt cover internet-based speech.

The judge also rejected Mangans argument that the law could still stand if the distinction that it only applies to negative ads were stripped out.

Beyond the First Amendment issues, Molloy also found that the laws distinction of negative ads violated the political committees equal protection rights under the 14th Amendment.

In the absence of any argument or evidence as to how a compelling state interest is served in treating political action committees espousing different messages incongruously, the law violates the Equal Protection Clause, he wrote.

Matthew Monforton, an attorney representing the Montana Citizens group, on Monday said that another section of the labyrinth of Montanas absurd campaign finance laws has been dismantled, for which all Montanans should be grateful.

Its unclear whether the state will appeal the ruling. John Morrison, a private attorney who argued the case on Mangans behalf, referred inquiries to Mangan, who did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday.

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Editor's note: This story is part of the Lee Enterprises series "Grizzlies and Us." The project examines the many issues surrounding the uneasy coexistence of grizzly bears and humans in the Lower 48, which have come more into focus in recent years as the federally-protected animal pushes farther into human-occupied areas. The 10-part series, comprised of more than 20 stories, was produced by reporters and photojournalists across the Rocky Mountain West.

Montanans seem of two minds regarding grizzly bears in their midst.

A University of Montana survey completed this year found nine of 10 Montanans believe grizzly bears belong in the state, while just 3 percent thought grizzlies should not be anywhere in Montana.

Yet the same survey also found 83% of Montanans supported some level of grizzly bear hunting season.

We were extremely surprised at the strong, overwhelming public support for grizzly bears, said UM researcher Alex Metcalf, who co-authored the survey paid for by Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. To get 90% agreement on anything is rare. But 92% of Montanans say bears have a right to exist in Montana.

The strong support for a hunting season was equally surprising, Metcalf said. Only 16.7% felt grizzlies should never be hunted.

However, responses fragmented when asked more specific hunt-related questions. Just over a third of Montanans agreed that hunting would make grizzlies more wary of humans, while another third disputed that claim and 29% were undecided. About 61% said people should be allowed to hunt grizzlies as long as the bear population can withstand the pressure. But only 46% supported using grizzly hunting to reduce human-bear conflict, while 36% opposed the idea and 18% had no opinion.

This sort of makes sense in the context of other wild animal management we have in Montana, Metcalf said. We like to have wild animal populations and we manage them by hunting them. And the survey sees lots of agreement that hunting is a viable tool. If were going to do something other than that, we need to have that conversation.

For many, the lines are clear: Grizzlies should be available to hunt like any other charismatic western big game animal. In an interview with the Billings Gazette shortly before the 2017 delisting effort failed in court, now-Gov. Greg Gianforte said he was all for allowing a trophy hunt.

"Id be the first one putting in for a tag," Gianforte said in 2016. I did a grizzly hunt once up in Alaska. I didnt connect, but  I look forward to the day when we have a grizzly hunt in Montana.

Asked at the time if he though a grizzly hunting season would eventually arrive in Montana, Gianforte bet it would.

Again, this is part of bringing science back to the process," he said. "We need to conserve and preserve our wildlife. I think one of the best ways to do that is through scientifically set hunting quotas to keep them at sustainable levels. I think, when Montana issues a grizzly tag, theres going to be a lot of people applying, and I will be one of them."

That presents a biological challenge.

Studies in Alaska have shown that places with lots of grizzlies can sustain a lot of hunting for mature male bears, if the females and cubs are protected. But the evidence is inconclusive that hunting is effective at targeting problem bears or reducing conflicts.

At a December gathering of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Bear Specialist Group, bear biologists and game wardens from all over North America compared notes on the effectiveness of grizzly hunting. Chris Servheen, who led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grizzly program for 35 years, supervised the session.

"Hunting bears teaches bears nothing, as death is not a learning experience," Servheen said. While some Montanans claim that grizzlies were more leery of humans before the end of legal grizzly hunting in 1993, that's more likely because there were actually very few grizzlies left to get into conflicts, he said. And the practice of sport hunting has little relationship with conflict-management, as it's extremely difficult for a private hunter to find and kill the specific bear that raided a chicken coop or other depredation. Furthermore, hunting tends to be extremely restricted for safety reasons in residential areas where food-attracted bears get into trouble.

And the total population of grizzlies in the Northern Rocky Mountains is a sliver of the 20,000 or more grizzlies in Alaska. The 1,000 or so grizzlies in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem could quickly see a population crash after a few over-successful hunting seasons. The Cabinet-Yaak, with perhaps 50 grizzlies, cant stand to lose a bear.

Alaska continues to allow big-game hunting of grizzly bears, although neighboring British Columbia banned trophy grizzly hunts in 2017. Wildlife biologist Sterling Miller, whos worked in both Montana and Alaska, said his experience revealed a complicated relationship between hunter and hunted.

In Alaskan places where grizzlies were hunted, Miller said they showed extra wariness when humans were nearby. But historically, most successful grizzly hunting grounds were near national parks or other refuges, where bears got habituated to human presence and then fell to hunters just over the border.

You can hunt wildlife populations in a sustainable way, Miller said. But its more problematic for small or isolated populations like grizzlies. Theres less resilience in those small systems.

Hunting grizzlies also risks a public backlash that could have unintended consequences. A 2021 study published in Conservation Biology by Chris Darimont at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, warned that opposition to grizzly trophy hunts could hurt big-game hunting overall.

The killing of large carnivores for trophy and not food, conducted by few hunters, has potential to threaten the social license to hunt afforded to the larger group who hunt for food, Darimonts study found. Social license means the general public acceptance of an activity.

Only 2 percent of U.S. hunters pursue black bears. In places with more opportunity, such as the Rocky Mountain West, wolf and bear hunters made up about 18 percent of Montanas hunting community.

In 2018 court filings favoring delisting, Safari Club International argued hunting grizzlies should be allowed to reduce the threat big-game hunters seeking other species faced when in grizzly habitat. The second reason was that grizzlies were considered a high-value trophy for those who enjoyed hunting. If the population was large enough to endure some hunting take, it should be allowed, the SCI lawyers claimed.

Those are just code words playing to a narrow political base, looking for a way to rationalize killing a big predator, countered Kevin Van Tighem, a retired Canadian national parks superintendent and grizzly bear biologist. The number of bears is irrelevant. The question is: Can we achieve something useful for society by hunting?

Van Tighem said his experience managing Banff, Elk Island and other grizzly-frequenting Canadian parks showed that hunting bears tended to address human concerns more than species management.

"Far more people killed every year by mishandling of firearms, and I know how you (Americans) think about firearms," Van Tighem said. "Your problem isnt the bear. It s the fear."

This Julys grizzly mauling death of a bicycle camper in Ovando happened a few months after the Montana Legislature passed a collection of measures directing the state Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks to take a much more aggressive approach to predator control than it had in the past. Public policy in Wyoming and Idaho have also taken a harder stance toward grizzlies. Yet in Washington, D.C. the winds have shifted in the opposite direction.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lost its latest bid to delist the grizzly bears of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) two years ago, and to date hasnt announced how it plans to go forward. A five-year status report on grizzly recovery released last March found that while the NCDE and GYE grizzly populations were biologically recovered, grizzly populations in four other recovery areas remained precarious or non-existent. As when they were first listed, human-caused mortality and habitat loss remain the top threats to grizzly survival. In sum, it recommended keeping grizzlies under the Endangered Species Act.

The GYE delisting effort was initiated under President Barack Obama, but collapsed under President Donald Trump. Trumps Interior Secretary David Bernhardt visited Montana and promised more federal effort to kill problem grizzlies. President Joe Bidens Interior Secretary Deb Haaland co-sponsored legislation to protect grizzlies in perpetuity when she was a Congresswoman from Arizona.

The two biggest recovery areas, the NCDE and GYE, both anchor around popular national parks. Millions of tourists come each year, supporting thousands of local businesses and employees. Many dream of seeing a bear, and they post their success on social media with videos that professional biologists used to spend entire careers hoping to see. In August, amateur videographers caught two grizzlies fighting over a bison carcass in the Yellowstone River and a sow grizzly digging a marmot out of its burrow in Glacier Park while its cubs watched. Grizzly 399 in Grand Teton National Park has her own series of bumper stickers, among other fan memorabilia.

The University of Montana survey also found Montanans supported trying mitigation tactics like carrying bear spray, following food storage guidelines and securing attractants from property. Each of those proposals drew at least 90% agreement.

More livestock-related tactics such as changing ranching practices or using carcass-removal programs drew more opposition, but still had at least two-thirds of Montanans in favor.

Wildlife managers and wildlife biologists have widely differing attitudes about the effectiveness of grizzly hunting to achieve desired goals. While big-game species such as deer and elk number in the tens of thousands across Montana, the state holds about 1,000 grizzlies. Grizzlies are the slowest-reproducing mammal in North America.

Theres overwhelming agreement that grizzly bears are a positive contribution to the economy of Montana, Metcalf said of the survey results. Theres also a great deal of support for encouraging conflict-reduction. Were trying to balance the costs of bears and the value of bears.

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Farmland owners have long dealt with companies wanting to cross their land with powerlines and dig trenches to install oil and gas pipelines under their fields. But there is a new boom in utility line construction that no one saw coming, and Central Illinois farmers are the center of the bullseye.

When great grandad located the home farm early in the last century or before, he did so because of the great soils that were rich in organic matter and could raise great crops. He was unaware of what was underneath a mile down, which is what this new cadre of pipelines want to tap. And that is something called the St. Simons layer of bedrock.

While it is good foundation for the farm, and too deep to visit, it has become a mecca for companies wanting to drill through it and insert liquid carbon dioxide, so the unwanted product will never see the light of day, escaping into the atmosphere.

Unlike most pipelines that cross multiple states from Texas and Oklahoma oilfields to vast coastal refining plants, the carbon dioxide pipelines have a terminal point, and it is right under the family farm. If the effort to clear the air of carbon dioxide continues to ramp up, there will be more of those pipelines headed into Central Illinois where they will end with a well point that sticks up out of the ground and looks like a chemistry lab experiment on steroids.

That is where the liquid carbon dioxide, under high pressure, makes a right turn downward to Hades for eternal life, with the door guarded by St. Simons.

No one ever probably knew it or cared that much until recently, but ethanol plants and fertilizer production plants, which are in abundance across the Corn Belt, have been major emitters of carbon dioxide. One cannot see it, since it is colorless and odorless, and it floats away from the industrial processing. But now it is being reclaimed, pressurized into a liquid, and piped toward Central Illinois. There apparently is money in that.

Because of the nature of the bedrock under Central Illinois, the farmland here will be a nexus for liquid carbon dioxide pipelines all converging here. And property owners should get their share of the new carbon economy.

The Navigator Pipeline Co. is planning to collect carbon dioxide from dozens of CO2 producing plants in a half dozen states in the western Corn Belt, and pipe it toward Taylorville for insertion just west of Willeys Station. ADM declined the terms Navigator wanted for collecting its CO2 from ethanol plants at Clinton and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is hiring the Wolf Pipeline Co. to convey its unwanted carbon dioxide to Decatur.

Once here it will be added to the CO2 produced at ADMs Decatur ethanol plant that is being injected beneath the St. Simons bedrock adjacent to Progress City.

Landowner alert: Get ready to negotiate for your share of the carbon economy.

Stu Ellis is an observer of the Central Illinois agriculture scene. In addition to his weekly column, you can view his From The Farm and Harvest Heritage reports on WCIA 3 News.

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SPRINGFIELD  There was once a time when Kristen Holly might see more than 200 applicants for a single elementary teaching position.

It was overwhelming just to figure out how to screen applicants, the assistant superintendent for student services in the Charleston School District, said.

That time is long gone.

Just a decade later, that same elementary position might now yield only six to 10 applications, on a good day. Job openings for more specialized positions  like counseling, special education, or secondary foreign language  Holly said, sometimes draw no applicants at all.

Now, we're going to see your application no matter what, she said.

Most positions in the Charleston district are filled, but with fewer substitute teachers and support staff available, having only a few teachers out because they are sick can pose an issue for the entire district.

Hollys concerns are echoed by superintendents and educators across East Central Illinois. Many have observed a rapid decline in new teachers entering the field and reported shortages in school positions ranging from teachers and counselors to bus drivers, custodians, and even administrators.

More recently, many schools have also seen increased illness among both students and educators caused by the COVID-19 omicron variant surge, forcing some to go remote for days at a time.

As Kyle Thompson, regional superintendent for the Regional Office of Education 11, put it: It's a serious crisis. It has been for several years, and it gets worse every year.

But what caused the crisis? Many educators agree that there was no single cause. Instead, a variety of factors have helped make the education field seem less desirable for both prospective and current teachers.

One of those factors is teacher pay, said Matt Snyder, regional superintendent for Macon and Piatt counties.

Teacher pay isnt as high as for other fields that require a degree, and many college students know they can make more money at other jobs, he said.

In 2019, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill that increases minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 by 2023.

But increasing pay can also create added stress on smaller, rural districts with less disposable income, many of which are already increasing daily pay for substitutes to make up for staffing shortages.

And salary costs arent the only challenge districts face.

Its become too complicated for prospective teachers to get certified, Thompson said.

To teach in Illinois, teachers must obtain a Professional Educator License. For that, they need at least a bachelors degree and some student teaching experience. They must also complete a state-approved teaching program, which can take a few years.

The challenges dont end when teachers get certified. Theres also simply too much stress on teachers, said Aaron Hird, regional superintendent for Vermilion County.

Some districts have combined classes, leaving teachers with more students than before. Many teachers also take on additional school roles like sponsoring activities.

In recent decades, teachers have seen more state oversight than before, Snyder said. State codes requiring specific units of study, extra paperwork for reporting classroom activity, and reliance on test scores can be difficult for teachers to keep up with in addition to their already busy schedules, he said.

Many teachers experience burnout caused by educator shortages and the pandemic, said Lauren Mellott, a fifth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston.

It's hard, because when you walk down the hallway ... you see it in other teachers faces that they just look dejected, she said. They look tired.

I mean, it's always been hard, but it's exhausting now, Kimberly Spanhook, Mellotts teaching partner, said. You feel like you're on fire all the time.

The exhausting environment is also impacting students.

We're seeing fifth-graders that are academically, and, really, behaviorally, socially, emotionally more at a third-grade level because that was the last normal true school year that they had, Mellott said.

This creates more challenges for teachers, who have to adapt their lesson plans and teaching strategies to meet the changing needs of their students.

According to the Illinois State Board of Educations most recent Illinois Educator Supply and Demand Report, East Central Illinois had the second lowest average educator retention rate of any other geographic area in the state at 84.2%.

Similarly, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools 2021 Illinois Educator Shortage Survey found that teacher shortages are seen most downstate  91% of districts in East Central Illinois reported teacher shortages.

Some are calling on ISBE and the Illinois General Assembly to do more. Thompson said not much will change unless the ISBE backs certain policies, like ending the use of the edTPA assessment for licensure.

Even though it's a tough time to be an educator, Mellott said she finds hope through her students.

You work for your kids, even amongst the difficulties, she said. The kids make it all worth it.

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DECATUR  COVID-19 continued its rapid rise in Macon County with 2,572 new cases added in the past week, health officials said.

According to the Macon County Health Department, there were six additional COVID-related deaths, including a man in his 40s, two men and one woman in their 50s, one man in his 70s, and one woman in her 80s. That brings the total to 285 Macon County residents who have died since the start of the pandemic.

As of Monday, 53 Macon County residents remain hospitalized. Of those, 16 are vaccinated, 37 are unvaccinated.

Healthcare professionals continue to stress precautionary measures, including getting vaccinated.

The Macon County Health Department will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, at the health department, 1221 E. Condit St., Decatur.

Patients needing a first, second or booster shot of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson should contact the health department to schedule an appointment. Bring insurance card if possible.

To schedule an appointment, call 217-718-6205 or visit events.juvare.com/IL-IDPH/oqdab/.

The increase in cases in recent weeks has prompted some Decatur schools to switch to remote learning. Three of the six schools  American Dreamer STEM Academy, Franklin Grove School and Parsons School  are scheduled to return to in-person learning Tuesday, Jan. 18.

The remaining schools and their planned return dates are:

Dennis Lab School, both campuses, returning Friday, Jan. 21;

William Harris Learning Academy, returning Monday, Jan. 24. The social/emotional development program will continue to meet in person.

Baum is the sixth school in Decatur to revert to remote learning and will return in person on Jan. 25.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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The infrastructure spending largely relies on revenue from the motor fuel tax  which was increased on July 1, as it will every year forthcoming under the new state law  among other driving-related fees.
CHICAGO  The Chicago police officer whose fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald put the city at the center of a national debate about race and law enforcement is set to be released from prison next month after serving less than half of the 81-month sentence imposed three years ago.

Kahalah Clay, chief legal counsel for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, confirmed that Jason Van Dyke  who was convicted in October 2018 in the killing of the 17-year-old  will be released from prison on Feb. 3. She said she did not know where Van Dyke was being held.

McDonald's great uncle, Rev. Marvin Hunter, told media outlets over the weekend that authorities had notified him of Van Dyke's pending release.

"I'm hoping he's learned the errors of his ways. I have always asked for justice and not revenge," Hunter told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We got as much justice you could get with the players that were there at the time he was on trial."

The news of Van Dyke's release after 39 months angered some community activists, about a dozen of whom protested at a train station on Chicago's South Side.

That scene was a far cry from the massive protests in Chicago a year after the 2014 shooting, when a judge forced the city to release police video showing Van Dyke, who is white, shooting McDonald 16 times. Many of the shots were fired when the Black teen was already on the ground.

The police superintendent was subsequently fired, the county's top prosecutor was voted out of office and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who was widely criticized for his handling of the case, decided not to run for reelection.

Van Dyke waited until he was in prison, ahead of formal termination proceedings before the Chicago Police Board, before he resigned from the force.

The graphic video prompted a host of police department reforms and sparked a national debate on how law enforcement treats people of color. The video resurfaced time and again, particularly after other African Americans, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, died at the hands of police.

Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery  one for each bullet he fired at the teenager  and sentenced in January 2019 to 81 months in prison.

Van Dyke, 43, appealed his conviction but abandoned those appeals in 2020. He was eligible to have his sentence cut in half with credit for good behavior.

His time behind bars included transfers from a jail in Cook County to a county jail near the Illinois-Iowa border, and a transfer from the Illinois Department of Corrections to a federal facility in Connecticut. There he was assaulted by fellow inmates, his attorneys said at the time.

He was later moved to a federal facility in New York, but, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons records, was transferred out of the federal prison system in late 2019. On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Corrections, Lindsey Hess, said Van Dyke remains under the jurisdiction of the department but that he was being held in another state. Citing "safety and security purposes," Hess said the department would not discuss where Van Dyke is being held.

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When the Chicago Bears lowered the lid on another disappointing season, it was easy to view them as an NFL franchise in disarray. The head coach hadnt panned out, the general manager was a flop and the news conference put last week by Chairman George McCaskey and CEO Ted Phillips got the worst reviews since Police Academy 4.
SPRINGFIELD  State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, has announced plans to seek reelection to the 96th House District.

The five-term incumbent, who currently represents portions of Macon, Sangamon and Christian counties, said theres more work to be done in Springfield.

We need effective representation at the Capitol from leaders that know how to effect change and have the determination and courage to speak up and work hard to make change happen, Scherer, 65, said in a statement.

Scherer said shes focusing on a variety of issues, ranging from electric vehicles and public safety to schools and balancing the states budget.

The new 96th District, redrawn during last years redistricting process, is still anchored by the urban cores of Springfield and Decatur, but includes less rural areas between the two cities. It also picks up some Democratic-trending precincts on Springfields west side.

No other candidates have announced campaigns for the House seat.

In the neighboring 108th House District, former state Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, R-Morrisonville, announced his bid to return to the legislature.

Rosenthal, 71, represented the 95th House District from 2011 to 2015 before being tapped by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner to serve as director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He served in that role until 2019.

The new 108th District, considered a safe Republican seat, covers all of Menard County and portions of Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin and Montgomery counties.

The district contains the home of state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, who was appointed to fill Rosenthals seat in 2015. Bourne, 29, announced Monday that she is running for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin.

This will be the year the people of Illinois take back our state from out-of-touch Democrats like J.B. Pritzker and his allies in Springfield, and I look forward to being a part of that movement, Rosenthal said in a statement.

Multiple Republicans have endorsed Rosenthals campaign, including U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap. He also has the support of Bourne and former state Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield, who also lives in the district but resigned last month to who resigned to become the president and CEO of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and avoid a primary challenge against Bourne.

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The following is an editorial printed on page 8 of The Decatur Review on April 5, 1968. See more from the archives at herald-review.newspapers.com

Martin Luther King, 1929-68: Martyr

If you are cut down in the work of trying to save the soul of a nation, then no death could be more redemptive.

These words perhaps are a fitting epitaph to their author, Martin Luther King, 39, a minister of the Christian gospel and the most eloquent spokesman for more than a decade of the aspirations of Negro Americans for liberty, equality and justice.

Martin Luther King died a martyrs death at the hand of an assassin in Memphis, Tennessee, Thursday night.

The Rev. Mr. King was an apostle of nonviolence, although the reaction to his many crusades and marches often produced violent reactions. It was the ultimate act of violence that cut him down in the prime of his life as he stood on the second floor balcony of the Memphis hotel where he had come to lead a nonviolent demonstration on behalf of 1,300 striking sanitation workers  98 per cent of them Negroes.

His journey began 13 years and some two million miles ago in Montgomery, Alabama, where he helped lead the bus boycott that, in effect, sparked the civil rights movement. The Rev. Mr. Kings work was not done, and in fact, he had been planning to lead a massive march on Washington to demonstrate on behalf of the urban, largely Negro, poor.

The young minister had many presentments of death and on occasion acknowledged that his course of action could lead to violent death, as it had to Medgar Evers and others. As far back as 1956, Martin Luther King had been the subject of violent attack, and he had several brushes with death after that time.

There is of course the usual outpouring of rhetoric, some of it grief-stricken, some of it angry, some of it confused, some of it heart-felt, all of it useless.

What America needs in this grievously tragic hour is a balm of Gilead to heal its sin-sick soul.

Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.  Martin Luther King, speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the Washington civil rights march in the summer of 1963.

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A new Twitter star has been born, and that star is Sen. Lillie Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, who turns 78 on Saturday.

Since the Virginia General Assembly session started, her Twitter feed -- @SenLouiseLucas -- has been going gangbusters. Over the weekend, she scooped up ten thousand new followers, bringing her following to over 21,000, as of this writing.

She posts memes, gifs and scorchers, mostly aimed at Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

A photo of her sitting behind Youngkin on Monday, shooting burning eyes at the new governor, has already been turned into a meme.

The Twitterverse is officially a-Twitter over her:

To which Lucas responded:

Here are just a few of her recent Twitter gems:

Lucas is president pro tempore of the state Senate, which means she presides over the chamber in the lieutenant governors absence.

That is why Lucas sat behind Youngkin on Monday along with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, when Youngkin delivered his State of the Commonwealth address in the House chamber.

Lucas stepped in for former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and led the Senate on several notable occasions, as when Virginia senators backed legislation to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

A member of the Senate since 1992, Lucas sponsored the legislation that legalized casino gambling in Virginia. It allowed five cities  Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Richmond  to hold referendums on whether to allow casinos. Richmond was the only city to vote down a casino.

Lucas recently said she would donate to charity a $300,000 settlement from the city of Portsmouth that closed a $6.75 million suit she had filed against former Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene and a sergeant.

Lucas filed the suit after she and 18 others were charged with felonies for damaging a Confederate monument during a protest in 2020. A judge later dismissed the charges and Portsmouth officials fired Greene.

But Lucas, of course, isn't the only Virginia politician setting Twitter aflame.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' personal Twitter account, @WinsomeSears, has 183,000 Twitter followers. Her campaign Twitter account, @Winwithwinsome, has an additional 133,500. Both were covered by The Washington Post in an article titled: "Winsome Sears pulls in fans after victory in Virginia with a lighthearted Twitter account."

The article highlighted Sears' funny, sharp-edged humor and led with a photo of Sears' head photoshopped onto the body of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with the caption "We did it, Glenn." Sears' meme, which poked fun at Harris' famous response, "We did it, Joe," when Joe Biden won the 2020 election, took off on Twitter, racking up over 75,000 likes and 10,400 retweets.
" " A young Emmett Till (left) is seen here riding bicycles with his friend Wheeler Parker (right). Courtesy of the Wheeler Parker collection, Delta State University Archives & Museum, Cleveland, MS.

Emmett Till was just 14 years old in the summer of 1955 when he traveled to visit family in the tiny community of Money, in the Mississippi Delta. Till was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago. He had never been to the Deep South.

The tragic story of what happened to young Till became, to many, a catalyst for the American Civil Rights Movement. But his story did not end in Mississippi. It never really ended.

"I'd like to think that if we had the trial again that, No. 1, we'd have some black jurors ... and some women. That in fact, justice would be done. That's the optimist in me," says Florida State University professor Davis Houck, who helped create the Emmett Till Memory Project and has been instrumental in building FSU's Emmett Till Archive. "But I don't want to be too optimistic, because we're at a time in our country right now where anything goes. In terms of violence visited upon young black boys for whistling at a white woman ... yeah. I think we're pretty far down the road from that. But I don't want to say we've arrived at some ideal place. We haven't."

" " Emmett Till is seen here with his mother, Mamie Till Bradley, ca. 1950. To expose the horror of her 14-year-old's lynching, Bradley insisted on an open coffin funeral to show his tortured and mutilated body. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Mamie Till Mobley family

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The Story of Emmett Till

The brutal murder of Emmett Till might have been lost to time, just another of the thousands of lynchings that were perpetrated all over the United States after the Civil War. The Equal Justice Initiative has documented more than 4,400 lynchings, in 20 states (mostly in the Deep South), between 1877 and 1950.

Till's murder stands out separately from those, though, not because of its sheer violence  lynchings were, by definition, alarmingly savage  but because the particular inhumanity brought upon him was not automatically relegated to the inside pages of newspapers, as many others had been. Even in Mississippi, shortly after his death, news accounts almost immediately condemned the boy's murder. The governor of the state at the time  Gov. Hugh White  even spoke out against it.

Still, it wasn't until Till's mother, Mamie Till Bradley, demanded that her son be returned to Chicago for burial that the entire world took notice. She held an open-casket funeral to show what happened to him. He was beaten, shot, a 75-pound fan tied to his neck with barbed wire and then tossed into the Tallahatchie River, where he was found several days later. The brutality was hard to ignore.

"Oh, yes, we're going to open the casket," Bradley told documentarian Keith Beauchamp years later, in retelling the story of the day she saw her son's body return from Mississippi. "Let the people see what I see. I want the world to see this."

More than 100,000 people attended Till's funeral. Jet magazine published graphic photos  including one depicting Bradley above the coffin containing her battered son's body  and the outrage grew louder. When the two men accused of the murder, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, were acquitted by an all-white jury weeks later, anyone looking for further reason to put an end to lynching and demand racial justice had a rallying point.

" " During his murder trial of Emmett Till at the Tallahatchie County Courthouse, defendant Roy Bryant (left) sits with his family. His wife Carolyn (far right), accused Till of flirting with her. She later recanted her story. Ed Clark/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

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What Really Happened?

What prompted Till's kidnapping and murder is still debated and, in reality, beside the point.

The jurors were told by Bryant's wife, Carolyn, that Till had whistled at her, come into the Bryant family store, grabbed her by the wrist, put his hands on her waist and bragged about being with white women.

It was a lie. She recanted that story years later. What she told author Timothy Tyson for his 2017 book, "The Blood of Emmett Till," strikes at the very truth of that night. "Nothing that boy did could ever justify what happened to him," Bryant said.

Still, the original retelling of the encounter between 14-year-old Till and 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant has had remarkable staying power, despite the fact that version has been disavowed by its creator. A 1956 Look magazine article by William Bradford Huie, containing a "confession" from the murderers (Look paid them to be interviewed), was purported to tell the "true account" of the murder.

"That so-called confession continues, in some, to function as the history of what happened to Emmett Till that night," Houck says. "What the article has done, what I see, is it still divides Mississippi along black and white lines. 'Oh, Emmett Till was kind of this borderline rapist man-child who had it coming to him.' You will hear that in polite company in Mississippi to the present day."

" " Mamie Till Bradley (middle) grieves during her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till's funeral services on Sept. 6, 1955. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Lauren and Michael Lee, Photo courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times

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The Aftermath of the Murder

Till's story had an immediate and profound effect on Americans at the time, both black and white  largely because of his mother's bold decision to display his body, and Jet's decision (among others, including the Chicago Defender) to publish the pictures. Former politician and activist Julian Bond, who died in 2015, explained in a foreword to Devery S. Anderson's indispensable look at the events, "Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement:"

The Till story was a touchstone narrative of my generation. Among many southern horror stories, this was among the most morbid. The Till death picture was proof of white southerners' malevolence. Their refusal to acknowledge the killer's guilt was proof of their acceptance of evil.

Till's story was recounted throughout the 1960s as the Civil Rights Act became law. It is still widely cited by activists from Bond to Rosa Parks and beyond.

And the story of what happened in Mississippi in August 1955 may not be finished, either. Till's body was exhumed and positively identified as part of a 2004 Department of Justice reopening of the case, which resulted in no new charges. A Mississippi grand jury in 2007 found no evidence, suggested by documentarian Beauchamp that as many as 14 people may have taken part in his kidnapping and murder. In 2018, the Department of Justice again opened up an investigation; it's evidently still pending.

Many articles, books and documentaries have been produced on the story. There's now an Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner, Mississippi. A few other museums are in the works. The state of Mississippi has several road signs that detail places in the Emmett Till story, though many of the signs continue to be shot and otherwise vandalized.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, dedicated to black people terrorized by lynching, opened in 2018, not far from The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration. Both are projects of the Equal Justice Initiative.

And finally, on Feb. 26, 2020, the United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act 410-to-4, to make lynching a federal hate crime. This comes after lawmakers have tried and failed more than 200 times. The bill still needs to be passed in the U.S. Senate and signed by the president to become law.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam never took the stand in their 1955 trial for murder. They didn't need to. The jury deliberated for only 67 minutes before acquitting them. Afterward, both Bryant and Milam celebrated by lighting cigars and posing with their wives for photographs. Milam died in 1980, at age 61. Bryant died in 1994, at age 63.

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Originally Published: Apr 14, 2020
Inflated fertilizer prices are just one of the exacerbated input costs farmers are dealing with as we enter a new year and season. The American Farm Bureau Federation reported that in some areas of the country, farmers are seeing prices for fertilizer up 300%.

Higher costs for raw ingredients of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are certainly at the top of the conversation of why this is happening. In a Market Intel, Farm Bureau economists Shelby Myers and Veronica Nigh noted that ammonia, liquid nitrogen, urea, both diammonium and monoammonium phosphate, and potash prices are all up at least 100% compared to September 2020. But this is far from the only factor making fertilizer more expensive, with global demand, trade issues, energy costs, and, of course, distribution problems all wreaking havoc on the system as well.

Worldwide concerns

Just like the crops it nourishes, fertilizer and its ingredients are often traded on the world market. China is the worlds top producer of nitrogen and phosphorus, while Canada produces the most potash. And although the U.S. is the third largest producer of fertilizer in the world, it relies on imports of all three nutrients to meet full demand and is subject to pay global prices and transportation costs. Myers and Nigh outlined that trade issues including anti-dumping cases filed by U.S. fertilizer manufacturers and sanctions have forced the U.S. to find other sources of raw ingredients, typically with greater transport costs.

Further, U.S. farmers have been able to use less fertilizer over recent decades, even when planting more crops, thanks to better technologies and practices. This is not the case in other countries, where fertilizer use and demand has risen.

Production and distribution

The processes necessary to convert raw materials into a farm fertilizer have also gotten more costly, the economists continued. Natural gas is used to produce anhydrous ammonia from nitrogen, and the authors explained that natural gas prices have spiked as much as 300% in some places. Phosphate-based fertilizers also require expensive, electric equipment to surface mine phosphate rock. These factors make for challenging business decisions at plants that may have just been working to get caught back up on critical maintenance that was delayed while COVID-19 precautions were implemented, Myers and Nigh said.

Farmers who have been able to place fertilizer orders may very well have experienced the last nail in the coffin of higher costs: delayed supply chains. More expensive fuel, truck driver shortages, weather events, and clogged distribution lines as more consumers order goods for delivery have all put a strain on getting supplies in a timely manner.

The elevated prices seen for fertilizer are expected to persist through planting, the authors concluded. Each farm will have to sharpen the pencil on their cropping plan to find an approach that makes the most sense this year.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2022

January 13, 2022
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.





Midwest Dairy is invested in creating dairy advocates as well as developing the next generation of dairy. Therefore, the Nebraska Division is offering six college scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500. New this year is the expansion of offering the scholarships to graduate students.

Scholarship levels include:

Full-time undergraduate and graduate students with minimum second year enrollment at an accredited college. Preference will be given to those pursuing a career within and/or supporting the dairy industry. Scholarship levels include one (1) $1,500 and two (2) $1,000 awards. When answering the essay question on future career plans, please describe how your education will be used to support the dairy industry.

Full-time undergraduate and graduate students at an accredited college. Scholarship level includes three (3) $500 awards.

Additional scholarship eligibility includes:

Applicant must contribute to Midwest Dairy checkoff as of January 1 of the current calendar year by one of the following:

Applicant, or applicants parents/guardians/grandparents/sibling, must own a dairy farm located in the state of Nebraska.

Applicant must be employed on a dairy farm located in the state of Nebraska and be recommended by the producer employer.

Former recipients of the scholarship may re-apply in subsequent years, providing they remain eligible.

ONLINE scholarship applications are DUE MARCH 1, 2022. Applicants will be evaluated on contribution to and involvement in the dairy industry, leadership, career plans, and academic standing. For online application and more information, go to:

https://www.midwestdairy.com/young-dairy-leaders/dairy-scholarships/nebraska-scholarships/
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.





On December 1, 2021, World Dairy Expohonored Ken Elliott as the 2021 Friend of Expo. Presented during the annual Friends of Expo Banquet, this award was given in recognition of his dedicated service as a volunteer, partner and supporter of World Dairy Expo.

Personally, I had the pleasure of working with Ken for seven years, shared Ann Marie Magnochi, WDE Dairy Cattle Show Manager, while presenting the award. Ken was a wonderful resource for me when I came on staff, and I got to see firsthand that leadership style of enabling and giving range, but still being there to guide and be a resource.

Elliott began his service to World Dairy Expo 19 years ago as the Superintendent of the International Holstein Show, a role then Overall Superintendent Terry Howard appointed him to. He brought a unique perspective and skillset to Expos dairy cattle team, having connections with Canadian exhibitors as well as west coast exhibitors.

After 11 years as the Holstein superintendent, Elliott added to his Expo duties by also becoming the Assistant Overall Dairy Cattle Show Superintendent. During his eight-year tenure as the assistant, Elliott oversaw 20,763 animals exhibited on the colored shavings including household names like Blexy, Hailey, Paradise, Frosty, Redrose and Ashlyn earn their titles as WDE Supreme Champions.

Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo brings together the latest in dairy innovation and the best cattle in North America. The dairy industry will return to Madison, Wisconsin for the 55th event, October 2  7, 2022, when the worlds largest dairy-focused trade show, dairy and forage seminars, a world-class dairy cattle show and more will be on display.

Download the World Dairy Expo mobile event app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube for more information.
The De Pree Art Center and Gallery at Hope College will be featuring the work of Hope graduate Jim Lee in the exhibition All My Ghosts, which will run from Thursday, Jan. 20, through Friday, Feb. 18.

Lee, a member of the colleges Class of 1994, will deliver an artists talk on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. in Cook Auditorium of the De Pree Art Center, with the gallery opening immediately following.

The public is invited to both the talk and the exhibition. Admission is free.

As described by the gallery, Jim Lees work tends to be rough cut and a little gritty, each a record of test-drives and experiments against modernist principles. Fluctuating between linear abstractions and plays on minimalism, Lees style challenges the priority traditionally placed on the pictorial surface alone, while toying with notions of painting as object and painting as experimentation. Exposing the framework that lies beneath a canvas, or cobbling materials in a patchwork of addition, Lee investigates and maintains a tenuous, yet playful, dialogue between completion and destruction throughout his practice.

Following his graduation from Hope, Lee received his MFA from the University of Delaware in 1996. He has shown internationally at Galerie Vidal Cuglietta, Brussels; Motus Fort, Tokyo; FDC Satellite, Brussels and Galerie Markus Winter, Berlin. Additionally he has been included in exhibitions at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia; the Center for the Arts Gallery, Towson, Maryland; Ratio 3, San Francisco; LAND, Los Angeles; Islip Art Museum, New York; Galerie Ruth Leuchter, Dusseldorf; Galerie Lelong, New York; Andrae Kaufmann Gallery, Berlin; IMOCA, Indianapolis; White Flag Projects, St. Louis; Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta; Larry Becker Contemporary Art, Philadelphia; and the Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase, New York. Lee is represented by Nicelle Beauchene and he lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

The De Pree Art Center and Gallery is located at 275 Columbia Ave., between 10th and 13th streets. The gallery is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., although it will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 14, and 15, because of the colleges Winter Recess. Attendance is by appointment, and guests may register on the gallerys website at hope.edu/depree

Due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, Hope is currently requiring that masks be worn by all individuals while indoors on campus unless in their living space or alone in their work space.
Colorado Springs, Colo.- At their season opener, the Huskers men's gymnastics team claimed two event titles along with multiple career-high scores at the Rocky Mountain Open. Charlie Giles claimed the title on pommel horse. Sam Phillips claimed the floor title and placed fourth on all-around. Charlie Giles claimed second place overall on vault, while Cooper Giles scored third on floor, marking a career-high score. At their season opener, the Huskers men's gymnastics team claimed two event titles along with multiple career-high scores at the Rocky Mountain Open.claimed the title on pommel horse.claimed the floor title and placed fourth on all-around.claimed second place overall on vault, whilescored third on floor, marking a career-high score.

Rotation One

Dylan LeClair led the Huskers with a career-high 13.70. Senior Evan Kriley followed closely behind notching a 13.60. Junior Sam Phillips finished with a career-high 13.50, while Junior Dylan Young notched a 13.25. Sophomore Yanni Chronopoulos and Senior Dillan King round out the event with a 12.80 and 11.85 respectively. Nebraska started off the night on parallel bars, posting an overall team score of 65.200. Seniorled the Huskers with a career-high 13.70. Seniorfollowed closely behind notching a 13.60. Juniorfinished with a career-high 13.50, while Juniornotched a 13.25. Sophomoreand Seniorround out the event with a 12.80 and 11.85 respectively.

Rotation Two

Donte McKinney notched a 13.550. Chronopoulos added a 13.40, while LeClair finished with a 13.20. NU moved on to high bar where Phillips and King led the Huskers with a 13.60. Following close behind, Juniornotched a 13.550. Chronopoulos added a 13.40, while LeClair finished with a 13.20.

At the end of the rotation, the Huskers finished with a team score of 132.550, falling into third place behind Oklahoma with a score of 138.300, and Stanford leading with a score of 141.300

Rotation Three

Sam Phillips who notched an impressive 14.20. Senior Charlie Giles earned a 13.75, with Junior Cooper Giles followed with a career-high 13.55. LeClair notched a 13.45. Freshman Chris Hiser finished the rotation with a 13.20. Continuing to floor, the Huskers were led bywho notched an impressive 14.20. Seniorearned a 13.75, with Juniorfollowed with a career-high 13.55. LeClair notched a 13.45. Freshmanfinished the rotation with a 13.20.

Stanford continued to hold first place after competing on high bar with a score of 206.500. Oklahoma competed on vault, following close behind with a score of 205.600. Nebraska scored a 202.500 holding third place.

Rotation Four

Charlie Giles led the way on pommel horse, scoring a career-high of 14.45, and taking first place in the fourth rotation. Not far behind, Cooper Giles also led the way for the Huskers notching a 14.30. Senior Khalil Jackson added a score of 13.75. Phillips scored a 11.75, while Chronopoulos and Kriley rounded out the score with a 11.70 and 11.65 respectively. led the way on pommel horse, scoring a career-high of 14.45, and taking first place in the fourth rotation. Not far behind,also led the way for the Huskers notching a 14.30. Senioradded a score of 13.75. Phillips scored a 11.75, while Chronopoulos and Kriley rounded out the score with a 11.70 and 11.65 respectively.

At the end of rotation four, the Huskers maintained third place with a score 268.500. The Sooners competed on floor earning a score of 272.850, and Stanford maintained the lead with a 273.250.

Rotation Five

Dylan Young led the way for the Big Red, setting a career-high of 14.05. Chronopoulos added a score of 13.15, while Phillips followed with a career-high score of 12.90. At the end of rotation five, Senior Noah Urwiler and Freshman Chris Hiser both finished with a 12.45. The Huskers went into the final rotation with a score of 333.500 in third place. The Huskers went on to compete on rings where they notched a team score of 333.500.led the way for the Big Red, setting a career-high of 14.05. Chronopoulos added a score of 13.15, while Phillips followed with a career-high score of 12.90. At the end of rotation five, Seniorand Freshmanboth finished with a 12.45. The Huskers went into the final rotation with a score of 333.500 in third place.

Rotation Six

Charlie Giles paved the way with a 14.55. Phillips followed closely behind with a 14.25. Freshman Joey Pepe and Senior Dylan LeClair notched a score of 14.05. McKinney finished with a 13.95 with Kriley rounding out the rotation with a 13.70. On their final rotation, NU finished on vault with a team score of 404.350. Seniorpaved the way with a 14.55. Phillips followed closely behind with a 14.25. Freshmanand Seniornotched a score of 14.05. McKinney finished with a 13.95 with Kriley rounding out the rotation with a 13.70.

All-Around

Sam Phillips competed in the all-around at the RMO, finishing with a score of 80.200, claiming fourth place overall. competed in the all-around at the RMO, finishing with a score of 80.200, claiming fourth place overall.

Nebraska finished with a team score of 404.350

Stanford came in second with a team score of 407.500

Oklahoma took the meet title with a team score of 407.700.

Following behind, in order, was Arizona State, Arizona, Air Force, Rocky Mountain Pride, and Stanford Boys Gymnastics Club.

Up Next

The Huskers return to competition to take on Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 12:00 p.m. CT.
The new Lifeline Charlotte Centre will hold its grand opening and official ribbon cutting this Friday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. at Gibson Mill in Concord, 325 McGill Ave. NW, Suite 175.

Lifeline is an international nonprofit that has a vision to spark lives on a mission for God to everyone, everywhere. They come alongside communities to assess and launch ministry initiatives, with field leaders overseeing the projects.

Hollie Gregory, the new Charlotte Centres director, will be joined by the Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce and other ministry partners. Lifeline staff members from other states will also be in attendance. Cheri Hubbell, senior director of Centre Strategy, Columbus, Ohio; Keri Owens, Lifeline of Louisville, Kentucky; Candy Williams, Lifeline of Lexington, Kentucky; and Keith (vice president of global mobilization) and Christi Dimbath, from Indiana will be present. The Charlotte Centre will be the fifth centre in the United States.

Guests will have the opportunity to tour the new Charlotte Centre at 10:30 a.m., browse the Marketplace and enjoy refreshments. The Marketplace offers products from around the world. Fair trade items are offered, such as coffee from Guatemala, hot sauce from Honduras, handmade items from Haiti, and survivor-made candles from a group that Lifeline partners with in the fight against human trafficking. The proceeds go directly back into providing and packing more meals through the Charlotte Centre. At 11 a.m., guests will have an opportunity to pack meals for hungry families around the world.

If you have questions or if your church, family, group or organization would like to become involved, contact hollie.gregory@lifeline.org or go to Lifeline Charlotte Meal Packing for more information about disaster relief. Lifeline needs Spark Team Volunteers, too. Email charlotte@lifeline.org to find out more.
Two residents of a short-staffed long-term care center were found dead Sunday night in Thomasville when police, first responders and medical personnel conducted a welfare check.

An investigation into the center continues.

According to a police statement released Tuesday, the families of the unidentified deceased residents of Pine Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center had been notified of their deaths by staff before the police investigation began.

Their bodies were sent to the autopsy center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Another two patients were found to be in critical condition. One was taken to High Point Medical Center, while the other was transported to Thomasville Medical Center.

Officials with Principle LTC, the Kinston-based operator of Pine Ridge, could not be immediately reached for comment on the deaths and police investigation.

Investigators said the welfare check was requested by residents, who told authorities staff members had not been seen by some residents and could not be reached by phone.

Police arrived at the center at 706 Pineywood Road at 7:56 p.m. Sunday.

According to the report, officers determined there was inadequate staffing to accommodate the 98 patients of the facility. The facility had one licensed practical nurse and two certified nursing assistants available at the time of the investigation.

Officers contacted Thomasville Fire Department and Davidson County Emergency Medical Services for assistance with a door-to-door assessment of every resident. That took until 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Obviously, the weather and road conditions contributed to the inadequate staffing issues with this facility, Capt. Brad Saintsing of the Thomasville Police Department said in the report.

"First and foremost, we want to ensure each and every resident of the facility is getting the quality of care they deserve. With these types of facilities, there is a protocol, and we want to ensure it was followed as it relates to the weather and/or emergency situations."

Among the investigating agencies are the State Bureau of Investigation, Davidson County District Attorneys Office, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and Davidson County Social Services.

DHHS is currently at the center overseeing operations.

According to the Principle website, it operates 56 centers involving about 7,200 beds in North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, offering services ranging from short-term transitional care to Alzheimers and dementia care.

In its latest report, the state said Pine Ridge had a cluster of eight staff members and two residents who had tested positive for COVID-19. There had been no related deaths as of Jan. 11.

A cluster is defined as at least five cases over a 28-day period. The state does not report when the cases were diagnosed.
100 years ago,

Jan. 18, 1922

MATTOON  The City of Mattoon is broke, according to an announcement by City Clerk Walsh to the Mattoon City Council last night, and unless some provision is made without delay to raise funds, the fire department, for instance, will be unable to function after the first of February. Clerk Walsh also states the funds in the police department will be shy about $150 to meet the salary roll on Feb. 1. The seven holdover aldermen have been directed to formulate some plan by which the city may get sufficient funds to function for the remainder of the fiscal year ending April 30 MATTOON  After about 15 property owners at a public hearing objected to the proposed paving of Broadway Avenue from 14th to 19th street, City Engineer Goetz said the board of local improvement decided to go ahead with the project. The ordinance providing for the repaving was presented to the Mattoon City Council last night. One alderman noted the ordinance is so voluminous that apparently there is one page of copy for each brick to be laid down. It was said to be by far the largest ordinance ever to come before the council. The measure was referred to the judiciary committee.

50 years ago, 1972

MATTOON  The Sunday evening fire in Mattoon caused an estimated $640,000 in damages in auto parts alone. The cause of the fire at M and G Automotive and at F and C Auto Parts, 2109-2011 Commercial Ave., has yet to be determined. Edward J. Fuesting is president of M and G while Frank Fuesting Jr. is president of F and C. Trains were delayed in downtown Mattoon because of fire hoses crossing the railroad tracks. Some utilities in the south part of the city also were out because of the fire. Fifteen-mile an hour winds and 15-degree temperatures hampered firefighters in what is believed to be Mattoons biggest fire since a broom factory burned in August 1968 CHARLESTON  Denise Gossett, a member of Girl Scout Troop 254 in Charleston, received the Girl Scout Honorable Mention Life Saving Award yesterday for her part in saving the life of a 5-year-old boy at the Charleston swimming pool last summer. Mrs. Edward Turner Jr. of Terre Haute, Ind., president of the Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council, made the presentation. Denise, age 10, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Gossett of Charleston.

25 years ago, 1997

CHARLESTON  Spending 10 months in Paraguay requires adapting to a different lifestyle, something that Kristy Poteete of Charleston discovered firsthand. Poteete recently returned from Paraguay where she was an exchange student with the American Field Service program. Much of Paraguay has second- and third-world conditions with a very different social life than in America. Poteete said it was just like going to a different world. I just loved it. While in the South American country, Poteete got to ski in the Andes Mountains, dance at a disco in nearby Argentina and visit Brazil on a class trip HINDSBORO  Stanfield Auction Co. sold 138 acres of farm land in Douglas County yesterday. The auction drew about 75 people to the Hindsboro Civic Center that drew a high bid of $2,375 an acre for the Corinne McMillan farm land. Emberton Farms on Murdock had the winning bid that totaled $327,750. Stanfield said the sellers were satisfied with the price received, but thought the weather may have limited the size of the crowd.

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MATTOON  February is the month to celebrate assessment at Lake Land College. Students and staff members are encouraged to participate in this years activities to learn about the importance of assessment.

According to Lisa Madlem, director of assessment and program review for the college, the assessment process at Lake Land is essential to help students and staff make informed decisions that ultimately improve the teaching-learning process.

Assessment seems fairly straightforward, but in reality it is an involved process that systematically measures student performance in order to improve the quality of educational programs, courses and the institution overall, said Madlem. Essentially, assessment is what students should know, value or be able to do upon the completion of a course, program or interaction with a department.

Lake Land College uses institution-wide measures and program and course-specific measures to assess student outcomes. Learner outcomes have been established for each of the college's associate degree and certificate programs, as well as all courses and departments at the College.

During Assessment Week from February 7 to 11, Madlem will provide online activities for students, faculty and staff. Additionally, a student quiz will be available for the chance to win a $100 Walmart gift card or a grand prize $200 Amazon gift card.

Overall, the college is actively assessing courses, programs and institutional departments, said Madlem. Each component of assessment is working toward assessing the student experience and we are continuously learning from the assessment process in order to make necessary changes and plans of action to ensure that every student at Lake Land College is provided with a continuous learning environment.

Assessment is an important step in developing Lake Land Colleges programs to best suit its students and their growing skills in order to prepare them to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year university.

For more information about assessment at Lake Land College, contact Madlem at 217-234-5088 or lmadlem@lakelandcollege.edu or visit lakelandcollege.edu/assessment.

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UPDATE: Mount Tabor United Methodist Church at 3543 Robinhood Road in Winston-Salem has postponed its annual Community Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service at 4 p.m. today due to dangerous weather conditions.

The church said on its Facebook page that it is also canceling its open house of the Navigating Jim Crow: Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina exhibit that was scheduled from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the same day.

Other open dates to visit the Green Book exhibit are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan 22, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20. The exhibit is free. For more information on the exhibit visit, mttaborumc.org/green-book.

Sadie R. Daniels of Winston-Salem had never heard of The Negro Motorist Green Book until a group from Mount Tabor United Methodist Church toured the Historic Magnolia House in Greensboro last year.

The Green Book was a travel guide published between 1936 and 1966 during the segregation era in the United States that identified businesses that would accept African American customers.

It was explosive for me, Daniels, a 93-year-old African American said of visiting the Historic Magnolia House, one of just a few Green Book sites still in operation in North Carolina. I just felt real good to know all these things happened at the Magnolia House and all the people that had been there to spend a night or to visit.

The Historic Magnolia House states on its website that renown African Americans such as James Brown, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, Joe Tex, Carter G. Woodson and Jackie Robinson stayed there, as well as families and college students who attended colleges such as Bennett College and N.C. A&T State University.

Daniels is a volunteer helping with Navigating Jim Crow: Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina an exhibit about the Green Book that will be on display to the public Jan. 17, Jan. 22, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church at 3543 Robinhood Road in Winston-Salem.

The church, where Daniels is a member, is hosting the exhibit in partnership with the Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

The exhibit is one of two identical traveling exhibits developed and produced by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, a division of the N.C Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. It was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The exhibit

Navigating Jim Crow: Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina is an eight-paneled exhibit that takes viewers through the state of North Carolina and tells the stories of some of the more than 300 locations ranging in cities from Wilmington to Lenoir with photography and words.

Exhibit-goers have the chance to view several videos with narratives featuring Green Book locations throughout North Carolina and along Route 66, as well as browse through facsimile copies of Green Books.

The words of African American travelers and descendants of Green Book site owners are featured prominently in the exhibit. Their stories are from oral histories collected by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission in 2018 and 2019.

The exhibit is self-guided, but church volunteers will be available during public showings.

Cathy Hurd, the chairwoman of Church for All People ministry at Mount Tabor, said the exhibit is designed to educate the community about what it meant for African Americans to travel the United States during segregation and experience the limited safe havens for lodging, food, gas and other services. The Green Book was a necessary guide for African Americans to feel safe when traveling.

She added that Mount Tabor is hosting the exhibit as an expression of our vision statement of sharing the love of Jesus with each other, our community, and our world, even when its hard. It is important to acknowledge and understand the horrific impact of prejudice and racism in order to become a beloved community where all people respect and care for each other.

A springboard

Deborah Daniels, who is Sadie R. Daniels daughter, said she didnt know about the Green Book until the movie Green Book was released in 2018.

When the movie came out, I was like, Green Book? Youre still thinking its fiction, said Deborah Daniels, who is also a member and exhibit volunteer at Mount Tabor.

She likes a comment from the 1948 Green Book in the exhibit that states: There will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges in the United States ...

Fran Bates Oates of Clemmons also volunteered to help with the exhibit. She was partly interested in the exhibit because she teaches a Social Justice and Me course, which she wrote, at Appalachian State University.

In the course, We talk about the Green Book, and we talk about redlining, Oates said.

She found out about the Green Book as a child.

I didnt know it was a book like I would go to the shelf and get a book to read Oates said. But we lived in Hampton, Va. My mothers family lived in Raleigh, and my fathers family lived in Durham. And in order to come down those two-lane highways to get from Hampton, Va., to Durham, N.C., you had to find where you could have your children to go to the bathroom, where you could eat, and we knew exactly where to go.

My father had that information. And he seemed to have papers all of the time, rather than a book. But we knew we could stop at a place in Murfreesboro, Va., and we knew that was a place where Negroes could go and use the bathroom and get something to eat.

Mount Tabor United Methodist Church recently invited local social studies teachers to view the exhibit.

Conan Arthur, who teaches American history at Mount Tabor High School, said he appreciates the exhibit.

Its opened my eyes to a subject in history that I was really not very familiar with at all, Arthur said, and one of the things that Ive really enjoyed about this exhibit is that it provides a lot of interesting information that actually serves more as a springboard to more questions that need to be asked.

He hopes the exhibit will inspire people to do more research and investigate the topic of the Green Book.

Judge Hughes, who teaches N.C. history at Philo-Hill Middle School, said he had never heard of the Green Book before seeing the exhibit and now would like to visit the Historic Magnolia House.

As he read through a facsimile copy of a Green Book, he noticed a bit of humor in a book that he found to be serious in nature.

My favorite is, In sloppy weather, drive close to pedestrians. Drycleaners appreciate this, Hughes said.

Green Book Project

The two identical Navigating Jim Crow: Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina exhibits have been traveling across North Carolina since February 2020.

Those exhibits are an outgrowth of a larger project that was executed by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission from 2017 to 2020, said Angela Thorpe, director of the N.C. African American Heritage Commission.

The project is commonly known as North Carolina Green Book Project, but its formal name is the Green Books Oasis Spaces Project.

We really wanted to understand what the status of Green Book sites in the state of North Carolina were, Thorpe said.

The N.C. African American Heritage Commission found that out of an original 327 sites in North Carolina that were listed in the Green Book during its 30 years of publication, 63 sites are still standing across the state. Six of those sites are still in operation.

Although there are other Green Book Projects in the United States, Thorpe said the Green Book Project in North Carolina is different.

We really wanted to look at the people behind the buildings, she said. You see a lot of Green Book Projects. Theyre documenting the spaces.

She said the NCAAHC wanted to do a deep dive to see who owned those spaces and who patronized those spaces.

In addition to the traveling exhibits, information about the sites and some of the stories associated with them are available online through a web portal, and there is an online version of the exhibit.

Thorpe said that for some people, the exhibit reveals stories that are lesser known.

I think for other people, this exhibit does a really beautiful job of underscoring, not just the power of the Black community but what coalition and community looks like in the Black community, Thorpe said.

For example, Jacqueline DeShazor owned a beauty parlor that later turned into DeShazor Beauty College in Durham.

Thorpe said the exhibit also demonstrates the power of place.

One of my favorite things about the Green Book is the sites, she said. In it are places that are familiar to so many of us. These spaces that served as oasis spaces for Black people were everything from restaurants to taverns to beauty parlors.

336-727-7366 @fdanielWSJ

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Two residents of a short-staffed Thomasville long-term care facility were found dead Sunday night during a welfare check conducted by Thomasville police and other local first responders and medical personnel.

According to a police report released Tuesday, the families of the unidentified deceased residents of Pine Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center had been notified of their deaths by staff before the police investigation began.

Their bodies were sent to the autopsy center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Another two patients were found to be in critical condition. One was taken to High Point Medical Center, while the other was transported to Thomasville Medical Center.

Officials with Principle LTC, the Kinston-based operator of Pine Ridge, could not be immediately reached for comment on the deaths and police investigation.

The report said the welfare check was requested by residents, who claimed staff members had not been seen by some residents and could not be reached by phone.

Police arrived at the facility at 706 Pineywood Road at 7:56 p.m. Sunday.

According to the report, responding officers determined there was inadequate staffing to accommodate the 98 patients of the facility. There was one licensed practical nurse and two certified nursing assistants available at the time of the investigation.

Officers contacted Thomasville Fire Department and Davidson County Emergency Medical Services for assistance in conducting a door-to-door assessment of every resident that lasted until 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Obviously, the weather and road conditions contributed to the inadequate staffing issues with this facility, Capt. Brad Saintsing said in the report.

First and foremost, we want to ensure each and every resident of the facility is getting the quality of care they deserve. With these types of facilities, there is a protocol, and we want to ensure it was followed as it relates to the weather and/or emergency situations.

Gov. Roy Cooper said in response to the deaths of the Pine Ridge residents that these reports are deeply troubling and need to be investigated thoroughly.

The health and safety of patients, particularly those In long-term care facilities, are critical.

The investigation has been expanded to include the State Bureau of Investigation, Davidson County District Attorneys Office, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, and Davidson County Social Services.

DHHS is currently at the facility overseeing operations.

According to the Principle website, it operates 56 centers involving about 7,200 beds overall in North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, offering services ranging from short-term transitional care to Alzheimers and dementia care.

The latest DHHS COVID-19 dashboard for long-term care facilities, updated Tuesday. had Pine Ridge with a cluster of 13 staff members and seven residents.

That was up from eight staff members and two residents as of the Jan. 11 update.

There had been no reported COVID-19 deaths as of Tuesday.

A cluster is defined as at least five cases over a 28-day period. The state does not report when the cases were diagnosed.

A facility must be at least 28 days removed from its last new case to be taken off the list of clusters.

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RALEIGH  North Carolina Republican legislators on Monday announced plans to attempt to further delay the already postponed state primary, responding to worries about timing should the state Supreme Court strike down recent redistricting plans.

The legislature will return to work Wednesday to take up a bill that would push the May 17 primary for U.S. Senate and House seats, the General Assembly, and scores of judicial and local positions to June 7, GOP leaders said.

Any election date change likely would need some Democratic support to become law. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper isn't on the ballot this year but would be asked to sign any measure into law. Republicans lack veto-proof majorities in the state House and Senate.

State law had set the primary for March 8, but the Supreme Court last month delayed it to mid-May while litigation challenging the legislative and congressional maps the GOP-controlled legislature approved in November were heard. It would appear to be a massive undertaking to resolve the lawsuit -- especially if lines are declared unconstitutional and legislators redraw them -- and still have time to run the primary election on its current date.

A trial court last week refused to throw out the maps. Voters and advocacy groups who sued over the lines appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which scheduled oral arguments for Feb. 2.

The State Board of Elections has said that maps would need to be worked out by Feb. 18 to allow for the "orderly preparation" for the May 17 primary. And should districts be struck down, state law directs that the General Assembly receive at least two weeks "to remedy any defects identified" with lines before a court can impose its own substitute plan.

A quick turnaround also would give candidates a few days to decide whether to run under altered districts, according to the office of Senate redistricting committee co-chairman Ralph Hise.

"The extremely short timeframe is not necessary and can be lengthened by moving the state's primary elections to June 7," a news release from Hise's office said. Otherwise, it "is not fair to potential candidates and increases the likelihood of confusion and chaos."

Friday's argument date disclosure also caused some Republicans to openly fret whether the Supreme Court, where registered Democrats hold a 4-3 seat advantage, would attempt to rush the process. That has led to quick-moving action by GOP leaders in charge of the House and Senate.

House Speaker Tim Moore told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that he hasn't heard personally such reasoning but still feels a three-week delay is warranted. "It gives us all time to work on something," Moore said. "Because of the schedule ... we think it wise to move back the primary for a short period of time."

The lawsuits allege many districts are unlawful partisan gerrymanders and dilute the voting power of Black residents, stacking the deck for the GOP in future elections. Republicans disagree and call the process that creates the districts fair and transparent.

The legislature hasn't held a voting session since late November, but the House and Senate have been holding pro forma sessions since late December in part to have a ready method in place to address remapping or election alterations.

A further delay would continue to extend key primary fights, especially the race for the Republican nominee to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Burr. The leading GOP contenders are Rep. Ted Budd, former Gov. Pat McCrory, ex-Rep. Mark Walker, and Cary combat veteran Marjorie Eastman. Meanwhile, Democrat Cheri Beasley, who had become likely Democratic nominee following the departures of former rivals, will be able to keep raising funds and campaigning without direct GOP competition.

A bill introduced Friday by Senate Republicans that pushes back certain municipal elections still set to occur in March and April isn't controversial.
MOCKSVILLE  A Pennsylvania man wanted for questioning in the death of a 20-year-old woman at the Mocksville Days Inn has now been charged with murder and is believed to have fled Davie County, the Davie County Sheriffs Office reported.

Suzanne Kauffman was found dead at the Days Inn on Monday, in a room that authorities said had been rented by Quincy Cheeks Hannah, who has been charged with murder.

Kauffman had come to North Carolina to attend a Bible camp in Iredell County, said Davie Sheriff J.D. Hartman. Investigators said she was missing from the camp. The young womans home was in Denver, Pa., the sheriffs office said.

Investigators said the discovery of Kauffmans body came as deputies were attempting to locate her, along with missing cellphones that had been in her possession.

The people trying to find Kauffman had called the missing phones and got an answer on one of them, reports showed. The person who answered told searchers that they could pick up the phones at the Days Inn.

Deputies responding to the Days Inn learned that someone had found the phones spread out along the side of the road near a Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Days Inn on Yadkinville Road. The same person also found the key to Kauffmans Acura.

Authorities found Kauffmans car in the rear parking area of the Kentucky Fried Chicken. Deputies say that, after learning Kauffman may have met Hannah, they found Kauffmans body in the room at the Days Inn that Hannah had rented.

The Davie sheriffs office did not say how Kauffman is believed to have died.

Hannah, who is 26 years old, was last known to be driving a light blue 2009 Toyota sedan with Pennsylvania license plate LRE-6319. Authorities said Hannah may be driving to Pennsylvania. He is a resident of York, Pennsylvania.

Hartman said the SBI and the Iredell County Sheriffs Office have both been working with Davie officials on the case.

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North Carolina has reached the grim total of 20,000 COVID-19 related deaths, while the statewide daily case count appears on the decline from a record peak last week.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 dashboard updated Tuesday covers from noon Friday to noon Tuesday because the department was closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

North Carolina has recorded 2.13 million cases and 20,000 COVID-19 related deaths since the pandemic began. The statewide death toll is up 97 from Friday.

DHHS reported Forsyth with 4,574 new cases and four additional COVID-19 related deaths over the four-day period.

That includes a record 1,318 cases reported for the period of noon Monday to noon Tuesday, as well as an additional 3,196 cases over the previous 72-hour period.

DHHS doesnt provide a county-level daily case count for the noon Friday to noon Sunday period. The previous daily high in Forsyth was 1,205 that were reported for Thursday and Friday.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Forsyth has had 76,196 cases and 645 related deaths.

A record statewide daily count of 35,759 cases reported Friday was followed by counts of 34,391 for Saturday, 30,500 for Sunday, 22,308 for Monday and 31,902 for Tuesday.

Even with the recent surge in COVID-19 omicron cases, theres an expectation that the daily case count could begin to decline, according to Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious diseases expert with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

We may be getting up close to our peak  possibly in the next week, Ohl said Thursday.

It takes a while for cases to come down from high levels, but it could be substantially down by the end of the month.

Delayed test results

DHHS has said that record numbers of people getting COVID-19 tests statewide are contributing to delays of multiple days in getting results back from its 12 testing companies, including vendor StarMed Healthcare in Forsyth.

On Tuesday, DHHS reported that the latest daily case count of 31,902 was inflated by another vendor with a reporting delay for positive tests.

Premier Medical Laboratory Services, based in Greenville, S.C., reported a delay of 8,094 positive tests for the period of Dec. 31 through Friday. Excluding the Premier delayed test results, the case count reported for Tuesday was 23,808.

It is not clear if the Premier delay has any effect on Forsyth or Triad residents.

DHHS has been using StarMed as its testing vendor locally. The company has outsourced some testing to Premier to process additional COVID-19 PCR tests collected across the state.

On Jan. 11, StarMed chief executive Michael Estramonte released an open letter addressing the delayed test results that numbered more than 8,000 as of Jan. 6.

Premier Medical experienced an increase in testing needs from all its service locations, including the S.C. Department of Health, and fell behind in providing test results due to multiple unforeseen circumstances, Estramonte said.

Unfortunately, this delay was not immediately communicated to StarMed.

Some of the record-high 44,833 statewide cases listed in DHHS Jan. 13 report came from testing company GENETWORx submitting 10,791 delayed positive tests covering Dec. 31 through Tuesday.

In Feb. 3, 2021, DHHS said there were 7,912 belatedly reported cases statewide from FastMed Urgent Care that included unreported tests from the previous two months.

DHHS has said it lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so individuals may have been infected or died days before their cases are counted.

DHHS cautioned that additional delays in reporting may occur as laboratories are processing unprecedented numbers of COVID-19 tests.

Forsyth update

Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was at 35.6% as of noon Tuesday, while the statewide rate was 33.3%.

The vast majority of new cases during the current COVID-19 wave are the omicron variant, according to local and state public-health officials.

With Tuesdays report, Forsyth is averaging 254.1 cases per 100,000 people over the most recent two-week period. Thats up from 67.6 cases per 100,000 as recently as Dec. 31.

Both Swift and Dr. David Priest, an infectious diseases expert with Novant Health Inc., have said the number of COVID-19 cases likely is underreported.

Most at-home test results arent reported to county health officials, and some infected individuals have mild cases and dont seek care, they say.

Priest said Tuesday that the recent snowstorm likely contributed to a lower test count than had been typical recently.

Priest said that if someone tests positive with an at-home testing kit, they should stay at home for at least five days even if they begin to feel better. If their symptoms worsen during that period, they should seek a test and medical care.

If you have symptoms of COVID that you likely have COVID given the high level of positivity right now, Priest said.

I wouldnt necessarily think you have to wait in a long line for a test and then wait for the result to come back.

Public-health officials may not like that answer because they want to know how wide the pandemic is and where the cases are, Priest said. At some point, there is a diminishing return on getting tested if you have a high likelihood of having COVID.

Statewide update

Since early July, the vast majority of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths locally and statewide have been among unvaccinated people, according to local infectious diseases experts and state public health officials.

There also have been deaths among vaccinated people who were immunocompromised or who had other health issues.

Priest said Tuesday that 94% of COVID-19 hospitalizations involving unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals, meaning those who have not completed the dose regimen to become fully vaccinated, or have not yet received a booster.

The states number of COVID-19 hospitalizations was at another record high of 4,630 as of noon Tuesday, although the streak of 18 consecutive days of setting a new record ended over the weekend.

Of the latest total, 463 patients are on ventilators, including 105 in the 17-county Triad and Northwest N.C. region.

Hospitals in the 17-county region reported a combined 1,043 COVID-19 patients as of noon Tuesday, down 34 from the previous report.

Priest said that Novant was caring for about 760 COVID-19 patients in Charlotte, Triad and Wilmington markets.

According to DHHS, as of Jan. 8, unvaccinated individuals represented 76.6% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 86.7% of COVID-19 ICU patients statewide. Those vaccinated patients tend to be those who are immunocompromised or with chronic health issues.

There were 102 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including 23 in the Triad region.

Swift has said he is concerned that hospitalizations and deaths will continue to rise even as cases may peak over the next two weeks.

More booster data

About 47% of adult North Carolinians have received a booster shot, or 2.78 million, as of noon Tuesday.

However, fully vaccinated continues to be defined as vaccinated with two doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Under that definition, 70% of North Carolinas adults are considered fully vaccinated, as well as 60% of the overall Forsyth population.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is discussing whether to amended the definition of fully vaccinated to require at least three doses.

In Forsyth, 100,142 residents have gotten a booster shot, or 44% of the 228,028 considered fully vaccinated.

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Another option

Instead of actual passenger trains (City plans push to bring back passenger rail, Dec. 27), has Winston-Salem considered using RDUs (rail diesel units)?

RDUs are like a passenger car with a diesel engine, very much like a streetcar. RDUs can operate as a single unit or in multiples. They could run on the existing rail line between Winston-Salem and Greensboro. In the future, they could run on Norfolk Southerns main line from Greensboro to High Point, Thomasville and Lexington. From Lexington, they could continue on to Winston-Salem on the existing Winston-Salem Southbound track.

Wyatt Helsabeck

Thomasville

A heavy investment

Scott Sextons column regarding Sgt. Mike McDonald, an unvaccinated police officer who died from COVID-19 (The message were sending, Jan. 8), filled almost the entire front page and half of another. Great effort was made to cast aspersions upon those who dare question McDonalds widows claim that he contracted COVID-19 while stationed at the Carolina Classic Fair, and therefore, that he died in the line of duty, entitling her to an estimated additional $1 million in death benefits.

As a first responder, Sgt. McDonald was entitled to be first in line for the COVID-19 vaccine. He refused. We taxpayers have invested heavily in Sgt. McDonald over 25 years: training, salary, benefits, health insurance, equipment, firearms, protective devices. Yes, even the Kevlar he was asked to wear, as insightfully pointed out in the article.

What if Sgt. McDonald died as a result of refusing to wear the Kevlar that was available to him? Isnt that why we, those who Sgt. McDonald is supposed to protect and serve, bear such a heavy tax burden to provide him training and the best equipment?

A police officer is going to be in harms way. It is the definition of the job. The point is to survive the harm. The COVID-19 vaccine doesnt guarantee the virus misses  but it greatly increases the chance of surviving a hit. Like Kevlar.

At the time of Sgt. McDonalds death, only 34% of city employees were vaccinated. This is a leadership issue.

Linda Agnant

Winston-Salem

A sacred trust

As the new year opens to new hope for humanity, an old challenge to making this a more perfect union emerges.

Several amendments to the Constitution addressed the issue of voting rights. The 19th, 15th, 14th and 13th Amendments expanded the fundamental right to vote. More recently, as the Vietnam War escalated, 18-year-olds were also given the constitutional right to vote. The 1965 Voting Rights Act had the authority to review states attempts to change voting procedures that would negatively affect minority communities. Unfortunately, the decision of the Supreme Court eliminated that component.

The onslaught of recent laws being passed by over 19 states to suppress the basic right to vote is contrary to the historical movement to expand the right to vote. Why is this sacred trust being challenged so vigorously today? Our vote is our voice in a democratic society. Who wants to silence our voice? There is a critical need to demand that we protect the sacred trust of voting that engages the average citizen in the political process.

Fleming El-Amin

Winston-Salem

Blaming Biden

One of the hazards of asking members of the public to share their opinions is that youre going to get a whole lot of bad ones. Such was the case, in my opinion, with the Jan. 14 letter The real danger, for too many reasons to list.

Presidents are powerful, but they cant just do anything they want. The president cant call the head of Spectrum, for instance, and say, Lower your prices today or else. Unfortunately.

Our economy relies on a complex web of interrelated goods and services and demands constant growth that relies on increased exploitation of resources with little room for rest. American worker productivity has been forced to go up and up and up, producing more and more profit for the people at the top at the expense of quality of life. Its a system designed to, at some point, fail.

Blaming inflation on President Biden is shortsighted. It ignores individual businesses ability to raise or lower their prices at will and it ignores the supply chain problems that owe much to conservatives reluctance to help fight COVID.

Former President Trump often took credit for good economic news even though hed done nothing to affect it. Maybe thats why people who usually tout individual responsibility now blame Biden for everything that goes wrong.

That may be satisfying, but its not realistic and it wont help.

Jeffrey Parent

Winston-Salem
Marge Schooler thought Abe Workman was a pretty handsome guy when she first spotted him on an Omaha city bus all those years ago.

Ornery, she added.

Abe thought Marge was beautiful inside and out, and they got to know each other as the bus drove them to and from their respective high schools.

A year and a half later, they were married.

They didnt take the customary route. He was 18 and she 17, and they knew there was no way their parents would agree to such a step at their early ages.

They eloped instead; driving Abes old Chevy to Tekamah, where they hoped the justice of the peace would agree to marry them. Theyd already been told no once in Omaha.

I was excited and scared both. And worried, Marge said. We just took a chance.

Seven kids, 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren later, they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on Jan. 11.

They still live in their own home on 10 acres near Kennard, Nebraska, where they moved almost 50 years ago with all those kids so Marge could have the life she wanted away from the big city. Abe provided the job security they needed as a fireman and she stayed home and took care of the family.

All of our kids are very good. Theyre healthy and making it on their own, she said. We have a lot to be proud of.

Marge said things were different back in 1947 when they tied the knot. Most of their friends married within a year or so after them and started having children shortly thereafter.

No one waited until they were older to do both as its usually done now. You either got a job after leaving high school or your dad tossed you out of the house, said Abe, one of 11 siblings.

I figured, hell, I loved her, he said. Wed get married.

Theyve faced challenges along the way, including the death of their oldest daughter. Marge said being married isnt easy.

I think its the hardest job in the world, she said. There is a lot of give and take. You have to realize you have that other person to care for. You have to be willing to do that.

Marge never got to wear a fancy wedding dress, but she celebrated their 25th anniversary in a long silver gown. All of their children were there for a party despite a foot of snow that had fallen a few days previously.

Its not easy for 92-year-old Abe to get around these days. Marge will be 92 next month.

Though they didnt have the usual start to their married life, Marge said neither of them regrets a thing.

We just wanted to be together, she said.

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OMAHA  Four Omaha area school districts are suing the Sarpy County treasurer for allegedly failing to repay more than $6.5 million in tax payments after being underpaid for three years.

The Omaha, Millard, Gretna and Platteview school districts filed the lawsuit Dec. 30. It alleges that Trace Jones, interim Sarpy County treasurer, has refused to pay back what the county owes them in tax payments, despite recommendations from state audit officials.

In March 2021, the school districts were part of a 75-page audit report published by the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts.

The audit showed that the Sarpy County treasurer at the time, Brian Zuger, miscalculated distributions to school districts from 2018 to 2020.

The payments were funds that the Omaha Public Power District makes to county and city governments and school districts in lieu of paying property and real estate taxes. The utility directs 5% of its gross revenues from the previous years retail electricity sales to those entities.

The lawsuit says Zugers office failed to include the tax levies of all school districts in Sarpy County when calculating those tax payments, which reportedly led to over- and underpayments to Omaha-area school districts and cities by millions of dollars.

The Omaha Public Schools was underpaid by $1.4 million, according to the lawsuit. Millard Public Schools missed out on a $2.3 million payment.

The lawsuit alleges Gretna Public Schools was underpaid by $721,774, while Platteview Community Schools didnt receive $1.9 million in funds.

Bellevue Public Schools was also reportedly overpaid by more than $2.3 million, and Papillion-La Vista Community Schools received $946,054 more than it was supposed to receive, according to the lawsuit.

Sarpy County and some cities around the Omaha metro area were also overpaid, but the school districts incorrect payments account for more than half of the $12.5 million in calculation errors, said Dakota Christensen, senior auditor for the State Auditors Office.

Christensen said he wasnt sure what the process was to correct overpayments, but the errors will have a widespread impact on multiple school districts in Nebraska.

The state aid formula that provides money to school districts is based on the amount of local revenue each district receives. If an incorrect payment is recorded, the difference makes its way into the formula and will cause other districts to be over or underpaid.

The State Auditor's Office said in its report that it recommends the county treasurer correct the erroneous distributions. It also said the treasurer should implement procedures to prevent the mistake from happening in the future.

In April 2021, Zuger was removed from office during an administrative hearing of the Sarpy County Board. Jones has been serving as interim treasurer.

In April 2021, Jones sent a letter to the Omaha area school districts and cities that receive scheduled payments, saying the county will not be making retroactive adjustments to prior payments.

Sarpy County declined to comment on the reasons behind the refusal, citing the pending litigation, said Bonnie Moore, chief deputy county attorney.

In the lawsuit, the districts request to be paid back the funds owed, along with court costs.

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Greg Elliott has had two lifelong passions  cars and art  and has combined them into a side business.

I used to draw in high school all the time. Ive done pencil portraits, but I kind of have gotten away from that, he said. I used to race down at Hiway 92 Raceway. I raced three different cars. I raced a mini-stock first.

Facebook posts helped spark Elliotts interest in recreating cars and trucks in 1/64th scale using Hot Wheels, Matchbox and other diecast cars of that size.

I had seen some of the crazy things that some people were doing, and Id always kind of collected (diecast cars). That kind of started things a little bit, he said. I have a brother who makes custom farm implements for Ertl tractor toys. He helped spark (my interest), but I was always more into cars than the farm stuff.

So, Elliott started out by recreating the car he drove in high school  a Pontiac GTO. He then started experimenting to see what else he could recreate using the hundreds, if not thousands, of diecast cars he has in his collection. It takes a little ingenuity to figure out how to recreate the cars.

The first time I cut one apart, I made a crew cab out of a single cab, he said.

After posting his own creations on Facebook and Instagram, it didnt take long before he started getting requests to make cars people own or used to own, he said.

They send me a picture and then I start looking on Google or looking through my boxes and boxes of cars, he said.

He looks for the closest diecast car he has that has the same shape and lines as the car he is trying to recreate. It sometimes takes some cutting and combining parts of two or more cars to get the look of the car he is recreating.

When he cant find a specific part he needs, he makes it himself using styrene plastic or by other means.

Superglue and baking soda (works well) if you have a gap to fill. You can file it and machine it almost just like the pot metal. You can fill some gaps and when you get done with it, you cant see it, Elliott said.

He also has tools that help him along the way, he said.

I have a little miter box and a razor saw for cutting (the diecast cars). Then, I bought myself a disc and a belt sander  a little tabletop one so I can square things up. Man, that makes it so much easier, Elliott said.

A lot of people contact Elliott through Facebook with cars they want to recreate. Elliott said the cost of the final product depends on what he has to use to make the cars.

(Some wheels) come off a $6 car. Ill buy them just for the wheels and tires. Hot Wheels doesnt have that many different wheels. Ive also found a place where I can get them 3D printed. Those are 20 bucks, he said.

One of Elliotts customers also led him to creating replicas for drivers that were in town to film the Discovery Channel drag racing show Street Outlaws.

Brian Kilthau asked him to make him a copy of Robin Roberts car from the show.

I ended up making two of those one that he gave to Robin Roberts and then hes got another one up on the shelf up there at Big Red Nebraska Popcorn that he kept for himself, Elliott said. I made a Murder Nova and another one Jeff Lutz raced here (when they were filming Street Outlaws).

Those took a lot of creativity to recreate, Elliott said. The parachute and lanyards he made out of dental floss. The wings on the back of the cars he made from pieces of aluminum, and he used straight pins to make the support rods, he said.

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My fellow Sudanese people and I have been living in fear for our homeland over recent months. We have been meeting in Lincoln to talk about how we can stop bloodshed with more than 60 people dying since fall. It has been very difficult to watch as more stories emerge from our country.

With each new resignation and ongoing political deadlock our hopes have dwindled. We have begun to wonder if the country might be about to descend into civil war. But there is cautious hope that new talks brokered by the United Nations could be positive.

From Sudan, I arrived as a refugee in the United States with my seven children in 2001. I've since completed my education and sent my children to university. As a former refugee, I know it takes perseverance and leadership to make it in America. It's also true that trials and tribulations don't always mean you're doomed. They can make you stronger, and I hope that's true for Sudan right now.

Sudan last had an elected government in 1989. Then the country was overtaken by a military dictator, Field Marshal Omar al-Bashir. Bashir was himself overthrown in 2019 and replaced by a Transitional Military Council.

They had planned to hold democratic elections in 2023, but a military junta overthrew them in October last year. They installed a prime minister who himself resigned a couple weeks ago. He blamed failure to reach compromise between the military and pro-democracy movements.

The resignation plunged Sudan into more danger. Too many people have now died amid relentless street protests since last fall. Now the United Nations has promised to involve key players in democracy talks. It is important that they are inclusive. And it is important that we set a clear date for the beginning of discussions.

It is time to end the violence and enter into a constructive process. The military, rebel groups, political parties and protest movements are all important. But so are civil society and women's groups. Everybody's voice has weight and power, and we ignore people at our peril.

At the same time, democracy is fragile. We don't need to look to Sudan to know that. If you look at the numbers in America on the public's trust in government, they have never been lower. But whether here or abroad it starts and ends with meaningful dialog. It starts with free and fair elections. Democracy also brings safety. It helps both those protesting leadership, but also for those in power. Everybody knows where they stand.

The longer Sudan's deadlock continues, the higher the risk. We need to figure out how to get a meaningful democracy established. That means the military must be willing to hand power to an elected government. And it means we must all pray for a safe outcome at a difficult time for my home country.

Khamisa Abdalla lives in Lincoln. She works as the women program manager at the Asian Community and Cultural Center and serves as the Refugee Congress delegate for Nebraska.

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The American Red Cross of Wisconsin and the Shalom Center began to mobilize efforts Tuesday to assist residents displaced or affected by the deadly fire that occurred late Monday night in a 16-unit building at the Saxony Manor apartment complex on Kenoshas north side.

The Red Cross opened emergency cases for five tenants from five units in the building, located at 1870 22nd Ave. Justin Kern, the American Red Cross of Wisconsins communications director, said Tuesday afternoon that its possible others will need assistance.

Information about the number of people who need assistance is still coming in, Kern said at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The affected building was filled with toxic smoke and the west side of the building was consumed with flames, according to Kenosha Fire Department officials.

Three adults from the building were confirmed dead by KFD officials as of Tuesday, one as a result of the fire and one apparently due to a medical event unrelated to the fire. A third adult died later at the hospital, according to city fire officials.

According to its website, Saxony Manor offers apartments for income-eligible people age 62 and older at several buildings on an 18-acre site at 1870 22nd Ave. The complex is run by the non-profit Mercy Housing.

Were devastated that residents lost their lives due to the fire at Saxony Manor and are praying for the safe recovery of the residents who were injured, Kate Peterson, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Mercy Housing, said in a statement Tuesday. We are working closely with authorities as they investigate the cause, and we are taking steps to assist all of the residents who were displaced or otherwise impacted by the fire.

Assisting displaced residents

Kern said disaster volunteers from the Red Cross were on scene and would have an update Tuesday evening, after the Kenosha News press time. Each of the five seniors for whom cases have been opened has received a voucher for several days of emergency accommodations at an area hotel and meals.

Well also work with these and any affected residents to line up additional emergency needs, such as replacement medications, Kern said, adding one tenant did require diabetes medication.

No information on pets

Tenants at Saxony Manor are allowed to keep small pets. However, Kern said that initial reports that came in regarding the displaced tenants who needed assistance did not mention the need to accommodate pets. Area veterinary clinics and Kenoshas Safe Harbor Humane Society reported they did not receive any pets for treatment or shelter after the fire.

We are working with the property owner and our partners in the city to identify the full number of those affected and in need of our resources after the fire, Kern said. We also want to share that our hearts go out to family and friends who are grieving and who have people they love presently at the hospital after this horrible fire.

Tamarra Coleman, executive director of the Shalom Center, said the organization has reached out to Kenosha Fire Department Chief Christopher Bigley to determine how many tenants will need assistance.

We want to provide food boxes and goods to the families involved, as well as basic necessities, said Coleman, who added the Shalom Center had put together 15 boxes of food and other necessities for the fire victims Tuesday.

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Three adults have now been confirmed dead after a fire erupted late Monday night in a Saxony Manor apartment complex building at 1870 22nd Ave., city fire officials said Tuesday.

Late Monday, Kenosha police confirmed that two people died and five were injured, two critically, after an entire building at the Saxony Manor complex, located at 22nd Avenue and 18th Street on the citys north side, filled with toxic smoke and the west side of the building was consumed with flames. City fire officials confirmed Tuesday that those two adults were found deceased at the scene, one as a result of the fire and another apparently from a medical event unrelated to the fire.

City fire officials also confirmed Tuesday that a third adult died later at the hospital due to injuries sustained in the fire. The names of the three deceased individuals had not been released as of late Tuesday afternoon.

Additionally, Kenosha Police Officer Javier Vega, 38, was transported to an area hospital for smoke inhalation. Vega, a veteran of the department for over five years, was treated and later released.

Firefighters were dispatched at about 9:30 p.m. Monday to a report of a fire at the Saxony Manor complex. The Kenosha Police Department assisted with the evacuation of several residents before the Kenosha Fire Department arrived on scene, according to Tuesdays release.

Two residents who were trapped in upper-level units were successfully rescued by KFD personnel using a ladder truck. Fire officials said Monday night that 10 other residents were able to get out of the building safely and are currently displaced. One person remained unaccounted for as of late Tuesday afternoon, but city fire officials said they do not believe that person was in the affected structure.

Had it not been for the rapid response and evacuation efforts by the Kenosha Police Department, there would likely have been more injury or death, the release stated.

According to the release, the fire was controlled within approximately 30 minutes, and crews remained on scene for several hours conducting secondary searches of the structure.

In a press conference late Tuesday afternoon, KFD Chief Christopher Bigley said no cause or point of origin for the fire had been determined yet and that an investigation was still ongoing. Bigley also confirmed that smoke detectors in the building were working at the time of the fire.

Residents call 911

Several residents from neighboring apartment buildings called 911 and said they witnessed smoke coming from at least two ends of the affected building Monday night.

According to KPD Capt. Patrick Patton, Vega, the police officer who was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation and later released, was trying to evacuate as many as he could from the building.

The fire did not spread through the whole building, but the smoke sure did, Patton said Monday. Thats whats the bigger problem.

Police worked into the early-morning hours Tuesday with Saxony Manor management to account for tenants residing in the apartments, Patton said.

According to its website, Saxony Manor offers apartments for income-eligible people age 62 and older at several buildings on an 18-acre site at 1850 22nd Ave. The complex is run by the non-profit Mercy Housing.

Flames rise high

Omar Owens, who lives in an apartment building to the south and west of the building at 1870 22nd Ave., said he could see smoke billowing upward while flames shot out of the building. He said he saw the flames in a first-floor apartment travel up to the roof, where they shot up as high as 30 to 40 feet.

I heard a frantic woman yelling. I couldnt tell what they were saying ... and I heard a dog barking, said Owens, who looked out his window and saw the downstairs unit on fire. The upstairs caught on fire from (the fire) downstairs.

Owens, who has lived at Saxony Manor for four years, said he knocked on the door of his sisters apartment inside his building and told her there was a fire and she needed to get out. His sister had been resting and did not realize a fire was in progress.

One resident of the building that caught on fire said she heard smoke alarms going off and stepped out into the hall to see what appeared to be a mist at the end of the hall. She said a male resident went down to check on the people inside the apartment.

I dont know whether he managed to kick the door open or break the door, the woman said. Some billowing smoke ... thick, black smoke came out when he went to see what was going on. I just heard him holler, Oh my God. ... Then, the whole hallway just got black.

Coleen Mitchell, who resides in another apartment building nearby, said she had just come back from visiting her daughter when she pulled up and saw the building enveloped in smoke. Mitchell said she parked and could see a woman shouting fire and made her way inside to try to warn others to get out.

Mitchell said she pounded on the first-floor windows, and she used her hat to cover her mouth as she entered the building.

I got five feet in. I yelled, and I told her to get out. I went in to help, and I couldnt even see, it burned your eyes so bad, Mitchell said, adding that the woman she warned did get out safely. Nobody else answered, but that one woman.

Mitchell said she attempted to go in again but immediately turned around as an officer helped her through the blinding smoke.

I wasnt going to keep on going, because if I did, I wouldve been dead, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Another blast of arctic cold will follow a pleasant Tuesday for southern Wisconsin, with highs tumbling from the mid-30s to the single digits and lows plunging below zero, according to forecasters.

The cold will last into late January, making it the longest cold stretch this winter, AccuWeather said.

Along with the cold will come an Alberta clipper system that could deliver a few inches of snow to northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin late Tuesday into Wednesday, with no snow reaching southern Wisconsin.

After the above normal warmth on Tuesday, temperatures will plunge up to 40 degrees across the Midwest, with highs not even getting above zero in North Dakota and northern Minnesota on Thursday.

"Wednesday and Thursday's cold surge is thanks to a branch on the polar vortex that has traveled south into the U.S., and that is why the midweek cold can surpass the cool snap early this week," said AccuWeather meteorologist Joseph Bauer.

A southward displacement of the polar vortex for January was predicted many weeks in advance by AccuWeather meteorologists and will bring waves of cold air to the Midwest and the Northeast over the next week or two. However, it wont be as severe as recent polar vortex cold outbreaks, such as last years that led to dozens of death and chaos in Texas.

In Madison on Tuesday, look for partly sunny skies, a high near 36 and south winds at 5 to 15 miles per hour, gusting to 25 mph, the Weather Service said.

After an overnight low around 9 with wind chill values between zero and 5 as southwest winds gust to 30 mph, Wednesday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 12 and northwest winds at 15 to 20 mph, gusting to 25 mph, producing wind chill values of 10 below to below.

After a low overnight Wednesday into Thursday around 2 below, Thursdays forecast features sunny skies, a high near 9 and northwest winds at 5 to 10 mph.

The Weather Service said quiet weather should continue with the cold, with just a 20% chance for snow showers Friday night into Saturday, and again on Monday.

Skies over Madison should be sunny Friday, mostly cloudy Saturday, mostly sunny Sunday and mostly cloudy Monday, with highs near 16, 22, 17 and 21, and lows Thursday night through Sunday night around 7 below, 7, 4 and 5.

27 Storm Track meteorologist Max Tsaparis forecasts a stray flurry or sprinkle possible Tuesday, then much colder weather, with just light snow possible Saturday, a few flurries possible Sunday, and snow possible Sunday night into Monday.

Tsaparis said highs for Madison Tuesday through Monday should be near 37, 12, 7, 17, 24, 15 and 21, and overnight lows around 9, 5 below, 7 below, 7, 7 and 6.

Sundays high in Madison was 29 at 4:13 p.m., 2 degrees above the normal high and 25 degrees below the record high of 54 for Jan. 17, set in 1894.

Sundays low in Madison was 21 at 3:57 a.m., 11 degrees above the normal low and 47 degrees above the record low of 26 below for Jan. 17, set in 1982.

Officially, a trace of precipitation was recorded at the Dane County Regional Airport on Sunday, leaving Madisons January and 2022 total at 0.08 inches, 0.71 inches below normal. The meteorological winter (December through February) precipitation total (rain plus snow converted to liquid) stayed at 1.77 inches, 0.65 inches below normal.

Madisons record precipitation for Jan. 17 is 0.5 inches, set in 1877.

Officially, a trace of snow was recorded at the Dane County Regional Airport on Monday, keeping Madisons January and 2022 snow total at 2.5 inches, 4.4 inches below normal. For meteorological winter, Madison has received 9 inches, 9.9 inches below normal. For the snow season (since July 1), Madison has received 9.6 inches, 12.9 inches below normal.

Madisons record snowfall for Jan. 17 is 5 inches, set in 1953.

Madisons official snow depth is 3 inches.

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The number of unemployment benefit checks jobless people in the state would receive could be reduced under a package of bills proposed Tuesday by legislative Republicans that lawmakers say is aimed to address ongoing workforce shortage challenges in the state.

The package of seven bills, which has been released for co-sponsors and appears likely to be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, would tie the number of weekly unemployment benefits an individual could receive to the states overall unemployment rate. At the current rate, unemployed individuals would only be eligible for 14 weeks of benefits.

Other bills in the package would prohibit individuals who turn down job offers from receiving Medicaid coverage and require the state Department of Health Services to enforce a federal work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents in order to take part in the states FoodShare program, which helps people with limited money buy food.

Yet another bill would expand the reasons an individual would be ineligible for unemployment benefits to include those who violate their employers social media policy.

Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, said during a press conference Tuesday the bills, which lawmakers have been working on for about a year, aim to address workforce shortage challenges across the state, which were present long before the COVID-19 pandemic began almost two years ago.

If theres an opportunity for you to work or increase your employment and you refuse that, were going to make sure we have the enforcement mechanism actually take place, Kapenga said. Weve never seen anybody step out of poverty on a welfare check.

Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback did not say if Evers would strike down the proposed bills, but pointed to the governors allocation of $130 million in federal COVID funds toward innovative, community-based solutions to confront our states workforce challenges head-on.

The governor has focused on efforts to help connect unemployed people with work opportunities, including almost $60 million to 12 regional projects, which includes funding to Madison Area Technical College to support individuals seeking work in conservation and construction, as well as child care providers to help parents enter the workforce.

Its great to hear Republicans now recognize the importance of these efforts, Cudaback said. Under Gov. Evers, Wisconsin has among the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 3%  tied for the lowest in state history  while continuing to be a national leader in our workforce participation rate.

Currently, an individual can receive up to $370 in weekly state unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Under one of the proposed bills, the maximum number of weeks a claimant could receive benefits would be based on the states unemployment rate. Claimants would only receive 26 weeks of benefits if the state unemployment rate were greater than 9%.

The duration an individual could collect unemployment benefits would adjust based on the states jobless rate to as few as 14 weeks if the rate were at 3.5% or lower.

State numbers

Wisconsins unemployment rate spiked in the early months of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 14.8% in April 2020. However, the rate quickly dropped until it reached 3% last November, according to preliminary numbers from the state Department of Workforce Development.

Despite the positive trend, state officials have said Wisconsin is still about 100,000 jobs below where it was before the pandemic. The states aging population has caused the workforce to flatten out over time and it threatens to shift downward by as early as 2035, according to DWD officials.

The state last reported a 3% unemployment rate back in November 2018, while preliminary estimates have trended as low as 2.8% before revisions. DWD will update the states official unemployment rate for November later this week. The states labor force participation rate was 66.4% in November.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show Wisconsins unemployment rate has only surpassed 9% one other time over the last two decades, when it climbed above that threshold for about a year starting in early 2009 due to the Great Recession.

Eligibility questions

Another bill in the package would require employers to inform the state workforce department of any ineligibility questions when notified of a claim for unemployment insurance. The bill would require DWD to consider reports of an individual declining a job offer or failing to attend a scheduled interview when determining a claimants eligibility for benefits.

One of the purposes of unemployment benefits is to give job seekers a little room to find the right job that utilizes their skill set, instead of rushing into a job that isnt a good fit for them, Tamarine Cornelius, director of the liberal Wisconsin Budget Project, said in an email. Ensuring a good match between employee and employer benefits everyone. This package would make that more difficult.

Cornelius said the Legislature should be bringing down barriers between unemployed individuals and jobs, rather than creating new ones between those same people and unemployment benefits.

Instead of creating additional red tape, legislators should expand access to child care, make sure child care assistance fits workers schedules, and stop suspending driver licenses for things not related to driving, Cornelius said. All those steps would help people get and keep jobs.

Rep. Tyler August, R-Lake Geneva, said the full Assembly plans to vote on the bills before the end of next month, when the chamber is expected to adjourn for the remainder of the year.

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1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market.

2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image.

3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers.

4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while.

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Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
On July 2, 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. stood behind President Lyndon Baines Johnson as the Texan signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although not the first civil rights bill passed by Congress, it was the most comprehensive.

King called the laws passage a great moment  something like the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. Johnson recognized Kings contributions to the law by gifting him a pen used to sign the historic legislation.

A year later, as Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, King again joined the president for the occasion.

But by the start of 1967, the two most famous men in America were no longer on speaking terms. In fact, they would not meet again before King fell to an assassins bullet on April 4, 1968.

King was foremost a minister who pastored to a local church throughout his career, even while he was doing national civil rights work. And he became concerned that his political ally Johnson was making a grave moral mistake in Vietnam. Johnson quickly escalated American troop presence in Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000 in 1965. And by 1968, more than a half a million troops were stationed in the Southeast Asian nation.

As I write in my 2021 book Nonviolence Before King, the Baptist preacher had been on a pilgrimage to nonviolence for years. And by 1967, he was a radical apostle of Christian nonviolence.

King called on the United States to be born again and undergo a radical revolution of values. King believed that Jim Crow segregation and the war in Vietnam were rooted in the same unjust ethic of race-based domination, and he called on the nation to change its ways.

Speaking against the Vietnam War

King preached nonviolent direct action for years, and his team organized massive protest movements in the cities of Albany, New York, and Selma and Birmingham in Alabama. But by 1967, Kings religious vision for nonviolence went beyond nonviolent street protest to include abolishing what he called the triple evils crippling American society. King defined the triple evils as racism, poverty and militarism, and he believed these forces were contrary to Gods will for all people.

He came to believe, as he said in 1967, that racism, economic exploitation and war were crippling Americas ability to create a beloved community defined by love and nonviolence. And on April 4, 1967, he publicly rebuked the presidents war policy in Vietnam at Riverside Presbyterian Church in New York City in a speech titled Beyond Vietnam.

I speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of Vietnam, he told those gathered in the majestic cathedral. I speak for the poor of America who are paying the double price of smashed hopes at home, and death and corruption in Vietnam.

King was initially optimistic that Johnsons Great Society program, which aimed to make historic investments in job growth, job training and economic development, would tackle domestic poverty. But by 1967 the Great Society appeared to be a casualty of the mounting costs of the war in Vietnam. I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and to attack it as such, King said in his speech.

King saw the grinding poverty facing Black people at home as inseparable from the war overseas. As he noted, If our nation can spend 35 billion dollars a year to fight an unjust, evil war in Vietnam, and 20 billion dollars to put a man on the moon, it can spend billions of dollars to put Gods children on their own two feet right here on earth.

King could no longer ignore that military force ran contrary to the nonviolence he espoused. As urban revolts in Watts and Newark in the late 1960s rocked the nation, he pleaded with people to remain nonviolent.

But they ask  and rightly so  what about Vietnam? King said in the same 1967 speech. They ask if our own nation wasnt using massive doses of violence to solve its problems, to bring about the changes it wanted. Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today  my own government.

Kings vision

By 1967, Kings vision of justice was one of flourishing for all people, not only civil rights for African Americans. King was criticized for expanding his vision beyond civil rights for Black Americans. Some worried that aligning with the peace movement would weaken the civil rights movement. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People even issued a statement clearly opposing what it saw as a merging of the civil rights and peace movements.

But in his 1967 Beyond Vietnam speech, King called for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond ones tribe, race, class, and nation  an all-embracing and unconditional love for all mankind. Such unconditional love is the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality, and he noted that this unifying principle was present in Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism.

King was always first a religious leader. He never sought nor gained elected office, because he wanted to maintain a moral voice and be free to challenge policies he believed to be unjust.

But the cost for Kings speaking out was high: By the time of his assassination, Kings national approval rating was at an all-time low.

He was not a morally perfect man. Declassified files show how the FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover tried to target King over his extramarital affairs. Hoover used a wiretap to tape King having sex with other women and sent those to his wife, Coretta Scott King, with a letter indicating King should kill himself because of his moral transgressions.

Honoring King

For those seeking to honor Kings legacy today, his religious nonviolence is demanding. It asks that people go beyond acts of service and charity  as important as those are  to both speak and act against violence and racism as well as to organize to end those pernicious forces.

It is a radical concept of love that demands we embrace those we know and those we dont, to acknowledge, as King said, that all life is interrelated, that somehow were caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the challenge may be to decipher the meaning of this idea in action for our own lives. The future of what King called the beloved community depends on it  a world at peace because justice is present.

[3 media outlets, 1 religion newsletter. Get stories from The Conversation, AP and RNS.]

Anthony Siracusa 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.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Two Omaha business owners were sentenced to prison on Friday for violating worker safety standards before a 2015 explosion that left two of their employees dead.

Brothers Steven and Adam Braithwaite and their company, Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services, pleaded guilty in July to a litany of federal charges.

Steven Braithwaite, who served as president of NRCS, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating a worker safety standard causing a worker death and one count of knowingly endangering others by violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. He will serve 30 months in prison.

Adam Braithwaite, vice president of the company, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating a worker safety standard causing death, two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation and one count of perjury. He will serve one year and one day in prison.

NRCS pleaded guilty to all 21 of the counts with which it was charged.

The Braithwaites have each been ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution. Additionally, the brothers and the company must serve five years of probation and pay a $21,000 fine.

According to a federal indictment, on April 14, 2015, workers were removing petroleum residue from inside a rail tanker car near First and Hickory streets in Omaha when a spark ignited and caused a deadly explosion.

Despite the fact that a safety data sheet identified the petroleum residue as highly flammable and containing benzene, a known carcinogen, workers were sent into the car without testing for benzene levels.

The tanker car had been tested for explosive gas levels prior to the employees entering. The test showed that the explosive gas levels greatly exceeded the acceptable levels established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to the indictment.

About an hour after the workers were sent into the car, its contents exploded, killing Adrian LaPour, 44, and Dallas Foulk, 40. A third man, Joe Coschka, was knocked off the car but escaped serious injury.

The companys troubles predated the explosion, according to the indictment. In 2013, OSHA completed an inspection of NRCS after receiving health and safety complaints from employees. One of multiple violations was a lack of monitoring of atmospheric conditions  such as the presence of benzene  while employees were in confined spaces.

Steven Braithwaite signed a corrective action agreement with OSHA in 2015, certifying that benzene tubes were being used to test tanker cars at least every hour while employees were inside and before their entry, according to the indictment. But when OSHA came back to conduct a follow-up inspection in March 2015, it was denied entry.

On the same day that OSHA was denied entry, Adam Braithwaite placed NRCSs first-ever order of benzene tubes, according to the indictment. OSHA then requested a plethora of records from NRCS, including invoices for benzene tubes.

A week before the explosion, Adam Braithwaite emailed OSHA falsified records that showed that the company bought benzine tubes in June 2014, according to the indictment. In an OSHA interview after the explosion, Adam Braithwaite falsely stated under oath that NRCS began using benzene tubes immediately after the 2013 OSHA inspection.

Tragically, two workers suffered preventable deaths because of the defendants failure to follow the law, Todd Kim, assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division, said in a news release. Todays sentence provides a measure of justice for them and their families.
